My first gallery review! Boston MFA “The Allure of Japan” exhibit!

For MONTHS now (seriously, at least 14 months now), I’ve been telling myself I’d write a gallery review for the Daily. I love art galleries. I love writing. Do we see an overlap here? The idea perpetually fell on the academic and social backburner, existing only in my GoogleCalendar through weekly event reminders to “visit SMFA”, reminders that chimed every Sunday at 9 pm during the latter half of 2010 and the whole of 2011. It never happened. Sure, I’d go to the occassional First Fridays downtown, or peruse the Newbury  Street galleries on an unseasonably warm Boston spring day. But writeabout it? Nah. Next time. Next time was this week. Behold, my first gallery review, flaws and all.

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‘The Allure of Japan’ explores America’s fascination with East

By Brionna Jimerson

Published: Monday, April 9, 2012

The artistic expressions of historical Japanese artists such as Ukiyo-E and Hiroshige, among countless others, have influenced world art for centuries — from Claude Monet’s “Madame Monet in Japanese Costume” (1875) painting of his wife to Mary Cassatt’s block prints featuring her typical subjects of mothers and their children. The MFA’s exhibit, “The Allure of Japan,” began in late March and will continue through the end of December — and the exhibit is not to be missed. A collection of work spanning more than 100 years, “The Allure of Japan” examines the undeniable American fascination with Japan during the turn of the 20th century.

 This fascination stemmed from several political and social factors, including the realities of Japanese immigration to the United States via Hawaii and the Japanese government’s subsequent actions to limit emigration. Many Japanese aesthetics, like the poignant usage of negative space and contrasting splashes of vibrant color, have since made their way into America’s visual oeuvre. The sudden influx of and interest in all things Japan accompanied a burgeoning spirit of self-righteous Americana during the early 1900s, spread through an art movement dubbed “Japonisme” by the French art critic Philippe Burty.Japonisme, which mixes Western and Asian motifs, was aided by the advent of more accessible global travel and technologies such as the telephone and electricity that allowed communication to become more widespread.

The historical rationale and realities behind this Japanese infatuation are lost in the art, however, which yields to picturesque block prints and paintings of lacquer furniture in well-appointed staterooms. After examining the art in the exhibit, one would assume that Japan’s greatest export during the 1900s was its own aesthetic culture, conveniently packed away into crates and sent overseas to adorn the dressing rooms of well-to-do ladies or to be mass-produced on the backs of postcards proclaiming “wish you were here.” The collection consisted of a culmination of Japanese objects, artwork, furniture, American prints and examples of its far-reaching influences the world over, all from the museum’s Japanese collections. As a patron stated during a gallery tour, “This art is wonderful, but mellows out all the unrest at the time.” Occasionally, the exhibit lacks cohesion and appears to be an assortment of vaguely Asian-influenced artwork and knickknacks whose organization is not informed historically or thematically.

The result was a visually interesting exhibit that does not lend much insight into the culture of the era it explored. During the historical period chronicled by the exhibit, the forces of opening trade and a mushrooming globalization of cultures made such a fusion of Japanese and American art possible. As many artistic expressions become fads and vessels of their former glory, Japanese art, in kitsch or in earnest, still remains today and is most evident in the works of Cassatt and Monet, who both adopted a Japanese, calligraphic-style of painting. One of the exhibition’s strengths is its subscription to the often-trite “East Meets West” style without appearing stale. The work highlights the budding American obsession with travel during the early 1900s, as well as American self-determinism. The exhibit shows the ways in which Western artists interpreted the modern world and altered how generations understood Japan both as a culture and a country. Eric Johnson, a museum patron and artist in the Boston area, commented on how his personal experiences as a Japanese American have altered his perception of the collection. “You can understand that the artists are interpreting something idealistic, but it doesn’t seem real, you know? I bet people went to Japan afterward expecting geisha all over the place,” he said. Thus, the MFA’s latest exhibit captures the early 20th century American perception of a seemingly distant, alien culture.

Cleaning out email inbox: journalistic hoarding: E-Hoarding.

Does anyone else do this: save the voice recordings of interviews, talks, etc (all acquired with permission, of course!), on a flashdrive or in your mailbox?

What about saving all relevant notes and versions of an article in several word documents?

What about keeping all pieces of literature, hand-outs, press releases, or scheduling correspondences in your inbox, along with an and ALL relevant attachments?

No?

That’s just me?

Ok.

I love emails. I love being able to defer to old documents when necessary. However, only a handful of times have I had to look back at old messages to confirm one thing, or dispute another. Usually it’s about quotes, attribution of sources,  or timeline logistical errors. But still. I love it.

About a week ago, I cleaned out my two gmail accounts, with my trusty ally and bestie at my side, pressing the little trash can icon when I just didn’t have the strength. From over my shoulder, he asked, “yes or no.” in a flat tone. Just what I needed. Objectivity. Indifference. De-cluttering my inbox, de-cluttering my mind.

I still save the voice documents/ voice recordings in emails and compartmentalized them in email folders. But, what do I do about the handful of flashdrives that hold information from my freshman year of HIGH SCHOOL?!?

