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Sustainability and the third world

March 30

It is Sustainability Week, and despite my being an environmental studies major, I am confused. What I have learned about sustainability in America focuses on wealthy or middle class communities. These goals include reducing water consumption, promoting public transportation, and creating environmentally friendly building codes. My experience in a third world nation over spring break challenged all these ideas in the context of sustainability. I went to the Dominican Republic to promote sustainability in a Haitian refugee village. Instead, I realized that my concept of sustainability is elitist and worthless in communities whose problem is not wasting resources, but not having any resources. The goal of my group's trip was to promote sustainable grassroots international development. I figured that since I know all about sustainability, I would be especially helpful. Nevertheless, I knew nothing of what sustainability means in a developing country. American Jewish World Services (AJWS) sent me and 10 other Tufts students to a batey in the rural part of the Dominican Republic. A batey is a sugarcane plantation where Haitian refugees live and work. When there is work. When there is enough food to live. When there is enough clean water to drink. When one is not pregnant and does not have AIDS. The people in the bateys have nothing. They come to these rural communities because they are shunned by the Dominican government and stripped of the rights they constitutionally deserve. Yet, they are happy to be there because their homeland, Haiti, is hell. When reading about sustainability in America, I learn about reducing our ecological footprint. This footprint refers to the amount of land it actually takes to support the extravagant lifestyles of the Western world. The Haitian refugees have no perceptible footprint. In America, I learn about recycling programs to reduce waste. The refugees burn their trash because there is no waste disposal program. In America, I learn about air pollution laws. In the bateys, the burning plastic bags and tin cans send plumes of foul black smoke into the air, causing cancer and asthma in children and adults. In America, I learn about sanitation and hygiene to promote healthy citizens. In the batey, animal feces line the streets and rusted barbed wire strings the roads and fields. Batey inhabitants have no running water, sporadic electricity, polluted drinking water, potholed roads and embarrassing education systems. Promoting sustainability in America is necessary. We are wasteful. We are selfish. We are oblivious to the struggles and problems of the developing world. Even if we were working relentlessly to make America a sustainable country, which we are not, it would not be enough. As arguably the most important nation on Earth, we have a responsibility to those whose lives are torture. They are not in these positions because they do not work hard or because they are inherently inferior. They are trapped by their insurmountable circumstances: the poverty cycle, their skin color, the terrible virus that wracks their country. We as Americans need to fix our priorities quickly. There is only so much that well-intentioned individuals can do, but we have seen the extraordinary feats that America can accomplish when it works united towards a goal. I realize that our current administration has no intention of heeding my plea. Nevertheless, I hope that the moral agenda that has gripped our country is of the same moral fabric as the Christian, Jewish and Muslim desire to help one's neighbors. The Torah speaks of Tikkun Olam, or healing the world. Let's start now.Zachary Cuttler is a sophomore majoring in environmental studies and American studies.

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News

Peers who peer: who could be spying on you?

March 29

When San Jose State University formed a joint library with the local public library, it incorporated the public library's privacy screens on its computers. The privacy screens use the same technology as the screens on an ATM - which allow only users who are standing directly in front of the screen to view its contents. According to the Spartan Daily, the screens allowed the library to maintain open access with no filtering and provide privacy for patrons. The paper also reported that some saw the implementation of the screens as a way to view pornography in the library - and that 21 arrests have been made on suspicion of lewd acts in public committed by patrons who got carried away while viewing pornography in the library. According to Director of the Tisch Library Jo-Ann Michalak, "there is no filter software on any of our public computers." Michalak said, however, that the Tisch Library Reference Department does have a general guideline for the use of public computers: "The primary use of library computers is for academic research," Michalak said. "The staff tries to use common sense when interpreting the guideline," she said. "When all the computers are in use, the reference librarian will encourage anyone not doing academic research to free up a computer. They try not to invade users' privacy, so they announce that all the computers are busy and there are users waiting, and usually someone moves on." "Occasionally, if it appears that the use is not academic, we ask the person directly if they need help finding something, and, again, usually they move on," Michalak added. "It's a very fine line. We don't want users to feel harassed by staff, but we don't want a situation in which a user feels harassed because they can see pornography on a screen nearby." Sophomore Rachel Taplinger said she believes public exposure would halt pornography users regardless since "users would look sketchy and creepy." Privacy can be a tough issue to deal with when it comes to the Internet, which is after all a public domain. "Public domain means that I can't exclude you from using it," said Ming Chow (E '02), an application developer and webmaster in Boston who is currently teaching an ExCollege course called "Security, Privacy and Politics in the Computer Age." Chow said that the fact that many industries are starting to take ownership of the information presented on their websites adds to the debate. Now, many companies have licenses that require a user to agree to terms stated in the contract before usage. But knowing that these websites actively track their visitors can create apprehension among Internet users, who are wary of license agreements. "When I have to sign user licenses, it usually makes me look for another website to use," sophomore Alissa Jacob said. In terms of Internet security, "pornography is ironically at the forefront," Chow said. Realizing that pornography is a subject which attracts millions of people, the pornographic industry is "absolutely vigilant in protecting itself," Chow said. The majority of pornographic websites require visitors to either sign license agreements or pay for access to parts of the website. Availability of personal information is also a concern. Cases of identity and copyright theft have forced users to consider just how private the internet really is. The convenience of online banking, purchasing, chatting and downloading, however, may lead users to forget that a lot of their activities can be traced. "The problem with technology is that it hides stuff," said Chow, who finds that viewers are sometimes ignorant of where the personal information they have entered may end up. "It's scary how easy it is for people to access accounts without us knowing," senior Emily Meyer said. Jacob agreed. "Sometimes it scares me to think that I don't know where my credit card information is going," she said. At Tufts, the concept of public versus private domain is debatable. Although many students grasp the communal nature of the Internet, some feel that there is little on-campus Internet privacy. "People are afraid that Kazaa will track them down and report them to the authorities," freshman Brian Weiss said. "Tufts doesn't actively look at what students are doing on their computers or what they have on their hard drive," Tufts OnLine Supervisor Judi Rennie said. "The reason students are caught is not because we're looking; it's because the record and movie companies are looking and issuing complaints." Rennie explained how students sharing copyrighted material can be tracked down: "The music industry association, RIAA, and other groups have commissioned the building of locator bots that systematically scan IP addresses looking to see if any of the common sharing programs are active on a port," she said. "For example, the bot asks the P2P program whether it has music titles by particular artists," she said. "If the P2P program answers positively, the bot reports the IP address and title back to the copyright holder, who then sends out violation notices. Copyright holders can determine just about all the details of the copyright violation, including the name of the infringing file and the exact time it was traded." "Students are not generally aware that they give up privacy whenever they use P2P software," Rennie added. "Using P2P is the same as issuing an invitation to the entire Internet to come and look at what's on your hard drive. Add music sharing and students are setting themselves up to very easily break the DMCA [Digital Millennium Copyright Act]." When it receives these notices, the University is required by the DMCA to obey them. The first time a student is reported for possibly file-sharing copyrighted materials, "we bump them from the network and they attend an informational session," Rennie said. If a student is reported a second time, his or her Internet access is suspended again, and a letter detailing both incidents is sent to the Dean of Students office. "The Dean's office investigates the issues, and may assign penalties," Rennie said. Along with the revocation of network privileges for the length of an academic term, "the penalty for the second offense is typically disciplinary probation level one for a period of one year," Rennie said. If a student becomes a triple-offender, his or her Net access is suspended once more, and the student is placed on disciplinary probation level two for a year - which, Rennie said, "remains on your permanent record." Rennie encourages students to be familiar with the computer ethics section of the Academic Integrity at Tufts booklet and to utilize the Cdigix subscription service that provides them with free downloads.Stephanie Christofides contributed to this article.

