University should sponsor discussion on Tsarnaev verdict

A day after the Boston Marathon next Monday, 12 jurors will be asked to decide between a life sentence without parole or the death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Tsarnaev was convicted on 30 separate counts relating to the bombing of the 2013 Boston Marathon, including the death of three people, dozens of injuries, the use of and conspiracy to use a weapon of mass destruction and bombing a public place, among others.

Even though Massachusetts abolished the death penalty, Tsarnaev was prosecuted on federal charges -- charges which can carry the death penalty under federal law. Jennifer Collier, the sister of police officer Sean Collier, who was murdered in the aftermath of the attack, spoke out against the death penalty on Facebook. Her post, as quoted by the Boston Globe, stated that she "can't imagine that killing in response to killing would ever bring [her] peace or justice."

Collier's argument, and the debate over Tsarnaev's punishment, is one in which many members of the Boston and Tufts communities may feel they have a personal stake. As the final decisions are made, how we move forward over the next several weeks will determine the question of closure: What would bring closure for those individuals most directly affected? How can we seek it as a community? Is it even possible to attain it?

Although other papers, such as the Boston Globe, made unified calls for one side or the other (their April 8 editorial was entitled "Spare Dzhokhar Tsarnaev the death penalty"), there is unsurprisingly a disparity of opinion on our campus. Although Massachusetts may not be a death penalty state, the federal government certainly has no qualms about implementing it, and many students hail from states or countries where the death penalty is common -- to say nothing of their various personal feelings. As there is clearly no unified front on this issue within the Daily office or the greater campus, it is not the place of the Tufts Daily to take a stance, as other papers have, about the fate of Tsarnaev. That being said, there certainly needs to be discussion about the decision for the sake of the mental well-being of students here on campus.

Tufts University should sponsor a discussion about the trial and its results, and the different ways that people can get closure.

What qualifies as closure in the event of a tragedy such as this is different for every individual person. It should be recognized that for some people, closure is as simple as a conviction; for others, closure will come from from the sentencing; and for still others closure will never be fully attainable. Some choose to distance themselves from the case, while others engross themselves in every aspect of the trial, arguing with each point and slowly coping in their own way. However, there has yet to be any discussion of the trial, its verdict and the impact it has on people on our campus.

The university did an excellent job handling the resulting issues students may have had a few years ago by offering counseling and guidance. Now, as the trial concludes, support is needed again.