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Spring blood drives suffer from low turnout

April 25

Last week's three-day blood drive suffered from a low turnout due to the timing of the drive and a large number of females who were anemic and unable to donate. Still, coordinators were satisfied with the results. "Given the fact that it's the end of the semester and everyone is quite busy, we did pretty much the way we expected to," Dan Keesing, co-coordinator of the blood drive, said. Coordinators of the drive and the Red Cross hoped to recruit at least 195 donors. While 178 people came to donate, only 116 qualified to actually give blood. These numbers matched the February drive, where 128 units of blood were collected from 189 potential donors. One person represents one unit of blood. In the fall drive, 160 units of blood were collected from 211 potential donors, a significantly larger number. Allison Patrick, blood drive co-coordinator, said the low turnout was not unexpected. "April is always our slowest blood drive just because it is a very stressful time of the year," she said. The blood drive began the day after the Boston Marathon, "so it was a bad blood drive day in general." The anemic females also contributed to the low turnout. Debbie Driskell of the American Red Cross said that a number of extraneous factors contribute to the success of blood drives. "Students who travel and those who have been in Europe and have been there for three months are deferred from giving blood for the possibility of contracting mad cow disease," Driskell said. February's blood drive suffered because of cold weather and student illness. "It was so cold in there [Carmichael] that people's blood wasn't flowing very fast. Many people came, but we didn't get enough units of blood -- that wasn't necessarily the campus' fault," Patrick said. Some donators feel that a major influence with blood drives outcomes is the advertising and scheduling of the blood drive "I'm a big guy, I got plenty of blood," junior and blood donor Brian Kessler said. "Most people that can give blood will. You just have to make sure they know." Blood drive coordinators try different tactics each time to recruit donors. For the April drive, the hours of the drive were especially varied. Tuesday donors were able to give blood from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and on Thursday the donation station was open until 7 p.m. Red Cross workers also pasted flyers around campus, and donors were able to sign up on www.tuftslife.com. Sophomore Becky Swartz said that low turnout could have been due to the time of year. "This past blood drive appeared to be scheduled just as final papers and tests were approaching," she said. Swartz did donate blood. Despite the low turnout at last week's blood drive, Driskell said that present blood supply at the Boston blood bank is in good standing. The blood bank is only in short supply of one blood type: O, the universal donor. Tufts blood drives are run through the American Red Cross. Blood collected goes towards the Boston blood bank. It wasn't a bad drive, we did the best we could given the circumstances," Keesing said. In the future we might make an effort to inform people in how to improve iron percentage.

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News

The Restaurant' flounders as an eatery, TV show

April 25

The opening season of "The Restaurant" was like a meal from a Spanish taperia: lots of small savory dishes with no overarching theme to bind them all together. Stomachs are never completely filled, and diners, or viewers, to continue the analogy, usually leave wanting just a little bit more. "The Restaurant" Season Two, is NBC's attempt to satisfy its audience's craving. Picking up where the first volume left off, "The Restaurant" centers on celebrity chef Rocco DiSpirito's newest restaurant "Rocco's on 22nd." Now six months after the calamitous opening, "Rocco's" is on the brink of financial disaster -- which of course makes for intriguing and dramatic television. Main investor Geoffrey Chodorow and his cronies at China Grill Management have decided to take action and investigate why their brand-name chef is putting out a generic and bland product. The focus of this season looks at the Task Force and their fights with Rocco over the direction of the latter's namesake restaurant. The revelation that "Rocco's on 22nd" is in danger of being shut down should come to no surprise to loyal viewers of the first incarnation of "The Restaurant." In the previous version, Rocco and his playboy attitude spurred great dissension between the staff and the management. In his blind devotion to create an eatery faithful to his mother's home-style cooking, DiSpirito lost sight of what was necessary for a successful restaurant. Nothing had really changed since this past summer when DiSpirito fashioned himself as something special. His self-focused spin-doctoring illustrated the definition of hubris. Now, instead of wooing fashionistas and New York celebrities on the dining floor, Rocco simply doesn't show at his restaurant, period. He's too busy promoting his new cookbook and miserably failing to be the next Emeril. A few of the players from Act I of "The Restaurant" have returned in their previous roles. Mama DiSpirito is still the "heart" of the business, although her allegiance to her son is bound to become a sticky issue in the future as Chodorow and company investigate "Rocco's." General Manager Laurent still has the "snooty European" smirk plastered on his face, and permanently underappreciated chef Tony remains woefully unacknowledged. "The Restaurant" gets most of its drama from its dissection of the psyche of the West Side's Playboy, Rocco DiSpirito. He has so grossly overestimated his own cache in the restaurant business that everyone besides Mama is hoping that Rocco gets his ass canned and the name changes to "Tony's on 22nd". The show is one train wreck that is an uninhibited joy to watch and enjoy. In "The Restaurant," there are no midgets, nerds, or ugly women to place a strain on your conscience. It may be a guilty pleasure, but at least you won't need a shower to cleanse yourself as you would after indulging in "The Swan" and other reality shows of similar ilk. That being said, "The Restaurant" still falls short of excellence for the same reasons as the previous season. The expansive list of characters is fine, but they rarely interact with each other. Shows like "The Apprentice" and "The Bachelor" are successful because the audience gets to see how these "real" people interrelate amongst themselves. In "The Restaurant," the plot is all about how they deal with Rocco. But no one likes Rocco, save for Mama. So what's the drama if everyone knows what's going to happen anyways? It's highly doubtful that Chodorow will ever have the guts to actually fire the celebrity chef, but even the promise of a rocky path for Rocco will make for enticing programming.

