TUFTS FOOTBALL
WiCS encourages female participation in computer science see FEATURES / PAGE 4
Jumbos defeat Ephs, both teams tied in NESCAC standings
Alice Smith introduces new album at Calderwood Hall see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 6
SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE THE
VOLUME LXXIV, ISSUE 31
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Monday, October 23, 2017
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Tufts begins replacing Trunk and TUSK with Canvas across all campuses by Kat Grellman
Assistant News Editor
Tufts has begun a three-year transition this fall to Canvas, a new learning management system (LMS) that will replace Trunk and Tufts University Sciences Knowledgebase (TUSK). The new system has already been implemented at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA) and the Master of Science in Engineering Management program at the Gordon Institute, according to Director of Educational Technology and Learning Spaces Paul Bergen. According to a tentative schedule posted on the Canvas website, the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering are scheduled to make the transition to Canvas in the fall of 2018,
along with the public health programs at the School of Medicine and the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. The School of Dental Medicine will tentatively make the transition in summer 2018, the School of Veterinary Medicine in summer 2019 and the rest of the School of Medicine in fall 2020. According to Christine Fitzgerald, manager of service marketing and communications for Tufts Technology Services (TTS), Trunk and TUSK will continue to be used at Tufts schools until they make their respective transitions to Canvas. Bergen said the main reason for switching to the new system is that Canvas is a more modern LMS than Trunk and TUSK. “Canvas is easy to use and offers a modern interface,” Bergen told the Daily in an email. “It will look and see CANVAS, page 2
BEN KIM / THE TUFTS DAILY
A student accesses Trunk, a learning management system (LMS) that is currently used by Tufts students and faculty, in the Mayer Campus Center on Oct. 19.
CARE introduces Sex Health Reps program by Jenna Fleischer Staff Writer
Starting this fall, Tufts Center for Awareness, Resources, and Education (CARE) introduced a new program: Sex Health Reps. Alexandra Donovan, CARE’s sexual misconduct prevention specialist, said the impetus for the program was to find a better way to spread information about sex health and education. “We’ve been trying to find the best way to get sex education and sex health information out to students, and we know students respond best when it’s peer to peer,” Donovan said. “We had a group that came from TCU [Senate last year], who also wanted to look into better ways we can get this information out there, and they’d heard of a program at the University of Utah. So coming together, we created the Sex Health Reps. Designing it was very similar to Eco-Reps.” After an application and interview process, CARE hired 15 Sex Health Reps at the beginning of the school year, each of whom will receive a $100 honorarium at the end of each semester. Donovan explained that CARE is hoping reps will connect with students in the residence halls, as well as other populations on campus, like the Group of Six. Donovan said Reps were chosen to represent a wide variety of communities on campus, as she hopes Reps can use their connections with these communities to extend the program’s reach.
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Members of the Sex Health Reps, a new program introduced by Tufts CARE (Center for Awareness, Resources and Education), pose outside of Health Service on Oct. 20. “We were very specifically trying to find students that represented diverse communities on campus, so not just residential halls, but connections with a group we
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normally wouldn’t hear from,” Donovan said. “[Sex Health Reps’] responsibility is to use those connections to spread information about sex health and sex educa-
Contact Us P.O. Box 53018, Medford, MA 02155 daily@tuftsdaily.com
tion and be part of campus-wide programming.”
NEWS............................................1 FEATURES.................................4 ARTS & LIVING.......................6
see SEX HEALTH , page 2
COMICS.......................................8 OPINION.....................................9 SPORTS............................ BACK
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, October 23, 2017
THE TUFTS DAILY Gil Jacobson Editor-in-Chief
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Canvas chosen as more modern learning management system CANVAS
continued from page 1 behave more like other sites out there, so it will be less like going to a museum for your course materials and then reentering the modern world when you leave for other sites.” He explained that switching to Canvas will increase connectivity between the Tufts campuses that were previously on different systems, as well as between Tufts and other schools that use Canvas. According to the Canvas webpage, colleges that have already implemented Canvas include Boston College, Harvard University, Brown University and Emerson College. “Fewer and fewer schools are using the software that underlies Trunk,” Bergen said. “Tufts will be far better off being able to collaborate with other schools than being alone at the table.” Fitzgerald said that switching to a new LMS made more sense than trying to upgrade Trunk and TUSK because the sites are difficult and expensive to maintain.
“We have Trunk on the Medford campus and TUSK on the Boston campus, and most of the infrastructure with those two learning management systems is relatively out of date,” Fitzgerald said. “So rather than try to upgrade those — and with the SMFA coming in with a separate one — they looked across platforms to find one that would work for all the schools.” According to Fitzgerald, feedback from the Tufts schools that have already started using Canvas has been very positive. Specifically, she explained, faculty liked the ability to use the system on their mobile phones. “They like the app because they can send push notifications about assignments and announcements to themselves, so they’re getting their notifications right on their phone and don’t have to have their computer open,” Fitzgerald said. “And you can choose to get the notifications the way you want. You can get them text messaged versus emailed, so you can personalize it a little more than you could with the other [learning management systems].”
According to Bergen, the decision to switch to a new LMS was discussed over the past year with academic leadership and faculty across the university. He also said that students who were interviewed about the possible change welcomed the idea. Isabella Kiser, a second-year SMFA combined-degree student, is using Canvas for one of her classes, and says she prefers it over Trunk. “I think it is a much more user-friendly site, especially compared to Trunk,” Kiser told the Daily in an electronic message. “I much prefer to use and navigate visually pleasing and well-organized websites and Canvas wins both categories this time. Canvas also has this nifty feature where it sends you emails to remember to check your upcoming assignments.” Bergen noted another key difference between Canvas and previous systems used at Tufts. “Also, we are not naming the system after an elephant part,” he said. “It will just be called Canvas.”
Sex Health Rep program aims to increase sex positivity on campus SEX HEALTH
continued from page 1 Max Farber, the student sexual health coordinator and lead Sex Health Rep, explained the types of programming he is working on with the Reps to implement. “In addition to bigger semester events, like Sex Health Week in the spring, we’re trying to get rolling a few more routine … activities to really be a presence on campus,” Farber, a senior, said. “One of those ideas is a discussion group, getting students into a safe space where the conversations about sex can be candid, blatant, and open, and people can engage in the active process of creating sex positivity.” Junior Christine Barthelemy, another Sex Health Rep, is planning a program geared towards the Africana Center, and has worked with Africana Center Director Katrina Moore and Program Manager Domonique Johnson. “I’m working with [Africana Center staff] to start a video series that takes questions from people in the community about anything sex-related,” Barthelemy said. “We would then consult people from Health Services and other Sex Health Reps to answer their questions.”
Barthelemy wanted to get involved with the program to make sex a more open conversation on campus. “What I really want to do is not only be a voice for people who are underrepresented on Tufts’ campus, but help others learn more, because a lot of people have misconceptions about sex,” Barthelemy said. “This is a learning experience for me as well and I want to be able to share that with the people on campus who I can reach out to.” Pending approval from Facilities Services, Donovan is currently working to introduce wall-mounted condom dispensers within residence halls, which Reps would be responsible for maintaining and refilling. “One of the things over the years we’ve heard is that students don’t feel comfortable walking into Health Services where they can be seen taking a condom, so we have been trying to find different ways to get this out there,” Donovan said. The Reps will not only work to educate various communities, but Donovan and Farber said they will also provide educational programming for the Reps
themselves. Donovan noted that the program’s ultimate goal is to destigmatize questions and conversations about sexual activity. “The idea is that our education programs run the gamut. We want a very sex-positive campus, we want this campus to be open to everyone, and right now we’re not there,” Donovan said. “We have a lot of stigma about certain types of sexual activity, sex in general, who can have sex and who can’t. All of these stigmas are things our Reps would be working against in terms of teaching opportunities and education.” Donovan said the program is currently trying to establish itself, and thus it is too early to assess the program’s impact. “Right now, it’s just making sure our Reps feel they have the information they need before they go out and talk to students, as well as increasing their visibility and programming on a larger scale as we move forward,” Donovan said. “We’re still trying to get the word out that they exist and are a valuable resource.”
