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The Setonian
News

Jumbos struggle at New England meet

August 31

The women's cross-country team ran into some difficulty at Friday's New England Collegiate Cross Country Championships. The Jumbos placed 22nd out of 36 teams in the race, which pitted Tufts against some of the toughest competition it has faced this season. In fact, only one Tufts runner was able to place in the top hundred in the varsity race. Senior co-captain Leslie Crofton, after taking a week off, placed 36th out of 254 competitors with a time of 18:49 and an average mile of 6:02. Just three weeks earlier, running on the same Franklin Park Course, Crofton finished with a time of 18:13 and an average mile of 5:50. "It was a messy, compact meet with 300 runners," coach Kristen Morwick said. "It was a different mentality and a tougher race for her to control." The racing conditions, including the heat, may have had a huge impact on the team. Most of the runners' times dropped from the race three weeks earlier, a race with only 179 runners and less fierce competition. Junior Heather Ballantyne, consistently the Jumbos second place finisher this season, came in next at 106th place with a time of 19:39. Three weeks ago, she finished in 19:23. However, not all of the Jumbos were feeling the effects of the race conditions. Senior co-captain Jennifer Edelmann stepped it up and finished third for the team in 149th place with a time of 20:06 and an average mile of 6:27. She beat her time three weeks ago by 31 seconds. "Jen ran a great race," Morwick said. "She's coming off being anemic and running more confidently now." With the field so large, Tufts could only run its top seven runners in the varsity race. Morwick decided to choose the seven who have placed in the top five for the team at some point this season. Sophomore Mary Nodine filled in the fourth spot for the team, crossing the line in 162nd place (20:13). Rounding out the seven were the three freshmen who have stood out this season as scorers. Katie Mason (20:27), Lauren Caputo (20:33), and Lauren Dunn (20:43) finished in 184th, 193rd, and 200th respectively. However, these three are not the only freshmen making their mark. In the women's open race, freshman Emily Craighead crossed the line in 20:30 in 55th place. This time would have been fast enough to finish in the sixth spot on the varsity squad. Like Edelmann, Craighead also improved on her time from three weeks ago finishing the race 20 seconds faster. Sophomore Heidi Tyson also ran in the women's open race and finished right behind Craighead in 56th place with a time of 20:31. She would have been the seventh finisher for the Jumbos. Although the Jumbos placed 22nd out of 36 teams, they placed seventh out of the eleven NESCAC teams competing. This fact is alarming since only the top four teams in the conference will advance to Nationals. Middlebury and Williams have dominated the races thus far and are almost assured the first and second spots. Amherst, a team the Jumbos were originally targeting, is looking stronger with each race. On Friday, they finished 13th (and 202 points ahead of Tufts) despite running with two of their top five hurt. "Amherst is well out of our reach," Morwick said. The Jumbos must now compete with Brandeis, Colby, and Connecticut College for the fourth spot. Next week's NESCAC Championships at Amherst will give a good indication of how Tufts' chances look. Last year, at the New England Collegiate Cross Country championship, the Jumbos finished behind Amherst, Colby, and Brandeis. The team stepped it up for Regionals, however, and was able to win a berth in Nationals finishing in third place, ahead of these three teams. "This race isn't really indicative of where we stand," Morwick said. "It just shows the youth of our team. We are still training hard through the week. We are focusing on the regional qualifiers." The women are off this weekend but will be training hard through the next two weeks. While the team will run in the NESCAC championships on Saturday, October 28, it will really step it up for the regional qualifiers. "That race," Morwick said, "is the one that counts."

The Setonian
News

Academic Resource Center boasts new comprehensive facilities in Dowling Hall

August 31

The Academic Resource Center (ARC), formerly located at 72 Professors Row, is among the many student services that have been relocated to Dowling Hall as part of this year's shuffle. The move has allowed the center to expand and improve the variety of services that it offers to the Tufts community. ARC Director Nadie Medina said that it is one of the "best and most under-appreciated" programs at Tufts, and reported that efforts are underway both to improve the service and to spread the word about the resources offered to students. The move to Dowling Hall has provided several advantages, one of the largest being the possibility for students and tutors to meet in one central location. "The facilities are terrific," Medina said. "That's what I've always been wishing for - a place where tutors can meet." In the past, ARC tutors had to make arrangements with students to meet in other locations across campus, due to the lack of space in the small building on Professor's Row. The tutors now have the opportunity to interact and share ideas with each other. Thanks to the new facilities, the ARC has been able to institute "drop-in hours." These sessions are held by the ten undergraduate resident tutors at the ARC, all of whom have taken the courses offered in the tutoring program. The resident tutors hold drop-in hours in the Resource Library of Dowling, located down the hall from the ARC, for a set number of hours each week. This way, students don't need to seek an appointment if they would like to see a tutor. In addition to the resident tutors, there are about 80 to 100 campus tutors, who work for the ARC and continue tutoring students after their initial meeting with resident tutors. If students go to a session with a resident tutor but feel they need more help, they will be referred to a campus tutor who will be able to set up appointments for long-term, one-on-one tutoring. If there are no tutors who have experience in a certain class, the ARC will talk to the class's instructor and recruit someone who has taken the class. "We will accommodate, to the best of our ability, any student in any class," Medina said. Efforts are also underway to improve the center's student outreach efforts. Medina is concerned that students may be reluctant to ask for help in their classes, or that they may think that the services are only for those students with poor academic records. "The fact is, we get a whole range of students," she said. "Everybody is very career-oriented and very ambitious. We see people who want to do well, or better, in their courses." According to senior and tutoring program co-coordinator Erika Waddey, the move to Dowling has helped draw in more students. "I think that for the most part, it's easier for students to have access to tutors because they're coming to Dowling for something else already," she said. Since students are already in the building, it's convenient for them to drop by the ARC. The center offers a host of other services, such as review sessions held by resident tutors for subjects such as math, economics, and psychology. One recent physics review session drew 90 students. The ARC also has four tutors living in Tilton Hall to help freshmen adjust to the college workload. Collaborative efforts are underway with resident assistants from dorms across campus for workshops on time management and study skills.One very popular ARC initiative is posting old exams online. The ARC has a collection of old exams from many of the courses offered at Tufts. Students can photocopy the exams to use as study aids. However, there can be a high demand for some tests in a lecture class with many students, and there is the additional inconvenience of having to pay for photocopies. In response to these problems, the ARC is currently working to put all exams online so that students can have free access to the tests from the comfort of their own rooms. Sharing Dowling Hall with other student services has additional advantages for the ARC. The proximity of the other various organizations allows ample opportunities for collaboration. For example, the ARC recently teamed up with Career Services to present a joint workshop on how to write cover letters for resumes. "There's more of a possibility of putting programs together that we might not have done had we been in different buildings," Medina said. Since the class deans' offices are right down the hall, Medina explained, when a dean refers a student to the ARC, they're much more likely to make the trip. The staff of the ARC has been making every effort to promote the Center's student-designed website, ase.tufts.edu/arc. The site offers a description of services available, tutors' schedules, postings of review sessions, and contact information. "We want people to use it, because we're trying to spare them the necessity of coming here," Medina said.

