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The Setonian
News

Readdressing ROTC

April 22

How fortunate that Michelle Engelson was better able to access a Tufts education ("Re-addressing ROTC" April 22)! Certainly, no one is arguing that her commitment requires an enormous amount of time and dedication. I, however, do take issue with Engelson's characterization of my viewpoint ("Don't ask, don't tell" April 8) as "partially misleading." I interpreted the anti-discrimination policy with an appropriate academic slant. Why should the University grant its own academic credit to courses which ease access to the University for some, and not for others? That is the critical question my viewpoint addresses, and Engelson misses an important opportunity to discuss a possible answer. The ROTC program is a scholarship program. If not, the Paul Revere Battalion ought to update its website to adjust to ROTC guidelines. It's "scholarship" page literally features revolving dollar signs in addition to the information I used for my viewpoint. Not everyone enters into the ROTC program with need -- this is supposedly a scholarship for everyone who is physically qualified, granted they don't partake in "homosexual conduct," and so it goes. For some, the military service is what leads them to ROTC scholarships. A loan is a loan, a scholarship is a scholarship. I don't play the semantics game. If I had been in Engelson's particular situation, I would've had to transfer. In the end, taking those courses opens the door to a Tufts education for physically qualified heterosexuals, but not so for me or other LGBT students on campus! This theoretical situation would ultimately cheapen the meaning of a Tufts credit. If this is a message that Tufts wishes to engrain into its academic policies, the University's anti-discrimination policy becomes meaningless. I hold utmost respect for anyone participating in the ROTC program. However, I believe that Tufts should uphold its own institutional principles. Therefore, I will stand by my belief that cadets should receive no credit for their participation in the ROTC program.Matthew Pohl LA '05

The Setonian
News

On the 7912th day, God created the Oreo

April 22

Take a trip to the Hillel Center to experience its "Journey of the Seeker," a new art show of student work on the top floor of Hillel through April 27. Curated by juniors Erin Baldinger and Neil Hirsch, "Seeker" displays both Tufts and School of Museum of Fine Arts students' religiously themed work. Hirsch and Baldinger, both active members of Hillel, and the co-chairs of the Cultural Arts Committee, sought to find a theme which would encompass the struggles all people face with their religious beliefs. After spending fall semester studying abroad in Rome, Baldinger said he "came back with a much greater appreciation for the visual arts, and in particular the power they had to influence and express religious ideas." Baldinger is also interested in music and the different ways people can feel spiritual. At the April 15 opening, a variety of campus musicians played, showing the important relationship between music and visual arts. Baldinger said that "Seeker" provides students a great opportunity to expose themselves to art, and should try to "think about the power art has in our lives." The art will certainly speak to people of many faiths, as a variety of religions are depicted. Even those students who do not ascribe to a specific religion will appreciate the work of their peers and perhaps find meaning. Students can also find humor, such as in Karl Frey's two Oreo cookie pieces, which poke fun at Western religion. "On the 7912th day, God created the Oreo," and "And Saw that it was Good" are precise drawings of the small chocolate cookies while dealing with a sense of history by incorporating biblical titles. Hirsch, an art history major, enjoys the challenge of confronting his own issues with spirituality amidst the work of the submitted artists. In addition, Hirsch and Baldinger had to work with the challenge of creating a working dialogue between the sundry spiritual images. Hirsch proudly said that "each artist contributes to this exploration by sharing with the viewers the experiences of their explorations in faith." These diverse images include Kyle McGillicuddy-Penna's watercolor "In the Garden" which reflects on the Garden of Eden, yet shifts the representation, making it more modern. One interesting piece in the show, which highlights the diversity of the religious representation, is Brahma Muhurta Das' "Svasti Vacanam." In this color-saturated photograph, we see a middle-aged man sitting on the floor amidst a carpet of confetti. The photograph plays with hues of orange. The man being photographed wears a deep orange cloth draped around him as if it were a holy dress. Accompanying the pieces in the show, Baldinger and Hirsch compiled small texts written by the artists. Das included quotes from traditional Indian texts including a prayer for well being to go along with "Svasti Vacanam." Christine King's trilogy focuses on Western culture and the temptation of man, tracing it from the Garden of Eden to modern day temptation. In "Eve in the Garden," the best piece in this series, a lone hand reaches out and holds a deep red apple. "Eve in the Kitchen," painted in what King calls "1950s style," shows an apple pie. The painting, with its use of slightly kitschy colors, harkens back to an era when home-baked apple pies were a staple. The final piece in the series, "Apple Pie" is a silkscreen, representing the most current technological invention in King's trilogy. It shows a copy of a Mrs. Smith's apple pie, showing how modern-day temptation leads us not to an apple, as in the first piece, not even to a home-baked pie, but to a frozen, pre-prepared, bought-from-the-grocery-store pie. Michelle Arnold's delicate hand-made book "Shadows" is a beautiful representation of her personal religious path. Arnold's small pages are thoughtfully rendered and one should surely take the time to inspect this small, yet striking composition. Along with the book, Arnold also wrote a poignant poem describing her feelings of awe towards God mixing in modern and biblical references.

