The Tufts Daily - Friday, April 9, 2021

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VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 40

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Tufts professor Brian Schaffner conducts policing surveys in Medford, Somerville

by Yiyun Tom Guan News Editor

Brian Schaffner, Newhouse professor of civic studies, conducted surveys last October and November of Medford and Somerville residents on their experience and perception of policing in their respective communities, as well as their opinions on future reforms. The survey reports, released on March 15, state that while residents of both cities are “somewhat satisfied with policing,” they see inequalities in how different populations are treated by the police, and they overwhelmingly support the creation of a civilian review board.

The research team behind the surveys, which were sponsored by the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, also con-

sisted of eight Tufts undergraduate students.

Schaffner detailed the questions that were on the surveys.

He said the surveys asked for the residents’ experiences with the police, their perception of how police treated different groups and their general ratings of the police, as well as how they wanted to see policing reforms in their communities.

According to Schaffner, the surveys find that residents of color are more likely to have had negative experiences with the police than white residents, and residents perceived racial inequality in police officers’ interactions with residents.

“In both communities, about one in five residents had had a negative experience with police officers … and that was more likely to be the case for residents

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Friday, April 9, 2021

of color than for white residents,” Schaffner said. “People in the communities also perceived that police officers treated African American residents and Hispanic residents more unfairly than they treated white residents, so there’s a perception of inequality that exists there.”

Schaffner noted that residents of color were less likely to say that the police made them feel safe. They were also less likely to say that they were less comfortable with calling the police if they needed help.

The surveys also found clear support for the implementation in both communities of a civilian review board, a platform where citizens can hold the police accountable, according to Schaffner. see POLICING, page 2

VIA JONATHAN M. TISCH COLLEGE OF CIVIC LIFE

Brian Schaffner, professor of civic studies, is pictured.

Tisch Council for Philanthropic Leadership announces fundraising plans

RACHEL HARTMAN / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Barnum Hall, home of Tisch College, is pictured on April 20, 2018.

by Ava Autry

Contributing Writer

The Tisch Council for Philanthropic Leadership has received approval from the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life and the university to fundraise for this year’s grant focus: racial equity in education.

The goal of TCPL is to support organizations that have 501(c)3 recognition or operate under a fiscal agent and that serve in Medford, Somerville, Chinatown or Fenway/Mission Hill.

According to Julia Proshan, co-president of TCPL, the group’s mission statement for this year’s focus is “to support organizations that empower youth of color, particularly young women [and] to seek equitable treatment in their holistic educational experiences.”

Proshan, a junior, explained the processes the council underwent to narrow its grant-making scope.

“Last semester, the Council participated in an exercise where we nailed down our collective interests and values,” Proshan wrote in an email to the Daily.

“In this exercise, each member filled out a form and selected the three issue areas they were most interested in … after selection, we each wrote our issue areas and values on a virtual whiteboard, tallying [where] there was overlap.”

Proshan said that the three most popular issue areas were racial equity, women’s empowerment and youth development, from which council members developed the impact area and mission statement.

With the grant focus in place, TCPL’s goal is to eventually select a specific organization to donate

FEATURES / page 3

OPINION / page 7

SPORTS / back

Religious organizations spring into an adapted spring holiday season

The Ever Given is a representation of us all

Women’s tennis marks return with dominant victory

the proceeds of its fundraising efforts. According to Tisch College’s official description of the organization, TCPL “function(s) as a foundation board that allocates funding to nonprofits in Tufts’ surrounding communities.” In addition to its grant-making efforts, the council also “organizes service projects, coordinates a philanthropic leadership speaker series, and promotes conversations about the social sector.”

Gus Robinson is co-president alongside Proshan. Both Robinson and Proshan explained that they are looking for programs that do one or more of the following: facilitate interactions between educational institutions and students of color, provide resources that help promote equitable educational environments, emphasize anti-racism training for educators and develop new approaches to disciplinary action.

There are also a number of evaluative questions TCPL uses to consider candidates. Robinson provided an update as to where they are in this process.

