The Tufts Daily - Monday, February 22, 2021

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VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 9

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Monday, February 22, 2021

Recent drop in campus COVID-19 cases follows January surge

by Coco Arcand

Assistant News Editor

Student and faculty COVID19 cases skyrocketed after students began returning to campus in mid-January. Though numbers are now dropping, the surge raised concerns about how well students are abiding by the guidelines put in place by the administration to limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus.

According to the Daily’s COVID-19 dashboard, cases on the Medford/Somerville campus hit a peak on Jan. 25, when there were 21 new cases reported. The average cases per 100,000 individuals reached 144 for the Medford/Somerville campus on Jan. 31. On the same day, there was an average case rate of 50 per 100,000 in Massachusetts. Since then, numbers have improved, with only three new cases on Feb. 18.

Michael Jordan, university infection control health director, said the high case numbers are likely due to students traveling back to campus from other states, as well as winter weather.

“We have experienced a higher positivity rate this semester as compared to the fall,” Jordan wrote in an email to the Daily. “While it is possible that we have variants in the community, the rates at Tufts also track with a national surge in cases that has occurred in recent

months … Over the last week, our test positivity has started to decline towards pre-surge levels, and we hope that this trend will continue.”

Jordan also noted that there is no need for concern over quarantine and isolation locations reaching maximum capacity or a change of status as a result.

“At this point in time, less than half of our capacity for quarantine/isolation is used,” Jordan said. “Space in the mods is only one of many factors that we consider in setting the status level for the Medford-Somerville campus, so by itself it would not be a determining factor of a change in status.”

For many students, the thought of receiving a positive test result may evoke the fear of being temporarily housed in the Mods for their isolation period. However, Claire Wilkinson, a sophomore who tested positive for COVID-19 in the end of January, urged students to not be scared of the Mods and explained the level of medical care she received during her stay.

“The Mods are very intimidating I think before you go in, but once you unpack your stuff and figure out everything, you can pretty much just [relax] for the next however many days you are in there, which is usually 10,” Wilkinson said. “People came every morning at around 9 or 10

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

The Tufts COVID-19 testing center at the Medford/Somerville campus is pictured on Feb. 20. [o’clock in the morning] to check on us … take our temperature … check our pulse [and] just to make sure we’re doing okay and [ask] if we needed anything.”

Wilkinson also commented on what living with other students during the pandemic is like.

“In terms of me and my suite, we pretty much follow the rules of whoever is the most cautious …I just think it depends on what you believe and what the people you live with believe,” Wilkinson said.

When asked about whether students who break COVID-19 guidelines and then test positive should be punished, briana Sevigny, director of community standards on campus, responded.

“Students found to be in violation of the COVID-19 protocols do face consequences ranging from reprimands to disciplinary suspensions,” Sevigny wrote in an email to the Daily.

However, Sevigny said that the administration’s guidelines

are in place to maintain safety, rather than to provide opportunities for punishment. She also reaffirmed that students who follow the rules are benefiting themselves by protecting the community.

“The university’s emphasis is not on punishment but on student safety, helping students make wise choices, and empowering them to learn from their mistakes,” Sevigny said.

“Students owe it to themselves, each other and our community to observe the protocols and do their best at all times to minimize the risk of infection to themselves and others.”

Dean of Student Affairs and Chief Student Affairs Officer Camille Lizarríbar shared a similar sentiment in an op-ed recently published in the Daily.

Case numbers have been decreasing in recent weeks, which is an improvement from where the numbers were immediately after

arrival quarantine. Regardless, Jordan urged students to remain diligent and to not let this give them a false sense of security.

“It’s more important than ever for our community members to continue to follow the university’s current public health safety protocols, including continuing to wear properly fitting face masks in public spaces, follow physical distancing guidelines, and practice proper hand hygiene,” Jordan said.

Jordan expanded on this, referencing a point similar to the one Wilkinson made about living with others.

“Household transmission of the virus has been seen to be common and individuals may significantly reduce their risk of being infected by following these safety practices within their residence halls or off-campus apartments, even when among their roommates or housemates,” Jordan said.

TCU Senate prepares for hearing, hears supplementary funding requests

by Chloe Courtney-Bohl Assistant News Editor

The Tufts Community Union Senate prepared for its Feb. 28 hearing against members of the TCU Judiciary and heard three supplementary funding requests in a virtual meeting on Sunday evening.

