The Tufts Daily - Monday, December 7, 2020

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VOLUME LXXX, ISSUE 53

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T HE T UFTS DAILY tuftsdaily.com

Monday, December 7, 2020

MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.

WINTER EDITION 2020 Tufts’ long term assets see return of 3.7%, endowment grows in 2020 fiscal year

by Jack Hirsch

Contributing Writer

Tufts’ Total Return Pool, where a majority of the university’s longterm assets are invested, saw a return of 3.7% for the fiscal year 2020. The endowment grew from $1.91 billion at the end of FY 2019 to $1.94 billion at the end of FY 2020, according to Tufts’ Annual Financial Report.

Craig Smith, co-chief investment officer ad interim, wrote in an email to the Daily that this return met the university’s expectations.

“In any given year, the performance of the primary endowment portfolio (the ‘Total Return Pool’ or “‘TRP’) will be heavily influenced by global capital market returns,” he said. “On a

TCU Senate unanimously passes EP/F resolution

by Alexander Janoff News Editor

The Tufts Community Union Senate passed a resolution and heard end-of-semester “State of the Union” addresses from TCU Senate Diversity Officer Mathew Peña, TCU Senate Treasurer Sharif Hamidi and TCU President Sarah Wiener, in its last meeting of the semester on Sunday.

Members also reviewed supplementary funding requests.

After TCU Senate Historian Sarah Tata led a brief roll call and the body welcomed its newly elected members, TCU Senate Parliamentarian Taylor Lewis led the body in a discussion of a resolution calling on Tufts University to extend Exceptional Pass/Fail grading for the spring 2021 semester.

The resolution, authored

by TCU Vice President Grant Gebetsberger, Africana Community Senator Amma Agyei, Education Committee Chair Iyra Chandra, Trustee Representative Ayden Crosby and Wiener, passed the TCU Senate unanimously with 31 senators

voting in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

In speaking about the resolution, which will call on Tufts faculty to vote in favor of extending Tufts’ Exceptional Pass/Fail grading into the spring semester in its faculty meeting, the authors discussed the message of the resolution.

“I think the resolution is specifically important to send a clear message on behalf of students and from the Senate to faculty,” Wiener said.

“It’s just really important for us to weigh in and I think it’s a really good opportunity for us to exercise our function as student government and endorse this and vote for this so that there is a record and a strong message,” Gebetsberger said.

Tufts faculty will meet for a final time on Dec. 11. According to Wiener, it is likely the resolution will be read in front of the faculty before its vote.

After the successful passage of the EP/F resolution, Lewis, a senior, presented a bylaw amendment to the Senate body.

According to Lewis, the bylaw see TCU, page 2

EDITORIAL / page 7

Lessons learned from Tufts’ response to fall semester

one-year basis, the best assessment of the TRP performance is relative to its reference benchmark, which returned 3.0% for the fiscal year. For context, broad global equity markets returned 2.1% during this period.”

According to Smith, the TRP grew from approximately $1.98 billion to $2 billion during the 2020 fiscal year.

“Each year, the value of the TRP changes due to investment returns, new gifts to the endowment, and annual distributions from the TRP to support the university’s operations and mission,” Smith said.

The university’s Annual Financial Report disclosed that $1.7 billion of that $2 billion belongs to the endowment.

Smith explained the different ways in which the endowment and the revenue generated from its investments impact the university and its students.

“One hundred percent of funds from the endowment work to support the university’s good works and its mission of being a student-censee ASSETS, page 2

FEATURES

What’s up with winter?

by Katie Furey and Keira Myles

Staff Writer and Contributing Writer

The first snow of the fall semester came the day before Halloween. Spirits were high.

Tufts students rejoiced in celebrating the snow’s descent, embracing the joy of their inner child. Jumbos snowboarded, inner-tubed and sledded down President’s Lawn’s winter wonderland of a hill.

Audrey Jaramillo, a first-year, spoke of her time experiencing her first New England snow after living in sunny Miami, Fla., her entire life.

“This snow was falling and I felt the coldness in my bones …

It was pretty though. It was fun to crunch the snow and step in it.

The festivities looked fun. I saw people sledding and doing snow angels so I feel like that’s fun,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo reminisced about the contrast between Medford and Miami winters, noting that at her home in Florida there is not much difference between the seasons.

“It’s summer in winter. It’s summer all year round. So I’m still in shorts, a tank top and flip

flops. It’s very different coming here,” Jaramillo said.

Jaramillo said she applied to colleges in the Northeast desiring a change of scenery. However, after experiencing a taste of the cold, Jaramillo said she doesn’t want to live in the north for long.

“I’d rather be warm than cold.

Also, I don’t like to be bundled up.

I like to wear dresses. I’m young, I should be showing off my body.

How are you going to see me in my winter coat? You’re not! It’s not flattering,” Jaramillo said.

Local meteorologists who are more accustomed to Boston winters weighed in on what they thought of the pre-Halloween snow. Kevin Lemanowicz, chief meteorologist at WFXT Boston 25 in Dedham, Mass., explained that having snow in October is not usual for the Boston area, but an early snowfall doesn’t normally accumulate as much as it did this October.

“Boston had a record snowfall, 4.5 inches of snow … That kind of snow we haven’t seen just before Halloween since 2011,” Lemanowicz said.

Lemanowicz said that, in a normal winter, Boston acquires its first inch of snow

ARTS / page 4

SPORTS / back

Music that made 2020

Athletes commend initial university response to training

in November, with the coldest stretch occurring in either late January or early February, which is usually when the most snow falls. Boston acquires an average of 43 to 45 inches of snow by the end of the season.

Lemanowicz said this year is following the La Niña weather pattern, similar to fall 2011.

“When it’s La Niña, it just means that the water in the equatorial Pacific is colder than average, and that will change the pattern of the weather,” Lemanowicz said. “The atmosphere is connected everywhere, and if you make a blip in it somewhere, it’s going to reverberate around the globe, sort of like throwing a rock in a puddle.”

