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News

ResLife frustration

April 21

I chuckled out loud and shook my head as I read the Office of Residential Life & Learning (ORLL) Director's statement in Wednesday's Daily ("RAs speak out against Reslife"). Director Yolanda King's declaration that the ORLL promotes "safety, comfort, respect, and free exchange of dialogue" is rhetoric that is unsubstantiated in any of my experiences as a past RA. Working in Houston Hall during the 2002-2003 academic year, I experienced King's leadership first-hand. Unprofessional experiences abounded: Inservices that left staff saying "Why are we here?" and "That was a waste of time," a jumbled group interview process of RA applicants, and a lack of follow-up and information on students in both disciplinary and general welfare contexts. It frightens me to see that these and other issues are still present more than a year later. When asked to provide feedback about the ORLL at the end of the year, I provided honest and constructive feedback, which resulted in a required meeting with King who told me that my complaints and suggestions for improvement put my rehire into question and that they were a "personal issue." Deciding to withdraw my application for 2003-2004 reappointment was the hardest decision that I have made at Tufts. With it, I gave up a position to be a positive role model for my residents. My decision was based on my belief (one that I still have to this day) that the ORLL will not accept, support, or foster positive change brought about by its RAs. In fact, a mere attempt to implement something new is often subject to scrutiny and reprimand. Some may argue that my experiences constitute a unique incident. I can now tell my story and opinion. I take comfort in knowing that others are having the same experiences as me, as documented by personal communication and reports in The Daily, Tufts Observer and The Primary Source. The residential system has great influence on students' intellectual and social development. Something must be done. The students' voices are being heard, and they are growing louder. Unless the University takes the needed actions immediately, these voices may soon become deafening.Mitch Lunn LA 04Mitch Lunn served as an RA in Carmichael and Houston Halls from 2001-2003.

News

Seven Questions with Kate Mae Gluckman

April 21

Full name: Kate Mae GluckmanNick name: Gluck, kgBirth date: September 29, 1982Hometown: Morrisville, Vt.Zodiac sign: LibraFavorite athlete: Montor Christoudias, Buck Deeez, Jessie "The Claw" Colby From the basketball court to field events on the women's outdoor track and field team, senior Kate Gluckman gets it done. On the basketball court, Gluckman is a hustler who is willing to play defense on any girl, large or small. On the track and field team, Kate tosses a heavy ball with good distance. There really aren't many similarities. What is interesting about Kate is that she is willing to comment on just about anything. Just like her governor Howard Dean, Kate Gluckman keeps it real. She promised to take the women's basketball team to the promised land, but fell a little short. Now, she promises to take the track and field team to NCAAs. Just like Dean, Gluckman is a winner. Oddly enough, I caught up to Kate sewing her Tufts varsity letters on her ResLife fleece jacket, so naturally 7 Questions followed.1. How do you go from being an agile basketball player to a shot putter?It is very easy; both sports center around one thing. Balls. The transition is simple: Big balls to small balls, leather to metal.2. How do coach Kristen Morwick (track and field) and Carla Berube (basketball) differ?Fortunately for me both coaches are awesome. Morwick and Berube are both passionate and driven. But the main difference can be found in the hairstyles. You will see Morwick with more of a flowing, natural yet stylish look, while Berube wears the slicked back "no funny business" look (which may or may not resemble a mullet when down). Seriously though, I love them both.3. What are your major team and individual goals in outdoor track?Well the NESCAC championship is this weekend and we are looking to take gold from the reigning Williams team. They may be bigger and faster, but we are much better looking, and I think that will work to our advantage this year, especially in the throws. Individually I'm looking to beat this one girl in discus who wears her hair in a pink tipped Mohawk. We call her the Devil.4. Buy or sell ResLife, why or why not?Hard question Elliott. Lately I've been feeling a little down on Reslife, and would certainly sell. But we all know the perks of being a senior RA and how great it is to bring a hottie back to the extra long bed on the healthy living floor. Nothing can beat it.5. Is it possible for anybody from Vermont to have "thug appeal?"I'd have to say no. It just isn't the style up there. And as you know by my constant rejections, there isn't any thug lovin' either.6. With the WNBA draft already taking place and the Olympic track and field team set, what are your plans for next year?>Like most seniors, I am hopelessly clueless for next year. Since I anticipate being unemployed, I think I'll take up a new sport, maybe synchronized swimming or curling. I need something to keep me entertained as I live out of a box at the Powderhouse rotary.7. How much respect to the field athletes have for the runners and vice versa?The throwers have great respect for the runners; we see what they have to do in practice and at meets. Running around that oval blows. I don't know how much the runners respect the throwers, but they do fear us, which I think is equally important. Let's face it, they can't run forever.

News

Re-addressing the ROTC

April 21

Let me tell you the story of a student with a financial problem.After one semester at Tufts, this student had no more money forcollege, her parents would not co-sign loans (her major of choicewould never bring in enough money to pay them off), and theuniversity declared that her parents made too much money to provideher with financial aid or even work study. Searching for a solutionother than transferring to a cheaper school, and wondering whereher parents had hidden all this money the university was talkingabout; the student came upon the ROTC scholarship program. It wasthe only program she encountered that provided her with enoughmoney to remain at Tufts, so she signed up.

