The Tufts Daily - Friday, February 26, 2021

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VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 13

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Friday, February 26, 2021

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi talks Capitol Hill riots, next four years with Biden

by Alexander Janoff Deputy News Editor

Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi addressed the Tufts community in the first event of the spring 2021 Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life’s Distinguished Speaker Series.

Her talk, held on Zoom, was the Alan D. Solomont Lecture on Citizenship & Public Service and over 3,000 individuals registered for the event.

Un i ve r s i t y Pre s i d e n t Anthony Monaco opened the event by introducing Pelosi and Dean of Tisch College Alan Solomont, who moderated the event. Monaco referenced some of Pelosi’s many achievements in the public service, which included her work in making health care more affordable and accessible, stimulating economic growth and addressing government corruption.

Pelosi and Solomont’s discussion began with the recent riots on Capitol Hill. Pelosi discussed the sadness surrounding

ALEX JANOFF / THE TUFTS DAILY

Tufts President Tony Monaco (left), Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (right), and Dean Alan Solomont (bottom) are pictured during a live event held over Zoom. the riots but also announced that she was happy the House resumed work right away.

“It was a personal thing for me to see the assault on the Capitol for many reasons … but [I was] so happy that we got right back in to continue our work,” Pelosi said.

Pelosi also talked about the strides the House has made in female representation since she first assumed office in 1987. At that time, the Democratic Party had 12 female representatives, and the Republican Party had 11.

Today, those numbers are 89 and 30, respectively.

Solomont asked Pelosi if there is a single legislative accomplishment she is most proud of from her time in Congress, and she said nothing compares to the Affordable

Care Act, which was signed into law in 2010.

“That probably made such a big difference in people’s lives,” Pelosi said. “Before, if you had a preexisting medical condition it was almost impossible to get health care that you can afford.

Impossible unless you were the wealthiest of the wealthiest.”

Pelosi also spoke to her strategies for unifying as large and diverse a group as the Democratic Party in the House.

Pelosi reported that 70% of the caucus is made up of women, minorities and individuals who identify as LGBTQ+.

“We have a very diverse group in the caucus,” Pelosi said. “What brings us together is not any one person. What brings us together are our values.”

Solomont referenced the recent support young people have given to the Democratic Party and asked Pelosi how she intends to maintain that support throughout subsequent elections.

“At Tisch College, my colleagues are among the nation’s see PELOSI, page 2

Vaccinated students expected to follow all COVID-19 guidelines for foreseeable future

CIRCLE releases study on Pre-K–12 civic education in Massachusetts

by Alex Viveros

by Ria Agarwal

News Editor

Vaccinated students located on the Medford/Somerville campus will be expected to follow all university COVID-19 guidelines for the time being, according to University Infection Control Health Director Michael Jordan.

University health officials have suggested that although vaccines are capable of preventing serious complications from COVID-19, it is still unclear to what extent vaccinated individuals may still become infected and spread the virus.

“The two vaccines that are available have been shown to prevent serious Covid-19 disease,” Tufts’ COVID-19 website reads. “However, the clinical trials that delivered these results were not designed to determine whether vaccinated people could still spread the coronavirus without developing symptoms. That remains a possibility.”

The website states that as researchers study the possibility

of vaccinated individuals being able to transmit COVID-19, those who have received a vaccine should carry themselves under the assumption that they may still be potential spreaders.

Research is currently being conducted into whether or not vaccinated individuals can spread COVID-19. An Israeli study reported on Feb. 21 that the Pfizer-BioNTech SE vaccine may be 89% effective at preventing laboratory-confirmed infections, according to Bloomberg, although some scientists have disputed the findings.

Jordan wrote in an email to the Daily that while the results of the early study show promise, more data will need to be collected in order for the university to lift any COVID-19 restrictions for vaccinated individuals.

Specifically, he suggested that long-term follow-ups to the Israeli study still need to be done, as well as analyses into whether or not the vaccine can stop the transmission of new virus variants. The CDC has pre-

dicted that the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in the United Kingdom, will be the dominant variant in the United States by March.

“At this time we have no plans to change our policies,” Jordan wrote in an email to the Daily.

“Regardless of vaccination status, people will still need to follow covid-19 surveillance testing protocols, isolation/quarantine guidance, wear masks, remain at a physical distance, etc.”

Jordan explained that Tufts may consider relaxing some restrictions in the future once there is enough data to prove that it is safe.

“Once high levels of herd immunity are achieved in the country and data support long term immunity and immunity against new variants, we may start to think about relaxing some restrictions,” Jordan said.

“However, this is many months off and we should not expect changes this semester.” see GUIDELINES, page 2

Assistant News Editor

The Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) released the report from a study they conducted on Massachusetts’ civic education. The report discussed challenges and recommendations for civic education in Pre-K– 12 schools in Massachusetts and was led by Ariel Tichnor-Wagner, Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg and Noorya Hayat.

In recent years, Massachusetts has significantly changed civic education curricula in its public schools. The Massachusetts legislature enacted the Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement in 2018, which established the Civics Project Trust Fund. Also in 2018, Massachusetts revised the History and Social Science Framework from 2003, which increased emphasis on civics in education for grade levels Pre-K through 12 and established a full-year civics course for eighth graders.

EDITORIAL/ page 9

FEATURES / page 4

ARTS / page 6

Tufts must do more in its fight against climate change

A look into the Daily’s recent history

Books for Black History Month and beyond

With support from the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life and Boston University, CIRCLE’s study looked into these 2018 policies. Through a mixed methods design, CIRCLE looked into quantitative survey data and used survey responses to find interview subjects. They sought to investigate educators’ awareness of the policies, the extent to which the policies were implemented and the systematic variation in the awareness and implementation of the civics policies across districts in Massachusetts, according to the executive summary of the report.

Director of CIRCLE Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg said that the findings showed signs of equitable implementation and that educators in both low-income and high-income districts have the commitment to implement civic education.

“The strategy to distribute funding to economically disadvantaged districts may have see CIRCLE, page 3 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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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Friday, February 26, 2021

THE TUFTS DAILY Megan Szostak Editor in Chief

— EDITORIAL — ETHAN STEINBERG Managing Editor

LIZ SHELBRED COLTON WOLK Associate Editors Maddie Aitken Executive News Editor Sarah Crawford Executive Features Editor Tuna Margalit Executive Arts Editor Priya Padhye Executive Opinion Editor Julian Perry Editorial Editor Juanita Asapokhai Amulya Mutnuri Caroline Wolinsky Editorialists Alex Sharp Executive Sports Editor Jess Blough Investigative Editor Hannah Harris Executive Audio Producer Sophie Dolan Executive Photo Editor Austen Money Executive Video Editor

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Please rec ycle this newspaper!

