ELECTIONS 2021
THE TUFTS DAILY VOLUME LXXXI, ISSUE 25
Snapchat implements Run for Office Mini, emphasizes civics by Alexander Janoff Executive News Editor
In collaboration with the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement, Snap Inc. has developed the Run for Office Mini, an application built directly into Snapchat to emphasize civic engagement among the app’s users. According to Sofia Gross, head of policy partnerships and social impact at Snap Inc., Snapchat’s Run for Office Mini helps users easily find races that they wish to contest. “When you log into Snapchat and search ‘run for office,’ you will be prompted to enter your zip code and then pick the issues you care most about to select from over 75,000 different elections happening across this country to understand what you can run for in your local community,” Gross said.
Snapchat has a short but deep history of building civic responsibility among its users. The company began its active involvement in civics before the 2016 election when it first developed a news and politics team to help educate its users about the Iowa caucuses and nomination procedures. By the 2018 midterm elections, Snapchat built a service into its users’ profiles that helped them register to vote. The company took this a step further by the 2020 election, when Snapchat partnered with TurboVote to build a Register to Vote Mini. According to Gross, this helped over 1.2 million Snapchat users register to vote before the 2020 election. Gross explained that Snapchat developed the Run for Office Mini after learning that a
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2021
Mass. lawmakers introduce bill to end life without parole by Emily Thompson Assistant News Editor
see SNAP, page 2
Ma s s a c h u s e t t s St a t e Representatives Jay Livingstone and Liz Miranda introduced an Act to reduce mass incarceration (H.1797) in the state House of Representatives on March 29. The bill would allow all people serving life sentences the opportunity to be eligible for a parole hearing after serving 25 years, also applying retroactively to currently incarcerated people. In a joint judiciary hearing on Oct. 5, the committee heard testimony on the proposed Act. Peggy Ritzer, mother of Colleen Ritzer who was murdered in 2013, spoke in opposition to the legislation. “This is not a liberal issue or conservative issue. This is an issue that must be focused on justice for victims who are no longer with us,” Ritzer said. “Her killer will be eligible for
methods they use to teach the material. According to Director of CIRCLE Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, GoD was developed in response to a law in Illinois that requires all high school students to take a civics course before graduation. With the new law in place, teachers needed resources on how to make civics education more engaging by shifting away from lecture-based teaching and toward issues-based discussions and simulations of democratic processes. Noorya Hayat, a senior researcher at CIRCLE, said that based on the evaluation, the GoD program successfully teaches
civics education pedagogy in an online format. “We generally wanted to know if teachers can learn [civic education instruction] online in a very high-quality way,” Hayat said. “And they [can].” Kawashima-Ginsberg said the evaluation underscored the importance of developing a sense of community among teachers in civic education. “We heard that over and over in focus groups where [teachers] felt alone, sometimes in their small rural community, but then when they had this access to the online community of other teachers who could say, ‘I know exactly what you
parole. While he was responsible for taking a life, he will be afforded a second chance. Our daughter will not.” According to the Emancipation Initiative, there are more than 1,050 incarcerated people in Massachusetts serving life sentences without the opportunity for parole. This ranks it second among states with the highest percentage of
life sentences within its prison population, with a 629% increase since 1977. “I was really surprised as I looked at the data on the percentage of the jail population that was serving life without parole sentence,” Livingstone said. “If we really want to be serious about reducing prissee PAROLE , page 3
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The Massachusetts State House is pictured on Jan 28. 2008.
CIRCLE releases evaluation of Guardians of Democracy program by Jack Hirsch News Editor
Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement released a report evaluating the Guardians of Democracy (GoD) program early this semester on Sept. 14. GoD,an initiative developed by the Lou Frey Institute at the University of Central Florida and the Illinois Civics Hub, offers free online courses on civics education pedagogy to K-12 teachers. The report found that the courses improved teachers’ knowledge of civics pedagogy and increased their self-awareness about the
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Boston residents join a nationwide rally for reproductive rights
Women’s perspectives come to light in ‘Impeachment’
mean,’ it really kept them going,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said. “So that space is really important.” Another key finding from the report was the scalability of the GoD program. Hayat explained that the course employs a “train the trainer” model, meaning that teachers who attain the “mastery” level of the courses can go on to instruct others in the same material. “We wanted to study [if] this can be replicated at a very low cost, but high quality and online,” Hayat said. “A train the trainer model is sustainable and scalable and it shows promise.” Hayat further explained how the GoD courses enhance K-12 civic
OPINION / page 7
Undermined elections pose risk to democracy
education by shifting the focus from learning about facts and figures to encouraging skills development. “[The teachers previously] had a different conception of how to do this; [they employed a] very content-heavy … and a very basic model of teaching civics, which was mostly history-focused,” Hayat said. “This [new program] is more about how … you … support your students to become active, engaged citizens through proven practices.” Mary Ellen Daneels, director of the Illinois Civics Hub, echoed Hayat’s emphasis on the importance of skills-based civics see GUARDIANS, page 2 NEWS
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Run for Office Mini to increase youth civic engagement, experts say SNAP
