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VOLUME LXXXIII, ISSUE 13
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Monday, February 14, 2022
MONACO TO STEP DOWN IN 2023 Tony Monaco reflects on 12-year tenure at Tufts by Chloe Courtney Bohl Executive News Editor
University President Anthony Monaco will step down as president of Tufts in summer 2023, concluding a 12-year tenure. “It’s always good practice for an institution to have a transition in leadership every 10 to 15 years so that it can benefit from fresh ideas and new perspectives,” Monaco told the Daily. “So I feel this is the right thing to do at this time for Tufts.” Monaco formally notified the Board of Trustees of his decision over the weekend. In a message to the Tufts community on Monday morning, Board Chairman Peter Dolan thanked Monaco for his leadership on the public health, academic, research and financial fronts. “I join the entire Board of Trustees in expressing our deep gratitude to Tony for his steadfast leadership of the university, for his dedication to Tufts, and for the clear moral compass and intellectual rigor that
have guided him as president,” Dolan wrote. Dolan added that the Board of Trustees “will immediately begin the process of forming a presidential search committee,” the details of which they will share in the coming weeks. All of Tufts’ past presidents have been white men. Monaco explained that while he will not be involved in choosing his successor, he hopes the Board of Trustees will consider the ever-increasing diversity of the Tufts community as they make their decision. “I won’t be involved in the process, that’s the responsibility of the Board of Trustees,” Monaco said. “But I’m confident that they will reflect the changed diversity of Tufts over my tenure in the pool of applicants that they bring in to consider. I hope that pool will be very diverse and represent the change that has happened.” Notable moments in Monaco’s presidency so far have included the university’s COVID-19 pandemic response, the introduction of the Tufts as an Anti-Racist
Institution intitiative, the removal of the Sackler name from all Medical School programs and buildings, the acquisition of the School of the Museum of Fine Arts and the initiation of the $1.5 billion Brighter World fundraising campaign. Monaco is timing the end of his presidential tenure to coincide with the conclusion of the Brighter World campaign in June 2023. “I’d like to see it through to the end,” Monaco said. “We’re confident that we can meet the goal and continue the momentum of alumni, donor and friend support for our academic mission.” Reflecting on the financial position of the university as he prepares to pass the baton to his successor, Monaco said that Tufts has continued raising money and growing its endowment throughout the pandemic. “We did well during the pandemic raising funds, I think, because our alumni did appreciate the work we did to keep our campus safe, and also to care for those that live around us,”
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University President Anthony Monaco is pictured. Monaco said. “We did increase the endowment from 1.9 billion [dollars] to 2.7 billion [dollars] at the moment … and that’s really helpful to support the schools and their academic programs.”
Monaco told the Daily he plans to keep pushing forward on the Tufts as an Anti-Racist Institution inititative during the remainder of see MONACO, page 2
Life in The Mods: 4 walls, 2 meals and an Uber Eats voucher by Skyler Goldberg Assistant News Editor
Since the start of the spring semester, hundreds of undergraduate students on the Medford/Somerville campus have tested positive for COVID-19, and many of them have been required to isolate in one of the modular housing units on the Vouté Tennis
Courts. Many will be familiar with the procedure by now: After testing positive, students have 90 minutes to corral their linens and toiletries, pack their suitcases and make the trek to their assigned unit. Administrators have laid out policies for Mod life, including food delivery and medical checkups. But some students say it hasn’t been enough.
“I feel like Tufts could probably do more on the front of activities for people in The Mods of some form. The Mods are on the tennis courts — it’s a pretty big space,” Kevin Golub, a sophomore who tested positive for COVID-19 and spent several days isolating in The Mods in January, said. “I feel like they can find ways to break up the day for people, whether
IAN LAU / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Mods, housing for COVID-19-positive students, are pictured on Feb. 1.
