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The Tufts Daily
Where you read it first | Friday, April 18, 2025

Opinion

The Setonian
Editorial

The politics of science

Fletcher Professor of International Environmental Policy William Moomaw made a key observation in his interview published in today's Daily. The Tufts professor shared a slice of this year's Nobel Peace Prize in recognition of his service on the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Moomaw noted the distinction between the science and policy analysis carried out by this panel and the corresponding publicity work done by fellow Nobel recipient Al Gore.


The Setonian
Editorial

Never has, does not, never will

On Oct. 6, The New York Times reported that President Bush reacted to a Congressional uproar over the disclosure of secret Justice Department legal opinions. These documents endorse the harsh interrogation of terrorism suspects by defending the methods and declaring that the "government does not torture people" (we outsource!). It is a sad testament to the sheer bald-faced dishonesty of this administration that the debate has shifted from "Do we torture?" to "Is it okay that we torture?"


The Setonian
Editorial

Is there a doctor in the house?

The Tufts Community Union Senate's recent focus on the problems associated with excessive student drinking has highlighted another dilemma on campus: our Health Service's limited hours. We applaud the Senate's efforts to expand the hours of Health Service and recognize that our student representatives have long been fighting this battle.


The Setonian
Editorial

Show him the money!

Most students involved in campus organizations have at least been peripherally involved in the process of drafting a budget for approval by the Tufts Community Union Senate. It's no secret that student groups sometimes scrounge for money and put a considerable amount of time and energy into fundraising.


The Setonian
Editorial

Korean summit offers slow progress

Cooperation and teamwork, as most of us are taught at a tender age, are desirable behaviors because they are stepping stones to prosperity and happiness. At the national level, this social theory is no less true. No nation in particular would be better served by heeding such advice than North Korea.


The Setonian
Editorial

Coming out is a good start

Today is Tufts' Coming Out Day. The day is an important one, not only for Tufts' LGBTQ community, but also for straight students and faculty.



The Setonian
Editorial

Stop those swimmers!

Development of a male contraceptive analogous to the oral contraceptives familiar to American women should be welcome news for the large numbers of sexually active college students. If researchers are able to produce an effective and safe pill or patch for men, responsibility for birth control can be shared in a much more equitable way between two partners in a relationship.


The Setonian
Editorial

EDITORIAL

Good will comes neither free nor easy. As college students live intermingled with town residents, it would be na've to expect both populations to cohabitate without incident.


The Setonian
Editorial

Honk for social justice

In 1773, the American colonists in Boston had had enough of the imperial zeal of their British oppressors, and on Dec. 16, 1773, a small band of Patriots set in motion the wheels of revolution against King George III. That was one of the greatest moments in the history of our nation, and generations of Americans have yearned wistfully for the opportunity to be a part of a similarly powerful movement.


The Setonian
Editorial

EDITORIAL

We can't all be elected prime minister of a European country, but we can still look up to one illustrious Tufts alumnus who has set such an example. The re-election two weeks ago of Fletcher graduate Costas Karamanlis as prime minister of Greece marks a high point this fall for the extended Tufts community. It can be inspiring to think that one student who sat in lecture on the Hill took his education so far afield.


The Setonian
Editorial

Local aid agencies need help

The study published through Tufts' Feinstein International Center (FIC) on the work of humanitarian agencies comes at a difficult time for humanitarian aid agencies in Iraq.


The Setonian
Editorial

Editorial

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran delivered a speech at Columbia University yesterday that attracted hoards of students and faculty and made headlines immediately. The nature of his talk - calling Palestine an "old wound," denying the existence of homosexuals in Iran and expressing a desire to visit the World Trade Center site - provoked anger, frustration and confusion.


The Setonian
Editorial

Massachusetts, place your bets

Last Monday, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick released a proposal to build three casino resorts in Massachusetts in order to raise revenue to repair infrastructure and increase employment opportunities in the commonwealth.


The Setonian
Editorial

Grow up, Tufts!

This Saturday night, when you're considering whether or not to take that next shot, consider the following: when you end up passed out in Lawrence Memorial Hospital, you'll be taking up emergency resources from Medford residents who might have suffered an asthma attack or a stroke or a broken limb that same evening.


The Setonian
Editorial

EDITORIAL

It seems that the Democratic numbers in Washington are not sufficient to push through major directional change in policy. A Republican filibuster yesterday blocked a measure to expand the rights of terrorism detainees while simultaneously dashing the hopes of liberal lawmakers who wanted to give more time at home for the troops.


The Setonian
Editorial

Questioning the Greeks

The past few years have been tumultuous ones for the Greek system at Tufts. Fraternities have been shut down and re-opened, a Greek director came and went, and in June 2005, the school commissioned an outside report to identify major problems with the frats and sororities on campus.


The Setonian
Editorial

Drink responsibly

The Think Outside the Bottle campaign by Corporate Accountability International brings to the Tufts campus a hot topic addressed recently by other publications and municipal governments: smart consumption of bottled water. Given Tufts' environmentally friendly attitude, it is no surprise that Corporate Accountability International is recruiting Tufts students to aid its campaign.


The Setonian
Editorial

Money, politics and the media

The pages of this publication have lately been a forum for discussion of that other media outlet, The Primary Source. Not only have members of the Tufts community debated what free speech truly entails, but parents and alumni have also questioned the very monetary lifeblood of the Source. When students and their families pay $258 into a large student activities jackpot, this financial investment increases everyone's connection to the products and activities of Tufts' student groups.


The Setonian
Editorial

Time for real safety checks

Former Office of Residential Life and Learning (ORLL) employee Kenneth Hall was convicted of sex offenses against a minor this past June. Tufts hired Hall prior to his conviction, and the Daily does not wish to use this editorial to allege any wrongdoing on the university's part.


The Setonian
Editorial

Anonymity not taken lightly

An article in today's paper brought considerable controversy to the Daily office yesterday afternoon. When Tufts students find themselves in compromising situations, we often find ourselves with a newsworthy story. As a college newspaper, however, we are acutely aware of the impact that our pages have in a small community. When peers request to be quoted anonymously in articles, we find ourselves having to balance their concerns with the journalistic standards we strive to uphold. Juggling these competing values is never fun, but it is necessary if we are to maintain a reputation as a reliable news source with integrity.