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The Setonian
News

Funding shortage cuts Korean courses

April 27

Tufts students interested in enrolling in Korean culture courses will soon have to look elsewhere to learn of the Asian country's history and traditions. As of next year, the history department will no longer offer courses pertaining to Korea - a move that has evoked disapproval among members of the University's Korean Student Association (KSA). "We are losing our opportunity to learn about Korea," said KSA secretary junior Soo-Young Park. "And that's a problem." Currently two courses are offered on Korean history and Korean culture: "Korea in East Asia," offered in the fall, and "Modern Korea," offered in the spring. Both courses are taught by visiting professor Sung-Yoon Lee. Due to a temporary funding setback preventing Lee from teaching as a "chair" in the department, the courses will no longer be offered at Tufts for what Lee predicts to be two or three years. "When you try to create a new position, you seek to raise funds from outside of the University," Lee said. "Because Korean Studies was not part of the curriculum, we tried to raise money - but we are still not there." According to Lee, two million dollars must be accrued in order to make his position into a "chair." To date Lee has helped raise approximately one and a half million dollars toward this goal. His fundraising thus far would not have been possible if it were not for the donations of philanthropists Ho Youn Kim and his wife, the granddaughter of Korean independence activist Kim Koo. Three years ago, the Kims donated $1.2 million to the Fletcher School of Diplomacy and Tufts University through the Kim Koo Foundation (KKF) in order to "further Korean Studies" Lee said. Both of the Korean Studies courses have been offered throughout the five years that Lee has taught at the University. Lee, who also teaches at Fletcher, originally joined the history department for one year only, thanks to a donation made by a family from South Korea. "Fortunately during my first year here I was able to pique the students' interest," Lee said. "There was a demonstrated demand [for more Korean Studies courses]." According to Lee, the "temporary" cancellation of his courses need not overshadow the University's commitment to Korean affairs. "The University does recognize the importance of Korean history," Lee said. "In contrast, very few first-rate American universities offer anything on Korea." According to Lee, supporters for the continuation of Korean studies have ranged from University President Lawrence Bacow to the chair of the history department, Professor Virginia Drachman. After his first year of teaching, the University took heed of the student interest in Korean studies and did something "extraordinary," Lee said. "[The University] raised its own money - funding - to sponsor my classes for one more year. There are hundreds of courses offered each year and you can't possibly sponsor all of them." It was after his second year of teaching that Lee received the grant from the Kims and could thus continue teaching for three more years - a trial period established in accordance with the donors. "My three years are up. At this point it is no longer feasible to spend away the money from the Kims," Lee said. Nevertheless, Lee will continue to raise money so that a Korean Studies chair can become a permanent position. Should this happen, Lee has expressed interest in applying for the job. While Lee said he would like to assure students that Korean Studies courses will return to the curriculum, members of the KSA intend to make sure that the administration understands that there is a need for these classes. "For Korean-Americans who grew up here, they have their backgrounds in Korea but they don't understand deeply about Korean culture," Park said. KSA vice-president senior Heidi Kim said that recent events surrounding U.S. relations with North Korea have sparked interest among Koreans and non-Koreans alike, especially given the University's reputation for international affairs. "[The North Korean nuclear threat] is something that we read in newspapers almost everyday," Ho Youn Kim said. "It's pretty amazing how there will be no [Korean relations] course offerings." According to KSA President junior Sue Kim, the association has called upon other Asian organizations on campus to help them mobilize their efforts. In the meantime, KSA members have written letters to Bacow and Drachman and plan on circulating a petition demanding the continuation of Korean Studies courses. While Lee said he is "optimistic" that Korean Studies will become a permanent part of the curriculum, he said he does believe that students' efforts will only make the University more aware of the importance of his courses. "It is good that the students are letting the administration know that they understand and appreciate the importance of Korean studies," Lee said. "We need this gentle prodding to remind people that Korea shouldn't be marginalized."

The Setonian
News

The Secret Life of ... a binge drinker

April 27

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines "binge drinking" as "a pattern of heavy drinking that occurs during an extended period of time set aside for drinking. It has been described as 5/4 binge drinking: five or more drinks in a row on a single occasion for a man or four or more drinks for a woman." The behavior of Manny* certainly fits that description. The senior former athlete has been binge drinking - according to the NIH and Tufts Health Services' definition - since high school. "I definitely fit [Tufts'] definition and well beyond that," he said. "But as far as do I consider myself an alcoholic or a problem drinker? The answer is no." Manny believes he is a binge drinker only "as much as the normal college student." He estimates he drinks four times a week on average, drinking "to the point of drunkenness" three of those times. The number of drinks he downs varies by night. "When I'm drinking to get drunk, probably at least 10 drinks," he said. His range in a typical night is anywhere from six to 15 drinks. Manny says he vomits from alcohol consumption less than once a month and passes out from alcohol possibly two or three times a month. However, he finds blacking out to be a common result of his drinking. "I black out [for] at least part of an evening at least once a week," he said. Although Manny does not become physically belligerent when blacked out, he finds he has less control over what he is saying. "I definitely say stuff I wouldn't say sober to people, especially when blacking out," he said. "You wake up and feel like, 'Okay, who do I need to apologize to?'" Though he admits to wishing "I blacked out less than I did," Manny said that he "[thinks] it's the average response when people get drunk that their inhibitions are a little bit less." That understanding gives him greater compassion towards friends who act out of character while drunk. "I don't think [binge drinking]'s a justifiable excuse [for doing inappropriate things], but it's definitely an excuse," Manny said. "I understand that people wouldn't do the things sober that they do when they're drunk." Such events have found Manny in a friend's bed the morning after drinking heavily, with no memory of how or why he got there. Manny finds that alcohol has had little effect on his schoolwork. "I don't think I've ever missed or done poorly on any school assignment or test," he said. "I usually drink around my school assignments and plan my week accordingly." In fact, he is attending graduate school next year - at which point, he says, "I definitely plan on cutting down on my weekly drinking, but I do not plan on curbing my binge drinking activities on the weekend." Manny said he uses alcohol as a tool of celebration. "I'd say most of the time I drink to go out and have a good time with friends," he said. "It's definitely something I do to celebrate taking tests, finishing papers, or just anything else worth celebrating." Does he sometimes look for opportunities to "celebrate"? "Absolutely," he said. "A sporting event is always a good reason to drink." Which doesn't mean he cannot enjoy sports games sober - unless, of course, no one else is. "I don't feel comfortable going to events sober when everyone else is drunk because I don't have fun," he said. "So if it's an event usually associated with alcohol, I usually take part." Such events include concerts: Manny said that he has never gone to one sober. "I just enjoy the experience better drunk," he said. Manny first discovered social drinking in high school and "really enjoyed it." College only gave him a better opportunity to experiment. "[There is] so much more freedom and opportunities to drink in college," he said. "I definitely took advantage of all those opportunities." "Freshman year, I would constantly wake up with bruises on my body and quite a few bumps on my head that I had no explanation for," he said. This would sometimes occur on weekend trips he continues to take with his friends "staying up drinking until 4 a.m. and then waking back up at 6 p.m. to start drinking again and go cheer on the football team out at Williams." Manny feels, however, that his friends have little influence over his drinking habits. "It definitely depends on the crowd I'm with at the time-how often and how much I drink when I do drink," he said. "But in situations where I'm looking to drink, I put myself with the crowd that fits that attitude. "I say I probably drink on par with- maybe a little bit more often - than my friends," he said. "But possibly that's why they're my friends."*Name has been changed. The identity of this individual and the veracity of his statements have been confirmed.

