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Back to college... again and again

September 7

In a job market where graduate-level education is becoming more and more common, some students are a few steps ahead of the game. The question for these intrepid few is not whether or not to pursue a graduate degree, but which graduate degree to pursue first. This was the question for Tufts alum Bruce Wilder (LA '61), who applied and was accepted to both law and medical school. "I really wanted to do both. There was a joke in my college yearbook about that: 'Why do you have to decide? Do both,'" Wilder said. And eventually, he did: Wilder now holds a medical degree, a law degree, and a master's in public health. Accepted to Tufts Medical School when he was 19, Wilder finished up his undergraduate degree in physics and worked with a professor there before enrolling. After an internship and a year serving in Korea, Wilder went on to get his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh - while at the same time continuing his full-time practice as a neurosurgeon. Still active in his surgical practice, Wilder splits his time between his interests. "I have a law practice, and I'm moving towards consulting," Wilder said. His law practice is not totally divorced from his medical experience: he describes it as mostly "counseling physicians involved in disputes." Attaining several graduate degrees can allow those like Wilder, who have multiple career interests, greater flexibility in pursuing those interests. "People today typically change careers an average of seven times over the course of their work life," said Jean Papalia, director of Career Services at Tufts. "An advanced degree might facilitate a shift from one environment to another." A desire to improve their marketability drives some graduates back into the classroom, but money is only one of many factors in the choice to pursue multiple advanced degrees. "Research indicates that average earnings for individuals with advanced degrees are higher than those with bachelor's degrees; however, the decision to go to graduate school is more complex than compensation," Papalia said. "Do what you love and the money will follow," said Tufts graduate John Panagopoulos (LA '85), who majored in English at Tufts, completed a master's in English at Northeastern and an MBA program at UMass, and recently graduated from Suffolk Law School. "When you go for a graduate degree, you should put your interest before the dollar," he added. "You should not go into a program just because you think it's going to be lucrative." Currently, Panagopoulos works at the Office of Civil Rights at the Mass. Turnpike Authority, and he said he would like to continue his work there in a legal capacity. "Once I pass the bar, what I would like to do is continue on in the legal department here or at another public organization," he said. "I don't see myself in a law firm; I plan to continue on in the public sector." To spend so many hours in the classroom in pursuit of advanced degrees, a love of learning is a prerequisite. "I practically jumped from one [degree] to the other continuously," Panagopoulos said. "I did it not just to improve my marketability, but also because I enjoy studying and learning new things." "I love going to school. I might as well go - I love learning something new every day," current Tufts graduate student Francois Garand agreed. Garand, a psychology and music major who graduated from Holy Cross with minors in theater and French, plans to pursue an M.D. and Ph.D. after completing his master's in biology at Tufts. Garand also holds a bachelor's degree in computer science from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and completed the post-baccalaureate pre-medical program at Tufts. Pursuing multiple degrees can be very costly, but for Garand, finding a way to pay for it was well worth the effort. "When I was working at Holy Cross, all my classes were free. When I did my degree at WPI, Holy Cross paid for it. For a lot of graduate degrees, the school pays in exchange for teaching." Garand said. "I had to sell my car to come to Tufts... I sold my guitar. But it's worth it to come to Tufts." While all Jumbos may not have multiple master's degrees in their futures, a majority of them plan to pursue graduate education. "Institutional Research conducts a survey annually during commencement season to assess seniors' post-graduate plans," Papalia said. "For the past several years, this data has indicated that 18 to 23 percent of Tufts students plan to go directly to graduate school immediately after graduation. Another 75 to 80 percent plan to pursue advanced studies within five years of graduation." While a graduate degree - or several - is not yet a de-facto requirement for resume-toters, it may become more necessary in the future. "Graduate education is clearly more prevalent today than it was a generation ago," Papalia said. But that's not to say that graduate school is the right route for everyone. "Graduate school is intended to be a path for individuals who are highly focused and committed to a specific field of study," she added. "There should be strong, well-researched reasons to pursue more than one degree."

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News

Inside the Red Sox | Strong pitching a must this season due to player injuries

September 7

Last season, the Boston Red Sox were led by an elite group of starting pitchers, a potent offense, and a dominant closer on their way to the World Series Championship. The offense remains as potent as ever, but if the Sox hope to repeat, starter Curt Schilling and closer Keith Foulke will need to return to their 2004 level of play. That is a big request of these two former all-stars, as both have battled health problems throughout the season. Foulke continues to be bothered by bad knees that may have caused his mysterious loss of velocity, and Schilling's famous ankle may still be hampering his throwing motion. Without these two heroes from '04, Boston is left with a mediocre starting rotation and a downright horrific bullpen. There was some hope that 2005 first-round pick Craig Hansen, a flamethrower from St. John's, could step in during the September playoff chase and save the day, but he has been fighting a tired arm. Without Hansen, veteran Mike Timlin is left as the sole dependable pitcher in the Boston pen. Rookie Jon Papelbon's 95 mile-per-hour fastball provides the Sox some firepower at the end of games, but his inexperience and lack of a consistent second pitch make him vulnerable to stronger lineups. Mike Myers is great against lefties, but he's normally only effective for a batter or two. Submariner Chad Bradford was a solid pickup, but he's not going to set the world on fire either. So what can the Sox do about their bullpen problem? Virtually nothing. There was no one worth trading the farm for at the July 31 deadline and, unfortunately, the recent pickups of pitchers like Matt Perisho, Chad Harville, and others won't do the job. The best Boston can do is hope that Timlin builds on the good year he is having, Papelbon's fastball proves to be enough - a starter like Bronson Arroyo can be counted on for a few outs from the pen in the playoffs, and most importantly, Foulke can regain his 2004 form. Those are certainly a lot of ifs, but stranger things have happened. Boston's starters are less of a problem, but they are not a strength as they were in 2004. David Wells, who is pitching very well right now, has a great record for past Octobers. Matt Clement has also been pitching better of late, and he should be able to provide some quality starts down the stretch. Tim Wakefield and Arroyo can be shaky at times, but they can also go out and throw eight shutout innings on any given day. Again, if Curt Schilling can come around, this starting staff isn't half bad. If the Sox hope to roll to another championship in '05, they will also need to make sure their offense can continue carrying them as they have all season. Right now everything is clicking on the offensive side for Boston. Right fielder Trot Nixon is healthy, which means Sox fans no longer have to suffer through many Gabe Kapler at-bats against right-handed pitchers (it's a scary sight). Edgar Renteria has continued his career trend of crushing left-handed pitching and being awful against right-handers. The only gaping hole in the lineup for most of the season has been first base. Kevin Millar may rally the troops in the clubhouse, but he hasn't swung the bat well this season (other than the last couple of weeks). John Olerud may be the answer to the problem. Even though he's 37, the former batting champ has helped the Sox both in the field and at the plate. Though it is almost certainly a fluke, Olerud has even flashed great power so far this season, posting a .524 slugging percentage. If Olerud gets injured or slows down, journeyman Roberto Petagine deserves more playing time. Petagine has a .900 OPS this season (granted, in only 26 at-bats) but he has absolutely torn up the Japanese League the last four seasons, and he was mashing in AAA before being called up. Boston should find a way to get him some more at-bats. So will the story of the 2005 Boston Red Sox be a team that could hit but do little else? Or will the pitching come around just in time to save the day? The bottom line is that if Foulke and Schilling can find themselves, Boston has as good a shot as anyone else in the American League, and if not, October may not be as exciting this time around for Red Sox Nation.