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News

ORLL puts 77 freshmen on waitlist after housing lottery

March 29

Frustrations ran high among the freshman class at this year's housing lottery when 77 students were waitlisted for housing. In accordance with University policy, accommodation for freshmen and sophomores is guaranteed, however, many students who had been waiting in line for an extended time were sent home with no confirmed room. Yolanda King, Director of Residential Life and Learning, acknowledged this discrepancy between the number of male and female students placed on the waiting list. "This year we had more males on the sophomore waitlist due to how we had configured some of the available spaces," King said. According to King, the "majority" of the waitlisted were male. A comprehensive list of students on the waiting list could not be obtained at press time because the ORLL is still attempting to get in touch with students who did not attend the lottery. Nevertheless, King remarked that she is "comfortable" with the number of students placed on the waiting list. "Housing for rising sophomores went quite well as we worked to house this class in one day during general lottery," King said. The ORLL designates randomly selected lottery numbers between 1500 and 2999 to rising sophomores. Students given numbers toward the high-end of the range have the opportunity to pick rooms first. Freshman Marc Bouffard waited with his prospective roommate through a backlog of housing requests, armed with a 1900-range lottery number and hopes of a room in either South or Bush Halls. As the evening progressed and the male rooms on the projection screen were blacked out one after another, Bouffard said he would take whatever he could get. The last male sophomore room went to a student with a mid-range 2100 lottery number. The ORLL opened more rooms for males but a significant number of freshman men still did not get a room for next year. Affected students are less than pleased. "The lottery was very stressful and just annoying, I was there for two and a half hours and then I got waitlisted," freshman Alejandro Pi?±ero said. "It's just such a big pain to do something that shouldn't be such a big hassle." Pi?±ero's lottery number of 2048 put him among the first ten on the waiting list. "The part that really bothers me [is] that we're paying over $40,000, and they say we're guaranteed a room, but I'm on the waitlist," Bouffard said. According to Bouffard, the ORLL also did not confirm whether he and his prospective roommate could live together, nor did it provide reassuring communication about future housing alternatives. While freshman Jeff Rothbard was lucky enough to pick one of the last rooms for rising sophomore males, he said he sympathized with those who were not fortunate enough to pick their rooms. "It's nice to be able to know where you're going to live so you can start planning for what you're going to get for the room," said Bouffard. According to King, students were contacted via e-mail at the beginning of Spring Break and informed that they would receive housing assignments once they returned back to campus. "We plan to finish housing sophomores at the end of this week and the beginning of next week," King said. Despite King's assurances, Pi?±ero said he is still embittered by the housing lottery process as a whole, and questioned whether the existing lottery process is the best method of selecting housing. "[The housing process] was very stressful and just annoying, right in the middle of midterms, which [doesn't] help you at all," he said. While King did not find the number of males on the waiting list to be problematic, she said that the timing of the lottery may have been an inconvenience for many students. "We were not able to make any last-minute changes, as we had set the date and location months in advance," King said. She said that the ORLL would make "every effort to avoid this problem next year."

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News

Inside the American League

March 29

The American League West seems to provide a lot of excitement each season. Sometimes it's because teams like the Seattle Mariners come out of nowhere and put up 117 wins. Sometimes it's because the Oakland Athletics come up with ingenious new ways to win. And of course the Angels always provide excitement with a new name practically every year (this time it's the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim). So who will emerge from the pack this season? Let's break it down! 1. Angels: The reigning division champs made a few moderate improvements. They overpaid and signed shortstop Orlando Cabrera to a four-year $32 million deal. Even though they still shelled out too much cash, Cabrera will be a big defensive upgrade and a minor offensive one. Plus now it won't look like the Angels picked a 12 year-old out of the stands to play shortstop. The Angels also added free-agent pitcher Paul Byrd to their rotation. Byrd isn't a big name, but if he's healthy then he'll give the Halos what they need - more depth in the rotation. The Angels signed aging center fielder Steve Finley in hopes of improving the outfield and bringing more fans to the park. Finley had a good 2004, but he's 40, and unless Jose Canseco teaches him to inject steroids into his buttocks he'll decline quickly. The Angels should be able to overcome the losses of Troy Glaus and Troy Percival. Glaus is a great hitter, but he was injured most of the season. Percival is a solid pitcher but Fransisco Rodriguez is more than ready to close out games. All in all, the Angels should be slightly better than last year and should take the title again. 2. A's: Oakland tried to reshape the team in the offseason, and it may pay off in the future, but not this year. Dealing away aces Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder leaves the A's with a deficit of veteran pitchers. Mulder wasn't very good last year, but the team will most definitely miss Hudson, a perennial Cy Young candidate. Barry Zito and Rich Harden will head the rotation and should have success doing so, but after that there are a bunch of question marks. Dan Haren, acquired in the Mulder trade, will step into the rotation and should pitch reasonably well. But Haren could hit some bumps and Dan Meyer and Joe Blanton are even more unproven at the Major League level. The bullpen should be a strength for the A's, thanks to the addition of talented youngster Juan Cruz. Closer Octavio Dotel has great stuff, but he can be Armando Benitez-esque at times in terms of melting down in pressure situations. The A's have a decent lineup. They'd be really helped by a full healthy season from third baseman Eric Chavez, who will post MVP numbers if he can stay off the DL. The addition of catcher Jason Kendall represents a moderate offensive improvement. In the past, it has been the Oakland rotation that delivers them division titles year after year, but in 2005 the inexperience at the bottom of the rotation should hold them back just enough to miss the playoffs. 3. Texas Rangers: This team was a huge surprise last year, and they could be even better in 2005, but they'll need another miracle from pitching coach Orel Hershiser to make that happen. The Texas infield is obscenely good. They have potential Hall of Famers at first, second and third base in Mark Teixera, Alfonso Soriano and Hank Blalock, respectively. Shortstop Michael Young is a solid player as well. The outfield of the Rangers will make or break their season. Kevin Mench had a good 2004, and he's only 27 so he can improve. Centerfielder Laynce Nix is only 24 and could be ready to breakout. The Rangers made a nice addition in right field by acquiring Richard Hidalgo. Hidalgo's had some struggles, but playing in the cozy confines of the The Ballpark at Arlington could be just what he needs. The Rangers have a decent bullpen and an embarrassingly bad rotation. If Orel can somehow find a way to get the rotation pitching at a mediocre level that may be all the Rangers need to take the division. However, that's a lot to ask. When you're depending on people like Chan Ho Park, you're in big trouble. 4. Seattle: The M's should be a lot better in 2005, but that's mostly because things couldn't have gone any worse in '04. They added big name sluggers Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre thanks to free agency. Sexson is moving from a hitter's park to Safeco Field, named for its ability to save pitchers from steroid-powered hitters. Sexson also just had serious shoulder surgery, which is a red flag. Beltre put up great numbers in '04 and the issue is whether he was finally reaching his potential, or whether it was just a contract-year fluke. Either way, the M's probably don't have quite enough to win the division. Their pitching staff has too many question marks and injury prone pitchers.

