WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD As TikTok continues to grow worldwide, questions arise about future of app Jumbos find success, score sever- see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 4 al top-5 finishes at home meet Men’s track and field impress at Cupid Challenge with SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE multiple season-high performances see SPORTS / BACK PAGE

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY EST. 1980 HE UFTS AILY VOLUME LXXIX, ISSUE 13T T D MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS. Wednesday, February 12, 2020 tuftsdaily.com Tufts reassures students following expansion of ORLL to Trump administration’s travel ban eliminate

by Caleb Symons Staff Writer lead resident

Last week, The Tufts International Center assistant role contacted students from three of the coun- tries recently added to the Trump adminis- for next year tration’s travel ban to clarify the updated ban’s provisions and to offer a number of travel and by Alejandra Carrillo counseling resources. News Editor The expansion of Presidential Proclamation 9645 to bar residents of Eritrea, The Office of Residential Life and Learning Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Nigeria, Sudan and (ORLL) told lead resident assistant (RA) appli- Tanzania from permanently immigrating to cants by email on Jan. 31 that they would be the United States was announced on Jan. 31. eliminating the lead RA role entirely, and there- It will go into effect on Feb. 21. fore would not be interviewing any candidates In response to the updated ban, to fill the position next year. International Center Director Andrew This announcement came at the end of Shiotani sent an email on Feb. 3 to stu- the week during which interviews would have dents from the affected countries who taken place, but the ORLL did not notify the are also non-permanent residents of the applicants that they were considering eliminat- MENGQI IRINA WANG / THE TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES United States. ing the role. The outside of international center on March 4, 2019. see TRAVEL BAN, page 2 Lead RAs, a position that is still operational this semester, are similar to RAs but work more Part of ceiling collapses in Eaton Hall classroom closely in assisting the resident directors and mentor other RAs. by Natasha Mayor porary closures in four rooms in Eaton LiBassi added that the Department of Associate Director for Residential Education News Editor in 2017. Sociology, which is housed in Eaton, has been Nadia Vargas indicated that the ORLL did not John LiBassi, an administrator in the sociol- consistently supported during issues like this. make this change due to the pool of candidates A portion of plaster in room 202 of Eaton ogy department, said that he noticed the dam- “We’ve had some issues with the building, and that the decision had instead been in the Hall came loose and fell through the ceiling age on the Monday morning after it occurred but I have to say that Facilities and actually making for some time. over the weekend of Jan. 25 to 26, accord- and immediately notified Associate Registrar the administration has been very responsive, “It was not a reflection of the quality of candi- ing to Director of Building Operations in Sarah Harvey. particularly with this last incident,” LiBassi said. dates … I think this past year, we’ve had several Medford Jeff McKay. “She had already received the information Chair of the Department of Classical conversations regarding just leadership devel- There were no injuries as a result of the and was working to reschedule all the classes,” Studies Bruce Hitchner, whose department opment in general,” Vargas said. plaster falling, as there was nobody in the room LiBassi said. “She was able to reassign the class- is also housed in Eaton Hall, explained Vargas explained the implications of the lead at the time, according to McKay. He added that rooms, and actually the room was ready to be that difficult but important decisions are RA title and the misconception that this is the this incident does not indicate a lack of struc- opened up again the following Monday.” see EATON, page 2 only role that carries leadership qualities. tural integrity in the building. “One of the things that we’re noticing … “The plaster ceiling in this room and many is that there is a lack of agency if you don’t other areas of the building is original to the have the title of lead, and I want folks to have building construction dating back to 1908,” ownership over the fact that they are leaders McKay wrote in an email to the Daily. “This type regardless of whether or not they are in the of failure is common in buildings with this type lead role,” Vargas said. of construction and the approach that Tufts Vargas underlined that there is a possibil- has taken to remediate the issue is typical in ity the lead RA position will be reinstated in the industry.” the future, depending on the ORLL’s need for Once the Facilities Services Department support, adding that first-year Residence Hall was informed of the damage, McKay said they Councils might create a need for additional assessed the ceiling in its entirety and decided support from ORLL student staff. the best course of action was to remove all the According to the ORLL website, Hall Councils existing plaster as an extra precaution. allow first-year students to take on leadership “New sheetrock and new acoustical drop positions within their residence halls and work ceilings have been installed and the room is on strengthening relationships with key mem- back in service,” McKay said. “In addition to bers of the Tufts community. this work, facilities crews are in the process Vargas indicated that she would like to create of surveying the ceilings in the rest of the a common identity among RAs first before con- building.” sidering the reestablishment of the lead RA role. McKay explained that the damage “I want to foster a cohesive team identity of was in the ceiling itself, unlike the dec- what it means to be a leader outside of your title TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES orative plaster damage that caused tem- Eaton Hall is pictured on April 20, 2018. see RESIDENT ASSISTANT, page 2

For breaking news, our content archive and Please Contact Us NEWS...... 1 FUN & GAMES...... 6 recycle this exclusive content, visit newspaper P.O. Box 53018, tuftsdaily.com Medford, MA 02155 FEATURES...... 3 OPINION...... 7 Partly Cloudy [email protected] /thetuftsdaily @tuftsdaily tuftsdaily tuftsdaily ARTS & LIVING...... 4 SPORTS...... BACK 44 / 34 2 THE TUFTS DAILY | News | Wednesday, February 12, 2020 tuftsdaily.com THE TUFTS DAILY Hartman, Vargas of ORLL discuss restructuring office Ryan Shaffer Editor in Chief tuftsdaily.com EDITORIAL ORLL can depend on the whole team to be lead- apply are very, very strong student staff mem- Alex Viveros RESIDENT ASSISTANT Nathan Kyn continued from page 1 ers, not just those who hold the leadership title. bers,” Hartman said. Managing Editors … and then we can revisit what it looks like to Josh Hartman, the director of residential life This was a programmatic decision that Tys Sweeney Associate Editor have a lead,” Vargas said. and learning, said that such restructuring is not was designed with the goal of enhancing the

