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Andrea Savage discusses leading environmental initiatives during Hoch Cunnigham Environmental Lecture series

By Alexandra Tse | October 9

Andrea Savage, a campaign manager for the Clean Transportation Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a Tufts alumna, spoke at the Hoch Cunningham Environmental Lectures series on Thursday. Hosted in collaboration with the political science department, Savage’s talk, titled “The Complexities of Community-Led Climate Solutions From an Outsider,” centered on her experiences directing community-led conservation efforts.

News

Service industry workers divided on minimum wage ballot measure

By Grayton Goldsmith | October 8

Come election day, Massachusetts voters will be asked to cast their vote on five ballot measures appended to their standard general election ballots. One such measure pertains to the minimum wage for tipped workers.

University

Tufts suspends SJP ahead of group’s planned Oct. 7 protest

By Estelle Anderson | October 7

The Tufts administration has imposed an “interim suspension” on Students for Justice in Palestine, as announced in an Instagram post by SJP on Friday evening.

University

Amid scramble to find off-campus housing, university aims to address students’ concerns

By Julian Glickman | October 7

In light of growing concerns regarding off-campus housing, Tufts hosted two student focus groups in late September and created an administrative role for off-campus engagement. The steps come as students have expressed financial, legal and logistical concerns in navigating the process of finding off-campus housing for their junior and senior years.

University

Career fair faces anti-military protest, TUPD investigating anonymous vandalism of Gantcher

By Samantha Eng | October 4

On Sept. 27, a protest outside this semester’s career fair in Gantcher Center condemned the inclusion of national defense and military research recruiters, making it the latest Tufts career fair in the last year faced with student demonstrations. Spray-painted messages denouncing the presence of groups such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lincoln Laboratory were found on the doors of Gantcher.

Local

Medford receives $750,000 grant for Medford Connects expansion

By Zach Halverstam | October 4

The Massachusetts state government provided $750,000 in funding for the expansion of City of Medford’s “Medford Connects” project, an environmental justice initiative introduced by Mayor Brianna Lungo-Koehn in 2020. The funding comes from the fourth round of Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness ...

Local

Somerville launches second year of participatory budgeting, with changes from first cycle

By Amelia Sammons | October 3

Somerville officially launched its second-ever round of participatory budgeting on Sept. 20, allocating $1 million of the city’s budget toward city improvement projects that will be voted on by residents. Participatory budgeting, which Somerville first implemented in 2023, strives to involve more community members in the democratic process by giving them a voice in how the city’s budget is spent.

University

Computer science department to require prior programming experience for introductory course

By Zoe Herrmann | October 3

The Tufts Department of Computer Science has announced a major change in its curriculum, with the introductory course “Introduction to Computer Science”—or CS11—now requiring students to have prior coding experience before enrolling. The addition of a prerequisite will be implemented starting in spring 2025.

University

New Boston Avenue dorm to house almost 700 students, contain mix of apartment styles

By Toby Winick | October 3

Following Tufts’ Sept. 12 announcement of plans to build an upperclassman-only dorm on Boston Avenue, the university has released new details about the project, which is set to be the largest residence hall in Tufts history. To be located at 401 Boston Avenue next to Dowling Hall, the building is planned to host 677 beds across multiple different unit layouts and feature retail store space on the bottom floor.

University

TCU Senate introduces new senators, weighs club funding requests, considers first resolution

By Spenser Walsh | October 1

The Tufts Community Union Senate welcomed newly elected community and Class of 2028 senators, selected new members of the Allocations Board and handled supplementary funding requests during their meeting on Sept. 29.

Local

Medford mayor to select new fire chief in January 2025 using new examination process

By Josué Pérez | September 30

The City of Medford announced on Sept. 18 that it would move forward with the search for a new fire chief and deputy chief with “assessment center” examinations. Deputy Fire Chief Todd Evans has been the acting fire chief since March, when former Fire Chief John Freedman retired following a period of mass sick leaves by firefighters in February.

University

Political clubs report ‘high energy’ during presidential debate watch parties

By Michael Onysko | September 30

Over 67 million viewers across the country tuned in to watch former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris face off during their first presidential debate on Sept. 10. Tufts was no exception, with multiple student organizations hosting debate watch parties that saw high levels of student turnout.

News

Tufts Federalist Society hosts debate over whether America was founded as a secular nation

By Remy Bernatavicius | September 27

The Tufts Federalist Society held a debate on Sept. 19 discussing the rise of Christian nationalism nationwide and whether the U.S. was founded as a secular nation. Dr. Vincent Muñoz, a professor of political science and law at the University of Notre Dame, and Dr. Paul Polgar, a history lecturer at Tufts, discussed the historical context of the founding of the U.S., the role of religion in public life and the ever-evolving concept of separation of church and state. The conversation was moderated by Trent Bunker, one of the society’s presidents.

University

Men's lacrosse players released from hospital with investigation to follow

By Nicholas Prather | September 26

All members of the Tufts men’s lacrosse team who were admitted to the hospital with a rare muscle condition after a 45-minute team workout last week have been discharged, the university announced Wednesday.

University

Tufts Dining implements new changes, including 'late lunch' period and pledge to increase food diversity

By Lucas Frota | September 26

Tufts Dining has introduced a slew of changes for the school year, including a new “late lunch” period from 2 p.m.–5 p.m., a pledge to increase food diversity and updates to the meal plans available to students at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. The policies are a result of collaboration with the Tufts Community Union Senate and were officially implemented at the start of the semester.

Local

Medford receives $250,000 grant to expand, maintain Bluebikes network

By Aaron Gruen | September 26

The City of Medford has received a $250,000 grant to expand and maintain Bluebikes stations within the city. The city announced it had received funding from the Massachusetts Department of Transportation in an Aug. 14 press release.

Local

Rep. Uyterhoeven defeats challenger Hornby in Democratic primary

By Nicholas Prather | September 25

Rep. Erika Uyterhoeven defeated Kathleen Hornbyin the Sept. 3 Democratic primary for Somerville’s 27th Middlesex District, winning 69% of the vote. Uyterhoven earned 5,705 votes, while Hornby earned 2,571 votes.

University

TCU Senate discusses upcoming projects, explores resolution revamp in weekly meeting

By Spenser Walsh | September 25

The Tufts Community Union Senate convened on Sept. 22, discussing the upcoming Student Resources Fair and a proposal to overhaul the way resolutions are processed.The meeting began with updates from committee leaders on their ongoing projects. TCU Outreach Committee Chair Savvy Thompson announced plans to hold two town hall meetings in October with Arts & Sciences and Engineering students, respectively.

University

BREAKING: University provides updates on men’s lacrosse hospitalizations

By Estelle Anderson | September 24

Three men’s lacrosse players remain hospitalized with rhabdomyolysis over a week after participating in a 45-minute workout led by a Tufts alumnus and graduate of a Navy SEAL training program, executive director of media relations Patrick Collins wrote in a statement on Monday. According to Collins, nine players were hospitalized with the condition following the voluntary, supervised workout on Sept. 16.

News

Shumeane Benford officially begins role as Somerville’s new police chief

By Anna Fattaey | September 24

Shumeane Benford began his role as Somerville’s new police chief on Sept. 16. Somerville City Mayor Katjana Ballantyne announced her selection of Benford as the next police chief on Aug. 15, ending a four year-long search following former chief David Fallon’s retirement in 2020. Charles Femino has served as the city’s interim police chief throughout the city’s search for a replacement.