Archives

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

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

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

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

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

No quick fix for plagiarism

December 5

Though a new program for targeting plagiarizers may soon be implemented throughout the University, an over-reliance on technology could seriously jeopardize the integrity of the current academic process. The new software program - Turnitin - which the biology department has been experimenting with, has the potential to finally minimize the mundane task of seeking out cheating students. The software boasts strong credentials, with content available from the numerous sources most likely to be used by plagiarizers and a live Internet search. Additionally, a database is maintained with student papers to prevent the possibility of cheating with inherited work. One of the major benefits of this program will be that it automatically provides a check against plagiarism. No longer will students be drawn to cheating with the fallacious logic that everyone is participating, and thus cheating is necessary to maintain standing. Cheating has always existed on campus and may often slip by professors, further propagating the myth that punishment is evitable. For the small cost of only $5,000 a year, the threat of automated screening will vastly discourage those inclined to plagiarize. The software also has the added benefit of forcing students to adapt innovative writing styles to distinguish themselves from sources. While this may not be the most effective way of teaching writing, so long as students are learning to be creative it serves a purpose, and often helps concretize material in students' minds. Though the program has so far proven to be a success in the Biology 13 and 14 classes where it has debuted, the implementation of this new tool, University-wide, will require modification of many professors' curricula. Group work has always been a significant element of a Tufts classroom experience, and this important process will be challenged with the implementation of Turnitin. Cooperation is not synonymous with plagiarism, and it is highly probable that students working together would end up with similar phrasing. This does not necessarily detract from the ultimate goal of learning course material, and in fact contributes to a broader education involving team interaction. Cooperative work would be threatened because of the use of what Turnitin calls the "Originality Report." A simple numeral is intended to represent how original a piece is, though it could ultimately end up as a biased indicator leading to grading prejudice. It is feasible for a student to use common phrasing with no malicious intentions - resulting in a poor score - without any instance of plagiarism. In addition by ranking students based on their Originality Report, professors may be likely attribute higher grades to better scores - a phenomenon which could occur completely by chance. The necessity of this program also reveals a fundamental problem that infests the Hill. It is disappointing that professors must resort to a computer program in order to catch cheaters. More reliable and effective means of reducing cheating include obtaining the respect of students, and indicating a concern for this problem. Ultimately the most reliable means of discouraging cheaters is professors who put time in to carefully read papers. While the program does much to promote academic integrity, its shortcomings must be accounted for during its implementation. Technology should not replace honor codes and solidarity among honest students; it must only act as a spot check, designed to provide a rough indication of suspect coursework.

---

---

News

Senate to be minus one at final meeting

December 5

"I just didn't go," junior Ivan Nurminsky said. Nurminsky was removed from his position on the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate last week because he missed too many meetings. A senator is automatically removed after four unexcused absences, according to the Senate bylaws. An entire Sunday evening Senate meeting counts as one absence, and missing part of a meeting or a committee meeting counts as half an absence. Nurminsky had a total of 4.5 absences. "I don't know how the rest of them do it, but it's kind of hard to keep coming every Sunday night," he said. The TCU Historian is required to inform a senator at three absences. Historian Ed Kalafarski, a senior, spoke to Nurminsky early in the semester about his attendance, but at the time Nurminsky provided an excuse for one of his three absences. When senators returned from Thanksgiving Break, Nurminsky was up to 2.5 absences. He quickly missed a committee meeting and the Nov. 27 Senate meeting, bringing his total to four. By the time TCU Vice President senior John Valentine e-mailed Nurminsky last Tuesday, Nov. 29, Nurminsky had missed two full Senate meetings, two partial Senate meetings and three committee meetings. Valentine said he had trouble getting in touch with Nurminsky and only reached him by phone Sunday. "He apologized and kind of put it on himself," Valentine said. Nurminsky provided the first test of changes made to the bylaws at the Senate retreat early this semester. In past years, Valentine said, if a senator missed three meetings, another senator could propose impeachment. "This takes all the 'do we do, do we do not' out of the game," Valentine said. "It's more concrete." The Senate did not have to approve Nurminsky's removal. "If you're not coming to meetings, it's assumed you've resigned from the body," Kalafarski said. "His decisions constituted his resignation. There was no decision made on the part of anyone on the Senate." Nurminsky was elected to the Senate last April and began serving this semester. He served on the Senate's education committee and on the Allocations Board. He said the Allocations Board - which works with student organization budgets and recommends to the full Senate how the student activities fee should be divided - was the only part of the Senate he would miss. As for his education committee meetings, Nurminsky said, "I just didn't think it was worthwhile." There will not be an election to replace Nurminsky's Senate seat until next semester. New members of the Elections Board - the group that oversees Senate elections - assume office every semester. Valentine said the Senate will try to have elections for next semester's Elections Board before Winter Break ends so Nurminsky's replacement can be elected immediately after students return to campus. "We're going to go as fast as possible, but the new senator may miss as much as two meetings of the next semester," Valentine said. Sophomore Senator Alexandra Pryor was elected at Sunday's meeting to fill Nurminsky's Allocations Board seat. There is only one Senate meeting left this semester, but Pryor will be on Allocations Board next semester as well. Asked for Nurminsky's phone number Monday, Kalafarski said he had already deleted it.

