TuftsDaily01.29 .14

Snow Showers 26/13

THE TUFTS DAILY

TUFTSDAILY.COM

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

VOLUME LXVII, NUMBER 7

Where You Read It First Est. 1980

CSL to request removal from sexual misconduct appeals process

At its upcoming meeting on Feb. 5, the Committee on Student Life (CSL) will propose a change in the Tufts University bylaws that would allow for sexual misconduct appeals to be handled by the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) rather than the CSL. CSL Faculty Co-chair Alva Couch said that the change in the appeals process would result in students no longer hearing the appeals of other Tufts students, among other adjustments to address Title IX complaints.

“In this case, Title IX is specifically the handling of sexual harassment cases that are sent in question,” Couch said. “This requires a special sensitivity and it also requires expertise and training.”

According to Couch, a trained, three-person faculty panel would make decisions regarding appeals. These facby

Meredith Braunstein Daily Editorial Board

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

Students can use meal swipes at the Commons Friday and Saturday Nights.

Tufts expands latenight dining options by

Daniel Bottino

Daily Editorial Board

Tufts Dining Services is offering adjusted late night weekend dining options this semester, with Dewick-MacPhie and Carmichael Dining Halls extending their hours until 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights and the Commons Deli and Grill accepting meal plans.

According to Patti Klos, director of Dining and Business Services, extended hours began this semester in response to strong student demand.

“There was enough interest for a long enough period of

time that we felt like it was the time to take action,” she said.

The idea to offer extended evening hours was suggested to Klos last fall by Tufts Community Union (TCU) senators Christie Maciejewski, a senior, and Isabella Kahhale, a freshman, Klos said. “[Kahhale’s] supposition was that we know students were drinking and they should really be eating too,” Klos said. “I can’t directly support that, but I recognize that students are active in the evenings all the time, but especially on Friday and Saturday.” see DINING, page 2

ulty members would not be drawn from the Tufts Medford/ Somerville campus.

“It is not considered kind to the student [requesting an appeal] to have students hearing a case that could be potentially embarrassing,” Couch said. “Furthermore, these faculty can be chosen from schools other than the school in which the student actually lives, which means that the chances of future contact are small.”

CSL Student Co-chair Haydn Forrest, a senior, said that the CSL is making changes to the appeals process in order to keep Tufts’ judicial practices up-to-date and to respect the privacy of all involved parties. “[The CSL wants to implement these changes] mostly to ensure that we’re aligned with best practices nationwide, to protect the privacy of the students and to make sure they’re getting the best judicial environment possible for them,” Forrest said.

“Obviously these sort of cases are really intense affairs in a lot of cases, and there’s no reason to make that process any more difficult than it has to be for anyone.”

Former CSL Student Co-chair Kumar Ramanathan said that, due to the degree of training needed for case adjudicators, a setup had to be arranged that would allow qualified individuals to listen to appeals.

“It was just a matter of figuring out how to get [sexual misconduct appeals] out of the CSL’s hands and into a structure where these trained staff and faculty would be in charge of the adjudication,” Ramanathan, a junior, said.

Couch said that the decision to delegate sexual misconduct appeals to the OEO would be a welcomed change for both campus offices.

“The OEO are overjoyed that we are releasing the process to them.” Couch said. see POLICY, page 2

Author of Vagina Monologues gives lecture on violence against women

by Josh

Weiner

Daily Editorial Board

Eve Ensler, author of “The Vagina Monologues,” spoke in Cohen Auditorium last night as part of the Merrin Moral Voices Lecture series sponsored by Tufts Hillel.

Ensler began by addressing the global feminist movement and noted that there was significant progress for the social effort in 2013.

“I’m utterly thrilled that this year has been devoted to working against genderbased violence,” she said.

“I’ve just been witnessing and experiencing this unbelievable wave of energy that’s just rising around the world ...

Combating violence against girls and women is the central issue, if not the mother issue, of our time.”

Ensler shared some unsettling statistics about worldwide violence against women, saying that a third of all women will be beaten or raped in their lifetimes — a figure which does not account for other atrocities such as sex trafficking and genital mutilation.

“Violence is, simply put,

the methodology that sustains patriarchy,” she said.

“The majority of women on this planet have not only experienced violence, but have never felt safe or sure enough to share that story.”

Ensler said that her father physically abused her at a young age. The resulting trauma has inspired her to help prevent the same ordeal from happening to other women, Ensler said.

“I do not tell you this to enlist your pity,” she said. “I see ENSLER, page 2

Dining Services currently holding naming competition for Kosher Deli Dining Services is currently holding a naming competition for the newly-opened Kosher Deli.

According to Patti Klos, director of Dining and Business Services, the deli was initially named the Kosher Deli in order to let students know that the food offered is glatt kosher. However, the plain designation of the Kosher Deli was not viewed as a viable longterm name.

“It’s not very often that we launch a new service or a new program,” Klos said. “We think that when you communicate about these services and programs it’s helpful to actually have names.”

Klos explained that Dining Services aims to personalize the Kosher Deli by giving it a pop-

ular and exciting name. Dining Services is inviting students to submit names in an online competition, she said. The new name does not need to include the word “kosher.”

“We launched this site where you can submit the name, and the deadline is midnight on the 31st of January,” she said. “I’m reaching out to some faculty and staff [for a selection committee], and we’ll ask the Hillel organization as well to see if there is a student who might volunteer to be on our selection committee.”

The selection committee will judge all the submitted names and produce a list of the top three or four names, Klos explained.

Ultimately, Dining Services will

choose one of the names from the finalist pool to be the new name for the Kosher Deli.

“Hopefully ... before March, we’ll be able to settle on a name,” Klos said.

As a reward for winning the contest, Klos noted that the person who submits the winning name will be invited to help develop a new menu item for the Kosher Deli which will bear their name.

“Over time I’ve had students contact me and ask if they can have a menu item named after them ... so when we can do that, we do that,” she said.

Inside this issue

CAROLINE GEILING / The Tufts Daily

—by Daniel Bottino

Students are encouraged to submit names for the new Kosher Deli.

Today’s sections

University nutritionists caution against glutenfree diets as a means for weight loss.

Steven Feifke plays jazz classics with youthful enthusiasm.

see FEATURES, page 3

see ARTS, page 5

News Features Arts & Living Editorial | Op-Ed

1 3 5 8

Op-Ed Comics Classifieds Sports

9 10 11 Back

2

The Tufts Daily

News

OEO would handle appeals if new policy is adopted POLICY

continued from page 1

“They feel that they know what they’re doing, and they feel very gratified that we are releasing the process to them and allowing them to utilize the tools they’ve built.”

According to Couch, if the proposed motion passes, the new bylaw would go into effect immediately. The CSL would, however, maintain its current status as the board of appeal in all other judicial aspects, as designated by university bylaws.

“Basically the bylaws gave us complete board appeal authority, and we

are delegating one small piece of that authority,” Couch said. “We remain the board of appeal for all other cases in which there could be a disciplinary decision by Tufts judiciary.”

Forrest said that, while peer involvement is important in other aspects of campus life, cases regarding sexual misconduct appeals require special sensitivity and understanding.

“As with anything with the appeals process, I think it’s good that there’s a peer voice involved, but in these cases of sexual misconduct, the cases are really complicated; they require a lot of special training,” Forrest said. “I think the first

and foremost need is the security of the students involved in them, so if removing the CSL from that process improves the quality of their experience and improves the protection of their identity, then it’s absolutely worthwhile.”

Couch said that the policy change in the handling of sexual misconduct appeals will make the idea of seeking an appeal less intimidating.

“What we hope is that it will be a lot less embarrassing to make an appeal,” Couch said. “It will be something that we can encourage people to do rather than scare them away by the daunting process of appeal ... we will therefore have

Commons now accepting meal swipes on weekend nights DINING

continued from page 1

Along with extending the hours of the dining halls, Klos arranged for the Commons Deli and Grill in the Mayer Campus Center to accept meal swipes on Friday and Saturday evenings from 9 p.m. until 2 a.m.

“Since the Campus Center is open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, why not satisfy that need [for late-night dining] in a location that’s designed to serve,” she said. “And so we sort of think of it as a fourth meal period, which is what some campuses call it.”

The Commons first accepted meal swipes on Friday Jan. 24, Klos said. She

noted that the new program did not begin during the first weekend of the semester because student demand was not expected to be high.

“We suspected there wouldn’t be enough participation to warrant it,” Klos said. “It was a pretty light week from [Dining Services’] perspective.”

