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(09/01/01 12:00am)
If Barbie dolls give young girls a distorted image of what the female body should look like, are boys receiving the same messages through GI Joe and other action figures? And as many women feel shame and dissatisfaction with their bodies, are men struggling with similar issues? Although traditionally, most people affected with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are women, an increasing number of men are coping with the same issues. In fact, just as some women worry about having unnaturally thin thighs, men can become obsessed with having a "washboard" stomach or "bulking up" because they feel they're too puny. What are the signs? Not every guy who goes to the gym on a regular basis has a distorted body image. But there are signs and symptoms of overdoing of which to be aware. Research led by Dr. Roberto Olivardia and Dr. Harrison G. Pope, co-authors of The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession, has found that men who are dissatisfied with their bodies are more likely to: -Report that they are very dissatisfied with their bodies and can spend more than three hours a day thinking about their muscularity.-Admit having little or no control over compulsive weight lifting and dietary patterns. -Avoid activities because they are uncomfortable with their body.-Avoid participating in activities they previously enjoyed. -Skip work or other responsibilities to exercise. Who is affected? Experts estimate that about ten percent of eating disorder patients are men. However, this number may be low because of underreporting. Men are often reluctant to seek help for a syndrome commonly associated with women. Health care providers aren't used to identifying the signs of eating and body image disorders among men. Also, it may be easier and more socially acceptable for women to talk about body dissatisfaction and food issues than it is for men. Men with body dissatisfaction are very similar to their female counterparts in many ways. In a study by Drs. Olivardia and Pope that looked at 200 college-aged men in Austria, France, and the US, men were shown a computer image of a male body and were asked to adjust the image three times; first, until it reflected their own bodies; then, to what they wanted their bodies to look like; and finally, to the body type they thought women found most attractive. Although the images of their own bodies were fairly accurate, the men's ideal body type was on average 28 pounds more muscular than their own. And they thought women wanted even more muscle than that. Preoccupation with body image and appearance takes up mental energy that could be used on other activities such as enjoying friends, studying, and creative thinking. Also, these men are more likely to use dangerous anabolic steroids to achieve the look they desire. Why does this happen? Evidence suggests that cultural influences play into the development of body dissatisfaction just as they do with more traditional eating disorders. Magazines and movies bombard women with images of ultra-thin models and actresses, while men are confronted with images of muscular models and actors. And, as female movie stars get thinner, male actors are getting bigger. Marilyn Monroe and James Dean have turned into the ultra-thin Laura Flynn Boyle and pumped-up Bruce Willis. There is a culturally defined ideal that men are big and women are small. Body dissatisfaction among men may be a growing trend, and like body image issues among women, it is a multi-faceted problem. If you suspect that you or a friend is over-exercising, or too concerned about his muscularity, then encourage him to talk to a health care professional.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
I've just started weight training. How much protein do I need? Building muscle uses up protein, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have to take in more protein than you normally do. An upper-level, intense bodybuilding routine may temporarily up protein requirements to about 0.8 grams of protein per pound of body weight (140 grams for a 175 lb. athlete), but this is probably too high for most people. Starting a weight program increases your protein requirements by a small amount, but only in the beginning stages of training. On average, dividing your weight in pounds by 2 should give you the number of grams of protein you need. Keep in mind that extra protein isn't "saved for later." It's broken down and either stored as fat or used for energy. Plus, protein overload increases calcium loss from bones. Most Americans already get more than enough protein, and more isn't necessarily better - even for weight lifters. What can you tell me about Hydroxycut? Hydroxycut, a "fat-burning" supplement designed to help you get lean almost instantly, claims it can "burn 613 percent more fat." Many students claim "it's the bomb" as far as energy and fat loss are concerned. Unfortunately, Hydroxycut doesn't deliver on all of its claims, and chronic users may damage their heart muscle. The so-called "effective" ingredients in Hydroxycut and other similar products are ma huang, guarana, and willow bark. Ma huang is an herb containing ephedra, a chemical stimulant that is used in over-the-counter asthma medicines (popular model Niki Taylor's younger sister died from overdosing on this chemical). Guarana contributes a jolt of caffeine, and willow bark adds salicin, which is basically the same thing as aspirin. Some fat-burners also contain a plethora of other substances such as chromium picolinate, pyruvate, and hydroxycitric acid, all said to help dieters lose weight. The studies done on the efficacy of these products have yet to make it into reputable journals. But there have been good studies that show an increased risk of high blood pressure, fatal heart attacks, and strokes with the use of weight loss products that contain ephedra. Clearly, the ads are very deceptive regarding safety. Studies of efficacy are about 50/50, with half showing marginally positive results and half showing none at all. What is interesting is that commercial manufacturers often fund the studies that indicate beneficial effects of ephedra. Some experts will claim that these products do have a small positive effect, but only when used in combination with diet and exercise. Therefore, it is hard to say how much weight loss is due to Hydroxycut and how much is due to improved eating and exercise habits. Whether it works is one thing; whether it is safe is another. Any minor effect you might get from these pills can be achieved with better and quicker results through exercise and dieting, and it isn't worth the risks.Will I gain weight faster if I eat before bedtime? Your body's need for energy fluctuates over a 24-hour period, but the food-to-energy cycle isn't so rapid that what you eat at bedtime will be sitting on your hips as fat by morning. It's more of an issue of how much you eat rather than when you eat. Lots of students get into the habit of "grazing" on high-fat munchies like pizza and chips, in addition to regular meals, and end up eating more calories than they need to maintain their weight. But if you work an odd schedule and end up eating dinner late, you won't sabotage your weight as long as you eat a reasonably healthful meal.Can soy protein help you lose weight? No. Despite claims you may have seen like "soy stops fat" or "clinically proven for weight loss" on soy-based meal replacements, there is no component in soy that promotes weight loss. However, soy protein (found in tofu, tempeh, soy burgers, and other foods) has been shown to lower cholesterol levels and contribute to "heart health." If products containing soy are found to be effective for weight loss, it is only because people are likely replacing high-calorie foods with low-calorie soy, not because soy has any miracle "fat-stopping" ingredient. What is Tyrosine? Tyrosine is one of 20 amino acids - the building blocks of protein. It is nonessential, meaning our bodies can make it themselves (from proteins), and don't have to get it from food. In the body, tyrosine is converted into neurotransmitters that relay electrical "messages" throughout the nervous system. A supplement form of tyrosine (sometimes called L-Tyrosine) is marketed for depression, improving mental alertness, easing alcohol withdrawal, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease, among other disorders. However, there is no evidence that taking tyrosine or any other single amino acid offers any of these benefits. In fact, the body doesn't recognize the difference between amino acid supplements and amino acids from protein in food. But supplements of any single amino acid may interfere with the absorption of amino acids we can't actually make on our own. The amount of tyrosine needed for optimal health is achieved merely by eating protein. Even vegetarian diets provide ample tyrosine. But too much protein, which can happen with amino acid supplements, can harm the kidneys and cause dehydration. Do carbohydrates make you fat? No. You will not find a single, credible nutrition expert who will tell you that carbohydrates make you fat. But if you don't exercise and you eat lots of "fat-free" cookies, chances are you're going to put on weight because of the excess calories. Experts agree that Americans tend to misinterpret "The Food Guide Pyramid" with the mentality that you can eat as much as you want as long as you avoid fat. This thinking has caused an influx of products filled with sugar and high in calories but bearing the claim "fat-free." Americans have continued to pack on the pounds ever since - not because we eat carbohydrates, but because we avoid fat (keeping us from feeling full), eat too much sugar, and don't get enough fiber. There is some debate about the difference between whole grains like oats, barley, millet, and bulgur wheat, and refined grains such as white rice, potatoes, and bread. Experts agree that whole grains should be emphasized over refined grains because they are high in fiber, which fills you up and keeps you from overeating. Too many calories will make you fat, and they can come from any high-calorie food, including cheeseburgers, french fries, soda, candy, dessert, or anything else consumed in excess - even protein bars or shakes.What's the best way to burn fat? Strengthening muscles through weight training gives you the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to fat burning. For cardiovascular work, you'll get the same overall fat burn per session for a shorter, harder workout than you would from a longer, slower workout. But you'd be better off including some tough workouts or interval training in your aerobic routine on a regular basis. This is because high-intensity training helps strengthen "fast-twitch" muscle fibers, which will increase the amount of calories you burn at rest. In addition, workouts where you really push yourself burn calories at a much faster rate and continue to burn calories for a longer period of time after you stop exercising than easy workouts. When crunched for time, take advantage of short interval-training sessions (20-30 minutes) for fat-burn and skip the hour on the treadmill.Valerie Green is a combined Nutrition and Masters of Public Health student at Tufts. You can e-mail your questions or topic ideas to valerie.green@tufts.edu.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