The Setonian
News

Wander over to the Wang

August 31

Obviously, ballet is not extremely popular in Boston. Boston Ballet has been attempting to work around this problem for many seasons. Last Thursday was the opening night of Boston Ballet's new production of La Bayadere. But, even on the opening night of the new production, half the audience had not yet taken their seats when the curtain was scheduled to open. Past artistic directors of the Boston Ballet, especially Bruce Marks, have been known to experiment with different strategies to engage the Boston ballet-going crowd. Marks updated the classical ballets with new choreography and even Americanized the titles on occasion. In her third season as artistic director, Anna-Marie Holmes follows in Marks' footsteps, especially in her rendition of La Bayadere. Originally choreographed by Marius Petipa, La Bayadere has been criticized for its lack of action and, until recently, only the third act was performed as an excerpt. However, Holmes feels, "It is one of the big classical ballets that should be in every major company's repertoire." She attempts to stay true to the original, best preserved by the Kirov Ballet in Russia, by enlisting the aid of six former Kirov dancers. Holmes expertly cuts the dead time, however, and adds flavor where she deems appropriate - parrots in Act II, opium in Act III. While not without fault, Holmes' rendition of La Bayadere will definitely not put you to sleep. Set in India, La Bayadere is the story of the warrior Solor, who is in love with a temple dancer (bayadere) Nikiya, played last Thursday by Yury Yanowsky and Larissa Ponomarenko. The first act is set outside the temple, where Solor and Nikiya meet and pledge their love for one another. The first act as a whole is particularly impressive. Unlike other versions, Boston Ballet's rendition does not include lengthy acting and non-balletic dancing sections. The highlight of this act, without question, is Ponomarenko. Although her slight figure is somewhat distracting, her delicate footwork and lingering balances render her character absolutely breathtaking. The second scene in Act I is set in the Rajah's palace. Solor is offered the hand of the Rajah's daughter Gamzatti, played by April Ball, and is unable to refuse. This scene presents typical Russian acting, which is gloriously dramatic. The weakest part of this scene is the corps. Though accurate in its performance of the choreography, the corps was distractingly not together. At the end of the first act, Gamzatti learns of Solor's affection for the bayadere. During the second act, at the ceremony celebrating the betrothal of Solor to Gamzatti, Gamzatti sends Nikiya a basket containing a poisonous snake. While Nikiya is dancing, she is bitten by the snake and dies. The first dance presented in the ceremony of the second act is the parrot dance, which features the dancers holding live parrots. The next dance is the pas de quatre. Two of the four corps dancers Holmes cast, Romi Beppu and Rie Ichikawa, are an absolute delight to watch. Though all four dance with very precise technique, Beppu and Ichikawa steal the spotlight with their brilliant smiles. Given their excessive applause, it would appear that the Boston audience was impressed by the Golden Idol dance. However, to some who are familiar with the ballet, it is a disappointing rendition. The Golden Idol dance is traditionally a virtuosi variation of leaps and turns, and Holmes gives the coveted opening-night casting to Christopher Budzynski, a soloist with the company. This was a mistake, as Budzynski's technique is not nearly as virtuosi as some of the other company members cast to perform on later dates. Yanowsky and Ball steal the show with their pas de deux towards the end of this act. Ball's soft yet impeccable style is a beautiful complement to Yanowsky's elastic jump. Even the two other couples that accompany the leads in the Pas D'Action do not detract from the glorious style of this duet. The pas de deux in Act III does not match the level set in Act II. In Act III, an opium-induced hallucination leads Solor to the Kingdom of the Shades, where visions of Nikiya and memories of their love haunt him. Perhaps Ponomarenko was exhausted from the first Act; perhaps it was opening night jitters. Whatever the reason, the pas de deux was not perfect. The corps, however, was in perfect unison. The 32 dancers successfully appear as mirror images of one another. The ballet ends when it comes time for Solor to marry Gamzatti. He sees a vision of Nikiya, rushes to his den, and takes his life. Together, Solor and Nikiya ascend to paradise united in eternal love. Despite some shaky moments, the Boston Ballet's production of La Bayadere remains an elegant one, full of dramatic gestures and elaborate sets. The production even includes a Jumbo - Solor arrives at the celebration on a giant elephant. And at the student rush ticket price of $12.50, you can't beat it. Especially when nightlife on campus seems so dreary... But that's another story.

The Setonian
News

Tufts alumni Pam and Pierre Omidyar receive Light on the Hill award

August 31

Alumni Pierre (LA, '88) and Pam (LA, '89) Omidyar shared stories of meatball subs at Jay's Deli, chemistry class, and student protests with the Tufts community yesterday in a ceremony honoring the pair as the recipients of this year's Light on the Hill award. The two - who were recognized for their achievements in the areas of business and philanthropy - candidly addressed a crowd assembled in Cabot Auditorium, speaking without a prepared text and often cracking informal jokes. Empowerment was the theme of their remarks, and both encouraged audience members to take active roles in their communities. "You should learn from what other people have done, but if they say it's impossible, don't believe them," said Mr. Omidyar, who cited the recent presidential election to emphasize the difference that one person can make. The couple discussed their recent $10 million donation to Tufts' University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS), and praised the project for providing students with opportunities to learn about the value of active citizenship. They said that initiatives such as the Omidyar scholar program create a "leveraging effect" where students in the community are inspired to do public service by active friends. "I would like to see not just the Omidyar scholars, but every student who passes through Tufts, leave here knowing that one person can make a difference," said Ms. Omidyar, a third generation Jumbo. She added that she is in the process of designing t-shirts with the slogan "Be an Enzyme" in order to inspire others the be catalysts for change in society. In his introductory remarks, University President John DiBiaggio called the couple "venture-philanthropists," as their unique nonprofit Omidyar Foundation attempts to apply values from the business world to the realm of charity. Mr. Omidyar, who found success in business as the founder of the Internet auction heavyweight eBay.com, said that the organization attempts to take the operational aspects of business and apply them to management of a nonprofit organization. Ms. Omidyar, who left a consulting job to work full time for the foundation, explained that the organization is unique in the approach it takes to solving issues faced by society. "We're trying to address the underlying causes instead of funding quick fixes," she said. "We hope that by doing that, we can make things such as soup kitchens and homeless shelters obsolete." Giving back to the community is important, she said, because few people in the world are lucky enough to have the opportunities that a college education provides. "[College] is really one of the only places where you have four years to experiment," she said. "With an education from Tufts and with the blessed life that we have... I really felt like we had a responsibility to make a difference in this world." The Omidyar Foundation is an active partner in the grants it makes, and its work with the recipients enables both parties to discover effective ways to run nonprofit organizations and social programs. During their visit at Tufts, the Omidyars met with administrators, faculty, and students who have been involved in UCCPS, and expressed praise with the strides the initiative has made. The student organizers of the event praised the Omidyars as role models to students. "Pam and Pierre have searched for ways to take what they learned at Tufts University and really turn it out for the benefit of society," said Alessandro Terenzoni, co-chair of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate's Special Projects committee "You really embody the spirit of being a Jumbo, and you serve as an example for Jumbos past, present, and future," said Moira Poe, Terenzoni's co-chair. Light on the Hill is an annual award that honors a distinguished Tufts alumnus and alumnae. Normally, it is given in conjunction with the Rising Light on the Hill award that recognizes up-and-coming former Jumbos, but the organizers of this year's ceremony chose to award two Light on the Hill awards instead of one of each.

