News Briefs

High school, EPIIC students collaborate on sovereignty issues

Almost 400 high school students came to campus this weekend to discuss "African Sovereignty, African Perspectives" at the invitation of Tufts' Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program.

The students, who hailed from as far as Atlanta, Chicago, and Indianapolis, acted in roles such as African delegations, the World Bank, and non-governmental organizations in a project that serves as the culmination of EPIIC's year-long INQUIRY program. Now in its 12th year, INQUIRY partners Tufts undergraduates and professors with high school students and teachers to discuss issues of global importance.

The weekend's events included discussions of issues such as peacekeeping in Africa, AIDS, and international debts. Students also heard from Samuel Amadi, a Nigerian attorney who spoke on the role youth will play in Africa's future.

"From what the high school students had to say and what the Tufts students had to say, we believe it was a success," Project Coordinator Heather Barry said. Some high school teachers who have participated in INQUIRY for the past seven or eight years called it "the best one yet," she said.



Police investigating vending machine break-ins

A series of vending machine break-ins that have occurred in academic and residential buildings on campus in the last month is under investigation by campus police, who say that one suspect is currently being questioned.

The suspect appears to be using some type of pry bar to remove or break open the coin box of the vending machines, according to Police Sergeant Douglas Mazzola, who also said that the break-ins have been reported during evening hours.

The suspect is not a student or a local resident, Mazzola said.

A similar series of incidents were reported last spring, although no suspect was charged at that time. Police have yet to determine whether the events are related. The total amount lost has yet to be determined, Mazzola said, and the vendor is still auditing the damage.



Students recognized for academic achievement

At a ceremony on Friday night, 150 students received academic awards that were presented by both President Larry Bacow and department chairs.

Students who received awards were nominated by faculty and department heads, and then selected by the Academic Awards Committee, which is comprised of faculty members and administrators.