LIZ: TONIGHT ON GREATER BOSTON, HARVARD UNIVERSITY IS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTROVERSY AFTER MORE THAN 30 STUDENT GROUPS BLAMED THE ISRAELI GOVERNMENT FOR THE BRUTAL ATTACKS BY HAMAS.

SIMILAR STATEMENTS HAVE EMERGED ON OTHER CAMPUSES, AND SOME INDIVIDUALS BEHIND THEM ARE BEING THREATENED.

I WILL SPEAK WITH THREE PROFESSORS ABOUT WHAT IS UNFOLDING AND HOW IT SHOULD BE MANAGED.

PLUS, THE GREEN LINE EXTENSION IS BACK UP TO NORMAL SPEED.

AS SOME SLOW ZONES FADE AWAY, I WILL SPEAK WITH THE NEW AND TO THE MBTA BOARD OF DIRECTORS ABOUT THE ROAD AHEAD.

AS THE FIGHTING BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS ESCALATES, AFTER THE MILITANT GROUPS MONEY ATTACK IN WHICH THEY KILLED SCORES OF ISRAELI CIVILIANS AND TOOK MANY HOSTAGES, POLITICIANS, PUBLIC FIGURES, AND ACTIVISTS HERE IN THE U.S. HAVE CLASHED OVER HOW TO RESPOND.

IN SOME CASES, THE DEBATE IS GETTING UGLY, PRACTICALLY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES.

AT HARVARD, A LETTER WRITTEN BY THE UNDERGRADUATE PALESTINIAN SOLITARY COMMITTEE DREW HEATED COMBINATION FOR BLAMING THE ATTACKS ON ISRAEL'’S OCCUPATION OF PALESTINE, SAYING THIS QUOTE, DID NOT OCCUR IN A VACUUM.

CHRIS HAVE CALLED FOR STUDENTS TO BE DOCS, EXPELLED AND BLACKLISTED.

IN RESPONSE, THE HARVARD PRESIDENT DISTANCE THE SCHOOL FROM THE LETTER, INSISTING THE STUDENTS BEHIND IT DID NOT REPRESENT THE UNIVERSITY OR ITS LEADERSHIP.

WAS THAT THE RIGHT MOVE.

IS THIS THE OPPORTUNITY TO FOSTER NEW DIALOGUE ABOUT THIS CONTENTIOUS ISSUE, EVEN AS THE DEATH TOLL CLIMBS?

TO DISCUSS, I AM JOINT BY BOAZ MOHABBAT, -- BOAZ, WHO CRITICIZED THE STATEMENT IN A STATEMENT OF HIS OWN, MALIK MUFTI, WHO FOCUSES ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND THE MIDDLE EAST, AND KENNETH STERN, THE DIRECTOR OF THE BARD CENTER FOR HATE, AND THE AUTHOR OF THE CONFLICT OVER THE CONFLICT, THE ISRAELI PALESTINE CAMPUS DEBATE.

PROFESSOR BARACK, CAN WE START WITH YOU?

I MAY HAVE BRIEFLY DISTILLED YOUR POSITION, BUT CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR REACTION TO THE HARVARD STUDENT STATEMENT?

MR. BARAK: THE STUDENT STATEMENT CAME OUT Y LANDING -- HOSTAGES WERE STILL BEING RELEASED AND THERE WAS STILL -- THEY WERE STILL ACTIVELY TRYING TO RELEASE THEM.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE REACTION OF JEWISH AND ISRAELI STUDENTS AT HARVARD, WHILE THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE RELATIVES, SOME OF THEM HAVE FRIENDS AT THAT VERY SAME MUSIC FESTIVAL, AND THEY ARE SEEING A LETTER THAT HE ISRAEL FOR THE ATTACK ON -- BLAMES ISRAEL FOR THE ATTACK ON HAMAS.

THIS IS COMPLICATED AND HAS A LARGE CONTEXT, BUT THERE ARE SOME CASES WHERE SOME EVENTS YOU JUST HAVE TO SEE WERE SOMETHING IS BEYOND THE PALE AND TERRORISM SHOULD NEVER BE JUSTIFIED.

AND I SHOULD SAY THAT I DO NOT JOIN ANY CALLS TO.

OR PUNISH THE INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS.

WHAT I AM IS THE STATEMENT.

