Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.

Features

Arts

Sports

Science

Magazine

Multimedia
Video
Photo
Audio

Newsletter

Cartoons

Print Edition

Archives

News

Inside College Basketball | Duke Needs A-Game Against Longhorns

December 7

Although the college basketball season is only a few weeks old, there have been many exciting games so far. However, none of the non-conference matchups will have as much hype as this Saturday's blockbuster showdown between the top-ranked Duke Blue Devils and the No. 2 Texas Longhorns at Continental Airlines Arena in East Rutherford, NJ. This potential national title preview pairs arguably the two most talented teams in the nation in a game that will allow each to measure itself against a truly elite opponent. Duke was a nearly unanimous top seed in the preseason polls. However, since coasting to three wins to begin their season, the Blue Devils have only occasionally looked like the force touted in the preseason. The unranked Drexel Dragons managed to scare the Blue Devils in the semifinals of the Preseason NIT, mounting a substantive challenge before Duke was able to hold on for a 78-68 win. In the finals of the same tournament, a talented Memphis Tigers squad outplayed Duke for stretches before the Devils survived with a three-point victory. Guard J.J. Redick went scoreless in the second half, and Duke's perfect record was maintained by 30 huge points from Sheldon Williams. Last week, in another lackluster victory, the Blue Devils slipped by the No. 16 Indiana Hoosiers, who looked sharp despite the absence of talented forward D.J. White. His frontcourt companion, Marco Killingsworth, manhandled the Duke frontcourt of Williams and Josh McRoberts, scoring 34 points on 15-of-20 shooting and grabbing ten rebounds. However, this time it was Redick who bailed out his team with 29 points on 10-for-17 shooting, including four three-pointers. The most stunning result in Duke's young season occurred this past Sunday in the Blue Devils' first ACC game against the Virginia Tech Hokies, who aren't even predicted to finish in the top half of the conference. The Hokies went into halftime with a one-point lead, only for Duke to take control as the second half wore on. With Duke up 74-63 and just over four minutes left, the game looked all but over. But Virginia Tech stormed back, taking a 75-74 lead with 1.6 seconds left on a tip-in by Coleman Collins, who led the Hokies with 25 points and eight boards. Duke was saved by Sean Dockery, who caught an inbound pass just beyond halfcourt and drained a 40-foot heave to keep the Blue Devils as tops in the nation. While Duke has managed to stay undefeated, it cannot afford another sub-par performance against the Longhorns. With the absence of fifth starter DeMarcus Nelson, Duke will need to utilize all of its highly-touted talent or it could be in for a reality check this weekend. Texas also began its season with some early struggles. The Longhorns received a serious challenge from the No.13 West Virginia Moutaineers in the semifinals of the Guardians Classic, but managed to get a one-point victory with two clutch late-game baskets and a block by center LaMarcus Aldridge. Then they held off the tough No. 17 Iowa Hawkeyes to win the tournament. Unlike Duke, however, the Horns haven't been challenged by any of their six non-ranked opponents, dispatching of them easily in blowout wins. Four of their starters are averaging double figure scoring per game, and the returns of Aldridge and P.J. Tucker have elevated their team to its current position. Texas will try to utilize its various weapons on Saturday, looking to dominate the Blue Devils inside and complement that with the outside shooting of Daniel Gibson and Kenton Paulino. They could try to get Williams into early foul trouble as this problem has often resulted in disaster for the Blue Devils. On the defensive end, Texas will have to contend with the dynamic duo of Williams and Redick, and will need to contain both if it hopes to emerge victorious this weekend. Duke, despite having a slightly less skilled starting five, has more options off the bench, even without Nelson. The rotation of Dockery and Greg Paulus at point guard has been effective, and freshman Martynas Pocius has had some impact as a substitute. The Blue Devils will need McRoberts and Lee Melchionni to complement Redick and Williams in order to grab the victory. This highly anticipated matchup of top teams should be as impressive as it has been billed. Duke has a chance to validate its lofty ranking, while Texas has an opportunity to recast itself as the team to beat in the country. The game will be broadcast at 1:30 PM on CBS, so be sure to check out what is sure to be one of this year's best contests.

News

Cole Liberator | Hot Peas and Butter

December 7

Yes it's that time of the year again, when the temperature dips below zero, work starts piling up, and Tufts' most popular sporting event, the Naked Quad Run, takes place.

News

Athlete Feature | Magoon leads by example with calm, collected demeanor

December 7

If there is a stereotype for a football player, Pat Magoon certainly isn't it. The soft-spoken senior, Tufts' lone captain for 2005 and starting free safety for the past three seasons, is a pre-med student with a 3.5 GPA, a self-described loyal friend and dependable worker, and universally described by friends as quiet, kind and outgoing. "In fact, when I first met Pat freshman year I thought he wasn't going to be one of the top players," said senior running back Scott Lombardi, who is one of Magoon's closest friends on the team. "I just didn't think that coming from him. That was, until we got on the field, and he was the hardest hitter." "Hitting hard" is the football equivalent of an outstanding, glowing endorsement of those who are willing to put their bodies on the line for a few inches or the possibility of forcing an incomplete pass. It also means something coming from a player like Lombardi, who as the Jumbos' starting running back in 2005, had 170 rushing attempts and dealt with his share of hits. Junior defensive standout Chris Decembrele, who has led the Jumbos in tackles the last two years and was named to the prestigious All-New England team for his 2005 efforts, echoed Lombardi's sentiment. "Let's just say [Magoon's] one of those guys who, when you look back at him, you say to yourself, 'we're going to be alright,'" Decembrele said. And while there may seem to be irony surrounding a pre-med student who uses his head as much for punishing opponents as for studying anatomy, there is no doubt about Magoon's hard-earned football statistics and accolades. This year, Magoon tallied 45 tackles, good for third on the team, a sack, a forced fumble and an interception. He was named an academic All-American, was one of four Jumbos named to the all-NESCAC team, and was recently named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District football team that was announced on Nov. 10. For his career at Tufts, Magoon finished with 155 tackles, three interceptions, and was a three-year starter at free safety, playing nearly half the snaps as a freshman. Magoon grew up in Easton, Mass., a small town of about 22,000 residents 35 miles south of Medford. His mom, Ellen, works for the postal service and his father John is a retired firefighter, while Magoon's older brother graduated from Villanova. It was in fifth grade in Easton that Magoon began playing Pop Warner football, and four years later, he was playing both baseball and football at nearby Oliver Ames High. He played outfield in baseball, and in football, utilized his size (he stands at 6'1") and speed as a receiver and defensive back. He was occasionally a quarterback his sophomore year. "In high school I ended up playing almost every snap, on both sides of the ball," he said. Both of his parents have been to every one of Magoon's home games in his four years at Tufts. While Magoon isn't sure if they went to his road games his freshman year, Ellen and John have been to all his games, both home and away, since his sophomore year. "They're really into football," Magoon said. "I think they loved being at the games. I actually think even if I wasn't playing, they'd still go." Magoon and Lombardi have lived together since sophomore year, and Lombardi said despite Magoon's quiet nature, he has a comical side that comes through. "He's a quiet kid, but he's hilarious," Lombardi said. "He finds his niche and goes. His sarcastic humor is really fun." The housemates both mentioned how most of their humor probably wasn't fit for print, but a highlight that was deemed okay was how Magoon and Lombardi poke fun at another housemate, senior lacrosse player Rory Doucette, about his girlfriend being abroad for the semester. "[Lombardi and I] make fun of Rory a good deal, you could say that," Magoon said. "We all make fun of each other." Lombardi, however, didn't want comedy to be the only focus of his impression of his roommate. "He's more motivated than anyone on the team with how he approaches school, football, everything really," Lombardi continued. "He's a competitor and also a winner. He's successful in everything he does." Magoon will be taking the MCATs in the spring, and if all goes according to plan, will be back in school in the fall of 2007. Magoon said he isn't sure what his plans are until then, but that he's considering his options. He talked about his upcoming year between college and med school calmly, without the typical fervor and apprehension that seems so common of seniors who have yet to make firm plans after Tufts. "Part of me tells me to get a job where I make a lot of money because I'm going to be in debt after grad school," Magoon said. "But I'm also thinking about other options, doing something fun. It's up in the air. I don't have any definite plans." Magoon's responsibilities for 2005 varied. On the field, Magoon was the unquestioned leader on defense -- not only was he the team captain and a leader in tackles, but he also would also adjust the defense, sometimes checking out of formations if he saw something on the other side of the ball he didn't like. "He's been almost a four-year starter because he played so much as a freshman as well, and he's always meeting with [defensive coordinator John Walsh], perfecting the defense," Decembrele said. "Coach Walsh calls the defense in from the sidelines, but sometimes the offense changes quickly and Pat changes the defense." "That's the biggest part that we're going to lose, [when] Pat will make a check and no one needs to question if it's right or wrong," Decembrele said. "If Pat said to do it, then it's right." Away from the field, Magoon was what players expect of their team captain -- someone who not only leads by example on the field, but who encourages younger players with his demeanor off the field. "He's approachable, not just for the older guys but for everyone," Decembrele said. "And he's a good example. He's pre-med. He gets good grades. He's knowledgeable and dedicated. That's what every player can look up to." Lombardi agreed. "He's definitely not the stereotypical football player, that's for sure."

