SPORTS BOOK REVIEW
Students develop interests, new majors see FEATURES / PAGE 3
It would behoove you to read the G.O.A.T.’s book
Guadagnino stuns with desirable film see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 6
SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE
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VOLUME LXXIV, ISSUE 57
tuftsdaily.com
Monday, December 4, 2017
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
Tufts students, administration meet with aldermen regarding housing expansion by Emma Steiner News Editor
Tufts Housing League (THL), Tufts Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel and Tufts Director of Real Estate Robert Chihade met with Alderman Mark Niedergang and Alderman Katjana Ballantyne, members of the Committee on Housing and Community Development for Somerville, on Nov. 29 to review Tufts plans to expand student housing into the surrounding neighborhoods. The meeting constituted a follow-up to a meeting previously held in December 2015 in which Rubel and Chihade originally presented Tufts plans, Rubel said in the meeting. Since this time, Tufts plans for expanding housing have not changed, she said. This meeting was called by Ballantyne who was concerned that Tufts was beginning to make progress on the project without communicating with the city, she said in the meeting. Ballantyne complained of a lack of transparency from the university in their process during the meeting, saying that she had originally heard about the expansion of student housing into the surrounding communities from a Daily article about the Capen Village project. “We are constantly reacting to news,” she said. Rubel assured Ballantyne that no changes had been made thus far in Somerville, though Tufts is moving forward on creating student apartments in Medford. Tufts’ current plans for expanding student housing involve the conversion of wood frame houses already owned by Walnut Hill Properties, a Tufts-owned corporation which manages its real estate, into student housing, Chihade said. The university will not be purchasing any more properties unless an owner comes forward with an offer to sell, Rubel wrote in a June letter to the Aldermen. The current occupants of these properties are either Tufts offices or Tufts faculty, Chihade said. Chihade recognized that this project would cause the displacement of the Tufts faculty currently living in these properties. The university promises to pay for any moving expenses, as well as a onetime premium payment based on how long the faculty has lived there. The university also presents the opportunity for faculty to move to any other available Walnut Hill property and to stay there for the rest of their affiliation with Tufts, Chihade said. “[It is] an opportunity which few people have in a lifetime,” Chihade said.
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COURTESY SHANE WOOLLEY
Members of Tufts Housing League (THL) meet with Alderman Ballantyne (second left), member of the Committee on Housing and Community Development for Somerville, to discuss student housing issues. According to Chihade, creating new housing for students has become a priority for the Tufts administration, which hopes to expand housing by 600 beds over the next five years. Chihade mentioned that the project is extremely ambitious as Tufts has not built new housing since 2006 when Sophia Gordon Hall was completed. Prior to that, Tufts had not added new housing options since South Hall, renamed Harleston Hall, in the early ‘90s, Chihade said. New student housing is also a priority for the two host cities and Tufts students, junior Nathan Krinsky, president of the Tufts Progressive Alliance (TPA), said. THL, a side-project of the TPA, is taking the initiative on amplifying student voices in this issue. Krinsky said the lack of on-campus housing causes a host of problems. First, Tufts students frequently must deal with manipulative landlords who are seeking to raise rents on low-quality apartments. Second, Krinsky noted that landlords often sell units to groups larger than the host cities allow, which can be unsafe for the students; Medford allows only three unrelated individuals per unit and Somerville allows only four, according to the Tufts Off-Campus Housing Resources webpage. Finally, students moving into the surrounding areas raise rents for those living in the cities and leads to gentrification, Krinsky said. Krinsky said it’s important to act on these issues now before the problem gets worse.
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“When we are talking about displacement, talking about rising rents, it’s a problem now, but five to 10 years down the line when the Green Line Extension comes, it is going to be a really big problem,” he said. However, THL is not supporting the village model being proposed by Tufts, junior Shane Woolley, a member of THL, said. In concern for sustainability and displacement, THL would be more supportive of building a new dorm building. “The problem that we have with the idea of the village model, [is that] this Capen Village project is only going to add about 145 or 150 beds, but we have a unit shortage of 2,000 beds,” Woolley said. “There are about 5,300 undergrads and about 3,300 beds. This is not a sustainable way to fix that problem.” Woolley mentioned that the village model would displace faculty and stuff currently living in houses that will be converted to dorms, pushing residents to other parts of Somerville. Woolley said a new dorm could solve these issues of displacement and rising rent, while also helping ease the stress of looking for off-campus housing. “It’s a real position to be in, especially if you are low income and you are looking for housing off campus,” Woolley said. “There is a huge rush at the beginning to get the housing that is close to campus and also cheap… It puts people in situations that aren’t necessarily safe, like having four people in a three-person apartment, which is more common than the Tufts administration and the city would like to acknowledge.”
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Woolley also mentioned that peer institutions like Brown University guarantee housing all four years. Ballantyne also expressed strong feelings against the project, for several reasons. She voiced monetary concerns, like the potential loss of tax revenue if Tufts stopped paying income tax on the properties it converted into dorms. Ballantyne also said the Tufts expansion could “decimate the quality of our neighborhoods” by creating “dead zones” during the winter and summer breaks, affecting the quality of life of the neighbors. Chihade said that Tufts would be willing to sign a contract committing to continued payment of property taxes to alleviate this issue. The issue of insufficient housing is increasingly urgent since Tufts seems to be consistently increasing class size each year, meaning that more and more students will be needing to move into the surrounding areas, Jim Bryde, a Somerville community member who spoke at the meeting, said. This would mean that even if Tufts adds around 500 beds by building housing in the surrounding area, it will not constitute a significant net gain of housing or diminish the amount of students who need to seek housing in the surrounding communities, Bryde said. Woolley and Ballantyne expressed their support for the construction of a dorm within the university zone of the city. According to Rubel the boundaries of the housing expansion project would be a small see OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING, page 2
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, December 4, 2017
THE TUFTS DAILY Gil Jacobson Editor-in-Chief
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tuftsdaily.com
TCU Senate shares updates, hears funding requests by Seohyun Shim News Editor
The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate met last night in the Sophia Gordon Multipurpose Room to share updates on ongoing Senate-led initiatives and to hear funding requests and one appeal. TCU President Benya Kraus started the meeting, sharing with the body that the university has recently hired Matt Callahan to assume the role of assistant director of recreation and club sports, a position that is new to the university. Kraus, a senior, then announced that the university will implement a council for club sports organizations that will play a similar role as Allocations Board (ALBO) for organizations under the TCU Senate umbrella. Kraus also mentioned that the next regular Senate meeting on Dec. 10 will be the last session of the semester. At that meeting, Kraus will give a State of the TCU address, TCU Treasurer and junior Emily Sim will deliver a State of the Treasury address and Diversity & Community Affairs (DCA) Officer and sophomore Shannon Lee will give a State of the DCA address. TCU Vice President Anna Del Castillo took the floor to announce that there will be an internal election on Dec. 10 to elect the new chair for the Services Committee, as the current chair, Class of 2019 Senator Malachy Donovan, will be going abroad next semester. Then Del Castillo, a senior, opened the floor for the committee chairs to share announcements. Donovan announced that the Senate will be hosting late night study in Carmichael Dining Center as it has in previous years and encouraged the senators to sign up for shifts. Rebeca Becdach, Class of 2021 senator and a Services Committee member, shared with the body that she has been working with Jake Taber, a clean energy fellow at Environment America, to petition the university to use only renewable energy by the year 2050.