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News

Putnam retires after 21 years of coaching at Tufts

September 7

After 21 years as the head of Tufts' Men's cross country and track programs, Coach Connie Putnam unexpectedly retired in early August. He went out on top as his Jumbos qualified for Nationals six of the past seven years in cross country, placing sixth in 2004 - a historial best. Tufts won its first ever NESCAC cross country championship in 2003 and repeated last year, adding a New England title. Putnam will be succeeded by his assistant of three years, Ethan Barron, who gained the interim positions of head coach of the cross country team and associate head coach of the track team. Barron graduated in 2001 from Middlebury, where he was a captain, an Academic All-American, and All-American in track. He spent a year as an assistant volunteer coach at Middlebury and coached high school for a year before coming to Tufts in 2002, where he has worked primarily with the track team while earning his master's degree in educational studies. Tufts alumnus Rod Hemingway, who was an All-American under Putnam in the mid-1990s and served as an assistant to the women's team for one year after graduation, will assist Barron. "It's good to have some continuity," senior co-captain Matt Lacey said. "Ethan and Rod both know the ins and outs of the program, the way Connie did stuff, and everyone's on the same page." Barron said he doesn't plan to make any major adjustments to Putnam's training system. "If it's not broke, don't fix it," Barron said. "The team is perennially one of the best in the nation. We're just tweaking things to hopefully turn a sixth place at Nationals into a [top-four] podium finish at Nationals." Indeed, the program Putnam built is one to boast about, even though the former coach was never one to boast. On the same day that Tufts finally broke through and won NESCAC's for the first time two years ago, Putnam was also named the NESCAC Coach of the Year. But he deflected all attention aimed at him. "The award doesn't matter to me at all," he told The Daily in 2003. "It really doesn't matter. What matters is what the kids accomplish; that's what it's about. All the hard work it took for them to finally break through and beat Williams; that's what I'm proud of. The top five, everyone else who ran, all the other guys who have worked hard all season and cheered on Saturday, even the guys who design the Web site to help recruit. It's everyone's win." It was everyone's win, but it was Putnam's too, and he couldn't deny his satisfaction. "We've been so close to Williams so many times and finished second so many times, even with great teams," he said at the time. "I've had some sad rides home [from NESCAC's]. This was a pretty satisfying ride home." Putnam's system was predicated on rounding into peak form late in the season, something the squad plans to continue to do. "That was always a goal, but Connie is so competitive that it was hard for him not to want us to win every race," Lacey said. For the first time since retiring, Putnam addressed the team this past weekend at the annual alumni race at the Grafton course into which the coach poured his own sweat and hard work to maintain. "He got pretty emotional," Lacey said. "He explained that this was something he needed to do and that it had nothing to do with us and that he would be this program's number one fan." "At first we were all shocked when he left," former captain Peter Bromka said. "But we realized that he's worked so hard for 21 years that he's earned the right to do this and obviously if he's leaving now, it's the right time for him." In the end, the lively ear-pierced veteran coach who was a virtual quote machine for Daily reporters declined to return phone calls. But others spoke instead. "Truthfully, we won't know the full effect of him being gone until later, in the middle of the season," senior co-captain Matt Fortin said. "[That's] when the coach can make the most difference because it's when you start getting more competitive. Connie was great at giving you game day tips on how to run your race." "Connie is by far the most dedicated coach that I ever worked with," Barron added. "Anyone who has a two-hour commute every morning has to be dedicated to what they do. I learned a lot about dedication and loyalty from him, and I'll always have a great deal of respect for him." Bromka reflected on everything the coach meant to Tufts cross country. "Connie was the program; he made the program. When he came here it was a joke. He built it up and he went out on the top."

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News

Film imports add some culture to your 'oui'-kend

September 7

The easiest way to strike fear into the heart of any unassuming college student is to bring up the subject of French cinema. At the mere mention of subtitles, funky lighting, or Gerard Depardieu, young scholars who handle daunting academics on a daily basis suddenly turn into blithering idiots. But if professors Anne-Christine Rice and Kerri Conditto have anything to say about it, this sad state of affairs won't last for long. These two lecturers from the French department teamed up last year to found the French Film Experience (FFE) with the support of their colleagues in the Department of Romance Languages, the European Center, and the generous staff at the Olin and Tisch Media Centers. In just two semesters, this series of screenings has enriched the Tufts arts scene and dispelled the stigma that has always made America's youth wary of cinematic imports. Roughly every other Sunday, Rice and Conditto host free showings of fresh French releases in the theaters of Olin 11 and 12. The lights go down at 6:30 p.m., and then the fun begins. These are not, Rice is quick to point out, the dusty VHS recordings one might remember from 11th grade French class. "I think that a lot of teachers mean very well in high school and everything, but they tend to show films that are very depressing," says Rice. And, thus, a negative stereotype is born. "A lot of students have this idea that French films are boring or they're chatty or nothing ever happens in those films," says Rice, "and we want to show them that if they come once or twice, they're going to see that French films are not what they believe." On the contrary, Conditto and Rice expended great time and energy in hand-picking an eclectic and entertaining quintet of films to screen this semester. Though limited by availability and overlap with campus French classes, Rice and Conditto carefully chose diverse films that showcase the multifaceted nature of French cinema. Students tend to think that foreign movies are all alike, so the fall repertoire explores five distinct directorial styles, varied casts of actors, and every genre from romance to war epic. Variety is assuredly the FFE's top priority as it looks to complement -- rather than compete with -- the established Tufts Film Series that screens American movies on the weekends. "The thing that's different is that the movies you have at Barnum you can generally rent," said Conditto. "We show movies that you might not have access to, or that you might not rent." "[The FFE] is giving an opportunity to people to watch something that might not otherwise appeal to them or that they wouldn't think about otherwise," Rice said. And, although Rice claims that they never stray too close to purely mainstream selections, the FFE does not include obscure, esoteric films that could potentially alienate audiences. "They [the films] were great hits in France, and there's a reason for that," said Rice. "If a film was a huge hit [abroad], it might very well appeal to an audience here as well." Their formula struck gold last year when, at the first FFE screening, more than double the expected 35 students crowded into a single theater. This year, Conditto hopes that the FFE will be able to build on the continued enthusiasm of returning viewers to create a solid fan base. Conditto also notes, however, that the FFE is looking to attract a more heterogeneous audience by selecting movies that include elements from fields of study outside the French department. "That's a market we'd like to attract a little bit more: students who aren't taking French," she said. "What we would like to do is to involve other departments," Rice said. "'Un long dimance de fiancailles' is a historical film; it would be great to draw some history students and maybe some faculty as well." Hopefully, some of these newcomers will become the regulars that Conditto and Rice are so used to seeing. "We have had students who came to virtually every single film last year," said Rice. She recalls how one student turned the Sunday screenings into a bimonthly social gathering with friends, and how others have used the FFE to help organize study groups with fellow language students. "It does help your French skills to see [French] film," said Conditto. "We are [now] giving expanded notes, cultural notes with more information on the film," in addition to the standard vocabulary lists to aide comprehension, Rice said. The FFE kicks off on Sunday, September 18 with Philippe Muyl's "Le Papillon" ("The Butterfly"), the 2002 dramedy about a little girl who forms an odd relationship with an elderly butterfly enthusiast. The film will be preceded by a buffet. "We're starting with a film that's really PG, very sweet and heartwarming," said Conditto. For a complete listing of this semester's FFE marquee, refer to the posting on the Department of Romance Language's website. Both Conditto and Rice also welcome individual inquiries via e-mail at their Tufts faculty addresses. "We just want people to feel comfortable and to feel welcome. They can just come once and check it out, and if they don't like it, that's fine. But if they like it, that's great!," Rice said. And that would be the beginning of une belle amitie.

