Archives

News

Official ceremony dedicates Dowling Hall

August 31

Administrators, faculty, and friends of the University gathered in Goddard Chapel last Thursday to honor Trustee and alumnus John Dowling and to officially mark the newest addition to the Tufts campus - Dowling Hall. Although the arrival of Dowling and his family was slightly delayed due to traffic on the interstate, the dedication proved to be a poignant recognition of Dowling's philanthropy and a culmination of the successful two-year building project. "Dowling Hall has become a bustling hub of activity, which allows students to save up to half the time they used to spend zigzagging across campus, thus affording them more time to study, socialize, and volunteer," remarked President John DiBiaggio. The building's namesake, John Dowling, graduated from Tufts in 1959 and is now a University trustee and member of the Arts and Sciences board of overseers. He recently retired after 40 years in the business of leasing office space in New York City and around the nation. When he was first offered a role in the creation of the Student Services center and parking garage, Dowling leapt at the opportunity to give something back to his alma matter. "It would not be appropriate for me to be associated with an academic building," joked Dowling, after describing some of his memorable and humorous academic experiences at Tufts."This isn't an academic building, it's a student building. And the things it contains - the bursar's office, financial aid, career services, and a place for job interviews - well, those are not necessarily comforting places."To alleviate this potential discomfiture, Dowling took it upon himself to investigate elephant sculptures from around the world so that "the spirit of Jumbo presiding over the building would ensure a successful outcome." The immense, green result of his efforts now presides over the Dowling Hall entrance, staring down at students as they traverse the recently constructed foot bridge.In honor of the occasion, several administrators and faculty members spoke about the significance of Dowling's achievements. James Stern, the vice-chair of the board of trustees, spoke of how Dowling's generosity made this project possible. Dowling previously contributed funds to dedicate a room in Eaton Hall in honor of his favorite Tufts professor, Betty Burch. He is also a key player in the Tufts Development Corp. "Dowling knows a lot about the value of real estate, and it really shows in Dowling Hall," Stern said. Kristine Dillon, dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs, spoke about the programs within Dowling Hall and the importance of the building to student services. "After two years of review, design, organization, and consultation, we have finally put it all together and have found that it's working." Dillon noted that Tufts is ranked amongst the top 20 schools nationally in the field of student services, and that it will be hosting a national conference on student services in the summer of 2001. Several additional tributes were made in Dowling's honor. Music Department Chair John McDonald, along with three graduate students, composed a piece entitled "The Dowling Foursome for String Quartet." McDonald described this composition as "a modern piece to celebrate a modern building." The score will be presented to the Dowling family. In addition, Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn presented the University with a photograph of a recent city-wide event which Tufts helped to sponsor, to serve as a symbol of the improving relationship between the city and Tufts. The photograph will be displayed in Dowling Hall. McGlynn said that Dowling Hall will help benefit Medford, as the 500 new parking spaces in the building's garage will house cars that once occupied on-street parking needed by Medford residents. The novelties within Dowling Hall are not just limited to the services it provides. The structure itself has already been the recipient of a significant honor. Last week, DiBaggio received word that Dowling Hall won a first place award for Institutional Commercial construction in a statewide competition. The building will be entered into a national design competition in March. Construction workers broke ground on the $14 million project in December, 1998, with an original completion date of Jan. 15, 2000. Though winter weather delayed some of the construction, it finally opened this fall. Scores of students have already benefited from its services, and they have found it well worth the wait.

---

News

Campus vs. culture?

August 31

Sophomore Paco Gelpi came to Tufts expecting to find a welcoming community and a good education. Two years later, he is leaving school and returning to his homeland of Puerto Rico, frustrated with the community on the Hill and the grades he earned here. As a freshman, he tried to make friends with the people in his hall, but had trouble connecting with them. "When I got here, I had a completely different idea of what I was going to find here. I expected people to be warm and friendly," he said. But Gelpi couldn't help noticing that the majority of Tufts students he encountered held values and attitudes inconsistent with those of his homeland. "I expected people to be friendly... not intimate, but close, warm people. I found completely the opposite." Now, he leaves Tufts feeling that Americans and Puerto Ricans are fundamentally different, despite a common perception that the two are inexorably linked. "People here are too independent. They follow their own way and think mainly about themselves. "The thing that shocked me the most was that people here are very cold," he said, explaining that the common, friendly gestures he practiced in Puerto Rico - a kiss on the cheek or a hug followed by a firm handshake - are looked down upon in the United States. That same intimacy gap confronted sophomore Candice Chipman, who grew up in the Bahamas. "In the Bahamas, people walk by and say 'Good morning,' 'Good afternoon,' 'Good evening,' and 'hello' all the time," she said. When Chipman first arrived at Tufts, she continued the custom of greeting people on the street - even the ones she didn't know - but the practice didn't last long. "People started looking at me like I was strange. So, I abstained from greeting a lot of people. I have to remember when I go home to switch back to being friendly," she said. Statistically, Tufts boasts a diverse community: Asian Americans, Blacks/African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Native Americans compose 25 percent of the community, and 70 foreign countries are represented among the student body. Despite the heterogeneous nature of the student body, adjusting to the American way of life continues to challenge many foreign students. Senior Tracy Rebe, who grew up in South Africa, said that she went through a similar kind of culture shock when she came to the US. "It has taken a very long time [to adjust]. I didn't really know what to expect when I came to America. I had visited only once," she said. Rebe's first years in America undid her long-held notions of American culture, much of which she learned through American television shows. She took particular note of the difference in attitudes and cultural values between Americans and South Africans. "People have a different appreciation for different things here. People think differently, dress differently, talk differently, and misunderstand me a lot of the time," she said. Rebe's South African accent, she finds, is always a hot topic of conversation. "Most people I meet are interested in hearing about where I am from - it's one of the first things they want to talk about," she said. This attention sometimes disturbs her. "A lot of time people are more interested in my accent than what I am saying." Despite a sense of complacency with her education and life at Tufts, Rebe still feels slightly displaced. "Even now, I don't feel quite at home," she said. Language also proved problematic for Gelpi when he first arrived here from Puerto Rico. Unlike Rebe, English was not his first language, but rather a subject he studied in school for "four days a week for 43 minutes." It was one thing to study English in school, Gelpi said, and quite another to come to America and think in English. "That gave me a really hard time, especially during tests," Gelpi explained. Gelpi's difficulties with the English language negatively affected his grades, of particular concern because of his medical school aspirations. He hopes that his grades will improve when he returns to Puerto Rico to get his college degree at another university. Even though he will miss the strong friendships he has forged with members of Tufts' Latino community, he looks forward to returning home. From the start of his college career, Gelpi said that he never became accustomed to life in America. He could not ignore the glaring differences between the Latino culture from which he hailed and the American culture in which he was suddenly immersed. Growing up in San Juan, he was surrounded by a communal environment. "In the Latin culture, we help each other. We think in terms of a collective number of people," he said. "Not that I expected [that attitude] here, but I thought it could happen. It just never did." For other international students, the adjustment to life at Tufts was somewhat smoother. Sophomore Mikah Mutoh, who grew up in Japan, found the transition to life in America relatively painless. Mutoh, whose mother is American, grew up in a bilingual household. The Japanese school she attended had a relatively good English program and Mutoh felt comfortable with the language when she came to Tufts, although she said it was an adjustment for her to take her classes in English. Even though she feels that Japanese and American cultures are different in many ways, she also sees a number of similarities. "The pop culture in Japan is similar in the younger generations to pop culture in America. Students talk about the same kind of things. I haven't felt isolated," she said. Mutoh lives in the Start House and is also a peer leader for Asian-American freshmen, but she does not limit her activities to strictly Asian-related organizations. She maintains a diverse group of friends and keeps herself busy with activities outside of her culture, such as the fencing team. She sees herself as a type of chameleon, flitting back and forth between American and Japanese culture. "It is good to always keep that culture inside of you, but if you try to force it in a culture that's not that culture, it's hard to maintain. Being here, I don't feel it necessary to bring [Japanese] culture into my life because I'm not in it," she said. For those whose cultures draw strongly on religion, adapting to American society can prove problematic. As a Muslim, sophomore Waqas Al-Adawi, who is from Oman, a small nation on the tip of the Arabian peninsula, finds it difficult to observe certain religious holidays. "Ramadan is a huge family-oriented thing. You fast from dawn to sunset and when sunset comes, it is time to eat," he explained. To fast for a month without the support of his family is a challenge for Al-Adawi. "Coming to Tufts, that is a huge part missing from my life. It is a different experience celebrating Ramadan back home since everyone around you is fasting," he said. For some, maintaining that link to their heritage is essential. Junior Arti Anand, a first-generation ?©migr?© from Indian, the need to preserve her heritage remains a strong part of her life at college. Although Anand grew up on Long Island, her parents hail from New Delhi, and she feels strong ties to her Hindu roots. "Indian culture has always been a big part of my family life," she said. Anand, fluent in Hindi, grew up eating Indian food for dinner, celebrating all the Hindu holidays, and wearing traditional outfits on special family occasions. She has become integrated into the Asian community at Tufts, and in greater Boston. On campus, she directed a segment of TASA's (Tufts Association of South Asians) annual culture show, and attends Indian parties, and various social gatherings at school and in the city. "The community is pretty tight knit. I see a lot of familiar faces at these gatherings," she said. At the same time, however, Anand knows that observing her culture cannot come first in her everyday routine. "That's how I've grown up, living as a minority in the United States. I know it no other way. My culture has never been a priority... but that's normal," she said. With so many foreign and first-generation students from so many backgrounds, opportunities abound for American students to learn about other cultures. The question remains: Do students make the effort to understand traditions and heritages distinct from their own? Associate Professor of Socio-Cultural Anthropology Rosalind Shaw feels that Tufts students, and in fact all Americans need to become actively involved in the international community. "What Americans ought to be doing is becoming more culturally literate and aware of international affairs," she said. She stressed that most people in the world know US news and are able to speak English. "People in America aren't flexible about developing different ways of listening. I don't think the onus is on [international students] to get rid of their accents. The onus is on [Tufts students] to become aware of different accents and histories and seek them out," she said. Then again, for students who are a part of these minority or foreign cultures, the shock of coming to college can be a valuable learning experience. Anand feels that a lot of Indian students truly find their culture once they come to Tufts. She sees herself as a minority in the sense that she is one of the few people she knows who speaks Hindi. "It is easy when you're a minority to think that your culture is not cool. When you see a bunch of kids celebrating their culture, it is a good thing because they discover another part of themselves," she said. In this process of self-awareness, Anand believes that cultural organizations play an important role. "[They] celebrate culture and bring about awareness. It is important to educate people. The more open-minded people are, the more unity there will be in the population," she said. Chipman, who serves as president of the Caribbean Club, also emphasized the importance of educating the student population about her culture. She has found that people have many misconceptions about Caribbean culture in the US. Many Americans - though not necessarily Tufts students - tend to ask questions about Bahaman culture when they discover where Chipman is from. "Where's your grass skirt, or do you live in a hut?" she said, giving an example of the line of questioning she often encounters. "I wonder - is that person trying to make fun of [people from Bahamas], or do they really not know?"

