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Tim Whelan | Some Kind of Wonderful

October 19

"I think Johnny Damon is throwing the series." It was with these words that I could officially confirm that the Red Sox had not only taken so many precious hours from my father's life, but they had also claimed his sanity. Before I could remind him that Johnny Damon can't throw anything, let alone a franchise hinging duel between two rivals, he was back to lugging his fandom baggage into his assessment of Boston's chances as they were still standing in the top of the 12th in Game Five versus the Team that George Built. "I just wish the Yankees would hit a home run and end it." Oh, the things that come out of the mouths of jilted Red Sox fans. Now, my dad is not a glass is half-empty kind of guy in most situations. It's just that every time he has had a half-full glass concerning the Sox, he, like so many others, has eventually had to taste defeat from straight out of said glass. So I hope his home run wish can just be chalked up to a "Red Sox fatigue," something I myself have a bad case of at the moment. The apple of bitterness doesn't fall far from the tree, I gotta tell ya. Early Sunday night I had this whole column ready to rock. I wanted to pull open the curtain and reveal the Sox' true identity. Heck, they had already taken care of that themselves. Game three ended with Fenway half full. No one wanted to stay to watch an execution. Down 3-0, Francona's Flakes deserved whatever mud they had slung at them. We were the idiots for falling in love with the self-proclaimed idiots. But the eulogy would have to wait. And wait. And wait. And, lo and behold, it is still waiting as I write this. Who cares that Pedro again lost a lead after the 100 pitch mark? Or that major leaguers Mark Bellhorn and Damon can't lay down a bunt? Or that Bill Mueller has again been reduced to Mueller Lite in this series? Or that Jason Varitek, who had caught all of two Tim Wakefield innings, came just one past ball short of getting his tires slashed? Even Manny has yet to find his stride in this series. Alas, we've got Big Papi. He is the only man who in the late Monday/early Tuesday hours could be referred to by a very drunk, very hyperbolic Sox nut in Kenmore Square as "Like Jesus." A little much, but "Who's your Papi?" Ortiz, this "GANGSTER" of a ballplayer (thank you Rich Aronson), has made all second guessing and doubting appear to be a waste of our time. No matter what took place last night when "Ankles Away" Curt Schilling toed the rubber at Yankee Stadium, something has been salvaged in the last 48 hours at Fenway Park. And we have Ortiz to thank for that. What's that you say? There are more fist pounds to be given out? Our bullpen was lights out in Games Four and Five after pitching batting practice/turning to mush in game Three? Yes, it's true. Save for one run surrendered by Mike Timlin on Sunday night, the bullpen has thrown 12 and two-thirds innings of scoreless relief. Not even one costly mistake to the Matsuis and Sheffields of the world. Often overworked and underappreciated like offensive linemen, the Sons of Leskanic made clutch pitch after clutch pitch to justify the seemingly unrealistic hopes of the faithful fans. (Side note on the fans: Fox is really getting a kick out of showing the rest of the country how miserable we are. It's like the game is just getting in the way of their anguished crowd shots. The pictures certainly do show us in all our "No Thunderstix or Homer Hanky" glory, but I don't need to see everybody in the park biting their nails, OK?) Ooooh, and the bench. Can't forget these lesser appreciated idiots. Doug Krzyzewski...err, Roethlisberger ... err, Mientkiewicz came up with a huge double that should have made him the winning run if not for a few execution failures. And Dave Roberts, the eventual tying run for the second night in a row. My God, how badly was he messing with Tom Gordon's head while on first in the eighth, not to mention his "everyone knows he's going" swipe of second in Game four off Mariano Rivera? He could take a lead halfway to second base (which he basically was in both cases) and I would still have faith he would get back. Theo knows what he's doing. In a couple of games littered with brain farts (We love ya Papi, but stealing as the winning run?) and some poor umpire calls (Wait, Ortiz was safe !!!) we yet again were being coaxed into believing the time is now for our Cardiac Kids. I keep telling myself that whatever happens in Game Six, I will accept it as gravy. My father told me the same yesterday. "I was just a little frustrated last night," he uttered. You think? Man, you could be the healthiest guy around, staying away from red meat and cigarettes your whole life, but this team alone could toy with your heart in a way medical professionals wouldn't be able to comprehend. Even in two victories, our team has not been in the business of easing hearts. Here's to continuing the Red Sox fatigue while hopefully easing a few (million) hearts.Edits: bh dp, jt

