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Saj Pothiawala | The tao of Saj

May 21

It comes to this. My last column printed on my final day as an undergraduate, and I would be lying if I said it was not difficult to write. Truthfully, I cried at least once. OK. Twice. Today we, the seniors, will cross that stage, and as our names (or mine at least) are horribly mispronounced, we are going to look out onto this hillside campus, turn our tassels, and finally break that four year spell this place has cast upon us, emerging from the chrysalis that is a University education. And yes, this time I know what chrysalis means. These years have been the most formative of our young adult lives for the sole reason that we became adults here at Tufts University. Three years and nine months ago we moved into Tilton or South or Houston Hall, little freshmen barely old enough to shave, drive or smoke, nervous and excited about meeting new people, leaving our parents, and living next door to members of the opposite sex. And hopefully today we stand as completed individuals, shaving every day or three, driving with the reckless abandon of invincible youth, and buying cigarettes, alcohol and pornography at our leisure. But in all seriousness, most of us are graduating as responsible members of society due to our experiences here in the Tufts bubble, because that is what higher education is in this country: a $40,000-a-year safe space, protected from the evils of the real world, but still exposed to them. Never in our lives will we again have access to the information and resources we had while we were here. A blessing in that it changed who we were. A curse in that it had to end sometime. An example: less than two weeks into our time at Tufts freshmen year, on Tuesday, Sept. 11., 2001 at 9:30 a.m., I watched the second of two airplanes fly into the World Trade Center on live television. It was definitely a surreal day for most people on this campus, especially those directly affected, yet from matriculation 13 days earlier we were already in our cocoon. That afternoon I remember going to see President Bacow, himself 13 days into his first year at Tufts (a fact which he will surely remind us of today), speak in front of Ballou Hall and offer us some words of comfort. I consider Sept. 11, 2001 the defining political event of the last four years, laying the foundation for America's two wars, polarizing public opinion of a president the majority of students and faculty on this campus believe should not be in office, and putting Arab Americans on this country's racial stereotyping map. But it was also the defining political event of our undergraduate careers, archetypal in the sense of community it inspired, especially on a campus as infested with international relations and political science majors as this one. Which brings me to what I found truly important about my time in the Tufts bubble: the community and friendships it fostered. They are what I personally will take with me with my diploma today, and what I will truly cherish. Final exams and problem sets came and went (and often went poorly, believe me). Projects and philosophy papers were hastily completed minutes before, if not hours after, they were due. All of those I leave here. But the commiserating conversations I had in the Eaton Hall computer lab at four in the morning as I worked on one of those projects or philosophy papers, the onset of delirium after spending hours in Tisch working on impossible problem sets with the least efficient of study groups, and the all-nighters during finals period half-spent studying and half-spent waiting for the dining hall to open for breakfast I will remember forever. I will remember when my friends Emilie and Ana thought it would be a great idea to bake cookies during the Super Bowl. They triggered the fire alarm in South Hall in the middle of the first half, prompting the evacuation of the building. If you were in South that night, then the mystery is now solved, and if you are still angry about it, I know where the girls live and have a comprehensive list of foods they are deathly allergic to. I will remember when our RA moved out on us and was replaced. But like belligerent stepchildren, we refused to open up to the new RA, mutilated a stuffed animal, and hung it from the ceiling of the common room with a name tag that said "Mary?" on it. Juvenile? Yes. Inappropriate? Yes. But we took it down before she saw it, and isn't that what really matters? I will remember when I lived off-campus and had to deal with the laziest landlord in the very long and involved history of lazy landlords. There was a gaping hole in the bathroom window which, to this day, I am confident has not been fixed. I will remember standing with my friends on the Brookline Avenue overpass, perched on a guardrail, just minutes after the Boston Red Sox won the World Series this past October. In the pictures we're so happy we look angry. And I will remember, also, writing this column every week; the single most rewarding experience I have had here. From it I have realized two things. One: I talk a lot. Even in print. Two: I really enjoy talking a lot. Even in print. Now to find a way to get paid for it. So I ask you seniors, as you sit and listen to the speakers today and as you accept your diploma, to please steal as many moments as you can to remember all the things you want to remember, as I just did above. Commencement literally means a beginning. A start. But don't take the jargon literally. It's an ending. A very bittersweet ending. Enjoy the day, Class of 2005, because it belongs to us.

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News

Brian Wolly|Wolly meets the Teev

May 21

The stakes in the ratings game have been rising over the past few years, and it is killing television. Each morning after a major televised event, a mandatory sidebar details the ratings, each story lamenting how they're lower than they have been in the past. Network news, award shows, sports championships, you name it. All suffer from deteriorating viewer bases, and it is a trend that is driving both advertisers and television executives crazy. From the boardrooms to the blogosphere to talk radio, it is everyone's favorite pastime to dissect and analyze the causes and factors involved in the lower ratings. To me, there's only one reason and it spans the gamut of all television genres: over-saturation of the market. With so many channels to choose from, everyone seems resigned to stoop to the lowest denominator. In lieu of trying something new to become the newest pop culture sensation, the trend has turned to copying the industry leader. A few years back, during the home-run boom, the big talk in Major League Baseball was about the dilution of talent due to expansion. The thinking was that the finite number of pitchers with the skills to play pro ball was being spread out over too many teams, therefore making it easier for the hitters to go yard. Then, whiz kids like Billy Beane and Theo Epstein found that if you just put a good product on the field, you can succeed. The same has been true with television for the past decade. The status of both network and cable programming is crap. With a few rare exceptions ("Daily Show," "24," "Arrested Development,") television shows have been dumbed down and sensationalized to the point that few even care. If a paparazzi-fueled show on VH1 about celebutantes (a mix between celebrity and debutante - see: Paris Hilton) is what passes for entertainment, it is clear that something is off. No one seems to be thinking anymore; there are so few risk takers. It's like the line from "Field of Dreams," "If you create a good show, people will come." Why does no one watch the network news? Because it is bad. Fox News built up its success because it was something new; they took a risk and it paid off. The other imitators are failing because they're just that: bad carbon copies of the real thing. Again, this carries over to reality programming, the ubiquitous "makeover" shows, and the score of "CSI" and "Law & Order" spin-offs. Since when did the catch phrase in pop culture change from "Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better" to "Follow the Leader?" The reason there's never "anything good" on is that no one wants to take the initiative and create a solid product. There's a burden attached to this commencement column, in that it is supposed to be profound and sentimental. I may not succeed on either front, but with this idea of an oversaturated market, I've found a parallel here to our current status as college graduates. There are approximately two million fellow students graduating with us, and the vast majority of us will be invading the job market like ants at a picnic. As we venture out into the king of all reality shows, the real "Real World," it'll be our task to make ourselves distinctive. Being a replica of one's predecessors may suffice for NBC's Friday night lineup, but after college, the competition is a lot tougher. Whether it is the Tuftonian ideal of "active citizenship" or the ability to write a coherent five-page paper, we Jumbos have the opportunity to truly distinguish ourselves in our post-graduate life. Our degree from a marquee institution will only carry us so far; after all, its not as if every Dick Wolf pilot ("Deadline") or Jerry Bruckheimer craptacular ("Skin") is bound for success. The Tufts experience has hopefully taught us to be individuals and not follow the herd mentality. Be unique, be interesting, and you'll keep your audience's attention. On a last note, I'd like to thank everyone at Tufts who has contributed to making the past three years on the Hill so memorable. I left SUNY-Binghamton after my freshman year - free HBO in the dorms and everything - for the windy wonderland of Tufts. Here I stayed, surviving without ESPN, and am fortunate to have had amazing professors and great friends. Thanks to the E-Men and to the Daily staff for occupying the bulk of my time. Finally, congratulations to my step-mom Val, who is graduating today from George Washington with a master's of fine arts in painting. Now that we're both free, we can watch cable together all day long. Too bad there's nothing good on.Brian Wolly is graduating today with a degree in history. He can be reached via e-mail at brian.wolly@tufts.edu.

