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Local

Medford School Committee votes to ratify contract with teachers association

By Anika Parr | April 25

On April 14, the Medford School Committee voted to ratify a contract with the Medford Teachers Association. The motion passed with all present members voting in favor. “I think the teachers union and the negotiating team from the school side did a great job getting the contract settled,” Medford Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn, who abstained from the negotiation because her sister is part of the school system, said. “I am just really, really excited that we got to this resolution.”

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University

Former Zeta Psi fraternity house set to be demolished

By Michael Onysko | April 25

Preliminary work has begun on the demolition of the former Tufts chapter of Zeta Psi fraternity at 80 Professors Row, with the structure and its foundation set to be removed by commencement. Tufts purchased the property from the Zeta Psi national organization in 2024 with the intention to demolish the house, given its “severe state of disrepair,” according to a statement from Barbara Stein, vice president for operations. Zeta Psi was disbanded in 2021 for violating Tufts’ COVID-19 guidelines.

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University

Kumar co-signs letter with over 200 university presidents pushing back on Trump administration

By Josué Pérez | April 23

University President Sunil Kumar called for “constructive engagement” with 238 university and college leaders in a statement released by the American Association of Colleges & Universities on April 22. The signatories announced that they are speaking with one voice against recent “unprecedented government overreach and political interference now endangering American higher education.”

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University

Tufts Democrats and Tufts Republicans release joint statement condemning detainment of Rümeysa Öztürk

By Shayna Levy | April 22

Tufts Democrats and Tufts Republicans released a joint statement on April 10 condemning the arrest and detainment ofRümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts doctoral student who was detained by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement in Somerville on March 25.

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University

UPDATE: Judge denies government appeal, holds that Öztürk must return to Vermont

By Samantha Eng | April 18

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.

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University

Louisiana federal judge denies bond to Rümeysa Öztürk

By Josué Pérez | April 18

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.

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University

Fourth annual Earth Fest is held by Sustainable Core Fellows, TUSC, TCU

By Varya Karpinskaya | April 18

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.

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Local

Local leaders heighten calls for release of Rümeysa Öztürk

By Julian Glickman | April 17

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.

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Local

Somerville Mayor Ballantyne announces reelection bid for 3rd term

By Anika Parr | April 17

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.

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University

‘A risk no matter what’: Professors discuss Kumar’s affidavit supporting Rümeysa Öztürk

By Michael Onysko | April 17

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 ...

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University

Cost of attendance rises to $96,078 for 2025-26 year

By Josué Pérez | April 16

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.

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University

TCU Senators hear supplementary funding appeal and new graduation robes resolution

By Spenser Walsh | April 16

The Tufts Community Union Senate debated an appeal on supplementary funding and broader bylaws changes during their meeting on Sunday.

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University

Tufts issues declaration supporting lawsuit against the Department of Energy’s new rate cap policy

By Josué Pérez | April 15

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.

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University

Federal government appeals permanent injunction in NIH case

By Josué Pérez | April 15

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.

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University

BREAKING: 2025–26 TCU Senate election results announced

By Josué Pérez | April 12

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%.

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University

Rümeysa Öztürk describes detainment, poor conditions at ICE detention center in declaration

By Samantha Eng | April 11

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.

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University

ECOM hosts meet-and-greet with TCU Senate candidates

By Zoe Herrmann | April 11

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.

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University

Tisch College hosts Rep. Seth Moulton

By Amelia Sammons | April 11

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.

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University

Russian, Slavic and Central Asian Culture House to pause next year

By Marlee Stout | April 10

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.

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University

Tisch College welcomes Cong Tony Sun as first executive administrative dean

By Anika Parr | April 10

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.

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