The Tufts Daily - Monday, November 1, 2021

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INDEPENDENT

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T HE T UFTS DAILY

VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 24

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

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Monday, November 1, 2021

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley endorses Katjana Ballantyne for mayor of Somerville

by Ria Agarwal News Editor

Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, who represents Massachusetts’ Seventh Congressional District, announced her endorsements for the Nov. 2 Somerville municipal elections in October. Among other endorsements, Pressley supports Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne over City Councilor-at-large Will Mbah in the Somerville mayoral race.

Ballantyne was elected to the Somerville City Council in 2013.

During her time on the city council, she has worked toward environmental sustainability, affordable housing and access to jobs.

“During her campaign for Mayor, Katjana has presented a clear vision for Somerville’s future – rooted in inclusivity, equity, and justice – and a detailed plan for how to make that vision a reality,” Pressley wrote in a statement to the press. “I know that, as Mayor, Katjana will continue to provide the bold, committed see ELECTIONS, page 2

KYLE LUI / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES

United States Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley speaking on April 22, 2019 in Cabot ASEAN auditorium as part of the Tisch College Distinguished Speaker Series.

Tisch Council for Philanthropic Leadership hosts Somerville mayoral candidates Katjana Ballantyne and Will Mbah

Tufts health officials urge personal accountability amid increased social events

Contributing Writer

by Aditya Acharya

by Maggie Monahan

On Nov. 2, Somerville residents will come together to elect a new mayor. This election is particularly notable for Somerville because it will be the first time in nearly 18 years that Joe Curtatone, Somerville’s current and longest-sitting mayor, will not be on the ballot. Instead, the election will come down to candidates Will Mbah and Katjana Ballantyne, both of whom joined the Tisch Council for Philanthropic Leadership for a forum over Zoom on Oct. 21.

Throughout the forum, moderator David Gibbs posed questions submitted by members of the Tufts community, all of which fell under one of three main topics: Environmental justice and sustainability, social and racial equity, and the Tufts community. Both candidates delivered opening statements emphasizing their goals for the Somerville community.

“For Somerville to be truly inclusive, we need to work for

every kind of equity,” Ballantyne said. “We need more affordable housing, economic empowerment, social equity, environmental equity, transportation equity.”

Meanwhile, Mbah stated that he chose to run for mayor because the needs of the Somerville community’s most marginalized have been ignored for too long and because it is difficult for people to live and raise their families in Somerville.

Both Ballantyne and Mbah ruminated on how their personal experiences shaped their drive to improve Somerville. Both are immigrants, Ballantyne from Greece and Mbah from Cameroon, and they both suggested that their experiences coming to Somerville as outsiders gave them a unique desire to fight for more inclusive policies and equity for all.

Mbah highlighted how his past struggles have prepared him to be a more empathetic and motivated leader, especially considering the current housing crisis in Somerville.

FEATURES / page 4

House it going?

He detailed his experiences being denied health care from MassHealth and having to move frequently to avoid the constantly rising rent in Somerville.

“Until we have a government that reflects the population that it is serving,” he said. “We should stop talking about issues of racial equity and environmental justice.”

Entering the first round of questions, Gibbs asked candidates how they planned to implement fair and inclusive interventions to combat the climate crisis.

Mbah emphasized the need for green jobs and the importance of ensuring that any efforts to better the environment in Somerville must target all residents, not just the wealthy. “We need to invest funds, using the funds from ARPA to be able to provide somebody a built infrastructure to make these community streets safe, not just for the privileged,” he said.

Ballantyne claimed that she would continue working on her see FORUM, page 2

Assistant News Editor

Amid a general trend of increased in-person activities on campus and Greek life events as well as Halloween, one of the most party-filled weekends of the year for college students, Tufts officials emphasized the continued vigilance of COVID-19 policies in October.

University Infection Control Health Director Michael Jordan and Medical Director of Health Service Marie Caggiano encouraged students to use masks to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus and to make decisions with the community’s safety in mind.

“From a public health perspective, we encourage students to make wise personal choices and use sound judgment when deciding how to socialize,” Jordan and Caggiano wrote in an email to the Daily. “Wearing masks prevents the transmission and acquisition of SARS-CoV-2.”

ARTS / page 5

SPORTS / back

Kacey Musgraves and the larger implications of exclusion in country music

Onto the semifinals: Men’s soccer knocks off Bowdoin

Furthermore, as businesses, venues and social gatherings permit greater numbers of attendees, Caggiano and Jordan encouraged avoiding or limiting travel and attendance in these settings.

“It is important to wear a mask at all times when indoors and to avoid or significantly limit attendance at indoor gatherings off-campus, such as parties, nightclubs, or bars,” Jordan and Caggiano said.

While social distancing guidelines are no longer in place, indoor masking and, at times, outdoor masking are still required.

