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Sara Franklin | Oh My!: Sex Straight-Up

October 10

Sex toys. Those two small words tend to scare most people to death. Images of Christopher Street in Greenwich Village flash before their eyes, windows filled with leather-clad mannequins gripping whips and sporting collars. Well, let me tell you, this is far from the image that the majority of sex toy users project. Let's just throw some words out there to get started. Vibrator. Dildo. Butt plug. Cock ring. Strap on. The list goes on and on. Why do these things intimidate some people so much? My theory is that sex is scary enough for most people. We seem to have this concept of "vanilla" sex, where the only way to experience orgasm is with another person, of the opposite sex, in only a couple of relatively "traditional" positions. But this is just not the case - people have all kinds of sex. They have sex with men, women and transsexuals (sometimes more than one at the same time). They also have orgasms alone. Yes, I'm talking about masturbation. And yes, women do it too. In fact, I recently read an article that said that 80 percent of women have masturbated at some point in their life. So coming back to toys - why bring in a foreign object that might make you seem peculiar, or may even suggest that you feel that you can't please, or can't be pleased by, your partner with only their natural assets? Here's why: because sex toys are FABULOUS. They enhance the things that we already feel during sex, and, in many cases, introduce new sensations that just can't be created by intercourse or foreplay alone. Let's start from the beginning. You decide you just might want to try a sex toy (either alone or with a partner or two, or three, or...). Where do you go? My personal favorite is Grand Opening, a little sex shop in Brookline that has all their toys out on display so you can feel them, see how they work, and know what you're getting yourself into. Their staff is incredibly helpful and so calm and collected about their business that you'll feel as if you're talking to a salesman about a new cell phone (although I'm pretty sure if you get anything that vibrates at Grand Opening, it's going to be a whole lot stronger than any Motorola). So you make your purchase after an incredibly educational stint in the store. You're feeling a little bit naughty at this point, and quite excited to get it home. Now what? Where can you use this sex toy? If you're planning on using it alone, I suggest knowing your roommate's schedule so that you can plan for a nice block of time to get acquainted with your new friend. Or, if you've purchased a waterproof mechanism, wrap yourself in a towel, put up an away message saying you're taking a nice long hot shower, and go get started. One suggestion - don't try it when the roommate is in. If something goes wrong and you get startled, or if your toy has a vibrating mechanism that makes a purring noise that's louder than you expected, you might be in for a rather unpleasant confrontation. But using a toy alone is the easier part. Sure, you have to get over the initial "gross out" factor for yourself (although I still don't get it, there's nothing wrong with having a battery powered device do the work for you... this can work for both guys and girls). But bringing a toy into a situation where a partner is present means that you have to ask them, which can be even scarier (been there, done that). Here are a few suggestions for how to broach the subject. If you want to take the mysterious route, start making jokes that hint toward having a toy. Chances are pretty good that your partner will catch on and just flat out ask you. If they do, great, you're in, and I'm pretty sure they'll be happy once they're opened up. But what if it's a new partner, someone who you're not so comfortable with yet? You have two choices. You can wait until things are hot and heavy and then bring it up, or you can do it while your clothes are on and your hormone levels are normal. If you decide to do it in the heat of the moment, my method has always been to wait until things get underway (you're well into foreplay), then, in your sultriest voice, whisper something like, "I've got something I think you'd really like in my drawer. Do you mind?" or "Would it turn you on if you could watch me with a toy?" It's really important to make the other person a part of the decision, so make sure they're involved in the questions. Focus on their pleasure, what they're going to get out of it. It will make it a lot less intimidating. If you want to have the conversation at a less crucial time (which assumes that this is something you've been involved with at least once before), I would try something like, "The other night was really great. I have something that might make it even better for next time though." Now, these approaches are all somewhat coded. If you're brave, you can always try the more direct route. Bring up how much fun you have when you get physically involved with each other, and then simply say something about how you would really like to see what things you can come up with if you bring a toy into the picture. Although there might be a slightly awkward moment at first, my guess is your partner (unless they're hoping to have "vanilla" sex forever) will be pretty psyched that you had the guts to bring it up. Let's face it: we all love orgasms (that includes those people who don't feel ready, don't want to, or can't have sex with a partner). We all want to experience as much sexual pleasure as we can. And we certainly don't want to get bored with life. Think of sex like food (hey, they are the two greatest pleasures in life). If you only ate peanut butter and jelly for the rest of your life, wouldn't you get bored? Yeah, I thought so. So free your mind, take a chance, and see what toys can do for you. For me and everyone I know who has taken the plunge, discovering toys has been enlightening and has been oh... oh... ooooooooooooooooooohhhh... so gratifying.

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News

Inside the Red Sox | Weakness on mound, quiet bats send Red Sox home

October 10

In the end, the Chicago White Sox was just the better team. The Boston Red Sox could not capitalize in key situations, and played themselves right into an early exit from the postseason. Chicago's pitching and defense were vastly superior to Boston's. Although the Red Sox had a better offense, it didn't show in this short series. Hitting tends to be more streaky than pitching, and the Sox never got their bats going (aside from Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz). Game Two was the key game of the series. If Boston came out of Chicago with a split, then it stood a solid chance of coming away with the series. But the Sox literally let the game slip right between their legs. Boston held a 4-0 lead deep into the game, but second baseman Tony Graffanino's costly error opened the door to the big inning that gave Chicago the lead. Despite his miscue, it's hard to blame Graffanino for Boston's demise. He was a big part of the reason why the Sox made the postseason. He came in and posted an .812 OPS during the second half of the season at a position that had been a black hole, thanks to the collapse of Mark Bellhorn. After the Game Two debacle, Boston had little shot of turning around the series in Game Three. Its fate was sealed when it failed to score even one run in a bases loaded, no-out situation. That took the air right out of both the Red Sox and Fenway Park. The season was over. In the end, it was Boston's weak rotation that really cost the Red Sox the series. No one expected Matt Clement to shut down the White Sox, but it was surprising to see him make one of the worst starts in the history of the postseason. The White Sox don't exactly have a murderer's row either, ranking ninth in the American League in runs scored coming into the playoffs. David Wells came through with a solid start in Game Two, but Tim Wakefield allowed four runs in five-and-one-third innings in Game Three. Starting pitching is almost always a huge part of postseason success, and Boston just didn't have enough this season. The bullpen problems that plagued the Red Sox during the regular season never really emerged during the series thanks to Jonathan Papelbon. Despite only having one plus-pitch, his 95 mph fastball, Papelbon bailed the Red Sox out of many tight situations and gave them a chance in Game Two and Game Three. Papelbon pitched four innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits and no walks. He has cemented himself as a big piece of the future, either in Boston's bullpen or in the rotation if he can stay healthy. It should be an interesting off-season for Boston. Johnny Damon, Mike Timlin, Bill Mueller, Tony Graffanino and Kevin Millar are all free agents. Damon will be expensive to re-sign, and giving long-term deals to aging players who depend on their speed is always dangerous. Yet, there are very few centerfielders who can bring to the table what Damon does as a leadoff hitter. Boston has some talented prospects it can move into some of the questionable spots. Third basemen Kevin Youkilis has done everything he possibly can to prove he deserves a starting spot. Dustin Pedroia, a 22-year-old second baseman in the Boston farm system, tore up AA this season. He was the first player Boston selected in the 2004 draft, and he could well be the starting second basemen for the Sox in 2006. The Sox also have a few flamethrowers in their farm system. Sox fans saw a glimpse of Craig Hansen this September. Hansen was a first round pick in the 2005 draft and throws a 96 mph fastball and an 88 mph slider. The youngster is raw, but he could be dominant with a little bit of experience. Manny Delcarmen also contributed to the Red Sox' cause in September. Delcarmen had a 3.00 ERA in nine innings and also flashed mid-90s heat. He needs to become more confident with his curveball if he is to get high-leverage innings next season. Finally, 21-year-old Jonathan Lester has the potential to be the best of the bunch. Lester is a left-handed pitcher who dominated AA this season and was named Boston's Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He put up very similar numbers to Papelbon this season, but has the added benefit of being three years younger. Despite the disappointing end to the 2005 season, Boston's stockpile of young talent should start to pay big dividends in 2006, making the Sox a contender for years to come.

