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Remove the heels and begin the healing

September 21

Shoeboxes have taken on new significance for students in University College Professor Molly Mead's "Innovative Non-Profits ExCollege class." The students are organizing a shoebox-centric university-to-university relief effort with Grambling State University (GSU) in Louisiana. Through "No Shoes Just Stuff to Use," created by the students as a class project, the students will collect toiletries and other household supplies in plastic shoeboxes for victims whose homes were destroyed and who are living temporarily on the GSU campus. GSU is housing 1,500 students and their family members along with over 1,000 orphaned babies and toddlers. While GSU is able to provide shelter for these victims, the university is in dire need of everyday supplies. Junior Sonja Good Stefani, who aspires to run an orphanage in a third world country, enrolled in Mead's course to gain experience formulating a business plan that would solve a social problem. "I didn't realize how relevant this class was to my life goals until the first day, when [the professor] described the projects we would be doing," Stefani said. "This is a way to do the things I want to do as part of my schooling, instead of in addition to schooling." During the first week of class, Good Stefani received an e-mail from a family friend alerting her to GSU's need for supplies and publicizing a shoebox drive started by a GSU graduate. "Since the hurricane I've been feeling a sort of unrest," she said. "I was angry at the lack of immediate help the people of New Orleans received, but at the same time, I felt like I couldn't do anything," she said. "For the first week, I was glued to the TV, trying to decide which organization was the best to donate to. But a monetary donation didn't suffice [to calm] the feeling of discontent." Good Stefani realized the assignment to create a business plan was a perfect opportunity for Tufts students to provide concrete support for hurricane victims. She teamed up with two other classmates: senior Grant Sharpe, and Jennifer Near, a visiting senior from Tulane University. Together they began planning an on-campus relief effort. The group will provide Tufts fraternities, sororities and other interested University-related groups with plastic shoeboxes and a list of necessary household items. With a goal of filling one shoebox for every ten students, the "No Shoes Just Stuff to Use" trio aims to provide Tufts students with a simple, affordable way to make a significant difference in victims' lives. The group is organizing the collection process by dividing the suggested supply list into different categories of potential end users, by age group, gender, and function. As soon as the boxes are filled and checked, they will be shipped to GSU. Students can donate goods in shoeboxes located in every dorm. Monetary donations, which will help pay for the shipping, are also being accepted. The team would like to send at least 500 boxes by Oct. 7. The shoebox drive stands out from other hurricane relief fundraisers because it is student run and involves more than monetary donation, Good Stefani said. "It's more personal than simply sending money to an umbrella organization, although I do support those efforts as well," she said. "I needed to get more personal, and I'm hoping other Tufts students feel the same way." Near said she agrees. As a Tulane student, she experienced the hurricane firsthand and knows many people who lost everything. "There have been a lot of fundraisers where the money is going to the Red Cross, and that's phenomenal," she said. "But I don't think that every fundraiser has to go through the Red Cross." Near said she believes her business plan will be an ideal alternative. "A Tufts service project [is] a great way to contribute, not only a donation, but also to do something that's just as beneficial to the hurricane survivors and would be a great reflection on the school as a whole," she said. Students who donate to the shoebox drive will know exactly who is receiving their aid, and all donations will reach the victims directly. "The supplies are going directly to those who need it now," Sharpe said. "Their efforts will not just sit in a warehouse for three months waiting for use. The time invested is minimal compared to the help it will bring those who need it now."

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News

Rushdie speech to be simulcast in Balch Arena

September 21

Students who failed to claim tickets for next week's speech by Salman Rushdie may be able to see the speech after all. Rushdie's talk will be simulcast on a screen in the Balch Arena Theater, Dean for Undergraduate Education James Glaser said in an e-mail to students Wednesday. Tickets for the simulcast are available today beginning at 10 a.m. at the Student Services Desk in Dowling Hall. As with last Friday's ticket distribution, students can get a simulcast ticket with their Tufts ID card, and they can get a second ticket with another student's ID card. Students who watch the simulcast can also attend the book-signing and reception in the Alumnae Lounge and the theater lobby following the speech. In addition to the equipment required for the simulcast, the added venue required security changes. "We had to change the metal detection a bit," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. The student tickets for the main venue of the Sept. 27 speech, Cohen Auditorium, were all distributed in under an hour last Friday, Sept. 16. An article in yesterday's Daily said Glaser sent an e-mail to senior Sara Dalziel, who missed the ticket distribution because she was at class. Dalziel said Glaser promised her and her housemates tickets if administrators decided to hold a simulcast.Glaser's e-mail, though, did not mention the housemates.

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News

CD Review | McCartney's 'Chaos' lacks character

September 21

Paul McCartney's new album "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard" is a journey through the artist's own nostalgic memories of his earlier years, shown through everything from the old picture of himself on the cover to the largely autobiographical lyrics. McCartney takes his catchy, repetitive pop melodies and carries them into, well, his usual lyrical framework: nothing at all. While the other former Beatles have been exploring new territory and writing with a more enlightened, mature outlook, McCartney is still inspired by cars and the people who drive them. The new album has little to say, with many songs written about nothing. In "At the Mercy," McCartney writes "At the mercy of a busy road / Who can handle such a heavy load / At the mercy of a busy day / We can think of nothing more to say." Perhaps Paul should stop writing his songs on the days when he "can think of nothing more to say." The musical aspect of this record, however, is nothing to complain about. The melodies are nice, McCartney shows good vocal range, and is accompanied by a pleasing assortment of instruments. The transitions are subtle but just significant enough to demonstrate the coherency of the album. While this may not seem extraordinary, many modern musicians who pander to radio have lost the art of creating an album and not merely a string of songs. Any popular album that manages to show a consistent style and quality from the first to the last song is commendable. At first listen, the album is very pleasant. Yet when the listener begins to pay too much attention, it becomes clear Paul can go for several minutes without using more than one syllable. Maybe McCartney was aiming for the simplicity of his early years, when people liked his music. He may be talented, but John and George are now rock and roll martyrs (Ringo has always been the oddball as well as everyone's least favorite Beatle). Fans are getting bored of hearing the same old thing from Paul. This apathy explains why his new album has slipped under many music fans' radar, and may also account for the music's melancholy, retrospective tone. Nothing by McCartney can be said to be "bad music." The immature lyrics and lack of originality prevent "Chaos and Creation" from being especially good. It is the kind of music that is ideal for standing in elevators and waiting in the dentist's office. It is not the kind of work that will be remembered, imitated, or sung in cars. One cannot possibly take the title "Chaos and Creation in the Backyard," along with the picture of McCartney on the cover, to be very accurate. Certainly he is in a backyard of some sort, and he is holding a guitar in his hands. One assumes that he is creating something, but chaos? Come on, Paul. Perhaps a more fitting title would be "Paul McCartney Sings You to Sleep in the Backyard." McCartney, by his admission, is past his prime. This nostalgic album is about as much the creatively challenged musician could hope to produce at this stage of his career.

