With the holidays fast approaching, and in the midst of finals, some may find it difficult to get to Harvard Square or downtown Boston to shop for everyone on their list. Online shopping can be just as time-consuming, with inefficient search pages, long and repetitive delivery forms to type, and the occasional computer crash.
So why not take care of all your holiday needs at Tufts? Although they aren't the Cambridgeside Galleria or Copley Place, University stores possess one very big advantage - you can buy everything on points there.
Here's a look at how a few well-spent minutes at Tufts' finer shops can wrap up your entire holiday shopping experience:
Tufts Bookstore
By and large, the bookstore is the easiest place to pick up gifts for all your friends and relatives. If you're a freshman, the task is even simpler. You probably know by now that you're expected to buy Tufts sweatshirts, hats, mugs, and key chains for everyone in your extended family. But start with the clearance racks; since campus-signed merchandise can be among the most expensive stuff in the bookstore.For upperclassmen, your family should already have enough Tufts crap to fill a swimming pool. You'll have to shop the other half of the bookstore.
Start with acquaintances you don't really care about, but need to give a gift to anyway. This includes Secret Santa recipients, or other kinds of cheap holiday exchanges. The perfect gift for these types of people is, of course, a calendar. At the bookstore, you can get the basic Sports Illustrated and Far Side desk calendars for about $13 on points.
For people you care a little bit more about, there are also a few wall calendars, including a Lord of the Rings movie calendar. And if you know any George Harrison fans still mourning the singer's death, there's an Early Beatles wall calendar, also for around $13.
While your friends back home might not want stuffed Tufts teddies, you should be able to take care of most of them with the bookstore's CDs and movie racks. Although they're not cheap (the prices are closer to a Sam Goody than a Best Buy), the selection isn't terrible. Plus, you can pick up campus a cappella music from the Bubs and Amalgamates.
The bookstore also stocks the print versions of the season's top fantasy films - Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. Both series can be purchased with points, and the winter break should leave enough time for anyone to enjoy the stories without worrying about English reading lists.
As for movies, the bookstore has at long last entered the DVD era. You can pick up such semi-recent titles as Hannibal, Varsity Blues, and What Women Want. They're each around $30, but at least you don't have to go to a mall.
Believe it or not, there are even items at the bookstore suitable for bratty little second-cousins or other small children. You can impress them with your alma mater's mascot in "Jumbo - The Most Famous Elephant in the World!" from the You Can Read book series. Those Dumbo fans don't know what they're talking about. And for the more athletically inclined child, there are wiffleball sets (cheap) and Tufts footballs (not cheap).
For siblings, you might choose some timeless board games. You could pick up Ultimate Outburst, Scrabble, or Deluxe Monopoly (complete with gold playing pieces). Besides that, try a Walkman or some headphones, or just fall back on some more Tufts merchandise.
Mom and Dad have enough campus gear, no doubt. But does your tree sport Tufts ornaments? They're sold in pairs at the bookstore for $10.
If you think that's going too far, keep Tufts out of the holidays with Godiva chocolates for Mom or a wet-dry electric razor for Dad. Watch out around the candy rack, though, since the high-quality treats can run around $30 for larger boxes.
Finally, you've got to wrap these gifts up. You can get it all on points, from the cards to the wrapping paper and gifts bags to the bows and ribbons.
Brown and Brew
Tufts' coffee shop is a less obvious choice for holiday giving, but it's still worth checking out. Besides the lattes and croissants, there is a small section of gifts and novelties.For starters, there are Upton Tea tins in various sizes and favors, including Christmas Tea, Peppermint, and Earl Grey. If your relatives like to keep themselves more caffeinated, Brown and Brew has all of its distinctive coffee flavors for sale by the pound, including the extra-heavy "Speeder's Blend."
There are also gift boxes and baskets for sale, which include the shop's tea and coffee as well as Brown and Brew mugs, Italian cookies, and truffles.
Jumbo Express
Unless you hate your intended recipient, you probably won't want to bring anyone holiday cheer from the campus convenience store. But you could probably get away with a gift of Jelly Bellies.One last point - Points Plus are not the same as the Dining Dollars that come with freshman and sophomore meal plans. Although Dining Dollars can't be used at the bookstore, they will work at Jumbo Express and Brown and Brew. And if you need more points, you can always just add them at the bookstore. Just be sure to tell whoever gets your college bill!
