The Tufts Daily - Thursday, April 4, 2019

Career Center’s #Adulting series tackles financial literacy, post-grad concerns see FEATURES / PAGE 4

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Jumbos ride offensive surge to 4–1 record after spring break

This Sexual Assault Awareness month, we must show our support for survivors see OPINION / PAGE 8

SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXVII, ISSUE 45

Thursday, April 4, 2019

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

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A year in the making: Tufts Dining workers unanimously ratify 1st contract

by Alexander Thompson News Editor

Almost a year since their vote to unionize, Tufts Dining workers voted unanimously yesterday to ratify the tentative agreement negotiated by their union, UNITE HERE Local 26, and the university administration, according to Mike Kramer, Local 26’s lead negotiator.

Kramer said that the union was very pleased with the agreement, which will now serve as the contract between the workers and the university over the next four years.

Kramer, who led contract negotiations at Harvard University and Northeastern University before Tufts, situated today’s ratification within the context of a broad labor movement by food services employees which he said began with the 2016 Harvard University Dining Services strike.

“A movement of dining workers across the Boston area have raised standards dramatically across the industry and have said that these jobs aren’t going to be poverty jobs; they’re going to be jobs that people can survive on in a very expensive city,” he said. “[The Tufts contract] continues that and cements it as the standard in the food service industry in higher education.”

Kramer explained that the contract will bring conditions in line with what has been achieved at other area universities, which had been the union’s goal since the beginning of negotiations in August of last year.

He said that success at Tufts would likely have ripple effects at other universities.

“When a group of workers stands up and declares that they need change and wins, the

DOGACAN COLAK / THE TUFTS DAILTUFTTSY

Tufts Dining workers vote for the ratification of the contract in the New Life Baptist Church on April 3. group of workers just a little ways down the street pays attention to that and follows that example,” he said.

Patrick Collins, Tufts’ executive director of public relations, said in an email to the Daily

that the university administration was pleased that the tentative agreement had been ratified.

“There was give and take on both sides of these negotiations, and we consider the contract fair and equitable,” Collins said. “We’re

happy with the outcome and we look forward to implementing the contract in collaboration with the union as we move ahead.”

see CONTRACT, page 2

Students share narratives about mental health at Active Minds event

by Rebecca Barker Contributing Writer

Content warning: This article discusses suicide and self-harm.

Active Minds at Tufts presented its annual event, Mental Health Monologues: Strength in Stories, on Tuesday night, during which 20 students presented monologues written by either themselves or other Tufts students for whom they had volunteered to read.

The monologues depicted struggling with various mental health issues, including anxiety and depression, but all were stories of survival and persistence. The pro-

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gram contained content warnings for some of the monologues on more sensitive topics such as suicide and self-harm.

The main goal of the event was to create a safe space for those who wished to share their own stories of mental health and for those who came to listen and support, according to Co-President of Active Minds Bri Pastro. After the event, a reception in the Interfaith Center extended the conversation about the monologues that had been presented.

Mental Health Monologues was created by former Co-Presidents Danielle Mulligan (LA ’17) and Kari McNeil (LA ’18), according to Pastro, a senior.

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“This ​was their little brainchild, and they … set the format that we continue to use now … They had been to events like It Happens Here and seen how powerful it was and really wanted to create a space where people can share their stories about mental health,” Pastro said.

Pastro and fellow Co-President Will Hodge, a senior, played a large role in orchestrating the monologues this year.

According to Pastro, preparation for the event usually begins around the beginning of the spring semester. To participate in the monologues, Pastro said Active Minds sends out a Google form about a month in advance, where people

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can specify if they want to read or write for the event.

Pastro explained that people who submit a monologue can specify whether they would like to read their story or have someone else read it, and the author of the monologue is not disclosed during the reading.

Pastro said readers are chosen with a purpose, and the number of applications changes annually.

“A lot of times, who gets paired with which monologue has to do with identities that the author might request … They might request

NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................4 WEEKENDER..........................5

see MONOLOGUES, page 2

FUN & GAMES......................... 7 OPINION.....................................8 SPORTS............................ BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Thursday, April 4, 2019

THE TUFTS DAILY Elie Levine Editor in Chief

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Monologues seek to spread awareness, support mental health MONOLOGUES

continued from page 1 someone who matches with their sexual or gender identities,” Pastro said. “This year we had a little bit of trouble finding a couple of readers but it ended up being fine, but the year before we had tons of people that we had to turn away, so it can definitely vary.”

Pastro and Hodge have both been members of Active Minds since they were firstyears and have witnessed how the event has progressed with each year.

“It’s so different every single year, and intangibly so, in the sense that … every story is individual and unique, but it’s so important,” Hodge said. “[With] the ebb and flow of seniors as they graduate and [as first-years] are coming in, it’s really vital to capture the essence of each class.”

The monologues serve as a platform for many members of Active Minds to share their own stories, as well as a way to empathize with and support others, according to McKenzie Schuyler, who attended the event.

“Mental Health Monologues is a really good way for the Tufts community to come together and support people they don’t know, and just be more aware of the things that your peers are going through,” Schuyler, a sophomore, said. “Struggling with your mental health or just different types of things like family issues or academic issues, or whatever it may be, is a lot more common than people might think, and they’re not alone.”

Pastro noted how the monologues as an annual event have allowed her to track her own mental health story and encouraged her to share her monologue this year.

“I’ve always felt it to be like a trust fall with the Tufts campus,” Pastro said. “It’s like, ‘I’m

KYLE LUI / THE TUFTS DAILY

Will Hodge and Bri Pastro, the co-presidents of Active Minds, pose for a portrait at the Mental Health Monologues event in Breed Memorial Hall on April 2. going to get up here and talk about this, and I’m going to close my eyes and jump, and you’re going to catch me.’”

Pastro said the event was important to her because of the culture of sharing that it creates on the Tufts campus.

“It’s okay to speak up. We value that, rather than wanting you to keep quiet about it, which is what we’re trying to get around,” she said.

Hodge noted that the name of the event, Strength in Stories, is intentional

and underlines the healing nature of telling stories.

“There really is something to be said about how cathartic and how monumental it is to share your own story, but also to be on the audience side, and to be inspired by others,” Hodge said. “It’s so validating and so awesome to hear about all … that other people have gone through, and how they’re still living and breathing and they’re here.”

Workers, activists reflect on long campaign for contract

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CONTRACT

continued from page 1 He went on to reaffirm the university’s appreciation for the dining workers.

