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Football: Football hopes to scale Mt. Amherst

October 28

Although New England is firmly entrenched in a Red Sox hangover, the show must go on for football teams across the region, and that includes the Jumbos. Tufts will try to bounce back from a gut wrenching 10-9 home loss to Williams as it moves on to Amherst tomorrow. The Jumbos triumphed in overtime last year, 24-17, in a win that propelled them to their 5-3 record. At a disappointing 1-4, Tufts could add a silver lining to what has thus far been a cloudy season with a win over the Lord Jeffs (5-0), who are currently tied for first place in the NESCAC with Trinity But unlike Trinity, Amherst has not walked over every opponent they have faced this season. Besides their triumphs over Hamilton and Wesleyan (televised on NESN last week), Amherst has gotten legitimate fights from Bowdoin, Middlebury and Colby. They are still not to be taken lightly, though, according to senior running back Steve Cincotta, who will be returning from an ankle injury that kept him out of action versus Williams. ?¬They have always played great defense, but if everyone on our side of the ball plays their role we should be able to move the ball on them,?® he said. Moving the ball will be no small task against this defense, especially on the ground, where Amherst is yielding a measly 71 yards per game. If the running game is not gaining the desired yardage, Tufts can take comfort in a passing game, led by junior quarterback Casey D?­Annolfo, which last week did not throw an interception for the first time this season. D?­Annolfo was a respectable 11 for 17 for 80 yards against Williams?­ third ranked pass defense. So while the pass may not have been emphasized last week, the Jumbos may have an easier time putting the ball in the air with an Amherst secondary that is sixth in the NESCAC at the moment (175.4 passing yards a game). ?¬We?­ll see what they give us and we?­ll probably end up taking it from there,?® Cincotta said. Amherst senior cornerback Rob Walsh leads the NESCAC in interceptions at the moment with six, including the four he had against Bowdoin. He also has five more pass defenses than anyone in the league with 13. Whether he can keep that performance up depends on how often the Jumbos decide to throw to his side. The Tufts defense, on the same note, will also have their hands full with a veteran offensive unit fielded by the Jeffs. Senior running back Fletcher Ladd continues to add to his legend as one of the best backs in NESCAC history as he has amassed 735 yards and five touchdowns already this season in the high octane Amherst running attack. Not to be overlooked is four year starting quarterback Marsh Moseley, who has been efficient with the chances coach E.J. Mills has given him to throw the ball. He has thrown for an average of 132.8 yards a game, with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. But the go-to option in the game plan is still clearly for Moseley to hand the ball to Ladd, who has out-gained every other NESCAC back by 162 yards. Even harder to grasp is the fact that the yards he has personally amassed are more than those of six teams in the league. To say he is their workhorse would be quite the understatement. But there is hope for the Jumbos fifth-ranked rushing defense, and it comes in the form of senior defensive tackle and captain Chris Lawrence (48 tackles, T-fourth), sophomore defensive end Chris Decembrele (42 tackles, six for loss) and the linebacking corps led by freshman phenom Adam Arsenault (33 tackles) and junior Mike McCann (29 take downs). Game time at Amherst is set for 1 p.m.

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News

Men's Cross Country: Jumbos in search of second consecutive NESCAC title

October 27

Last year, the men's cross country team entered NESCAC's with the unfamiliar tag of "favorite," despite having never won a NESCAC Championship in Tufts history. This year, the squad once again enters the meet with a new label: defending champion. Almost one year after Tufts won its first ever NESCAC Championship at Middlebury, the Jumbos will try to do it again at Colby on Saturday. Senior co-captains Nate Brigham and Brian McNamara, fifth-year senior Peter Bromka, juniors Matt Fortin, Matt Lacey, and Kyle Doran, and sophomore Josh Kennedy will represent Tufts' top seven. However, the team can race twelve in NESCAC's, so senior Mike Don, juniors Neil Orfield and Mike Cummings, sophomore Justin Chung, and freshman Chris Kantos will also probably line up for the Jumbos. The squad will depart for Maine tomorrow and stay in a hotel overnight. Last year, Kennedy, Brigham, Doran, McNamara, and Orfield finished seventh through tenth overall to give the Jumbos their first NESCAC title. Everyone who ran in that race last year will run it again. "You look at all the guys who ran last year when we run, and we return all of them, so we should win again," McNamara said. "Statistically, if we can get all our guys to run together at the front of the pack like last year, things should take care of themselves," coach Connie Putnam said. "Mathemati-cally, that would be a tough scenario to lose." Last year, winning NESCAC's was one of several major goals for the Jumbos. Perhaps the biggest sign of how far Putnam's runners have come and how high their sights are set is that this year they view NESCAC's merely as a point along the way in their season. "The team's at a level where our number one priority is Nationals; getting there and doing well," McNamara said. "And that shows how successful we are that we're to that point where we expect to be there, we will be there, and that's what we're aiming for." "It's a step along the way for us," Brigham said of the league championship. "It was great to win the first one last year, and it would be great to win the second one. But we also know it's a tune-up for what's to come." Still, this is the beginning of the team's championship portion of its season. It wants to win, but will have some competition in doing so. "All of these other teams like Williams and Bowdoin and Bates have had very successful teams, both now and in the past," McNamara said. "And to be able to say that we're part of a Tufts team that has beaten those teams, part of a team that has won NESCAC's, [having] accomplished something like that and contributed to the Tufts community is a neat thing." In the latest national poll, Tufts was ranked fifth in Div. III, while Bates was ninth and Williams was 16th. Bates has won every Div. III meet it has raced this year, although it finished 12th to Tufts' sixth place at All-New England's three weekends ago. Last year at NESCAC's, Tufts edged out Williams, which boasted the top two individual finishers, 48-57. "We're definitely favored to win," McNamara said. "We expect to win. We know that there are some other good teams out there, and we just have to beat them." "If we run our race and we run close together like we do in the workouts, then I don't think that there is anyone that can beat us in New England," Brigham said. Brigham believes that will hold true not only on Saturday but on Nov. 13, when Tufts tries to qualify for the national championship race. In between, the squad's second seven will run at Tufts in the ECAC Championship next weekend. "The next four weeks are going to be the defining moments for this team," McNamara said. "We've been talking about this season since about five minutes after we crossed the line at Nationals last year. Everyone knows this is where we have a chance to really shine and make a mark." "The guys are definitely geared up," Putnam said. "They know it's really race time now."

