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Undergrads active in search for new Dean of A&S

February 8

Students and faculty will search for a new Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences (A&S) this semester to replace current Dean Susan Ernst. After serving 15 years in Tufts Administration, Ernst announced last fall that she will be returning to the classroom once again. According to University Provost Jamshed Bharucha, the next step for the University is seeking a suitable replacement for Ernst's position. A search advisory committee consisting of faculty and both undergraduate and graduate students was created to find a new Dean. Ernst's successor will most likely be named by the end of the semester. "We are looking for the most qualified person for this job," Bharucha said. "We have advertised nationally and we have solicited nominations from within the University so we expect to have both internal and external candidates." Bharucha said that in the selection process, both student and faculty feedback will be instrumental in making a final decision. "It's very important for us to know how students will respond to candidates and how the candidates interact with students," he said. According to Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate president and junior Dave Baumwoll, "as soon as candidates [have been selected by the administration] we will start meeting with them. We have a list of questions, and students have already started approaching me with ideas." Baumwoll said that a student search advisory committee, comprised of TCU Senators sophomore Kelley Ferro, senior Alexei Wagner, sophomore Denise Lyn-Shue and himself, has already been selected. The advisory committee will start meeting with candidates and members of the Central Administration, including University President Lawrence Bacow and Bharucha, in about a month, Baumwoll said. In order to foster as balanced a selection process as possible, Baumwoll said that the senators selected for the advisory committee represent various interests of academic life at Tufts: the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and engineering. Baumwoll said his primary criteria for the new Dean of A&S will focus on the Dean's attitude toward student life. "I'm going to be looking for someone who understands that the Tufts experience goes beyond the classroom," Baumwoll said. As of June 30, 2005, Ernst will return to her former teaching position in the Biology Department. According to an e-mail sent to the Tufts community from Bacow and Bharucha, Ernst will be able to focus on her genetic research. Ernst cited a desire to "[devote] my full time and energy to teaching and research" as the principal force behind her decision. "It often is said that being a faculty member is the best job in a university," the e-mail read. According to Bacow and Bharucha, Ernst sacrificed her own research in molecular technology in order to serve in the University's Central Administration, and her tenure as Dean was marked by various improvements in student life and administrative efficiency. According to Bharucha, Ernst has made great strides for the University during her tenure as Dean of A&S. A replacement must match her high standards of excellence, he said. "We will be looking for somebody who will move forward a bold vision to take Tufts to the next level and build on the work that she has done and to help make this the finest institution it can be," Bharucha said. In her research, Ernst identified genes necessary for cell differentiation and cloned the first gene in the Biology Department. According to the e-mail, an ad soliciting her replacement has been posted to the Chronicle of Higher Education, Black Issues in Higher Education and Hispanic Outlook in Higher Education, as well as on the Tufts Web site.

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News

Fund will give grants for non-alcoholic activities

February 8

A fund set up by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate in order to provide money for non-alcoholic social events sponsored by campus student groups will be put to use this semester. The $5,000 Student Life Fund is in addition to a $3,000 fund for non-alcoholic events that has been distributed by Health Services each semester since Fall 2004. The Student Life Fund was an initiative born out of several meetings with administrators who cited an alcohol problem on campus, TCU President Dave Baumwoll said. "One way to address this problem was to give students more to do, thereby improving the quality of student life," he said. Baumwoll said that the amount is less than ideal but that it is still significant as it marked the beginning of support for an important program. "The $5,000 for this semester is a starting point and we plan to work hard to increase that amount for next fiscal year," said TCU Treasurer Jeff Katzin. "This is an encouraging and crucial sign on behalf of the administration to commit resources to the student body and say 'we support student life on campus and would like to contribute some resources to reflect that,'" Katzin said. The Student Life Fund will be controlled by a committee consisting of Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Head of student activities Jodie Nealley, Baumwoll, Katzin, and TCU Asstistant Treasurer Harish Perkari. This committee will be responsible for allocating this money to grant applicants. Over the next several months, Baumwoll intends "to lobby administrators to give as much as possible to this fund so that it will hopefully end up at around $20,000 to 25,000... in order to offer a way to increase and improve programming on campus." According to Director of Drug and Alcohol Education Services Margot Abels, Health Services granted mini-grants to a number of student groups last semester. These groups included Sarabande, the Young Entrepreneurs, the Japanese Culture Club, Tufts Christian Fellowship, the Class of 2008, University-based radio station WMFO, the Crafts House, the Thai Club, the TCU Senate and the Monty Python Club. Abels explained that there are "a ton of applications" currently in review for this semester. Each group must complete an application that fits the guidelines put together by Health Services. "The fund set aside by Health Services has been enthusiastically received and has resulted in several well-thought out applications and events from very diverse student groups and organization," Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler said. "We've been very impressed and pleased with the outcome." "It is wonderful to have money to support alcohol-free programming," Abels said. She noted, however, that care should be taken to avoid any activities that might promote drinking before and after an event. "The Fall Ball was intended as a safe and fun student event, but there were more TEMS (Tufts Emergency Medical Service) calls than usual all through that night," Abels said. The popularity of the Health Services program shows that there is enough interest for a Senate fund. "This Student Life Fund should take the Health Services fund to the next level," Baumwoll said. Katzin said the Student Life Fund has the potential to be a resource for student organizations, as the fund sponsors alcohol-free social, academic, cultural and religious programming. "I hope that this fund encourages groups to think of new, unique activities to plan, knowing that there is another source of co-sponsorship out there," Katzin said.

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News

While courses and parties gear up, insomnia kicks in

February 7

With the spring semester now in full swing, insomnia - commonly defined as the inability to sleep - can become problematic for academically and socially active college students. According to Margaret Higham, Medical Director of Tufts Health Services, many Tufts students have come to Health Services complaining of insomnia - but even more, she said, have sleep problems and don't seek help. "With any medical condition, the first thing to do is to understand the cause," Higham said. "With college students, the main cause is what's called 'poor sleep hygiene.' The human body operates under a regular sleep cycle, and college students oftentimes feel like they can get away with not having a regular pattern." Insomnia has been shown to manifest itself in people who sleep and wake up at different times every day, take regular naps during the day, and ingest excessive amounts of caffeine, nicotine, or alcohol. Because college students partake in many (or all) of the above activities, it may be no surprise that so many of them show signs of transient, if not chronic, insomnia. Tufts students say that stress is the number one reason for their inability to fall asleep. "A lot of doctors and experts recommend you take time out of your day for yourself - say through meditation or yoga - to drain out your thoughts because you're so busy during the day," sophomore Elad Cohen said. But with so much on students' minds, Cohen continued, such "me-time" can be hard to fit in. "Sleeping is the only time you have to yourself," Cohen said. "If you don't find a way to zone out of your thoughts, then you can't fall asleep and you think about everything that's going on in your life when you're supposed to be sleeping." At demanding universities like Tufts, academic pressure often plays a large part in keeping students awake at night. "It's hard to compare [the prevalence of insomnia at Tufts] to that of other schools, because I work mainly with Tufts students," Higham said. "[But] I feel like the inability to sleep is just as prevalent here as it is at, say, MIT, Harvard, Dartmouth, and other competitive schools." Freshman Michelle Cronin is one Tufts student who experiences insomnia - and said that she "wishes" she knew her condition's exact roots. "I used to love watching 'Get Smart' and 'Dragnet' on TV, and my grandparents would always complain that I stayed up too late," she said. "I also know I started watching 'Conan O'Brien' in third or fourth grade. So I think that over the years, I've just gotten into the rhythm of going to bed late." Although most students agree that the inability to sleep gets in the way of their schoolwork by making them tired and unwilling to work during the day, Cronin begs to differ. "My mind feels clearer later [at night], and if you'd ask my roommate, I get a lot more done in the wee hours of the morning," she said. "There are also a lot less distractions late at night." In our current world, where sleeping pills and medicine with drowsy side effects can be easily procured by walking to the closest Brooks or CVS, one would think that insomnia among college students would be easy to cure pharmaceutically. "Melatonin is a chemical that is secreted in your brain which controls your ability to sleep," Higham said. "There are over-the-counter sleep aides available which stimulate melatonin." However, some students are wary of the potential side effects of such drugs. "I'm afraid of having to rely on pills to sleep," Cronin said, citing this fear as her reason for not seeking therapy or medical attention for her sleep problems. "Insomnia is such a lifestyle," Cronin added, remembering a popular "Saved by the Bell" episode in which the character Jessie uses the over-the-counter drug No-Doz to stay awake for her geometry midterm, and goes on to develop a dependency. Commonly, students instead turn to TV, Instant Messenger, the phone, reading, and listening to mellow music to ease them into sleep mode. Higham, however, recommends setting up some "wind-down" time to completely relax before actually going to bed. "It can't be done if you're watching '24' or hear a loud party next door," she said. "You really have to relax your body. You also can't stay out all night on weekends and then try to go to bed at a decent hour on weekdays - this messes up your sleep cycle."