As dining workers trickled into New Life Baptist Church on Boston Avenue to cast their votes yesterday afternoon, Lucson Aime, a first cook at the Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center and a member of Local 26’s bargaining team, was there to assist.

He said that he had cast his vote in favor of the “life-changing” agreement because it met the demands workers had made on issues like wages and healthcare.

Aime, who has been part of the campaign since its inception last year, reflected that it had been “quite a journey” for him. He recounted coming home late from long days split between work, negotiations and organizing to find his family already asleep, but he said it was worth it. “[The campaign] taught us how to be leaders, how to bring people close to you, how to talk to people and understand everybody else’s point of view, everybody else’s struggle,” he said.

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ratification of the agreement but that the coalition will be present to support dining workers in the case of problems with implementation and for the eventual renegotiation in four years.

Like Aime, Rogoff said that the campaign brought the campus together in support of the workers across social lines, highlighting how the cause had united groups from across the political spectrum.

He also said that workers and students are now closer than they had been at the beginning of the campaign.

TDAC members, despite the resolution of this campaign, intend to apply the lessons they’ve learned to other causes around campus.

“I myself, and a lot of other people included, feel like we have really gotten a taste of how to organize well, how to bring justice to an issue we care about, how to connect with people on campus, and we don’t want to let all of the incredible things, the hard things, the lessons that we’ve learned from this campaign, go to waste and just sit there,” Rogoff said.

Police Briefs — Week of April 1

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The campaign had the secondary effect of bringing the dining workers together, Aime said; that change, according to Aime, began at the first union meeting and has only deepened since.

“I remember when we first got started … people were sharing what they were dealing with inside work [and] outside work, life in general. People were emotional about those things,” he said. “Right after we won that contract, the room was also very emotional [like at the first meeting]. All those things way back, all those things we went through, it was very memorable.”

Kramer shared Aime’s sentiments, saying that the solidarity and community created through the long campaign would serve to strengthen the union at Tufts in the years to come.

Student activists from Tufts Dining Action Coalition (TDAC) also met last night to debrief from the campaign with which they have been deeply involved over the past months, according to Luca Rogoff, a TDAC member who attended.

Rogoff, a first-year, said that TDAC considers its goals were accomplished with the

Smoke out of turn On March 29 at 5:11 a.m., Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) responded to a fire alarm at Houston Hall.

TUPD noticed black smoke billowing out of an air pipe from the construction site. A building generator which was not operating properly was identified as the cause of the fire alarm. The Medford Fire Department and the construction company were alerted and ensured the area was safe to reoccupy.

Thanks a punch On March 30 at 1:08 a.m., TUPD responded to a report of an assault in Harleston Hall. A student heard noise from the hallway, and when they opened their door another student hit them in the face.

A third student then apologized to the victim. TUPD identified an individual, but the victim was unable to positively identify them. The case is still under investigation.

Wheelie bad day Later that day, at 5:31 p.m., TUPD received a report from a student whose bike had been stolen from the Hill Hall bike room. The black and blue Tern bike is foldable and worth

approximately $800; it is unclear whether the bike was locked or unlocked at the time of the theft. By the morning of April 2, the bike was returned to the bike room.

Yolk’s on you On March 31 at 2:56 p.m., TUPD received a report from a student who had been hit in the head with an egg while walking on Curtis Street. The egg was thrown by an individual in a dark-colored SUV. TUPD learned of a similar incident that had occurred earlier that day, and they investigated and identified a possible suspect, who is not affiliated with the university.

News

Thursday, April 4, 2019 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY

Explore Earth and Ocean Sciences with us!

EOS 1 will be offered this fall!

There is one lecture (MWF 10:30-11:20am) and three lab sections (M, T, or W 1:30-2:45pm).

View all our courses here: ​eos.tufts.edu/courses/

Stop by Lane Hall or email ​lindsay.riordan@tufts.edu​ if you have any questions.

Tufts Table.

Walk in with one perspective.

Walk out with several.

Welcome to Tufts Table. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost and co-hosted by colleagues from across the university.

Mon, April 8: Health Equity

Co-hosted by Tufts health sciences schools Arthur M. Sackler Center for Medical Education, Room 114, 145 Harrison Avenue RSVP: tuftstablehealthequity.eventbrite.com

Wed, April 10: Vulnerability

Co-hosted by Cummings Thrive and Tufts Veterinary Council on Diversity Jean Mayer Administration Building, Room 217, 200 Westboro Road, North Grafton RSVP: goo.gl/forms/1FBi7KT3AEM02mBH3

Join students, faculty, and staff to share a light meal and facilitated discussion at a community dinner. Establish connections among diverse members of the Tufts community and share perspectives on issues of local, national, and global relevance. Discussion highlights and observations will be shared on our website: provost.tufts.edu/tuftstable after each Tufts Table.

Dinners take place from 6:00 PM–8:00 PM. Attendance is capped at 80 people.

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Thursday, April 4, 2019

Douglas Berger Ripple Effect

Between a state and a hard place

Features

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Tufts Career Center hosts #Adulting series, expands on skills needed beyond college life

W

hat is the United States? Well, 50 states and D.C. of course, but there are also 11 unincorporated unorganized territories, four unincorporated organized territories and one incorporated unorganized territory. Of these, five are inhabited.

About four million American citizens inhabit these Pacific and Caribbean islands — conquered, claimed or bought by the U.S. as it ran out of continental destiny to manifest. The vast majority of them live in Puerto Rico.

The island is an unincorporated organized territory of the U.S. — a partially self-governing entity to which the entire U.S. Constitution doesn’t automatically apply. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens and pay federal taxes. Yet, they have no congressional representation and cannot vote in presidential elections.

The island is trapped in a legal cage not of its own making. Puerto Rico is saddled with more than $70 billion in public debt, has been in a recession for more than a decade and is still struggling to recover from Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017. But it has no say in the government institution most able to solve these problems — the U.S. Congress.

Nor does it have the political autonomy to develop its own solutions or find alternatives. Not that independence and the prospect of facing its debt alone is necessarily a good option either.

Part of the problem is that territories, unlike states, lack sovereignty. Officially, the only sovereign authority in the territory is that of the United States itself. While the island has an elected governor and legislature, they only exist via an act of Congress, which could, in theory, be repealed at any time. The U.S. Congress has final say over all laws passed by Puerto Rico’s government.

