The Tufts Daily - Tuesday, February 19, 2019

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING

Students speak on working at Mail Services see FEATURES / PAGE 4

Jumbos make history at NESCACs, win 2nd place

Women’s basketball advances to NESCAC semifinals after defeating Williams see SPORTS / BACK PAGE

SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXVII, ISSUE 18

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Tuesday, February 19, 2019

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

Tufts purchases property at 123 Packard from Theta Delta Chi, plans to make it a residential hall

by Liza Harris News Editor

The Tufts administration purchased the property at 123 Packard Avenue on Jan. 7 for two million dollars. The house, which was previously owned by the Theta Delta Chi Corporation, will be used to expand on-campus housing options for students, according to Executive Director of Public Relations Patrick Collins.

“While the current occupants have lived in the property without incident this academic year, it is not in the best long-term interests of our students, our neighbors, or the university to have a large number of undergraduates living at the property with no relationship with or oversight by Tufts Residential Life and the Tufts University Police Department,” Collins said in an email to the Daily.

According to Collins, the property at 123 Packard will become a residential building for Tufts students starting in the fall of the 2019–2020 academic year. He stated that the university plans to upgrade safety and security features and also add Tufts IT features to the building.

“Over the long term, the university will investigate renovation opportunities, including the potential for additional on-campus social spaces and the feasibility of increasing occupancy,” Collins said.

“This acquisition will contribute to the overall university goal of adding beds on campus for our students.”

ALINA STRILECKIS/THE TUFTS DAILY

123 Packard Ave. is pictured on Feb. 12.

Director of Real Estate Robert Chihade emphasized that the purchase would help to address problems on campus.

“The acquisition of 123 Packard Avenue by the university ensures the property will

be appropriately folded into Tufts undergraduate housing system, and may be used to address other university priorities, including opportunities to create and utilize space that enhances student life,”

Chihade told the Daily in an email.

According to Collins, the process of purchasing the house began in 1988, when see 123, page 2

TCU Senate hears resolution calling for Tufts Dining to improve accessibility, inclusion

by Robert Kaplan

Assistant News Editor

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate met on Monday evening in the Sophia Gordon Multipurpose Room to hear a resolution outlining several ways for Tufts Dining to improve accessibility and inclusion for the student body, in addition to several supplementary funding requests and an announcement by representatives from the Tufts Dining Action Coalition (TDAC).

The resolution, titled “S.19-3 A Resolution Providing a Roadmap for Future Improvements to Tufts Dining,” directed Tufts Dining to extend dining hours and introduce kosher and halal meat options at Dewick-MacPhie and Carmichael Dining Halls; increase uphill dining options, including the addition of

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a café in Laminan Lounge in the Olin Center; guarantee space availability for student groups; and convert the Swipe It Forward meal program to an opt-out rather than an opt-in program.

The resolution was authored by TCU President and senior Jacqueline Chen, Vice President Adam Rapfogel and Class of 2022 Senator Tim Leong, and was passed unanimously by the TCU Senate.

Rapfogel, a senior, noted the necessity of the resolution for the social life on campus.

“This [resolution] is the path forward for Tufts Dining to accomplish the things that we want to do,” Rapfogel said. “And Tufts Dining has been historically slow to responding to [TCU resolutions].”

The TCU Senate also heard updates from representatives of the TDAC on upcoming initiatives by the organization.

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TDAC activist Georgia Kay emphasized the urgency for turnout at its next event, a picket in front of Carmichael on March 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

“This is the thing to be at,” Kay, a firstyear, said. “If you care at all, this is the event you show up to.”

The TCU Senate also heard a funding appeal from Tufts Ballroom Dance Team. Ballroom initially sought $2,025 to cover registration fees for its members at its upcoming competition at Harvard University on March 2–3.

Ballroom representative Graham Bright explained why his organization requested the total for the upcoming event. “[Ballroom] is a very expensive sport to do,” Bright, a senior, said. “We’re trying to make this as accessible as possible within reason.”

However, TCU Senator Rabiya Ismail believed that the accessibility of partic-

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ipation in the club should be addressed differently.

“The club should be free if [they are] trying to be accessible,” Ismail, a firstyear, said.

Rapfogel explained why Tufts Ballroom charges its members $40 dues. “[TCU Senate] imposes the dues on them,” Rapfogel said. “That’s their personal contribution towards their costs.”

TCU Senator Karan Rai explained why Allocations Board (ALBO) recommended only $900 for Tufts Ballroom.

“The 20-person funding was for a fraction of the group,” Rai, a senior, said. “It was reduced with financial sustainability in mind.”

After debate, TCU Senate voted to allocate $1,350 to Tufts Ballroom

NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................4 ARTS & LIVING.......................6

see SENATE, page 2

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

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Tuesday, February 19, 2019

THE TUFTS DAILY Elie Levine Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL

David Levitsky Anita Ramaswamy Managing Editors Luke Allocco Jessica Blough Austin Clementi Charlie Driver Jenna Fleischer Juliana Furgala Kat Grellman Abbie Gruskin Liza Harris Zachary Hertz Gil Jacobson Rachael Meyer Cathy Perloff Hannah Uebele Joe Walsh Alejandra Carrillo Robert Kaplan Noah Richter Jilly Rolnick Alexander Thompson

Associate Editor Executive News Editor News Editors

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Grace Yuh Executive Features Editor Costa Angelakis Features Editors Jenna Fleischer Sean Ong Michael Shames Fina Short Sidharth Anand Assistant Features Editors Amelia Becker Mark Choi Sarah Crawford Claire Fraise Jacob Fried Mitch Lee Ellie Murphy Ananya Pavuluri Libby Langsner Executive Arts Editor John Fedak Arts Editors Tommy Gillespie Stephanie Hoechst Setenay Mufti Christopher Panella Rebecca Tang Danny Klain Assistant Arts Editors Amanda Rose Yas Salon Aneurin Canham-Clyne Shane Woolley Simrit Uppal Kaitlyn Meslin Amulya Mutnuri Arlo Moore-Bloom Yuan Jun Chee Ryan Eggers Liam Finnegan Jeremy Goldstein Savannah Mastrangelo Maddie Payne Haley Rich Brad Schussel Josh Steinfink Sam Weidner Julia Atkins Tim Chiang Jake Freudberg Noah Stancroff Helen Thomas-McLean Alex Viveros

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Daniel Nelson Investigative Editor Madeleine Oliver Executive Photo Editor Christine Lee Photo Administrator Anika Agarwal Staff Photographers Ann Marie Burke Mike Feng Ben Kim Max Lalanne Meredith Long Julia McDowell Evan Slack Kirt Thorne Caleb Martin-Rosenthal Executive Video Editors Lawrence Ojugbeli Ann Marie Burke Video Editors Annette Key