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News

Small graduate programs to blame for low rankings

September 7

Tufts graduate programs received mixed reviews in U.S. News & World Report's most recent listing of the best graduate schools in the country. The rankings are for 2006, and they were released last month. In the School of Arts and Sciences, the Tufts English department was ranked 61st among national English departments, the history department was ranked 74th, and the Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Development was ranked 89th in the psychology research category. The Tufts-Boston School of Occupational Therapy - also in the School of Arts and Sciences - was ranked fifth in the country in the occupational therapy subcategory of the health rankings. Rankings in the magazine are for doctoral programs, and they are based entirely on peer assessment surveys. According to the methodology on the magazine's Web site, each university was given two copies of a survey and asked to rank the academic quality of programs at other universities on a five point scale. The surveys for the 2006 rankings were conducted last fall. Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Robin Kanarek said the small size of the Arts and Sciences graduate programs makes it difficult to compete in rankings based on peer assessment surveys. Larger schools have more alumni working at other institutions, and therefore more people are familiar with the quality of the schools' programs. "We don't get a lot of dissemination to other institutions," Kanarek said. According to Kanarek, the Arts and Sciences rankings have been consistent during her three and a half years in the position. She said an increased focus on graduate education by the University administration, particularly by University Provost and Senior Vice President Jamshed Bharucha, will shift the rankings within the next five years. "Graduate education is becoming more important to Tufts," she said. There has been an increase in the pay for graduate students serving as teaching assistants, in addition to the creation of other programs designed to attract top graduate students, including Bharucha's Provost Fellows program, which provides more money for graduate studies to a select group of students. "Tufts is much more competitive with our peer institutions," Kanarek said. "We can now pay our TAs what they get paid at other institutions." Kanarek said Arts and Sciences faculty have not expressed concern about the rankings. "It's not a huge thing on their radar," she said. The School of Engineering is ranked 79th overall among engineering schools. In the engineering subcategories, the chemical engineering department is ranked 61st, the mechanical engineering department is ranked 69th, and the civil engineering department is ranked 70th. Because graduate school rankings are based entirely on the peer assessment surveys - as opposed to undergraduate rankings, which also take into account academic and financial statistics - graduate rankings change over a longer period of time. "We can do little to improve them directly," Dean of the School of Engineering Linda Abriola said. Abriola also said that the School of Engineering has only emerged as a distinct entity under University President Lawrence Bacow, and that may decrease other academics' familiarity with Tufts' programs. "I think that the visibility of the School of Engineering within Tufts had been low," she said. "Of course, we will always be at some disadvantage in that we are smaller than most schools of engineering at Research I universities and, thus, have relatively fewer graduates." Research I universities grant at least 50 doctoral degrees anually and receive at least $40 million in federal aid. Abriola said the School of Engineering draws most of its graduate applicants from the undergraduate school. During her tenure of the last two years, she said the school has made an effort to more effectively advertise its graduate programs to students from other undergraduate institutions in an effort to broaden the reach of the Tufts name. "We have less applicants than we might from students who have not had first-hand exposure to Tufts," she said. The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine is ranked 12th. The School of Medicine is ranked 43rd in medical research and 58th in primary care. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy is a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs. U.S. News & World Report only ranks international politics as a subcategory of public policy and does not rank schools of international relations. "They just don't rank that category," Fletcher School Director of Communications Jack Hopkins said. Kanarek said the magazine rankings do not dictate her job, but she said administrators do pay attention to the list. "I know that people are looking at them so we do at least have to be aware of them," she said. -- Kelly McAnerney contributed to this article.

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News

Correction: Thursday, September 8, 2005

September 7

An article in the Sept. 6 issue of The Daily, entitled "DTD houses grad students," reported that the Tufts chapter of the Chi Omega sorority will not be allowed to hold social events or a pledge class this year due to disciplinary violations involving Delta Tau Delta fraternity pledge activities. The sorority is under suspension for this academic year. The status of the suspension will come under review by the Committee on Fraternities and Sororities Judiciary in January.

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Students take action on hurricane relief effort

September 7

As the first group of Tulane University students arrive on campus for orientation, Tufts students are reaching out to help victims of Hurricane Katrina. Four students - seniors Jason Karp, Jordan Marton, and Daniel Stuckey and junior Nick Haslett - are launching www.studentsdonate.org. The Web site, created with assistance from the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, will encourage and facilitate student donations to the hurricane relief effort. "Students don't feel they can make a difference, but there are 14.4 million college students," Karp said. "Collectively, we can make a huge difference." The students hope the Web site catches on at other universities. The Web site will tally money donated by different student groups. "We hope to generate some friendly competition," Karp said. The group will also be receiving assistance from the Tufts Community Union Senate. In an e-mail sent to the Tufts community yesterday after meetings with University administrators, President Lawrence Bacow said he appreciated the large number of students who volunteered to provide housing for guest students. Senior Olivia Jaras volunteered her apartment. "As a college student I can't really offer to donate money," she said. "But I can offer space so that another student can continue her life as normal as possible." According to administrators, however, housing is not the priority. "At this point housing is a secondary issue," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. "We have enough beds, and enough local students volunteering." The most pressing issue is the case-by-case review of Tulane students applying to Tufts. "The process is arduous," Reitman said. "We're moving on it quickly, but it's a big effort." Orientation for the first group of arriving students is scheduled for 8 a.m. on Friday, and another group is expected on Monday. According to Reitman, Monday will also be the day the Office of Admissions makes its final undergraduate acceptance decisions. Bacow's e-mail said the deans and faculty of the Tufts graduate schools are still considering admitting graduate students affected by the hurricane. No decision has yet been made on whether the undergraduate Tulane students will be able to remain at Tufts beyond this semester. From Monday through the following Tuesday, Sept. 20, the Theta Chi fraternity and the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) will be passing out Mardi Gras beads to students who donate one dollar to the Red Cross Relief Fund. Theta Chi and LCS plan to hold a benefit concert of student music groups and a barbeque, where local restaurants will donate food to be sold for hurricane relief. According to sophomore Eric Connelly, the philanthropy co-chair of Theta Chi, the two groups coordinated their efforts quickly. "This will be a concentrated week of events," he said. "We plan on having more events down the road." Individual students are doing what they can to help people affected by the hurricane. Bacow's e-mail recommended students bring ideas to University College Director and Associate Dean Nancy Wilson. Sophomore Jahn Sood made a CD of his songs, and he is donating the proceeds of September sales to the Red Cross National Disaster Relief Fund. "Music is what I do," Sood said. "Everyone can help by doing what they do best."

