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T HE T UFTS DAILY tuftsdaily.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
Tufts suspends almost all study abroad programs for spring 2021
COURTESY MICHAEL D BECKWITH VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Bridge of Sighs in the University of Oxford is pictured on May 28, 2017. by Madeleine Aitken Deputy News Editor
Most study abroad programs have been canceled for spring 2021 due to the ongoing COVID-
19 pandemic, with the exception of the Tufts in Oxford and Tufts@BNU programs. The Tufts in Madrid program, which the Tufts Study Abroad and Global Education office took more time
to consider, was officially canceled on Friday. “The decision to suspend was made in consultation with senior leadership, the Covid Coordinating Committee, legal
FEATURES
Who returns, who gets tested? New England schools differ in COVID-19 response by Amelia Becker and Olivia King
Features Editor and Staff Writer
On Tufts’ campus, “The Mods” is a term used to refer to isolation housing utilized to stop the spread of the coronavirus. At Boston College (BC), “the Mods” is a funky, on-campus housing option for seniors, and it has been one of the campus’ hotspots for the spread of the coronavirus. In the face of the uncertainty and challenges presented by the COVID19 pandemic, universities across the country had to decide if and how to bring students back to campus. These choices differed greatly, even among schools with a number of similarities. Tufts’ fall reopening plan significantly differs from that of other NESCAC schools, such as Bowdoin and Amherst, and other Boston area schools, including BC. Who returns to campus? Bowdoin places stricter limits than Tufts, other schools The majority of Tufts students opted to return to campus this fall
after being given the option to return to campus, study remotely or take a leave of absence. On-campus residence halls are operating at reduced capacity, with additional space in The Mods for isolation and in Blakeley Hall for quarantine. In contrast, Bowdoin welcomed back about 40% of the more than 1,800 enrolled students this fall, including all first-year and transfer students, students with home situations that make remote learning difficult and a number of senior honor students who require access to space on campus. All other sophomores, juniors and seniors had to remain off campus and take classes online for the fall semester. Some students have taken issue with Bowdoin’s plan to primarily bring first-year students back, while other New England schools have not set restrictions on who can return to campus. “A great deal of resentment, I think, was stirred up among the senior class as a result. It felt like, for many of my peers and friends in the Class of 2021, it kind of felt like Bowdoin was abandoning them to a
certain degree,” Brendan Murtha, a senior at Bowdoin, said. The Bowdoin campus remains closed to the public for the fall semester. Murtha, who lives just off campus, has not been able to enter campus at all. This also means that students living on campus are not able to meet or interact with students living off campus. Clubs that normally run in-person programming have had to adapt to a primarily virtual format, Murtha said. Murtha, a student leader for the Bowdoin Naturalists, a club on campus that fosters an understanding of local ecology and natural history, hosted a nature walk for first-year students after discussions with the administration. This was the first time Murtha could interact with students on campus and get a sense of what the first-year experience is like. He felt that students are facing a serious mental toll as they are carrying heavy course loads without the normal outlets to decompress and socialize. see PLAN, page 3
counsel, and global operations at Tufts, guided by recommendations and restrictions laid out by industry and governmental bodies, both national and international,” Mala Ghosh, senior
director of Study Abroad and Global Education, wrote in an email to the Daily. As a result of ongoing developments surrounding air travel and entry restrictions, it is not safe to send students abroad, according to Ghosh. The Tufts in Oxford program, however, is uniquely different. “[Oxford’s] academic model is based on tutorials where the students have individualized faculty interaction, advising and independent studies. Oxford is also able to commit to academic continuity for the entire year if the University had to close or if students were required to isolate or leave the country,” Ghosh said. She explained that students in the program also have private single rooms and bathrooms, allowing for quarantine or isolation if necessary, and the University of Oxford is able to provide meal delivery and health services. Similar to the Tufts in Oxford program, the model of the Tufts@ BNU program allows for it to remain in place in the spring, but with strict adherence to COVID-19 guidelines. see ABROAD, page 2
Tufts launches new pooled testing study to help K-12 schools by Carolina Espinal News Editor
Tufts recently launched a pilot COVID-19 study intended to assist K-12 schools to reopen safely through a method known as “pooled” testing. The effort will determine whether the nasal swab samples, widely used for COVID-19 surveillance testing, can be studied in batches. Vice Provost for Research Caroline Genco explained that once the study is proven reliable, Tufts intends to oversee and work with emergency medical technicians (EMTs) or medical assistants on the pooled testing process. In practice, volunteers for the study are handed an extra swab and tube during their regularly scheduled surveillance testing. While the first sample is analyzed individually, the second sample is tested through the pooled method and put in another tube that includes swabs from seven other volunteers. According to Genco, the study had collected 2,033 samples as of Oct. 8.