The Setonian
News

A Marathon on the hill

April 22

The Classics Department began its annual reading marathon yesterday morning with the fall of Troy and, with any luck, it will end it this afternoon with the founding of Rome. For 11 years now, students and faculty from the Classics Department and elsewhere have taken to the patio area outside of Godard Chapel to read an entire epic work of literature. Past readings have included Homer's "Odyssey" and "Iliad," Ovid's "Metamorphoses," and Virgil's "Aeneid" -- this year's selection. The "Aeneid" tells the story of Aeneas and his family, Trojans who have fled the destruction of their native city at the hands of the Greeks. Beset by bad weather and even worse luck, the Trojans wander the Mediterranean in search of a new homeland before settling in Italy to found Rome. Participants will read in ten minute intervals over the course of two days. All told, it will take the readers nine hours to finish Virgil's epic. Readers range from Classics majors and graduate students to Latin professors and even some unexpected participants. "It's a very interesting mix of people," event organizer and Classics professor Susan Setnik noted. "Every year there's lots of surprises. We've had people from Engineering reading because they like the Daedalus and Icarus myths. We've also had people from the library read simply because they love books." It's even been the case that accepted pre-frosh on tours join in. One accepted student, Hannah Rose Baker, read for ten minutes simply because she thought she would enjoy the experience. "It's like you can drop in and get your daily dose of the Classics," she said. The biggest surprise for Setnik though, is to simply see her students reading. "The students are always better at reading aloud than they think. They do a real great job." But tackling the work of a poet born in 70 B.C.E. is no easy feat. As sophomore Marathon participant Annah Jones noted, "Obviously, this is not modern day poetry. I had to really focus and pay attention. The translation can be pretty tricky." Even an experienced lecturer like Classics professors David Proctor was at first intimated by reading a work such as Virgil's in public. "I wasn't always comfortable with the [Marathon] reading. I could stand up in class and talk, but this was different." Others are nonplussed about reading aloud. Classics professor Anne Mahoney read her part of Virgil's text in the original Latin. In the past students have also read from Russian and Greek translations of the epics. The question of translation is one that has plagued Setnik before. "There's always strong feelings about what translations people like. [But with the original Latin] there is a musical nature to the language. There are things to listen to like alliteration and onomatopoeia," explained Setnik. "Translations from earlier centuries emphasize free verse and meaning." In the end, meaning and understanding were more important to the event. After all, Setnik chose the "Aeneid" because of its parallels with our own time. "Virgil was composing on the edge of a whole new view of the Roman world. There was lots of uncertainty about what the future's going to be," Setnik said. This uncertainty is reflected in Virgil's story, according to Setnik. "The 'Aeneid' begins with the Fall of Troy, a very wealthy, very well-maintained society," she said. "The idea of what's next after civilization falls was on young Aeneas's mind. Sure, there's fate and the gods guiding him, but Virgil is enough of a modern artist that we're left in the end with some doubts."

The Setonian
News

Win and they're in

April 22

With a do-or-die match-up against Connecticut College tomorrow, the women's lacrosse team is looking to sharpen its play, get a victory, and move on to the program's first playoff appearance in three years. Although they fell 14-10 to Amherst on Wednesday, the Jumbos (3-5 NESCAC, 6-5 overall) actually gained ground in the NESCAC standings and saw their potential playoff picture get a little clearer, after moving into sole possession of sixth place thanks to Colby and Trinity losses. The Jumbos control their own destiny; if Tufts wins tomorrow, it is guaranteed a spot in the seven-team postseason tournament. A NESCAC game document last week printed in error printed that a win for Tufts' in their match-up last Saturday against Colby guaranteed the Jumbos a shot at the playoffs, a game which Tufts won decisively, 12-5. That statement was premature, and has now been changed on the NESCAC website to say that Tufts "had to win" for a playoff appearance, which is also incorrect. There was the possibility that if Trinity lost its two final games, the Jumbos were still in the tournament, regardless of last Saturday's game. Although important, Tufts' win over Colby couldn't guarantee them a spot because Wesleyan and Trinity were set to match-up against one another, and each had identical 3-4 NESCAC records. Wesleyan won its game with Trinity on Tuesday 14-10, resulting in a three-team logjam in sixth place between Tufts, Trinity, and Colby, one of whom won't make the seven-team cut. However, if the Jumbos lose tomorrow to Connecticut College they still have a legitimate shot at the tournament. If either Trinity or Colby loses, regardless of the score in the Tufts-Connecticut College game, the Jumbos are tournament-bound. Although Tufts, Colby, and Trinity each have identical 3-5 records in-conference, the Jumbos beat Colby last Saturday 12-5, and dropped Trinity 10-8 on March 27 to give them the edge in the head-to-head tie-breaker. Trinity and Colby face off against Bowdoin and Wesleyan respectively, who are in a two-way tie for fourth place with one another. The Jumbos, who lost their regular-season games to Bowdoin (7-8) and Wesleyan (8-9), would be interested in a rematch with either Bowdoin or Wesleyan if Tufts makes the tournament. "We wouldn't mind seeing either of them again," coach Carol Rappoli said. "With any luck at all, we have five wins. We had those two freak losses, and those games [against Bowdoin and Wesleyan] were definitely winnable." However, if they make the tournament, Tufts would not play either Bowdoin or Wesleyan until the second round, because Tufts will find itself facing either undefeated Middlebury, Amherst (7-1), or Williams (7-1) in the first round, all of whom beat the Jumbos earlier this year. In tomorrow's match up against Connecticut College, Tufts will find itself facing off against the league's worst offense, entering play with the fewest goals scored of any NESCAC team, only 53 on the year. Tufts' defense, on the other hand, is ranked fourth in the NESCAC. Connecticut College also currently ranks second to last with a 1-7 record against NESCAC opponents. Its only victory was against Bates, the league's worst team who has an 0-8 mark in league play and faces off Middlebury on Saturday, in a match-up of the league's reciprocating perfect records. Rappoli is confident in her squad. "We're a young team, a lot better now than a year ago at this point," Rappoli continued. "We're in control of our own destiny."

