News

Local

Somerville City Council decision leaves inclusion of divestment ballot question to community

By Samantha Eng and Josué Pérez | March 28

Somerville City Council voted to file a ballot initiative for Somerville’s divestment from companies in business with Israel on Thursday night, requiring activists to collect about 5,500 voter signatures to secure the question a spot on the city’s November ballot. The council’s 9–2 vote was preceded by a rally organized by Somerville for Palestine, attended by hundreds of Somerville community members outside Somerville City Hall.

---

University

Tufts students, graduates launch petition for university action after detainment

By Matthew Sage | March 28

Over a thousand current and former students of Tufts University have signed a petition calling for proactive protection of its community members against federal deportations following the detainment of Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts graduate student, earlier this week.

---

University

Tufts’ Earth and Climate Sciences Department researchers express uncertainties

By Shayna Levy | March 28

The Department of Earth and Climate Sciences at Tufts is facing uncertainty because of threats to their sources for research funding from federal agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Science Foundation. 

---

University

Over 2,000 protest in wake of student detainment

By Samantha Eng, Matthew Sage and Josué Pérez | March 27

Students and local activists gathered on Wednesday evening at Powder House Park to protest the detainment of Tufts graduate student, Rumeysa Ozturk, by federal authorities on Tuesday. The protest was organized by Coalition for Palestinian Liberation, formerly known as the Coalition for Palestinian Liberation at Tufts, and other activist groups from the Greater Boston area.

---

University

Federal authorities detain Tufts student in Somerville

By Samantha Eng | March 26

Federal authorities detained a Tufts graduate student last night outside an off-campus apartment in Somerville. University President Sunil Kumar announced in an email around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night that the university is seeking more information about the cause and circumstances of the arrest.

---

Local

Todd Evans inaugurated as Medford fire chief after 11 months as interim chief

By Josué Pérez | March 26

Medford Fire Chief Todd Evans was sworn into his role on Feb. 24, with the inauguration ceremony taking place on Mar. 12. He had served as interim chief for 11 months, following the retirement of Chief John Freedman. The chief was chosen via assessment center examination. According to the city’s press release, Chief Evans earned the highest score out of two candidates on the assessment center exam. Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn had interviewed all five deputy chiefs, including Evans, in March 2024 to choose an interim chief.

---

---

University

Tufts community members protest at Stand Up for Science rally

By Michael Onysko | March 26

Tufts students and faculty joined hundreds of protesters at the Stand Up for Science Rally on Mar. 7at the Boston Common. Protesters advocated in support of federal funding for science research.

---

University

Tufts junior Meirav Solomon testifies before US Senate at antisemitism hearing

By Julian Glickman | March 25

On March 5 Tufts junior Meirav Solomon testified before a U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary hearing regarding antisemitism, arguing that college campuses should focus on conversation and protecting equality for students.

---

University

Tufts accepts 10.5% of applicants to the Class of 2029

By Samantha Eng and Michael Onysko | March 25

Tufts accepted 10.5% of applicants to the undergraduate Class of 2029, Tufts’ admissions office announced. The acceptance rate shows an increase of half a percentage point from last year’s acceptance rate and is one percent higher than in 2023. Decisions were released on March 20.

---

University

Former White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney speaks at Tufts

By Zach Halverstam | March 14

The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life hosted Mick Mulvaney, former chief of staff under President Donald Trump’s first administration, on Tuesday as part of its Solomont Speaker Series. The talk was moderated by Eitan Hersh, a professor of political science at Tufts and an advocate for bipartisan discourse, who teaches a course on modern American conservatism, the first of its kind in the United States.

---

University

Tufts’ offshore wind development programs react to presidential memorandum suspending leases

By Shannon Murphy | March 13

A presidential memorandum signed by President Donald Trump on Jan. 20 suspended the leasing and permitting of federal spaces for offshore wind development, rattling faculty and students in Tufts’ offshore wind energy engineering programs at the graduate level.

---

Local

Updated Medford City Charter moves forward with district-based council composition plan

By Julian Glickman | March 13

The Medford City Council Committee of the Whole approved updates to the City Charter on March 4, sending the new charter to a final vote. The updates include a highly-debated district-based council composition plan, setting it up to be sent to the state legislature for final authorization.

---

University

Tinashe to headline Spring Fling 2025, Quinn XCII and Hot Chelle Rae to open

By Ellora Onion-De, Liam Chalfonte and Odessa Gaines | March 12

Tinashe, Quinn XCII and Hot Chelle Rae will perform at Spring Fling, the Tufts University Social Collective announced on Wednesday. The concert will take place on April 26 at 12:30 p.m. on the Academic Quad. The headliner, Tinashe Jorgensen Kachingwe, who performs just under her first name, is known for hit songs “Nasty” and “2 On (feat. ScHoolboy Q).” She also recently appeared on the song “B2b featuring tinashe” from Charli XCX’s remix album “Brat and it’s completely different but also still brat.” Tinashe previously headlined Spring Fling in 2017, though she was originally set to be an opener. She stepped in after T-Pain cancelled due to the performance conflicting with his son’s birthday.

---

University

Film and Media Studies Program changes major requirements

By Varya Karpinskaya | March 12

The Film and Media Studies Program has announced changes to the requirements of its major, with students now required to take a seminar as an additional core course. FMS seminars have an in-depth focus on an aspect of the industry, and their requirement for the major replaces the need to take an upper level elective.

---

University

BREAKING: Department of Education opens investigation into Tufts over antisemitism reports

By Samantha Eng | March 11

On Monday, the Department of Education sent Title VI warning letters to 60 universities, including Tufts, that are under investigation for “violations relating to antisemitic harassment and discrimination.”

---

University

Update: Federal judge imposes preliminary injunction on NIH spending cuts

By Josué Pérez | March 11

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley ruled to impose a preliminary injunction on the National Institutes of Health, preventing the cuts on indirect medical research costs from taking effect nationwide.

---

University

11th annual TEDxTufts conference highlights changemakers and catalysts

By Alexandra Tse | March 10

TEDxTufts hosted its 2025 conference, titled “Catalyst: The Power of a Single Spark,” on Saturday in Cohen Auditorium. The event featured eight talks given by current Tufts students, professors and alumni that explored a diverse range of topics.

---

Local

Nontoxic rat fertility control to be studied on properties in Lincoln Park

By Amelia Sammons | March 7

The city of Somerville announced on Feb. 19 that it is participating in a Rodent Fertility Control Study using Evolve, which is a hormonal fertility control product designed to curb rat reproduction in a humane manner. This is in partnership with the Cambridge Public Health Department and Cambridge Inspectional Services Department.

---

Local

Somerville entrepreneur Jason Mackey to join mayoral race

By Grayton Goldsmith | March 7

Somerville-based entrepreneur and community advocate Jason Mackey announced on Feb. 20 his candidacy for mayor, joining other candidates, including the incumbent Mayor Katjana Ballantyne; City Councilors at-Large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr.; and perennial candidate William Tauro.

---

Local

Somerville, Chelsea sue Trump administration to protect sanctuary city policies

By Anika Parr | March 6

The cities of Somerville and Chelsea filed a lawsuit in a Massachusetts district court challenging federal immigration policy on Feb. 24. The cities, represented by Lawyers for Civil Rights, argue that recent federal actions unconstitutionally pressure sanctuary cities to participate in federal immigration enforcement. 

---