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News

Students: genocide is real, can be stopped

October 10

With two natural disasters - Hurricane Katrina and the earthquake in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan - garnering much of the media's attention, a man-made disaster is getting short shrift in the news. To reverse this trend, over 500 people gathered on the steps of Boston's city hall last week to raise awareness of the situation in Darfur. Congress and President George W. Bush have called the Sudanese government's practices there genocide. At the demonstration Thursday, Oct. 6, participants raised their cell phones and called the White House. About 40 of the participants were Tufts students. The Tufts group was organized by the student organization Pangea, and the students took the subway to Government Center together. "We want to let people know what's going on," sophomore Rosie Wagner, the co-chair of Pangea, said. Before the demonstration, Wagner said she expected hundreds of students and adults to attend. The event's organizers, The Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur and Students Taking Action Now in Darfur, collected donations and postcards addressed to Bush in a large African bowl. Deputy Director of Physicians for Human Rights, Susannah Sirkin, described the region's history and explained how the country's politics allowed for genocide. Sirkin criticized the Bush Administration's response to the crisis. Other speakers included Kenneth Sweder of the Massachusetts Coalition to Save Darfur, State Senator Andrea Nuciforo (Dem., Pittsfield), and Rebecca Hamilton of Harvard University's Darfur Action Group. They spoke about the possibility of divesting the Massachusetts pension plan's holdings in companies working in Sudan, increasing the number of peacekeeping forces in the region, and the need for the United States to cooperate with the International Criminal Court to prosecute the genocide's perpetrators. Musical groups, including Tufts' band Moksha, also performed. "It's amazing how little attention Darfur has gotten," sophomore Sam Dupont, Pangea's chair for genocide issues, said. "There is almost no interest in the press. It is my aspiration that the rally will make people aware of what's going on." Thursday was an international fast day in solidarity with the victims of the Darfur genocide. Participants were asked to give up one luxury item - such as coffee, a pack of cigarettes, or a whole meal - and donate the money to helping victims. Comedian Bill Cosby and basketball player Dikembe Mutumbo participated. Sophomore Ruby Geballe went to the demonstration. "I thought it went really well," she said. "There was a lot of encouragement to spread more awareness, which I think is a really pertinent part of improving the situation in Darfur." Pangea is also organizing a soccer tournament this semester to raise money for Darfur. The money will go to Doctors without Borders.

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News

Tufts culture: all too illusory

October 10

Culture at Tufts is a diverse quilt of somewhat separate communities who often come together as a result of some kind of consumption, be it of food, alcohol, or other. I want to stress separate, because the one thing that unifies all students here, in my opinion, does not at all. What is the culture of Tufts? What binds us to this school, aside from the fact that we all go here? If you look at the black and white photographs in Tisch of life during a more innocent time (that is, a time when everyone wore hats and women went to Jackson), Tufts spirit seemed to reign far and wide; how else can you have a sophomore/freshman tug-of-war match without school spirit? Despite what our athletic Tuftonians may feel, I believe that being an undergraduate at Tufts does not carry any feeling of belonging at all. People are not more likely to be open to speaking with you just because you go to the same school. There is no sense of camaraderie, in my humble opinion, and I'm trying to extract just why this is. So what is it that Tufts students do have in common, besides shared facilities, professors, and weird roommate stories? About a month ago, I went to Senior Reception, where in theory the senior class hangs out for the first time of the last school year. And naturally, everyone goes because of the great social aspect and has a lovely time. Wrong! Everyone goes because they offered free alcohol. I'm sorry Tufts, but it's true. Free stuff is the sure-fire formula to attract college students. We crawl like flies over nasty couches that normal people throw away. Not that I'm actively trying to be a cynic here, but I would bet good money that without the free alcohol, the turnout would have been terrible. But guess what - I had a great time at that senior event. I hadn't seen many of these faces in a year, having been abroad, and it was so refreshing and such a great way to reintroduce oneself to the community. It was such a widespread feeling that a junior I know snuck in at the end just to get a taste of that feeling. Okay, no, he wanted a taste of free wine, and he missed it. Shame on him for trying to steal my hard-earned senior alcohol, and also for trying to feel like a part of the Tufts community. One of the other few times I remember feeling this cross-campus cohesion is during Spring Fling of my sophomore year. It didn't matter the band - a Scandanvian Tuba Consortium could have headlined. But every single person there was genuinely having a good time and interacting within the groups that normally divide. Is there anything else like this? We had Jay's Deli. After all, what's more real than an old-fashioned greasy spoon with a good hangover breakfast deal, run by your local eccentric with a heart of gold? What a sad thing to see go that was distinctly Tufts; many voiced the claim that Jay's was theirs, that they had gone there and felt like a part of Jay's somehow belonged to them. Jay's is not all we've had - the cannon is our legal graffiti. There is most likely more, but it proves very little. We have no interest outside of our microcosms, and what's worse, we think it's totally normal. Unacceptable! Who shall we blame, since we're obviously blame-free? The administration! Now, in all fairness, not everything that goes wrong emanates from the often disorganized, money-wasting, and comically mishap-ridden mass who keeps our university running. But quite a few things do, and one of the biggest is one of my best memories: Spring Fling. How the hell can idiot lightning strike twice? I'm a senior and have gone to one Spring Fling. How can Busta Rhymes make over 100 grand in total from Tufts in exchange for zero concerts? Where does my student activity fee go? And for the love of God - since human beings did invent shelter about 10,000 years ago - isn't it possible that we could plan ahead for rain? We live in bloody New England! Even if the audience is wet, the performers could easily be kept dry, at low cost. To be honest, I wanted to write a whole article about this madness, but who would read it? The point of my bringing up this embittered anecdote is that we don't have nearly enough of these kind of events, and the ones that do are often canceled with too little thought. (How many lectures are canceled, sold out, or reject students due to poor planning?) This, my friends, is wholly unacceptable, and the Concert Board, the Senate, and the Tufts Administration (the Big Brother and true arbiter of all Tufts decisions) had better get their asses in gear for this year. That is to say, my fellow classmates, we will not lose another Spring Fling, one of the only true Pan-Tuftonian traditions (does anyone know or care about Tuftonia's Day?), to shoddy planning and apathy. Because events like that are the very essence of what makes people happy to go to Tufts and sad to leave it when it's all over. Joseph Alexiou is a senior majoring in history.