Administration & Policy Committee Chair and Class of 2018 Senator Jamie Neikrie encouraged the body to attend the upcoming Budget Transparency Town Hall on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in Alumnae Lounge. Outreach Committee Chair and Asian American Community Senator Charlie Zhen also stressed the importance of this event and said that it will be an opportunity for students to have their questions answered regarding tuition hikes and the rising administrative cost. Zhen, a junior, then announced that there is an opening in the Elections Commission (ECOM) and that the applications are due on Dec. 8. While there were no significant updates from the Education Committee, committee chair Phil Miller, a sophomore, encouraged the senators to volunteer for the TCU Senate Textbook Exchange program. After the committee updates, Kraus briefly took the floor to announce that a floor plan with a single-stalled gender-neutral bathroom in the Mayer Campus Center will be submitted to an architecture firm. Kraus added that the university will also soon submit floor plans with gender-neutral bathrooms in Carmichael Hall and Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center. She explained that construction for these bathrooms will begin by the spring 2018 semester. Then the floor went toTCU Parliamentarian Adam Rapfogel, a junior, who announced that the body will discuss bylaw changes in the next meeting. Rapfogel explained that the proposed bylaw change will entail reverting the Culture, Ethnicity, and Community Affairs (CECA) Committee back to a standing committee with a weekly meeting and mandatory attendance policy. TCU Senate then heard five funding requests and a funding appeal from Tufts Republicans. Tufts Republicans came to appeal ALBO’s denial of a $3,330 request for their trip to the Conservative Political Action Conference in the Washington, D.C. area from Feb. 21 to 24. ALBO recommended to provide $2,840 in funding, which covers the cost of the trip for six people. Emma Phillips, a Class of 2019
senator, explained that she had voted for $2,840 in an initial ALBO vote, as the Treasury Procedure Manual (TPM) limits funding for non-competition groups at six people. She cited a recent funding request from Tufts oSTEM, for which ALBO also only recommended funding for six people. Associate Treasurer Finn McGarghan, a sophomore, agreed with Phillips, noting that he also recommended to provide funding for six people, based on the TPM and precedents. Robert Whitehead, vice president of Tufts Republicans, argued that this trip carries significant educational benefit and possible networking opportunities for the attendees. Whitehead, a sophomore, also suggested that the organization won’t ask for another funding request for a trip until the end of the academic year, should the Senate choose the fund the trip for eight people. Sim said while the body appreciates the gesture, Tufts Republicans are within their rights to ask for another funding request for a trip whether they receive funding for six people or eight people. The appeal went into a debate phase after a roughly 10-minute question-and-answer session. Several senators favored providing more funding. Neikrie, for example, said that he finds Tufts Republicans’ request reasonable and that he feels comfortable providing funding for eight people. The body then voted to match the initial ALBO recommendation of $2,840, with 17 in favor and nine opposed. Next, the body voted to match ALBO’s initial recommendations for following groups: $1,065 in funding to Tufts Bikes for its maintenance cost for biking equipment, $329 to ENVY Tufts for its trip to compete at Princeton, $720 to Tufts Pulse to travel to a competition in Pittsburgh, Pa., $2,690 to Garba (TASA) for its travel to a competition and $485 to the Korean Students Association (KSA) for its winter formal in Curtis Hall on Dec. 8. The meeting then entered a closed session before adjourning.
City officials and THL express support for new dorm instead of wood frame houses OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
continued from page 1 area of two square blocks immediately adjacent to campus and to the university zone. The boundaries are Professors Row to the north, Packard Avenue to the east, Whitfield Road to the south and Curtis Street to the west, she said. Chihade said that with Tufts’ current budget for housing, a dorm is not a feasible project.
“There is an issue with Tufts not providing housing for its students,” Chihade said. “We are trying to address the student housing issue. With the same budget to build a dorm there would be far fewer beds. We are trying to be discreet and use existing assets.” Rubel echoed this sentiment. “We cannot afford to build a large dormitory on campus yet,” she said. “That
would be several years in the future. Do we do nothing until then?” Rubel projected that construction in Somerville would not begin until at least a year from now, at which time the project would need to be approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals in Somerville to convert the houses into student living.
EVENTS ON THE HILL: WEEK OF DEC. 4 MONDAY President of the Republic of Croatia Details: Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović will give the Charles Francis Adams Lecture at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. Where and When: ASEAN Auditorium; 5 p.m. TUESDAY “Statehouse Strategy: Finding Common Ground for the Commonwealth” Details: Massachusetts Senate President Stan Rosenberg and House Speaker Robert DeLeo will be speaking at a Civic Life Lunch sponsored by the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. Where and When: Rabb Room, Tisch College; 12 p.m. “Budget Transparency Town Hall” Details: Students will be able to ask questions about tuition increases, budget changes and the Schools of Arts & Sciences
and Engineering deficit to members of the administration — including President Anthony Monaco, Provost David Harris, Dean of Arts & Sciences James Glaser and Executive Vice President Patricia Campbell. The event is sponsored by Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate and Tufts Student Action. Where and When: Alumnae Lounge; 5 p.m. WEDNESDAY “Indigenous Journalism: After Standing Rock” Details: Tristan Ahtone, an award-winning journalist who has reported for several national news organization and a member of the Kiowa Tribe, will speak about the growing practice of indigenous journalism and how the media can better cover indigenous communities. The event is part of the Indigenous Speakers Series and is co-sponsored by Indigenous
People’s Day at Tufts and the Media Advisory Board. Where and When: Crane Room, Paige Hall; 7 p.m. THURSDAY “Medford/Somerville Rent and Housing Affordability Panel” Details: Tufts Democrats and the Tufts Progressive Alliance are hosting a panel on gentrification in Somerville and Medford and the impact of the Tufts community on rising rents. The panelists are lecturer in the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning Laurie Goldman, Somerville Alderman at Large-elect Stephanie Hirsch and Ben Echevarría, executive director of The Welcome Project, an organization which seeks to empower immigrants in Somerville. Where and When: Braker Hall 001; 8 p.m. - CATHERINE PERLOFF
Monday, December 4, 2017
Features
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Interdisciplinary studies reflects new academic interests and innovative collaborations by Derek Castle
Contributing Writer
While the interdisciplinary studies (IS) major offers students the freedom to combine disciplines to fit their interests and cross normative academic boundaries, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies works with students to help design and promote their individualized major post-graduation — a unique challenge to IS majors that comes with its own advantages. Dean of Undergraduate Studies Carmen Lowe talked about how the IS major became what it is today. “[The major] used to be called the plan of study major because you had to create your own plan of study,” Lowe said. “This was before there was an interdisciplinary studies center, so the major was homeless.” According to Lowe, the major was overseen by a faculty committee known as the curriculum committee. Students could propose their majors and this committee would evaluate them for approval or rejection. Today, students meet with an advisory committee to help create the proposals, which are then submitted to the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies (CIS) faculty committee for review, according to the CIS website. Before Tufts had women’s, gender and sexuality studies or other common interdisciplinary majors, the
EVAN SAYLES / THE TUFTS DAILY
Julie Dobrow, director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, poses for a portrait outside her office on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Interdisciplinary Studies (IS) major fulfilled the existing student demand. “A lot of existing majors we have now did not exist back then, so students could propose their own major as long as the curriculum could support it,” Lowe said. “A lot of a lot of people back then were doing things like women’s studies or environmental studies.”
