Opinion

Editorial: We as a community must combat anti-Asian racism

These acts of violence and hate are unacceptable, as are the ways in which Asian Americans have faced social and legal discrimination for over 150 years. Moving forward, it is urgent that Tufts evaluate how it, as an institution, can better serve the Asian American communities on and off campus. Furthermore, as members of the Tufts community, it is our responsibility to combat anti-Asian racism and foster an inclusive, safe environment.

Democracy in The Daily: Hungary's faux democracy

Since 2010, post-Communist Hungary has been Exhibit A in the annals of democratic backsliding into competitive authoritarianism. A facade of democracy has been erected in Hungary, masking a repressive and illiberal government, which has subsequently spread to other countries in the region.

Cartoon: My dog: Backyard Staycation

The changing landscape of space travel invites excitement, complex ethical questions

Last summer, SpaceX made history when it launched the first manned mission to space on a privately owned spacecraft, the Crew Dragon. What does this mean for the future of space travel? Private companies have more capital to work with, and often more ambitious ideas. One of SpaceX’s current projects is Starship, a massive reusable spacecraft, which Musk has claimed is intended to aid in the human settlement of Mars — a much more ambitious goal than that of NASA’s Artemis program. 

The Strike Zone: Vaccine nationalism

This phenomenon of “vaccine nationalism” is politically advantageous, but proponents of vaccine nationalism are lacking in moral and epidemiological merit. Although it theoretically makes sense for countries to vaccinate their own citizens before helping others, this action unfairly exacerbates socioeconomic disparities between wealthy and developing countries, and opens the door for vaccine-resistant COVID-19 variations to emerge.

Op-ed: Who really has a seat at the table? A discussion on representation in international relations

What is the first image that comes to mind when you hear the word “politician” or “diplomat”? Seeing as the fields of international relations and political science lackdiverse representation, you likely think of a white, cisgender man. Our perceptions of who can be successful in these fields are skewed: women and gender minorities are often seen as less competent than their male counterparts, and are often excluded from having a seat at the table. The fact that these groups are sidelined in policy-making diminishes the effectiveness of policy and discounts the interests and needs of half the population. Underrepresentation and low levels of political participation among women and gender minorities remain significant issues, compounded by politically motivated violence against women and female activists.

Building Blocks: Preemptive support

While much research has been done on the avenues that have impacted students, not as much attention has been paid to the ways that the pandemic has affected teachers. Therefore, while I agree with Cardona that we must prioritize reopening of schools, I believe that we must simultaneously institute a plan to support many of our nation’s educators who have been overlooked during the past year.

Cartoon: Half-life

Awkward breakout rooms offer a gateway to social authenticity

The intricacies of a room — the chosen color scheme, hung vinyl and sports posters, maps of a hometown city, shelves brimming with plants, the warm glow of waterfall string lights — allow a glimpse into a more private life. In these rooms, there is no pressure to contort yourself into someone you’re not and  pretend to like the things you don’t. In my case, those pink dumbbells were a glimpse into a part of who I am that would never have been obvious in an in-person class.

The Honeymoon Period: What's next for Biden?

The most immediate logistical challenge for Biden is what to do about the crisis on the southern border. As xenophobia helps drive some Republicans’ electoral successes, many have been trying to pin the crisis on Biden to better their chances in 2022. But an honest evaluation of the situation makes Biden look more hypocritical than pro-immigrant. 

COVID-19 and student mental health: Where we are, how to do better

In the fall 2020 exit survey conducted by TCU Senate, 73% of respondents rated their mental health as 5 or lower on a 10-point scale and over 80% stated that their mental health negatively impacted their motivation, academics, work and social lives. These statistics are frightening, yet not surprising considering the cumulative stressors on college students over the last year.

Cartoon: My dog: Slide

Op-ed: China’s climate commitments are ambitious but unlikely to be realized

This past year, I have been a member of the 2020-21 Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship curriculum that is focused on China and its role in the international system. Through this class, I have been able to explore my interest in international politics, energy policy and economic development.

Democracy in The Daily: Fascist? Populist? Neither.

Fascism is characterized by uber-nationalism, anti-democratic ideals, the use of violence as both a means and an end and skepticism toward capitalism. Trump checks the first two boxes and dabbles in the third. But to assert that he is suspicious of capitalism would be a grotesque fallacy. 

NASA’s latest Mars rover illuminates the perseverance of the human spirit

Aside from the impressive discoveries made by these robots as they examine extraterrestrial rocks, what is also significant is the sheer amount of dedication shown by the creators of these robots — some of the greatest scientific minds in the country who want to explore places that we, as humans, cannot go ourselves. 

The Strike Zone: 'The Social Dilemma' and fascism

"Dialectic of Enlightenment" was published after the Nazi propaganda machine fully infiltrated German society and offers a unique perspective on the roles of mass media and fascism. Similarly, Netflix’s recent documentary "The Social Dilemma" (2020) analyzes how social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter promote the spread of misleading, hyperpartisan information.

Comfort Cartoons: Roller coaster ride 'Lilo & Stitch'

“Lilo & Stitch” has always been focused on family, whether it be broken or whole, and how we can find connections and purposes that matter. The franchise’s earnestness has made it both famous and a generational touchstone. For people who grew up with the film (and its subsequent show), Stitch is just about the cutest plush animal you can get at The Walt Disney World Resort.

Op-ed: China is not the existential threat to US national security that many may think

This narrative, pushed by both Democrats and Republicans, has wrongly conflated China as a hegemonic challenger with China as a national security threat. Although China’s increasing influence does inherently challenge the U.S.’s position as the global hegemon, it is not the existential national security threat it’s often made out to be, but instead a responsible stakeholder in the current global system.

Building Blocks: Modern fault lines

It has been almost 70 years since the Supreme Court made its precedent-setting decision to desegregate schools in the landmark Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case. While our nation has made immense progress from our former legal structures that openly endorsed blatantly segregated schools, we still have a long way to go. Approximately 6% of students currently in the American public education system are enrolled in gifted programs. The aforementioned group of students is overwhelmingly composed of white and Asian students, while many incredibly intelligent Black and Hispanic students are left without the same chances for academic advancement. For example, in New York City, almost three-fourths of students in gifted programs are white or Asian, despite the fact that Black and Hispanic students make up 65% of the school system.

Editorial: Lessons from a year of crisis

With every day that goes by, it seems less likely that we will ever “return to normal” — any post-pandemic world will be radically different than the one we left behind a year ago. So as we reflect on all that we’ve lost in the past year, we should also take a moment to think about what kind of new “normal” we want to create for the years ahead.