The Tufts Daily - Friday, March 12, 2021

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 23

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

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Friday, March 12, 2021

Chris Wallace talks Medford faces plummeting revenue due to pandemic, calls on federal, state moderating 2020 presidential debate, governments for aid increase in biases in journalism

by Zoe Kava

Assistant News Editor

AVA IANNUCCILLO / THE TUFTS DAILY

The surrounding Medford neighborhood is pictured in winter.

by Jack Hirsch

Assistant News Editor

In a financial report delivered

by Medford Finance Director Aleesha Nunley-Benjamin on Feb. 16, a troubling financial situation for the city of Medford was presented to the Medford City Council. Revenues plummeted due to the recession caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Nunley-Benjamin said that the city received $19,105,993 in local receipts for the fiscal year 2020, a nearly million dollar shortfall from the projected budget. Local receipts are projected to decline to $15,830,089 for fiscal year 2021, which would be a $4.2 million loss from the prior year.

According to NunleyBenjamin, Massachusetts entered a recession in February 2020 with a recovery outlook

between the fiscal year 2023 and 2025. This recession has seen the state’s gross domestic product decline by 3.4% with hotel occupancy plummeting and the shuttering of around 4,000 Massachusetts restaurants. The pace of the recovery slowed down with the winter surge of COVID-19 cases.

“We’re in a recession, it’s serious and cities and towns need help,” Nunley-Benjamin said.

“It’s going to be another tough budget year for us.”

Members of the City Council expressed their concern with the financial report.

“We haven’t heard anything positive,” Councillor George Scarpelli said. “I don’t want to be the gloom and doom person, but I think people should realize, unless we see a big movement afoot by the federal government, this looks pretty scary.”

Council Vice President Adam Knight echoed Scarpelli’s sentiments.

“I do have some concerns as to whether or not we’re going to be able to sustain the level of services that we’re providing right now, based upon the fact that we only have $8 million of free cash money available to us in reserves,” Knight said.

Jackie Piques, director of communications for the City of Medford, wrote in an email to the Daily that the city instituted a non-emergency spending and hiring freeze in January in response to the current crisis, similar to the one implemented in March 2020.

“Like most cities and towns, the City of Medford has seen drastic impacts to its budget over the last year, see MEDFORD, page 2

Chris Wallace, host of Fox News Sunday, spoke to the Tufts community about issues in journalism in a livestreamed event on Thursday.

The event, “Speaking Up and Speaking Out: Politics, Power, and Freedom of the Press,” was hosted by the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life.

The event was the 14th annual Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism, and the third event in this semester’s Tisch College Distinguished Speaker Series.

Tisch College Dean Alan Solomont delivered opening remarks and introduced Wallace by outlining his experience conducting high-profile interviews, moderating debates and covering national political stories, as well as his beginnings in journalism.

“Wallace began his career in the news business as a teenager, when he worked as an assistant to Walter Cronkite during the 1964 Republican National Convention,” Solomont said.

Solomont introduced president and CEO of WNET Neal Shapiro (A’80) to moderate the event.

Shapiro began by asking Wallace about the unique relationship between former President Donald Trump and the press.

Wallace reflected on his interviews with Trump and the criticism that he received from him on Twitter.

“The first time I got a named tweet from Trump, as president, it got my attention because I’d never been attacked in that kind of personal way in a tweet by the president of the United States,” he said. “But pretty quickly … it kind of washes off your back; if it doesn’t, you’re in the wrong business.”

The discussion then turned to the 2020 presidential debate between Trump and President Joe Biden that Wallace moderated in September. Wallace explained his approach to moderating the debate, and the differences between conducting an interview and moderating a debate.

“A debate is not an interview, and one of the things that I’m very conscious of … is that it’s not about you, it’s about the two of them,” he said. “My feeling about debates and moderating was that it is a little bit like being the referee in a championship prize fight.

At the end of the fight, people say that was a hell of a fight … then you’ve done a great job as a moderator.”