During the 2011 La Niña year, there was a large snowstorm just before Halloween that was followed by a mild November. That winter, Boston saw only nine inches of snow for the entire season, and every month witnessed temperatures about five degrees above average. Lemanowicz thinks the 2011 winter could be a taste of what is to come for this winter. see WINTER, 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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SPORTS

BACK

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, December 7, 2020

THE TUFTS DAILY Alex Viveros Editor in Chief

EDITORIAL Managing Editors 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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Ryan Shaffer Executive Features Editor Sid Anand Features Editors Amelia Becker Jillian Collins Claire Fraise Evelyn McClure Kayla Butera Assistant Features Editor Megan Szostak Executive Arts Editor Devina Bhalla Arts Editors Ryan Eggers Steph Hoechst Tuna Margalit Chris Panella Yas Salon Elizabeth Sander Colette Smith Rebecca Tang Geoff Tobia Drew Weisberg Assistant Arts Editor Liz Shelbred Priya Padhye Paloma Delgado Amulya Mutnuri Mike Wilkinson Caroline Wolinsky Abhilasha Bhasin Eliza Dickson Sara Kessel Milli Lu Emily Nadler Grace Prendergast Faye Thijssen Sam Wilner Julia Baroni Carys Kong Annabel Nied Valeria Velasquez Juju Zweifach

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continued from page 1 tered research university dedicated to the creation and application of knowledge,” Smith said.

He said scholarship funds and professorships are prime examples of the impact university investments can have on the larger community.

Tufts is currently carrying out a fundraising campaign called Brighter World: The Campaign for Tufts.

“The campaign, now approaching the middle of its eighth year, has raised about $1.1 billion in new achievement (which includes both cash and pledges) towards an ambitious goal of $1.5 billion by end of fiscal year 2023,” Eric Johnson, senior vice president for university advancement, wrote in an email to the Daily.

Johnson explained that although the campaign is unre-

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lated to the endowment’s investments like the TRP, it does contribute to the total endowment.

Smith explained how the value of most capital markets fell from February to March but recovered soon after and have even continued to rise. Consequently, Tufts’ endowment assets have increased.

“Beginning in late March, stimulus actions taken globally by central banks and governments led to a swift recovery in capital markets, though most markets still ended the fiscal year well below February market highs,” he said. “While not immune to significant capital market declines, the long-term investment strategy in the endowment allowed the TRP to weather this period well.”

Smith added that economic and investment risks linked to the pandemic still continue, as COVID-19 cases rise and unemployment may remain at a heightened level.

Johnson said the Brighter World campaign has had to adapt to the current circumstances and challenges introduced by the pandemic.

“The challenges posed by [COVID-19], which has prevented travel and in-person events since March, have slowed the pace of fundraising this year,” he said.

“But with 74% of the campaign timeline elapsed, we have reached 72% of our overall goal, only a little behind our target pace.”

Johnson mentioned how the pandemic has affected engagement and communication.

“The economic disruptions, social upheavals and stresses caused by [COVID-19] and political dynamics have also inhibited fundraising,” he added. “Nevertheless, the staff has adapted quickly to virtual tools.”

Earlier this year, Tufts announced a hiring and salary freeze due to economic challeng-

es brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic in an April 14 message to university employees signed by University President Tony Monaco, Provost and Senior Vice President Nadine Aubry and Executive Vice President Mike Howard.

According to James Hurley, vice president for finance and treasurer, the increase in endowment and the 3.7% return from the TRP will not affect any hiring or salary freezes.

“The hiring and compensation freezes were among a number of measured and strategic actions taken to reduce costs in some areas to balance rising COVID-related costs in other areas, such as those associated with testing, PPE and other safety measures, the cost of the Mods, and increased financial aid, to name a few,” Hurley wrote in an email to the Daily. “The combination of these measures has enabled the university to keep its budget balanced to date.”

TCU Senate hears supplementary funding requests TCU

Editorialists

Sruthi Kocherlakota Executive Sports Editor Tim Chiang Sports Editors Matt Goguen Jeremy Goldstein Aiden Herrod Pranav Jain Ananda Kao Delaney Tantillo Arpan Barua Assistant Sports Editors Jacob Dreyer Henry Gorelik Ethan Ling Arnav Sacheti Alex Sharp Eric Spencer

Ethan Steinberg Colton Wolk Brendan Hartnett Julian Perry Mariel Priven Kate Seklir Abigail Zielinski Mykhaylo Chumak Justin Yu Aedan Brown Elizabeth Kenneally Makenna Law

University endowment, revenue from investments to impact students ASSETS

Rebecca Barker Hannah Harris

tuftsdaily.com

continued from page 1 amendment would allow the TCU Senate Parliamentarian to temporarily suspend Senate bylaws with the consent of a twothirds majority vote.

Lewis remarked that the bylaw amendment was proposed due to the fact that the TCU Senate bylaws will not be able to account for every situation.

According to Lewis, Senate business can often get pushed to the end of the semester. Given the required buffer periods written into the Senate bylaws, it is possible that the Senate will be unable to pass resolutions or conduct other business before the end of the semester unless it is able to suspend its bylaws.

Gebetsberger gave a specific example, where the Senate was concerned that Tufts faculty would vote on EP/F grading for the spring semester before the Senate would have the opportunity to provide its input. In this case, a bylaw suspension would be necessary to allow the Senate to vote on a resolution concerning EP/F grading before the faculty could vote.

“We were worried that there was a chance that the faculty might actually vote [on EP/F] before we had the chance to vote on it ourselves so then the resolution would be pretty useless,” Gebetsberger said. “Two weeks is the quickest that Senate could respond to anything with a resolution.”

The bylaw amendment passed the TCU Senate with 33 senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

Hamidi, a senior, then led the body through the passage of four supplementary funding requests.

Tufts Financial Group requested $440 to pay for two finance subscriptions. Eight members of the Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining.

The request passed the TCU Senate by acclamation.

TEDxTufts requested $1,510 to send members to a virtual team-building event to prepare

speakers for their next TEDx conference. Nine members of the Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining.

The request passed the TCU Senate by acclamation.

The TCU Senate requested $3,515 to replace the paper bags currently used in dining halls for takeout with reusable lunch bags.

Nine members of the Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining. The request passed the TCU Senate with 31 senators in favor, none opposed and none abstaining.

Entrepreneurship Association at Tufts requested $500 to attend a virtual venture capital competition in January. Nine members of the Allocations Board voted in favor of the request, with none opposed and none abstaining.

The request passed the TCU Senate by acclamation.

Gebetsberger deferred part of his section to the various committee chairs, who announced updates from their committees.

Chandra mentioned that the Senate has begun receiving responses on a survey sent to the student body. She also discussed the possibility of beginning a student book club over winter break.

According to Services Committee Chair Avani Kabra, the committee is pushing many of its outstanding projects to next semester with the exception of the implementation of reusable lunch bags at dining halls.

Jalen Little, chair of the Outreach Committee, mentioned that Outreach finished its town hall project. According to Little, a sophomore, the committee is currently working to publicize the Education Committee and Administration and Policy Committee’s surveys to the student body.

