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Getting jazzy at Brown n' Brew

September 22

This past Wednesday night, Brown and Brew Cafe took on a different kind of atmosphere. The rustling papers, the tired eyes scanning open books, and scribbling pens next to paper coffee cups were all the same, but there was a distinctive difference: the tapping feet and the live jazz. There was a tangible low-key mood in the room, as the Keyboardist Aaron Morris, Drummer Ben Bornstein, Guitarist Geoff Brown and Bass Player Shahan Nercessian sat on stage, laughing in-between songs and discussing what to play next. On each couch and chair sat a Tufts student, conversations blending into the hum of the cafe, giving the whole place an awake sense having nothing to do with the caffeinated drinks in each hand. Those who came alone concentrated on their reading, only to look up occasionally to the group of friends on stage as the bassist gave the seven-note cue to the familiar tune of "So What". With a raise of his eyebrows, the keyboardist joined in with the rapid tempo, and the drummer's cymbals added the beat to a rendition of Miles Davis' song that attracted the attention of the entire room. This was Brown and Brew Live, an event which started in 1997 when the Office of Student Activities realized that the cafe environment was perfect for weekly live music. Tufts Dining Services, which runs the cafe agreed to sponsor the events. The cafe as a small stage that calls out for live music, and since an amp would be out of place in the atmosphere of coffee grinds and tea bags, the "Acoustic Series" seemed appropriate. The name "Acoustic Series" may be misleading; the informal jazz performance, led by Morris, had keyboards, drums, electric guitar and bass fit (snugly) on stage. When not at the cafe, all four members play in Tufts band the Funk Attack Squad. Since the series' inception, the Office of Student Activities found that many off-campus musicians express interest in performing. Despite the interest by musicians in the area, however, Brown and Brew Live performance spots are reserved for Tufts students and alumni, in keeping with the philosophy of supporting the talented Tufts student body. "Not only is it a good opportunity to have a nice atmosphere but also gives Tufts students a chance to perform," Lynne Stewart, Assistant Director of Student Activities. With such great enthusiasm on campus, the fall semester has already been completely scheduled. Wednesdays this semester will feature two Tufts students in the combined degree program with the New England Conservatory: Ben Roseth and Bridget Kearney, as well as Aaron Morris, Josh Cohn, Geoff Brown, Kenneth Kang, Ben Broderick and John Burlock, a Tufts alumnus. Burlock, who has played at Brown and Brew "eight or 10 times," describes the venue as a "really chill place to play." Says Burlock: "As an acoustic musician, it's definitely a place to get heard." Brown and Brew Live happens every Wednesday from 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.

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News

CD Review | Devendra Banhart: Up on 'Cripple Crow,' he sends me

September 22

As any fan of the late Wesley Willis can attest, some of America's top musical talent can be found wandering the streets, nestled among our nation's homeless. Devendra Banhart was discovered on the streets, but he is no longer just another drifter with a guitar. ?Cripple Crow? combines his skills as a polished songwriter with his raw vocal talent and creates a thoroughly bizarre but lovable album. "Cripple Crow" is an exercise in variety. Tracks jump from soft whispering lullabies to foot-thumping drum and bass ballads (try "Queen Bee" and the following track "I Feel Just Like a Child"). Banhart sounds out of place in neither style. He also proves adept at switching languages, moving from English to Spanish effortlessly. "Cripple Crow" has one undeniable asset in Banhart's terrific vocals. He has a particular way of holding syllables, emitting warble effect that is disarming in the more mellow songs and powerful in the more upbeat songs. On "Some People Ride the Wave" this effect creates a cheerful tune reminiscent of a twist on "Don't Worry, Be Happy." Banhart sometimes sings, such as on "I Heard Somebody Say," with more of a whisper than a voice. It's a shame the singer, with such an impressive vocal range, minimizes his voice. The almost random switches in tone, however, are something not every listener will love. The album lacks a continuous cohesive voice ? at times it seems that the CD player is on shuffle. Taking issue with the pacing, however, seems moot: each song sounds good within the tempo and mood it creates. Banhart's lyrics also jump around haphazardly, from the pedestrian to the psychedelic and occasionally into the weird. Many songs take on the kind of blissful nonchalance of "Lazy Butterfly," where one may get the impression Banhart is lying in the grass somewhere, singing about the world going by: "Purple hummingbird in the meadow / Suckling at the flow of its shadow." A few songs take on a mildly anti-war message, most notably "Heard Somebody Say," with the lyrics, "Heard somebody say that the war ended today / But everybody knows its going still." This leads to the climax of the song: "It's simple, we don't want to kill." While Americans will assume the reference to our present overseas engagements, Banhart deftly avoids mentioning any conflict by name. It creates a more timeless message not necessarily specific to current events. "Little Boys" is one of the catchiest, and perhaps most disturbing songs on the album, with its refrain of "I see so many little boys I want to marry." As if the implication is not fully understood, Banhart continues, "Oh little Billy, little Timmy, little Jimmy, you?re the one / I may not look it, but I swear my heart is young." The words are set to a melody right out of a 50s sock hop. "Cripple Crow" is a series of songs that centers on Devendra Banhart's voice rather than any permeating theme, style or tempo. Banhart, however, is a talented singer so even with tracks stylistically all over the map, the album as a whole sounds great.

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News

Central American politics a long 'story of darkness'

September 22

The history of democracy in Central America is a tragic affair, and its future looks nearly as bleak, a professor from the University of Peace told a packed house Thursday evening. Victor Valle, the dean for academic affairs and a professor of human security at the San Jose, Costa Rica school said there are three key issues to address on the road to democracy in Central America. "Un-democracy as a source of deadly conflict," "full democracy as an unfinished and endless task," and "threats against democracy" Valle identified as the most pressing concerns. The speech was the first event for the Central American Peace Project, a new student group supported by the Institute for Global Leadership and the University College of Citizenship and Public Service. One of the group's leaders, senior Mauricio Artinano, said the group's goal is to promote awareness of the region's democracy-building efforts. Group members spent the summer in Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua and Costa Rica speaking with government officials and people working to promote democracy. Valle's speech, "The Long Walk Ahead," was introduced by senior Andrea Petersen. Valle served as the senior educator at the Organization of American States and helped found the National Commission to Consolidate Peace in his native El Salvador. Until recently, democracy was nearly non-existent in Central America, Valle said. He described the region's time under authoritarian governments as "a story of darkness." Governments resorted to "oppression and physical force...in order to gain control of the people," he said. El Salvador had no democratic elections until 1975. Central American governments used force and fear to maintain their rule. During the Cold War, Valle said, "military dictators were democrats, and opponents communists." Referring to "full democracy as an unfinished and endless task" would be an understatement, Valle said. He described the qualifications for ideal democracies: "Free and honest elections, freedom of expression, access to information, continuous bridging of social gaps and inequalities, and equal opportunity for all." Democracy is "a continuous process of consensus-building," he said. The process is slow and incremental. Officials "need to go step by step to provide democratic institutions" and political openness, Valle said. He mentioned the 1992 El Salvador Peace Accord as an example of the step-by-step progress necessary for democracy in the region. Stumbling blocks remain in the region's path to democratic development. Militias and ordinary citizens often resort to using force to solving social problems. Governments are often corrupt, and states called democracies are sometimes run by a single political party. Following his prepared speech, Valle took questions from the audience - many of whom had Central American backgrounds. He addressed the Mexican elections scheduled for 2006 and the Central American Free Trade Agreement. Valle said he is optimistic about the region's future, despite the current difficulties.