Dean of Student Affairs Camille Lizarríbar reminded students of this in an email sent on Friday.

“All COVID policies must be followed over the Halloween weekend and during the rest of the semester,” she wrote.

Lizarríbar reminded students to wear a mask indoors, noting see PARTIES, page 3 NEWS

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FEATURES

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ARTS & POP CULTURE

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FUN & GAMES

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OPINION

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, November 1, 2021

THE TUFTS DAILY Madeleine Aitken Editor in Chief

— EDITORIAL — MARIEL PRIVEN KATE SEKLIR Managing Editors

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Pressley endorses Burnley, Pineda Neufeld for councilor ELECTIONS

continued from page 1 leadership that the residents of Somerville both demand and deserve.”

Ba l l a n t y n e e x p re s s e d excitement about Pressley’s endorsement. “[Pressley’s] strong voice speaks out for our neighbors who are not strong,” Ballantyne wrote in an email to the Daily. “Her powerful words defend vulnerable communities that have no power. I look forward to partnering with her to deliver a bold progressive agenda for Somerville.”

Will Mbah, who describes himself as the “most progressive candidate” in the mayoral race, has campaigned on affordable housing through rent control and a “Somerville Green New Deal.”

In response to Pressley’s endorsement of Ballantyne, Mbah said he was more concerned with the issues facing voters than with endorsements.

“My focus isn’t on political endorsements,” Mbah told Boston.com in an interview. “It’s on listening to the voters who are struggling to afford to live here and need real solutions to our housing crisis.”

Pressley also endorsed Willie Burnley Jr. for city councilor at-large alongside current City Councilor-at-large Kristen Strezo. Burnley is a local com-

munity organizer and former campaign staffer for Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren.

As a councilor, Burnley plans to focus on closing the housing gap in Somerville.

“As someone who was once displaced from Somerville when my rent was raised hundreds of dollars, I stand with my neighbors who are struggling to get by and I know that we can do better to transform our community into a place that is more affordable, accessible, and accountable to all,” Burnley wrote in an email to the Daily.

In response to Congresswoman Pressley’s endorsement, Burnley said he was excited, but not surprised.

“I was incredibly excited and gratified to receive Representative Pressley’s endorsement,” Burnley said. “I was not surprised because our Congresswoman and I share many of the same concerns around racial justice and bringing a new kind of leadership to elected positions.”

Burnley also noted that Pressley’s endorsement is critical to his vision of transforming governance within Somerville.

“If we’re going to transform our community, make housing more affordable and a human right, we’re going to need to pull resources from our local, state, and federal government to invest

in our city,” he said. “I look forward to doing that work shoulder-to-shoulder with one of Massachusetts’ leading progressive champions.”

Pressley also endorsed Judy Pineda Neufeld (LA’05) for Ward 7 city councilor. Pineda Neufeld is a former executive director of Emerge Massachusetts, a training program for Democratic women leaders looking to run for office.

Pineda Neufeld believes the next city councilor should have the lived experiences and professional knowledge to hit the ground running on day one.

“I think it’s really critically important that our ward has someone with the experience to take action and fight for what the residents need,” Pineda Neufeld said in an interview with the Daily.

Pressley was on the founding board of directors of Emerge Massachusetts and helped hire Pineda Neufeld for the executive director position.

Pineda Neufeld was inspired by Pressley’s work in Boston and her legislative career, and hopes to follow in her footsteps.

“Congresswoman Pressley [has said] this over and over; that the people closest to the pain should be closest to the power, and that’s part of why I’m running,” Pineda Neufeld said. “I really believe that [when] we talk about equity and justice, it’s not just, you know, a

box to check on a to-do list, but it’s really a lens to lead by, and to make decisions by.”

Overall, Pressley’s endorsements have bolstered the candidates’ campaigns.

“Congresswoman Pressley’s enthusiastic endorsement of my campaign, and her presence at our recent campaign rally, have added even more excitement to our active, popular campaign,” Ballantyne said.

According to Pressley’s statement, she is happy about the diverse slate of candidates and their commitments to Somerville.

“In this moment, when all of our communities are faced with both unprecedented challenges and unique opportunities, I’m proud to endorse this dynamic group, whose passion, determination, and unique perspectives will help make Somerville a more just and equitable community for everyone,” Pressley said.

Aside from these individuals, Pressley also endorsed several incumbents for reelection: Kristen Strezo for city councilor at-large (to serve alongside Burnley), Matt McLaughlin for Ward 1 city councilor, J. T. Scott for Ward 2 city councilor, Ben Ewen-Campen for Ward 3 city councilor and Andre Green for the Somerville School Committee. Somerville’s Municipal Election will be held tomorrow, Nov. 2.