The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community.

The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board.

EDITORIALS Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. Individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily.

OP-EDS The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself.

Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length and submitted to opinion@tuftsdaily.com. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. Authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of availability for editing questions.

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Pelosi talks about the importance of listening to young people, answers three submitted questions PELOSI

continued from page 1 leading authorities on the civic and political engagement of young people,” Solomont said.

“We study youth voting, and young people were absolutely decisive in the 2018 elections and again in the 2020 election.

They voted overwhelmingly for Democrats.”

In response, Pelosi underlined the importance of listening.

“The first thing we have to do as far as young people are concerned is to listen,” Pelosi said.

“They communicate in different

ways than many of us did … when we listen to them, what we hear … is that they care about this planet.”

She cited climate change as a primary concern of young voters, adding anti-discrimination policies and education as other key issues.

“Climate change is a very big issue for them,” Pelosi said.

“Issues that relate to respecting the dignity and worth of a person … when I listen to them, they talk about education and what those opportunities are and how affordable they are, and how can we all help make sure they are

not burdened with enormous debt as we go forward.”

Before moving into a question-and-answer period with students, Solomont referenced the 2016 presidential election and the 70 million votes received by former President Donald Trump in 2020. He asked Pelosi what she believed the appeal was for so many Americans.

“I believe that in ’16, there was a decision that people made if they believed that there was a place for them and their family in the future, they probably did vote for him,” Pelosi said. “[Trump

voters’] fears were automation, immigration, globalization.”

However, Pelosi expanded that she is optimistic about the next four years with Joe Biden.

“I think he’s a real unifier, a real respecter of people’s concerns … the things that are of concern … how are they going to pay the medical bills, how are they going to pay tuition, how are they going to pay the rent,” Pelosi said.

Solomont introduced the individuals who had been selected to ask questions, and gave Pelosi the chance to respond to each one before wrapping up the event.

Epidemiologist Doron says she anticipates masks being necessary for a long time GUIDELINES

continued from page 1 Shira Doron, hospital epidemiologist and antimicrobial steward and attending physician at Tufts Medical Center, believes that recent studies indicate that vaccination may prevent most asymptomatic and symptomatic infections, and therefore most incidents of COVID-19 transmission. Doron, who is also an associate professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine, cited results presented by the Israeli study as well as a preliminary study published by the Mayo Clinic on Feb. 24. “[Vaccination is] probably over 80% effective at preventing even asymptomatic infection, and therefore, transmission,” Doron said. “Those who do get asymptomatic infection are going to have lower viral loads, making them less likely to transmit.”

However, she also indicated that it may be a long time before it is safe for restrictions to be lifted across the state. On top of the lengthy distribution of vaccinations to the general public, Doron pointed out that certain populations — including those with weakened immune systems and children under 12 — may not respond properly to the vac-

cine or even be able to get the vaccine for a long time, if ever.

“We’re going to have to be cautious for a long time …

Picture the Tufts campus; you’re never going to know who’s vaccinated and who’s not, so you’re still going to have to mask and distance for a while,” Doron said.

Some students on the Medford/Somerville campus have started to receive their COVID-19 vaccinations through parties outside of the university over the past few months. In a statement emailed to the Tufts community on Feb. 18, Jordan explained that Massachusetts had moved into Phase 2, Group 2 of its vaccine rollout plan, allowing those 65 years and older as well as individuals with two or more qualifying medical conditions to receive the vaccine.

However, Jordan also clarified in the email that Massachusetts has not provided the university with vaccines to host an on-campus clinic. He encouraged eligible community members to obtain the vaccination through providers independent of the university.

The university is anticipating that most of the Tufts community will be eligible to receive the vaccine in April in line with Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s plan.

“The vast majority of students, faculty and staff have not yet been vaccinated,” Jordan said. “Currently, the state’s plan calls for the general public to receive the vaccine in phase 3, which the state projects to begin sometime in mid-April … Tufts will follow the state’s phases and, as a result, the majority of our student community would be eligible to receive the vaccine in phase 3.”

Kaman Hau, who was able to receive both doses of the Pfizer vaccine this month as a remote staff worker at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, said that she feels blessed to have received a vaccine. She added that she will continue to follow all COVID-19 guidelines.

“I feel like emotionally, it has really helped me in terms of mental health knowing that the vaccine will give me some sort of protection … I definitely am still going to social distance, wear a mask, not see anyone without a mask and just protect other people and myself,” Hau, a junior, said. “We don’t know, if you get COVID, if it’s transmissible even if you have a vaccine already.”

Jordan said that students who get vaccinated will be able to upload documentation through the Tufts health portal, in the

same manner that they upload proof of routine immunizations.

Massachusetts has administered 1,566,301 total vaccines in either first or second doses as of Thursday. Massachusetts was ranked sixth in the country for first doses administered per capita as of Feb. 18, according to Doron. Among the 24 states with a population of five million or more, as of Feb. 21, Massachusetts ranked first in first doses administered per capita.

While she cannot predict how the Commonwealth will ease restrictions as more of the state’s population is vaccinated, Doron imagines that many restrictions may be lifted as hospitals begin to see fewer infections. “[Hospitals are] starting to become less overwhelmed, but we’re still … operating at greater than 100% of our capacity,” Doron said. “As we improve on that, I think Governor Baker will ease some of the restrictions in terms of occupancy levels and gathering restrictions.”

Doron predicted that the wearing of masks will be present for the foreseeable future.

“I don’t see masks going away for a really long time,” Doron said. “A really long time.”

NICHOLAS PFOSI / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

The exterior of the Tufts Medical Center is pictured on Aug. 28, 2014.

News

Friday, February 26, 2021 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY

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CIRCLE provides recommendations for how best to implement civic framework CIRCLE

continued from page 1 worked to reduce the kind of disadvantage and disparities that we often observe in a study like this,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said.

Kawashima-Ginsberg described how this finding relates to the state’s civic policies, specifically the Civics Project Trust Fund. “[The Civics Project Trust Fund] gets the resources to where it’s most needed, and it may be actually helping to build capacity to address the kind of gaps in instructional quality that we usually observe anywhere else,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said.

However, the report noted that student access was not uniform within or across schools and school districts. Equitable implementation is an area of continued priority moving forward.