Wallace turned the conversation to the riots at the U.S Capitol on Jan. 6 and described his initial reaction to the riots and media coverage of the event.

“That was one of the more extraordinary live events I’ve ever covered,” he said. “I was aware, in fact I asked it in the presidential debate, about right-wing extremism, [but] was I conscious or sensee WALLACE, page 3

University Chaplaincy appoints Harsha Menon as interim Buddhist chaplain

by Flora Meng

Assistant News Editor

Last month, Harsha Menon (MFA’17) was appointed as the interim Buddhist chaplain at Tufts University following Venerable Priya Sraman’s mid-year transition to Emory University in January.

The Rev. Elyse Nelson Winger, university chaplain, explained why the Chaplaincy chose Menon for the position.

“Harsha was selected as the Interim Buddhist Chaplain due to her extensive leadership, scholarship, and practice within Buddhist communities, including the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha,” Nelson Winger wrote in an email to the Daily. “[She] brings a wealth of knowledge, compassion and experience to this role.”

Menon received a master’s in theological studies with a focus

on South Asian religious traditions from Harvard Divinity School, and holds a Master of Fine Arts in studio art from Northeastern University and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts. Beyond her scholarly work, she is also a filmmaker with a certificate in advanced film production from New York University and a columnist see CHAPLAIN, page 2

COURTESY HARSHA MENON

Harsha Menon, interim Buddhist chaplain at Tufts, is pictured.

ARTS/ page 4

EDITORIAL / page 7

SPORTS / back

How to save the comic book industry

Tufts must not delay action to disarm TUPD

Deja Young’s success an inspiration to young athletes

NEWS

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ARTS & POP CULTURE

4

FUN & GAMES

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OPINION

7

SPORTS

BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Friday, March 12, 2021

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In need of federal aid, Medford may cut public services MEDFORD

continued from page 1 impacting two fiscal years,” Piques said. “We have had to make significant cuts in numerous areas of city operations while retaining service levels and while working to avoid personnel changes as much as possible.”

She added that they have had to be creative and hard-working to ensure the health, wellness and safety of the Medford community.

Nunley-Benjamin stressed the importance of a new federal stimulus package that includes aid for local governments.

“We still are experiencing large revenue losses due to the economic impact of the pandemic,” Nunley-Benjamin said

to the Council. “The reduction in the budget is entirely due to the economic fallout. Revenue losses without federal aid have forced many cities to freeze spending, surface cuts, furloughs [and] layoffs.”

Nunley-Benjamin expanded further on her hopes for future assistance.

“We’ve experienced really huge revenue losses and the government’s giving stimulus checks to citizens but not to cities and towns that desperately need it,” NunleyBenjamin said. “So I’m hoping that the Biden administration hears that and says, ‘Here’s some money for you cities and towns, use some revenue offset, let me help you.’ Because we need it.”

Scarpelli agreed with Nunley-Benjamin’s perspective on the need for federal aid.

“This seems and looks pretty bleak, unless we see some sort of turnaround on the federal side …

We’re looking at some pretty slim times,” Scarpelli said.

Piques echoed these statements.

“The City would need a significant, multi-million dollar stimulus to help with the current projected budget deficit for FY22,” Piques said.

She said Medford remains hopeful that the Biden administration will make additional funding available to cities and towns.

The city does not know yet whether it will have to make cuts to public services.

“We are awaiting additional information from state and

federal governments, however if we do not receive additional federal stimulus funding the City would likely have to cut public services in some fashion,” Piques said. “We will do all we can to avoid this scenario, but we are faced with an extremely difficult budget as we prepare for FY22 following a recession and we are keeping many options on the table as we further our discussions and planning.”

In addition to assistance from the federal government, Medford is hoping for help from Massachusetts.

“The City would like to see the State government increase local state aid funding as the State cut the City’s charter aid reimbursement by $1M,” Piques said.

