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(11/19/03 12:00am)
Large increases in alcohol usage at Tufts appear to be in line with nationwide trends, according to a recent study by the The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The study found that approximately 86 percent of college students consume alcohol, which is not far off from the 81 percent from Tufts who responded that they drink. These statistics are roughly similar to other benchmark schools like Dartmouth and Williams College. "Alcohol use is way up this year, at Tufts and virtually all colleges in the northeast" said Elizabeth Moore, a counselor at the Tufts Alcohol and Health Education Center. In addition, the number of TEMS reports has increased at Tufts. "By estimate so far, the number of reports to TEMS has already doubled, perhaps even tripled, the total number of reports last year," Moore said. Up to this point there have already been 35 calls whereas last year there were only 45 for the whole year. She said many factors could have lead to the increases, including a changed alcohol policy, people feeling freer to call, and higher stress levels. Another possibility for the higher numbers may be due to more freshmen drinking. "So far it seems majority of increase in drinking can be attributed to increase in freshman drinking," said Margot Abels, who directs the Alcohol and Health Education Center. Numbers for freshman violations have increased enormously, with 115 already for this year versus only 148 for all of last year. "I have spoken to many other colleges and what we all seem to be observing in particular is an increase in freshman alcohol use," said Laini Sporbert, director of the Substance Abuse Counseling Center at Williams College. "We are currently looking into this, though as of now we are unable to pinpoint the exact cause of this trend." "I feel like people here, including many I'm personally associated with, drink just because it's what you're 'supposed' to do in college, and they just want to fit in," Tufts freshman Hannah Field said. "Besides," she added, "there aren't many other better things available to do on campus besides drink." According to a 2000 Tufts Alcohol Study, approximately 33.8 percent of Tufts students felt pressure from others to drink, and about 44 percent report drinking more since arriving on campus. A survey of Columbia University students reports similar motivations for drinking. The (often overwhelming) majority of students said that they used alcohol because it "makes them feel happy" or "to have fun." Other commonly cited reasons were "to make it easier to meet new people" or "as a reward for hard work." NESCAC schools adopted an agreement in December 2000 to be "united in efforts to provide safe environments in which students may mature intellectually and socially" and to "take a strong stand against substance abuse, including alcohol."
(11/13/03 12:00am)
Hate the new alcohol policy? Well, guess what? We got them on this one! The following is not just another rant on why this semester's alcohol policy and its enforcement suck, which, by the way, they do. The events told here are completely true, and are actually in the process of transpiring while you read. I was written up for holding a beer in a fraternity, of which I was not a brother, the first night I got back to school. The party was being broken up, a few students were grabbed at random, and I was unlucky enough to be one of them. My ID number was taken by a TUPD officer, who told me that it would be reported to a dean. Weeks later, however, I had not been contacted by any police or administrative members, so I assumed that the incident had been forgotten. A few more weeks later, I still had not heard anything, so I was positive that I was in the clear. Now, last week, I received e-mail notification that I was in some small amount of trouble and was to comply with one of two options: either take an online alcohol education course (most likely similar to one that I took last year), or meet with the Alcohol and Drug Counselor. Figuring a meeting would be quicker than a course, I scheduled an appointment with the counselor. Our meeting will be at the end of the month. OK, so that is where we are at so far. Now let's review the situation. Take a look at part of the e-mail I received: "As you know, you were recently involved in an incident that violated the Alcohol and Drug Policy.... Our primary concern lies with the overall health and wellness of the Tufts community.... We also take seriously our role as medical and mental health professionals to regard any violation of the Alcohol and Drug policy as a potentially serious situation -- perhaps involving addiction and/or unhealthy risk-taking." Shall we examine each excerpt shown here? Oh, we shall. I think that I am somewhat at odds with the university on the definition of being "recently involved" with something. A week after the incident, two weeks, maybe even a month would be alright, but two months? Over half of the semester had passed before I was notified of any action being taken against me. Why should that matter, you might ask? Well, since the university cares about the "overall health and wellness of the Tufts community," they would probably want to contact someone who might have "a potentially serious situation -- perhaps involving addiction" pretty quickly so that he/she could be seen by a specialist, right? Right. Is three months, the time from knowing about the incident to the time of the appointment with the counselor, a quick response? You can decide that for yourself, but I will still answer for you: no. I find almost the entire experience to be one big stinking piece of bureaucratic hypocrisy. If the administration cares about its students and their potential alcohol problems, you would think they would handle an issue like this in a timely fashion. We are not talking about much here, people, just a 20 minute meeting with an underage student who might not know the true consequences of alcohol and could be headed down a dark and dangerous road. Fortunately, I am not an alcoholic by any means, and that is not denial you are hearing; I drink on the weekends sometimes, I know my limits, and I actually have bartending certification, so I am pretty well-educated on the subject. However, there are students out there, on our campus, who might have alcohol addiction or be on the verge of it. Maybe one of them has undergone an occurrence similar to mine. Anybody else think that giving them an extra three months to kill their body, mind, grades, social life, potentially family life, and anything else that they had going for them, would be a bad thing? I cannot hear you, but I will assume you are cheering enthusiastically right now. Still not convinced? What if you walked in on a friend of yours who was in the middle of a suicide attempt? You would probably go ahead and try to schedule some counseling for your friend. Let's say two months later, you got a call from the counselor thanking you for helping your friend. This counselor then goes on to inform you that the meeting will be in four weeks. That is a long time to let a depressed, suicidal person go without help. Why should an alcoholic be treated any differently? Alcoholism is a disease just like depression and needs to be treated at the first sign of symptoms. There is no way that the university could know for certain that I am not an alcoholic, so the only other option left is the university's laziness, or stupidity, or whatever derogatory terms you want to throw out there. Obviously, the administration has come under a lot of fire for its new alcohol policy since things are quite a bit stricter this year. But if that is the way it is going to be, they need to actually care about the health of the students, and not just say that they do. This one slipped through the cracks, and luckily no harm was done. But for whoever is in charge of the alcohol disciplinary and counseling proceedings (since the two are connected, as the e-mail told me), you aught to be ashamed of yourself. You f----d up big time.Joshua Cohn is a sophomore majoring in Music
(11/12/03 12:00am)
An increase over the last decade in the rate of prescription drug usage among Tufts students mirrors a national trend in college campuses. Nationally there has been a rise in teens that are prescribed mental health drugs. In response to demand, Tufts Health Services has broadened its range of psychiatric services, providing inceasing amounts of medication and therapy. According to Director of Tufts Health Services Michelle Bowdler, Health Services wrote 7,000 prescriptions last year, including those for ADD/ADHD and depression. Though she could not offer previous years' statistics, Bowdler said that the number of prescriptions has increased. According to Time magazine, a 2001 survey of college mental health counselors revealed that the percentage of students treated at college counseling centers who have been prescribed psychotropic drugs has increased from 7 percent in 1992 to 18 percent in 2001. In addition, 85 percent of North American student counseling centers have reported an increase in students with "severe psychological problems," the director of the counseling center at Texas State University told Time magazine. Clinicians point to a number of possible reasons for this increase in drug usage, including increased stress and an increased awareness of mental health problems. "Easier access to prescription medication may also be a factor," Bowdler said. "All these little pieces might have some truth, but there is never just one answer to this question." Medical insurance also pays more readily for pills than it does for more costly and time-consuming cognitive/behavioral therapy. It also favors doctors not specializing in psychiatry or psychopharmacology since such doctors will be likely to provide much less extensive evaluation and follow-up of their patients. Health Services could not say whether or not the rate of "talk therapy" (traditional counseling) has seen a comparable increase over the past few years. "Research has proven that medicine and talk therapy in combination has been most effective," said Bowdler. "However, it is ultimately the right of the patients to decide which one to use." A junior who spoke on the condition of anonymity reported that she feels a combination of talk therapy and drugs are the best solution. "Neither one on its own helps me cope [with my disease]" Statistics would seem to support this view. As the rate of prescription drug usage on campuses has increased, the overall reported college suicide rate has gone down from 122 students in 2000 to 80 in 2001, although this might also be attributed to an increase in campus mental health professionals and their increased efforts to diagnose problems early on and treat them aggressively. However, some fear that prescriptions are favored over traditional counseling. "What about the long term effects of drug reliance?" asked Freshman Sara Eisler. "They only worsen your personal ability to deal with problems the natural way, which will in turn cause even greater dependence on drugs, which will hurt you even more in the end. It's a vicious cycle whose effects you should really think about before deciding to enter." Some see this rise in drug usage as positive, while others are less enthusiastic. "It's great that medical technology has improved so that more solutions are now available to help people deal with their problems," freshman Lala Ma.