I mean, it’s compartmentalized, right…?

Confessions: I’m an e-hoarder.

Pinterest hasn’t helped a bit.

I periodically clean out my bookmarks, and close tabs often (there are 18 open at the moment on my browser bar. This is an unusual low. Don’t judge.)

Between my fear of losing information, and my inability to give up considerable control, coupled with my never-ending quest to purge myself (as evidenced here), I seriously don’t know what to do! BusinessWeek wrote on the subject a in 2011, listing the pros and cons of this sort of e-hoarding.

From the article:

“E-clutter, which results from e-hoarding, is costly, both mentally and monetarily. We have the same capacity to digest information as our forefathers, but the amount of information zinging its way into our lives is increasing exponentially.

According to the research firm Basex, information overload costs the U.S. economy a minimum of $900 billion per year in lowered employee productivity and reduced innovation. It adds time to normal tasks and creates stress.” 

On the other side…

“As businesses continue to use e-mail as the primary form of communication, keeping a digital trail of conversations and documents is critical, making deletion an increasingly irresponsible action. Findability remains the key, and today’s impressive search and retrieval tools for e-mail and personal files make virtually any digital information available with just a few keystrokes.”

 Where do you fall on e-hoarding? Do you read and delete, or let the megabytes collect e-dust? 

My new model:

No emails please,

 

B

Latest Article: Game of Thrones season 2 premiere review!

Adam Cohen and I tag-teamed this article! We’re both GoT fans (I am now, thanks to him and his father’s subscription to HBOGo). For the season premiere, we decided to write a review for the Tufts Daily. Unfortunately, the article didn’t run in time (we wrote it last week), and since a new episode aired last nigt, we reviewed both episodes! If you’re not into Game of Thrones (yet),  you’re missing something wonderful! I hadn’t heard of the show or the books prior to Cohen going on and on and ON about it, and I was one of those people who confused “Watch the Throne” (Kanye West and Jay-Z’s studio album) with the show. Both are wonderful pieces of creative adaption. Both are available for free online through sketchy means. I’ll leave the parallels there. Enjoy the review.

*****I’ve included photos and small diagrams to help you along the way, dear reader, if you’re unfamiliar with the show’s plot!*****

‘Game of Thrones’ makes long-awaited return

TV Review | 3.5 out of 5 stars

Published: Monday, April 9, 2012

After many long months, “Game of Thrones” fans have seen their beloved show return on HBO. Let the memes begin.

The first episode of the second season primarily set up what was to come and focused more heavily on character development and intrigue than on the action viewers saw in last season’s concluding episodes. For starters, new characters abound in the second season, the most important being Stannis Baratheon (Stephen Dillane), brother of the late King. In the period of civil war that Westeros is now plunged into, where every man thinks he’s a king, Stannisis throwing in his lot. Viewers know very little about him aside from his kingly ambitions and his belief in a new god, the Lord of Light.

Stannis Baratheon and his ginger wentch...er...witch.

The audience also has to bear witness to Joffrey (Jack Gleeson), the late King’s “son” and effective monarch, becoming an even more insufferable brat than he was before. Unfortunately, his character remains one-dimensional, shifting only between apparent and hidden rage. He remains one of the least interesting characters in the entire show, though arguably the most powerful.

Fortunately, Joffrey’s lack of emotional range has made Cersei Lannister (Lena Headey), his mother and queen, a comparatively deep character. Cersei begins to shift away from her cold and calculating persona and develops much more emotional depth. Without spoiling anything,: Cersei slaps her son after he calls her out on the rumors circulating about his lineage. He responds by threatening to kill her, and you can see for the first time that she has genuine fear in her eyes. It’s moments like this, when the veneer of a tough-as-nails harpy breaks and viewers see the scared woman within, that demonstrate Headey’s acting prowess.

King Joffrey. Douche extraordinaire.

Another interesting character, and one who has developed more than any other throughout the show, is Daenarys Targaryan (Emilia Clarke), the Khaleesi (queen) of a horde of roving nomads. When Daenarys was traded to her husband Khal Drogo by her brother Viserys in the first season, she was weak, scared and hesitant to step into the role of queen. After the death of her husband, she comes into her own as the leader of her Khalasar (traveling caravan of the Dothraki people). Clarke paints an image of a formidable queen of men who is prepared to fight for her people.

By season  two, Daenarys is fluent in Dothraki, a language she struggled to learn during season one, and she is asserting herself over what remains of her broken Khalasar. Of all the characters in the show, Daenarys has the promise to be the most intriguing.

Daenerys Targaryen. I don't think she's gonna share that horse heart.

Of course, where would we be without the Stark family, the ruling family of Winterfell? The dramatic end of the last season set the Starks on the warpath after the patriarch and hand of the king, Eddard (Ned) Stark (Sean Bean), was put to death by Joffrey. Besides the more active members — the mother Catelyn, son Robb and bastard child Jon Snow — we don’t know much of the family. Robb (Richard Madden) is now struggling with the death of his father and rallying the northern kingdoms to battle the Lannister clan for its murder of Ned. Robb, considered the “king in the North,” is intimidated but effective with his newfound responsibilities.  He is clearly intended to serve as a counter-point to Joffrey. Where Joffrey is ignorant and petulant, Robb is clever and avoids ]becoming drunk on power in the way Joffrey has.