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News

Mardi Gras beads raise funds - and questions - around campus

September 22

Fat Tuesday isn't until February, but Mardi Gras beads have been circulating around Tufts for the past few weeks. Theta Chi and the Leonard Carmichael Society [LCS] have joined forces to sell the beads to benefit the victims of Hurricane Katrina, while at the same time remembering what New Orleans is known for. "Some of the brothers in Theta Chi know some people in New Orleans. Right off the bat we had the idea of starting off the semester with a fundraiser," said junior and Theta Chi brother Tim Pineau, one of the coordinators of the fundraiser. "We kicked around the idea of Mardi Gras beads, thought it sounded good, and Jason Perera [a brother] went out and found a place to buy the beads." Pineau said that Theta Chi's partnership with LCS was intended to strengthen the fraternity's philanthropic effort. "Greek organizations are founded on brotherhood and philanthropy," he said. "Partnering with other organizations [like LCS] is definitely a plus, because the more resources you have, the bigger and better it can be." Some students, however, have lukewarm feelings about the message sent by the sale of the beads - which are traditionally associated with bared breasts. Some students raised the issue with LCS. "There is definitely a stigma associated with Mardi Gras beads, and it may not be sending the best of messages [to sell them to raise money for hurricane victims]," senior Lizzy Mendes said. "If I was from Louisiana, I would probably be a little pissed if all someone thought of was crazy partying and girls flashing everyone just for beads." Mendes was quick to add, though, that in times of crisis, causing offense may not be much of an issue "Then again, if my house had just been washed away, I don't think it would really matter," she said. Sociology Professor Susan Ostrander - who specializes in philanthropy, class and race and teaches in the Women's Studies Department as a sociology professor said the sale of the beads is not offensive. "[During Mardi Gras], crossing gender lines is one of the themes, so women and men and transgender people alike deck themselves out with as many beads as their bodies can hold," Ostrander said. "So how could it be offensive to anyone?" According to Pineau, students at Tufts have not reacted negatively. "The vast majority of people that I have spoken to, including students and faculty, have said that they didn't personally feel that it was offensive or insensitive," he said. In fact, Theta Chi and LCS have received thanks directly from one victim of Katrina. "Just the other day, someone from Louisiana sent one of our brothers an e-mail, and he could not express his gratitude enough," Pineau said. "This was someone directly affected by the hurricane, and he saw all of the charity going on. He wasn't focused on what the charities were; he was just astounded that so many people would be trying so hard to raise so much money." Education about what happened to the people of New Orleans could perhaps have a more important and long-lasting impact than selling beads, Ostrander said. "If you are going to distribute beads to benefit hurricane relief efforts," she said, "I'd hope you will also find a way to use the opportunity to educate people about one of the most profound lessons learned from Katrina: that the abandonment of the poor people of New Orleans, most of whom were African American, is a national disgrace, and not one that is new." "That is the terrible shame of Katrina," she added. On Sept. 28, the Black Cultural Studies Seminar Lecture Series will present "Tossed Overboard: Katrina, Incarceration, and the Politics of Abandonment." This lecture is the third listed on Tuftslife.com in the weeks since the disaster happened. "I'd be more likely to attend a panel [than to buy beads]," sophomore Bobby Gianchandani said. "If I go to the panel, I would feel like I had played a more active part in the relief efforts, instead of buying some beads on my way to dinner." Although many students find nothing offensive about the fundraiser, Giandchandani is not the only student to question whether selling Mardi Gras beads is an ideal way to raise funds. "Unlike the rubber wristbands, the beads are not a convenient or attractive thing for most people to wear to advertise their involvement in Katrina relief," sophomore Ben Brooks said. "No one wants to wear gaudy beads on a regular basis to be associated with the cause." Mendes also doubted the beads' effectiveness. "There are so many things that can be done to raise money," she said. "Why does it have to be these beads? At least they aren't trying to sell any more of those freaking rubber bracelets." Mendes conceded, however, that "anything that is helping a good cause can't be bad."

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News

Football | For football squad, unknowns abound in an opener against Weslyan

September 22

Tufts' football season opened on a sour note a year and a day ago: with a 37-7 hammering by the Wesleyan Cardinals. The Jumbos surrendered 336 aerial yards to sophomore transfer quarterback Zach Canter, and another 95 on the ground to sophomore running back Phil Banks. Tufts' goal for Saturday: don't let it happen again. But to be honest, coach Bill Samko really doesn't know how the action will play out when Wesleyan visits Zimman Field at 1:00 p.m. "In general we always have two or three films on someone and that makes a big difference, but you go into the opener having no film," Samko said. "So we're going in blind. It doesn't necessarily give either team the advantage; it's just a change in preparation. We're guessing." And the thing is, it is hard to predict what will happen on Saturday, or this season, for the Jumbos. Wesleyan blew out Tufts last year, but the previous time the schools met, Tufts came away with a 35-20 victory. One thing is sure: in order to be successful, the Jumbos will have to generate more points than last year. In some cases, that means better production from the Casey D'Annolfo-led attack. Last year, Tufts' offense was the worst in the league. "Unfortunately we're pretty young offensively. But Casey's started a lot of games for us and he's a veteran," Samko said of his senior signal-caller. "This is his chance to shine, it's his moment." But in some cases, scoring points doesn't mean mounting impressive length-of-the field drives, or producing big pass plays and breakaway touchdown scampers. It means merely executing well enough to take advantage of the opportunities presented. Late in the first quarter of last year's game, with Wesleyan leading 10-7, senior defensive back Donovan Brown intercepted a pass by Canter and returned it 78 yards to the 1-yard line before being hauled down from behind. Three unsuccessful plays, a Tufts penalty, and a missed 26-yard field goal later, the Jumbos were still down 10-7. They would never get any closer. "I think it was a turning point in the game that we didn't put any points on the board after Donovan's return," Samko admitted. "I thought that was a significant factor, it kind of changed the flow of the game. Games are funny sometimes. They just get away from you. We can't let that happen; we need to do what we need to do." With Brown graduated, along with running back Steve Cincotta and wide receiver Kevin Holland, it's unknown as to who, if anyone, will step up to make the big plays for the Jumbos tomorrow. That goes for Wesleyan, too, where Canter, after his stellar opener against the Jumbos, wasn't even starting at year's end, according to Samko. "It will be interesting to see who comes out," he said. "Again, we don't know, we haven't seen any tape from this year because there isn't any." No matter who starts at quarterback for Amherst, he probably shouldn't expect the same kind of success the Cardinals had last year with the passing game, not after the improvements the Jumbo D made throughout the season and the success they expect to have with nine returning starters. "Last year we started eight new guys on defense the first game, and some of that immaturity showed," Samko said. "The first game, you make stupid mistakes. There's just no way to know exactly what's going to happen." Samko is sure of one thing, however. "I'd be very surprised if we don't play hard and give a great effort and get after it," the coach said. "That much I can tell you. We had a great preseason and worked very hard and I like the makeup of this team. I like it a lot."