(11/07/03 12:00am)
College students need mental health services in increasing numbers, according to a recent study by the American College Health Association. In response, college campuses have been improving and expanding their health services programs to offer more accessible and comprehensive care. According to the National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, most counseling center directors have reported even greater demand for services than their resources will allow. Though Tufts offers a wealth of services, many are underutilized according to Health Services Director Michelle Bowdler. The American College Health Association estimates that about ten percent of students now enter college with a prior diagnosis of depression or other mental illness. This trend has been coupled with an increase in suicide attempts and suicides among students, indicating that despite the increased efforts of colleges at support, many students are still not getting the help they need. Researchers at the University of North Carolina suggest that this downturn in mental health may be due to "increasing workload and a rapidly growing and increasingly competitive world marketplace that demands students have increasingly well rounded backgrounds to ensure success." Such demands, however, may also lead to increasing depression in students. "Another reason may be recent economic slumps, which loom large over the heads of soon-to-be graduates seeking jobs. Graduates must be sharp, well-rounded, upstanding citizens in today's global market. Competition is fierce, cutthroat, and many do not feel they can stand up to the challenge or even have the time," added the North Carolina researchers. To help students cope, the Tufts Counseling and Health Services Centers offer services for the entire campus population. Individual counseling with trained professionals is available through appointment at the Tufts Counseling Center. "Students come in to talk about anything from roommate difficulties to indecisiveness about majors to depression," counselor Pamela McCarthy said. Counselors also act as consultants to the leaders of various student groups such as Ears for Peers and the Latino Center. "Our job is to care about students when they are [both] well [and] sick," Bowdler said. Health Services sponsors many outreach programs on campus to ensure that they "are not just a building", but are making themselves accessible and known to the student body. These programs include occasional talks at residence halls at the request of Resident Assistants, distribution of information in the campus center and at booths during special events, and courses taught through the Experimental College. The Student Health Advisory Committee (SHAC) also works directly with Health Services in order to evaluate student satisfaction with Tufts Health Services programs and policies, identify student needs, and ensure that those needs are met with appropriate services and care. In comparison with other schools, Tufts has more counselors available than at Amherst or Williams. However, other schools like Dartmouth and Bowdoin offer a larger variety of services. At Dartmouth, counselors and faculty lead weekly student groups that focus on anything from future planning, to the experience of being the child of an alcoholic. Bowdoin offers yoga classes, meditation workshops, and spirituality retreats. Despite the national mental health trends and improved services, many schools find that only a small percentage of the student body actually utilizes these mental health services -- just ten percent of students do so at Tufts. At Bowdoin, only five to six percent of students use the services, said Jeff Benson, Bowdoin Director of Health Services. Students cite a lack of connection with the counselors as a reason not to participate. "Maybe if I knew the counselors better -- if any of them had a relationship or any sort of connection with me -- I would feel more comfortable going to them with problems," one Tufts student said. Williams, for example, has been able to set up advising groups or panels through which counselors can get to know students more personally. Some Tufts students, however, say they do not use the mental health services, simply because they are unsure of exactly what is offered. Tufts Health Services tries to publicize their services through pamphlets, websites, campus publications, and every event they sponsor or participate in. In addition, Health Services recently formed a group to improve student accessibility and outreach, Bowlder said. However, "We cannot help that not everyone looks at everything," Bowdler said. Bowdler encouraged students who need help to take the next step. "We would like to get out the message that it is no weakness, but actually an act of bravery, to wonder if the feelings you're having are also normal," Bowdler said.
(11/07/03 12:00am)
Early decision hurts minority enrollment and should be discouraged, according to Massachusetts Senator Edward Kennedy, who has proposed a bill that would introduce federal penalties for institutions that allow the process. The bill singles out institutions that offer early decision, give preference to legacy students, or have minority graduation rates 10 percent below the national average. Schools that refused to comply would be forced to double financial aid offers to minority students on federal scholarships and create programs to improve minority graduation rates. The proposal argues that the early decision process favors richer, non-minority students because it requires a student to attend a university if admitted. "Low-income students cannot take advantage of early decision, because they need to compare financial aid packages from a variety of schools," the proposal said. The proposal quotes a Harvard study that claims applying early decision is equivalent to an additional 100 points on a student's SAT score. Candidates who apply early are more likely to be admitted than if they applied during the regular decision period. For this year's freshman class, the early decision admittance rate was 38 percent, and only 26 percent for regular decision. Early decision offers legacies -- applicants whose relatives attended the institution -- an increased chance of admission. "Early decision is... for the ultra-elite full-paying kid who may not be as smart as some of the other kids in the pool," said Harry Siegel, the director of college counseling at Stuart Country Day School in Princeton, NJ. "If the kid has a B average and his father went to Princeton, [early decision] is the only way the kid will get a fair look, otherwise he may end up... at the University of the Ozarks." Education officials have protested the bill, questioning the perceived encroachment of federal involvement. Higher educational organizations including the American Council on Education and Council for Advancement and Support of Education wrote letters of protest. "We don't think that the federal government has a role in being watchdog over college admissions," said Chris Simmons, Assistant Director of Government Relations at the American Council on Education. Siegel agrees. "If a University is dedicated to free and open exchange of ideas, they should be the ones to determine the nature of their student bodies," Siegel said. "[Statistics-based admissions] would set up a monster quota system that wouldn't level the playing field, but exacerbate [the problem]." Siegel also said the process of creating legislation could create unintended consequences. "There are so many publics to appease and too many forces pushing and pulling" on the legislative process, he said. "Wherever they ask a committee to design a horse, they will come out with a camel." Officials also questioned whether early decision or Legacy admissions affected minority graduation rates, as Kennedy claimed. While it can play an important role in the college process, Tufts Dean of Admissions Lee Coffin doubts that government legislation per se would directly affect minority participation. "The senator's intentions are good ones, and preserving access to a college education is obviously a goal I share," Coffin said, "but I am not convinced that ED processes and legacy admissions thwart such access." Coffin said he agreed with a Wall Street Journal Op-Ed piece by Princeton Dean of Admissions Janet Rapeyle. In the article, Rapeyle argued that reporting early decision information to the government would not improve minority admissions. According to Associate Director of Admissions Daryl Tiggle, early decision is an option for students with a clear first choice to receive a more favorable look by the admissions committee. The University benefits by admitting students early decision, Tiggle said, because they are more enthusiastic and more likely to contribute to the student body. Educators suggested the responsibility to diversify schools rests not only on colleges, but high school officials and the students themselves. "You have to change the mentality of the guidance counselors, not the law," Siegel said. "If your last name ends in a vowel, [many counselors] will at best point you to a third-tier school. The real change for the better would be for every college to admit everyone on a rolling basis, but institutions won't do this because it makes their U.S. News and World report ranking go down." With rolling admissions, a student is either admitted or rejected right when he or she applies. "Colleges and universities are doing well to make sure that all students are aware of the options open to them," Simmons said. "The responsibilities are on high school students to educate themselves about colleges and then understand what options are open to them."
(10/28/03 12:00am)
The pressures of university life and its effects on students have been put under scrutiny by a recent spate of suicides at New York University (NYU). The three suicides this semester at NYU have left parents and administrators wondering what steps to take. Michelle Glucagon's off campus fall on Oct. 18 was preceded by Stephen Bohler's Oct. 10 leap and the loss of junior John Skolnik in Sept. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, for people 15-24 years old, suicide is the third leading cause of death, behind unintentional injury and homicide. In 1999, more teenagers and young adults died from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, and chronic lung disease combined. Senior staff psychologist at the Tufts Counseling Center Julie Jampel explained that going off to college an exacerbate the already stressful and painful period of adolescence - regardless of which school the student is attending. "Students are away from home, one is on one's own, and there is the stress of academics and the stress of trying to decide what to do with one's life. These things are all part and parcel of college life and can be stressful and depressing for some people," Jampel said. Jampel stressed that depression and suicidal feelings are both treatable. "If someone seems depressed or suicidal, I would urge their friends to really encourage that person to get help. It doesn't have to be that way." "We do see people who feel suicidal [at the Counseling Center]. It is not uncommon in a college population from time to time," she said. However, these statistics can be misleading in the sense that they make it look like suicide is much more common among younger people than older people Jampel said. "The primary reason [for these statistics] is that younger people are not dying of the things that kill older people," Jampel said. "Illness and disease are less common in younger people and so suicides and accidents are more likely to be the cause of death at a certain age." In the wake of these two recent suicides, NYU administrators are taking steps to prevent future student suicides. These steps range from installing panels on the library walkways to offering increased counseling services. At NYU, university officials are still trying to determine what caused these two students to jump to their deaths from one of the upper-level interior walkways at the Elmer Holmes Bobst Library. According to the New York Times, an NYU spokesman said that to his knowledge, there had never been a previous suicide at the library. NYU officials said that Bohler apparently jumped from a library balcony on either the 8th, 9th or 10th floor around 3 p.m. on Oct. 10. On Sept. 12, Skolnik jumped from the 10th floor. Fellow students who knew Bohler and Skolnik said that there were no visible signs that either was contemplating suicide. Carolyn Bohler said that she did not notice major emotional problems with her son and described him as "extremely happy to come to NYU" to the Times. What has been troubling to students, parents and administrators has not only been the outwardly happy appearance of the two students, but the record of NYU as a low-stress place where there have historically been few suicides. Though the city medical examiner's office was investigating whether Bohler had been on hallucinogenic drugs at the time of his death, many are left wondering if there is something about the university system that prompts suicidal feelings among teenagers and young adults. Following each of the first two suicides, NYU sent an e-mail urging students to make use of the school counseling services. NYU provides students with 12 free therapy sessions, plus additional sessions if there is a legitimate depression problem. Dorm meetings were also required. "It's really disturbing," NYU freshman Beebe Reisman said. "A lot of people felt very uncomfortable going to the library again." The third suicide occurred nearby Reisman's dorm, and she said, "It's on everyone's mind." A friend of hers, she said, has "just been a lot more careful about what he's said to people" since the suicides. NYU sophomore Jonathan Sanden noted that despite university efforts in prevention the school "is only touching on the tip of the iceberg. There are plenty of places where students can kill themselves. The only thing [the glass panels] are preventing is the students from making a statement." He feels the real solution to the quandary is counseling and finding the root of the problem. After the suicide of sophomore Alex Mendell earlier this year, Tufts has encouraged students to take advantage of the Tufts Counseling Center and Ears for Peers if they are feeling depressed or just want to talk with someone. The Tufts Counseling Center can help students who are depressed or feeling suicidal by working to find an individual solution. "We can work with someone at the counseling center -- we can facilitate a meeting with a psychiatrist, or help them find a therapist in private practice or a clinic in the community that might better suit their needs," Jampel said. Ears for Peers is a confidential hotline available from 7 pm to 7 am every day. Student volunteers who are familiar with the pressures of college answer the phones and "lend an ear" to students who need someone to talk to.