continued from page 1 significant number of elections went uncontested in 2020. “When we learned that 70% of races across the country went uncontested in 2020, we wanted to help build a tool to show people how they could make their voice heard on the issues they care most about,” Gross said. Snapchat’s user base is mostly made up of younger Americans, a group that, according to Gross, includes some of the most civically engaged people in the country. “We’re reaching a really special demographic of Americans,” Gross said. “We want to help break down the barriers to entry when it comes to civic participation [for them].” Civic engagement experts at Tufts University discussed how youth engagement can affect national politics. According to Director of CIRCLE Kei KawashimaGinsberg, young voters are incredibly motivated and focus their activism and electoral participation around a few key issues. She mentioned gun control, climate change and the Black Lives Matter movement as some of the issues that are driving youth political participation right now. Kawashima-Ginsberg believes that engaging more young people in politics could also push politics to focus more on the country’s long-term success. She noticed that many politicians currently are mostly worrying about short-term issues. Meanwhile, youth activists are thinking about how their actions will be effective long into the future. “Politics and campaigns have always run [around] what’s going to happen next year, [in the] next two years,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said. “These young people … think about the next 30 years.” Adam Gismondi, director of impact at Tisch College’s
Institute for Democracy and Higher Education, discussed how social media has facilitated civic engagement and increased social awareness among its users. “Social media has … lowered the barrier to entry in some ways, whether it’s staying aware of what’s in the news or doing a deeper dive on an issue that you’re interested [in], to doing something like organizing your peers,” Gismondi said. Ultimately, the Run for Office Mini is one of multiple tools Snapchat is using to encourage political engagement among its users. “Personally, I’m thrilled to see young people getting engaged, whether that takes the form of running for office or being an activist or just staying up on issues,” Gismondi said. Importantly, KawashimaGinsberg pointed out that the Run for Office Mini highlights local races, which are often overlooked in favor of showy, federal elections. She believes that running for local elections is a great way to get involved in politics. “Instead of running for Congress for the first time that you’re running for office, now you can imagine running for a community board, which is a much more accessible pathway,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said. By directly reaching members of younger generations, Snapchat’s Run for Office Mini can address some of the concerns Gismondi and Kawashima-Ginsberg raised about lowering barriers to entry for political participation and amplifying the youth voice in government. Gismondi believes the presence of younger political candidates in any race will also improve representation in politics. According to the Library of Congress, the average age of a federal representative in the 117th Congress is 58.4, while the average age of a senator is 64.3. “The only way to increase rep-
SOPHIE DOLAN / THE TUFTS DAILY
A screenshot of Snap, Inc.’s “Run for Office Mini” is pictured. resentation, which I think is really important in politics, is for the youngest generation to take their seat at the table,” Gismondi said. Kawashima-Ginsberg believes that encouraging young people to run for office will add yet another way for young activists to succeed in their goals. While voting and organizing are indeed powerful means of affecting change, running for office expands the opportunities that voting and organizing can provide.
“Oftentimes we feel really disconnected and disempowered, because we don’t know what’s going to happen to us and we don’t even know who’s making our decision on our behalf,” she said. “The reason to have young people run for office, and be able to have that voice in the local, state and national government is [so] that … the young people can actually have an opinion that’s going to travel and translate into policy and practice.”
course now where it’s optional, but we’ll be there if people want to have those live conversations.” Daneels expressed gratitude toward CIRCLE for its research on the GoD program. “CIRCLE has just been a really invaluable partner to us and
given us really meaningful data,” she said. “I really appreciate how the CIRCLE team frames the importance of data and helps us interpret it in reports like this, to not only highlight the good but [also] the opportunities for growth.”
GoD successfully teaches civics education in online format GUARDIANS
continued from page 1 educations. “Why do we think our students are prepared for civic life just by passing a constitution test or a citizenship test? They need a chance to practice those skills,” Daneels said. “If we want students to practice and do civics, do social studies, prepare for civic life and be responsible participants, then we’ve got to build their capacity to do that. And … we’ve got to support teachers to do that as well. So, that’s really where these GoD courses come from.” According to Daneels, the report demonstrates the success of the program at empowering teachers to implement new civics education pedagogy. “What we wanted to do was to impact what teachers knew about these proven practices, and
the report says the courses do that,” Daneels said. “It also makes teachers feel like, ‘I can do this.’” The evaluation suggested a number of adjustments to the GoD program, such as adding more opportunities for handson practice and strengthening the social component of the program through more synchronous sessions. Daneels told the Daily that the Illinois Civics Hub and the Lou Frey Institute are already working on implementing these recommendations. “The CIRCLE findings are things that we’re acting on, even as we speak. For example, one thing [the report] said [was that] we needed to have more virtual meetups, perhaps for course participants to see one another or talk to one another,” Daneels explained. “We’re building two virtual meetups [into] every
NICOLE GARAY / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Barnum Hall is pictured on Sept. 24.
News
Tuesday, November 2, 2021 | News | THE TUFTS DAILY
Mayoral Elections
Boston
City Councilor Michelle Wu Climate, racial and economic justice Green New Deal for Boston Rent control Fare-free public transit
City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George Fight climate change Close the racial wealth gap Provide high-quality education Expand the police department while increasing its diversity and transparency
Poll of preferred candidates Source: WBUR, Dorchester Reporter, The Boston Foundation, and MassINC Polling Group poll conducted Oct. 13, 2021.
Other candidates 18%
Michelle Wu 57%
Annissa Essaibi George 25%
Medford
Incumbent Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn
City Councilor John Falco
Improve the quality of public schools
Government transparency Invest in schools and education Promote social justice Strengthen Medford’s infrastructure Pandemic reopening process as evidence of her determination and leadership ability
Bring big and small businesses to Medford to foster economic growth Improve Medford infrastructure Promote equity and inclusion by funding a Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion for Medford Expand the city’s Go Green initiatives
Preliminary Race (Sept. 14) Results Other candidates 18% . Only 20% of over 41,000 registered Medford voters voted in the preliminary election.
