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THE TUFTS DAILY

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tuesday, october 8, 2013

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 23

Where You Read It First Est. 1980

Senate works for transgender housing by

Charlotte Rea

Contributing Writer

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate on Sept. 29 unanimously voted in favor of a resolution to create a safer and more welcoming housing policy for transgender students.

The resolution calls for more housing options in mixed-gender dorms to be available for transgender students, as well as increased access to single-gender triples, quads and suites on campus. Backers of the proposal hope to extend such options to first-year students as well as older students.

TCU Senate LGBT Community

Representative John Kelly, a junior, and sophomore Erin Dimson-Doyle, who co-authored the resolution, explained that the resolution aims to make the current policy, which was last updated nine years ago, more sensitive to transgender students’ needs.

Finding a comfortable living situation is a cumbersome process for transgender students, according to Dimson-Doyle.

“A large part of the resolution was saying that people could live with someone of their preferred gender identity in the regular housing lottery,” she said. “To see TRANSGENDER, page 2

Professor named Blaise Pascal Research Chair by

Daniel Bottino

Daily Editorial Board

Ana Soto, professor of integrative physiology and pathobiology at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, will begin her research as a new Blaise Pascal Research Chair after flying to Paris on Oct. 15.

According to Laura Liscum, professor and ad interim chair of integrative physiology and pathobiology, four Blaise Pascal Chairs are awarded each year by the French government to deserving scientists who wish to conduct their research in Paris.

For Soto, who noted that many past chair holders have been Nobel Prize laureates, the Pascal Chair represents an extremely prestigious honor that will give her the opportunity to extend her research interests.

“I think it is a very high honor bestowed to me, and it is a high honor for the medical school,” she said.

Soto said she first thought to apply for the position of Blaise Pascal Chair during a visit to Paris.

“I met some people who were Pascal Chairs,” she said. “I realized the potential of such a thing,” she said.

Soto will soon depart to Paris to begin her research, which will focus on building a new foundation for the study of biology.

Although Darwin’s theory of evolution adequately serves to describe biological changes over long periods of time, she believes that science currently lacks a theory which operates on the timeframe of an organism’s life cycle. “[Darwinian theory] does not pertain to whole life cycles,” Soto said. “That is why we are working on a theory of organisms.”

Biologists used to view an organism’s development as similar to programs running through a computer, she said, adding that this idea is fundamentally flawed.

Kyra Sturgill / The Tufts Daily

Activist and former member of the Afghan National Assembly Malalai Joya spoke yesterday in Barnum Hall about violence towards women in Afghanistan and the negative consequences of U.S. intervention.

Malalai Joya speaks about women, violence in Afghanistan

by Josh

Malalai Joya, Afghan activist and former member of the Afghan National Assembly, gave a presentation entitled “Prospects for Afghan Women and Non-Intervention in My Country” in Barnum Hall yesterday.

The event was part of an ongoing lecture tour called “A Woman Among Warlords,”

Melody Ko / Tufts University

Professor in the Department of Integrative Physiology and Pathobiology Ana Soto will begin her research in Paris as one of four new Blaise Pascal Research Chairs this month.

co-sponsored by the United National Antiwar Coalition and the Afghan Women’s Mission. Joya will spend the month of October delivering this presentation in ten cities nationwide in recognition of the 12th anniversary of the United States’ invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.

“I want to share with you the consequences of this vile, disgusting war,” Joya said. “It is changing our country into one

of Mafia states and war crimes.

Life is now tougher for millions of Afghans.”

Joya focused on the continuing violations of women’s rights in Afghanistan, a subject that she has explored regularly as an author and activist. She explained that amid the many horrors that Afghan women face — forced marriages, domestic violence, kidnappings and see JOYA, page 2

Tufts Medical School remembers Professor Desforges by

see PASCAL, page 2

Weiner

Daily Editorial Board

Mahpari Sotoudeh

Daily Editorial Board

Professor Emerita Jane Desforges, formerly of the Tufts University School of Medicine, passed away at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on Sept. 7 at the age of 91.

Desforges was a distinguished hematologist and professor, particularly well known for her research on sickle-cell disease, anemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Dr. John K. Erban (M ’81) explained that Desforges’ research focused on hematopoiesis, the study of growth and development of normal blood cells. In the early ’70s, when Desforges was researching this topic, not much was known about the science of blood cells.

Desforges was also one of the leading women in her field at the time, Dean of the School of Medicine Harris

Inside this issue

Berman explained.

“I didn’t know her personally, but I do know that she was a professor at the Medical School at a time when it was still rare for a woman to hold that position,” he said.

Desforges, who was one of five women in her graduating class of 103 at the School of Medicine in 1945, became a member of the Tufts faculty in 1952.

Desforges was named a professor of medicine in 1972, and in 1992 was promoted to the rank of distinguished professor of medicine. She was also an associate editor of the New England Journal of Medicine, president of the American Society of Hematology and treasurer of the Board of Governors of the American Board of Internal Medicine.

In addition, Desforges was a recipient of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award. Her

family and supporters created the Jane F. Desforges, M.D., Chair in Hematology/ Oncology in recognition of her success in 2003.

Desforges was also a highly respected professor. In 1988, Desforges received a Distinguished Teacher Award from the American College of Physicians and was 13 times awarded the Outstanding Teacher Award at the Tufts School of Medicine.

Erban, who completed a mentorship with Desforges in addition to studying and working under her as a medical student, reflected on Desforges’ remarkable impact and legacy.

“I took the hematology course that she lectured in [while at the School of Medicine],” Erban said. “During school, as a student I worked in her laboratory for two summers because she was one of those so-called see DESFORGES, page 2

Today’s sections

The Osher program opens up Tufts education to senior citizens in the community.

Lorde innovates with debut album ‘Pure Heroine.’

see FEATURES, page 2

see ARTS, page 5

News Features Arts & Living Comics

1 3 5 7

Editorial | Op-Ed Op-Ed Classifieds Sports

8 9 10 Back

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The Tufts Daily

News

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Resolution aims to improve transgender student housing TRANSGENDER

continued from page 1

do that in the past, [the administration] would have to manually assign you to a place, and you would have to go to them and meet with them several times. It was just a longer process.”

First-year transgender students currently have the option of living in either a single-occupancy dorm room or in a double-occupancy room alongside a student of their same legal gender (the one noted on their birth certificate).

After their first year at Tufts, transgender students can choose to live with a fellow transgender student, a student of their same gender identity or in the Rainbow House.

Many transgender students end up in housing situations that they may find undesirable, Kelly said, adding that some students are unable to room with friends of their identified gender or are forced into the less popular dorms.

Kelly finds these policies unfair to transgender students. “[Many students feel] ghettoized into the worst dorms on campus or pigeonholed into living situations which are not ideal and may hamper their growth as an individual and also in an academic setting,” he said. “[Being transgender] is a hard thing to come to the realization about in the first place ... Then being forced to room with someone of a gender that you don’t identify with can be really hurtful for these students.”

The resolution seeks to encourage changes to the policy that would help avoid some of these uncomfortable situations, Kelly said.

The authors faced little resistance from the Senate regarding the resolution, according to Dimson-Doyle. “[There was some] discussion of specific wording, in terms of what would be the most compelling way to phrase [the resolution], but it did end up passing unanimously,” she said.

Kelly noted that the Senate’s unanimous support of the resolution was uplifting.

Kyra Sturgill / The Tufts Daily

Last Sunday, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate unanimously approved a resolution to implement an improved housing policy for transgender students.

“To see them stand in solidarity with this cause and to really throw the TCU support behind this was really powerful,” he said. “I think it makes a statement that this wasn’t a tough vote ... I think that says something about the student body and the student body’s readiness for a change like this.”

Jill Zellmer, director of the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO), believes that the new resolution supports the OEO’s mission of promoting equality on campus.

Joya describes negative effects of U.S. presence in Afghanistan JOYA

continued from page 1

rape, ― 25 percent of Afghan women have endured some sort of sexual violence.

“Afghanistan is the worst place to be a woman in the world,” Joya said. “It’s at the top of the list of the most under-developed countries in the whole world.”

Much of this violence results from an absence of effective democracy, she said. Joya pointed to the corrupt national elections, such as the 2010 parliamentary election where certain inhabitant groups were pressured not to vote and multiple candidates were accused of fraudulent activities.

“The most fraudulent election in the world was in my country,” she said. “We have a saying, ‘It doesn’t matter who’s voting, it matters who’s counting.’”

Joya also argued that the United States and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)’s long-term military presence has been immensely counterproductive for the nation.

According to Joya, over the past 12 years violence around the nation has been commonplace. The Taliban has managed to regain its footing and human rights abuses have continued at an obscene rate. Joya described this as a consequence of these occupying forces acting primarily in their own national interests, rather than for the benefit of the Afghan people.

“Right now, the United States and NATO only want a piece for themselves,” she said. “The people in the world should know that [they] are only there for their own strategic, political and military interests.”