According to the report, another significant finding was a marked difference in awareness and implementation of civic policies between middle and high school teachers and elementary school teachers.

Noorya Hayat, a senior researcher at CIRCLE, said that although 96% of all teachers were aware of the framework, only 44% knew how to implement it in the classroom.

“Only 28% of elementary school teachers knew how the framework would influence their instruction … and 65% of middle and high school teachers knew how it would affect their instruction,” Hayat said.

She added that elementary school teachers overall were less likely to dedicate class time to civic education and that they should receive more professional development to implement civic studies.

The study reported that professional development for Massachusetts K–12 educators was pivotal in increasing awareness of the civic policies and educators’ confidence in implementing them.

Middle and high school teachers who received civics-specific professional development at least once a year reported higher awareness of the civic policies than teachers who did not receive the same frequency of professional development.

“Professional development … [does] seem to really work to both boost the kind of confidence and sense of competency that teachers have about being able to really follow the framework and teach in a way that is consistent with the best practices; then that confidence seems to be highly correlated to what they say they actually do, or the kind of teachers they are,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said.

Hayat added that the relationship between professional development and teacher confidence and competency goes two ways.

She described how professional development increases teachers’ confidence to teach civics, which in turn increases their commitment to teach civics.

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Barnum Hall, which houses Tisch College, is pictured on Oct. 1, 2020.

“This includes real world learning, interdisciplinary learning, culturally relevant pedagogy, having current and controversial issue discussions in the classroom, and having a student-centered, or democratic, classroom environment,” Hayat said. “Teacher confidence really predicts all of this.”

The report ended with CIRCLE’s recommendations for the Massachusetts legislature in order to increase awareness and implementation of civic policies.

The recommendations include the continued prioritization of equita-

ble implementation, investments in professional development, resources specifically for elementary school teachers, increased time for social studies in elementary schools, education for school administrators on the History and Social Science Framework and creative accountability and incentive mechanisms.

Jennifer McAndrew, director of communications, strategy and planning at Tisch College, explained that because civic studies is foundational to society, it is important to continue supporting

Tufts Daily Alumni Advisory Council Chair Maureen O’Brien Klautky

Director of Finance and Fundraising Larry Azer

Director of Institutional Memory Jonathan Graham

Director of Legal Affairs Tara Guinta

Directors of Journalism and Education Karen Epstein Israel David Meyers

Members at Large Luke Allocco Bill Frechtman David Levitsky Lexi Serino

educators in their efforts to teach civics in the classroom.

“Generally speaking, [civic education] really is an important part of the civic health of our nation, but also in the sense that we want to empower our own,” McAndrew said. “We want all college students at Tufts and elsewhere to be developing these skills and we want every student, whether they are at Tufts or another college or not in college, to have those foundational skills and knowledge of civic engagement.”

MAUREEN O’BRIEN KLAUTKY

TARA GIUNTA

KAREN EPSTEIN ISRAEL

JONATHAN GRAHAM

LEXI SERINO

4 Friday, February 26, 2021

Features

tuftsdaily.com

New sections of the Daily enhance reporting

SOPHIE DOLAN / THE TUFTS DAILY

The sign for The Tufts Daily office is pictured.

by Lena Leavitt

Assistant Features Editor

Editor’s note: The Daily’s editorial department acknowledges that this article is premised on a conflict of interest. This article is a special feature for Daily Week 2021 that does not represent the Daily’s standard journalistic practices.

The Tufts Daily has continually rearranged its content throughout its 41 years of print. Today, we feature some of the newer forms in which our words are reaching your eyes (and ears)!

COURTESY HANNAH HARRIS

Hannah Harris, former managing editor and current audio executive producer is pictured.

Audio For most of its life, the only sound the Daily produced was the satisfying crinkle of newsprint.

Then, in the fall of 2018, the paper hit the airwaves — or, more accurately, the streaming services.

“I love podcasts, for a couple reasons,” Hannah Harris, the Daily’s executive audio producer, said. “It brings more life into stories, essentially … It can be a little bit more intimate.”

Harris is especially fond of the way podcasts tell journalistic stories creatively. “With audio you get to expand more upon [a story] and add emotion into it, while still giving the facts and telling important stories.”

Another perk of podcasting, Harris added, is that it “lends itself to being very easily accessible, like when you’re walking to class you can just listen to a podcast.”

Right now, the Daily has three ongoing podcasts: “The Rewind,” which covers news; the investigative podcast “A Blight on the Hill”; and “Take Town,” the sports podcast.

“The Rewind,” which just released its first episode of the season last Sunday, focuses on “expanding on the news” in order to “go more in depth and … powerfully tell the stories that matter to the people in the community,” Harris said. Episodes air on a weekly basis.

“A Blight on the Hill” dives deeper into different issues at Tufts, often with a more serious tone and critical approach, according to Harris. Some future subjects to anticipate this semester from Blight are divestment from private prison systems and an examination of Greek life at Tufts. Blight’s trailer came out on Feb. 20, and the podcast will release episodes monthly.

“Take Town” is the Daily’s sports podcast. According to the pilot episode, narrators Matt Goguen and Aiden Herrod “aim to tackle everything from NFL free agency to the Kevin Durant Twitter beef and anything else in between.”

According to Harris, the Audio section is still relatively small, with about 10 people regularly contributing to “The rewind” and attending meetings. “Honestly we’re still in the growing and creating … process, and I think we’ll be there for a bit,” Harris said.

Harris is eager to get to the point where Audio has “a stable way of doing things.” To get there, Harris and the rest of the Audio team will continue to develop training for the section — how to properly

record, write scripts, choose their words carefully and ultimately tell engaging and powerful stories.

“Podcasting has really taken off in the last few years,” Harris said. “I remember no one used to talk about listening to podcasts and suddenly everyone has their favorite podcast, so it’s a really exciting opportunity for newspapers or news publications to expand upon their stories and give a different type of content.”

The Audio section is actively taking members and accepting pitches for a fourth podcast. If interested, please email tuftsdailyaudio@gmail.com.

COURTESY JESS BLOUGH

Jess Blough, the former editor in cheif and current investigative editor, is pictured.

Investigative For a daily newspaper, especially one whose motto is “Where you read it first,” every night is a scramble to stay on top of the news cycle. However, the Daily has one section that doesn’t get caught in the rush: the Investigative section.

The Daily’s Investigative team produces long-form, research-intensive pieces.

Its lack of a regular schedule allows its writers to really plunge into issues and examine them from all angles before publishing.

