Archives

News

Safety tips for off-campus living

January 27

Keep all exterior doors and windows secured, especially those on basement, ground, and fire escape levels. Use window stops at times when you want to remain secure and still have the windows open (ask your landlord to install some if you don't have them). Utilize shades or blinds when you are not at home or at nighttime to decrease visibility into your apartment. Do not leave valuables out in the open; secure them in a drawer or cabinet. Secure your laptop computers with a portable security device. Check your outside lighting and confirm that your entry door, driveway, and walkway lights are working and bright enough to light your way; if not, check with your landlord to see if improvements can be made. Program the Medford Police/Somerville Police and Tufts Police numbers into your cell phones to save you time in an emergencyMedford Police 781-395-1212 (FROM HOME DIAL 911)Somerville Police 617-625-1212 (FROM HOME DIAL 911)Tufts Police 617-627-6911 Call your local police departments for a security consultation.Medford Police: 781-391-6770Somerville Police 617-625-1600Tufts Police 617-627-3839

---

News

Men's Squash | Jumbos retool for second half

January 25

The squash team was busy over break, traveling to the Bahamas to refine its game and tune up for the coming months. Team members did fitness training as well as played practice matches against local players ranging from 25 to 50 years old. "The kids trained hard," Coach Doug Eng said. "I think they had a real good time." Senior co-captain Fernando Kriete felt the team got a lot out of the trip. "It was a great trip and I think it really helped to build some team chemistry," Kriete said. "I tried to help institute a work-hard, play-hard philosophy on the trip. We had a lot of fun off the court, but we also worked extremely hard." Freshman Jake Gross, who plays No. 1 for the Jumbos and has compiled a record of 7-2, agrees that the trip will definitely help the team this year. "We practiced once a day and we had three matches. The competition was really good, and it was real hot there so we got some solid physical conditioning," he said. In the last match before winter break, the men fell to Amherst 1-8 on the Lord Jeffs' home court on Dec. 10. About halfway into the season, Eng is content with the results thus far, but he sees room for improvement. "There are a couple guys who need to step up a bit, but now we're going to be at full strength," Eng said. "I think we can do better, but we're not far off the mark." Kriete feels the team has performed well, but can take its game to a new level in the final part of the season. "We played to our potential in the first part of the season," Kreite said. "We had a few chances where things could have gone either way and they didn't go our way, but we need to use that as motivation and to make sure next time when we are in that situation things go our way." "Overall we have improved a lot," Gross said. "We had some bad losses to teams like Hamilton but on the whole I think we've done well." The Jumbos are currently ranked No. 21 in the nation and they will be helped by the return of junior co-captain Spencer Maxwell. Maxwell played at the No. 1 spot last year for the Jumbos and this year he is projected to play at or around the No. 2 spot. "Spencer did play some in Spain, but he might be a bit rusty," Eng said. "We'll need to take a look and see where he's at." With the addition of Maxwell, Kriete is optimistic about the future. "With our new, improved team chemistry and the fact that we're in better physical shape now, combined with Spencer coming back, I think we're set for a great close to the season," Kriete said. The men hope to start off the new semester with a victory over Fordham on Jan. 29 in a rare home match. In an effort to continue to retool, the team plans on using the match against a weaker Fordham team as an opportunity to keep working out the kinks. Gross will be sitting out the match. "I think if we stick to our game plan we should do well," Kriete said of the upcoming match. "We almost never have home matches so we really need people to go and check out the team."

---

News

Relationship Statement hopes to clarify University policy

January 25

A revised Relationship Statement passed unanimously by the Committee on Fraternities and Sororities (CFS) clarifies University judicial procedure and allows for more self-governance within Greek life. The revised document was approved at the last meeting of the CFS, held Dec. 10, 2004. "The addendum should be helpful not only to students but also to members of various judiciaries," Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Todd Sullivan said. "When trying to decide on a punishment, rather than just trying to shoot in the dark this provides more of a roadmap," he said. The amended Relationship Statement includes an appendix which codifies acceptable punishments for various offenses. Possible violations are categorized into three tiers so that they can be paired with appropriate penalties. For example, according to Sullivan, turning paperwork in late would be a minor offense, and a serious hazing problem would be a major offense. Although a section already existed in the agreement specifically regarding judicial sanctioning, the revisers of the document felt the un-revised Statement allowed the Judicial Committees to be too subjective. A more specific explanation of the judicial sanction is listed in the appendix. "Furthermore, the process will be more transparent so that those involved in the Greek System will know what the consequences are and what they are in for," Sullivan said. Delta Tau Delta (DTD) member Charlie Bonello is glad to see the new Statement. "I think that this more apparent Statement is certainly a more advisable path and would clear up a lot of the ambiguity surrounding the judicial process and would help people be more accountable for their actions," he said. According to the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs website, the Relationship Statement represents the application of the University's commitment to the existence of fraternities and sororities, and also governs the responsibilities of the fraternities and sororities at Tufts to the University. Sullivan said the Statement is revised every few years. TCU Senate President David Baumwoll said that the most recent revisions solidified expectations outlined in the previous Statement. He is also a member of the Committee on Fraternities and Sororities. "There was a prevailing sentiment that the guidelines suggested in the Relationship Statements are vague at best," Baumwoll said. "In the past, there was a general confusion about how decisions were arrived at by the judicial boards." "The goal is to allow the Greek system to take a more proactive role in [its] own self-governance," Baumwoll said. "These guidelines are the most aggressive step being taken to bridge the gap between the Greek System and the University," Baumwoll said. The amended Relationship Statement still has to be reviewed by the University Legal Counsel. This review will take place during the current semester.