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News

Waiting...' for this movie to find a plot

October 10

"Waiting..." is sure to make you reconsider your plans to have dinner at T.G.I. Friday's this weekend, if nothing else. If you are truly courageous and go anyway, just keep your fingers crossed that your wait staff isn't Monty, Dean or anyone else from the crew who works at Shenaniganz. Monty (Ryan Reynolds) is a horrifically vengeful, and sometimes entertaining, waiter at Shenaniganz, a neighborhood restaurant catering to Middle America. His best friend, Dean (Justin Long) is, tritely enough, searching for meaning in his life of menial jobs and ridiculous parties. The movie opens with a sequence clearly borrowed from "Requiem for a Dream" (2000), but considerably less poetic. We get a glimpse of Monty and Dean's life of drugs, alcohol and womanizing, presented in an easy-to-swallow, "high school movie" tablet. Next we see Monty's manager Dan ("Anchorman"'s David Koechner) assigning him to show around the new guy, Mitch (John Francis Daley). Monty blows through the tour, giving the impression that the locations of such things as the kitchen or the food are inconsequential. Monty turns Mitch over to Raddimus (Luis Guzman, the head of Shenaniganz's kitchen staff, for his real education. Raddimus explains that the only really important thing to know about working at Shenaniganz is becoming adept at "the game." The game is a central feature to the plot of this movie and is one of the many reasons why the film doesn't really work. The general idea of the game is this: one desires to drop his pants and force a co-worker to accidentally view his penis. If success is met, the exposer gets to berate the unsuspecting viewer. And, depending on the circumstances of exposure, gets to kick the other person in the ass. This actually does make for a funny scene or two, but unfortunately for "Waiting...," the joke is way over-used. There is a contrived and predictable break from the sophomoric nature of the rest of the film when Dean has lunch with his mother. Trying to guilt-trip him about his career choice, she tells him about a high school classmate who is already a successful engineer, but Dean just leaves in a huff. And here ends anything that could conceivably be called plot. The remainder of the film is spent meandering through inane bickering among the staff members and little anecdotes that highlight how rude customers are to the people who wait on them. Where it has direction, which is very few places, it manages to be trite and boring. Even the best actors and actresses (which this cast is not), could do very little with lines as substance-less and characters as undeveloped as these. However, having noted this, it's important to give credit where credit is due: Dane Cook, as the deranged cook, and John Francis Daley as Mitch are both highly entertaining. Daley in particular gives a deliciously awkward performance. However, these small rays of sunshine ultimately cannot save this floundering movie. There are, however, a few scenes that, while not Oscar-worthy, do elicit some cheap laughs. In one, Monty waits on a group of middle-aged women, one of whom complains incessantly and sends her food back to the kitchen. With an apology and a smile, Monty takes the dish back to the kitchen and tells the boys to "do their stuff." To "fix" the meal, they add all manner of nastiness, which of course, culminates in the woman's utmost contentment upon its return to her. Overall, the acting is generally weak and the script is worse, but if you have ten extra dollars that you were going to paper-shred anyway, and several free hours, why not?

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News

Alex Bloom | Philly Phodder

October 10

Sports are a necessity in my daily life. I don't care how desperate that sounds. Between fantasy sports and real sports, I probably spend an hour a day reading about sports on the Internet. I'm taking a college class on baseball (I highly suggest you consider the Ex College course Sabermetrics 101 next semester). I completely forgot I was on duty at the library last Friday because I was watching the Red Sox. And I currently write the sports column you are reading right now. This weekend was fantastic in the sports world as the Braves and Astros set a new playoff record with the longest game ever played in baseball playoff history. The teams played the equivalent of two games before the Astros, who needed the Rocket to pinch-hit and pitch three innings of relief, finally won on a walk-off homer by Chris Burke. But if you live in the dorms, you didn't get to see it because it was on ESPN. It has been unbearable to spend the last two semesters at a college that doesn't get ESPN. I've been jokingly talking to my friends about transferring. I don't think you realize how awful sports on television can be without ESPN. They are "the worldwide leader in sports entertainment" because they have the best and most intelligent programming of any sports network on television. You can't beat "Pardon The Interruption," "Outside The Lines," "Around The Horn," "Quite Frankly" (with Screamin' A. Smith), "Baseball Tonight" (my personal favorite, not just because of former Phillies John Kruk and Larry Bowa), and (obviously) "Sportscenter." But apparently Tufts University believes you can beat having ESPN. That's why they've stuck unfortunate dorm-dwellers with a load of awful substitutes. Cable at Tufts is provided by Falls Earth Station and the cheapskates have given us five lame sports stations that attempt to fill the void that only ESPN could handle: NESN, FSN, CSTV, ESPNU and the NFL Network. NESN (New England Sports Network) is great ... if you care what Al Jefferson ate for lunch last weekend. It's also a fantastic station for the sports fan that needs to know why Kevin Millar can't hit a slider off lefties during daytime games in Toronto. The station covers New England sports and they do it well. Unfortunately, not everybody at this school is a grizzled Bostonian who has trouble pronouncing the phrase, "how hard is it for the Bellhorn to hit above .240?" Then there's Fox Sports Net. Shows like "The List" and "Beyond the Glory" are semi-entertaining (who knew that Reggie White converted to Judaism?) but "The Best Damn Sports Show Period" is so bad that even Tom Arnold left. It's pretty awful when you're relying on no-name Chris Rose to "inject professionalism and journalism standards to Fox Sports Net's signature show," as their Web site claims. No sports station really covers the hard-hitting issues of college sports quite like CSTV. I mean, where else can you find comprehensive coverage of fencing, equestrian, water polo and rifle shooting? What other station can bring you the late breaking news about Kansas State upsetting Texas in rowing? Just don't turn to this channel hoping to see a college sport that actually interests you. Then there's ESPNU, otherwise known as CSTV for mid-major NCAA schools. You can tune in when you want to see how your favorite MEAC team is doing in lacrosse (I hear Norfolk St. has a great team this year). I actually turned on this station on Friday evening to find that they were broadcasting a high school football game between Hoover and Nease (Pennsylvania schools). They can't even put college sports on the whole time. Finally, there's the NFL Network. I like the NFL Network. Every Sunday night they show "The Point After," which recaps all the games with highlights and press conference sound bites. It's ESPN's "NFL Primetime" without "HE ... COULD ... GO ... ALL ... THE ...WAY!!!" They have broadcasts about old Super Bowls. But I have to heed the advice of one of my friends: "Don't try to rationalize not having ESPN with the NFL Network." Then there's the lineup of "sports" USA, TNT, TBS, Spike TV and other network stations try to provide. Don't get me wrong, Extreme Dodgeball has potential (I love seeing Jeremiah Trotter winging balls at normal people), but poker, tennis, PGA golf and especially NASCAR are incredibly boring. I can't watch poker unless I'm betting money, golf unless I'm trying to fall asleep, tennis unless it's Maria Sharapova, or NASCAR unless I've had a lobotomy. As far as TNT's "Slamball," I just don't think the world is ready for basketball with trampolines (otherwise known as Super Ninetendo's NBA Jam TE on television). How difficult would it be for the school to provide us with ESPN? I've heard rumors that they can't because they would have to buy all the ESPN stations as a package, which would be very expensive. But really, how much more expensive can this school get? If you're living in a dormitory, you're probably already paying $40,000 a year. What's the difference if it's $40,500? The alternatives are to make friends off campus or venture to the campus center to watch games in Hotung or upstairs next to the pool table. But do you really feel like leaving your room (especially in the winter) to disrupt your off-campus friends at their houses? How about competing with the 20 other people already at the campus center trying to watch "Legally Blonde?" If Tufts has any compassion, they'll do something soon to bring ESPN to the dorms. This may be one of the top 30 schools in the nation, but I'd gladly take a state school if they'll give me back my sports. Correction: A thank you goes out to loyal reader Dave Bach (as well as Evans Clinchy) who noticed that Miguel Tejada left the Athletics two years ago, not last season as I reported. This is great - I didn't know I had loyal readers. But I stand by my characterization of the Athletics as pesky (despite their Moneyball-over-smallball approach) until they decide to raise their payroll.

