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Senators claim housing system needs changes

October 25

Adding another freshman-only dorm made on-campus housing more dangerous and integration more difficult, a group of students told administrators Tuesday. The students - four Tufts Community Union senators - made these complaints and others in a meeting with Office of Residential Life and Learning Director Yolanda King and Associate Director Donna Denoncourt. The senators, all members of the administration and budget committee, raised four key issues, the first of which was all-freshman housing. Hill Hall was made an all-freshman dorm this year - bringing the number of all-freshman dorms to three, including Tilton and Houston Halls. Senator Sarasa Poduval, a senior and a residential assistant in Bush Hall, said the change was ill-advised and because it concentrates underage drinking. "They [freshmen] go to drink in the all freshmen residence halls," she said. "My residents go to Houston and Tilton and come back drunk." The location of Hill Hall is not conducive to integrating freshmen into the rest of the student body, Poduval said. "Creating another all freshman dorm serves to segregate freshmen from upperclassmen," she said. Poduval said it is important for freshmen to be around upperclassmen to learn to balance schoolwork and social life. Freshmen come to campus with a "skewed perception of college life," she said. Denoncourt agreed with Poduval that upperclassmen can provide good role models for freshmen. But Hill was changed to an all-freshmen dorm due to a high number of requests, King said. "The feedback has been overwhelming, in a positive way, for all freshmen housing," she said. "The goal is not to put every freshman in freshmen housing, but the numbers are overwhelmingly high." The combined capacity of the three all-freshman dorms is 560, and about 1,367 students are in the freshman class, so about 800 freshmen do not live in an all-freshman dorm. There are no plans for another all-freshman dorm, King said. The students and administrators also discussed the possibility of creating a new housing questionnaire for incoming freshmen. "There's so much more that can be looked into when choosing a roommate," Senator Justin Feldman, a freshman, said. Feldman recommended adding questions about tastes in music, time spent watching television and alcohol use - which would be illegal for most freshmen. He also suggested using an online questionnaire service, which he said Emory University has done in the past. King said she was aware of an online housing questionnaire, which she identified as http://www.webrooms.com. Her office has explored the option, King said, but it costs too much. The Web site did not exist Tuesday night. Changes to the questionnaire are possible, Denoncourt said, but there should be some room for differences between roommates. "We really think it's important for people to stretch their limits," she said. Research Denoncourt did five years ago showed no difference in the compatibility of roommates who had been randomly assigned and those who had completed questionnaires. The third issue discussed was the healthy living option for on-campus housing. Three floors of healthy living in Hill Hall are "not working out," Poduval said. But Denoncourt said every student on the healthy living floors in Hill requested to be there. The demand for healthy living was so high that many of those who did not get into the floors in Hill were placed on a floor in one of the other all-freshmen dorms, making that floor "unofficial healthy living," she said. The senators said some sophomores who wanted healthy living did not get it this year, and they asked why the healthy living floor in South Hall was eliminated. Not enough upperclassmen requested healthy living to continue the South Hall option, Denoncourt said. Only one floor in Carmichael Hall is healthy living for upperclassmen. "We could barely fill Carmichael," she said. Senator Pooja Chokshi, a freshman, then presented a budget for recreational equipment, such as ping pong and pool tables. King said she would include the proposal in an upcoming report to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman. A forum was scheduled for tonight for freshmen to discuss possible changes to the housing lottery, but it has been tentatively rescheduled for next Wednesday. A Senate survey the following day will detail proposed changes and ask for student feedback.

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News

A Jumbo journalist dips her trunk into Boston's finest cuisine

October 25

When you first look at Tufts alumna Julie Suratt (LA '94), you might not realize that you're in front of one of the top editors in Boston. With her friendly manner, casual blue jeans and corduroy shirt, Suratt seems too approachable to be someone who's conquered journalism in Beantown just 11 years out of college. But as the managing editor of Boston Magazine, that's exactly what Suratt has done. Journalism, however, wasn't always Suratt's passion. As a child, she acted in commercials and school theater productions. "I thought I wanted to be an actress and go the TV route," Suratt said. "But then I got shy." When she came to Tufts, Suratt amended her acting plans and began as a pre-med. But after her first chemistry class, Suratt changed her mind. Having taken three years of journalism in high school, she decided to switch from science to English. After spending a semester in Spain, writing for the Daily and playing Ultimate Frisbee for four years, Suratt graduated in 1994 - and promptly realized she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life. Instead of joining the working world right away, Suratt decided to spend a year teaching English in Japan. A complete lack of knowledge of the Japanese language didn't deter her from teaching in Osaka. "I had an amazing year there, traveling and teaching," she said. "Traveling is my passion. I've been to Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and everywhere else." When she returned to the United States of America, Suratt's passion for travel led her to apply to Destinations, a Washington, D.C.-based travel magazine. After joining the magazine as an editorial and advertising assistant, Suratt quickly moved up to staff writer. Her frustrations with the limitations of the magazine, however, led her to rethink her position. "I knew I needed to leave when I wrote a six-page story on day-trips from Toronto, and I'd never been to Canada," Suratt said. "I said, 'Eek, I've got to get out of this.'" Suratt left Destinations and joined the bi-weekly Improper Bostonian as a staff writer. "My time at the Improper Bostonian was just a blast," Suratt said. In addition to giving her the chance to meet Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, working at the Improper also gave Suratt a chance to fly in the Hood Blimp over Fenway Park during a baseball game. Although writing is Suratt's main interest, she admits that "the catch-22 is, in journalism, if you want to make a decent salary, you have to go the editor route." Suratt spent six years moving up through the ranks of the Improper to become its managing editor. She then made the move to Boston Magazine, where she is currently managing editor. Suratt attributes her impressively quick upward mobility to a talent for creative writing, instilled in her by her high school journalism teacher. "He required perfection from all of us," said Suratt, explaining that she often had to rewrite stories multiple times before they met her teacher's standards. Majoring in English at Tufts also gave Suratt helpful experience. "I think a talented writer is somebody who can really paint a picture of a scene or situation, so that the reader feels like they're in that moment," Suratt said. "There are not a lot of writers who can do that." In her capacity as managing editor, Suratt still gets to indulge her love of writing. In order to work on the magazine's yearly Best-of-Boston restaurant reviews, "pretty much from January to July, I'm eating out literally every single night," she said. The constant eating, she said, can get tiring. "You always have to get an appetizer, an entr?©? and a dessert. And then you have to try the wine," she said. "It's like you roll home at the end of the night." Some of Suratt's favorite restaurants include Pigalle, for French cuisine; Clio, for sashimi; and Davis Square's own Diva for Indian food. Finding new restaurants is another passion of Suratt's. "We just found this really cool restaurant in Chinatown yesterday called Noodle Alcove," said Suratt, explaining that the chef stretches the noodles in front of the customers. "That's kind of the thing I love - hidden treasures that you don't normally know about. Everybody knows about the big-name restaurants in Boston, but to go to the heart of Chinatown and find a place like that, it's pretty cool." When not dining and balancing other managerial editing duties, Suratt lives in Jamaica Plain with her husband, also a Tufts alum. The two play Ultimate Frisbee twice a week in the summer. But they won't be staying in Jamaica Plain for long: they have just bought a new house to accommodate their soon-to-be family. "My big news is that I'm pregnant with not just one baby, but two babies," Suratt said. Her twin boys are due Mar. 26. Suratt is unsure of how motherhood will affect her journalism career. "I'm definitely still working - I love this job," said Suratt, who said that balancing work and mothering is "a dilemma that women face everywhere." Although Suratt knows that she wants to continue working as an editor at Boston Magazine, she says that she eventually wants to return to her creative writing roots. "Down the road, I want to write novels," Suratt said. "So does everybody, but I really do." But for now, Suratt is content with eating three-course meals every night for free: "It's really fun," she said.