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News

Schuerer says China and India will strongly affect IR

February 7

Wolfgang Schuerer, Chairman and CEO of MS Management Service in Switzerland and professor of International and Foreign Affairs at Georgetown University, gave a speech on economic and political affairs in China and India at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy yesterday morning. Stephen Bosworth, dean of the Fletcher School, introduced Schuerer. "There is no one I respect more when it comes to global affairs," Bosworth said. Schuerer's speech focused on the differences and commonalities between China and India, where the current dynamic between the two countries is going to lead, and its impact on the United States and Europe. He said that because China and India collectively compose two-fifths of the world's population, the geopolitical and economic differences present a challenge to the rest of the world. Schuerer drew contrasts between China's ambitions to become a global superpower versus India's geopolitical weaknesses. He said that the stability lost in Pakistan and the relations lost in Kashmir create "a substantive ongoing risk which deserves attention with respect to India's role as an ally to the United States." On the other hand, China is more determined to play a bigger role on the world's stage through its economically powerful territories with an entrepreneurial spirit greater than that of India's, Schuerer said. Schuerer used the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 World's Fair in Shanghai as supporting evidence. "This shows China's economic aspect, motivation, and desire," he said. But, India's ability to be part of the structural process has increased recently, Schuerer said. Regarding corruption in the two bureaucracies, Schuerer said that the bureaucracies in India have continued to undermine the rights of its citizens, and that China's bureaucrats currently remain the sole "gatekeepers" in China. He called regulation the "silent incentive of the People's Republic." According to Schuerer, the differences between the two countries should not be seen as a means to pit one country against the other. "It's not about the tiger overtaking the dragon, but about their impact on other areas and nations," he said. China and India's emergence as world powers creates new layers of global-economic independence, forcing leaders around the world to make new economic and political decisions. Schuerer said that each nation's rise is dependent on "the three C's - crude oil, cars, and capital." After the lecture, Genhua Wang, an international student originally from China, said that Scheuer is "confident on China's economic growth, but other problems [like] state sector issues and social issues like poverty and unemployment are important as well." The lecture, which is a part of the Charles Francis Adams Lecture Series at the Fletcher School, ended with a group lunch.

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News

Sex-free 'education'

February 7

Yesterday's Sex Fair, sponsored by Tufts VOX, was a welcome event that served to liven up the campus center and confront students with an array of options for a safer and more fulfilling sexual life. It is no secret that last year's fair stirred up considerable controversy and media coverage; nevertheless, event organizers persevered and held the event again. For this, they deserve considerable applause: now more than ever it seems that sex education across the country is being transformed into a study of ideology, rather than science. Yesterday, in a powerful coincidence, President Bush released his budget for the financial year 2006. This budget included some $205.5 million for abstinence-only sex education, which is an increase of nearly 25 percent over the amount included in the budget for the previous fiscal year. This increase in funding for sex (or rather, sex-free) education comes as part of a budget where various social programs were cut across the board in the name of deficit reduction. While it is commendable that the President is looking to reduce the national debt burden for future generations, it is questionable that he would propose a spending increase in a set of programs with such a poor track record. Bush spoke of the need for "results" with social programs. Abstinence-only programs do seem to achieve one result: sexually ignorant and ill-prepared children. A study by Congressman Henry Waxman (D-CA) found that some 80 percent of the most popular curricula used by more than two-thirds of federally funded abstinence-only programs contained information that was false, misleading, or distorted. Among the bits of "education" being paid for by taxpayer dollars were statements teaching that half of all gay male teenagers in the United States are HIV positive and that touching a person's genitals "can result in pregnancy." The results? An ongoing study by the Texas Department of Health found that after students at 24 Texas schools participated in abstinence-only education, they were actually more likely to engage in sexual intercourse. Of course, it is important to emphasize in any sort of sexual education that the safest form of sex is no sex. It is perfectly appropriate for publicly-funded sex-ed to emphasize this fundamental point. However, if teens do choose to engage in sexual activity (and many do), they should be given access to information on how to protect themselves. The increased use of contraceptives, especially barriers, would help decrease the incidence of STIs and unwanted pregnancies. That last point is one the GOP should not take lightly, as the abortion rate has increased from Clinton-era levels under President Bush's watch. The notion that access to accurate information about safe sex will encourage those unprepared to do the deed is akin to proposing that seatbelts encourage people to drive recklessly: it's nonsense. The Sex Fair did well by bringing accurate and expansive information to a campus that, especially for younger students, may be sexually ill-informed by Bush's agenda. As for funding for inaccurate abstinence-only education, that's something this country should abstain from.