(10/21/03 12:00am)
Over the summer, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy entered a partnership with John Hancock Financial Services that involved the renaming of the school's fitness center to the John Hancock Center of Physical Activity and Nutrition. Originally named The Center for Physical Fitness, the center was established in 1999 to create programs that would combat the problems of growing obesity and physical inactivity in the US population. University President Larry Bacow had expressed interest in expanding the center's scope and budget, and his office worked with the Development Office to put together a proposal for John Hancock, which was accepted. "The restricted budget was not scaling up, this long-term sponsorship will allow the center to grow," said Eric Johnson of the Development and Advancement Office. "The sponsorship is a ten-year agreement that provides significant resources, both in support for research and for outreach activities" Johnson continued. "John Hancock is excited about the goals of the center and wanted to partner with the school to accomplish these." Dr. Miriam Nelson, who founded the Center, added that with the sponsorship, "Our goals for the center have become more crystallized. Our aims are to do solid scientific research in large-scale programs that are researching the important questions of how can we get individuals, communities, states and even eventually the country, more physically active and eating better." Though the Center is funded from a variety of foundations, private donors and government grants, Nelson explained that this type of long-term funding represents a new milestone. "What the John Hancock sponsorship does is gives us core support that we can count on for a long time, which is enormously helpful with any university endeavors, as the funding always comes from a mixture of sources. It's helpful to know that this resource will last." Johnson explained that the agreement between the Friedman School and John Hancock does not have any oversight rule. "We recognize this as an act of philanthropy, so we will be in contact with the company, but there is no oversight rule in the contract." Nelson agreed that the contract leaves a lot of leeway. "Every agreement we make with anyone, not just the corporations, will always have expectations on both sides. The unique piece with this is that there is not a lot of obligation for us." John Hancock is the primary sponsor for the Boston Marathon, and some of the company's interest in the project comes from its interest in the annual event. Some of the Tufts staff will assist John Hancock's running team by providing seminars, as part of the agreement. Tufts Marathon team runners will also be able to participate. "Our agreement is very tied in with the whole marathon effort," Nelson said. "As part of our responsibilities we are going to be helping to organize, along with the Tufts Advancement Office and Larry Bacow, the marathon challenge -- helping to find people to run, helping with training programs, nutritional counseling and information." The late September buy-out of John Hancock Financial Services by Toronto-based insurance company Manulife had some skeptics concerned that the agreement with the school would be affected. Manulife bought the company for stock worth $10.8 billion. This merger makes Manulife the second largest insurance company in the United States. "There will be no change in the sponsorship," Johnson said. "Manulife said there would be no change in John Hancock's different community sports sponsorships, and we have been assured that we fall under that." Community relations at John Hancock said only that "there will definitely be no change [due to the buy-out]." Administrators are optimistic about the partnership. "We view this as an exciting development for the Friedman School and for the entire Tufts community," Johnson said.
(10/21/03 12:00am)
After nearly twenty years of experience in alcohol and drug education, Margot Abels is ready to take on the Tufts campus. Her goal: to smash the smashed and weed out the weed. She is the new Director of Alcohol and Drug Prevention. Abels is the very first to hold the position of Director of Alcohol and Drug Prevention. Previously, Tufts only had one counselor based in Health Services, an arrangement that had proven inadequate. Michelle Bowdler, Director of Health Services, expressed concern; as a direct result, the rest of the administration agreed that Tufts needed more experienced educators and counselors who would have a real presence on campus. Consequently, Abels was hired as Director, along with Liz Moore, the new treatment specialist. "Two people are much better than one," Abels said. "We both have extensive backgrounds in education and have much practice working one on one with people suffering from alcohol and/or drug addictions." Abels does not want the student body to be intimidated by her title. As she enters her third month here, Abels expects she will get to know more of the student body on individual bases. She wishes to be viewed as a friend, not as the enemy; she hopes to be an advocate as well as an authority. "My charge here is to establish an effective, comprehensive, science-based and collaborative prevention program that responds primarily to the needs of students who over-use and abuse alcohol and other drugs," Abels said. Along with Moore and Bowdler, Abels has created a system from within Health Services to better connect with the student body and offer education and counseling to those in need. As well as trying to help out those battling an addiction, Abels also wants to work with students in making Tufts a fun and safe place for everyone. "Nothing is set in stone," Abels said. "If the current policy is causing students to drink in more risky ways, then it should be changed." Abels has already met with TCU President Chike Aguh in the hopes of forming a collaboration between the students and administrators. She feels that the lack of communication between the policy makers and those affected by the policy, namely the students, creates tension and confusion. "Both President Bacow and Dean Reitman want a strong program," Abels said. "Nobody is trying to make drastic changes on campus. Our main concern is your safety." Abels graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Art History. She received her masters from Sarah Lawrence in American Women's History. She has been in the health education field since 1985, focusing a great deal of energy on alcohol and drug abuse in addition to a heavy emphasis on HIV prevention, women's health, and sexuality education. Prevention has always been her main focus, which she has applied to the politics of health care and health education as well as gender and sexuality studies. Though her true love is gardening, she has decided to continue along the path of health education and take a chance on the Tufts community. Since Abels was an undergraduate at a small, private school similar to Tufts, she says the transition to the University has been a comfortable one. She is highly impressed with the Tufts location and size, feels quite welcome, and is "floored" by the Health Services center. For the most part, Abels does not think the Tufts campus is one that is overly abusive of alcohol. She understands the necessity of a weekend outlet after a long, hard week of classes and tests. It is completely normal. "Tufts is not going to be on the next edition of Dateline," Abels joked. "But, I do see all the TEMS reports and they worry me. Honestly, we adults don't have all the answers, but we're trying our best to find them." One of the ways in which Abels hopes to find those answers is by creating an advisory council consisting of students and adults. Members of this committee will work together to come up with effective policies that they can present to the table of University Directors. The first "Think Tank on Alcohol and Drug Issues," a precursor to the creation of the advisory council, was held yesterday. Additional Think Tanks will take place on Oct. 27 and 29. Students interested in becoming affiliated with the advisory council should attend these sessions.Contact Abels at Health Services for more information.
(10/20/03 12:00am)
Whether to make the game more interesting, or just to emphasis confidence in one's team, gambling is a relatively common student activity. In some students' experiences, watching tension-filled games and putting money where the proverbial mouth is, has become as much a part of college as after-hours pizza. That passion for sports, however, can lend itself to a potentially fun but also potentially dangerous activity: gambling. The compulsive and uncontrollable side of this form of recreation often goes unrecognized. According to a study conducted by researchers at Harvard University, college students are 20 percent more likely to suffer from gambling addictions compared to young adults. "As gambling has become more socially accepted and accessible during the past two decades, the general adult population has started to gamble in increasing numbers," said Harvard Medical School Psychology Professor and survey director Howard Shaffer.Studies like this are proving that poker and gambling are not just for balding men with a love for cigars. These games are wildly popular across campus, and highly visible. Whether it is watching players on television, gambling in a dorm, casino, or trying their luck online students say they are just looking for some fun with their friends, and the chance to make a quick buck. The appearance of mainstream gambling has been apparent in the activity's increasing popularity. Highly dramatized World Championship poker tournaments on national television are an influencing factor to students. One self-proclaimed addict, a Tufts junior, explained the attraction. "You watch the guys at these high stake tournaments and think you can play like them," he said. "I've seen all the tournaments, and whenever I watch them, I end up wanting to start a game." In addition to its social, clustered-around-the-TV variety, gambling, specifically poker, has manifested itself in dark, off-campus basements and dorm hallways late at night. On any given night in South Hall, for example, gambling is usually taking place in at least one "study" area. For those who aren't particular about the authenticity of their gambling experience, there is online casino gambling and sports betting sites like "Fantasy Football." Since the first online casino was established in 1995, these 24-hour, instantly accessible venues have become popular outlets for gambling. The extreme convenience of online gambling venues makes them dangerous to borderline-compulsive gamblers. Many such online venues offer players the possibility of withdrawing or depositing automatically into your bank account. Many border-line compulsive gamblers refuse to try it, fearing what might result. In an effort to combat a "culture of illegal gaming on college campuses," the US Senate Commerce Committee has recently approved the Amateur Sports Integrity Act. Though not yet adopted by the Senate, several US senators have proposed an addition to the bill that would make universities responsible for their students' online gambling habits. The bill would dictate that universities monitor their Internet facilities to identify online gambling. Any university failing to do so would lose its federal education funding. With casino gambling highly restricted and isolated in the US by negative stigmas, a trip to a casino seems like a rebellious outing for the college gambler. Most states accept horse racing and the lottery as perfectly legal outlets for gambling, but explicitly outlaw casinos. Tufts students however, have found several legal 18-and-over gaming venues are within driving distance. One popular mecca, four hours west of Tufts, is Turning Stone Casino. As part of the whole male bonding experience, the DTD fraternity took their pledge class trip there last spring. Another destination, just across the border, is The Montreal Casino, where gambling is legal at age 18. Freshman Jon Gold sees the limitations and stigmas around casinos as unfounded. "What's wrong with spending $10 playing poker with friends?" Gold said. "It's worth it when you get to play and have fun for two hours." Gold also noted, that most college students do not have a lot of disposable income to gamble with -- which keeps the ante at around a quarter. While the wins and losses may be financially minimal, the pride that comes with victory is undeniable. And the cash doesn't hurt either. "It's an easy way to make money off stupid freshmen," said one sophomore. While most students are playing for fun, money, or pride, others' participation in gambling may be bordering on an addiction. For those students, help is available, regardless of whether it is illegal for them to be playing in the first place. Though the Tufts Counseling Center does not have a program for gambling problems, it advises students to seek help from the Massachusetts Council on Compulsive Gambling. The Council has a 24 hour hotline (1 800 GAM 1234) and a website, www.masscompulsivegambling.org.