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News

The Fantastic Flag Code

October 25

The recent controversy over a planned raising of the U.N. flag on the academic quad in commemoration of the founding of the United Nations raises a variety of questions which cry out to be answered. First, was the Tufts administration really unaware of the United States Flag Code prior to receiving Jordana Starr's informative e-mail last Friday night? What were the administration's motives in changing the location of the flag-raising? Was it honestly afraid of prosecution under federal law, or was it just trying to keep the campus quiet? An issue of the utmost importance is what the controversy reveals about the competence of the administration. It appears that whatever administration official who was in charge of clearing the flag-raising ceremony was unaware that United States law forbids flying another flag in place of the American flag. Tufts could have saved a bit of face among its overwhelmingly liberal student body by simply being aware of this law. It would have avoided the hasty rescheduling of the event, it could have kept from irritating the graduate students, and it would have avoided the general embarrassment that goes along with ignorance. Most importantly, it would have avoided the appearance of having bent to the will of a disgruntled student group. When the administration changed the location of the event, it also changed the entire meaning. Replacing the American flag with the U.N. flag carries immense symbolism, suggesting, at a time of unprecedented American unilateralism, a temporary rejection of nationalistic narcissism in favor of global citizenship and unity. Flying the two flags side by side changes the symbol from one of self-denial to one of mere recognition. It was not, as Provost Jamshed Barucha seemed to suggest in an e-mail sent to the student body on Tuesday, an equivalent ceremony. Why did Tufts decide to change the event? According the Barucha, the decision was made after a consultation with legal counsel. Apparently Tufts was somewhat afraid of prosecution, or at least did not want to appear to be breaking the law. The Daily would like to suggest to the administration that it was never in any legal peril, as this is a law that is broken every day by millions of people. One simply has to read the entire United States Flag Code. Anyone who has ever affixed an American flag to his vehicle without using a staff is in violation of section 7(b). Bumper stickers bearing the image of the flag are not mentioned in the provision, but unless they are used in conjunction with a staff, they appear to be illegal. Bumper stickers further fall into the category of printed items which are intended for eventual discard, and are therefore prohibited under section 8(i). Also falling into this category are patriotic napkins and those decorative paper flags that are ubiquitous at Fourth of July barbecues. Fox News Channel and any other organization which uses the image of the American flag for advertising purposes is in violation of the Flag Code under the very same section. Jordana Starr was in violation of the United States Flag Code, sections 8(d) and 8(j) when, on Monday, she wore an American flag handkerchief on her head at the U.N. flag raising ceremony. The crucial point is that the United States Flag Code is a ridiculous, almost fascist, unconstitutional and obviously unenforceable antique of a law which has as its premise that the flag "is itself a living thing"(Section 8(j)). At an institution which presumably values rational thought, should this relic from the age of prohibition, this nod to the fantastic world of jingoism be given more attention than a glance and a dismissive smile?

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News

CD Review | Give us hint: Is it a vegetable, mineral or Animal Collective?

October 25

An inspired Alabaman matron once said, "Life is like a box of chocolates: you never know what you're gonna get." The same goes for New York's psychedelic rock quartet, Animal Collective. With each new album the band evolves, adding new sounds to their musical repertoire. In keeping with this tradition, their newest record, the outspokenly rock-oriented "Feels," is an egress from their earlier norms. On previous endeavors, Animal Collective's songs were abstract. They flaunted inconsistent instrumentation and melody and combined them with eccentric synthesizer. 2003's "Here Comes the Indian" is the most blatant example, where songs like "Native Belle" and "Panic" are hectic, evoking images of barbarity and disorder. The lone cohesive tune on the album is the noise-rock "Slippi," which arrives in the waning moments of the record. "Sung Tongs" (2004), which, for Animal Collective, was considerably mainstream, touted definable songs. Clear melodies replaced sheer chaos. Lead singer Avey Tare (whose real name is David Porter) sang over the strumming of a dreamy, ethereal acoustic guitar. Nothing in these albums, however, could have prepared even the most avid Animal Collective fan for the delightfully upbeat dynamic of "Feels." The album starts out in the same way as "Sung Tongs," where more upbeat songs subside to slower melodies as the album progresses. But this time around, Animal Collective's once-psychoactive songs have been transformed into pure rock. The first seconds of opener "Did You See the Words?" may remind listeners of Animal Collective's folk nuances on "Sung Tongs," but with a twist: the aforementioned ephemeral folk-rock acoustics have been traded for bona fide electric guitars. Three songs are especially exemplary of the rock 'n' roll undercurrent on "Feels." The second song, "Grass," pays homage to early 1950s rock idols like Ricky Nelson and Chuck Berry. Steady and bouncy drumming joins with bluesy guitar to mimic the pattern of these late greats. Still, there are the requisite Animal Collective antics: random bird sounds and Tare's sporadic screaming. The other rockin' examples ("The Purple Bottle" and finale "Turn into Something") resemble the Beach Boys. If the California five were ever to record a song while on speed, "The Purple Bottle" would be the result; surf guitar-ridden "Turn into Something" would be the fruits of Brian Wilson's labor while on LSD. The other songs on the album offer a taste of Animal Collective's irregular and varied sound. "Flesh Canoe" is strikingly shoegaze; its droning guitars and dreamy sound are comparable to My Bloody Valentine's "Touched." "Banshee Beat" builds from a modest guitar intro to a full out pop song. The only departure from the Collective's progressiveness is "Bees," which sounds as if it could have been a demo from the "Prospect Hummer" EP. While some may argue that a record of rock and pop songs from such an innovative group as Animal Collective detracts from their originality, it merely demonstrates their variability. With that said, "Feels" is easily some of the best material that Animal Collective has produced. Although it is not a complete stylistic departure from earlier and more anarchic projects, "Feels" is different enough to represent an evolving band. Their constantly changing and fluid sound is admirable in a world where niche bands make record after record of stilted, predictable music. Given the direction from whence Animal Collective came, one can only imagine what creativity their forthcoming releases will bring.

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News

TV Review | Not everyone's ready to deep-six 'I Love the 80s' yet

October 25

Few undergraduates at Tufts were even conceived in the years 1980 or 1981; fortunately for us, VH1 is providing our generation a chance to live the years we missed with the return of its "I Love the 80s" series - and this time, it's (sort of) in 3-D! That's right - it's time once again to listen to the nostalgic musings of B-list celebrities on probing topics such as the introduction of Latina and African-American Barbie dolls and the invention of the Post-It. Every day this week (and considering how often they run repeats, probably every day for the next year and a half) VH1 will air two episodes of "I Love the 80s: 3-D," with each episode covering the minutiae of pop culture from a different year of the 1980s. The series is appealing for two main reasons: it provides a walk down memory lane for those who remember the 80s, as well as the witty commentary of various quasi-famous people who can be counted on to mercilessly mock every stop on the metaphoric road. "I Love the 80s: 3-D" is no different than its predecessors, except that, for those viewers with readily available 3-D glasses, there are some cheesy, typically 80s-looking graphics that float around behind the commentators' heads and would presumably appear to shoot out at audiences equipped with the right eyewear. The first episode, on 1980, covered important celebrity news like when Paul McCartney got busted at a Japanese airport for possession of a half a pound of marijuana or when comedian Richard Pryor's unfortunate rendezvous with an enflamed crack pipe scorched his entire body. There was also mention of the invention of Fruit Roll-Ups, high quality television shows like "Buck Rogers" (featuring Gary Coleman as some kind of space cadet), and groundbreaking films like "Little Darlings," which followed young girls around summer camp as they tried to lose their virginities. The year 1981 brought more pop culture moments that might have slipped under our collective radar in the last 24 years. "Circus of the Stars" featured various network TV stars like Mario Lopez (that's right: Slater of "Saved by the Bell" fame), Brooke Shields and Alan Thicke performing - what else - circus tricks. The magnificent Nickelodeon sketch comedy show "You Can't Do that on Television" was recalled, as was the first laptop computer which evidently had the buoyancy of a ton of bricks. Before and after commercial breaks there are segments featuring the likes of Emmanuel Lewis (yep, that'd be Webster), Weird Al Yankovic and Elvira, who hosted 30-second-long pieces on pop culture terms, movies that should have been made in 3-D, and biggest boobs of the year, respectively. In addition to providing humorous jabs at various people and catchphrases of the '80s, it's also pretty entertaining to see how the hosts, each of whom are stars of the '80s in their own right, have aged. (Emmanuel Lewis is looking as young and vivacious as ever, in case you were interested.) Of course it just wouldn't be a VH1 nostalgia series without the regulars, those talking heads who appear to have made careers out of being on shows like "I Love the 80s." Michael Ian Black (most recently of "Stella," which everyone should watch), Hal Sparks and Mo Rocca all return to their regular positions in front of the green screen, providing their usual witty insights. Then there are a slew of former celebrities (many last seen or heard from in the decade in question) like the dude from "Head of the Class" (Dan Frishmann), the guys from the band Nelson, and "Love Connection" host Chuck Woolery. Interesting that celebrities of this caliber freely poke fun at those who may have made questionable career moves or whose careers have been less than thriving recently. Ahem. "I Love the 80s: 3-D" is good, nostalgic fun to keep in the background of whatever you're doing. And maybe what you're doing should be calling your mom and asking her what in God's name a Xanadu is.

