THE
VOLUME LXXX, ISSUE 55
INDEPENDENT
STUDENT
N E W S PA P E R
OF
TUFTS
UNIVERSITY
E S T. 1 9 8 0
T HE T UFTS DAILY
Applications for the Global Research Assistant Program open for students, faculty by Ria Agarwal
Contributing Writer
The Global Research Assistant Program gives Tufts students the opportunity to work with professors over the summer on international research projects. Recently, the application through which Tufts faculty members can submit research proposals opened for summer 2021. Generally, Tufts undergraduate students spend a minimum of three weeks in a field
Contributing Writer
Over the course of the semester, Tufts has worked to improve its supply chain for COVID-19related materials, and is confident in its ability to support its host communities moving forward. Paul Wagner, senior sourcing manager, said the university has enough resources to last through the spring. “Tufts has sufficient inventory of face masks, hand sanitizer and wipes to carry us
FEATURES
Professor Eitan Hersh invites grandparents of students to attend course virtually
site outside of the United States assisting faculty with research projects. According to Christine Hollenhorst, a program administrator in the Office of the Provost, students receive a weekly stipend for the duration of the program. Additionally, the program covers international travel costs, including airfare, local transportation, food and housing. Senior International Officer and Associate Provost Diana see RESEARCH, page 2
Sufficient supply of COVID-19 materials available through spring as Tufts continues to support host communities by Julian Levy
tuftsdaily.com
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS.
through the spring 2021 semester and beyond,” Wagner wrote in an email to the Daily. “We also have sufficient supply of test kits on hand for the remainder of the fall semester and put in place commitments to carry us through the spring of 2021.” Wagner added that the university has expanded its network of suppliers to meet the evolving needs of the community, and is not facing shortages of COVID19 materials. see SPRING, page 2
LYDIA RICHARDSON / THE TUFTS DAILY
A label maker and testing tubes are pictured at a Tufts University COVID19 testing site on Nov. 8.
ALONSO NICHOLS / TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Associate Professor of Political Science Eitan Hersh is pictured teaching class in Cohen Auditorium. Behind him is a section of the class attending via Zoom. by Madeleine Aitken Deputy News Editor
Professor Eitan Hersh, an associate professor in the political science and civic studies departments, has taken advantage of the pandemic to provide a unique opportunity for the students in his class on U.S. elections by offering their grandparents an invitation to join the class via Zoom. Hersh first got the idea to invite his own grandfather, who is 96 years old and lives alone, to class. He said he thought it would give his grandfather something to do, especially as he had never had the chance to see him teach before. The pandemic, and the ways academia has become more technology based as a result, changed this. “Once he was on, I just had the thought that the students should invite their grandparents too, if they like. Obviously, [COVID-19] has been especially tough on older folks, and I thought this was an easy way to honor our elders by inviting them into this academic space with us,” Hersh wrote in an email to the Daily. Alison Manca, a sophomore in the class, said she believes Hersh saw this as an opportunity to support older people, many of whom are having an especially difficult time in the pandemic. “I think this was his way of extending that care to the
elderly in our society. He understands that they have an entirely different set of difficulties, and wants to do anything in his power to make sure they feel valued,” Manca wrote in an email to the Daily. The class, which has 55 students, covers election law, voting rights, the Voting Rights Act, problems such as gerrymandering and money’s role in politics, as well as campaigning, party strategy and the 2020 election. Manca invited her grandmother, who she said has been alone for much of the last several months, to come to class on Zoom. “I have a grandmother who lives alone in an apartment outside of Detroit … She lives 15 minutes away from her sister, but she’s only able to safely see her sister outdoors, which is not always feasible in Michigan,” she said. Manca said attending Hersh’s class has been good for her grandmother. “I think this has been beneficial for her over the pandemic because she otherwise has very little to do. She’s unemployed and alone. This gives her not only something to look forward to but a way to stretch her mind,” she said. Sarah Kaplan, a sophomore in the U.S. elections class, also took advantage of Hersh’s idea and said her grandparents have
ARTS / page 4
FEATURES / page 3
Princess Di’s iconic fashion reborn
Adapting art galleries to virtual spaces
come to almost every class. She said it has been great for them to have an opportunity for mental stimulation while they are physically isolated. “I was super excited, and immediately thought that my dad’s parents … would love it so much. My grandparents are avid CNN and MSNBC news watchers and pay attention to politics very closely and thought it’d be really awesome for them,” Kaplan said. Donald and Kathie Kaplan, her grandparents, have enjoyed their experience. “We are always having political conversations with our granddaughters so this class was one we would enjoy and be able to share thoughts about the class with them … we were a perfect fit for this class,” Donald Kaplan wrote in an email to the Daily. Kathie Kaplan said she has loved feeling like she’s back in college. “I was always a voracious notetaker in college and found myself in my old groove. I remembered symbols I used for abbreviations and took anywhere from 8-10 pages of notes per class,” she wrote in an email to the Daily. Hersh wanted to provide a space for his students’ grandparents to be engaged and learn something new, but he also thought it would be beneficial for see GRANDPARENTS, page 3 NEWS
1
FEATURES
3
ARTS & POP CULTURE
4
FUN & GAMES
6
OPINION
7
SPORTS
BACK