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Confirmed: Rapper Asher Roth to perform at Spring Fling
March 17Click here to read the story>>
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Rapper Asher Roth to perform at Spring Fling, according to Web post
March 16Click here to read the article>>
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Friedman School conference to examine global nutrition
March 12The Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy will hold its third-annual graduate research conference, entitled "Future of Food and Nutrition," on March 28, highlighting research presentations by Friedman students and culminating in a panel discussion by experts in the field of global nutrition. The student-run event will focus on multidisciplinary approaches to food and nutrition issues. "The main goal is to inspire students to collaborate and to reach beyond their own specialties to see how food and nutrition come together holistically in other fields," said Julie MacCartee, one of the event coordinators and a Friedman School student studying agriculture, food and environment. Following the student presentations, a panel discussion on "New Approaches to Feeding the World" will feature Robert Paarlberg, Susan Roberts and Mark Winne, three prominent figures in the fields of agricultural policy and trade, nutrition and public health. "The panel will be looking at how science and policy can interact to decrease world hunger," MacCartee said. The conference will offer students a unique opportunity to present their findings in various nutrition- and food-related fields. It also will also allow them to meet others who are interested in similar fields, according to Sarah Trist, a student coordinator of the conference and a Friedman School student in the Food Policy and Applied Nutrition program. "It's a chance for students to present their research, learn about other research and network with each other," Trist said. "A lot of these students will be out in the field soon, and it wouldn't hurt to have some friendly faces out there." Trist made the decision to help coordinate the event after attending the conference last year as a prospective student. "The event is scheduled on the same weekend that prospective students are in town," Trist said. "This time last year, I was visiting the school and got the chance to meet with students and faculty members and see the research conference. I thought it was really interesting and important and wanted to help out." Student coordinators of the event selected this year's panelists. "Every year, we pull in an expert panel to end the day," Trist said. "We want to make sure that there is a diversity of voices heard in the debate about how the world is moving forward in feeding itself." Food economist Parke Wilde, an associate professor of the Food Policy and Applied Nutrition program at the Friedman School, will moderate the panel. According to Trist, the conference is primarily geared toward graduate students, although some undergraduates may find it interesting. Students can register online at http://studentconference.nutrition.tufts.edu.
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Australian signer-songwriter Missy Higgins talks music and fame
March 12Last weekend, Missy Higgins took the stage at the brand new House of Blues Boston alongside Justin Nozuka and Lenka. Already an award-winning Australian singer/songwriter, Higgins recently released her second album, "On a Clear Night" (2007). After touring with Ben Folds last summer, Higgins started her own U.S. tour last month in order to promote her music and attract a larger audience. Her single "Where I Stood" off of the album has showed up on numerous popular television shows like "Grey's Anatomy" and "One Tree Hill." Her popularity continues to grow as her soulful, strong-woman sound becomes available to a more mainstream audience. Higgins recently took the time to give this interview by e-mail about her music and who she hopes to attract and inspire with it.Catherine Scott: What are some sources of inspiration for your songwriting?Missy Higgins: I'm inspired by people. The way they think... the motivation behind their actions, their fears, their insecurities and their past experiences that have shaped them into the person they are today.CS: Have you always wanted to be a singer/songwriter, or was it a passion, hobby, or dream that just took off and that's where your path has led you?MH: It started out as me just wanting to sing. I first realized I could sing in primary school when I was cast as a fairly main character in the school musical "Joseph and the Technicolored Dream Coat." I had so much fun singing in front of an audience for the first time with a microphone in my hand and [everyone] in the palm of my hand that I just knew I wanted to do it forever. It made me feel more alive than ever. Then song-writing came a few years later.CS: What musicians or types of music do you most often listen to and draw inspiration from?MH: I guess I mostly listen to music with powerful lyrics and simple production. Songs that take me somewhere, or suck me right in to the moment they're singing about and I'm unable to come up for air until it's finished. A song that completely takes over my body with its rawness and fragility and pure honesty.CS: Many of your songs are about being a girl or a woman, and the experiences that go along with that. What kind of message