Opinion | Editorial

Making change abroad includes reform at home

Foreign policy enthusiasts, policy- makers, world-changers and activists are among those who consider foreign aid to be one of the most powerful tools in ending world poverty. The popularity of foreign aid is hardly surprising given its direct approach: it's hard to question the efficacy of giving money to people who need it to eat. This train of thought has produced decades of foreign aid ideologies with mixed success. From grandiose, corrupt projects like dams and highways to strings-attached, IMF reform pack- ages that can give as much aid as damage, foreign aid packages have left something to be desired.

Bridge Professorships is positive step, but more can be done

Tufts has made positive strides in its decision to create Bridge Professorships that will, according to the university, "enable the hiring of faculty whose scholarship bridges academic units across or within schools." The inaugural program, set to begin next year with financial support from the Provost's office, will give Tufts students the opportunity to connect with joint faculty members who will teach a subject offered in two Tufts schools. These new hires will transcend conventional academic structures by providing expertise in subjects which often see overlap between different schools. Additionally, the university announcement stated that "the proposals should identify a defined joint interdisciplinary area for the position, not a person; we are interested in building strong areas of interdisciplinary work rather than targeting individuals." Valuing a candidate's potential contributions to the campus environment over his or her personal reputation is a fantastic example of pushing the boundaries of what an interdisciplinary education means. By creating the Bridge Professorship position and subsequently finding the right person to fill this role, it prevents the university from limiting creative minds to just one school's approach.

Working for adjuncts an important goal

Tufts adjunct faculty voted in September to join the Service Employees International Union, the United States' largest labor union, as part of its Adjunct Action campaign to collectively bargain for part-time professors at universities across the country. The adjunct faculty's union representatives are in the process of negotiating with the university for higher wages and a better benefits package, a cause that should be supported by both students and the university.

2014 Winter Ball is relative success

Even first-year students have heard the appalling tales of last year's Winter Bash. Stories from upperclassmen are accounts of drunken, apocalyptic horror - every university official's nightmare. We, as the student body, were not only irresponsible in terms of our own health - with at least 15 students needing medical attention from paramedics - but were downright disrespectful toward a venue that was willing to host an event for thousands of college students. Dangerously intoxicated students threw up and even urinated in the lobby of the Westin Copley Place Boston Hotel, managing to capture the attention of Fox News and The Boston Globe, both of which rightfully depicted our actions as those of bad-mannered and insolent youths.

Drug addiction is national, not personal, failure

Academy Award-winning actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died on Sunday of an apparent heroin overdose, and once again discussions of drug addiction have entered the national media spotlight. Death by overdose is a common sight in the modern American landscape and Hoffman was just the latest high-profile example - the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that a whopping 105 people die from drug overdoses every single day in the United States, 78 percent of which are accidental. Yet despite these staggering statistics, the conversation surrounding addiction rarely focuses on taking action toward reform. Not until we, as a country, are prepared to have a serious discussion about ending the failed war on drugs and supporting state-sponsored rehabilitation and medical treatment can we claim that the death of our celebrities, neighbors and friends are not in vain.

Computer science deserves more attention

Tufts traditionally strives to be on the forefront of academic exploration, and in 2014, the reality should be no different. As Jumbos we take pride in being a premier research and liberal arts university, which we're reminded of whenever we are in earshot of any campus tour. Unfortunately, as all universities do, Tufts is struggling to keep up with ever-increasing academic demands, and computer science is one of those gaps.

On-campus bar will bring students together, make drinking culture safer

In an Op-Ed published in the Daily last Thursday, Tufts senior and TCU Senator Andrew Hunter proposed the addition of an on-campus bar. Citing his experience with campus bars during his time studying abroad in London, as well as the absence of an on-campus spot for upperclassmen to gather, Hunter invited students of legal age to come join him at Hotung Cafe last Friday night. His efforts to demonstrate that there is a real interest in the prospect of an on-campus bar elicited significant interest from the student body. In light of the points that Hunter made in his Op-Ed, the creation of an on-campus bar would be a welcome addition to campus life.