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Men's Swimming and Diving | Tufts fares well at Invitational in last regular-season meet

February 7

With less than three weeks remaining until the NESCAC championships, the men's swimming and diving team are in peak condition. The Jumbos capped off a successful regular season with several top finishes and time improvements at the unscored MIT Invitational on Saturday. Now the team is heading into the postseason with a 7-1 record, suffering its only lost to Div. I Boston College back in November. While the team's previous meet, a 160-65 win over Bates, was described as laid-back and less stressful, the competition was decidedly upped as the Jumbos approach the NESCAC championships, with many swimmers sporting shaved heads in hopes of improving their times. Six teams competed at the Invitational, including NESCAC opponents Middlebury and Williams, teams which Tufts did not face during the regular dual-meet season. There are only twenty-five spots available on the Tufts postseason delegation, so for swimmers not going to Wesleyan for the championships, the MIT meet was their last of the season. For the swimmers headed to NESCACs, the meet was a chance to swim "off" events and tune-up their racing strategies. The Jumbos proved their versatility by earning the top four slots in the 400-yard IM, one of the most physically taxing events in the sport. Junior Jason Kapit finished first (4:16.80), followed by senior tri-captain Seth Baron (4:20.60), sophomore Nathan Cronin (4:22.92), and junior Steven Ward (4.28.73). Baron has been a major contributor on the team during his last season, capping off a successful four-year career at Tufts. He is very satisfied with the way the dual-meet season has gone and says he will miss the experience of swimming on a college team. "It's going to be bittersweet to finish out this season," Baron said. "[But] I do realize that it is time to move on." The butterfly superstar attributes his successful season to the challenging workouts Coach Adam Hoyt has put the team through over the season. "Adam has been incredible," Baron said. "He's an outstanding source of positive reinforcement, and still manages to make us work harder than we have in years." Junior Seth Rosenberg continued his dominance in distance swimming by finishing second in the 1650 mixed freestyle (10:20.77). Rosenberg also finished fifth in the 200 IM (2:04.69), only two tenths of a second behind sophomore teammate Justin Fanning (2:04.49), who placed fourth. Senior tri-captain Mike Rochette had great swims in the breaststroke events, finishing second in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.70) and fourth in the 200 (2:20.13). Rochette currently holds the fastest time in NESCAC this season for the 50 breaststroke, attained when he swam a 27.62 at the Trinity meet on Jan. 22. Junior Brett Baker finished second in the 200 freestyle (1:45.54) and remains the fourth fastest in the conference in that event in addition to his No. 8 seeding in the 100 freestyle in NESCAC with his time of 47.89. Going into the championships, the Jumbos can rely on junior diver Todd Putnam's consistently strong performances. Putnam studied abroad during the fall semester and his return has added to an already deep team. He is the only member of the team to have officially qualified for the NCAA Division III National championships, and reinforced his reputation at MIT, where he earned third place in the 3-meter (234.50) and fourth in the 1-meter (220.70). Several Jumbo swimmers may be joining Putnam at NCAA's, depending on their swims at the NESCAC championships, in which the team has a tradition of performing well, having finished fifth or better in the past five seasons. The NESCAC championships will be held at Wesleyan on the weekend of February 25-27.

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Music Review | West coast returns to rap Game

February 7

Coming straight out of Compton, CA, The Game, certainly has the street credibility needed for a successful rap career. Having grown up in the birthplace of gangster rap, this latest phenomenon was a member of the Blood Street gang in an area dominated by rival Crips. After losing a brother to gang violence and surviving being shot with five hollow-tipped bullets in a 2001 drug-related robbery, he resolved to take a new path, and the resulting album, "The Documentary," has debuted at number one on the Billboard charts. Hip-hop heads have taken notice of the 25-year-old rapper, born Jayceon Taylor, whose album has been hyped as the beginning of the West's revival. The Game does appear to have all the elements of a successful rap career in a shiny new package. In only a few years, The Game has honed his skills, and his smooth flow is a testament to his background in the mix tape circuits with DJs like Whoo Kid and Clue. What's more, he has the necessary backing, having garnered the support of the rap powerhouse Aftermath Records. He was signed by Dr. Dre, embraced by G-Unit, and mentored by Eminem. On top of that, the featured artists and producers for this album constitute an extensive rap A-list. Publicity sells records, but does Game live up to the high expectations of his promoters? "Dreams" is the first standout track on "The Documentary." Game and his backers brought Kanye West to lace the beat. This track drips soul, and will have listeners everywhere swaying their heads once it hits radio. The Game rounds it out with strong lyrics and allusions to his rap predecessors - everyone from Jam Master Jay to Marvin Gaye. He also drops one of the most amusing (and unprintable) lines of the year when he confirms 50 Cent's relationship with actress Vivica Fox. The Game is a versatile rapper who listens for the feel of a track before laying down vocals. He sounds "East Coast" sometimes, but "Higher" and later tracks featuring Nate Dogg have a strong "West Coast" feel. In them, Game spits stories over ambling, rhythmic beats. His voice demands attention while infusing the music with emotion. More R&B-oriented listeners should look to songs that feature Faith Evans and Mary J. Blige singing background vocals. Both beautiful and talented, these women add integrity to rap tracks about love. 50 Cent jumps in to deliver a verse on "Hate It or Love It." 50 also delivers the hook on this track and two others, including the club hit "This is How We Do." All three are well-produced and catchy, but they belong on another G-Unit compilation, not on a solo album. In fact, the Game gets a lot of help on this 17-track album. People should appreciate that there are no skits or interludes. It's all music, but Game only carries half of that weight. Game is a good artist, but a better one would have created an album on his own. "The Documentary" is Game's commercial debut, but "Untold Story" was independently released (reportedly unauthorized) in late 2004. That forgettable record raised early questions about the Game's skills. "Documentary" should silence the doubters, but Game's material isn't quite ready for the big time. He's a talented rapper with an ear for beats who infuses his music with intense emotion (check out "Start from Scratch" and "Father/Son,") but he doesn't have a message yet. Until he can find one and deliver it on his own, he can continue to be successful but not special. "Documentary" is a very straight album, which will blow up on radio. Pick it up, and get in on it early. It'll hold you down until the new 50 Cent drops in March.

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Sprinkler malfunctions in Haskell cause early morning fire alarms

February 7

Students were forced to evacuate Haskell Hall six times last week due to a malfunctioning fire alarm. The alarm sounded three times between 6 and 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, at approximately 3:30 a.m Tuesday morning and twice more just after 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening. According to Medford Fire Marshall and University Life Safety Specialist Perry Cayton, several sprinkler heads froze and burst on Sunday morning, flooding the side of the dormitory that faces uphill. "It was like a river in the stairwell," said freshman Christopher LaCross. The sprinklers had been frozen by cold air that seeped into the dormitory through a broken skylight. The alarm was set off by water that subsequently infiltrated a fire detection system. The system was reset after the first alarm was deactivated. The fire detector that had triggered the alarm was disabled at no danger to residents, according to Cayton. Subsequent alarms, Cayton said, were set off by water flows that remained and continued to permeate detection systems. "The flowing water compromised the electric ground faults," Cayton said. The loud, harsh-sounding alarm startled many of the residents of Haskell, who feared an actual fire. "My roommate threw her covers off and yelled, 'We have to get out!,'" said freshman Sara Jackson. After the 3:30 a.m. alarm on Tuesday morning, Haskell residents who evacuated the dorm walked into the main lobby of neighboring Tilton Hall to escape the cold. The majority of students were angry and frustrated at having to wake up repeatedly in the middle of the night. Some Haskell residents complained that these alarms hindered their ability to sleep the following nights. "What I was most upset about is that it happened during a time when we had to prepare for classes," said sophomore Seth Davenport. An e-mail from Haskell resident director senior Lacey Prouty reported that repairs on the system were taking place through 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1, several hours after the final alarm sounded. According to Cayton, this problem will have to be looked into further. "Facilities is going to have to look at, and possibly repair the roof when it gets warmer," he said. "They may just have to seal up the skylight." Cayton added that the entire University alarm system is being considered for a redesign. "If the sprinkler heads were lowered, they wouldn't be close enough to the cold outside to freeze," he said. This is not the first time that frozen sprinkler heads have burst and flooded a dormitory. Last winter a broken sprinkler head flooded a hallway in Miller Hall. According to Cayton, sometimes in extreme cold there is little that can be done to prevent it. "One time, someone just left a window open, and that allowed the cold to freeze the sprinklers," he said. "The worst thing is that we don't know if and when there will be another alarm," said freshman Alejandro Pinero. If there is another alarm, some residents of Haskell may not be so quick to leave their rooms. "Now I'm worried that if there really is a fire, I'll think it's fake and want to sleep through it," said freshman Jahn Sood.