LIZ: PROFESSOR MOSTLY, I WANTED TO ASK YOU WHAT YOUR POSITION WAS.

DID YOU HAVE A POSITION ON THE STATEMENT?

MR. MUFTI: THE CONFLICT IN PALESTINE IS NOT A CONFLICT BETWEEN DEMOCRACY AND A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION OR GOOD AND EVIL, IT'’S AN ETHNIC TERRITORY, LOOK FOR ONE SITE IS OCCUPIED THE OTHER AND THERE IS GOING TO BE ATROCITIES COMMITTED BY BOTH SIDES, AND THE CRUELEST, HARDEST MEN RISE TO THE TOP.

THESE STATEMENTS WE HAVE HAD AT HARVARD AND OTHER UNIVERSITIES, I DON'’T BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS, OF CHILDREN, IT WOULD HAVE TO BE PSYCHOPATHIC TO DERIVE ANY PLEASURE FROM THAT.

I THINK WHAT THEY ARE SUPPORTING IS THE RIGHT OF RESISTANCE, JUST AS I DON'’T BELIEVE THAT ISRAELIS, PEOPLE WHO TAKE PART IN PRO-ISRAEL RALLIES ARE CELEBRATING THE KILLING OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN OR CIVILIANS, BUT SUPPORTING RETALIATION.

I THINK THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT, VERY HARD TO TRY TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES WITHOUT BRINGING IN THE BROADER CONTEXT.

LIZ: I DO HAVE TO ASK YOU PROFESSOR, THERE WAS A STATEMENT WHICH CAME FROM A GROUP AT TUFTS, WHICH CELEBRATED THE CREATIVITY OF HAMAS.

IT SEEMS TO HAVE GOTTEN EVEN UGLIER.

PROFESSOR STERN, THIS IS CLEARLY NOT JUST CONTAINED TO HARVARD AND NOT JUST CONTAINED TO THIS ISSUE, BUT YOU HAVE FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON THE ISRAEL-PALESTINE DEBATE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW, WHAT DO YOU SEE UNFOLDING ACROSS CAMPUSES?

MR. STERN: IT'’S NOT EVERY CAMPUS, THERE ARE SOME CAMPUS WHERE THIS IS A PARTICULAR ISSUE, AND THE ONES YOU MENTIONED ARE AMONG THEM.

I THINK STUDENTS FEEL VERY STRONGLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER FROM ONE NATIONALITY OR ANOTHER, ONE NARRATIVE OR ANOTHER, AND THAT IS OK FOR THEM TO ARTICULATE THAT.

WHAT'’S NOT OK IS WHEN THERE IS THREAT -- THREATS AND INTIMIDATION AND BULLYING.

THAT IS THE ROLE OF THE ADMINISTRATION TO MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO SAY EVEN THINGS THAT OTHERS FIND OFFENSIVE, TO RECOGNIZE THAT OTHER STUDENTS MIGHT BE IN FACT FIND THEM OFFENSIVE BUT TO PROTECT THEIR ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH.

FOR ME, I WAS OFFENDED BY THE HARVARD STUDENT STATEMENTS BECAUSE NOT ACKNOWLEDGING THAT WHEN BABIES ARE BEHEADED, THERE IS SOMETHING SHOULD ACKNOWLEDGE IN THERE.

WHEN YOU'’RE TALKING ABOUT A PRO-PALESTINIAN VIEW THAT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM.

I AM DISTURBED DEEPLY BY THE ATTEMPTS TO DOCS THE STUDENTS AND OUT THEN, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THREATS AGAINST THEM, PEOPLE SAYING DON'’T HIRE THEM.

THESE ARE YOUNG ADULTS WHO ARE GIVEN THE SPACE TO EXPRESS THEIR IDEAS AND BE WRONG AND TO THINK ABOUT HOW THEY ARE GOING TO THINK ABOUT THESE DIFFICULT ISSUES FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

THAT IS THE PURPOSE OF UNIVERSITY.

LIZ: EVEN JUST BEFORE THE TAPING, REPORTEDLY, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK CLOSED ITS CAMPUS AND AN ISRAELI STUDENT WAS BEATEN UP THERE.

I DON'’T KNOW THAT WE CAN GET SAY THAT THIS IS PARTICULARLY CONTAINED.

PROFESSOR STERN, I WANT TO ASK YOU, UNIVERSITIES ARE ISSUING STATEMENTS AND THEN RE-ISSUING STATEMENTS.