Menon hosts mindfulness meditations, plans to begin a Tufts Buddhist lending library CHAPLAIN

continued from page 1 on Buddhism in America for Buddhist Door Global.

Nelson Winger described some of Menon’s responsibilities as the interim Buddhist chaplain.

“Harsha will provide leadership for the Buddhist Chaplaincy, which includes supporting student leadership of the Sangha, leading weekly meditation, providing pastoral care, offering programs for the whole Tufts community, and working collaboratively with the University Chaplaincy team,” Nelson Winger said.

Ryan Dreher, co-president of the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha, was involved in the selection of Menon for the interim position.

“I actually was part of the interview process,” Dreher, a senior, said. “There were some other candidates but I’m personally a huge fan of Harsha, I actually know her pretty well.”

Dreher said Menon is very knowledgeable about Buddhism.

“The moment I saw that Harsha was applying for the

interim position, I knew that I needed to do everything that I could to convince the actual higher-ups in the Chaplaincy to pick her,” Dreher said.

Dreher also explained the role of the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha, a student group that Menon will be supporting this semester.

“It’s generally a group of … motivated students who want to create an increase in their amount of practice and the amount of knowledge of Buddhist texts and Buddhist practices and traditions,” Dreher said. “They come from all walks of life.”

Menon explained how she first became involved with the Tufts Buddhist community.

“I came, I think it was seven years ago, to a celebration at Goddard chapel … [to] celebrate the Buddha’s birthday and it was hosted by the Tufts Chaplaincy,” Menon said. “My first experience at the [Tufts] Chaplaincy … really sparked something in me because I immediately felt this sense of home.”

She elaborated on her experience engaging with the Buddhist

community as a graduate student at Tufts prior to taking on her current position.

“I started coming to the biweekly meditations and Dharma discussions … I also joined the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha student group, and eventually became an executive board member [in around] 2016 or 2017,” Menon said.

Menon revealed how she would be supporting students and the Chaplaincy, as well as events and activities she hopes to plan.

“On Mondays and Fridays, we have a mindfulness meditation that’s from 12–1 p.m. and anyone is welcome to come, so I’ll be leading those meditations,” Menon said. “I’ll also be nurturing, advising and supporting the student group, the Tufts Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha.”

She also detailed plans to begin another Tufts Buddhist lending library for students.

“When I was a Tufts student, I started, with Venerable Priya, a Tufts Buddhist lending library …

That’s also tradition in Buddhist

COVID-19 AT TUFTS

cultures to have literature and books available so I’ll be taking on that role to sort of take another inventory and replenish it when the chapel actually opens up for everyone,” Menon said.

Menon discussed how her experience as an alumna and an active member of the Tufts Buddhist community helps her connect with current students.

“I was already so familiar with some of the older students, particularly the co-presidents, Kayleigh Ford and Dreher, since they were freshmen … so I’ve been able to watch them grow into these amazing leadership positions,” Menon said.

She further described how she has seen the Buddhist Mindfulness Sangha grow, and what that means to her as the interim Buddhist chaplain.

“I’ve been privy to that sort of co-creation … I feel very much a part of it, and I feel that I’ll continue co-creating it because I know what it means for everyone to have this really unique opportunity to study and practice Buddhism at Tufts,” Menon said.

News

Friday, March 12, 2021 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Wallace reaffirms his belief in the importance of fact-based news coverage, even when pressed by Trump WALLACE

continued from page 1 sitive to the fact that it was as big, as virulent and as mobilized as it turned out to be on Jan. 6? No.” Shapiro then asked Wallace about the growing number of journalists articulating their points of view while covering stories. In response, Wallace explained the different roles of straight news and opinion, and how he believes the two should remain separate.

“I distinguish between news and opinion,” he said. “I actu-

ally think Fox does a reasonably good job in distinguishing between the two.”

He added that he hopes Fox News viewers understand the difference between news and opinion.

“I hope people distinguish between what Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity do and what I’m doing,” Wallace said.

“What concerns me more is when [opinion] seeps into or floods into what I consider what should be basic news coverage.”

