Before arriving at Tufts, students from the surrounding area face a decision most of their fellow Jumbos do not: whether or not to commute. Some students choose to live on campus - even though their home lies within the same city limits as Tufts - in order to help them feel "away" at college.
It was a friend's 21st, so we all packed into cabs to go to the Allston bar where his fake ID had been taken just weeks ago. The stout bouncer at the Kells bar and nightclub had studied his driver's license and scoffed during the previous encounter. This time he allowed my friend entrance while gesturing toward the piece of magical laminated plastic, asking, "didn't I already take this from you?" His lack of a Bostonian accent was disappointing Upon entering the establishment our olfactory bulbs were greeted with the smell of Asian cuisine wafting from the late-night kitchen, which told us this was no ordinary Boston bar. While the birthday boy slumped a little and smiled at his barstool, I was nudged by the waitress who wanted to know which one of us was the new 21-year-old. I inconspicuously pointed to my friend, thinking she would bring him a cupcake with a candle, or a teriyaki sparerib, or at least a free Bud Light. Regrettably, as it turned out, she was just curious. We relented, and instead of splitting a free slab of Asian-flavored beef (which never showed up anyway) between the ten of us, we ordered some eight-dollar pitchers of Budweiser and a plate of chicken fingers that disappeared before the beer even touched the table. Luckily, however, our newly legal friend was on a liquid-only diet that night, so the food was only divided amongst nine. With our stomachs not nearly satisfied, we grabbed some beer and walked around to the other side of the sleek bar, forgetting what night of the week it was. I swear I heard the screeching of the rubber of our shoes as we stopped suddenly and gazed around the room. Amidst careening Ping-Pong balls, we expected to see guys with Greek letters on their shirts proudly running about. Instead, we saw a few bold young ladies shaking their slender hips to G-Unit while their other friends sat on the sidelines, giggling and snapping photos with digital cameras. At this end of the bar, the frat house favorite was underway and it looked intense. It was like we had been traipsing through some old mansion and had somehow bumped into a secret passage mechanism with one of our plastic beer cups; it felt like we'd suddenly been spun into another world. Except, we weren't trapped in some fraternity house. All we had to do was turn on our heels, cover our ears to avoid the obnoxious sound of shoes turning on beer-flooded varnished floor, and re-enter the mellow universe we'd been enjoying on the other side of the bar. Upon experiencing the breathing room on this calm side, my mind recalled past Friday and Saturday nights at The Kells -- nights when music spills from the DJ booth and shoulders gingerly bang shoulders while pushing up to the bar to get a drink. The ease with which we caught the bartenders' attention and the swiftness with which we returned from trips to the diamond-plated, steel-walled bathrooms was certainly a reason to return on a weekday. The headache my friend would suffer from in just a number of hours would serve as a stark reminder of that fact. Nonetheless, the black semi-permanent marker still hung out of his plaid pocket, unrelentingly making its way onto his forearm with each drink he took, from time to unnecessary time. The plate on our table was by now licked clean of its last few accompanying crumbs and the pitchers contained only the unwanted flat remnants of a good night out on the town. The televisions were still aglow and the hisses and hollers of the Beirut room said the Kells wasn't closing any time soon, but we still made our way out past the bouncer with the photographic memory, giving him a wink that said, "See you next time," as we moved on down the street to our next stop.@jump:see LUSH, page XX@conthead:Like beer? Like beirut? Check out the Kells@contjump:LUSH@contpage:continued from page 5Edits: jk, ag, ME
With the events of Sept. 11 still resonating, the Fletcher School is putting a new academic focus on terrorism by offering interactive courses on crisis prevention and management. Professor Robert Pfaltzgraff, a Fletcher instructor who specializes in international security studies, teaches a seminar on "Crisis Management and Complex Emergencies." His 25 students consider tactics for crisis aversion and decision-making in the context of international turmoil. While the course has been offered at Tufts since the 1970s, Pfaltzgraff said the events of Sept. 11 and the subsequent foreign policy changes have led him to redefine the course and rearrange its syllabus. "The course has changed in that there is now a fourth period of crisis management: pre-World War II, the Cold War, the end of the Cold War until the attacks, and then Sept. 11," Pfaltzgraff said. Student interest and enrollment in the course has increased since the Sept. 11 attacks, which coincidentally marked the date of the course's first meeting that year. The course offers hands-on experience in crisis management, including a major weekend exercise, called Simulex, that places participants in a simulated situation where they must work together in the wake of an emergency. This year's simulation took place two weeks ago - students dealt with a hypothetical Iranian acquisition of nuclear weapons, as well as several terrorist acts committed in the United States and Europe. A team of students representing the militant Islamist organization al Qaeda completed the exercise. Many of these students, including first-year Karoun Demirjian, enrolled in the optional course because they are considering specializing in either security studies or negotiation and conflict studies. Demirjian said she registered for the course because she thought "it would be good exposure to see how people think [and] work together when things go wrong." Alumni of the course include Philip Zelikow, the executive director of the 9/11 commission as well as Stephen Flynn, whose book "America the Vulnerable: How the U.S. Has Failed to Secure the Homeland and Protect Its People from Terrorism" has been widely received since its publication last August. Pfaltzgraff's course isn't the only Fletcher offering on terrorism - Professor Richard Shultz also offers a seminar on "U.S. Intelligence, Terrorism, and National Security." But some Tufts undergraduates, particularly those studying international relations, complain about the dearth of courses on terror for them. Natalie Grano, a sophomore double majoring in international relations and French, expressed disappointment about this situation. "I think there should be increased awareness and education on terrorism," Grano said. "With more education comes less fear, and in today's day and age we must take a look at it in a nonbiased light, for negotiation purposes." Kirk Okano-Lange, assistant director of the International Relations program, said that during his few months at Tufts, he has "not come across any evidence of a high number of [undergraduate] students who have explicitly asked about courses related to terrorism." Other schools around the nation are offering similar courses on terrorism, according to The New York Times. The Metropolitan College of New York offers a class called "The Impact of Disaster on Communities." The Metropolitan College and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice now offer Masters programs in terrorism and disaster management. Pfaltzgraff said such studies are important and necessary to mould future leaders of the international arena. Terrorism "gives us a great deal to talk as well as an unending list of issues to deal with," Pfaltzgraff said.