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News

Hidden Treasure of the North End

April 25

Away from the hustle and bustle of Hanover Street in the North End hides Terramia Ristorante. Behind its modest wooden doors, Terramia creates a seductive atmosphere and superb dishes. Upon entering the restaurant you discover why Terramia has been awarded "one of the outstanding reasons to visit New England" by the Yankee Magazine. Make sure to make reservations far in advance. The 40 seats of Terramia fill up faster than its patrons' stomachs. Unfortunately, even with a reservation, there is often still a wait. And due to the restaurant's compactness, customers are forced to sit outside on cold wooden benches until their names are called. With Boston's unpredictable weather, this hardly sounds appealing; but stick it out: the food is well worth the wait. When welcomed in from the cold, customers enter through mahogany doors and flowing beige curtains and are instantaneously hit with a zesty aroma. The intimate restaurant is dimly lit, and the muffled sounds of content diners bounce off the brick walls adorned with oil paintings of European landscapes. Despite its small size, the restaurant is not cramped, and Terramia's tables are spaced comfortably apart. This provides just the right amount of privacy for individual parties. Once seated, the waiter serves bottled water and hearty Italian bread. The thick slices of bread perfectly soak up an interesting mixture of white bean, red pepper, and olive oil spread. It's important not to fill up on bread though -- the best is yet to come. With so many choices, it may be wise to pay attention to the waiter's description of nightly specials as well as his own personal recommendations. For appetizers, the specialty of the house is the Aragosta (market price). Terramia Chef Christopher Busell prepares Maine lobster fritters in a balsamic honey glaze topped with crispy vegetables. Reminiscent of Japanese tempura, the fritters arrive atop a sweet dark brown sauce. Accompanying are colorful carrots and zucchini strips that crunch in your mouth. The salads are also excellent. The Insalata Mista ($7) serves as a more traditional mix of field greens and fresh parmesan cheese topped with white balsamic vinaigrette. For a real treat, however, try the Pera con Gorgonzola ($9). Arugula is topped with grilled crimson red pears, crispy onions and rich gorgonzola cheese then drizzled with Balsamic vinegar. For the main course, the Risotto ($22) is an excellent choice. The creamy rice dish is combined with rock shrimp, asparagus, tarragon and sliced tomatoes to create a white and green fusion that invites itself to be scooped into your mouth. Although slightly peppery, and so rich it's hard to finish, the risotto is a creamy masterpiece. For fish lovers, the catch of the day is fresh and tasty. The black cod is served over a bed of spinach and fresh Cape Cod clams. Topped with a basil and white wine sauce, the fish is so tender that it practically dissolves in your mouth. The Pollo ($24) is also an outstanding choice. The chicken is roasted with chicory and warm pancetta and lies in the middle of a bed of greens, tomatoes and seasoned potatoes. Unlike most of the courses, however, the chicken is a rather small dish. A side or extra appetizer may be a wise accompaniment. The restaurant does not serve dessert or coffee, but Terramia's location is ideal -- if you've got any room leftover, there's no reason not to take a stroll through the North End and head over to Mike's Pastry for a night time cannoli.

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News

Students skeptical of the scalpel

April 25

On its April 7 debut, more people watched FOX's "The Swan" -- in which so-called "ugly ducklings" are surgically transformed into "swans" -- than "The Bachelor" and "The West Wing." The success of plastic surgery-centric shows like "The Swan," ABC's "Extreme Makeover," and MTV's "I Want A Famous Face" is in keeping with the national increase in surgical procedures: according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, 8.7 million cosmetic plastic surgeries were performed in 2003 -- a 32 percent increase from 2002. The amount of college-age individuals undergoing plastic surgery is on the increase as well: people aged 19 to 34 made up 26 percent of 2003's cosmetic surgeries. According to Julie Dobrow, program director of the Communications and Media Studies program, the increased media attention to plastic surgery may have an impact on these numbers. "In general, when something is on TV, it tends to legitimize [the subject] for many viewers," Dobrow said. "It seems logical to assume that the spate of programs on now that show plastic surgery, often in rather graphic ways ... may serve to lessen any stigma associated." The American Society of Plastic Surgeons feels similarly. Their website states, "This past year's growth may be attributed to the attention plastic surgery received from the entertainment industry, which spotlighted plastic surgery and perhaps, created a larger interest from the public." Dr. Kenneth Rose of the Manhattan-based Advanced Cosmetic Surgery office agreed. "These shows do lessen the stigma attached to plastic surgery -- they tell people its ok, that it's not taboo anymore," he said. "But they can also put forth some unrealistic expectations. There is one group of college-aged patients that get plastic surgery for all the wrong reasons. They think surgery will make them more popular, and it doesn't work like that." Even though these shows bring the issue of plastic surgery into popular media and are said to decrease the societal taboo, they may actually have the opposite effect on students. "College students tend not to watch a lot of TV and tend to be a fairly skeptical segment of the viewers," Dobrow said. "My guess here is that these shows would be interpreted more along the lines of, 'Isn't it amazing what people will go through for their 15 minutes of fame?' or 'Hard to believe what networks are doing to get their share of the market.'" "I think it's a bad message to send," sophomore Danielle Emery said. "'If you aren't happy with how you look, come on TV, we'll make you beautiful.' They're just exploiting people's bad self images to make a buck." "It used to be, 'Get makeup and you'll be pretty,'" sophomore Melissa Marver said. "Then, it was, 'Go on a diet.' Now, you have to have surgery to make you look like a supermodel or a movie star before you can be happy with your appearance. I find it all repulsive." Marver's opinion that these shows negatively affect people's self-esteem is supported by the research of senior and sociology major Julia Karol, who is doing her thesis on reality television. "From my research, I can say that there is a very clear physical ideal, and that this ideal contrasts [with] images of unacceptable physical looks," Karol said. "For some programs, the ideal is presented as normal so that anything less than the ideal is abnormal or freakish." Two Tufts students who have had plastic surgery say they have done so only to have something removed, or for minor corrective surgery. "I have been to a plastic surgeon," sophomore Nilanjona Mitra said. "But that was only because I'm allergic to piercing and get keloids [thick scar tissue], so I just got them removed because I wanted to get my ears pierced again." "All my life, I had had a bad habit of biting the inside of my upper lip whenever I was nervous," an anonymous student said. "After a while, a cyst-like thing developed, and once it became clearly noticeable, I had just plastic surgery to slice it off." Not all students, however, feel negatively about plastic surgery. Freshman Gabriela Rocha Oliveira has not seen the latest onslaught of plastic surgery reality TV, but she has a favorable opinion of the practice as her father is a plastic surgeon in Brazil. "I'm from Brazil and plastic surgery is really popular [there]... it's normal," Rocha Oliveira said. "It's like going to the hairdresser." Rocha Oliveira disagrees with plastic surgery's negative connotations. "I think if you have a problem with yourself and you're not happy with or satisfied with it and there's a way to change, I think it's a positive thing," she said. Tufts is not the only school whose have negative impressions of television shows like "The Swan." "I think [these programs are] ruining people's self-confidence," Columbia University sophomore Lisa Heffner said. "People won't be happy with their own looks and bodies because they are being taught that there's something better out there that's attainable through surgery." "I think [these shows] are disgusting," Ohio Wesleyan sophomore Loren Davis agreed. "I don't need to see these things on television." Many students wouldn't want to undergo them, either. "Personally I would not get plastic surgery, because I feel it's more important to accept myself and all my flaws rather than to try and change them by very expensive and most likely painful surgery," sophomore Rhiannon Deierhoi said.

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News

Freeman's Fantasy: Proceed with caution

April 25

Well, the season is definitely underway here in fantasy baseballland, and there is plenty to talk about. Right now, the trade bugshould be hitting most leagues as teams are recognizing where theyhave strengths and where they have weaknesses. I definitelyencourage trading, but my advice for this week: be careful.

