The Tufts Daily - Thursday, April 25, 2024

‘Site of solidarity’: Students set up encampment for Palestine on Academic Quad

TCU Senate budgets over $2.9 million to campus organizations

Amid a national wave of encampments for Palestine on college campuses, Tufts students have set up tents on the Academic Quad to demand that Tufts divest from Israel and that charges against student protesters across the country be dropped.

Protesters first put up the tents on April 7 but temporarily took them down on April 17, in order to focus on a separate demonstration where they installed an “Apartheid Wall” on President’s Lawn. Students rebuilt the tents on Sunday evening after the arrest and suspension of more than 100 Columbia University students at their encampment over the weekend.

“In this moment of massive mobilization, we think it’s especially important to take up space on campus,” one student at the encampment said. “[We think it’s important to] provide a hub for organizing and engagement where people can plug into the ongoing efforts and find out what they can do that will be meaningful in solidarity.”

Students have been sleeping in the tents overnight, taking shifts throughout the day to ensure that there are people stationed there at all hours. At the moment, they plan to keep

H Mart to open in Davis Square

Dhruvii Mehta and Carly Cohen Staff Writer and University News

A new branch of the beloved Asian supermarket H Mart is expected to open in Davis Square, according to employees of company locations in both Burlington and Cambridge. One worker told the Daily over the phone that although the opening has been continuously delayed, she believes its doors will open this summer.

The store will open at 240 Elm St., according to an LLC filing made by H Mart CEO Il Yeon Kwon, to the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in June of last year. This property was previously home to the bfresh grocery store before it closed in October 2023 due to an inability to meet financial expectations. The space has remained vacant since.

H Mart did not respond to the Daily’s request for comment, nor did the building owner for 240 Elm St.

Famous for selling authentic Korean goods, H Mart’s opening in

Davis Square is an exciting prospect for many in the Tufts community. Jules Lee, secretary of the Korean Student Association, talked about her excitement about the potential opening.

“I grew up in New Jersey, and there’s a really big Korean community … so H Mart was the go-to grocery store that my parents and I always went to grow-

ing up as a kid,” she said. “It’s really cool having H Mart so close to us … because it reminds me of my family and the food that we eat.”

She explained the greater impact that the opening would have on the Tufts and Somerville communities.

The Tufts Community Union Senate finalized next school year’s student organization budget of over $2.9 million, approving it at its most recent meeting on Sunday. The 2024–25 academic year’s budget will rise 3.7% over this year’s budget of $2,843,373.

According to TCU Treasurer Dhruv Sampat, close to $2.7 million is expected to be raised by the student activity fee — the mandatory $396 expenditure included in students’ tuition. The remaining difference will be pulled from TCU’s surplus funding, bolstered by the COVID-19 pandemic that left on-campus student activities temporarily paused. Sampat spoke to the Daily about his goals in this budgeting cycle.

“My aim in going into this session was to essentially take money away from more established and bigger organizations where we can,” Sampat said. “To not squeeze them or force them to cut down on their things, but essentially be very mindful and allocate more money to smaller organizations that really need it.”

Sampat also shared that a large priority of his was to increase funding for student services and accessibility. The Student Support Fund, which covers the costs of activities for students under financial aid, was increased from $20,000 to $35,000. Additionally, club sports saw a $15,000 increase in order to reduce financial barriers in participating in club sports.

Funding for student organizations was organized into “councils,” divided by groups’ different focuses, such as pre-professional, performance or religious organizations.

Council 1, focused on cultural groups, is chaired by Senator Emily Childs. The council will see a 21% increase in its budget, rising from last year’s $156,504 to $190,000. Sampat justified the increase by sharing that many cultural clubs were in “desperate need of money” in order to build a community.

Council 3, chaired by Senator Rhoda Edwards, is the media council. This council covers all publications funded by the

Senate as well as other media-related clubs. The council’s budget cap was reduced from last year’s $116,574 to $104,226 — an 11% decrease. According to Edwards, this decrease is aimed at preventing excessive waste from printed copies and pivoting towards online publication. The Tufts Observer, the university’s oldest publication, will have a $20,000 budget next year, $7,000 less than the original budget the group requested.

According to the Observer’s Treasurer William Zhuang, the publication was told that its printing budget was cut because too many copies of the magazine were not picked up every publication cycle. In the last year, the Observer has gone from printing five issues a semester to just four, and the Senate has asked the publication to reduce the number of printed copies by 50%.

“Everyone who works at the Observer believes that we have a pretty special space and niche on campus,” Zhuang said. “This sort of very aggressive approach to decreasing our budget is destructive to our club morale a little bit, but also just makes us concerned for the future.”

Zhuang also believes that the budget cut creates unnecessary competition between campus publications fighting for TCU funding.

“It sort of creates this atmosphere where we feel like we’re competing against these other publications for these crumbs of money,” he said.

Sampat also spoke on the Observer’s budget cut.

“The effort here was not to try and cut funding for the Observer. … It was to be more efficient with how we’re allocating resources,” Sampat said. “If we can take money from an organization that doesn’t need it as much, we can give it to small organizations.”

Sampat shared that smaller publications did see budget increases; for example, Future Histories and the Current both saw increases between 30% and 40%.

The religious, performance, pre-professional and political advocacy councils all saw increas-

ESTELLE ANDERSON / THE TUFTS DAILY Tents at the “Gaza Solidarity Encampment” on the Academic Quad are pictured.

MATTHEW SAGE / THE TUFTS DAILY

240 Elm St., the former home of bfresh and the future location of H Mart, is pictured on a sunny afternoon.

Meet the three TCU Senate presidential candidates

Julieta Grané and Josue Perez Managing Editor and Staff Writer

Originally published April 23.

Three senators are vying to be the 2024–25 president of the Tufts Community Union Senate: Krystal Mutebi, Joel Omolade and Mikayla Paquette. Ballots will remain open from Thursday to Saturday.

In interviews with the Daily, each candidate highlighted the need for the Senate to serve as the voice for underrepresented groups on campus.

“Our executive board was predominantly POC. Our entire Senate was predominantly POC,” Omolade said. “All three candidates who are running for office right now are Black.”

Mutebi, a junior majoring in community health and minoring in biotechnology, is the current TCU vice president and was recently reelected to her fourth year as the women’s community senator. Mutebi shared her motivations for joining student government.

“I didn’t have an advocate for myself in high school,” Mutebi said. “I went to not only a white [high school], but I [was in] a group of Black students who felt like they weren’t represented. … So I started doing something about it, and advocating for not only myself but people I cared about. … I got to college, and I’m like, ‘I want to keep doing this.’”

On the Senate, Mutebi has worked with TCU President Arielle Galinsky to provide free menstrual products on campus and with former TCU President Jaden Pena to create the Empower Hour, which provides a space for female-identifying and nonbinary students to build confidence in the gym.

Mutebi’s platform centers on mental wellness and advocating for the unmet needs of marginalized students, according to her campaign statement. Also the president of the Ladies of Essence a capella group, Mutebi has advocated “for student participation in an art group to count as an art credit.”

If elected, she hopes to work with the Office of Campus

Life and identity centers to increase access to mental health resources.

Omolade is a junior double majoring in community health and political science. He is the current TCU diversity officer and was recently reelected as a Class of 2025 senator.

“I currently serve as the president of the RA union,” Omolade said. “I remember wishing Senate had a more active face when it comes to strikes and unionizing on this campus and being the forefront of that, rather than being reactionary.”

Omolade has served in the Senate for two years, having joined at the start of his sophomore year. In the Senate, he works on the Intercultural Council and created the Committee on Communities, Diversity and Inclusion to highlight cultural organizations.

“I currently serve as the co-chair of the [CCDI] with [Class of 2025 Senator] Tolulope Adewumi, and we have met with a lot of administrators about changing the food on this campus, making sure it’s better [and] more culturally sensitive,” Omolade said.

If elected, Omolade would create a Survivor’s Bill of Rights outlining the rights guaranteed to survivors of sexual assault by administration and campus organizations as well as a Student Advocacy Committee of student advocacy organization leaders to focus on dialogue concerning campus and world issues. He is campaigning on a platform of holding the university accountable to its promises

of equity, per his candidate statement.

Paquette was recently reelected for a third year as a Class of 2025 senator. A junior majoring in civic studies, Paquette is also a member of the women’s varsity basketball team.

“I have a different mindset when it comes to student leadership,” Paquette said. “I’ve been part of a team my whole life. … If we can have a team mindset with our student body, that is how we are able to endure, and empower and change.”

In the Senate, she is working on projects such as one with the vice provost of education to increase students’ civic engagement and SUMMIT, a town hall for female-identifying student athletes of all skill levels.

In a statement announcing her candidacy, she proposed improving academic equity and transparency via more frequent Canvas grade updates and reducing additional course material costs.

“We just hit $92,000 to attend this school,” Paquette said. “There is no reason why anybody should be spending $100 for a textbook. There is no reason that somebody should not be able to take a class or have to change their major because their major is too expensive.”

If elected, Paquette would create a Fall Celebration & Orientation for each class as they arrive back on campus in the fall to build community.

Each candidate shared what they saw as the most important issue facing the student body.