The Setonian
News

TDC's spring show promises to shake things up tonight

April 27

With over 200 dancers, 25 choreographers, and a song list ranging from Michael Jackson to Israeli hip-hop, the Tufts Dance Collective's spring show "Shakin,' Not Stirred," taking place tonight in Cohen Auditorium, promises a fun-filled extravaganza to finish the semester in style. In the evening's two performances by 18 TDC groups and three guest dance ensembles, the show's organizers are hoping for a fun and relaxed atmosphere that, according to show director Lisa Schupmann, will "bring in Spring Fling." Preparation for the annual spring show, which is in its fourth year on the Cohen stage, begins at the start of the semester, with show organizers reaching out to interested dancers and choreographers on the Tufts campus. In a tradition unique to the TDC, dancers do not have to audition to perform, and choreographers are allowed to pick their own style of music and dance for their pieces. In the words of Schupmann's co-director Cecilia Dos Santos, "[the show] is definitely a wide spectrum of talent." Dos Santos describes the TDC tradition as "everyone having a good time," and the spring show is the culmination of each individual's efforts. "Everyone's putting in the extra work, the extra hours, to show the people in the audience they're having a great time," she explained. Most people involved in the show, it appears, share this outlook. According to senior Sam Stiegler, who choreographed an all-male dance called "Shiver Me Badd" along with junior Steve Leichman, his dance is intended to be "something that's fun - audience pleasing." Schupmann said "because most of the dances are focused more on being creative with choreography and kind of goofing around, there's not much pressure. People can just get into it and have a good time." The relaxed and fun attitude of TDC is accompanied by significant diversity in dance styles, as facilitated by the large number of members. With so many choreographers offering a multitude of musical choices, student dancers can have their pick of songs from a range of genres including rock, pop and hip-hop. Songs that will be danced to at tonight's show include "Jam" by Michael Jackson, "Killing Me Softly" by the Fugees, "Somebody Told Me" by the Killers and "Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses. "Shakin,' Not Stirred" is going to be a very varied show. I think that's what's good about this semester," said Schupmann. Dancers rehearse for each dance one hour per week throughout the semester, many of them preparing for a dance performance for the first time. "[TDC] gets a lot of new dancers who want to be on the stage and have a good time," said Dos Santos. "It's definitely a high bar for enthusiasm." Also contributing to the diversity of the show are guest performances by Tufts dance ensembles Turbo, the Irish Dance Club and Sarabande. Kerry Thornton, co-captain and co-founder of the Tufts Irish Dance Club, said, "I think the TDC show is a well-attended, fun show that people regard as very entertaining. Since we're a new group, we're really looking forward to having one of our first performances be with one of the most well-regarded dance groups on campus." With a large pool of eager but untrained dancers, many TDC choreographers use props and other costuming effects to add flavor to their dances. Stiegler and Leichman's "Shiver me Badd" gives each dancer a flower that is used in the dance, and the women's dance "Th?© ?  la Menthe," choreographed by Sarah Gray and Cecilia Dos Santos, uses the hoods on their jackets as a stylizing device. With ample style and plenty of enthusiasm, "Shakin', Not Stirred" has a clear objective, according to Dos Santos, who said simply, "We want to keep the audience entertained."

The Setonian
News

A soggy song

April 27

Spring Fling is a longstanding tradition on the Hill that is eagerly anticipated by freshmen and seniors alike, providing a few hours of fun and relaxation before the onslaught of finals and papers that mark the end of the semester. Jumbos are fortunate enough to have a beautiful outdoor facility for the day of music on the President's Lawn, which has the capacity to accommodate all interested students with plenty of room to spare. Unfortunately, Tufts has no indoor location with similar capacity. Because of this, when it rains, like it did two years ago and threatens to this year, the Fling must be cancelled for lack of an appropriate facility. What a shame: the amount of time invested by all the students involved in the planning effort, as well as the hopes of the entire student body, can be washed down the drain by a common spring shower. It is foolish to plan each Spring Fling as if April showers will not occur; they have before and most likely will continue to occur again. Both the concert board and the University administration, in conjunction with community members, need to work out an acceptable rain plan. The largest indoor space on this campus is the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center, which is attached to the athletic facilities and can hold some 6,000 people. So why, many students might ask, would the event not be held at that venue in case of rain? When Tufts built Gantcher it made a commitment to community members that there would be no concerts there in order to preserve the alleged peace and quiet that had existed in the neighborhood prior to the indoor track's November 1999 completion. But it doesn't seem to be asking too much to have a live performance once a year (if needed) at Gantcher. After all, Spring Fling occurs during the day, so it is unlikely that the recitations of Busta Rhymes will have any significant impact on Medford residents getting their shut-eye. Surely a daytime concert would be no more disturbing than the recent Fall Ball and Winter Bash, which featured very loud DJs who mixed well past the midnight hour. When the recent Gantcher-hosted mega-dances are taken into account, the proposal to fling in Gantcher does not seem unreasonable, but the restrictions on its use do. While community members certainly have the right to tranquility, one is hard-pressed to see how residents would be worse off with an indoor concert at Gantcher than with beats blasting from an outdoor stage. Of course, a far simpler solution would be to have the show outside even if it does rain. The electrical storms of two years ago precluded this from happening, but a little drizzle shouldn't be a good reason stop the show this year (especially considering that outdoor amphitheaters routinely hold rain or shine events). Hopefully a little rain, sans winds or lightning, won't spoil this campus's picnic on Saturday.