According to Kahhale, the quick implementation of the new dining options was unexpected and extremely welcome. Except a bit of inaccurate information students have spread among themselves about how and when the Commons will allow meal swipes, Kahhale said she believes that thus far, the new meal plan program has been a

success.

“There has been so much hype about it,” Kahhale said. “It has been super cool because I’ve heard comments before about people thinking the Campus Center was dead. It’s supposed to be a center for life but people don’t really go there, and it was so great seeing it last night packed with students.”

Klos explained that the meal plan option for the Commons applies to any student with a meal plan — not just to students with the unlimited plan.

“If you’re on a meal plan, regardless of which plan you’re on, you’ll be able to use a meal swipe in the Commons on a Friday or Saturday once between 9 p.m.

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

an improvement in the environment here due to enforcement of the existing Tufts policies on sexual misconduct.”

As a member of the recently developed Sexual Misconduct Prevention Task Force, Ramanathan said that the appeals process is something that needs to continue to evolve.

“We’ve come really far in our policy and adjudicating process,” he said.

“But it’s really important that we continue to be able to change it constantly because we will keep finding problems or better things to do, and so far the OEO has been really great at changing it when necessary.”

and 2 a.m.,” she said.

According to Klos, the value of the meal swipe is the lunch meal value of $8.82, which Dining Services felt was adequate for the type of food offered by the Commons. Students will be able to choose any items offered, and if the total goes above $8.82, they have the option of paying the extra money with cash, JumboCash or a credit card.

According to sophomore Lucas Conwell, the new late-night dining options are a major improvement for Dining Services.

“It makes the unlimited meal plan worthwhile since you can get the deli sandwiches at no extra cost,” he said.

Ensler encourages Tufts community to participate in global dance campaign ENSLER

continued from page 1

was wildly lucky in that I had the friends and resources to put that violence behind me, when a billion women on this planet do not.”

Ensler explained how she transformed the experience, alongside those of other women who have been abused, into “The Vagina Monologues,” which debuted in New York City in 1996. She noted that the play has inspired many women to discuss aspects of their personal feminine experience for the first time.

“Theater and the play had opened up the door, had opened up an energy for people to come forth and share things they hadn’t shared before,” she said.

Ensler addressed the play’s rapid growth in popularity — which she has labeled “the V-Day Movement” — and said that it is now being staged across the world in regions she would have never expected, including underground productions in Iran and Saudi Arabia.

“For 15 years, the movement has been happening,” she said. “It’s a selfdirected, autonomous movement ... we’ve never tried to get anyone to put on this play, it’s just been an offering.

In many cases, people have risked their lives, they’ve risked their reputations, [to stage the show].”

Ensler said she was especially moved when she traveled to Islamabad for the first Pakistani production of “The Vagina Monologues,” in which women from both Pakistan and Afghanistan performed.

“Everybody just sobbed,” she said.

“I realized theater had the potential to break binaries, to get people to open their hearts.”

Ensler said she hopes to see more men attend the play, as many who have done so have benefited from the experience. She also said that one of the most meaningful outcomes of the play’s popularity might be an increase in sex education worldwide.

“We teach people biology, we teach people math, and we teach people French — why don’t we teach people good sex?” she asked. “I really believe we need to talk about sex ... it would radically decrease sexual violence.”

Ensler described some of her personal experiences that had inspired her to take action as a feminist. She said that it had been especially grueling to travel to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and learn of the numerous atrocities which have occurred against women in the years

Nicholas Pfosi / The Tufts Daily

Eve Ensler discusses how “The Vagnia Monologues” have empowered women to share their stories. that the nation has been engaged in civil war.

“I had a semi-breakdown, looking back at it,” she said. “I was shattered. I really didn’t know if I wanted to continue living. After Congo, I stopped sleeping. I haven’t really slept normally since. If we allow women to be treated the way they are treated in the Congo, it will happen everywhere.”

However, Ensler said that when she shared her story with a group of

Congolese women upon returning to the United States, they suggested that she start dancing as a means of taking the pain away. Ensler said it was then that she became inspired to found “One Billion Rising,” a global campaign which aims to assemble a billion women worldwide annually on Feb. 14 and have them dance together as a symbol of their collective strength and support for one another.

“The power of dance cannot be

underestimated,” she said. “I believe that until our thinking and brain power is embodied, transferred to our bodies and mind and our souls, then change will not happen.”

“One Billion Rising” made a successful debut last year and Ensler encouraged the Tufts community to get involved in its second annual staging next month.

“We will dance,” she said. “It will be an outrageous, unearthing, uplifting dance.

I promise you we will know justice.”

Features

3

tuftsdaily.com

Gluten-free options on rise, unnecessary for those not intolerant

Developing medical technologies have helped nutritionists design diets for people with food intolerances, but many confuse these meal recommendations, like eating gluten-free, as recipes for weight loss.

Equating gluten-free and healthy food is not accurate, according to Tricia Thompson (N ’91), a registered dietician who focuses on gluten-free diets. Some gluten-free options are high in fat and sugar, and often low in fiber, Thompson wrote in an article published in the Tufts Nutrition Magazine.

Tufts Dining Services Nutrition Specialist Julie Lampie, also a registered dietitian who is responsible for making arrangements for students with dietary restrictions or food intolerances, agreed with Thompson’s statement.

“I try to dissuade students who just want to follow a gluten-free diet for weight loss,” Lampie said.

Thompson underscored that a gluten-free diet will not automatically lead to weight loss, and said that gluten is not harmful to those who are not medically diagnosed as sensitive to it.

For students with medical reasons to avoid gluten, Tufts offers an array of dining options. Both junior Alexandra Bukowski and sophomore Emma Boyd suffer from forms of gluten intolerance.

“If they didn’t have the fridge, I wouldn’t be able to eat in the dining halls.” Boyd said. “I’d be eating salad every day — salad and rice.”

The term “gluten intolerance,” encompasses a range of disorders, including celiac disease, which damages the small intestine upon contact with gluten, constraining the body’s ability to absorb nutrients. Those with celiac disease have certain antibodies that cause the affliction, while gluten sensitivity is a term used for those who experience celiac symptoms, but lack these antibodies. For both cases, a lifelong gluten-free diet is the only known cure.

According to the National Foundation of Celiac Awareness, 18 million Americans suffer from nonceliac gluten sensitivity — six times the amount of celiac sufferers.

“For people that are intolerant, there’s a lot of fatigue, digestive issues changes in mood, things like that,” said Boyd, who has a gluten sensitivity. “It was a couple of months of realizing, ‘I feel sick, but I don’t know why’ it attacks your immune system, so I was getting sick all the time and what not.”

Gluten intolerance can range from mild to extreme sensitivity, according to Bukowski, a junior who has celiac disease.

“I’m not as sensitive as other people are.” Bukowski said. “My second cousin was diagnosed and she couldn’t even inhale airborne flour.”

According to Bukowski, the cards in the dining hall that list ingredients and allergens for regular food items are helpful, but the refrigerator dedicated to gluten-free alternatives has been most helpful to her dietary needs.

“I rave about it to all of my friends,” Bukowski said. “The stuff [in the gluten-free fridge] is so good that they needed to put a lock on it and give every gluten-free student a key, because non-gluten free students were taking food out of there.”

Lampie discussed the array of options that Tufts tries to provide its students, including bread substitutes for bagels, wraps, pizza shells, hamburger rolls, whole grain and white bread and baked goods, including

by Jake

Anastasia Korolov | Back to the Present

Taber

Daily Editorial Board

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

Tufts Dining allows students to access the gluten-free fridge if they experience symptoms of intolerance. cookies, muffins and biscotti. “[Gluten-free options] are so much easier and healthier and tastier than they used to be,” Lampie said.

In response to those who want to use the gluten-free diet as a weight loss tactic, an energy booster or simply a healthier choice, Lampie said she has advised students against eliminating gluten from their diets.

“There’s no reason; [if ] I’m not gluten sensitive, I’m not a celiac It can be a limiting diet,” Lampie said.

Lampie offers keys to the glutenfree fridge to students who want to try the diet, but only if they feel as though they are suffering from symptoms of intolerance such as discomfort or loss of appetite.

“I made a decision because of the literature that [says] there is definitely a non-celiac gluten sensitivity, and we’ve made that key available to anyone who is requesting it based on the desire to follow a glutenfree diet,” Lampie said. “[ There are] about forty students who have keys, ... [and I] touch base with them a few times each semester to try and see whether there are any challenges with the inventory.”

According to Bukowski and Boyd, Dining Services’ have remained highly aware of students’ dietary needs.

“They’re really responsive,” Bukowski said. “Slowly, they take students’ advice. There were a couple of us that were craving pasta, [and] every Wednesday since then, there’s been [gluten-free] pasta in Dewick.”

