At the most recent Tufts blood drive, Red Cross staff and volunteers said they hoped for higher than usual blood yields this year due to more lax restriction on European travel.
Western New England College tallied the first goal within the first two minutes of the game yesterday at Bello Field. But that was about all that went wrong for the Jumbos all day. Less than two minutes later junior Mike O'Brien scored to tie the game at one, and Tufts scored six more times in the first quarter to take a 7-1 lead. The Jumbos were up 13-3 at halftime, and kept the game out of reach in the second half to come away with an 18-6 win.
This week's edition of "Inside the AL" sheds light on the surprising early performance of two teams: the Chicago White Sox (surprisingly good) and the New York Yankees (surprisingly awful).
Students and faculty within the international relations (IR) department at Tufts have begun to review the effectiveness of the department's recent advising program, which has been developing and evolving since the beginning of the spring semester.
The season might be winding down for the men and women of the Tufts ultimate Frisbee teams, but after strong showings in last weekend's Sectional Championships, the squads look like they'll be competing for at least a few more weeks as they head into their respective season ending tournaments.
On Nov. 8, the day after Williams College ended the Tufts volleyball team's season in the NESCAC Championship game, many players took some time to relax and reflect.
Today is the end of April Open House, an event at Tufts for accepted students, or "pre-frosh." This week, a huge number of high school seniors came to Tufts to explore and get a feel for the atmosphere on campus.
The newly created chapter of Broad2Be at Tufts held its first conference entitled "Broader Business Views" yesterday.
Members of the Tufts community, including students, adults, and even some prospective students, packed into Braker Hall last night to listen to two experts discuss the female orgasm.
Academic papers can be dense and confounding, but this one was even more so than usual. Entitled "Rooter: A Methodology for the Typical Unification of Access Points and Redundancy," the inscrutable paper was accepted to July's Ninth World Multi-Conference on Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics, and its authors - three MIT grad students - were offered the chance to present it there in person.
What did you accomplish your freshman year?
Enrichment changes and improvements for the Combined Degree Programs between the New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts with the University have been proposed by both students and faculty at these institutions.
Superstar comedian Chris Rock has had a busy few months. Fresh off hosting the Oscars for the first time, Rock is now promoting his two movies due out this summer, "The Longest Yard" and "Madagascar." He sat down with the Daily and a half dozen other college papers last week over the phone to talk about life, comedy and the champagne room.Tufts Daily: How did you feel about hosting the Oscars? Would you do it again, and was it worth all the work you put in? Chris Rock: I had a great time and I would definitely do it again. I don't know if they're going to want me again, but if they want me I'll do it.TD: I read David Spade helped write some of your jokes. Is that true?CR: Yeah. You know Spade is great with the last minute jokes.TD: You had your directorial debut with "Head of State." Would you be interested in directing again?CR: I'm definitely going to direct again. I just have been working on some stuff and maybe some time next year I will direct something.TD: Like what?CR: Kind of like a black "Oceans 11" type thing, with maybe me and [Dave] Chappelle and [Chris] Tucker and [Eddie] Murphy or something like that. TD: A lot of people probably ask you how your life influences your comedy, but I am more interested in how your comedy affects your life. For example, does your wife care for your routine about marriage?CR: You know she laughs at it. It is like I have two wives: I have my real wife who is a lovely woman, the mother of my children, and then I have my comedy wife, this crazy bitch that won't have sex with me.TD: Is there a line in comedy that you won't cross?CR: I won't do anything I think isn't funny. That's the line.TD: So I've noticed that you've done a lot of different roles; you know your role in "Nurse Betty" was quite different than your role in say "Osmosis Jones" or "Head of State." Do you have one in particular you are most proud of or enjoyed the most? Maybe that's a different question.CR: I like them all. Pookie in "New Jack City" is probably my best.TD: Before the Oscars there was the gay comment fiasco. Some things seem like they might be taken out of context. How do you usually react to that?CR: I don't really react. I almost never react to stories about me; I just go, "okay." I accept the good and the bad, you know. If people are going to say "Oh he is so funny," then when they say something bad, you have to accept that too. TD: Do you normally not even read stuff about you?CR: Around the Oscar time I just stopped reading anything.TD: Is there one person in particular that you would like to be in a romantic comedy with?CR: In a romantic comedy? I don't know. Halle Berry would be good. And Lucy Liu would kind of be interesting. TD: Yeah, that would be interesting. CR: Yeah.TD: And I was just wondering if you could clear something up. Is there sex in the champagne room, or not?CR: I haven't experienced sex in the champagne room. So, there is no sex in the champagne room.