(05/18/03 12:00am)
This year's list of Commencement speakers boasts a unique group of distinguished individuals who have had great accomplishments in various fields including the judicial, scientific, and artistic. Here are profiles of these outstanding individuals. Margaret H. Marshall Keynote speaker Margaret H. Marshall, the Massachusetts Chief Justice and the first woman to lead the state's highest and oldest court, has been chosen as the keynote speaker at the University's 147th Commencement. Chief Justice Marshall will be awarded an honorary degree at the ceremonies. "As an activist in South Africa and now as the state's chief justice, Margaret H. Marshall has dedicated her life to protecting freedom and justice," University President Lawrence Bacow stated in an e-mail to the student body. "Chief Justice Marshall embodies the value of public service that we encourage and cultivate in all of our students at Tufts. Her tireless life's work in support of social justice should serve as inspiration to us all." Born in South Africa, Marshall graduated from Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg in 1966. Simultaneously, she became president of the National Union of South African Students and a leader in the anti-apartheid campaign. Soon after, Marshall moved to the United States to attend graduate school, and received a master's degree from Harvard University and her J.D. from Yale Law School. Marshall has distinguished herself during her long career as a leader in the law community, receiving numerous distinctions and awards. As a practicing attorney, Marshall was an associate, and later a partner, in the Boston law firm of Csaplar & Bok, and was a partner in the Boston law firm of Choate, Hall, & Stewart. In addition, before her appointment to the Supreme Judicial Court, she was Vice President and General Counsel of Harvard University. First appointed as an associate justice to the state's Supreme Court in November 1996, she was named chief justice in September 1999 by then-Governor Cellucci. As chief justice, Marshall has accomplished many impressive feats, including an initiative to reform the Massachusetts court system. Marshall's long list of accomplishments also includesbecoming president of the Boston Bar Association in 1991, and receiving the American Bar Association's Margaret Brent Award. Marshall is only the second woman to serve on the state's Supreme Judicial Court in its over 300-year history, and is the first woman to serve as chief justice. Arthur MitchellHonorary degree recipient A distinguished dancer and choreographer, Arthur Mitchell is, among other things, the founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem in New York City. He is known around the world as a groundbreaking dance innovator. Mitchell began his dance training at New York City's High School for the Performing Arts, and upon graduation was offered a scholarship to the School of American Ballet, where he made history in 1955 when he became the first African-American male dancer to become a permanent member of a major ballet company. He joined the New York City Ballet where he quickly rose to the position of principal dancer. He spent 15 years with the company, simultaneously performing in films, television shows, nightclubs, and on Broadway. In 1968, upon learning of the death of his hero, Martin Luther King, Jr., Mitchell became determined to do something to provide increased opportunities for children in Harlem. That summer, he began giving ballet classes to local children and in 1969, with financial assistance from the Ford Foundation, Mitchell founded the Dance Theater of Harlem, meant as both a school of the arts and a professional ballet company. Today, the Dance Theatre of Harlem is a renowned institution, comprising students and dancers from around the world. Among the many honors and awards conferred on Mitchell are the 1997 "Americans for the Arts" Arts in Education Award, the 1987 National Medal of Arts - the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States in the arts and humanities - and the coveted MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the School of American Ballet Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1993, Mitchell was awarded "Living Landmark" status by the New York Landmark Conservancy. Also in 1993, Mitchell became one of the youngest recipients of the Kennedy Center Honor, celebrating "an extraordinary lifetime of contributions to American culture through the performing arts." Now receiving an honorary degree from Tufts, Mitchell has also received honorary doctorate degrees from institutions nationwide, including Hamilton College, Brown University, City College of the City University of New York, Harvard University, The Juilliard School, The New School for Social Research, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Williams College.Mario MolinaHonorary degree recipient Dr. Mario Molina, a Nobel Prize-winning scientist for his research on the effects of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) on the atmosphere and a professor at MIT, is a leading authority on pollution and its effects on the environment. Molina was awarded a Nobel Prize for showing, with a University of California at Irvine colleague, that CFCs, which are often used in refrigeration and household items such as hair spray, greatly damage the ozone layer. His research, done in the early 1970s, led to profound policy changes in the decades following. Currently CFCs are banned in developed countries. Born in Mexico City, Molina holds a Chemical Engineer degree from the Universidad Nacional Aut??noma de M?©xico, a postgraduate degree from the University of Freiburg in West Germany, and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. He began his years at MIT in 1989 with a joint appointment in the Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences and the Department of Chemistry, and was named MIT Institute Professor in 1997. Prior to joining MIT, he held teaching and research positions at the Universidad Nacional Aut??noma de M?©xico, the University of California, Irvine, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology. Molina is a member of the US National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine, and the Pontifical Academy of Sciences. He has served on the US President's Committee of Advisors in Science and Technology, the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board, the National Research Council Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, and on the boards of US-Mexico Foundation of Science and other non-profit environmental organizations. Dr. Molina continues to teach while pursuing his research. Most recently, he has directed a joint project between MIT and local government in Mexico City to improve the dangerous air quality situation in his hometown.Agnes VarisHonorary degree recipient Agnes Varis, the founder and president of Agvar Chemicals Inc., is renowned as an innovator and leader in the pharmaceutical industry. Both in her role at Agvar and as founder and president of Aegis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Varis has worked to make her company's products both affordable and accessible. Varis' leadership in the pharmaceutical industry is matched by her dedication to other social causes. As a leader in many charitable projects and organizations, Varis has worked to help the disadvantaged and break down the barriers for women professionally and politically. Born in Lowell, MA., Varis was one of eight children of Greek immigrant parents. She earned her degree in chemistry and English from Brooklyn College, and later attended New York University to obtain her business degree. Right out of school, she took an entry-level job in a chemical manufacturing company that focused on bulk pharmaceuticals, and eventually, became a leader of the company. In 1970, Varis left to start her own company, Agvar Chemicals and co-founded Marsam Pharmaceuticals in 1985. In 1992, she became founder and president of Aegis Pharmaceuticals. All three companies are dedicated to "creating pharmaceuticals whose pricing and distribution make them more accessible to underserved populations." In 1999, Varis was honored with the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) Industry Leadership Award, and in 2000 endowed the Agnes Varis University Chair in Science and Society at Tufts dedicated to exploring scientific discovery and its impact on humankind. It is the first endowed University chair in Tufts' history designed to rotate among each of the schools at the university, thereby encouraging scholarly work in every field and among fields. Her love of animals has also led to many generous donations to Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, including the Agnes Varis Lecture Hall. Varis is also a member of the Board of Overseers for Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine.Mohamed el BaradeiFletcher speaker Mohamed el Baradei has been the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an intergovernmental organization within the United Nations, since 1997. He has served as the agency's legal advisor and assistant director general for external relations, among other positions, since 1984. Born in Egypt in 1942, he earned his law degree from the University of Cairo in 1962, as well as a Doctorate in International Law from New York University Law School in 1974. His career began in the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1964. In 1980 he started his work as the senior fellow heading the International Law Program at the UN Institute for Training and Research. In the meantime, he occasionally served as an adjunct professor at NYU Law School. El Baradei has become well-versed in the fields of international peace and security, as well as international law making. He is a member of the International Law Association, as well as the American Society of International Law.Elaine WangWendell Phillips award winner Elaine Wang will be the only student speaker at Commencement. Her resume might not yet be as lengthy as that of some of today's other speakers, but Wang seeks to make a similarly positive impact upon the world. She plans to study international law in New York following graduation. One of eight finalists for the award, which is named after a Boston humanitarian and preacher, Wang was selected by the Committee on Student Life after giving a five-minute speech in which she addressed intolerance, prejudice, and hate crimes. Wang, who honed her public speaking skills during her high school years, plans to discuss these issues in her Commencement speech, "We're very far from an ideal world," she said. "It is really a great honor to be chosen from such a talented group of people and to be able to share a part of me with my class and the community," Wang said.