If you ask junior Jake Berman, protecting yourself against Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD)s is just a matter of common sense. "Don't have sex with people who have STDs, that is the best way to prevent them," Berman said. This type of attitude worries Dr. Margaret Higham of Tufts' Health Services, who is concerned that college students are not aware of the dangers of unprotected sex. Human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a category of diseases that include over 80 types of viruses. They are named for the benign warts, or papillomas, that they cause. Different types of HPVs cause the common warts that grow on hands and feet and those that develop in the mouth and genital area. HPVs are now recognized as the major cause of cervical cancer. Beginning sexual intercourse at an early age and having many sexual partners increase the chances of contracting an HPV. "HPV is the most common STD on college campus, but hardly anyone knows about this virus," Higham said. "One to two thirds of all sexually active people have this virus. It takes a while to develop so students might not know they have it while they are in college and pass it on to other partners before they discover that they are sick." Syphilis, once virtually untreatable, can now be effectively diagnosed and treated with antibiotic therapy. Early symptoms of syphilis are often very mild, and treatment is often not sought when first infected. Syphilis increases the risk of transmitting and receiving HIV and is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. The initial infection causes an ulcer at the site of infection. Over time, the bacteria move throughout the body, causing damage to many organs over time. The disease is divided into four stages - primary, secondary, latent, and tertiary (late). An untreated infected person may infect others during the first two stages (one to two years). Even though untreated syphilis is not contagious in the late stage, serious heart abnormalities, mental disorders, blindness, other neurological problems, and death can occur. Herpes, a more commonly known STD, is caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). HSV-type one causes fever blisters on the mouth or face, known as oral herpes. HSV-type two - also known as genital herpes - typically affects the genital area. HSV-1 and HSV-2 are inactive and cause no symptoms. People can remain infected for life after the first initial episode. Herpes is spread by direct contact including kissing, sexual contact, and skin-to-skin contact. An estimated 40 million people have genital herpes, which is a chronic viral infection. About 500,000 new people get symptomatic herpes each year and there are even more people without symptoms. Hepatitis causes inflammation of the liver, sometimes resulting in death. There are 4 forms of hepatitis - A, B, C and D. Both Hepatitus and A and B have permanent vaccines to protect against them. The virus that causes Hepatitus B is found in blood, saliva, fecal matter, and urine. One-third of all Americans have evidence of some past infection, with up to 200,000 infections per year. Many symptoms of Hepatitis A are similar to those of Hepatitis B, which include pain in the abdomen and muscle and joint aches. Hepatitis B virus can cause lifelong infections. The virus continues its silent attack on the liver, which over a period of years can lead to cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver. This damage to the liver slows the blood flow through the liver causing increased pressure in the vein that transports blood from the stomach and the intestines to the liver; and varicose veins (esophageal varicies) can develop in the stomach and esophagus and, without warning, these large veins can break. Over 5,000 people die from chronic liver disease caused by HBV infection each year including scarring of the liver, liver cancer, damaged liver cells, liver failure and even death. The incubation period for this virus is from two weeks to six months after viral entry to the liver and during this time a person is extremely contagious. Symptoms disappear over six to 12 months until complete recovery. "Many of these viruses have either no test or no good treatment. The best treatment is prevention. Stop the virus before [you] acquire it," Higham said.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
Rushing to class, you notice an odd stiffness in your shoulders and neck. You were unusually tired when you woke that morning and wonder if you might be coming down with a cold. But being a college student who works long hours with little sleep and has, at best, mediocre eating habits, you think nothing of it and go about your day.With all the stresses of everyday college life, many students do not give minor ailments a second thought. Unfortunately, however, such slight symptoms can be indicative of a much more dangerous malady- one that can be treated if caught in time, but may be difficult to diagnose. Run-down conditions usually mean too much stress and not enough down time, but they might also be signs of meningitis, a disease to which college students are becoming more and more susceptible.Symptoms of meningitis include flu-like signs, high fever, headaches, stiff-neck, confusion, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and/or a rash. If it is not detected early, the disease can progress rapidly.A meningitis scare in Tilton Hall last year was a wake-up call for many Tufts students. A student had contracted the bacteria which causes meningococcal meningitis, the most common form of meningitis found in college students. Living in close proximity and sharing everyday items such as cups, plates, food, and clothing can promote the spread of viruses and other diseases.Meningitis affects 3,000 Americans and kills approximately 300 each year. One hundred to 125 cases of meningitis appear on college campuses across the country each year. Of the people that contract the disease, 10 to 13 percent die despite receiving antibiotics. Of those who survive, 10 percent suffer severe side effects such as mental retardation, hearing loss, or the loss of limbs.According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics, some of the factors that heighten the risk for contracting meningitis are communal living, bar patronage, smoking, and irregular sleep patterns - all habits of some college students. People from the ages of 15 to 24 are considered at the greatest risk.In a study conducted in Great Britain and in Germany, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices found that university students were found to be at greater risk than non-students of the same age."College students are most likely to get this disease because their immune systems are run down already and they ignore the symptoms," a spokesman for the Center for Disease Control said. The CDC recommends that entering freshman, especially those living in dorms, should be vaccinated against the most predominate serogroups of the disease: A, C, Y and W -135. These four serogroups account for two-thirds of the strains that affect college students and the college -aged population.The vaccination, which may cause a few minor side effects, is virtually painless and may only lead to slight swelling at the sight of application.Alhough Tufts does not require the vaccine for entering students, "we do heavily recommend it," a spokesman for Health Services said. The common vaccine, Memomune, is especially recommended for any college-aged person, infants, and travelers to high-risk areas of Africa. The shot, which costs between $55 and $75, lasts for 3 to 5 years.Though most students have been well educated recently as to the risk of contracting meningitis, many do not believe it should be mandatory before entrance to colleges across the country."We have to get immunized for mumps, measles, polio, and tetanus but not diseases like the flu. Why should it be mandatory?" junior Courtney Brown said.Still, many feel that if the concern is legitimate, vaccination could be mandated."If the danger is real and imminent, then yes, [the vaccination] should be mandatory," senior Karen Wang said.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
