Tufts recently announced that it will maintain its relationship with Rep. Seth Moulton’s office, despite reports indicating that David Art, chair of Tufts’ political science department, severed the university’s ties with the congressman following Moulton’s recent remarks about transgender athletes. Moulton has been involved in Tufts-sponsored events in the past and has worked with the Tufts political science department to provide internship opportunities for students.
The controversy began after the publication of a Nov. 7 New York Times article regarding Democratic lawmakers’ thoughts on why Vice President Kamala Harris lost the 2024 presidential election.
In the article, Moulton criticizes the party’s approach to transgender issues and is quoted as saying, “I have two little girls, I don’t want them getting run over on a playing field by a male or formerly male athlete, but as a Democrat I’m supposed to be afraid to say that.”
Moulton’s comments quickly came under fire, criticized by some within the Democratic Party as being harmful and offensive.
According to the Boston Globe, shortly after the New York Times article was released, Art contacted Moulton’s office to say that he had “consulted with his colleagues” and decided that the university would no longer facilitate student internship opportunities with his office. Patrick Collins, Tufts’ executive director of media relations, affirmed that Tufts has not cut ties with Moulton’s office.
“We have reached out to Congressman Moulton’s office to clarify that we have not limited--and will not limit--internship opportunities with his office. We remain committed to fostering an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, and our Career Center will continue to provide students with a wide range of employment opportunities across the political and ideological spectrum,” Collins wrote in a statement to the Daily in lieu of a comment from Art.
The university’s decision to maintain ties with Moulton has sparked campus discussion about whether Tufts has the authority to regulate students’ ability to intern with certain politicians.
For Eitan Hersh, professor of political science, the answer is no. According to Hersh, Art never consulted with the political science department prior to allegedly contacting Moulton’s office to cut off ties.
“Our department has not had any meetings to discuss internships. We certainly never agreed to have a litmus test like this for internships. And I would personally oppose such a litmus test,” he wrote in a statement to the Daily. “I’d help my students seek an internship with any Member of Congress regardless of their personal beliefs or policy positions.”
Senior Cam Kooken, who identifies as transgender and resides in Massachusetts’ 6th congressional district — which is represented by Moulton — was critical of Moulton’s comments.
“He’s not getting backlash because people are trying to ‘cancel’ him because he’s not … ‘woke’ enough. I think they’re trying to cancel him because he is taking a stance on this controversial issue that is at best, misinformed, and at worst, hateful,” Kooken said. “That is not the kind of person that I personally want representing my interests in Congress.”
Kooken said he felt conflicted about the university’s decision to maintain its relationship with Moulton’s office.
“It puts the university in a bad position where they have to either stand by … Art and say, ‘Hey, we’re actually not offering internships with Seth Moulton anymore,’ which alienates one side of the issue, or to come out and say that, ‘Hey, regurgitating these kind of harmful trans talking points, anti-trans talking points, is not a deal breaker for Tufts University,’ which is probably the easier thing for them to say,” Kooken said. “But as a trans student of Tufts University, it kind of leaves a bad taste in my mouth.”
Senior Samuel Ben-Ur, the editor-in-chief of the Tufts Tribune — which describes itself as committed to promoting free expression on campus — said that the Tribune agrees with the university’s decision to maintain ties with Moulton.
“We like the statement that [the university] had,” Ben-Ur said. “Our take on this issue, whatever the situation is, is we just believe foundationally that students should be able to apply and seek employment wherever they want to, and that they shouldn’t be limited in their opportunities by Tufts based on political ideology.”
