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EnglishWhat Is the Tufts Observer and What Can You Find There?
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The Tufts Observer is Tufts University's student magazine, published since 1895. It is a student-run publication that carries reporting, videos, and photo galleries, and it is best understood as a window into student voices and campus culture rather than an official university news or admissions channel. If you want to read student-produced journalism and creative work about Tufts, its Stories, Videos, and Galleries sections are where to start.
What the Publication Is
The Observer describes itself as "Tufts's Student Magazine since 1895," which places it among the longer-running student publications at the university. Its content is produced by students and covers campus life, people, and culture. A representative example from the site is a piece on Grace Talusan discussing her memoir The Body Papers, filed under Campus in April 2019 — the kind of profile and campus-interest story the magazine carries.
Because it is a student magazine, expect a mix of formats and voices rather than the institutional tone of official communications. That is a feature, not a limitation: it is where you go to see how students frame issues, what they choose to profile, and how they document campus life.
How to Browse the Site
The homepage organizes content into a small set of sections, each with a distinct purpose:
| Section | What you'll find | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Stories | Written articles, including campus pieces and profiles | Reading reported and personal writing |
| Videos | Student-produced video content | Watching rather than reading |
| Galleries | Photo collections | Visual coverage of events and campus life |
| Latest Tweets | The magazine's recent social posts | Quick updates and links out |
| Photo and social feed | Following ongoing visual updates |
A practical way to use the site: start with Stories if you want to read, check Galleries when you want visual coverage of something specific, and use the social sections (Latest Tweets, Instagram) to see what the magazine is currently highlighting. The homepage surfaces recent and featured items, so it works as a starting point before you move into a section.
What It Is Not
The Observer is not the place to look for official university announcements, admissions requirements, academic policy, or administrative news. Those come from Tufts' official channels. The distinction matters when you are researching the university: use official sources for facts about programs and processes, and use the Observer for student perspective, campus culture, and feature writing.
Who It Suits
- Prospective students who want a sense of student life and campus culture beyond marketing material.
- Current students and community members looking for student journalism and creative work.
- Researchers of student media interested in a publication with a history dating to 1895.
- Readers following a specific story or person — profiles and campus features are the magazine's staple.
If your goal is official information about Tufts, go elsewhere first; if your goal is to hear from students, the Observer's sections above are the direct route.