do you want to send to other women as a female singer songwriter, if any?MH: I don't consciously write with any sort of message in mind. I think the best way to affect other people positively is to write unselfconsciously and openly. When there's no pretense it allows the listener to drop their guard as well and then the real connection can be made. The most healing songs are the ones that make you feel as though the singer is telling your story for you in a way that you were never able to articulate yourself.CS: What is the best part about being on tour? What is the worst? Being from Australia, what do you think of touring in America?MH: I get to play music every night. That is hands down the best part about touring. Losing yourself onstage for an hour and a half makes all the grueling traveling worth it, ten fold. American audiences are, for the most part, amazing to play for. They're respectful and willing to make you feel really good about yourself on stage. They want to be entertained which, as crazy as it sounds, is not always the case with audiences.CS: What message would you give to young musicians and artists who want to succeed in the music industry?MH: Ask yourself what your idea of success is. Is it fame? Money? A record deal? Playing sell-out stadium tours in Europe? Getting chased by the paparazzi and dating a supermodel? Get it straight in your head. Think about what will really make you happy. Think about what music means to you and if you really need half of those things in order to feel proud of yourself. The amazing thing about music is that regardless of whether you have an audience or not, you can still have music and it will always be just as precious. Sometimes those other things get in the way of that. Be careful and don't worry. Just respect your inner artist, always listen to it and never compromise.CS: If you could take three things to a desert island, what would they be?MH: My guitar, my sister and my brother.CS: My favorite song on "On a Clear Night" was "Sugarcane." What's yours and why?MH: I don't have a favorite song; they all mean different things to me. I have favorite live tracks which change all the time as we change the arrangements. At the moment it's "Secret" because we've developed an interesting line-up of percussion instruments that everyone in the band plays at the front of the stage.
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Bacow predicts balanced budgets as some staff laid off
March 12Tufts has laid off a small number of staff and administrators and has frozen salaries for employees earning more than $50,000, and now it predicts a balanced budget for the current and next few fiscal years, University President Lawrence Bacow said in a e-mail to the Tufts community on Wednesday. Bacow said the university projects its endowment to decline by 30 percent this fiscal year, five percentage points more than university officials had previously predicted. Individual schools are facing large challenges, and the university tapped in "a relatively modest amount of reserves" this year to help balance its budget, the message said. The e-mail did not indicate a specific dollar for budget cuts, but in November the Bacow estimated the university would need to cut $36 million from its budget. Undergraduate tuition and fees will increase 3.5 percent for the 2009-2010 academic year, the smallest rise in 45 years, Bacow said. Tuition next year will cost $39,280. The only policy-directed increase in the budget will go to financial aid, Bacow said. In anticipation of greater need among undergraduates, the university has increased the size of its financial aid budget by 12 percent, a roughly two percentage point increase from what had been predicted earlier in the fiscal year. The message stressed the university's focus on meeting the financial need of all current undergraduates. "To our knowledge, no undergraduate has had to withdraw from Tufts due to financial distress," Bacow said. "We have been able to work with every family to keep students in school, even when both parents have lost their jobs." The Office of Undergraduate Admissions accepted all students during the Early Decision process on a need-blind basis, which means that an applicant's ability to pay is not considered during admissions. Some had voiced concerns that the university would not be able to sustain need-blind admissions, which had been practiced on an unofficial basis for the Classes of 2011 and 2012. Bacow said a "small number of staff" across "some of our schools" and in central administration had been laid off. Public Relations Director Kim Thurler told Bloomberg.com that about 15 to 20 people had been let go. In his e-mail, Bacow also mentioned the possibility of eliminating certain programs and positions associated with them. In addition to freezing salaries for some employees, Bacow added, others will receive "very modest raises" in the coming year. Meanwhile, the annual fund is down seven percent "year-over-year," Bacow said. But the president conveyed a somewhat positive message in his letter. He pointed out that strong fundraising over the past few years has significantly expanded Tufts' coiffures and that the university is in a better position than many of its peers. "The bottom line," he said, "is that we are faring reasonably well under the circumstances." Editor's Note: Check back after spring break for additional coverage of the university's financial situation.