Ballantyne, Mbah discuss housing, education, Tufts administration

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VIA TISCH COUNCIL FOR PHILANTHROPIC LEADERSHIP

Somerville mayoral candidates Katjana Ballantyne and Will Mbah are pictured speaking at a forum run by Tisch Council for Philanthropic Leadership on Oct. 21.

FORUM

continued from page 1 previous efforts to combat climate change.

“I have been the lead on the city council on all things environment… I wrote the Somerville Green New Deal with some climate activists and it was implemented. I also authored the Native Species Ordinance,” she said.

Gibbs later asked the candidates about their plans to encourage waste reduction and recycling in Somerville. Mbah, who has two degrees in environmental science and has served as an environmental analyst for the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency since 2020, suggested the implementation of mandatory composting in Somerville, pointing out that 40% of waste in Somerville is food waste.

Mbah also highlighted the importance of education and outreach to keep Somerville residents informed about the significant impact of recycling on the health of the environment. “Your food waste, it goes to a landfill,

it decomposes, it releases methane, it contributes to greenhouse gases,” he said.

Ballantyne also touched on education, but focused more on the benefits of working upstream to reduce waste.

“Especially through our public school system, as we’re procuring foods, we should be putting pressure on suppliers to not include as many plastics,” she said.

When asked about her plans to help working women of color and single mothers, Ballantyne again led with a list of her past accomplishments in that area: Starting the program Invest in Girls, submitting a guaranteed income program for single-led households and starting a program called Neighbors Helping Neighbors, which raised money and resources for vulnerable communities on a monthly basis throughout the pandemic.

She also promised to provide the housing that is necessary for women and women of color, particularly the subsidized housing in Clarendon Hill. As for her

plan to combat systemic racism, Ballantyne claimed that she has been working to give women of color opportunities and working with local minority advocacy organizations.

Mbah, on the other hand, proposed a plan to divert more funding to the Somerville Women’s Commission so it may aid local working women. He also pointed out how important it is to keep schools safely open during the pandemic so women may return to work without worrying about childcare, and to ensure that they are paid equally for that work.

When asked about his plan to combat systemic racism, he referred to his own experience being racially profiled in Boston.

Mbah conveyed a sense of urgency in diversifying the police and adopting a police force that reflects the community they are serving.

In terms of the housing crisis, Ballantyne said that creating more jobs that pay a living wage is essential given that about 85% of jobs in Somerville are in areas

that don’t necessarily provide living wages. Ballantyne also identified herself as the only candidate who has negotiated with developers.

Mbah suggested transferring vacant land to the community land trust to build and expand housing, expanding the office of housing stability, and ensuring that there are family-size housing units available in Somerville rather than just single units. Above all, Mbah insisted that rent control is the most powerful vehicle to ensure that the working class is not displaced in Somerville.

While both candidates claimed that they appreciated what Tufts University brought to Somerville, Ballantyne pointed out that Tufts administration is far from blameless when it comes to the housing crisis.

“Some of the policies that the university has pushed by not housing all students on campus have pitted students against our community and our families and have caused much of the displacement,” she said.

News

Monday, November 1, 2021 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY

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Greek life leaders pledge adherence to university protocols

MENGQI IRINA WANG / THE TUFTS DAILY

Tufts students put up Halloween decorations at their off-campus house on PARTIES whether or not their events are continued from page 1 permitted. that costume masks are not proAccording to Stallman, Greek tective face coverings. She also life organizations face a variety emphasized that large indoor of consequences if they violate parties or Halloween parties in university regulations, and Greek nightclubs should be avoided. life organizations are aware of Greek life leaders are trying to these consequences as outlined balance heeding this guidance in the Student Code of Conduct. with planning social events.

“The regulations and conse“These are the regulations quences are clearly defined in that we take very seriously in the Student Code of Conduct and order to ensure our members, were shared with Greek Life presand others in our Tufts commu- idents at the beginning of the nity, are safe,” Andie Stallman, semester,” Stallman said. a senior and co-president of the Emily Kunkle, associate director local sorority The Ivy, wrote in an for leadership, academic engageemail to the Daily. ment, and fraternity & sorority life, Stallman also articulated outlined the process for registerthat Tufts has been transpar- ing and scheduling a social event, ent in its guidelines for Greek as well as preliminary discussions life organizations to determine around risk management.

Teele Ave. “Each social event must be registered by 9 am on the Monday prior to the event,” Kunkle wrote in an email to the Daily. “Students then meet with an [Office of Residential Life & Learning] staff member to review their registration and discuss risk management strategies in order to receive final approval.”

She added that national fraternities and sororities have additional risk management policies.

Stallman expressed that while parties are expected to continue, social life still remains markedly different from pre-pandemic activities.