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News

Tufts Symphony Orchestra: the Iceland experience

February 7

This year, the annual winter break tour of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra brought the musicians to the wondrous country of Iceland. The group stayed in the capital city of Reykjavik, and made several trips to play in concerts and see the sights. Some of the normal tourist activities were a bit difficult however, due to the country's lack of daylight during the winter months. With the sun rising around eleven in the morning, and setting around four in the afternoon - a phenomenon which took some getting used to - opportunities for picture-taking were somewhat limited, but taken advantage of to the fullest extent. The first concert of the tour was held at Grafarvogskirkja, a beautiful contemporary church situated next to the bay. Accompanying the orchestra was Icelandic soprano Alda Ingibergsdottir, who sang several arias, including one in Icelandic, which was an audience favorite. After the concert, many of the musicians went out and enjoyed the famous Reykjavik nightlife. The next concert was held during the group's visit to the legendary Blue Lagoon; a natural geothermal pool in the middle of a stunning lava field. The short concert for guests of the Lagoon preceded the orchestra's dip into the inviting water. The weather that day was not what many would consider "ideal" for a swim, with temperatures in the high twenties and a constant, wind-driven snowfall interspersed occasionally with hail. But this reporter believes that despite the weather - or perhaps because of it - the ambience was perfect for a visit to this fantastic natural phenomenon. The Lagoon's 104 degree water temperature did much to negate the effects of the cold, and the setting of the Lagoon is almost mythical, with the water, sky, and the steam from the pool all appearing an eerily beautiful shade of blue. Highlights of the visit included a marriage proposal, and a contest to see who could stand out in the driving snow and hail the longest, before returning to the comfort of the Lagoon. The third and final concert of the tour, which was the most successful, took place at a local school with over 1,000 students in attendance. During the concert, the students were introduced to the different instruments of the orchestra, and were allowed to come down for a closer look after the concert had ended. In recent years, the children's concerts (which are also held annually here at Tufts), have been some of the most successful aspects of the tours. All of the musicians enjoy performing at these children's concerts and are eager to share their love of music with younger generations. After the concert, the orchestra then had a tour of Thingvellir National Park, home to some of the most sacred sites in the country. The musicians were treated to spectacular views of snow-covered volcanoes, immense fissures, and vast tracts of white as far as the eye could see. Iceland indeed lived up to its name, and provided spectacular scenes of ice- and snow-covered land. Most of the group also witnessed another natural wonder, aurora borealis (the northern lights), and those who saw it were treated to a wondrous show. Ribbons of green, pink, and purple light danced in the sky as the group watched in amazement. It was truly a remarkable sight. The next day, the orchestra was invited to attend a rehearsal of the Iceland Symphony Orchestra and to meet with the professional musicians. That night, some of the wind and brass players actually took part in a rehearsal of the Reykjavik Symphony Orchestra, a smaller ensemble. Those who took part were extremely grateful for these opportunities and had a wonderful time playing with professional and semi-professional musicians. Reykjavik's nightlife is world famous. Many of the musicians took part in the party-happy atmosphere and tried to keep up with the Friday and Saturday night happenings which last until seven or eight in the morning. The only thing that prevented the group from fully enjoying everything the city had to offer was the exorbitant prices. Being an island nation, Iceland imports the vast majority of its products so most things are much more expensive than we are used to. Spending thirty or forty dollars American for a simple meal is common, and bars and clubs drain your bank account. But the group enjoyed its stay in Reykjavik to the fullest extent and returned with stories of experiences that not many others will ever have. Iceland provided the TSO with excellent hospitality, excellent sights and sounds, and a wonderful experience overall. It is the hope of the orchestra that the concerts they gave expressed their full gratitude to the people of Iceland for the great time had by all.Ed Trabulus is a senior majoring in English and a viola player in the Tufts Symphony Orchestra.

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News

Students help low-income families

February 7

Some Tufts students took a break from their heavy academic load yesterday to kick off efforts to publicize tax breaks in local communities - some of which can benefit the average low-income family in Cambridge by $1,200. Massachusetts Congressman Michael Capuano and Cambridge State Representative Ann Paulson discussed the Earned Income Tax Credit yesterday at the Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee, which publicized the free tax services of community nonprofits. A resolution in support of the project from Cambridge mayor Michael Sullivan was also read. "It was the first day they were doing the taxes; the event was a show of support for the program," National Student Partnerships (NSP) member sophomore Will Chester said. The Tufts chapter of NSP is the only group in Somerville preparing taxes for free, NSP Site Coordinator Lisa Fishlin (LA '03), said. Clients may come in during the office's normal business hours to have their taxes assessed. Fishlin said that many low-income families can benefit from the Earned Income Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits, but either are unaware of these potential refunds or are unwilling to pay the fees assessed by for-profit firms. NSP files tax returns using "e-file", an electronic service that processes returns within 14 days, providing additional dollars that can be crucial for families and individuals struggling to get by. The Earned Income Tax Credit brought 4 million dollars back to Cambridge last year, which in turn "fuels the local economy because people tend to spend it on necessities: for example, clothing and purchases for children," Fishlin said. "We're most excited...this is a good way for us to do outreach to the community," said NSP member junior Laura Timko. "[The community] can connect our name with other things we can help them with." The Tufts NSP chapter focuses on employment, housing, child care, health care, legal aid, and transportation. It is part of a nationwide network of agencies run by college students that provide basic civil services to low-income families.

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TV Review | Pats win, but Bowl is bust nonetheless

