Opinion
Jumbo pride: multimedia on campus
November 8Have you ever had a moment when you were incredibly impressed by the work your peers were doing on the Tufts campus?
Opinion
Editorial
A call to reconsider enforcement of BYOB policy
November 4Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman, who currently oversees the Greek community at Tufts, released a statement last weekend asserting his intention to more strictly monitor and enforce national fraternity guidelines regarding alcohol at Greek social functions.
Opinion
In Defense of Sen. Kerry
November 4What? You mean a lot of Democrats think little of Sen. John Kerry? I know people had problems with Kerry, but surely we can get over them and appreciate the good, right? A friend informed me the other day that in fact, no, Kerry is still on quite a few folks' s--t list; or at least on their meh list. Come now, homies. I am certainly biased in my opinion; after all, I do have quite a few man-crushes on the men of Massachusetts, such as John Adams and the dead Kennedys. Regardless, I feel it's my duty as a native to remind everyone of some of the accomplishments Kerry has achieved in his lifetime.
Opinion
Honoring our true American heroes
November 3It seems odd that the administration has decided that classes should be held on Nov. 11, Veterans Day, a national holiday that recognizes all the people who have been or are currently in the military. Tufts administrators realized earlier this year that they had to add one more day to the academic calendar because this semester began particularly late in the year. So why did the Tufts administration choose to hold classes on Veterans Day, a holiday that commemorates fallen heroes, over a holiday such as Columbus Day, which is of significance mainly for its commemoration of a false hero? For over 200 years, millions of citizens have given their time, and often their lives, to defending our country. We owe so much to the military personnel who faithfully put their lives on the line when we are threatened. When they come home, they are welcomed as heroes but often left without the health and monetary benefits they deserve. Tufts is not acknowledging the importance of the work that the military does, and is not drawing attention to the need for sufficiently funding of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. What has Christopher Columbus done for the United States? Sure, he has been falsely accredited with discovering the country over 500 years ago. And yes, he may have been the first recognized European to set foot in the Americas (Norse sailors made a trans-Atlantic journey of their own centuries earlier, but apparently they don't count), but does that really deserve more reverence than the people who have actively worked to protect the United States and its citizens? Should Christopher Columbus deserve any respect at all? He forced the land's original inhabitants into slavery and led a misbegotten quest for scarce gold. Columbus eventually set up a provisional colony on the island of Hispaniola, mostly by telling apocryphal tales to European elites convincing them that his New World was a glorious place begging for "civilized" settlers. Columbus used violence liberally while governing Hispaniola. This American hero was little more than a charlatan who was out to make money and a name for himself, and who administered his middling colony so poorly that he was eventually thrown into prison and shipped back to Spain. Veterans, on the other hand, often find more sentimental appreciation than tangible assistance upon their return home. According to a 2008 RAND Corporation study, one out of every five American veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has post-traumatic stress disorder or major depression. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 131,000 military veterans are homeless, and has announced a plan to confront this problem. Surely we ought to set aside a day to promote awareness of the issues plaguing those who make sacrifices for our country and come home deeply affected by their service, if not dead. When the administration is putting together the 2010 academic calendar, it should reconsider its choice of holidays. Veterans Day has a worthy purpose and should be observed by Tufts students. In opting to celebrate Columbus rather than U.S. military veterans, the university is trivializing the sacrifices of our true heroes.
Opinion
Mitigating the clash
November 3Religion is like science: It has the power to change the world in both wonderfully profound and highly divisive ways. Religion has been the catalyst for many of the great social movements of this past century. A pastor, Martin Luther King, Jr., led the nonviolent civil rights movement, while a devout Hindu, Mahatma Gandhi, led the nonviolent Indian independence movement. Furthermore, religious institutions are a major provider of social capital for active citizenship. With that being said, it is undeniable that people are murdered daily in the name of religion and that even more people face bigotry because of their faith or beliefs. So, how can we approach these problems?
