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Friday, February 14, 2020
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Congresswoman Clark visits Tufts, discusses 2020 census
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Cummings Center construction on schedule despite worker injury, mixed faculty attitudes by Robert Kaplan and Anton Shenk Executive News Editor and News Editor
PATRICK MILEWSKI / THE TUFTS DAILY
U.S. House Representative Katherine Clark addresses students at an event hosted by Tufts Census Action in Cohen Auditorium on Feb. 13.
Construction remains on schedule for the Joyce Cummings Center, despite faculty’s mixed perspectives on the building design and a recent on-site injury. A worker was injured on the structure’s fourth floor when strong winds caused a piece of the structure’s decking to hit the worker on Jan. 16 at about 1:30 p.m. According to Tufts’ Interim Director of Public and Environmental Safety Chip Coletta, the incident mobilized Tufts Emergency Medical Services ( TEMS), Armstrong Ambulance, the Medford Police Department and the Medford Fire Department (MFD), in addition to the Tufts University Police Department ( TUPD). Ruth Bennett, the director of strategic capital programs who is responsible for the construction of the new academic building at the intersection of Boston Avenue and College Avenue, said that no oversights led to the accident. Bennett added that there have been no other accidents on the site and that the construction company will implement additional preventative safety measures as part of its review of the incident and monitoring of the site.
“We hold our contractors to high safety standards, and thankfully, incidents such as this one are rare,” Bennett wrote in an email. The Cummings Center is one of Tufts’ most recent investments in new infrastructure on the Medford/Somerville campus. Like Tufts’ other major projects in recent years, such as the Collaborative Learning and Innovation Complex at 574 Boston Ave. and the Science and Engineering Complex, the Cummings Center will also house a wide range of disciplines. The Departments of Computer Science, Economics and Mathematics are among some of those relocating to the new building, but the departments also contain a range of mixed attitudes towards the design of the new building. Chair of the Department of Mathematics Kim Ruane reported a wide range of opinions about the move within her department. “Some of our faculty feel they were not consulted nearly enough (or early enough) on the major decisions about space allocation for occupant groups and classrooms,” Ruane wrote in an email to the Daily. Ruane expressed several concerns among math department faculty, which included management of space in the Cummings Center, reduction of faculty
see CONSTRUCTION, page 2
by Robert Kaplan
kinds of things wrapped up in the census,” North, a sophomore, said. “So we thought that she would be the perfect person to U.S. Representative Katherine Clark come and talk about it.” (D-Mass.) discussed the upcoming census Clark began by emphasizing why the cycle and its policy implications with Tufts census, and the data it yields, are so importCensus Action (TCA) in Cohen Auditorium ant to government functionality. last night, as part of a talk moderated by “It’s the type of data that really influencTCA’s President and Founder Caroline es every decision that we make in governWolinsky and Community Outreach ment,” Clark said. “It’s so critical that we Director Anton Shenk, a sophomore. include as many people as possible.” TCA, which formed last semester, is a stuClark highlighted the prevalence of dent group funded by the Tisch Fund for Civic undercounting particular demographic Engagement which aims to increase partici- groups that would benefit the most from pation in the upcoming census this year. accurate representation in census data. Lauren North, TCA’s event planner, “Unfortunately we’re in what sometimes explained that Wolinsky, a sophomore, had we call an ‘immoral cycle’ with the census,” served in Clark’s congressional office as an Clark said. “The people who we tend not to intern, and managed to secure Clark’s visit count — very low-income families, people to speak about the census. of color, immigrant communities — also “[Clark is] obviously the congresswom- have the most to lose.” an for this district, she’s very passionate about families, immigrant rights, all the see CENSUS, page 2
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Friday, February 14, 2020
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means of political advocacy through its influence on the appropriation of governmental funding. “When you are counted in the census, it really is such a key to civil rights and economic justice,” Clark said. “It seems like such a simple little survey to bring all that, to put all that at stake, but that really is how powerful it is.” She added that an undercount in the census could have severe negative political consequences for those already marginalized in terms of political influence. “If we don’t capture it, it really does imperil political representation, civil rights, access to voting rights,” Clark said. “Working to help us get a good count is really work that strengthens the fundamentals of our democracy, which have been really tested lately.” Before closing the event, the TCA organizers announced their Census Day event to boost education about and participation in the 2020 census, which will be held on April 1.
