Tufts Blogs

In my blogs, I’ve spotlighted many of the extracurricular activities I’m involved in at Tufts, from club baseball to The Tufts Daily to 180 Degrees Consulting. While I am proud of my contributions to all of those clubs, none of them are directly related to my major, International Relations. During the fall of my freshman year, though, I made it my mission to join at least one club that related to my academic pursuits, which brought me to Hemispheres. 

Hemispheres was founded in 1976 by Tufts undergraduates, and has published an annual journal of scholarly articles, interviews, and editorials discussing International Relations each year since. Each journal has a theme that unites all of its features, ranging from “Trading Places” to “Crisis of Authority” to “Coping with Crises.” Any undergraduate student from around the world can submit an article for publication in the journal, with the yearly deadline typically in January. This year’s theme is “Bridges and Barriers.”

Moreover, during my freshman year at Tufts, Hemispheres launched a magazine containing articles, maps, editorials, interviews, and graphics authored entirely by the club’s members. A more accessible version of the annual journal, I have written a piece for the magazine during each of my fall semesters at Tufts. The themes of the magazine match those of the journal, and students can cover a topic of their choice, independently or in small groups. So far, I’ve written “NATO Expansion and the War in Ukraine” and “Bougainville Island: An Isolated Case or a Representative of a New Age for Independence Movements?” independently, in addition to “Silicon Hegemony: How Semiconductors Are Rewiring U.S.-China Power” with a friend this past fall. 

Typically, after a theme for the magazine is decided at the start of the semester, members of the club are divided into working groups based on the topic they’d like to cover in their articles. Working groups usually include subjects like economics, comparative politics, and technology. During the subsequent meetings, ideas are brainstormed and, as articles are researched and written, the groups read one another’s pieces and offer suggestions and edits. Journal solicitations, meaning notices sent to university professors and staff to welcome submissions from their students, are also sent out within these working groups. By the end of the semester, the working groups will have produced around six articles, ready for publication in the magazine. 

The spring semester is much more focused on the journal. After the magazine launch, the same working groups are maintained to review, edit, and select the pieces that will be included in the journal. Submissions go through multiple rounds of revision, with many Google Forms being completed to rank possible inclusions until a decision is made. Eventually, the journal is launched at the end of the semester, concluding a year’s worth of learning, researching, writing, and collaborating. 

Hemispheres is a must-join club for anyone interested in studying International Relations or Political Science while at Tufts. The biggest reason why is that you can meet and work with welcoming, curious, and collaborative Jumbos who share your interests. Everyone I’ve interacted with at Hemispheres has been kind and willing to help. Moreover, the club hosts a number of fun events throughout the year. From a trivia night to industry-leading guest speakers to sushi parties marking the launch of its publications, there are plenty of opportunities for fun and engagement. Furthermore, being in Hemispheres has helped me mature as a student. From learning how to choose a research topic to learning how to write on a schedule to learning how to properly cite my sources, I have gained invaluable knowledge that has proven useful in my classes. Lastly, there are plenty of chances for leadership roles within the club. The Editorial Board contains an Editor-in-Chief, four Managing Editors, and Finance, Communications, and Creative Directors. Hence, to build your resume in the geopolitical world, there is no finer outlet at Tufts. 

Overall, Hemispheres has done what no other club at Tufts can: take me from Bougainville Island to Washington, D.C. to Brussels (in my articles, of course). Throughout the trip, I’ve met some incredible people with shared interests, bettered my academic skills, learned more about the world, and, most importantly, had a lot of fun. What more can you ask from a club? 

Photo Credit: Michelle Shiu, The Tufts Daily