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Opinion

The Setonian
Opinion

Acknowledging appropriation

November 5

Internationally minded universities like Tufts pride themselves on diversity. Students are encouraged to share their own cultures and experiences with those of their peers. Such exchanges can often be of a sensitive nature: When is this sort of discussion appropriate? In what context? Who decides?

The Setonian
Opinion

Giving due attention to bystander effect

November 4

Since the infamous murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964, the bystander effect has been a recognized psychological phenomenon that occurs when one or more individuals do not intervene in a dangerous or emergency situation.

The Setonian
Opinion

Colored Hinduism: Holi and the Tufts community

November 3

While freedom of speech is a civil right accepted beyond question, it becomes problematic to have only one public opinion among an unfamiliar audience. AnjaliShankar'sop-ed "On Holi and the Color Run" (Oct. 29) is an opinion well expressed. I thank her for bringing this important issue to light. While her voice is certainly valid, we need to look at the counter-arguments too in order to ensure a balanced discussion on the topic. In this op-ed, I aim to nuance the terms Shankar uses and warn against certain unintended consequences of her article, which may have a great degree of collateral damage in days to come.

The Setonian
Opinion

‘Boston Strong’ unites resilient city

November 3

As the Boston Red Sox celebrated their World Series title among millions of fans at this Saturday’s duck boat parade in Boston, a phrase that didn’t really exist seven months ago echoed throughout the region. It’s a ubiquitous term that is plastered on T-shirts, coffee mugs, street signs, status updates, newspapers — you name it. “Boston Strong,” which initially served as a rally call to honor and support those affected by the Marathon bombings, reminding everyone how resilient the city and its people are, has since extended beyond the context of the tragedy to serve as a symbol of strength for every aspect of the city.

The Setonian
Opinion

'Boston Strong' unites resilient city

November 3

As the Boston Red Sox celebrated their World Series title among millions of fans at this Saturday's duck boat parade in Boston, a phrase that didn't really exist seven months ago echoed throughout the region. It's a ubiquitous term that is plastered on T-shirts, coffee mugs, street signs, status updates, newspapers - you name it. "Boston Strong," which initially served as a rally call to honor and support those affected by the Marathon bombings, reminding everyone how resilient the city and its people are, has since extended beyond the context of the tragedy to serve as a symbol of strength for every aspect of the city.

The Setonian
Opinion

The most infamous World Series

October 30

Would such a brazen act be even remotely possible today?For baseball fans everywhere who will be watching Game 4 of the 2013 World Series, scheduled to be played Sunday night in St. Louis, the first instinct is probably: There is no way any team could come close to getting away with it.The 1919 Chicago ...

Dear Editor,The other day I was walking by the ostrich statue and overheard a tour guide exclaim something along the lines of, It is very rare that you will find a Tufts student who is neither double majoring nor pursuing a minor." When I was a prospective student, I actually paid attention to which schools mentioned the fact that a lot of the student body double majors, because how awesome would it be, I thought, to attend a school where everyone is passionate about so many things? During my freshman year, I was completely undecided about my major because so many subjects fascinated me, and I thought of myself as someone who would definitely double major or take advantage of one of the interdisciplinary, innovative minors that Tufts offers. This year, I finally decided on my one major, not long before I overheard this tour guide's comment which almost made me second guess my decision. This comment got me thinking about the amazing opportunities that a single major will give me during my undergraduate education. Earlier, I associated double majors with diverse interests, but now I feel like I have too many interests to package into two majors. I can take classes from as many departments as I want without worrying if they fulfill major requirements. I can study abroad for a semester, and if I wanted to, a full year. I can take four and a half classes every semester to have time for all the extracurriculars I am involved in. And I can take more classes than are required for my major to really dive deep into the graphs and numbers I love so much. According to Robert Mack, associate dean of undergraduate education, "Many students define success by how much they can do, and ... many students are relieved when we talk and redefine success with experiences that are beyond that of an academic major or minor." In other words, having two majors does not define our success at Tufts
Opinion

Humanity’s better angels

October 30

Have you ever wondered, in those moments when the world seems especially hateful, how humanity as a race keeps going, not just on, but forward? We often seem to inhabit a world full of people whose empathy comes with an off switch when it comes to anyone outside their ‘tribe’ (race, ethnicity, nation ...