She explained that this outcome was not unique to Afghanistan, as many nations worldwide such as Somalia, Indonesia and currently Syria, have been negatively impacted by the United States’ presence.

“U.S. interference has brought blackness, injustice and suffering to

its people,” she said. “What we are experiencing in Syria right now is just heart-wrenching.”

Joya emphasized her view that the conflict in Afghanistan, which she described throughout her presentation as “the so-called war on terrorism,” would have to be brought to a swift end in order for the situation in Afghanistan to improve.

“I believe the only solution of this catastrophic situation for Afghanistan is the removal of all these troops as soon as possible,” she said. “They make it a much harder fight for justice and peace.”

Joya criticized the Obama administration for allowing the violence and conflict to endure and for his December 2009 decision to deploy 30,000 more American troops to Afghanistan, an action she believes is contrary to what the nation actually needs.

“Obama is as dangerous as Bush, if not more,” Joya said. “He expanded war. This system must be uprooted.

Completely uprooted.”

Joya said she hoped the reality of the situation would be brought to international attention. She applauded Edward Snowden and Bradley Manning for their controversial decisions to release classified material regarding American intelligence, including the “Afghan War Log,” which detailed U.S. military operations in Afghanistan, to the public.

“I want to send dear Manning and Snowden my thanks for enlightening people around the world about the true dirty face of U.S. imperialism,” Joya said.

She concluded her presentation on an optimistic note, saying that it may well be possible to progressively develop Afghanistan in the years to come.

“It is not impossible to bring freedom and democracy to my country.” she said. “This is something we are working towards. One day, we will win.”

“We believe that transgender students are looking for equity and inclusion in how they are treated at Tufts, which is the administration’s goal as well,” Zellmer said. “The Senate resolution helps move us closer to meeting that goal.”

Students outside of the Senate have also showed support for the project. Senior Jay Dodd said he is impressed with the efforts to improve the living situation for transgender students.

“It’s a comfort to know your experience and identity is noted and accommodated

Soto to research development of organisms PASCAL

continued from page 1

In order to develop a comprehensive and useful theory of organisms, according to Soto, scientists must first clarify a core set of principles that ignore earlier theories of programmed life cycles.

“We plan to put these [new] concepts and principles in practice, both in our research program and in the context provided by thyroid hormone and regulation of metamorphosis,” Soto said in her Blaise Pascal Chair application. “We expect that a new language will be articulated by this joint exercise.”

Soto maintained that although her research presents a challenge, the results will be critical to the study of biology.

“Someone has to do it,” she said.

Soto also praised the work of her research collaborator Carlos Sonnenschein, professor of integrative physiology and pathobiology at the Sackler School. European colleagues and Professors Giuseppe Longo and PaulAntoine Miquel also worked with Soto on her research.

In addition, Soto will direct a teaching program in Paris consisting of three components: a course for graduate students, a public seminar describing the findings of her research and a workshop, with limited participants, followed by a public conference.

Liscum said that Soto’s appointment as Blaise Pascal Chair reflects well on the prominence of the Sackler School.

“This is a very prestigious chair,” she said. “It is going to increase the visibility of Tufts across Europe.”

Soto’s position is also unique among Tufts University School of Medicine faculty, Liscum said, since none have ever before been given international status.

“There are individuals who have won incredible awards ... but this is an international chair, so it is quite a step,” Liscum said.

at an institutional level,” he said.

Although it is unclear whether the administration will implement the Senate’s proposed policies, Zellmer said that the many deans have already reached out to the Senate for help in addressing transgender students’ needs.

Dimson-Doyle expressed enthusiasm about the administration’s accommodating attitude toward transgender students.

“I think it is a step in a long process, of course, but it was the step that we were aiming for,” she said.

Desforges leaves behind legacy as researcher DESFORGES

continued from page 1

‘triple threats.’ She had a laboratory, she taught, she had patients. At the time it was becoming less and less possible to do all three, but she was able to do that successfully.”

Erban explained that Desforges also worked beside him as an influential colleague. After completing his residency, he said, he became a fellow in the hematology program in which Desforges was a prominent member.

“The division was led by Dr. Robert Schwartz, who was the chief of the division, and Dr. Desforges was an eminent faculty member of the division at the time,” Erban said. “I knew her as well as a colleague until she retired in the early ’90s, so in each of those venues, I had the chance to learn from her.”

via NIH U.S. National Library of Medicine

Former Tufts University School of Medicine Professor Emerita Jane Desforges passed away at age 91 on Sept. 7, leaving behind a legacy of research on sickle-cell disease, anemia and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Features

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tuftsdaily.com

Petar Todorov | Lab Notes

Gumming up the works

B

Becca Leibowitz for the Tufts Daily

Local senior citizens join the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Tufts to learn in their spare time.

Osher program brings adults to the Hill as part of lifelong learning mission by

Becca Leibowitz

Contributing Writer

The last day to add or drop a class for students has just passed, but there are some on campus who are not anxious about their distribution requirements, upcoming midterms or large lecture classes. These particular students aren’t in their late teens or early 20s — they are senior citizens, taking part in the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) at Tufts.

OLLI Program Director David Fechtor said that although there are about 360 members involved in the program this fall, the OLLI has seen about 70 new members this term.

Co-founded in 2000 by the Tufts Alumni Association and the School of Arts and Sciences as the Tufts Institute for Learning in Retirement, the Osher program was initially offered only to Tufts and Jackson graduates living in the area. At the core of the program was the idea that learning is a lifelong process that does not necessarily have to involve tests and quizzes; the students coming to classes were interested in participating just for the sake of learning. “[The Osher program] is an opportunity [for its participants] to stay involved with the school and keep pursuing their academic interests in a social environment without any of the pressure of tests and grades and things like that,” Fechtor said.

In 2003, the program opened its doors to all senior citizens in the community, to those in retirement and to those approaching retirement. The program name changed in 2005 in recognition of a grant from the Bernard Osher Foundation.

Fechtor explained that the program is split up into four seasonal terms, including eight-week fall and spring terms, a four-week winter term and a two-week summer term. Between 15 and 35 courses are offered, ranging from “Rock and Roll and American Society,” to “Women in Politics,” to “Stem Cells: Promises and Pitfalls.”

Ken Fettig, who leads study groups through the program, helped found the OLLI after getting inspired by a friend’s involvement in a similar program at Boston College. “[In the past] the only mail [that alumni would get from Tufts] was appeals for money,” he said.

Fettig hopes that with the creation of this program, alumni would get something new in the mail and choose to get involved.

On the other hand, only about 15 percent of Osher’s students are Tufts graduates, Fechtor noted. “[Non-Tufts graduates] now feel themselves part of the Tufts family,” he said.

Going back to school is something that OLLI student Jane Eckert (J ’65) never thought she would do. But the program immediately piqued her interest when she heard about it.

“It’s an opportunity to learn things you never studied in college because you couldn’t take those tests well,” Eckert said.

First-year Osher student Clarice McDonald agreed with Eckert.

“It’s a fun way of learning something new,” McDonald said.

Although there are no tests, the students are assigned homework, such as reading or researching a topic to share with the class. The homework has not been a deterrent to participation in the program.

“Unlike a college or graduate school program, in which some people sign up for courses out of genuine interest and some because they need to fulfill graduation requirements or distribution requirements, this is a self selecting group,” Fechtor said. “The people who sign up for these classes do so because they want to, not because they have to, and they all feel pretty committed to them.”

In fact, the students are so committed that they come back year after year.

Catherine Symonds, for example, is currently participating in her third year in the program. She told the Daily how impressed she has been with her peers.

“Oh — the intelligence!” she said. “[It’s not unlikely that] you’ll be sitting beside a CEO in class.”

Classes, which are held Monday through Friday on campus, meet in classrooms in the Mayer Campus Center and elsewhere, as well as on Wednesdays at Brookhaven at Lexington, a retirement community about 15 minutes from campus. The program is funded through a $50 membership fee, and courses can cost around $250 for up to 16 sessions.

At the base of the program is the concept of peer teaching. Fechtor explained that the role of a study group leader, such as Fettig, is unlike that of a traditional teacher.

“You don’t have to be an expert in an area [to be a group leader],” Fechtor said. “You just have to be enthusiastic and interested in the subject, interested enough so that you’ll be willing to spend some time researching it and

then share what you’ve learned with your fellow members and moderate discussions about it. No one stands up there and lectures for two hours — that would be boring.”

The classes are supplemented with sessions led by Tufts graduate students, known as Tufts Scholars, according to Fechtor. “[Tufts Scholars] bring younger perspectives and some vitality to the program,” he said.

This year, the Osher program saw great changes and growth due to Fechtor’s promotional work.

“In the past, we relied mostly on word-of-mouth from existing members and a mailing list from the alumni association, which let us know which grads lived in the greater Medford/ Somerville area and greater Lexington area,” he said.

For the first time, Fechtor advertised in local newspapers and expanded the mailing list to people who fit certain criteria — for instance, college-educated individuals within the right age range living in certain towns.

