Archives

News

Education Briefs

March 29

Bloomberg's focus on inner-city public schools successful Two months after announcing a crackdown on New York's "dirty dozen", a group of unruly and unsafe inner city public schools, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has already seen considerable results. Extra police officers and safety agents in the schools, has resulted in a nine percent drop-off in serious crimes committed on school property. Meanwhile citations for non-criminal infractions such as harassment have soared 72 percent. Since the crackdown began, the twelve schools -- ten high schools and two middle schools -- have shown rapid signs of improvement. In January, each school was visited by a team of educators, police officers and community workers who observed which areas each school was most lacking in and made recommendations. Changes in the schools have focused mostly on smaller infractions, including disciplining students for wearing hats indoors, listening to CDs during class, fighting, and skipping school. This program follows former NYC mayor Rudolph Giuliani's "broken window theory," which claims that punishing smaller infractions sets a precedent and ultimately leads to fewer serious crimes. Two Long Island coaches removed from positions after hazing case reviewed Kevin McElroy and Art Canestro, two Mepham High School coaches who supervised a preseason football training camp, were removed from their teaching positions last Wednesday after a Pennsylvania jury found them guilty of ignoring sexual harassment and hazing practices. Throughout the weeklong trip, three varsity players sodomized three junior varsity teammates, using golf balls, a pine cone and broomsticks coated with mineral ice. The attacks took place day and night, and the coaches claimed that they did not notice anything unusual until after returning from the trip. After the attacks, the school district canceled Mepham's football season and McElroy's and Canestro's coaching positions. The two plead ignorance to the actions taken by three varsity students, and after the ruling claimed that they were treated unfairly. Although they are no longer teaching or coaching, they still work in the school system's administrative department, where they will have minimal contact with students. Amid plagiarism scandal, Central Connecticut president resigns Central Connecticut State University President Richard Judd announced his retirement Friday amid claims that he plagiarized from three different sources in an op-ed piece he wrote for the Hartford Courant. His retirement was announced four days after State University System Chancellor William Cibes issued a report concluding that Judd had in fact plagiarized in his Feb. 26 column. "This is a clear, unacceptable case of plagiarism," Cibes wrote in the report. Judd has worked at CCSU for 40 years, and cited several factors leading up to his retirement, including his health and family. Judd was hospitalized Wednesday after collapsing in his office before a trustees meeting where the plagiarism allegations were to be discussed. This is not the first time Judd has faced the school board with charges of inappropriate behavior. In March 2002, he was arrested on charges of impersonating a police officer after using oscillating headlights on his state car to pull over a motorist he believed was speeding. * Compiled by Patrick Gordon from the New York Times.

---

News

The many lives of 20 Professors Row

March 29

As the school's second oldest building, 20 Professors Row has had a string of tenants that reflect the diversity of the school over the past century and a half. The home was built as the residence of Tufts' first president Hosea Ballou, who lived there from 1855 to 1862, according to Anne Sauer of Tufts Digital Collections and Archives. "20 Professors Row should really be known as Ballou House," she said. Built when the University was just three years old, the house was only the second constructed on Walnut Hill, after the "College Edifice," now called Ballou Hall. The building was located near the current location of the Gifford House. In the early 1870s, the structure was moved to its current location on Professors Row, and was home to Leo Rich Lewis, a professor of music and composer of Tufts alma meter. Later residents included Professor Leonard of the divinity school and Professor Lewis and Dean Ratcliff of the school of religion. These past residents were crucial in the commission classifying the building as historic. "By nature of its age and architectural character and association with important figures, it was identified by the commission something that should be looked at before proceeding with the demolition," Somerville Historical Committee Chairman Michael Payne said. Payne added that the building is the oldest wooden frame home on campus. Most recently it was home to the music department, which has since been moved to the former Provost's House on Professors Row. After Provost Sol Gittleman retired in 2002, the street was without a faculty in residence for the first time in 140 years. Even though the use of the buildings has changed, the street would not be completely foreign to the schools founders. "While the architecture of the houses, specifically those across from Fletcher Field, has changed, it is still a largely residential, tree-lined street," Sauer said. Back in 1854, Professors Row was the end of the campus, separating it from the surrounding farmland, Payne said. The properties below where the campus center currently stands were not donated until the later nineteenth century. "If you look back to what Tufts looks like in the 1850s you would realize these buildings [along Professors Row] are the base structure for Tufts University," Payne said. If 20 Professors Row is demolished, it will not be the end of the historic homes on the street. A number of the original structures from this period still stand including the Zeta Psi building and Capen House.