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News

Balance | Varying workout routines good for results

March 29

Exercising three times per week over the course of a four-year college career accumulates to 624 workouts by graduation day. That's a lot of opportunity for variety, but imagine if each workout was devoted solely to the treadmill - or the elliptical - or lifting weights. It's probably not that hard to imagine. For many busy students, a one-dimensional workout is a reality. According to the American College of Sports Medicine, strength, endurance and flexibility are the three components of physical activity. Climbing the stair stepper, lifting free weights, and stretching afterwards can technically fulfill these three criteria. But 624 days of this regimen is boring. Doing the same exercise all the time may have negative effects as well. "As people continually do the same exercise, their bodies adapt to that exercise," said Susan Coomber, Senior Research Coordinator of the Tufts Nutrition, Exercise Physiology, and Sarcopenia Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging. "They become more efficient at performing the exercise and will start to 'plateau' or not see the same benefits as when they first started the exercise." Bringing alternative forms of exercise in to a usual routine can break the monotony and avoid a plateau. In addition, mixing up a humdrum schedule can help acquire valuable skills far beyond the realm of traditional fitness. "Balance, overall muscular strength, mind-body awareness, and agility" are some of these skills, said Sean Roberson, a boxing instructor at Healthworks Fitness. Since fear of the unknown is often a major roadblock to varying exercise sessions, we went behind the doors of classes such as "Tai Chi," "Bosu Bootcamp," "Plyo Power," and "Combat Conditioning," to give you an inside look at some of today's hottest forms of alternative workouts. Jennifer visits the Beacon Hill Athletic Clubs and tries Tai Chi History: Tai Chi is a Chinese system of slow physical exercises designed for meditation, balance and self-defense. Tai chi is promoted to improve immune function, posture, circulation, and bone strength, particularly among the elderly. However, younger persons may reap the benefits of this exercise too. A recent study published in Health Promotion International found that Tai Chi improved blood pressure and balance among women aged 33 to 55. My Experience: There were six people in my Tai Chi class, and I was the youngest by about 35 years. When the instructor announced the class rules, "to relax, to learn at least one new thing, and to have fun," I wasn't so sure I could accomplish the third. We started out with extremely slow arm movements, and then began incorporating our legs. Each position had a specific name and purpose. For example, the "hand strums the lute" movement balances yin and yang, and "strike the tiger" diverts destructive energy. Once we learned the basics, we lined up against the wall and performed the movements walking across the room. I found myself constantly trying to speed up, but the instructor promptly reminded us that, "it is a race to see who could go the slowest." By the end of the hour I did indeed have fun. Skills Developed: Patience, control and balance. Would I do it again? I have a deep respect for people that practice Tai Chi regularly. It is a fascinating tradition that has provided a health outlet to people for centuries. I would most definitely take another Tai Chi class, but not necessarily at this point in my life. As much as I could use the relaxation, I am just a little too impatient.Amberly visits Healthworks Fitness and tries Bosu Bootcamp History: The Bosu Balance Trainer was first introduced in the fall of 1999 to a select group of professional and Olympic teams, and before long made its debut appearance in health clubs. Bosu is like an exercise ball that's been cut in half with a platform on the bottom. You can use it ball-side-up to challenge lower body balance and stability or use the platform to target upper body strength. My Experience: The class began slowly with simple step movements and small jump-squats to help you establish balance on the Bosu. It then alternated between strength work (which varies from trying to balance your body in sit-up position on the ball, to lunging off the back of it) and short bursts of cardio (more jumping on the ball). I spent the first twenty-minutes of class trying to figure out the best way to actually stay on top of the ball. I recommend wearing flexible shoes that allow you to curl your toes around the ball and grip on for dear life. Bosu stands for "both sides up" which I think is in direct reference to what your body will have gone through by the time you finish the class. I witnessed one woman go tumbling to the ground while trying to execute a move that belongs in Cirque du Soleil. Skills Developed: Balance, strength, some cardio and humility. Would I do it again? My personal balancing issues aside, I would definitely try Bosu Bootcamp again. Since the Bosu absorbs the impact of jumping, you can do exercises such as jump squats without risking knee deterioration. However, since it may take a few sessions before you begin to feel comfortable on the Bosu, I recommend sticking to the modified exercises until you have a better sense of balance. Jennifer visits Beacon Hill Athletic Clubs and tries Plyo Power History: Plyometrics is a type of exercise using explosive movements like jumping, bounding and hopping to develop muscular power. It utilizes the forces of gravity to develop power and muscle reaction. Historically, elite athletes have trained with plyometrics to improve their speed and strength for skills such as bounding out of the starting blocks. My experience: The first thing I did after my plyometrics class was immediately take 2 Advil and a nap. It was one of the most challenging physical feats I have ever endured. A better name for my "Plyo Power" class perhaps would have been "squat then jump, squat then jump, squat then jump for an hour." We started by setting up a bench step on risers. I began with 2 pairs of risers, and within 35 seconds, realized I would have to remove one set to make it through the session. Then came the squat combos - 45-second intervals of sideways squats, squats with a jump, then squats on the bench - each separated by running in place and a short break. Motivating music played as I concentrated on coordination and form. At the end I knew I had just done hundreds of squats, and unbelievable soreness awaited my quadriceps and hamstrings. Skills Developed: Endurance, lower body strength and power. Would I do it again? I definitely plan on returning to "Plyo Power" next week. It is grueling, challenging, and borderline agonizing, but I feel so strong for having made it through. It is a high-impact form of exercise, though, and may not be appropriate for beginners or people with injuries.Amberly visits Healthworks Fitness and tries Combat Conditioning History: Combat conditioning is a catchy name for boxing. As a form of recreational exercise, boxing experienced a surge in popularity when Tae Bo was introduced to the American public. Many fitness centers offer boxing classes of different varieties; combat conditioning focuses on traditional boxing skills. My experience: When the instructor entered the room, he immediately dropped his bag and instructed us to drop and give him twenty; a drill we would repeat at least 10 more times before the class was over. We worked right into a pattern of rigorous punching and kicking, which was interspersed with jumping jacks and strength drills. No breaks were given - recovery time was filled with more jumping jacks and I began to wonder how I would ever make it through a full 60-minute class. Imagining that I was Hillary Swank in "Million Dollar Baby", I punched and kicked until I had to physically hold my leg in the air to complete the exercise. To say it was the most challenging workout of my entire life is an understatement. As I sit here now - five hours, three liters of water, and four Advil later - I can barely keep my arms from shaking enough to write this article. Skills Developed: Strength, endurance, coordination, balance, flexibility and will power. Would I do it again? The words "combat" and "conditioning" are two words whose meanings are forever changed in my mind. I plan on attending combat conditioning every week, not because I'm a masochist, but because my mind and body have never felt as alive as they did when I left the class. A "good workout" means different things to different people. For some, it's about the calories burned or soreness of muscles the next day. For others, balance, mental clarity, stress-relief and even self-defense skills are important. Fortunately, with literally thousands of opportunities to workout over a lifetime, you don't have to choose one. The key is to trying a variety of exercises, and finding those that are not only comfortable, but are interesting and challenging enough to keep you coming back for more.Jennifer Wilmes and Amberly VanArnum are graduate students in nutrition communication at the Friedman School. Wilmes has a BA in communications from Southwestern University and VanArnum has a BS in physiological sciences from UCLA.

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Balanced Bites | Roast Chicken with carrots, onions, Brussels sprouts

March 29

The thought of roasting a whole chicken in the oven is intimidating to many home cooks, but if you follow a few simple rules, it's not hard at all. Once you master this technique, you will be pleased with the delicious, healthy, and impressive results!w 1 whole roasting chicken, preferably 4-5 lbsw 5-6 sprigs thymew 2 sprigs rosemaryw 1 lemonw 5 cloves garlicw 1 white onion, cut into 4 quartersw 1/4 cup chopped scallionsw 4 carrots, washed, trimmed, and cut in halfw 1/2 lb (about 20) Brussels sprouts, sliced in halfw 1 Tbsp olive oilw salt and pepper to season1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a roasting dish by greasing the bottom with a drizzle of the olive oil - you can use a glass casserole, a metal baking pan; anything that can go in the oven and will accommodate the chicken plus the vegetables.2. Rinse the whole chicken under cold running water. If the neck and giblets are packed inside the chicken, remove them. (Some chickens will come with this stuff, some won't. They are a great addition to gravy or stuffing if you're feeling brave!) Pat the chicken dry with paper towels and set it in the roasting dish, breast-side up. (Note: Be sure to wash out your sink with hot, soapy water after the rinsing process to get rid of any germs.)3. Cut the lemon in half and stuff one half into the back of the chicken's central cavity. Then stuff in the herbs and 2 cloves of garlic. If there's room, you can put the other lemon half in the front of the cavity, but if not, just leave it out. Sprinkle the outside of the bird generously with salt and pepper.4. Arrange the other 3 cloves of garlic, the onion quarters, carrot halves, and Brussels sprouts around the chicken in the roasting dish. Sprinkle the vegetables with a little salt and drizzle them with the remaining olive oil.5. Now comes the tricky part: Figuring out how long to cook the bird. If your chicken is 4-5 pounds, it should take about an hour and 15 minutes. For larger chickens you should add 10-15 minutes per additional pound to the cooking time. There are two good methods to tell if your chicken is done: 1) insert a meat thermometer into the thigh-it should read 165 degrees Fahrenheit, or 2) if you don't have a meat thermometer, make a small cut in the thigh - if the juices run clear, the bird is done, if the juices are pink, it needs more time.6. A most important step: before slicing the chicken, let it rest for at least 10 minutes after you take it out of the oven. This allows the juices to redistribute and makes for good, tender meat. 7. To serve, pull off the drumsticks and serve them whole (they should come off easily with a little twist). Similarly, the thighs should come right off with a little pressure, or the meat can be sliced off the thigh bones with a sharp knife. For the breast, slice off thin pieces of meat until you reach the bone. Don't be afraid to dig around-there are good pieces of meat to be found everywhere. Arrange the meat on individual plates with the vegetables, which should be tender and delicious from all that roasting!Nutrition facts (per serving): Calories: 310, Fat: 12g, Sat. Fat: 3g, Carbohydrates: 13g, Protein: 36g- Molly Pindell

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CD Review | Daft Punk's latest is like an oldie but still a goodie