News

This is the time of year to have your heart broken

April 21

Oh woe to be a third seed in the NHL playoffs. Both the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins brought ruin upon their respective fans this past weekend by blowing up, committing hari kari, driving off that cliff edge faster than Thelma and Louise. Bruins fans have a little more to be upset about, though. After two years without a true playoff goaltender, Boston finally seemed to find one in Andrew Raycroft. Despite his lack of, well, any experience, he led the team to a 3-1 series lead. And the fans were ready to chase away the indignity of their first round loss to the very same lowly-ranked Montreal Canadiens team two years earlier. Well, Jose Theodore did his goaltending thing again, and suddenly the Bruins are playing golf well before their time for the third year in a row. Boston did not even play poorly. They did not have any serious injuries to key players. They lacked nothing. And yet, now, Bruins fans are left with nothing but a horrible Celtics team for their spring playoff aspirations. Of course, for the Vancouver fan, the taste is just as bitter. The team seemed to be playing well without power forward Todd Bertuzzi. The team pulled through after losing starting goalie Dan Cloutier. Minor-league netminder Alex Auld seemed to be making a name for himself, playing at the level of a playoff goalie. With less than one minute left, down by one, the Canucks tied it up on a beautiful goal that made Calgary Flame's goalie Miikka Kiprusoff look like an amateur. And Vancouver fans everywhere felt their hearts raise in hope. Two minutes into overtime, Calgary's moving on to face the Detroit Red Wings, and Vancouver is headed home. Teams like the San Jose Sharks, that have fought expectations for an entire season, are still going strong. Despite a serious lack of strength in scoring, San Jose is showing itself to be a serious threat in the Western Conference. The Paul Kariya-less Colorado Avalanche might have something to say about that this week when they go up against the Sharks. Even without Kariya, the Avs' offensive power is going to put the Sharks to shame. There is the chance, however, that Shark goalie Evgeni Nabokov could do what he does best, and steal game after game against Colorado's scoring prowess. In the end, though, the Sharks are going to need to get enough goals against the Avalanche, and if they run into a little bad luck, they will not have enough clutch scorers on the team to pull them out of a scoring drought. The betting sheets are pointing towards the Detroit Red Wings, coming in at nearly 1-1 odds to be the West's team in the Stanley Cup finals. But the Nashville Predators -- a team that was not supposed to be in the playoffs three months ago -- made them work, and the older Red Wings were looking tired as the series progressed. The team's talent allowed Detroit to swing through the series without too much of a problem, but everyone on planet Earth has witnessed the Flames' -- Detroit's second round opponent -- incredible work ethic around the boards. Not to mention the hitting. If the Flames can keep up their energy and enthusiasm, they might be just the team to break down Detroit. The Red Wing's Joe Louis Arena is known as one of the most forbidding buildings in the NHL, but one look at the recent rabidity of the Flames' fans and that distinction might have to be moved north to Calgary. These people have not even seen playoff hockey in nearly a decade, and they have absolutely no intention of letting their team get away with an early exit. A little closer to home in the Eastern Conference, we might witness Darwinian selection in action. The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing off against the Philadelphia Flyers, and whoever comes out of that contest might be too sore to face its third-round opponent. These are two large, east coast style teams that are going to knock each other silly before they're finished. That means that whoever comes out of the Canadiens-Tampa Bay Lightningmatch up will have an easy time of it, going against a big, tired team. To finish off, a reminder that while betting on the NHL playoffs might be fun, it is best left to professionals. Some heavy losses this past week is teaching a lesson that school never could.

News

TDC's spring show is too darn hot

April 21

With song styles ranging from movie tunes to Hindi, Tufts Dance Collective's (TDC) re-vamped spring show will certainly appeal to a large audience. This Friday, over 250 dancers will bring you "TDC 101." Dancers will have their first performance in Cohen Auditorium at 7:00 p.m. followed by a final show at 9:30 p.m. With a brand new format, TDC will present its new and improved self. The show will start with a video featuring various choreographers discussing the "vision" behind their respective dances. Senior director Sean Bjerke likens the video to a "Best in Show" kind of mockumentary. The idea is based on the fact that many dances tend to have a theme behind them, according to Bjerke. The audience will soon learn, however, that this concept of "vision" is dealt with in a tongue-in-cheek manner, reminding viewers that "TDC 101" is a fun college show and not a Lincoln Center production. TDC has also increased the diversity of the program. Senior director Amanda Selden stressed the different types of dances in "TDC 101," noting that an effort was made this year to incorporate new genres. Indeed, the variety of dances is the highlight of this show. Featured styles include hip hop, tap, lyrical ballet, Hindi, couples dancing, and theatrical. With such a wide range of dances, each selection should be memorable in its own right. Bjerke believes that the pieces will "stick in people's heads" long after they leave Cohen. Also memorable are the songs chosen for this year's dances. The list spans both genres and decades. From the songs heard week after week on frat party dance floors to early '90s R&B hits to songs from your parents' generation, the soundtrack to "TDC 101" is a treat in and of itself, and the combination of nostalgia and freshness is sure to allow for an energetic and dynamic performance throughout the show's extensive program. Featured songs include "Too Darn Hot" from the 1948 Cole Porter musical "Kiss Me Kate," "Moondance" by singer-songwriter Van Morrison, "Motown Philly" by Boyz 2 Men, "Original Prankster" by The Offspring, and "Hey Ya" by Outkast. The logistics of including all interested students while working within the confines of the show pose a sizable challenge. According to Bjerke, 32 dances were proposed for only 18 available spots. In lieu of putting on a monstrously long show, TDC leadership decided to choose only a fraction of the proposed dance numbers. When making decisions, the group "tried to recognize commitment within TDC," said Bjerke, as well as trying to give opportunities to both experienced and novice choreographers. The limited number of people allowed on stage in Cohen for any one dance has also been a limiting factor. The TDC constitution asserts that no more than 26 people may be on stage at one time, which leads to problems when well over 26 people sign up for a dance. Due to TDC's commitment to its policy that it will never make cuts based on skill or previous experience, dances must be whittled down according to other, more arbitrary standards. Despite these logistical issues TDC has pressed on, and those who are involved have put a great deal of effort into their spring show. Initial problems have given way to eight-counts, kick-ball-changes, and swing dancing. With literally something for everyone, a semester's worth of practice, and an infectious soundtrack, TDC's spring show is sure to provide entertainment this Friday. And with so many people participating, you're bound to know someone involved in TDC. So take Outkast's advice and give TDC some sugar, because in actuality the dancers probably are your neighbors.