The Setonian
News

Correction: Baumwoll wins blow-out election

April 22

An article on Thursday, April 22 incorrectly stated the drop in voter participation in Wednesday's TCU presidential election. There was a two percent decrease, not ten percent.

The Setonian
News

SLAM rallies students at Tisch, Ballou Hall

April 22

The Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM) held its second large-scale protest in as many weeks yesterday to coincide with the Admissions Office's April Open House program. A crowd of about 45 students, faculty, and administrators gathered on the Tisch Library patio at 3 p.m. to hear several speakers make the case for increased compensation for the University's janitorial staff. Irlanda Castillo, janitorial union steward and an employee of OneSource -- the company to which Tufts outsources its janitorial labor -- described her experiences in Spanish. SLAM coordinator and senior Ariana Flores then translated her statements into English. "Some of the janitors' children here have to start working at age 14 just to help support their families because Tufts doesn't provide enough money for our services," Flores said, translating for Castillo. Castillo said Tufts ignores the fact that a sizeable sector of its workforce is living below the poverty line. "We won't stop [protesting] until we get the answers that we deserve," she said. OneSource is currently negotiating a new contract with the janitorial union, after which the University will renegotiate its deal with OneSource. Flores said about 1700 members of the Tufts community have signed a petition demanding better treatment for janitors. The petition was presented to President Larry Bacow, but Flores said she has not received a response. "We're here today to tell the administration that we're not going to stand for this kind of treatment," she said. "We'll be back every week until this issue is resolved." The rally then circled Ballou Hall, where an April Open House reception was being held in the Coolidge Room. Rally participants shouted various chants towards the upper windows of the building, including "I don't know but I've been told, Bacow's pockets are lined with gold, lies and tricks will not divide, students, workers side by side." Before the rally's conclusion, several prospective student groups walked by and were greeted with shouts of "shame on Tufts."