PRODUCTION Daniel Montoya

Production Director Ryan Eggers Executive Layout Editors Catalina Mengyao Yang Mia Garvin Layout Editors Jordan Isaacs Maygen Kerner Aidan Menchaca Kiran Misner Alice Yoon Isabella Montoya Executive Graphics Editor Myshko Chumak Executive Copy Editors Justin Yu Caroline Bollinger Copy Editors Mary Carroll Rachel Isralowitz Ali Mintz Nihaal Shah Liora Silkes Avni Ambalam Assistant Copy Editors Rebecca Barker Nathan Kyn Simone Lipkind Chloe Lyu Ethan Resek Ryan Shaffer Aadhya Shivakumar Filipa Sturm Russell Yip Abigail Zielinski Deepanshu Utkarsh Esra Gurcay Rebecca Tang Asli Akova Ercan Sen Amy Tong Mitch Navetta Amanda Covaleski Olivia Ireland Lillian Miller Chris Panella

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tuftsdaily.com

Resolution calls on Tufts Dining to increase uphill and late night dining options SENATE

continued from page 1 with 13 in favor, 10 opposed and two abstentions.

The TCU Senate also heard nine supplementary funding requests from various student groups.

According to an ALBO report, Tufts Turbo originally sought $4,050 in funding for three judges, an MC and DJ for Turbomania 2019, a community breakdance competition held in the Sophia Gordon Multipurpose Room on April 20. ALBO only granted $3,950 of Turbo’s request, the report shows.

TCU Senate approved the ALBOrecommended total of $3,950 unanimously.

Women’s Club Volleyball submitted a request for $7,980 to cover travel and lodging costs for a national tournament in Denver, Colo. but was only recommended for $4,295, according to an ALBO report.

TCU Senate unanimously approved the ALBO-recommended total of $4,295.

ALBO recommended $800 for the Muslim Student Association in response to its request to cover to cover costs for speaker Donna Austin for an event that will be co-hosted with the Black Student Union on Feb. 23.

The TCU Senate approved the ALBOrecommended total of $800 with 24 in favor and one opposed.

The Russian Slavic Student Association sought $700 to fund performers at the Russian Music Festival on March 3, according to an ALBO report. It passed by 24–0–1.

ENVY, Tufts’ all-female step team, was approved by ALBO for $214 in transportation fees for a competition at Williams College, according to an ALBO report. TCU Senate voted unanimously to approve the ALBOrecommended total.

According to an ALBO report, Tufts Bhangra originally requested $6,107 for transportation and lodging costs for a competition in College Station, Texas

but was only approved for $4,822 by ALBO. TCU Senate voted unanimously to approve the ALBO-recommended total.

Tufts Climate Action, a newly recognized student group, was recommended $200 by ALBO for its new budget, according to an ALBO report. TCU Senate voted to approve the ALBOrecommended total of $200 unanimously.

Tufts Debate Society originally requested $3,800 to fund its participation in a national tournament but was approved for $3,128, according to an ALBO report. TCU Senate approved the ALBO-recommended total of $3,128 with 21 in favor and four abstentions.

The Singaporean Students Association sought $750 to invite a speaker, Kent E. Calder, for its Bicentennial Event, according to Ismail. The amount was unanimously approved in full.

The TCU Senate then adjourned for the evening.

Tufts plans to use former Theta Delta Chi property as residential hall 123

continued from page 1 the Theta Delta Chi Corporation granted the university the right to purchase the house “in the event that the University shall determine in its own sole discretion that the Premises, or any part thereof, are required for University purposes.”

He said that the process of purchasing the property was outlined in the agreement, and Tufts began taking steps to purchase the property in September 2018.

Current occupants of the house, who were formerly paying rent to the Theta Delta Chi Corporation, will be allowed to remain in the house until the conclusion of the 2018–2019 academic year. According to Collins, the tenants will pay the university the same rent that they paid Theta Delta Chi Corporation, and the university has applied for a lodging house license in Somerville.

“The University will honor the rental agreements the current occupants had with TDC through the end of this academic year. In the Fall of the 2019–2020 academic year, occupancy in the house will be priced consistent with other Tufts on-campus housing options,” Collins said.

In October 2017, the university dissolved its recognition of Theta Delta Chi and banned it from applying to return to campus before 2027, according to Collins. The Theta Delta Chi

Corporation still owned the house at this time.

The Theta Delta Chi Corporation applied to Somerville this past fall for a lodging house license to lease rooms to 18 students but was unable to renew its license for the coming fall. According to Collins, the Tufts administration opposed this action because the university “no longer recognizes Theta Delta Chi as an active fraternity at Tufts.”

Despite this, the administration acknowledges the fraternity’s significance in the community.

“We recognize the important role that Theta Delta Chi has played in Tufts’ history and value the relationships that the fraternity members have developed with each other and the university over the years,” Executive Director of Alumni Relations Ed Ellison said in an email to the Daily. “We intend to work with Theta Delta Chi alumni to ensure that they continue to have a place in the Tufts alumni community.”

Collins added that the university has worked on maintaining a relationship with Theta Delta Chi alumni.

“Our alumni relations office has already reached out to members of TDC,” Collins said. “We appreciate their long-standing connection and contributions to the university and will be working to ensure that they continue to be part of our alumni community.”

Nevertheless, some Theta Delta Chi alumni are upset with the situation.

Former Theta Delta Chi president David Lincoln (A ’52) spoke to the Daily about the legacy of the fraternity and expressed his disappointment with the current closure of the chapter. “[Theta Delta Chi] has contributed at least four people to the leadership of Tufts University. It’s more than a real estate transaction,” Lincoln said. “[Theta Delta Chi alumni] feel disappointment because that particular fraternity for us was a magic place, a place where we developed friendships.”

According to Collins, if Theta Delta Chi returns to campus as a registered student organization in 2027, the university will consider allowing them to use the property.

“The University is leaving open the potential for the Theta Delta Chi fraternity to again be based at 123 Packard Avenue at some point in the future, provided that the fraternity is reinstated as a student organization in 2027 and remains in good standing thereafter,” Collins said.

For the time being, however, the property at 123 Packard Avenue is set to become a residential hall.

“Negotiations and discussions related to the transaction were cordial and productive,” Collins said.

create and communicate audio journalism that is sincere and intimate. Wang’s podcast “My Dad’s Friendship with Charles Barkley” garnered national attention, and her current project contemplates the experience of loss.

Where and when: Crane Room, Paige Hall; 6–7 p.m.

“Queerness and Mental Health Panel” Details: Active Minds will host a panel of speakers to address the intersection of queer identities and mental health.

