THE
INDEPENDENT
STUDENT
N E W S PA P E R
OF
TUFTS
UNIVERSITY
E S T. 1 9 8 0
T HE T UFTS DAILY
VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 30
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
tuftsdaily.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Harleston residents seek answers to repeated burglaries of laundry by Amelia Colafati Contributing Writer
Multiple residents of Harleston Hall have recently reported stolen laundry. Sophomore Emma Mo said that her clothes were stolen in the first week of the semester. She had put them into the washing machine at around 9 p.m., and when she came back about an hour later, her clothes were gone. Initially, Mo assumed it was another student’s mistake. “At first I thought somebody else took it by mistake … [or] put the laundry in [another] washing machine because they’re going to use that machine,” Mo said. But soon enough Mo realized that this was no mistake. “I checked every washing machine and drying machine but [there was] nothing,” Mo said. “I checked … many times but still nobody returned them.” Mo tried to track down her clothes by reaching out into a Harleston group chat and
KIANA VALLO / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Harleston Hall laundry room, from which students have reported having their laundry stolen, is pictured on Oct. 22. by contacting her residential assistant. “I sent out a message in the group chat of Harleston, but nobody replied so later I went to my RA, and she said if nobody replied by the end of the next day
she [would] send out an email to everybody in Harleston,” Mo said. “On the next day she sent the email but still nobody replied.” Mo said she does not expect to figure out what happened to her laundry.
Sophomore Christopher Pellegrini encountered a similar issue. When doing his roommate’s laundry, he returned a day later to pick up the clothes and discovered that they were not there. In the past, Pellegrini
said people would place laundry that hadn’t been removed from the dryer on a nearby table or on top of the washer, but this time was different. “This time, everything was just completely gone,” Pellegrini said. “[It] never ever turned up.” Pellegrini said he could not nail down a reason for the burglary. “I’m not even sure why they would want his clothes either because there wasn’t anything crazy in there, just a bunch of underwear and T-shirts and towels,” he said. Pellegrini hopes his roommate’s clothing gets returned. “We’re just hoping that someone is going to come and just leave everything in one spot and this whole thing will be done with,” Pellegrini said. In the meantime, however, Pellegrini’s roommate has been left with little to wear and little hope of getting what he lost back. “My roommate, he’s fairly minimalist, he doesn’t wear many see LAUNDRY, page 2
Tufts admissions hosts Voices program for prospective students by Flora Meng News Editor
The Voices of Tufts Diversity Experience, a two-day program designed to introduce high school seniors to diversity and community at Tufts University, was hosted via Zoom on Oct. 16–17. According to Rhiannon Pabich, associate director of admissions, diversity and access, the program is designed to introduce prospective students to the Tufts community and feature the BIPOC and first-generation student experience. “We aim to create spaces where students can really get a sense of what life would be like for them on the Hill if they were to choose to attend Tufts — and we hope that they like what they experience, and decide to apply to Tufts for admission,” Pabich wrote in an email to the Daily. In terms of the programming, Pabich described a variety of activities, ranging from information sessions to interactive social events. “We provided a range of programming across the two days, including informational sessions focused on the application and financial aid processes, meet-and-greet opportuni-
MICHELLE LI / THE TUFTS DAILY
Students are pictured on the Academic Quad on Sept. 14. ties with Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion centers, a virtual campus tour, a panel discussion with current students, and some social programming – we aimed to provide a balance of educational and fun sessions, and tried to ensure there was something for introverts and extroverts alike,” Pabich said. Praise Adekola, a junior on the Diversity Admissions Council,
discussed the benefits of student representation in the leadership of the program for prospective applicants. “It can be really difficult at times, for students of color or low-income students to see themselves at a prestigious school [like Tufts],” Adekola said. “Voices gives them the opportunity to see Tufts from a different lens, from a lens of students that look like them
and to actually see themselves on Tufts campus. This will make it a lot easier and more encouraging for them to actually want to apply to Tufts and to think that they can get in, which they really [can].” Sophomore Baljaa Borgil, another member of the Diversity Admissions Council, explained how Voices offers a unique experience for participants to gain valuable insight about Tufts.