Complete with long-lost friends, extended family, turkey, and an occasional gift or two, Thanksgiving and the winter holidays offer joyous times to celebrate in the company of loved ones. How can the holidays offer anything but happiness? On the surface, it seems strange that happy times could be overshadowed by sadness, but many people get a little down over the holidays. Sudden reunions, impossible parental expectations, sibling rivalry, and lost relationships - they all contribute to a sense of sadness many experience during the holiday season. These feelings can build up, culminating in outbursts, gloominess, or even tears. The attacks of Sept. 11 may also contribute to the feelings of depression, according to Massachusetts Department of Health Commissioner Marylou Sudders, who predicted long-lasting effects of the tragedy in an October interview with the Boston Herald. "Our nation has suffered a great emotional and psychological trauma from the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and will continue to do so in the aftermath," she said, adding that the patriotism many Americans felt in the aftermath of the events may give way to more morose feelings as terrorism threats continue into the holidays. Winter break is especially trying for returning college students. Tufts' "Hooper Health Beat," the newsletter put out by Health Services, advises students on how to deal with parents during the winter break. "Although your family may seem like they have all been invaded by alien beings, you are actually the one who is growing and changing at an enormous rate. Give them some time to get used to the new, independent you, and try to be patient." Holiday depression makes up a large part of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a winter-related depression marked by changes in behavior and mood. Many find the season difficult to begin with, but scientists say that a lack of sunlight can contribute to physical and emotional changes. Because winter days are shorter, wake-sleep cycles are sometimes thrown off. And over the winter holidays, those feelings of depression can be exacerbated. Experts have noticed a depression unique to the holidays, however. "We do know that holidays tend to be very difficult for many people," Betsy Schwartz, executive director of the Mental Health Association of Greater Houston, told The Houston Chronicle last December. "Because the winter holidays are so filled with sentiment and traditions of both a religious and family nature, the emotions we may be able to keep at bay the rest of the year tend to surface at this time." The absence of a loved one, either through death or distance, can make the holidays tough. Underlying depressions can also surface. Plus, the holidays are a time of great indulgence, from shopping to consuming food and alcohol. These can lead to empty wallets and full stomachs that leave people depressed after the season has passed. As if this isn't enough, an additional factor is the so-called "anniversary reaction," explains Julie Jampel, Supervising Senior Psychologist for the Tufts Counseling Center. Anniversary reactions occur when a specific event triggers a painful memory. Jampel provides the example of a student who has lost a parent. "If a student's parent has died, then holiday time might be particularly distressing for that student because the parent is no longer present at gatherings," she said. Schwartz says that acknowledging pent-up feelings is often the best way to overcome feelings of depression. For example, if someone constantly finds themselves bickering with the same sibling at the table, Schwartz recommends confronting the problem directly. Once that is done, it is fairly easy to gauge the gravity of the situation - or lack thereof - and move on. In addition to acknowledging holiday emotions, experts emphasize that it is important to keep busy and talk with family and friends about common anxieties. Staying away from alcohol and drugs, as well as avoiding major life changes are also strongly suggested. Many turn to drugs and alcohol as an escape from their unhappiness. Holiday depression can happen to anyone. The real question, especially in these trying times, is how we handle it. And if all else fails, the holiday season is only one month of the year - so hibernation is always an alternative. After all, there are eleven months to work up to the next season.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
When Viagra was introduced as a male sexual stimulant, it took the world a little while to get used to the concept. These days, however, it's an accepted part of life - even Bob Dole endorses the pill. Lately, the spotlight has turned to female sexuality, and with that comes HerTurn, the first product for women that claims to create sexual desire in less than four minutes. According to the makers of HerTurn, the product is "an all-natural, topically applied, physician developed, clinically tested, no secondary effects, no prescription needed product." HerTurn enhances sexual responsiveness and produces sexual arousal to increase and enhance the enjoyment of intercourse. In addition, the feeling and stimulation of the female sex organ is heightened dramatically as the result of using HerTurn. This seemingly simple female sexual stimulant is sophisticated in its construction. The cream contains a multitude of ingredients, each responsible for a certain function. The drug contains L-Arginine, an amino acid and the basic building block of the Nitric Oxide Pathway. L-Arginine stimulates the clitoral tissue, which results in increased blood flow and dilation of the blood vessels in the clitoral area, further resulting in intense sexual arousal. Another amino acid, L-Histidine, is responsible for mental focus and concentration. L-Histidine, when converted to histimine, is the chemical responsible for triggering an orgasm. Histimines play a major role in regulating ejaculations and orgasms. Histimine is also a vasodilator, which allows blood flow to the genital area. Damiana leaves are essential to the cream, which acts as an aphrodisiac. In the ancient Mayan civilization, Damiana was used for mood enhancement. Damiana is an energy tonic, a stimulator of muscle contractions that helps ease the effects of hot flashes. Pregnelone, known as "the grandmother of all steroid hormones," is also included in this product. The body uses it to make hormones such as testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. With age, the levels of these hormones decline, so to keep hormones at youthful levels, Pregnelone is necessary. Lastly, menthol USP is designed to give what is described as a "cool warming" sensation to the genital tissues. Once applied, there is an almost immediate warm feeling and tingle, which heightens the pleasure during intercourse. A senior, who asked to remain anonymous, has used a similar cream, called Viacreme. She said that whenever she had trouble having an orgasm the cream was successful. "The cream remedies that right away, it makes my climax almost effortless," she said. The makers of HerTurn say the cream is better than the pill. Since the medically developed cream is offered in tube-form, it allows the user to more precisely control the strength of the dosage, and to pinpoint the areas of the female sex organ where heightened arousal is desired. In most cases, HerTurn works in less than four minutes. Cases of arousal and desire have been reported in less than one minute as well. Once applied, the effects of HerTurn are prolonged. Median lasting time of arousal is between 15 to 30 minutes. One junior said he wouldn't feel threatened if his partner used the sex-enhancing cream. "It's definitely a plus. It's less work on the guy to satisfy the girl, and I'm sure any girl would love multiple orgasms," he said. Female viagra is stemming into other medical genres other than medical creams. There are several alternatives to pills and creams that can be used to enhance sexual experiences. One enhancer is Yohimbe bark, which has been used as an aphrodisiac in many cultures. Yohimbe dilates blood vessels, intensifying sensual tactile responses. Ashwagandha is another aphrodisiac, which has been used for 300 years. Often called "Indian ginseng," it contains withanolides, molecules that resemble steroids in their action and appearance. Ashwagandha supports the immune system and promotes general good health. Another alternative is Royal Jelly, which worker bees use to feed the queen. The queen's only food, Royal Jelly contains all essential amino acids as well as vitamins. It stimulates the adrenal glands and has a positive effect on mood and sex drive. A side benefit may be fewer skin wrinkles. Guaran is another common natural enhancer. It is primarily grown in a small area in northern Brazil. Guaran contains Guaranine, which is similar to caffeine, and is used to stimulate the central nervous system and boosts energy. Whatever the method, research is making many things possible. With the ongoing developments, sexual pleasure for women, which may have been difficult to achieve, is more effortless to attain.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
If you go to the gym more to pick up hot dates for Saturday night than to actually lift weights, then Monday night's body building and weight lifting program held in the Chase gym might not have interested you. Then again, the weight training and health information session, called "The Evolution of Muscle," was designed for both the experienced lifter and the interested observer. "We tried to answer questions for students who feel frustrated at a plateau or have never tried weightlifting and want to try," said junior Franci Otting, who was a program coordinator and emcee for the event. Otting, who was a varsity swimmer for three years, is a major proponent of weightlifting. Weightlifting can increase metabolism, build muscles, or add energy and vitality to your life, making it a great approach to living a healthy life, Otting explained. "It's a natural way to get a high," she said. Organized under the auspices of the ResLife duty teams, the program "[tried] to present different opinions of the issues around weight lifting," according to Otting. "It's a way for students to have their fitness questions answered." The evening's program featured many speakers, including two Tufts athletic trainers, and a short routine from Kimmy Murch, a 31-year old competitive body builder. Murch competes at an amateur level and trains completely naturally, and she participates in an average of two shows a year. The trainers and weight-training experts were there to instruct and teach students on how to lift properly so as to achieve results and avoid injury. Dr. Tim Donovan, a local chiropractor, related his own first experiences with the weight room and showed how proper technique is the key to success. "I did it incorrectly because I learned from somebody who did it incorrectly," Donovan said. The doctor emphasized posture by waddling around the stage, hunched over with neck craned and shoulders slouched."Exercise is not what hurts you. It's you doing the exercise that hurts you," Donovan said. The importance of stretching and the mental aspect of lifting were discussed during the session. Perhaps the most crucial aspect brought up, however, is to avoid overtraining. "How many of you lift to impress the person on the stair master next to you?" Donovan asked the crowd of guilty smiles. "Typically what you worry about it what you can see. Do you look at your rhomboids? No!" Donovan said. A common mistake among lifters is to work the same muscles over and over, which causes long term strain and muscle imbalance. The tiny, stabilizer muscles in our body are just as important as the bigger ones. Donovan challenged lifters to use concentric contractions and eccentric contractions equally, meaning that for every push there is a pull. In her first year as a Tufts athletic trainer and strength and conditioning coach, Pat Cordeiro spoke about the nutritional