The dreadful summer hiatus without "Supernatural" is finally over. With "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here," one of the show's best season openers to date, the ninth season has immediately established itself as a must-watch. Though each of the characters' central conflicts is recognized, the episode still leaves room for unexpected twists and great action. From its gorgeous new title card to excellent performances from the main cast and guest stars alike, "Supernatural" is definitely going to be one of this year's best shows."Supernatural" is most certainly a cult series. Although it may not have the best ratings, its incredibly devoted fan base gives the show a great deal of creative freedom, making it unlike anything else on television. What started as a police procedural show with a horror-movie twist has turned into a complex take on Judeo-Christian mythology, with angels and demons warring over control of humanity. Seasons six and seven were admittedly disappointing. However, "Supernatural" bounced back with season eight, which featured clever writing and excellent performances from each of its main players. So far, season nine is shaping up to be even better than its predecessor, answering most of the questions left open by last season's cliffhanger and setting up this season's mythological arc. The premiere was well paced and alternated amongst the plotlines of the three main characters. Dean Winchester, played by Jensen Ackles, expresses desperation under his character's outward facade of strength as he struggles to save his brother from death (yet again). Castiel, a former angel and season regular played by Misha Collins, is heartbreaking to watch as he discovers all the quirks and pains of being human and struggles to return to the Winchesters."Supernatural" has always been a tale of fighting for redemption, and it seems that much of this season will focus on Castiel's struggle to find a home as angels hunt him down after he expelled them from heaven. But it was Jared Padalecki who really shines in this episode, expertly portraying the other Winchester brother, Sam, as he comes to grips with his mortality.The episode also features cameos from Jim Beaver as Bobby, the boys' gruff yet lovable father figure who died tragically in season seven, and Julian Richings as Death. Both characters are incredibly moving as they counsel Sam while he debates whether to live or die. Tahmoh Penikett, who played the beloved character Helo on "Battlestar Galactica" (2004-2009) also guest stars as the angel Ezekiel. Penikett's performance is subtle and intriguing, and one can only hope that he will be in more episodes in the future.Producer Jeremy Carver had previously hinted that Dean would be helping Sam heal in an unconventional and dangerous way, leading to wild speculation among fans. The recent revelation of how Sam will be cured is both shocking and upsetting, and it is a testament to the show's ability to surprise its viewers, even after eight seasons. Another one of the series' assets is the Ackles-Padalecki chemistry, as the relationship between brothers Sam and Dean has always been the true core of the show. It will be interesting to see how the two characters develop during the season, both as a unit and individually.If season nine can continue to surprise and intrigue viewers, "Supernatural" will undoubtedly position itself as one of the best shows on television. The strength of "Supernatural" lies not only in its expert storytelling, but also in the relationships between each of the characters. Seasons six and seven slipped because they concentrated on an overarching plot rather than character development - a mistake that season eight righted. Now, season nine seems poised for success - it leaves viewers wondering how these new circumstances will affect each of the characters. "Supernatural" may be a show about monsters, but what ultimately makes the series excellent is its focus on humanity.
Opinion

Mythology of weapons

October 30

The recent ‘deweaponisation’ advertisements by the Sindh government provide a classic case study of how one can ‘appear’ to be executing a task, without actually wanting or intending to do it. Spread over 12 days, these quarter-page ads, which cost some 20-25 million rupees, resulted in the ...