it’s an organized walk or an outdoor game of some kind … because sitting in that cell — just four walls — it’s really depressing.” Tufts Dining delivers brunch and dinner to students in The Mods, who are told to place their first order by 11 a.m. and their second by 5 p.m., according to sophomore Ashley JonesFlores, who was sent to The Mods in late January. But as a vegetarian, Jones-Flores said she was unhappy with the food selection. “Their vegetarian options were not that great, so I would end up Uber Eats-ing or DoorDash-ing food pretty much once a day,” she said. Out of five entrees offered to them, JonesFlores said two of them were vegetarian. Golub said the university subsidized one Uber Eats order for him, but that he had to pay for subsequent deliveries. The Daily confirmed that $25 Uber Eats vouchers have been provided to students for certain meals. In addition to the delivered meals, students can grab snacks from a pantry in The Mods, Golub said. “They had cereals, granola bars, bags of chips, some
SPORTS / back
FEATURES / page 3
ARTS / page 4
Women’s basketball sinks two wins ahead of NESCAC Championship
Pini’s serves up original flavors from new Boston Avenue location
Nine Songs We Love for Valentine’s Day
iced teas and stuff like that, Powerade,” he said. Golub recalled having cereal for breakfast and using the milk he would save in his refrigerator from the previous night’s dinner. He expressed frustration at not being able to order breakfast delivery from Tufts Dining. “The fact that I had to hoard cereal boxes for breakfast is ridiculous,” Golub said. “In our experience, students wake up and look for breakfast at varying times of the morning, and the average student eats on campus twice a day,” Director of Dining and Business Services Patti Klos wrote in an email to the Daily. “As a result, we purposefully make snacks available that can be used for breakfast. Even though we make two deliveries a day, students can order items they can have in the morning for breakfast.” When a blizzard swept through campus one weekend in late January, students in The Mods were asked to walk to the Dewick-Macphie Dining Center. Many of them didn’t have boots or appropriate snow gear. see MODS, page 2 NEWS
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THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Monday, February 14, 2022
THE TUFTS DAILY Alexander Janoff Editor in Chief
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Monaco looks back on anti-racism initiatives, the Brighter World campaign as he prepares to leave Tufts MONACO
continued from page 1 his presidency, with a particular focus on bringing more students and faculty of color to Tufts. “I’m very proud that this year, we were able to have 52% of the applicants to our undergraduate programs [be] from domestic students of color, and [that] we could reflect that in our offers with increased financial aid,” Monaco said of the university’s efforts to enroll more students of color.
In 2020, the most recent year when data was available, just 2.8% of Tufts’ full- and part-time faculty identified as Black or African American, while 71.1% of them identified as white. Monaco said that the Tufts as an AntiRacist Institution initiative places an emphasis on recruiting faculty of color. “We put a huge effort into faculty recruitment across the university for faculty of color, with real money on the table to support that, and we’re writing grants
to the federal government for further support,” Monaco said. “We hope that that will really not only increase the number of faculty of color, but provide for their development as faculty.” Monaco told the Daily that one of his favorite parts of being university president has been interacting with the passionate and talented student body. “I’ve learned so much from this generation during my time here [about] what they feel is important, and also that they’re
very willing to be active and advocate when they feel something in the university, in the nation or in the world is wrong,” he said. In Monaco’s message to the Tufts community on Monday, he stressed that his time at Tufts is not yet finished. “Over the next year, I look forward to expressing my appreciation to all of you for what you have done and continue to do to ensure that Tufts remains a truly exceptional institution,” he wrote.
Some students in The Mods report loneliness, dissatisfaction with food options MODS
continued from page 1 “They sent us to Dewick to pick up our food, and we had to trek in the snow, which was really rough,” Jones-Flores said. Moreover, on the day of the snowstorm, medical staff did not check in on students in isolation, according to Jones-Flores. Normally, EMTs come once a day to take students’ pulses and temperatures. “The time was supposed to be 11 a.m., but sometimes they’d come very late in the day,” JonesFlores said. Golub found The Mods very lonely.
“Classes hadn’t started yet, so I was just beyond bored. Just binge-watching shows was the best I could do, and at a certain point, even that got boring,” Golub told the Daily. Dr. Marie Caggiano, medical director of Health Service, clarified in an email to the Daily what social outlets are currently available to students in isolation. “Students in isolation may participate in virtual events and may spend time outdoors in the area immediately around the Mods, provided they remain masked and socially distanced for others,” Caggiano wrote.
Jones-Flores said she and her suitemates all tested positive around the same time, so their experience wasn’t as lonesome. Caggiano said that students isolating in The Mods are permitted to interact with each other. “There are no restrictions that prevent students in isolation from interacting with one another if they choose to. Because all students housed in the Mods have already tested positive, there is not risk of infection spreading among Mods residents,” Caggiano wrote. It is prohibited, however, for students who have not test-
ed positive to enter The Mods, according to briana Sevigny, director of community standards at the Dean of Student Affairs Office. “Students in the Mods are not permitted to have guests. Although to date we have not received specific, actionable complaints about unauthorized people visiting the Mods, we have had discussions with some students alleged to not be following the stated guidelines. Consequences for violating this policy would be situation-dependent,” Sevigny wrote in an email to the Daily.