Because Puerto Rico is not independent, it cannot seek debt relief or aid from the World Bank or other institutions. Because it has no representation, it has little influence on the federal policies that determine its fate. I suspect we all understand the importance of representation intuitively, but to understand the impact of congressional representation numerically, consider the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the 2017 hurricane season. In the first nine days after Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, Florida and Texas both received nearly $100 million in disaster relief. In the same period after Maria, Puerto Rico got just $9 million.

On top of all this, the last three years have seen Puerto Rican self-government undermined in new, even more undemocratic ways.

In 2016, then-President Barack Obama signed the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act. The law establishes a seven-member oversight board to restructure the territory’s debt, with the authority to approve or reject Puerto Rican government policy. The members are appointed by the president, for whom Puerto Ricans can’t vote. While the measure has shielded Puerto Rico from default, it does little to address the underlying political and economic problems that have weakened the island’s economy, causing the debt in the first place.

Puerto Rico is trapped in political limbo.

It reaps none the benefits of independence nor any of statehood. Until this changes, it seems unlikely that the island’s problems will be solved.

Douglas is a senior studying international relations. Douglas can be reached at douglas.berger@tufts.edu.

SEOHYUN SHIM / THE TUFTS DAILY

The Tufts Career Center is pictured on Jan. 21, 2017.

by Henry Allison

Contributing Writer

On Wednesday, April 3, Tufts seniors headed to Orleans Restaurant in Davis Square to enjoy hot appetizers, two free drinks (for those 21 and over) and the company of their recently graduated peers. The occasion was Jumbo2Jumbo, an evening dedicated to open networking and conversations between current Tufts students and young alumni.

Jumbo2Jumbo marked the conclusion of the #Adulting series, a string of events put on by the Tufts Career Center over the course of the year with the intent of preparing soon-to-be graduates for the world that lies beyond the rolling green crests of the President’s Lawn.

The #Adulting series was started with support and funding from sponsor Mathieu Gaulin (LA ’05). The 2018–2019 #Adulting series began back in October with a panel of recent graduates. Since then, according to event descriptions, the series has included sessions on contract negotiation, personal branding, employee rights, financial literacy and more. Shannon Seaver, assistant director at the Tufts Career Center who coordinates the series, said the purpose of the #Adulting series is to give students the skills they will need after graduation, beyond just landing the dream job.

“It’s one thing to get the job,” Seaver said, “and it’s one thing for us to help you to land that position. But things can happen on the job, and how can you, as the employee, prepare to be your own advocate?”

Senior Lauren Kim, who works as a Career Fellow in the Tufts Career Center and who has attended all of the #Adulting sessions so far, said the topics covered new ground about which students did not have much background knowledge.

“I had learned no financial literacy [in other classes],” Kim said, “Which is why I feel like these are so valuable, because I learned so much more applicable advice than I did in honestly a lot of academic classes.”

Each session has featured speakers from the Tufts community and beyond who spoke to different forms of preparation for post-grad life. Jennifer Magrone, associate director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at Tufts, presented on understanding employee rights.

Magrone, who investigates employment related claims at the OEO, advised students to research the anti-discrimination and harassment policies of their potential employers.

“It’s important for graduating students to understand their employment rights so they can advocate for themselves if they encounter any difficulties in the workplace that appear to fall within the realm of discrimination or harassment,” Magrone told the Daily in an email.

Other sessions focused on topics like negotiating a salary, understanding a benefits package and forming good financial habits. Senior Kate Zheng, who attended the session on finances, appreciated speaker and financial advisor Stuart Paap’s direct advice.

“He went more in-depth about what you should be doing rather than just saying what everything means,” Zheng said. “He said you should always invest a certain amount, you should always keep a certain amount in your bank account and you should always take what the company is offering in terms of an investment plan.”

Senior Michelle Luo, who attended the #Adulting session on negotiation, appreciated that the event made her think about important topics before she otherwise would have.

“It’s nice having an idea of what these terms mean now, before I really need to know them,” Luo said.

Beyond the informative nature of the sessions, Kim also found solace in the fact that the alumni didn’t have it all figured out when they were students which, to

many soon-to-be graduates, is certainly a welcome reminder.

“It was just comforting to hear that a lot of them didn’t know what they were doing upon graduation,” Kim said. “But they figured it out since.”

Though the #Adulting series has been running for several years, it ran under the name Senior Launch until this academic year.

According to Seaver, she made the decision to change the name because she wanted underclassmen to feel more welcome.

“Underclassmen would see a session and ask, ‘Can I go?’ and I would say, ‘Please.’ But I felt like they would hear me saying that, and they would still see the word seniors and not go,” Seaver said.

Seaver added that the process to this year’s #Adulting line up has involved a lot of tweaking and editing from the programs of years past. She said that the addition of the session on understanding benefits was “kind of last-minute, based on students coming in this past fall semester more often than they had in the past in regards to their benefits packages.”

Students had a few suggestions for new panels that could be included in the series for next year. Kim said she would like to see a panel catered toward being a person of color in the workplace, pointing out that “there are more specific challenges of being the only person of color in a certain workplace that no one is really prepared for … so a workshop around that would be really helpful.”

Luo said she would like to see a panel more geared toward career paths outside of consulting and technology, such as non-profit work or graduate school.

Still, Luo ended with a pretty irrefutable argument for why Tufts students should make it to the panels and sessions hosted by the #Adulting series.

“I think it was good to get a head-start on this because I actually felt like an adult and it was kind of scary for a second,” she said, pausing a brief moment before adding, “And also there was a lot of free food.”

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WEEKENDER

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Composer, Tufts alum Rebecca Sacks shares her latest work, ‘Songs for the Earth’

NICHOLAS PFOSI / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

The Granoff Music Center is pictured on May 7, 2014.

by Megan Szostak Contributing Writer

Rebecca Sacks, a Tufts alum (LA ’06) and notable composer, was recently commissioned through the generous Daniels’ Family Gift to compose for the Tufts Chorale and Alumni Singers. Her piece, “Songs for the Earth,” will debut on Sunday, April 7, in the Granoff Music Center.

Sacks has been a musician since the age of four, when she began to study classical piano. Yet it was not until she was in high school that she unearthed her passion for jazz and improvisation.

“My piano teacher retired,” Sacks said.

“So my grandmother, who I was very close with and who studied jazz piano, said to my mom, ‘Why doesn’t Rebecca try jazz piano lessons?’ So we found a teacher who ended up being incredible, and he started teaching me the principles of jazz.”

Through her jazz studies, Sacks developed a profound love for harmony and began to implement what she had learned into her compositions — of which she produced prolifically in high school. Despite this, Sacks described herself as being a “closet musician” throughout high school, and was not a part of any curricular ensembles; she was more involved with the visual arts.