News

Athlete Feature | Evans, Gerry captain volleyball success

December 6

When seniors Courtney Evans and April Gerry walked on the volleyball court four years ago, they were freshmen joining a brand new head coach. When they walked off the court on Nov. 12 with their Tufts volleyball careers behind them, they did so as the captains of the winningest team in the program's history. After entering the school as part of coach Cora Thompson's first recruiting class, Evans and Gerry finished their careers as All-NESCAC members on a team that finished 29-7 and made it to the NCAA Regional Final, uncharted territory for a Tufts volleyball team. "I was just really proud to be a part of a program that has come so far in four years," Gerry said. "I was just proud to be involved in it and also to be a part of coach Thompson's first recruiting class. We came all the way though with her so I thought that was special." Evans and Gerry's ride ended at the hands of Colby after the Jumbos notched 57 wins the last two seasons. "If you look at what this program has done in the past four years, it is a direct result of their passion and competitive spirit," Thompson said. "They have both been a huge part of creating something unique and special." Evans and Gerry manned the middle for the Jumbos, leading the Tufts block. Evans finished second in the NESCAC with 1.12 blocks per game. Gerry contributed offensively with the eighth-best hitting percentage in the conference. Their performances caught the attention of the other league coaches as the two were named to the All-NESCAC Team. "I was really, really surprised," Gerry said of her selection. "I definitely did not expect that at all. It was an honor that came from the success of our team. All year, the other girls worked so hard in making us look good." Much of what the two captains contributed, however, was leadership. With a team that included six freshmen, including the starting setter and libero, and four sophomores, Thompson needed more from her captains than stats. "When you have such a young team, strong leadership from the top is crucial," Thompson said. "They were bringing to the court experience confidence and a sense of stability every time they stepped on the court. They needed to lead not only with their play but with their composure, knowledge and passion." Many times, being a leader simply meant elevating the play on the court. In the second round of the NCAA Tournament, Gerry did just that, recording 15 kills in 26 attempts, to lead the team to a win over Colby-Sawyer. In similar fashion, Evans collected 11 kills and eight blocks in a crucial NESCAC Semifinal victory over Trinity. The Colby-Sawyer match was one of many memorable moments for the two departing seniors. Evans and Gerry also remembered wins over Amherst their junior year and Williams this season, the first over those two teams in years. Being a part of the team was more for Evans and Gerry than just playing volleyball, however. According to Evans, the rides home from tournaments were the most memorable part of her career. "We all use that time to bond, make jokes and laugh at each other," Evans said. "We get to know each other because we always have to travel at least two hours to get to where we're playing on the weekends. It's just a lot of time where you get to know the people who become your best friends. The [teammates are] my best friends at Tufts." Although Evans and Gerry played opposite positions and rarely spent time together on the court, they are close off the court. "She's a great friend, a great teammate and a great volleyball player," Gerry said of her co-captain. "It's meant so much playing with her, spending four years with her. There's a special connection especially being co-captains together." "April is such a great player to have out on the court," Evans said. "She always comes through with big plays. Off the court, she is one of the funniest people I've ever met and I enjoy spending time with her." The two also share a bond with Thompson, who recruited them as her first recruiting class as Tufts head volleyball coach. "I can still see their recruiting videos in my head," Thompson said. "I remember both of them coming for visits with their parents and interviewing them. I knew that they were interviewing me as a new and young coach as well. It was an interesting feeling. I was very excited when they both committed." Four years later, Thompson's first recruits are done with Tufts volleyball and ready for graduation. For Gerry, the question of life after Tufts is not a clear one, as she has not determined her plans. Evans, on the other hand, is training for the Boston Marathon and interviewed with Teach for America on Tuesday. Both players said that while their playing careers are over, they would enjoy getting involved in coaching down the road. In the meantime, the Jumbos are excited about their chances next year, even without Evans and Gerry. "I'm really sad," Evans said. "But I'm also excited to be able to watch them play for the next couple years. I think they're going to do great things. I think they're going to advance further than we did this year. I expect to see them in the Elite Eight. Although it's going to be hard to watch - I'm going to want to jump out there and play - I think they're going do a great job and I'm honored to have been a part of it." Watching the team that she invested so much time in play without her, however, will not be easy. "I'll miss it a lot," Evans said. "I guess that the feeling that I have is not necessarily a bad feeling because I know I'll be involved in volleyball later in life, but its sort of a sense of loss because that's been such a part of my life for so long. It's hard to watch basketball games, because I can't help but think I'll never be able to play on that court again. To all the athletes, you have to cherish every minute."