---

News

Students rally against violence towards women

August 31

Almost one hundred students braved the cold and gathered on the library roof Monday evening to "take back the night," at the annual effort to promote awareness of issues regarding violence towards women. The visibility rally on the library roof and the march on the quad was sponsored by the Tufts Feminist Alliance (TFA). "The history of 'Take Back the Night' is about women being able to take to the streets without being afraid, and that's an important message," event organizer Liz Monnin said. "We are a community here at Tufts, we need to be a community so that people can speak up and speak out, and we can take action." An open mic segment gave the crowd opportunities to express views about violence against women and how safe they feel at Tufts. The program, which also featured a performance by Essence, one of Tufts' all-female a cappella groups, concluded with the march across campus, complete with noisemakers and signs. With Monday afternoon's anti-hate crime rally still fresh on students' minds, this year's Take Back the Night focused on the general problem of hate crimes at Tufts in addition to those specifically committed against women. "I think that given the circumstances at Tufts right now it is important that we look at violence against women in the context of other forms of hate crimes and intolerance and realize that none of it is acceptable," Monnin said. "If one person on this campus is afraid or inhibited because of their identity, whatever it may be, then we are all in jeopardy." Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered (LGBT) Center Director Judith Brown addressed the energetic crowd, discussing the previous rally and how it is an example of the actions being made to improve tolerance on the Tufts campus. "Rather than feeling beaten down, we have to look around us - the rally this afternoon was breathtaking. I think we really reached an ideal today, [with] dozens of students groups coming together and finally addressing these issues," she said. Women's Center Director Peggy Barrett also spoke at the demonstration, mentioning that recently she has seen great displays of courage in efforts to stand up to hate crimes committed against all sorts of minority groups, including women. "Sometimes the hardest times to act, and the times when it takes the most personal courage, is when we need to confront our own friends and our own peer group about their behavior," she said. She also emphasized that the only way to stop these hate crimes is to continue this spirit of courage, and to let it bring about changes. In order to promote such changes and to make students aware, organizers handed out plain red buttons to everyone who attended. The use of buttons as symbols for woman's rights is a uniquely Tufts tradition, which has been around since the 1980s. "We're hoping that people will come up to you and ask 'what in the world it that for,' and then you'll start talking to your friends and people you run into about this important issue," Barrett said. The buttons will continue to be available at the Women's Center, located next to the Campus Center, at 55 Talbot Avenue. The rally concluded when participants marched down the library steps and across campus, chanting "Students unite - take back the night," and "We want to be safe on Professors Row." Freshman Amy Spindel, who works at the Women's Center, felt that both the march and the rally combined helped to promote awareness about this matter of concern. "This rally was a positive way of calling attention to this important issue," she said, "and the march helped to make others aware of the problems. People were opening their windows as we marched by and so they clearly heard what we had to say."

---

News

Never too late for dance lessons

August 31

Maybe you started taking dance lessons before you could count and can't find room in your busy schedule for one of the dance classes offered by the Tufts Dance Department. Maybe you're one of those people who think that college should expand your horizons and think taking a hula class would be the perfect way to do it. Maybe you abandoned your dream of becoming a professional dancer and are looking for a class like belly dancing to inspire you again. If any of these situations sounds familiar - or if you simply have dance on the brain - then the Dance Complex has what you've been craving.