TCU Historian Sarah Tata announced that in preparation for the hearing, the pages on the TCU Senate website listing senators’ names and email addresses have been temporarily archived.

Tata, a sophomore, explained why this decision was made.

“For safety reasons with the upcoming trial, we didn’t want our names and contact information easily found on a public website,” Tata said.

TCU Parliamentarian Taylor Lewis discussed the upcoming

hearing against members of the Judiciary. The Senate is holding the hearing in response to allegations from four Tufts community members claiming that the TCU Judiciary exhibited bias in its handling of the Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine referendum last semester.

The Feb. 28 hearing will be closed to the public. The hearing will open with a reading of the allegations followed by an opportunity for both the complainants and respondents to give opening statements. There will be time for questions from members of TCU Senate and the opposing party before closing statements.

TCU Senate then heard three supplementary funding requests.

Tufts Mountain Club requested $11,000 to pay a contractor to renovate their website. The Allocations Board recommend-

ed that TCU Senate approve half this amount, or $5,500. The senators debated this recommendation.

Some senators, including TCU Vice President Grant Gebetsberger, supported awarding Tufts Mountain Club the full $11,000.

“I think that this request is unique, and that what [the club is] trying to create with this really expensive website is something that’s going to serve a really massive amount of Tufts students,” Gebetsberger, a senior, said.

Other senators suggested that even $5,500 was too much money.

Some argued that TCU Senate should not give Tufts Mountain Club more money than it would be willing to give to other student organizations.

“I want to treat every club equally,” Tata, who is a member of

the Allocations Board, said. “Since I wouldn’t give this amount to every club, I wouldn’t give it to just this club.”

After a vote to approve the Allocation Board’s recommendation of $5,500 failed, Latinx Community Senator Carolina Olea Lezama proposed a lower figure of $2,750. Her proposal passed TCU Senate, with 16 senators voting in favor, 13 opposed, and one abstaining.

JumboCast requested $147 to purchase a broadcast stream deck to use for its live broadcasts. Six members of the Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining. The request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

Tufts Investment Club requested $838 for paint, t-shirts, periodicals and prizes for club members. Six members of the

FEATURES / page 3

ARTS / page 4

OPINION / page 7

‘it’s mac’ founders look to make streetwear sustainable

Wynton Marsalis, Jazz at Lincoln Center craft powerful album out of national strife

Celebrating Black history, elevating Black voices is essential this month and always

Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining.

The request passed TCU Senate by acclamation.

TCU President Sarah Wiener said that a new Qualtrics form where students can submit questions about the COVID-19 guidelines and receive answers from Tufts Medical Center Director and University Infection Control Health Director Michael Jordan and Medical Director of Health Service Marie Caggiano is now live.

“I think having people stay informed is really a great way to keep people healthy,” Wiener said.

The Qualtrics form is part of TCU Senate’s ongoing COVID-19 Communication Project. Jordan and Caggiano’s responses to students’ questions will be shared via TCU Senate’s Instagram and Facebook pages.

NEWS

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FEATURES

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ARTS & POP CULTURE

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FUN & GAMES

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OPINION

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SPORTS

BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, February 22, 2021

THE TUFTS DAILY Megan Szostak Editor in Chief

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Features

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3 Monday, February 22, 2021

Student entrepreneurs launch ‘it’s mac’ streetwear brand

by Aisha Catena

Assistant Features Editor

The idea originated as playful banter: “Let’s start a company,” Malcolm Laws-MacDonald said to Max Neve. Little did he expect that Max would confidently answer with, “Let’s do it,” and for the project to instantly launch into action. With a simple statement, the brand was born.

“It’s mac” is a streetwear brand started by Tufts students LawsMacDonald, a sophomore, and Neve, a junior.

“When I found Malcolm, I was like, ‘Okay, this is someone who’s as driven as me to succeed,’” Neve said. “And I knew that if we worked together we would never let each other fail … That was the most gratifying part for me … actually just getting started.”

Laws-MacDonald agreed. “I think the best thing you can do with anything like this is just to get started. I’ve always had tons of ideas in my head … You can think and think and think, but it doesn’t really matter unless you get started.”

Laws-MacDonald and Neve first met at a Tufts pre-orientation program, when LawsMacDonald recognized that Neve was also from New York by the soccer shirt he was wearing.

They started talking and have been good friends since, now living in a suite together.

The roommates started their brand out of their dorm room, currently littered with sweatshirts, prints and ironing materials. “If you walk into our room right now, you’ll have a little difficulty getting around because there’s boxes all over the floor, just packages full of sweatshirts,” Laws-MacDonald said.

