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.
Scene: Hodgdon Good−to−Go Take−Out. Cast: the ladies and you. Action: peer pressure. We've all been there, a dollar or two under our meal limit, and have had every item in Hodgdon slowly listed to us, sometimes two or three times, until we reach the difficult decision of what else to get. You feel you can't refuse more food from the Hodgdon ladies. You have to choose something. And so you snatch up Poland Spring bottles like they're going out of style because hey, it's water, the spice of life! You use those dollars to your full advantage, and you walk home smiling a little smile for being just that extra bit more penny−wise today. Here's looking at you, kid.
President Barack Obama in recent days seems to have adopted a new word to sum up his presidency in place of his previous favorite, "change." Compromise seems to be the name of the game now, at least when it comes to dealing with the incoming Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.
What makes great literature? Are the most "important" books those taught perennially in high schools and universities nationwide — those canonical texts constantly revisited and analyzed by scholars? Perhaps this question should be rephrased: Who makes literature great?
"We go to new lands," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said on Thursday after announcing that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup. Qatar, originally thought to be a long shot to get the Cup, outbid Australia, Japan and the United States for the right to be host. FIFA, the world's soccer governing body, announced that Russia would receive the 2018 Cup; the country beat out Spain/Portugal, Belgium/Netherlands and England.
For many of the survivors of the dark early morning hours of Dec. 3, 1984, in Bhopal, dawn has yet to break 26 years later. Bhopal, a city in central India once famous for its lakes and old mosques, has since become infamous for being the site of the world's worst industrial disaster.
The balance of national politics has only grown more uncertain since the Republicans retook the House of Representatives last month, and it has become evident that every item on President Barack Obama's agenda will prove to be a strenuous battle of its own. However, this is rarely expected in foreign policy, where politics is said to end at the water's edge. For that reason, the White House had eagerly anticipated that one of the President's greatest achievements, the arms reduction treaty known as the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), would finally earn the necessary support from the U.S. Senate this year.
Although Tufts administrators and students have worked hard to create a revised sexual assault policy and adjudication process that better addresses the needs of the community, certain aspects of the new policy possibly conflict with federal statutes. Sexual assault is shockingly prevalent on college campuses and, unfortunately, Tufts is no exception. It is therefore vital that the university takes steps to protect victims and appropriately discipline perpetrators.
I rarely comment on campus issues but today, I feel so inclined. For those who aren't aware, Tufts sent out a community e-mail on Thursday, Dec. 2 stating that "a male with a handgun" was sighted on campus. The e-mail described the suspect as African-American and stated that town and campus police were notified of the incident. Shortly after, a correction to this report was released. Apparently, it had all been a false alarm. What had been perceived to be a gun was actually a ratchet wrench. I assumed that this would have been the end of it. I was wrong.
It is common for Tufts students to participate in programs that aim to help people in other countries. While I think that it is important to be aware of different people, cultures and events outside the United States, it seems that we are neglecting current problems in our country and even in our own community here at Tufts.
Tori Amos once sang, "It's not a question if I can fight by your side and withstand anything."
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