Opinion

Food allergies: Something to take seriously

On Friday night, Tufts students received yet another security alert from the university. Yet unlike the usual stories of students in danger while walking off−campus, this security alert detailed the possible attempt of a Tufts student to attack a female by triggering her food allergy. Yes, Friday was April Fool's Day and it may have seemed funny to pull a prank on someone. Yes, the perpetrator was later found to not present a credible threat, according to the Tufts University Police Department. But food allergies are serious and the repercussions of the near−prankster's actions could have been as serious. While I cannot attest to the potential victim's peanut allergy, serious food allergies generally can lead to anaphylaxis, an intense reaction in which an allergen causes anything from vomiting to breathing trouble and, in cases like mine, can be deadly.

Ashish Malhotra | Follow the Leader

Leading a country with extreme inequalities, poverty and a massive population must be tough for Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. But if you ask Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni what the toughest leadership position in India is, he might just say it's his. That's because for many of India's 1.21 billion people, the prime minister is not the leader they follow most closely. Rather, their eyes and the weight of their hopes, expectations and dreams are perpetually on Dhoni and his team. This was never more the case than over the past 10 days as India romped through the final stages of the International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup, beating three−time defending champions Australia and regional archrivals Pakistan and Sri Lanka to become the World Champion.

Obama energy plan must be enacted now, not later

President Barack Obama yesterday delivered a speech at Georgetown University, calling for a one-third reduction in U.S. oil imports by 2025 and emphasizing the need for the development and cultivation of alternative energy sources. While Obama addressed issues of rising oil prices — and noted that in order to reduce foreign imports, the United States will need to take advantage of domestic oil options in the meantime — he insisted that we cannot rely on a resource that is eventually going to run out. Instead, he said, alternative energy should be the real focus of energy policy efforts.

An Epicurean break

With all the students returning to classes this week, it is only natural that the topic of spring break comes up, especially in those first few minutes before the class actually begins. Some students stayed local, some went to Florida or Mexico and some crossed continents; unfortunately, there were even those who had to work most of the break. For some reason, we seem to live in a country made up mostly of extreme types of people. When it comes to vacations and leisure, there are those on one side who party and drink to excess, and then there are those on the opposite extreme who hardly ever take a break. I spent part of my break reading up on Epicureanism, a misunderstood philosophy that partially discusses the importance of leisure and peace.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Prashanth Parameswaran | The Asianist

As pools of radioactive water leak from Japan's crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, some are suggesting that the world should stem the tide in favor of nuclear energy over the last few years. That would be a tragic mistake. Nuclear power, like all other forms of energy generation, has its share of risks. But if the world can manage them, nuclear power can contribute significantly to providing access to the billions that still lack it, satiating soaring energy demands and mitigating the threat of climate change.

ROTC deserves credit beyond transcript recognition

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate on Sunday passed a non−binding resolution regarding the university's policies on the military's Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC). The resolution, which passed 21−0 with three abstaining, includes two proposals concerning recognition for participation in ROTC. The first proposal calls for notation of ROTC participation on students' transcripts upon their completion of the program. The second proposes recognizing ROTC participation on final transcripts for every semester a student takes ROTC courses. We at the Daily urge the faculty to support both of these measures when it votes on them in the coming weeks.

Welcome to the Beehive

"The life of the bee will be the life of our race" - Nikola Tesla.

Eve and Mary at the grocery store

I picked up some almonds in the store the other day and noticed the label: "No Salt. No Guilt." Excuse me? I had heard about "guilt−free eating" blogs but hadn't thought much about them, and then I came face to face with this trend of attempting to assuage (predominantly female) guilt about eating. Where does this come from? Why does my grocery store want to convince me not to feel guilty about eating? I already don't feel guilty about eating! By presupposing guilt, they help to create it. They have given me a free pass because I've bought the unsalted almonds, but if I bought the salted ones, we'd have a problem. Horrible feelings of shame as I bring the roasted, salted nut to my lips. Laugh, but I think the connection between guilt surrounding food and guilt surrounding sex is pretty clear. Female desire is seen as shameful, terrifying and dangerous for everyone involved. Our friends in the almond advertising business have picked up on this and they want to help! Help to curb your insatiable lust with plain almonds, just don't get fancy!

