Tufts constantly trumpets its connection with its surroundings - be it Medford, Somerville or Boston. Tour guides always go on about the famous library roof view, the 15-minute T ride to Park Street and the particular emphasis the university and many students place on Tufts' connection with Boston. This all sounds very exciting and thrilling, but the reality is that only a fraction of the Tufts community actually takes advantage of these off-campus connections and opportunities.
Most of us live comfortably and safely inside the Tufts Bubble. Students never leave campus, and when they do, they visit areas that are so trodden with Tufts students' footsteps that they might as well have not left campus. There are fluid connections to Medford, Somerville and Boston from Tufts. Tufts professors, employees, graduates and prospective students live in these neighborhoods. To avoid trips into these areas, and around Boston, is to be denied an integral part of the Tufts experience.
College is not supposed to be a narrowing experience; it's a time when one's horizons expand. It is a time when people try things they have never dreamt of trying. We learn things we haven't known before and refine skills we've been developing our whole lives. Likewise, getting off campus ought to be treated as one of these opportunities.
During my entire time here at Tufts, I have made it a point to get off campus at least once a week. Once a week is nothing, and yet I keep my promise, and every week I am thankful that I do. I see examples, references and theories from class playing themselves out in front of my eyes. You can read all about Paul Revere's night ride, but wouldn't it be a more powerful and fulfilling experience to walk the trail yourself? You can read about social and environmental justice in cities across the world, but wouldn't it be more enlightening to speak to a resident of Roxbury who has to contend with it on a daily basis? You can study and analyze charts and tables all afternoon in the library, but wouldn't it be a more telling experience to speak to shop owners and community leaders in the neighborhood affected by current economic trends?
From my trips around Boston, I have found that living life has little to do with studying in the classroom. I understand that the classroom is a great place to learn and to express yourself, but what we learn and teach in there is culled from the world out there. What the classroom prepares us for is to apply what we learn to the whole world. So, if we never get out there, what is the use of learning what we do?
Although the opportunities the Tufts campus provides are rich, imagine what one can do on a community or city level. In remaining so campus-centric, to a certain extent, most of us will never come into contact with these chances and experiences. Greater Boston overflows with the intricate and flourishing culture, as well as the injustices, that we read about in class.
If you wish to help, opportunities abound in Boston. If you seek entertainment, there is a wealth of ethnically-varied neighborhoods steeped in history and fiercely defined by their unique character, in addition to theaters, shops and neighborhood restaurants. Bike paths and parkways weave through the city in a chaotic and exciting state, mimicking the frenetic energy of the city itself. All of these are spots that have not only made me appreciate where I am more, but also, in some way or another, taught me about myself, about life and about "the college experience."
The Bubble problem is not new. Professors and students have been informing us of this for some time, with varied success. But I refuse to compose an itinerary of stops in Boston for you; that is for you to tailor and discover on your own. I can, however, offer you some places that have rewarded me greatly in many ways.
The historically rich Villa Victoria in the South End is rife with civil rights history, galleries and elegant townhouses. MYTOWN is an innovative after-school program for youth from the South End, Dorchester and Roxbury that provides historical tours of the neighborhood given by the students themselves. The arboretum at the Forest Hills stop at the end of the Orange Line is a great way to find nature within the city limits.
If you already work off campus, bring these places up with your coworkers - you may find something new to bring to the workplace or classroom. If you tutor, ask your student if they know of these places. Take them there!
It's time to pop the Tufts Bubble, so do yourself a favor and go someplace you have never been before. Hit the road and hit it hard. Wake up early on the weekends and get lost. Embrace the chaos of the city. Try something new. Take a different way home. Become part of a new community. Discover gems in the city and make the experience yours.
Will Kent is a senior majoring in anthropology.