SPORTS / back
ARTS / page 4
FEATURES / page 3
Tied at halftime, Jumbos pull through for a 26-21 victory
Elton John locks down creative, diverse collaborations in new album
Students seek great deals, unique style, sustainability through thrift shopping
“I think the most important thing that they’re taking away from a program like this is [the fact that] they’re getting an experience they wouldn’t be able to receive in a normal info session, or a normal tour at Tufts, because there’s so much about Tufts that you can’t fit in a matter of two or three hours,” Borgil said. “The fact that we have a two-day program that’s filled with hours and hours of programming … can help you in your application, but also [can help] you make sure Tufts is the right fit for you … and how you’re going to spend the next four years.” Since Voices is typically a flyin program, Pabich discussed how the Tufts Admissions team and existing students ensured active engagement throughout the events given the transition to virtual programming. “Our Diversity Admissions Council, made up of current Tufts students, did an incredible job of keeping the energy up during Voices, and making sure that prospective students felt welcome,” Pabich said. “We used a Zoom meeting format for sessions instead of Zoom webinar so that students could engage with one see VOICES, page 2 NEWS
1
FEATURES
3
ARTS & POP CULTURE
4
FUN & GAMES
6
OPINION
7
SPORTS
BACK
2
THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Tuesday, November 9, 2021
THE TUFTS DAILY Madeleine Aitken Editor in Chief
— EDITORIAL — MARIEL PRIVEN KATE SEKLIR Managing Editors
PRIYA PADHYE ETHAN STEINBERG Associate Editors Alexander Janoff Executive News Editor Jillian Collins Executive Features Editor Phoebe Wong Executive Arts Editor Paloma Delgado Executive Opinion Editor Colton Wolk Editorial Editor Makenna Law Brendan Hartnett Editorialists Ananda Kao Executive Sports Editor Alex Viveros Investigative Editor Hannah Harris Executive Audio Producer Sophie Dolan Michelle Li Executive Photo Editors Ty Blitstein Executive Video Editor Asli Kocak Executive Graphics Editor
— PRODUCTION — CAMPBELL DEVLIN Production Director Mac Callahan Maddy Noah Lucy Kaskel Executive Layout Editors Julian Perry Sarah Sandlow Executive Copy Editors
tuftsdaily.com
Stolen laundry in Harleston yet to be recovered LAUNDRY
continued from page 1 things, maybe four or five shirts and a couple pairs of pants, so he literally has no clothes,” Pellegrini said. “He’s been wearing my clothes for the past two or three weeks.” Pellegrini said he thinks four or five other people have also had their laundry stolen. “We started talking to more people and they said, ‘oh yeah, I got my laundry [stolen] … some-
body takes all the nice stuff or whatnot,’” Pellegrini said. Josh Hartman, senior director of the Office of Residential Life and Learning, said that Residential Life had only known about one laundry burglary. “Our office [has] been informed about one student who lost a load of laundry in Harleston back in September,” Hartman said in an email. “The student connected with their
RA who sent messaging out to the community and the RA referred the student to TUPD.” Residential Life also outlined in its email its response to burglaries on campus. “All students are encouraged to contact TUPD to file a report,” Hartman said. “In cases of things within a residence hall, ORLL will often send out a notice to the community asking for the lost items to be returned, but we mostly
encourage students to follow the TUPD investigative process.” Pellegrini said he and his roommate decided not to file a report. He looks forward to the day when the issue is resolved. “We can file a report, we can do something, but what good is that going to do?” he said. “That’s not going to get your clothes back … I’m just waiting for the day when I see someone wearing [my roommate’s] shirts.”
Tufts Voices program introduces students to diversity and community at Tufts VOICES
continued from page 1 another as much as they wanted. In addition to connecting over Zoom, we also used a platform called Wisr to host discussion boards and facilitate conversations among prospective students, Tufts students, and staff.” Last year, Voices received over 1,000 applications for approximately 280 spots. Pabich explained that given the rising popularity of the program, selectivity has increased over the years.
“We have tried to design a virtual Voices program that is interactive and engaging, so we have limited the size of the program to allow for that,” Pabich said. “As applications to the program have grown significantly in recent years, this has made the program more selective.” While Voices participants are considered strong applicants for the university, Pabich said that admission to the program does not guarantee admission to Tufts. “The students that are admitted to the Voices program
are strong and compelling students, and as such, they tend to present as strong applicants if they apply for admission to the university,” she said “That said, admission to Voices does not guarantee admission to the university. When Voices participants apply for first-year admission, we give them careful consideration in our process, and are excited when they are admitted and choose to enroll at Tufts.” Pabich emphasized Tufts’ appeal to prospective students as
an anti-racist institution determined to foster a diverse and welcoming environment. “That Tufts has made a commitment to becoming an antiracist institution is one of the appealing qualities of the university to many prospective students. Students tell us that they are looking for universities that are willing to examine themselves and willing to invest the time and resources into making progress on creating a more equitable environment for all students,” Pabich said.
Kendall Roberts Elise Fong Executive Social Media Editors
— BUSINESS — EVELYN MCCLURE Business Director Rebecca Barker Jilly Rolnick Outreach Coordinators Jackson Parsells Web Manager Contact Us P.O. Box 53018, Medford, MA 02155 daily@tuftsdaily.com thetuftsdaily tuftsdaily tuftsdaily
Please rec ycle this newspaper!
The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community. The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board. EDITORIALS Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. Individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily. VIEWPOINTS Viewpoints represent the opinions of individual Opinion Editors, Staff Writers and Contributing Writers for the Daily’s Opinion section. Positions published in Viewpoints are the opinions of the writers who penned them alone, and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. All material is subject to editorial discretion. OP-EDS The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length and submitted to opinion@tuftsdaily.com. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. Authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of-availability for editing questions. ADVERTISEMENTS All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editor in Chief, Executive Board and Business Director.
Fall 2021
Join Science
at The Tufts Daily
Break down the research as it happens.
tuftsdaily.com
Features
Hey Macklemore, can we go thrift shopping?