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“The campaign to add the question to the census was highly effective if you are trying to suppress the count, especially in the immigrant community,” Clark said. “That’s why it’s so important that we have census takers who are working on the census, who are multilingual, who can … really emphasize that this is confidential data.” While discussing the effect of an accurate census count on the apportionment of congressional districts, Clark attributed Massachusetts’ loss of one seat in Congress instead of two following the 2010 census to effective outreach in immigrant communities. In a similar effort, each municipality in Massachusetts has formed a “complete count committee” as part of a statewide initiative to ensure an accurate count among traditionally under-counted groups in the upcoming census, according to Clark. She encouraged students at the event to join one, and to especially promote census participation by students who live off-campus. Clark went on to explain that participating in the census can serve as a
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Clark encourages student participation in 2020 census continued from page 1 She noted the implications of the negative cycle she attributed to undercounting in the census. “It’s also tied to political power,” Clark said. “We need to get an accurate count, especially from hard-to-reach communities, because … political access is tied to the counting in the census.” Clark explained that while this census will be the first to offer an all-online option, which will allow more accurate tracking and data collection, it is distinct in the political climate surrounding it. “The unfortunate difference is this very concerted effort to suppress the count for immigrant communities,” Clark said. “That we know is an even further hurdle that we’re going to have to overcome that was already a problem in past censuses.” Clark elaborated on her concerns about the upcoming census cycle, and emphasized that those employed by the U.S. Census Bureau to record the census can make a difference in addressing under-counting.
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continued from page 1 office size and departure from the department’s long-time home in BromfieldPearson, among others. One issue of particular concern to the math department faculty is the ability to open windows to self-regulate the indoor climate, which Ruane explained was something that faculty advocated for but were denied. She added that some buildings on campus are “unbearably hot” during the winter, seemingly conflicting with Tufts’ goal of energy efficiency. “While we understand the need for energy efficiency, many of us are concerned about basic climate control given that we will not be able to open our windows for fresh air,” Ruane wrote. Dan Richards, chair of the department of economics, expressed concern about the volume of pedestrian foot traffic in and out of the building, especially with the opening of the new “Medford/Tufts” Green Line Extension station a few feet away. “The building will house three of the largest [School of Arts and Sciences] departments,” Richards wrote in an email. “The class-time flow of students to those three departments alone would likely lead to some congestion at the already-crowded College Avenue and Boston Avenue intersection.” Richards added that the increased foot traffic would have implications for the schedules of both students and faculty.
“What all this will mean in terms of faculty and students getting to classes and meetings on time–and what it will mean in terms of pedestrian safety–are further sources of concern,” Richards wrote. Both department chairs, however, expressed overall excitement for the move into the new building. “On balance, the economics department is excited to be moving into the new Cummings Building,” Richards wrote. “Its offices and classrooms are technologically up to date; the Economics floor includes a modern Economics lab space; and for the first time, there will be a dedicated workspace for the growing number of Ph.D. students.” Ruane similarly emphasized the excitement among math department faculty. “We have outgrown our current building so moving into a space where the department can be all together in one place (and with a few planned offices for growth) is a huge plus,” Ruane said. “Just having the opportunity for chance interactions with colleagues from other departments is something we have never really had in Bromfield-Pearson because of its location on campus.” Kathleen Fisher, chair of the Department of Computer Science, also expressed the opportunities her department sees in the move. “The Department of Computer Science is very excited about moving into the new space. The entire department will fit in
one building for the first time in a very long time, which will foster collaborations within the department,” Fisher wrote in an email to the Daily. Fisher emphasized the benefits of the expanded teaching and collaborative spaces in the new building. “The new space will be able to do a much better job of accommodating all the students interested in studying computer science,” Fisher wrote. “We’re hopeful that the increased space will help us foster the strong sense of community among our students.” Richards added that forthcoming renovations to Braker Hall, the economics departments’ longtime home, may further complicate the attitudes among the faculty in the department. “Braker Hall has been the home of Economics for a very long time. While it’s always hard to move to a new place, everyone recognizes that Braker (and its sibling, the Lincoln-Filene building) desperately need repair,” Richards wrote. “If, however, the Braker site is redeveloped and modernized and to provide similarly up-to-date offices, labs, and classrooms, there will probably be a number of faculty thinking that Economics should be moved back into its traditional home on the quad.” The academic departments plan on moving into the Cummings Center over the summer of 2021. The first classes in the building will be held that fall.
