U.S. District Judge William K. Sessions III ordered on Friday that Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk be moved to Vermont no later than May 1 from Louisiana where she is currently detained. Sessions concluded that the Vermont district court holds jurisdiction to consider Öztürk’s request for habeas relief.
A Louisiana federal immigration judge denied bond to Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk on Wednesday afternoon. The judge determined that she was a “flight risk and a danger to the community,” according to a supplemental document filed by her legal counsel in her Vermont proceedings. Öztürk’s case was transferred to Vermont on April 4, ordered by a federal judge in Massachusetts.
In anticipation of International Earth Day, the Sustainable CORE Fellows, the Tufts University Social Collective and the Tufts Community Union held Earth Fest on Sunday in Eaton Hall. The event featured a farmer’s market, student vendors, a clothing swap and live music performances from Tufts a cappella group sQ! and a student-led band, Cutting Corners.
Local Medford and Somerville leaders, as well as Massachusetts state leaders, have strengthened their response to the detainment of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk. Elected officials released a joint statement, and the Medford City Council passed an official resolution for her release.
On March 24, Somerville Mayor Katjana Ballantyne officially announced her reelection bid. She is seeking a third term since her initial election in 2021, facing declared challengers including Somerville City Councilors at-Large Jake Wilson and Willie Burnley Jr., as well as Somerville resident Jason Mackey.
The Office of the President sent a declaration signed by University President Sunil Kumar in support of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk, in an email to the Tufts community on April 2. Executed on April 1, Kumar’s declaration was filed as an affidavit in a motion for her release ...
The new full cost of attendance for Tufts University will be approximately $96,078 for incoming undergraduate students for the 2025–26 academic year. The estimated total cost of attendance has gone up by $3,911. The cost of attendance for the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences has surpassed $100,000 for international students, reaching a total of $100,682.
The Tufts Community Union Senate debated an appeal on supplementary funding and broader bylaws changes during their meeting on Sunday.
On Monday,Tufts issued a declaration supporting a lawsuit filed by several universities against the Department of Energy over its decision to implement a 15% cap on indirect costs for existing and future research grants to universities and colleges. The Department of Energy announced its decision on Friday.
On April 4, U.S. District Judge Angel Kelley ordered a permanent injunction on the National Institutes of Health,preventing the cuts on indirect medical research costs from taking effect nationwide. However, four days later, the United States Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the NIH, filed a Notice of Appeal. The case is now in the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
The Tufts Community Union Elections Commission announced the incoming senators for the 2025–26 academic year on Saturday, shortly after voting concluded at 12 p.m. According to junior Luca O’Neil, the treasurer of the Election Commission, approximately 16.2% of students voted in the election, down from last year’s approximately 20%.
On Thursday, Rümeysa Öztürk’s legal counsel filed a motion to the United States District Court for the District of Vermont for her immediate release or, alternatively, her return to Vermont. The government’s counsel argues that Öztürk’s petition remains improperly filed and that the only court with the proper jurisdiction over her case is in Louisiana, where she is currently detained. In a Vermont hearing on Monday, the district court will consider its jurisdiction over Öztürk’s case.
On April 9, the Tufts Community Union Senate Elections Commission hosted their annual meet-and-greet event with candidates running for seats on the Senate, the Judiciary and the Committee on Student Life. The event offered Tufts students the opportunity to speak with candidates prior to TCU elections, which are occurring from April 10 to Saturday at noon.
On Monday, the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life hosted Democrat Seth Moulton, the representative forMassachusetts’s 6th congressional district. This event was co-sponsored by the Department of Political Science, Tufts ACTION, the Tufts Federalist Society and the Tufts Democrats.
The Office of Residential Life & Learning notified students on Feb. 25 that the Russian/Slavic and Central Asian Culture House will pause for the next academic year.“ Interest in the house is very low and Residential Life isn’t able to offer the Russian, Slavic, and Central Asian Culture House next year,” ResLife wrote in an email to students who had been offered a place in the house next year.
On March 3, the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life welcomed Cong Tony Sun as the new executive administrative dean. As the first executive administrative dean of Tisch College, he is at the forefront of developing the institution’s administrative and financial policies.
The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life hosted Oren Cass, conservative economist, author and founder ofAmerican Compass, to give a talk cosponsored by the Tufts Federalist Society and Tufts Republicans on Tuesday.
The City of Medford’s plans to revise and modernize zoning laws across the city recently resulted in rezoning in the Salem Street Corridor District. Medford City Council is planning new zoning with the help of consulting group Innes Associates and feedback from councilors and residents. Adopted by Medford City Council on March 11, the process followed the standard four-step procedure of proposal, review and recommendation by the Community Development Board and commentary from residents.
On April 2, JumboVote hosted an event in collaboration with Medford City Councilors Zac Bears and Kit Collins to discuss the role of local politics during periods of political uncertainty. The event was largely overseen by JumboVote Outreach Chair sophomore Teagan Mustone, who hoped to further educate students on the role of local government.
The visas of two Tufts graduate students have been terminated by the federal government, including the visa of Rümeysa Öztürk. The university confirmed on Monday that the federal government terminated the visa of a second graduate student on Thursday but did not disclose their identity.