March 29

To those non-adherents of electronic music, the entire genre sounds the same. But to those who know the difference between drum 'n' bass, dance and lounge and who are well-versed in the subsets of micro house, deep house, acid house, and the like, each DJ scratches distinctively. There are some electronic greats that are immediately identifiable: Antoine Clamaran and his female vocals intertwined with jungle beats, Satoshi Tomiie with his dark, funky sets and the Chemical Brothers and their undulating acidic rhythms. In the case of Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem Christo's recently released LP, "Human After All," the moment the title and opening track start to play, you know you're listening to Daft Punk, because you heard it all before four years ago. The French duo's first work since their sophomore release, "Discovery" (2001), "Human" was compiled in a Parisian studio in two to six weeks-depending on who your source is - and it's not hard to believe. The nine tracks and one interlude sound alarmingly like the ones in their highly successful earlier album. The catchiest tune on the LP is certainly "Technologic" which, while fun and worthy of any throbbing dance floor, sounds eerily like the equally mesmerizing "Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger" we've all been playing since 2001 with its choppy escalating lyrics and intoxicating bass line. This time, it's 2005, and the sexually suggestive fragments of "Harder, Better" have been replaced with the currently appropriate jargon ("Plug it, play it, burn it, rip it, drag it, zip/unzip it") of today's Powerbook-wielding generation. In the same way, the lounge-like electronica of "Make Love" and "Emotion" remind us of at least four tracks from "Discovery" but especially of "Veridis Quo" which begins with an organ-like melody nearly identical to the opening strophes of the new disc's "Emotion." "Human After All" and "The Prime Time of Your Life" are the more electronically vibrant songs on the record but they continue what "Short Circuit" did with its peppy, bursting beats. However, while that kind of effervescent song dominated "Discovery," the tracks that govern Daft Punk's third try are the more mysterious, shadowy ones. Such murkiness is hinted at in rock-infused cuts like the first single, "Robot Rock," and the darker "Television Rules the Nation." Here, although the sound recalls "Aerodynamic" of bygone years, the melodies are admittedly more inculcated by the angry chords of an electric guitar, an instrument whose use in "Discovery" was snazzier. In this sense, "Human After All" differs from its predecessor. Darker compositions like "Steam Machine" and "The Brainwasher" evoke images of angry cyborg phalanxes. This contrasts immensely with the happy, bubbly robots suggested by "Digital Love" and "Crescendolls" from their second album. These amiable automatons were so innocuous, in fact, that they were visually presented as attractive blue aliens in the cult favorite feature-length film "Interstella 5555" which set the entire "Discovery" album to the psychedelic anim?© of Leiji Matsumoto. Perhaps the best way to differentiate between the two albums is to simply look at what the songs are about. "Discovery's" content is worthy of an intergalactic saga, with its tracks ranging from falling in love, to escape and ending with a happily-ever-after take on life. On the other hand, "Human After All" points out how overrun twenty-first century society is with technology, the media, and our effort to grasp the 15 minutes of fame or shame Warhol promised us. Overall, however, both albums shed a positive light on the current state of global society. Though this new LP taints its depiction with an obvious dose of cynicism, it also closes with a soothing track on human emotions (appropriately titled "Emotion,") indicating that perhaps Daft Punk doesn't think technology is the end of us after all. When de Homem Christo and Bangalter released their debut album, "Homework," in 1997, they were revolutionary-never had we heard anything like them. "Discovery" built upon the new sound of Daft Punk and got us hooked. In the four years since then, we've somewhat successfully forgotten the tune to "One More Time" and managed to build Daft Punk up to the level of electronic deities. While "Human After All" is inspired, exuberant, and sure to produce hits as big as the previous albums' and lead to just as many remixes, devoted fans will recognize that much of that inspiration is the same kind Daft Punk showered on us in 2001 and, to a less palpable level, in 1997. It seems that there is only so much innovation these French DJs can live up to, but if we consider the fact that they've only been around for eight years, they've given us enough groundbreaking sound to keep us going until at least their fourth record. Maybe this newest LP's title can be interpreted in the sense that, quite simply, Daft Punk is, indeed, human after all.

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News

Balance | Get Your Motor Running

March 29

Flexibility has long been advocated as an essential component of any fitness or conditioning program. However, despite this knowledge, flexibility is a conveniently "forgotten" element in exercise routines among countless busy gym-goers. Add the recently rumored words that stretching may not be as helpful as once thought, and it becomes even easier to guiltlessly walk out the gym door sans a daily stretch. And so the dilemma continues: To stretch or not to stretch? What is a dedicated Gantcher Center-regular to do? Injury prevention is the most frequently cited reason to advocate stretching. However, reports have recently surfaced that indicate stretching may not aid in thwarting injury. In an analysis of more than 350 studies published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, stretching was not found to reduce the risk of injury. Another recent report published in the journal Sports Medicine similarly concluded that study results on the benefits of stretching for injury prevention have been contradictory. Dr. Erik Witvrouw of Ghant University in Belgium and his colleagues, authors of the report, suggest that the type of sport or activity may be important to consider. Stretching has been found to prevent injury in sports like soccer or football that require jumping because, the authors suggest, these sports may place hefty demands on muscle-tendon connections. In contrast, stretching has not been linked to the same injury prevention benefits in lower-intensity sports such as running and cycling. While proper stretching may or may not ameliorate injury risk, it is important to note that it has not been named the culprit either. Additionally, proper stretching has been suggested to improve blood flow and nutrient transport, improve physical performance, reduce muscle soreness and improve posture. Stretching remains an integral part of the American College of Sports Medicine's guidelines for exercise, despite the need for more research on the most effective methods for improving flexibility. And until conclusive research is available to suggest otherwise, including stretching in your exercise routine remains a steadfast recommendation. There is much debate about which techniques bolster the most benefits, but static stretching (holding a position for a designated length of time) appears to be the safest recommended practice. To ensure you safely get the most out of a stretch, remember these key points: 1. A warm muscle is safer to stretch than a cold muscle. Perform a mild warm-up first, such as a brisk walk to the gym or five minutes of low-intensity cycling on a stationary bike, to be sure your muscles are "warm" before you stretch. 2. Only push to the point of mild tension. If you feel pain or a lot of discomfort, you may be pushing too far. 3. Hold each stretch for 30 to 60 seconds, and remember to breathe.Shannon Bowles is a graduate student in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism at the Friedman School. She has a BS in exercise science and psychology from the University of Utah and is a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Emily Bergeron is the co-editor of Balance and is a doctoral 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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Balance | Intro to food science

March 29

Do you know ...why bananas don't have seeds? Bananas are a species that can reproduce with or without being pollinated. When they reproduce without pollination, seedless, sterile bananas are born. Naturally, humans prefer the full-bodied seedless bananas compared to wild bananas (which actually do have seeds, and not much fruit). These sterile bananas are propagated asexually by rooting banana plant cuttings. Because they have no chance for genetic recombination, every banana you buy in the store is genetically identical - clones of one banana variety. (Note: This genetic sameness means that the world export banana crop is highly vulnerable to wide-sweeping blights. Luckily, many banana varieties survive in the wild or are maintained by small-scale farmers, which can be used to breed new banana varieties. Thus, while sterile varieties may come and go, the banana species will survive.)... that the strong chemical you taste in wasabi is a potent insecticide? Wasabi, the hot green paste that goes with sushi, comes from a plant related to cabbage. Its pungent taste comes from several compounds called allyl isothiocyanates, which are also found in horseradish, cabbage and mustard. Allyl isothiocyanate is such a powerful insecticide that it kills most insects as soon as they try to take a bite out of the wasabi plant! But don't worry - it's non-toxic to humans, and there is some evidence that this strong bioactive chemical has anti-microbial and anti-cancer effects....that seaweed (as in, the green stuff that wraps around sushi) has higher relative protein content than the fish in the sushi? In fact, seaweed has the highest protein as a percent of calories of any raw food measured: 90 percent, compared with 76 percent in fish, 31 percent in beef and 60 percent in chicken. It's also high in iron, iodine and magnesium, which makes seaweed a great vegetarian source of many of these nutrients that are normally found in animal-source foods.... that seaweed (as in, the green stuff that wraps around sushi) has higher relative protein content than the fish in the sushi? In fact, seaweed has the highest protein as a percent of calories of any raw food measured: 90 percent, compared with 76 percent in fish, 31 percent in beef and 60 percent in chicken. It's also high in iron, iodine and magnesium, which makes seaweed a great vegetarian source of many of these nutrients that are normally found in animal-source foods.Anna Whitson Herforth is a graduate student at the Friedman School. She has a BS in plant science from Cornell University.

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Balance | Ask Sara Wilson, RD

March 29

Q. My friends think that soy is the perfect health food, but I've heard too much soy can increase your risk of breast cancer! How much is too much and is there a safe amount that can be eaten? A. Early research suggested that certain compounds in soy products, called phytoestrogens, might protect against breast cancer. But more recent studies are less clear. Some researchers have found that these same phytoestrogens may promote tumor growth in the breast, especially in pre-menopausal women. And, it seems that the phytoestrogens in soy are more harmful to women who have already had breast cancer. It really is too early to say whether soy is absolutely helpful or harmful where breast cancer is concerned; if someone in your family has had breast cancer, you may want to be more aware of your soy intake until more definitive research is available. But that's not to say that soy is necessarily a dangerous food. The American Heart Association recommends 20-25 grams of soy protein per day to protect against heart disease, and the FDA has authorized this as a safe amount for food labeling purposes. One glass of soymilk contains about 6 grams of soy protein. If you think you may be at increased risk of breast cancer, it may be wise to stick to the lower end of the current recommendations. Q. Lately in the dining hall I've been seeing this grain-like stuff called "quinoa." What is it and is it good for you? A. Quinoa (pronounced KEEN-wah) is often thought of as a grain, though it is actually a seed. It is native to South America, and has been cultivated for nearly 5,000 years. Quinoa seeds, or "grains," as they are often called, are small and bead-shaped, and range in color from ivory to red to black. This "grain" is rich in good quality protein (more so than rice or corn) because it contains a complete range of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. It is also a good source of several B vitamins and minerals such as iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. Quinoa can be substituted for almost any grain due to its relatively bland flavor; so next time you see it in the dining hall, try it with your stir-fry instead of rice. It'll boost your protein intake, and taste good too! Q. I am determined to shed some winter fat and gain lean muscle before parading around in any kind of bathing suit this summer. I've heard that you are supposed to eat pre- and post- workout snacks, but I'm afraid of eating too many calories and sabotaging my efforts. What are the benefits to eating before and after exercising, and what should I be eating? A. Proper nutrition before and after exercise helps you get the most out of your workout. Eating before your workout gives your body energy so you can work harder, and eating after your workout allows you to recover from your workout faster. Failing to provide your body with enough energy pre- and post-workout can lead to muscle loss and increased fatigue, and possibly injury. In general, your pre-workout meal should be low in fat and fiber (to avoid stomachaches or cramps), and higher in carbohydrates. You may also want to include a high quality protein source with your snack - such as a hardboiled egg (without the yolk if you want to keep it lower in fat), some tuna (minus the mayo) on crackers, or a small piece of leftover chicken breast - if you will be performing strength training exercises. Eating high quality protein within one hour after strength training helps to maximize protein synthesis and muscle growth. Your post-workout meal should consist of carbohydrates, protein, and fat, and should be eaten soon after working out to maximize recovery and replete energy stores. Remember, your pre- and post-workout snacks should fit in to your total daily calorie intake. Spread your calories throughout the day to accommodate pre- and post-workout snacks. By eating a little bit less at each meal, you can have snacks that will give you plenty of energy for exercise - and won't sabotage your workout efforts.Sara Wilson is a graduate student in nutrition communications at the Friedman School. She has a BS in nutrition from Syracuse University and is a registered dietitian. Prior to coming to Tufts, Wilson worked as a clinical dietitian in an intensive care unit of Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, Ore.