“Inaccessibility is a huge problem, not just [to] resources when it comes to funding, but also just to support for mental health,” Mutebi said. “There are students who are hurting in so many different ways, and they don’t have access to resources to help them in the classroom or outside of the classroom.”

“When there are opportunities for students to speak up and vocalize their concerns, our responses are sometimes shut down. I think we saw recently with the resolutions that got passed through Senate,” Omolade said. He spoke about being left confused and in disbelief when the administration nullified all passed resolutions within hours of the Senate decision.

“I think the biggest problem right now that we’re facing is that we don’t listen to each other,” Paquette said. “We don’t understand each other. We have this hotbed of potential — we have people from all over the world all in one place all trying to get an education, all growing. We aren’t working as a well-oiled machine.”

A debate between the three candidates was held on Wednesday from 8–9 p.m. in Joyce Cummings Center Room 270.

The Tufts Community Union Elections Commission announced on Monday afternoon that the election previously scheduled for Wednesday has been moved, and voting will now be open from noon on Thursday to noon on Saturday.

Matthew Sage and Rachel Liu contributed reporting.

COURTESY KRYSTAL MUTEBI, JOEL OMOLADE AND MIKAYLA PAQUETTE

Pictured left to right are Krystal Mutebi, Joel Omolade and Mikayla Paquette.

Students join national movement of encampments for Gaza

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the encampment in place indefinitely.

“One of our main demands is dropping the charges on students across the country who have received disciplinary violations and arrests in response to encampments,” one student explained. “As long as these demands are not met, we will continue to hold this encampment.”

“Gaza Solidarity Encampments” have been set up on college campuses across the U.S., including New York University, MIT and Emerson College.

But the focus should stay on Gaza, one student at the Tufts encampment emphasized.

“It’s really important to note that the encampment we set up is in solidarity with Palestine and Gaza,” the student said. “It’s because of a national call for encampments that started due to the situation in Columbia, but it is in solidarity with Palestine ultimately and primarily.”

Students explained that the encampment is not only a means of protest but also an educational space where community members can deepen their understanding of the situation in Gaza. There is a community library at the center of the tents, containing books that have mostly been donated by Tufts professors.

“We feel urgently that educating ourselves is an imperative that we have to center in this space,” one student said.

“It has been really wonderful to see people spending time in the space and reading the books and discussing them with each other. I’ve heard multiple times people explain something that they just learned from one of our books to somebody around them who isn’t reading the book.”

A student staying at the encampment pointed to the increased collaboration with local organizations for Palestine, as well as an out -

pouring of food, book and supply donations from community members.

“There [have] been two separate avenues of activism,” the student said. “There [have] been Medford and Somerville for Palestine and separately Tufts SJP. There’s been a really beautiful interlinking while the encampment has been up. Having a very physical presence on campus has provided a site for solidarity to be formed.”

The encampment’s visual presence on the Academic Quad, a frequent vantage point for campus tours, has drawn the attention of visiting prospective students.

“We’ve been handing informational flyers to tour groups and engaging in conversation with anybody who comes up to the tenting site,” a student said. “We’ve had a lot of meaningful and productive conversations with a lot of people who have a lot of different viewpoints.”

One student at the encampment shared that since tents were erected, interactions with the Tufts administration have been relatively minimal. However, protesters said they received complaints from administrators about putting signs on trees. Tufts University Police Department was previously dispatched during a vigil on April 8 for Palestinian lives lost.

“We had a vigil during our first set of encampments,” the student said. “And [a TUPD officer] came by and harassed people while they were sitting in vigil, and demanded that we take down the candles as they were a fire hazard.”

Patrick Collins, Tufts’ executive director of media relations, addressed the police presence in a statement issued after the vigil.

“In addition, standard university practice is to monitor public gatherings on campus to ensure the safety of all commu -

Student organizations budget grows 3.7% for 2024–25 year

continued from page 1

-es between 14% and 17%, with th engineering council receiving the largest increase of 27%.

Council 9, which encompasses all student governments, saw no change in its allotted budget. However, more money will be allocated to the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Student Government Association and towards stipends for members of the TCU Judiciary.

The Tufts University Social Collective experienced one of the largest budget cuts of this budget cycle: $200,000.

Sampat clarified that this reduction is more of a restructuring of TUSC’s budget and that the collective will be able to obtain money from the Senate Allocations Board for events that the $200,000 would have previously covered.

TUSC Executive Coordinator

Jade Altschul Matushenko shared with the Daily that this “collaborative” restructuring will actually be a positive change, as it will better handle the unforeseen costs of events and streamline the group’s “internal processes.”

nity members – both those who are demonstrating and those who are not,” Collins wrote in an email to the Daily. “The officer in the video was dispatched due to concerns about candles burning near nylon tents set up on the academic quad. Once the officer was able to observe that the candles did not appear to pose an immediate fire safety issue, he left the area.”

Students for Justice in Palestine are planning their next protest, “All Out for Palestine,” on Friday at 12 p.m. on the Academic Quad.

“Our cultural, academic and financial investments around the world are not separate from the concepts that we teach, and the liberatory ideologies that we claim to support and uphold,” a protester shared. “In having an educational space and also an organizing space … I think that it’s strengthened a lot of our relationships and strengthened [our] clarity of purpose and commitment.”

Former bfresh location to welcome new tenant

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“I feel like we don’t really have much of a Korean presence in Boston … so it’s good to finally have that grocery close to me,” she said.

Lee talked about the growing public awareness of Korean cultures and traditions and how the new H Mart will allow for more interactions with that culture.

“A lot of people are [becoming] more aware of … Korean culture through K-pop and K-dramas, and even Korean food, so I think a lot of people

already know what H Mart is,” she said. “H Mart doesn’t only serve Korean food, [the stores] have Japanese and Chinese groceries that are familiar to a lot of the Asian community. … It will be a cool way to explore our culture and have that cool interaction.”

While the potential opening is exciting to prospective customers, the cost of food at H Mart may serve as a barrier to access.

“I think [the H Mart in Cambridge] is pretty expensive, so I don’t know if the prices will be the same in the

one that’s [opening] in Davis. … Because of the prices and also how far [the H Mart in Cambridge] is, I think it is pretty inaccessible to Tufts’ students.”

Similarly, community members on social media platforms have raised concerns about the H Mart in Davis’ prices and thus lack of accessibility. The store’s prices have been described as more expensive than other markets in the area.

In addition to price concerns, there is discussion of the potential impact on other

Asian markets in the area. After H Mart’s Cambridge location opened in 2014, two other small Korean grocers in the area went out of business shortly after.

The first was Lotte Market and the next was Mirim Oriental Groceries, which went out of business in 2015.

But an employee from Reliable Market, another Asian supermarket in Union Square, said she is not worried about the future competition.

Although she declined to share her name, she spoke with the Daily over the phone about H Mart’s new opening.

“We don’t like it, but we don’t have any choice,” she said. ”[But] we’ve been here 40-plus years, so we have our clientele … a different customer base. Not students, mostly residents.” There are currently no grocery stores in Davis Square, and the nearest stores in neighboring areas are more than a 20-minute walk away. Lee believes having greater accessibility to groceries — “and also Korean food” — will be beneficial for students.

“We wish them all the luck,” the Reliable Market employee said.

ARI NAVETTA / THE TUFTS DAILY

The Joyce Cummings Center is pictured on March 2.

Chasya Cohen

Ruminations from Rabat

Ending on a high note

With only a week left in Morocco, my mind is scrambled with a million thoughts and feelings. Though I should be stressing about finals, I can’t help but stress about how to best end this amazing semester.

I’m conflicted — I want to fill this week with more core memories of my time in Morocco. I want to have a hundred new experiences and check off everything on my bucket list before I leave, but I try to remind myself of a conversation I had with my friend last semester while I was studying in Paris.

At the time, I was worried about not having enough exciting experiences abroad to look back on. I felt like when I talked to other people about their time abroad, they would always reminisce about the crazy, spontaneous things that they did. I felt like I wasn’t doing enough to amplify this kind of excitement in my life.

When I talked to my friend about my worries, she reminded me that the reason to study abroad is not for these crazy, grand experiences but actually to experience normalcy. When I look back at my time abroad, I’ll miss the little moments and parts of my daily routine that I built from scratch. Turning novelty and uncertainty into comfort and ease is, after all, the true beauty of studying abroad.

When I first got here I was not only in a new country, but a new continent. I spoke French but virtually no Arabic. I didn’t know anyone else who had ever studied abroad in Morocco, so I knew very little of what to expect. On top of all of this, people kept telling me how difficult it would be to adjust to Morocco as an American foreigner, which made me feel even more isolated.

But now, after four months which felt a lot more like four weeks, I have a routine.

Every morning, I do the New York Times Mini crossword over coffee and msemmen with my roommate. After the gym I get a juice at a stand in the mall where I converse with the cashier in Darija while I wait for my order, and most nights my friends and I get tea at a cafe near my house — a tradition we started during Ramadan but have carried on since it ended. These little moments in my routine are representative of the comfort that I created for myself in an otherwise new and daunting environment.