News

Slow Webmail prompts early morning upgrades

April 21

As part of Tufts Computing and Communications Services' (TCCS) efforts to upgrade the campus network to hardware with greater capacities and abilities, Tufts Trumpeter Webmail was temporarily shut down during the early hours this morning, from 2AM to 8AM. In a statement posted on Tuftslife.com and sent to Information Technology Services (ITS) yesterday, TTCS stated that, "Over the past few days, students have reported and we have observed intermittent periods of slowness on student e-mail." During the approximate six hour shut down period, students will not be granted access to any of Webmail's services, but there will be no changes made to students' e-mail addresses, quotas, and configurations. Any e-mail that was sent to a Tufts Webmail address from a non-Webmail address will be held until the maintenance work is completed -- sometime after 8AM this morning.--by Allison Roeser

News

The Dome: No rush

April 21

"Are you excited to graduate?"

News

Old Tufts computers go from trash to treasure

April 21

Tufts Computing and Communication Services (TCCS) and Community Relations have created a computer donation program to benefit Somerville public schools. Though it is still in the early stages and has no official name, the program of collecting and redistributing used machines is likely to begin in May and will continue throughout the summer. No machines have been delivered yet. For now, the program will focus on the collection of machines on campus before a delivery system is developed to redistribute the computers to the schools. To date the program has collected five computers. It will be a joint effort between Community Relations, TCCS, Tufts Facilities, and Tufts Recycles. Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel said that the donations were a way in which Tufts was able to easily give something back to the community. "This is such an easy thing for us to do. We're in the enviable position of being able to replace computers much more frequently than small non-profit organizations, or even than the public schools in some cases," she said. Doug Herrick, Associate Director of Data Network Operations for TCCS, felt that the new program is a "win-win situation." He remarked, "It's in the tradition of Tufts students helping other students." The groups have discussed the project for the past two months to determine the logistics. Rubel said that often, "We can clean the machines and donate them to people who will get several years more use out of them because their needs are less complex than ours." The Facilities Department is responsible for identifying computers around campus which are to be replaced but can still be useful. "Useful" is defined as anything above a Pentium 3 processor. After the computers are identified, the hard drives and memories are wiped out, and facilities transports the computers to the schools. "It doesn't make any sense to toss [the computers] away," Herrick said. Herrick recalled that in the past, the method of disposing of aged computers was fairly haphazard. Many computers that were still useful were being scrapped or stored away before they were deemed truly obsolete. An informal donation program currently exists, encouraging the University to donate old computers to places in Medford, Somerville, and Chinatown. The new donation plan offers an incentive for everyone on campus to participate, as the cost and hassle of disposing of old computers will be taken care of by the program. The costs for the program are minimal, as the expense of wiping the memories from the computers is cheaper than the recycling costs. Herrick hopes that the program will be one that will have a positive effect on relations between the community and the University. Compared to previous years, state aid has decreased drastically in Somerville's annual budget for 2004. Subsequently, schools have been especially hard hit by funding cuts. Ultimately, Rubel hopes the program will allow Tufts to be active partners in the community, and to simply do something to help the neighbors. "There are some very creative people behind this effort. Who knows what they'll come up with next or what this concept can inspire in some other department," Rubel said. "We're all anxious to see how it develops."