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News

Police response to incident not adequate

September 21

Dear Editor, The excessive amount of praise given to the Tufts University Police Department in your article "Police look to make quiet campus even quieter with crime month" on September 21, 2005 was undeserved. The paragraph that stated there were no incidents of aggravated assault in 2003, and only one last year, failed to mention that we have already had a case of assault on our campus this year. On the night of Friday, Sept. 16, an assault occurred between a Tufts student and a non-Tufts student outside our hall. TEMS (Tufts Emergency Medical Service) was called and then the TUPD arrived. The TUPD officers did not take action against the assaulter and said it was unclear if the victim said anything before he was hit. As I came to understand it, nothing could be done because TUPD was not present when the assault happened. While an assault is not preventable by the TUPD, they must take steps to prevent this from happening again. Until the TUPD starts taking action and using more of the authority they claim to have, the TUPD will never be more than a glorified escort service.Scott Pruessing LA '09

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News

Decembrele expected to lead defense in his junior season

September 21

Whether in pads at the defensive end position or sporting a batting helmet and high socks in the spring, junior Chris Decembrele is always hitting something. Decembrele, who hit .269 with 25 RBI as an outfielder and catcher for the baseball team last year, also earned All-NESCAC and ECAC All-Northeast honors in 2004 as a member of the football team. The 230-pounder - who spends most of his time on the field grappling with offensive linemen, crashing into running backs, and waiting in pass coverage - compiled 73 tackles, 40 solo tackles and 35 sacks. The soft-spoken Decembrele, however, is not boastful about his numbers. "It's hard to see how you're doing when the team's not doing so hot," Decembrele said. "We kind of got unlucky last year. That's behind us." Whether luck had anything to do with it or not, the Jumbos lost three close games by a total of seven points on the way to a 2-6 overall record. Tufts was 2-3 in games decided by less than a touchdown beating Bates 14-12 and Amherst 10-3, but dropping equally close decisions to Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury. It's hard to fault Decembrele for the losses, as the defensive end only played better during crunch time. In the five games decided by four points or fewer, Decembrele deflected six passes, was credited with 3.5 tackles for losses, and collected 52 tackles, averaging over ten tackles per game. Football has always been a family affair for Decembrele. During the close loss in 2004 to Middlebury, Decembrele's older brother Richard played middle linebacker for the Panthers. And on game days, Decembrele's mother Ann, who works at the Fletcher School, and his family drive the 30 minutes from Walpole, Mass. to see the younger footballer play. They were watching last year as Decembrele tallied the third-most solo tackles and sixth-most tackles overall in the NESCAC, leading the Jumbos in both tackles and sacks in the process. Decembrele prefers to deflect the attention to his teammates, who he feels will be better with another year of experience. "We have [nine] returning [defensive] starters coming back," Decembrele said. "Last year, we had five games that were decided by less than a touchdown. This year, we've been together an extra year and that experience makes us better." The coaching staff expects Decembrele to be a leader of that defense. "He's just a regular, down-to-earth guy," Coach Bill Samko said. "He's tremendously well respected by everyone, but he's not just well respected because of his play. He's a great player, but an even better kid." The coach's relationship with his starting defensive end started long before Decembrele donned the Brown and Blue. Samko actually knew the Decembreles well before Chris was born, when he played high school football with Chris' father at Worcester Academy in 1968. "It's amazing that Chris' father would actually turn him over to me," Samko said. Decembrele's decision to attend Tufts occurred long before the traditional junior-year college search. Although his older brother chose Middlebury, the younger Decembrele remembers frequent visits to the Hill to see his mother (who has worked on campus since 1973) and never wanting to go anywhere else. When it was time to pick a college, Decembrele filled out only one application, and was accepted to Tufts early-decision. "Chris made a conscious decision to come to Tufts," his mother Ann Decembrele said. "There's a Tufts tradition in this family." The family ties to Tufts go back further than the younger Decembrele and his mother. Ann's father, William Baldwin, was a Jumbo as well, graduating in 1937. According to Mrs. Decembrele, Mr. Baldwin still attends Chris' games, along with Chris' grandparents on his father's side. The Decembreles' commitment extends past Zimman Field, as the family attends both games at home and on the road. Football has long been a part of Decembrele's life. Since he was nine, Decembrele remembers playing in the local Pop Warner football league near his home in Walpole. After middle school, Decembrele went on to play for Walpole High School, where the team was crowned Bay State League champions once during his four years there. The junior will have similar winning goals in mind as he takes the field this Saturday in the team's match-up against Wesleyan in Middletown, Conn. "Wesleyan handed it to us last year," Decembrele said of last season's 37-7 loss. "So we want to give it back to them this year. We're tired of hitting each other. We want to go out and hit other teams."

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News

Concert Preview | AppleJam brings indie and emo heaven to Hotung Cafe

September 21

A friend at Colby told us one of the perks of going to an isolated school is that the administration helps book and even pay bands to play. We responded that going to school in Boston you can see a show any night of the week. To this he said, "Whatever, dude. School unity!" This apparently means in Colby dialect seeing a concert at school, with classmates, has a pride-instilling, bonding effect not present at a random club in a huge city. To this we reply, "You've obviously never heard of AppleJam." AppleJam, which is separate from Concert Board, hosts musical performances on the Tufts Medford campus mainly geared towards the messenger-bag-and-low-top-Chuck-wearing indie-rock genre. Using meager allotments from the student activities fee, AppleJam has hosted critically acclaimed and nationally (even internationally!) prominent artists like Les Savy Fav, Ted Leo + the Pharmacists, and Yo La Tengo. The group is bringing Portland, Maine band Softer to Hotung on Thursday. It is the first installment of the club's monthly concert series. Softer is one of those unquestionably indie bands that cites My Bloody Valentine, Minus the Bear, and, of course, Death Cab for Cutie, as prominent influences on their sound. AppleJam president Paul Farris calls them "intricate, emotional, and accessible." On "Confessions of an Ardent Heart," Softer's contribution to indie label Deep Elm's compilation "This is Indie Rock: Volume Three," the band precariously toes the line between grungy indie-rock and heart-on-sleeve emo, with singer Gabe Lane's vocals sloshing from one genre to the other. The more recent and pop-sensible "The Sea is a Fickle Mistress," from their recent EP "I was a Teenage Immaterialist" is a terse, lush guitar melody with syncopated snare drums to prop up Lane's falsetto. It sounds like an FM rock station's dream: a creative hit. Rounding out Thursday's line-up are The Lincoln Conspiracy and The Main Drag. The Lincoln Conspiracy, who hail from Boston, are one of the area's most promising rising acts. The Boston Globe calls the trio's guitar-less piano pop "insanely catchy." The band has so far managed to shed comparisons to similar piano-based groups like Hot Hot Heat and Something Corporate. The Main Drag are also from the area: They all go to Tufts. On record, students Adam Arrigo and Matt Levitt team up for a shiny, bizarre indie-folk sound. Their stage shows - and they have opened for AppleJam alums The Unicorns and The Arcade Fire - take on a whole new dynamic. Adding fellow Tufts students Corey Levitt, Tom Keidel, and Nate Reticker-Flynn, The Main Drag take on a bigger, livelier dynamic that should bedevil the Hotung faithful. Though coupling the disparate styles (and fan bases) of an indie/emo band, a piano pop band, and an indie folk band sounds risky from a promoter's perspective, Farris sees a key similarity amongst the groups. "I really think that in a year or two, at least one of these bands will be famous," he said. He should know. He helped AppleJam last year land Apollo Sunshine, who just last week sold out their record release party at the Middle East in Cambridge. The club snagged The Walkmen before they became indie darlings, and were reportedly courting Bloc Party months before they sold out the Avalon. While that kind of prescience is commendable (and eerie), it's fundamental to AppleJam. "We want people to read about a band and be able to say, 'I saw them last year in a cafe at college with a hundred other kids,'" Ferris said.