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News

Men's Cross Country | Minus familiar faces, Jumbos defend titles

September 7

This fall's Men's cross country team is running toward many of the same goals as last year's squad: a NESCAC championship, a New England title, and a top-four finish at Nationals. The team, however, is not the same. Program mainstays Peter Bromka, Nate Brigham, and Brian McNamara, all of whom served as captains at one point during their Jumbo athletic careers, have graduated. "Those guys were huge," senior co-captain Matt Fortin said. "They were the centerpiece of the team; they were always talking and leading." The squad suffered another off-season loss when longtime coach Connie Putnam retired in early August after 21 years leading the Jumbos' Men's track and cross country programs. Putnam retired weeks before the season, leaving the team without the time to find a new coach from outside the program. The team decided to promote Ethan Barron, Putnam's assistant for the last three seasons, and assistant coach Rod Hemingway, a Tufts alum and former two-time All-American under Putnam. "When you lose a head coach a month before the season, that's a pretty big speed bump for a team to face," Barron said. "The captains handled it as complete professionals and defused any minor problems that could have occurred. As a result, the team is really focused, committed, and excited about the season right now." "At first I was a little in shock, given the timing," senior co-captain Matt Lacey said. "But right now I'm not even thinking about Connie, I'm thinking about the season ahead of us." It's a season that has the potential to be bright. The Jumbos return three top runners from last year in Fortin, Lacey, and junior Josh Kennedy, who was NESCAC Rookie of the Year two years ago. Kennedy earned All-American status with a 32nd-place finish at Nationals, where the Jumbos just missed their goal of a top-four finish, placing sixth. Fortin and Lacey finished 66th and 68th, and second and third on the team, respectively. Lacey and Kennedy also paced last year's team to victories at NESCAC's and New England's, finishing first and second on the squad and top ten overall at both races. "We have three guys who could be All-American, which is virtually unheard of," Lacey said. "We definitely have the pieces to be stronger and more dominant up front." The Jumbos might need to look toward these exceptional athletes, because graduation robbed the team of many talented players. "We don't quite have the depth from last year," Lacey said. "We're definitely strong through seven, but there's more of a drop-off. We don't have ten to 12 guys who you could plug into basically any Varsity in New England [like last year]." And depth is important. Williams placed three runners last year in the top six at the NESCAC. Five Jumbos finished in the top 17 positions, which was enough for Tufts to defeat Williams and take their second consecutive NESCAC title. Tufts will need strong performances out of seniors Neil Orfield and Kyle Doran, both of whom battled injuries last year but previously competed in Nationals. "It's not like they're inexperienced sophomores being asked to step up and run over their head," Barron said. "We're returning six athletes with national championship experience, and that's significant." Sophomore Chris Kantos, another runner with Nationals experience, could help fill the void left by the graduates. Junior Justin Chung, who has looked promising in limited appearances, and sophomore Brendan McNeish, might emerge as key athletes. Barron is making small tweaks to Putnam's training system, trying to keep the team healthy and able to gear up for a late-season run in November. "In terms of volume training, we're being more cautious with guys who are injury-prone," Lacey admitted. "Last year we were able to absorb injuries to Kyle, to Neil, to Bromka. This year we have to avoid the cuts and bruises and bangs that we ran through last season because they won't be so easy to run through this season," Barron said. "But this team is old enough, mature enough, and experienced enough that we can work on race strategy and running tightly in the first half of the season and then take off in the second half."

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News

Fall Ball to rock Gantcher on Friday

September 7

The third annual Fall Ball will take place Friday night in the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. All students with a Tufts ID card can attend free of charge. Groove Boston, an independent DJ and event production company, will provide the music. DJ Romeo from Kiss 108, a local radio station, will also attend. According to Tufts Community Union (TCU) President Jeff Katzin, nearly 4,000 students attended last year's Fall Ball. Students complained of long lines to enter the event, and this year's organizers plan to improve the setup of the entrance to the Gantcher Center. The event is sponsored by the TCU Senate, which this year increased the money allocated for lights and sound equipment. There will also be additional video screens with graphics and images of the crowd. "It's a great way to get everyone out of their dorms and come together," Katzin said. DJ Skribble was the special guest DJ last year, but this year organizers decided to hire a lesser known and less expensive DJ. "This year we scaled back how much we were going to spend," Katzin said. "The Senate decided that it could hire a lesser known and still get a high turnout," Katzin said. Katzin said DJ Romeo may play more hip-hop than DJ Skribble. "He should put on a really good show," he said.

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Book Review | 'A Long Way Down' does not disappoint

September 7

In Nick Hornby's previous works, the author has tackled such stunningly weighty topics as top ten lists, soccer frenzy, and the musings of self-absorbed and self-obsessed characters. In his newest novel, "A Long Way Down," Hornby departs from the norm, employing his usual realistic and frank writing style to address suicide. Refusing to get bogged down in the admitted darkness of the topic, the result is an ability to deal with his plotline in a way that is characteristically lighthearted, but nonetheless poignant and humane. With "A Long Way Down," Hornby gives himself the difficult task of talking about suicide in his flippant and cheeky style without making his readers feel uncomfortable for being entertained and even amused. He pulls it off by not allowing his irreverence to be mistaken for actual disrespect, and in so doing manages to do justice to a serious topic. The novel revolves around four flawed, and quite human, main characters: JJ, a failed rocker whose band's breakup has pushed him over the edge (no pun intended); Martin, a Regis Philbin-esque television personality caught in a sex scandal with an underage girl; Jess, a capricious and emotionally impulsive eighteen-year-old; and Maureen, a lonely Catholic mother with a disabled son. The foursome meet on the roof of a famous London suicide spot on New Year's Eve, all with plans to depart the roof without involving the staircase by evening's end. The four begin their interaction by vying for a better jumping spot and evaluating the legitimacy of each other's desire to cast themselves over the edge. Luckily, cooler heads prevail, and they make a pact to leave the rooftop and revisit their woes a month and a half later, on Valentine's Day. In typical Hornby fashion, this decision is not, of course, based on the emotional pain the four suicides would inflict on lovers, friends, ex-bandmates, or offspring. Rather, as Jess states, "The moment's gone. I can tell." The most affecting and thoughtful lines in the book are found in this section, during which all of the characters evaluate the reasons for their sadness, their ability or willingness to recover, and their relationship to the rest of the group of would-be jumpers. Throughout the remainder of the novel, Hornby has his characters reconvene in a variety of comedic social situations (be they book clubs exploring the literary output of suicidal writers, group excursions to the Canary Islands, or talk show appearances). Admittedly, the initial spark created by the intensity of their first encounter remains the strongest part of the book. The author's ability to insert gems and introspective lines throughout the course of the story, however, keeps the reader engaged even in some of the less obviously absorbing scenes. Thankfully, Hornby keeps the plot believable and resists cliche refusing to romantically entwine his characters with one another. Aside from its exploration of the psychological and social issues surrounding suicide, "A Long Way Down" also highlights the similarities shared by diverse individuals and the surprising ease with which friendships can be formed. After the group decides to postpone their suicides, Martin explains their newfound camaraderie: "Even though we had nothing in common beyond that one thing, that one thing was enough to make us feel that there wasn't anything else -- not money, or class, or education, or age, or cultural interests -- that was worth a damn." Even with lines such as these, Hornby is able to refrain from a sense of sentimentality or preaching that would ruin the tone of the book. By putting his patented narcissistic and selfish character archetypes on a rooftop on New Year's Eve, Hornby manages to explore a typically taboo topic in a smart and conversational way. In the process, he also sneakily makes sure that Sarah McLachlan's "Ice Cream" lyric, "It's a long way down to the place where we started from," will perpetually be stuck in the reader's head every time he or she picks up the book.