“Currently, we have narrowed down our selection pool to six organizations and are evaluating each based on their mission/ vision, financial health, and past success, among other factors,” Robinson, a sophomore, wrote in an email to the Daily.

The selection process will culminate with a council rankedchoice vote.

“For each organization, council members will vote on the criteria … rank[ing] the organization on a scale of 1 to 5,” Proshan said. “In terms of mission critesee TCPL, page 2 NEWS

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FEATURES

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ARTS & POP CULTURE

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FUN & GAMES

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OPINION

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SPORTS

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Friday, April 9, 2021

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Survey results reach city government officials, Schaffner hopes they will inform policy POLICING

continued from page 1 “One of the overwhelming findings of the surveys is that residents in both communities really strongly supported creating a civilian review board, which would give civilians oversight over the police department,” Schaffner said.

“Cambridge, for example, uses such a system right now, but neither Somerville nor Medford uses that, so there’s a lot of support for that.”

Schaffner added that most residents opposed the police’s using a variety of enforcement methods. He cited chokeholds as one method that residents adamantly opposed. He also said that many residents expressed a preference for the employment of social services workers — instead of police officers — as first responders.

Jaime Givens, a student co-author of the reports, said she joined Schaffner’s team last summer because she believed it was an important social and political

moment for marginalized communities.

“It was a really exciting opportunity … coming out of the summer of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and … politically as well as socially, I think it was a really important moment,” Givens, a sophomore, said. “It made me feel like I was doing something or was potentially helping these communities have their voices heard and then hopefully in the future, this information could be used to improve policing and residents’ feelings of policing practices.”

Leah Yohannes, another student co-author, elaborated on how the students contributed to Schaffner’s research and how they devised the survey questions.

“We came up with the questions for the survey, and then Professor Schaffner helped us distribute the survey; then, after, we helped just analyze the results,” Yohannes, a senior, said. “[To generate the ques-

tions] we did general research on the top trends and what other surveys have touched on … and then we divided the team up into different groups depending on … tactics and use of force, and then general perceptions, and we separated our questions out that way.”

Schaffner praised the students’ efforts and ingenuity in designing the surveys, noting that students brought in their own perspectives, which allowed them to think creatively.

He also explained that the goal of the surveys was to inform local officials of their constituents’ opinions on pressing issues, especially since data covering small communities is lacking and skews to the conservative side.

“There’s not really good systematic data for local officials on what their constituents want, because most of the polling that’s done is done nationally or done at the state level, and very little is done for small communities,”

Schaffner said. “There’s a lot of recent political science studies that actually show that elected officials tend to think that their constituents are more conservative than they actually are … The main thing I hope that comes out of this is that elected officials in both communities recognize and see how much support there is for some major reforms in both communities.”

Schaffner added that the survey reports have reached city government officials, and that Tisch College’s support for the research demonstrates its commitment to better informing public policy.

“So far, at least, it seems like a good sign that officials of both governments have seen the report and are paying attention to it,” Schaffner said. “Tisch College sponsored and paid for these surveys, and I think it’s just an example of the fact that Tisch College tends to get involved in things to make a real difference in the real world.”

TCPL’s efforts to be funded through Tufts donation platform TCPL

continued from page 1 ria, they select which of the bullet points the organization fulfills.”

She also noted that TCPL has been reaching out to its potential finalists to determine how they would use the grant money.

From 2017–19, TCPL received funding from the Highland Street Foundation.

“This support was a part of The Highland Street Foundation’s youth philanthropy initiative designed to empower young people to get involved with philanthropy,” Robinson said.

“Each year, The Highland Street Foundation set aside $10,000 of its annual giving budget to be allocated by TCPL.”

However, Proshan explained, philanthropic foundations usually fund specific initiatives — like TCPL’s work — for only a limited number of years, so the Highland Street Foundation has moved on to other projects.

This development means that TCPL is fundraising in a new way this year.

“We have been working through the approval process since Spring 2020 and are excited to have recently obtained permission from the University to fundraise through tuftsgiving.org. We will also be accepting checks through Tisch College,” Robinson said.