Bran, another member of the Stark family, looks like he will play a substantial role as well. He has started having dreams of being a wolf and has been forced into the position of Lord of Winterfell in Robb’s absence, all at the tender age of 10.

The season’s second episode, which aired last night, reaffirmed our suspicions: plenty is going down in Westeros. Sex abounds on land and sea after taking a backseat to plot in the season premier. The Lannisters in King’s Landing are at odds over Joffrey’s highly dubious decisions on the throne: Cersei tries to defend him, and Tyrion actively tries to undermine him.

This season has begun feeling more like the first, in that every episode ends with the fate of one character hanging in the balance. In episode one it was Arya, one of the Starks’ daughters, and this time it was Jon Snow. The interactions between the Lannisters are becoming the foundations of the episodes, as their decisions are becoming the focal points for the interactions of the other characters.

Arya Stark, daughter of Ned Stark, escaped King's Landing after her father was killed, to travel back to Winterfell with the Night's Watch army.

If the second season of “Game of Thrones” delivers on the promise of its first episodes, it could exceed the quality of its first season. One of the strengths of “Game of Thrones” is the ease with which an individual unfamiliar with the show’s origins as a novel can follow the action and plot without feeling like an outsider. Viewers can expect Daenarysto rally her Khalasar, Stannis to make an invasion and follow A after her escape from King’s Landing. Though the opening episode didn’t push the plot very far, instead introducing new characters with still unknown motives and reaffirming a scramble for power that threatens to uproot the entire civilization, the second has us rolling into another season sure to keep its audience captivated.

 

Funny thing, how life gets in the way.

I’m sure it’s the same with most people–a to-do list that’s a mile long, filled with things that you’d rather not do–tedious tasks, energy-dependent assignments that you justdontwannado, excuses, reasons, excuses.

Long story short, I’ve been putting “rest” on my to-do list for a while now.
Scary time when you have to include “resting” among your tasks.
I think updates are in order.

Starting now, blogging and journaling are coming off the backburner. Because, as my grandmother used to say, “what you can do anytime, you won’t do no time.”

Translation: Set aside legitimate time to reflect, to journal, to prep. Trying to fit large things in the cracks in your schedule (10 minutes here, half an hour there) will just elongate the process, not aid in your personal efficiency.

…has anyone found out a way to squeeze a couple more hours into this silly 24-hour day we have going now? No? Ok, just thought I’d ask.

GET EXCITED, BECAUSE COMING UP:

-a gallery review of an exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts!
-TV review of Game of Thrones season 2 thus far (tag-teamed it with Adam Cohen!)
-updates on my quest to become more politically aware!
-wonderful updates on summer plans, the internship grind, my personal writing, etc!

Miss you too,

B

Latest Article: Mass. legislature to consider paid sick days for employees

This article was incredibly enjoyable to write, believe it or not! I attended the rally (cited in the article). I’m usually not one for large gatherings like protests, etc, but it was a wonderful experience, hearign the pov’s of strangers, and being challenged. Challenge is sometimes necessary. Anyway, on with the article!

**I’m not allowed to use photos from the Tufts Daily article as they appear online and in print, so most of the photos on this blog from here on will either be my own, or be credited in the caption**

Mass. legislature to consider paid sick days for employees

Published: Friday, April 6, 2012

Updated: Friday, April 6, 2012 07:04

An act that would provide a minimum of seven paid sick days to all non-seasonal Massachusetts workers may become law in coming weeks.

 The Labor and Workforce Development Committee of the Massachusetts State Senate in mid-March supported the Earned Paid Sick Time Act which would grant paid sick leave to Massachusetts employees.

The act would provide a minimum of seven paid sick days to all non-seasonal Massachusetts workers, according to Steve Crawford, a representative from the Massachusetts Paid Leave Coalition, a group that advocates for paid sick days for workers statewide.

With public political support from both Governor Deval Patrick and Massachusetts State Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Middlesex), the act has the potential to become law in the coming weeks.

If only it were this simple...(courtesy of jennicatron.tv)

The goal of the bill, according to its literature, is to require businesses in Massachusetts to provide employees with paid sick leave based on the number of hours they have worked, regardless of part-time or full-time employment. Such a bill does not cover seasonal employees, according to Jehlen.

Vice President of Tufts Human Resources Kathe Cronin. said it is unclear whether the act would apply to temporary and student employees.

“Much legislation regarding employment does not [apply to temporary and student] employees; an example of that would be the federal Family [and] Medical Leave Act, which applies to full time ‘regular’ employees only,” Cronin told the Daily in an email. “Tufts current sick time policies for regular staff employees is already richer than what is being proposed in the bill, and we would continue offering these benefits.”

“Tufts believes in the benefit of paid sick time and offers very good paid sick time benefits to staff employees; this practice has been in effect for many, many years,” she added.