News

Harshbarger appointed to improve SPD management

April 21

Former Massachusetts Attorney General Scott Harshbarger will meet with the Somerville Police Department (SPD) next week to begin a review of its management. Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone announced last month that he had hired Harshbarger and his law firm of Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP to evaluate how SPD is following the recommendations made in the 2001 Police Management Study conducted by the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Harshbarger will also be looking at SPD's efforts to alleviate the problems of increased OxyContin and heroin sales in the city. "Somerville had the reputation of a very progressive and innovative police department [which was] very much focused on the community and addressing community problems," Harshbarger said. "I think the mayor very much wants a department like that again." Curtatone spokesman Mark Horan said that this demonstrates the mayor's commitment to "taking a very active stance" towards crime and substance abuse in the city. Already, the mayor has established drug abuse "task forces" to raise awareness of the problem. The Management Study contains a list of 82 recommendations, all generally geared towards making SPD run more smoothly. Some include making more effective use of resources, managing the department to increase the efficiency of police response, acting proactively rather than reactively, and increasing community outreach. "These are kinds of issues that affect quality of peoples' lives," Harshbarger said. "It has to have the greatest impact it possibly can to ensure Somerville has safe homes, safe schools, safe neighborhoods." Horan said that Harshbarger will probably focus on the management side of the SPD. "A lot of the issues the Management Study dealt with are still present," he said. "Now, there is obviously ever less money to go around, so making sure the police department is running efficiently is crucial." Although the Management Study did not contain any recommendations referring specifically to Tufts, Horan said that the University will certainly be affected since the intended result of the review will be to improve public safety in general. "There are plenty of students and faculty either living in or at least walking around Somerville. I'm sure they want the city to be as safe as possible," he said. "What I hope that the University will feel is it is an important partner with community and that it contributes to public safety," Harshbarger said. Although the SPD itself was not included in the decision to hire Harshbarger, some representatives seem to be in favor of the evaluation. "I'm sure he's going to do a good job," Vice President of the Patrolmen's Union John Oliviera said. "There needs to be improvement in the police department." He is hopeful that improvement will also mean hiring more officers. He believes SPD to be severely undermanned: According to Oliviera, a city the size of Somerville requires 130 patrolmen and it only has 89. Although he realizes the city is strapped for cash, he thinks that Harshbarger will realize that it needs more officers. Harshbarger is the Former Attorney General for Massachusetts and former District Attorney for Middlesex county, which includes Somerville. Horan thinks he is the best person for the job. "What the mayor wanted was an independent, unvarnished idea of what's going on in the department," he said. "And Harshbarger is the one to give that."

News

Israeli ambassador to U.S. speaks at Fletcher

April 21

Yesterday evening Daniel Ayalon, Israeli Ambassador to the United States, made a case for Israel to a packed ASEAN auditorium during a particularly contentious time in the Middle East conflict. "This has not been a period of great inactivity," Dean of the Fletcher School Stephen Bosworth said during his introduction of Ayalon. "Israel wants peace," Ayalon began. "For us it is not just a strategic choice, it's a moral obligation." Throughout the speech, Ayalon emphasized that Israel had the right to defend itself in the face of terrorist attacks, and that the Palestinians had failed to live up to mutually negotiated agreements -- the fault, the ambassador said, of Palestinian leadership. Ayalon confidently defended many controversial policies of the administration of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, including the recent assassinations of key Hamas leaders Dr. Abdel Aziz Rantisi and Sheik Ahmed Yassin, as necessary to stop terrorism. "We had to take a severe action. [Rantisi] was commissioning on a daily basis suicide bombings of Israel," Ayalon said. "His life could have been spared if the Palestinian Authority had done what they were required to do after the Oslo peace accords and put him behind bars." "Hamas is our al-Qaida," he said. Ayalon praised President Bush's "road map" for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. "The content is very logical," he said. "The importance of the roadmap is in its universal acceptance, from the U.S., the U.N., and Russia." Ayalon also supported construction of a "security fence" between Palestinian and Israeli sections of the West Bank. "The fence was not built there in 35, 37 years of our presence there. It was a reaction," he said. "Wherever we have a fence, there are no suicide bombers. They cannot cross it. It is simply saving lives." According to Ayalon, "We don't like the fence, we don't want the fence," and it will "be down tomorrow if terrorism will stop." The anniversary of the 1978 Camp David accords between Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian president Anwar Sadat prompted Ayalon to muse on the success of those negotiations and what he perceived as a failure of the 1993 Camp David accords between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. "What made Camp David one a success and Camp David two fail? Leadership," Ayalon said. "It is the leader who has to make the decisions." "I can tell you that when the crucial moment came [for Sadat] to make the decision -- it was painful -- Sadat prevailed against the judgment of all his advisers who told him not to sign." "In the case of Arafat," Ayalon said, "I can tell you this from personal experience, I was there -- his intransigence was against the better judgment of all his advisers." Ayalon said there was one key difference between negotiating with the Egyptians and negotiating with the Palestinians. During talks with the Egyptians, "not a shot was exchanged," he said. The blame for much of Palestinian terrorism, according to Ayalon, lies with Arafat. "Although Hamas and Islamic Jihad are the most extreme, I'd say that the majority -- 60 percent -- were made by Arafat's forces," he said. "Morally, there is no difference between him and Hamas leaders," Ayalon said. "Nobody can deny that [Arafat is] a Palestinian icon and that evokes a lot of sentiments," he said. However, "we would have all moral justification to take action against him." During the question and answer portion of the speech, Ayalon responded to several interrogations about a perceived U.N. and U.S. "double standard" that favors Israel, calling it a "widely spread misperception." Ayalon said that Israel must fight the perception of a double standard "by what we do -- by distancing ourselves and separating our military from the civilian population." When pictures of "an Israeli tank and five-year-old Palestinian boys" appear on television, Ayalon said, "you have lost the PR war right there." Ayalon emphasized the importance of concessions made by Sharon in negotiations with the Palestinians. Giving up Jewish settlements in the Gaza strip, Ayalon said, was "bold and courageous." "Here you have to understand how painful the decision was," he said. "We're talking about the heartland. There was a continuity of Jewish presence in the area. [There are] three generations that have to be uprooted." It is in the face of those concessions, Ayalon said, that he hopes "the Palestinians will live up to the challenge." Ayalon called the Palestinian demand for a "right of return" for Palestinian refugees to Israel a "misnomer," saying the problem of Palestinian refugees would be solved by the creation of a Palestinian state. "There is no right of return to Israel of Palestinians," he said. "Why do we create a Palestinian state? So Palestinians can return to Palestine." He expressed sympathy for the refugees, and said they were being used as a "card" by the Palestinian government to make political demands. "They were a pawn, I really feel bad for them. They were kept as a card," he said.