“In addition to this approval process, we have also been

busy preparing a promotional campaign to spread awareness about our work within our personal networks and amongst community partners.”

He added that in the coming weeks, the group will finish its selection process and will seek support from the greater Tufts community for the selected organizations. He noted that the fundraising and grant-making cycle should be completed before the end of the semester.

“It’s definitely a learning-through-doing process that we’re going through,” Rebecca Qiu, director of grant-making for TCPL, said.

However, Robinson said he views the change as a positive

COVID-19 AT TUFTS

opportunity to pivot to a new phase for the organization.

“We are excited to be pursuing more diverse funding sources going forward and are looking forward to using this opportunity to engage with the wider Tufts community while sharing the important work of the organizations we support,” Robinson said.

Qiu expanded on how the new process has affected TCPL. “Through this period we’ve definitely learned that we’re a lot more resilient and flexible than we thought we were,” Qiu said. “I think it’s shown that we have the ability to do things we’ve never done before.”

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Features

3 Friday, April 9, 2021

Religious groups creatively embrace community this spring holiday season

by Katie Furey Features Editor

For many Tufts students, the spring is a time of renewal, not only physically — with the weather getting warmer and flowers finally starting to bloom — but also spiritually. Between March and April, Tufts students observe a variety of religious holidays, including Passover, Holi, Easter and Ramadan.

At this time last year, most Tufts religious and philosophical student organizations did not do any holiday programming, as students had just recently been sent home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and were still adjusting to virtual platforms such as Zoom. The story is much different this year, however, as students and staff have had a year to learn and adapt to both virtual and socially distant gatherings, and are unable to travel home to celebrate due to the Tufts Travel Policy.

Tufts Hillel is one group that has tapped into its creativity to create a sense of connectedness at Tufts during Passover, which began on the evening of March 27 and ended the evening of April 4.

Hannah Pearl and Jacob Brenner, who serve as Conservative Minyan chairs on Hillel Student Board, said that Hillel split those interested in participating in a Seder, the traditional meal of Passover, into groups of 10 in order to adhere to the university’s COVID-19 safety

guidelines. According to Brenner, a sophomore, the groups met in rooms in 574 Boston Avenue.

“We split them up into groups of 10 people by recruiting a Seder leader and a Seder host,” Pearl, a sophomore, said. “The Seder leader led the Seder, and the Seder host set the table and invited the guests. They did their own mini-Seder, and there were six groups.”

Pearl also noted that Hillel provided the necessary supplies for each micro-Seder.

“Hillel provided all the meals and the Haggadah, which are the books you use on Passover,” Pearl said.

According to Brenner, the ability to safely have these celebrations in person made the holiday feel more personal.

“Being in person brought back this idea of being able to have side conversations with other people, sort of feeling like you’re sitting around the table on Passover,” Brenner said.

Akshita Rao, president of Tufts Hindu Students Council, explained that Hindu students also found unique ways to connect and celebrate Holi. Rao first described what Holi is and how it relates to the current spring season.

“If you translate [‘Holi’], it’s basically ‘the festival of color,’ but also celebrates the marking of the first day of spring,” Rao, a senior, said. “In Hindu mythology and our legendary stories, it just describes a period of time when one of our gods, Krishna, is always just really happy.”

Rao also explained how this feeling of happiness is demonstrated by throwing colored powder. Rao noted that this usually involves physical contact and a lack of social distancing, so the Hindu Students Council and the Tufts Association of South Asians worked together to co-host an adapted version of the event on March 31. “[We put] different colors in a bag and put in a small message on it and what Holi means,” Rao said.

Hindu advisor Preeta Banerjee also hosts a monthly virtual book club to discuss readings from Amar Chitra Katha, a popular Indian comic series that retells traditional religious legends. This month’s reading is centered on Krishna.

“This month’s comic book was on Krishna,” Rao said. “We basically read [the comic] and we have a monthly reading group where [Banerjee] gives us a GrubHub coupon and people log on to Zoom and we just talk about it. This month was actually really fun … We were playing games … and it just kind of took me back to my childhood.”