According to Jess Blough, the investigative editor for the Daily, the Investigative section was “the brainchild of a lot of really passionate news writers who knew that they wanted to devote the time and energy into more long-term projects.”

The Investigative team published its first article, “Activism at Tufts,” in the spring of 2017.

“It was not premised as automatically uncovering something but at the same time did end up revealing important information, and I think that’s how a lot of investigative stories start and how the section got started,” Blough said. “You get into a news assignment or features assignment and just keep digging … and then you end up with this story idea that becomes something that requires a lot more research and interviews and source material but also has a lot more sides to it.”

According to Blough, some investigative pieces may require compiling existing data and organizing it in a digestible format for readers — for example, an article published in the fall of 2019 on Tufts faculty political donations. Other investigative stories involve more in-depth reporting, replete with interviews and careful inspection of sources.

Many investigative articles include both skill sets, like the “Dark Money at Tufts” series, which came out in the fall of 2018 and spotlighted the university’s acceptance of large donations from seven controversial organizations. “That was a longer multi-part series that really included both the data that was available and required a bit more digging into, where is this money actually going, what is it being used for, is it causing political influence,” Blough said.

Working for Investigative is a months-long commitment. In

addition to compiling data and sometimes having to invoke the Freedom of Information Act to access undisclosed information, long-form journalism requires “talking to the same sources repeatedly,” Blough said.

Investigative reporting can have a steep learning curve. “We are always figuring things out … especially when it comes to organization and access and how do you communicate with administrators who just don’t want to communicate with you,” Blough said. “It can feel very discouraging as a budding journalist or someone who’s trying to take a critical look at these very real issues on our campus — to get that not explicit but implicit pushback.”

Although difficult, facing those journalistic challenges can be a deeply rewarding experience too. According to Blough, the Daily’s Investigative reporters are constantly working together to figure out how to handle these barriers. “I think that’s the great thing about the Daily … that it’s created to be a learning process — which, you know, is why the Daily makes mistakes a lot but it’s also why it’s such a cool experience to have in college.”

By the time writers get their bylines in the paper, Blough said, “it ends up being a passion project for people who … have been submerged in that kind of culture of being critical of Tufts and seeing … all the shortcomings of Tufts University, of which there are many, and trying to take that … information that has been revealed and turn it into something that is accessible for readers [and] also really well done.”

Investigative wants your feedback! If you have any story tips or ideas for what you want investigated, please send an anonymous tip via the Daily website or email investigative@ tuftsdaily.com.

Viewpoints The very first printed copy of the Daily displayed an endearing amalgam of content. From its slanted squash article balanced precariously atop track and basketball, to its adorable little weather graphic, to the date set in two different fonts, the Feb. 25, 1980 issue was truly a baby newspaper just finding its feet. At a quick scan, one finds that no Opinion section existed. Instead, above one article decrying tuition hikes and “decaying” facilities, one large word hollered in bold: “VIEWPOINT.” For many years, the Daily’s Opinion section was really two sections: editorials/letters to the editor and viewpoints, which includsee VIEWPOINTS, page 5

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Friday, February 26, 2021 | Features | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Daily Week Senior Profile: Deeksha Bathini

by Sarah Crawford

Executive Features Editor

Content warning: This article discusses sexual assault.

Editor’s note: The Daily’s editorial department acknowledges that this article is premised on a conflict of interest. This article is a special feature for Daily Week 2021 that does not represent the Daily’s standard journalistic practices.

Deeksha Bathini, who said she’d always had an interest in journalism, was eager to join the Daily her first semester at Tufts.

“I was interested in like government and politics … I wanted to be more civically engaged, and I knew that journalism was a way to do that,” Bathini, a senior, said. “And I really liked writing as well, so those two pieces sort of fit together perfectly.”

Bathini at first joined the Opinion section because she wanted not just to report but to synthesize her thoughts into structured arguments.

She quickly found that she enjoyed writing for Opinion as an editorialist, and that the topics she covered influenced other areas of her life. One of Bathini’s favorite pieces involved her coverage of the first-year experience at Tufts.

Writing this article was actually partially what inspired her to become a resident assistant.

“I became an RA my sophomore year … it was just another way for me to be a mentor to incoming students,” she said. “It was really awesome to be an editorialist because I think it really allowed me to learn a lot about Tufts … and gave me the context to contextualize a lot of different problems freshman might have.”

Bathini also appreciated Opinion’s focus on issues affecting the Tufts community. Since her sociology courses covered large-scale matters, such as national politics, it was refreshing to have the opportunity to think deeply about more local questions such as controversies surrounding the Confucius Institute at Tufts or community building for first-years.

Sometimes, however, there would be overlap between what

was happening on a national scale and how it affected the Tufts community.

Bathini recalled that during her semester as executive opinion editor, several sexual assault survivors at Tufts came forward to speak about their experiences in the wake of the Brett Kavanaugh hearings. Following this, the Opinion section released an issue that discussed sexual assault at Tufts. It published the stories of two survivors.

“I think that was probably one of the most important things I did in the role [of executive opinion editor],” Bathini said. “And it gave me a fresh perspective into how important journalism is because it really does give people a platform to share their story.”

In the process of editing all of the Opinion section’s content, Bathini, who was previously an editorialist, became more familiar with Opinion’s columns and op-eds. She recalled feeling as though she was editing nonstop throughout the semester, but overall, she found the experience of being executive opinion editor to be rewarding. “[I was] a little bit thrown on the deep end, but in a good way, where it really exposed me to a lot of different voices,” Bathini said.

In the process of editing the section’s columns, Bathini often had to do research on very specific topics she wouldn’t have otherwise learned about. The op-eds also exposed her to views she couldn’t always relate to, which, for her, was an important experience.

“Everyone has such different life experiences, and they come from such different backgrounds, but you can always find commonality between people,” Bathini said. “I think working with the Opinion section really showed me that even if we’re all so different, and we all … have different socializations and come from different places, we can always find something to connect with.”

Inspired by the specific expertise of the columnists she worked with, Bathini went on to write two columns of her own for the Daily.

COURTESY DEEKSHA BATHINI

Deeksha Bathini, former executive opinion Editor for the Daily. is pictured.

She tapped into her knowledge as a community health major to write “America is Dying,” which explored often-overlooked public health crises in the United States and “Looking for Life, Destroying Life,” which, each week, centered on a global health issue or lesser known disease.