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News

Dave Pomerantz | Pom in Prague

October 25

The Czech Republic is home to 10.2 million people, making it the 81st most populous nation in the world. In the athletic world, that's not much of a draft pool, at least compared to Belarus (10.3 million people) and the other 79 countries sitting in front. And yet, I'm e-mailing this column from a country that boasts one of the best soccer teams in the world. According to Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) world rankings, the Czech soccer team sits at number four as of Sept. 5. Names like Jagr, Ha?ek and Navratilova are household handles for any American sports fan. On the world soccer scene - of which Americans like me are completely ignorant - the country boasts an impressive arsenal of talent. Twenty-two-year-old phenomenon Petr Cech may be the best goalkeeper on the planet, Pavel Nedved is one of the best midfielders in the world and Milan Baro? is one of the world's best strikers. My family and close friends, who form half of the readership of this column (the other half is made up by people with Google, access to the Daily's Web site and far, far too much time on their hands), just did a double-take when I started writing about soccer. I love sports, but soccer has always been at the bottom of the list. For me it's the NFL and baseball (if the Yankees are playing). Soccer, or "fotbal" as it is called in Czech, has always been too slow and low-scoring for me. But as all the corny study abroad pamphlets say, the best thing to bring with you is an open mind, so I excitedly decided I would give both sports a chance, hoping to find out how this country is so inexplicably good at these sports - and at the very least, to be entertained. So I attended the third soccer game of my life last week. Of the other two, one was Tufts vs. Somebody and the other was Irvington High School vs. Somebody. This one was Sparta (Prague) against Arsenal, one of Britain's most popular teams, in a European Champions' League game. It was a few steps up from watching the NESCAC. I was well rewarded. Going into the game, I was most curious about what the fans would be like. Soccer hooligans have a reputation, and I was hoping to see some firsthand. I pretty much missed out on that, because a total of one-third of ticket-holding fans was banned from the game as a precautionary measure. There had been rioting at another game a week earlier and 6,000 fans were kept out of the stadium. While this made for a tamer crowd than I had hoped for, the situation itself was a testimony to what soccer fans can be like here. Imagine banning one-third of fans from a Fenway game because they were too nuts. Red Sox fans are obsessive, but I think even the biggest Massholes are out-crazied by European soccer fans. Even with the worst of them banned, the remaining fans were far more raucous than those at any baseball or football game I've attended stateside. You know when CBS pans to show that pit of Raiders fans dressed in armor and spikes as it cuts back from commercials at Oakland games? Picture that type of intensity shared by an entire stadium, without limits on age or sex. That's comparable to being at a European soccer match. Everyone around you is constantly starting cheers, and you feel compelled to join in on each of them despite the fact that you have no idea what you could be screaming. As for the game itself, it pretty much confirmed why I don't like soccer. Sparta, the home team, lost 2-0. Eighty-nine minutes of boredom punctuated twice by scoring. I concede, these were amazing goals, both scored by Thierry Henry in eye-popping fashion and with the second one breaking Arsenal's all-time scoring record. It was Henry's first game back from injury and I couldn't take my eyes off him the whole game. The hallmarks of greatness were all there. Everything seemed blissfully simple for Henry, and it was just like watching Jordan or Gretzky. But I digress. The fun part of the game wasn't on the field, but in the stands. It was a truly Czech experience. You could buy a delicious kielbasa and beer for $2 American, or half a roast chicken, pickle, cabbage and beer for $4. For the same price as both of those together, you still can't buy a beer at Yankee Stadium. Just so my friends and father are clear: I have by no means given up on American sports. My brother and I shattered Prague's 10 p.m. noise curfew on Sunday night when Eli Manning led the Giants to an improbable comeback victory. And I'll still be ravenously devouring every NFL game and spring training tidbit I can find when I get home. I just might be a little more reluctant to drop $80 on a baseball game, a few beers and a hot dog when I know that, half a world away, I could be watching a soccer game with 20,000 fanatics, eating half a roast chicken for $3 and drinking virtually free beer.

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News

My brain has a sex?

October 25

Men and women are equal, and therefore, women should have all of the same rights as men. Because of this, no distinction should be made between boys and girls when it comes to education and other forms of socialization. Isn't that what women have been fighting for since winning the right to vote in 1920? It's been a long struggle, and we are achieving our goals. Women are going places their predecessors never thought they could. So how is someone like myself, who wholeheartedly supports women's rights, supposed to react to ideas like, let's say, separating students in the public school system by gender? My first reaction was "No way!" But what of the evidence that suggests that boys' and girls' brains learn differently? Scientific studies illustrate the varying conditions under which boys and girls effectively absorb knowledge, and schools that have implemented a curriculum that caters towards the different needs of each gender show signs of academic improvement. Allow me to digress for a moment. I am currently enrolled in a political science class called "Media, Politics and the Law," taught by Professor Michael Goldman, which I highly recommend to all of my peers. During the first class, we were handed a Culture Quiz, which asked us to agree or disagree with 50 statements produced by the public clash of private values that have fueled the American culture wars. One of the first statements was: Men are more jealous over sexual infidelity, while women care more about emotional betrayal. Yes, the stereotypes suggest that women require more emotional support in a relationship while men, fearing inadequacy in the bedroom, are more jealous of their partner's infidelity because they do not want their women to know that something "better" exists. This is why a woman's level of experience with the opposite sex is such a big deal to some men. But to what extent are these stereotypes results of differences in the biology of the male and female brain? Let me assert here that I believe that women and men should be unquestionably equal in the eyes of the law (and in the eyes of one another, but I cannot affect free will). But should men and women necessarily be viewed as being the same? Recently, I came across a BBC article entitled "Your Brain's Sex Can Make You Ill," in which a doctor claims that "we should be looking at diseases as male and female." The article argues that doctors and scientists now have proof that being male or female makes one more susceptible to different diseases, and that because men and women's brains are different, we should change the way we study and diagnose disease. These conclusions, scientists claim, should affect the way in which treatment drugs are prescribed, especially since most of the drugs available today have only been tested on men and may not work as effectively on women as it has been demonstrated that women's brains change throughout their lives as a result of fluctuating hormone levels. Some ardent feminists might argue that these ideas can be manipulated against women to prove that they are somehow unequal to men, and that the ideology of "separate but equal" would be brought back to suppress women's civil rights. Personally, I do not believe that this will happen. Once the differences between the sexes (or ethnicity, race, or religion) can be embraced as enriching components of our collective culture, they can be used to foster a greater understanding of human behavior and humanity in general. Granted, it must first be universally and unconditionally recognized that "different" does not mean "less capable." History has proven repeatedly that this is very difficult to do, but today, women have established themselves as strong forces. There will always be those who argue that the place of the woman is at home and at her husband's side. But with many powerful female icons like Princess Diana and Hilary Clinton, and popular television shows like "Sex in the City" and "Desperate Housewives," women will continue to break through the glass ceiling. If science has proven that gender affects the brain, and if the brain determines how we interact with one another and learn, then perhaps the conditions under which we effectively absorb knowledge are also determined by our gender. Like the BBC article suggests for drug treatments, quality of education would be optimized in a personalized situation, or one-on-one tutoring. But the costs of such an operation at the public level would be prohibitive. Single-sex classrooms provide an alternative. This doesn't necessarily mean that boys and girls would not get a chance to interact in the hallways and at lunchtime, unless entire schools were designated as either male or female, which I do not think would be legal in the public school system. The gender socialization that takes place in most public schools today would still exist, albeit to a lesser degree. If a district can afford to have more teachers, particularly those who are trained and sensitive to gender-specific issues which might affect students' learning methods, then programs which separate children into single-sex classrooms should merit attention. What would your response be if I were to suggest that such separation-by-sex should occur only in elementary and middle schools, when children begin to establish but do not cement the way in which they learn information and approach education? My brain does have a sex, which in turn affects the way in which I perceive and interact with the world around me. But to what extent should we allow biological factors to determine how we choose to educate ourselves? And what are the risks involved in doing so? Here is a fact which cannot be denied: the education system in the U.S. is faltering. Still deeply and shamefully segregated despite Brown v. Board of Education, our school system needs our attention. The very foundations of our future are being forsaken for a formless threat thousands of miles away that is less likely to kill the average American than is a bee sting. One possible solution which might improve the situation in our public schools is the separation of children into moderately personalized educational environments geared towards optimizing their learning experience.Daphne LaBua is a senior majoring in Political Science and French.

