Jumbo Magazine - Spring 2021 by TuftsAdmissions

JUMBO THE TUFTS ADMISSIONS MAGAZINE | THE STORIES OF TUFTS, NOT JUST THE STATS

ADMISSIONS.TUFTS.EDU | ISSUE 29 / SPRING 2021

THE CONNECTING ISSUE From Self-Imposed Restrictions to Symbiotic Journalism, Adaptation, and Gratitude How a Pre-Med Weight Lifter Became a TA for Intro to Acting Ocean Views, Van Gogh, and Boba Shops— A Subway Ride Away Students Are Pioneers in Professor Ayse Asatekin’s Chem-E Lab

M EET JUMBO

These pages were written by Tufts students. Flipping through them should feel like taking a stroll through campus. You’ll meet professors and students; they’ll share with you what excites them. You’ll drop into a class on an unfamiliar topic and leave inspired, dig into some fascinating research, or hang out in a residence hall with potential classmates. Along the way, you might decide that Tufts feels like the right place for you. If that happens, this magazine is also for you—flip to the back where we’ve broken down the basics on applying: deadlines, aid, and our advice. This is Tufts; explore it.

PHOTO BY ALONSO NICHOLS/TUFTS UNIVERSITY

CONTENTS

FEATURE

16 | Unity in Differences Jumbos have a shared energy and common purpose towards building a stronger society.

3 8 12 13 20 24 30 34 35

INFOGRAPHIC ARTS ATHLETICS CLASS HIGHLIGHTS LIVING AROUND TOWN APPLICATION ADVICE ADMISSIONS INFO FINANCIAL AID

On the Cover: From petitions to challenging racial equity issues on and off campus, René LaPointe Jameson ’22 is committed to enacting change. FRONT COVER PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER. BACK COVER PHOTO BY EMAI LAI ’21 AND THE TUFTS UNIVERSITY SOCIAL COLLECTIVE (TUSC).

GREETINGS

FROM THE DEAN “IMPORTANTLY, YOUR TIME HERE WILL ALSO BE DEFINED BY THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU CONNECT WITH OTHERS.”

Connecting is an active word, and your experience at Tufts will be active. Here, we educate students in active citizenship and active engagement, in being intentional about how we connect what we learn in our classrooms, labs, and studios with the needs of the communities and the world around us. Your Tufts education will connect you with the world in meaningful ways. One of the great joys of a liberal arts and sciences education is connecting disparate fields of study—seeing where they intersect and how they inform one another. What you learn in a political science seminar will overlap with what you learn in a community health class. What you learn in a mechanical engineering lab will inform your studio art portfolio. When this happens, you get to see how your understanding of one area strengthens your understanding of another. The flexible distribution requirements at Tufts encourage these types of connections. Your education here will engineer bridges between subjects, even as you dive deeply

MEET THE STUDENT COMMUNICATIONS GROUP Most of what you’re about to read was written by these Tufts students. Listen for their voices as they introduce you to the Tufts community, page by page.

THE TUFTS ADMISSIONS MAGAZINE

into your chosen major(s) and minor(s). In life, academic disciplines are not silos, so they will not be silos here. Importantly, your time here will also be defined by the ways in which you connect with others. The conversations you have, the friendships you make, the new possibilities and ways of thinking your peers expose you to...each of these connections will tug and pull at you, shaping your worldview, influencing the trajectory of your life. In this issue, we present some of the ways we are connecting our students and faculty to each other, and the ways we are building connections between subjects, communities, and opportunities. You will read about Professor Helen Marrow, whose sociology research explores the connections between immigration and community. You will learn about Professor Ayse Asatekin, who connects the latest chemical and biological engineering research to develop sustainable water filtration systems. And, of course, you will read about the ways our students connect what they are learning in class

with what they are doing on and off campus. Every member of our community makes countless connections each day, any of which might spark a new research endeavor, establish a new club, or sow the idea that becomes the next big thing. This is a special issue of JUMBO, written and produced during a global pandemic, at a time when interpersonal connections are especially meaningful and we are all reimagining how we connect with work and school. This issue shines a light on the ways in which a Tufts education prepares you to actively engage with a rapidly evolving world, and to connect what you learn here with where you go next.

SIWAAR ABOUHALA ’23 from West Harrison, NY

SUSANNAH MURRAY ’24 from Santa Fe, NM

BLAKE ANDERSON ’24 from Sioux Falls, SD

CHRIS PANELLA ’21 from Hollywood, FL

JOSH COHEN ’24 from Sarasota, FL

VALERIA VELASQUEZ ’23 from Columbia, MO

Best,

JT Duck Dean of Admissions

MARIE KAZIBWE ’24 from Mount Kisco, NY

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS Tufts University / Bendetson Hall 2 The Green / Medford, MA 02155 617.627.3170 / admissions.tufts.edu / jumboeditor@tufts.edu

Produced by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Edited by Kella Merlain-Moffatt, Admissions Counselor Design by Hecht/Horton Partners

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

THIS ISSUE of JUMBO is all about connecting.

CONNECT DOTS, As you just read, connections can be made all across campus. So, it’s your turn! Connect dots to reveal a surprise Jumbo guest, and connect words that span our community. Good luck!

CONNECT WORDS 1

Across

Down

1 Short for Experimental, students can design and teach their own courses here

2 In the debate over which dining center is best, this one is uphill

4 This center recently celebrated its 50th anniversary

3 Tufts motto, meaning “peace and light”

5 Acronym for our studio art school 8 The namesake for the College of Civic Life

6 Hall of the admissions office 7 Tufts’ 5000-pound mascot

5 6 7 8

9 This a cappella group provided vocals for a Glee group 10

Crossword Answers: 1. ExCollege 2. Carmichael 3. Pax Et Lux 4. Africana 5. SMFA 6. Bendetson 7. Jumbo 8. Tisch 9. Beelzebubs 10. Gifford

10 House where President Monaco resides

INSIDE OUT

A REAL YET RANDOM, PLAYFUL YET SERIOUS SPIN AROUND CAMPUS—AND JUST BEYOND

WELCOMING ALL VOICES

LET IT SNOW! Being in the heart of New England, Tufts quite often enjoys the playful product of winter weather: SNOW! Whether you are accustomed to the chilly thrill of snow or not, it is bound to make an appearance during your time on the hill. Jumbos seize the opportunity to make some meaningful memories and have some fun as the snow falls. When the campus wakes up after an overnight snowfall, the buildings that we know and love have embraced a new coat of white winter snow and crystal-clear icicles. “The Hill” is one of Tufts’ most prevalent nicknames, so it’s no surprise it makes for great sledding! So, grab some friends, a sled, and a warm pair of mittens before heading out to Prez Lawn! After sledding, you can even warm yourself up with a hot chocolate or coffee from one of Tufts’ on-campus cafés. Whether you have seen snow before or not, you have not experienced the joy of snow at Tufts!

During March 2021, Tufts held Global Tufts Month with the theme “Welcoming All Voices: Global Perspectives on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice.” Events hosted throughout the month explored, discussed, and celebrated racial and ethnic equity, inclusion, and justice globally in all facets of life— from health, climate, and politics, to development, education, science and technology, culture, and the arts. Events also highlighted efforts and achievements at Tufts to facilitate dialogue and learning on global citizenship, equity, inclusion, and justice across national and cultural boundaries.

EXCOLLEGE HIGHLIGHT: MASS INCARCERATION: REFORM, ABOLITION, OR STATUS QUO? Attorney, advocate, and Tufts alumna Jessica Sutton ’06 brings a course on mass incarceration to the ExCollege this semester. Specializing in death penalty defense and helping juveniles sentenced to life in prison, Sutton’s interesting and seasoned perspective helps sheds light on the complex issues of incarceration. The course discusses how the United States got the highest incarceration rate in the world, and what role incarceration and policing play in our society. This includes understanding how identities like race, gender, and class have shaped policing, prisons, and the rise of incarceration in the United States. These are important lenses for contextualizing efforts to reform and end incarceration, which the course also analyzes. Other forms of criminal justice are considered, including restorative and transformative models that tie directly into important decarceration efforts. Image taken pre-March 2020

TUFTS TWEET @TuftsUniversity This year, @TischCollege is celebrating its 20th anniversary, and also celebrating the partnerships that help them strengthen Civic Life. @LeadForAmerica_, founded by alums Benya Kraus, A18, and Maya Pacewhich, A18, places recent college grads in local government. #TischTurns20 4

BLACK WOMYN’S EMPOWERMENT CONFERENCE The Black Womyn’s Collective (BWC) of the Tufts Africana Center held a two-day, virtual conference in March. It was open to all Black womyn and femme undergraduate and graduate students attending a university in Massachusetts. The goal of the conference was to empower Black womyn and femmes by providing them with the networking and leadership skills necessary to succeed in their academic and professional careers. The conference included virtual sessions and workshops pertaining to topics such as mental health, professional and career development, and civil and political engagement—among others—and featured instruction and panels from scholars, industry professionals, and renowned influencers.