The Setonian
News

Dershowitz 'makes case' for Israel

April 22

Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz analyzed the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and came down firmly on the side of Israel in a speech last night at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. During a 20-minute speech and lengthy question and answer session, Dershowitz attempted to distinguish between the "perceptions and realities in the Middle East today." Cabot Auditorium's seats and aisles were filled with students, faculty, and members of the community. Dershowitz began his speech by defending Israel's human rights practices. In regard to human rights standards, he said, "no country in the world has complied better than Israel," under similar conditions. He said that if placed in a situation similar to Israel's, most countries would use aerial bombing, rather than the door-to-door infantry techniques that he said Israel uses. Dershowitz extolled the virtues of the Israeli Supreme Court as a check on possible military abuses. "Every case has the right to be heard," he said. "Every act of the government can be challenged." Dershowitz defended military action and assassinations against terrorism as necessary to save lives. "If you don't attack terrorism, they'll attack anyway," he said. "The job of democracy is to stop terrorism from happening, and the way is the military," he said. "You don't try to understand Hitler or bin Laden, you try to trap them, and you don't try to stop Hamas." He condemned the United States and Great Britain for their hypocrisy, citing British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw's condemnation of Israeli targeted killings even while supporting British assassinations of terrorist leaders. "Many actions Israel takes are deemed unlawful without comparing them to actions taken by the U.S.," he said. Dershowitz compared the U.N.'s opposition to Israel to a court in Mississippi during the 1930s. "They can do justice with a white versus a white, they can do justice with a black versus a black, but they cannot do justice with a black versus a white," he said. He said that eventually the U.N.'s credibility will be questioned if it continues to pass General Assembly resolutions against Israel. Dershowitz said he supported the creation of a Palestinian state. "I'm pro-Palestinian, I support a Palestinian state," he said. "The best security Israel can have is a democratic, economically viable Palestine." He said the current methods employed by the present Palestinian leadership are counterproductive, however. "When [Palestinians] want their own state more than the destruction of the Jewish state, then there will finally be a Palestinian state," he said. "Palestinians have to realize they will never get a state if they continue terrorism," Dershowitz said. He said Algeria was created by terrorism and that it is "the worst state in the world." During the question and answer session, Dershowitz was highly critical of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. "We know for absolute certain that Arafat pushed a button for [the 1972 Olympic killings in] Munich," he said. He said terrorism has "leapfrogged" the Palestinian cause onto the world stage, and "as a result of terrorism, Palestinians have been welcomed into the Vatican and the U.N." Dershowitz is not optimistic about current Palestinian leadership passing a peace treaty with Israel. "There will never be peace in Arafat's lifetime, he said. "He will never sign on the dotted line." Dershowitz was disdainful of the Palestinian leadership's support for terrorism, particularly because he said they have been give opportunities to achieve a state, most recently during the 2000 Camp David negotiations. "All the Palestinians have to do is pick up a phone and call [Secretary of State Colin] Powell and it will be done," Dershowitz said. Dershowitz also complained about what he considers anti-Israel bias in the media. He said both pro-and anti-Israel positions are presented, but moderate supporters of Israel are overshadowed by right-wing and messianic supporters of Israel. He said that his editorial submissions have been turned down 13 times by The Boston Globe in favor of more conservative pro-Israel voices. Dershowitz concluded by saying that the best solution to all of the misconceptions is to "be fair and to apply a single standard. That will be good for justice and good for peace." Audience members were generally impressed with Dershowitz's defense of his position. "He knew what he wanted to say and he said it very well," Hillel Board member Marc Katz said. Dershowitz received a standing ovation from the audience at the conclusion of his speech.

The Setonian
News

With 'freecycling,' one student's trash is another student's treasure

April 22

As students pack up their dorm rooms and discard old goods, they may have a more environmentally-friendly option available than throwing out those materials they no longer have a use for. The Tufts' annual Dump-and-Run sale is one that students have known of for several years now, but there is a new option in the website Freecycle.org -- an international grassroots movement of people giving and receiving used goods within their immediate community. Started in May 2003, the Freecycle network sets up an easily accessible Yahoo! Groups system that allows registered users to donate unwanted "stuff," -- from half-used shampoo bottles to magazines to flip-flops -- to locals who can use it. According to Freecycle.org, there are currently 360 different cities and 52,195 people "freecycling." Freecycle helps the environment by enabling re-use and thereby reducing trash and the demand for newly manufactured goods. Upon joining a local Freecycle group, users can submit and receive e-mails advertising available items, which they can then arrange to drop off or pick up at designated locations. "If you look at this from an environmental position with the goal of benefiting people, it's an awfully good idea," said Fletcher School professor William Moomaw, who teaches a course on environmental nonprofit organizations. "Freecycle enables the transaction of goods that would not have been used otherwise -- it's like eBay without money." The Boston area has responded enthusiastically to Freecycle. They claim a membership of 445, and its Boston group has 336. Tufts students can join either or both. The network was created to reduce waste in downtown Tucson, Arizona so that the demand for landfill space would not result in the destruction of the desert landscape. Now, college students see it as a way to easily rid themselves of unwanted items while helping others in the process. "I think it's cool," sophomore Sam Ronfard said of the website. "Why throw something away if someone else could use it?" "I'll definitely use the program," freshman Brett Garling said. "It doesn't cost anything, and it would require no more work than putting trash on the curbside would. I see no reason not to [try it]." Anja Kollmuss, Project Manager of Tufts Institute of the Environment, has dealt with such concerns on a lesser scale with Tufts' annual Dump-and-Run sale, the proceeds of which benefit environmental programs. During the Dump-and-Run, students can donate unwanted items to be sold for low prices to other students, and Kollmuss must determine what is and is not sellable, a system which she said is similar to Freecycle. Kollmuss is considering posting unsold Dump-and-Run items on Freecycle in the future. "It depends on the logistics of it -- how easy it is for the people wanting the items to pick them up from the Tufts campus," Kollmuss said. Like those on Freecycle, the items offered in the Dump-and-Run sale are varied. Last year, the sale received three 40-foot trailers worth of donations -- including rugs, furniture, clothes, office supplies, shelving, and books. Some items recently exchanged through Freecycle include instruments, old doors, unfinished bottles of hair dye, hot tubs, chicken coops, doghouses, beds and other furniture. Each local Freecycle group is run by a volunteer. Those wishing to participate, visit the website and send an e-mail expressing their wishes to the leader of their local group. An ad is then posted describing the objects being offered, so that website viewers in need of that type of "trash" can contact the site and initiate an exchange. Other Mass. cities with Freecycle groups include Haverhill, Lowell, North Andover, Salem, the South Shore region, and Worcester County. Freecycle's grasp goes far beyond Mass., however: other nations participating include Australia, Brazil, China, Columbia, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, and Korea. Freecycle reserves the right to edit users' posted information. The site's policy also states that it is up to individual Freecycle users "to be familiar with any legal limitations that may exist on the exchange of any posted materials," and that the network itself "is not responsible for the determination of what may constitute a hazardous waste or create a hazardous situation."