Still, Boyd said that there’s room for further improvement in Tufts’ glutenfree options.

“The only thing I could see changing is Hodgdon [Good-to-Go] maybe having some more gluten-free options,” Boyd said. “If they had a few more options for to-go items ... I could see that being a success.”

As doctors’ ability to detect celiac disease and gluten sensitivity increases, the number of students requiring access to a gluten-free diet is bound to rise. Additionally, the food industry will continue to enhance production of food options that accommodate gluten sensitivity, raising the popularity of the restrictive diet.

“I was diagnosed maybe four years ago,” Bukowski said. “Even then, the options that I had then weren’t even on the same plane as they are now.”

S

You’re not alone

ome of you aren’t going to know why I’m writing this. You’re going to stare at this paper, wrinkling your forehead in confusion. Maybe you’ll raise an eyebrow questioningly.

That’s okay, though. Because some of you will understand exactly why I’m writing this. Of course, it doesn’t matter who understands, because I’m writing this for everyone.

I’ve been exhausted these past few weeks. I’m not sure if it’s the sudden increase in activity from winter break, or the same gluten sensitivity my mother recently discovered she has. Maybe I’m just getting bad sleep. Or maybe it’s the stress of starting classes again. I feel like there’s so much to do and no time to do it. But I love all of it, so how could I ever let anything go?

It can be pretty s***ty at times, I will admit. Walking around tense and nervous, waiting for something to happen that breaks the delicate balance I have going right now. I already have physical symptoms of stress. I’m not sure how much more my body can take.

Last week though, something peculiar happened. I realized that other people have problems too. Surprise! We’re all human beings with complex thoughts and emotions that aren’t all expressed on a daily basis. This may seem trivial to you, and I’m sure I seem kind of selfabsorbed saying this, but to me this was a big deal. To know that people are struggling just as much as I am. That I’m not alone in this.

Here’s what happened: I found out that one of my friends is worried about homework. Which is perfectly understandable, especially considering the classes he’s in. Yet it surprised me, because I’d never realized that he’s probably dealing with just as much crap as I am. He’s got all sorts of stuff going on that I don’t know about. Probably some stuff nobody knows about.

It’s a weird epiphany to have. Watching people in class, seeing them effortlessly respond to questions with answers that I have to sit down and think about. It started to make me wonder. Is it me? Am I not reading enough? Am I not paying enough attention? The short answer is probably yes, if only because I spend way too much time clicking on random things on the Internet. I tell myself it helps me relax, but I know I’m just procrastinating. One more thing to stress about, and it’s something that I caused myself. Joy. The other short answer is no. There’s a long answer too, but we’re not going to have time for that. When I’m in class seeing people easily answer questions, I’m seeing those people at their best. I’m seeing them when they’re on top of their game, and they’ve done all the reading and understood it perfectly. And when I’m trying to do homework, and I can’t even really figure out what the question is asking, I’m at my worst. What kind of fair comparison is that? But it’s the one we all make, because the times when other people are at their best are the times we’re noticing them, and when we’re at our worst, we’re at our most vulnerable. So I go through the day, and I get this warped sense that everyone knows exactly what they’re talking about except me.

But here’s the thing: everyone’s got problems. Everyone’s got secrets and stuff they hate doing and times when they wish they had just gone into [insert whatever major here] instead. Everyone here is struggling with the same careful balancing act that I am.

None of us is alone in this.

Anastasia Korolov is freshman who has not declared a major. She can be reached at Anastasia.Trombly@tufts.edu.

The Tufts Daily

4

FREE FOOD. MUSIC BY DJ MADDIE D. PHOTO BOOTH. POLAR VORTEX PUNCH.

Advertisement

Wednesday, January 29 2014

OPENING PARTY JANUARY 30TH 5:00-7:30PM

Seeing Glacial Time: Climate Change in the Arctic Tanja Softić—Migrant Universe TUFTS UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY | Aidekman Arts Center | http://artgallery.tufts.edu

JOIN STUDENT GOVERNMENT!

Women’s Center Representative

COME TO THE INFO SESSION TOMORROW NIGHT!

Class of 2015 Senate Seat

Where: Campus Center 205

Vacancies: Latino Center Representative

Two TCU Judiciary Seats

When: TODAY January 29 @ 9:00 PM Don’t forget to vote!

TUES 2/11

@ ecom.tufts.edu/vote

ECOM

@tufts.edu

twitter.com/

TuftsECOM

ecom.tufts.edu/

calendar

Arts & Living

5

tuftsdaily.com

Concert Review

Dani Bennett | Scenes From Spain

Steven Feifke fills Regattabar with passionate, sophisticated jazz by

A case for cat culture

Anthony Martinez

A

Daily Editorial Board

It’s refreshing to hear young musicians playing traditional jazz. It’s even more refreshing to hear them playing it exceptionally well. While jazz sub-genres range from the screaming, avant-garde sensibilities of John Zorn to the lukewarm Muzak of Kenny G, Steven Feifke and company keep it simple. Each band member is all of 23 or 24 years old, yet each is as savvy as a much more seasoned musician. Anybody with an interest in jazz should watch Feifke and tenor saxophonist Chad Lefkowitz-Brown cover “Summertime” (1935) and “For All We Know” (1934) on YouTube.

So it’s fitting they should play at the Regattabar, a venue in Cambridge often frequented by high profile jazz musicians. Essentially a cocktail lounge, the Regattabar is the perfect place to showcase more hard-lined jazz. Imagine: over whispered drink orders, clinking ice and murmuring patrons, a ballad begins with soft, sweeping piano chords building gradually until it’s accompanied by shimmering drums and a brass line, starting low before mounting to a high, strutting resolution.

This is the case for the second song of the night —an original composition

by Feifke. After a short intro, tenor sax player Lefkowitz-Brown launches into an incredible solo. Kinetic, earnest and ever expressive, he has an ability with his instrument few people have.

Already frighteningly talented for his young age, his performance is hypnotic the whole night through, earning every whistle and clap he receives.

It’s not just that the band fits the venue well. All throughout the night the musicians are goading each other on, beaming at one another and laughing and whooping at particularly good

Courtesy Steven Feifke

see FEIFKE, page 6

Young musician Steven Feifke delivers heartfelt and refreshing jazz.

TV Review

‘HitRECord on TV’ is engaging, collaborative success by

Dana Guth

Daily Editorial Board

Just when we thought Joseph GordonLevitt couldn’t be more of a renaissance man, the actor-producer-screenwriter unveiled the pilot of “HitRECord on TV” (2014) — proving that he is indeed a jack of all trades. Drawing from a creative wealth of artists across the globe,

GabboT via Wikimedia Commons

Gordon-Levitt — the much beloved host of ‘HitRECord’ — maintains palpable charm and charisma.

Gordon-Levitt’s new series stitches together user-submitted content into a patchwork of stories that tie into greater themes during each episode.

The result is a series of homegrown products that are hyperactive, dazzling and often unexpectedly touching.

The show is the latest outgrowth of Gordon-Levitt’s open, creative community “HitRECord,” a 9-year-old online collaboration that has produced everything from Sundance films to documentaries to spoken word performances. Everything on the site is sent in by volunteer collaborators, screened

by Gordon-Levitt himself and weaved together into a final product.

Now, the same inclusive, do-it-yourself mentality has been fittingly picked up by Pivot, a television network and live app launched in 2013. As older media outlets scramble to find ways to connect to a young, multitasking audience, Pivot aims to spark modern ideas as self-described “TV for The New Greatest Generation.”

This is a match made in heaven for the nontraditional “HitRECord,” which — after airing its premiere episode on YouTube — has already been renewed for a second season.

It is not difficult to understand the show’s appeal. Each episode of “HitRECord on TV” centers around a new subject, encouraging anyone and see RECORD, page 6

Restaurant Review

The Burren provides cozy, fun atmosphere by

Nika Korchok Wakulich Daily Editorial Board

Stepping into The Burren — with its wood paneling, soft red lighting, walls postered with pictures of musical acts and lilting Irish music piping from the sound system — feels like being transported to a small piece of Dublin without having to leave Somerville.