Where and when: Curtis Multipurpose Room; 6–7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY “Divisions/Revisions of Labor — Symposium on Gender and Culture” Details: The 2019 Women’s Center Symposium will reflect on cultural concepts of what counts as labor and what work is given value. The event includes a keynote speaker Brian Horton, a Ph.D. Candidate at Brown University, and panels on work and gender.

Where and when: Crane Room, Paige Hall; 1–5 p.m.

“Interfaith Death Café with Tufts Humanists” Details: In celebration of Interfaith Awareness Month, Tufts Humanists will host a space for conversations about death and dying, as well as dinner and cake.

Where and when: Interfaith Center; 5–7 p.m.

Events on the Hill: Week of Feb. 18

by Jessica Blough

Executive News Editor

TUESDAY “Distinguished Speaker Series: Donna Brazile” Details: As their first Distinguished Speaker of the semester, Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life will invite Donna Brazile, political strategist and former chair of the Democratic National Committee, to speak on the state of politics and the looming presidential election.

Where and when: ASEAN Auditorium; 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY “The Intimate Interview: A Conversation with Shirley Wang” Details: Tufts alumnus, podcast presenter and audio journalist Shirley Wang will discuss her podcasting career and discuss how to

THURSDAY “TUSC Coffeehouse ft Hawthorn” Details: Tufts University Social Collective will host the talents of Hawthorn accompanied by beverages and desserts.

Where and when: Curtis Hall Multipurpose Room; 7–9 p.m.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | ADVERTISEMENT | THE TUFTS DAILY

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February 19, 2019 6:30 p.m.

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Features

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Behind the scenes at Mail Services: Students share work experiences

THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

The mail room is pictured on Sept. 20, 2000.

by Amelia Becker

Assistant Features Editor

Processing 70,000 packages annually, the Tufts University Mail Services Department is responsible for providing mail service to residence halls, small houses as well as university offices of the Medford, Boston and Grafton campuses, according to Senior Facilities Director Cory Pouliot.

Mail Services is run by Support Services Manager Sheila Chisholm. It is staffed by four full-time staff members and 21 student workers, according to Pouliot. The number of workers may increase to meet demands, especially at the beginning of the semester when there is a larger volume of packages, according to Pouliot.

Pouliot said that online ordering services such as Amazon have increased the amount of packages received by Mail Services, including an increase in the number of textbook deliveries. Student workers have noticed this change as well.

“For some reason, we have a lot more packages this year than we normally would, so we’re always … working,” senior George Umegboh, who has worked at Mail Services since spring of his first year, said.

The increased volume of packages received by Mail Services has a serious impact on the environment. This includes the packaging involved as well as the environmental costs of shipping, Pouliot said.

In an effort to increase sustainability within Mail Services, the Office of Sustainability has added a Trex bin, which takes thin plastics that normally cannot be recycled and turns them into wood-alternative composite products, and addition-

al recycling signage at the Mail Services office in Hill Hall.

“The bin is good, not just because that kind of plastic is typically impossible or difficult to recycle, it’s also that that’s a pretty common form of plastic in packaging,” sophomore Tyler Stotland, an education and verification intern at the Office of Sustainability, said. “It’s bubble wrap and those little air packets — those can now be recycled.”

Students looking to seriously reduce their negative impact on the environment may want to look for local options.

Students who have the ability to walk to Davis Square to get the same goods they would get online should seriously consider that option, Stotland said.

Stotland also encouraged students to break down their cardboard boxes. This would not only prevent an excess of boxes but also aid in the recycling process, as full boxes cannot be recycled.

With a seemingly never-ending stream of packages passing through Mail Services’ doors, student workers, who are primarily responsible for making sure students get the right packages, are constantly on their feet.

According to Umegboh and fellow student worker Geoffrey Tobia, packages go through a multi-step process before they reach their intended recipient: They are scanned in when they first arrive, then students receive an email saying their package is ready to be picked up and finally packages are alphabetized and put away in the correct spot.

Tobia, a first-year, added that when a student comes in to pick up their package they may be asked how many packages they have or how many emails they have received, which help the student workers assess how many packages they are looking for.

Difficulties may arise when names or addresses don’t match up, according to Umegboh.

For instance, while Tufts has allowed students to change their preferred name on their student ID card, Mail Services’ records currently reflect only the legal names of students.

Students would receive packages with their preferred names, which led to student workers becoming “detectives” in order to figure out who the package belonged to, Umegboh said.

Outdated addresses require extra work as well. Student workers have to confirm addresses in the database, Tobia said.

Someone who lived in Houston Hall last year may now live in Wren Hall, all of which must be verified.

With renovations on Miller Hall having completed, mailboxes have also been removed from the building. As part of a “new direction for the university to eliminate mailboxes within renovated buildings,” Pouliot said. Students living in Miller Hall can now pick up their mail at the same place that they pick up their packages.

“This new way of doing business has allowed us to become more efficient and to provide improved customer service,” Pouliot said.

As this shift is implemented, mail for residents of Miller Hall will be processed separately, according to Tobia. Sometimes emails will be sent out for letters, as is currently done for packages, Tobia said.

Tobia added that students occasionally come in looking for time-sensitive packages, such as passports, medicine or books for class. If packages are not processed in time, workers at Mail Services may have to go “digging through the huge bins of boxes” in order to find them, Tobia said.

Speaking about his experience talking to students, Umegboh noted that the majority of people cared the most about getting their packages on time.

“If your parents send food, or you order something for a specific class for a certain day, if we don’t get it in before that day, then … you ordered it for no reason,” Umegboh said.

Umegboh commented that Mail Services has been inefficient “because we haven’t been prioritizing the right things,” suggesting that the organization could be more effective if it placed a greater emphasis on scanning packages, rather than dealing with letters, leaving workers to constantly play catch-up with the demand.

Tobia urged students to pick up their packages regularly. He added that some students come in to find 10 or more packages waiting for them, which they cannot afford to be carry back in one trip.

“We’ve got a lot of boxes in the back room, so clearing that up would certainly be a relief,” Tobia said.

Pouliot noted that Mail Services has always been open to suggestions for improvement.

“We’re always looking for ways to improve and welcome feedback from students, faculty and staff about potential ways to enhance our services,” Pouliot said.

Overall, student workers seem to enjoy their time at Mail Services.

“It’s great. The staff over there are really nice, very friendly. I’ve gotten to know them over the years,” Umegboh said.

Tobia said he also likes working there.

“For the most part I’m on my feet, I’m working and I don’t mind interacting with people,” Tobia added. “It’s going fairly well, I don’t foresee myself quitting anytime soon.”