EVENTS ON THE HILL: WEEK OF OCT. 23 MONDAY “Startup Nation Tech Fair and Pitch Competition” Details: TAMID Group at Tufts is hosting an innovation trade show and student pitch competition. For the first hour and a half of the event, students will network with eight startup companies, and during the second half of the event, student entrepreneurs will pitch their ideas, with the first place team winning a 30-day “business and personal growth” trip for two in Israel. When and Where: 6–9 p.m.; Alumnae Lounge WEDNESDAY “Leadership is Female, is African, is Muslim Woman” Details: Tisch College will be giving Saïda Oumulkhairy Niasse the inaugural Global Humanitarian Citizen Award. Oumulkhairy
Niasse is known for the Sufi Muslim women’s movement in West Africa, and promotes women’s rights, education, religious toleration and peace. When and Where: 12 p.m.; Distler Auditorium, Granoff Music Center “Nationalism vs. Globalism: Will Brexit be the Ultimate Litmus Test?” Details: Tisch College is partnering with The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy for the next Fletcher Reads the Newspaper event. British politician and “House of Cards” book series author Michael Dobbs (F ’77), and Amar Bhide, a professor of international business at the Fletcher School, will debate the impact of Brexit on foreign policy. When and Where: 5:30 p.m.; ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Center THURSDAY “Start-Up Lessons from China’s Digital
Lifestyle Leader” Details: Bin Lin will speak at the School of Engineering Dean’s Lecture series. Lin is co-founder and president of Xiaomi, one of China’s fastest growing startups, and has held management positions at Google and Microsoft. Lin will discuss his experiences founding Xiaomi and the impact of new technologies like artificial intelligence, data mining, machine learning and the Internet of Things. When and Where: 12 p.m.; Robinson Hall Room 253 “The Debate: Democrats vs. Republicans” Details: The third annual CIVIC debate will feature discussion of key issues by members of Tufts Republicans and Tufts Democrats. When and Where: 7:30–9:15 p.m.; ASEAN Auditorium, Cabot Center
News
Monday, October 23, 2017 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY
TCU SENATE DISCUSSES UPCOMING TOWN HALL, POTENTIAL PROJECTS by Emily Burke News Editor
The Tufts Community Union ( TCU) Senate met in the Sophia Gordon Multipurpose Room last night to discuss the upcoming town hall on social spaces along with general updates. The body also heard a presentation from Career Center Executive Director Greg Victory. After a presentation on networking strategies, Victory discussed the success of Career Center initiatives, such as replacing Jumbo Jobs with the more user-friendly Handshake, making students more aware of resources and holding career fairs that represent a wider variety of organizations. He then opened the discussion to ask senators for suggestions about how to improve the Career Center and better incorporate student input. Outreach Committee Chair and Asian-American Community Senator Charlie Zhen suggested a first-year career fair for on-campus and off-campus jobs, along with increased collaboration with First-Year Advisors and Community Development Advisors on career-related events. TCU President Benya Kraus proposed hosting a career fair in collaboration with Tufts faculty to strengthen departmental and faculty partnerships. Parliamentarian Adam Rapfogel brought up that the dead-
line to get a Career Center stipend for an unpaid internship is very early, and Victory responded that the center has looked into fixing that issue. TCU Treasurer Emily Sim then opened discussion on student funding requests. The body approved supplementary funding requests for GlobeMed at Tufts, Tufts Quidditch, Relay for Life, Sino-US Relations Group Engagement (SURGE) and Peace Action Chapter at Tufts. TCU Diversity & Community Affairs Officer Shannon Lee then announced that the resolution on gender-neutral bathrooms, the first of the semester, is in the works. TCU Vice President Anna Del Castillo spoke about participating in the President’s Council, which advises University President Anthony Monaco. Lee, a sophomore, also discussed attending the first meeting of a Sexual Misconduct Prevention Steering Committee, during which attendees went over a survey on students’ experiences with sexual misconduct. Class of 2020 Senator Kevin Gleason spoke about meeting with Associate Director for Housing Operations Matthew Austin about off-campus housing. Gleason said he and Austin discussed fixing the outdated off-campus housing website and hosting an off-campus housing seminar about landlord rights, city rules and ordinances, as well as
other topics. Gleason also said that hiring an administrator to oversee off-campus housing continues to be a priority to the Office of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife), and that according to Austin, this position will be filled by January. Committee chairs then provided updates. Services Committee Chair and junior Malachy Donovan announced that Turkey Shuttle signups will be released soon. Del Castillo, a senior, brought up the possibility of Lyft vouchers replacing the Turkey Shuttle to accommodate students traveling at a wider range of times. Del Castillo said that this will not be implemented for this round of Turkey Shuttles, but that it is planned to be available for later breaks. Education Committee Chair and sophomore Phil Miller announced several potential projects, including the exploration of a Spanish minor for School of Arts and Sciences students and an evaluation of how departmental funding is allocated. Zhen, a junior, brought up the idea of increasing opportunities for Senate to have more personal interactions with students and clubs outside of funding requests. Trustee Representative and sophomore Kristen Moran, who is a Daily columnist, also discussed outreach, introducing the idea of a “Senator of the Week” initiative to help students get to know senators as people.
Kraus, a senior, gave updates about the Administration & Policy Committee in the absence of Committee Chair Jamie Neikrie. Kraus said that the committee is working with Moran to brand projects related to physical and social space. Kraus then discussed the upcoming Senate town hall that will be held on Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. in the Alumnae Lounge. According to Kraus, the town hall is intended to discuss social spaces and help form a vision for Capen Village, a new themed housing project. Kraus said that the town hall is open to the public and will include a panel to discuss residential life, sustainability and social inequities. Kraus then brought up the Brown and Blueprint initiative, that will launch listening sessions with clubs to better understand how they interact with physical spaces and how they build communities with social space. Kraus said that the final product of the initiative will be a report documenting all campus groups’ space needs and space inequities. Also, she announced that the elections for a Class of 2018 and an LGBTQ+ Community Senator will be on Nov. 6. Finally, Kraus added that she and Del Castillo met with President Monaco this week and discussed the budgeting process for campus space development.