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News

Julie Schindall | Making the Connections

October 25

For all my complaining about how early the grocery stores close in Geneva, the city has many wonderful things to offer: the United Nations, the Jet d'Eau (the world's largest shooting stream of water), and an awesomely multicultural population. Geneva also offers, according to several of my male colleagues at work, one of the most beautiful and chic young female populations in Europe. While they gushed to me about the wonders of the smoldering filles, I sat back in my chair and seriously regarded the slightly dirty cuff of my Gap low-rise khakis. What's an American girl to do in a Europe of pashminas and ballet flats? Way back in early August, dressed in running shorts and a bra, I packed my bags for my European experience. I dutifully tried to fill my Samsonite with a good sampling of versatile yet fashionable blazers, pants and tops. Realizing that I was about to enter a different realm of fashion, I borrowed my mother's pashmina and packed every piece of jewelry in my arsenal. My Gap khakis came along, supplemented with a funky belt. When in doubt, accessorize. Imagine my surprise, then, when I arrived at my Geneva homestay to be greeted by a 37-year-old single woman wearing cutoff Levi shorts and a wife-beater. If I remember correctly, that had been my sleeping attire in the hot summers of 5th grade. The shoes parked messily at the door to the apartment were all grocery store-edition slip-ons, and her feet were couched in filthy and cracked soccer slides. Madame Hubert's French sounded authentically cultured and lovely - but her clothes, mon Dieu! The next morning, trying to disguise my shock at Mme Hubert's sleeping attire (a Bugs Bunny T-shirt and lace thong), I walked out the door for my first day in Geneva, looking forward to sightings of diplomats and Gen??¶? chic. At the U.N., the men and women wore matching navy polyester suits, while at the Red Cross they sported ribbed sweaters and flowery blouses. Nothing inspiring, but international aid workers, I do believe, can be forgiven for their fashion transgressions. By the end of the day, commuting through central downtown to return home, I turned my eye towards the crowds crossing the Rue de Mont Blanc. Internationalism (Geneva's middle name) is the sine qua non of my European fashion experience. The men - bless them for their blind adherence to rules - stuck stolidly to Hugo Boss in charcoal and the quintessential Kenneth Cole black leather briefcase. This look I knew well - I call it the "guest speaker day at the Fletcher School look"- and I found it acceptably clean and crisp. The classically Swiss addition of the full-sized black umbrella provided the perfect end-of-day detail for the 5:30 p.m. male working crowd. The women, on the other hand, seemed to have come not from the exotic far reaches of this world, but rather from outer space. Their laundry list of fashion indiscretions runs long, but high at the top is a faux pas that has come to define my problems with European fashion: forgetting the time of day. Yes, I know that Europeans approach their schedules with a relaxed air. And I have to admit that two-hour lunches and four-hour dinners are not without their charms. However, wearing bleached rhinestone-studded jeans with a faux-furred nylon waist jacket - all in the late afternoon - is most certainly without its charms. Every afternoon on my walk home from work, I see bevies of these poor young women who, even in Swatch's home country, seem to have lost their watches. And while I don't like to snipe at big business, I have to say that the stores appear only to encourage this terrible fashion state of affairs. Store racks abound with track pants sold as daywear and perfectly good white linen pants ruined by slits running from ankle to thigh. Even at H&M, the venerable and extraordinarily popular European retailer, I cannot find a single black belt without studs or a giant buckle that says "Hottie." Here is the question I ask myself: what is Europe coming to when fashion in its most international city subsists on rhinestones and polyester? Has the suave, chic and cultured Europe of my fashion daydreams disappeared under a tide of Chinese textile imports? (The European Union might say this is indeed the cause.) And what force is responsible for this terrible European fashion reality? Jacques Chirac and I have not thoroughly discussed this dilemma, but I would say bad European fashion is a result of a situation on Mr. Chirac's mind quite frequently: the state of the European economy. While the Rue du Marches is admittedly dotted with Louis Vuitton and Benetton, ask any Swiss person where she shops and the answer is H&M or C&A. Both of these chains offer fashion in the global age incarnate: sweaters made in Nepal, belts made in Mexico, chopsticks as hair accessories. And while I won't deny the spiffiness of wearing underwear from a country I've never visited, the art of the fashion itself is seriously lacking. Yet I cannot blame H&M and C&A for falling victim to mass production of ugly fashions. While everyone would probably love to afford the unique and remarkable handmade items at European boutiques, it is the low prices at mass market retailers that draw in the Saturday crowds. Whichever giant retailers can get a good price, consumers in Europe will be, in a sense, forced to buy. While Switzerland has one of the world's highest standards of living, any Swiss citizen will tell you that as the cost of living keeps going up, maintaining European standards of living becomes increasingly difficult. Thus fashion, malheureusement, falls to the wayside as consumers weigh paying for car insurance versus paying for a new pair of shoes. And that, my friends, is something to complain about.

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News

Ben Swasey | From Way Downtown

October 25

It's baseball month. After 162 games of homers, strikeouts and David Wells' crotch adjustments, we've finally reached the season's pinnacle: the World Series. I figure by now you've all been inundated and overwhelmed with countless articles, opinions, and replays of A.J. Pierzynski's "strikeout," but this is the World Series, and it's damn important, so it's going to be my column topic, too. Besides, I haven't written about baseball yet, so I think it's my turn. Having said that, I've come up with a list of five personal observations from this year's matchup between the Chicago White Sox and the Houston Astros. These notes are stemming only from Games 1 and 2, since this was written before last night's game. OK, without further ado, huddle up and listen in: 1. I am capable of acting civil, yet excited, while watching baseball. After rooting hard for a team all season, like I did with the Red Sox, it's interesting to watch baseball consistently without any real vested interest in a particular squad. Sometimes I found myself surfing the channels, but the tight play and the high drama kept me coming back, especially in the later innings. With this more objective viewpoint, I'm able to praise and criticize appropriately on both sides. Before, my emotions would alter my judgment, as I would fail to believe Big Papi could take a legitimate strike three, and I would refuse to recognize A-Rod's ability. But in this Series, I can simply appreciate the wonderful game. I still get excited about certain plays, like when I jumped up as White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko smashed his grand slam in Game 2, but there aren't the same highs and lows. Don't get me wrong: I would much rather trudge through the playoffs with my Sox, but I feel like a movie reviewer, composed and acute, while still really enjoying the action. 2. Expect the unexpected. Over the course of a season, it's possible to predict how certain players and teams will perform, but in the short context of a playoff series, one or two plays can change fortunes drastically. For example, the Astros' plan was to rely on their starting pitching, led by veteran aces Roger Clemens and Andy Petitte, who have plenty of combined postseason experience. However, both are banged up, and, despite Petitte's strong Game Two performance, have left Houston in a hole. Similarly, Houston's veteran, Hall of Fame-caliber hitters, Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell (who is also hurt), have, through two games, played a poor series both offensively and defensively. On the other side, the White Sox have milked everything out of their talent, and more. Third baseman Joe Crede is playing very well, closer Bobby Jenks began the season in the minors, and Scott Posednik, sans a homer through 500-plus regular season at-bats, smacked a walk-off shot on Sunday. For a team whose weakness was supposed to be offense, the White Sox were not retired in order until the fourth inning of Game Two. 3. Relievers are large, scary men. Relief pitchers are great, although they offer no relief. If every time they enter in the playoffs things seem very stressful. One night, a reliever can be a hero, and the next, a goat, just ask Bobby Jenks, who smoked fastballs by Houston in Game 1, but was smacked for two runs and a blown save (despite later picking up the win) in Game 2. Or ask the Astros' Chad Qualls or Brad Lidge about the danger of their jobs. I'm sure they'd want a couple pitches back, but both had to be ready to go again last night. Another thing I respect about many relief pitchers is how they challenge hitters. In Game 1, Chicago's Neal Cotts and Bobby Jenks threw nothing but fastballs in the eighth inning, striking out the side. It was as if they were engaged in a duel and asking batters to "catch up with this if you can." It's a great sports moment when you know a Jenks' 99-mph fastball is coming over and over, and yet the batter still swings and misses. 4. Well, hello, managers... It's often said that baseball managers don't do much besides setting the lineup, changing pitchers, and occasionally arguing a call to no avail. Well, in the postseason, managers become more important, and every move they make is scrutinized and second-guessed. I can barely say his name, but Grady Little is an excellent example. In the playoffs, strategy is crucial, as every batter and base runner could be the run that makes the difference. The World Series adds another dimension when the play travels from an American League park to a DH-disallowed National League park. Thus far, everyone is gushing over Chicago's Ozzie Guillen because he pretty much hasn't made a mistake, although he's barely had to use his bench or his bullpen (remember his starters' four consecutive ALCS complete games?). Houston manager Phil Garner has made full use of his team, but some of his moves have been criticized. In addition, the umpires, unfortunately, become more visible, as exemplified by Game Two's incorrect hit-by-pitch call that came before Konerko's slam. This should, and better, change after this year with instant replay. 5. I like the World Series. This really isn't an observation, but a conclusion. Everything, from the unexpected plays, to the intense relievers, to the vital strategy makes this correctly named the Fall Classic. It's a time when every pitch counts, every hit is "the biggest of his career" (as Joe Buck says), and every player can make a great play.

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Alumni play a large role in the cross country community