Did something happen in the NBA two weeks ago? Some sort of fight? Does anyone have any details? I haven't heard about it. Oh wait. I have heard about it. Everyone's heard about it except for the guy in the coma at the beginning of "28 Days Later." I watched it about 45 times (the brawl, not "28 Days Later;" I only saw that once). Then I read 29 columns by journalists who decried it as basketball's darkest day, the fall of civilization, and the worst thing since Ryan Leaf, despite the fact that I guarantee you every single one of them watched it as many times as they could. Do you think they said, "I can't watch this" and changed the channel in horror? Of course not. I watched it as many times as I could too. So I'm not going to write a hypocritical column decrying the fight and how it reflects everything that's wrong with our culture. It's not a good thing. But what reflects badly on society isn't the fight; it's the fact that we all wanted to watch it over and over. And what really reflects badly on society is people putting leeches in their mouths on Fear Factor on Monday night. I haven't come that close to throwing up since the last Pete Rose interview. In fact, the basketbrawl isn't even the weirdest sports story of the past two weeks. And since I don't want to talk about the brawl anymore, and since you're not a real writer anymore unless you use lists, here's The Top Two Sports Stories Weirder than the NBA Brawl: 1) Step aside, Iraqi Olympic soccer team! The newest athletic evidence of the fine results of democracy ... ladies and gentlemen, it's the 2004 Afghan Open! Reuters reported that the first golf tournament in Afghanistan in thirty years kicked off Friday, with the local militia leader opening the game surrounded by his men, who were armed with Kalashnikovs (I think that's some type of firearm). Several players have brought along armed bodyguards as caddies. Hey, I don't care where the tournament is; you don't need to keep spectators in line at a golf match! Have you ever seen a golf fan throw a beer at Phil Mickelson? Send the Kalashnikov guys to the NBA to handle security and see if we have another brawl. Do you think fans would come on the court if the security guards had Kalashnikovs? And what's the course like? I mean, isn't Afghanistan basically just one big rough? Osama's chilling somewhere. They're growing enough, um, plants, to keep Damon Stoudamire, Thomas de Quincey, and two of my friends from Pittsburgh happy for ten years. But hey, guys in funny pants swinging sticks - it's all good. The clubhouse is bombed out. You come across the occasional spent shell on the green. But don't worry; the course has been thoroughly checked for undetonated mines. The 2004 Afghan Open: giving golf hazards a new meaning. For some reason, Tiger Woods hasn't rushed to sign up. Although I heard Vijay Singh was considering - until Afghanistan allowed women to vote. But you know who probably would like to play at the Afghan Open? 2) Ricky Williams. In last week's Sports Illustrated, we learned that since retiring from football, Ricky has traveled to Japan, Jamaica, Thailand, and Australia, where he got stuck in quicksand (just when was I honestly was beginning to believe quicksand only existed in movies). Ricky escaped from the quicksand but lost his shoes, cut his foot, and then was thrown out of a Red Sox-Angels playoff game because he was barefoot. First of all, quicksand? Second of all, you heard it here first, Williams is the next Bison Dele. One day he's just going to disappear in the middle of the Congo and no one's ever going to hear from him again. And third of all, why would you not wear shoes after you cut your foot? Does that make sense to anyone? Did he turn into a caveman when he retired? Did he only have one pair of shoes? He couldn't have spent all his money on weed already. Right? That would be, like, impossible. Speaking of weed, random people keep giving it to Ricky for free. Is it possible he's the first professional athlete who fans would rather be after he's retired? And you know what Ricky said (about retirement, not weed specifically)? "If my decision to walk away upset some people, I'm sorry. But everyone has a right to be happy - it's what the constitution says - and football wasn't doing it for me." On the one hand, I kind of feel how Ben Affleck feels about Matt Damon in "Good Will Hunting:" if you've got the talent, it's a crime to waste it. On the other hand, I think everyone should be free to do what makes him or her happy. As a matter of fact, Mom and Dad, I'm dropping out of school. I know I'm letting you down but I'm just not happy. Also, I'm using my tuition money to buy a Columbian cartel. The Afghan golf people agree in happiness too. "In the past there was a lot of killing going on here," Zabir Sadiq said of the golf course. "Right now we are trying to fix up this area and give people some hope to understand a better life." See, that's good stuff. In fact, I think having mines on golf courses isn't such a bad idea. Golf is pretty boring, so I would go one step further than mines and just have wild tigers roaming PGA courses. Maybe even tigers with Kalashnikovs; that would really get us watching SportsCenter.