News

Yankees and Red Sox meet for first time since 2003 ALCS

April 21

For once, the fights this past weekend at Fenway Park weren't due to excessive alcohol intake on the part of fans. Rather, the brawls can be attributed to the fact that the New York Yankees were in town for the first time this season. The four-game weekend series between New York and the Boston Red Sox marked the first time the teams met in meaningful games since game seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series. That 2003 game was the game when Red Sox manager Grady Little crushed the hopes of Red Sox fans everywhere by not lifting pitcher Pedro Martinez when he was clearly out of gas. One of the most frustrating moments of the offseason for Red Sox fans must have been when Little tried to publicly defend himself. He warned the front office executives not to let him go because, he said, he too could "become a ghost, capable of haunting" presumably like Buckner and the Babe. Hadn't Grady already done enough to poor Red Sox fans everywhere? Sorry to digress but Inside the AL is just a little nostalgic because it doesn't have Grady to kick around anymore.... But where were we? Ah yes, the return of the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez, or "A-Rod" as he is known to most and "A-hole" as he is now known in Boston. Boston fans are great, but their hatred for Rodriguez is a bit misplaced. A-Rod wanted to come to Boston; he was even willing to reduce the dollar value of his contract to make it happen. The problem wasn't A-Rod; the problem was that the players' union stubbornly refused to allow the deal to occur. Sorry to go off another tangent here, but is there a more destructive force in baseball right now than the players' union? They really do give George Steinbrenner a run for his money in the vote for who is most likely to ruin baseball forever. They refuse to allow reasonable steroid testing, and they cater to the multi-millionaires over the interests of the average ball player, something a union obviously isn't supposed to do. But where we again? Ah yes, A-Rod. If his play continues, people might start to call him "K-Rod" because of his recent tendency to strike out. Rodriguez is batting a mere .160 this season. But it's still early, and his poor play won't last. Rodriguez's numbers should dip a bit as a result of leaving Texas, but something like .290 with 40 home runs still isn't out of the question. Once again, it's early, but if there was one thing that could be observed from the weekend's series it's that the Yankees have to be concerned about their rotation. They don't have even a decent fifth starter, and some of their other top hurlers have faltered as well. Mike Mussina has looked uncharacteristically shaky thus far. Normally the Moose has exceptional control, but he has started the season with 10 walks in 20 innings while also giving up 33 hits. Jose Contreras still has not settled in either, as he currently sits with a 9.39 ERA. If those two pitchers can't step up the Yankees have serious problems. One question many are asking early in the season is whether there's a possibility that either the Yankees or the Red Sox will fail to make the playoffs. It certainly could happen, but don't bet on it. The Baltimore Orioles have started off strong, but their pitching just cannot come close to matching that of the Red Sox or Yankees. Boston is still not at full strength with injuries to shortstop Nomar Garciaparra, outfielder Trot Nixon, and pitcher Byung Hyun-Kim. When Boston is healthy, it may be the best team in baseball. The Yankees have some problems, but you can bet they'll buy whichever players they need at deadline (Jose Vidro?). The only hope any team in the Central has of winning the wild card is if every other team in the division completely implodes (which isn't that far fetched, actually). Either the Anaheim Angels or the Oakland A's have the best chance to sneak in and snag the final playoff spot. The road for either team is hard, however, simply because of the strength of the Western Division.

News

Brown and Brew gets environmentally friendly

April 21

This year's EarthFest preparation committee hopes that attendees will be singing the melody of environmental preservation. EarthFest week is designed to promote an environmental agenda, and in the past has included panel discussions, information sessions, and area cleanups. But tonight, ECO and Water Watch have collaborated to offer a different approach and atmosphere to the typical forum. An EarthFest concert is scheduled to run from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. tonight in Brown and Brew, offering audience members a more relaxed form of environmental education and entertainment. Sophomore Samuel Ronfard, an EarthFest event organizer, highlighted the use of music as a tool to communicate with a diverse audience. Ronfard described music as a "universal language," and emphasized its broad appeal, especially to a college audience. The concert will feature performances by artists juniors Annette Farrington and John Burlock and sophomores Geoff Brown, Adam Arrigo, Meghan Saunders and Chloe Green. As a whole, organizers want the performers to provide a small-band feel, with a relaxing, acoustic sound. Planners felt a laid back atmosphere was important for the success of event. While Ronfard and the rest of the EarthFest planning group hope for an entertaining evening, he said the conveyance of the environmental message is the top priority. Instead of a barrage of numbing facts, terrible images, and other drastic techniques, the event has been structured to bring people to a forum that will promote a positive, progressive attitude. EarthFest planners hope that the concert will facilitate a necessary level of awareness by helping audience members to come together around music while also prompting them to take action and do their part in environmental preservation. "Understanding the importance of preserving natural resources and our local environment will make people realize that we are all connected and that we all depend on each other," Ronfard said. The EarthFest planning group chose a specific composition of musicians for their concert in order to best achieve their goals. It received twelve submissions for the event, and after listening to the submissions, the group decided on the five scheduled acts due to their relaxed musical style. Organizers hope that the EarthFest 2004 concert will provide a forum for discussion, music, and free food, while giving students an opportunity to increase their knowledge about environmental issues.