M.O.T.H.E.R. LAB Health disparities are hardly ever unfounded; there is a reason why BIPOC pregnant and birthing people are facing complications at alarmingly high rates across the United States. Dr. Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, Associate Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine, recognizes this reality within maternal healthcare and has recently founded the M.O.T.H.E.R. Lab (Maternal Outcomes for Translational Health Equity Research) and the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Journal Club. These organizations bring together social science researchers, healthcare professionals, students, and community members in order to collaborate on furthering maternal health research, outlining revolutionary maternal health policy in Massachusetts, and highlighting the voices of those who have long been silenced.

EXCOLLEGE HIGHLIGHT: RACE, POLITICS, AND THE PARANORMAL IMAGINATION

TISCH COLLEGE PHOTO BY ALONSO NICHOLS/TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Ghost stories and accounts of the paranormal have long persisted in American culture. After all, the first reported UFO abduction was of a Black man in New Hampshire in the 1950s. But how do tales of paranormal activity intersect with race, political science, anthropology, and entertainment? In Race, Politics, and the Paranormal Imagination, instructor Jonathan Moore ’17 discusses these concerns. Moore is a Tufts alumnus and a PhD candidate in the Department of African American Studies at UC Berkeley. The course looks at the history of paranormal accounts and long-standing trends of ghost tours in various locations, like plantations. In addition, students examine television shows like “Ghost Hunters” and “Ghost Adventures,” American zombie stories, and terrifying visions of the future of politics. It’s an interesting look at what these phenomena can tell us about history and society.

WHAT WE’RE READING: SENSATION MACHINES BY ADAM WILSON ’04 Set a few years in the future, where stores are almost 100 percent robotic and delivery drones as common as summer flies, Sensation Machines serves as both vision and warning. The novel centers on the dissolving marriage of Michael and Wendy Mixner. Michael has lost his lucrative job in the banking world, but somehow failed to let his wife know that he’s unemployed. Wendy is a marketing consultant tied up in nefarious doings beyond her control. In this novel, we soon understand how individuals and their singular problems get shoved this way and that by powerful cultural and historical forces, as both characters have the fight of their lives to maintain their individualism and inner equilibrium. 5

“These are friends that I’ll never lose.”

JOURNEY TO THE HILL

ALEX VIVEROS

’22

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

BIOLOGY AND COMMUNITY HEALTH MAJOR FROM PALO ALTO, CA

When I sit down with Alex Viveros ’22, Editor-in-Chief of The Tufts Daily, the student-run newspaper at Tufts, he explains how our Zoom set-up is rather strange for him––he is usually the one interviewing others rather than the one being interviewed. This comment is one of many throughout our conversation that highlights just how essential The Daily is for Alex and vice versa, all as a part of this symbiotic journalism. While Alex now works at The Daily from 6:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. four nights a week and refers to joining The Daily as a first-year student as the best thing he has ever done, he did not initially plan on working in journalism or editing during his time in college. “I joined on a whim,” Alex humorously recalls. He tells me about how his journey to Tufts started out as a rigid path barricaded by a tight academic focus and a fear of the unknown. “It was a little overwhelming at first. I definitely came in with the mindset of: ‘Look, you’re here to do one thing, and that’s to study biology,’” he explains. For someone who is double majoring in biology and community health, as well as leading an undergraduate-level student newspaper, I found it hard to believe that Alex ever restricted himself academically or professionally. When I press him for what caused the shift from uncertainty to discovery, he credits The Daily with helping him open up to new possibilities and meet new people around Tufts. Not only is The Daily the mechanism that led to Alex’s change in mindset, but it is also the subject of much change itself this year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Covering the news on top of personally adjusting to the pandemic was a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Alex explains as he reflects on what it felt like to absorb the shock of being sent home abruptly last spring and cope with the loss of control, all while still providing the Tufts community with

much-needed news content. What kept Alex going during this time was “the support at The Daily—and this applies to the entire Tufts community. It was obviously terrifying for all of us, but it was good to know that we all had each other’s backs. News changes so fast, so it was very much a sense of duty that got us through.” In response to the encouragement and support received from the Tufts community, Alex and the rest of the team at The Daily extended support back through reporting on COVID-19 response work, like Tufts Mutual Aid. Alex weaves in messages of gratitude for his colleagues in just about every other sentence he says, especially since he recognizes the timeless passion and determination that goes into this work. When reflecting on his favorite memory thus far, Alex recalls when The Daily “celebrated our 40th anniversary this year and a bunch of alumni came in from around the country, each [of whom] ended up doing different things—from bankers to doctors to journalists. I remember looking around and thinking this will be me in 10 years, 20 years, and 30 years. Being a part of something that has lasted so long and looking around The Daily right now and realizing that these are friends that I’ll never lose is so valuable.” By the end of our conversation, it becomes clear to me that Alex’s dedication to The Daily is not limited to his time at Tufts, but rather one that will stem far beyond any single educational level or career path. His journey to the hill was not linear, but rather a maze of loops and turns that gradually came into existence. His first-year preconceived notion of his personal and academic mission at Tufts morphed as he developed a more nuanced perspective of who he was and what he wanted to do. While Alex’s time at Tufts is not yet over, his work and presence have already left lasting impacts on The Daily and the greater Tufts community. —SIWAAR ABOUHALA ’23

ARTS HIGHLIGHT

SILENT AND SPOKEN A LOOK INTO THE WORLD OF MIMING

PHOTO BY

AND IMPROV COMEDY AT TUFTS

PHOTOS COURTESY OF HYPE MIMEZ AND CHEAP SOX

Tufts students have no shortage of options when it comes to choosing, if they so desire, a performance group to join. Tufts houses 46 different arts and performance student organizations on the Medford campus alone (and 10 more that are SMFA-specific), with everything from awardwinning a cappella groups to juggling troupes. Even if getting up on stage isn’t your thing, there’s so much to enjoy as a member of the audience, and this has always been the case— even this year. BY SUSANNAH MURRAY ’24

How do you tell a story? How do you engage an audience? How do you express yourself on a stage? And how do you do all this when the world and your medium for expression suddenly change completely, with no warning? This was the challenge every performance group on campus faced last spring when end-of-year showcases, concerts, plays, and musicals were canceled along with every other in-person university activity. However, despite either dealing with the disappointment of having to cancel your final show or the seemingly insurmountable challenge of trying to perform it from different bedrooms across the country, Tufts performance groups showed they could adapt, and this versatility is beautifully embodied by two groups who are, at their core, founded on the unexpected: HYPE Mimez and Cheap Sox. HYPE Mimez is New England’s only award-winning collegiate mime troupe, and they take this responsibility seriously. They came back to campus ready to hold auditions and welcomed two new mimes to the group, keeping their numbers low enough to hold in-person auditions and rehearsals, where they’ve been focused on (silently) getting to know each other and (silently) teaching the new recruits miming techniques. According to Ruth Greenfield ’23, being a part of HYPE Mimez has given her access to a space for creativity. “Everyone in the troupe has equal opportunity to write, direct, and act in skits,” she says. “I love bringing new ideas to the table and

expressing myself in a different way.” Greenfield also acknowledges that yes, miming is definitely an art form that takes some getting used to, but the only prerequisite for becoming a mime is unwavering enthusiasm and commitment to the craft. “Miming is really just storytelling without speaking,” she says, and is confident that with the proper dedication, anyone can be a great mime. While HYPE Mimez is, quite inarguably, the quietest club on campus, the sketch improv group Cheap Sox is all noise. They’re also small, with fewer than ten members, and thus were also among the performance groups able to practice in person. They closed out last school year with the legitimately hilarious “Cheap Sox Presents: An Improv Show But My Mom Brings Me Cut Fruit” over Zoom, where they beautifully adapted their classic improv games to a virtual format. Like HYPE Mimez, they held inperson auditions this year and recruited three new members. This year has forced Cheap Sox to become rather familiar with the virtual sphere, but they’ve made the transition smooth, adapting their performances by allowing audience members to supply skit prompts through the chat feature, turning their cameras on and off as their skits require them, and changing their virtual backgrounds. No matter what is thrown at them, HYPE Mimez and Cheap Sox are undoubtedly going to be able to adjust their performances to maintain the integrity of their storytelling.