“People were coming out of the woodwork saying, ‘I had no idea a program as exciting as this one even existed. How do I participate?’” he said.

Another step that Fechtor took in publicizing the program was the creation of the Free Thinkers series, in which four speakers gave lectures to members of the program, free of additional charge.

“I thought the best way to make a splash would be to get some big name speakers ... [but] I wasn’t sure exactly how to do that,” he said.

He proved himself wrong by reaching out to his former college classmate and Executive Editor of The New York Times Jill Abramson. After securing Abramson to join OLLI members on Oct. 24, Fechtor invited leading biologist Edward Wilson, expert on mind-body medicine Herbert Benson and type designer Matthew Carter to be guest speakers as well. There will be limited seats reserved for interested undergraduate students at these events.

Even with all of Fechtor’s efforts to amp up the publicity for the OLLI, he hopes to further increase participation.

“I feel like we’re the hidden gem here on campus ... and the only thing I think that’s preventing people from participating is the fact that they haven’t heard about us,” Fechtor said. “And I would like to try and make us not the hidden gem, but just the gem that everybody knows about.”

y now, we’re a week deep into the government shutdown that started on Oct. 1. Many memorials in Washington, D.C. have been fenced off. The live stream panda cam at the National Zoo is gone until further notice. So, what exactly happens to science and technological innovation while Congress takes time to decide on a budget?

First of all, space exploration has been taking a hit. Over 90 percent of NASA’s employees are at home. However, it’s not all bad news. The International Space Station is still supported. Its astronauts are alive and well. (They’re perhaps tweeting a bit more frequently to fill their time while most of their terrestrial support staff is furloughed.)

Curiosity, the SUV-sized Mars rover that touched down last year is still up and running.

This is because Curiosity is actually run by the Jet Propulsion Lab, a contractor that is paid by the California Institute of Technology.

Sadly, not all is rosy among scientists studying the red planet. Until the end of last week, there was considerable anxiety among the team hoping to launch the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) probe. The spacecraft has already been built and tested; however, it can only be launched in the brief period from Nov. 18 until Dec. 7, during which the orbits of both Earth and Mars are closest. If this time frame is missed, the two planets drift too far apart, and MAVEN can’t reach its destination. (The next opportunity for a launch would be in 2016.) Luckily, the project has been saved through a loophole: MAVEN will be sent up, as scheduled, to replace a satellite currently orbiting Mars; its function is essential for communicating with both the Opportunity and Curiosity rovers, making it a necessity under the Anti-Deficiency Act. Back on Earth, the troubles caused by the shutdown are much greater. Some even expose U.S. citizens and the world to environmental threats and pathogens. Nearly 70 percent of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is not working. Surprisingly, the parts deemed non-essential to the organization are the ones that track foodborne illness and inspect the Biosafety Level 3 and 4 facilities working with the riskiest pathogens.

Furthermore, on the brink of flu season, the CDC group in charge of collecting data about national influenza outbreaks is furloughed, meaning any disease tracking will only happen at the local and state level.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) itself is only running at 65 percent, without doing food safety inspections or checking out imports. However, FDA drug approval programs are still up and running because they are funded by industry fees.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) — a body that carries out its own studies, provides scientific tools and funds life sciences researchers at universities like Tufts — is also largely hampered, now operating at a measly 27 percent of its workforce.

PubMed, the search engine for scientific literature, displays a cautionary message warning users that the validity of articles presented may not be up to par. BLAST and GenBank , two DNA alignment and search tools, are also flashing a similar box of text on their page.

Of course, these are only slight nuisances in the world of research. Worse yet, currently incomplete, time-sensitive research in NIH laboratories has had to shut down, meaning it must be started anew when scientists return. Cancer patients willing to take part in experimental therapies are also being turned away.

Without a doubt, the current furlough will not only hinder scientific development, but also destroy efforts that have been initiated and paid for already. Thus, money will be wasted while Congress drags its feet on paying the bills.

Petar Todorov is a senior majoring in chemistry.

He can be reached at Petar.Todorov@tufts.edu.

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The Tufts Daily

Features

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Refugees in the Middle East and North Africa: Restoring Agency in the Midst of Crisis with

CURT RHODES

Founder, QUESTSCOPE Social Entrepreneur of the Year for the Middle East and North Africa

TONIGHT, OCTOBER 8, 7:00PM, BARNUM 008 Curt Rhodes has spent over 30 years working with, and on behalf of, marginalized communities and young people across the Middle East. In recognition of his work through Questscope with marginalized youth in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and in the region, Dr. Rhodes was recently awarded Social Entrepreneur of the Year for the Middle East and North Africa by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. Dr. Rhodes began his career in the Middle East in the early Eighties, as Assistant Dean in the School of Public Health at the American University of Beirut. During the 1982 invasion of (west) Beirut, he volunteered in a community-based clinic alongside students and friends, doing around-the-clock triage for wounded and ill civilians. That was when the seed idea for Questscope began to take shape.

Living and working with people in great suffering compelled him to find a way that he and others in the Middle East could assist the most vulnerable: participating with the voiceless ones in invisible communities. In 1988, Questscope was founded with the goal of putting the last, first. From the beginning, Questscope worked closely with local communities, identifying their aspirations and together addressing their greatest needs.

For more information: tuftsgloballeadership.org or x73314

Arts & Living

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Album Review

Megan Clark | Where’s the Craic?

Lorde’s ‘Pure Heroine’ lives up to hype

‘The Commitments’

Kelsey Davenport

by

Contributing Writer

The recent release of singer Lorde’s debut album “Pure Heroine” follows months of stateside hype and unprecedented success.

I

Pure Heroine Lorde Universal Music In August, Lorde became the first woman to top the Billboard Alternative Songs chart in over 17 years. When Lorde (her real name is Ella Yelich-O’Connor) burst onto the music scene in her native New Zealand last November, it was impossible to predict how quickly she would rise to fame.

But now, less than a year after releasing her EP “The Love Club” for free online, her single “Royals” sits comfortably in the iTunes top 10, flanked by big names like Miley Cyrus, Katy Perry and Avicii. In a pop era dominated by mindless hooks and unrelenting dubstep, Lorde stands out from her competition. While “Pure Heroine” is practically guaranteed to be a hit regardless of the quality of its content, the album lives up to the hype that precedes it. For the most part, Lorde delivers strong tracks driven by layered vocals and hypnotic beats.

At just 16, Lorde is surprisingly cynical, half intrigued by fame and half wary. A selfdubbed “Internet kid,” she grew up with social media and American music at the tips of her fingers. She alternates between mocking and glorifying society’s obsession with pop culture — either way, its influence

aroundyou.com via Wikimedia Commons

Lorde tops the Billboard Alternative Sounds chart with her hit single ‘Royals.’ can be felt throughout “Pure Heroine.”

Lorde is very similar to Lana Del Rey — both singers have the “cool” factor and velvety voice down to an art. Lorde is significantly younger, though, and perhaps more disconnected from the persona that she hides behind. Unlike Del Rey, she sings little about relationships (which is refreshing), focusing instead on growing up in a working-class city. At her best, she captures both the monotony and excitement of the teenage experience with impressive insight, but at times, her lyrics are more pretentious than provoking. Lines proclaiming, “I’m kind of older than I was when I reveled without a care,” become less meaningful when the person singing them is still in high school. Still, as the writer or co-writer

Theater Review

of all of the songs on the album, her lyrics are generally relatable.

The album begins with the striking “Tennis Court,” a previously released track, and continues its momentum with “400 Lux,” a rare love song that intrigues listeners with a killer intro and haunting verses. Then comes the third and most recognizable song, “Royals.” With its minimalistic style and showy chorus, “Royals” sets the tone for the entire record. Indeed, the latest single off the album, “Team,” is very reminiscent of “Royals,” once again contrasting the glamor of stardom with Lorde’s self-proclaimed ordinary lifestyle and humble background. Just like the see LORDE, page 6

TV Review

New series ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’ shows promise by

Grace Segers

Daily Staff Writer

Marvel’s “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” is a very audacious television venture for numerous reasons. The primary one is

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D

Courtesy Boston Playwrights’ Theatre

Mal Malme’s intricate portrayal of Cy holds ‘Burning’ together.

Tuesdays at 8 p.m. on ABC

Boston Theatre’s ‘Burning’ tackles difficult issues by

Drew Robertson

Daily Editorial Board

When Kate Snodgrass first encountered Ginger Lazarus’ work “Burning” — in an earlier form, it was part of a series of one-act

Burning

Directed by Steven Bogart Boston Playwrights’ Theatre 949 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA performances — she recognized that it was powerful. The complete production, currently showing at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (BPT), is no less. Since her first impression, Snodgrass, the artistic director of BPT, and Lazarus have continued to develop “Burning” over the past few years, taking it through several drafts to create the fully realized piece. The result of their collaboration is a magnificent production that intertwines brilliant acting with modern-day issues and compelling themes.

“I caught you breathing,” lesbian ex-Army sergeant Cy Burns (Mal Malme) explains

Starring Clark Gregg, Ming-Na Wen, Brett Dalton and Chloe Bennet

in the opening monologue of “Burning.”