News

Interview | Richard Shepard

December 6

For a director's hotel room, I was a little disappointed. There were no papers strewn across the floor, no posse, no cocaine buffet, no passed-out hooker. There was, I guess, no Hollywood. As I sat in his suite at the Four Seasons in downtown Boston, I got the feeling that, to Richard Shepard, it hadn't all sunk in - and maybe he likes it that way. "Can you tell the front desk to stop calling up here?" he modestly asks a publicist, not his own. "They keep telling me I have to check out." Before his new film, "The Matador," in which Pierce Brosnan plays a slimy hit man who befriends an out-of-luck business associate played by Greg Kinnear, Shepard had a long but unremarkable resume (including 1999's "Oxygen" and "Mercy" from 1996). You've never seen his movies, and you've never heard of them. Trust me. Maybe that's what creates the unmistakable enthusiasm in Shepard's eye: he's not a kid who's in way over his head; he's a professional who is finally figuring out the game.BM: What was it like filming in Mexico City?RS: Well, you know the whole movie was filmed in Mexico. Denver was filmed there, Budapest, and Manila; it's the magic of the movies. I would say that it was really great on every level. First, it's just a beautiful, interesting, crazy city and that energy sort of invaded our film set. You talk about a combo of studio and indie [film styles]...It's an accessible movie, but maybe it's interesting and a little more different than your average crappy studio movie... But the city kind of brought out our indie side; it was a little run-and-gun. Sometimes, you know, there's so much traffic that you can't shoot where you think you're going to shoot, because you can't even get there, so you have to kind of improvise and everyone was up for it; it was never a case of "Where's my trailer? My trailer's not big enough!" It was more like, "Okay, well there's a marching band and a parade, and we can't shoot this scene, so let's shoot another scene and we'll figure it out..." BM: Getting back to the characters, it seems as though Greg's character wants a bit of Pierce's character, and vice versa. Did you direct them to experience this tension, or did it come naturally for them?RS: When I cast Greg, who's such a great comic actor but also has a good dramatic side as well, I knew I was getting as good as I would possibly get for that part, and I knew that there would be tension between them. And they're both smart enough actors to sort of use what was happening between them for the movie. My job as a director is [that] you don't really direct good actors, specifically, like you direct a child, a first-time actor, or a dog. But when you're dealing with movie stars, you kind of just set the scene for them. You make sure that the set is right, that the costumes are right, that props are right, that their co-stars are right, that the dialogue is right, and then you sort of just let them go, and you steer them a little bit. But you're not sitting them down and getting the performance out of them. If you're doing that, you're in deep s--t; you don't have enough time to do that.BM: Will you be going back to the indie genre?RS: To me, even though this is a $10 million movie and it has big movie stars and it looks like a big movie, it still was indie in spirit because the script that I wrote is the script that I filmed; the film that I finished cutting is the film that is being released. It wasn't changed because some audience member couldn't handle that Pierce was sexually ambiguous [or that] someone at the test screening was like, "I don't like that he's mean to children," and suddenly the studio is like, "He's mean to children; we must cut it out, we must make him likable." No, this is what it was. So it is indie in spirit. But if your question is whether I will go back to a lower-budget movie, the answer is yes, because if there's a movie I want to make and no one will give me real money for it, I'll go and make it for nothing, because I just love making movies. I think a lot of times people get to the point where's it's like, "Well, we can't raise the $10 million; we can't make this movie." And my feeling is like, "Well, then make it for $250,000 if you care that much about it..." If "[The] Blair Witch Project" had been... if someone had given them $25 million and suddenly there's some kid from "Dawson's Creek" and whatever in that movie, it wouldn't have been nearly as good, because that movie needed to be real. I was ready to make "The Matador" for $250,000. I'm a big believer that you should make your own opportunity. BM: And finally, are you a writer or a director?RS: I am a writer who writes his material so that I can direct. But I'm a filmmaker and a storyteller, I think. And I feel like I am just finally really getting good at writing. I've written for a long time, I've had movies made, I've done things, but I'm finally in a groove and finding my voice, maybe. And some people find it at a much younger age, and some people don't ever find it. I mean, I just feel like I'm finding it now. "The Matador" was an amazing experience for me; it opened a lot of doors for me [and] I learned a lot on it. I love to write, but I also love to actually get on the set and make the movie, because that's where actual accidents happen and excitement happens and stuff happens, in a good way.

News

Men's Squash | National championships near as Jumbos gain steam

December 6

Already seven matches into its season, the men's squash team is heading into Winter Break with its eye on a top 16 ranking as February's national championship tournament, the CSA Team Championships, draws near. At 5-2, Tufts sits ranked 17th nationally, with a berth in the top 16 earning it an entry into the second division at Nationals and the ability to improve upon its ranking heading into the offseason. On Saturday, Tufts traveled to Hobart and grabbed back-to-back victories against the tri-meet host #23 Statesmen and fellow visitor Hamilton. The team opened the day with a 9-0 shutout of Hobart, with all but one Jumbo securing a victory in three straight games. The closest match came at the number five spot, as sophomore Nelson Schubart needed four games to get past Hobart's John Keating by a score of 8-10, 9-2, 9-1, 9-4. The Jumbos ended the day with an 8-1 defeat of NESCAC rival No. 22 Hamilton. Senior co-captain Thomas Keidel needed five games to get past Hamilton's John Frazier in the sixth position (9-6, 9-1, 0-9, 5-9, 9-6), while at number eight freshman Chris Devereux was the only Jumbo to come up short, losing to Andrew Small 5-9, 9-4, 9-4, 9-6. In both of Saturday's contests, sophomore Jake Gross led the way for Tufts at the top spot, picking up straight-game wins and improving his season record to 4-2. Keidel was proud of the way his team handled traveling to New York to play two local teams. "We drove seven hours each way," the senior co-captain said. "Yet we showed that we were the fresher and fitter team, physically and mentally." The team's biggest test of the season came a week ago, as it squared off against No. 8 Dartmouth at Harvard. The team fought hard but lost 7-2, with senior Dan Karlin picking up a Tufts win at number seven (4-9, 9-5, 9-3, 0-9, 10-9 over Dan Schneider) and Devereux defeating Ben Mandel in straight games in the eight spot, 9-2, 9-2, 9-4. In the opening weekend of the season, heading into Thanksgiving Break, the team took part in the Boston Shootout, winning three of its four matches in a two-day span. The team's sole loss came at the hands of No. 14 Bowdoin, a crucial contest that could have vaulted the team into the top 16. Playing at 10 a.m. the morning after two matches might have proven to be the difference against a fresh Bowdoin team. "Three of our players were literally only a point or two away from victory in their matches, which could have meant that we would have won 6-3," said senior co-captain Spencer Maxwell, who was among the three Tufts winners against Bowdoin (9-6, 5-9, 10-8, 2-9, 9-3 against Zach Linhard in the third spot). "But instead, luck was not on our side and we lost." But the team closed out the weekend on a positive note with an 8-1 victory against conference foe Wesleyan. In its two opening matches on Friday, the Jumbos took on Middlebury and secured a 7-2 victory without Gross in the lineup and followed it with a 9-0 shutout of Northeastern. The team plays its final match of December tonight, hosting Amherst at the nearby Belmont Hill School in Belmont. A win over the Lord Jeffs, currently ranked No. 11, could be just what Tufts needs to break into the second division for Nationals. The team will, however, have other chances to defeat top-ranked teams, as NESCAC battles with Colby, Bates, and Trinity in February will all have implications on the national rankings. The team has its sights set on an early February showdown with the No. 16 Mules of Colby, a match Tufts is confident it can win. "Right now there is at least one team ranked higher than us who we know we can beat, that team being Colby," Maxwell said. Over the winter, the team is heading to the Cayman Islands to train in quality weather. Keidel and his teammates hope the time down south will be helpful heading into the stretch run. "The chemistry on our team is great right now, and we hope to strengthen this bond with sand and sunlight," Keidel said.