---

News

Painting by numbers

August 31

Nationally-recognized muralist Gary Rickson will address an Explorations class on public art tonight in Eaton 206. Rickson has painted for over 30 years, and is an influential force in public art. Often containing strong themes of black power, his pieces have had significant local and national impact. The YMCA in Roxbury recently recommissioned Rickson to paint Africa is the Beginning again, a mural which he originally completed in 1969 when the building was new. It was a news clipping about this mural that brought Rickson to the attention of Tufts student and Explorations instructor Julia Goodman. Goodman and her co-instructor, Alex Braden, invited Rickson as a guest speaker to highlight themes explored in the class. With his local background and dynamism, Rickson promises to engage and educate his audience. "He's so much older than us and he has so much more energy than anyone our age," Goodman said. In Goodman and Braden's Explorations class, "Street Art: By the People, for the People," the role of student-teacher sometimes presents an obstacle. "None of us is an expert on the topic that we're teaching," Goodman admitted. Therefore, instructors rely on speakers like Rickson to supplement the course material and act as a resource for the students. Goodman's goals for her class are to give students the opportunity to talk to Boston muralists, and to introduce the students to places of interest outside of Tufts. Bringing Rickson to speak will accomplish both goals. The public art movement in America, sparked by the "Wall of Respect" in Chicago in 1967, also has strong roots in the Boston area. Public art as a medium contains elements that set it apart from other forms. These works usually involve community support and involvement - financial or otherwise - and have traditionally been executed by the artists themselves rather than politicians or administrators. The artists are usually members of oppressed groups who are otherwise excluded from the art world and express the unity of artists and their communities. Often, the artwork is done by groups of artists. Charged with sociopolitical context and historical content, these works of art (usually murals) often become focal points of their communities. There have been instances of local gang members protecting murals from graffiti or offering to help procure supplies for artists. Though public artists in the Chicago area often had difficulty finding funding, Boston's subsequent movement was supported by the mayor's office and the Institute of Contemporary Art. In 1968, "Summerthing, Boston's Neighborhood Festival" turned the city into a museum, coordinating the distribution of murals throughout the city. Rickson and artist Dana Chandler met with the mayor's office to determine the role black artists would play in Summerthing, and were granted supplies and city assistance as well as artistic freedom. Rickson and Chandler jointly painted two "Walls of Respect" in the Boston area that year, one in Roxbury and another in the South End. Rickson, a "muralist and spoken word artist," will include a slide presentation and performance as part of his class discussion. In his lecture, he will no doubt paint a clear picture of the public art movement as it applies to the Boston area, and likely encourage those attending to find a new appreciation for the murals in our area.Gary Rickson will speak tonight (11/13/00) from 5-6:30 p.m. in Eaton 206.

---

News

New class focuses on Judaic-Spanish language, culture

August 31

Last Tuesday, in a gesture that typifies her unique approach to teaching, Professor Gloria Ascher invited five of her students to open their textbooks and sing "Hanukah Linda," a song praising the joy of Hanukah in the Ladino language. Ascher, co-director of Judaic studies and an associate professor in the German, Russian, and Asian Languages department, teaches one of Tufts' most unusual and lively language and culture classes. The program is comprised of two classes: an introduction to Ladino language and culture, and an advanced class that takes a closer look at the culture. Because of its wide scope, the program is cross-listed in the Spanish department and in the German, Russian, and Asian department. It fulfills a number of Tufts requirements, including foreign language, humanities distribution, Judaic studies primary course, Spanish-related field, and the Judaic or Hispanic culture option. Ladino, also known as Judeo-Spanish, is a mix of Spanish and Hebrew. Ascher's program concentrates on teaching the language and culture that have defined Sephardic Jews for over 500 years. When the Jews were expelled from Spain in 1492 during the Spanish Inquisition, they took their language with them. Over the centuries, it has adopted the influences of different cultures and incorporated elements of Greek and Turkish, amongst other languages. The evolution of Ladino mirrors the story of the Sephardic Jews' exodus. Ascher's class, which began last spring, was her personal brainchild. Born to Turkish parents of Sephardic origin in the Bronx, her childhood was bathed in Ladino culture and tradition. "My parents spoke Ladino at home," she said. "I was told by my mother to speak English because I was born here and I was American. But... I would write poems and stories in Ladino. I got into the language in a scholarly way very early." Because Ladino culture is so important to her, Ascher chose to create a teaching program through which she could pass on her knowledge. Though there were no academic publications in Ladino, Ascher was determined to organize the class. She vowed to put together her own teaching material, write a grammar book, and compile the stories and proverbs that she learned from her family. Fortunately, before the first class started, several works by prominent Ladino scholar Matilda Koen-Sarano became available in print. Ascher now teaches the class with these texts as well as "Aki Yerushalayim," a cultural Ladino review published in Israel that contains everything from recipes to scholarly articles. But written texts are not the main component of the class. "This language is so special," she said. "You can't just learn it through a book. You have to learn it through living." To make her students truly understand Ladino, Ascher engages them in all kinds of cultural activities. "We sing songs, we do skits, we discuss stories and proverbs, [and] as much as possible we speak Ladino," she said. "I want my students to really be living it." Many of the students enrolled in the Ladino course in search a language offering more exotic than Spanish or French. "I wanted to look into an area that wasn't so well known," freshman Carmen Staaf said. "It's important to preserve languages and cultures." Her classmate expressed a more personal motivation. "My family married into a Sephardic Jewish family. Taking this class allowed me to get a better insight into the culture," freshman Michael Kleinman said. Regardless of their original interests, the small size of the class - currently six people, with a cap of ten - its interactive character, and Ascher's enthusiasm have led students to increase their involvement. All have been inspired to use their creative and artistic abilities to create projects that surpass those usually found in a language class. Staaf, for example, cooked a traditional Sephardic meal and served it to the class. Junior Jessica Green created paintings in the Sephardic tradition, while freshman Angie Brice is working on a musical project. Freshman Abby Meyerson wrote an entire play in Ladino.

---

---

News

Thirty-four professors to join faculty

August 31

Thirty-four new faculty members are slated to join Tufts' Colleges of Liberal Arts and Engineering this year, some replacing departed faculty, others hired to staff departments growing in popularity. The electrical engineering and computer science departments are seeing the largest increase, with six new faculty members joining their ranks, while the mathematics and philosophy departments also welcomed several new faces. Yvette Landry, Staff Assistant for the department of electrical engineering and computer science, explained that the large number of new hires comes from increased student interest in the computer science courses. "We've just gotten to be a very large department," she said. "The computer sciences have become a big demand, and we only had six computer scientists." One new addition hired to address student demand is Professor Ming-Yang Kao, who received a Ph.D. from Yale University in 1986. Kao comes to Tufts after leaving his post as visiting associate professor of computer science at Yale, where he accumulated such honors as a student nomination for the Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Teaching Award and the Departmental Teaching Award in the computer science department. Deborah Hernandez, for example, will bring Latin American perspective to the Anthropology department next semester, when she assumes the role of Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology. Hernandez has taught Latino studies at both Brown and Harvard Universities and has conducted fieldwork in Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Columbia. She is the author of Bachata: A Social History of a Dominican Popular Music and is currently writing a new book called The Latino Music Mosaic. "We convinced the University that in Latino and Latin studies there is a great deal of student interest," said Anthropology Professor David Guss. "It is to the benefit of the University that they saw the wisdom in this hire." Also returning to campus this fall after a 15-year absence is former Jumbo Marina Seevak, the new Director of the Curriculum Resource Laboratory for the department of child development. Seevak received her B.A. in English from Tufts in 1985 and her Masters in education from Lesley College in 1987. While many professors are coming from nationally-known universities, a number of new faculty members hail from international locales as well. After leaving the University LUISS in Rome, author Sebastiano Maffettone will serve as a visiting professor in the Philosophy Department. Maffettone, whose specialties include moral and political philosophy, is the author of "I Valore della vita", Italy's most popular philosophical essay in 1999. He was also recently appointed as director of CERSDU, a center on human rights for universities. Sorbonne graduate Christian Delacampagne will be joining the department of romance languages as an assistant professor of 18th-century French literature. Delacampagne, who also studied at the Ecole Normale Superieure, is one of three new faces in the romance languages department, along with Visiting Professor Ana Maria Amar Sanchez and Associate Professor Brigitte Lane. Lane is very fond of the Boston area and looks forward to teaching in Tufts' academic atmosphere. "One of my major interests is immigration," she said. "It was my wish to teach at a university where the arts and sciences weren't strictly separated. [Tufts] seems to be a dynamic institution that is open to the diversity that forms the core of my work." Hiring new faculty can be a long and arduous process, since departments are often looking for people with very specific qualities and skills for each position. Many of the new hires are not just filling vacancies, but were hired after the University reassessed student interest and need in specific departments.