The Setonian
News

Two new alumni trustees to join Board in November

April 22

The Alumni Association recently elected Sharon Halverson (LA '65) and William O'Reilly, Jr. (LA '77) as the newest members of the University's Board of Trustees. The two were selected by alumni voters from a pool of four chosen by the Alumni Council's nominating committee. The winners were contacted by Alumni Association President Alan MacDougall last weekend after President Larry Bacow and Board Chair James Stern were notified of the results. The nominating committee chose the four candidates last fall, and voting from the 80,000 members of the Alumni Association closed early this month. According to the chair of the nominating committee, Caryn Pawliger, nominations are based on alumni's service to the University and their professional and volunteer experience. Halverson was most recently the executive director of the Council of Community Services in Port Chester/Rye, N.Y.. O'Reilly is the vice chair of the real estate department of the law firm Hale and Dorr in Boston. Both have served on the Alumni Council for several years, and O'Reilly was the president prior to MacDougall. The vote totals for the winners and the other two candidates, Gloria White Hammond and John de Jong, are confidential. Out of the 40 spots on the Board of Trustees, ten are reserved for alumni. According to MacDougall, it is rare for universities to reserves spots for alumni. Halverson and O'Reilly will each serve five-year terms on the Board, replacing Joyce Barsam and Monte Haymon at November's meeting. Barsam and Haymon have each served for ten years -- terms were limited to five years in 1999. Haymon was the chair of the School of Engineering's Board of overseers. According to Trustees Secretary Linda Dixon, the two new trustees will be invited to the May Board meeting "as a courtesy" before they are installed in November. Halverson said one of her priorities on the Board will be improving the University's financial aid capability, as she was able to attend school because of loans and scholarships. "As close as we can come to need blind, it would certainly improve the quality of students who are able to come to Tufts," she said. Unlike charter trustees -- trustees who are nominated by a Board committee and are not told they are being considered until they are approved by the whole Board -- alumni trustees have the option of campaigning. "Traditionally, alumni have not campaigned," MacDougall said. However, "in recent years, because the alumni body is so widely spread, there has been an effort made," he said. Halverson said a classmate sent e-mails to other class members asking for them to support her . "For years I've been on the Alumni Council, and we've been trying to increase the number of people who vote for alumni trustees," she said. "This year, I had a personal interest." Alumni trustees do not have to be approved by the Board after they are elected by the Alumni Association, and charter trustees are not put before an alumni vote prior to their approval by the Board. Once the alumni trustees are elected, however, they have the same status as charter trustees. "Alumni trustees have all the same responsibilities," MacDougall said. "Nobody on the board remembers how they got there."

The Setonian
News

Jumbos have Bates Bobcats in crosshairs

April 22

After a crucial victory over Amherst, the men's lacrosse team looks to continue its success when it travels to Bates tomorrow afternoon. The Jumbos won the last meeting against the Bobcats by one goal, but fell in the two prior meetings. The match up will pit two teams who sit on opposite sides of the winning spectrum. Bates ranks last in the league with a 1-6 NESCAC record, while the Jumbos are tied for first in the league with Middlebury with a 5-1 record in the NESCAC (9-2, overall). Bates has been struggling throughout most of the season, and has lost its last six games against the likes of Amherst, Williams, Colby and Bowdoin, all teams Tufts has defeated. The Jumbos have won two straight, but many of their match ups have been decided by one goal, and the team will not underestimate any opponent. Bates, despite its losing record, has the ability to upset Tufts. In the beginning of the season, the Bobcats defeated Wesleyan, a team that is now tied for third in the league, convincingly. "Bates is as tough a team as there is in this league," coach Mike Daly said. "They are one of the most tenacious and persistent teams in the league. They are well coached and disciplined and we will need to play them smart to beat them." Tufts will rely, as it has all season, on each player carrying out his role. Junior Bryan Griffin, who had an impressive game against Amherst with three goals and three assists, has been a key contributor all season. Griffin leads the team in goals (31), assists (26), and points (57). Junior Devin Clarke has also been on fire for the Jumbos. Clarke scored the game-winner against Amherst on Wednesday, and is second on the team in goals, assists and points. Junior goaltender Luke Chicco has been formidable in net and has been a solid base for the Jumbos' defense. According to Daly, however, there isn't one "go-to" player on the team. The Jumbos have been winning because of their total team effort, and relying on their role players to execute their responsibilities in tight situations. After Wednesday's game against Amherst, the team will be focusing on the basics and fundamental execution both offensively and defensively. "Our mindset heading into Saturday's game is to put together a total team effort," said Daly. "We also need to focus on our clearing and stop giving teams second chance opportunities. We have played good defense and offense as of late, but we can't let teams come back on us." With the season coming to a close and the NESCAC tournament on the horizon just over a week away, the Jumbos will need to continue their strong play. If the season were to end today, Tufts would most likely be facing off against Middlebury in the NESCAC Championship game for the second straight year. However according to Daly, the Jumbos cannot afford to look that far ahead. Every game for the team has been a close match-up and much of its success can be attributed to the fact that the Jumbos have remained focused. "We are focused on Bates right now, and we will have our hands full with them," Daly said. "Bates is our focus and if our thoughts wander away from Bates for even a second, our season could be in jeopardy. But if Middlebury were to show up tomorrow, we would play them and beat them." Tufts squares off against Bates tomorrow in Lewiston, ME, at 2 p.m. The NESCAC Tournament begins May 2.