F e at u r e s

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | Features | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Megan Szostak Lisztomania

SURE, AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK

BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. BUT I TAUGHT HIM TO THROW A STICK AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10

More than Mozart

T

he world became astronomically bigger in the 18th century. In preceding centuries, the Americas had begun to be colonized by the Europeans, and by the middle of the 18th century, European colonialism had made its way onto nearly every continent. This desire for grandeur in regards to extending one’s borders promoted thinking at a larger scale in disciplines such as science, technology and the arts. The period of music that gives “classical music” its name is our focus this week: the Classical period. Lasting from around 1730 until the early 1820s, the Classical period (notice the capital “C” denoting the period rather than the general style) adheres to this mindset of expansionism and colonialism in the sense that music, like countries, became bigger.

Baroque music, such as that composed by J.S. Bach, was often characterized by the composer’s intention to write for a small ensemble. In Classical ensembles however, more musicians were involved and the works that they performed also became larger.

The word “symphony” comes from the ancient Greek word, “symphonia,” meaning “an agreement of sound,” and an agreement of sound was exactly what drove early symphonic composers. The first true symphonies, which can be defined as multi-movement pieces composed for a large group of musicians, often including strings, winds, brass and percussion, and led by a conductor, were first written around 1730. These symphonies involved many melodic and harmonic parts, and harmonies between the different instrumental sections gave the music a full and large timbre, or musical sound quality and texture, which was suited for concerts in extravagant concert halls which had begun to be built around Europe. Franz Joseph Haydn (pronounced “Hide-in”) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, two of the most influential and celebrated symphonic composers, wrote an astounding 106 and 41 symphonies, respectively.

An interesting side effect to this global expansionism was that there was suddenly much less mystery in what lay beyond the horizon. People were more informed about what was occurring beyond their city borders, and international travel became easier than it had ever been before. Composers and musicians began to travel to find inspiration for their work as well as give performances.

Performers such as violinist Niccolò Paganini became well-known throughout Europe as true virtuosi, and were known to give concerts demonstrating highly advanced technique and musicality. These top performers used the finest instruments of their day, with violinists often playing on violins created by luthiers such as Antonio Stradivari, whose career bridged the Baroque and Classical periods. The ability to bring music that had once been confined to a single city or country into a larger realm was a defining characteristic of the Classical period, and set up the Western world for more international musical collaboration in the decades to come.

Suggested listening (chronological order of composition): Franz Joseph Haydn — “Violin Concerto in G Major” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — “Sinfonia Concertante in E-flat” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Symphony No. 36 “Linz” Franz Joseph Haydn — Symphony No. 85 “La Reine” Niccolò Paganini — “3 Ritornelli M.S. 113” Carl Maria von Weber — “Concertino for Clarinet and Orchestra” Niccolò Paganini — “Violin Caprice No. 24” Megan Szostak is a first-year studying international relations and music. Megan can be reached at megan.szostak@tufts.edu.

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ARTS&LIVING

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

FILM REVIEW

‘The Wandering Earth’: China enters space on screen

VIA PANDAILY

A promotional image for ‘The Wandering Earth’ (2019) is shown.

Arts Editor

Released on Feb. 5, “The Wandering Earth” (2019), China’s debut sci-fi film spectacle, is now playing in Boston. The film was adapted from a novella of the same name by author Liu Cixin, winner of numerous prestigious sci-fi awards within and outside China, such as the Galaxy Award, the Locus Award and the Hugo Award. “The Wandering Earth” tells the story of Earth’s human-facilitated migration to a distant planetary system by the force of thousands of engines in an attempt to flee its otherwise imminent demise due to the expanding sun. The film alternates between the setting on earth and on an international space station, reflecting the “Interstellar” (2014) father-child dynamic in the relationship between Liu Peiqiang (Wu Jing) and Liu Qi (Qu Chuxiao) while exploring themes pertinent to the human identity and citing stylistic influences from western sci-fi films.

The young adult Liu Qi and his adopted sister Han Duoduo (Zhao Jinmai) exemplify the typical “child hero” trope in fantasy fictions as they literally save the world by respectively devising the plan to ignite Jupiter and recruiting global support. As the film approaches its end, the United Earth Government desperately declares that Earth will imminently crash into Jupiter due to its heavy gravitational pull, and that “the Wandering Earth”

project has failed. As the whole world falls into heartbreak, Liu Qi recalls a childhood memory of star-watching with his father and learning from him that Jupiter is composed of primarily hydrogen. This nostalgic, involuntary act of remembering quickly leads to Liu Qi realizing that Earth might have a last shot at survival with the help of an ignited Jupiter, which will blow Earth to safety. Although Liu Qi comes up with this plan, his sister Han Duoduo helps execute it by broadcasting their message to the world and enlisting global support.

Portraying Liu Qi and Han Duoduo as world saviors who allow the continued existence of Earth, the film employs the narrative motif of the youth as both the literal and the symbolic path to the future. Indeed, adolescence is arguably the perfect liminal space that embodies both the inventive and exploratory tendencies of childhood and the power and agency of adulthood. Therefore, such a courageous, creative and idealistic generation is portrayed as the regenerative force within the society.

The film generally emphasizes the triviality of earthly existence by constantly bringing into sight beautiful, melancholic scenes of a helplessly lonely Earth wandering among the endless cosmic darkness and the image of a Jupiter-filled sky.

As seen from a human’s perspective, the thrusters are powerful mammoths that project strong, sky-piercing blue flames

into space. However, when the perspective shifts into one that watches Earth from space, as constantly occurs during the film, the once-majestic flames appear so faint that their efforts in propelling Earth seem no greater than what strands of hair can do to move a lead ball. What adds to the desolation of these space scenes is that the flames — ice blue in color and airy and soft in texture — assume a watery quality. The Earth seems to be shedding tears as it leaves behind evanescent traces of itself while moving forward.

Toward the end of the film, as Jupiter’s gravitational pull on earth grows, the sky, as seen on Earth, becomes almost entirely a misty view of the gaseous, monstrous-looking Jupiter. The sky’s loss of its original boundless height and endless space to the approaching leviathan of Jupiter triggers a suffocative sense of megalophobia in the audience, dwarfing their existence.

“The Wandering Earth” also uses the cliché of a dystopia controlled by artificial intelligence (AI), to indicate that human sentimentality should be more treasured than logic. In the film, MOSS, the AI operating system of the international space station, overrides Liu Peiqiang’s order to sacrifice the station as the fuel for igniting Jupiter, hence saving Earth. More often than not, AIs have been made self-conscious and rebellious in sci-fi films.

Obvious prototypes for MOSS include the commanding system HAL 9000 from

“2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) and the Autopilot from “WALL-E” (2008).