Robert Kaplan Executive News Editor She explained that the reason for having unique in his department. He acknowledged ORLL’s leadership development, according to Alejandra Carrillo News Editors announced the elimination of the RA position that within the ORLL there have been several Hartman. Connor Dale Abbie Gruskin after students had already applied was because similar changes throughout the years, empha- Katherine Powers applied to be a lead RA Natasha Mayor Matt McGovern the ORLL was unsure about making this change. sizing that for the ORLL to continue to adapt to and expressed her disappointment at the Sara Renkert Anton Shenk “There were ongoing conversations and … the needs of students, current structures must ORLL’s abrupt decision to eliminate the role. Seohyun Shim I didn’t want to make that call prematurely,” be reevaluated. “It’s certainly disappointing, but more Daniel Weinstein Maddie Aitken Assistant News Editors Vargas said. “I wanted to see what a full semes- “I think that in order for us to be evolving to than that I’m really frustrated by how it Carolina Espinal Alex Janoff ter looked like, and I wanted to come back the changing needs of our student population happened,” Powers, a sophomore, told the Renner Kwittken and make that decision more informed after we need to look at the structures we have,” Daily in an email. “We were all left in the Bella Maharaj Stephanie Rifkin training.” Hartman said. dark for a week, preparing for interviews Sarah Sandlow Elli Sol Strich She underscored that all applicants had to By assessing the various roles and structures, that were supposed to happen in the week Amelia Becker Executive Features Editor indicate if they were interested in being a lead the ORLL may reallocate resources in a different after we applied.” Sid Anand Features Editors Jessie Newman and then the ORLL would proceed with lead way, according to Hartman. He echoed Vargas’ However, Powers added that she will apply Sean Ong interviews. statement that the decision to eliminate the again next year and will reuse her application. Michael Shames Fina Short “I felt like it was better to ask people if they lead RA position was not due to the quality of “The same application I submitted will be Madeline Aitkin Assistant Features Editors Claire Fraise were interested and gauge interest, and then applicants. used as an application to be an RA next year … Jillian Collins from there make a decision,” Vargas said. “[The decision] was not a reflection of the I still love the job and am excited to continue Evelyn McClure Marc Weisglass She added that her goal is to ensure that the pool of applicants that we had … the folks who next year,” she said. Ryan Eggers Executive Arts Editor Tommy Gillespie Arts Editors Sam Heyman Danny Klain Tufts reiterates opposition to travel ban, considers joining Tuna Margalit Christopher Panella Yas Salon Colette Smith legal challenge Megan Szostak Geoffrey Tobia TRAVEL BAN Shiotani acknowledged in his email that tures,” Collins wrote in an email. “We remain Devina Bhalla Assistant Arts Editor continued from page 1 students from the affected countries may face committed to protecting and supporting our The recipients comprised of 40 students increased screening at U.S. consulates or upon students and faculty no matter their national Hannah Harris Executive Opinion Editor Allie Birger Editorialists across Tufts’ undergraduate and graduate arrival in the United States. He recommend- origin or citizenship status.” Avery Caulfield schools — 29 from Nigeria, nine from Tanzania ed several precautionary measures to mitigate Collins added that Tufts would consider join- Paloma Delgado Mason Goldberg and two from Myanmar, according to Shiotani. these situations, including registering travel ing amicus briefs to support legal challenges Amulya Mutnuri Emily Nadler This includes 10 students who have already plans in the Tufts Travel Registry, a confidential against the travel ban, as it has done in the Eileen Ong completed their studies at Tufts but are still spon- database that allows the university to assist com- past. The university filed joint amicus briefs Priya Padhye Liz Shelbred sored by the university to work in the United munity members with any travel problems. with many local and national colleges against all Michael Wilkinson Caroline Wolinsky States for a brief period. Shiotani confirmed “I would say there’s a general tendency at U.S. three versions of the ban in 2017. Carys Kong Editorial Cartoonists Annabel Nied that there are currently no students enrolled at Customs and Border checkpoints to be a little Rwegarulira praised Tufts’ support for its Julia Zweifach Tufts from the other three countries added to bit more stringent [with residents of countries international student community and identified the travel ban. included in the travel ban],” Shiotani said. “It’s weekly meetings hosted by the International Jake Freudberg Executive Sports Editor Julia Atkins Sports Editors Shiotani explained in his email that the ban just a turbulent time as far as arrivals at airports Center, during which students can share ideas Liam Finnegan Aiden Herrod only applies to residents of the six countries are concerned [and] ports of entry are con- and concerns with their peers, as particularly Savannah Mastrangelo who seek to become permanent residents of cerned because there’s a lot of anxiety.” effective. The university’s advocacy also reas- David Meyer Haley Rich the United States and does not restrict entry for Those concerns stem, in part, from high-pro- sures potential international applicants that Noah Stancroff Delaney Tantillo those with non-immigrant visas. file cases in which students at Harvard University they will be supported at Tufts, according to Sam Weidner The latter group includes foreigners with and Northeastern University were detained Rwegarulira. Arpan Barua Assistant Sports Editors Jacob Dreyer F-1 student visas and J-1 exchange visitor and deported after arriving at Boston Logan “We have people [in Tanzania] who are going Matthew Goguen Henry Gorelik visas, the two main types of documentation for International Airport. through the process of applying to colleges Pranav Jain Ananda Kao international students. The updated ban also No Tufts student has been detained yet by right now, and one of their biggest concerns Sruthi Kocherlakota does not apply to people with H-1B temporary U.S. Customs and Border Protection in recent is [whether] it is okay to spend this amount of Helen Thomas-McLean Jason Schwartz worker visas. years, according to Shiotani. He explained that time applying to colleges when [they] might Eric Spencer “This latest travel ban … has a limited impact the Tufts International Center would work not even be able to get into the country after on our student population, at least insofar as with the Tufts University Police Department, getting admitted,” he said. “I think by speaking Austin Clementi Investigations Editor they’re concerned about their ability to go home the Office of the University Counsel and out, [Tufts] will provide support and clarification Elie Levine Executive Audio Editor and come back as students,” Shiotani said. “We potentially outside immigration attorneys in towards current students who are here and also Anne Marie Burke Executive Photo Editor thought it was important to send that message such a situation. students who are trying to come in.” Nicole Garay Evan Slack Staff Photographers to this group of students, making clear it doesn’t “It’s always within the realm of possibility that Despite Tufts’ support, the travel ban expan- apply to international students on temporary any given person [on] any given day could be sion has changed Rwegarulira’s outlook on U.S.- Stephanie Hoechst Executive Video Editors student visas to prevent any anxiety or concern either temporarily detained or refused entry, so Tanzania relations, as well as his own future in Caleb Martin-Rosenthal that it’s going to directly impact them.” we want to make sure to minimize the chances the United States. PRODUCTION Amir Rwegarulira, a senior from Dar es of that happening,” Shiotani said. “I think this is a sign that ties between Kristina Marchand Salaam, Tanzania, heard about the ban in the Patrick Collins, Tufts’ executive director of Tanzania and the U.S. are not in a good place, Production Director news and through his friends and family. media relations, reiterated the university’s oppo- and in the future, something even more danger-