According to the Tufts Employee Handbook, after three months of employment, non-exempt employees are eligible for 13 paid sick days per year, with a total of 91 hours each year. Exempt employees are eligible for up to six months of paid sick days. Non-exempt employees, according to the handbook, are paid on an hourly basis with eligibility for overtime pay, whereas exempt employees are paid on a salaried basis, without overtime potential.

According to the proposed bill, businesses with more than ten employees are required to allow each employee one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, with a cap at 56 hours annually. Employees of business with staffs of six to ten also earns one hour per 30 hours worked, and a business with less than six employees would earn up to 40 hours of unpaid leave annually.

“I think Tufts students would benefit from knowing that the person cooking at a restaurant isn’t coughing into the soup,” Jehlen told the Daily.

Jehlen pointed out that, given the employment demographic of the individuals who would be affected by the bill, supporting it is necessary.

“It’s a public health issue,” she said. “Most of the affected individuals are low-wage workers in human resources, food services, retail. People who don’t get paid sick days go to work sick.”

The original bill was proposed to the Labor and Workforce Development Committee in the Senate in January 2011 with Jehlen’s approval and assistance, and then was agreed upon by the House of Representatives. In July, it was heard by the joint branches, and the new draft was assembled in the House last month.

Jehlen explained that the version of the bill currently in front of committees is a pared down version of previous editions and the result of the work of countless individuals and research.

“We’ve been talking about these things and whittling them down,” Jehlen said.

Courtesy of sickdaythemovie.com

“I’ve been working on the issue of paid leave for twenty years, and this is the closest we’ve come, and the least we asked for,” Jehlen said, noting that the bill was filed for the first time a year and a half ago. “There are lots of people on the outside who want paid sick days. There are many organizations, co-sponsorships, chairmen.”

MPLC is one such organization, with union councils and branches among its membership organizations, including the Greater Boston Labor Council. On March 27, activists and allies rallied outside the statehouse in Boston to create more public awareness for the bill and garner public support. Economists praising the bill’s necessity and ingenuity, alongside laborers and local political figures, came out in support of the bill.

According to Crawford, the next step for the bill’s creation into law is its success with the Healthcare Financing Committee in senate.

“If it passes, it goes to the Ways and Means Committee, then to the floor of the house,” Crawford said.

Maria Colón, a Boston-area children’s worker, was among those in attendance at the rally. Colón detailed the many cases of illness she has witnessed, often the result of contamination.

Colón told the Daily that, in years past, she was fired from a position as a short-order cook because she came in sick to work one day. Her place of employment did not offer sick days for regular employees.

“The claims of the bill are legitimate,” she said. “This needs to be law.”

Latest Article: Fletcher Professor Nasr named dean at Johns Hopkins

Fletcher professor Nasr named dean at Johns Hopkins

Published: Thursday, April 5, 2012

Updated: Thursday, April 5, 2012 17:04

Fletcher School Professor of International Politics Vali Nasr will leave Tufts after this semester to become dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University.

Dean of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Stephen Bosworth last week announced to the Fletcher community that Fletcher School Professor of International Politics Vali Nasr will leave Tufts to become dean of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at Johns Hopkins University in July.

Prof. Vali Nasr, courtesy of khalije-fars.com

Nasr joined the faculty of the Fletcher School in 2007. He is associate director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies and is a member of the U.S. State Department’s Foreign Policy Advisory Board. He recently served on the Provost Search Committee, which selected Cornell University sociologist and associate dean David Harris as Tufts’ next provost.

“For all of us at Fletcher, the following news is bittersweet,” Bosworth said in his email sent to the Fletcher community. “As both a Fletcher and Tufts alumnus, as well as one of the School’s most respected faculty members, Professor Nasr has made enormous contributions to the University. His professional accomplishments have long been — and continue to be — a source of institutional and personal pride.”

At SAIS, Nasr will be partially responsible for the curriculum, faculty, fundraising and operation of the school, according to Director of Communications at Johns Hopkins University Dennis O’Shea.

“Our administration is excited and our students are excited, especially that he has connections to people who are making and ushering policy in governments across the world,” O’Shea told the Daily.

Nasr graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Tufts in 1983 with a degree in international relations and earned a master’s degree in international economics and Middle East studies from the Fletcher School the following year. He later received a Ph.D. in political science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nasr said his knowledge of Tufts and higher education will help him understand the role he will be occupying.

“The experiences I’ve had at Tufts — working with the students, working in government — it’s all in preparation for taking on this challenge,” Nasr said. “I saw Tufts and Fletcher as an undergrad. The office provides me with the opportunity to put into practice the way I envision global and international education, and my perception of challenges in today’s world, and I’m looking to address this from the other end.”

Nasr will succeed Jessica Einhorn, who is retiring after 10 years as SAIS dean.

The search process for a new dean of SAIS began last October, according to O’Shea. The executive search firm Storbeck/Pimentel & Associates helped facilitate the search.

“Someone nominated me for the SAIS job, the firm got in touch and the process of vetting went from there,” Nasr said. “I wanted to understand what was their vision, what they were looking for, if it was a good fit.”

The process became more intense and serious in January, and from there, details fell into place quickly, according to Nasr.