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News

Racism: An Explanation

March 29

This is part two of a two-part Viewpoint. Part one appeared in yesterday's issue. Racism is a system of advantage based on race that benefits the majority (white people) by disadvantaging the minority (people of color). For those of you who checked your Webster's dictionary or www.dictionary.com and came up with a different explanation, think about who is writing those dictionaries and you'll find that it's the same group of people who have written laws with the explicit purpose of oppressing and maintaining power over people of color in the United States. Some believe that people of color can be racist against one another while there are others who think that they cannot. Either way, only white people can benefit from racism. Modern-day racism is the reason that we still need the culture houses and the special months for the populations of color. In a majority white country and on a majority white campus, these things alone create a space for underrepresented groups to have their voices heard. The same goes for the need for the Asian American Curriculum Transformation (AACT). The lack of Asian American studies at Tufts is another example of the systemic racism that conceals itself as the norm. No, there may not be Irish American studies at Tufts, or at any other university for that matter. But the fact that Irish Americans are blended into the white category and therefore enjoy the privileges of extreme majority of the curriculum caters to white America proves the need for groups such as the AACT. As far as the student of color organizations not opening up their events to the whole campus, well, that simply is not true. The most recent example is the Tufts Emerging Black Leaders Symposium on that took place on March 6 and March 7. If one person on Tufts' campus can claim to have not seen the flyer for this event at least once, I would be shocked. This event was so well-publicized throughout campus and beyond, that, come the weekend of the event, I was hopeful that the multitude of faces at the event would represent various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Instead, when I looked around Cabot Auditorium that Saturday, I saw very few of my white peers. Yes, there were quite a few white students who came at the end to hear the keynote speaker, Kwame Jackson, and that was wonderful. Is a celebrity what it takes to get white students at Tufts to attend an organization of color's event? In a similar vein, at the beginning of every academic year, there is an activity fair on the campus center patio. This gives every student the opportunity to sign up to be on any organization's listserv and participate in that organization's activities and events. Is it the fault of organizations of color that the majority of white students simply choose not to sign up for the Pan-African Alliance, Asian Community at Tufts, Tufts Association of South Asians, etc.? So why should white people care about racism? It obviously doesn't affect them. Wrong. Although racism directly and most significantly affects people of color, it also affects everyone else, regardless of race. Wouldn't the country be a better place if everyone had the same opportunities and options available to them? Race is oftentimes intrinsically linked to socioeconomic class. Wouldn't the struggling economy of the United States be much better off if people of color were given the same chance as whites so that they could receive a postsecondary education, become eligible for better-paying jobs, and positively contribute to the economy? The majority of the white students reading this right now may be just as angry as they were when they read Alex Wessman's Viewpoint, "White People and Racism" (March 10), and that's perfectly fine. It's not every day that white people in this country wake up and discover that they are racist. But being racist does not necessarily make you a bad person. After all, we don't choose our race; we're born into it. But it is what we, people of all colors, do and the decisions that we make once we become cognizant of the system of racism that makes a difference. Lauren R. White is a senior majoring in American studies.

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Greek P.M., Tufts alum will give grad address

March 29

Kostas Karamanlis, Tufts alum and Prime Minister of Greece, will be the keynote speaker at this year's 149th Commencement exercises to be held on Sunday, May 22. The 48 year old Karamanlis is the youngest prime minister to be elected in modern Greek history, as he led his New Democracy party to victory in Mar. 2004. In a press release issued yesterday, University President Lawrence Bacow said Karamanlis is "one of Europe's most dynamic leaders, and a rising star on the global political stage." "His international perspective, commitment to public service and leadership are all qualities our students, faculty and staff hold with the highest regard," Bacow said. According to the same press release, Karamanlis said his election is "the start of a new era," and the establishment of Greece as the Mediterranean's primary economic hub is one of his top priorities. During his time in office, Karamanlis has also initiated broad education and health reforms. After five months of being in office, Karamanlis presided over the 2004 Summer Olympic Games, which had returned to Greece for the first time in over 100 years. Joining Karamanlis at the Commencement exercises will be four honorary degree recipients. Tufts alum and Oscar-winning actor William Hurt will be awarded an honorary doctorate in the Fine Arts, and Tufts alum and National Medal of Science winner Ann M. Graybiel will receive an honorary doctorate in Science. To receive honorary doctorates in Humane Letters will be Mayor of Hiroshima and former Tufts mathematics professor Tadatoshi Akiba, as well as former Dartmouth College President James O. Freedman. Karamanlis will also receive an honorary doctorate of laws. At the Saturday, May 21 Commencement exercises for the Fletcher School, Tufts alum and Prime Minister of Libya Shokri Ghanem will speak. Last year's Commencement speaker was former Time Magazine Managing Editor and former CEO of CNN Walter Isaacson.

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James Gerber | Through the Smokescreen

March 29

My anger at the state of our country has been mounting for a few years now, and it reached an all-time high in the months following the November elections. It was therefore with great anticipation that I awaited this year's Spring Break, as I had plans to go abroad for the first time in over four years. Aside from the usual reasons for jubilation at spending a week in London, I was also looking forward to visiting a country where I expected most of the people would feel as much enmity towards the Bush administration as I do. Unfortunately, my focus on Bush left me unprepared for the harsh reality of the current exchange rate. Everything costs double in England, a rather disconcerting fact that I was financially unprepared for. My first thoughts were how could the dollar be worth so little? Now, I don't know much about economics, and I don't presume to be able to justly lay blame, but I did visit London six years ago during the time of Clinton, and the exchange rate then was closer to $1.50 to the pound. Everything was still expensive, but not to the point of crippling my adventures. This time, I was forced to travel around in economic shackles, constantly refusing one pricey activity after another. I might be mistaken, but I suspect this has something to do with the Bush administration's fiscal policies. Now, don't get me wrong; London provided countless memories and great fun. However, my experiences were always limited by that horrible exchange rate. For instance, at bars and clubs, I had to constantly explain my unwillingness to purchase any drink over ?5. However, I did not encounter as much hostility towards America as I expected, and our original plans to wear those shirts with the lines "Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry" turned out to be unnecessary. In general, I was more troubled by the Bush administration's actions than they were. Those British who did express political concerns were primarily enraged at their own Prime Minister and his blind support of President Bush. I left London with many stories and a somewhat depleted bank account (though I was very proud of my frugal bearing). Strangely, the most shocking part of the trip came aboard the plane as we were descending into JFK airport. Mind you, we were not flying United Airlines; we're students, after all, and we chose Air India, which offered the cheapest airfare we could find. I was talking to the two Scottish girls next to me about New York when one of the stewards seated across from me, a middle-aged man with a heavy accent, chimed in. The descent was very loud, and I couldn't hear most of what the man was saying. I was able to decipher some small pieces, however, and I was woefully unprepared for what I was about to hear. The man began by stating that he'd been traveling to and from the United States for over 20 years, and in that time he had come to appreciate how great England was, and conversely how horrible America was. He pointed out how New York City has nothing to offer, especially when compared with the cities of Europe. There were no old buildings, no great historical monuments. He laughed when I suggested the Statue of Liberty. I kept a smile on as the man continued to attack my country. Eventually, his verbal assaults turned to our policies: airport security, in particular, was a prime target. I tried to reason with him. "I understand that our security measures are a bit severe," I told him, "but 9/11 has forced us to tighten up, particularly in New York." As I soon learned, this only added fuel to the fire; it was obviously a mistake to bring up 9/11. Again, I couldn't hear most of what he was saying, but I managed to make out certain parts. He said something about "those two buildings," and I nodded in agreement, assuming he was acknowledging the tragedy. The next thing I heard, however, froze my smile in its place. "If you hit someone, they'll hit back." This man believed that we deserved what we got. He had no sympathy, only enmity. I sat back, refusing to listen any more. I wanted to fight this guy, this man who had the nerve to tell me how much he hated my country, just as we were landing in it. There's a reason we have such tight security, I wanted to say, and it's because of people like you. It's one thing for me to attack Bush, even for foreigners to express their displeasure at our President. However, a line is crossed when someone starts attacking America, the country. There's a difference between our government's policies, and the country itself. Many of my articles have criticized Bush's actions. However, I still love this country, and despite all its faults, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I'm reminded of a quote by Winston Churchill: "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others." Everyone can see that America isn't perfect. It has a great many faults. Yet it's still leaps and bounds beyond the others, and it took only a short conversation at the end of my trip to remind me of this. Despite the unpleasantness, I remain grateful.James Gerber is a freshman who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached via e-mail at james.gerber@tufts.edu.