News

Dec. 7, 2005 | Drug-related crime vs. prohibition-related crime

December 6

Dear Editor: Brian Yun ("Cocaine abuse needs to end"; Viewpoints, Dec. 5) makes the common mistake of confusing drug-related crime with prohibition-related crime. Attempts to limit the supply of illegal drugs while demand remains constant only increases the profitability of drug trafficking. For addictive drugs like cocaine, a spike in street prices leads desperate addicts to increase criminal activity to feed desperate habits. The drug war doesn't fight crime, it fuels crime. With alcohol prohibition repealed, liquor bootleggers no longer gun each other down in drive-by shootings, nor do consumers go blind while drinking unregulated bathtub gin. While U.S. politicians ignore the drug war's historical precedent, European countries are embracing harm reduction, a public health alternative based on the principle that both drug abuse and prohibition have the potential to cause harm. Examples of harm reduction include needle exchange programs to stop the spread of HIV, marijuana regulation aimed at separating the hard and soft drug markets, and treatment alternatives that do not require incarceration as a prerequisite. Unfortunately, fear of appearing "soft on crime" compels politicians to support a failed drug war that ultimately subsidizes organized crime. Robert Sharpe, MPAPolicy AnalystCommon Sense for Drug PolicyWashington, D.C.

News

Finding beauty in the eye of the storm

December 6

In the words of Sir Winston Churchill, "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." As a Tufts Med alumnus from the Masters in Health Communication program, I am very appreciative to be volunteering in the upcoming January trip to Mississippi, which affords me the opportunity to give of myself, like so many others have and will, who are devoted to improving the health and environment of people. It is a perfect chance to be socially responsible, help our fellow mankind, and be humble as we make a difference in the world. As a fourth-generation Oklahoman native with family in Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana, I am cognizant of the economic, environmental and health disparities between the North and South. Massachusetts ranks No. 5 as the healthiest state - which does not compare favorably to my state of Oklahoma (No. 45), Louisiana (No. 49), and Mississippi (No. 50) as reported by the United Health Foundation, a nonprofit, private foundation. Massachusetts has the best record for fatal car accidents; Louisiana has the worst. North Dakota has the least amount of violent crime; Florida the most. Smoking is most prevalent in Oklahoma and Kentucky. Mississippi has the highest risk for heart disease. For many from the North and abroad, this valuable opportunity will be a first to see the pervasive deplorable conditions facing many low-income Americans and possibly shape future career interests for some students. Certain parts of the South, including the Mississippi Delta, are akin to developing nations. Coming to the Northeast was analogous to visiting another country with a different culture, value and beliefs system in viewing the world. Connecting the two worlds, I pursued my graduate education on the East Coast at Tufts after attending Oklahoma State University, which both were very unique, yet invaluable experiences. My own hometown of Oklahoma City ranks as one of the top 5 unhealthy cities in the United States (Tulsa, OK is on the least as well) by Self Magazine. With Louisiana ranking No. 4 and Mississippi No. 5 as the most uneducated states, attracting employers with strong wages come by harder than average. Consequently, service industry jobs and the few and last U.S.-based manufacturing plants are attracted to these locations where they can provide low wages and benefits. (But the General Motors Oklahoma City plant is slated to close by early 2006.) Though life maybe good for some in the South, for many Americans who may have low incomes, there is a strong connection linking poor, uneducated, unhealthy (including disability), environmental injustice, and minority in some situations (e.g. with 53 percent of African Americans living in the South). What does this mean for Americans who are low-income and/or a minority in the South in particular? Many challenges lie ahead. This cries for the need to have informed, active citizens and responsive, accountable public officials and social responsible businesses and non-profits providing improved, forward-thinking policies for health, wealth, social, and education equity. With the current employer-based health care system, many employers find places including the South difficult to consider building business because of high health care premiums affecting their bottom line. The University's planning efforts put forward in the wake of Hurricane Katrina only reinforces my belief that Tufts was a valuable choice for me. I am gratified to know that Tufts has taken initiative in creating opportunities for students and alumni to join together in rebuilding homes and building futures for many Americans in the South. With so much attention in the early phase of the hurricane aftermath, it is imperative that cyclical work prevails in a multi-phase approach to ensure consistent and committed efforts in aiding Americans. Though I have painted a bleak future of the South and other parts of America, challenges brings opportunities and the beauty of human spirit still finds happiness and gratitude in the eye of the storm. Case in point, the Tufts Katrina program is a shining example of the golden rule, "Do unto others as you wish they do unto you." And I am proud to share in the experience.Tambra Stevenson is a 2004 graduate of the Tufts School of Medicine-Emerson College Joint Program in Health Communication.

News

Julie Schindall | Making the connections

December 6

While meandering down the Champs-Elysee a few weeks back, my friend turned to me and remarked, "Yeah, Paris has a lot of museums. But seriously, I'm over the art thing - how many more masterpieces are there to see?" Before the politically correct side of you gasps in indignation, take a moment and try to see it from the perspective of the poor American student, stuck in Europe for a semester trying to see every major European destination in thirteen weeks. Escorted across the Old World by night trains and REI trail packs, we tramp from city to city, oohing and aahing over every last amazing building, street, and park while we read out of our guidebooks precisely why these places are important. The risk for becoming dazed and confused runs high. This past weekend, traversing the Forum ruins in Rome, I remarked that the pine trees reminded me of home in San Diego. Fifteen feet in front of me, fellow student Jessica called out happily, "I've stopped looking at trees! They're all the same everywhere anyways!" She then proceeded to trip on a rock - or, rather, an ancient Roman stone. "Ooof!" she remarked. "These people should really consider smoothing out the ground." Now, mind you, Jessica is an intelligent girl, and I like to think I'm no numbskull either. The astounding artistic and historic sights of Europe should be nourishment for earnest students like us, affording us a true-life brush with centuries of some of the world's most important contributions to human life and culture. But as with all good things, everybody - even this dedicated art and culture lover - reaches a saturation point. In Paris especially, the famed city of art, the endless street portrait artists and white marble colonnades admittedly wore thin. I bypassed endless kiosks along the Seine, selling old French books and black-and-white photographs. It was just so Parisian! So French! and I had had enough. Several weeks later, sitting in the State Opera House in Prague (yes, my life reads like a fairy tale), I was reading the company's season book and it suddenly struck me why I was so off-balance about art in Europe. The director's opening remarks read, in part, "...we strive to meet the demand of those opera-goers who are keen to listen to beautiful melodies of the international repertoire's best known operas..." Seated in the far back row of the beautiful hall, halfway through a lovely rendition of "Rigoletto," a muted alarm bell went off in my head. An opera company - an artistic endeavor - devoted to replaying over and over every tourist's favorite opera? Indeed, the hall was filled with different languages, few of them Czech, and most everybody was wearing comfortable sneakers and daypacks. And here began my latest European conundrum, brought on by the repertoire list of the Czech State Opera. European art, from the average tourist's perspective, is all about the old, the famous and the amazing. We slog from museum to museum, glancing at aging paintings under gilt frames just long enough to snap a (forbidden) photograph and shuffle across the marble floors to the next great masterpiece. They're beautiful, and everybody knows it. I won't deny that I love the Louvre and that the Sistine Chapel was truly stunning. My quandary thus develops into my usual interplay between Old World and New World. Tourism is one of Europe's biggest industries, and they sell their art and their history with great skill. But what is new and happening with art in Europe? I admit I am a Classicist when it comes to music; J. S. Bach perfected it back in the 1700s and that's that. But when an entire opera company devotes itself to good old-fashioned favorites, where is the future of art? Is Europe selling a dead beast, an art world that reached its peak with Michelangelo and Mozart and has since been skating on their powerful coattails? After thirteen weeks of clinging to my Eurail, I'm struck by my experience as an American in Europe. The sights, the sounds, and the cultures are beautiful - and perhaps a bit brain-numbing. I still can't decide if the European art world is moving forward or cashing in on the past. But for this young student of art, in the end, it's all good. Fifteen weeks into my study abroad experience, I was nearly brought to tears at the sight of "La Pieta" in St. Peter's Basilica. Yes, it's an old stone, it's protected by a Plexiglas wall - and it is part of the riches of an entire continent's phenomenal artistic tradition.Julie Schindall is a junior majoring in music. She can be reached at Julie.Schindall@tufts.edu.