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News

Water lab to be completed by next month

April 25

School of Engineering Dean Linda Abriola said she wants to bring back the Engineering Project and Development Center's (EPDC) woodshop by next semester. The the Integrated Multi-Phase Environmental Systems Lab (IMPES), is on its way to completion in the former woodshop location. The IMPES lab -- colloquially known as the water lab -- was part of Abriola's hiring agreement prior to her appointment as the dean of the School of Engineering. The cost of the lab was factored into Abriola's start-up recruitment package. Abriola currently travels between Tufts and her current lab at the University of Michigan every three weeks in order to do her research. The announcement of the woodshop's closure following spring break upset students who had used the woodshop regularly for projects and assignments. But Abriola said that she had been unaware that the former woodshop was used by students outside of classes. Abriola has heard about the petition and news of student support for the woodshop, and said that her plan all along was not to totally "eliminate the woodshop, but to relocate it." Because Abriola thought that the woodshop was primarily used by professors and for classes, she "did not think it would be such a big deal... I didn't announce its closing to them, just to the faculty, as I saw that the woodshop was purely something used for classes." She hopes have it relocated by next fall semester. According to Abriola, students have expressed interest about working with the IMPES lab, which she hopes will be completed by mid-May. "I've had a lot of undergraduates e-mail me, asking if they can work with the lab over the summer, which I definitely plan to do with some of them," she said. The IMPES lab will be used for evaluating water quality by analyzing water samples for hazardous chemical, organic and metal contamination. "It's going to have a very controlled environment, as it's dangerous to work with chemicals," Abriola said. Prior to the conceptualization of the water lab, "there really was no dedicated lab for research for civil and environmental engineering," Abriola said. The IMPES lab will have state-of-the-art equipment, and will hopefully attract faculty to Tufts and encourage collaboration among departments and professional graduate schools, Abriola said. A computer lab and work stations will be included, as well as a "hot room" for specific chemical analyses and temperature controls. "The lab won't be used for teaching -- strictly research," Abriola said. Junior Todd Ryan had created an online petition to get the woodshop back, which has garnered almost 350 signatures.

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News

First Relay for Life raises $50,000

April 25

Hundreds of students packed the Gantcher Center Friday night for Tufts' first annual Relay for Life. The event was sponsored by the American Cancer Society (ACS) in order to support and raise money for the organization's cancer research. Relays have been held around the country for over 15 years. Tufts' Relay for Life began at 6 p.m. Friday evening and teams of students were supposed to keep at least one member walking or running around the track at all times until the end -- noon on Saturday. The event opened with a short speech by Dr. John Coffin, an ACS-funded researcher at Tufts School of Medicine. "Thank you all for raising money to allow me to stay in the lab and fight this disease," he said. 43 teams participated overall. Event organizers Tufts Community Union (TCU) President-elect Dave Baumwoll and Craig Kelly, both sophomores, estimated that over 400 students walked at some point during the night. Each participant is asked to raise money through donations from friends and family. "Our goal was $50,000 -- which was a pretty lofty goal," Baumwoll said. "The ACS asks that first-year Relays raise $20,000 and we think that by the end of the night we will have hit over $50,000," Kelly said. According to Baumwoll and Kelly, Tufts' Relay for Life had received $49,000 in donations before the event began. Although most teams were made up of students, one team came from a cancer survivor's group at Sacred Heart Church in Medford. Team member and survivor Linda Penta said events like the Relay are important because they raise awareness. "It really can happen to anyone and these events show that." Penta's teammate Paula Cacciola said, "We saw some younger survivors in here today. It's good to see other students out here supporting them." The event has been in the works since last year, but Baumwoll and Kelly began planning the event in November. "We had a team of about 30 people working to plan this night," Kelly said. "Everyone worked really hard." The committee is affiliated with the Leonard Carmichael Society's Cancer Outreach group but funding for the event came from the ACS. "The ACS gave us a budget of ten percent of whatever we end up raising," Baumwoll said. The event also featured performances by student groups including Sarabande and Shir Appeal. Several restaurants also donated food to the event, including free samples of Baskin Robbins ice cream. "So many people donated to this night," Baumwoll said. "The committee did a great job putting everything together." Participants spent the night in Gantcher. Some students set up tents to nap or passed the time playing cards. "I didn't sleep at all and I walked thirteen hours, but I had a fun because it was for a good cause," sophomore Jason Bauer said. "It's a really great event," sophomore committee member and TCU Senator Cho Ling said. "This is the first time I've seen all these people working together on the same cause. I think Tufts needs more events like this." Baumwoll has been involved in cancer outreach since high school. "A good friend of mine had cancer and it runs in my family," he said. "So it's an issue that's always been important to me." Students can expect another relay next year. "This is the beginning of a tradition," Baumwoll said.

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News

City briefs

April 25

Somerville to remain strong on smoking ban despite state's double-take Although the state is stalled on the statewide smoking ban that was slated to begin early in June, Somerville intends to uphold its own. David Osler, Chairman of the Board of Health said, "I am disappointed that the Commonwealth seems to be dragging its feet on a statewide smoking ban at this point, but the regulations for the city of Somerville will remain in effect."Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve Mackey, who has been vocally opposed to the smoking ban from the start, suggested that Somerville take a cue from the state. "It's not just about doing the right thing, it's about doing it the right way," he said. "I think the legislature is more capable that the Board of Health." Earlier this month, Mackey labeled the Board "an archaic, 19th-century public tribunal." Mayor's office spokesman Mark Horan said that Mayor Joe Curtatone will not take a stance on this issue, but he hopes that the statewide ban will be enacted soon so that Somerville won't be set too far behind other cities without smoking bans. Several state legislators voted against the ban earlier this month, objecting to some of the measures proposed to enforce it.Somerville Aldermen approve Assembly Square plan 8-3 The zoning plan proposed by Mayor Joe Curtatone in March has, after extensive debate, been approved by the city's Aldermen. "We have put our differences aside and seized a tremendous opportunity," he said in a press release. "We can now begin to build the next great neighborhood in Somerville." The new zoning allows Assembly Square Limited Partners (ASLP) to re-tenant the mall there and to begin building a 300,000 square foot mixed-use area next to the mall. It also permits Swedish furniture giant IKEA to seek approval for a mixed-use area near its store. A fiscal impact study completed last month said that from the new taxes being paid by the mall, the new Main Street and the IKEA development, the city will garner $4.2 million in net revenue. Curtatone said that the Aldermen, the public and the Mystic View Task Force can be credited with pushing the zoning forward. "Our work is far from done," he said. "But this is a great beginning."Study shows Medford is accepting of diversity Medford Police Chief Leo A. Sacco cited a report conducted by Northeastern University of Boston-area cities when suggesting that Medford comes out on top in terms of less racial profiling and housing segregation. At a seminar hosted by the Human Rights Commission on April 14, Sacco said that the study found that non-white Medford residents receive 18.8 percent of traffic citations -- a rate fairly low when compared to national averages. Sacco said that this could be due to an element of police procedure when writing up traffic violations which requires that the officer note the driver's race. Sacco said that each department is carefully observed in terms of whom it targets. "Some police officers inappropriately use race when making a decision on who to stop, who to search, who to cite," he said. The study also showed that more African-Americans and Latin-Americans are buying homes in Medford than in any other city. "Medford was one of the few towns where African-Americans were buying homes in larger amounts than expected," David Harris, director of the Fair Housing Center of Greater Boston said. He pinpointed West Medford as racially and economically well-integrated.--Compiled by Zosia Sztykowski from The Somerville Journal.