Although the co-founders share the majority of the brand’s responsibilities, there are slight differences in their managerial roles. Through his experience producing music and working as a DJ, Laws-MacDonald has grown used to the creative process. Therefore, LawsMacDonald is more inclined to the design side of “it’s mac.”

Neve thinks his creativity lies more in “leveraging human talent” around him. Although Laws-MacDonald is certainly involved in logistics, Neve manages the majority of the business side of the company.

Nevertheless, whenever he feels overwhelmed, Laws-MacDonald is ready to help out. “[Malcolm] is a quantitative economics major, he knows what he’s doing,” Neve said.

The brand started as a collaborative process, and that culture has remained ingrained at its core and in all facets of production. “Malcolm and I go back and forth on everything and I don’t think there’s been a single decision made in the entirety of the company that hasn’t involved both of us,” Neve said.

The brand’s name originated when Neve was filling out an application for the Tufts Ideas Competition and misspelled Laws-MacDonald’s last name as “Laws-McDonald” instead of “Laws-MacDonald.”

“Actually, it’s mac,” LawsMacDonald said when he saw the mistake. “Say that again?”

Neve asked. And that was it; the brand became “it’s mac.”

“I’ve heard of so many stories of people who spent years and thousands of dollars on marketing firms trying to come up with names,” Neve said. “Some of the best ones you just have to take intuitively — like, it sounds right to me … let’s go with it.”

This low-budget, self-starter personality can be seen through “it’s mac’s” marketing strategies. The brand’s promotion has been primarily social media-based — the pair has friends and family share their Instagram page and has spent no money on advertisement.

“As soon as we knew we wanted to start a brand, we started on Instagram,” Laws-MacDonald said. “I think our generation is so heavily on Instagram that if we hadn’t done that, I don’t think we would have sold three sweatshirts.”

According to the “it’s mac” Instagram, “inspired by speed” is the brand’s slogan. This idea was created by Laws-MacDonald, who was attracted to the shapes and designs that make up motorsport uniforms and livery. But the pair described how speed as a theme is incredibly versatile.

“We can do so much with the idea of speed, you have speed in terms of automobile racing but you also see speed in terms of a cultural context,” Neve said.

COURTESY MAX NEVE

Founders of “it’s mac” Malcolm Laws-MacDonald and Max Neve are pictured.

The pair believes that as the theme evolves and develops, “it’s mac” will begin to differentiate itself from other up-and-coming streetwear brands. The struggle at the moment is being able to produce creative and diverse products with a tight budget; both Laws-MacDonald and Neve are funding the project with their own savings. “We don’t have a lot [of money] to throw around … I hand-printed all of these things … and I spent four days in quarantine here, just ironing on patches, doing all the packaging and folding … it really goes from start to finish with our hands on the product,” Laws-MacDonald said.

Nevertheless, money has been a limiting factor. Their first collection, released on Jan. 29, consists of a white pullover with “it’s mac” printed in black on the front and a patch on the shoulder. Although they would have liked to release the pullover in more colors, that process will take some time. “If you want to get 55 pullovers of this quali-

ty, you only get a wholesale discount if they are the same color,” Neve said.

As of now, the collection is 68% sold out. The pair is hoping for 100% sales, as that will give them enough revenue to reinvest in production, they said. They explained that since this first release they have readjusted the business to hit smaller batches while it is still a small brand. “It’s learning those things as you go,” Neve said.

And that’s exactly what they’ve done. Although being cost-effective as working students may be difficult, the co-founders have found starting a brand while enrolled at Tufts to be surprisingly helpful and have learned a lot throughout the process.

“I am very aware of the fact that fast fashion is one of the largest detriments to the environment– 10% of CO2 emissions annually come from textile manufacturing,” Neve said.

As a result, he has geared his economic studies toward that,

Discover the unsearchable Discover the forest

taking environmental economics and working closely with his professor to find ways in which he and Laws-MacDonald can improve the brand’s sustainability goals.

“I have all these brilliant minds around me,” Neve said.

“The connections I’ve had with the professors here have definitely given me the most impactful lessons I’ve had in my entire educational experience.”

Laws-MacDonald and Neve envision a sustainable future for “it’s mac,” and have already begun looking at eco-friendly textiles. They mentioned that one of the possibilities would be ECONYL. The issue, they said, is that these textiles are extremely expensive.