The Setonian
News

Pizza and booze at Espresso

October 19

Customers of Espresso Pizza, Boston Ave.'s late-night fast food mainstay, may have noticed the framed liquor license on the wall behind the cash register. The license has sat unused for two years, but by January the establishment will be serving beer along with its pizza. "We plan on serving alcohol sometime near the first of the year," Espresso owner Anthony Salvato said. The license allows the restaurant to serve beer and wine, but not hard liquors. The restaurant is frequented by locals as well as Tufts students, and Salvato hopes that the addition of liquor will be a way the menu can branch out to serve customers. "We serve families and a big community and if [Tufts students] are of age, I hope they will let us be of service," he said. Although Espresso participates in the Merchants on Points System (MOPS), students will not be allowed to purchase alcohol with points. "Points cannot be for delivery of alcohol," Director of Tufts Dining Services Patti Lee Klos said. "The points program is an alternate means to the dining halls on campus. You could not use points for the delivery of alcohol."

The Setonian
News

Study finds fewer students apply for available federal financial aid

October 19

Fewer students across the country are applying and receiving federal financial aid, according to a study by the American Council on Education (ACE) released on Oct. 11. The ACE found that half of the eight million undergraduates in its study did not fully complete the main financial aid application during the 1999-2000 school year. And not every student who skipped the application did so because he did not need aid. Some students found the forms too complex, missed the deadlines, or assumed that the money was for someone else. Students often miss financial aid opportunities because they aren't aware of how the system works, CNN reported last week. "That's how it has been for quite some time," The Education Resources Institute (TERI) President Dr. Tom Parker said. "If [students] go to a high school where there's no culture of going to college, they just don't know. Imagine if there's one guidance counselor for 500 kids." One of the most surprising numbers from the study was that 850,000 students who met the requirements to receive federal Pell Grants didn't even apply. Such a large number left financial aid officers scratching their heads. "The Pell Grant is a need-based scholarship, so the family income has to be quite low," Parker said. It would be expected, then, that low income families would apply for aid. But not everyone believes the ACE study accurately measured the state of federal financial aid applications. "The financial aid community is a little suspicious of the article [on the study]," said Patricia Reilly, Director of Financial Aid and Co-Manager of Student Financial Services. "How do they know who would have received aid if they didn't apply?" One reason families may not apply is common misunderstandings over who is eligible. "We talked to middle-class parents who said the money's only available if you're really poor, and poor parents said you had to have a perfect SAT score," ACE Center for Policy Analysis Director Jacqueline King said in the CNN article. Parker emphasized the need to make information available to families. "We should encourage external non-profit organizations to set up facilities to have information available, not just to high school age kids but to adults as well," he said. "You have to start in fifth grade," Parker said. "Some of these kids and families believe they aren't college material, so they don't go through the process towards it." Tufts students are not immune from this cloud of ignorance about financial aid. When asked if he received federal financial aid, sophomore Jake Becker said, "Maybe I am. I don't know, though." Around 3,000 Tufts undergraduates applied for financial aid last year and 2,500 students receive aid of some kind. "Five hundred were offered unsubsidized Stafford Loans and chose not to take them," Reilly said. Contrary to the trends measured by the ACE, federal financial aid at Tufts increased this year, though only nominally. "The only fund where we got more money [from the government] was work-study," Reilly said. "All other funds were even." Reilly said that Tufts officials ensure that low-income students get their forms filled out and provide help when necessary. Students agree that the process is manageable. "I have federal Stafford Loans and federal work-study," sophomore Hanna Kolberg said. "There were some deadlines, but I don't remember them being that burdensome." Kolberg said that completing forms is not a difficult task when they are necessary. "I am very dependent on financial aid," Kolberg said. "Without it, college would be a no-no." "A lot of kids' parents cut checks so why do they care," Kolberg said. "But when you have to write the check it means a little more." Tufts receives campus-based federal aid through three different channels. The U.S. government gives universities a certain amount of money, to be distributed to deserving students. The universities act as middle-men. Another type of federal aid is entitlement, including the Stafford Student Loan program and the Pell Grant, where "the government decides [who receives aid] based on their formula," according to Reilly. Professionals specializing in financial aid disagree over how aid applications should be designed. "Some people feel they're too complicated and want to make them simple so more families can apply," Reilly said. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms are four pages long, with additional worksheets. Other specialists push for longer applications requesting more information so that governmental and university financial aid offices can make better decisions on who deserves aid. "There's been discussion of simplification since the 1970s. We will always be tinkering with it," Parker said. "One of the things that frustrates financial aid officers is that they do get fooled. They've become pretty good sleuths." Tufts students fill both the FAFSA and a form called the CSS Profile. "We feel there's more information that we need," Reilly said. "We use [the CSS Profile] as do many universities for institutional aid." Parker said there is a growing controversy around the difference between need-based and merit-based aid. "States out West are getting into state-based merit scholarships," he said. "That battle between merit and need-based aid is a prominent feature on the financial aid landscape."