The Catholic Community at Tufts and Protestant Student Association also used Zoom gatherings as a way to connect to celebrate Easter on April 4.

According to Amelia Hern, a senior involved with the Catholic Community at Tufts, each group had its own religious service to celebrate Easter over Zoom as

well as a virtual dinner and reflection between those services.

“We just wanted to have something to celebrate Easter because, you know, every day just feels the same,” Hern said. “[We did] a dinner with GrubHub vouchers, the most we can do to get people food right now. [We put] people in breakout rooms and [had] people talk about Easter traditions and what Easter means to them and new beginnings.”

Hern also expressed the importance of the collaboration between the Catholic Community at Tufts and Protestant Student Association, especially during the Easter season. “[The Protestant Student Association] and [the Catholic Community at Tufts] get to have these [events] together, which is a really nice way to combine the community of Christianity,” Hern said.

For Hern, the unique conditions of this year made connecting with these religious communities, even via Zoom, all the more essential.

“It’s … extra depressing this year because it’s the only holiday that this is our second time missing it,” she said. “So I think it’s more important than ever to do something special.”

The Tufts Muslim Chaplain, Imam Abdul-Malik Merchant, expressed similar sentiments about Ramadan. He started in his position at Tufts two years ago, and has celebrated Ramadan twice during the pan-

demic. Ramadan will take place from April 12 to May 12 this year.

Imam Merchant described why and how Ramadan is observed.

“This month is the month in which the Quran was first revealed, and it’s the month that Muslims spend fasting in order to gain God’s closeness and to be in a state of remembrance but also to learn to overcome one’s desires, weaknesses, just to learn self-control and discipline all together,” Merchant said. “So we spend the month fasting and praying, increasing in the reading of the Quran.”

Similar to all the other religious groups, the Muslim Chaplaincy has worked with the Muslim Student Association to establish a sense of community in preparation for Ramadan, as well as during the month itself.

“We already have started pre-Ramadan programming [on Zoom], sort of teaching about what Ramadan is and the mindset and the spirit that we’re trying to assume and embody going into Ramadan,” Merchant said. “And then we’re going to have weekly programming, as well, through the month as a means of checking in and providing space and community but also learning things together.”

The resilience and adaptability of the Tufts religious community is on full display this spring, a sign of hope that also coincides with the advent of vaccines, one year after a spring holiday season spent in full lockdown.

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Blossoming trees are pictured outside Bendetson Hall on April 25, 2020.

4

Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

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Friday, April 9, 2021

Demi Lovato breathes life into ‘Dancing with the Devil … The Art of Starting Over’

by Jack Clohisy

Contributing Writer

Content warning: This article discusses excessive drug use.

Less than three years after her hospitalization for a drug overdose in 2018, Demi Lovato has returned to the studio stronger than ever with her April 2 release, “Dancing with the Devil … The Art of Starting Over” (2021). An album filled with empowering highs and heartbreaking lows, Lovato paints the trauma and recovery she’s endured since her hospitalization as a reawakening. She stakes a claim in her story, negating the tabloids and lies circulating in the media as a result of her hospitalization.

The album opens with “Anyone,” a powerful ballad in which Lovato cries out “Lord, is there anyone? / I need someone.”

Part of the three-track prelude on the album, “Anyone” presents the time in which Lovato relapsed after six years of sobriety. Lovato starts the album with the raw emotion necessary for a comeback record. Following is “Dancing with the Devil,” one of the two title tracks off the album, where Lovato comes to terms with her addiction. She strikes, “Almost made it to heaven / It was closer than you know.” The chorus is powerful, as Lovato exemplifies her vocal and songwriting abilities. She closes the prelude with a lullaby

to her sister Madison titled, “ICU (Madison’s Lullabye).” The track references Lovato’s experience in the ICU following her overdose when she was temporarily blind, all while her sister sat by Lovato’s bedside. Another example of her sharp songwriting on the album, Lovato closes the prelude at her lowest point, leaving only recovery to follow.