Imaginative and passionate, Cy is describing her first glimpse of Rose (Jessica Webb), a woman who, she professes, leaves her “burning.” Her potent words set up both the plot and tone of the rest of the work.

Loosely based on Edmond Rostand’s play “Cyrano de Bergerac” written at the close of the 19th century, on one level “Burning,” directed by Steven Bogart, tells the beautiful and devastating story of a love triangle.

Though Cy loves Rose, she is compelled to help the charming but inarticulate corporal Cole Noyes (Ian Michaels) express his feelings for the woman they both adore.

The small cast is extraordinary — the crown jewel of this character-driven piece. Michaels is wonderfully endearing as a bumbling but earnest Noyes, and Webb brings enough vivacity to her role to convince us that she could captivate the hearts of whole companies.

Zachary Clarence, a senior acting student at Boston University, adds wonderful humor in his supporting role as Sammy, a young friend of Cy and Rose.

that the show attempts to mesh the universe depicted in the superhero epic “The Avengers” (2012) with a weekly procedural format. In this case, however, the central focus of the show is not the heroes themselves, but rather the bureaucratic force behind them: the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistic Division. One obstacle facing this new show is its title, a problem of which the show is hilariously self-aware. When asked why the agency has such a long name, one character quips that someone really wanted it to spell out “shield.”

At the forefront of this new series is a veteran television writer with a huge cult following: Joss Whedon, creator of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003) and “Firefly” (2002-2003), who also served as the writer and director of “The Avengers.” Whedon is one of the show’s executive producers and created the series alongside Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen. “S.H.I.E.L.D.” is a collision of Whedon-style television and the Marvel Cinematic Universe, presenting the opportunity for an entertaining and fresh new take on the superhero genre. But does it accomplish its goal?

For the most part, the answer is yes.

It is difficult to translate the epic scale

see BURNING, page 6

see SHIELD, page 6

strongly suggest that you read this column while listening to some soul. Otis Redding or James Brown will do. All set? Great. Let’s get started.

“The Commitments” is a 1991 film, based on a 1987 book of the same title, featuring a fictional band called The Commitments that has since led to a spin-off, real band called The Commitments. Got it? Good.

“The Commitments” tells the story of Jimmy Rabbitte as he tries to assemble “the world’s hardest working band.” The original novel on which the film is based was written by Roddy Doyle, a novelist and screenwriter, whose writing features working-class Dubliners living on the north side of the city.

Between 1987 and 1991, Doyle — whom I have met in the flesh, by the way — wrote three books following the travels and travails of the Rabbitte family, known collectively as “The Barrytown Trilogy.” All of these novels have been made into films, with Doyle often serving as a co-writer.

“The Commitments” explores Ireland’s relationship with soul, a predominantly African-American genre of music. At the beginning of the film Jimmy says — I believe, incorrectly and problematically — that the Irish are the blacks of Europe. Despite this instance of problematic appropriation, Jimmy and his band find soul to be an appropriate genre to express pride in their working class backgrounds, which the film highlights throughout. According to Jimmy, soul is about hard work and sex, something the band members can relate to.

“The Commitments” rejects the stereotypical band/sports movie trajectory of development, success, conflict and then even greater success. In one scene, the band waits for famous musician Wilson Pickett to come play with them — Pickett, however, doesn’t appear at the last minute to bring the band success right before the proverbial buzzer.

The band’s talented but obnoxious and misogynistic lead singer Deco does not learn his lesson at the end of the film. He continues to be obnoxious and misogynistic, even leading the band’s drummer to quit. The drummer does not return in a heartwarming moment. In fact, Jimmy replaces him with a violent psychopath incredibly quickly.

At the end of the movie, the band breaks up, and we hear Jimmy recounting to a fake interviewer — actually himself — where each band member ended up. We have to question if his account is true or if the band members are actually back where they started, working at their dead-end jobs. We can only hope that everything turned out well for them. As the oldest and wisest member of the band, a religiously prophetic trumpet player who claims to have played with all the greats, tells Jimmy: The success of the band is not the crucial point. Its mere existence and the joy it brought to Jimmy and his downtrodden band members are what matters. Before riding off into the distance on a motorcycle, the trumpet player sums up the movie’s philosophy: “[Success] would have been predictable.

This way it’s poetry.”

In additional to an original plot, “The Commitments” features some amazing music. All the actors in the film are also talented musicians and singers, and in 2010, they reunited for a short tour. Glen Hansard from “Once” got his first acting credit as the guitarist in the Commitments. “The Commitments” also launched the career of Andrew Strong, a successful Irish singer who played Deco. The film’s legacy even extends beyond the careers it launched — a “Commitments” musical, developed by Roddy Doyle, is currently playing in London’s West End. I highly recommend “The Commitments” to all music aficionados and those interested in working class life in Dublin.

Next week’s film: “The Snapper,” the second installment of “The Barrytown Trilogy.”

Megan Clark is a senior who is majoring in English and history. She can be reached at Megan.Clark@tufts.edu.

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6

Arts & Living

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Whedon mixes film and TV universes in ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ SHIELD

continued from page 5

Avda via Wikimedia Commons

Lorde has a similar sound and voice to Lana Del Rey.

Lorde produces album full of potential LORDE

continued from page 5

opening lines of “Royals,” in which Lorde declares, “I’ve never seen a diamond in the flesh / I’m not proud of my address,” the chorus of “Team” develops that theme even further: “We live in cities you’ll never see on screen / Not very pretty, but we sure know how to run free.” Regardless of the similarities, the track still holds it own as an impressive melodic feat, making it a standout on the album.

The same cannot be said for every song. Part of Lorde’s appeal is that her music seems effortless, though sometimes this detracts from the overall effect of the album. A few of the songs never reach a climax, instead meandering aimlessly until they die out and transition into the next, catchier tune. “Buzzcut Season” and “Still Sane” lack the bravado of some of the other tracks and

never really hit their strides. Lorde seems to recognize that the more fast-paced, energetic songs on the album pack the biggest punch and stacks them accordingly. Another upbeat tune, “White Teeth Teens” precedes the album’s longest and last song, “A World Alone,” which is Lorde’s personal ode to solitude.

Lorde will find alone time difficult to come by as she trades in her small town lifestyle for international pop stardom.

Whether you are an avid Lorde fan or merely in search of a new pop anthem after overplaying “We Can’t Stop” all summer, this album deserves your attention.

The songs are not as dance friendly as other radio fare, but there is an undeniable pulse running through the entire album.

Lorde’s career is just beginning, but she is already a creative force to be reckoned with — and will hopefully only grow better with age.

of “The Avengers” to the small screen — even with advanced special effects, the show simply cannot compare to the movie. The first episode contains many fun allusions to the film, but instead of enhancing the show, these actually detract from it. Though the references help to refresh viewers’ memories, they also remind them of the grand spectacle that the show is lacking. However, because the series is focused mainly on a team of human agents, a lighter emphasis on the superhero element of the show is acceptable. In the first episode, the only person with super-heroic capabilities is a guest star. If “S.H.I.E.L.D” continues with this formula, concentrating on humanity rather than reality-defying individuals, it will make the action more believable.

In “S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the characters and their interactions with one another are what truly drive the show. Whedon’s shows have always been known for their ensemble casts, whether it was the Scooby Gang in “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” or the Serenity crew in “Firefly.” The “S.H.I.E.L.D.” team seems to have good chemistry, although, thus far, they have not had much of an opportunity to work in tandem, which sometimes makes the characters appear disjointed.

Additionally, the first episode featured various guest stars, including “Angel” (19992004), alum J. August Richards as an “unregistered gifted” and Cobie Smulders continuing her role from “The Avengers” as S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill. While their

performances were excellent, adding extra personalities before establishing a dynamic between the regular characters didn’t allow audiences to get a sense of the ensemble as a whole. Of the group, Chloe Bennett as sassy hacker Skye is the weakest link, being a bit too self-conscious in her delivery of oneliners. The rest of the cast appears to have greater potential. Brett Dalton portrays the smooth and handsome agent Grant Ward with surprisingly good comic timing, while Ming-Na Wen excels as tough veteran agent Melinda May. Elizabeth Henstridge and Iain De Caestecker share palpable chemistry as scientist team agents Fitz and Simmons.

But it is Clark Gregg’s agent Phil Coulson (perhaps better known to movie fans as Agent Coulson), a fixture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, who truly shines.

Coulson seemingly died in “The Avengers,” and it is likely that his mysterious reappearance will be one of the main plotlines of this season. Gregg’s performance mixes dry, likable humor with force and authority — a difficult task. If the ensemble cast will ever truly mesh together, it will be because of Coulson’s (and Gregg’s) leadership skills.

If the show continues to focus more on the characters rather than the technology, it will mature into good television.

However, if it loses itself in trying to attract a mass audience with flashy special effects and superstar guest appearances, then it will lose all of its appeal.