This fall, the walls of many of Boston's T stations have displayed advertisements with messages very different from the typical consumer-oriented ads. These messages, instead of peddling wares, encourage females to be pro-active in ensuring their own safety - and instead of being funded by stores or companies, they're funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. A recent issue of the Boston Globe Magazine discussed the impact of these ads, which encourage women to pay as much attention to their safety as to their attire and appearance: the ads picture a wealth of "feminine" accessories like lipstick with text across them saying things including "But do you have a whistle?" and "But do you have a transistor radio?" Attention to personal safety is not urged only within the walls of the T, however: in September, Deputy Superintendent and Commander of the Boston Police Family Justice Division Margot Hill released an advisory warning Boston-area women not to travel alone on foot until suspects in two recent rapes were apprehended. Such violent incidents are rare at Tufts, according to its crime reports. However, violent crimes -- which include robbery, aggravated assault, and forcible sex offenses -- do occur. According to the Tufts Department of Public Safety's website, in 2001, there were 15 documented violent crimes, in 2002, there were 20, and in 2003, 11. The data is available on Tufts' website as a result of the Campus Security Act of 1990, a direct result of the campaigning of Jeanne Clery's parents. In April of 1986, the Lehigh University student was beaten, raped, and murdered in her dorm room after another student tried to burglarize her room while she slept. Lehigh denied any responsibility in the incident, and Clery's parents went to court. This tragedy and the Clerys' actions sparked a series of legislative changes on the federal level to encourage campus safety by requiring colleges to create awareness programs and report crime statistics. Of those Tufts students interviewed, none said that they do not feel safe on campus. "I definitely feel safe," freshman Shannon Connelly said. "I've never felt uncomfortable anywhere on campus." In 1997, Tufts won the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Award. The Tufts University Police Department currently runs several awareness programs to help prevent crime from occurring. During orientation for the Class of 2008, for example, "Operation Awareness" was a required session for all new students. "In the SACK" was another required session for new students. Of those students who attended the assembly, however, not all actually remember the content. "I think I fell asleep during that," Connelly admitted. Other students concurred, stating that it mostly contained old information that they were already familiar with. Students had similar things to say about "Operation Awareness." "I didn't think it was that useful, and the information could have easily been covered in other presentations," freshman Emma Shields said. "Most of it was common sense," Connelly agreed. Other efforts by TUPD to make Tufts' campus safer include the use of a Blue Light Telephone and panic button system for emergencies. Both provide emergency response by the TUPD with the press of a button. Despite the attention given to these initiatives at orientation, some students either did not know about them or simply do not find them helpful. "I don't really know about them, and that alone is a good indicator of their worth," senior Kim Boehler said. Sophomore Miriam Leuin remembers hearing about the phones during her freshman orientation. "I remember learning about the campus phones and the escort service [provided by TUPD] during orientation but I've never used them," she said. According to one student, the campus feels very safe; it's the areas around campus where one might feel uncomfortable. "I feel safe during the day, but not at night, especially in Medford and Somerville -- I wouldn't walk on those streets alone," Boehler said, echoing the advisory issued by Hill in September. Boehler added that although safety issues tend to arise off-campus, "we are in or nearby a city, so that is pretty natural." Others agreed that the city surrounding campus tends to be an intimidating factor. "I've never really felt unsafe anywhere on campus, but I've definitely been hollered at from passing cars on Boston Ave. a few times," Leuin said. Compared to other colleges they have visited, many students consider the safety of Tufts' campus to be about the same or better than that of other campuses. Freshman Lani Ackerman, who said that she feels very safe at Tufts, explained that her "cousin feels nervous walking around outside at her college," which is located in a city. Leuin summed up the general sentiment of most students concerning the city. "It's a trillion times safer [at Tufts] than campuses in big cities like BU," she said. This semester, two courses are being offered through Tufts to help women feel safer in their environment. One is in the Physical Education department, "Self-Defense for Women." The other is taught through the ExCollege and is called "Rape Aggression Defense." It's a national program taught in high schools, colleges, and in community centers. Female students have varying feelings about self-defense courses. Boehler has heard about the courses, but has not taken any because they don't interest her. "In the scheme of things, I don't think they help much," she said. Another student said she'd like to take one of the courses, but never has. "It's one of those things I always mean to do and never actually sign up for," Leuin said. Other students are unaware of the courses' existence. "I think I saw a flyer once, but I didn't really know about them," Ackerman said. "I don't think I ever heard anything about them, but maybe if I started to feel unsafe I'd consider taking one," Connelly said.
As Beantown prepares to go on winter break and conclude the fall semester, look out for the year-ending performances of music, theater and art from Boston's best colleges.
A bust was dedicated to Ameen Rihani in the Fletcher School's Hall of Flags last evening. Rihani is the founding father of Arab-American literature known for being the first Lebanese to write English works, all of which were published in the first third of the twentieth century.
For some Tufts students, the word "home" evokes thoughts of a far-off place - another city, another state, or even another country. For self-proclaimed "townies," however, Medford, Mass. is home. "I was born and raised in this area, so I have lived here for 18 years," freshman Paul Reilly said. According to Reilly, he isn't the only one who stays close to home. "Around seven people per year [are] accepted from my high school," Reilly said. When applying to schools, many students consider the location of a college to be a factor in their decision. For some, the proximity of the Tufts campus to their home is considered a positive trait. "It gives me the opportunity to stay close to my family, and it's easy to have my friends visit me when they come home from college," Reilly said Others, however, feel the Tufts campus is a little close to home. "Location was a factor [in my decision]," graduate student Lindsey Bosak said. "I applied to a few schools out of state and wanted to leave Massachusetts. I wasn't accepted to the ones further away, and Tufts was a great alternative." "I was concerned I wouldn't like being close to home, and I didn't at first," Bosak added. "But after first semester freshman year, I loved being close and took advantage of it all the time." Some local high school students ignore the location of Tufts all together. "When I was deciding on colleges, location was probably the least of my worries," freshman Rony Jaques said. Whether or not students from the surrounding area consider the location of Tufts in the application process, the proximity of campus does come into play after enrollment. Students with nearby home bases must then decide whether to commute - and remain living with their families - or relocate to an on-campus room. "I think as a freshman, students can benefit from living on campus because it allows them to become familiar with the campus and the resources here that are available for them," Director of Residential Life Yolanda King said. "Students would probably find it easier to connect with their peers through socializing on campus, and would get to know them better [by living in the dorms]." Though Coordinator of the Commuting Program Veronica Carter said that "the Commuter House is a major resource and the center for the commuting population," she also concurred that "the commuting students have a more difficult time integrating into the Tufts community." "I do not have the exact number of students currently commuting, but I can tell you that it is not a large number of students," Carter added. Reilly explained that he chose to live on campus "so that I can be out on my own and have the full college experience." Bosak, too, desired a sense of independence. "I lived on campus because even though I stayed in Medford, I wanted to feel like I was 'away' at college, and I did!" said Bosak, who remained on campus all four years of her undergraduate career. "Freshmen year I lived in Miller, and for the next three years I lived in [sorority house] AOII, which was great." "Now, as a graduate student, I live off campus because it's not necessary for me to use the graduate housing, as I'm not from out of state," Bosak added. "I live on campus because the financial package that I received allowed me to stay on campus," Jaques said. "Plus, the living environment at home was not a place were I could be productive." In contrast, senior Steven Boutrus found that the benefits of commuting outweighed the perks of staying on campus. Though not from Medford, Boutrus can still qualify as somewhat of a local. "I've been commuting from my parents' home in Salem, New Hampshire, a 30 mile, 40-minute drive, since I entered Tufts my freshman year," Boutrus said. "This type of commuting is more common at state colleges, but is almost nonexistent at Tufts, and I'm sure it seems strange to most students that anyone would drive that far." "For most students who commute from their parents' homes, the main, and often the only, advantage to commuting is the money saved by freedom from paying room and board," Boutrus said. Boutrus also had another reason to commute his freshman year. "Personally, I started commuting as a freshman because if I had not been a commuter, I would not have been allowed to have my car on campus," Boutrus said. "I wanted the freedom to come and go whenever I wanted." "There would not have been any way for me to get home to New Hampshire on weekends or holidays without a car," Boutrus added. Bosak, however, was very pleased that she opted not to commute. "I would definitely live on campus for four years - it's the only way to really get the full college experience," Bosak said. "You go home when you want to, but you never have to, which is nice."