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News

Women's Cross Country | Returning squad should press on

September 7

The goal is very clear this year for the Women's cross country team: qualify for the NCAA Div. III National Championship race. And with only one significant loss from the varsity squad, the Jumbos are primed and ready to shake up the NESCAC. "Because of last year, people know what it takes to get there and that it's about November and not September," senior tri-captain Becca Ades said. The Jumbos took sixth at the New England regional meet last November. They were seven points away from fifth place and qualifying for nationals in Eau Claire, Wis. Ades qualified individually for Nationals and was the Jumbos' lone representative at the meet. Ades and sophomore Raquel Morgan lead this year's squad. The Jumbos lost tri-captain Katie Sheedy to graduation, but junior Sarah Crispin and sophomores Catherine Beck, Katy O'Brien, and Laura Walls return. Sophomore Anna Shih will likely take Sheedy's spot in the top seven. Unlike the Jumbos, many competing schools lost several athletes to graduation. Middlebury, who finished first at regionals last season, graduated its top two runners while Williams, who took second at regionals, will be without five of its top seven from 2004. Wesleyan also suffered, losing three of its top five from last season. "A lot of people graduated," Coach Kristin Morwick said. "People reloaded pretty well too [with freshmen]. It'll be hard to predict who the top five will be." After coming up short in cross country, the women spent the indoor track season competing at a national level. Crispin was an All-American in the 800 meters, Beck qualified for and competed in the 5K, and O'Brien and Walls were members of the distance medley relay team that competed at Nationals for indoor track. "The talent is there," Ades said. "It's obvious from all the indoor accomplishments everyone had. It's going to come down to each individual race and the end of the season. Who's healthy, who's ready to go. You can't predict now where we'll be in November." "It's hard to predict just because it's so early in the season," Beck said. "We just need to take things one step at a time and try to stay healthy and happy." The early races will show the team's capabilities, but the Jumbos' success depends on how they race post-season. "We're right in the ballpark with [teams like] Colby, who should be anywhere from second to fourth in New England," Morwick said. "It'll all be who manages injury issues and who peaks at the right time. It should be stuff we can't control." Besides the top seven, the Jumbos also return most of their top 15 runners. Despite losing graduates Emily Pfeil and Katie Mason, senior Arielle Aaronson, juniors Jenny Torpey, Angie Lee, Samantha Moland, and Julia Goldberg, and sophomores Ana Hoyos and Sarah Kalil return. "Everyone has come in with a great attitude and is ready to work hard to do what needs to be done this season," Beck said. Ades and Aaronson return from a spring semester abroad and are working to get back to mid-season form. Ades is nursing an IT band injury that kept her out of action in the spring. "It hasn't made me stop any workouts [yet]," Ades said. "You have to play it by ear because it stopped me from running for three months. It feels fine so far." With so many returnees, there is potential for the team to do damage in the NESCAC and the nation. "I don't think we ever really raced to our potential last season," Morwick said. "You look at the track season that [these runners] had and are they capable of doing great things this year? Sure."

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Inside the NFL | Pre-season winners and losers in football

September 7

It's that time of year again. As college students find themselves suddenly overwhelmed with reading and problem sets, they can now find some comfort and escape in the start of the professional football season. With the NFL season upon us, here are a few pre-season predictions. First, the San Francisco 49ers are setting themselves up for a losing season. Talk about stating the obvious, but a post-script needs to be added concerning No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith. The 49ers were so unimpressed with the play of Alex Smith that they benched him in favor of the washed-up, heavily bruised Tim Rattay. Mike Nolan was very excited about Smith, but after getting a glimpse of the goods in pre-season, made the decision to bench him. While Smith was a solid player at Utah, his arm strength isn't anything to write home about and his mechanics may need some polishing for the big leagues. With Drew Bledsoe and Bill Parcells reunited, it looks like the Dallas Cowboys could be the most improved team in the NFC. The Tuna has simplified things for Bledsoe with an offense favoring mid-range passes. The Cowboys also think - and with good reason - that Julius Jones has the chance to be a premiere running back. Jones is in better shape this year and could easily outdo last season's 800 yard performance. He was a steal in the second round last year and could compete with Curtis Martin as Bill Parcells' all-time favorite player. The Cowboys also added Peerless Price, possibly the most talented player to get cut during the preseason. If Bledsoe can't deliver with the speed of Jones, the pass-catching of Keyshawn Johnson and the overall talent of Price, it might be time for him to hang up the jersey. Parcells also acquired Damarcus Ware, Kevin Burnett, Aaron Glenn, and Jason Ferguson to a defense that was shaky at best last season. The Cowboys should collect plenty of sacks, and might even be a dark horse to beat out the Philadelphia Eagles for first in the NFC East. Don't overlook a Belechick-Parcells rematch in Detroit this February; it just might happen. Additionally, Kevin Burnett, the Cowboy's second-round pick at linebacker, received a more favorable rating than Ware, their stud first-round pick, when former Giant Carl Banks visited Cowboy's camp. Another team to watch is the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have finally embraced the post-Randy Moss era, and they are a better team for it. The addition of Darren Sharper from the Green Bay Packers adds a punch to a previously weak defense. On that note, Green Bay had better hope that Ahman Green rushes for at least 2,000 yards and Favre throws for 3,000, or the Packers are going to join the Bears in the cellar of the NFC Central. Free agents Napoleon Harris and Sam Cowart - the Vikings' defense - now field ten first or second-round picks. Guided by the undisputable leadership of Daunte Culpepper, the Vikings should improve from their 9-7 mark of a year ago. With the matchup between the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots tonight, it is only fitting we look at the team facing the reigning NFL dynasty. Oakland has managed to get the best of the NFL's blacklist on its roster, including Moss, defensive lineman Warren Sapp, and QB Kerry Collins. All in all, the Raiders have a lot of wash-ups and has-beens, and so expect their record to reflect this. On the other side of this contest, the Pats are still the best in the game. Watch for a breakout season from Patriot second-year tight end Ben Watson, and keep an eye on guard Nick Kaczur, as the third-rounder from Toledo could easily be an NFL starter. Middle linebacker Monty Beisel might not be the next Tedy Bruschi, but the guy has great instincts, intelligence, and speed. Belechick has found another steal and, more importantly, a middle linebacker to fit his system.

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News

The value of lists

September 7

Though at the undergraduate level Tufts recently regained lost ground in the U.S. News & World Report rankings of American universities, there is still much work to be done at the graduate level. A majority of Tufts' graduate programs are not in the top 50 schools, while for undergraduate education we have moved back up to number 27. One of the few shining stars is our Occupational Therapy program, which is preceded by only four others in the nation. A straightforward list, provided by a reputable magazine, carries a great deal of weight for both prospective undergraduates and graduates. For a student on the fence, the difference between a top-ranked and modestly-ranked institution is significant. Modifying school standards and practices based on a simple grade is not necessarily the best tactic for improving the quality of education, which is ultimately a superior motive. There are lessons to be learned from mediocre rankings, however. One significant, but sometimes obscured, element of graduate rankings is the importance of reputation. At the undergraduate level this counts only for 25 percent of a school's rating; however, its value increases for graduate school rankings. This opinion data is obtained from presidents, deans, researchers, and even professionals hiring graduates for business degree programs. Asked to evaluate the quality of a number of programs, the experts simply give a one through five response to a variety of questions. Ignoring the arbitrary nature of such a scoring system, bumping up our own rankings should be relatively straightforward. Although it may be hard to fudge data such as average starting salary, promoting the University could change those dynamics. A system of peer review may be the most effective way to evaluate a school, but the fewer people know and understand a given program, the less chance we have of achieving an accurate ranking. Tufts' programs may be small, but they are an enormous asset and should be promoted. The University stands to gain enormously, in areas much more important than a meaningless number. With a greater presence in the graduate school community, Tufts will attract a higher-caliber candidate, better funding, and superior professors. By expanding its reach within the larger graduate community through everything from shameless advertising to publicized cooperative efforts, Tufts can be on par with its peers. Stuck in limbo between our athletic competitors in NESCAC, which are primarily liberal arts colleges, and our institutional peers of Dartmouth, Brown, and Georgetown, Tufts has to make difficult decisions about the future with few true peers to guide it. It is important for the University to demonstrate the extent and quality of our program offerings. Unfortunately, many of our high-caliber programs, such as the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, are not ranked. Eventually, we may see lists of these programs, and Tufts should strive to reach the pinnacle, if only to increase the quality of our curriculum. As the graduate program rankings become more important, it is imperative for Tufts to exhibit its true worth. The University has a responsibility to itself and to its students to make sure that the intrinsic value of a Tufts education is close to its publicized worth in the rankings lists.

