@bodytext: New Englanders nice, Tufts students not
I was deeply upset by the opinions voiced by many of the out-of-state/country students in yesterday's article ("Cultural shifts surprise many American students"). I am from Massachusetts - I live only twenty minutes away from Tufts and I was surprised and saddened by similar aspects of life here. I have been trained and accustomed to smiling at every stranger I make eye contact with, and to generally being friendly and courteous in public.
I did not find these characteristics to be traits of the Tufts community and last year, as a freshman, I was very disheartened by this. It is in no way a reflection of the way of life in Massachusetts or New England communities. It angers me when I hear students not from this area attribute the rudeness and unfriendliness of many Tufts students with Massachusetts, Boston, or New England.
Perhaps if everyone here were a little more friendly, and a lot more receptive to the wonderful people in our surrounding communities, it would be no less than obvious that the atmosphere at Tufts is created wholly by the attitudes of students, and is in no way shaped by the New England tradition of friendliness and hospitality to strangers.
Emily Chen
LA '07