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Kevin Zhang Tales from the T
Riding the D
by Sophie Wax
Contributing Writer
Over the past several years, a new trend of shopping for clothes has emerged: thrifting. People are gravitating toward second-hand stores to reduce carbon emissions, support local communities and buy fashionable clothes for low prices. Thrift stores sell gently used clothes, furniture and other household items at discounted costs. Unlike typical retailers with dedicated inventory stock and delivery days, thrift stores exclusively rely on donations on any given day. Typically, thrift shoppers go to garage sales, flea markets and other places that sell second-hand items. The idea of thrifting encourages individuals to celebrate older pieces and find a new purpose for them. Rebecca Lim, an avid thrifter from New York and a sophomore studying biology, explained her passion for both donating to and shopping at thrift stores. “By donating [clothes] to a Goodwill or local thrift store, [they] can get reused or reworn by others,” Lim said. For some, the environmental impacts of buying at retail stores are off-putting, and thrifting provides an alternative means to get new clothes without generating pounds of waste. The fashion industry is one of the most pollutive industries in the world and significantly contributes to the current dangerously high carbon emission rates. Thus, thrifting provides a way to recycle old clothes while doing less damage to the planet. Maddie Flynn, a first-year in the SMFA dual degree program, explained the environmental benefits of thrifting. “Instead of the clothes going into a landfill, people will wear them and … won’t buy new clothes,” Flynn said. “The clothing industry is so bad for the environment. Thousands of pounds of clothes go into landfills every year. It’s very sad actually.” Thrifting also provides a cheap and nuanced way to shop for clothes. Especially as a young person going to college, money is often limited. “My parents always don’t want to buy me new clothing, so [thrifting] is a great way for me to shop and still have money to do other things, like eat dinner with my friends and go out to the movies or whatever,” Lim said. Thrifting is a smarter way to shop because it allows students to buy a range of clothes for a low cost. “The last big thrift I did, I probably brought about five outfits for around $30,” Flynn said. When shopping for a family, the prices can add up, and thrift stores can help decrease that cost. Joy Bedford, an employee at the Buffalo Exchange in Davis Square and a sophomore studying fine arts at the SMFA, explained their story with thrifting. “I’ve been going to Goodwill since I was a kid because I grew up in a not-sowealthy area and that’s what you did,” Bedford said. “That’s how you got new clothes … It was $3 for a shirt and that was in my price range.” In addition to being cheap, one of the reasons thrifting is so desirable is the fact that the clothes are of good quality. “I got a brand-new, tags-on Athleta top,” Flynn said. “[The] tags said it was $50. I got it for [$3]. You can get some good
3
T
SOPHIE WAX / THE TUFTS DAILY
Clothing racks in a Goodwill in South Boston are pictured. brands if you just look. You just have to know what you are looking for.” In order to find hidden gems, thrifting can take more effort than traditional retail. Due to its reliance on donations, which come at unreliable times and often consist of a wide variety of items, the shopper never knows what to expect. “You have to look through a lot of stuff and it takes a lot of time,” Flynn said. “You have to kind of be dedicated.” Rather than going to a thrift store looking for one particular item, thrifters may spend hours searching through products and find one item they like — or none at all. “It’s like a roll of the dice,” Bedford said. “Sometimes you go there and you find cute things and you feel really good because you spent like [$15] on a bunch of cute stuff. And sometimes you go and you just don’t get anything good. They are both equally possible, but that’s what I like about it.” For many, the time spent rummaging through bins to find the perfect piece is worth it. Thrifting is a way for individuals to create their own sense of style and express themselves through clothing. “What makes thrifting appealing, at least for me, is that I’m super into DIY and remaking old clothes and DIY clothes,” Bedford said. “I love finding things that are kind of ugly and then taking them home and turning them into something that is cute and fashionable.” Thrifted items are often ones that are not found in a typical retail store.
“Most of the clothes I find are trendy and so stylish,” Lim said. “I actually prefer my clothes thrifted because they are usually one of a kind and I don’t see them on 100 other people.” Thrift stores are not like typical stores in that their stock is not seasonal and will often contain a wide variety of clothes for all purposes. “One of the great things about thrifting is that it has clothes for all seasons — winter coats, summer dresses, fall sweaters,” Lim said. “It has everything you are looking for and more. There really is never a need to go to a retailer unless I’m looking for a very specific item that I may not be able to find in the thrift store.” Thrifting serves as an enjoyable way to shop for eco-friendly, affordable and sustainable clothes. “Honestly, thrifting is the bomb,” Flynn said. “Everyone should try it. It’s the best thing ever.” Thrifting is about even more than getting the best deal or vintage find. Lim explained how it also brings the community together. “[Thrifting] clothes also kind of promotes cultural sharing because people of all different backgrounds donate their own personal clothes, and no one knows who they came from,” Lim said. “They are just looking at the piece of clothing … I think it’s a cool way to promote sharing and inclusion of everyone — all genders and races.”