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News

Kyoto Protocol a test of intentions

October 10

Solving the problem of climate change requires a transformation in the thinking of developed countries, Tufts professors and outside experts said Monday. About 25 graduate students listened to panelists Mukul Sanwal from the United Nations Climate Convention Secretariat, Youba Sokono from the Observatory for the Sahel and Sahara, Kiliparti Ramakrishna from the Woods Hole Research Center, and Fletcher School Professor William Moomaw speak in a classroom in Cabot Hall. The discussion, "The Future of Climate Negotiations: Kyoto and Beyond," focused on the first meeting of the parties to the Kyoto Protocol, scheduled for Nov. 28. Fletcher School Professor Adil Najam moderated. The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty on climate change. It asks signatories to reduce emissions and provides for emissions trading for signatories that fall under or above the protocol's targets. It was negotiated at the end of 1997 and came into force at the beginning of 2005, after its ratification by Russia at the end of 2004. The United States and Australia have not ratified the protocol. Ramakrishna was pessimistic about the protocol's future. He said the years between the negotiations and the ratifications did not produce any environmental benefits. When the protocol's binding rules expire in 2012, Ramakrishna said, the signatories will have only reduced their emissions by one percent. The non-signatories, though, will have increased their emissions to more than compensate for the protocol's benefits. Ramakrishna said British scientists found that a global increase of more than two percent could be "catastrophic" for climate change. Ramakrishna recommended a reduction of 15 to 20 percent. "The protocol - politically - was a great achievement, but in reality, it is not solving the climate problem anywhere," Sokono said during the evening's second presentation. Sokono gave three ways to get efforts to fight climate change off the ground: the United States should become actively involved in the efforts, the rest of the world needs to become engaged, and the groups working on climate change need to develop common goals. Only global movements can force change, he said. Moomaw said countries can address climate change in three phases: they can mitigate the problem, adapt to the problem once it has started, or wait to clean up the problem. Hurricane Katrina fit the third phase, he said, since the United States did not address the problem of climate change or adapt to the problem by making better dikes. The Kyoto Protocol is a test of the mitigation phase, Moomaw said. "I see the first commitment period as an experiment period," he said. Moomaw said companies in non-signatory countries that have reduced their emissions made him optimistic about the prospects for change. Sanwal was less optimistic. He said countries may agree to the protocol without changing their actions. "They can interpret it in very strict terms, or they can interpret it in very liberal terms," he said. To affect real change, Sanwal said, a transformation is necessary. "What we are struggling with at the moment is how to get that done," he said. During the program's question and answer session, Najam expanded on Moomaw's idea of adaptation. He said whether or not countries address climate issue ahead of time, they will have to adapt to its effects. Solving the climate change problem is expensive, Najam said, and most of the cost falls on countries that contribute most to the problem. These countries have to rearrange their spending priorities, Najam said. To lessen or adapt to the effects of climate change, developed countries may have to rely on new technology, Moomaw said. He recommended diversifying energy sources to include solar and wind power. Sokono agreed. The problem of climate change is not one of technology, he said, but political. Developed countries' leaders have yet to demand the use of better energy technologies, he said. Najam closed the discussion - organized by the Fletcher School's Center for International Environment and Resource Policy - by telling the participants the transformation was up to them. "On that happy note, I give the future of the world in your hands," he said.

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News

Three tiers for proposed changes to housing lottery system

October 7

Students may be sleeping more soundly this spring, with a better idea of where they will be living next year, if student and administration discussions now underway gain ground. Tufts Community Union President Jeff Katzin has made changing the housing lottery system one of his priorities, and the Office of Residential Life and Learning and the Dean of Students Office are discussing the same issue. Under the current system, students can draw a low lottery number three years in a row. The lottery numbers determine the order in which students can chooseon-campus housing. Both the Tufts Community Union Senate and the administration are considering a change that would split the lottery numbers into three tiers to help students predict their housing options. Rising sophomores, Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said, would be assigned a tier for each of their next three years. The current system gives rising sophomores, juniors and seniors a random lottery number each year. Since the numbers are assigned independently, a student could receive any combination of good, bad, and mediocre numbers. "We've been pushing for a three-tier system," Katzin said. The Senate's service and housing advisory committees have been discussing a tiered system for several years, Katzin said. "One year you get a high lottery number, one year a low one, and one year a middle range one," he said. "It's about fairness - so that no people end up getting really lucky or getting really low numbers three years in a row." Director of Residential Life and Learning Yolanda King said the system would allow "rising juniors and seniors to better predict their housing options, since they are not guaranteed on-campus housing." Reitman said more predictability in the system would benefit students. "I think it would take a lot of anxiety out of the Tufts experience," he said. "Your classes and your housing are the two most important parts of the college experience." Student feedback will be key in making the changes, Reitman said. He wants to hold a campus discussion about possible lottery changes. "The last thing I want to do is to try and be responsive and end up with a system that makes things more stressful," he said. The most difficult aspect of housing to predict for administrators is the number of seniors who wish to live on campus. "We've had approximately one third of our junior and senior year classes on campus each year," Reitman said. "But the fluctuation is so variable and so dramatic. Last year we had 27 percent of seniors on campus; this year it's 65 percent." Reitman said there is no complete proposal for the changes. "The devil is in the details," he said. The University must consider how the changes would impact students who study abroad, the number of students who chose to enroll in the University, and how transfer students would be given lottery numbers, Reitman said. Reitman said any system must also address whether or not students could trade their tiers and whether or not the seniority system - where seniors get to choose housing first - should be maintained. "If you design the system so that you could trade," Reitman said, "what impact would it have if 300 people who have an A range number trade it away for a C range number while they study abroad?" Sophomore Rachel Smith said the study abroad issue is important. "I anticipate being abroad junior year, so if I get a really good number that year, so what?" Without knowing the details, Smith said, a tiered system would still be an improvement over the current one. "It would be more fair, although a crappy number for a senior is still way better than anything a sophomore could have," she said. The Office of Residential Life and Learning expects "to make a final decision about the tier system prior to the release of lottery numbers" in the spring, King said.

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News

Clarifications on Chomsky speech

October 6

Dear Editor: As a member of the Tufts Coalition to Oppose War on Iraq (TCOWI) I would like to make several corrections/additions to your headline article about the Noam Chomsky talk at Tufts which appeared in the Sept. 30 issue. Contributing writer Seif-Eldeine Och reported that Chomsky depicted the "four major crises facing the world" as "nuclear war, environmental disaster, the indifference of the superpowers to the first two problems, and the failure of the superpowers to make amends for past mistakes." In fact, he listed the fourth crisis as a crisis in democracy that is the degeneration, destruction, and repression of virtually all of the influential popular "bottom-up" institutions and organizations within the US. The writer ought to have credited TCOWI as organizer of the event, and noted that Prof. Chomsky explicitly endorsed from the podium TCOWI's call, in concert with antiwar forces nationally, for a Day of Action against the war on Nov. 2. The article might have pointed out that about 400 persons crowded into Pearson 104. It was standing room only for many from 7:30, and the room was still full when the event concluded around 10:00. Gary P. LeuppProfessor, History

