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THE TUFTS DAILY Est Where You Sunny Read It First 26/12 THE TUFTS DAILY Est. 1980 VOLUME LXVIV, NUMBER 31 FRiday, MARCH 6, 2015 TUFTSDAILY.COM Conjunctivitis sweeps campus, affects at Today’s Feature: Cambridge holds furry convention least 100 students by Sophie Lehrenbaum Assistant News Editor Cases of conjunctivitis, colloquial- ly known as “pink eye,” have been surfacing across campus, inciting discomfort and mild anxiety among afflicted and uninfected stu- dents alike. According to Medical Services Director Margaret Higham, conjunctivitis is a mild illness that, though typically a viral infection, may occasionally be caused by bacteria. It usually resolves itself without action. Higham likened its symptoms to those gen- erally associated with a common cold, such as nasal congestion, sore throat and coughing, adding that the eyes of those infected often display discharge, swollenness, irritation and the trademark pink-red hue. Higham further emphasized that like the common cold, conjunctivitis is highly con- tagious and easily transmitted. “The virus can spread when someone coughs, and it can live on hard surfaces for a while-handles, doors, tables … athletic equipment,” Higham said. “The next person RAY BERNOFF / THE TUFTS DAILY who touches the door knob can get [the] In spite of public misconceptions, the furry fandom, who congregated at the first-ever Anthro New England on Feb. 28 in Cambridge, Mass., is a supportive, welcoming community. virus on their hands, [and] if they then touch see FEATURES, page 2 their eyes or nose they can transfer the virus to their eyes. This is how most viruses spread. We all touch our nose and eyes many times per hour — we are not even aware of it.” Higham postulated that Health Faculty participate in Israeli Apartheid Service has seen around 100 cases of con- junctivitis in the past month, though she added that many more students have sought help for coughs and colds. On a larger scale, Week panel Higham noted that Health Service generally by Emma Steiner expansion and removal, and the twin Arabic Language Lecturer Zendah sees the largest amount of visits related to Assistant News Editor policy of exclusion … You can see that focused on her personal story as a virus-caused illnesses in wintertime. on this continent and you can see that Palestinian refugee. She recalled her She added that Health Service has had Tufts professors Souhad Zendah under Israeli authority.” experience leaving Gaza in 1999 in 1,440 visits between Feb. 1 and Feb. 23. and Thomas Abowd discussed their Another significant factor in Israeli order to go to university in Ramallah. For students who suffered from conjuncti- perspectives on the Israeli-Palestinian colonialism, according to Abowd, is She described her experience vitis, such as first-year Aaron Frankl, Health conflict last night at Faculty racism. Israel racially divides its pop- of shock and terror as she crossed Service has proved a valuable resource in the Perspectives on Gaza and Jerusalem, ulation by restricting who is allowed through the Erez checkpoint into recovery process. the fifth event hosted by Students for to own land in which areas, and by Israel. There were gates, micro- “[Health Service] … gave me some Justice in Palestine (SJP) during Israeli physically cutting off Palestinians phones, security cameras, sniper tow- instructions for containing the infection,” Apartheid Week (IAW). from Israelis with walls and electri- ers and visible automatic machine Frankl said. “I used a hot compress on my The two professors addressed the fied fences, he said. guns all over the checkpoint, she eyes a few times a day. It took a few days to conflict from strikingly different “It’s intended to replace one peo- said. There were several metal detec- disappear.” angles, covering not only the legal and ple with another and eliminate the tors and a mile-long tunnel that she Frankl added that while a lot of students political implications of occupation people who are already there,” Abowd had to get through before she could believe that common equipment in the but also the effects that occupation said. “Israel has historically … relied continue her journey to the West Cousens Gymnasium has played a key role has on families and personal lives. on Palestinian labor, now not so much Bank, she continued. in facilitating the virus’ spread, he suspects Abowd, a lecturer in Arabic culture, anymore, and the design was never to After university, she was able to he may have received the infection from a asked the audience to think about the exploit the labor but just to supplant leave the West Bank through Jordan close friend. term “apartheid” and how it applies to the population.” in order to come to the United States, “I have seen a big outbreak of it