oday we’ll be exploring the Green Line’s D branch. The D, running from Kenmore to Riverside, has one of the most unique, convoluted histories of all the T’s lines, evolving from an intercity steam railroad into a modern subway line. Today’s D is composed of several separately built segments. The line first opened in 1848, when the short Brookline branch was built from today’s Worcester Commuter Rail line at Kenmore to Brookline Village — the first transit to serve Brookline. Before it even opened, this branch was supposed to extend all the way to Rhode Island. To do so, it was first extended to Newton; from there, it split from today’s D, running southwest to Needham and then all the way to Woonsocket, RI. The D would reach its full length in 1886, when a connection was built from Newton to the Worcester Line at Riverside. To make things even more complicated, in 1906, today’s Needham Commuter Rail line was connected to the Newton-Rhode Island segment in Needham. At its climax, several types of trains ran on the D. Early traffic included intercity and freight trains, including trains carrying stone from Needham to fill in the then-marshy Back Bay. However, commuter traffic would become the line’s bread and butter, running via two massive loops. Some trains would run over the entire D to Riverside, then loop back into Boston via the Worcester Line. Others would take the “Needham Circuit,” splitting from the D at Newton and looping back into Boston via the Needham Line. After World War II and with the rise of the automobile, these commuter trains lost customers faster than post-rebrand Carm. Instead, commuters drove in droves into Boston over modern — but increasingly congested — highways. The government, faced with overutilized highways and an underutilized rail line, decided to kill two cars with one train by converting the D into a modern mass transit line. The D would be converted to electric light rail operation and connected to the Green Line. In keeping with the zeitgeist, stations boasted massive park-and-ride lots, where suburban commuters would transfer between car and train. Funding was low, so simple stations were erected and track upgrades were minimized, leading to rough, bouncy rides. No new trains were purchased; instead, streetcars were transferred from Harvard, being replaced by trolleybuses that still run today. The project was completed in 1959, ahead of schedule, under budget (the first time I’ve written those words) and instantly successful. D ridership increased tenfold; it’s estimated that the line reduced rush hour downtown congestion by 7%. The D stands as proof that if you build fast, frequent and convenient transit, the riders will come. Today, the D is the longest, busiest and perhaps most unique Green Line branch — originating as a railroad and not a streetcar line, it boasts high speeds, car-free tracks and a scenic, wooded route. It’s been continuously upgraded to handle increased ridership (and compensate for lack of initial investment), with still more upgrades proposed. Some have even proposed connecting the D to the Blue Line, going all the way to Wonderland. Kevin Zhang is a junior studying civil engineering. Kevin can be reached at kevin.zhang7@tufts.edu.
4
Arts & POP ARTS Pop CULTURE Culture
tuftsdaily.com
Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Elton John features voices spanning generations and genres in ‘The Lockdown Sessions’ by Adeline Grimmett Contributing Writer
Elton John’s newest album, “The Lockdown Sessions,” is a series of collaborations with artists both of recent fame and longtime careers. Released on Oct. 22, the album comes in the midst of his delayed Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and following his release of “Jewel Box” (2020). The songs are catchy and don’t stick to one genre, but bring new light to John’s continuous talent. The album opens with one of the three singles released from the album: “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix).” The song is a collaboration with singer Dua Lipa and Pnau, an Australian trio. John sings the verses while Dua Lipa comes in on the chorus with iconic lines from John’s “Rocket Man” (1972). This first track starts the album with an upbeat, somewhat electronic feel and brings John’s iconoclastic fame into a more modern style of music. The second song on the album features John alongside Young Thug and Nicki Minaj. “Always Love You” starts with a piano intro and John’s singing, a reminiscent style of his works from the 70s. The track continues, however, into the first verse, sung by Young Thug, and the second verse, sung by Minaj. There is both an underlying beat and a piano melody throughout the entire song, beautifully intertwining John’s classic style with that of Young Thug and Minaj. It’s sure to be stuck in your head for days. The album continues with “Learn to Fly,” a collaboration with Surfaces that was released in June 2020. Unlike “Cold Heart (Pnau Remix)” and “Always Love You,” John is more of a feature on this track. Overall, “Learn to Fly” exhibits the common sounds and tone of Surfaces’ albums, which could be described as light, nature-like and joyful, with John coming in as something different that gives the Surfaces song a new feel. Following more collaborations with Charlie Puth in “After All,” Rina Sawayama in “Chosen Family” and Gorillaz in “The Pink Phantom,” comes “It’s a Sin (Global Reach Mix).” “It’s a Sin” (1987) was originally sung by the Pet Shop Boys, Neil Tennant and Chris Lowe’s duo. Arguably the catchiest song on John’s album, “It’s a Sin” starts with a slower, deep melody, but continues into a dance-pop mix with John and Years & Years. It makes for a fun
VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Elton John’s collaborative album “The Lockdown Sessions” was released on Oct. 22. interlude between some of the slower moments on the album, like the beginning of the following track “Nothing Else Matters.” Here Miley Cyrus and John bring together Cyrus’ slightly country sound with a hardcore drum beat. At points, Cyrus belts with an air of anger and hurt, which contrasts beautifully against the cello and the electric guitar. Originally by Metallica (1991), “Nothing Else Matters” doesn’t only include Cyrus and John, but also Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Robert Trujillo of Metallica, Watt and Yo-Yo Ma. It’s hard to hear much over the loud instrumental ballad, but that’s not a bad thing; the heavy-metal undertones stretch Cyrus’ voice to a new level. If “The Lockdown Sessions” were