News

Onward and Upward | A major change of scenery for one 'slacker'

December 6

The fourth annual Tour d'Afrique will begin on Jan. 14, 2006. It's an 11,900-kilometer bicycle race and expedition across Africa, and the event - which has both professional and amateur participants - will include 99 days of racing. That's 120 kilometers traveled per day, on average - and recent Tufts graduate Danny Gold (LA '05), a native of White Plains, N.Y., will be one of the amateur cyclists making the journey. Gold, who majored in English and minored in political science while at Tufts, is currently working three days a week at a real estate office to make enough money to pay for his trip. Since graduating, he has been living in New York. "One of my brothers, who is in his third year at Fordham Law, lives in the East Village," Gold said. "I've spent most of my weekends since graduating at his apartment." When asked about his years at Tufts, Gold described himself as having been a "slacker" whose best memories are of his nights - and early mornings - hanging out with close friends. Gold said that during his four years in college he "was involved in a few things, however, off and on." The two major commitments that he stuck with were Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity (he was a brother) and Fun Fridays, a six-week after-school program for disadvantaged children. During his senior year, Gold was also able to bring his grandmother, who is a Holocaust survivor, to speak at Tufts during the Holocaust Memorial Week. So what inspired Gold - an average young man who loves reading, listening to music and watching movies - to put his life on hold to bike around Africa? "I think part of the allure of me going on this trip is that I can relate pretty well to the many apathetic members of the student body, because I was and still am one of those kids," Gold said. "If I was a really serious-minded, dedicated student and athlete, the idea of me going on this trip would not seem as interesting," Gold said. "But as a slacker representative of my friends and the people like me, I think that I'm going to bring a really unique perspective to this experience." Gold, who has been riding 30 to 40 miles three to four days a week, admitted that he has not been training nearly as hard as he should. He added, however, that there are many reasons why he wants to do this tour. "I am really into traveling and seeing the world, and my abroad experience junior year in Madrid definitely helped with that," Gold said. "It gave me the travel bug." Gold said that he is now ready for something more than just weekend visits to European cities. "I have always had a very romantic image of Africa in my mind, ever since I was a young kid listening to my uncle tell stories about it," he said. (His uncle, Henry Gold, co-founded the Tour d'Afrique.) Gold believes that people are able to gain a whole new perspective once away from their comfort zone for so long. "It's like looking at your life from someone else's shoes," he said. "I need that, especially now at this transition period of my life. That may sound kind of corny and clich?©¤¬ but I mean it." Gold also said that a trip like this can make one a better person - and can help one develop a stronger appreciation of what he or she has. "[A trip like this] can only help you become a more complete and relaxed person," he said. "I really admire the way my uncle is completely calm and assertive under pressure. I feel like this trip will help me become like that, because panicking in the middle of Africa will get you nowhere." As for his life after Africa, Gold says that he hopes to write about his journey and his experience. Concerning his future career plans, though, he remains undecided. "I just know that I'm not ready to accept the fact that I'll be working in an office cubicle for the next 40 years," he said. "Some people say it's immature, but I like to think it's youthful idealism."

News

Pom in Prague | Dave Pomerantz

December 6

For the last of these columns, it would be great if I could come up with some big, overarching lesson explaining why studying abroad is so amazing. Or perhaps a more specific anecdote - some cute story with a "wow" moment at the end. Maybe, "But then, under a starry Prague night, I realized that it had actually been a seeing-eye man leading a blind dog. And that made all the difference." Well, sorry, but if it's possible to do that in 800 words, it won't come from me, because my creative juices have all run drier than...see, I can't even complete the metaphor. Just take my word for it and go abroad. With the remaining space, I'll instead throw out a little piece of knowledge that I rediscovered while in Prague: America's got some stuff, too. For instance, I was in Rome and Florence a few weeks ago. I ate better than I ever have in my life. My brother, cousin and I took the first couple of days to see sights, but for the last two days or so, all we did was sit at cafes from sunrise to sunset and just eat our faces off in disgusting displays of engorgement. Meats, cheeses, olives, vegetables, sauces, pastas - all bursting with flavor. Yet now, on the eve of my return to the United States, my thoughts turn only to cheeseburgers and wings. I plan on going directly from the airport to an establishment located about ten minutes from my house that is known as the Candlelight Inn. It is, without question, the greatest vendor of chicken wings on the planet. It also stays open until four in the morning, and I plan on spending every hour of my first day back in this most personal house of worship. Here in the Czech Republic, I was lucky enough to watch a Champions League soccer game between the Sparta Prague and England's Arsenal. I wrote about the experience in an earlier column, but to quickly paraphrase myself, it was pretty amazing. Nonetheless, when I think about sports, I only dream of my beloved Yankees and Giants (8-4 and NFC East leaders, baby), and how good it's going to feel when I'm cooking steaks and burgers in the Meadowlands parking lot the day after I get home, gearing up to watch the Giants' last home game. I've seen some pretty amazing cities here, too. The onion domes of the Frauenkirche punctuate the Munich skyline, just as dozens of spires aspire to reach the omnipresent cloud-cover in Prague. Narrow canals feature tourist-ferrying gondolas in Venice, while broad ones dissect the red light district in Amsterdam. In Berlin, everything is new - it is a shimmering city of glass and steel that is constantly under construction. In Istanbul, everything is ancient - you can't turn the corner without walking into a mosque that has listened to prayers for the past four centuries. But in New York, you can watch a two-ton Spiderman balloon float through midtown as gravy drips down your chin - an experience I heartily missed this Thanksgiving. In Boston, you can picnic on the Common in the shadow of Government Center. You can tour the Budweiser plant in St. Louis, where the beer is free (unlike at the Heineken Museum in Amsterdam, which is still awesome). Hell, if you make it to Juneau, Alaska, you can swim in an ocean, walk in a rainforest and trek up a glacier in one day. Here's my point: One trend that definitely exists at Tufts, and probably other liberal universities as well, is the romanticization of Europe and Canada to the detriment of American culture. The argument goes something like this: "America is racist, classist and prudish. Bush is stupid. I wish I lived in Montreal/Paris/London, etc." Without a doubt, 2005 has been a bad year for the United States. Iraq has shown that our moral compass is spinning around as if just hammered with a magnet. Katrina reminded us that the racial problems we try so hard to sweep under the rug never stay hidden forever. And the CIA leak scandal has undermined many Americans' faith in both our political system and the competence and strength of our media. But the idea that there's something wrong with American culture or with Americans themselves is ludicrous. Americans are as friendly as any other people, and our culture is as worthy of adoration as any other. And therein may lie the moral of this column, which had eluded me until now: Going abroad is a great way to meet new people, discover new cultures, eat new food, watch new sports, and, if you're in college, drink even better and cheaper kinds of alcohol (Italy made me a wine-lover and the Czech Republic rekindled my passionate love affair with beer). But in the end, going abroad also made me realize how great America is and how lucky I am to live there. While I'm in the gracious mood, some quick shout-outs: thanks to Ben Hoffman for paving the way for me in Prague. To my buddies and brother here in Prague for making it such a sweet ride. And, obviously, to Mom and Pops for paying for this whole shindig.