The Setonian
News

Business schools limit info for rankings

April 22

University rankings by national news media have come under fire as prestigious graduate business programs are refusing to divulge information. Students interested in pursuing MBAs, however, said they have always been disdainful of rankings and that this recent trend will affect them very little. Earlier this month, the Harvard Business School (HBS) and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania both agreed not to provide information concerning current students and alumni of the schools. The contact information is typically used by publications such as Business Week and U.S. News and World Report to gauge student approval of their respective schools. Basic information about the school will still be available. Both programs are consistently ranked among the top five by a variety of publications. Young Entrepreneurs at Tufts President Thomas Singer is planning to pursue an MBA after gaining some work experience. He is wary of what rankings say about schools. "I believe there are many factors that these rankings overlook," he said, "and many of the factors that these rankings deem important might not necessarily be the ones most pertinent to all students." Singer does not believe that rankings should be completely abolished because to some extent they make schools "stay on their toes." Vice President of the Economics Society at Tufts Jon Parker said rankings are one of the least valuable methods of evaluating a school. "It is fairly obvious in general which schools are in the top tier, and I believe there are far better sources than a magazine's numeric ranking and brief comments to help compare perspective business programs," he said. Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Lee Coffin said any protests against the decision may be irrelevant as HBS and Wharton's stature will help them weather any criticism. "Wharton and HBS are known commodities, however, places like [Dartmouth's business school] Tuck could have a different outcome," Coffin said. The debate over MBA rankings reflects a larger, ongoing discussion about their merit in undergraduate admissions. "Rankings in general have really warped the admissions process," Coffin said. "There are many of us who work in admissions who would love to see all manner of rankings disappear." The danger is that rankings can be over-emphasized, especially for incoming undergraduates. Coffin described a student he met at April Open House whose sole factor in deciding between Tufts and another school was national rankings. Coffin said this shows the "power of surveys in the mind of a 17 year old." Tufts was ranked 27th in the most recent U.S. News and World Report listings of "National Universities -- Doctoral" category. Reed College suffered when they stopped reporting data nine years ago. The school fell from among top ten liberal arts schools to the bottom quartile and applications subsequently dropped. "It was a story of 'whoa,' this is what can happen when you pull out," Coffin said. Economics Society Public Relations Officer John Papp said "a move like this has to be made by the institutions that benefit most from the rankings in order to have a real impact." For Tufts, Coffin has recommended to President Larry Bacow that the school should consider removing itself from rankings only during the right circumstances.

