Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development
Students and local activists gathered on Wednesday evening at Powder House Park to protest the detainment of Tufts graduate student, Rumeysa Ozturk, by federal authorities on Tuesday. The protest was organized by Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, formerly known as the Coalition for Palestinian Liberation at Tufts, and other activist groups from the Greater Boston area.
The university confirmed Wednesday night that Ozturk — a doctoral candidate in the Eliot-
— was moved to Louisiana after being detained on her way to an Iftar gathering for Ramadan at Tufts’ Interfaith Center. Her attorney, Mahsa Khanbabai, previously filed a writ of habeas corpus to argue her release, and a judge ordered Ozturk to not be removed from Massachusetts for at least 48 hours without proper notice.
A video showing masked law enforcement officers approaching Ozturk on a Somerville street circulated widely online.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has not clarified the charges being levied against Ozturk and did not respond to
the Daily’s request for comment.
The roughly half dozen speakers ranged from Tufts undergraduate students to members of the Muslim Justice League, Palestinian Youth Movement and the Immigrant Justice Network of MA, who spoke about the need for individuals to know their rights and directed the crowd toward immigration resources.
“This is not a moment where we can afford to be acting alone. This is not a moment for lone actors who are trying to disrupt,” one speaker said. “We are each individual threads that make up a tapestry of resistance
see PROTEST, page 2
Federal authorities detain Tufts student in Somerville
Originally published March 26.
Federal authorities detained a Tufts graduate student last night outside an off-campus apartment in Somerville, University President Sunil Kumar announced in an email around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night. Kumar wrote that the university is seeking more information about the cause and circumstances of the arrest.
The student, Rumeysa Ozturk, is a Turkish national and doctoral candidate in the Eliot-Pearson
Department of Child Study and Human Development. Ozturk is a teaching fellow, works as a doctoral research assistant at Tufts’ Children’s Television Project and completed a master’s degree at Teachers College, Columbia University, as a Fulbright Scholar.
Ozturk’s attorney filed a petition in the Massachusetts federal court for her to appear before court. Ozturk is currently being held in Louisiana according to the university.
“The university had no pre-knowledge of this incident
see DETAINMENT, page 2
sCIeNCe oPINIoN
Samantha Eng Executive News Editor
Samantha Eng, Josué Pérez and Matthew Sage Executive News Editor, Deputy News Editor and News Editor
Protesters rally for Rumeysa Ozturk
PROTEST continued from the front
here in Somerville all the way to Palestine.”
Another criticized progressive politicians for merely writing statements about Ozturk and called for community members to take charge of the political movement.
“We are not here just because of the last two months. We are here because progressives — time and time again — you cede ground,” the activist said. “Ask yourself, ‘What are you going to do about it? How are you going to show up for your community?
For your immigrant neighbors?
For the students who have fearlessly fought for Palestine for almost two years now?’”
Boston and its surrounding communities have received heightened scrutiny from federal law enforcement under the administration of President Donald Trump, with Immigration and Customs Enforcement reporting that it arrested almost 400 people from the area last week.
“It is the immigrant communities, the undocumented communities, the working
communities who are leading this struggle for our own liberation,” another said earlier.
Local residents of all ages attended the protest in addition to Tufts students, faculty and staff.
“People are always going to fight back,” Emily Isaac, a Somerville resident, said. “Everyone likes to say what they would have done during a historical atrocity, or during times of fascism, and I think it’s important to recognize the signs of when it’s happening.”
Antuan Castro Del Rio, a member of the Boston May Day Coalition, said that solely participating in rallies is never enough.
“What happened last night in Somerville, it is just the show of how much they’re testing the waters to make sure that they can continue doing it in every college and in every town around Massachusetts,” Castro Del Rio said.
A Northeastern student affiliated with Massachusetts Peace Action, Grace Cowell, said that she attended the rally to stand behind those who put themselves at risk for speaking out.
“Especially now, being a student myself and seeing
people literally get dragged off their campuses for free speech and speaking up for what they believe in, is just really appalling,” Cowell said.
Local officials including Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Massachusetts Reps. Erika Utyerhoeven and Mike Connolly, and Medford City Council President Zac Bears were present at the rally.
“It was important for, I think me, and everyone here today to stand up for her,” Utyerhoeven said, “And I think we also know it’s incumbent upon us to fight to get her back. Every day, hour, minute that she is in detention is a minute too long.”
Bears condemned the detainments of immigrants by the Trump administration.
“I’m here because it’s not something that should be happening in our community; it’s not something that should be happening in our country,” he said. “And the fact that bullies and tyrants and fascists think that they can come here and take our neighbors is abhorrent.”
Members of Safe Medford were also present. Safe Medford
was established during the first Trump presidency to keep immigrants safe and has since expanded its mission to protect other marginalized communities in Medford.
“Our mission is to make sure that our city is safe for everyone,” Jennifer Yanco, a member of Safe Medford, said. “So abducting people off the streets is not part of being safe. We’re very disturbed by this.”
The speakers encouraged those present to attend a rally today in front of Somerville City Hall at 6 p.m., ahead of the city council meeting at 7 p.m. The councilors will vote on a petition for a ballot question to end the city’s business and prohibit future investment with companies doing business in Israel.
“The fight is on paper. We need to make sure that laws are changed, need to make sure that the texts inside of the Constitution are changed for justice. But most importantly, what people can take away from here is that this is the beginning of a bigger movement because this is not going to stop. This is just the beginning,” Castro Del Rio said.