“S.H.I.E.L.D.” is off to a promising start; fans can only hope that the talents of Whedon and Gregg can keep viewers coming back throughout the season.

Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Clark Gregg leads the cast of ‘S.H.I.E.L.D.’ with humor and authority as Agent Phil Coulson.

‘Burning’ addresses relevant issues in poignant manner BURNING

continued from page 5

Yet it is Malme — who originated the role of Cy in “Burning’s” initial one-act performance — who brings the play together. Through Malme’s careful portrayal, Cy is strong and also deeply compassionate.

Most importantly, she walks a careful line that allows her to remain a sympathetic, but never pitiful character. Her wonderfully wry jokes are the icing on the cake.

The three strong leads feed off of one another, and the tensions they create onstage give “Burning” wonderful shape.

The love story alone pushes the plot forward, leaving audience members hoping for a satisfactory ending.

However, “Burning” has more to say than “love hurts.” Set in 2008, “Burning” takes place under the harsh reign of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a contextual detail which brings a classic plot forcefully into the 21st century — taking no prisoners in the process. From the safe haven of her store in an isolated Western town located around an army base,

Cy speaks out against the realities of sexual harassment and discrimination that remain a part of military life. However, her passionate defense of others quickly complicates her life, and it seems her safe haven may soon disintegrate before the audience’s very eyes.

Costume designer Rachel Padula Shufelt does a particularly apt and insightful job of subtly hinting at the underlying themes of the work. At first, Cy is dressed in civilian clothing; then as the work goes on, bits of camouflage creep into her apparel. As she fights for what she believes in, Cy must be willing to re-enter a combat zone.

Given the recent repeal of DOMA and increased discussion of equality in the military, “Burning” could not be more relevant.

Part comedy, part drama, this new play packs a punch, leaving spectators completely exhilarated in their seats at the end of the twohour run. “Burning” will show at the Boston Playwrights’ Theatre until Oct. 20th. Student tickets are $10 and are available for purchase online at www.bu.edu/bpt/purchase-tickets or by calling (866) 811-4111.

The Tufts Daily

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Doonesbury

by

Garry Trudeau

Non Sequitur

by

7

Comics Crossword

Wiley

Married to the Sea

www.marriedtothesea.com

SUDOKU Level: Seeing Miley’s tongue when scrolling through BuzzFeed.

Late Night at the Daily Monday’s Solution

Vidya: “If you want to see a bias incident and then a medical emergency...”

Please recycle this Daily.

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THE TUFTS DAILY

Editorial

Editorial Jenna Buckle Melissa Wang Managing Editors Abigail Feldman Executive News Editor Daniel Gottfried News Editors Victoria Leistman Menghan Liu Melissa Mandelbaum Annabelle Roberts Mahpari Sotoudeh Josh Weiner Sarah Zheng Daniel Bottino Assistant News Editors Alexa Horwitz Hunter Ryan Denali Tietjen Shannon Vavra Executive Features Editor Lily Sieradzki Features Editors Charlotte Gilliland Emily Bartlett Vicky Rathsmill Emma Arnesty-Good Assistant Features Editors Caitlin McClure Sabrina McMillin Julia McDaniel Caroline Welch Executive Arts Editor Dan O’Leary Arts Editors Veronica Little Drew Robertson Assistant Arts Editors Brendan Donohue Lancy Downs Grace Hoyt Alexander Schroeder Executive Sports Editor Marcus Budline Sports Editors Aaron Leibowitz David McIntyre Zachey Kliger Jake Indursky Claire Sleigh Kate Klots Matthew Berger Tyler Maher Assistant Sports Editors Ross Dember Jason Schneiderman Alex Connors Elayne Stecher Bhushan Deshpande Tom Chalmers Matthew Crane Nick Golden Jehan Madhani Keran Chen Denise Amisial Benjamin Boventer Scott Geldzahler Drew Lewis

Proponents of divestment from fossil fuels, notably Tufts Divest, have made a compelling argument for their stance.

From the teach-ins to rallies to numerous op-ed submissions during the past few semesters, social activists have made an argument on behalf of our university’s environmental, social and ethical responsibilities vis-á-vis the investment of its endowment. However, what these arguments are lacking is a realistic and viable alternative to investment in specific corporations.

The investment of Tufts’ endowment is handled by third-party fund managers in a double-blind system, making it difficult to ensure that money is not diverted to corporations that may benefit from the fossil fuel market.

Even if we set aside this challenge in actually identifying, divesting from and preventing future investment in these corporations, there is still the question of where Tufts should otherwise invest this 5 percent of its endowment, approximately 75 million dollars. The rationale behind investing is to get significant returns on investments and provide necessary income to the university. Tufts Divest has thus far not provided an understanding of

the fact that immediate removal of investments in these companies is not plausible or provided an alternative investment strategy that would see similar returns.

Though the ethical argument of divestment is a strong one, suggesting that we divest such a significant amount of money without a contingency plan is unrealistic.

Additionally, there is not significant proof that divestment has a notable influence on activities of the affected corporations. A 2013 study by Harvard University’s Institute of Politics suggests that past divestment campaigns have served to shape public discourse about certain issues but have been financially ineffective in the sense that divestment did not actually affect the “financial markets’ valuations of targeted companies.”

Disregarding the existing issues with even identifying the offending corporations, divestment statistically has not even led to a change in the financial status quo of the targeted corporations. While no one is disagreeing that divestment from corporations that may be contributing to the deterioration of our environment is the morally laudable thing to do, it is unrealistic and unfair to expect that our university do so immediately if there is no strong replacement investment plan.

The referendum vote tomorrow for all undergraduate students asks, “Should Tufts University divest its endowment from fossil fuel companies provided that doing so does not adversely affect the financial status of the university?” Unfortunately, though efforts to get the question on the ballot are commendable and represent the ability of students to effect change, the question itself does not leave room for much success on the part of those supporting divestment. Even with a majority vote in favor of the referendum, the stipulation will prevent significant change when the results reach the university’s Board of Trustees.

There needs to be a viable alternative before the choice to divest can be considered seriously. The university is responsible for the investment of its funds, which includes conducting research to find such an alternative. There is no doubt that there are clean energy solutions in which the university can invest.

The answer is not as simple as many hope; immediately divesting from fossil fuel companies is an impractical suggestion. However, both sides of the debate can be more flexible in working to reach a valid compromise.

Denise Amisial

Executive Op-Ed Editor Op-Ed Editors

Cartoonists

Editorialists

Kyra Sturgill Executive Photo Editor Caroline Geiling Photo Editors John Hampson Wan Jing Lee Simone Backer Nick Pfosi Staff Photographers Zhuangchen Zhou Courtney Chiu Sofia Adams Alexander Kaufman Executive New Media Editor Phuong Ta New Media Editors Jake Hellman Barton Liang Assistant New Media Editor

Off the Hill | University of Minnesota

The Tea Party hostage crisis by

Luis Ruuska

Minnesota Daily

PRODUCTION Elliot Philips

Production Director Emily Rourke Adrian Lo Emma Arnesty-Good Jen Betts Shoshanna Kahne Daniel MacDonald Montana Miller Falcon Reese Reid Spagna Andrew Stephens Chelsea Stevens Maura McQuade

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Ethical but not yet practical

Hannah R. Fingerhut Editor-in-Chief

Editorial | Op-Ed

Executive Layout Editor Senior Layout Editor Layout Editors

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It’s been nearly a week since the U.S. government shut down for the first time in 17 years.

How did we come to this?

Congress’ approval ratings and productivity levels have consistently slid since 2009. It doesn’t take a great leap in logic to see that this rise of dysfunction correlates with the rise of a new political faction within Congress and the country: the Tea Party.

But how did this once relatively small movement come together in such a short time to hijack the GOP and then the nation?

The Tea Party movement sprang up in early 2009 as hundreds rallied to protest help for families facing home foreclosures.

But the Tea Party wouldn’t be too focused on the housing market for long — no, they had larger ambitions.

On Independence Day that year, the “patriots” of the Tea Party held their first protests against Comrade Obama’s love letter to socialism — also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This cru-

sade against the health care law is what would spur Tea Party politicians into power in later years.

As it grew over the next several years, the Tea Party sent dozens of politicians to Congress who then waged war on everyone from women to immigrants but never lost sight of one of the primary promises they made to their constituents: to take down Obama’s health care law.

But they failed, more than 40 times.

Obama signed the ACA into law in 2010.

The U.S. Supreme Court held up its constitutionality in 2012. Every attempt to repeal the ACA in Congress failed.

So, what could the Tea Party do to save face as Oct. 1 brought its worst nightmare? Take the GOP and then the nation hostage.

Once again, the Tea Party coerced House Speaker John Boehner and the GOP to go along with their antics to refuse to compromise with Democrats. Boehner and the GOP have gone along with them.

Why? The Tea Party now has a significant presence in Congress and a passionate following. Boehner and his GOP colleagues know that if they are seen as too liberal, they will lose their seats in the next election.