“The Art of Starting Over,” the second of two title tracks, demonstrates Lovato’s familiarity with fresh beginnings, having dealt with addiction in her past.

Despite a misjudged relationship she viewed as a potential “cure” to her struggles, Lovato pushes to overcome anoth-

er toxic situation while on her road to recovery. Lovato shifts to “The Way You Don’t Look at Me,” a heartbreaking story of her struggles with body image and an eating disorder. Lovato addresses the hurt from a relationship here, too, singing, “This hurts harder than my time in heaven / You don’t think I see / The way / You don’t look at me,” implying this love has caused her more pain than her overdose-induced hospitalization. It is evident that Lovato’s self-reflection and attention to personal detail emanate on this record.

The synth-heavy collaboration with Ariana Grande, “Met Him Last Night,” is a highlight

on this record. Both Lovato and Grande croon about a man who, while charming, is not someone worth pursuing. Despite his efforts, Lovato and Grande acknowledge the damage from his toxicity, and free themselves from his game. In her song with Sam Fischer, “What Other People Say,” Lovato details the difficulties she’s faced with self-image since becoming a celebrity. Both confirm, “I’m better than that, I’m better than that,” while battling their circumstances that stem from their upbringings. One of the best tracks on the album, see LOVATO, page 5

VIA ISLAND RECORDS

Demi Lovato’s album “Dancing with the Devil ... The Art of Starting Over” is pictured.

A&P

Friday, April 9, 2021 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

‘Dancing with the Devil … The Art of Starting Over’ finds a Demi Lovato reborn LOVATO

continued from page 4 Lovato reconciles with her tendency to listen to public opinion rather than acknowledge her own self-worth.

Songs such as “Carefully,” “The Kind of Lover I Am” and “Butterfly” may have been better condensed into one song since they don’t particularly stand out on this record. In addition, Lovato’s cover of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World” (1982), while vocally stunning, could have been left off the album. The most out-of-place track on the album is “My Girlfriends Are My Boyfriend” with Saweetie. The poprap collaboration is upbeat and fun, but

would’ve worked better on a different album or as a non-album single. In comparison to the other collaborations, this one falls short.

Another standout track is “Easy” with Noah Cyrus. Cinematic in nature, the track is the best example of Lovato’s vocal ability and emotional range. In “Lonely People,” “Melon Cake” and “15 Minutes,” Lovato rejects her former relationships and management for taking advantage of her. All fit well on this album. In terms of growth, “California Sober” and “Good Place” underscore the most introspection from Lovato. On “California Sober,” Lovato explains how sobriety was a fac-

tor in her mental decline, and how, in this moderate lifestyle, she’s able to take back her freedom. She concludes the album with “Good Place,” realizing she’s finally reached a place of happiness in her world.

With “Dancing with the Devil …

The Art of Starting Over,” Lovato has crafted a cohesive, well-written record, detailing her struggles with addiction and triumphant return. Lovato sets the record straight surrounding her circumstances amid a sea of endless media speculation, spotlighting her ability to confront and conquer the demons within herself.

5

Jessica Blough and Chris Panella Soundtrack to the end of the world

Bringing the nightclub to my bedroom

T

his week, Chris Panella’s take on dance music is both reflective and forward-looking: On a good day, I can almost imagine how close we are to dancing together again, to partying in crowded nightclubs (or unfurnished basements). Even while wishing for those days to come faster, Chris soundtracks his daily routine to disco and beat drops, crafting vibes that make us feel a little less alone.

Chris: I grew up listening to disco and post-disco with my mom, and much of my middle school and high school years were spent enjoying EDM, ’90s house, techno and Eurodance. Daft Punk dominated my CD player, legends Marshall Jefferson and Black Box introduced me to house music’s rich history and Calvin Harris and Justice filled my music library.

Similarly, the radio played a lot of dancepop during my teenage years. Britney Spears’ “Blackout” (2007) and “Femme Fatale” (2011) were touchstones, and Lady Gaga’s “The Fame Monster” (2008) and “Chromatica” (2020) remain incredibly influential to me. The latter album got me through much of the pandemic and reminded me of what it’s like to party.