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Regarding the mural defacing
March 11The Office of the Dean of Student Affairs, in conjunction with other university offices, has looked into the recent defacing and eventual removal of the Shephard Fairey mural on display outside the campus center. It is now clear that the mural was postered over as a class assignment for a course in the Experimental College on "Guerilla Performance Art and Politics," taught by a visiting lecturer. The incident is troubling in that many community members rejoiced in the university's ownership of the Fairey mural, which was first partially damaged by unknown individuals who tore away parts of it prior to the class assignment, and then destroyed by the class posters that covered most of it. The visiting lecturer has stated that Fairey intends for his art to be interactive and thus to be altered by others' additions to his originals. However, it is not clear that this view applies to a work that was given to the Tufts community. Many community members have expressed that they saw the additions to the mural to be simply vandalism. So what is the outcome of this incident? First, the Experimental College has a well-deserved reputation for offering courses outside of the traditional curriculum. The Office of the Dean of Arts and Sciences will be working with the ExCollege to ensure that this tradition continues. Second, the complexities inherent in considering the actions of the students in the class are significant -- so significant that a judicial outcome for the postering is not appropriate. Were other options available for an exercise in real interactive art? Of course there were. Unfortunately, no consideration of the Tufts community as a whole was evident in the acts of those who removed or vandalized the mural and sadly, the most abiding outcome for many is the loss of something special. Sincerely, James M. Glaser Dean of Undergraduate Education Bruce Reitman Dean of Student Affairs
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Some students at Tufts try to lighten future course loads by cramming intensive studies into their summer plans
March 11When many exhausted and overworked students think of the summer, they think of home-cooked meals, lazy afternoons with friends and a long-needed break from Boston's bone-chilling weather. But some industrious students are trading tanning lotion for textbooks, opting to participate in summer sessions both at Tufts and at other universities.
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Pro-life feminist pushes for solutions to social causes of abortion
March 11Feminists for Life President Serrin Foster spoke Tuesday night in Cabot Auditorium about the importance of bringing together pro-life and pro-choice advocates to address the root causes of abortion. Throughout her presentation, which was sponsored by Jumbos For Life, Foster encouraged feminists to shift their attention away from securing abortion rights, an effort that she said can prove extremely time-consuming. Instead, she said, the energy should go toward addressing the social issues that create the need for abortions. "I'm not here to condemn someone who has had an abortion, and I'm not here to criminalize women," Foster said to the 25-person crowd. "I'm here because I believe that abortion is a violence against women which violates the basic tenets of feminism." Foster called for feminists to "get ahead of the misery" by focusing on the reasons women choose to have abortions. "As feminists, we should be looking at reasons that poor women have [for having abortions] and why women are being bullied to have abortions by men," she said. "If women are having abortions, it means that we have not met the needs of women," she added. "You don't have a choice unless you have the resources." Foster argued that this lack of resources is a reality for college-aged women, who account for half of all abortions. She urged Tufts students to evaluate and increase the amount of support available to pregnant women on campus, including creating a pregnancy resource center. Foster used Georgetown University as an example of a school that has risen to this challenge by revamping its campus to make it more mother-friendly. Along with providing a toll-free pregnancy phone line for students, Foster said, Georgetown recently built an on-campus child care center and reserved several townhouses for student mothers. Foster said that she first recognized her opposition toward abortion while growing up in the 1970s in Washington, D.C. She talked about how living across the street from a midwife who performed abortions had an enormous impact on her views today. "I would see men drop off young women who would go into the building crying, be inside screaming, and then leave crying," Foster said. She added that, in the '70s, the effects of abortion on women were often left unexamined. Foster said that growing up, she still felt out of place as a feminist and a pro-life advocate. She admitted that it took her a while to finally recognize that "not all feminists are pro-choice." In her presentation, Foster recounted the historical origins of the pro-life argument, which she said some of the world's most renowned feminists created and adopted. "If you look back at the movement's history, which began a