Sacks spoke more to how jazz influenced her music education.

“I really started to learn about how music worked; not just being able to play notes on a page, but being able to create [my] own music.”

In 2006, Sacks graduated summa cum laude from Tufts with a Bachelor’s Degree in Music. She continued on to earn a Master of Fine Arts in music theory and composition from Brandeis. Her own dis-

covery of jazz harmony was what motivated Sacks to pursue these degrees, and eventually establish a career in music.

As a young composer, Sacks places a certain emphasis on the establishment of her “compositional voice.” For many composers, this voice is derived from mentors, but Sacks takes a more original approach.

“My overall goal for all the pieces I write is to write beautiful music that touches people and is accessible,” Sacks said.

Her works are undeniably beautiful and do not try to mimic the work of other composers; Sacks’ style is uniquely her own. Her music combines elements from the Romantic and Impressionist traditions with jazz and contemporary progressions, themes and motives.

One of the most unique elements of Sacks’ recent music is her idea of “musical activism,” which is especially relevant for this upcoming concert and the premiere of “Songs for the Earth.”

As someone who is passionate about the environment and concerned about climate change, Sacks sees her musical ability as an asset that will aid in her efforts to help the planet.

“I have grief and I don’t know how to process it,” Sacks said, in reference to hearing news of climate change and the destruction of the planet. “I believe that healing the planet can’t be completely solved by science. We have to heal ourselves in order to heal the planet.”

Through music, Sacks intends to help the audience in understanding and deepening their love of nature, as well as working to share her values of environmental protection to those who hear her music.

Sacks emphasized that it is important to form a relationship with and cultivate

a love for nature if we want to have a chance at helping the planet.

“Songs for the Earth” is a work in three movements orchestrated for choir, piano and various percussion instruments. The music is all composed by Sacks, and the text that is sung by the choir comes from three poems that Sacks came across in a book entitled “Prayers for the Earth.”

The first movement is set to the poem, “When the Animals Come to Us,” by Gary Lawless, and plays to the sadness that many people face when they begin to feel too small to help the planet in any significant way. The text of the second movement is the poem, “My Heart Soars,” by Chief Dan George, the former chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, and is an expression of the love that Sacks herself feels for nature. The third and final movement is set to the shortest amount of text, but is temporally the longest movement. The poem in the third movement is Gerald Manley Hopkins’ “Inversnaid.” Sacks sees this final poem as combining both the sadness and the love that had been expressed in the earlier movements.

Despite these poems having come from a book of prayers, Sacks deliberately chose poems that were accessible to people of any faith, belief system or lack thereof.

These texts are not explicitly connected to any religious group so they can be experienced and appreciated by people of diverse backgrounds, which can impact a wider audience. The music to which these poems are set is full of complex harmony and chord progressions, but not so complex that it impedes the audience’s ability to understand the music.

The idea of musical activism is not a prominent art form as of now, but it is something that she would love to

see more of in the future, according to Sacks. When asked about potential growth in musical activism in the coming years, Sacks said that she “could definitely see it happening,” whether that be with regards to the climate, social issues, political issues or other topics requiring discussion.

After the upcoming premiere of her piece, Sacks hopes to spark a conversation about climate change among the audience members.

“We need to solve [climate change] with our whole selves,” she said. “This is how I can most effectively help the planet.”

Sacks opens up a discussion about using one’s talents as a means to create change. People of all different backgrounds have assets that can be brought into activism, and the use of the arts in activism is often overlooked.

“I am sure other people are doing it” Sacks said, referring to other musical activists. “I’m just not aware of it.”

Sacks hopes to see more music, poetry and visual artwork regarding such topics as climate change, gender equality and other modern issues.

The concert will also feature a collaboration with Deke Sharon (LA ’91), another Tufts alum and distinguished musician and arranger, as well as a performance of Johannes Brahms’ “Ein Deutsches Requiem.” The soloists will be Deborah Selig (soprano) and Philip Lima (aritone), and the Tufts Concert Choir and Chamber Singers will be directed under the baton of Jamie Kirsch. Pianists Edith Auner and Thomas Stumpf will be accompanying the chorale.

This concert will be on Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. in the Distler Auditorium, Granoff Music Center. This is a free event; no tickets are required.

Thursday, April 4, 2019 | FUN & GAMES | THE TUFTS DAILY

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F &G FUN & GAMES

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LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Justin: “It’s not elitist to not want E. Coli.”

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Aries (March 21–April 19)

You know what you need to do. Win through disciplined efforts, rather than luck. If overwhelmed, narrow the focus to one task at a time.

CORRECTION

Difficulty Level: Trying not to cough in class.

The March 11 article “Cannaclub looking to explore a new frontier in cannabis industry” originally referred to Eric Brooke’s treatment as a chemotherapy treatment. It should instead be an infusion treatment. The online version of the article has been updated to reflect this change. The Daily deeply regrets this error.

Wednesdays Solutions The April 3 article “Teach-in CORES bridges gap between Tufts, Somerville community, hosts ESL classes” was printed with Grace Yuh listed as its author. Ariel Zedric wrote the story.

The online version of the article has been updated to reflect this change. The Daily deeply regrets this error.

CROSSWORD

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Opinion

Ria Mazumdar Peripheries

The problem with ‘spiritual’ mindfulness

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indfulness seems to have sprung up everywhere recently as a promised antidote to the burnout generation and constant pressure to increase productivity. Companies such as Google, Accenture and Nike are incorporating mindfulness into the workplace to boost creativity and provide an outlet for stress. It is undoubtedly beneficial for us to consider methods of stress reduction. Many mindfulness practices are by nature inclusive. Taking time for silent meditation in the morning, doing sun salutations or participating in a vinyasa class are by no means limited to people of Hindu or Buddhist origins. However, in today’s mainstream culture, many of these practices have co-opted elements of cultural spirituality while simultaneously attempting to repackage the practices as secular and open to all.

The yoga that was born in the Indus Valley 2,500 years ago was not designed solely as a form of exercise. The word “yoga” means “union” in Sanskrit and is part of ancient philosophy regarding conscious living and awareness in the world. To date, this worldview has not achieved full acceptance in American society. As an Indian-American, I have witnessed firsthand the ridicule surrounding my family’s religious practices and the general skepticism and dismissive attitude toward polytheism.