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Friday, February 14, 2020
Emma Rao Revisiting introversion and extroversion
Being an introvert in an extroverted world
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hat would you think if I told you that Western societies, including American society, are unwittingly geared toward extroverts? As a reflective introvert myself, the thought hadn’t occurred to me until I read “Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking” by Susan Cain. In her TED Talk, she explains that major institutions, especially schools and the workplace, are “designed mostly for extroverts, and for extroverts’ need for stimulation.” Think about that for a second. Group work seems a staple of all levels of education these days, between in-class work, discussions and group projects. Many classrooms are now even set up in pods of desks rather than separate desks in rows. I recently visited one of Google’s campuses in California, where one of my relatives works. There, like many offices, employees work in an open-concept space with few barriers between desks. There are various rooms and spaces dedicated for large and small group meetings in addition to game rooms and hang-out spaces. Collaboration is highly encouraged, even by the building’s layout. Let me just say that there is absolutely nothing wrong with collaboration and teamwork. Society would not be where it is today without people working together to solve problems and enact solutions. However, solitude and deep thinking — two things that are better suited to lower-stimulation environments — are also key to work and problem-solving. Schools and workplaces are geared toward extroverts, those who thrive on a higher level of stimulation. The result is two-fold. One, introverts are implicitly encouraged from a young age to try to put their introverted tendencies aside and be more extroverted. Pushing oneself to be more outgoing and social than is natural can be mentally and physically exhausting. Two, the lower-stimulation environment that is ideal for creative and reflective thinking for introverts is seldom found. Thus, introverts have to make do with a work environment that does not support their preferred mode of thinking. As such, society often overlooks them for being quiet and more resigned. Just because someone is quiet doesn’t mean they aren’t thinking or formulating good, creative ideas. This phenomenon shows up outside of academics and the workplace too, in the growing use of social media and the idea of fear of missing out (FOMO), something that I’ve experienced for the first time at college. It feels like, no matter where you look around campus or on social media, there are always people getting together and doing something. As an introvert who needs moments of lower-stimulation, being in and surrounded by messages from a fast-paced, high-stimulation society can be frustrating. Social media functions as a constant reminder of what life could be like if I were more extroverted. This then creates a cycle of thinking I need to do things, not having the mental energy to do them, but trying to do them anyway. All of this ties into the idea of individuality, a quality on which American society prides itself. But in what ways is individuality actually evident in our society? Is it truly a society of the individual? Or is it a society of the loud and enigmatic, and of others — even those who are naturally anything but those qualities — trying to mimic them on basic principles of psychology and sociology? Emma Rao is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Emma can be reached at emma.rao@tufts.edu.