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News

Wait list prompts discussion of future changes to housing lottery

May 21

The Office of Residential Life and Learning (ORLL) received criticism from students after this year's housing lottery, which left 77 students temporarily without a dorm assignment for the fall. Rising sophomore Alejandro Pi?±ero, who was originally wait-listed, said he was frustrated with the wait to find out where he would be living next year. "[The ORLL] was very unhelpful," he said. "They didn't do anything to clear up how the situation was going to be solved." Approximately two weeks after the original housing lottery, a second lottery took place for all waitlisted students. In response to the waitlist at this year's lottery, Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator sophomore Andrew Caplan proposed a new "three-tiered" lottery system that would prevent the assignment of low numbers to students year after year. In this system, each class would be divided into three parts. The students in each division would receive low, middle and high numbers once each in the three years they participate in the lottery. This system would be most useful for rising juniors, who have the fewest housing options. They would be able to predict whether they were going to get a high or low number and know if they should look for off-campus housing. TCU senators fleshed out this idea and approached Director of the Office of Residential Life and Learning Yolanda King. According to TCU Senator junior Jose Vazquez, the ORLL has not expressed any problems with this plan and King has been negotiating with people in the Student Information System (SIS). Principal Programmer Analyst Renie Wolfson declined to comment on any work being done on a new lottery system. According to King, the lottery was not poorly handled, and the size of the waitlist this year was consistent with that of past years. "I do not think we experienced any big problems this year. Lottery is a stressful time for students," she said. "I think we are always challenged to move students along a little quicker when they are trying to select their assignments and the line is starting to back up." Nevertheless, the TCU Senate is determined to get this plan into action, and Vazquez said that Dean of Students Bruce Reitman is going to assist the TCU Senate in the creation of this lottery system if it does not go into effect by next spring. According to King, however, the only change that will take place next year is the extension of the lottery for the rising sophomore class from one day to two. The ORLL is always open to release information about the likelihood of housing to concerned students, King said. "We share our interpretation of the range of lottery numbers with students when the lottery numbers are released so students know what to expect," King said. Apart from working on this year's lottery, the ORLL has also been planning for the future. For the fall semester, Hill Hall will be converted into an all-freshman dorm, and Miller Hall will be reserved for sophomores. Tilton and Houston Halls will remain all-freshman, as King said she has noticed a rising demand from incoming students for all-freshman housing. The ORLL has also been in discussion with the TCU Senate about a Senate-proposed universal JumboFob that would grant all students access to every dormitory on campus. Vazquez said that he had been working with Director of Public Safety John King, as well as Yolanda King on the matter. "We met last week, and it looks like there's a good amount of resistance from Public Safety on the matter," Vazquez said. "[John] King thinks that student convenience isn't a good enough reason to go on with the project." John King confirmed his reluctance in allowing the creation of a universal fob, saying he does not agree with the arguments that it will increase campus security. King's arguments address his concern that the fob will eliminate "piggybacking," or holding open dormitory doors for people who may not be students. He said, however, that no decision has yet been made, one way or the other. "To this point, we've just had a series of discussions," he said. "If this is just a question of convenience, we have to ask ourselves if it's worth the change." John King also mentioned other obstacles that might stand in the way of the creation of a universal fob. "Other important questions are whether students living in [fraternities] and sororities get the fob, and whether students want anyone to be allowed to get into their dorms." he said. The TCU Senate had previously conducted a survey of students that showed that most are in favor of a universal fob, but neither John King nor Yolanda King said that the survey was specific enough or conducted on a large enough scale to be accurate. John King said that Vazquez has asked for another meeting, and that he and Yolanda King were doing their best to meet one more time before the summer. John King, however, is in no rush to make a decision since the creation of a universal fob will, according to him, set a precedent for decreasing security on campus. "We can't take this lightly," he said.

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News

Men's Track Profile | Brigham leaves Tufts after four stellar years

May 21

You may have missed one of the most prolific runners in Tufts history graduate today, because Nate Brigham's gown probably hid his lanky figure. If that's the case, then you missed the anchor of the Tufts' track and field team for four years. Over four years, Brigham broke three Tufts records, is in the top 10 of several other events, and went to Nationals nine times. And while Brigham may complete his Tufts academic career when he walks across the stage today, his Tufts athletic career still has one weekend left. Brigham's last race comes next weekend in Wartburg, Iowa at the NCAA Div. III National meet. He will run the 5000 and 10,000 meter races. Brigham and junior Matt Lacey are the first two athletes in Tufts' track history to qualify for Nationals in two different events. Brigham ran a time of 14:31.39 in the Hillside Relays at Tufts on Apr. 8 in the 5,000, breaking the school record in the event. Later in the month, he ran a 30:14.09 in the 10,000 at Penn Relays. Brigham's last appearance at Nationals is the end of his four year story with Tufts athletics. Recruited out of high school, Brigham chose Tufts because he thought the program had potential. "It was an up and coming team," Brigham said. "It seemed like we had a real chance to do some damage on the New England scene. I also liked the balance between academics and athletics." During Brigham's freshman year, however, he had trouble balancing academics and athletics. "I just wanted to run," he said. "Balancing is something you get better at over time." As time passed his grades and his running improved. During Brigham's sophomore year, he finished 11th at Nationals in the Cross Country season. "It was one of the greatest races I've ever ran," Brigham said. After that, though, Brigham fell into a rut with his races at Nationals. "I had a bad streak of National performances. I got out there, and didn't run well for five Nationals in a row," he said. During the rut, Brigham said he found it hard to remember why he ran in the first place. Things turned around at a national meet this winter where Brigham finished eighth in the 5K and found his drive again. Now, Brigham is ready to prove himself on the National stage once more. Brigham's last trip to Nationals is a culmination of four years of progress. Head coach Connie Putnam said, "He's been constantly getting better. His freshman year he basically was a 31 minute 10K guy." Brigham said he credits part of his progress to Putnam and the rest of the coaching staff's help. "Overall my relationship with Connie has been really good," he said, "I know he'd do anything for me." Along with Putnam, Brigham's teammates have helped his development. "Tufts cross country and track and field have been like a family to me," he said, "We live together, we eat together, everything." Especially with this year's emergence of Lacey's prowess, Brigham has used his teammates to help step his own running up a notch. "It's been great to have someone who could push me," he said. Brigham's teammates have used his running to help their own races. "He's served as the spark plug for the distance group," Putnam said. The coach also said that Brigham's ability to lead is beneficial for the team, since it takes the pressure off the other runners. "He handled the leadership role fantastically," Putnam said. "Nate's basically been my leader for three years now," Lacey said. "He's the guy I tried to train and run with when I first came in as a freshman. He's been the man of the team for three years." After Tufts, Brigham said he plans on pursuing a future in education. As far as his running career goes, his next goal is the marathon. There are sponsored teams that he could run for, but he said that they would involve a serious commitment. For now, Brigham said he has his sights set on one last Nationals performance. "I'm really excited about this year's Nationals," he said. "I haven't had my best race yet, and now I've got the experience to not go out and panic."