February 7

The word of the day at Super Bowl XXXIX was moderation - both on and off the field. Here at Tufts, for instance, parties were kept to relatively low-key affairs, bonfires did not pose a threat, and rioting was nonexistent. The cannon didn't even get a fresh coat of paint to celebrate the Patriots' big win. What's going on? Could this blas?© reaction be the result of this being the Pats' third win in the past four seasons? Could Boston fans really be that indifferent to one of their teams reaching the pinnacle of sports perfection for the second time in just four months? Probably not. More likely, the apathetic atmosphere surrounding the Super Bowl is due to broadcasting network FOX's ultra-conservative programming policies, rather than the aloofness of die-hard Pats fans. The Super Bowl was once a television spectacle with a penchant for extravagant, explicit advertising and entertainment campaigns. This year was a comparatively tame production. With the ghost of Janet Jackson's infamous "wardrobe malfunction" at last year's halftime show haunting its every move, FOX made it exceedingly clear that they did not wish to stage a repeat performance. The Jackson fiasco incurred the wrath of the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) to the tune of a $550,000 fine for last year's broadcaster, CBS. FOX chose to avoid the same fate by taking a radically conservative approach. From the watered-down commercials to the straight-laced halftime show, this year's Super Bowl programming was as squeaky clean as they come. And while viewers across the board appreciated a little less skin and a little more tact, the end result was totally pathetic. Commercials, have - no matter what sports buffs say - increasingly become the main event on Super Bowl Sunday, but this year's ads were sadly disappointing. Though the 30-second spots cost advertisers a record $2.4 million each and content restrictions were tight, big companies like McDonalds, FedEx, and PepsiCo still clamored for air time. In the end, though, their creativity couldn't match their bankrolls, and throwing money at the problem did not make their commercials any cleverer or more entertaining. Advertisers tried everything from nostalgia to superficial slapstick to cramming spots with big-name stars like Brad Pitt, Sean Combs, Burt Reynolds, and Cindy Crawford; these efforts, however, succeeded only in proving the disturbing inability of American companies to sell a product without using sex appeal, profanity, or vulgarity. Their G-rated drivel might have made the FCC happy, but audiences were simply not impressed. The halftime show proved to be the only aspect of Super Bowl entertainment that was not driven to mediocrity by FOX's clean-cut programming bid. Sir Paul McCartney rocked out four classic songs - "Get Back," "Drive My Car," "Live and Let Die," and "Hey, Jude" - in the first Super Bowl performance in history that wasn't marked by over-the-top pyrotechnics, poorly conceived collaborations (?  la Britney Spears, Aerosmith, and NSYNC at Super Bowl XXXV,) or unexpected mammary exposure. Strangely enough, the wave of conservatism that plagued advertisers inspired a concurrent upsurge of nationalistic pride, so much so that the guys in the silver helmets were not the only Patriots on the field. Sure, there were the usual trademarks of American sporting events: a moving rendition of "America the Beautiful" by Alicia Keys, a choir from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind, and a military cadet choir belting out a heartfelt "Star-Spangled Banner" prior to game time. But then there was the tribute to World War II veterans and the montage of red-white-n'-blue imagery that accompanied McCartney's performance. Honestly, what has the Statue of Liberty got to do with "Hey, Jude" anyway? The overall effect was not wholly unpleasing, but it definitely added to the sense of forced propriety governing the evening's events. This snooze-worthy Sunday was capped off with a sneak preview of the new FOX animated series, "American Dad," that suffered from the same lack of creativity as Budweiser's umpteenth resurrection of the Clydesdales. The show was by the far the most risqu?© thing FOX aired Sunday night, and though its unrestrained political satire and innuendo were refreshing after a night of white bread wish-wash, its obvious similarity to existing series "Family Guy" was unforgivable. Unfortunately, when "American Dad" actually premieres in early May, its conspicuous copy-cat quality will be even more blatant, as it is slated to run immediately after its predecessor. Fans will likely grow tired of watching the same show twice in one evening. So when all the post-game analysis was over and the lackluster Super Bowl programming mercifully gave way to "Seinfeld" re-runs, Super Bowl XXXIX could officially be remembered as the ho-hum year of unimaginative advertising, subdued musical performances, and, oh yeah - the year the Patriots won ... again. Ah well, as Eagles fans are used to saying, "There's always next year."

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Men's Squash | Brown too much talent for Jumbos as Tufts falls 9-0 to Bears

February 7

Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to the opposing team. It was that kind of day for the Jumbos when they faced Brown University on Friday on the Bears' home court. Despite playing well lately, the Jumbos were steamrolled 9-0 and are hoping to regroup for their upcoming match on Wednesday at Connecticut College. Freshman Jake Gross was the only Jumbo to win a game, though he fell in a four game match at the number one spot to junior Breck Bailey of Brown 1-9, 2-9, 9-3, 9-10. "I knew Jake's match was going to be close," coach Doug Eng said. "In the third game he started to attack his opponent's forehand more, and that helped him get back into the match a little bit." Gross agreed with his coach's assessment. "It was a little bit disappointing. I didn't show up for the first two games at all, but I started to exploit his forehand a little bit and become more patient and it turned out to be very close," said Gross. Despite the loss, Gross felt he took away some important lessons from his near-turnaround. "I thought I adjusted well in the match," Gross said. "The last game was neck-and-neck and if it had gone five games I think I could have won. I just need to start adjusting earlier." At the number two position, junior co-captain Spencer Maxwell fell 0-9, 4-9, 0-9. Freshman Nelson Schubart faced a similar fate as he was defeated 0-9, 5-9, 3-9. Senior co-captain Fernando Kriete lost in three games at number four as well. Freshman Kris Leetavorn dropped his match at number five. Sophomore Dave Linz had a closer match than some of his teammates, but still lost 1-9, 7-9, 2-9. Junior Tom Keidel also came close to winning a game but fell 7-9, 3-9, 0-9 at the number seven spot. Junior Pranav Tripathi and freshman Jonah Peppiatt both lost in three games at the number eight and nine positions, respectively. Heading into the match, Eng knew his team was facing a very talented squad. "We played solid but not spectacular," Eng said. "We could've played better at a few spots, but you have to give Brown credit because they played very well." Gross saw a bright spot in individual improvements as a result of playing such a dominant team. "We knew we weren't going to win," Gross said. "The important thing for us was for each player to take something out of the match that will make them better in the future." "We had a lot of good rallies," Gross added. "And Dominic Wong won in the exhibition match at the number 10 spot in five games which was good." The Jumbos know they need to be ready when they play a pesky Connecticut College squad on Wednesday. "Right now we need to work on improving our fitness and hustle," Eng said. "We've got to put more into our matches and really cut down on our unforced errors." Eng feels that the Jumbos are more talented than Connecticut, but in order to win they will need to be come out at a high level. "Connecticut College is a hustle team," Eng said. "They always push us very hard. We could win 9-0 because we have a lot of talent, but it's really going to come down to how much we want it." "Connecticut is ranked 18th right now," Gross said. "So we know they are strong but I think we have a good shot to win." The Camels are known for their consistency and Eng feels that this is something the Jumbos need to be cognizant of. "Some teams are very disciplined and they just don't make errors so you can't just go out expecting to win," Eng said. "We know we have the talent but we've got to want it more than them if we're going to win." After the match against Connecticut College, the Jumbos are going to be in for a very busy weekend, as they face Bowdoin, Bates, Northwestern, and Vassar. "This weekend is going to be huge for us," Gross said. "Bowdoin is a strong team that we might be able to upset if we play really well. Bates might be a little bit of a reach for us, but they should all be good matches."

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Women's Squash | Seventh ranked Brown drops Jumbos in blowout

