The Class of 2013 rode the Joey to discounts and an introduction to the neighborhood during a new orientation event on Sept. 6, "Discover Davis Square."
According to Joe Golia, Director of the Office for Campus Life, the event aimed not only to introduce local businesses to new students, but also to help students realize that they are part of a community that transcends campus borders.
"It [was] about getting students into the community … to recognize that they live in Medford and Somerville, a community that's bigger than just the university," Golia said. "The idea came from my last job [at Assumption College], called the ‘Taste of Shrewsbury Street' in Worcester."
Discounts offered by local restaurants and shops enticed students to the square. Boston Burger Company featured a 15 percent markdown, while Mr. Crepe gave out free sweet crepes.
Students had suggested an orientation event off campus in the past. Davis Square was a natural location to start with, Golia said.
"We wanted to open it up to local businesses, so we explained the idea, asked them what they wanted from students, and things came together pretty quickly," Golia said.
Orientation leaders like senior Becca Weinstein gave their freshman orientation groups brief informational tours of the square. Weinstein said that she thought the event was valuable to freshmen.
"Most of them hadn't been to Davis before, so we did a loop around, showed them a few restaurants and shops and talked about the Somerville Theatre," she said. "I know it took me a while to get around to exploring Davis when I was a freshman, and we were able to show them places that aren't right next to the T, like Kickass Cupcakes and Dave's Fresh Pasta."
Rebecca Small, a freshman who first visited Davis Square with her pre-orientation group, went for a second visit during the orientation event.
"J.P. Licks is probably my favorite place in Davis, and I also really like Poor Little Rich Girl," Small said. "I think Davis is a nice complement to campus, and it was nice to get free things from some of the places [in the Square]."
While Barbara Rubel, Director of Community Relations, believes that "Discover Davis" was a good concept, she thinks the event should in the future be expanded further into the Medford and Somerville communities.
"Union Square is terrific, even Medford Square, especially [if] The Book Sellers Café reopens. Visiting [areas] that are a little more off the beaten path is a terrific way to support local business," Rubel said. "We're really lucky to be outside the city, not in an urban center, but we have access to all these little districts that are wonderful resources."
Rubel also noted that while the Joey is a great resource to get into Davis, it discourages students from exploring other areas in Medford and Somerville.
"Having Davis is a tremendous asset to the community," Rubel said. "Still, it's not the only place, and students will probably discover Davis without us ... We should maybe help them discover places that are off the beaten path."
Rubel believes that it is also valuable for students to begin to think about what is important to them in a neighborhood — what the local schools are like, for example, or what types of religious institutions exists.
"When you think about settling down someplace, taking a job, or when you're trying to find somewhere to live — these are the kinds of things you should know about. And if you're here for four years, you should have an appreciation for where you're living," Rubel said. "Also, [Medford and Somerville] are endlessly interesting cities. And even though they're side by side, they're really different."
Golia said that he does hope to expand "Discover Davis" to other areas in the future and noted that the event did offer discounts to one or two other restaurants in Teele Square this year. For now, however, Tufts students must take the initiative to explore other communities around campus.
"I've been in Medford Square before, but I mostly stick to Ball Square and Teele Square," Weinstein said. "I've gotten sick of studying in Tisch after a while, so I've tried out Diesel Café [in Davis] and True Grounds in Ball Square … Independently owned restaurants and boutiques are one of my favorite parts of living in Somerville."
