News

Freshmen finally get their senators

After three elections for the same seven Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate seats, the freshman class finally has its representatives.

Students pursue credit through alternative venues

Unbeknownst to some students, there are many untraditional ways to fill distribution requirements, major requirements and general credit requirements at Tufts without setting foot in a classroom. Whether it be getting credit for a very practical or untraditional course, work on a play or biology research, it is very possible to graduate without having all credits come from standard Tufts courses.

MEFA receives boost in funding

Gov. Deval Patrick announced on April 1 that the Massachusetts Educational Financing Authority (MEFA) would make $300 million in fixed-rate student loans available to undergraduate and graduate students who live in or attend school in Massachusetts.

Some consumer goods may be recession-proof

It's not surprising that people seem to be cutting back on the unnecessary costs of discretionary purchases during the economic recession. Restaurants are losing customers, electronic stores are closing, and even the pornography industry seems to be going soft; however, some notable exceptions -- from candy to Spam to condoms -- have managed to avoid the economic downturn and actually turn a profit.

"Cash Cab" concept may head south: University of Oklahoma student proposes turning safe rides program into game show

Many universities around the United States have safe ride and police escort programs for students who don't feel comfortable walking or driving home late at night. But despite relentless warnings surrounding the dangers of strolling home alone and driving under the influence, many such escort services are not always heavily utilized. Students at the University of Oklahoma (UO) are working to amend this norm.

Sam Sommers wins Professor of the Year

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate announced last week that Assistant Professor of Psychology Sam Sommers will receive the Dr. Gerald R. Gill Professor of the Year Award at a reception on April 22.

Silence to mark mistreatment of queer community

If friends fail to respond when spoken to today, there is a good chance they're not ignoring you -- just drawing attention to queer rights.

Tufts English professor dies in apparent suicide

Professor of English Deborah Digges died Friday night at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Digges, a celebrated poet and award-winning author, was 59.

Will Ehrenfeld | Stuff Tufts People Like

By now, everyone on campus has heard about the alleged "bias incident" that occurred in Lewis Hall last week involving a dance group from the Korean Students Association (KSA) and a drunk freshman. Personally, I got multiple e-mails from friends and one from Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, and an invitation to a Facebook group (which at last count had 1,824 members), and I came across multiple Facebook "notes" about the situation.

Professor sheds light on organic chemistry

For many prospective pre-medical students around the country, organic chemistry is one of the most daunting obstacles to deal with while fulfilling their barrage of requirements. Professors often consider it a weed-out course, and so do many of their students.

Interview | Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz, the CEO and founder of the nonprofit Acumen Fund, spoke at the Cabot Intercultural Center on Friday about her philosophy on social change through entrepreneurship and microfinance-related investments. The Institute for Global Leadership (IGL) and the IGL's Empower Program sponsored her visit.

Tufts professor suggests an economically friendly method to combat climate change

In many cases, solutions concerning the economic crisis and resolutions regarding the environment do not go hand in hand. From politicians focusing policies on financial issues to the everyday person hesitating to spend extra money on organic food, the recession does not seem to allow much room for green initiatives. There may, however, be a way for environmentally conscious economists to have their cake and eat it too.

An endorsement of honesty

In the aftermath of Wednesday's now-nullified freshman senate elections, in which several candidates for Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate asked their supporters to exploit a glitch in the election software, many of the implicated candidates defended their actions. 

Rare languages have low popularity at Tufts

While it may be easy to recognize the words hola and bonjour as "hello" in Spanish and French, the words jambo and bonjou, salutations in Swahili and Haitian Creole, respectively, aren't nearly as accessible. While most college students stick to the basic romance languages that characterized their middle and high school educations, Swahili and Haitian Creole are just a couple of examples of the other foreign languages that a select few Tufts students are eagerly exploring.

Interactive | What the freshman TCU Senate candidates sent

Local company gets greener

When the Somerville business Taza Chocolate used United Parcel Service (UPS) to ship its products to local establishments as close as two miles from its chocolate factory, UPS first sent the products 120 miles away to a sorting center in Rhode Island before transporting them back to the Boston area.

Correction

The photo accompanying yesterday's Features article "Reitman speaks about challenges he has faced on the Hill" was mistakenly credited to Rebekah Sokol. It was actually taken by Meredith Klein.

Freshman Senate candidates defend actions

In the aftermath of the midnight maneuverings that culminated in the nullification of Wednesday's freshman Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate results, candidates have maintained that they did not act maliciously.

Nutrition researchers reveal possible benefits of drinking

During the days of Prohibition, liquor lovers went to great lengths -- such as making spirits in their bathtubs -- to be able to imbibe. During the Great Depression, the penniless would often still find a way to drink. Nowadays, the alcohol craze has certainly not stopped.

TCU Senate survey shines light on students' financial situations

A recent Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate survey has demonstrated the impact that the economic downturn is having on students' ability to afford a college education.