Editorial
Tufts supports students through major decisions
November 2As Tufts sophomores begin to contemplate declaring a major, many struggle to find a faculty advisor. With only two full semesters of courses behind them, sophomores have limited experience talking to professors, and only a fraction of the professors they have taken classes with would qualify as potential advisors for their major. Many students find themselves at a loss as to whom they can ask, and they often are in the somewhat uncomfortable position of sending an e-mail to a professor whom they have never met in person.
Editorial
Representation, not token inclusion
November 2Ask any high school senior to talk about diversity at the colleges she is applying to and she could list some pretty accurate percentages on ethnic groups. Many colleges, including Tufts, are able to boast some attractive numbers in terms of diversity. But community representatives serving on the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate are feeling unheard and unsure of their role in the body. There is concern over how to attain a sensitive balance between adequately representing student groups in the Senate while still ensuring that those groups do not override Senate members who are meant to stand for a broader constituency of students.
Opinion
Relieved, if not impressed
November 1In the wake of the disaster that was this fall's inaugural Senior Pub Night, many were skeptical about the decision to schedule a similar event last week. Halloween Club Night, however, defied expectations as a showcase of exemplary behavior — on the part of college students, at least.
Opinion
Black Solidarity Day: What does it mean?
October 28In terms of the world of prejudice and racism, much has happened in the last 40 years. The development of minorities in the education system and political process has improved greatly, and we have gone from a time when it was hard for blacks to put a vote in the ballot box to a time when a black man can be in the White House. Some might think that the effect the black population has on the community is only spontaneous, with great leaders and thinkers appearing from decade to decade. However, the impact blacks have can be seen every day. This is what Black Solidarity Day was created to express. Black Solidarity Day was created in 1969 as a day nationally observed by African-American men, women and students. It always occurs the Monday before elections take place; this year it falls on Nov. 2. Originally, the event brought black people together to discuss their political status and the direction in which their future was going. The day also focused on the value and goals of education within the black community. It was, and still is, a day of discussion and a time for everyone, no matter of what race or education, to discuss how we all affect each other's lives. Discussion is important to Black Solidarity Day, as well as the concept of it as a day of absence, during which black people do not attend school or work and try to avoid making purchases and spending money throughout the day. These actions only further demonstrate the impact the black community has on the workplace and its stimulation of the nation's economy. So what does the black community add to the classroom and the workplace? Mainly, perspective. No matter what social class, city or personality someone comes from in the black community, their perspective always can add to a classroom discussion, university policies and faculty meetings. Other people don't have to feel obligated to understand the pressures and experiences that are shared, but at least they will know. Knowledge is the first step to understanding. I am a half-black, half-Puerto Rican male who, on the outside, mostly comes off as black. I went to a predominantly Caucasian private high school in downtown Chicago and had a very eye-opening experience. I volunteered with a group of fellow students at a homeless shelter during my junior year. We were cleaning out a large closet of toys and supplies and organizing its items in the basement. While doing so, many of the children who lived at the homeless shelter, predominantly black, started to take toys and we told them they couldn't take them away. The Caucasian supervisor of the shelter helped us make sure the kids stopped taking toys away. Moments later, while I was taking a box of toys down to the basement, the supervisor stopped me and asked, "Where do you think you're going with those?" "To the basement," I said. "And why is that?" he asked me angrily. "Um, because, uh, that's what you wanted us to do right?" I asked worriedly. I had no idea what I was doing wrong. "Oh, you're with the school group," he said. It took me a couple of seconds to answer, but I mouthed, "Yes." The supervisor walked away and I stood in place, frozen. All my fellow classmates were frozen as well, digesting the event. One broke the silence and said, "That was the most racist thing that I've ever seen." If you haven't realized it, the supervisor believed that I lived in the homeless shelter. The only reason for which I think he could have possibly thought that was the color of my skin. What does this experience have to do with anything? Well, it was more for my classmates than for me. My classmates became aware of the blatant racism that even kids their own age experience, and they became more vocal when it came to conversations about diversity and prejudice. This is what Black Solidarity Day hopes to instill. While celebrating our own culture and history, the black community wants to express how our experiences impact the experiences that we have in the classroom and workplace. The black community has a voice in this nation, and the nation has not yet fully realized how large that voice is. So to help support making this voice known, join the Pan-African Alliance in celebrating Black Solidarity Day. It will be held on Nov. 2 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the lower patio of the Mayer Campus Center. There will be performances by Tufts student groups, a student speech and a faculty speech by new black history professor Peniel Joseph, as well as the opportunity for students to express themselves through spoken word. To show even more support, wear all black or the colors of the Pan-African flag (red, black and green). Please come and support, and just remember the effects our actions have on others.