This Week in COVID-19: Tufts, Boston-area colleges loosen restrictions
by Flora Meng
Deputy News Editor
As COVID-19 infection rates start to decline in Massachusetts, Tufts and other Boston-area universities have relaxed restrictions on academic and social activities. These policy changes follow shifting public health guidelines and growing efforts from institutions to reestablish normalcy on college campuses. At Tufts, testing frequency was recently decreased from every
other day to two times per week for all students. Unlike Harvard University, which now allows students who test positive to quarantine in their own dorm rooms, Tufts continues to isolate COVID-19 positive individuals in The Mods. Tufts is also running spring semester abroad programs in Madrid, Paris, London and several other cities after relaunching the programs last fall. While classes and excursions remain in
person, one change to the Tufts and non-Tufts study abroad programs is the shift in living options. Students now have the choice to live in dorms rather than with host families. The university reported 19 cases on Friday and 135 over the previous week averaging out to 19.29 positive cases per day. This marks a slight increase in the average number of cases from the previous week. Still, cases remain significantly lower than
they were during the peak of the omicron surge, when Tufts reported 245 cases from Jan. 18 to Jan. 24. Coronavirus case counts across Massachusetts also continue to decline. The Commonwealth reported 2,913 new cases on Thursday, down from 7,066 the week before. Massachusetts reached its highest peak since the start of the pandemic with over 60,000 cases on Jan. 10.
ALEX VIVEROS / THE TUFTS DAILY
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Features
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New to the neighborhood: Pini’s Pizzeria begins serving slices on Boston Avenue
Kate Seklir Kate in Paris
by Miriam Vodosek
oving somewhere new is always a challenge. During my time at Tufts, I’ve moved both into — and then prematurely out of — the classic freshman double in Bush Hall, into and out of a cozy single in a suite in Haskell Hall and then into and partially out of my own off-campus house shared with friends. I say “partially” because in December 2021, I packed up about half of my things and trekked home to New York, a trip that was the first step in the much larger and more daunting move that I would make in the coming weeks. Each move has signified — as all moves seem to do — the closing of one chapter and the beginning of a new one. No matter how mundane the change, leaving one place behind and adapting to a new environment is always something of a challenge. We grow attached to the people, patterns and spaces we put ourselves in, and we like to stay there. There is comfort in habit, certainly. The act of “packing up” is difficult, too. Beyond the literal Tetris-like puzzle that is fitting an entire dorm room and wardrobe into some blue and yellow Ikea duffels, mismatched suitcases and whatever odd Trader Joe’s tote bags that may be lying around, the experience of seeing “your life” all tucked away in boxes forces us to compartmentalize our own experiences, separating first semester from the second, school year to school year. And somehow, we always seem to be moving out during the most overwhelming times of the semester — finals season in both December and May — in a mad rush to study for exams and say goodbye to cherished friends while simultaneously packing up everything we own. It is only when we have returned to our hometowns, and the dust has settled a bit, that we find the time to reflect on the semester we have had and the moving we have done. So, yes, moving is tough. But, of course, there is beauty and adventure and excitement in moving, and in leaving. I now find myself in Paris, studying abroad for the spring semester through the Tufts-in-Paris program. Almost exactly a month has passed between when I arrived and when I’m writing this, and it looks like I may be over the initial adjustment period — you know, when you are figuring out how to live with a host family, choosing your courses, adjusting to a new pace of life and, most importantly, finding your new favorite breakfast food. My hopes with this column are twofold: firstly, that this can be a place where I chronicle and reflect on my own immersion in French culture but also that sharing my experiences can be of use to other students who might be considering whether or not studying abroad will fit into their Tufts experience. My column might be called “Kate in Paris,” and yes, like “Emily in Paris,” I’m sure there will be a bit of romanticizing that comes along with it, but I hope to provide an authentic, amusing account of what it is like to be immersed in a new city after a college experience that was almost entirely altered by pandemic-related changes and restrictions. À la prochaine!
Staff Writer
Pini’s Pizzeria is new to Boston Avenue, having recently moved into the location that previously housed the beloved Espresso Pizza. Espresso Pizza’s owner, Patty Moore, announced she was retiring in December 2021. Moore had taken over Espresso after the passing of the pizzeria’s previous owner, her brother, Anthony Salvato Jr. in 2010. Luckily for all pizza lovers in the area, Pini’s hopes to bring the same good food and sense of community that was previously offered by Espresso. Pini’s Pizzeria has been around for nearly 27 years. The pizzeria was formerly located in Magoun Square in Somerville and has a second location in Billerica. The owner, Serina Nazzaro, has been running the establishment for 17 years. Pini’s was first founded by Timothy Connors in the mid-’90s. Nazzaro worked on the Pini’s team as Connors’ manager until she bought the place from him in 2004. The name Pini’s comes from Connors’ mother Josephine, whose nickname was Pini. “He named [Pini’s] after his mom and I kept the name, of course,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro described Pini’s as “a family-owned and -operated business.” Additionally, many members of her staff are dedicated employees that have worked at the pizzeria for years. “My manager has been working for me for over 20 years … and my pizza maker’s been with me for about 15 years,” Nazzaro said. “My whole staff came with me when I moved.” Nazzaro had to leave her previous location in Somerville. When she was looking for a new place for the pizzeria, she heard that Espresso’s owner was retiring and felt the location would be a good fit. “I found out that [the owner of Espresso] was looking to retire, so I approached her and we made a deal,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro knew Espresso Pizza well and was impressed by its good reputation. “I knew it was a family-owned business and that’s what I was looking to take over — something family-owned, that had a good reputation,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro is a Medford native and was happy to move her pizzeria back to where she grew up. Espresso Pizza was a large part of her life when she was a teenager. “[Espresso] was my go to place when I was a teenager, we all used to hang in here until three in the morning like all you guys do now. So, I knew the place very well,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro said the new location allows for expansion. There was no grill at the previous location, and there was also a lack of seating.