The Setonian
News

ECO measure passes with 88 percent approval

April 27

Students voted in favor of the Tufts Environmental Consciousness Outreach's (ECO) referendum for campus use of wind power yesterday. According to Elections Board Public Relations Chair freshman Simone Press, nearly 40 percent, or 1,984 of the eligible population of 4,971 students voted in yesterday's online election, held all day from 9 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. There were 1,746 votes - 88 percent of the votes - in favor of the referendum, and 178 votes, or roughly nine percent, against. The remaining three percent of voters abstained. ECO member sophomore Amanda Fencl said she was impressed so many students took the time to vote. "It says a lot about Tufts students, too," she said. "This is a huge step towards Tufts' clean energy future. It shows that the administration and students are on the same page, which means that having wind power is that much more possible." ECO Chair senior Jennifer Baldwin agreed with Fencl. "Tufts is such a socially and environmentally progressive campus. I don't think we've had the most outspoken environmental groups in the past, so now people are taking us more seriously," she said. The referendum was originally planned to be part of the ballot for the April 20 Tufts Community Union (TCU) Presidential election between juniors Jeff Katzin and Rafi Goldberg. Due to a miscommunication error regarding the referendum's technological representation, the vote was moved to yesterday. Baldwin she did not think the referendum vote would pass because it was no longer part of the TCU Presidential election ballot. "At least the pinwheels made a big difference," she said, in reference to the hundreds of multi-colored pinwheels placed around campus yesterday, reminding students to vote. The ECO referendum aims to institute wind power at an average cost of $20 per student, per year. The vote was held to see if there would be enough student support on campus to carry the policy through. Baldwin said the next step is to gain further approval by the Board of Trustees, the University administration, and the TCU Senate. According to Press, in order for a referendum to pass, at least 25 percent of the student body must vote, and of that percentage, 50 percent must vote in support of the referendum. "This referendum is non-binding, because only the [University's] Board of Trustees can fully approve an increase of tuition, yet the referendum is a good step in the direction of discovering how Tufts students feel about energy consumption and conservation," Press said. -- by Allison Roeser and Zosia Stzykowski

The Setonian
News

Music Review | New Garbage bleeds band's creativity dry

April 27

Fourteen years ago producer Butch Vig, also the drummer for Garbage, produced for a relatively unknown band, fusing the punk rock do-it-yourself philosophy with a big, polished stadium rock sound. That band was Nirvana, the record "Nevermind." The story from here is well known: armed with nothing but four chords and attitude, Nirvana tapped into the country's massive reserve of teenage angst and rendered the rock of the previous decade pointless. But the story didn't end there: every band to ever set foot in Seattle became a star, "grunge" became a bloated beast, Cobain couldn't deal with it, and, before we knew it, Fred Durst came dangerously close to becoming the voice of a generation. In 1995, while grunge was dying a long and painful death, Vig, one of the men who had helped start the movement, along with several other studio musicians and the dynamic Shirley Manson, formed Garbage. Garbage injected some life into the struggling genre, utilizing Vig's slick production skills and scoring with hits such as "Only Happy when it Rains." However, from their newest release, "Bleed Like Me," it appears that Garbage, following in the same pattern as the grunge movement before them, is running out of steam. Vig's production, which was a landmark on Nirvana's album, sounds tired here. On many tracks the multi-layered guitars overwhelm Manson's vocals. The guitars, aiming for big power-chord hooks, sound cold and emotionless. The production has become too slick, sliding through one ear and out the other. You can listen to several songs and not even catch where one ends and the next picks up. The title track is a good representation of the album as a whole. Owing more than a little to Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side," Manson tells the disturbing stories of several troubled women. Lines like "Doodle takes Dad's scissors to her skin / And when she does relief comes setting in" are delivered with a feeling of detachment that carries through most of the album. Though Manson is singing about abusive relationships and desperation, a lot of the time we are left with a resounding feeling of "so what?" Garbage sounds like they are going through the motions on this record. They are trying to emulate their mid-'90s glory. Rumors of band tension could explain the uninspired riffs and general lack of emotion on the record; Vig was briefly replaced with Nirvana drummer and Foo Fighters front-man Dave Grohl. Intra-band strife may have helped Fleetwood Mac and The Beatles, but Garbage sounds like a collection of individual musicians, not a band. There are bright spots on the album; unfortunately, they are the first two songs. The record kicks off with "Bad Boyfriend," which features Grohl on drums. The song is about Manson's desire for a boyfriend, whom she says she can keep "on ice to show all my friends." It is one of the few moments on the album where the production works. The second and best song on the album is "Run Baby Run." What sets this song apart from the rest of the album is the sense of rhythm. While the album as a whole comes off as too stiff, here Manson's voice lilts over the power chords, while horns can be heard deep in the mix. It also follows the quiet verse, loud chorus dynamic popularized by - who else? - Nirvana. Yet it is one of the only songs on the album that has its own personality, and is also the closest the record ever gets to pop. "Bleed Like Me" is not a bad record; it simply doesn't stand out. The band seems complacent about sounding completely average. Fourteen years after the birth of grunge, Garbage's latest release should make it obvious that the genre, along with most of modern rock, is just as tired as '80s metal was. There are moments on "Bleed Like Me" where you can sense that the band they were 10 years ago still exists in some capacity, but it's just not enough to sustain a whole album. It is an album that at best has fleeting moments of promise and at worst is content with boredom.