The Setonian
News

Women's soccer advances to NCAA Quarterfinals

August 31

For the second time in three years, the Tufts women's soccer team captured the NCAA New England Championship, defeating Wheaton 3-1 yesterday in Middlebury, Vt., to earn the honor. The win came on the heels of a nail-biter Saturday against Bowdoin that went to penalty kicks after 120 minutes of scoreless play. The Jumbos topped the Polar Bears 5-4 in six kicks to earn the date with Wheaton. The win lifts Tufts' record to 16-3-1, with Saturday's game officially recorded as a tie. The Jumbos are now 5-1 in NCAA Tournament games, and will look to add to that record in the NCAA Quarterfinals this weekend, when they will play host to William Smith College, winner of the Northeast Regional. In yesterday's game, Tufts was able to avoid its usual pattern of starting off slowly, getting the offense going right off the bat. Just two minutes into the game, the Jumbos picked their first corner kick. Junior midfielder Katie Kehrberger sent the ball into the box, finding senior tri-captain Carmen Mikacenic, who fired a shot towards the goal. That ball was deflected, but junior Lynn Cooper grabbed the rebound and slipped it into the right side of the net, giving the team a 1-0 advantage. The goal was her sixth in NCAA Tournament play. "For a change, we actually came out fired up," coach Martha Whiting said. "It helped us that we scored in the first two minutes. That gave us a boost and some extra confidence for the rest of the game." The lead would not hold for too long, however, as Wheaton responded with a goal of its own at 12:52. Freshman forward Christy McHugh found herself on the receiving end of a great cross from sophomore Ali Bimba, and netted the equalizer for her eighth score of the year. Tufts was not deterred by the goal, though and capitalized on another scoring chance eight minutes later. With just under 25 minutes to play in the first period, sophomore Alle Sharlip sent a ball into the penalty area that resulted in a scramble in front of the net. Cooper ended up with possession and tapped the ball to senior tri-captain Sara Yeatman, who quickly tallied her 11th goal of the year, giving the Jumbos a 2-1 lead. The Brown and Blue added an insurance goal early in the second half, as freshman Jess Trombly, the NESCAC Rookie of the Year, fed sophomore Elizabeth Tooley to put the Jumbos up 3-1. The Lyons refused to go down without a fight, however, generating a number of scoring chances down the stretch. But the Tufts defense held strong to preserve the victory, with senior tri-captain Randee McArdle making five saves on the day. "For a lot of the second half, we were under pressure," Whiting said. "They pushed some players forward, and we were trying to hold our lead. They had three corner kicks in succession, and we just fought hard and kept the ball out of the net." The key for the Jumbos, however, was shutting down Bimba on offense. Coming into yesterday's game, she had tallied 19 goals and eight assists in just 20 matches. But Tufts was prepared, and kept her well-covered the entire game. "[Bimba] is phenomenal, and we shut her down and kept her from scoring," Whiting said. "We played with three backs in a zone and had [freshman Jessie] Lovitz mark her man-for-man. And she marked her right out of the game. The kid basically did nothing." Meanwhile, the rest of the defense was able to adjust well the new game strategy, keeping the rest of Wheaton's offense in check. "They responded really well," Whiting said. "They're smart players, and we have captains at goalie, defensive back, and center-midfield. It was their leadership that carried us through. Their leadership has been great all year, and they've stepped it up during the tournament. They've been amazing." Wheaton defeated host Middlebury Saturday 3-2 in overtime, giving Tufts a look at a new opponent instead of a third shot at the Panthers. "We wanted the chance to play [Middlebury] in good conditions, but we were all happy that we got to face a new opponent, somebody we hadn't seen all year," McArdle said. "I would much rather play a new team," Yeatman said. "It's more fun to play someone you haven't played before. It's a new challenge." "In a way, it was good that we didn't play Middlebury again," Whiting added. "After watching the Wheaton-Middlebury game, I knew that, whoever we played, it was going to be a good game. Wheaton is an excellent team, and we wanted to see somebody new after having played Middlebury last weekend." The Jumbos advanced to the regional finals with a win over Bowdoin on Saturday. The match was the third meeting between the two teams. Bowdoin took the first contest 4-1, but Tufts avenged the loss with a 3-1 victory in the semi-finals of the NESCAC Tournament last weekend. On Saturday, the two teams, which had combined for nine goals in their previous two meetings, battled hard throughout, but neither was able to convert. Despite each side generating a number of strong chances, however, the game remained deadlocked 0-0 through the end of regulation. The two 15-minute overtime periods did nothing to change the situation, and the teams were forced to move on to penalty kicks. "It didn't pan out like a 0-0 game," Yeatman said. "Both teams had a lot of close shots. [Bowdoin] dominated in the beginning, but we outplayed them in the second half and in overtime." "The game was very evenly matched. Both teams were very similar skill wise," Whiting added. "The game was very back-and-forth, although, as the game wore on, we kept gaining momentum. I think that if we had kept playing, we eventually would have won." Each team hit four of its first five penalty kicks, with Cooper, Kehrberger, Mikacenic, and sophomore Adie Sherwood scoring for Tufts, and the game moved to a sudden death format. Polar Bear midfielder Amory Bradley fired her team's sixth shot wide left, however, opening up the door for the Jumbos. Tooley took shot number six for the Jumbos, sending a low ball towards the right corner of the goal to beat Bowdoin keeper Sarah Farmer and give Tufts the win. "I was a little nervous when we went to penalty kicks, but, at the same time, I was totally confident," McArdle said. "We had been practicing all week, and I knew that our kickers were excellent and could make their shots." McArdle made nine saves in earning her 22nd career shutout, adding to the record she set earlier this year. The Jumbos will now move on to the quarterfinals of the NCAA Tournament, where they will face off against William Smith College, a team they have not seen before, at home this weekend, with the day and time to be announced later this week. Tufts is 9-0 this season in games played at Kraft Field. The winner will move on to the NCAA Final Four. "I feel like we deserve [a home game] after the last two weeks," Whiting said. "With all the traveling we've done and the weather we've endured. It's time for us to have our huge crowd cheering for us instead of someone else's cheering against us." "All we know about [William Smith] is that they're traditionally a very strong team, and we have our work cut out for us," she said. "But it's exciting when you play someone you haven't played before." "We're psyched," McArdle said. "We don't know anything about them, but, at this point in the season, the skill levels are all the same. It's all about the mental aspect and who wants to win more." While Whiting would not make any predictions on the outcome of the tournament, she expressed complete confidence in her team's ability. "The great thing about this team is that they really believe in each other and they believe in themselves," she said. "I think they can go as far as they want to go, and do as well as they want to do."

The Setonian
News

Childhood ends quickly for Israelis

August 31

There is turmoil in Israel, in Jerusalem, and I suppose I'm in the middle of it. The newscasters are tearing the action apart, the hourly radio report has become more and more frequent, yet I'm isolated in the Hebrew University in Mount Scopus amongst English, Portuguese, French, and Russian speakers, all seemingly unaffected by what's going on. I keep the radio on, though, hoping to catch phrases that might give me an idea of what's happening outside the gates of the university, but this only results in frustration with my lacking Hebrew knowledge. I hear sirens and loudspeakers; I know that whatever sparked on Friday after Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount hasn't yet ended today. My first indication that something out of the ordinary was happening in Israel was on Friday. My American friend's Israeli boyfriend called her frantically warning her not to spend Rosh Hashanah in the Old City because there was trouble between the Palestinians and the Israelis: one man had been killed. We turned on the radio and searched for a station that might convey news in English, but we had to resort to our poor Hebrew skills to discern what might be happening. I walked out through the university security gate that night, and was mildly surprised to see an army van, parked outside, filled with soldiers. I have grown used to soldiers. It does not stun me to see guns anymore. I was only taken aback that there were more than the usual one or two soldiers parked outside my dorm. I got inside my cousin's car to go to her house for Rosh Hashanah dinner, and was greeted by a strained "hello." Her eyes were red. She had just returned from a classmate's funeral: he had died in a bomb attack in Gaza. In her house there was some talk of the clashes in the Old City, but overall dinner conversation was geared elsewhere. It concentrated on the New Year. Invariably, conversation turned to the army. A foreign student joked the other day that anywhere else conversation within the 20s age bracket veers toward sex. In Israel, conversation habitually concentrates on the army or religion. My cousins, a year younger than me, talk about how I have it easy: here I am traveling and learning while they must go to their army base or else stand trial or go to jail. Yet when they are with friends, they leave me behind in a trail of Hebrew words, and then return to me to make sure I understand what each patch on their shoulder means, where their base is, what their exact job is, and what it all means in their world in the army. It is important to them that I understand their military terminology. They are continually tired, complaining of lack of sleep, yet they go out with friends every night. They explain to me: "I promised myself that I would not let the army take over my life. When I come home, the uniform comes off. If I just go to sleep and then to the army every morning, I let my life become the army. I can't let that happen." Meanwhile, I have grown accustomed to soldiers in bottle green uniforms sitting next to me on the bus, their gun rubbing against my knee. I have grown used to opening my bag for a security search whenever I enter or leave my dorm, a shopping mall, or grocery store. At night, when I am unsure of whether I'm hearing fireworks or gunshots in the distance, I have learned to shrug my shoulders rather than wonder that there is even the probability that those are gunshots outside my window. Meanwhile, there is fighting at hand, only 15 minutes outside my door, but seemingly countries away. My fingers go numb as I leaf through my English/Hebrew dictionary and strain to make sense of the news on the radio. I listen for sirens and can only guess what might be happening when there is only silence beyond students' voices outside the insulated gates of my dorm. A friend yesterday was telling other students not to worry. "I know someone who was studying here during the Six Day War. She says you almost couldn't tell there was a war going on. They'd hear a siren go off and they'd hide somewhere with friends. They couldn't do anything, so they smoked from the Nargillah and talked. She said it was even kind of fun." It is possible that some students still don't know what's going on. Some only found out that they were in the middle of the clash through a frantic call from their parents asking if they were okay. Most students cannot believe that they are in the core of the seemingly perpetual Middle Eastern conflict. Some parents are sending their kids money from abroad so they can travel around the city in cabs instead of buses for fear of a terrorist bombing. Some parents are pleading for their kids to come back home. Many students are canceling their planned vacation trips to the Sinai, Cairo, or Petra and looking into backpacking in Europe instead. Suddenly everybody has a political position. Israelis and foreign students do not have political discussions very often, somewhere along the conversation they each lack something that goes beyond vocabulary and language; it extends to experience and culture. This gap between Israeli soldiers and foreigners leaves a vacuum among their relationship and understanding of each other. I could never fathom losing a classmate in the army before I came to Israel, I could never imagine seeing my friends train with weapons out of a necessity to defend themselves and protect their nation. There is a separation between Israelis and foreign students whenever they step into a uniform or talk about their army duties. At a certain point, though, foreign students and soldiers do cross this field in which they are alien to one another. At some stage, among security checks and weapons, both sides are affected. Both are forced to reevaluate their values and to grow up sooner than they might have been prepared to, both might have to shed some idealism through their association to each other and to the country.Keren Blankfeld is a junior majoring in English and international relations. She is currently studying in Jerusalem.