“We need to make sure that we have a fundamentally good brand that people want first, and then incorporate sustainability,” Neve said.

The pair agreed that they want to make “it’s mac” as big as possible, “We want to take it as far as we can go,” Max said.

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Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

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Monday, February 22, 2021

‘The Democracy! Suite’ reflects modern American challenges

by Miles Singer

Contributing Writer

Earlier this year, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra Septet released “The Democracy! Suite” album, which reflects on some of the many challenges the United States has faced over the past year including the raging pandemic, a tumultuous presidential election and a raised awareness of incidents of systemic racism.

Artists of all types have channeled these issues into their works, and the world of jazz has been no different. As trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, the managing and artistic director for Jazz at Lincoln Center, puts it, “Jazz music is the perfect metaphor for democracy.” His eight original compositions featured on the album provide a stirring portrait of modern America.

The hurdles presented by the COVID-19 pandemic are apparent in the conception of the album, which features only seven members of the normally 15-person jazz orchestra. The smaller group size allowed the septet to record “The Democracy! Suite” in one of the Jazz at Lincoln Center’s performance spaces while adhering to social distancing guidelines. The resulting project was released exclusively as a digital album, a move indicative of the ways lockdowns have impacted our lives.

The track “Be Present” kicks off “The Democracy! Suite.” The band wastes no time as a bluesy melody dances over a driving swing groove right from the onset of the piece. Interweaving lines and switches in the underlying rhythm section command the listener’s attention. As the song progresses, the arrangement becomes weightier, building in intensity until Marsalis’ solo starts amid crashing drums and a powerful bass hit.

Although the composition has a contemporary sound, Marsalis’ affinity for earlier jazz music becomes apparent when

he is joined by alto saxophonist Ted Nash in a section of collective improvisation redolent of the New Orleans jazz of Louis Armstrong. “Be Present” also features impactful solos from trombonist Elliot Mason and pianist Dan Nimmer. Blues-oriented improvisations and horn backgrounds recall the hard bop era

chords, a resonating bass line and spastic cymbal patterns coalesce into a spiritual atmosphere. Soon the horns enter with an assertive motif, and the band switches to a straightforward and commanding swing groove. Like the song that precedes it, “Sloganize, Patronize, Realize, Revolutionize (Black Lives Matters)” is charac-

improvisations with a blaring, full-bodied tone.

Bassist Carlos Henriquez is next, adding a strong blues element to his solo. After a short interlude, Nash reemerges, floating over the laid-back groove with flurries of notes. Marsalis and Mason trade figures for a moment, before “Sloganize,

VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Wynton Marsalis, trumpeter and artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is pictured. of jazz. The ensemble carries its momentum right up to the final chord, which is accompanied by a slew of rolling drums and cymbals in an outpour of emotion.

The modern sound established by “Be Present” is continued on the next track, titled “Sloganize, Patronize, Realize, Revolutionize (Black Lives Matters).” Hard-hitting piano

terized by groove switches and blues language.

The first featured soloist is tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding, who enters with a growling, tortured sound that elicits a few instinctive grunts of approval from his bandmates. Blanding maintains the intensity throughout his solo, delivering impassioned

Patronize, Realize, Revolutionize (Black Lives Matters)” closes with a restatement of the melody.

“Deeper than Dreams” is Marsalis’ tribute to those who have lost their lives to COVID-19 and those who have lost loved ones. The introduction features the horns playing a moving, soulful melody as drummer Obed Calvaire creates a rumbling

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effect. A soft, bluesy melody soon enters, lending the song a sentimental sound. Marsalis, Nash, Blanding, Mason and Nimmer all contribute passionate improvisations. The slow ballad tempo completes the band’s gripping portrait of the sadness caused by the pandemic, and “Deeper than Dreams” ends softly.

Following “Deeper than Dreams,” the album reverts to a more uptempo feel with “Out Amongst the People (for J Bat).”

Marsalis wrote the song for pianist Jon Batiste, known for his work on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” (2015–) and “Soul” (2020), who was seen over the summer playing live music alongside Black Lives Matter protests. Blanding is featured first on soprano sax, followed

by Marsalis, Nimmer, Nash and Mason. A triumphant ascending line closes “Out Amongst the People (for J Bat).”

The final song on “The Democracy! Suite” is “That’s When All Will See.” The composition has a similar bouncy feel to “Out Amongst the People,” complete with the tambourine and New Orleans sensibilities.