---

News

Defending the General

August 31

In response to Dena Sloan's viewpoint, "The seven wonders of the world of Colin Powell," (11/9) we wanted to express our astonishment over how a bright Tufts student could miss the entire point behind General Powell's insightful lecture. In the past two weeks, we have heard plenty of criticisms around campus, similar to Sloan's, as to the supposedly empty, vague, non-specific, dumbed-down speech, as she considered it to be. We would like to clarify and explain the point behind Gen. Powell's lecture as we saw it, to those who may have misunderstood or misconstrued the point it. Now, it is understandable that someone may not have enjoyed his overdone pomp and circumstance regarding his achievements and accolades. However, Gen. Powell was attempting to break the ice and wake up the audience after 45 minutes of anticipation of his speech. Perhaps he did not do this effectively, because as a result, people focused more on General Powell's self-congratulatory remarks than the actual substance of his lecture. Unfortunately, Sloan and others missed the fact that Gen. Powell did in fact address the conflict in the Middle East far beyond his brief direct references. There seems to be a large portion of the attendees of the lecture who failed to recognize the metaphorical aspect of the speech. Yes, Gen. Powell spoke extensively about his participation in instrumenting the end of the Cold War, which superficially seemed irrelevant. However, Gen. Powell explained that most of his military career focused on the protection of his country and people, a nation dedicated to maintaining their belief system and ideals against all enemies. Many died defending their convictions. The opponents of this belief system held the same convictions and were willing to fight defending their own beliefs as well. Years of struggle, fear, and conflict between these sworn enemies made peace a seemingly impossible feat during the past years of turmoil. They seemed fated to remain locked in this conflict forever. Does this scenario sound familiar to anyone? Gen. Powell, an academic in his own right, used the familiar technique of the metaphor to discuss the controversial topic of the Middle East, a place where two sworn enemies with opposing ideologies live in turmoil, defending their belief systems, ready to die to defend their convictions. Peace seems unattainable at this point in time, but not impossible, as Gen. Powell pointed out. Using the example of the Cold War, he reassured us that peace is possible between two sworn enemies despite the fact that these were enemies raised to hate each other. At first they were hesitant to make this compromise of peace. Gen. Powell felt this hesitation first-hand, when Mikhail Gorbachev first informed him he would need to find a new enemy, and the Iron Curtain began to fall. In his lecture, Gen. Powell recognized the fact that he was speaking on a very controversial topic in front of an audience with varying emotional opinions. Illustrating his point with a metaphor served to subtly discuss the possibility of peace without offending his diverse audience. He very eloquently made his point that peace in the Middle East is possible. Gen. Powell did not offer a particular solution for peace. What he did offer was hope. We feel saddened that certain members of the audience felt that this lecture was a waste of time. We feel fortunate to have heard the insights of one of the most important leaders in America, which were clearly not as empty and vague as many deemed them to be. Perhaps Colin Powell assumed that we as Tufts students could recognize an obvious metaphor and translate it to the pertinent topic. Unfortunately this was not the case for some, and it is too bad that people left the lecture disappointed and wishing for a refund of their wasted time. Perhaps after considering this view on the lecture, those members of our community can reevaluate the relevance of Gen. Powell's remarks on the crisis in the Middle East. Heather Barondess is a junior majoring in child development. Elisa Martinez is a junior majoring in history.

---

News

Oshlag misses the point

August 31

To the Editor: In response to Ben Oshlag's Viewpoint yesterday, ("Misunderstanding discrimination," 10/19) I would just like to say that he completely and utterly missed the entire point. He quoted me as saying, "...right now the Tufts policy isn't clear enough," and responded by saying "How unclear is 'recognized organizations may not discriminate...'?". Mr. Oshlag, I would like you to pause for a moment and think about this statement that you took so blatantly out of context: if the policy only said "recognized groups may not discriminate," that would mean that, for example, Cheap Sox would have to accept anyone who auditioned and could not discriminate against bad actors, or that The Tufts Daily would have to print every article that they receive, no matter the quality, in order to not discriminate against bad writers. Does this sound acceptable to you? No, of course not, which is why the second half of the policy, which you left out of your Viewpoint, states that you cannot discriminate "based on [among other things] sexual orientation..." and it is there that the issue lies. The TCUJ at no time questioned the definition of "discrimination" as you claim. Rather, it is our interpretation of the word "orientation" that started this debate. Through this ruling we have not opened Tufts up to all forms of discrimination; we have merely pointed out that Tufts policy, the way we read it, does not protect beliefs. If you disagree with our definition of "orientation," fine, that is your right. However, any other arguments against us stem from flat out ignorance. Alison Clarke, LA '03 Member of the TCUJ

---

News

Miami will Heat up

August 31

The NBA's Western Conference has ten teams with records above .500. The East has five. The West has at least three title contenders, the East essentially none. The West has centers, the East has none. And Pat Riley, who used to coach out West and did a pretty good job of it, is struggling mightily to keep his Miami Heat above water after a devastating injury to center Alonzo Mourning seemingly destroyed any lofty hopes the decorated NBA coach may have had about this season. But in this year's East, anything can happen, and don't be surprised if Riley and company turn things around. I thought the Heat would have remained one of the East's top teams, even without Zo, because a) they've still got some prime-time scorers, b) they've got a coach who is an old hand at overcoming adversity, and c) the competition in the conference is simply not very good. While all that looks promising on paper, though, the Heat are 7-10 and have not put together more than two consecutive wins through the first month of the season. Miami has lost eight of its 12 games against above-.500 teams, and Riley comes off his first losing November ever (6-9). The team added Brian Grant, Eddie Jones, and Anthony Mason this off-season to an already talent-laden roster that included Mourning and Tim Hardaway. But with Mourning, plus Dan Majerle on the sidelines, the team is struggling, even though the new guys are getting their job done. Jones is averaging 18 a night, Grant chips in 17 and 11 rebounds, Mason puts up 14 and eight boards, and even an injured Hardaway is one of the best floor generals in the league. Talent, it would seem, is not the issue here. Sure, the Heat lacks its best player, and does not have an overly stocked bench (A.C. Green, Duane Causwell, Bruce Bowen). But it has three potential All-Stars, which, if anything, should at least guarantee it an above-.500 season. Riley has four players scoring 13 or more, the Heat have held opponents to under 86 points a night, third-best in the league, while sending a proven player to the court at every position but center (although Grant sometimes plays the middle with Bowen at the four), which is not supposed to matter because there are no centers in the East this season. What does this mean? The Heat will get better, and it may even still compete for an Atlantic division title. A closer look at the schedule reveals that six of Miami's ten losses have come by single digits, and five of those have come by two points or less. The team is 3-2 against sub-.500 squads, which doesn't mean much unless you consider that, while November brought only five games against lowly teams, December's schedule will be quite the breather. The team will play just seven games against above-.500 teams, and two of those will come against the Denver Nuggets. Give Riley's players some time to gel more - he's a master at helping that along - and three of his four leading scorers have been with the team for just a month. Zo would have not only provided the offensive and defensive punch, he would have been the focal point of the unacquainted offense, taking some pressure off the whole "need for chemistry" thing. But without the big man, what you've got is some very good starters who are capable of carrying this team, but need a little more time to do it. That, of course, doesn't mean the team can get by without a bench, and Miami brought in Cedric Ceballos last week to help rectify that problem. The troubled forward hopes to see some minutes on a team that has heavily relied on its starting group, and if he plays consistently and stays in the coach's good graces, he can be a big help. In the Heat's most recent game, a three-point win over Washington, Riley's starters each played at least 34 minutes, and only two of his bench players saw time at all. When the team topped the Knicks last week, the starters again played almost the entire game, with Ceballos getting ten minutes and Anthony Carter 13. When Majerle returns, possibly in a couple weeks, things will look a lot brighter on the bench. Riley doesn't need a loaded second squad to win in the East, but having "Thunder" and Ceballos to give his over-used starting corps some breaks will help. Add a lighter schedule, plus some time for Riley to work his magic at meshing players, and things should be okay in Miami. Still, it's amazing to see how much Alonzo's departure has affected not only the Heat, but the East as a whole. Compared to the West, last year's East was weak; this year it's just plain awful, and for two reasons: Alonzo's injury, and the partial facelift in Indiana. Both the Heat and Pacers gave the East some respectable championship contenders, but without either team winning through the first month of the season, things have gone terribly awry. The Philadelphia 76ers are actually the best team in the conference, while the Cleveland Cavaliers own one of its best records. I bet you can't even name one player on the Cleveland Cavaliers. Nobody doubted that Zo's departure would have some definite ramifications, and the slow start for Miami, plus the struggling state of the conference as a whole, does not come as a surprise. But the Heat are better than 7-10, and the disappointing start should give way to, at least, another playoff season. And maybe this is all a blessing in disguise, since come season's end the Heat will likely not be a high seed looking to knock out the low-seed New York Knicks in the playoffs. That's an obstacle, if you recall, that even Zo couldn't overcome.

