In the wake of the detainment of Tufts graduate student Rümeysa Öztürk, we would like to emphasize our commitment to the safety of our writers and reaffirm our values as a publication.
This past Tuesday, Öztürk was taken into custody outside her house in Somerville. The apparent pretense of Öztürk’s detainment, which was executed without due process of law, was her co-authorship of an op-ed published on March 26, 2024, urging Tufts University to adopt the resolutions passed by the Tufts Community Union Senate on the Israel-Hamas conflict. As a journalistic organization, we remain committed to continuing our reporting and seeking answers concerning the details of her detainment.
Öztürk’s contribution is an exercise of free speech — her fulfillment of a fundamental American value. Our regular publication of op-eds is critical to fostering an environment of strong public discourse and an integral part of our connection with our readership.
The Daily has the ability to conduct its work because of the rights enshrined in the First Amendment — rights that not only allow us to publish freely, but also encourage participation in debate, the expression of ideas and the pursuit of truth. It is our core belief that journalism is one of the critical tenets that upholds our democracy.
The safety of our community remains of utmost importance to us, and we consider the well-being of our writers and sources at every step of the editorial process. That said, the withholding of ideas and abstinence from debate will only contribute to the erosion of free expression. In a moment of uncertainty and turmoil, we will continue to defend independent journalism by sharing others’ viewpoints and stories.