couple of hundred years ago, you can see that feminists like Mary Wollstonecraft were some of the first people to decry [abortion] as a sexual exploitation," she said. Foster explained that Wollstonecraft's argument caught on with American feminists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including suffragettes like Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Victoria Woodhull. "It is our country's foremothers who argued that all humans have rights by expanding notions of freedom and responsibility that people hadn't thought about before," Foster said. "It was women like Victoria Woodhull who said, 'If every woman is free, then she will never wish to murder an unborn child.'" According to Foster, abortions were so popular during this time that they were the most common advertisement in women's magazines. Feminists for Life member Jane Rohan told the Daily that she hopes Tufts will take Foster's advice to increase resources for Tufts mothers, and Tufts Democrats President Doug Helman agreed. "Although I strongly disagree with the mission statement of Feminists for Life, I thought Ms. Foster had a lot of positive suggestions for dialogue and activism on both sides of the debate," said Helman, a sophomore. "Pro-life and pro-choice groups should work together to increase the resources available to pregnant women to decrease the number of unnecessary abortions."
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Tufts Student Fund falls short of its goal
March 11The Tufts Student Fund (TSF) campaign failed to meet its goal of a 25 percent participation rate, but managed to raise thousands of dollars to be used for financial aid for a current student, the office overseeing the fund announced yesterday.
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Despite the high costs of becoming Greek, students rush and chapters accommodate
March 11As Tufts plans to become need-blind in its admissions process and the university consistently strives to prevent financial divides from segregating students on campus during a daunting economic time, some due-collecting organizations -- like fraternities and sororities -- may have reason to be worried about the number of new members interested in joining.
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Some preseason goals prove elusive, but Tufts still celebrates another 20-win season
March 11One year after nearly everything went right, a few too many things went wrong for the women's basketball team.
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Wednesday, bloody Wednesday
March 10Despite the forecasted rain, it will be a beautiful day in Somerville tomorrow as iconic rock band U2 comes to the Somerville Theatre for a special concert. No tickets are available for sale for the event, but it will be broadcast live by WBCN FM, according to the City of Somerville Web site. In Davis Square, several parking restrictions will be in place as well as road closures. "The City does not recommend car travel through Davis Square center between 5 p.m. and midnight," the Web site said.
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Tufts student's band wins $25,000 record deal
March 10The band A Life of Riley, featuring Tufts senior Rahul Kulkarni on lead guitar, recently won a $25,000 record deal with Rock X Records. Their victory is still unofficial at the moment as nothing is signed yet, but it should be announced on April 1.
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Boston offers plenty to do over spring break
March 10Even if you're staying in Boston over spring break, you don't necessarily need to spend all your time in the library. Since Cancun-style beach parties are unlikely, you can celebrate the spring weather or a break from classes with these upcoming events happening around the city. St. Patrick's Day Parade: The annual St. Patty's Day Parade will take place in South Boston on Sunday, March 15, starting at 1 p.m. The parades celebrates Boston's Irish heritage with floats and music, and in the past has featured small children in leprechaun costumes. The parade route goes between the Broadway and Andrew stops on the Red Line. Flamenco Dancing: Bar Lola in Back Bay features flamenco performances every Sunday at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. This would a great idea for a not-so-average date night and, if the weather gets cold again, a great place to get drinks inside and watch dancers turn up the heat. The restaurant, which also features a full tapas menu, is located on Commonwealth Ave. Dropkick Murphys concert: The famous Boston-based Celtic rock band is taking up a six night residency at House of Blues Boston. Starting March 12 and continuing through the 17th, the band will play seven shows — one a night plus a special matinee show on the March 14 — at the recently opened venue on Lansdowne Street. Tickets are $29.50 and are available at ticketmaster.com. Clam shucking lessons: For a less Irish-themed activity happening over Spring Break, check out the free oyster and clam shucking lessons at Mercato del Mare, located on Salem Street in Boston's North End. Every Saturday from 1:00-3:00 p.m., expert shuckers teach this little-known skill to curious gourmets, and, after the lesson, students can pick up fresh seafood in-store to practice their new skills at home.