ARTS / page 3
ARTS / page 3
SPORTS / back
‘Avatar,’ ‘Korra’ bring nostalgia, airbending, and relevant perspectives
‘Boys in the Band’ on Netflix with entirely gay, star-studded cast
Patriots, Titans seasons hindered by COVID-19 uncertainties
Tufts’ current testing infrastructure can shed light on the effectiveness of the pooled testing method. Genco explained that if a pooled sample tests positive, the eight individuals will be contacted and asked to isolate while the individual surveillance tests are completed. Positive results on individual tests that are also found in the corresponding pooled tests can validate the method. The pooled method is projected to have a positive health impact on the larger community by testing all close contacts of positive individuals, including family members. Genco added that the method is not only more cost-effective than individual testing, but more efficient. “Compared to the cost of 12,000 individual tests twice weekly for 12 weeks (7.2 million), the pooled method, including retests, will be less than half the cost (3.5 million),” Genco wrote in an email to the Daily. “We will be able to \process these tests at a higher volume than individual tests.” see SCHOOLS , page 2 NEWS
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Tuesday, October 13, 2020
THE TUFTS DAILY Alex Viveros Editor in Chief
EDITORIAL Rebecca Barker Hannah Harris
ABROAD
Jake Freudberg Associate Editors Jilly Rolnick Alejandra Carrillo Maddie Aitken Jessica Blough Tom Guan Liza Harris Alex Janoff Matt McGovern Sara Renkert Sarah Sandlow Anton Shenk Carolina Espinal Sam Klugherz Alexander Thompson Alicia Zou
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Students express disappointment at canceling of study abroad programs continued from page 1
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“The Tufts@BNU program is a special new local program for Chinese students in Beijing where they are in their home country of record with a closed campus management system,” Ghosh said. “Students are able to have a residential experience with stringent mitigation plans in place.” Some students who were planning on studying abroad in the spring are disappointed, but understanding of the situation and the reasoning behind the decision. “I’m upset, but I’m not surprised. I’ve been expecting this since April to an extent, so it’s not necessarily a shock to me. It’s obviously a bit crushing to hear it officially, but I don’t think this came out of nowhere,” Josie Wagner, a junior who was planning on attending the Tufts in Madrid program, wrote in an email to the Daily.
Emily McMullen, who is also a junior who was planning on participating in Tufts in Madrid, said she feels the same frustration but understands the decision. “The safety of the students is most important,” McMullen wrote in an email to the Daily. Alongside the decision to cancel almost all study abroad programs for the spring, the university announced it would not accept transfer of credits for external programs students enroll in, a decision some students were upset by. “I think it’s unfair that they will refuse to accept transfer credits. That should be a student and their family’s decision to go/ not to go, not the university’s,” McMullen said. Ghosh explained that the university cannot be sure of what students will experience when they are abroad in other external programs. “We provide Tufts approval for specific external study
abroad programs and direct enrollment international institutions, therefore we do have responsibility while our students are abroad,” Ghosh said. “Due to the conditions outlined, we cannot mitigate health and safety abroad nor plan around international travel restrictions at this time.” Ghosh added that the university is moving forward with planning for study abroad programs in the 2021-2022 school year, but that they will continue to be vigilant of the way the pandemic unfolds in each country. “Our staff and our partners are currently conducting student outreach, expanding advising opportunities, creating a global dialogue series, designing virtual learning modules, expanding local partnerships to enhance academic options, developing new internship programs, and enhancing student support services,” Ghosh said.
Although study abroad programs may be possible next year, some students in the class of 2022 feel they are missing their opportunity to study abroad because they would like to remain on campus their senior year. “I do not plan on studying abroad anymore because I want to spend my senior year here,” Daniel Alderman, a junior, wrote in an email to the Daily. Wagner echoed this opinion. “I would love to, but it may end up being something I do after graduating since the idea of going abroad senior year isn’t appealing,” Wagner said. The Tufts Study Abroad and Global Education office is looking optimistically toward the 2021-2022 school year. “We all hope that conditions will improve, travel restrictions will be lifted, and that there is a widely distributed effective vaccine,” Ghosh said.
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The Medford/Somerville campus COVID-19 testing site is pictured on Sept. 20.
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The reduction in costs associated with pooled testing offers a more affordable and accessible option for K-12 schools. Andrea Jasmin, a second grade teacher at Maria L. Baldwin School in Cambridge, said that districts that are not able to afford their own surveillance testing are at a disadvantage. “The reality is if you don’t test, people are going to get infected. For any district, for anyone, the more testing, the better. In that way, you know people are safe [and] if you have someone infected, you’re able to say, ‘Well, this is why we’re doing testing and this is how we can keep people safe,’” Jasmin said. Jasmin also explained that Cambridge Public Schools’ (CPS)
strong testing infrastructure has been made possible because of its budget. In fiscal year 2019, CPS’ general fund budget was $191,069,500, while Medford Public Schools’ (MPS) budget was only $60,629,011. “We have a good amount of money in Cambridge, whereas other districts are not in the same boat,” she said. Nick Yeh (LA’ 18), a current substitute at Maria L. Baldwin School, explained that providing a cheaper testing method gives schools the opportunity to confront other challenges induced by the pandemic. In the wake of COVID-19, Massachusetts school districts grappled with challenges related to budget cuts. In June, hundreds of educators across the state’s 50 school districts received layoff or non-renewal notices.