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News

Trustees wrap up academic year with Commencement Weekend meetings

May 21

The Tufts Board of Trustees will emphasize academic strength for Tufts in their final meetings for the academic year, to take place this Alumni and Commencement weekend. On Friday, May 20, the Board heard from Nutrition Professor Chris Economos on her local nutrition initiative, "Shape up Somerville," in addition to their committee meetings. Yesterday's Board meeting showcased a presentation from Dean Michael Rosenblatt about his new strategic plan for Tufts' School of Medicine. "In only his second year, he's really taking the school in a new direction," Trustee Linda Dixon said. The plan, she said, will likely stress the continuing strength of the partnership between the New England Medical Center and the Medical School. "The partnership is critical to the success of both institutions," Dixon said. Receptions during the weekend also honored alumni donors as well as presented awards for donations from graduated classes. The current Tufts capital campaign is still in its "silent phase," Dixon said, and will likely remain so until Sept. 2006. Over the summer, Dixon said the committee on Trusteeship will come up with nominations for new board members, though no major changes in leadership will occur. "A handful will leave, and some new ones will come on," she said. "[The committee is] looking for people with Tufts' interest at heart," Dixon said.-by Kat Schmidt

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News

Summer Movie Preview

May 21

Like Michael Jackson and little boys, blockbuster films and the summer months go hand in hand. In fact, "summer movies" is a category all to itself, mostly involving high budgets and Will Smith. In preparation for the upcoming season, the Daily will handicap the field, previewing the most appealing of the bunch. If nothing else, enjoy the air conditioning. Madagascar (May 27). These days it's not summer without Ben Stiller. In the first promising non-Pixar cartoon in a while, Stiller teams up with Chris Rock, David Schwimmer and Jada Pinkett Smith to voice a quartet of pampered zoo animals shipped off to the wilds of - you guessed it- Madagascar. There they are forced to interact with the native animals, one of whom is voiced by Sacha Baron Cohen (better known as Ali G). Ali G and Ben Stiller sharing screen time? If nothing else, it should be commended for novelty. Cinderella Man (June 3). For those seeking a film about boxing, the Depression Era, and Russell Crowe, the release of this film will be a red-letter day. Directed by Ron Howard, who was paired with Crowe in "A Beautiful Mind," the film is generating an Oscar buzz. Think of this movie as a mix between "Seabiscuit" and "Million Dollar Baby." Million Dollar Seabiscuit? Mr. and Mrs. Smith (June 10). You know that show "Cheaters" on the WB? The one where suspicious spouses hire a camera crew to secretly follow their cheating partners around and videotape the adulterers in the act? "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" is pretty much the same concept, albeit with a larger budget, as rumors have abounded that the film was the real reason behind the end of Brad Pitt's marriage to Jennifer Aniston. Pitt and Angelina Jolie play married contract killers hired to kill each other. Will we be able to tell exactly when Pitt decided, "You know, I enjoy making out with Angelina a little too much..."? Batman Begins (June 17). After Micheal Keaton departed, campy disasters followed. Directed by Christopher Nolan, the man at the helm of such dark thrillers as "Memento," the film will hopefully be a return to the franchise's equally dark roots. Christian Bale ("American Psycho") has toiled in semi-obscurity for too long while talentless clowns (see: Colin Farrell) have vaulted past him into stardom. Hopefully, this film will reverse both trends. War of the Worlds (June 29). After a successful collaboration between Tom Cruise and Steven Spielberg produced 2002's summer hit "Minority Report," the duo team up for the second time. Whether it be Will Smith, Mel Gibson or now Tom Cruise, watching humans battle aliens as cities explode never grows tiresome. The Wedding Crashers (July 15). Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson go around crashing weddings to pick up chicks. Nothing more needs to be said. Hustle & Flow (July 15). The only indie film on the list follows a pimp trying to make it as a rapper in the Memphis hip-hop scene. A huge favorite at Sundance, it could provide a nice change of pace from big budget star-studded films. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (July 15). At this point, many people would pay to watch Johnny Depp eat a bowl of cereal. Thankfully, he'll be doing more than that here. Weirdness king Tim Burton directs the remake, and word on the street is that the special effects are out of this world. Hopefully Depp manages to do for this film what he did for "Pirates of the Caribbean," making a good film great. Bad News Bears (July 22). With the hilarity of "Bad Santa" in mind, Hollywood has realized any movie in which Billy Bob Thornton drunkenly cusses at young children is solid gold. The Brothers Grimm (July 29). Monty Python alum Terry Gilliam is famous for writing and directing quirky high-budget flops. These failures include some of the most underappreciated films of the last 25 years, from "Time Bandits" (1981) to "12 Monkeys" (1995) to "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998). Starring Heath Ledger and Matt Damon as the famed fairy tale auteurs, "The Brothers Grimm" promises more of the same ... and that's probably a good thing. The Dukes of Hazzard (August 5). Director/cowriter Jay Chandrasekhar, who directed and played Officer Thorny in "Super Troopers," promises to add an offbeat tinge to the familiar tale, as do Seann William Scott and Johnny Knoxville playing the Duke brothers. And Jessica Simpson wasn't just born to play Daisy Duke, she's been playing the part her entire life. And now she'll be wearing hot pants.

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News

Short sticks and long sticks: A Jumbo season

May 3

The Tufts men's lacrosse team was ranked third in the country in the pre-season and is presently ranked 10th in the nation. From day one, it set its sights on capturing the NESCAC Championship. But to most, little is known about this extraordinary team.During a game, it is rare for anyone in the stands to understand the voices from across the field. In fact, it is difficult to know what exactly is happening at any one moment. For the past five weeks, Daily photographer Jeff Chen followed the team through its day-to-day routine, shooting wins and losses, knocking its opponents down and getting knocked down. He brainstormed strategy before facing rival Middlebury and huddled at halftime. These photos capture some of his experiences.

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News

Students hold Anti-Hate Rally

May 3

Tufts University students held an Anti-Hate Rally on the steps of Tisch Libary on Tuesday, May 3, 2005. Various campus leaders spoke to protest an alleged hate crime. Below is a slideshow of photos from the rally. For more coverage of the incident, the rally and the administration's response, see the Daily's Commencement issue, which will publish on May 22.

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Viewpoint | The Greek System and its questionable future