The Setonian
News

Starlet Paris Hilton muses about music and movies

April 27

Equal parts actress, socialite and model, Paris Hilton has had a knack for capturing headlines since she penetrated the pop culture mainstream. Currently best known for her hit reality TV series "The Simple Life," now in its third season, Hilton can be called a jack-of-all-trades; she is fresh off the release of an autobiography, anticipating the release of her own album, and about to begin shooting the fourth season of "Simple Life." The Daily, along with other college papers, caught up with the heiress promoting her upcoming film "House of Wax," co-starring Elisha Cuthbert and Chad Michael Murray. The film opens May 6.Question: Most celebrities are movie stars first and then gain their fame from that. I'm wondering if you feel like you've had a different experience, being famous first and then branching out and becoming a movie star.Paris Hilton: Whatever, that's how it happened and I'm happy with my life. I've always wanted to do this so I'm glad. I like doing it.Q: Did you ever find that the cameras for the filming of the MTV show "Movie Life" were intrusive for the filming of "House of Wax"?PH: I think at first we were all a little nervous. It's going to be nerve-racking to be just doing the film and then have a reality show as well. We were all a little nervous, but the cameras were not intrusive at all. Like if you wanted to have them film, you just say it to them, and if you don't want to be filmed, you just tell and they would stop so it wasn't bad at all. I think it was a great promotion for the movie and I'm happy with that. I think it's a really cute show and it's interesting to show the behind-the-scenes of a movie. We just had a great time together and it was fun to have all of our memories on tape now to watch forever.Q: Why do you think you got cast in this movie?PH: I think the whole cast, everyone is perfect for the role they're playing. I like the character. I play Paige and I'm kind of like the sexy character role and ... because I look cute.Q: So, because you're hot?PH: Yes. And because, I don't know, I think that I'd be cute in the movie and we all look good together.Q: Where would you most like to go next in your career and who would you most like to work with?PH: I love both. I'm going on my fourth season of "Simple Life" and it's a hit show; I love it. And I also love doing films so, you know, "Simple Life" only takes up a month out of my year each season. So the rest of the time I have time to do whatever I want, and I love film and I love TV. They're both fun.Q: I know you performed your single to an Australian crowd while you were there. What was that reaction like?PH: It was a lot of fun. It is a great song to dance to and I love music. I've been doing it my whole life and I'm glad that everyone really liked that.Q: What role do you think sexuality and nudity have in the film?PH: I think the scene was done really tastefully and there's no nudity. It's just like me in like sexy red lingerie so I don't think it's a big deal. But I think in every movie, you need some sexiness, because people like it.Q: What's your preference between TV and film?PH: Yes. I think it's totally different. With me, the reality show, it's really easy. I just do whatever I want and I don't have to follow any script or do anything, so it's much easier than doing movies.

The Setonian
News

Women's Lax | Tufts misses big win against Lord Jeffs

April 27

Tufts found themselves on the wrong end of another close game yesterday, dropping a heartbreaker 8-7 to Amherst at Bello Field. The Jumbos rallied against the Lord Jeffs, ranked third in the country by various polls, but let a lead slip away in the final eight minutes. Senior co-captain Megan Doughty led the Jumbos with three goals and two assists. Junior Meredith Harris added two goals as did sophomore Lauren Murphy in the loss. Tufts rallied from a 5-1 deficit early in the second half to take a 7-6 lead with 8:56 left in the game. That's when Amherst went to work, scoring two goals in the next five and a half minutes to steal a win from the Jumbos at home. "We had a great comeback run," Doughty said. "They interrupted our flow with a goal. It was so close at the end of the game and we just couldn't get the momentum back." Amherst took a 2-0 lead in the first half, getting two assisted goals from sophomore Liz Wise. Meanwhile, the Jumbo offense could not get going, missing on free position opportunities and plays in the zone. A steal by freshman Sarah Williams finally sparked the Jumbos as they worked the ball up Murphy for their first goal at the 8:15 mark. However, penalties were the Achilles' heal for the Jumbos. The Lord Jeffs picked up two more goals before half time, one off a free position resulting from three seconds in the arc and another off a penalty on senior Lauren Herman. Amherst took a 4-1 lead into the break. Senior Ashley Harmeling, who had a goal in the first half, came out six minutes into the second half and got another off a free position from three seconds, putting Amherst up 5-1. "We got called like a half dozen times for three seconds and obstruction of shooting space and they capitalized on three of them," coach Carol Rappoli said. "It's just unlucky." Harmeling, last year's NESCAC player of the year, had three goals on the day for Amherst. She leads the Lord Jeffs in scoring for the second year in a row. Herman had the tough task of guarding her. "Basically to get her out of her game you have to put a body on her and take her out of the game mentally firsthand and physically she'll take herself out of the game," Herman said. Down 5-1, Tufts finally got something going. Doughty scored her first goal of the game only a few seconds after Harmeling's score. Harris had her first goal only a minute later, making the score 5-3 with 21:17 left. At the other end, senior goalie Dana Panzer had a big stop on Harmeling on a free position followed minutes later by another Harris score off a great pass from Doughty to make the score 5-4. Coming out of the half, Tufts knew they needed to capitalize on Amherst's midfield defense, which they knew was weak. "We could take advantage of that and get the ball back really easily," Doughty said. "By being really intense and doubling up on the ball we made them turn it over a lot." With the Jumbos back in the game, Amherst took a timeout and at 11:28, Harmeling nailed an acrobatic shot while double-teamed by Harris and Herman to put Amherst up 6-4. Tufts then reeled off three straight goals in under a minute. Doughty connected on a free position with 9:54 left and then took a pass from Murphy a few seconds later to even up the score. Doughty then returned the favor moments later as Murphy scored with 8:56 remaining to give Tufts a 7-6 lead. The rest of the game, though, belonged to the Lord Jeffs. With 5:16 left, Wise stole a Panzer pass after a save and hit sophomore Alyssa Briody to tie the game back up. Two minutes later, Wise scored her third goal of the game off a pass from sophomore Lauren Dudley as Amherst regained the lead. The Jumbos had opportunities in the final few minutes to even the game back up, but to no avail. Panzer spent 40 seconds clearing the ball after a save, using valuable seconds to ensure that she didn't turn the ball over again. Strong Amherst defense in the midfield kept Doughty and freshman Alyssa Corbett from finding scoring chances, as both players had the ball stolen. With only 40 seconds to go, Herman tried a run and took the ball the length of the field, using her speed and getting a good shot off. "I just wanted a goal," Herman said. "I wanted to pass to someone. I didn't want to take the last shot but I didn't have any options. So I went right to the goal and unfortunately it didn't work." Amherst managed to steal a game from the Jumbos in their final home game of the season. It marked the third time this season that Tufts lost by only one goal. Doughty's goals and Harris' play sparked the 6-1 comeback for the Jumbos as they were minutes away from a huge win over the third-ranked team in the nation. "Those kids are bold, dynamic, elite athletes," Rappoli said. "They're capable of carrying the kids on the team and making other kids better. I thought they played very, very well in the second half." Tufts will travel to Lewiston, Maine on Saturday for their match against Bates. As of press time, Bates is 7-7 (2-5 in NESCAC). With a win over Bowdoin today, Bates will have a three-way tie with Wesleyan and the Jumbos for sixth in the conference with only seven teams making the tournament. Tufts controls their own playoff destiny with a win and can also make the tournament with a Wesleyan loss. Assuming the Jumbos make the tournament, they will see either Bowdoin, to whom they lost 7-6, or Amherst again. "We'd love to rematch either of those teams," Herman said. "I think we could take either of them."