Despite this traditional ambiance, the more modern improvisational techniques used by the musicians, namely Blanding and Nimmer, give the song a fresh sound. Marsalis’ liner notes describe “That’s When All Will See” as “a parade for some future time when we won’t need death and destruction to force meaningful, intelligent, and humanistic change.” The tension between the uplifting groove and minor harmonies encapsulates this message.

Though it’s at times somber and at other times hopeful, “The Democracy! Suite” is a poignant marker of the turmoil facing America today. The music, though lyricless, is impactful and hopefully, as Marsalis puts it, will inspire us “to get out of our seats and fight for the world we believe in.”

A&P

Monday, February 22, 2021 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

‘The Last of Us Part II’ breaks records but not without controversy

by Carl Svahn

Contributing Writer

It’s a record that most would celebrate, or at least not try to burn to the ground. As of Jan. 26, “The Last of Us Part II” (2020) has achieved more awards than “The Witcher III: Wild Hunt” (2015), making it the most awarded game in history. With 261 of these honors to its name, as well as being the third highest-grossing PlayStation game ever in the United States, someone unfamiliar with the gaming community might assume “The Last of Us Part II” is universally beloved.

Nothing could be further from the truth. The game is shrouded in a wave of hatred, controversy and bigotry to the point where even mentioning the game’s name can spark outrage. “The Last of Us Part II” is truly the “The Last Jedi” (2017) of video games — a beautiful yet flawed creation nearly ruined by harmful criticism.

That’s not to say there is no merit to any of the backlash. For one, the game was confirmed to be the product of a heavy crunch period. This kind of workplace abuse is absolutely worthy of the condemnation and abstention from purchasing that followed. Articles were published and case studies were written, but most people made their peace with it. Then, the plot of the game was leaked online. The result was a fury the likes of which I have never seen in a gaming fanbase.

The leaks revealed significant plot details that some fans felt betrayed the characters of the first game, which is seen by many as one of the greatest games of all time. These people have the right to feel betrayed and express it, and many did respectfully; however, many took to the game’s Metacritic page and social media to trash the game’s reputation and personally threaten the developers. They kept this up for weeks, right up until and following the game’s actual release.

Though not very different from the leaks (despite some plot elements that were proven false), the more vicious elements of the backlash soon came out to play.

The main character of the “The Last of Us Part II,” Ellie, was known to be lesbian since the downloadable content for the original revealed she had a crush on her female best friend. However, it took her getting an actual girlfriend in the sequel to prompt homophobic reactions. Despite being the player’s companion throughout much of the game, just her presence alone incited homophobia and misogyny.

On top of this, we have Abby, the story’s other main character who is new to the series. Her role prompted widespread controversy, leading to death threats that targeted Laura Bailey, the actress playing Abby, and her young son. Abby happens to have a stereotypically masculine body type — which, of course, is outside of the hyper-sexualized norms for female characters — prompting transphobes to join the smorgasbord of criticism (despite her not being trans).

All of these frustrations and threats built up to the 2020 Game Awards (the Oscars of gaming) where “The Last of Us Part II” swept the main categories, including Game of the Year. The result?

More death threats and hate, with factions claiming that the Game Awards were rigged in “The Last of Us Part II’s” favor.

I would love nothing more than to discuss this game, its flaws and its accomplishments, but it has become far too exhausting to do so. It’s ironic that a game about the destructive power of hate and the need to turn the other cheek has provoked so much disgust and vitriol. So, congratulations to “The Last of Us Part II” and congratulations to all at Naughty Dog, its developer, who worked so hard on it. While I think history will be kind to you when all is said and done, it’s going to be quite a long and insult-filled time before that happens.

COURTESY WIKIPEDIA

The cover of Sony’s “The Last of Us Part II” video game is pictured.

COVID-19 AT TUFTS

5

Derin Savasan Hot Take

‘Ratatouille’ is Pixar at its best

I

t’s time we stop sleeping on “Ratatouille” (2007) and recognize it as being not only the best Pixar film but the film we all need right now.

For those of you who’ve been living under a rock and have no idea what I’m referring to, “Ratatouille” is this oneof-a-kind film about a rat named Remy with a rare and unique talent that not many of us are blessed with: cooking.

His keen sense of smell and passion for cooking lead Remy to leave the safety of his pack in the sewers of Paris and make his own way in the world — the human world, to be exact. He eventually makes his way to Paris’ most famous restaurant, Gusteau’s, and forms an alliance with a talentless, human dishwasher named Linguini to create culinary works of art.