Sometimes the very same people who sneer at immigrants when they don’t speak English are the ones chanting “om” as part of their wellness routines. People should learn about the context and history of their yoga practices, but, above all, should consciously eliminate the hypocrisy that emerges when some people explore yoga as a health trend while many non-Christian people, especially people of color, feel uncomfortable publicly expressing their beliefs.

This problem has been exacerbated by the commodification of mindfulness. Mala beads are sold as accessorized jewelry rather than religious objects. Hindu deities, especially Ganesha, are regularly emblazoned on workout wear. The word “namaste” has been transformed into a trendy phrase that is found on tank tops and tapestries. Saying the word at the end of class and vaguely mentioning “divine energy” pays lip service to yoga’s origins while blatantly ignoring its history. As someone who has been made to say variations of the word in religious contexts, it feels strange and sometimes uncomfortable to speak the word, heavy with an American accent, before bowing to a white yoga instructor.

Yoga studios have become bastions of fitness for white upper-class women, and this is no accident. People of color are consistently sidelined by the fitness industry, especially yoga.

A 2012 study found that more than four-fifths of yoga-practicing Americans are white. It is difficult to believe that this is an example of cultural exchange. Today’s yoga and mindfulness are new, American phenomena. This is natural: The pressures of 21st-century lifestyles in a religiously diverse and multicultural country should elicit adaptations of old practices that fit more closely with modern contexts. However, let us not continue to conflate mindfulness practices with cultural spirituality when it suits us. We must either seriously learn about relevant cultural history or divorce our secular mindfulness practices from religious and cultural ones.

Ria Mazumdar is a junior studying quantitative economics and international relations. Ria can be reached at ria.mazumdar@tufts.edu.

Thursday, April 4, 2019

OP-ED

Believe and support survivors

by Marley Hillman This past weekend, Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) painted the cannon with the Palestinian flag as part of their Great March of Return vigil “to mark the one year anniversary of The Great March of Return in Gaza, and honor the martyrs who have been killed.” On the morning of April 1, SJP members discovered that someone had painted “Trump 2020” on the cannon, partially covering what SJP had painted two days before. I saw the anger of others who felt that this was not an appropriate April Fool’s Day joke, and I felt that it required a rapid response. By 11:30 a.m., my fellow activists and I had fully painted over the pro-Trump messaging and replaced it with the familiar protest chant, “No Trump, No KKK, No Racist USA.” Passersby took issue with how we broke tradition by painting the cannon during the day, but my fellow activists and I felt that it was necessary to take timely action rather than waiting until nighttime to paint over the message.

As tour groups and other students passed by the cannon, we explained that we were painting over “Trump 2020” because we felt that it did not reflect the values of the Tufts community.

That same night, Tufts Green Dot Ambassadors painted the cannon to raise awareness for Green Out Day, urging students to wear green on Wednesday, April 3 to show support for survivors of sexual assault. We painted various messages such as “Wear Green 4/3,” “Believe Survivors,”

and “Support Survivors.” Later that night, after Green Dot had painted the cannon, someone once again painted pro-Trump slogans on the cannon, specifically painting “#MAGA” over the words “Believe Survivors” and “Support Survivors.” We responded once more by painting over their messaging the next morning with the Green Dot message.

By painting only words over the Green Dot message rather than fully erasing it with paint, they placed their message in such a manner that clearly showed opposition to the message of survivor support. Defacing the message of “believe and support survivors” with the campaign slogan of a president who has admitted to sexual assault on tape is a slap in the face to survivors of sexual assault. Worse, this was done during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, a crucial time to show support for survivors. This is unacceptable, at Tufts or anywhere else.

Tufts was found to be in violation of Title IX in 2014. Since then, I’d like to think we’ve made significant progress in changing the culture. But this week’s cannon paintings have shown that there is still so much more to do. Despite the changes that have been made over the years, sexual assault still happens here.

Many of our fellow students are survivors or know someone who is. When you make a rape joke or dismiss the gravity of this situation, remember that a survivor may be listening to you mocking and dismissing their pain. The trauma of being

raped does not exist to serve as a punchline, and should not be treated as so insignificant that it can be laughed about.

In response to this act of intimidation against survivors, I urge you to believe and support the survivors around you.

Condemnations of the pro-Trump cannon paintings and statements of survivor support are empty and meaningless unless backed up by belief in and support for survivors.

We must all take action to change the culture. That means actively supporting survivors beyond merely telling them that you’re there for them. That means speaking up about behaviors that perpetuate problematic attitudes towards sexual violence. That means actively working to make your communities safe and welcoming for everyone, especially survivors.

This year’s Sexual Assault Awareness Month began with a blatant act of intimidation against survivors. There are still 26 days left in April, though, and each day is a chance to right this wrong. I am heartened to see so many of my peers wearing green this Wednesday, April 3 in support of survivors and Green Dot’s mission. In believing and supporting survivors in our communities and daily lives as well as supporting the missions of organizations like Action for Sexual Assault Prevention and Green Dot, we can help change the culture so that this never happens again.

Marley Hillman is a sophmore studying sociology. Hillman can be reached at marley. hillman@tufts.edu

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Opinion

Thursday, April 4, 2019 | Opinion | THE TUFTS DAILY

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Sports | Thursday, April 4, 2019

Jumbos dominate in home return

EVAN SLACK / THE TUFTS DAILY

Senior Casey Santos-Ocampo sprints toward home plate during Tufts 24–6 win over Mass. Maritime on March 27.

BASEBALL

continued from page 11 never surrendered the lead as they won the game 4–2. The Jumbos got their runs early in this game, scoring two runs each in the second and third innings. Junior outfielder/catcher Ryan Day scored the first run of the game on a wild pitch in the bottom of the second. Then Varinos came up and hit an RBI single to score senior co-captain infielder Will Shackelford.

Varinos spoke about the play and his process during the Jumbos’ scoring drive.

“I came up, there was a guy on third and there was two outs, so I was just looking to have a good at bat, just have a competitive at bat, get my pitch,” Varinos said. “If the pitch was there, I was trying to drive the ball to get the run in, and if it was not there, then I was going to take my walk. The pitcher gave me something I could handle, and I put a pretty good swing on it and was able to get the job done.”

In the next inning, Frickman continued the scoring for the Jumbos by ripping an RBI double to score first-year infielder Peter DeMaria. Day singled later in

the inning, scoring Frickman all the way from first on an error by the right fielder.

Bates got on the board in the fourth due to an unearned run. In the fifth inning, senior catcher/first-baseman Justin White doubled home junior catcher Jack Arend for the Bobcats to cut the lead to 4–2, but the Bobcats scored no more, securing the win for the Jumbos. Tufts’ starting pitcher, junior Brent Greeley, picked up his third win of the season, throwing four innings and giving up two hits on zero unearned runs.

