The Tufts Daily - Monday, October 12, 2020 by The Tufts Daily

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Monday, October 12, 2020

Spring semester to begin Feb. 1, spring break to be shortened by Alejandra Carrillo Executive News Editor

Editor’s note: This article wasoriginally published online on Friday, Oct. 9. The spring semester is set to begin on Feb. 1. The decision was approved during a faculty senate meeting today. Faculty also voted to extend the transfer of credit policies they enacted for 2020, according to Dean of Undergraduate Studies Carmen Lowe. Classes are expected to end on May 5, reading day will begin on May 6 and finals will start on May 7. Final exams, as well as Review Boards for the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, will be held on the same dates as originally scheduled. The dates for Senior see SPRING , page 2

ANNA STEINBOCK / THE TUFTS DAILY

Ballou Hall is pictured with fall leaves on Oct. 10.

Headlines from off the Hill Dr. Sean Conley announces that President Trump is no longer at risk of transmitting the coronavirus, Trump holds large rally, pulls out of second presidential debate On Saturday, Dr. Sean Conley announced that Trump is no longer at risk for transmitting COVID-19, according to results from a test taken Saturday morning. Previously, Trump had spent three nights in the hospital and adhered to an experimental treatment after announcing that he tested positive for coronavirus on Oct. 2. This announcement came hours after Trump held a large campaign rally, marking the resumption of his public campaign activities. During the event, which was advertised as a “peaceful protest for law and order,” Trump spoke from the White House balcony without a mask to a group of participants, who were required to wear masks and encouraged to social distance. Additionally, Trump pulled out of the second presidential debate after a virtual format was announced, due to concerns over COVID-19. Patriots game postponed due to COVID-19 outbreak The Monday night football game between the New England Patriots and the Denver Broncos was moved to next Sunday after three Patriots players tested positive for COVID-19. Defensive tackle Byron Cowart, quarterback

Cam Newton and cornerback Stephon Gilmore account for the team’s confirmed cases. Defensive tackle Bill Murray is additionally on the COVID-19 reserve list and it is unclear if he also tested positive or was exposed to someone who tested positive. New England has closed Gillette Stadium and sent home players, coaches and staff. The stadium will likely not reopen until there are two consecutive days of clean COVID-19 test results. This is the third time in two weeks that a Patriots game has been postponed due to the coronavirus. According to NFL rules, players who have tested positive for the virus can return to play if they meet one of two conditions; either 10 days need to have passed since their initial positive result or they need to produce two consecutive negative tests at least 24 hours apart. In addition to meeting one of these criteria, the player must also be cleared by a team doctor in consultation with officials at the Infection Control Education for Major Sports and receive approval from the NFL’s chief medical officer. Suspects charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan governor On Thursday, 13 people were charged in an alleged domestic terrorism plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. According to a federal complaint, the suspects sought

FEATURES / page 3

to overthrow state governments that, in their view, were violating the U.S. Constitution. The conspiracy included the government of Michigan and Whitmer. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel announced that six suspects were charged federally with conspiracy to kidnap, while the other seven suspects, associated with the militia group “Wolverine Watchmen,” faced state charges. The incident has underlined growing political tension in the weeks leading up to the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Nadal wins French Open, tying Federer’s record for most Grand Slams won Rafael Nadal defeated Novak Djokovic on Sunday in three sets in the finals of the French Open to win his 13th French Open title. This win marks Nadal’s 20th Grand Slam victory. He has now tied Roger Federer’s record for most Grand Slam titles ever won. Nadal’s performance on Sunday was one of his finest, making just 14 mistakes in the entire match, and it was the first completed match Djokovic lost in 2020. The French Open’s clay court is Nadal’s specialty, as only two players, including Djokovic, have beaten Nadal in this arena. On Saturday, 19-year-old Iga Siatek won her first Grand Slam title in the women’s finals, defeating her challenger Sofia Kenin in straight sets. She became the first Polish player in tennis history to win a Grand Slam title.

EDITORIAL / page 6

New organization TREE aims to educate Tufts com- Prioritize receiving flu shots this winter munity the prison-industrial complex

ECOM discourages special election, calls for suspension of bylaws by Alexander Janoff News Editor

Tufts Election Commission (ECOM) appealed to members of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate and Judiciary on Oct. 6 to suspend a portion of their bylaws that would require them to fill seat vacancies via election, and instead allow them to appoint students to these positions. Currently, six seats are vacated across TCU Senate and Judiciary, according to the ECOM website. The following positions are vacant: two Class of 2022 Senate seats, two Community Senate seats — a women’s community senator seat and an international community senator seat — and two Judiciary seats. According to ECOM bylaws, any vacant seat must be filled by special election no more than 15 days after an election has occurred. With the most recent election being held on Oct. 1 for the Class of 2024 Senate positions, according to their current bylaws, ECOM would be required to hold a special election by Oct. 16. Mark Lannigan, ECOM historian, explained that potential candidates for the currently vacant seats were permitted to run in the Oct. 1 election, and applications to run for all open positions were distributed.

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Sheldon, winningest head coach in Jumbo history, departs basketball team

“It was going to be a special election [running concurrently with] the freshman Senate elections, and we had no applicants for any of those positions,” Lannigan, a sophomore, said. ECOM is concerned that students’ lack of interest to run for an open position in the Oct. 1 election will correlate with a low interest level in the bylaw-required election on Oct. 16. “We’re thinking that if there was no interest before, when we were actually holding an election, there’s not going to be interest within the period that the ECOM bylaws lay out, which is that we have to have another election within 15 days,” Lannigan said. “We just don’t think we could get the turnout that would make it a successful election.” ECOM plans to work with TCU Senate and Judiciary and the community centers to fill the vacant seats, with the ultimate goal of replacing the appointees in a special election tentatively scheduled for December. “We’re committed to going through the Women’s Center and the International Center to choose the community senator seats, and we’re going to be working with the Senate and the see ECOM, page 2 NEWS

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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, October 12, 2020

THE TUFTS DAILY Alex Viveros Editor in Chief

EDITORIAL

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Special election proposed for December, following appointments