IS THAT A USEFUL EXERCISE?

IS THERE SOMETHING MORE THAT SHOULD BE DONE AT THIS POINT?

MR. STERN: FIRST, ON THE CONWAY SITUATION, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN OPEN KANSAS -- CAMPUS AND AN OPEN CENTER THAT A MORE RURAL CAMPUS, AND YOU HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE CAMPUS.

COLUMBIA IS BE SURE THAT IT IS ONLY STUDENTS THAT ARE THERE.

I'’M NOT A BIG FAN OF STATEMENTS.

I HAVE WORKED ON STATEMENT FOR COLLEGE PRESIDENTS OVER THE YEARS.

THEY ARE USUALLY BEST WHEN THEY TALK ABOUT ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND FREE SPEECH AND THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY AND THE ROLE OF STUDENTS.

THE OUTSIDE GROUPS SEEM TO WANT TO HAVE UNIVERSITY LEADERSHIP RATIFY THEIR NARRATIVE, RATIFY THEIR PERSPECTIVE, AND THAT IS NOT THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY.

THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY IS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THEIR STUDENTS.

OBVIOUSLY SOME PEOPLE ARE DISTRESSED BY THIS, THERE MIGHT BE RELATIVES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BORDER STUDENTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, AND HOW DO YOU THE CAMPUS AS A WAY TO HAVE DISCUSSIONS ACROSS DIVIDES.

NOT JUST TODAY, WHERE IT MIGHT BE HARD, BUT HOW DO YOU SET UP THAT ENVIRONMENT OVER TIME FOR STUDENTS TO REALIZE IT'’S OK TO BE DISTURBED WHEN YOU HEAR SOME SAY SOMETHING THAT CUTS YOU TO THE CORE.

BUT IT IS NOT OK TO BE INTIMIDATED OR BELIEVED.

AND TO THINK ABOUT STRUCTURES AND SPEAKERS AND SO FORTH TO REALLY GRAVITATE TOWARDS THAT IMPULSE TO SAY HOW DO WE THINK ABOUT THIS IN THESE FOUR YEARS THAT WE ARE HERE ABOUT THESE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS THAT WE FEEL DEEPLY OUT OUT AROUND THE WORLD.

LIZ: PROFESSOR, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOUR STUDENTS ABOUT WHAT IS UNFOLDING, NOT NECESSARILY WHAT YOUR SYLLABUS HAS, BUT ARE YOU HEARING FROM OTHERS ON CAMPUS, IS THIS A DIALOGUE YOU ARE HAVING?

MR. MUFTI: YES.

YESTERDAY WAS THE FIRST TIME I TALK WITH ANY STUDENTS ABOUT AFTER CLASS.

THOSE WERE MIDDLE EASTERN STUDENTS WHO EXPRESSED DISQUIET, DISCOMFORT ABOUT THE TOXIC AND PUBLIC ATTACKS ON STUDENTS WHO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PALESTINIANS.

I HAVE TO SAY, FIRST OF ALL, I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH WHAT PROFESSOR STERN HAS JUST SAID.

THE WHOLE IDEA OF UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATIONS TRYING TO APPEASE EVERY POSSIBLE COMMUNITY AND EVERY POSSIBLE GROUP BY ISSUING THESE KIND OF PLAN STATEMENTS AND THEN TRYING TO SHIFT ELIZABETH TO THE OTHER SIDE, IT'’S NOT HELPFUL.

THE ROLE OF THE UNIVERSITY IS TO CREATE A SPACE WHERE PEOPLE'’S SYMPATHIES AND STANDPOINTS ARE RESPECTED, THEY ARE ENGAGED WITH EACH OTHER AND A LOT OF THE EXPOSED TO VOICING -- OPPOSING STANDPOINTS.

AND TO ENGAGE WITH THEM IN A CIVIL MANNER.

THAT IS OUR JOB AS FACULTY TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE THAT KIND OF ENVIRONMENT.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT TUFTS HAS A PRETTY GOOD RECORD IN THAT REGARD.

WHENEVER WE HAVE HAD INCIDENTS OF ANTI-SEMITISM, ALMOST ALL THE CAMPUS GROUPS TEND TO COME TOGETHER, ADMINISTERS, FACULTY, STUDENTS, AND TRY TO SUPPRESS THAT KIND OF ATMOSPHERE.

