The Tufts Daily Volume Lxxv, Issue 7
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A look at the government shutdown with Professor MEN’S BASKETBALL Jeffrey Berry Jumbos split weekend see FEATURES / PAGE 3 NESCAC bouts ‘A Futile and Stupid Gesture’ portrays troubled SEE SPORTS / BACK PAGE comedy legend see ARTS&LIVING / PAGE 5 THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF TUFTS UNIVERSITY EST. 1980 THE TUFTS DAILY VOLUME LXXV, ISSUE 7 MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, MASS. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2018 tuftsdaily.com TUPIT examines education in prison at first-ever symposium by Jessica Blough posed of Tufts (“outside”) students and Assistant News Editor incarcerated (“inside”) students. Tufts stu- dents travel to a nearby prison to take class- The Tufts University Prison Initiative at es alongside currently incarcerated men. the Tisch College of Civic Life (TUPIT) Binda selected and contacted the panel- hosted its first symposium on Feb. 1 ists while the student organizers planned the and 2, focusing on providing perspec- schedule, recruited co-sponsors and handled tives on education in prison and soli- logistics, according to Maetzener, Plucker tary confinement through presentations and Pearlman. by experts and formerly incarcerat- Both Plucker and Pearlman cite the ed people. The two-day event, entitled “Inside-Out” course as their inspira- “Prison and Education Symposium: The tion for putting together the sympo- Responsibility of Engagement,” fea- sium. Pearlman said this motivation tured panels, presentations and film stemmed in part from discontent screenings in the Aidekman Arts Center. because she felt unable to properly TUPIT is a program that focuses on link- explain to her peers the impact that the ing students at Tufts with students pursuing “Inside-Out” class had on her, especially education in prisons. Directed by Hilary regarding her friendships with incar- Binda, who also serves as the director of cerated students. Plucker and Pearlman the women’s, gender, and sexuality stud- said they wanted to prioritize incarcer- RAY BERNOFF / THE TUFTS DAILY A member of the Tufts University Prison Initiative at Tisch College (TUPIT), reads opening ies department at Tufts, TUPIT’s initiatives ated people’s voices in explaining the remarks at the second day of TUPIT’s event The Responsibility of Engagement: Prison & include the Inside-Outside course, accord- prison system. They believed this would Education at Remis Sculpture Court on Feb. 2. ing to Nora Maetzener, one of the sympo- help foster the same empathy in their sium’s co-directors. classmates as the “Inside-Out” class had Moderated by Assistant Professor of Medicine reading of letters from Tufts’ incarcerated stu- Binda emphasized that TUPIT is focused fostered in them. Alysse Wurcel, the panel focused on health- dents. Some of these letters praised the uni- on education rather than prison reform. “I think with any form of prison reform care conditions in prison and treatment versity for its initiative to educate prisoners, “We are absolutely not a policy or advocacy or justice or advocacy, the more that you of incarcerated people. while others demanded education and action group,” Binda told the Daily in an email. “We can hear from and learn from people Later in the day, the symposium moved from those on the outside. are developing educational programming.” who have experienced it, the richer your to the Medford/Somerville campus, com- Immediately after the reading, Binda mod- The symposium was directed by three knowledge and understanding is of the mencing with a keynote address by Andrea erated a panel of seven formerly incarcerated undergraduate students — Maetzener, a issue,” Pearlman said. “Our class was an James, the founder and executive director of individuals, including James, titled “Learning sophomore, Maude Plucker, a senior, and opportunity to connect with the students the National Council for Incarcerated and in and in Spite of Prison.” Sophie Pearlman, a senior — and two inside as people rather than as incarcer- Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls. After Each of the panelists had spent several medical students, Anusha Jayaram and ated individuals, and I think … having a performance by Essence, the all-female years in the prison system and each had either Yoelkys Morales, both first-years. Plucker the symposium allows others in the Tufts a-cappella group focusing on music from the taught or taken a college-level course while and Pearlman took Binda’s course “Mass community to do the same.” African Diaspora, the night concluded with a incarcerated. These panelists highlighted Incarceration and the Literature of The symposium began on Feb. 1 at screening and discussion of the PBS Frontline the necessity of education in discouraging Confinement” last fall. According to an Oct. the Boston Health Sciences campus, where documentary “Last Days of Solidarity.” released prisoners from recidivating, as well as 2017 Daily article, the course runs as an five formerly incarcerated professionals led a The symposium resumed the next morn- explaining the difficulty of studying in prison “Inside-Out” prison