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News

Can't pay my automo-bills: The sad truth about students in debt

September 21

It's an end of the month tradition: bills. The credit card statement, the bar tab, the cellphone and bursar bills are all reminders that everything comes with a price. The cost of higher education means students are often unable to clear these bills and are racking up increasing amounts of debt. The National Postsecondary Aid Study, which was released last year, found over two-thirds of undergraduates and graduate students have post-graduation education debts. Some have as much as $125,000 to repay. "The typical undergraduate student loan borrower at Tufts graduates with about $18,000-$20,000 of student loan debt, which works out to monthly payments of $200 to $250 per month, depending on the current interest rate," Tufts Director of Financial Aid Patricia Reilly said. Goldman Sachs Product Management Specialist Kevin Ng (LA '99) found the amount of time it takes the average student to become debt-free "will vary depending on graduate school, occupation, and location. It also depends on how much you had to borrow - I have many peers who still have loans and haven't even done graduate school yet," Ng said. "So it could take about 15 years to be truly debt-free. For medical students, [it will probably take] longer, for law or business school students, probably shorter." "My only advice - learn how to cook!" Ng said. For senior Thuy Le the cost of postsecondary education was not a major factor in the college search. "My parents always told me never to make money an issue because they wanted me to get a quality education," she said. "They said they'd always find a way to work things out." Le said she admits she hasn't given much thought to her financial responsibilities after graduation. "I think the question that comes first is career plans or graduate school, not how [students] are going to pay off their loans," she said. For students lacking direction on the often confusing road to financial freedom, Reilly recommends consolidating student loans and paying them off over a longer period of time. Students can use deferment and forbearance options, which paired with careful budgeting, can eventually eliminate debt. Consolidating became comparatively more expensive on July 1, when interest rates on student loans increased by the biggest margin in 15 years. Some students tried to avoid the rate hike by consolidating in June. The rush of students across the country resulted in lenders being swamped with more applications than they could process. According to the Associated Press, student loan provider Sallie Mae saw 360,000 consolidation applications in the second quarter, more than the total amount of requests the previous year. As of the beginning of August, the company was still processing $6 billion in consolidation loans. The Department of Education decided lower interested rates would be locked in only for completed consolidation applications. Students are now finding themselves facing the new, higher rates until their paperwork is processed. Even with the interest rate increases, student loans are still near historical lows. And there is still reason for optimism: Tufts students have historically been able to get out of the red. "The federal government tracks the default rate at each institution [the percentage of students who do not repay their student loans]," Reilly said. "The average default rate nationwide is approximately five percent. The default rate at Tufts is less than one percent, which is one of the lowest default rates in the country." Tufts' Financial Aid Web site offers resources for students to better understand their current and future financial situations. Loan calculators, tips for managing credit, links to information regarding credit reports and federal aid and explanations of different repayment plans are on the site. Advice on when and how specific loans should be repaid varies. The Federal Student Aid recommends keeping all loan documents, recording all interactions with lenders, including the loan account number on all correspondence with lenders, notify your school and loan holder in writing if you move or change your name or Social Security number, and never hesitating to speak up when you don't understand something. Le said she has not yet sought out assistance from the financial aid office or received debt counseling. "If there is help," Le said, "I don't know about it. I do have the advantage of being the youngest sibling though, so my family has been through this twice already." Being the youngest in her family was originally beneficial for Le. "Since I had two sisters already in college, I was banking on getting a good financial aid package, which I did from Tufts," she said. But "now that they have both graduated, Tufts has given me significantly less, causing my family to take out more loans." Despite the heavier debt burden, Le has yet to devise a definitive plan for managing her debt. "I will soon, though," she said. "I should have a plan, since I'm an economics major!"

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News

Balance: Is soda the new tobacco?

September 20

Next time you pop open a can of soda and take a swig, a warning label might be staring you in the face. Americans' rising soda consumption has caught the eye of the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), a non-profit consumer health group that recently filed a petition with the Food and Drug Administration to post health notices on sugary soft drinks. But while CSPI employees hope that mandating cigarette-like warning labels on soft drink containers will encourage less consumption of the calorie-filled beverages, not everyone in health and nutrition circles is cheering them on. CSPI's July 2005 petition, which refers to soft drinks as "liquid candy," included new analyses of government data and contended that "teenagers are drinking more high-calorie soft drinks than ever...despite growing concerns about obesity." A concurrent press release distributed by the organization said that teenage boys who drink soft drinks consume an average of three 12-ounce cans per day, and teen girls consume more than two cans. In their petition to the FDA, CSPI asks for the introduction of a series of rotating health notices on all containers of non-diet soft drinks containing more than 13 grams of refined sugars per 12 ounces (the equivalent of roughly three teaspoons of sugar). Under the proposed guidelines, soft drinks like Coca-Cola that have a whopping 39 grams of sugar per serving (nearly ten teaspoons!) and fruit drinks like Snapple, with over 20 grams of sugar per serving, would both qualify for the cautionary notice. The controversy surrounding the proposed warning labels lies not in the charge that these sugary drinks lack nutrition, but in the suggestion that a label alone would remedy the problem. Most nutritionists agree that added refined sugars, like those found in soft drinks, supply excess calories but few nutrients. "It's very important to point out that soda is contributing many empty calories to the diet," Julie Lampie, R.D., Nutrition Marketing Specialist and dietitian for Tufts Dining Services said. "Soft drinks are being consumed at excessive quantities and are certainly contributing to the rising obesity problem in this country." In fact, the rise in obesity rates follows a very similar rise in soft-drink consumption, prompting several research studies examining the parallel trends. One study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reported a tripling in the amount of daily calories supplied by soft drinks and fruit drinks between 1977 and 2001. Coincidentally, obesity rates doubled - rising from 15 percent to 31 percent - in that time alone. Researchers at Tufts have also studied the phenomenon and have concluded that soda and other sweet drinks are quickly forming a major portion of the American diet. Preliminary data from the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Tufts' Boston-based health-science campus, suggested that the leading source of calories in the average American diet may now come from sweetened beverages. Before this, the long-standing culprit had been white bread. With nearly two-thirds of the U.S. population overweight and nearly a third obese, it is clear that something needs to be done. But even though nutrition experts have agreed that soft drinks can contribute to weight gain, they have disagreed about the warning labels. "Labeling is ineffective," Lampie said. "We have that now. Putting additional messages on a can or a bottle is ludicrous. It's a waste of resources." Lampie gave examples of government-imposed warnings on cigarette labels as an example of such wasted resources. While cigarette warning labels were first placed on cigarette packages in 1965, consumption didn't taper off until 1979 - years after public anti-cigarette campaigns. "What made the difference in reducing cigarette sales?" Lampie said. "The warning labels? No. It was educating the public about the underlying risk of cancer." Education - not mandated labeling - is the key to changing behavior according to Lampie. She also said that there is an uphill battle that educators face when they take on large corporations like Coke and Pepsi Co. "The marketing budget to get people to eat and drink nutritionally inferior foods is huge," she said. "It's really hard to combat that." In fact, the soda companies have already launched an attack on the proposed warning labels, pointing out that nutrition information and ingredients are already required on the container. The American Beverage Association (ABA), which represents soft drink manufacturers, has claimed that the labels would be patronizing to consumers. The group argues that beverage companies have already responded to the obesity epidemic by providing many lower-calorie and non-calorie options, such as bottled water and diet soft drinks. "Soft drinks are a refreshing and enjoyable beverage to be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced approach to life," said Susan Neely, president of the ABA, in a statement responding to the CSPI petition. "Warning labels designed by CSPI will unnecessarily confuse consumers without providing helpful nutritional information. Individuals, not the government, are in the best position to make the food and beverage choices that are right for them." But many individuals simply don't realize just how much sugar and calories they're consuming through soft drinks. "Many people look at labels but don't realize that what they're reading is not for the whole portion, but for a half or a third of the container," Lampie said. "Everything has been supersized. The average soda size used to be 12 ounces. Now students are grabbing 20 ounce bottles. They're not thinking about the extra calories. The average person on the street has no idea." Whether warning labels would give the public a "better idea" of the excess calories in soft drinks is unclear. There is concern, however, that the proposed labeling would open up the proverbial can of worms and prompt warning labels on everything from potato chips to chocolate bars - a move that Lampie said worries her. "It's not about labeling foods as good and bad," she said. "All foods and drinks can play a part in the American diet. The drinks themselves aren't the problem. The amount being consumed is the problem... And education - starting in the home with parents - is going to make the difference. Not more labeling."Ferring and Wally are graduate students majoring in Nutrition Communication at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Ferring majored in Journalism and minored in Nutrition at Syracuse University. Wally is one of the co-editors of Balance this semester.