May 1

I am a product of the Greek system here at Tufts. I became a brother in 1954. During the past decade I have had the pleasure and privilege of serving as the chapter advisor/mentor to a fraternity that has had a presence on the Tufts campus since 1941. For someone such as myself who is committed to supporting the Greek system at Tufts, it is most disturbing to read about the fraternity transgressions that haven taken place within the last month or so. There is absolutely no excuse for such flagrant, immature and irresponsible behavior that places people in harm's way. The reality is that drinking is a way of life on the college campus. Social scientists can theorize until they are blue in the face, but it is not going to change. That is the way it is and I have no doubt that it will continue. Administrators can rant and rave about such behavior. It is not going to change no matter what kind of socially responsible policy the University tries to develop, implement and enforce. I truly believe that membership in a fraternity or sorority is an important part of the undergraduate experience. Reflecting on my own time as an undergraduate, members of the Greek system were looked upon as campus leaders characterized by the achievement of academic excellence, the embodiment of Tufts spirit, conformity to socially accepted norms of behavior, and worthy of community-wide respect. Sure they participated in their share of campus hijinks, but never in a way that placed people in harm's way. Yes, some carried paddles, but only as a sign of authority, not as instruments of torture or hazing. They were looked up to as role models whose behavior and demeanor was to be emulated. To be a member of a fraternity or sorority at that time was something to be proud of. Yes, I know that the social mores and attitudes of that time no longer exist today. The Age of Innocence has long disappeared from this campus as well as campuses everywhere. I do not think that today's college students, as a group, are any more intelligent than we were in the 1950s. They are, however, a more socially enlightened group with a much broader view of the geopolitical situation. Their technological erudition is beyond question and if used properly can be a source of great empowerment. It is therefore most unfortunate that the unacceptable, irresponsible behavior by a fraternity on this campus does not bode well for the Greek System at Tufts. The criminal justice system in some states employs the "three strikes and you're out" principle which, in essence, means if you are found guilty of three felonious acts against society then you will be remanded to prison and society will "throw away the key" ... exit the offender. I submit that incidents in the not-too-distant past involving both hazing and binge drinking would suggest that the Greek system may well have indeed struck out three times. This naturally begs the question as to why have a Greek System on the Tufts Campus. There are some within the Tufts Community who, no doubt, will say: "Enough is enough. Get rid of them. Who needs them? All they do is provide venues for binge drinking and other activities involving alcohol abuse. They serve no useful purpose." The members of the Greek system have it within their power to control their destiny as far as continuing to remain a viable social institution on the Tufts Campus. They should not permit such behavior as we have seen on this campus in recent weeks to continue given that such repetition will ultimately bring about the demise of the Greek system at Tufts. The current members of the Greek system owe it to the generations that have preceded them and to those that will follow them to leave intact a system that has in the past provided numerous opportunities. Greeks, through the system, can develop leadership skills and a sense of brotherhood or sisterhood whereby individuals are bound together by a sense of fraternal or sororital love and as such, are committed to each other's welfare. They can recognize the worth of each individual, promote harmony amongst its members, and stress the rights of others and respect for property. They can respect authority and act in a law-abiding manner, and they can avoid the sanctioning of any activity that places others (brothers, sisters, or pledges) in harm's way. Finally, they can promote good citizenship and positive, effective interaction with all members of the larger, diverse community of today's college campus. There you have it. Members of the Greek system: it is up to you. Sink or swim. It is high time for a sea change on this campus. Time passes by ever so quickly. Think about it - a few short months ago you were beginning your fall semester. Now there is less than a month until the end of the academic year. I am constantly amazed that when I talk with seniors, they often lament at not having taken advantage of all that college life has to offer both academically and socially. It goes without saying that the primary purpose of attending college and committing oneself to an intense four year period of study is the achievement of academic excellence so as to prepare to make the most of one's potential. I submit that in addition to academic acclaim, membership and participation in a fraternity or sorority is also an important adjunct to growth, maturity, and the development of one's character. I challenge the members of the Greek system to abandon their wanton ways of "self-destruction" and conduct themselves in a forthright, responsible manner. This can earn them the respect and admiration of all members of the Tufts Community and bring honor to both themselves and the organizations that they represent.Benjamin Cohen, A '57, is the chapter advisor/emeritus for the Alpha Epsilon Pi Fraternity.

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News

Jeff Volinski | Stop whining!

May 1

This past weekend, I witnessed someone having a pretty bad day. Easily, it was one of the worst days that I had seen in a long time. Inspired by his series of mishaps, I began to wonder, "What would constitute the worst day ever?" The result is this column, which has been examined by the authorities and confirmed to actually be the worst day ever. It even gained the WDE Committee seal of approval. Let us begin. Our protagonist, Brian, wakes up hung-over in the middle of the street, surrounded by people, not knowing how he arrived at such a location. As Brian looks around at his surroundings, he becomes aware of two things: he is in the middle of a fiery feminist rally, and he is wearing his friend's "Theta Chi: Stuffing Boxes Since 1948" t-shirt. Brian manages to escape with only minor brain damage. While fleeing, he remembers that his big job interview with J.P. Morgan is in less than an hour. Luckily, Brian finds his car less than a few hundred yards away from the feminist rally. Unluckily, Brian finds that his car has been filled with oranges and that his tail pipe has been stuffed with bananas. "Crap, not again," he thinks to himself. It takes Brain such a long time to shovel this massive amount of fruit out of his vehicle that he no longer has time to go home, shower and change. Brain remembers that he always keeps a spare suit in his trunk for situations such as these, so he hops in his car and heads towards the city. In the parking garage of J.P. Morgan, Brian gets out of the car and pops the trunk. "Oh no," Brian thinks to himself, as he realizes that the suit in his trunk is not a business suit, but a zebra suit. After much deliberation, Brian chooses to wear the zebra suit (complete with tail) over his current vomit-encrusted outfit. This is a bad choice. It turns out that the interviewer's parents were slain by a ravenous zebra in the late '70s. To make matters worse, Brian's friends switched his real resume with a "joke" resume as a sportive shenanigan. This resume informs the reader that Brian's past employers include "butt-sniffer" and "Dr. Octopus," and that his middle name is, in fact, "Lumpy Vagina." Brian leaves the interview a broken, disheartened man in a zebra costume. He remembers that his prescription medication for his shrinking genitalia has been filled, so he heads over to Brooks Pharmacy to pick it up. Brian hops out of his vehicle, and is shocked and appalled at what he sees. There, in the Brooks Pharmacy parking lot is Brian's girlfriend, hooking up with Chewbacca. "How the hell am I supposed to compete with that?" he wonders to himself. "Why are you dressed up like a zebra?" Chewbacca moans. "Shut up, Chewbacca," Brian replies. Brian enters the pharmacy and finds that it is giving away complimentary issues of the New York Times. "Hey," Brian thinks to himself, "this is the first decent thing to happen to me all day." He picks up the paper and finds that on the cover is a story entitled, "People Who Are Neither Attractive nor Well-Liked and Are Most-Likely to Find Their Girlfriends Cheating on Them With Someone Who Actually Doesn't Exist," with a big picture of him in a zebra costume just below. "Crap, not again," Brian thinks to himself. Thirsty, Brian purchases a bottle of spring water at the pharmacy. Little does he know that a few days prior, a spring water company employee filled one of the bottles with pure grain alcohol in order to get fired. This is that bottle. Somehow, Brian drinks the entire thing before realizing this. Brian is black-out drunk for the next two hours. Brian wakes up, again not knowing where he is. After taking in his surroundings, he realizes that he is in the Tufts Fitness Center and that it is 5:30 p.m., which he remembers is the most popular time for students to go to the gym. Oh yeah, he also realizes that his penis has somehow become lodged in the water fountain. "Oh, the humiliation!" Brian screams, still dressed like a zebra. Brian remains in such a state just long enough so that his day qualifies as the worst day ever. "At least I'm the best at something," Brian thinks. Shut up, Brian. So there you have it, the worst day ever. The next time that you fail that test, fall down and scrape your knee, or get murdered by a zebra, just remember, "At least I'm not Brian." Also worth remembering is never to drink from the fitness center water fountain ever again.Jeff Volinski is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering. He can be reached at Jeffrey.Volinski@tufts.edu.

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News

Athletes of the Week

May 1

Devin Clarke, Lacrosse Senior midfielder Devin Clarke scored the team's biggest goal of the season when he deposited the ball into the net 1:17 into overtime of Saturday's game at Connecticut College. The goal gave the team an exciting 12-11 road victory over its NESCAC rival, ensuring a winning conference record and propelling the Jumbos to the fifth seed in the NESCAC Tournament. Clarke provided much of the Jumbo offense in the game, scoring four goals and keeping the Jumbos in the game to allow for a rally later. But no goal was as important as the game-winner. Clarke has established himself as a clutch player late in the game. In Wednesday's match at Wesleyan, Clarke scored four fourth-quarter goals and five overall to lead the Jumbos in a ferocious comeback that ultimately fell slightly short as the Cardinals came away with the 9-8 win. An All-American, Clarke led the Jumbos in goals this season with 23, and has also contributed seven assists for a total of 30 points.Courtney Bongiolatti, Softball Senior co-captain Courtney Bongiolatti is having a record-breaking season. The New Jersey native is anchoring the program's most successful team in years, at the key shortstop position in the field and with her explosive bat that just keeps turning out big hit after big hit at the plate. She leads the Jumbos and NESCAC in nearly every meaningful offensive category -- RBIs (41), home runs (14), total bases (87), and an almost ridiculous .916 slugging percentage -- and is second in hits (37) and third in batting average at .389. With her 14th home run of the season in Sunday's game against Colby, she extended her hold on the single-season record and tied the Tufts career home runs record with 32. She has cleared the fence in nine of her last 13 games, and continues to turn out big plays for the Jumbos, most recently, two homers for three runs in the team's 6-1 win over Colby, which clinched a home-field top seed in the NESCAC tournament.