February 7

The talent differential was simply too much for the Jumbos to overcome Friday. Tufts dropped all nine matches to seventh-ranked Brown, and the 14th-ranked Jumbos managed to extend only one match beyond the three-game minimum. The loss drops the Jumbos' overall record to 8-6, but only one of those eight wins has come against higher-ranked teams. Despite the loss, coach Doug Eng was not upset with his team's effort, given the level of competition the Jumbos were up against. The disparity in recruiting between Tufts and a school like Brown and the injuries that the Jumbos have faced lead Eng to consider this season a success thus far. "Its like if Boston College defeated Tufts University by a score of 86-54 in basketball, you certainly would not be unhappy with that result," coach Dough Eng said, referencing the loss at Brown on Friday. "Schools such as Brown and Williams work with different admission standards, so it is hard for us to compete against such schools." Senior co-captain Eliza Drachman-Jones echoed these sentiments. "When you face a team such as Brown, a team you know is much better than you, you set personal goals and try to take something away from the match. It can be used as a morale booster," she said. The Jumbos were once again playing without two of their key players. Health-related issues are expected to sideline sophomore Erica Adler for the rest of the season and Nida Ghouse remains out with a leg injury. While Ghouse says her leg is feeling better, she is not expected to play in the Jumbos' match against Connecticut College on Wednesday. The team hopes to have her back this coming weekend when they face Bowdoin and St. Lawrence. "We have been missing a couple of players each match. Our health has only been at about 75 percent. It's like going into a basketball game with two starters missing," Eng said. Coach Eng thinks there are many areas in which his team can improve. One of the critical problems for this woman's squash teams has been patience, reflected in their preference to hit drop shots as opposed to hitting the ball deep. "It's like the difference between shooting three pointers and going inside in basketball or throwing long passes in football as opposed to developing your ground game," Eng says. "It all comes down to improving our backhand and exploiting other teams' backhands." Freshman Rebecca Rice played in the most competitive match of the afternoon, although victory was not within reach. She was the only Jumbo who managed to win a game against her opponent, defeating Brown's No. 2 player sophomore Zarah Rhaman 9-7 in the second game before Rhaman captured the final two games to win the best-of-five match. "It was exciting to win a game. I had a better attitude after the first game and coach told me to keep the ball deep and keep the rallies going," Rice said. Drachman-Jones commented on her teammate's win. "For Rebecca to win a whole game, shows that she sets tough goals for herself, works hard, and remains focused. Rebecca has been playing really well for us all year long," she said. In the No. 1 match, Tufts sophomore Julia Avruton came up against the star of the Brown squash team, losing 9-0, 9-3, 9-0. Eng would like to see his top competitors play better than the recent performance against Brown and last week's 5-4 loss against William Smith, in which the top three competitors all lost their matches. Tufts faces off against Connecticut College in their next match, a team they beat 7-2 in their season opener. Still, the team is not taking anything for granted. "We are confident, but not overconfident. We recognize that that was the first match of the season and Connecticut College could have improved a great deal. In squash, especially with injuries, anything can happen." Drachman-Jones said.

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News

Tilt' does feature poker star

February 7

Thanks for making the space in your broadsheet to allow Brian Wolly to present his considered review of "Tilt." As a Jumbo (A '88), I don't feel like my work is complete until it's been written about in the Daily. I am disappointed that Mr. Wolly did not spark to the show and hope that he might watch through to the end of the series before passing final judgment. Interestingly, he points to an example of my earlier work, "Rounders," as genius - yet upon its initial release, it received a heaping share of critical disdain for its seamy depiction of unrealistic poker play. Of course, now the revisionists have seen that the film was merely depicting the truth in a new and uncomfortable way. I believe the same is true of "Tilt." Still, only time will decide its true worth, and this is not why I am putting quill to paper this morning. I have no truck with a bad write-up (even in my favorite student paper). I do, however, have a problem with inaccuracy. In his piece, Mr. Wolly chastises "Tilt" because we 'have no character like Daniel Negreanu' in the show. Perhaps Mr. Wolly did not watch very closely. In the first episode of our show we did have a Daniel Negreanu type character - the ACTUAL Daniel Negreanu, in a two scene cameo appearance. This may be a creative lacuna on my part, but I do not know how to be more Negreanu than Negreanu. Perhaps Mr. Wolly can solve this one for me.Brian Koppelman Co-creator, writer/director of "Tilt" and screenwriter of "Rounders"

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News

Can we still trust our prescription drugs?

February 7

Given the popularity of Tufts' Community Health program and the strong interest in Ex-College courses related to public health, pharmaceutical companies, and prescription drugs, it's not surprising that the spate of recent drug recalls has stirred up discussion in both academic and personal settings among Tufts students and faculty members. According to Edith Balbach, Director of the University's community health program, there is a conflict of interest for companies like Merck & Co (see box) that are torn between optimizing their profits and ensuring the safety of their products. "We rely on these companies," she said. "We need the companies to be honest about research." In Balbach's "Community Health and Drugs" course, students analyze the policies that govern the drug world, and the biological, political, cultural, and economic factors involved in the creation of these policies. While the course focuses more on drugs with the potential for abuse, such as OxyContin, Balbach draws a parallel between the two drugs. "Multinational pharmaceutical companies make huge profits from both [VIOXX and OxyContin], and both call for a system to make sure that the drug is not harmful," she said. One reform proposed by Keith Wilcoxen - who teaches the current Ex-College course "Discoveries, Drugs and Money: 100 Years of Pharmaceuticals" and is a senior research investigator at the Eisai Research Institute - involves prolonging the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) participation in clinical trials for new medication. Currently, the FDA oversees clinical trials only before the drug is put on the market. Once the drug is introduced, it is no longer the FDA's job to regulate it; it is solely the pharmaceutical company's responsibility to carry out thorough and accurate testing. Wilcoxen said that a neutral party such as the FDA might be a more effective supervisor of such testing. According to Wilcoxen, carrying out effective clinical trials is extremely complex. "The trials are very expensive and time consuming and require the testing of thousands of patients, and even when companies test thousands of people for side effects, the medication will be used by millions once it is put on the market," he said. "Moreso, as arthritis medication, VIOXX was taken mostly by elderly people, who are frailer by nature," he added. "Many [VIOXX-users] were over 70 years old; of course they were more prone to cardiovascular problems." Although pharmaceutical companies are often put in compromising situations when recalling medication will be costly, both Balbach and Wilcoxen praised those companies for their important work creating life-saving medication. "The pharmaceutical companies do good things for us - the drug discoveries are amazing," Balbach said. "The question is, how do we ensure whether [the companies] are serving the public interest?" Wilcoxen believes that it's the patient's responsibility to educate him or herself about the medication they are taking. "We are a pill nation," he said. "It is our responsibility to educate ourselves." Many Tufts students are taking steps to do just that. Freshmen Margaux Birdsall is careful to research her prescriptions before using them: "I usually ask my doctor if there are any side effects and if it contains any of the known things I'm allergic to," she said. Freshman Laura McNulty takes things a step farther. "I go on the internet, do a Google, and then try to find a reputable source," she said, adding "not 'Joe's favorite medicines,' but a trustworthy site." While a number of students are taking the initiative to learn about the risks involved with their medication, others rely on their doctors and other healthcare professionals to inform them of any potential side effects. "If it's an antibiotic, I don't [research the prescription], but if it's a different type of inhaler, I go online, call my doctor, or ask my mom, who's a nurse," sophomore Nathaly Spilotros said. "I ask my doctor, but I never research medication myself," freshman Sari Haime said. For some students, learning about the problems with medications like VIOXX has had a lasting effect. "I might look more carefully into prescription drugs that I take in the future," said freshman Aaron Harris, who has never researched prescriptions in the past - said. Even thoroughly researched medication may have potential risks attached. According to Wilcoxen, "potential medication users should keep in mind that no drug is 100 percent safe. But taking the initiative to research your prescription medication is an important step in lowering your risk of side effects."