Sam Russo Executive Layout Editors “I didn’t know the details of the ban at first,” sition to the Trump administration’s travel ban. ous could happen,” he said. “If I want to settle Kevin Zhang Rwegarulira said. “I was very concerned because “We continue to believe that bans such as down in the U.S., I think I’d have to go through Daniel Montoya Layout Editors Isabella Montoya my parents are probably going to be here for these have a detrimental impact on higher edu- more hurdles than before, and … it might impact Alice Yoon graduation in May and somehow that might cation in the United States and impede the my decisions, whether it’s regarding being here Aidan Menchaca Executive Graphics Editor have affected their travel plans.” free exchange of ideas across countries and cul- or looking for opportunities elsewhere.”

Rebecca Barker Executive Copy Editors Jillian Rolnick Facilities, administration respond quickly to ceiling damage Anna Hirshman Copy Editors David Levitsky Hannah Wells EATON discussion about the future of Eaton Hall article. His wife, Louise Whitfield Carnegie, Abigail Zielinski Cole Wolk continued from page 1 particularly in view of the completion of the decided that the building should be named Sophie Elia Assistant Copy Editors Tom Guan constantly being made about which mainte- new [Joyce Cummings Center] in the near after Revered Charles Henry Eaton, who had Makenna Law nance projects to prioritize over others. future.” married them. Grace Prendergast Mariel Priven “Deferred Maintenance at Tufts and other McKay added that Tufts actively works Over the years, the university’s collec- Kate Seklir Ethan Steinberg universities is an important priority; it is one to maintain its historic buildings and tion grew, and by 1965, Eaton could no Rae Quingrui Sun of the crucial components of the accredi- structures. longer adequately serve as the only library Russell Yip Brendan Hartnett tation process which each university goes “The safety and wellness of our students, on campus. Accordingly, construction through every ten years,” Hitchner wrote in faculty and staff are our top priorities, which started on a new library which opened in Sam Chung Executive Online Editor an email to the Daily. is why proactive preventative maintenance 1965 as Wessell Library, named after the Julian Perry Executive Social Media Editors Referencing his own background in is a chief concern for us. Every effort is made University’s eighth president. It was later Michelle Roitgarts archaeology, Hitchner considered how Eaton to identify and correct these types of failures renamed Tisch Library. Luke Allocco Outreach Coordinators could best restored, rather than repaired or before an event takes place,” McKay said. Eaton now houses the Eaton Computer Alexis Serino reconstructed. Eaton Hall, formerly known as Eaton Lab, several classrooms and depart- “Prior to the additions that were made to Memorial Library, used to be the primary mental offices for the Departments of BUSINESS it years ago, it was a more attractive building library for the university. Its construction was Anthropology, Classical Studies, Religion, Jonah Zwillinger architecturally than it is today,” Hitchner funded by a $100,000 donation from Andrew Sociology and Studies in Race, Colonialism, Executive Business Director said. “It would be useful to have some further Carnegie in 1904, according to a 2013 Daily and Diaspora. Features 3 tuftsdaily.com Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Lexi Serino Medford Mom John Green was wrong ’m never, ever, ever, going to Tufts, mom.” I uttered these words one week- day afternoon in my family’s kitch- Ien during my senior year of high school. It was late March, and I was sitting at our breakfast nook, anxiously await- ing the moment when my email inbox would light up with a notification that would change the course of my life. I had applied to seven colleges: two Ivy Leagues, plus a handful of those classic New England liberal arts colleges. One of those was Tufts, which just happened to be in the same zip code in which I had spent my entire life. I didn’t want to go to college in my hometown. I thought it went against the “I’m not like other girls” image I tried to maintain in high school. I wanted desperately to be like those manic pixie dream girls I read about in John Green novels, who were too cool and too smart and too destined for something bigger to stay in the town they were raised in — those girls who were able to run away from it all and start a new life in a new city and have it all figured out by the age of 18. I’m not that girl. I never will be. I am very much like other girls (and am proud to be). I definitely don’t have it all figured out, but I am still cool and smart and destined for big things. I don’t know why I thought it was so uncool to love the place where I grew up, but I do. I love Medford, and I’m proud to be from here. This is where my roots are, and as someone who has her head in the clouds more often than she should, those roots ground me in important ways. For a combination of reasons, I ulti- mately chose to go to Tufts. It was the right choice and a privileged one at that. I’m so grateful for the four years I’ve had here, growing and learning and getting to know and love the woman I’m becoming. I’m also grateful that my mom made me apply here four years ago: It was a stroke of maternal wis- dom for which I haven’t thanked her enough. What I’m most grateful for is the fact that my time at Tufts has only made me love my hometown more. That’s what this column will be about: An expres- sion of gratitude for the place I call home and a recounting of some of the stories and experiences I’ve had during my time at Tufts that make this place feel even more like home. Such deep reflection will require a level of vul- nerability and honesty that unnerves me, but as a college senior on the verge of an uncertain future, I’m ready to be brave in the only way I know how: by sharing my truth. Ultimately, this column will, in some way, be love letters to that 17-year-old girl who committed to Tufts almost four years ago. I want her to know she made the right choice and that every- thing she was looking for — despite what John Green told her — was only ever 2.7 miles away from that breakfast nook. I’m hoping I can make her proud.