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News

WebCenter traffic slows access, aggravates students

October 27

Students across campus experienced frustrating delays yesterday when trying to reserve their spots on Tufts WebCenter for the annual Fares Lecture, featuring Hillary Clinton on Nov. 10.

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News

Volleyball: Tufts to compete against rivals during final weekend of play

October 27

Tomorrow and Saturday, the volleyball team will travel to Middlebury College to play its final three NESCAC games against Hamilton, Middlebury and Williams. Going into the weekend, four teams are within one game of the NESCAC lead. At the end of the weekend, one team will stand on top. With an 8-0 conference record, the Williams Ephs stand atop the NESCAC standings, just ahead of Tufts (7-0), Middlebury (7-1) and Amherst (6-1). The 24-4 Jumbos, having already defeated Amherst 3-2 on Oct. 16 at Amherst, will have the chance to knock Middlebury and Williams from contention in head-to-head match-ups. Tufts is confident about its chances. "I think we absolutely have the capability to beat these teams," sophomore Kelli Harrison said. "Our performance in the Springfield game [in the third round of the Hall of Fame Classic] proved we know how to go out and leave everything on the court." To keep their perfect conference record, the Jumbos will have to defeat Williams who, at 25-3 is ranked number one in New England. The Ephs, winners of the last three NESCAC Champion-ships, defeated the Jumbos last Saturday 3-0 in the Hall of Fame Classic Final. Coach Cora Thompson has preached the importance of not losing confidence due to the loss to Williams. "We came, we saw and we learned what we need to going into next weekend's matches," Thompson said. The Jumbos learned that their match with Williams will certainly be a tough test. "They are an experienced team that has been to the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament the last two years," Thompson said. "They have experience on their side, and along with that comes confidence. Short of the experience, we have the confidence in ourselves and are excited to prove that we can beat them and be the next team to win the NESCAC." According to Thompson, Williams has tremendous height, athleticism and ball handling. The Jumbos will have to contend with 6'2" senior middle blocker Joyia Chadwick. Chadwick, an All America selection the past two years, is averaging 3.75 kills per game. The Ephs also have last year's NESCAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in senior Robin Young, as well as a setter who could cause problems in junior Alexis Knepp. "They've got a very smart setter who we're going to have to watch because she is very tricky," freshman Stephanie Viola said. Before having to deal with these problems, the Jumbos will have to face Hamilton and Middlebury. Although Hamilton has not won a conference game this year, the Jumbos are still focused on this match. "They're our first match of the weekend and we need to come out strong and get our momentum for the rest of the weekend," Harrison said. The Jumbos hope this momentum will lead them to a victory over Middlebury the next day. "[Middlebury] has been ranked pretty high in New England," Harrison said. "They've played some tough teams, taken games from tough teams and beaten tough teams, but they've also lost to some weaker ones." While Middlebury is 19-9 overall, it has lost to Skidmore and Brandeis, two teams that Tufts beat earlier in the season. The players would love to defeat all three teams this weekend and earn home-court advantage because of the recognition it would give their program. "I think it'd be great," Harrison said. "It would bring some recognition to Tufts volleyball to win the NESCAC and host the tournament." The tournament will take place on Nov. 12 and 13. The winner of the NESCAC Tournament receives an automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. Even if the Jumbos can't win the NESCAC tournament, Thompson believes the team still has a chance to earn an at-large bid for the NCAA tournament. The national tournament awards one bid for the New England region. "We have proved that our conference is the strongest with NESCAC teams always being in the top of the New England polls and tournament finals," Thompson said. "Hopefully the NCAA Committee will recognize Tufts as the next strongest team out of the region for the tournament. [But] hopefully, we won't have to rely on that and we will just win NESCAC." Before considering these things, however, the Jumbos must take care of business this weekend.

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News

Stem cells at Tufts?

October 27

An article appearing in last Friday's Daily detailed the new Tissue Research Center being established at Tufts through the hard work of Professor David Kaplan and many others in the Biological and Chemical Engineering department and the generous support of the National Institutes of Health. The article correctly states that the Center is "the first facility of its kind in the world," but goes on to claim that it "has put the University at the forefront of both tissue cell research and the controversy surrounding it," due to the fact that "Center researchers will be working stem cells." A letter to the editor in Tuesday's paper pointed out a positive statement in Friday's article on stem cells and went on to discuss the ethical problems with stem cell research. However, while Boston is indeed at the forefront of the stem cell controversy, Tufts fortunately is not. Not to disappoint a campus hungry for causes to inspire student activism, but the national stem cell debate is centered on embryonic stem cells, and only then because of their connection to the national divide over reproductive rights and morality. The Tufts Center, based on my own understanding, will focus on research that furthers our ability to produce viable tissues in bioreactors that can be implanted into humans, as well as research into related instrumental designs and procedures for surgeons and biomedical engineers. Some of this research will likely employ recombinant DNA techniques and other cutting-edge technology with somewhat dubious ethical and environmental impacts. But these do not trespass into the politically charged embryonic stem cell domain. The lab will likely work at some point with somatic stem cells, which are found primarily, but not exclusively, in bone marrow tissue. But these stem cells are not nearly as promising as the Bush administration presents them to be. Just a few weeks ago, Dr. Leon Kass visited campus for the Snyder Lecture Series and implied that somatic stem cells were a viable alternative to embryonic stem cells because they could be induced to behave in nearly identical fashions. It is too early to make any definitive statements on stem cells as much more research is needed, but what we do know at this point suggests that Dr. Kass and the broader conservative claims about the promise of somatic stem cells is not true. In any event, there is no controversy involving research with these cells, and hopefully the Center will help advance the state of knowledge on them. If you do want to rail against the immorality of stem cell research, I suggest hopping on the Red Line and heading over to Harvard, where a brand new embryonic stem cell lab is slated to begin construction. This lab, unlike the Tufts Tissue Center, is completely privately funded. NIH money is crucial for the construction and operation of Tufts' endeavor. These funds come with federal restrictions on the type of research done at the Center, including a ban on all but a handful of existing embryonic stem cell lines. The Harvard lab, since it is privately funded, will have no such restrictions. I am by no means criticizing the writer of Friday's article. The topic was well conceived and the importance of biomedical research tends not to be sufficiently covered by the mainstream media. But there is a thin line to tread when writing on technical issues in order to both accurately present a topic and have it be both accessible and interesting to the everyday reader.Justin Carlson is a junior majoring in biotechnology and international relations