around cases far beyond Israeli occupation. Abowd also emphasized the idea where she attended Tulsa Community school, and I don’t think there is much to do “We are going to concentrate on that Jerusalem is an example of where College and then the University of about it,” Frankl said. “It’s a very easy thing what is routinely neglected and Israel’s policy of expansion plays out. Tulsa, she explained. to spread around, which has caused it to silenced. We have apartheid right here He showed maps that illustrated the As a result of the stringent laws spiral into such an epidemic on campus.” on this campus, and we have apartheid changing boundaries of Jerusalem Israel enforces on Palestinian move- Contrary to Frankl’s assessment, Higham right here in this city,” Abowd said. over the years, which showed that ment, Zendah said her relationship explained that there are many precaution- He explained that the United States while the actual size of Jerusalem with her family has become com- ary measures that students can take to either has perpetuated apartheid – in the grew, it did so in such a way that plicated. Those who live in the West stave off the illness or treat it in its early stages. sense of segregation – since the excluded Palestinian communities. Bank and hold West Bank identifica- “If you think you are developing con- nation’s inception. Though its legal Even within the original boundaries tion are not allowed to travel to Gaza junctivitis, don’t panic!” Higham said. “Use methods for enforcing segregation of Jerusalem, Palestinian communi- and vice versa, she explained. a washcloth with warm water to loosen up have changed over the years, the out- ties were destroyed to provide more Abowd reinforced the idea that any dried gunk. Wash your hands. Don’t put come is still the same, he said. space for Jewish worship, Abowd said. Palestinians are controlled and in contacts if you wear them. Don’t use eye According to Abowd, the United He gave the example of the Moroccan restricted by Israeli governing. He makeup. Wait and see how your symptoms States is also extremely implicated quarter, a Palestinian community that said he felt that the power exerted by develop. If you are very uncomfortable, in systems of segregation enforced in was destroyed in order to increase Israelis was more than political; it was have a lot of discharge collecting during Israel. A significant amount of U.S. space bordering the Western Wall, a also cultural. the day or very painful eyes, come to Health tax dollars are given to Israel, a state Jewish religious landmark. “You can see very clearly that colo- Service. If your symptoms are milder, just that has maintained one of the lon- “This is about space but it’s also about nialism is not just about sheer power wait it out.” gest periods of occupation, he said. race,” Abowd said. “It’s about racial pol- dominance and depth,” Abowd said. She also emphasized that simple steps – He explained this occupation through itics and racialized vision. There is no “It is a cultural project of control, such as practicing good hygiene by diligently the lens of colonialism. more symbolic place than Jerusalem, and it has always been in every con- washing one’s hands, covering coughs and “What, in my view, comprises the where … the Kotel or Western Wall, the text. Colonial dominance is solidified consciously refraining from touching one’s structure of a colonial enterprise Dome of the Rock and the site where through ideologies … and mytholo- eyes and nose – can make a major differ- are two linked and important sets of Christians believe Jesus was crucified gies through Bible stories or the inter- ence in containing a conjunctivitis infection. policies,” Abowd said. “The policy of and buried [are].” pretations of sacred texts.” Inside this issue Today’s sections The Tufts Daily attends The women’s basket- News 1 Comics 6 a furry convention in ball team opens the to learn more about NCAA Tournament Features 2 Sports Back the culture and what with a matchup against Arts & Living 5 draws people to it. Pine Manor. see FEATURES, page 2 see SPORTS, back 22 Featurestuftsdaily.com The Tufts Daily goes to a furry convention RAY BERNOFF / THE TUFTS DAILY The fursuit parade was one of the central events at the Anthro New England convention in February, which attracted over 700 people. by Jake Taber with a bulletproof vest,” Jordan said. ly in their teens and twenties, there are in their mom’s basement and troll the Executive Features Editor “Mass. Vest-A-Dog helps these police people of all ages and professions here. internet and don’t bathe. I think in any dogs be properly equipped for the job.” “I work full time, and then for fun I group, there may be someone who fits It’s a February afternoon in a ball- On Feb.
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