(05/18/03 12:00am)
Conservative groups are claiming victory after Tufts has made changes to the description of two of its Medical School programs that were accused of race-based admissions processes and Title VI violations. No details have been provided by Tufts whether the actual policy of the programs has been changed, or if the University simply changed their descriptions. Regardless, the conservative groups who challenged the programs' legality have declared victory with the University's decision. "I'm thrilled and gratified," said Edward Blum, a representative and lawyer with the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO). "You guys gave in." The response from Tufts comes at a time when affirmative action admissions and minority-only programs are being challenged. In late April, University General Counsel Mary Lee Jacobs responded to CEO with a letter, which acknowledged that the Web site descriptions of the programs could be in violation of Title VI. "The University has carefully reviewed the Web sites referenced in you letter," Jacobs wrote in a CEO-provided e-mail. "The websites have been revised and a number of changes have been made, including the deletion of language that could be considered to be in conflict with the requirements of Title VI." Jacobs could not be reached for comment, but it appears the Web site's language has changed. The Post Baccalaureate Research Program's (PREP) admission requirements formerly stated that "this non-degree program is open to minority candidates." The program is now inclusive of "underrepresented minorities." The site lists what groups that phrase could include, but now also clarifies that it is not limited to that list. Especially important is the explicit mention of "members of economically disadvantaged families," which means that the programs could no longer be considered based on race. In a Mar. 27 cease and desist order, conservative groups CEO and the American Civil Rights Institute challenged the legitimacy of the Medical School's PREP and Minority Externship program. Though Tufts earlier indicated it was not planning any changes before the Apr. 21 deadline it was given in the order, it appears that action has been taken to change the programs. The lobbying groups contend that the language that details admission eligibility is in violation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that no person be discriminated against "on the ground of race, color, or national origin" by any program which receives federal funding. Both programs at the Med School are funded in part through the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This new stance comes in sharp contrast to the initial reaction to the cease and desist order. "They're not a court," Med School spokeswoman Peggy Hayes told the Daily on Apr. 9. "If the University believes they are in compliance, I don't think a response is necessary." Even though numerous faculty members in the Med School - as well as the Dean of the Sackler School of Biomedical Sciences - deferred comment to Hayes, as of May 12 she had not yet been informed of the University's decision to change the Web sites. It also appears that even the directors of programs that would potentially be affected were left out of the decision. Dr. Andrew Camilli, director of the Sackler School's summer research program for undergraduate minorities, says he has attended no meetings and heard nothing "other than rumors" about the programs' formats. Although that particular program was not challenged, its official admissions requirements are almost identical to those of the challenged PREP program. "There are no changes in what we're doing this summer," Camilli said, adding that the "discussion and changes that are going to happen" will be after this summer. Discussion will be about "changing our stance to what are the underrepresented groups in the sciences." In addition to the Med School's offerings, CEO has lobbied against 30 minority-only programs at such schools as Harvard, MIT, Princeton, St. Louis University, and Texas A&M. As of March, six other schools had changed the admissions eligibility of their programs. Earlier this year, the University was involved in other court action in favor of affirmative action. Tufts was a part of an amicus curiae brief filed by almost 30 other schools similar in size and selectivity to Tufts, which supported the University of Michigan in its ongoing battle in the Supreme Court to continue considering race and other non-academic factors in its admissions process. "Private, highly selective colleges have a compelling educational interest in enrolling highly diverse - including racially diverse - classes, and cannot do so without taking the diversity they strive for into account," the brief said. "35 years [after its implementation], the colleges' experience demonstrates that affirmative action has had educational benefits - and benefits for American society." The case, which could determine the future of affirmative action admissions, centers on a 1997 lawsuit filed by Barbara Grutter, after her rejection to Michigan's law school. Grutter felt that her application was not properly considered because she was Caucasian. A district court ruled in favor of Grutter, but the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned the first ruling. Another suit was filed by two people who were rejected from Michigan State's undergraduate program. The case could possibly be the most important to college admissions since the 1978 California v. Bakke case, which ruled that quota systems could not be used, but race could still be considered as a factor in admission. UMich currently uses a now widely publicized 150 point system for admission, which adds up to 20 points for student athletes or minorities, but only up to 5 points for recognition for leadership and service. Tufts does not use such a system, but does use race as a factor in admissions decisions, including "the responsibility for making every effort to identify and alleviate underutilization of minorities," reviewing each applicant on a case-by-case basis. The Supreme Court is currently hearing oral arguments in the case, and a decision is not expected until June.
(04/28/03 12:00am)
Ask most people who exercise and diet about their habits and you'll most likely get a vague response about being slightly concerned about their weight and keeping fit. But what about the girl who's always at the gym; the friend with the "extremely small bladder" who always has to run to the bathroom once or twice during a meal; the boy whose girl friends tease him about how little he eats and how he's "even skinnier than a girl"? There is a thin line between simply being concerned about one's weight and being obsessed with the numbers that appear on the scale. The National Eating Disorders Association estimates that approximately seven million females and one million males struggle with eating disorders. In addition, the National Institute of Mental Health estimates that out of ten female college students suffer from a severe or borderline eating disorder. The situation is no better or worse at Tufts. Created five years ago, the Task Force for Eating Disorders focuses its attention on tackling the problem of eating disorders in the community and aims to raise awareness about the problem. The Task Force consists of faculty and staff together from the Health and Counselling services, the School of Nutrition, Residential Life, Deans' Office, Dining Services, and Athletic Office. With sources from so many different areas of the school, "there isn't just one way to access care," Director of Tufts Health Services Michelle Bowdler said. "The whole theory behind starting this Task Force was to create relationships amongst the health service/counselling center and the other places... so that people would know how to get somebody into treatment," Bowdler explained. How well has their approach worked? Bowdler admits that the number of cases Tufts has been treating has indeed gone up year after year. This most likely reflects a greater recognition by students that help is available at Tufts, as well as a greater willingness to seek out help. Still, there are always those like sophomore Mandy (not her real name) who are reluctant to get help. For Mandy, going through high school with the purging type of anorexia was hard enough -- college has been an even greater challenge in maintaining the stable state of mind necessary for recovery. "Ever since the first time I purged, my mentality has been 'oh, winter break is coming up... I'll stop then,'" Mandy said. "Winter break would come and pass. I might have been good for a few days, but by the time school started again, I would have relapsed into old habits of purging what little I did eat." Looking back, Mandy believes that she was ready to stop these habits when she said she was. "They were all just false promises I made to justify any restricting or purging I was doing at the time. I guess it's just like a smoker saying to himself, 'just one last smoke.' But of course, it never is." Indeed, the hardest cases to treat are "the students that aren't quite ready to be treated," Clinic Manager Kathleen O'Dea said. These people visit Health Service "only because they've been 'strongly encouraged' by their parents or family to seek treatment." Until they are ready to undergo therapy on their own, little can really be accomplished. Friends play a crucial role in the well-being of the people they know with eating disorders. Few people with disordered eating will approach a therapist or doctor -- both complete strangers -- for help when they lack the support and understanding of friends. "The first time, two concerned friends turned me into the dean," Mandy said. "Six months later, when I returned to admit that my problem hadn't gotten any better, I had dragged another good friend along" for emotional support. Both Bowdler's and O'Dea stress that anyone is welcome to come talk. Bowdler's words are reassuring: "We just want people to know that what they're going through is not going to shock or surprise us, we understand what they are going through; it's not new to us... we just want care for them and help them get into treatment."
(04/09/03 12:00am)
Tufts plans to ignore a cease and desist order from two conservative lobbying groups, a move which could prompt a government investigation. Two Medical School programs, the Post-Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) and the Externship program, were identified by the groups as being in conflict with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, sex or gender for any program that receives federal monies. The two Medical School opportunities are funded by grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and operated by the Medical School. In a letter sent last month, Edward Blum, a representative for the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO) and the American Civil Rights Institute, gave Tufts until Apr. 21 to end the programs and warned other actions could be taken if the University does not comply. The current Medical School programs do not require students to be part of a federally recognized minority or ethnic group. Students must demonstrate, however, that they come from an under-represented area of society. If the University refuses to comply, CEO will file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. The office is obligated to investigate, and if found guilty of violating Title VI, Tufts will be required to end the programs or lose all federal funding. Blum indicated that he would be willing to give the school additional time if they requested it, but Medical School spokesperson Peggy Hayes said the school is not planning to respond. "They're not a court," Hayes said. "If the University believes they are in compliance, I don't think a response is necessary." Tufts General Counsel Mary Lee Jacobs, who is handling the complaint, refused to comment, describing it as "a pending legal matter." Thirty other schools were sent similar letters, including Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan. CEO's current effort focuses on professional school orientation programs, because these offer "tangible benefits" to those that participate in them, according to Blum. Six programs, including Princeton's Junior Summer Institute in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, have accepted non-minority students for the first time because of the complaints. CEO also filed complaints against programs at St. Louis University and Texas A&M after those schools refused to change eligibility requirements to include non-minorities. Since the University believes that the Medical School is in full compliance with all state and University laws and is awaiting a decision of the University of Michigan affirmative action case, it is reluctant to take any action, Hayes said. A decision by the high court, which should be available in June, will allow Tufts to have a better understanding of whether or not it is in compliance, according to Hayes. But CEO General Counsel Roger Clegg rejected Tufts' claim that the two cases are connected. "It doesn't matter what the court rules in Michigan, because whatever they do, running a racially exclusive program will remain illegal," Clegg said. The Externship Program allows students to spend one month in a hospital environment before attending medical school. PREP receives money to hire five to ten students with a BA to work in a laboratory setting before entering medical school. In other parts of the University, programs exist which are only open to minority students, including the Asian-American center's annual trip to George's Island. In addition, the Sackler School of Biological Science runs the Summer Research Program for Undergraduate Minority Students. The program is sponsored with funds received from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, which is also part of the NIH.