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News

Intramurals | Many options for intramural play this fall

September 20

Need a way to fight off the Freshman Fifteen? Miss the soccer team you played with since you were five? Wanted to play varsity or club sports, but couldn't make the time commitment (or weren't athletic enough)? You have found your calling: Intramural sports. Intramurals offer a wide range of sports for the casual athlete: from classic team sports, such as basketball and flag football, to the more peculiar, like Wiffleball and badminton. Dodge ball, tennis, racquetball, softball, futsal (indoor soccer), and volleyball are also offered. Teams usually play once a week. Certain sports, such as basketball and football, require a fee of $30 a team to pay for equipment and facility costs. Some sports, such as basketball, also have two leagues: an A league for more competitive and advanced players, and a B league for novice players. Intramurals are open to the entire Tufts community, including students, faculty and staff, and is completely coed except for women's basketball. Each team is supposed to be allowed only one player who is currently or was previously on a varsity team. There is no limit to the number of players on each team, but any interested team should visit the intramural sports Web site at http://ase.tufts.edu/athletics/intramurals.html. Each team needs to send a representative to the mandatory meeting at the Athletics Department in Halligan Hall next Monday night. Each player on the roster must have a valid Tufts ID number, e-mail address, and phone number. Flag football will be played each Monday night from 8-10 p.m. on Bello Field. Captains must attend the Monday meeting at 6:00 p.m.. Tennis intramurals will play in a round robin format and will start matches Oct. 2, playing through November. Softball will be played Sundays on Fletcher field from 12-6 p.m. Captains should come to the meeting at 7:15. Indoor soccer is played at two different times: the A team plays Tuesday evenings 7-10 p.m., while the B league plays Monday evenings from 7-10 p.m. in Gantcher. Come to the meeting at 6:30 for indoor soccer. Basketball will be played from 6-10 p.m., Thursday nights for the A league and Tuesday nights for the B league. The basketball portion of the Monday meeting will be held at 6:15. Dodgeball will be held Thursday evenings from 8-10 p.m. in the Carzo Cage. Captains should come to the meeting at 7:00. Badminton is played during open hours, 8:40-10:00 p.m. on Thursdays in Jackson Gym, where tournaments and other competition are available. Volleyball teams will play 7-10 p.m. in the Carzo Cage on Tuesdays. Captains should come to the Monday meeting at 6:45. Wiffleball takes place Monday nights from 8:00-9:00 p.m., also in the Carzo Cage. The Wiffleball meeting is at 8:00 on Monday.

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News

Explorations: Part 1 of 2 | Everything but a Jumbo T-shirt: Explorations classes provide it all