The Setonian
News

Inside the NLCS: Astros storm back to take series lead while St. Louis teeters on edge of elimination

October 19

Move over New York Yankees, there's a new Daddy in town. No, we don't mean "Big Papi," David Ortiz of the Boston Red Sox. We're talking about Carlos Beltran of the Houston Astros. Virtually overnight, the Houston center fielder has morphed into Barry Bonds. He has connected for eight home runs in ten postseason games, including in each of the first four games of the National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals. His outburst ties the record for homers in a single postseason with - you guessed it - BALCO Barry. Scary thing is, Beltran still has at least two more games to claim top spot. At least five more games if his 'Stros reach the World Series. Many predicted that the Cardinals would dispatch of the Astros and make their first World Series appearance since 1987. Instead, the Cards are staring down the barrel of an awfully confident Houston team which holds a 3-2 edge in the best-of-seven series, which resumes today in St. Louis. The NLCS has been a wild ride to this point. We've seen broken bones, great pitching in Game Five, bad pitching in most other games, and enough homers to resemble the All-Star Home Run Derby. In the five games played thus far, the two clubs have combined to hit 19 longballs and score 48 runs. Neither team has lost at home - St. Louis won the opening two games in dramatic slugfests, while Houston took Games Three, Four and Five by teeing off in the fishbowl of Minute Maid Park. So much for great pitching winning ballgames. Here's an overview of what we've seen so far (or, if you've been tuned into Fox's five-hour N.Y.-Boston epics, what you've missed): Games One and Two: The Cardinal lineup - which can go yard on demand - came out hacking in St. Louis. The Redbirds lit up Houston starters Brandon Backe and Pete Munro, as well as the Astro bullpen, for 16 runs in the two contests. Scott Rolen, comatose all NLDS against Los Angeles, awoke in style with two homers in Game Two, as the Cardinals showed the depth of their lineup. Cardinal pitching wasn't exactly white hot either; it was barely even lukewarm. Houston scored 11 runs of its own in the two games, which had final scores of 10-7 and 6-4 ... serious pitching duels. These are the types of ballgames St. Louis expects to win. It out-slugged the opposition with solid but less than stellar pitching all season. This didn't change in Games One and Two. Game Three: The Astros, who out-homered St. Louis 6-5 in the first two games but had nothing to show for it, got some sweet revenge back home in Houston. The ageless Roger Clemens showed yet again why - in the twilight of his career at 42 - he remains a great pitcher. The Rocket (7 IP, 4 H, 2 R) struck out seven Cardinals in a 5-2 Astro win. Jeff "Long Ball" Suppan (6 IP, 5 H, 3 R) wasn't terrible for St. Louis, but he did allow Beltran's third homer in three games. Game Four: Beltran continued where he left off, belting the eventual game-winner in the seventh inning off Cardinal reliever Julian Tavarez in the 6-5 Houston triumph. The blast, his fourth of the NLCS, knotted the series at 2-2. After the inning, Tavarez did his best Kevin Brown impersonation, scuffling with the dugout telephone and breaking three bones in his non-pitching hand. Game Five: The best game nobody watched. Thanks to another homework-killing extra-innings Red Sox-Yankees battle on Monday, everyone missed another one of the most brilliant postseason games in recent history. Backe and Woody Williams faced off in a Game One rematch. In his 12th big league start, Backe carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, while Williams worked his own one-hitter. The game remained scoreless into the bottom of the ninth before Jeff Kent sent Houston home happy with a one out, three-run walkoff homer off Cards closer Jason Isringhausen. It was just the fourth hit of the game: Backe and Astro closer Brad Lidge combined on a one-hitter, while the Cardinals surrendered just three knocks. Barry Bonds Jr. failed to homer in a fifth straight NLCS game, but made the web gem of the game, a fully extended dive to rob Edgar Renteria of extra bases and preserve what was by then a one-hitter for Backe. What now? (Houston leads, 3-2): St. Louis faces an uphill battle, even with the series returning home to Busch Stadium this afternoon. Houston is rolling, and the Cardinals offense sputtered on Monday night. Astros manager Phil Garner has given the Game Six starting nod to Pete Munro ahead of Clemens. The Redbirds will counter with Jeff Suppan. Should Munro fail to get it done as he did in Game Two, Clemens will likely take the ball in the decisive Game Seven. Tavarez is in a custom-made splint and could pitch again in the series, but the injury may still affect his ability to concentrate on the game. If the series goes to seven games and Clemens pitches, the Astros will win and reach the first World Series in the franchise's 43-year history. He's proven time and again that he can deliver the goods when it counts. The Cardinals bats can come alive at any moment, but with hometown hero The Rocket on the mound, Houston has to like its chances.