CORA HARTMANN / THE TUFTS DAILY
The window sign of Pini’s Pizzeria is pictured on Feb. 11. “We did 90% delivery at the other location … there was no seating in there at all. We had a little countertop where people could eat a slice of pizza and go,” Nazzaro said. The Boston Avenue location offers seating for customers who want to enjoy their food straight out of the oven. This new location welcomes new and old customers, since it is not too far from the Somerville location. “We’re keeping a lot of our Somerville customers,” Nazzaro said. “I know everybody in Medford, so it’s just nice to see familiar faces coming in.” Espresso Pizza was especially popular with Tufts students because of its late business hours. It was great for a late-night slice of pizza after a night out. Pini’s is currently open until 11 p.m. Nazzaro said she does not aim to expand Pini’s hours to stay open until 3 a.m. like Espresso Pizza did, but she noted that the pizzeria might stay open until 1 a.m. Nazzaro wants to offer late-night selections for students, but she doesn’t want to put too much stress on her staff. “It’s hard … I want to keep my staff healthy and happy, and staying open that late is not gonna do that,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro wants Tufts students to know that Pini’s puts an emphasis on the fact that it is a family-owned and -operated business that uses high-quality ingredients. She feels optimistic about the move and the new location. “I just love the vibe here,” Nazzaro said. Nazzaro said she is excited to see new customers take interest in Pini’s and has already received positive feedback. “Everybody’s welcome here … I love watching all the kids walk around and
they’re all stopping in and checking us out. And it’s been great. We’ve only been here a week and we are already getting a lot of good feedback, which is nice,” Nazzaro said. Sean Coughlin, a first-year, rated Pini’s pretty highly. “Pini’s is great. Quality pizza, great fries and wings as well,” Coughlin said. “Pretty reasonable prices … I’m very happy that they have made the transition over here.” Colin Bailey, another first-year, grew up in Medford and has eaten at Pini’s many times. Bailey described the Boston Avenue location, which now houses Pini’s, as an essential part of campus life at Tufts. “[Pini’s is] definitely a spot to go to at night,” Bailey said. Coughlin and Bailey recommended the roasted red pepperoni pizza as well as the Zsa-Zsa, which is a white pizza with fresh tomato chunks and garlic. Nazzaro recommends that Tufts students stop by and try Pini’s dishes. “[Students] should definitely come in and try the slices, they’re a quarter of a large pizza … an 18-inch pizza,” Nazzaro said. “We’re known for our big slices.” Her favorite Pini’s pizzas are The Fenway, which includes sausage, roasted red peppers and caramelized onions, as well as the chicken and broccoli alfredo pizza. Pini’s is especially known for its sweet marinated roasted chicken pizza, as it’s a special recipe. “You have to just come try us out … hopefully you love us,” Nazzaro said. “We’ve been around a long time, a lot of people love us and we have a good reputation. So, hopefully we can keep that here with the students.”
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Kate Seklir is a junior studying political science. Kate can be reached at kate.seklir@tufts.edu.