So here we are, in a government shutdown, because the Tea Party lost on one of the main issues that got so many of its members elected. Of course, instead of conceding, the Tea Party is continuing to drag the shutdown debate in Congress. The American people are suffering the consequences.

The government furloughed 800,000 federal workers without pay, though these employees will likely see back pay due to a bipartisan bill passed in the House.

Even colleges are feeling the effects of the shutdown as all “nonessential” scientific research at public universities has been halted. All five military service academies around the nation faced disruptions in service for their students.

Whether the Tea Party will survive in the future is unclear. This shutdown will either strengthen the Tea Party or destroy it. Polls indicate the public blames the GOP more for the shutdown. Prospects for the Tea Party aren’t looking good.

One thing is clear, however: If we want to restore some functionality and sanity to Congress, the first step is to remove the cancer currently plaguing the GOP.

Corrections

In the Oct. 7 News article titled “Latino Center to celebrate 20th anniversary,” it was incorrectly stated that Director of Latin American Studies Nina Gerassi-Navarro will speak at the gala celebration. In fact, Associate Professor in the Department of Art and Art History Adriana Zavala will speak.

In the Oct. 7 News article titled “TCU Senate update,” it was incorrectly stated how much money the Allocations Board will distribute to various student groups. In fact, $11,750 will go to the Media Advocacy Board, $1,140 will go toward funding a “Magic: the Gathering” event and $602.60 will be awarded to the Crafts Center to make a haunted house.

In the Oct. 7 Features article titled “Boston mayoral race brings change, boasts two strong candidates,” it was incorrectly stated that State Rep. Martin Walsh (D) is living with partner Lorrie Higgins and their daughter in Dorchester. In fact, he has not lived in Dorchester with his partner and daughter.

The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community. EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. Individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily. The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board.

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Tuesday, October 8, 2013

9

Op-Ed

Off the Hill | University of Colorado Boulder

Saturday Night Live, the slow death of a legend

by Sophie Junak

CU Independent

As the opening credits of “Saturday Night Live” begin and the fresh new faces of the late night sketch comedy cast are introduced, I can’t help feel that it all seems a bit forced. This season’s opener premiered Sept.

28 and starred the ever-talented Tina Fey, one of the show’s long-time veterans. But this time around, even Tina seemed to be a bit bored, and if we are being honest, who wasn’t?

I have long been a follower of SNL and have always held the men and women of the cast in high regard. Lately, I can’t help but feel that the show has become a bit dry. After 39 seasons, it feels as though the writers have all but given up on any shred of intelligent humor they had left. Rather than the witty sketches that used to leave the audience in stitches, I feel as though I’m watching bad “I Love Lucy” reruns.

What happened to the spunk that this enlightening show once brought, and what caused it to turn into such a mess? Are we as Americans at fault for our increasing stupidity and inability to understand adult humor as we used to? Has our modern comedic illiteracy lead this once shining beacon of a program to the ultimate misfortune? Maybe the show has run its course and sim-

ply not realized it must make way for a new trailblazer in the entertainment biz. With the loss of comedic genius, and the inability to cater to the widespread crowd it used to, it seems like SNL has not made a single tactical advance in years, rendering it unable to keep up with the needs of modern television.

I like to reminisce on when the show didn’t make me want to gag. When the legends like Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and many more graced the screen and brought delight to the viewers. Has SNL turned into nothing more than a mediocre springboard for the legends to launch their careers?

Each time a cast member leaves, a key piece of the show leaves and cannot be replaced. It has been reduced down to a mere shadow of what it used to be, and I fear that it cannot be helped.

With few more than 15 A+ sketches in the past four or five years, I think the time has come. It is with a heavy heart that I dismiss SNL as an ultimate favorite and push it into the same compartment as “Two and a Half Men” and “Desperate Housewives” — sad, and without an ounce of hope left. I will not watch this titanic-sized travesty unfold and have decided to jump ship. I send my most fond farewell to the legend and anxiously await the next big thing.

MCT

Off the Hill | Iowa State University in Ames

Tattoo bearers bear brunt of unfair discrimination

by

Zachary Neuendorf Iowa State Daily

“Don’t judge a book by its cover.”

Adults tell kids this at the beginning of elementary school to teach them they cannot determine whether they will like the story that the book tells from the cover. As children grow up, this phrase becomes a metaphor for how skin color, height, weight and other appearance factors are no way to determine the character and value of a person.

It is illegal for employers to fire or not hire an individual based on race, sex and religion, but there is no such guideline for one particular characteristic: tattoos.

Before I get branded for extreme ignorance

for even comparing race, sex and religion (all pardoned, or at least legally protected traits) to tattoos — yes, I know the apparent similarities are slim to none, but what they represent is not all that different.

Even though nearly impossible to change, inborn characteristics — or whatever someone chooses to take place of those traits — represent a part of an identity. In an ideal world, this identity fragment would be met with self-acceptance and pride. Skin ink symbolizes a similar aspect of someone’s identity; it is just done in a louder, more focused fashion.

Yes, a tattoo has the ability to sew a piece of someone’s soul onto their flesh, but even then it can be used as a weapon against him or her. I am not saying this is unfair,

for it all is within the context of the tattoo.

If the design is offensive or vulgar without proper defense explaining otherwise, then yes, that should permit employment limitation.

However, in more cases than not, the design is a harmless form of expression that many workplaces require be hidden by clothing or makeup. Even more disheartening, corporations can still cite this as a reason not to hire an individual, regardless of other markers of proficiency.

So, why the stigma? Throughout various eras of history, tattoos have been seen as strictly for sailors or menacing, leather-clad biker dudes. Since then, the view for some has barely shifted. For those people, tattoos of any conviction are still seen as a stamp

MCT

of immaturity, immorality and disrespect to the body that will be regretted once the age of wrinkling is reached and gravity forces the former masterpiece to take a completely different configuration.

What tattoos have actually grown to represent — to me, most of my generation and a fair amount of adults — is nothing short of beautiful. They can display a vulnerability we are too timorous to reveal through spoken word. They can document milestones we value too much to risk to be forgotten.

They can be mysterious to make the host an enigma, who becomes accustomed to others curiously asking: “What exactly does it mean?” They can even be silly reminders that life is not all that serious.

A rising trend is for brand-new 18 year olds to get inked up, not in an act of rebellion against the system, but as a way of shedding old skin. For many, the tattoo allows a buried part of identity to finally rise to the surface. I will admit to partial bias on the subject, for I have taken part in my generation’s movement in biting the stick and suffering the needle for a little bit of external expression.

For me, the immortality of the imprint presented no anxiety; it was instead the fact that this small, inoffensive triangle tattoo could possibly cost me a job. After considering the potential consequences for a bit, I boldly settled that if an employer were to discriminate against my rudimentary shape and thus, against me, then that work environment wouldn’t be a good fit for me anyways.

Though still fresh, I could not be prouder of my ink. I love explaining to bewildered bystanders the complex concept of getting a triangle because it represents minimalism and through that simplicity, it actually represents everything in the world, but then turning around and telling my close friends I got a triangle because it looks cool.

Hopefully, a majority of tattoo owners view their designs as extensions of themselves and adore the tale they tell, whether silly or serious.

Remember what you learned as a kid — don’t judge a book by its cover. But if the cover happens to be intriguingly decorated, you might want to pick it up and learn the story.

Op-ed Policy The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length. Op-Ed cartoons are also welcomed for the Campus Canvas feature. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. All material should be submitted to oped@tuftsdaily.com no later than noon on the day prior to the desired day of publication; authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of availability for editing questions. Submissions may not be published elsewhere prior to their appearance in the Daily, including but not limited to other on- and off-campus newspapers, magazines, blogs and online news websites, as well as Facebook. Republishing of the same piece in a different source is permissible as long as the Daily is credited with originally running the article.

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bench outside called the “Ladies Pavilion.”

“I know it may seem like the stone ages to some of you, but it wasn’t that long ago,” Howard Woolf, associate director of the Experimental College, said.

In 1977, something happened that would change how Ludtke would be remembered in sports history. After MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn prohibited her from interviewing players in the locker room during the 1977 World Series, Sports Illustrated publisher Time Inc. filed a discrimination lawsuit against the MLB on Ludtke’s behalf. Time Inc. won the famous “locker room case,” setting the precedent for equal access to locker rooms for female reporters.

Although Ludtke happened to find herself in the middle of a huge controversy, she remembered herself as a typical reporter.

“I would take the subway up and go hang out on the field and try to listen as much as I could, and watch people do interviews, and try to learn how to do the job as a reporter,” she said.

The fact remains, though, that Ludtke set the ball rolling by not backing down in the face of adversity. She is a reminder of the progress that the women’s rights movement has made in the past 40 years.

“There was a difference between the early ’70s and mid ’70s, just in the way women felt about themselves in the workplace” Ludtke said. “It was a challenging thing to be in an environment that was so utterly male.”

She learned to dress like a man, act like a man and even talk like a man. She learned to spout statistics and anecdotes and spent a lot of time after games in bars late at night,

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Ludtke’s fight continues LUDTKE

Sports

sharing stories. In the wider social context, however, her experience was not unique, as the women’s rights movement still had many battles to fight at the time.