September 20

In the first installment of Inside Explorations, the Daily takes a look at what goes into the planning of the University's popular, student-run courses. Next week's installment will show how those plans are implemented. After 30-odd years of existence at Tufts, the Explorations program has built a small legacy for itself. From its windows-to-the-walls approach, incorporating all topics under the sun, comes an open method of welcoming freshmen to the Tufts campus, providing them with student teachers, friends and advisors - all in the space of one class. Through Explorations, juniors and seniors put their sanity and their fall semesters on the line in order to help underclassmen investigate the ways of the world and the Tufts campus. "[Teaching an Explorations class] is a huge responsibility," said Robyn Gittleman, program supervisor and director of the Ex College. Whatever the risk, the payoffs and response seem significant as well. Explorations courses are pass-fail options for incoming freshmen. The courses incorporate new Jumbos into the advising system, offering them practice in academic exercises they will use throughout their collegiate careers. Explorations courses remain in strong demand because the number of student-teachers is struggling to keep pace with the ravenous freshmen appetite. To apply to teach an Explorations class, upperclassmen pair up and work together on a chosen topic, submitting a short description of the material to be covered, a reading list and a detailed syllabus to the Ex College during the semester prior to the commencement of their desired course. The chosen student-teachers must have adequate grades and excellent communication skills. "We look at people who have a good academic record and also those who want to teach and have the ability to teach," Gittleman said. Choosing a topic can be difficult, since it is important to find a subject that will be challenging for both the teachers and the class. "[It's important to] make sure you're interested in the idea," said senior Heather Kenney, who is teaching the course "School Portrayals." "Have an idea of what you're doing, but be flexible. I mean, these are Tufts students - it could go anywhere!" Some topics are rooted in academic interests, while others stem from personal interests that can be examined in an academic context. "[My co-teacher and I are] both seniors who have almost finished the community health major; we can draw on our coursework, so it's a little bit different from just an interest," said senior Katie Steward, who co-teaches "Healthcare Inequities." While Stewart incorporates material from past classes, senior Jason Wang takes a different approach. Though majoring in political science, Wang is teaching the course "Comic Books and Society," which brings Batman and company into a school setting. "I read a lot of comic books back in the day, and I knew I wanted to teach an Explorations course," he said. "I was searching for a topic that I could really get into, so it made sense." Similarly, senior Luke Brown, through his course on "The Culture of Clothing," has found hangers of social issues in a subject that might seem light at first glance. "We may start a [class] conversation about a non-academic topic, but it brings in gender issues and economic issues;" Brown said. "You can discuss, for example, waistlines and how waistlines moved from higher up to lower down depending on the politics and religion of the time, or how hemlines were linked to freedom of expression for women." "You really have to break it down and identify real issues that relate," he added. "You have to put it into some kind of academic importance, a societal context." Gittleman agreed. "The seminar topic must be something that can really be explored, so that it won't be something where someone is just a talking head," she said. Students have found plenty to explore this semester, as indicated by the mile-long listing of courses on SIS covering topics ranging from "Norse Mythology" to "Gambling in America" to "How Women Rule." Choosing a partner can be just as important as choosing a topic. Some feel that it is important to find a diverse duo to lead the classroom. "When we [Kenney and co-teacher Sarah Joslyn] initially met up, she was like, 'You're not a child development major, are you?'" Kenney said. "It's nice to get two different perspectives in there." Additionally, many worry that the pressure of teaching a course together could put stress on relations between the co-leaders. "I think it's good that we're not best friends, because then personal issues don't get in the way of the class," Kenney said. For many, having support from a co-leader is a very crucial element. "I think it's great to work with [senior and co-leader] Gabi [Jirasek]; she calms me down," Brown said. "It's really great - we're students, too, and we have other classes and it's easy for me to get stressed out." Jirasek said that she and Brown have been planning to teach an Explorations course almost since freshman year. "It was not a dramatic moment like, 'OK, we'll go through with it,'" she said. "We had been talking about it for so long, it was going to happen." Jirasek was abroad in Madrid during the application process, a detail that complicated their scheming. Thanks to Internet technology, however, they were able to stay in good contact. "We had this huge exchange of emails - 'What do you think about this idea?' or 'How about this?'" she said. They continued compiling information over the summer. "It's so much easier if it's something you're already aware of," Brown said. "We never had to go out and actively get material, because they were articles we were reading anyway." "I think the reason Explorations is as exciting as it is, is because the leaders have chosen something they feel passionate about," Gittleman added. "At the end, they may have chosen to change some parts of their syllabus, but after a summer of reading and preparation, they are ready to teach."

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News

TV Preview | It's time to get 'Lost', again

September 20

Forget "The O.C." Welcome to a different kind of drama about cursed numbers and ominous whispers. One of the hottest, most highly anticipated shows on primetime television is finally back. The new season of "Lost" premieres tonight and promises to pick up the loose ends of the jaw-dropping cliffhanger season finale. The show was one of two surprise breakout hits for ABC in 2004, along with "Desperate Housewives." While the juicy, cynical, soap opera style of the latter show appeared more likely to invite imitations on other networks, surprisingly, it is the fantastical qualities of the marooned-on-an-island drama that have inspired new shows for the fall lineup, such as "Threshold," an alien invasion mystery-thriller on CBS. The premise of "Lost" is that a plane has crashed on an uncharted island, and the first season chronicles the survivors' first forty days exploring their new home. Simple enough, right? Actually, the characters have to deal with much more than learning how to make a decent fire. This show is no ordinary 'Lord of the Flies' storyline. Instead, the plot mixes "Castaway"-type exploits with darker, deeper, more enigmatic issues. This mysterious island is home to such supernatural dangers as the elusive but deadly 'beast' and a mad French woman who knows about 'the others,' an obscure group searching for the even more obscure 'boy.' Intertwined with the characters' experiences on the island are flashbacks to their colorful and furtive pasts, such as that of Hurley, the lottery winner whose ticket numbers are associated with almost every catastrophe the refugees encounter. In the shocking season finale, the aforementioned French woman warned everyone that black smoke on the island would signify when 'the others' were coming to take 'the boy' - sure enough, the characters witnessed a thick column of black smoke rising from the center of the island. Their arrival resulted in the death of three cast members and the kidnapping of seven-year-old Walt. Meanwhile, Jack (Matthew Fox), Kate (Evangeline Lilly), Hurley (Jorge Garcia), and Locke (Terry O'Quinn) finally succeeded in blasting open the mysterious hatch, discovering a ladder-like structure inside. If you are fuzzy on all the details of last season, you need not break out the Season One DVD (like you did with "The O.C.") because at 8 p.m., you can prepare for the premiere with "Destination: Lost," a special program that will highlight key events from the first season. The one-hour season premiere will follow at 9 p.m. With all the questions the finale raised, this season promises to resolve some, but likely not all. According to previews, viewers will see the contents of the hatch early on in the season, learn what became of Jack's wife, what Hurley's life was like before he won the lottery, how Locke became wheelchair-bound, and what those cryptic numbers mean. Michelle Rodriguez will join the cast as a previously unknown survivor from the plane crash (and actually as the woman that Jack met at the airport bar in Part One of the season finale). Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje will star as a mysterious resident of the island (another one?). Get ready for another riveting, thrilling season of twists and suspense.