Like I said, the film is one of a kind.

But it’s not the only reason why I love it so much.

I love it because it’s a film that will lift you up, a film for the underdog, (or underrat?), a film that celebrates the connection between humans and everything “not-human.” It’s a film that celebrates the joys in life, the things that bring us all together — namely, food. That’s what “Ratatouille” is all about. It’s this magical, humbling, little film that exists without any crappy sequels. It takes Paris, an already beautiful city full of life, love and art, and recognizes all of these traits, bringing them to life in a way only animation could.

But the film’s story is universal. Remy represents a small part of us that strives to be something we’ve been told we can’t be. He represents a dream we’ve been longing for. Linguini represents our insecurities, the side of us holding us back. The two together create this power, this ability to create and do the impossible, to prove others wrong. It’s a powerful, moving film that gives off the vibe that it’s just here to have a good time. It’s hilarious, adorable and perfect. If it had a scent, it would probably smell really good.

Most importantly, “Ratatouille” has this unique trait where you can’t make fun of it, even if you tried. Does it have tons of meme-able content? Yes. Does it leave you with unanswered questions about the logistics of having a rat live on top of your head 24/7? Sure.

But you can’t help but treat Remy like he’s the protagonist of some Scorsese film. Because boy, he feels so real — almost human.

Now, I’ve recently watched “Soul” (2020) and liked it. A lot. It felt like the most adult Pixar film to date. I had a similar feeling when I watched “Inside Out” back in 2015. But “Ratatouille” is truly something else. Perhaps because it captures our lust for food, for love, for happiness, for life better than any Pixar film ever will.

Here’s to the rats who dream!

Derin Savasan is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Derin can be reached at 2derinsavasan@gmail.com

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Monday, February 22, 2021

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Opinion

7 Monday, February 22, 2021

EDITORIAL

This month and beyond, Black history deserves to be studied February is Black History Month. It is an occasion to affirm the importance of Black lives and celebrate Black communities whose voices are all too often erased in whitewashed accounts of history. And for the Tufts community in particular, it should be a moment to emphasize that Black history deserves acknowledgement within the histories of Boston, Medford and Somerville and that Black voices deserve amplification in Tufts’ faculty and student body.

To its credit, Tufts has spent this month recognizing this occasion, with a flurry of events and guest speakers. But at predominantly white institutions like Tufts, where Black voices are often drowned out in a sea of white noise, the task of amplifying these voices should be an ongoing effort that the whole community embraces. Tufts students must educate themselves about Black history during this month and beyond, and the university community must vocally celebrate the efforts of Black student groups and the research of faculty studying the African diaspora.

Tufts students need not walk very far to find this history. Medford’s own Royall House and Slave Quarters — “believed to be the only surviving freestanding slave quarters in the Northeast,” according to its website — is less than a mile from the heart of campus. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Royall House offered in-person tours, and starting on Feb. 24, a virtual video tour will be available. As both a National Historic Landmark and a museum, it is an important site for learning about the history of slavery in Massachusetts.

Another way to learn about local Black history is through exploring the African American Trail Project, inspired by the work of Tufts Professor Gerald R. Gill and created with input from students and facul-

Matt Rice The Honeymoon Period

The most fragile coalition

W

e are just over one month into Joe Biden’s presidency, and the fragility of his governing coalition is already beginning to show. Last year, the Democratic Party won the White House, reclaimed the Senate and maintained its House majority in an impressive sweep; however, the size of the majorities and the internal caucus dynamics make the Democrats’ grip on power akin to that of an airplane being held together with duct tape and spit.

ty. The trail includes over 200 landmarks across the state of Massachusetts that highlight the heritage, history and successes of Black individuals in the United States. Stops on the trail include the Zipporah Potter Atkins site, dedicated to the first African American landowner in Boston, and the 54th Regiment & Robert Gould Shaw Memorial, created to commemorate the first all-African American military regiment in U.S. history.

If we as Tufts students are to live up to the principles of active citizenship that our university so frequently espouses, it is our responsibility to learn about the history infused into the land of our community. Taking part in these activities is a powerful way to study that history.

Affirming the importance of Black voices cannot just be an exercise in studying the distant past; Tufts students who have not already done so should explore how their classmates celebrate Black culture and artistry across the African diaspora. Tufts is home to plenty of student groups that showcase the vibrance of Black performing arts, including two a cappella groups (The Ladies of Essence and S-Factor) that specialize in music of the diaspora, two step teams (BlackOut and ENVY) one African dance group (Children of Cultures of Africa) and one Caribbean dance group (ROTI and RUM). Onyx, the school’s only literary and visual arts magazine of the Tufts African American community, is in its 37th year of publication; much of the archive is available in the Tufts Digital Library. For all Tufts students, recognizing Black history should also mean celebrating the present artistry that lives around us.