The Setonian
News

Correction for Thursday, April 28, 2005

April 27

An article yesterday on the approval of the new student group Chabad incorrectly stated the names of the advisors for the group. Chaplain David O'Leary and Associate Chaplain Jeffrey Summit are Chabad's advisors, not Rabbi Tzvi Backman. An article in Monday's paper ("Sueker is Tufts' first Truman Scholar in 11 years," April 25) stated that junior J. Jeremy Sueker and his research partner presented their findings to visiting president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe. In fact, they presented their work to Justice Fergus Blackie, a former Zimbabwean High Court Justice who was forced out of the country by Mugabe. The headline in a Viewpoint yesterday about Environmental Consciousness Outreach's referendum ("Today's solar power referendum is worth voting for," April 27) was incorrect. The referendum is regarding wind power.

The Setonian
News

The Saj of Tao | Denouement

April 27

In the old-fashioned world of the print newspaper, things worked just a little bit slower than they do in this new-fangled, fast-paced electronic information age. Faceless Matt Drudges and Smoking Guns didn't flash you the most current of the world's news in a split second, and cnn.com didn't alert your Blackberry the moment a new pope was elected.Instead, twined bundles of the afternoon paper were tossed off mule-drawn carts at the 11-year-old street urchin hawking the day's headlines on the street corner for a nickel a pop: "Watt's steam engine to make trip up and down the Potomac," or "Cincinnati Red Stockings first to use rounded bats," or, yes, even "Ragamuffin William Howard Taft recants on promise to not drill for oil in Alaska: Roosevelt grouses." And therein lies the challenge of the contemporary columnist, to be just riveting and sharp enough to hold attention and recycle the news you've already heard with his or her own watermark; like peeing on a tree or pressing the tip of your clicky pen into your forearm five times to make the Olympic rings. That, my friends and readers, is the cross I bore from my very first column until this, my very last. Don't get your eyes checked, I promise you this is the last time a lot of you will read my words in the Tufts Daily (for the seniors, I will have a commencement column, but that's the last time I will use the 'C' word here for fear of a Class of 2005 mass aneurysm) and it has been fun. I like to think that for the most part I was successful, not only in holding your attention as readers but also in peeing on the proverbial tree of collegiate "journalism." Making my mark. So now I finally erupt from my writer's chrysalis to present to you "The Saj of Tao: A Retrospecticus." A display of gratitude to inspirations, helpful hands, and, as always, freshman girls who tell me that they enjoy my column. Little ladies: you are what keeps this old man's heart a-flutter and don't let no one tell you different, you hear? First, thank yous: to the Web sites. The dear Web sites that make my babble that much less inane.Dictionary.com, first and foremost. Do you think I know what 'chrysalis' means? Hell, I just looked it up two minutes ago, and I still don't know. And 'denouement'? Are you kidding me? I even learned that 'retrospecticus' isn't a real word. The next time you see me using a computer for a non-e-mail, non-espn.com related purpose in a public space, take a look at the screen. Odds are I'm looking up some word I came across in a fifth-grade social studies text. And the best part? I'm ashamed of it. So please, embarrass me the next time you see me.Imdb.com, next. There's no way I actually remembered that Larry and Balki's boss on "Perfect Strangers" was named Gorpley. Sure, I remembered the character, and sure, I remembered the time he dressed up like a woman to try and claim the large sum of money the boys found, but his name? Please.Wikipedia.org, my dearest friend. Not a credible source to cite on research papers, I discovered, but if I'm in a bind and need to know who made the steam engine efficient enough to jumpstart the creation of an effective steam-powered cargo-carrying industry (James Watt) for the sole purpose of setting up a joke a few lines later about a fat stupid President opening up ANWR to oil-drilling at the turn of the last century, I know where to go. The Daily editorial staff, for allowing me this weekly amorphous forum. What do I write about? I don't know, and they never do. Faith is the key word here. They gave me a slot based on three haphazardly-arranged column submissions back in September, two of which I myself found dreadful, and one of which was my inaugural piece toeing the oh-so-funny line between humor and sexism. My submissions are chronically late: "Patrice [my patient editor], it's Tuesday night, you know the drill, it'll be in your inbox when you wake up" is often the initiating sentence of our weekly exchanges. For a publication that prefers some semblance of structure and routine from its columnists, I had none of it, and I'm glad they were okay with that. I don't care what tired, spiteful joke the Primary Source may make: for something that comes out five days a week on a campus this small, they do a very good job. The Boston Red Sox. I'll say it again and again. They won the World Series, which afforded me, quite possibly, the most enjoyable writing experience of my life back in November. It may have not been perfect, or funny, or whatever else everyone was expecting, but I loved it. To comedic inspiration, and growing out of it. It's easy to write a column with a bunch of fart jokes and quick laughs. Remember GONORRHEA? I sure do, but it was just something to maybe make you laugh out loud in Juan Alonso's Thursday World Literature lecture. (Don't worry Professor Alonso, the times that I was present in class I paid steady attention and didn't hack at the crossword puzzle or even play the role of eager sycophant like my classmates. My head was in the game, trust me, no matter how many times you caught me off-guard as I tried to decipher the mystery language on the whiteboard of that terrible, terrible classroom in the basement of Olin. Portuguese, German, Euskara, who knows what it was.) And as I approach my word limit for the final time, I am just glad that I didn't mail this one in. I hope you are too. End transmission.

The Setonian
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Students protest for Asian-American Studies at Tufts

April 27

Approximately 40 students gathered to protest the absence of an Asian American Studies program at Tufts yesterday during the open block. The protest began and ended at Ballou Hall. Protestors began by holding signs and chanting on the steps of Ballou. From their spot on the academic quad, the group eventually marched downhill, through the Mayer Campus Center, around the bookstore, past the Tisch Library and back up to Ballou. Many of the student protestors were members of the Asian American Curriculum Transformation (AACT) project. Established in 2001, the main purpose of the AACT is to create an Asian American Studies department at the University. According to sophomore Ivy Cheng, one of the organizers of the protest, the representatives wanted a promise from the University to get a tenure-track or senior Asian American studies professor at Tufts. Cheng said the group spoke informally with University Provost Jamshed Bharucha but he denied its request for a full-time professor. Protestors wore pale blue ribbons on their arms and carried signs reading slogans such as "Tufts Only Has 3 Asian American Courses" and "Asian American Studies Now," as well as some more volatile messages, such as "IR: Institutionalized Racism." A revolving shift of student leaders led the crowd in chants with a bullhorn. The most common cry was "What do we want?" - "Asian-American Studies!" "When do we want it?" - "Now!" and "What do we need?" - "Administrative Accountability!" Sophomore Jae Cho was one of the participants in the march. Cho said he was motivated to participate because he is taking a class in Korean History which, he said, is going to be shut down due to lack of funding (related story, page 2). He said an Asian American Studies program would bring "a form of diversity for an internationally-focused campus." Some non-Tufts individuals were present at the protest as well. A handful of students from neighboring Wellesley College and Harvard University participated in the march. Professor Andrew Leong of the University of Massachusetts Boston, which has an Asian American Studies Program, also marched. "It really would behoove Tufts [to have an Asian-American Studies program]" he said. "If you look around the country, other schools have specialists in Asian American studies." University administrators were not available for comment on the march at press time.- by Kelly McAnerney