Vanessa Nazario, a senior majoring in anthropology, took this photograph as a reflection of a tragic event that occurred this past summer. She was involved in a motorcycle-car accident that fatally ended with the death of a young female motorcyclist. "Captured" is The Tufts Daily's weekly photo column, open to any University student. Please send your artistic and creative pictures to weeklyphoto@tuftsdaily.com.
The 2003-04 season was one to forget for the Orlando Magic. After a season-opening victory against the New York Knicks, the Magic lost 19 games in a row and finished with a league-worst 21-61 record. And that was merely a prelude to the shakeup that would occur within the team during the off-season. In one of the biggest trades of the summer, the Magic shipped their best player, Tracy McGrady, as well as Juwan Howard, Tyronn Lue and Reece Gaines to the Houston Rockets in a seven-player deal that landed them Steve Francis, Cuttino Mobley and Kelvin Cato. Drew Gooden, Gordon Giricek, and Keith Bogans round out the list of important Orlando contributors from last year that were not on the roster to start this season. Many new faces were brought in to rebuild the team. Hedo Turkoglu was signed as a free agent from the San Antonio Spurs. Tony Battie was acquired, along with draft picks, from the Cleveland Caveliers in exchange for Gooden. In the draft, the team used the first overall pick to select high-schooler Dwight Howard and then traded with the Denver Nuggets for Jameer Nelson, the 2003-04 Player of the Year out of St. Joseph's. In addition to the new faces, Grant Hill returned to the court this season for the first time in two years in what he proclaimed to be his last comeback attempt to play in the NBA. The outlook for the team was not especially high coming in, but the Magic have exceeded most, if not all, expectations so far. Orlando is 8-5 out of the gate, which is good enough for fifth in the East. To put that into perspective, last season the Magic already had 5 losses on Nov. 7 and didn't have their eighth win until Christmas Day. The re-emergence of Hill in the backcourt is the key to the Magic's solid start. He is averaging 20 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Hill is playing the point-forward almost as well as he did before ankle problems kept him off the court for the better part of the past several years. Francis has kept up his solid point guard play from his Houston days, putting up 20.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, and 6.2 apg. Mobley has been hobbled of late, but has scored 14 points a night when he has been playing, a decent contribution. Turkoglu, who had seldom started in his career until this fall, has fit right in thus far. He is averaging 16 points per game and is showing why he was one of last year's more coveted free agents. The frontcourt, while not quite as impressive as the back, has gotten the job done. Howard has shown great progress in his first season and is making his case for Rookie of the Year honors. He is averaging nearly a double-double while shooting 52.3 percent from the field, the best on the team among the players getting significant minutes. He has combined with Cato, a defensive specialist, for almost five blocks per game. Role players such as Battie, Pat Garrity and DeShawn Stevenson have provided crucial minutes and have done well in their limited appearances. There are a few factors that could dictate where the Magic go from here. The most important, without question, is Hill's health. So far he has had no problems with his ankle despite playing 35 minutes per game. However, if the ankle causes him problems, the team will be extremely hard-pressed to replace his contributions on both ends of the floor. In addition, while Orlando is clearly a perimeter team, it might want to diversify its offense. The four main perimeter players are averaging over 55 shots per game. Howard, while only averaging 9.4 points, is doing so on less than seven shots per game. He also averages almost four offensive rebounds each time he takes the court and often creates many of his shots through his own efforts. His solid play under the basket and high field-goal percentage should increase his scoring as the season progresses. Cato, who averages 5.5 shots per game, could benefit from a few more looks every so often. Any increase in scoring from the low post will help free up space for Hill and Francis, the focal points of any opponent's defensive strategy. As long as the team, and Hill especially, stays healthy, the Magic should make the playoffs in the weak Eastern Conference. While they may not be ready to overtake the Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat or Indiana Pacers for supremacy to the East of the Mississippi, they are certainly headed in the right direction. This year's squad is doing its best to put memories of last season's disaster behind it.
Universities nationwide are working to cultivate closer relationships with their alumni, often by sending them glossy magazines, and Tufts is no exception. Alumni publications have changed from "very text-heavy black and white" to glossy four-color pages full of inspirational stories about the institution's advancement, according to The New York Times. Universities' investment includes increasing their circulation base - magazines are often mailed to all graduates, parents, staff and faculty members. Alumni magazines have long been viewed as a way to reach potential donors. But recently, universities' expenditure on the publications suggests a belief that the more appealing the publication, the greater the likelihood it will be read and the larger the donation pool. "[We] strive for as much visual appeal as we can," said Laura Ferguson, editor-in-chief of Tufts Magazine, the University's main connection to its alumni. Recently, Tufts Magazine has switched to a glossier format, "but its changes are more substantial," she said. The content now features student pieces, alumni profiles, faculty interviews and spotlights on faculty research. "We balance institutional commitments with stories of a more personal slant but that may incorporate values and characteristics associated with Tufts," Ferguson said. Tuftonia Magazine was established in 1994, and underwent a title change in 2000, when it became Tufts Magazine. According to an article published in its first issue under the current name, "Tufts Magazine has its own set of challenges. It is now sent to more than 70,000 graduates." Director of Alumni Relations Tim Brooks commended Ferguson's job on the magazine. "[She] has done an incredible job in nine-plus years of shaping [the magazine] into the premier and only publication that represents the whole University." Tufts Magazine is "young," but it is steadily improving and exploring new ways to improve, Ferguson said. The publication's staff works closely with Tufts' Alumni Association to gain a greater understanding of readers' needs and desires for the magazine. "An upcoming survey will bring refinement by showing us more specifically what Tufts Magazine readers want," Ferguson said. The magazine's expansion is indicative of a greater advancement initiative at Tufts. "There may be some exciting changes in store as the University Advancement Division has recently created a communications department," Brooks said. The department will be headed by Betsey Jay, who joined the senior management team in October.