Somerville
Lungo-Koehn 47% Falco 35%
Ward 7 City Councilor Katjana Ballantyne Issues of housing affordability Gender and racial equity Combat climate change Improve access to public transportation central to her campaign
City Councilor At-Large Will Mbah Campaigning on quality affordable housing, environmental justice, health equity and racial justice; ability to advocate on behalf of Somerville's marginalized communities
BY CHLOE COURTNEY BOHL, IRIS YANG AND ASLI KOCAK
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Over 1,000 Mass. prisoners serving life without parole PAROLE
continued from page 1 on populations, we need to address crimes beyond crimes that people consider non-violent offenses.” This is the second term Livingstone is introducing this legislation. It now includes an added section on restorative justice, which would require the state to create a forum where family members of victims could have a discussion with the person who was sentenced for the crime. “Last term there were four of us sitting around a table that decided to file this thing, and now we have a much broader, wider, stronger coalition of people talking about it,” Livingstone said of having to reintroduce the legislation. “And that’s how we build support for things. That’s the way things become law.” The Campaign to End Life without Parole (CELWOP) is a recently formed organization working to build coalitions and galvanize public support to pass H.1797 and end life without parole in Massachusetts. Joseph Irizarry, a community organizer for CELWOP and mentor with Tufts University’s MyTERN re-entry program, is working to educate the public about the lives of incarcerated individuals who are serving life without parole. Irizarry, who was released on parole in 2020 after serving 20 years in state prison for fatally shooting Angel Rodriguez in 2000, was incarcerated when the campaign to end life without parole was first getting started. “The first time I heard anything about [CELWOP] was probably about 2018 … and I [saw] a lot of other guys were really excited about this bill that was coming out, giving them an opportunity to possibly see the parole board after 25 years,” Irizarry said. “I was excited for those men as well, because a lot of them have really matured while incarcerated … I just always imagine what they could do once they were free.” Raised in the South Bronx, Irizarry witnessed his first violent crime at five years old and went through 13 foster homes by the age of eight. After becoming a ward of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, he recalled how his foster par-
ents would tell him he was going to grow up to become a gangster. By age 15, he was a gang leader. At Irizarry’s first parole hearing, one of the board members spoke of the same prophecy, saying they could look at his life trajectory and predict his serving life in prison for murder without knowing the facts of his case. “That’s a sad case, in the sense that the state of Massachusetts could have prevented it, because I was a ward of the state,” Irizarry said. “Whose responsibility is it to make sure that a child growing up in a foster home is raised with the amount of respect that a child deserves, and also ensure that this child’s life path is actually being directed in the right way?” Irizarry says his work with CELWOP reflects the common story shared by him and the men with whom he served time. “I love people and I truly do live a life of apology,” Irizarry said. “I want people to know that people can change for the better.” Livingstone says it intuitively makes sense that a person is not always going to be the same person three decades after committing a crime, and incarcerated people serving life sentences should have opportunities to prove they can be productive members of society. “Massachusetts should be a leader on criminal justice reform, and it has been in its history,” Livingstone said. “This is another example where Massachusetts could lead and guarantee everyone the right to a parole hearing.” Irizarry spoke of the frustration felt among incarcerated people each year as legislators on Beacon Hill allow the bill to fail. “Massachusetts is touted as a very liberal state, but every time this policy does not pass shows it is not that progressive,” Irizarry said. “You would think that … we would be more forgiving, and we would be more merciful, and we would try to figure out ways to connect with people’s humanity, despite the crimes that they committed so that we can actually build our community and create healing.”
4 Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Features
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The fight for reproductive rights by Miriam Vodosek Comtributing Writer
“We won’t go back! We will fight back!” the crowd chanted on Oct. 2 at the Franklin Park Playstead in Boston. At 12 p.m., thousands gathered as part of a nationwide rally in every state focused on the fight for reproductive rights. This national rally was held just days before the U.S. Supreme Court began a new session that included a direct challenge to the Texas Heartbeat Act, or Senate Bill 8, a law that came into effect Sept. 1. This law prohibits abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected, which is usually after six weeks of pregnancy. There are no exceptions for rape or incest. It also allows people to sue abortion providers and anyone who helps others obtain an abortion. The bill has raised many angered discussions and brought up questions in regard to the 1973 Roe v. Wade case. This case is seen as a landmark case for reproductive rights in the United States. The case ruled protection for women to have the freedom to decide to undergo an abortion without any government limitations. Many Americans across the country joined together to demonstrate against the Supreme Court’s rejection of an emergency request to block Texas’s abortion ban. Junior Chelsea Wong, a community health major, discussed the widespread impact of the march. “It’s really cool that it’s such a national [event],” Wong said. “Even though the abortion laws are going on in Texas, it’s reverberating around the country.” A coalition of organizations, including Women’s March, the American Civil Liberties Union, National Abortion
Kevin Zhang Tales from the T
Why we can’t have nice trains
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n my previous column, we discussed the proposed West Station, a transit hub designed to accommodate a new Indigo Line, a brand-new system of rail lines slated to open in 2024. Spoiler alert: It won’t. But the story of the Indigo Line and its demise is a fascinating (if infuriating) one, and one with consequences for the entire city. The Indigo Line, as initially proposed, would have been a diesel, multiple unit-oper-