Opinion
October is ... National Spinach Lovers Month?
October 28October is a busy month. The calendar bursts with events devoted to raising awareness, showing appreciation and emphasizing issues on a national scale. October is dedicated to many serious issues: It is Latino Heritage Month, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Gay and Lesbian History Month, National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Crime Prevention Month, to name a few. The month is also pledged to a number of much less solemn topics. October is Eat Better, Eat Together Month; National Roller Skating Month; Spinach Lovers Month; and National Sarcastic Awareness Month. Just one day in October boasts a whole host of scheduled observances. For instance, Oct. 30 is deemed Checklist Day, Create a Great Funeral Day, Devil's Night, Haunted Refrigerator Night, International Bandanna Day, National Candy Corn Day and National Forgiveness Day. Even though the month has only 31 days, the Daily found 84 different official and unofficial full-month observances, 54 weekly observances and 121 single-day observances. The sheer quantity of these events is overwhelming, and leads us to wonder whether many of the activities, topics and objects deserve as much recognition as some of the others in the first place. Moreover, who actually celebrates all of the observances? One can only hope that not too many actually participate in Create a Great Funeral Day. While "national" days are literally acts of Congress, others are created by companies, special interest groups, sports teams or other bodies that simply devote one day to something. Official or not, these accumulate. Bombarded with so many options for observances, most of us do not have time to acknowledge or devote attention to many of the issues raised, whether they are serious or humorous. We become jaded by all the advertisements and announcements. One day should not be dedicated to seven unrelated, variously esoteric events with unpredictable degrees of seriousness; this barrage detracts from the issues that really deserve our consideration. We are distracted from subjects that merit great attention by a certain product, pop-culture phenomenon or random object that someone once fancifully thought to commemorate. We should put our energy toward concentrating on prominent national issues, not haunted refrigerators or bandannas. While celebrating such items can undoubtedly be entertaining, they hardly merit public endorsements. Congress recognizes October as both National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Roller Skating Month. Surely, these two do not deserve the same amount of attention. Our government has failed to distinguish between gravity and triviality. With Halloween and daylight-saving time fast approaching, October is winding down. The Daily urges all to take note of the more important issues highlighted during the last 29 days. We ought to give the legitimate issues raised during the course of this month their due, and let the true message of these "days" and "months" seep in: to be aware of them not only for 24 hours or 31 days, but throughout the course of our daily lives.
Opinion
Personal achievement trumps societal advancement
October 27In his Oct. 21 op-ed, "Be in fewer clubs," Alex Baskin exhorted students to increase the quality of their dedication to extra-curricular activities by decreasing the quantity of groups they join. In contemporary society, particularly within the culture of Tufts University, this is not a particularly feasible suggestion. Philosopher Thomas Hobbes once suggested that individual rationality leads to collective irrationality, which in turn creates a terrible state of nature. Not to spend a lot of time interpreting Hobbes, but for the purpose of this argument, the idea is that if each person does whatever is best for him- or herself, it will be detrimental to society. I scored the idea when I was first introduced to it in class. I excluded myself, along with others who shared my paradigm, from the classification of people who put their own interests before those of society. I truly believed that there could be a large enough body of people who understand that compromising on social issues would be better overall, since when the collective benefits, all of its members are able to reap the benefits as well. Baskin's op-ed demolished my unmerited self-righteousness; he caused the façade of idealism that I set up around myself to disintegrate. I realized that I was in no way above submitting to my own individual desires without even considering their impact on a greater community.