Nasr became acquainted with the current dean through previous meetings, and his relations to SAIS are extensive in the professional arena.

“Over the years, I’ve known students who went to SAIS, SAIS alumni I met when I worked at the state department, and there are many faculty I know as colleagues,” Nasr said. “Most of the individuals I met and learned about through the process.”

“SAIS offered the unique opportunity to get involved in management of a great institution,” he added. “In size, it’s a sister institution to Fletcher, the schools are close in tier profile, [and they] focus on international and global affairs.”

O’Shea said that as an academic and a practitioner of foreign policy, Nasr is very qualified for the position.

“When he visited SAIS last week, the people meeting him for the first time were taken with him and impressed,” O’Shea said. “Basically, he has the full package — academics, policy, and person.”

The Fletcher School

Nasr said he does not know how the Fletcher School plans on filling his position as professor.

“I’ll miss [Tufts] tremendously; it’s been rewarding being here,” Nasr said.

Moonlighting @ HerCampus Tufts

SO!

About a week ago, I decided to branch out on campus, and join another literary outlet on campus, with the Tufts branch of the startup, HerCampus. Anyway, here it is! Writing in an expository frame was incredibly exciting!

Spring Break 2012: “Staycation” Ideas

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

By Brionna Jimerson

Who says that as a college student, budget-breaking spring breaks are in order every time the weather thaws? A popular alternative for students and adults alike is taking a “staycation,” where you enjoy quality time in your hometown or wherever you are, taking in the sites and relaxing!

This spring break, instead of scraping funds together, keep your bank account (and sanity!) intact and ease into a spring break spent in the presence of yourself.

This popular alternative came into vogue during the late 2000’s recession, as an alternative to expensive family vacations. But the truth is, people have been doing “staycations” since before they were “cool” or economically sound—after half a semester spent buzzing around the Hill, why not take some time to reflect, regroup, and recharge?

Staycations aren’t location-specific—all you need is imagination, drive, and a thirst for adventure! In case you’re lacking on the first necessity, here’s a short list to get you going.

SPRING BREAK 2012 STAYCATION IDEAS!

1. Tackle that “to read” list and empty your Netflix queue!

Do you have a running log of books or articles you’d like to read, or topics you’d like to research? Have you been meaning to pick of “The Collected Poems of Maya Angelou,” or want to figure out what this “Hunger Games” hype is all about? Or maybe finally get around to reading Ellison’s “Invisible Man?” What better time than spring break to treat your mental self to a relaxing, just-for-fun read? So pull out your library card or head to your local bookstore, and paw through their collection—you may find your next favorite tale! While you’re at it, go ahead and watch those documentaries you’ve been meaning to watch. Take an afternoon and knock em’ out!

2. Be a tourist (in your own town!)

We sometimes scoff at tour groups or out-of-towners when they’re peering into the heavens at a skyscraper, or fawning over an outdoor exhibit or farmer’s market. This break, be one of them! Do some research about whatever area you’re in, and hit up the local tourist spots! Learn what’s happening in your local area, and take part. See it through the eyes of an outsider, to gain some perspective, or maybe even newfound interest in your everyday surroundings!
3. Volunteer your time

During spring break is when many high-schoolers prep for standardized tests. Want to give back in a meaningful way? Volunteer your time at a local high school, testing center, or community center to help youngsters prep for their exams! But before you do this, do some research and refresh yourself! It’s a wonderful opportunity to engage with high-school students and help them achieve their goals, not to mention potentially building a mentor-mentee relationship that may last a lifetime.

4. Sample some one-of-a-kind fare

If your taste buds have grown unresponsive to Boloco relations, or the stir-fry at Carmichael just doesn’t taste as good as it used to, do some digging into your local fare, and sample it! In the Midwest? Pick up some St. Louis or Kansas City-style ribs or Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. Fruit-filled empanadas in the Southwest or mufalettas in the Bayou. Think local and unique, and your tongue will surely follow!
5. Reflect and journal

Reflect on your semester thus far, a course, your time at Tufts, or coming of age. We often underestimate the power of words and reflection, but they can put into perspective issues or thoughts that at one time seemed insurmountable. Reflect from a place of positivity, and don’t be too critical of yourself! Start (and keep!) a journal, a blog, or jot down how you’re feeling at random moments. You’ll be happy you did, trust me.

6. Get into nature

What better time than springtime to take in the freshness of a new season? Go. Just go! Whether it’s walk in a park, to a museum, through your neighborhood, a trip across town, or across state lines, get out into nature with a vengeance! That includes your backyard or a local park. Make your own fun, lay in the grass, do whatever.
7. Plan for the home stretch

Calling all students! Whether you’re wrapping up your first year, or topping off your last, plan for the weeks ahead! Flip through old notebooks and class notes for interesting topics or notes that can lend themselves to a senior honor’s thesis or senior special project, or read ahead for a challenging class. It’ll make transitioning back into Tufts a smoother experience with a few chapters of work under your belt.

8. What’s your age again? Be a kid!

Break out those coloring books and Crayola, and make an afternoon of your childhood! For less than $5.00, invest in a coloring book, Mad-Lib workbook, and some magic marker and go to town! Bonus points: color outside the lines. Because you can!