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News

Faculty, staff use expertise as focus for relief

September 21

Nancy Wilson is used to large-scale service projects, and she knows the importance of knowing just what needs to be done. Wilson, the Director and Associate Dean of the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, has become the de facto coordinator of the various Tufts student, faculty and staff relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina. "There's relief, and then there's really trying to understand what happened," she said. "There's a lot more than just relief that has to happen." Faculty and staff members have turned to their fields when deciding on a way to help. They have been "adding their expertise, not just opening their wallets," Wilson said. The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine sent packages of supplies and drugs to protect the animals affected by the hurricane. The packages were requested by the Massachusetts Veterinary Medical Assistance Team, and the donations were sent to Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine after the hurricane hit. Brian Maran, a student at Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine, is coordinating the donations from across the country. In an e-mail to Vet School Clinical Sciences Professor Mary Rose Paradis, Maran said the packages were appreciated and that the Mississippi Displaced Animal Shelter is currently housing over 500 dogs. "I have no count on cats and other animals, but have been told 'lots and lots' of horses," Maran's e-mail read. "Every animal is in need of veterinary care." The Vet School was prepared to send veterinarians and technicians to meet 2,500 people with their animals in the hurricane-affected area, but the trip was called off because it was not needed. More supplies and drugs will be sent, though. Staff members at the Tufts Administration Building on Holland Street are planning a fundraising campaign to send money to Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild the affected areas. "This is a really good way to try to do something," project coordinator Karin Barry, who works in financial services, said. "We're going to try to keep it going past hurricane season." Wilson said faculty and staff at other universities are also making an effort to help. "Most faculty are responding by reaching out through their networks all around the country," she said. Schools at different universities have collaborated, as well. Tufts' School of Medicine has welcomed medical students from Tulane University to continue their studies and clinical rotations at Tufts. The Medical School has also offered to provide these students with housing. The University received 57 offers from off-campus students, faculty, staff, and community members to host guest students. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman sent a letter to these volunteers, thanking them for their generosity. So far, none of the offers have been taken up. Reitman said administrators have made accommodating the approximately 40 Tulane University undergraduates who were admitted to Tufts a priority. "We've all been working substantially to get that going," he said.

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News

Tufts loses in come from behind fashion once again, two goal lead not enough

September 21

With the prospect of leaving Kraft Field with a decisive win dwindling in the waning moments of yesterday afternoon's game, things went from bad to worse for the Men's soccer team. Tied at three with non-conference opponent Salve Regina (4-3-2, 2-1-1 Commonwealth Coast Conference), Seahawk junior midfielder Mike Gregory found himself with a golden opportunity and slid the ball past Jumbo freshman goalkeeper Brain Dulmovits in the 88th minute to steal a 4-3 victory from the Jumbos. After outplaying Salve and securing a 2-0 halftime lead, Tufts (1-3, 1-1 NESCAC) came out strong in the beginning of the second half before the Seahawks saw their first bit of daylight which came in the form of a direct kick. Sophomore midfielder Alex Clark took advantage, beating Dulmovits in the upper left corner to narrow the margin to one in the 52nd minute. Tufts recovered from the shock of the defensive lapse briefly, but Salve found the equalizer just six minutes after Clark's goal. After making a save, Seahawk junior goalie Davin Sirpenski booted a punt almost all the way down the field and over the heads of the Tufts defense. This left Salve junior striker Eric Zimmer all alone with Dulmovits. The forward needed only to head the ball over the freshman keeper's head to tie the game at two. Tufts did not relent, however, as it created multiple opportunities in the next ten minutes. Senior tri-captain Todd Gilbert took a shot from about 20 yards out that was saved by Sirpenski. A dangerous pass from sophomore midfielder Greg O'Connell to classmate Dan Jozwiak also created havoc inside the 18. Tufts finally regained the lead after junior Ben Castellot pushed a header over the crossbar setting up a Salve goal kick. Jozwiak intercepted Sirpenski's attempt to clear the zone and slid the ball past the keeper in the left corner to give the Jumbos a 3-2 advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as the Seahawks responded right off the restart. Clark hit a long, hanging shot just outside the midfield circle that Dulmovits appeared to lose in the setting sun. Dulmovits dove and deflected the ball in the air, but it bounced into the net as it came down, tying the game at three. The teams traded possession for the next 15 minutes before Gregory secured the game-winner for the Seahawks. While Clark's equalizer could have been chalked up to bad luck, Tufts coach Ralph Ferrigno blamed his entire team's lack of focus. "We worked hard to get [our] third goal," Ferrigno said. "But then we just weren't paying attention. [Salve's game-tying goal] was just a lack of concentration." Knowing Jumbo teams had defeated the Seahawks in each of the squads' previous four meetings, with Tufts outscoring Salve 15-6 in that same span, the players were equally unkind in evaluating their performance. "It's just so embarrassing," O'Connell, who headed in a corner from sophomore Andrew Drucker to open the scoring in the first half, said. "This is the type of team we should beat; no offense to Salve Regina." Jozwiak, who hammered a shot from about 18 yards out that could have given Tufts a lead in the 77th minute, had little more to offer. "I think we're all just speechless right now," the sophomore forward said. It seemed like only a matter of time until a Jumbo found the back of the net as Tufts handily controlled the game in the first half. O'Connell fulfilled that prophecy with a beautifully-executed corner kick play in the 14th minute. The sophomore, who is listed at six-feet one-inch and is one of a handful of six-footers on the Tufts roster, knows how important it is to take advantage of such opportunities. "We have so much height," O'Connell said. "We just don't have that killer instinct yet." The other Tufts goal in the first half came off a pretty buildup that culminated in junior forward Mattia Chason feeding senior tri-captain Mike Guigli. Guigli then found the net to give the Jumbos a two-goal cushion. Tufts dominated the run of play in the first 45 minutes, out-possessing Salve by a wide margin and barely allowing the Seahawks a look at the goal. The Jumbos continued much of their dominance in the second half, but it was a few defensive lapses that spelled the difference between victory and defeat. "We didn't play as well in the second half," Ferrigno conceded. "But I still can't explain how we lost the game." In a contest filled with its share of bright spots, the veteran coach was adamant that the result on the scoreboard overshadows everything his team did well yesterday. "It's more important that we get results [than simply outplaying opponents]," Ferrigno said. "We're just leaking goals." Next up for the Jumbos are the NESCAC rival Lord Jeffs of Amherst, who will bring a 1-0-1 record to Medford for Saturday's conference match-up. Tufts, which has lost three consecutive games at home, two to non-conference opponents, dearly needs to take advantage of its home games, as its last eight games in October feature only two contests in the friendly confines of Kraft Field. "[Amherst is] a good team," Ferrigno said. "We just need to get over the shell-shock [of yesterday's loss]."