“My favorite thing I did for the Daily was writing my two columns,” Bathini said. “There’s so many different topics in public health, and it was almost like writing those two columns was a way for me to sort of like create my own class or my own public health course.”

The title “Looking for Life, Destroying Life” is inspired

by the Haitian proverb quoted in “Mountains Beyond Mountains” (2003), the biography of doctor and anthropologist Paul Farmer, who has worked extensively to improve access to high-quality health care in the international community. Bathini concluded her column with an article about Farmer, whose office actually reached out to Bathini following the article’s publication.

Farmer was not the only one who reached out.

“That was really cool seeing the reach … my column [had] … I remember like different … organizations trying to fight the opioid epidemic reached out to

me, different organizations who did work with female genital mutilation, which I wrote about in my column, reached out to me,” Bathini said.

During her career in the Opinion section, Bathini had the opportunity to both teach, through her columns, and learn. In fact, Bathini said one of the most important things she learned at the Daily was to admit when you don’t know something.

“The biggest takeaway I had was to be able to say, ‘I don’t know,'” Bathini said.

“Definitely the skill of saying, ‘I don’t know’ is more important than we let on.”

not be happening right here on campus,” Padhye said.

Padhye is looking forward to reading all commentary from members of the Tufts community. “I’m really excited to see the excellent content writers produce, and I’m also really excited to see the conversations that viewpoints can foster.”

From long-form journalism to social media and audio, the Daily’s current multimedia content looks quite different from the original pages that came out of Curtis Hall’s basement 41 years ago. Now and for years to come, we are committed to restructuring our content in order to clearly and effectively bring you the news, features, arts, investigative

reporting, opinions and sports you need and love.

Happy anniversary, Tufts Daily. See you on Monday.

Daily leadership talks editorial initiatives VIEWPOINTS

continued from page 4 ed Opinion articles from the Daily staff as well as op-eds from the broader public. The Daily’s “Viewpoint policy” of 2004 described the section as “an open forum for campus editorial commentary,” and welcomed “articles on campus, national, and international issues.”

In the fall of 2007, “Viewpoints” disappeared (indeed, a quick search of the word “viewpoint” on the Daily website yields no results for the section after September 2007).

Op-eds got their own heading and eventually merged with editorials/letters to form the umbrella Opinion section we know today.

Since then, Opinion articles written by Daily staff fell by the wayside. If published at all, they had no clear home. “ We previously didn’t have people publishing their bylines in the paper in the Opinion section … if they were writing for the Daily,” Priya Padhye, executive opinion editor, said.

This semester, they’re bringing the “viewpoints” header back.

“Viewpoints are bylined Opinion articles written by staff or contributing writers,” Padhye explained. Unlike the case in 2007, the viewpoints header no longer includes op-eds.

While the Editorial Board is meant to reflect the views of the Daily, viewpoints are sup-

posed to represent the views of individual writers.

“What I really like about viewpoints is that they provide a more expansive opportunity for students to really exercise their own voices, to kind of develop their own stylistic choices and write about issues they’re really passionate about from a different lens than they might have in the past on the Editorial Board,” Padhye said.

The viewpoints label also gives writers an opportunity to contribute their thoughts on issues outside of the Tufts campus. “With viewpoints you have a little bit more flexibility to talk about external issues as well, so larger socio-political events and things that might

COURTESY PRIYA PADHYE

Priya Padhye, the current executive opinion editor, is pictured

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Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

tuftsdaily.com

Friday, February 26, 2021

A peek into new books by Black authors

COURTESY AMAZON

Books recently published byu Black authors are pictured.

by Devina Bhalla Arts Editor

Content warning: this article mentions Black trauma.

Just because Black History Month is almost over doesn’t mean you should stop reading Black authors and supporting Black writers. Not only does this include anti-racist books that grace the tops of bestselling charts across the country, but it also includes reading works by Black authors in all genres and books about topics other than Black trauma.

There have been many posts this month by Black activists, literary lovers and even local Boston bookstores on social media highlighting different titles by Black authors. These posts provide easy access to anyone searching for their next read and give social

media users a great way to support Black voices.

One place to start is on Rachel Cargle’s Instagram. Cargle, a popular activist and owner of the bookstore Elizabeth’s Bookshop & Writing Centre, provides educational opportunities and support on her social media. Her bookstore’s Instagram account features many book recommendations. A Feb. 6 post featured a list of books honoring the work of Black Americans throughout history. A few titles included “A Black Women’s History of the United States” (2020) by Daina Ramey Berry and Kali Nicole Gross, “The Purpose of Power” (2020) by Alicia Garza and “Black Futures” (2020) edited by Kimberly Drew and Jenna Wortham.

“A Black Women’s History of the United States” puts an array of Black women’s stories

and voices at the center, illuminating how Black women have played, and continue to play, a key role in shaping the United States. “The Purpose of Power” is Garza’s memoir of her experience leading and organizing for Black lives, as well as working toward true, systematic change.

“Black Futures” is an anthology of Black visual art, writing and other forms of art that features over 100 artists and writers.

Cargle’s bookstore’s Instagram also reposted a list of books about Black joy by the account @r29unbothered. The list included “Who’s Loving You” (2021) edited by Sareeta Domingo and “Pride” (2018) by Ibi Zoboi.

“Who’s Loving You” is a collection of short stories by women of color that reflect on their experiences, delving into conversations about love and desire. It

will be available for purchase on March 4. “Pride” is a “Pride and Prejudice remix,” retelling Jane Austen’s classic story, starring all characters of color.

The account @interestedinblackbooks is run by a Black Nigerian American woman who posts and reviews books by Black authors. Her February pick was “The Kindest Lie” (2021) by Nancy Johnson. “The Kindest Lie” is the story about a woman, Ruth Tuttle, who is about to have a child with her husband but first has to face the son she had as a teenager and was forced to give up. It examines divides between Black and white communities while illuminating what motherhood looks like in America.

Another way to hear from Black voices about Black books is through hashtags like #Blackauthors and

#Blackbookstagram.

Both hashtags provide access to many new titles by Black authors and are easy ways to discover more books of all genres.

Many local Boston bookstores also used their social media to highlight Black authors’ new books. Brookline Booksmith posted bookseller recommendations celebrating Black history and highlighting Black authors.

Some of those highlighted were “Four Hundred Souls” (2021) edited by Ibram X. Kendi and Keisha N. Blain and “The Conversation” (2021) by Robert Livingston.

“Four Hundred Souls” is a history of Black Americans starting in 1619 that has been collected by Kendi and Blain from 90 writers, each of whom brings their own voice to write about a five-year period within the 400-year span.