(04/01/03 12:00am)
The Medical School may be in violation of federal law, according to a letter from two conservative think-tanks that was received by the school last week. In the letter, Tufts was given until Apr. 21 to change its Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and its Minority Externship Program or face possible legal action. At issue is Title VI, a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requiring that any program which spends public funds not spend them "in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination." Action against Tufts is part of the broader campaign being waged by the Center for Equal Opportunity and the American Civil Rights Institute, two Washington DC based interest groups. Six universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have agreed to modify their programs after receiving similar letters. The letter sent to the medical school identified the PREP and the Minority Externship Program as those not in compliance with Title VI legislation. Edward Blum, legal affairs advisor for the Center of Equal Opportunity, said that action was being taken because "these programs offer tangible benefits," which are not available to non-minority students. The complaint alleges that the two medical school programs violate the statute because they use race "as a prerequisite" Blum said. Henry Wortis, a professor at the Medical School, who sought government funding for the PREP program denied the program was illegal. The federal funding that the program receives would otherwise not be given to the school, and thus other programs are not suffering in the wake of PREP's existence, he said. PREP allows students who are demonstrated minorities and have received a bachelor's degree to work for one or two years in a research position at the Tufts medical school. Participants receive a $21,000 yearly stipend. The grant allows for as many as ten assistants at any one time. Wortis said that the University considers all groups of people who might be underrepresented in the medical field for the PREP program, not just "historically defined minorities." The Minority Externship Program, gives students the opportunity to do a month internship in the community, with a $350 stipend and a free metro pass. Applications are floating and students are accepted from "under-represented minorities" already accepted at the Medical School. Director of the Externship Program Di Pierce defended the program's attempts to address issues of equality. "This program is directed toward under-represented minorities but nobody is excluded from applying." Dean of Student Affairs at the Medical School Amy Kuklik and Tufts General Counsel Mary Lee Jacobs were unavailable for comment. If the Medical School refuses to change the program, it could face an investigation from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which Blum warned was "not a good thing for any University to endure." The OCR is a subset of the Department of Education that assures the enforcement of Title VI by conducting inquiries based on complaints filed with the office. Blum warned the process could take "years," and most universities are charged with some form of non-compliance. Blum, however, was confident that Tufts would follow the lead of other universities and comply with the statue. In response other schools have formed "committees to look into allegations and given reasons and why they have asked for more time, and we have been more than accommodative." The School of Arts, Sciences and Engineering also holds several programs exclusive to students of a certain racial or ethic group, including the Asian-Americans Center's "Annual George's Island Outing" and a trip to Cape Cod sponsored by the Africana Center. The Center for Equal Opportunity believes these programs are in violation of Title VI, but has decided not to pursue it, instead focusing on programs at professional schools. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman denied the charges, and questioned why cultural programs were being targeted for media attention. He emphasized the program offered at Tufts, during the general orientation period, was legal and one of 40 programs offered during the period after general matriculation on Aug. 28.
(03/26/03 12:00am)
Student Sexual Assault Response Assistance (SSARA) organization, formed two years ago, provides counseling and support to members of the University community who have experienced rape, assault and/or abuse by selected student volunteers. The program was first implemented when the women's center received a grant from the Department of Justice. According to Peggy Barrett of the Women's Center, it was decided that the Rape Crisis and Recovery course offered on campus could be supplemented by certifying students as counselors to serve the Tufts community. Has SSARA been a success? Results are mixed. While the staff is dedicated and organized, students are not as aware of the program's existence as Health Services would like them to be, and not all those who have called the hotline received the guidance they hoped for. Sophomore Hilary Wentz, who currently works as a volunteer assistant for SSARA, says that she gained interest in becoming involved with SSARA after learning about the program during her freshman year orientation. She decided to take the course and became certified as a rape crisis counselor, which then gave her the opportunity to apply for a position as an assistant. Thus far, her participation in SSARA has been "a wonderful experience." One student who used the service said that the program has been extremely helpful, providing both counseling and references to other resources and organizations. "It is extremely comforting to know that there is a resource right here on campus that is kept confidential, to help students cope with difficult and even traumatizing situations," the student said. Although the program has only been functioning for two years, "people are very interested in being part of it," Barrett said. As far as the community's awareness of the program, Barrett and Wentz both asserted that advertising is the most effective means of heightening awareness and knowledge, and hopefully subsequent utilization of the program. The program is first introduced to students during orientation their freshman year, and later pamphlets are periodically distributed to remind students about the program. The advertising campaign has also included printing information about SSARA on everyday items that students would have around their rooms, such as key chains. "I know that the program exists, but I have not seen any posters advertising it this year," sophomore Nina Soares said. The most recent forms of publicity for SSARA consist of teach-ins and speakers' bureaus to educate the community about the program. The organization has also endeavored to increase the program's accessibility by creating the position of a sexual assault resource coordinator, who can be accessed in a confidential manner directly through health services. "Personally, the program did not work for me," one junior said. "I called because my boyfriend threatened me and my friends, and the person I spoke to did not make me feel comfortable enough to explain my situation. It's hard to open up to a stranger, especially to a peer that might be judging you even though they aren't supposed to be." Both Barrett and Wentz expressed confidence that more students will take advantage of the program as they gain more information about it. "I feel as though [SSARA] is making its best effort to serve the Tufts community. It is unfortunate that more people do not take advantage of the program, but as it becomes more publicized," Wentz said. The program was first implemented when the women's center received a grant from the Department of Justice. According to Peggy Barrett of the Women's Center, it was decided that the Rape Crisis and Recovery course offered on campus could be supplemented by certifying students as counselors to serve the Tufts community. The organization currently consists of a group of ten students who have been certified as rape crisis counselors who were accepted into the program through an application process. The students receive training either through the course offered at Tufts or through an outside organization. The students work as volunteer assistants, and are given shifts of one week at a time in which they are on call 24 hours per day. Their job is to provide "some counseling and some resource information, depending upon what the caller needs," Barrett said. Barrett and Kathy Savage of Health Services provide back-up for the SSARA assistants on call, but it is the student volunteers that receive and initially respond to the calls. The assistants have monthly meetings with trained rape crisis counselors to gain continuing education and training. "I am sure it will become more frequently used," Wentz said.