Trenton DeBonis, a member of the Administration and Policy Committee, spoke on behalf of chair Ibrahim AlMuasher.

According to DeBonis, a first-year, the committee is releasing a survey to the student body. He also men-

tioned an upcoming meeting with Director of Community Standards briana Sevigny and Associate Dean of Student Affairs Kevin Kraft. “[We] have a meeting with Director Sevigny and Dean Kraft to talk about how the COVID protocols are being implemented,” DeBonis said. “The consequences [and] the disciplinary action [will be discussed]. Hopefully, at the next Senate meeting, which is not going to be until next semester, we will have some answers to some of the questions that everybody’s been having about that.”

To conclude his section, Gebetsberger gave updates to the body. Given the lack of spring break, Gebetsberger and Wiener were in contact with Tufts’ administration to ensure students are well supported throughout the spring semester.

“We’ve been working with Deans Glaser and Qu, President Monaco and Provost Aubry on figuring out ways we can make that period that would have been our spring break like a period where we don’t have major assignments due,” Gebetsberger said.

To conclude the meeting, Hamidi, Peña and Wiener each gave State of the Union addresses where they discussed what the TCU Senate has accomplished in the previous semester, and what it is hoping to accomplish next semester.

In his State of the Treasury address, Hamidi discussed the ways in which the TCU Treasury has adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic and the steps it has taken to make the semester more successful for students and student groups.

“Throughout the pandemic, the focus has been to make the Treasury an effective partner and a service to the student body and its organizations,” Hamidi said. “To that end, we started the early days of this crisis by transferring funds to the FIRST Center’s Unexpected Hardship Fund to support low-income students during the chaotic shutdown last spring.”

Hamidi also spoke about how the Senate elected a majority-women Allocations Board for the second year in a

row. According to Hamidi, the Allocations Board heard 20 supplementary funding requests and allocated $17,228.

“This is a significant decrease in financial activity when compared to last fall semester,” Hamidi said.

“This doesn’t necessarily represent a proportional decrease in organizational activity just because virtual events typically have minimal or no expenses.”

Peña then gave his address, in which he discussed the semester from the perspective of his role as diversity officer. He mentioned how the pandemic caused both the Community and Diversity Committee and community centers to shift their roles from collaborative to offering more personal and individual support. “[The Community and Diversity Committee] currently has dedicated itself this semester to assisting marginalized students more directly and personally, with the many absent discriminations that have been brought up this semester,” Peña said. “Members of [the committee] are currently focusing on bringing together student groups within their respective communities and further were keen to keep their communities in good spirits.”

Wiener then gave her address, where she discussed some of the Senate’s accomplishments and ongoing projects, including sending care packages to students, the EP/F Resolution, and its effort to amend the world civilization requirement.

She noted how the Senate has become more involved in every part of student life and highlighted how senators have taken on new responsibilities this semester.

“Senate has never been asked to do more than we have this year,” Wiener said. “Individual senators have never had bandwidth as full. We are rising to the occasion and facing uncertainty with opportunity. We have and are learning and showing resilience from our mistakes as we go and genuinely make a difference in our community’s lives.”

tuftsdaily.com

Features

3 Monday, December 7, 2020

More snow, fewer storms: Climate change exaggerates winter weather WINTER

continued from page 1 “If you remember, in November [of this year], we had temperatures in the 70s, in fact a record stretch of 70-degree days in November … I wouldn’t be shocked if we saw well below average snowfall and above average temperature once again, unless something were to change, ” Lemanowicz said.

Lemanowicz does acknowledge, however, that such predictions are never completely reliable, especially for meteorologists like himself who focus on short-term forecasting, not whole-season forecasting.

“As a meteorologist, I’m looking at the weather day to day. We can go out to seven days. We can probably do a good job out to 10 days or so, but when you’re talking about forecasts for an entire season, that falls more into the realm of climatology and how things are looking long term and seasonal forecasting,” Lemanowicz said.

Harvey Leonard, chief meteorologist at WCVB-TV in Boston who has been forecasting Boston weather for over 43 years, also weighed in on what he thinks this winter might bring. When asked about comparing this year’s winter to the 2011’s La Niña winter, Leonard expressed the risk of drawing too much out of an analog from one singular weather event.

“If you’re only looking at the La Niña part of it, which we’re in, it would give a little bit of a nod toward a slightly warmer than average winter and perhaps a slightly less snowy than average winter,” Leonard said. “But again, that’s only one factor, and there are other complicating factors that could come into play up in Canada and the higher latitudes.”

Leonard said climate change was among these factors that complicate the process of longterm forecasting.

“There’s no question that climate change is getting into all of this to some degree,” Leonard said.

Lena Leavitt Little Bit of History Repeating

Hawaiian pizza

O

nly a creature as invasive and unnatural as the human being could have set off the string of events required to invent such a dish.

The pineapple is indigenous to Southern Brazil and Paraguay, but it spread to Central America and the Caribbean, where Christopher Columbus got his hands on one in 1493 and brought it back to Spain. Europeans instantly loved the fruit and subsequently tried and failed to grow them. Only in the late 17th century, when

For example, Leonard used the recent seven-day warm spell in November to explain the role climate change may be having on weather events.

“It’s very dangerous and probably wrong to completely attribute something like that to climate change because we’ve had warm spells like that in the past,” Leonard said. “But the sense is … going forward, storms like that or warm spells like that will probably occur with more frequency than they have in the past, and that’s what climate change is about.”

Leonard also speculated more generally about what future winters could look like as a result of climate change.

“We’re likely to have more above-average temperature winters than below-average temperature winters, but it does not mean every single winter will be warm,” Leonard said.

Justin Hudson, a 2019 Tufts graduate who is currently pursuing a master’s in atmospheric science at Colorado State University, studied environmental geology and astrophysics at Tufts and conducted his senior thesis on Boston snowfall trends.

He found the number of days on which it snows is decreasing, yet the frequency of very large snowfall events has increased significantly in recent years.

Hudson presented a graph in his senior thesis: “Cumulative Yearly Snowfall Since 1893/94 for Boston, MA.” The top five winters with the most snow all occurred in the past 25–30 years, despite the data record’s going all the way back to 1893.

“All these events are happening in 20 years. It’s a little too concentrated. We’d expect one in the 1910s, one in the 1930s and so on, but not all concentrated in recent time,” Hudson said.

After looking at Boston snowfall trends, Hudson expanded his data collection from weather stations along most of the East Coast, as far south as Virginia. Hudson found that one-third of all cities

providing enough data to conduct statistical analyses showed extreme increases in large snowstorms in the past 20–30 years.