Rights Action League ProChoice Massachusetts and the Planned Parenthood Advocacy Fund of Massachusetts, joined together to organize the rally at Franklin Park. These organizations focus on reproductive health, women’s rights and general health care. The event was headlined by several notable speakers, including political figures such as Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey, Congresswoman from Massachusetts’ Seventh Congressional District Ayanna Pressley and Attorney General Maura Healey. In her speech, Pressley spoke about a person’s right and choice to abortion. “Abortion care is health care,” Pressley said. Markey spoke in a similar tone, speaking against the Texas abortion law and for more progressive laws. “We must pass my legislation to expand the Supreme Court by four seats so that we can restore balance and justice of the Supreme Court,” Markey said. “We need to abolish the filibuster so we can pass the progressive laws we need in this country.” Many protestors held up signs during the rally. Some signs read, “Keep abortion safe and legal,” “Reproductive rights are foundational for women’s freedom” or “Abortion saves lives.” Other signs were more personal, such as “I’m alive thanks to safe, legal and accessible abortion.” Many signs played on words like, “We need to talk about the elephant in the womb,” or “Mind your own uterus.” Since the national rally on Oct. 2, a federal judge, Robert L. Pitman, blocked the Texas anti-abortion law on Oct. 6. The law was reinstated by an appeals court on Oct. 8. Ultimately, the law was upheld ated regional rail network. For those of y’all who don’t have pathological obsessions with trains and their terminology (weirdos), this would add frequent, subway-like local service on several existing commuter rail lines. And these wouldn’t use your usual lumbering commuter trains (like those passing by Boston Avenue), but rather diesel multiple units (DMUs) — a modern train type that’s quieter, faster and more efficient. By sharing existing lines with little additional infrastructure, this would be a quick, cheap and scalable way to dramatically increase service on Boston’s rail network. In 2012, the Indigo Line was first proposed for the Fairmount commuter rail line. This nine-mile line from South Station, running within Boston city limits, features frequent
COURTESY MIRIAM VODOSEK
People march for women’s rights on Oct. 2 at the Franklin Park Playstead in Boston as part of a nationwide effort. by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit on Oct. 14, keeping the law in place. This December, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear a case challenging a Mississippi abortion law that bans most abortions after 15 weeks. This will be a direct challenge to the landmark Roe v. Wade case most likely setting the tone for the future of reproductive rights in the United States. The issue of abortion and the current protests against Senate Bill 8 are also supported by Tufts students. Sophomore Eliyah Lister, who is majoring in community health, explained her stance on reproductive health and
how her studies at Tufts contribute to it. “I completely support [fighting for reproductive rights] 100%,” Lister said. “I think community health focuses on … getting services to people who wouldn’t usually have access to them which is very important to me.” Lister, a D.C. native, grew up in a politically active environment. She frequently took part in marches along with friends and family. One of them was the women’s march in January 2017 protesting the inauguration of former President Donald Trump. “I think it is very important to be fighting for the rights of the people who live in this country,”
stops in the heart of dense, working-class communities like Dorchester and Mattapan. You could not find a more perfect route for Indigo Line-style service if you tried. In 2014, the MBTA released a five-year capital plan, in which it envisioned Indigo Line service on six lines by 2024, expanding beyond just the Fairmount Line to bring new service locations across Greater Boston like Allston (at West Station), Chelsea and Seaport. In 2016, the state government yoinked funding for the DMUs, upon which all these plans depended. To give credit where credit is due: The MBTA has built new stations and increased service on the Fairmount Line. But prior to the pandemic, the line often only saw only one train per hour. The Indigo Line is dead, long live the Indigo Line.
There are many reasons why the plan failed, and I’m only allowed so many words for my column. But perhaps the biggest issue was, simply, money. Fun fact: The B in MBTA stands for broke. For its critical job in keeping Boston moving, the MBTA is severely underfunded. What’s more, a large amount of its income comes from politically unreliable federal funding. When the Indigo Line was cancelled in 2016 for lack of funding, the MBTA was considering a 10% fare increase. It had a $7.3 billion maintenance backlog, and no dedicated funding stream for it. The year before, 22% of all its funding was going toward interest and service on its debt. Perhaps the Indigo Line’s cancellation was inevitable — you are not going to further develop and improve
Lister said. “It is something that needs to be kept up, especially momentum-wise, and because very often women’s voices are pushed out.” Wong believes the national support for reproductive rights is important as well; however, she is unsure of the effectiveness of a protest. “[Protests] bring a lot of attention and awareness to the cause, but I think it is more of a statement having people come together to stand up … for what they believe in,” Wong said. “It is hard [to be heard] when you’re trying to reach such a high-up government.” Lister and Wong both expressed that they felt like many of their peers were against the abortion ban, yet Lister was unsure if how much of a priority it was to them. “I know the majority of people at Tufts support abortion rights, but I am sure there are also people who don’t,” Lister said. “Although it is an extremely important issue, I don’t know if [reproductive rights] is necessarily the top priority at Tufts.” However, Lister noted that the Tufts community is good at educating students on the intersectionality of issues. “There is a lot of sex-positive information and a lot of [LGBTQ] action … All of that action is extremely important tied into reproductive rights,” Lister said. “The intersectionality of trying supporting multiple causes is very important in order to pursue any cause that you’re [fighting] for. You can’t support reproductive rights without also supporting [LGBTQ] folks.” Wong said she feels grateful to be surrounded by the Tufts community. “A lot of people care about this issue,” Wong said. “We are fortunate that we are in a community that is so open.” yourself when your focus is on survival. Of course, the MBTA is not a perfect organization — it’s Byzantine, conservative and makes many arguably poor decisions. But let’s not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. It is absurd that we cannot build or even maintain our trains in one of the densest, most transit-friendly cities in the world at a time when transportation emissions and climate change are universally understood threats to our survival. It is not hyperbole to say that the future success of Boston depends on the future success of the MBTA. As you vote, I suggest that you keep this in mind. Kevin Zhang is a junior studying civil engineering. Kevin can be reached at kevin.zhang7@tufts. edu.