Recognition of Black voices at Tufts should not end with the arts, however; it must extend into the political sphere as well.

This means that non-Black students must listen when insti-

tutions like the Black Student Union, African Students Organisation and Pan Afrikan Alliance voice their stances on community issues, and students who are able should support the efforts of racial justice groups like the Student Coalition for Anti-Racism and Tufts for a Racially Equitable Endowment.

For the same reasons that it is important to elevate Black voices from history, it is also critical that the Tufts community use collective political action to elevate contemporary Black voices.

Finally, Tufts students can educate themselves about historical and present incarnations of the African diaspora through Tufts’ own academic programs. The Department of Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora is home to numerous scholars who have

dedicated their careers to these subjects. By enrolling in these professors’ courses, students can take this opportunity to study race from local, national and transnational perspectives; their distribution requirements may not demand it of them, but their civic responsibilities do.

For students who may not have devoted their years at Tufts to this kind of engagement with race and diaspora, let Black History Month be a gateway to doing so — both in studying oppressive systems of racism and colonialism and in celebrating Black joy and excellence in our community. As students, the responsibility is ours to honor Black History Month in our communities and educate ourselves (and for white students, not to rely on Black people to teach them). The local community has

ample resources and historical sites for students to educate themselves about Black history, and within Tufts there is a plethora of academic opportunities to study it.

Many of these may demand more time than most students have in the rest of February, but that should not be a problem — Black History Month should be the beginning of a critical learning experience in students’ lives, not the end of one. To truly celebrate Black History Month, Tufts students — especially white students — must go beyond simple performative acts, instead taking on the long-term work of unlearning harmful practices, educating themselves and amplifying Black success and excellence amid systemic injustice.

The Senate Democrats hold a majority thanks only to Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote. It would only take a single Democratic senator’s defection for a partisan bill to fail. In the House, three vacancies have given Speaker Nancy Pelosi one of the slimmest majorities in modern history: 221–211.

With 217 votes needed for a majority, House progressives could easily torpedo legislation if they want to.

For President Biden’s first 100 days, I will be covering this seemingly unworkable dynamic: a sclerotic Senate that caters to more conservative Democrats like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema, an increasingly populist, leftwing House caucus and a president whose campaign relied

heavily on the notion that he could get things done.

The first and most obvious challenge for Biden is responding to the ongoing pandemic and ensuing economic fallout.

His nearly $2 trillion American Rescue Plan still includes a minimum wage increase to $15 an hour, one-time payments of $1,400 to Americans who qualify based on previous income, billions of dollars for vaccine distribution and much more.

But the Democratic Congress is already giving him headaches. In the Senate, Manchin shot down hopes for the minimum wage increase even after meeting with some of the nation’s leading anti-poverty activists. In the House, progressive representatives are calling on Biden to

increase the $1,400 payments to $2,000 while also making the payments reoccur every month that the pandemic lasts.

With incredibly tight majorities in both houses of Congress, it will take some painstaking political maneuvering for Biden to get things done. And even though some progressives rightfully point out Biden’s broken promises on the minimum wage and student loan debt cancellation, the president — and the Democratic Party as a whole — seem to have learned from their mistakes over a decade ago.

During President Obama’s first year in office, he and then-Vice President Biden tried to cater their financial recovery stimulus to some very conservative Democrats in Congress. A coalition of Blue Dog Democrats in the

House and conservative Senate Democrats like Ben Nelson and Kent Conrad successfully pushed Obama to limit his 2009 recovery bill. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 was less than half the size of Biden’s pandemic-era stimulus.

The shrunken 2009 package later proved to delay full economic recovery and likely contributed to the Democrats’ massive losses in the 2010 elections.

But learning a lesson may not be enough. If Biden hopes to keep some of the left in his delicate coalition, he would be better off conceding to them more often than not.

Matt Rice is a junior studying political science.

Matt can be reached at matthew.rice@tufts.edu.