Hudson looked at storms accounting for 20%, 30% or 40% of annual snowfall, and “once in a century storms” that generated 40 or more inches of snowfall.

“In some of these spots, we see these storms happening every 10 years instead of every 100 years,” Hudson said.

Hudson found an increase in both snowfall and how often the extremely large category snowfall events occurred in Boston, New York and Philadelphia. In the past 20 years, those cities saw 7–10 more inches of snowfall on average per year.

“I found that on average, there are less storms happening that produce any amount of measurable snow, but each storm is on average putting more snow onto the Boston area,” Hudson said.

When asked if the increase of large snowstorm events results

from climate change, Hudson, like Leonard, expressed how it is difficult to prove that climate change drives individual occurrences.

“It started sometime in the ‘90s. It’s a very recent increase. It highly suggests it could be due to climate change, but I can’t make that guarantee with the results I had,” Hudson said.

Hudson outlined how atmospheric temperature alteration from climate change may affect snowflake geometry as a result of snowflake crystals’ extreme sensitivity to their surrounding conditions.

“Due to some slight change in aerosols overhead, or temperature in the clouds, you get a different shape of snowflake, and that shape happens to pack in a way that can make the height of your snow pile double,” Hudson said.

According to Hudson, the warming of air from increasing carbon dioxide levels could be changing the height at which storms occur in the atmosphere, which could be altering the snow-

flake’s geometry and how it packs when hitting the ground.

Hudson also shared that climate change researchers predict that as the globe warms, existing weather patterns may stay the same but become enhanced.

“Places that are wet get wetter, places that are dry get drier, places that are hot get hotter,” Hudson said.

Hudson acknowledged that another theory hypothesizes climate change will completely alter how weather interacts in regions.

“A place that is a desert could be much wetter, such as a grassland … There is not a set-instone answer,” Hudson said.

At the end of the day, with the complicated role of climate change and wide variety of possible weather events that could occur in Boston, it seems that Tufts students will not have a good sense of what the upcoming winter will be like until they are in the thick of it themselves.

Leonard may have put it best.

“Anything abnormal is normal,” Leonard said.

they were able to simulate a tropical environment in English and Dutch hothouses, were they able to produce some.

In what historians now call the Columbian Exchange, the fastpaced period of contact between Old World and New, the exportation of one pineapple from the hands of colonized or enslaved people, to rich colonists, to even richer aristocrats could cost the equivalent of $8,000 today. By the end of the 18th century, pineapples had become symbols of luxury for their rarity and sweetness. They were just for display — too expensive to eat until they began to rot.

Later in 1900, industrialist James Dole (yes, that Dole) started a pineapple plantation on the island of Lanai in Hawaii. His Hawaiian Pineapple Company, later Dole Food Company, would become the producer of 75% of the world’s pineapples

for seven decades, effectively ending pineapples’ already declining opulent status.

As for tomatoes, Europeans feared those “poison apples” for 200 years (although people already living in what is now Mexico had been eating them for millennia). Unbeknownst to them, the fruit’s acidity was releasing lead from their pewter plates. As a result, pizza is relatively new; the first example of tomato and cheese baked on dough similar to how we know it today arose in 1889 in Naples, Italy, in honor of Italian monarchs King Umberto and Princess Margherita (hence, margherita pizza). The New York Times introduced pizza to readers in 1944.

Now, meet Sam Panopoulos.

According to Dan Nosowitz’s article on the origin of Hawaiian pizza, Panopoulos immigrated

from Greece to Canada in 1954, and decided to settle in a town called Chatham (near the border with Michigan) and open up a restaurant called the Satellite.

On the way, Panopoulos’s boat stopped at Naples, where he tried pizza and thought it pretty tasty.

His diner served the average ‘60s fare: pancakes, burgers and so on. But Panopoulos wanted to add more to appeal to customers; at one point he hired an Asian cook to make American Chinese dishes.

Hawaii only became a state in 1959. Soldiers coming home from World War II romanticized it as an island paradise, and “tiki culture,” replete with fruity cocktails, became popular between the 1940s and 1960s. Canned pineapple became a household staple.

Pizza wasn’t well known in Canada when Panopoulos

arrived, so he resolved to add pizza to his menu. One day in 1962, having few ingredients to work with and inspired by the practice of mixing sweet, sour and savory flavors together in pork dishes, Panopoulos grabbed a can of pineapple, drained it and threw it onto pizza, then added cubes of ham to balance (or perhaps overload) the sweetness with salt.

It stuck.

Pineapples have no business growing in Hawaii (or Europe, for that matter), let alone sitting on an Italian dish at the hands of a Greek Canadian restaurant owner inspired by Chinese (American) cuisine. Yet there they are. Take a bow, Anthropocene.

President’s Lawn is pictured on Oct. 30.

AVA IANNUCCILLO / THE TUFTS DAILY

Lena Leavitt is a first-year who has not yet declared a major.

Lena can be reached at arlene.leavitt@tufts.edu.

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Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

tuftsdaily.com

Monday, December 7, 2020

The best music of 2020

by Christopher Panella Arts Editor

Picture this: You’re on a video party — a fleeting trend before Zoom fatigue sets in — dancing with some friends to a club mix.

You’ve just made a stiff vodka soda (more like vodka with a pipette’s worth of club soda), and you’re ready to party. Well, relatively.

It’s not what you — or anyone — expected would become the norm this year. You thought you’d hear something like “Hallucinate” (2020) or “WAP (feat. Megan Thee Stallion)” (2020) in a nightclub, surrounded by sweaty strangers.

And you will, soon.

It’s certainly easy to list all the ways consuming music changed.

But plenty of our normal listening activities remained. We still take walks around the neighborhood.

We continue to listen while studying or ignoring our roommates and families. And as always, the shower is still the stage for our world tour performances.

Perhaps we’re listening to music now more than ever — what else is there to do? Artists are comforting us (BTS, HAIM) and bringing the energy (Megan Thee Stallion, Rina Sawayama). Some make it feel like a party (Lady Gaga, Kylie Minogue), and others remind us why we’re in therapy (Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers).

In alphabetical order, here’s a roundup of the best releases of the year.

“BE” by BTS BTS may have released “Map of the Soul: 7” in February, but “BE” feels much more relevant to life right now. It might be the album’s length (around 28 minutes), which feels more consumable than “Map of the Soul: 7” (which clocks well over an hour). Or maybe “BE” sounds so fresh because it was created in response to COVID-19.