Graduate student taken into custody
DETAINMENT continued from the front
and did not share any information with federal authorities prior to the event, and the location where this took place is not affiliated with Tufts University,” Kumar wrote in an email to the Tufts community.
The university did not immediately provide additional comment to the Daily.
Tufts administration was told that Ozturk’s visa has been terminated, but the university has yet to confirm whether that is accurate and is attempting to learn more about the incident.
Coalition for Palestinian Liberation and Palestinian Youth Movement called for an
emergency rally to take place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon in an Instagram post early that morning.
“We will fill the streets of Somerville and Raise Our Banners. We won’t let Trump take our students and immigrant neighbors without a fight,” the post reads.
In March 2024, Ozturk coauthored an op-ed in the Daily, calling on Kumar to endorse Tufts Community Union Senate resolutions for the university to recognize genocide in Gaza and divest from Israeli corporations. Canary Mission, a website with the stated purpose to “document people and groups that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses,” cited the article as “anti-Israel activism.”
“Rumeysa was likely targeted after being recently doxxed by Canary Mission,” the CPL post reads.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Ozturk’s arrest marks the first deportation effort to impact the Tufts community following President Donald Trump’s January executive order to deport non-U.S. citizens who participated in pro-Palestinian protests. On March 8, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained Columbia graduate student Mahmoud Khalil on campus for his role in organizing pro-Palestinian protests. The Department of Education sent a
warning letter to Tufts, one of 60 universities under investigation for reports of antisemitism, on March 10.
On March 17, a Georgetown postdoctoral fellow on a student visa from India was detained by Immigration and Custom Enforcement. A federal judge ordered that officials not deport him on March 20. On Tuesday, a federal judge ordered to block efforts to deport another Columbia student and green card holder from South Korea for her participation in pro-Palestinian protests at Barnard College.
This is a developing story and has been updated with new information.
DYLAN FEE / THE TUFTS DAILY
Protestors are pictured in Powderhouse Square Park on Wednesday.
FeatuRes
Bostonians call for democracy on International Women’s Day
marched alongside his wife, motivated by the world he wants for his two young daughters.
Originally published March 14.
Every year, March 8 marks International Women’s Day, a holiday dedicated to honoring women’s achievements and progress toward gender equality. Yet, for many, this year’s observance felt different, as a heavy sense of urgency permeated the air. With restrictive policies under the new administration threatening to reverse hard-won gains, the specter of setbacks loomed large, igniting fresh fears. But it also sparked renewed determination to rise up and fight back.
That determination took to the streets as demonstrators poured into Boston Common on March 8, gathering at the Massachusetts State House before weaving through the city in a forceful display of solidarity. For hours, the city pulsed with the sound of their voices, chants ricocheting off buildings, banners rippling in the wind and an unmistakable demand for justice, autonomy and progress.
Among the crowd was first-year Ellie Wilkins, who knew she couldn’t sit this one out.
“The fact that the government even has the power to control women’s health issues and take away things like birth control and access to Planned Parenthood is a big deal,” Wilkins explained. “It’s a very personal and private thing, and I think something that a woman should have the right to do on her own.”
As the march pressed forward, the urgency of the moment could not be overlooked. Protesters carried signs bearing bold messages, one reading, “IF YOU CAN IGNORE MASS SHOOTINGS, CLIMATE CHANGE & RAPE, CAN YOU IGNORE MY UTERUS?”
Many participants stressed the importance of men being present at the march as well, saying that achieving gender equality requires the support and advocacy of all people, regardless of gender. Participant Martin Kramer
“I think it’s important that these events show that both men and women are on the same side,” he said.
Many also shared the hope that the message of the march could travel far beyond the city’s border, into places where freedoms are most under threat. Wilkins acknowledged the privilege of living in Massachusetts, where reproductive rights and gender equality are largely protected, and that people in other states are not as fortunate.
“We are lucky to be in a state where our government does support us, and we’re aware that so many aren’t,” she said.
Kramer echoed that sentiment, expressing hope that the march’s message would reach beyond the city’s borders.
“We sort of live in a bubble here in Massachusetts, so I hope it has an impact in other places, including Washington [D.C.],” Kramer said.
While women’s rights were a central focus, the demonstration became a broader call to action, with protesters raising their voices for better healthcare, immigration justice, the Black Lives Matter movement, the war in Ukraine and LGBTQ+ rights. Signs decried new policies concerning these issues under the new administration. Protesters aimed their criticism not only at the policies of President Donald Trump but also at figures like Elon Musk. One sign read, “TRUMP IS A RUSSIAN OPERATIVE,” while another boldly asserted, “SUPPORT UKRAINE. SAVE OUR DEMOCRACY. FIRE MUSK. STOP PROJECT 2025.”
The march was more than a protest against specific policies or political figures — it was a powerful expression of deep frustration with a system that many believe is failing to safeguard citizens’ rights and dignity. For some, it symbolized resistance against the suppression of individuality and a growing concern that democracy itself is being eroded.
Emily Sullivan Boston Book
Crawl
seven stars
Spring break is over. A new moon is approaching. Mercury is in retrograde. All signs that a new cycle is about to begin again — and it won’t be a good one. I think. Maybe? I’m a novice when it comes to spirituality and astrology. I enjoy a good tarot reading, and I can be extremely superstitious at times. Yet, I’ve never read up on any of these topics — or even realized I could purchase a book to explain why you can’t trust a Gemini rising — until I wandered into Seven Stars in Central Square. The store is just a short walk from the MBTA stop; it offers books, crystals and everything one could ever want to know about New Age movements.