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Police Briefs

April 26

Letters stolen from Goddard announcement board On the morning of Monday, April 25, at 9:54 a.m., a female Tufts employee called the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) to report stolen University property at Goddard Chapel. According to the employee, certain white alphabet letters were missing from the chapel's external announcement board. These letters were "D," "C," "R," "H," and "B." The employee also said that other letters were arranged into the words "POO" and "ASS." An officer reporting to the scene attested to the worker's claims and notified the University locksmith so that the locks on the announcement board could be changed. According to the worker, the lock appeared to have been tampered with. Fourth floor of South Hall floods A flood on the fourth floor of South Hall was reported at approximately 6:00 a.m. on the morning of Friday, April 22. The responding Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officer said he noticed a small amount of water on the second floor. As he progressed to the third floor, he noticed an even larger amount of water as well as water leaking from the ceilings. According to the officer, the stairs on the fourth floor were almost soaked and approximately one to three inches of water covered the floor. The officer found that the source of the flooding was a toilet on the fourth floor. Residents were advised of the situation and told to protect valuables and unplug anything that could come in contact with the water. One Source and Tufts Facilities were called to clean up the floor. Several parties in West Hall broken up, fire alarm sounds Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers received a call from a West Hall residential assistant (RA) on Sunday, April 24, at 12:03 a.m. in regard to a large number of people going in and out of the building. When the officers arrived at the scene, they observed approximately 30 students standing outside of the dorm and several beer bottles and beer cans on the front stairs. The crowd dispersed and the officers then entered the building where they encountered another 50 students in the hall's lounges. Several room parties were broken up and the residents were informed that parties would be "shut down" if the authorities had to return. Later that same morning, at approximately 2:23 a.m., the building's fire alarm sounded. Minor investigations revealed that a second floor fire extinguisher was activated and the resulting smoke caused the alarm to sound. Students were kept outside for approximately 20 minutes while the Medford Fire Department (MFD) investigated. The alarm was reset at 3:12 a.m.-- Compiled by Mark Pesavento

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Vote for wind power to take place today

April 26

After a bump in the road, the referendum for campus use of wind power is taking place today in an online ballot. "The vote is to show student support [for wind power]," Environmental Consciousness Outreach (ECO) Board member sophomore Amanda Fencl said. All eligible undergraduate students can vote on an initiative supported by ECO, which would transfer part of Tufts' energy to be powered by wind energy. "The administration is nearly already behind [the initiative]," Fencl said. "They want to know that students want it, too." According to ECO Chair senior Jennifer Baldwin, ECO will increase awareness of the vote by wearing themed T-shirts and placing pinwheels around campus. "We're shooting for 20 percent of Tufts to be supplied," Fencl said. Fencl also said if administrators decide to invest in wind power, the Board of Trustees will choose between local or western wind farms. According to Fencl, under former University President John DiBiaggio, Tufts pledged to follow the Kyoto Protocol, even if the U.S. government chose not to do so. "We're supposed to be reducing our [carbon dioxide] emissions," she said. The vote was originally planned as a part of the online ballot in last Wednesday's election for TCU President between juniors Rafi Goldberg and Jeff Katzin. Junior Dave Baumwoll, TCU President for the 2004-2005 year, took the blame for the absence of the issue on the ballot. Baumwoll said that there was miscommunication regarding the referendum's technological representation. "We're grateful for the work [Baumwoll] has done in arranging another vote," Fencl said. Students can vote for or against the referendum on WebCenter today between 9 a.m. and midnight.- by Danny Lutz

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Balance | Ask Sara Wilson, R.D.

April 26

Sara Wilson is a graduate student in nutrition communications at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. She has a B.S. in nutrition from Syracuse University and is a registered dietitian. Prior to coming to Tufts, Sara worked as a clinical dietitian in an intensive care unit of Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Ore. Q. We have been learning about BMI in health class, and I know it has something to do with how much you weigh. But I used the formula to calculate my BMI, and it says that I am considered "overweight." How is this possible? I work out and lift weights regularly and watch what I eat. A. BMI, or body mass index, is a measure of the ratio of your weight to height. It can be calculated as weight (in kilograms) divided by height (in meters squared), or by looking on a chart. BMI is a rudimentary measure of weight status (whether underweight, normal, or overweight) and a simple way to assess your risk for weight-related health problems. But BMI does not account for muscle mass. People with more muscle mass, such as athletes, trainers, or those who lift weights and exercise, may find that they weigh more since, pound for pound, muscle weighs more than fat. This can make your BMI higher, or put you in an "overweight" category, even if you're at a perfectly acceptable weight considering your fitness level. The best way to tell how much fat mass you have, and to better indicate your level of health, is to measure your body fat percent, either with calipers, a special scale, or bioelectrical impedance. Q. I'm a total ice cream addict. Now that the weather is warmer, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to go a day without a trip to J.P. Licks. How can I keep ice cream in my diet for the summer without compromising my usually healthful eating habits? A. Certainly, daily trips to J.P. Licks could take a toll on your diet. But you can fit ice cream into a healthful diet. If you can manage, a weekly, or bi-weekly, trip is probably the most you want to visit the ice cream shop, especially if you are getting the regular ice cream. Aim for a small or child's size portion; portion control can mean the difference between a once a month outing and weekly outings. If you are able to keep the amount to a minimum, you will likely be able to incorporate that ice cream into your weekly diet, given that you account for your J.P. Licks visit in your total daily calorie intake. Another option is to order the frozen yogurt, especially the non-fat or low-fat type. You will save on both calories and fat with this, and once in a while, will allow for added toppings such as sprinkles or Oreo bits. Q. What is the difference between an "antioxidant" and a "vitamin"? Can a vitamin be an antioxidant? A. An antioxidant is a compound that protects other compounds (or tissues or organs) from oxidation (the interaction of a tissue with the damaging effects of reactive oxygen). These reactive oxygen compounds, called free radicals, can cause cell damage that may lead to health problems such as cancer, heart disease, and arthritis. A vitamin is an organic compound that is necessary to life and body function. Many vitamins act as antioxidants, although not all antioxidants are vitamins. Vitamins C and E, and beta carotene (which forms vitamin A), play a role in neutralizing these free radicals. Other antioxidant substances, such as phytochemicals produced by plants - and found in tomatoes, red, yellow and green vegetables, and soy, for example - offer some of the same protective effects as antioxidant vitamins. Fruits and vegetables are the best sources of vitamin C, beta carotene, and phytochemicals, while vitamin E can be found in oils, salad dressings, and nuts. If you don't get your "5 a Day" of fruits and vegetables, take a multivitamin. Even if it doesn't contain the phytochemicals found in fruits and veggies, it still provides you with vitamins A, C and E. Q. What is the best to eat or drink the day after a night of drinking? Are there certain nutrients the body needs to replace? A. Unfortunately, there is no magic food or drink that can restore you after a night of drinking. What is probably most important, and helpful, is to drink a glass of water before you go to bed, and plenty the next day. That hangover is caused in part by dehydration of the brain cells, and the accompanying rehydration - or swelling of the brain cells - after a night of drinking. Drinking fluids can help to correct the body's chemistry. In addition, there are some important nutrients that may need to be replenished the next day. Because alcohol intake increases urine output, you may be at risk for losing certain minerals as you make those many trips to the restroom throughout the night. It is important to replace magnesium, potassium, calcium and zinc after a night of drinking; a bowl of fortified cereal with milk, a cup of yogurt or some browned potatoes can help do the trick - and perhaps get your new day off to a better start.

