For the first time ever, The Tufts Daily's "Best of Tufts" survey was available online to readers. This year's version took the term "informal survey" to an extreme and is completely unscientific. Never mind that nothing prevented people from voting multiple times. Forget that no effort whatsoever was made to ensure a random sample of respondents. Margin of error? ... it's anyone's guess.
In addition to more conventional answers to the questions, the Daily received some very interesting and notable answers from readers. One respondent managed to incorporate the genitilia of an unspecified "David" into almost each response. Unfortunately, his full responses, along with many of the other funny answers, are unsuitable for print.
In the "On the Hill" category, more than a few respondents expressed surprise to hear that sororities existed at Tufts.
Meanwhile, fraternities were voted the best place to pick someone up. More specifically, Tufts students looking for play seem to gather underground: "dark fraternity basement" and Delta Upsilon / Delta Tau Delta basements garnered several votes.
On the other hand, one respondent wisely divulged, "this is tufts, guys... you're better off staying at home." Another respondent, who took a more corrupt (or purist, depending on your point of view) stance, replied, "at daycare :)".
The Daily feels that the million dollar question is how the Campus Center came in second.
Meanwhile, some respondents - probably scarred by some dreadful dining hall experience - were exceptionally detailed in voting for the "Best dining hall dish ... if you want to get sick" category.
The "bleeding meat" garnered two votes, while the lasagna was nominated for the honor for its resemblance to "a bucket of ricotta cheese".
In the "Off the Hill" category, one clever respondent proclaimed the best place to go to find wings was "a duck."
The "Best Chinese takeout" category was met with skepticism. "Is there good Chinese food around Tufts?" asked one. Others simply resigned themselves to "?".
North End proved to be a popular destination for couples on dinner-dates.
But many took advantage of the opportunity to bemoan their date-less status.
This seemingly widespread problem with lack of dates may be attributable to the fact that Boston appears to have absolutely nowhere to pick up dates. Respondents overwhelmingly responded with confusion and "??" to the "Best place to pick someone up" category.
Several (overly?) confident respondents nominated their respective rooms for the category.
Despite Daily efforts to steer responses towards more legal forums of filesharing, Kazaa, KazaaLite and Limewire still ranked in the top three places to download music. The RIAA (and Apple) may be pleased to hear that iTunes did come in second.
After filing through surveys until our finger were raw and bleeding from papercuts, the Daily is pleased to give the campus "the best of Tufts" in 2003-04.
Compare the results with both friends and enemies alike, and we will see you again next year.
On the Hill
Best Student Organization
First: Leonard Carmichael Society
Second: Concert Board
Third: The Primary Source
Best Performance Group
First: Beelzebubs
Second: Spirit of Color
Third: Tufts Dance Collective
Best Fraternity
First: Delta Tau Delta
Second: Theta Chi
Third: Sig Ep
Best place to pick someone up
First: Frats
Second: Campus Center
Third: Brown and Brew
Best campus eatery
First: No Name Cafe
Second: Dewick-MacPhie
Third: Campus Commons
Best yogurt flavor in dining halls
First: Vanilla
Second: Strawberry
Third: Chocolate
Best Odwalla (drink) flavor
First: Mango Tango
Second: Strawberry Banana
Third: Orange
Best dining hall dish:
First: Stir fry
Second: Pizza
Third: Chicken fingers
Best class if you want an 'A'
First: Astronomy 10
Second: History of Rock 'n Roll
Third: Creative Writing
Best show on TUTV
First: Jumbo Love Match
Second: Best Damn Interruption
Third: Sunday Leftovers
Best dorm
First: West
Second: Miller
Third: South
Best student band
First: The Residence
Second: theMark
Third: Bunk 9
Best Sorority
First: Chi Omega
Second: Alpha Phi
Third: Alpha Omicron Pi
Best hang out spot
First: Campus Center
Second: Brown and Brew
Third: Dorm room
Best candy at Jumbo Express
First: Swedish fish
Second: Sour Patch Kids
Third: Chocolate covered pretzels
Best smoothie at No Name
First: Strawberry
Second: Mango
Third: Strawberry banana
Best fuel for an all-nighter
First: Red Bull
Second: Coffee
Third: Diet Coke
Best dining hall dish...if you want to get sick
First: Fish...any and all fish
Second: Chicken grilla
Third: Fried clams
Best Study Spot
First: Tisch Library
Second: Ginn Library
Third: Campus Center
Best place for employment
First: Library
Second: Gym
Third: Brown and Brew
Off The Hill
Best calzone
First: Espresso Pizza
Second: Andrea's Pizza
Third: Nick's House of Pizza
Best pizza
First: Espresso Pizza
Second: Nick's House of Pizza
Third: Andrea's Pizza
Best breakfast/brunch
First: SoundBites
Second: Jay's Deli
Third: Tasty Gourmet
Best wings
First: Wing Works
Second: Zing Wingz
Third: Espresso Pizza
Best restaurant off MOPS
First: Anna'a Taqueria
Second: Nick's House of Pizza
Third: Tasty Gourmet
Best restaurant on MOPS
First: Andrea's Pizza
Second: Espresso Pizza
Third: Pasta Pisa
Best restaurant to take parents
First: Diva Indian Bistro
Second: Legal Sea Foods
Third: FiRE + iCE
Best restaurant to go on a date
First: Diva Indian Bistro
Second: Joshua Tree
Third: FiRE + iCE
Best coffee shop
First: Starbucks
Second: Diesel Cafe
Third: Someday Cafe
Best Chinese takeout
First: Rose's
Second: East Asia
Third: Panda Palace
Best bar
First: The Burren
Second: The Joshua Tree
Third: Underbones
Best dessert
First: Finale
Second: JP Licks
Third: Cheesecake Factory
Best beer
First: Corona
Second: Samuel Adams
Third: Magic Hat
Best liquor store
First: Hillside Wine and Spirits
Second: Kappy's Liquors
Third: Teele Square Liquors
Best dance club
First: Avalon
Second: The Roxy
Third: Aria
Best music venue
First: Middle East
Second: Avalon
Third: The Paradise
Best place to pick someone up
First: ???
Second: Clubs
Third:
Best mall or shopping area
First: CambridgeSide Galleria
Second: Newbury Street
Third: Copley Square
Best to get a haircut
First: Mario's Salon
Second: Ultimate Barber Shop
Third: Safar Coiffure
Best place to download music
First: Kazaa/KazaaLite
Second: iTunes
Third: Limewire