Rebecca Barker Hannah Harris Managing Editors Jake Freudberg Associate Editors Jilly Rolnick Alejandra Carrillo Maddie Aitken Jessica Blough Tom Guan Liza Harris Alex Janoff Matt McGovern Sara Renkert Sarah Sandlow Anton Shenk Carolina Espinal Sam Klugherz Alexander Thompson Alicia Zou

Executive News Editor Deputy News Editor News Editors

Assistant News Editors

Ryan Shaffer Executive Features Editor Sid Anand Features Editors Amelia Becker Jillian Collins Claire Fraise Evelyn McClure Kayla Butera Assistant Features Editor Megan Szostak Executive Arts Editor Devina Bhalla Arts Editors Ryan Eggers Steph Hoechst Tuna Margalit Chris Panella Yas Salon Elizabeth Sander Colette Smith Rebecca Tang Geoff Tobia Drew Weisberg Assistant Arts Editor Liz Shelbred Priya Padhye Paloma Delgado Amulya Mutnuri Mike Wilkinson Caroline Wolinsky Milli Lu Emily Nadler Julia Baroni Carys Kong Annabel Nied Valeria Velasquez Juju Zweifach

Executive Opinion Editor Senior Editorialists

Editorialists Editorial Cartoonists

Sruthi Kocherlakota Executive Sports Editor Tim Chiang Sports Editors Matt Goguen Jeremy Goldstein Aiden Herrod Pranav Jain Ananda Kao Delaney Tantillo Arpan Barua Assistant Sports Editors Jacob Dreyer Henry Gorelik Ethan Ling Arnav Sacheti Alex Sharp Eric Spencer Austin Clementi Executive Investigative Editor Arlo Moore-Bloom Executive Audio Editor Anne Marie Burke Executive Photo Editors Nicole Garay Aidan Chang Staff Photographers Patrick Milewski Menqi Irina Wang Austen Money Executive Video Editor

PRODUCTION Kevin Zhang Production Director Rachel Hsin Executive Layout Editors Yanqing Huang Laura Mogannam Campbell Devlin Layout Editor Tys Sweeney Executive Graphics Editor Sam Farbman Graphic Designers Freya Gupta Helen He Kristina Marchand Calisa Sana Ethan Schreiber Ethan Steinberg Colton Wolk Brendan Hartnett Julian Perry Mariel Priven Kate Seklir Abigail Zielinski Mykhaylo Chumak Justin Yu Aedan Brown Elizabeth Kenneally Makenna Law Grace Prendergast Michelle Li Tiffany Namkoong

Executive Copy Editors Deputy Copy Editors

Copy Editors Assistant Copy Editors

Executive Social Media Editors

BUSINESS Robert Kaplan Business Director Devina Bhalla Account Managers Coley Goren Sharan Bhansali Business Managers Norice Lu Evelyn McClure Patrick Milewski Luke Allocco Outreach Coordinators Sam Russo

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NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Blossoming trees are pictured by Fletcher Field on April 25.

ECOM

continued from page 1 Judiciary as well,” Lannigan said. “Not so that they can choose their own members because that’s not what we’re in the business of doing, but we’re going to work with them so that it’s done in the most ethical way possible.” TCU Judiciary Chair Holden Dahlerbruch underlined the urgency of filling the currently vacant seats. “For the two open community senator seats and the two open judiciary seats, they need to be filled,” Dahlerbruch, a sophomore, wrote in an email to the Daily. “For the sake of getting members in a timely fashion, appointment seems like a logical process. Of course, I would prefer an election but due to the current impacts that COVID-19 is having on campus, an appoint-

ment process is convenient, timely, and logical.” Dahlerbruch explained that the lack of a full Judiciary drastically limits its function. “As a voting board, we like to meet quorum for most votes and our quorum is set at five or a majority of acting members,” Dahlerbruch said. “In order to vote, we want to increase our members so full attendance is not always required to vote in the case someone misses a meeting.” Dahlerbruch noted, however, that if ECOM fills the vacancies on the Judiciary by appointment, he believes that the Judiciary should not be involved. “Throughout this process, I am encouraging ECOM to keep the Judiciary away from impacting the decision of who is appointed,” Dahlerbruch said. “The student body most

times gets to choose who is elected to the J, so we, as members of the J, get no say on who is added … I don’t want the J to have any impact in the appointment process for our open seats.” Lannigan is confident that there will be an election to fill the vacant seats, once ECOM expects a wider voter turnout. He said that a little over a week is not enough time for candidates to go through an effective electoral process. “I think the bylaws themselves don’t give us enough time to put together an entire election, especially when we can’t do things in person and everything has to be done digitally and it just makes advertising a lot more difficult,” Lannigan said. According to Dahlerbruch, articles IV.A and IV.I of the bylaw suspension did not

pass, meaning that senators for the Class of 2022 will not be appointed, and for the other positions where selection by appointment remains an option, those selected must be a full-time undergraduate student in good academic standing. ECOM wrote in an email to the Daily yesterday that they will not be proceeding with the suspension of bylaws until at least Wednesday, in an effort to maintain transparency. For this bylaw suspension to pass, ECOM requires the approval of TCU Senate President Sarah Wiener, TCU Senate Vice President Grant Gebetsberger, TCU Judiciary Chair Holden Dahlerbruch, acting TCU Judiciary Vice Chair Zach Ferretti, the majority of the Senate Executive Board and the majority of the Judiciary.

Spring break likely consists of long weekend, reading period will be 1 day SPRING

continued from page 1 Week and Commencement also remain the same. Lowe explained that the later start date will allow for a longer winter break. “[Starting classes Feb. 1 will] allow more time for deep cleaning classrooms, residences, and dining spaces,” Lowe wrote in an email to the Daily. “[It] will facilitate extra time for students to move back

to campus in a staggered fashion, similar to move-in this fall.” Undergraduates who take a personal leave to study in another institution for spring 2021 will be able to transfer credits for courses taken online or in a hybrid format, as well as for courses taken at two-year colleges that grant associate degrees, according to Lowe. She also acknowledged that Dining Services, Residential

Life, Student Affairs and Student Services will appreciate the longer break, as they have worked intensely all spring, summer and fall to uphold COVID-19 policies and keep the campus safe. Lowe recognized that the Educational Policy Committee and faculty from the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering discussed the need for some breaks in the spring semester, but they decided not

to institute them in an effort to prevent a compressed final exam period. Lowe explained that spring break will be shortened to allow for an appropriate number of instructional days. She said that spring break will likely consist of a long weekend in March, and anticipates that travel during the break will be prohibited. No decisions have been made about summer 2021 or fall 2021.