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News

Restoring balance to the liberal arts curriculum

April 25

Liberal arts students are expected to undertake a broad range of study outside of their major area of interest. It is important for a reasonably educated person to be familiar with a variety of academic disciplines. The distribution requirements emphasize this need for breadth. Liberal arts students must take two courses in the humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences, and mathematics during their stay at Tufts. Some students may complain they have little interest in a particular subject, but generally speaking, two courses are not very much. This is not an undue demand of a student's time. In addition, one can hardly expect to become an expert after completing two courses in math, or two courses in music, for example. The point is not to delve deeply into any one area, but to simply become acquainted with different areas of knowledge. However, the foreign language requirement (with culture option) is inconsistent with this need for breadth. Instead of two courses, this requirement demands six. Requiring six courses in a field of study, rather than two courses, does more than simply familiarize students with a subject. For example, only five courses are needed to earn a minor in astronomy, child development, comparative religion, history, or physics, to name a few. Completing six courses in foreign language and/or culture is a substantial commitment of time, effort, and tuition, and should not be mistaken for a mere introduction to the subject. In principle, studying foreign languages and cultures is a good idea. We live in a world that is becoming more and more globalized, and it makes good sense to learn about different societies. However, the current foreign language requirement (with culture option) is impractical. It is an academic no-man's land that requires more courses than are necessary for breadth, but falls short of requiring foreign language proficiency. For example, the international relations department defines proficiency in the Tufts Bulletin as "successful completion of eight semesters (or equivalent) of university-level language instruction." Completing six foreign language courses doesn't quite achieve this standard. In addition, the impact of the foreign language requirement can be diluted. Instead of taking six courses in a single language, it is possible to divide the requirement over two different languages, or to sidestep it by enrolling in culture courses. If proficiency in a foreign language is not required, then why bother studying it at all? Of what value is it to be less than proficient in reading, writing, speaking, and listening? The answer, as before, is to acquire breadth. The entire point is to advance one's knowledge of the world at the most general level. And if two courses are adequate to become acquainted with the humanities, arts, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics, and English, I say foreign language should be no different. As far as culture is concerned, every liberal arts student must complete the world civilizations requirement, which, according to the Tufts Bulletin, "...focuses on an in-depth study of a non-Western civilization or civilizations, or the interaction of non-Western and Western civilizations with equal attention given to both." Since only one course is necessary to fulfill this requirement, students are exposed to only the rudimentaries of another culture. But acquiring some introductory knowledge, instead of expertise, is the entire point of having the world civilizations requirement in the first place. The same idea should be true for foreign languages. In order to restore balance to the liberal arts curriculum, the faculty should make foreign language a distribution requirement. Instead of six courses, make it two. Foreign language should be given the same weight as any other academic discipline. Doing so would open up four courses in the liberal arts curriculum. This would be no small gain. It would be the same as getting an extra semester of college. That extra semester would be a wonderful opportunity for students to further explore their academic interests. Students who want to study more foreign language and culture would be free to do so. But students who feel otherwise could make better use of their time, effort, and tuition by enrolling in courses they are actually interested in. Instead of continuing to put up with an excessive foreign language requirement (with culture option), a more balanced approach would better suit the needs of students who seek a broad liberal arts education.Joseph Butterfield is a senior majoring in Astrophysics and Chemical Physics.

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News

DeBartolo's Power Rankings

April 25

This week Inside the AL brings you its own version of the power rankings. Intense mathematical calculations went into these rankings, so try to pay attention. They are based on a combination of how strong the teams have started and how good the team should be in the long run. 1. Boston Red Sox: So far Boston has suffered injuries to shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, outfielder Trot Nixon, and pitcher Byung-Hyun Kim. Yet Boston's strong pitching staff has kept it winning games. Pitchers Curt Schilling and Pedro Martinez are still two of the best pitchers in the game. Tim Wakefield and Derek Lowe are more than solid, and the bullpen has been dominant so far. 2. Oakland A's: Billy Beane's Moneyball formula is working yet again. Pitchers Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder have been excellent. Barry Zito's struggles are cause for concern as his strikeout rates have fallen each of the last three seasons. But other than Zito, things are clicking for Oakland as outfielder Jermaine Dye has finally come back strong from a broken leg and the bullpen has been fine despite the loss of closer Keith Foulke. 3. New York Yankees: The Yankees have struggled thus far, but they are too talented not to win over 90 games. Their rotation has some questions, but their bullpen is fantastic and their lineup will score an incredible amount of runs in time. 4. Anaheim Angels: This team can certainly hit, but does it have the pitching? Bartolo Colon has been his usual steady self, and the bullpen is one of the best, but the rest of the rotation is mediocre. The Angels will either need to make a trade deadline move to acquire a starter or hope that Jarrod Washburn and Ramon Ortiz improve tremendously. 5. Baltimore Orioles: See Anaheim. Their lineup is great, but they have the same problems as Anaheim except to a larger degree. Their bullpen isn't quite as good, and their starters are quite a bit worse. They won't stay this high for long. 6. Chicago White Sox: First baseman Paul Konerko has come back somewhat from his apocalyptic 2003 season and the rest of the offense seems strong as well. Esteban Loaiza has built on his exceptional 2003 season, and the rest of the rotation is fine by AL Central standards (which are low). 7. Minnesota Twins: Whatever manager Ron Gardenhire does each year, it works. Who knows how this team wins. Their defense is great, their bullpen is pretty good, but their rotation is nothing special and their offense is awful, despite the fact that they currently lead the league in runs. Who knows why prospect Justin Morneau is being left to tear up the minors while Jose Offerman is allowed to DH. 8. Detroit Tigers: This team has catcher Ivan Rodriguez and almost no one else. They are bad. They will not stay here. 9. Texas Rangers: A slightly crappier version of the Orioles. Slightly crappier lineup, slightly crappier starting staff, and slightly crappier bullpen. 10. Kansas City Royals: They have a lot of young talent. A lineup with first baseman Mike Sweeney and outfielders Carlos Beltran and Juan Gonzalez is intimidating. If some of their young pitchers can turn it around, this team could be dangerous. Watch out for minor league phenom Zack Grienke who may come up by June. If this team can tread water until he arrives, they could be dangerous in the second half. 11. Seattle Mariners: In time Seattle should move up. Pitcher Freddy Garcia looks like he's starting to put things together but Joel Pineiro and Jamie Moyer have struggled. The offense is solid but this team has a fair amount of old players who have a history of fading in the second half. 12. Toronto Blue Jays: This has been one of the biggest surprises. Toronto made a number of off-season pitching upgrades, but they have not hit at all. They won't make the playoffs, but they should move up in time. 13. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: The fact that they have already won seven games is a tribute to manager Lou Pineilla. They are quick and have some decent defenders, but they have no pitching or hitting, which equals a lot of losing. 14. Cleveland Indians: They have a stocked farm system and a lot of other young players on the roster which could lead to some upward movement in the second half.

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News

Tufts students protest in Washington, D.C.