Lexi Serino is a senior studying political science and Spanish. Lexi can be reached at [email protected]. 4 tuftsdaily.com ARTS&LIVINGWednesday, February 12, 2020 The State of TikTok, Volume I

VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS The TikTok Logo is pictured. by Tuna Margalit ing somewhere between contemporary over a teenager, though not always) say- lies not in the app itself but more in that Assistant Arts Editor United States foreign policy, universal ing something seemingly innocent. The the older portion of Gen Z — currently human rights and data security. There next chunk of text is usually just “boys/ around college-age — was the first age TikTok is earning the right to call have been worries about the Chinese girls/people/kid named _____” with the subgroup to really experience something itself a global pandemic. The burgeon- Communist Party accessing users’ data, blank space being filled in with a word like this (with Vine) and so they have ing app is a reincarnation of the mas- potential censorship of videos pertain- or consecutive parts of multiple words that nostalgia embedded within them. sively-yet-fleetingly popular Vine that ing to the various human rights abuses said by the first person that completely Conversely, the people who were in their succumbed to competition from social occurring in China and the US’ national changes the meaning of their sentence early 20s when Vine was popular didn’t media titans Instagram and Snapchat security at large being compromised. and, often, entirely erases the innocence have a nostalgic reference point and as well as its inability to turn a signifi- This is not to say that TikTok’s commu- of it. Usually, the meme is accompanied therefore were not as drawn to Vine as cant profit. nity would dissipate upon a hypothetical by an overweight rat dancing to 6ix9ine’s older Gen Z’ers are to TikTok. Though it remains to be seen if mass realization of all these potential “Gummo” (2017). That being said, many Gen Z people Instagram and Snapchat can outdo abuses. However, it does show that there There is also an abundance of one-off are hesitant about TikTok due to stigma the creative facilities that TikTok has are larger forces at work here and that memes — concocted by TikTokers with surrounding the app and its cringe fac- to offer, the abundance of high-profile the controversy is not one that will be an ounce of originality — that go viral. tor, but this apprehension is merely the companies for which TikTok has been an completely washed away with the rapid- Many of these memes are enshrouded inevitable appearance of the generation- advertising platform points to TikTok’s ly growing TikTok tide. in immature, edgy or offensive humor. al gap that causes each aging generation relative longevity in success and exis- With controversy addressed, it is time It is quite rare to find a string of TikTok to find the next one crass and alien. tence. Albeit this significant difference to delve into the current state of TikTok. memes that aren’t at least somewhat Technology and, more specifically, social between TikTok and Vine, the former Of the popular trends on TikTok, “edgy” — a fact that highlights an unex- media, create a distinction between past truly is the latter’s upgraded successor, most can be grouped into music and pected aspect of TikTok. Even though youth and young adult generational practically and symbolically. Advocates dance, memes and duets. Let’s start with TikTok is dominated by the youth — the gaps, such as that of Baby Boomers and of uber-simplicity and six-second con- the currently trending music and dance generation usually known to be the most Gen X, and the more current, analogous tent aside, no one will deny the benefits TikToks. At the moment, the heavi- accepting and politically correct — the generational gap between Millennials that a tenfold increase of usable time ly circulating songs with correspond- app is littered with material that is racist, and Gen Z (though it could be argued and an expansion of effects has on the ing dances are “Lottery (Renegade)” homophobic, transphobic and contain- that there is an intra-generational wedge breadth of creative capacity. (2019) by K CAMP, “Say So” (2019) by ing many other vile forms of intolerance between the two halves of Gen Z driv- There is, however, something to be Doja Cat and “TOES” (2019) by DaBaby. and bigotry. The possible reasons that en by the exponential advancement of said about the extensive list of instant- The first, known simply as “Renegade,” this type of humor is common on TikTok technology). ly recognizable and endlessly quotable originated on Instagram but was pop- is up for interpretation, but it is inter- The difference is that social media vines. This “list” is explained by a vine’s ularized by TikTok juggernaut Charli esting to note, especially considering is a means of connecting people, ideas, brevity. The short length makes each D’Amelio (@charlidamelio). It incorpo- that the vines that went viral may have culture, memes, stories, photos, videos one essentially a soundbite, and sound- rates a variety of unique dance moves appeared less offensive than many of the and GIFs from all around the world bites are much easier to memorize and — mostly hip-hop-esque ones, with popular tiktoks. in an astoundingly instantaneous fash- There are “Dirty