This House Believe That:
BREXIT IS A HOUSE OF CARDS AND THREATENS THE STABILITY OF THE WORLD ORDER Wednesday, October 25th @ 5:30pm ASEAN Auditorium, The Fletcher School Reserve Your Spot Now! http://bit.ly/FRTNdobbs a debate with
Michael Dobbs, F73, FG77, Best-Selling Author and Politician, Executive Producer of the Netflix show House of Cards & Amar Bhide, Thomas Schmidheiny Professor of International Business, The Fletcher School
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Features
Monday, October 23, 2017
Women in Computer Science club helps bring gender equity to the field
MARIA FONG / THE TUFTS DAILY
by Maya Hamberg Contributing Writer
Imagine an unhackable, military-grade attack helicopter. Picture an event calendar that pulls from Facebook’s application programming interface to collect all the events happening at Tufts over the weekend. Or imagine an app, called Know Your Rights, that could scrape the web and find resources for sexual assault survivors based on gender, age and location. All these creations have been imagined and brought to fruition by women here at Tufts. The projects were created by Chair of the Computer Science Department Kathleen Fisher, sophomore Lexi Walker and senior Winnona DeSombre, respectively. According to data provided by Fisher, more and more women at Tufts are studying computer science. “The trend is positive, and these numbers compare favorably to national statistics of the number of women majoring in computer science … but we would very much like to do better,” Fisher told the Daily in an email. The statistics may seem daunting. The percentage of female-identifying computer science majors at both the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering never goes beyond 40 percent, according to data provided by Fisher — for the School of Engineering, the percentage reached 17.9 percent this year. Fisher had advice for women hoping to enter the field of computer science. “Computer science is a deep, intellectually interesting field that permeates nearly all aspects of modern life… If you haven’t studied it before, it can seem
daunting, but like all other subjects, it can be learned,” she wrote. “Think about learning a new language, say Spanish or Mandarin. Of course, it isn’t easy, but it is doable by anyone who has good teachers and applies themselves diligently.” Fisher added that many students find Introduction to Computer Science (COMP 11) intimidating because the material is rigorous and some students seem to know it all already. She said the course has no prerequisites because the department is aware that many students who take it have never programmed. “In fact, many of the best students in the course come in with no previous background,” she said. “We welcome all Tufts undergraduates in Comp11.” According to DeSombre, the Women in Computer Science (WiCS) club is looking to increase the number of women who study computer science. The club’s mission is to connect Tufts women passionate about the field of computer science. DeSombre, the club president, describes women in computer science as people who are female-identifying or non-binary. “The official mission of WiCS is ‘connecting and supporting women and femme non-binary people studying computer science at Tufts,'” DeSombre said. DeSombre, a senior majoring in international relations and computer science, first reached out to WiCS last fall. The club only had two members at that time. Since then, WiCS has grown exponentially to have about 55 to 60 members, according to DeSombre. With this growth, WiCS has started some big initiatives, including the fullday Women in Tech Conference on Oct.
28, which will feature speakers, panels and workshops. According to DeSombre, the conference is a culmination of the goals of WiCS and is the first WiCS conference, thanks to the group’s eight-person executive board and 23-person conference planning committee. “[We hope to] show the Tufts women that are thinking of studying computer science that there is this huge community that knows what everyone is going through when it comes to being a new person in tech [and] having impostor syndrome as a woman in tech,” DeSombre said. “But we also want to be a little pre-professional, try to have interview prep … and make it such that you can get a job from WiCS and that we prepare you for the real world.” According to its website, the conference has several corporate sponsors, including Google, Microsoft and Dropbox. Walker, a sophomore majoring in computer science and biotechnology, explained that she joined WiCS this year as a resource for computer science courses here at school, as well as a way to meet other people in the industry. Walker, who is a member of the logistics team for the conference in charge of organizing speakers and panels, is particularly looking forward to the cyber security panel and hearing Fisher speak. The keynote speaker for the conference is Deidre Diamond, CEO and founder of CyberSN, a cyber security company. Full of outstanding female figures, DeSombre hopes that the Women in Tech Conference at Tufts shows women that computer science is a field for them. “It’s culminated in this one big conference, which I really think encourages
people to see the breadth and depth of where computer science touches in every industry,” she said. The significance of women and femme non-binary people in computer science should not be understated. All three women spoke on the diversity in thought and ideas that women bring to the field. “Women are just as good at being computer scientists as men. If societal norms drive women away from the field, then we are missing out on half of the world’s brain trust in the field,” Fisher said. “Women do have different experiences than men, and if the field is populated exclusively or even mostly by men, we run the risk of those distinctive experiences not being appropriately taken into account.” Walker shared Fisher’s idea that women add diversity to the field. “Because computer science pervades all aspects of society, it is crucial that the full range of diversity in our society participate in the directing, managing, and inventing the field,” Walker said. As more women enter the tech industry, projects can be focused on solving issues that hold immense importance to women. One example is the Know Your Rights app, which DeSombre and her team created last year at Tufts’ PolyHack fall hackathon. Opportunities like this for gender equity in the computer science industry make DeSombre hopeful for the future of tech. “Just getting more women in tech is going to diversify the employee pool, the industry, the types of problems [and] the ways problems are being solved, and really just make the industry a far more inclusive and efficient place,” DeSombre said.
F e at u r e s
Monday, October 23, 2017 | Features | THE TUFTS DAILY
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Henry Stevens The Weekly Chirp
To go or not to go
W
ith the onset of fall arrives an unavoidable question: what am I going to do during winter break? The extended time at home can be daunting for some, especially for those of us living in New England, who are especially restricted in our ability to leave the house due to terrible weather. A trip down to The Bahamas or any other tropical area can be just the remedy for a group of buddies eager to escape weeks on end with their parents. Conversely, some students enjoy their time at home and feel no desire to seek accommodations elsewhere — for them, game night with the folks is a vacation in itself. And for the rest, their feelings may depend on the year. For this category of students, the looming question of whether to go or not to go resurfaces again and again, always posing difficult to answer. Just like the students mentioned above, many birds experience this conundrum as well. While most New England birds are genetically predisposed to migration, others have an important choice to make every fall — should I stay or should I go? The driving force determining the final decision can depend on the bird species. For example, male northern cardinals, residents of New England, will sometimes overwinter in areas of their distributional range with low resources. Doing so ensures that they have access to the best breeding territories come spring. There is at least one breeding pair on campus — look for them near the chapel. Choosing the wrong migration option could result in death or poor breeding success, so each cardinal must choose wisely. However, overwintering behavior has become increasingly common over the past couple of decades due to the increasing commonness of backyard bird feeders, which alleviate cardinals of their concern for sources of food during the winter. Other species of birds are not driven by territory selection, but rather by the sporadic emergence of food sources. This holds true for many species of finch, such as purple finches and red crossbills. These finches use their heavy-duty beaks to crunch through or pry open cones and feast on the seeds of many different conifers. Since cone production can occur at different magnitudes and different times of the year depending on the conifer, many finch migrations are largely determined by the depletion of a cone crop in one area, forcing them to find more elsewhere. Both birds and humans face the dilemma of deciding whether to leave the safety and comfort of their homes in the winter for new lands with better resources. Just as migration for birds seeking abundant resources can result in death by energy depletion, predation or inclement weather, trips for humans seeking tropical, parent-free paradises can exhaust our limited monetary budgets and increase our chances of injury. Whether we like it or not, everything in life is a trade-off — there are monumental rewards waiting for you out there if you’re willing to take the risk. Until next time, Henry Henry Stevens is a junior majoring in biology. Henry can be reached at henry. stevens@tufts.edu. Interest in birds? Email me at tuftsornithologicalsociety@gmail.com.