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Monday, February 14, 2022
Your Valentine’s Day love song recommendations by Odessa Gaines Contributing Writer
This Valentine’s Day, let’s not talk about anything but love. Today, we’re dropping some songs that you have to play this Valentine’s Day, whether you’re spending it with a lover, friends, by yourself or with your cat. “Love Story (Taylor’s Version)” (2021) – Taylor Swift You simply can’t have a V-Day playlist and not include Taylor Swift or her worldwide hit “Love Story.” A twist on the story of Romeo and Juliet, Swift depicts a love between soulmates through the ages that blossoms into something true and beautiful. This song is perfect to sing to your significant other or your friend in the most overdramatic fashion possible. “All of Me” (2013) – John Legend This passionate piano ballad is a beloved classic. Legend pours his emotions into this love song to his wife, which would bring any partner to happy tears. The simplicity and love in this song make it an addictive track that will be on your playlist all year long. This track is what you need for an all-consuming love, taking in the perfections and imperfections of your significant other. “I Hear a Symphony” (2017) – Cody Fry An even more instrumental love song is Fry’s “I Hear a Symphony.” Fry uses his obsession with orchestras and French horns along with simple vocals to depict how love changes a person’s perspective of the world. The
song goes from a simple string and piano melody to a full-on orchestra as two lovers become more intimate and close with each other. If you need a song to reflect how love makes the world feel warmer and brighter, this is the one for you. “Best Part” (2017) – H.E.R. (feat. Daniel Caesar) Taking a new route, this R&B/ soul track is the depiction of how the steady presence of your partner in your daily life is the “Best Part” of living. H.E.R.’s soft voice mixes with Caesar’s low vocals to create an intimate atmosphere within the lyrics and song, expressing the exchange of love and appreciation between two partners. If your partner is the one who makes your days a bit brighter, and you infinitely happier, then this is a love letter you should share with them. “New Love” (2018) – Victoria Monét This ‘90s-inspired track is another take on falling in love, in all ways, from the physical to the emotional. Monét confidently sings about the connection created with her new love and the quick progression of their relationship. Her soft vocals and smooth beats also make this the perfect song to listen to as your new loves blossom with the spring season. “Without Love” (2002) – “Hairspray,” the Broadway Musical Broadway musical love songs can be catchy, beautiful and bright, and “Without Love” is no exception. The “Hairspray” song
depicts the love between two pairs of lovers, both of which are being pulled apart by society. This is a song that captures the challenges that can come with love. Whether you’re a theater nerd or not, this is the song to sing with your partners and best friends, because what is the purpose of living if it is without love? “All to Me” (2021) – Giveon Another R&B/soul must-have, this song is all about being with the right person. Giveon sings to his ex-partner who chooses the wrong person, explaining that he would have treated them better. This song is an acknowledgment that love only works with the right person and that somehow, you will find your way back to the person you should be with. “Frozen” (2017) – Sabrina Claudio A smooth, slow song about the world stopping when you’re with your love is what everyone needs this V-Day. Whether it’s your partner or your best friend, this song captures the feelings of the steady, frozen state you feel when you spend time with them. Life may be moving by, and seasons may be changing, but when you’re with your love, life feels steady and still. If you need a backing track for a day of staying in with your partner, Claudio’s track is it. “Locked Out of Heaven” (2012) – Bruno Mars If there’s one love song you can belt your lungs out to in a room full of your friends, a crowded party or in the middle of the night, it has got to be
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A 1909 Valentine’s Day greeting card is pictured. this one. In this fun song, Mars explains how being away from his love makes him feel “Locked Out of Heaven.” If you want to let someone know how they make you feel this is the way to go. A
dance classic, this song is perfect for jamming out on V-Day. Hopefully these songs inspired you for your own V-Day celebrations, but either way: Happy Valentine’s Day to all!
A r ts & P o p C u l t u r e
Monday, February 14, 2022 | Arts & Pop Culture | THE TUFTS DAILY
Kim Kardashian: An American icon and the 2022 Winter Olympics
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Ellie Lester and Sadie Leite The Art of Good Soup
We so hungry
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The 2022 Winter Olympics opening ceremony and Kim Kardashian are pictured. by RaiAnn Bu
Assistant Arts Editor
The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, beginning Feb. 2, have officially kicked off with each country parading through the “Bird’s Nest” for the opening ceremony. In addition to the opening ceremony allowing each home country to share its history and culture, it is also a large fashion show, showcasing uniforms that exemplify the culture and pride of each country. Historically, the Olympic uniform has been designed to represent the home country’s unity and patriotic pride. Though there has been controversy with brands like Nike designing American uniforms which some speculate were manufactured overseas, countries often choose homegrown fashion houses such as Lululemon for Canada, Adidas for Great Britain and Telfar for Liberia. This year, the U.S. Olympic Committee has chosen to collaborate with Nike, Spyder, Skims and Ralph Lauren at the forefront as the official opening ceremony uniforms.
The U.S. Olympic Committee’s collaboration with Ralph Lauren is no surprise, as they have designed for previous American Olympic teams and are known for their collaboration with large sporting events such as Wimbledon and the Australian Open. Ralph Lauren is an obvious choice, as it has always exemplified American essentialist fashion and athletic excellence in its brand identity. The brand exemplifies the definition of athleisure as we understand it, and represents the term by tying in traditional athletic clothing such as polo uniforms and rugby shirts with items for everyday wear. However, newcomer Skims is a surprise. The brand, founded by Kim Kardashian and launched in 2019, has become a hit despite early controversy, selling lingerie and shapewear under the ethos of Kardashian’s famous figure. The brand captures an earthy, casual athleisure aesthetic which blended well with the popularization of loungewear during the pandemic. Though unexpected, the inclusivity of Kardashian’s Skims is the perfect addi-
tion to an all-American uniform. As the founder of Skims, Kardashian represents a more modern American iconography. Whereas Ralph Lauren’s brand identity represents an American fashion legacy, Kardashian’s path to success has been one which has revolutionized body positivity in the shapewear industry. Kardashian has no doubt been an American icon of the 21st century and one of the most recognizable people of our time due to her ability to capture American audiences through adaptation, self-awareness of her brand and innovation in expanding her empire. Her mark of capitalizing off of her internet presence has set the stage for internet influencers. This career, often generating new money, has created a more diverse representation of wealth and status. Skims’ mainstream success and Olympics collaboration solidifies the legacy of Kardashian and her mark on the cultural landscape. Previously, people might have asked “What’s more American than apple pie?,” with the modern translation being “What’s more American than Kim Kardashian?”