News

Dec. 7, 2005 | Real fur should no longer be an option

December 6

Dear Editor: Thank you for running Sydne Summer's opinion piece on fur ("How to... keep fashionably warm and stay animal-friendly" ; Features, Dec. 5). The U.S. fur industry is completely self-regulated and there are no laws that govern the humane care or slaughter of animals killed for their fur. Therefore, animals are often killed using the most horrific methods in order to preserve the pelt. A recent investigation on a fur farm in Midland, Mich. revealed chinchillas who were either electrocuted, causing painful seizures to the animals' hearts, or having their necks snapped while fully conscious. An investigation released last year of fur farms in China - where 80 percent of the world's fur comes from - showed workers attempting to stun animals by repeatedly slamming them against the ground or bashing their heads with clubs, leaving many fully conscious, after the fur was ripped from their bodies. Fur from China ends up in stores all across America. With so many warm synthetics available, there simply is no reason to wear real fur.Kristie PhelpsProgram CoordinatorIn Defense of AnimalsMill Valley, Calif.

News

Bah humbug

December 6

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. There's snow on the ground, people are entombing themselves in layers of clothing, and everyone's favorite holiday specials are starting to appear all over the television map. The surest sign of the season, though, is that conservatives have worked themselves into a red-faced frenzy, defending Christmas against a massive liberal conspiracy aimed at undermining American traditions and destroying Christianity once and for all. Or so they claim. Conservative Fox News pundit Bill O'Reilly calls the abolishment of Christmas a part of the "secular progressive agenda" and author and pundit John Gibson recently released a book entitled "The War on Christmas: How the Liberal Plot to Ban the Sacred Christian Holiday is Worse than you Thought." Conservative interest groups like Fidelis and the Committee for Justice have even begun running Internet and radio advertisements which claim that Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito will defend Christmas against scheming leftists. Do liberals really hate Christmas? In order to accept the right's sob story as valid, one must rewrite American history and the very philosophy on which the United States was founded. Conservative Christmas crusaders claim that the liberal movement is actively trying to destroy America's religious and cultural foundations in order to implement its agenda. They are correct in saying that liberal groups oppose official sponsorship of religiously-themed Christmas events and images, such as public school Christmas pageants or town-square nativity scenes. But evidence for the claim that liberal opposition to Christmas strikes at the core of American tradition can be found only within the active conservative imagination. Biblical scholars generally agree that Jesus was born not at the end of December, but rather during a warmer season when shepherds would have been more likely to be grazing flocks. The date of the modern-day celebration of the birth of Jesus is thus not religious at all. Following the adoption of Christianity by the Romans, Pope Julius I chose the date Dec. 25 so that Christmas would coincide with the ancient festival of Saturnalia. His goal was to make the holiday as popular as possible. Clearly then, the cultural celebration of a winter holiday preceded and was appropriated by the religious component. For the very reason that Christmas remained more a cultural festival than a religious observance, it was largely rejected in colonial America and especially in the post-revolutionary period. Puritans did not celebrate the holiday at all, and it was banned in Massachusetts from 1659 to 1681. After the American Revolution, Christmas, which was associated with English traditions, was not widely celebrated. Throughout the middle of the 19th century Christian denominations which are now considered mainstream, such as Presbyterians, Methodists and Baptists, did not hold services on Christmas because they did not recognize it as a religious holiday. While the emphasis on the religious aspect of Christmas over the cultural aspect is a relatively new phenomenon, opposition to publicly sanctioned religious celebrations of Christmas is not. Throughout the 20th century, educators and advocates of religious minorities acted to block overtly religious celebrations of Christmas from entering the public sphere. Instead of acknowledging the long secular history of the holiday season, conservatives have invented a history which paints Christians as a group under attack by a newly powerful liberal movement to secularize society. In addition to a creative interpretation of world and American history, the rage generated by conservatives at the thought of Christianity rejected from the public sphere requires that America's founding principles be stood on their heads. The first European Americans emigrated to free themselves of the yoke of state-sponsored religion and the tyranny of the majority. The Constitutional framers recognized that minorities were vulnerable in democracy, and they constructed institutional safeguards in response. Now, though, cultural conservatives insist that the right of the majority to have its views sanctioned by the government trumps the principles of official religious neutrality and minority protection. Though the war in defense of Christmas is a completely delusional campaign in defense of nonexistent traditions, it should not be surprising that it has arisen within the contemporary political and cultural climate. Republicans have spent the past 15 years fulfilling Barry Goldwater's dream of politics as culture war. They were monumentally successful in the 1994 congressional elections because they presented themselves as a rebellious minority reining in a majority run roughshod over traditional America. Conservatives have worn the mantle of persecuted minority ever since, even though they now control not only corporate America but every branch of government and much of the media. Screaming that Christmas is under attack is simply a continuation of this charade.

News

Anthropology, sociology: Two better than one

December 6

Now on its own, the Department of Anthropology is getting high marks from faculty and students. Before this year, students could major in anthropology, but the major was part of a joint Department of Sociology and Anthropology. The two departments are now separate and each has a chairperson. "Both the sociology and anthropology professors thought it was high time we separate departments," Anthropology Chair Rosalind Shaw said. At department meetings before the split, Shaw said, professors had to wait while faculty from the other major discussed proposals irrelevant to their department's goals. "It enables us to make much more direct representation of our needs to the administration," Shaw said. As chair of the new department, she can now attend meetings with other department chairs. Previously no anthropology professor was necessarily represented. The departments "had been combined many years ago, somewhat arbitrarily, as an economy, since both were small," Dean of Academic Affairs Kevin Dunn said. "It certainly seems as though the ambitions have grown as they focus on their own agendas. That energy will certainly benefit students in both departments." According to the 2004-2005 Fact Book, published by Institutional Research, there were 11 graduating seniors majoring in anthropology in 2004, the last year available. There were 23 in sociology. Junior anthropology major Sebastian Chaskel said the split is good for students. "If it means professors having more time to devote to anthropology, that's great," he said. "I haven't noticed changes yet but I think it's very exciting." Shaw also said the change will bolster the reputation of the major. "Having our own department does give more legitimacy," she said. Both Shaw and Chaskel said they take pride in the major's focus on public anthropology. In his Public Anthropology class, Chaskel recorded the oral history of Latinos in Somerville. "I got to take peoples' stories, put them in a little book and give it back to them," he said. Shaw said public anthropology gives students a unique chance to connect with the community in which they live. "Most students live in Somerville, but don't know much about it," Chaskel said. "Students aren't just studying the community but working with it." President of the Tufts Anthropology Collective senior Molly Whittington said the department lets undergraduates perform and present research. Last winter, the department accepted student input during the interview process for a new professor. "The department is really good about involving students," she said.