“By creating a very strong and consistent testing protocol, not only can you help create an environment where you know how students and teachers are faring with the disease, but if it’s cheaper, that means those resources can be allocated differently,” Yeh said. Both CPS and MPS have moved forward with their respective reopening plans and invited students back in person. However, questions about the quality of testing infrastructure remain. “If a school district doesn’t have the proper testing infrastructure, then it’s almost like a ticking time bomb. When are we going to get the infection? And if [someone] does, when will we know? When will it be too late?” Yeh said. Yeh underlined the importance of having a robust testing infrastructure in place, one that is widely available, accessible and affordable.
“If testing is not paid for by the consumer, if it’s provided by the employer … or if it’s provided by the city or the state, in such a way that’s accessible, then people don’t actually even have to worry about finding a place to get tested, taking time out of their work time to get tested,” he said. Like Yeh, Genco noted that the benefit of implementing pooled testing in schools is that it does not require transportation to a testing site. Yeh, who is also an audio visual technician at Tufts and participates in the university’s semiweekly surveillance testing, described the procedure as being high reward and low risk. Genco praised the Tufts community for its ongoing support. “It was wonderful to see the Tufts community get behind this work so strongly,” she said.
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Features
3 Tuesday, October 13, 2020
‘A general feeling of discontent’: Universities, students struggle to balance safety, social life PLAN
continued from page 1 On Sept. 13, Bowdoin moved from “orange” to “yellow” status, which allowed for the loosening of some restrictions. Bowdoin started the semester in the “orange” status, which prohibited students from leaving campus without permission from the administration. All gatherings were capped at 20 people, classes and extracurriculars were outside in tents or remote, dining was to-go only, common areas in residence halls were closed and masks were required in almost all situations. With the transition to “yellow,” students are now able to leave campus for essential needs, instruction and extracurricular events can take place in designated rooms, common areas are open and access to buildings has increased. President of Amherst College Biddy Martin announced plans for the fall semester on July 1. The goal was to bring 1,200 to 1,250 students to campus, or about 60% of total enrollment. Priority for the fall was given to first-year students, transfer students, sophomores, seniors set to graduate at the end of the fall semester and seniors who were abroad in the 2019– 20 academic year. Senior thesis writers who needed on-campus resources or students with home situations unsuitable to remote learning could petition to study on campus. The campus is currently at Level 2 Operating Status, meaning members of the community are expected to follow personal safety measures, gatherings can have no more than 10 people and no visitors are allowed on campus. Higher levels indicate stricter measures that could be implemented if there are increased cases or exposure. All students were given single rooms, following a staggered movein period, along with reduced density in residence halls. Renz Toledo, a junior at Amherst, chose to stay at home. Initially, he was told that as a junior, he would not be able to return to campus. However, even after Amherst revised its policy and allowed juniors to request being allowed to return to campus, Toledo decided that as an immunocompromised person it was safer for him to remain at home. BC announced its intention to bring students back to campus on May 19. In July, the college published
Jenny Lu Tuff Talks
Finding friends
Dear J: How do I meet new people/make new friends if I am an introvert and have a hard time just going up to people and talking to them? –Introvert Dear Introvert: There are lots of options and opportunities for you to make friends, and there is definitely
an extensive reopening plan. All students were welcomed back to campus, though students also had the option of studying fully remotely. Students who chose to return to campus had to sign the Eagles Care Pledge, which outlined the health precautions and guidelines students are expected to adhere to this semester. Off-campus students are not permitted into on-campus residence halls. For students living on campus, most residential units are permitted one guest at a time, according to BC’s Housing Addendum. Due to the more urban campus environment of BC, Caitlyn Neville, a junior at BC, said she hasn’t seen many people outside. BC has instead expanded the number of indoor facilities available for students to reserve. How are classes conducted? Tufts, Bowdoin go mostly virtual, BC hosts 60% of classes in person Tufts has offered classes in virtual, in-person and hybrid formats for the fall semester. The academic calendar remains unchanged, but the administration announced on Sept. 25 that any student who travels for Thanksgiving break cannot return to campus and must finish the remainder of the semester remotely. At Bowdoin, the majority of classes are taught online, even for students on campus. There is the opportunity for classes to be held outside in tents or in designated rooms for on-campus classes. Bowdoin has partnered with Apple to provide each student with an iPad Pro with WiFi and cellular connectivity, an Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Magic Keyboard so all students have access to online classes and to aid in virtual collaboration, according to an article by the Bowdoin Orient. Classes at Amherst are offered in multiple formats, with in-person teaching taking place in outdoor tents or in socially-distanced classrooms, Toledo said. All classes with more than 35 students are taught in a remote format, and classes are scheduled throughout the day to account for students in different time zones. At Amherst, classes are set to end before Thanksgiving, with study periods and exams being remote for all students. At BC, about 60% of classes are offered in person, in de-densified classroom spaces. Some virtual classes are synchronous while others
are asynchronous. Administrators ensured that some virtual classes are offered in the early morning or late afternoon to accommodate international students who chose to stay home, according to an Aug. 3 letter. Neville, who chose to return to campus, said for the classes she attends in person, desks are spaced about three feet apart. When students enter and leave the classroom, they must wipe down the desks and are required to wear masks during in-person classes. BC said that while it currently plans to hold in-person classes until Dec. 10, it will continue to monitor the public health situation and will decide at the end of October whether or not to send students home at Thanksgiving and hold the last few weeks of the semester entirely virtual. Who gets tested? BC opts for targeted testing strategy while others routinely test entire student body Tufts has experienced lower than expected COVID-19 infection rates this fall, in part due to regular testing, campus norms around mask wearing and isolation and quarantine measures. Since Aug. 3, there have been 27 positive COVID-19 cases among students, staff and faculty on the Medford/Somerville campus. Bowdoin tested students three times a week for the first two weeks of the semester, and then twice a week, using a self-administered nasal swab, for the remainder of the semester. Additionally, faculty and staff are tested once or twice a week, depending on how often they interact with students. Bowdoin is providing weekly COVID-19 testing to all students living off campus in an effort to keep the greater Brunswick community safe. Students living off campus receive take-home tests and are supposed to be notified by email with their results within 72 hours. To date, there have been three cases of COVID-19 on the Bowdoin campus, out of more than 18,000 tests for students, faculty and staff. All students who tested positive were placed in isolation, and those in contact with the positive individuals were quarantined. Students at Amherst are required to be tested three times a week. Those who test positive are immediately quarantined, and people who have been in the vicinity of an individual