aspects of weight training. She challenged the group to eat healthily and showed how to do so by diagramming the traditional food pyramid with slight alterations for a new, large category at the base for water. Cordeiro asked students to think about the noise their food makes. The sound of opening a bag of potato chips is not healthy. "If you pick up a banana, does it make any noise?" Cordeiro asked. Cordeiro emphasized that everything you need to eat healthily is located only on the outside of the grocery store: the milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, and meats. "Maybe if you need a box of cereal, you can go into the aisles. But get out of there quickly," she warned. Students in attendance had different opinions about the event. Junior Bryant Coen, who has run track since his days as a freshman in high school, found the session useful and informative. "[The program] told me that some of the things I do are good, reinforced what my coach has said... and made me more aware of balance," Coen said. "I have weights. I just don't use them," said sophomore Kate Burke-Wallace, who was inspired by the presentation to start lifting. Other students had hoped for more about the sport and competition. "I expected to learn more about body building and competing," senior Ivan Padilla said. Following in the footsteps of his father who boxed, ran, and introduced him to sports, Padilla has been a serious body builder for the last four years. "Personal experience is the best tool to see what works or doesn't work," he said. As for the nutrition, "vegetables are my weakness," Padilla added. Sophomore Sonny Kathpalia, a varsity tennis player described the event like a high school gym class. "They didn't talk about anything that affect me on a personal level...it was just too broad and vague," he said. "I learned to use negatives (concentric contractions) and not so much weight," said sophomore John Burns said, An ex-football player in rehab with athletic trainer Mike Pimentel. "I'll probably incorporate some of the ideas in my workout," Burns said. "We want students to take the information most useful to them and use it," Otting said.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
On Saturday, sophomore Emily Good's sister got married in Valera, Venezuela. But Good wasn't among those in attendance - she was stranded in Medford, her evening flight to South America having been canceled after Logan Airport shut down. "I began to worry on Tuesday, but still thought I'd make it one way or another. I woke up at 5 [a.m.] on Thursday to make a few desperate phone calls to airlines, then gave up," Good said. Had Good been able to take a flight, she would have encountered new safety procedures and a greater security presence at Logan. Even with the airport's reopening, business has not proceeded as usual. Just 200 passengers boarded morning flights on Saturday, a mere fraction of the usual number of patrons. Those that showed up found themselves subject added safety measures, including a larger group of US marshals, armed state police, and border patrol officials. Once past security checkpoints, passengers were still subject to searches and requests for identification. Curbside check-in is no longer an option. And some airlines have replaced their metal cutlery with plastic, and passengers carrying items such as nail files, scissors, or pocketknives are not permitted to board. Police continuously search airport ramps, crawl spaces, and construction areas. All airlines at Logan have submitted letters to Massport, the director of Logan, guaranteeing they are complying with FAA regulations. Despite the added procedures, travelers have generally put up with long waits and cancelled flights as airlines step up their safeguards in response to Tuesday's attacks. "There will be some inconveniences, but safety will be the first element of our system to be restored," Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta said in a statement released by the White House earlier this week. Good could sense the burden of added responsibilities on airport officials when she called to inquire about changing her flight reservation. "They were helpful, but understandably busy. They're giving me a refund," she said. Until late Thursday, Good's family still thought she might find her way home. "They had heard that the airports opened up on Thursday and figured I could get a flight out of another airport. They're very disappointed that I'm stuck here, since they made some special arrangements to enable me to come," she said. Good is not the only student to have her weekend plans significantly altered. Sophomore Wendy Carman was set to travel to Las Vegas last Thursday to attend a conference for Cutco, a cutlery company she works for. "First [the airline] said my flight had been cancelled, and then the airport was still closed," Carman said. Travel plans were so disrupted by airport closings that the conference Carman feared she'd miss was eventually cancelled. "Obviously I felt horrible about what happened in New York, but it really was frustrating to not be able to go to something I had been looking forward to since June," Carman said. Some have sought different means of travel both due to a newfound fear of flying and a desire to avoid the chaos of reopened airports. Amtrak has stepped up to the challenge by expanding its services during the crisis. Unlike the nation's airports, many of which remain eerily deserted, Amtrak has been flooded with travelers who do not want to fly in the wake of Tuesday's attacks. Ticket sales are approximately 50 percent greater than average for this time of the year. Long-distance trains have seen the greatest increase in ticket sales; most of them were sold out this past Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, Amtrak is accepting airline tickets as payment for similar-destination train tickets, according to the company's website. The Greyhound Bus Company is also up and running, even in New York City's Port Authority station. Regular schedules have been restored, and according to one Greyhound employee there may be additional busses leaving from the Boston area. In the meantime, Greyhound is not accepting reservations and is requiring passengers to arrive at least one hour prior to their scheduled departure. Regardless, the bus company has become inundated with desperate travelers. A call to the Boston Greyhound station yields an automated message: "Due to extreme call volumes, we are unable to transfer your call to a customer service representative." Junior Diana Fischmann considered taking advantage of ground transportation in order to get to her home in Allentown, PA for Rosh Hashanah. "I considered taking a train instead [of flying], but it would end up being a six-hour trip for me each way without even taking into account the time it would take for me to get to and from the station. Since I am missing so much class already, it really didn't make sense for such a trip," Fischmann said. Fischmann was supposed to depart Logan for Philadelphia today in order to celebrate Rosh Hashanah with her family, but she is anxious about flying so soon after the terrorist attacks. "I have always been a little nervous about flying, but after Tuesday's events I am much more nervous. It scares me how unprepared we were for this, and how it could potentially happen again anytime," Fischmann said. Fischmann is just one of many travelers who chose to forgo seeing their families for the Jewish New Year. Logan saw a dramatic decline in the number of travelers this past weekend. By Saturday night, only a quarter of the typical number of flights had actually departed the airport. The planes that did leave were only filled to about 40 percent of capacity; pre-Rosh Hashanah planes are traditionally fully booked. Cancelled travel plans do not mean trouble for passengers alone; this week the country's major airlines cut back service in order to avoid bankruptcy. American Airlines, Northwest Airlines, and Continental Airlines all reduced their flying schedules by 20 percent in the aftermath of the attacks. In a desperate measure to cut costs, Continental Airlines let 12,000 employees go this week. Some experts say that unless the government can assist in subsidizing airlines, some major carriers will go out of business entirely. Financial analysts report that since Tuesday, the airline industry has been losing hundreds of millions of dollars each day. Tufts students differ with respect to how much Tuesday's events have impacted their thoughts about air travel. Sophomore Jamila Powell now feels a sadness and anxiety when considering whether or not she will fly. "My dad lost his friend. It's really hard for me to contemplate going to airports now," Powell said. "Nothing is ever 100 percent secure." Freshman Stefanie Croyle has always felt some anxiety about flying, but says those feelings were intensified by the terrorist attacks. "I get nervous on planes anyway, and I fly a lot. Even though I know it'll be safer, just knowing what happened will make me nervous," Croyle said. Sophomore Jessica Tubman is also wary of flying, especially this week. "Being that we're preparing for war, it's not the best idea to put yourself in that situation if it's unnecessary," Tubman said. Mental health experts say that the number of Americans who experience fear of flying is likely to grow based on second-hand reactions to the hijackings. Prior to last Tuesday, approximately one out of three Americans suffered from fear of flying, according to CNN. Some believe that increased security procedures will alleviate some anxiety and that relaxation exercises can also help. Still, some students feel that with the new airport security regulations, flying is more secure than ever. Though some wonder why it took airlines this long to implement stringent safety procedures, they feel that flying remains the most efficient mode of transportation and one that they will continue to use. "I think the statistics are still that flying is safer than driving," sophomore JR Urbon said. "But I can absolutely see why someone would be nervous; it's pretty scary what happened." "I think it's safest now, when they're expecting the worst," sophomore Joe Ungerleider said. The national chaos generated by last week's airport closings has as many personal implications as economic or logistical ones. Like Good, many Americans feel increasingly alone, separated from their families in time of need. "I feel very far away from them... I'm very sad that I can't be with them," Good said.