Affordable yet classy, The Burren boasts something for everyone: it’s a spot for friends to hang out at the bar — well-stocked with a choice of nearly 20 beers — a place for families to enjoy a meal together and a setting for a fun first date. The Burren has excellent and authentic Irish food — and from shepherd’s pie to Guinness beef stew, to the (admittedly British) bangers and mash, the menu does not disappoint the hungry diner looking for Irish cuisine. The Burren also offers a surprisingly high number of veggie options like vegetarian shepherd’s pie —just as delicious as the meat-filled version — and will leave vegetable lovers at peace knowing that if people ask, “Where’s the beef?” the answer will not be, “In that see BURREN, page 6

fter only a few weeks in Spain, I was recently informed that a typical person from Madrid is called a “gato,” a simple word meaning “cat,” but that comes with a more complicated explanation and requires some unpacking. There is, first and foremost, the historical aspect, as the name is homage to the Spanish leader who captured Madrid from the Moors in the eleventh century. This man could climb walls and was, for this talent, nicknamed “el gato.” Ever since then, Madrilenians have been referred to as “gatos.” Among other things, this led to the Madrid rugby team being named “Gatos de Madrid.”

But arguably more important is another origin of the gato nickname — one that derives from the typical Madrilenian schedule and life philosophy. A cat is inherently a nocturnal creature, wanting always to be active at night and possessing a kind of vision that is much more suited to dark spaces.

While unfortunately it has not been proven that Madrilenians have better vision than people in other European cities, they are night people through and through. Walking down Calle Mayor, you will spot the many gatos that would never even conceive of a night starting before 2 a.m. But this is also because, in Spain, every other activity starts later, shifting the entire schedule of a typical day: a later wake-up and small breakfast, lunch that doesn’t start before 2 p.m., a crucial afternoon snooze called a “siesta,” dinner that never begins earlier than 9 p.m. and then late-night festivities.

After just a few weeks experiencing this new schedule, I would like to make a case for the so-called Madrid cat culture, as it seems to be a more effective way to live one’s life. If time spent with friends is a priority — and staying up until the wee hours of the night is not only culturally acceptable, but encouraged — then there is more time to do what human beings constantly strive for: socializing. Call me crazy, but this is a fundamental characteristic that, for whatever reason, so many countries lack (listen up, U.S.A.). In Spain, a meal is a social activity that is meant to be eaten together and meant to last long periods of time. In sharing these long expanses of social time, Spaniards form relationships that are more grounded and, to a large extent, lacking in superficiality. It’s easier to get to know someone over a two and a half hour lunch than it is to wave to them while you each eat your prepared sandwiches separately at your desks.

This is not to say that all Spaniards exhibit the same traits, but rather that — on the whole — the culture is more open, full of affection while also engaging in the collective struggle. In the U.S., a daily conversation might consist of: “Hi, how are you?”

“Good, how are you?”

“Good.”

And that is all. It’s simple and quick, but not at all clear or descriptive. It is, for lack of a better word, a formality. In Spain, this conversation is altered: “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Listen, hombre, I have been dealing with construction right outside my building, and I pulled a muscle yesterday, and I need to visit my grandparents soon, and... “ Because most humans thrive off of social interactions, why would we limit ourselves from them? Why not make time to hang out and chat about our problems? Not only is this more fun, but, even more importantly, it’s actually healthier.

Understanding that you are not alone is one of the biggest reliefs that anyone can have — and in Spain, it is almost as if the gatos were born with this weight lifted off their shoulders. Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had that?

Dani Bennett is a junior who is majoring in English and spending this semester abroad in Spain. She can be reached at Danielle.Bennett@tufts.edu.

The Tufts Daily

6

Arts & Living

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Joseph Gordon-Levitt calls on all artists for progressive collaboration RECORD

continued from page 5

everyone to participate by sending in whatever that topic evokes in them — a story, a song, a cartoon. Episodes are the length of a TED talk fragmented into dozens of connected pieces. They do not require a time commitment or undivided attention, only an open mind.

The idea composing the first episode was naturally the title “RE: The Number One” — a first time theme that could have easily succumbed to numerous cliches. Luckily, the episode transcended the banal to make room for the less obvious and the more poignant. A woman with degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa — portrayed by Elle Fanning and narrated by a Scottish contributor — movingly describes the first time she saw stars. The world around her was sketched in by visual artists, and the score was written by musicians across the world. Put together, these madefrom-scratch elements form a living, breathing landscape unlike any other on television.

All of this occurs within the show’s first ten minutes. Moving forward, the audience is treated to a glittering spectacle of stories and ideas intermixed with clips of rappers, animation in the style of “Adventure Time” (2010-present) and live-audience interviews. It is bombastic and overwhelming — and feels as if every viewer is sitting in the editing room, watching the process unfold.

Still, the show manages to remain cohesive. The most affecting moments arrive during the description of Utah’s Fishlake National Forest, which contains the Pando, a collection of trees linked by one giant root structure to form a singular, united organism. It is an apt metaphor for both “HitRECord on TV” and for life in general — a perfect exemplification of the project’s

Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

Thousands of eager contributors flesh out ideas in Gordon-Levitt’s open-source project. overarching goals: unity, connectedness and collaboration.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the ever-profitable charm bubbling over in Gordon-Levitt. The host is always affable and often hammy — his dimpled smile and suave suit a constant presence in his video blog style musings. Gordon-Levitt sings and dances his way to the forefront, making his authority striking, even when

Feifke keeps things traditional, elegant without losing spark

FEIFKE

continued from page 5

phrasings. They’re clearly having a good time, and this charisma — impetuous and genuine — is part of what makes watching this band so entertaining — a quality that is absolutely necessary for a jazz concert where sounding overly-rehearsed is a deathtrap.

The band avoids that pitfall many ways. One is drummer Jimmy MacBride. Favoring collapsing rhythms and tight fills, he’s on-point the whole night through —and the constant stream of improvisation keeps each song both grounded where it needs to be and interesting during more idle sections. Another thing the band has going for it is Feifke himself, whose piano playing has a slight bluesy edge to it.

Opening with a limber take on Thelonius Monk’s “Evidence” (1948), the band’s

Courtesy Steven Feifke

Feifke’s piano playing has a bluesy edge to it.

other standards included Horace Silver’s “Nica’s Dream” (1960) — one of the best songs of the night — and a surprisingly bouncy rendition of “Autumn in New York” (1934).

The standards are good, but the band is more confident and enthusiastic while playing Feifke’s compositions.

During the fifth song, Feifke’s “Long Gone,” alto saxophone player Andrew Gould nails the transition into his solo so perfectly he carries the entire momentum of the song along with him.

The intimacy of the concert is fantastic as well. By the end of the night a smattering of laughter greets Feifke as he explains the encore number, “It’s a song I wrote for my parents’ anniversary — I don’t remember which anniversary.” The ending song is appropriate: Feifke’s parents are actually in the audience that night. Elegant and hushed, it’s safe to say that any parents would be lucky to have their child compose such a song for them.

The concert is wonderful, every song performed passionately and tastefully.

This is a band steeped in the tradition. Where jazz is typically about pushing the limits of an instrument, these musicians favor lush, poignant fundamentals performed to maximum effect.

Most importantly, Feifke and company are thoroughly entertaining. Feifke is evidence that there is plenty of room for both innovation and astounding brilliance at the heart of jazz — and that more traditional veins are far from exhausted.

the tales of others take center stage.

At times, this one-man show approach renders the pilot’s theme ironic: it is impossible to forget who number one really is.

When the host steps back and lets the contributors stand out, though, “HitRECord on TV” is refreshingly witty and inspired. Hundreds of thousands of people joining in to create any art form you can name (and a few too

bizarre to categorize) gives the project a captivating rawness — as if the most obscure corners of the Internet have been gathered and polished to form one entertaining variety show.

“HitRECord on TV” caters to a digitized generation of short attention spans in the most delightful, heartfelt way possible. With nothing else like it on television, it will certainly be entertaining to see how the project grows.

The Burren satisfies hungry patrons with Irish, American classics BURREN

continued from page 5

pie.” Other bold and unique dishes, like black bean espresso chili, prove that the menu can appeal to a wide variety of restaurant-goers. The Burren also offers a variety of more traditionally American cuisine.

The Burren burger, pulled pork, grilled chicken sandwiches and Buffalo wings make the Irish pub just as familiar as any more conventional American bar.

The restaurant has a variety of fun and classic bar foods as appetizers. The spicy chicken and cheese nachos could do with more toppings, but the tasty sauces and juicy chicken help to make up for it. An added bonus: portions are large enough to split between several people.

Bar food isn’t the only attraction: enter vegetarian cottage pie. With perfectly mashed potatoes, beautiful presentation and enough hearty vegetables to actually make a substantial meal, this vegetarian option — and other similar ones on the menu — does not disappoint.