Jobs” (2003–12), and then memorialize than15-to-60-second-long a heavy focus on the arms and hands “Duets” are a TikTok-specific creation ion, the speed of which has never been there are jobs that would make even Mike Rowe bits. Also, much of Vine’s humor con- and overall speediness. The second, where a content creator can play another remotely matched in past time periods.wince and gulp. Aspiring film producer Jane sisted of users creating fictional char- quickly becoming Doja Cat’s biggest creator’s video within their own video Because social media arrived on the (Julia Garner), the protagonist, audience surro- acters and fictional situations — like song, has an extremely boppy beat and and, thereby, seem to interact with said scene during the teenage years of the gate and essentially the sole character of “The Rudy Mancuso’s “Mexican Superman” lyrics that imply very specific dance video. The interactions range from a youngest Millennials and the oldest Gen Assistant” (2019), has one such job. In the early and Jordan Burt’s “Don, Blind Driver” moves, such as a slow motion arm roll back-and-forth conversation to a physi- Z’ers, these now-older people can more morning darkness, Jane slogs from Astoria to — whereas TikTok has a noticeable lack during the lines, “Didn’t even notice cal action that makes sense in conjunc- readily process and adapt to an app TriBeCa, bringing to life her office’s strident of such humor. This difference is likely / No punches left to roll with.” This tion with the original video, to merely a overrun by teenagers and their specific fluorescents and uncooperative printers. Her due, in part, to the contemporary shift dance was actually created by popu- reaction of the content of the original sense of humor. These younger peo-juvenile bro-workers communicate with her via towards reaction memes and social com- lar TikToker Haley Sharpe (@yodelin- video, i.e. approval or disapproval. ple can infuse their own culture, ideas,crumpled-up papers thrown in her direction. mentary that are ubiquitous on TikTok ghaley). The third, created by TikTok’s There’s no one specific trend in these memes, stories, etc. because they have Her meals, habitually interrupted by colleagues (as well as every other young adult’s cur- current favorite rapper, DaBaby, has duets, but there are certain TikTokers the technological capabilities that priorwordlessly handing her papers to copy or dishes rent meme stronghold) but were not as a much less strict choreography than who often feature as the content for generations in their current position didto wash, are Froot Loops or TV dinners eaten popular during Vine’s tenure. the others but is just as fun (though it duets. Take Tyler Brash (@tyler.brash). not possess. In this way, TikTok is a suc-standing up in the break room. Whatever the structural and cultural is a bit bizarre to see teenagers mouth Quite possibly the cringiest TikToker, cess due to the timing of its existence. On the surface, writer-director Kitty Green’s divide is, the spirit and the encompass- the words, “Better not pull up with no Brash’s videos are usually him acting Though TikTok already has above 68087-minute movie reads almost like a hostile work ing idea have held constant: young gen- knife/ ‘Cause I bring guns to fights”). out scenarios where a guy is talking to a million monthly active users, that num-environment training video. Following Jane’s erations are creating impactful media for Though these songs currently feature girl he likes. These videos are absolutely ber will likely grow significantly. No onesoul-crushing daily routine and studying her their own enjoyment. on many TikTok uploads, new ones ripe for other TikTokers — Max Dressler can exactly predict quite how big it willmethodically downturned lips and glazed-over Like most major social-networking seem to pop up every day. (_maxdressler) being the most famous of get, but seeing as it has broad interna-eyes, however, is something far more insidious services, TikTok is mired in controversy, Memes are likely the most common them — to react to. Duets often display tional appeal, advertising opportunities than a woman-led “Office Space” (1999) rehash. though not enough to impede its ascent type of TikTok video. A common theme the more creative humor of TikTok. to give it profit and a perfectly-timed“The Assistant” was not marketed as a horror towards global popularity. This contro- right now follows a basic outline of text on With the state of TikTok covered, it period of existence, nothing — not even film; its cinematic strategy eschews jump scares, versy is situated in an area that evades the screen describing a random, uniden- is important to discuss two more ques- global politics — seems able to stop gore and for most of the film, a soundtrack. But the consciousness of the vast majori- tified person (often a teacher or really tions: Why is TikTok so successful, and TikTok from cementing itself as a global Eli Roth and Ari Aster would be hard-pressed to ty of (non-Chinese) TikTok users, fall- just any person with relative authority how successful can it get? The answer pandemic. rattle an audience’s bones the way Green shakes tuftsdaily.com Wednesday, February 12, 2020 | Arts & Living | THE TUFTS DAILY 5 ‘The Assistant’ paints visceral picture of pre- Peter Lindblom #MeToo film industry Oldies But Goodies ‘American Psycho’