---

News

Oprah Book Club author speaks about his work

August 31

On a recent episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show, the famed talk show hostess urged her viewers to go out and buy the latest selection for her book club - The House of Sand and Fog by Tufts' English department lecturer Andre Dubus III. Dubus will give a reading today of his book at 3:30 p.m. in the Austin Room of the Tisch Library. The House of Sand and Fog is Winfrey's 38th book club selection, as well as her self-proclaimed "favorite read of the year." As is well known to authors, publishers, and other industry moguls, this means instant sales - and, in this case, some publicity for Tufts and its faculty. Glenn Whidden, Trade Book Department Manager at the campus bookstore, spells it out: he doesn't know of a single book in Oprah's Book Club that hasn't gone on to be a bestseller. "[Dubus] is on the verge of being the most successful fiction writer we've had [at Tufts]," he said. "He's definitely a rising star." The novel, a National Book Award finalist, was published in February 2000 and has been garnering national attention. "Oprah is the most powerful bookseller on Earth," Whidden said. "Being picked for Oprah's Book Club has got to be a feather in [Dubus'] cap." Part of the pull of Winfrey's picks is the mystery that surrounds her choices. According to Whidden, she usually calls the author and the publishing company to notify them of the pick; however, neither party is allowed to spill the good news. The book is then shipped to bookstores all over the country in advance, marked as a book club pick, sans title. The only thing that booksellers know for sure, Whidden said, is that the contents of those boxes is about to become a major success. This publicity also translates into recognition for the University. "[The attention] is pretty terrific for Tufts," Whidden said. Sophomore Dan Kalik, who had Dubus as his English 2 professor last semester, agreed. "It's good publicity for the school. I know that my mom and her friends go the bookstore and look for the Oprah book and pick it out... probably it will say Tufts [on the book]," he said, illustrating the widespread following of the book club. Kalik went on to relate Dubus' success to his own experiences with the professor. "It's exciting to think that the person who taught me how to write now has the Oprah Book Club of the Month," he said. "He was a really personable professor...[his class] was the best English class I've probably ever taken." Whidden also had kind words for Dubus, who spoke at a smaller gathering at the bookstore when The House of Sand and Fog was published. "He's willing to take time and talk to anybody who's interested in his book," he said. "He's a nice guy and a very engaging speaker." Dubus also published a book in the mid-'90s entitled Bluesman, which is currently out of print, but will be re-released in February 2001. "[Bluesman will receive] more attention than it did when it first came out," Whidden predicted.The House of Sand and Fog captures the immigrant experience in the US. The novel opens with Massoud Amir Behrani, a once wealthy colonel in the Iranian military under the Shah, struggling with the job search in America. To keep up appearances, Behrani lives a lifestyle that he cannot afford. After his daughter gets married, he decides to purchase a house at an auction, butting heads with the previous owner of the house, Kathy Nicolo, a self-destructive alcoholic who wants the property back. The house represents of the possibility of the "American Dream" for Behrani, while it echoes a sense of stablity for Nicolo, creating an engaging struggle between the two characters. "Dubus tells his tragic tale from the viewpoints of the two main adversaries, Behrani and Kathy. To both of them, the house represents something more than just a place to live... In prose that is simple yet evocative, [The] House of Sand and Fog builds to its inevitable denouement, one that is painfully dark but unfailingly honest," said one reviewer, Alex Wilber, on www.amazon.com.

---

News

TSAD goals misrepresented

August 31

To the Editor: I am disappointed by the Daily's inability to understand or effectively report on the true aims of the sit-in, and the goals of TSAD in general. It seems to me that the Daily is falsely painting the picture of a Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) vs. TSAD controversy that simply does not exist. This reporting has led to unnecessary fear and hostility from both groups. As a participant in the sit-in, my goal was not de-recognition of the TCF. The aim of the sit-in was to have a re-affirmation of the nondiscrimination policy that included a protection for self-acceptance of one's identity. Thanks to a great deal of hard work, this goal was actualized. I do not expect, nor do I want, this affirmation of the nondiscrimination policy to have any ex post facto repercussions for the TCF. I simply hope that the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) and the Tufts community as a whole will not tolerate future instances of discrimination based on one's acceptance of their identity. I have dear friends in the TCF and would not work with an organization whose implicit goal was to silence the TCF, or any group of people for that mater. I do, however, strongly disagree with the TCF's treatment of Julie, as well as its archaic stance on homosexuality. Hopefully, the president's explanation of the nondiscrimination policy will give the TCF an opportunity to rethink the way it treats queer Christians in the future. Furthermore, I hope that the TCUJ uses this interpretation of the policy in future cases of discrimination, rather than resorting to the childish method of using a dictionary for what is really a common sense decision. I hope that the TCF remains on campus and provides a spiritual home for evangelical Christians. It must, however, in providing that home, make sure that it doesn't destroy the home of the Tufts transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and ally community. By taking this interpretation on the nondiscrimination policy into account, TCF can insure that everyone's rights are protected. Adam Carlis, LA '03