8 Monday, February 22, 2021

SPORTS

tuftsdaily.com

Fitness center to reopen, status of spring sports still up in the air

by Alex Sharp

Executive Sports Editor

In an email with the subject line “Easing some COVID restrictions on campus,” Tufts University Infection Control Health Director Michael Jordan announced that the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center will reopen, while also noting that varsity team practices and games, as well as club and intramural sports, will remain on pause.

The email indicated that the changes were made due to declining COVID-19 rates on Tufts campuses and in Massachusetts.

As of Feb. 18, the fitness center is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 9:45 p.m., Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. Similar to last semester, students will need to make reservations to use the fitness center.

Students can make up to three

reservations per week, but only one per day. Each reservation lasts just 45 minutes and is for only one machine, constraining students’ ability to get in a legitimate workout.

As part of the easing of restrictions, the Hamilton Pool will also be open for reservations throughout the week.

The Gantcher Center, Cousens Gymnasium, Chase Gym and the squash center will remain closed for recreational use.

The announcement keeps spring sport varsity athletes in a state of limbo, not knowing whether or not they will have a season.

The last NESCAC update came in a joint statement by the 11 schools’ presidents in late January. The letter stated: “We recognize how important athletic competition is to many of our students and to our communities, and we understand the dismay many will feel at the

possibility that spring conference competition might be canceled two years in a row. The Presidents will take this into consideration when making a final decision in late February or early March.”

Most Div. I sports and some Div. III sports have resumed with COVID-19 precautions in place, although the Ivy League announced last week that they will cancel their spring sports season.

ANN MARIE BURKE / THE TUFTS DAILY

The inside of the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center is pictured on Sept. 23, 2020.

Matt Goguen Keeping up with the 617

Dissecting the Marcus Mariota rumors

T

he Patriots have a major problem at quarterback. Their 2020 starter Cam Newton is a free agent this offseason and has expressed that a deal with the Patriots is unlikely.

Currently, the Patriots quarterback room includes Jarrett Stidham and Jacob Dolegala (who?). As a Patriots fan, I am more confident in having former college quarterback Julian Edelman calling the shots than Stidham and Dolegala.

With the Patriots having a pick outside the top 10, it is unlikely they will be able to get a starter from the draft, unless Bill Belichick sells an arm and a leg to a possible suitor. Therefore, the Patriots are left to scrounge the free agent and trade markets for their next signal caller.

Field Yates of ESPN released a column this past week predicting the QB carousel of the 2021 offseason. Surprisingly, Yates projected that Marcus Mariota would go to the Patriots. Mariota, who served as the backup to Derek Carr on the Las Vegas Raiders last season, currently has a 2021 cap hit of $10.7 million, which is unusually high for a backup quarterback. It’s entirely possible that the Raiders’ front office will either trade or straight-up release Mariota to avoid the financial burden of

paying top dollar for a player to sit the bench.

The Patriots currently have $63.5 million in cap space this offseason, which is the fourth-most in the NFL. A situation that they rarely find themselves in, the Patriots could make some waves this offseason. Sure, they still have a few important free agents they should re-sign, including Joe Thuney and Jason McCourty. Theoretically, the Patriots should have plenty of money to play around with in the QB market. Mariota’s $10.7 million would make a sizable dent in the cap space, but it wouldn’t put the Patriots into financial trouble entirely.

Although Mariota fits into the Patriots cap situation, his play over the past few years is concerning; he lost the starting job at Tennessee to Ryan Tannehill, and was

consequently signed by the Raiders last offseason. He did impress in his sole game of 2020, throwing for 226 yards and a score, while also adding 86 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Mariota’s traits are similar to Newton’s as he thrives when flushed out of the pocket and can extend plays with his legs.

Mariota certainly will not light the NFL on fire if he ends up in a Patriots uniform; the receiver and running back rooms have no weapons, unless the Patriots can make an additional splash and sign Kenny Golladay or Chris Godwin. Knowing Bill Belichick, I doubt that will happen.

Sure, Mariota could be a solid bridge quarterback to the next Patriots successor, and there’s a possibility that he can thrive in offensive coordina-

tor Josh McDaniels’ system.

However, these rumors are not giving me hope for the Patriots next season. Mariota simply does not have enough talent to turn the Patriots into a true playoff contender again.

I do understand that replacing Tom Brady at quarterback is impossible — there will never be another quarterback like him. Nonetheless, the Patriots need to focus on their future and realize that the glory days of that unbelievable dynasty are long behind them.

I guess having a veteran like Mariota calling the shots isn’t the worst option possible, but it definitely isn’t ideal. Sounds like another bleak season is inevitable in Foxborough.

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