Retrospective, in its noun form, is defined by dear old Uncle Dick as "an exhibition or performance of works produced by an artist over a considerable period." If you can stomach the idea of my writings as "performances," then this two-semester experiment in editorial writing actually has a rather literal meaning.
As if getting swept in a four-game weekend series isn't painful enough, dropping three of those four games by one run just rubs salt in the wound.
Plenty of frazzled Americans might argue that, in terms of required stamina, filing tax returns (the national deadline was yesterday - though because of Patriot's Day, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont and Washington residents can file today instead) trumps completing the Boston marathon (which also took place yesterday). In this installment of "By the Numbers," the Daily explores all things taxation-related.
"Be worried. Be very worried," exhorts the cover of the Apr. 3 issue of Time magazine. Were the editors of Time referring to a terrorist threat? An outbreak of the bird flu? Nope. They were referring to climate change. Mainstream media outlets, thankfully, are finally starting to realize the seriousness of the climate crisis we face. In the past few months, TV networks from PBS to TBS to Fox News have all featured programs on climate change, and HBO joins the fray this Saturday (Earth Day) with the Laurie David-produced special "Too Hot Not to Handle." "An Inconvenient Truth," starring none other than Al Gore in his post-2000 reincarnation as a climate crusader, hits theaters on May 26, and scarcely a week goes by these days without the New York Times reporting a new scientific finding confirming that climate change is already upon us. All this newfound media attention is cause for hope that the American public will become increasingly galvanized to demand solutions to climate change. In the absence of federal government action on climate change, state, community and campus leaders are already addressing the issue head-on. Maryland recently joined seven other Northeast states in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in a collective effort to reduce power plant pollution, 224 U.S. mayors (including those of Medford and Somerville) have committed to meeting Kyoto Protocol emissions reduction targets, and youth coalitions such as Energy Action are mobilizing college students to transform their campuses into models of sustainability. Even this year's Spring Fling headliner Guster is spreading the climate gospel with their "Campus Consciousness" tour this spring. These are just a few snapshots of a rapidly growing grassroots movement for climate solutions. Here on the Tufts campus, Environmental Consciousness Outreach (or ECO, of which I am a member) is doing its part to tackle climate change. Last year we ran a referendum vote campaign asking if students would support a small student fee increase (no more than $10/semester) to go towards purchasing wind power, a clean, renewable energy source that does not emit climate-warming greenhouse gases. Student turnout was an incredible 40 percent, with a whopping 88 percent voting in favor (for comparison, the turnout in last year's Tufts Community Union (TCU) presidential election was 33 percent). Unfortunately, the results of the non-binding referendum were overturned on a technicality earlier this month, but ECO plans to have a re-vote tomorrow in conjunction with this year's TCU election. Another strong showing of support from students will send a powerful message to the Tufts administration that we want them to take meaningful action on climate change. Many of Tufts' peer institutions, such as UPenn, Yale, Duke, Swarthmore and American, are currently purchasing some form of clean, climate-friendly energy. Tufts, which has committed to the Kyoto Protocol and expressed its commitment to sustainability on numerous occasions, should do the same. It is clear that climate change is an issue of global justice: Despite emitting the fewest greenhouse gases, developing countries are the most vulnerable to climate impacts such as rising sea levels, the spread of disease, worsening air quality, heat-related deaths and natural disasters. As youth, we are also a vulnerable population that will bear the brunt of these climate impacts in decades to come. We therefore have a political and moral responsibility to stay informed and inject our voices into the climate debate. As part of our ongoing efforts to educate the Tufts community about environmental issues, ECO is sponsoring two climate-related events this week as part of our annual EarthFest celebration. Today from 7 - 9 p.m. in Pearson 106, civil engineering professor Paul Kirshen and Tufts Climate Initiative staff member Ramsay Huntley will speak on a panel entitled "Climate Change in Context: Boston, Tufts & YOU." Tomorrow, from 4-6 p.m. in the Crane Room, we will present "Boiling Point Two," a film featuring a talk by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ross Gelbspan about climate change politics, impacts and solutions. Both events promise to stimulate exciting discussion about how we can engage climate change issues on both personal and political levels. The political dimensions of climate change cannot be overstated. Climate change is not merely an environmental issue; it is a moral issue that challenges us to imagine our planet's future and demands a political solution. The amazing grassroots work on climate change in our states, campuses and communities must be mirrored in Washington, D.C. if we are to have any hope of stopping the most serious impacts of climate change. The United States, which emits 25 percent of the world's greenhouse gases despite representing only five percent of the world's population, must change its course of inaction and institute a national climate policy. History, however, tells us that social and political change does not come unless it is demanded. On Apr. 20, use your TCU ballot to encourage the Tufts administration to purchase wind power. For the rest of 2006 and beyond, challenge your elected officials and candidates running for office to make climate change into an election issue. A politician without a plan to address our planet's future is not worthy of our vote. If we do not take action on climate change, humanity and the environment will suffer immense consequences. But if we deal with the climate crisis in the right way, we have the potential to usher in a new wave of technological innovation and job creation and, in the words of Ross Gelbspan, "create the basis for a far wealthier, more equitable, and ultimately, much more peaceful world." The choice is ours - which one will it be?