The IS major still exists as a way to bring new disciplines not yet established at Tufts. Senior Matthew Merritt Smith will graduate with an IS major about data science and public policy, as Tufts develops its data science major. Additionally, Senior Palak Khanna’s IS major on South Asian studies creates a major that does not exist at Tufts.
Julie Dobrow, the director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, described the IS major as an opportunity for students whose interests cross disciplinary boundaries to create their own major by combining classes from three or more departments or programs.
CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS LECTURE
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović President of the Republic of Croatia A Multidimensional Approach in Croatia's Foreign Policy December 4th at 5:00 PM | ASEAN Auditorium
Kolinda Grabar-Kitarović was elected Croatia’s first female, post-independence head of state in January 2015. Under her leadership, Croatian foreign policy has been concerned with such issues as the European migrant crisis, reaffirming good relations with Iran, expressing support for the territorail integrity of Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, climate change and global warming, and the Three Seas Initiative (the twelve EU nations that border the Adriatic, the Baltic, or the Black Sea). Prior to her election to the Presidency, Grabar-Kitarović served for three years as NATO Assistant Secretary General for Public Diplomacy where she was the first female Assistant Secretary General in NATO’s history and the highest ranking woman in NATO. From 1993—2008, Grabar-Kitarović served in the Croatian Ministry of Foreign Affairs where her positions included Minister for European Integration (2003-05), the first female Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration (2005-08) where her mandate was to lead Croatia on the road to Euro-Atlantic integration (NATO membership and EU accession), and Ambassador to the United States (2008-11). President Grabar-Kitarović earned her first degree in English and Spanish languages and literature at University of Zagreb, pursued further study at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, and earned a Masters in International Relations at the University of Zagreb. She has been a Fulbright Scholar in international relations and security policy at The George Washington University and a Lukšić scholar for management training in high-level government structures at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. In 2017, Forbes magazine listed her as the world’s 39th most powerful woman. President Grabar-Kitarović speaks Croatian, English, Spanish, and Portuguese fluently. Register Here
see MAJORS, page 5
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Students look to apply interdisciplinary studies to job fields MAJORS
continued from page 3 Any combination of programs can be connected as long as there is a cohesive direction the student has intended. “Students have to write a narrative in which they explain what the rationale for the major is, why it’s something that couldn’t be easily accomplished by the usual major/minor or double major configuration and why what they’re proposing is truly interdisciplinary,” Dobrow told the Daily in an email. “They have to get three faculty members who commit to being advisors. They have to have some idea of what kind of capstone project they might do, even though we know that the ideas for this will change over the next couple of years. And they have to put together a list of courses.” Some recent capstone projects, according to the Interdisciplinary Studies website, include: “Exploring the Selfie Phenomenon: Identity Representation in Middle School Female Students,” “Changing the Channel on Climate Change: How Televisual Media Can Be Used to Teach Children about Climate Change” and “Video Game Soundtracks.” Dobrow also had some insight from previous IS majors. She mentioned a student who created a “Bio-Dramatics” major that combined biology, theater and philosophy. “His capstone project was an original play he wrote, cast and directed about a controversial issue in biology. After the play, he brought in a panel of scientists to do a talk-back with the audience,” she said. Smith talked about why he chose to pursue an IS major of data science and public policy. “I knew that it’s exactly what I want to do, and I didn’t want to wait until graduate school to pursue it. What
drives me is helping people to the greatest extent that I can, using my unique talents and interests,” Smith said. “The intersection of all those things is using quantitative, technical approaches to public policy to make biases known, and hopefully eliminate them, and make policy that helps more than it hurts.” Khanna wrote in an email about her experience with the IS major. Her South Asian studies major involves history, community health and women’s, gender and sexuality studies courses, as well as a few religion and anthropology classes. “Interacting with faculty across multiple departments in Tufts undergrad, and taking courses drawing from a pool of departments has encouraged this intersectional approach to my graduate interests,” Khanna said. “My [South Asian studies major] has also invited me to think more critically of India’s hegemony within the South Asian frame, especially in the American gaze (also largely Hindu, north-Indian, Hindi centered frame), and encouraged me to engage in critical studies of other regions, religions, cultures, and people within India and other nations within South Asia.” Khanna intends to continue her studies at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy post-graduation. When it comes to graduate schools, Dobrow recognizes that an IS major can seem intimidating to talk about with potential graduate schools or employers. There are no other students that will have your background or experience. This is something that may help you in the long run, if you know how to approach it. “I think that doing an interdisciplinary major shows prospective employers or graduate programs that a student can do original work [that shows] they
are self-motivated, organized and creative — all skills you want to have in a potential employee or graduate student,” Dobrow said. Dobrow also said that the Career Center, in conjunction with the IS department, is actively supporting students in the major. She mentioned her work with Director of Career Development Donna Esposito on a student workshop about how to market your major. “Students have to learn how to speak about an interdisciplinary major in language that will resonate with others outside of Tufts; they have to learn how to give their ‘elevator pitch’ about it,” Dobrow said. Merritt Smith said that his IS major changed the way that he looked at his career opportunities. “It has caused me to reach out into the community of like-minded people interested in the same field much more than I otherwise would have, and opened up doors,” he said. “In a sense, there are fewer doors because not everyone understands what I do and how I add value, but I am a far better fit for those few than I otherwise would have been.” After going through the process of creating her IS major, Khanna encouraged those who are contemplating an IS major to speak with the program staff and current students about their ideas. “I would encourage future IS majors to reach out to the IS department even if their thoughts on their interdisciplinary interests are not yet well-developed. As intimidating as the process may seem, the IS department is very understanding and seeking to support interested students,” she said. “There are also many students in the IS program who I know would be happy to give advice, peer review, bounce ideas, and provide moral support.”