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News

Tufts Votes should be held accountable for its irresponsibility

October 27

@bodytext: Tufts Votes ought to be ashamed of itself. It has negated its entire purpose by neglecting to ensure that all of the voter registration cards it collected sent to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts on time. Students filled out these voter registration forms in good faith that Tufts Votes would deliver them before the Oct. 13 deadline. Now, a number of students will have a harsh surprise next Tuesday when they are turned away at the voting booth. This irresponsibility has disenfranchised students that chose to register in Medford or Somerville. The Daily has previously written that Tufts students should vote in local elections so that we can have an impact in community politics. Tufts Votes presented a method for students to register easily and impact the elections locally. The leverage Tufts students could have on Medford and Somerville has been diminished because of this error. The vote is one of the most precious aspects of the American political system. Citizens are able to input their opinions in order to determine who will run the government and, by extension, what its policies should be. College-age voters, from 18 to 24, have the lowest voting rate among any age group in the country. It is important for voters our age to show our leverage. Tufts Votes should be commended for registering over 300 students on time in Medford and Somerville for this election. This registration error, however, will overshadow all the work its members did, and rightfully so. While the exact number of forms sent in late is unknown, it appears to be a sizeable amount. Students were encouraged to give completed registration forms to their RAs or Tufts Votes member, and its funding from the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) gave the group legitimacy. Registering people to vote isn't just another activity to list on a resume - it's dealing with people's right to participate in government. It should be treated in such high regard by student groups like Voices of Change (VOX) and Tufts Votes, instead of using University money irresponsibly. Tufts is an extremely politicized campus, and voting is highly valued. Students who registered in Medford and Somerville looked forward to voting here. Those who have been disenfranchised will be rightfully angry when they realize they are not able to vote, due to circumstances out of their control. A miscommunication resulted in a student volunteer returning the cards collected by VOX to the head of Tufts Votes too late to make the Oct. 13 deadline, and some RAs returned forms to Tufts Votes too late as well. But, shouldn't Tufts Votes have alerted its volunteers of the registration due date? These groups want to draw attention to their accomplishments and future projects, like driving students to polling stations on Election Day. But these works are in vain if they are too disorganized to send registration cards into Medford and Somerville on time. Students who registered with Tufts Votes and have yet to receive any information from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts should call their city's Registrar Voter's office. The total impact of this error must be known and reported to the Tufts community.

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News

Cuba: from socialism to social life

October 27

Seven Tufts seniors shared reflections and anecdotes from their four-month stay at the University of Havana in Cuba on Tuesday, discussing topics ranging from socialist policies to gay nightlife.

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News

Journalist speaks about his career

October 27

Tufts alum and political journalist Matt Bai spoke in the Crane Room yesterday about the process of journalistic writing and the current state of his profession in a lecture titled "Adventures in Political Journalism."

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News

Evan Cochran | Down with the FCC

October 27

In previous columns, I discussed subjects such as drugs, sex and partying at Tufts. What I failed to mention about these things, however, is that they all cost money. And while its difficult to gyp a prostitute, drug dealer or liquor store, I have found that there are ways to save money in other areas of collegiate life.