s the media continues to praise Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar- winning performance in “Joker” (2019), I could not help but Athink back to Mary Harron’s “American Psycho” (2000). The film is an intention- ally uncomfortable viewing experience and, as a result, many people remem- ber it for its excessive goriness and ambiguous resolution. Quite honestly, I do not love the film for those reasons. That said, we cannot overlook Christian Bale’s outstanding performance and the film’s satirical commentary about the extravagance and absurdity of Wall Street culture in the 1980s. “American Psycho” centers around Patrick Bateman, a 27-year-old invest- ment banker obsessed with his self-im- age. Every morning, he follows a bor- derline-maniacal routine of exercis- ing and applying several moisturizing lotions to maintain a near-perfect phy- sique. On the surface, he may seem like your average Wall Street executive, but the film quickly puts that idea to rest. He is seen with what looks like bloody sheets at a dry cleaner, he frequently makes aggressive, misogynistic com- ments toward his secretary and other women and he even mentions to the audience that he feels as if his “mask of sanity is about to slip.” From there, it almost goes with- out saying that his mask does slip, as he transforms into a serial killer before our eyes. In a chilling fash- ion, Bateman murders his colleague using an axe, all the while giving his victim an articulate summary of the song blaring through his speakers in the background, “Hip to Be Square” (1986) by Huey Lewis and the News. In his other murders, Bateman goes through a similar music-explaining procedure that adds another off-put- ting element to the already horrific event on screen. While it may not be enjoyable to watch, Christian Bale’s portrayal of the sadistic character is phenomenal to say the least. As a viewer, it is hard to look past Bateman’s psychopathic behavior, but the time he spends with his peers is VIA IMDB actually quite thought-provoking. His A promotional poster for “The Assistant” (2019) is pictured. colleagues are similarly materialistic, ours when Jane ferries a wide-eyed aspiring film- atmospheric filmmaking; she and cinematogra- self-obsessed and sexist in a way that by Tommy Gillespie maker from Idaho to a hotel-room meeting with pher Michael Latham lure us up the elevator into is quite appalling. They never seem to Arts Editor her unseen movie mogul boss. Jane’s hellish world and box us into the four walls be working; in fact, they only seem to That detail, the invisibility of Jane’s Harvey as compactly as Jane’s winter coat, folded up and worry about whether they have the fan- There are “Dirty Jobs” (2003–12), and then Weinstein stand-in boss, makes “The Assistant” shoved into a desk drawer. ciest business card and if they have din- there are jobs that would make even Mike Rowe one of the #MeToo era’s most provocative and Without a standout performance from Julia ner reservations at the finest restaurant wince and gulp. Aspiring film producer Jane disturbing films. By shifting the focus away from Garner, though, “The Assistant” would not in the city. On top of it all, they never (Julia Garner), the protagonist, audience surro- the monstrous personality and onto those who work nearly as well as it does. The film relies pay attention to the fairly clear warn- gate and essentially the sole character of “The spray 409 on his office couch and ensure he’s entirely on her to guide it through subtle shifts ing signs of Bateman’s erratic behav- Assistant” (2019), has one such job. In the early driven to his private jet on time, Green accom- in tone and keep its insinuations just at arm’s ior. And therein lies a more powerful morning darkness, Jane slogs from Astoria to plishes a fascinating study of how evil infects length. And Garner, fresh off an Emmy win for message about the society in which he TriBeCa, bringing to life her office’s strident those around it: not violently or dramatically, but “Ozark” (2017–), shepherds it along perfectly. operates: everyone is self-consumed fluorescents and uncooperative printers. Her gradually, monotonously and unstoppably. Each defeated sigh and each blink held just a to the point where they do not even juvenile bro-workers communicate with her via “The Assistant,” as mentioned, dramatiz- split second longer than necessary gives us the notice their colleague’s glaring psy- crumpled-up papers thrown in her direction. es just one of Jane’s nightmarish days working vital time we need to compose ourselves and chological issues, which suggests that Her meals, habitually interrupted by colleagues under this looming figure. The nature of his drag ourselves methodically along with her they, like Bateman, are insane in their wordlessly handing her papers to copy or dishes crimes simmers just beneath the office’s sur- for just one more task, one more phone call, own way. to wash, are Froot Loops or TV dinners eaten face conversations. As she types an ongoing one more day. With Garner at the helm, “The As mentioned previously, “American standing up in the break room. email apologizing to him for an undisclosed Assistant” feels interminable, humiliating and Psycho” is by no means a flawless film, On the surface, writer-director Kitty Green’s past breach of protocol, her office-mates suggest hopeless. but it is hard to deny that it is relevant 87-minute movie reads almost like a hostile work phrasing tips. Jane takes the elevator down to Such adjectives are not usually reasons to today. “Joker” offers a somewhat sim- environment training video. Following Jane’s return an earring to a woman he’s previous- laud a film, but “The Assistant” makes them ilar outlook on insanity, as both films soul-crushing daily routine and studying her ly met, who casts her eyes down and shuffles its greatest assets. Green and Garner work in juxtapose a psychopathic murderer as methodically downturned lips and glazed-over swiftly out. The aforementioned, unsuspecting consummate partnership in this film, laying its unreliable narrator with a conform- eyes, however, is something far more insidious Idahoan asks Jane in the car if she was put up in each tiny moment of hope sparingly at our ist society to suggest that psychological than a woman-led “Office Space” (1999) rehash. a fancy hotel in her first days on the job, and Jane feet but never minimizing the titanic mon- issues are even more complex than “The Assistant” was not marketed as a horror can only shake her head. strosity lurking just behind the camera. By they may seem. film; its cinematic strategy eschews jump scares, Green, who most recently directed the Netflix the time the credits roll, “The Assistant” has gore and for most of the film, a soundtrack. But documentary “Casting JonBenet” in 2017, is no achieved a truly remarkable feat: its unseen Peter Lindblom is a sophomore who has Eli Roth and Ari Aster would be hard-pressed to stranger to the magnetic, lurid power of these antagonist’s comeuppance feels desperately, not yet declared a major. Peter can be rattle an audience’s bones the way Green shakes horrorscapes. “The Assistant” is a masterclass in sickeningly far away. reached at [email protected]. 6 THE TUFTS DAILY | Comics | Wednesday, February 12, 2020 tuftsdaily.com F&G LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY FUN & GAMES Alex: “The fact is that choccy milk is better than regular milk.” Opinion

SUDOKU LINDA C. BLACK ASTROLOGY

Aquarius (Jan. 20–Feb. 18) Your studies offer new views and per- spectives. Explore the wider world, when traffic allows. Monitor local conditions for your destination. Keep plans simple and practical.

Difficulty Level:When you think you’re recording an interview but aren’t.