a story, “Nothing Else Matters” would surely be the climax. The album continues with “Orbit,” a collaboration between John and SG Lewis, who, kind of like Surfaces, brings an other-worldly vibe to John’s album. Though following Cyrus’ “Nothing Else Matters” seems to be a large feat, “Orbit” does so spectacularly. Some of John’s voice feels like an echo and the name “Orbit” lends to the feel of a spacey jazz beat. This contrasts with “Simple Things,” which, like “After All,” reminds listeners of John’s classic works with its piano and guitar. Brandi Carlile and John harmonize beautifully while singing “Simple things / Hard to learn / Fire is hot / Burn, burn, burn / Simple truth / Hard to see / Not what
you want / But what you need.” They each sing individual verses, and then come together in the chorus and refrain. Like the name implies, the song is simple in that the electronic beat of the album is so far removed to focus on the melodic voices of Carlile and John. “Simple Things” is “sort of a song [John] would have written with Bernie,” John said to Apple Music, referencing his longtime writing partner Bernie Taupin and further implying an older feel compared to the mostly modern album. The ending half of the album contains collaborations with Jimmie Allen, Lil Nas X, Eddie Vedder, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks and Glen Campbell. “Stolen Car,” John’s song with Nicks, is a duet with John and Nicks alternating lines and then com-
ing together for the chorus. It’s a wonderful union between the Fleetwood Mac singer and John, who describe being unknown and in love. As for the closing song, “I’m Not Gonna Miss You,” it covers Campbell’s song of the same name from 2015. It’s a slower, sadder end to the album — a wide contrast from the opening with Dua Lipa — but brings John’s quarantine creation to a peaceful close. Overall, “The Lockdown Sessions” is an interesting combination of John’s previous works and style with new, album-specific tracks. He sings of love, sin and the journey of life, beautifully merging his own talent with the sounds and voices of artists both famous and lesser known, and new and familiar.
his vulnerable clients to find their enemies, Chance is felt through the DC universe more in his actions than his persona. He’s a quiet, unrecognized, soulful man from DC’s detective-focused past who most readers could never pinpoint next to the major play-
ers like Superman or Batman. In short, he’s the perfect next target for a Tom King 12-issue miniseries, and with the help of artist Greg Smallwood, “Human Target” #1 hits dead center. The premise for this issue is remarkably simple: Christopher
Chance has been hired by Lex Luthor. Explaining anymore of the actual plot would spoil the twists and overarching mystery of this miniseries, so I’ll just leave it at that (also that the eagle-eyed viewer may see from the cover that the Justice League International has
a role to play here). Instead, like most of King’s work, the beauty is in how he tells the story rather than the story itself. King is no stranger to a mystery. See his work on “Heroes in
The ‘Human Target’ #1 hits a beautiful, noir-tipped bullseye by Carl Svahn Staff Writer
You’ve probably never heard of Christopher Chance, the Human Target. Don’t worry though, it just means he’s good at his job. As a private detective who poses as
see HUMAN TARGET, page 5
A r t s & P o p C u lt u r e
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY
5
Tom King's 'Human Target' takes perfect shot at lesser known DC story HUMAN TARGET
continued from page 4 Crisis” (2018–19), “Rorschach” (2020–21), “Batman” (2016–) and “Strange Adventures” if you need any proof. He excels at setting up a thought-provoking puzzle that combines the standard tropes of the genre with a reevaluation of what the readers may think of the supposed ‘heroes’ they know and love. Here, King has pulled out all the best tools from his usual bag of tricks. His dialogue is as short and introspective as it’s ever been, bringing the energy of both old and modern detective stories. His story structure immediately grabs the reader’s attention with a series of flash-forwards and breaks in memory. Even the few major story choices in this issue are great (namely the decision to contrast the darkness of Chance and Luthor’s story with the silliness of the Justice League International and other heroes). It’s nothing we haven’t seen from King before, but it’s executed to such perfection that it’s impossible not to be enthralled by what’s on the page. Yet, I would be crazy not to mention the real star of this issue: Greg Smallwood. Smallwood, alongside letterer Clayton Cowles, makes this comic literally shine. The mix of a 50s/60s style in the vein of “DC: The New Frontier” (2004) and detail-oriented character
designs makes the issue absolutely gorgeous to look at. Colors pop, but also mix into obscurity. Pinks and greens are matched alongside greys and yellows, and cartoony edges stand with realistic curves. Cowles also deserves special attention for his lettering, as he expertly displays differences in volume, mental state changes and more, all through the size and style of the lettering. This entire design portfolio fits the contrast in the story between dark realism and campy action perfectly. King has a history of challenging the artists who work with him to experiment with their styles, so I’m incredibly excited to see what Smallwood has planned for the rest of this miniseries. This seems like the comic King has been building toward for years. It fits in with his usual themes and styles, yet it has such a sense of certainty and craft behind it that I can find very few flaws. The story is fascinating, the mystery is captivating and the art is astonishing. All are standards of a Tom King 12-issue miniseries by now, to the point where one might start to become almost bored with how good his stories continuously are. Looking at the man behind “Human Target,” all I can say is, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. King has a track record of storytelling that hits right on the mark, and this comic is no exception.