While the shepherd’s pie, another Irish classic, is swell — stellar mashed potatoes combine with corn and peas to elevate the texture — it does come out a bit more like a stew rather than a solid pie. The dish is well done, just surprisingly different. Meanwhile, the Guinness beef stew has tender beef with large generous pieces of meat and carrots, onions and potatoes, each cooked until perfectly tender. The stew comes with a side of rock hard soda bread that adds a unique touch to the dish. All dishes are especially perfect to warm up a

Sofia Adams / THe Tufts Daily

The Burren offers patrons a mix of typical American bar food and traditional Irish fare. hungry college student hoping to escape the cold.

The Burren’s prices are reasonable, ranging from about $10 for vegetarian entrée, like the vegetarian shepherd’s pie, to $15 for Atlantic salmon and $18 for filet mignon. The Guinness beef stew clocks in at $11 while the traditional shepherd’s pie is $12. Salads range from $7 to $10, sandwiches are either $8 or $9 and appetizers are between $7 and $13.

The fun of The Burren doesn’t stop at the table, however. In fact, for music lovers, it boasts acts nearly every night of the week and proudly offers more traditional Irish groups alongside Blues and Americana bands. For a group of friends looking to spend their next evening out in Davis Square, The Burren is alternately cozy and rowdy. Booths tucked away along the walls of the restaurant, especially near the front, offer more privacy for small groups, families or

couples on dates. Conversely, the restaurant’s rear section — called the Back Room — holds seating for large groups and is the perfect space for big events and musical acts frequently hosts.

The bar is usually packed, filled with people coming in from the decidedly frigid New England weather to grab a pint of Guinness or a variety of other specialty beers from the bar and chat with friends. Clearly a local favorite, The Burren feels like a small Irish “Cheers” (1982-1993) bar in the middle of Somerville and is sure to continue being a mainstay for both locals and Irish-food enthusiasts for years to come.

The Burren is located at 247 Elm St. in Davis Square and is open for brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and dinner from 5:00 to 9:45 p.m. daily. For questions, or to reserve the Back Room, call (617) 776-6896.

The Tufts Daily

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

OPENING PARTY JANUARY 30TH 5:00-7:30PM Climate Change in the Arctic

FREE FOOD. OPEN BAR. TUFTS UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY

Migrant Universe

in the Aidekman Arts Center | http://artgallery.tufts.edu

Advertisement

7

The Tufts Daily

8

THE TUFTS DAILY

CSL right in delegating authority

Editor-in-Chief J.L. Hoagland Stephanie Haven Managing Editors Justin Rheingold Executive News Editor Daniel Bottino News Editors Jenna Buckle Abigail Feldman Daniel Gottfried Alexa Horwitz Victoria Leistman Annabelle Roberts Denali Tietjen Josh Weiner Sarah Zheng Meredith Braunstein Assistant News Editors Dana Guth Kathleen Schmidt Jei-Jei Tan Charlotte Gilliland Executive Features Editor Emma Arnesty-Good Features Editors Emily Bartlett Hannah Fingerhut Caitlin McClure Sabrina McMillin Jessica Mow Shannon Vavra Maya Blackstone Assistant Features Editors Sophie Laing Jake Taber Kendall Todd Lancy Downs Executive Arts Editor Brendan Donohue Arts Editors Veronica Little Dan O’Leary Drew Robertson Dana Guth Assistant Arts Editors Nika Korchok Wakulich Anthony Martinez Jake Indurksky Executive Sports Editor Alex Baudoin Sports Editors Alex Connors Ross Dember Sam Gold Zachey Kliger Kate Klots Aaron Leibowitz Tyler Maher David McIntyre Jason Schneiderman Alex Schroeder Alison Kuah Assistant Sports Editors Jorge Monroy-Palacio Maclyn Senear Chris Warren Nicholas Golden Executive Op-Ed Editor Tom Chalmers Op-Ed Editors Matthew Crane Scott Geldzahler Susan Kaufman Benjamin Boventer Cartoonists Amy Bu Keran Chen Jehan Madhani Kyle Allen Editorialists Jorge Monroy-Palacio Jonathan Moore Bailey Werner Caroline Geiling Executive Photo Editor Sofia Adams Photo Editors Ethan Chan Matt Schreiber Christie Wu Maya Blackstone Assistant Photo Editors Annie Levine Nick Pfosi Staff Photographers Kyra Sturgill Mitchell Katz Rachel Sheldon Alexander Kaufman Jake Hellman Aastha Chadha Ethan Chan Jade Chan Kristie Le Tanay Modi Blair Nodelman Joshua Podolsky Grace Segers

Tufts’ current bylaws require students to appeal through the Committee on Student Life (CSL) in sexual misconduct cases. While the CSL handles myriad appeals, it is almost entirely composed of faculty, students and administrators who work and study together on the hill. Deciding to appeal a sexual misconduct ruling can be incredibly difficult for victims.

Requiring them to stand up in front of a board of their peers and professors to seek the justice they deserve adds a needlessly painful layer to an already emotionally taxing process.

As of Feb. 5, Tufts students who appeal sexual misconduct rulings can begin to feel, perhaps, a little more comfortable as the CSL hands this appeals portion of their responsibilities to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). This is the right decision. The OEO unequivocally holds more experi-

ence and has a better understanding of the issues surrounding the problem of sexual assault on a college campus.

The CSL exists to collaborate with the administration on policies and regulations, as well as to hear appeals by students who have been disciplined.

Their focus is much broader and less dedicated to sexual misconduct matters than that of the OEO. Students dealing with issues of sexual misconduct should receive appropriate and specialized attention. They should be able to feel that people are listening to them, and that their issues are being addressed with the care and expertise they deserve. The OEO can provide a level of attention and understanding that the CSL could not devote to Tufts’ sexual assault victims.

The OEO has specifically trained staff, legally and psychologically, for these issues. They can make sure Tufts is in

compliance with its statutory obligations under Title IX. It’s great to see that Tufts is moving forward in dealing with sexual misconduct, but there is much more to be done in order to protect victims.

At the same time that the OEO is better equipped to handle the problem of sexual misconduct on campus, the issue should not be relegated to just one institution. Reducing and eliminating sexual misconduct takes more than just fixing a flawed appeals process. Change starts at home, and hopefully the CSL’s proactive move in recognizing the limits of its expertise will lead other groups and institutions to reach out to more knowledgeable peers. Sexual misconduct is an enormous problem that simply changing jurisdictions won’t solve, but it is a great next step in protecting the rights of victims.

benjamin boventer

Executive Multimedia Editors Senior Multimedia Editor Multimedia Editors Assistant New Media Editor

Off the Hill | University of Alabama

PRODUCTION Jen Betts

Production Director Montana Miller Adrian Lo Daniel MacDonald Elliot Phillips Falcon Reese Emily Rourke Andrew Stephens Chelsea Stevens Betsy Allman Hannah Fingerhut Kathy Lu Hannah Steinberg Grace Tam David Westby Stephanie Yin Hadley Gibson Charlotte Rea Annaick Miller Julia Russell Rachel Salzberg Vidya Srinivasan Arthur Beckel Aastha Chadha Kelsey Davenport Jose Garcia Kristiana Jordan Reena Karasin Sophie Krakoff Vanessa Miller Patrick O’Shea Jei-Jei Tan Tai Williams Yan Zhao Nitesh Gupta

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Editorial

Caroline A. Welch Editorial

Editorial | OP-ED

Executive Layout Editor Layout Editors

Assistant Layout Editor

Executive Copy Editors Copy Editors Assistant Copy Editors

Pop artist, song empowerment misguided

Critiques of today’s pop music are easy to come by. You don’t have to look terribly far to find writers lamenting contemporary artists’ reliance on autotune, banal lyricism and gimmicky performances. But there is another recent trend on the top-40 airwaves so ubiquitous that even the casual listener can’t help but notice: the straight allypenned LGBTQ empowerment anthem.

In the post-It Gets Better world in which we live, everyone from Katy Perry and P!nk to Lily Allen and even Taylor Swift has joined in on the fun, releasing catchy singles and edgy music videos specifically targeting LGBTQ young people. Being an LGBTQ young person myself, I’ve been told by various pop stars that I’m a firework, that I’m perfect, that I was born this way and so on.

While these allied celebrities have their hearts in a well-intentioned place, by

Noah Cannon

The Crimson White

I nevertheless plead: Straight people, stop trying to empower me.

It’s not that these artists mean badly, but their attempts at LGBTQ affirmation are inherently condescending and myopic. In her Grammy-nominated song “Brave,” singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles uses the second-person voice to urge her LGBTQ listeners to “be brave” and come out, saying that “nothing’s gonna hurt” more than staying closeted. The astronomically high rates of violence, abuse and familial rejection faced by LGBTQ people beg to differ, but Sara doesn’t mention any of that.