So, if your Co–Star notifications have been particulaly brutal recently or if you’re getting into crystals to manifest passing that class, then Seven Stars may be the place for you.
In a time when the very ideals of freedom, equality and justice seem to be under siege, the march conveyed a powerful reminder: Democracy is still alive, and it still matters. Charlotte Craig (AG’97) echoed this sentiment, looking to the future.
“The next generation needs to take up the mantle of defending democracy and defending women’s rights,” Craig said.
For so many who feel unheard, unprotected or sidelined, the march offered something more than resistance — solidarity.
“The people need to be heard and put themselves out there so that these issues are heard and they know that there is some resistance to what’s going on,” Craig said.
Wilkins, too, found hope in the camaraderie of the protest. She emphasized the importance of finding community and standing together with those who share similar values, even when the wider world feels hostile to those beliefs.
“It’s really important to be able to still have opinions and be able to talk about them, and to find a common group of people to talk about them with, even when maybe your government or president doesn’t agree with those opinions,” Wilkins said.
In that sea of voices, Wilkins felt something rare: a spark of hope.
“It was really empowering to be there and know that people are still out there fighting,” she said.
The thousands who filled the streets that day were not merely protesting policies, they were reaffirming the power of civic action. They proved that democracy is not just upheld by institutions but by those who refuse to accept injustice as the norm.
“I hope people understand that democracy still exists and that there are people still willing to fight and express their opinions, even when they’re not supported or relayed by the government,” Wilkins said.
As you enter Seven Stars, the shop’s windows cast the front of the store in bright, airy light. Dozens of nonfiction books are laid out on tables that fill the shop’s center. The walls are lined with bookshelves home to a variety of topics. Further in, the checkout counter features cases of crystals in raw and processed forms: polished pink quartz, moody tiger eyes, glittering amethyst and many others that surpass my seventh-grade earth science knowledge. Way in the back, the shelves close in, forming tight rows of vaguely defined topics that blend into one another. The tables in the front appear to feature a curated selection of recent releases and bestsellers.
Seven Stars is unique, to say the least. Never before have I seen a bookstore with a serious section dedicated to unidentified flying objects. If little green men experimenting on rural Americans is not your style, then perhaps the astrology, meditation or folklore sections are more to your fancy. They also have a considerable Roman and Greek classics section alongside the history books. Mostly unfamiliar with the topics listed above, I spent more time with the tables that held more books I recognized. There, I pored over nonfiction books from a range of subgenres, including self-help, sociology, psychology, ecology and memoir — all meant for the general reader.
It may be the Virgo in me, but I found the store needlessly confusing and tricky to navigate. Even with some shelves labeled, I struggled to orient myself among the sections. With new books mixed with old, and nonfiction shelved with books that are arguably fiction, this store can be even harder to parse.
Nevertheless, if you are passionate about crystals, meditation, spirituality and the occult, Seven Stars is a must visit. However, if you are not dedicated to any of the above, Seven Stars might be more of an if-you-have-time-to-killin-Central kind of place.
I did not purchase a book at Seven Stars; my horoscope said it was best to save money that day.
Emily Sullivan is a junior majoring in clinical psychology and English. Emily can be reached at emily.sullivan654577@ tufts.edu.
TANYA DEV / THE TUFTS DAILY
A crowd forms at a women’s march in Boston Common on March 8.
Tanya Dev Staff Writer
VIEWPOINT
Painting out free speech
Originally published March 14.
As a child, I was frequently labeled a “social justice warrior” and often told I would “make a good lawyer” by random adults. These designations stemmed from both my loudly vocalized views and my tendency to correct any comments that I deemed offensive or not politically correct. Evidently, I have retained my label of passionate verbalization, given that I am the executive opinion editor of the Daily. Yet, over the years, I have drifted away from my strong moral convictions. Nowadays, I often find myself torn between two extremes, taking a moderate stance on issues. I even justify reasoning that ridicules the very identity groups that I am a part of. I try to understand religious justifications against gay marriage. I take a step back, wondering why people believe in a Jewish conspiracy. My tolerance for other views often leads me to question my morals. Perhaps I am too flexible.
In all likelihood, my perspective is a pushback to the environments I grew up in. I went to an all-girl middle school that made my class fill out a “rainbow unicorn” with our gender and sexual identities in sixth grade, attended a high school where teachers were called out for well-intended comments and now attend a school where I feel hesitant to share any remotely nonliberal beliefs. I am surely not apathetic or lacking opinions — I simply have become frustrated at our lack of ability to hear each other out.
Such thoughts came to a head on March 10. As I ascended the staircase past Tisch Library, I spotted one of my friends huddled among a group of astonished faces. He beckoned me over with laughter and a sense of urgency. He showed me a picture of the Tufts cannon painted red, white and blue, blasted with the message “TUFTS ❤ S TRUMP!” My friend told me that the situation was “handled” and explained that individuals were planning to paint over the cannon. At first, when my friend told me that the MAGA issue was being “handled,” I explained my frustration. Simply put, it was free speech for Tufts Republicans to share their beliefs. While they were likely trying to troll people — tagging
Tufts Daily is a
The
of
the Daily, The Zamboni and the university, among other organizations, in their Instagram post — these students had a right to express their views. Yes, I disagree with this display of affection. America’s 47th president is rolling back basic principles of our country’s democracy; he has placed unelected billionaires into key governmental positions, consolidated power into his own hands by cutting government agencies, peddled racist rhetoric and shamed veterans. Safe to say, I hate President Donald Trump. This does not mean, however, that all supporters of Trump are bigoted and ill-intended. Most Americans who voted for Trump were doing so out of concern for their own paychecks.