---

News

Hockey | Freshmen dominate historic weekend

January 25

These are exactly the types of games the Tufts hockey team has been waiting for since they entered the NESCAC. While the Jumbos may have sometimes been able to hang with league powers such like Bowdoin and Colby, the final result usually was not the one Tufts hoped for. But this weekend was different for the Jumbos. First came Friday's exhilarating 4-1 defeat of 13th ranked Colby, a game in which freshman goalie James Kalec broke a 49-year-old school record for saves with 60. The next afternoon, Tufts surprised its fans with yet another show. In a 3-3 tie with 11th ranked Bowdoin, Tufts earned its first points versus the Polar Bears since it revived the varsity program in 1986. "We have had some tough weekends against NESCAC teams but I think it just comes down to having a good week of practice leading up to those games as well as phenomenal play from our goalie," freshman Greg O'Connell said. The Jumbos continued their winning ways last night, when the team took on non-conference Johnson and Wales and won 4-2. Junior forward and team leading goal scorer Matt McCarthy led the Jumbos' offensive attack, with goals twelve and thirteen on the season in the first and third period, the latter coming on a face-off assist from senior Jason Boudrow. Sophomore forward John Murphy and Boudrow also scored in the game for the Jumbos. The team's outstanding play between the pipes continued last night, not from Kalec this time but from junior Matt Ninnemann, who kept potential scorers at bay all night, including one particularly spectacular glove save in the final period. The defense also played well, keeping Johnson and Wales out of the Tufts zone for the majority of the game. All this came on the heels of a remarkable weekend that saw the Jumbos holding their own with top teams. Saturday's game in Malden was a classic by all accounts. Riding high off of the adrenaline from Friday's contest, Tufts jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening period. Freshman forward Ross Gimbel put one home in the first on an assist from O'Connell. McCarthy netted his 11th of the season on the power play with just six seconds remaining in the period. But good teams know how to rebound when they are down, and Bowdoin made that clear in a three-goal second period. The Polar Bears brought the Jumbos back down to earth by out-shooting them 15-4 and allowing no scoring chances in the period while scoring all of their goals in a five-minute span. The third period was put up or shut-up time for Tufts, and the team rose to the occasion. Freshman Matt Tosto was in the right place at the right time and knocked in a rebound for his first collegiate goal. The two teams stayed even through overtime. Kalec, shutting out Bowdoin with nine saves in the third, had 26 on the night. Saturday's tie may have not happened had it not been for the confidence booster that was Friday night's 4-1 win at Valley Forum II. Colby came into the contest flying high after wins over Williams and defending national champion Middlebury, two teams who had dominated Tufts earlier this month. But although being outshot 61-25, the Jumbos managed a victory over one of the region's preeminent teams. The first period was scoreless even though the Mules had 20 shots, while Tufts had only six. This was just the beginning of what would be a record setting performance for Kalec, who on Monday received NESCAC Player of the Week honors. He made all the saves he needed to and played exceptionally well," junior co-captain Ken Cleary said. "And the rest of the team was there to back him up." Freshman O'Connell is also a promising younger team member following another successful weekend. Going into last night's game, the forward was leading the team in points. "I'm just trying to be as productive as possible whether it be on the first or second line," O'Connell said. "I am very fortunate to be able to play with some of the seniors who have helped not only me but all the freshmen." In the second period of the Colby game, the Mules finally broke through Kalec's wall for their only goal of the game. Two quick goals by sophomore forwards Murphy and Matt Dalton, and insurance scores by O'Connell and Cleary sealed the deal for the Jumbos. Most amazing about Kalec's goaltending was the symmetry of it-20 saves in the first, 20 in the second, and, you guessed it, 20 in the third. Already withstanding the hail storm of shots in his freshman season, he certainly gives hope for the team in the present and the future. With last night's win, Tufts finally moves above the .500 mark with a record of 8-7-1. With contributions from freshmen like Kalec, O'Connell and Tosto, and steady leadership from upperclassmen, this historic weekend may be enough to propel this suddenly over-achieving team to a playoff run.

---

News

Students notice anti-U.S. sentiments while abroad

January 25

Studying abroad is a popular choice for many Tufts students, but it does not come without some difficulties. For years students have struggled through applying to a different school, transferring credit, mastering a second language and working through culture shock. This past fall, however, during a difficult and heated election year, students studying abroad had an additional concern - being judged based solely on the American political scene rather than their individual characteristics. "In Spain, President Zapatero is publicly anti-Bush, so everybody is completely anti-Bush," said junior Mary Humphreys, who spent the fall in Madrid. "If you even mention the fact that you are a Bush fan, you get completely shunned." Junior Claire Freierman went to Talloires, France this past summer and found that people were quick to ask whether she liked President Bush. "It seemed for some people that's how they chose whether or not to condemn me," she said. Junior Julie Buce said that she, too, was often asked about her political standpoint while spending the fall semester in England with the Tufts in Oxford program. "People would notice my American accent, and the first question they would ask was, 'Bush or Kerry?'" she said. "It was equivalent to being a freshman and getting asked, 'Hi, what's your name, where are you from?" Some students felt that animosity extended only towards political figures, while others felt it was widespread towards anything "American." Junior Nick Boyd, who lived in Europe until 2002, feels that although tensions between Europeans and Americans have gotten worse, they have always existed. "I left Europe before the transatlantic tensions we know today really erupted, but even back then hostility toward the United States was strong," he said. "They are very anti-the American way of life," Humphreys said. "They think that we are arrogant and ignorant, but at the same time they completely buy into American pop culture." Junior Hilary Pentz, who spent the fall in Seville, Spain, had a different perspective. "I thought that people were going to associate me with Bush and just hate Americans, but in my experience they weren't anti-American: they were more anti-Bush," she said. Boyd, however, finds this to be something of a contradiction. "Some Europeans like to say they dislike only the Bush administration, not America as a whole," he said. "They forget that, policies aside, Bush embodies typically American character attributes that a solid majority of Americans approve of - leadership, courage, integrity, and patriotism. Americans don't object to the idea of a cowboy as a President; Europeans can't stand it." As a result of negativity, whether anti-American or Bush, some students studying abroad felt pressure to downplay aspects of their lives that appeared stereotypically "American." "People definitely make an effort not to look American because you get treated in a completely different way," Humphreys said. "People try to take advantage of you - they think you are ignorant no matter what." Buce recalls a story from a friend who spent the semester in Italy. "She was with a bunch of very conservative girls and they would lie to people like cab drivers because they were scared to say they were pro-Bush," Buce said. "One time one of the cab drivers asked their political stance first, insinuating he wasn't going to drive them if they were pro-Bush." Some students attribute part of the animosity towards the United States to foreign media sources. Buce recalls a British newspaper headline following the election that asked, "How can 59,054,087 people be so DUMB?" "I would try to explain to [my British friends] that the media was giving a false impression of Americans," Buce said. Some American students abroad for the semester observed a sentiment among many Europeans that the outcome of the American presidential election was as consequential for them as it was for Americans. "On the night of the election, there was a viewing party, and all the Americans left at like 1 a.m., but the British were there all night," Buce said. "About 100 out of the 500 students in my college were there, and they were really into it - cheering for Kerry. It was like a football game."