Tuesday’s Solutions

CROSSWORD Opinion 7 tuftsdaily.com Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Sarah Kaplan Funding Our Future Swipe it only so far forward y stomach panged with hunger, but it was only hour 12. I distracted myself with exactly what any other 18-year- Mold would have: the endless world of Facebook. As I scrolled through my feed, I discovered a link to a Tufts online form allowing me to donate some of my meal swipes. I had never seen this program advertised, spread on social media or even presented during orientation. I eagerly clicked on the link to see what I could do. It was Yom Kippur, I was fasting and I gladly donated what meal swipes I could. But why did it take someone’s Facebook post for me to learn about this? Shouldn’t this initiative have been introduced during orientation? I was thrilled to have found the form but frustrated that I hadn’t found it earlier. While I recognize that I am a first- year, and there is a significant learning curve to familiarizing myself with the insti- tutions — both formal and informal — on campus, it is unacceptable that it took until October for me to learn about the ability to donate my meal swipes. The program I discovered is Swipe it Forward, an initiative launched in 2017 by a collaboration of student and univer- sity organizations on campus. Swipe it Forward allows students with the Premium meal plan to donate one meal and one guest meal per semester, and students with other plans to donate up to four meals per semester. The initiative was created to address student food insecurity at Tufts, allowing students to give their meal swipes to a bank of swipes that can be accessed by other students. In April 2019, Swipe it Forward expanded its program by automat- ically depositing one meal swipe for every student on the Premium meal plan into the meal bank. This ensures that the meal bank has a strong supply at the beginning of the year. But this change did not address the egregious disparity in swipes left over and swipes to donate each semester. Last semester, I only used 200 of my 400 swipes from my Premium meal plan. The excessive amount of meal swipes given to, or rather required to be purchased by, first- years is a topic for another article. With the given system, it is absurd that students on the Premium meal plan cannot donate more than two swipes each semes- ter. Students on all meal plans should be able to donate as many meal swipes as they have left over; after all, students pay for those swipes and should not see them go to waste when other students need meals. At the very least, students on the Premium meal plan should be able to donate four swipes per semester as other students can with different meal plans. Truly though, any swipes left over should be swipes donated. If you wish to donate some of your meal swipes, please follow this link: http:// students.tufts.edu/identity-based-centers/ first-resource-center/financial-resourc- es-through-first/food-insecurities/donate.

Sarah Kaplan is a first-year who has not yet declared a major. Sarah can be reached at [email protected].

The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community. The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board. EDITORIALS Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. Individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily. OP-EDS The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length and submitted to [email protected]. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. Authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of availability for editing questions. ADVERTISING All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director. 8 Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Sports tuftsdaily.com

Aiden Herrod Women’s track and field hosts Cupid Challenge The Turf Monster by Maggie Basinger Contributing Writer