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News

Transforming the study of language

September 21

The University's strong language program has always been a key selling point of the school. All graduating liberal arts students have completed at least six semesters of language coursework, International Relations majors have completed eight semesters, and many students have completed higher level course or additional requirements beyond these minimums. The current surge of student enrollment in language courses means now is the time for the University to upgrade its current, and already commendable, offerings. The double digit increases in many language programs have resulted from several parallel trends in language study at Tufts. More students are continuing languages into upper levels, working towards fluency. Other students are taking up third and fourth languages. The dark side of this phenomenon is that courses are filling up quickly, and there are often not enough seats in high demand courses such as Spanish 22. Changes in enrollment represent an opportunity for language departments to evolve. Language study, at all levels, should be related to subject content. This means not focusing exclusively on dry grammar exercises, but also the country and culture being studied. Lower levels should focus on conversational language, functioning as a bootcamp for surviving in the country. At the upper levels there should be a shift toward issue focused coursework. Arabic and Chinese classes are among those with the largest enrollment increases. One reason frequently given for this increase is America's current political relationship with countries speaking these languages. Professors need to integrate these issues into the classroom. Interdisciplinary opportunities also need to be explored. The French Department, for example, could work with Political Science Department to offer a program on France's role in the European Union. Students and professors, by analyzing French language materials, could study the issue from a perspective not normally available at the University. Cooperation need not be limited to social science and the humanities. Cooperative courses could highlight Chinese work in environmental biology or Hindi anthropology studies. Departments should also transform majors to fit into this interdisciplinary approach. In the same way the International Relations program draws from many departments, the language departments should open up major requirements beyond a token 'related field' course. A Latin American or Spanish history course would be both interesting and useful to Spanish majors. One could also imagine adding complementary language requirements, additional languages of related origin, such as "Italian for French Majors." For the moment the University needs to ensure all students can enroll in language classes of their choice. These new linguists, however, will soon be reaching upper level courses. and the University should have a more dynamic curriculum ready.

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News

All languages see enrollment jump

September 21

Enrollment soared in foreign language courses this semester, thanks to a bigger than expected freshman class and the expectation that foreign language skills will come in handy after graduation. About 1,367 students are in the freshman class, compared to last year's class of 1,273. The high enrollment helped fuel demand for language courses because of the School of Arts and Sciences six-semester language and culture requirement. Every language offered in the F.W. Olin Center, which houses modern languages, saw an increase in enrollment from the fall 2004 semester. Swahili increased five-fold, and 56 percent more students are taking first year Hebrew, according to department chairs. "Typically when we see increases in enrollment in one language, we see a drop in another," French Department Coordinator Emese Soos said. "This has not happened this year." French levels 1 through 22 have seen a jump of about 40 students. Soos said current events and career aspirations may impact which language courses students choose. "I think it's because of the political situation," she said. "A lot of students who come to Tufts are thinking international relations and international business so they see that a second or even a third language is very useful as they look ahead towards careers." This may explain the rises in Arabic and Chinese - the languages that grew by the highest percentage after Hebrew. The largest increases in Arabic enrollment were in second year classes, an indication that more students are seriously pursuing the language. Chinese, increasingly important in the business world, also experienced an enrollment jump. This semester there are over 100 students in five sections of first year Chinese, according to German, Russian, and Asian Languages Chair Vida Johnson. The increased enrollment in languages proved difficult for many incoming students; some were shut out of their preferred course. "Chinese experienced the largest increase," Johnson said. "We even had students who couldn't sign in on the waiting list." Freshman Neel Hugh was one of the students put on a waiting list for Chinese. Johnson found a department member and a classroom and created a new section at 8 a.m. The new section has over 20 students, including Hugh. "Luckily though, they were able to put me into a special class they created," he said. The Spanish Department also had to expand. Over 100 more students are taking Spanish this semester than last fall. The department hired two full-time and three adjunct professors and added six sections. Freshman Casey Strong said there was no room in the Spanish 22 sections when he signed up for classes. "Now I'm in Spanish 21 which is too much of a review for me," she said. The increased enrollment also forced language departments to look outside of Olin for classrooms. The building, built in 1991, is filled to capacity during the times language classes are offered. "We have a space issue in the building," Spanish Department Coordinator Marta Rosso-O'Laughlin said. "There are not enough classrooms to accommodate all the classes that are in demand by students." Rosso-O'Laughlin said the department offers courses at all times of the day. Some Spanish classes are taught in Eaton Hall and the Aidekman Arts Center.