VIA DC COMICS
“Human Target” #1 came out on Nov. 2.
Raga Chilakamarri On Demand
‘Parenthood’ examines messy, beautiful relationships of big families
I
attended my cousin’s wedding a few weeks ago, which was, in classic Indian tradition, a four-day affair that included six outfit changes and a tastefully unsynchronized dance performance required of me as part of my cousin-ly obligations.
I come from a big extended family, so at any family function like this one, the puzzling “Wait, how are we related again?” conversation is inevitable. More often than preferred, I emerge as the aunt equivalent to distant cousins who are 10 years older. However, there’s a beauty in the ambiguity of cousinhood — you are either besties or lowkey forget each other’s names and ages. Either way, you are always tied together by blood or by marriage or by the good ol’ holiday spirit. NBC’s six-season comedy-drama, “Parenthood” (2010– 15), chronicles the Bravermans, another large extended family, unlike my own in some ways yet similar in others. It follows three generations, centering on the four adult siblings Adam (Peter Krause), Sarah (Lauren Graham), Julia (Erika
Christensen) and Crosby (Dax Shepard). As their parents confront marital issues, the siblings rely on one another to navigate the successes and stresses of raising their own families. Set in Berkeley, Calif., the show plays on the well-worn charm of a predominantly white American suburban family — baseball games and dance recitals are calendar staples and disagreements between father and son about parenting styles occur over basketball in the driveway. While the cultural details of my Indian American upbringing that I’ve been increasingly treasuring of late — from crying at Kumon to crying during “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham” (2001) — are not materialized in shows like “Parenthood,” the complicated mix of love, hate, frustration and appreciation that families
experience certainly resonates. Across the cast, strong acting conveys mundane awkwardness and authenticity in an apt way, especially when presenting tension in close relationships, like Julia’s early discomfort about her angsty niece babysitting her daughter or the moments of unease between sisters-inlaw Sarah and Kristina (Monica Potter). Krause and Graham even took the “Wait, how are we related again?” question seriously beyond their sibling roles in the show and have been romantically involved since 2010. Celebrity drama aside, “Parenthood” is like the television version of a family bildungsroman, and dramas centered around realistic character conflict can be comforting. TV simulates potential reactions to messy situations, a low-
stake dose of life education. For me personally, referring to “Friends” (1994–2004) while my real-life friend group started dating each other was rather grounding and, dare I say, inspiring. However, parenthood looks hard both on screen and off screen. I can’t even care for the one plant my green-thumbed father inflicted upon me, and presently, I explain my discomfort around children as a feminist rejection of maternal expectations. Thank God though that, while my millennial cousins slowly confront parenting, at the brink of 21, I’m still the baby of the family. Raga Chilakamarri is a junior studying English and economics. Raga can be reached at raga. chilakamarri@tufts.edu.
6
THE TUFTS DAILY | FUN & GAMES | Tuesday, November 9, 2021
F& G
tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Alex J: “I was bored so I added more parrots.”
FUN & GAMES
SUDOKU
CAR TROUBLES
Difficulty Level: First day hurdling at track practice.
By Taggart Eymer
Monday’s Solutions
SEARCHING FOR HEADLINES...
CROSSWORD
tuftsdaily.com
Opinion
7 Tuesday, November 9, 2021
VIEWPOINT
Sudan’s military coup and the emptiness of Biden’s democracy abroad policy by Daniel Chung
Contributing Writer
In an earlier opinion article for the Daily, I argued that the Biden administration has an empty foreign policy when it comes to uniting prominent democracies around common interests, as exemplified by the fallout over AUKUS’ betrayal of France in a submarine missile deal. Recent events in Sudan, and the lack of a coherent response thus far, highlight how the emptiness of Biden’s ideological commitments extends not only to unifying established democratic nations but to protecting fledgling democracies as well. On Oct. 25, the Sudanese military seized power in Khartoum, the capital of Sudan, ending nearly two years of a transitional government that took power after pro-democracy protests ended the 30-year dictatorship of Omar al-Bashir. Before the coup, the transitional government had been set to fully move to a civilian government, with elections planned for 2023. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the general who has assumed power in Sudan, operates under the assumption that the response
from the United States and other international actors who claim to stand for democracy and human rights will be limited. So far, in a potential rebuke of this notion, the Biden administration has gone much further than Trump’s ever would have — after all, the previous president largely regarded Africa as made up of “s---hole countries.” And yet, the State Department’s suspension of $700 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan is not an adequate response to address the situation. Sure, this will make the new dictatorship feel some pain, but the brunt of the impact will be directed at the people who need that humanitarian aid just to be able to survive in a wartorn country. At this moment, political pressure and a lack of international legitimacy is the only thing that could halt the coup in its tracks, given its nascent nature. On that front, the United States’ response has been pathetic. Jeffrey Feltman, the United States’ special envoy to the Horn of Africa, only expressed “deep alarm” at the supposedly unexpected turn of events last week. This was despite him having been in the country the weekend