---

News

Jumbos start ECAC tournament today at Babson

August 31

At one this afternoon, two soccer teams will look for playoff gratification in the first round of the ECAC New England Championship tournament. The men's soccer team will square off against the Babson College Beavers at Babson. The Jumbos are looking to erase the memories of their first round exit from the NESCAC tournament, while the Beavers will be looking to forget their 5-1 drubbing at the hands of Wheaton College in the finals of the New England Men's and Women's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament. Tufts is the seventh seed in the ECAC tournament, a fact that has not gone over well with the team. "We were very disappointed with our seed," sophomore forward Matt MacGregor said. "We thought we should be seeded higher." NESCAC rivals Bowdoin (first), and Amherst (third) are both seeded ahead of the Jumbos, as are UMASS-Dartmouth (fourth), Western Connecticut State (fifth), and Keene State (sixth). "We play in a tough conference, the NESCAC, and we did have a good record," MacGregor said. "But we can't worry too much about whether we should have had a home game or a higher seed. Babson is a team that we all believe we can get a good result against. We just need to go out there and prove to everybody that we deserved a higher seed." Babson went 14-4-2 this season finishing first in the NEWMAC. After a 1-1-0 start, the Beavers went on an 11 game tear that was eventually stopped by the number one team in the country, the Williams Ephmen. But despite their stellar regular season record, Babson was slammed in the finals of the NEWMAC tournament by Wheaton, 5-1. "I've seen Babson play," coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "We're a more skilled team. They are hard-working. I'm expecting a one goal game, hopefully it's a goal that will go our way." Tufts and Babson do have some common opponents, and the results of these games seem to bear out Ferrigno's prediction of a close game. Both the Beavers and the Jumbos defeated MIT by a score of 3-0. Babson topped Lasell 4-1 while the Jumbos won 7-4, and Tufts defeated Gordon College 2-0 while the beavers topped the Fighting Scots 5-1. Williams beat both the Jumbos and the Beavers by scores of 1-0 and 4-2 respectively, and Amherst managed only a tie with Babson but has now beaten Tufts twice. This season is only the third time that Babson has reached the ECAC tournament. In 1997, they entered the tournament as the number one seed in but were upset by Bowdoin in the quarterfinals. The next year, the Beavers claimed the ECAC New England Championship. Tufts had a week off following their loss to Amherst in the first round of the NESCAC tournament. For a team that had a number of late season injuries, it was a needed rest. "It was helpful," Ferrigno said of the week off. "Obviously we'd have liked to play this weekend, but it was helpful as far as injuries go." In the playoff game, Amherst scored the game winner with only 2:30 remaining when Lord Jeff junior Ryan Goodband headed a corner kick past Tufts goalkeeper Steve McDermid. It was a disappointing loss for the Jumbos who were seeded higher than Amherst in the tournament despite losing to the Lord Jeffs 2-0 at home earlier in this season. Amherst is seeded third in the ECAC tournament and if the Jumbos defeat Babson, the team may face the Lord Jeffs for the third time this season in the second round. "They have a tough game against Keene State," Ferrigno said. "But we will most likely have to go through them if we want to win this tournament." Winning the tournament will be a difficult task for the Jumbos, but the competition is not quite as fierce as the NESCAC. "I think the NESCAC is tougher," Ferrigno said. "There is always a sprinkling of NESCAC teams in the ECAC tournament and we will need to go through them." MacGregor echoed his coach's sentiments. "Both have a decently tough competition level," MacGregor said. "Not to look past Babson, but it is still probably the NESCAC teams that we will have to deal with."

---

News

Tracy Chapman visits unannounced

August 31

Yesterday afternoon, residents of the Crafts House, recovering from the festivities of the previous night, answered a knock at their front door. They opened it to find a Craftie Alum who wanted to take a tour to see what had become of Tufts' creative haven - nothing out of the ordinary.

---

News

Field hockey team drops game to Bates

August 31

The field hockey team sacrificed its third game of the season on Sunday afternoon, falling to NESCAC foe Bates College on Huskins Field. In the 2-1 defeat, they lost by a single goal for the third time this season, and subsequently dropped to an even 2-2 in the conference and 4-3 overall. "They were a really aggressive team," junior Liesl Bradford said. "They were very quick moving to the ball and it was a good match for us." However, Bates' talent and aggression did not make the loss any easier for the Jumbos. "It was a really tough loss because we wanted it so badly, especially given our past with them," junior Lindsay Lionetti said. Earlier in last year's campaign, Bates clinched a heart-breaker over Tufts in the final seconds of a regular season contest. Last weekend, though, the visiting Bobcats were seething with revenge after being knocked out of the ECAC playoffs at the end of last season by the then eighth seeded Jumbos. Although Tufts came out strong in the first few minutes of play on Sunday, the visitors' ferocity was evident throughout the majority of the Bates-dominated game. The Jumbos took an early 1-0 lead at 22:27 when senior co-captain Colette Gaudet notched her third goal of the season off of a pass from junior Christina Orf. However, Tufts eased up after a game-opening surge, and could not create many other scoring opportunities on the half. "We were a little slow getting into the game and played a bit on our heels," Lionetti said. "We did lead them in the first half, but we weren't really on top of things." Bates exploded in the second stanza, and at 30:48 freshman Sarah Weatherbee got one past Tufts sophomore goalie Lauren Rufino, who made her second start of the season. Just two minutes later, the Bobcats bit again when sophomore Julia Price found the net to pull ahead 2-1. "The second that we let up, they took advantage of it," Orf said. "It just further proves that we can't let up at all." Observing her squad's sluggish play, coach Carol Rappoli called a time-out shortly thereafter that would change the pace of the game. "After our time-out, the tone of the game really changed, but it was a little too late to get things going," Lionetti said. "Our second half was really good after the first few minutes." In the final minutes of the game, the Jumbos had several opportunities which, according to Orf, could have easily been goals. The majority of the team's goals have been scored off of corners and penalty shots, a trend that the team hopes to alter before the campaign is over. "It's a little frustrating on the offense right now," Orf said. "I feel like we have a lot of skill and we are an offensive threat, but it's frustrating not putting it in the goal cage during regular play... we need to start to do that" "I don't know if there is any direct cause for our loss," Lionetti said. "We just need to learn how to come out strong and stay strong." The weekend's loss comes at the heels of a run of four successful games for the Brown and Blue, and leaves the team standing at fifth in the NESCAC. The Jumbos are confident that they can rebound from the upsetting loss in time for Thursday's match-up against Babson College. "Our team is set up the way it should be," Lionetti said. "We're all playing well together, we just need to keep playing consistently throughout the whole game." Orf concurs with her teammates' sentiments. "I'm really not too worried," she said. "I think we just need to be more aggressive with our shots and get into the circle more often. There needs to be a greater sense of urgency on the field." The team travels to Babson on Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m. for its third non-conference match of the season. On Saturday, the Brown and Blue will make the trek to Bowdoin conference to face the second-ranked Polar Bears. "It's going to be a very big game," Bradford said. "It's our next NESCAC game and that in itself is important, but Bowdoin is always a great game. We're usually pretty equally matched and I think we're ready for them."

---

News

How liberal can you go?