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Women's Swimming and Diving | Team ends regular season on a light note

February 7

In its last meet of the regular season, the women's swimming and diving team put forth a strong performance on Saturday at the MIT Invitational. Though it was not a typical dual meet and races were not scored, the events did not carry any less significance, especially for those swimmers whose season ended on Saturday. "They swam wonderfully," coach Nancy Bigelow said, referring to the swimmers who are not competing at the NESCAC Championships in two weeks. "I think they were all pleased with how they performed. Some of them had huge drops in their times. There were some season and even career bests." For those who are not swimming at the NESCAC Championships, this was a chance to put an exclamation point on a successful season, and junior Katie Mims felt that they did just that. "For swimmers not going to NESCACs, this was the final hurrah," she said. "[Freshman] Carolyn Chmielewski swam really well, as did Sara Sawyer, Alison Manchester and Carolyn St. Laurence." Each of these freshman swam their best time of the year, and since they will not be participating at the championship meet, their personal bests carried that much more significance. Swimmers who will be participating at the NESCAC Championships in Middlebury on Feb. 18th - 20th used this meet as a chance to prepare, as many swam events in which they would not normally participate to get in the extra practice. Conversely, some members of the team, for a change of pace, did not swim in the event in which they will be competing at the Championships. "A few tried to stay away from their main events," said Bigelow. "This gives them a chance to relax and have a little fun." Mims backed up the rationale. "I swam seven events, stuff that I never do," she said. "It was fun, a little more laid back." The Jumbos started the meet well, finished third and fourth in the 200-yard medley relay. The team that consisted of Mims and freshman Monika Burns, Allison Palomaki and Bianca Spinosa finished in a time of 1:55.10, just ahead of the foursome of senior quad-captain Sarah Ferranti, sophomore Chloe Young-Hyman, junior Meghan Wallach and freshman Tia Bassano (1:55.57). There were solid Tufts performances in nearly every event. Young-Hyman finished second in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:09.71) and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (25.95). Bassano finished fifth in the 200 free (2:00.08) and eighth in the 50 free (26.04). Junior Jessica Schwartz had a good day diving, finishing fifth in both the one meter and three meter competitions. The Jumbos finished the season with a respectable 5-2 record, with losses to league rivals Connecticut College and Wesleyan. The team may get a chance to avenge these conference losses as those who are going to the NESCAC Championships will continue to practice and work hard. "The girls have done so much," said Bigelow. "Last year was a spectacular year, but this year has also been outstanding. It really is a team process. They put in so much time and battle through so many injuries and illnesses." Mims also emphasized the commitment and dedication the team has displayed. "After winter break, we made a pact as a team to go dry," she said, referring to the team's abstinence from alcohol. "Until NESCACs, there will be no partying. We take it very seriously." "Swimming is a sport in which you need to be in top shape. It is a lot more physically demanding than most people give it credit for," Mims continued. "We know that, and that's why we go dry. We do it as a team: it's not an NCAA rule, a NESCAC rule, or even Nancy's rule." The team's fitness and overall talent in the pool will be put to the test at Middlebury against an extremely challenging field. In the regular season, the Jumbos faced Conn. College, Bowdoin, Wesleyan, Trinity, and Bates. Along with losses to the Camels and the Cardinals, Tufts beat Bowdoin, Trinity and Bates in close matches, with the margin of victory never exceeding 20 and getting as tight as two in a nail-biter against Trinity. "Williams is heavily favored," commented Bigelow. "They are a very good team, but so are we." Mims agreed with her coach. "The Championships will be tough this year," she said. "We have been training for it all season, and though we suffered a couple of key losses from last season, we also have the addition of some great freshmen. We'll be ready."

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Tufts a cappella groups recognized in awards ceremonies

February 7

It's awards season for Hollywood, with every possible guild and critics' group handing out shiny objects and heaving laudatory comments upon actors and actresses. Yet for a few students on campus, this past month was a time when nominations for distinguished awards were passed on to them in a long-standing tradition of excellence. Three of Tufts' a cappella groups were honored by the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA) in the Scholastic division of the annual Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards (CARAs). For "Mixed Collegiate Album," the Amalgamates were nominated for "Stopping for Breakfast." The group was also nominated for the song "Everlong" in the "Mixed Collegiate Song" category, a nomination that Shir Appeal was also honored with for their piece, "Ga'agua." The Jackson Jills garnered two CARA nominations for their album, "Headcase," and for Kate Marshall's ('03) arrangement of "Song for a Winter's Night," from that album. Amalgamates president Erin Bergin was especially proud of her group's achievement. The ensemble was undergoing financial hardships while recording "Stopping for Breakfast," to the extent that one member had to design a microphone by hand. "Being nominated without the luxury of a recording studio was really rewarding," said Bergin. The album, released last year, covers a broad variety of styles. "There was a lot of energy in it," said Bergin, citing one of the possible reasons for the nomination from the Contemporary A Cappella Society of America (CASA.) Ellen Shlossberg, president of Shir Appeal, was equally pleased with the announcement. "The biggest part [of being nominated] is that we're recognized on a secular level. We tend to be the only culture group on these things," Shlossberg said. Submitting their latest album "Transliteration" for review, CASA chose to recognize a Hebrew song as opposed to some of the English language pieces. "Ga'agua," which translates to "longing" in English, is "kind of corny," according to Shlossberg. She attributed the song's merit to Nili Riemer's ('03) arrangement, which is filled with difficult rhythms and a skillful mixing of voices including soloist Shula Waldoks ('03). The nomination for "Ga'gua" marks the ensemble's second consecutive album to be recognized by CASA; "Unpealed" (2002) won mixed collegiate song and was runner-up for best album. Shlossberg also thanked the greater Tufts a cappella scene for Shir Appeal's success. "We are heavily influenced by the other a cappella groups at Tufts, so its great for all of the groups," she said. Not surprisingly, Emilie Pinkham, president of the Jills was also ecstatic with the nominations. "This is huge," said Pinkham, "It's a real honor to be nominated." The Jills have won best album at least twice before, but it had been a few years since the Jills were last recognized. "We're taking a lot of risks that some haven't liked," said Pinkham. Such risks include song selection and arrangement choice, but these risks apparently paid off, as their nomination came in the latter category, for "Song for a Winter's Night," arranged by Kate Marshall ('03), a cover of the Sarah McLachlan song composed by Gordon Lightfoot. Essence, sQ!, and the Beezlebubs did not submit albums for consideration for this year's CARAs. The nominees were decided upon by 60 fans and performers of varied backgrounds who reviewed the 150 albums released in 2004 that were submitted for consideration. The winners of the CARAs will be announced on April 1.

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By the Numbers | First Amendment fans and foes

February 7

Free speech appears to be alive and thriving on the Tufts campus, what with "The Vagina Monologues" having been performed (and discussed) on campus over the weekend, and the VOX-sponsored "Sex on the Hill" fair taking place in the campus center yesterday. But according to a comprehensive new study done by the University of Connecticut, the same can't be said of high school campuses across the U.S. In fact, as the Daily explores in this installment of "By the Numbers," the study suggests that many high school students display a lack of appreciation for-and understanding of-the rights guaranteed to them by the First Amendment.36 Years since Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District, the 1969 U.S. Supreme Court decision that granted students "the right to express their opinions on school grounds" so long as the way they express those opinions does not cause "material and substantial interference in the educational process"1 in 3 High school students who think that the First Amendment "goes too far in the rights it guarantees"97% High school teachers who think that the expression of "unpopular views" should be allowed83% High school students who think so 1 in 2 High school students who think "newspapers should be allowed to publish freely without government approval of stories"39% High school teachers who think so20% High schools surveyed that have no student publications40% Portion of that 20% that have gotten rid of their student publications within the past 5 years$1 million Cost of the study100,000 Students involved in the study8,000 Teachers involved in the study544 Private and public high schools involved in the study371 Inquiries submitted to the Student Press Law Center "from student publishers and their faculty advisers nationwide" in 19852,796 Inquiries submitted in 20033 in 4 High school students who think flag-burning is illegal (which it isn't)1 in 2 High school students who think "the government can restrict any indecent material on the Internet" (which it cannot) The statistics cited above come from the Associated Press, the Seattle Times, the Press & Sun-Bulletin, the Daily Collegian, and the Chicago Sun-Times.