---

News

Inside the NFL | It's prediction time as playoff time nears

December 5

The season is now three-quarters gone and there are many things left to be determined in the few remaining weeks. The New England Patriots look like a sure bet for the playoffs - a fact that should please many hometown fans. Even with their 7-5 record, a far cry from the league's elite, the AFC East is so weak that it would take a near collapse for the defending Super Bowl champs to miss the playoffs. With that said, the most interesting playoff race shaping up is for the AFC wildcards. There are four teams - the Pittsburgh Steelers, San Diego Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Jacksonville Jaguars - competing for just two wildcard spots. The biggest question mark is how the Chargers and Chiefs will fare down the stretch, as the two face especially tough schedules through the remainder of the season. Both San Diego and Kansas City are better than the Patriots, as evidenced by their respective 41-17 and 26-16 wins over the reigning Super Bowl champs, but will that be enough to distance them from Pittsburgh and Jacksonville? The Chargers are arguably the most talented offense in football. Yes, Indianapolis Colts fans are probably screaming in protest, but the pieces are all there. Charger coach Marty Schottenheimer recently said that LaDainian Tomlinson was the greatest running back he had ever seen. Combine that with the best tight end in football - Antonio Gates - plus three solid wide receivers in Keenan McCardell, Eric Parker and Reche Caldwell, and you've got a talented offense capable of giving any team in the league a run for its money. What may sink the Chargers, however, is their tough schedule. After what should be an easy win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, they will be forced to play their last three games against Indianapolis, Kansas City, and the Denver Broncos. Coming away from Indianapolis with a win has looked unthinkable this season, with the Colts easily handling the competition. But if there is one team that can knock out the Colts, it's the Chargers. The Bolts took the Colts into overtime last year at the RCA dome, and their defense was able to confuse the always-collected Peyton Manning for three quarters. The Chargers' defense is even better this year, thanks to the addition of Shawne Merriman, who, as a rookie, is becoming one of the better linebackers in football. His teammates have been foaming at the mouth over this guy's talent, and with good reason. With Wade Phillips as creative game planner, expect the Chargers to come at the Colts with a lot of blitzes. Peyton had better keep his head up, as Chargers linebacker Steve Foley has come into his own this season by forcing quarterbacks outside of the pocket. The Chiefs, on the other hand, have been tough as nails this year on both sides of the ball. Their offensive power couple of Trent Green and Larry Johnson has made life miserable for opposing defenses, and their defense has been successful at stopping the run all year long. Kansas City faces a tough schedule as well, however, matching up against the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants on the road in the coming weeks. While they have a long winning streak at home in December, the Chiefs are a very different team away from Arrowhead Stadium, especially late in the season, and these road games might be just enough to keep them out of the playoffs... Tim Lewis and Cam Cameron There are likely to be as many as nine head coaching vacancies in the NFL this offseason and look for these two names to top some teams' lists of potential leaders. Cameron has done an excellent job in San Diego as offensive coordinator, making Drew Brees into a reliable pocket passer (fifth in the league with a 93.9 QB rating) and turning the Chargers' offense into a formidable unit. Lewis, as the defensive coordinator of the New York Giants, has also set himself up for a head coaching position. With Eli Manning struggling on Sunday, he created a masterful game plan that confused the heck out of Drew Bledsoe and Dallas' offensive coordinator Sean Payton. The Cowboys wanted to double-team the Giants' lethal combination of Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, and Lewis responded by lining the two on the same side, making the double-team difficult. All season long, Lewis has headed a New York defense that sports two of the league's top four in tackles and sacks. Combine the talent of Umenyiora and Strahan with the pressure of defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, and the Giants might have the best defensive line in football; a nice line for Lewis' resume.

---

Arts

It's OK to lose this 'Ticket'

December 5

When The Darkness' first stateside release, "Permission to Land," hit shelves in winter 2004, audiences were wowed by the pomp and vigor of the contemporary quartet from Norfolk, England. Praise for the band's interpretation and emulation of the classic rock sound flooded from media outlets, as did comparisons to myriad bands of the '70s and '80s. Most remember them, however, from radio disc jockeys' obsession with blasting "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" at all hours of the day or from lead singer Justin Hawkins's infamous falsetto. But they may be remembered; the band has made a name for itself by inciting wistfulness for rock behemoths of yore. By adapting their musical nuances and dressing in spandex, The Darkness pays homage to the unrestrained energy and gusto of their musical predecessors. Last week, the band released their sophomore stateside effort, "One Way Ticket to Hell...and Back." In contrast to their previous album (whose songs merely evoked the ghosts of classic artists), in "One Way Ticket" The Darkness wholly impersonate them in sound and instrumentation. Whereas "Permission to Land" combined the originality of The Darkness with that of their influencers to create a uniquely nostalgic sound, their new album sounds as if it were a cover album of classic rock tunes from decades past. The Darkness scarcely used more than keyboard, drums, bass, guitar, and Hawkins's fluctuating voice to fashion songs on "Permission to Land," but in "One Way Ticket" the band expands their repertoire considerably in terms of the variety of instruments and vocal techniques. Sadly, what would appear to be a positive influence on the band proves pernicious as The Darkness uses these musical means to imitate their predecessors too closely. The album starts out with a one-minute pan-flute and Gregorian choir intro on the title track. During that same song, one can hear a consistent cowbell and multi-track vocals that can't help but remind listeners of AC/DC's "You Shook Me All Night Long." The album then shifts to "Knockers," a song appropriately about a woman on which Hawkins screams like Big Star's Alex Chilton in "Don't Lie to Me." The following song, "Is it Just Me?," is transformed into a blatantly Judas Priest-inspired song by dint of Hawkins' vocals and the crisp driving guitar. The same goes for "Bald" later on in the album. Surprisingly, string and horn sections make it onto the album as well. In "Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time," "Girlfriend," and the clincher "Blind Man," string and horn sections turn potentially emotional and lyrically potent songs into ones that resemble cheesy seventies Meat Loaf ballads. Something similar happens in "English Country Garden," where the grand piano and Hawkins's Freddie Mercury-esque vocals make the song sound as if it were straight off a Queen record. Probably the most original song on the album is "Dinner Lady Arms." Still, it sounds as if it could be a B-side off "Permission to Land." That is, they sound like The Darkness on their first album, but it is not up to the standards of the other songs from it. All of the aforementioned new instruments would seem to be a constructive force for the band. Yet the way in which The Darkness uses them becomes regressive as the band begins to resemble its influencers too closely. Many of these likenesses can be attributed to the decision by The Darkness to employ producer Roy Thomas Baker. Baker was the producer and a great power behind two of Queen's albums (including their seminal hit tune "Bohemian Rhapsody"). By soliciting the ex-producer of a band to which The Darkness is overwhelmingly likened, the band concedes its image as a wannabe classic rock band. This realization not only detracts from the band's credibility as artists but also damages their image as progressive musicians However, it would be arrogant not to point out the good in this album. The clarity of their new sound is laudable. The songs are indeed upbeat, catchy, and fun. Also, the varied and new sounds that the band takes on in "One Way Ticket" prove an admirable endeavor. They have a clear, cohesive sound and accordingly, one cannot deride the album for being as insignificant as it first seems. Eventually it appears that The Darkness didn't actually plagiarize the sound of their classic rock idols, they likened their music to them. The group probably should have been more conspicuous of their appreciation, something that's hard to do with Queen's old producer. Fans liked The Darkness because their oldness was something new. Hopefully, this relatively lackluster release will allow the band to see that their success emanates from their novelty, and not from their association with '70s rock and '80s hair metal.

