It is widely known on campus that an African-American, female TUPD Officer was brutally assaulted by a drunk Tufts student the night before Thanksgiving.
It is also known that as he was attacking her, he shouted out racial and homophobic epithets including "ni-er, fa-ot, Jew boy and fat Italian-American f-k." It was published in Wednesday's Daily that the student was expelled, but has Bacow said anything to us about this yet? Perhaps he is currently drafting his letter to the Tufts community. While some of you may feel disappointed or even outraged that these events continue to happen on our Tufts campus, I thought that it would be appropriate to bring my top eight "good" things about Tufts to light by this situation:
8. It's a good thing that we have to use sarcasm to make light of serious issues or else we would have to find another way to get your attention.
7. It's a good thing that the administration is so confrontational about racism and ignorance or else the minority community might feel isolated from the "rest" of the student body.
6. It's a good thing that the University has not implemented the Asian-American Studies program or else we would have to hire more faculty of color.
5. It's a good thing that certain student leaders who represent our student body want to stop printing the Bias Report at the end of each semester because it "hurts" our reputation, or else we might actually make progress on bringing about awareness.
4. It's a good thing that getting drunk excuses belligerent racist or homophobic behavior or else there might actually be consequences to one's actions.
3. It's a good thing that police officers are safe on campus or else we would be sh-t out of luck.
2. It's a good thing that the administration continues to keep us informed on what's going on around campus or else we have to put a viewpoint in the Daily.
1. It's a good thing that I go to Tufts or else I would actually have to think about this behavior happening without reproach or comment in an institution of higher learning that prides itself in opening minds and encouraging tolerance and understanding.
I hope my sarcasm sharpens your awareness of these incidents all of which are important and deserve immediate attention. These issues need to be addressed not only by the administration but also by the student body. My sincere request is that you take ownership of these problems and start to make a positive change on our campus, beginning with yourself.
Zoe Gibson is a junior majoring in child development.