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

“Watching [students] grow intellectually is really one of the most exciting parts of my job.”

AYSE ASATEKIN ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING

It is not uncommon for Tufts professors to be engaging in groundbreaking research, nor is it uncommon for professors to teach students everything they need to know about solving the world’s biggest problems, but this is especially true for the students and faculty in the School of Engineering. Ayse Asatekin, Associate Professor of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Tufts, introduces her students to the world-changing possibilities of polymers and membranes. For Asatekin, the fascination with membrane research lies in its ability to improve water filtration systems while decreasing the environmental impacts of purification. In other words, through the research conducted in Asatekin’s lab, a more sustainable solution to water purification is possible. Tufts students in Professor Asatekin’s lab get to discover and interact with polymers and membranes in their research. The hands-on experience that students gain in the lab deals with membranes that filter molecules in increasingly effective ways. “It is actually really, really important. About 10% of the energy in the US is spent on chemical separations,” Asatekin remarks. The long-term goal of this lab’s work is to create highly-effective membranes for filtration, distillation, and more. This work is novel, but its prospects suggest exciting possibilities. For instance, more efficient water purification could be made possible with the potential membrane advancements discovered in Asatekin’s lab. The results of these advanced filtration systems may have significant impacts—providing purified water to people and communities worldwide. However, Asatekin has inspired Tufts alumni who are currently

chemical engineers to embrace all sorts of careers outside of polymers and membranes—with some graduates taking jobs in everything from biochemical manufacturing to Belgian confectionaries. As the daughter of two professors, Asatekin loves the mentorship aspects involved in her work and research, and she deeply appreciates the meaningful connections that she is able to foster with students in her classroom and in her lab. According to Asatekin, “watching [students] grow intellectually is really one of the most exciting parts of my job.” With student growth at the center of her teaching style, Professor Asatekin provides an ample environment for learning. “I often say that I get paid to geek out,’’ Asatekin beams. “I get very excited about certain things…And, if you have students with eyes glinting in response, it’s always really fun.” Another exciting part of Professor Asatekin’s job is supervising some of Tufts’ brightest minds in STEM. Tufts hosts an active chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, and Asatekin is a proud coadvisor to the extracurricular group. The group seeks to promote inclusivity for women in every aspect of STEM. “When I first started, I became their faculty co-advisor. I would go to meetings, but they know what they are doing,” Asatekin says. “They are really active. It is a really good resource for women who want to be engineers.” Inclusivity is important not only to Professor Asatekin but for the Tufts community as a whole. “They are a very collaborative, positive group of students. My impression as a faculty member...is that I think both Tufts students and faculty really prioritize building an inclusive community and being supportive of all students.” —BLAKE ANDERSON ’24

ATHLETICS

BROWN, BLUE, AND YOU Connection, community, and collaboration are foundational components of the Tufts athletics program. Jumbo athletes not only excel in competition, but develop lifelong connections with their teammates and the greater Tufts community. With that connection in mind, we asked several student-athletes to share how they have maintained and strengthened the relationships on their teams this year.

EVAN SZABLEWSKI MEN’S SWIMMING & DIVING CLASS OF 2023

WOMEN’S TENNIS CLASS OF 2023 Among the Women’s Tennis team, we often talk about how every single one of us has a developed relationship with each teammate. I know that I could reach out to anyone on my team for any reason and receive a friendly response—I’ve had teammates connect me with mutual friends in my classes, share study techniques with me, and generally look out for my best interest. Specifically, one weekend last year I was sick and I received text messages from every single person on my team offering to bring me soup or pick up supplies from the pharmacy, and extending their well wishes. It’s such an encouraging and secure feeling knowing that when you come to school you have all of these people looking out for you. The unique circumstances of this year have inspired our team to seek new, creative ways to stay connected. For example, we often enjoy outdoor picnics and frequent Zoom calls where we have found lots of different games to play—including the team favorite: Pictionary! What I find really special about our team is that regardless of seniority and team experience, everyone genuinely wants to be friends with each other.

CLAIRE FOLEY WOMEN’S FIELD HOCKEY CLASS OF 2022 I’ve always identified as an athlete—I’ve grown up involved with and surrounded by sports on every level. Entering Tufts, a big part of me felt like my college experience needed to be defined by the fact that I was an athlete. In my time on the Women’s Field Hockey team, I’ve felt supported to grow as an individual and step out of my comfort zone. What I have found to be really invigorating is that we all really share a love for the sport and want to be there for each other. Our team operates on the philosophy that, to be successful, we all have to want to be there more and continue to appreciate the game, and the rest will fall into place. Even though there are a lot of differences among us, we all have field hockey in common, which has brought us all together in a really supportive way. This year, our team has engaged in a blend of different activities outside of our scheduled practices, and our coaches have really been great about planning team experiences within Tufts’ guidelines. With all of the time normally scheduled for traveling and tournaments, we have been able to be more involved in some fun fall activities like pumpkin carvings, and more recently, our team has been raising money to support breast cancer awareness.

PHOTOS BY ANNA MILLER/TUFTS UNIVERSITY AND ALONSO NICHOLS/TUFTS UNIVERSITY

CASEY CUMMINGS

Being a part of the Tufts Swimming and Diving team is an experience I love—my teammates are my best friends, biggest supporters, and family. As a team, we all work together to create an atmosphere where each swimmer is authentically excited to be there. In line with the Jumbo spirit, our team is super collaborative and everyone looks out for each other. If you’re having a bad day, it’s a great feeling knowing that your teammates are there to lift you up and support you. Outside of practices and workouts, the social experience is integral to the dynamic of the swim team: we are known for being “that annoying table” on the first floor of Dewick, where we spend all of our time together. Obviously, we have had to reimagine what connectedness looks like for our team this year and have done our best to find safe ways to integrate the social aspect back into our team life. As a team, we have prioritized spending time with each other in small, socially distanced groups to maintain our close connection.

CLASS HIGHLIGHTS

CONNECTING

CSHD-0034 Children as Earth Stewards This class will delve into the programs and methods being used around the world to connect children and teens to the natural world and nourish their development as earth stewards. Topics covered will include: forest schools, wilderness programs, environmental education, urban gardening, children’s books related to earth stewardship, and teen protests for climate action. —W. George Scarlett, Senior Lecturer, Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study and Human Development, Tisch Faculty Fellow

From exploring the environment in relation to children, to understanding Indigenous technology and roadmapping your very own path of civic engagement, delve into the wonders of understanding yourself and others. After all, what better way to connect with folks than through a class?

CVS-0126 Civic Pathways Students will be introduced to civic engagement pathways through collaborative exploration of research and practice on civic engagement, racial equity, and well-being. We will have discussions with faculty on components of social change from fields including social sciences, engineering, environmental science, and education. There will also be connections with community partners and alumni in local non-profits, government, K–12 education, and political organizations who are implementing civic engagement work through policy, direct service, advocacy, and organizing. Students will create a personal roadmap for planned civic engagement while at Tufts. —Shannon Cloherty ’22, Hope Freeman, Patrick Liu ’21, Kella Merlain-Moffatt ’20, Mikel Quintana ’21, Daniela Sánchez ’20

SCP-0148 Relational Placemaking This class introduces a variety of interconnected concepts and questions related to environmental studies, landscape history, Indigenous technology, sustainability, ecology, migration, and mythology, as well as examples of corporeal and collaborative approaches to the land, including: walking meditation, labyrinths, and shinrin-yoku or forest bathing. Students explore a range of media, materials, and reflective approaches as they work physically, tactilely, spiritually, energetically and in connection with the landscape. —Kendall Reiss, Professor of the Practice at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts

WHY TUFTS? THE REWRITE MATHEW PEÑA ’21 COMPUTER SCIENCE MAJOR FROM BRONX, NY Whether Mathew is doing work for the Diversity Admissions Council, serving as a college access intern with The Welcome Project, or coming to a party near you as PapaLeche—one of the best DJs on campus—he comes to you with authenticity. In his remixed essays, Mathew reflects on the connections he’s made, the symbolism of his hair and community, and the dichotomy between dreams and reality. Mathew’s very essence is light, and in every space he enters you feel it. We hope you feel it here, too!

WE ASK CURRENT STUDENTS TO TACKLE THE NEW TUFTS SHORT-ANSWER QUESTIONS

Why Tufts? I’m Black, I’m Latino, and I’m here. I had to prove to myself and everyone else that I belonged. I felt the need or maybe pressure to take up space in every room I was in so that I was not forgotten. I chose Tufts to be able to choose my own path and understand my identity. The Africana and Latinx Centers became my home, and the people I met in these spaces became my personal educators. While “doing work” in both of these centers, I met my peers on a personal level outside the classroom. We talked about anti-Blackness in the Latinx community, the duality of being Black and Latinx, and the inequalities we faced coming into a world so dissimilar from our own. The Black and Latinx communities at Tufts let me learn the history of who I was and the potentials of who I could become.