Regardless, it’s a nugget of pop perfection, easy to listen to and exciting at every step. All hail the Princes of Pop. Highlights include “Dis-sease” and “Stay.”

“Chromatica” by Lady Gaga “Could you pull me out of this alive? / Where’s my body? I’m stuck in my mind,” Gaga ruminates on “Alice,” the ‘90s house-inspired opener of “Chromatica.”

The sixth album comes at a time when we can’t enjoy the music like Gaga intended. But it’s still an important journey of loving and healing on the dance floor. It’s the chameleon’s most cohesive work yet. And there’s fun and thoughtfulness that will sound fresh for years to come. Mother Monster is inviting us to party through our problems. How could we say no?

Highlights include “Rain on Me (with Ariana Grande),” “Replay” and “Babylon.”

“DISCO” by Kylie Minogue Looking for nonstop serotonin?

“DISCO” arrives just in time, with 12 tracks (16 on the deluxe) of dancefloor fun. Minogue made much of the album herself in her

The best albums of 2020 as selected by Arts Editor Christopher Panella are pictured. home studio, working to record and engineer her vocals. The result of her hard work differs from other albums created during lockdown — perhaps that’s what makes “Disco” so exciting. It’s an escape to a different galaxy where the disco ball hangs and bell-bottoms swish. Highlights include “Supernova,” “Last Chance” and “Fine Wine.”

“Fetch the Bolt Cutters” by Fiona Apple Another album mostly made at home, “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” is a years-long creation from Apple’s great mind. The album’s sonic realm is filled by experimental percussion items (dog’s barking, household items) and cathartic vocals. It’s all breaking free from something, processing and releasing. And rhythms are feverish and unpredictable, as instruments and patterns appear and disappear. Indeed, Apple’s ability to share this chaos with us is something special.

Highlights include “Rack of His,” “Newspaper” and “For Her.” “folklore” by Taylor Swift The definitive quarantine album comes with a reminder of Swift’s songwriting abilities. That’s the focus here. The stripped back indie folk gives the longings, whispers and hauntings space to fill out each of the 16 tracks. Those stories might make “folklore” an escape. But it also makes it perfect for car rides and teatime with cozy sweaters. Swift has made her best album yet, with her mighty pen in hand. Highlights include “august” and “invisible string.”

“Gaslighter” by the Chicks “Just put on, put on, put on your best shoes / And strut the fuck around like you’ve got nothing to lose.” Those “Julianna Calm Down” lyrics define The Chicks’ first album in 14 years. There is a newfound wisdom, like the trio has fully grown into themselves. And

that comes at the perfect time: No year has felt riper to honor the legacy of country’s most important act.

If any naysayers still exist, let them be silenced. Highlights include “Gaslighter” and “Young Man.” “Good News” by Megan Thee Stallion It is Meg’s year, plain and simple. The San Antonio-born rapper brings her sexual, confident and expressive lyricism to “Good News.” Over the course of 17 tracks, Meg shows a mastery over the material. The flows remind us why she’s one of the best around, full of hilarious rhymes and enthusiasm. Despite its being her debut album (she has released other extended plays and mixtapes), comfort and excitement are ever-present. Highlights include “Circles,” “Body” and “Outside.”

“Ho, why is you here?” by Flo Milli No one makes you grin like Flo Milli. The rapper is well known for “Beef FloMix,” but her debut mixtape shows she’s capable of more than just catchy songs on social media. “Ho, why is you here?” brings a too-coolfor-school attitude, with rhymes oozing confidence and sexuality. It’s one of the wittiest releases of the year, and Milli never lets her guard down. Get her a verse on every song in 2021, stat.

Highlights include “In The Party” and “Pussycat Doll.” “how i’m feeling now” by Charli XCX Charli dropped “how i’m feeling now” in early quarantine (what feels like years ago). Inspired by those first weeks of immense loneliness, the album switches between the online world and real life. It is mournful and frantic. There’s a desire to party and be in crowds: a longing to love and socialize. Charli is showing how easily she responds to the world and her fans, connecting

with them through this love letter. Highlights include “pink diamond,” “forever” and “visions.”

“KiCk i” by Arca Arca discusses acceptance, existence and expression on “KiCk i,” her fourth studio album. It’s electronic pop that explores who she can be and what defines her. And it does this with wit and humor.

There is glitching here, disruptions between identities and presentation. And with a heavy emphasis on technology and the body, Arca has made some of the best music videos of the year: “Time,” with its sexy purple-horned man, and “Nonbinary” come to mind.

Highlights include “Mequetrefe,” “Rip the Slit” and “La Chíqui (feat.

SOPHIE).”

“Plastic Hearts” by Miley Cyrus Cyrus continues her chameleonic career on “Plastic Hearts,” an album with more than enough space for her newfound rock diva role. It is the former Disney star’s best release yet (and comes with “Midnight Sky,” the best lead single of the year). Full of rock and grimy ‘80s pop, the personality and creativity sell themselves. It feels like the first time Cyrus has been completely comfortable with herself. And it’s open about discussions of sexuality, identity and bad behavior. Highlights include “WTF Do I Know,” “Midnight Sky” and “Bad Karma (feat. Joan Jett).”

“Punisher” by Phoebe Bridgers “I’ve been playing dead / My whole life / And I get this feeling / whenever I feel good / It’ll be the last time.” The lyrics of “ICU” — much like the entirety of “Punisher” — are like the soundtrack of roaming empty streets, feeling too much.

Bridgers’ songs are like personal stories: full of empty moments, unrequited feelings and longing. It reminds us how much we want to be wanted. With Bridgers, we’re a little less lone-

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

ly. Highlights include “Kyoto,” “Moon Song” and “ICU.” “SAWAYAMA” by Rina Sawayama The genre-blending and intensely fun “SAWAYAMA” brings family, fame and desire to the table. We sense the processing, but it’s presented with wit. Likewise, we feel the anger, and it’s loud.

Sawayama’s debut album is deeply rooted in identity, flowing through the legacy she’s inheriting and the material dreams she’s wishing. It serves as a powerful moment for music’s most exciting new star, who proves she can do just about anything. Highlights include “STFU!” “Comme des Garçons (Like the Boys)” and “Snakeskin.”

“Ungodly Hour” by Chloe x Halle The angelic sisters are synched vocally and expressively. They’ve always been talented, with gorgeous harmonies and approachable lyrics. But on “Ungodly Hour,” new heights are reached. The duo has excelled into frothy heights.