---

News

At mid-season point, Illini are team to beat

January 25

With the college hoops season halfway over, now's a good time to re-evaluate and see how certain teams have competed compared to expectations. What follows is the "Inside College Basketball" midseason progress report:Top 5: Illinois - With a tough schedule under their belts and having gone undefeated with an overall record of 19-0, the Fighting Illini are proving a tough team to dethrone from the top spot. With quality wins over Gonzaga, Cincinnati, and Iowa, not to mention a blowout over previous number one Wake Forest, the Illini have asserted themselves as the top-ranked team in the country. Their standouts include a trio of guards, Luther Head, Dee Brown, and Deron Williams, who combine for 43 points per game. Illinois may have faced their biggest test last night, taking on Wisconsin in Madison, where the Badgers haven't lost in 38 straight games. The results arrived were not available at press time. Duke - Although the Blue Devils have beaten only one Top 25 team, they have had some tough match-ups against the likes of Oklahoma, N.C. State and Virginia. Through it all, they have managed to stay undefeated. Led by one of the best backcourt duos in the country in J.J. Redick and Daniel Ewing, Duke is a team to be reckoned with yet again. Wake Forest - With a huge win over North Carolina on Jan. 15, the Demon Deacons showcased their basketball prowess. Chris Paul proved his All-American status. But then the Deacs lost to Florida State in overtime, confusing everyone. Nevertheless, look for Wake to be in the Final Four. North Carolina - After they lost their first game of the season to unranked Santa Clara, the Heels looked unstoppable while pounding Atlantic Coast Conference teams Maryland and Georgia Tech. But when Rashad McCants got in foul trouble against Wake, the Demon Deacons ran the Tar Heels out of the building. Look for potential All Americans McCants, Raymond Felton, Sean May, and Jawad Williams to step it up in the second half of the season. Syracuse - If it wasn't for an early-season loss to Oklahoma State, the Orangemen would be undefeated. Hakim Warrick and Gerry McNamara have been keeping this team afloat. Don't be surprised if they make it to the Final Four.All Americans: If there were to be an all-star team today, these are the five guys that would be playing:1. Raymond Felton: The North Carolina point man has been crazy for his team this year. He's one of the fastest guys on the court in any given game, not to mention that he makes all of his teammates better. Felton has been dropping dimes like nobody's business, averaging 7.3 assists per game.2. Chris Paul: Wake Forest's point man can play both guard positions and has been sensational for the Demon Deacons. He showed up Felton in the UNC/Wake match-up and has been everyone's favorite guard this season, averaging 15.8 points, 6.5 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game.3. Rashad McCants: Dubbed by Dick Vitale as the best offensive player in America, McCants has matured a lot since last year and has taken the Heels on his shoulders at numerous points throughout the season. He can score from the inside or outside, which helps to explain the 17.0 points per game.4. Hakim Warrick: The lanky 6'8" senior has dominated the post in most games. He's averaging 20 points and 8.8 rebounds per contest for the Orangemen. 5. Ike Diogu: No one knows about this beast from Arizona State. The 6'8", 250 pound forward/center has obliterated everyone in his path. Diogu is averaging 22.6 points and 9.9 rebounds per game for the Sun Devils. Surprises: The biggest surprise of the year is Boston College. The Eagles weren't even in the Top 25 before the season started. Now they're undefeated and have entered the Top 10 in the main polls. Led by forwards Craig Smith and Jared Dudley, BC has beaten several tough teams, including UConn, West Virginia, and Villanova. The biggest bust of the season to this point has been the Florida Gators. With the return of three of their best players from last year in Anthony Roberson, Matt Walsh, and David Lee, the Gators have dropped three games to unranked opponents, pushing them out of the Top 25 in the main polls.

---

---

News

No bull: has Chicago returned to its winning ways of the '90s?

January 25

When Michael Jordan left the Chicago Bulls after the 1998-99 season, he seemed to have taken his winning ways along with him. Since then, the Bulls have failed to have a winning season and have not made it to postseason play. They also traded Jamal Crawford, their leading scorer, to the New York Knicks in the off-season without getting any crucial players in return. After a 1-10 start to this season, it seemed like it was the same losing story again in Chicago. However, with ten wins out of their last eleven games, and nineteen wins in the twenty-eight games since their poor start, the Bulls, at 20-19, are above five hundred later in a season than they have been since Jordan departed. Included in these wins are two victories against the defending champion Detroit Pistons, as well as victories over the Indiana Pacers, Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Memphis Grizzlies. The Bulls now find themselves with the same record as the Pacers and are in the 8th playoff spot. The potential for this team is there, but whether or not the pieces are in place remains to be seen. These "Baby Bulls" are getting the job done with timely scoring and an extremely solid defensive effort. The young squad is also allowing less than 91 ppg, good enough for 5th in the league. Their field-goal percentage defense is the best in the NBA. Their offensive contributions are coming from several different players in a balanced attack. Second-year point guard Kirk Hinrich is leading the team with 16 ppg and 7.2 apg. Also contributing in the backcourt are rookies Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, both of whom have done well in adjusting immediately to the NBA. Gordon is already the team's best perimeter shooter, averaging 13 ppg while hitting 43 percent of his three-point shots, while Deng, a versatile small forward, is scoring 12.5 ppg to go along with almost six boards per contest. Chicago's frontcourt has almost as many youthful players as their back. Eddy Curry and Tyson Chandler, who both came to the NBA straight from high school, are now in their fourth season. Curry, their best frontcourt scorer, is averaging 15.8 ppg and almost six rpg. He is also shooting 53.2 percent from the field, the best of the starting five. Chandler, while only scoring eight ppg, leads the team in both rebounding (nine rpg) and blocks (1.85 bpg). There have been several other contributors for the Bulls. In the backcourt, Chris Duhon, another rookie, is helping out at point guard and is second on the team in assists. Andres Nocioni, a rookie from Argentina, is a second option for Chicago at the small forward spot. In the frontcourt, veteran Antonio Davis, in his 14th season, has complemented the Bulls' youth very well. Despite posting only six ppg and five rpg, he has been helpful for Chicago's younger players, especially Chandler and Curry. Othella Harrington, a 9th year veteran, has been very efficient despite averaging only 16 minutes of action per game. Whether the Bulls are truly realizing their potential remains to be seen. In the weaker Eastern Conference, they can continue to rise if they play at the same high level of late. Coach Scott Skiles has the team playing well on the defensive end and the team has a solid balance between interior and perimeter scoring. Gordon and Deng are progressing extremely well and have star potential. The same could be said for Hinrich, who has been overshadowed by fellow sophomores Lebron James, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade. The frontcourt is where the bigger issues reside. Curry and Chandler are both free agents after this season, and Curry is coveted by a number of teams, most notably the Knicks. Both players have shown flashes of greatness, but ultimately have yet to take the next step for the Bulls. The team needs to decide soon whether they want to re-sign either to long-term deals or attempt to trade them for other players. A deal with the Knicks, who are burdened with several huge long-term deals, could involve Kurt Thomas or Nazr Mohammed. There is still work to be done in Chicago. However, after years of floundering following Jordan's retirement, these "Baby Bulls" have finally given their fans a little something to cheer about.

---

News

By the Numbers

January 25

Taking advantage of the thick blanket of snow -- and the day off from classes -- some Tufts students got in touch with their gleeful inner children over the extended weekend by sledding, engaging in snowball fights, and building snowmen (and snowwomen). Those students pursued happiness in their own small way -- and according to a recent TIME Magazine cover story on the science of happiness, many other individuals are doing the same. In the first "By the Numbers" of the semester, the Daily takes a look at some of the many factors that affect happiness levels. 78% Americans who feel happy "all or most of the time"5% Americans who feel happy "not very often"3.4 Days per month that people aged 20-24 "feel sad," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2.3 Days per month that people aged 65-74 "feel sad"3-10X How much more common clinical depression is today than it was two generations ago 63% Women who say they talk to their family and friends in order to improve their mood51% Men who say they do so25%Men who say they have sex in order to improve their mood18% Women who say they do so50%How much of a person's satisfaction with his or her life is estimated to be genetically determined, according to a 1996 study by University of Minnesota researcher David Lykken8% How much of a person's satisfaction with his or her life is determined by "circumstantial factors" (income, education, marital status, religion), according to Lykken4,000 Sets of twins (who have identical genetic makeup) studied by Lykken to reach these conclusions30X How much more frequently laughter occurs in social situations than solitary ones1,800 Number of "giggle clubs" -- in which people come together to laugh for no reason other than promoting happiness -- in India 1,000 Number of "Certified Laughter Leaders" -- who travel to hospitals and nursing homes to spread laughter -- in the US$50,000 Happiness increases up until this level of annual household income; happiness levels out as income increases beyond this$43,000 Median annual U.S. household income The statistics cited above come from TIME Magazine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