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Inside the NFL | Back to Back: Pats pluck Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX

February 7

Only the New England Patriots could take an event like the Super Bowl - the most ostentatious, media-saturated, hyped-up sporting event in the world - and turn it into business as usual. But that's exactly what New England did against the Philadelphia Eagles, and it's why the Pats have now won back-to-back championships and three in the last four years. After all, business as usual for Bill Belichick's Pats is the business of winning. It's simple enough, but it's what sets New England apart. On a team where "boring" and "humble" are the guidelines when any player or coach speaks with the press, the focus ends up on the team's incredible talent for winning football games. That talent isn't for putting lots of points up, although they can certainly do so (see: AFC championship game) or for defensively shutting down a prolific offense, although that's within the Pats' capabilities as well (see: AFC Divisional game). Rather, the Pats are good at whatever they need to be good at on any given day. Without sounding too much like a broken record, much of the credit for this Pats' team needs to go to the owner's box and coaching staff, and especially Belichick. There are only a handful of Patriots who could play for another team at the same level that they do in New England. Corey Dillon and Rodney Harrison had successful careers respectively with the Cincinnati Bengals and the San Diego Chargers before coming to New England, and Damien Woody stands out as one of the best centers in the NFL. Rounding out the list are Ty Law, who was injured all season, and Richard Seymour, who didn't play for much of the playoffs and was used in a less prominent role in the Super Bowl. So make it three for this post-season. Many loyal Pats fans read that paragraph slack-jawed. What about Teddy Bruschi? Deion Branch was the Super Bowl XXXIX MVP, right? Tom Brady's won three Super Bowls, hasn't he? All are great players, but put them on other teams, and Bruschi's an undersized linebacker, Branch is maybe a slot receiver, and Brady, well Brady's a riddle. Had he been drafted by another team, he probably would be starting somewhere right now, but there's no way of knowing. After all, he didn't get drafted until the sixth round and didn't even start much of his senior year at Michigan! No, Brady, Bruschi and the likes are all good players, but it's Belichick that makes them championship-caliber players. He finds every ounce of potential in every player and exploits it in his system so that everyone executes, every time. Indeed, it doesn't even matter if the starters start. The Pats secondary, at various times this post-season, has featured players like Randall Gay, Hank Poteat, Eugene Wilson, and wide receiver Troy Brown. It's a mystery how this is done. Maybe it's Belichick's stone-faced demeanor or radiating determination. And that edge that Belichick and Co. brings to the table couldn't have been more obvious during the Super Bowl. Philly came out strong, doing what they would have to do to win: The Eagles got to Brady early, forcing uncharacteristically bad throws and even a red-zone fumble. The special teams played well, winning the field position battle, and the offense even found some limited rhythm against the Pats' unforgiving linebackers. Even T.O. was getting into the mix, making some doctor somewhere feel pretty stupid. Stranger yet, the Pats were making mistakes. The team that everyone has hailed as infallible all year was committing penalties and missing tackles in the first quarter. And then, just as people started to scratch their heads, the pendulum swung, and it swung hard, as the Pats began to do all the little things that make them the Pats. Harrison holds up L.J. Smith just long enough for Gay to force a fumble, Dillon gives up his body to protect Brady on a blitz, and every lineman takes down his assigned target on a screen pass. Business as usual. Despite a valiant effort, when crunch time rolled around, the Eagles couldn't get it done. It's tough to question a brilliant coach like Andy Reid, but Philadelphia's atrocious clock management at the end of both halves will not evade scrutiny, especially as reporters and Philly fans search for new angles to explain the loss. (The fact that New England is just the better team won't console the guy who paints his body green and has a shrine to Donovan McNabb in his bedroom.) Ultimately, though, the Pats' incredible ability to win no matter the situation will be the hallmark of this team, and...dare it be uttered, this dynasty. For many, the jury's still out on the big D-word, but training camp is only a few boring months away and the Pats still have plenty of cap room. Here's a premature prediction from "Inside the NFL": The Pats won't be able to do it again. Losing coordinators Romeo Crennel and Charlie Weis means that Belichick won't be able to focus as much on whatever it is he focuses on that makes this team so good. Then again, at this point, picking against the Pats to win seems to defy logic and sound investment wisdom - after all, winning is their business.

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Varis, Merrin become new Trustees

February 7

Newly elected trustees Agnes Varis and alumnus Seth Merrin (LA '82) will be serving at their first meeting this weekend after being elected last November. Varis, a graduate of Brooklyn College, has not only achieved considerable professional success but has also been an ardent advocate for women in the sciences. Now president and founder of two successful pharmaceutical companies, Agvar Chemicals, Inc. and Aegis Chemicals, Inc., Varis was the first woman to break into all-male pharmaceutical organizations including the Drug Chemical Allied Trade Association and the Sales Association of the Chemical Industry. "I've always dedicated myself to moving anything along to help women," Varis said. [University President] Larry Bacow is absolutely on the right course on bringing more women into different [administrative] positions at the different schools. That's very impressive." Varis' engagement with the University stems from Tufts' School of Veterinary Medicine, of which she has been an overseer and substantial benefactor for some years. A lecture hall, a joint veterinary and public health program, and a department chair are all endowed in Varis' name. Varis is not only interested in what her business and the School of Veterinary Medicine can bring to the University, but also the "rejuvenating" effect the students can give her - a self-described "flaming liberal" committed to social causes during her young adulthood. "I felt like as you go into the routine of working, slowly your enthusiasm for changing the world diminishes and you feel like you can't participate the same way," she said. Thus, it is easy to get "a little cynical." Interacting with students at Tufts, "I see life as I saw it when I was in college when I was 17, and I'm 75 now," Varis said. "The basic thing of doing something for society in your country, giving back something, is there." Merrin is now president and CEO of Liquidnet Holdings, a block trading company ranked the fifth fastest growing company on Inc. Magazine's list of private companies in America. This technology-driven venture allows businesses to improve large block trades of equity anonymously and directly with significant price improvement. Merrin has also spearheaded other advances in business and financial software, including the industry's first Order Management System (OMS), as well as founding two other companies specializing in financial technology. As for Tufts, "I'm devoted," Merrin said. "Larry Bacow? I would take a bullet for him," he said. "If he sent me to Iraq I would go." "I loved my experience at Tufts," Merrin said. "It's with me every single day, I can't say how much that has helped me both socially and from a business perspective." Merrin, who majored in Political Science, said close community was his primary memory of Tufts. "My favorite things were the professors and the access that people had," he said. Tufts connections now make up a crucial part of his present world, Merrin said. Merrin is the second member of his family to be a trustee at Tufts - his father, Edward Merrin, (LA '50) also served as a trustee from 1980 - 1991.

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