The Setonian
News

Hypocrisy at its best

August 31

Hypocrisy is alive and well at Tufts University. In fact, as the semester has progressed, the incidences of hypocritical propaganda among certain members of the student body have become overwhelming. Most recently, hypocrisy reared its ugly head on the roof of the Tisch Library. Interestingly enough, this occurred during a rally condemning discrimination and intolerant behavior on campus. I would like to provide you with a little background information on myself along with the events that have led me to this conclusion. I am a junior, political science major, and an active member of the Tufts Republicans. I have been directly involved with politics for over ten years and have thoroughly enjoyed the stimulating controversy and debate that party affiliation provides. However, since arriving at Tufts, I have found that the stimulating political controversy that I once enjoyed has been tainted by bitter animosity among the students and their various organizations. It appears that political differences have instigated a variety of unwelcome and unjustified attacks on several different occasions. I am an avid supporter of George W. Bush and have been a very active participant in his campaign since the beginning. Over the course of the year, I collected a variety of Bush paraphernalia including sweatshirts, pins, buttons, stickers, and other knick-knacks. Last week, I decided to wear my Bush/Cheney sweatshirt to class. As a result, on three separate occasions, members of the student body verbally assaulted me. I was called a murderer, barbarian, and beast, along with a few other names that would make a sailor blush. These verbal assaults did not surprise me. In fact, I have come to expect and enjoy them. It is amazing how ignorant an intelligent group of people can be. My greatest surprise came later in the afternoon while leaving campus. As I walked past the Tisch Library, I noticed there was some sort of rally taking place. It turns out the rally was in protest of campus discrimination and the lack of tolerance among students. The interesting part is that three of the four people who had verbally accosted me earlier in the afternoon appeared to be leading the group in anti-discrimination chants and clever slogans demanding equality. At least, their version of equality. It appears that their warped sense of equality only ascribes to randomly selected acts that are decided at their convenience. And, somehow my freedom of expression wasn't applicable. Hypocrisy at its best. I am not sure what organization sponsored last week's rally at Tisch. But, whoever was responsible needs to take a good look at the integrity of their members. And remember that just because someone holds different political ideologies, that doesn't make them the enemy. In fact, I'm sure if we look close enough there would be a number of common interests and beliefs among all members of the student body. But, until we can look past the stereotypes often associated with different groups - such as the Republican Party - we will never know. So the next time that a rally is held for those mistreated on campus, light a candle for me. Hank Compton is a junior majoring in political science. He is a member of the Tufts Republicans.

The Setonian
News

Beelzebubs to sing at Celtics opener

August 31

As the World Series victory parade marks the end of the baseball season, the sports world turns its attention to basketball, America's winter pastime. And if going to the FleetCenter for the Celtics' opening night wasn't an adventure enough, Tufts students should be particularly interested in tonight's season opener and festivities. The Beelzebubs will perform in the lobby of the FleetCenter during the hour before the jump ball. Opening day for the Celtics is an all-day affair. Many professional a cappella groups will perform throughout the afternoon, but the Bubs have the most highly coveted spot - they're the ones to get people excited before they even enter the arena. This gives the group both the chance to sell more copies of its award-winning CD Infinity (Best Male Collegiate A Capella Album, courtesy of BOCA 2000), and get free tickets to the Celtics game. Unfortunately, they won't be performing the National Anthem this time around, but that possibility shouldn't be ruled out in the future. This is the fourth high-profile gig in recent memory for the Bubs. In May of '99, the group sat in the audience of The Late Show With David Letterman and was then invited to sing on the air. Later that year, the Bubs performed at baseball's All Star Game (though again without singing the anthem). Most recently, the group performed at EuroDisney this past spring, singing for some 20,000 people in total. The Beelzebubs will release a new CD (as yet untitled) in the spring, which is sure to feature some of their new material from this semester. Until then, there will still be plenty of opportunities to get your a cappella fix. Even if you can't check out the Celtics game, their December 8 Winter Concert in Goddard Chapel is only five weeks away. Their CD is available in the bookstore and through their website at www.bubs.com.

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Backfield leads women's soccer

August 31

The success of the women's soccer team this season has not stemmed from its offense; in fact, the Jumbos have not netted more than three goals in any single game. Clearly the key factor in their 11-2 campaign is the team's dominance in the backfield. Giving up an average of less than one goal per game, and amassing five shutouts thus far this season, the defensive unit has been virtually impenetrable. "I feel like our back four have been clicking this year," coach Martha Whiting said. "They all have a great understanding of the way we play and are working well together." Leading the way is senior goalkeeper Randee McArdle. A member of the All-New England team last year, McArdle has not disappointed anyone so far this season, allowing only 10 goals in the 11 games in which she started. Her 0.92 goals against average is among the best in the NESCAC. "Randee has been great all year," Whiting said. "She has developed into one of the top keepers in NESCAC and has really made some clutch saves in some really important games." McArdle will also have a chance to break a long Tufts goalkeeper record standing record tomorrow, as she will attempt her 20th career save. Also starting in the backfield are senior Carmen Mikacenic, junior Katie Ruddy, sophomore Brenna O'Rourke, and freshman Jessie Lovitz. Whiting points to Mikacenic's leadership and skill as the glue that holds the defense together. "Carmen's presence in the back is huge," Whiting said. "As a senior captain she is doing a great job of being a leader in the back." "Our style of defense has really taken shape this year," Mikacenic said. One of the three seniors on the team, she feels that experience and leadership are the keys to the Jumbo defense this season. "The fact that we have two players who are in their third year of experience with [the flat-back four defensive strategy] really helps. I also think that all of our defenders are really skillful, thoughtful players, which helps bring composure under stressful situations." The team has had its share of stressful situations, as six of its games have been decided by just one goal. The only blowout loss of the season was dealt by Bowdoin, a team that is currently ranked fourth in the nation. At the time, the four goals relinquished in the game matched the number of goals the Jumbos had allowed all season. "In the Bowdoin game they brought three forwards against us and played quickly to the front," Mikacenic said. "We held them close for the majority of the game but the team effort declined towards the end." With the NESCAC tournament quickly approaching, the Jumbos realize that they will likely face the Polar Bears another time in their quest for a trophy. "We are excited to play against them again to revenge our loss," Mikacenic said. Before that fateful game, the Jumbos will face the potent Williams offense this weekend, which has amassed 44 goals this season, compared to the Jumbos' 28. "Saturday we'll have to guard against Williams' speed up front," Whiting said. "We can't make mental mistakes in the back. For the most part, the goals scored against us have been a result of mental mistakes. As long as we play smart and tough we'll be able to contain Williams." Defense will be key in the homecoming game, which will mean more than simply solidifying a 12-2 season record and a high seed in the NESCAC tournament. "They are the only team [the seniors] have not defeated in our years here, and we feel that it is definitely time. Like any other game, I'm not worried about their offense because our defense is strong. We can hold anyone scoreless if we are on."

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NL wide open in the postseason