---

News

When a snowstorm hits, closings are close behind

January 25

On Sunday afternoon, as light snow continued to fall throughout New England and hundreds of Tufts students were sledding and playing in the snow, Tufts officials were on the verge of making a very tough decision. University administrators and facilities workers, in conjunction with the Medford Police Department, began working to clear the sidewalks, roads and building entrances in an attempt to allow classes to meet as usual on Monday. The problem, however, went beyond the limits of Tufts' Medford campus. The snowstorm, dubbed the "Blizzard of 2005" by news channels throughout New England, dumped nearly two feet of snow on Boston. Residents north of the city and on Cape Cod were buried under almost three feet of snow by the time the skies finally cleared. "We took into account the safety of our faculty and staff who have to drive here from off campus, as well as the commuting students," said University Vice President of Operations John Roberto. "We want to make every effort to stay open," he said. "But we have to use extra caution with so many cars." Roberto spoke not only with snow-removal workers at Tufts, but also with local police departments and city officials. On Sunday afternoon, state workers had many hours of work ahead of them in order to clear the local major highways in time for the Monday morning commute. By late afternoon Sunday, Somerville and Boston had declared snow emergencies, which prohibit parking along the narrow city streets so that snowplows can move unimpeded. The City of Boston had already canceled all public school classes for the next two days. After talking with the local cities and snow-removal crews, University administrators decided that classes should be suspended on Monday so as to not compromise the safety of students walking between classes as well as that of the faculty, staff and students who commute to campus every day. "We wanted to err on the side of safety," Roberto said. "We made the call in the middle of the storm, about seven or eight p.m. on Sunday." The announcement was immediately posted on Tuftslife.com. Some members of the Tufts community, however, feel that a school-wide e-mail would have been a more appropriate method of disseminating the cancellation information. "I don't think [spreading the word to students and faculty] was done well enough," said Valerie Anishchenkova, a lecturer in the German, Russian and Asian Languages department. Last weekend's storm was the first official blizzard to hit New England since the "April Fool's Storm" that struck on April 1, 2001. According to the National Weather Service, a blizzard involves heavy snow, winds in excess of 35 miles per hour, and visibility of less than one-quarter mile, sustained for more than three hours.

---

News

FOX's 'Point Pleasant' sends SoCal sex-romp 'O.C.' to a Jersey hell

January 25

As if we didn't already know that life in Jersey is hell. "Point Pleasant," the latest incarnation in a long line of soap opera-lite, "O.C." clones premiered its two-part pilot last Wednesday and Thursday nights on FOX. The series - this time with a supernatural twist - is set in a picturesque town on the New Jersey coast, predictably populated by bikini-clad babes and Ken dolls with waxed chests and even more waxen expressions. Of course, when producers realized that the fickle climate of the real Jersey Shore isn't conducive to showing off the skin of all these pretty people, they moved filming to a San Diego beach. That oh-so authentic touch sums up the synthetic sensibilities of this one-hour serial about the daughter of the Devil and a mortal woman. The pilot opens on the "Jersey Shore," where sunny skies are suddenly usurped by a violent and amazingly fast-moving thunderstorm. And in case the wacky weather doesn't clue you in to the fact that something freaky is afoot, the show's creators thoughtfully cue the creepy music. Lifeguard Jesse Parker (Sam Page) dives into the churning waters when he sees something bobbing in the distance, and returns to the beach with the motionless body of a lithe blonde, Christina Nickson (played by the doe-eyed Elisabeth Harnois) in tow. After some obligatory mouth-to-mouth - which much disturbs Jesse's pouty girlfriend Paula (Cameron Richardson) - Jesse takes the dazed Christina to the home of friend Judy Kramer (Aubrey Dollar) whose father is the local physician. Immediately and inexplicably taking a liking to the young stranger, the Kramers invite Christina to stay at their home while she seeks out information about Anne, the mother she never knew, who just happens to have been a Point Pleasant native. Strange occurrences accompany their new houseguest's arrival: dogs growl at her, bonfires flare up without warning, the electricity behaves erratically, a car explodes, and priests who mutter about prophesies being fulfilled are promptly killed off. Everyone who comes in contact with Christina finds their emotions heightened and their repressed desires unleashed; in other words, much philandering and fisticuffs ensue. Plus, she has this satanic symbol in the iris of her eye (which, incidentally, bears a striking resemblance to the America Online icon - I always knew Time Warner was in league with the devil). Yet in the face of all this blatantly concrete evidence, no one around Christina even begins to suspect the teenager's satanic roots. Just in case the audience should miss the boat as well, the action periodically cuts away to conversations between Kingston, the man who raised Christina, and Boyd (Grant Show), a presumed henchman for You-Know-Who. In a sunlit park, the two men blather on about the ultimate battle for good and evil, before Boyd departs for Point Pleasant where he can keep an eye on the action. Subtle, huh? Although the dialogue is decidedly sparse in spots, when the characters do speak they let loose with giveaway clunkers such as, "Rich people are idle, and idle hands..." Or, take the moment that tells us all we need to know about Jesse's home life, when his father asks, "You think you could stick around...(pregnant pause)...for a change?" The writers spoon-feed us the exposition with such heavy-handed dialogue that viewers can't help but feel insulted. Most of the show's budget and production energy seems to have been spent on creating slick, spooky imagery and finding actresses with pipe-cleaner-thin thighs rather than a smart script or original storyline. End result: the pace is plodding, the plot predictable, and though Harnois has that otherworldly expression down, it's not nearly enough to make the exploits of the other cookie-cutter characters compelling. The promos that FOX had been running for weeks before the show's premiere touted the fact that "Point Pleasant" is co-produced by Marti Noxon, the former executive-producer of cult hit, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Unfortunately, the similarities between the two shows begin and end there. Quirky, character-driven and stubbornly set against taking itself too seriously, "Buffy" was characterized by dialogue rife with pithy quips and puns galore. At the same time, creator Joss Whedon managed to get at some heavy issues by using the supernatural motif as a metaphor to speak about the horrors of adolescence and the monsters encountered in the process of discovering oneself. In this vein, "Point Pleasant" is young enough as a series that it still has time to tell an interesting story about the seductive nature of evil and the dark side that exists in many sleepy little towns. At this point, however, it seems to have no such aspirations; it's merely using the macabre to flesh out yet another mediocre melodrama about the hormone-fueled hookups of an overindulged and uninteresting group of characters. Bottom line: if you're in the mood for a smart supernatural series, you'll have to be content with reruns of "Buffy" on FX. Of course, if you enjoy being force-fed pablum, tune in to FOX for the continuation of this snore-worthy saga at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.