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Henry Stevens The Weekly Chirp
Birds and climate
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nyone living in the general New England area can tell you that this fall has been outrageously warm — a trend that we have been seeing (and feeling) for all seasons over the past decade. While climate change denial clouds the concentration of cocky conservatives in Congress, temperatures in the United States keep breaking records. Weather events are becoming more catastrophic. It’s December, and it hit 56 degrees last week — that’s not normal, and if you think it is, you’re wrong. These super warm temperatures may feel pretty nice compared to the usual below-freezing, gray, winter days that we’re used to, but don’t be fooled. Humaninduced climate change is single-handedly wrecking the world in the least conspicuous way possible and, among a suite of other detriments, is messing with birds. People with bird feeders in their backyards have noticed something rather odd this fall — well, actually, it’s the lack of what they’ve noticed that is noticeable. Their avian feeding stations that normally thrive with bird life (especially once the winter months arrive) have been relatively barren. Seeds of all shapes and sizes huddle together in the pits of feeders untouched and freezing, with only the occasional chickadee or cardinal visiting infrequently throughout the weeks to snatch one away. As a result, one question currently occupies the minds of bird feeder owners throughout the temperate region: Where are the birds? That’s a good question, and the answer is complicated. One factor playing into the apparent lack of avian diversity this fall is that, due to favorable temperatures, birds have no need to visit feeders to obtain sustenance. Berries and cones, ornate trees and bushes not covered by snow welcome hungry beaks from all directions. Weird fall temperatures have also confused many migratory species that rely on climatic cues to determine when it’s time to migrate. Yellow-throated Warblers and White-eyed Vireos are two examples of these migratory species, which just recently left their breeding grounds in Canada due to temperature inconsistencies and are now appearing along coastal forests, much to the joy of birders. Many birders keep track of the latest dates at which they’ve seen a particular migratory species, and these record dates are being broken across the board — a Yellowthroated Warbler currently hanging out along coastal N.H. marks the latest date any N.H. birder has seen this species before, and there are plenty of other migratory species causing the same commotion. Another factor at play here is simply the overall decline of migratory bird populations over the past couple of decades. Climate alterations and a reduction in breeding and overwintering habitats have drastically increased the peril associated with the life histories of migratory species, as these changes have made breeding, migrating and surviving monumentally more challenging. We see fewer birds because there are fewer birds. It doesn’t have to stay this way, however. We have the power to exacerbate climate change, we also have the power to end it. You can help prevent climate change in so many ways, from biking to work instead of driving, to eating chicken instead of red meat. Let’s be the generation that makes the step. Love, 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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Tisch Library
t could be argued that an hour-anda-half-long wait is not worth it for five minutes of laser tag. But that argument would be both misguided and erroneous. Although the blaring music, the flashing lights and the occasional sniper attacks were riveting aspects of the night, there were more factors to consider. Dec. 1 marked the fortnight before the start of finals, but this was not a deterrent for the crowds of people wrapped around the Tisch Library entrance. Perhaps as a first-semester student, I am naïve enough to think that now is an appropriate time to start hitting the books. In keeping with that vein, there was a certain charm to the escapist reality of those showing up at the library, for the first time, not to study, but to unwind. Instead of entangling in a GPA face-off, people instead compared their scores on the laser tag guns to see who’s better at avoiding enemy fire. The complex rules that governed chemical reactions, algebraic theorems and conjugation charts were all temporarily forgotten. The game that took place within the rearranged, open floor plan of the library was one that existed for the sole purpose of blowing off steam. Ducking behind inflatable shields and somehow still feeling the vibration of the gun signaling that you have been shot was a far more freeing stress than the one felt while studying. The most anxiety felt that night existed not as one attempted to approach a seemingly impossible problem set, but when the steady red dot fixated on your chest plate, and the ominous buzz of a tagged gun was just seconds away. Taking a step back, the most remarkable part of the night might not have even come from within the chair-laced boundary of the war zone, or even the confines of the no man’s land. Although standing in line was not as exhilarating, and scarfing down pizza did not elicit an adrenaline rush, there was an overall element of unadvertised glamour. While the Snapchat geofilter was spiffy and the redesign of the library was inviting, it was the constant chatter of relaxed students that gave the night its vibe. Conversations that ranged from attempting to name the potted cacti being given away at the Campus Center to debates with strangers about the potentially feminist Sauron exude different yet equally potent relief as those about a semester’s worth of experiences and life lessons. During finals season, when an exam grade feels like a determinant for the rest of your life, it is crucial to remember that the most beautiful parts of living are not accompanied by a scantron and a No. 2 pencil. Rather, they are about the moments of laughing with your friends and realizing that Sauron may in fact have been a feminist, or that Igor and Ivan are in fact fantastic names for cacti. That being said, happy finals week, Tufts. You’ve had your fun: now it’s time to hit the books once again. 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.
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Monday, December 4, 2017
MOVIE REVIEW
‘Call Me By Your Name’ is a tender, sensual tale of desire by Eran Sabaner Arts Editor
Book-to-movie adaptations are more often than not underwhelming. There’s always the question of remaining “faithful” to the source, and runtime is another issue. Perhaps the biggest limitation is translating literary language into something visual. In the case of André Aciman’s “Call Me By Your Name” (2007) this is particularly true, as the novel’s strongest feature is its lead character Elio’s narration: the way he describes falling in love and feeling desire heightens the central romance in the book. Impressively, the movie adaptation has the same effect using visual language. With careful direction, strong performances and smart choices regarding the script, the movie triumphs over expectations and delivers one of the most tender moments in film history. Set in the Italian countryside in the summer of 1983, the movie centers on Elio (Timothée Chalamet), a dreamy, intelligent 17-year-old. Elio’s father, played by Mark Stuhlbarg, is a professor of archaeology and each summer the family hosts graduate students for academic mentorship. Enter Oliver (Armie Hammer), a confident American who Elio’s mom refers to as “movie star.” Elio and Oliver start off as friends, but their friendship takes a turn and Elio is soon head over heels in love with Oliver, which also marks Elio’s sexual awakening. Elio’s
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Armie Hammer (right) and Timothée Chalamet (left) from “Call Me by Your Name,” a drama/ romance film, are shown. perception of Oliver in the first half of the movie is difficult to follow, as his feelings shift quickly from indifference to interest to desire and later love. Chalamet’s eyes and gestures guide the audience throughout these changes. Without any words, the audience is able to understand what Elio is feeling each time he interacts with Oliver. The movie’s second half focuses on Elio’s romance with Oliver. Director Luca Guadagnino stated that the movie is the last entry of his “desire” trilogy, and the second half hits the mark addressing desire in the purest way possible. Sensual and compassionate, Elio and Oliver’s
relationship is beautiful and inspiring to watch. The story’s charm derives from how quickly Elio and Oliver’s relationship evolves, but despite the swiftness they still manage to be convincing. The movie is as sexual as its source material, but sex is used as a way to investigate the couple’s relationship rather than a filler plot device. In many ways, the infamous peach scene defines Elio and Oliver’s relationship and their devotion to each other. Visually, Guadagnino’s shots display the male body and sexuality in the most stunning way possible, which compliments the sensual atmosee DESIRE, page 7
TV RECAP
Predictable plot twists, destructive decisions plague Chapter 20 of ‘Riverdale’
COURTESY TV OVERMIND
The poster of Riverdale Season 2, a teen drama on The CW based on the characters from ‘Archie Comics.’ by Alison Epstein Arts Editor
It had been a long two weeks since we last saw the “Riverdale” (2017–) gang in action, and this reviewer was more than ready for the return of some classic Riverdale shenanigans. Unfortunately, the majority of last week’s episode was a huge letdown. In a change from the typical format, this week was split into three different plot lines over the same two days. It all begins with a letter from the Black Hood, which details that the next 48 hours
will serve as a test for the people of Riverdale to prove they’re good of heart and no longer in need of the Black Hood’s punishments. In theory, having three different segments following different characters is a good idea, but it would’ve required plot twists that weren’t completely predictable. Only one segment, the one with Josie and (surprise) Cheryl, was even remotely compelling. And as usual, throughout the hour, all the characters made just absolutely awful, self-destructive decisions, making “Chapter 20: Tales From the Darkside” an incredibly frustrating viewing experience.