So in the midst of finishing my exams, checking off all the items on my ‘Everything I want to do before I leave Morocco’ list and squeezing in a quick trip to Marrakech this weekend, I need also to revel in this luxury of comfort that I didn’t previously have, for it is exactly what I’ll miss when I leave.

For anyone else grappling with ending their semester abroad, please take this rumination as advice and celebrate the normalcy you’ve created yourself while abroad.

FEATURES

Senior engineering students create interactive shadow mirror on display in Tisch Library

Molly Sullivan Staff Writer

Originally published April 23.

Since late February, many students walking in and out of Tower Café have paused to examine the interactive mirror in the Tower Gallery. The large, glowing structure has many small panels that mirror your movements as you walk by, captivating the attention of many.

The structure titled “Shadow Mirror" was constructed by Greg Osha and Gabe Moussa, both seniors studying mechanical engineering. While the two constructed multiple projects during their undergraduate career, most of their creations consisted of smaller classroom projects. For this project, however, they wanted to try something new.

“I think we wanted to try doing something longer term that would really take a lot of what we had done before,” Osha said.

The Shadow Mirror is located in Tisch Library, a space that functions as the permanent home of many art pieces, including sculptures and busts. Tisch also houses multiple temporary exhibitions, including a display of Tufts’ past presidents that was installed during President Sunil Kumar’s inauguration in the fall of 2023.

The process to have a piece of art or an engineering project put on display in the library is not as difficult as one might imagine. According to Dorothy Meaney, the director of Tisch Library, students and staff can either reach out directly to the library to display a piece or go through the Tufts University Art Galleries, which is what Osha and Moussa did.

“We have a lot of walls and we have certain spaces that are specifically designated for art,” Meaney said. “We’re really open to as much [art] as we can. … There [are] really a lot of [possibilities].”

While the Tisch Library staff and the Tufts University Art Galleries decided where the Shadow Mirror could find a temporary home, Osha and Moussa continued to dedicate time to working on it. Osha explained the extensive process of construction.

“You start with the easiest possible thing,” Osha said. “The first prototype was just one little cell of something poking in and out and seeing if we could feasibly do that. And then it’s hard to predict whether or not it will scale.”

The two planned out their build process on a computer before starting the physical assembly. This pre-planning allowed them to catch problems and possible malfunctions ahead of time. Additionally, the two creators had to figure out how much power the machine would need in order to make sure the wall could safely supply it. Ultimately, Osha and Moussa decided to purchase a PC tower off of Facebook Marketplace, as a smaller computer was not enough for the larger mirror.

After they tackled the logistics of the construction, Osha and Moussa began putting the physical mirror together with assistance from their friends as well as funding from the Tufts Robotics Club. “Assembly was a huge part of the project, just because of how large it is and how many nuts and bolts everything, so we had a bunch of friends help

us,” Moussa said. “We had build parties where we bought donuts and coffee and built some boxes for a few hours in the [Science and Engineering Complex].”

According to Osha, the entire build process took about a year. He recalled hitting a slump in the middle of the process, when the work piled up and the end felt out of sight.

“When you’re doing something 576 times, if you’re like, oh, let’s add a bolt here, you have to add that bolt 576 times,” Osha said, in reference to the 576 small panels of the mirror.

Despite the struggles, the two were able to prevail and complete their impressive project. Upon its completion, the Shadow Mirror was placed on display in Tisch Library on Feb. 25. Once it was up and running, Osha and Moussa spent time sitting by the mirror to watch people interact with it and gauge their reactions. They were excited to have created a piece of art that had reactive qualities and invoked emotional responses from the viewer.

“I think the interactive experience is just really cool and unique involving a physical system and movement and you get to see yourself interact with it in real time,” Moussa said. “We had a lot of joy playing around with it on a small prototype scale and as we were building it, people would come by and mess around.”

Meaney emphasized the importance of art pieces in Tisch — including the Shadow Mirror — as they serve to liven up the building and provide a better study environment for students.

“It creates an environment where people can react and interact with

whatever we have. When they curate an exhibition, like in the stairwell or something like that, it gives students an opportunity to see things that they wouldn’t ordinarily see without going all the way over to the art gallery,” Meaney said.

Notably, Tisch Library is open to the public, not just the Tufts community, which means that the art in the building is exposed to a wide variety of individuals. Meaney expressed her hope that those who view the art will feel a sense of inspiration.

“[The art] teaches people things and inspires creativity. For all of those reasons, we like to have art here,” Meaney said.

Osha spoke to the connectivity of art and engineering, especially at Tufts. Because the two schools — the School of Engineering and the School of Arts and Sciences — are so geographically connected, it is easy for students to explore multiple areas of study and create art pieces or engineering pieces that are interdisciplinary.

“It’s kind of fun to see how art can connect to engineering,” Osha said.

Although Osha and Moussa were amused by how people have been startled by the Shadow Mirror, they are most proud of how approachable and interactive the piece is. The piece constantly reflects the movements of those who walk by; consequently, its appearance is ever changing and unique to its viewer.

“I like the interactability,” Osha said. “You feel how you’re interacting with [the mirror] directly, and I think that’s great.”

You can view the Shadow Mirror in Tisch before it departs on June 1.

CARMEN SMOAK / THE TUFTS DAILY

The Shadow Mirror is pictured.

Chasya Cohen is a junior studying international relations and philosophy. She can be reached at chasya.cohen@tufts.edu.

Farming for a future

Originally published April 17.

Daniela Aldrich was living in New York City as a professional ballerina and had just finished apprenticing with the NYC Ballet when she began to feel disillusioned with the idea of a ballet career and yearned to go back to school. So Aldrich attended Dickinson College and during her time there, studied abroad in Brazil. While in Brazil she got to know local farmers and realized she wanted to make a career in farming. New Entry Sustainable Farming Project provided Aldrich with the opportunity to do just that.

New Entry was founded in 1998 as part of the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts.

“Our goal when the organization was first started was to make sure that we have future farmers that are trained to steward the land and continue to grow food,” Jennifer Hashley, the project director for the organization, said. “Our target audience at that point was immigrants and refugees who had farming backgrounds who were coming to find farming opportunities.”

“For the first many years of New Entry, we were really learning about what kind of programming was needed to support folks who didn’t grow up here to start farming in Massachusetts in a very temperate climate, instead of the tropical climate where many of our farmers from Southeast Asia or African countries or Latin America were coming from,” Hashley said.

When more people found out about New Entry and expressed interest in benefiting from their programming, the organization expanded in 2007 to serve all beginner farmers.

Now, New Entry’s services can be broken down into three major categories. First is the farmer training section which includes courses and workshops at the incubator farm in Beverly, Mass. The incubator farm program is three years long and provides beginners with both hands-on farming experience and guidance for navigating the business aspect of farming. Enrollment in the incubator program costs about $1,500 per year, plus fees.

Aldrich, who worked full-time through her three years in the incubator program appreciated the safety network and level of time commitment.

“I was doing very limited hours at New Entry, and I wasn’t able to go every day. So it was great because you are sharing a space and sharing resources with other farmers [and] it just feels like you’re not on your own as much,” she said. “The New Entry staff and farmer support team help you with questions you have about farming on the production side and also for developing a business.”

Thanks in large part to this support, Aldrich founded Dancing Harvest Farm in South Portland, Maine.

The second part of New Entry services is the Food Hub. The Food Hub helps distribute local farmers’ produce by aggregating and selling to the wholesale markets, farmers markets and Community Supported Agriculture programs.

“We’re trying to kind of steer away from some of the direct market outlets and really help the Food Hub focus on more wholesale institutional and food access markets that farmers aren’t going to be able to sell to directly on their own very easily,” Hashley said.

The final area of New Entry’s services is what Hashley calls the “national capacity building network.” New Entry was one of the first organizations in the country to create an incubator farm program aimed at training new sustainable farmers and in 2011,

A produce stand at a farmers market is pictured.

they created the National Incubator Farm Training Initiative.

“We started doing a national conference, we built toolkits, we had networking events regionally [and] we did technical assistance with up and coming programs,” Hashley said.

New Entry launched an apprenticing initiative to help other farming organizations “elevate” their own curriculums and training in 2016.

However, Hashley acknowledged that the New Entry cannot protect people from the challenges of the farming industry.

“An incubator model is one way to give people an opportunity where there’s already land [and] a supportive environment. The infrastructure is there and you just kind of come and start your business,” she said. “And then the real question that a lot of programs are asking themselves now is: Do we actually have a place for our farmers to graduate to?

The big challenges haven’t gone away; it’s still hard to find land and afford it and build all the infrastructure on a farm from scratch.”

Mohammed Hannan, who immigrated from Bangladesh in 2008, is a graduate of the New Entry’s incubator farm and founder of Hannan Healthy Foods, a certified organic farm in Lincoln, Mass.

“Finding land, particularly in the Northeast, is not easy unless you are a millionaire,” Hannan said.

He believes that if the incubator program could be extended from three years to five years, farmers would have a better chance to ground themselves in their new businesses.

“People would be able to manage the farmland while they are on the program,” Hannan said. “So, they could transfer all their skills and the customers to the new business.”

Despite these challenges, Hannan has found that the New Entry support network, especially the Food Hub, has continued to be helpful.