(02/26/03 12:00am)
"[The drug scene] is not visible, and not nearly as visible as the drinking, for obvious reasons, but it's definitely present whether you see it or not," one sophomore said. According to the Tufts Police Department's (TUPD) Police Blotters for the past few months, many calls relate to loud parties and alcohol, but just as often, the department receives a call about illegal drug use. In fact, it is just as likely that the TUPD will file a complaint relating to "a strong smell of marijuana emanating from a dorm room" as they will about a group of drunk students being disruptive. More surprising to many others is the less visible, but active, drug scene on campus, involving the use of harder drugs, such as cocaine. Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug for college-aged students. According to the 2000 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, the 18-20 year old age group has the highest rate of current illegal drug use, with marijuana at the top of the list. Tufts students who use marijuana can find themselves in an increasing national percentage. A Harvard School of Public Health study of US college students concluded that marijuana use is rising. As of 1999, 15.7 percent of students claimed to have used marijuana in the previous month. According to a 2001 study by the Core Institute on Alcohol and Drug studies, that number went up, with about 20 percent of those students surveyed reporting having used marijuana at least once within the 30 days prior to the survey, while one to three percent of those surveyed had used another drug, be it cocaine, an amphetamines, a sedative, or a "designer drug." Marijuana use is reportedly highest at competitive northeastern colleges, such as Tufts, according to the survey. "I've never had any trouble getting weed. It is by far the most accessible drug on campus," one freshman said. "I think it's easier to get pot here [at Tufts] than on a lot of other campuses; the rules seem more lax, but it is difficult getting the harder stuff if you don't know the right people." The administration and Health Services see things slightly differently. "I would have no reason to believe that Tufts would be any different than any other institution relating to illegal drug use on campus," Health Services Director Michelle Bowlder said. "If you asked me which drugs were out there, I would probably say, we know that there's pot, and ecstasy, and other kinds of club drugs. And that there might be small amounts of other drugs used but I couldn't give you any numbers." Many students claim that marijuana serves as an alternative to alcohol, and is often more easily accessible on regular nights when there is not a party due to age restrictions on alcohol. Other students commented that it leaves them more in control of their actions than alcohol does. However, although marijuana seems to be the most popular and widespread drug on campus, there are a significant number of students who use other "harder" drugs, whether on an experimental basis or habitually. "Many students also use [cocaine] as a drug of choice, although less than weed. Coke is more for parties on campus et cetera, than it is for daily usage," one junior girl reported. Others agree that cocaine, though less commonly used than marijuana, is not hard to come by at Tufts. "Coke does have a larger presence than people realize, and it kind of goes along with the school because people here have money [and can afford to buy expensive drugs]," one sophomore said. Although Health Services declined to release statistics for confidentiality reasons, there have been reported cocaine-related incidents among students. "I have friends at [one fraternity] who have had pretty big problems with coke," one sophomore girl said. "I have seen people get pretty sick and they have to call TEMS. People will do [cocaine] before they go out and then drink and the combination is just not good." However, other students commented that cocaine is only popular among certain students, many freshman having never seen it used on campus. "We don't all have the money to indulge a cocaine habit. It's very expensive and even though a lot of people here have money, only a certain number have that kind of money," one student exclaimed. When asked about other drugs, the most popular response related to prescription drugs, such as Aderol and Ritalin -- two drugs that are commonly used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder by controlling hyperactivity. With the recent growth in prescription medications given to young adults, some students on campus sell or give their prescription drugs to friends, who proceed to mix it with alcohol. This combination greatly increases a student's chances of losing consciousness and can be deadly. One student said that he has given out his prescription drugs when he and his friends were drunk or when they needed to stay awake to study for an exam or write a paper. "Prescription [drugs] are used far too often on campus. From Ritalin, to Aderol to Vikadin," one junior said. "People use these drugs to concentrate when they're studying, or to enhance the effects of alcohol in their system. Either way it's stupid." One conception among university administrators, students, and parents is that fraternities are the sites of the most extensive and risky drug use and drug induced behavior, a controversial accusation that often upsets members of the Greek system. Some students, including members of the fraternities on campus, reported that drug use is just as likely to found in off-campus houses or dorm rooms. However, others reported that certain fraternities are notorious for their extensive drug use. "There is one fraternity that always has obscene amounts of [cocaine]. If you want to buy, you go there," one sophomore reported. The notion that drug use is widespread in the Greek system is may have some truth, but is limited. "Drugs are for sure used in frats on a weekly basis, but I don't think it's fair to lay the blame solely on the Greek system," one student said. "I know a fair share of students who are not affiliated with the Greek system and do drugs. Drugs on this campus are [very common] and everywhere." When asked if she has been a witness to or a participant in using drugs, the same student said, "I do come into contact with drugs quite often. Many times it's at off-campus parties. People smoke freely at parties, and do coke more in secret in bathrooms." According to the National Survey on Drug Abuse from the US Department of Health and Human Services, the percentage for annual usage of any type of illicit drug for full time college students is 36.1 percent, while any illicit drug besides marijuana is 15.6 percent. These percentages are slightly lower than those of people aged 18-21 who have not attended college, at 40.9 and 22.0 percent. "Any given night you can get a hold of drugs...usually you know someone who sells or your friends know someone. There's no central location but you can always get some," one freshman stated. A junior agreed that "If you don't have a friend that sells weed or coke, your friends do. There are a large amount of suppliers in our midst. But people like to keep their selling low-key." For students who wish to change their drug habits, Tufts does provide services to anyone who might need them. In addition, due to the recent departure of the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Counselor, Health Services is currently searching for someone to replace him. "Tufts has historically had a drug and alcohol counselor but I think that we would like to feel like our mental health professionals at Health Services and the Counseling Center are skilled enough to work with people with substance abuse problems," Bowdler said. "It's pretty rare that someone wants a referral for in-patient treatment but we know the available resources. We feel likes the best way to provide students with help is to assure them that their problems will be kept confidential, and that the most important thing is that they get help if they need it."
(02/20/03 12:00am)
With his third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Div. III National Championships nearly assured, senior Bryan Pitko stands as the fastest 55 meter hurdler in Tufts history. Despite undergoing knee surgery this fall, he has remained a leading force on the men's track and field team -- a team that has enjoyed three first-place finishes this season. Pitko, a tri-captain of the squad, broke his own school record during the 55 hurdle trials of last winter's National Championships, where he raced to sixth place and garnered All-American status. Pitko also hurdled at the Outdoor National Championships last May. Currently ranked fifth in the country for Div. III, Pitko will likely return to nationals, to be held Mar. 14-15 at DePauw University in Indiana. With only three weeks of competition remaining before the championships, Pitko's season-best 7.65 seconds and "being a year older and with experience at the NCAA's" both bode well for him, as head men's track coach Connie Putnam said. Fellow senior captain Greg Devine, currently ranked seventh in the same event, will likely qualify as well. He expressed admiration for Pitko's "determination and resilience." "Bryan's been plagued by several injuries through his career," Devine said. "Whether it be nicked, banged up, or perfectly healthy, he's out there doing his best every day." Pitko's achievements this season have been especially notable in light of a serious knee injury suffered only months ago. During football preseason, Pitko tore his lateral meniscus. He underwent surgery to repair the ligament and worked hard through weeks of rehabilitation, but remained sidelined for his entire senior fall. "The good news is that I recovered pretty quickly," Pitko said. He speculated that had football been his last athletic season at Tufts, he might have tried to play in some games. However, looking ahead to track weighed heavily on the decision for him not to return to the field, where as a junior he led Tufts wide receivers in touchdown receptions. Most recently on the track, Pitko won the hurdles last Saturday in 7.75 seconds. Teammate Nate Thompson finished second -- in fact, Pitko's strongest competition often comes by way of other Jumbos. Currently the top-ranked hurdler in Div. III New England, he is trailed by Devine and Thompson, ranked second and fifth respectively. Thompson, a sophomore, has had an impressive early career at Tufts. He credits Pitko and Devine with helping to ease his transition to college track. "Having two leaders, two All-Americans, hurdling next to you every day gives you something to strive for and look up to athletically," Thompson said. Devine expressed similar sentiments, citing the strength of Tufts' hurdling squad, and especially Pitko, as factors in his own success. "I would say that there is friendly competition between us," Devine said. "Bryan motivates me, not only on Saturdays when we're racing, but five days a week when we're practicing." "Bryan's a fantastic captain and he can motivate others to be their best," Devine concluded. Putnam echoed Devine's notions, praising Pitko's leadership. "He has command presence," Putnam said. "When he sets an example, people tend to follow." Putnam also noted Pitko's development from a freshman with leadership potential to an experienced, mature senior. "He's learned not only to lead by example, but also to encourage, to correct, to counsel," Putnam said. He cited Pitko's role as an RA as "an example of how he's grown to lead in more than one area." Back in high school, Pitko was captain of both the track and football teams in his native Arlington, MA. Ironically, he says that he started track to keep in shape for football. The 100-yard dash appealed to him initially, but "an interesting combination of medium height and gigantic feet" eventually led him to the hurdles, he said. "The first day of practice, I found out that as a result of the whole clumsy feet thing, I wasn't too good at just running really fast," Pitko said. "My coach decided that I might be better suited for the hurdles. I was pretty disappointed, but I gave the hurdles a shot anyhow." Pitko progressed rapidly, graduating as one of the top high-school hurdlers in New England. According to Putnam, "He probably ran hurdles almost as effectively as a freshman in high school as he does now, because he's a very natural athlete who has a very natural hurdling stride. Also, Bryan's interesting in that he actually runs faster with hurdles in front of him than he does with no hurdles." "Put him in blocks with five or ten barriers in front of him and he's really at his best," Putnam added. "Frankly, I think running without anything in front of him bores Bryan." This weekend, Pitko will race at Bowdoin College in the Div. III New England Championships, where he won the 55 hurdles last year. Poised for his third national championship meet, he will undoubtedly continue to lead the men's track team, fueled by the perseverance and talent admired by his coach and teammates. "Bryan's a great athlete," said Devine. "He's got a never-quit, never-give-up attitude that is really contagious and one of the best things the team has going for it."
(02/12/03 12:00am)
Colleges students face numerous emotional obstacles while living away from home, especially as freshmen. As the United States is on the brink of war with Iraq and in the aftermath of the Columbia Shuttle tragedy, compassion from close friends and family can be critical for students dealing with difficult situations. One of the most stressful and heartbreaking experiences that college students often go through is receiving a phone call telling them that a close friend or family member has passed away. College friends, although they strive to be supportive, are often not enough. One sophomore had only been at Tufts for a few weeks last year when he heard that his close friend had died suddenly. "We were so close, and I was completely unprepared for the news," he said. The loss was even more painful for him because, although his new friends at Tufts supported him, the people who most closely shared his anguish were far away. "All my friends got to go to the funeral and have each other's support," he said. "During all this I was here, 3,000 miles from home." In late January, sophomore Jason Slomovitz learned that one of his favorite high school teachers had passed away. Unable to leave school to attend the funeral, Slomovitz dealt with the tragic news alone, feeling that the loss was exacerbated because he had no one to make the grieving process easier. "It's hard to be so far away from people who are going through the same thing as me," said Slomovitz. The complaint of not being able to attend the funeral is a common one from those who have experienced a loss while at school. The funeral can be a critical aspect of the grieving process, providing closure and a supportive atmosphere in which to mourn. Recognizing that many students are unable to leave the campus for a variety of reasons, the University offers students with several resources to help them deal with their grief. The Counseling Center, on call 24 hours a day, is one resource for students who need someone to talk with. "We see individuals who come here about each person's unique feelings and struggles," Counseling Center Director Dr. Jonathan Slavin said. Slavin recognizes that there is no standard way in which one should grieve or deal with a trauma, since it is an intensely personal struggle that time and support will eventually ease. English Professor Virginia Brereton is still reeling from the death of a former student, and tries to convey to her current students that they should be careful. "You may think we teachers forget about you when you leave our classes," she said. "But we don't. Please, please take care of yourselves." Some students find the spiritual comfort of religion to be an irreplaceable comfort. The Catholic, Jewish, Protestant and Muslim University chaplains are available to students as well, and can also be reached through the TUPD switchboard. "Grieving is not a linear process," said Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, the University's Jewish Chaplain and director of the Hillel Center. "One day you are fine. The next you are overwhelmed with grief." Not all students who lose someone close to them while at school are stranded on campus while enduring the grieving process. Freshman Elizabeth Mann lost a close family friend recently. The funeral was held close to campus, and her immediate family drove from Maine to be with her. "It was nice my family was so close," Mann said. "I feel as though death can be so surreal, and attending the funeral helped make it a reality." According to University Chaplain David O'Leary, mourning students resort to vastly different forms of coping. He cites "prayer, anger, lack of sleep, too much sleep, not eating, or eating too much" as examples. However, O'Leary believes that "the best coping means is to talk it out." Comforting a fellow student who is experiencing loss is also a challenging prospect. Summit recommends avoiding rationalizing the loss or attempting to explain it. The best comfort one can offer, Summit said, is a sympathetic ear and unconditional support. "To the Japanese, evanescence means sorrow, but then sorrow becomes something beautiful," Dean of Colleges Charles Inouye explained. "Without an awareness of death, we never really appreciate life."