“We are working to ensure that social life continues as normally as possible while still adhering to

the regulations set by the university,” Stallman said. “Therefore, you can expect parties to continue through the fall and winter months. However, twhey may look and feel different than they did pre-COVID.” Stallman also acknowledged that COVID-19 policies are still subject to change.

“Of course, Tufts COVID regulations and social policies may change depending on the number of cases and severity of the pandemic which will impact the organization of Greek-Life social events,” Stallman said.

Ryen Delaney, co-president of Thalia, another local sorority, emphasized the agreement between policies for Greek life gatherings and policies for gen-

eral student gatherings. Delaney also expressed a commitment to the safety of members at social gatherings.

“The guidelines for parties given to Greek Life are the same guidelines given to all students,” Delaney, a senior, wrote in an email to the Daily. The health and safety of our members is our top priority when planning any social gathering.”

Caggiano and Jordan ultimately want students to remember to consider the health and safety of the Tufts community.

“We remain in the midst of a pandemic, and students owe it to themselves and others in the community to stay as safe as possible at all times,” Jordan and Caggiano said.

4 Monday, November 1, 2021

Features

Stories of landlord-student dynamics

by Kayla Butera Features Editor

Editor’s note: Students’ names have been changed in order to protect their privacy.

Most sophomores are familiar with the early-fall rush to secure the following year’s housing, but what are landlord-tenant dynamics like post-move in?

Some college tenants are finding that their landlords are much harder to deal with than expected.

As Alex put it, “I would say that it is a bit of a weird dynamic though with figuring out what we can ask [our landlord] or not.”

Like many current juniors, choosing a house during the pandemic was a quick decision for Sam, who had only seen the house via video prior to moving in. Sam recounted the day this past summer when his housemates moved in.

“About five minutes after [my friend] arrives, he calls me — and I’m about a three-hour drive away from Boston — and he tells me that the apartment is a slum,” Sam said. “That it’s filled with furniture from the previous tenants, trash is everywhere, things haven’t been taken out, in his closet are these bolt suitcases that he doesn’t know where they came from.

There’s furniture in people’s room that we didn’t ask for, and some of it’s broken.”

Sam noted that he and his housemates were even asked by the previous tenants to pay for the furniture left in the house, despite not having asked for it.

“The people on the third floor — who I’m told are moving onto big banks in New York City — wanted $350 each for their furniture, which was so unbelievably damaged that they’d be lucky if they left it on the side of the road and someone other than the garbage man came to collect it,” Sam said. “Just ridiculous behavior.”

Sam also mentioned that his landlord shows up unannounced. While showing up unannounced is illegal in some states, there is no notice of entry law in Massachusetts — a landlord does not need to provide notice for entering a unit for non-emergency maintenance and repairs.

On a separate occasion, Sam’s landlord sent a handyman to fix an electrical socket. According to Sam, the handyman began cutting various wires.

“My friend texts the landlord and says that, ‘The guy isn’t being very careful. Are you sure that this is fine?’” Sam said. “The landlord texts him [back] ‘To mind his own business.’”

Later, the internet stopped working, and an internet technician discovered an integral wire had been cut.

“So obviously the guy that [the landlord] had sent over didn’t know what he was doing,” Sam said.

According to Sam, the landlord had called him and his housemates “princes” and of “nobility” for asking the handyman to fix other aspects of the house.

Despite their tenuous relationship and “constant fighting,” as Sam puts it, he admits that his landlord is very responsive and eager to fix issues immediately. Some tenants have found the opposite to be true, particularly in regards to safety.

One tenant, Jamie, said that they had experienced a fire-risk situation that could have been prevented. One night, their roommate was doing laundry in antic-

tuftsdaily.com

by Sonia Richter Spoonfuls

Spooky drag at Aeronaut and Carolicious

I

GRAPHIC BY ALIZA KIBEL

ipation of her work the next day. When the roommate went back down to the basement to change her clothes, she saw smoke and promptly called the fire department. “[The firetrucks] took up the entire street and all the neighbors came out.

The firemen came out of their trucks with their full gear on, and they go into the basement, and one of them is starting to unscrew the fire hydrant to prepare. And we were like, ‘Oh god,’” Jamie said. “Then they were downstairs for two minutes, and one of these guys pulls out one lamp and apparently the leak was dripping onto the socket where the lamp was plugged in, which was causing an electrical fire.”

Prior to this incident, the tenants had alerted their landlord about a leak in the basement, which they were told would be fixed the next day. According to Jamie, the firemen found the situation “unacceptable” and said that they would reach out to the landlord directly.

When it comes to drawing the line between landlord versus tenant responsibility, Jamie felt conflicted.

“Of course the fact that the gas detectors were broken downstairs is terrible and wasn’t supposed to happen and he’s responsible for that,” Jamie said. “But it ultimately made [me and my housemates] realize that we’re responsible for our own safety and making sure our house is safe for us. I’m not even sure if that’s an appropriate system.”