“One big thing is that New Entry buys produce from the graduate farmers, and we can still continue selling to them,” he said.

Katie Hankinson Dorms, Dishes and Delicacies

Bush Hall

Originally published April 22.

After a day full of dancing, singing, waiting in line and trying to touch Jordin Sparks’ hand at Spring Fling, the student body at Tufts was quite tired out — myself included. But what’s a better way to refuel after a long day than with a nice homemade meal? So, for my very last kitchen review this semester, I headed down to Bush Hall to make some quinoa-stuffed zucchini boats.

There have been very few times this semester when I’ve walked in and had an immediate reaction to a kitchen — good or bad. When I walked into the Bush kitchen, I was so pleased with the space that I just had to give it instant commendation. I was excited to get chefing and see all that it had to offer. As one of my guests put it, “I love this! It feels like an IKEA kitchen.”

I will start with functionality. The space was large with ample cabinet space and — get ready for this one — an oven! Paper towels were at my disposal right next to the sink (a sink that had a hose for washing dishes, I might add). There was an island that provided extra food preparation space, as well as seating for my guests.

This assistance is essential in an industry that isn’t geared toward uplifting small, local farms. Hannan works full time, in addition to his farm, to be able to support his family.

“Though [farming] is very important, I don’t think many people see it’s very important because farmers do not have good health insurance. They do not have access to money to send their kids to good schools,” Hannan said. “The truth is we all need food, but we don’t care where it is coming from. We want to pay bare minimum for the produce, ignoring where it is coming from and how it has been grown.”

New Entry aims to provide solutions for this sweeping issue through its tri-faceted approach. The industry still has a ways to go, and it will take more nationwide organizing which is why the organization works to affect public policy as well as engage the next generation.

New Entry has never received direct funding from Tufts’ budget, but it was founded by Hugh Joseph, an adjunct assistant professor at the Friedman School. Because of this Tufts connection, the organization is able to connect students to different pathways of involvement.

“We engage a lot of students through internships, directed studies, class research projects, whatever our students are interested in and we definitely try to provide those opportunities for students to engage with what we do,” Hashley said

For Hannan and Aldrich, their passion for cultivating fresh, high-quality food still burns strong. Hannan hopes to eventually dedicate full-time to his farm instead of balancing two jobs.

“I still like it — being outdoors and working with my hands,” he said.

Drawing parallels between the act of farming and ballet, Aldrich noted the love of movement and physicality required for both disciplines.

Aldrich said, “It feels like using your body for something greater, for a bigger picture.”

The stove top had five (!) burners and was easy to operate. My pot of water has never boiled so fast! Or maybe I’ve just finally learned how to operate an electric stove and actually turn the burners on. Either way, I was pleased with what Bush was providing in the functionality department.

I was also happy with the supplies that Bush had to offer. The countertop had various dishes that — for the most part — were clean. I took advantage of a large mixing bowl that was on the counter for combining all of the ingredients for my quinoa mixture. The cabinets were stocked with a number of ingredients and while I did not utilize any of them, it provided a sense of security as I made the meal.

However, Bush’s kitchen did have one weakness: cleanliness. The supplies, while abundant, were messily strewn about on the counter and the fridge was far from organized. The sink had a small pile of dirty dishes on one side. There was a plethora of mysterious substances dried onto the stove top.

The fridge was an interesting combination of being organized yet simultaneously containing various moldy and expired foods. There was definitely a smell upon opening it. I’ve seen worse, but I’ve also seen better. I rate Bush as just okay in terms of cleanliness.

Despite this shortcoming, Bush came through in the vibes department. The space is large, accommodating me and all of my diners with ease. It’s also blocked off from other parts of the common room, allowing me to focus on my craft. The meal received praise all around.

Overall ratings:

Functionality: 9/10

Supplies: 9/10

Cleanliness: 6/10

Vibes: 10/10

Recommendations: If you need an oven for any reason, Bush is the place to come! Bring friends and raise your expectations for this one.

Katie Hankinson is a first-year who has yet to declare a major. She can be reached at katherine.hankinson@tufts.edu.

ARTS & P OP CUlTURE & POP CUlTURE

Newport Jazz Festival celebrates its 70th anniversary this August

This year marks a monumental milestone for the Newport Jazz Festival: its 70th anniversary. Since its inception in 1954, the festival has showcased jazz giants like Ella Fitzgerald and Miles Davis, whose legendary performances have become a part of its rich history. As this summer’s gathering approaches from Aug. 2–4 at Fort Adams State Park, the festival not only celebrates its storied past but also its continuous pulse on the future of jazz.

Newport Jazz Festival is not just an event; it’s an institution that echoes the evolutionary journey of jazz itself. From the revolutionary sounds of the Sun Ra Arkestra to the soulful depths of Brittany Howard’s vocals, the festival promises a weekend of extraordinary musical breadth. The historical significance of Newport as a backdrop adds a profound sense of continuity and place to the performances, weaving together the old with the new in a setting steeped in musical heritage.

This year’s lineup is a vibrant tableau of jazz’s dynamic evolution. It features pioneering artists such as Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper alongside icons like Elvis Costello and André 3000, whose performances are highly anticipated by the festival’s diverse audience. The eclectic mix not only honors jazz legends of yore but also spotlights the innovators shaping its future.

A special tribute to Wayne Shorter, recently deceased jazz saxophonist, will feature Danilo Pérez, John Patitucci, Terri Lyne Carrington and Ravi Coltrane in a poignant remembrance of Shorter’s enduring influence. Meanwhile, Newport’s Artistic

Natalie Bricker

The Bookmark

‘Girl, Interrupted’

by Susanna Kaysen

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for “Girl, Interrupted” (1993) by Susanna Kaysen and the 1999 movie adaptation.

Content warning: This article contains mentions of suicide.

I’m not sure if I necessarily enjoyed reading this memoir, but it definitely sparked some contemplation and left me thinking about it days later, which is an indication of a good book. In “Girl, Interrupted,” Susanna Kaysen writes about her two year long experience in McLean Hospital’s psychiatric

Director Christian McBride is set to curate an ensemble that exemplifies the festival’s spirit of collaboration and innovation. The lineup of musicians reflects the continually changing identities of jazz festivals worldwide. Rather than only highlighting traditional jazz music, which has long been difficult to define, Newport Jazz has more mainstream artists like André 3000 and Elvis Costello headline lineups. Even Laufey, another headliner of the festival who tops jazz charts, arguably represents a more pop and classical-inflected form of the music. Consider the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage

unit, and her story is nothing short of remarkable. It’s fascinating to read about the inner workings of an in-patient psych ward from the perspective of a patient, and with her witty — and at times sarcastic — tone, the storytelling was entertaining and interesting to read.

I had the chance to attend her 30-year anniversary book event at a local bookstore, Porter Square Books, at which Kaysen spoke about the book and read some excerpts. (My fellow arts writer Jennifer May wrote about this event in more detail in an article published earlier this week, which you can read here). Kaysen’s stoic presence and deadpan quips echoed her writing from the memoir and contributed to my appreciation of her unique voice. It was interesting to hear her speak about the book that established her fame and prestige as an author and to hear her reflections on the impact the book and fame have had

Festival where the headliners were Ed Sheeran and Lizzo, artists with mainstream recognition but little connection to jazz. That is not to criticize Newport’s lineup — after all, Christian McBride, one of the most respected jazz musicians today, is the festival’s artistic director. Jazz has always been a genre of progress and evolution. Jazz greats like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis always tried to create something new. Perhaps this change in the lineups of jazz festivals to incorporate larger genres of music reflects the position and evolution of jazz today. Smooth jazz does not sell any-

on her life. She joked that she didn’t like the Academy Awardwinning film adaptation of her book, but “liked the check.”

Several audience members shared their stories from McLean’s in-person unit, the same one which Kaysen had attended when she was 18 years old. There were echoes of sentiments which Kaysen wrote in her introduction to the book’s 30th anniversary edition: “It was surprising to me how many people had been in a mental hospital or had what used to be called a nervous breakdown.” She goes on to say, “When I gave readings at bookstores, people came up to me afterward to tell me I had written their story. Often, they thanked me for my courage.”

Courage is a word that comes to mind when reading about Kaysen’s time in the hospital, because it takes ample courage to publish such raw truths. In the memoir, she uses heartbreaking prose to

more and the stereotypical idea of jazz has now become canonized. But the road forward might not be to keep gatekeeping traditional jazz music but to search for a new frontier and encourage cross-genre collaborations that festivals like Newport Jazz are promoting.

Beyond the music, the festival’s impact stretches into education and community engagement. The Newport Festivals Foundation actively supports music education programs, ensuring the legacy of jazz continues through new generations of musicians. This commitment to both preservation and progress is a testament

describe everything from her suicide attempt — “I woke up one morning and I knew that today I had to swallow fifty aspirin” — to her views on other patients — “We might get out sometime, but she was locked up forever in that body.”

Kaysen also includes careful reflections on what it’s like to live in a hospital compared to the ‘real world’ — “For many of us, the hospital was as much a refuge as it was a prison. … In a strange way we were free. … We had nothing more to lose.” Kaysen’s ability to detail her simultaneous hatred and appreciation for her surroundings is remarkable and allows readers to better understand her time in the hospital.