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Tuesday, November 2, 2021
‘Impeachment: American Crime Story’ offers a compelling rehash of Monica Lewinsky’s story
Raga Chilakamarri On Demand
Walking and talking and ‘The West Wing’
A VIA WIKIPEDIA
The penultimate episode of “Impeachment: American Crime Story” comes out today, and the finale is next week on Nov. 9. by Alexis Enderle Staff Writer
I didn’t know much about the circumstances surrounding Bill Clinton’s impeachment when my classmates snickered at the name “Monica Lewinsky.” In 1998, she was only 25 years old when her affair with Bill Clinton led to his impeachment. Twentythree years later, she’s a producer on the newest installment of FX’s anthology series “American Crime Story” (2016–). The American political sphere has been dominated by men, and the Clinton impeachment scandal embodied that sense of patriarchy. The newest season, “Impeachment,” attempts to show this period through women’s eyes. In some ways, it is refreshing to see a story whose narrative was controlled by men, both politicians and reporters alike, be presented in a TV-show format through the viewpoints of three key women: Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp and Paula Jones. Beanie Feldstein of “Booksmart” (2019) plays the young intern, with Broadway star Annaleigh Ashford as Paula Jones and Sarah Paulson, who is a regular in Ryan Murphy’s projects, as Linda Tripp in “Impeachment.” All three actresses excel in their roles, bringing fresh light to such historic women while fully embodying their characters. Feldstein in particular does a truly amazing job expressing Lewinsky’s emotional turmoil throughout both her time working in government in the D.C. sphere and the later dramatic fallout from the Clinton affair. While women’s perspectives are most central to the series, Clive Owen also does such a good job as the president and plays a key role in the story. The script is excellently written, and if you are not familiar with this key moment in American political history, directors Ryan Murphy, Michael Uppendahl, Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre and Rachel Morrison make sure you have all the pieces sorted. The show even integrates archival footage, including an SNL skit, pulling audiences into the time period it chronicles. One interesting storyline follows the various reporters and lawyers who invested themselves first in the Jones lawsuit and later in the Clinton impeachment, shedding light on another side of this histori-
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cal moment. Viewers may also be unaware of Paula Jones’ civil suit against the president until watching the first episodes of the series. Jones was a civil servant in Arkansas when Clinton was governor and alleged that he had sexually harassed her. The show uses a #MeToo-era lens to critically analyze the media’s reception to her allegations and foreshadow that of Lewinsky’s case. The biggest mistake made in the show’s production would have to be the way Sarah Paulson was made to resemble Tripp through extensive padding. The LA Times reported that “Paulson … gained 30 pounds and wore additional padding — weighing roughly 4.5 pounds — to mimic Tripp’s shape, particularly in the upper body.” While padding isn’t a true ‘fatsuit,’ it is still a symptom of Hollywood’s systemic fatphobia. Additionally, some plot points were dramatized to appeal to a wider audience — it’s not a true crime documentary or reenactment. Small details were changed to increase the entertainment value of the show; for example, Lewinsky and Tripp didn’t actually create a spreadsheet of the young intern’s romantic encounters with the president. These were further clarified when Lewinsky was interviewed by The New York Times reporter Jessica Bennett, who noted, “Then there is Lewinsky the person, who has to keep reminding herself that this is ‘a dramatization,’ and that it is possible to make a show about the past while still moving forward.” Certainly not all the actions of Feldstein’s Lewinsky match those of the real woman who lived through the affair and the public humiliation with a shadow looming over her name for over two decades. It’s refreshing to see her come full circle as she works to reclaim her public image as a producer on the show, and the show seems intent on humanizing the women at the heart of the scandal. Overall, “Impeachment: American Crime Story” does a wonderful job with its dialogue, characterization and cinematography and weaves an intricate storyline to keep audience’s hooked every Tuesday night. Fans of the two previous seasons, “The People v. O.J. Simpson” (2016) or “The Assassination of Gianni Versace” (2018), are sure to be hooked once again from the opening scene.
lthough I work at the Career Center, the best job fair I’ve ever attended is 20 years’ worth of television watching. “Grey’s Anatomy” (2005–) briefly made me reevaluate my lifelong rejection of my mother’s lifelong dream that I become a doctor. Rory Gilmore coerced me — as did probably every other liberal arts girl near a tree — into romanticizing journalism. And, lowkey, “Psych” (2006–14) genuinely made me question if my own self-supposed clairvoyance was enough to support a psychic detective business. While the American political drama “The West Wing” (1999–2006) did have me pondering the life of a speechwriter, the most important takeaway I discovered is that working in the White House is primarily about walking fast and talking faster. “The West Wing” is one of screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s brainchildren. Sorkin, known for “The Social Network” (2010), “Moneyball” (2011) and “Steve Jobs” (2015), uses fast-paced, clever dialogue that almost pushes viewers to test their wit against his characters. (For a taste, I recommend googling “Social Network Opening Scene.”) “West Wing,” as I affectionately call it, was a Chilakamarri family go-to for a good segment of high school. After dashing through the series, my parents were swept into a political drama wave, going on to watch “Madam Secretary” (2014–19), “Designated Survivor” (2016–19) and sometimes, just for kicks, Fox News.