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Arts & Living
Mina Ghobrial Thoughts From Places
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Distler Hall
ast Wednesday, for the first time since arriving at Tufts, I made my way over to Distler Hall to see an actual performance and not an orientation program. Despite my overall lack of understanding of the Spanish language, I was talked into going to Argentinean multi-instrumentalist and singer Clara Cantore’s concert. The leaflets highlighted dramatic achievements by a woman who is only a decade my senior. Her repertoire was stunning: from releasing three fulllength albums to touring seven European countries to giving 22 shows just this past spring, it was clear that Cantore was the real deal and that the Department of Romance Languages had secured a serious performer for the crisp fall evening. The earliest arrivals shuffled toward the back of the hall, taking seats well behind the coveted front row. As minutes passed, and the 7:30 p.m. show was on the verge of beginning, the entire frontal block of seats was left mostly unoccupied. Whispers of the show being the subject of an extra credit assignment floated around, and the lack of enthusiasm began to take root in a logical, yet upsetting, explanation. The giddy, voluntary nature of events like Oktoberfest or Polyhack, or even the fidgety vexation associated with mandatory O-Week events, provide a different level of energy. Having to write a short essay about an event that you otherwise would not have attended leaves room for shiftlessness. Despite the tension, the concert went on as planned. The lyrics were exclusively in Spanish, and the friend I had tagged along with informed me oh-so matter-of-factly that the Argentinean dialect is more challenging to pick up on. Despite my incompetence with the language, several verses resonated, breaking past the barrier of language. In addition, Cantore’s occasional debriefing (sometimes including brief English summations) served not only to clarify the meaning of certain linguistic irregularities, but also to paint a vivid picture of the plight of the rural farmer. The grassroots political activism, combined with Argentinean folk chords often unheard in American songs, a powerful voice and radiant eagerness on Cantore’s part made the experience one to remember. Despite the quality of the solo woman performance, about 15 minutes into the show, the crowd that once densely populated the back of the room began to thin. The extra credit assignment was only a single page, double-spaced — they had absorbed enough content to meet their word count minimums, and presumably, that was enough to warrant an exit. This left a bitter aftertaste in my mouth; perhaps the real plight that was on display was that of an artist. Years of work, raw talent and fervent passion were left to drift into the void of a constantly emptying room. Watching people get up and leave mid-show is easily a more painful ordeal than performing to a small, attentive, spirited crowd. If the promise of extra credit was the only way to fill the room, there is a chance that Tufts is not ready to appreciate certain levels of artistic mastery. Mina Ghobrial is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Mina can be reached at mina.ghobrial@tufts.edu, and this column can be followed on Instagram @thoughtsfromtufts.
Monday, October 23, 2017
CONCERT REVIEW
Alice Smith impresses in passionate performance for Gardner’s RISE concert series by Sadhya Garg
Contributing Writer
Oct. 12 saw R&B singer Alice Smith deliver an astounding performance to a sold out Calderwood Hall. The concert was the second performance of the 2017–18 RISE concert series, put on by the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and Berklee College of Music. A unique venue, Calderwood Hall is built like a cube, with first floor seating and four levels of balconies overlooking the stage. Upon arrival, concertgoers were immediately given a taste of what was to come with DJ L’duke’s preshow of Smith’s biggest hits. The excitement in the air was evident, as the performance promised to be a big hit. But first, the audience was treated to a soulful opening act by new talent Cedric Jackson II. Jackson, an alumnus of Berklee, showcased his extraordinary vocal abilities and musical variety, beginning with a vulnerable cover of Tony Bennett’s “Shadow of Your Smile” (1966) before transitioning into a more upbeat set. Singing a combination of covers and original pieces such as “Stay With Me” (2016) and “It’s Not You, It’s Me” (2017), Cedric Jackson II wowed the audience with his vocal prowess. His performance couldn’t be described as anything other than passionate and was met with approval from the crowd, if the roaring applause at the end of his set was anything to go by.
COURTESY FLICKR
Alice Smith, pictured here during a 2013 concert in California, performed earlier this month at Boston’s Calderwood Hall. The concert broke for a short intermission after Jackson’s performance, which soon transitioned into an impromptu dance party due to a slight delay in setup. Led by two witty emcees, the majority of the audience — both young and old — were up and grooving to the beat of DJ L’duke’s thumping playlist. After a few minutes of letting loose, Alice Smith, wearing a slinky black dress and kitten heels, arrived with her band and a presence bigger than the room. Jumping straight into her performance, Smith impressed off the bat with
her incredible range of notes and ability to fill the room with or without the mic. Although no stranger to Boston, this was Alice Smith’s first performance at the Calderwood venue, which she later dubbed her favorite performance spot in Boston. She had no problem adjusting, though, moving from song to song flawlessly without so much as a moment’s break in between. As Smith sang, the energy, passion and emotions of her music were practically tangible. see ALICE SMITH, page 7
TV REVIEW
Chapter 15 of ‘Riverdale’ brings gloom, gloom, more boring gloom by Alison Epstein Arts Editor
Things are looking very, very grim in Riverdale. Veronica’s parents are acting super shady, Archie is completely spiraling and two more lives are taken by the end of this week’s episode. The second installment of season two of “Riverdale” (2017–) landed on the more forgetful (and boring) end of the spectrum, although it seemed to set up things yet to come. And those things are going to be dark. As if Riverdale doesn’t have enough problems, Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe gets vandalized (the graffiti sprayed on the diner’s front creatively reading “death diner”), and Pop gets so spooked he decides to sell the restaurant. This is unacceptable to Betty, who has many fond childhood memories from Pop’s, so she decides to hold a fundraiser to save the Riverdale landmark. Where else will the gang get magic milkshakes that have no visible effects on Archie’s abs? Betty’s cause is honorable even though self-righteous Betty is the second-most annoying version of Betty (most annoying Betty to come). While Betty tries to recapture a happier, less murder-filled time in Riverdale with her throwback-themed fundraiser, Archie is drowning in his very grim present. Instead of sleeping, he sits up every night with a baseball bat, guarding the
COURTESY CW
KJ Apa as Archie Andrews (right) is shown in the pircture in Riverdale Chapter 14, “A Kiss Before Dying.” doors in case the shooter comes back. Things only get worse when he finds out about Grundy’s murder. Everyone repeatedly assures him that this attack and the one on his father are completely unrelated, but Archie is still very spooked, especially once he finds out the weapon used on Grundy was the cello bow Archie had gifted her. This all sets Archie off on some erratic, paranoid, anti-Archie behavior. First, he considers buying jingle jangle from his pal Reggie (who was
recast for season two, if your favorite jock/ now drug dealer looks a little off to you). What is jingle jangle, you ask? It seems half the kids at Riverdale High are hooked on this drug, which “keeps you up for days, in more ways than one.” Of course Riverdale would have an Energizer Bunny sex drug named jingle jangle. Archie ultimately does not purchase any drugs and also rejects Veronica’s reasonable suggessee RIVERDALE, page 7
Arts & Living
Monday, October 23, 2017 | Arts & Living | THE TUFTS DAILY
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A memorable rooftop performance saves this week's 'Riverdale' RIVERDALE
continued from page 6 tion of therapy, instead opting to get his hands on a gun. Jughead’s narration does indicate that getting this gun succeeds in giving Archie enough of a feeling of safety to finally sleep again. Yikes. Speaking of Jughead, he is not having the best episode either, especially after learning that his dad could face up to 20 years in jail for his involvement in the cover-up of Jason Blossom’s murder. Against better judgment, Jug pays a visit to the Serpents’ lawyer, Penny Peabody, who suggests that if the Blossoms can make a statement forgiving FP for his involvement, his sentence could get reduced. She also rejects money from Jughead and instead requests an eventual return of favor. This woman is such a snake (pun intended), and clearly FP agrees, because he warns Jughead to stay away from her once he finds out about her involvement in the case. Jughead sure missed a lot of red flags with this one… Penny’s office is in the backroom of a tattoo shop. Some lawyer.