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News

I can't afford books

September 5

I know what you are thinking. This is just one more of the articles highlighting a reality that most of us face: buying books sucks. Actually, if you are a freshman, you probably are not thinking that, because you are new. Trust me, however, there will be many articles to this nature over the year. I promise you though, this one is different. Why? Because I am freaking out, man. Whew. I, an all-knowing Tufts sophomore, walked to the bookstore to buy my books. Now, I have done this before. Twice, actually. So, I picked up books for my first class, and they did not seem that bad. Four books for one class, and three of them were used. I felt like I was on a roll. Then I walked confidently over to the history books, found my class, and looked at the little convenient plastic card. "Hmm," I thought, "Only four books." But wait, there was another card. Oh, and another. And another! Oh my God! There were fourteen books for this one class, many of which were not used! Ahh! Now you can see why I am freaking out, man. I stood in the bookstore dusting off my Math 5 and Math 6 mental math skills and tried to add up the total. I could not do it. This could have meant that I am either horrible at math - which is true - or that the books were pretty freakin' expensive - which is also painfully true. I had to go back to my dorm and break out my TI-83 from high school just to add up the total for that one class. Of course, because I was hyperventilating, I forgot to write down the prices of two of the books. However, the total I came to for the rest of them, taking into account the few used prices that available, was $325! For one class! Once again, freaking out, man. Now I come to the reason for writing this article. My first instinct after seeing how much I was going to drop on that one class was to simply drop it. Unfortunately, I am a huge history nerd and was really excited (yes, I do mean excited) about this class. So what kind of university makes students want to drop classes because they cannot afford the books? There is something inherently wrong with the system. Come on Tufts, throw me a freakin' bone here. Now, I am not a poor student. I am middle class, and I myself pay part of my tuition. My parents have good jobs, and I live a comfortable life. That said, we do feel the pressure of spending this much on books. Gas just went up to three dollars per gallon, we have two kids in college, and my parents are trying to save up for retirement. I know that some kids at Tufts are like, "$325? That's how much I spent on my last Louis Vuitton purse!" But that is also just a stereotype of the Tufts population. Many students are in my position. We work hard, we are lucky to have the opportunity to be attending this great school, and we want to learn the most that we possibly can so we can go out and change the world. I mean, I could be in Texas right now, sweating and being pissed off that I still go to school in Texas. Also, I like to consider myself fairly intelligent, and I know the factors that go into high book prices, one of which is gas prices. I mean, it is tough right now. We are in a war, gas demands have gone up with the growing industrialization of other nations, and Hurricane Katrina has disrupted oil production in the Gulf. I am from a gas town: Houston, Texas. The companies have to spend money to follow the guidelines in order to protect the environment, while still making a profit and paying their thousands of employees. These are the things I think about! However, I cannot get out there and change the world if I cannot afford the books to take the classes to get the information I need in order to change the world! (Incidentally, the class with the huge price tag addresses some of these problems.) So here I am, Joe Schmo Tufts Student, about to spend hours trying to find books cheaper online. I added up the prices the books I need for my four classes, and the grand total is $654.45 (approximately, because knowing me, I made some mistakes). That total does not even include another class that I want to add. I spent less over four days in Paris, excluding airfare. I am still in shock, and I am still freaking out (man). I think it is time for the University to take some responsibility for this outrageous burden. I want to learn, but how much more is it going to cost me? I do not want to feel guilty about spending so much money on books. I went to a private high school on a half scholarship, and they paid for my books. I understand that this would be a huge cost for the school, but if you cannot afford the books, you just cannot afford the books. That's all there is to it. And again, what kind of place makes kids want to drop the class simply because of the book price? So President Bacow, if you are out there, please try to do something about this outrageous problem. Thanks everyone for listening to me vent. If you want to find me, I will probably be at my computer, trying to find cheaper books. Also, probably crying. And, of course, freaking out.-- Meredith Pickett is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.

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Around Boston

September 5

We realize that even the most sheltered freshman has likely already had at least a cursory introduction to Harvard Square; yes, we know that Border Cafe's good when the margarita mood strikes and that you can do up your dorm room in style at Urban Outfitters. But there is much more waiting to be discovered on the Square's crooked cobblestone streets. Dear old Hahvahhd is still the academic and cultural heart of Cambridge, and, just two short stops away on the Red Line, the area is a perennial favorite for Tufts students in search of an afternoon of off-campus adventures. Here are some favorite destinations that we thought were worth mentioning. As you ascend from the Harvard T station, you'll immediately encounter a sunken area known affectionately as "the Pit," a stomping ground for an eclectic assortment of characters. On nice afternoons you can take in a performance by street musicians or break dancers, but it's always a good spot to ogle truly tragic fashion victims, argue with an evangelical or, just for fun, count the number of drug deals that take place within an hour. From here you can see the outdoor assemblage of chessboards in front of the Au Bon Pain; go on and challenge that grandfatherly type with the benign smile and the sign that reads "The Chessmaster." Take the bait, I dare you. To get in touch with the area's happening hippie history, head to 47 Palmer Street, home to Club Passim. Founded in 1958, the famed nonprofit club has long been ground for folk and acoustic musicians from Joan Baez and Bob Dylan, to Shawn Colvin and Tufts alum Tracy Chapman. In addition to showcasing performances by up-and-coming musicians, comedians, storytellers, and poets, the intimate brick basement venue also hosts art exhibitions and offers a groovy selection of vegetarian and vegan fare. Of course, if you're in a more carnivorous mood, there is no better burger joint than Mr. and Mrs. Bartley's Burger Cottage, located at 1246 Mass. Ave, right next to the Harvard Book Store (whose extensive used and remainders section is, incidentally, a favorite habitat for the region's most prevalent native species, the cash-strapped bibliophile). The family-owned establishment boasts a huge selection of burgers, all cleverly named after celebrities and politicians. Expect crowded seating and less-than-solicitous service, but be ready to bite into the best darn burger you've ever tasted. (Their golden onion rings and malted milkshakes are also memorable). Cafes and coffee shops, where one catches professors commiserating about their students' latest lackluster efforts while aspiring auteurs scribble away furiously in their notebooks, are a Harvard Square staple. Although it's easy to miss the inconspicuous sign at 52-D Brattle Street, passing through the velvet-curtained doorway will reveal the cozy interior of a chocolatier/cafe Burdick's, and the crowd within perusing the shop's fine selection of handmade chocolates, freshly-baked pastries, and other confections. Though it may be hard to tear your eyes away from the caloric carnival behind the display case, (the adorable little chocolate mice are particularly hard to resist), make sure to try some of their delicious drinks, available in both hot and iced forms. The white hot chocolate is a creamy dream to die for, but be warned -- unless you possess taste buds of Teflon, steer clear of their dark hot chocolate, a black and bitter brew that has been known to induce comas even among confessed chocoholics. For those in search of beverages with an even higher octane, Shilla's is a must-stop. The restaurant, located in a mall-like building at 57 JFK Street, offers decent Japanese and Korean fare, but groups of college kids are more likely to come for some sake bombing. For those not in the know, the raucous ritual involves suspending one's cup of rice wine over a pint of beer with chopsticks; shouts of "One, two, three, sake bomb!" are followed by thunderous table-pounding that drops the sweetish sake into the bitter beer bath. The concoction is gulped down immediately, but don't worry -- it doesn't taste as bad as it sounds. Those who wish to jump on the boho-bandwagon, find the perfect outfit for that next themed costume party, or simply spice up a so-so wardrobe with some inspired pieces should pay a visit to an area institution at 1210 Mass. Ave. Oona's has been enabling fashionistas' addiction to vintage for more than thirty years; with offerings from the '20s to the '70s, they stock an eclectic assortment of everything from fake furs and feather boas to motorcycle jackets and formal tuxes. And of course, no guide to Harvard Square would be complete without some nod to our supposed arch nemesis, the hallowed educational institution that lends the funky area its name. Bypass the tourists snapping shots of Harvard's stately columns and towering oaks, for a far more interesting sight can be found just outside the Yard at 46 Plympton Street. Once a haven for the artsy crowd, the Adams House dormitory is home to a subterranean labyrinth of twisting tunnels with walls covered with graffiti left by generations of creative crimson-wearers. The works in this impromptu underground gallery are silly, spooky, subversive and sublime, and well worth a look -- if you can manage to get inside the building (just don't tell Harvard security that the Daily made you do it).