Request for 2022 Bridging Differences Seed Grant Proposals The Bridging Differences Task Force is now accepting proposals for the next round of seed grant funding. Selected proposals will be funded by the Office of the Provost to support diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts across Tufts. Any Tufts student, faculty, or staff member may apply for up to $2,000 in funding for initiatives that will be implemented in the spring, summer, and fall of 2022. The Bridging Differences Task Force encourages applications that are proposed by members of multiple campuses or by a cross-section of students, staff, and faculty. Projects that aim to unify multiple campuses or cross-sections of the Tufts community are highly encouraged. The deadline for 2022 proposals is February 18, 2022 at 5 p.m. Final funding decisions will be made based on overall impact score, available funds, and the funding level required for project implementation with the goal of accepting proposals from a range of colleges. All proposals will be notified of the outcome and accepted proposals will be posted on our website. To learn more, please visit https://diversity.tufts.edu/what-we-do/initiatives/bridgingdifferences/bridging-differences-grant-program/. You can access the application here. Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure: All proposals will be deemed proprietary and confidential and will be protected against any unauthorized use and any unauthorized or uncontrolled disclosure beyond Tufts. We look forward to receiving your proposals. If you have questions in anticipation of the funding deadline, please contact us at BridgingDifferences@tufts.edu.
his week we went to Nijiya Sushi in Medford Square, and we had a lot to celebrate: a birthday and a girl both gorgeous and COVID-free. After a short wait where we discussed writing, as good soup columnists do (especially those trying to show their pre-med friends that they are intellectuals who are really, really cool and smart and have super large vocabularies and find more pleasure in good verbs and never adverbs because we hate adverbs so much; we hate them greatly), we sat down in the corner by a window. The red and green awning reminded us of Christmas, but we are Jewish and in search of good soup. No time for mistletoe fantasies or gifts from old men. We started the night with miso soup. We were curious as to whether an allyou-can-eat sushi restaurant would put as much effort into an appetizer as it does its sushi. Also, we wanted to bring attention to an often overlooked, “basic” soup. But how do we really define basic? To us, basic means a solution with a pH above seven and a girl with chunky highlights taking a duck face selfie. Our soup, thankfully, did not ask us to rush its sorority, though it was an Alpha Beta Soupa sister. The beauty of miso soup is that it prepares you for the meal ahead. For us, that was important because we were at an all-you-can-eat restaurant: we had to eat all we could eat. It’s the first battle in a long war, and you always win — like playing an eight-year-old in chopsticks. We noticed the cloud first. All good miso soups create clouds when stirred. Imagine you are laying on the ground with your friends in the suspiciously warm February wind: staring at the clouds, staring at the shapes in the sky, trying to define them as bunnies or dinosaurs. Your miso soup should transport you. Our dear friend, the scallion, was back. He made the bowl once again. However, this time he brought with him another green guy. Seaweed. Together, they gave us something to play with and chew on. If you remember, we love to play with our food. As we swirled our soup, we found cubes of tofu hiding between miso clouds. We appreciated the small bites because large mouthfuls of tofu often leave you feeling some kind of way. There are some things you don’t want in your mouth. The biggest accomplishment of the night was touching bowl-bottom. Sadie reached it first, with an exclamation. “I reached the bottom!” Ellie was confused; as a broth girl, she had never gone that far before. But then she reached it for the first time, and she felt a warm feeling in her tummy. With our final slurps, we were satisfied. And we had an answer to our question. Miso soup. You so soup. We so soup. We rate this soup 8.0085 spoons. We’re still not telling you the scale. Deal with it. Maybe even write us an angry letter. Or a nice one. Clearly, we’re lonely; we’re writing a column about soup. Anyways. Ellie Lester is a sophomore studying English and sociology. Ellie can be reached at eliana.lester@tufts.edu. Sadie Leite is a sophomore studying English. Sadie can be reached at sadie.leite@tufts.edu.
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THE TUFTS DAILY | Fun & Games | Monday, February 14, 2022
F& G
tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Elizabeth: “Why are you taking a philosophy class?” Maddy: “I’m a philosophy major”
Fun & Games
SUDOKU
LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY
Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Begin a creative, clever and expressive phase with Mercury in your sign. You learn quickly over the next three weeks. Tell your story. Discuss possibilities.