October 25

For the better part of a decade, the men's cross country team measured its postseason aspirations in part by comparing itself to a golden standard: the 1996 squad that finished seventh at nationals. The goal was always to top that team's finish, which last year's team did by virtue of its new school-record sixth place finish in Wisconsin. With that accomplished, this year's edition immediately focused on new goals - bettering last year's team and securing a top-four podium finish at nationals. Tufts is expected to qualify for nationals in November, and when it does, the runners expect a few Jumbos from the past to be there urging them on. This is the way things work in Tufts men's cross country program. "One of the best parts [of the Tufts men's cross country team] is that you feel like you're not really running for yourself as much as you're running for a program," former captain Brian McNamara (LA '05) said. "You want to compete for everyone who ran before you. And it will never end because there are always the guys that come after you." Senior co-captain Matt Lacey expressed similar sentiments after an anonymous alumnus donor paid for the team to travel to Wisconsin for a race two weeks ago. It was an incredibly generous gift from an individual, but, noted former captain and 2005 graduate Peter Bromka, "Having a donor who can afford to put the team where it should be isn't isolated; it's a result of having many alumni who feel strongly about the program." And there are many. Indeed, while the gift is perhaps the most tangible example of the long-distance program's self-devotion, it is far from the only evidence. For years now, alumni have flocked to the annual Labor Day weekend Alumni Run, former coach Connie Putnam's brainchild at Grafton, to race against the current edition and follow up with a barbeque. Numerous past and present runners said the race was crucial in helping alumni stay connected to the program by turning names and times of present Jumbos into faces and personalities. On the flip side, the event also helps newcomers to the program understand the depth of feeling that exists. "The freshmen haven't really even been in school yet, but they already know 20 guys on the team, and then they come to the race and see all these alumni behind them and the program, supporting them, there for job networking, anything, and they understand the bonds they can build with each other through the team," Justin Lewis (LA '02) said. "I remember that really struck a chord with me," said J.R. Cruz (LA '02), a former captain and currently a senior in Tufts Medical School. "I would say [the alumni presence] is a large part of why I wanted to be part of the team from the moment I started talking to Connie," Bromka said. "That was always his dream to build up that kind of community and build momentum year-to-year." That dream has, for the most part, become a reality. While it's inevitable that alumni begin to drift away the further they get from graduation, the squad keeps them in the loop with a weekly e-mail update. "It helps," Cruz said. "Because that way alumni who can't come to meets or who live in different parts of the country or have become a little detached can still follow the team." Still, those who no longer live in the Boston area and can't make it to Grafton meets or the annual indoor "Has-Beens" mile are by no means detached from the program. "We expect alumni at every big race," said assistant coach Rod Hemingway (LA '98), who volunteered to help out the team this season in addition to his fulltime job. "There are alumni who live in the Midwest, and they come to nationals and cheer us on." Already, Bromka said, a contingent of recent alums is planning to fly out to Ohio for nationals. And an alum there has offered his house for the inevitable caravan of junior varsity Jumbos making their way to nationals to cheer on their teammates. "Anywhere we go in the country we have alumni who are not only willing and able to help but angry if we don't seek them out," Hemingway said. "We feel an identity with the cross country program. I can go a couple of years without talking to an alum, but then as soon as we see each other, within five minutes it's as if we had talked to each other an hour ago." Unlike other single-season teams, most cross-county runners compete year-round, following up their fall season by running indoor track in the winter and outdoor in the spring. "It definitely forges a very strong bond," Hemingway said. "Running with each other every day, even on our off days, eating with each other afterwards. On any given night, there will be 25 guys sitting at a table in Dewick. It's always been a tradition and a culture." Being a collegiate athlete for three seasons involves a sacrifice which all members of the program share. "You hear a lot of [non-athletes] talking about going out on Tuesday nights or Friday nights, and you might think, 'What did I sacrifice? What did I give up?' But it's because of the team and the sense of community that you can feel like you're not giving that much up," Bromka said. It may sound corny, but it's true. "We feel it helped to develop us as men, and it bonded us with each other and gave us a loyalty," Hemingway said. A big part of this sense of spirit and loyalty stems from Putnam, who retired this fall after 21 years at the helm of the program. "There's definitely a feeling among the alumni, 'Let's rally a lot of enthusiasm and support right now, and keep a good thing going, and support the new coaches and new kids,'" Bromka said. Hemingway summed up Putnam's philosophy as follows: "You may not have been No. 1 on the team, you may have been No. 15 on the team, but that didn't preclude you from being a great success outside of sports. "And Connie made a lot of runners see that," he said. "He instilled in all of his athletes the necessity of being proud of your performance and also the ability to go on and compete outside of running. He wanted us to be great men first and great athletes second." The devotion is not only to Tufts, but to running itself. "Track is a lifetime sport," coach Ethan Barron said. "Once you're a runner, you're probably going to keep running in some way, shape, or form for the rest of your life." "Definitely, [the idea of track being a lifetime sport is] what makes it possible for the Alumni Race and 'Has-Been' mile to work so well," said Cruz, who this weekend will go to New York to participate in a common alumni pastime: running a marathon, in this case his fifth. And once you're into the daily grind of the real world, it always helps to have a friend to run with. Just ask Bromka, who lives in Central Square with four other alums. "Four of us went out running at 7:15 this morning before work," Bromka said. "We're not running anywhere near the intensity or the level those guys are doing on the team; we're just getting our miles in." Bromka and housemate and former All-American Nate Brigham have a deal. "Unless you cancel the night before, we're running the next day," Bromka said. "If one of us tries to sleep in, the other one is going to wake him up."

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Volleyball Feature | Weekend trip to Emory strengthened team both on and off the court

October 25

Going into Friday and Saturday's Emory National Invitational, the volleyball team had not traveled outside of New England all season. In fact, the team that went down to Georgia this past weekend was the first Tufts volleyball team to travel to a tournament in another region. The trip was just one step in Coach Cora Thompson's efforts to build up the Tufts volleyball program. "Tufts volleyball has never been known as a consistent powerhouse team in New England," Thompson said. With a talented roster and four straight winning seasons, Thompson is trying to change that reputation. Thompson said she believes the Jumbos have to face the best teams they can whenever possible. Since taking over as coach, Thompson has used the regular season as an opportunity to challenge her team. She created the Tufts Invitational Tournament last year, and this year she used the tournament to bring in multiple Top 25 teams. "Part of [establishing the Tufts program as a powerhouse] is playing the toughest teams in New England as often as possible," Thompson said. Next Thompson wanted to give her team a chance to play some of the best teams in the country. "We want to find the best competition from other regions so that we can challenge ourselves," Thompson said. The Jumbos got to play teams that they haven't seen before. Some of those teams represented the class of the South and the Midwest. On Saturday, the Jumbos played Millikin University (Ill.), which has received votes for the Top 25, and Emory University, the No. 3 team in the nation. As the only team from New England represented at the tournament, the Jumbos saw it as an opportunity to show the other schools the strength of the region. "It was good to show the other teams how good our conference is and put New England out there," freshman Natalie Goldstein said. Although the Jumbos were 2-2 in the tournament and could not knock off Emory or Millikin, Thompson said she felt that the tournament got the team's name out. "We absolutely gained respect for our program as well as for New England," Thompson said. The trip was also a chance for the team to continue to gel and improve its chemistry. "I love traveling with the team," Goldstein said. "It was a really good bonding experience." Although the players spent much of the day playing volleyball, they had Friday and Saturday night free to go out to dinner. "It was the south; life is slow-paced and mellow, the weather was warm and gorgeous, and the scenery was amazing," Thompson, a west-coaster transplanted in New England, said. "The accents were neat, and overall it was just great to break our season up with a little bit of southern hospitality."

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Top Ten | Sports Halloween costumes

October 24

With October quickly coming to a close and Halloween approaching faster than that midterm you have tomorrow, this week's installment of the top ten offers some costume ideas for the sports-minded college student. Whether you're going for sexy, funny or just plain ridiculous, athletes make great models for Halloween costumes. And the top ten are... 10) Bill Belicheck: Don't shower or shave for three days, find your oldest, rattiest sweatshirt and basically just look like a homeless person. If you really want to go all out, sleep on the quad the night before. 9) Ben Wallace: One word: Afro. And no, the jew-fro doesn't count.8) Anna Kournikova: Reuse your golf pros and tennis hos costume from Sig Ep last week.7) The New NBA Player: Dressed to the nines with a three piece suit, plenty of bling and a whole new attitude.6) Token hockey player: Have your best friend punch out your four front teeth, don't get your hair cut for three months, carry around a six-pack of Labatt Blue all night, and start throwing around phrases like "what's this all aboot?" Being out of work for the past year is optional, but would add a nice touch.5) The team mascot of your choice. Nobody can tell how good or bad looking you are until you bring them back to your room and take off your enormous foam head. 4) Kevin Millar: grow a mustache and some other silly facial hair, wear a cowboy hat and carry a bottle of Jack around all night. If you're still having trouble, consult the Queer Eye quintet.3) Misty May: Show off your rock hard abs and patriotism with a red white and blue bikini. Make sure to wear your alcohol blanket, and top your beer goggles with a cool pair of Oakleys. Optional: wear a gold medal around your neck.2) Dennis Rodman: This one's a gimme. Wear your favorite wedding dress, dye your hair the color of your choice, and buy a bunch a clip-on earrings to attach to any and all conceivable body parts. Feather boas are also a nice touch.1) The Jamaican Bobsled Team: This one requires four people, but is worth the effort. The black, green, yellow, and red unitards are key, along with dreadlock wigs (or actual dreadlocks) and shaved heads. Feel the rhythm, feel the rhyme, because its Jamaican Bobsled time. Go around selling kisses for a dollar for good measure. -- by Aman Gupta, Liz Hoffman, Alex Bloom and Kristy Cunningham

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Halfway in, two senators leave

October 24

Senior Athena Bogis and freshman Andrew Lee have resigned from the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate. They gave their decision to TCU President Jeff Katzin, a senior, on Monday. Bogis said she is taking the rest of this semester off from school, which prevented her from keeping her seat. Only full-time students can be senators, Katzin said. "Our hands are tied," he said. Bogis declined to say why she is taking the semester off, but she said she was aware of the TCU Senate policy before she made her decision. She had been on the TCU Senate since transferring from Barnard College to Tufts her sophomore year. She said she expects to return to Tufts, ideally next semester. Depending if there are open seats when she returns, Bogis said, she hopes to run again for the TCU Senate. "As long as I'm considered a member of the Tufts community, I would love to be involved with Senate again," she said. Lee said he resigned because of the time commitment the TCU Senate demanded. He was the leading vote-getter in the Sept. 14 election for freshman senators. "In the end, straight up, I just don't have time for it," he said. He said he was told the position would require attending the three-hour TCU Senate meeting and an additional committee meeting each week. Once on the Senate, Lee was also elected to the Allocations Board, which required another meeting each week that lasted at least two hours. The three meetings were too much for Lee, who is also a member of the Reserve Officer Training Corp program and the cross country team. "It's a little overwhelming," he said. Lee said he appreciated his time on the TCU Senate and what he was able to accomplish. "It was really disappointing and really saddening to have to resign," he said. But with his current commitments, he said, it is unlikely he will run again. The Senate will hold a candidates meeting on Nov. 1 for students interested in running for Bogis and Lee's seats, Katzin said. If there is a contested election, there will be a debate on Nov. 7, and the election will be on Nov. 8 - the same day as the mid-term elections for Congress.