HBO's newest satire "Silicon Valley" is likely to be one of the most user-friendly comedies of 2014. Centered on a bumbling bunch of 20-something techies trying to make it big in Palo Alto, Calif., "Silicon Valley" mercilessly lampoons the Google-centric culture that the Internet-generation uniquely understands.Richard Hendricks (Thomas Middleditch), an awkward, reserved programmer who resides in a "hacker hostel" and spends his days writing code, embodies the show's charming quality. Hendricks is polite but scruffy, smart but incapable of writing a business plan without having to look up instructions online. These qualities are what make it so endearing when he must decide which direction to steer Pied Piper, his unmarketable music program that just so happens to have a built-in file compression algorithm valued at $10 million - an entirely unintentional invention.Hendricks and his friends (Martin Starr, Kumail Nanjiani, Josh Brener and T.J. Miller) work at Hooli, a fictional tech giant akin to Google, Twitter, Apple or perhaps an amalgamation of all three. Hooli is more like a colorful, chrome-laden playground than a business, providing lighthearted opportunities to poke fun at the eccentricities of Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg. The office is rife with ridiculous inventions, TED talks and people who despise college - and all the employees, of course, believe they are only working there until they stumble upon a life-changing tech innovation. It is these elements of the "Silicon Valley" culture that provide the show with ample comedic fodder - and the writers don't hold back. Even would-be motivational posters are lampooned. Examples include "We can only achieve greatness if we first achieve goodness" and "It takes change to make change."It's sufficient that "Silicon Valley" makes this group of discomfited, sweatshirt-clad nerds interesting enough to come back to after the pilot episode, but what's particularly impressive is how the show uses inoffensive humor that is both subtle and accessible. It's like finding a diamond in the rough in today's comedic TV-scape, where most comedies are either wildly inappropriate, aggressive and obnoxious, or too off-the-wall for a mainstream audience. Here, instead of following the usual joke-a-minute formula, "Silicon Valley" slips in its funniest moments seamlessly to compliment a plot that could otherwise stand on its own.In this way, the show's creators have to do very little to poke fun at situations that are already quite humorous. The first episode opens with a raging launch party in a lavish California mansion; however, the guests are too awkward to pass it off as their natural habitat. They drink "liquid shrimp" from test tubes and attempt to speak up over an out of place performance by Kid Rock, who is supposedly the poorest one there. It is pointed out that every guest over a "seven" was probably paid to attend. And every time someone mentions the nebulous new website they're celebrating, it is played up as the next big thing to change the world. Watching newly minted adults with extravagant wealth is always entertaining, but it's even more so when they have no clue what do to with the riches being funneled their way. This mash up of new-money extravagance and young adult bewilderment is amusing in and of itself, with each of the programmers racing to the top of the Palo Alto food chain as awkwardly as humanly possible.Hendricks showcases this kind of new-age success best. The protagonist has two luxurious paths laid out before him: sell his $10-million algorithm to boss Gavin Belson (Matt Ross) or run with an investment from larger-than-life venture capitalist Peter Gregory (Christopher Evan Welch). But when it comes to actual adult decisions, Hendricks is a loveable fish out of water. At one point he conspicuously sips from an empty mug in a business meeting because it is "just something to do," one of many moments during which palpable discomfort makes this show all the more charming.Each character on "Silicon Valley" shares this geeky, relatable quality, whether he is struggling to find the right hoodie to wear or conveying sadness by simply saying, "This is displeasing." They navigate the superficial landscape of excess affluence and absurd, cutting-edge technology like clumsy outsiders. Once it seems like Hendricks and his band of coding cohorts have it all together, the next episode holds an entertaining plot twist to trip them up again. For a series based on stereotypes that could easily come off as trite and overdone, "Silicon Valley" exceeds expectations, promising to be one of the freshest mainstream comedies to debut this year.
Opinion

Young Women, Drinking and Rape

By The Tufts Daily | October 30

Over the years, I often have found myself wanting to point out to young women that if they get blind drunk they run a very serious risk of being raped. But I know that the advice will be misunderstood and misused.So I leave it unsaid because some listeners will inevitably conclude that I am blaming ...

425 Washington Street - right near the Somerville/Cambridge border - may be a bit out of the way, but heading over there is well worth the journey because the Kirkland Tap and Trotter is the gourmet pub you have always hoped to encounter. The restaurant is owned by chef Tony Maw who wanted to create a place where fine food and casual dining mesh. Equal parts rustic and modern, the restaurant's interior personifies it best: at any given point, one can spot tarnished brick, white wood, pastel grey plaster and a facade composed entirely of framed glass windows. Along with the slim Edison bulbs above the bar, this dimly lit venue has a gorgeous atmosphere, and, more importantly, delicious food.The menu at the Kirkland Tap and Trotter is essentially composed of pub cuisine - rich flavors built around fairly standard dishes: fish, burgers, pork sausage and ribs. But the menu is still peppered with more unconventional items, such as the grilled salmon head. Served with a radish and arugula salad, the salmon is so tender it practically falls apart at the touch of a fork. The Maine mussels, which come in a saffron-infused broth, are just as good, if not better - an impressive feat considering how difficult it is to make mussels shed their often fishy taste and stringy texture.And those are only the appetizers. The entrees are just as exciting, and here, the main courses have subtle nuances that distinguish them from your standard pub food. Tap and Trotter's grass-fed cheeseburger comes with kimchi Russian dressing and melted Emmental cheese. It is a decadent, melt-in-your-mouth burger that tastes both savory and pleasantly sour, served on a small sesame bun with a side of seasoned potato crisps. One menu item, simply called Pork Three Ways, comes with - you guessed it - pork done three different ways: two types of sausage and a slice of pork stomach. The menu also contains a number of vegetarian options, and the desserts - like their entree counterparts - are basic dishes embellished with quirky additions.With food like this, it's no surprise that the drink menu is also impressive. Cocktails are comparable to the restaurant's food in taste. Indeed, The Kirkland Tap and Trotter is not afraid to use more exotic liqueur such as cachaca, Corralejo and Bigallet - to name only a few. There is also a wide variety of beer on tap and a number of craft beers to choose from. It's difficult to imagine anybody not finding something they'd like, and, moreover, every option reflects the restaurant's screwball sense of refinement and the overall excellence of their ingredients. If neither beer nor cocktails are your cup of tea, the restaurant also has an extensive wine menu. The bar is small, comfortably intimate and very well stocked.The Kirkland Tap and Trotter is thoroughly consistent in its ambiance and offerings. A casual yet classy environment sees waiters wearing aprons draped over plaid shirts and track lighting that lines the ceiling where exposed pipes and air conditioning vents are visible. Though the restaurant's sense of rusticity can feel somewhat calculated, this is precisely the point: to have the feel of an unpretentious restaurant with the fare of an upscale gastronomic pub. This is a foodie's eatery - a place that can serve as an appropriate venue for both big and small occasions, and one that can house both casual outings and formal events. The food is inspired, the atmosphere is perfect and the drinks and service are great. The Kirkland Tap and Trotter deserves all the praise it receives.
Opinion