“There was always this sense of who I might be as me, and who I had to become [to be a sports reporter],” she said.

So, how does Ludtke feel about the progress that has been made for women in sports today? “[An aspiring female reporter] would have a much easier time today to find a pathway into that than I did in my time,” she said. “I think it’s changed profoundly, but it does not mean that I think all issues have been resolved to make it a more fair and equal playing field.”

At the Association for Women in Sports Media conference earlier this year, Ludtke was surprised to hear that women still drop out of sports writing largely because of marriage or starting a family.

“The demands of [working in sports media] are extraordinary, and it’s only gotten more so with social media. It’s a 24/7 thing on top of the travel,” she said. “That’s not that family and these things do not have a similar value to men, but by and large you begin to see a disproportionately large drop off at a fairly predictable age in terms of gender breakdown.”

After the 1978 “locker room” court case, Ludtke took a break from the sports world but remained in the field of journalism.

Writing for Time Magazine as a correspondent, she covered women’s, family and children’s issues. In 1997, she published a book about single motherhood.

Ludtke is more than just the woman that sued the MLB and won — she is a pioneer in the fight for gender equality in sports journalism.

MCAT 2015 Overview

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All classifieds submitted by mail must be accompanied by a check. Classifieds are $15 per week or $4 per day with Tufts ID or $30 per week or $8 per day without. The Tufts Daily is not liable for any damages due to typographical errors or misprintings except the cost of the insertion, which is fully refundable. We reserve the right to refuse to print any classifieds which contain obscenity, are of an overly sexual nature or are used expressly to denigrate a person or group. Questions? Email business@tuftsdaily.com.

Younger Jumbos gain experience at Rhode Island College GOLF

continued from back

the NESCAC Qualifier at Bowdoin, in which the Jumbos finished sixth out of 10 teams, keeping them from advancing to the NESCAC Golf Championship tournament in the spring.

The RIC Invitational marked Zorniger’s strongest showing of the fall season. Shooting a 39 on the front nine holes and a 38 on the back nine for his 77, Zorniger tied for seventh individually, and was the only Jumbo with a score below 80.

“I think it was just mostly not panicking about not doing well in the previous few weeks and staying confident in my ability,” said Zorniger of his performance. “I’d had a good week of practice [leading up to Friday], and my stroke just came together.”

Finishing second for Tufts was junior Sebastian Vik, who shot an 81, with a 41 going out and a 40 coming in, good for a tie for 14th. David Carson placed third for Tufts and tied for 16th individually with a 39 and a 43 for a total of 82 in his first tournament playing for Tufts.

The Tufts team’s only two freshmen, Ben Ruskin and Adam Sneath, did not find as much success in Rhode Island on Friday. Ruskin scored for the team, with his 90 adding to the team total, while Sneath’s 97 did not factor into the team score.

“Even though I didn’t perform as

well as I would have liked to, it was a great experience to play in my first college tournament and get a chance to test my game in that situation,” Ruskin said of his performance. “To get to learn what it takes to play in a college tournament will be valuable for me going forward.”

The team is now looking forward to rounding out their fall season with a strong finish. With the cancellation of this weekend’s Johnson and Wales Fall Tournament, the Jumbos’ next and final tournament of the fall will be the New England Championship in Brewster, Mass. on Oct. 27 and 28.

There, Tufts will take on a field of opponents that includes several Div. I teams in one of the biggest tournaments of the season.

Zorniger explained that the competition will be a chance for the Jumbos to prove themselves against tough competition, hopefully allowing them to finish the fall on a high note and give them some momentum going into the spring.

Though this fall season has not been as successful for the team as it would have hoped, their prospects for the future look favorable. With a strong core of sophomores and juniors who have played in several tournaments this fall — including Wawer and Wong, both of whom were named to the All-NESCAC Second Team this week — the team is looking forward to the spring and next year.

HOST FOR THE ADMISSIONS OFFICE

Wednesday, October 9

5:30 PM Dowling Hall 745 B Get the straight facts about the new MCAT and how to be prepared!

Sponsored by Health Professions Advising and MAPS

The Voices of Tufts Experience An overnight program for prospective students interested in learning about diversity on campus

October 24th Sign up to host at: https://tac.admissions.tufts.edu/outreach/ hostsignup.asp?voices If you have any questions, please contact Greg Wong at Greg.Wong@tufts.edu

The Tufts Daily

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

11

Sports

Volleyball

Tufts loses hold of first place in NESCAC after dropping pair of games by

Tyler Maher

Daily Editorial Board

The Tufts volleyball team suffered consecutive losses for the first time this season after dropping both of its games on

VOLLEYBALL (11-6 Overall, 3-2 NESCAC) at Amherst, Mass., Saturday Tufts 23 25 18 19 Amherst 25 15 25 25

— —

1 3

at Williamstown, Mass., Friday Tufts Williams

20 19 21 — 25 25 25 —

0 3

the road this weekend. The Jumbos were swept by the Ephs of Williams College on Friday before losing again to the Lord Jeffs of Amherst on Saturday, lowering their NESCAC record to 3-2 and their overall record to 11-6.

The better of the two games for Tufts came on Saturday, coming up just short at Amherst. The Jumbos took the Lord Jeffs down to the wire in a back-and-forth first set, coming within two points of victory before surrendering three straight points to the Lord Jeffs and losing in heartbreaking fashion, 23-25.

Tufts rebounded and won the second set easily, 25-15, and then took an early lead in the pivotal third set, only to watch Amherst rally for the victory. The Lord Jeffs

jumped to a big lead in the fourth set, and Tufts was unable to recover, falling 18-25 as Amherst picked up its eighth win in the past 10 games.

Junior outside hitter Hayley Hopper continued her excellent season with a teamhigh 13 kills. Hopper now leads the team with 169 kills overall. Classmate middle hitter Isabel Kuhel, who tallied 11 kills of her own, along with four digs, versus Amherst, was disappointed with this weekend’s results but stressed the importance of not dwelling on them.

“The NESCAC is a very competitive conference and all the teams have a lot of talent,” Kuhel said. “Going forward, we need to keep playing strong and consistent because we have some very challenging games ahead of us. We are always working to improve and play better.”

The first game of the weekend on Friday night against another Massachusetts NESCAC Rival — Williams — turned out no better for the Jumbos. Tufts entered play on Friday tied with Williams for first place in the NESCAC. Both teams were 3-0 in league play, but the superior overall record of the Ephs — just one loss to the Jumbos’ four — made Williams the odds-on favorite to win the showdown between the league’s top two teams.

The Ephs — ranked 25th by the American Volleyball Coaches Association — swept the overmatched Jumbos to hand Tufts its first NESCAC defeat of the season and take sole possession of first place. Though the Jumbos out-blocked Williams and played well overall, the Ephs proved themselves to

be the better team.

The bright spots for the Jumbos against the Ephs came primarily from the underclassmen. Freshman middle hitter Elizabeth Ahrens contributed seven kills on nine attempts, while classmate Mary Maccabee and Kuhel each added three assists to the Jumbos’ attack. Sophomores Carolina Berger and Kyra Baum led the team defensively with eight and nine digs, respectively.

Head coach Cora Thompson remained positive after watching her team lose its biggest game of the season up to this point.

They did not roll over against one of the toughest competitors in the NESCAC and kept the matches close, losing to Williams 25-20, 25-19 and 25-21.

“I think any time you lose a close match or set it is frustrating, but overall we were really proud of our ability to fight a team like Williams,” she said. “We really made Williams earn their win against us and for that reason alone we are more proud of our efforts than disappointed in our loss.”

The Jumbos, now tied for fourth in the NESCAC and 11-6 overall, will look to snap their first losing streak of the season this weekend with conference games at Bates and Bowdoin. Bates, a sub-.500 team, should provide a good opportunity for Tufts to get back on track. Bowdoin, on the other hand, who is second in the NESCAC, will provide a more formidable foe. The Jumbos will also have to overcome the added challenge of playing both games on the road, where they are just 2-3 this year, if they hope to remain near the top of the NESCAC.

Christie Wu For The Tufts Daily

The Jumbos will be on the road again this weekend, this time in Maine, with a Friday matchup against Bates and a Saturday matchup against Bowdoin.

Sikes-Keilp’s goals enough to push Jumbos past Panthers FIELD HOCKEY

continued from back

in the first half, Tufts finally took the lead. Off of a penalty corner opportunity, Jumbos’ sophomore forward Allison Rolfe controlled the ball and pushed it across the circle to Terveer.

Terveer then finished a shot past Knapp for her first goal of the season, giving Tufts a one-goal lead at the half.

Five minutes into the second half, Middlebury earned a penalty corner opportunity. Senior forward Katherine Theiss received a give-and-go from junior midfielder Catherine Fowler and buried the equalizer past Tufts junior keeper Bri Keenan.