As I walked back to my dorm, I found the cannon already covered in black and orange paint. The front of the cannon featured the words “ACAB” — an acronym that stands for “All Cops Are Bastards” — followed by a message below to “CUT TIES W/ DEVCOM,” a U.S. army-controlled scientific organization that both partners with Tufts’ Center for Applied Brain and Cognitive Sciences and maintains a partnership with many nations, including Israel. After taking this all in, I once again wondered about the right to free speech. While painting over the Republicans’ words, in a way, was repressing their views, the painters also had a right to express their frustration with Trump and his America, especially given the president’s recent actions and comments. When I woke to the cannon painted gray, however, I was in shock.
The cannon is a beautiful canvas for self-expression and political movements. In fact, I wrote my “Why Tufts” essay about just that. In this case, however, the painting of the cannon — first by Tufts Republicans and then by anonymous students — proves our inability to tolerate differing views. But while I can only hope that students did so as a result of our passions, the Tufts administration painting over students’ views remains hot in my mind.
Though I am often frustrated at myself for being unable to take a sharp stance at a time when we are so divided, it is important to have these vices. Surely, every movement can use the makers and shakers of the world, and it can also use those who straddle the aisle and hope to create change through civility.
EDITORIALS: Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily Editorial Board. Individual editorialists are not
responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Editorial Board. Editorials are submitted for review to The Tufts Daily Executive Board before publication.
VIEWPOINTS AND COLUMNS: Viewpoints and columns
Positions published in Viewpoints and columns are
editorial discretion.
OP-EDS: Op-Eds provide an open forum for campus editorial commentary and are
the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the
in length and submitted to opinion@tuftsdaily.com. The editors
appear in the Daily. Authors must submit their telephone numbers and
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Gretta Goorno Executive Opinion Editor
CLAIRE WOOD / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Tufts cannon, painted by Tufts Republicans, is pictured on March 10.
SORSHA KHITIKIAN / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Tufts cannon painted gray is pictured on March 11.
DYLAN FEE / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Tufts cannon, painted by an anonymous group of students, is pictured on March 12.
Sorsha Khitikian Staff Writer
Orignally published March 14.
There are some aspects of campus lore that are simply iconic, like Jumbo’s tail, Professor David Proctor and a cappella riff-offs. The cannon, for one, is probably the most interactive piece of Jumbo life students have. The times I’ve painted the cannon have been some of the most fun I’ve ever had at Tufts. Listening to music with your club friends, looking up at the stars, trying to write neat letters in paint without getting any on your clothes — painting the cannon is a great bonding activity as well as a nice pastime. The messages on the cannon are constantly changing, with student organizations advertising their events or writing political calls to action. The cannon is a physical object that displays what students are engaging in on campus. So, when the cannon is reset to dull, basic gray over the summer, it’s a reminder of the painting that is yet to come. And the second students come back to campus, the color gray is nowhere to be found. Or so I thought.
In the morning of March 12, a facilities worker in a Tufts jacket was spotted by students painting the cannon a sheet of gray. This came after two days of political back-and-forth between Tufts students, with the cannon as the medium.
In the night of March 9, Tufts Republicans painted the cannon white, using red and blue over the solid base to write the messages “TUFTS S TRUMP!” and “MAGA!” Tufts Republicans didn’t stop there. The club posted a photo to Instagram, tagging The Tufts Daily, The Zamboni, Tufts Democrats, CIVIC and the official university’s account in their caption. Of course, the post received some attention, with The
Evan Wang and Sadie
Roraback-Meagher The Conversation to paint or not to paint
Originally published March 26.
Sadie Roraback-Meagher: Heya Evan! How was your spring break?
Evan Wang: Hey Sadie! Mine was good, I went to D.C. and saw a major protest on the National Mall.
Sadie: Wow, a protest? In D.C.? Never heard of that happening. Wonder what they’re all riled up over.
Evan : I liked having a week off from your sarcasm.
Sadie : Speaking of protests, Evan, this spring semester is much quieter than last year, when we were entering campus-wide demonstrations.
Evan : You know, I was reminded of last year’s political
And
VIEWPOINT
we’re back to gray
Zamboni posting a hilarious satirical post on Instagram about it.
The same night, a group of anonymous students repainted the cannon black and orange with a variety of messages, including “DIVEST” — a call for colleges to divest from Israeli companies and companies with direct ties to the country — and “LAND BACK” — a call to return colonized land to Indigenous people. These statements were covered up in the morning of March 12.
This is the first time in my memory that Tufts has ever painted over the cannon in the middle of the school year, and I certainly do not think that the decision
upheaval when I saw the backand-forth over the cannon.
Sadie : Yes — the university’s decision to paint over the messages endorsed by the Coalition for Palestinian Liberation made me think about the general push happening in higher ed to adopt institutional neutrality.
Evan: I think the general movement by colleges and universities towards neutrality is a step in the right direction. I’m sure you probably disagree with me.
Sadie : Not exactly… Evan : Oh, do tell.
Sadie : Well, my main issue is that I don’t think it’s possible for an institution to be truly neutral. For instance, the issue of divestments has been a major goal for CPL. I’m sure that if Tufts were to adopt a principle of neutrality and not to cut ties with Israel, CPL would still see Tufts as partisan.