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News

TV Review | Redneck Earl enlightens viewers with his laughter and good deeds

September 21

Most people don't turn to a mustachioed redneck to learn sage moral lessons, but maybe more people should. "My Name Is Earl," the new NBC comedy starring Jason Lee, tackles issues like karma, alcohol abuse, and baby mama drama - in the first episode. Coupled with the brilliant comedy "The Office," which airs right after, the show just might turn Tuesday into the new Thursday as far as must-see nights go. Even if "My Name Is Earl" doesn't ascend to must-see status, the show is definitely a refreshing addition to a primetime lineup dominated by inane reality TV shows. Indeed, well-written, smart comedies are increasingly difficult to find, making this show that much more appreciated. Earl J. Hickey (Lee) is exactly what his surname suggests: a hick. And he'd be the first to tell you so; in fact, he is the first to tell you as he narrates the ins and outs of his rather peculiar life. It is apparent from the show's start that Earl is not a 'good person' in the traditional sense of the word. He steals from Volvo-driving families; he's happily unemployed; he drinks to forget his problems. Amazingly, despite all this, Earl is still a really likeable character. His nonchalant attitude towards just about everything (he reacts with about the same level of excitement to finding a winning lottery ticket as he does to his wife's obvious infidelities) makes Earl kind of endearing, or at the very least, amusing. Earl's wife Joy, (Jaime Pressly) already six months pregnant when the two drunkenly wed in Vegas on the night of their first meeting, remembers nothing about her son's father except that he drove a Ford - they name the child Dodge. The unfaithful Joy has another child with another man, Darnell, while still married to Earl. Pressly, while nice to look at, could stand to improve her strained white-trash accent. In what was arguably one of the funniest moments of the show, Earl scratches a winning lotto ticket only to lose the ticket when hit by an elderly woman's car. Not only does Earl end up in the hospital having lost 100,000 dollars, but to add insult to injury (literally), his ever-tactful wife has him unknowingly sign divorce papers in his weakened state. Finally it comes to him: A life changing epiphany from none other than MTV VJ- turned late night talk show host, Carson Daly. On television, Earl sees a bit of an interview in which Daly attributes his success to his faith in karma, or more simply, the belief that what goes around comes around. After his TRL-inspired revelation (aren't they all?), Earl decides that his horrible behavior is responsible for his current unpleasant situation. A list of all the people he has wronged, including everyone affected by his second hand smoke (it kills you know), is written and Earl starts doing good. His karma finally in check, he finds his winning lotto ticket, and decides to keep the good deeds coming. Ethan Suplee convincingly plays Earl's brother Randy, a deadbeat, immoral but harmless sidekick whose character is colored by a love of beer and early '90s techno dance music. Rounding out the cast is Catalina (Nadine Velazquez), a local motel maid who joins Earl and Randy on their ostensibly karma-improving missions. Kenny (Gregg Binkley), a closeted homosexual and former object of Earl's schoolyard torment, is Earl's next mitzvah in the making. Earl's small minded homophobia manages to be amusing and not offensive mainly because he is made out to be such an uneducated idiot that his homophobia becomes a shot at actual homophobes. He also ultimately sees past "the gay" as he calls it, and accompanies his ex-classmate to a gay bar where a personal favorite of Randy's, "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock, plays. (If questionable elsewhere, at least his taste in music is top notch.) The once homophobic Randy ends the episode with the timeless throw-the-fish-a-line dance move and proceeds to get his groove on with a man. You see, we're growing as people and getting a good laugh in by watching television. And to think, your mother told you to turn off the TV and read.

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News

College fails to come through in first ACC game

September 21

Week two of college football had the upsets. Week three did not, but there still were some great matchups. Game of the Week: No. 17 Boston College was rudely welcomed to the Atlantic Coast Conference by No. 8 Florida State, as the Seminoles beat the host Golden Eagles 28-17. BC had the jitters, and they showed early on in the game. On the first play, Eagles quarterback Quinton Porter was intercepted by A.J. Nicholson. He ran the ball back 19 yards for a touchdown. Florida scored again before the Eagles found their balance. They came roaring back, taking a 17-14 lead at halftime. The score would prove to be the high-water mark for Coach Tom O'Brien's squad. The Seminoles then shut out the Eagles as Porter left the game late in the third quarter with a right ankle injury. BC kept the lead through three quarters due in large part to the play of defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka. With the Seminoles on the BC 33, quarterback Drew Weatherford hit Lorenzo Booker on a screen pass. Booker maneuvered his way toward the end zone, but was stripped by Kiwanuka at the one yard line. The ball landed on the pylon for a touchback. FSU was able to score the winning touchdown with 10:13 to play in the fourth quarter. Weatherford found receiver Greg Carr for the five yard score. The Eagles chances late, but could not execute. They drove to the FSU two yard line in the final three minutes of the game but could not put the ball in the end zone. No. 6 Florida defeated No. 5 Tennessee 16-7 in a defensive showdown at the Swamp. No. 10 Notre Dame, which had vaulted into the top 10 following two noteworthy victories in its first two games, was beaten at home in overtime by Michigan State. The Spartans have now won five straight games in South Bend. No. 13 Miami needed three overtimes to defeat No. 20 Clemson 36-30. Hurricane back Tyrone Moss provided the winning margin with a 25-yard touchdown run before Kenny Phillips intercepted Tiger quarterback Charlie Whitehurst to clinch the victory. On the West Coast, the Oregon Ducks beat No. 23 Fresno State 37-34, storming back from a 17-0 second quarter deficit. Quarterback Kellen Clemens led the charge, passing for 332 yards and four touchdowns. The win vaulted the Ducks to the No. 24 spot. No. 15 California beat Illinois 35-20, handing Illinois coach Ron Zook his first loss leading the Illini. The Golden Bears were able to overcome the absence of their injured starting quarterback and running back to improve to 3-0 on the season. The top-ranked teams in the country flexed their muscles against inferior competition. No. 4 Virginia Tech trounced Ohio 45-0. Marcus Vick had 200 yards passing with two touchdowns despite throwing the ball only 16 times. No. 2 Texas defeated Rice 51-10, as freshman running back Jamaal Charles rushed for 189 yards and three touchdowns. Quarterback Vince Young did help his Heisman campaign. The junior missed a golden opportunity to pad his stats and finished with just 101 yards passing, one interception and no touchdowns. Top-ranked USC solidified its grasp on the nation's number one position with a 70-17 thrashing of Arkansas. The Trojans only had the ball for 1:32 in the first quarter. It was enough time, however, to rack up 246 yards of offense and four touchdowns. In front of 90,411 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the men from Troy never looked back, scoring two touchdowns in each of the next three quarters. The win extended USC's winning streak to 24, the longest current streak in the country and just one win shy of the Pac-10 record. Player of the Week: USC Tailback Reggie Bush. He is a very, very good football player. If Bush keeps up what he has been doing, there is going to need to be a "Player of the Week Not Named Reggie Bush" section. Against the Razorbacks, the junior touched the ball 11 times, good for 195 total yards and two touchdowns. On his first play, Matt Leinart handed him the ball and, by the time he stopped running, he was 76 yards and six points away from where he began. Upcoming Game of the Week: No. 1 USC at No. 24 Oregon. Will the Trojans keep their steamroller running? Maybe. But they better not look past these Ducks. A couple years ago, then No. 3 Michigan went to Autzen Stadium and was thoroughly beaten by a similar Oregon squad. Wolverine coach Lloyd Carr said it was the noisiest place he has ever played in. The high-powered Trojan offense may be too much for Oregon to handle. If the game is close late, watch out.

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News

Going once, going twice... sold!

September 21

Students filled South Hall lounge Wednesday night to participate in an auction sponsored by the South Hall Council and the residential assistants, including senior Ray Chery, above. The event was held to raise money for victims of the Hurricane Katrina disaster on the Gulf Coast. All proceeds from the auction will go immediately to the Red Cross. The auction featured everything from language tutoring to Hodgdon and Anna's Taqueria food pickup, from baking homemade goods and ice cream to doing laundry. Film Series offered the highest-selling item - a private screening of a movie during the second semester this year - which sold for $51. Senior Megan Bentley, a South Hall residential assistant, came up with the original idea for the auction after she saw a similar event taking place in Hotung Caf?© ?o raise money for cancer research. In total, Bentley said 48 people auctioned off an item, although only 45 had registered at the start of the proceedings.By the end of the night, Bentley said the auction raised over $600 for the Red Cross.