Opinion
Preparing for the future, not just cutting budgets
October 27Despite the economic recession, college tuition fees continue to rise at an alarming rate. According to a recent report issued by the College Board, tuition costs in the last year jumped 6.6 percent at public institutions and 4.4 percent at private ones. Colleges and universities keep hiking up the cost of education, in spite of a 2.2 percent decline in the Consumer Price Index over the past year. This is not only appalling on the surface; it is also the result of uncreative thinking on the part of colleges and universities, which have not taken advantage of this opportunity to implement better infrastructures for the future.
Editorial
Cutting costs, compromising education
October 26Universities both public and private are struggling to deal with the financial realities of this national recession without compromising their commitment to education. Economic constraints have made budget cuts unavoidable for most universities, and the California State University (CSU) system, hamstrung by a particularly tight state budget, has cut costs in ways that directly harm student education. The CSU's decision was unwise, but all the blame cannot be placed on the schools, subject as they are to California's capricious state funding.
Opinion
The faces of violence at Tufts
October 26Domestic Violence Awareness Month, October, is geared toward spreading awareness that domestic and sexual assault and violence are serious societal concerns that can affect everyone, regardless of stratifying categories such as race, class, gender, religion, political beliefs and sexual orientation. They are issues that must be addressed. By us. Right here. And right now.
Opinion
Medical amnesty crucial for students' safety
October 25Tufts' new alcohol policy sparked an immediate reaction across campus. Some lamented how it would impact their Saturday night activities, while others were quick to point out its dangerous implications for students in need of medical attention due to alcohol consumption. Still others, most notably Tufts Community Union (TCU) President Brandon Rattiner, attacked the university's decision to implement the policy without consulting the student body or its leaders. Now, however, the debate is moving beyond fault-finding and finger-pointing into the realm of solutions. TCU Senate has submitted a plan to the newly formed Alcohol Task Force enumerating steps to both lower the amount of alcohol consumption on campus and address the issue of students binge drinking to the point of needing medical care.
Opinion
Campus alcohol debate: Outlining the TCU Senate strategy
October 25As the debate around alcohol consumption and policy continues here at Tufts, it is essential that the agenda, strategies and desired outcomes of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate remain transparent to the student body. Transparency is needed to ensure that all students at Tufts feel confident that the Senate is representing their best interests and are comfortable contacting the Senate with their own opinions. With that in mind, the aim of this op-ed is to highlight the basic plan that the Senate, and specifically the Administration and Policy Committee, has developed to ensure Tufts' new direction on alcohol is both fair and effective.
Opinion
Clubbed to death: The rise of boutique publications
October 25Whenever I see a Tufts tour guide in the Mayer Campus Center, perched on the stairs above a pack of prospective Jumbos, saying how easy it is to start a new group, I feel like I'm watching a wolf lead a pack of sheep into her den. The incoming freshmen, baited, can't wait to put "founder" on their resume. That's why we now have over 150 student groups, each trying to meet once a week.
Opinion
NYC ban on bake sales overreaches
October 21"Freshman 15" is the first term that appears on the list of suggested search inquiries when one types the word "freshman" into Google. The infamous expression refers to the 15-pound weight gain that supposedly afflicts so many college freshmen. But many colleges and universities now work to ensuring that dining hall options encourage students to maintain healthy eating habits and fend off that extra heft.
Opinion
Jacob Kreimer | The Salvador
October 21If you get the chance to swing through El Salvador while on the Pan-American Highway, you might notice that you won't need to change your currency from what was sitting in your wallet north of the border.
Opinion
Setting the record straight for the Greek community
October 21On Oct. 13 the Daily published an editorial titled "Pledge a commitment to philanthropy." The piece criticizes the Greek community, stating that "aside from the provision of music, dance floors and beer, little is known about what fraternities and sororities do to help the community."
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.
Read MoreTrending
The Print Edition