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Features

TREE builds campaign toward ending private prisons, proposes divestment

AVA IANNUCCILLO / THE TUFTS DAILY

Ballou Hall is pictured on Oct. 6. by Allie Birger

Contributing Writer

In the months following the death of George Floyd and the start of the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests, many students at Tufts have been making a concerted effort to educate themselves about systemic racism and its influence on institutions that we interact with every day. This summer, one group of students decided to look into how Tufts plays a role in contributing to these issues. This research has manifested itself into a larger project in the form of Tufts for a Racially Equitable Endowment (TREE), a new organization on campus centered around raising awareness of the private prison system and, according to TREE’s Facebook page, pushing Tufts to divest. TREE’s goal is to educate both current students and alumni about the role that the prison-industrial complex (PIC) plays in everyday life at institutions around the country, such as Tufts. For students, the focus is on education and facilitating conversation about this topic, which may be difficult to participate in and comprehend without prior knowledge. Temple Miller-Hodgkin, a junior who is a member of the steering committee, a structure that replaces the traditional executive board, said on Zoom that the first step is raising awareness among the student body. “We’re really trying to emphasize the role that the prison-industrial complex plays in everyday life for people by putting it out there that like, ‘Hey, this is how Tufts is profiting off of [the PIC] and how we, as students of Tufts are also profiting off that system,’” MillerHodgkin said. “Then we want to try to use that momentum and exposure to compel the university to make some changes.” Arlyss Herzig, a sophomore who is also part of the steering committee, added that part of the impetus of founding the club was the Black Lives Matter movement. She emphasized the connection between educating individuals and engaging the Tufts community with its mission. “We were trying to figure out the best way to integrate into Tufts because Tufts is a primarily white and upper-class community, so these are issues that don’t affect the majority of students,” Herzig said. “Now the goal is to push for transparency at Tufts but also to educate on racial concerns and equity issues and to push for more equitable practices, on Tufts campus and in our larger community.” TREE is unique among Tufts clubs in that it has a horizontal leadership structure rather than a hierarchical executive board. Miller-Hodgkin says this creates a more

inclusive environment, making it so that its approximately 30 members feel comfortable with any level of involvement. “We’re emphasizing a non-hierarchical kind of leadership so that people can kind of take on the roles that they want to take on. … If you want to be super committed to this club and participate a lot, you can,” Miller-Hodgkin said. “And if you don’t, you don’t have to, and can just show up and listen to meetings, or come to our events. So the way that works is we have unofficial positions that people can change in and out of at any time.” Members can be a part of one of five committees: research, on-campus outreach, graphics and social media, stakeholder outreach and events/town halls. So far this year, TREE has hosted open Q&A sessions, the work of the events/town hall committee. The next TREE event is planned for Oct. 22. “We’re going to have a lot of educational events where people can come learn about how universities and the prison-industrial complex are intertwined. We’re going to have professors and other experts or people that are involved talking about it there,” Miller-Hodgkin said. Regarding alumni, TREE wants to educate and raise awareness about where exactly their investments to Tufts’ endowment are going. Alex Kiefus, a sophomore who is the “point person” for the stakeholder outreach committee, said it’s important to remember that although alumni graduated, they can still learn more about these issues. To get them involved, Kiefus said that members of TREE are planning on reaching out soon and learning more about their academic background, current jobs and interest in becoming involved with the organization. She said reaching out to them gives alumni the opportunity to engage with the community beyond their time at Tufts. “Something we’ve been emphasizing within the group is that we want to make [this process] as not robot-like as possible, to be very much like, ‘Hi, this is my name. This is what I’m studying. I just heard about this. I saw that you signed this petition, and I’m really interested in your work and trying to build a community.’ So it’s not just like another form letter that they’re receiving in their inbox from another social justice warrior from Tufts,” Kiefus said. TREE has an ongoing research committee working to understand the extent of how exactly Tufts is involved in the PIC. “Tufts just happens to be invested in the two firms that have a monopoly on the private prison industry, CoreCivic and the GEO Group,” junior Kate Murphy,

a research team facilitator, wrote in an email to the Daily. According to a 2019 CoreCivic report of its 2018 finances, the corporation earned $1.83 billion in revenue in 2018. The organization also has a partnership with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). About 70% of ICE detainees are held in private prisons, according to The Guardian. In addition, the club is going through a process called the Responsible Investment Advisory Group (RIAG) that will allow TREE to gain insight into specifics about Tufts’ investments. After a proposal is submitted and approved, a group of trustees, faculty, students and other administrators will review the proposal in relation to Tufts’ financial assets, mission and financial position. In regard to working with the administration to find a solution, TREE’s steering committee is waiting to take action until there is a larger conversation on campus. “We want to show up prepared,” Kiefus said. Miller-Hodgkin affirmed this strategy. “Eventually, we’re going to try to do some more tangible things like talking to the administration and making changes work. But for the very beginning, we’re mostly focused on educating and spreading the word so that by the time that we’re involved with administration, we have [enough awareness] on campus to actually get changes done,” Miller-Hodgkin said. Since TREE has only been on campus this semester, the club is still getting off the ground and is focused on getting recognized by the Tufts Community Union, recruiting members and increasing overall engagement. “Our goals [for this semester] are to create a greater campus awareness about Tufts’ endowment and also the issues of the prison-industrial complex, as well as racial inequities both within Tufts and in the U.S.,” Herzig said. Kiefus hopes to raise the same kind of awareness among alumni with the prospect of working with them directly in the near future. Miller-Hodgkin has high hopes for what’s to come with the group. “I think there’s a larger desire for students on campus to do and learn about things related to racial justice and the prison-industrial complex now. I think we are one of the student clubs that are filling that role in regards to specifically how Tufts can do better. I also think a lot of students that I’ve talked to have been pretty disappointed about the university putting out a bunch of statements and saying things like, ‘We’re sorry,’ but then not actually making any changes in relation to that,” he said. “So I think that we’re going to be one of the forces that holds the university accountable to actually make those changes.”