exchange class com- panel titled “Prison, Patients, and Healthcare.” ing at 9 a.m., starting with breakfast and a see SYMPOSIUM, page 2 Biden brings American Promise tour to Medford by Joe Walsh At the event, he explained that he hopes father: an abhorrence of abuse of power “There is a growing realization on the News Editor the book will preserve the memory of his and a strong belief in treating everybody part of the public at large [that] we’ve Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden son for his family, while also conveying with dignity. He added that the current got to focus on the things that made us discussed his upbringing and values and how he dealt with the tragedy to a wider state of affairs — with President Donald who we are,” Biden said. “The glue that shared memories from his eight years audience. Trump’s equivocation around alt-right holds this country together is the working in Barack Obama’s presidential admin- “I wanted people to know there’s a way demonstrators and counter-demonstra- and middle class. That’s why we’ve had istration during an event at Medford’s through this enormous grief,” he said. tors in Charlottesville, Va. last year — economic stability. That’s why we’ve had Chevalier Theatre Thursday night. In addition to his son’s recent passing, defied dignity. political stability. That’s why we’ve had The event, which was moderated by Biden also faced the untimely deaths of Regarding Trump, Biden said that he social stability.” former U.S. Ambassador to the United his wife and daughter in an automobile senses a combination of embarrassment, Ultimately, Biden is optimistic that the Nations Samantha Power, was part of accident in 1972. He said that, through fear and anger in many people with United States is well-positioned for suc- a nationwide speaking tour coinciding these experiences, he has found “relief in whom he has spoken. Beyond the current cess in the 21st century, with a produc- with the release of Biden’s new book, purpose,” and felt a strong duty to con- administration, however, he expressed tive and highly educated workforce, strong “Promise Me, Dad” (2017). Biden did not tinue his work, rather than turn inward concern that establishment figures in publicly-funded research universities and address speculation that he is consider- in sorrow. both major parties have forgotten about plentiful venture capital. To that end, he ing a run for president in 2020, instead “If you can turn your grief into a pur- working-class and middle-class people. added, he hopes people feel an obligation focusing on his personal story. pose that you think would reflect what the He says this is a mistake because jobs to participate in government in response to Biden’s book deals heavily with the person you lost would want you doing,” are a source of personal dignity and self- Trump and argued that millennials need to death of his son Beau Biden, the former Biden said. “I think there’s a way out.” worth and because the nation’s work- become more politically involved. Attorney General of Delaware who died Sharing childhood stories, Biden high- ing-class labor force is essential to the in 2015 after a battle with brain cancer. lighted two values he inherited from his country’s success. see BIDEN, page 2 Please For breaking news, our content archive and recycle this exclusive content, visit Contact Us NEWS............................................1 COMICS ......................................8 newspaper P.O. Box 53018, tuftsdaily.com Medford, MA 02155 FEATURES ................................3 OPINION ..................................10 Sunny/Windy [email protected] /thetuftsdaily @tuftsdaily tuftsdaily tuftsdaily ARTS & LIVING ......................5 SPORTS ........................... BACK 39 / 21 2 THE TUFTS DAILY | NEWS | Monday, February 5, 2018 tuftsdaily.com THE TUFTS DAILY CATHERINE PERLOFF Biden talks relationship with Obama at Chevalier Theatre Editor-in-Chief EDITORIAL BIDEN Mary Carroll continued from page 1 Zachary Hertz Biden shared his approach to govern- Managing Editors Arman Smigielski Associate Editor ing during the Obama administration, Elie Levine Executive News Editor Juliana Furgala News Editors explaining that he learned about foreign Melissa Kain leaders’ goals and personalities by foster- Anar Kansara Robert Katz ing personal relationships. This was pos- Arin Kerstein Simran Lala sible, he said, because Obama placed a Sophie Lehrenbaum Natasha Mayor great deal of trust in Biden and delegated Seohyun Shim important tasks to him. Emma Steiner Joe Walsh Biden was not initially interested Jess Blough Assistant News Editors Jenna Fleischer in serving as vice president, he noted, Liza Harris but he decided to join the Democratic Daniel Weinstein Minna Trinh ticket in 2008 because of his admira- Sean Ong Executive Features Editor Emma Damokosh Features Editors tion for Obama. He said that he and Jessie Newman Obama share a similar set of values Emma Rosenthal Michael Shames and claimed that, while they occa- Fina Short Grace Yuh sionally disagreed with each other on Jenna Fleischer Assistant Features Editors Kenia French tactics, they always agreed on larger Ilana Goldberg strategic issues.