THE
VOLUME LXXX, ISSUE 7
INDEPENDENT
STUDENT
N E W S PA P E R
OF
TUFTS
UNIVERSITY
E S T. 1 9 8 0
T HE T UFTS DAILY
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
tuftsdaily.com
Wednesday, September 23, 2020
Dean of Tisch College Hodgdon closes after worker’s close Alan Solomont to retire contact with individual who tested positive for COVID-19, reopening today at end of 2020–21 academic year by Madeleine Aitken Deputy News Editor
NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Jumbo statue is pictured on April 25. by Alexander Thompson Assistant News Editor
Hodgdon Food-on-the-Run closed early yesterday afternoon after a worker at the dining establishment learned that a member of their household tested positive for COVID-19, according to an email from Patti Klos, director of dining and business services, sent out to Hodgdon employees on Tuesday night. A university spokesperson declined to confirm whether the worker tested positive or negative for the virus, citing a policy against disclosing such information. However, Tufts Dining managers called employees later on Tuesday and stated that the worker tested negative. Christine Tringale, an assistant sous-chef at Hodgdon and union shop steward, detailed the situation in an electronic message to the Daily. She said that panic spread among the dining hall work-
ers, upon learning that the co-worker had been in close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Managers at Hodgdon worked to develop a plan to respond to the incident and offered to send workers to other locations on campus. “They were also telling workers we can send you to other locations,” Tringale wrote. “Some [workers] were in fear of leaving and getting in trouble.” She added that UNITE HERE Local 26, the workers’ union, quickly became aware of the incident and responded. “The union acted fast and checked the comfort level of workers,” Tringale said. Klos indicated in the email that the facility was closed and disinfected in the afternoon. “We believe that it’s safe for you to return to work,” Klos wrote. She explained that the workers are now eligible to receive free COVID-19 testing three times per week, an
increase from the two tests typically conducted. “[By increasing testing] we believe that we are acting in a manner that will keep you – and the people we serve – disease-free,” she said. Klos also wrote that the closing of the dining hall exceeded Massachusetts’ and the Board of Health’s requirements, citing that the other workers were not in direct contact with the individual who tested positive. Tringale said that she will not return to work until she tests negative for COVID-19. “[I] called out for tomorrow to wait for my negative test to return to work Thursday,” she said. A source, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed Tringale’s sentiments. “I took a decision to come home because I didn’t want to be in contact with any member of the Tufts community when I’m not sure about my status,” they said.
of Cummings family professor of the practice in entrepreneurship. Chen previously served as a senior lecturer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Sloan School of Management. Prior to joining the Tufts community, Chen founded
ConceptSpring, a consulting company that provides entrepreneurial training and advises different organizations to promote growth, according to its website. She was also the vice president of
Alan D. Solomont, the Pierre and Pamela Omidyar dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, will be retiring at the end of the academic year, according to an email sent out to the Tufts community on Sept. 14. After multiple successful civil service careers, including serving as the United States ambassador to Spain and Andorra under President Barack Obama, Solomont (A’70) assumed his role as dean of Tisch College in 2014, which allowed him to apply his learned skills and explore a new field. “I’ve been very lucky in my career and been able to do a lot of civic work, political work, but I didn’t want to pick up where I left off. I thought it was a good opportunity to do something different,” Solomont said. Peter Levine, associate dean of academic affairs for Tisch College and Lincoln Filene professor of citizenship and public affairs, explained that Solomont dedicated his life to public service, which gave him the tools necessary to lead a college about civic life. “He’s been a leader in the effort to renew civic life in America for some 20 years or so. He kind of cut his teeth originally in community organizing, but then in politics and in partisan politics. But he’s become a leader of really nonpartisan efforts to improve civic life,” he said. Levine also teaches Introduction to Civic Studies, which is a course offered by Tisch College, alongside Newhouse
Professor of Civic Studies Brian Schaffner. Levine, who has worked closely with Dean Solomont for years, said he is leaving an important legacy behind. “His impact’s been enormous,” he said. Diane Ryan, associate dean for programs and administration at Tisch College, echoed Levine’s statements about Solomont’s impact. She explained that Solomont’s lifetime success across multiple careers inspired her and made her want to work with him. “I came to Tisch College for Alan Solomont,” Ryan said. Solomont has been at the forefront of much of the development Tisch College has undergone in the last few years. “He rarely meets a good idea that he doesn’t want to explore to the fullest extent,” Ryan said. This spirit has led Solomont to establish Tisch College as an important part of Tufts University as well as the larger sphere of civic life and studies. “He has really helped to move Tisch to the center of the university, and built these really enduring connections with the other schools,” Ryan said. Levine, who has also played a major role in Tisch College’s development by bringing the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) to Tufts from the University of Maryland, shared Ryan’s thoughts. “Lots of people who are doing voter turnout or redistricting reform or these kinds of things know Tisch College as a playsee RETIRE, page 2
Elaine Chen named new director of Entrepreneurship Center
by Matthew McGovern News Editor
The Gordon Institute recently announced that Elaine Chen will be the new director of the Tufts Entrepreneurship Center (TEC) and will assume the role
FEATURES / page 3
The proof is in the Fluff
see DIRECTOR, page 2
ARTS / page 4
EDDIE SAMUELS / THE TUFTS DAILY
Dean of the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life Alan Solomont introduces former Vice President Al Gore at the Distriguished Speaker Series event on Feb. 7, 2018.
SPORTS / back
New season of show takes Injuries, comebacks as viewers back to middle NFL continues into Week 2 school awkwardness of pandemic football
NEWS
1
FEATURES
3
ARTS & POP CULTURE
4
FUN & GAMES
6
SPORTS
BACK