The Setonian
News

Community Relations II

October 19

The creation of a community relations council by the Tufts Community Union Senate and the lack of students on financial aid prove one thing: Tufts students are out of touch with the real world. There may not seem to be much of a correlation between financial aid and community relations, but it does exist. Students who take on some, or all, of the financial burden to pay for college have more of a sense of responsibility. Coming out of college in debt changes the attitude of students, because they realize they must make the most of their education. Once they graduate, the party's over. Only 3,000 students applied for financial aid and 2,500 received some financial aid -- even fewer qualify for Federal Pell Grants or have a heavy loan burden. This shows that nearly half of Tufts students can pay tuition. As it's highly doubtful that many 20-year olds can afford a $40,000 tuition bill on their own, most of these students' parents are footing the bill. Students whose parents pay for their entire education are able to be more carefree; they don't have to worry about paying back loans six months after graduation. This doesn't mean that all students who come from well-off families are irresponsible and rude. But, they do have the ability to be more detached from the world of promissory notes and the interest rates upon graduation. Somerville and Medford residents have grown to resent students. We're noisy, uncontrollable at times and don't show proper respect to our neighbors. Just because about half of the campus does not have to pay any part of tuition, it does not give students license to act like they are at a four-year summer camp. This could facilitate the sort of behavior disgruntled Medford and Somerville residents complain of -- loud parties, garbage, urination in neighbors' lawns by partygoers, unkempt houses, and students that don't fit into the working class makeup of the neighborhood. The Daily has previously argued that students make up an important part of the Medford and Somerville communities -- that local residents should be more accepting of students' behaviors and local police should be more respectful of Tufts students. But, Tufts students can do their part and be more respectful to our neighbors, particularly on weeknights. The TCU Community Relations Council is yet another step in the right direction for the University and Medford/Somerville. This committee needs to be more than just a group of people in a meeting room. The progress, or lack thereof, of the committee must be communicated effectively with the Tufts, Medford and Somerville communities. It would also be wise for Tufts students to realize that not everyone can easily afford a private university's tuition. Students need to become more aware of the sacrifices others take to attend this University. This shift in attitude is the first step in smoothing community relations, because students would hopefully be more sensitive to the working families that surround us. Neither the students nor local residents are completely right; both sides need to compromise. Real changes need to happen so that life in the Tufts area can go more smoothly.

The Setonian
News

The Ramones do jazzercise?