The seven-season show revolves around a cast of dedicated staffers to fictional Democratic President Josiah Bartlet (Martin Sheen) as they attempt to make a meaningful difference while handling the political scuffles and scandals that come with running the country. A winner of 100 awards including 26 Primetime Emmys, the series generates an idealized vision of government, especially conveyed through a charming and earnest cast. Favorite duos include the jaded speechwriter Toby Ziegler (Richard Schiff) and his younger, more idealist (and cuter) deputy Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe); and the personable deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman (Bradley Whitford) and his will-they-won’tthey assistant, the humorous Donna Moss (Janel Moloney). My fave character is the extremely sharp, intelligent and big-hearted press secretary C. J. Cregg (Allison Janney), who stood out from the boys’ club of government officials; Elle acutely described her as “a slyly sexy professional who made competence seem like the coolest quality a girl could have.” There’s certainly a hopeful allure to “The West Wing,” which presents a government led by decent and heroic individuals who are so willing to battle against conservative backlash in the name of upholding moral values. The questions that emerge from it feel relevant, if not philosophical, speaking more to a fantasy vision of America than the current reality. And the carefully choreographed camera moves alongside the rapid walk-and-talk discourse, transforming conversations into attention-grabbing scenes of political action. Although I don’t see myself pursuing a White House job anytime in my future, I have perfected my ability to banter and canter — feel free to catch me quipping about polling language or OEOB briefings (not actually) while weaving through scattered chairs in the Campus Center. Oh, and don’t forget to vote! Raga Chilakamarri is a junior studying English and economics. Raga can be reached at raga.chilakamarri@tufts.edu.
IN LIVING MEMORY A Concert of Stories and Songs • Formerly Halloween Concert •
Thursday, November 4, 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. Goddard Chapel Join the University Chaplaincy and the Latinx Center for In Living Memory: A Concert of Stories and Songs. The evening will feature organ music, performances by Enchanted and sQ!, and spoken word offerings on the themes of remembering those who have passed, uplifted by the many religious and spiritual holidays this time of year, including Día de los Muertos, Samhain, All Souls Day, and more. We will also be debuting an installation of the Ofrenda Project from student artists at the SMFA. Students and chaplains will speak, and the event will be followed by apple cider donuts and candy outside. Please join us for a night of candlelight, meaningful festivities, and treats!
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THE TUFTS DAILY | FUN & GAMES | Tuesday, November 2, 2021
F& G
tuftsdaily.com LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Maureen: “Liberal arts to bed, engineers to wed.”
FUN & GAMES
SUDOKU
TAKE A BREAK
Difficulty Level: Voting in Texas.
By Cecilia Orozco
Monday’s Solutions
SEARCHING FOR HEADLINES...
CROSSWORD
Opinion
tuftsdaily.com
7 Tuesday, November 2, 2021
VIEWPOINT
The ‘Big Lie:’ How the crusade against the 2020 presidential election threatens our democracy by Reya Kumar and Sara Kessel Opinion Editors
After days of counting and nail biting, President Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election last November. Two months later, on Jan. 6, supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to stop the certification of the election results, following a “Stop the Steal” rally held by Trump nearby. This violent outcome did not appear out of thin air — Trump had been casting doubt about election results since before the 2016 election. He claimed the 2016 election would be rigged against him and once he won, he said that he lost the popular vote due to people illegally voting for Hillary Clinton. His rhetoric remained the same for the 2020 election. Now, the so-called “Big Lie,” the term Trump has coined to claim his stolen victory, has become a central point in the Republican platform. In April, after calls from Trump to investigate the election results of Arizona’s Maricopa County, which had previously been audited and certified, a group of Arizona Republicans commissioned an audit of the Maricopa County ballots. Election audits are common, but they are usually nonpartisan and performed by experienced election officials. However, this group of Arizona Republicans chose a private cybersecurity firm called Cyber Ninjas, which had never audited an election and whose CEO is a known election conspiracy theorist. Additionally, the audit was largely funded by groups connected to Donald Trump. In late September, after months of delays, Cyber Ninjas released their report. Despite the obvious partisanship of the audit, they found 99 more votes for Biden and 261 fewer votes for Trump — a negligible difference which nonetheless nullifies any claims that Trump should have won the county. Yet Trump has falsely reiterated that they found evidence of fraud and many Republicans in other states, such as
BY ASLI KOCAK Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, are pushing for similar audits. Democrats and even many Republicans have spoken out against these partisan audits. Nonetheless, Trump and his supporters continue to push for them and perpetuate the lie that the 2020 election was stolen. In fact, according to a CNN poll, six out of 10 Republicans said that believing that Trump would win the 2020 election was a significant part of what being Republican meant to them. Today, more Americans identify as Democrats than as Republicans, and the Democratic party’s popular lead over conservatives only continues to increase as more people become eligible to vote. Democrats are typically concentrated in urban areas while Republicans dominate rural areas, giv-
ing smaller, Republican-leaning states outsized governmental importance, as laid out in the Constitution. Because Republicans do not necessarily need to win majorities to win seats or the presidency, they have moved sharply to the right, toward conspiracy theories like QAnon and away from democracy. Their strategy has moved toward using conservative media and Trumpism to electrify their voters while employing voter suppression tactics, casting doubts on election validity and manipulating redistricting to reduce the impact of Democratic voters. What is most terrifying about the proliferation of the Big Lie is the potential legislative impact of this conspiracy. Spreading the belief that our elections are fraudulent because Trump did not win has spurred a