As far as memoirs go, Kaysen wrote hers in a format that pushes against the ‘traditional’ memoir format readers are familiar with today. She’s rebellious in her writing style, using blunt language and dark humor at times, as well as

to the festival’s foundational role in the jazz community.

As attendees from around the globe converge on Newport, they will find themselves part of a living history, participating in a festival that not only showcases jazz but fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of its enduring influence. This anniversary is not just a celebration of Newport’s past achievements but also a hopeful beacon for jazz’s future.

Prepare to immerse yourself in the legacy and future of jazz at the 2024 Newport Jazz Festival, an event that honors history while also exploring new horizons.

including copies of the actual nurse reports and med charts from her hospitalization.

Overall, this was a very interesting read, and one that’s quite quick if you’re looking to break into the memoir genre but don’t know where to start. While I enjoyed other memoirs more — namely, “Wild” (2012) by Cheryl Strayed and “The Glass Castle” (2005) by Jeannette Walls — Kaysen’s memoir provided a unique interpretation of the genre that I hadn’t read before.

I’ll leave you with a quote to consider which touches on a more negative aspect of the environment of the hospital: “[Lisa] had a therapist, but he used her hour to take a nap.

… The only power [the therapists] had was the power to dope us up.”

Matthew Winkler Arts Editor

VIA GLEN ZAZOVE / FLICKR Herbie Hancock performs at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2019.

Natalie Bricker is a senior studying English. Natalie can be reached at natalie.bricker@ tufts.edu.

‘Abbott Elementary’ explores the ups and downs of education

Afua Siaw Contributing Writer

Who knew that watching a show about school could be so interesting? “Abbott Elementary” (2021–) executes it perfectly, offering a refreshing and unexpected perspective on the challenges faced by teachers and students in the halls of a Philadelphia public school. The series was created by Quinta Brunson, multitalented actress, comedian, writer and content creator. Brunson attended Temple University, where she is set to get an honorary degree and the 2024 Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award before the university’s 137th commencement. She dropped out of Temple after her sophomore year and began uploading content on Vine and Instagram, where she started to gain traction. She found popularity with her Instagram series “The Girl Who’s Never Been On a Nice Date,” and in 2014, she joined BuzzFeed as a video producer and content creator, where she created relatable pop culture-inspired content. Brunson’s web series include “Broke” and “Up For Adoption” — her performance in “Broke” was nominated for a Streamy Award for Best Acting in a Comedy in 2017. This success led her to make appearances and voice act on shows such as “Big Mouth,” “A Black Lady Sketch Show,” “Quinta vs. Everything,” “iZombie,” “Magical Girl Friendship Squad” and “Lazor Wulf.”

However, Brunson experienced several challenges along the way. After leaving BuzzFeed in 2018, Brunson starred in a CW pilot titled “The End of the World as We Know It” and a CBS pilot called “Quinta and Jermaine,” in which Brunson and Jermaine Fowler played

Ishaan Rajiv Rajabali Brown and (Usually) Blue

Salman Rushdie’s ‘Knife’ is sharply witty, brilliant

Originally published April 24.

Salman Rushdie, famed Indian novelist, seems to have occupied the liminal space between fame and notoriety since the beginnings of his literary career. His second novel “Midnight’s Children” (1981) won him fame, admiration and the Booker Prize; his fourth, “The Satanic Verses” (1988), forced him

longtime friends dealing with an unplanned pregnancy — neither show was picked up. In 2021, she released her first book, “She Memes Well,” a series of essays in which she gives advice about how to make it in the industry and describes her journey to develop her humor while remaining connected to her roots. That same year, her persistence and dedication finally paid off when ABC picked up “Abbott Elementary,” a sitcom inspired by one of her elementary school school teachers, Joyce Abbott, as well as her mother’s experiences as a teacher.

On the show, Brunson plays Janine Teagues, an optimistic second-grade teacher. At Abbott Elementary, an underfunded predominantly Black school, a camera crew documents the teachers who help their students succeed despite their lack of resources. With a 99% average Tomatometer and 82% average audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, the show is clearly popular, and what makes it loveable is

to go into hiding as he reckoned with the potent forces of censorship and violence. It is not challenging to find an author with a life as tumultuous as the stories they spin, but rarely is it as brilliant as Rushdie’s. And this brilliance continues to define his work, as proven by his 2024 memoir “Knife: Meditations

After an Attempted Murder,” published this April, a mere two years after he was attacked on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in August 2022.

In “Knife,” Rushdie bares his heart and soul for his audience, delving deep into the web of trauma, struggle and fortitude that recovery from his attack has demanded of him. Having spent a great deal of his life coping with the fatwa issued against him by the Iranian government for “The Satanic Verses,” he is tired of running. His latest book reads as a celebration of strength, an ode to the solidarity of family, friends and readers, and, most important-

the cast. Jacob Hill (Chris Perfetti), the school’s awkward white history teacher, is Janine’s loyal friend. Barbara Howard (Sheryl Lee Ralph) is traditional, religious and well-respected as one of the school’s most experienced teachers.

Alongside them are the confident Melissa Schemmenti (Lisa Ann Walter), whose shady connections with locals aid Abbott and Gregory Eddie (Tyler James Williams), a substitute teacher turned permanent hire who ends up becoming Janine’s love interest. The school’s principal, Ava Coleman, is played by none other than Janelle James. Coleman is everything a principal shouldn’t be: tone-deaf, inexperienced and more focused on her side hustles and followers than her job. She will never miss an opportunity to insult Janine. Finally, Willam Stanford Davis plays the talented, overqualified and hilarious Mr. Johnson, the school’s janitor. This show never fails to incorporate amazing guests such as Philadelphia Eagles play-

ly, a defiant statement of vitality. Rushdie takes ownership of being attacked and gives it back to the shadow of hate that has followed him in the best way possible: by living. Not existing. Living. Rushdie’s striking talent to weave a host of subjects into a single narrative gives readers a raw yet cohesive insight into the workings of his mind. His meditations take us through philosophical meanderings on privacy, earnest vulnerability on the nature of wounds both physical and mental, and sardonic takes on generational shifts. There is a gratifying universality to his musings and memories. Anyone stricken by a crush will relate to his embarrassment at walking into a glass door upon first meeting his future wife, poet Rachel Eliza Griffiths. This book is also a love letter to her support and strength through his recovery, tracing their journey from their very first meeting in 2017.

ers Brandon Graham, Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce as well as musician Questlove and TikTok comedian Sabrina Brier. Season 3 premiered in February following the conclusion of the SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, and with 45 episodes broadcast and a fourth season on the way, “Abbott” shows no sign of slowing down. The series has received critical acclaim, winning Golden Globes, Emmys, NAACP Image Awards, Television Critics Association Awards and Critics Choice Awards. This season is different from the previous two, as Janine makes a career-changing decision to leave the classroom and pursue a job working for the district, fueled by her passion to find solutions to the problems she faced as a teacher. However, throughout the season, she has difficulty leaving Abbott and letting go of control. She is quick to accept a full-time position, but ultimately decides to quit the district job in the same episode. Some fans felt as if this decision was

Ownership and agency pervade as key themes in Rushdie’s memoir. He consciously deprives his wouldbe killer of a name, referring to him as “A,” and even turns the attacker’s “twenty seven seconds of fame” into four imagined interviews in a chapter. He takes hold of the narrative, refusing to be seen as a victim. Despite having endured police protection and assassination attempts, a life in hiding is what seems to have taken the hardest toll. In such moments, Rushdie muses that only he could dictate when it would be safe again. Accusations of blasphemy, allegations that he considers untrue, nevertheless hold the potential for violence. He commits to pushing back against false narratives in this second chance that he has received.

Rushdie’s reflections do not operate in a vacuum today. As India heads to the polls this month, and the nation continues to negotiate with its “tryst with destiny” (to quote our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal

rushed, and others just didn’t like the storyline, arguing that a sudden career shift seemed inauthentic for Brunson’s character. Fans also commented on how this impacts the ongoing slow burn romance between Janine and Gregory.

As the season progresses, there’s still so much potential for plot twists and surprises for these characters. “Abbott Elementary” serves as a platform to spark important conversations about education, social justice, institutional racism and systemic inequalities. Representation matters and seeing these diverse characters from different backgrounds validates the experiences, challenges and triumphs predominantly Black schools face, especially since these are typically ignored or sidelined by mainstream media. Ultimately, “Abbott Elementary” not only entertains but also teaches and inspires. If you haven’t already, add “Abbott Elementary” to your list of binge-worthy shows!

Nehru), Rushdie’s words are more relevant than ever. The hatred that drove his attacker is no different from what is being peddled in the largest democracy in the world, as we so proudly call ourselves. The legal label of ”hurt sentiments" has been used to oppress and attack minorities, silence sources of dissent and even rewrite history. How can one combat narratives of fear, especially those that are distorted for the purpose of division? By writing stories of hope, tales to unite a polarized society. It is perhaps best said in Rushdie’s own words, in a speech he gave at the United Nations in 2022. Describing Orpheus, the Greek hero who kept singing even after his head was torn from his body, Rushdie said, “We can emulate Orpheus and sing on in the face of horror, and not stop singing until the tide turns, and a better day begins.”