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News

Viewpoint | The incredible journey

May 1

For anyone who has been involved in the Tufts Water Watch education program this year, the title of this viewpoint needs no explanation; for everyone else, you can get involved in the education program if you really want to know. My tenure as the Water Watch Organizer for Tufts University is about to come to a close. It is an unfortunate but necessary reality that because the position is funded by AmeriCorps, it is really only possible to stick around for one year. Thankfully though, I have all the faith in the world that the program will continue to be successful here at Tufts when I'm not around. Why do I have that faith? It's because over the last year, and in particular last weekend, I have been truly impressed and inspired by the Tufts community. Throughout the year I have been amazed at the successes for which student interns and other members of Water Watch have been responsible. More recently, however, I've had the privilege of experiencing the generosity and support of the Tufts community as a whole. The success of April 23rd's Mystic River Super Cleanup was beyond our wildest dreams. Last year was the biggest cleanup ever, and about 150 people took part. This year there were at least that many people just from the Tufts student body, and it was raining! I especially appreciate the help from Panhellenic and IGC, the football team, the volleyball team, and ECO. I hope this can set a precedent for even more people to get involved next year. A big part of having that many people was the support of the administration. President Bacow supplied two shuttle buses to transport students back and forth from campus to the cleanup site. Provost Bharucha not only helped fund the purchase of tools, but he also came and pulled out a significant amount of trash. Athletic Director Bill Gehling passed information about the cleanup on to the sports teams and was one of many who helped fund a free BBQ from Redbones. Other contributors to the BBQ were the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, the Provost, Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, the TCU Senate, Tufts Institute of the Environment and Community Relations. Without the help of all of these offices, I doubt that the cleanup could have been such a big success. But the biggest thank you clearly goes to Deirdre Tomlinson, the Tufts student and Water Watch intern who coordinated this humungous effort and has demanded no credit in return. When I first came to this campus in August, I had the chance to meet with Dean Reitman and ask him about the students at Tufts. He took the opportunity to rave about how civic-minded and service-oriented this campus is. At the time I was pretty impressed, but also a bit skeptical. After all, isn't a Dean's job to promote his school? But my expectations have been more than exceeded by the students I've worked with through Water Watch; not only our active members, but folks from other groups like ECO, ASCE, PHAT, EPIIC, and many others. My biggest thanks, however, need to be directed to just a couple of people. First and foremost are the interns for Water Watch who have made all of our programs a success - from cleanups to forums, stream monitoring to education. Students organized and taught over 35 presentations this year, worked in an after-school program, and overall educated more than 1,500 local elementary school students about water pollution, while at the same time reinforcing important MCAS requirements like the water cycle and ecosystems. They put in close to 100 hours of time on and in the rivers, doing shoreline surveys, invasive species eradication and flow testing. They also organized a huge forum that not only taught a good number of Tufts students about the Superfund sites in Woburn, but also gave many from the community an opportunity to address this unsolved issue. And, with the help of students from other Water Watch chapters across Massachusetts, they helped compile a comprehensive report on perchlorates and convince the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to set the lowest standard in the country for the safe allowable level in drinking water. I'd also like to thank Lisa Brukilacchio of the University College of Citizenship and Public Service. Tufts is truly unique in its commitment to active citizenship and town-gown relations, as the presence of University College clearly indicates, and Water Watch could not have been as successful this year without Lisa's help. Congratulations to everyone who joined in the movement to clean up the Mystic River watershed, and who helped to engage others in cleaning up the second dirtiest waterways in the country. I hope you stick with it next year and in years to come, and no matter what the issue, whether it be water quality or something entirely different, I hope you all recognize what a difference you can make, if you are willing to work together.Zack Harlow-Nash is the Water Watch organizer for Tufts University.

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News

Downpour dampens Spring Fling

May 1

As the pace of Saturday's rainfall quickened during Goldfinger's performance on the President's Lawn, the master electrician in charge of Spring Fling made the decision to cut the power on Busta Rhymes' appearance. After consulting with representatives of the company who set up the sound equipment, West Bridgewater, Mass.-based Scorpio Sound, the Tufts electrician deemed the weather conditions too unsafe for Rhymes' performance. According to a statement released to the Daily, Concert Board co-chairs juniors Alice Chiou and Sheena Harris said the decision to cancel Rhymes' performace was a difficult one. "There was heated dialogue among us, [Office of Student Activities] staff, Scorpio Sound, and the Tufts electrician on whether the cancellation was necessary," the statement said. "However, because of a joint decision between representatives of Scorpio Sound and the on-site Tufts electrician, the environment was considered unsafe to the talent." Chiou said the electricians were especially concerned because the guitarist of The Walkmen had been shocked during the band's set. According to the statement, it was a contractual obligation of Spring Fling that the Tufts electrician have the final call as to whether the event could continue if weather were to become inclement. "Busta Rhymes was on campus and willing to perform, however, the decision rendered by the Tufts electrician prevented the show from continuing," the statement said. "As promised in our contract with Busta Rhymes, he was paid." Chiou said she was unable to disclose how much money Rhymes was paid this year. Though Rhymes was paid, it is unknown whether that cost was insured. The statement said that Concert Board was unable to disclose the terms of Rhymes' contract and whether insurance was taken out in the event that his performance had to be cancelled. The 2005 concert board budget allocates $66,000 for Spring Fling talent. That figure covers all the acts, not just the headliner. In 2003, Busta Rhymes' performance at Spring Fling was also cancelled due to rain. He was still paid an estimated $50,000. Even though Rhymes' appearance was cancelled, the rain still affected other performances. "Due to the long duration of rain throughout the morning and afternoon, the electrical equipment on both of the stages were saturated by water," the statement said. "Concert Board members put forth an enormous amount of effort to keep the stages as dry as possible, using towels, mops, tarps, and even newspapers."

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News

Theater Preview | Cheap sox, not laughs, highlight tonight's comedy show

May 1

Spring is here, the thrills are cheap, and the laughs are divine. The Tufts University Comedy Improvisation Group "Cheap Sox" has had a successful year, and will cap it off with their spring show this evening. The group has been going strong since 1985, when at their debut show "Cheap Sox and the Violins," (a mixed reference to a movie called "Cheap Sex and Violins" and the Red Sox), their name was born. From then on, a culture emerged here at Tufts; improvisational comedy gained popularity and has been entertaining audiences ever since. "It's not like your average improvisational group. We always look to challenge ourselves and adopt new techniques which can accentuate our performances," member sophomore Dave Adler said. The group is currently working on their long form improvisation, a form which involves longer skits and more complex characters, as well as more possibility for "crazy and cool scenes" as Adler called them. Cheap Sox has mastered their short form improvisation, a form which is more structured and never more than four minutes per scene. Tonight's show will be a combination of both to show off the versatility of the group. The title of tonight's show "Got Sox," was created when Cheap Sox members were all sitting around at a table throwing ideas around. Very frequently, Cheap Sox gains inspiration in peculiar ways. In fact, Adler doesn't even "know why we wear those pink bowling shirts." But not just anyone gets to sport the bright bowling gear: "We look for funny people who work well with the troupe, are able to hold their own, and most importantly, are funny," Adler said. While experience is not a requirement, it seems that improv is not novel to many members. "Many of the Cheap Sox members did a lot of improvisational acting in high school, but it was nowhere near as intense as Cheap Sox is. High school programs often have no auditions, and leave the actors with no control," said Adler. Cheap Sox is one of the only groups on campus that looks forward to being laughed at. "Our spring show is our only big on-campus thing this semester and we're really excited to bring it back for a Tufts audience," said Katie Clark, the group's acting executive producer. Cheap Sox currently has 10 members, and recently gained three new ones: Dan Erickson, Steve Wise and Madeline Schussel. In addition to its new members, Cheap Sox has been working towards achieving premier status as a Tufts entertainment group. The group has showcased at a few off-campus gigs, which they call "away games," at Jimmy Tingles, the Northeastern University Beanpot of Comedy and the National Comedy College Collective. Last month, Cheap Sox entertained relay walkers at the Tufts Relay for Life. This past year, Cheap Sox has utilized the help of their alums in order to improve their skills as a comic troupe, and at a festival at Skidmore College, they took part in a workshop with the Upright Citizens Comedy Brigade in New York City. "It was a really great experience, because usually we do improv with just ourselves, and all of our feedback comes from working together." Clark said. "But it's also helpful to get feedback from outside, because there might be something that we are overlooking." With help provided by other groups, along with an average of six hours of rehearsal per week, Cheap Sox has formed a cohesive group. "When so much time is spent together, actors begin to know each other well enough that they can anticipate how one actor is going to react, and that is a gift," said Adler.