For other artists, this level might be a peak or just out of reach. But the best part isn’t how good they’ve gotten, but their newfound focus on consistent visuals. They’ve given quarantine’s best performances. Highlights include “Baby Girl,” “Do it” and “Ungodly Hour.”

“Women in Music Pt. III”

by HAIM HAIM is a once-in-a-generation band. They have the energy of Fleetwood Mac and talent to spare. And on “Women in Music Pt. III,” their focus seems to be experimenting with new themes and melodies. Warm like the summer sun, the album shows the sisters having fun, blending genres and embracing the complexities of love. It’s all so catchy and easy to listen to. Vocals flow and guitars strum. It feels sickeningly hedonistic to enjoy music this much. Highlights include “The Steps,” “3AM” and “Don’t Wanna.”

A r t s & P o p Cu l t u r e

Monday, December 7, 2020 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY

‘Among Us’: Case for game of the year

5

Maeve Hagerty Maeve’s Music Mondays

I listen to Latin trap all the time

A

by Megan Szostak and Alex Viveros

Executive Arts Editor and Editor in Chief

“Red’s kinda sus.”

“Nah man, it has to be pink, pink’s always sus.”

“It wasn’t me! I promise, I’m not sus, you’re being sus!”

Every once in a while, a game comes around that impacts society enough to attract players from across different circles of popular culture. After all, it’s not very often that you see a sworn-in congresswoman playing alongside top creators on the streaming platform Twitch for millions of viewers.

After all, if Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is playing your game, you’re probably doing something right. As we wrap up this semester, we want to give a shout-out to one of the biggest games of this year: “Among Us.” A little history: When developer InnerSloth initially released the game on Android and iOS in June of 2018, “Among Us” gained little traction.

However, in mid-2020, the online community rediscovered this multiplayer game amid social distancing guidelines, praising it as a virtual social outlet for both hardcore gamers and those just searching for a little online interaction.

The game has racked up over 217 million mobile downloads since its launch — 41 million of those in September of 2020 alone.

Perhaps what has allowed “Among Us” to be so popular among those with varying levels of gaming experience is its straightforward gameplay. The premise is simple: After a group of players has assembled, up to 10 players are dropped into a virtual spaceship, and are assigned one of two roles: “crewmate” or “imposter.”

Crewmates are in charge of conducting a series of basic tasks aboard a ship. These range between destroying asteroids, emptying the trash and fixing a seemingly endless number of circuits and wires. When all the tasks are completed by each member of the crew, the crewmates win.

The catch? Every round, one to three random players are selected to be imposters. As an imposter, there is only one goal: Kill the crew.

Crewmates must either complete all of their collective tasks or figure out who the imposter is before it’s too late. Since the identity of the imposter is unknown to the crew, crewmates must use their intuition to determine who aboard the ship is acting suspicious (or, as “Among Us” regulars would say, who is acting “sus”).

If an imposter kills a crewmate, players can “report” discovered dead bodies to prompt a game-wide discussion, also known as a meeting. In these meetings, players can call out others for being either safe or “sus,” often backing up their claims with evidence — and sometimes with none at all.

This game-wide discussion is where “Among Us” shines above its competition in even the most highly-funded corners of the gaming world. While there is an in-game text chat feature, the complete “Among Us” experience comes from talking live with other players, either on Zoom, Discord or a similar independent platform.

Within live discussions, players have the chance to either expose their peers or go unnoticed in a room full of suspects. As a crewmate, players can choose to either relentlessly interrogate other members in the room or sit quietly and observe which stories don’t add up.

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

On the other hand, imposters must do their best to blend in with the crowd. There are several ways to do this: A good imposter may quietly pick off crewmates, while another may loudly make accusations to turn the crewmates against each other.

Whatever a player’s strategy may be, the experience of playing as an imposter is heart pounding. This both enhances and detracts from the game; while playing as a crewmate can be enjoyable, it doesn’t live up to the experience of playing as an imposter.

“Among Us” is fantastic because there is no ‘correct’ way to play it. A newcomer can quickly master the game and its strategy, and the low-to-no requirement for traditional gaming mechanics make the game more widely accessible than other, more rigorous games. Not only can your college roommate play with you, but your younger siblings, parents and even grandparents can join in as well.

While not boasting the most visually appealing user interface with its somewhat primitive graphics, “Among Us” is endearingly reminiscent of video games of the 1990s, such as “Super Mario World” (1990). Furthermore, its cartoon style is fitting with the popularized art of modern, successful video games; both “Overwatch” (2016) and “Fortnite” (2017), two of the most popular games of the past decade, share a similar color palette.

With many campus organizations organizing games for their members as a means to virtually bond with the group, “Among Us” has had an undoubtedly significant impact on the social scene at Tufts. The fast and smooth gameplay allows groups to complete many rounds in a short period of time, each one largely different from the last.

ION OF STA IAT TE OC

TERS RES FO

NATIONAL A SS

A screenshot of the home screen of “Among Us” is pictured.

FO

U N D E D 192

nd now we have come to the final iteration of my column in which I rant obsessively about what is likely my favorite music genre at the moment. My abrupt attachment to Latin trap and reggaeton had nothing to do with my Spanish classes and everything to do with the 2020 most-streamed Spotify artist Bad Bunny.

Reggaeton and trap often fuse together while seamlessly sampling from more traditional Central and South American music. Daddy Yankee, the “King of Reggaeton” and the man who essentially created the genre, is of course the first reggaetonero to discuss. His groundbreaking album “Barrio Fino” (2004) brought reggaeton songs like “Gasolina” and salsa-style tracks like “Lo Que Pasó, Pasó” to an international audience. Daddy Yankee continues to remain relevant 16 years later with hits like “Adictiva” (2018) with Anuel AA, “Con Calma” (2019) with Snow and “La Santa” (2020) with Bad Bunny.

Thanks to Daddy Yankee, we have artists like Anuel AA and his successful 2020 album “Emmanuel” which features trap bangers like “Somo o No Somos” and pure reggaeton tracks like “Así Soy Yo” featuring Bad Bunny. Other stars also released amazing albums in 2020. The album “Easy Money Baby” highlights Towers’ unique trap flow in songs like “Ronca” and “La Playa” while also showcasing a powerful reggaeton track: “Funeral.”

Mexican trap rapper Alemán also appeared on my radar with a 2019 collaboration with producer Bizarrap. His 2018 album, “Eclipse,” featured “Rucón” — my favorite of his songs. More than that, there’s also Duki, DrefQuila, Paulo Londra and countless others worth your time.

