News

Tufts reflects on a decade since Sept. 11

Most members of the undergraduate Class of 2015 were only in third grade when the United States and the world were rocked by the events of Sept. 11, 2001, but it was a day whose repercussions have shaped the past 10 years of every person on the Hill in some way. Here is a selection of the reflections we received from members of the Tufts community on their memories of that day and how it has affected them.

For freshman YouTube sensation, Crimson aspirations turn to Jumbo loyalty

Large groups of people often exhibit a collective personality. Tufts' approximately 5,000 undergraduates are no exception, and their communal eccentricities are some of the reasons freshman Grace Oberhofer gave for choosing to attend Tufts. "It came down to personality. I like the quirkiness," she said.

In memory of Fred Rothbaum

Professor of Child Development Fred Rothbaum, an innovative researcher specializing in parent-child and family relationships, and beloved professor, died of a heart attack on Aug. 24 while biking on vacation in Maine. He was 61.

UIT, Facilities add campus improvements

The Medford campus underwent major infrastructural improvements this summer, as University Information Technology (UIT) completed the installation of wireless Internet access in all residence halls, and the Department of Facilities Services oversaw $12.5 million of construction and renovations.

Streamlined Pre-O application process meant larger pool

A new, streamlined application and payment process for freshman pre-orientation programs this year paved the way for an unprecedented number of applicants to some of the programs and less stress for the incoming students who applied, according to organizers.

Jumbos return from 'fascinating' 8-day trip to North Korea

For some students this summer, getting away from the bustle of the academic year meant finding an off-road beach house or a hammock in a tropical paradise somewhere. During the first week of June, a group of Jumbos took "getting away" a couple steps further, instead traveling to one of the most isolated countries in the world, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Pinching pennies while living large

Welcome to Tufts! You're now a member of the elite club of New England schools that winces every time the tuition bill arrives sporting a big five-digit number. That's right, paying for college — especially during Orientation when airfare, parents' hotel rooms and U-Hauls come into play — can be a strain on your (or your parents') checkbook. And while there's not much you can do about some of the bigger costs, here are some tips for avoiding unnecessary spending. It's easier than you might think to pinch pennies as you navigate your first few weeks on the Hill on a college student's budget.

Academic advice

How to build your first semester schedule.

An introduction to Tufts' student government bodies

As Tufts' student government organizations gear up for the semester, new students ought to learn about the power-holding organizations run by elected students. Some new students may even want to consider joining one of Tufts' student government or entertainment organizations.

A Tufts glossary

Liberal arts undergrads may choose things like French or Arabic to fulfill their language requirements, but all students should have a dictionary to help them navigate the unique language of Tufts. Here are the ABC's of living and learning on the Hill that you'll need to know to get by:

The ultimate Tufts bucket list

Orientation week will be a whirlwind, but the next four years will go by faster than you can say, "Oh my, there's an elephant on the railroad tracks!" There are plenty of ways to make the best of your time on the Hill, and here are a few to keep in mind before you find yourself in a cap and gown.

Beyond Boundaries campaign concludes raising $1.2 billion

Beyond Boundaries: The Campaign for Tufts, the largest university-wide capital campaign in Tufts history, has come to a close having reached its $1.2 billion goal.

Class of 2011 Senior Profiles

Provost Jamshed Bharucha heads to the City

Tucked away in the corner of the second floor in Ballou Hall, where the slick marble floors, meticulously maintained carpets and extra-high ceilings are more reminiscent of a grand hotel than an administration building, hangs a painting titled "Portrait of an Unknown Man." It is just outside the office of Provost and Senior Vice President Jamshed Bharucha, who has established himself as a key player in the university's increasing prestige in his nine years on the Hill.

Backed by university, annual winter festival will succeed NQR

A new student-run event will offer Tufts undergraduates a fully clothed way to celebrate the end of classes next December.

Federal budget cuts largely spare nonprofits and financial aid

A month after a heated debate over the federal budget brought the government dangerously close to a full shutdown, members of the Tufts community can breathe easier knowing that the budget cuts were less severe than anticipated for local nonprofit service organizations and need-based federal financial aid for college students.

Africana studies task force set to deliver final report this month

Members of the task force on Africana studies are set to deliver their final conclusions on the future of the study of the African Diaspora at Tufts near the end of this month, with the administration prepared to use its recommendations in making a decision on the issue by September.

Nurses union reaches contract agreement with Tufts Medical

Tufts Medical Center officials in the early hours of May 6 narrowly avoided a nurse's strike that had been planned to begin hours later. Administrators reached an agreement on a contract extension agreement with the union for Tufts Medical's 1,200 nurses, according to Barbara Tiller, a nurse at Tufts Medical and chair of the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA) bargaining unit.

Romy Oltuski | The Dilettante

It came as a surprise to many of my friends that I waited until the last week of my senior year to hole up in Tisch Library for the first time. It's not that I've never been immersed in Tisch culture — I've met people for coffee in it; I've used its printers; I've rented its DVDs; I've taken classes in it; I've made out in its book stacks; I've smoked on top of it; I even, to my dismay, once saw someone in the back room of its media center jerking off behind his computer in the dark, probably (hopefully) thinking he was not in plain sight of those walking by its roof.

Spotlight on the class of 2011: Senior profiles

Mike Niconchuk