Tonight kicks off a weekend filled with music, presented by the Tufts Music Department. At 8 p.m. this evening, Kiniwe, Tufts African song and dance group, will showcase their call-and-response songs, drum ensemble and Kiniwe-style dance. The performance is free and will be held in Jackson Dance Lab. Tonight at 8 p.m., a premier of Tufts Composers' new arrangements will take place this in Alumnae Hall. Chamber music for mixed ensembles will be performed, featuring faculty performers. On Friday at 8 p.m., Tufts Big Band promises an intense evening of jazz music. Modern, traditional, and Afro-Cuban styles will be presented during their free performance in Goddard Chapel. Also at 8 p.m., the Tufts Symphony Orchestra and Combined Choirs will jump start the Christmas season with a performance of Handel's "Messiah" and Benjamin Britten's cantata "St. Nicolas." The chorus and orchestra will be joined by the acclaimed children's chorus, Youth pro Musica. Tickets are $5 for students.SoC releases this weekend@bodytext: Roars, hoots, and howls from Spirit of Color's dancers, friends, and family will fill Cohen Auditorium this Thursday at 9 p.m. and Friday at 8 p.m. The fall show, "Release" promises all the high-powered dancing and contagious energy that has become integral to all performances by Spirit of Color. Since their inception in 1993, the group has transformed into a house-shaking celebration of diversity by the stylistically-assorted dances that are choreographed by Tufts students. Get your tickets now at the Arena Box Office so you can "Release" all the semester's stress as you bellow, "Yeah, S-O-C!"
Members of the Tufts Coalition to Oppose War in Iraq (TCOWI) will join with others tomorrow to rally against the war. We do so as the U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 1,200; the worst month for U.S. troops since the beginning of the invasion we had been told would be a "cakewalk." Nineteen months into the war, U.S. forces, seeing their heaviest urban fighting since World War II, destroyed the city of Fallujah, but in the process only expanded a decentralized, determined insurgency that obviously has growing popular support. In November, 135 U.S. soldiers died in Iraq, the highest figure since April. We will be there demanding the withdrawal of the forces. But, you say, "How can we just ... leave? Won't there be chaos?" First of all, the illegal invasion itself produced chaos, and it is not getting any better. Iraqi infrastructure, already devastated by war and sanctions, was further damaged during the invasion and basic services still have not been restored. Child malnutrition is twice the level it was two years ago. Over 40,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed, and intelligence analysts argue that the continuing presence of U.S. troops and the anger it produces are the principle causes for the insurgency. The administration justified its occupation of Iraq on the basis of charges that have now been thoroughly discredited. There were no weapons of mass destruction threatening Iraq's neighbors or the U.S. Now that this is clear, the pro-war crowd insists that "everybody," including foreign intelligence services and the CIA, "thought Iraq had WMD." But the fact is, their own intelligence made it very clear that Iraq was not a military threat, and so they augmented it with a lot of disinformation spun out from the Office of Special Plans. Similarly, there are no substantial Saddam -- bin Laden ties, as the Sept. 11 bipartisan report made plain. The effort to link them through the mysterious al-Zarqawi fails upon analysis. The sole lingering justification for the invasion and occupation is that it "brings democracy" to Iraq, just as Bush wants to bring it to the whole Muslim world -- as though "free and fair elections" were a Bush specialty. So far the U.S. has only produced a puppet, powerless regime, headed by a longtime CIA operative and thug. Receiving orders from the world's largest embassy, with 140,000 occupation troops responsible for security, they implement edicts set down by the outgoing U.S. procurator, Paul Bremer. Elections will be held in January despite Bush's original plans to maintain a formal occupation for several years, only because the Shiite leadership strongly demanded them and because some in the administration think they might diminish the violent resistance. Bush has vowed to pull out of Iraq only after the country is a stable democracy. That is not likely to happen under U.S. occupation, and Bush is unlikely to withdraw the troops unless military losses and a vigorous antiwar movement here at home force his hand. While bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. continues to build cases for attacking Syria and Iran, also targeted by the neoconservatives for "regime change." Both are accused of aiding terrorism, although there appear to be no meaningful al Qaeda links or connection to Sept. 11. Both are accused of having weapons of mass destruction, and administration officials accuse Iran of attempting to develop nuclear weapons. They express disappointment that the International Atomic Energy Agency issues a report concluding that there is no evidence that Iran, a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, is attempting to produce nuclear weapons. This is because they want to bring a case against Iran before the United Nations., have the body apply sanctions to Iran, and get a resolution that might justify U.S. action. Even the United Kingdom, one of the few countries to endorse the Iraq war, is alarmed at the U.S. approach, and has worked with France and Germany to affect a peaceful resolution to the problem of Iran's nuclear program. Much of the world understands that the U.S. leadership wants to control oil-rich Southwest Asia for long term strategic reasons, and so is seeking excuses to do so, as its bellicose rhetoric creates anxiety and hostility around the world. Our call for withdrawal from Iraq is a call for sanity, an end to the lies used to justify endless imperial expansion, at the cost of the troops' lives, Iraqis' lives, domestic needs, international respect, and real national security. Join us on Friday in opposing war and empire. TCOWI's points of unity: 1. We demand the immediate withdrawal of the troops. 2. We consider the war on Iraq a crime. 3. We demand a cut-off of funds for the war. 4. We oppose expansion of the war into Syria or Iran. 5. We oppose reinstitution of the draft.Gary Leupp is a professor of history and member of TCOWI