In his misguided marriage equality anthem “Same Love”(2012), Grammywinning rapper Macklemore describes the plight of being an LGBTQ young person “plagued by a pain in their heart,” all the while taking every precaution to clarify that he’s straight. He mentions the high suicide rate for LGBTQ youth in one line, and then in the next declares that marriage equality is “a damn good

place to start.” Really? Are the suicidal LGBTQ youth not a better place to start?

The ones he just talked about?

Of course, I couldn’t be so cynical as to think these songs aren’t without their merits. If any member of the LGBTQ community finds solace or joy in “Brave” or “Same Love,” then the songwriters have done a wonderful thing. And yes, there is a valid argument to be made in favor of LGBTQ identity becoming normalized in mainstream media.

But I would urge LGBTQ people to look further than the top of the Billboard charts for affirmation.

Personally, I prefer to look to the work of LGBTQ artists themselves, artists like Angel Haze, Jay Brannan, Le1f and Mary Lambert (whose “She Keeps Me Warm” provided the hook for “Same Love”), among many others. These artists provide first-person accounts of living as an LGBTQ person, which are, at their core, necessary, engaging and, yes, empowering.

Executive Online Editor

BUSINESS Daphne Wu Executive Business Director Li Liang Receivables Manager Jade Chan Ad Managers Chris Chininis Kristie Le Tanay Modi Yiran Xu P.O. Box 53018, Medford, MA 02155 617 627 3090 FAX 617 627 3910 daily@tuftsdaily.com

Correction In the Jan. 28 News article titled “Students launch campaign on federal debt awareness,” it was reported that the team which wins the Up to Us competition would travel to St. Louis, Mo. In fact, the winning team will travel to Phoenix, Ariz. Additionally, Becky Goldberg was referred as a sophomore. In fact, she is a junior.

In the Jan. 28 Features article entitled “Greek Life makes gains in philanthropy, sees room for expansion,” it was reported that Delta Tau Delta raised $800. In fact, they raised $8,000.

In the Jan. 28 Sports article “Jumbos win two of three matches,” it was reported that Caroline Howe is a sophomore. In fact, she is a senior.

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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must be submitted by 2 p.m. and should be handed into the Daily office or sent to letters@tuftsdaily.com.

All letters must be word processed and include the writer’s name and telephone number. There is a 450-word limit and letters must be verified.

The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length.

ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editorin-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director. A publication schedule and rate card are available upon request.

The Tufts Daily

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

9

Op-Ed

Off the Hill | Rutgers University

Carolina Reyes | Senior Thoughts

Why is the NSA targeting our children? by

The Daily Targum The Daily Targum

Just in case the National Security Agency didn’t creep us out enough already, here’s something else: It has a website aimed at educating kids about the NSA’s goals through interactive games and cartoon characters.

In between all the code-breaking puzzles and NSA-themed coloring pages, kids can click on a link to learn how to get involved in the NSA. On the website’s “career fields” page, it even says, “It is never too early to start thinking about what you want to do when you grow up!”

We have always had a problem with the NSA, and despite President Obama’s recent attempt to address issues with the program in his speech on Jan. 17, we’re definitely still concerned. The NSA essentially runs unchecked in spite of the Constitution’s safeguards against the government violating our privacy, and it currently has no limitations on whose or how much information the agency can gather.

President Obama acknowledged many of these issues and assured us he would work to make the agency’s methods of collecting intelligence more targeted, but he never provided a plan of how he would do this. Our president has an unfortunate history of making promises he doesn’t know how to keep, and his speech on the NSA gave us very little confidence that this situation will be any different.

The NSA’s “CryptoKids” initiative is nothing new. Other government agencies such as the FBI and CIA have websites for kids too, in an effort to educate children and the general public about the government and its programs. The way this information is being presented, though, is a problem.

The CryptoKids website is specifically made for an audience of children, and to present it in such a simplistic, onesided way can lead children who use this website unsupervised to take that information at face value. These kids are easily influenced by games and puzzles that present the NSA and the

R

Calandrella Via Wikimedia cOMMONS

work it does in an entirely favorable light, before they even fully understand the foundations of individual rights and freedom on which this country was built.

Since 9/11, the trend we’ve seen is that more and more of our constitutional rights are being disregarded by our government under the guise of combating terrorism. There is a disproportionate amount of federal involvement in terrorism as opposed to issues such as murders, police brutality and other acts of violence.

The practice of indiscriminately collecting information that could be potentially used as evidence is the larger issue here. The NSA has gathered millions of our phone calls, text messages and emails without our knowledge, much less our permission. One

of our most basic constitutional rights protects our privacy and property from unreasonable search and seizure and the due process thereof; and yet, this website teaches kids how to be a spy before they understand this.

The oversimplification of serious issues in our society is extremely dangerous and contributes to the general obliviousness surrounding this entire issue. It is too easy in this country to be taken advantage of by institutions in power unless you are well aware of your rights. It is important for us all to be educated on our government and its programs, and to understand how they work. A website with games and activities, presenting a controversial agency that infringes on our constitutional rights as a “cool spy agency,” just isn’t the way to do it.

Off the Hill | Williams College

Have it your way by

Nicole Smith

The Williams Record

I didn’t “find myself” on a mosquehopping adventure in Budapest. I didn’t “find myself” in a quiet café in the French countryside. I didn’t “find myself” by getting helplessly lost in Sydney and asserting my independence over a foreign city.

In short, I didn’t find myself by going abroad; I didn’t even go abroad. I know that there’s so much to learn in another country, when you’ve been stripped of the security blankets of your friends, your culture and reliable cell phone service.

I know this because I saw how going abroad changed my friends when they returned this year, bounding back to Williamstown with a newfound confidence and surety.

But I found myself without making it much past Frosh Quad. I found myself by sitting in a cluttered common room till 3 a.m. reading those atrocious erotica stories in the back of Cosmopolitan; in orchestrating the theft of a blowup moose head only to watch a prank war spiral out of control; in convincing unsuspecting first-years to watch the trials and tribulations of Desiree on “The Bachelorette” (2003-present) instead of doing their homework; and in forcing my entry to sleep in a sweltering cabin in a creepy wood one fateful Saturday night. I can’t articulate precisely when I found myself, when I discovered that I was confident with who I was, when I stopped really, truly caring what other people thought of me. It could have happened during

“The Bachelorette,” or whenever one of my first-years plopped down on my giant beanbag because they just needed someone or when my co-Junior Advisor (JA) and I realized we had to make something up — okay, everything — completely by the seats of our pants. But I know that it happened. I know that somewhere during junior year, I grew up. I grew up, and whether everyone loved every part of me became substantially less important because I loved (almost) every part of me. I questioned myself less, and I needed reassurance that I was cool or funny or pretty or smart remarkably less frequently. In short, I started waking up in the morning feeling like P. Diddy.

The fact that I feel like a badass pretty much 24/7 isn’t really my point, though.

My point is that it’s really hard to make people believe that you grew up by having snacks every Sunday at 10 p.m. It’s really hard to make people believe that you grew up by eating dinner with the same 20 people every Monday. And it doesn’t matter. I don’t feel the need to justify my decision to stay in Williamstown for four years to anyone. I don’t make excuses for why I didn’t go abroad — I wanted to stay on campus, and that’s all that matters. For current first-years and especially current sophomores, this won’t be so clear. I know it wasn’t for me.

You’ll feel like you need to explain why you want to go abroad, why you want to be a JA, why you want to do neither. It’s what you’ll talk about at dinner, at Tunnel City, with your professors and coaches.

You’ll feel trapped, and you’ll come up

with an answer, and everyone will try to tell you what to do. Everyone will make their pitch for you to go abroad because it expanded their horizons. Or they’ll make their pitch for you to be a JA because it changed their life. Or they’ll make their pitch that you should just keep doing you for your junior year because it’s liberating. You’ll probably come up with a witty retort for these advisors, but the things they say will stick with you, influencing you in the tiny corners of your brain where things always seem to get stuck.

I’m beseeching you to clean out the corners of your brain: Forget about all of the advice. Forget about all of their opinions, about what they think will be best for you. No one knows you like you know yourself, and no one actually tries to. Try to see past what worked for everyone else. Even if you get accepted to Oxford, be honest with yourself. It’s okay if the Harry Potter dorms aren’t really what you need. When Karen Ryan sends you that congratulatory JA acceptance e-mail, be okay if shacking up with 20 newbies isn’t actually for you. Be okay turning down both. We try so hard to conform at Williams, to earn the adoration of our peers by doing what is expected of us.

Often, that leads to success — to internships at Bain and J.P. Morgan and GPAs of which I can only dream. But you only get four years at Williams. You only get four years in which you can genuinely believe that anything is possible for you. So listen to your heart (when it’s calling for you).