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Environment-friendly endowment is achievable

March 29

This week is Sustainability Week at Tufts. Over the next several days, a variety of events and discussions will address issues concerning environmental sustainability, social justice and campus greening. This presents a great opportunity for Tufts students to learn and think critically about environmental issues and to begin taking action towards creating a healthier planet. Sustainability Week will also provoke discussion about how Tufts University as an institution can move towards greater environmental sustainability. On Thursday at 1:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Filene Center's Rabb room, several speakers will lead a panel on "The University's Role in Corporate Responsibility." Much of this conversation will focus on Tufts' $750 million endowment, most of which is currently placed in the hands of outside money managers, including hedge funds. These money managers invest the endowment in hundreds of corporations, and Tufts profits from the resulting returns. Tufts' 2003 tax forms, which can be found online at guidestar.org, list all the companies managing the University's investments. However, the financial transparency disappears at the level of the money managers. Where exactly are these companies investing Tufts' endowment? There is good reason to believe that many of these investment decisions are being used to support corporations with questionable social and environmental records. In 2003, for example, Tufts had over $9 million invested through Farallon Capital Management, L.L.C. Farallon is a hedge fund that has been directly linked to a 1994 venture to pump water from an aquifer in Colorado despite the opposition of local residents. Fears abounded that that this project would dry up hundreds of thousands of acres of croplands and destroy the surrounding ecosystems. Farallon eventually abandoned the water venture, but not before turning a 40 percent profit on its original investment. Farallon has also been connected to investments in oil companies in Russia and natural gas companies in South America. Tufts has pledged to meet the emissions targets of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change, yet its endowment dollars through Farallon may very well be supporting the fossil fuels that spew tons and tons of carbon dioxide into our atmosphere every day. Such a prospect is disturbing and should be unacceptable to the university. Tufts' $9 million investment in Farallon represents only a small fraction of its total investments. According to Tufts' 2003 tax forms, the university had over $346 million placed in various companies, including $85 million in EIM and $36 million in Adage. Where is this money going? Who are these companies, anyway? We don't know. Concerned students have helped reveal some of Farallon's shady dealings, but in general the public is left in the dark regarding the practices of faceless hedge funds and other money managers. According to Tufts' Chief Investment Officer Sally Dungan, the university has made a conscious decision to not concern itself with where its money managers invest its endowment. This, Dungan says, will ensure that Tufts continually maximizes its returns. However, according to a Public Perceptions of University Endowments study by the Goldman Sachs Global Markets Institute, 75 percent of donors surveyed agreed that "University endowments should only invest in funds that disclose which companies they invest in, because endowment donors deserve to know how their donations are being invested." Given this statistic, it is noteworthy that several of Tufts' peer institutions, including Harvard, Dartmouth, Williams, and Columbia, have advisory committees (with student representation) dedicated to shareholder responsibility, and that Harvard and Dartmouth make their shareholder voting records available to their school community and to the public. None of these universities seem to be suffering for lack of investment returns as a result, and Tufts should follow in their footsteps by disclosing its investments and adopting socially responsible practices. Tufts' investment decisions have far-reaching impacts beyond Medford and Somerville, so the University has a responsibility to ensure that the companies investing its endowment do not contribute to destructive practices both domestically and abroad. By drafting shareholder resolutions expressing concern about social and environmental issues, voting its conscience on existing shareholder resolutions and questions instead of voting with management by default, and prioritizing socially responsible businesses with future investments, Tufts can and must leverage its financial power to steer money-managers and corporations in more sustainable directions. Similarly, Tufts must also consider the impacts of its purchasing decisions. Currently all the electricity Tufts uses is generated by burning fossil fuels. We can do better. Tufts' student group Environmental Consciousness Outreach (ECO), of which I am a member, is currently running a campaign to get the University to purchase some of its energy from wind power, which is clean, renewable, and does not contribute to climate change. Over fifty schools nationwide, with the support of environmental non-profits like EnviroCitizen, have run such campaigns, playing an active role in the growing student movement for clean energy. Will Tufts continue with business as usual, or will it use its financial clout to advocate for social and environmental change? The power of universities to reform corporations should not be understated. In 2002, Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania initiated a shareholder resolution urging the defense contractor Lockheed Martin to bar discrimination based on sexual orientation. Under pressure from Swarthmore, Lockheed Martin adopted the resolution as official company policy. Tufts could certainly work towards similar goals regarding social and environmental responsibility. Continued investments in practices that contribute to environmental destruction and climate change threaten our health and security and ironically make our financial future even less certain. Our dollars should not be blackened with the soot of fossil fuels. Instead, they must shine green as we move towards greater environmental sustainability.Aditya Nochur is a sophomore majoring in environmental studies and biology.

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Good news for grads who are used to bad news

March 29

When senior Melody Hildebrandt began interning and building up her resume as a sophomore at Tufts, the job market was on a downswing, and recent graduates were flocking to graduate school or settling for jobs that were far from what they desired. But now, with a well-tailored resume and a sudden surge in hiring, the international relations major and soon-to-be-graduate's hard work has paid off - and landed her a highly sought-after government position in Washington D.C. "I started applying pretty early for jobs," Hildebrandt said. "I had interned this summer at Booz Allen Hamilton, a government consulting firm in D.C., for the U.S. House of Representatives and for the [Democratic National Committee]. I think those experiences were the major selling point of my resume." "And I got my top choice, so I took it," she added. According to an annual survey conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), many of the usual job market indicators point toward a strong employment outlook for new college graduates. Employers say they are planning to hire 13 percent more college graduates this academic year than the previous year, according to the survey. "Most of the employers we surveyed said that with the improving economy, their businesses are growing so they have more positions to fill, which accounts for this increase in hiring," said Andrea Kahn, NACE's Employment Information Manager. According to the Director of Career Services, Tufts seniors are doing very well in the job market this year. "We're hearing fairly steadily from seniors calling to share their good news," she said. "And many of these students are finding their jobs through the campus recruiting program or our off campus recruiting events in New York or Washington [DC]. Today we received a call from a senior, canceling a counseling appointment and thanking us for the support in her search which landed a position in New York City." Business growth and the continuing economic growth are important factors in the improving market. "Increased sales, new contracts, lower interest rates, increased government spending and increases in the market for new construction feed the positive outlook," the survey reported. In addition, employers said employee turnover, the aging (and retiring) work force, and mergers and acquisitions of companies are also positive factors in the job market. Senior Matthew Michalovsky, who has already secured a job at the Deutsche Bank in New York City, found that the job market was extremely competitive, but was dominated by soon-to-be graduates. "There was a lot of competition, and I didn't get one job I applied for because they decided to only hire people with MBAs, but it definitely seemed like the competition was mostly college seniors," Michalovsky said. The legal field has been no different, according to senior Maureen Wiley, who was just hired as a litigation paralegal for the law firm Paul Weiss in New York. "For this specific position at the different firms, they are looking for recent college graduates-there was no competition from anyone with anymore experience." Employers say they are going to hire more 2004-05 college graduates than they hired in 2003-04. Moreover, they're planning to offer their new employees significantly higher salaries than were offered to last year's graduating class. In fact, according to the survey, employers reported that one of their "greatest challenges in the coming year will be competition for hiring the best and the brightest" of new graduates. "Most of my competition was recent undergrads, and some recent grad students, but all were very young - the market is very active," Hildebrandt said. "Most employers had a strict application deadline and procedures for recent graduates and a certain number of spots they intended to fill." Michalovsky said he's found that work experience through internships or research is the most important advantage when applying for a job. "Schools like [the University of Pennsylvania's] Wharton School have a huge advantage over us because they offer a five-year business program," he said. "But employers were looking for any type of work experience and/or research experience." "The firms were interested in hearing about what I had done in my other internships and why I thought they should hire me," Wiley said. "But not too many firms are eager to give out experiences in terms of internships to people without a college degree, so few people who go in for paralegal jobs are expected to have had that." Wiley was thus able to enter into the legal field through a different outlet: "I signed up for a New York Recruiting Consortium through the Tufts career website, which all these law firms were going to attend," Wiley said. "I found it extremely helpful to have done the Consortium and have gotten on top of it so early, I think that really gave me an advantage in the job search because I was one of the first people to have a job." More than three-quarters of employers polled describe the job market as "good" or "very good." Consulting services firms, engineering and surveying firms, and building materials and construction companies reported the most need for new graduates. According to Kahn, "there have been large projected increases in college hiring in three different sectors, including service employers at 21.1 percent, manufacturers at a 12.9 percent increase, and the government and non-profit sector at 7.8 percent." The news is especially good for students in popular career fields such as business, healthcare, engineering, and accounting. In such areas, there are even modest increases expected in average starting salaries. While private companies are hiring younger and recently graduated employees, most public agencies are still looking for more experienced applicants, except in security-related agencies. While the CIA and the Justice Department are looking for candidates with language or criminology skills, the FBI projects adding 3,000 entry-level workers, and the National Security Agency plans to add as many as 1,000. Hildebrandt found that when it came to government jobs, she received positive feedback. "I had a lot of responses to my resume, and my friends who have been actively searching have too," she said. "The people I know who are driven have had a decent amount of success." Hildebrandt added, however, that such success seemed more dependent on job experience than extracurricular activities and leadership positions. "No employer really seemed to care about my school activities or leadership positions particularly," Hildebrandt said. "Maybe they helped me get chosen for an interview, but in the actual interview no one really cared. What they did care about was my GPA, that I took a challenging course load and my internships." Michalovsky, who had previously worked for MasterCard as well as the Deutsche Bank, feels that employers are also looking for qualities that can't be gleaned from a resume. "During interviews I feel like they can tell right off the bat if you are smart enough for the job, but what they really want to know is if you would be a good, hard-working person that they would like to work with," he said. According to Papalia, it is never too early-or too late-to start with the job search. "Through the campus recruiting program, employers interview students on campus or collect resumes for positions that will start after graduation," she said. "But given that we're only two months from graduation, it is reasonable for students to be using all job search resources now.