Brookline Booksmith also posted some lighter, romantic reads by Black authors on Valentine’s Day, including “Intercepted” (2018) by Alexa Martin and “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” (2020) by Talia Hibbert.

“Intercepted” is being adapted into a television series and goes through main character Marlee Harper’s heartbreak and love story with Gavin Pope, an NFL quarterback. “Take a Hint, Dani Brown” was named one of the best romances by countless outlets, and is a romantic comedy about a woman who fakes dating a friend when a video of them goes viral.

Harvard Bookstore also posted pictures of Black author displays they have hung up in the store. “Ida B. the Queen” (2021), one of the books on display, was just published in January. Author and great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells, Michelle Dustertells the story and celebrates Wells’ life and revolutionary work in this gorgeous tribute.

What is most important, however, is reading and supporting Black authors and Black-owned bookstores beyond February.

The titles collected here represent a very small fraction of the incredible books written by Black authors, all at your fingertips and mostly available at local bookstores. There are so many fiction and nonfiction options, each of which represents an opportunity. A quick Instagram or Google search gives you access to hundreds of titles worth your time. So take advantage of the plethora of bookish opportunities and give time and energy to Black voices not just in February but in every month of the year.

A&P

Friday, February 26, 2021 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

‘Minari’ redefines the rural American experience

by Emmy Wenstrup Contributing Writer

“Minari” (2020) has been generating buzz since it first premiered at last year’s Sundance Film Festival, where it won both a grand jury prize as well as a coveted audience award. Contributing to this excitement was a large marketing campaign from A24, whose films have become known for their eye-catching cinematography and thought-provoking concepts. The production company finally released the film to theaters and their virtual “screening room” on Feb. 12. Unlike awards-bait movies, though, “Minari” doesn’t feel like work to watch. Instead, it offers a portrait of a young family that provides a critical balance of comedy, drama and emotional beauty that allows its viewers to bask in its glory.

Set in the 1980s, the film follows a young Korean American family after their move from California to Arkansas. The father and chicken sexer by trade, Jacob (Steven Yeun), is intent on finding a better way of life where he can do something he’s proud of — starting a farm. He, alongside his wife Monica (Han Ye-Ri), is forced to deal with their son David’s (Alan Kim) heart condition, welcome Jacob’s mother-in-law to their new home and adjust to the “hillbillies” of Arkansas, all while hedging his bets on the crops he hopes will be lucrative.

It would be wrong to categorize “Minari” as an American dream story; it deals more heavily with ideas around family and identity. Well-timed with current political zeitgeist, the film grapples with the concept of American identity.

It redefines our conceptions of rural America — instead of bland, “Minari’s” world is beautiful and wholesome. In a fitting but unintentional reclaiming of the “Make America Great Again” hat, Jacob frequently wears a red baseball cap when working on the farm. The film showcases how lovely the world can be in spite of the many hardships the family must confront.

“Family values” have, in modern times, come to be associated with bigotry and traditionalism. Here, writer and director Lee Isaac Chung redefines the term to advance the film’s understanding of Americana and turn this narrative into something more positive. In particular, the relationship between the grandmother Soon-ja (Yuh-jung Youn) and David is emblematic of that conflict.

The two are frequently at odds, with the young, American-raised David at one point saying he would prefer a “real grandma” — one who makes cookies and doesn’t swear — over Soon-ja. However, as the movie progresses, a heartwarming relationship blossoms between them. The film is packed with sentimental moments, but these two, sometimes hilariously, embody the heart of the movie while dissecting what it means to be an American family.

The film also examines the roles of unity, financial success and passion in creating a successful family. While his

7

Jessica Blough Soundtrack to the End of the World

Your ‘Mirrorball’

I

VIA IMDB

A promotional poster for “Minari” is pictured. new farm life provides Jacob with a happier life and a positive model for his children, it fails to offer the same financial security that his job at the chicken hatchery did. This central conflict, paired with Chung’s deliberate moves to show the beauty in intimate family moments, winds up delivering the more intellectual points of the film.

One of the best things about “Minari” is how much flexibility it gives you to experience it. On the surface, it is downright beautiful — on brand for A24 — and its characters provide many wholesome moments. However, it’s also jam-packed with powerful symbolism that lends itself to thoughtful discussion. Its religious imagery is especially potent, beginning almost immediately with a comparison to Jacob’s farm as the Garden of Eden. Its references to Genesis feel apt, given the role of Christianity in its broader plot about American identity. The naming of the

local farmhand after Saint Paul also feels like an intentional nod to the process of conversion that the Yi family seems to be experiencing. Despite being loaded with symbolism, “Minari” doesn’t have an agenda — there’s plenty of meaning, but Chung doesn’t require viewers to find it. There’s also room to simply enjoy the beauty.

The movie starts off slowly, and its more dramatic moments seem unevenly distributed. In the end, though, it works on several levels. Yeun and Youn deliver nuanced, intelligent performances and an eight-year-old Kim proves himself as a capable performer while capturing viewers’ hearts. It would feel wrong to ignore emerging composer Emile Mosseri’s impressive work here, too. Of course, the crown jewel of “Minari” is its direction and cinematography, but its intimate performances and calibrated writing make it an absolute pleasure to watch.

’ve always had mediocre taste in music, made better by a healthy dose of peer pressure. The pandemic made it much worse. My top songs of 2020 were mostly played directly from my headphones to my ear canals.

I’ve forgotten how to play songs for groups. Unless I’m running or dancing alone in my room, I tend to skip the anthems. My housemates and I play the same few songs (mostly inside jokes) on repeat over card games. There are whole albums that I’ve listened to dozens of times, always solo.

The purpose of this column is to explore where we find and have found musical comfort while still submerged in this pandemic. Each week will feature a new guest and a new set of music picks.

These are songs that have eased anxiety, comforted in moments of isolation, echoed the moments of fear and of hope.

Living through this pandemic has been a universal but uniquely individual experience; no one’s shock, isolation or grief has been exactly the same as another’s. It follows that no playlist will be exactly the same, that each will have its own distinct tone; this one, for example, is embarrassingly sincere.

“Graceland Too” (2020) by Phoebe Bridgers “Punisher” (2020) is my album of the pandemic, and many of the songs on the record deal directly with existence, boredom, fear, purpose, etc. “Graceland Too” is different, a tribute to a specific kind of closeness that I miss more than any other in these pandemic times — the kind where you’re sitting, dazed, on the floor of a friend’s house, maybe tipsy and maybe cried out and sure only of your love for the people around you. The apocalyptic “I Know The End” (2020) also makes my pandemic picks (“Romanticize a quiet life / There’s no place like my room”), as does the broodingly beautiful “Moon Song” (2020).