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News

Former Mr. Peacock aids students with class films

October 6

A class of Tufts students got to sit in Tom Brokaw's seat - or at least get the same advice as Brokaw. Neal Shapiro (LA '81), the former president of NBC News and the former executive producer of "Dateline" came back to campus Thursday to speak with Professor Roberta Oster-Sachs' Ex College class, Producing Films for Social Change. Students in the class are required to make their own documentaries, and Shapiro gave them some advice. "I need the emotional issues," Shapiro told a group of students making a film on immigrants in American higher education. The film should show the "real political and philosophical issues," Shapiro said. He was comfortable in the class and candid in giving students suggestions. For the film on immigrants, Shapiro recommended the students use shadows to represent the metaphorical shadows in which illegal immigrants live. The film should "speak for people who can't speak for themselves," Shapiro said. Oster-Sachs hosted New England Cable News journalist Margie Reedy on Tuesday. Reedy talked to students about objectivity and bias in reporting. "As a faculty member, I feel very lucky to have Tufts alums with such extraordinary work experience give their time and meet with my students," Oster-Sachs said. Another group of students is making a documentary on the Somali Bantu population in the United States. Shapiro recommended the film focus on the Bantus' long-term prospects. "We don't want to create more of an underclass," Shapiro said. "I care that their kids are going to grow up and be successful in society." He cautioned students, though, to distance themselves from the people in their films. "You tend to fall in love with your character," he said. The group's students described the time they spent interviewing Somali Bantus. Sophomore Antuan Johnson explained the culture's communal eating habits. Food was served in a large bowl in the middle of the floor, and people ate with their hands. "I ate it!" Johnson said. "I did the hand thing." Shapiro received the University's Light on the Hill alumni award in 2002. He resigned unexpectedly from the NBC presidency Sept. 9 this year. He helped a group doing a film on biodeisel fuel create an interesting opening for the film. "Everybody hates high gas prices," Shapiro said. The last group's film is about Melanie's Law - a proposal to make the Massachusetts drunk driving statutes stricter. The law is named for Melanie Powell, a girl killed by a drunk driver in 2003 when she was 13 years old. Shapiro said viewers will "want to feel the passion," and he made suggestions on how the story could be presented. Shapiro had to leave the class early to meet with David Burke (LA '57), the former president of CBS News and executive vice president of ABC News. Shapiro worked for Burke as an intern as part of group of Tufts interns later called "The Burkettes." Burke is looking to create a permanent internship program through Tufts.

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News

I'm sorry, can you repeat that'?

October 6

You awaken to the sound of loud jackhammer vibrations pounding through the walls of Stratton Hall. You leave for class, blasting Kanye West on your iPod so loudly that you provide a listening experience for the rest of the students walking up the Hill. During your ride on the T after class, you crank up the iPod even higher to drown out the screeching noises of the subway car, requiring near-maximum volume. Then you meet up with your friends at the Middle East in Central Square: your favorite band is playing and you want to be there an hour early to get the coveted front row spots - right by the speakers. With all this noise, it may come as no surprise that according to recent studies, adults aren't the only members of the population with noise-induced damage. Most hearing damage is caused by long-term exposure to loud noise, and goes undetected until later in life. A July Newsweek cover story, however, said doctors today are noticing that in the baby boomer generation, hearing loss diagnosis is occurring a decade or more before the previous average of 60-years-old. Senior Cynthia Waite is unsurprised. "I think that some people can have music on iPods at a dangerous level sometimes," she said. "There's definitely an issue there. Even my dad suffered hearing loss due to that, just from those old Walkmans! He has this condition now where he can get buzzing in his ear if he hears loud music. It was from long-term exposure to loud music." Waite's 63-year-old father has tinnitus, which the American Tinnitus Association defines as "the perception of sound in the ears or head where no external source is present," commonly known as ringing in the ears. Exposure to loud noise can lead to inner ear and hair cell damage. Almost 5.2 million children between the ages of 6 and 19 are suffering from some form of hearing damage due to "amplified music and other sources," the Newsweek article said. "That's been a concern for a long time, ever since the inception of headphones into the mass market," Tufts Health Services Medical Director Margaret Higham said. "It's becoming a problem, with more and more time being spent listening with increased volume." Many people in their late teens and early twenties don't think about hearing damage. "They probably won't see the damage caused until much later - we still have the feeling of invincibility," Waite said. "You just don't think of these things," freshman Darin Bellisario said . "Even though it does hurt when you listen to music too loud, you never think about permanent damage." Senior Andrew Walker doubts his peers have considered the possibility of hearing damage. "I don't think people our age worry about it very much, but yes, I think it's a danger," he said. "For instance, when you can clearly hear someone's song when they're wearing headphones and you're half a room away." Senior Trevan Marden said he does not think about the issue - "at least not with any real thought of consequence." "Every time I am at a party, and it's just way too loud, I know it's probably not good for me, but it's hard to be really concerned about it right now," Marden said. "I'm always afraid of having permanent damage just from one stupid concert," Bellisario said. "I go anyway, but I feel bad about it every time." Noise above 116 decibels is not safe even for limited exposure, the Newsweek article said. Rock concerts average 140 decibels. High sound levels are why airport ground traffic controllers are required to wear ear plugs and Tufts groundskeepers sport noise-drowning headphones. Earplugs are not fool-proof. "My little brother had the cover to an ear bud fall off into his ear and he had to go to the hospital," sophomore Rachel Geylin said. "He couldn't hear while the thing was down there." Despite this incident, Geylin remains unconcerned. "I'm not really concerned about hearing loss because I don't listen to music loudly," she said. "However, I can hear my roommate's music through her headphones while she is sitting across the room from me." The problem, according to a CNN report, may come from people using headphones as "a full-day listening experience," and not just for 30 minutes of jogging. The noisy-world syndrome presents a danger to everyone: according to Newsweek, "while an individual's noise exposure may not reach the official danger zone, the worry is that the chronic din of daily life could lead to deterioration over time." "I don't know if it is getting specifically worse for our generation, but I do feel that technology changes the causes," Marden said. "For my grandmother, working in a noisy factory probably was a major cause of her hearing loss. It's hard to say if the iPod is causing any significant new source of hearing loss that wasn't around before in a different technology - playing records too loud, or the eight-track."

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News

Correction | October 7, 2005

October 6

In the article "When it comes to e-mail, size does matter" in Thursday, Oct. 6's Features section, Vincent Yu was incorrectly identified as a Tufts Information Technology Services resentative. Yu works for Tufts OnLine in the Tufts Computing and Communications Services department.

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News

CD Review | If you're indie and you know it...