Wallace also explained how important it is that the media report fact-based, unbiased coverage of stories, especially amid the threat of fake news.

“I’m very opposed to what Donald Trump did in trying to delegitimize the media,” he said. “In February 2017, when he put out that tweet that said the fake news media, and then he put in parentheses CBS, ABC, NBC, Washington Post, New York Times are the enemy of the people, I was horrified by that.”

However, Wallace said he felt that Trump’s actions and attacks gave his colleagues in the straight news media the feeling that they could push back and share their opinions, which Wallace disagrees with.

“I think that was a mistake that we felt that [Trump’s] attacks on the media allowed the straight news media to attack back and be advocates back,” he said. “My reaction was ‘No, we’ve got to play it straight and we’ve got to stay in our lane.'”

He spoke again on the growing biases of news media outlets, and the way that influences viewers’ opinions.

“The most successful business model now is to take a side,” Wallace said. He acknowledged that Fox News partakes in this, but said the trend across news outlets was “terribly sad.”

“People want to watch or read the outlet, the news media platform, that agrees with them and that gives weight to what they already believe,” Wallace said.

SOPHIE DOLAN / THE TUFTS DAILY

Neal Shapiro (left) and Chris Wallace (right) are pictured during a Tisch College Distinguished Speaker Series event on March 11.

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Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

tuftsdaily.com

Friday, March 12, 2021

Comics don’t need to die, here’s why

by Drew Weisberg Arts Editor

Isn’t it strange that comic books are a niche product? Considering three of the top 10 highest-grossing films of all time are adapted from comic books, you would hardly expect that the top-selling comic book of 2020 moved only about 300,000 individual copies, according to DC Comics.

The trouble is, comic book publishers might be starting to realize that their operations may be at their end, as evidenced by articles proclaiming the “death of the comic.” Is this a valid fear? Will comic books go the way of arcade games and cable TV? In a sense, yes, but much in the way that TV packages have shifted with the demands of their audience, so too must comic books.

Higher quality printing, fewer advertisements and free digital copies: these are the three elements that I would suggest to any comic book publisher looking to bring new readers in and draw old readers back.

Print quality is not a universal issue.

Let’s compare two recently released books, “Future State: Wonder Woman #1” (2021) from DC Comics and “Crossover #1” (2020) from Image Comics, which are both sold for a cover price of $3.99. “Crossover #1” is bound in matte-finish cardstock, while “Future State: Wonder Woman #1” is bound in glossy paper with a cover made of the same material. Notably, a cardstock cover with minimal artwork is offered for the latter, but only for an upcharge of $1. Between the two, the matte-finish of “Crossover #1” is the more desirable (at least to this writer and comic collector), as it keeps the comic safer and makes the cover less vulnerable to scratches and dents that can reduce its resale value and make for a less visually appealing display piece. This may seem a small grievance but I believe it would make all the difference for comic enthusiasts, who worry that lending their comics to a new-reader friend might mar their pristine copy.

VIA AMAZON

The cover of DC Comics’ “Future State: Wonder Woman” is pictured.

Strangely enough, a digital copy of the “Future State: Wonder Woman #1” — which costs little to nothing to print or distribute — retails for $3.99 on the digital comic service, ComiXology. The fact that this digital comic costs as much as the physical copy is frankly absurd, and I would propose a more impulse-friendly price point for a digital copy — say $1.99 — and the pairing of a digital copy with the purchase of a physical one. That way, a comic book store would get some revenue and the consumer can read their comics via the means that works best for them.

The reasoning behind many of these failings, though, can likely be boiled down to one simple core idea: traditional comics are dying, and we ought to make as much money as we can before it’s too late. To that, I say this: you’ll attract no new readers with anti-consumer practices, keep no entrenched fans by giving less and charging more and you’ll only accelerate the “decay” of comics if you respond with apathy.

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The cover of Image Comics’ “Crossover #1” is pictured.