News

Saving lives, taking finals: all in a day's work

December 6

"When you ask someone to volunteer a lot of their time," senior Mike Garshick said, "there's a certain type of person who is willing to do it." Garshick, the executive director of Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS), falls into that category. So does senior Jeff Burke. "I took the EMT class that's offered at Tufts last fall and then I was gone for a semester," said Burke, who first became involved with TEMS after he returned from studying abroad during his junior year. Since that time, Burke has moved from a tertiary EMT to a probationary technician to his current position: a technician who volunteers up to eight shifts per month for his fellow students at Tufts. Students are able to join TEMS when they are CPR-certified and enrolled in an EMT class. Most begin as observers, responding to calls with the other two EMTs on duty. Observers then graduate to tertiary EMT status. From there, they move on to be probationary technicians, and, usually after a year, technicians. At a minimum, TEMS always has two certified EMTs available per shift to individually respond to a call. The third student may be a tertiary EMT or an observer. Of course, "on nights like [the naked quad run] for example, we put other special details on campus," Garshick said. "We've had up to nine [TEMS workers] on at one time." Although workers are paid in the case of the naked quad run, TEMS is otherwise completely volunteer-dependent. The average TEMS worker volunteers for four to six shifts per month. Many students volunteer more time than that, however. It was for this reason that Burke moved up to the rank of technician so quickly. "Most people spend about a year as a [probationary technician]," Garshick said. Burke, however, moved up after one semester. Garshick came to be executive director of TEMS through an election process. All working members of TEMS who complete four to six shifts per month and are in good standing with TEMS are eligible to vote. As executive director, Garshick serves as an intermediary between TEMS and outside entities, including companies, the media and the Tufts police force. He also works closely with TEMS Director of Operations Bracken Babula, whose responsibilities include "scheduling, uniforming and paperwork," Garshick said. Garshick spends a substantial amount of time volunteering with TEMS. While he usually aims to take six or seven shifts per month, he often takes more. He and Babula find themselves sacrificing their own time in an effort to keep TEMS in service. But that doesn't stop Garshick from finding time to play a role in the Tufts community in other ways. He participated in a musical last year, has run a bone-marrow drive and is a member of the pep band. Burke, who is a member of the crew team and Theta Chi, has been successful at managing his time and not letting his dedication to TEMS ever fall by the wayside. "It's a little tough to make nighttime shifts during the week," he said, adding that the commitment is different from what most students imagine. TEMS volunteers are not stationed in one location on campus, waiting for a call. They may be in class, eating lunch, spending time with friends - as long as they have the radio with them that informs them of any calls. "When I'm on duty, I'm able to carry out every other activity," Burke said. "Obviously you can't be in practice, but I can be doing schoolwork, in a class, anything around campus - as long as I have the radio on and I'm able to respond to a call. You just always have to remember [TEMS] is your priority at the time." A TEMS worker on duty must be prepared to receive a call at any time. "A Saturday night is more likely than a Monday afternoon," Burke said. "But you can get a call any time, any day, really." "We can go two or three days without a call, and then have a day where we get call after call," Garshick said. He estimated that TEMS receives, on average, one call per day. Over the course of last year, the TEMS staff received over 400 calls. Another misconception about TEMS is that it deals primarily with students who have had too much to drink. "We do a lot more than just alcohol intoxication," Garshick said. TEMS has sponsored CPR and first aid classes, as well as outreach programs such as Kids' Day and Read by the River. "Our definition of services is to provide 100 percent free, voluntary care to all of the Tufts community, including staff, students and also anybody associated with Tufts University," Garshick said. Members of the Tufts community aren't the only ones benefiting from TEMS - the volunteers themselves feel rewarded for their work. "[My experience with TEMS has] affected me primarily in terms of leadership roles," Garshick said, citing the learning experience of "running an organization with your peers where no one is being paid." Through his experience, Garshick has learned a great deal about working with others. "You're all students, you're all friends, you all have to be considerate and kind to everybody," he said. Garshick continues to dedicate as much time as he does to TEMS because he knows how much the organization is needed on campus. "Having TEMS go under would be a big deal," he said. Burke is equally positive about his time with TEMS. He appreciates that "TEMS has given me the opportunity to gain experience as an EMT in a non-business [setting] - we're not here to make money." In addition, Burke has been especially impressed with "the quality of people" he has met through the organization. "I can't think of anything I'm involved with that [has] the same caliber of people," he said.

News

At weekly meetings, both genders are looking to talk

December 6

Two discussion groups on campus - one for men, one for women - are trying to make students more comfortable dealing with issues of health, gender and sexuality. In the fall of 2004, Director of Alcohol and Drug Education Services Margot Abels and Tufts Violence Prevention Program Coordinator Elaine Theodore created a discussion group for freshman girls. The following semester it was opened to women of all years. Abels said attendance was erratic and would range anywhere from two to 15 students. This semester, the group returned to its original model, limiting attendance to freshmen and meeting twice each week. "This fall we had people fill out a simple application to get into the group, to just hold people a little bit more accountable," Abels said. "We've had the same group of six girls coming every week." The group's Thursday night meetings consist of a social event. Last week the group made "rice socks," a type of microwaveable heating pad, to stay warm in the winter. On Friday mornings the group has breakfast and a discussion. "It's a combination of getting support, talking, getting information and being able to treat yourself really nicely for the hour," Abels said of the Friday-morning programming. "A lot of girls came into the group really feeling lonely and feeling like they hadn't found people that they connect with," she said. "Here, they have this really solid group that they socialize with." The group's discussions have focused on what it means to be a freshman woman and what it means to be sexual, as well as topics like alcohol, roommates and relationships. The students in the group declined to be interviewed. Abels and Theodore started the group because they felt strongly about doing targeted work. The group was formed "in response to the statistics of the risks that first-semester freshman females face around sexual assault and alcohol poisoning," Abels said. She also said the group was created to refer students to services they might need and create "a place where we can chill and talk." Senior Reena Desai, a residential assistant in South Hall, said she would encourage her residents to apply for the group next semester. "I think this is a great resource for freshman girls," she said. Men now also have a place to go for discussions of gender issued. The Tufts Men Activists Coalition, founded this semester, meets weekly. "There are numerous women's groups, and we're the only men's group," freshman Jeffrey Kiok said. "We think that's an important aspect missing from this campus." Freshman Daniel Albert agreed. "Men are oftentimes overlooked in terms of getting support just because of this social stigma that exists that men are supposed to be the stronger sex," he said. Topics included in the group's discussions have included what it means to be a real man, gender stereotypes about men and how men are perceived at Tufts. Next year the group plans to create a gender education program for high school and middle school boys.