August 31

It's okay if you've been sleeping for the last few weeks of the National League's regular season. We forgive you. But it's time to wake up now. Compared to the junior circuit, the pennant races in the NL were a bore, as the Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals clinched their respective divisions with relative ease. The New York Mets also took their second consecutive Wild Card with grace, which meant there wasn't much excitement in the NL. All that's over, though, and with October comes one of the most exciting, competitive postseasons we have seen in a while. The Tomahawk Chop vs. the Cards. G-Men verse those Amazin' Mets. It's almost too much to handle, but we'll try. Here's a breakdown of how the playoff series should shakedown. Braves vs. Cardinals The Atlanta Braves have been to the National League Championship Series for the past eight years. The Cardinals haven't been in the postseason since 1996, when they dropped a three-games-to-one lead to these very same Atlanta Braves in the NLCS. The Braves threw four-time Cy Young winner Greg Maddux in Game One. The Cardinals countered with 21-year old rookie Rick Ankiel. It should have been a blowout, right? It wasn't. St. Louis pounded Maddux and took advantage of two first-inning Braves' errors to take a 6-0 lead and held on to win, 7-5. The two teams finished the season with the exact same record, but the Cardinals have the home field advantage in the series, on the strength of winning the regular season series with the Braves, 4-3. But that's not the only thing the Cards have in their favor. For starters, the Cardinals can almost match the Braves' pitching staff arm for arm. While Ankiel may not have the distinguished resume of Maddux, he is a favorite in the Rookie of the Year voting, and finished the year with an 11-7 mark and a 3.50 ERA. He is more lethal at home, though, where he took the mound in Game One. In Busch Stadium, he is 2-0 in his last five starts, and hasn't given up more than two runs in his past three. Game Two's starting pitchers provide quite an interesting match up, also, as Darryl Kile, who went 20-9 this season, will get the call to pitch against Atlanta's 21-game winner Tom Glavine. The pitching staff gets deeper for the Cardinals, as manager Tony LaRussa will have the luxury of calling upon any of three pitchers who won at least ten games this year - Alan Benes, Garrett Stephenson, or Pat Hentgen. Atlanta can hang with St. Louis' depth, though, as skipper Bobby Cox will have to decide to throw either Kevin Milwood or Andy Ashby. Neither pitcher has had a great year, but both are former All-Stars and have strong postseason records. One glance at St. Louis' lineup, though, and you realize this isn't the same Cardinals team that jumped out to such a big lead in the NL Central this season. Mark McGwire will only be available to pinch hit, because of an injury, which means that veteran Will Clark will fill in at first base. Clark has played admirably since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles, hitting over .400 against the Braves, but he is no Big Mac. McGwire will be missed in the middle of the lineup, but there is still no shortage of power there, as third baseman Fernando Tatis, Clark, and outfielders Ray Lankford, Jim Edmonds, and J.D. Drew belted the Cards to the fourth-most homers in the NL. The Cards are strong defensively at the most important positions, as Fernando Vina lead all NL second basemen in fielding percentage, while shortstop Edgar Renteria and centerfielder Edmonds are also capable of making spectacular plays. One other injury of note is Cardinals catcher Mike Matheny, Ankiel's regular backstop, who will miss the rest of the year. Carlos Hernandez will take over the duties full-time. The Braves, when healthy, are arguably the most talented team in baseball. However, they are rarely fully healthy. The lineup boasts the amazing rookie Rafael Furcal in the leadoff spot. The dazzling shortstop is a great table-setter for a powerful lineup. Andruw Jones has had his best season at the plate, and, combined with the fact that he is the best defensive centerfielder in the game, look for him to wind up on some MVP ballots. Behind the 1-2 hitters is a lineup that consistently has punch. Third baseman Chipper Jones' numbers are down a bit from his MVP campaign in '99, but he's still the best third baseman in the game, while Andres Galarraga has wrapped up his remarkable return from cancer with another fine season. Brian Jordan and Javy Lopez are solid hitters with occasional pop, and B.J. Surhoff is a reliable veteran. These two teams are much closer than they appear on paper, which means that either could emerge from a tiring series and play in the NLCS.Mets vs. Giants The Giants are the team that ran away with a talented NL West, while the Mets are the lowly Wild Card team. So why are the Mets favored in this series? Three words - pitching, pitching, pitching. And, more specifically, veteran pitching. Mike Hampton and Rick Reed are both veterans who have pitched in the postseason, and Al Leiter has pitched three times in the World Series. On the flip side, only the Giants' Livan Hernandez has proven himself in the postseason, but we are still waiting to see what will come of Shawn Estes and Russ Ortiz's first playoff starts. The smart money usually goes with the team with veteran pitching. The Met pitching better be top notch, however, if it is going to shut down the Giants lineup, which was in the top five in almost every offensive category. Most of that strength, however, comes from three men - Barry Bonds, Jeff Kent, and Ellis Burks. Bonds and Kent, both MVP candidates, carry the load offensively, but if the Giants are going to go deep into the playoffs, or even get by the Mets, they will need contributions from players like first baseman J.T. Snow, shortstop Rich Aurilia, and centerfielder Marvin Benard. Defensively, the Giants are strong at some positions - the infield corners and centerfield - but weak in the middle of the infield, as Kent has very limited range at second and Aurilia is average with the glove. Conversely, the Mets are extremely talented defensively, but don't hit all that well. Todd Zeile just finished his first full season as a first baseman with mixed reviews, but the rest of the infield is strong, as second baseman Edgardo Alfonzo, shortstop Mike Bordick, and third baseman Robin Ventura complete a very competent quartet. However, the Mets have not hit the ball for much of this year. Catcher Mike Piazza, who led the MVP voting most of the season until going into a big slump in September, and Alfonzo are the only two big offensive powers. Ventura hit only .228, but he's a veteran and could pull through in the postseason. The Mets will certainly need contributions from players like Zeile and outfielders Benny Agbayani and Jay Payton. This series could be decided when the Mets are at bat. We know the Mets pitchers can pitch and we know the Giant batters can bat. What we don't know is what will happen when guys like Russ Ortiz are pitching to guys like Jay Payton. That's what makes this stuff so much fun.

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Party on Wayne; Party's off, Garth

August 31

As many Tufts students have heard or, more likely, noticed, there is a new alcohol policy on campus this year. However, more shocking than the policy itself may be its consistent, overly aggressive enforcement. Every weekend, police have turned out in seemingly increased numbers compared to past years, and have taken to shutting down parties at unheard-of times. Not to brag, but we at 123 actually had a party broken up in less than five minutes during orientation. I'd like to see Michael Johnson break that record.

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Jumbos have final answer for Regis

August 31

What do you do when your opponent hits five of seven three pointers in the first half? This was the question that Regis College posed to the women's basketball team last night in Cousens gym. It took a lifeline or two, but the Jumbos finally prevailed over the feisty Beacons, 67-59, pulling away in the final three minutes of the contest. The Beacons shot only 35.9 percent overall, but hit at a 44.1 clip from behind the three-point line, including an impressive 71.4 percent effort from beyond the arc in the first half. "They just shot the ball well," coach Janice Savitz said. "We went to the 3-2, thinking that we'd be closer to the three point line, but they still kept shooting well. Kudos to them." On paper, though, the game appeared to be a mismatch. Tufts was fresh off an 81-53 thumping of the Lasell Lasers, a team that topped Regis 66-65 earlier in the season. The Jumbos were playing at home and, despite a rash of injuries, sported a 2-1 record. "Coach said this was the hardest working team that we would face, so we expected a hard game," freshman Kate Gluckman said. "Not as hard as what happened. Unfortunately, I think that we went into this game a little bit cocky." The Beacons appeared to have taken advantage of this cockiness, as they sported a three point lead with five minutes remaining. But then sophomore center Emily Goodman turned one of her six offensive rebounds into a bucket to cut the lead to one. Junior forward Mara Schanfield, who first entered the game with six minutes left, then drilled a three-pointer to complete the comeback. "Mara hitting that three-pointer was huge with her coming in off the bench.," Savitz said. Then, one minute later, Goodman, who chipped in a team-high 29 points as well, gave Tufts the lead for good off of a nice feed from sophomore point guard Hillary Dunn. Long before Regis had completed its first-half barrage of three pointers, however, it was evident that this game would not be a cakewalk for the Jumbos. While Tufts floundered at the offensive end, missing nine straight shots during one particularly bad stretch, the Beacons jumped out to an 18-8 lead on a jumper from junior Kathy Barberi with nine minutes left in the half. Barberi led Regis with 21 points on 7-17 shooting, including nine points on six shots from behind the three-point arc. The Jumbos would tie the score at 21 five minutes later after a flurry of scoring that included a three pointer by Dunn and four points each from Goodman and Gluckman. A buzzer beating shot at the end of the half by junior Jamie Busnengo gave Tufts a 31-28 halftime lead. The tide turned at the beginning of the second half, though, and it looked like the Jumbos were about to put the game away. Freshman Maritsa Christoudias hit a long jumper for two of her 11 points, and Goodman rebounded her own miss and put it back to give Tufts a seven point lead at 35-28 one minute into the second half. Tufts maintained that lead for the next five minutes, increasing it to nine on a Dunn three pointer with 13:46 remaining. But the Beacons stormed back, outscoring the Jumbos 15-5 over the next 8:06. A Jumbo mistake led to Beacon junior Helen Dinan's steal and layup, cutting the Tufts lead to one at 50-49. Barberi and Dinan each hit one more jumper to give the Beacons their 53-50 advantage with 4:50 to play, setting the stage for the Jumbos to showcase their version of the five-minute drill. "We showed patience and poise down the stretch," Savitz said of the team. Goodman agreed. "We played poised and didn't panic," she said. "It's good to do that early on because it will become important later in the season." Perhaps nowhere was this poise more evident than in the turnover category. The Jumbos were averaging 25 turnovers a game entering last night, but turned the ball over only 14 times last night. Primarily responsible for this drop was point guard Dunn who led the team with six assists including several key feeds in the second half. "She totally controls the offense," Goodman said. "I feel comfortable with her on the court. Each game we've been playing better together." Dunn also contributed eight points, an offensive contribution that Savitz has been looking for. "Hilary looked for her shot," Savitz said. "I know she can hit it. It was good to see her to do that. She played very well, a solid game." Gluckman has also been a steady contributor on the injury-plagued Jumbos, tallying ten points and seven boards in last night's game. She is averaging seven rebounds, to go along with her 6.8 points per game. "Kate did a nice job," Savitz said. "She does the little things. She is an intense player. She gets it, she understands." Savitz hopes that her squad will be able to breathe a little easier their next time out when they travel to Norton, Mass. on Saturday for a 2 p.m. date with Wheaton. Last year, Tufts outscored the hosts 37-17 in the second half, en route to a 70-45 embarrassment of the Lyons. "Last year was last year, we can't rely on the fact that we beat them by that much last year," Dunn said. "They're a different team, and we're a different team. But we're determined to go into the break at 4-1."