---

News

Show Review | Spirit of Color gets a 'Rise' out of its audience

December 5

It is a rare and noteworthy dance performance that can incorporate Edenic imagery, flexible gender roles, sexual power struggles and matching underwear sets with the standard plies and high kicks. In its newest production, "Rise," Tufts' own Spirit of Color (SoC) dance troupe proved itself more than up to the task. But SoC's show was not produced for shock value. "Tonight," said director Tamara Chao in the "Rise" program, "our goal is to make you want to dance." SoC staged its winter exhibition in the Aidekman Arts Center on Dec. 1 and 2. Both performances quickly sold out, and Cohen Auditorium was packed with hundreds of the troupe's famously vocal fans. The show featured an opening video by Kenny Ritchstad, a dance contest at intermission, skits and, of course, 21 separate dances. "Rise" showcased an incredible variety of dance styles and ethnic influences. Its opening number, "Pon This," seemed to twist traditional cheerleading routines into an energetic hybrid of athletics and dance. In the second act, "Tainted Illusion" played upon conventional expectations of Broadway-style performance, punctuated with slyly ironic high kicks and gold lame costumes. SoC also explored its own distinct style of balletic hip-hop in dances like "Pump It" and "Rude Awakening." "Jungle Woman," performed to Dianne Reeves' "Endangered Species" was definitely influenced by the tradition of tribal dance; bathed in blue light, the dancers evoked a veritable Garden of Eden to a pulsing beat. SoC also integrated music far beyond the scope of traditional hip-hop tunes. While pieces like "Sex and Money" and "Hot Like Me" were set to popular contemporary dance songs by Kanye West and the Pussycat Dolls, other dances incorporated rock ("Walk this Way" by Aerosmith and Run-DMC in "Run SoC"), early rap ("Tricky" by Run-DMC in the same dance) and even opera ("Diva Dance" by Lucia Di Lammermoor and Inva Mulla Tchako in "In the Different Light"). In keeping with this tradition of diversity, "Rise" dealt with a number of distinct themes. "Main Attraction" and "Broken" explored sexuality and the modern courtship process, while second act showpiece "Bodyrockers" seemed to promote a spirit of healthy competition between men and women on the dance floor. In a similar vein, the act two opener "Mix It Up" allowed the women to play a dominant, almost masculine role in dance, twisting traditional ideas of gender roles in hip-hop. Other dances, like the all-female "Jungle Woman" and its all-male counterpart "Mini-Maypayo" probed the possible benefits of gender segregation. This very diversity, however, contributed to the choppy feel of the performance as a whole. "Rise" needed a truly unifying theme. It seemed more a collection of unaffiliated dances than a cohesive, centered performance. Dances followed dances with little or no continuity, their order seemingly random. In an effort to keep the audience on its toes, SoC sacrificed its considerable power to make a forcible and lasting impression. But if the success of a show is measured in audience appreciation and enthusiasm, than "Rise" was a hit indeed. "The crowd cheered the whole time, from beginning to end," freshman Rebecca Asthalter said. "Every time the auditorium would quiet down, someone would shout 'Ess-ohh-ceee!' or their class year, and the room would erupt again. It was kind of overwhelming." And despite trifling concerns about cohesion, at least one attendee - freshman Lelia Chaisson - exiting Cohen after the performance, thought they had achieved its goal. "I want to do that," she said. "I want to dance."