The International Institute for Education (IIE) reported a two percent national decline in international applications to U.S. colleges and universities, but Tufts seems to be bucking this trend. Many experts suspect the nationwide decrease results from the government's tightened regulations on the entry of non-citizens into the United States since the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. But at Tufts, "we've maintained, if not slightly increased, our numbers of non-U.S. residents" since Sept. 11, according to the University's Director of International and Transfer Admissions Leon Braswell. There were 56 more undergraduate international applications for the class of 2008 than for the class of 2007, bringing the number up to 1,159. Braswell said "Tufts' reputation of being global" attracts foreign students, as do recruiting visits to Europe, South America and the Middle East. Students in these locations "know Tufts, and that has been a benefit," he said. But Tufts is not immune to the effects of the United States' tightened borders and heightened security measures. "If there continues to be security delays and visa-issuing problems, we will be impacted," Director of the International Office Jane Etish-Andrews said. "Compared to other schools nationally we're still in a good position, but we too can be vulnerable." At the Fletcher School, the number of international applications dropped by 200 from last year, according to Gretchen Inman, administrative director of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. "We're watching it, but we've had such a large pool [of international applicants in the past few years] that so far it hasn't had a negative impact on our enrollment," Inman said. But Inman warned that the number of Fletcher's international applications "could continue to go down. We seem to have a cushion right now unless there's a real dramatic decline this year." Numbers for applications to Tufts' undergraduate and Fletcher schools for the 2005-06 academic year will be available in early February. Since Sept. 11, the U.S. government has implemented a number of tracking mechanisms for foreign students that have complicated their entry into the United States. The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a computer database that tracks all international students, was enacted in February 2003, for example. Additionally, international students applying to study math or science must receive clearance from both the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Central Intelligence Agency. At Tufts, the International Center helps students navigate through these government regulations and verifies that the information they submit is correct, according to Etish-Andrews. "If they change their major, or drop below full-time status, then we have to determine whether or not to submit it to SEVIS," she said. International students on leave from their studies must receive approval from the federal government, and those on leave for medical reasons cannot be treated outside the United States without express permission. These regulations have caused difficulties and delays for some Tufts students in getting student visas and security clearance. "People from certain countries with Muslim backgrounds, especially men, [experience] delays getting visas," Etish-Andrews said. But delays have been shorter over the past six months, she said. Undergraduate students generally experience "fewer difficulties [than graduate students] at the level they're studying, because consort offices don't look at them as intending immigrants all the time," Etish-Andrews said. International students' perception that visas are too difficult to obtain may have deterred those who would have otherwise applied, according to The New York Times. Sophomore Debora Kryss from Sao Paulo, Brazil said the paper bureaucracy was not the problem - rather, the real deterrent is the growing feeling around the world that Americans have closed themselves off to immigration since Sept. 11, 2001. "The visa process is just a reflection of this anti-American sentiment, and the perception that Americans are becoming more closed [to other nations]," Kryss said. "If we don't make [coming to the United States] easier for individuals, we are going to lose one of the most important imports to our economy, which is bringing international students here to study," Etish-Andrews said. "Not only financially, but academically, we're bringing in people who contribute a lot, who then go back and home and contribute there, too." Another obstacle for foreign nationals wishing to study in the United States is the lack of financial aid. At Tufts, Braswell said a small amount of aid is given to "literally a handful of international students; the problem is that they can't have access to grants and loans from the government. That's one of the reasons why we're not able to do the kind of funding that we would like to." Tufts is working to ease foreign students' financial woes through partnerships like last month's agreement with the Mexican government to sponsor Mexican students pursuing doctoral degrees at the University. (See box.) Tufts is also working on other ways to attract international students. The University Board of Overseers sponsors trips to increase interest of both alumni and prospective students around the world. Braswell said a representative from undergraduate admissions visited the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Jordan, and Lebanon this year as part of Tufts' "intention to maintain a presence there by visiting schools in those countries." "I think it's important to let people know that Tufts, as well as the U.S., is a welcoming place even despite what's happening in terms of the government with background checks," Braswell said.
Basketball is a game of runs and luckily for the Jumbos, their runs were just a little bit better than those of their opponents on Tuesday night when Tufts knocked off Babson 70-55, to improve its perfect season record to 4-0. After Babson scored the first basket of the game, Tufts responded with a 26-0 spurt. Junior guard Jessica Powers scored 11 points during the run, and the Jumbos eventually led by as much as 26 points, 31-5. "We played incredible defense at the beginning of the first half," senior co-captain Erin Connolly said. "We can stay with any team in the NESCAC; any team out there when we play defense like that." Babson appeared rattled by the Jumbos' tenacious man-to-man defense early on, calling three timeouts in the first 10 minutes of the game. With less than five minutes to go in the first half, however, Babson made their run. They closed the first half on a 12-1 spurt, capped off by a three-pointer at the buzzer, which trimmed the lead to 15 at halftime. Another Babson run to open the second half eventually cut the Tufts lead to just four points, at 41-37. The Jumbos answered with a 13-5 spurt of their own that pushed the advantage back to double figures, where it stayed for the duration of the game. "[Babson] made a great come back," Connolly said. "But we were able to pull it together and get the victory over a good team." Sophomore Valerie Krah led Tufts with 19 points and five three-pointers, including one to key the decisive second half run. She also added four assists and five steals. Senior co-captain Allison Love finished with 15 points and nine rebounds, and Powers had 18 points. The Jumbos had 16 steals and forced Babson into 22 turnovers. Babson was led by Erin Conroy and Caitlin Finn, who finished with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Despite the game's swings, Connolly was hesitant to classify her team as streaky. "I wouldn't call us that," Connolly said. We just have to do a better job putting teams away, and make sure we don't have any lapses that let them get back into games." The Jumbos have feasted on non-conference opponents up to this point of the season, winning their four games by an average of 39 points. However, no lapses should be expected from this team. "We're very focused for any game," Connolly said. "Our upcoming games are going to be more and more challenging; we're going to be facing better competition, but we're ready for it." Tufts will be back in action tonight on the road against Gordon College. Last Dec. 4, the Jumbos beat the Fighting Scotts 91-58 in Cousens Gym in non-league action. This season, Gordon has yet to win a game at 0-3. Its most recent loss came at the hands of the Colby White Mules before Thanksgiving. The Jumbos will then play two more games on the road, against Wheaton and Suffolk, before returning to Medford in January over Winter Break against Southern Maine. The team will kick off its NESCAC season on Jan. 14 at Colby.