How have the environments or experiences of your upbringing—your family, home, neighborhood, or community—shaped the person you are today? It’s been four years since I decided to grow out my hair, and in the transition from high school senior to college senior I can finally address the realities of the world I live in. My hair is an added sentence to the definition of Mathew Jesus Peña–the Afro-Latino from the South Bronx. Where I grew up, if you’re young, Black/Latinx, and outside during school hours, you’re approached by officers who will “take you to school” because they assume you’re ditching. My school greeted us with metal detectors every day. NYPD had a mobile command center down my home block. My bedroom was never dark enough because of a massive police light piercing through my blinds. Now, is my reasoning for why I was stopped completely true? I don’t know. It’s the subtle situations with officers that are the hardest to understand. What I can tell you is that I graduated top of my class and got profiled—treated like a criminal at school and outside, without ever committing a crime. When I came to Tufts, I escaped this reality to a flavorless dream. A dream where firecrackers replaced gunshots. I carry this burden with me every day as a student. As my hair grew and my tips coiled, I met many students with hair like mine, going through their journeys of identity and the world’s perception of them.

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

My hair is a sign of struggle, pain, over-policing, community, and what will someday be a new world for youth like me.

To see the 2021-22 Tufts short-answer questions, visit http://admissions.tufts.edu/apply/essay-questions

Across identities, disciplines, majors, and backgrounds, Tufts is an institution where unity overwhelms difference.

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN DEVOLLE

BY JOSH COHEN ’24

IN DIFFERENCES 17

y nature, Jumbos are radically diverse. Tufts students are artists, mathematicians, Shakespeareans, adventurers, activists, and decorated athletes. Tufts students contribute to groundbreaking research, star in play festivals, and command the Mock Trial courtroom. Often, they are a combination of many of these attributes and countless other achievements. There is quite a lot that contributes to our heterogeneity: majors, schools, interests, uphill or downhill preferences, hometowns, the list goes on. Despite differences and contrarieties, students at Tufts are defined by the many connections they form across boundaries with peers who challenge and stimulate them. Let’s break it down. Admissions Counselor Kella Merlain-Moffatt ’20 creatively describes the Tufts experience: “I feel like Tufts is an energetic car filled with a bunch of folks, and I think it’s twofold,” she clarifies. “In one aspect, I think the car represents Tufts. And you have several students who encompass many different interests and are involved in various activities, but they are all still in the same institution—they are all still in the same car and in many ways going in the same direction.” She continues, “In another way, the car could represent one individual and how many people at Tufts are so multifaceted.” Drawing from her own experiences as a student, alumna, and admissions counselor, Merlain-Moffatt describes the complexities of Tufts students. “You can be on the hockey team and also in an a capella group. You can be someone who is planning a conference with your friends while also presenting your own independent research and winning accolades for it.” At Tufts, Merlain-Moffatt reinforces, “You don’t just have to be an athlete, an artist, or someone who is really into academics: you can really be all three and create the kind of environment that you want to be in and strive to be the person that you want to be.” As an undergraduate, she made the conscious decision, like many Tufts

students, to not take the safe path and to challenge comfortability. MerlainMoffatt was an active figure in both the Africana Center (one of six identity-based resource centers at Tufts), Tufts Caribbean Student Organization, and COCOA— an African dance collective. “Tufts really allowed me to meet new people and interact with folks who I absolutely would not have met otherwise. A lot of my friends now jest that, ‘In any other world… we probably wouldn’t be friends!’ This is not because we wouldn’t get along, but rather that we wouldn’t have found ourselves in the same spaces to have interacted if it weren’t for Tufts.” These consequential relationships outlive the four, fleeting years of the undergraduate experience, Merlain-Moffatt illustrates. “There are people that I met day one at my SQUAD [Students’ Quest for Unity in the African Diaspora] preorientation program that are some of my closest friends from Tufts.” She concludes, “It’s really special the ways that I have been able to build connections at Tufts and carry them forward into my life now.” Ultimately, though, there is a special kind of unity in our chaos. It’s not often that environmental activists, cheese connoisseurs (yes, we have a Cheese Club), sketch comedians, lyricists, and theoretical physicists can find a middle ground, but in Medford, Massachusetts, we throw convention out the window. Paige Duff ’24 shares how she has both forged new connections and been embraced by the community at Tufts in ways that have surprised her. “The most significant way that I have been able to meet so many unique people has been through extracurriculars. More specifically,” she adds, “I am a part of Tufts Mock Trial and Sex Health Reps, which has enabled me to connect with people who I just would not have met normally.” Entering college, many incoming first-years share a mentality that all of the most exciting and meaningful opportunities are shielded and reserved exclusively for upperclassmen. “Joining Mock Trial as a first-year, I was expecting that things were going to run sort of how they did in high school. I was expecting this hierarchical relationship with the upperclassmen and that they wouldn’t be as willing to spend time with [first-years].” She laughs, “It totally wasn’t like that at all! Right off the bat, my two captains, who are juniors, embraced me in friendship and kindness—our relationship was way more meaningful than just the traditional captain-teammate dynamic. They went above and beyond in thinking of creative bonding outlets for our team, and it never felt like they were acting solely out of obligation and responsibility. As a [first-year] who hardly knew anyone, that meant a lot to me.” As a first-year student, Tufts challenges you to explore beyond your comfort zone in several significant ways, one being the learning opportunity of the first-year residential living model. Entering the college, students are immersed in the rich diversities of their living communities and glean some valuable lifelong skills. Duff explains the value of her first-year living assignment: “Immediately when I got to Tufts, I was really struck by how different everybody was and very early on, I made friends with people who I had very little in common with, which was exciting. For example, my roommate is a dual citizen with Germany, super passionate about music and music theory, and is looking to study the intersection of environmentalism and artificial intelligence. There

I feel like Tufts is an energetic car filled with a bunch of folks, and I think it’s twofold…you have several students who encompass many different interests and are involved in various activities, but they are all still in the same institution—they are all still in the same car and in many ways going in the same direction… In another way, the car could represent one individual and how many people at Tufts are so multifaceted.” KELLA MERLAIN-MOFFATT ’20 / ADMISSIONS COUNSELOR

ILLUSTRATION BY JOHN DEVOLLE

are so many qualities that would separate us on paper, and yet she is one of my closest friends.” This experience exists beyond residential life. “What is most interesting about Tufts, to me,” Duff continues, “is that there are so many students who come from all different types of backgrounds, have all sorts of extracurriculars they were involved with in high school, and different passions, but at the end of the day, everyone picks Tufts because it’s where they want to be. There’s this shared energy on campus—when you walk into a campus space, you just get that feel, that vibe, that everyone truly wants to be there and wants to be working hard.” As Duff describes, there is palpable excitement on our campus: an eagerness and yearning to chase passions in an unrelenting hunger for knowledge. What is striking about Tufts students is that they are not defined by just one thing; they are remarkably multifaceted and well-rounded. On a similar note, these students’ endeavours are supported by world-renowned faculty who make an effort to form relationships with their students and all of the resources of a Tier 1 research university. Uniquely situated as one of the smallest and most undergraduate-focused institutions with this Tier 1 recognition, Tufts faculty members are inclusive of undergraduate students in their work. Tufts is a recipe for success: students who are multifaceted and engaged, supported by a school that can reciprocate and invest in their success. Despite the rigor of Tufts’ academic programs and the multitude of involvements, Tufts students are down-to-earth, kind, and don’t take themselves too seriously. Blake Anderson ’24 explains this phenomenon, “I was expecting people to be a lot more serious. I think that there’s this connotation associated

with private, liberal arts schools in the Northeast—especially coming from my public school in South Dakota.” Anderson affirms, “You get to Tufts and realize quickly that people don’t take themselves too seriously. They are students who are learning that it is okay to fail sometimes to grow, as long as you’re still moving.” Susannah Murray ’24 confirms this observation: “I was expecting Tufts students to be overly studious and really academically-driven, and the funny thing is that people are, and they are ridiculously smart, but more than that they are also really well-rounded, genuine people.” As a first-year, Murray attests, it has already become clear some of the ways that her peers have influenced her. “To name one would be challenging, but I have found that being around other people who are so politically and socially engaged has made me so much more conscious of many existing issues. I think that being immersed among so many civically-minded students has empowered me with more actionable steps I can take to contribute towards meaningful change.” To that end, one significant component of a Tufts education is a commitment to civic engagement and global-mindedness. Forming a broad coalition of campus community members, Tufts shapes civic leaders and emboldens students to strive for a more just world. The internationally recognized Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life, the only university-wide college of its kind, supports and prepares Tufts students to address many of the monumental challenges of our time. From environmentalism and sustainability initiatives to understanding intersectionality in healthcare, all Jumbos are united in a common purpose, to uproot injustice and build a stronger society together.