October 6

Nobody could have predicted that Clap Your Hands Say Yeah's self-titled debut would be one of the most critically acclaimed albums of the summer. This unsigned Brooklyn band's self-released album garnered amazing amounts of buzz among Internet music magazines and blogs upon its release, causing some to hail them as this year's left-field indie surprise, akin to last year's Arcade Fire lovefest. Others have deemed them a media creation, dubbing them "Clap Your Blog Say Hype." The first track of the album, "Clap Your Hands," walks the thin line between witty and annoying. Over a carnival-like backing track, lead singer Alec Ounsworth sounds less like the head of a hip, young band and more like a seedy guy trying to sell you cotton candy. His commands to "clap your hands" are answered by the band's complaints of loneliness and unhappiness. Though the juxtaposition is somewhat clever, the song feels lazy and isn't a satisfactory opener. If the first song leaves the listener feeling that Clap is nothing but hype, the third song, "Over and Over Again (Lost and Found)" begins to shine light on the band's talent. Ounsworth's vocal ability is on full display in this song. While his voice can be irritating and slightly screechy, on this track he sounds like Thom Yorke if he'd ditched Radiohead for a pop band. When Ounsworth delivers the line "Start another fire / and watch it slowly die," his voice floats along the melody, like a boat riding gentle waves. While it has those flashes of brilliance, many of the songs in the middle of the album are unremarkable and too similar. Tracks such as "Is This Love" and "Heavy Metal," while not unpleasant, don't stand out. These songs are not filler, but they don't really leave a lasting impression. Ounsworth opens the final song, "Upon This Tidal Wave of Young Blood," singing, "Know that everyone is here / Could we please have your attention?" Even if you haven't fallen asleep or given up several songs ago, heed Ounsworth's advice and wake up for this last song. The pieces that have been present in each of the previous songs - the hooks, Ounsworth's sometimes mesmerizing vocals, and the urgent playing - come together here for one final triumph. The song ponders the troubles of the transition into adulthood, wondering what will happen to the hopes and fears of childhood. "Will we give ourselves a fright / When we become less than human?" Ounsworth wonders. Losing these special abilities of youth are now a special concern for the group: they will be brought into the record business on a tidal wave of hype, forced out of their low-fi studios, and told to grow up. The big question is whether they can still hold onto what they had when they were just another band in Brooklyn. For most, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah won't live up to their strongest supporters' accolades, but their hype is not completely unwarranted. Coming into the album with your expectations set for a classic, flawless musical achievement will only leave you disappointed. Many spots on the album sound like the work of a raw garage band (which is understandable, since they are). A full run-through of the album leaves the listener with the feeling you get when your favorite baseball team brings up the hot young prospect you've been watching, only to see him get knocked around a little in his first big-league outing. You know he's got the stuff to become huge, but you're just not sure he'll be able to pull it all together. The coming years will be telling: either these guys have MVP stuff or they'll be riding the bus back to Pawtucket.

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News

When home is close, the laundry is free

October 6

Tufts students and their Somerville neighbors are not always the best of friends, but some students on campus get to see the relationship from both sides. In recent weeks the Somerville police have begun cracking down on off-campus parties after a surge of neighbor complaints. "The area around Tufts is not really the best place for the school," senior Katie O'Keefe said. "It is very family oriented; a lot of older people live around here." O'Keefe, who grew up outside of Davis Square, said students have a right to enjoy life at college. If another Somerville resident complains about noise, she said, "I might get defensive on the behalf of Tufts." Some students from Somerville said they grew up too far away from Tufts to be affected by off-campus parties. They said they do not feel conflicted about being both a local resident and a cause of many of their neighbors' ire. They said most Tufts students are insulated from life in the rest of Somerville. "Tufts students, a lot of times, think, 'Oh, scary Somerville people,'" senior Kathleen Bohan said. "There's a lot of stereotypes. I had a hard time my freshman year when all the time I got people saying, 'townie.'" Bohan, who grew up in the Ten Hills neighborhood, said rumors that Somerville High School graduates can get into the University easier are wrong. "There's this belief that Somerville High School students have a connection, which is not true at all," she said. The large number of Somerville High School graduates at Tufts, she said, is due to the large number of applications. Students in the top thirty spots of their graduating class are advised to apply to Tufts, she said. O'Keefe said Tufts has a positive affect on Somerville through programs such as Kids' Day. "My family is in love with this university," she said. Bohan agreed the University has a positive image in the surrounding community, but she said more could be done to improve the connection. "Brandeis gives out two full scholarships to Waltham students every year," she said. "Tufts does not have a program like that." When they applied to Tufts, students from Somerville said they found the advantages of staying close to home outweighed the disadvantages. "I really liked the fact that I was so close to home," junior Lana Luo said. "It's really convenient." Luo lived in East Somerville before coming to Tufts. Bohan also took location into consideration. "When I was looking at schools, I said, nothing north of Massachusetts, because it is too cold," she said. "Nothing too far west because that would be far away from home. Not New York, because I hate the Yankees, and that meant no New Jersey, too." She applied only to schools in New England, and decided on Tufts over Boston College. All three students from Somerville said while they are at Tufts, they distinguish between home and school worlds - but they do not mind a home-cooked meal and free laundry once in a while.

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News

Audience is all 'Prime-d' for new film

October 6

In 2000's "Boiler Room," director/writer Ben Younger explored the high pressure world of Wall Street. In "Prime," to be released later this month, Younger follows the relationship of an Upper East Side woman (Uma Thurman) who falls for her psychoanalyst's (Meryl Streep) son (Bryan Greenberg), a painter from Brooklyn. Actually, there's nothing similar at all about those two films. The Daily sat down last week with Younger and Suzanne Todd, one of the film's producers, to discuss the film, life and Heath Ledger.Question: Bryan Greenberg, the actor playing Dave, I wasn't aware of him before. How did you go about casting him?Ben Younger: We auditioned everyone in Hollywood, just about, and Brian was the one that sort of had this real innocence. Dave's a newcomer cause he's only been on television, he hasn't been in many movies ... he's not cynical yet. Yet. [Laughter] I was looking for the sexy Jewish guy.Suzanne Todd: I think we talked about all those actors the studio wants to hire, where you just go through all the names. But it was a hard part to fill. It was sort of a part that was perfectly suited for an up-and-coming actor.BY: We didn't want to cast somebody - we tried to do it authentically. We could have cast Heath Ledger, but the Jewish thing's a stretch there. [Laughter]Q: "Boiler Room" was such a different kind of movie. How did you go from that type of movie to this one?BY: My mother berated me for years after that. No female characters, misogyny, and all that stuff, so it was a wise decision. I actually had the idea for this movie before I did "Boiler Room" but I knew that I didn't have enough sort of life experience to write about and direct it, and then I got the idea for "Boiler Room" and it seemed like an easier movie to make.Q: You mentioned that it took you eight years to develop this film. Could you talk a little bit about your process and developing your initial idea?BY: How much time do you have? [Laughter]Q: What's your work ethic like?BY: I don't have a regimen. I've got to get one, actually - still sort of haven't figured that out. Sort of a sad question for me, I'm still grappling with it. I write in spurts, but it took me a while to get it going. I need to figure it out. I wish I could guide you but I'm ... when I write I feel like I'm good, but getting to that place is really hard for me. I'm not doing 8-11 a.m. every morning. I've got to get a regimen.Q: Did you do the dialogue all on your own? It's so real and natural, I was wondering if you worked with actors on it.BY: No, the dialogue's my own ... we wanted to something that was slapstick-y, but not toilet ... which seems like a lot of where movies have been going lately. Like pie-in-the-face is classic, I mean, you go back to the basics.[Spoiler Alert: The following Q&A reveals key plot points about "Prime," mainly the end. If you want to be surprised, please stop reading.]Q: In your mind, why don't the two main characters stay together in the end?BY: It just felt real. I liked that they had to move past their religion, but stuff that you originally though was going to be an issue in their relationship turned out not to be. You know, that moment where someone says, "Would you feel better dating a 37-year-old divorcee if she were Jewish?" And it became about things that we really have to deal with in life, like children and a joint checking account. And I'm not trying to tell some cautionary tale about love not being enough, but I just think that he wasn't ready. He was too young. She was right, you know, they did love each other. That's why they were able to break up. She knew she had more to experience and she knew that she wanted to move on. The timing was just wrong, and I hate happy endings that are for the sake of being happy endings.