9. Conquer that to-do list

Set aside a morning or afternoon, and compile a “master to-do” list. Then, separate items by their time sensitivity, priority, and the type of energy or motivation you will need to conquer each item (from ‘a gentle push’ to ‘a ton of energy!’) Then, when you find yourself possessing any amount of that required momentum, tackle what needs to be done.

10. Purge (in a good way)

Is your life feeling kind of stuffy and unorganized? Your email inbox overflowing with old messages? Take some time to de-clutter your life—from old papers to old emails and bookmarks. Do the same with your closet (donate what you don’t keep!), phonebook, or room, whatever needs to be renewed, go for it.

Latest article: Jumbo Janitor Alliance hosts discussion forum

By Brionna Jimerson

Published: Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Updated: Wednesday, March 14, 2012 08:03

 

The Tufts Daily Jumbo Janitor Alliance (JJA) last night hosted a discussion forum with members of the Tufts janitorial staff, the union representatives and students to discuss workers’ rights and their role at the university.

Jumbo Janitor Alliance (JJA) last night organized and hosted a discussion forum with members of the Tufts janitorial staff, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) representatives and students to discuss workers’ rights and what they believe to be a lack of transparency in the Tufts administration’s dealings with sub-contracted workers.

Tufts’ janitorial staff is provided by UGL Unnico instead of being hired directly by the university.

The panel included Paula Castillo, a UGL Unnico employee who works in both Bendetson Hall and West Hall, Mike Sylvester, a SEIUhigher education organizer in Boston with Local 615, CarlosAramayo (LA ’96), who works as an organizing director for hotel and restaurant unions with Unite Here, and Sergio Duenas, the SEIULocal 615 representative for Tufts janitors. The event was facilitated by Liam Walsh-Mellett, co-chair of JJA.

Most of the evening’s discussion focused on institutional response to organizing efforts and the compartmentalization of workers as members of the Tufts community.

Using Duenas as an interpreter, Castillo shared some of her experiences as a janitorial employee working under three different subcontractors — OneSource, then ABM Industries Incorporated and now UGL Unnico — since the beginning of her time at Tufts.

“I don’t know why [the sub-contractors for janitorial services] are changing so often,” she said. “I want to send a message to the students — [the janitorial staff] do the best we can.”

Castillo said she wishes the university would hire its janitors directly.

The university changed its lMedford/Somerville campus cleaning services provider last September from ABMIndustries to UGL Unnico, a shift that elicited a strong student reaction and staff response on the behalf of janitors, resulting in a protest outside of Ballou Hall in October. Protesters brought administrative attention to the responses of workers under UGL Unnico, who claimed that dozens of available positions had been vacated and not subsequently filled.

According to Castillo, following the fall 2011 shift from ABM to UGL Unnico, janitorial employees have added more responsibilities to their workloads, while their pay and positions often stay the same or decrease without forewarning.

“Right now we don’t even have cleaning supplies,” he said. “We do the work as we can … the best we can. There are many things this company doesn’t want to resolve.”

“We sometimes believe that people working for the institutions directly can get more job security, benefits and things like that. Right now, it’s mostly about respect and dignity,” Duenas said. “Right now, we’re trying to get Unnico to treat workers respectfully.”

“There are some people working 29 hours a week, and they don’t have health insurance, vacation or sick days,” Castillo said.

Duenas continued to outline the process of the switch from ABM to UGL Unnico, with employees filling out a new employment application and going through the hiring process again.

“About 60 of those workers didn’t pass the hiring process,” Duenas said.

Employees who were unable to provide necessary documentation or information, for whatever reason, were terminated, according to Duenas.

When Aramayo attended Tufts in the mid-1990s, the university did not use outside contractors for its janitorial crew.

“Contractors are an easy scapegoat for the university,” Alexa Sasanow, co-chair of JJA, said. “If the workers are employed by Tufts, no one else is to blame.”

Aramayo commented on the anti-union rhetoric often surrounding unionizing efforts at Tufts and its peer institutions in this respect, including claims about social and institutional structures in higher education.

The minute we stand up, they go insane,” he said. “Any time in any corporation when workers try to stand up and say ‘I want to be treated with more dignity,’ corporate groups go to extremes to stop it.”

“It’s true in general and especially in private higher education — they say one thing when it comes to workers in other countries, and they say something different when people are organizing on campus,” he added. “Tufts doesn’t want there to be union for janitors. They don’t want to respect the people who clean the floors. I think it’s structural. They look at the bottom line — it costs more for a union than not [having a union].”

Sasanow, a junior, explained how the students have been engaging with labor policy and action since the early 1990s, beginning with the Student Labor Action Movement, which became JJA in 2007. The community-building aspects of JJA organize soccer games with members of the labor force and bring coffee to UGL Unnico night-shift workers weekly.

“It’s important that students act as stakeholders — the university can’t work without our tuition. Students should be a part of the decision-making process,” Sasanow said.

She explained a sense of elitism and entitlement she observes on the Medford/Somerville campus with respect to the cleaning staff.