LIVING

FINDING COMMUNITY ON CAMPUS

PHOTO BY ALONSO NICHOLS/TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Starting college can be exciting and a bit scary, especially when you don’t know other people! When you come to Tufts we hope that you’ll find community, acceptance, and a version of home on campus. We asked students how they found community, and this is what they had to say. “As a part of the living-learning community model at Tufts, I’ve had the opportunity to create connections with students across all interests, backgrounds, and identities. I’ve found a network of support and community from my hallmates and have felt empowered by the residential life program to make Tufts truly feel like home.” —Josh Cohen ’24

“My hall (Carmichael) has been great for fostering community... or, as we call it, the CARMmunity. I have loved cultivating meaningful connections with my friends and classmates. They are always there when I need them most, and I can’t imagine a better group of people to begin my college experience with!” —Blake Anderson ’24

“I think the most important thing to remember about trying to find a community your first year is that every other first-year is trying to do the exact same thing. Everyone wants to meet a new person, hear about your hometown, talk about what you’re studying, and then potentially see you later in the dining hall or a class and be able to say hello. The first few months of your first year are a lot like friendship speed dating, until you find a few people who just get you.” —Susannah Murray ’24

“At Tufts, I’ve found my community through all of the common spaces we have on campus––whether those be the common rooms in my residence hall, the Campus Center, or Hotung Café, I’ve met incredible people with whom I learn and grow!” —Marie Kazibwe ’24

“I love teaching this course because you get to know someone and be there with them every step of the way.”

HELEN MARROW ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF SOCIOLOGY

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

Inside her eclectic office, decorated with posters of international destinations and overflowing with books, sociology professor Helen B. Marrow and I sit face to face, several feet apart and entranced in a discussion. Thought-provoking and expansive conversations are commonplace to have at Tufts, but Professor Marrow’s openness and infectious passion for her field of study set a new standard. With a worldly outlook and deep regard, Professor Marrow does research on Latin American migration streams to the United States, new immigrant destinations, questions of race and ethnicity amongst Brazilian immigrants, and other migration-related topics. In her study on new immigrant destinations, Professor Marrow explores how migration into rural destinations by “Hispanic and Latino newcomers” impacts both the immigrants and the receiving communities. As the years progress, she must shift with the vitality of her field, focusing on both the persistent continuities of migration patterns and the malleability of the immigrant experience due to changes in policy and race relations. Regarding the Latinx community, Professor Marrow often discusses with her colleague, Professor Zavala, about the undermining of Latino history in the United States. “[Latino history] is this window to this really big part of our country that we should know better,” she states. “People don’t understand how diverse the

community is: the Mexican experience is different from what it’s like to be Venezuelan or Cuban American. I enjoy learning about these communities, and I’m always learning more.” Being an outsider to the Latino community, Professor Marrow retraces the steps that led her to her career and commences with her passion for languages—namely Spanish and Portuguese. While at Princeton University, Professor Marrow took several language courses and studied abroad. This immersion into Latin American culture would catalyze her future research and interests. “I was going through this period of education and youth and learning about the world,” Professor Marrow recounts when discussing her studies abroad. “Through languages and my travels around the hemisphere, I became interested in migration and learning about how life is similar and different in new places.” Aside from languages, Professor Marrow emphasizes the courses she took with her long-standing mentor, Professor Patricia Fernández-Kelly, who she credits with igniting a “spark” within her. This “spark”—brimming with intellectual curiosity—is something that she fosters in her Introduction to Sociology class and her Qualitative Research Methods course. “I love watching the light come on for some of my students and seeing it click [within them] because I remember what it was like to enter into

Professor Fernández-Kelly’s class and have that spark for myself,” Professor Marrow says. Passing on her expertise in her Qualitative Research Methods course, Professor Marrow does methods training and aids her students in the culmination of their independent projects. Students do literature reviews, collect data, analyze research, and deeply explore the questions they craft. “We have this really supportive, constructively critical environment that helps people realize their abilities,” Professor Marrow explains. “I love teaching this course because you get to know someone and be there with them every step of the way.” After I’ve run out of questions to ask for my interview, I put down my phone and ask Professor Marrow for more insight into her enthralling research—she gladly welcomes a segue into a tangent that extends our meeting by nearly an hour. I share my own experience as a Nicaraguan immigrant while she provides historical and sociopolitical explanations to many of the concepts I’ve heard of or lived through but never thoroughly examined myself. Between entering and leaving her office, I consider altering my academic plans and develop one major impression: Professor Helen Marrow is not only excellent at enriching perspectives—she genuinely cares about her students and the communities that are the subjects of her research. —VALERIA VELASQUEZ ’23

AROUND TOWN

REMEMBER YOUR CHARLIE CARD!

Tufts has a traditional campus tucked away in suburbia while still being in close proximity to a city full of opportunities and excitement. With the T stop only a 12-minute walk away from campus, there’s plenty to be seen, eaten, and explored in the Greater Boston area. Inspired by Valeria Velasquez’s ’23 motto, “Ditch Uber! Take the T!”, here is a list of some of her favorite places to visit in the Boston area.

RED LINE PORTER SQUARE THE SHOPS AT PORTER The Shops At Porter is a hidden gem in Porter Square and it’s only one stop away from Davis Square. If you’re a fan of Japanese food—anything from katsu curry, udon, and tantanmen to oyakodon—this is the perfect place for you. Sit down at one of the various food stalls and enjoy the sounds coming from the kitchen, the conversations around you, and a bowl of some of the tastiest and most affordable food you can get in the area. Come support small businesses and don’t forget to bring cash!

SILVER LINE COURTHOUSE OCEAN VIEWS Seaport is a farther destination that is worth the commute. Transfer from the Red Line at South Station and on to the T’s underground bus system— the Silver Line. Once you get off at the Courthouse stop, you’ll be a six-minute walk away from the Institute of Contemporary Art, an art museum with a spectacular waterfront view and captivating exhibits. Even if you’re not much of an art fanatic, you can take a walk near the museum and enjoy the views of the ocean. Afterward, be sure to stop by for some almost-too-cute-to-eat (but delicious!) ice cream at Taiyaki NYC Boston, a brief stroll away.

PORTER SQUARE

HAYMARKET

HYNES CONVENTION CENTER

CHINATOWN

ORANGE LINE CHINATOWN FOODIE HAVEN Word of advice? Come to Chinatown with an empty stomach because you’re bound to walk back to the T stop with either a drink in your hand, a full stomach, or a bag of delicious takeout. At every corner, you’ll see a quaint bakery, a family-owned restaurant, and a boba shop. Some of my favorite Chinatown treats include the egg puffs from the Egg Puffs stall, the pork chop pho at Pho Pasteur, and the Portuguese egg tarts from Great Taste Bakery.

ORANGE LINE ASSEMBLY ROW ICE CREAM AND BOWLING Once you’ve visited Downtown Crossing, ransacked the sales at Primark, and walked past the Paul Revere House too many times to count, you’ll be yearning for a new experience. Transfer from the Red Line to the Orange Line at the Downtown Crossing station and head north to Assembly Row, Somerville’s feature conglomeration of shops and restaurants. If you’re not in the mood to shop, no problem! When I go with my friends, our trips consist of grabbing ice cream from J.P. Licks and spending the evening bowling and arcading at Lucky Strike.

ASSEMBLY ROW

COURTHOUSE

GREEN LINE HAYMARKET NORTH END Boston is famous for its North End area. Though I’m not much of an Italian food aficionado, after watching a Tufts Admissions video, “A Tufts Senior’s Food Tour of the North End,” I was inspired to take a trip with my friends to the North End. Consensus? If you want to take a scenic stroll and consume a copious amount of delicious carbs, transferring from Park Street and getting off at the Haymarket Station on the Green Line is a way to fulfill your cravings.

GREEN LINE HYNES CONVENTION NEWBURY STREET Reach the picturesque Newbury Street by getting off at the Hynes Convention stop of the Green Line. Newbury Street is the perfect place for window-shopping and people watching. My typical Newbury trip usually consists of stocking up on pens and notebooks from Muji and hunting for Uniqlo sales. Then, I’ll stroll down the street and appreciate some of the Romanesque Revival style buildings and the 19thcentury brownstones. From the Hynes Convention Center Station, there are other worlds to explore as well—continue west and you’ll reach Allston, a destination all Tufts foodies have got to visit. Take a 20-minute walk south and take advantage of Tufts students’ free admission to the Museum of Fine Arts.