“Mirrorball” (2020) by Taylor Swift There’s a specific intensity that comes with intimacy in isolation — are you more or less your true self “when no one is around, my dear”? In Swift’s first installment of her indie phase, “Folklore,” “Mirrorball” is the standout, designed to be heady, sparkling, shoegaze in high heels.

Swift pleads for her partner’s attention with desperation and self-awareness, simultaneously conjuring images of ballet dancers and circus performers. For less shoegaze-y options, see also: “Urs” (2019) by NIKI and “Official” (2019) by Charli XCX. “No One’s in the Room” (2020) by Jessie Reyez I’ve spent a lot of time alone this year (at least five quarantines’ worth), and I spent a questionable amount of that time asking unanswerable questions. “No One’s in the Room,” a deluxe edition bonus track from “Before Love Came to Kill Us” (2020), is Reyez’s inner monologue, the bluntest confrontational questioning of God and her own head. Like Bridgers, Reyez wrote her confrontations with morality (see: “Does the voice in my head … belong to me? / Or does it come from the clouds?”) in a pre-pandemic world.

Perhaps it’s comforting that the context of these songs has changed, but the sentiment has always existed.

Jessica Blough is a senior studying international relations. Jessica can be reached at jessica.blough@tufts.edu.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Friday, February 26, 2021

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tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Robert: “Am I in condition?”

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Pisces (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) Healthy practices pay off. You’re especially charismatic and attractive this month with venus in your sign. Try a new style or look. You’re Irresistable.

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Difficulty Level: My calc I test.

Thursday’s Solutions

CROSSWORD

tuftsdaily.com

Opinion

9 Friday, February 26, 2021

EDITORIAL

Magnitude of the climate crisis demands full divestment from all fossil fuels Over recent years, the world has been witness to the devastating consequences of climate change. Driven by the burning of fossil fuels, this past decade became the hottest since record keeping began almost 150 years ago, and forecasts for the decades to come look dire. This is a problem that every social institution has an obligation to address, but particularly for Tufts — a university that touts a reputation for civic engagement — the fight against climate change is a test of its commitment to the principles it espouses.

Tufts took a step in the right direction on Feb. 10, when it announced a ban on direct investments in certain coal and tar sands companies. But given the gravity of climate change, we have a responsibility as students to scrutinize our university’s relationship with the environment, even when it appears to be moving in a good direction. This recent announcement from Tufts is both something to celebrate and a reminder of how much further Tufts can — and must — go.

This step by the university follows a lengthy history of student activism targeting the university’s endowment. As early as 2005, student groups were calling for the university to invest its endowment in environmentally responsible ventures and by 2012, student groups like the Responsible Endowment Collective and Tufts Divest For Our Future (now Tufts Climate Action) had formed to demand actual divestment from fossil fuels. A truly climate-conscious university would have begun divestment then, but for years, Tufts took no such action; instead, it only introduced initiatives like the Sustainability Investment Fund, which allowed donors to earmark their donations for socially responsible

Brendan Hartnett Democracy in the Daily

Ruling for the rule of law

T

rump committed an impeachable offense in his incitement of the Jan. 6 insurrection.

There is no need to pander to those who want to argue that Trump did not incite an insurrection that sought to forcefully overturn the results of a free and fair election. His sedition clearly violates Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, warranting both impeachment and conviction.

selling direct investments and externally working to influence the management of indirect investments. In keeping with Tufts’ espoused goals of being a leader amongst its peers in fulfilling social and environmental responsibility, the university must also shorten the timeline for reevaluating existing investments, and commit to revisiting investments within the next two years, rather than in two to five, as was originally proposed by President Monaco and Chair Dolan.

Time is of the essence. The negative repercussions of climate change are already present: vital ecosystems and food sources are being destroyed, natural disasters are occurring at a more frequent rate and some populations are being rendered climate refugees. Students can combat this at many institutional levels, including through our local governments and state legislatures all across the country. But the institution that binds our Tufts community together is the university itself, and for the sake of that community it matters whether our university is a blight on our climate. Only when our endowment is fully divested of fossil fuels will we

BY ASLI KOCACK investments. This was not a sufficient response to the climate crisis we face. Rather than placing the onus on individual donors, Tufts had to step up.

Only in January 2020 did Tufts begin to pay much respect to divestment as a cause, when it decided to convene the Responsible Investment Advisory Group, whose recommendations eventually formed the basis for the announcement on Feb. 10. In that announcement, University President Anthony Monaco and Chair of the Board of Trustees Peter Dolan wrote in an email that the board voted to “pro-

hibit direct investment in 120 coal and tar sands companies with the largest reserves,” along with establishing a $10 million to $25 million investment program toward climate change impact funds. These steps are certainly welcome after so many years of student action, and are a sign that tangible change is possible coming from the Tufts administration. The email went on to credit the Responsible Investment Advisory Group for its recommendations that precipitated these policy changes.

This latest act from the university is laudable, but even it

does not do justice to the scale of climate change as a threat.

Echoing the long-standing demands of student activists, we urge the administration to go further and pursue complete divestment from all direct and indirect holdings in the fossil fuel industry. To adequately respond to the urgency of the climate crisis, the university must continue at full speed in reducing its carbon footprint by liquidating all indirect holdings in tar sands and coal and all direct and indirect holdings in oil and gas extraction companies; this means promptly

But impeachment is a political process, as is conviction. In the weeks leading up to the trial, it was clear that Democrats would not be able to garner enough Republican senators’ votes to convict the former president.

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican from Florida, called impeachment “a complete waste of time.”

Scott’s words reflect his loyalty to Trump, yet his sentiment was shared by voters across the political spectrum, both before and after the trial in the Senate failed to convict Trump.

Why hold a trial that will fail and take up time during which the Senate could be tackling one of the many crises the nation currently faces?

The trial was a symbolic necessity in order to uphold the

rule of law in the United States, and it clearly illustrated which senators were willing to undermine this principle at the heart of all democracies.

The rule of law is the concept by which laws apply equally to all. This includes political elites.

Without this, democracies regress toward autocracies, in which special groups of individuals are above the law. Restated in the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, the rule of law is a pillar of American democracy.