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Tufts to establish study abroad programs in China, Hong Kong

August 31

Two Tufts faculty members are in Asia this week, finalizing plans for the establishment of Tufts' first study-abroad program in China. When formalized, students will have the opportunity to study at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou. A separate program at the University of Hong Kong is also in the works, and is set to begin in the spring of 2003. Currently in the experimental phase, the Tufts in China program will not officially be offered until fall 2002. Efforts to establish the program come in response to strong interest from both students and faculty. Director of Study Abroad Shelia Bayne and Chinese Associate Professor Xueping Zhong will spend the next week in China negotiating the final terms of the program, including hiring a resident director and creating a curriculum. The program will be primarily for students who already have a background in the Chinese language, and there may be a prerequisite of Chinese 4. However, subject courses will be taught in English, in order to ensure that they fulfill Tufts' curricular requirements. "The challenge in setting up this program is making sure that the University will offer such courses in English," Bayne said. "We always try to integrate the curriculum abroad with that at Tufts so that students can be prepared here, go off and immerse themselves in another culture, and then use those skills as they come back for senior year." The study abroad program at the University of Hong Kong will be completely separate from its counterpart. While the two programs are based in the same region, their focuses are distinct, giving students "the opportunity to choose one or the other, or maybe even both," according to Bayne. Courses at the University of Hong Kong are taught in English, and the program is geared towards students who do not have an extensive language background, and who wish to study fields such as economics, engineering, and international relations in a foreign setting. "The China program will be language-based, while the Hong Kong program will focus more on leadership," Chinese Lecturer Mingquan Wang explained. While students have previously been able to attend programs in Asian nations, Bayne hopes to create something with a unique Tufts identity, while encouraging people to study China's languages and culture. Last year, ten juniors participated in non-Tufts sponsored programs, but they later faced bureaucratic complications as a result of their detached status. "Some students are concerned with fulfilling their distribution requirements and transferring credit while abroad," Wang said. "With the Tufts program, students can spend more than one semester in China if they so choose." Senior Ken Lin studied in Taiwan last year, and although the Chinese and Taiwanese cultures starkly differ, he said that the Hangzhou program would benefit many Tufts students. "A lot of people have problems transferring credits from non-Tufts programs - Dowling can sometimes be kind of slow about it, and we sometimes don't know how many credits we'll get for the hours we put in, " he said. He also criticized Tufts' proposed program, arguing that the location is not ideal. "Hangzhou is kind of isolated. Most people, when they want to go to China, want to go to Beijing." Hangzhou was chosen partially because of Zhong's relationship with Zhejiang University. According to officials, the idea for creating a study abroad program in China has been circulating for several years, and the delay in implementation involved finding an appropriate partner institution. "Professor Zhong's connections made this opportunity interesting and feasible," Bayne said. Historically, most Tufts-sponsored study abroad programs started in a similar manner, with faculty members taking the initiative. The proposals are then brought to a faculty subcommittee, which considers their feasibility and asks questions about the quality of the partner institution. Bayne hopes to announce the China and Hong Kong programs in next year's study abroad catalogue so that current freshmen may consider them as options. "We feel that the Tufts in China program will offer things that other programs cannot," Wang said. "It will integrate both culture and history, and because we know the background behind it the transitions will be smoother." With the addition of the China and Hong Kong programs, Tufts will offer 11 different study abroad programs. The options have been steadily expanding since Bayne began work at Tufts in 1989. "Back then there were only five programs, and they were only in Western Europe," she said. "Now Tufts-sponsored study abroad programs are available on four different continents. I think this says a lot about Tufts. The former configuration of programs is no longer appropriate for a university of this caliber. We need to be represented in all parts of the world."

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Tufts student groups organize AIDS Awareness Week activities

August 31

Most Tufts students know the risks of contracting AIDS, but some dismiss the notion that they are at risk. AIDS Awareness Week was organized for just this reason - to serve as an opportunity for students to learn the dangers of HIV and AIDS.Today is World AIDS Day, an annual commemoration by the World Health Organization that began in 1988. Approximately 180 countries observe Aids Day, working to educate the public and advocate intensive research to find a cure for the epidemic.Here at Tufts, two organizations - AIDS Outreach and VISIONS - will spend their time informing the community and promoting awareness about the disease.AIDS Outreach, a branch of the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) that works mainly within the Tufts community, sponsored several events, including discussions in South and Carmichael Halls as well as other lectures around campus. AIDS Outreach will also be displaying a piece of the national AIDS quilt in the Large Conference Room of the campus center today. The quilt is a memorial dedicated to those who have suffered and ultimately died from AIDS, and is kept in Washington, DC.Last night, the group sponsored a lecture by a 30 year-old HIV positive victim. Sophomore Rebecca Grossman-Cohen, one of the two coordinators for AIDS Outreach, said that the lecture was the best way to educate the community - providing a first-hand account from someone who is suffering from the disease. Last April the group brought Denise Stokes to campus, herself a victim of AIDS, to speak about living with the disease. Students packed Cabot Auditorium, and many were inspired to get HIV tests."Tufts [students], like most of the rest of our... age group, really think they're untouchable and invincible; we're in this bubble that's hard to pop," Grossman-Cohen said.Junior Natalie McCabe, co-president of VISIONS, expressed similar sentiments about the perception of immortality in youth. "My concern is whether Tufts students, or students around the globe, can translate this knowledge into active precautions and responsible actions when it comes to issues of protection. All too often young people feel invincible and exempt from the possibility that HIV could, in fact, infect them," she said.While the disease has been publicized heavily for the last two decades, student groups such as AIDS Outreach and VISIONS are still struggling to dispel myths about HIV and AIDS. "There is a myth that's more recent that AIDS is not a crisis anymore.... It's very frightening that people believe that because that's not the case at all," Grossman-Cohen said. According to AIDS Outreach, people between the ages of 25 and 44 are in the highest risk category for contracting the disease. AIDS is a leading cause of death for people in this age group.AIDS Outreach's goals are widespread; they go above and beyond simply providing lecturers. Recently the group worked with ResLife to place condoms outside residential assistants' doors.AIDS Outreach also hopes to provide free and anonymous HIV testing at Health Services. Currently the tests cost about $80 and are not anonymous - a disincentive for students to get tested. Although VISIONS, an international non-profit organization, does most of its work for organizations outside of Tufts, members try to be active on campus as well. Recently the group worked with LCS and Hillel to organize a three-week food, clothing, and school supplies drive. McCabe said the donations will go to several Boston organizations including Community Servings (a food bank providing food for 650 HIV positive people each day), the AIDS Action Committee, CASPAR (a shelter for recovering addicts), and a Boston high school. Today, VISIONS will distribute red AIDS-awareness ribbons in the campus center. They will also have information regarding testing centers in the local area for HIV and other STDs.

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Bad Attitude' triumphs

August 31

Quite possibly one of the most underrated and under-appreciated bands of the last decade, Everclear is rocking its hardest to make people stand up and listen. Just four months after its last release, Learning How to Smile, Everclear has given us the second half of their Songs From an American Movie concept, Good Time for a Bad Attitude. With this album, its fifth overall, the band is trying to stay away from the less intense rock that was masked so wonderfully as pop on its album So Much For the Afterglow. What we get instead is good, old-fashioned guitar-driven hard rock. The CD begins with the very upbeat "When It All Goes Wrong Again," quite possibly the best opening track the band has used thus far. The lead singer Art Alexakis reminisces about his past as a drug addict, and the downhearted lyrics are all but forgotten amidst the powerful guitar riff and heavy-handed drums.This is a band that defines rock musicians in the truest sense. It's full of the fury that is demanded of a good rock band, and completely resistant to the mindlessness and fads that surround them. In "Slide," Alexakis sings: "Yes I know it's wrong but I just can't seem to control my age / Yes I know it's wrong but I just can't seem to control my rage." In the playfully humorous "Babytalk," he lets loose a rant ridiculing all his friends who allow their girlfriends to change them. "She has him by the balls / I hate you when you talk like that / I wish you would talk like a grown man." On "Rock Star," the band manages to deliver a slap in the face to all the mediocre "rock" bands that seem to be invading MTV lately. There are lots of gems on this album, and they cover a wide spectrum of moods and sounds. One of the more impressive ones is the instrumental "Halloween Americana," where the band truly gets to flex its talent muscles. Craig Montoya's bass and Greg Eklund's drums wonderfully support Alexakis as he meanders through several different tempos and riffs with a couple different guitars. "The Good Which of the North" and "Overwhelming" are both slower, sweet songs that are heavy on acoustic guitars and could very well become hit singles. Alexakis, who also produced the album, has never shied away from sharing his personal life for the sake of good music, as was seen on past songs "Father of Mine" and "Wonderful." The same is true on Bad Attitude. "All Fucked Up" captures the general tone of frustration and angst found throughout entire album, and is easily its hardest-rocking song. Closing the CD is "Song From an American Movie, pt.2," the record's best and most touching song, both lyrically and melodically. It is a song dedicated to Alexakis' daughter, whom he has tried to protect from the pain associated with his divorce from her mother. "Just the sound of my little girl laughing/Makes me happy just to be alive," he sings, amid catchy guitar licks and tight, ambient bass and drum work. To anyone worried about the state and quality of modern rock, rest assured: if Everclear and this album are any indication, there are still talented bands out there making good music.