Trust your gut, and never worry about explaining it to anyone else.

No one gives you a road map

eturning to my final semester at Tufts is difficult. It is bittersweet, as people say. I am excited to enjoy all of the perks of being a senior — free Tufts paraphernalia and Senior Pub Nights — but radically adjusting my lifestyle, accepting new responsibilities and leaving a place that I have happily called home for the past three years is sad as well. Yet as I reflect, I feel as though this bitter-sweetness, discussed by those that graduated long ago, fails to capture the most salient emotions that the majority of graduating seniors are experiencing.

Although for many reasons proceeding to the next chapter of life seems like the natural next step, it is also filled with an uncertainty I have never experienced.

Many adults have exasperatedly tried to reassure me that what I am feeling is trivial, or something akin to the anxiety I felt when I was going through the college process, but I can’t help but to believe they are wrong.

Yes, going to college is scary: Many students don’t even know until April of their senior year where they’ve been accepted, and when they do get their letters (or emails, more likely), they must make difficult decisions about financial aid packages while coming to terms with leaving the familiarity of home.

In my case, I felt prepared to embark upon this new adventure, and despite the uncertainties, as a graduating high school senior, I also had the luxury of knowing that for the next four years there was a plan: I would attend classes, find ways to productively fill my spare time and summers and try not to get into trouble while doing so. In hindsight it was easier said than done; there were moments of high stress (see: math and economics requirements), but overall, I would say it was definitely doable and enjoyable.

However, when you become a senior in college, no divine intervention suddenly imparts the wisdom you need to navigate life after college. No one gives you a leaflet filled with basic things like how to get credit, much less a booklet entitled “How to figure out your life in less than six months.” You can try to make an appointment with your advisor or go to career services, but all of a sudden you are confronted with so many serious questions and daunting possibilities that it’s hard not to feel hopelessly overwhelmed in the face of it all.

So when people casually ask, “What are your plans after graduation?” I want to shout, “I have absolutely no idea.

It’s terrifying. Don’t you understand how difficult it is to find a job in the worst economic climate since the Great Depression?! I mean the New York Times reported this Sunday that the economy is not adding jobs at the rates expected.”

But of course, I don’t say that because, well, it would be rude, and would reveal how utterly unprepared I feel.

I’ve found that part of maturing as an adult and entering “the real world” is facing this seemingly monumental challenge with a fixed and steady determination, not panic. Although at times it might seem like the worst thing in the world, it’s not. We have the opportunity now to think carefully, as young adults, about what we want from life, and how we try to realize our aspirations. I see it as a rite of passage, just one that no one really talks about, but one that should be openly discussed culturally and by the administration with the graduating class.

While I can complain endlessly about the economy, at the end of the day, it’s on me to make my future happen, and while that’s terrifying, it is, more importantly, extremely empowering.

Carolina Reyes is a senior majoring in international relations. She can be reached at Carolina.Reyes@tufts.edu.

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.

The Tufts Daily

10

Comics

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Doonesbury

Crossword

by

Garry Trudeau

Non Sequitur

Tuesday’s Solution

Married to the Sea

www.marriedtothesea.com

SUDOKU Level: Bruno Mars getting locked out of heaven.

Late Night at the Daily

Tuesday’s Solution

Stephanie: “So it will be A vagina’s monologue but not THE Vagina Monologues.”

Want more late-night laughs?

Follow us on Twitter at @LateNiteAtDaily

Please recycle this Daily.

by

Wiley

The Tufts Daily

Wednesday, January 29, 2014 Wanted

Services

Housing

11

Sports -

-

-

$$ SPERM DONORS WANTED $$ Earn up to $1,200/month and give the gift of family through California Cryobank’s donor program.

Convenient Cambridge location.

Apply online: SPERMBANK.com classifieds policy All Tufts students must submit classifieds in person, prepaid with check, money order or exact cash only.

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.

Tyler Maher | Beantown Beat

Close, but no cigar

T

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

Despite stopping 30 of 32 shots from Wesleyan, senior goalie Greg Jenkins could not prevent the hockey team’s fifth straight loss.

Jumbos still searching for first home win after tough weekend HOCKEY

continued from back

Cardinals a 2-0 lead early in the second period. In goal, freshman Dawson Sprigings proved to be too much for the Jumbos, keeping the Jumbos off the scoreboard for 59 minutes.

Ouellette’s unassisted goal in the final minute was enough to prevent the shutout and give the Jumbos a chance to salvage a tie. Wesleyan, however, would cap off the scoring at 3-1 with an empty-netter in the final moments of the game.

As was the case in the Trinity game,

the Jumbos kept a close scoring margin with the Cardinals, getting 32 shots on goal to Wesleyan’s 33. Despite the numbers hinting that the Jumbos are due for more shots to hit the back of the net, the eye test reveals more disconcerting problems surrounding their dearth of goals.

“I think part of it is that we have played some quality goalies and some of it is we are getting unlucky,” Gallegos said. “But it comes down to the fact that we are not getting the quality shots we need.”

For the Jumbos, this weekend serves

11 first-place finishes help Jumbos cruise to victory WOMEN’S SWIMming continued from back

events, sophomore Sarah Mahoney claimed the distance events for Tufts, winning both the 1000 and 500-yard freestyle, while Coniglio took first in the 200-yard freestyle.

Hu, coming off of injuries that kept her from swimming in her main events last weekend, won a second event for herself in the 50-yard breaststroke.

Rounding out Tufts’ contingent of firstplace finishers on Saturday was sophomore Maddie Golison, who won the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:18.34, and sophomore Kelsey McEvoy, who won the 200 backstroke with a time of 2:16.24.

Tufts’ final two wins came in the diving events, in which the team swept for the fourth time this season. Senior Sami Bloom, who was resting last weekend due to an injured back, returned to the pool this weekend to win both the one and three-meter events.

Bloom said her return, and that of several other injured teammates, were crucial factors in the team’s victory this weekend that will

also allow the Jumbos to get back on track as they prepare for the Middlebury Invitational this coming weekend, and the NESCAC Championships at Williams in mid-February.

“This win is just the push that we need as we head into our championship season,” Bloom said. “Some of the members of our team are gearing up for their championships at Middlebury Invite this weekend, and all of the team is getting pumped for them.”

While this win signifies a turnaround in Tufts’ season, finding success in the coming weeks will not be straightforward.

“We have done the training to perform well at the meet, but our training and performance will suffer if we’re not getting enough rest,” Coniglio said. “This has definitely been a challenge this semester with our practices being held either very early in the morning or late at night since we have to travel and do not have our home pool to train in.”

Whether or not the Jumbos can carry the momentum from Wheaton will be put to the test this Friday and Saturday when Tufts takes to the pool at the Middlebury Invitational.

as another setback to their goal of reaching the NESCAC playoffs. Having already faced each team at least once, the Jumbos are two games back from the final playoff spot, with ten games left.

“We said after the [Trinity] game that we are just past the halfway mark in our NESCAC games,” Gallegos said.

“We are still very confident we can make the playoffs.”

The Jumbos look to turn things around this weekend as they hit the road to take on Middlebury and No. 9 Williams.

Jumbos gear up for championship season MEN’S SWIMMING continued from back

upcoming championship meets on their schedule. The first of these is the Middlebury Invitational on Friday and Saturday, which Coach Hoyt views as an important first step in the next phase of the season. He expects his team to be ready to compete against Amherst and Williams, the NESCAC’s top two teams.

“Our team’s focus all year long has been to use our dual meet schedule to prepare us for our championship meets, and this coming weekend will set the tone for our championship season,” Hoyt said. “I expect our team to rise to the occasion and put together some great races as they’ve done for the majority of our season.”

he Super Bowl is this Sunday, but the New England Patriots won’t be playing in it. That’s because, for the second year in a row, they were stopped just one game short of the nation’s biggest sporting event. Last year they were beaten by the Baltimore Ravens, who overcame a 13-7 halftime deficit to score 21 unanswered points in the second half and sail off to Super Bowl glory.

This year it was an old foe, Peyton Manning, teaming up with the traitorous Wes Welker to dash New England’s championship dreams on a balmy afternoon in Denver.

Manning picked apart the Patriots defense for 400 passing yards and two touchdowns.

Welker wasn’t much of a factor offensively, with just four catches for 38 yards, but delivered a huge blow by knocking cornerback Aqib Talib out of the game on a vicious pick play early in the second quarter. The Broncos capitalized, scoring 23 of their 26 points with New England’s stalwart cornerback on the sidelines.