The Spring 2006 block schedule could bring some significant changes to Tufts students' academic lives.
As construction of the Sophia Gordon Hall and the new Music Building continues, students are feeling the impact of these changes to the Tufts campus. The construction that is happening on the plot off land just off Talbot Avenue has elicited a number of student complaints, according to Vice President for Operations at Tufts John Roberto. To date, Roberto said that students and faculty have bemoaned the construction's effects on driving around campus, parking, and even sleep habits. With regard to sleeping, the students most affected by the construction are the residents of Stratton Hall, a dormitory situated right next to the major construction site. "It has been really inconvenient with all the construction because [the workers] usually start their work at around 6:30 in the morning," said Stratton resident and junior Myrlene Richard. "I know it must be rough for the students who stay up so late studying to wake up to that noise ... [particularly for] people like me who will wake up to any kind of noise." Sleep-deprived students have been joined by a litany of complaints with regard to the parking and driving inconveniences the construction has caused. Junior Larry Schwimmer said that driving downhill has been a hassle recently with all of the work being done. Talbot Avenue has frequently been shut down to traffic completely in order to install underground pipes and other components necessary for the new buildings. In order to accommodate student and faculty needs as best as possible, Roberto said he has been working to change construction times so that they will conflict less with nearby students' sleeping patterns. "We understand the demand of reading period and as such may have a slightly later start time for construction every day," Roberto said. He also said that he plans to speak with the contractor in the coming weeks to accommodate students, particularly those living in Stratton Hall. On the issue of parking, Roberto said, "We have sufficient parking to meet the demand on a campus-wide basis." He said he recognizes, however, that with nearly 2,500 student and faculty cars registered on campus, there is always room for improvement. "[We will be] looking at opportunities to increase parking space over the next couple of years," he said, although options are limited "with a campus that's so constrained for space." Despite the issues raised by construction, some students said they feel that the benefits of the new buildings will outweigh the temporary inconveniences they are currently suffering through. "The new buildings are important for the school, particularly the new dorm," Schwimmer said. "Problems are inevitable with any construction of this magnitude ... with two buildings in close proximity," Roberto said. It is expected that the 126-bed Sophia Gordon Hall will be completed and ready for student occupation by Sept. 2006, and the Music Building's completion shortly thereafter.
Incumbent Tufts Community Union (TCU) Treasurer junior Jeff Katzin will step up to the role of TCU President for the 2005-2006 school year. Katzin won in a landslide election over current TCU Vice President junior Rafi Goldberg.
The weather has officially ushered in spring, and the buzz of opening day baseball has just about worn off. One hundred and sixty-two games? Good God. Wake me in October. So if, like me, baseball in late April makes you question the meaning of life, then you know the only important thing in the sports world this time of year is the NBA Playoffs. And so without any more overdone lead-ins, I give you the obligatory predictions for the postseason. In the East, there has been a lot of anticipation lately about whether the Nets or the Cavs will make the playoffs, and at the time of this writing it appears it will be the Nets. The hype is moot, because neither team stands a chance against the Heat. If the Cavs do manage to slip in, you can expect a sweep. If it is the Nets, you might have a slightly more interesting series, especially if Richard Jefferson comes back. Still, the Heat are too much for the streaking Nets team, even if they manage to push it to six games. The Pistons will get the Sixers, assuming the Pacers won on Reggie Miller night. Larry Brown will be facing his former team for the first time, and it should not be pretty. The Pistons are a cut above the Sixers even with AI, Webber and Ashton Kutcher on the top of their games. Still, Detroit has never just smoked a team in the playoffs, and their low-scoring offense will keep Philly in some games. Expect the Pistons to wrap this one up in five. The Celtics better be praying for the Bulls to spoil Reggie Miller's final home game in Indiana, because right now they have a very tough draw with the Pacers. Indiana is much better than the record indicates, and they finished about even with Boston in the standings. You have to like Carlisle over Doc Rivers, since Doc's teams have done nothing but implode in the playoffs. Throw in a healthy Jermaine O'Neal and the C's are going to need all the shimmying from Antoine that they can get. If by some miracle Boston ends up playing the Sixers in the first round, expect the Celtics to advance. Otherwise, the Pacers will win in six, setting up a classic second round matchup with the hated Pistons. The middle of the bracket will pit the Bulls