Though university closings due to snow may mean little more than surprise leisure time for students who live on campus, for many students and employees who live far away, they are an essential safety precaution.
This week marks two months since the Tufts community received an e-mail with the subject, "Safety alert: suspicious person reported with a handgun." Generally, campus reaction came in stages: shock, then humor — certainly I wasn't the only one to chuckle at the absurdity of the mix-up between a ratchet wrench and the supposed gun — followed by the rapid deployment of wrench/gun posters, then other posters which reacted to the first round of posters. By some accounts, there was even third round of posters plastered around campus, reacting to reactive posters themselves. For many, these posters had a sobering effect: Suddenly the ludicrous, if not comical, scenario of assuming a black man was handling a gun turned into a pointed critique of the reality of race on campus. Without a doubt, the incident got people talking, and the provocative posters helped to this end. The students who put them up deserve to be commended for bringing the conversation beyond e-mails and articles to a public space impossible to miss. Yet perhaps most frustrating of the wrench/gun incident is how quickly it faded from the campus consciousness. Two months later, is anyone thinking about the fallout?
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict often seems intractable. The two sides have tussled over a plot of land slightly larger than the State of New Jersey for more than 60 years. Both sides' arguments are as old as the conflict itself. Most Israelis say that they support peace and a two-state solution, but that neither of those can be achieved while Israel's neighbors pose a military threat and rockets from Gaza keep hitting Israeli towns. Palestinians, with the support of much of the Arab world, insist that they have at least as much of a right to the land as the Israelis do, if not more. They maintain that there is no hope for peace so long as Israel's aggressive settlement building and harsh security measures continue to affect hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.
In a coincidence with unnerving undertones, Hungary began hosting the European Union's rotating presidency this January just as the country's newly created National Media and Communications Authority (NMCA) began its anointed task of monitoring Hungary's public media. Under a new law which passed in Hungary's Parliament in mid-December — but was drafted as early as June last year — the NMCA will be able to monitor newspapers, TV and radio stations and impose fines of up to 200 million forints (about $950,000) for "unbalanced" and "immoral" reporting and for violating new rules on sex-, drug- and alcohol-related coverage.
The much−awaited teenage drama "Skins" made its debut on MTV on Jan. 7. Based on the award−winning hit in the U.K., "Skins" is marketed toward teenagers and explores issues such as teen drug use, drinking and sexuality. Though "Skins" was a huge hit in Britain, its U.S. successor has not lived up to its name, disappointing many fans of the original series.
As you walk around Tufts, it is likely that you will overhear several conversations regarding drugs. For some, it may be regaling tales of shots taken and beers "shotgun'd." Others may be doting praise upon the stimulants that kept them trucking through finals. And, of course, conversations on the artistic merit of glassware and the dankness of a particular plant are a constant in certain circles. Affecting one's mental state through mind-altering substances is embedded in the human experience, being particularly prominent among college students. This enthusiasm suggests the potential for more comprehensive dialogue, one that critically examines the United States' war on drugs and the complementary, unsustainable growth of the American prison-industrial complex. If we are to create a more perfect union, one that is both just and cost-effective, we must reform the broken institution of the American prison system. For the sake of our wallets and our souls, something needs to be done.
Most American children are encouraged to behave well, succeed in school and develop hobbies and talents outside of the classroom. The typical parental punishment for misbehavior might consist of a time out, a grounding or — worst of all — a suspension of phone or instant-messaging privileges. Is this approach to parenting strict enough?
When one thinks of Egypt, what typically springs to mind are pyramids, pharaohs and the Nile River. Many people tend to focus on its early history, but lately it seems scholars and researchers are tending to look more at its later history, particularly when it was under the rule of the Greeks and the Romans. From Justin Pollard's book, "The Rise and Fall of Alexandria: Birthplace of the Modern World," (2006) to a recent CNN article on St. Anthony's Monastery in Egypt, many scholars are showing how Egypt transformed from an isolationist power to the center of culture and intellect in the ancient world.
The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate's fall student survey asked questions regarding the proposed creation of an Africana studies department or major. Among respondents, 42.7 percent agree or strongly agree that a department is necessary, while 31.6 percent of those responding said they would likely take classes in an Africana studies department. In short, a substantial number of students on campus favor the creation of a separate department in order to major, minor or take classes in Africana studies.
In the Jan. 20 op−ed entitled, "Give late diners equal rights," sophomore Gerardo Zampaglione claimed that Tufts University Dining Services (TUDS) employees were clearing away food before the official closing time. The author neglected to include in his op−ed any explanation from either tenured employees or Tufts students who may be dining−hall student workers.
As 2010 fades into the distance, I would like to offer my thoughts concerning three recent events from last year, which at first seem inconsistent with past historical decisions or which appear to contradict the goals of the actors involved. Upon closer examination it becomes evident that the complicated natures of these events are what make them so thought−provoking.
It took less than a day for the Tucson shooting on Jan. 8 to turn into a political battleground. Only hours after the tragedy unfolded, news stations were airing on repeat an interview from last March in which Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D−Ariz.) herself warned that the heated rhetoric of the right could have violent consequences. Sarah Palin was vilified by the liberal blogosphere, and searches for her "crosshairs map" surged on Google and Yahoo search engines.
As 2010 fades into the distance, I would like to offer my thoughts concerning three recent events from last year, which at first seem inconsistent with past historical decisions or which appear to contradict the goals of the actors involved. Upon closer examination it becomes evident that the complicated natures of these events are what make them so thought−provoking.
I'm not entirely against the "hookup culture" — a culture marked by casual sexual encounters, referred to as "hookups," which are often accompanied by a nonchalant, no−strings−attached attitude — that is typical of our generation.
While the annual Naked Quad Run (NQR) is usually a somewhat chaotic evening, this year's event was particularly hectic when the university chose to end the event early. Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers got into altercations with certain students who allegedly resisted arrest and acted in a disorderly manner.
How many black women writers can you name? How many of them have you actually read? For the majority of us, this answer is limited to a just a few: Toni Morrison, Alice Walker, Maya Angelou.
It's cold, the streets are icy and the Yankees are still the most hated team in sports: Welcome to winter in Boston.
At Tufts University, we enjoy relatively good overall dining facilities. It is, in fact, one of the perks of going to this school. Most every day, and unlike many Jumbos, I relish the chance to eat at the dining halls: I love the carved roast beef at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center (where it is better- cooked than at Carmichael Dining Center) or Stir-Fry Night at Carmichael. Yet there is something absolutely galling about Tufts Dining Services that has come up as of late, and that is the subject of this article.
As I embark on writing my final piece for this column, I look back on the past 11 weeks and reflect. I find that I have taken on a more than mildly pessimistic tone on the current state of affairs, both at home and abroad. I'm not sure if that is due to my inherent cynicism, or if the situation really is that bad. I'm going to discuss yet another topic in order to come to some sort of conclusion on the issue, and as the reader, you may take away what you'd like.
Op-ed submissions are an integral part of our connection with you, our readers. As such, we would like to clarify our guidelines for submitting op-eds and what you can expect from the process.
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