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Jon Schubin | Hongkers

March 29

YANGSHUO, China - For eight years now, Hong Kong has been a part of mainland China. The Chinese, however, view the situation somewhat differently. Yan was quick to emphasize this as he told me his future plans. I met him in a city park here as he was practicing sentences aloud from an English primer. He was repeating the sentence, "I must go to the doctor for a medical examination." His daily routine of several hours of intensive English study was in preparation for a second degree in business management. Yan had one degree, but he was having a hard time finding a job. English, he said, would give him the advantage he needed. For now, he stationed himself around town hoping to practice his English with tourists. When I mentioned that I was studying in Hong Kong, he seemed excited. "Oh Hong Kong, it is a very beautiful place," he said. But Yan does not want to move to Hong Kong. After finishing his education, Yan plans to move to Shenzen, a bustling border town near Hong Kong. He already dressed the part, his smart suit standing out among the fleeces and jeans of the backpacker crowd in the park. "Hong Kong is a nice place. Maybe I visit after I make money. But now, too expensive," he said. With its economy expanding by 10 percent a year and unprecedented amounts of foreign capital flowing in, the mainland was the place for a budding businessman. Hong Kong, on the other hand, was another place - too expensive and developed for anything other than a visit. It was just as removed as another country. The signs were all over Yangshao, a large tourist town in Guangxi Province filled with cobblestone streets, red lanterns and large limestone cliffs. The only people from Hong Kong were the tourists, who stuck mostly to Western-style restaurants and nice hotels. Several locals complained about how terribly Hong Kong visitors spoke Mandarin (their first language is Cantonese). They moved in the same circles as the foreigners. The political situation reinforces these differences. Moving from Hong Kong to the rest of China, one has to pass through immigration and customs. The citizens of the two territories have different rights, benefits, and governmental systems. But it still was a surprise to hear that the Hong Kong people and Chinese people have not drifted together. To use the vocabulary of the Chinese government, there may be "one country," but there still are "two systems." For people on the mainland, this means that Hong Kong is a foreign place, and one they cannot even travel to freely (a permit is required). Yesterday, on our last full day in Yangshao, we rented bicycles and peddled several miles to a site called Moon Hill. On top of the hill was a local older woman. She reached into her shoulder bag and then feverishly asked us if we wanted "Water! Water! Water!" We declined and were just about to begin ignoring her completely when she took out of her bag a battered notebook. Inside, Xu Tai Tai (or Mrs. Xu) had collected the messages of dozens of tourists, praising her hospitality and wishing her luck. Some had sent her photos that they had taken on Moon Hill. Others had set up an e-mail account, and written their phone numbers in the notebook so that their new friend could follow up with them. People had placed coins from around the world in the notebook. A British woman wrote, "This lady followed me all the way up this hill. Respect. But now we are on the top and sipping her cold beer so it's cool. Cheers - Diane." A couple from Sweden wrote that it was so wonderful "having this woman fan [sic] up and down the hill on this hot Jone [sic] day. She took us to her house for a wonderful lunch of tofu, carrots, squash and rice." If this was a gimmick to distinguish her from the dozens of street sellers around, it worked. I immediately bought water and a soda from Xu Tai Tai. When it was time for us to sign the notebook, we left our messages of appreciation in English, German and Welsh, along with some currency. Xu Tai Tai was thrilled. Her notebook did not yet have coins from the closest foreign place of all: Hong Kong.

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News

Senate passes ACLU resolution

March 29

Following a lengthy debate on Monday night, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a students' rights resolution submitted by the Tufts chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). The measure - which passed with a vote of 13 to nine with two abstentions - requests that the University notify any students whose educational records, "have been obtained by law enforcement agents." According to ACLU club member and sophomore Dan Grant, "we submitted this resolution to the TCU Senate because the violation of students' civil liberties and civil rights is a very real problem that faces Tufts students." In addition to asking that Tufts notify students of the seizure of academic records, the resolution also requests that the University "refrain from assisting city, county, state and federal authorities in the surveillance of individuals" who are engaged in political advocacy or religious practices. It was this section of the resolution which created the most controversy. Freshman senator Diler Erdengiz said he was concerned that the resolution would interfere with Tufts' duty to comply with state and national laws, but a majority of senators agreed that the stipulation asks only that the University refrain from going above and beyond what is required by law. "The resolution simply asks that Tufts maintain [a] level of privacy to the extent that is legally possible," said junior senator Rafi Goldberg, "Students have the expectation that their records will only be viewed by University employees." "This resolution is not telling Tufts to obstruct justice in any way," Grant said, but is asking the school "not to infringe on rights guaranteed Tufts' students by Tufts policy." The resolution first came before the TCU Senate on March 13, but was tabled after its excessive political content required several changes to the draft. "In its original form, I refused to hear it in the Senate because it was outside of our scope," said TCU Senate president Dave Baumwoll. "On the one hand, [the issue] dealt directly with student concerns and on the other it alluded to an issue of national relevance." The TCU Senate does not normally make decisions on federal or state policy. After two meetings between senators and ACLU club members, the revised resolution does not contain any reference to the Patriot Act, the First Amendment, or to any members of the government. The resolution had originally requested the TCU Senate president to submit a copy to Massachusetts State Governor Mitt Romney and to "members of the State House of which districts Tufts is in." "We are not national senators, we are student senators; we are here to deliberate on issues that affect Tufts University," said freshman senator freshman senator Jonathan Adler during the debate on Monday night. Baumwoll justified his support for the resolution. "In the end I decided to err on the side of students' rights," he said. Goldberg said he agreed with this description of the resolution, adding that the legislation "was completely about the University's policy towards the privacy of personal records." The resolution also requests that Tufts' libraries notify students that their library records may be searched and seized by the Federal government. Additionally, it asks that Tufts not use the "race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin" of any student as grounds for investigation. Tufts' ACLU chapter members stressed that this motion should not threaten the power of law enforcement to investigate someone with malicious intent to harm. "The choice is not between rights and security; it is possible to have both," Grant said.