Baseball’s The women’s track and field team host- ed the Cupid Challenge on Saturday in bloated the Gantcher Center. The Jumbos had four first-place finishes, performing exception- contracts ally well in the jump events. The meet, which had athletes competing mostly from New England Div. III teams, did not have are strategic team scoring, “I’m excited about the jumps because nightmares our coach was pushing us to improve,” first-year Jaidyn Appel said. “It was good to emember when star baseball see our results.” sluggers Bryce Harper and Manny In the high jump, Appel came in first at Machado dominated free agen- 5’ 7 ¾”. This mark currently places her No. cy talk all winter long, waited 4 on the Div. III rankings. Reons, and finally signed massive, $300 mil- “I’m happy about it,” Appel said. “But it lion-plus contracts with the Phillies and was what I expected of myself, so I wasn’t Padres respectively? Yeah, me neither. Both surprised.” teams missed the playoffs and the baseball Additionally, in the triple jump, Jumbos world moved onto a new pair of million secured the top three places out of a field of ERIK BRITT / TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES dollar darlings in Gerrit Cole and Anthony 22. First-year Lia Rotti placed first with a 37’ Senior co-captain Julia Gake races at the Branwen Smith-King Invitational on Jan. 27, 2018. Rendon, both of whom signed similarly 4½” jump, good for No. 20 in Div. III. Fellow massive contracts this past off-season. first-year Jen Rotti, who is Lia Rotti’s twin For longer distance events, sopho- Senior co-captains Rhemi Toth and In honor of football ending and every- sister, came in second place with a 36’ 11¾” more Tara Lowensohn placed third in Julia Gake, sophomore Hannah Neilon thing being worse, I want to turn my jump. This distance also currently places the 1,000 meters with a time of 3:01.58. and senior Sabrina Gornisiewicz ran attention to the coming baseball season. her No. 29 in Div. III. Sophomore Kathryn Following only 0.17 seconds behind the relay in 12:13.13. This time cur- My way of starting that is to air my griev- Ezeoha placed third in the event with a 36’ Lowensohn, sophomore Anna Slager rently puts them No. 4 in the top 50 ances about one of baseball’s most splashy 6¼” jump. finished in fourth place at 3:01.75. rankings for distance medley relays in off-season occurrences: massive multi- This success continued in the long In the 5,000 meters, first-year Meghan Div. III. year contracts totaling hundreds of mil- jump event. Continuing her stellar perfor- Davis finished with a time of 18:25.5, With two weeks until the New lions of dollars over countless years. mance from the triple jump into the long placing her third in the race. This was England Div. III Indoor Championships I do not agree with a single contract jump, Jen Rotti placed first at 17’ 6 ¾”. only Davis’s second indoor meet and on Feb. 28 and 29, the Jumbos will handed out in this regard. Committing to “I’m happy with how it went,” Jen Rotti the first time running the 5,000 meters, send athletes to two different meets this an athlete at the highest level for a span said about the meet. “It was good to see all after running in the fall during cross weekend: the David Hemery Valentine of time surpassing five years is extremely of our hard work pay off.” country season. Invite at Boston University on Friday risky. Careers turn on a dime, and unfore- The Jumbos performed well in many of In the 4×200 meters relay, the Jumbos and Saturday and the Gordon Kelly seen injuries and developments can eas- the sprinting events as well. Sophomore came in third place. Machado and first- Invitational at Massachusetts Institute ily crop up when players are subjected Luana Machado got first place in the 600 years Jesse Martin, Cora Kakalec and of Technology on Saturday. to the grueling routines of their sport for meters, finishing in 1:39.24. There were also Julia Perugini ran the relay in a com- “The current goal is to improve our years on end. Jumbos finishing in sixth place, seventh bined time of 1:47.40. rankings in our specific events,” Jen Is baseball different? To a degree, there place, ninth place and 11th place in the 600 In the distance medley relay, the Rotti said. “Everyone is working hard might be more longevity for an average meters, which had 20 runners total. Jumbos again came in third place. and hopefully we’ll get to see it pay off.” baseball player. The average retirement age is far higher than football, and many players retire later than their counter- Men’s track and field sets several personal records parts in the NBA and NHL. But baseball is a game of numbers. Batting average, at Cupid Challenge home runs, power hitting metrics, fastball speed, all of it is subject to harsh regres- email to the Daily. “Anchoring our distance and they know the facility and compe- sion. What baseball gains in a potentially by Arnav Sacheti medley relay to a (likely) NCAA biding then tition well. higher average retirement age, it loses in Contributing Writer coming back to win the 600 in a Tufts All- The younger members of the team did statistical consistency for the vast majority Time Top 10 time was very impressive. Over not disappoint either, with first-year Hunter of players. The men’s track and field team hosted his 4 years here Matt has proven that he is Farrell matching his previous personal best Contracts as large as Harper’s or the annual Cupid Challenge on Saturday one of the most gutsy and talented mid-dis- of 14’ 7.25” in the pole vault, maintaining a Machado’s are the product of the right at the Gantcher Center. The team won only tance runners I’ve seen.” mark that ranks No. 48 in Div. III. place at the right time. Players are paid for one event, but athletes earned top five Personal records were not only a theme First-year Raphael Obu threw 42’′ 6’’″ in hitting free agency after an ideal season in finishes in several events, and four of Tufts’ for D’Anieri — who has notched three for the weight throw, a personal best and an an ideal market, where there are enough results rank in the top 50 for Div. III track this season in the 600 meters, 1,000 meters improvement of nearly nine feet compared teams that blend competitive standing, and field. and mile races — but for many other ath- to his last competition. money available and positional need. Far One of the most impressive results on letes, ranging from the long distance and “Raphael had never touched a shot more deserving players could get snubbed the day was the distance medley relay mid-distance races to the pole vaulting and or weight prior to December,” Williams for not even half as much, while far less (DMR) team consisting of sophomore throwing events. wrote. “His throw in the weight throw on deserving players can have money thrown Nick Delaney, first-year Andrii Campbell, Senior Roman Lovell ran a 1:55.56 per- Saturday was not only a 2.5m/9ft [a per- on them in desperation. first-year Evan Ensslin and senior Matt sonal record in the 800 meters, finishing in sonal record], but it catapulted him into Now don’t get me wrong — I am 110% D’Anieri. The team finished in second place third place. Lovell’s finish currently ranks the Tufts Freshman Top 10 at #7. He is a an advocate for player empowerment with a time of 10:00.29, only behind the No. 22 in Div. III. fantastic athlete and his hard work is start- in professional sports. Athletes deserve squad from Div. II American International In the long distance events, senior Taylor ing to pay off!” the financial security of multiyear con- College, which set the Gantcher Center Wurts broke his personal record 3,000 meter With their confidence growing, the tracts, and more often than not the con- facility record. This performance gives the time with a ninth place finish at 8:56.03, Jumbos now head into the latter part of tracts handed to them are appropriately Jumbos a chance to qualify for the national while junior Harry Steinberg achieved his the season and are preparing for the New rewarding. But franchises in baseball take NCAA Div. III meet with their DMR squad, personal best in the 5,000 meters, placing England Div. III Indoor Championships immense risks that are rarely met with as that time currently ranks No. 1 nationally second with a time of 15:03.49, which cur- on Feb. 28 and 29. This weekend, the team reward when they put such massive finan- in Div. III. rently ranks No. 28 in Div. III. will compete at Boston University’s (BU) cial stakes into one or two individual play- D’Anieri doubled events in this meet, Apart from the abilities of the athletes, David Hemery Valentine Invite and at ers. The only teams bearing such massive also placing first in the 600 meters with a Steinberg credited the personal successes Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s contracts I expect to be good are the ones personal best time of 1:22.06 — the only to a variety of confidence boosting factors. (MIT) Gordon Kelly Invitational. that already throw boatloads of money win at the meet for the Jumbos. “We had five or six personal bests,” “We send our top runners to BU because at all their assets, regardless of luxury tax Coach Joel Williams commented on Steinberg said. “It’s an exciting time of year it is one of the fastest tracks in the country implications. D’Anieri’s contribution to the team in com- when you come after winter break and and the intensity of the meet always helps peting in the two events. it’s a time when you get the first training produce great marks,” Williams said in the Aiden Herrod is a sophomore who has not “Doubling in the mid distance races is block in.” email. “MIT has a great venue for the field yet declared a major. Aiden can be reached incredibly difficult, but Matt made it look Steinberg also noted that the team events so we always get lots of champion- at [email protected]. like an easy day,” Williams wrote in an had a lot of home meets this season ship qualifying marks there as well!”