who tested positive receive an email suggesting they quarantine and get tested, Toledo said. Amherst has had five cases of COVID-19 since July 13 after administering almost 30,000 tests, with one active case currently. Tufts, Bowdoin, Amherst and BC are all partnering with the Broad Institute for testing. BC only regularly tests students with high exposure risks, such as nursing students completing practicums. For the rest of the approximately 10,000 students, BC administers at least 1,000 tests per week to a random sample of students, with adjustments in surveillance testing as coronavirus cases fluctuate. BC has had 190 positives since Aug. 16. The testing situation at BC has frustrated many students. “A lot of students have been unhappy with their testing plan, especially compared with other schools around us,” Neville said. Some students even started a petition asking that BC quarantine all students for two weeks, and then institute a testing program that mandates all students be tested twice a week. After an initial outbreak of more than 70 students at the beginning of September, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts took over BC’s contract tracing program in an effort to better control the virus’ spread across campus. When a student at BC tests positive, they have the option of either going home or isolating in Hotel Boston, the facility that BC acquired for isolation housing. Neville estimated that about half of the students who test positive choose to go home, with the other half going to Hotel Boston. Adjusting to campus life: Different experiences for every campus, student Murtha is displeased with some aspects of Bowdoin’s fall reopening plan, especially since many students felt the administration did not listen to their concerns. Yet he also understands that Bowdoin is working hard to ensure the safety of its students. “It’s an interesting fine line that is struck between safety and also just a general feeling of discontent and antagonism,” Murtha said. From speaking to first-years, Murtha got a sense of what the first-year experience at Bowdoin is like now. The honeymoon period of the novelty of being on cam-
pus has begun to wear off, Murtha believes. “It was interesting to get an insider scoop on what the first-year experience at Bowdoin is like right now, because it really isn’t,” Murtha said. “For us, in our eyes, it is not a Bowdoin experience.” Overall, Toledo said that Amherst’s fall is going well. He noted that some students have left campus because of the rules that must be followed, but the majority of students have stayed. However, Toledo said he wished the school had stricter consequences for students who break the rules regarding masks and social distancing. Neville said she would like more information from the BC administration as it relates to how policies this fall are being enforced. “I would expect the administration in some way to be like, ‘We are sending people home, here is proof, don’t do this,’ but they really have not,” Neville said. “I think they’re just being very quiet in general.” Further, many students are worried about a testing program that they see as inadequate, and those concerns have not been addressed. However, Neville said BC has done better than she expected at controlling the virus and keeping students on campus. “I definitely anticipated that we would be sent home by now, to be honest. And it was a little scary when we had like a hundred positive cases in a week. But it seems like it’s getting better,” Neville said. At Tufts, Ian Wong, the director of Health Promotion and Prevention, has been impressed by students so far. After being tasked with heading a program that hires students to walk around campus and remind other students to wear masks properly and follow social distancing guidelines, Wong has seen the culture around wearing masks that Tufts has cultivated. “I have no problem walking around, again following all the rules and everything else,” Wong said. Wong said he is proud of Tufts students and thinks that the culture has created a safe environment. “I was expecting Tufts students would be pretty good about [wearing masks] because we are a community, we watch out for each other,” Wong said. “The students are doing very well. I didn’t expect anything less from our community.”
a space for introverts here at Tufts. I think the thought of “just going up to people” randomly gives us all pause. Many of us prefer to meet our friends in more nuanced ways like in class or in a club — both of which are hard this semester. In your online classes, group or partner projects are a great excuse to reach out to anyone in the class you find interesting. Likewise, if you have a particularly enjoyable breakout room, feel free to ask for their contact info. Although most clubs aren’t in person, it is still worth it to check out the clubs that you’re interested
in. Many of them are still hosting events that allow you to meet with other people, either socially distanced or through Zoom. There are also GroupMe and Discord groups for all sorts of interests. Being able to text someone first before setting up a meeting time and place can actually relieve a lot of anxiety by giving you a sense of what to expect. Good luck! Dear J: How do I find my people? –Lost Dear Lost: First, let me tell you how not to find your people. We’re all trying to find our footing in a new
place, and as we navigate this transition to college, it’s easy to say yes to every plan that comes up, whether you see it in a group chat or by your cohort. While you should put yourself out there and try new things, don’t force yourself to attend events and meetups that don’t interest you for the sake of socializing. For example, if you know that you won’t enjoy watching a football game, you don’t have to go watch the football game. Try suggesting an activity you enjoy and like-minded people with similar interests will be much more likely to respond. If there isn’t
already a club for your interest out of the 300-plus clubs at Tufts, there might still be a Discord group or GroupMe for what you’re interested in, which could just mean playing “Among Us” or going out for boba. If there isn’t or you don’t know if there is, just post a question in your class’ Facebook group and someone will be sure to respond or direct you to a pre-made group chat! Jenny Lu is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Jenny can be reached at Jenny. Lu634410@tufts.edu.