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Theater Preview | Clutch your pillows tight for new production

April 26

No need to hop on the Chinatown bus to get the full Broadway experience. Tonight, look no further than the Balch Arena Theater, where Pen, Paint, & Pretzels produces "The Pillowman," a funny but disturbing play currently winning rave reviews on Broadway. "The Pillowman" tells a gruesome but comic tale. A short story writer, Katurian K. Katurian (sophomore Dave Adler) lives under a fictitious totalitarian regime, and suddenly finds himself hauled in for interrogation by two police officers, Ariel and Tupolski (freshman Will Shaw and senior Armen Nercessian). Katurian discovers that the officers suspect him of involvement in a series of brutal child murders that have occurred in his town, and which eerily resemble the content of some of his stories. Child-murders and torture may not sound like material for a comedy, but Martin McDonagh's script is surprisingly humorous and self-mocking. As the scenes grow darker and more disturbing, McDonagh surprises the audience with a wry joke or witty reference. For example, Ariel and Tupolski perform a good cop/bad cop routine that is hilarious, even as they prepare to torture the unfortunate Katurian. Director senior Dan Balkin saw a performance of "Pillowman" during a semester abroad in Longon and was attracted to the writing from the first. "It's the best script I've read in a long time," he said. "It has extremely complex, fully developed characters, it's viciously funny, and it combines a dark, almost urban realism with fairy tale-like imagination," Balkin said. The imaginative element comes into play when actors mime out Katurian's stories as he tells them to the audience. The idea of good storytelling is a strong element within the play. "The first duty of the storyteller is to tell a story," says Katurian to his interrogators. As Katurian's stories are read by Tupolski and told by Katurian himself, the audience is left to wonder where to draw the line between truth and fiction. Who committed the murders? Did they even occur? Are Katurian's stories based in fact? And what does Michael, Katurian's mentally damaged brother (sophomore David Jenkins) have to do with all this? It is the thrill of unanswered questions in the story that makes the play so captivating. "'The Pillowman' is much less about brutality than it is about telling the audience a story with twists and turns," Nercessian said. "You think you know where it's going, and then the bottom just drops out." Balkin and the designers of the show are using the Balch Arena to enhance the disturbing tone. Since the audience sits around the actors in a small space, there is an almost claustrophobic feel that is reminiscent of ghost stories told around a secluded campfire in the wilderness. Every noise in the darkness makes the listeners huddle closer together as they are enthralled by the terrifying tale. Additionally, sound designer Drew Shelton has made sure that there are plenty of disturbing noises. Shelton - a graduate student in civil and environmental engineering - wanted to go beyond the normal sound effects and music used in most plays. "We're doing something with sound that has pretty much never been done at Tufts before," he said. The result was Shelton's creation of "soundscapes" that evoke the emotional states of the characters. "These characters had horrible things happen to them in their childhoods, things that won't leave them alone," he said. In spite of its dark nature, Balkin said he believes that his cast and crew have created a spectacle that anyone will enjoy seeing. "There are no judgments or political motivations in this play," Balkin said. "It just wants to tell you a story that will shock you enough to keep you on the edge of the seat for the duration of the show."