Ishaan Rajiv Rajabali is a sophomore studying political science. Ishaan can be reached at ishaan_rajiv.rajabali@tufts.edu.

VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

The logo for "Abbott Elementary" is pictured.

by The Editorial Board

Journalists play a crucial role in documenting humanitarian catastrophes by holding truth to power and telling stories when there is no one else to tell them. For over six months, while facing unimaginable challenges, Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been telling the world the truth about Israel’s actions in Gaza — actions which, as described by U.N. experts, constitute genocide. We, the Daily’s Editorial Board, encourage following and listening to Palestinian journalists in order to have an informed view of the situation in Gaza.

U.S. mass media has covered the genocide dishonestly, using biased phrasing to subtly legitimize Israel’s actions. Israel bans international journalists from reporting in Gaza except for a select few under military escort. This one-sided journalistic practice amplifies the narrative of the Israel Defense Forces. However, Palestinian journalists in Gaza have been independently reporting on life in Gaza and its loss. Many Palestinian journalists have seen their families slaughtered and face death themselves yet have continued to show the world the truth of what is happening in Gaza. Their bravery and commitment to honest journalism should stand as a testament to what the profession as a whole should strive to be.

On supporting Palestinian journalism in Gaza

These journalists are providing perspectives that are otherwise unavailable, so listening to these journalists is crucial to having an informed opinion on the events in Palestine. In particular, Hind Khoudary and Bisan Owda’s coverage of the genocide has been impactful and unwavering.

These journalists face monumental challenges, as Israel’s bombing of Gaza has demonstrably targeted Palestinian journalists. Shuruq As’ad, a member of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, told The Nation, “I don’t think the targeting is hap-

pening just because they want to block our images and words, even though, of course, that is part of it.

… Their goal is to make civil society impossible in Palestine, and journalism is a big part of that.”

Israeli actions have killed at least 137 journalists in Gaza since Oct. 7. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, “more journalists have been killed in the first 10 weeks of the Israel-Gaza war than have ever been killed in a single country over an entire year.”

One such journalist killed in Gaza was Samer Abu Daqqa. Abu Daqqa, a journalist for Al Jazeera,

was reporting at a school when an Israeli strike badly injured him. Israeli officials prevented an ambulance from reaching Abu Daqqa for five hours while he bled out and died. Abu Daqqa’s death is not an aberration. Although Israeli violence against journalists has certainly intensified since Oct. 7, it is nothing new. Since 2000, Israel has bombed media towers in Gaza and murdered dozens of Palestinian journalists, such as renowned Al Jazeera reporter Shireen Abu Akleh. Abu Akleh was shot in May 2022 by Israeli forces, who subsequently

lied about Abu Akleh’s death and attacked her funeral procession. Israeli violence against journalists, be it before or after Oct. 7, is entirely unacceptable. When journalists anywhere are targeted, the existence of journalism itself is threatened, and the work of Palestinian journalists right now is incomprehensibly brave and incredibly important. In the words of the late Shireen Abu Akleh, “I chose journalism to be close to the people. It might not be easy to change the reality, but at least I could bring their voice to the world.”

We need to move beyond the terms ‘pro-Palestine’ and ‘pro-Israel’

While engagement with the Israel-Palestine conflict has increased dramatically since the Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, 2023, it is far from a new topic at Tufts University. The Daily’s website includes articles on the subject dating back to 2000, and I am sure that many more exist in the physical archives of the Daily and other Tufts publications.

Since at least 2000, the terms “pro-Palestine” and “pro-Israel" have graced the pages of the Daily and existed within the discourse on our campus.

With only two options, people tend to align themselves in favor of one side and against the other. This same “us vs. them” mentality has led to increased polarization between Republicans and Democrats in the United States. Heightened levels of Islamophobia and antisemitism show the tangible effects of this polarization and the dehumanization that stems from it. At Tufts, students who sympathize with both perspectives have been invalidated by their peers. One Jewish student noted on Sidechat that they could not express worry for their family in Israel without their comments being construed as “supporting genocide.”

Meanwhile, a comment on the Muslim Students Association’s Vigil for Palestine post states “How about the hostages?” which implies that Muslim students cannot or should not mourn the deaths of Palestinians without referencing the Israeli hostages.

But pro-Palestine and pro-Israel platforms are not mutually exclusive — depending on the definition you have for each. “Pro-Israel” can include those who unequivocally support the military actions currently being waged in the Gaza Strip, where over 34,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children, have been killed. These actions have been taken

by a government that has dehumanized Palestinians by deriding them as “human animals” and wants to erase “the Gaza Strip from the face of the Earth” — rhetoric that has been used to argue that Israel is committing genocide. Meanwhile, “pro-Palestine” can include those who would like to see all Israelis removed — through unclear and possibly violent methods — from the whole of modern Israel, along with the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Many positions lie between these, from calls for a ceasefire to those still hoping for some version of a two-state solution.

Even in Israel and Palestine, opinions vary much more widely

than these two phrases suggest. Palestinian support for Hamas has dropped sharply from 46% in December of last year to 34% as of this March. In Gaza, support for “armed struggle” has dropped sharply, and many more Gazans are now in favor of a two-state solution. Meanwhile, though most Israelis continue to support the war, approval of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government and its policies is dwindling, as many blame him for prioritizing his own power over negotiating a ceasefire deal to get the hostages released. At a rally of around 50,000 in

Mariia Kudina

Ukraine at War

New aid package and myths about Nazism

Around the same time as the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $60.8 billion aid package for Ukraine, one representative voiced concerns regarding “Nazi” ideologies in Ukraine. Timothy Snyder, the Richard C. Levin Professor of History and Global Affairs at Yale University, who specializes in the history and politics of Eastern Europe, debunked the myths about Nazism in Ukraine at the hearing. He proved that, on the contrary, the Russian government is “fascist in character.” Countering Russian propaganda that accuses Ukraine of Nazism is essential for the formation of an accurate idea about the country’s government in the eyes of the international community and, therefore, gaining the support necessary for defense.

During a congressional hearing on Chinese political warfare on April 17, where Representative Majorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., accused Ukraine of supporting Nazism, Snyder highlighted that “no far-right party has ever crossed 3% in a Ukrainian election” but “in Russia, on the other hand, the army includes openly Nazi formations.” Moreover, the Russian government is known for illegally transferring Ukrainian children to Russia — attempting to erase their Ukrainian identity, “the open intention of destroying a state,” and “mass torture.” Prior to making claims about alleged Nazism in Ukraine, one should research the topic by utilizing independent journalistic sources and peer-reviewed studies instead of articles on pro-Russian channels like Sputnik and Russia Today, which were banned in the EU two years ago due to spreading disinformation. The issue with false accusations of Nazism lies in people’s nature to generally easily believe provocative statements without fact-checking them; this is especially dangerous when such statements may hinder global support for Ukraine.

Fortunately, for now, it appears that only the minority agrees with propagandistic claims about Ukraine as many countries continue to support its defense, and the country seems to be on the way to receiving the resources necessary for continuing the fight for its independence. The news about the new aid package has been met with great enthusiasm and hope in Ukraine. In addition to desperately needed air defense systems and weapons, the package might for the first time include powerful long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems. ATACMS have the ability to alter the fighting on the ground, as according to The Guardian, it is “highly prized by the Ukrainian army for its firepower, speed of deployment and accuracy.” Currently, Ukraine only has access to a version that fires a distance of 102 miles, but newer versions can fire roughly 186 miles, which makes a great difference on the battlefield.

Returning home for summer break, I cannot help but think about how drastically even those Ukrainians who are not in the military are affected by the war. The missile and drone attacks and their consequences, which range from power outages to losing loved ones, touch everyone in one way or another. It is heartbreaking to once again realize the striking differences between living in Ukraine at war versus in a country at peace like the U.S.

Two terms cannot capture complexity of issue

TERMS continued from page 9

Jerusalem in early April, calls rang out for Netanyahu’s resignation.

Now more than ever, our campus is deeply divided. Of course, many students remain uninvolved, but the most vocal on both sides of the issue — claiming the aforementioned labels — have driven the discourse. As I see it, the pro-Palestine and pro-Israel camps have largely been identified by their most extreme voices. That’s not to say that Tufts students don’t hold some of the more extreme views on the conflict — many do. But by pushing this binary, both sides lose support for their most popular goals.

At this point, a majority of Americans disapprove of Israel’s military actions in Gaza and oppose sending more military aid to Israel. Yet, many students, Jewish and otherwise, feel alienated from “pro-Palestine” groups on campus that they feel have been antisemitic and have expressed support for the violent destruction of Israel. Some students have made antisemitic statements on Sidechat, including one post, which reads, “If you support Israel

you’re a nazi.” This is not to mention the email from Students for Justice in Palestine, which made national news for praising the “creativity” of the Oct. 7 attacks. Some Tufts students have indicated that, though they consider themselves broadly “pro-Palestine,” they feel that the only space to express that at Tufts is through Students for Justice in Palestine, an organization they feel uncomfortable with for the aforementioned reasons.