"The rally responded to one point of view." - Dean of Students Bruce Reitman.
Student Annette Farrington Kramer is only taking one course at Tufts this semester. While this may seem like a light workload, Kramer is also juggling two young children, releasing a new album, teaching vocal lessons and working as a development intern at the Museum of Fine Arts - all while wrapping up her bachelor's degree in English.
The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a new resolution Mar. 27 to request the centralization of information on University policies. The resolution passed 27-0 with one abstention.
For most Tufts students, Patriots' Day is an enjoyable day off from classes to sit back, watch an 11 a.m. Red Sox game and follow the marathon from the comfort of their couches.
Much of the general world population likely does not know that jumping rope is a competitive sport. But anyone who has lived, spent time in or even driven through the town of Brewster, Mass. can't help but learn.
On Apr. 20, Tufts students selecting the upcoming Tufts Community Union (TCU) President will also have the opportunity to vote on several changes to the TCU Constitution.
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Together with Trojan Condoms, Dr. Drew Pinsky addressed a group of 12 college journalists on issues of sexual health across college campuses and among today's youth at the Trojan College Media Roundtable in Boston's The Living Room restaurant this past Friday.
Last week, former Vice Presidential Chief of Staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby asserted that President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney had given him permission to release previously classified information in an effort to rebut criticism of the Iraq war. Libby's assertion has shone a renewed spotlight on the "Plamegate" scandal - a scandal whose journalistic implications the Daily's Patrice Taddonio will explore in these pages over the next week-and-a-half.
Two weeks ago in the mid-afternoon, I was sitting at the bar at the Porter Square Uno's drinking my usual dollar fifty draft while reviewing the readings for my upcoming evening class. All the usual barflies were there: Ponytail Guy, Merlot Lady, O'Doul's Guy, Rolls-His-Own-Cigarettes Guy, and Bird Flu Guy (I don't suspect he's a carrier - he was just reading a book about bird flu). Just picture an episode of Cheers with the sound turned down, and you've got Uno's at 4 p.m.
Following two key league losses to Colby and Middlebury last week, the women's lacrosse team came away with a win over NESCAC rival Connecticut College in a fast-paced, high-scoring battle on Saturday.
"The Israeli Lobby," the new article by renowned professors John Mearsheimer and Stephen Walt, takes the blurring of academic objectivity to a new level while simultaneously delivering a blow to standards of academic discourse. And while their article is well-written and does contain elements of truth, its ideological rhetoric (describing the "stranglehold" of the Israel Lobby on Congress) and lack of academic foundation must force each of us to question these authors' decision to prioritize form over function.
Only two weeks into the Major League Baseball season, it's way too early to say who will be the studs and duds of 2006. Nevertheless, we can't help but ponder the predictive value of some early-season streaks and slumps.
There are some people whom it is universally acceptable to ridicule: Carrot Top, Danny Bonaduce, Tom Cruise (if he's not one of them, he should be)... the list goes on and on. Somewhere smack dab in the middle of that list is Donna Martin herself, otherwise known as Tori Spelling.
Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) painted the Tufts cannon at midnight on Sunday, Apr. 16 with an Easter message as part of their celebration of Holy Week.