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News

Offense hopes senior quarterback can lead

September 21

Around this time last season, the Jumbos walked off Zimman Field helmets in hand, after a humiliating 37-7 loss to Wesleyan in their season opener. This Saturday, the squad will be relying on a matured offense to avoid another disaster in this year's season-opening rematch. The 30-point margin was the largest defeat in the history between the two teams. Tufts put together only two drives of over 25 yards the entire game. This low output would foreshadow much of the rest of the season, as Tufts went on to rank among the lowest in all offensive categories in the NESCAC. This season, the Jumbos hope to turn things around on offense. The team is putting its confidence, and the football, in the hands of senior quarterback Casey D'Annolfo. Offensive coordinator Mike Daly is also relying on a supporting cast of returning players to jump-start the team's offense for 2005. "I think we're in great shape so far," Daly said. "We've got great competition at our positions from top to bottom. Everyone is a year older and a year better and we're just focusing on winning." Tufts ranked last in total touchdowns (nine), total points (75), and average points scored per game (9.4) in the NESCAC last season. In the air, the team was not much better, ranking second to last in passing offense and passing efficiency. D'Annolfo started four games for the Jumbos in 2004. The veteran threw for 531 total yards, including three touchdowns, and amassed a 45.6 completion percentage. According to his coaches, D'Annolfo is ready to take on the leading role full-time. "We are very confident in him," coach Bill Samko said. "He has put a lot of focus on playing the position." "I've been playing in the system for four years now," D'Annolfo said. "I know my receivers and I'm comfortable with the guys around me." The Jumbos' running game was average at best last season, ranking seventh in the NESCAC. With the return of some experienced backs, Tufts looks to climb in the ranks this season. The backfield will be anchored by senior Scott Lombardi, junior Brian Cammuso, and sophomore Christopher Guild, who made the transition from defensive back to running back this season. At the fullback position, Tufts will look to sophomores Kevin Anderson and Matt Gaylord. At receiver, the team has some speed and consistency on its roster. Juniors Steve Menty and Ryan Hanofee, along with sophomore J.B. Bruno will anchor the position while sophomore Kevin Gleason will see time at tight end. Daly is confident in the wide range of talent between the receiver, running back, and fullback positions. "We've got a lot of tough, steady, and fast guys at the [receiver] positions and I think we're very good in the backfield," Daly said. "Our goal is to win, and we'll do whatever it takes to win a ball game. We'll run the ball to try and control the clock and we have confidence in [D'Annolfo]." Tufts' most daunting challenge will be filling the holes in its offensive line. The Jumbos lost significant experienced talent to graduation and will have to fill some positions with players who have not seen consistent action in the past. According to Samko, the offensive line will dictate the momentum of every game this season, and is the team's primary concern on offense. "We've got some guys returning who will be strong for us, but depth is going to be an issue," Samko said. "[The team will] play as well as [the offensive line] plays."

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News

Twin two-goal efforts push Tufts over Gordon

September 21

When sophomore Corey Green went down with an ACL injury during the team's season opener, a young Tufts forward line took an early hit. Coach Tina McDavitt looked to her bench for a replacement, and found freshman Brittany Holiday. Since stepping in at the vacant left wing position, Holiday has contributed her stick skills and speed down the line to the Tufts offense. She added a pair of goals, the first of her collegiate career, during the team's 5-3 victory over Gordon on Tuesday. "Everybody misses Corey," said Holiday, who found the net once each half to pace the Jumbo offense. "She's an awesome player, but it was good to be able to help the team in any way possible. I've been working as hard as I can. Regardless of whether you're starting, you need to improve." The Jumbos did not let the overcast conditions affect their intensity on the field. With three goals in the first 13 minutes of play, Tufts was well on its way to a second victory of the year and an even 2-2 record. Holiday's first-half goal was matched by two from sophomore forward Ileana Katz and a well placed penalty stroke from senior Erika Goodwin, propelling Tufts to a 4-1 halftime lead. "Against Middlebury, we had a lot of energy," senior co-captain Lea Napolitano said. "We focused on bringing energy into the Middlebury game and this one." The early scoring run was a welcomed change from the team's 2-0 loss to Middlebury on Saturday. In that game, the Jumbos managed only three first-half shots in a tightly-matched contest. Despite the loss, Tufts proved it could hang with the top-ranked Panthers, and was able to fine-tune some crucial elements. "We played a great game [against Gordon]," McDavitt said. "After we played Middlebury, we saw how good we really were. We talked about controlling the game and about playing our game and focusing in on fundamentals." The trio of quick scores had the Fighting Scots playing catch-up from the opening whistle. Senior co-captain Megan Benevides sunk a goal with 16:09 to play in the first half, bringing Gordon within two, but Katz answered with another goal just two and a half minutes later, sending the Jumbos into halftime with a three-goal cushion. Holiday scored her second goal of the day less than three minutes into the second half on an assist from Katz, opening the Tufts lead to four. The Jumbos dropped off slightly, however, after the fifth and final goal, allowing two unanswered goals as Gordon once again narrowed the lead to two. Junior forward Whitney Plaster snuck the ball by Tufts junior goalkeeper Angela Rappoli, finding the back of the net twice in just six minutes to crank up the intensity and force Tufts to defend its lead. The Jumbos answered with a resounding defensive effort in the remaining 15 minutes. Junior Marilyn Duffy-Cabana returned to the cage for the Jumbos, and the Tufts backfield held strong in front of her, handing Gordon its fourth loss of the season. "The game was a collective effort," Holiday said. "Everyone worked really hard." The team now looks to host conference rival Amherst on Saturday afternoon. The Lord Jeffs nabbed a 2-1 overtime win at Amherst last season. A win on Saturday would put the Jumbos over .500 in both conference and regular season play.