Another point in favor of “Crossover #1” is the reduced presence of advertisements. The first issue of “Crossover” contains 22 pages of story content and six pages of advertisements, while “Future State: Wonder Woman #1” contains 12 total advertisements alongside its 22 pages of story. Additionally, “Crossover #1” keeps its advertising in the back of the book while “Future State: Wonder Woman #1” peppers its ads throughout. It makes “Crossover” feel much more fluid, while “Future State: Wonder Woman” feels choppy and far more commercial. If ads are a necessary evil that pays the creators to tell a story, then why interrupt that story when you can advertise afterward?

Speaking of selling more to consumers, digital copies are seldom included with physical copies of comic books, although a free digital copy isn’t unheard of. In fact, Marvel Cinematic Universe titles occasionally include them, but, according to an article published on CBR, the most recent iteration of the initiative does “not include a copy of the physical comic that was purchased.”

A&P

Friday, March 12, 2021 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

‘WandaVision’ fails to escape the Marvel formula

by Julian Levy

Contributing Writer

Marvel Studios has achieved a remarkable level of consistency across the 23 films it’s released to date. Sure, there are a few films mixed in that could be described as middling. But those films, such as “The Incredible Hulk” (2008) and “Thor: The Dark World” (2013), are not the norm. Unfortunately, this consistency has come at a cost. A criticism often leveled at the Marvel Cinematic Universe is the homogeneity of its lineup. The majority of its films have retained a relatively similar tone and neutral gray color grading.

Additionally, their soundtracks are about as unremarkable as they come (with the “Guardians of the Galaxy” (2014–17) films being notable exceptions).

So, when Marvel announced that its first MCU TV series on Disney+ would be a take on mid-20th century sitcoms, it seemed like they were finally doing something experimental with the multibillion-dollar property that is Marvel Entertainment. “WandaVision” (2021), while quite different from the Marvel films in some respects, settled back into the usual MCU trappings by its finale, resulting in an entertaining, if somewhat unexceptional, conclusion.

What carried “WandaVision” in the beginning was twofold: its premise and the chemistry of its leads. Wanda Maximoff, played by Elizabeth Olsen, and The Vision, played by Paul Bettany, are just as charming as the sitcom counterparts they sought to replicate. However, the first three episodes were a risk. Besides the occasional break in reality that hinted at a larger plot just beneath the surface, they were purely sitcoms. The dedication to recreating iconic shows of multiple eras was somewhat successful, with the inclusion of period-appropriate special effects and theme songs. But, importantly, the show failed at replicating perhaps the most important element of a sitcom — the comedy. The writing of “WandaVision” made it feel more like an homage than a worthy replication.

What kept many people watching was the promise of something more interesting down the line. The hints at a grand conspiracy to explain the strange bubble reality Wanda and Vision existed in were the best parts of these episodes. It’s how they followed up on these hints that was the most disappointing element of “WandaVision.”

One of the major controversies over the finale and the show as a whole was its refusal to deliver on the hints that it so obviously placed throughout the entire season. It’s only natural for fans to theorize and pore over the tiniest details of a show or film, and just as natural for not all of them to come true. The director

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Jessica Blough and Myshko Chumak Soundtrack to the end of the world

In case of emergency

H

VIA IMDB

A promotional poster for Disney+’s miniseries “WandaVision” is pictured. or writers have no obligation to cater to every whim of a franchise’s fanbase. In the case of “WandaVision,” however, the disappointment is slightly more justified.

With the inclusion of Evan Peters in particular, Marvel knew exactly what it was doing. Having played Quicksilver in the “X-Men” (2014–19) franchise, his appearance as Quicksilver in “WandaVision” was sure to set off the alarms of fans waiting for the introduction of the multiverse.

His inclusion is not the first time that this concept has been teased in the MCU, and for it to amount to nothing once again is undeniably frustrating. The fact that it was an elaborate joke feels like a punch to the gut. Similarly, the reveal that it had been “Agatha All Along,” except that her role in the events of Westview was secondary to Wanda, feels disingenuous at best.