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News

Balance: Do it now! | Expand beyond the grocery store to the farmers markets

September 20

To kick off a year of healthy habits, here are ten easy back-to-school nutrition actions that you can incorporate into your busy lifestyle: 1. Rise and Dine: Make breakfast a habit, if you haven't already. It's hard enough to get the wheels turning for that 8 a.m. class, and even harder on an empty stomach. Eating breakfast, even if it's a quick bite like a whole grain cereal bar, low-fat yogurt or a piece of fruit, may help you concentrate better and eat less later in the day. If you're an early bird, try grabbing breakfast at the dining hall or sitting at your kitchen table. It is a great time to relax, socialize with friends, and collect your thoughts before starting another busy day. 2. Stock up smart: Keep your refrigerator stocked with quick but healthful snacks like fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat yogurt and cottage cheese. You may even want to keep a couple personal-sized frozen low-fat veggie pizzas around. Substituting one of these can save you some serious calories compared to a couple slices from your local late-night pizza joint. 3. Develop a "hydration habit": Whether it's filling up a Nalgene bottle twice a day, or drinking at least one eight ounce glass of fluid with every meal and snack, get into the habit of staying hydrated. You need about eight to ten cups (64-80 ounces) of non-caffeinated fluid per day for good health. Remember: by the time you feel thirsty you're already on the way to dehydration. 4. Go apple picking: September marks the beginning of apple picking season in Massachusetts, so gather up a group of friends and head to the orchard because the old saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" still stands. At about 50-100 calories each (depending on size), apples are an excellent source of fiber and vitamin C. Plus they're rich in phytochemicals, plant compounds that may protect against cancer and other chronic diseases. Whether you eat them freshly picked or baked in your favorite recipe, remember to wash thoroughly before eating. And leave the skin on, too - a medium-sized apple with its skin has over twice the amount of fiber as a naked one. 5. Sleep yourself slim: Aside from the occasional college "all-nighter," don't skimp on your sleep. Increasing the number of hours you sleep per night from six to the recommended seven to nine may reduce your risk of obesity by 23 percent, according to a study at Columbia University. Researchers believe that chronic sleep deprivation affects hormone levels, which may stimulate your appetite and lead to overeating. 6. Build a better salad: Add taste and nutrition to drab salads by including at least four different colors. Rule of thumb: the more colorful your plate (or bowl) the more nutritious it is. 7. Jot it down: Write down everything you eat or drink for three days. Then count how many fruits and vegetables you've racked up; ketchup doesn't count! Aim for at least five to nine per day. Just half a cup of cooked veggies (or one cup raw), or one tennis ball-sized apple or peach equals one serving. 8. Expand your palate: Try one new food every week. It could be a new variation of a food you already eat (adding salsa and beans to a salad) or something completely new (tofu in a veggie stir-fry.) 9. Find your local farmers market: Support local agriculture while getting the freshest produce around. The Somerville Farmers Market is right around the corner from the Tufts Medford Campus at Davis Square. You can look up times and locations of all Massachusetts farmers markets on the Internet as well. 10. Zip it: Invest in a box of Ziploc bags for your dorm room or kitchen. Fill two or three each week with mixtures of dry cereal, nuts, seeds, and dried fruit - they make for a perfect on-the-go snack.Clarke is a registered dietitian and graduate student majoring in Nutrition Communications at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has a BS in Dietetics and Human Nutrition from the University of Rhode Island.

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News

Reporter relives 50 years of struggles in presenting reality

September 20

"I had to fight to keep reality on television," longtime print, TV, and radio correspondent Daniel Schorr said Tuesday afternoon. "Most of the time I lost." Schorr spoke as part of the Charles Francis Adams Lecture Series at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. He spoke about his background as a journalist and the state of the press. Now an analyst for National Public Radio, Schorr began his career in print. He covered the 1953 flood in The Netherlands for The New York Times. It was on this assignment that Schorr met CBS newsman Edward R. Murrow, the namesake of the Fletcher School's Center for the Study and Advancement of Public Diplomacy. The speech was the first in a series of speeches at the Fletcher School this year in honor of Murrow. Murrow hired Schorr to join the CBS news team. There Schorr discovered how easily television could misrepresent the truth. Schorr said the most important aspect of diplomacy to Murrow was truth. "If there was anything that inspired reporters from Murrow on down, it's that we must keep before the people what the reality is," Schorr said. Schorr spoke to about 200 students, faculty, and reporters in the ASEAN Auditorium in the Fletcher School in a speech titled "Forgive Us Our Press Passes." He said today's media struggles with and often fails to accurately represent reality. "If it is exactly true or not, it seems not to matter much," he said. The television journalism business has changed considerably since Schorr joined 50 years ago. New technology and economic models, he said, often lead to distorting the truth. He gave an example of a reporter speaking in front of a blue screen but claiming to be in front of the White House. Murrow left CBS in 1961 to run the United States Information Agency. Schorr said the public diplomacy encouraged by Murrow could help cut through today's "age of virtual reality" in press coverage of U.S. foreign policy. Before yielding his remaining time to questions from the audience, Schorr reminded Fletcher School students to practice public diplomacy, they must always use the truth. The goal of public diplomacy, Schorr said, is "to equate America with reality and truth, and get people overseas to accept that." One audience member asked Schorr of his attitude toward anonymous sources. The issue has been prominent press criticism thanks to the unmasking of W. Mark Felt as the legendary "Deep Throat" source and the jailing of New York Times reporter Judith Miller for refusing a special prosecutor's requests to testify before a grand jury in the probe of the leak of CIA agent Valeria Plame Wilson's name. "I think it's fair to say that the promise of confidentiality is based on the confidence that what you're being told is true," Schorr said. "You lose right to any confidentiality if you lie. Sources are whistleblowers - they're people who'll tell you the truth to change something." Schorr said he supports Miller's decision to keep her source anonymous. Despite his lengthy experience in the industry, Schorr said that television is better suited for entertainment than news. "There is no way that I know of short of the Katrina flood," he said, "that will draw as large an audience as entertainment will."

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Balance How To | Create 16 easy snacks from nine simple foods

September 20

Think being swamped with schoolwork, low on cash, and possibly without a kitchen means Cup-O-Noodles and chips for all your snacks and meals? Think again. When life gets hectic, your body needs healthful foods to keep going - yet this is usually the time we head to the snack machine or skip meals. Be it a between-class sustenance or the late-night snacks that you desire, the foods on our 'Grocery Basics' list can easily be assembled into quick, tasty, and nutritious mini-meals and snacks. Stock up on these items and you'll have what you need to start the semester out right. Oh, and the total price of the items on the list is less than $25, too! Grocery Basics:- Six-ounce cups non-fat fruit flavored and plain yogurt- Part-skim milk string cheese- Soft taco-sized tortillas- Peanut butter- Apples- Bananas- Whole grain cereal (such as Cheerios, raisin bran, Chex, or Puffins)- Black beans- Baby carrots Basic Combinations:1. Tortilla spread with peanut butter and rolled around a banana2. Banana and a piece of string cheese3. Non fat yogurt with sliced banana4. Non fat yogurt mixed with cereal5. One piece of string cheese melted in a tortilla6. Beans and cheese in a tortilla7. Baby carrots dipped in peanut butter8. Sliced apple dipped in non fat yogurt9. Apple and a piece of string cheese10. Black beans with melted cheese and a dollop of plain yogurt11. Baby carrots and a piece of string cheese12. Non fat yogurt mixed with cereal and sliced banana13. Tortilla rolled up with peanut butter and sliced apple14. Apple halves spread with peanut butter15. Baggie of cereal and a piece of string cheese16. Baby carrots dipped in plain yogurtJarosh is a registered dietitian majoring in Nutrition Communication at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has a BS in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of New Mexico.