---

News

Students keep the Jumbo spirit alive while off the hill

January 25

Some students just cannot get enough of being a Jumbo. After fall semester ended and finals were over, a number of students continued to take part in Tufts-related activities. Sports training, community service trips abroad, winternships and vacations were just some of the ways Jumbos stayed connected to Tufts during the holiday season. For spring sports teams, winter is no time to slack off. The men's and women's swim teams leave campus for warmer climates in order to engage in an intense period of practice. The teams find that the tropical location and time off from school facilitate practice. Sophomore Shanti Sattler and her 35 teammates traveled to the Dominican Republic this year for a 10 day trip. "It's nice to have a decent pool," Sattler said. "And it's good that we don't have schoolwork, so we have time to swim." The experience of traveling with a team also helps the group to feel closer. "It was all Tufts people, so it made us even more connected," Sattler said. The team also bonded on the trip by participating in efforts to provide food, clothes and toys for local orphans. "We were doing more of the Tufts mission abroad, not just swimming," Sattler said. The Tufts ski team also ventured out together for training, but traveled north rather than south. While staying in New Hampshire and Vermont for a week to train and compete, the team got better acquainted with each other. "We got really close, and it was a great bonding experience," freshman Lauren Vasey said. Students who participated in the Tufts International and Intercultural Learning Through Experience and Service (TIILES) program embarked on an expedition of their own - all the way to Nicaragua. There, the students joined forces with native students to improve the quality of life in an underdeveloped town. "We worked on building a school, we worked on farms, and we got to know the local people and their communities," sophomore Mike Abare said. "It was all Tufts kids at first, and we had bonding for a couple of days." Though the 11 day trip took a sizeable amount of time away from his regular break, Abare believes it was worth it. "It was much more valuable than being at home," he said. "We were so far away, but with the people we know. We all were different, but we had the same type of Tufts spirit." Vasey agreed that the time she committed to her winter break trip did not make her feel shortchanged. "It definitely cut my time at home short, but winter break is so long already, and most of my friends went back early, so I didn't mind," she said. Other students used their breaks for education and experience in the working world by taking part in Tufts "winternships." Winternships are internships that only span the weeks of winter break. They are set up by Tufts Career Services and Tufts alumni in a wide range of fields across the country. Sophomore Jae Cho participated in a winternship in a hospital, where he spent his time "mostly following residents, exploring emergency rooms and getting exposure to the medical world," he said. Cho's boss was once a Jumbo himself. "The doctor in charge graduated from Tufts Medical School," he said. "But it was about 45 years ago, so he was a little removed!" In addition to providing winternships, alumni worked to assist students seeking to enter the workforce in other ways. The New York City Career Services Networking Night, which facilitated discussion between students and alumni about career options and networking, was held in January. According to Alumni Relations Director Jonathan Burton, about 65 students and 40 alumni attended this year's event. Burton believes alumni are a key resource for students just entering the workforce. "There is no question that we believe the connection between Tufts students and alumni is an extremely valuable bridge to make," Burton said. "In a more broad sense, connecting alumni with students serves the dual purpose of educating students about ways alumni stay connected with Tufts after graduation, and from the standpoint of the alum, it engages them again with the school in a very personal way," Burton added. Winter break is, of course, also a time for fun with friends. Cassie Valentin, a freshman, flew from New York to Southern California with six other girls to visit a friend from Tufts. "We visited my roommate for a week, and even though it rained the whole time, we had a ton of fun," she said. As with the sports teams and TIILES, Valentin described the experience as a chance to bond. "We got to know each other really well, because at school we're not together 24/7, but for that week we were," she said. Valentin also felt connected to life at Tufts even while she was three thousand miles away. "I got closer to my friends because we know each other because of Tufts, and we talked about that a lot," she said. "We went to eat at this place called 'The Elephant Bar' just because it's our mascot," she added. As with other students, Valentin did not feel as though her trip took away from her time at home. "We have such a long time at home - if I didn't go, I would have gotten really bored," she said.

---

News

Women's Squash | Squash overcomes despite injuries

January 25

About halfway through the season, the Jumbos have accomplished a lot and can potentially move up even further in the national rankings if they can shake off a persistent injury bug. Five members of the women's team accompanied the men on a winter break training trip to the Bahamas in the hopes of avoiding winter rust. "Going to the Bahamas helped a lot to keep us sharp," senior co-captain Eliza Drachman-Jones said. "We played twice every day." "Normally when we get back from winter break it takes about a week to get in the swing of things, but now those people who went on the trip are ready to go," Drachman-Jones said. The Jumbos desperately needed the break to rest up so they could return to full strength for the second half of the season. The shorthanded Jumbos fell 1-8 to Amherst in a match immediately before the break at Amherst on Dec. 10. Tufts had to default the number eight and nine positions because the team was shorthanded due to a rash of injuries. "We were forced to play the Amherst match shorthanded, but we still put up a good effort," coach Doug Eng said. The usual number one player, Jules Avrutin, was out of the lineup with an injury, so everyone else had to move up one spot. Sophomore Liz Thys picked up the lone victory for the Jumbos at the number five spot by winning a marathon match 7-9, 9-7, 3-9, 9-7, 10-8. "Liz had to move up two spots because of all our injured players," Eng said. "She still managed to win in five games, so that says something about her." Despite being plagued with injuries, the women have put up some excellent results halfway through the season. The Jumbos are currently ranked 14th in the nation. Eng is very pleased with the way things have progressed. "I am more than happy with how the women are playing thus far," Eng said. "I think they might be surprising themselves a little bit with how well they have done, but I'm not surprised; this is a very talented team." "This is the highest our team has been ranked in the four years I have played here," Drachman-Jones said. The next matches for the women will be January 28th at the Mount Holyoke Invitational. "We are going to be playing a number of talented teams next weekend, so we need to be playing our best," Eng said. One key opponent next week will be Mount Holyoke College. "The Mount Holyoke match is going to be very important for us," Drachman-Jones said. "They are two spots ahead of us right now and we always have real close matches with them." The Jumbos have every reason to believe they can move up since they should be a stronger team in the second half. Juniors Joelle Polivy and Sarah Lucas will be returning from semesters abroad to help the cause. Sophomore Jennifer Lange is also expected to be at full strength after battling injuries. "We are more or less healthy now," Drachman-Jones said. "Erica Adler has a cold but we're hopeful that she'll be able to play by this weekend. Other than that the rest of our team is pretty healthy." Considering the Jumbos have already seen some success as a shorthanded squad, it looks as though their future is bright.

---

News

Sing it out loud: a cappella a-go-go

January 25

For those who think their voices are even better outside of the shower stall, four of Tufts' a cappella groups are auditioning for new members this week. If you're eager to make some new 'Mates, show your Shir Appeal, explore your Essence, or find out exactly what sQ! stands for, now is your chance. To make the most of what can be an intimidating exercise in public humiliation (also known as the tryout), here's a brief guide of what to expect from a standard a cappella audition. Auditions are, first and foremost, a test of a singer's basic skills. The process begins with a simple test of vocal ability, as shown through a series of exercises in scale and pitch-matching. Expect some quirky follow-up questions from the group leaders that help to reveal personality and self-assurance. After the vocal and social warm-ups, comes the audition piece: a song chosen by the prospective member to be sung with the whole group. When selecting your own piece, make sure to pick something that reflects the group's style, but don't forget your own interests. According to representatives from each a cappella group, interviewers are looking for something different in potential singers, and the chosen audition pieces should reflect these differences. For instance, Shir Appeal's music director Eliza Gordon-Lipkin asks for "no show tunes," citing that she finds them not at all similar to the group's sound and inappropriate for audition. She stresses the importance of confidence in candidates as well. "We want to see people sing their favorite song that they could sing in their sleep," Gordon-Lipkin said. She finds that some students focus too much on preparing an unfamiliar piece that they assume the group wants to hear, rather than a piece that truly showcases the auditioner's voice. Essence, the all-female a cappella group which specializes in music of the African Diaspora, looks for audition pieces that directly relate to that theme. President Nadia Exama highlighted the Gospel, R&B and Jazz genres as especially appropriate categories from which to choose an audition piece. As for those inevitable pre-audition butterflies, the group emphasizes that they are not out to scare anyone. "There's no reason to let nervousness keep you from trying out," Exama said. Andrew Chapman, sQ! group manager, is looking for singers with the eclectic sQ! sound. "We're almost always looking for someone who's well-rounded. Nine out of 10 times, you won't be a soloist. We're looking for the sQ! blend," he said. Chapman and the group like to hear pop songs for auditions and don't mind a lack of formal experience. The singers have a wide variety of backgrounds themselves: from classical training to chorus in high school. The most important criterion of the audition piece is that it fits the singer's voice and style, says Chapman. "If you're trying to be Britney Spears and you're Tori Amos, it's just not a good idea," Chapman said. The Amalgamates, Tufts' oldest co-ed a cappella group, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, wants the audition to be a fun process. Business manager Sean Ryan and his fellow members ask students for a joke or funny story to begin the audition. Though a bad joke certainly won't keep a good singer out, the delivery and the style are something that the group notes. "We spend a lot of time with the group, and we want an idea of who the people are before they get in," Ryan said. He emphasized that the audition process may be difficult for hopefuls, but that the group is "on their side."

