It Takes a Herd: Tufts Community Day!
With midterm season now in full swing, it can be wicked easy to get caught up with schoolwork. Between the endless study sessions, essays due, and Canvas assignments swarming your phone’s notifications, it is essential to find time for yourself. One of the most fulfilling and fun ways to do so is to attend Tufts’ Community Day!
While the common proverb is “it takes a village”, here at Tufts, we like to think “it takes a herd. On Saturday, October 5th, a jumbo-sized crowd took to the Academic Quad to celebrate the Medford/Somerville community. Various Tufts-affiliated clubs and organizations showed up to demonstrate their passions and curiosity to the community. The Tufts Rocketry Team showcased their rockets and had a station where people could launch (air-powered) rockets. Various a cappella groups performed, setting the ambiance for the chilly autumn day.
There were also various community organizations, such as the Medford Fire Department and representatives from the Somerville Museum. The signature School of HONK! street band came through, filling the air with gleeful and entertaining music. It was great to see the greater communities collaborating with Tufts and explore the symbiotic relationship fostered by hosting a college dedicated to community outreach in their towns.
Community Day, in my opinion, is important to both Tufts students and the communities it serves because it builds connections that usually aren’t found within college and college towns. Obviously, having a college in your backyard affects the way of living you will experience but, unfortunately, with a lot of other schools, that isn’t always in a positive way. Tufts University being aware of the space it takes up, as well as their “Greater ‘Bos” (a term I have coined to describe Tufts-affiliated community members). The students of Tufts (who take various volunteer roles on this day) actively work to give back and support to the communities that have welcomed us into their neighborhoods and hearts.
If you were not one of the 2,500 neighbors on the Hill, don’t worry! Tufts has a plethora of other ways to volunteer through organizations such as the Leonard Carmichael Society, local non-profits, or student-led initiatives. At Tufts University, there’s a place for everyone to make a difference. Lastly, stay tuned for next year’s Community Day. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it!