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Women's Soccer Preview | Replacing departed seniors key for successful year

September 5

After a 2004 season that started slow, heated up, and then was capped by an upset defeat at the hands of Williams in the first round of the NESCAC Championship tournament, the Women's soccer team looks to return to its winning ways this year. The squad opens its season on the road at Colby on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Undoubtedly the biggest challenge for the Jumbos this season will be replacing the seven departed seniors from last year's squad. As a unit, the Class of 2005 was the heart of the squad both on and off the field, but coach Martha Whiting is confident that this year's juniors and seniors will quickly fill the holes left by the graduates. "We've definitely had kids waiting in the wings," Whiting said. "The seniors, juniors, and even the sophomores, are really ready to go into those roles. We've been preparing them to do so for a while now and know they are ready." Perhaps the biggest on-the-field loss among that group of seven seniors was in the goalkeeper position, where Meg McCourt started all but three games for Tufts throughout her four-year career. The squad, however, is confident in the abilities of junior Annie Ross, who stood as McCourt's backup for the past two seasons. "I think Annie will perform really well," Whiting said. "We haven't gotten to see much of her in games, but we've always known she's been a good goalie. She's such a great athlete and so eager to learn and be coached that I really believe she'll be able to help us this year." Senior tri-captain Sarah Callaghan agreed. "She's a good goalie, an incredibly hard worker, and has an amazing attitude," she said. "If you put her in a goal and take shots on her, she's going to get to them." Experience will certainly not be an issue up front, where Callaghan and fellow senior tri-captain Ariel Samuelson will occupy the forward positions on opening day. Samuelson, Callaghan, and sophomore Martha Furtek were tied for the team lead in points last season with eight each, and they will look to continue to plague opposing goalies. Furtek, an All-NESCAC selection last season, will occupy the center midfield position with senior Lydia Claudio, with senior tri-captain Lindsay Garmirian and sophomore Lauren Fedore on the outside. The back four, adjusting to the graduation of all-NESCAC center fullback Catherine Benedict, will consist of junior Jen Fratto, sophomore Joelle Emery, and a combination of senior Cate Meeker, sophomore Annie Benedict, and sophomore transfer Jessie Gordon. The latter three will all likely start this weekend against Colby, as Fratto will be sidelined with stress fractures in her back. Gordon leads a group of seven talented newcomers to the squad - two defenders, two midfielders, two forwards, and a goalie - all of whom will have to step into their roles quickly. Whiting fields a team of just 19 this season, so each player will likely see action on the field early and often. "Last year's class is obviously a very hard class to replace, but we're lucky to have a strong returning group and a very promising freshman class," Samuelson said. Despite the myriad of new faces, the Jumbos have had no trouble scoring goals and putting together victories thus far this preseason. The returning players traveled down to Bermuda two weeks ago to scrimmage two club teams on the island, handily defeating both of them with an offensive onslaught. The squad also traveled to Bowdoin on Sunday to scrimmage, among others, the Polar Bears, in preparation for the start of NESCAC play this weekend. Preseason was a time to get acquainted with the new faces, get back into the rhythm of Tufts soccer, and begin the quest for the ultimate goal of the season: to win the NESCAC championship. "Our goal is to win the NESCAC, whether in the regular season or through the tournament - we'd love to get that NCAA bid," Whiting said. "The wins are obviously important, but trying to form a cohesive team and creating a situation where everyone is working together towards the same thing is just as important as everything else." After Colby on Saturday, the Jumbos are home for a non-conference bout with regional juggernaut Wheaton College, followed by consecutive Saturday home games against NESCAC foes Middlebury and Amherst on Kraft Field.

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Field Hockey Preview | Team is ready to work with changes and build on last year's success

September 5

The Tufts field hockey team takes the field this weekend looking to build on the success of the 2004 season, which saw the addition of first-time head coach Tina McDavitt, a new turf surface at Bello Field, and the team's first winning record in three years. The team graduated four seniors last year. Forward Dana Panzer, who set a Tufts record with 12 goals and nine assists in her senior season, and fellow forward Jennie Sachs, whose quickness down the line contributed two goals to the Tufts offense, graduated with defenders Tracy Samko and Jayme Heller. These departures leave openings in the mid- and backfields. McDavitt will turn to the team's returning upperclassmen and six freshman recruits to fill these gaps on both sides of the ball. "I'm really excited about our freshmen," McDavitt said. "Some have had turf experience, and some haven't, but in a couple of weeks, I think they'll all be where they need to be." With the loss of two top scorers, the team will look to sophomores Ileana Katz and Corey Green to lead the Jumbo offense. Katz netted two goals last season in seven starts, but has big shoes to fill in Panzer's absence. "We're trying some new offensive formations this year," junior defender and midfielder Lizzy Oxler said. "We're trying to get more people up front and scoring, so nothing's really set in stone yet." Defensively, the Jumbos are returning only one starter from a defensive line that last season allowed the fewest goals in recent years. Junior Stacey Watkins will anchor the backfield, along with seniors Erika Goodwin and Threse Corsello, as sophomore Meghan Becque is currently sidelined with compartment syndrome. Rounding off the defense are the team's two junior goalkeepers, Angela Rappoli and Marilyn Duffy-Cabana, who split time in the cage last year to record 81 saves. Connecting the offensive and defensive lines is the Jumbo midfield, led by returning senior tri-captains Lea Napolitano and Jeanne Grabowski. Napolitano earned All-Conference honors in both 2003 and 2004, serving as the focal point for the defensive and offensive lines from her position at center midfield. She netted six goals and added five assists last season, good for 17 points and second-best on the team. Grabowski also added three goals for the Jumbos last year and will return to her midfield position. "We're really strong in the midfield, so we're tough on either side of the ball," McDavitt said. "[Grabowski and Napolitano] are our captains, and they're great players, so I think we're strongest in the middle." While last season saw great improvements for the program ,as the team played its way to a 10-6 record and a 5-4 mark against NESCAC competition, McDavitt has even higher goals for her second season. "We want to reach the NESCAC championship game," she said, remembering Tufts' 3-0 loss to Williams in the semifinals of the 2004 postseason tournament. "And definitely [another goal is] to have a better record." Watkins said that the team wants to improve to at least 12-4, and is looking in the distance at a possible NCAA bid. These aims will be met with stiff competition across the league, as the NESCAC continues to be one of the most competitive Div. III conferences in the country. Middlebury is a perennial powerhouse, as the Panthers reached the NCAA championship game last year and have lost only twice since November 2002. Williams is also a tough opponent. The Ephs nabbed the 2004 NESCAC title from Middlebury in a 4-3 overtime win. McDavitt recognized the high level of play that the Jumbos will face throughout the conference, and also acknowledged the possibility of an unforeseen individual breakout season. "Some outstanding seniors have graduated in the NESCAC, but people have breakout seasons all the time," she said. "We're expecting it from all the teams we play, and we're expecting it from our team." The team got an early look at some NESCAC competition on Sunday at a scrimmage held at Trinity, facing Williams, Trinity, and non-conference Wellesley. McDavitt will have some extra help on the sidelines this year as Panzer returns as a graduate assistant. Panzer is working with the offense and the goalkeepers, adding her field hockey knowledge, continuity, and familiarity to the coaching staff. "It's been wonderful working with her," McDavitt said. "She's on my page and we have the same goals and the same passion for the game." The team opens its season on Saturday with a trip to Waterville, Maine, to take on Colby. The Jumbos will look to repeat last year's success, as they christened their new field last fall with a 1-0 overtime win over the Mules. "[Coach] has really high expectations and goals for us, and she really pushes us to get there," Watkins said. "It's really just a matter of us going out and getting it done, and I think we have [the] potential to do that."