The Setonian
News

Tuftonia's Day to continue as smaller event

April 21

This article was corrected on April 23, 2004. Read the text of the correction here. What was formerly thought to be a temporary modification in the annual Tuftonia's Day celebrations has turned out to be a permanent policy change. Last year, a fireworks display smaller than those of previous years was held on the on the academic quad to cap off the ceremony -- at a cost of $18,000. In previous years, the event featured larger, more full-scale displays that launched in the fields across from Cousens Gymnasium. Although Tuftonia's Day was officially yesterday, this year's 152-year anniversary party will fall on April 30. The event always takes place on the Friday before Spring Fling. The Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall, however, did hold celebrations from noon until 3 p.m. yesterday. The change in the firework display was made last year due to fears that a loud show around the time of the beginning of the Iraq war would be mistaken for a terrorist attack, Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel said. An additional factor was noise complaints that some residents voiced in the past. Tufts Spirit Coalition members, whose plans for the event have been underway since January, distributed literature to neighbors behind Carmichael Hall several times in advance of the event to inform the community. In addition, students will monitor streets during the event to ensure decibel levels do not reach what Rubel called an "unreasonable" level. In talking to several residents living in the area behind Carmichael, however, fears expressed by Rubel seem largely unsubstantiated. Medford resident Chris O'Brien said that worries about confusion between fireworks and terrorist attacks "don't make any sense at all." Though occasionally bothered by noise from campus events, he believes that some celebration once in a while is permissible. "On the rare occasions when it is noisy, I just figure it's your turn," he said. Somerville resident Dorothea Macero is sure that no one would mistake the fireworks for a terrorist attack, but that, "I have to know about these things ahead of time to be certain." Alderman Bob Trane of Ward 7, which includes Tufts' Medford campus, said that he constantly receives calls about noise in the residential areas near campus. Tufts is entitled to its celebrations, however, as long as "the community is involved in their planning and execution," Trane said. Trane said communication with residents prior to loud campus events is key. Although the University sent a packet to Trane individually this year detailing the specifics of the Tuftonia's Day celebration, he did not think it was sufficient. "It's great that they're informing me, but they never do a good job of informing the community. And it's not my job to do that," he said. Somerville Mayor Joseph Curatone's office also acknowledged that there is a lack of communication between the University and the City of Somerville. "To be honest, we don't really know much about this issue," Mark Horan, spokesman for Curtatone, said. Horan said that the city is fine with occasional events with noise, as long as residents are informed in advance. "Certain things are reasonable as long as the University stays on top of the situation," Horan said. The event's relocation to the academic quad means the event is no longer open to community residents. This did not seem to be an issue, however, none of the seven residents interviewed had heard of Tuftonia's Day, and only one had attended events on campus. Trane alleged that this is another repercussion of Tufts' failure to keep the surrounding neighborhoods informed. "Tufts offers a lot of things the community can take advantage of, but most people just don't know about them," he said. The Spirit Coalition was in charge of the coordination and communication with multiple parties throughout the planning process. Drafts of the plan were reviewed by the Office of Community Relations, which has imposed several procedures to minimize the impact on the town. Eventually, letters detailing the time and specifics of the plan were sent to community officials in both Medford and Somerville. As of yet, Rubel said that she has not received any responses, which she interprets as approval of the plan. All of the changes have not affected the date of the show. Spirit Coalition has received $18,000 from Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate buffer funding, contributions from other groups, and their original budget supply. The event had originally been budgeted at $12,048. In addition to the fireworks, there will be free food and entertainment from theMark, the Battle of the Bands winner that will be opening for the Spring Fling concert the next day.

The Setonian
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Red Zone: What it means to be from Maine

April 21

Since Poland Spring started bottling water in 1845, I'll betthere's been a sizeable chunk of people asking themselves thequestion, "Is Poland Spring really what it means to be fromMaine?"

The Setonian
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In Response to Ms. Jeka

April 21

Mary Jeka's letter in yesterday's Daily ("The administration responds") signifies the first administrative acknowledgement of the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM) and the current custodial crisis. While we welcome a discussion about this pressing issue, I am appalled by the falsities present in Ms. Jeka's letter. The administration has still failed to take responsibility for its workers, and instead has tried to shift the blame onto OneSource. Ms. Jeka's claim that Tufts is "not a party" to the ongoing negotiations between OneSource and SEIU Local 615, the union representing the janitors, is simply wrong. While Tufts officials are not physically present at these meetings, OneSource representatives are in constant contact with the University. Chris Fallon, head of the OneSource negotiations team, has made it clear on several occasions that OneSource's proposals are contingent upon the parameters set by the university. Dan Nicolai, SEIU negotiations leader, said that, last Friday, Fallon told all parties at the negotiations that he was "going to go get on the phone with Tufts." To Ms. Jeka's claim that it's "puzzling" that we find the wages and benefits of our janitors unacceptable and embarrassing given the positive reaction to collective bargaining in 2001, I can only highlight the continued pathetic working conditions for the custodians. While strides were made three years ago, the inherent problem still exists: Tufts' custodians still are treated unfairly. They earn far less per hour as compared to peer universities, and are paid the same wage as in 1994, with no adjustment for inflation. The current conflict is about priorities. Tufts' Vision Statement claims: "As an institution, we are committed to improving the human condition." Rather than embody its ideals, however, the administration has chosen to save money and exploit its workers. It fails to provide its custodians with a living wage or even sick days. Only half of Tufts custodians receive health coverage. As students we are in an extraordinarily strong position to convince the administration to live up to its public image. Please support those who keep your dorms and classrooms clean.Mickey Leibner LA '07

The Setonian
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Atypical four years as a member of TEMS

April 21

As I look back upon my four years at Tufts, I realize that mycollege experience was anything but typical. Of course, I attendedmy fair share of parties on Professor's Row, ran in multiple NakedQuad Runs, and spent countless late nights staring at thebrightness of my computer screen. Most of the days and nights inbetween, however, I could be spotted around campus wearing a whitepolo shirt, khakis, and a Motorola radio attached to my belt. Iprobably drove the TEMS truck more than my own car. As an EMT withTEMS (Tufts Emergency Medical Services) for four years, I havesacrificed countless hours of sleep, studying, and my own socialplans to help my peers in times of emergency.