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News

Parties to alleged hate crime terminate investigation

September 21

The investigation into the event that sparked last May's anti-hate rally is closed -- without a resolution. Then-junior Riyadh Mohammed claimed to have been assaulted outside of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity on April 30 after an argument that involved racial slurs. Hundreds of students and faculty members responded to the allegation by rallying in front of Tisch Library on May 3, but no official information was released at the time. In a statement released on Wednesday, the Dean of Students Office said the investigation was cut short. The alleged perpetrator, then-freshman William Toner, has since withdrawn from the University. "We cannot force a non-student to participate in an investigation," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. The Dean of Students Office would not confirm either Mohammed or Toner's name, though they have been reported before. The investigation stalled even before Toner left the school. "We could not get anywhere because everyone was refusing to talk -- everyone," Reitman said. Because Toner left the school, Mohammed also withdrew from the investigation. "We still don't know exactly what happened," Reitman said. "One student withdrawing isn't a confession of wrongdoing." The rally, which included speeches by professors, took place without any official police statement on the incident. "There are a lot of conflicting stories," Reitman said. "The rally responded to one point of view." Sophomore Victor John questioned the level of response without the specifics of the incident. "I understand why the community was so upset," he said. "But I think they should have waited for more concrete facts before reacting so harshly." Another student said the rally provided an opportunity to discuss issues of discrimination on campus. "I think it would be worse and reflect badly on the school if the incident happened and nobody did anything about it," sophomore Laura Uwakwe said. The Dean of Students Office, the Bias Intervention Program, and the Bias Response Team are trying to maintain the momentum of the rally to focus attention on discrimination. "The dialogue needs to continue to let people know that incidents do happen on campus," Reitman said. The Bias Intervention Program hosted a "Mocktails" discussion with peer educators Tuesday night. Other ways to address intolerance are also being explored. Reitman said a faculty vote recommended a change to the core curriculum to require courses on a wider range of racial backgrounds. The Language and Foreign Culture requirement was changed to the Language and Culture requirement. "The term has become somewhat either meaningless or hurtful," Reitman said. The Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) would not comment on the incident, which happened during the Spring Fling weekend, but TUPD Captain Mark Keith said security on campus is heightened at certain times of the year. "Typically during the first several weeks of the academic year, and again in the later four weeks of the academic year, we do increase the number of officers on the street during weekends," he said. "Not for that particular incident, but in general, during times of increased activity."

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News

Alumni explains statistics using Eastern philosophy and his own poetry

September 21

Poetry, ink drawings, and Eastern philosophy are the unusual base ingredients for new ways of presenting statistics developed by a Tufts alum. Dana Keller's recently published book, "The Tao of Statistics: A Path to Understanding (With No Math)," fuses Eastern philosophy with statistics, using oriental ink drawings, poems and real-life examples to help reinforce statistical concepts. The impulse to write the book - which Keller (LA '74) will be signing at the Tufts Bookstore from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday - came after Keller's experiences lecturing at conferences. He had to explain how statistical results relate to Medicare and Medicaid policy "in plain English" to general audiences. "Few people in the audience cared about the statistics - what they cared about was the policy relevance," Keller said. Keller noticed a lack of written statistical resources that did not focus heavily on computation. He could not find a book that contextualized statistics without mathematics. "Statistics without a context are about as useful as a burnt match," Keller said. "[The book is] focused toward people who do not consider themselves mathematically oriented, but still want or need to understand what statistics mean." He gave education policy, health care, economics, and marketing as fields where an understanding of statistics is necessary. The "tao" portion of the book's title came partly from Keller's long term personal interest in Eastern philosophy. Keller traveled and taught in China after a few of his doctoral students expressed interest in setting up an English school there. "Eastern philosophy tends to use both sides of the brain; it tends to think of things from all sides," Keller said. "The tao of statistics is the way or the path of statistics, not the math of statistics that can be found elsewhere." Statistics courses do not traditionally incorporate this balance. "We teach it backwards compared to the way that many people learn: traditional statistics courses present the math and have students do brain-breaking exercises first," Keller said. "All students learn is that statistics is a real drag. They're not of a mindset where they can easily read equations the way they can read a newspaper." "We've all done the left-brain stuff," Keller said of traditional approaches to statistics. "If we could bring in poetry, artwork, simple text, and real life examples, then we're bringing in the other side." A "sumi-e" artist, a specialized form of ink painting, worked with Keller to create the book's 60 images which reinforce concepts presented in the text. One common feature of statistics books is notably absent. "There are no charts or graphs of anything," Keller said. Sixty poems appear in the text. The poems, which also reiterate the statistical concepts, were all written by Keller, a first-time poet. Keller calls is approach to statistics "more holistic" than traditional models. The first draft of the text took only nine days to complete. The initial writing, however, was followed by four months of revising and refining. He is now working on a companion book on research methodology, tentatively titled "The Tao of Research: A Path to Validity." In addition to a foundation in statistics and a degree in sociology, Keller came away from the Hill with an appreciation for the accomplishments of people. "It's all normal people who do great things, so normal people can do just about anything when they set their minds to it," he said. Keller points to Tufts professor Alan Orenstein - who also took an alternative approach to statistics - as a personal influence. "He tried to instill a gut or intuitive understanding of what statistics are beyond the math," Keller said.

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News

Jumbos coast by Gordon after shaky start

September 21

The Tufts volleyball team made it three in a row against Gordon on Tuesday, traveling to Wenham, Mass. and trumping the Fighting Scots for the third time in as many years, 3-0. The non-conference win upped the Jumbos' record to 7-1 on the season (1-1, NESCAC). "As a team we were more consistent in terms of our energy today than in previous games," senior co-captain Courtney Evans said. "We didn't let Gordon go on long runs or get down on ourselves. And we bounced back from mistakes really well." Junior outside hitter Kelli Harrison led the Jumbo offensive attack with 13 kills, while sophomore Katie Wysham, freshman Maya Ripecky, and senior co-captain April Gerry each contributed four kills. Sophomore libero Stephanie Viola spearheaded the defensive charge with ten digs, with Ripecky and Harrison each chipping in seven. Freshman setter Kaitlin O'Reilly led the passing attack for Tufts, putting forth 37 assists, and Ripecky led the team with four service aces. Coming off its 1-1 showing in its first look at NESCAC action this past weekend, the Jumbos started off a bit shaky against the Scots, struggling through unforced errors that kept the game close. "I think we gave [Gordon] about 17 points on missed serves and hitting errors," Evans said. Tufts held strong, however, and took the game 30-26. The team was then able to sharpen its play for the final two games. "Our goals for the [second] two games were just to cut down on our errors and we did that really well," Evans said. "In both of the last two games we only missed two serves, which is much less than in most of our previous games." Playing more disciplined volleyball, the Jumbos were able to dominate, winning 30-14 and 30-19. "Fixing our service game did a lot for our momentum," coach Cora Thompson said. "We stopped giving away points, and the rest of our play picked up dramatically as a result." Because the game was non-conference, and didn't affect its NESCAC standing, Tufts took the opportunity to try various lineups and combinations for use against future NESCAC opponents. "I think this was just a good game to have a lot of different lineups out on the court and still be able to play a consistently," Evans said. "We were able to take control over what was happening on our side of the court by minimizing errors and staying focused on the game." The Jumbos will have a much tougher test this weekend when they co-host the MIT Invitational on Friday and Saturday. Tufts will face off against Muhlenberg at 4 p.m., followed by the Coast Guard Academy at 8 p.m. in Chase Gymnasium. Tufts will have to be at the top of its game if it wants to beat Coast Guard, one of just four teams to beat the Jumbos last year. With a relatively young lineup, the team can only get better as the season progresses. Thompson rotates all of her six freshmen in regularly, with four of them playing crucial roles on the team. "We are getting more used to playing with each other and trusting each other on the court," Evans said. "I'm really excited for this weekend's games - playing tougher teams will force us to step up our game and play really good volleyball."

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