3 Monday, October 12, 2020

Lena Leavitt Little Bit of History Repeating

Chinatown

n 2014, a tour guide berated San Francisco’s Chinatown streets: “Here in America we don’t eat turtles and frogs … when you come to America you’ve got to assimilate a little bit.” The irony is palpable, considering that Chinatowns were created precisely because racist legislation made assimilation impossible for Asian Americans. Before 1906, San Francisco’s legally segregated Chinese community looked much like other areas of the city: rows of Victorian Italianate facades. Blamed for job shortages across America since the late 1800s and relegated to outsider status by the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, their confined neighborhood was a refuge from physical violence. Then, on April 18, 1906, a terrible earthquake shook San Francisco. The resulting fires lasted for three days. In 1885, a municipal report of the area had detailed prostitution houses, as well as gambling and opium dens. A slum tourism business had even sprung up, where “thrill-seeking” visitors could watch supposed depravity in shadowy buildings. As Chinese residents fled their blazing homes, San Franciscans yelled at them to never come back. San Francisco officials were delighted at the opportunity to move Chinese families to the edges of town, where the slaughterhouses were, in exchange for “well-educated,” “productive” and “beautiful” (i.e., white) citizens. Chinese business people knew that San Francisco was a key trading hub with China. They appealed to Empress Dowager Cixi, who sent her cultural general from Washington to meet with San Francisco officials. After business owners declared they would leave San Francisco and go to Tacoma or Portland, the mayor dissolved plans to relocate Chinatown in an unprecedented political victory for Chinese Americans. Chinese families were sick of Chinatown’s reputation for vice. Look Tin Eli, an American born Chinese businessman, figured that if tourists would always look for an imaginary “Orient,” perhaps it was best to give them what they wanted. People harassed Chinese immigrants for their foreignness. If Chinatown emphasized their ethnicity in a way that visitors considered pleasant rather than repulsive, people would leave them alone. Eli hired white designers to rebuild Chinatown using pictures of old-fashioned designs from the Song dynasty. Religious pagodas became roof decor for department stores. Dragon statues, which traditionally guarded royal palaces, flanked banks instead. Grand painted gates and red lanterns formed the iconic Chinatown look we know today. Chinatown became a monument to consumerism. Its amusement park riot of color fed middle-class white America’s fantasies perfectly. Anti-Chinese sentiment decreased. Newspapers praised Chinatown: In 1909, The Bulletin wrote, “Chinatown is one of the most noted places on the American continent. We have held up to the public gaze for too long the racial grief that separates … people of the earth.” Chinese Americans still faced plenty of legal discrimination, but they were more accepted. They embellished their foreignness in order to survive. What else can you do when the law treats you like an outsider? How else do you live in a country which forces you to strike a tenuous balance between model minority assimilation and pleasing cultural presentation, and neither is ever enough? Lena Leavitt is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Lena can be reached at arlene.leavitt@tufts.edu.

Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture

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Monday, October 12, 2020

Maeve Hagerty Maeve’s Music Mondays

Nigerian Afrobeats hit different

his week we have a genre that is relatively new to me. My first exposure to the Nigerian Afrobeats style was through one of its biggest stars: WizKid. When Drake’s “One Dance” (2016) became a hit, I was not impressed enough by WizKid’s collaboration to look into his music. It was therefore my second introduction to Nigerian Afrobeats that made me more curious. The song “COMO UN BEBÉ” (2019) by J Balvin and Bad Bunny, featuring Mr Eazi — another prominent Nigerian Afrobeats artist — caught my attention. The unique style of Mr Eazi’s rhythm, which I would later come to realize was a staple of the Afrobeats genre, was perfect for dancing overenthusiastically around my room. But what is the Afrobeats genre, specifically to Nigeria? As an extension of the earlier Afrobeat style (yes, the presence of the “s” is a distinction), it features lots of the same influences of jazz, funk, highlife and traditional Nigerian Fuji music. However, it has also drawn from more current pop music and techno, reaching a larger dance club audience and rising in popularity. Since most of the Nigerian Afrobeats singers speak a mix of Yoruba and English in their songs, I find that they’re feelgood songs for homework (since my brain struggles to work and process English lyrics), but also great dancing music. There are some English lyrics that can be sung at full volume, but there are also verses that are perfect for humming while reading about the history of World War II for us non-Yoruba speakers. It’s a beautiful inbetween, at least in my opinion. And as I began to learn more about the music style, I began to explore more artists. Tiwa Savage has impressed me as one of the strongest influences in the genre, and the versatility of her voice is truly legendary. From the R&B and pop vibes in songs like “Wanted” (2013) to the relaxation of “Celia’s Song” (2020), she truly has a song for every mood. Her most recent album “Celia” (2020) is my favorite so far. She has also been open in describing the sexism she experienced while she tried to get signed to a record label and has acted as a voice of empowerment, not only for girls across Nigeria, but for girls across the world. In her song “49-99” (2019), she references a term used by previous Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuti in his song “Shuffering and Shmiling” (1978), in which he criticized the systems of Nigerian government that led to poverty. This song is probably my favorite by her, and its music video is equally impressive. Beyond Savage, one of my favorite rising Nigerian Afrobeats stars is Crayon. His serenading voice pairs perfectly with the warbling guitar lines and cross-genre influences that characterize his music. Though he has only a single extended play and a few singles produced, I have yet to find a song of his that I have not enjoyed. “Sometime” (2020) is my favorite of his songs, but the Caribbean style of “Aye O” (2019) is one that I really enjoy. So, until next week, happy listening! Maeve Hagerty is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Maeve can be reached at maeve.hargerty@tufts.edu.