Varinos led off for the Jumbos in this game and had an excellent day at the plate, going 3-for-3 with an RBI and a walk.

“Anytime I am leading off, especially in my first at bat of the game, I really just want to kind of see as many pitches as I can so I can report back to my teammates on what kind of stuff the pitcher has that day,” Varinos said. “ [For] your other at bats, it depends on where you fall in the order for those innings. The first at bat of the game, [I’m] definitively looking to set the tone for the rest of the game and try to collect as much information as possible.”

The first meeting between these two NESCAC teams came on March 29. The

Jumbos relied on a complete game by senior co-captain RJ Hall to blank the Bobcats 6–0. Hall only gave up three hits in his masterpiece to secure his third win of the season.

Although Hall threw a complete game shutout, he credited his defense on the team’s stellar performance.

“Our defense was what made us win that game — not me pitching on the mound,” Hall said. “Our defense had my back the entire game.”

Hall then brought up a crucial play that occurred in the first inning that positioned Tufts well for the rest of the game.

“In the first inning when there was a runner on first and third … Casey [Santos-Ocampo] made a diving catch right on the warning track out in left field when there were two outs, so that saved a run,” Hall said. “It was just a phenomenal play and set the tone for the defense for the entire rest of the game.”

The Jumbos started off the game hot, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Sophomore infielder Ryan Daues scored in Day for the first run of the game on a double to right field. DeMaria continued the scoring later in the inning on a single to left field to score in Daues.

The Jumbos scored another run in the bottom of the second inning on a bases-loaded walk by Daues, which scored Frickman. Sophomore infielder Will Burgess singled home Santos-Ocampo in the bottom of the fourth inning to extend the lead to 4–0. DeMaria concluded the scoring by bringing in Santos-Ocampo and Day on a single to left field.

The Jumbos started their long home stretch against Mass. Maritime on March 27. Tufts’ offense erupted for 24 runs on 11 hits and 20 walks. The Jumbos’ 20 walks tied for the second most by any team in Div. III history.

Lead-off hitter Mills scored three times on four walks to control the tempo for the Jumbos. Mills spoke about his performance against Mass. Maritime.

“I was just trying to be disciplined,” Mills said. “It was a pretty cold day out.

We were just trying to make them come to us and attack our pitch if we got it.

When guys got their pitch they were attacking it and they were hitting it hard, and we had the luxury of being able to wait and take what they would give us and [make] them play our game.”

The Jumbos play next against the MIT Engineers on April 4.

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Sports

Thursday, April 4, 2019 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY

Tufts women’s tennis falls to Wesleyan in month’s last match

by Julia Atkins

Assistant Sports Editor

Tufts women’s tennis dropped two matches to close out the month of March, sliding to 3–4 in its spring season.

On March 31, the Jumbos fell to theWesleyan Cardinals 5–1, playing only six matches until the decision could be reached. Normally, women’s tennis plays nine matches in head-to-head contests, but inclement weather forced both the men and women inside.

Because the men’s team was locked in a grueling contest with Wesleyan, which they narrowly lost 5–4, the women did not begin play until 5:30 p.m. in the Gantcher Center, 2.5 hours after the intended start time. The Cardinals agreed to play no longer than necessary given the delay.

The Jumbos got off to a strong start: Firstyear doubles duo Maggie Dorr and Caroline Garrido grabbed an 8–2 win to put the Jumbos ahead 1–0. They trounced a pair of sisters ranked fifth nationally on the Wesleyan side: senior Victoria Yu and first-year Kristina Yu. “Our energy as a team on the court was unbelievable,” Dorr said. “We were all pumping each other up so much.”

However, Wesleyan was unfazed and battled back to regain the lead in the doubles matchups. Tufts lost a tight tiebreaker in its No. 3 doubles when first-year Anna Lowy and junior Kat Wiley fell to two Wesleyan underclassmen 8–7 (7–4).

The Cardinal lead continued to grow with a singles win by Kristina Yu over sophomore Patricia Obeid, 6–2, 6–2. Jumbo first-year Nicole Frankel also dropped her match 6–2, 6–2, leaving the Cardinals one win away from a victory.

Victoria Yu clinched Wesleyan’s victory with a 6–2, 6–4 win over Tufts’ Maggie Dorr.

The No. 2, 5 and 6 singles matches went unfinished, much to the chagrin of senior Tomo Iwasaki, who was locked in a tight battle against Venia Young, the No. 4 ranked singles player nationally. But it was too little too late — the Cardinals had already won.

With the win, Wesleyan advanced to 8–1 and 3–0 in NESCAC play. Tufts extended its losing streak to three and now stands at 2–2 in the NESCAC, falling to 3–4 after a strong 3–1 overall start. Nonetheless, its coach is proud of the progress being made.

“Coach was very proud of how the team did on Sunday,” senior Otilia Popa said. “It was an incredibly close match and the team fought very hard.”

Two days prior, on March 29, the Jumbos played their first home head-to-head matchup against Bowdoin College. The matches were also moved indoors due to rain, and the Polar Bears capitalized with a 7–2 win.

Contributing Writer

Upon return from its spring break trip to Virginia, the Tufts began its 15-homegame stretch against Massachusetts Maritime Academy on Wednesday, March 27. After winning by a score of 24–6, the Jumbos played a three-game series against NESCAC opponent Bates and one game against Salem State. They went 4–1 all told and improved their record to 12–3 overall and 2–1 in NESCAC play.

On Monday, the Jumbos exploded for 30 runs in an impressive 30–2 victory over the Salem State Vikings. It’s the most runs the Tufts has scored in a game since 1987 when it beat Colby 32–10. The Jumbos fell behind early in this game, as

Arjun Balaraman Off the crossbar

The power of loyalty

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BEN KIM / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Senior Mina Karamercam prepares to return a shot during a doubles match in the women’s tennis home game against Williams at the Voute Tennis Courts on April 28, 2018.

Bowdoin started off strong, sweeping all three doubles matches — its No. 1 and 3 doubles both secured 8–3 pro-sets, defeating Dorr/Garrido and Wiley/Lowy, respectively. Its No. 2 doubles won 8–4, with veterans Iwasaki/Obeid faltering on the Jumbo side as well.