The fact that this recap hasn’t mentioned Cheryl yet is a clear indication that once again we need more Cheryl. Luckily, the second half of the episode had some great Cheryl moments. After she and her mother initially refuse to testify on FP’s behalf, Cheryl changes her mind after a visit from “Dark Betty.” (Hello, the No. 1 most annoying Betty.) Betty enters the locker room and confronts Cheryl, who is wearing nothing but some very red, very strappy lingerie (only Cheryl would think this was school-appropriate, and only Cheryl would absolutely slay in it), and threatens to leak the footage of Clifford Blossom shooting Jason if Cheryl doesn’t testify favorably and if she doesn’t get the River Vixens to come help out at the fundraiser for the diner. Cheryl agrees, in exchange for Betty destroying the footage. On the stand, Cheryl then decides to straight-up lie and say that she saw her dad threaten FP, resulting in the judge deciding to reconsider FP’s sentence. What a complex character Cheryl is. Hey, what has Veronica been up to all episode? Not much, just casually continuing to confront her parents about poten-
tially being murderers and avoiding her father’s attempts to connect with her. Is Hiram Lodge, played by Mark Consuelos (Kelly Ripa’s husband!), really just a loving father who happens to be a shrewd businessman, or is he a murderous villain set on destroying the entire town? Considering he secretly bought the diner at the fundraiser under the guise of a donation, he probably is not good news. He also sent Veronica a threatening letter, although her mom lied and told Veronica she had penned it in order to manipulate her. What a nice, functional family. Rich people have problems too, okay? Before Hiram bought the diner, making the fundraiser moot (although only the Lodge parents know that), the throwback night at Pop’s was going pretty well, besides one moment when Veronica called Archie “Daddy-O” and every viewer threw up in their mouth (no exaggeration). The fundraiser featured the only bright spot of the entire episode, with two out of the three Pussycats plus Cheryl performing a life-altering (though slightly asymmetric) rendition of — naturally — Kelis’ “Milkshake”
(2003) on the roof of Pop’s. Seriously, this performance was everything. Less Dark Betty, more pop star Cheryl. This creepy season of “Riverdale” obviously can’t end an episode without more murdering fun. This week, the two casualties who were shot while making out in a parked car were Moose, a football player who hooked up with Kevin last season (speaking of which, there’s been far too little Kevin this season), and his girlfriend Midge, who just got introduced this episode. Sorry, actress who got hired to play Midge. How do these murders line up with the last two? It still seems like there has to be a connection, although Archie seems to be the only one within the story-world who thinks that, and he is not currently stable, so who knows? This episode overall was a huge bummer. If anything, it served as a PSA for mental health counseling, because Archie desperately needs it. Here’s hoping next week brings brighter days for the gang, although that seems highly unlikely. “Riverdale” airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW. Full episodes available on cwtv.com and Netflix.
R&B artist Alice Smith promises new music at Calderwood Hall performance ALICE SMITH
continued from page 6 Alicia Keys meets Andra Day meets Nina Simone, Smith’s voice was both piercing and gentle, loud and soft. In songs like “The One” (2013) and “Fool for You” (2013), Smith transitioned seamlessly from note to note, delivering bold performance after bold performance. Although largely performing pieces from her most
recent album “She,” Smith also teased her upcoming album with single “Mystery.” “I’m almost finished with my next album,” she told the crowd, “I think I’ll call it ‘Mystery’ or something about mystery.” An intimidating presence on the mic, Alice Smith could not have been more different in her disposition. Humble and soft spoken, Smith continued to thank the audience for coming throughout the show
and charmed them with her playful banter. At one point, Smith even took a break to try and encourage a young audience member to come up and sing a song with her. Although a relatively well-known artist, Smith was delightfully down to earth. Overall, the mood of the performance was refreshingly lighthearted and intimate, possessing a level of comfort unusual for concerts. It was over
too soon, and after an unsuccessful attempt to get Alice back on the stage for an encore, the crowd began to leave. They won’t have long to wait for more music, though, as Smith herself projected the release of her new album to be soon. Altogether, Alice Smith continues to rise through the music industry and promises to become one of the next big names in R&B.
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THE TUFTS DAILY | Comics | Monday, October 23, 2017
Comics
tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Cathy: “I am not watching German porn in Eaton.”
Comics
SUDOKU
GARFIELD BY JIM DAVIS
NON SEQUITUR BY WILEY MILLER
Difficulty Level: Running to catch up to the Joey only to be left behind.
LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY
Friday’s Solution
Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)
Take charge. Pour physical energy into pursuing a personal dream. Your spotlight shines bright with the Sun in your sign this month. Provide leadership.
FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 23, 2017
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis CROSSWORD
ACROSS 1 Eydie who sang with Steve Lawrence 6 Began a typical triathlon 10 Went lickety-split 14 Construction girder 15 Prefix with legal 16 Epitaph starter 17 Six-inch putt, say, in golf lingo 18 Distinctive flair 19 Eye part 20 *A little bit at a time, to a mason 23 Heavy favorites 26 Those women, in Spain 27 Shabby homes 28 Huge 31 Surprise police action 32 *Next step up after a crib, for some toddlers 36 Grecian vessel of verse 37 What “is yet to come,” in a Sinatra classic 39 Shogun stronghold 40 *Hit by *NSYNC about the end of a relationship 42 When repeated, a Samoan city 43 Sleep clinic study 44 Got via hard work 46 Chicago airport 49 Diplomatic office 50 *Iconic refrain from the Trammps’ 1976 hit “Disco Inferno” 54 Playground retort 55 Shapeless mass 56 Biting 60 Space Race destination 61 Theater level 62 Cygnus’ brightest star 63 “Rule, Britannia” composer 64 “Goodness gracious!” 65 Founded: Abbr. DOWN 1 Jazzman’s job 2 Japanese sash
By Jeff Stillman
3 Sleep stage 4 Did a Cuban dance 5 TV chef Lagasse 6 Contractor’s details 7 Base on balls 8 Spirited horse 9 Scads of 10 Child star Temple 11 Danger 12 “All My Children” vixen 13 Newsroom fixtures 21 Helpful connections 22 Fathered, biblically 23 Landscaper’s planting 24 White with age 25 Sheeplike 28 Tripoli’s country 29 1958 Pulitzerwinning author James 30 Football carriers: Abbr. 32 “Cheers” actress Neuwirth 33 Spilled the __: told all 34 Barely beats 35 Puppet Howdy __
10/23/17
Friday’sPuzzle Solution Saturday’s Solved A R T I S T I E U N R C O A R S E S P H E H E M O T I O N T S D R U L E M N C A L A M O D E P S R C H S A T E D I E O T O X F O R D F L N E S S A Y S
C T B A L U E
E A U R R I S S C H I L O E S T A T
©2017 Tribune Content Agency, LLC
37 Easygoing sort 38 Egg layer 41 Without exception 42 Struts like a horse 44 Australian runner 45 Use sandpaper on 46 Trump predecessor 47 Funny stuff 48 Felonious flames 49 Subsided 51 Ready, willing and __
M A R T O M A N X T I A C
R B L Y I G S H T R E D H P C A G L O D U A
L E N N G I E N E M E R S N E N U T R R Y 10/23/17
52 Modern diary 53 Discipline with mats 57 Tolkien tree creature 58 Stephen of “The Crying Game” 59 Consumer protection org., and a hint to the answers to starred clues
Monday, October 23, 2017
Opinion
9 tuftsdaily.com
OP-ED
The room where it happened by Ben Shapiro I was lucky enough to see “Hamilton: An American Musical” in Los Angeles this summer. The now cult-classic story of the inner workings of our fledgling country is an inspiring tale of ambition and revolution. Its “shout-outs” to women and immigrants, moments that saw the most applause during the show, are especially relevant with the Trump administration’s recent policies and actions. I couldn’t help but be inspired to fight for the democratic ideals that hold our country together and should apply to all peoples equally. It is for exactly this reason that one particular scene stood out to me as especially relevant to my experience here at Tufts: Aaron Burr’s dramatic number, “The Room Where It Happens,” recounts a meeting completed in secrecy, resulting in a legislative agreement between Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. I couldn’t help but draw parallels between this off-the-record assembly and the recent BDS resolution heard by the Tufts Community Union ( TCU) Senate. I won’t comment on the BDS movement as a whole right now, but on the abhorrent tactics used to disenfranchise Jewish, pro-Israel students. Almost 48 hours after the proposed resolution’s text was publicly released, our class senators voted on the eve of Passover — one of the holiest Jewish holidays — on an issue very deeply relevant to the Jewish community. To debate an issue with many implications requires more than casual thought, and the Jews of the pro-Israel community were denied their due equality in this meeting. With no time to prepare, we were thrown into an awful situation that had seemingly little regard for our religious practices or emotional well-being. This vote taking place at a time many Jewish students had left campus to prepare for the Passover holiday demonstrates an intentional lack of representation in our representative body. I saw how this meeting transpired
over the hours which, despite its length, felt rushed. Senators on more than one occasion motioned to vote on the resolution at hand, a ridiculous proposition to cut off speaking time since everyone knew that matters had not been discussed to completion. A fair and free debate could not be had even with unlimited time to speak, as my community was prevented from adequate time to prepare an argument. A weighty topic should not feel rushed, and involved communities should definitely not be disenfranchised. The resolution’s writers did not consult any of the Israel-related groups on campus (J Street U, Tufts Friends of Israel, Tufts American Israel Alliance, Visions of Peace) in their preparations, meaning any possibility for collaboration and compromise was intentionally avoided. We do not want to hide this debate from the campus, but instead engage over an issue we are all passionate about. At the meeting, not only was the live-stream devoid of video imagery, but the audio intentionally omitted any mention of senators’ names. Furthermore, the results of the vote were published only in number and senators were not tied to their vote. With this meeting taking place behind closed doors, the TCU Senate represented authoritarian levels of lacking transparency. “No one else was in the room where it happened.” The closed nature of the TCU Senate proceeding flies in the face of democracy, and is the antithesis of true representation. In the United States today we are privileged to have all congressional meetings televised on the ever-so-exciting C-SPAN, footage available at our disposal to hold our elected representatives accountable. The “compromise” by the BDS resolution’s writers to accommodate students who were away for the holiday, which was agreed upon with the TCU Senate, is comical at best: a Google Form for students to submit written statements that may or not even be read during the meeting, and with no way to validate the authors’ connection to Tufts.