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News

Football | NESCAC's undefeated face off at the Ellis Oval this Saturday

October 6

In a battle of undefeated NESCAC rivals, the football team squares off against Bowdoin at Ellis Oval tomorrow in an intriguing match-up between two 2-0 teams and last week's NESCAC Offensive and Defensive Players of the Week. The Jumbos hope to display the newfound offense that emerged last week against Bates, led by junior quarterback and last week's NESCAC Offensive Player of the Week Casey D'Annolfo. Last week at Bates, D'Annolfo completed 16 of 23 pass attempts for 255 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions, and connected with junior receiver Brian VonAncken for three scores to set a new Jumbo receiving record. On the other side of the ball will be an inconsistent, but successful, Polar Bear defense, propped up by the star play of NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week Dave Donahue at defensive back and John Regan at linebacker. Putting up videogame-esque statistics, Donahue, an Ashland, Mass. native, had an interception returned for a touchdown, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and a staggering 17 tackles last Saturday at Amherst. Regan snagged an interception, forced two fumbles, recorded two sacks, and racked up 14 tackles. The Jumbos, however, say it's business as usual, no matter who's on the other side of the line of scrimmage. "Each week we scout the opposing team, how many men they have in the box, what types of coverages they run," said junior receiver Steve Menty, who had three receptions for 64 yards in the Bates game. "We've already scrimmaged them [during the preseason], so we have a good idea of what they do." There are inconsistencies in the Polar Bear defense. Against Amherst last week, the Bowdoin defense allowed 399 yards of total offense, including 282 on the ground. However, Bowdoin held Amherst to 13 points in a 16-13 win, thanks in large part to a stunning seven turnovers forced by the Bowdoin defense. The Polar Bears' overall defensive performance is average at best. Bowdoin is ranked four out of ten in the NESCAC in pass defense but allows opposing quarterbacks a 56.1% completion rate. Less impressive, its run defense is dead-last in the NESCAC, allowing 259 opponent rushing yards per game. "The defense [Bowdoin] plays, they let themselves bend a little," Menty said. However, the Tufts offense showed the capability last week to do more than just bend defenses. The Jumbos grinded out 407 total yards in their 34-7 thrashing of Bates, and more importantly, committed no turnovers and allowed zero sacks. "I think a lot is attributed to the offensive line giving Casey [D'Annolfo] time," Menty said. "The more time you give Casey, the more time it gives him to find one of our receivers and settle in." There was no concealing the Jumbos' offensive success last Saturday, and in its largest scoring output since 2002, the offense was strikingly balanced. In addition to his high yardage and touchdown totals, D'Annolfo connected with six different Tufts receivers. In addition to the aerial attack, the Jumbos rushed 39 times for 152 yards, including 57 yards by senior running back Scott Lombardi and 55 yards and a touchdown for freshman William Forde, who averaged 7.8 yards per carry. "He's one of the quickest kids I've ever seen," Menty said of Forde. "He's shifty, and he has that first quick step. He can stretch the defense." Because Bates is one of the weaker teams in the NESCAC and because of Bowdoin's defensive style, having another offensive option like Forde will be an added benefit for Tufts. Given Bowdoin's weakness in stopping the running game, the onus is on Tufts to attack with an offensive game-plan geared towards the run. "Last week Bates invited the pass," Menty said. "This week Bowdoin plays a soft cover two with only seven guys in the box, and they invite the run. And we're aware of that." Defensively, the Jumbos look to continue their recent success in stifling dominant offenses, a trend dating back to last season. Since October 16, 2004 the Tufts defense has given up only 53 points total, an average of just 8.8 points per game during the six-game stretch. This season, the Jumbos have only given up 13 points over their first two games. "This season, the defense is feeding off the offense," said junior defensive end Chris Decembrele. "If the offense has a great series, it's just like we go out there and have a good series too. It's really cause and effect."

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News

AL Playoff Update | Red Sox face daunting deficit as series shifts to Fenway

October 6

In two games at Chicago's U.S. Cellular Field this week, the Chicago White Sox shut down the Boston Red Sox, quickly taking a commanding lead in the American League Divisional Series. By winning 14-2 on Tuesday and 5-4 in Wednesday's contest, the White Sox hold a 2-0 lead in the series and are one win away from winning their first postseason series since 1917. That win could come this afternoon, when the team's face off at 4:05 p.m. Game 1 was a matchup between Chicago's Jose Contreras and Boston's Matt Clement. Contreras ended the regular season with eight consecutive wins, while the struggling Clement had been winless since Sept. 3. Clement ran into early trouble in the bottom of the first inning, as a two-out rally brought home five runs. A.J. Pierzynski led the way for the Sox with a three-run homer. Chicago never looked back, scoring eight runs against Clement and knocking him out in the fourth, and later terrorizing Red Sox relievers Jeremi Gonzalez and Bronson Arroyo. Pierzynski finished the game 3-3 with two homers and scored four of the White Sox' 14 runs. In Game 2, the Red Sox' offense came surging back right away as slugger Manny Ramirez hit a two-run single in the first inning. Meanwhile, starting pitcher David Wells kept the White Sox' bats quiet through the first four innings, and Boston widened its lead to 4-0 with two runs in the third. Everything unraveled for Wells in the fifth, as Chicago started off with hits from Carl Everett, Aaron Rowand and Joe Crede. Juan Uribe followed with a routine grounder to second baseman Tony Graffanino, which should have been an inning-ending double play. But Graffanino let the ball roll through his legs, instantly bringing back memories of the infamous Bill Buckner error of the 1986 World Series. The White Sox capitalized on the error, as Tadahito Iguchi gave Chicago the lead with a three-run blast to left field. Thanks to starter Mark Buerhle and a strong outing from reliever Bobby Jenks, the White Sox held on for a 5-4 victory, sending the series to Fenway with a 2-0 lead for the visiting Pale Hoes. For the White Sox, the current situation is uncharted territory. It's been 88 years since the team has come this close to winning a playoff series, as the club's history includes several crushing defeats in the American League playoffs. This year's team, the AL's best with 99 wins, has a chance to rewrite history. For Boston, however, this kind of deficit is nothing new. The Red Sox have faced several postseason setbacks in recent years, and have responded to each. The 1999 Sox fell into a 0-2 hole against the Cleveland Indians, and came back to win the best-of-five series. The 2003 team did the same against the Oakland Athletics in the first round. And of course, last year's Red Sox became the first team ever to rally from a 0-3 deficit and win a postseason series. While these kinds of comebacks may appear a long shot for most teams, the Red Sox are not most teams, and this kind of turnaround is becoming routine for Boston. Freddy Garcia will start for Chicago this afternoon against Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. If Boston wins, Game 4 will be played tomorrow afternoon at the Fens, and a deciding Game 5, if necessary, will occur Sunday night, back in Chicago at the Cell.

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News

E-migration

October 5

The vast student emigration from the Tufts Webmail service is shocking in only one respect - the University's apparent apathy. Students aren't stupid - when presented with such a poor service from the University, they are turning elsewhere. Hundreds of students are shunning the Tufts service and using free e-mail providers whenever possible. Leading the way is Google's Gmail, with its simple design and massive amount of space. The products offered by Gmail, and to a lesser extent its rivals, completely outperform Webmail. Webmail only provides 20 megabytes of storage space. As both personal computers and Internet connections grow faster students - like computer users everywhere - send increasingly large documents. As computers have become more advanced, the actual size of a standard document has increased. Not only are we able to send larger attachments, we have to. Webmail has paltry defenses against spam. Students frequently receive more than a dozen messages per day that have passed through the filter. Internet-based e-mail providers allow users to mark an item as spam, which will block further messages from the same user. Webmail does not even have a spam folder. If students have so many superior e-mail offerings, it seems the only reason many students stick would with Webmail is convenience and status symbol. Any student initiating or maintaining contact with the community at large has an incentive to use the 'prestigious' @tufts.edu suffix. Students, however, are required by Tufts to maintain a University account. Communication through Blackboard relies on the Webmail addresses. While it may seem relatively easy to maintain an address, one large file could push the account over the limit without the student's knowledge. Important messages could be missed. Tufts has little incentive to change the e-mail service. It enjoys a monopoly among students, who are obliged to pay for this service through tuition. The University continues to provide a service that can actually interfere with classroom activities. The creation of a better e-mail service is crucial. The costs of upgrading to large servers can no longer be cited as a hurdle. The University should also further investigate improved spam controls, upgrade the search function and ultimately provide a more user friendly interface. If Tufts is unable to provide this service, other options - including outsourcing - must be discussed. Already the University subcontracts cleaning, and technology services such as printing. If we can't do it ourselves, why not let someone else do it for us? Another solution would be to outsource select technologies from other e-mail providers. Google already has permeated our campus with its mapping technology on the University homepage. It may be time to let them take a hack at Webmail. E-mails are the phone calls and letters of our generation. Student-faculty communication relies heavily on e-mail, and discussion has actually increased in recent years because of this tool. When student or professor e-mail is bounced back because either party is over the limit, intelligent discussion is stopped by an unintelligent wall. If students are expected to achieve academically, the University needs to first provide adequate services.