FROM CLASS

Tufts encourages students to step outside of their comfort zones when it comes to their educational journeys. For Daniel Moon ’20, founder of the Tufts Lifting Club, this meant taking a theatre & performance studies class with Professor Maurice Parent. Daniel, who had no previous experience in acting, was enthusiastically welcomed into this new challenge by his current mentor and great friend, Maurice. Now, years after they first met, we caught up with them to see what they had to say about Tufts, life, and everything in-between. BY BLAKE ANDERSON ’24

What do you both think makes Tufts special? Maurice Parent: It’s cheesy, but the students are awesome here. I know it’s cliché, but I learn through teaching the young folks I get to work with, and I try to make myself open to talk outside of class if you want to get a coffee, or talk about life, or even if you just need to vent. Daniel Moon: It’s definitely the people—not just the students, but also the faculty and the staff. Speaking of professors, I was pre-med and [a] bio [student] and taking an acting class was way outside of the scope of my major, but to have been welcomed so warmly by Maurice…it really opened my eyes to that area of the university. Maurice, what was the dynamic like when Daniel was your TA after he had taken your class? MP: He was a dope TA! Like, I would

26 Maurice and Daniel were photographed separately to follow COVID-19 regulations.

be in the middle of class and I would be doing my thing and I would be very flighty, and he would just raise a question or make a statement and I would be like, “YEAH! Let’s do what he said.” What do you think is the importance of theatre in these often troubling times? MP: Daniel is a wonderful example of someone who...doesn’t know what role the arts will play in his life. Of course, as his former acting teacher, I hope it plays a part, but, like he articulated, [he] was on a different trajectory when he went into the artistic space. I think that he gained value. I think the artistic space comprises a way to hear your voice, you know, your voice—like, who you are as a human. It’s the energy you put out into the world. It’s how you connect with other people. It’s exploring things that may be new to you. Now, there is

ROOM TO CONVERSATION WITH MAURICE PARENT & DANIEL MOON ’20

bravery to step outside your preconceived notions about yourself—that’s the main thing I think the arts do. Daniel?

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

DM: In the midst of this pandemic, where some students are taking classes completely virtually, having an arts class or a drama class where it’s interactive and you can bring out that part of you that doesn’t get shown anywhere else, I think that is incredibly valuable. Every student that I talk to, you know, I tell them, “The one class you HAVE to take before you graduate is Intro to Acting.” MP: I love when I find students that really plug in and really go for it, like Daniel did, and I’m just so proud of them. They engage with respect and honesty and hard work in the theater, and that’s all I want. DM: The respect that Maurice shows his students was one of the

major reasons I think students in his class were so receptive to what they were learning. We’d have students come in who wouldn’t say anything for the first few classes, and Maurice would pull them in. Do you have any advice for prospective applicants to Tufts? DM: To future Jumbos, the most valuable part of the Tufts experience is the community: the people you surround yourself with, the professors you interact with. I really want to stress that—no matter what major you are—Tufts really gives you the time and the space to take classes completely outside of the scope of your major. Take classes outside of your comfort zone. MP: I would advise you to not stay in one lane. Try other lanes because you never know. College is such a great opportunity to explore.

TUFTS

CHECK THESE OUT

Tufts believes in supporting your growth personally, academically, professionally, and intellectually. When we asked students about “must-know opportunities,” they were quick to suggest the following. While we’ve given ten options, these are merely a sampling of many, many offerings! Which one(s) pique your interest?

Unexpected Hardship Fund Life is rather unexpected at times. We always hope that each student will be able to attend Tufts without facing unexpected hardship. However, we know that in the span of four years, some students may find the associated cost of an opportunity to be prohibitive. To that end, students who have an estimated family contribution under $10,000 (per academic year) may access this funding for support by contacting the FIRST Resource Center. Tisch Scholars for Civic Life Program Tisch Scholars is a unique leadership development program that combines academic coursework, fieldwork in local communities, skill-building, and critical reflection. Scholars acquire the values, knowledge, and skills they need to address pressing social issues and effect meaningful change while building a supportive community to strengthen civic engagement at Tufts and beyond. All scholars receive academic credit each semester, perform eight hours per week of fieldwork, and have access to Scholar alumni who are living lives dedicated to social change.

Tisch Summer Fellows Program The Tisch Summer Fellows (TSF) program through the Tisch College of Civic Life connects students to summer internships and provides stipends for students to carry out their work. The program encourages students to explore opportunities in various disciplines and sectors across the country. TSF has fully supported remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic, thus providing students who participated in the 2020 TSF program with $4,000 stipends for their work. Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program The Laidlaw Scholarship funds undergraduates (individuals and teams) over the course of two consecutive summers to pursue a research project. Scholars are supported for up to six weeks each summer, working closely with a Tufts faculty mentor. Research projects can focus on a variety of topics, including international projects. The Institute for Global Leadership (IGL) Summer Internships The various summer internship programs offered by the IGL provides students with unique opportunities to be connected to global leaders, policymakers, innovators, and scholars. Mentorship is core to the IGL, thus further widening the Tufts

community and connecting current students to alumni who are at the top of their fields. The IGL was integral in working with students to find remote work and internships during the spring and summer of 2020, and continues to serve as a mechanism for academic, extracurricular, and research exploration. The Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion The six identity-based centers within the Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion are the Africana Center, the Asian American Center, the FIRST Resource Center, the Latinx Center, the LGBT Center, and the Women’s Center. These communities on campus offer safe spaces, increased representation, and a network of opportunities for further connection. Within each center exists a wide array of individualized programs and resources, such as mentorship, pre-orientation programs, workshops, and advising. Experimental College Explorations Program Through Explorations, first-year students take a course designed and taught by other students. The courses usually focus on untraditional topics (think Avatar: The Last Airbender, the psychology of dogs, and food media) and are smaller, pass/fail seminars meant to build connections between first-year students. When it’s time for academic advising, you get to meet with peers and a faculty member who’s connected to the course. It’s a two-for-one deal you can’t resist!

Department of Music Private Lessons Looking to keep up with your clarinet or learn some new musical theater tunes? The Department of Music offers private lessons to all Tufts students, regardless of major and course load. While the lessons cost extra, scholarships are available. This makes private lessons affordable and accessible to any student. So, get practicing! Tufts Mutual Aid Organized by students in the wake of the campus closure announcement in response to COVID-19, Tufts Mutual Aid (TMA) redistributes critical resources to Tufts community members in need of assistance. From institutional advocacy to rent dues, storage space, and summer tuition, TMA offers a variety of aid. TMA also runs a food pantry on campus that collects donations from food rescue initiatives and local grocery stores. Check out their website to volunteer or donate!

Career Center Summer Internship Grants Each summer the Career Center funds 40–50 undergraduate students to partake in unpaid internships for a minimum of 300 hours. These funds offer students the opportunity to explore career fields and gain experiences domestically or abroad. Selected students receive $4,000.

ADVICE

LET’S CONNECT! Decisions, decisions.Whether you are in the beginning of your process (deciding where to apply) or at the end (deciding which school to call yours for the next four years), we are here to help! You may be wondering how you can make an informed decision, and it’s rather simple––stay connected with us! We figure you have a bunch of questions, so read below for some answers. At this stage of the pandemic, most of us have mastered the art of social distancing, staying home, and mainly avoiding physical contact with many people—including the ones we love most. For you, prospective student, this challenging time is exacerbated by the fact that the college search must continue while we continue to stay apart. Though it sounds cliché, there have been some silver linings. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that even though we are asked to stay apart, it doesn’t mean we can’t stay connected. Even if traveling to campus is not possible at the moment, it doesn’t mean you can’t get to know us. So we welcome you to join us in the new world that is still mostly virtual. In a way, we have never been so accessible to as many students all over the world. Staying connected means taking advantage of our online content, including reading blogs, attending

student panels, listening to virtual information sessions, and many other opportunities that are in the works (stay tuned!). But remember, staying connected means that you allow yourself the opportunity to breathe, too. It is hard to engage virtually if you are bombarded with so much content 24/7. We know it can be consuming and draining all at once. So while we will outline ways you can stay connected to Tufts and learn more about us, we trust you will balance it out with self-care (we even have tips for that in a blog!). We know that nothing about living through a pandemic has been normal, but we know you are trying your best. And please know that we are rooting for you during your college search and college application process—good luck! Here are some ways you can connect with us during your admissions experience:

HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH MY TERRITORY MANAGER? On our website, you will find the “Meet the Admissions Team” page. You can scroll down to find the person who reads applications from your region. If you are in Massachusetts and can’t find the specific person for your area, feel free to call or email our office.

