News - The Tufts Daily

University

Venerable Vineetha Mahayaye hired as new Tufts Buddhist Chaplain

By Estelle Anderson and Remy Bernatavicius | December 10

The Tufts University Chaplaincy has hired Ven. Vineetha Mahayaye as its new Buddhist Chaplain, a role focused on supporting Tufts’ Buddhist community and organizing educational programming around Buddhist teachings. A monk from Sri Lanka and a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School, Mahayaye officially started his new role Monday.

News

Tufts leverages campus electrification, renewable energy partnerships to advance net-zero goals

By Carly Cohen | December 10

Through the Consortium for Climate Solutions, Tufts aims to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions. On Nov. 21, Tufts University announced an immediate 40% reduction in energy-related emissions on its Boston health sciences campus, a significant step toward the university’s goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. This milestone stems from Tufts’ participation in the Consortium for Climate Solutions, a collaboration led by MIT, Harvard and Mass General Brigham to fund technologies aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

News

Tufts environmental policy department seeks to improve public transportation in Worcester

By Shayna Levy | December 10

Professor Justin Hollander of the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning is leading Tufts students in partnership with Worcester community groups and local residents on a campaign to improve public transportation in Worcester, Massachusetts. The campaign aims to garner support from Worcester residents as well as local politiciansand develop a proposal with suggested improvements to the bus system.

Local

City of Somerville master plan leaves future of Center for the Arts at the Armory uncertain

By Sravya Dontharaju | December 10

Leaders of the Center for the Arts at the Armory agree that the City of Somerville’s master plan for the future of the center, released on Nov. 25, leaves many unanswered questions. The center expressed frustration about how the Somerville government did not fully acknowledge tenants’ need for a lease agreement.

Local

Somerville City Council reconfirms status as sanctuary city

By Carly Hope | December 9

The Somerville City Council approved a resolution on Nov. 26 reaffirming Somerville as a “Welcoming Community for justice, equity, and inclusion.” The resolution reconfirmed Somerville’s status as a sanctuary city and communicated the city’s stance on immigration in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump’s election.

Local

Medford community members react to elimination of MCAS

By Grayton Goldsmith | December 9

With the approval of Massachusetts Question 2, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System — a standardized test administered annually in grades three through eight and in one year of high school — has been officially eliminated as a graduation requirement. While Massachusetts is not alone ...

University

Semester marked by drought, fire risk spurs increased safety measures on campus

By Eli Brigham | December 9

This fall saw a critical drought warning issued for most of Massachusetts, including the Medford and Somerville regions. As a result, the state saw red flag warnings coupled with several fast-moving brush fires which dampened air quality on several days in October.Since then, rain has alleviated immediate concerns.

Local

Green Line to close for half of December as tracks are repaired, shuttle buses will run between Tufts and downtown Boston

By Julian Glickman | December 6

The Green Line will be closed from Dec. 6–20 between the Medford/Tufts and Park Street stations, along with Union Square, as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority continues repairs on tracks across the system.

Local

Medford residents notified of lead pipes in their houses

By Josué Pérez | December 6

Starting in the beginning of November, many residents across Medford received notices that their residence is serviced by lead pipes.

University

Amid new leadership changes, Tufts Alumni Council passes updated bylaws, seeks to improve alumni engagement

By Michael Onysko | December 4

The governing body of the Tufts Alumni Association, the Tufts Alumni Council, passed a new set of bylaws “modernizing” the association’s constitution on Nov. 3.

University

University President Kumar answers student questions during TCU Senate town hall

By Zoe Herrmann | December 4

University President Sunil Kumar joined members of the Tufts Community Union Senate in hosting a panel discussion on student advocacy and preprofessional student groups on Nov. 20. Led by TCU President Joel Omolade, a senior, and Class of 2027 Senator Isabela Silvares Lima, the event was largely attended by presidents of advocacy groups and preprofessional organizations on campus.

University

University President Kumar discusses his challenges, joys as president with Vice Provost France

By Spenser Walsh | December 3

Monroe France, vice provost for Institutional Inclusive Excellence, hosted Tufts University President Sunil Kumar for the first in a series of community webinar conversations with Tufts administrators on the “joys and challenges” of leadership in higher education on Nov. 20. The conversation touched on topics including recent university protests, the daily schedule of a university president and the accessibility of a Tufts education.

University

‘Bad Old Days Posse’ participates in panel discussion on protecting the right to choose

By Emma Johnston | December 3

Planned Parenthood Action at Tufts held an event on Nov. 20 featuring the “Bad Old Days Posse” — a group of women telling their stories about life before “Roe v. Wade” — who shared their experiences of the state of abortion rights in the ‘60s and‘70s.

University

Tufts professors host panel to discuss impacts of election results

By Michael Onysko | November 26

The Tufts’ Political Science Department, International Relations Program and Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life hosted a panel on Nov. 21 examining the outcome of the 2024 election.Panelists discussed the implications of the election results on domestic and international politics.

News

Somerville hosts community meeting on new winter warming center

By Anika Parr | November 26

On Monday, Nov. 18, the Somerville Department of Health and Human Services held a community meeting about the opening of a new winter warming center in the Cummings School building once renovations are finished.

University

TCU Senate secures student discounts, works to expand language access in weekly meeting

By Spenser Walsh | November 26

The Tufts Community Union Senate covered committee work, checked in on projects and approved supplementary funding in their last meeting before Thanksgiving. The meeting began with a look at the work of the various Senate committees.Alexander Vang, a junior and the FIRST senator and community & diversity committee chair, reported an unexpectedly high turnout to a community and diversity town hall meeting that took place in the Mayer Campus Center on Nov. 18. The town hall allowed students the chance to meet and question their community senators.

University

MSNBC anchor Chris Hayes talks election outcome, state of media at annual Murrow Forum

By Julian Glickman | November 25

Chris Hayes, the anchor of the MSNBC primetime show “All In with Chris Hayes” and the “Why Is This Happening?” podcast, headlined the 16th annual Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism on Nov. 18. Tufts alumnus Neal Shapiro, the former president of NBC News and CEO of WNET, moderated the conversation.Hayes, who has hosted his point-of-view show since 2013, spoke for nearly an hour in front of an audience of roughly 200 in Barnum Hall. The event — named after the influential broadcaster and war correspondent Edward Murrow, whose son was in attendance — was sponsored by the Tisch College Solomont Speaker Series.

University

New club Tufts University Nuclear Activists hosts renowned nuclear abolitionist

By Tvisha Goel | November 25

Tufts University Nuclear Activists held a Nov. 14 speaker event with Dr. Ira Helfand, a renowned nuclear disarmament activist who discussed his position on nuclear weapons and why students should join the movement against them. This was the first solo event hosted by TUNA, a new club that is currently in the process of obtaining official recognition from the university.

University

Free weight deep cleaning, additional hygiene-related adjustments implemented following TCU initiative

By Alexandra Tse | November 22

Sophomore and Tufts Community Union Senator Michael Glueck, along with other senators, has successfully pushed for periodic free weight deep cleans and the posting of additional hygiene signage in the Steve Tisch Sports and Fitness Center after many students raised concerns about the cleanliness of the equipment.

University

Tufts SJP disaffiliates from Tufts after university suspends group until Jan. 2027

By Estelle Anderson | November 21

Tufts Students for Justice in Palestine announced its “formal break and disaffiliation from Tufts University” on Nov. 15, following the university’s decision to officially suspend Tufts SJP through Jan. 2027.