LIZ: PROFESSOR BARACK, DO YOU THINK THAT THIS STATEMENT IS AN IMPORTANT THING TO GET OUT THERE, DO YOU SEE A MORE PRODUCTIVE PATH?

MR. BARAK: THE UNIVERSITY DOES NOT ALWAYS HAVE TO MAKE STATEMENTS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS, BUT SOMETIMES IT IS FORCED TO DO SO.

THE UNIVERSITY MIGHT NOT HAVE TO MAKE A STATEMENT WHEN, SAY, EARTHQUAKES HAPPEN IN TURKEY, BUT IF THERE WAS A GROUP OF STUDENTS AT THE CAMPUS THAT ARE CELEBRATING THESE EARTHQUAKES, AND THERE HAVE BEEN WORSE THINGS THAN THAT STATEMENT IN SOCIAL MEDIA, THEN THE UNIVERSITY MIGHT BE FORCED TO STATEMENT AND MAKE SURE THAT STUDENTS ARE SUPPORTED AND IS NOT TOLERATED ON THIS CAMPUS TO CELEBRATE THE DEBTS OF THEIR RELATIVES AND FRIENDS.

I SHOULD SAY THAT I DON'’T THINK THAT THIS HAMAS ATTACK SHOULD BE PHRASED IN THE FORM OF THE GREATER CONFLICT.

I THINK THAT HAMAS DOES NOT REPRESENT PALESTINIANS AND THE PEOPLE THAT WOULD SUFFER THE MOST IF HAMAS IS VIEWED AS THE REPRESENTATIVE OF PALESTINIANS ARE THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE.

HAMAS DOES NOT EVEN CONTROL THE WEST BANK.

EVEN IN GAZA IS CONTROLLED BY A DEEPFAKE REGIME.

BY SUPPORTING THEM OR NOT CONDEMNING THEM, THE PEOPLE ON CAMPUS, THE PALESTINIAN SOLIDARITY GROUP, THEY GIVE THE IMPLICIT SUPPORT THAT HAMAS REPRESENT PALESTINIANS, WHICH IS WHAT PEOPLE THAT OPPOSE PALESTINIAN STATES WOULD TRY TO PROMOTE.

JUST LIKE ISIS DOES NOT REPRESENT ALL MUSLIMS, I DON'’T THINK HAMAS SERVICES PALESTINIANS.

LIZ: YOU HAVE NOTED, PROFESSOR STERN, THAT PEOPLE REACH FOR WHAT IS BLACK-AND-WHITE, AND LIKE TO REDUCE EVERYTHING.

IS THIS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY, AGAIN, TO DRAW OUT WHAT PARTS OF BARACK IS POINTING TO?

-- HER -- PROFESSOR BARACK IS POINTING TO YUCCA MR. MUFTI: ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, FROM THE FIELD OF HATE STUDIES AND THE COMPONENT OF RIGHTS AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, WHEN PEOPLE'’S IDENTITIES ARE TETHERED TO A PERCEIVED SOCIAL INJUSTICE OR ISSUE, THEIR BRAIN FIRES DIFFERENTLY.

THEY WANT TO SEE THINGS IN BINARY WAYS AND WE SEE IT ON OTHER ISSUES.

REPUBLICAN VERSUS DEMOCRAT.

ABORTION.

WE TRY TO MAKE THE WORLD SIMPLE AND MAKE JUSTICE ONLY ON OUR SIDE AND INJUSTICE COMPLETELY THE STORY OF THE OTHER SIDE.

AND WE AVOID LOOKING AT EVIDENCE THAT CONTRADICTS OUR BELIEFS.

AND THAT'’S THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITY, WHILE NOT EVERYBODY SEES THAT IS AT THE MOMENT AND SO FORTH, OVER THE LONG HAUL, TO USE CASES LIKE THIS TO GET STUDENTS TO SEE THE COMPLEXITIES, AND WHAT I TELL THEM IS THAT WHEN YOU SEE A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO A COMPLICATED PROBLEM, IT'’S USUALLY THE WRONG ANSWER.

AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY EXPAND LOOKING AT WHAT YOU'’RE THINKING ABOUT.

YOU ALSO HAVE TO HAVE THE EMOTIONAL EMPATHY TO THINK ABOUT -- THERE IS THIS OTHER GROUP OF STUDENTS THAT HAS THIS DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW, WHY DID THEY THINK THAT WAY?