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Nutrition Spotlight

April 26

Fast food - done naturally - has finally arrived. Situated on the edge of Davis Square at 187 Elm Street, the newly opened caf?©-type restaurant named O'Naturals offers food for folks on the go that is free of additives, preservatives, growth hormones and antibiotics. Gary and Meg Hirshberg, the founders of Stonyfield Farm yogurt products created O'Naturals with Mac McCabe. The Somerville restaurant is their fourth opening. "We want to provide this option to anyone - including students - who are thinking about tasty alternatives to the mainstream," McCabe said. He serves as the company's "Chief Executive O'Naturalist." The O'Naturals caf?© menu features a gamut of "fast" food choices, ranging from flatbread sandwiches, tossed salads, Asian noodles, soups, pizza and desserts. Sandwiches like the "Rustic" (fresh mozzarella with basil leaves, tomatoes and balsamic soy "chicken") or the "Wrangler" (free range and grass fed organic roast beef, rosemary onions and Swiss cheese) offer-up unique alternatives to traditional between-the-bun fast food fare. Asian noodle flavors include traditional "Teriyaki" in addition to "Chap Chae" (sweet-soy glass noodles with spinach, mushrooms, onions and carrots) and "Five Spice" (savory-spicy undon noodles with snow peas, zucchini and other vegetables). You can build your own salad or pick from classic tosses such as "Caesar" to more distinctive greens such as the "Spicy Peanut" (organic mixed greens, scallions, carrots, alfalfa sprouts, cucumbers, mushrooms and cilantro with spicy peanut dressing). Soup-savvy diners will find an assortment of flavors to slurp off the spoon, from specialty soups like "Maryland Crab" and "Creamy Asparagus" to more basic soups, "Chicken Vegetable" and "Green Pea Herbs & Lemon." Inspired by the recent lack of inspiration in my own diet, I took a trip to O'Naturals with my trusty roommates graduate students Shannon Bowles and Natalie Wieland. Like three peas-in-a-pod, we all ordered the soup and half a sandwich. Shannon tried the "Alaskan" (chilled wild Alaskan salmon prepared in pan Asian marinade with root veggies and brie) and butternut squash apple soup, while Natalie went for the "Chicken & Roots" (free roaming chicken breast meat with pesto, brie, and root veggies) and New England clam chowder, and I ventured out on a limb with the "Wild West" (wild prairie raised bison meatloaf, roasted red peppers, cheddar and mustard) and the Butternut Squash Apple soup. All of our soups were excellent. Shannon said that despite feeling skimped on salmon, she liked the unique combination of roots veggies and salmon. Natalie was pleased with the quality of the chicken in her sandwich, but said she was looking for more "power" in the pesto than she got. My bison meatloaf was certainly a nice change of pace from the usual grilled chicken I go for, but next time I'll try the noodles. The portion sizes were moderate and likely more in line with dietary recommendations than typical fast-food joints. Hearty eaters with roaring appetites might not find the portion sizes large enough to satisfy their hunger, however. New Yorker Eliot Bencuya, Natalie's long-time beau, ordered the "Wrangler," a roast beef sandwich, on an earlier outing to O'Naturals with his girlfriend. "I was seriously contemplating going to Subway to get another sandwich; there wasn't enough beef for me," said Bencuya, who is used to the layers of roast beef piled on New York-style sandwiches in Manhattan. The absence of additives, preservatives, growth hormones and antibiotics, in addition to the notable inclusion of good quality vegetables in virtually every dish and more appropriate portion sizes, earns the O'Naturals' menu superior scores on health and nutrition compared to many fast food cuisines. However, health conscious eaters should take note that the flatbread sandwiches are not made with whole grains, which have recently been included in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. McCabe acknowledged that whole grains are important to consider, but said the menu was developed by consumer research. "The entire menu was developed by layers of tastings with the customer," he said. "The bread is in fact strictly organic and has everything except the germ, in a format that appealed by far to the vast majority of customers." The pastries and desserts are also likely laden with refined grains, but there doesn't seem to be high demand for whole grains in these menu items. "Our experience when looking at whole grain pastries was that, except for a small core, customers didn't like to eat them," McCabe said. And, although the "Dr. Becker Blue Sky Natural Soda" is "natural," nutrition-wise customers should be aware that the soda still contains 38 grams of sugar. Despite these minor nutritional shortcomings, O'Naturals deserves praise for taking the initiative to break out of the mold of traditional fast food restaurants - a feat that poses many challenges on the business front. "We are also doing something that has never been done before," McCabe said. "So there are no good reference models. We can't do organic everything because some of it would make it too expensive for the consumer. "This is still the restaurant business, where your product is perishable - ours even more so, because it is not all frozen waiting to be deep fried or zapped - and the management of ingredients and labor is still the key to success."Emily is a co-editor of Balance and a graduate student in nutritional epidemiology at the Friedman School. She has a MS in nutrition and public health from Columbia University and is a registered dietitian.

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Portrait of the Artist | Samantha Karlin

April 26

Samantha Karlin is full of energy in the Tower Caf?© on a dreary Monday morning. Expressive and engaging, she takes a few moments to share her thoughts about the center of her busy life: music and theater. Many will remember Karlin as Yonah in Torn Ticket II's "Children of Eden," as well as Nancy in "A New Brain." But this soprano's beginnings go quite a few years back. "I was lucky enough to have a professional theater - the Gateway's Candlewood Playhouse [in New Fairfield, Conn.] - just a few minutes from my house," she said. "But they wouldn't cast children younger than eight." Her older sister played the title role of Annie in the musical when Karlin was about five years old. "I remember being in the audience and thinking, 'I want to be onstage.' I always knew I wanted to be onstage - it runs in the family!" Karlin not only made it to the stage, but became a regular in Gateway's productions throughout her school years. Having appeared in shows such as "Carousel" and "Evita" on a professional level, this summer she is getting ready to embark on an international tour of "Titanic" with the company. Rehearsals begin in July in New York, with tours planned for China and Japan. In addition to traveling and sharing the stage with some great talents, Karlin will experience another type of first-hand benefit: "Getting paid for doing what you love is amazing!" Karlin described herself as a "more freelance" performer. She has had agents in the past, but most of her roles have come from her own initiative. At Tufts, she has participated in Torn Ticket II, the Opera Ensemble, acting classes, Bare Bodkin skits, short films and voice lessons. In addition to musicals, Karlin is interested in opera. Recently, she sang the role of Nora in "Riders to the Sea" and Zerlina in scenes from "Don Giovanni" with the Opera Ensemble. She studies voice with Carol Mastrodomenico, and together they work to strengthen and further develop Karlin's soprano range. "Studying opera is the hardest thing, much more than musical theater," Karlin said. In addition to developing a stronger vocal foundation, studying arias has prepared Karlin's voice for a greater variety of roles and expression. Karlin described college theater as "having no limits." In comparison to high school shows, she believes that her experience at Tufts has taken her to higher levels both professionally and interpersonally. "It doesn't matter how avant-garde you are," she said, "there is so much talent here - it's amazing. People at Tufts will go so far. For example, my current director, Brendan Shea, is brilliant." Of course, the theatrical life is more than just glamour. Karlin acknowledged that show biz can be tough; it is often based on appearances, typecasting, and being in the right place at the right time. "Luck has a lot to do with it," Karlin said. "Talent is important, of course, but so much of it is timing. The lure of living from what I thrive on is a phenomenal thing." The bane of an actor's existence? "Auditions!" she laughed. "Singing and nerves don't go well together, being nervous can alter your breathing and vibrato, and you can start pushing it." To increase confidence at auditions, Karlin encouraged preparing as much as possible. Ultimately, she explained that one needs to convey a seemingly effortless sound - with, of course, lots of hidden endeavor. Despite spending the majority of her time in Aidekman, at the moment this young star is not planning to major in theater. "The thing about loving theater, as opposed to something like medicine, is that there's no guarantee no matter how good you are. I get to do what I love - but am I going to make it? Who knows?" Luckily, Karlin has many diverse interests: psychology, writing and increasing bias awareness. With so many varied hobbies, Karlin does not yet know what she wants to do after college, but has some big ideas. "I want to teach children about discrimination before it gets to them; I'm really interested in how children's minds develop, and how to combat prejudices," she said. For Karlin, the focus of any performance is the audience. "I want to connect with the audience as much as possible. If I'm doing a sad scene and nobody cries, I haven't done my job. Without the audience, theater wouldn't exist!" Clearly, the stage is a huge part of her identity. "I want to make my voice as beautiful as it can be," she says.

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