Opinion - The Tufts Daily

Opinion

Third World Order versus New World Order

November 17

If you have been wondering about the main reason behind President Barack Obama's 10-day visit to Asian countries including India, Indonesia and South Korea, the answer is the rising concern among Western states regarding the growing power of China and particularly her efforts to rally third world countries to the cause of a "Third World Order" as a counterbalance to the "New World Order" championed by the United States of America.

Opinion

The choice between soccer and life lessons

November 16

On the night of Nov. 9, a girls' district championship soccer game took place between Needham and Brockton high schools. Brockton beat Needham 7−1, but this was largely attributable to the fact that a significant portion of the Needham girls' soccer team was not allowed to play in the game. Needham High, located in Needham, Mass., suspended five players after they got word of the team partaking in a hazing ritual. The team's coach was also put on administrative leave, as he apparently knew of the incident but did not immediately report it.

Opinion

United States should relax Myanmar sanctions

November 16

Though last week's general election in Myanmar — the first in 20 years — may prove to be little more than a superficial rearranging of corrupt officials, pro−democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's release from house arrest has a chance at reinvigorating the Burmese people and encouraging them to demand basic rights, as well as truly free elections.

Opinion

Join our benevolent police force: A call for genocide education

November 16

We spent our semesters abroad studying and immersing ourselves in the legacies of two different genocides. Lauren lived in Prague, a city with one of the largest Jewish populations in Europe before the Holocaust, studying its Jewish history through the Holocaust and the revival of the Jewish community today. Annie lived in Rwanda with a Rwandan family studying the aftermath and reconciliation process following the genocide. These transformative experiences inspired us to see the realities of genocide and its relevance to all of mankind, specifically to us college students.

Opinion

Real allies

November 16

The claims made in the Monday's op−ed "A film for Israel's real allies" can be divided into two groups: the factually misleading, and the egregiously offensive. The former belies both an understandable, albeit regrettable, misinterpretation of the facts, and bias in reporting those said facts. The latter reflects much deeper prejudices toward Israel and its armed forces. Let us first deal with the falsities.

Editorial

Tufts needs a dedicated diversity directorship

November 15

The Office for Institutional Diversity (OID) was created in the spring of 2006, upon the recommendation of the university president, the provost and other members of the Tufts community. The office was officially established in January 2007 with the appointment of Lisa Coleman as its executive director.

Opinion

Correction

November 15

Yesterday's article "No diversity director before president is found" incorrectly attributed the statement that university presidents usually initiate administrative restructuring upon assuming office to Michael Baenen, the chief of staff in the Office of the President. That statement should have been attributed to Ryan Heman and Keith Maddox. The article also misspelled Baenen's name in one reference. The credit of the photograph accompanying yesterday's article "Holy snitch: Tufflepuffs stun Quidditch community, finish second at World Cup" incorrectly indicated that the photograph was courtesy Arlin Ladue. In fact, the photo was courtesy Ian MacLellan.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

November 14

Dear Editor,

Opinion

A film for Israel's real allies

November 14

One of the most dangerous facets of the conflict in Israel/Palestine is the reflexive tendency on the part of both actors in the conflict to immediately dismiss any and all thoughtful critique as threats to their very existence.

Opinion

Bans on Four Loko misdirected

November 14

Is it fair to ban a product because of its potential misuse? As the popular alcohol−infused energy drink Four Loko flies off the shelves, either because of popularity or prohibition, we must ask this question.

Opinion

An invitation

November 9

My father was an officer in the U.S. Army, so, growing up, I always had an ingrained respect for the soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who have volunteered to give up time, security, comfort and personal freedoms to protect that of their fellow countrymen. I think that most Americans share this respect and reverence, but after one war that many Americans opposed and another that seems to be dragging on, it is my sense that many of my peers have lost some respect for how important our men and women in uniform are. Growing up in a nation at war, we have become accustomed to an active military and so the great sacrifices of many go unseen, passed over as a ten second clip on the news.

Editorial

Africana studies program - not department

November 9

The Tufts Community Union Senate on Sunday adopted a resolution that urges the Board of Trustees, the administration and the faculty of the School of Arts & Sciences to start transitioning the Africa in the New World minor — currently affiliated with the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies — to an Africana studies major. The resolution says this should be accomplished by increasing the number of related courses offered and goes on to call for the creation of an Africana studies department as soon as it is financially possible.

Opinion

What did voters really reject on Nov. 2?

November 8

After the Republican Party had, as expected, taken control the House of Representatives, soon-to-be Republican Speaker of the House John Boehner declared to a national audience that the American people had sent President Barack Obama a message. That message was, in Boehner's words: "Change course."

Opinion

A letter from Lucan

November 8

Before the next election cycle, while there is a relative calm in political campaigning, I recommend that readers pick up a translation of Lucan's "Civil War." Lucan, a young poet living under the Roman Emperor Nero in the first century A.D., wrote about the epic clash between Julius Caesar and Pompey Magnus. It is true that the United States has already seen a civil war with as much fury and madness as the one in Rome, however, Americans today have more in common with Romans of Caesar's time in terms of their wealth, their society and their political status in the world.

Opinion

Elisha Sum | Our Genderation

November 8

Tori Amos once sang, "Sometimes, you're nothing but meat."

Opinion

Walden 2010

November 8

A pickle jar of milkweed fluff sits incongruously on a DVD player. Across the room, a leather rabbit's head is mounted on a plaque beside a skillfully drawn diagram of owl and bat skeletons and anatomy. Recipes and scribbled notes are tacked to the walls, some detailing the creation of a "Fork tree," others noting how much mead to purchase. Pencil maps, a box of pinecones, wine bottles, mitten molds and signs. Welcome to "Renovating Walden," a current exhibit at the Tisch Gallery.

Opinion

Visiting the Royall House: Slavery in our midst

November 7

Where can a 15−minute walk from the Tufts campus bring you? You might head down Broadway and get some scrumptious stuffed French toast at Sound Bites. You could stroll over to Davis Square and splurge on a $10 savory sandwich from Dave's Fresh Pasta. Or you could take a trip down College Avenue, turn right onto George Street and stop at a large half−brick edifice on your left.

Opinion

Olbermann and objective journalism

November 7

The Oct. 30 Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, hosted by Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, drew in tens of thousands who gathered to express their exasperation, in part, at the lack of objectivity in news media, calling for a return to truth-seeking journalism. Many media giants forbade their employees from attending the rally, although Jon Stewart claimed that the rally was non-partisan.

Opinion

Letter to the Editor

November 7

Dear Editor,

Opinion

Obama's Latin America policy: No policy at all

November 7

President Obama is ignoring Latin America. Granted, he has been quite busy dealing with problems at home: The financial crisis recovery and health care reform certainly did not go over smoothly, and the midterm elections dealt him a tough blow.