Since this incident, Jamie and her housemates have practiced safety exits in the case of a fire.

According to Sam, landlords’ responsibilities tend to lie more in fixing and compensating for faulty infrastructure.

“I think the responsibilities of landlords is that if something in the house is broken, that they should cover the costs as long as it’s from normal wear and tear and if it’s old. But if it’s something that the tenant broke, then possibly it’s not under their jurisdiction,” Sam said.

“When new people move in, the landlord

should confirm that it’s in a good state, and it’s not in an absolute slum like how we found it.”

Alex shared a similar perspective. While her landlord does tasks like taking the trash in and out every week, she recognizes that she and her housemates are ultimately responsible for the cleanliness of the home.

“I think we are still trying to figure out that balance…we are obviously responsible for keeping things clean and not,” Alex said. “For repairs he usually takes care of it but whenever it is considered our fault he reminds us that he is doing us a favor by taking care of it.”

Landlord John Kourafalos has been in the apartment rental business in the Tufts area for over 25 years. He believes expectations are driven by the tenant.

“Well first I want them to understand what they’re getting into — this isn’t a hotel room they’re going to stay in for a night,” Kourafalos said.

According to him, it’s the tenants’ responsibility to keep the house in a livable condition, as per their lease agreement. A landlord has a responsibility to provide a safe dwelling unit — equipped with smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers — but some situations are out of their hands.

“At 7 a.m. in the morning, I got a phone call, and one of the kids left a gas burner on all night long,” Kourafalos said. “I can’t tell them what to do, but tenants have to have a certain amount of responsibility, or they might have blood on their hands.”

While several Tufts students have certainly had pleasant landlord-tenant relationships, there is also a history of bumpy dynamics between them. Confusion surrounding which responsibilities fall under the jurisdiction of the landlords or college students persists, and some students feel rushed into their housing decisions.

“The difficult part was that we had to sign a lease almost a week after finding a house, and I definitely felt a bit locked in,” Jamie said.

t’s Halloween, Jumbos, and take it from me, Halloween themed food and drink is a lot easier to make than it is to find. That is, unless you’re psyched for the Applebee’s drink specials or that Dunkin spider donut.

I opted instead for a spooky drag show at a brewery and restaurant combo I’d been meaning to try, taking a willing first Tinder date along for the ride. Aeronaut’s tasting room and Carolicious are found in an upgraded warehouse in the Spring Hill area, promising a lovely pairing of beer and Venezuelan food in a trendy, unassuming setting. Outside is a string-lit patio featuring a giant unicorn statue and some pretty striking murals — a setting which was unfortunately rained out by our characteristic New England October, forcing the drag show inside.

The inside of the warehouse was undoubtedly a real brewery, with sectioned off steel kettles and fermenters looming behind the wooden bar and dispersed picnic tables.

We gravitated toward the beer-first route, ordering a beginner flight each as our appetizers. This included four-ounce pours of the Robot Crush Pilsner, Hop Hop and Away and Citra Galaxy session IPAs, and a darker IPA I’d tried before, known as “A Year with Dr. Nandu.” Our favorite ended up being the Citra Galaxy, a juicy, hazy beer with citrus notes and some mid-range hops. The Pilsner was a little mild for us, while the Dr. Nandu was on the malty side for an IPA with a slightly bitter finish that I usually expect from a double. In any case, I love the novelty of a flight, and it was only $10 for some generous pours.

My date chose a vegan arepa from the Carolicious counter and I ordered the pabéllon rice bowl with chicken. This included a hefty portion of flavorful beans, rice and pieces of plantain topped with shredded chicken, mozzarella cheese and the signature basil sauce. We both agreed on the immense value of this sauce, which was similar to a crema with a strong taste of basil that gracefully complimented the sweetness of the plantains and the chicken flavored with chili and lime. The arepa was definitely a smaller portion, but I let him finish my rice bowl because no Spoonfuls date goes hungry. The dishes were $8 and $12 and practically begged for another round of beer.

Somewhat enraptured in conversation, we admittedly missed a good amount of the show, but what we did witness was wildly entertaining and somewhat terrifying. I hadn’t made the connection that drag queens are also incredible at Halloween makeup, and I can’t say I’ve ever seen a zombie crawl with such… sexual energy.

It was my first drag show but not my date’s, and I took this as a good sign of his merit. The headliners were Travis Tí Stone, Zayn X and Coleslaw, and they truly made the most of a carpet sized stage and enthusiastic beer-fueled audience. The “woots” were as plentiful as the one-liners from the trio, and we happily squeezed into a corner of the sold-out show to sing along to the finale of Disturbia.

For those curious, it is safe to say that the date went surprisingly well. He was adorable and left any shyness aside to woot for the queens along with me.