---

News

PoMo Painter delves into time and space at the ICA

January 25

Ascend the dramatic central stairway that separates the levels of the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston - or look at a painting of it instead. Utilizing the internal architecture of the ICA, Kanishka Raja manipulates time and space in his exhibition, Momentum 3, held in the very gallery that is its subject. Constructed with many canvas blocks that read like a narrative, unfolding as the room opens up, Raja's exhibit fills a small space on the lower floor of the gallery. There, the interior of the gallery, an airport and a bathroom are all represented in a surreal maze of interconnected scenes that make viewers feel as though they are exploring these tableaux themselves, even while their feet are firmly planted on the gallery floor. At the room's entrance, the viewer is presented with a painting that depicts the window view of the parking garage next to the gallery from a long-shot perspective. As the viewer progresses through the exhibition, the canvases become smaller and the view of the garage becomes more intricate and close-up, portraying such details as a window frame or the edge of a door. Raja attributes this unique ability to blend the subjects of his abstract paintings with their real-life settings to his interest in the interplay of architecture and environment. He accomplishes this blend by portraying spaces that are generic and translate across cultures, then infusing these backdrops with specific images. Raja counts Chinese narrative as another one of his interests, drawing from it the idea of painting the same location repeatedly within one exhibition while allowing for different people and events to fill the space. The result is that Raja's paintings are characteristic of the Op-Art movement of the 20th century, as they create the impression of movement on the canvas surface by using skewed perspectives and angles to fabricate optical illusions. He also uses time-based media like movies, video games, magazines and other work that sequentially unfolds as source material. At a talk at the ICA, Raja spoke of Robert Altman's film "Shortcuts," in which Altman weaves together the stories of many characters, and similarly portrays the unfolding of time and events. According to Raja the fragmented format of the canvases mirrors a fragmentation that occurs in life. As the viewer cycles through Raja's paintings, he or she is forced to fill in the missing pieces in the narrative that Raja has created. Raja feels that this exercise is a microcosm of the identity construction and reconstruction all of us perform each day in response to the overflow of information we receive. "I wanted to create something that provided the viewer with enough information about the space but to leave an ambiguity that allows the viewer to construct it themselves," said Raja. While Raja's paintings are all decidedly disconnected, there is just enough continuity to hold the pieces together and create a narrative. The variation that such a format creates almost forces the viewer to sympathize with some distinct aspect of the painting. As in an Altman film, some characters and events will interest you more than others. Regardless of what type of reaction each person has, Raja wants every viewer to interact with the space, whether it is through a feeling of displacement, such as the limbo between arrival and departure, or through evoking a sense of familiarity, as he does with the locations and objects he chooses to paint. Like any good postmodernist, he allows the viewer to engage in both sides of contradictory ideas. For example, he juxtaposes public and private areas by inserting a bedroom into the end of an airport terminal. This piece was also influenced by film. Raja was inspired by the true story of an Iranian who was expelled from Tehran with no passport, and forced to live at Charles de Gaulle airport for many years. This story was the foundation for the Spielberg recent film, "The Terminal." Raja, a Boston-based painter originally born in Calcutta, recently received the Digitas/ICA Artist Prize. His work has also been displayed at the Allston Skirt Gallery of Boston. Raja's exhibition runs through May 1st. Admission is free on Thursday nights.

---

News

Odor traced to gas leak on Professors Row, parking problems follow

January 25

Tufts students came back from winter break to find a team of maintenance workers tearing up Professors Row. The crew will be repairing a leaking gas main located directly under the street for approximately four weeks. The leak was discovered after complaints about a gas odor near 20 Professors Row during the second week of January. During the localized repair, crews made a determination that the gas line needed to be repaired in its entirety. "The gas main was in such a stage of disrepair that it had to be addressed immediately," Tufts vice president of operations John Roberto said. According to Roberto, local utility NSTAR "mobilized their forces immediately" and on Jan. 18 began a repair process that will last from three to four weeks and will progress at about 200 feet per day. The Department of Public Safety informed the Tufts community of this work in a Jan. 14 e-mail. According to Roberto, there is no significant safety risk from this leak, but warned "anytime there is a gas odor you need to take it very seriously." NSTAR will assume the costs of construction, as they are the owners of the gas line which was originally installed almost 100 years ago. Employees who normally park along Professors Row now must find spaces in the Cohen parking lot, the Cousens parking lot, or the garage on Boston Avenue. The Davis Square shuttle operated by Joseph's Transportation eliminated its pick-up location at the top of the Mayer Campus Center along Professors Row. Students and staff were notified of this change in the e-mail. The snow storm which shut down the Medford campus on Jan. 24 will not have any significant effect on the construction, according to Roberto. "They will proceed along [with the work] the best that they can," he said. "During the extreme cold weather of [the week of Jan. 17], they were out working a full work day." According to TCU Senate President Dave Baumwoll, Joseph's Transportation "works a lot to make sure [the shuttle route] stays the same." The Senate is in charge of negotiating the shuttle contract. Most students do not seem to be bothered by the construction, though those who live nearby have to adjust their walking paths around the worksite. Senior Dennis Chung, who lives in Metcalf Hall directly in front of the work site, said the work "doesn't make life easy."