before the coup and knowing that tensions had been growing exponentially between pro-democracy civilians and pro-dictatorship military forces, especially given an attempted coup in September. The bulk of a response to the coup thus far has come from international and regional organizations, like the African Union, which suspended Sudan’s participation in all AU activities until the country’s civilian-led government is restored. The very fact that the United States is not taking the lead in confronting this emerging anti-democratic regime calls into serious question the commitment of the Biden administration to protecting and nurturing democracy across the globe. This is especially surprising given the vested interest that the United States has in maintaining Sudan as a stable democratic state, and preventing it from falling into the kind of authoritarianism that competing world powers have welcomed in the region. Sudan’s 400 miles of coast provide valuable access to the Red Sea, which has a high level of trade that passes through it, positioning Sudanese allies to poten-
tially dominate international economics. Beyond the geopolitical implications of setting a precedent for a backsliding into authoritarianism in the Horn of Africa region, the United States’ lack of action is also a betrayal of the pro-democracy movement that brought down Bashir and is now heroically banding back together to fight the new dictatorship. Unfortunately, the lukewarm response thus far exemplifies a tendency among the Biden administration to refuse to go all the way in defense of democracies abroad. This is also shown when it comes to Biden’s flip-flopped remarks on Taiwan, where he on one occasion said that the United States is committed to coming to Taiwan’s defense in the case of an attack by China, and then had his press secretary say that there is no change in policy. This wishywashy behavior only emboldens authoritarian wannabes around the world, who may think that the United States won’t punish them for oppressing civilian populations. There are a few things that the Biden administration can do to prove that it’s serious about defending democracy around the world, especially given that the
coup in Sudan lacks wide regional and internal support. The United States must create concrete demands and a timeline tied to sanctions, including vetoing IMF and World Bank aid and threatening to bring Burhan and his lackeys before an international court of justice, to force military leaders to reverse their coup. Meanwhile, the United States must also pressure Gulf states to stop enabling the coup and to exert their own diplomatic influence in pushing for the restoration of the transitional government. The United Nations Security Council cannot be allowed to settle on pleas for restraint and dialogue, a course of action that will result in endless negotiations while the military dictatorship continues to oppress its people. Instead, closed-door meetings, helmed by the United States, must result in democratic states going to bat by countering this coup through any means necessary, with the exception of military intervention. The United States, as President Franklin Delano Roosevelt put it, must be the “arsenal of democracy.” To retain any remaining shreds of moral leadership, it’s time for the United States to put its words into action.
8 Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Sports
Tufts football defeats Colby, extends winning streak to three on senior day
tuftsdaily.com
by Henry Gorelik The End Around
Rethinking the NFL’s approach to head coaches
A
TOBIAS FU / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Tufts football team is pictured in its 26–21 win against Colby on Nov. 6. by Ethan Grubelich
Assistant Sports Editor
For their last home game of the 2021 NESCAC football season, the Tufts University Jumbos hosted the Colby College Mules on Saturday and pulled out a win 26–21. After five straight losses to start the season, the Jumbos entered the game with a record of 2–5, having won their last two games at Bowdoin and Hamilton. The Mules entered the game with a record of 3–4, coming off a 10–2 win at Bates. The Jumbos opened the scoring with five minutes remaining in the first quarter when first-year quarterback Michael Berluti connected with junior wide receiver Billy Dunn on a 5-yard touchdown pass across the middle of the field. The next points of the game were scored on a 1-yard touchdown rush by junior running back Tyler Johnson with about seven minutes remaining in the second quarter to put the Jumbos up 14–0. The Mules responded quickly, beginning their next drive with a pass from senior quarterback Matt Hersch to firstyear wide receiver Brendan Sawyer that went for 54 yards and brought the Mules’ offense to the Jumbos’ 8-yard line. Hersch completed the drive with five minutes remaining in the second quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass over the middle of the field to junior wide receiver Matt Panker to cut the Jumbos’ lead to 14–7. After a quick defensive stop, the Mules’ offense gained possession again with two minutes remaining in the first half. On the most pivotal play of the first half, Colby junior running back Donovan Ganges ran just powerfully enough against the middle of the Tufts goal line defense to score a 1-yard rushing touchdown as time expired. This produced a tied halftime score of 14–14. Tufts received the second half kickoff and marched into Colby’s redzone, but ultimately came up empty on the drive with a missed 24-yard field goal attempt by first-year kicker Sal LoCoco. The Mules’ momentum on offense continued into the second half, with a monumental 56-yard touchdown rush by senior
running back Devin Marrocco. The Mules’ third consecutive touchdown drive gave them their first lead of the game: 21–14. The Jumbos’ offense responded with a steady drive up the field, which took 11 plays and 71 yards and was capped off by Johnson’s second 1-yard touchdown rush of the game. After a missed extra point, the Jumbos still trailed the Mules 21–20 with five minutes remaining in the third quarter. Tufts’ offense regained possession after its defense forced a quick three-and-out. The Jumbos also regained the lead on this drive ― this time on a 36-yard touchdown pass from Berluti to Dunn in the endzone. This marked Berluti’s second touchdown pass and Dunn’s second touchdown reception of the game. “We practiced that play a few times this week and it worked every time,” Dunn said. “Berluti made great throws during the week, so, when the call came in, I was very confident we were going to hit the big play. He put it in a perfect spot between the safeties and I was able to run under