In “The Wandering Earth,” the space station carries countless human, plant and animal embryos and comprehensive records of human civilizations. Therefore, the reasoning behind MOSS’ choice is that it is highly cost-ineffective to sacrifice the recorded history and future of human existence to rescue an already-damaged Earth population with minimum likelihood of success. Therefore, MOSS differs from its predecessors on screen, in that it is essentially not anti-human, but anti-sentimentality and pro-rationality. The final defeat of MOSS serves as an endorsement of the human race as defined by its present existence, not its inanimate past or unknown future.

Despite inevitably drawing inspirations from Western sci-fi films, “The Wandering Earth” is unmistakably Chinese. Much of the film is set in Chinese cities, showcasing landmark architecture, like the CCTV headquarters in Beijing and the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai, albeit in dilapidated forms. Besides, the protagonist Liu Qi, unlike some of his light-hearted, young parallels in the West, such as Peter Parker from the “Spider-Man” series, remains solemn and taciturn throughout the film. This introspective personality of Liu Qi reflects the generally more reserved Chinese culture in comparison to its Western counterparts, namely American pop culture.

ION OF STA IAT TE OC

TERS RES FO

NATIONAL A SS

by Ruijingya Tang

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Arts & Living

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | Arts & Living | THE TUFTS DAILY

MOVIE REVIEW

‘Kingdom’ graces audience with a gift of talented script-writing and acting

VIA HELLOKPOP

A promotional image for Netflix’s ‘Kingdom’ (2018–) is shown.

by Yuan Jun Chee Sports Editor

In recent years, Netflix has increased the number of Korean original programs distributed on its platform, with “Kingdom” (2018–) being the latest addition to this growing list of productions.

The drama series has a few hit-makers in its credits: screenwriter Kim Eunhee also wrote the well-received cable drama “Signal” (2016) and director Kim Seong-hun directed the 2016 hit “The Tunnel.” Viewers familiar with Korean popular culture will surely be reminded of the 2016 film “Train to Busan,” also available on Netflix, another huge zombie-film hit that was widely successful both in Korea and internationally. Where “Kingdom” differs is perhaps in its attention to plot development, made possible by the choice of distribution platform.

The series is set in the Joseon era, Korea’s longest-ruling dynasty. The opening scene in the first episode sets the tone for the whole series. It begins late at night, when a physician and a young boy head to the King’s chambers, with the old physician warning the boy to not look inside the King’s bedchamber at all costs. As the young boy sets down the King’s medication, a monster from inside the King’s bedchamber grabs and devours the young boy.

It is later revealed that this entire ploy has been set up by the power-hungry Minister Cho Hak-jo, expertly portrayed

by Ryu Seung-ryong. Bloodthirsty monsters rampaging throughout in the country run parallel to Minister Cho’s efforts to gain power for himself. Minister Cho is effectively the most powerful person in the country, with his daughter as Queen and his son as head of the Royal Investigation Bureau. Cho sought to convert the King

into a zombie, keeping him barely alive, to buy his daughter time to give birth to a new Crown Prince.

The zombie virus spreads at an extremely rapid rate, and the series does a good job capturing the panic and horror of the crisis.

Family members try to save their weaker relatives, and then try to feed on them after they themselves have caught the virus. The nighttime fight scenes with the zombies are often chaotic, given that they occur in total darkness, a condition which the zombies are unable to handle. While these scenes may be disorganized and at times disappointing, such combat scenes hardly factor into the overall development of the series. This allows viewers to focus in on the themes of the series instead, making “Kingdom” a significant departure from classic horror zombie flicks.

In fact, one can almost forget about the bloodthirsty nature of the zombies throughout the series, and instead focus on the politics of the whole situation. Rich nobles appear to be feckless and leave the infested city of Dongnae, leaving the peasants to fend for themselves. A sense of justice is perhaps delivered when most of the nobles are turned into zombies as well. However, Kim Eun-hee smartly keeps the new mayor of Dongnae, who is related to the Cho family, alive, even if he does not seem to have nefarious intentions, to reflect the disparity of choices that different classes had in dealing with the situation.

Meanwhile, Minister Cho’s extreme desire for power is reflected in his accusation of the Crown Prince Yi Chang for treason. In a stand-off with the Crown Prince, forces under Cho’s command take advantage of the Crown Prince’s hesitancy to shoot at innocent peasants who had just fended off a hoard attack. Cho further orders the closing of all gates south of the

capital, including around the city of Sangju, where the Crown Prince was headed in an attempt to join forces with General An Hyun (Heo Jun-ho), a war hero. The Queen (Kim Hye-jun) is also involved in a plot that takes advantage of innocent villagers for her own attempt to maintain power. The portrayal of such a class divide further enhances the series’ value in criticizing the noble class for hardly ever considering the fate of the people.

“Kingdom” gives us just enough information to keep us enthralled. We are left to wonder about the backgrounds and motivations of some of the other characters. For instance, why is Minister Cho confident that General An could never turn his back on Minister Cho himself? Why does YoungShin (Kim Sung-kyu), one of the first few who fended off the zombies with medical assistant Seo-Bi (Bae Doo-na), hide his military background and have such a hostile attitude towards General An Hyun? And why does Moo-Young (Kim Sang-ho), the Crown Prince’s bodyguard, appear to be so shifty towards the last two episodes?

Just as it seemed that the Crown Prince had finally been able to rally support and consolidate strength with General An Hyun, the series offers us a shocking twist right at the end. As all this is happening Seo-Bi searches for the crucial ingredient to cure the virus. With the above questions left unanswered, Kim Eun-hee has set the series up for an exciting second season.

And while the series features a strong lead cast of Ju Ji-hoon, Ryu Seung-ryong and Bae Doo-na, one of its potential weaknesses was the acting of Kim Hye-jun.

With Ryu suggesting that Kim Hye-jun will play a bigger role in season two, viewers can only hope that the quality of her acting will rise to the occasion.

TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER

7

Audrey Carver Shuttle Talk

Ben Mizrach

T

he demographics of the SMFA shuttle are pretty consistent.

There are always tired-looking dual-degree students, a few Bachelor of Fine Arts students and one of the five drivers that we have come to know and (mostly) love. Someone will be holding a Rubi machine coffee, someone will be struggling to carry a piece of art and someone will be commenting that the shuttle’s running late or early. Every now and then, however, we are joined by a rarity: a musician.

While Tufts is better known for its relationship with the SMFA, it runs a similar dual-degree program with the New England Conservatory, and I had the pleasure of meeting and chatting with one of these members of the artistic shuttle community.