Evan : While I do understand what you’re saying, I can’t help but disagree. I think that Tufts
to do so now is just happenstance. One of the messages on the anonymous students’ paint job concerned activist Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate who helped organize protests in support of Palestine. Encampments at Columbia went viral last year, with students on dozens of college campuses (including Tufts) erecting their own in support of Palestine and their fellow students. Removing student encampments became a violent affair, with student activists facing disciplinary actions at their institutions. Now, the administration of President Donald Trump has decided to
should be an educational institution first and foremost, and while they might not be able to be 100% neutral, we should still try and be as neutral as possible.
Sadie : Truly, I’m hesitant to think what neutrality will actually accomplish. I can guarantee that students would still hold protests even if the university decided to be neutral on issues, however. In fact, I can hear them chanting “silence is violence” already.
Evan : I think that neutrality isn’t necessarily going to accomplish a certain objective, but it also doesn’t inflame political tensions amongst students, unlike when the school takes a side.
Sadie : I agree with that … sort of.
Evan : Here we go.
Sadie : Listen, I agree that neutrality may mitigate tension — especially if the university’s stance is unpopular. But I do think there are some
more wary of student protests in this context. Even mentioning Khalil’s name or calls for divestment could land the university in trouble with the Trump administration. But, that does not make it right for the Tufts administration to dictate what students can or cannot say.
The tradition of painting the cannon began with student activism in the 1970s, though the Dean of Students Office’s official webpage seems to ignore this fact. As a civically minded campus, Tufts teaches students how to be civically engaged and care about world issues. This includes engagement with and facilitation of protests. I myself have taken a class on the history of civil disobedience protests, which detailed how to create sustained resistance movements. If Tufts prides itself on its commitment to civic engagement and teaches its students how to involve themselves, then it would be inappropriate to regulate how and when students choose to be civically engaged by covering up their political expression. Painting the cannon itself is a very tame and normalized way to speak up on campus. How, then, can Tufts justify covering up nonviolent, typical student speech?
get involved, revoking $400 million in federal grants and contracts for Columbia. The reasoning? A perceived allowance of antisemitism (via students protesting for Palestine) on campus. Khalil himself was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials this week for potential deportation, despite possessing a green card.
The Trump administration has now opened an investigation into Tufts, among other universities, on the grounds of antisemitism, which could be interpreted as a threat to federal funding to the university. It is not surprising that Tufts is becoming even
political and social issues that colleges should absolutely take a position on.
For example, when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, students were outraged by Tufts’ slow response to expressing solidarity with Ukrainians. Their initial silence seemed insensitive to many members of the Tufts community, especially when schools like Harvard released statements immediately after Russia’s attack. Universities at the very least need to acknowledge significant political events when they may personally impact their students.
Evan : I don’t see what a Tufts statement could possibly do to help in this case. It offers nothing but ‘virtue signaling’ while silencing dissenting voices, which should not be happening in an education setting.
Sadie : While I don’t think universities taking political stances will lead to world peace, I believe it’s important
I believe that educational institutions should resist the political will of the U.S. government, even if that means risking loss of funding. Otherwise, education becomes a propaganda tool to mold curious, smart and civically-minded students into adults who cannot critically think about their government, their place in the world or their moral compass. Whether you support Tufts Republicans or the anonymous students, this action by Tufts should make you angry. It should make you question what your institutions are standing for. Most of all, it should inspire you to get out your spray cans.
for students to know their tuition money is going to an institution that supports them. And I also don’t think universities taking stances silences dissenting voices. For example, Brandeis University has repeatedly expressed their support for Israel, yet this hasn’t dissuaded pro-Palestinan groups from speaking out. Evan : Well, it sets a precedent that if they speak out on one issue, then they have to speak out on every other issue. We can hope that a university’s statement is always on the right side of history, but what are the chances of that happening?
Evan Wang is a first-year studying history and biology. Evan can be reached at ewang14@ tufts.edu.
Sadie Roraback-Meagher is a sophomore studying political science. Sadie can be reached at sadie.roraback_meagher@ tufts.edu.
GRAPHIC BY GRETTA GOORNO
s CIeNCe
Film photography: Magic, art or science?
Carmen Smoak Executive Science Editor
Science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke once wrote, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”
Magic, art or science? Film photography blurs the lines between these categories and creates permanent images from nothing but light and chemicals. This process feels like magic, even when you do it yourself from start to finish. So let’s look behind the curtain and learn how this chemical process comes to life.
The word “photography” originates from the Greek words “phos,” meaning light, and “graphe,” meaning drawing. Thus, in its most simplistic form, photography is drawing with light.
This was especially true for the precursor technology to photography: a camera obscura. This device used light coming through a pinhole into a dark chamber to project images. The first known use of such technology was in China in the fifth century B.C.
From this point until the 17th century, the camera obscura was used almost exclusively for scientific purposes such as tracking time and observing solar eclipses without damaging onlookers’ eyes. It was a magical way in which humans started to see the world through something other than their own eyes.
It is at this point that artists took hold of the camera obscura, adding a lens and mirror, to project images with the purpose of tracing and painting them. And so, early photography transitioned from being a scientific method to an artistic one.
The next big change came with the discovery of photosensitive chemicals in the 19th century, which gave photographers the ability to preserve projected images on glass and metal plates. Thus, the photograph as we know it today was born.