Meanwhile, “pro-Israel” students have been calling for the administration to do more to combat rising antisemitism. Antisemitism has certainly increased, and working against it is something many Tufts students value. Yet, some have weaponized claims of antisemitism, weakening our ability to effectively combat it, as argued in a Harvard Crimson op-ed by Bernie Steinberg, former executive director of Harvard Hillel. He argued that there is a “cynical weaponization of antisemitism by powerful forces who seek to intimidate and ultimately silence legitimate criticism of Israel and of American policy on Israel.” Steinberg’s statement referred to how “pro-Palestine” protest-

ers at Harvard were doxxed for being antisemites, with some receiving death threats and losing job offers after several student groups released a statement holding Israel responsible for the Oct. 7 attack. Many of those doxxed were only tangentially affiliated with the groups involved and played no part in the statement. Additionally, here at Tufts, “pro-Israel” students have called Jewish students protesting in support of Palestine “self-hating” Jews or otherwise tried to invalidate their Jewishness. This is inherently antisemitic, and this hateful rhetoric must also be combatted.

Ultimately, I am certain that “pro-Israel” does not define my views on this issue — I could never be in favor of a state that is causing the scale of death and destruction we see in Gaza. Yet, the “pro-Palestine” movement at Tufts is not one I’m comfortable with either. Many of my peers feel the same. As the conflict worsens and the death toll mounts, I urge the Tufts community to stop restricting itself to an alienating binary in order to do more — through discourse, advocacy or donation — to aid those suffering in Gaza right now.

Carm should allow gluten a seat at the table

Juliet Chehade Staff Writer

I lived in Carmichael Hall during my first year at Tufts, so naturally I would frequent Fresh at Carmichael Dining Center. Dewick-MacPhie Dining Center, Hodgdon Food-on-the-Run, Pax et Lox Glatt Kosher Deli and Kindlevan Café were all wonderful options; however, they required a trek downhill and back up again. While all of these locations were admittedly less than a 15-minute walk from my dorm, that journey wasn’t one I was willing to make most of the time, especially not after a long day of classes or on a cold winter night. I was thus stuck with going to Carmichael Dining Center (dubbed “Carm” by many), the only uphill dining option. Unfortunately for me, Carm is entirely gluten-free.

When I ate at Carm, I noticed that although it’s gluten-free, it generally had more creative dishes than Dewick. Some of those dishes, such as the cauliflower gratin or bamboo beef, were quite

good, and I was initially impressed by the unique array of food. However, once the novelty wore off, I began to feel the absence of staple foods such as bread and pasta. The gluten-free alternatives provided by Carm were simply unenjoyable. Every couple of months I’d try the gluten-free bread again, thinking it would be better than I remembered. It never was. More often than not I’d leave the dining hall feeling unsatisfied with my meals, sometimes even braving the hike to Hodgdon afterward to pick up something more fulfilling.

This year, I live downhill near a wider variety of food options and can therefore appreciate the relatively few meals I eat at Carm. The current entirely gluten-free menu is good only if you are eating it occasionally. However, for many students residing uphill, Carm is the go-to dining hall. Because it’s gluten-free, Carm is unable to serve foods such as pizza, pasta and chicken tenders in their traditional forms.

As Carm is one of Tufts’ only two dining halls and is the only dining facility located

uphill, it should not be completely gluten-free.

About 0.6% of people in the U.S. have celiac disease and require a strict gluten-free diet. While this statistic may not perfectly represent the Tufts population, it is likely that the vast majority of students would not require a gluten-free dining hall. Carm should adopt a gluten-free station, similar to Dewick’s ALL 9 FREE station, for those with dietary restrictions, without being completely gluten-free. Carm could still commit itself to making the majority of its meals gluten-free, as 20–30% of people in the U.S. choose to follow a gluten-free diet. However, the dining hall should also have basic options with gluten for those who want them.

Diversifying the food available at Carm to include gluten would be a win-win situation. Those who need or prefer a gluten-free diet would still have available options, but those who want a diet including gluten would also be satisfied.

Carmichael Dining Center is pictured on April 24.

Mariia Kudina is a junior studying studio art. Mariia can be reached at mariia.kudina@tufts.edu.

Women’s lacrosse takes down No. 23 Amherst

On Saturday, the Tufts women’s lacrosse team traveled to Amherst, Mass. to engage in a high-stakes battle with the Amherst College Mammoths. This clash between two collegiate lacrosse powerhouses was not just a game but a testament to the Jumbos’ prowess, as they entered the field ranked No. 3 in the country, facing a formidable Amherst side ranked No. 14. Sophomore attacker Allie Zorn discussed how the team’s approach differs against highly-ranked teams.

who also found the back of the net twice in the quarter. While Amherst was able to string together two goals toward the end of the quarter with three total tallies, Tufts went into halftime up four with a score of 10–6.

With energy flowing, the Jumbos went into the break feeling confident that they could continue this scoring onslaught and get a win to bounce back after their recent loss to the Middlebury Panthers. However, the momentum swung during the third quarter. Amherst came out of the half ready for a comeback. Tough performances at the faceoff circle saw the

defensive end and then [we were able to capitalize] on offense.”

Lesperance finished with a game-high 7 points on three goals and four assists, while Zorn finished with a team-best four goals and added two assists. The Jumbos’ offense was lethal on Saturday, outshooting the Mammoths 29–24 and finishing all 14 of their clear chances. On the defensive end, junior defender Genna Gibbons finished with two ground balls and two forced turnovers, while junior goalie Pascale de Buren and Powless split time, combining for four saves. With this victory, the Jumbos clinched a home NESCAC

“We definitely, in practice, will change things up with the defense for what we’re playing against,” Zorn said. “We’ll have a scout group that’ll try to mimic the other team. … I wouldn’t say it’s drastically different. We treat every opponent pretty similarly in terms of how hard we prepare for them. But, we’re definitely conscious and aware of what we expect to see from everybody.”

Hoping to stay near the top, the Jumbos came out firing and jumped to an early two-goal lead with goals from senior midfielder Madeline Delaney and junior attacker Caroline Conaghan. Despite the early lead, three goals from Amherst and another Tufts goal scored by Delaney saw the first quarter end with the teams tied at three goals apiece, setting up what was sure to be a thrilling rest of the game.

In the second quarter, the Jumbos displayed their nationally recognized offense, netting seven goals on eight shots. The goals came from senior midfielder Emma Joyce; junior midfielder Ella Lesperance, who netted two; first year midfielder Schuyler Lloyd; sophomore midfielder Elsa Schutt; and Zorn,

Jumbos struggle to maintain possession, allowing the Mammoths to stay on the offensive the whole quarter and put in five goals to end the quarter only down one goal to the Jumbos with a score of 12–11. While goals from Zorn and sophomore midfielder Kate Deehan ensured that Tufts had the lead going into the fourth quarter, the pressure was most definitely back on. The fourth quarter saw the Jumbos get the momentum back, as Joyce netted an unassisted goal early on before a string of goals from junior attacker Margie Carden, Lesperance and Zorn pushed the Jumbos ahead to a fivegoal lead with a little over 5 1/2 minutes remaining. Carden tallied one more after Amherst got its sole goal of the quarter, and this heated game ended in a 17–12 win for Tufts.

“We definitely started winning more draws [after] we had a rough third quarter in the circle. So just getting more possession was good,” Zorn said. “[First-year goalie] Sophie Powless came in in net, which I think gave us a lot of energy defensively, [forcing Amherst to play] a little bit more on the

Owen Short Moments ‘til Madness

Best hires from the coaching carousel

Now that we are a couple of weeks out from the national championship game, the offseason is in full swing and the coaching carousel has almost completed its course. We already had what is most likely the biggest storyline of the summer with the University of Kentucky and John Calipari mutually parting ways, and the program hiring former Brigham Young University head coach Mark Pope to fill the role. We had other big high-major coaching changes like Pat Kelsey to the University of Louisville and Dusty May to the University of Michigan. Here are my favorite moves from the carousel as of now.

Kyle Smith to Stanford University

During Jerod Haase’s eight years at Stanford, the Cardinals had just one season over .500 in Pac-12 play with no NCAA Tournament appearances. Their new Head Coach Kyle Smith has already turned around another team in the conference, Washington State University, earning a No. 7 seed in March Madness last season to end the school’s 16-year absence from the NCAA Tournament. Although Stanford will be joining the ACC Conference next season, it won’t be too far of a step up for the team, and Smith has shown his ability to win conference games. While it will take some adjusting, I think this new era for the Cardinals could be a good one.

Chris Holtmann to DePaul University

It’s hard to find a year where the Blue Demons weren’t in either dead last or second to last in the Big East. After a very forgettable three years of Tony Stubblefield, the Holtmann hire feels like a move in the right direction for DePaul. Not only does he have experience coaching in the Big East, but during his time at Butler University, he made the tournament in all three of his years as head coach. This would eventually lead to his move to Ohio State University, where he made four tournament appearances. Holtmann still has his work cut out for him, with DePaul being easily the hardest job in the conference, but his track record speaks for itself.

Darian DeVries to West Virginia University

quarterfinal game on Saturday. With one game remaining in the NESCAC regular season, Tufts must wait to see who their opponent will be, and they faced No. 24 Bowdoin College on Wednesday, winning 17–7. The victory sees Tufts secure an impressive second place behind an incredibly dominant Middlebury team.