Genre-busting andPlay duo transcends contemporary music norms

MEGAN SZOSTAK / THE TUFTS DAILY

andPlay duo is pictured performing during Tufts Department of Music “andPlay Duo: Glass Screams” virtual event on Oct. 5. by Megan Szostak

Executive Arts Editor

On Oct. 5, the Tufts Department of Music invited the genre-busting violin-viola duo andPlay to perform a livestreamed concert of contemporary string works by four female composers. The New York City-based duo, consisting of Maya Bennardo (violin) and Hannah Levinson (viola), has known each other since their undergraduate years at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in Oberlin, Ohio. The musicians formed andPlay after having a residency on Fire Island in New York and performing works for violin and viola in front of an enthusiastic crowd. “ We quickly realized that we loved playing with each other, and we loved having a small ensemble,” Levinson said. “But there’s not a lot of music written for violin-viola duo. So that’s kind of where we started commissioning our own works. That’s become the bulk of our repertoire.” Now a well-established duo that has commissioned over 30 works, andPlay often works closely with budding contemporary composers during the composition process. “There’s a really deep understanding of the pieces because we’ve gone through kind of a process [with the composers],” Bennardo said. With the two musicians’ performing lives having been upended by COVID19 and the nationwide cancellation of countless live events, Bennardo and Levinson emphasized that as much as listeners miss being in the audience, performers miss being on stage and interacting with a live audience. “We like to have that kind of dialogue with our audience where we talk about the pieces,” Bennardo said. “A lot of our programs are with music that we have either commissioned, or where we have worked directly with the composers. So we have a lot of background on all these pieces, and

we like to be able to share that with the audience, which is a better experience for everyone.” This, however, does not mean that andPlay has given up on dialogue and audience interaction. “I think we are still going to try to do that in these concerts,” Levinson said. “Speaking from a livestream is just a little bit of a different experience.” The concert, which was broadcast on YouTube Live, included a live comments section which allowed audience members to offer words of feedback and praise, as well as to ask questions of the musicians, who graciously responded in the chat at the end of the performance. The concert, “Glass Screams,” featured four works: “Ghosting [A Shadowy Trace]” (2017) by Leaha Maria Villarreal; “Letters to My Future Self ” (2018) by Leah Asher; “ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing into” (2018) for violin, viola and electronics by Bethany Younge and “My Loves Are In America” (2019) by Carolyn Chen. The two musicians were standing far apart in the same studio, broadcasting live from Brooklyn. From the first piece on the program alone, Bennardo and Levinson proved that they are a dynamic and engaging duo who perform as auditorily as they do visually. Villarreal’s piece was an ethereally dissonant exploration of timbre and responsorial playing, and demonstrated Bennardo and Levinson’s advanced e n s e m b l e s h i p. A c c o rd i n g to Villarreal’s original program notes, which were shared by Bennardo during the livestream, “Ghosting,” which was commissioned for andPlay, “explores absence and presence in our lives through our understanding of ghosts, which has universal meaning spanning spiritual, visual and emotional parameters.” Next on the program was Asher’s “Letters to My Future Self,” which began with Bennardo setting her violin down and instead picking

up a letter addressed to a “future self,” which she proceeded to fervently read aloud, accompanied by Levinson’s musical interjections. The presentation of Asher’s work was nothing short of theatrical and included moments of profound precision on the part of the musicians to points of near discontent, where the performers uttered single syllables using their voices and their instruments again and again, like a skipping track. The next work to be performed was Younge’s “ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing ing into,” which featured the duo accompanied by an electronic track of Younge’s voice. The performers, who played with earpieces and microphones, used their instruments, voices and bodies in this segment and sometimes went through the motions of playing their instruments without ever setting the bow on the string. Bennardo and Levinson let out ear-piercing screams at several moments during the performance as well; Younge’s experimentalism with the human voice in conjunction with bowed acoustic instruments and electronics made for an invigorating performance unlike anything else on the program. The concert concluded with the most melodic and lengthy piece of the night. “My Loves are in America” was inspired by Chen’s exposure to and love for Irish fiddling music. This work was fluid and diaphanous and showcased Bennardo and Levinson’s musicianship. Both musicians expressed their gratitude to Tufts Music for working to make the livestream possible. “We really appreciate everything that the music department has done,” Levinson said. “John McDonald and everybody over there made sure that this concert could still happen, and that it’s going to happen at a really high quality, and that we will hopefully be able to see you all in person another time.”

Monday, October 12, 2020 | Fun & Games | THE TUFTS DAILY

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LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Everyone: “Happy Birthday Kevin!

Fun & Games

SUDOKU

”

LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Libra (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) Savor peaceful settings and private reverie. Meditate and contemplate. Beauty is restorative. Process recent events and recharge. Release emotion with exercise. Imagine new possibilities.

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6 Monday, October 12, 2020

Opinion

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EDITORIAL

Flu vaccinations are crucial during a pandemic This year will not be an average flu season: Experts warn of a “perfect storm” looming ahead due to the combined presence of influenza and COVID-19. Because of this dual threat, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts announced on Aug. 19 that influenza immunization will be required for all students attending colleges or universities in the state before Dec. 31, unless a medical or religious exemption is provided. Tufts officials have yet to determine students’ compliance with the order. Due to the pandemic, there are significant barriers to accessing free flu vaccines. While Tufts Health Service provided free flu shots in the past to any student who paid a health fee, social distancing requirements limit Health Service’s

capacity to hold flu shot clinics this year. However, the university is currently exploring different options to make flu shots accessible to students. So far, Tufts students have done a commendable job limiting the spread of COVID-19 on campus by getting tested semiweekly and following health protocols. In order to maintain this positive trend on campus, Tufts students who are able to should prioritize getting vaccinated to limit the spread of the flu this season and protect our community. As the cold and flu season approaches, it is crucial that Tufts is prepared for a potential “twindemic.” The concurrent threat of influenza and COVID-19 presents a variety of complications and potentially

dire consequences. Since the flu and milder cases of COVID19 induce similar symptoms, including fever, cough, sore throat, fatigue and shortness of breath, it may be particularly difficult to initially distinguish between the two. Additionally, public health officials do not yet know the health outcomes of COVID-19 and flu coinfection, but the results of a simultaneous infection could potentially be severe. These factors make getting the flu vaccine evermore critical. Getting vaccinated will help preserve health care capacity and resources for those infected with COVID-19. The vaccine could also help reduce the number of COVID-19 tests needed to distinguish between flu and coronavirus symptoms, conserving essen-