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Balance: Editor's Column | Finding Balance

September 20

A monthly column? With my byline? Oh the pressure! I couldn't sleep for weeks. I sat petrified in front of a blank computer screen each time I took out my laptop. Unlike the countless articles I had written in journalism school or the pieces I had published while working at a weekly magazine, a column would forgo the objective viewpoint I had worked so hard to hone. A column would (gasp!) present my thoughts and opinions for all the world to see. What if I couldn't form concrete opinions? What if I couldn't connect with my readers? What if I didn't have anything to say? And then it hit me: This is a column about health and nutrition. This is a column about food! Food: the universal shared experience. And suddenly it didn't matter if my politics differed from those of my audience. It didn't matter if I wore a Red Sox jersey while my reader rocked a Yankees cap. I could find common ground in breakfast cereals, in midnight snacks, in failed New Year's resolutions. And that got me thinking. Regardless of nationality, age, gender or sexual persuasion, we all share common food experiences. For example, take your average subway car full of a diverse group of strangers. While a roundtable discussion on the merits of subsidized farming or a debate about the greatest living athlete of all time may fail to hold everyone's attention, chances are a dialogue about favorite foods or the most beloved ice-cream flavor will get most people talking. We all have our own odd idiosyncrasies when it comes to food. And, since this is my first column and I'd like for you to get to know me better, I'll share a few of my own: I have a favorite spoon. It's a soup spoon, nothing fancy. The handle is bent and there are gashes in the stainless steel from a distant run-in with the garbage disposal, but I love it nonetheless. In fact, it's hard for me to dig into a bowl of cereal without it. On more than one occasion I've found myself frantically rummaging through the silverware or picking through a dirty dishwasher just to find it. I have other spoons. A whole drawer full. But this is my spoon. Sure it's a bit obsessive-compulsive. Maybe a tad crazy. But I guarantee that every one of you has at least one compulsory food behavior. Maybe you drink from the same coffee mug each morning or sit at the same table in the dining hall each night. Whatever it is, we all have our own "favorite spoon." We also share cravings for unusual food combinations - recipes that our friends and colleagues turn their noses up at. They are usually passed on from our parents or discovered at some point during childhood. Elvis, for example, found joy in peanut butter and banana sandwiches. My father eats donuts topped with cheese. Me? Ham and pickles. Sure, the thought of ground deli meat mixed with sweet relish may turn your stomach, but it makes my mouth water. And that's the beauty of it. Personal food choice is the one place where other people's judgments don't matter. While someone else's particular food preference may disgust you, it's unlikely to offend you. No war was ever fought over the merits of ketchup on grilled cheese. Whether it's an unusual fetish or a quirky behavior, food is one of the few remaining forums where we can celebrate our shared differences. So from here on out, I won't worry if my world viewpoint differs from yours or if you disagree with my religious beliefs. Because, at the center of it all, I know that each of you has your own eccentric food preferences and behaviors. And that's enough common ground for me.Wally is one of the co-editors of Balance this semester.

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Inside the NFL | Pats can't tame Panthers, lose Bowl rematch

September 20

Week two of the NFL season offered some blowouts and impressive offensive displays, a number of tight games and important early-season divisional battles. The defending Super Bowl champion New England Patriots lost a rematch of their Super Bowl victory two years ago, and they succumbed to the Carolina Panthers 27-17 on Sunday. After battling an injury-laden roster early last season, Carolina finished 6-2 over the last eight games of the 2004 season, causing many to pick the team as an NFC favorite for this season. But the loss of former Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle Kris Jenkins for the year (torn ACL) in week one and the prospect of starting 0-2 with the Champs coming into town seemed to derail those prognostications. That is, of course, until game time arrived. Trying to avoid consecutive home losses to begin the season, the Panthers - now 1-1 - outplayed the Patriots for most of the game. Carolina won the turnover margin by three to one, committed half as many penalties, and established an effective running game (104 yards) while containing the Patriots' usually-potent running attack to 39 yards. The Patriots' two touchdowns came as a result of Carolina mistakes, as blown coverage turned a short Troy Brown route into a 70-yard reception that set up the game's opening score. Their other six-point play came off a miserable interception thrown by Jake Delhomme and easily returned all the way by linebacker Mike Vrabel, bringing New England within three points midway through the third quarter. Carolina, despite Delhomme's inaccuracy, was propelled by halfback Stephen Davis' three touchdowns, kicker John Kasay's two long field goals, and a pesky, physical defense that made Tom Brady look flappable. New England (1-1) continues its daunting opening schedule next week as they travel to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0). Highlighting the week's divisional games was the Indianapolis Colts' gritty 10-3 home victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. It was the first of two contests this year between the AFC South combatants. Last October, the Jags proved to be the Colts' toughest divisional foe by handing Indy its only home loss of the season. To the chagrin of many fantasy owners, this game was ruled by defense. Peyton Manning struggled, completing only 13 of 28 throws with one interception. Running back Edgerrin James' 128 yards powered the Colts (2-0), who scored all 10 points in the fourth quarter, and Indy's defense, which had pressured and finally hobbled Jacksonville (1-1) quarterback Byron Leftwich, made one final stand as the game clock wound down. The competitive AFC West saw all four of its teams engage in divisional games, beginning with the Denver Broncos (1-1) 20-17 win over the now 0-2 San Diego Chargers in the Mile High City. The Chargers controlled the first half, taking a 14-3 lead into the locker room behind two scores from ball carrier LaDainian Tomlinson, who set an NFL record with rushing touchdowns in 14 straight games. But the Broncos' defense, highlighted by an interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Champ Bailey in the opening moments of the third quarter, dominated the second half, allowing the Denver offense some scoring opportunities. The Broncos' offense finally got in the end zone in the fourth, and riding the legs of New York Giants' castoff Ron Dayne, set up kicker Jason Elam to complete the comeback victory with a last-second field goal. The other AFC West match-up featured the rushing attack of the Kansas City Chiefs (2-0) that proved to be too strong for the Oakland Raiders, overpowering the Black and Silver (0-2) 23-17. Both Kansas City runners, Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson, scored touchdowns in the first half, but the Chiefs were held to only two field goals in the second half, setting up the possibility of late-game heroics. Oakland played well and was led by the home debut of wideout Randy Moss, who had five catches for 127 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown grab. It was, however, the Kansas City defense that did not allow the Raiders to score in the final quarter and especially on the final drive. Oakland had the ball ten yards out with under two minutes to go, but could not muster a touchdown. Additionally, the two squads were guilty of numerous penalties nullifying big plays which could have altered the outcome. In other action, the Seattle Seahawks (1-1) scored all of their points in the second quarter but held on to defeat the Atlanta Falcons (1-1) 21-18. Despite a decided advantage in total yards, the Seahawks could not finish off their opponent at home. But the Falcons couldn't make up the final three points at the end with Michael Vick forced to come on and off the field as he battled hamstring cramps.

