Tufts Blogs

Many of the columns on “Jumbo Talk” feature some page-popping element or experience, ranging from tales of time spent studying abroad in Thailand to epic adventures in Boston. I will preface this blog by saying that I’ll be discussing something that pales in its glamour when compared to those exploits. Nonetheless, I feel that this experience will be one that defines my time at Tufts. When I recall my days as a Jumbo in a few years, I will think of the chilly nights spent wandering Boston with my friends after dinner, the Sunday mornings I woke up early to play club baseball games, and, despite its seeming innocuousness, the Thursdays I schlepped around campus to deliver The Tufts Daily. 

As I’ve covered in previous columns, I’ve been a member of the Daily since the fall of my freshman year. I’ve covered Tufts athletics bi-weekly for the Sports section, written a dining column for the Features section, and served as a Features Assistant Editor, a Features Editor, the Deputy Executive Sports Editor, and the Executive Sports Editor. Obviously, therefore, the club has taken up much of my extracurricular energy during my time at Tufts. Unfortunately, none of those positions were paid, which is what initially turned my attention to the distributor role. 

Weeks into my freshman fall, I reached out to the paper’s business manager over Slack and asked if there were open distributor spots. The club hires between four and seven distributors each semester. On a rotating basis, the distributors cover four delivery routes across the Medford-Somerville campus. Historically, these routes were assigned by the Business Director, though, more recently, distributors have been able to sign up for them in a spreadsheet. Another recent development was the addition of an off-campus route, consisting of the SMFA and areas within Medford, though that path is reserved for distributors with cars. 

The routes run the gamut of campus geography, including a downhill path from Tisch Library to the International Center, an Academic Quad route from Dowling Hall to Ballou Hall, a Boston Avenue course from Carmichael Hall to Tamper Cafe, and another downhill itinerary from Aidekman Arts Center to 574 Boston Ave. Distributors pick up stacks of the print edition from the Campus Center and fan out across Tufts, carrying stacks of between 50 and 300 newspapers, in a process that normally takes between 30 minutes and one hour to complete. Print editions are typically only released on Thursdays, with special editions also coming on occasions such as Election Day, commencement, and matriculation. The papers are dropped off at the Campus Center in the early afternoon on Thursdays, after which the Business Director gives the go-ahead for distribution. 

While the position may seem menial and repetitive, it has been an enjoyable hallmark of my Thursdays for over two years. The stroll around campus, with a podcast beaming through my AirPods, allows me to decompress after a week of classes. Also, the tradition ushers in the weekend, as I normally have at most one more class after distributing. In the spring and fall months, it serves as a way of basking in the nice weather and getting some fresh air. Moreover, the job has allowed me to see and explore spots around campus that my studies would never take me to. From Sawyer House to Danish Pastry House, my journeys have shown me all that the area around Tufts has to offer, from restaurants to on-campus resources. And, best of all, the position allows me to get my steps in while earning some extra cash. While the income isn't a lot, every bit adds up, and, before you know it, a latte is only one distribution route away. 

Ultimately, I’m proud of having been The Little Engine that Could, heaving stacks of newspapers around campus for the last two and a half years. Being a distributor has kept me involved with the Daily, helped me to explore Tufts, and marked the beginning of my weekends throughout my time as a Jumbo. I’d highly recommend getting an on-campus job similar in nature to the distributor position, and would even suggest reaching out to the Daily’s Business Director next fall. Just make sure you invest in some boots and hand warmers. It is New England, after all.  

Photo Credit: Kaitlyn Wells, The Tufts Daily