SEARCHING FOR HEADLINES...
Difficulty Level: Strange weather we’re havin’.
Friday’s Solutions
CROSSWORD
Opinion
tuftsdaily.com
Ethan Jaskowiak Ethics of the Environment
Zoos and aquariums: A necessary evil
A
childhood trip to the zoo feels as quintessential as chocolate chip pancakes or bouncy castles, but the ethics of dolphins in tanks has always been questionable, and the debate has resurfaced in the aftermath of the pandemic television sensation “Tiger King” (2020–). Every zoo or aquarium fights back with token conservation programs, raising the question: “Does the
conservation work done by zoos and aquariums justify the fate of their inhabitants?” In today’s world, the answer is an unfortunate “yes.” Wildlife conservation is a notoriously unprofitable enterprise, so its reliance on charity for sustenance makes it especially vulnerable to the fickle whims of public opinion. For people to care enough to donate, which is oftentimes the ultimate determining factor in the fate of endangered species, they need to be aware not only of the problems but also, more critically, of the value of what they’re protecting. Chances are most people in Washington, D.C. had not heard of, let alone seen even a photo of, a golden lion tamarin before the National Zoo began a breeding program and live exhibit in
1984. Now, these bright orange Brazilian primates are a main attraction, bringing in desperately needed funds each year for conservation efforts. Consequently, their population has rebounded from less than 200 individuals in 1981 to around 2,500 today, a third of which originated in captive breeding programs like the one hosted by the National Zoo. No one knew or cared until they saw the little jumping fireballs for themselves. In the face of climate change, marked by habitat destruction and rising sea levels, conservation efforts are often the only hope for endangered species. Ironically, it is only humanity’s will that stands between species and the doom we, as humans, created for them; we decide who lives and who dies. With that
7 Monday, February 14, 2022
sobering reality in mind, the role zoos play in raising awareness, funding and conservation work presents an argument in favor of the fate of the species housed in responsible zoos and aquariums. My experience in conservation confirms this hypothesis. During my gap year, I spent six weeks as a volunteer at the Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. Known for its work with South Africa’s most charismatic seabird, the African penguin, SANCCOB’s wildlife rescue center plays host to 2,500 injured or ill birds in need of rehabilitation annually. These efforts come at a commensurate cost, relying upon financial support generated from the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town. During
my time at SANCCOB, the funding it received from the aquarium enabled the purchase of sorely needed supplies for rehabilitating seabirds, and the elated mood around the center reflected the financial desperation inherent to wildlife conservation. As I matured, the moral questions surrounding zoos morphed from “Is it morally justified to cage wild animals?” to “Does the sacrifice of the caged ensure the survival of their wild counterparts?” As the situation for wildlife gets critical, the interest generated by viewing animals up-close stands to be their best bet for survival. Ethan Jaskowiak is a senior studying biology. Ethan can be reached at ethan.jaskowiak@tufts.edu.
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8 Monday, February 14, 2022
SPORTS
Women’s basketball finishes regular season 19–3, looks ahead to NESCAC Tournament
tuftsdaily.com
Sam Dieringer The Step Back
Are superteams good for basketball?
J
KIANA VALLO / THE TUFTS DAILY
Tufts guard Joelle Zelony blocks Smith College’s attempt to score on Jan. 31. by Matt Chen Sports Editor
Over the weekend, the Tufts women’s basketball team completed regular season play with two hard-fought wins at Middlebury and Williams. The Jumbos finished the season with an overall record of 19–3 and a NESCAC record of 8–2. Tufts defeated Middlebury 77–71 and Williams 69–64, both in very close and exciting contests. In the game against Middlebury, the host Panthers took an early lead in the first quarter, finishing the first 10 minutes up 24–15. Middlebury continued its strong start to the game early in the second quarter, leading by eight points with just under four minutes left in the half. The Jumbos clawed back with an 11–0 run, capped off by a three from sophomore forward Maggie Russell to give Tufts a 35–32 lead. However, five points from Middlebury first-year guard Alexa Mustafaj gave the Panthers a 37–35 lead at the half. The Jumbos used a strong third quarter to take the lead heading into the fourth quarter. A three from graduate guard and co-captain Erin Poindexter-McHan gave the Jumbos a 60–55 lead before Middlebury used an 8–0 run to retake the lead. The Jumbos fought back to take the lead and eventually sealed the game on free throws. Senior guard and co-captain Molly Ryan led the Jumbos with 20 points while Russell and senior forward and co-captain Sofia Rosa both had double-doubles. Head Coach Jill Pace credited the team with sticking to its game plan in order to grind out the win against Middlebury.