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Friday, February 14, 2020
ARTS&LIVING
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Lucy Hale, Jeff Wadlow talk making ‘Fantasy Island,’ working together Arts Editor
In theaters this weekend, “Fantasy Island” (2020) is a supernatural horror film following lucky — or so we’re led to believe — guests at a tropical island resort where their individual fantasies are fulfilled. The film is inspired by the “Fantasy Island” (1977–84) television series, but director Jeff Wadlow adapts the series into something sinister. The film follows the various guests as Mr. Roarke (Michael Peña) makes their secret desires come true. But it doesn’t take long for “Fantasy Island” to twist those fantasies into dark nightmares. This past Tuesday, Sony Pictures Entertainment hosted a college conference call with Wadlow and actress Lucy Hale — who stars in the film — during which the two discussed making “Fantasy Island” and working together. “I had an idea for a story that was loosely inspired by ‘Fantasy Island’ [the television show],” Wadlow said. He talked to Jason Blum, Blumhouse’s founder and CEO, about the project and then co-wrote the script with Chris Roach and Jillian Jacobs. Wadlow said that Hale’s casting was suggested to him. “It was a stroke of brilliance, I have to admit,” Wadlow said. Wadlow and Hale previously worked on “Truth or Dare” (2018) together. Hale expressed similar praise regarding working with Wadlow again. “Jeff is amazing. I say this in every interview: He’s the hardest-working man in Hollywood,” Hale said, adding that the two collaborate well together. “I’m just indebted to him because he’s given me not one but two shots at taking on characters I’ve never played before.” For Hale, the opportunity to take on a new and exciting character — along with the film’s enticing script — drew her to “Fantasy Island.” “[The script] kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it,” Hale said, adding that “Fantasy Island” was a challenge, but that she enjoys working with Wadlow and on Blumhouse Productions because of the horror genre. “And I love this genre. And these movies are just so fun to make.” Hale’s appreciation for the genre is evident in her work; she’s no stranger to horror films. She made a cameo in “Scream 4” (2011) and starred in “Truth or Dare.” However, most of Hale’s background is in television dramas. Audiences remember her iconic performance as Aria
Montgomery in “Pretty Little Liars” (2010– 17) and can start watching Hale’s new show “Katy Keene” (2020–), a spin-off of “Riverdale” (2017–). She confirmed that “Pretty Little Liars” has influenced her current film work but noted that every character she plays is new. “But there are so many suspense and thriller elements of that show that definitely prepared me for ‘Truth or Dare’ and ‘Fantasy Island.’ But the characters are all three so different, and I never try to play the same thing twice,” Hale said. Wadlow agreed, commenting that Hale’s work on the show prepared her for connecting with the camera and the audience, especially on “Fantasy Island.” For Wadlow, the challenges of working on Blumhouse films are also exciting. “I mean, making a Blumhouse movie is just a continuous process of being challenged. There is never a moment where you’re not being challenged in some capacity. I would say what I try to do is, you know, look for surprises on the set,” he said, concluding that those surprises add something special to the filmmaking process. “My favorite moments in every movie I’ve worked on were moments that I did not plan.” “Fantasy Island” certainly seems fun and exciting — the film’s trailer shimmers with a pool party, large cocktails and plenty of fun at a resort where “anything and everything is possible.” And the fantasies seem fulfilling at first — lost loved ones returned, revenge on a childhood bully, fun scenarios — but the visitors soon realize they’re a part of something bigger. Hale’s character, Melanie Cole, seems to have a strong desire for revenge in the film. Hale later discussed playing Melanie in detail, saying it’s the contrast between her character and herself that excites Hale, especially compared to her “Truth or Dare” character, which felt much more approachable. “Melanie is unlike any character I’ve played before. She’s very complex and layered and damaged, and, you know, tormented,” Hale said. “And I love … stepping into her head a little bit. And I mean, that was the challenge for me, because our moral compass is so different, just accepting the things that she was doing and saying was the biggest challenge for me.” But regardless of that difference, both Wadlow and Hale’s Blumhouse films are thrilling horror films that force characters into terrifying situations. The duo talked about their interests in the horror genre.
VIA IMDB
A promotional poster for “Fantasy Island” (2020) is pictured. “I’m very interested in the dialogue between the film and the audience,” Wadlow said, “and how we’re choosing the sequence images and sounds to create an experience for the audience, how we’re creating tension and releasing it.” He compared the making of horror films to the making of action films but noted that horror films require a smaller and more focused scale. “Fantasy Island” plays with the focus of its story; the film seems to hide its sinister underbelly from the audience and its characters. “Truth or Dare” wore that darkness on its sleeve: with each death in the game, the characters were pushed
to extremes to try and escape death. By playing with the audience and character’s expectations, “Fantasy Island” has a much more complex dialogue going on with the audience. This connects directly to the underlying theme of “Fantasy Island.” Wadlow noted that the film’s message is directly linked to what the characters learn on the island and what the film hides from them. “Don’t live your life in regret,” he said. “You know, that you have to move forward. And you can’t be consumed by the past because it will consume you.” “Fantasy Island” is showing in theaters starting today.