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News

In Our Midst | From a reservation to a residential dorm

May 1

Jesse Gossett may only be on the verge of completing his freshman year in college, but he has already involved himself in more activities than most students do in their entire four years. "I'm into technical theater and I'm doing lights for 'Pillowman,'" Gossett said. "I was also the MC for the Parade of Nations, I'm going to be an RA next year, and I'm really involved in the International Club." "I also do Tae Kwan Do," he added. "I have a curiosity for everything, and a tendency of overextending myself and dipping my toes in everywhere." According to Gossett, his curiosity for the unknown developed when he was growing up in a rather atypical setting - on the Swinonish Indian Reservation in Washington State. "A lot of people think I'm Native American," Gossett explained. "I'm not, but that's the way Native Americans make their money, by renting land. It's cheap land, and so my parents built a house there before I was born." According to Gossett, the local school was extremely small, with only about 40 students per grade. "About half were Native Americans, but it wasn't any more segregated than your average inner city school," Gossett said. "A lot of people ask what that was like, growing up on a reservation, and it's almost like living in or next to a third world country - but in a good way, because the third world country has a way of preserving their culture," Gossett said. "It's not anything repressive or negative, but they keep a lot of their traditions - such as wood carving, canoeing, sailing and religion." Gossett added that he was a frequent participant in the reservation's traditional "pow wows." "They are very including of the community, and oftentimes, we would go on field trips and eat flat bread and have a pow wow and be culturally immersed," Gossett said. The freshman even "did international orientation because it was kind of like being international," he said. Gossett's unusual upbringing was not confined to the activities of the reservation, however. His father is the reservation's shaman - a member of certain tribal societies who is the community's connection to the spirit world. The shaman often practices magic or sorcery for purposes of healing, divination and control over natural events. "[My father] grew up in Oklahoma and became a minister at a Methodist church," Gossett said. "I'm not sure when he started learning about the shamanic arts, but it's been ever since I was born. He's incorporated shamanic teaching into his counseling, such as psychotherapy and exorcism." "Shamanism is a set of spiritual tools that are used to either practice religion or reach the spirit world," Gossett said. "You really do find shamans in any ancient society: from the Incas to the Chinese, all societies had them. Oftentimes they use ancient devices - for my father it's Native American drumming - and that allows you to go into the 'trance state' to reach the spirit world. "A lot of the purpose of that is to reach the ancestors in the spirit world," he said. "Oftentimes, you'll find the shaman will go into a trance for three days, and he's in the spirit world. He'll come out of the trance and say something like, 'There are three mountain ranges to the west,' and you better hope the shaman is right because by the time the tribe gets there, they will be out of food." "It's something that people completely relied on for guidance," Gossett added. "He is the spiritual leader." It seems that Gossett's transition to college life in Boston would have been difficult, given that he's come from a life based on old-world traditions. According to Gossett, however, Tufts was both shocking and familiar. "I think throughout my entire life I've been a little different from other people, just because of how I grew up and how my parents were, and my religious beliefs and opinions on life and politics," he said. "I've always been a floater, so it was fairly easy to transition just because I never really fit in anyways, and it's been a real joy being able to learn about everyone else. "That culture instilled in me a curiosity for everyone else and everything else," he added. "But everything here has been very different for me, and I like learning about all the different people and cultures here. For example, I'd never even seen a Jewish person before I got here, and that's a whole new aspect for me, too."

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News

Student alleges assault by members of Sig Ep

May 1

One Tufts student is pursuing charges through the Dean of Students office stemming from an incident which he alleges occurred in front of the Sigma Phi Epsilon (Sig Ep) fraternity house. Junior Riyadh Mohammed alleges that the incident was racially motivated. According to Mohammed, he was escorting his girlfriend home and walking by the Sig Ep house on 114 Curtis St. in the early morning hours of April 30 when someone called him "an Indian." When he replied that he was not an Indian, but rather an Arab, an unknown person allegedly called Mohammed a number of racial slurs, including "terrorist." Mohammed is the president of the Arab Students Association (ASA). According to an anonymous Sig Ep alumnus, who came upon this incident as he exited the fraternity house, the incident appeared to have concluded by the time police had responded to it. "Riyadh went home," he said, and it seemed to be "the end of the situation." After dropping his girlfriend off, Mohammed returned to the Sig Ep house. "I wanted to educate him [whoever had used the racial slurs] about what it means to be an Arab and how that is different from being a terrorist," Mohammed said. According to Mohammed, he approached the fraternity house and the three fraternity members standing on the porch. He said that this second encounter soon turned physical and that he was attacked by these Sig Ep members. Mohammed alleges that he was knocked to the ground and kicked by the three members and that a series of head injuries resulted in his temporary unconsciousness. "When I came to, they were dragging me into [the Sigma Phi Epsilon house], pleading with me not to call the police," Mohammed said. "There was no way I wasn't going to call the police." A report regarding the incident was filed with the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) on the morning of April 30. According to the report, Mohammed placed a call at approximately 2:49 a.m. claiming that he was the victim of an assault that took place in front of the fraternity house. Three TUPD units, including members of Tufts Emergency Medical Systems (TEMS), responded to the scene of the incident. TEMS subsequently evaluated Mohammed, who refused further medical treatment. It is Mohammed's belief that the brothers assaulted him on the basis of ethnic differences. As he was physically attacked, he alleges, the brothers called him a "Saddam supporter," "terrorist," and "Iraqi." While the alumnus confirmed that Mohammed had been on the ground, he said that Mohammed was conscious and talking throughout the confrontation. "He was not unconscious at any point and I don't think anyone kicked him," he said. The alumnus denies that any physical results of this confrontation were racially motivated on the part of the Sig Ep members. "The second incident was not racially motivated in any way," he said. "If this was a racist incident in any way, I would be on his side, without a doubt." "I tried to talk to him and calm him down," the alumnus said. "I felt like I could relate to him because we're both minorities ... but I didn't really get the chance because things got a little out of control. "No one tried to keep him from calling the police," the alumnus said. "And I don't think he ever made it into the house." He gave Mohammed his ID so that Mohammed would know who he was, at which point, Mohammed snapped the alumnus' ID card in half. Mohammed acknowledged that he destroyed the ID card "out of anger." The alumnus said he understood why Mohammed was upset, because the alumnus was aware that a racial slur had allegedly been used towards Mohammed at the earlier incident. However, the two other Sig Ep brothers on the porch during the second altercation were neither present at nor aware of the first incident. The alumnus, who is of Indian descent, said that Mohammed was verbally abusive towards him, and that Mohammed called him an "Indofuck" during the second altercation. According to the alumnus, Mohammed was "belligerent" and "drunk" at this point. The alumnus also said that while Mohammed was speaking with him, Mohammed got closer and closer to him. That, he said, is when Mohammed was knocked to the ground by one of the Sig Ep members. Mohammed identified this Sig Ep brother as freshman William Toner. While Mohammed refused medical attention at the time, he did seek medical help the following day at Health Services as well as the New England Medical Center (NEMC) where he received a CAT scan. He also complained of rib pain and was given painkillers for a bruised jaw. The alleged incident has provoked a quick response from the members of the fraternity, who have chosen to deactivate one member, who they determined was involved. "We have identified that the incident took place in front of 114 Curtis Street, and that the assailant was one of our members," Sig Ep President Pat Willis said in an e-mail. "This member's actions were not reflective of the values and beliefs of [Sigma Phi Epsilon]. [Sigma Phi Epsilon] does not condone this brother's actions. We have decided to deactivate this brother." Willis said that he could not comment on what may have happened to Mohammed. "Because I was not present at the time of the incident, I cannot accurately answer that question," he said. According to TUPD Sergeant Doug Mazzola, the case is still pending investigation and no one is in custody at this time. "We have several witnesses' names from the fraternity," Mazzola said. "They are cooperating with the investigation." Dean of Students Bruce Reitman has said that the administration will not tolerate such incidences of bias. "We, as a university community, take bias incidences and assaults that are based on what appears to be, in this case, ethnic bias, very seriously," Reitman said. Reitman said he has talked with Mohammed as well as his family since the incident has taken place. "If it's found that Tufts students did what he alleges, very serious disciplinary action will result," Reitman said. "[The incident] is heinous and unacceptable, and we'll do the very best we can to track down the perpetrators." Mohammed said he would take every measure possible to ensure that the students involved are punished to the full extent of the law. "I want to see the students expelled," Mohammed said. According to Mohammed, at least one of the accused, Toner, is a freshman who has just recently been initiated into the fraternity. To Mohammed's knowledge, another suspect is an alumnus of Tufts. Willis declined to confirm or deny this. TUPD officers said they could not confirm a set number of assailants. "Since I can't get the University to go after [the alumnus], I will go to Somerville Police Department later this week," Mohammed said. Mohammed said he is most troubled by the remaining fraternity brothers' apparent lack of concern for his well-being when he was taken into the house. "The frat is too consumed with their false ideals of brotherhood and they inadvertently overlooked my well-being as well as the image of the University," Mohammed said. "I hold the frat accountable. They begged me not to call the cops because [the incident] was a hate crime."