tial health care resources. Most important, getting vaccinated could reduce the risk of coinfection and save lives. Flu vaccination prevents tens of thousands of hospitalizations each year and reduces the risk of flu-associated hospitalizations among older adults and those with chronic health conditions. We commend the administration on its efforts to stress the importance of getting vaccinated, instituted in its warning that Tufts will place a registration health hold on the accounts of students who do not comply with the immunization requirement. As Tufts looks into alternatives to on-campus clinics, health officials should consider administering flu shots outside or at multiple locations in order to maintain distancing guide-

lines. In the meantime, Tufts should continue to support students in getting the vaccine at off-campus locations. While we currently do not have a COVID-19 vaccine and thus have limited control over preventing COVID-19 infections, we do have control in preventing a flu outbreak on our campus. We urge the Tufts community to comply with the state mandate and get vaccinated as soon as possible. We owe it not only to university health officials who have worked diligently to keep those of us on campus safe, but to the surrounding Medford and Somerville communities as well. It is our civic responsibility to take preventative action to maintain the health of our community.

Matt Rice The Countdown

with: a House Caucus with more high-profile, left-wing members. The left wing is ascendant, unlike during the Obama and Clinton administrations, which were constrained by more conservative House Democrats. There have always been some progressives among predominantly moderate congressional Democrats: Rep. Shirley Chisholm, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, Rep. Barbara Lee and Sen. Bernie Sanders, to name a few. But there was never a significant, progressive media and fundraising infrastructure to support them. That has changed dramatically just in the last four years. “The Squad” made headlines as a quartet pushing House Democrats to the left. Trump and right-wing maniacs have used every dog whistle imaginable to attack these four

women, but Justice Democrats, the leftist group that backed Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, has been more concerned with challenging Democratic incumbents rather than Republicans. And they took down some towering figures this year. In the 2020 primaries, Justice Democrats and their allies defeated a powerful committee chairman and the scion of a St. Louis dynasty, won open primaries and even defended a progressive senator from a Pelosi-backed moderate. By taking down such high profile and powerful members, the progressive wing of the House Caucus will not only have more voting power, but a greater ability to threaten the establishment. Reps. Engel and Clay were two of Pelosi’s closest allies, so other established members will likely be looking over the shoulders

and loudly moving to the left in order to avoid the same fate as their former colleagues. Even the Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, has been moving left and holding Ocasio-Cortez close as he eyes his 2022 reelection. So how will Biden handle this growing crop of progressive legislators if he’s president? Well, it seems like he’s already dropping the ball. Mondaire Jones, the presumptive next representative for New York’s 17th District, has advocated for court expansion in the face of Judge Amy Coney Barrett’s confirmation. Biden refuses to tell us his opinion. Ocasio-Cortez and Sen. Ed Markey wrote the Green New Deal together, and they both survived primary challenges from more moderate candidates this year; however, Sen. Kamala Harris refused to embrace the plan during the vice presidential debate. If

Biden and Harris want to avoid a challenge from the left, they need to make some concessions on at least a few left priorities. In 2010, the Tea Party overtook the House Republican Conference, and organized themselves into the conservative House Freedom Caucus. In 2017, the Freedom Caucus killed the Republicans’ health care bill. The Justice Democrats are poised to hold a similar level of influence within their own party; they won’t cast a majority of votes, but their commitments, media infrastructure and fundraising prowess will be a constant source of power from within the Capitol building.

How will Biden handle a more left-leaning House caucus?

ith just three weeks until Election Day, it’s a near-sure thing Biden will be elected president. But even if he can defeat Trump, take back the Senate and hold the House, Biden will have to navigate an environment no Democratic president since Carter has dealt

Matt Rice is a senior studying political science. Matt can be reached at matthew.rice@ tufts.edu.

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Sp o r t s

Monday, October 12, 2020 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY

How Noble Ohakam inspires followers to build up NOBLE

continued from BACK end of it I can work on my handstand technique and that’s still exciting.” Ohakam developed his hashtag, #buildupnotdown, based on the idea of athletes building themselves up in all realms of their life. “To me, that means each and every day, by any means, whether it’s physical, mental or emotional, I’m learning and developing myself in order to understand how to better my body’s ability to move, but also how to improve my mentality,” Ohakam said. However, even though he wants to encourage people to build up, he does not want to send the message that people should not take the time to reflect on their emotions or events that happened in the past. Most importantly, Ohakam wants people to remember that mental and holistic wellness are a part of fitness and building a sustainable lifestyle. “I started this path to self-improvement before I was able to realize how much I missed my brother,” Ohakam said. “It’s not just about building up and not down. As one builds, they must always take time to pause and assess what they have. It’s great to have a goal to live up to … but don’t sabotage another aspect of your life.” The name of his brand, Built by Noble, reflected a similar idea based on his dream of building a life to be proud of. From a business perspective, he initially chose to include his own name in the title to make his brand unique. “I want to remind myself that even though I’ve received so much advice and knowledge from YouTube, friends, counsel-

Alex Sharp Sharp from the Sofa

Bean the Astros, what about the Patriots?

n Thursday, baseball fans outside Harris County, Texas watched in disgust as the Houston Astros beat the Oakland Athletics 11–6 to advance to their fourth straight American League Championship Series. The Astros’ playoff run comes almost a year after the news broke that the team had been stealing opposing teams’ signs during their 2017 World Series run. The Astros had a camera in center field sending a live video of the opposing team’s catcher to a monitor in their dugout. When they saw the catcher signal for an off-speed pitch, someone in the dugout would bang on a trash can to let the hitter know the pitch would be a breaking ball. The sign-stealing scandal is particularly egregious because there is no greater advantage for a MLB hitter than knowing

ors, at the end of the day I have to be the one to know it’s time for me to apply the information to my life,” Ohakam said. “I was the one who started waking up at 6 a.m. to go run in the park, I was the one who started recording myself and then I was the one who started to advertise. Having it be a one-person job solidified the idea that I am building myself. All it takes is you to build yourself up.” Ohakam said one of the major benefits of starting the project has been getting the opportunity to meet new people in the athletic community, inside and outside of Tufts. He has also enjoyed talking to Tufts and Andover alumni about how to further the Built by Noble project professionally and athletically. “I’ve spoken to alums in different capacities … about how to progress into a career and personally develop one’s body, mind and soul,” Ohakam said. “Being able to talk to alums allowed me to flesh out what this project can be. I’ve gotten advice about how to turn this dream of mine into a reality by thinking about what I can produce, and considering if it is valuable to another person.” In the future, Ohakam would like to use his computer science degree from the School of Engineering to create a webpage or mobile app for Built by Noble. Ideally, they would be platforms for him to put out programs and content for his followers. Ohakam had trouble with his major in the past., saying, “The learning curve of [computer science] is very competitive — it increased my anxiety academically in my first year.” He now appreciates the challenges that the field brings.