(09/01/01 12:00am)
K-Pax, the latest cinematic offering from Iain Softley, features Kevin Spacey as Prot, a self-described alien, and Jeff Bridges as a psychiatrist trying to psychoanalyze him. Set in a Manhattan mental institution, the film follows the K-Paxian's interactions with fellow patients and Bridges' attempts to analyze Prot while simultaneously piecing together his own splintering family life. What results is Prot's assessment of the flaws of humanity, and a disaster of Bicentennial Man proportions. K-Pax places Kevin Spacey alongside Robin Williams - not only for playing a non-human, but also for sliding into acting almost exclusively in nightmarishly sub-Spielbergian drivel, after making several high-caliber films. Williams at least has a decade long cocaine binge to apologize for. Spacey just seems to be pointlessly blowing his career with one bad line after the next. While Prot is pointing out the faults of our culture, the psychiatric staff is rapidly attempting to hone its diagnosis before his scheduled departure from Earth. The film concludes with Prot's essay contest to see which patient deserves to go back to K-Pax with him. We decided to compete for this chance as well.Why you should take me back to K-Pax: an essay by Stefan MarolachakisI want that one-way ticket you offered, and the ride back to K-Pax with you. I have a few points to persuade you in my favor. I think I stand apart from all the other applicants. I believe you have seen a certain little film named Dream Team. Surely, it must have been given airtime on K-Pax public television. That Christopher Lloyd character is endearing - the first time. You have to know a carbon copy when you see one, and all these residents at Manhattan Psychiatric Ward are precisely that. I, on the other hand, am the real deal. Prot, I can tell you're a winner. I mean, you're the kind of guy innovative enough to have been on the creative side of the XFL. The insights you have provided to us earthlings are truly priceless. You've shifted the tide down here, and set the crazies straight. You've been a panacea to us all. All we needed was someone who was patronizing with an alien perspective to let us know the follies of the human race. Most importantly, you've reconnected all of these urban folk to the beauty of nature, reminding us of the beauty that lies in bluebirds and flowers. Birds and flowers - now why does that sound familiar? You say you've visited Earth before. I wonder if it was sometime during late 1999, because your behavior is very American Beauty. You do well to point out the beauty that lies in the simple things in life - and wow, do we humans sure owe you for it. It makes us all feel so darned good. To get back to business though, I truly think you should forget about Daniel, my toughest competition in this essay contest. He'll talk your ear off on the trip through the cosmos with rants concerning screen gems such as A.I. and Earth Girls are Easy. I, on the other hand, will be your silent sidekick. I am willing just to sit back and listen. As you shower me with astute observations, I will pretend that I have never heard them before. "Make love, not war, that sounds like a great new idea," I'll tell you. What a trip we'll have together. We'll leave this primative planet and go. We won't need any script - we'll just improvise. That's what's great about you Prot, you don't even need a good script to operate, you just live on the edge and hilarity ensues. Doesn't it?Why you should take me back to K-Pax: an essay by Daniel SheerinPlease take me back to K-Pax with you. Unlike your other followers, I am not a somewhat offensive caricature of a "marginalized" person, but I still long to leave the ills of our society for the tranquility of your fantasy planet. I need to "chill out." On Earth, neo-hippie sloganeering is relegated to bumper stickers and health food ad campaigns - on K-Pax, it is the dominant ideology. Stefan is content to waste his days devouring granola bars and organic yogurt in the local Spencer's Gifts, while I truly realize the implications of your radical philosophy. Leave him with the other skeptics and liberate me from this ungroovy world. It takes an outsider to reveal the shortcomings of humanity to Earth's inhabitants, Prot. In showing us the importance of "traveling light," you have taught us what several anachronistic Brendan Fraser characters could not. Others have come as saviors, as "Jesus Christs" and "Joan-of-Arcs," but none offered the extraterrestrial escape you promise. You provide an opportunity unique to your alien counterparts. I bribed ALF with a rescue shelter full of cats, but he refused to take me back to Melmac with him. You have visited every country on this planet and experienced firsthand the close-mindedness of its people. In the world of K-Pax, self-criticism, self-awareness, and even taste are unimportant. Following obvious storylines, recycled characters can deliver cringe-worthy dialogue without disrupting the feel-good vibes. Beings from your planet show no concern about whether those they encounter are genuinely from K-Pax or are just frauds because, ultimately, they don't care. You have shown me that the individuals deemed "crazy" by society are actually lone beacons of sanity. Granted, hundreds of fictional characters have done the exact same thing, but not while eating so much fruit. You rein King of the mellow quip, my Prince Myshkin in Ray-Bans. Bring me to the planet-wide family that is K-Pax. I cannot stand the "stink" of this uptight Uptown for another day. I'm pretty sure Stefan loves it. Save me from this planet and its bogus ways. Not him.
(04/01/01 12:00am)
A Tufts freshman was diagnosed yesterday with a blood infection caused by the meningococcal bacteria, an infection that causes meningitis. Health Services has identified individuals who may have been in contact with the infected student, and is urging students not to panic. The student became ill while at home over the weekend and sought treatment from her physician. The diagnosis came before the bacteria entered her spinal fluid, which should prevent her case from becoming fatal. Of the estimated 3,000 annual cases of meningitis in the US, about 300 result in a fatality according to the American College Health Association website. Between 100-125 of these incidences occur on college campuses. The student's doctors notified Tufts' Health Services, which asked for a list of the patient's friends and associates at the University. Health Services officials are recommending that the student's friends, as well as residents of the second floor of Tilton Hall and members of the softball team, receive a preventive antibiotic called Rifampin. An e-mail was sent to the students yesterday afternoon alerting them of their risk of infection and informing them of what to do if they believe they show symptoms of meningitis. Meningitis is an extremely serious disease cause by inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. The chance of meningitis spreading throughout Tufts' campus are slim, according to Health Services Medical Director Margaret Higham, but officials are treating the incident seriously because of the virulence of the disease. "The thing about meningitis and meningococcal disease is that it's extremely rare, but because when it occurs it's serious, you have to have a strong response," Health Services Director Michelle Bowdler said. "That's why we're letting everybody know that there was this case." A few doses of the meningococcal vaccine are already available at Health Services, and more have been ordered. Still, the vaccine requires several weeks to take effect, meaning that students vaccinated now will not immediately be safe from infection. "What we want to do is respond by getting people the antibiotics who need them. You don't need to respond by getting everybody vaccinated. That's not effective," Bowdler said. Meningitis is spread by close contact with an infected person, usually through saliva. It can be transmitted by drinking out of the same glass, kissing, eating off the same plate, or even being coughed or sneezed upon by an infected person. Although the disease is rare, it is dangerous when it appears on a college campus, where students live in close contact with one another. For the last two years, Health Services has held campus-wide vaccination clinics, and Bowdler believes that a majority of students are protected against the disease. A 20/20 special about the dangers of meningitis that aired in the fall of 1999 increased awareness of the disease throughout the country and caused many students to seek vaccination. That year was the first time Tufts invited an outside service to administer vaccinations on campus. Bowdler said there was a marked increase last fall in the number of students who came to campus already vaccinated. But the vaccine is not 100 percent effective, and only protects against certain strands of the disease. Health Services is urging students who are concerned to get themselves examined immediately. Symptoms include high fever, headache, vomiting, mental confusion, and sometimes a red or purple rash. The disease can be fatal if not treated, and many people mistake its symptoms for the flu. "We also want people to know what the signs of illness will be so that they can be checked out," Higham said. "What's really hard is that the signs of illness are really much like the flu, and there's a lot of flu going around." Health Services expects to be overloaded with visits from concerned students and calls from worried parents over the next few weeks. Higham said that if no one develops the disease in about two weeks, Tufts will be out of danger. According to Bowdler, there is little reason for students to worry. "I really hope there's no widespread panic. There's no need for it at all," she said. "There's been a tremendous, coordinated response with the administration. People have been very helpful and quick about responding, so we feel confident that we've gotten the information out that we need to get out."