Archie & Jughead Poor Archie is still getting dragged into everyone else’s messes. This week, he has to help out Jughead, who has just met with Penny Peabody, after she called him to say she’s ready to cash in the favor he owes her. Mistake number one. Jughead, your dad specifically told you that she was bad news and not to meet with her again, so what are you doing? At their meeting, Penny informs Jug that because of the drag race fiasco, his dad was beaten up pretty badly by some Ghoulies and therefore needs to get out of jail before something worse happens. In order to get him out, they need cash, but since Jughead only has $18, Penny suggests a different arrangement: Jughead makes a one-time delivery of a crate of “pancake mix” to Greendale, and the money from that transaction can pay for his dad’s case. Jughead agrees to this (mistake number two). Why are you trusting this woman? Also, it seems pretty obvious that Penny is bluffing about this jail incident, something Jughead never even considers. It would have been pretty easy to pop by the jail to see whether FP is okay, but instead Jughead blindly agrees to this shady deal and enlists Archie to drive. Sure enough, it turns out Penny is bluffing, not only about FP’s supposed injuries ( Jughead finally gets around to visiting after all is said and done and discovers he had never been attacked), see RIVERDALE, page 7
arts & living
Monday, December 4, 2017 | arts & living | THE TUFTS DAILY
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Overlapping timelines make for a failed experiment on ‘Riverdale’ RIVERDALE
continued from page 6 but also about the “one-time” nature of this deal. She has footage of Archie and Jughead making the delivery, so if he backs out, she can go right to the cops. Good job, Jug, way to get yourself blackmailed. While on the delivery, Jughead also has a weird encounter with a stranger who picks him up on the side of the road when Archie’s dad’s truck breaks down. (Can someone call “Triple C”?) The man has a bloody, dead deer under a tarp, and also tries to make off with Jughead’s crate after they stop in a cafe for the stranger to indulge in some mystery meat. Stranger danger, kids. He does tell Jughead about the Riverdale Reaper, who years ago, killed an entire family in their sleep and was never caught. Could there be a connection between this guy and the Black Hood? Why anyone still lives in Riverdale is becoming increasingly unclear. Josie Next up is Josie, who surprisingly has the best storyline of the night. She’s been flying under the radar for the most part this season, but clearly someone has been noticing her, because she finds a stuffed bear in her locker with a note that reads, “I’ll be watching
you.” Casual. And in Josie’s mistake of the night, she doesn’t tell her mom (or Sheriff Keller, who always seems to be with her mom — more on that later) that she’s been threatened even when explicitly asked. She also has been staying at school late most nights rehearsing because, as a thank you for rescuing her from Nick St. Clair, Cheryl has set Josie up with a music producer she knows, although the catch is that he only wants Josie, not all three Pussycats. This leads to a classic high school bathroom catfight (yes, pun intended) between Josie and the other two Pussycats, where they ultimately decide to break up the group. As if things couldn’t get any worse, former football player/sleazeball Chuck Clayton is back and hitting on Josie, although he claims he is not the one who’s been stalking her. She smartly turns him down, but Chuck continues to show her his softer side, and ultimately Josie accepts a ride home from him after another creepy late night at school. They stop at Pop’s on the way and end up sharing a dance that’s much more suited for a frat basement than a family diner. But alas, the hormone-filled teens get broken up by Josie’s mom, Mayor McCoy, before they can kiss. The next day at school, Josie gets another gift. This time it’s a drawing of Josie that
says, “If I can’t have you no one can,” along with a pig’s heart. Cheryl accompanies Josie to confront Chuck once again, although Chuck continues to deny it. The janitor, who has been being creepy with Josie in a really unsubtle way all episode, takes Chuck away to the principal’s office. It totally is the janitor then who’s been the one stalking Josie, right? WRONG. Turns out it’s Cheryl, who we later see drawing a picture of her and Josie that’s almost identical to the one Josie had received earlier. This is the kind of twist we expect, “Riverdale.” What could Cheryl possibly be up to? Seems like she’s either framing Chuck or is in love with Josie. Madelaine Petsch did say in an interview that Cheryl would be getting an unexpected love interest this season. Betty & Veronica The final segment involves Betty once again acting like she’s the Sherlock Holmes of Riverdale, and she sets off on a mission to prove that Sheriff Keller is the Black Hood. Who else could’ve gotten into the prison to shoot the Sugar Man? Also, Kevin says his dad has been acting weird and sneaking out at night. Betty hears this and naturally assumes serial killer; Veronica hears this and naturally assumes affair. Veronica arranges a sleepover at the Kellers’ to dig up dirt, but only discov-
ers that Sheriff Keller is totally ripped (seriously, those abs), although she does catch him slipping out around 4 a.m. Betty takes a different approach, sneaking into the Keller house, only to get caught by Sheriff Keller himself. Instead of arresting her, he shows her his alibis for all the shootings. Because it’s Betty (and Betty is always borderline unhinged), she won’t back down, and she and Veronica follow Sheriff Keller to a motel in the middle of the night, where they discover him kissing Mayor McCoy. Yawn. Honestly, this was obvious from the moment Veronica suggested affair. It should be said though that these two really maybe should’ve kept it in their pants during the two days the whole town was being inspected by a serial killer for bad behavior. Apparently the teens aren’t the only ones filled with raging hormones. Okay, so obviously at the end of the 48 hours, the Black Hood calls Pop’s to inform him that no one has passed his purity test, and Pop announces to the gang, who have all ended up back at the diner, “The reckoning is upon us.” No duh. This whole town, much like this episode, kind of sucks. “Riverdale” airs on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. on The CW. Full episodes available on cwtv.com and Netflix.