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Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture
tuftsdaily.com
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
‘Boys in the Band’ is back in
that some struggles remain universal for gay men. With clear roots in performance, and an all-star, all-gay cast to boot, the movie has garnered a lot of attention. But does it deliver?
“Boys in the Band” tells the story of eight gay men living in New York in the 1960s. We follow a twisting night of a birthday party with surprise visits and tense moments between the tight-knit group.
Its history, however, is not that simple: “Boys in the Band” first premiered on Broadway in 1968. Its success was rewarded with a feature film a few years after. Again, the story was brought back in a 2018 Broadway reprisal. Now, courtesy of Netflix, it’s back on screens for another generation to enjoy playwright Matt Crowley’s hypnotic storytelling. Its return reminds us that some good things never change. Producer Ryan Murphy’s golden touch is evident in the film’s glorious cinematic opening. It begins with a lighter flick followed by a long, tense drag of a cigarette. We see a silhouette of a man move across his lounge to a record player. “Hold On, I’m Coming” (1966) blares from his speakers, and we are launched into a nostalgic montage that introduces the movie’s characters as it goes along. Each scene gives us an intimate glimpse into the nuanced and complex lives that gay men were allowed to live in New York, despite the political and social restrictions of the time; one can be an interior designer, a librarian, a teacher. A sense of excitement and opportunity fills the air in the first few minutes. This soon transitions to the slower-paced, dialogue-based nature of the rest of the movie. The star-studded cast includes Jim Parsons, Zachary Quinto, Matt Bomer and other favorites. It is particularly captivating to see Parsons excel outside of his role as Sheldon on “The Big Bang Theory” (2007–2019). Greater than the name value, the cast consists entirely of gay men — a feat rarely achieved, even for movies which focus on gay characters such as “Brokeback Mountain” (2005) or “Call Me by Your Name” (2017). Above all, “Boys in the Band” allows gay men to be the center of the narrative instead of being an accessory to it. The
ing cast, the movie miss- e s almost every mark. The writing is unimaginative and confusing. With a run time of only about 90 minutes, viewers get the sense that much of the script may have been cut down. Dialogue among characters is not fluid and information is blatantly left out, leaving us to fill in the spaces. It’s obvious that this was done for dramatic effect, but it comes across as forced and lazy. The path to the end of the movie is not an arc — it’s a confusing knot of attempted emotions with some action tropes woven in. Ava’s relationship with her family is simply a way to make her appear unstable, which itself
is only written as a reason for her organization to take her out. Her alcoholism ends up being completely unimportant, as does her twice-mentioned dead father. Each plot decision seems somewhat arbitrary, and by the end of the movie, you’re left wondering if any of the events had to occur at all. The acting wasn’t great either, even with stars such as Jessica Chastain, John Malkovich, Colin Farrell and actor/rapper Common. They weren’t helped by the poor script, of course, but I didn’t get the sense that anyone was taking on the role of their character. I only saw Chastain, Malkovich and Farrell playing themselves. Chastain gave a
cold performance of a troubled agent, allowing for brief moments of emotion to peek through, but it felt forced and disjointed. Malkovich was not convincing as an experienced mentor to Chastain’s assassin, and Farrell was borderline annoying. The film leaves you feeling the same way about the characters in the end as you did at the beginning: uninterested. Action sequences were few and far between, but even those scenes seemed to just go through the motions. You could see each actor working through their choreography as opposed to genuinely fighting. The action was edited in a choppy manner, most likely to make filming more efficient,
VIA IMDB
A promotional poster for “The Boys in the Band” (2020) is pictured. by Sibi Nyaoga
Contributing Writer
A lot has changed since the mid-20th century, but “Boys in the Band” (2020) reminds us
Iverson Eliopoulos On the Big Screen
‘Ava’ “Ava” (2020) is a spy action movie directed by Tate Taylor (“The Help” (2011)), produced by and starring Jessica Chastain. The story follows Ava, an assassin in a secret Black Ops organization. When she shows signs of disobeying protocol, her agency decides to tie up loose ends and get rid of her, or so the synopsis claims. In reality, most of the movie centers around her past alcoholism and her fraught relationships with her family. Despite a promis-
film could go further in its representation of people of color on screen, as it still consists mainly of white men. Adding diversity of experience is crucial to fulfill its wide ambitions. What can’t be ignored, however, is the judgment these men endure every day. The tense silence and long glances they must tolerate while in public reminds us that society still has not grown to accommodate them. Yet, they are still able to find a sense of community and comfort when they come together. The movie touches on many other issues pertinent to gay men then and now: self-hate, identity, lost love, authenticity and the trauma which accompanies it all. The dense dialogue exchanges between characters provide most of the character development and plot. Some moviegoers may be turned away by the relative lack of visual and alternative storytelling methods, but I enjoyed the more traditional approach it takes. It made me feel like I was in a Broadway theater watching the story unfold live on stage, except it was just another quiet night in my suite. A personal favorite is the hilariously sharp jokes shared between these men, which demonstrate their emotional intimacy. The main story takes place almost entirely in one relatively small New York apartment. In one way, it acts as a pressure cooker which intensifies so many of the film’s high points. However, its bottle-like nature can also make the story feel trapped and stagnant. “Boys in the Band” does two things: It links the past and present in an entertaining but informative way, reminding us of the progress made thus far, while also broadcasting and personalizing its message for generations of viewers who, on paper, couldn’t be more different. That’s where “Boys in the Band” gets its appeal. but it takes you out of the scene and removes all intensity. I found myself uninvested in the outcome of any given moment, as there were simply no stakes. “Ava” was the most popular movie on Apple TV in its opening weekend, but you should save yourself the $7. Cliché after cliché lead you through a story that only gets more absurd, leaving you unsatisfied and, frankly, wondering how filmmakers can mess up movies so badly. I watched this movie so that you didn’t have to. Iverson Eliopoulos is a firstyear who has not yet declared a major. Iverson can be reached at iverson.eliopoulos@tufts.edu.