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Henry Gorelik Off the Gridiron
The XFL makes a triumphant return
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Men’s basketball sweeps road trip, clinches No. 1 spot in NESCAC
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or the first time since 2001, the XFL was back in action this past weekend. The eight-team league looks to become a viable source of football after the Super Bowl, a market that the American Alliance of Football (AAF) struggled to captivate last spring. Despite the beginning of on-field action this weekend, the bigger story was this rebranded version of the XFL and its new vision. Whereas the original version of the XFL glamorized the violent aspect of football, this iteration of the XFL is geared towards improving player safety and delivering an appealing brand of offensive football. Widely considered the most dangerous play in football, the XFL’s updated kickoff rule demonstrates its emphasis on player safety. The returning team lines up on its own 30-yard line while the kicking team lines up at the 35, forbidden from moving until the returner catches the ball. By bringing the players closer together and not allowing a running head start, the XFL hopes to reduce the number of traumatic full-speed collisions during kickoffs. Another wrinkle to the XFL kickoff is that they will kick from the 30-yard line, five yards behind the NFL kickoff. This is the XFL’s effort to eliminate the stale nature of constant touchbacks in the NFL. The XFL has tried to generate more exciting football by dissuading teams from punting. Their rules state that if the punt lands out of the field of play, it results in the ball being spotted at the 35-yard line instead of the 20 in the NFL. Furthermore, the punting team is prohibited from chasing the returner until the ball has been kicked which increases the possibility of a big return. In another effort to create a more thrilling on-field product, the XFL has provided teams with unique options after they have scored a touchdown. The three options include going for one extra point from the two-yard line, going for two extra points from the five-yard line, or going for three extra points from the 10-yard line. By eliminating the monotonous PAT and presenting new score combinations, the XFL looks to deliver a more captivating game but also to decrease the likelihood of games going into overtime in order to shorten the length of the game. The XFL’s commitment to speeding up the game is also displayed through its revised clock policies. In a huge shift away from the NFL, the XFL hopes to speed up the game by establishing a running clock after incompletions and plays where the ball goes out of bounds (except for in the last two minutes of each half). The league has also added an eighth official, whose sole responsibility is to spot the ball after the conclusion of each play. In its final effort to shorten games, the XFL reduced halftime intermission to just 10 minutes, allowing coaches only two timeouts per half. Although some headlines will certainly focus on the fan who stared into the camera while munching on a singular piece of cheese, the St. Louis quarterback shot-gunning a Bud Light seltzer after the game or the Seattle offensive lineman who dropping f-bombs on live TV, the league’s reinvention should claim all of the headlines. The NFL would be smart to borrow some of the XFL’s innovation in order to better protect its players and provide an exhilarating visual product. Henry Gorelik is a first-year student who has not yet declared a major. Henry can be reached at henry.gorelik@tufts.edu.