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Some Tufts faculty members offer up opinions and ideas through blogging
March 10They're not personal diaries, but they're not your traditional scholarly publications either. The online blog is rapidly emerging as a convenient method of communication, and several Tufts professors and other faculty members are finding that blogging allows them to supplement their research and to expand on topics that they cover in the classroom.
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New House of Blues will please concert-goers with big-name acts
March 8House of Blues Boston, located directly across from Fenway Park at 15 Lansdowne Street, opened just two weeks ago and has already hosted some of today's hottest music acts. With clubs situated in many big cities across the United States, the House of Blues brand has become famous for its multicultural atmosphere and big-name bookings.
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TCU Senate windfall should support need-blind admissions
March 8We remember Jodie Nealley, and we were even Facebook friends with Ray Rodriguez until he (apparently) deleted his account. They were fun and funny, though clearly they were keeping something from us that we did not learn about until years later in these very pages. We were saddened and disappointed when we heard the news of the embezzlement, but we congratulate the university administration for the quick and fair manner in which it has dealt with the legal matters, the internal staff shuffling and the remuneration of funds to the Tufts Community Union (TCU). Now it is up to the TCU Senate to demonstrate the vision and leadership necessary to use these funds effectively. The Senate has already allocated funds to student groups and created a savings trust for future student activities. We believe that the funds in the savings trust should be allocated toward need-blind admissions. Many of our members in the Tufts Progressive Alumni Network (TPAN) have been watching this story closely and with interest, both because the scandal affects our recent graduates directly and because the sudden positive cash balance during a national depression creates an enormous opportunity. They stole our money, too. But the question now is: Where can we make an impact? There is no single correct answer to this question, and we do not agree even among ourselves. However, there is a firm sense that need-blind admissions, or some variant thereof, is a strong, viable and important direction to take. This proposal commands a prominent place in this discussion. Here are a few reasons why: 1. Directing money toward need-blind admissions is not charity — it is an investment. A diverse student body is essential to a good learning environment. How can Tufts students expect to succeed if the faces walking through the halls of Carmichael do not reflect the faces walking through the halls of the White House? Diversity is not simply something that liberals do out of guilt. Many businesses have harnessed the creativity that comes from collaborations between people with vastly different life experiences and perspectives. It is not enough to simply be smart and have skills anymore. We want Tufts undergraduates to be competitive with other students who are just as good and have been challenged by a diverse array of people early and often. The sooner and the longer you have those experiences, the better a problem-solver you become. 2. With many sources of funds dwindling, the economic crisis has threatened the ability of many students to attend Tufts. The TCU Senate can demonstrate sister and brotherhood in these exceptional times by designating these funds to tuition assistance. Should need-blind admissions become a reality at Tufts, all students will be assured that their admittance was based on the merits of their application. Need-blind admissions will improve Tufts' competitive standards, ensuring that each student is surrounded by the best among their peers. An accomplished and diverse student body will benefit all students equally. Contrary to some arguments that have been put forward in this discussion, supporting need-blind admissions contributes to a meritocracy rather than detracting from it. 3. As you can see by the interest that alumni have shown recently, such as Danika Kleiber (LA '02) in her Feb. 11 Op-Ed "The art of giving," alumni and donors are watching. The windfall funds give the TCU Senate a rare opportunity to lead by example. The choice to highlight the issue of need-blind admissions could inspire future donations in a way that an endowment for student activities will not. Former and current students have contributed to these student activity funds for the benefit of the student body. There is no reason why donating money to financial aid qualifies as inconsistent with this mission ipso facto. We