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News

Turkey needs to eradicate policies before being granted EU membership

October 5

In the editorial on Tuesday, Oct. 4, "Stop Teasing Turkey," it was stated the European Union should make a firm decision about Turkey's potential entry as a member state. The EU is being circumspect in its decision-making process to exercise judicious judgment before it opens its doors to Ankara. Turkey, in its eagerness to gain a foothold in Europe - a dream that has eluded this basically Asian country for centuries - has multiplied its efforts to join the European Union. In strictly geographical terms, to consider Turkey a part of Europe is a stretch. The vehement opposition exhibited by some European countries, including Austria and Belgium, against Turkey's joining to the European Union is well founded. By the time negotiations are scheduled to be completed -ten years - the country will have a population well over 85 million. Adding 20 million to the European population is a point of concern. Anakara must resolve a slew of thorny issues that Europe regards as prerequisites for membership: the Kurdish issue, Cyprus, judicial reforms, recognition of the Armenian Genocide and real partnership with the West. The country has taken a hesitant, at best, stance on these issues. Turkish Prime Minster Tayyip Erdogan has tip-toed around these issues without adopting a decisive position. Case in point: He expressed a muted desire to normalize relations with neighboring Armenia, yet he keeps the common border with it closed, thus choking the country economically. Even though Ankara has always pursued pro-western, secular policies, Turkey stands in stark contrast culturally to Europe. The prime minister has Islamist credentials, he was jailed on charges of incitement, yet he is the most secular leader in recent memory. He purports to be friendly with the West, yet his government refuses to provide bases to coalition forces in its offensive against Saddam Hussein's Iraq. Ankara needs a new breed of leaders who are visionaries, not pragmatists. Turkey should emancipate itself from the past. If Ankara is determined to join the "Western Club," it should undertake bold initiatives. It should break away from dogmatic positions. Turkey should give cultural-ethnic autonomy to the Kurds, who constitute 20 percent of the population, and exhibit far more flexibility vis-? ­¶is the Cypriots. How can Ankara take itself seriously when its armies are occupying parts of Cyprus? Turkey's dismal human rights record adds another dimension to an argument for its exclusion from the EU. There should be a change in its human rights, both at the state and grass roots levels, before Europe even begins serious consideration of Ankara's application. Turkey has imposed a blockade upon a neighboring Christian sovereign country, Armenia, while vigorously rejecting the historically documented genocide perpetrated against Armenians. Turkey should moderate its uncompromising support for Azerbaijan so the Nagorno Karabagh issue can move forward towards a peaceful resolution. It should also implement confidence-boosting measures with Armenia, including recognizing the genocide and lifting its decade old economic embargo. Only steps such as these will inspire confidence. Ankara must also undertake judicial reforms within its penal code to show to the outside world it is serious in its efforts to reform and finally become part of the European Union.Taleen Babayan is a senior double majoring in history and international relations with a minor in communications and media studies.

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News

Golf | Jumbos swing to fifth place finish at NESCAC Championship

October 5

This past weekend, the golf squad finished fifth out of 11 teams at the NESCAC Championship, held at Taconic Golf Course in Williamstown, Mass. The Jumbos ended with a two-day, five-person total score of 635, 24 strokes behind first-place Williams (611). It was the Ephs' second consecutive championship and fifth out of the last six years. Despite gunning for a better slot, junior tri-captain Matt Linde spoke honestly about his team's finish and Williams' home-course victory. "We were really shooting for a top-three, but it is hard to compete with teams that have their own course and who recruit heavily," Linde said. "But no one is hanging their head about the fifth spot. Williams knew where to put the ball and I'm not surprised to see them win." Tufts was led by another junior tri-captain, Justin Meier, whose two-day score was an eight-over 150. Meier led the entire tournament after a spectacular Saturday round of one-under 70, but faltered a little on Sunday and ended up tied for third. "I probably hyped myself up too much after Saturday," he said. "I had never led a college tournament. If you had told me beforehand that I'd finish in the top five I'd be happy, but after Saturday's round I was looking for more." Linde talked admirably of the player who he has competed against in practice all year. "I think [Justin's] been the best on the team this year," Linde said. "He beat me out to have the number one spot in this tournament and I know he's disappointed with his Sunday round, but hopefully he'll do well in New England's." The low individual score belonged to Trinity junior George Boudria, who was automatically named the NESCAC Player of the Year. He shot a 69 on Sunday and finished with a five-over 147. Behind Meier was Tufts' other tri-captain, senior Seb Gonzalez, who finished tied for 26th with a 160. Linde was tied for 31st with a 162, sophomore David Hunt shot a 163, and freshman Benjamin Moll rounded out the scoring with a 171. Linde, who had averaged rounds around 77 all year, had his first round of the year in which he did not best 80 on Saturday. "I played pretty mediocre the first day," he said. "I kind of panicked that I wouldn't break 80 and ended up with double bogies on each of the last four holes. On Sunday I played solid for 14 holes, but again, the last four roughed me up a little." Both Linde and Gonzalez shot better on Sunday, with a 76 and a 78, respectively, and despite Meier's ten stroke drop-off, the team knocked three strokes off its combined score on the second day with a 316. The course is home to Williams, and the only Jumbo to have played it before was Linde. He believes his expierence was detrimental. "I played it my freshman year and I think I could have played better if I didn't know it and wasn't intimidated by it," Linde said. On the other hand, Meier had not seen Taconic Golf Course, and he feels that benefited him. "I didn't know what to expect of the course," Meier said. "Ironically, I think that helped me because I just took it one shot at a time." Up next for the team is the New England Championship, which will take place Oct. 16-18. "It's the biggest and oldest college tournament in the country," Linde said. "It's comprised of about 40 teams and it's really cool because you get to go against players from schools like UMass and UConn." In spite of the lofty competition, Meier is looking for positive results and an improvement on Tufts' 20th-place finish last year. "We have guys who can shoot in the mid-70s, but we haven't put it together on one day," Meier said. "We have four out of five guys who played in it last year and we're just looking to finally get a day when we all get it together." The New England Championship will be held at the Captain's Golf Course in Brewster, Mass., and the October morning weather on Cape Cod could play a factor. "We'll be hitting balls in rain jackets to prepare," joked Linde. Beyond the golf season, Meier said he trained and played in tournaments this past summer, hoping to compete professionally on mini-tours after graduation. "At that time, we'll see where my game is," said Meier. "But it's my dream so I've got to give it a shot."

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