If you’ve walked through the Mayer Campus Center between 11:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., there’s no doubt you’ve heard Charli XCX blasting from the sink-shaped nook just to the right of the second-floor stairs. A warmly-lit hideaway in the normally fluorescent Campus Center, The Sink is the perfect spot to catch up with a friend or pretend to be studying — if you can find a table. Hordes of students line up to grab one of The Sink’s latest collaborative drinks or classic concoctions, like “Lucy in the Chai,” “Girl Grass” or “Blossom.”
The ambiance of this upstairs hideaway is exactly what you’d expect from a Tufts student space, featuring a photo wall with pictures of the employees, hand-drawn menus, punch cards lining the fridge and a miniature zine library. The mismatched assortment of decor encapsulates the eclectic vibe of the staff, creating a personalized space for Tufts students to congregate. The Sink is a prime example of a community organization on campus that dedicates itself to not only providing a physical space for students, but an opportunity for them to feel seen, appreciated and advocated for.
The Sink is by the student body, for the student body. In addition to being 100% student-run, they are in ongoing collaboration with the Tufts University Prison Initiative and have a “pay-it-forward” voucher system for students who might not be able to afford their drinks. Fliers and posters line the drink pick-up counter, each promoting different student organizations and events. The Sink has a long history of hosting special drink menus for holidays, seasons and collaborations with student organizations for heritage months. Most recently, The Sink collaborated with PERIOD at Tufts for Period Action Day, Tufts Association of Latin American Students for Hispanic Heritage Month and WMFO, Tufts’ student and community-operated radio station. The Sink’s employees value identity-based drinks, and their collaborations with the identity centers range from drinks that celebrate Black Legacy Month with the Africana Center to events with the LGBT Center, like the recent “performative masc lesbian contest,” co-hosted by the LGBT Center and The Sink.
When The Sink isn’t hosting events for the student body or cooking up unique drink combinations, they’re actively promoting and taking part in civic action. Fliers posted around the space encourage the Tufts community to attend panels about social injustices, vote and become active members of the Tufts and Medford/Somerville communities. In preparation for the upcoming Nov. 4 elections, The Sink initiated a collaboration with JumboVote to encourage student voter registration by distributing QR code stickers that lead to Tufts’ voter registration website. Similarly, The Sink promotes their partnership with Green Dot through a QR code on the drink pick-up counter, prompting students to apply to the Green Dot Executive Leadership board. Tufts is known for its engaged and civically active student body, and The Sink is a vital part of furthering student involvement.
Senior Spencer Pickering, the operations manager, and junior Fin Jones, a barista, both highlight the role of The Sink in Tufts’ community. When Pickering became manager last spring, he knew The Sink “should get more involved in the Tufts community.” Hence, this year, they’re “trying to do as many collabs as possible.” Jones, too, notes that The Sink is “a very community-reliant business, so paying respect to that, paying homage to that, celebrating other people’s interests … is the main stuff.”
The Sink provides Tufts’ student body with a physical space on campus that invests in them and their interests, something that is invaluable in every young person’s life and especially important on college campuses.
“We’re just a bunch of students that like coffee and tea and like to make it,” Jones said. “One of the best things about college is that you’re able to explore those interests with other people.”
The Sink’s active involvement with the student body and genuine dedication to student livelihood make it a community space on campus that is impossible to ignore. Next time you’re in the Campus Center, take a moment to not only appreciate The Sink’s well-crafted drinks but also their commitment to uplifting student organizations and giving back to the community.