These photosensitive chemicals catapulted photography in a new direction and now make up the magic that is modern film photography. They are used at every step of film photography, from initial exposure all the way to final printing.
The first step to photography of any kind is exposure. In film photography, this is when the shutter of the camera opens up to outside light for a calculated amount of time, exposing the film inside the camera. This film is loaded with silver halides, which are chemical compounds containing silver bonded to either bromine or chlorine.
When these halides are exposed to light, a reduction reaction takes place, separating the silver atoms from the bromine or chlorine. This process creates an invisible image on the film, which will become visible through the second chemical process of film photography: development.
In the development process, film is removed from the camera and placed into a light-safe canister while in a completely lightless room. Then, the reduction reaction of the silver halides is put into hyperspeed using organic compounds poured into the light-safe container. This makes the image on film much more visible and defines its contrast.
When the reduction reactions have gone on long enough to produce a visible image, the developing
solution is dumped, and a stopping solution is added. This solution most usually contains acetic acid, which halts the silver reduction reactions and freezes the development of the image.
From there, the film needs to be fixed — aka preserved in its final state of development — so that it doesn’t degrade over time. This is done by removing all excess halides from the film using a sodium thiosulfate solution, which reacts with the leftover halides and makes them soluble in water.
Finally, all of these processes culminate in a visible image on film that can be rinsed in water to remove all excess chemistry. This washing stage is followed by the drying of film in a heated drying cabinet.
This first exposure and development process yields a roll of negative images on film. In order to get positive images printed on paper, you have to do the whole process again in a slightly different way. This is referred to as silver halide printing.
Something important to note is that where film is photosensitive to all forms of light, photo paper is sensitive to most wavelengths
of light but not all. This allows the darkroom of a film lab to be lit using a safelight, which fits into the non-sensitive part of the light spectrum.
Under the reddish amber glow of the safelight, the printing process takes place. First, the film is loaded into an enlarger, which is a machine that projects light through the negative image film in timed increments. The light travels through the negative image film, casting a positive image on the table below.
This leads us to the first step of the printing process, where photosensitive paper is placed below the enlarger and exposed to a timed increment of light. This causes the same reduction reactions of silver halide as in the exposure process of the original film.
In a manner similar to the film, the photo paper is then submerged in development, stopping, fixing and washing solutions. This yields a visible, positive image better known as a printed photograph.
And so now you know all the magicians’ tricks when it comes to photography. But does that really make this technology any less magical?
CARMEN SMOAK /
aRts & POP CuLtuRe
The death of the indie flick
When “Anora” (2024) director Sean Baker took the stage to accept the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May 2024, he had a message to send — an urgent message. “Right now, as filmmakers, we have to fight to keep cinema alive. This means making feature films intended for theatrical exhibition,” Baker said in his acceptance speech. “The future of cinema [is] where it started: in a movie theater.”
Fast forward to March, and Baker has added even more gold to his trophy case. Between heartfelt thanks to his wife and Neon during this year’s awards run, the 54-year-old seized his moment in the spotlight to champion the cause of preserving independent cinema. At the Independent Spirit Awards, he outlined the lack of financial stability for filmmakers chasing their dreams. Later, while accepting the award for Best Director at the Oscars — where his film collected four trophies — Baker’s “battle cry” was focused on the struggle of independent theaters, especially after the pandemic.
While Baker may be one of the louder voices on the topic, the struggles of independent film weigh heavy on the minds of many in the industry. It was a problem exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic — more than 2,000 screens were closed during the lockdown period, according to a 2022 National Cinema Foundation study — but many factors continue to plague filmmakers and theaters alike.
One theater grappling with these challenges is the Somerville Theatre, a landmark in Davis Square that has stood since 1914. Larger chains like AMC and Alamo Drafthouse — which was recently acquired by Sony and marked the first studio purchase of a theater group since the 1948 Paramount Antitrust Consent Decrees were repealed in 2020 — benefit from vast financial resources and numerous screens.
However, the independently owned Somerville Theatre, with less financial wiggle room, is limited to showing only three films at once.
Sitting in the theater’s stunning main auditorium, the moviehouse’s creative director, Ian Judge, outlined the complexities of competing with the franchises. For Judge — who started his career as an usher at Loews Harvard Square theater as a teenager — being an underdog has both benefits and drawbacks.
“The major chains are really good at spending a lot of money on bells and whistles like projection and sound and comfortable seats and things like that, but then they don’t follow up with the customer service end of it,” Judge said. “If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys. And so if you’ve got managers who aren’t incentivized to care about continuing the tradition of movies, of making the movie experience magical, then that kind of shorts it too.”
Naturally, such moviegoing experiences depend on high-quality films, but as independent theaters struggle to survive, many independent filmmakers face increasing
challenges in bringing their films to the screen. As theaters disappear and audience attendance dwindles, distributors become less likely to invest in risky, low-budget projects.
Recently, this dilemma was faced by Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, the Canadian duo behind the recent South by Southwest hit “Nirvanna the Band the Show the Movie” (2025). Before their film — which is a spinoff of the duo’s mockumentary-sitcom “Nirvanna the Band the Show” (2017) — premiered at South by Southwest in March, Johnson told the crowd: “You may actually be the only people in the world who ever even see this movie.”
Thanks to Elevation Pictures, Johnson and McCarrol’s film has secured theatrical distribution in Canada. However, many other South by Southwest films have not shared the same fortune and are left still seeking buyers to put their work in front of audiences nationwide. Compounding this difficulty is the fact that many such audiences no longer exist.
