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Local

Somerville Central Library to maintain reduced schedule amid fears of teen violence

By Marlee Stout | September 19

Somerville Public Library staff announced on Aug. 27 that, starting Sept. 3, the library’s Central branch would close in the hours surrounding the dismissal time of nearby Somerville High School. The move comes as a result of unsuccessful talks between library leadership and Mayor Katjana Ballantyne’s office after years of violent behavior from teenagers.

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University

In first pro-Palestine rally of the school year, protesters continue calls for divestment

By Estelle Anderson | September 19

Over 70 protesters marched to the house of University President Sunil Kumar during a pro-Palestine rally on Sept. 12, the first to take place on Tufts’ campus this semester. Nearly one year after Oct. 7, protesters continued their demands for Tufts to divest from Israeli companies and denounce Israel, which has killed an estimated 40,000 Palestinians and causeda humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. 

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Local

Somerville holds ceremony to remember 23rd anniversary of Sept. 11 attacks

By Toby Winick | September 19

Somerville residents of all ages joined members of the city’s police and fire departments at the 9/11 Memorial in Davis Square as the city commemorated the 23rd anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center. Mayor Katjana Ballantyne joined Director of Veterans’ Services Jerome Thomas, Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven and City Councilor-at-Large Kristen Strezo to honor both victims and first responders.

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News

TCU Senate nominates Trustee reps, sets club rules in weekly meeting

By Spenser Walsh | September 17

The Tufts Community Union Senate discussed updates to club funding and proposals for committee projects, then began interviewing applicants for trustee representatives during its meeting on Sept. 15.

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Local

Somerville honors lives lost, looks forward during National Recovery Month

By Grayton Goldsmith | September 13

Throughout the month of September, those passing by Somerville City Hall may notice the 14 purple flags flanking its front lawn. Each flag honors a Somerville resident lost to substance use disorder in 2023. Last year, 22 flags were placed, representing the 22 overdose deaths that occurred in Somerville in 2022. The city’s end goal is to have zero flags outside the city hall one day.September is National Recovery Month, and Somerville is regularly hosting naloxone distribution events and training sessions throughout the month. Naloxone, more commonly known by its brand name Narcan, is an easy-to-use nasal spray that can rapidly reverse the effects of an opioid overdose.

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University

BREAKING: New residence hall on Boston Avenue to open in fall 2027

By Estelle Anderson | September 12

Tufts has begun the development process for the largest residence hall in university history, the university announced Thursday evening. The building, which is scheduled for completion by fall 2027, will be located at 401 Boston Avenue and will exclusively house juniors and seniors.

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University

TCU Senate convenes for first meeting of academic year

By Spenser Walsh | September 11

The Tufts Community Union Senate convened for its first session of the 2024–25 school year on Sept. 8, discussing plans for new projects, the effects of the Supreme Court’s affirmative action ban and treasury policy, among other topics.

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University

Updated protest guidelines to take effect this school year

By Samantha Eng | September 9

In an email sent to Tufts community members on Aug. 22, University President Sunil Kumar and 12 other university leaders announced new updates to the university’s “time, place and manner” policies around campus activism. The updated guidelines, which apply across all of Tufts’ campuses, serve as a revision to preexisting school policies designed to prevent general disruptions to students’ education, according to university leadership.

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Local

Tufts issues advisory about mosquito-borne viruses in Mass.

By Michael Onysko | September 9

Tufts sent out an advisory to the university community on Aug. 27 warning about a rise in mosquito-borne illnesses throughout Massachusetts. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has reported three human cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis and seven human cases of West Nile virus so far in 2024.

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University

Tufts professors, students reflect on 2024 election, recent spikes in youth involvement

By Amaani Jetley | September 5

With the presidential election coming up in just two months, Tufts faculty and students are witnessing the race between Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris and Republican candidate former President Donald Trump.

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University

Protests continue over Tufts’ use of contractors accused of wage theft

By Gus Gladstein | September 5

The North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters demonstrated in front of the Joyce Cummings Center for a third time on Aug. 31, protesting Tufts’ use of general construction contractors who hire subcontractors accused of wage theft and other labor law violations. Currently, six Tufts buildings are under renovation: 123 Packard Avenue, the East Wing of the Science and Engineering Complex, Eaton Hall, Halligan Hall, Blakeley Hall and Bacon Hall.