Meet the Makers

October 30

But that is exactly what I got last week by traveling to the China-Myanmar border area to visit Chinese village schools with the leaders of Teach for All, the network of 32 countries that have adopted the Teach for America model of recruiting highly motivated college graduates to work in their country’s ...

The Setonian
Opinion

Homecoming at Howard

October 30

MY son is 13 and already cultivating an eclectic sense of himself. His friends span the American rainbow, and taken together, look like an ad for Gap Kids. I once heard him tell a group of giggling teenage girls, “You’re the first girls from Georgia” — the country, not the state — “I’ve ...

The Setonian
Opinion

A Dynasty to Duck

By The Tufts Daily | October 30

Enzi, the conservative senator from Wyoming who’s trying to fend off a carpetbagger challenge from Liz Cheney, is lucky he wasn’t hunting buddies with the trigger-happy former vice president.Then he might not be in the race at all.One of the best things about the 2008 race was ushering out the incalculably ...

The Setonian
Opinion

Allies in Revolt

October 30

It is not every day that America finds itself facing open rebellion from its allies, yet that is what is happening with Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Israel. The Obama administration has denied there are serious problems. But there are clearly differences, some perhaps irreconcilable.Here’s a quick summary: ...

The Setonian
Opinion

The trouble with (just) recycling

October 29

Consider this: If every human being on earth lived and consumed as Americans do, we would need over four earths to support ourselves. This is called global overshoot, and it is like living off our ecological credit card. Our current unsustainable way of life is borrowing from the future. Is this sustainable? Hardly. So, as Tufts students, as young people coming of age at a time of deep social and environmental injustices, what should we do? We didn't create these problems; we inherited them. Yet the responsibility to act falls squarely on our shoulders. 

The Setonian
Opinion

Giving back and moving forward

October 29

Given the overwhelmingly college-centric lives we lead, it is easy to forget that, as Tufts students, we are also residents of Medford and Somerville. The university has therefore embarked on a new partnership with the two cities in an effort to bolster relations with the surrounding community. With a donation of $1.375 million over a five-year period — a portion of which will go toward local police and fire departments — the university hopes to build a mutually beneficial relationship with our local governments and communities. This partnership is a commendable one, as it is necessary for Tufts to give back to and maintain a good standing with the community.

The Setonian
Opinion

University should expand ASL program

October 28

Last spring, the Tufts administration made the decision to allow American Sign Language (ASL) to fulfill Part I of the foreign language requirement for students. After a perennial debate as to whether the requirement should be revised to include ASL, university faculty voted to approve the proposal. Now, the three available ASL classes — included within the Eliot Pearson Department of Child Development’s course listings — can be taken to count toward either Part I or Part II of the requirement.

The Setonian
Opinion

On Holi and the Color Run

October 28

Being born and raised in the Hindu tradition, all the stories I have learned growing up are very different from western fairytales. A lot of the cultural traditions are fiercely integral to the religion itself, and instead of first hearing the story of Rapunzel's very long hair, I learned about how a young boy managed to survive being burned alive. It's some heavy stuff. But, like any good story, it operates within the culture it is written or spoken in. We see how these kinds of parables shape everyday thinking in many ways. David and Goliath, for example, is an Abrahamic story that doesn't just make us feel good about the underdog, but it shows us that greater intellect and technology (in the form of a slingshot) can triumph over brute force alone. It also shows us that, with faith, one can overcome monstrous adversity. The story of Prahlada, and subsequently, the story of Holi, is very similar.

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