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JumboFob adds access privileges

September 5

This semester all students with JumboFob electronic transmitter keys for their dorm buildings will be able to access three common areas around campus. The lounges in Carmichael Hall and South Hall and the aerobics studio in Hill Hall will be accessible until 11 p.m. to students who live in other on-campus dorms. When Sophia Gordon Hall opens next fall, its theater will be accessible as well under the current plan. The new privileges of the JumboFob are the first step in several variations of a plan that would extend JumboFob access to all dorms on campus. In a survey conducted by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate during last April's housing lottery, 96 percent of students said they supported some version of the plan, known as the universal fob system, according to Senate Historian senior Ed Kalafarski. "Generally the response to these surveys is overwhelmingly in favor of increased access across campus," Kalafarski said. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said this interim step is designed to gauge student response. "The new changes in policy are an experiment, and the students, especially those who live in South and the others can give feedback," he said. Reitman said future steps toward universal access would depend on student reaction. "The concern is that while clearly it would be convenient, there are questions that are hard to answer," Reitman said. These questions include whether or not students who live off-campus or in fraternities and sororities would have the same access as those living on-campus, Reitman said, and whether or not students who live in small on-campus houses or apartments could reject JumboFob access to their residence. Students who do not currently have a JumboFob, including those living off-campus or some University-owned houses, will not have access to the four common areas. TCU senators met with Reitman, Director of Residential Life and Learning Yolanda King, and Director of Public Safety John King this summer to discuss issues with a universal JumboFob system. "The compromise we hit on was these four public areas," Kalafarski said. The locations were also chosen because they are spread out over campus and are the site of student group meetings. JumboFobs were installed in South Hall for the 2001-2002 academic year and were introduced to other residences over the next three years. Residents of the all-freshman Tilton Hall are previewing what could become the next advance in dorm technology. All students living in the dorm were issued a special version of the Tufts student ID, known as a Prox card, which allows access to the building and their dorm rooms. Prox cards also allow access to the three common areas now accessible with JumboFobs. Reitman said the Prox card has some added security advantages over room keys. The cards cannot be copied like keys, and their access codes can be changed or disabled by the Department of Public Safety.

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News

Jay's Deli closes after 44 years on Boston Avenue

September 5

Four decades after buying the space, the Serfes family closed the doors of Jay's Deli on Boston Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 28. The space was bought by the University, but its future use remains unclear. Originally bought in July 1961 by Jay Serfes, the business was owned by Arthur and Perry Serfes, Jay's sons, before it was sold. Tufts officially obtained ownership last Friday, Sept. 2. According to Arthur, the business was doing well, but the brothers "are just getting tired of running the deli." The brothers are not sure what kind of business they will go into next, but, Arthur said, they are "happy to move on." Many Tufts students went to Jay's during its four decades a few blocks from campus. Sophomore Johanna Boy said she dined at Jay's frequently while on campus for summer session classes and without a meal plan. Senior Nathan Papazian, who started going to Jay's his sophomore year when he lived in Hill Hall, said, "It's a real nice place to sit down and have a sandwich, or just sit and chat for a few hours." Papazian and his friends spent three hours in the deli on its final day. "We wanted to hold a candlelight vigil," he joked. Papazian said Arthur and Perry were always friendly and learned the names of regular patrons. "It really wasn't the food, it was the atmosphere," he said. "It was there for 44 years, and I don't think Tufts can replace it. There's too much history."

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News

Volleyball | Despite youth, team has high aspirations for upcoming season

September 5

Normally when a volleyball roster includes six freshmen and four sophomores, the team faces a rebuilding year. Not the 2005 Jumbos. Despite its youth, coach Cora Thompson's squad has a conference championship in its sights coming off its 28-6, second place NESCAC finish last fall. "We have very high goals," Thompson said. "We set the bar very high last year. We absolutely intend to win NESCACs. I think that's a realistic goal, but not an easy one by any means." That drive for a NESCAC title will begin this Friday as the Jumbos head out to Williamstown, Mass. for the Williams Invitational. Although the tournament is just three days away, Thompson has not decided on a lineup yet, and is still considering all her options. "We have a very, very strong and deep team," Thompson said. "We have a lot of different options and, having not competed yet, this weekend will be a big test. We're going to try some different lineups. Nothing is set in cement." While Thompson is not sure which players will take the court, it is likely to be a young mix. "This year we have a great mix of experience and young talent, so the first goal is to integrate as a team," senior co-captain April Gerry said. After losing graduated senior Rebecca Schaevitz as well as sophomore Megan Tunstill to a debilitating back injury, Thompson was forced to recruit two freshmen to man the setter position. "[Tunstill] will no longer be playing, due to a recurring injury from high school that has become a career-ending injury," she said. "[Setter] was a huge hole in our program." That gap could be filled by freshmen Kaitlin O'Reilly and Stacy Filocco. While these rookies will be expected to step up, Thompson believes the surrounding talent will ease the process. Veterans, including American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable mention junior Kelli Harrison, All-NESCAC second team member senior co-captain Courtney Evans, and returning NESCAC Rookie of the Year Kay Lutostanski, will help ease the freshmen's transition to collegiate play. Harrison, a member of the All-NESCAC first team, led the 2004 squad with 396 kills and was second with 415 digs. Lutostanski, who leads a very strong group of sophomores, came on strong at the end of last year and finished with 2.07 kills per game. Thompson expects her to improve this year, especially on the defensive end. "She's a sophomore now," Thompson said. "She's got a year under her belt and she knows what to expect and what we expect from her." Those returning players will have to mesh with the less experienced players for the Jumbos to be successful, but Thompson is confident that will happen. "This has been a unique team from the get-go," she said. "I've never had a team bond as quickly as this team has." Whether that chemistry will translate to victory on the court remains to be seen. The Jumbos will get a glimpse this weekend, playing four matches including a Saturday finale against host Williams. The contest will be a rematch of the Jumbos' season-ending 3-0 loss to the Ephs in the conference championship last year. "We're expecting it to be a tough tournament, and Williams is always good," Gerry said. "It's a good way to start the season. It's definitely a good test to get a preview of what our team can be." Like the Jumbos, the Ephs' lineup will look a little different on the court as the team has had to replace departed All-Americans Joyia Chadwick, Meg Demment, and Robyn Young. The trio combined to lead Williams to a 133-18 mark in their four years, during which the Ephs had a stranglehold on the NESCAC Championship. With Williams missing its three all-stars, many teams are now seeing a window of opportunity in the NESCAC. Yet Thompson is not underestimating the Ephs, who she says will still be a top team. "They lost three seniors, all All-Americans," Thompson said. "It will be a huge loss for Williams. That was a great class. But their coach has built a great reputation and I'm sure they will get some big recruits." The Jumbos will see those recruits in action on Saturday, and while Thompson relishes the opportunity to get a look at them, she is not putting too much importance on the early season match-up. "It will be a good test, but it's also very early in the season," Thompson said. "Both teams will improve as the season goes on."

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