---

News

Fencing | With two events under their belts, fencers settle into season

December 5

Returning much of its roster from a consistent and solid 2004-2005 season, and filling open spaces with some new talent, the fencing team is feeling good about its winter season campaign. "We've got lots of new freshmen, but we also didn't lose many of our good fencers from last season," said sophomore and men's team captain Dan Tovrov. "We're really optimistic about this coming season." Tufts has a varsity women's fencing team and a club men's team, both members of the New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference. The women's team has already competed in two tournaments, most recently at Fairleigh Dickinson University for the NEIWFA Invitational last Sunday. The Jumbos competed against a field of teams which included Temple, the University of Florida, Johns Hopkins, and Drew University. The event was an individual competition, and the team got strong performances from several fencers. Senior Katherine Zouein placed fourth in sabre, junior Donna Au was the top seed in the epee group, and freshman Christine Lee took second in the foil category with an encouraging start to her rookie season. "Christine's a freshman, and she's doing really well," Zouein said. "We're all really excited about that." The women's team also competed at Harvard on Nov. 30 in a head-to-head team meet, falling to the Crimson. "Harvard always has an exceptionally good team," Zouein said. "I think we fenced well anyway." The women's team has many tournaments lined up for the spring semester. After returning from winter break, the Jumbos will head to the Wellesley Invitational to face Wellesley, Cornell and Vassar on Jan. 28. The next day the team will face Yale and Sacred Heart at Yale. In February, the women's team will compete against NYU and the University of North Carolina at Brandeis. Until then, the team will keep up its practice schedule of four days a week in Jackson Gym that helps it remain sharp. The men's team, which participates in the New England Conference, a multi-divisional league fielding teams from schools as diverse as fellow NESCAC member Amherst, Smith, Brown, Dartmouth, BU, and BC, has participated in two events so far this season. The team sent several fencers to "The Big One," an individual competition held at Smith College on Nov. 5. The Jumbos earned two top finishes in the field of 60 foil fencers, as Tovrov took the bronze at third and senior Misha Genin placed sixth. A few weeks later, the team competed in a conference meet against Brandeis, MIT, and Brown, three of the toughest teams in the conference, which showed in the Jumbos' 0-3 record. "We were missing a couple of our starters that day, and we played the hardest teams in the conference," Tovrov said. The team will take a long break from organized competition, as its schedule is empty until February, when Tufts will host a conference tournament. In the meantime, the team will work towards its season goal of earning a spot at the club Nationals.

---

News

Sara Franklin | Oh My!: Sex Straight Up

December 5

Some people like to keep it private. Some people like to share it with everyone they know. And then there are some people who just like to ask about it. I'm talking about your sex life. I can't just let these questions go unanswered. I like to know that other Jumbos out there are having wild and crazy fun in the sack, and if you're not, maybe these survey results will inspire you to venture out into new sexual frontiers. These are all real answers, and they were all given voluntarily. If you contributed to this in any way, thank you for broadening at least one person's sexual horizons. Real sex like this just has to be shared. Enjoy!What is your definition of a "hook-up"?Anything more than lockin' lipsMaking out and running a few bases. Actually having sex is a follow-up question.Making out, some removal of clothing, some heavy pettingHands in pantsWhat do you think is the percentage of virgins at Tufts?30 There'll be about three of them after tonightBetween 30 and 401220How long is too long?9 inches30 minutes, but if she's really sexy and crazy, 90 minutes may not be enoughAs long as its wet it's goodWhen you start to look at the clock and are like "OK...c'mon"Too long?How many times have you faked an orgasm?ZeroI don't know about faking it, but it seems that when I don't have an orgasm it doesn't seem to affect the other person... they still seem pleased with themselvesToo many times!You mean you're not supposed to?I'm a guy so I don't have to, and girls should be honestFaking it sucks, just tell the guy he isn't getting you offHave you ever used a fun prop or costume?I dressed up as a naughty nurse with stockings and heels. My boyfriend's eyes lit up and we did it ALL night long. Six times!I was a dominatrix - I would highly recommend it!At his request, I just kept my heels on.I would love to have her dress up as a doctor and have her give me a check-upWhat's the deal-breaker in bed for you? What would or does make you say "Um... OK... stop..."Extremely hairy pubic regions can be a little intimidating when it comes to oralIf he said, "Hey, do you mind if I put this paper bag over your head?"Really weird, forceful sex talkAs long as I'm the only one poking, it's goodScratch marks all along my backTongue in ear!Gratuitous violenceWhen he/she can't undo my braIf he ever calls me bitch/woman, etc. I'm not having itWhen she doesn't seem cleanBad kissingIf he insinuates that I'm fat, gross or bad in bed, I'm leavingWhen she performs oral sex and won't swallow but holds it in her mouth for like a minute to try to find a place to spit"I want to be in a serious relationship with you" or "I love you"Who's louder?Her. I focus and get her loudThe same - moaning is SO hotHer, although I'll be louder if she's louder. It's like encouragement. That would be meHer, but I chime in now and thenWhat is the easiest way for you to orgasm with a partner?It's gotta be something during sex that the girl does or says that kind of catches me off- guard or that I don't expectVibe on clit and digital insertion = yum!Clit stimulation Me on top, missionaryI haven't from someone else thus far, but my battery operated friend gets me thereGirl-on-top positionHave you ever lied about how many people you've had sex with? If so, did you increase or decrease your count?Yes, increase of courseSometimes increase with 1 or 2No (I got lots of these)Decrease so I wouldn't look like a man-whoreIf you could give one piece of advice to the opposite sex in regards to sex/technique, what would you say?Ask me if you can kiss me to start if off (perhaps in a foreign language)Don't be afraid to be forceful. Throw your man down. Be dirty and enjoy what you do to him.Girls should stop obsessing over whether or not they look fat.Don't use too much tongue when you kiss me. It's NOT hot. Guys, get creative and tell me what you like about what I do and how I look naked in your bed. Sex itself isn't always the most important part for girls. Hands and tongue can be better than a penis.Brush your teethGuys don't like hand jobs from girls. They've been giving themselves hand jobs since they were 13 and they're really good at it.Sara Franklin is a sophomore majoring in history. She can be reached at Sara.Franklin@tufts.edu