What was left then for the final few episodes was a fun, but unevenly paced

show that felt more and more like the middling Marvel films the further it went on. The scenes involving “S.W.O.R.D.,” the government body investigating the happenings in Westview, NJ, showed these issues more obviously than others. Every time the show would cut back to the real world the audience was met with the muddy colors and uninteresting bureaucracy that has plagued other MCU entries. When it ran out of things to reveal, the show largely settled into a generic superhero routine.

Still, the show serves as perhaps the most effective and believable love story the MCU has seen to date. Wanda and Vision’s bond really does carry the show through, and the relationship that they are able to build retroactively improves their interactions from prior films. Wanda Maximoff is a deeply flawed but still deeply empathetic character. Every decision she makes is difficult because the ramifications are painful either way. Conversely, the decision to make Vision a manifestation of Wanda’s powers and consciousness rather than a true return of the character makes his journey feel less emotional than it could be, but Paul Bettany’s presence on screen is hard to ignore.

The finale leaves many interesting paths for future Marvel films and television shows to explore. For “WandaVision” as a whole, though, this is a double-edged sword. The possibilities for fans are numerous, with many long-awaited elements being teased by its conclusion. It’s just a shame that they weren’t explored here. “WandaVision” was an experiment for the MCU. It was high concept, had terrifying implications and reinvented what a superhero show could be. The showrunners lacked the courage to see that vision through to the end.

ere’s the perfect manifestation of this column at work — I can’t describe Myshko Chumak’s music taste or recognize a song on here, but I resonate with his attraction to the manic, the danceable, even the seemingly silent. Continue on for his lamentations on a year written in extremes.

I’ve been trying to distance myself from hyperbole recently, which means thinking about my recent listening in a way that neither repeats pablum about “comfort in unprecedented times” nor totally embraces dread. I like nervous music, music that’s unsettled and unsettling, even when it’s in a major key, and this seems somewhere between pablum and dread. Over the last 12 months, I’ve found myself falling into repetitive music and listening loops. Maybe read this as my way of rocking back and forth, my sonic self-care at best or anesthetic at worst.

Here’s the range. On the broadly “happy” side of my recent listening history is a strong manic, or perhaps sublime, tone. Songs sweet and bright that you play in denial or lullabies you might sing to keep the all-toowakeful and waking world out. All of them danceable in their own way.

The flip-side here is music that sounds like it’s fighting a war of attrition against the twin floodwaters of a choked present and a dead silent future. You can headbang to these. That’s the map; here are some landmarks.

‘Narrator’(2021) by Squid This is a song about being part of someone else’s life. Squid’s lead singer (and drummer!) Ollie Judge and Martha Skye Murphy delve into its second half with a commitment, beating in a phrase: “I’ll play mine.”

The song builds in section to Judge screaming the phrase and Murphy (just) screaming.

This chant is a weird assertion of the right to take up a certain space, to follow in spite. It suits a fatalistic mood while spitting in your face. I love it! In the three days following this song’s release, I listened to it for a cumulative eight hours.

‘Snow Day’ (2020) by Shame This is a song about weather(ing).

There’s talk of a cold wind, an ocean hidden in plain sight, life advice — “They say don’t live in the past/ And I don’t/ I live deep within myself/ Just like everyone else” — all amid swirling, bitter guitars and surgical drumming. It’s all packed in and set ablaze. Reminiscent of hopped-up bands like Preoccupations or Women.

‘Amma Jerusalem School’ (2013) by Matana Roberts Okay, the Coin Coin series by Roberts et al. is a masterwork, and “Coin Coin Chapter Two: Mississippi Moonchile” (2013) is a standout. This series focuses on the Black experience in the American South, ranging from the anthropological to the surrealistic, but always fantastic in execution. “Amma Jerusalem School” reads like scraps of a diary entry and sounds like a gentle stroll, with pain peeking out from the gutters. “There are some things I just can’t tell you about,” Roberts sings and repeats throughout the album. And I concur. I open my mouth and words come and yet these last few months are ultimately unspeakable. Maybe one day I will find the words for them.