Sonia Richter is a senior studying English. Sonia can be reached at sophia.richter@tufts.edu.

ARTS & POP CULTURE

tuftsdaily.com

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Monday, November 1, 2021

The debacle over country music: What makes country ‘country’?

by Jack Clohisy

Assistant Arts Editor

After securing the Grammy Award for Best Country Album and the coveted Album of the Year, Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour” (2018) was a major success for the genre. Incorporating alternative sounds and pushing the boundaries of what it means to be a country artist, Musgraves became an innovator. However, Musgraves’ follow-up project “Star-Crossed” (2021) won’t have that same opportunity. Revealed this past month, “Star-Crossed” won’t be considered for Best Country Album at the upcoming 64th Grammy Awards. While “Golden Hour” took an alternative approach to country music, “Star-Crossed” incorporated elements of pop. Why is it that Musgraves, who labels “StarCrossed” as a country album, is being left out of the genre she calls home?

This isn’t new.

Just a few years ago, the same debate ensued over another megahit: “Old Town Road.” Released in 2018 by Lil Nas X, “Old Town Road” incorporated elements of country, pop and trap. However, Billboard charts made it clear that “Old Town Road” doesn’t belong on the country charts. This was met with considerable controversy, with listeners asking, “What defines country music?”

Music routinely changes over time. Innovations are inevitable, and no genre can remain constant for a prolonged period of

Odessa Gaines K-Weekly

I ‘Don’t Recall’ why Kard isn’t in your playlist

W

hen most people hear the word “K-pop,” they think of pop music but in Korean and with more dancing. For the general public, K-pop music has one distinct sound and is one genre on its own. However, this isn’t exactly right. K-pop is a generalization for what is considered ‘Idol Music’ in South Korea, but K-pop artists take influence from genres beyond pop. One of the best examples of a K-pop group who brings in non-pop sounds is Kard.

Kard is a South Korean mixed-gender group formed

by DSP Media which released its first EP, “Hola Hola,” in 2017. The group is made up of four members: Somin, Jiwoo, BM and J.Seph. Unlike other K-groups, Kard’s discography is filled with Latin and hip-hop influences. It is undoubtedly

VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

A collage of Kacey Musgraves’ “Golden Hour” (2018), Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (2018), Taylor Swift’s “Red” (2012) and Taylor Swift’s “Fearless” (2008) is pictured. time. Pop music has seen progression from synths in the ‘80s, to grunge and hip hop in the ‘0s, to trap-infused beats in the late 2010s. However, country music appears to remain constant, excluding those who shake it up with something new. There’s no question that both Musgraves and Lil Nas X were influenced by other genres of music, but it is unfair that genres such as pop and rap will take precedence in labeling a country artist’s musical ventures.

This same criticism enwrapped Taylor Swift’s “Red” (2012). Similar to Musgraves, Swift took home the

Grammy awards for Best Country Album and Album of the Year for “Fearless” (2008). However, Swift’s “Red” was still nominated for country and general awards at the Grammys despite incorporating pop and dubstep elements.

Swift would subsequently lose all nominations, which one can only imagine was due to the academy’s inability to accept an untraditional country album. The music landscape is ever-changing, but country fans and critics are constricting what it means to be considered a true country artist.

Eventually, Swift’s original country fanbase would turn on her, as

one of the biggest — if not the biggest — mixed-gender South Korean groups, with music that will make anyone with rhythm want to get up and dance.

The group released its second pre-debut single and music video in February 2017 titled “Don’t Recall.” The song itself is a post-breakup jam set to a tropical house-type beat that uses the group’s male and female vocals to create a two-sided conversation about the after-effects of a relationship. While Somin and Jiwoo sing about not being able to remember the good parts about the relationship, BM and J.Seph rap about not wanting to let go of their significant other.

Throughout the track, Kard is able to accomplish what few manage to do well — blending its vocals and unique rap styles to tell a story from different viewpoints.

While Jiwoo and Somin tell their partners “don’t touch me” and “pretend you don’t know me,” their counterparts plead “Don’t get any farther away from me” and that “it’s miserable to live” now that the relationship has ended. The music video also aids the song’s storytelling with scenes of Jiwoo and Somin looking disgusted and physically turning away from the others, while BM and J.Seph

are shown in clear discontent, throwing their bodies into the rap as if putting enough power behind their words would reverse time and heal the broken relationship. The blue and green color hues of the music video highlight the heartbroken mentality of the men as their ex-partners push them further and further away.

But, as mentioned previously in this column, you can always jam out to music without knowing the exact lyrics or meanings behind it. While knowing the background of a track can increase your appreciation of it, songs like “Don’t Recall” are just as enjoyable when screaming the lyrics in your room at three in the morning. The song’s Latininfluenced beat will make you want to learn Korean just so you can have the perfect shower concert, belting out “I gave you all my love (love)”.