---

News

In defense of torture

December 5

A good portion of our country is outraged as more and more comes out about the use of secret detention camps in Eastern Europe and the Enhanced Interrogation Techniques used by the CIA for information extraction, including "belly slapping" and "waterboarding." It's time to see torture for what it is: a legitimate tool of government for the preservation of national security. Allow me to treat the moral aspects of this subject and move on, since I'm aware that it's pointless to focus on the moral case for torture when there are people on this campus who believe that thousands of lives in peril can never justify degrading, hurtful treatment of individuals. Suffice it to say, most of our detainees deserve a lot more than an open-handed slap to the stomach; I'd suggest the insertion of needles beneath their fingernails, for starters. But it's not about what detainees deserve or don't deserve. It's about how and when we can use them for information. As Charles Krauthammer has aptly pointed out, there are uniformed prisoners of war and then there are terrorists. He notes that according to the Geneva Conventions - which were designed to prevent the abuse of civilians by combatants - individuals "would be denied the protections of that code if they broke the laws of war and abused civilians themselves." This means that torture (and I'll include things like the belly slap, even though I've been subjected to far worse by my younger sisters) is a legitimate practice of our government and federal agencies for the purpose of information extraction. I'll admit, torture is not often the most effective method of obtaining vital information, and neither are its results always accurate. But this only means that we should be discriminating in its use. To take an option off the table simply because it does not always achieve the desired result would be to eliminate a tool that sometimes does the job when nothing else can. The Israelis could tell you that. It is for these reasons that the wide-sweeping amendment banning all torture that was pushed through by John McCain is dangerous and foolhardy. The vital operations of our military and government, which have already demonstrated inefficiency and miscalculation in the area of intelligence, should not be further hampered by the indignant opposition of Congress or the public. The military, FBI and CIA know best what information they need, and they know best how to get it. Where there are incompetent interrogators, Congress should be making it easier for the government to implement programs that will produce interrogators who are well-trained and well-versed in the art of torture and the laws surrounding it. This will allow our men and women on the ground to receive timely, accurate intelligence that will save American lives at home and overseas. Many Americans fail to understand that not everyone has the same rights, and that those rights change based on circumstance. It is a fundamental principle of American jurisprudence that those who act in violation of the law forfeit certain rights. Has a convicted prisoner ever gotten out of jail for complaining that he wasn't allowed the pursuit of happiness? Due process of law is another necessary component of our legal system. That is why the cases of some of our detainees should never reach the legal system to begin with. The beautiful thing about American democracy is the ability of each individual to vote; anyone who abhors torture in all its forms and uses can vote to elect legislators and a president who share those views. The beautiful thing about the CIA is that it doesn't care what the public thinks. Secrecy is a vital aspect of the Agency's work; affording every detainee the gamut of our legal services is costly and counter-productive. The public doesn't need to know whether an architect of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks is having his belly slapped pink, and neither does Congress. As long as the treatment of high-level terrorists is left to the CIA, national security won't be compromised by the tedium of the judiciary. This is why secret detention camps in Europe are an excellent solution. Because they are located on soil outside American jurisdiction, recent rulings of the Supreme Court that ensure habeas corpus petitions for prisoners held in places like Guantanamo Bay do not apply. As long as the law of the host countries doesn't create obstacles, we can hold terrorists indefinitely, interrogating them for the rest of their lives if need be. Some of you reading this will be horrified at the moral callousness, disregard for international norms, and disdain for governmental transparency that must characterize anyone who defends torture. If you take nothing else away from the article remember this: Our government is going to use torture whether you like it or not. It gives me a warm sense of satisfaction to know that regardless of the public outcry, regardless of the inhibitions of senators, our country will continue to torture. As long as there are people who hold these views, America will preserve its security by whatever means necessary. Patrick Randall is a sophomore majoring in political science and Latin.

---

News

Men's Swimming and Diving | Blowout wins over Bowdoin, Babson boost team to 5-0

December 5

It's going to take more than turkey and stuffing to sink the men's swimming and diving team, who, after retuning to Medford from Thanksgiving Break, made quick work of its two opponents and has a strong chance of heading into the winter vacation at a perfect 6-0. The Jumbos defeated Babson on Thursday and Bowdoin on Saturday, winning the two meets by an impressive combined margin of 282-190. The score is actually a watered-down version of the events, as multiple winning races swam by the Jumbos were kept out of the point totals to make the victories seem less robust. Junior Mike Kinsella sees the mercy rule as a show of good faith and as compensation for the disparities in team size, as Tufts' 42-strong roster often is much larger than those of its opponents. "I think coaches do it as a common courtesy to the coach of the other team," said Kinsella, who had a hand in four different first-place finishes throughout the weekend. "For example, on Thursday, Babson had 13 swimmers, so it was more a question of how much we were going to win by. If you're crushing a team, you don't just keep running up the score." Kinsella was a dominating factor in Saturday's meet, taking first in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events despite the presence of Bowdoin freshman David Swanson, a touted recruit who was expected to prove stiff competition for Kinsella. Kinsella won the 50-yard event in 22.08, with Swanson right on his heels for a second place finish of 22.29. "Swanson was the first real competition I've had in that event this year outside of my own teammates, and it's more fun to have someone you can race, instead of someone you can kill," Kinsella said. "My [teammate] Greg Bettencourt, he's familiar with the Bowdoin swim team, and was joking with them and me all week, telling me how [Swanson] had been saying things. But [Swanson] and I didn't talk after the race, maybe because he lost." Bettencourt himself played a role in three first-place finishes, taking first in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events, as well as swimming a leg of the first place 400-yard freestyle relay team along with Kinsella and senior quad-captains Jason Kapit and Brett Baker. Bettencourt's 200-yard freestyle time of 4:52.95 is the fastest recorded by any Tufts swimmer this season, and is thought to be the fastest 200-yard freestyle time to date in the NESCAC. Jumbo senior Jeff Goldberg placed second with a time of 5:12.80. Kinsella, Kapit and Baker, along with senior Jon Godsey also swam as part of the 400-yard medley team, edging the nearest Bowdoin relay team by 2.5 seconds to take first with a time of 3:39.49. Godsey also finished first in the 100-yard butterfly, Kapit placed second in the 100-yard butterfly and 200 yard butterfly, and Baker finished second in the 200-yard freestyle, behind Bettencourt. Overall, Jumbo swimmers finished first in ten out of 14 races, placed second in all the races they didn't win and placed second and third in most of the races that fellow teammates also already had won. In addition, senior diver Todd Putnam won both the one and three meter dives unopposed. The results of the Babson meet were unavailable at print time, but according to Kinsella and Kapit, the outcome was similar, if not more lopsided than, the Bowdoin win. While the impressive point totals and wins are encouraging, such dominating showings at this stage in the season are not terribly important. Swimming and diving differ from many other intercollegiate sports in that wins during the regular season have less of an impact on the criteria for season success. "Winning or losing in swimming during the regular season isn't necessarily the main focus as to what creates a successful season," Kapit said. "Rather, when we swim against all the NESCAC teams at the end of the year in [the NESCAC championships], the way we finish at that meet really determines how successful our season was." Kapit highlighted the unpredictable nature of the NESCAC championship compared to dual meets during the regular season. "At this point we usually know how we should fare against each opponent, but at the NESCAC meet it's more difficult to gauge how each team is going to do because everyone has had time to rest," he said. "It's different than the regular season, when you can predict who will win a meet before it actually begins." The squad returns to action this weekend against Brandeis for its final meet before the winter recess. When asked what the team was expecting of the Judges, Kapit was confident. "I'd say Bowdoin was probably tougher competition than Brandeis will be," he said.