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News

Ben Hoffman | The Lefty Groove

October 27

I was kicking back, as they say, with my housemates Tuesday night, watching the Red Sox go up 3-0 in the World Series. Gups was trying to convince Nimit to be Mr. T for Halloween. Mike and Nimit were making fun of Gups because he's a Yankees fan. I was making fun of Mike because Curt Schilling has changed his sexual orientation. And everyone was making fun of me because I hadn't been aware that FOX had previously used my brilliant Star Wars-to-sports-conversion idea for my last column for one of their idiotic pregame montages. Indeed, it was fun times all around at the Emery manor. The Sox were winning, and when they weren't, we were counting Joe Buck and Leon Budweiser commercials. There was Buck's agent convincing him to pick up Slamma-Lamma Ding Dong as a marketing phrase. There was Leon, telling a teammate to pass him in the batting order while he was celling it up in the on-deck circle. And there was Leon in a right field sky box, talking to a reporter while behind him in the commercial were girls wearing Slamma-Lamma Ding Do - WAIT A MINUTE! This wasn't a commercial! This was actually happening! At the game! Instead of the game! I was missing pitches for this! For a second, I really thought it was some sort of in-game commercial, like when the announcer has to say "tonight's game is brought to you by Cialis". And if I was confused, you can bet Tim McCarver was - he's still getting over the Yankees' loss and the fact that Bronson Arroyo's first name isn't Brandon. Real life Leon was even acting out his commercial persona, ignoring the reporter while he chatted on his cell phone about money, and letting us know that he was tired from running from police because he looked so good it was illegal. For those of you who somehow haven't seen the ever-prevalent Budweiser commercials, they involve the announcer Buck and Leon, a self-centered athlete whom is nonetheless "true." Just like Bud Light! I know the last time I had an ice-cold Bud Light, I thought to myself, "Man, this tastes true!" The commercials would be sort of funny except that they're probably a realistic portrayal of half of all professional athletes. Budweiser should have just gotten Terrell Owens to play the part. And Tuesday night, this portrayal of everything that's wrong with sports had come to life. Talk about blurring the line between advertising and reality. Was FOX subliminally tricking us into drinking Bud instead of Coors? Or has Leon turned into enough of a pseudo-celebrity (?  la Orlando Jones and the 7-Up commercials) that FOX thought we'd be interested in chatting with him during at-bats? Did anyone drink more 7-Up because of Orlando Jones? All I know is we were seeing this instead of the game, and that's outrageous. Not as outrageous as The Boston Herald trying to compete with The Boston Globe by running a blown-up picture of that poor bloody girl after the Sox beat the Yankees. But still, pretty outrageous, especially considering that it's not an isolated incident. After all, Tuesday night we learned about the exciting lives of Larry Walker's brothers Harry, Barry, Jerry, and Scary. During Game Two, FOX basically gave Tom Hanks free advertising for his new movie. And for the last two weeks the network has been giving us 80 percent game footage, 20 percent shots of Red Sox fans covering their eyes, wincing in fear, and getting their skin eaten off by vultures. Fellow Tufts Daily columnist and Massachussets native Tim Whelan said that he saw about ten people he knew in the stands in Game Five of the ALCS. And he wasn't even at the game; he was home on his comfy sofa in DU drinking a glass of milk. Think about how many crowd shots FOX has to show for someone watching on TV to see ten people they know out of 40,000. Honestly, I know this is really hard for the TV executives to believe, but when I turn on the television to watch a game, that's what I want to watch. The game. Yet that's not what we're being shown. When did things go so horribly, horribly, wrong? I think it started with Jack Nicholson getting cameos at the Lakers games. I didn't watch "The Shining" hoping to catch a glimpse of Devean George, and I don't watch Lakers games to see Nicholson. But this phenomenon really turned the corner with Brenda Warner during the St. Louis Rams' surprising Super Bowl season. I could be on my deathbed and still see her fuzzy blue sweater and short spiky hair as she sat in the stands, praying and cheering for former supermarket shelf stocker husband Kurt Warner. Meanwhile, on the field, Warner was throwing 80 yard touchdown passes to Isaac Bruce and Marshall Faulk was juking defenders into Kansas. But apparently we would rather see Mrs. Warner. Then we had Juan Dixon's brother. When Dixon, one of my favorite college basketball players ever, led the Maryland Terrapins to the 2002 NCAA Championship, half the coverage was on Juan's brother Phil, and how the two overcame their parents' drug addiction and deaths to AIDS. That's a great story. But we didn't need to pretend like Phil was a member of the team. He was shown so much I thought he was the Most Outstanding Player. That's probably the real reason why Chris Wilcox turned pro; he was angry that Phil was getting the spotlight. Don't get me wrong; the human story behind the game is always more compelling than the stats. Unless we're missing the game to see the human story. And that story is Larry Walker's trout-catching determination. Or Leon hawking Bud on Fox. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go run from the police, because I write so well it's illegal.

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News

Hunting for witches in Salem

October 27

Between the campy wax museums and the over-hyped psychic festivals, it's easy to paint Salem as nothing more than a cheesy weekend outing barely worth the $7.50 it costs to get there by train. But during the weeks leading up to Halloween, this infamous town transforms from a two-bit amusement park to haunted kingdom. Let's face it: when it comes to Halloween, the traditional witchery of New England's most infamous town can't be matched. Salem's "Haunted Happenings" have been taking place since the beginning of October, but they rise to a climax this weekend. The entire town will be filled with ghastly ghosts and adventurous spirits, all of whom are eager to explore the booths and vendors that blanket the city and the various attractions that have opened their gates to mortals and the undead alike. Salem itself is the perfect stage for an otherworldly adventure. Whether you're hunting for the names of the Witch Trial victims in the many graveyards spotting the town, taking in the free music and street performances put on all weekend long, or arguing with green-faced witch enthusiasts in the middle of the city-wide street faire, there's no other Halloween experience quite like it. Any visitors to Salem will clearly want to take advantage of the city's rich history, which becomes especially relevant during Halloween weekend. Salem is infamous for its witch hunts of 1692, which resulted in the execution of twenty innocent men and women. Halloween revelers can take part in the 1692 trial of one of the accused at the Witch Dungeon Museum. As they step into the role of one of the Salem townsfolk and listen to the trial, performed according to the script recorded from the actual proceedings, visitors can then decide the guilt or innocence of Elizabeth Proctor. Shows occur all day long during the weekend; call 978-741-3570 for tickets or more information. "Cry Innocent," another witch trial reenactment, lets visitors observe the proceedings surrounding the accusation of Bridget Bishop. Audience members can listen to the evidence and cross-examine witnesses before voting as to whether the goodwife was innocent or guilty of the crimes laid against her. Performances occur all weekend long in front of the Old Town Hall at Derby Square. Historic monologues are also being performed all weekend long at selected locations throughout the town as part of the "Haunted City" celebration. The performances run continuously at the Old Salem Jail, the First Church, and the Old Town Hall all night long. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time by calling 979-744-8815. One highlight of the haunted weekend is certain to be the Scary Sea Stories. Pirates and landlubbers alike will be thrilled by the ghost stories told aboard the haunted schooner "Friendship," the eighteenth-century sailing vessel docked at Central Wharf. Starting at 5:30 p.m. every evening this weekend, the Salem Theater Company will be acting out various skits on board the ship. Tickets are $10, and interested parties can call 978-790-8546 for more information. It wouldn't be Halloween in Salem without the opportunity to consort with the Children of the Night in high fashion, preferably while dressed like a Goth out for a night on the (preferably haunted) grounds. Of course, because it's Salem, each nominal group that makes up the Children of the Night is hosting its own individual ball. In a macabre mockery of a cultural faire, the vampires, witches, and psychics of Salem are all hosting their own events. But considering the price tag of all three (The Vampires and Victims Ball is $95; the Psychic's S?©ance is $100, and the more extravagant Official Salem Witches' Ball is a spellbinding $175), unless one happens to be buried alongside a long-lost pirate treasure, even the most dedicated crypt-keeper might be better off taking in the holiday atmosphere elsewhere - like at the "Brew Moon Night" at the haunted Hawthorne Hotel, which offers beer tasting for a $10 cover charge (978-744-4080). For those purveyors of the afterlife who fancy themselves undead artistes, the Terror Fantasy Art Show represents a chance to get in touch with the painter within. Located at The Fool's Mansion (127 Essex St.), this art show displays local artists' macabre attempts to capture the meaning of Halloween. Ghouls, ghosts, and goblins may abound, but the more morbid works might very well leave you with chills. It's also possible to take in the horrors of the haunted town on your own two feet, thanks to the many Halloween-themed tour groups scheduled to depart this weekend. A myriad of creatively themed tours (all of which seem to somehow incorporate "ghosts" or "witches" into their title) leave from various points around the city throughout the evening. The Vampire and Ghost Hunt Tour (departs from The Spellbound Museum; 978-745-0138), the Witch Trial Trail and Terror Tour (Derby Square; 978-745-6314), and the Haunted Footsteps Ghost Tour (8 Central Street; 978-745-0666) all offer visitors the opportunity to see the more haunted corners of the town with their own two frantically squeezed shut eyes. Even the House of the Seven Gables, immortalized forever in Nathaniel Hawthorne's book of the same title, is getting in on the Halloween spirit. The "Spirits of the Gable" tour gives visitors the opportunity to explore the many ghosts that are said to haunt the historic building, and "The Legacy of the Hanging Judge" explores the Salem Witchcraft Trials of 1692. Reservations are recommended for both Seven Gables tours during Halloween weekend and can be made by calling 978-744-0991. During peak hours, the tours leave every five to ten minutes. The Halloween celebrations will culminate with the 25th Annual Closing Night Ceremonies on Oct. 31, but the spirit of Salem will live on long after that. If you love All Hallow's Eve and fancy a night out on the town alongside witches and ghouls, this may well be the Halloween adventure for you.