it.” After a failed two-point conversion attempt, the Jumbos led 21–26 with a little less than 14 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Colby’s offense looked poised to regain the lead on their next drive, at one point securing first down and goal. On third down and goal, Hersch threw an interception to senior cornerback Brandyn Jones with about nine minutes remaining in regulation. This interception came at a critical time and marked the first turnover of the game by either team. “When the ball was snapped, I played aggressively to the outside and was able to get my hands on the receiver,” Jones said. “The QB left the ball just enough inside for me to go up and make a play on it. Credit to the Colby receiver because he was able to use his size to get his hands on the ball and make me work for it a little more than I expected to. Luckily, I hit the ground in the right position and was able to sort of roll away from him before he was able to gain control of it.” With a five-point lead late in the game, the Jumbos’ offense was able to combine
their goal of taking substantial time off the clock with a threatening drive. A Jumbo win looked secure, as with just over two minutes left to play, Tufts only needed eight more yards to make it a two-possession game and Colby needed a touchdown but didn’t have the ball. The Mules kept their hopes alive, however, with a fumble forced on a carry by Johnson, which was recovered by Colby senior defensive end Nick Wilcox. The Jumbos’ defense quickly neutralized this mistake, forcing an ambitious throw by Hersch, which resulted in an interception by junior linebacker Gio Arquilla. This interception proved to be one too many late in the game for the Mules, and the Jumbos walked out of the contest with a 26–21 victory. After starting the season with a record of 0–5, the Jumbos have made a powerful statement by extending their winning streak to three games. “We’ve just tried to take a 1–0 mindset each week, tried to learn from the things that happened in the first three weeks, certainly not dwell on them, just tried to be as focused as we can in the moment and make the most of it,” Tufts head coach Jay Civetti said. “You can’t go back, so we try to keep our mindset and focus going forward.” The Jumbos’ first home win of the season also arrived on senior day. Civetti went on to credit the seniors for the big win. “[They’ve displayed] the leadership, and the discipline, and mindset … they’ve not only talked about and tried to make a focal point of, but they’ve also acted on [it],” Civetti said. Putting on a winning display in the final home game of the season held heightened sentimental value to the players. “Going into the game, we talked about playing for each other and playing for the seniors, and I knew that play put us in a position to get my brothers a win for our final home game,” Jones said, referencing his crucial fourth-quarter interception. The Jumbos will travel to Middlebury to conclude their season on Saturday, Nov. 13 at 12:30 p.m.
s I watched the 49ers get shredded by Colt McCoy and James Conner on Sunday, it felt as if I had been watching a poorly coached team. Then I remembered that in the football community, especially on Twitter, it is a cardinal sin to criticize Kyle Shanahan: the revered offensive guru and mastermind. While Shanahan is not on the hot seat in this case, a game like this begs the question of whether NFL teams should blindly pursue the best-looking, most innovative offensive mind that is available in the offseason. While NFL teams are no longer hell-bent on hiring anybody who has shaken hands with Sean McVay, I believe it would be useful to examine the different types of head coaching that exist in the NFL and evaluate the hiring process as a whole. No, NFL teams should not blindly hire ‘the next Sean McVay.’ There are head coaches of offensive guru form that have had lots of success, including McVay, Matt LaFleur, Andy Reid and Sean Payton to name a few. There is also the group of head coaches that are more like CEOs, in that instead of running one particular unit, they oversee the entire production and provide input when they see fit. This group also boasts a list of wildly successful coaches, including John Harbaugh, Mike Tomlin, Bruce Arians, Ron Rivera and Sean McDermott. Then you also have the defensive strategists, including Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Mike Zimmer. It is clear that there are successful coaches across these three distinct categories and that there is no single approach to head coaching that inherently leads to more success than others. Furthermore, running a successful unit or even program does not automatically translate to success as an NFL head coach. Zac Taylor was McVay’s quarterback coach in Los Angeles, Urban Meyer was an offensive innovator and ran National Championship programs at the NCAA level and Vic Fangio led one of the most dominant defenses in recent memory when he was Matt Nagy’s defensive coordinator in Chicago. You can be part of an innovative offense, build a perennial NCAA powerhouse or scheme up a dominant defense but still struggle as an NFL head coach. It is abundantly clear that managing a successful offensive or defensive unit is certainly not an automatic predictor of head coaching success. It appears that something more subtle emerges during the interview process that is central to identifying the potential of a head coaching candidate. At this point, it is almost an unwritten rule or tradition that offensive and defensive coordinators are the assumed top candidates for head coach vacancies. I want to challenge this notion, arguing that the skill set for an overly successful coordinator does not necessarily predict success at the head coaching level. There are certainly countless coordinators that have gone on to be fantastic head coaches, but NFL teams must be able to distinguish between a knack for the Xs and Os compared to the intangible skills that are imperative for a head coach to possess. I encourage you all to keep all of this in mind before you take to Twitter and urge your team to immediately hire Joe Brady, Brian Daboll or the guy who shines Sean McVay’s shoes as its next head coach. Henry Gorelik is a junior studying economics and international relations. Henry can be reached at henry.gorelik@tufts.edu.