---

News

Correction | Dec. 6, 2005

December 5

In the article in Dec. 5's Arts section entitled "Taking a trip down 'Glory Road,'" the author was misidentified as Kelly Rizzetta. The article was actually written by Gabriela Jirasek.

---

News

Alex Bloom | Philly Phodder

December 5

So by now, if you've read my column through most of the semester, you probably think that I don't have a very high opinion of Boston sports fans. That's not true. I believe they are ardent fans ... if they're watching the Red Sox. The only problem is that there are three other professional sports teams in this town. The Red Sox have sold out every single game for almost three years now (over 200 consecutive games). The Patriots, who have won three out of the last four Super Bowls, are second fiddle to a team that took 86 years to win a title. The Bruins, who traded their only recognizable star (Joe Thornton) to the Sharks for Matt Sturm, are smothered by the other three teams in this city, which is understandable considering hockey didn't happen last season. And then there are the Celtics. I went to see the Celtics play at the TD Banknorth Garden last week. I actually went to watch the Sixers play, and I wasn't the only one. We Philly fans stick together, and about ten of us met up for the game. And it was a sight to see. I realize that it was a weeknight. I also realize that it is only November, so it's not exactly a playoff atmosphere right now. But the Banknorth Garden holds 18,624 people for NBA games, yet there were a paltry 14,027 people in town to watch two very exciting teams. The Celtics are young, fast and sharp. Paul Pierce and his supporting cast will be fun to watch this season, as Ricky Davis, Delonte West, Kendrick Perkins, and Al Jefferson mature into a cohesive unit. Until that cohesion happens, fans get the privilege of watching Brian Scalabrine, Dan Dickau, Raef LaFrentz and Mark Blount make fools of themselves (and Danny Ainge) trying to play professional basketball. The Sixers still have the best guard in the game in Allen Iverson, who is averaging an unreal 34.2 points per game. This season has also seen the resurgence of Chris Webber, who has meshed nicely this season as Iverson's complement, averaging 19.7 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. Add high-flying forward Andre Iguodala to the mix and it's easy to see why the Sixers are in first place in the Atlantic, even if it is with an 8-10 record. The Sixers are averaging 102.2 points and giving up 102.8 points per night. That's a lot of scoring. One would think that fans would like to go to basketball games where they see a lot of offense. I guess that's not the case here in Boston. Even when we got there, the atmosphere was so dead that it was almost laughable. I kept trying to compare it to games I've seen in Philadelphia, where the seats are packed and the fans are having fun. Granted, this year hasn't been the best for attendance for either the Sixers or the Celtics. The Celtics are No. 25 in the league in attendance out of 30 teams, while the Sixers are No. 26 - not exactly what you would expect from two playoff teams from last season. But fans are still warming up to the new faces on these teams. I was surprised that the highlight package that the Celtics used to pump up the fans to start the game had video of only two players: Pierce and Davis. That's what happens when your team gets gutted in the offseason, as Boston lost GP, Antoine and Tony Allen. One thing the team has invested in is more fan giveaways. There were gimmicks during every timeout and the team trotted out a dance team consisting of about three girls doing cartwheels. The halftime show was pathetic, with fans booing as the team tried to run a tic-tac-toe game that kept getting tied. And the team is still getting the hang of highlight reels, preferring to pump up the crowd using footage of the Pats and Red Sox rather than the Celtics. It's surprising that the Celtics would fall so hard, especially since they've been consistently winning. This is the same team that sold out the Boston Garden for 15 straight years from 1980-1995. This is the same team who won the Atlantic Division title last season. This is the same team that has made the playoffs for the past four seasons. What's wrong with you people? Just because Larry Legend isn't trotting out there every night to take on Magic, you can't go see the Celtics anymore? Is it because the Garden is gone? I don't get it. And I don't think the rest of the country gets it either. Basketball is still popular around the country. Look at the New Orleans Hornets, who are playing 35 games this season in Oklahoma City. They are seventh in the league this season and the atmosphere has been compared to college games. Charlotte, who lost the Hornets because of a lack of attendance, is now rallying around the Bobcats, who surprisingly have not been banished to the cellar in the Southeast Division and are 14th in attendance. That should be embarrassing to a proud sports city like Boston. Charlotte and Oklahoma City appreciate their sports teams more than you fans do? This city needs to get its act together and start supporting its team.

