Dear Class of 2026, friends and family,
Today is the moment that you have all worked so hard for. This is a well-deserved moment of celebration and exaltation. Your leadership, companionship, wisdom, advocacy and artistry have been admirable and exemplary to the Tufts community.
Many of you took pictures with Jumbo during your visits to Tufts as high school students or as freshly-matriculated first-years on the first day of classes. I hope that today you take one more picture next to Jumbo and compare it with those first-year pictures. Enjoy today and cherish the beauty of the blossomed trees and flowers — all in the company of your family and close friends.
This semester, we covered the graduation of Dr. Rümeysa Öztürk and her return to Turkey over a year after her despicable arrest by Department of Homeland Security agents. Our news team and editorial board have pressed the Tufts administration over its silence on revelations of Steve Tisch’s (A’71) relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Tufts has come under fire from the Department of Education for alleged “election influence” and the Department of Defense over perceived “wokeness.”
Although the professors of the practice at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with the university in February, tensions between the university and the unions have continued.
Somerville residents welcomed a new mayor and are confronting a decreased budget for the fiscal year 2027. In Medford, city officials have debated numerous lawsuits and are continuing a tense rezoning project.
Liz Landers (LA’13), White House correspondent at PBS News Hour and keynote speaker at DailyCon, our semesterly staff training event, engaged in an eye-opening discussion about her path in journalism and covering the fast-paced Trump presidency.
To the 93rd Executive Board, thank you so much for being dedicated leaders of your respective sections. Personally, thank you for your friendship and feedback. Shoutout to the truly amazing crew of: Aisha, Aneeqa, Annika, Arghya, Dylan F., Eliza, Ellie, Evan, Fiona, Grace L., Israel, Jamie, Jaylin, Julia S., Julian, Keira, Matthew, Maya, Olivia B., Olivia Z., Sam, Shayna, Shoshana, Sorsha, Stella and Zach.
Thank you to all of the past editors in chief that have ever mentored me or given me advice. You are all exemplary EICs, and I am honored to be a part of this star-studded legacy.
Thank you to my managing board for your companionship, diligence and passion. I am so happy with the work we did this semester; I am glad I got to know all of you better.
Grace N., thank you for stepping up to become a managing editor. Your close attention to accuracy and phrasing of our articles greatly elevated their quality. Your bubbly, positive energy brought the managing board together, and I am so grateful for that. I wish you the best of luck in your endeavors post-grad!
Sadie, thank you for your consistent consideration of our readership and of our decisions as a managing board. Both you and Grace were excellent help when it came to internal communications. I am so excited to see you continue being a part of the managing board next semester!
Emily, thank you for keeping me in check with your wit and level-headedness. I have appreciated your intentionality toward the office culture and whiteboard graphs. Your close attention to multimedia has paved the way for future associate editors. I cannot wait to hear about your Copenhagen adventures next spring!
Linda, thank you for your diligence in editing (especially with Wednesday night CE3 edits) and the projects that you took on. You always answered the call to make last-minute corrections, which I am deeply appreciative of. I cannot wait to hear what you do in the near and far future!
Dylan T., thank you for your efficient editing that got us ahead on Wednesday and Thursday nights. I have appreciated your inquiries about sourcing and phrasing issues that came up in articles. I wish you the best of luck in your Tufts Survivor and Quiz Bowl ventures.
Josh and Angie, I cannot wait to see how you continue your sterling leadership of the Production department. Your passion for creating a cohesive, appealing weekly paper has reminded me of the importance of reading printed articles and ensuring that no mistake slips through. Thank you for your positive attitude on Wednesday nights and insightful feedback for me.
Carol, thank you for your stewardship of the Business department. I am especially grateful for the work you did last fall to ensure the Daily maintained its steady course.
This Daily class of seniors has guided the Daily, and myself, through a lot over the past three years — I will miss you all and encourage you to stay in touch as a new part of our alumni network.
Lastly, thank you, dear reader, for your support of local and student journalism. The Daily has been an important part of the local journalism communities in Medford and Somerville, and its place at Tufts is recognized by so many students, faculty, alumni, parents and Tufts leaders.
I hope that we have gained your trust this year and that we can keep it for years to come.
Pax et Lux,
Josué Pérez
Editor in Chief, Spring 2026