News

"Man on Fire" blazes and then burns out

April 21

If Mexican kidnappers abducted and killed a child that you had been hired to protect, what would you do to them? Would you tape one of their hands to a steering wheel and cut their fingers off one by one? Would you slowly shoot them to pieces with a shotgun? Would you stick explosives in their asses? This is the challenge posed in Denzel Washington's new movie, "Man on Fire," and luckily for Washington, he doesn't have to decide between these savory options: he goes for broke and does them all. John Creasy (Washington), a retired CIA operative and Special Forces soldier, has become a disillusioned drunk in his retirement years. Brought to Mexico City by his friend (Christopher Walken), he is hired by a shady businessman (Marc Anthony -- yes, that Marc Anthony) and his wife (Radha Mitchell) to protect their young daughter Pita (Dakota Fanning). After Pita reinvigorates Creasy and gives him new gusto for life, she is kidnapped after a protracted gun battle, in which Creasy is injured. The family botches the ransom money handoff and Pita is supposedly killed in retribution. Creasy spends a few weeks recovering, and then goes on his torrent of killing tracking down, in his words, "anyone who was involved, anyone who profited." "Man on Fire" is salivatingly close to being great, but falls short because it is a tale of two halves. The first half of this movie is interesting, fun, and excellent, but the second half is out of control, confusing, and cover-your eyes violent. The best parts of the film are the scenes between Creasy and Pita, and the extraordinarily realistic gun battle where she is kidnapped. After the kidnapping, the movie disintegrates. It's as if Director Tony Scott ("Spy Game," "Top Gun") didn't really write down or plan out the second half of the movie before starting to shoot. Regardless of clarity, one thing that can be said throughout is that the film is visually stunning. Even in the horrifying torture sequences, cinematographer Paul Cameron manages to frame the shots beautifully. The ultimate failure of the movie is that we, as an audience, stop caring about the brutal violence after half an hour. Creasy's rampage seems to be a killing spree without end. Many of the people he kills are never shown doing anything but begging for their lives; we have to just take his word that they are evil. An elderly man, seeing Creasy shouldering a rocket launcher, tells him to forgive. "Forgiveness is between them and God," Creasy replies. "It's my job to arrange the meeting." This movie is the latest in a trend of revenge films, most recently "Kill Bill" (Quentin Tarantino) and "The Punisher", (Jonathan Hensleigh) that have each tried to take on-screen violence to new heights. The finger cutting scene is here especially tasteful. Also apparent, though, is that Scott can't quite figure out how to handle the violence. Whereas in "Kill Bill," the audience gets the sense that Tarantino's two films are supposed to be about blood, the excessive violence in "Man on Fire" detracts from the film as a whole. It is hard to fully explain how disappointing the second half of this movie is. It's the cinematic equivalent of the last episode of Seinfeld or the new "Star Wars" movies. The first half of "Man on Fire" is one of the best movies I've seen this year. The second half is a bad comic book movie. Normally bad comic book movies can be forgiven because they are, after all, just comic book movies, but "Man on Fire" could have been so much more. Hopefully Hollywood's latest fascination with violence will subside soon, but it very well may not. These movies seem to be directed at Americans who sit at home watching soldiers dying in Iraq, wishing that they could punish those responsible. In the world of "Man on Fire," no bad deed goes unpunished. In fact, those responsible suffer fates usually worse than their victims. Unsurprisingly there is a twist at the end, and, yes, it has something to do with Pita. But even that is unsatisfying; it's too little too late. The desensitized audience by this point has grown used to not caring. "Man on Fire" isn't a bad movie. The first half is excellent; the second half, on the other hand, is optional. If you've ever wondered how violent a movie can get, perhaps the second half of this film would be a good case study. Who knows: maybe you've always wanted to watch someone have their wounds cauterized with a cigarette lighter. But I doubt it.