what pitch is coming his way. The MLB suspended Astros manager A.J. Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow a year for their role in the scheme, fined the team $5 million and stripped them of their first- and second-round draft picks for the next two years. To many, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred’s punishments were not steep enough. Players and fans of the other 29 MLB teams believe that Astros players should have faced discipline while the team should have been forced to relinquish their 2017 World Series Championship title. As a result of their past transgressions and a lack of accountability from the MLB, the 2020 Houston Astros may be the most universally hated team in MLB history. The hashtag “#BeanTheAstros” went viral and shirts that read “Houston Asterisks” and “Trash-Town” (instead of “H-Town”) flew off the shelves. Make no mistake, this is not a column that is sympathetic to the Astros. Rather, this is a column that asks why other cheating teams haven’t faced the same level of scorn. And by other cheating teams, I mean the New England Patriots. It is often said that the Tufts community is a political echo

COURTESY NOBLE OHAKAM

Noble Ohakam is pictured. “Now I can see that there are some pockets in the field that interest me,” Ohakam said. “I’m getting more comfortable programming and working with other people.” For now, he wants to continue his programming classes and keep learning about how to develop individual training plans with the objective of getting officially certified soon. When reflecting on the best advice to give people beginning a fitness journey, Ohakam first shared the importance of education. “Spend time learning the science behind fitness so that you’re not persuaded by the next fitness influencer that has a six-pack who claims you need to eat a certain way to look like them,” Ohakam said”

While many social media influencers say that special diets or certain supplements can change someone’s body rapidly, Ohakam wants people to remember that physical activity is a lifelong endeavor, not a onemonth program. Furthermore, when beginning a fitness journey, Ohakam emphasized the idea that his followers should always enjoy what they are doing and be sure to think about all aspects of their life beyond exercise. “Pick something that is fun for you and see what your body can do. Think about your level of physical activity, injury history, nutrition and sleep schedule. Physical activity is only one leg in the stool of overall health,” Ohakam said. “You

have to remember the emotional aspect, nutrition and sleep. Once you consider the other parts, it makes it easier to be physically active.” His last advice for anyone remotely interested in fitness is to remember that at the end of the day, you are the only person that can motivate yourself. “You’re going to have your body for the rest of your life, so you might as well enjoy being in it,” Ohakam said. “Take your time, and no rush.” “Thank you for everybody that’s been supporting me so far from the Tufts and Andover communities, and even back home,” Ohakam said. “Always remember to build up, not down.”

chamber, but it also happens to be a sports echo chamber. Boston sports fans dominate the Medford-Somerville campus like Eli Manning and Tom Coughlin have dominated the Patriots in the Superbowl. This column is for the silent majority at Tufts, those who would rather go to class shirtless than in a Patriots jersey. The Patriots’ cheating record in the Bill Belichick era is well documented. In 2007, Belichick was fined the league maximum of $500,000 and the team was docked a first-round draft pick for illegally filming the New York Jets. A 2015 ESPN “Outside The Lines” report found that the 2007 “Spygate” cheating was far worse than previously thought. According to the report, the Patriots had an extensive illegal videotaping system to steal their opponents’ plays, would send low-level employees to opposing teams’ locker rooms and hotels to try to swipe their play sheets and consistently jammed opposing coaches’ headsets. The next major Patriots cheating scandal was “Deflategate.” At the request of Tom Brady, footballs were deflated by Patriots staffers for the 2015 AFC Championship Game against the Indianapolis Colts. After an NFL investigation, Brady was

suspended four games and the Patriots lost a first-round draft pick. A saga then ensued when Brady appealed his suspension in court. Almost every Patriots fan will maintain to this day that their golden boy was innocent. I’ll admit that deflating footballs is a minor offense, but like all infamous cheating scandals, from Bill Clinton’s “I did not have sexual relations with that woman” to Lance Armstrong’s “I have never doped,” it’s the lying and cover-up that matter more than the act itself. All you need to know about “Deflategate” is that the Patriots called their ball boy the “deflator.” After the allegations, they explained that this was his nickname because he was trying to lose weight. Sure. And the “bookie” in my phone is my librarian. Just last year the Patriots were again caught illegally videotaping another team when a Cincinnati Bengals employee noticed a Patriots film crew in their press box during a game against the Chicago Browns (the Patriots played the Bengals the next week). One cheating scandal is an isolated incident, three is a trend. The film crew claimed to be filming a documentary on the Patriots’ scouting department, but all they

filmed for the entire first quarter was the Bengals’ sideline and coaches. When approached by security, the film crew tried to delete the footage. Must’ve been some documentary. The NFL announced on June 28 that the Patriots’ punishment for filming the Bengals included a ban on videotaping games during the 2020 season, a $1.1 million fine and the loss of a draft pick. In an act of media manipulation that would make the Trump administration proud, the Patriots just so happened to announce the signing of former MVP quarterback Cam Newton on June 28. Guess which story got all the coverage on “SportsCenter”? Your Patriots fan peers at Tufts will throw out a litany of excuses for their team’s behavior: every team bends the rules, the Patriots are unfairly targeted because they win, you’re just a hater. They will surely bring up their team’s six championship rings; Patriots fans spend more time discussing rings than a recently engaged couple. But you know the truth, and with truth comes power. Alex Sharp is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. Alex can be reached at alex. sharp@tufts.edu.