October 19

In an era when mainstream punk has become poppy and characterized by the music and style of such bands as Sum 41, Good Charlotte and Avril Lavigne, it would make sense that something called "Punk Rock Aerobics" would be equally oxymoronic. After all, does anyone really think that Joey Ramone participated in any physical activity beyond petty vandalism and general shenanigans? But what is punk if not contrary to expectation? Bottled-water guzzling, state-of the-art NASA-inspired Nike spandex sporting gym bunnies aren't the only ones who need to stay in shape. Enter Punk Rock Aerobics, a rigorous, irreverent, truly alternative workout designed to simultaneously kick and slim your ass to the tune of punk bands such as the Ramones, the Sex Pistols, the Buzzcocks and more. Held Saturday afternoons in the downstairs of The Middle East in Cambridge, the dimly lit underground venue is nothing like a traditional aerobics class. Before class last Saturday, Hilken Mancini, one of the co-creators of Punk Rock Aerobics, addressed the issue of whether aerobics could be "punk" as she lounged on a bar stool, waiting for the downstairs to be purged of day-old cups, spilled beer, and general rubbish from Friday's festivities. "Punk rock is looking at the status quo and saying 'yuck,'" Mancini observed. Creators Maura Jasper, 39, and Mancini, 34, turned what was initially an idle joke into 70 solid minutes of strenuous lunging, hopping, skanking, kicking, and yes, even air guitar-ing. There's weight training too - the free weights are bricks. The cardio is comprised of "pogoing," when everyone is free to develop their own moves - there might even be some random Teletubby stuffed toys thrown about for kicks. Though Mancini studied dance at the Boston Conservatory, she had never attended an aerobics class prior to starting up Punk Rock, and Jasper had had no history of aerobics or dance classes at all. But both had ample experience in the music scene. Mancini is formerly of the band Fuzzy and currently with The Count Me Outs, and Jasper is a graphic artist and punk rock aficionado. Since January 2001, this punk pipe dream has since grown into weekly classes with guest DJs, gigs in New York and London, a book, and soon, a DVD. Despite this commercialization, the classes are still informal. The participants feel such a sense of community that in the past, they have had drinks together following the class. Corrie Morreau, 32, is a regular at Punk Rock Aerobics. Moreau has participated in other aerobics classes before, but she feels that this one is different. "Lots of other places, it's about how well you do it, or how good you look doing it," Moreau said. But the instructors still look good. Jasper dresses in a short skirt over spandex shorts and a striped orange and white shirt that proclaims "I'm bananas," bounding about with the energy of a 10-year-old despite a recent back injury. Mancini, who is often similarly attired, sports bright red lipstick and knee-high socks as she gives commands and demonstrates techniques. The two work in tandem, shouting simultaneously with near-perfect coordination, a skill that comes with four years of experience. Vicky Salipande, a regular who attended the first public Punk Rock Aerobics class, remembers when it was all new. "It's gotten a lot tighter," Salipande remarked. "It's cool to see how it's evolved." Jasper laughingly admitted that she hadn't really exercised before the conception of Punk Rock Aerobics. Even now, she won't work out at the gym if she's forgotten her music. "We do what we have to do to [exercise] in order to come here and do this," Jasper noted. "We had no idea how to teach an aerobics class," Mancini recalled. "We did have to get certified; we did have to study, and we did have to pass." Returning from a three-month hiatus, Mancini and Jasper are eager to start again. The two don't have their plans for the future set in stone. As Mancini jokingly remarked while handing out Kit-Kats and York Peppermint Patties to reward the tired exercisers at the end of the class, "We didn't even know we'd be doing it this long." Punk Rock Aerobics will be around for awhile, as Mancini said when she introduced herself as the "co-creator of Punk Rock Aerobics, LLC."

