Opinion

Another reason to reform the Senate

The list of reasons why Americans feel their politics are broken is long and growing. Here's one of many: The U.S. Senate, which due to the way the U.S. population has grown and settled, has developed a "small state bias" so grave that it is on the verge of becoming an undemocratic institution. The issue is serious enough that it has become necessary to question whether major reform of Congress, and particularly the Senate, is needed.

Hey, you with the ovaries

Hey, woman, yeah you with the ovaries, we're talking to you:

BDS: Undermining peace

In the past few months, the Tufts campus has seen its fair share of debate about the Israel/Palestine issue. On Friday, Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) brought University of California Berkeley professor and anti-Zionist advocate Judith Butler to speak. Excluding the content of her speech, her self-identification as an anti-Zionist calls into question her legitimacy as an impartial advocate and her fairness as a speaker. Zionism is simply support for the Jewish right to self-determination in the Jewish people's historic homeland free from anti-Semitic persecution.  Butler's stance as contrary to a national group's self-determination merits a closer look at what she actually stands for.

Tufts Student Fund begins spring campaign

As many Tufts students are painfully aware, tuition is a heavy and growing burden to bear in exchange for a college education. Over half of our student body receives some sort of financial aid, and President Anthony Monaco has mentioned numerous times how important the issue is to him, personally and professionally. When working on the budget for 2012-2013, he cited financial aid as a critical area of investment and speaks often of his gratitude towards Princeton for their help. "Without that help, I probably never would have become a scientist," he stated, "and I certainly would not be standing before you today." 

Inexcusable ignorance

It can be difficult to facilitate an environment of civil discourse in an online arena. Anonymity, impulsive posting and low barriers to entry mean that even conversations about complex issues can quickly devolve into heated flame wars full of personal attacks with little bearing on the subject at hand. Likewise, online anonymity can make it easier for individuals to engage in cyberbullying without fear of repercussions.

Limitless strip-searches

The Supreme Court ruled on Monday that jailhouse strip-searches are legal regardless of the offense for which the accused was arrested. That is, officials can strip-search anyone in jail for any reason. The decision was 5-4, with the split along ideological lines. Justice Anthony Kennedy voted with the four conservative justices, while the dissent came unanimously from the liberal wing.

Let every vote count

This year, Election Day for President is on Nov. 6, 2012, right? Wrong, or at least partially so. Election Day for President is really Dec. 17, 2012, when presidential electors will gather at state houses across the nation and cast the only votes that count - electoral votes. We the people don't actually vote for the president - or even have the right to do so. It's time we changed that.

Alex Kaufman and Jacob Passy | Sassy Cinema

How many times have we gone to the movies, seen a director's name and taken "wild" guesses at who would be starring ... and been absolutely right? Like artists from every century, film directors often look to individuals to inspire their creativity - their muses. In this column, Sassy Cinema explores the questions of who, why and to what end do directors hire their muses in multiple movies and varying roles.

Alyson Yee | Odd Jobs

A fine choice for commencement speaker

Crossing a line not etched in sand

When I was walking down the library steps this past Wednesday, I was shocked and disturbed to see posters for Hillel's Jewish Queer Students at Tufts' then?upcoming event "God vs. Gay? The Religious Case for Equality" defaced with stickers saying "apartheid" in Hebrew.

Everyone has prejudices, and some people are racist

Keep sexual orientation off the Common App

Pro-Con: Dewick-MacPhie

Letter to the Editor

Jack Webster and Hannah Furgang | A piece of advice

Better than service cuts

Theta Chi aids Syrian refugees as revolution continues

Free speech on the Hill

The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) yesterday published its second annual list of the "Twelve Worst Colleges for Free Speech." Tufts University was featured once again, this year coming in 10th. Two other Boston-area universities also made the list: Harvard in fourth place and Brandeis in 12th. The mission of FIRE is to "defend and sustain individual rights at America's colleges and universities." FIRE brings attention to free speech violations at colleges around the country and occasionally even uses its own legal resources to help students whose rights it believes are being violated.

Cities under siege