There’s something euphoric about dance music’s pounding beats and explosive drops. It’s a sort of catharsis, an exchange of energy — I think that’s especially true when we dance with others. Dancing alone this past year hasn’t felt the same. But post-pandemic, I’m excited for the empathy, love, excitement and power that comes from anyone and everyone’s enjoying dance music.

With each song, we’ll be celebrating.

‘Forget Me Nots’ (1982) by Patrice Rushen The repetitive claps of Rushen’s “Forget Me Nots,” along with the sort of dissipating sirens, make for a hypnotic and groovy listen.

I love playing this song for my mom. I owe my love for disco and post-disco to her. It’s a great way to get us cooking, cleaning or partying — power up the Bluetooth speaker and make a martini. Rushen’s glossy vocals and some sparse saxophones make “Forget Me Nots” one of my most persistent earworms, a song I can always count on to get me moving.

‘Good Life’ (1988) by Inner City “Good Life” is a sleek and flashy track, with gorgeous vocals from Paris Grey and vibrating synths. I consider it a little calmer than its late ’80s and early ’90s club peers, but it’s just as euphoric and expressive. I like to listen to the Inner City bop when I’m getting dressed and styling myself — nowadays, that means picking a flashy outfit and jewelry for my Zoom classes. But it’s also a great song for road trips and walks to the store. Whenever you need immaculate vibes and steady energy, look no further.

‘Better Off Alone’ (1998) by Alice DeeJay Sure, this song’s a meme across social media, but have you ever asked yourself why it’s so viral? Because it slaps! Part of what makes “Better Off Alone” so fantastic might just be its repetitiveness. But the song’s trance-inspired electronic beats still feel fresh with every listen, sparking and flashing, begging for you to listen again and again. I’d say that “Better Off Alone” is an ol’ reliable of sorts. I can add it to virtually any playlist and it’ll fit in perfectly. Lately, it’s been my soundtrack for CVS and liquor store runs.

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

Chris Panella is a senior studying film and media studies. Chris can be reached at christopher.panella@tufts.edu.

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THE TUFTS DAILY | FUN & GAMES | Friday, April 9, 2021

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LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Megan: “I mansplained Sylvan Esso to him.”

FUN & GAMES

SUDOKU

MY DOG: FLOWERS

Difficulty Level: Getting through the final stretch of the semester

By Aidan Chang

SEARCHING FOR HEADLINES...

Thursday’s Solutions

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Opinion

7 Friday, April 9, 2021

VIEWPOINTS

How a cargo ship’s misadventure became a breath of fresh air for a generation

by Reya Kumar Staff Writer

A ship became stuck in the Suez Canal on March 23 during high winds and a sandstorm.

The Ever Given, a Japaneseowned boat operated by Evergreen Shipping, is one of the world’s largest container ships.

At nearly a quarter-mile long, it is the maximum length allowed to enter the canal. With the help of high tides and a small army of tugboats, dredgers and salvage crews, the mammoth ship was finally freed on March 29.

The Ever Given saga has had serious consequences. The Suez Canal is incredibly important to international shipping, and countries have long fought to control it. The canal was built by the French on the backs of Egyptian laborers during the Ottoman period, and officially opened in 1869, 10 years after construction began. Soon after, the debt-ridden Ottoman Khedive sold his majority shares

to the British government, leaving the canal under British control. In 1956, when Egyptian President Gamal Abder Nasser moved to nationalize the canal, British, French and Israeli forces invaded to stop him. However, Nasser was backed by the United States, and the Suez Canal has been under Egyptian control ever since.

The power struggles that have surrounded the Suez Canal underscore its importance on the global stage. About 12% of all global trade passes through the canal, a vital connection between Europe and Asia in our globalized economy. The delay caused by the blocked canal is putting a global shipping industry already strained by the pandemic under more stress.