However, Iwasaki and Obeid each came back with a vengeance, securing victories in singles matches. Unfortunately, that would be the only taste of victory Tufts would earn all day, with Garrido, Wiley, Frankel and Dorr all falling in their singles matches.

Dorr was locked in a struggle against Bowdoin’s Julia Marks, but ultimately was ousted in two sets that went to tiebreakers. Losing 7–6 (7–5), 7–6 (8–6), she put up an admirable effort, but it was not enough to add another “W” to score another win for the Jumbos.

Tufts is a young team; six out of its nine players are underclassmen. Four are firstyears, so while losses are never ideal, the first-years in particular have much potential and are sure to keep working hard to achieve greater results.

“For me it’s been very cool to see the team get stronger and stronger every match,” Popa said. “I think it’s really easy to let losses bring down your confidence, especially since we are playing so many matches at this point in the season. However, I feel like our team has done an especially good job framing losses as a way to learn what we need to work on and only focusing on that going forward.”

Coming off of the stinging defeats at home to close out March, Tufts looks forward to hosting the Emory Eagles, the No. 1 team in the nation, on April 5.

Baseball team returns home strong from Virginia

by Jacob Dreyer

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junior right fielder Traverse Briana hit a two-run home run for the Vikings that brought home sophomore center fielder Shawn Rebello.

The Jumbos quickly responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning. Junior outfielder JP Knight walked with the bases loaded to score junior outfielder Justin Mills for the first run of the game for Tufts. Junior infielder Elias Varinos continued the inning with an RBI single to center field to score senior outfielder Casey SantosOcampo, and senior co-captain Harrison Frickman finished the scoring in the bottom of the first inning by getting hit by a pitch to score Santos-Ocampo again.

The Jumbos’ offense proceeded to score 10 runs in the third, seven runs

in the fourth and nine runs in the fifth, adding an additional run in the eighth to conclude their scoring for the game.

The Jumbos had 22 hits in this game, most notably a 3-for-4 game for SantosOcampo and a 6-for-7 performance by Varinos.

The Jumbos split a doubleheader against the Bobcats on March 30. In the second game, the Jumbos suffered a narrow 6–5 defeat. Bates took an early 5–0 lead after two-and-a-half innings, and despite Tufts’ scoring efforts in the middle innings, they came up just short in their comeback bid.

In the first game of the double-header, the Jumbos started off strong and see BASEBALL, page 10

arlier this week, amidst speculation that he would be leaving his Kentucky Wildcat program for the Bruins of UCLA, coach John Calipari signed a deal to keep him in Lexington for the entirety of his coaching career. In 2010, he took over the struggling but big-name Kentucky program that was without a Final Four appearance in over a decade. “Cal” had long voiced a desire to coach at one of the big “blue-blood” schools and took his chance leading the Wildcats to four of the last nine Final Fours.

His loyalty to Kentucky in signing the deal is admirable. It is no coincidence that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, a former Manchester United player himself, conjured up a similar turnaround when he took over as United boss earlier this year. Solskjaer was an inexperienced manager when United asked him to take over on an interim basis.

His record wasn’t good: His first stint with Championship side Cardiff City ended in 8.5 months and he found himself back in his home country coaching the lowly FC Molde.

He performed better in his second stint, scoring a three-year deal.

But what he lacked in experience, he made up for in passion for the club. Solskjaer embodies United through and through. He spent much of his career under the tutelage of legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson and had two years of experience coaching the reserves side once his playing career ended in 2007. He is most famous for his lastgasp comeback winner against Bayern Munich in 1999 that solidified his place as a Manchester United legend. His words upon being named the full-time United boss last week: “This has been my ultimate dream.”

In a match against Liverpool, United’s archrivals, Solskjaer started 21-year-old Scott McTominay over other, more experienced options because he “[was] an academy kid who knows the importance of these games.” McTominay grew up playing for the United academy team and has progressed through the ranks. United’s recent improvement in results owes much to the improved play of academy graduates such as Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Paul Pogba.

Look at the Barcelona teams of 2007– 2011, often considered one of the greatest of all time. They were coached by Josep “Pep” Guardiola, who joined Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy when he was 13 and stayed there for nearly 20 more years as a player. His teams were anchored by Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Busquets, graduates of the famed academy who personified the “Barcelona way.” Clearly, their success owed much not only to the quartet’s otherworldly talent but the blood of the club’s ethos and history running through their veins.

With the recent influx of money into the game, some clubs are using their academies less and less, opting to construct teams with more developed, experienced players from outside rather than developing their own.

Big teams also seem to throw money at the same group of four or five managers to lead their sides. Perhaps, after seeing the success enjoyed by Guardiola, Solskjaer and others, like Zinedine Zidane at Real Madrid, it’s time for more teams start to look to their former legendary players to manage their sides.

Arjun Balaraman is a sophomore studying quantitative economics. Arjun can be reached at arjun.balaraman@tufts.edu.

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Sports

Thursday, April 4, 2019

Offseason in the NFL: Debriefing a hectic month of signings and trades

by Aiden Herrod

Five moves in NFL free agency that make a non-contender interesting:

The bulk of the NFL’s wild free agency period has come and gone. Many fans have plenty to look forward to, as plenty of teams signed on or traded for shiny new players to bolster their rosters. This is a list of some of the most significant signings so you can make sense of the chaotic off season and be prepared as the NFL draft approaches.

Note: Free agent signings and info are courtesy of spotrac.com. General information on players and player news courtesy of ESPN.com.

1. Dee Ford: pass-rusher, traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the San Francisco 49ers Dee Ford broke out for the Chiefs in 2018 with 13 sacks. He was franchise-tagged and promptly traded to the 49ers, who quickly extended him for big money. Ford fills a massive need for an edge rusher for the 49ers, whose defense lacked proper closers and sufficient quarterback pressure. Ford will immediately boost this squad for a run at the playoffs with the now-healthy Jimmy Garoppolo at quarterback.

Staff Writer

Five moves in NFL free agency that made massive headlines: 1. Odell Beckham Jr.: wide receiver traded from the New York Giants to the Cleveland Browns Beckham’s shocking move from New York to Cleveland signals big things for the NFL. The Browns are officially ready to make noise with exciting playmakers positioned on both sides of the ball, while the Giants are in full rebuild mode after dealing what many call a generational talent for a haul of draft picks.

2. Antonio Brown: wide receiver, traded from the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Oakland Raiders After a full season of Brown’s antics, Pittsburgh was clearly anxious to move on.