So, whether you’re trying to hold onto a broken relationship, push away from the fragments or just enjoy funky music, add Kard’s “Don’t Recall” to your playlist now!

Odessa Gaines is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Odessa can be reached at kayla.gaines@tufts.edu.

highlighted by the removal of her image from a Nashville mural at Legends Corner Bar that features prominent country music stars.

If the same artists who bring attention to country music can’t be allowed full membership in the genre, then those who criticize such artists need to reassess what it means to be a country musician. It is worth noting that the aforementioned exclusions are only women and a queer person of color. Country music, like society, has always been controlled by heterosexual, white males. When real controversies arise, such as Morgan Wallen’s use of racial slurs in Feb. 2021, the country music industry turns a blind eye.

Held accountable in few tangible efforts, Wallen’s music returned to radio stations after being removed, and Wallen has gone on to receive nominations at award shows for his music despite being involved in a controversy that happened less than a year ago.

This sends a signal of problematic complicity to marginalized artists within country music and dissuades trust in institutions such as the Recording Academy.

Geoff Mann, an assistant professor of geography at Simon Fraser University, states in his paper “Why does country music sound white? Race and the voice of nostalgia” that country music actively pioneers a white agenda.

He claims, “For if country sounds white, it is perhaps worth considering the possibility that something claiming the status of ‘white culture’, something like a purport-

edly American whiteness – however historically baseless – is not reflected in country music, but is, rather, partially produced by it.”

Amanda Petrusich cites this in her interview for The New Yorker with Mickey Guyton, the first Black female artist nominated for Best Country Solo Performance at the Grammys. Guyton expresses that if other marginalized groups aren’t overwhelmingly present in the country music industry, “then it’s just gonna be the same white guy in a pickup truck with a ball cap, maybe some sneakers.”

This is why country music remains stagnant, both sonically and racially. There is a lack of opportunity for marginalized groups in country music, and thus, a lack of visibility. When women, people of color or LGBTQ country artists attempt to create their own interpretation of country music, it’s shut down by the cis-het white male majority that still dictates what is and isn’t country.

However, with the recent successes of artists such as Musgraves, Lil Nas X, Swift and Guyton, among many others, there is still hope for flexibility in country music that other genres such as pop and rap have seen. The Recording Academy’s decision to bar Musgraves from the country categories with “Star-Crossed” is yet another roadblock on the path to progress but another motivation for artists such as herself to inspire and redefine the genre of country music.

TURKEY SHUTTLE

TUESDAY 11/23 2 PM, 4 PM, 6 PM WEDNESDAY 11/24 6 AM, 8 AM, 10 AM

6

THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Monday, November 1, 2021

F& G

tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Alex J: “I’m not me when I’m hungry.”

Fun & Games

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Scorpio (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Finish what you promised. Avoid distractions. Get into a productive groove behind closed doors. Take care of old business to clear space for what’s ahead.

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tuftsdaily.com

Elizabeth Buehl The Journey

Autumn

A

few days ago, I awoke to a crisp Medford fall morning, and heard a rumble from the corner of my dorm room; there’s nothing quite like the annual activation of the heating system to bombard you with thoughts of the upcoming winter. As a native Floridian with only one New England winter under my belt, the anticipation of the coming season is daunting. Even with a closet shoved full of sweaters, jackets, hats, scarves, and boots, I know that the changing seasons will inevitably bring

Opinion a lack of sunshine, more time spent indoors and bone chilling walks up and down the hill.

Although we didn’t have to spend this Halloween with snowfall, as we did last semester, impending below-freezing days loom in our near future.

Before I came to Tufts I understood the concept of seasons but I’d never really lived them. The lowest the temperature drops in my hometown, Boca Raton, Florida, is around 60 degrees, and the warmest layer I ever needed to sport was a single sweatshirt. While many northeasterners I’ve met express envy of the sun-filled perpetual summer setting I spent my childhood in, the truth is that without seasonal

variation I lacked appreciation for beautiful days.

Throughout my upbringing, I never had to think about layering. Not only did I take this luxury for granted but I complained about putting on my uniform polo and skirt every day for school. I spent many sunny days voluntarily sequestered indoors and I made trips to the beach with paucity.

Conversely, this past spring, succeeding my first winter in Massachusetts, I savored each mildly warm day. I’d spend hours simultaneously sunbathing and studying with friends on the residential quad as soon as my weather app said it was above 55. Moreover, every blooming tulip bulb I passed during a walk

7 Monday, November 1, 2021

across campus filled me with a child-like excitement that quickly erased any memory of frozen fingertips. I would stop and marvel at the unfolding petals, and the glimmering beads of water on the grass with a degree of delineation that I’d never before experienced.