April 25

More than 165 Tufts students marched in Washington, D.C. alongside hundreds of thousands of men and women from across the country as part of yesterday's March for Women's Lives. The march was held in support of women's rights with a focus on "reproductive freedom," including legal abortion, privacy, comprehensive sex education, family planning, pre-natal care, and access to all reproductive health services. Women joined the protest from across the nation and from nearly 60 countries, asserting that damage from Bush's policies is spreading far beyond U.S. shores through measures such as the ban on federal money for family-planning groups that promote or perform abortions abroad. The rally on the National Mall stretched from the base of the U.S. Capitol about a mile back to the Washington Monument. Authorities no longer give formal crowd estimates, but various police sources informally estimated the throng at between 500,000 and 800,000 strong. That would exceed the estimated 500,000 who protested for abortion rights in 1992. Judy Neufeld, president of Tufts Voices for Choice (VOX), said that Tufts' students "through-the-roof response shows that people are getting more politically active." "It's a really huge deal around the world, and to get as many Tufts students as we did is really huge deal," she said. "This really shows that as students we are educated about what's going on, and I think that's pretty special about Tufts." Not only women were involved in the march. Neufeld estimated that out of the Tufts students riding the buses, 23 were male. The Tufts contingent is one of the largest student groups in the Boston area. While Boston University, Brandeis University, and Tufts all procured three buses per school, the Tufts students required spill-over space into a bus from Northeastern University. All buses from the Boston schools left from Boston Common on Saturday night before beginning the ten-hour drive to Washington, D.C. In addition to those students registered for the bus trips, several dozen Tufts students and faculty were expected to drive or fly to the march. Freshman Rebecca Diamond, who has been planning to go since she found out about the march, thought that the event was even better than she expected. "There were so many women there ... You could feel a solidarity, and you could feel the excitement and passion for the cause that everybody had," Diamond said. The importance of voting was stressed at the rally. "We did the march, we showed how much we care, but we need to be active and vote and that's really important to get these causes passed and to make sure we protect our rights," Diamond said. Other students at the march agreed. "It was hugely diverse, ninety year old women to babies, there were kids marching in utero. I was pleasantly surprised, I didn't think there would be as many men as there were," freshman Caitlin Johnson said. Johnson said, "Its rare in one's life that you get to experience a historical event and know you're doing so while its happening, and this was one of those times." Yesterday's program began with an assembling of groups and delegations at a morning rally with speakers and music groups. The actual march began at the National Mall at noon, after which the route circled through the city and ended back at the Mall for the afternoon rally. Those speaking and marching for the cause represent more than 60 countries from around the world, proving the strength of the international concern for these issues. Neufeld said that, "the global gag rule cuts funding to international family planning programs that discuss different options. If [other countries] want money from us they can't be informed of their options." The Tufts delegation marched under Planned Parenthood. About eight Tufts students were enlisted upon arrival as part of the Guerilla Visibility Team, including freshman Johnson. "We wore bright pink shirts and passed out condoms, noisemakers and bullhorns to the crowd, and we got to meet a lot of the celebrities." Celebrities on the bill of speakers included Susan Sarandon, Julianne Moore, Ted Turner, Gloria Steinem, Madeline Albright, Hilary Clinton, and Whoopi Goldberg. Speakers also included senators, and diverse religious leaders. The morning of the first rally, more than 100 anti-abortion activists stood beside the route to show their disagreement with the event's pro-choice stance. This march represents the first collaborative effort between leading women's rights groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Black Women's Health Imperative, Feminist Majority Foundation, NARAL Pro-Choice America, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, National Organization for Women and Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Although Roe v. Wade still anchors abortion rights, some states have imposed waiting periods before abortions, requirements that girls under 18 notify their parents, and other limits that have closed abortion clinics or discouraged doctors from performing abortions. Bush has signed a ban on what critics call partial-birth abortion, and the first federal law to endow a fetus with legal rights distinct from the pregnant woman. Abortion-rights supporters say a fragile Supreme Court majority in favor of Roe v. Wade could be lost if Bush is president long enough to fill vacancies that come up in the court. Kerry supports abortion rights.-- Compiled with information from the Associated Press

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Music to blow your ass out

April 25

The works of Leif Segerstam and the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra's newest disc release will surely be tacked onto composer Christopher Rouse's ever-growing list of orchestral masterpieces. The disc, entitled "Christopher Rouse: Der Gerettete Alberich, Rapture, Violin Concerto," captures the brilliance of Rouse's compositions with equally brilliant performances. Rouse, faculty member of the Julliard School and one of today's most sought-after composers, is best known for his oeuvre of orchestral tone poems, percussion music, and concerti-- all three of which make appearances on the record. Equally at home in both popular and serious idioms, Rouse delivers music that is delightfully diverse and appealing to both the well trained musician and the lay listener. The record opens with a bang (pun intended) with Rouse's percussion concerto, "Der Gerettete Alberich" ("Alberich Saved"). The three movement work was inspired by the character Alberich from Wagner's "Ring" Cycle. Alberich is the only central character left alive at the end of Wagner's "Gotterdammerung". Through the concerto, Rouse explores the sequence of Alberich's emotions at the conclusion of the opera. The piece moves effortlessly between Barber-esque elegance and the more tribal rhythmic sound for which Rouse is best known. A percussionist himself, Rouse has left few percussion instruments out of the mix. The work features everything from the quirky-sounding log drums, to steel pan, to a massive battery of drums that can only be described as loud. The work takes the orchestral rhythmic energy and intensity of pre-neo classic Stravinsky and adds 100 years worth of jazz and rock influence to create a monster of a concerto. The transition from the second movement to the third movement is one of the finest orchestral moments ever composed and will surely leave the listener flat against the wall. After a massive crescendo on a major chord, the orchestra breaks into what can only be described as an orchestral hybrid of metal and pep band. Stephen Cabell, composer at the Curtis Institute, said of the aforementioned moment, "Warning: This may blow your ass out." For those who think "classical" music is something for old people, sleeping, or studying, "Der Gerettete Alberich" will undoubtedly call for a change of opinion. The second piece on the disc, "Rapture", is the newest of the orchestral tone poems that have earned Rouse a dedicated following. But the piece is surprisingly tonal and reminiscent at times of Sibelius. The slow opening bears almost nothing in common with Rouse's earlier adagio pieces and is not generally recognizable as Rouse. Rouse, however, is still Rouse, and as the piece evolves and moves toward a fast and furious ending, his more familiar voice shines through once again and the work concludes in an attack of percussion and rhythmic fervor. Though it is not as good as some of the Rouse's earlier one-movement works such as "Phaeton", it is nonetheless a wonderful and interesting piece of music. One of the only Rouse concertos that does not employ any programmatic elements, the "Violin Concerto" is one of Rouse's more conservative concerti, both harmonically, texturally, and rhythmically. Structured in two traditional-style movements, a barcarola and a toccata, the "Violin Concerto" is reminiscent of the late and post-Romantic concertos of Mahler and Bartok. The first movement is absolutely beautiful and refreshingly melodic. It moves directly into the second without pause and a whirlwind of stunning virtuosity ensues. The orchestral frenzy that has become almost Rouse's musical trademark is heightened by a toccata that might as well be a 10-minute cadenza. Rouse's brilliant orchestral writing is of course only half of the reason that makes this record incredible. The other half of the story is the ensemble and the amazingly talented soloists. The Helsinki Philharmonic delivers a performance that places them on a level with the more popular orchestras such as the N.Y. Phil or Berliner. The orchestra plays flawlessly through Rouse's ridiculously difficult music. The disc, available at Borders, Amazon, or Tower is one of the best recordings of Rouse's music. The record is second only to Houston Symphony's recording of Rouse's "Second Symphony", "Phaeton", and "Flute Concerto". I recommend it to any one looking to get for some badass classical music or anyone from the Mozart crowd in search of an edge.