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News

Music Review | Ben Folds brings it down to a more personal level

May 1

College favorite Ben Folds is back and almost as good as ever (and ever, amen). "Songs For Silverman" is Folds' first full-length studio release since his 2001 premier solo effort "Rockin' the Suburbs." He hardly abandoned his fans during this interim period however, as Folds released a live album and three EPs to let his listeners know what he was up to. Unfortunately, because of the inferior nature of almost all of the 15 songs on the EPs, many were worried that the modern day piano man was up to no good. Thus, the improved technical aesthetics on "Silverman" come as a relief to those who thought the songwriter in Folds had lost his way. Granted, to some extent, the songs of "Silverman" appear to be muted versions of previous tunes. The sad songs are never quite as emotive as Ben Folds Five classics such as "Brick" and "Evaporated," while the power chords and sneering lyrics are never quite as raucous as the anger ballads "Song for the Dumped" and "Army." Hovering in the middle of his emotional and musical capacity, Folds still manages to present an expert new product. In contrast to "Rockin' the Suburbs," which was heavy on character narratives, "Silverman" appears to be a more personal collection of songs. "Gracie," an extremely endearing tune, is sung to the musician's young daughter. While the father-to-child subject matter immediately creates the possibility for unbearable saccharine sappiness, instead the lullaby-like piano accompaniment and vividly sincere lyrics allow this song to be one of the standout tracks on the album and arguably even a breakthrough in Fold's entire body of work. Perhaps it is the father in him that frequently causes Folds to take his lyrics into the didactic realm in "Silverman." The lines "It seems if you can't trust/You can't be trusted" and "The more you know you know you don't know shit," have certainly been orated more poetically in the past. Folds' position as the wise and faithful piano rocker, however, allows such axiomatic lyrics to fly comfortably under the radar. The guy wears his glasses on stage, for goodness sake. There are a few false starts on the album. While the opener, "Bastard," is musically appealing and sounds superficially like the irreverent Folds of yore, upon closer listening the lyrics seem disjointed and less biting than the earnest vocals suggest. "Jesusland," presumably Folds' ironic ode to capitalism and the increasingly religious state of the nation, sounds distractingly similar to "The Ascent of Stan." Musings on "Beautiful McMansions on a hill/that overlook a highway" seem a bit pedestrian compared to the musician's usually-astute songwriting. If comparison is the name of the game, Folds does provide enough catchy and contemplative tracks on "Silverman" to put the album on par with his past releases (both with and without his trio of Five). Folds turns up the volume to pianoforte with the toe-tapping single "Landed." The powerful piano in the song gives the listener faith that the tracks from Silverman will be positive additions to Folds' nearly-legendary live show. While the songs of "Silverman" are for the most part not the epitome of Ben Folds' musical endeavors, the album as a whole is able to rock the suburbs just fine. At the very least, the release is an act of contrition from Folds after the rather shameful incidents that were his ill-advised EPs.

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News

Andrew Bauld | You Can't Steal First

May 1

My buddy and I walked from campus to Davis Square last weekend through the pouring rain to catch a T ride to the Museum of Fine Arts. After waiting for a half-hour to purchase tickets, we trekked through rooms filled with some of the world's most beautiful pieces of art, by artists ranging from Jasper Johns to Vincent Van Gogh, but apart from a quick glance, we hurried on. Finally, we passed through a pair of glass doors to the museum store where a small line was formed. A man with an ID tag stood at the back. "Are you here to meet Johnny Pesky?" he asked. Yes we were. Standing outside the entranceway, we caught glimpses of the man himself through breaks in the shelves. Sitting behind a table, surrounded by stacks of a new book chronicling his life, he wore a blue jogging suit, looking more like somebody's grandfather than a man who had been teammates with Ted Williams. Now 86 years old, the one-time Red Sox shortstop has been a permanent fixture on the team in some form or another for the last half-century. Apart from fans in New England, few know Johnny Pesky. His legacy in Boston is built around two things: the myth of Fenway's right field foul pole that bares his name and the infamous (and undeserved) credit for allowing Enos Slaughter to score the winning run for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1946 World Series. On Saturday, however, neither of these things mattered as he wore a smile, the size of which was matched only by the Championship ring on his right hand that he proudly showed off to everyone in the room. For once, this was a sports event that wasn't about winning or losing; it wasn't about cynicism; it wasn't about money. It was about meeting someone who embodies everything that is right and good about sports. Only a few dozen fans had come out, and I doubt any were there for the official book signing. I felt sorry for the all-but-forgotten author sitting next to the wizened white haired ex-ballplayer who captured all the attention. Pesky spoke at length with everyone who came to see him, shaking hands, listening to stories he's probably heard a thousand times before. He took pictures with young and old, clearly enjoying every minute of it, especially with one college-aged female fan, smiling for the camera with a sly glint in his eye. He signed bats, balls and hats. The man behind us brought his 1951 Johnny Pesky card to be autographed by Mr. Red Sox himself. It was a strange atmosphere in which to meet a legend, and the fact that there was a longer line to get into the museum restaurant than to meet Pesky didn't help. I thought how rare an event like this has become. Pesky is one of a dying breed, from the days before athletes became superstars, before icons turned into advertisements. In a day and age in which ballplayers charge fans for their signatures, I have trouble imagining lining up for a chance to meet Mark Bellhorn in thirty or forty years. He never broke any major records. He's not in Cooperstown. The night before, I had met Rob Corddry of "Daily Show" fame, and probably for many, meeting him would be a bigger thrill than meeting Pesky. Yet my friend and I both agreed there was something special about this that we just couldn't describe. A few rooms in the museum had a Red Sox display up, filled with memorabilia from teams past and present, from Cy Young's jersey to Johnny Damon's cleats from the World Series. But there, that very day, was a living, breathing and talking piece of Red Sox history. There are a number of happenings in the Boston sport's world that I could have written about. The Red Sox are slumping from injuries and suspensions in what I'm sure Dan Shaughnessy will be labeling the "Return of the Curse" anytime now. The Celtics are allowing themselves to be manhandled by an aging, less talented group of Indiana Pacers who might not only knock the team out if Doc Rivers doesn't start letting Al Jefferson and Marcus Bank play some serious minutes, but may finally cause Tommy Heinsohn's head to explode. And if all that wasn't enough, the Patriots signed Doug Flutie. But fifty years from now, all these events will be lost to the obscurity of time. The two of us left the building having spoken, laughed, shaken hands with, and posed for a picture with a Red Sox hero. Along with some books and my friend's baseball, my hat was now affixed with the elegant signature of "Johnny Pesky 6." It will go into the modest sports collection I have at home, next to a piece of the old Green Monster. But I think Bill Russell had it right when he said he didn't give autographs but instead shook your hand, because he felt it meant more. I got both an autograph and a handshake from Pesky that day, but I know which one I'll value most. It was poignant, but there was something fitting in the fact that, surrounded by treasures and images of the past, we had to go to a museum to meet Johnny Pesky.Andrew Bauld is a sophomore majoring in history. He can be reached at Andrew.Bauld@tufts.edu.