August 31

Although presidential candidates Al Gore and Ralph Nader both lean to the left, the ethics of their politics were up for debate Wednesday night. Campus activists sponsored "Gore vs. Nader - The Progressive Dilemma" to consider the implications of voting for the Green party candidate in this year's tight presidential race. The discussion forum drew nearly 80 students and featured panelists Pat Keaney, a Massachusetts Nader campaign manager, Tufts sociology professor Paul Lopes, journalist Suzanne Gorden, and student activist junior Doug Hansen. During the panel discussion, local community members and students expressed their dissatisfaction with the dual-party control of US politics. "[I'm] dissatisfied with the gradual shift of the Democratic party to the middle and would like to see this election send a message to both candidates," said junior Vanessa Dillen, explaining why she came to the forum. The Green party often criticizes the corporate-friendly politics of presidential candidates Vice President Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush. Both candidates receive large campaign contributions from major US corporations. Panelist Pat Keaney referred to Bush and Gore as "corporate candidates" whose allegiances lie with business interests and ignore underrepresented communities. Keaney emphasized the importance of the election globally, citing the immense impact that US policy has on foreign economies. Lopes had a "passive progressive" perspective when responding to Keaney's call for voter interest in human rights issues. According to Lopes, mainstream politicians set the standards for "legitimacy," which the media follows. Nader, Lopes argued, lies outside of these restrictive legitimacy quotas, and is accordingly silenced in journalistic arenas. "Preventing Nader from being part of the debates only solidifies their stigmatization of third party candidates," Lopes said. Gorden attacked media that profile Nader as extreme and illegitimate, describing them as "insecure" outlets that "pussy-[foot] around." He pointed to The Boston Globe's coverage of a recent Green party rally at the Fleet Center, which drew thousands of supporters, as an example of scared journalistic tactics. "They didn't even quote Ralph or a single person that spoke or attended the event," he said. Gordon also noted that few national newspapers even cover Nader's platform, and instead refer to him as a radical, "spoiler" candidate. Nader's potential threat to Gore's campaign surfaced as a common anxiety among students, particularly those from swing, or undecided, states. Junior Doug Hansen argued that the Democratic party was "playing off of fears to scare people into voting for Gore." Some audience members refuted the notion that Gore is the lesser of two evils. Progressive voters often view Gore support as a compromise that voters make to keep Bush out of office. "Gore is the evil of two lessers," Hansen said, adding that students should not be deterred from making an ideological vote. "We are young, we are supposed to be idealists," He pleaded. Audience members stressed their fear of Bush's ability to jeopardize reproductive and gay rights, if elected. Three Supreme Court justices could retire within the next presidential term, and Bush has promised to fill the spaces with pro-life conservatives. It is a threat that rests heavy in the minds of many voters. Panel members also made reference to gay rights which are in an equally vulnerable position, as gay marriage and hate-crime legislation remain uncertain in many states. Panelists seemed skeptical that Bush would be capable of overturning Roe v. Wade, despite the upcoming Supreme Court appointments. "There is never a good time for change. Stakes are always high, and they will always tell you to wait until the next election. This is the next election," Gorden said. Keaney agreed and encouraged students to compare short-term concerns with the benefits of long-term movement building. "The two parties will always play on fear. You lose a lot of control over your life if you let fear dictate one to the most important decisions we face," Keaney said. Event organizer sophomore Jesse Alderman noted that strategic voting is a comfortable alternative for some voters. Residents from swing states may vote for Gore to prevent Bush from winning. Voters from decided states, like Massachusetts, can easily support Nader because he poses no threat to Gore's statewide victory. "I can't compromise myself, I have to vote my conscious. But I have no problem with strategic voting," Alderman said. Alderman conducted a panelist question and answer period intended to dispel confusion surrounding Green party platforms. Panelists articulated Nader's policies on many issues, including labor rights, healthcare, and campaign finance reform. Nader is a longtime advocate of universal healthcare and raising the minimum wage. Junior Sarah Marcus noted that mainstream media seldom covers Green party ideology and policy, often leaving voters uninformed. After the forum, she felt confident about her Nader vote. "I feel safe and good about voting for Nader in Massachusetts," she said.

---

News

Overloads knock out dorm room power

August 31

In today's wired world, stereos, televisions, micro-fridges, and PCs have all become essential for survival in the residence halls. However, this overabundance of electronic devices has overloaded the circuits in the dorms, causing power failures and frustrations for many disconnected students.

---

News

First week hints at changing of Atlantic guard

August 31

After one week of NBA action, things have gone as planned in the Atlantic Conference: the Miami Heat are struggling without Alonzo Mourning, the New York Knicks have played erratic basketball after trading Patrick Ewing nonsensically in exchange for another swingman, the new-look Orlando Magic have impressed even with an injured superstar, and the top team in the league is the young Philadelphia 76ers. The Heat are 1-2 and dropped a close one to the Sixers on Monday, 84-82, on Eddie Jones' missed jumper with nine seconds remaining. Jones, a newcomer, and Tim Hardaway headline a Miami squad that will struggle to make up for Mourning's presence. Brian Grant, another recent acquisition, starts at the four spot, but has to handle guarding the big men a lot of the time, since aging starter Duane Causwell hasn't and won't get much game time. Grant's size is needed and his 11 rebounds a night will more than make up for the departure of P.J. Brown. If anything, the Heat are lucky that the East is essentially center-less, meaning they will certainly be able to compete with smaller teams like the Knicks and Sixers. Philadelphia (4-0), meanwhile, is at its best since the Charles Barkley days, and opened up the season by emphatically disposing of the Knicks, 101-72. Philly, like Miami, is undersized but remains strong defensively, especially with Theo Ratliff's presence in the middle and George Lynch's improved rebounding ability. Allen Iverson remains the controversial centerpiece of an offense that topped 100 points in its first two games but could not break the 90-point mark in the latter two. The Sixers have already disposed of the Atlantic's other three top teams ? the Knicks, Heat, and Magic ? beating each team on the road. But the Sixers haven't won by double digits since opening night. In New York, headlines are being made off the court more so than on the court, as Latrell Sprewell was forced to talk to the NBA Front Office this week because of comments he made about bringing Chris Webber, a free agent in the coming off-season, to the Big Apple. Sprewell also made headlines because his $30 million lawsuit against the NBA and the Golden State Warriors was not reinstated by a federal appeals court. Moreover, speculation abounds about whether the Knicks intend to stick with the three-pronged attack of Sprewell, Allan Houston, and Glen Rice, or make a move, especially in light of Atlanta's shopping Dikembe Mutumbo around. Rice has been the loser of the contribution battle so far, receiving under 30 minutes of game time a night and putting in an average of just over ten points, while Houston has by far taken most of the Knicks' shots. Marcus Camby is another undersized center in the Atlantic, but has so far only had to deal with Ratliff, Atlanta's Alan Henderson, and Washington's Jahidi White, prompting fans to once again ask: where have all the centers gone? They haven't gone to Orlando, where the Magic are also expected to be among the East's top teams in spite of starting an inexperienced big guy in John Amaechi. Still, Amaechi has impressed in his second year with the Magic, and put together 20 points in the team's 110-99 victory over Seattle on Monday. That win came without Grant Hill, who will remain out will an injured ankle until coach Doc Rivers deems him healthy enough to play. Hill and youngster Tracey McGrady were expected to dawn a new era in Orlando, and likely will, but last year's success with a virtually unknown group of players proved Rivers' ability to get his players going, so the temporary loss of Hill shouldn't prevent the Magic from staying afloat in the tight Atlantic Division. Hill has missed three of five games. In those contests, Amaechi has averaged 14 points and Armstrong has been good for the same, while McGrady has been dominant in the two games he's played without Hill. But McGrady missed Saturday's game because of an altercation with Eric Snow in last week's loss to Philadelphia; missing both Hill and McGrady, the Heat topped Atlanta with the help of Armstrong's 21 points. One week of play has, as expected, demonstrated the upside-down nature of the East this season. Hell, even the Celtics are above .500.

