Opinion - The Tufts Daily

Opinion

TDC show displays need for accountability

December 8

On Saturday, the Tufts Dance Collectives (TDC) 9:30 p.m. show was halted by Tufts University Police Department just after intermission as a result of seven alcohol-related medical calls, an unsanitary environment and a few incidents of vandalism. Rumors abounded that TDC would go the way of the Naked Quad Run, Winter Bash and Fall Gala, given the universitys recent undertaking to reformat or cancel altogether campus-wide events due to unsafe alcohol abuse.

Opinion

Banning Tufts Dance Collective would be a mistake

December 8

One of the most liberating, healthy and character-building things that I have learned at Tufts is the ability to balter. To "balter" is to dance gracelessly without particular art or style but perhaps with some enjoyment. Tufts Dance Collective is the ultimate showcase of baltering: an equal opportunity, all-inclusive celebration of movement for the sake of movement.

Opinion

Limited steps forward

December 4

Within the last few weeks, the Tufts Office of Undergraduate Admissions granted the Tufts Community Union Senates proposal for the university to join the Institute of International Education (IIE) Syria Consortium for Higher Education in Crisis. This initiative aims to help Syrian students who have been displaced connect with American institutions. There are over thirty American institutions that are currently working with the organization to scout qualified applicants from Syria and offer them academic scholarships. In 2012, the IIE Consortium gathered together 39 institutions to commit 150 scholarships. The result was that 13 universities granted a total of 70 scholarships to Syrian students. The organization plans to expand and open up its online application portal for a second round of applicants in January 2014.

Editorial

'Rainbow Steps' is welcome name change

December 3

Names shape our understanding of that which they denote. Their sound, connotations and literal meanings create a subjective impression of whatever they refer to; how different would it be if we were called the "Weasels" instead of the "Jumbos?" Similarly, places around our campus resonate with us in different ways based on their names. In light of the progress the university has made toward addressing the issue of sexual assault on campus, having the phrase "Rape Steps" as part of the Tufts vocabulary is distasteful and insensitive. It's about time that we collectively change the name of the staircase by Wren Hall to something more upbeat - the "Rainbow Steps."

Opinion

Acknowledging class councils' work

December 2

This semester, Tufts' four class councils have done a commendable job reaching out to the student body, organizing events and publicizing these events across campus.

Opinion

Acknowledging class councils work

December 2

This semester, Tufts four class councils have done a commendable job reaching out to the student body, organizing events and publicizing these events across campus.

Opinion

Need for late-night study space

December 1

As the chilling fog of finals begins to creep up upon inhabitants of Walnut Hill, students begin to stay up later and later pining over textbooks, crib sheets and code. Not only is there last minute studying to do, but final papers and projects must be completed by professors deadlines.

Opinion

NSFW

December 1

Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault and rape.

Opinion

Call them the Rainbow Steps

December 1

Trigger warning: This article discusses sexual assault and rape.

Opinion

Take a break this Thanksgiving

November 25

As everyone on the Hill is painfully aware, Thanksgiving Day falls rather late this year at the very end of November. As such, the Thanksgiving recess, overlapping with Hanukkah, cuts short the penultimate full week of classes, leading many students to anticipate typing final papers and studying for tests over their turkey.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

November 24

Dear Editor,

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

November 24

Dear Editor,

Opinion

Solar panels exemplify sound sustainability efforts

November 20

The most distinctive feature of Dowling Hall is, without a doubt, the large, bronze elephant head that greets all who enter the building. Starting next year, the Jumbo head wont be the only thing attracting attention at Dowling: the university will be installing a new solar panel system with the support of SunBug Solar LLC, based in Somerville.

Opinion

Subsidizing subway expenses for students

November 19

Over the past few weeks, the Tufts community has frequently discussed the affordability of transportation to and from Boston. The general consensus is that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) offers a limited travel schedule and steep prices, discouraging students from making the most of the city. Despite recent discourse regarding the potential implementation of a weekend night shuttle to Boston, there is still a need for the university to address the constraints of day-to-day travel using the MBTA system.

Opinion

Preparing for peace

November 18

Jeremy Ben-Ami, the president and founder of J Street, the pro-Israel, pro-peace national organization, spoke last week to a group of students about America's role in the recent peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians. J Street aims to change the political dynamic surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, specifically by mobilizing broad support for a two-state solution.

Opinion

Continued support for Tufts football

November 18

Its not hard to find someone at Tufts who has never been to a football game. Given that this year marks the third consecutive winless season for the team, this shouldnt necessarily come as a surprise. The student body as a whole especially freshmen, sophomores and juniors who have never had a win to celebrate are incredibly unsupportive of the football team, which only sees full bleachers during hyped-up games like Homecoming and the Parents Weekend game.

Opinion

Tufts can make 24-hour MBTA service a reality

November 17

The TCU Senate's proposal to create a shuttle bus to downtown Boston is a shortsighted answer to a long-term problem. Yes, students are currently constrained by the fact that the MBTA shuts down at 12:30 a.m. Yes, a shuttle would provide a "reliable and safe mode of transportation" to campus. But the proposal of a private shuttle provides limited overall accessibility and mobility to Tufts students in response to what is a structural problem with mass transit in the Boston area.

Opinion

Need for late-night dining choices

November 17

The Tufts Community Union Senate last night approved a resolution for the addition of a late-night dining option to Tufts Dining Services facilities. Given the current lack of late-night dining options on campus, the resolution is an important one that the university should seriously consider. Students often find themselves without on-campus eateries that accept the meal plan after the dining halls have closed. Students with activities that go past 7:30 p.m. on Friday or study sessions that last well into the night have limited choices when it comes to finding a bite to eat.

Opinion

The distance rule of my ethical calculus

November 13

This semester I came back to Tufts a day removed from a trip to Nepal (#Thats_What_YOLO_Means). As the semester creeps to an end, and what you did over the summer has ceased being an appropriate conversation starter, I've realized my window for self-congratulation is closing - thus my motivation to write.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

November 13

Dear Editor,