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Correction: Wednesday, September 21, 2005

September 20

On the front page of the Friday, Sept. 16 issue , the article, "Technology guru gives helpful tips at Tufts," incorrectly identified Web site MammaHealth.com as being owned by Google. The site's parent company, Intasys Corp. merged with Mamma.com in Jan. 2004 to become Mamma.com Inc. If you see an error in the Daily, e-mail daily@tuftsdaily.com.

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Inside NASCAR | The Chase is on: Newman edges Stewart in Sylvania 300

September 20

The battle for the Chase for the Nextel Cup got off to a heated-start at the Sylvania 300 as Ryan Newman took first-place by .293 seconds from points-leader Tony Stewart at the New Hampshire International Speedway on Sunday. The win marked the first Nextel Cup Series victory for Newman since last year, ending a drought for the No. 12 car. Stewart and Newman shared the lead position throughout the race. Stewart has been on fire, finishing in the top ten for the last thirteen races. He led 173 of 300 laps, but that wasn't good enough for victory. Newman made the pass on lap 299 to the take the win. Pit stops proved to be the deciding factor in the race. With a race hampered by crashes and 10 caution flags, Newman was able to capitalize with strong races out of pit-lane to keep Stewart at bay in the final stretch. Stewart was hampered by some imbalances in his car which slowed him down and prevented him from making any kind of pass on Newman in the final turns of the race. In addition to the exciting down-to-the-finish duel between the two leaders, the race had several earlier highlights and drama thanks to crashes and hot tempers between several rival drivers.Robby Gordon and Michael Waltrip were involved in a collision that sent Gordon's car gliding into the wall. Gordon, whose car was smashed on both ends, retaliated by attempting to crash into Waltrip. After failing to make contact with Waltrip, Gordon exited his car, waited on the track, and threw his helmet at Waltrip's No. 15 car, almost causing a collision between Stewart and Waltrip. Kasey Kahne and Kyle Bushch also had a run-in on lap 165. After Kahne was sent into the wall by Busch, Kahne retaliated by purposefully driving his car into the front of Busch's car. Kahne was automatically disqualified from the race by NASCAR after the incident. NASCAR did not suspend the drivers involved, but did penalize Gordon 50 points and a $35,000 fine. Kahne was penalized 25 points and $25,000 and Waltrip was fined 25 points and $10,000.Rusty Wallace grabbed sixth in the race, followed by Mark Martin and Jimmie Johnson in seventh and eighth respectively. Kurt Busch, who won the Nextel Cup Series last season, had a disappointing race, finishing 35th after crashing his number 97 car with Scott Riggs on the second lap. Jeremy Mayfield and Carl Edwards, both contenders for the Cup also had disappointing finishes, placing 16th and 19th, respectively. With his victory, Newman moves from tenth up to a tie for third place in the points-standing with teammate Rusty Wallace. He still trails leaders Greg Biffle and Stewart. Matt Kenseth rounds out the top five followed by Johnson, Martin, Mayfield, Edwards, and Kurt Busch. The Chase for the Cup continues next Sunday with the MBNA RacePoints 400 at the Dover International Speedway.

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Freshman leadership ready 'to get involved'

September 20

Freshman Charlotte Haigh, who successfully ran for class council secretary, casts one of the first votes in Tuesday night's election. "I really love meeting people and being involved in things," she said. "It's a good way to get involved right away." Voting began at 9 p.m. About 60 to 70 students voted in the lounge of Tilton Hall in the first 20 minutes of the polls opening. Voting also took place in Houston and Hill Halls, and the polls closed at 11 p.m. About 500 total ballots were cast. The freshman class council: President - Mose Berkowitz Vice President of Academic Programming - Timothy Li Vice President of Social Programming - Saskia Chanonine Secretary - Charlotte Haigh Treasurer - Woon Young Jeong - Anthony McGovern

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Balance: Ask Sara Wilson | Combating college weight gain early

September 20

Q: I'm determined to avoid the "Freshman 15." What can I do to keep from gaining those 15 pounds that everyone says are inevitable?

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Theatre Review | Welcome to 'Urinetown'

September 20

Certainly nobody would actually like to make a home in Urinetown, but for a two-act play, it's not a bad place to visit. A satirical spin on the typical Broadway show, "Urinetown: The Musical" never takes itself too seriously. From the opening self-referencing expositional piece to the many songs throughout, it keeps a light tone that never strays too close to reality. Urinetown is a "mythical place, a bad place, a place you won't see until Act Two," as Officer Lockstock (Christopher Chew) says. The setting is a large metropolitan city after the Stink Years, a time only referenced in hushed whispers. In this city, there are no public bathrooms. The only restrooms are owned by a private corporation UGC (Urine Good Company) that charges absurd fees to use their "public amenities." The play follows Officer Lockstock as he tries his best to quell an uprising at Public Amenity #9, the main setting of the musical. The protagonist of the play is Bobby Strong (Rob Morrison), a worker at the aforementioned Amenity. The police take Strong's father away after he is not able to pay for the Amenity and relieves himself on a wall (strictly forbidden in the metropolis). Strong begins a revolution which eventually unseats the capitalistic corporations that had been running the restrooms ever since the Stink Years. Along the way, he meets Hope Cladwell (Jennifer Ellis) and immediately falls in love. Unbeknownst to him, however, is that Hope is the daughter of Caldwell B. Cladwell, the executive of UGC. The play is mostly dominated by toilet humor and satirical jabs at play contrivances. At first, the style of the play is a bit jarring; whenever the title is mentioned, the actor saying it is sure to include "jazz hands" along with the statement. The whole subject matter, of course, is quite silly. The actors never play their characters over the material; that is, they all play into the stereotypes while simultaneously satirizing them. One such example is Robby the Stockfish (Bobby Cronin), the UGC exec who works under Cladwell. While discussing UGC's need for revolutionary change within the metropolis, Cronin imposes a George W. Bush persona in order to further explicate the parallel between Urinetown and reality. That's about as close as the musical ever gets to the real world. Two numbers stand out in particular: one where the metropolitan residents sing "Run, Freedom, Run!" a number that clearly harks back to the days of the Underground Railroad. The other is "Cop Song" sung by the Police ensemble, which is actually more of a rap dance than a musical number. These two songs are clearly on opposite ends of the genre spectrum, but somehow "Urinetown" efficiently blends many different musical styles into one cohesive show. "Urinetown," as one might have guessed, is quite offbeat; the title is only a slight indication of what a patron is getting into when attending the musical. However, while the show is interesting in its approach to comically criticizing other such musicals, it is not entirely successful. "Urinetown: The Musical," while an appealing concept, ultimately relies on the musical stereotypes that it so strongly desires to satirize. A clear example is its insistence on falling back upon the tired ploy of mistaken identity in romantic relationships. The overall 'mystery' that surrounds Hope's eventual revealing of the truth is a stale concept stolen from innumerable scripts. One advantage of seeing "Urinetown" versus any other Boston theatrical performance is a current promotion offering student rush tickets for only $10. "Urinetown: The Musical" is a great date show, if only to show your significant other that you can understand subtle and not-so-subtle satirical references to other plays. There is also a special college-only showing on September 27 at 7:30 p.m. for singles looking to meet-and-greet with the theatre crowd.