---

News

Identifying Tufts cheaters gets a high-tech upgrade

December 5

The vast number of resources available to students on the Internet makes cheating in today's academic environment both tempting and easy. This fact is prompting discussion of extending the University's use of software that catches plagiarizers. The Web-based software, called Turnitin, uses an algorithm to process student papers and search for similarities between them and works in its database. Its database consists of material on the publicly accessible Internet, commercial pages from books, newspapers and journals, and over ten million student papers. Turnitin is used by both high schools and colleges, including the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado. At its meeting on Nov. 22, the Educational Policy Committee (EPC), one of the University's student-faculty committees, discussed the pros and cons of the software. "There was a diversity of opinions," Chemistry Professor Samuel Kounaves, the chair of the EPC, said. "We're investigating the issue right now." Kounaves said a subcommittee of the EPC has been formed to do further research on the software and to get input from the administration, faculty and students. The subcommittee will present its findings to the EPC at its next meeting on Jan. 24, at which point the EPC will decide whether or not the University should purchase the software. The biology department is using Turnitin in its Biology 13 course this semester and used it in Biology 14 last spring. Both courses are core requirements for biology majors. Each student in Biology 13 is registered for an individual account with Turnitin and has an identification number, and the course itself is registered for one large account. Professor Michelle Gaudette, the lab coordinator for Biology 13 this semester, said Turnitin "seems to be very helpful." Students in the class submit a hard copy of their lab reports to their lab instructors, but they also electronically upload a copy to the Turnitin Web site. The software then processes each paper and creates an "Originality Report" for each paper. This report ranks the originality of the paper as a percentage, with a ranking of 0 percent indicating a perfectly original paper and 100 percent indicating a completely plagiarized paper. It also color-codes the text of the paper, with blue indicating original text and red indicating plagiarized text. Gaudette said an advantage of the software is that it makes students more aware of plagiarism, which she said is usually unintentional. "Sources often say things more eloquently," she said. "It [Turnitin] forces them [students] to develop their own style." She said that by being more conscious of the need to explain concepts in their own words, students spend more time processing material and achieve a higher level of understanding. Sophomore Veronica Coppersmith, a student in Biology 13, said at first she was "sketched out" by the Turnitin software. "Of course you're going to have similar lab reports [as other students]," she said. The software flags all similarities between student papers and published works, but Gaudette said most of the similarities are innocuous. Phrases like, "The rate of photosynthesis is...," are bound to occur in multiple papers," she said. One issue that came up at the EPC meeting in November was intellectual property rights. "Some people feel there are issues of intellectual property," Kounaves said, "If you are a student, your paper will be on the system for a number of years." Kounaves said the EPC discussed whether use of the software was necessary, or whether it was sufficient to rely on an honor code for academic integrity. He said he wondered to what extent students were aware of the University's plagiarism policy. The University is currently in a trial period with Turnitin. If the University decides to purchase the software, it will cost $5,000 per academic year for University-wide use and an unlimited number of accounts. According to senior Jason Bauer, one of the students on the EPC, any department that wishes to use the Turnitin software next semester will be able to do so through the Dean of Students Office. He said the psychology department has expressed interest in using the software. Coppersmith said she now feels comfortable using the software and is glad that people who cheated on lab reports in the past now have to work to earn the grades.

---

News

Indigenous Ecuadorians helped by crafts, chocolate

December 5

For the past eight years, the Kichwa people of Ecuador have improved their living conditions through a cooperative that sells locally made handicrafts and organic cacao. Three members of the Kallari cooperative spoke about the indigenous people and their movement Monday at the Fletcher School. Kallari founder and Development Coordinator Judy Logback, Production and Natural Resources Director Diego Grefa Salazar and Head Accountant Netty Cayapa Tapuy discussed the Amazon economy and brought the collective's handicrafts and chocolate for attendees to purchase. The proceeds of the cooperative's sales go toward promoting rainforest conservation, sustainable development and the preservation of indigenous culture. The Kichwas' land has been used by the government to transport oil without returning the profits to the people, so the collective is trying to make cacao bean production more sustainable. For the last 45 years, Salazar said, the Kichwa have fought for their rights as Ecuadorian citizens, specifically for cultural and property rights. Salazar presented the history of the cacao bean and its use by the Kichwa. He spoke in Spanish. The bean is part of the secondary forest of the Kichwa people, and for the past three years the price has risen but no more money has gone to farmers. The cooperative exports the beans directly to Europe and North America. The marketing strategy stresses the beans' origin, the bio-diversity of the rainforest area in which the beans grow and the high quality of the beans. In 1995 farmers were only paid $15 for one pound of beans. Now they get $75. The collective hopes to raise the price to $150 per pound by 2010. Over 660 families take part in the cooperative, making handicrafts from 200 species of plants and harvesting the cacao bean for chocolate products. The handicrafts include necklaces, bracelets, anklets, chokers, baskets, woven handbags, soaps, teas, wooden canoes, bowls and trays. All of the handicrafts are certified by the Free Trade Federation. The event was sponsored by the International Development Group, the Human Rights Project, the Environment and Sustainability Initiative, Net Impact and the Fletcher Latin America Group. Freshman Marcelo Norsworthy said he enjoyed the presentation. "I've always been interested in this type of business - the social and political aspects. And with this presentation I was able to learn the economic part of it," Norsworthy said.