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Looking back on a lifetime with student-athletes

August 31

"I loved my time at Tufts," Athletic Director Bill Gehling said about his undergraduate years. With an earnest smile and affable demeanor, Gehling holds the responsibility of overseeing the entire athletic department including Tufts' intercollegiate athletics, intramural programs, recreational activities, and health and fitness center. Though this is only Gehling's second year as athletic director, he has been a part of the Jumbo tradition for far longer. Gehling's immediate family has historic ties to the University - both his parents as well as his siblings are Tufts alumni. Gehling (LA '74), sang as a Beelzebub and played soccer, but never planned on coaching. A few years after graduation, he took on the role of head coach for Tufts' women's soccer team in 1979, beginning a long professional career at Tufts. His position at the University has evolved from student to staff member, and now, finally, to administrator. Gehling speaks highly of his experience as a Jumbo athlete, and calls his old coaching job "an extremely valuable experience." He served as the head coach of women's soccer for 20 years and as a golf coach for five. He also acted as the associate director of athletics for ten years, during which time he collaborated with Rocky Carzo, his predecessor. Gehling attributes much of his success to Carzo, who left Tufts in the spring of 1999. "I didn't inherit a program with problems," Gehling said. "This is a very good department with a strong staff, but any program can grow and improve." Gehling plans to do a better job of meeting the fitness needs of the Tufts community, including all staff members and students, not just athletes. "Physical fitness and health is an important part of everyone's lives. As a department we want to reach out to everyone, not just those who play on the intercollegiate level," Gehling said. With this in mind, Gehling appointed Branwen Smith-King the assistant director of athletics to focus more on the intramural and wellness programs for students, paying additional attention to faculty and staff. Intercollegiate sports are still at the core of the athletics department. To Gehling, Division III has "a proper mix of athletics and academics." He cited a recent study he conducted that found that Tufts' athletes have an average GPA that is equal to, if not higher, than the average GPA of non-athletes on campus. "Students come here for academic reasons," he said. "The student-athletes are true students." In Division I and II schools an athlete may lag behind academically, having been recruited without regard for his or her academic abilities. Tufts athletes are all suited for the academic workload Gehling pointed out. Gehling called the NESCAC one of the strongest conferences in the country. NESCAC was formed more than 30 years ago as a loose alliance of schools that agreed to follow common rules. Now the organization operates like a league, with constant improvements, such as complete round-robin scheduling for the year. Gehling refers to his main goal as having students leave Tufts "feeling that they were cared about here." "I want Tufts students to leave with a sense of loyalty, a sense of respect for themselves and the school. I want the student-athletes to feel valued, but I want students to know they are not an afterthought," he said, adding that "when someone cares about you, you care back." It is a sentiment that runs through everything Gehling does. When asked about the approaching Homecoming weekend games, Gehling said that Williams has been a dominant team in NESCAC for the past ten to 15 years. "I look forward to the challenge," he said.

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Week's releases give hope to moviegoers

August 31

We at the Daily are feeling much more optimistic about this week's movie openings than last week's, and hope these choices whet your appetites for some fine film. With four new flicks to check out, there's bound to be at least one that piques your interest. Your cinematic options this week include an opportunity to let your inner child run wild, a surefire way to satisfy your need for sci-fi, a chance to impress your next date, and the perfect way get psyched for Christmas. Rugrats in Paris: The Movie Director: Stig Bergqvist and Paul Demeyer Starring: Christine Cavanaugh, Cheryl Chase, Elizabeth Daily, John Lithgow, and Susan Sarandon We may not be little kids anymore, but that doesn't mean that we no longer appreciate the value of cartoons. So go ahead, you have our permission to get excited about the return of the world's favorite babies to the silver screen. The Rugrats have taken their adventures overseas and are gallivanting around Paris in their latest flick, Rugrats in Paris: The Movie. Stu Pickles is called to Reptarland, a new amusement park in the famed city of love, to work on his Reptar invention. Naturally, Tommy, Chuckie, Angelica, Phil, Lil, Dil, Didi, and the rest of the gang tag along, learning new lessons from their adventures abroad. Whether you're a Rugrats aficionado or have yet to experience the phenomenon, this movie is sure to tickle your funny bone with all the fun and toddler antics that make the television series such a smash. Red Planet Director: Antony Hoffman Starring: Val Kilmer, Tom Sizemore, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Benjamin Bratt Here's a possible scary thought for you: Red Planet marks Antony Hoffman's directorial debut. Okay, you can stop grimacing now. Fact of the matter is that this sci-fi flick has a stellar cast and an original plot to boot. With the impending death of Earth, the possibility of a colony on Mars becomes the world's last hope. A team of American astronauts is sent on the first manned mission to the unknown planet. In Apollo 13 style, their equipment fails, leaving them forced to depend on each other for survival while face to face with death. If you're a sci-fi fanatic, or think that Mission to Mars is one of the greatest movies ever made, this film is a must-see. If you're not, Red Planet is still an interesting way to kill two hours of your day. 100 Girls Director: Michael Davis Starring: Jonathan Tucker, Larisa Oleynick, Emmanuelle Chriqui, and Jaime Pressly Finally, a romantic comedy even the boys might enjoy. Jonathan Tucker plays Matthew, a college freshman that falls in love with a girl he meets in an elevator during a blackout. Having never seen her face, and knowing only that she lives in an all-female dorm, Matthew devotes the rest of the semester to tracking her down. Sexier than My Best Friend's Wedding and packing the same kind of comic, sarcastic punch as American Pie, 100 Girls is a date movie that both sexes will appreciate. Girls will find the smitten boy and his plight endearing, while the guys will enjoy it just for the laughs. It's a compromise that will leave you both of you cinematically satisfied. How the Grinch Stole Christmas Director: Ron Howard Starring: Jim Carrey, Jeffery Tambor, Christine Baranski, Anthony Hopkins Where's your Christmas spirit? If you're still searching, then Ron Howard's How the Grinch Stole Christmas is the perfect way to get into the swing of things. But this is not Grinch you remember ? the cartoon classic that has helped kick off the holiday season for as long as we can remember is now a live-action feature film. And who better to play the Grinch other than comedian Jim Carrey? Venture again into Whoville, meet the Whos, follow the Grinch as he tries yet again steal Christmas. If you're still feeling more "bah-humbug" than "ho-ho-ho" afterwards, well... there's just no hope for you.

The Setonian
News

Inside a protest: sitting in and around Bendetson

August 31

Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) took action soon after TSAD members entered Bendetson on Tuesday, blaring Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It." Admissions tours and information sessions were relocated to Dowling Hall, and the doors to the building were locked. Students inside were allowed to remain there, but the TUPD would not allow anyone else in - and once you were out, you were out for good. Vanessa Dillen, a TSAD member who is actively involved outside Bendetson Hall has been handling the media aspect of the event. Detailed preparations for the event began Monday night, she said, and lasted until the actual sit-in began at 9 a.m. on Tuesday and ended at 7:30 p.m. last night. "It's definitely draining," Dillen said while the sit-in was still occurring. "Some people slept for only an hour or a half-hour out of the past 24. "People left to go to class, and when they come back they were told they couldn't even get their stuff out." Students inside didn't consider classes their top priority, however. TSAD students who were locked out of Bendetson volunteered to hand in papers and other assignments for their cohorts inside and the TUPD allowed papers to be passed through the windows of the admissions building. However, Dillen said that the students were prepared to go so far as to withdraw from their classes if the situation lasted that long. Professors seemed to have mixed opinions about their students locking themselves inside of Bendetson instead of going to class. Dillen, however, said that most were supportive - not of TSAD's position necessarily, but of their willingness to take action in support of a cause they believe in. TSAD was, in fact, prepared for a long standoff. "Food isn't a problem. We have plenty, and it doesn't need to be cooked or anything," said Dillen at an earlier point during the sit-in. Prepared for the long haul, students inside had sleeping bags, and the ones outside pitched a tent. Dillen, along with several other TSAD members, spent numerous hours creating a 14-page press packet outlining TSAD's position, contact information, and a history of the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) situation, as well as the transcribed Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) decision. The packet was distributed to regional media organizations Tuesday morning. In addition to communicating with the outside world, communication between TSAD members inside and outside Bendetson was essential. For example, Dillen described a scene yesterday in which TUPD officers threatened to arrest the students inside. Those on the outside instantly whipped out their cell phones, and Dillen and the others began calling area media, such as The Boston Globe and The Boston Herald. Despite such occurrences, other TSAD members believe that police, for the most part, have acted reasonably. "It's been respectful the entire time. The police officers respected us. We developed a really good rapport with the police," said TSAD member senior Courtney Young. Besides eating and sleeping - which there wasn't much time for - TSAD members inside Bendetson had been dividing their activities between negotiations with administration officials, further strategizing, and even doing some schoolwork. The process of negotiating, the number one priority of the sit-in, wasn't easy for TSAD members. Dillen said that students and administrators in the admissions conference room were haggling over singular words to be used in a possible statement. "[Both sides] will negotiate for a half-hour or an hour, and then they'll leave, and then they'll start again later [after further strategizing]," Dillen explained. The Tuesday negotiations, though, mainly focused on the logistics involved in actually occupying Bendetson. Young explained that the first talks dealt with where TSAD members could actually go - she said that the basement and top floor were immediately closed. Phones went off, but heat, electricity, and water stayed on. The protesters were also allowed to maintain a "safe" room and a bathroom. Even when the protesters were faced with the prospect of a long, drawn-out conflict, Dillen did not see any waning enthusiasm in the TSAD members - both inside and outside Bendetson. "People have committed themselves to this cause. Everyone's been skipping their classes and skipping sleep because we really really believe in this," she said earlier yesterday.Kelly Wisnewski and Jacob Silberberg contributed to this article.