As we approach the coming seasonal shift, I urge everyone to enter it with appreciation rather than dread. On the coldest January mornings and the earliest dark afternoons in December, remind yourself that without struggle one does not realize when they are experiencing bliss.

When we seek out the beautiful aspects of winter like sledding with friends, walking to procure hot chocolate and watching hol-

iday movies under a blanket, even the more mundane things like walking into the warm Tisch library after making a journey across campus, or sporting your favorite fuzzy socks under your boots can elicit feelings of happiness, no matter the environmental circumstances. So, next time you find yourself dreading hitting the floor on a brisk morning, or wondering if you should hop onto a hybrid class virtually out of fear of the elements, think of just how much brighter the spring will be when you’ve experienced the essence of winter.

Elizabeth Buehl is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. Elizabeth can be reached at elizabeth.buehl@tufts.edu.

SURE, AT FIRST I WAS A LITTLE TAKEN ABACK

BY THE WHOLE PEEING STANDING UP THING. BUT I TAUGHT HIM TO THROW A STICK AND NOW HANGING OUT WITH HIM IS THE BEST PART OF MY DAY. — EINSTEIN adopted 12-09-10

When life throws you a financial challenge, you’ve proven you have what it takes to ace it.

Now it’s time to tackle your retirement savings at AceYourRetirement.org

8 tuftsdaily.com

SPORTS

Monday, November 1, 2021

Men’s soccer demolishes Bowdoin en route to NESCAC semifinals

KIANA VALLO / THE TUFTS DAILY

The Tufts University men’s soccer team wins in overtime against Amherst College on Oct. 16.

by Ethan Grubelich

Assistant Sports Editor

The Tufts University Jumbos hosted the Bowdoin College Polar Bears in a NESCAC men’s soccer quarterfinals matchup on Saturday.

The Jumbos hold the third seed in the tournament and the Polar Bears are the 6th seed.

The Jumbos dropped to the third seed after a 2–-0 loss at Connecticut College and a 1–1 draw with Bowdoin in the final two games of the regular season, in which they had started out undefeated. Given their impeccable record of six wins in six home games this season, however, the Jumbos entered this matchup as heavy favorites over the Polar Bears.

The Jumbos began the game on the front foot, earning their

first corner kick of the game in the first minute and a free kick in the attacking third of the field in the fourth minute. Graduate midfielder Travis Van Brewer stood over the free kick with players from both teams preparing to deal with the presumptive cross in.

What happened next was stunning. Van Brewer’s left-footed free kick from the left side sailed over the outstretched hand of leaping Polar Bears goalkeeper Chris Kingston and into the right side netting for the game’s opening goal.

Though it appeared to everyone who witnessed it that the miraculous goal was unintentionally produced by a wayward cross into the box, Van Brewer later acknowledged that he had planned the move.

“I saw that we had a free kick pretty far out,” Van Brewer said after the game. “I’ve been taking them all season and had a lot of confidence. With the wind, the goalie looked a little off his line.

I just tried to send it in, tried to see if I could beat him, and fortunately put it in the top corner.”

The Jumbos continued to capitalize on set-piece opportunities in the first half. In the 38th minute, sophomore midfielder Woovin Shin’s corner kick found senior defender Ian Daly at the far post. Daly headed the ball sharply into the ground and it bounced to the roof of Kingston’s net for the Jumbos’ second goal of the game.

The Polar Bears played more aggressively after this goal, as they needed to put at least two goals past a spectacular Jumbos defense in order

to extend their season. They would force the first two saves of the game by first-year goalkeeper Erik Lauta in the final few minutes before halftime, which the Jumbos entered with a comfortable 2–0 lead.

The Polar Bears kept up their intensity in the second half, in which they took eight shots compared to the Jumbos’ two.

This attacking intensity, however, left the Polar Bears vulnerable defensively. In the 78th minute, a misplaced header in midfield by a Polar Bears player fell to junior forward Sean Traynor, who quickly charged up the center of the field with the ball. Traynor had sophomore forward Mikey Brady running alongside him. Traynor passed the ball on the ground to Brady, who took a touch before firing a shot through the legs

of a Polar Bears defender and into the bottom left corner of Kingston’s net for the Jumbos’ third goal of the game.

In the second half, Lauta added three saves without conceding a goal, bringing his totals to five saves in the game and ten clean sheets so far in his first collegiate season.

With the dominant 3–0 victory, the Jumbos advance to the NESCAC semifinals, where they will face the Middlebury College Panthers at Connecticut College on Saturday, Nov. 6 at 11 a.m. The Panthers held the Jumbos to a scoreless draw at Middlebury in early October.

The fourth-seed Panthers, in their home quarterfinals matchup, squeaked past the fifth-seed Wesleyan Cardinals by virtue of penalty kicks after scoreless regulation and overtime.