HOW CAN I MEET THE DIVERSITY ADMISSIONS COUNCIL?

The Diversity Admissions Council is a group of current students who work closely with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions to plan on-campus and virtual visit programs, create web content, and represent Tufts at events for prospective students. We invite you to contact these students to learn more about the many facets of diversity represented on our campus.

HOW DO I LEARN MORE ABOUT STUDENT EXPERIENCES? DO YOU HAVE ANY VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING AVAILABLE? To see what online options are available to you, look into our Virtual Visit opportunities. For example, you can sign up for a virtual information session, check out a pre-recorded virtual session, find where to register for a virtual campus tour, and more. You will also find more reading materials as you continue your research on Tufts.

If you want to read blogs about the current Tufts student experience, “Jumbo Talk” is a great place to start! Blogs include anything from My Journey to Majoring in the Humanities as a Pre-Med Student to Places to Eat on Campus.

WHAT IF I WANT TO SPEAK TO A STUDENT THAT IS MAJORING IN THE SAME FIELD I AM INTERESTED IN? We encourage you to reach out to the admissions officer from your area because they will be able to provide you the contact information of a student with the major you might be interested in. However, you can reach out to anyone in the admissions office to provide you with that information.

HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH TOUR GUIDES? Connecting with tour guides is another great way to get to know Tufts. Check out our “Meet Our Tour Guides” page to find a list of all our tour guides, plus their activities, majors, and hometowns. Their email addresses are also provided in case you find someone you’d like to reach out to.

HOW CAN I CONNECT WITH SOMEONE IN THE FINANCIAL AID OFFICE? If you have any financial aid-specific questions, we encourage you to reach out directly to the Financial Aid Office. By visiting their website, you can find a Financial Aid Officer to reach out to, or if you prefer to email, you can contact them at studentservices@tufts.edu.

RENÉ LAPOINTE ’22 JAMESON René LaPointe Jameson ’22 firmly believes that when you care about and love something, you want it to continuously improve. James Baldwin felt the same, she tells me, but whereas Baldwin was talking about America, Jameson thinks this way about Tufts. Jameson’s college career has been all about enacting change. When she arrived as a first-year, she had no idea she’d be heading for a major in environmental engineering. She’s a humanities and social sciences person at heart, but that’s exactly why she thinks it’s important she’s in the engineering space. “I think a lot of times engineers think that engineering is neutral and objective, but it’s not,” she says. “Engineering has often been used to perpetuate systems of oppression and it’s not often practiced equitably, centering those that are most vulnerable.” Jameson is most passionate about addressing racial injustice and environmental injustice, but their intersection is environmental racism, which is how Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color are disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards. At Tufts, she found the best way to combat these issues is through studying environmental engineering. But just studying environmental engineering isn’t enough—it must be studied and practiced equitably, with an understanding of the social roots of environmental issues. This is why Jameson formally petitioned the School of Engineering to allow her to craft her own degree path, studying environmental engineering with a focus on race and justice issues, and is working to alter the engineering curriculum to include conversations on systems of oppression and how they relate to engineering. Jameson recognizes there are national, systemic issues Tufts can’t control, but the university can control its hiring practices, search out diverse voices, and recognize that knowledge doesn’t need to be validated by big institutions to be important and shared in a classroom. Outside of the School of Engineering, Jameson independently works as a racial equity consultant and speaker, is an Africana Peer Leader, and has

been a Tisch Scholar since her first year. Her Tisch Scholars project works to evaluate and improve the diversity, equity, and inclusion training of the different Tufts pre-orientation programs that first-year and transfer students can sign up for. “My goal is really to empower first-years with the language to effectively and respectfully discuss social issues, consider ‘How does this tie into my time and into our community of Tufts?’ and want to combat those issues and support marginalized community members,” she says. Ultimately, she hopes her work further fosters a more thoughtful and engaged Tufts community, and has already been encouraged by seeing people want to do better and show up for each other. As an Africana Peer Leader, Jameson is a support base for incoming students who are members of the Africana community. She answers questions, helps navigate course selection, and serves as a resource for anything else they might need. She describes her big role at Tufts as “taking up space and making space for others,” and in the Africana Center, she does this by “making that transition to Tufts for different Africana community members as smooth as possible and as supported as possible.” Jameson is leading discussions, building curriculums, designing programming, and challenging institutions. She’s also working with an organization in greater Boston to build a hydroponics system to make fresh produce available to communities that haven’t previously had access due to racist and unjust urban planning (yes, really, she’s doing that, too), all while taking a full 22-semester-hour-unit schedule as an engineer and living life as a young adult. She logged into our Zoom interview tired from having stayed up until 3:00 a.m. watching all the Hunger Games movies (and crying over the last few), and then proceeded to tell me the many ways she’s already impacted the greater Tufts community and the ways she plans on continuing to do so. This interview was merely a glimpse of her world, as well as the world she will positively change. —SUSANNAH MURRAY ’24

PHOTO BY KATHLEEN DOOHER

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING MAJOR FROM GREENWICH, CT

“A lot of times engineers think that engineering is neutral and objective, but it’s not.”

ADMISSIONS INFORMATION WHAT TO SUBMIT: HERE’S THE LIST. FIND MORE DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE!

Common Application, Coalition Application, or QuestBridge Application

Tufts Short-Answer Questions (included in the Common Application and Coalition Application)

3 4 5 6 7

High School Transcript(s)

APPLICATION DEADLINES AND NOTIFICATION DATES Early Decision I Application Deadline: November 1 Notification Date: Mid-December Early Decision II Application Deadline: January 1 Notification Date: Early-February Regular Decision Application Deadline: January 1 Notification Date: By April 1 Transfer Admission Application Deadline: March 15 Notification Date: Mid-May

Senior Year Grades

TUFTS CLASS OF 2024 STATISTICS Testing (Optional) We accept either the ACT or the SAT; neither is required. Applicants may choose whether they wish to have exam scores considered as one component of their candidacy. We do not review scores from SAT Subject Tests, the SAT Essay, or the writing section of the ACT.

Letters of Recommendation We require one from a school counselor and one from a teacher. You may send us one additional if you’d like.

Art Portfolio Required only for students applying to the Combined Degree (BFA/BA or BFA/BS) and BFA applicants to SMFA at Tufts.

23,127 3,770 16.30% 100% 199 206 49% 44.7%

Applications Acceptances Acceptance Rate of Demonstrated Financial Need Met First-Generation Students International Students Women in the School of Engineering US Students of Color

Score Ranges of Admitted Students 33–35 Middle 50% ACT 700–760 Middle 50% SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 720–790 Middle 50% SAT Math

TUFTS UNDERGRADUATE STATISTICS

8 +

Financial Aid Documents If you are applying for aid, you will need to submit: 1. FAFSA 2. CSS Profile 3. Federal Income Tax Returns For more information, read the next page of this magazine or visit go.tufts.edu/finaidapp

Additional Materials (Optional) • Alumni Interview • Arts or Maker Portfolio: Students applying to the School of Arts and Sciences or the School of Engineering may submit an optional arts or maker portfolio to highlight talent in studio art, drama, dance, music, or engineering.

5,907 4.8 20 28 300+ 44% 45% 36% 76

Undergraduate Enrollment Miles from Boston Average Class Size Varsity Sports Teams Student Groups Women in the School of Engineering of Juniors Study Abroad Need-Based Aid Recipients Countries Represented As of February 8, 2021

THE REAL DEAL: FINANCIAL AID AT TUFTS THE BASICS

WHAT IS NEED?

TUFTS MEETS 100% OF DEMONSTRATED NEED FOR ALL ADMITTED STUDENTS, REGARDLESS OF CITIZENSHIP STATUS, FOR ALL FOUR YEARS.

(

Cost of Attendance

)

Tuition and fees Room and board (meal plan) Books and supplies Personal expenses

(

Expected Family Contribution

)

Parent contribution Student contribution

(

Financial Need

)

Your award may include: Grant aid* Student loan Work study

Your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is the amount your family is expected to pay for college for the academic year. It is calculated from the information provided on your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), CSS Profile, and your family’s federal tax returns. Your financial need is the difference between the annual cost of attendance and your calculated family contribution. Your financial aid package will make up the difference, for all four years—even if your family’s situation changes. We generally do not include student loans for students whose families earn less than $60,000 per year. All Tufts financial aid is need-based—we do not offer merit-based scholarships or athletic scholarships. *Grants are need-based gift aid that do not need to be paid back.