A & P A r t s & P op C u lt u r e A
Tuesday, October 13, 2020 | ARTS & POP CULTURE | THE TUFTS DAILY
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‘Avatar’ and ‘Korra’: 2020’s cultural juggernauts by Christopher Panella and Stephanie Hoechst Arts Editors
VIA IMDB
Promotional posters for “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005–2008) and “The Legend of Korra” (2012–2014) are pictured. ing on-screen deaths, a no-no for “Avatar.” “Avatar” and “Korra” had successful summers partially to do with timing — dropping these serial behemoths in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis has allowed viewers who were fans of the show as children to now indulge in a nostalgic getaway from all the chaos of the summer. However, the intensity with which “Avatar” and “Korra” reentered the cultural conversation suggests that, at their core, they provided an experience more meaningful than simple nostalgia, as it captivated an entirely new generation of fans who had never seen the show. For fans who grew up watching “Avatar,” there’s something satisfying about getting to rewatch it in a time when that nostalgia is so comforting. But many of those fans might not have finished “Korra” after it went online in its final episodes (or they may not have watched the series at all). That makes watching “Korra” incredibly fun
because it’s new and unknown. We get to see new locations and new styles of bending; that only makes the world-building more intricate and inviting. It’s a smart follow-up that expands on what “Avatar” created. For new fans, the experience of binging both series is rewarding too. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the two series because they create complex characters, specifically Zuko and Korra. Zuko’s redemption arc is particularly loved by fans because of its slow-burning realism — rather than having one event that pushes him to redeem himself, Zuko flips and flops through moments where we’re simultaneously rooting for him and ashamed of his decisions. Korra’s story is slow and thoughtful, too. She starts season 1 as a cocky and powerful Avatar and faces plenty of spiritual and personal struggles throughout the series. By season 4, Korra completes one of television’s most satisfying character arcs.
These are more than children’s shows — they’re shows for all ages to become invested in. Another part of that investment is the two series’ intricate and immersive worlds. In “Avatar,” the Fire Nation’s Hundred Year War is nearly completed — they’re close to conquering the Earth Kingdom and the Water Tribes are defenseless. (Except for Aang, the Air Nomads are, as the full title of “Avatar” implies, all dead). In “Korra,” the world has reached some sort of modernity and peace. Republic City is a place for benders of all nations (and non-benders too), but the conflict in season 1 questions whether the two can peacefully coexist at all. The entry into this world allows for viewers to get invested in the conflict, while also becoming enthralled with the idea of bending elements. It’s incredibly exciting to watch these characters from various nations show off unique bending styles; when Azula lightning bends and Toph creates
metal bending, it’s impossible not to be excited. That’s also because of how the series bring the viewer in to feel like they’re part of the story. We get to take quizzes online that decide what type of bender we are (and then retake them when we don’t get the results we want). We get to rank the most powerful benders of the shows and debate them with our friends. Cosplayers get to show off their Katara outfits and artists get to draw Korra and Asami together. “Avatar” and “Korra” give their fans access to the mythology they’ve created in ways that live beyond the series — it’s spread across social media, onto fan fiction websites and into academic classes. It’s akin to bigger series like “Star Wars” and “Harry Potter” where the material transports us into a unique and interesting world. And considering how badly we all need that right now, it’s a no-brainer why audiences are so invested in “Avatar” and “Korra.”