DO I HAVE THE EMOTIONAL EVERYTHING TO PUT MYSELF IN THEIR SITUATION, I MAY DISAGREE WITH THEM, AND IF I WANT TO CLOSE AND POLITICALLY SHOULD I NOT HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THEM BETTER IF I DO THAT?

THERE'’S A LOT THAT YOU CAN DO WITH ISSUES LIKE THIS TO IMPROVE EDUCATION.

QUACKS -- QUACKS RATHER THAN JUST A STATEMENT.

SOME MIGHT SAY THAT THIS IS A DISCUSSION THAT IS NOT CENTERED AROUND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE DIRECTLY AFFECTED, IT'’S UNFOLDING AT ELITE COLLEGES AND CAMPUSES, IS THERE SOMETHING DEEPER AT STAKE HERE?

>> I THINK THERE IS.

IN RECENT YEARS WE HAVE SEEN A POLARIZATION IN OUR COUNTRY OF THE KIND THAT THE PROFESSOR JUST TALKED ABOUT, CONSERVATIVES HAVE COMPLAINED FOR YEARS THAT CAMPUSES HAVE BECOME TOO INHOSPITABLE TO THEIR IDEAS.

AND I'’M SYMPATHETIC WITH THAT COMPLAINT.

IT'’S CRUCIAL THAT UNIVERSITIES BE PLACES WHERE BROKE PALESTINIAN AND PRO-ISRAELI VIEWPOINTS ARE ABLE TO BE EXPRESSED, OTHERWISE THE CORE FUNCTION OF UNIVERSITY INSTRUCTOR, AND ARE DEMOCRACY IS THREATENED AS WELL.

LIZ: DO YOU THINK THAT COLLEGE CAMPUSES HAVE ANY MEANS OF GRAPPLING WITH INTENSE MISINFORMATION THAT FLIES AROUND WHICH EVERYONE CONSUMES, BUT INTENSIFIES THESE DIVIDES ON CAMPUSES?

MR. BARAK: I THINK THAT COLLEGE CAMPUSES ARE EXPOSED TO MISINFORMATION AS ANY OTHER PUBLIC SPHERE IN THAT -- THE U.S. AND ELSEWHERE, BUT WE DO HAVE WAYS TO PROMOTE IT, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT TO DEBATE THAT, AND I THINK THAT PROJECTING TERRORISM NEEDS TO BE IMPERMANENCE TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

WE COULD HAVE A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE BOYCOTT IN THE SECTION, THE DDS MOVEMENT, I SUSPECT -- RESPECT YOU LET SUPPORTED.

WHAT WE CANNOT HAVE A DISCUSSION OF KILLING BABIES WITHOUT PROS AND CONS.

-- WEIGH THE PROS AND CONS.

LIZ: AND WHEN I TALK ABOUT DEEPER STATES, ARE WE TALKING ABOUT FEELING ANTI-SEMITISM, FEELING WHAT WE SEE WITH THE TAX ON INDIVIDUALS, DIOXIN, WHERE DOES THIS LEAD?

MR. STERN: READ ABOUT THAT, NOT JUST ON THE CAMPUS.

WHENEVER THERE WAS FIGHTING INVOLVING ISRAEL, THERE WAS AN UPTICK IN ATTACKS ON JEWS IN EUROPE AND ELSEWHERE AND THE CAMPUS IS NO EXCEPTION.

GAZA CONFLICT SAID IT TO HAPPEN WHEN SCHOOL WAS NOT IN SESSION.

THAT WAS LESS OF A CONCERN, AND THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF THEIR SINS, THE PHYSICAL SAFETY IS THEIR PRIORITY.

BUT AGAIN, I THINK THAT ULTIMATELY THE ROLE OF THE ACADEMY IS THE KEY HERE, AND TO REMEMBER THAT WHAT YOU'’RE DOING IS TRYING TO CREATE ANOTHER GENERATION OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE A RESPECT FOR ACADEMIC FREEDOM AND RESPECT FOR FREE SPEECH AND WHO HAVE EMOTIONAL EMPATHY AND RESPECT FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREE SPEECH COMPONENTS OF THAT, IN.

AND TO GO AND DEFEND THEIR OPPONENTS, EVEN IF THEY FIND WHAT THEY ARE SAYING FILE WHEN OTHERS ARE TRYING TO DENY THEM EMPLOYMENT OR TO PUT THEM IN HARM'’S WAY.