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News

For more classes, add the masses

May 1

The Asian American Curriculum Transformation (AACT) group has recently decided to take off the gloves in its demands for the addition of more Asian American faculty and coursework at Tufts. A dialogue that was once confined to the plush offices of Ballou has now been expanded to the rain-soaked academic quad, where vocal protesters showed their mettle and made their demands clear to the entire campus in the middle of the day at a protest last week. The addition of more Asian American faculty and courses is essential at a university that prides itself on viewing issues in a global context; however, in order for AACT to be successful, it must broaden its appeal and seek to work with Jumbos of all stripes who want to see a culturally inclusive curriculum on the Hill. Many Asian Americans on campus would greatly benefit from the addition of more Asian American courses and faculty. On a descriptive level, an increase in faculty would provide the Jumbo Asian communities with positive role models and culturally relevant mentors. Coursework that speaks to the background and current status of different Asian American cultures will help many from these cultures to be further engaged and informed on a particularly personal level. Most importantly, an increased investment in Asian American studies will change the perception among many in the various communities on campus that their particular culture is undervalued by Tufts. It is just as important, however, to remember that the addition of more Asian American studies (as well as other ethnic studies) will benefit students of all ethnic and cultural groups. For instance, an aspiring political scientist may desire a great deal of knowledge about the rapidly growing and changing nations of the Asian continent; right now, our curriculum fails to serve that need. Many students in all disciplines at Tufts are interested in learning about cultures other than their own during their time here. Students who want to add more Asian American studies to the academic plate therefore need to broaden their appeal to include groups throughout the student body. While it is important to know that a great desire exists amongst Asian American communities to add more courses and faculty, those active in AACT shouldn't forget that this desire is not limited to Asian American groups. A broader appeal will be very difficult for Ballou to ignore: AACT's (formidable task) now should be to turn up the volume of its demands by adding more voices to the cry for Asian American studies. The impact of the addition of more courses and faculty will be broadly felt on campus and so the demand for such changes should be broadly based. This is an issue that all Jumbos can roar about.

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News

Men's Track and Field | Men overcome injuries

May 1

It was a painful weekend for the men's track and field team at the NESCAC championship meet, but despite broken arms, bruised knees, and mono-like symptoms, the team finished second in the event. The team finished 9.5 points ahead of third-place Middlebury, and 53 points behind first-place Williams, which won both the men's and women's championships. "It was four teams going full tilt at the meet," assistant coach Ethan Barron said. "Best NESCAC meet I've been a part of on the coaching side." The win came just days after record-setting performances by two runners at the Penn Relays. Junior Matt Lacey and senior Nate Brigham automatically qualified for the National championship meet with their runs on Thursday night at Penn Relays. Lacey ran a time of 14:19.37 seconds in the 5000 meters, shattering the school record in the event by 12 seconds. Brigham also broke a Tufts record in the 10,000, albeit a young one. After setting the school record three weeks ago at the Hillside Relays, Brigham beat his own mark Thursday, running a 30:14.09 second race. Brigham and Lacey will run at the National Championship meet in Iowa on May 26. Both runners competed at NESCAC championships as well, and played a large role in Tufts' second place finish. Lacey, in addition to his automatic qualifying run on Thursday in the 5000, came back Saturday to provisionally qualify for Nationals in the 10,000 meter event, finishing in 31:12.94 to finish first in the race and earning Tufts 10 points. Lacey also was a huge help to his teammate, senior Michael Don in the 10,000 meter event. Lacey ran so well that he nearly lapped the entire field, and eventually pulled up along side of Don, running in his first 10,000 meter race. When Lacey pulled up next to him, he slowed up to give his teammate some encouragement, maybe costing himself an automatic qualifying time for Nationals. "I had two laps to go in the race, and I was coming up on Mike in a pack of fourth to sixth place," Lacey said. "I said, 'Come on, let's go, let's try to beat these guys.' It wasn't about time for me out there. I just wanted to win." "Lacey just started screaming at him," assistant coach Ethan Barron said. "Lacey pulled Don along the track." According to Barron, Lacey slowed down to boost Don from a probable sixth place finish to a time of 32:25.47, good enough for fourth place and five points, two more than Tufts would have gotten if Don finished in sixth. Tufts overcame injuries to gut its way through several events. Sophomore Jamil Ludd came down with mono-like symptoms on Thursday, and was almost held out of competition by Health Services. But Ludd refused to watch from the sidelines, and finished third in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 15.97 seconds. In that same event, junior Matt Engler was running in the front of the pack when he approached the last hurdle. He didn't clear it, and fell to the track, bracing his fall with his arms, breaking them both. Freshman Nate Scott also hit the second hurdle during the 110 meter hurdles, bruising his knee and preventing him from finishing in his preliminary heat. He refused to sit, however, and went on to place sixth in the high jump and triple jump events, racking up five points for Tufts' total. Scott also ran the third leg of the 4x400 meter relay, finishing with a season-best time. Outside of the hurdles, junior Matt Fortin placed third in the Steeplechase 3000 meter event. Fortin was a wild-card entry in the event, and was seeded in the slow heat based on his previous times in the event this season, but blew his closest competition out by nearly 30 seconds. According to Barron, if Fortin had run in the fast heat, he might have won it. "It's hard to run a race by yourself," Barron said. "It's easier to stay behind the pack and make your move." Sophomore Josh Kennedy also placed in the event, finishing fourth. Both Fortin and Kennedy also placed in the 5000 meter event, which Barron called "an obscene double." In the field events, sophomore Justin Henneman jumped fourth in the pole vault event and jumped 3.82 meters with a heavily taped ankle despite being on crutches for the last two weeks. Sophomore David McCleary threw a personal record 50.41 meters in the javelin event, good enough for fifth place and a qualifying distance for the Division III New Englands meet. Junior Brandon Udelhofen also threw for a personal record in the discus, beating his previous record by nearly 10 feet and finishing third in the event. Next weekend, some of Tufts' runners will travel to Springfield, MA for the Division III New England championships.

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