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From New Yorker think pieces to tik toks simping for Kuvira, the internet has made it clear how strongly Nickelodeon’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender” (2005–2008) and “The Legend of Korra” (2012–2014) have recaptured the public’s attention this past summer after both series landed on Netflix. Considering that “Avatar” first debuted over 15 years ago, it hardly seems the candidate to make such a strong comeback as (technically) a children’s show. However, its newfound popularity –– along with “Korra,” its sequel/spinoff series –– proves not only their mastery of TV storytelling but their timelessness and relevance of cultural commentary. A quick overview, for those of you who are unfamiliar: “Avatar: The Last Airbender” and “Legend of Korra” both take place in the four nations, one for each element –– the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, Water Tribe and Air Nomads. Within each of these nations, some people can “bend,” or control,their respective element. The Avatar, an individual who is reborn each time the last Avatar dies, can control all four elements and is therefore responsible for maintaining peace in the world. “Avatar: The Last Airbender” follows the current Avatar, 12-yearold Aang, and his friends as he tries to stop the Fire Nation from invading the other nations. “Legend of Korra” takes place 70 years after the events of “Avatar,” and follows Aang’s successor, Korra, as she battles different forces of evil throughout the course of the show. While the two series are related, they’re more cousins than siblings. “Avatar” has a singular story arc over its three seasons, allowing for complex plot development. This is starkly different from “Korra,” which features only season-long arcs with a new slate of villains each season. (This is mainly because the creators didn’t know how many seasons it would get renewed for.) “Korra” is darker and more mature than its predecessor, with a generally older cast of characters, dealing with more complex themes and even show-
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THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Tuesday, October 13, 2020
F& G
tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Rebecca: “I saw 14 squirrels today.”
Fun & Games
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LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY
Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) A team project blossoms. Discuss the shared vision and coordinate actions. Wait for better conditions to launch. Prepare and practice. Strengthen foundations.
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Difficulty Level: Surviving on three hours of sleep
Monday’s Solution
Monday’s Solution
CROSSWORD
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Elizabeth Buehl Sobremesa
Fighting food deserts in the United States The word “desert” usually evokes an image of a sandy, barren landscape. Yet food deserts blanket even the greenest of American landscapes today. After U.S. presidential elections, the first lady traditionally declares the causes they will be addressing during their time in the White House. During her husband’s presidency, Michelle Obama left an indelible mark on widespread issues, ranging from adolescent girls’ education worldwide to childhood obesity.
Opinion While Michelle made strides in transforming the health of the nation’s youth through her “Let’s Move!” initiative, there are still many nutritional inequities in American society today. Maslow’s hierarchy of needs includes food as one of the foundational requirements of achieving the ultimate goal of self-actualization, meaning that “achieving one’s full potential” can only occur when properly nourished. On a campus where fresh fruit and warm sandwiches are just a click away, it can be hard to remember that there are areas of our developed nation where proper nutrition is hard to come by. Food deserts are areas where a significant portion of the population has limited access to healthy foods and lives far from supermarkets. Specifically, the term is applied to areas where at least a third of
the population lives more than one mile away from a supermarket in urban areas and more than 10 miles away from a supermarket in rural areas. In food deserts, financial insecurity and a lack of vendors limit individuals’ access to healthy food. About 19 million people in America live in food deserts. Economic instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in the United States, disproportionately affecting Black and Hispanic families. Tufts is currently combating food insecurity on its campus through programs like Swipe it Forward, which allows students to donate meal swipes to other students. In its efforts to serve sustainable food, Tufts Dining also donates its leftovers to a food emergency agency in the area, among other practices.
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Tufts also designed more niche efforts, including purchasing smaller bananas to reduce waste and using imperfect tomatoes in their marinara sauce. Yet, it is important to acknowledge that as our campus works to nourish the student body and reduce food waste, there are local neighborhoods like West Roxbury and East Boston that remain classified as food deserts. It is our duty as Tufts students to help our close neighbors achieve access to the nutrition they deserve. One small way that we can start to chip away at this widespread issue is pressuring the government to make the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) pilot food delivery initiative, which is currently in 47 states, permanent and available nationwide. This would allow
SNAP recipients to order food from stores like Amazon and Walmart, eliminating the barriers created by a lack of vendors, inaccessible transportation and insufficient funds. This program should also be amended to include a wider variety of foods and vendors. By increasing accessibility to fresh, nutritious foods and creating awareness around the importance of a healthy diet, the United States can transform the health of future generations. Michelle Obama did a commendable job in beginning to tackle this problem; however, we must maintain the momentum she created in order to make healthy, nutritious food accessible to everyone. Elizabeth Buehl is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Elizabeth can be reached at elizabeth.buehl@tufts.edu.
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. ADVERTISING All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editor in Chief, Executive Board and Business Director.