---

News

Dems rally for Gore/Lieberman

August 31

Bostonians, among them 42 Tufts students, transformed the usually quiet Long Wharf in downtown Boston into a political arena Wednesday afternoon. They flocked to the dock to rally behind democratic hopeful Al Gore and his running mate Joseph Lieberman. Tufts students, many of whom were attending their first political rally, seemed infected by the pervasive political spirit as they cheerfully joined Gore's groupies. Sporting her ten-gallon hat and lone star belt buckle, junior Alethea Peters chanted "Texans for Gore," the slogan that she wrote on signs and tapped to her shirt. Sarah Molenkamp, vice president of the Tufts Democrats, shared her patriotic enthusiasm. Rounding up a chorus of college students fromaround the area, this political activist led a medley of cheers. Since politics was in the air, senior Megan Dooley seized the moment and did a little political schmoozing of her own. Dooley followed the example of her uncle, Calif. Congressman Calvin Dooley, holding her own in yesterday's political circus. After a quick chat, she acquired a construction hat and had a Kodak moment with some new friends, construction workers participating in the Big Dig. After another round of handshakes, the crowd assembled where Gore would soon speak. Twenty Tufts students were given special red guest passes promising special access. Though they were not sure what they had gotten themselves into, they soon learned the value of the small piece of paper hanging around their necks. The group was led to the arrival point on the dock, and before long a large boat docked. Within minutes the vice president's press corps disembarked. Shortly after, amid loud music and cheering, Gore and Lieberman started up the ramp right towards the awaiting students. Donned in navy blue T-shirts that rea "Mass Students for Gore," a student entourage welcomed the smiling and waving vice president and his sidekick Lieberman. They chanted one of Molenkamp's cheers: 'One, two, three, four, Boston students for Al Gore. Five, six, seven, eight, Al and Joe are reallygreat.' An energetic Gore reciprocated the student-generated excitement with a round of handshakes. As he left for the stage where he was met by a sea of faces and signs, students were left awestruck and very pleased. "I am totally a Gore supporter," freshman Nuntyia Paravichal exclaimed. "I still have the rush going," Pieters said, as she sauntered over to watch the speech. Junior Erin Butler, who was attending her first political rally, agreed with Pieters. "It was so exciting. I just feel so important." Molenkamp immediately called her mother on her cellular phone. "Guess who I just shook hands with?" she asked. Greg Propper, president of the Tufts Democrats, was also excited by the happenings, but for a different reason. Propper is spending this semester getting students interested in the election. He is working on a number of projects to get students up and moving. "At Tufts there is a great percentage of people interested in [public and community] service. This is indicative of a large number of people interested in politics. It's just a matter of getting them involved," Propper said. He has already begun his quest to heighten student involvement and awareness in this election by organizing a number of voter registration drives and political activities on campus. In fact, like Gore, Propper brought his own entourage to the rally: his explorations class. Propper and his "running mate" Dooley have teamed up to teach a class entitled "The Making of a President: Election 2000," which has already succeeded in getting students interested in the election. "I think that this is a crucial time to be politically active," said one of his students, freshman Liz Wolkomir. Gore's message that afternoon seemed to coincide with that of Wolkomir, the political neophyte. The vice president's speech noted the importance of students and cited his commitment to education. "We have to start investing in our people and that means making education our number one priority," he said. He also made specific reference to expanding accessibility to college. Prefacing his statement with a verbal nod to Tufts students in the crowd, and a number of other Boston schools, Gore emphasized his commitment to universalizing education. "Everyone in this country who wants to go to college ought to be able to, regardless of their financial situation," he said. Students left the rally satisfied with what they had heard. "I really feel like Gore is one of the first candidates who focuses on students. In his speech he described plans for tax cuts for college tuition and decreasing loan costs," said junior Paula Romero. Romero was also pleased that Gore mentioned issues she is especially concerned with. "He also touched on an issue that's really important to me: the fact that the next president is going to be given the opportunity to appoint three new Supreme Court justices. I agree with Gore and his politics, and I feel comfortable that he'll choose justices that will reflect my concerns." Leaders of Tufts Democratic were also pleased to see the political support students seem poised to give. "I think [the student interest] was very promising. It's important during an election cycle that student support remains strong so that their needs will be addressed by the candidates," Molenkamp said.

---

News

Tufts extends Ghana program suspension through spring semester

August 31

The Tufts in Ghana program has been suspended for the spring 2001 semester as University officials revamp the program to ensure student safety on the University of Ghana campus. The decision, made by Vice President of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Mel Bernstein in conjunction with a faculty oversight panel, comes after a Tufts student was violently raped on the Accra campus in Ghana last year. Tufts in Ghana had already been under suspension this fall following an administrative review of the program - one of Tufts' nine sponsored abroad options - this past summer. The review investigated safety conditions on the African campus after numerous reports of acquaintance rape and sexual assault against Tufts students studying in Ghana. Three rapes were reported to University officials in 1998 alone, according to Tufts' Office of Public Safety web site. "The suspension of the program has been continued through the spring 2001 semester, and the students that had planned to attend this spring have been informed," said Tufts Programs Abroad Director Sheila Bayne. "There will be a thorough review of all aspects of the program." Administrators attribute many of the past incidents to the cultural differences between Americans and Ghanaians, and the possibility for mixed signals when dealing with different cultural standards for consensual sex. Sources indicate, however, that the rape last spring was far more violent and premeditated in nature. While Tufts cited this recent incident as the immediate cause for the program's original suspension this summer, the University acknowledged past security concerns as a factor in the decision. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, who has been involved in the decision since the outset, praised the academic merits of the program and expressed his hope of reinstating a safer version of the program as soon as it is viable. "There is every hope of restoring the program," he said. "The value of having a Tufts program in Africa is very clear." Administrators and faculty advisors will meet early next week to discuss the future of the program, and to determine "what it is going to take to get this thing back on the road," according to Reitman. The suspension will allow more time to complete the ongoing investigation as well as give administrators a chance to implement enhanced safety measures on both the program orientation and the campus itself. Reitman did not rule out the possibility of hiring a Tufts administrator to advise students on-site. Currently, students enrolled in the program report to a Ghanaian official in Accra. As part of the University's traditional safety efforts, an on-site orientation warns students about past incidents and mentioned that certain behaviors - while less-than-seductive in America - could be misinterpreted by Ghanaians. Nevertheless, many past participants said they had no idea that any sexual assaults had occurred until they had already signed onto the program. This left some calling on Tufts to make all relevant information available to students before they finalize their study abroad decisions. Program alumni agree that there is a fundamental culture gap when it comes to issues of sexual relations in Ghana, and that Ghanaians and Americans often misinterpret one another's sexual signals. For example, when a woman agrees to enter a man's bedroom in Ghana, it is often assumed that she is willing to have intercourse unless she explicitly says otherwise. "There is more of a gender divide in Ghana - it's not a totally segregated society, but there are certainly more distinct gender roles than we have here," said senior Laura Sheppard Brick, who studied in Ghana last fall. Sheppard-Brick said that there is a perception in Ghana that American women, partly because of the way they dress, are more sexually promiscuous than their Ghanaian counterparts. "Ghanaian women always cover their legs, and American women don't," she explained. Even though Ghana is one of the most prosperous and stable countries in Africa, the issue of rape is especially poignant across the continent, where male-dominated cultures often discourage women from resisting unwanted sexual advances and reporting sexual assaults. Rape also carries broader implications on a continent where HIV infection rates are the highest in the world. While some alumni are critical of a local culture where silence is often interpreted as assent and platonic overtures are sometimes perceived as sexual advances, others, like senior Andrea Johnson, believe that American students should be responsible for giving clear signals and avoiding potentially dangerous situations. "It's really a personal choice about what situations you put yourself in," she said earlier this fall. "If you go to his room, for most Ghanaian men, you're sending a signal that you're interested in something more than a platonic relationship. So you can either go, or you can talk to someone and lay down the ground rules." Johnson, who is engaged to a Ghanaian man she met while studying there, criticized the administration's decision to suspend the program. "I don't think it was the right decision at all," she said. "I think it's really awful. I got so much out of the program, and I'm a completely different person because of it." Not waiting for the administration's final judgment, at least two students had already cancelled their plans to attend the program this spring. "There is no question as to the usefulness and popularity of the program, but the safety of our students has to remain a primary concern," Reitman said.

---