'Rainbow Steps' is welcome name change

Names shape our understanding of that which they denote. Their sound, connotations and literal meanings create a subjective impression of whatever they refer to; how different would it be if we were called the "Weasels" instead of the "Jumbos?" Similarly, places around our campus resonate with us in different ways based on their names. In light of the progress the university has made toward addressing the issue of sexual assault on campus, having the phrase "Rape Steps" as part of the Tufts vocabulary is distasteful and insensitive. It's about time that we collectively change the name of the staircase by Wren Hall to something more upbeat -  the "Rainbow Steps."

Building positive community relations

On a campus where students and faculty are constantly in pursuit of opportunities for learning and research, it is no wonder that the need for more space is also pressing. At Sunday night's Tufts Community Union Senate meeting, University President Anthony Monaco mentioned a number of construction projects that the university is considering, one of which would be located at 574 Boston Ave. This address is the site of a four-story, 96,000-square foot Tufts-owned warehouse that was previously inhabited by Somerville artisans, and is now under consideration to receive some serious renovations. Althought the use of the space at 574 Boston Ave. will undoubtedly be beneficial to the university community, Tufts should do more to aid those artists who previously utilized this building.

'Take Back the Night' fosters campus dialogue

There are few topics so dislocated from daily life as that of sexual assault. Despite the numerous statistics thrown at us - there were 63 cases of sexual misconduct reported at Tufts last year - or the comic performances of a group like Sex Signals at Orientation, it is always difficult to fully come to grips with the dark reality of this form of violence. It is therefore imperative that the university provides a platform for discussion of sexual violence, which is often not at the forefront of campus discourse. It is equally important for students to take advantage of the opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue about sexual assault and misconduct.

Ethical but not yet practical

Proponents of divestment from fossil fuels, notably Tufts Divest, have made a compelling argument for their stance. From the teach-ins to rallies to numerous op-ed submissions during the past few semesters, social activists have made an argument on behalf of our university's environmental, social and ethical responsibilities vis-??-vis the investment of its endowment. However, what these arguments are lacking is a realistic and viable alternative to investment in specific corporations.

Opportunity amid justified anger, controversy

Yesterday, Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia spoke on the Hill for the 17th annual Richard E. Snyder President's Lecture Series. His lecture, "Interpreting the Constitution," drew over one thousand members of the Tufts community. Appointed by President Ronald Reagan, Scalia is the longest-serving sitting member of the court, and his originalist interpretation of the Constitution has been influential in many controversial decisions in cases related to marriage equality, gay rights, abortion and affirmative action. Consequently, the selection of Scalia as this year's speaker was not without backlash among members of the Tufts community.

The student-athlete dilemma

For years, various sports commentators, newspaper columnists, players and fans have been trying to crack the student-athlete conundrum. The issue is figuring out a way for college students who participate in high-revenue Division I sports to be treated as students, with academics being their No. 1 priority, without being taken advantage of as they bring in billions of dollars to their schools.

Progress toward combating plagiarism

This year, Tufts has integrated Turnitin, an Internet-based plagiarism detection service created by the company iParadigm, with Trunk. 

Safety comes first

Last week, the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) released news of two armed robberies carried out near campus. These incidents add to the increasing number of safety alerts - five in total since the start of the term - that have been sent out, raising concerns for student safety. 

Elections today warrant more attention

Today Jumbos are taking part in the first elections of the academic year. Seven freshmen will be voted into Senate seats, while various class council positions will be decided by class-specific votes. The entire undergraduate campus will be voting on who should occupy the two available seats in the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Judiciary and the three available seats on the Committee on Student Life (CSL).

Efforts to limit the financial burden of textbooks

Tuition at Tufts this academic year comes out to $45,590. This cost is often defrayed by financial aid, but after students and their families manage to sort through their finances, they are then faced with the cost of textbooks.

Dean's new position needs clarification

Over the summer, Dean of Arts and Sciences Joanne Berger-Sweeney, Dean of Engineering Linda Abriola and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Students John Barker appointed Bruce Reitman as dean of campus life and student leadership. A new senior level administrative position, this dean will act as a campus mediator, facilitating conversation among students, faculty and staff to address conflicts and improve communications.

Alcohol policy revisions long awaited

This academic year, the Office of Student Affairs officially adopted "Good Samaritan" and limited "Amnesty" policies for dealing with substance abuse on campus.

It's okay to fall on your face