against the Wizards in a battle to play the Heat in the second round. There is not a lot of juice to this series, partly because neither of these teams has been in the playoffs this century. The Wizards have the talent with their big three in Jamison, Arenas and Hughes, but the Bulls have been playing championship-caliber defense. It should be a very tight series. Eddy Curry's loss hurts the Bulls, and it just seems that a trip to the second round would be too good to be true for Chicago. The Wizards will come out on top in seven. Out West, Phoenix and Memphis is going to be closer than people think. The two teams split the season series, and Memphis has Pau Gasol back. The Suns only scored over 100 points once in their four meetings during the regular season, and this is an untested Phoenix team. On the other hand, Mike Fratello has never impressed in the playoffs. His Cleveland teams almost always bowed out in the first round, and the Grizzlies will be no different. Just do not expect a sweep. The Suns will win in six. San Antonio should spell the end of Denver's unbelievable run. The Nuggets have been on a historic roll since the All-Star break, going 25-4 over that stretch. They will probably win some games up in the high altitude, but San Antonio is just too boringly good in the end. Denver's fast pace could really bother San Antonio, and will make this series very interesting. San Antonio will advance after seven games. Seattle against Sacramento is a battle of two teams that just do not impress very much. Sacramento has fumbled around all season, in spite of its record. The Sonics had a blazing start but have slowed down tremendously towards the finish line. Neither team will blow the other away, but expect the Kings to really regret trading Chris Webber in this series. Bibby will need a lot of help, and Peja has never been a great playoff player. Expect the Kings to fizzle out in five. Finally, we come to what should be the best series of the first round: Dallas and Houston. Before the matchups were set, I thought that with a shaky Tim Duncan these two teams could meet in the Conference Finals. Instead, they are playing in the first round. Dallas has taken some real strides towards becoming a contender, with its unlimited artillery firing behind Dirk Nowitzki and improved defense. Houston needs McGrady to be McGrady, Yao to be adequate, and a pleasant surprise from someone like Dikembe Mutombo, who has been huge for them lately. If the Rockets can do that, their world class defense should be able to propel them out of the first round. This series will go seven games, and you might as well flip a coin. I am going to say the Mavericks, just because they have fewer question marks on offense, and I feel obligated seeing as how an earlier column of mine was all over them. All that being said, the Eastern Conference is sure to have two great series: the Pistons/Pacers in the second round, and the Pistons/Heat in the Conference Finals. Out West all the series should have a little more charge, and a potential Dallas/Phoenix second round meeting could really cook. Until then, I will eagerly watch the Knicks/Wizards game and hope that New York can solidify that seventh pick in the draft. Spring is definitely here.Dennis Doyle is a senior majoring in engineering. He can be reached at Dennis.Doyle@tufts.edu.
Welcome to eccentricity, unexpected engagements, false emotions and ridiculous displays of narcissism. Welcome to the funniest nightmare you've ever had, a roller coaster through the spectrum of personality disorders and an 85-year-old episode of Seinfeld. In other words, welcome to the house of the Bliss family. Noel Coward's "Hay Fever," continuing its run this weekend in the Balch Arena Theater, is sure to make its audience feel welcome. Directed by Sheriden Thomas, the story revolves around the hilarious moments of a family that is just too histrionic to relate to anyone but its own abnormal members. Well-executed with competent comedic acting and excellent costuming, the show displays a unique mastery of its own socially awkward situations. The trouble begins when all four Blisses realize that they have invited guests to stay in the Japanese room for the weekend. The conflict marks the figurative end of the world for the family, with Judith Bliss remarking, "I wish I were dead!" As the four guests filter in, romance, obscenity and theatrics ensue as the Bliss family raises the stakes higher and higher for their own entertainment. The guests, on the other hand, find themselves caught in a superficial battle where they are forced to act as obliging witnesses to the Bliss family's theatrics. At times, however, the show can seem drawn out as the audience has heard enough of the Bliss's dramatic exclamations. Yet this problem seems mostly script-based, and the capable acting and directing is able to sustain the audience's attention and amusement through the weaker parts of the play. The heart of the family, Judith Bliss, played by junior Lauren Murphy, graces the stage in fabulous costumes always accessorized with an expression of superiority. Her voice crescendos quickly, making the later, more climactic scenes a bit predictable in execution. Overall, however, her physicality is always fun to watch. In addition, Murphy has a wonderful singing voice that is highlighted near the middle of the show. As with Murphy, the narcissistic tendencies of Judith's husband, patriarch David Bliss, are made entertaining through actor Aristotle Kousakis' irritable reactions. Madeline Blue Schussel plays the daughter, Ing?