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The grade inflation problem

April 21

At the end of the day, grades are understandably students' top concern. It is your academic record that opens the door to many post-graduate opportunities. Yesterday, an article examined students' concerns about introductory courses, in which students often receive lower grades than they do in middle level and upper level courses. At other colleges and universities, however, professors and administrators are concerned about grade inflation, not the relative lack of high grades in introductory courses. Some professors feel such pressure to give students good grades that they give two grades -- a "real" grade and the one that is actually reported to the registrar. Stuart Rojstaczer, a Duke University professor and creator of www.gradeinflation.com, has been vocal in his objections to grade inflation. In a January 2003 opinion piece for The Washington Post, he went so far as to say that "In the absence of fair grading, our success in providing this country with a truly educated public is diminished. The implications of such failure for a free society are tremendous." Until recently, embarrassment has been the only motivation for a university to reconsider its grading procedures. For example, Tufts' Professor Charles Inouye, while he was Dean of Undergraduate Education in 2001, gained attention in a number of newspapers when he criticized Harvard for the number of A's students receive. Shortly after, in response to opinions of faculty and major newspaper reports, Harvard President Larry Summers initiated a grading evaluation. Earlier this month, Princeton Dean of the College Nancy Weiss Malkiel proposed a plan that will limit the number of A's a department can assign. This aroused the expected amount of noise, from faculty as well as students. Students argue that the amount of A quality work cannot be pre-determined. Professors risk losing their discretion in grading. At Tufts, we are concerned about the lack of A's in introductory courses "weeding out" students. Perhaps we should be relieved that we are not dealing with the bigger headache of how to prevent the proliferation of A's. Preventing grade inflation before it happens is a lot easier than rolling it back.

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Traveling Lush: Senior Pub Night at the Mirage

April 21

I admit, I was pretty out of it last Friday (and as I wrote this). Now, I don't get hangovers as bad as some people -- who will remain nameless, so as to not blow anyone's spot -- but, I definitely experienced technical difficulties getting out of bed Friday morning. Yet in my mind, a hangover indicates a good time was had the night before. It's a small price to pay. So, how could this have happened to a person who miraculously time and time again wakes up surprisingly fresh with memory intact no matter how much of class act she was the night before? In a word: "senior-pub-night". Senior pub nights, whether at classy Sophia's or not-so-classy Dewick, are more than just "a great excuse to get wasted" (although they are that, too). It's an opportunity to hang out with all the people you've met along the way at Tufts -- and a chance to see them in rare form. Miss friends from your freshman hall? See them wasted, but more mature looking here. Want to see friends from your semester abroad? They're borracho (drunk) and dancing to your right. Haven't seen your freshman crush since fall 2000? See him looking as hot as ever (and plastered) on your left. See people that you didn't even know were seniors, or even went to Tufts. It's a night of long-lost friends, new friends, and soon-to-be friends. To be completely honest, my night at the Mirage is a little hazy, but I'll recap as best I can. And I'm not alone in this; the day afterward, someone said to me, "It was almost like that night didn't happen. I know I had fun, I just don't remember..." How fitting that the club was called the Mirage. Maybe it was the yellow school buses we took to the Mirage that made the ride there reminiscent of an elementary school field trip. Everyone was as hyper as first-graders, singing "Jumbos, Jumbos, Jumbos!" and the "Ole" chant. Fortunately, we made it to the Mirage in Roxbury without breaking windows or letters being sent home to parents. I think we can all agree that the Mirage was a little shady, even for a place that's already in the middle of nowhere. My first sign of this was right after I got off the bus. After the "can I see your driver's license and Tufts ID" routine, I cheerfully greeted the woman bouncer who stepped in my path. She responded by picking up my arms and frisking me -- a little too touchy-feely if you ask me. After using the ladies' room, we faced the drunken masses on the non-spacious dance floor, our coats strewn across tables and chairs. The music pounded loudly, switching randomly between popular sing-along-able hip hop to latin, which confused some and excited others. And depending on who you talk to, the strobe lights were either a) normal club lighting, or b) made it impossible (in addition to the beer goggles) to locate anyone. The drinks were strong, but expensive at $6.50 for a kamikaze shot and $4.50 for a beer, and were served in crappy plastic cups they would give you at the dentist office. If you gripped your drink a little too tightly, you lost about $3 worth of alcohol all over yourself and the people around you. I don't think a single person (sober or drunk) left the Mirage without spilling or getting spilled on. It's like what people say about painting the cannon or running the NQR: you couldn't leave without doing it at least once. To the dismay of many, there was no light beer available and there were only a measly number of choices otherwise, at that. According to one source, one of the bartenders did not know how to make rum and coke -- another indicator of the bar's poor quality. Despite the negative aspects of the Mirage, people had a good time because it was a pub night -- they were happy to see each other and happy to be drunk. I wouldn't go to the Mirage if Tufts hadn't rented it out. If you missed this one, you didn't miss much. It was equal to previous ones at Hong Kong or Dewick -- a blur of familiar smiling, shouting, singing, (and drinking) faces that make up the class of 2004.

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April 21

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Jumbos suffer worst showing of the year