LIZ: RIGHT.

AND TO LEARN THE SKILL OF CONDUCTING DISCUSSION DEBATE.

THAT'’S SOMETHING THEY NEED TO DO.

WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE, PROFESSOR, THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH, PROFESSORS.

LIZ: I WEAR A BIT OF GOOD NEWS FOR THE MBTA, THE GREEN LINE UP AND RUNNING.

THE TRAINS HAD BEEN FORCED TO CRAWL DOWN THE TRACKS AT THREE MILES PER HOUR OR SO, SO CALLED SLOW ZONES BETWEEN UNION SQUARE AND METRIC -- MEDFORD, WHICH BEGAN A MONTH AFTER THE LAST LEG OF THE EXTENSION OFFICIALLY OPEN.

THE SLOW ZONES WERE LIFTED LAST MONTH, MORE THAN A DAY AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, THERE ARE SOME IN PLACE ELSEWHERE ON THE TEAM.

THE FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE MBTA DON'’T JUST START WITH THE GREEN LINE, BUT BOSTON NOW HAS A NEW VOICE ON THE ISSUE OF ALL THINGS MBTA.

MARY SKELTON ROBERTS.

SHE WAS RECENTLY APPOINTED TO A NEWLY CREATED CITY OF BOSTON SEAT ON THE MBTA BOARD, AND SHE JOINS ME NOW.

MS. ROBERTS: HI THERE, GOOD TO BE HERE.

LIZ: THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

YOURS IS A VERY NEW POSITION.

EXPLAIN TO PEOPLE THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS POSITION AND HOW YOU SEE THE JOB.

MS. ROBERTS: ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN YOU SAY NEW, IT'’S REALLY FRESH, IT'’S TWO WEEKS IN.

THIS IS AFTER MANY MANY YEARS OF THE CITY OF BOSTON REALLY ADVOCATING TO HAVE NOT JUST AC BUT A VOICE ON THE BOARD.

AND I SEE THIS ROLE AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPRESENT THE CITY OF BOSTON, THE MAYOR, AND TO FIX THE TEAM, BUT ALSO PLAN WHAT OUR TRANSPORTATION WILL LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.

WHICH WOULD PRIORITIZE SORT OF OUR INVESTMENTS AND POLICIES AND WHAT WE FOCUS ON BASED ON WHERE THE NEEDS OF THE GREATEST.

REALLY THINKING ABOUT THE NEXUS OF WHAT WE'’RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH AND WHAT WE FEEL THAT DR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION TO DO RELATIVE TO CLIMATE AND ECONOMIC GOALS AND EQUITY GOALS.

ALL OF THOSE ARE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS.

LIZ: MANY PEOPLE MIGHT BE WONDERING WHAT LEVERAGE YOU HAVE WITH THIS POST.

PEOPLE WHO MIGHT NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THE STRUCTURE OF THE BOARD AND THE POWER THAT IT HAS.

MS. ROBERTS: IT'’S LESS ABOUT LEVERAGE, AND MORE ABOUT BEING ABLE TO COLLABORATE AND HAVE ROBUST CONVERSATIONS.

IF WE AS A BOARD GET TO UNDERSTAND WHAT DO WE WANT THIS SYSTEM TO BE, HOW DO WE REALLY WANT TO PRIORITIZE WHERE WE MAKE OUR INVESTMENT, WE HAVE CLINIC ALSO HAVE TO ACCOMPLISH, WE HAVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT GOALS, ABLE TO LOOK AT THE ROLE OUR PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO INFLATE VIS-À-VIS SOME OF THOSE METRICS, THOSE ARE IMPORTANT CONVERSATIONS THAT ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES WANT TO ENGAGE IN.

I'’M NOT SAYING THIS IS A SITUATION WHERE IT'’S GOING TO BE BAD IF WE ARE ADVERSARIAL.

I WILL BE ADVOCATING FOR BOSTON, I REPRESENT THE MAYOR AND THE CONSTITUENCIES OF BOSTON, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANS ROTATION IS BOSTON AND BEYOND.

AND RECOGNIZING WHAT THE CONVERSATION NEEDS TO LOOK LIKE, OR HOW BOSTON'’S VOICE IS WELL REPRESENTED AND THE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE ON THE BARK DASHBOARD ARE REPRESENTED -- REFLECTIVE OF THE NEEDS OF THE STATE.