---

News

Field hockey coach selected for national team

January 25

After steering the field hockey team to its most successful season in years, coach Tina McDavitt traded in her whistle for a mouthguard and replaced her brown-and-blue with red- white-and-blue to join the ranks of some of the sport's best players. McDavitt was recently one of 12 players named to the 2005 U.S. National Indoor Field Hockey team following team trials in Feasterville, PA on Dec. 17. The fifteen-woman roster, which includes 12 players and three alternates, represents some of field hockey's most talented and recognized players. McDavitt is among a dozen returning members of the 2004 team and will be competing alongside three former All-Americans, two All-America East selections, several former members of the U.S. national outdoor team, and a former U.S. Olympian. Scott Smith, currently the assistant coach of the Northeastern field hockey team, will return as head coach for the women's team. The 2005 squad will compete in the 3rd Indoor Pan-American Cup late this year or early next year, where a finish in the top two would qualify the U.S. for the 2nd Indoor World Cup, to be held in Vienna in 2007. The U.S. team placed third in the 2002 Pan-American Cup and missed the cutoff for the first Indoor World Cup. The team began its 2005 tour against the Canadian national team earlier this month, losing 4-3 and 4-0, and will travel to Vienna in mid-February to play the Austrian national team. In addition to anticipating the bonus of traveling all over the world, McDavitt also believes that her continued involvement in high-level hockey will add to her coaching abilities. "I can learn so much from watching others, especially such talented players," she said. "I'll see different moves and be able to bring them back as a coach and teach them to the team and get new ideas." Although she has enjoyed coaching along the sidelines, McDavitt has not given up her spot between them. She has continued playing on a club team, which she says allows her to stay in game shape and keep her stick skills sharp, crucial qualities for the quicker tempo and more intricate stickwork of indoor hockey. "[Indoor] is definitely much faster-paced," she said. "The game is much more tactical and you can really be creative." Indoor field hockey differs from the outdoor game in both rules and playing style. The playing surface is dramatically smaller and each side fields only six players, as opposed to the 11 in the outdoor game. The traditional slapshot is prohibited, so the play is focused on shorter push-passes and dribbling, and the narrower goal requires precision shooting. Field hockey has generated increased interest over the past decade at both the national and international levels. The U.S. sponsored its first national indoor team in 2002 after the International Hockey Federation recognized the indoor game at the world level. Previously, the U.S. had been represented by the under-23 national team. McDavitt's field hockey career began in Walpole, MA with back-to-back state championships in 1994 and 1995. Recruited by Boston University, she was a four-year standout for the Terriers, rounding out her career as captain of the 1999 squad, the No. 13 undefeated America East champions. McDavitt pursued her love of the game beyond graduation, accepting an assistant coaching position at Holy Cross. During her stretch there, the Crusaders earned regular-season Patriot League championships in 2000 and 2001. After four seasons at Holy Cross, she was offered the head coaching job at Tufts to revitalize a program that had gone 12-30 the previous three seasons. McDavitt did just that, nearly reversing the team's 2003 season record as the Jumbos christened their brand new Bello Field en route to a 10-6 season, finishing with wins in five of their last six regular season games. And although she is sometimes mistaken for one of her own players around campus, McDavitt sees her selection to the team as somewhat of a reassuring sign. "It's good to know that at 26, I can still keep up and play at this level," she said. "I really love the game, and I'm excited to stay involved."

---

News

Bishop shares views on Middle East conflict

January 25

Goddard Chapel played host last night to Episcopal Bishop Thomas Shaw as he discussed his views on the prospects for peace between Israel and Palestine. A small group of attendees were in the audience. Entitled "Palestine & Israel: A Bishop's Journey for Peace, Justice and Reconciliation," the lecture focused on Shaw's views on Christianity with relation to peace, his personal experiences during his frequent visits to the region, and what the future may bring after Arafat's death. A question-and-answer session followed the speech. After a brief introduction by University Chaplain Father David O'Leary, Shaw described his participation in a demonstration against the Israeli government's decision to bring tanks into Bethlehem in Oct. 2001. "It surprised me how much attention it got on the radio, television and the front page of the Boston Globe," Shaw said. Some in the Jewish community have claimed that Shaw has weakened Judeo-Christian ties in Boston. "They asked me, 'Why are you doing this?'" Shaw said. Shaw said that on a 1991 visit to Israel, an unarmed Palestinian teenager was gunned down outside his residence. Several days later, a Jewish commuter bus was bombed, killing five Jews. Those events "affected me pretty deeply," Shaw said. "After those events, I made a commitment to God that I would pray for peace every day from then on, especially between Palestine and Israel," Shaw said. He added, however, that prayer was not enough to foster peace around the globe. It is for this reason that Shaw felt compelled to partake in the Oct. 2001 demonstration. "On the Sunday before the demonstration, I knew I had to demonstrate my unhappiness with the situation [in Bethlehem]," Shaw said. Shaw said that the Christian community has a tremendous role in fostering the peace process because "the desire for peace is at the very heart of our Christian beliefs." "I'm not fully a Christian myself unless I'm making peace," Shaw said. Shaw noted that everybody has a different role to play in the peace process. "My goal is to hold up Palestinian rights because I don't think they've been understood by most of the world," Shaw said. "There has to be a place for advocacy, if we really are going to have a lasting peace. It's what I feel is my calling." Shaw added that he has been branded as anti-Semitic for his views. "Because of the culture we live in, there are certain levels of racism and anti-Semitism in all of us," Shaw said. "I try to ground myself in our common Jewish heritage," Shaw added. With regards to prospects for peace between Israel and Palestine, Shaw was not optimistic. "The level of fear is so high that people can't distinguish a way forward," Shaw said. He added that on his visits to the Middle East, "most ordinary Palestinians I spoke to are desperate for peace and deplore what the suicide bombers do." Shaw said, however, that some Israeli policies, including the construction of the Separation Wall, have all but ruined Palestine's infrastructure, making it difficult for serious peace talks to progress. "No one is serious about real peace," Shaw said. "Exchange between the two cultures is nearly impossible because of the number of checkpoints and the Wall." Shaw noted that another large obstacle towards peace in the Middle East rests within the United States itself. "Nobody in the U.S. government wants to listen. This administration is not aggressively involved in the peace process," Shaw said. He added that "the Jewish lobby is very strong in Washington and is outwardly monolithic. It's more open to dissent in Israel." "Palestinian advocacy is sort of the last thing [the government] wants to hear," Shaw continued. "Some Senators are beginning to understand," he added. Despite Shaw's bleak view of the future of the conflict, he said that his faith provides him with hope. "I believe in the Resurrection: that no place in human existence is without hope. God can bring not only new life, but better life anywhere," Shaw said. Bishop Shaw's lecture is part of the Goddard Chapel Forum on Religion and Law. The next scheduled event, focusing on the Torah, is to take place on Feb. 8.

---

News

Sixty years later, we must remember

January 25

Tomorrow is the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the most infamous of Nazi concentration camps. As world leaders arrive in Poland to pay their respects, the lessons of the Holocaust must be remembered by all of us. We all learned about the horrors of the concentration camps in school, but it is hard to realize the severity of six million deaths. To put this into perspective, the greater Boston metro area population is five million people. Every few years, leaders dedicate Holocaust museums, memorials or anniversaries and say that the world will never forget those lost, nor let such a tragedy happen again. Yet, we have witnessed genocide in Cambodia, Rwanda and former Yugoslavia in recent years. Perhaps the Holocaust stands out in our collective memory because it was an attempt to kill off anyone different, not simply those of a different ethnic group. Jews, Gypsies, homosexuals, the mentally ill and political opponents were all targeted by the Nazis. The fact that anyone could have been a victim of the Nazis elevates the Holocaust from a regional conflict. This is not to play down the effects of the genocides in Rwanda, Bosnia or elsewhere. Rather, we should use the universality of the Holocaust as an example of how unchecked power and hate can bring about disaster. The world also needs to look at itself and ask why Cambodia, Rwanda and Bosnia happened, despite promises to the contrary. Is it because they were restricted to ethnic disputes? Because they happened outside of Western Europe? Whatever the excuse, it is unacceptable. At least these horrors are coming to light now, rather than remaining in relative obscurity forever. A similar situation is occurring now in the Darfur region of Sudan, with the conflict between Arab and Black Sudanese escalating since it began in 2003. Sudan has caught the attention of the wider world, but we are still waiting to act. The United Nations is planning on sending troops from a variety of nations, including Malaysia, the United States, Egypt, and Kenya. The Security Council must first vote to take action, however, after hearing a U.N. report on the possible genocide in Darfur to be delivered this week. On Monday, U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan said that indifference allowed the Holocaust to happen, lamenting that genocides in Cambodia, Bosnia and Rwanda could have been prevented. He also warned that the Security Council must be prepared to act, in order to prevent further tragedy in Darfur. Annan said that the results of the Darfur report will prove if the United Nations has learned its lesson from the Holocaust. Exactly what lesson should we learn from the Holocaust? The answer is simple: world leaders must not turn a blind eye to disaster, simply because it would be messy to resolve. The Southeast Asia tsunami disaster has proven that the world is made of generous people who want to aid those who need help. The developed world, especially the United States, must apply this generosity to ensure that another genocide will not pass by unnoticed. Otherwise, the commemorations of the six million people killed at the hands of the Nazis will have been in vain.