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Tufts off to a quick start, mule kick Colby to win two straight

September 20

Fresh off last Wednesday's 9-0 thrashing of the Smith College Pioneers, the Women's tennis team handily defeated the Colby White Mules 7-2 on Saturday in Waterville, Maine, advancing the Jumbos' record to 2-0. "Colby was a great match to have at the beginning of the season," Coach Kate Bayard said. "It shows a strong start going into the season, and I feel great about it." Colby provided the Tufts squad with its first taste of NESCAC competition as it picked up the victory at Colby's indoor tennis courts. Senior co-captains Becky Bram and Lisa Miller led by example at the top of the singles lineup, winning in straight sets against their White Mule opponents 6-1, 6-4 and 6-0, 6-2, respectively. "I think everyone played well and stepped up to the plate for the first real challenge of the season," Miller said. "It was a tough adjustment to play indoors with poor lighting, but I played confidently and I thought that I played smart." Sophomores Lani Ackerman and Megan Gentzler also cruised to singles victories for the Jumbos at the fourth and fifth spots, beating their challengers 6-0, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-2, respectively. Rounding out the bottom of the singles lineup, Senior Elyse Piker triumphed 6-0, 6-2. "Colby has always been good," Bram said. "It just showed that we were capable of beating a good team." "I was extremely pleased with how the team played as a whole performance-wise and how they supported each other," Bayard added. Freshman Jessica Knez had the only loss in the Jumbos' singles lineup, falling to Colby senior Anna Erdheim 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 at No. 3. She redeemed herself with a victory at the No. 2 doubles slot though, winning 8-4 alongside fellow freshman Mari Homma. "Jessica had a tough one in her singles match; it really could have gone either way," Bayard said. Strong performances by the underclassmen accounted for four of the seven matches won by the team. "The underclassmen have been playing with a lot of confidence," Bayard said. "[The younger players] are mentally tough," Bram said. "They're capable of winning and they've got great attitudes, and I'm expecting a lot out of them this season." Bram and Miller teamed up for doubles but fell 8-5 to senior Ginny Raho and junior Tracy Nale. But the sophomore duo of Gentzler and Andrea Cenko came out on top in their doubles match, winning 8-2. "I think everyone is going out there and playing seriously and everybody played well individually and as a team," Miller said. Beating Colby enabled Bayard to pick up her second victory as the new Women's tennis coach. "Kate is definitely doing an amazing job," Bram said. "She's an amazing player who also knows how to coach. She's done a great job mentally and physically preparing us for the matches." For her part, Bayard has been pleased so far by the way the team approaches ever varying levels of competition with the same intensity. "I was impressed with the way everyone on the team took the Smith match very seriously," she said. "Taking every opponent seriously and going into every match with the mentality that every point is important." This weekend, the squad will travel to Bowdoin College for the Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) tournament. No current team member has played in any ITA tourneys because of scheduling conflicts during the past several years. The format of the competition puts an emphasis on individual players rather than teams as a whole. "[The ITA tournament] will be a great opportunity to see a variety of [our team members] compete against a lot of different people," Bayard said. "I think that potentially the top of our team, Becky and Lisa, could do some damage there." Since the Jumbos only had five practices before their first match against Smith, there was limited time to create the lineup. The individualized aspect of the ITA will help Bayard determine her final starting squad. "The first couple practices have been a lot of matches within the team to get ready for the dual matches," she said. "I certainly want to continue to experiment with the lineup."

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Police look to make quiet campus even quieter with crime month

September 20

October is 'National Crime Prevention Month,' which means University police officers are preparing for an extra push in addition to their standard lineup of services. Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers will begin the month by appearing at Medford Community Day on Sunday, Oct. 2. They will also distribute information in the Mayer Campus Center, have displays during Parents Weekend.A program was held for freshmen over the Labor Day weekend in advance of the event. Despite this increase of crime awareness, TUPD officer Linda D'Andrea said students are safe on the Medford campus. TUPD receives most of its crime reports for personal property theft, as opposed to violent crimes that D'Andrea said are more common at colleges and universities located in urban environments. According to TUPD's annual report, there were no incidents of aggravated assault on the Medford campus in 2003, down from seven in 2002 and nine in 2001. From 2001 to 2003, there were 29 reported sexual assaults. Last year, there was an assault of a student by two gang members, both of whom were arrested by TUPD officers. "I feel extremely safe on campus," sophomore Shane Marzola said. "I've often walked around campus at three in the morning, and I always feel safe and confident." Marzola said he finds TUPD to have a strong presence on campus. Walking around campus without seeing TUPD is "an odd occurrence," he said. But burglaries more than doubled from 19 reports in 2001 to 55 reports in 2003. Such personal property thefts will be the focus of TUPD's advertising efforts next month. Laptop computer thefts are particularly numerous, and D'Andrea said simple locks that secure the computer to a desk provide an effective means of preventing theft. "It's not foolproof if somebody has cutters," D'Andrea said. "But for the most part, the bad guy is going to say, 'I'm going to go find one that's easier,' so it's a good deterrent." She said laptop thefts have been curbed in recent years from the severe problem they were before. "Students really seem to take it to heart when we started publicizing about laptop theft," she said. The National Awareness Month events give TUPD an opportunity to promote its programs, including the rape aggression defense class, which is currently offered only to women but is expected to be offered to men soon. TUPD officers also coordinate with residential duty teams - groups of residential directors and their residential assistants. In the "Have Trunk, Will Travel" program, officers go to dorms to help students register their bicycles and engrave their personal belongings, and to sell students laptop and bicycle locks. "[The officers] are out there talking like people," D'Andrea said. "We're real people. We eat, we drink, we have coffee." TUPD officers have also conducted an exercise called "If I Were A Thief," where officers walk around a dorm with residential assistants and leave tags on unlocked room doors and lock the doors for its inhabitants. Students who get locked out will be let back into their rooms for free, however. TUPD also provides a round-the-clock escort program - a system D'Andrea said is underused. "Don't think that you're bothering us," she said. "Our job is service, yet some people are still a little hesitant to call." Crime Prevention Month is designed to increase awareness, D'Andrea said, so "a lot of colleges will try to zero in on October" to raise issues of campus safety. For some students, the added TUPD publicity may clarify the department's role on campus. Junior Heather Roughton said she feels safe walking around campus, but she does not know "how the TUPD may or may not factor into this."

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