8 Monday, October 12, 2020

Sports

tuftsdaily.com

Men’s basketball coach to retire after 32 years

NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY

Coach Bob Sheldon is pictured with the men’s basketball team after it won the NESCAC Championship Game against Colby in Cousens Gym on March 1. by Jake Freudberg Associate Editor

Men’s basketball coach Bob Sheldon announced his retirement last week, ending a 32-year career leading the Jumbos. Matt Malone (LA’07), who has been on Sheldon’s coaching staff since 2006, was named interim head coach. Sheldon amassed a career record of 483–321 since 1988, making him the winningest coach in the program’s 116-year history and placing him in the top 25 winningest active coaches in Div. III at the end of last season. At the time of his retirement, Sheldon was the third-longest tenured active varsity coach at Tufts, behind sailing coach Ken Legler and baseball coach and Associate Director of Athletics John Casey.

Sheldon, 65, said in an interview that he decided to retire because he was ready to move on after the team’s success last season. The COVID-19 pandemic also influenced the decision, as he knew it was doubtful the team would be able to play this year (the NESCAC canceled the 2020–21 winter season the day after Sheldon announced his retirement). “I didn’t want to wrestle with it,” Sheldon said about COVID19. “I knew this was going to be a tough year.” “I’m ready to move on to treating every day like a Saturday,” Sheldon added with a laugh. Sheldon undoubtedly goes out on top. Overall, Sheldon’s final five seasons were some of the best in program history, with a total record of 97–42.

The 2019–20 season was arguably one of Sheldon’s best, as he led the team to its first NESCAC Championship. The championship game was a thriller, despite the Jumbos blowing a second-half lead to the Colby Mules, Sheldon led his team back through double overtime to secure the historic victory. The team went on to the NCAA tournament — the sixth time with Sheldon at the helm — and defeated a scrappy team from Western Connecticut State University in the first round and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the second round. But a few days later, the NCAA canceled the rest of the season due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, squashing what could have been a deep tournament run for the Jumbos. Sheldon is still proud of that finish, though. He said he has done

some research and only one other NCAA coach won their last game in an NCAA tournament: the legendary John Wooden, who coached at the University of California, Los Angeles from 1948 to 1975. Aside from Sheldon’s basketball success, Malone spoke to many of Sheldon’s personable qualities that will be missed at Tufts. “He’s just a guy that people want to be around,” Malone said. “He never had a bad day, he was always looking for the positive in whatever the situation was and he could find the humor in any situation.” For Sheldon, it was more than just basketball that kept him at Tufts for so long. “I stuck around because of the pewople,” Sheldon said. “I enjoyed working with the players every day, I enjoyed interacting with the parents, I enjoyed the

alums that would come back and I liked hanging out with the other coaches. And I liked the competition … It’s very rewarding.” Malone, who also serves as assistant director of athletics for facilities and event operations, is taking over the team in an unprecedented time, with the winter NESCAC season recently canceled. But he is excited for his new position and ready to build upon Sheldon’s success. “It’s certainly not the type of first team meeting I ever expected,” Malone said. “But we’re excited …We’ve got things we need to work on individually, which is something that we typically don’t get to do in the NESCAC.” Sheldon is confident he is leaving the team in a good position. “It’s so bright you need sunglasses,” Sheldon said about the future.

Built by Noble: Turning dreams into reality by Brigitte Wilson Staff Writer

While many people took state and federal at-home advisories during the spring and summer months of the COVID-19 pandemic as an excuse to stop exercising and start overeating, junior Noble Ohakam decided to put those weeks to good use — by capitalizing on his passion for fitness and kick-starting his brand, Built by Noble. Originally from the Bronx, Ohakam grew up constantly exercising and full of energy. “My parents told me that out of their six children I was the youngest to start walking … ever since then I’ve had a lot of energy,” Ohakan said. “I’d always move from one room to the other, never standing still …

what got me into the project was my lifelong interest in physical activity in general.” When he started high school at Phillips Academy Andover, Ohakam decided to try soccer, football, wrestling and track and field. Ultimately, track and field stole his heart and he continues to participate on the team at Tufts. He credits the Tufts gym and various memberships at local gyms in his hometown for being able to always keep up a physically intense, weightlifting-driven lifestyle, whether at home or at school. However, the loss of his brother in April, the restrictions on gym access due to COVID-19 and an itch to try new workouts pushed him to depart from his traditional concept of fitness.

“I started to become more conscious about my place in the world. What can I bring to the world? Does it have value?” Ohakam said. “Over the summer, I thought about certain insecurities I have academically, physically, mentally and emotionally. I wanted to stop feeling sorry for myself and wanted to pick myself up and start building up to a man I can be proud of.” Through his journey, Ohakam also realized how much he did not know about fitness and healthy lifestyles. He started reading a textbook to learn about nutrition, and is taking Director of Sports Performance Dan Kopcso’s class this semester, Advanced Principles of Exercise. Before, when Ohakam was only focusing on strength, he felt discouraged if his body didn’t

look a certain way after workouts. Now, however, he is learning to enjoy exercise purely for the self-gratification and mental health benefits. “Fitness is more than just obtaining a certain look. There was a fear and social expectation that because I’m a man I need to become stronger and muscular,” Ohakam said. “I liked both of those goals, but there came a time where I felt too bounded by it.” As soon as he let go of the traditional societal norms surrounding men and fitness, Ohakam found himself open to new varieties of exercise. “Once I was able to tune limiting ideas out, I was able to enjoy training for myself,” Ohakam said. “Now, I’m able to enjoy jogging, riding a bike, sprinting, yoga, pilates and hopefully danc-

ing at some point. I know last year I would not have been able to allow myself to try any of those activities.” Most importantly, and particularly after his brother’s passing, Ohakam has discovered how exercise serves as an excellent emotional release and encourages a mentally healthy lifestyle. “Back in April I lost my brother, and when I first started to advertise the page, I couldn’t help but think of him. There were many ways in which I followed in his footsteps,” Ohakam said. “Physical activity gave me new hobbies and something to be proud of as a passion. Having something you can do that gives you life again is incredible. I can go through a long day, but at the see NOBLE, page 7