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Sports
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AFC Week 5 recap: COVID-19 cases alter multiple teams’ schedules by Emma Joyce
Contributing Writer
Four AFC teams did not take the field at their originally scheduled game times for Week 5 because of positive cases among the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots, which have caused major shifts in the NFL. The first piece of news came last week, when multiple positive tests from the Titans caused the league to reschedule their game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, another positive test from a Titans’ staff member on Sunday leaves their already postponed game against the Buffalo Bills on Tuesday in jeopardy. The Patriots were also impacted last week when quarterback Cam Newton tested positive and was unable to play in their matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. Further positive cases have forced
Matt Goguen Keeping up with the 617
Why the Bruins are destined to fail For the past decade, the Boston Bruins have fallen short of high expectations and continue to disappoint their loyal fanbase. Following a quick exit from the bubble playoffs this season, the coaching staff and front office had a handful of decisions to make with regard to their roster and salary cap. Although their big names of Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Jake Debrusk
their game against the Denver Broncos, slated for Week 5, to be postponed to next week. The NFL is dealing with a scheduling nightmare and announced schedule changes Sunday afternoon that affected eight teams. With it still being relatively early into the season, it will be interesting to see how the virus will further affect teams and how the league will deal with more positive cases. With most of the news this week occurring off the field, let’s take a look at some of the AFC matchups from Sunday. Las Vegas Raiders vs. Kansas City Chiefs The reigning Super Bowl champions are undefeated no more. The Kansas City Chiefs and underdog Las Vegas Raiders went neck and neck for most of the game, but quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense could not keep up with
the Vegas scoring. Quarterback Derek Carr threw for 347 yards with three touchdowns before halftime, and also outplayed Mahomes, who gave up his first interception of the season to the Raiders’ defense. Rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III had his first touchdown of his NFL career off of a 72-yard pass from Carr right before the end of the second quarter, which gave Vegas the lead for the first time in the game. This statement win was an important one for Las Vegas, which had just lost two games in a row. They could very likely capitalize from this huge win and become a real threat in the league. Raiders win, 40–32. Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans The Texans’ game against the Jaguars was their first under interim head coach Romeo Crennel after the firing of Bill O’Brien. The Texans looked like
a completely different team, both offensively and defensively. Even though he had two interceptions, quarterback Deshaun Watson made up for it by throwing for 359 yards, and also had three touchdowns. There seems to be a more positive mentality among the team under Crennel, and this game could potentially have been an early turning point in the Texans’ season. Houston wins, 30–14. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Baltimore Ravens There isn’t much to say here. Although the quarterback matchup between the Heisman winning quarterbacks was moderately anticipated, it was the Ravens’ defense that dominated the entire game. Joe Burrow was sacked seven times, and the blitz pressured Burrow more than he has been so far this season. Lamar Jackson only had three rushing yards and was
lucky to only have one interception, but the Ravens’ offense was able to get ahead early thanks to touchdowns from wide receiver Marquise Brown and tight end Mark Andrews. Baltimore wins, 27–3. Indianapolis Colts vs. Cleveland Browns The last time the Cleveland Browns started 4–1 was in 1994, when Bill Belichick was head coach and Nick Saban was their defensive coordinator. The Browns scored on all four of their possessions before halftime, and the defense forced Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers to make two crucial mistakes — a pick six and a safety — that resulted in nine defensive points. The infamous double doink kicker Cody Parkey surprisingly clinched the win with a 46-yard field goal. Only time will tell if we can no longer make fun of the Browns. Cleveland wins, 32–23.
and David Pastrnak are still under some considerably long contracts, other role players have entered the free agency market. Even if their core players continue to play at a high offensive rate, a regression for the Boston Bruins seems inevitable next season. Defense, defense, defense: Defense wins championships. It’s a simple yet factual statement that is based on years of proof; hockey teams need a strong defensive tandem and a goaltender that is unfazed by the pressure during a Stanley Cup playoff run. This postseason, the Bruins had neither of those roster components as Tuukka Rask abruptly left the bubble, leaving the inexperienced Jaroslav Halak to save the Bruins’ Stanley Cup hopes. Additionally, the Bruins’ defense was atrocious in the
bubble, especially against the Tampa Bay Lightning, who scored 19 goals in just five games. To add more salt to the wound, Torey Krug just signed a contract with the St. Louis Blues worth $45.5 million. One of the better two-way defenders in the NHL, Torey Krug’s style of play vaulted the Bruins’ power play into one of the league’s best; he has a blistering slapshot and unbelievable vision in the offensive zone. Letting Torey Krug walk was one of the bigger mistakes that the Bruins could’ve made this offseason. I understand that professional sports is a business and that navigating the salary cap is a substantial task, but losing Krug is a big blow for the Bruins. Charlie McAvoy is one of the better young defensemen in the NHL, but he cannot backpack
this defense. Zdeno Chara is on his last leg and is a liability on the ice, and Brandon Carlo doesn’t have enough offensive firepower to be a true franchise cornerstone. Let’s hope Tuukka Rask has another Vezina Trophy year because this defense might be in shambles come January. Aging becomes a problem: Hockey players are known for their longevity in the sport; much like baseball and basketball, players can play well into their 30s and still have productive years. However, they usually are not the same player they once were. Patrice Bergeron, Brad Marchand, Zdeno Chara and David Krejci are all nearing the twilight of their careers, and Tuukka Rask has considered retirement in the next few years. Even if these players continue to defy their age and play at high
levels, the Bruins do not have enough prospects to fill their void once they leave. Their Stanley Cup window is closing and they continue to age — not the best recipe for a postseason run. To be fair, this could be a rather pessimistic view of the upcoming season. The Bruins have a solid head coach in Bruce Cassidy and still have some of the best players in the NHL. If some young prospects make big jumps down in Providence, another Stanley Cup might be in the cards for this historic franchise. If not, this could be yet another disappointing season leaving the Boston Bruins with more questions than answers. Matt Goguen is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. Matt can be reached at matthew.goguen@tufts.edu.