Oscars contender ‘Call Me By Your Name’ translates literary into visual language DESIRE
continued from page 6 sphere. Sufjan Stevens’ music is a nice addition, although Stevens’ contemporary folk sound doesn’t really match with the books setting and period. The heart-rending music and lyrics make up for the anachronism. Although most of the conversations between characters replicate those in the
novel, there are drastic changes made between the source material and the film. The main non-English language spoken is French rather than Italian, and some minor characters and plot points such as Vinnie and the launch party in Rome are omitted. The decision to exclude these elements is a smart choice, as it allows the movie to investigate Elio’s relationship with Oliver
more. One of the admirable qualities of the movie is its simplicity, and introducing new characters and subplots would complicate the narrative. The end is significantly altered as well, which has allowed many to speculate about the potential of a sequel. Instead of the book’s original ending, which features multiple flash forward scenes, the
movie ends on much simpler terms by cutting the last 20 pages of the novel. If it weren’t for Chalamet’s heartbreaking performance, the new ending might be disappointing, but the last scene is arguably his biggest moment. As the end credits roll, the audience is still glued to the screen, unable to let go of Elio, Oliver and the beautiful Italian countryside.
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Monday, December 4, 2017 | Comics | THE TUFTS DAILY
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Comics
LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Ray: “I’m just here to ruin everything forever.”
Comics
Puzzle 1 (Easy, difficulty rating 0.41)
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Difficulty Level: Procrastinating on the two final papers due this week.
LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY
Generated by http://www.opensky.ca/sudoku on Mon Dec 4 03:00:49 2017 GMT. Enjoy!
Friday’s Solution
Sagittarius (Nov. 22–Dec. 21)
Today is an 8. A lack of funds could threaten your family plans. Collaborate to manage finances over the next few days. Heed the voice of experience. RELEASE DATE– Monday, December 4, 2017
Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle Edited by RichCROSSWORD Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
ACROSS 1 Knight’s “shining” protection 6 Elegant 10 WWII servicewomen 14 Car body style 15 Mennen shaving lotion 16 Get one’s ducks in __ 17 Devotee of singer Gloria 19 Heavy book 20 Buck or doe 21 Beluga yield 22 Viewed to be 24 Precise price 27 Mineral springs 30 Believer’s suffix 31 Five-time Wimbledon champ Björn 32 Portion out 34 “Westworld” network 35 Bon Ami alternative 39 Mata Hari story, e.g. 43 Simplicity 44 The “I” in TGIF 45 Family car 46 Disney’s “__ & Stitch” 48 Above-the-street trains 50 Chapter in history 51 Garden purchase from a Lowe’s rival 56 Truck capacity 57 Coffee order: Abbr. 58 Image to click on 62 Gadget’s rank: Abbr. 63 According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it’s 63 for retirement 66 Slugger Sammy 67 Earth orbiter 68 Wafer brand 69 Jacob or Esau 70 Choice word 71 Not reached, as a goal DOWN 1 Scored 100 on 2 Went up 3 Sound-off button 4 Wagner work 5 Striped-shirt wearer
6 Happen as expected 7 Buyer’s proposal 8 BART stop 9 Hammer or screwdriver 10 Nixon Era scandal 11 Pleasing smell 12 Tailed celestial body 13 31-Across, by birth 18 Rainbow shapes 23 Poetic “always” 25 Credit in a footnote 26 “Dancing Queen” group 27 Place for valuables 28 Not guilty, for one 29 Gift for the poor 33 Skillet for folded egg dishes 34 Growth chart nos. 36 Green stone 37 Banned apple spray 38 TV warrior princess 40 It’s often followed by .pdf 41 On the summit of
42 Old U.S. gas brand 47 Swearing-in words 48 Timeless, in verse 49 Women’s links gp. 51 Lift up 52 Televised as we speak 53 Soccer great Lionel
54 Black-and-white cookies 55 Marketing gimmick 59 Period “before the storm” 60 Look at lasciviously 61 Without ice, at the bar 64 TV loud-soft control: Abbr. 65 Bearded antelope
Friday’s SolutionPUZZLE: ANSWER TO PREVIOUS
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Monday, December 4, 2017
Opinion OP-ED
by Colin Kennedy
Be mindful of our bubble
To our average student, the idea of a Ben Shapiro event is laughable, and the face-off against the Mooch makes us proud. Democrats and liberals are a dime a dozen at Tufts, and I think it’s worth examining the consequences that emerge from this. One, it creates an environment where some peoples and minorities can feel accepted. But two, debate becomes inherently one-sided. Too often, opinions from the right, even the moderate right, are simply not put forward. We live in an exceptionally polarized country these days, and the fact that Tufts is an accepting environment for people who would be discriminated against elsewhere is a blessing. Whether you’re gay or trans, an immigrant or African-American, Tufts is full of people who don’t care about whatever stigma society tries to attach to you. This is a rare and precious thing, and we should protect it.
That being said, the other consequence of our overwhelmingly liberal student body is that we unintentionally sideline Republicans. You’re a fish out of water if you’re a Republican at Tufts, and that makes it harder for you to express your views to our community. Even if you’re just a moderate conservative, when you compare yourself to the average Tufts student, you’re a complete oddball. It’s thus much harder to engage in actual debate. The problem with not having conservative thought at Tufts is that we are creating a bubble. This bubble buffers our community from the reality of our country and our world. To some extent, this is good; it’s not like we want neo-Nazis on campus. However, by not engaging with any conservative thought, even moderate conservatism, we are simply ignoring reality. It’s not like Congress is full of Democrats, and it’s definitely not like we have a sensible liberal president. I want to stress that this is not a partisan critique of Tufts students and their views. I, for
one, identify as a pretty open-minded liberal. Instead, this is a critique of the way we are addressing the political divide in our community and our country. On Wednesday, Nov. 15, there was an event hosted by Tisch College called “Resistance & Persistence: Civil Debate in Divided Times.” The event featured Bill Kristol, a prominent Republican, and Neera Tanden, a heavyweight in liberal think tanks. The point of this event was to have constructive debate between the left and the right, something that has become increasingly rare in our country the past couple years. So, if you consider yourself liberal, the next time there is a conservative speaker at Tufts, I want you to go. If you don’t agree with him or her, awesome! Ask them some hard questions. If it’s someone like Ben Shapiro, and you really can’t stand them, make use of your First Amendment right and protest. Above all, be aware of how divided this country is and know that ignoring it doesn’t make it go away.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR The Zamboni’s most recent issue, “No One Expects the Spanish Inquisissue,” focuses on the Roman Catholic Church as its main target of satire. In doing so, the Zamboni perpetuated misconceptions of the doctrines of the Roman Catholic Church. Several pieces in the issue ridicule the Eucharist, religious life and celibacy, the authority of the pope, the birth of Christ and many of the Church’s social teachings. The cover of the journal depicts hands in prayer, holding onto a set of Rosary beads. In place of the cross stands a large “Z” for Zamboni.