With the NESCAC playoffs and the national championship approaching, Zorn talked about the excitement the Jumbos have.

“I definitely feel like we have a really good chance this year to do some damage,” Zorn said. “[I’m] definitely disappointed by the losses earlier in the season to two of the higher-ranked NESCAC teams [in Middlebury and Wesleyan], but [I’m also] excited by the opportunity to get back at them. I think everyone wants to see those guys later. Obviously [we are] focusing on the game right in front of us, but [we are] just excited about the opportunity to show what we feel like we fell short of a little bit earlier in the season. And hopefully [we will] win a NESCAC championship and national [championship this year].”

Most know about the Bob Huggins fiasco that led to West Virginia losing their Hall of Fame head coach. With this hire, I think Mountaineers fans should be very happy. DeVries turned an almost unheard of Drake University into a regular in March Madness in his last four years at the school. It’s hard to argue with 20 or more wins for six straight seasons and three tournament appearances. Following a brutal 9–23 season, West Virginia should be back in good hands with DeVries.

Jake Diebler to the Ohio State University

Firing Chris Holtmann on Feb. 14, Deibler took on the interim head coaching role and fully exceeded expectations. Starting his tenure with an absurd win against Purdue University, the No. 2 team in the country at the time, he led the Buckeyes to a 5–2 record for the remainder of the season. Ohio State is one of the sport’s biggest jobs, and it says something that Deibler was able to win the position with all the high-profile candidates to whom it could’ve been given. Being that he’s shown he can win and has full confidence from the athletic department, I have lots of faith in this hire by the Buckeyes.

Owen Short is a sophomore studying quantitative economics. He can be reached at owen.short@tufts.edu.

Zachary Myers Staff Writer

COURTESY TUFTS ATHLETICS

Kathryn Fernandopulle is pictured in the April 13 game against Middlebury.

SPORTS

Baseball sweeps Trinity, clinches entry to NESCAC playoff tournament

Keila McCabe Sports Editor

The baseball team took all three games against Trinity at home this past weekend to clinch NESCAC playoff tournament standings. Coming off a five game losing streak, the series was pivotal both to clinch and, more importantly, to build momentum as they wrapped up the regular season. Junior pitcher Jacob Lapp described the mentality heading into the weekend and significance of the series.

“For NESCAC standings … obviously we needed at least two [wins], but I think as a team, we really needed to sweep them,” Lapp said. “And that was important just kind of for morale. We were on kind of a colder streak, and we came into the weekend with a lot of energy. We stepped up in a big moment and we took all three [games].”

The Jumbos took the first game 6–4, fueled by an eight-inning stellar pitching performance by senior Silas Reed and offensive production up and down the lineup. Reed pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing the Bantams only three runs in the fourth inning. With the bats, the Jumbos struck first and piled on an early 6–0 lead after three innings. Firstyear outfielder Malachi Pena and sophomore catcher Malcolm Whitfield launched solo home runs each. To account for the rest of the six runs, the Jumbos offense produced five singles, two doubles and three stolen bases. Pena commented on the cohesion of the offense and defense: “We say it time and time again: Get behind our pitcher’s back.”

The new Sol Gittleman Park finally got its dedication on Saturday during the second game of the series and first of the afternoon. Gittleman himself threw the first pitch before the day kicked off. Unlike the night before, the Bantams struck first, scoring three runs in the first two innings. The Jumbos added one run in the third inning on a bases-loaded RBI single by sophomore second baseman Jesse McCullough. The Jumbos would continue to play from behind the Bantams 3–1 until the sixth inning. Junior outfielder Cooper

Sarah Firth

The Round-off Roundup

Olympic team predictions

For my last column, I’m going to make the obligatory predictions for the U.S. women’s gymnastics Olympic team later this summer.

This year, there will be five spots on the team and no individuals for the U.S. The highest-scoring all-around athlete from the combined two days of the Olympic trials automatically qualifies for the Olympic team. The remaining four athletes are chosen by the Athlete Selection Committee.

Simone Biles is locked in for the first spot on the team unless something catastrophic happens. Shilese Jones also seems extremely likely to get the second spot on the team, as the United States’ second-best gymnast in the all-around. The question marks are the remaining three spots. The U.S. needs a third gymnast who is strong in the all-around. The team also needs gymnasts for the

Smith started the sixth on base with a walk. Whitfield joined him on base with a single. Graduate student first baseman Connor Flavin hit a sacrifice fly to score Smith. Senior infielder Patrick Solomon was hit by a pitch to add another Jumbo runner to the bases. Junior outfielder Henry Fleckner came up with an RBI single to score Whitfield. Solomon and Fleckner each stole a base and Pena delivered a two-RBI single to tie the game and score the winning run. Pena described the feeling.

“Passed ball, our runners advanced to second and third,” Pena said. “I was like, ‘Well, this is a situation I want to be in. So I got to execute.’ I knew [their pitcher] was going to come with a fastball. I knew that I just had to be on time. [I had] good enough contact to get it up the middle — that feeling itself was amazing. Driving in the tying

traditional bars/beam slot and the floor/ vault spot.

Leanne Wong and Kayla DiCello are strong contenders for the third AA spot. Both college gymnasts for Florida, these two athletes are great but not the best on all of the events. Wong was an alternate for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Her time in the NCAA has only made her more consistent. She was also on the 2023 Worlds team. The biggest downside is that she is not top three on any individual event. However, as we saw in Tokyo, having strong backups is critical to team success. DiCello was likewise an alternate in 2020 and was on the 2023 Worlds Team, too. She made a strong statement at the 2024 Winter Cup a few months ago, winning the all-around competition. Unfortunately, it’s either DiCello or Wong — it doesn’t make sense to take both. Between the two, I’d pick Wong, just for her demonstrated consistency and ability to compete under pressure. However, I wouldn’t be surprised to see DiCello in the spot, either. The next spot is the uneven bars/beam position. My two top choices are Sunisa Lee and Gabby Douglas. Lee is the reigning Olympic all-around champion and has

run and also the winning run — the feeling is unmatched, especially with the crowd [full of alums] in the stands.”

Heading into game 3, the Jumbos had already clinched NESCAC Tournament entry, but they used the momentum of the day and took another from the Bantams to complete the sweep. Lapp earned his first career start and jumped on the opportunity, pitching six great innings for the Jumbos. Lapp described the feeling and praised the Jumbo defense.

“It felt so good … to just have a bunch of guys behind you in the field that are ‘dogs,’ you know?” Lapp said. “[My teammates make up] just such a good infield [and] such a good outfield. Anytime a ball is hit, I don’t even need to look. I know it’s going to be fielded or caught.”

Throughout the series overall, the Jumbos did not commit an error and

been showing some of the most difficult bar work in the world. The biggest question is her health — Lee has struggled with kidney issues that have greatly affected her training since the last Olympics. Also, she has yet to demonstrate readiness in a competition. She struggled at the Winter Cup and was not given any international assignments this year. She might be too big of a risk to bring on the team. Similarly, Gabby Douglas was the 2012 Olympic all-around champion and a two-time Olympian. She has also been showing extremely difficult routines in training. However, although she resumed training a year and a half ago, Douglas has yet to compete this year (she had to withdraw from the Winter Cup due to testing positive for COVID-19). This means that she has not competed in the past eight years! Douglas is on the roster for the American Classic this Saturday, and her performance there could make or break her chances of being on the team. She has hinted that she is planning to debut an extremely difficult Cheng vault this weekend (which would actually put her in contention for the all-around spot, rather than the bars/beam spot).

Lastly, the floor/vault spot. Right now, my top pick for this spot (again,

executed an impressive five double plays over the three games. Solid performances on the mound and offensive production at opportune moments rounded out the team’s play. Lapp echoed this sentiment in the context of moving forward in the season.

“The team’s feeling great,” Lapp said. “That was a huge energy morale booster. I think now we’re really rolling … [and] we’re all playing with confidence, after a little cold streak. [We’re] playing like the team that we [know we] can be. I think especially going into [the NESCAC tournament], I think we’re ready to go. Our pitching is looking fantastic and the rotation is looking good. [Our] hitters are really aggressive — they’re partying up front.”

The Jumbos will get on the road to play their next game against Wheaton College on Thursday at 3 p.m.

depending on future performance) is Jade Carey. Carey is likely the strongest U.S. vaulter after Biles, as she competes both the Cheng and Amanar vaults. She’s the reigning Olympic floor champion and the 2022 World vault champion and has been improving her consistency in the NCAA. The downside is that she has been struggling with a shoulder injury over the past year, and it’s unclear if she’ll be able to return to her previous difficulty. If she can’t, the spot could easily go to Joscelyn Roberson or Jordan Chiles.

Predictions (in order of confidence):

Simone Biles

Shilese Jones

Leanne Wong

Sunisa Lee

Jade Carey

My dream team:

Simone Biles

Shilese Jones

Gabby Douglas

Sunisa Lee

Leanne Wong

COURTESY TUFTS ATHLETICS

Patrick Solomon is pictured against Trinity on April 20.