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News

Untucked: Guidlines for the well-dressed

April 25

As the end of the year quickly approaches, I would like to takea moment to look back on all we have learned thus far. Therefore, Ihave compiled a "Top 10" list of important guidelines for thestylish dresser. So, whether you are already fashion savvy or justgetting your feet wet, here are some essential components of theput-together wardrobe:

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News

Dinucci, McBride leave baseball team

April 22

Tufts' baseball team -- already a young squad -- lost two veteran players this past week when juniors Frank Dinucci and John McBride announced their decisions to leave the program. Both athletes cited differences with coach John Casey as motivation for their departures. "Coach Casey and I had our differences. He continually questioned my dedication to the team and my work ethic and that kind of wore on me," Dinucci explained. "I have no hard feelings towards Tufts baseball, [this was] just something that I had to do." The Jumbos' opening-day second baseman this season and last, Dinucci was also a regular infield starter as a freshman. This spring, however, he's been on the field more sporadically and has not seen playing time since April 10, in game two of a three-loss series versus Trinity. "I kind of had these feelings all through the season, and then we had a team meeting after the Trinity series and coach singled me and another guy or two out," Dinucci said. "That was kind of the final straw." McBride also mentioned being "singled out" by Casey as a source of tension. "It was just a personal decision. I didn't want to put up with the aggravation anymore," McBride said. McBride started at first base for much of last season, but saw less playing time this year than in the past, with only two at bats (as compared to 79 last spring). He said that his decision to leave was not based on a lack of playing time, however. "I don't think it was a playing time issue," McBride said. "If there were guys ahead of me that could play that was fine." With a career batting average of .250, McBride had his best season in 2003, when he hit .278 and posted a .354 slugging percentage. Like McBride, 2003 was Dinucci's most fruitful year at the plate. He hit .282 that season, had an on-base percentage of .431, and drove in 17 runs. Dinucci's career batting average stands at .252. Both Dinucci and McBride said that they spoke with their captains and other teammates before making their decision. "They said they supported me 110 percent," Dinucci said. "Nothing's changed between me and the guys on the team. They just knew that Coach Casey put me in a tough situation." Casey declined to comment on the affair, while senior co-captain Adam Kacamburas commented only that the players' departures did not affect team goals. "We know the job that we have to do and whoever it's with, we have to get it done," Kacamburas said. "Who goes out on that field this weekend against Colby and next weekend against Bates doesn't matter. It's just a matter of accomplishing what we need to do."

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News

A little Manhattan in Cambridge

April 22

This is the last installment in a bi-weekly feature on specialty stores in the Boston area. This week, the Daily looks at hip hop stores. With summer almost here, the very fashionable are just now starting to think about their Akademiks as well as their Enyce, Girbaud, LRG, Pelle Pelle, and Vokal. That's right y'all, soon you'll be out of school and in desperate need of some fresh street gear. While many students from other metropolitan areas may already be rocking their favorite hometown brands around campus, a new addition to the wardrobe never hurts. For others who might want to take some of these fashions home to the suburbs, the question becomes where to buy. Many students from both groups have taken to shopping online for the latest fashions, but there are some amazing local stores that mysteriously continue to go untapped by the Tufts community. Manhattan Clothing has been a well-known part of life in Central Square since the 1970s, and today it's the place to go for urban apparel. A family owned business that's got its ear to the ground, Manhattan always succeeds in keeping the hottest clothes in stock. Music from the shop plays out into Central Square. Walk in and you're greeted with a smile from behind the counter. A cursory glance may not reveal much more than jerseys, but continue on and you will discover everything needed to create an outfit, from the hats in the front to the shoes in the back. Choices aren't confined to tee shirts and plain 501 style blue jeans. Street gear can be dressed up or down. Many of the clothing labels mentioned above succeed because they offer ever expanding styles and forms of clothing from jerseys to button down oxfords. In addition to a broad selection of clothing, for even more style, Manhattan is full of color. Flamingo pinks and baby blues may reach a bit beyond some people's tastes, but don't fear loud color. It's good, especially in the summer. Got a shirt with purple stripes? Try a throwback Sacramento Kings cap to catch and accentuate those purple stripes. Chances are a pair of Nikes with a purple swoosh are hiding somewhere in the back too. It is Manhattan's small business flavor that allows the store to keep up with the hip-hop community's fickle taste. Some recent fads that have quickly shifted in and out are track suits, air force one's, and NBA jersey dresses; all are available on demand at Manhattan. Don't believe the hype? Major crossover brands like Von Dutch didn't first pop up at Neiman Marcus. All those trucker hats and oversized belt buckles were sitting in Manhattan's glass case before popping up all over the Hamptons and other jet set getaways. Jerseys and throwback sneakers are creeping into more and more closets around the country becoming an essential piece of any wardrobe. People wear them for fashion, because they're fun, or because of the heat. So before you head home for the summer stop by Central Square in Cambridge. Don't expect to find everything you're looking for just yet, but keep watching those music videos, and don't be surprised when that blazer Usher was wearing turns up in Manhattan.Manhattan is located at 563 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge and 40 Winter St. in downtown Boston.

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Mendell award goes to Joe Mead

April 22

Junior and former two-time Tufts Community Union (TCU) presidential candidate Joe Mead was honored with the first annual Alex Mendell award. The award is given in honor of the sophomore senator who passed away earlier this year. The Alex Mendell Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a sophomore or junior who though his or her leadership, in a variety of campus activities, brings together students representing a broad spectrum of the community. The recipient should also demonstrate a "generosity of spirit and character that both contributes to the self esteem of others and to their love of Tufts." The Academic Awards Committee chose the recipient, but Tom Mendell, Alex's father, said the family was very pleased with the selection. "From everything that we've heard, Joe embodies the genuine spirit of each of the admirable traits enumerated above," he said. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said Mendell "seemed to embody the spirit of belonging to number of different organizations, being a catalyst to bring people together." "I am trying to work for Tufts everyday," Mead said. He reiterated a number of times how honored he was to receive the award. Mead and Mendell became good friends through their joint involvement in the TCU Senate and the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. Mead said this gave the award a "special significance." "It was somehow fitting that in inaugural year, it given to somebody who was good friends with Alex," Reitman said. The award brought mixed feelings. "It is an extreme honor, but it is also bittersweet," Mead said. "You don't want to receive [an award] in honor of your friend who's passed away." Mead plans on using the endowed gift that accompanies the award to finance his tuition. Funds for the gift were collected from private donations. The amount of the scholarship is not fixed -- as an endowed amount, it will continually change based on the principle and current market rate. Tom Mendell was extremely grateful for all the support the family has received this past year. "The Mendell family would like to extend its sincere thanks to the Tufts students, faculty and administration for their hundreds of letters and other outpourings of support after Alex's tragic death," he said. Reitman felt that the award is the best way to help commemorate everything that Alex did for Tufts. "It was a pleasure to be able to work with family find a way that Alex can be remembered perpetually," he said.