"A New Brain," Torn Ticket II's fall major, is a musical about mortality. Based on the experience of creator William Finn and his life-changing bout with a brain tumor, the show musically demonstrates the heart (and brain) behind the condition. Opening with character Gordon Schwinn's frustrated attempts to write a song for the children's TV show character Mr. Bungee, the show explores inspiration from all sources -- even brain surgery. Within the first few minutes, Gordon (senior Andrew Beattie) lands face down in a plate of ziti. Soon, he faces the news that he has a brain tumor, which leads him to make the choice between an operation and death. Ironically, Gordon is the least bothered about his expected demise. He remains almost ambivalent towards death, except for one key thing: the unwritten songs he may have "been remembered for." The amusing number "Poor, Unsuccessful, and Fat," details Gordon's writer's block before his diagnosis. Soon Gordon has renewed zeal, set on finding a muse before he dies. Watching his doctors and family hover over his body, Gordon composes from this perspective, highlighting the disengagement caused by his illness. Songs about his mother's determined optimism and his lover's looming bereavement are moving portrayals of death's wrenching effect on the loved ones left behind. Doctors, nurses and others become the unwitting cast of his coma-induced, hallucinatory compositions, some of which are the most entertaining of the play. "Gordo's Law of Genetics," humorously defines Gordon's situation with the refrain: "The bad trait will always predominate." The amphibian villain and hallucination, Mr. Bungee, serves well as comic relief and an arch-nemesis for Gordon, though ultimately he is the encouragement Gordon needs to wake-up, in his song, "Don't Give In." The ever-present character of the Homeless Lady provides insight and a few laughs as she cheerfully involves herself in Gordon's life. Though the subject matter is heavy, Gordon's impending death becomes secondary while his relationships with those he loves become the true focus. And even death can be entertaining. The themes of the musical are universal and the interpretation is unique. The jaunty, upbeat music contrasts well with the naturally distressing subject. Director Rebecca Alspector was drawn to "A New Brain" originally through its music. "I think its something that can really speak to a lot of people," she said, "I think the message of the show is to find inspiration in the things around you. When people hear the subject, they say, 'Oh, that's an interesting idea for a musical." The juxtaposition of the musical's light tone and dark subject may have been a difficult balance for some, but Beattie found his inspiration in reality. Beattie felt that even in the course of such illnesses that "in life, there are funny times, sad times, and real, depressing times." Beattie said he attempted to show this depth in his portrayal. Part of his character development included researching the brain disease that Gordon (and William Finn) was afflicted by and learning of its effects. Senior Mike LaFazia, as Gordon's lover, Roger, is compelling as he remains steadfast by Gordon's side even as Gordon attempts to push him away. Senior Bonnie Lury, as Gordon's mother, is forceful, using her impressive vocal skills and presence to bully her son into survival. As Gordon discovers, it takes heart, music, and time to make a song; and the set reflects this reminds us of the theme of mortality with three clocks prominently mounted. But ultimately, for Gordon and the creator Finn, it's clear that the musical is simply about the music.
Senior Matthew Pohl and the co-presidents of the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) met with Dean of Students Bruce Reitman yesterday to finalize a compromise on the Red Cross blood drives that take place on campus. Pohl first took issue with the LCS-sponsored blood drives last semester, arguing that policies set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and implemented by the Red Cross discriminate against gay and bisexual men. Under Red Cross regulations, any man who has had sex with another man is not eligible to donate blood. According to Pohl, this policy violates the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) non-discrimination policy for student groups, as well as the University's non-discrimination policy. Yesterday's compromise will allow Red Cross blood drives to continue on campus, but also calls for increasing campus-wide and national awareness of the allegedly discriminatory policies. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman described it as a "win-win situation." The compromise also calls for a "Community Conversation" next semester that will highlight the issues surrounding the Red Cross' controversial policies. The LCS will also send a letter and petition to the Red Cross encouraging the organization to "determine the validity and/or need for the current policies about eligibility to donate blood," yesterday's resolution said. Furthermore, LCS will no longer sponsor blood drives, but rather will "host" them. LCS will still use student activity funds to advertise the drives, however. Pohl, LCS co-presidents Andrea Daley and Emily Cerveira, and Reitman all expressed satisfaction with the meeting's outcome. "I very much appreciated the spirit of compromise with which the parties approached this situation," Reitman said. "They're trying to bring some pressure on the FDA and Red Cross to try to change the policies, and yet found a way to continue the blood drives that so many students take part of," he said. Although Pohl's original goal was to move the blood drives off-campus, estimates showed such a move would result in half as many Tufts students giving blood. Pohl said his intention was never to eliminate blood drives or impede Tufts students from giving blood, and called such claims "unfounded." "I have been willing to compromise pretty much since day one," Pohl said. Instead of going straight to the TCUJ, Pohl contacted the Dean of Student's office because "[Reitman] is a licensed mediator with the state of Massachusetts," he said. Daley said the agreement "strikes a very good balance of keeping the sanctity of what the blood drives mean on campus, and at the same time recognizes that there is discrimination felt by people on campus." According to Pohl, "community dialogue is the crown jewel of this compromise. Not only are we conscious in our own community of [the Red Cross'] policy, but we're working to create change on the national level. The agreement has national implications." Reitman agreed. "I know that our's is not the only campus on which this debate is taking place. I think it very well could bring change," he said. Yesterday's agreement is the fruit of two meetings between Pohl and LCS. The first occurred in October, but neither party was satisfied with the outcome. "I felt [the first meeting] was lacking in compromise for LCS," Daley said. "It was extremely different in the [last] meeting, and we're extremely proud that blood drives will continue to be held in the dorms."