But even if Talib had remained in the game, there was nothing he could do about the sluggish Patriots offense, which managed just three points through the first three quarters. By the time they finally woke up, it was too late to make the game even mildly interesting. The shootout that many anticipated never materialized.

Alas, it just wasn’t New England’s year.

There were too many injuries and too much inconsistency — even Tom Brady wasn’t Tom Brady this year. The Patriots lacked the health and good fortune needed to win it all.

That New England made it so far was entirely unexpected, if not downright miraculous. It’s tough to say the Patriots overachieved when they have the NFL’s smartest coach and an all-time quarterback, but that’s exactly what they did this year. They went 12-4 — same as the season before — despite the injuries, Brady’s struggles, and losing Welker and tight end Aaron Hernandez. New England was one win away from tying Seattle and Denver for the best record in football, and they were in every game to the end. The average margin of defeat in their four regular season losses was just 4.5 points, and they never lost by more than one touchdown. As crazy as it sounds, the Pats were only a handful of breaks away from a perfect season.

But they were far from perfect against Denver, and so another Patriots season has ended in disappointment. Nearly a decade has passed since the franchise’s most recent championship. New England has been to two Super Bowls since then but lost them both, each time to the New York Giants in excruciating fashion. Three times they’ve lost the conference championship game.

Since winning three Super Bowls from 2002 through 2005, the Patriots dynasty has been defined by regular season success (at least ten wins every season and only one where they failed to reach the playoffs) but an inability to go all the way. They’re the football equivalents of the ‘90s Atlanta Braves or ‘00s New York Yankees: constantly on the cusp of a championship, but rarely the champions.

There’s always next year, I guess, but time is running out. Brady is going to turn 37 this summer, and maybe this down season was the beginning of his inevitable decline. Who knows if tight end Rob Gronkowski will be the same when he returns from his torn ACL and MCL. 11 Patriots are going to be unrestricted free agents, and New England can’t keep them all.

Their championship window hasn’t closed yet, but it just got a little smaller.

Tyler Maher is a junior who is majoring in economics. He can be reached at Tyler.

Maher@tufts.edu

Sports

12

tuftsdaily.com

Men’s Swimming and Diving

Women’s Swimming and Diving

Tufts beats Wheaton in season’s first win by

Maclyn Senear

Daily Editorial Board

Winning 11 of the meet’s 15 events, the women’s swimming and diving team beat Wheaton College 190-100 on Saturday to pick up its first win of the season. Despite losing their home pool to closure earlier this month, the Jumbos celebrated Senior Day at Wheaton’s pool, honoring the 11 swimmers and divers of Tufts’ senior class.

Coming off of tough losses to MIT and Wesleyan the weekend before, in which they were handicapped by multiple injuries and a drastically altered training routine as a result of Hamilton Pool’s closure, the team bounced back this weekend to win its last regular season meet.

Nine Tufts swimmers and divers place first, including three seniors. The Jumbos got off to a strong start, winning first and second place in the 400-yard med-

ley relay. Seniors Andrea Coniglio and Jenny Hu, along with freshman Cassidy Hubert and junior Samantha Sliwinski, comprised the winning relay team, which finished in 4:07.35.

Coniglio said she believes that the spirit of Senior Day boosted the team morale, allowing the swimmers to perform more successfully.

“The junior class, the coaches, our family and friends that came to support us made the meet feel so special for the senior class that it really did not matter that we did not have it at our pool,” Coniglio said.

“This atmosphere certainly played a role in my performances, and it probably did for other members of the team, especially the seniors.”

Sliwinski went on to clinch two more victories for Tufts in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle, with times of 24.93 and 54.02. Completing Tufts’ sweep of the individual freestyle see WOMEN’S SWIMMING, page 11

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

The men’s swimming team celebrated Senior Day with a convincing 205-119 win over Wheaton College.

Jumbos take final dual meet of season against Lyons by

Tyler Maher

Daily Editorial Board

The men’s swimming and diving team won its final dual meet of the season on Saturday, beating Wheaton College 205119. Tufts improved their headto-head record to 4-3, tallying their second-highest point total of the season.

“It was great to end the dual meet season on a high note as we head into the championship meets in the coming weeks,” senior tri-captain Kyle Savidge said.

Tufts set the tone, winning the 400-yard medley relay to open the meet. Senior Drew Berman, sophomores Cameron Simko and Michael Winget and freshman William Metcalfe raced at 3:33.57 to beat Wheaton’s “A” team by 8.4 seconds. The Jumbos followed up their strong opening act by taking four of the top five spots in the 1,000-yard freestyle, which sophomore Anthony DeBenedetto won with a time of 10:03.70.

Berman flourished in the last dual meet of his collegiate career, finishing first in the 200yard freestyle and 200 breaststroke. Simko also won two individual events, taking the 200-yard fly and 200 individual medley. Winget won the 50-yard backstroke and Metcalfe took the 100 freestyle. Both also scored second place finishes, with Winget placing second in the 200 individual medley and Metcalfe the runner-up in the 200-meter freestyle.

Divers Johann Schmidt and Matt Rohrer finished one-two in the diving events. An AllAmerican and senior tri-captain, Schmidt scored 355.05 points in the three-meter and 336.07 in the one-meter. His freshman teammate was not far behind, posting a 320.48 score in the three-meter competition and 304.42 points in the one-meter.

Berman and Schmidt were among the 13 Jumbos honored on Senior Day, which could not be held on campus as Hamilton Pool is closed for

repairs. Though head coach Adam Hoyt said he was disappointed to leave the home pool, he was still pleased with the final result.

“It was great to finish out the dual meet season with a win and to recognize all the contributions our senior class has made to our team over the past four years,” Hoyt said. “We had a great meet on Saturday at Wheaton because our team was focused on executing their race plans and had fun doing it.”

Hoyt entered all the seniors into the mixed 100-yard individual medley time trial, which Matthew Wiens won with a 1:00.53 time. Savidge and Schmidt both mentioned this race as a personal highlight from the meet.

“One of my favorite moments of the meet was watching and swimming the 100 IM with the senior boys,” Schmidt said.

With the first half of their season complete, the Jumbos will turn their attention to the

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

see MEN’S SWIMMING, page 11

Sophomore Sarah Mahoney was one of nine different swimmers and divers to win events en route to Tufts’ 190-100 win over Wheaton College.

Ice Hockey

Tufts loses two more close games to Trinity, Wesleyan by

Ross Dember

Daily Editorial Board

The men’s hockey team continued its season-long struggles over the weekend, dropping back-to-back home games to Wesleyan and No. 13 Trinity.

The losses to their two NESCAC foes makes five consecutive losses for the Jumbos, and with just three of 13 home games remaining, the team is at risk of going winless at home. This weekend’s results put the Jumbos at 3-13 overall and 1-9 in the conference.

Sunday’s game against Trinity posed a daunting task for the team. After going 59 minutes without a goal against Wesleyan, the Jumbos had little time to

recover before facing the top-ranked team in the NESCAC. Late in the first period, senior Larry Bero, Trinity’s stay-at-home defenseman, scored his first goal of the season. With seven minutes remaining in the second period, sophomore John Hawkrigg, the top-scorer in the NESCAC, converted on a five-on-three opportunity to put Trinity up 2-0. Four minutes later, Tufts junior Andrew White responded with a power play goal of his own, to make it a 2-1 game heading in the third period.

Tufts, however, was unable to carry over the momentum. Hawkrigg netted his second goal of the game early in the third, and Tufts sophomore Keith

Campbell’s score to make it 3-2 game proved to be inadequate. Two late goals

by Trinity ensured 5-2 victory.

The Jumbos outshot the Bantams 33-31 and kept it close against the top offense in the NESCAC. Furthermore, coach Brian Murphy took some risks to try and spark some offense after its performance on Saturday.

“After the loss to Wesleyan, and only scoring one goal, coach made some changes to the lines and that helped a little bit against Trinity,” senior Kyle Gallegos said. “But it is hard to form chemistry when lines are changed in the middle of the weekend.”

If the Trinity loss showed the flaws in Tufts’ conference-worst defense,

Saturday’s game against Wesleyan showed that the offense has its own problems it needs to fix. Despite struggling against Trinity, senior goaltender Greg Jenkins turned away 30 of the 32 of the shots he faced against Wesleyan.

But on the offensive end, the Jumbos failed to get anything going.

“It just seemed we were short on fight,” sophomore defenseman Brian Ouellette said. “We struggled getting on the rush, and our passes were just not connecting.”

Wesleyan senior Keith Beuhler started off the scoring with a first period goal, and classmate Brad Improta gave the see HOCKEY, page 11