The Setonian
News

In Our Midst | Guergana Petkova

October 19

Junior Guergana Petkova has been learning about international relations since the moment she was born. Growing up in Bulgaria, Petkova was accustomed to a biased wealth disparity. While there were a few rich citizens, "everybody else is poor," she said. At the age of 12, Petkova left Bulgaria, relocating to Chicago and then to Florida. In contrast to what she expected, Petkova's first year in the United States was very difficult. Besides having to adjust to the different culture and relative wealth distribution of her new home, Petkova needed to become accustomed to the language. Petkova embarked on a journey through middle school knowing very little English (her younger brother knew three words in English before coming to the United States, "cat, dog, and hello"). Soon, though, Petkova started to "pick up the language and have fun with it." Further complicating matters, Petkova's middle school required that she learn Spanish in seventh grade, just a year after she started school in her first foreign language. Petkova found that learning Spanish in English was not as hard as she expected. Her teacher, who knew eight languages, was a "hero" for her. Modeling herself after her teacher, Petkova aspires to know five languages before she is 25. Nonetheless, the language barrier was not the only obstacle Petkova encountered in her move. Petkova's image of America before coming over was of a "mecca," where every one of her dreams would come true. She found, however, that the journey left her disconnected with one of the most important aspects of her life - her extended family back in Bulgaria. While contact with her Bulgarian relatives continued once a week, "[the relationships] just changed," Petkova said. She recalls seeing a picture of two adolescents without realizing that they were her younger cousins, who she had last seen as toddlers. Petkova did not return to Bulgaria until last winter break, when her family traveled back to the country that had previously been their home. Since Petkova's father spends about a month in Bulgaria every year, the trip was nothing new to him. But for Petkova, it was strange to reconnect - and to see how different life is for her relatives than it is for her in the United States. Petkova described a vivid example: while eating dinner one night, Petkova noticed that her grandparents' refrigerator was the size of her microfridge at Tufts. Petkova believes Tufts to be "very politically aware." In comparing the United States and Bulgaria, Petkova said that although Bulgarians know much more "factual information," Americans seem to have much stronger opinions. Last summer, Petkova took part in an internship through the EPIIC program, working with James Nachtwey, a photographer for TIME magazine. Petkova credits her experiences in New York City with releasing her from the "tunnel vision" she felt she had suffered from since before she even came to Tufts. Petkova realized that she had been so focused on her international relations major that she never thought of a career outside of the field. Now, Petkova is excited at the prospect of bringing photojournalism into her international concentration. She is also considering a concentration in Spanish, and would like to pick up Italian as her fourth language. Petkova continues to look towards the future, as she is currently in the midst of applying for internships for the summer following this academic year. Though her career plans are not definite yet, "I'm okay with not knowing what I want to do," Petkova said. In addition to studying international relations at Tufts, Petkova has also become involved in many extracurricular activities that have shaped her interests. Petkova says she is interested in "anything with the word 'international' attached," hence her strong involvement in the EPIIC program. Besides her international interests, Petkova has also participated in the Tufts Dance Collective since her first semester, and has hosted prospective students. She was also a part of the Tufts Special Friends program, which is similar to the national Big Brother/Big Sister program. (In fact, Petkova said, none of the children were able to pronounce her name, so instead they called her "Special Friend.") Petkova, however, is also a person conflicted. When asked where home is, she said, "I don't really know." She feels that she is equally Bulgarian and American, and to make a choice is too difficult.

The Setonian
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Wind, coal power square off in demo

October 19

The epic struggle over energy was played out in a fierce fistfight between a smokestack and a modern windmill in front of surprised diners yesterday at DeWick-MacPhie and Carmicheal Dining Halls. The windmill won. Environmental Consciousness Outreach (ECO) staged the demonstration in support of both local and nationwide initiatives to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. "We hope to educate the Tufts student body about the need for clean energy," sophomore Eric Misbach said. Two ECO members, freshman Jimmy Hughes and freshman Adam Joyce, dressed up as a smokestack and wind turbine respectively. ECO members also hope to gather support for a Tufts Institute on the Environment (TIE) proposal that, for a $20 charge applied to each student's bursar bill, would allow Tufts to buy enough clean energy to power the campus. TIE hopes to have a student vote on this initiative by the end of the year. The demonstration was Tufts' contribution to the National Coalition on Energy Action's "Day of Action" plan, undertaken by 300 schools across the country. Energy Action is a group of students nationwide working to raise the profile of global warming and the need for the transition to renewable and sustainable energies. The organization drafted a "Declaration of Independence from Dirty Energy," a nationwide petition that demands more action from the government on renewable energy and climate change issues. Following the demonstration, ECO members solicited petition signatures from viewers. The demonstration also served as a kickoff for the Tufts Climate Initiative's "Do it in the Dark" event, in which dorms compete to see which can use the least energy during the upcoming month. Students' reactions ranged from supportive to skeptical. "It was the most unique way I've seen someone present a cause," said sophomore Michael Stone. But why the gladiator-inspired celebrity death match? "It was just a fun idea that came to mind," Misbach said. The actors took up their roles with relish. Hughes said his role as the smokestack was energy-intense. "It was hot and dirty," he said. "Coal burns, man." Joyce, the victorious windmill, offered hope for renewable energy and had no such qualms. "It was a breeze," he said.