Republican movement to enact restrictive voting laws. Arizona removed voters from its Permanent Early Voting List if they did not cast a mailed ballot in a four-year period, regardless of whether they voted in person during that time. Texas’ state house passed a bill increasing the power of partisan poll watchers, raising penalties for voting crimes and barring election officials from sending unrequested mail in ballots to Texas citizens. In Michigan, Republican lawmakers are pushing a number of voting bills that would limit the accessibility of casting a ballot or finding information on elected officials. These laws are only the beginning of what could be a complete demolition of voting rights as we know them. And the push to stop this trend at the federal level through the For the People Act and the Freedom to Vote Act is only weakening as partisan gridlock increases. Across the ideological spectrum, the protection of voting rights and fairness in our democratic system should be a priority. Weakening the voting process through what is essentially Trump’s political pity party makes a mockery of this system while furthering tactics of voter suppression. Rather than incite a partisan war over contesting fair and legitimate election results, our lawmakers’ focus should always be to protect the trust citizens have in government and ensure that all voters can easily participate in our elections. If you can vote, exercise that right and vote, not just in the upcoming midterms but for local and state races. Support organizations like Fair Fight Action that work to protect voting rights and fight against disenfranchisement. Push your representatives to make protecting our democracy a legislative priority. Make sure the people in your lives are voting if they can. Help them navigate any barriers that may exist toward casting their ballot and if they support claims of widespread voter fraud, educate them on why these ideas are misguided. We cannot let any more disinformation, restrictive laws or partisan claims threaten the future of our democracy.
VIEWPOINT
What’s at stake in the Virginia gubernatorial election by Faye Shen Li Thijssen Opinion Editor
Today, the state of Virginia will vote to decide who its next governor will be. With the 2022 midterm elections rapidly approaching, the two leading candidates in next week’s election head into the polls in a close race. The leading democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe, is an experienced politician who is running for reelection after previously serving as governor for one term from 2014 to 2018. He has led his campaign with the message of moving the commonwealth forward and creating a better future for its citizens, especially in the context of a post-COVID-19 economy. Though he has often argued that the state needs “seasoned” leadership, there is some concern that McAuliffe’s prior experience in government may prove itself detrimental to his campaign’s success in a political environment that has begun to favor outsiders. Though many antici-
pated a secure victory for McAuliffe, the race has taken a turn, leading McAuliffe to reach out for support from national leaders like President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama in the hopes of maintaining a Democratic hold over statewide office. Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin, a former businessman with a right-leaning agenda, has become a formidable threat to Democratic leadership in this year’s gubernatorial race. Given his state’s potential transition to a red state and similarities between their professional backgrounds, Youngkin has unsurprisingly gained the support of former President Donald Trump. However, Youngkin has strategically avoided expressing his explicit support or disapproval of the controversial leader, instead branding himself as a “niceguy dad” while donning his signature fleece vest and emphasizing his humble upbringing and his life as a father of four children. When asked whether he supported Trump, he avoided providing
a direct answer, instead stating, “I’m Glenn Youngkin.” Aside from his carefully curated personality, one of the forefront parts of Youngkin’s platform focuses on winning support from parents who oppose critical race theory (CRT) being taught to their children in schools. Youngkin’s campaign promises of removing CRT from school curriculums plays into polarized debates that have recently gained traction throughout the state and the nation. Many parents that are protesting the implementation of CRT claim it emphasizes racial identity over people’s individuality, with some even connecting it to “advancing Marxist ideology.” Youngkin’s promise to ban CRT and McAuliffe’s claims that his opponent’s issue is “another right-wing conspiracy” exemplify the polarization that continues to progress throughout statewide and national political environments. If Youngkin is elected to office this November, it could set a dangerous precedent for local educational discourse on a nationwide level. Youngkin’s
views on CRT reflect an ignorance that should not be endorsed by the government. Today’s election marks the first major election since the 2020 presidential cycle, giving it the possibility for significant influence over upcoming decisions in national politics. Virginia has held strong Democratic control over all statewide offices for over a decade, and just last year, Biden won a majority of the state’s votes by over 10 percentage points in the presidential election. As a historically contended state, the outcome of the Virginia gubernatorial election could be integral to predictions of the upcoming midterm elections in 2022. Losing this Democratic lead could reverberate across the national political sphere. This election might bear implications for the nation in terms of concrete policy, precedent or polarization on key issues. Constituents and leaders beyond Virginia should remain educated and involved in Virginia’s political decisions as we make our way into another national election cycle next year.