If it was so widely known that students with relevant opinions necessary for fair debate could not be present to voice those thoughts, why hear the meeting at this time? The date being the last senate meeting of the year is not a valid excuse — the Israeli-Palestinian conflict isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, unfortunately, and the university’s investments (if they even were to change) would not occur at a different date if the resolution was proposed at the beginning of the next school year. I understand the safety concerns of the meeting, valid reasons why involved students would not want their faces or names broadcast to a world of right-wing intimidators. But to those involved I pose this question — is it the place of the student senate to debate geopolitical matters that could threaten their safety and the safety of their peers on campus? I feel that the senate should vote on matters relevant to changing the student experience on campus, passing resolutions that are direct pleas to the administration to change how student life operates. It seems highly unorthodox to change the senate proceedings involving transparency for specific meetings — the usual practices should have been followed if it was to be heard, or it should not have been heard at all. Surely the Arab-Israeli and IsraeliPalestinian conflicts are a discussion to be had on campus, but it is a debate that needs time, preparation, nuance and the right setting. The university and student body could and should work to create intentional spaces for discourse, whether that shapes up to be a club, online forum or committee task force. Already groups like CIVIC and other political groups, especially Tufts Democrats and Republicans, are open forums to discuss exactly these matters. The TCU Senate is not this place. While there is merit to debating whether or not the senate should even delve into national or international politics in their resolution-passing powers, our advocacy and activist energy should not be put into symbolic action but into
actual changemaking efforts. I learn from my Jewish tradition the value of tikkun olam, or repairing the world — the university can and should be an active player in repairing the world. That being said, this has to start with student voices and lead to real action. If we really care about these issues, let’s work together so the university can elevate our voices to a productive platform that will contribute to peacemaking efforts on the ground. We need dialogue between both sides, and if the TCU Senate thinks it’s the right forum to facilitate that, by all means, help bring us together. For that to happen though, it can’t come in the form of one-sided resolutions that alienate relevant voices, endanger participants’ safety and don’t result in any productive or actual action. To the new TCU Senate for this school year, I know you have ambitious goals and hopes to refine the duties of your work. I ask that you hold the democratic ideals of transparency and accountability close to your heart in all of your work — students have a right and a need to know how you are representing them. Of course your safety is of paramount importance, and so it seems like a logical benchmark to not deliberate over issues that would threaten your well-being on campus. Leave these matters for actual political debate groups, where an open dialogue really can and should be had. Work to give students a wider platform for debate on heated issues. But most importantly, go above and beyond in promoting and broadcasting your work, because we want to see what’s going on and take an active stake in student life matters. I demand more of our elected student representatives. I demand a fair and free campus environment that holds true to the ideals of democracy. That did not happen here. I say this, because I was in the room where it happened. Ben Shapiro is a sophomore majoring in architectural studies. Ben can be reached at Benjamin.Shapiro@tufts.edu.
TRASHING ONE EGG WASTES 55 GALLONS OF WATER
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THE TUFTS DAILY | Opinion | Monday, October 23, 2017
Nesi Altaras Looking out
tuftsdaily.com
CARTOON
The discontents of universal basic income
O
ver the past few years, as the facts of the automation revolution dawns on many involved in creating it, there has been increased talk of a universal basic income (UBI) coming out of Silicon Valley. This new discourse on UBI has been a favorite topic of many tech billionaires from Elon Musk to Mark Zuckerberg. Although it is important to have a discussion around this interesting economic concept that has drawn approval from Milton Friedman to left-wing economists, we have to keep in mind that UBI cannot be reduced to a simple solution to a future problem. As I previously laid out in this column, a rapid technological change is approaching that will make a significant section of the population not simply unemployed but unemployable. This will require radical economic thinking to tackle and many more cultural adjustments. However, we cannot approach the issue of UBI from an angle that ignores the current structural, regional, racial and gender inequalities in our economy today. The Silicon Valley discourse on UBI starts from a point where inequality happens due to technological unemployability, as if there is not an imbalance of power and wealth in the economy to begin with. This discourse fails to keep in mind that rather than creating inequality, it will drastically exacerbate the inequality we have today and hit the economically disadvantaged the hardest. The papering over of such a massive shift in the structure of the labor market through UBI is like a fig leaf covering over a raging fire. It will be preposterously insufficient. The key word here is basic: This direct cash transfer program will cover food, health and housing. The bare minimum amount of calories and heating to survive. That means many people made unemployable will be reduced to “basic” lives while the owners of artificial intelligence companies generate unlimited wealth through business models that have no labor cost. And they will live guilt free since their increased taxes will pay for the bare existence of the people now deemed useless in the labor market. This is not an acceptable solution to the automation revolution. Considering how little benefit will be derived from so little, basic individual support, can we even justify such an expensive idea? The other critical characteristic of UBI is that it is universal; everyone will get it regardless of how hard they were affected by the automation revolution. They might get it and still retain a job with additional income. Spending billions on providing the bare minimum to everyone is not a viable solution. When I first encountered UBI in the automation context, I became more convinced the more I read. After a point, as I understood more, I became progressively unconvinced of its utility in spreading the prosperity of the automation revolution. It is a good discussion to jump to more radical and useful ideas such as un-expiring unemployment insurance or (the even less explored but more promising) nationalization of artificial intelligence software. So the next time Elon Musk talks about the robot uprising that UBI will tackle, consider what he is missing. Nesi Altaras is a junior majoring in international relations and economics. Nesi can be reached at nesi.altaras@tufts.edu.
SHANNON GEARY
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Sports
Monday, October 23, 2017 | Sports | THE TUFTS DAILY
Women’s soccer falls to undefeated Williams 3–0
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Phillip Goldberg Bird's Eye View
Our values have changed, have sports?