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News

Vote Bush or don't vote

October 27

Tuesday evening, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service sponsored a Presidential debate among three prominent student leaders on campus: Jonathan Parnes, Tufts Democrats; Kristen Casazza, Tufts Republicans; and Daniel DiMaggio, Socialist Alternative represented their respective parties. All three students presented credible cases for their candidates, all three were well spoken, and all three had an impressive grasp of many of the issues at stake in the upcoming election. However, a remarkable thing happened during closing statements in the debate. After engaging an active audience in a heated debate for 90 minutes, Ms. Casazza's last words were, "Vote for George W. Bush or don't vote." And it gets worse. During the Q&A portion of the debate after the closing statements, she repeated "believe me; if you're liberal I don't want you voting." Let that sink in for a second. As one of the most politically active students at Tufts (and representing the Republican Party on Tuesday), Casazza has stated, and repeated, that unless you align politically with her and support the candidate she supports, you should NOT vote. Ironically this occurred during an event that was supposed to engage Tufts students in the political process and encourage them to get involved and get informed about the upcoming election. Not only was her comment against the very goals of the mock debate, she is undermining the very foundation of this democracy. I am personally shocked and appalled that a campus leader would discourage students from voting - and worse, would do so in such a public setting. Given the number of young voters who do not vote, the last thing anyone should be doing is telling us not to vote. According to the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), only 42 percent of 18-24 year olds voted. Compare that with the 70 percent of those over the age of 25 who voted in 2000. The youth vote has fallen 13 percent since 1972 and is continuing to decline. We can and should do better. In fact, it is our right, privilege and absolute civic duty to vote. With the plethora of issues that will directly impact us, young people have more reason than ever to fight for their right to vote - and to cast their ballots on Nov. 2. The Iraq war, budget deficits, stem cell research, healthcare, equal marriage, and the threat to a woman's right to choose are all issues in the forefront of the presidential campaign that will have a huge impact on young voters. Our lives and our futures are at stake here. We need to vote as if our lives depended on it. There are too many barriers facing young people today. Many cities and towns with colleges and universities regard student voters - who are more transient than the average resident, and whose political views also may be different - as a challenge to the established order. As a result, local elections officials often discourage students from registering and voting from their campus addresses, even though the Supreme Court has ruled that they have the right to do so. College and university administrators also bear some of the blame. Under the Higher Education Act of 1998, colleges and universities receiving federal funds must make an effort to distribute voter registration forms to every student, and to make those forms widely available on campus. But a newly released study by Harvard University's Institute of Politics and the Chronicle of Higher Education found that fewer than 17 percent of schools are in full compliance, and one-third of them are not even making minimal efforts. Fortunately at Tufts, with groups like Tufts Votes, there has been an intense effort to register and mobilize young people to vote. All these barriers seem grim, and they could easily turn young people off from voting and politics in general. Even more frustrating is that there are people like Ms. Casazza who wish to continue to disenfranchise young voters in this election, and who want to undermine my right to vote and silence the voices of my peers. I am going to try, as successful or unsuccessful as I may be, to counteract the effects of her statement. I want to try to provide you with the motivation and inspiration you may need to vote on Nov. 2. You have all heard dozens of times by now that we, as young voters, can make or break this election. Well, it is true. All of the polling statistics you hear daily often do not include the large numbers of young people who are going to vote in this election. They do not include the unprecedented numbers of young people who are newly registered to vote. We are going to make or break this election. We have the power to tip the scales, and damnit; we are going to use that power! Your vote is your voice this Nov. 2. Do not allow yourself to be silenced by the few who don't think you should exercise your constitutional right to vote. And don't just stop at casting a ballot in less than a week. Until then and beyond, get informed and get involved. There are countless ways students can be active in politics. It is up to us to become active citizens and shape the world we want to live in. In the wise words of Black Eyed Peas, "Let's get it started!"Judith P. Neufeld is a senior in the plan of study major program.