The 30-year-old landed in Oakland, where he has the potential to elevate the entire offense and accelerate the roster-building of the Raiders as they gear up to move to Las Vegas. The Steelers should still contend with the youthful Juju SmithSchuster ready to emerge as the new No. 1 wide receiver.

3. Le’Veon Bell: running back, signed with the New York Jets After sitting out all of the Steelers’ 2018 season, Bell looked to take his talents elsewhere and parlay his abilities into a massive contract. He was rewarded by the Jets, who spent big this offseason to put pieces around second-year quarterback Sam Darnold. Bell instantly improves the offense as a touches workhorse and effective pass-catcher.

4. Nick Foles: quarterback, signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars Foles made a name for himself on a dreamlike Super Bowl run in 2018 and subsequent playoff success this past season.

He turned all of that into a starting job with Jacksonville, who will look to rebound and make the playoffs again with emphasis on a strong defense and run game. Foles will be a big upgrade from inconsistent Blake Bortles, who is leaving Jacksonville to back up Jared Goff in Los Angeles.

5. CJ Mosley: linebacker, signed with the New York Jets Another expensive Jets signing made headlines early in free agency. Mosley left Charm City for the Big Apple, and in doing so, he instantly improves the defensive side of the ball and fills a big need on the inside for Gang Green. Mosley’s youth and talent should be a huge benefit to New York for years to come.

2. Landon Collins: safety, signed with the Washington Redskins The Washington Redskins signed young, talented safety Landon Collins to bolster a defense that was putting on plenty of strong performances early last year. The injury bug unfortunately caught up with the team, and 2018 was a lost season in the end. Collins, paired with a proper solution to the Redskins’ quarterback conundrum, could be a big step towards a playoff berth.

3. Olivier Vernon: pass-rusher, traded from the New York Giants to the Cleveland Browns Amidst the outburst of headlines surrounding Odell Beckham Jr., another trade between Cleveland and New York got lost between the cracks. Olivier Vernon adds 51 sacks worth of experience to an already interesting Cleveland defensive line, and will make an ideal No. 2 pass-rushing option behind the immensely talented defensive end Myles Garrett. The Browns are ready to make noise in 2019.

4. Za’Darius Smith: linebacker, signed with the Green Bay Packers Inside linebacker Za’Darius Smith represents Green Bay’s investment in its defensive front seven, something that has been lacking from the team in recent years. With Aaron Rodgers not getting any younger, it is clear the Packers have a rapidly shrinking window to make significant postseason noise with one of the NFL’s most talented quarterbacks ever. Smith’s addition to the defense is a strong step in the right direction.

5. Trent Brown: offensive tackle, signed with the Oakland Raiders Trent Brown parlayed a successful season for the Super Bowl champs in New England into a massive contract. Jon Gruden brought Smith in to help keep Derek Carr upright and improve an offensive line with holes aplenty. Smith’s signing paired with a multitude of offensive improvements should make Oakland fun to watch and more competitive as they gear up to move to Las Vegas.

Five moves in NFL free agency that shore up a contender’s roster: 1. Earl Thomas: safety, signed with the Baltimore Ravens The Ravens stopped the bleeding on defense after numerous veterans left, signing the incredibly talented Earl Thomas to shore up their secondary. Thomas brings years of experience from the Seattle Seahawks’ famous secondary, the “Legion of Boom,” and should keep Baltimore’s defense in a good place as quarterback Lamar Jackson takes the reins for his first full season.

2. Tyrann Mathieu: safety, signed with the Kansas City Chiefs

VIA NFL

The official NFL Logo is pictured.

The Chiefs made improvements to their leaky secondary by signing the talented Tyrann Mathieu to a three-year contract.

Nicknamed “The Honey Badger,” the safety boasts versatility and ball skills that will be an invaluable asset for a defense lacking big names.

3. Eric Weddle: safety, signed with the Los Angeles Rams Eager not to relinquish their title as unofficial off-season champions, the Rams were aggressive in signing more veterans to the defensive side of the ball. The recent Baltimore castoff is still as talented as ever at the safety position, and will help improve a Los Angeles secondary that can be prone to giving up big plays.

4.Teddy Bridgewater: quarterback, re-signed with the New Orleans Saints The former Vikings starter at quarterback has a shot to be the heir to the great Drew Brees in New Orleans with an extension from the Saints. He has postseason-caliber play as part of his upside. In the meantime, he will provide one of the best backup options in the league as Brees looks to make a big run at another Super Bowl before retiring.

5. Michael Bennett: pass-rusher, traded from the Philadelphia Eagles to the New England Patriots In a classic Patriots move, Michael Bennett bolsters a defensive line lacking play-makers and big names. New England is known for getting a lot of production out of its older players, and Bennett fills a passrusher-shaped void after New England lost the youthful Trey Flowers to free agency.

Five moves in NFL free agency that will mean a lot come fantasy football draft season: 1. Mark Ingram: running back, signed with the Baltimore Ravens After boosting his stock as part of a deadly backfield duo in New Orleans alongside Alvin Kamara, Ingram takes his talents to Baltimore for a crack at the lead back role.

He is likely to parlay a 20+ carry workload in multiple weeks, and if he holds up, he’ll provide strong RB2 value.

2. Tevin Coleman: running back, signed with the San Francisco 49ers Back to his old coach and coordinator Kyle Shanahan, Coleman bolsters a crowded San Francisco backfield. He will likely split time with Matt Breida and Jerick McKinnon, in which case he could be a solid flex option with explosive upside due to his big-play abilities and familiarity with Shanahan’s schemes.

3. Desean Jackson: wide receiver, traded from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the Philadelphia Eagles He started 2018 hot, producing highlight-reel touchdowns before quickly cooling off and becoming more or less forgotten. He was traded to his old stomping grounds in Philly, where he should provide big-play upside and serve as a downfield threat for the talented quarterback Carson Wentz. He’ll be a big-play threat WR3, and his presence will boost Wentz’s value in the process.

4. John Brown: wide receiver, signed with the Buffalo Bills Another speedy downfield threat, Brown seems like a perfect match to the cannon-armed quarterback Josh Allen. He should haul in a few big touchdown passes but may struggle to attain much consistent value outside of that. Allen, on the other hand, has top-12 upside value now, pairing an already dominant rushing ability with a new potent deep threat to help him put up juicy QB1 numbers.

5. Devin Funchess: wide receiver, signed with the Indianapolis Colts Funchess steps in as Andrew Luck’s No. 2 option. While he may lack some consistency in 2019, his large stature should give him plenty of red-zone looks in a potent offense. He will be a WR3/flex option in the coming year.