---

News

Men's Track | Jumbos sweep home invitationals

January 24

January has proven to be a good month for the men's indoor track team. The Jumbos have already hosted and won both the Tufts Invitational I and II, held on the 15th and the 22nd. Tufts placed 12th out of 36 schools at the Dartmouth Relays on January 9, but the team dominated on its own turf for its next two meets. In their first invitational, the Jumbos faced stiff competition, including several Div. II schools, but fought hard to earn 233 points and take first place in the competition, with UMass Lowell in second with 184 points. Tufts then completed the home sweep on Saturday, finishing first place out of twelve colleges competing in the invitational. The squad earned 199 points over the 19 events scored. The competition was even tougher in all events on Saturday, where the team faced top NESCAC competition. The Jumbos punctuated their team win with a few personal bests, although no team member qualified for Nationals. Despite having struggled in the sprints, the short-distance runners showed improvement this Saturday. Sophomore Mickey Ferri gave three solid performances for the Jumbos, taking first place in the 200 meter dash with a time of 23.69, marking the first recent Tufts victory in the 200. Ferri also advanced to the finals in the 55, where he placed fifth and improved his time to 6.79, a personal best, although just short of qualifying for Nationals. "I want to qualify for the 55, which I was .002 seconds away from [on Saturday]," Ferri said of his personal goals. "It was a little disappointing, but the fact that I was that close just means I think I can do it next week." The Jumbos also received strong performances in the 400, with junior Trevor Williams winning in a time of 50.84. Freshman Nathan Scott, classmate Andrew Gordetsky, and sophomore Dustin Virgilio placed third, fourth, and fifth, respectively. The team had high expectations for its distance runners, and they continued their record of success on Saturday. Junior Matt Fortin won the 1 mile in a time of 4:20.15. His teammates, senior Nathan Brigham and freshman Matt Anderson, were right behind him, finishing second and third respectively. Junior Patrick Mahoney placed second out of 31 runners in the 800 meter run. Senior Aaron Kaye crossed the finish line almost two seconds later to place third. Some of the Jumbos' best performances on Saturday were given by field event competitors. In nearly every field event, a Jumbo finished in the top four. Sophomore Fred Jones continued to live up to his reputation as one of the foremost Div. III jumpers in the nation. He won the long jump with a mark of 6.61, as well as the triple jump with a mark of 13.86. Jones already qualified for Nationals in the triple jump in the season's first meet. Freshman Jeremy Arak placed third in the high jump, reaching 1.93 and tying his personal best. Freshman Nathan Scott placed fifth, and senior Evan Blaser was sixth. "The freshman class could really strengthen our field events," assistant coach Ethan Barron said. "Which is big, because you don't win track meets on the track, you win track meets with the field events." Sophomore Jamil Ludd finished second out of 17 competitors in the 55 hurdles, and senior Nate Thompson finished in third. Sophomore David McCleary finished seventh, and all three Jumbos advanced to the finals, where Ludd finished first to win the event and set a personal best. Tufts won the 4x400 relay event in a time of 3:26.75. The winning combination was Cleveland, Williams, Mahoney, and freshman Nathan Scott. Tufts entered two teams in the distance medley, and placed second and seventh out of eighth teams. The second-place team consisted of Kaye, Fortin, Ferri, and Doran. Sophomore Justin Henneman posted a height of 3.80 in the pole vault to take fourth place. Junior Seth LaPierre, who won this event in Tufts' first invitational, no-heighted, as did junior William Heitmann. Six Jumbos competed in the shot-put event, and sophomore Ryan Bryne had the best result, placing third with a distance of 14.49. Byrne won the shot put in the first Tufts Invitational. Junior Brandon Udelhofen placed fourth in the weight throw with a distance of 14.09. In the first invitational, Tufts took the top three places in both the triple jump and the 3000. Brigham finished first in the 3000 and was followed by junior Matt Lacey in second and Fortin in third. Jones won the triple jump with leap of 13.89, with Scott taking second and freshman Dan Marcy placing third. Jones also won the long jump. Considering the strong performances from the talented freshman class as well as the returning competitors, the team seems poised for a successful season. This weekend, the Jumbos split up to compete at Boston University in the Terrier Classic, and at Bowdoin in a four-way meet with Springfield and MIT.

---

News

Better Living Through Blizzard

January 24

Anyone tempted by the mild conclusion of the Fall Semester to believe that New England's much bragged-about winters were nothing more than hot air was certainly reminded of both the beauty and ferocity of local winter with this weekend's storm. The howling winds and heavy snowfall wrought by one of the areas worst blizzards also served to give newly returned community members a day off to enjoy the snow and engage in one of the grandest New England traditions: shoveling out. While shoveling, many students discovered a rare commodity on the hill: positive and friendly interactions with neighbors and community members. Yesterday's snow day dawned with students and local residents alike digging out of their houses and marveling at the massive amount of snow that found its way here. Students and neighbors were both faced with the same task (somehow digging through the snow) and as a result were able to enjoy each other's company. This cooperation is not just important in terms of clearing one's sidewalk. We need to have more days like yesterday, where students and local residents are brought together by common tasks and achieve mutual understanding that is, like warm winds, often lacking on the hill. It wasn't only work that made town-gown relations seem a little brighter yesterday. Throughout the day the President's Lawn was filled with local families, many with children enjoying the snow day, sledding, throwing snowballs, and all-in-all appreciating Tufts' beautiful campus. It was refreshing to see not only a day away from work for most students and residents, but such a day enjoyed together. Perhaps the most inspiring story of the storm, however, belongs to neither the students nor to the local residents, but rather the dining hall staff who went above and beyond the call to make sure snow-hungered students could eat. Most students no doubt noticed that Sunday was not a day to go to work, yet dining services employees stayed overnight on Saturday to ensure that they would be able to feed Tufts. While students often gripe about various dining related concerns, they should pause to appreciate the hard work of TUDS. The dedication evinced by TUDS employees is typical of many who work here at the University: we owe them our sincere gratitude. Snow days are rarities, especially at Tufts, and as such they should be appreciated by students. What should also be appreciated, however, is the positive non-academic side of the University that everyone saw yesterday. Our mittens may be wet and cold, but at least our relations with neighbors are a bit warmer.

---