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The secret life of...a fantasy gamer | Don't call him a geek, call him Game Master

October 24

Fantasy gamers: we all know them, or think we do. They're those kids who sit in the back of the room, by themselves, with their laptops, looking totally focused (or totally... um... awkward). These students are doing something other than studying: they're plotting, strategizing, trying to figure out which character would give them more "mana," or pondering whether the Pprotoss" or the "Zerg" would make the wiser decision. Far be it from you to interrupt them. But for Tufts sophomore Phillip Lobo, there is much more to fantasy gaming than sitting behind his computer all day and cutting off communication from the non-gamer world. It all started when he was in sixth grade. "It was the thing to do among my friends and I," he said. Lobo began to play different games on and off every weekend. He soon, however, assumed the coveted role of Game Master (GM) - meaning that he created single characters who lasted for the duration of the game and were then retired. Lobo also created the "worlds" in which each character lived. To someone not acclimated to the world of fantasy gaming, these different games may all seem the same. But there are significant differences between each one. "'Dungeons and Dragons' is a role-playing game (RPG), which focuses on the characters," he said. "There are also computer RPGs, like 'World of Warcraft' and 'Final Fantasy,' which are a lot less open," he added. "And 'Magic' is a customizable card game, which means that players buy cards, make decks and fight each other. These don't have that much emphasis on character." "Then there are games like 'Warcraft' and 'Starcraft,' which are real-time strategy games, as opposed to turn-based strategy games, which are played turn by turn," Lobo said. Examples of such games, include "Civilization" and "Master of Orion." "And then there are 'war' games, which are played using miniatures and tokens," Lobo went on. "Those are more expensive, and I played them a lot more in middle school. Now I only play them so I don't waste [the money I spent on them]," he laughed. Wasted money may be one aspect of being a fantasy gamer, but what about the whole geek reputation? "Oh, [fantasy games are] in the realm of geekdom," Lobo admitted. But in Lobo's case, his interest in fantasy games serves him an actual purpose: as an English major and aspiring writer, Lobo uses his gaming experiences in his work. According to Lobo, there are "a lot of dangers" with writing fantasy fiction. Besides the fact that he feels "there hasn't been anything new since [J.R.R.] Tolkien," fantasy writers also "spend so much time creating a world, as opposed to creating characters and conflict." But this is where gaming comes in: Lobo chooses to write works based on the worlds he creates as a GM. As a result, storytelling and gaming have an interrelated relationship: Lobo is currently working on a novella set in his RPG world, which features characters he created along with his friends. Lobo said that his goal as a writer is to entertain people: "It's good to have deep meaning in your work, but sometimes you just want to give people a fun experience," he said. "It's sheer escapism," he added. "All of the problems and conflicts aren't yours. There are dragons and men that aren't really men - none of it follows any literary rules, but that's exactly why I like it. If you can write it and people like it, that's great." Lobo drops the names of famous authors who aren't known for their literary calibre, such as Stephen King, saying that he admires them nonetheless. "He brings so much joy to people through his writing, which is certainly better for them than watching 'Temptation Island' or something," he said. And because he learned early on how to create characters and situations through gaming, Lobo is better able to express them in his writing, making it all the more enjoyable for his readers. Gaming has also led Lobo to take an active role in the Strategic Gaming Society at Tufts. "It's pretty loose," he said. "We meet at 1 p.m. on Saturdays in the Campus Center. We usually play tabletop strategy and board games until 6:30 p.m., and then those involved in the present RPG will remain and play as late as 11 p.m." Lobo always stays: he doesn't want to leave the PCs, or Player Characters. "Being a GM is similar to being a writer," he said. "As a GM, you're telling the story for the PCs' enjoyment, so your primary goal is to have the PCs enjoy the experience." What does Lobo have to say about the nerdy, stereotypical conception of gamers? "A lot of people who play fantasy games do so because they want an escape," Lobo said. "It takes a certain amount of intellect. There are definitely socially inept gamers, but it's a very insular community - completely over other people's heads." "It's hard for gamers to get along with other people, but that's like any other minority group," he said. "If gamers freeze up in social situations, it's because they never had the ability to get out of their shell." Lobo, however, is a naturally outgoing person who aims overall to embrace people through both his gaming and his writing. "It's a wicked-cool thing," he said.

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News

World Series-National League

October 24

Never in the 44-year history of the Houston Astros franchise has a player been engraved into a Hall of Fame plaque and mounted in Cooperstown. For decades, the Astros were without a franchise player, a player to inspire legends and continually awe his loyal fans. And then, in the early 1990s, there were two. Second baseman Craig Biggio and first baseman Jeff Bagwell, who played their first game together in 1991, have now been teammates for 15 seasons. Over the years, Biggio has amassed 604 doubles and 1,697 runs; Bagwell, 449 homers and 1,529 RBI. Side by side, Bagwell and Biggio have anchored the Astros for a decade and a half, carrying the team to new heights. Houston has since made six playoff appearances, winning four National League Central division titles. The "Killer B's" have cemented their place in history among the great duos of all time - Ruth and Gehrig, Aaron and Mathews, Mays and McCovey. The only difference is that these two men, both likely future Hall-of-Famers, are lacking World Series rings. After winning their first NL Championship, the Astros are now just four wins away from cementing the duo's legacy, and quite possibly making both men first-ballot Hall-of-Famers. But now, as Houston opens its biggest series in franchise history, both superstars have been silenced in their first two games against the American League champion Chicago White Sox. Sox hurlers Jose Contreras and Mark Buehrle have gotten the best of both Bagwell and Biggio at the plate. In 14 combined plate appearances in the first two games, each has just one single. Biggio, 39, and Bagwell, 37, are both running out of chances to add a World Series title to their r?©?µm?©?® After having led the Astros to their first-ever NL pennant, the two entered the series optimistic that they could propel Houston to four more wins. But now, with the team down 0-2 and headed home to face the Sox' Jon Garland, hope is running out. Tonight, the Astros' Roy Oswalt will take the mound to start the first World Series game ever played in the state of Texas. Oswalt is Houston's go-to man. He is 3-0 in the playoffs. His performances have been emblematic of the entire Astro rotation in October - solid from top to bottom. But pitching alone will not be enough for the Astros to win the team's first World Series. The offense needs to fall into place, and that just hasn't been happening. Willy Taveras and Lance Berkman are performing well in the heart of the order, but two men can't carry an entire lineup. The White Sox are hitting, from top to bottom, and Houston so far is lacking that kind of offensive depth. For the Astros, the brunt of the offensive weight has been carried by two players -Taveras and Berkman - and that just isn't enough. If the Astros want to win the World Series, they will need their two leaders to come through in the clutch and ignite the rest of the offense. Many of Houston's stars are still young, and will have more chances to win a ring. But Biggio turns 40 in December, and Bagwell isn't far behind. This is the year. This is the series, if the Killer B's want to be remembered as champions, it all has to come together - and time is running out.

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Women's Crew | Head of the Charles brings some of nation's best collegiate boats to Boston

October 24

A city that boasts one of the largest populations of college students got a few more this weekend as the Head of the Charles, one of the largest collegiate crew events in the nation, descended upon Boston. The women's crew team competed alongside 46 other teams this weekend, racing three boats in the regatta. On Saturday, the second varsity team competed in the Club Eight Women's race, finishing 37th out of 49 teams (19:31.066). In Sunday's Collegiate Eight Women's race, the first varsity team placed 12th overall (19:07.675) and fourth among Div. III teams in a field of 46 teams, a huge leap from a 27th-place finish out of 30 teams last year. In the same race, a second Tufts boat rowing under the club pseudonym of Mystic Valley Rowing Association finished 36th (19:59.770). The boat ran into some trouble when Bates got physical under a one-lane bridge. The Bates bowseat got her stroke seat right in front of the Tufts stroke seat, who managed to keep her rhythm and pushed the Bates oar away. Bates was penalized 30 seconds for the move, dropping it down about six spots in the final standings. These few seconds rattled the Tufts boat and contributed to its lower-than-expected finish. "This really took our focus off the race," sophomore Leah Koppel said. "We have to be able to keep focus when something unexpected happens." The first Tufts boat found itself in somewhat smoother waters, and its 12th-place finish is one of the program's best in recent years. "On the women's side, we have more top-end speed and greater depth than last year, which will create greater competition for spring," Caldwell said. Senior Martha Dietz voiced similar sentiments. "I think we've made even bigger improvements and we're in good position to head into winter training," she said. For seniors like Dietz, this year was her fourth and final showing at the regatta. "Everybody's been around for several years and it's exciting as well as sad because you're leaving something that's been a huge part of your life for such a long time and we've all been involved with the team," Dietz said. "But it also helps you enjoy it more because you recognize how fleeting it really is." Caldwell was extremely impressed with the women's team and its senior leadership so far in the fall season. He points to the Head of the Charles as a step forward into the spring season. The regatta provided a sneak preview of the competition, both regionally and around the country, that Tufts may face next semester. "You can't help but look at results and see where you are in relation to other people, other schools," Caldwell said. "A lot of boats were close to each other, and it's clear to me and the athletes that it's going to take a lot of work this winter and spring to get better. It won't be a cakewalk." With the Head of the Charles behind it, the crew team will spend its time preparing for the Fall NESCAC-NERC Novice Championships in Worcester.