As a Catholic, and a member of the Catholic Community at Tufts, I am deeply disappointed in the contributors’ choice to target a religion as the theme of their publication. The history of Christianity is a long and turbulent one. It is fully acceptable to criticize an institution for its unfair practices. The Church is constantly growing and changing to better represent the message of Christ. I hope that all of my brothers and sisters in faith, no matter their faith or lack of faith, will stand up to create an environment on campus where students from all backgrounds can flourish. I hope that we
can create, share and enjoy satire that is considerate of others. Sincerely, Jamie Tebeau Jamie.Tebeau@tufts.edu Class of 2020 “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust.” (Matthew 5: 43-46)
by Rebecca Tang 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. 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. ADVERTISING All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director.
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Nesi Altaras Looking Out
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Tax cuts
he Republicans have finally wrangled a legislative win and passed bills in the House and Senate authorizing a large tax cut and associated provisions. After multiple failures to repeal the Affordable Care Act, it was imperative that Republicans get one priority done before the end of the year. With a united Republican government potentially facing a dramatically abrupt end in 2018 from an increasingly likely blue House wave in the making, Republicans have been in desperate need of a win, something to show they haven’t just been fighting each other all year and can actually pass tangible legislation. Tax cuts were that win. From the beginning, tax cuts promised Republican unity since disagreements were not about whether to cut taxes but instead were about how much to cut them by. For the most conservative members it was as much as politically possible, while for some deficit hawks (or similar pretenders) it was about not increasing the deficit by too much. One such deficit hawk, Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN), was the only one to hold his ground and oppose the final bill in the Senate. All of the other pretend hawks, including John McCain, who was previously hailed as a liberal savior for his role in stopping Republican health care reform, ended up back in the Republican fold, while Sen. Murkowski (R-AK), who was also instrumental in defeating the Obamacare repeal, traded her vote for allowing drilling in wildlife refuges. Even Sen. Collins (R-ME), who has been a prominently moderate voice over the last year, voted for the cuts. This should not be surprising and should wake up many liberals who have been falling into the dream of incorporating moderate Republicans into their anti-Trump coalitions in the Senate and House. Congressional Republicans are bound together, not as much through social and cultural positions, but because they buy into a disproven and misguided economic doctrine prescribing ever larger tax cuts, ever smaller spending (on everything except the military). This doctrine is grounded on the incorrect myth that fully unregulated markets operate at maximum efficiency and all intervention automatically results in efficiency loss. These opinions in the Republican party are strengthened by wealthy donors looking for tax cuts on themselves and deregulation of their businesses, but it is most likely true that Republican politicians truly buy into these positions. This is revealed by Sen. Orrin Hatch’s outburst during a committee meeting he was chairing on the tax bill when he interrupted a Democrat to deny that these were “tax cuts for the rich,” which of course they are as seen by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office report that came out. So, the long term focus should be on why people, intelligent people in high places, still accept an economic outlook that has been thoroughly debunked by practice and crises, and by empirical economics research. Until we solve this puzzle, we cannot avoid future tax cuts. Nesi Altaras is a junior majoring in international relations and economics. Nesi can be reached at nesi.altaras@tufts.edu.
SPORTS
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Monday, December 4, 2017
Twelve Days of TB12 by Savannah Mastrangelo Sports Editor
If you are a football fan, odds are you have a strong opinion about New England Patriots starting quarterback Tom Brady. Many Jets fans and Colts fans hate Brady, citing the infamous incidents of “spygate” and “deflategate.” Other fan bases share this hatred for similar or different reasons. If you are from New England, Brady is most likely your hero, your G.O.A.T. or your favorite athlete of all time. Regardless of where you come from or what team you root for, some small part of you must be a little curious as to how Brady continues to succeed despite his advanced football age. At the old age of 40, Brady holds the record for the most Super Bowl wins (five), the most Super Bowl appearances (seven) and the most division titles (14). He is currently playing in his 18th season with aspirations to play well into his 40s. If he accomplishes this, he will top the current record holder for oldest quarterback to play in the NFL, Steve Deberg, who played until the age of 44. Quarterback and kicker George Blanda technically holds the record for longest NFL career, although he spent a large portion of his career as a kicker. Brady could potentially top both players to clinch the record. In his book, “The TB12 Method,” Brady shares the training and eating regimen that allows him to maintain his peak performance. He debunks many training methods in the athletic sphere and recommends his regimen to athletes and people of all levels and ages. Many rumors surrounding Brady’s neurotic methods are also confirmed or denied. Does Brady eat strawberries or other nightshades? No. Does he sleep in bioceramic pajamas that release far infrared rays? Yes. Is Tom Brady as neurotic and disciplined as people say he is? Absolutely. Here are 12 things you need to know about the TB12 Method developed by Brady and body coach and former teammate Alex Guerrero. Pliability The TB12 Method is centered on muscle pliability, which is something that is not included in most performance training routines. As defined by Brady, “pliable muscles are long, soft, and capable of full muscle pump function.” The TB12 Method focuses on “prehab” instead of “rehab,” so injury prevention is of the upmost importance: keeping muscles long and soft increases blood and lymph circulation, preventing injury. When muscles are more dense and hard, the majority of heavylifting is transferred to bones and joints which causes injury. Brady endorses pliability training, which is deep-force muscle work combined with contracting and relaxing the muscles. If your muscles are trained to be loose and stretched, you are much less likely to suffer an injury upon impact. Many athletes — especially at the professional level — cannot compete the full length of their season because of injury. If athletes are constantly struggling with injuries, how are they supposed to maintain peak performance? According to Brady, without pliability, it is not possible to have a level of performance that endures over time. Holistic and Integrative Training This one is simpler and less news-breaking. Brady outlines these 12 methods and claims they must be practiced in conjunction to be effective. Is this a marketing ploy? Maybe. Brady also emphasizes the importance of detail: every single aspect
Phillip Goldberg Bird's Eye View
Let them smoke weed
from your sleepwear to how much water you drink must be analyzed and optimized for the needs of your body.