April 21

The warm weather came at a fortunate time for the Tufts sailing team, which got its season into full swing this past weekend. The Jumbos competed in nine different regattas, their busiest weekend of the season. Unfortunately, it was also a rough one, as the team finished in the middle of the pack in eight of the nine events. In the biggest co-ed event, Tufts finished eighth out of 18 at the Admiral's Trophy at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy. Teams competed in both V-15's and FJ's at the regatta. Harvard won the event with 264 points, while Tufts finished with 438. Senior co-ed captain Joel Hanneman finished seventh in his division. At the Dellenbaugh Trophy, held at Brown University, the women's team finished seventh out of 14 teams. Senior women's captain AJ Crane competed in the regatta's A division, finishing fifth with crewmate senior Kristen Tysell. The finish was disappointing for the defending national champions. Yale finished first, three points ahead of College of Charleston. "This was our worst [weekend] of the year," coach Ken Legler said. "We finished in the middle of the pack. I expect us to do better next weekend. We did better last weekend." Legler pointed to improved competition as the reason for the teams' finishes. Specifically, he indicated that the New England Ivy League teams have made great strides. "Ten years ago the four New England Ivys had volunteer coaches," Legler said. "Now they [each] have two full-time coaches. It's really helped them with recruiting. And they've gotten some breaks in admissions." "Those programs have gone from being very beatable to being very tough. That's why you saw us finish mid-fleet," Legler continued. "Sometimes they beat us, sometimes we beat them." The team is looking forward to next weekend, when the women's team will compete in the New England Women's Championship. The event is an important warm-up as the team prepares for nationals. Legler said that the team tries to build through the season towards nationals. "Our toughest training is after finals," the coach said. "This year we only really have senior week to get ready." In the weekend's other events, Tufts finished fifth out of 17 teams at the BU Trophy, fifth out of 11 at the Oberg Trophy, and ninth out of 18 at the Moody Trophy. At the Saturday-only Metro Series IV at Tufts, the Jumbos entered two teams, finishing fifth and sixth out of 13. The Jumbos took fourth place out of seven teams at the Coast Guard Academy and third out of four at the Eastern Series Sloop. Tufts won the Gibb Trophy; finishing first out of five teams at the freshman event.

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A Tufts Tradition

April 21

For some students, the word "Tufts" didn't have any meaning until their college search. For others, however, Tufts is as familiar as their last name. These students come from a family of Jumbos, and whether they planned it or not, this "family tradition" influenced their decision to come here. Senior Joy Reines has known Tufts since her childhood from campus visits that had nothing to do with the college search. "We used to come to Boston for family vacations and visit Tufts," she said. "My dad would just show us around." Reines' father, Richard Reines (LA '71), attended both the college of Arts and Sciences and the Tufts University School of Medicine. His positive experience at both schools led him to become an active alum, as well as a promoter of the University to his two children, according to Reines. "Tufts was put into our heads," she said. Sophomore Jessica Tye too has a strong family connection to Tufts. In fact, she has two: her mom and dad, Ted and Kate (both LA '79). The Tyes can even credit the beginning of their family to Tufts, and specifically to Houston Hall, where they met sophomore year. Growing up, Tye saw her dad in Tufts t-shirts, visited the room in Houston where they met, and even attended her parents' 15th college reunion as a seven year old. "Tufts has always been a part of our lives," she said. She adds that this is also in part to her parent's continued commitment to the University. "They both remain pretty involved, they still know a lot of Tufts people," Tye said. However, for both Reines and Tye, hearing so much about Tufts initially had adverse, rather than positive, effects on their college searches. "Growing up my brother and I [decided] we were not going to Tufts," Reines said. "My parents, well, more my dad, wanted me to go here," Tye said. "They said, 'We know this place, we know you, and we know you'll fit.' And probably because they pushed that so far, Tufts was the last place I wanted to go." Tye added that she almost didn't apply, sending in her Tufts application the day before it was due. Eventually, to their parents' delight, Reines and Tye both decided to attend the University. Their decision, while influenced by their parents, was more of a personal one rather than a continuation of a family tradition. "We were never pressured, but [my dad] was really excited that we [both] wanted to go," Reines said. Her brother, Louis currently attends Tufts Medical School. From her frequent visits with her family, Reines realized Tufts had what she was looking for: "It was what I wanted, and I knew it to begin with," she said. Tye was set to attend another school until she visited Tufts during April Open House. "I sort of realized for myself all the things my parents had been telling me," Tye said. "I think I was trying to avoid the whole 'following in their footsteps' thing, but I saw that I really did fit in here ... and maybe that's because I'm like my parents, because they raised me," she continued. "And I had to stop resisting wanting to go here because my parents did." Tye also has a third connection to Tufts: her best friend since birth, Nicki Lapidus is a junior here. Lapidus' parents also attended Tufts and were (and continue to be) friends with the Tye family, living only a street away in Newton, MA. Besides being best friends while at college, both couples took Intro to Yiddish Culture with Professor Sol Gittleman. About 20 years later last spring, both Tye and Lapidus took the same class, which like their reasons for coming to Tufts, weren't exactly because of their parents. "I knew people took it before and I knew it was a good class and I knew my parents took it with him," Lapidus said. "I didn't do it just because they did it." "They didn't pressure me [to go to Tufts], I looked at all the schools, did the normal college tour," Lapidus also added. Whether the Tufts tradition will continue with her younger siblings, Tye is uncertain, but said, "I definitely can see them coming here."

News

Intro courses not meant to discourage students

April 20

Tufts professors say that the existence of "weeder" class --introductory courses that are extremely difficult and are designedto determine which students are capable of taking more advancedcourses -- is a myth.

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Rogue' senior founds acclaimed audio software company

April 20

For Paul Kafasis, honesty isn't always the best policy. As a 16-year-old aspiring entrepreneur and computer programmer, the Tufts senior -- now 21 and the co-founder and CEO of a successful company called Rogue Amoeba that sells $1,200 of audio software daily -- did some age-related fact fudging.