Additionally, the often-overlooked women of Latin trap and reggaeton include some of the classics like Shakira and a wealth of upcoming artists. Becky G and Natti Natasha achieved the smash hit “Sin Pijama” in 2018, while more recently Karol G’s 2019 album “Ocean” featured my personal favorites “Go Karo” and the collaboration “Mi Cama – Remix” with J Balvin and Nicky Jam. However, my favorite rising female reggaeton artist is Chilean American Paloma Mami. Focusing on songs that are less explicit and demeaning for women, Mami offers up her versatile voice. Her songs “No Te Enamores” (2018), “Mami” (2019) and “No Te Debí Besar” (2019), with C. Tangana and Alizzz, are all noteworthy.

Of course, I must give a short shoutout to Bad Bunny. His four albums and dozens of singles are all amazing in my opinion, but some of my favorite of his songs have to be “Hablamos Mañana” (2020), “Soliá” (2020) and “Ser Bichote” (2018). I also want to mention his SoundCloud drop “Compositor del Año” (2020) which is part diss track, part social commentary and wholly powerful; I recommend looking up the translated lyrics for a full experience.

Sadly, I must sign off. I could honestly write for pages about reggaeton and Bad Bunny specifically, but I can only hope you’ll come to love the genre, and him specifically, as much as I do.

So, for the last time, happy listening!

I hope that music continues to unite us.

Thanks so much for exploring it with me.

Best, Maeve

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Maeve Hagerty is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Maeve can be reached at maeve.hagerty@tufts.edu.

6

THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Monday, December 7, 2020

F& G

tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Hannah: “You can’t get rid of me! You will try!”

Fun & Games

SUDOKU

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21) Wait for developments with a professional project. You won’t need to defer gratification forever. Simplify and edit.

Get rid of unnecessary elaborations.

Leave misconceptions behind.

SEARCHING FOR HEADLINES...

Difficulty Level: Pushing through the last week of classes

Friday’s Solutions

CROSSWORD

a hairbrush.

Recycle me.

tuftsdaily.com

Opinion

7 Monday, December 7, 2020

EDITORIAL

Tufts, here are some New Year’s resolutions Our community faced myriad challenges this semester, ranging from the spread of COVID-19 on our campus, to social isolation, to a divisive presidential election.

While many of us may want to put this semester and the rest of 2020 behind us, it is still important to take a moment to critically reflect upon the issues that our community faced this semester as well as the change we must commit to fighting for in the coming year.

The fall semester was defined by our community’s adjustment to hybrid learning, which brought questions of how to best support students and staff while still following through with the university’s commitment to academic continuity. Students faced difficulty accessing academic resources, collaborating with others and maintaining a work-life balance. These challenges were heightened for remote students and those with majors that heavily rely on in-person instruction and collaboration. While the administration attempted to mitigate student stress by continuing its Exceptional Pass/Fail and credit transfer policies, students still enter finals season experiencing academic burnout and heightened levels of stress.

To ameliorate the challenges of hybrid learning in the future, Tufts must continue to institute flexible, empathetic academic policies and find creative ways to keep students engaged. Given that these academic challenges will likely continue into the spring, Tufts administrators should continue Exceptional Pass/Fail and credit transfer policies into next semester, and professors should prioritize student well-being in designing their course material for the spring.

Despite the concerns of local residents and obvious risks associated with bringing students back to campus, Tufts made its community’s health a priority this semester by implementing realistic and effective strategies to limit the spread of COVID-19 on campus. Tufts’ testing program, in tandem with its comprehensive COVID-19 guidelines, helped maintain a relatively low positivity rate across Tufts campuses. Even when cases increased in recent weeks, Tufts reacted efficiently, adjusting the testing schedule and bringing cases back down.

This proved Tufts’ exemplary ability to continue on-campus

BY ANNABEL NIED operations while still working to keep the community safe.

As the weather got colder, however, safe ways to socialize became increasingly limited.

Perhaps as a result, our community witnessed an increase in cases and close contacts in mid-November, which the university attributed to students potentially not adhering to university social distancing protocols. As we look toward the spring, it is crucial that the university provide students with safe, outdoor options to socialize while students continue to diligently follow university guidelines in order to contain the spread of COVID19 on campus.

When planning for the spring, the administration should also take a moment to reflect on the problems caused by the university’s academic scheduling this fall. Despite student concerns, Tufts continued to hold classes on Indigenous Peoples Day,

undercutting the day’s purpose to reflect upon this nation’s history of colonialism and systemic racism. Continuation of classes on Election Day embodied yet another contradiction between the university’s ideals and its practices; in the midst of a monumental election and collective uncertainty about the future of the country, the university contradicted its commitment to civic engagement and instead prioritized academic scheduling. This trend continued into scheduling for the spring, as Tufts decided to start the semester later and shorten spring break. Though this decision was made to allow adequate time for cleaning and the staggered arrival of students, a condensed semester could jeopardize students’ mental health.

Leading up to the spring, Tufts must find ways to realistically balance academic scheduling concerns with a

better recognition of important nation- and campus-wide dates. Further, if the high stress levels from this semester offer any indication of what next semester holds, the university should redistribute days off and plan future semesters’ schedules with greater sensitivity to students’ mental health.

Despite the continuation of classes on Election Day, our community’s commitment to civic engagement and political advocacy was evident and commendable leading up to the election. Strong youth mobilization, both on our campus and across the nation, helped propel former Vice President Joe Biden to a win that was buoyed by record levels of voter turnout across the country and the organizing efforts of Black communities. Yet as we celebrate these strides, we must also acknowledge the substantial work that lies ahead. We must address the

deeply divided electorate and fight attempts to undermine our democratic systems. As the recent crisis within the TCU Senate demonstrated, we must also commit to engaging in and preserving the democratic process on campus. In the next four years, we must mobilize the Biden administration with the knowledge that the fight for equality and social justice does not end at the ballot box.

Though full of challenges, this semester was a testament to the strength and resilience of the Tufts community. Still, as we grapple with the pandemic and an ever-changing world, 2021 will bring obstacles of its own. In making its own resolutions for the new year, Tufts must learn from the valuable lessons this semester presented to our community and commit to preserving compassion, justice and well-being in all university policies.

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.

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8 Monday, December 7, 2020

SPORTS

tuftsdaily.com

Athletes anticipate winter break training as semester comes to an end

by Sophia Antezana Contributing Writer

Students are experiencing a fall holiday break schedule different from previous years. Due to travel concerns with the COVID19 pandemic, students who left campus for Thanksgiving break are required to remain remote for the rest of the semester. This impacts all students, and especially athletes, since they will not be able to train on campus once they depart. That being said, athletes enjoyed a very productive fall training schedule despite these regulations .