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News

Halloween Special: Do you like scary movies?

October 27

Halloween is upon us again, and with it comes the typical onslaught of slasher films, spooky candy, and dead leaves. This year's crop of scary films, however, seems slightly flat. Since scary movies tend to go hand in hand, it's time for a list of the best horror movies ever made. Before we start let's get two things clear. "Best" is a difficult thing to define. Does it mean scariest, most fun or campiest? For our purposes, let's just loosely define best as "somehow better than the rest." Secondly, lists are pretty stupid and up for discussion. What's the difference between number 5 and number 6 on this list? Not more than a couple inches. Pretty much the movies are assigned in whatever order we feel like.The Wild Card! "Event Horizon" (1997)There was some debate about this one. Sam Niel and Lawrence Fishburn? The ship itself is the bad guy? Although definitely a rip off of pretty much every other film in the genre, I have to admit this movie scared the bejesus out of me when I saw it in seventh grade. Somehow it works, even with Lawrence Fishburn winning the "biggest over-actor of all time award" going away.10. "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" (1974)Probably originated the modern horror genre. A plot to make conservatives everywhere happy: A group of hippies are brutally slaughtered in rural Texas. Bonus points for being the first film in which someone is being chased by a bad guy wielding a chainsaw. Yikes. A low budget masterpiece. Extra bonus points because the sequel wasn't bad and starred a former Tufts student.9. "Dawn of the Dead" (1978)The second part of George Romero's groundbreaking zombie trilogy, "Dawn of the Dead" has the greatest premise ever: A bunch of zombies in a shopping mall with a rag-tag band of human survivors and a bunch of guns. What we get is engaging social commentary on the state of American ??ber-consumerism and gore. Ignore the remakes and the parodies; the original still shuffles along on its own.8. "Evil Dead II" (1987)Sam Raimi's cabin-in-the-woods gore-fest is a remake masquerading as a sequel. "Evil Dead II" sands off the low-budget edges of its source material without sacrificing the scares. One liners and chainsaw-arms are provided by cult-movie stud Bruce Campbell.7. "Jaws" (1975)This movie, in case you forgot, is scary as hell. Think about the opening scene; the frightened skinny dipping girl, clinging to the buoy as her male friend is passed out on the beach. You can't even see the shark you can just see her screaming as she's sucked under the water. Spielberg builds tension effectively, keeping the shark below the water and visible only in our minds. Much, much scarier.6. "The Ring" (2003)Good god this movie is terrifying. It gets a little stupid towards the end, but gosh, is it scary. The whole horse thing touched a "Black Beauty" nerve. Naomi Watts vaults to semi-stardom as a confused television reporter. I don't even care that the plot is pretty ridiculous. That opening scene is amazing, with the two girls just waiting to be killed.5. "The Exorcist" (1978)Not too much explanation needed. We're all pretending the prequel that came out last month never happened. It doesn't get much better than "The power of Christ compels thee!" I can imagine Dubya screaming it at undecided voters. In any event, the steps are scary, the little girl is terrifying, and with head spinning and projectile vomit, I mean, what's not to like?4. "Alien" (1979)Absolutely terrifying. When the guy is leaning over the alien pod and the thing pounces onto his face mask? Yeah, grab a new pair of underwear. Sigourney Weaver continues the trend of "female heroine who's the only one left alive at the end." Bonus points for terrifying evil robot incorporated into a movie about an alien.3. "Psycho" (1960)The shower scene, the dark house on the hill, the Bates Motel ... very scary. Scariest ever? Obviously not. Hitchcock certainly knows how to craft an atmosphere. Pulling into a dingy motel at night in the rain has since become a clich?© but it wasn't in 1960. And Hitchcock does it better than anyone else.2. "Halloween" (1978)In the first (and best) of the horror franchises. Just enough campiness, just enough scariness. Jamie Lee Curtis is excellent as one of the first female horror heroines that manage to avoid being slaughtered. Much better than Jennifer Love Hewitt. The closet scene with the stabbing and the death? That scene gave me nightmares for weeks.1. "The Shining" (1980)Number one on the list is a movie unfortunately memorable to most because of one line: "Here's Johnny!" The movie is the ultimate in creepiness, reflecting the excellence of famed director Stanley Kubrick's . Also intensely creepy are the "Red Rum" twins. A masterful study of isolation, madness, and finally mayhem, "The Shining" is what every horror movie and Neverland Ranch sleepover try to be: scarier for what might happen than what actually does.It doesn't get much better than "The power of Christ compels thee!" I can imagine Dubya screaming it at undecided voters. In any event, the steps are scary, the little girl is terrifying, and with head spinning and projectile vomit, I mean, what's not to like?

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News

1918' loses all meaning as students celebrate win

October 27

An estimated 500 students gathered late last night on the Residential Quad to celebrate the Red Sox' historic victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in this year's World Series.