Ben Mizrach sat next to me on my way home last Wednesday, catching the 1:00 p.m. shuttle. The sheet music in his arms instead of sketchbooks made him immediately identifiable as a musician, even without his saxophone in hand. Although he is only in his second semester here at Tufts, the dual-degree student is already remarkably involved. He is a member of the Tufts Jazz Orchestra, which will be traveling to New York in April, and has his own combo that occasionally play gigs around campus. Though he started learning sax when he was four years old, he only decided to dedicate himself to the craft in sophomore year of high school. Now frequenting jazz clubs in New York City dives and in his home of New Jersey and talking with reverence about figures like Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk, it seems like he has entered the ‘music world’ without hesitation.

When I asked him what he wants to study, I was surprised by his answer.

“People always assume that I will study the physics of sound, since I am a musician and am also interested in science,” he said. “But I always immediately reject that idea — for me, I like to keep my right-brain and left-brain thinking stimulated by their own separate things. Art, music, is beautiful for me because it is about raw creation and creativity.”

Especially with jazz, he notes, the improvisation is a spiritual experience.

“Like, if you listen to [ John] Coltrane’s stuff, for example, you can tell that he is purely feeling the moment,” he goes on. “Even if you are not religious, it feels spiritual to create without analyzing, and know that other people can feel it too” That’s it. For Ben, that’s what art is about: creation, connection, expression. As a visual artist, I was not surprised, because art serves the same purpose in my life as it does in his and in countless other students’. Whether it is painting, dancing or grooving on the saxophone, the act of creation is gratifying and unquantifiable. The redheaded stranger on the shuttle explained it perfectly in five minutes. And not only can he brilliantly articulate artistic creation, if you need someone to add some sweet tunes to your next party, you know who to call.

Audrey Carver is a first-year at the SMFA studying fine art. Audrey can be reached at audrey.carver@tufts.edu.

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | FUN & GAMES | THE TUFTS DAILY

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CROSSWORD

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Opinion CARTOON

Hearts you give to each sign

9 tuftsdaily.com

Noah Mills Spaceship Earth

The Smart Consumer and Anti-Consumption

I

BY NASRIN LIN

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f you have ever spent some time around leftists, maybe you have heard the phrase, “there is no such thing as ethical consumption under capitalism.” This idea originates primarily from the fact that those who produce goods do not receive their fair share, as their employer takes a significant cut without actually producing anything. Other blaring forms of unethical production also exist, which in turn create unethical consumption. Buying things made with child labor, things made in sweatshops or things made in a manner that is toxic to the planet are all inexcusable acts, and thus refusing to buy them becomes the only moral action. Of course, individuals can only sacrifice so much in the pursuit of morality, as in the case of phones and computers. However, in the case of products less essential for modern life, sacrifices should certainly be made.

This is where anti-consumption comes into play. When we find that the products we consume are produced unethically, the moral path is to avoid consumption. This means not buying clothing from most major retailers.

Instead, it is better to ask yourself if that new shirt is something you actually need. Engaging in clothing swaps or only buying things second-hand are good options to extend the lifetime of products in a way that is also environmentally friendly and ethical.

As companies have grown larger and larger over the years, the tactic of boycotting has become more difficult. It is simply too difficult at this point in time to organize people from all around the world against companies’ immoral behaviors. This leaves us with two options. The first is a long-term solution which changes the ways in which we produce things. By unionizing workplaces and putting the methods of production into the hands of the workers, we can guarantee that production is done in a non-exploitative way.

It makes no sense for a worker to pay themselves unfairly or to damage the environments that they live and work in. However it is all too common that when CEOs and shareholders are in charge of production, ethics are replaced by the profit motive.

The other short term solution is anti-consumption. Simply stop buying things that are not necessary and talk to those around you about why you are making the decisions that you are making. With the rise of advertising and fad culture on social media, we are pressured to consume constantly. However, these spaces can also be used to share the injustices performed by corporations in an attempt to change them for the better.

Whether one chooses anti-capitalism or anti-consumption, complacency is not the answer. As the oceans become more full of trash than fish, we must work to stop our constant consumption, and to pursue paths that are sustainable and ethical. Resist advertising and support those trying to make changes within the corporations that are creating the mountains of unnecessary goods in the first place. Change is the product of the actions of many individuals coming together for a common goal, and united, it is possible to make a change for the better.

Noah Mills is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Noah can be reached at noah.mills@tufts.edu.

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Sports

Tuesday, February 19, 2019 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY

Men’s squash competes in Summers Cup for 1st time since 2010

Sam Weidner Weidner's Words

Kaepernick and the NFL settle

O

ALEX KNAPP / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Men’s squash faces off against MIT at the Zesiger Sports and Fitness Center on Jan. 27, 2016.

by Julia Atkins

Assistant Sports Editor

For the first time in almost 10 years, Tufts competed at the Summers Cup at the College Squash Association (CSA) Team Nationals at Yale beginning on Feb. 15. The Summers Cup division includes the No. 17 through No. 24 nationally ranked teams. Tufts entered the tournament as the eighth seed. Going into the weekend, the Jumbos were playing without their first position player, junior Raghav Kumar, due to injury, so the Jumbos all had to play up one position. Despite losing all three matches, the Tufts players competed at the highest level of squash they had seen in their careers and came out with a No. 24 national ranking, the program’s best since 2010.

“Our number one player, Raghav, was out with a concussion,” first-year Will Dewire said. “But even without him, we competed better than we did earlier in the season against Bowdoin … The team was really able to step it up.”

In its first match against No. 1 seed Williams, Tufts fell 9–0. Williams swept Tufts in seven out of the nine games, and the other two wins went to four and five games, respectively. In the five-game match at the second position, senior co-captain Alan Litman played back-and-forth with William’s sophomore Wyatt Khosrowshahi, but Khosrowshahi claimed the fifth game and

the win (13–11, 8–11, 11–8, 9–11 and 11–9).

In the four-game match, Tufts’ first-year Dillon O’Shea won his first game 11–9 before Williams’ first-year Jacob Bassil went off with three consecutive wins (11–8, 11–3, 12–10) to steal the match away from the young Jumbo.

After losing to Williams, Tufts dropped to the consolation bracket and played Bates College in the semi-finals the following morning.

No. 21 ranked Bates College had already defeated Tufts in the regular season and were quick to do it again. After losing to No. 20 MIT on Friday, the Bobcats came out strong against the Jumbos, beating them 9–0. Senior co-captain Brett Raskopf led 2–1 in the sixth position before Bates’ senior co-captain McLeod Abbott came back to win (11–4, 10–12, 9–11, 11–4, 11–5). Tufts’ first-year Marco Rodriguez got one win during the third game against the Bates’ Mahmoud Yousry, who then finished him off in the fourth. Similarly, senior co-captain Aidan Porges claimed one game out of four against Bates’ junior Benni McComish in the seventh match of the Jumbo-Bobcat battle.

In their third round the following morning, Tufts traveled to the Chelsea Piers Connecticut complex to compete against Bowdoin for seventh place and to determine who would claim the No. 23 national CSA ranking.