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Guard Thomas Lapham (LA’18) leaps for a shot in the game against Trinity on Feb. 11, 2018. by Alex Sharp
Contributing Writer
With an 87–61 win over the Conn. College Camels (4–18, 0–8 NESCAC) on Saturday and an 88–58 win over the Trinity Bantams (15–7, 5–3 NESCAC) on Friday, the men’s basketball team (18–4, 8–0 NESCAC) clinched the No. 1 seed in the upcoming NESCAC tournament. Senior guard and co-captain Eric Savage scored seven of the Jumbos’ first nine points on Saturday, including a contested 3-pointer that put the Jumbos ahead 9–7 with 16:19 remaining in the first half. Savage’s three was the start of a 28–8 run that was capped off by two consecutive 3-pointers from junior guard Brennan Morris. The Jumbos relied heavily on the three ball in the first half, sinking nine threes while shooting 60% from beyond the arc. “ We knew they were going to play zone going in — the best way to beat a zone is to get the ball to the middle, so the defense collapses, and then the guy in the middle can find the shooters,” Savage said. “ We did a great job getting the ball to the middle and seeing what they gave us. That turned into open shots for a lot of guys you can’t give open shots to because they’re going to knock them down.” Meanwhile, Conn. College struggled mightily from 3-point range the entire game, converting on only three of their 22 attempts. Junior forward Daniel Draffan was able to find some offensive success for the Camels, scoring 13 of his 21 points in the first half. A 3-pointer from first-year guard Dylan Thoerner with 11 seconds remaining in the first half put the Jumbos up 53–29 going into the break. The Jumbos cooled down offensively in the second half, shooting 39.3% from the field and 36.4% from three.
The second half defensive effort remained strong for the Jumbos as they limited the Camels to 31.4% from the field. With a comfortable lead for much of the game and the postseason just around the corner, coach Bob Sheldon was able to rest his starters, while providing his bench some extra minutes. The Tufts bench responded well, outscoring Conn. College’s bench 43–7. Thoerner came off the bench and went eight for nine from the field, scoring a career high 21 points in just 20 minutes. Thoerner led four Jumbos in double figures for scoring, with Morris scoring 15, Savage finishing with 12 and junior center Luke Rogers adding 10 points. Rogers also ser ved as the Jumbos’ defensive anchor, finishing with six blocks and limiting the Camels’ production in the paint. Junior guard Justin Kouyoumdjian and sophomore guard Carsen Cohen chipped in seven points apiece. “My friends did a great job of feeding me the ball and I was able to get to the spots that I’m comfortable in,” Thoerner said. “I was on fire that game.” This win and Colby’s loss to Amherst allowed the Jumbos to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NESCAC tournament. “It’s literally unbelievable,” Thoerner said. “I can’t think of a better way to start my college career at Tufts. We have a good group of guys. We’re all friends and we all play hard together. Especially in the NESCAC when it’s super tough and competitive, earning the one seed is a great feeling. It shows how hard my friends and I have worked all season.” T h e t e a m t ra ve l e d t o Ha r t f o rd , Conn. on Friday and defeated Trinity 88–58. The Jumbos never trailed in the contest and jumped out to an 8–2 lead behind buckets from Rogers, Morris and Savage. Starting strong has been an important element in
the Jumbos’ recent success, according to Savage. “We definitely got off to a really good start,” Savage said. “I think that’s been a trend the past few weeks. We’ve been doing a great job of forcing other teams into bad shots on their first possessions, and on our first possessions, the ball has been moving really well and we’ve been getting open looks.” After a 3-pointer from Morris with 15:59 remaining in the first half, the Bantams cut the lead to 12–7. Another 3-pointer from Morris three possessions later pushed the Jumbos’ lead to eight. The Jumbos extended their lead to 41–21 going into halftime with starters Morris, Savage and Rogers doing most of the scoring. Morris finished the game with 20 points on six for 11 shooting (five for nine on 3-pointers) while Rogers scored 16 points, collected six rebounds and finished with a pair of steals and blocks. Savage did a little bit of everything, stuffing the stat sheet with 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. Throughout the game the Jumbos’ defense made it difficult for the Bantams to get anything going offensively. The Bantams shot 28.6% from the field and only 15% from beyond the arc en route to a tie for their lowest point total of the season. The Jumbos will wrap up the regular season with a 7 p.m. game tonight at Middlebury and a 3 p.m. game tomorrow at Williams. The NESCAC tournament begins the following weekend, with final seeding determined after this weekend’s NESCAC matchups. “We’re as hungry as ever to go get one at Middlebur y on Friday and then try to finish the season 10–0 [in the NESCAC] — something that’s never been done in Tufts histor y,” Savage said.