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News

Bad news for women's rights

October 27

On the 10th anniversary of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development, the United States refused to join 85 heads of state in signing a statement that endorses a 10-year-old United Nations plan to ensure women's rights. In a letter to the U.N., the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kelly Ryan stated that the U.S. was committed "to the empowerment of women and the need to promote women's fullest enjoyment of universal human rights." President Bush's administration withheld its signature because the statement included a reference to "sexual rights." My arms are up in despair! Countries such as Pakistan have signed this statement, yet the U.S. cannot sign it because of two small words. In Pakistan today, women are still denied some basic rights, such as the right to education. Domestic violence and physical abuse - which includes rape, burning, "honor" killings and acid throwing - are still widespread. Pakistan is both a country of origin and a transit country for the trafficking of women. Despite these inequalities in Pakistan, President Musharaf is still able to recognize the importance of women's rights by signing the U.N. plan. For the past four years, President Bush and his administration have been waging constant assaults on women's rights domestically. Attorney General John Ashcroft flooded health care providers across the nation with subpoenas for thousands of private medical records of women who had abortions. To defend the intrusion, the Department of Justice wrote that federal law "does not recognize a physician-patient privilege." This is not only an attack on women but also on privacy. Many people will argue that President Bush is only assaulting women's reproductive rights as a part of a larger cultural battle. However, if abortion were his only target, then the administration would not be attempting to block women's access to contraceptives, which in turn drives down the number of abortions. Scientifically accurate information about contraceptives and abortions would not have begun disappearing from federal government web sites. However, evidently, this is not the case; Bush is waging a war against women and by refusing to sign the U.N. statement, it is obvious that he is doing so on a global scale. The effects of President Bush's assaults on women are possibly greater abroad than they are domestically. On his very first day on the job, the President reinstated the "Global Gag" rule also know as the Mexico City Policy. This bars any health providers that receive U.S. aid from counseling women about their reproductive rights. By resurrecting the gag rule, the President publicized his disdain for freedom of speech to less-developed nations and emerging democracies. By doing so, President Bush has crippled the work of programs that worked to prevent hundreds of thousands of infant and maternal deaths worldwide each year. It seems strange that a President who preaches the value of life does not seem to value the lives of women and infants in less-developed nations. The recent refusal to re-sign the U.N. statement and plan is not uncommon for the U.S. The Bush administration's delegates to the U.N. Special Session of Children tried to block a plan to promote children's well-being and rights because of a small, three-letter phrase, "reproductive health services." In doing this, the delegates also opposed special efforts to aid young girls and young women who are victims of war crimes - which typically mean rape. The delegates were worried that the measure would provide these girls and women with information about reproductive health. President Bush has intentionally made it look like his war against women's rights is a series of largely unnoted changes. In reality, it is a steady march into the past. What is of extreme importance is the real impact of the Presidential assault. Women's constitutional liberty has been threatened and as a result, women will needlessly die. The U.S. has prided itself on being a world leader in all aspects. However, if President Bush is re-elected, the only things that the U.S. will be leading the world toward are less women's rights and more deaths of women.Amy Patanasinth is a junior majoring in international relations.

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News

N.Y. Times writer defends infamous piece

October 27

Political writer Matt Bai (LA '90) arrived at Tufts last night to respond to critics of his recent profile of Democratic candidate John Kerry in The New York Times Magazine.

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News

Halloween Special: Top Ten performances by candy in a lead or supporting role

October 27

In the whirlwind of costumes and parties, it's easy to forget what Halloween is really all about: candy. The apex of the food pyramid, candy comes in a variety of forms - from fancy treats like truffles and bon-bons to childhood favorites like Fun Dip and candy buttons - and places - from the pillow of a swanky hotel to the snack bar of your favorite sticky-floored movie theater. This Halloween, instead of enjoying your Peppermint Patties while watching a slasher flick, why not look for that silver wrapper on the silver screen? This list compiles ten of the best usages of candy in film, be it a mini Mounds bar-sized cameo or a lead role in which the candy Charleston Chews up the scenery. So, this year, instead of obsessing over a clever costume, cut out the middleman and buy your own goodies, rent a few glucose-friendly flicks, and raise a bag of Pop Rocks in a toast to some of the finest moments in candy cinema. 10. Dancing candy ad, "Grease"In one of those moments where the scenery actually overpowers the actors, John Travolta belts out his saccharine (and not in a good way) lamentation for his lost Sandy while the real stars of the scene - animated candy boxes and soda cups - dance on the drive-in screen behind him. The back-flipping hot dog is technically a better pun for Danny's lusty heartbreak but the candy boxes are really what make viewer's mouths water.9. M&Ms, "Empire Records"As Gina asks, "I got a brown, anybody got brown?" the other Empire Records employees scramble to match their color to hers. The M&M lottery to decide whose music gets to be played in the store that day proves that no modern workplace can function without candy: The M&M bag is the new water cooler.8. Mind-controlling lollipop, "Zoolander"Maybe it's no orange mocha Frappuccino, but Will Ferrell's gigantic technicolor lollipop in the mind control video sequence is strangely tempting. More powerful than electroshock treatment, the swirling colors of "Little Cletus"' huge lollipop could easily catch moviegoers off-guard and make them take up arms against world leaders.7. Chocolate meltdown, "Chocolat"Proving that you can have too much of a good thing, the Comte De Reynaud's chocolate orgy and subsequent breakdown is the most (and only?) tragic moment in candy on-screen history. Like all good chocolate, this scene is bittersweet as it makes the Lent-starved Comte realizes that it's okay to accept the treats that stand-in Easter Bunny Vianne brings him.6. Caramels, "Good Will Hunting"Finally someone realized that it doesn't actually make sense to go out for coffee. Bonus points go to anyone who can use "or maybe we could go somewhere and just eat a bunch of caramels" as a successful pickup line. Also notable is the later scene in the novelty store in which Will makes the handful of caramels "disappear."5. Pixy Stix sandwich, "The Breakfast Club"Really no more disgusting than Andy's half dozen sandwiches, Allison's Pixy Stix/Corn Pop hybrid was probably delicious. Ever the resourceful basketcase, Allison even uses the dregs of the Stix to sweeten her already teeth-achingly sugary Coke.4. Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, "Harry Potter"Enough sugar can make even the calmest person jitter out of control but candy that actually jumps out of its wrapper is something new. Every Flavor Beans don't make a lot of sense since the first rule of candy is that it shouldn't taste like anything that occurs in nature (blue raspberry, anyone?) but magical candy is nonetheless appropriate for Halloween.2 & 3 (tie). Red licorice, "Wayne's World"; brown M&Ms, "Wayne's World 2"Everyone who saw "Wayne's World" dreamed that someday they would have their very own Mirth Mobile, complete with ceiling-mounted red licorice dispenser. In the sequel, Del Preston reminisces about macing a Bengal tiger and beating a candy shop owner and his son to death with their own shoes all in the name of getting Ozzy Osbourne a brandy glass full of M&Ms.1. Everything in "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory"From the chocolate river to the Scrumdiddilyump-tious bars to the Everlasting Gobstoppers to the candy teacup (my personal favorite), Willy Wonka's factory is a sweet tooth's paradise. And the upcoming remake with everyone's favorite Keith Richards impersonator, Johnny Depp, should only make this story sweeter.