A
BEN KIM / THE TUFTS DAILY
Junior midfielder Emma Ranalli keeps the ball away from defenders in the women’s soccer home game against Lesley in Kraft Field on Oct. 17.
by Delaney Tantillo Staff Writer
Tufts women’s soccer traveled to Williamstown, Mass. on Saturday to face undefeated NESCAC powerhouse Williams. This was an especially important match up for the Jumbos, who have struggled against the Ephs in recent years, with their last victory coming in 2006. Heading into the weekend, Tufts was ranked third in the NESCAC with a league record of 5–1–2 while Williams sat comfortably in first place with a league record of 7–0–1 and an overall record of 12–0–1. Having one of their best seasons in recent years, the Jumbos hoped to earn their first victory over the Ephs in 11 seasons. Heading into this matchup, the Jumbos knew it would be one of their most challenging tests of the season. “[Williams] has always been a good team in the past, so we knew it was going to be difficult,” first-year forward Liz Reed said. Junior co-captain midfielder Emma Ranalli echoed a similar sentiment. “We came into the game knowing Williams was a good team but also knowing that we are a good team and could compete with them,” Ranalli said. “We wanted to play our brand of soccer and do as much as we could.” In the practices leading up to this game, Tufts adjusted its game strategy in hopes of competing more effectively against Williams’ style of play. “We knew Williams played a really high back line, so we were looking to exploit them over the top,” Ranalli said.
“Our forwards are very fast and dangerous, so we wanted to look to play them pretty directly.” Tufts struggled with this unfamiliar strategy, however, ultimately reverting back to its usual style of play about 20 minutes into the first half. “We realized slowly — unfortunately a little too slowly — that we weren’t as dangerous playing directly to our forwards as we needed to be,” Ranalli said. Once they settled back into their usual style of play, the Jumbos were much more competitive against the Ephs, as they were able to pressure them more effectively. Sophomore midfielder Jenna Troccoli had two shots on goal for the Jumbos in the first half in an effort to break the 0–0 tie. Troccoli’s efforts fell short as her first shot was wide and the second was saved by Williams’ goalie. A pass across the box followed by a quick finish by junior forward Kristina Alvarado against Tufts’ junior keeper Emily Bowers in the 28th minute gave Williams a 1–0 lead heading into the second half. In the second half, Tufts did a better job of keeping the ball and pressuring the Williams back line. The Jumbos prevented the Ephs from scoring for the first 16 minutes of the second half, as the score remained 1–0. Two quick goals from Williams in the 62nd and 64th minutes put Tufts at a 3–0 deficit with less than 30 minutes to play. Senior midfielder Evan Gancedo scored the second goal for the Ephs, and Alvarado added her second of the day to put Williams up by three goals. Neither team scored for the remainder of the
competition, as the game ended in a 3–0 loss for the Jumbos. Despite not getting the result they hoped for, the Jumbos have reason to be happy with their performance, as they did a good job of being competitive against a top-level team. They attempted 10 shots to Williams’ 14, and the teams were even on corner kicks, with four each. “They are such a clean team; they make very few mistakes,” Ranalli said. “We were able to disrupt that with the higher pressure we put, but their movement is so good that it is hard to maintain that pressure for 90 minutes.” Following this loss, Tufts moves to fourth in the NESCAC standings. The Jumbos will play their final regular season game at home against Bowdoin (9–4–1, 4–4–1 in conference) on Tuesday before postseason play begins. The Jumbos are excited to have a quick turnaround from this weekend, as they hope to collect a win against the Polar Bears to regain confidence as they prepare for postseason play. “We are excited to play soccer against Bowdoin,” Ranalli said. “It would be big for us to get a win heading into the NESCAC tournament; it would be nice to get our momentum started.” Having only lost two in-conference games in what has been one of its best seasons in recent years, Tufts is in a position to play deep into the postseason. “We are super excited to go into the NESCAC tournament in a better position than we have in the last couple of years,” Ranalli said.
thletics have transformed since their inception. In Greece, the first Olympic Games was held in 760 B.C. and consisted of a simple footrace. Later the traditional field events of discus, javelin and jumping were added along with an early predecessor of wrestling called pankration. Among the Greek city-states, the most militant of all, Sparta, was obsessed with sport. In China, there is evidence of soldiers inventing a soccer-like game in the second and third centuries B.C. All these early sports shared a martial component, some more explicitly than others, and this begs the question: have modern sports transcended their violent roots? Certainly, explicitly violent sports still exist today. As someone who picked up martial arts at four years old, I’ve witnessed the positives and negatives of such brutal competitions up close. Jujutsu bouts are scored, but forcing your opponent to submit legally is the equivalent of a checkmate. In the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), judges score fights, but again, knocking your opponent unconscious acts as the end-all. UFC President Dana White likes to say “Don’t leave it in the hands of the judges,” meaning the most sure victory is an unequivocal knockout. These sports are individual, one-on-one fights, and are all about dominating your opponent. The only difference between the modern versions and their predecessors are some rules outlawing the most dangerous techniques, to prevent as much severe bodily harm as possible. The point of ball sports where physical contact is permitted, like rugby and football, is no longer simply to incapacitate your opponent. There is a ball and an end zone that deflect the objective from purely inflicting damage on an opponent. However, what these sports lack in brutal combat they make up for with military tactics. If martial arts are to train individual warriors, then physical ball sports are designed to coordinate these human weapons. Many wrestlers and football players in the United States cross-train because the skills are transferrable. Football terminology includes commonly used gems such as: point of attack, bomb, blitz, trenches, no man’s land, red zone and safety. The objective of a football team is to safely deliver a ball across 100 yards of hostile territory while opposing forces attempt to impede that progress. As I detailed in my last column, this type of sport was invented in the West as a means for the wealthy to train their bodies in anticipation of class struggle. Certainly these sports have evolved today and offer important benefits such as character and team building, but it is important to acknowledge their militant and classist roots to maintain context. The conclusion to draw here is not that these sports are necessarily ‘bad.’ It is that the positive lessons of sports such as teamwork, responsibility and perseverance must be separated from the militaristic ideals leftover from the sports’ foundings. These include aggression, overcompetitiveness and intolerance. As long as we recognize the basic humanity of the person lining up to oppose us, then sport can transcend its roots. If not, then why play? Phillip Goldberg is a sports editor at the Daily. He is a senior majoring in political science and can be reached at phillip. goldberg@tufts.edu.