Despite many close contests, the Jumbos lost 6–3 to the Polar Bears Sunday morning. Of the nine matches, three went in five games, four in four games, and two in three

games. Bowdoin was able to pull ahead 5–1 early on to claim the win, but Tufts fought back out of pride. In the ninth position, Jumbos’ sophomore Salik Awan prevailed from a 1–1 tie to defeat Polar Bears’ first-year Ishaan George with scores of 11–7, 9–11, 11–6 and 12–10. Tufts also won two of the last three matches in the fourth and seventh positions.

Despite his loss earlier in the match, Dewire beat out Bowdoin first-year Carson Claar 3–1.

Similarly, Raskopf won 3–1 in the seventh position to end the match on a high note.

“Everybody gave their best effort,” Dewire said. “There was lots of sportsmanship from our side. The seniors really did a good job of keeping us in it and pushing us. We achieved our goal for the year, which was getting into the top 25 nationally, but the seniors kept pushing us forward even after that goal was achieved.”

By the end of the weekend, the Jumbos received the coveted No. 24 national CSA rank with the absence of their first position player. Tufts will next compete in the 2019 CSA Individual National Championship in Providence, R.I. from March 1–3.

“The early wake-ups and tough competition made for a difficult weekend,” first-year Konrad LaDow said. “It was hard to bounce back after two tough losses, but we played our best against Bowdoin, our main rival this year, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come. With four new recruits coming in next year, we’re excited to see what’s in store for the team.”

shots, but their offense was revolving around them so they’re going to get a lot of looks, because that’s what they’re trying to do. And I thought we made them work really hard. Here and there, they got some easier looks but for the most part [our defense] was pretty good. They’re two very good guards and young guards and we’re going to see them for a couple more years here, and they’re just going to get better and better.”

Manning also singled out sophomore guard Gabby Martin’s performance for praise as her team fell short.

“Maggie Meehan and Mikaela Topper — they elevated their games today,” Manning said. “Gabby Martin, same thing. She had four [offensive]

boards and two assists and two steals, so Gabby had a solid day. Three sophomores, so it’s a good learning experience for us. Tufts is one of the best teams in the country and we need to be able to elevate our level of play — that’s where we wanna get. I think that’s incentive for our returning players in the off-season.”

Meanwhile for Tufts, its postseason continues into next weekend where it faces arch-rivals Amherst at Bowdoin; in the other semi-final, Middlebury duels with Bowdoin. The winners will duke it out for NESCAC supremacy on Sunday.

The Proboscidean affair between Tufts and Amherst tips off at 4 p.m. this Saturday.

Strong 1st-quarter sends Tufts through to NESCAC semifinals WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

continued from back page the visiting Ephs to narrow the deficit, victory was never in doubt. The final minutes also saw a return into the rotation for sophomore forward Katie Butler. Butler’s first basket was Tufts’ last of the afternoon, drawing much celebration from the Tufts’ bench with 13 seconds to play.

Despite the scoreline, both Meehan and Topper dominated on the offensive side for Williams. The duo played close to the full 40 minutes, combining for 42 of Williams’ 51 points. Both coaches praised the sophomore duo, Berube elaborating on the challenge to play against Williams’ guards.

“It was tough,” Berube said. “[ Williams was] making some tough

11

n Friday afternoon, it was reported that the ongoing collusion case between former 49ers quarterback and prominent social activist Colin Kaepernick, his former teammate Eric Reid and the NFL had finally reached a conclusion. Kaepernick and Reid’s lawyers decided to settle with the NFL before the case entered the full hearing, according to a statement that was released on Friday. The non-disclosure agreement prevents the amount of the settlement from being public knowledge, but it seems likely that Kaepernick and Reid didn’t have much incentive to settle without a hefty sum from the league officials.

Reid now has a new contract and will continue in the NFL, but it is unclear if Kaepernick will do the same, or if he will ever even find a job as a quarterback again. Depending on how much the league feels the settlement has done to resolve the bad publicity they were attempting to ignore, it still seems unlikely that any team will change their mind now after two years of not giving Kaepernick a look.

Many of Kaepernick’s most outspoken critics have attempted to jump on the knowledge of the settlement and manipulate the situation to diminish his voice and distort his message. The Fox Sports radio host Clay Travis tweeted that “Colin Kaepernick was all about the money.” But the argument that he sold out doesn’t make any sense when the goal of the legal action was financial compensation in the first place.

Kaepernick and Reid were pushing the action forward to recoup the past and future earnings that were denied to them because the NFL owners decided his message of racial justice wasn’t palatable enough for its audience.

With his new Nike endorsement deal and the platform that Kaepernick has built, he is likely not finished with his activism, and this settlement won’t be a curtain call. Even if it was, in the last three years Kaepernick advanced a conversation about police brutality and racism in this country, creating awareness in almost every living room in America using one of the biggest stages the country has to offer: the NFL. He highlighted an issue that, while prominent and obvious to many, was often ignored by a large portion of the United States, and he forced people to confront the realities of racial justice and discriminatory policing practices.

Other athletes have expressed their support for Kaepernick since the news of the settlement broke this weekend.

LeBron James, who is also known for his own social activism, said that he was happy Kaepernick had won the settlement during one of his interviews this NBA All-Star weekend. “I stand with Kaep, I kneel with Kaep,” James added.

The NFL probably hopes that this settlement will be a large step in putting the controversy behind them. The move to settle is familiar territory for the NFL, as they often protect their public image with their impenetrable bags of funds. The strategy is similar to another settlement they made regarding head injuries a few years ago. It remains to be seen whether other players will continue any form of protest, or whether large-scale boycotts of the NFL will begin to affect the league’s public stance on these divisive issues.

Sam Weidner is a junior studying mathematics. Sam can be reached at samuel.weidner@tufts.edu.

12 tuftsdaily.com

Sports

Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Women’s swimming & diving finish 2nd in NESCAC for 1st time in program history

by Arlo Moore-Bloom and Savannah Mastrangelo

Executive Sports Editor and Sports Editor

The Jumbos finished second at the NESCAC championship this weekend, their best finish in program history. After four third-place finishes between the 2008–2009 and 2012–2013 seasons, the team had not returned to the podium until this weekend.

Tufts bested perennial power Amherst, who has finished second in the NESCAC for the last three years, has never dropped from the top four in the NESCAC’s existence and has never finished lower than Tufts by the season’s last day. Whether the Jumbos can force the Mammoths into second-place extinction remains to be seen in the years to come.

“At the beginning of the year we set a goal in mind just to be the best we possibly could be, and we all unified on this goal and it really just all came together really well,” first-year Mary Hufziger said. “It was just a great experience training together with all of these powerful women.”