Trump’s infamous quip that he “could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and [he] wouldn’t lose voters,” his grotesque patronage to allies and his exploitation of his position of power for personal financial gain all

demonstrate that he doesn’t believe laws apply to him. He never felt confined to the rules of the game.

Throughout his presidency, complicit Republicans who chose to aid and abet Trump in his abuse of power made it clear that political gains and the maintenance of their party’s power mattered more to them than the rule of law — the foundation of democracies.

There has not been a president in the past century who so openly and proudly broke the law and exploited his political power. This president was unprecedented in this regard, and the trial sought to keep it that way. When the 50 Democratic senators and seven Republican sena-

tors voted to convict Trump, they made clear their intolerance for those who actively seek to undermine American democracy. They reinstated the precedent that the rule of law applies to all politicians, including the president.

Additionally, after living through the insurrection and revisiting it in graphic detail when chilling, unseen surveillance videos were played at the trial, 43 Trump loyalists chose to submit to Trump one last time.

They denied evidence, actively undermined the rule of law and solidified their place in history: against democracy.

Brendan Hartnett is a sophomore studying political science.

Brendan can be reached at brendan.hartnett@tufts.edu.

Sports

10 Friday, February 26, 2021

tuftsdaily.com

Stars on the move: NBA trade deadline preview

COURTESY WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Bradley Beal, player for the Washington Wizards, is pictured.

by David Cooperman Staff Writer

In a normal season, the NBA trade deadline would have already passed. The blockbuster deals and potentially franchise-changing moves would be behind us, and we’d be looking toward the playoffs.

This year, however, we are left still pondering how the top contenders will strengthen their push to a title. Here are some moves I think we will see before March 25.

Nicole Setow Wonder Women

Portia Woodman

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icture this: A massive field flanked by crossbars on both ends, two teams battling for possession of an egg-shaped ball and tackles that take players to the ground. In the United States, people would likely associate this description with American football. To the rest of the world, though, rugby may come to mind. As someone who grew up watching the NFL — being a Bostonian during the Brady-Belichick era meant football was practically a part of my culture — I must admit, I initially struggled to grasp the rules of rugby. But now, after

Bradley Beal to Miami After an improbable finals run in the bubble, the Heat has stumbled out to a 15–17 record, due in part to injuries and COVID-19 issues in the organization.

The team has shown its need for another piece to truly push it into title contention.

Meanwhile, Bradley Beal has continued to rack up impressive performances for the hapless Washington Wizards squad. The two sides have been in communication for months, and the fit looks strong for both

parties. A potential trade would mean that the Heat could set their sights on a second straight finals trip in a wide-open East, the Wizards could cruise full-speed into a rebuild with a massive return package, possibly headlined by Tyler Herro, and Beal would finally be in a position to get wins alongside his astronomical statistics.

Myles Turner to Boston Like the Heat, the Celtics have had a rough start to the 2021 season. Also sitting at 15–17, and tied for last place in the

some game footage and help from my Tufts women’s rugby friend, sophomore right-winger MaryAnn Trudeau, I can confidently say rugby is a wildly entertaining sport to watch.

To anyone interested in seeing the sport in action, I’d recommend watching New Zealand’s women’s national rugby sevens team, the Black Ferns.

It’s nearly impossible not to be dazzled by the team’s display of grit and sheer excellence. Plus, with superstar try scorer Portia Woodman, it’s no wonder the Ferns are one of the best teams in the world.

Often referred to as “New Zealand’s Phenom,” Woodman is one of the sport’s most prolific players. With 195 tries (analogous to touchdowns in football), Woodman is currently the leading alltime try-scorer on the women’s sevens world stage. Her lightning-quick reflexes and keen spatial awareness have earned

her honors such as the 2015 Women’s Sevens Player of the Year award and the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade title.

Watching Woodman’s highlights makes you almost feel sympathy for her opponents. Woodman’s ability to identify weaknesses in the defense is superhuman. Glance away from the screen for just a moment, and you may miss her sprinting a clean break toward the try line with defenders falling to her feet. It’s as if time slows down for her.

One might feel tempted to attribute Woodman’s rugby skills to her family’s history with the sport. After all, her father Kawhena and her uncle Fred both competed on New Zealand’s national rugby team in the 1980s. However, I’d suspect that her agility comes from her multi-sport background: she triumphed as a sprinter, practiced ballet and even had a brief career as a netballer before

Atlantic Division, Danny Ainge, the team’s general manager, must strike a deal if he has championship aspirations for his squad.

The C’s have lacked in the frontcourt ever since letting Al Horford walk, and it is time to bring in his replacement. Turner, who has been exceptional on the defensive end for the Indiana Pacers this year, would instantly bring the interior reinforcement that the C’s need. The Pacers just sent Victor Oladipo to the Houston Rockets and have struggled with a jumbled frontcourt pairing of Turner and Domantas Sabonis. They could come away with a decent package from the Celtics in exchange for Turner. Meanwhile, Celtics coach Brad Stevens would be able to produce stingy defensive lineups featuring Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart and Turner that could send the Celtics skyrocketing toward the top of the conference.

Kyle Lowry to Philadelphia Kyle Lowry is a Toronto Raptors legend.

Few will deny what he means to the Six, and it would be heartbreaking for Toronto fans to see the franchise’s all-time leader in assists, steals and 3-pointers exit. However, it may be time to blow things up in Toronto.

Lowry is approaching 35, and time is running out for him to earn another ring and solidify his Hall of Fame case. Fred VanVleet has replaced Lowry as the team’s premier guard this year, so a mutually agreed-upon exit to the Philadelphia 76ers could work wonders for both sides. Adding Lowry to a deadly lineup featuring Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Ben Simmons would arguably make the 76ers the East’s frontrunner. Daryl Morey, the 76ers president of basketball operations, is always looking to improve his roster, and adding the veteran Lowry would do just that.

transitioning to rugby in 2012. She very well could have continued a successful netball career, but luckily for us, we’ll never have to imagine women’s rugby absent of her legacy.

At age 29, Woodman is still building her rugby legacy. In fact, her eyes are currently set on winning gold in the Tokyo Olympics. Yet she’s already starting to consider her role in supporting the next generation of athletes. Not only is she committed to advancing the sport for young girls, but she also hopes to advocate for indigenous youth. Her Māori identity has greatly shaped her upbringing and her relationship with her whānau (family). I’m hopeful that we’ll see more indigenous athletes share the world stage in the near future.

Nicole Setow is a sophmore studying biopsychology. Nicole can be reached at nicole.setow@tufts.edu.