12 tuftsdaily.com
Sports
Monday, October 23, 2017
Tufts rebounds from Trinity loss to slow a surging Williams
EVAN SAYLES / THE TUFTS DAILY
Tufts running back Mike Pedrini, a first-year, charges up the field in the game against the Trinity Bantams on Oct. 14. by Phillip Goldberg Sports Editor
Tufts (4–2) outlasted the Williams Ephs (4–2) in a low-scoring 21–13 defensive battle on Farley-Lamb Field. Tufts rebounded from last week’s close 23–16 loss to NESCAC-leading Trinity with the win, while Williams failed to build on the momentum from its second win in a row, a 27–26 upset over Middlebury in Vermont. “I’m really proud of the way the guys bounced back after a tough loss last week,” coach Jay Civetti said. “That’s probably the hardest road game out there, just because it’s a long day to drive out there. It’s three [hours] and change … longer than any other day trip we have.” Tufts held Williams to its second lowest point total of the season, well below its 27 points per game average entering the contest. Though the Jumbos were also held below their per game scoring average, the offense’s three touchdowns — along with a safety — were more than enough to dispatch the Ephs. Tufts received the ball up one possession, 21–13, with 6:06 remaining in regulation. In order to burn up some time, the Jumbos put the ball on the ground with sophomore running back Jay Tyler. At 205 pounds and 6 feet 1 inch, Tyler is the largest running back on Tufts’ roster. Despite Williams expecting the run, Tyler still picked up nine yards on his first two carries for a first down. At about midfield on a third-and-5 with just under four minutes to go, Tufts’ drive appeared to be stuck in neutral. Enter senior wide receiver Jack Dolan, whose 36 receptions for 450 yards and five touchdowns are all team-highs. Dolan found open space between two Williams players, and junior quarterback Ryan McDonald delivered the ball right to Dolan’s chest for a 25-yard gain. Having already burned two of its timeouts, Williams desperately needed a stop. However, McDonald used his legs to pick up a first down and later scramble in the backfield until the clock read triple zeroes. Down 21–7 in the fourth quarter, Williams needed a touchdown to come within striking distance of Tufts. Sophomore linebacker Kyle Horihan earned the Ephs a chance to score along with excellent field position when he dropped into coverage and picked off McDonald with just under 10 minutes to play. Feeling the time pressure, Williams leaned on the arm of first-year quarterback Bobby Maimaron for seven straight plays. Maimaron
completed the first four passes but wound up with a fourth-and-2 situation on Tufts’ 21-yard line. First-year tight end Justin Burke had not caught a pass all day, but he picked the perfect moment for Williams, as he found space for a 16-yard reception, setting his team up with a first-and-goal situation. First-year running back TJ Dozier was stuffed twice by Tufts’ dominant defensive line, but on third down a penalty against Tufts gifted Williams a new set of downs. Again, the Jumbos stuffed the Ephs at the goal line on two consecutive runs. It was on the Eph’s sixth goal-line try that Dozier punched in the touchdown. First-year placekicker Min Kyu Park couldn’t convert the extra point, so Williams settled in down 21–13. With 2:42 to go in the third period, Tufts started its final touchdown drive of the game. Lasting just over a minute, the drive only took three plays. McDonald found junior wide receiver Spenser Clouse on back-to-back plays for 21 and 10 yards, respectively. To finish the series, Tyler broke off the longest run of his career, 26 yards, and scored his second career touchdown. First-year placekicker Matthew Alswanger failed to convert the extra point. “We were down by injury to our fourth tailback, which Jay [Tyler] currently is,” Civetti said. “Dom Borelli’s been out for quite a while. Mike Pedrini and [Andrew] Sanders both stepped in there and they were both injured in the game. So Jay [Tyler], who’s been steadily right in the mix, we were confidently excited to be able to put him in the game.” With a roster of approximately 90 players, it’s rare for some players to see playing time during their underclassmen seasons. However, Tyler was prepared to step up this weekend. “[We’re] certainly lucky to be able to have that group of guys where you can put in a kid who hasn’t carried the ball all season … in a high-stress situation and to be able to put a game like that away,” Civetti added. “I was really proud of him and happy for him. Like I told him when he scored, ‘I’m probably the only one on the field who’s not surprised.’” Tyler credited his teammates for helping him get into the end zone. “The [offensive] line did a great job blocking,” Tyler said. “I made the right read and just cut straight up the seam and got in. I didn’t really do anything extra on that. Credit that one to the [offensive] line.” Earlier in the third quarter, senior defensive lineman Micah Adickes sacked Maimaron, backing Williams up to its own 1-yard line on fourth down. Williams punt-
ed, but the punt appeared to be tipped and Dolan was able to return it back to Williams’ 29-yard line. Thanks in large part to a McDonald scramble for 18 yards, Tufts made it all the way to Williams’ 1-yard line. The Jumbos couldn’t get across the line, though, and turned the ball over on downs. Dozier rushed for a 1-yard loss, as sophomore linebacker Greg Holt took him down for an apparent safety, but the referees ruled Dozier down at the one. On the next play a holding penalty against Williams in the end zone produced the same effect, with Tufts tacking on two, 15–7, with a safety. Each team started the game with four consecutive scoreless possessions, nearly coming to halftime locked in a 0–0 tie. But with just under four minutes to go, Tufts opened the floodgates. Tufts lined up at midfield and McDonald threw a quick slant to Dolan. The professional playmaker’s afterthe-catch prowess was on full display against the Ephs, as Dolan simply refused to go down. A human pinball, Dolan bounced off two would-be tacklers before a third Eph hitting him from behind propelled him into the end zone. The catch and run burned up 59 yards of field and put Tufts on the board 7–0 after Alswanger’s extra point conversion. “He got propelled forward by one of their players and just shot out of a cannon,” Civetti said. Williams answered right back with a threeplay touchdown drive of its own on the ensuing possession. The biggest play was a pass to first-year wide receiver Frank Stola that went for 42 yards. Maimaron finished the drive by connecting with Horihan for a 13-yard touchdown, and Kyu Park’s kick sailed through the uprights, tying the game at 7–7. The Jumbos got the ball back with 2:22 left in the half, and a 27-yard connection between McDonald and Dolan, followed by a 14-yard strike to junior wide receiver Frank Roche, set up a first and goal for Tufts. McDonald ran the ball to the 2-yard line and first-year running back Mike Pedrini broke the plane to earn Tufts the lead. A botched snap bounced behind Alswanger, who quickly recovered the ball and threw a pass into the end zone that fell incomplete, saving a potential Williams recover and two-point conversion. Though Tufts never trailed in the contest, for most of the game Williams was within striking distance and the teams were dead even until the end of the second quarter. Last year the Ephs went 0–8, so their 4–2 start to this season is a vast improvement. Williams’
last four-win season was in 2012, when it went 4–4. Tufts has owned the matchup recently, as the last time Williams emerged victorious was in 2013 in the midst of Tufts’ own 0–8 season. Dolan broke 100 yards receiving and Roche paced the Jumbos with seven catches. Tufts’ defensive line generated pressure on Maimaron all game, sacking him four times. Tufts has sacked the opposing quarterback at least four times in five out of six games this season. Adickes earned two sacks against Williams and is second in the NESCAC with 6.5 on the season. The trio of Adickes, fellow senior defensive linemen Zach Thomas and quad-captain Doug Harrison combine for 15.5 sacks on the season. That is more than six of the 10 NESCAC teams. “What really matters for the [defensive] line is that right now through six games we have 25 sacks,” Adickes said. “It’s such a unitbased thing. On both of my sacks, the other defensive end, Zach Thomas, was right there pushing [the quarterback] into me. I do the same thing for him. The guys on the inside are always holding up, Doug [Harrison] and Nmesoma [Nwafor] are strong. It’s totally a group effort, I’m not just saying that.” Maimaron was reigning NESCAC Co-Offensive Player of the Week last week after leading the Ephs 80 yards down the field with just over two minutes left for a come from behind win against Middlebury. This week, McDonald earned NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week honors for his career-high 336 passing yards, and for helping to engineer three touchdown drives in the victory. Tufts hosts Amherst (5–1) on Saturday in a game that could potentially determine which team finishes above the other in the standings. Tufts must look to contain the league’s second best offense, 33.3 points per game, led by a potent rushing attack that has scored 14 touchdowns and averages almost 200 yards per game. On the other side of the ball, Tufts will have to find a way around Amherst’s league-best run defense that has allowed only 72.3 yards per game — the only team giving up fewer than 100 yards per game on the ground. “They’re probably one of the best teams in the league,” Civetti said. “If you look at them statistically they might be the best team in the league. They’re fantastic on defense, they’re scary on offense, and they’re as well coached in this league as you’re going to find. [Coach] E.J. Mills and his staff are phenomenal. So we’ve got our hands full this weekend.”