Finishing the competition with 1,439.5 points, Tufts was 433.5 points behind first-place Williams, who swam away with the NESCAC title with 1,873 points.

Amherst was much closer to Tufts with 1,322 points, but Tufts held its own every day of the four-day meet, finishing second on the leaderboard every evening.

Team culture and unity have been recurring strengths for the team according to sophomore Amy Socha.

“We all have been on the same page all season. We all have been looking forward to this and all working together really well, and we’ve been working so hard,” Socha said. We all put in the effort and made it happen so that’s really what I attribute the success to the team all being on the same page and knowing what we want and knowing how to get there.”

Highlighting the Jumbos’ performances were 14 school records and 17 national B-cut times across the four days of swimming and diving. Socha won the

TUFTS DAILY PHOTO ARCHIVES

Members of the women’s swim team dive into Hamilton Pool on Dec. 2, 2018.

Jumbos’ lone victory of the four-daylong meet on Sunday in the 200-yard butterfly.

On Thursday, Hufziger, sophomore Abby Claus, junior Grace Goetcheus and senior Colleen Doolan were the first Jumbos in the water, placing second in the 800-yard relay with a 7:28.71, good enough for a school record. The performance was emblematic of things to come for Tufts; Socha’s 200-yard portion of the B-heat 800-yard freestyle relay set a school record and helped the relay team finish 13th.

In the 200-yard freestyle relay on Friday, first-years Hannah Spencer and Anne Younger, along with sophomore Sasha Fong and junior Brooke Bernstein teamed up to finish fourth, good for 52 points. Goetcheus smashed her own record in the 200-yard individual medley, one of six school records set on day two.

On Saturday, Hufziger’s 1:51.27 beat Socha’s 200-yard freestyle from two days

before on a day where three new school records were set. In the 100-yard freestyle, Hufziger broke another program record with a time of 51.84, shattering the former record of 52.29 set in the 2013 NESCACs by Samantha Sliwinski (LA ’15, M ’17). With this time, Hufziger also won the consolation final.

Hufziger cites the support of her teammates as a contributing factor for her success in this race.

“Looking up and seeing the Tufts banner on the other side of the pool, I knew I had to represent my team and get the highest place finish for them because we wanted to get the second place so bad,” Hufziger said. “I just wanted to swim as fast as possible for my teammates at the end of the lane and behind my lane and I knew throughout the race that the finish was the most important thing.”

On the last day of the NESCAC meet, sophomore Sook-Hee Evans was the first Jumbo in the water in the 1,650-

yard freestyle, finishing in sixth and securing the Jumbos another precious 24 points. Sophomore Lily Kurtz finished strong in the 200-yard breaststroke with a time of 2:20.57, good enough for third place. In what was perhaps Tufts’ most impressive performance all year, Socha beat out all competitors in the 200-yard butterfly. It was Tufts’ first victory in a NESCAC championship meet since 2014.

Consistently strong team leadership and mentality made the difference this season, according to Hufziger.

“As demonstrated by our captains, I mean they always gave us pre-race speeches to really pump us up and all women supported each other throughout the bad times and good times,” she said. “On the training trip we had to wake up early in the morning, and coming back to finals even though we were exhausted, everyone just came together and our mentality was never on the low side, it was always ‘let’s get this done, let’s race, let’s finish.’”

Women’s basketball defeats Williams in NESCAC quarterfinal play

by Yuan Jun Chee Sports Editor

Tufts saw off Williams on Saturday at Cousens Gym and moved on to the NESCAC semi-finals for the sixth straight season with a 75–51 victory over its sixth-seeded rivals.

Despite beating Williams twice already this season, Tufts did not take anything for granted.

“We knew we were playing them for the third time and we knew that both of us were playing to move on to the semis,” sophomore guard/forward Emily Briggs said. “We knew they would bring their best game and so mentally we knew we had to come out really, really tough and [with] a ‘punch first’ mentality. So I think overall, we did that. There were some ups and downs in the game, but that’s normal. [For the large part] I think we really were in attack mode.”

The only real blip in the afternoon for the Jumbos came on the first possession. Ephs’ senior guard Lauren Vostal stole the ball from junior guard Cailin

Harrington on the opening possession and made an easy layup to give the visitors the lead. Senior guard and co-captain Jac Knapp responded immediately with a 3-point shot to set the tone for the first 10 minutes.

The frenetic start to the game continued as Williams’ sophomore guard Maggie Meehan and Knapp traded baskets to keep the scores close. Knapp then gave the Jumbos a 7–4 lead after first-year guard Molly Ryan stole the ball back from Williams with great hustle play. Both Ryan and Briggs added shots from downtown to give the hosts a six-point lead, forcing Williams’ coach Pat Manning to call a timeout.

“They started hurting us in transition. We had some open looks that we missed and they just took off and scored in transition [as] we didn’t get back,” Manning said. “I also didn’t think we closed out as we should have on some of those shots. They shot really well from the threes in the first quarter especially.”

Despite the timeout, the Jumbos started to pull away, establishing

a 10-point lead through Briggs’ layup with 5:33 to play in the quarter.

Tufts’ defense also went into lock-down mode, as Briggs, junior guard/forward and co-captain Erica DeCandido and first-year guard Janette Wadolowski all recorded steals to keep the team’s offense going. The Jumbos established a 31–14 lead after 10 minutes.

Coach Carla Berube explained her team’s offensive success in the first period.

“We just shared the ball really well and found the open player at the right time,” Berube said. “I thought Erica did a good job of attacking the rim but also making some outside shots, and Jac [did] the same thing. We feel like good things are going to happen and then other players just did some really great things, playing their role[s] as well.”

From then on it was not a matter of if the Jumbos would win but rather by how much. Meehan and Topper managed to cut the Jumbos’ lead down to 12, forcing Berube to take a timeout two minutes into the second quarter.

The Jumbos regained some momen-

tum as the period saw both sides tightening up on defense, with the hosts entering the locker room with a 42–23 half-time lead.

Coming out of the break, the Jumbos regained some of their offensive initiative. The Jumbos were aggressive on the offensive backboard and constantly attacked the inside, either through Knapp’s strong drives or through DeCandido’s clever passes to the post.

They also looked sharper than their opponents — Ryan found DeCandido on a quick inbound pass for the easy layup with 4:48 to play.

“Two things that really hurt us were our turnovers and giving up 17 [offensive] boards,” Manning said. “We played really good [defense] for like 28 seconds and then at the end of the shot clock we give up an [offensive] board that usually resulted in a foul, so that’s something we have to focus improving on.”

As the clock wound down, Berube slowly emptied her bench. While the Jumbos picked up a few fouls that allowed see WOMEN'S BASKETBALL, page 11