HOW DO I APPLY?

WHO CAN HELP?

COMPLETE THE REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

To estimate the amount of financial aid you might receive if admitted to Tufts:

Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)* https://fafsa.ed.gov/ Tufts code: 002219 Cost: free *Note: not required of international or undocumented applicants for financial aid

College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/ Tufts code: 3901 Cost: $25 initial fee plus $16 for each additional college. Fee waivers are available for students who qualify for an SAT fee waiver or whose family incomes are below $45,000. Non-Custodial Profile (NCP): if your parents are divorced or separated. The requirement may be waived by the Tufts Financial Aid Office under very specific circumstances.

Federal Income Tax Returns Applicants should submit all documentation to IDOC (idoc.collegeboard.org/idoc), an electronic imaging service of the College Board. Your account will be created at idoc.collegeboard.org once you submit the CSS Profile. Please do not send tax returns directly to Tufts Admissions or Financial Aid.

BY THE DEADLINE: Application Type Early Decision Round I Early Decision Round II Regular Decision

CSS Profile November 15 January 15 February 1

FAFSA November 15 January 15 February 1

Federal Tax Forms Through IDOC December 1 February 1 February 15

If you are applying for financial aid at Tufts and have a Social Security Number, please make sure to include that information in your application for admission so your materials can be properly matched.

MyinTuition http://admissions. tufts.edu/myintuition Tufts Net Price Calculator https://npc.collegeboard. org/student/app/tufts For questions while applying: CSS Profile 305-420-3670 FAFSA 800-433-3243 “Chat With Us” Service IDOC 866-897-9881 (US and Canada) 212-299-0096 (International)

Ready to get started? Go.tufts.edu/FinAidApp 35

PROGRAMS With nearly 150 majors and minors, 30 interdisciplinary programs, and the courses of the ExCollege, Tufts’ offerings require more than a brief skimming, so you can find an expansion of this quick list on our website. But in the meantime, skim away. Just note that Tufts’ undergraduate programs are offered in three schools: Arts and Sciences, Engineering, and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Students may take classes across schools, and many students do. SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SCIENCES MAJORS

Africana Studies American Studies Anthropology Applied Environmental Studies Applied Mathematics Applied Physics Arabic Archaeology Architectural Studies Art History Astrophysics Biochemistry Biology Biomedical Sciences* Biopsychology Biotechnology* Chemical Physics Chemistry Child Study and Human Development Chinese Civic Studies* Classical Studies Cognitive and Brain Sciences

German Language and Literature German Studies Greek Greek and Latin History Interdisciplinary Studies International Literary and Visual Studies International Relations Italian Studies Japanese

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING MAJORS ABET ACCREDITED

Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Computer Science Electrical Engineering Environmental Engineering Mechanical Engineering

Sound

Food Systems and Nutrition

Welding

French

Woodworking

Geology°

FIVE-YEAR COMBINED DEGREE PROGRAMS

Tufts/New England Conservatory: BA or BS and Bachelor of Music

Africana Studies

Latin American Studies

Data Science

Anthropology

Mathematics

Engineering

Middle Eastern Studies

Engineering Physics

Applied Computational Science

Music

Engineering Science

Arabic

Music, Sound, and Culture

Environmental Health

Architectural Engineering

Philosophy

Human Factors Engineering

Architectural Studies

Psychology/Clinical Concentration Quantitative Economics Religion Russian and East European Studies

Greek Archaeology

Human Factors Engineering°

Architectural Studies

Psychology

Greek

MINORS

Latin

Political Science

German

Greek Civilization

ADDITIONAL DEGREE OPTIONS

SMFA AT TUFTS AREAS OF STUDY

Geosystems

Arts & Sciences/SMFA Combined Degree: BA or BS and Bachelor of Fine Arts

Judaic Studies

Physics

Geoscience

Art History Asian American Studies Astrophysics

All BFA students at SMFA at Tufts focus in interdisciplinary art. They may explore many of the following areas of study while pursuing this interdisciplinary art education.

Biotechnology Engineering° Chemical Engineering Child Study and Human Development Chinese

Hebrew History Italian Japanese Judaic Studies Latin Latin American Studies Latino Studies Leadership Studies Linguistics Mathematics Multimedia Arts Museums, Memory, and Heritage Music Music Engineering Native American and Indigenous Studies

Animation

Cognitive and Brain Sciences

Russian Language and Literature

Bookmaking

Colonialism Studies

Ceramics

Computer Science

Economics

Science, Technology, and Society*

Drawing

Dance

Education*

Sociology

Digital Media

Drama

Engineering Psychology

Spanish Cultural Studies

Film and Video

Economics

English

Spanish Literature

Graphic Arts

Education

Environmental Geology

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Illustration

Engineering Education

Installation

Engineering Management°

Jewelry

English

Metals

Entrepreneurship

Painting

Science, Technology, and Society

Entrepreneurship for Social Impact

Sociology

Environmental Science and Policy°

Studio Art

Community Health Computer Science Drama

Environmental Studies* Film and Media Studies French Geological Sciences

Papermaking Performance

*Available only as a co-major

Photography

°Available only to students enrolled in the School of Engineering

Printmaking

Sculpture

Film and Media Studies Finance

Peace and Justice Studies Philosophy Physics Political Science Portuguese Religion Roman Archaeology Roman Civilization Russian

Spanish Urban Studies Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

. Y E H

JUST STARTING YOUR SEARCH? HERE’S WHAT TUFTS IS ALL ABOUT. WE DO OUR RESEARCH

WE ARE INTERESTED

Tufts is a student-centered research university, which means that we like to dig into our passions deeply and figure things out for ourselves—whether that involves using silk to regenerate tissue or spending a fully-funded summer exploring the political implications of Shakespeare’s plays through the Summer Scholars program. Students and professors come together, across disciplines, to ask questions and create meaning.

…in a lot of things. Tufts students don’t limit themselves: they combine biology with philosophy, compete as nationally-ranked DIII athletes, pursue Bachelor of Fine Arts Degrees in studio art at our School of the Museum of Fine Arts, and solve problems as engineers. They’re part of a community that embraces the unconventional and the uncategorizable.

WE ARE ACTIVE CITIZENS

WE DON’T TAKE OURSELVES TOO SERIOUSLY

Jumbos use their skills and ideas to better people’s lives, whether they are teaching engineering in local elementary schools, creating sustainable businesses, or spending a year doing full-time service as a 1+4 Bridge Year Fellow. They understand that they are citizens of a global community, and they embrace that responsibility.

This is a place where students are as excited to debate fan theories as they are to apply mathematical theorems—as intellectually playful as they are powerful. We believe that ideas can have a profound impact on the world, and those ideas can be born around the seminar table but also in the residence hall common room.

Sound about right? Read the stories here to learn more. Also check out our website: admissions.tufts.edu

PHOTO BY ALONSO NICHOLS/TUFTS UNIVERSITY

Non-Discrimination Statement Tufts does not discriminate in admissions, employment, or in any of its educational programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion or religious creed, disability or handicap, sex or gender (including pregnancy, sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation and coercion, relationship/intimate partner violence and domestic violence), gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Retaliation is also prohibited. Tufts will comply with state and federal laws such as M.G.L. c. 151B, Title IX, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment and Rights Act, Executive Order 11246 and other similar laws that prohibit discrimination, all as amended. Tufts is an equal employment opportunity/affirmative action employer. More detailed Tufts policies and procedures on this topic may be found in the OEO Policies and Procedures page. Any member of the Tufts University community has the right to raise concerns or make a complaint regarding discrimination under this policy without fear of retaliation. Any and all inquiries regarding the application of this statement and related policies may be referred to: Jill Zellmer, MSW, Executive Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity, Title IX and 504 Coordinator, at 617.627.3298 at 196 Boston Avenue, 4th floor, Medford, MA 02155, or at Jill.Zellmer@tufts.edu. Anonymous complaints may also be made by reporting online at: tufts-oeo.ethicspoint.com. As set forth in our policies, individuals may also file complaints with administrative agencies such as the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”). The contact information for the local office of OCR is 617.289.0111 at Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office U.S. Department of Education, 8th Floor, 5 Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109-3921. The email address for OCR is OCR.Boston@ed.gov.

NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. Postage PAID Burlington, VT Permit No. 149

OFFICE OF UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS Tufts University Bendetson Hall 2 The Green Medford, MA 02155 -7057 617- 627-3170 admissions.tufts.edu

Jumbo Magazine - Spring 2021

Articles inside

LIVING

APPLICATION ADVICE

ARTS

ATHLETICS

AROUND TOWN