“You get these little independent films [in the ’90s] that were in the middle and there was a market for them. There were theaters that showed them,” Judge noted. “Without those tertiary and secondary cities playing your movies, there’s no place to show them. You could play in New York and San Francisco, but you’re not going to make your money back. Then your movie isn’t going to be able to gain that national word of mouth.”
Nonetheless, festivals remain crucial spaces for filmmakers.
The circuit not only allows aspiring directors to shop their projects but also to connect with and grow their own audiences.
“I think the thing that festivals provide that’s unique in this whole world is that we put filmmakers directly in front of audiences so they can see how things are working,” Brian Tamm, executive director of Independent Film Festival Boston, said. “It sometimes can be hard for an artist to grow if they can’t get a sense of how their films are being reacted to.”
Many recent films have gone on to be successful after securing distribution from a festival run. For Jesse Eisenberg’s “A Real Pain” (2024), it took Sundance Film Festival success to make a deal with Searchlight Pictures. Payal Kapadia’s “All We Imagine as Light” (2024) went from a relative unknown to playing in front of international audiences after it captured the Grand Prix and secured distribution with Janus Films and the British Film Institute.
For each success story, there are many pictures that fail to reach audiences. It’s well understood that the film industry is an inherently volatile and uncertain place — even Oscar nominees like Baker and “The Brutalist” (2024) director Brady Corbet claim their own personal financial struggles — yet it’s still clear that more can (and must) be done to allow independent filmmakers to continue to create.
Predictably, the best thing one can do to support indie cinema is to simply go to the movies. Without markets to play their movies, filmmakers will be forced to allow their work to go
straight to streaming, if they’re lucky enough to secure distribution at all. Many theaters will continue to shut their doors, and big-budget studio films will be left to sustain those who remain.
As Tamm noted, the decline of theaters may not necessarily dictate the decline of the art form. “Festivals work for some people. YouTube works for some people. TikTok works for some people,” he explained. “If you’re passionate about making art, you’re going to make art.”
Though film may remain, the decline of independent cinema will undoubtedly lead to a loss of appreciation for the art form. Though Ted Sarandos may disagree — the Netflix CEO recently claimed that it is no different to watch “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962) on a cell phone than a big screen — there is a quality that can only be found in the theatrical setting, audience and all. As Judge put it, “No one’s going to say movies are saving the world, but being part of a community and experiencing something as a community is an integral part of being a human being.”
Perhaps it was David Lynch who put it best. “If you’re playing the movie on a telephone, you will never in a trillion years experience the film,” the legendary auteur said in a DVD bonus for “Inland Empire” (2006). “You’ll think you have experienced it, but you’ll be cheated.”
No one wants to be cheated. So, go to the movies. Grab your popcorn, settle in and know that you’re doing some good for the world.
Noah Goldstein Staff Writer
VIA FLICKR
The Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah is pictured.
Steadying the ship: Tufts baseball builds confidence entering NESCAC play
The story of Tufts baseball hasn’t always been smooth, but signs of a turnaround are beginning to show. After a challenging start, the Jumbos, whose record is currently 6–9, recently grabbed some momentum, winning two of their last three games as they head into NESCAC competition.
Whittier double header
A West Coast swing ended in mixed results for the Jumbos.
Facing Whittier in a Friday doubleheader, Tufts flexed offensive firepower early, riding a strong pitching performance from graduate student starter Silas Reed. Reed dominated with seven strikeouts over six innings, limiting Whittier’s offense to just three runs on five hits. The bats came alive in support, notably senior outfielder Cooper Smith, who collected two hits and drove in two runs, and first-year infielder James Henshon, who also drove in two on two hits. First-year infielder Cole Bohane later stepped up, crushing a towering two-run homer to punctuate a dominant 13–6 victory. Bohane finished the game with two RBIs, showcasing the promising power that could carry the Jumbos through the heart of their season.
Game 2 wasn’t as kind. Senior pitcher Connor Podeszwa delivered a gritty and determined outing, scattering eight hits across eight innings while striking out five batters and navigating multiple jams with seasoned composure. Despite his strong performance, the Jumbos struggled offensively, leaving 10 runners stranded. Their most significant missed opportunity came in the top of the ninth inning when they had a runner on second base but couldn’t break through. Whittier
seized the moment in the bottom half, capitalizing on a wild pitch to secure a 1–0 walk-off victory from a sacrifice fly.
Returning home with momentum
Back at Sol Gittleman Park, Tufts faced a tough test from a strong UMass Boston squad.
After falling behind 1–0 in the first inning, Tufts took control with a three-run rally in the fifth. Junior infielder Jesse McCullough sparked the inning with a leadoff single, advancing to third after walks by senior outfielder Ben Leonard and sophomore infielder/outfielder AJ Lysko. Smith drove in the tying run with an RBI single, and Henshon followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Jumbos a 2–1 advantage. First-year catcher Nick
Cubs had several very good players, like Seiya Suzuki, Shota Imanaga and Justin Steele, but they lacked a real superstar. A blockbuster trade for right-fielder Kyle Tucker in December 2024 filled that hole. They also have two promising young players — Pete Crow-Armstrong and Matt Shaw — slated to get everyday at bats, which could push this team’s ceiling higher.
8. San Diego Padres (93–69)
10. Boston Red Sox (last year: 81–81)
The Red Sox had one of the most productive offseasons in the league, as they traded for ace Garrett Crochet to boost their rotation and added veteran third baseman Alex Bregman to the lineup. Boston is also expecting three blue-chip prospects — Roman Anthony, Kristian Campbell and Marcelo Mayer — to make their big-league debuts in 2025.