News

Ben Swasey | From Way Downtown

December 6

As this is my last column of the semester, I want to end by imparting some wisdom that you can all use while on our month away from school because if you're anything like me, your Winter Break may consist of a number a pick-up basketball games with old friends at the local gym. This leads me to my first piece of advice: don't play. I am a typical college student; my diet consists largely of delivery food and booze, and I am continually overstressed and sleep-deprived. As I learned over Thanksgiving Break, this is not adequate preparation to run around a basketball court for any extended period of time. You know those old guys who limp all over the floor and sweat profusely? Well, those years are fast approaching. This brings me to my next piece of advice. Instead of playing pick-up games, how about indulging in the single greatest game ever invented - HORSE? HORSE is the classic game that gives you letters if you do not match your opponent's successful shot at the hoop. It combines everything one would want in a game: basketball, spelling and fierce competition. ESPN columnist Bill Simmons has suggested HORSE be played by NBA players during the All-Star Break, and I completely agree. In addition, HORSE can be played to spell other words. If you're a short on time or really bad at shooting, try PIG. If you want to keep up your Tufts' enthusiasm over break, try JUMBO. If you like prehistoric mammals, try MASTODON. My third piece of advice is extended, as I will offer strategy (or "strategery" if you're a George Dubya Bush fan) to winning your HORSE games. First, I suggest starting off with some easy shots, such as short banks from the blocks or free throws to warm up and establish a rhythm. Also, if your opponent manages to miss one of these "bunnies," you begin the contest with an important one-letter lead. Next, it is essential to find some "go-to" spots on the floor. These are personal places in which a player makes a high percentage and can almost guarantee they won't miss. Some people like the top of the key; I prefer spots just behind the elbows for my 16-foot jumper. If you're struggling with more difficult shots or need to stop your opponent's momentum, move to your "go-to" locale. This shot will help you get your shooting confidence back. Third, while some people step into a game looking to copy that old McDonald's commercial in which Larry Bird and Michael Jordan played HORSE, this is, unfortunately and realistically, not the path to success. You know what I'm talking about - those "from the third row of the bleachers, off the wall, off the scoreboard and in!" attempts. They nearly never work, and they're likely to maim innocent children who just happen to be mulling around the gym. Instead, try hard, but not crazy, shots. These include deeper, Tim Duncan-style bankers and NBA-range threes. If you can make your attempt, odds are your opponent won't make his or hers. Also, though I advise against ridiculous shots, I do believe that at least one manageable trick shot should be mastered and attempted each game. The granny-style free throw, shooting with your weak hand, eyes closed attempts and the famous Larry Bird-over-the-backboard-shot all fit into this category. For example, an old friend of mine mastered the "one-arm hurl." Actually, he didn't master it, he was just a quarterback in football so he would basically chuck the ball at the hoop. If you want to spice up your game, I suggest reenacting famous basketball shots. Do the "Christian Laettner at Duke" by throwing the ball off the far backboard and having it come back to you, fake one way, and nail a turnaround foul-line jumper. Try the "Michael Jordan against the Cavs" by dribbling once to your left and making a 15-footer, then jumping in the air approximately five feet and punching the air numerous times in celebration. Or do the "Kareem" by putting on large Rec-Specs and hitting a baseline sky-hook. Finally, there are some other options to consider, including the "to call swish or not to call swish debate." Personally, I don't usually like calling "swish" before attempting a shot. It may be good for an easy shot like a free throw, but it is frustrating to make a shot of some difficulty and have it slightly nick the rim. Another thing to consider is the mental aspect of the game. Try getting in your opponent's head by going back to shots they missed earlier or attempting a free-throw to get that final "E," thereby testing if your opponent can be clutch on this slowed-down shot. With all these strategies in place, you should have no problem whooping your friends from home in HORSE, provided, or course, that you have some semblance of basketball shooting skills. Either way, my last piece of advice is to play HORSE often and enjoy your Winter Break.Ben Swasey is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached via e-mail at Benjamin.Swasey@tufts.edu.

News

Student film explores drunk driving law's patron

December 6

With the recent passing of Melanie's Law, Massachusetts is in compliance with federal standards for drunk driving laws for the first time in state history. The law, enacted Oct. 28, bears the name of Melanie Powell of Marshfield, Mass., who was 13 years old when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver while walking with friends to the beach after a sleepover party on July 25, 2003. The new law increases the severity of punishment for driving under the influence and closes loopholes in the system that had previously allowed repeat offenders to get back behind the wheel. Margot Abels, the Director of Drug and Alcohol Education Services at Health Services, said the new legislation will likely lead to an increased crackdown on sales of alcohol to minors and the use of fake IDs. She also said the fear of legal complications associated with Melanie's Law could increase people's concerns about tangential involvement with drunk driving. "People are at a loss for preventative strategies around the response to drinking and driving, so they move towards a harsher, punitive response," Abels said. She hopes increased education about the law will lead to increased prevention. Several Tufts students chose to explore that problem in Professor Roberta Oster Sachs' Ex College class "Producing Films for Social Change." On Monday night, Oster Sachs' students screened the documentaries they had been working on all semester. One group's film focused on the fight to pass Melanie's Law. Senior Leah Tucker was one of the group members who worked on the documentary. "I wasn't immediately passionate [about any topic] because I didn't feel connected to any specific person," she said. She searched for "car accidents" online and found an editorial that detailed Melanie's grandfather Ron Bersani's fight for tougher repeat drunk-driving legislation in Massachusetts. "I contacted Bersani, we chatted for a long time, and he was happy to be involved [with the film]. His story was just so powerful," Tucker said. Bersani's effort to pass Melanie's Law was a long struggle. The Tufts students involved with producing the documentary were impressed with his determination to bring about social change. "Without him, [Melanie's Law] would have never happened. It took so much manpower and energy on his part," sophomore Eli Netter said. Tucker wants the film to serve as an educational tool and bring the new legislation to the attention of the Boston area and the Tufts community. "Maybe I was just a little cynical, but before I heard Bersani's story, I didn't believe that one person could truly get involved and make a difference," Tucker said. She called the new law "a baby step" in the direction of prevention. A provision in the law gives prosecutors the power to introduce certified court documents to prove that a repeat offender has been previously convicted. Repeat offenders will then be required to install a device that measures the driver's Blood Alcohol Content and prevents the vehicle from starting if the driver is intoxicated. The device must be installed in any car owned or operated by the repeat offender. The minimum jail sentence for an individual found guilty of manslaughter by motor vehicle was also increased from two-and-a-half to five years. The law has been criticized for not taking a more treatmen or prevention-oriented approach, but its biggest supporter remains optimistic. "We'll never know how many lives Melanie's Law will save, but we have faith it will be many, so today, we thank you Melanie," Bersani told the Boston CBS affiliate after the law was passed.

News

Alex Sherman | Political Cartoon

December 6

Dec. 7, 2005

News

Inside the NHL | Sharks bite while Bruins end losing skid

December 6

When the NHL lockout ended this past spring, teams had to decide if they could afford their star players anymore. The Boston Bruins were one of the first teams to jump on their franchise player, as they signed superstar Joe Thornton mere days after the end of the lockout. Thornton was to be their captain, their leader and the rock to build their team upon. Apparently, that wasn't good enough. On Wednesday, the Bruins traded Thornton to the San Jose Sharks for center Wayne Primeau, left wing Marco Sturm and defenseman Brad Stuart. The trade came on the heels of the Sergei Federov trade the week before, but its was even more surprising. Joe Thornton was to Boston hockey what David Ortiz is to Boston baseball. He was the Bruins' biggest attraction, and now he is gone. The first game following Thornton's absence was against the red hot Ottawa Senators on Thursday. The Bruins shut out the Senators for the first time this year, 3-0, as newcomers Sturm and Stuart had a combined three points. The Bruins then beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-4 in overtime on Saturday to continue their winning streak before falling to the Vancouver Canucks on Sunday. Each of the three former Sharks played critical roles in each game, as the Bruins emerged from losing nine of 10 games. Thornton has found a home in San Jose, as he tallied four assists in his first two games as a Shark. San Jose has a host of young talent, and the addition of the veteran Thornton may be just what the Sharks need for these players to excel. Thornton's four assists have come to two players: 26-year-old Patrick Marleau and 25-year-old Jonathan Cheechoo. Both have spent their careers in San Jose and have emerged as dominant young talent in past years. With Thornton now as the Sharks' center, watch for a dramatic increase in their offensive production. Meanwhile, the rest of the league begins to play the opposite coast. With the new NHL schedule, division rivals play each other eight times a season and conference rivals four times a season. This leaves little room for inter-coastal competition. Eastern Conference teams will face Western Conference teams rarely throughout the season. This has created a National League-versus-American League mentality that most players don't really seem to mind. Phoenix Coyotes' coach Wayne Gretzky said the best thing about the new schedule - especially for Western teams - was that it minimized travel. "It's so much easier on the players," he said. Only in the past week have Eastern Conference teams begun to play those of the Western Conference. The biggest matchup will be the Ottawa Senators versus the Vancouver Canucks on Friday, a battle between the top two spots on the ESPN Power Ranking list.