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News

Captured | CAPTURED | Sheer disregard for the ethics of sports viewing

October 27

Ben Hagopian, '05, took this photo during the Red Sox-Yankees series last week. Pictured in the photo is Hagopian's suitemate Noah Trugman, '05 and Julia Goldberg, '07. In response to this picture, which friends call disgraceful, Trugman replied, "Go Red Sox! P.S., I don't watch Sex and the City." "Captured" is the The Tufts Daily's weekly photo column, open to any University student. Please send your artistic and creative pictures to weeklyphoto@tuftsdaily.com

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News

How to be a good neighbor

October 27

One of the most valuable lessons students learn and are given the opportunity to act upon at Tufts is the importance of giving back to the community.

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News

Day of the Dead hits Boston, galleries join the festivities

October 27

At first glance, it looks like nothing more than an ethnic spin on Halloween. Colorful skeletons, grinning from ear to ear, dance through the streets as homemade sugar skulls take the place of candy corn. But this festival, with roots dating back to the ancient Aztecs and their compatriots, is far more than the Mexican version of an Americanized holiday. El Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a lively, colorful festival that takes place each year on Nov. 1 and 2 in order to celebrate loved ones who have passed on. This month, two different Boston-based galleries will join in the festivities. The Cambridge Multicultural Arts Center (CMAC) and the Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology are both creating their own celebrations that will allow visitors to take part in the traditional Mexican holiday, both featuring art exhibits and artistic performances that will take place throughout the weekend. Though it appears to be outwardly similar to Halloween, "El Dia de los Muertos" has very different roots. Unlike All Hallow's Eve, which can trace its beginnings to the Celtic fire festival of Samhain, the original Day of the Dead celebrations come from ancient civilizations in Central and South America. The Cambridge Multicultural Art Center pays homage to the holiday's ancient ties with its exhibit of "Dia de los Muertos" altars, which feature various ofrendas (offerings to the dead). Traditionally, the ofrendas consist of the dead's favorite food as well as their personal possessions. The display is running in the lower gallery through Nov. 4. The specific altars featured here are decorated with colorful paper cutouts, called papel picado, and lined with sugar skulls intended to honor the dead. Candles and incense set the mood, as brightly colored statues and skeletons grin jovially at visitors from their place on the upper shelves. Tomorrow, visitors to the Multicultural Arts Center can also take part in traditional "Dia de los Muertos" celebrations. Starting at 5 p.m., the evening will include dances, songs, and a lecture on the customs surrounding the holiday, given by University of Massachusetts Boston Professor Martha Montero-Sieburth. The activities taking place throughout the night will include a serenading Mexican mariachi band, Mexican singer Veronica Robles, and a routine put on by the Xuchipilli Danza y Cultura de Mexico troupe, all of which are intended to familiarize visitors with traditional Mexican performances. Children and adults alike can take part in the celebration by creating and decorating their own sugar skulls; the Boston Children's Museum will also be hosting a table where visitors can create Mexican arts and crafts. Traditional food and beverages will also be on sale for an additional fee. On Nov. 1, Harvard's Peabody Museum will also join in the festivities. For the past three years, the Peabody Museum has hosted a "Dia de los Muertos" celebration on Nov. 2, organized in conjunction with the Mexican Consulate of Boston. The Peabody's collection will feature an altar built for the event, as well as traditional objects culled from its own Mexican folk art collection, along with panels designed by local artists that address their personal interpretations of the holiday. The celebration opens that evening with a traditional mohiganga, or masquerade, performed by a bilingual performance troupe from Mexico City in the museum's Geological Lecture Hall. Dance, mimicry, poetry, and live music will all take place throughout the evening, and guests will be invited to partake in traditional "Dia de los Muertos" foods and beverages. In the Aztec culture, Day of the Dead festivities were held near the end of summer to honor children and past ancestors. Communities throughout Central America, including the indigenous Purepecha, Nahua, and Totonac peoples of Mexico, held similar celebrations to allow the souls of loved ones to return to the land of the living in order to eat, drink and be merry one last time. After the Spanish conquistadores came to the Americas, the holiday was nominally Christianized. It was moved to the beginning of November to coincide with the dual celebrations of All Souls Day and All Saints Day (Christian trappings that had been placed centuries earlier over the pagan Halloween), and many of the festivities were restricted or toned down. Still the holiday managed to survive. Today, it is immensely popular in Mexico and Central America, and it remains imminently intertwined with folk art and folk customs in the communities in which it is celebrated. Though the similarities to Halloween are striking, "El Dia de los Muertos" presents a very different take on the celebration and honoring of the deceased. The artwork and festivities associated with the holiday are deeply rooted in tradition, but both the CMAC and the Peabody Museum have gone to great lengths to make sure that even those unfamiliar with the holiday can take part in its events. Whether this is your first Day of the Dead or your hundredth, whether it takes the place of a traditional Halloween or not, both exhibits give visitors the chance to experience a holiday that may very well be worth dying for.

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