9. Chicago Cubs (83–79)
Entering this offseason, the
Although there were rumors that the Padres would trade starters Dylan Cease and Michael King, both are staying in San Diego, giving the Padres one of the best rotations in baseball. Meanwhile, Fernando Tatís Jr., Manny Machado and 21-year-old sensation Jackson Merrill highlight a potent lineup.
7. New York Yankees (94–68)
Most will remember this offseason for the loss of Juan Soto, which certainly hurts, but the Yankees also added ace Max Fried
Banner, continuing his impressive rookie campaign, added another RBI single to extend the lead.
UMass Boston responded strongly, tying the game at 3–3 with a two-run homer from Jacob Levine in the sixth inning. In the seventh, the Beacons briefly retook the lead, 4–3, setting the stage for another Jumbo rally. Banner delivered again, smacking a decisive two-run double to right field to reclaim the lead at 5–4.
In relief, first-year pitcher Landon Meng was brilliant. Entering the game in the ninth inning, Meng quickly set down the Beacons in order, earning his first career save. His dominant performance in a tight situation highlighted his potential as a reliable closer in the Jumbos’ bullpen.
while also picking up outfielder Cody Bellinger and closer Devin Williams, all valuable additions. However, they will be without Gerrit Cole, who will be recovering from Tommy John surgery.
6. Arizona Diamondbacks (89–73)
The Diamondbacks suffered from the cruelty of baseball last year, missing the playoffs with a team that was far better than their 2023 squad that won the National League pennant. Still, they’re bringing back an elite offense, and their surprise acquisition of ace Corbin Burnes gives some teeth to a pitching staff that struggled mightily last year.
5. New York Mets (89–73)
After a surprise run to the National League Championship Series last year, the Mets handed out an astronomical contract to generational talent Juan Soto, poaching him from their crosstown rivals. He joins a star-studded lineup that also includes
resulting in stranded base runners and missed opportunities to capitalize on scoring chances. These frustrating outcomes highlighted a clear need for improved situational hitting and sharper focus in key defensive moments — areas the Jumbos have recently shown signs of addressing as they approach the heart of their season.
Numbers tell the tale
Offensively, Tufts has relied heavily on the consistent bats of Leonard (.373 batting average, 2 home runs, 9 RBI) and Smith (.365 batting average, 9 RBI). Smith, in particular, has been pivotal in key moments, consistently finding ways to put the ball in play under pressure. On the mound, Reed (3.24 ERA, 25 strikeouts in 16.2 innings) has been the cornerstone of the starting rotation, while Meng’s emerging late-game reliability adds reassurance.
Early season growing pains
Before their recent success, the Jumbos struggled significantly with consistency, especially on the mound and defensively. Early in the season, their defensive lapses and shaky bullpen performances frequently put them in early holes, forcing the lineup into pressure-packed late-game situations. Losses against teams like Johnson and Wales University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology exposed vulnerabilities, as Tufts pitching allowed multiple big innings, and defensive miscues contributed directly to unearned runs.
Their inconsistency at the plate was also apparent in these early games, often
Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonso and Brandon Nimmo.
4. Baltimore Orioles (91–71)
The loss of the aforementioned Burnes will hurt, but the Orioles have one of the deepest cores of young talent in baseball, headlined by Gunnar Henderson and Adley Rutschman. Guys like Jordan Westburg and Colton Cowser showed real promise last year, and the Orioles are also banking on improvement from Jackson Holliday, Coby Mayo and Heston Kjerstad — all highly-touted prospects.
3. Philadelphia Phillies (95–67)
The Phillies are aging, but for now, this team is still among baseball’s best. This offseason, the Phillies added Jesús Luzardo to a rotation that already includes Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola. On offense, twotime MVP Bryce Harper and Trea Turner lead an incredibly deep lineup.
Yet, the Jumbos still grapple with defensive miscues and pitching consistency — their team ERA stands at 6.44, a number that must improve significantly as conference play begins. Sophomore pitcher Ronan Hwang highlighted this focus in a statement to the Daily, writing, “I think the rough start to the season really fired us up” and that the Jumbos need to be “making sure we keep throwing strikes and keep the walks down as a pitching staff.”
Looking ahead to NESCAC
As Tufts shifts gears to conference competition, starting with Bates, the pieces seem to be coming together at just the right moment. Early bumps may have tested their resolve, but the recent stretch proves the Jumbos have the tools — and toughness — to make noise. As Hwang emphasized, “The mindset going into this weekend is to be ready — stay focused, maintaining the energy, and just wanting the moment/wanting to compete.”
2. Atlanta Braves (89–73)
The Braves were ravaged by injuries last year, with Ronald Acuña Jr. and Spencer Strider missing most of the season and Austin Riley playing banged up — and they still made the playoffs. With those key pieces slated to return to the roster, the Braves are one of the scariest teams in baseball.
1. Los Angeles Dodgers (98–64)
The defending champs not only added two-time Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell and Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki to their rotation, but Shohei Ohtani is expected to make his return to the mound in May after a phenomenal offensive season. Anything less than a World Series would be a disappointment.
Henry Blickenstaff is a senior studying history. Henry can be reached at henry.blickenstaff@ tufts.edu.
Luke Fredericks Staff Writer
COURTESY TUFTS ATHLETICS
Members of the Tufts baseball team are pictured on March 8.