The Setonian
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Tufts Community Relations Council will be formed soon, says TCU Senate

October 19

After recent tiffs over building permits and noisy parties strained town-gown relations, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is taking action to promote harmony between the University and its host communities. The Senate is working to create a Tufts Community Relations Council, which will gather representatives from Tufts and its surrounding communities in an attempt to head off tensions before they become troublesome. TCU President Dave Baumwoll developed the idea last summer. "Every year there seems to be a chronic struggle between Tufts and the communities, Medford and Somerville, in which we reside." Baumwoll said. "The Tufts Community Relations Council [is] a way to pro-actively, rather than reactively, address the issues we have with community relations at Tufts." Baumwoll said that relations last year were particularly tense due to questions over the jurisdiction of Somerville Police, noise complaints during events like Spring Fling, the proposed construction of the new dorm, and problems with Greek houses holding parties. "These issues just scratch the surface as to the issues with Community Relations," Baumwoll said. Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel agreed. "Last spring, we saw particular strains in a few areas and neighbors became very sensitized to students living there," she said. "We had started a dialogue with those neighbors and students, and would like to keep that going in some way." The new Community Relations Council will be comprised of approximately 13 standing members, including one elected official, one police officer, and one citizen from each town. The Council will also welcome the presidents of local Parent Teacher Associations, three Tufts students, three Tufts administrators and one representative from Tufts Public Safety. Officer Carrabino from the Somerville Police Department (SPD) spoke to the Senate on Sunday about the increased presence of SPD on and around campus, offering a model for the kind of dialogue to take place through the Council. Baumwoll said the meeting helped break down many of the barriers between Tufts students and the SPD. "We were able to engage in a conversation that allowed our opinions to be heard. It also helped us understand where he was coming from," Baumwoll said. "I felt as though this positive interaction needed to be brought to a larger scale." Once operational, the committee is intended to be a forum to hear student and community members' concerns and initiatives. It would provide a venue for initiatives such as Project REPEAL, an effort of the Tufts American Civil Liberties Union and Association of Latin American Students to work towards the repeal of Somerville's recently enacted Anti-Gang Ordinance. According to Rubel, town-gown relations can be problematic because students are transient, unlike other town residents. "You can begin to see some of the challenges here when you realize that the neighbors pretty much stay the same from year to year, but each fall brings a new group of students. Every academic year, with new students moving off-campus, the composition of the community changes somewhat" Rubel said. "It is my goal that this committee have an influential position in both Tufts and the local municipalities so that we can use it as a tool by which compromise and satisfy all involved parties," Baumwoll said. "We need to dispel the 'us' versus 'them' attitude that exists between Tufts and the surrounding communities," he said. Baumwoll said he hopes the council will begin meeting by next spring semester.

The Setonian
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Women's Crew: Varsity crews see mixed results at N.H. weekend races