Jessica Blough is a senior studying international relations. Jessica can be reached at jessica.blough@tufts.edu. Myshko Chumak is a senior studying Russian and Eastern European studies. Myshko can be reached at mykhaylo.chumak@gmail.com.

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EDITORIAL

To change TUPD, Tufts’ words must be followed by action On Feb. 17, University President Anthony Monaco released a statement to the Tufts community via email announcing recommendations made by the “Tufts as an Anti-Racist Institution” initiative. The report included five separate workstreams concentrating on topics ranging from artwork to curriculums; one workstream that warrants particular scrutiny, however, is the Campus Safety and Policing workstream. The report comes after a year whose events have illustrated the danger policing can pose to marginalized communities, and it matters that Tufts revisit how it approaches policing if the university wants to make its campus one that is safe and truly anti-racist.

Anti-Black racism has infected policing for as long as policing has existed in America; the past year, however, has witnessed many predominately white institutions seriously recognizing this fact for the first time, inspired by events across the country after the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd. Local incidents, too, illustrate how American policing fails people of color: This fall, Tufts University Police Department sent multiple cruisers to question three women of color who were putting a mask on the Jumbo statue to promote JumboVote and Healthy@Tufts, allegedly questioning them longer than men who were also

present, some of whom were white. Years earlier, the Tufts Observer collected testimonies of students of color explaining how interactions with TUPD made them feel unsafe and unwelcome on campus.

All of this history means that Tufts’ decision to interrogate the way it does policing was a welcome one — and many of the eventual recommendations in the Campus Safety and Policing workstream are welcome too.

The recommendations for updating TUPD’s mission, delegating more tasks to mental health professionals and establishing an Independent Advisory Board are all positive developments. However, the report fails to offer guidance on the status of arming TUPD officers, only recommending the creation of a new working group to revisit the issue. Pushing this off to yet another working group represents an excessive delay, as every day that goes by with armed officers present on campus brings risk of violent escalation in TUPD-student interactions. In light of this, it matters that Tufts take swifter action to create a gun-free campus, and, hopefully, engage in a broader reevaluation of what service TUPD should actually provide.

As it stands, TUPD’s responsibilities go beyond just emergency response duties, extending to routine services on campus such as well-being checks, transports and lockouts. Many of these

tasks, however, could be better addressed by other professionals on campus. For example, the Tufts Student Life website lists TUPD among resources to call when a student is facing a mental health crisis — a system which, in certain situations, may cause more harm than help.

Black students and members of other minority groups may feel particularly uncomfortable with police officers responding to mental health situations, given the racism that has permeated policing throughout history. The same can be said for instances in which TUPD responds to lockouts and transportation requests — the presence of police officers is simply not necessary.

The Campus Safety and Policing workstream includes a recommendation that TUPD move away from being the primary provider of these services, which is a welcome suggestion.

But on matters of public safety, it is important that the university’s measures — and funding decisions — show that the university is committed to action, and not just words. The university must not only divert these responsibilities to entities like Counseling and Mental Health Services, it must also redirect existing TUPD funding to them so that they can be staffed at the level that is necessary to support students. Some of this funding could also go to expanding the non-police staff of the Department of Public

Safety. Members of this staff could assume TUPD’s existing responsibilities for lockouts and transport.

These structural changes to the university bureaucracy may take time to develop and implement. But one area where Tufts can take immediate action in fulfilling its dual commitment to effective public safety and anti-racism — and where the workstream failed to offer a decisive solution — is in the disarmament of TUPD. Since 2008, TUPD officers have been trained to use semi-automatic patrol rifles, in addition to carrying handguns.