©nue Sorel Bliss. She comes off as quirky and flowing as the fabled green fairy, throwing herself upon the settee and exclaiming, "We're a beastly family and I hate us!" Intense in her acting, Schussel executes her comic choreography flawlessly; she is darling and invasive in the execution of her lines, demanding constant attention from the audience. Seth Pitman, who plays son Simon Bliss, delivers hilarious physical comedy. At one point, he crawls across the top of the couch like some kind of highly-caffeinated lizard. The four guests also bring an entertaining dynamic to the story. Myra Arundel (Stephanie Schussel) and Sandy Tyrell (Christopher Bonewitz) provide well-played performances as a vixen feigning innocence and a Texan boxer compelled to box the air when frustrated. Furthermore, Elizabeth Harelik's wide-eyed expressions make her amusing as the mousey Jackie Coryton. Richard Greatham's well-acted David Dennis is the most clear-headed of the guests - though it would be nice if the audience could hear his lines a bit better. Another notable performance is given by Kasey Collins as the Bliss family's maid whose sarcastic lines, convincing cockney accent, and deliberate movements make her the sanest character in the play - though she carries the director's live cat around with her throughout the play, adding to the show's many oddities. And of course, no high-class English clan would be complete without a second maid, played by Margaux Birdsall, who makes the guests feel even more awkward as she walks about the house moaning from a terrible toothache. "Hay Fever" invites its audience to the home of nutcases, entreating them to enjoy the never-ending dramatics of the house of Bliss.
The women's crew team is training hard this week in preparation for its final two regattas before the New England Championships on May 1. This past weekend provided an opportunity for the team to gauge its performance with ten days left, and the team performed with mixed results. The women came back from an underachieving day on Saturday to finish to finish the weekend on a high note. On Saturday, the crew raced against Ithaca, Holy Cross, Connecticut College and Colby on the Malden River, Tufts' home site. On Sunday, the Jumbos faced the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and Williams-Smith. Both days boasted perfect racing conditions, with still water and cloudless skies. On Sunday, the Jumbos shook off a weak race on Saturday to finish second. The first varsity boat lost only to WPI in a close race. The turnaround and second-place finish was vital for the Jumbos, as every race at this point in the season is critical. The results decide the rankings and seedings for the New England Championships. Saturday's race against Ithaca College, Holy Cross, Conn. College and Colby College did not go nearly as well for the Jumbos. The crew rowed well for the first 1,000 meters but lost cohesion and intensity as Holy Cross started to make up ground at the 1,200 meter mark. The crew's first varsity boat finished in fourth of five schools and its second varsity boat finished in fourth of four (Conn. College did not have a second varsity boat). The sole bright spot was the third varsity and novice boats. Each finished second, with the third boat finishing just three second behind Ithaca. Ithaca won every race other than the novice, which Colby took. Junior Daniela Fairchild said the team is excited about the upcoming New England Championships. "We have just two more races before New Englands, which is what we have been rowing for all season," Fairchild said. "To make it to the National Championships, we will have to use all of our strength in the upcoming races and the New Englands." "We have been training well, increasing our speed and improving our technique every weekend that we have raced this year," Fairchild added. "The goal this coming weekend is to use the speed of our competitors to fuel us and help us cement our place on the medal stand at New Englands." This Saturday's race will be challenging for the Jumbos, but they are hoping to come out on top. The schools they will be facing have strong records. Smith is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, and Mt. Holyoke is No. 7, making the results from the race crucial for rankings in the coming week and for seedings at New Englands. The women are continuing to work hard this week, sophomore Katie Saville said. "The challenge now is even bigger than before, because we do have such depth that the expectations are a lot higher than they've been in the past," she said. "But I think we have a good chance to do well this weekend and in the New Englands." Fairchild and expressed her faith in the team. "This weekend we are looking to solidify a race plan, find a rhythm and step it up in the third 500 of the race." Fairchild said, "We have the power, the technique and the drive, we just need to get them all working together to make our boat really fly." This upcoming weekend, the Jumbos will be racing against the Sister Schools of Smith College, Simmons College and Wellesley College. Following that will also be a single race against Mt. Holyoke College on Sunday to make up for the race that was postponed due to inclement weather on April 2.