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Sara Franklin | Oh My!: Sex Straight up

October 24

At one time or another, most of us have felt as though our sexual drive has just dropped off completely. Or, in some cases, never even began. What's up? Why, for some people, does libido come and go (and when it goes, often stay away for a long time)? And furthermore, why hasn't it appeared at all for some people? Some may argue that asexuality is the cause. I beg to differ. Sexuality is part of human nature. You can argue it any way you want; it's some higher power's way of urging us to procreate, it's just hormones talking, it's the desire for physical pleasure. I could continue, but I don't think I need to. When it comes down to it, most of us want to have sexual experiences. Let me be clear here: this does not necessarily mean sexual intercourse! I'm talking everything from a sensual caress to masturbation to a wonderful kiss to, of course, sex. So why, if we're all such sexual creatures, do the valves of desire seem to shut off from time to time? Unfortunately, just about anything can kill your libido. Even more unfortunate is the fact that the lifestyle of a college student is not conducive to preserving one's sexual urges. First off, stress is a major downer for your raging hormones. This could be stress from schoolwork, family pressure or problems, social anxiety, job concerns - just about anything you can think of. Other emotional problems, such as depression and lack of self-confidence, can really hurt your libido as well. When you're not feeling good about yourself, you don't feel desirable. And, as a general rule, when you don't feel attractive, your "go get 'em" hormones get buried under the heap of negative emotions. Emotional mix-ups aren't the only cause of decreased libido. Physical alterations to your body or not taking proper care of yourself can seriously affect your sexual urges. A major factor in libido level is not paying attention to regimen (diet and exercise). Proper nutrition keeps your body's functions in check, and without it - say, with a diet of late night pizza, bagels, and beer - your body's signals start to get out of whack. And we all know that regular, moderate exercise is the key to good health, even sexual health! Some medications (especially birth control - ironic, huh?) have decreased sexual "appetite" as a side effect. So what do we do about all these problems that are taking away our "va va voom"? Well, for starters, get moving! Exercise addresses many of the causes of low libido by releasing those feel-good chemicals, endorphins. Exercise can also help with libido-lowering problems; specific workouts, such as weight lifting and yoga, have even been linked to increases in hormonal activity and enhanced feelings of attractiveness. A proper diet goes hand in hand with exercise. A healthy combination of nutritional foods (avoiding excess saturated fat, salt, and sugar) can really help your body get back to its natural, balanced state. If stress is your problem, you can also try keeping a journal or talking to a counselor about what's bugging you. Sometimes stress and anxiety are specifically related to sex, and in that case try talking to a friend (if your fear is being inexperienced, maybe talk to a close friend who has more sexual experience than you do) or going to a bookstore and checking out self-help books and advice manuals. They can offer up some pretty good advice, and your concerns remain private. These strategies can help if you're having long-term problems with your libido, but if you're just having a dip in your feelings of desire, try any, or all, of the following: If you're into keeping a journal, try writing down your fantasies. You may be surprised at how turned on you get. Furthermore, putting your fantasies down on paper can help you become brave enough to ask for them in reality. Speaking of fantasies, try popping in porn. Sure, it may not be politically correct (ladies, if you're worried about this, check out grandopening.com for female-directed and female-friendly porn), but it's harmless, safe and carries no emotional risks (unlike the awkward conversation that may ensue if you whip out the handcuffs on someone without first talking about it). If that's a little too racy for you, try just picking up an issue of a magazine that gives sex advice (Maxim for the men, Cosmo for the ladies). Just reading words that relate to foreplay, passion, and sex can help rev your motor. As for true quick fixes, try using one of many aphrodisiacs (these are especially useful if you're getting ready for a night out or are on a date with your sweetheart). Some that are easy to get your hands on are coffee and alcohol (both only in small quantities - if you overdo either of them, they end up dampening your libido and, potentially, your body's ability to perform normal sexual functions as well), asparagus, ginger (try ginger tea, the yummy sweet ginger slices that come with sushi, or ginger chews found at health food stores), or any spicy foods. For something that never fails, try taking a nice, hot, sensual shower or bath with scented toiletries. No matter what you use, don't let your libido get buried under the mountains of other things going on in your life. Allow yourself a little sexual liberty; sensuousness and pleasure are things that should never be ignored!

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News

Volleyball | Jumbos travel south to compete in the Emory National Invitational

October 24

After compiling a 20-3 record to start the season against mostly New England competition, the volleyball team traveled south this past weekend to the Emory National Invitational to prove it was more than just a regional power. Playing as the first-ever Tufts team to compete in an out-of-region tournament, the Jumbos finished fifth out of eight teams with a 2-2 record. After proving themselves worthy of the competition with two wins over southern and a midwestern teams, the Jumbos could not overcome the tournament's two best teams, dropping 3-0 matches to Millikin University (Ill.) and host No. 3 Emory University. "I thought we played really well," freshman libero Natalie Goldstein said. "Overall, we learned a lot about our strengths and weaknesses. We decreased our number of unforced errors, which was really good for us." The Jumbos closed the weekend with a match against the Emory Eagles, the clear tournament favorite. The Eagles were a huge test for the Jumbos as the highest-ranked team on their schedule this season. The Jumbos were eager to see how they would match up against one of the nation's best teams. "Emory is an amazing team," coach Cora Thompson said. "They're very talented and disciplined, not to mention very deep in terms of talent on their bench. They compete against top teams regularly and came out strong, as we expected." In the end, the Jumbos were no match for an Eagles team that dropped only one game in the entire tournament. The Eagles swooped all over the Tufts in the first game, winning 30-15. "We came out tense and intimidated at first, but after the first game we loosened up and realized that we were not doing what we are capable of doing well," Thompson said. Knowing they could not afford to play conservatively, the Jumbos played with increased aggressiveness in game two. However, the effort fell short as the Eagles won 30-26 before closing out the Jumbos and the tournament with a 30-21 win in the third game. "More than anything it opened our eyes to what kind of competition is out there," Thompson said. "Our team sees that now and wants to be where Emory is." The match was the second of the day for the Jumbos against a top team. Earlier in the day, the team took on Millikin University, which has received votes for the national top-25. In the first game, the Jumbos started off flat, and a comeback effort was not enough to hold off at 30-24 Millikan win. The Jumbos repeated the pattern in the second game with a slow start followed by a comeback, but Millikin hung on once again with a 30-28 victory to take a two-game edge in the match. After winning the first two games by close scores, the Blue ran away with the third game, 30-17. "We came out flat not knowing really what to expect and made too many ball control errors on our side," Thompson said. "Our passing was off, which, in turn, handicaped our offense." Although the Jumbos were unsuccessful on Saturday, Friday's matches were a different story. On Friday, Tufts opened the tournament with a 3-0 sweep of Meredith (N.C.) and a 3-1 win over Heidelberg (Ohio). Tufts opened up the tournament on the right foot, cruising past Meredith. After a fairly close opening game that went 30-24 to the Jumbos, Tufts reeled off 30-22 and 30-20 victories to sweep the match. "It was an easy game for us," Goldstein said. "It was a warm-up for the tournament. We didn't play that well, but we won because we were so much better of a team." Later in the day, the squad pulled out a tight match against Heidelberg 3-1. After edging Heidelberg 30-28 in a tight first game, the Jumbos got bounced in the second game, 30-16. After struggling in game two to stop Heidelberg's outside hitter on the right side, Thompson moved senior co-captain Courtney Evans to the outside and moved sophomore Katie Wysham to the middle. The switch worked, as the Jumbos pulled off a 30-28 win in game three before closing the match with a 30-26 victory. The Jumbos played solid defense all match, as freshman Caitlin Dealy's 30 digs led a group of four Jumbos that recorded 24 or more. "It was a huge win," Thompson said. "It means that we stepped up and represented New England against a great program. We stayed composed and relaxed when we needed to and showed them that we are a team that will fight you tooth and nail." The Jumbos were without leading hitter junior Kelli Harrison, who stayed home after suffering a concussion last week. Her replacements faired well, however, as sophomore Kay Lutostanski was one of only three non-Emory players to make the All-Tournament team. With their non-conference schedule finished, Thompson's squad will refocus its attention on its NESCAC season. Second in the conference at 6-1, the Jumbos will fight for position in the NESCAC Tournament in their final three games of the season.