“We really wanted to refocus and calm down after they scored,” Cannon said. “We went back to playing good Tufts hockey and piecing together the little things instead of being con-

cerned about scoring right away.”

Over the next 20 minutes, the Jumbos regained their lead and began to pull away from the Panthers.

Terveer notched her second goal of the afternoon at the 46 minute mark, finishing a rebound past Knapp to put Tufts up 2-1.

“Rachel [Terveer] has been working hard at practice, and she was able to transfer it to the game and getting those two goals,” Park said. “Our team is very well-rounded and it definitely allows us to be stronger.”

Sikes-Keilp tallied the next two scores, first on an unassisted score, and again eight minutes later on another Tufts penalty corner, inserted by junior forward Brittany Norfleet.

A minute after Sikes-Keilp’s second goal, Middlebury struck again. Fowler received the ball on a Panther penalty corner and slid it across the circle

to first-year forward Pam Schulman, who beat Keenan with a shot to pull Middlebury within two.

The Panthers came no closer as the final minutes ticked off the clock, and Sikes-Keilp’s insurance goals gave the Jumbos enough to preserve the win.

“In the last few minutes, we just worked on making one receive or one tackle without becoming frantic when Middlebury worked the ball into our end,” Cannon said. “It felt good to get a solid conference win.”

The Jumbos are now tied for first in the NESCAC rankings, though the Lord Jeffs have the advantage since they handed the Jumbos their only loss of the season.

This week’s schedule is no time to lay down as the team progresses into the second half of the season. Tufts hosts the University of New England before meeting Connecticut College on Saturday for their next NESCAC showdown.

Aaron Leibowitz | The Fan

Liriano’s redemption

W

hat do you want to do in your 20s? Graduate college?

Get a job or two or three? Eat some cereal? Beyond that, it’s probably up in the air.

Whatever happens during my 20s, it won’t be half as eventful as the past decade has been for Pirates pitcher Francisco Liriano.

When he was 21, the lefty made his major league debut. Two days ago, he helped the Pirates approach their first playoff series victory since 1979. In between, he has had an All-Star Rookie season, undergone Tommy John surgery, bounced back, tanked, bounced back again, thrown a no-hitter, tanked again and bounced back once more. And oh yeah — last Christmas, he broke his nonpitching arm while playing with his kids.

He turns 30 this month.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Liriano signed in 2000 with the Giants — as an outfielder. It wasn’t long before they turned him into a pitcher, and three years later he went to the Twins in a deal that sent A.J. Pierzynski to San Francisco and Joe Nathan to Minnesota. The Associated Press headline read: “Giants give up Nathan in deal for catcher.” Liriano was a throw-in.

In 2003, Liriano appeared in just five minor league games due to shoulder injuries. By 2004, though, he was touted as the second coming of Johan Santana.

In 2005, he struck out 204 batters — 11 per nine innings — between Doubleand-Triple A. Liriano took the majors by storm in 2006, posting a 2.16 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP and finishing third in Rookie of the Year voting. But in August, he experienced forearm inflammation and went on the disabled list. Then his elbow started barking. That November, he had Tommy John surgery and kissed the 2007 season goodbye.

In his first three starts of 2008, Liriano stunk. He was demoted to Triple-A and didn’t return until August. In his next three starts, he was unhittable. Makes sense, right?

The years that followed made anything but sense for Liriano. In 2009, he cemented his status as a massive disappointment, finishing the year 5-13 with a 5.80 ERA. His fastball, which had averaged close to 95 MPH in 2005, dipped below 92. At age 25, Liriano was already being compared to injury-prone flops like Kerry Wood and Mark Prior.

But Liriano came back better than ever.

He dropped weight and dominated hitters in winter ball. During the 2010 season, he magically added three miles per hour to his heater and sliced two-plus runs off his ERA, eclipsing 200 strikeouts and posting a 2.95 xFIP, tops in the American League.

And yet, his roller-coaster career plummeted once more in 2011. Liriano’s first five starts were a train wreck. He mixed in a no-hitter on May 3 — just to keep us on our toes — but struggled the rest of the year and into 2012, when he was traded to the White Sox at the deadline.

By September, he couldn’t even crack Chicago’s starting rotation.

That brings us to the past 12 months, which, remarkably, may be the strangest ones yet. The Pirates offered Liriano two years and $12.75 million in the offseason, but after the Christmas incident they reduced their offer to one year plus a vesting option, with only $1 million guaranteed.

Now, along with the Pirates, the 29-year-old journeyman is finally back on top. He returned from his injury in May and has been awesome ever since, winning 16 regular season games and making two strong starts in the playoffs.

A lot can change over the course of a baseball lifetime.

Liriano told reporters on Saturday, “I didn’t think I was going to play this year, so I’m surprised by the year I have had.”

He should know better by now.

Aaron Leibowitz is a senior who is majoring in American studies. He can be reached at Aaron.Leibowitz@tufts.edu.

Sports

12

INSIDE Volleyball 11

tuftsdaily.com

Field Hockey

Tufts rebounds from first loss with victory at home against Middlebury by

Kate Klots

Daily Editorial Board

After dropping a game to conference rival Amherst on

FIELD HOCKEY

(7-1 Overall, 5-1 NESCAC) at Bello Field, Saturday Middlebury Tufts

0 1

2 — 3 —

2 4

Sept. 28, the No. 5 field hockey team is back on track.

On Saturday, Tufts picked up its fifth conference win, defeating No. 6 Middlebury on home turf to improve to 7-1 for the season, handing the Panthers their second loss of 2013.

“I think after the loss, we realized that we never wanted to experience that feeling again,” sophomore forward

Hannah Park said. “It definitely psyched us up to work hard.”

Head coach Tina McDavitt’s squad was led by sophomore midfielder Dakota Sikes-Keilp and classmate Rachel Terveer, who each notched two goals in the 4-2 decision.

“We focused on pushing each other harder in practice last week and making sure that during the game, everyone played with the same level of intensity and desire,” senior All-American midfielder Emily Cannon said.

Fewer than five minutes into regulation, the Jumbos saw an excellent chance to get on the board. With the ball inside the 16-meter circle, Tufts earned an early penalty stroke. Cannon stepped up to take the stroke, driving a shot at the lower right corner, but Middlebury junior keeper Emily Knapp dove toward the ball to make the save.

With six minutes remaining see FIELD HOCKEY, page 11

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

Tufts field hockey was able to bounce back on Parents Weekend with a victory on Bello Field over the visiting Middlebury Panthers.

Melissa Ludtke speaks on gender equality in sports journalism by

Alison Kuah

Contributing Writer

Journalist Melissa Ludtke has been the subject of an ESPN documentary and has covered professional sports for more than 20 years. But her biggest accomplishment is something that continues to be a struggle for many: being

a woman in a field traditionally dominated by men.

Ludtke, who was born in Iowa City, Iowa, before moving to Amherst, Mass., grew up around baseball. In a talk at Tufts last Tuesday, she recalled learning baseball from her mother, who used to thumbtack photographs of baseball players around her bedroom.

“So it was from my mother that I really inherited that gene of loving baseball,” Ludtke said. “That’s what I grew up with. To me it wasn’t an alien idea that a woman should like baseball.”

Yet this idea was in stark contrast to what was actually going on with women in sports media at the time. Just five years before

Ludtke started as a baseball reporter, in some places women weren’t even permitted passes to go onto the field. Even after she negotiated access to the press box, she wasn’t allowed to sit with male reporters during the pregame meal, but rather given a see LUDTKE, page 10

Kyra Sturgill / The Tufts Daily

Melissa Ludtke came to Tufts on Oct. 1 to discuss her experience as a woman in sports journalism who helped break down gender barriers in the field.

Men’s Golf

Tufts takes fourth at Rhode Island College by

Maclyn Senear

Contributing Writer

In its penultimate tournament of the fall season, the men’s golf team finished fourth out of eight teams at the Rhode Island College Fall Invitational on Friday. Led by junior Alex Zorniger, who shot a 77, Tufts finished with a team score of 330 in the one-day tournament, tied with Suffolk University, and 29 strokes behind tournament winner, Johnson and Wales University.

The tournament yielded mixed emotions, as the result was not what the team wanted against a less competitive field, but the performance of some younger players inspired confidence for the future.

“This was a weaker field of teams than what we’ve faced [in other tournaments this fall], so I don’t think this was necessarily our best performance.

I think we’ve definitely played better in other tournaments,” Zorniger said. “Still, though, I think we turned a corner this last week, and that bodes well for the spring.”

The team, which was without junior John Wawer and sophomores Jay Wong and Brendan Koh, received admirable performances from freshman Ben Ruskin, classmate Adam Sneath, and senior David Carson, who all made their collegiate golf debuts on Friday.

“As a team, we weren’t thrilled with how we played, but considering that three of the five guys we brought had never played for the team before, that was maybe to be expected,” Ruskin said.

Though the team was dissatisfied with the final result, Tufts’ fourth-place finish was their highest in any tournament so far this fall. It follows an especially disappointing weekend at see GOLF, page 10