The Setonian
News

Course Evaluation Guide in third year

August 31

With the second round of mid-terms fast approaching, and many students already thinking about spring classes, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is working to help students with the registration process. This fall will mark the third year of the TCU online Course Evaluation Guide, upgraded to include more content, ratings, and student comments on classes and professors. The guide is part of a University-wide effort to streamline the registration process that began last April, when many students registered for their fall classes online - a process that eliminated many bureaucratic steps and much paperwork. "When I was a freshman I had to get a [course listing] newspaper, and many forms," said Senate Education Committee member, senior Paul Fridman. "Now, it's much easier, and if students are unsure about a class, it's good for them to see how it's been rated by other students," he said. The ratings and evaluations collected by departments are compiled each year by the TCU Senate Education Committee, which is composed of six senators. Education Committee Chair Abbey Wilson believes the guide will be very helpful to students. "It's very accessible now. We used to print booklets, but the web format makes it easier to use and search," said Wilson. "It's a valuable resource to the Tufts community." One of the larger problems that still prevalent in this semester's guide is the lack of student comments. When students evaluate a class, they rate the course content and teacher on a one to five scale, but also have the ability to make written comments. While the departments readily turn over the numbers to the Registrar's office, and ultimately to the Senate Education Committee, they keep student comments confidential. The averages of number ratings can be somewhat helpful in evaluating a specific class or professor, but more in-depth comments tell a more accurate story. "Numbers don't mean as much as words do," said Education Committee member, sophomore Sarah Sandison. Last year's Education Committee chair, junior Dan Zandman, was not pleased with departmental response when he questioned their policy of secrecy. "It was extremely frustrating. Keeping the comments entirely confidential made it seem like they had something to hide. I see the need for privacy, but equally important is the need for some disclosure," said Zandman.Regardless of the faculty's level of cooperation, students still have the opportunity to share comments about a course. Each class listed on the website has an option for users to anonymously post their reviews about the course material and professor. Zandman saw this option as a last resort, but a better solution than simply posting a page full of numbers. While any site visitor can freely post comments about a class, there are problems that go along with it. "Sampling is the key [concern]. One or two comments are not an accurate portrayal of opinion. Also there is no way to verify that the people posting the comments have actually taken the course," said Zandman.While students find the site beneficial they do have recommendations for improving the guide. "Averaged numbers can only tell so much. Individual's comments would be much more helpful," said freshman Richard Kalman who plans to use the site in selecting his spring 2001 classes."I usually use it to check what teachers are best for certain classes, or how much work a class is," said sophomore Traci Lee. Many students have followed in Lee's footsteps and taken advantage of the site in semesters past, which has received over 17,000 hits to date.Despite the site's growing popularity, many students at Tufts still do not know it exists."I never knew that was there. I would love to see how my professors were rated," said freshman Ben Hsu. Wilson hopes to spread the word this upcoming week to educate students about the information the course guide provides. "We plan to chalk and heavily advertise before [the new course guide] comes out," she said. As the number of users increase, so does the hope to include a wider range of data. While a majority of classes are listed and rated on the TCU site, there are some that are not. There have also been logistical issues that have prevented every course from being listed. Some departments keep their ratings in incompatible database format, which has caused problems in sharing data. Wilson also attributes the Registrar Office's move to Dowling Hall as a cause for slowdowns in data sharing. The Course Evaluation Guide is published online twice a year, just prior to the registration period for the upcoming semester. Archives of past semesters are available if a certain course was not offered the previous semester. Likewise, the archives may be used to locate information and ratings about a certain professor. The updated guide will be available on Nov. 10, the week before registration, at http://ase.tufts.edu/courseguide/. Until then, students may browse the site for older evaluation data from the past two years. Now that the guide is online, the Senate no longer prints paper copies.

The Setonian
News

Jumbos tread water; take dive in opener

August 31

The women's swimming and diving team fought hard at Wednesday night's meet against Wellesley, but were unable to come up with a win. The Jumbos kept it close through the competition, however, boosted by strong performances from freshman Mika Sumiyoshi, senior tri-captain Kristin Horton, and the diving team. Wellesley topped the Jumbos by 20 points, 160-140, further adding to the two teams' history of close competition. Last year, Wellesley finished ninth at New Englands, one spot ahead of Tufts. "Wellesley is a strong team," coach Nancy Bigelow said. "They put pressure on us and I hope we put pressure on them." One of the major reasons Wellesley may have felt some pressure was due to the standout performances by Sumiyoshi. She came in first place in all of her races, which included the 200-yard freestyle, 200 individual medley, and the 100 butterfly. Sumiyoshi just edged out her opponent, Jessica LeRoy, by less than half a second in the 100 butterfly, with a time of 1:01.32, but easily won the other two races by a gap of around five seconds. "I was happy I could contribute to the team," Sumiyoshi said. "I was a little disappointed with my times but it is still early in the season." Bigelow had nothing but good things to say about Sumiyoshi, however. "She had an outstanding meet," she said. Wellesley coach Bonnie Dix agreed. "Wow!" she said. "People should come to see her race." Horton also contributed to the team with a first place finish in the 200 breaststroke, when she out-touched Wellesley's Meredith Cowie by .46 seconds with a time of 2:33.72 in a race that was a fight to the end. Horton swam her race four seconds faster than she did two Saturdays ago at the season opening meet against Clark. Sophomore Emily Gordon also improved on her times from the last meet, shaving four seconds off her 500 freestyle. She finished six seconds ahead of Wellsley's Theresa Sommers, clocking in at 5:37.45, and also contributed to the team score with a second-place finish in the 1000 freestyle (11:32.72). The diving team was also instrumental in keeping it a close meet. Tufts' divers freshman Beth Wecksell and sophomores Angela Russo and Lauren Reveley took first, second, and third place, respectively, for both heats of the one-meter diving. Combined, these three divers added a total of 32 points to the Jumbo's final score. "Everyone did well," Wecksell said. "It looks like we are going to have a great season." Bigelow agreed. "The divers were awesome," she said. "They kept us close." Wecksell and Russo dived well enough at this meet to qualify for the NESCAC Championship in February. "I was happy to qualify," Wecksell said. "I didn't expect it to be so soon in the season." The Jumbos had many obstacles to overcome for this meet. Wellesley had been practicing for almost a month before the Brown and Blue could begin official practices due to NESCAC regulations. Wellesley, which plays in a different conference, is not confined by these regulations. "It's frustrating for those who know they can swim faster but just aren't there yet" Bigelow said. Bigelow's squad is focusing on the meets later in the season, particularly the NESCAC Championships. This is the first year that there will be a NESCAC Championship for swimming and diving. In previous years Tufts competed in the New England Championships. The team has been training hard through these beginning meets, and that has taken something out of their performance come race time. The results will show when the Jumbos rest before the more important meets, assures Bigelow. "The kids are tired," Bigelow said. "They are working really hard, and that will pay off as the season goes on. Despite these obstacles, Tufts managed to keep the meet close. One of the team's strengths is their depth. Though Wellesley swimmers placed first in most of the events, the Jumbos had enough second and third place finishes to keep the 20 point gap from growing any larger. Overall, Bigelow and the rest of the team were happy with the meet. "Everyone went out hard and did their best," senior tri-captain Nancy Leahy said. "I was very impressed with how hard everyone tried."

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