“People will puke everywhere and say ‘It’s the janitor’s job to clean it up,’” she said. “It’s disrespectful. Subcontracting distances the workers from the university through indirect employment. Because of that, they’re not seen as members of the Tufts community.”

“I’d love for the administration to interact with the people they employ indirectly,” Walsh-Mellett, a sophomore, said. “It’s important that people who are employed know who their employers are.”

Latest article: Tufts launches Office Intercultural and Social Identities Program

This article was interesting to write, a good study in objectivity.

I’ll come back to share my opinions soon.

Is “separating” oneself from a story even possible? Aren’t stories, isn’t news inherently biased? How do I wear my “caps” simultaneously, or will my views “poison” the story? Is it poisoning, or healing? BAH! Anyway, I’m happy with this story. It’s on the long side, and I’ll reflect privately in my journal (not my blog!), but I’ll come back to share my opinions after a bit. Perhaps during spring break?

 

Anyway, here you go!

http://www.tuftsdaily.com/news/new-office-of-intercultural-and-social-identities-programs-launched-1.2714404#.T14NOTFun3w

New Office of Intercultural and Social Identities Programs launched

By Brionna Jimerson

Published: Monday, March 12, 2012

Updated: Monday, March 12, 2012 08:03

The Office of Intercultural and Social Identities Programs  (ISIP) was launched on Friday as a space for students to gain awareness and respect for racial, ethnic and identity diversity on campus, explore their own identities and confront social concerns on campus.

Goals of the Office of ISIP “We’re working under the guiding principle that says diversity and inclusion are inherent strengths for academic excellence and not problems to be resolved,” Director of the Office of ISIP and Africana Center Director Katrina Moore told the Daily in an interview.

Moore said the office is working to strengthen diversity and inclusion by providing opportunities for students to think critically about who they are and how their identities impact their experiences at Tufts.

“We’re trying to create a campus that respects all students and [works to build] a campus community that is inclusive and make sure everyone has equal participation,” Moore said. “There are some students more aligned with their religious or ethnic identity, but they still need to have support and feel they are equal participants on the campus.”

The Office of ISIP is focused on ensuring inclusion for undergraduate and graduate students, particularly those from historically marginalized groups, according to  Moore.

Student ambassador to the Office of ISIP Genesis Garcia shared her insight on the significance of investigating the meaning of “historically marginalized groups” and “inclusion” in an interview during Friday’s launch day events in the Mayer Campus

Center break-out sessions with ISIP student ambassadors.

“By inclusive, it means that there are a lot of identity groups on campus, and people have had radically different experiences and needs at Tufts,” Garcia, a freshman, said.

“We automatically associate groups of people of color as historically marginalized. [That] almost every identity group — based on religion, race, ability — has been historically marginalized is news for some people,” she said. “And in order for everyone to know, steps must be taken for those who don’t know. I don’t want this to be just another diversity initiative [that] we talk about and nothing gets done.”

The title of the office, Dean of Arts and Sciences Joanne Berger-Sweeney told the audience at the “A Focus on Tufts” dinner event on the launch day, was repeatedly reworked to make it more encompassing of social and cultural experiences.

Moore included among the goals of the Office of ISIP creating a resource directory, an organized “road map” of resources available on campus to help students navigate the  services and opportunities at Tufts.

“The road map is a sort of  ‘what do I do if …’ resource, to make sure students are supported, and know what’s available on campus,” Ikenna Acholonu, graduate assistant and program coordinator of the Office of ISIP, said.

“There are many times when students don’t understand the function of the Provost’s Office, or when they need to go to the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). We want students to know where to go to address their concerns,” Moore said.

The Office of ISIP is establishing itself as a direct line of communication between students and administrators, through the support and joint efforts of student ambassadors, a faculty working group, the directors of the Group of Six centers  — the Asian American Center, the International Center, the Africana Center, the Women’s Center, the Latino Center and the LGBT Center — and Dean of Undergraduate and Graduate Studies John Barker, according to Moore.

“With ISIP, there is a direct link to the Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, so the data we’re collecting has a direct route to decision-makers,” Moore said.

Creation of the Office of ISIP

The Office of ISIP began its planning phases in fall 2011, with Moore as the director, at the order of Berger-Sweeney. She had seen a similar program implemented at Wellesley College, where she served as associate dean before coming to Tufts.

According to Moore, adequate qualitative research conducted at other institutions informed the creation of the Office ofISIP at Tufts, along with Berger-Sweeney’s history as Wellesley College.

A report prepared by consultants for Wellesley College concerning multicultural programming aided the creation of such a program at Tufts.

“The consultants found that many institutions had independent houses that reflected singular elements of identity, but these houses did not address the needs of students with complex identities,” Moore told the Daily in an email. “Since the report was research-based and comprehensive, the dean was very well-prepared to address similar issues when she arrived at Tufts.”

According to Moore, Berger-Sweeney spent her second semester at Tufts — Spring 2011 — speaking with students in sororities and fraternities, the Asian American, Africana and Latino Centers, theLGBT Center and the Women’s Center, and reportedly found that her assessment of the Tufts student body mimicked what she had heard at Wellesley.