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News

Corsairs sink Jumbo ship

April 22

Ties are meant to be broken, but a five-run collapse that allows the opposition back into the game hurts. And no matter how well you play catch-up after that, five runs make a difference. The Jumbos (12-11) did just that Tuesday, clashing with the UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs (15-11) in North Dartmouth in a seesawing non-conference battle that ultimately saw UMD pull off a 9-8 win. Tufts took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first and had a chance to increase its lead in the third, stringing together three hits to load the bases, but UMD starter Alfred Jean (6IP, 3R) got freshman center fielder Chris Decembrele to fly out to right to strand Tufts. Jumbo junior starter Jeff Volinski (1-0, 2.40 ERA), meanwhile, held UMD scoreless through three innings before hitting trouble in the fourth. A double, groundout and single tied the game, but Tufts reclaimed the lead in the fifth, when a leadoff walk and steal by senior co-captain Adam Kacamburas set up a Decembrele RBI single. UMD added two more in the fifth, aided by a Kacamburas error -- one of four by Tufts -- but Tufts tied it in the sixth to take Volinski off the hook. The southpaw put in his second straight strong start, allowing three runs -- two earned -- on five hits over five innings before being pulled to save him for this weekend. "Jeff kept us in the game," senior pitcher Dave Frew said. "It was 3-3 game when he came out, and three runs in five innings is pretty solid." But things fell apart for Tufts in the home half of the sixth, as UMD scored five runs off Frew (0IP, 2H, 3R) and freshman Aaron Narva (1IP, 2H, 2R). "A couple pitchers struggled, particularly me, by not hitting their spots and walking guys," Frew said. "It's just a matter of execution." When the dust settled, UMD led, 8-3. Tufts kept chipping away, scoring five runs in the final three frames and pulling within one in the eighth, 8-7. Sophomore Greg Chertok (3-4, 3 RBI), who has raised his average from .258 to .323 over the last 13 games, singled in two runs. "Greg did a very good job of hitting ball," Frew said. "He came up in a couple big spots and hit the ball the other way. He's really stepped up offensively." But UMD added a valuable insurance run in the bottom of the eighth to take a 9-7 lead, as Tufts added a run in the ninth on a bases-loaded sac fly by freshman Bryan McDavitt. But classmates Kyle Backstrom and Decembrele both struck out looking against UMD's Kyle Darrow to end the game with two men on, two of 15 runners Tufts stranded in the game. "We should have won," coach John Casey said. "We just didn't make plays when had to make them." Luckily for Tufts, the game does not count to NESCAC standings. The Jumbos have just six NESCAC games remaining this season, holding a slim qualifying shot for next month's NESCAC Tournament. The top two teams in each division -- the East, in which Tufts currently sits fourth at 2-4, and the West -- can qualify. With Trinity (23-4 overall, 10-2 NESCAC) firmly entrenched atop the East, Tufts' best qualifying shot comes through second-placed Bowdoin (17-10, 6-3 NESCAC) and third-placed Bates (10-11, 3-3 NESCAC), who clash in a three-game series this weekend. Tufts faces Bates next weekend, and needs a Bates-Bowdoin split to contend. Tufts will aim to sweep the bottom-feeding Colby White Mules (3-21, 0-9 NESCAC), who seek their first conference win, in a three-game home series beginning today. Tufts has won eight of the last nine contests against Colby over the past three seasons, outscoring the Mules 81-33 during that stretch. But both teams face similar situations this season, with youth-laden rosters. Ten players on Colby's 22-man roster are freshmen and seven are sophomores, and while Tufts is more balanced between classes, seven freshmen and seven sophomores hold varsity slots. But despite both teams' comparative youth, Casey tries to avoid comparisons. "I don't compare [the two teams]," Casey explained. "We just worry about ourselves, that's what we've been doing all year. We need to play with more consistency." Colby has shown some offensive productiveness, batting .282 as a team, with four players -- senior co-captains Vincent Domestico (.333) and Eric Roy (.329), sophomore Rodney Ames (.359) and freshman Tom Salemy (.341, 4 HR, 19 RBI) -- batting over .300. But pitching is the Colby Achilles' Heal, as opponents are hitting Colby pitching at a .341 clip, outscoring the White Mules 199 runs to 106. The Jumbo offense will look to capitalize on that. With the exception of one reliever who has pitched just two innings, no White Mule has a sub-5.68 ERA. Tufts, by contrast, while far from consistent on the hill this season, has been more reliable. Senior co-captain Randy Newsom (4-1, 4.29 ERA), who owns a career 2-0 record and 1.42 ERA in three appearances against Colby, will look to lead the staff to a sweep, with Volinski, freshman Ben Simon (3-1, 1.67), sophomore Zak Smotherman (1-3, 3.24) and junior Jeremy Davis (2-1, 6.08) all possibilities to see starting action. But prior records are just that; prior records. The team is focused on the present, and, despite Colby's underwhelming 2004 record, Tufts will not take the Mules lightly, particularly with a postseason appearance on the line. "We should learn to take care of ourselves, which I don't think we've been doing so far," Casey said. "It doesn't matter who you play, just how you perform. That's what we've been trying to teach them." Frew echoed Casey's sentiments, saying the team needs to look past Colby's record at the bigger picture. "We need to do the things we've been taught to do," Frew said. "We know what to do, how to win games, we just need to go out and do it. We can't let their record affect us."

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Editors Weekend Picks

April 22

KRISTY CUNNINGHAM -- Boston Red Sox vs. New York Yankees -- The Red Sox square off against the New York Yankees for the second time in as many weekends beginning tonight. For those of you who have been away from all Boston media for the past week, the Sox took three of four from their arch rivals last weekend at Fenway. First place Boston stood a game and a half up on the Yanks, who sit in third behind the Orioles, going into last night's game in Toronto. Though it is still only April, these head-to-head Boston-New York match-ups could make a huge difference come the division race in September. Prediction: The Sox's pitching staff has been stellar so far while the Yankees started the season out a little cold. However, the Yankees are playing at home which is always a strong advantage, especially against a hated team like Boston. New York will take two of three. JESSE GERNER -- Some Aussie Rules Footy game again -- As Kristy beat me to the punch in writing about the Sox-Yanks series, I briefly considered predicting a much more interesting series this weekend (yeah right) between the Detroit Tigers and Cleveland Indians. But at the risk of boring you, instead I'll check out my hometown Hawthorn Hawks Aussie Rules Footy team back in Melbourne, Australia. Despite a paltry 1-3 record this season and the fact that the team will be playing the three-time defending champion Brisbane Lions this weekend (3-1 this year), the Hawks are surely destined to win. There always comes a time when you can just tell your team, playing far below its potential and always never quite reaching that ultimate prize (sounds familiar, doesn't it, New England sports fans), can pull off the upset. This is one of those moments, and even though I only know about eight players on the Hawks now -- and that's because my obsessed sister always yaks my ear off about them on the phone -- of course they'll win.Prediction: You've gotta believe. Hawks win, hands down. Besides, normal people don't like a perennial powerhouse. Isn't that right, Georgie Porgie?