October 19

Despite the lead Tufts boat not rowing its most polished race, the women's crew managed to row to a respectable finish and prepare for this week's Charles Regatta. While the Tufts Varsity B boat had a strong finish at the New Hampshire Championships on Saturday, the Varsity A boat struggled throughout the race, which was held on the Merrimack River in Pembroke, N.H.. Although the Varsity A boat had trouble staying together through a turbulent race, it still managed to finish in 8th place out of 25 teams in a time of 16:33.49. The boat came in right behind four of its biggest competitors: Colby, Bates, WPI, and Holy Cross. "The race itself was really frantic; it just didn't leave anyone very happy at the end," junior Daniella Fairchild said. "If you look at the place we came in though, it was pretty good because we didn't really row well, but we were still able to beat some boats that are our big competitors." The Varsity B boat finished in 17:22.63, less then a minute behind the Varsity A boat, and came in 19th. In the novice race, the women's boat also had a strong race, coming in 14th out of 17 boats with a time of 20:26.91. While the Varsity A boat was disappointed in the outcome of their Saturday race, the Varsity B boat's ability to focus led them to a challenging but successful row. "It was a good race and we worked well together," senior Abby Schlessinger said. "The start was pretty chaotic, but we came together and focused and we did have a good row." The Varsity A and B boats faced certain challenges coming into the race which may have made the race a more chaotic one. The boat's new lineup, or order of rowers in the boat, and the weather conditions may have affected the outcome of the race. The inconsistency in seating often makes it difficult for rowers to row together as a boat, rather than as individual rowers. "We hadn't rowed in that lineup until the day before because we have a couple of girls hurt and he [coach Gary Caldwell] didn't really know who he wanted to put in what seat," Fairchild said. "We also hadn't done a lot of pieces in the boat or at a high rating. "We had a little wind which is not what we're used to because our water is pretty calm. There was a tailwind for the first two miles and that turned into a headwind, which is pretty hard to maneuver." For both boats, a frantic start made it difficult to settle (decrease the stroke rate and concentrate on power) for the remainder of the race. While the Varsity B boat was able to focus, the Varsity A boat had greater difficulty working together. "There was so much chaos launching at the docks that we didn't stay in order. It was hard to tell how we did [against other boats], so it was really just a race against the clock and against ourselves," Schlessinger said. The A boat also struggled throughout the race to "walk through," or pass, some of its biggest competitors. "We had Colby working us for the whole race, and we had two boats right ahead of us for the first mile or so," Fairchild said. "We passed one boat pretty early, but it took us a while to walk through them. Then we worked on walking through Colby for the rest of the race. Colby had a really good row compared to our bad row, so it is good that we were able to hold them off for a while." Although the team certainly had a less-than-perfect race at the New Hampshire Championships, they are confident that the Head of the Charles, which takes place this weekend, will be a much more fruitful race. Last year, the Head of Charles was a very successful race for the Tufts women's crew. The Varsity A boat finished 15th out of 48 teams with a time of 17:49.20 and the Varsity B boat came in 35th out of 42 boats, finishing with a time of 19:08.97. "The Head of the Charles is always a really fun race and we always get really excited. It is our last chance to show how far we have come," Schlessinger said. "I think we are all just ready to lay it out there. I think our coxswains are very well prepared, and I have confidence that they will be able to steer good courses."

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A less safe America

October 18

President Bush saying that America is safer under his command islike Sudan claiming that it is a champion of human rights. Thiscountry, and the world, is significantly less safe due to actionstaken by our President, yet many Americans are either too stupid ortoo ignorant to realize this.

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And they like to sing along: Death Cab enters the limelight

October 18

Fan loyalty will be tested tonight as Death Cab for Cutie takesthe stage at Avalon. Over the past year, the four members of DeathCab have enjoyed an indie rockstar lifestyle as a result of theaccessible and emotional rock of their "Transaltantism" and leadsinger Ben Gibbard's popular collaboration with Jimmy Tamborello asThe Postal Service.

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The second Civil War is coming

October 18

As soon as I cast my ballot for George W. on Nov. 2, I'm headingfor the nearest quiet cave I can find to wait out the coming civilwar. This war, "CW2" as I'll call it, has been building steam fortwenty years, and the Reds and Blues aren't going to wait muchlonger.

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Dealing with a Professor parent: fun or folly?

October 18

At Tufts University, the financial benefits available toprofessors with kids enrolled in the University are alluring:children of full-time professors receive free tuition - providedthat they are admitted to Tufts through the normal admissionsprocess.

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America, sicker at home

October 18

Slightly less than two weeks ago, we found out that nearly halfof America's supply of flu vaccine would be unavailable because ofsafety and contamination concerns at the British factory where theywere produced.

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