Afterward, Berger-Sweeney concluded that the issues investigated in the consultants’ report were not just applicable to Wellesley but also had broader applicability to an institution such as Tufts.

Moore explained in the email that the Group of Six leaders continued to research similar programs in higher education and worked to express the particular needs and specific concerns at Tufts to develop the mission and programming for the Office of ISIP.

Moore foresees her dual involvement at the Office of ISIP and the Africana Center as complimentary assets.

“I’m here [at the Africana Center] on a daily basis, [hearing] about experiences students are having,” she said in an interview. “That helps to inform some of the areas that need to be focused on.”

Moore clarified that the Group of Six centers will not disappear to make way for the Office of ISIP. Rather, Moore expressed plans to make the Office of ISIP a focal point for university-wide events addressing racial, ethnic and identity diversity.

“There are lots of events that have to do with inclusion and diversity. Unless you’re a part of that, you know it and otherwise, it may not feel there’s a lot going on on campus.”

To this extent, according to Moore, the Office of ISIP is currently working with Tuftslife for the creation of an event category for cultural identities-related events.

“Just like you can click and find out sports events, you can click and find out what cultural events are,” Moore said.

Launch and Student Ambassadors

Included in the Friday launch events were the student ambassadors’ presentation of their “Say Hello” Campaign Project, small discussions with the Office of ISIP ambassadors in the Mayer Campus Center and dinner and table discussions Friday evening.

The “Say Hello” Campaign has the goal of raising the awareness of all students of the impact of actions and words — even something as simple as saying hello — on another student’s daily life, according to Moore.

“The whole notion around the “Say Hello” campaign is that it’s a way for us to think about how we can do a small simple thing and start to interact with each other more,” Moore said.

Evening table discussions included a preview of the “A Focus on Tufts Initiative” discussion series.

“The series of focus groups is to help create counter-stories, stories that combat issues of racism, classism and other-isms,’” Acholonu said. “With these focus groups, we will compile qualitative data, so that administrators and policy-makers will be able to make decisions based on the information we give them.”

Acholonu added that the “A Focus on Tufts” discussions would be a large part of the Office of ISIP’s programming initiatives.  Future programming initiatives spearheaded by the Office of ISIP will also include the “A Look Within” Series, in which graduate students and professors will showcase their research to build relationships between students and faculty, and the “Your Voice Matters” Conversation Cafe, an opportunity for students to participate in small-group conversations concerning the Tufts community.

The role of the ten student ambassadors recruited to work with the Office of ISIP is to assist with the marketing of the Office of ISIP, serve as a liaison with Tufts student groups and the wider Tufts community, receive social justice and facilitation training and organize programs and initiatives planned by the Office of ISIP to ensure student input in programming, according to an email sent to students nominated by the director of fraternity and sorority affairs, Athletics directors, and Group of Six leaders.

“The activities in the Campus Center are an opportunity for students to hear about the [student ambassador] program,” Moore said. Moore mentioned the possibility of the role of ambassador becoming an application-based role next semester, with potential for work-study wages, as an on-campus job.

“I was thrilled to receive the email,” student ambassador KathrynSelcraig, a sophomore, said during the launch day break-out session event. “I want to be a part of this because having a broader conversation and dialogue about learning differences in people [and] structures of privilege [can] create a more inclusive environment.”

Student Response

Immediately after its inception, the Office of ISIP came under fire from students. Garcia assured students that the office is actively working to address their concerns.

“I’ve heard so many people saying things about ISIP — negative things, positive things, things they don’t know aboutISIP. Whether negative or positive, the only way I can make change is to know what is wrong, what’s missing,” Garcia said.

“There are many assumptions about it already. If you know what’s wrong, there are people in this program who are trying to address this problem. To automatically throw in [the] gutter, I don’t see how that makes any change,” she added.

Acholonu encouraged students to offer feedback for the office, rather than dismiss it entirely.

Cecilia Flores, a senior, attended the launch dinner and remains unclear of the exact purpose of the Office of ISIP and its functionality in the Tufts community.

“We talked [at the launch dinner] about how Tufts has a lot of resources, but how different students have different access. I know from first-hand experience that marginalized students do not have the same access to resources at Tufts and are affected by a lot of issues,” Flores said in an interview with the Daily, citing hate speech and KeithAblow’s statements at a lecture in the fall and how the lack of response left transgender students vulnerable, stigmatized and targeted. “I feel like the ISIP could be doing a much better job incorporating student leaders. The burden cannot be on the students but we need to have power and direction within this push because we are the ones that are affected.”

“We’re trying to gather as much input and feedback as possible,” Acholonu said.  “I want students to know that their voice matters to us, regardless of who they are or what they have to say … Through our connection to aspects of the administration, change can occur, if the students try to engage with the programs and speak their minds.”

 

I love you…and I am not dead.

Dear blog, and my readers (all two of us you)

I’ll take a cue from one of my favorite films, The Color Purple:

“I know you think I am dead. But I am not.”

…

“But if this do get through, one thing

I want you know, I love you, and I am not dead.

Soo…

I’ll be back after midterms/ when Spring Break starts. Promise. Expect some back articles!!

 

-B