understand that the TCU Senate is attempting to address the financial crisis through both an ad-hoc committee and collaboration with the Tufts Fund for Arts, Sciences and Engineering and the Office of Financial Aid through the Tufts Student Fund. While we commend these efforts, we also urge this committee to direct funds toward students with financial need. The windfall funds are an unparalleled opportunity to support students with financial need, and it is certainly not too late in the process to reallocate funds. Need-blind admissions will enhance the student experience by ensuring a diverse and qualified student body. This is a tremendous opportunity for the TCU Senate to encourage the university to become need blind. There are students and organizations on campus that have been actively supporting this course of action and have the knowledge and the will to work out the details of such a plan. Students who are serious about equal opportunity and effective pedagogy ought to show support for this proposal. One of the characteristics that makes us most proud of Tufts is its commitment to active citizenship and public leadership. We believe that these students exemplify the best of these qualities. We urge the TCU Senate to work with them and find a way to help Tufts remain a leader in diversity and active citizenship.
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Tufts study analyzes the health benefits of food stamps
March 8Extravagant dining and feasting may be associated with a grandiose lifestyle, but it's certainly not the healthiest option. A new study led by Park Wilde, a food economist at Tufts, found that families who receive food stamps are more likely to buy food at grocery stores and thus have healthier eating habits.
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Letter to the Editor
March 8Dear Editor, The article "Vegetarians do it with unclogged arteries," printed on March 6, was missing an important perspective: that of the animal liberation movement. PETA's recent advertising, much of which is centered on the idea that vegetarians have better sex, has generated much criticism from feminists. Because these ads depict scantily clad, sexualized women, the critics argue that the ads contribute to our culture's dehumanization of women. This may be true; however, PETA's advertising strategies deserve critique for a more clearly defined reason: They have nothing to do with vegetarianism. PETA's banned Super Bowl commercials, "Veggie Love" and "Milk Gone Wild," both feature pretty women and a complete lack of information about animal issues. Even the literature on PETA's Web site is missing a complete rationale for animal liberation. Its argument: "Animals are not ours to exploit." While this makes a nice sound bite, any omnivore with critical thinking skills could simply respond: "Why not?" Arguments for animal liberation are varied, but perhaps the most convincing one is that our current practices of animal agriculture cause more harm (to farmed animals and to the environment) than they do us good. This or any rationale is missing from much of PETA's advertising. Going vegan or vegetarian is a major decision, and in order for people to make it, they will need more reasons than a pretty model rubbing broccoli on her breasts. PETA is primarily — if not solely — an attention-seeking organization. PETA's volunteers do outrageous things — like dressing up as the Ku Klux Klan to protest the American Kennel Club — in order to draw media attention and therefore expose more people to the concepts of the animal movement. Whether or not the crazy stunts actually help to inform people about the reasons for opposing animal exploitation is a secondary concern. This strategy is nonsensical. In this country and at this time, a PETA member would be hard-pressed to find a consumer who hasn't heard of vegetarianism, so the idea that media attention is needed because most people just haven't heard that it's possible to live without meat is incorrect. In fact, these strategies often have an unfortunate effect: People uninformed about animal issues see these strategies as evidence that vegans and vegetarians are living in a radically different world from their own. If animal activists don't take their own movement seriously, how can they expect anyone else to? There are many good reasons for becoming vegan or vegetarian, and PETA would do well to focus on them in their advertising. Sincerely, Lorraine Eastham Class of 2011
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YET event brings together students from local colleges
March 8"Who wants to be a multimillionaire?" venture capitalist Mike Michalowicz asked a group of students gathered in Ballou Hall on Friday for an entrepreneurship session. "Who wants to start a company that is known the world over?"
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