Andrew Chapman (R) and Sarah Sahn (L) attempt to protect their candles from the 41mph gusts of wind at last night's AIDS candlelight vigil. The vigil was held in remembrance of those who have passed away from AIDS.
The perpetually touring, reflective folk-singer, do-it-yourselfer and ardent feminist Ani DiFranco shall commune with her devoted fans tomorrow night at the Worcester Palladium. Dan Bern, a political and often comedic musician who's pushing forty, will join her for this leg of her seemingly never-ending tour of the United States. This winter stretch of Ani's tour comes after her month-long "Vote Dammit!" tour of swing states during which she encouraged individuals to become politically active. For a few shows, former Democratic Presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich joined Ani on stage with the Indigo Girls. Besides U.S. political activism, Ani has been keeping herself busy by advocating democracy in Burma. She traveled this summer to Burma on a United States Campaign for Burma trip to visit refugee camps as well as to meet with pro-democracy activists. Ani not only wished to raise awareness about Burma's struggle, but also to gather support for Aung San Suu Kyi, the only Nobel Peace Prize recipient who is currently imprisoned. Ani contributed a track, "In the Way," to a benefit CD a month ago; the proceeds will go to the U.S. Campaign for Burma. Burmese military intelligence has banned the benefit CD, "For the Lady," and has gone as far as to search people for the album at border checkpoints. Amidst her worldly campaigns, Ani also manages to find time to record her signature introspective and intimate style of folk, as well as to perform her intimate concerts known for their vivacious and candid atmosphere. Ani's latest album, "Educated Guess," released this past spring, lends itself particularly well to live performances. The acoustic-based tracks on "Educated Guess" are meant to be shared in a dynamic way with a live audience. Ani veered away from this characteristic style of hers in "Evolve" (2003), but it seems that Ani has now returned to what works, leaving behind notions of sprinkling her sound with jazz and pop. "Educated Guess" provides dedicated fans with another personal album devoted to exploring what it means to be "Ani." The album showcases Ani stripped down to the basics: straightforward, folkish-acoustic-rock tunes with jazzy notions here and there, stories of jumbled and ambiguous lovers, national and personal politics, and the multiple faces of Ani. "Swim" and "Animal" highlight the album. Although "Swim" flowed much smoother during Ani's inspired Central Park performance last year than on the CD itself, it's still a fun, jazz-inflected, lilting sort of song. Ani croons " ... I finally drove out where/ the sky is dark enough to see stars/ and I found I missed no one/ just listening to the swishing of distant cars." Ani gently introduces her politics in "Animal." Atop simple, humbling cords Ani nearly sighs, "Harm here is harm there /...and aggression begets aggression / it's a very simple lesson ...." "The True Story of What Was," truly puts the other spoken word tracks on "Educated Guess" to shame. Amongst quickly fleeting backup vocals and bebop trumpet, Ani describes herself having "conversations consisting / of the kind of marks we make / when we're trying to get a pen to work again." If only it didn't cut off after two minutes and flow into the droning and lamenting "Bodily." Ani returns to beatnik spoken word with, "Grand Canyon," in which she bridges patriotism and loyal opposition. "I love my country," Ani assures before launching into various issues and often painful politics. She ends her exploration on a positive note when she states, "behold breathlessly the sight / how a raging river of tears / is cutting a grand canyon of light." This piece has become a new mainstay of Ani concerts. Fans have long awaited such spoken word confections to be put to CD, since Ani usually performs such pieces live. At last, with "Educated Guess" Ani fans can have Ani's words wash over them over and over again, now in the comfort of their homes. "Bliss like This" isn't too shabby either. Ani is carefree for a change about the beginnings of a relationship and frolics amidst delicate jazzy tones. "Origami" dramatically departs from the rest of the mode of the album. It conjures up the Ani of years past, except now her voice is reduced to a weak grumble, as opposed to an in-your-face growl. While "Educated Guess" is no "Little Plastic Castle" or "Living in Clip," the repertoire from it won't disappoint, especially when performed live.
The University has agreed to co-sponsor Mexican students earning their doctoral degrees at Tufts with the Mexican National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT). President Bacow signed an agreement for the partnership in Mexico City last month, whereby CONACYT will pay accepted students' tuition for the first two years of their studies at Tufts. Afterwards, Tufts will waive tuition for the completion of the students' doctoral study. Depending on the graduate program, a degree generally takes two to four years to complete. According to Vice President of University Relations Mary Jeka, CONACYT will also pay for student fees and provide a stipend for the first three years of students' studies. When the program begins next fall, Tufts will be "taking relatively small numbers of students [eight to 10] so we keep the program growing at a healthy but reasonable rate," according to Vice Provost Vincent Manno In Mexico, "the education programs are very inexpensive; the problem is they lack enough facilities and teachers to accommodate all the students who are interested in higher education there," Jeka said. This lack of resources has led CONACYT to seek partnerships with institutions abroad such as Harvard, Yale, and now Tufts. CONACYT's agreement with Tufts came about as a result of the efforts of Tufts' International Board of Overseers, which coordinates networking efforts largely through international trips designed to "encourage more participation [from other nations], as well as networking for more visibility and financial assistance," Jeka said. The deal was signed at a series of meetings that took place from Nov. 11 to Nov. 13 during the board's trip to Mexico, fulfilling one of its overarching goals, "to develop more financial aid opportunities for international students," according to Jeka. "Virtually all of the [Mexican] students, particularly undergraduates, are paying for their own education," Jeka said. "One of the purposes of the International Board is to encourage investment by people in those countries to sponsor students, to set up scholarship programs, so some of these students who want to come to Tufts are able to do so." Tufts hopes to extend the impact of the program beyond only graduate students. "Over the next several months we're going to be discussing faculty and scholar exchanges with CONACYT," Manno said. "[The CONDACYT officials] loved the idea of the partnership because of the reputation that Tufts has built and is trying to strengthen in many of these countries," Jeka said. "That's something we would like to build on hopefully more in the future." While Tufts currently has no other partnerships of this sort, Jeka said other countries like India and China expressed an interest setting up similar relationships.