(04/01/01 12:00am)
Needing a win or some serious luck to secure a playoff spot in the inaugural NESCAC tournament, the men's lacrosse team (7-7, 3-6) headed to Connecticut College (9-4, 6-3) on Saturday. As it turned out, luck was the only thing on Tufts' side, as the Jumbos fell to the streaking Camels 15-8, but nevertheless secured the sixth spot thanks to losses by Bates and Amherst. As it did in Wednesday's game against Wesleyan, Tufts came out hard, scoring five first quarter goals that lifted it to a 5-2 first quarter lead. Attackmen junior Jon Zissi and senior co-captain Dan Kollar, combined for the first five goals, and lead the team with 52 and 49 goals respectively. Connecticut College out-shot Tufts 13-5 in the first quarter, but junior goalie Kirk Lutwyler remained stoic, not allowing much to pass him by. In the second quarter however, he could not hold on. The Camels went on a 8-0 run over a 14:58 span, and went into halftime with a 9-6 lead. "We came out really strong and were playing well," said sophomore Alex Kerwin, who scored a goal in the game. "Then we started to make dumb mistakes, and that really hurt us. We lost some of the emotion. I don't think anyone really knew what was going on." The Camels' defense prevailed in the second half, permitting only four shots in the third period, while Conn. College continued to pressure the Tufts defense and scored three more times in the period. In the fourth quarter, things did not improve, as the Jumbos were unable to put a run together, losing 15-8. Despite the loss, Tufts secured the sixth playoff spot, and will play Bowdoin in Brunswick, ME on Tuesday. Tufts was aided by Bates, which fell to Trinity in overtime 15-14 on Saturday, and it avoided having to face (14-1, 8-0) Wesleyan, thanks to Amherst, which lost to Conn. College on Thursday. "I think we are disappointed with our place, but we are still excited to get another chance to play Bowdoin," Kerwin said. "We are going to slow the game down and shut their offense down." The Bowdoin matchup will be a familiar one, as Tufts faced them on April 4, in a game it lost 15-10. Bowdoin put up an impressive record (8-4, 7-2), losing only to top seeds Wesleyan and Middlebury, which both went undefeated in the NESCAC during the season. The Bowdoin game will be a challenge, but Tufts should be encouraged by the fact that of Bowdoin's six conference wins, Tufts was the only victim to have the lead going into the fourth quarter. It took a 7-0 Bowdoin run in the final frame to put away a persistent Jumbo squad. Getting the lead early has not been a problem for Tufts, but keeping it has been another story. For the Jumbos to beat Bowdoin, they will have to play a full 60 minutes of solid lacrosse, not letting the mental mistakes slow them down. "I think we decided to settle instead of keep going at them," Kerwin said of Saturday's game. "We were happy with the lead, instead of increasing it. It makes us realize that we are not playing at the level we should." Competing in arguably the best conference in the nation, the men's lacrosse team has proved during the regular season that it can compete with every team in the league. It has remained competitive even against squads like defending national champion Middlebury College. In a complete turnaround from four years ago, when the team posted only one victory, the 7-7 season is a solid mark. Still, the Jumbos feel that they have yet to play a perfect game, something that could make them dangerous in the postseason. One concern of the team is the health of its star players, since Tufts will get no rest before the playoffs begin. Junior co-captain David Supple is questionable for the game due to a concussion last week, and junior Jack Palmer was hit hard in the leg on Saturday and did not return. Although it has not seemed to affect his production, Kollar has been battling a nagging hamstring injury all season.
(04/01/01 12:00am)
Ditch the rice cakes. Move over Snackwells. Look out Entenmann's Fat-Free Coffee Cake... Say hello to full-fat Oreos. Fat-phobia is so '90s. In the last ten years, the general US population has become obsessed with eating low-fat and no-fat foods. Admit it - we all thought, even if only for a short while, that fat was our worst enemy. We all fell into the Snackwells trap and believed that we were actually doing our bodies good by eating a box of Snackwells sweets instead of two homemade chocolate chip cookies. Just about every single one of us, at least once, has felt less guilty eating 20 jellybeans rather than a mini-Snickers. Herein lies our confusion; diet experts tell us to eat less fat, so we do. But that's not enough. A calorie is a calorie is a calorie - whether it comes from a jellybean or a Snickers bar. Since 1990, food manufacturers have introduced more than 1,000 low-fat products to the market each year. Cutting back on fat in the American diet has not helped us lose those love handles. In fact, the nation's waistline is bigger than ever before. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Americans have cut back on fat from 40 percent of calories in 1968 to 33 percent today, and we have reduced the amount of saturated fat in our diets from 18 percent to 11 percent. So why are 20 to 30 percent of adults in the US at least 30 pounds overweight? The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) showed that the average amount of total fat in the American diet has increased from 81 to 83 grams per day, and the average daily caloric intake has increased from 1,989 to 2,153 calories. According to this data, the percentage of calories from fat has gone down, but only because the number of calories the average person is eating has increased as well. Therefore, the actual amount of fat we are eating is greater - two grams greater to be exact. Health experts say that we need to reduce the percent of calories from fat, while maintaining or reducing the total number of calories. So, do we need to eat a low-fat diet? Yes and no. There are a number of sound reasons for avoiding fat - especially saturated fat and cholesterol. But all fat is not bad, and fat in your diet is essential to good health. A diet should be very low in saturated fat and cholesterol, because these fats are known to increase the risk for heart disease. But according to nutrition experts, a diet high in "good" fat is not a bad thing. A diet high in unsaturated fat - found mostly in plant-based foods like vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, grains, as well as fatty fish like salmon and tuna - has been shown to reduce the risk for heart disease. On this type of diet, the level of bad cholesterol goes down, good cholesterol goes up, and triglycerides, which increase the risk for heart disease, are kept in check.What is fat good for?Fat is a concentrated source of energy, which helps us maintain our strength and stamina during sports and other physical activities. Without this source of energy we would find it very difficult to "play." Fat is essential for mental health. It is a component of nerve cells. Therefore, inadequate dietary fat may cause problems in the nervous system, which has been found to contribute to depression. Fat in the diet actually helps some people to lose weight. Fat contributes to the nice texture and taste in food, which satisfies hunger and curbs the appetite. One of the major groups of essential nutrients is fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins can only be absorbed into our bloodstream if we eat them with some fat. For example, when you eat a salad - chock full of leafy greens, red pepper, carrots, and squash - throw some sunflower seeds on top and toss it with a full-fat salad dressing to reap the benefits of this healthful foursome. Diets go in and out of style with the seasons. However, health experts always come back to the same general rules of thumb for dieting and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.Portion size - Watch the number of calories you eat rather than where those calories come from (fat, protein, or carbohydrate).Nutrient Density - Eat more fruits, vegetables, legumes, and grains, which have more nutrients per calorie than other foods - more bang for your buck. Physical activity - The amount of calories you eat should be balanced by the amount of calories you burn. The American Heart Association (AHA) suggests the following guidelines to keep portion sizes modest:Airline food portion sizes are good standards.A serving size of meat (three ounces) is about the size of a computer mouse or a deck of cards. A tennis ball is about equal to one cup.The tip of your thumb equals a tablespoon of butter.Tufts University Health and Nutrition Letter recently reported that enjoying the food we eat is healthier than eating food we don't love. Researchers found that by eating something we like, our bodies are better equipped to absorb the nutrients in the food. So eat up, but keep that bag of airline peanuts close at hand to moderate your portion sizes. And most importantly, enjoy your food.Elizabeth Gilbert is a graduate student studying nutrition communication at Tufts' School of NutritionScience and Policy.