Elisha Sum | InQueery

On October 28, 2009, President Obama signed into law the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This legislation widened the scope of its landmark 1969 precursor, extending hate crimes to include those based on a person's sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability. Its passage was followed by praise and adulation from voices both from within and outside of mainstream LGBT groups. As expected, such a one−sided story fails to paint a complete picture about the issues surrounding hate crimes legislation (HCL). So I'd like to look at some other perspectives, particularly but not limited to that of queer peoples.

Perspective on NQR: Finding a new tradition

Now that we are back from spring break, we, as Tufts Community Union (TCU) president and co−chair of the Programming Board, would like to take this opportunity to explain how we are moving forward following the announcement about the decision to end the Naked Quad Run (NQR).

Times paywall a difficult step in the right direction

Four hundred fifty−five dollars is no pittance. But as of yesterday, that is the amount of money per year one has to pay to read The New York Times across all digital platforms. Subscriptions start at $15 every four weeks, $195 a year, for website and smartphone access and jump to $35 every four weeks, $455 a year, for unlimited website, smartphone and tablet access. Compare this to The Wall Street Journal and The Economist, two other news giants that charge for digital access, whose price tags come in at $207 and $110, respectively, for yearly access. There is no doubt that the Times is asking for a large amount of money for access to its content, but it is a price worth paying, and the newspaper is taking a logical step.

Cancellation of NQR shows lack of support from TCU Senate

Two weeks ago, University President Lawrence Bacow surprised Tufts students and alumni when he announced that Tufts University will no longer sanction the Naked Quad Run (NQR). His decision upset the student body and induced feelings of sadness, disappointment and even anger. But President Bacow's decision was not particularly surprising to those who were aware of the president's disapproval of NQR — a weariness that stemmed from his first encounter with the run in 2002, the subsequent years of anxiety that the run caused him and the adverse reactions of the Board of Trustees to reports of this year's NQR being riddled with overconsumption, police brutality and students' heckling of police.

Japan should instruct, not deter, our nuclear future

Over the past weeks, we have watched as the Sendai earthquake and tsunami have thrown Japan's nuclear power plants into a deepening state of emergency. Even as the repairs are made and the reactors cool, neighboring towns will likely suffer the effects of radiation for decades to come.

Ashish Malhotra | Follow the Leader

While many of you were enjoying your spring breaks in Cancun or Puerto Rico, United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 was passed on March 17, issuing a no−fly zone over Libya. Within days of the resolution's passing, Libya was struck from the air by foreign powers.

Letter to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Don't forget to think before you support

On Tuesday, March 8, The Tufts Daily published an article, "Senate backs more lenient marijuana policy," in which sophomore Alex Baskin, president of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), adamantly fights for ... well, what exactly was it again? The right to smoke weed? You have a better chance of being disciplined for talking after quiet hours than you do for smoking marijuana outside. In the article, Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman was quoted as saying that he did not believe anybody had been disciplined for marijuana this year. Yet SSDP garnered the support of 500 students who would like to challenge the policy and "reduce" it to a fine. Choosing an enforceable fine over an unenforced policy is hardly sensible.

Tufts must outline specific cyber bullying policy

Larry Bacow is not my homeboy

University President Lawrence Bacow's decision to end Naked Quad Run (NQR) is symptomatic of Tufts' widespread failure to address the flourishing drinking problem on campus. The administration's past behavior suggests that Tufts is clueless about how to stifle rampant alcohol abuse and relies on increasing security or canceling events to give the appearance of meaningful action. But buffed−up security and event cancellations don't improve Tufts' drinking culture; it only decreases the opportunities it has to be visible. Perhaps as a PR ploy, Bacow's decision was successful, but otherwise it displays an alarming lack of judgment.

Libyan no-fly zone is a slippery slope

The Group of Eight (G-8) nations were not able to agree yesterday, after negotiations in Paris, on the issue of a no-fly zone over Libya. Intended to shield civilians and opposition forces from Col. Muammar Qaddafi, the measure was strongly supported by France and the United Kingdom, while Germany and Russia led the opposition. The United States has, thus far, been hesitant to support intervention. The Daily believes that the Obama administration should not support a no-fly zone.