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University

Tufts sees drop in racial diversity for Class of 2028 after affirmative action ban

By Estelle Anderson | September 3

Tufts reported a decline in the racial diversity of its incoming first-year class, who represent the first wave of students to be admitted after the Supreme Court’s ruling last year to overturn race-based affirmative action in college admissions. 44% of the Class of 2028 identify as students of color, down from 50% last year.

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University

Carpenters' union protests against wage theft as first-year students check in

By Aaron Gruen | September 3

Workers claiming wage theft protested outside the Joyce Cummings Center on Aug. 23 and 28, as incoming first-year students arrived on campus. Throughout the demonstrations, organized by the North Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, protesters handed out flyers accusing Tufts of hiring contractors who exploit construction workers at Eaton Hall, Blakely Hall and Halligan Hall.

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Local

Somerville City Council endorses November ballot question legalizing psychedelic-assisted therapy in Massachusetts

By Nicholas Prather | September 3

The Somerville City Council passed a resolution on July 11 to endorse the “Natural Psychedelic Substances Act,” an upcoming proposition on the November ballot that would legalize the usage of psychedelics in Massachusetts. If enough voters vote “yes” to the act, which will appear as Question 4 on their ballots, it would allow adults 21 and older to legally grow, possess and use specific amounts of psychedelics that have been shown to have therapeutic benefits for certain mental health conditions.

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University

Tufts modernizes its laundry system with new mobile app

By Josué Pérez | September 3

In an effort to make the process of doing laundry on campus more efficient, Tufts has installed a new laundry system in its residence halls that allows students to track and pay for their loads through a mobile app. Over the summer, the university replaced all old laundry machines with new ones from the commercial laundry service provider CSC ServiceWorks,which provides millions of laundry machines to colleges, hotels and other locations throughout North America and Europe.

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Local

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven to face off against challenger Kathleen Hornby during Sept. 3 primary

By Estelle Anderson | August 30

Just days ahead of the Sept. 3 primary, former legislative staffer Kathleen Hornby is entering the final stretch of her campaign to unseat Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven, in what has become a heated battle for Somerville’s 27th Middlesex District. Uyterhoeven, a self-described Democratic Socialist who has served on Beacon Hill since 2021, represents an area that includes parts of Tufts’ lower campus, Davis Square, Magoun Square and Spring Hill.

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University

BREAKING: Kelly Sims Gallagher appointed as next dean of The Fletcher School

By Estelle Anderson | August 29

Kelly Sims Gallagher will serve as the 15th dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the university announced on Thursday, over a year after appointing her interim dean in July 2023. An expert in climate policy who has taught at Fletcher since 2009, Gallagher said she plans to grow the school’s financial position, increase extracurricular opportunities for students and explore new approaches to how Fletcher addresses global challenges. Her appointment as dean is effective Sept. 1.

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News

Former Tufts professor charged with secretly working as agent for South Korean government

By Estelle Anderson | August 13

Ex-CIA analyst and former Tufts professor Sue Mi Terry was indicted for secretly working for South Korean spies in exchange for luxury goods and nearly $37,000 in funding for a public policy program she controlled. A Fletcher School graduate, Terry taught an Experimental College class called “U.S. Intelligence and Foreign Policymaking” in spring 2022, while allegedly serving as a foreign agent to benefit the South Korean government.

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Local

SMFA students to receive unlimited MBTA access for two years

By Estelle Anderson | July 4

Undergraduate students at Tufts’ School of the Museum of Fine Arts will receive free, unlimited rides on local subways and buses beginning this fall. Tufts is the first school to partner with the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority for this two-year pilot program, called the “University Pass.”

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University

Colleen Ryan appointed as vice provost for faculty

By Estelle Anderson | May 24

Colleen M. Ryan will assume the role of vice provost for faculty on July 1, Provost Caroline Genco announced in an email on Thursday. Ryan currently serves as associate vice provost for faculty at Indiana University Bloomington, where she is a professor of Italian and an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Gender Studies.

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