(09/01/00 12:00am)
The choice between Al Gore and Ralph Nader still plagues the minds of many liberals; voting for either one still results in the loss of sleep over a bruise to the conscience from one side or the other. On one hand, the conscious liberal knows that Al Gore differs only slightly in views from our dear George W. Bush and simply caters to the rich public with the hope of receiving more campaign funds. On the other hand, it resonates from all sides that the worthy liberal candidate, Ralph Nader, has no real chance of winning: any vote for Nader pulls away a vote from Gore and brings the lovely Bush closer to presidency. As a result, the liberal-minded voter is torn between voting for an inept Gore and voting for a capable Nader who may just be the deciding factor in the Bush-Gore race. However, Gore just does not measure up as the liberal candidate that Democratic voters would like him to be. Though Gore poses as an environmental figure, the half-million dollars worth of shares he holds with Occidental Petroleum, a company responsible for oil drilling in Colombia that forces indigenous peoples off their land, as well as campaign funding he receives from them glaringly indicates otherwise. Not only that, but also his stances on foreign policy, including support of the anti-ballistic missile defense system and free trade, hardly differ from those of Bush who holds essentially the same views on foreign affairs. The Democratic party has shamefully strayed towards the right, leaving many liberals without a legitimate candidate for president within the two-party system. Nader is not taking votes away from Gore. Gore is losing his supporters by virtue of his apparent incompetence and ambivalence in his views, not to mention his lack of support for such liberal ideas as universal health care and implementation of a living wage system. How can a politically-conscious liberal vote for a man who places more importance in pleasing the rich elite despite the obvious need for social reform among the majority of the American population? Nader holds a platform that actually offers ideas for rigorous social change in hopes of reducing poverty in urban areas and raising the standard of living for all people. Indeed, I cannot offer a completely safe way to vote for Nader and keep the evil Bush out of office. I can, however, bring to light the idea of movement-building on the part of minorities, homosexuals and women, who are thought to be the people who will be most affected by a Bush government and Bush-appointed Supreme Court justices. A loss to Bush will illuminate the people's discontent with the Democratic party and its dormancy on urgent issues usually addressed by a traditionally liberal party. In the past, minorities and homosexuals have looked toward the Democratic party for justice, but I do not see Gore as a man who seeks to fervently address these issues while in office. Of course, Gore does not admit to such strong views as Bush in terms of gay rights, abortion issues, and gun control. But anyone can assure you that if Bush dramatically changes laws in regard to these issues - the activist, the homosexual, the sexually abused woman, the mother whose son was killed by gun violence - all will be waiting to voice there mounting resentment and rebelliousness in their hearts since Bush becoming president. As of now, the Democratic party takes for granted the minority and gay vote (among others) because the Republican party makes it quite apparent that it is not very sensitive to either group's concerns. When the votes of these two significant groups begin to shift to a more sensitive and receptive party, namely the Green party, the Democrats cannot help but notice that attention must be given to these groups. It will signal to the Democrats that they cannot simply rely on getting the vote because of the common perception of the party as liberal. The party will have to prove that it is in support of liberal views by providing a candidate that can fight for social reform issues with conviction as opposed to the flakiness displayed by Vice President Al Gore. The Democrats will have to take a peek at the Green party platform and realize that they need to step up and finally really give people what they want. A bad Bush will call for more competent candidates. Bush as president will spur more disgruntled, riled up people to exercise their right to vote in the next election in hopes of averting another national tragedy, for a Bush in office is indeed a tragedy. If Nader of the Green party receives five percent of the popular vote, the party will receive campaign funding in the next election and participate in the debates. The two-party system will be broken and the media will have to account for a third candidate who may actually have something substantial to contribute to the American government. Currently, the system and media shadows the existence of other parties in this election having a major affect in the way people vote and how much they know of the people running for office. Being of the two main parties Bush and Gore receive undue attention and enjoy the benefits of general associations attached to each party as a result of past presidents. Thus, it is integral to Nader and the Green party campaign to garner the support of at least five percent of the population in order to break away from the general mentality that the presidential election is merely a race between Republicans and Democrats. That being said, I strongly encourage everyone to vote for Nader. It is true that this may threaten Gore's election to president, but that is mainly his own fault for being so unappealing in the eyes of liberals looking for change. A vote for Nader will highlight the need for a truly liberal Democratic party and a new movement that calls for serious attention to issues that have been poorly dealt with thus far. Vote with your conscience - vote for Nader.Meena Jagannath is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.
(09/01/00 12:00am)
Several recent studies published by Tufts nutrition researchers earned the University national recognition, as their findings relating to geriatric health received wide-spread media coverage. The results of one of the studies by scientists at Tufts' Jean Mayer United States Department of Agriculture Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (HNRCA) suggest that a multi-vitamin supplement may decrease the risk of heart disease and enhance the benefits of a healthy diet in older adults. The study's findings were published in the October issue of The Journal of the American College of Nutrition and captured the attention of The Washington Post, as well as health-related websites. Dr. Jeffrey Blumberg, a professor of nutrition at the HNRCA, spearheaded the study. Blumberg has studied the effects of dietary supplements for the last 20 years, but he said that little research had been conducted to determine the benefits of multivitamins for older adults. In the eight-week study, healthy adults already consuming a folate-fortified diet were given a nutritional supplement containing the complete recommended daily value of vitamins, including folate, which is typically found in fruits and vegetables. When participants took the vitamin, their folate levels increased, which caused blood homocysteine levels to drop ten percent. Homocysteine is an amino acid that is found naturally in blood. High homocysteine levels are a major risk factor for fatal heart attacks, stroke, or circulatory system disease. Lower levels of homocysteine are associated with a reduced risk of heart disease. "This study confirms the research that while older adults may be able to consume enough folate in their diet, the amount they do eat may not be well-absorbed," Blumberg said. "While the ready absorption of these micronutrients from a supplement was not unexpected, its efficacy in raising nutritional status significantly in an already healthy group was somewhat surprising." The results suggest that the 40 to 60 percent of Americans age 50 and over who do take multivitamins are probably helping to promote their health - and "not wasting money as some people have proposed," according to Blumberg. But he said the study was too narrow and short to conclude that all older adults should take a multivitamin supplement and that he would be conducting further research. Similar research projects by faculty at the HNRCA made comparable discoveries about the necessity of vitamins and a good diet in old age. One study found that vitamin B may be associated with memory and other mental functions in the elderly. The results, which were published in a recent issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, show a link between the development of neurologic symptoms and vitamin B deficiency in older Americans. Dr. Irving Rosenberg, Director of the HNRCA, spoke about the implications of his research findings at the USDA Conference on Aging in Washington, DC on Sept. 28. Another group of HNRCA scientists also recently discovered that elderly Hispanics with diabetes are more likely to lose muscle and the ability to move and take care of themselves. The findings underscore the need to better educate Hispanics on how to prevent diabetes or minimize its impact, according to a release from the Tufts School of Nutrition Science and Policy's public relations office. These newly recognized disorders - muscle wasting and functional impairment - increase the list of known complications that may result from uncontrolled blood sugar, according to study leader Dr. Carmen Castaneda. The HNRCA at Tufts is one of six research centers in the United States designed to study the impact of human nutrition on health. The center is operated by Tufts under a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture.
(09/01/00 12:00am)
When students want to make a comment in professor Aaron Beaston-Blaakman's "Mental Health Treatment in the United States" class, they have to boot up their computer, sign onto a discussion board, and wait until the next post to get some feedback. Beaston-Blaakman's class is mostly held online, a learning option that is spreading throughout cyberworld and catching on at Tufts.