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Balance and Moderation in All Things Again, this is a concept many are already aware of. Balance and moderation are important in everything you do, especially eating and athletic training. Conditioning for Endurance and Vitality The TB12 Method is not just for optimizing athletic performance, but also overall energy and health. If applied properly, this method could increase your overall quality of life. No-Load Strength Training Here is where it gets interesting: Brady doesn’t lift weights. Ninety percent of his training is with resistance bands. One of the greatest quarterbacks, statistically, of all time, doesn’t lift weights. Brady disagrees with many standard practices in athletic training. The typical model that athletes train with is strength and conditioning. Strength training involves weight lifting with machines, free weights and body weight. The lifting changes and increases in volume and intensity, while rest periods between repetitions decrease. Conditioning involves aerobic exercise and movements that imitate real-life motions with the purpose of elevating heart rate and breaking a sweat. Brady cites a common misconception in the athletic sphere: that when athletes get injured, it is because they are not strong enough. After rehab, they continue on with the strength and conditioning model, once again leaving out pliability and continuing to damage their bodies. This is a vicious cycle that leads to the further unbalancing of muscles and more and more injuries. Promote Anti-Inflammatory Responses in the Body Brady stresses avoiding inflammation of the mind, body and spirit. Muscle dehydration decreases muscle pliability, as inflamed muscles are less able to lengthen and soften. Dehydration, inadequate nutrition and inadequate recovery contribute to inflammation or stiff muscles. Promote Oxygen-Rich Blood Flow Younger athletes naturally have muscle pliability. It decreases as they grow older, and older athletes must work harder to maintain it. According to Brady, cell oxygenation is a key component to maintaining pliability and decreasing inflammation. How does he do this? With his pajamas. No, really. Brady and the TB12 Method team have developed a line of functional bioceramic sleepwear. Bioceramic is a material created by heating up a combination of 20 different ceramics and mineral oxides to three degrees. The material is then inserted into the sleepwear. Far infrared rays from the vibration frequency of the bioceramics penetrate the skin 1.5 inches. The infrared rays then stimulate the bones, muscles and tendons to increase cell oxygenation and muscle repair while decreasing inflammation and pain. Proper Hydration The TB12 Method also talks about the importance of hydration, something all athletes are aware of. Everyone in the athletic sphere knows how important it is to drink water. A nuance in the TB12 Method, however, is when to drink or not to drink water. The method has analyzed all aspects of digestion as well, and it claims
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In his book ‘The TB12 Method,’ the NFL athlete Tom Brady shares his training and eating regimen that allows him to maintain his peak performance. that drinking water and eating meals simultaneously is not good for optimal digestion. The recommended procedure is to drink water exactly half an hour before eating a meal and an hour afterwards. If eating and drinking simultaneously cannot be avoided, Brady suggests only drinking minimal amounts during the meal. Healthy Nutrition Again, the TB12 Method goes over more well-known nutritional practices such as eating as local as you can, eating vegetables and avoiding refined carbohydrates, dairy, salt, caffeine and alcohol. The method also has some nutritional caveats. Brady does not eat nightshades for undisclosed reasons. Nightshades are darker plants or foods including mushrooms, eggplant, potatoes and bell peppers. The method also emphasizes a balance between alkaline or anti-inflammatory foods and acidic or inflammatory foods. These foods balance pH in the body, and the ratio between these foods should be 80/20 alkaline to acidic. This aids digestion by neutralizing acids in the body. Many vegetables are alkaline while many fruits, nuts and some fish and meats are acidic. Supplementation This principle of the TB12 Method talks about supplementing your diet with proteins and vitamins. He promotes his line of TB12 protein powders, probiotics and electrolytes. Brain Exercises This principle stresses the importance of neuroplasticity and mindset. The brain must be trained as much as the muscles and body. Brady is an advocate of mental toughness, positive mindset and meditation. Meditation is important and a great way to center the mind and body. Brain Rest, Recentering, and Recovery Recovery is the final principle of the TB12 Method, where sleep and diet are emphasized again. Brady has a rigid sleep schedule, from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. In addition to his fancy pajamas, Brady sleeps with the room temperature at exactly 65 degrees Fahrenheit to promote recovery. The book also contains photos and explanations of pliability exercises, and an extensive collection of recipes. While “The TB12 Method” was written in a vernacular, conversational style with some blatant promotion of other related TB12 products, the actual method itself holds a considerable amount of useful information about overall health and performance.
here exists a painkiller, a drug, that is innocuous even in the highest dosages. Many athletes, including retired NFL player Eugene Monroe, attest to its efficacy in treating pain and improving their quality of life. Even more promising is this drug’s suspected neuro-protective capabilities, which, if factual, would present a massive leap forward in the fight against CTE and concussions. This drug is also actively prohibited, tested for and a cause of fines and suspension in all of the United States’ major sports leagues. Yes, I’m talking about marijuana. All of the major sports leagues in the United States ban marijuana with varying degrees of testing and punitive measures in place. The NBA randomly tests players for prohibited substances four times throughout the regular season, which has predictably resulted in the league’s weed enthusiasts living large in the offseason before putting the bong to rest for opening day tip-off. Punishment in the NBA results in a five-game suspension after a third positive test. A fourth (or beyond) infraction tacks on a new suspension five games longer than the prior. In the NFL, a fourth failed or missed test triggers a four-game suspension, followed by a loss of 10 games and then a full-year ban for a fifth and sixth positive. Players are tested once in the offseason and then, if they fail that test, as frequently as a medical examiner determines necessary. In baseball, minor league players are subjected to far stricter testing policies and penalties for marijuana than their major league peers. This is because the minor league players are not protected by the MLB Players Association. Minor league pitcher Phil Bickford was dealt a 50-game suspension to start the 2017 season for a second marijuana infraction. If he were to test positive twice more he would be banned from organized baseball permanently. MLB players face, at worst, escalating fines up to $35,000. Subjecting minor league players with far less job security to such a stringent policy is, at best, nonsensical. These policies are incomprehensible considering the medical benefits attributed to marijuana and the majority of Americans’ changing attitudes regarding cannabis. The Pew Research Center found in October 2016 that a majority of Americans now support legalization while only 37 percent support the continued illegality of the drug. Medical marijuana is legal in 29 states and recreational is legal in seven states plus the District of Columbia. Clearly the public is supportive, and there is possibly no group that would benefit from legalization more than athletes. Professional athletes suffer from opioid abuse as a result of years of pain management. Marijuana provides an alternative option that has demonstrated promise in treating pain, inflammation, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s. For those who worry about stoned athletes getting into vehicles, cannabidiol is a compound found in the marijuana plant that offers all the benefits of THC without the high. Laws banning marijuana are antiquated, repressive and discriminatory. Similar policies in sports leagues are no different, denying athletes access to a safe and needed treatment option and turning sports leagues into pseudo police-states. It’s time the major leagues relax. Marijuana is a great first step. 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.