Columns

Zach Drucker | The Loser

Last semester, I took some time away from the Hill and spent five months abroad in Seville, Spain. Immediately, I found the people of Seville to be partitioned into two factions: supporters of Sevilla FC and "los béticos," supporters or Real BetisBalompié. The rivalry between the two Sevillian soccer clubs resembles the mutual antagonism between the Yankees and the Mets or the Lakers and the Clippers, since one team is perennially top-notch and the other team is laughably bad.

Empathy + assimilation = fail!

In her Nov. 8 op−ed "Confronting integration with education, empathy," Sarah Tralins, yet another student who has claimed to empathize with the minority populace, has said, "I am a student who has actively advocated for racial equality and assimilation at Tufts." Her flawed, somewhat ignorant ignorance of racial inequalities is perhaps her greatest downfall in her attempts to advocate on the behalf of individuals she does not understand. Closer reading and analysis of my Nov. 1 op−ed entitled "What happens when assimilation and integration fails?" would have revealed my message that minorities at Tufts are tired of being told to assimilate. By minorities, I am referring to non−white Tufts students on campus: This includes countless Asian and Asian−American students, students of African descent, students of Hispanic descent, Native American students and all other ethnically identifying groups. Instead of being told to assimilate, we would like to be accepted and embraced for who we are as human beings, despite our cultural and socioeconomic differences.

Chris Poldoian | Extra Butter

Like many of you, I felt as though my childhood finally ended on Friday. No, I didn't lose my virginity, learn how to ride a bike or drink my first Jägerbomb. The last vestige of my youth took the form of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" (2011). Forking over 15 bucks for that eighth DVD was like shoving a basilisk fang right into the final Horcrux of my childhood. Bummer. Now all I have to look forward to is adulthood — 401Ks, jury duty and colonoscopies.

Angad Bagai | A Whole New World

In the Western world, the concept of getting married is rather simple. There's a boy and a girl (or a boy and a boy or a girl and a girl, but you get what I mean). They love each other. They get married. There may be some issues here and there with parents not being totally accepting, but the situation is far from that in India. To quote novelist ChetanBhagat in his novel "2 States: The Story of My Marriage" (2009): "[T]here are a few more steps: Boy loves Girl. Girl loves Boy. Girl's family has to love boy. Boy's family has to love girl. Girl's Family has to love Boy's Family. Boy's family has to love Girl's family." If after all of this, the girl and the boy still happen to love each other, then they can get married.

Ethan Sturm | Rules of the Game

Disclaimer: This column is not about Joe Paterno and Penn State. For more information on that topic, check out any other sports columnist on any other website.

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

There is this obscure faction called "mumblecore" floating around somewhere under the realm of independent film. Mumblecore films are extremely naturalistic and often focus on young, white intellectuals — two cinematic characteristics that should make the genre accessible and appealing to an English major like myself.

Amanda Johnson | Senior Moments

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton's visit to Tufts felt like a reunion of a friend you hadn't realized how much you'd missed. But if the sudden personal resonance of the word "intern" hadn't already led you to wincingly calculate the age of the former president, his playful references to his recent geriatric developments forced you to face the fact. Bill Clinton, symbol of swagger and vitality, is getting old.

Hannah Furgang | The Tim Tam Slam

Another Friday night. It's approximately 6:25 p.m. and, surprise surprise, I don't know what I'm going to do.

David McIntyre | The Beautiful Game

With the arrival of November, most of the major professional soccer leagues in the world are heading into the second quarter of the season, with about 10 games played in the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A. Accordingly, it's the perfect time for teams to look at the table to see where they stand, and what their expectations could be for the rest of the year. And in the Spanish league, one team will take that glance and be pleased beyond its wildest dreams: I'm talking, of course, about Levante of La Liga.

Chelsea Stevens | Loud Noises

As I'm sure even the sun−kissed Californians were able to glean from last Saturday's storm, New England has boarded a one−way direct flight to winter and believe you me, we're going to be here till mid−April "weather" you like it or not.

Ben Kochman | The Wackness

Alison Williams and Sarah Gottlieb | Generation SEX

Hannah Furgang | The Tim Tam Slam

It's the scariest time of year. There's an ominous chill in the air and the trees are growing barer by the day. This past weekend was particularly frightening. Students could be seen crossing Pro Row with extra caution, casting wary glances at their backs lest they fall prey to the soul−sucking beings that for three days walked among us:

David McIntyre | The Beautiful Game

If you follow soccer at all (or even sports in general), then you already know that last weekend's Manchester Derby was one of the most important matches of the season. Not only did it make the ESPN.com homepage, but the game was also seen as a changing of the guard in Manchester and in England. As Manchester City made its way home with an emphatic 6−1 victory, the pronouncements had already begun: the Blues were the new favorites for the Premier League title.

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

Alexandria Chu | Hit Li(s)t

Kacey Rayder | Insult to Injury

I'd like to apologize in advance if this column is a little less articulate than my previous ones, as I'm currently at home recovering from a tonsillectomy. I'm hoping to be done with this recovery from hell soon enough; then I can get back to feeling normal again.

Jordan Teicher | The Independent

I like Robert Downey, Jr. as an actor. He has more than enough charisma to excel as both Tony Stark and Sherlock Holmes, and he brings effortless polish to all of his roles. Off−camera, he seems like a decent guy: He overcame alcoholism, stays classy in public and charms the press. He struggled with personal issues in the past, but he is a changed man — and Hollywood loves a comeback.

Chelsea Stevens | Loud Noises

Amanda Johnson | Senior Moments

T ufts recently announced a $32 million operating surplus, marking a more than 700 percent increase from the previous fiscal year. As a non−profit institution that costs well over $50,000 a year to attend and has suspended need−blind admissions, we should be troubled that there is ever a substantial surplus.