(09/01/00 12:00am)
Eager to register for Experimental College classes, droves of students packed the entryway of Miner Hall on Tuesday, creating long lines snaking through the building. Another semester of Ex College registration went according to plan - crowds, confusion, and chaos - as students took a break from the first day of classes to sign up for more. Students pre-registered to take classes well off the beaten path, such as "The Art of Film Music," "Heroes and Villains in American Mass Media," and "Imagined Worlds: International Relations Through Science Fiction." As usual, interest exceeded space and historically popular classes remained in high demand. "It's been busy," senior Shioka Kudo, an Ex College board member working registration, said, seeming relaxed as she fielded questions from the waiting mob. "Popular classes stay the same." Senior Nancy Leahy, signing up for the always popular "Understanding the Stock Market: History, Structure, and Impact" course, earned her place in the front of the line and asked incredulously if only 13 people, the number of students on the sheet in front of her, had signed up so far. Kudo replied in the negative; that was the fifth sheet completely filled, bringing the total of prospective students up to approximately 95 for a 20 person class. And there are still two hours to go. Leahy laughed, then noticed a class in Celtic mythology and decided to sign up - just in case. Students filled pages and pages signing up for the most popular courses - at the end of the day, 119 people signed up for the stock market class, 87 signed up for the nearly-as-popular "Genetics, Ethics, and the Law," and 80 students pre-registered for the new "Public Relations/Marketing Demystified" class. Unfortunately for most, many classes are capped at 20 or 25 students. To slim down classes, professors use their discretion and techniques such as entrance essays. In the Ex College, traditional rules governing class enrollment - such as seniority status - are thrown out the window. For instance, in the stock market class, Kudo emphasizes that the professor takes many factors into account, including major, gender, and an essay. Since the Ex College values the small class sizes, other alternatives are offered to shut-out students. "We keep our classes small because we wanted discussion-based classes with 20 students or less," Administrative Coordinator Tracey Tebrow said. "We accommodate and get [students] into another course. We do everything we can to get people into an Ex College course." Robyn Gittleman, Director of the Ex College, also said that the College might offer multiple sections for some overflowing courses. "If it's possible, we'll open up a second section if [the professor] has taught before," she said, adding that "if [a new course] is very popular and gets a good evaluation, we encourage [the professor] to repeat the course next semester." Senior Andrew Lutin signed up for the genetics course after being refused entry last semester. "I'm not as nervous," he said of his chances of getting into the course. "[The professor] said that seniors have an easier chance of getting in and she also said it would help if you signed up before." Freshman Victoria Tran, looking a little bewildered by the whole process, laughed about being on the third sheet of the stock market class' sign up sheet. Tran thinks the class would be interesting and she has some background knowledge in the subject from a high school economics course. However, she isn't getting her hopes up. "I'm going to take another class to fill one of my core [requirements]," she said. Despite some students' trepidation, Gittleman said that registration went "quite well," which is not surprising considering the range of courses being offered. Notable classes this year include "A World of Bugs: An Introduction to Entomology," which will be taught by a professor with a Ph.D. from Harvard Medical School, where he conducted research on fruitflies to understand the biological development of the nervous system. Another innovative course takes the classroom into a chat room. "Mental Health Treatment in the United States: A Computer-Based Learning Approach" will be taught primarily online through the use of e-mail, website interaction, and computer applications. To gauge whether the method is effective, students will be involved in an ongoing evaluation of online learning throughout the semester. Gittleman said that the Ex College is supporting this venture to "test if online courses would be successful or if [students] feel they're missing something" from lack of a physical classroom experience. Although it utilizes the same concepts as many other online classrooms and universities, Gittleman asserts that this class is different from distance learning since students live so close to one another and can easily access the professor when necessary. The class will also meet in person at certain times throughout the semester. Despite the day's mayhem, most of the Ex College staff looked towards the new year with optimism. Flipping through the course bulletin, Kudo points out some of the classes that grab her attention as she ponders the course titles and professors. "There are definitely notable professors - they're all very qualified," she said.
(09/01/00 12:00am)
You've been around the track so many times you've lost count. You pull up, grab your water bottle, and take a long swig. But what are you really drinking? Is it just plain water, or is it full of other chemicals? Is it safe, even if it came from your dorm's bathroom faucet? "We watch the water quality very carefully," said Jonathan Yeo, Director of communications at the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority (MWRA), which supplies the Medford-Somerville area with its water. The water supplied to the dorms must first travel a long way before it can flow from the faucet. During this journey, precautions are taken to make sure the water remains contaminant-free. "The water comes from two large reservoirs, the Quabbin Reservoir and the Wachusett Reservoir, both of which are filled by rain water," Yeo said. The reservoirs are located over 30 miles outside Boston. To keep the water clean, the area around the reservoirs remains undeveloped and free from unnecessary human presence. The earth actually purifies the water as it travels through the ground to the reservoirs, by picking up contaminants such as metal ions. In exchange, the water may pick up bacteria or viruses. After the water leaves the reservoir, it is immediately treated with chlorine to kill the bacteria and viruses. The water runs down through aqueducts to the city, where it is treated with sodium bicarbonate and carbon dioxide to raise its pH and to reduce its ability to dissolve lead from older pipes. Finally, at the outer reaches of the water system, a compound called chloramine - a combination of chlorine and ammonia - is added. Chloramine eliminates any contaminants that may have been introduced to the water since it left the reservoir. According to the MWRA website, the water Tufts receives is perfectly safe, with the exception of lead content. Lead is not introduced into the water until it reaches the pipes of local buildings. In 1986, a law was passed prohibiting the use of lead in pipes, but older houses, buildings, and dorms may still have lead piping. The MWRA barely failed the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) maximum level for lead in the water. According to the MWRA website, the EPA allows 15 parts per billion (ppb) of lead in the water of ten percent or fewer homes. In Medford, ten percent of homes have 16ppb, which is just over what the EPA says is admissible. However, Somerville tested at 28ppb, nearly double the admissible level of lead coming out of faucets. Students should protect themselves from lead because it can cause cancer, kidney failure, and high blood pressure in adults who have been exposed for a long period of time. Several ways to protect yourself are: 1.) If the faucet has not been turned on for six hours or more, let the water run for two minutes before drinking. This flushes the water that has had time to absorb lead down the drain. 2.) Do not drink hot water from the tap. It absorbs lead more readily than cold water, even without sitting in the pipes. 3.) Put water in the refrigerator for a while. This lets lead settle out. Many students choose to use a water filter to protect themselves against lead. Sophomore Sam Dangremond uses a Brita filter because "I don't feel that the water here is clean." According to their website, Brita filters remove 99.9 percent of lead from tap water. Brita also filters out chlorine, plant and algae matter, and metal ions. Although the water coming out of the faucet in dorms is safe, with the exception of lead, it can look, smell, or taste funny. Freshman Rushi Nayak worries that, although he drinks tap water, "it looks weird. It has bubbles." According to the MWRA, the bubbles and occasional cloudiness in the water are due to air getting caught in the liquid as it flows from the reservoir to the faucet. The air is not harmful. Freshman Laura Cava won't drink water from the faucet because "it smells like egg." MWRA notes that chlorine or algae can contribute a slight smell or taste to the water, which is harmless. A water filter will remove the extra vegetation from the water. Whatever you may think of the faucet water specifically, it is important to drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses a day. The exact amount you need depends on various factors such as weight, health, amount of exercise, and the quantity of coffee and alcohol you consume. Not getting enough water can cause dizziness, disorientation, and even fainting or death in extreme situations. In more minor cases, a lack of water will cause poor performance at both mental and physical tasks. In addition to drinking the suggested amount of water, students should stay away from drinking too many diuretics, or beverages that cause frequent urination resulting in a net loss of fluids. Coffee and alcoholic beverages top this category. According to www.gotwater.com, "going to bed after a night of drinking alcohol is a sure way of pickling your brain, liver, and other vital organs." Sodas are also strong diuretics. People who "drink nothing but sodas set themselves up for early heart attacks in their 30s and 40s.... Thick syrupy fluids do not contribute to healthy blood vessels and hearts," according to the gotwater site.