(02/05/03 12:00am)
None of us can remember a time when abortion wasn't legal. January marked 30 years since the definitive case, Roe v. Wade. We can probably remember the early to mid-1990s, when abortion debates raged, and when we most likely made up our minds one way or another. The public debate since then has cooled. We may have slowly realized that the debate centered not so much on the arguments, but on the very terms of the issue themselves. For what do we call what is aborted? If we say it is a 'fetus' or "cellular tissue," then we are employing obscure, technical language to mask or outright disregard any humanity at all (much like "collateral damage"). Likewise, if we use "baby" or "child," we have already shown our hand, and revealed a commitment to the continuity of human life from beginning through birth. People on both sides either ignored or failed to recognize the impasse, and simply kept debating past one another until the point of exhaustion. I won't try to resolve the debate here. Another subject demands attention. For in all the commotion, few have noticed the omission of a very important contributor: the woman herself. Nowhere is this clearer than with the very "Jane Doe" of Roe v. Wade, Norma McCorvey. Norma has changed her mind on abortion, and now counsels women away from it. Do any of us know why? Have we taken the time to ask? It's easier not to, especially as a man. I found it quite easy to glibly parrot my line, "I've no right to tell a woman what to do with her own body." It cost me nothing to say, and could even reap me gain _ such "sensitivity" works well on a date with said body. A woman's welfare was not my concern. But it should have been. Had it been, I would have actually asked whether abortion, even safe and clean, was her best option. But it was far easier to give cold respect than a warm hand. Little did I know how much my "respect" would limit her freedom. There are several men in the life of a pregnant woman who are quite content to keep abortion unquestioned. When a woman is thrust into the hallway of pregnancy, the ability toabort closes doors quickly. Let's look at those doors. The father, if he is unwed, is likely to slam his shut. He has enjoyed, howsoever gained, the pleasures of her company. She should know (shouldn't she?) that he did not intend to be "so serious." The sensible thing is to "take care of it." We may see the door to her own father quietly close, too. Perhaps he is ashamed, or perhaps she cannot bear to even tell him. It is a private issue. Her school, or her workplace is under no obligation to offer help. It is her "problem" after all, is it not? The politician's door belongs to one more man who'd rather see her resolve "it" quietly. No need to spend effort on equal opportunity, maternity benefits, or education to be elected. He has her vote with two simple words: "reproductive rights." It is little wonder why there have been, in 30 years, as many abortions in America as AIDS infections in the world (40 million). The cold, steel light of the operating table streams from the only door left open. There will be 3,500 abortions today. To the pregnant woman, it is hardly a choice. She is alone. Though not entirely. One tiny companion remains _ the baby. The potentially life-long friend cradled inside her. With her son or daughter the mother enjoys a relationship unparalleled in all of nature. Nowhere is there a bond more finely tuned, more deeply intimate. Not even the best of lovers can get so close. The relationship consummates on that day when the mother holds the child in her arms for the firsttime. On that day of birth, the mother would be holding a baby with a heartbeat that is eight and 1/4 months old. A baby with six-month-old fingerprints, seven and 1/4 month-old fingers, and seven and 1/2 month-old hands. With seven-month-old eyelids and eight-month-old eyes. A baby with seven and 1/2 month-old brainwaves and a fully nine-month-old set of DNA, completely unique and never before seen on earth. But that day does not come. Abortion robs the mother of that day. By methods of extreme violence, the child is wrenched from the mother. By dissolving chemicals, dismembering forceps, slicing suction tubes, or a well-placed pair of simple closed scissors. Antibiotics, anesthetics, and equipment of the past three decades may have made abortion physically safer, but by no means less violent. The child is gone. And the mother is left with the nightmares. Dreams of children and crying babies haunt many. Anniversaries concerning the never-born can be excruciating. Stories of sexual frigidness, anger, obsession, and depression are common among those willing to share. Not many are willing to listen. The boyfriend is almost assuredly gone. The husband doesn't want to talk about it. The boss expects her at work on Monday. And her parents and friends are mostly glad it's "over." Now she is alone. The clinic protestors turn another unsympathetic cheek in scorn. The clinic waits for her to come back _ 40 percent of the abortions every year are for repeat customers. We've failed our mothers. We've failed our women. From day one we fail them in support for unplanned and tragic pregnancies, and then fail them again, throwing them into an outer darkness of silence once they've "dealt" with their "problem." Of course all men don't love abortion, nor are most even fond of it. But too many enjoy its benefits, its simple convenience, without caring at all for the well-being of the woman. To those who have never given much thought to this subject, who may have all along thought that by supporting abortion they were defending women rather than condemning them, I urge you to think again. For those of us who have had an abortion _ or pressured, pushed, or paid for one _ there is a promise: it is never too late to be forgiven by the God who made you, too. But truthfully, you will never know the freedom of this forgiveness until you are willing to share your story. We all need to be honest. There are people willing to listen. I am one of them. There are many more, particularly at the several crisis pregnancy centers in our area (www.daybreakinc.org and www.pregnancycenters.org). You are not alone. Jack Grimes is a Junior majoring in Philosophy and Peace and JusticeStudies
(02/04/03 12:00am)
The lagging economy is finally starting to catch up with Tufts in a big way. But unlike at other schools, the endowment at Tufts hasn't withered. Instead, the University has fallen victim to state budget cuts. Last Thursday, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney cut all of the state's $3.6 million funding for the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. State support accounted for 13 percent of the school's operating budget. Tufts was to receive the $3.6 million as part of a contract in which the Vet School provided medical care for Massachusetts State Police dog and horse units. The state also axed a $5,000 tuition break it gave to Massachusetts residents attending the school because there is no public vet school in the state. The cut was part of a larger $41 million decrease in funding to schools and colleges in Massachusetts and the second cut the Vet School has faced in a year. The year before the first cut, the school received $5.3 million from the state. The Vet School did not receive any prior warning about the cut, spokeswoman Barbara Donato said. Rumors spread last year that the budget would be cut, however, prompting the Vet School to "make necessary adjustments to economize where we can and strengthen our collective efforts to enhance revenue from a variety of sources," Donato said at the time. Due to the deficit in the state's budget, officials found it "easier to pay the bill [for police animals] themselves," rather than to continue paying Tufts, said Jodi Charles, Romney's deputy press secretary. Under the previous agreement, the state simply sent sick animals to the school and the cost was underwritten by the University. In a bulk e-mail sent yesterday, President Larry Bacow said that the money Romney cut was related to a contract for the last fiscal year, which ended June 30, 2002. "We already performed these services," Bacow said. "We have not been paid." Tufts' General Counsel has not yet determined what course of action it will pursue. But the Governor's office is not worried about the possibility of the University filing a lawsuit. "[Tufts] can't sue ... there was an understanding by Tufts that the Commonwealth would be given funding, as it was available," Charles said. The University hopes to maintain the Vet School's "tradition of excellence in veterinary education and research," Bacow said. The School's future remains uncertain, however, until other sources of funding are found to replace the state's former contribution. The University plans to meet with state officials and members of the legislature to discuss the government's cuts. If the funding cannot be restored, the administration may be forced to make budget cuts across the university. While Tufts was one of the biggest single losers in the new budget, school officials around the state scrambled last week to see how they fared. Higher education cuts totaled $16 million and some said K-12 education would be hurt indirectly because of overall local aid cuts. "There will be a lot of urban and poor school districts that will feel great pain because of those cuts," said Geoff Beckwith, president of Massachusetts Municipal Association. The Department of Education loses combined $25 million in grants for early literacy ($11.8 million), early childhood education ($10 million), and free breakfasts ($3.1 million). Before the cuts, the Vet School received some of the lowest funding in the country. While the school received 13 percent of its operating budget from the state, other vet schools around the country typically receive between 26 to 36 percent of their endowments from state governments. As with every other state in the country that hosts a veterinary school, Massachusetts entered into a contract with Tufts nearly 25 years ago to give money for basic operating support. Tufts Veterinary school is one of only 28 in the country and was established in 1979.