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A Search for the Right Beau

April 22

The timeless story of star-crossed lovers is one that dates back to the beginning of love stories. Romeo falls for the beautiful Juliet only to realize that she is the daughter of his sworn enemy, and, alas, their love is doomed before it has begun. And while swordfights, iambic pentameter, and apothecaries may be a little 16th century, the challenge of not only meeting someone and falling madly in love, but of meeting someone, falling madly in love, and having your mother approve, is as relevant now as it was in the Globe Theater. Playwright James Sherman's "Beau Jest," which will be presented tonight by the Hillel Theater Troupe, has taken this age-old theme and given it a few modern, as well as comedic, twists. Sara, a nice Jewish girl from a nice Jewish family, is expected to marry a nice Jewish boy from a similarly nice Jewish family. However, very much to her mother's chagrin, Sara has fallen for a gentile executive, Chris Kringle (contrary to popular belief, Kringle is not a Jewish name). Instead of feigning death and tragically losing the love of her life, our Jewish Juliet takes a less dated approach and decides to appease her folks by hiring an escort to pretend to be her Jewish boyfriend, Dr. David Steinberg. As it turns out, Sara's hired escort, Bob Schroeder, isn't Jewish either and is faced with the task of fooling Sara's mother who is, according to Sara, equipped with an especially keen "Jew-dar." Of course, nothing goes quite as planned, and we are left with not only a non-Jewish boyfriend, but also a love triangle and some serious explaining to do after Sara ends up falling for her own hoax. Theater Troupe, a student run theater group that is headed under the cultural division of the Hillel Executive Board, has always chosen plays "with some sort of Jewish theme," according to this year's Theater Troupe Chairperson, sophomore Tamara Savin. This year's organizers, Savin and Hillel Cultural Vice President, senior Laura Israel, wanted to produce a light hearted comedy, as the group's last play was a drama focusing on the Holocaust. The group has hosted several small scale events throughout the semester, including a "Fiddler on the Roof" sing-along, but has been unable to stage a full scale production in the past two years due to lack of a Theater Troupe Chairperson on last year's Hillel Board. Savin and Israel collaborated this year to create an amusing and relevant production that reached beyond the Jewish community at Tufts. The script's clever and contemporary dialogue does rely on a Jewish theme, though cast and crew members contend that all audience members, regardless of religious or ethnic background, will be able to relate to and enjoy "Beau Jest." The intercultural and intergenerational themes playfully presented by "Beau Jest" reach beyond an obvious Jewish audience and create a farcical element reminiscent of "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," a situation "any culture can relate to," according to Savin. Whether it's an issue of challah or baklava, interfaith dating is an ever present issue as younger generations struggle to balance tradition and cultural innovation. "It's definitely something to think about," said sophomore Annaleah Logan, who plays Sara, "especially if you have a Jewish background." Logan, one of the play's three Jewish cast members, pointed to the ever-present challenge of meeting the expectations of overbearing parents, in any culture. If only Juliet had known to hire a stand in, then maybe she would have avoided the whole poison and happy dagger mess. They could have all sat down and enjoyed some Manischewitz and some of Bubbe Capulet's secret recipe kugel.

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Jumbos rattle off seventh straight win

April 22

Tufts softball is finally playing Tufts softball, and it picked the perfect time to do so. After sweeping NESCAC East foes Trinity and Colby last weekend, the Jumbos increased their winning streak to seven games over the past two days. The team defeated Brandeis 5-4 on Wednesday and swept Eastern Connecticut in a doubleheader yesterday, 4-3 and 3-2, with the NESCAC playoffs next weekend. "Things are obviously good right now, I certainly think we're playing better," coach Cheryl Milligan said. "It took a little longer to figure things out, but we've made some changes in key positions and finally have got things figured out. We're playing the way we're supposed to play, with a lot of confidence on defense." Tufts came out in game one against the Warriors swinging the bat very well. The Jumbos scored all four of their runs in the first three innings, with junior Courtney Bongiolatti driving home two runs and senior tri-captain Deana Davidian and junior Katie Smith each bringing one home. The offense then let sophomore pitcher Julia Brenta and the team's solid defense do the rest. Brenta worked the entire game for her fourth win of the season, allowing a run early and two more in the sixth to make things close. Brenta finished the game with six strikeouts, one walk, and three earned runs. In game two, senior Pam Swidler took over the show and pitched a complete game for her fourth win of the season. The offense once again was able to string together hits to manufacture three runs for Tufts. Davidian drove home one, while Bongiolatti earned a bases loaded walk to bring home the game winning run in sophomore Laura Spring. The Jumbos made it five in a row on Wednesday upon earning a 5-4 win over the Brandeis Judges in Waltham. Freshman Lauren Ebstein got the win, pitching a complete game, allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned), while striking out three and walking three. The offense was led by senior tri-captain Deana Davidian, who has been on fire of recent at the plate. Davidian was three for five on the afternoon with one run and an RBI. Juniors Katie Smith and Courtney Bongiolatti also tallied three hits for the Jumbos. Tufts will have one more tune-up this weekend against NESCAC West opponent Wesleyan before the playoffs begin next Friday at the home of the West division champion Cardinals. The Cardinals are currently in fourth place in the NESCAC West at 2-6, with no chance of making the playoffs this season. These will be the third and fourth games of inter-league play for the Cardinals They split a series with the Trinity Bantams this past Tuesday, winning the first 8-2 while dropping the second 3-0. The Jumbos will use the next week to prepare for the NESCAC Championship and work on pieces of the team that have been plaguing them all season. While Tufts has had a traditionally strong offensive program, the squad has had trouble stringing hits together and getting big hits when necessary. "We're still not hitting the way this team is capable of hitting," Milligan said. "We're not looking for good pitches, and we're lax at the plate. We need to work on an attitude change." One strategy the Jumbos have employed and will continue to work on is their bunting. Because in recent years the squad had the most powerful bats in the conference, it never relied on the bunt. In recent games, however, Milligan has been using the bunt more to try to get her offense rolling. "One big positive from last weekend is that we are bunting a lot more," Milligan said. "That way, we can put a lot more pressure on defense." The Jumbos pitching staff looks to continue its solid play over its recent games heading into the playoffs. Milligan will use her five pitchers -- Ebstein, senior Pam Swidler, junior Caroline Greico, and sophomores Julia Brenta and Sarah Conroy -- all at least once over the next two weeks. While Swidler is nursing a bit of an arm injury, she will still be cleared to pitch if need be. "Nice to have a few games that aren't NESCAC games, that won't make or break our season," Milligan said. "That way we can see whose working well and who will gave a big game next weekend."

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