Though the backlog of ships waiting to traverse the canal will likely be cleared quickly, the effects on global shipping could take weeks or months to resolve, according to the BBC. And this situation shines a spotlight on

our dependence on vulnerable maritime choke points, highlighting the damage that can be done to the global economy by a shutdown in narrow canals such as the Suez and Panama.

Despite the very real effects of this crisis, the internet was flooded with memes about the Ever Given. I saw a meme about the situation before I saw a headline, even though I receive New York Times notifications.

When the ship was freed, the internet cried out for them to “put it back.” So why did the internet react with such delight to a giant container ship stuck in a canal in Egypt?

In many ways, the situation of the Ever Given serves as a metaphor. Many of us feel a little stuck in our responsibilities, whether they be for work or school. One of the most popular memes was a photo of a relatively tiny bulldozer scooping mud out from beneath the Ever Given’s massive hull, which many saw as a metaphor for their own meager

efforts to overcome their problems and fulfill responsibilities.

It also made some feel better about mistakes they’ve made. At least their mistakes weren’t visible from outer space!

The pandemic has made this year particularly hard on everyone, and has made many feel like time has stagnated, with daily life circumscribed to our houses and dorm rooms. In a way, it’s comforting to see this ship as stuck as we are, an apt embodiment of our exhaustion after the turmoil of the past year.

Additionally, this year has brought to the forefront movements highlighting the structural problems in our society, including racism, climate change and sexual assault and harassment. It is immensely important to confront these issues and change is long overdue. However, the thought and action directed toward addressing such insurmountable problems can sometimes lead to burnout. One Instagram

meme sums it up well: The first slide reads, “what’s happening in the suez canal and how you can help,” and the second slide simply states, “boat stuck. cant help.” There was an issue, but there was nothing we could do about it, and no one was hurt or dying. In a world full of systemic problems that can feel too immense or intractable to fix, the Ever Given was big enough to matter and benign enough that we could take a moment, breathe and laugh.

Considering the strain that it has placed on the global shipping industry, it is good that the ship has been dislodged. I cannot, however, regret that it ran aground in the first place. For me and many others, the ship stuck in the canal presented a moment of lightness and humor in a dark year.

Reya Kumar is a firstyear studying psychology. Reya can be reached at reya.kumar@tufts.edu.

SAM FARBMAN / THE TUFTS DAILY

8 Friday, April 9, 2021

Sports

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Women’s tennis sweeps Brandeis in first match this season

by Eric Spencer

The No. 11 ranked Tufts women’s tennis team marked the return of Tufts sports on Saturday with a dominant 9–0 victory over Brandeis in Waltham. While no spectators were permitted at the match, it was the first Tufts athletics competition this year. The match also marked the season opener for the Brandeis Judges.

The Jumbos came out swinging, with sophomore Maddie Suk and junior Anna Lowy defeating Isabel Cepeda and Olivia Howe from Brandeis 8–1 in the opening doubles match. The Jumbos’ top-rated duo of juniors Maggie Dorr and Caroline Garrido followed this strong performance with an 8–2 victory over Brandeis’ Lauren Bertsch and Nikita Salkar.

The sophomore squad of Tilly Rigby and Casey Cummings rounded out the doubles competitions for Tufts with an 8–3 victory over Ana Hatfield and Ella Subramanian.

“Our captains Patricia and Kiara have done a great job of bringing in all the [first-years] and making sure we all feel comfortable,” said firstyear first singles player Zoe Kava.

“They have also done a great job at bringing the team together and getting us ready for this first match.”

Carrying a 3–0 lead into the singles competition, Kava breezed to a 6–2, 6–0 victory over Brandeis’ Olivia Howe. Suk and Rigby carried the Jumbos to a match-clinching 6–0 lead with singles victories. Cummings dominated both sets 6–0 to expand the Tufts lead to 7–0, and senior co-caption Patricia Obeid and Dorr completed the Jumbos’ 9–0 shutout.

“I got off to a little bit of a slow start in the first set,” Kava said. “But once I started to feel more comfortable and the nerves started to settle down I was really able to settle in and be aggressive and go for big shots.”