>> I ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING THAT WE LEAD WITH WITH -- WHICH IS PRESSING ON PEOPLE'’S MIND.

THE GREEN LINE.

DO HAVE A TAKE ON WHO IS RESPONSIBLE AND HOW THAT SHOULD BE FIXED?

MS. ROBERTS: I AM TO NEW TO KNOW WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INTRICATE DETAILS, BUT WHAT I CAN TELL YOU IS THAT THEY FIXED IT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE.

IT'’S UNFORTUNATE THAT IT HAPPENED.

I AM SURE WE WILL GET MORE INFORMATION ON WHAT CAUSED IT.

WHAT I WANT TO FOCUS ON IS WHEN THESE ISSUES ARISE ARE THEY BEING DEALT WITH WELL, ARE THERE -- THE REPAIRS ARE THE ISSUES BEING ADDRESSED RAPIDLY, AND ARE WE ABLE TO GET PEOPLE BACK ON THE GREEN LINE?

LIZ: LET'’S GO TO BUSES.

YOU RODE THE ORANGE LINE AND YOU WRITE VARIOUS BUS LINES.

THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TALK ABOUT REDESIGNING BOSTON'’S SLIDES, THE MBTA BUS NETWORK.

IT SEEMS TO BE STALLED AT THIS POINT, THERE'’S A LOT OF PUBLIC PUSHBACK, WHERE ARE WE IN THAT, WHERE DO YOU SEE IT?

LIZ: WEN YU -- MS. ROBERTS: WHEN YOU'’RE ARE DEALING WITH A CHANGING CLIMATE, WE HAD EXPENSES HERE WHEN WE HAD TERRIBLE STORMS SEVERAL YEARS AGO WHERE THE BLUE WAS FLOODED.

WE CANNOT BE A SUSTAINABLE STATE, WE CANNOT BE ECONOMICALLY COMPETITIVE WITHOUT THINKING ABOUT HOW WE ARE DOING BUSES, BECAUSE BUSES WILL DO A NUMBER OF THINGS WITHIN THE CITY OF BOSTON, SHE -- THAT WILL GET YOU IN AND OUT IN WAYS OTHER THINGS CAN.

WHEN YOU'’RE LOOKING AT SUBURBS WHERE YOU CAN'’T BUILD RAIL, HAVING RAPID BUS IS VIABLE SOLUTION.

I THINK THAT WE DO WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION.

WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE TO HAVE -- TO LEAN INTO THE BUS DESIGN SYSTEM, WHICH THE STATE HAS COMMITTED TO AND THE CITY IS PUSHING FOR.

I AM A HUGE ADVOCATE OF BUS RAPID TRANSIT.

WE HAVE SEEN IT WORK SUCCESSFULLY ALL OVER THE WORLD.

WHAT I WAS AT THE FOUNDATION, I TOOK PEOPLE TO MULTIPLE TRIPS TO MEXICO CITY TO SEE THIS WORLD-CLASS BUS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM, AND IN SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, THEY BUILT SIX OR SEVEN LINES.

AND NOW THE BUS MOVES MORE PEOPLE IN MEXICO CITY THAN THE RAIL.

AND WE HAD THIS REALLY HIGH AND THE PEOPLE QUICKLY.

BACK HERE -- AND THERE IS RESISTANCE.

LIZ: YOU JUMP TO SOMETHING THAT I HOPE THAT HAD HOPED TO GET TO LATER.

YOU TALK ABOUT MODELS IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, OTHER COUNTRIES, OTHER MODES OF TRANSPORT, MEXICO CITY BUSES YOU JUST MENTIONED.

ARE THERE OTHER EXAMPLES THAT BOSTON SHOULD TAKE?

MS. ROBERTS: WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE LONDON TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM, THE BUS SCHEDULE IS INTEGRATED WITH THE TRAIN SCHEDULE SO THAT IT LOOKS LIKE SEAMLESS -- IT IS NOT ONE MODE, THE WAY THEY HAVE DESIGNED TRANSIT IT IS A SYSTEM.

WHEN YOU GO TO LONDON OR PARIS OR EVEN SOUL YOU HAVE TO MAKE HEADWAYS, WHERE THOSE TRAINS COME EVERY 2-3 MINUTES.