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News

Soderberg calls for diplomacy through America and its allies

March 29

In advancement of her recent book, "The Superpower Myth: The Use and Misuse of American Might," former United Nations (U.N.) Ambassador Nancy Soderberg said that the United States cannot accomplish its foreign policy goals without international backing. Currently, Soderberg serves as the International Crisis Group's Vice President at the Group's New York branch. Fletcher School Dean Stephen Bosworth introduced Soderberg, who has made appearances at a variety of universities, as well as on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. "What she has done with her life is what many students at the Fletcher School would aspire to," Bosworth said. Soderberg's experience in domestic politics included working as the Foreign Policy advisor for the '92 Clinton/Gore campaign, as well as Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security under the Clinton Administration - the third-highest ranking official in the White House's National Security Council. Soderberg has also worked internationally in the foreign service field in her current position. Her book, she said, is to make foreign policy accessible to those who are interested in the field, or would like to know more. "It's also to show people what its like to work for the government in the realm of foreign policy, and encourage them to dedicate their life to the government," she said. In discussion about foreign policy today, Soderberg's comments were in opposition to current United States President George W. Bush's foreign policy actions, and addressed the anti-American sentiment she felt is arising. "Some of the decisions made over the last four years are making us less safe rather than more safe," she said. "Seven out of eight Arab countries consider a U.S. attack on their nation a serious threat." The foreign policy decisions Soderberg chose to use as examples were primarily decisions that dealt with the UN or others that pushed the United States in the direction of unilateralism. In response to the Bush administration's first term, Soderberg said that "the administration was blinded by the superpower myth, believing that we can bend the world to out will with military might." The belief that "[the United States] can deal with terrorism, end nuclear development in rogue states and spread democracy without the U.N. just isn't right," she said. Soderberg said that the U.S. government needs to make a shift in its foreign policy. "We must use military force as a last resort and we need to shift back toward U.N. diplomacy," she said. Soderberg gave four test cases that she said are most vital to success of the U.S. government's foreign policy in the future: Arab Reform, the Middle East Peace Process, Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and the Developing World. She said that the government's actions with regard to these cases will determine the success of the Bush administration and how they will be recorded in history books. In reference to the need for development and modernization in the Arab world, Soderberg presented some statistics. "One in five Arabs live on less than two dollars per day," she said. "President Bush needs to send more than just a PR person to deal with Arab Reform." On the issue of non-proliferation, Soderberg said she advocates a zero-tolerance policy on nuclear weapons. "It is dangerous for the U.S. to believe it can act without arms control," she said. "North Korea, for the last four years, has had two distinct programs of nuclear creation going on," she said. Soderberg also gave the example of China suggesting that the United States get involved, emphasizing the foreign desire for U.S. involvement. But, not all U.S. action for non-proliferation has gone astray. "Iran is the one real area in which the administration has made a policy shift, and a shift for the [better]," Soderberg said. She said, however, that "the Age of Terrorism puts new demands on the Superpower and the U.S. can't go it alone, and thus a shift to the U.N. will be necessary." In response to a question from a Fletcher student on what she meant by a "zero-tolerance policy" and how it could be realized, Soderberg said, "We need to get much more serious about how the black market works and how to shut it for the movement of weapons." In what she said is the most challenging facet to foreign policy, Soderberg addressed her concerns regarding the Developing World. "Immigration from Africa is up higher than during the slave trade," she said. Immigration from Africa is a predicament for both the European and African continents in particular, and "leads to a spread of HIV/AIDS," Soderberg said. Soderberg said that the American general public believes that the U.S. government gives away a greater percentage of our GNP to Africa than it actually does: 0.15 percent of the United States' GNP is donated to the developing world in Africa. According to Soderberg, the UN has drawn up a "Grand Bargain," which asks developed nations to donate a minimum of 0.7 percent of their GNPs to this cause, yet "the U.S. has yet to make donate such an amount," she said. Soderberg finished her lecture with another request for the U.S. government to shift its foreign policy from a unilateral stance - which she said will not help with Bush's grandiose goals - to diplomacy through the U.N. and other multilateral institutions to prevent further conflict. Soderberg's lecture was part of the Charles Francis Adams Lecture Series at the Fletcher School.

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News

Emily Bergeron | Finding Balance

March 29

If it ain't broke, don't break it - or so my version of the old saying goes. Exercising regularly is one of the best things you can do to ward off disease, relieve stress, boost self-esteem and improve your overall health. But for some, the addictive nature of working up a sweat can act as an irresistible temptress. It's when the commitment to exercise is taken too far that an unsuspecting adrenaline junkie can arrive at one of the most undesirable side effects of being physically active: injury. For some, like the members of the Tufts President's Marathon Team who are training to run the Boston Marathon this April, persevering through the lingering snowstorms, biting winds and chill-you-to-the-bone temperatures is a must to achieve their goal. Last year at this time I was one of them. Bundled up in a hat, scarf, mittens and a pair of size 6 1/2 Sauconys, there was no Nor'easter or plow truck that could keep me off the road. I ran in the rain, snow, sleet and hail, when it was dark or light, during the day or night, and when I was tired or rested. The weather conditions didn't matter, nor did my physical state. Racking up the frequent runner miles was the only thing on my one-track mind - until I got injured. My injury was probably lying dormant for years; just waiting for the perfect opportunity to make its presence known. That opportunity came during spring break of last year. While most students opt to spend their school-free week in a sunny tropical climate sipping Margarita's and entering eyebrow raising contests, I spent spring break of 2004 in Washington state visiting my fianc?©, Andrew, where he is stationed as an Army Special Operations officer. When I arrived in Seattle late on a Thursday night, I was anxious for the break to begin and to get in some good quality cross training for the upcoming Boston Marathon. Andrew had a four-day weekend and we were planning to take my birthday present - a shiny new Giant XTC mountain bike equipped with clipless pedals - out to see what it was made of. Off into the evergreen forests of the Northwest we went, along with a compass, map and a couple of trusty water-filled bottles. Then we rode - Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday - from dawn to dusk, in the rain, over rocks, around trees, up hills, and down hills. By midday Friday I was already tired, thirsty, and bruised, but I refused to request we stop pedaling for the day - I'm way to competitive to do that. It didn't matter to me that the guy was born a Boy Scout, informed his parents at the age of seven that he planned on going to West Point (so the story goes), or that while at the U.S. Military Academy he was the 2000 and 2001 sport division military mountain bike champion. It didn't even matter to me that he had been to war and back three times. I figured that while Ranger school may have taught him how to operate without food or sleep, graduate school did the same for me. I made it through the weekend, proud that I didn't falter and wave the white flag. Throughout the week I resumed running, 15 miles on Tuesday and seven more each day, Wednesday through Sunday. When I arrived back in Boston I promptly took up my running schedule again. But, just a half hour into my first run an unfamiliar sensation radiated from the outside of my left knee - it was a dull, achy, pain. A mild pain which quickly progressed into an excruciating pain as I tried to run though it, until I was physically forced to stop. I haven't run more than a mile since that day, which is a punishment far worse than simply not being able to run the Marathon. I now have an annoyingly persistent tight iliotibial (IT) band that plagues my left leg and reminds me everyday why I shouldn't have pushed myself so far. Needless to say I learned the moral of the story the hard way. I am hopeful I will run again someday, but sadly, the best I can do for the moment is to simulate the motion by going hands-free on the elliptical machine. It can be easy to get caught up in a "more is better" mentality. But letting adrenaline lure you away from your senses can result in debilitating injuries. Scheduling "days off" is a must for exercise enthusiasts to ensure your body is adequately rested and rejuvenated. Allowing your body to recover properly will help you perform better, stave off illness, and prevent unwanted injury so that you can get the most out of exercising for years to come.Emily is a co-editor of Balance and a doctoral 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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News

Inside Fitness

March 29

I want to get to the next level of hyoooogeness. I am pretty hyoooge as it is, but I want to be even hyooooger. I've decided that the solution is supplements. Pills, powders, whatever it takes. So give me some advice, Mr. Fitness Man. - Bouncing Amateur Boxing Meatheaded Georgetown Student with the same last name as the author. When buying supplements, there is a lot of hype. In face, the supplement industry is almost all hype. Giant ads in magazines touting obscene muscle-building effects are the norm, with glossy photos of gorgeous, near-naked women adorning the arms of supposed users of these products. Let me break it down for you: those ads are full of stinky poohtwa. Below, I've included some guidelines that I feel any intelligent athlete (or whatever you call yourself) should take into consideration before taking the plunge and buy "supps." The first thing to understand is that not many other people will understand. To a great number of idiots out there (many who are in our very own University!) protein powder, creatine, fish oil caps, etc., are all lumped in the same category under the heading "steroids." So my first bit of advice is to discuss supplement purchases only with those people who have similar interests. In other words, refrain from telling your girlfriend about the "nice 10 lb bag of whey" you picked up the other day. Otherwise, it will make for an excruciatingly frustrating argument in which you try to enlighten her and she tries to convince you that your testicles are going to shrink - "And you can't afford that, can you?" she may ask in an extremely low blow. Do research before making any purchase. From the most basic (protein powder, creatine) to the more exotic (tribulus, L-arginine-alpha-ketoglutarate), each supplement is manufactured by lots of different companies. Different products have different strengths and weaknesses. Maybe protein A tastes better than protein B, but it takes much longer to mix. Or, maybe protein C beats both A and B. The point is, some supplements are better than others, and it pays to find out which ones those are. A good way to research supplements is by reading online message boards where people often post reviews. A terrible way to research is to ask the guy at GNC. He is clueless. Trust me. Shop around. Online supplement sites are popping up all over the internet. Bad for GNC and Vitamin Shoppe, good for the consumer. At these one-stop supplement shops, you can read reviews, buy cheap supplements, and read articles on effective training and supplementation. If you take an extra few minutes to compare prices, you will almost always get a better deal. If something claims to be miles above the competition, it is probably level or below them. There is no magic pill. In fact, supplementation is probably the fourth most important part of the equation. Training, nutrition and recovery all rank above supplementation. Remember that, and refrain from going nuts and gorging yourself on pills and powders everyday. Supplementation is an important part of training, but it certainly isn't the "be all, end all." Remember that there is no magic pill, no matter what the MuscleTech ad claims.

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