8 Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Sports
Tufts football beats Hamilton in overtime thriller
tuftsdaily.com
Matt Goguen Keeping up with the 617
A
TOBIAS FU / THE TUFTS DAILY
The Tufts football team is pictured in a game against Wesleyan on Oct. 16, their last loss before this two-game winning streak. by Isaac Karp Sports Editor
After claiming its first victory of the 2021–22 season on Oct. 23, Tufts football continued its hot streak on Saturday, beating Hamilton 30–24 in overtime. The Jumbos have had a difficult season with injuries to many of their key starters, but it seems as though the offense and defense finally clicked. Junior wide receiver Philip Lutz explained how the team has figured out its red zone issues. “I think we’ve just been executing a little bit better, play calls have been pretty consistent,” Lutz said. “We’re realizing we have a really good running game as well as passing game. We practice it a lot so it kind of translates into the games.” The first score of the game came during the second drive as Hamilton gashed the Tufts defense for 60 yards and got into the end zone on a 2-yard rush by junior running back Joe Park eight minutes into the game. After each team punted on the next two drives, Tufts got the ball back five minutes before the end of the first quarter and got to work. First-year quarterback Michael Berluti, who really stepped up after junior starter Trevon Woodson’s season-ending injury, and junior running back Tyler Johnson countered with a 95-yard drive that ended with a 11-yard touchdown pass
to junior wide receiver Billy Dunn to tie the game. “Berluti is a great dude, a great leader,” Lutz said. “He’s also a hell of a player. He keeps us up when stuff’s going wrong, he keeps your head up, and when stuff goes right he’s the first person to tell you’re doing a great job.” Hamilton responded well by scoring on its next drive that ended with a Park rush for three yards. Tufts failed to continue the touchdown streak as they were stopped short by the Hamilton defense, who blocked a 22-yard field goal attempt and recovered the ball. The Continentals looked to capitalize on the blocked field goal, but on only the second play of that drive, Tufts sophomore linebacker Tyler Roach intercepted first-year quarterback Joe Cairns and went for a house call to pull the game even at 14 points each. Scoring would not resume until the fourth quarter on the first drive by Hamilton when Cairns led the Continentals down the field with two plays over 20-plus yards, and then made a nice throw to senior wide receiver Drew Granski to get the lead up to seven. Berluti answered by throwing a 46-yard touchdown pass to Dunn to tie the game again. The Continentals tried to close out the game in the fourth quarter by letting Park waste the clock to get into field goal range. With 27 seconds left, Hamilton
senior kicker Quinn Voboril drilled a 20-yard field goal attempt to give them a three-point lead. Berluti refused to give in and worked the 20-second drill by launching a 40-yard pass to Lutz and then a 12-yard completion to junior wide receiver Jackson Butler to put the Jumbos in field goal range. First-year kicker Sal LoCoco, who missed two field goals already on the day, came in clutch with a pure 41-yarder to send the game to overtime. Tufts went first on offense, and Berluti captained a beautiful drive that gave the Jumbos the upper hand in overtime. On 4th and goal, Johnson rushed on the 1-yard line for a touchdown. Hamilton had to score a touchdown to keep playing, but another massive interception made by the Tufts defense from senior linebacker Spencer Alligood gave Tufts its second win of the season in a thrilling fashion. Lutz displayed another masterpiece with 144 yards, Dunn caught two touchdowns on the day and Berluti threw for 311 yards and two touchdowns while leading the team in rushing with 73 yards. Lutz described how he felt as the game went to overtime. “Personally I had full confidence, I knew we were going to do it,” Lutz said. The Jumbos will look to win out with two games left on their schedule facing Colby on Saturday at home and at Middlebury the following week.
Bad luck
s a sporadic Boston Celtics fan, I don’t usually get concerned over a bad stretch of basketball during the regular season. This stretch is different. As a fanbase, we knew that coming into the 2020–21 season that the Boston Celtics were not a title contender; they simply do not have enough talent nor depth on the roster to manufacture a title run. Additionally, they have a new head coach, Ime Udoka, who is working with a roster that doesn’t have a true identity. The Celtics’ start to the season has been nothing short of a dumpster fire. After their heartbreaking double-overtime defeat to the New York Knicks on Opening Night, the Celtics have only played three quarters of inspiring basketball. It’s a dreadful trend that has continued from last season. As much as its record might suggest, this is not a rebuilding team; Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum are both perennial all stars while Payton Pritchard and Aaron NeSmith are solid developmental pieces for the future. Throughout this roster, there is enough talent for this team to secure a playoff spot come next April. However, the talent alone is simply not enough to carry the team. What makes matters worse is that the effort among the team is nonexistent through this first stretch of games. The team looks disengaged on offense, and a lackadaisical effort on defense is the main theme each game; teams are bullying our big men in the paint, and the amount of wide-open 3-pointers that the Celtics were giving up was astounding. What’s so frustrating about this Celtics team is that they know the effort is not there — they just aren’t doing anything to fix it. Brown and Tatum are head and shoulders above the rest of the team, yet they are not acting as leaders in the locker room. For a team that is struggling to search for an identity, having no strong voices present truly affects the attitude in the long term. Even if Brown and Tatum deserve some blame for the early disappointments, they shouldn’t be tasked with carrying the scoreboard each night. Unlike in previous seasons, Marcus Smart looks downright abysmal on the court; he is averaging 7.4 points per game and is shooting just 23.5% on 34 attempts from beyond the arc. Although Smart is known to be trigger-happy inside the front court, these numbers are atrocious. Moreover, Smart’s hustle on the court is invisible. He’s known for his “heart and hustle” on the court, but he seems out to lunch on almost every possession so far. Sure, I could be overreacting to this start — it’s an 82-game season and every team will go through a bad stretch or two eventually. However, when the Celtics desperately needed a break in the schedule, they played four games in six days with three of them against strong playoff contenders. Their recent play will not be of any help against these teams, and if they go 1–3 this week, this fanbase is going to start aggressively searching for a scapegoat. The panic button should not be pressed yet, but an answer to this lackluster start is critical. Matt Goguen is a junior studying biopsychology. Matt can be reached at matthew.goguen@tufts.edu.