In the day-to-day operations of the university, however, the presence of guns is not only inappropriate, but something that could risk heightening tension in student-officer interactions. Given the history of policing in America at large and of TUPD in particular, there is reason to suspect that this tension could be particularly dangerous for students of color. The university could effect immediate change by creating a gun-free campus, which makes it particularly disheartening that the workstream report merely pushed it off for another working group to look into.

One group that has offered leadership on this issue is the Tufts Action Group, a coalition of Tufts faculty and staff members formed in response to the murder of George Floyd by police this summer, which called for the immediate and permanent

disarmament of TUPD on June 18. Tufts Action Group operates the “Another Tufts is Possible” initiative, which has also shown support for defunding TUPD and reallocating resources to other community safety measures. Going forward, it is not only important that Tufts disarm TUPD and fund alternative sources of safety and justice, but also that Tufts work with stakeholders like Tufts Action Group as it does so. The creation of more committees to explore truths that the Tufts community is already aware of is duplicitous and unnecessary; real action might come about sooner if Tufts started listening to community groups that have been leading the calls for change.

Hopefully, the university’s Campus Safety and Policing workstream will initiate a cascade of change, a series of reforms to transform the meaning of justice and safety. But this will require the university to actively seek input from community stakeholders such as Tufts Action Group and to actively offer transparent accounts of its progress, both clarifying administrative developments and offering data on TUPD’s day-to-day activities.

Only through community input will the university be able to craft policies that reflect the real needs of our community and respect the physical and mental health of the student body.

8 Friday, March 12, 2021

Nicole Setow Wonder Women

Deja Young Content warning: This column discusses suicide, anxiety and depression. t’s no secret that pursuing excellence in any field requires one to sacrifice, be diligent and learn to enjoy the process. That last one is especially important, considering that behind every athlete’s moment of glory is a hard-fought journey that takes both a physical and mental toll. But how does one cope when the very thing that brings them joy becomes a source of stress? Paralympic track star Deja Young’s story is

I

Sports one incredible example of overcoming adversity, prioritizing mental health and rediscovering joy in competition.

Young was born with brachial plexus, a condition that affects mobility in her right shoulder. She competed in volleyball, softball and track all through high school.

Impressive results reflect her dedication to track; while in high school, she ranked No. 12 in Texas for the 200-meter dash. When it came to college, she ultimately set aside team sports when she realized her love for speed.

It was at Wichita State University where she learned that she was eligible to compete in Paralympic track and field.

Immediately, Young made an impact­­­­ in Paralympic competition –– winning gold in the 100-

meter dash and silver in the 200 at the 2015 World Para Athletics Championships. With a world championship under her belt, she was then ready to make her Paralympic debut in Rio. Unbeknownst to the public at the time, Young was diagnosed with anxiety and depression during the months leading up to the games. The increasing pressure to succeed in addition to a demanding academic and training schedule caused Young, who was a sophomore in college at the time, to feel like she was losing control of her life. Months before the 2016 Paralympics, Deja Young survived an attempted suicide.

After seeking professional help, Young quickly returned to competition. She made her Rio

debut as planned and left with two gold medals for the 100- and 200-meter dashes –– a true testament to her mental fortitude and remarkable athleticism. Shortly after her success in Rio, a car accident tested her resilience for a second time.

She fought hard for her recovery, realizing that the first step was learning to communicate her emotional state with her coaches and loved ones. Young credits these frequent mental health checks with helping her rediscover joy in the sport that she loves.

Young’s recent gold in the 200 and silver in the 100 at the 2019 World Para Athletics Championships serve as a reminder of both the strength she demonstrated when she sought

tuftsdaily.com help and the support she received from her loved ones. Her story is powerful, not only because it is deeply moving, but because she hopes that by sharing it, she can help other people struggling with their mental health.

When Young defends her titles in Tokyo, it’ll be with new vigor –– each step a nod to the hardships she has overcome and her recommitment to wellness.

Considering NBC Universal’s plans to provide a historic 1,200 hours of Paralympic coverage this summer, Young’s second Paralympic run is one you won’t want to miss.

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