THERE IS A LEVEL OF CERTAINTY AND A LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY THAT PEOPLE THAT HAVE LEARNED TO RELY ON AND TRUST IN THE SYSTEM.

THAT IS NOT HARD TO DO WHEN WE GET OUR TRACKS REPAIRED AND WE REALLY START THINKING ABOUT MAKING BIG INVESTMENTS, WE COULD DO THAT HERE.

LIZ: THAT MIGHT BE THE KEY, MAKING BIG INVESTMENTS.

BUT IT -- THAT SOUNDS FABULOUS, BUT IT WILL TAKE DEEP POCKETS TO GET IT DONE.

MS. ROBERTS: WE ARE NOT A BROKE STATE.

WE ARE OFTEN SAYING IT'’S GOING TO BE EXTENSIVE, BUT WHEN YOU HAVE SUCH AMBITIOUS CLIMATE GOALS LIKE WE HAVE, WHEN YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET TO JOBS, AND YOU HAVE -- YOU HAVE THESE ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS WHERE PEOPLE TRY TO GET TO SCHOOL, PEOPLE NEED TO GET TO MAJOR HOSPITALS.

THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE THE COURT MODE -- CORE MODE.

RATHER THAN THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT IS GOING TO COST, IT'’S WHAT IS HE GOING TO SAVE US IN TERMS OF CLIMATE AND MOVING PEOPLE AROUND, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SHOPPING MORE IN THE CITY AND WALKING AROUND, THEY'’RE GOING TO BE DOING THE KINDS OF THINGS THAT I HOPE WILL INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND BRING MORE DOLLARS TO LOCAL BUSINESSES.

LIZ: ON THE SUBJECT OF MONEY, BUT LOWER SCALE, THERE ARE THREE BUS ROUTES, I KNOW -- FREE PRESS TRUTHS, -- BUS ROUTES, ON ITS PILOT, FUNDED BY COVERT FUNDS.

SHOULD THAT BE EXTENDED AND HOW WOULD THAT BE FUNDED?

>> I HOPE THAT IT IS, I HOPE THAT ONE OF THE THINGS WE LEARN FROM THE FREE BUS PILOT IS THAT WHEN YOU MAKE IT FREE MORE PEOPLE WRITE IT.

IF WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO RIDE PUBLIC TRANSIT, LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT REVENUE MODEL NOT REQUIRING EVERYONE OR ALL -- WHY COULD WE NOT MAKE IT FREE IS MY QUESTION.

IF WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT IT, WE HAVE A ROBUST BUSINESS ECONOMY, DIFFERENT MODELS OF FUNDING THINGS, ADVERTISING, WE MAY WANT TO BE MORE CREATIVE ABOUT WHAT WE ARE ASKING TO PAY FOR OUR PUBLIC TRANSIT.

LIZ: WHERE DO WE STAND IN THE PROCESS OF TRANSFORMING THE BUS SYSTEM TO TRANSFORMING THE FLEET INTO AN ELECTRIC FLEET AT THIS POINT?

MS. ROBERTS: I KNOW THAT THE MAYOR HAS DONE IT, AND SCHOOL BUSES HAVE GONE ELECTRIC, THAT'’S A GOOD STEP.

I STARTED, I'’M TOO NEW TO KNOW ALL THE DETAILS.

I DON'’T KNOW WHERE WE HAVE MOVED IN THE ELECTRIFICATION, BUT IT HAS TO BE A TOP PRIORITY, BUT TICKLY GIVEN WE HAVE THESE AMBITIOUS GOALS.

WE HAVE TO ELECTRIFY OUR TRAINS AND BUSES AT PUBLIC TRANSIT.

WE HAVE TO GET MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON THE ROAD WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT REDUCING OUR EMISSIONS.

THERE IS A LOT THAT WE NEED TO DO, BUT I DON'’T KNOW THE DETAILS .

HE ASKED ME AGAIN AND I SHOULD BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MORE.

LIZ: I DON'’T KNOW ABOUT SIX WEEKS, BUT WE WANT TO HAVE YOU BACK WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR SLEEVES ROLLED UP IN THIS JOB AND THERE IS A LOT MORE TO ASK.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR JOINING US.

THAT'’S IT FOR TONIGHT, COME BACK TOMORROW FOR TALKING POLITICS.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, GOOD NIGHT.