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News

The 'Kiss' of death has never been sweeter

October 24

It's funny to hear about the mundane lives Hollywood starlets lead before getting their big breaks. Some wait tables, others do menial office jobs, and some are just really dumb criminals who happen to wander into a casting session when they're trying to flee the scene of a botched robbery. Such is the case of Harry Lockhart (Robert Downey Jr.), one of those unfortunate human beings who always is in the wrong place at the worst possible time. Just like most Hollywood A-listers, Harry started out as a petty thief in New York City who was whisked off to Tinsel Town when he stumbled into the audition room of a major motion picture and unwittingly passed his screen test with flying colors. Saddled with the role of a streetwise cop, Harry is paired with a practicing Hollywood P.I. (Val Kilmer) to do research for the movie. In Harry's first night shadowing his assigned mentor, the mismatched duo witnesses a simple murder that quickly escalates into a tangled web of sex, lies and silicon. The subsequent adventure throws Harry into contact with his long-lost childhood sweetheart Harmony (Michelle Monaghan), a doe-eyed bumpkin who has fled an abusive father to seek fame and fortune in the city she has read about in cheap dime store novels. It might sound ridiculous, but writer/director Shane Black, the same man who brought us substance-less thrillers "Lethal Weapon" (1987) and "The Last Boy Scout" (1991), weaves such a clever storyline around this absurd premise that the result is nothing short of movie marvel. Part comedy, part murder mystery, part love story, "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" delivers a shocking jolt of pure, unadulterated entertainment. Leading the cast as the hapless Harry, Downey Jr. is a guy who can identify with his character's initially aimless existence. Since exploding onto the film scene as part of the famed '80s Brat Pack, drug problems and a number of unfortunate role choices (say, 1998's "U.S. Marshals") have somewhat derailed his career. The one-two punch of his roles in "Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang" and "Good Night, and Good Luck" will doubtlessly rocket him right back into the limelight. This film showcases the best of Downey Jr.'s talent. His Harry is a twitchy, neurotic, soulful character - at once the embodiment of thirty-something ennui and yet refreshingly original. Of course, Batman is nothing without his Robin. If critics thought Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were a pleasant surprise, wait until they see Downey Jr. and Kilmer. Whoever decided to gamble on not one, but two B-list actors past their primes is going to be a very rich man - Kilmer plays the perfect straight man to Downey's Jr.'s basket case. Together, their chemistry elevates comic dialogue to an art form, but alone, Kilmer's grizzled P.I., affectionately dubbed "Gay" Perry for his ironically homosexual orientation, is a skilled character study deserving of its own merits. A far cry from the flamboyant archetypes that normally populate Hollywood's portrayals of itself, Perry is tough, macho and a really snappy dresser. The only weak link in the cast is the relatively inexperienced Michelle Monaghan as Harry's syrupy-sweet love interest, the aptly named Harmony Faith. Harmony is another layered role that requires an actor to skillfully plumb the character's depths. Monaghan isn't quite up to the challenge. Her Midwestern niavete is too over-the-top at times, and comically she is outmatched by Downey Jr. But Monaghan's flaws are neutralized by Black's outstanding script. Juxtaposing humor and darker undertones, Black seeks to comment on the artificiality of the Hollywood scene without being preachy or moralizing. Political correctness is sacrificed on the altar of entertainment, and the resulting freedom allows for extended comic vignettes of unprecedented subject matter, such as one where Harry inadvertently urinates on a corpse. Comedy doesn't get much better than that. Directorially, Black poses a double-threat. A tastefully employed blue filter lends an air of plasticity and unreality to the movie that supplements Black's commentary on superficiality. He uses voice-over narrations - typically a hokey attempt at sentimentality - to give Downey Jr. the opportunity to editorialize on the film as though he were not actually involved in the action, thus reinforcing the concept of falsity. Black's complete disregard for gray middle ground can get a little carried away. The humor is razor-sharp, the violence is nauseating and the depravity of the human race can be downright unsettling at times. All this contributes nicely to Black's intended tone of self-satirizing extremism, but every once in awhile, the film tiptoes dangerously close to the gaudy stereotypes it's trying to mock. But, hey, that's showbiz, baby.

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News

Faculty Focus | Flynn's long and winding road leads to Tufts

October 24

"Definitely tell everybody to go to the Boston Common on Oct. 29 for the anti-war demonstration," urges Professor Carol Flynn as the Daily's interview with her comes to a close. "That's my public service announcement," she adds with a laugh. Public service announcements are part of the bill with Flynn, an English and American Studies professor dedicated to political activism. Flynn's path to her dual professorship has been a winding one. Armed with a "considerable" interest in literature, Flynn received a bachelor's degree in English as an undergraduate at the University of Illinois. Fascinated by American literature, she next attended Brown University, where she pursued a master's degree in American Civilizations. In an added twist, the 17th-century work Flynn studied while obtaining her master's had many English sources. She realized "how little [she] knew about English literature," so she moved to the University of California at Berkeley, where she earned a PhD in English. It was, as Flynn says, "a funny return to the sources that constitute American literature." It was also at this time that her real interest in politics, anti-war, and feminism took hold. Flynn wrote her dissertation on Samuel Richardson's "Clarissa," a 2,000-page story of a woman who was raped. It is, Flynn says, "an interrogation of all of the cultural artifacts of the 18th century: capitalism, slavery, the role of women, and the bourgeois structure." "I guess I thought in the early 1970s that I would change the world through 18th-century work," Flynn says. "We thought if we could figure out what people were thinking then, we could understand where we were right now." After completing her dissertation at Berkeley, Flynn moved to London in 1974 when her then-husband got a job offer there. "In 1974, the job market was so bad it wasn't a sacrifice to leave," she said. While in London she spent a great deal of her time writing, researching, and exploring the city. "I wrote a book on Samuel Richardson," she said. "I spent a lot of time at British museums; I did a lot of cultural research I wouldn't have been able to do at Berkeley." While in London, Flynn also became involved with the Women's Research and Resources Centre, "a group of women both academic and nonacademic coming together to write using feminist text," Flynn says. "We were trying to make [women's] voices heard." "It was really the first time I had a hands-on connection to anything with writing, politics, culture," she said. Flynn began her teaching career at New York University (NYU) in 1979. She taught there for six years and was awarded tenure. "I loved it," she said. "It was my first job. It's so hard to compare, because when I started, there were almost no women teaching." Flynn was able to obtain her position in part because of her sex: "That's certainly one reason that I am for affirmative action," she says. "I loved the students at NYU," she said. "A lot of them were first-generation students. They were very open and excited." Flynn appreciated the enthusiasm she felt from the students at NYU, not only for the material she taught, but also for female professors in general. "The students embraced it," she says. "They were very excited to have women teachers. The response was very positive." Not everyone embraced Flynn and her colleagues, however. "There was a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle antagonism between entering women and older professors, all of whom were men," Flynn says. In addition, there was the challenge of figuring out where to fit in a man's world: "Were we supposed to be little men?" Flynn asks. "I had one woman teacher the entire time I was in grad school. I had none as an undergrad. It was difficult to find your own style." Flynn followed her family to Boston after another job move for her then-husband. She continued to commute to NYU for a year, but found doing so too taxing on her two children. She accepted a position at Tufts and began her now-long career as a professor here. Flynn noticed a difference in teaching style between NYU and Tufts. At NYU, "they had very strict ideas of what you were supposed to teach," she said. "Right away at Tufts, it was clear you could really determine what interested you. You could really develop courses that are not necessarily coming out of your resume." Flynn cites this freedom as the backbone of her development of courses on immigration narratives and girls' books. All the same, she does miss New York. "There is something really important about being urban," she says. "It has something to do with the way people walk through urban places - spending hours walking all over the place instead of claiming the territory." Despite her appreciation of the urban, Flynn also has a love of the rural: every summer, she and husband David Tarbet travel across the pond to their cottage in Kirkcudbright, a tiny fishing village on the southwest border of Scotland. "That's entirely different," Flynn says. "When we go there, we're always walking; we have no TV. We sit by the fire and we write." The writing Flynn has done extends beyond the bounds of the fireside spot in the cottage. She has written numerous critical works in her field but admits to writing just as much fiction, which remains, for the most part, unpublished. Her one published novel, "Washed in the Blood," is a murder mystery set in 1938 Los Angeles. Flynn has just finished a memoir of her family, "The Animals." "It's a memoir based on all the animals from newts to salamanders to cats and dogs in our family," she says. "It's telling the story of my life and my family's life, but very much through the animals. That's a really funny bridge between fiction and nonfiction." This dual love infiltrates the courses Flynn teaches. In "Writing Lives," both critical analysis and creative writing play a large role in the coursework: "I think the courses I most enjoy have to do with both literary and critical analysis, but also have a creative component," Flynn says. Flynn finds the current generation to be more creatively inclined than their recent predecessors. "There were times in the 1990s when I felt like things got really closed down," she says. "There was so much interest in making a lot of money." "There is an interesting openness in students now that has been lacking for a while," Flynn says. "It seems like they are just full of real interest and curiosity." Flynn's latest addition to her varied interests is grandchildren. She and Tarbet have four children altogether ("We're like a Brady Bunch," she says), as well as five grandchildren, all girls, between the ages of two and six. "We play a lot of princess games, and I am always trying to get them to be magicians," she says with a laugh. "But they resist me and want pink." With Flynn as a role model, resistance is futile: they'll be magicians in no time.

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