A lot has changed for Tufts tennis in the past year. The Vouté Courts, which previously served as the team’s primary venue, is now home to temporary quarantine housing units for students who test positive for COVID-19, as well as for those students’ close contacts. The team now practices on the courts behind Harleston Hall.

The match Saturday was Tufts’ first athletic competition in over a year. Tufts and the NESCAC suspended sports following a March 10, 2020 men’s lacrosse match against Ithaca College. The NESCAC did not allow competition in the fall 2020 semester or the beginning

of the spring 2021 season. The recent decision by Tufts and the NESCAC to permit sports for the remainder of the season was welcome news for many Tufts athletes.

“It’s definitely been a weird year. I don’t think any sports teams were expecting to have a season, so we are all just really excited to get started and grateful and just want to take it match by match. We have to stay enthusiastic and positive,” Kava said. “I missed it so much and I think everyone missed it, so we are all really happy to be competing against other teams and not just each other in practice.”

Looking ahead, the Tufts women’s tennis team currently has three more matches scheduled for the remainder of the season. They are set to face Colby and Conn. College at home over the next two weekends and finish the season at Trinity.

“We have to keep the energy up and keep encouraging each other to do better in practice and keep motivating each other,” Kava said. “That’s going to be really important for the rest of our season.

Editor’s note: Zoe Kava is an assistant news editor at The Tufts Daily. Zoe was not involved in the writing or editing of this article.

and lower body strength to maintain speed and balance throughout their race. Factor in the constant threat of windburn, and it’s easy to see why many describe cross-country skiing as one of the most mentally and physically demanding outdoor sports.

Additionally, from a spectator’s perspective, Nordic ski racing can appear incredibly synchronized; oftentimes competitors are spaced a few feet beside each other making similarly timed strides. For this reason, it can be hard to imagine how a skier could manage the strength to make a clean break from the pack.

Diggins certainly makes it look easy, though. When there’s any doubt Diggins has sufficient

energy left in her, she’ll hit the accelerator. For my fellow basketball fans, watching her final sprint to the race line is equivalent to witnessing a potential buzzer-beater. For Diggins, a race isn’t over till it’s over.

It’s no wonder why you’ll often find Diggins collapse onto the snowy ground after a race.

Her grand embrace of the earth is an iconic visual that captures a contrasting mix of pride, agony and triumph. If there was any doubt of her grit, one can easily tell she pushed herself to her very limits by the absolute exhaustion that takes her once she crosses the finish line. Considering how unforgiving Nordic skiing is to an athlete’s body, what makes Diggins a champion is her ability

to seize every opportunity to gain a lead over her competition — even if that opportunity presents itself just yards before the finish line. In a sport that’s the ultimate test of stamina, it’s evident that Diggins quite literally digs deep for every bit of momentum.

Now, at age 29, Diggins’ ski career doesn’t seem to be decelerating anytime soon. She has her eyes set on championing the 30km classic event. Given her extensive experience with history-making, it’s safe to say Diggins’ races will be a must-watch at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

Assistant Sports Editor

BEN KIM / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

Patricia Obeid serves during a doubles match on the Vouté Courts on April 28, 2019.

Nicole Setow Wonder Women

Jesse Diggins

T

his week, we’re celebrating a series of firsts: the first American to medal four times at the FIS Cross-Country Skiing World Championships, the first U.S. athlete to win the cross-country Tour de Ski and the first American woman to take home the FIS Cross-Country Ski World Cup. Remarkably, all of these accomplishments can be attributed to one athlete: cross-country skier Jessie Diggins.

Her first taste of victory came in 2013 when she and teammate Kikkan Randall claimed the United States’ first World Championship win in cross-country skiing. They then went on to become the first Americans to ever win an Olympic gold in the sport when they bested Sweden by 0.19 seconds in a thrilling race at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

Notably, with every personal accomplishment she achieves, Diggins simultaneously helps pioneer the United States’ legacy in the underrated sport.

Cross-country skiing, aka Nordic skiing may be one of the greatest tests of endurance. With only two ski poles for leverage, Nordic skiers rely heavily on core

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