She was impressed by the team’s efficacy in running its plays and strong defensive coverage. In another exciting game, the Jumbos defeated the Williams Ephs. A strong first half from the Ephs saw the hosts take the lead going into halftime. However, the Jumbos roared back in the third quarter, going up 50–39 and leading for the rest of the game. In what was an extremely backand-forth game, the Jumbos used efficient shooting and dominated the boards to hold on for a thrilling victory to close out the regular season. The first half saw both teams trade baskets and defensive stops, with the Ephs taking a 31–27 lead into the half. After a dominant third quarter that saw the Jumbos score 23 points and hold the Ephs to only eight points, multiple Jumbo turnovers allowed the Ephs to close the gap to seven. After another run from Tufts run, Williams cut the lead down to two points with about four minutes left in the game off a layup from first-year forward Arianna Gerig. The Jumbos held strong and closed out the game on free throws to cap off a game defined by runs. The duo of Russell and Rosa was once again dominant, with Russell posting another double-double and Rosa logging a teamhigh 22 points. The Ephs were led by 22 points apiece from Gerig and senior guard Maggie Meehan. With both games sealed by free throws, Pace mentioned the emphasis placed upon free throws in practice. “We like to try and shoot 80% as a team in practice”, Pace said. “It’s been impressive to see our team’s growth over the course of the season.”
The duo of Russell and Rosa down low has been nearly unstoppable all season long, with Russell averaging a double-double with 15.7 points and 12.1 rebounds a game and Rosa averaging 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds a game. Rosa credited the team’s success to its guards and Russell’s forceful defenses. “We have really great guards who put us in a great position and get us the ball down low so me and [Russell] can score”, Rosa said. “We’re lucky that we’re both big presences in the paint so you know, the defense may be attracted to one or the other, but it’s hard to guard to both of us.” Looking ahead to the NESCAC Championship tournament, both Pace and Rosa echoed that this postseason is dedicated to the past senior classes that either had a season cut short or canceled altogether due to COVID-19. “We’re playing not just for this year and everything that we worked hard for but you know, for those teams, so it’s 2021 and 2020 seniors who also lost their season,” Rosa said. Pace agreed, adding that the team has put in nearly five months of exceptional work to get to this place. “I think there’s definitely a little bit of extra motivation from [past seasons] but also from this year”, Pace said. The 2022 NESCAC Women’s Basketball Championship begins next weekend with first-round games on Feb. 18. Tufts finished the regular season as the No. 2 seed in the NESCAC, and will host the winner of the Hamilton (No. 10 seed) vs. Wesleyan (No. 7 seed) game on Feb. 20 at Cousens Gym.
ames Harden’s departure from the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday marked the end of one of the National Basketball Association’s premiere superteams. That being said, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and the 2021 Brooklyn Nets are merely the latest iteration of what has become an ever-increasing list of NBA superteams. According to Wiktionary, a superteam is “a team composed of three or more high-caliber players, especially one assembled by free agency or trades rather than by drafting.” In the last decade, the superteam movement took form and firmly latched onto the NBA for the foreseeable future. Conglomerates of star players joining forces on the same team became the latest and most appealing trend in professional basketball. This trend has brought with it high praise and intense criticism. On one hand, witnessing the league’s best come together on the court is something to behold. On the other, it can lead to minimal to no competition around the rest of the league. In today’s edition, I’ll analyze both cases and leave open the question of whether superteams are an asset or a burden to the game of basketball. Many consider the start of the modern superteam era to be in 2010, when LeBron James announced his decision to join forces with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh on the Miami Heat. In its few years in Miami, the trio was nothing short of spectacular. The same can be said about the Golden State Warriors in the latter half of the decade. Of course, on paper, these teams were unmatched with their combinations of talent, skill and flashiness. Naturally, this led to some concerns about the rest of the league and their competitiveness in relation to these superteams. But there’s one thing that I’ve learned from watching basketball for the majority of my life: it’s very unpredictable. With every Goliath, there’s a David. There’s a certain incomparable allure to the storyline of underdog teams finding some way to storm in and slay the giant. For there’d be no “Star Wars” without the Galactic Empire, no “Harry Potter” without Voldemort, no “Lord of the Rings” without Sauron. The same can be said about the NBA and superteams. When Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks captured last year’s NBA title, Giannis said all along that he wanted to do it “the hard way.” Although the tantalizing talent and riveting storylines that come with superteams are fun to daydream about, the harsh reality is that the overwhelming dominance of superteams almost always leads to subpar, lopsided gameplay. There is no doubt that the Warriors titles in 2017 and 2018 were some of the least exciting basketball in the history of the league. It’s true that one of the major reasons the NBA was created was to build a platform for competitive basketball. Key word: competitive. There’s no doubt that as NBA fans we’d much rather see close, nail-biting games across the league rather than one team dominating the rest. Balance in the NBA is key to its success, and not knowing exactly who could come out on top elevates the game to a whole new level of intensity.
Sam Dieringer is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Sam can be contacted at samuel.dieringer@tufts.edu.