---

News

Senate tries to link off-campus students

December 5

Two projects in the works for next semester may make living off-campus easier and more enjoyable. The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is putting the finishing touches on a Web site that lets student rate their off-campus houses, landlords and facilities. The site - part of jumboAccess.com, which operates the professor and course rating site tuftsreviews.com - is awaiting approval from the administration and the University's counsel, but a preliminary version is up and running in the meantime. TCU Parliamentarian sophomore Harsha Dronamraju, who is spearheading the project, said the site should be approved within a week. Student frustration with off-campus housing, he said, "was something that we felt was really glaring, and we felt that it was something we could fix." The Senate is currently working with the registrar to create a questionnaire for juniors to collect addresses. No database currently exists of students' off-campus residences. Senators tried tabling on campus to try to get off-campus residents to sign up, but they did not get much response. "Juniors don't chill on campus," TCU Vice President senior John Valentine said. The questionnaire asks off-campus residents to rate their landlord, utilities and location on a scale of one to five. Off-campus residents will also be able to comment on other aspects of their house, such as if the building is conducive to parties, or if the neighbors are especially sensitive. The Web site may also include a list of off-campus addresses with the e-mail addresses of current and past residents. This will allow students in the market for a house to e-mail past residents and get a more complete picture of life in that house. The system would be modeled after Tufts' career network, which allows Tufts students to contact alumni in specific work fields. Senior Chris Eager, who lives on Mason Street in Somerville, said he would post on the Web site. "I would definitely let people know about our landlord currently and what I know about our house compared to other houses," he said. Valentine is also targeting off-campus residents, with what he calls the "Five Boroughs Project." He identified five areas of off-campus houses in Medford and Somerville, and he expects to organize gatherings on campus for each area. He said the project would encourage students in the same area to interact and "kill the stigma of junior year." "I lived off campus last year and you don't even know the people who live two doors down, let alone your community," Valentine said. He expects to hold a couple trial gatherings by the end of next semester. Eager, whose house is directly across Powderhouse Boulevard from South Hall, said he does not feel especially disconnected from campus life. But junior Danny McGee, who lives on the other end of campus near the Science and Technology Center in Medford, said his location has decreased his interaction with other students. "Where I am I know only my roommates and two other kids in other houses," he said. Dronamraju said the goal of the two Senate projects is to ensure that "when you go off campus your junior year, you don't have to feel like a commuting student."

---

News

Women's Swimming and Diving | Jumbos dominating opponents while keeping their eyes on the ultimate prize

December 5

The women's swimming and diving team picked up two more victories last week to push its overall record to 4-1. The Jumbos visited Wellesley College last Wednesday and emerged with a 169-129 victory. The squad bettered that outcome on Saturday as they beat Bowdoin, 171-125. At Wellesley, the Jumbos won ten of the meet's sixteen events and came up with many strong second-place finishes. Particularly noteworthy were the performances of senior tri-captain Meghan Wallach, junior Chloe Young-Hyman and freshman Michelle Caswell, who all won two events apiece. On top of their individual wins, the three, along with senior Katie Mims, teamed up to win the 200-yard medley relay. Wallach won the 100- and 200-yard butterfly in times of 1:03.35 and 2:19.54, respectively. Young-Hyman finished first in the 100-yard breaststroke and freestyle with times of 1:08.61 and 55.24 seconds, taking the freestyle event by only .05 seconds over Wellesley freshman Carolyn O'Hara. Caswell finished the trio of Tufts' double-winners with a time of 1:02.46 in the 100-yard backstroke and a 2:16.33 showing in the 200-yard backstroke. Caswell's success was indicative of an excellent day overall for freshmen swimmers. In addition to Caswell's victories, classmate Katie Swett won the 1000-yard freestyle in 11:17.34, Lily Safran came in second in the 500-yard freestyle, and Julia Borque finished second in the 1-meter diving competition. Freshmen also took home six third-place finishes for the Jumbos. "We really use our freshman right off the bat," coach Nancy Bigelow said. "We're trying to figure out what the best events for them are in college." The Jumbos' success continued as they headed north to Bowdoin College on Saturday. The team hammered out its most dominant win since a 177-117 win over Conn. College on Nov. 19. Both the Jumbos and the Polar Bears garnered eight first place finishes overall, but Tufts' superior depth proved deadly for Bowdoin as the Jumbos cruised to an extremely solid 171-125 win. "Bowdoin has some great swimmers," Bigelow said, "but we have more depth than they do." Once again, Caswell and Young-Hyman had terrific meets, both cruising to two wins apiece. The duo was also part of a victorious 400-yard medley relay team. Young-Hyman repeated her victories in the 100-yard breaststroke and freestyle events in times of 1:09.36 and 55.78, respectively. Caswell also won the same events as she had in the Wellesley meet, swimming 1:02.27 in the 100-yard backstroke and 2:16.90 in the 200-yard backstroke. The Jumbos had some new winners on the board, as senior Meghan Wallach won the 200-yard butterfly in 2:19.15, sophomore Allison Palomaki took first in the 200-yard breaststroke in 2:32.13, and sophomore Renee Nicholas won the 200-yard IM in 2:18.65. "We didn't want to underestimate [Bowdoin's] strength, so we definitely stepped it up," Wallach said. Up next on the Jumbos' schedule is Saturday's matchup against Brandeis. While its success early in the season is a good yardstick of the team's skill, Bigelow said that the ultimate goal is to do well at NESCACs as she cautioned against putting too much stock in early regular-season meets. "The dual meets are indicators along the way for how we are doing," she said.

---