Throughout most of the semester, except for the week prior to Thanksgiving break, teams were able to lift weights and have small team training sessions weekly.

“I was extremely skeptical about how my fall season would be in terms [of ] training with COVID-19 restrictions, but I was pleasantly surprised,” Abbi Adler, a first-year on the women’s soccer team, said.

Women’s soccer, and other Tufts Athletic teams, played the majority of the fall with non-contact practice, with the exception of one week in the middle of the semester during which restrictions were lifted due to a drop in cases.

“About halfway into our season, the school allowed athletic teams to practice with full contact in small cohorts,” Adler said. “This was without a doubt my favorite part of the season

since it was the closest to playing ‘real soccer’ I had in a while …

Unfortunately, COVID cases rose and athletic teams had to make the switch back to non-contact.

However, I thoroughly enjoyed our weekly lifts as I had little prior experience in lifting as an incoming first-year.”

Adler’s positive experience this fall was shared by other firstyear athletes.

“Although we couldn’t train in the weight room as much as in previous years, our team made the most of it and got in there early Monday mornings and got to work,” John Briody, a first-year on the baseball team, said. “We were also able to do on-field circuits twice a week which helped keep us in shape during the offseason.”

Both Adler and Briody traveled home for Thanksgiving break, and therefore will not return to campus until 2021. Like many other athletes who decided to go home, they will be training remotely.

Returning home undoubtedly impacts athletes’ training regimens and poses certain challenges, especially due to an extended winter break, with students scheduled to return at the end of January.

“The most difficult thing about training from home versus with my team is playing with the same level of intensity that I would if I were with my other teammates,” Adler said. “It is sometimes hard to motivate yourself when you’re the only one training, and having a team to train with at school

The Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center is pictured on Aug. 28. definitely helps everyone stay on top of things.”

Briody shared that being apart from his teammates will be another challenge.

“The hardest thing is definitely the absence of teammates.

When you’re in the weight room or on the field at Tufts, you know you have your friends behind you pushing you through the workout,” Briody said. “At home, you have to keep yourself motivated because if you don’t, then everyone will be a step ahead of you when you get back.”

Despite the challenges, Adler, Briody and other athletes will remain focused on their training over winter break. Many athletes stick to a training regimen while at home to best prepare for their return to campus.

“I am fortunate enough to live five minutes away from an acces-

sible soccer field. Because I live in North Carolina, the months of December and January aren’t too cold to practice outside, and we rarely get snow. With this in mind, I will absolutely be able to continue my athletic training,” Adler said. “I try and at least do one thing a day, whether that be playing soccer, running, lifting or yoga.”

Similar to Adler, Briody will keep up his training from home.

With a set schedule for each week, he will be using a program from his coach to guide his training.

“Coach Case gives us an offseason lifting program, as well as a throwing program, which keeps us focused so we’re ready to go when opening day comes,” Briody said. “At home, I look to lift three times a week and condition twice a week. Conditioning usually consists of sprints and

ANN MARIE BURKE / THE TUFTS DAILY

footwork one day and long distance the other day.”

Furthermore, Briody will also be preparing for a fitness test in the spring.

“For baseball, position players and pitchers have different fitness tests to look forward to when we return to campus. As an outfielder, I’ll spend my winter training to beat the 5:45 mile time that’s waiting for me back in Medford,” Briody noted.

Both Adler and Briody embody the resiliency and work ethic that is shared among the Tufts athletics community. With uncertainty still surrounding the spring, athletes are remaining committed to their craft and their programs.

With the support of teammates, coaches and athletics staff, athletes will undoubtedly be prepared for their return to campus in 2021.

Getting to know Tufts athletes: Katelin Isakoff

by Arpan Barua Assistant Sports Editor

Hailing from the forests of Simsbury, Conn., sophomore Katelin Isakoff has emerged as one of the most integral members of the Tufts swimming team.

Both setting records in the pool and thriving in the biology and community health classrooms, she has proven herself to be one of the brightest stars not just in the world of swimming but across the entire Tufts campus.

Her interest in swimming emerged at the age of 6. The nature of her swimming evolved as she got older when she joined the West Hartford Aquatic Team, known by the acronym WHAT. Through this, she fell in love with swimming’s individuality.

“I had the opportunity to challenge myself. [Swimming] gave me something to work towards,” Isakoff said. Through swimming, she could “push [herself ] to a point but also see success.” This was a combination that provided the catalyst for a lifetime passion.

“I never thought about not swimming in college,” Isakoff said.

“Swimming became such a big part of who I was and my daily routine.”

Isakoff’s story as one of the most talented swimmers on campus may be unique, but her gravitation to Tufts was shared among other athletes. She noted that what made her feel an immediate attraction to Tufts was the people.

“Everyone on the team was so different and each one brought something unique to the environment,” Isakoff said.

“It was inspiring to see all the different personalities and interests come together in one space … Everyone was really welcoming … they wanted you to succeed.”

Swimming became an integral part of Isakoff’s daily schedule at Tufts; with a community of support behind her, it was easy to hit the ground running. Swimming different strokes each day with people from different class years created an environment that allowed for both personal growth and team unity.

“There’s a lot more support during practice,” Isakoff said.

“When you walk in that door, there’s someone who’s going to make you feel like you have a purpose … That was really special, just having that validation.”

From this environment, Isakoff’s status as a swimmer quickly ascended to new heights.

As a first-year, she was selected for the NESCAC conference team, swimming in the NESCAC championships after an exciting dual meet season. She swam everything from the 500 freestyle, the 200 freestyle and the 200 butterfly, in addition to all her relay races. At the NESCAC championships itself, the relay was where Isakoff had one of her most memorable experiences as she and the rest of the Tufts women’s swimming 400 free relay team broke Williams’ 29-year winning streak of the event. After a conference season of unprecedented success, she had the distinction of qualifying for the NCAA championships, being one of 12 swimmers on the team to do so. Of course, the pandemic put a staunch roadblock on these meets, which was a devastating experience, according to Isakoff. However, Isakoff had a lot to be proud of as, along with being named an All-American and a Scholar All-American, she pushed the women’s team to be No. 2 in the NESCAC and No. 5 in the country.

Coming from a sport that can often be so individualized, what Isakoff has learned the most from her time as a Tufts swimmer is that what is most import-

Katelin Isakoff is pictured.

ant in life is the people one is surrounded by.

“No matter what you’re doing, the people you are doing it with matter so much more,” she said.

COURTESY KATELIN ISAKOFF