The Setonian
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The Tufts Daily News Update

April 21

The Tufts Daily News Update Headlines from The Tufts Daily delivered straight to your inbox!How to Subscribe or Unsubscribe to Our Mailing Lists1) Select whether you want to subscribe or unsubscribe. subscribe   or unsubscribe2) Enter your email address and click the "Submit" ...

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Jumbos claim six individual wins at George Davis Invitational

April 21

The men's track team is hitting its peak at the perfect time. The Jumbos performed strongly in nearly all areas of competition on Saturday when the team traveled to UMass-Lowell for the George Davis Invitational, its last meet of the regular season. The invitational featured competitors from seven schools, including Tufts, UMass-Lowell, Bryant College, Keene State, Bentley College, Assumption College, and Stonehill College. While the meet's format did not include assigning points to give final team rankings, the meet held special importance for Tufts. The meet was the last chance to qualify individual competitors for the NESCAC Championships, which will take place this Saturday at Trinity College. In addition to Tufts's typically strong showing in the distance events, the field event competitors hit full stride on Saturday, performing significantly better than they have thus far in the outdoor season. Of Tufts's six first-place finishes on Saturday, four came from the field events. This surge was led by the return of All-American freshman jumper Fred Jones. Jones, who had not yet recorded a legal jump going into Saturday's meet due to a knee injury, won both the long jump and triple jump on Saturday, with distances of 21-08.00 in the long and 44-11.25 in the triple. Both marks won by a margin of nearly a foot. Saturday's meet was Jones's last opportunity of the regular season to qualify for the NESCAC Championships without a wild-card berth from coach Connie Putnam, and he took advantage, qualifying in both jumps. "Considering I had been out for the last three weeks, I think I did really well." Jones said. "I'm happy with my performance, but I know that I can do better." Junior Nate Thompson of Tufts came in third in the long jump and fifth in the triple. The Tufts throwing squad also achieved their best performance of the season. Junior Dan March won the hammer throw, throwing a personal record 169-08, a mark good enough to win by more than ten feet. The throw was also good enough to provisionally qualify March for the NCAA Championships. "This was the first meet where the form has really come together." March said. "With such a rapid-fire qualifying season in the spring, there's not nearly as much of an opportunity to let your ability come into its own." Sophomore Brandon Udelhofen continued to perform well in the discus, finishing in third, followed by freshman Ryan Byrne in sixth. In the shot put, Byrne, senior tri-captain Ryan McPherson, and sophomore Jason Galvin came in fourth, fifth, and sixth. Galvin also finished third in the hammer with a strong throw of 141-11. Byrne continues to be a well-rounded contributor to the throwing squad. In addition to his shot put and discus finishes, the freshman finished fourth in the javelin, throwing a personal record 155-03. Another important field event for Tufts at NESCAC's will be the pole vault. At Saturday's meet, Tufts swept the top three positions in the event. Sophomore Seth LaPierre won the event with mark of 15-01, followed by sophomore Will Hietmann and freshman Justin Henneman, who finished second and third, respectively, with marks of 12-06. Junior Evan Blaser finished second in the high jump, rounding out a successful day for Tufts in the field. The Tufts runners gave the strong distance performances which have typified their season thus far. Freshmen Dan Jones and Chad Uy finished first and second in the 3000 meter steeplechase. In the 5000, more freshmen got a chance to shine, with Justin Chung and James Lamoreaux finishing third and fourth. In the 800, sophomore Pat Mahoney finished second, quickly followed by junior Aaron Kaye in fourth. In the 1500, sophomore Matt Fortin finished in second, followed by junior Nate Brigham in third and sophomore Matt Lacey in fourth. Freshman Josh Kennedy finished second in the two mile run. While Tufts continued to show a relative lack of depth in the sprint events, Jumbo hurdlers had an exceptional day. Freshman Jamil Ludd won the 110 meter hurdles, followed by Thompson. Thompson finished in the top five in the long jump, triple jump, and the 110 hurdles. In the 400 hurdles, sophomore Trevor Williams finished in second, followed by junior Tom Tropea in fourth and freshman LeQuan Hunter in sixth. At last year's NESCAC Championships, the outdoor team finished second, losing to Williams and edging out Bates by one half of a point. "Going into NESCAC's, we're very confident." March said. "The throwers feel good to go. Our distance guys have been machines all season, and we're really improving in the sprints and hurdles." Jones echoed his teammate's confidence. "The team has stepped up big time." Jones said. "If everyone does their job on Saturday, we can definitely win."

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