---

News

Bacow announces illness in school-wide e-mail

March 29

In a school-wide e-mail sent out yesterday morning, president Larry Bacow announced to the Tufts community that he will be taking some time off as he recovers from the cardiovascular virus pericarditis. In his e-mail, Bacow described pericarditis as a virus that settles in the lining surrounding the heart, which results in irregular heartbeat and a heart that does not pump efficiently. Once the virus has been cleared out of the system, the heart cycle pattern returns to normal, he said in the e-mail. Bacow, 52-years-old, was admitted into the Tufts-New England Medical Center (Tufts-NEMC) in Boston last week, where he was under the care of Dr. Deeb Salem, the physician-in-chief at the Medical Center. Salem would not comment on Bacow's condition. There will not be any major changes while Bacow recuperates, administrators said. "There is not going to be any interim president while President Bacow is taking his break -- no one specific person will be standing in for him," Assistant to the President Elise Renoni said. "He needs to get his rest, and the other administrators will be helping him out with his schedules and his calendar." According to Medford-based physician Dr. Rebecca Elliott it is not uncommon to see cases of pericarditis in individuals in his age group. Elliott said the causes of pericarditis are usually unknown, but may occasionally be from a viral infection. "Common symptoms of pericarditis include sharp chest pain, mild fever, weakness and fatigue," Elliott said. Elliott has only dealt with a handful of pericarditis cases throughout her career, but in her experience, "patients tend to recover within one week to ten days, with little complications." When diagnosing pericarditis, blood tests, an electrogram and chest X-rays are the most frequently used methods, along with taking the patient's health into consideration, Elliott said. Bacow emphasized in his e-mail that the doctors believe neither his heavy training for the Boston Marathon nor his hectic work schedule contributed to the onset of pericarditis. "If anything, my recovery is likely to be helped by the fact that I am in excellent shape as a result of marathon training," Bacow wrote. Nevertheless, Bacow will not be participating in the Boston Marathon next month, as he has been advised to get plenty of rest as he recovers. Both Renoni and Chief of Staff of the President's Office Judy Olson said that Bacow's e-mail should leave few questions for students. Provost Jamshed Barucha and various deans and vice-presidents will be standing in for Bacow during his recovery.

---

News

Demand for Arabic language classes remains strong

March 29

Increased student interest in a greater variety of languages offered at the University has led the Romance and German, Russian, and Asian language departments to seek more funding for new programs and increased classroom space. The Chronicle of Higher Education reported last month that after Sept.11, 2001, a Congressional inquiry found that Ancient Greek was a more popular language to study among American students than Arabic, Korean, Farsi and Pashto. Farsi is the official language of Iran and Pashto is the official language of Afghanistan. Currently the U.S. government considers those four, as well as other languages to be essential for national security. It is due to this lack of American student interest that Representative Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and 51 co-sponsors proposed a bill in December of last year to increase the appeal of studying these languages. The bill, titled The National Security Language Act, is to fund grants to colleges to create new programs in the desired languages. Holt believes the lack of students studying these languages has become a security issue. The proposed bill would grant $12 million to colleges for language programs abroad in the languages the U.S. government has identified as important to learn. An additional $15 million would go towards teaching science, mathematics, and technology in those same languages as well as towards funding American students to take these languages in non-English speaking countries. Even without the federal encouragement there has been a distinct increase among security relevant languages at Tufts according to Hosea Hirata, chair of the department of German, Russian and Asian language and literature. "There is absolutely an incredible increase in demand," he said. Since Sept. 11, the Arabic program has expanded and a new assistant professor was hired. The department is now able to offer up to level 22, up from the introductory Arabic classes offered previously in the Ex-College. Rapidly expanding Arabic programs may benefit from this potential increase in fund availability. While many of the University's programs are seeing increased enrollment, enlarging the department is cost prohibitive. Hirata would like to expand the Arabic language program, but he believes that his department does not have the resources to create a major at this time. Nevertheless, the department hopes to expand the Arabic program to be able to teach up until level 122, or the fourth year, which is required by majors such as international relations. This would most likely require a full-time lecturer, but "we are trying to find money for that. We are looking for grants to make Arabic a full-fledged program," Hirata said. Arab students are seeing the increased demand as more and more politically focused students take Arabic language courses. 'The introductory Arabic classes are in very high demand and there is definitely a need for a larger program. My Arabic 2 class is packed and it is more difficult to learn with so many students and only one professor," said senior Yasmine Afif Iliya, who is the secretary of the Arab Students Association (ASA). "I am one of two students in the class who are taking it because of my Arabic origin," Afif Iliya said. "I think those students in international relations and political science have chosen Arabic over other languages more recently due to current events and the need for people who have a knowledge of the language." ASA treasurer Riyadh Mohammed agreed. "Of course the recent demand for more Arabic language classes has to do with the war in Iraq and the increased political attention paid to the Middle East. I believe the demand arises from students becoming more aware of these issues and wanting to take a role in it," he said. "However, do not overlook the other side of the equation -- professors and the administration both are pushing for more students because they too see a need for younger voices on the international stage who speak Arabic." Arabic is one of the more fortunate programs -- despite demand, Korean language courses are not offered. "There is no money and no room," Hirata said. "Physically, we cannot expand anymore unless we find a new building," Hirata said. "We have to find an infrastructure involving building, staff, and funding." Hirata compared the need for these languages to the demand for Japanese language and culture during the early stages of the Second World War. "The nation scrambled to gather the brightest minds in the country and went through intensive Japanese language program," he said.

---

News

Burn outs who won't fade away

March 29

Depending on your age and/or penchant for nostalgia, the induction ceremony for the 19th Annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame was either a tasteful celebration of the lives and careers of legendary rock stars, or a televised parade of rehab-bound has-beens. This year's inductees included singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, hirsute trio ZZ Top, proto-prog rockers Traffic, perennial doo-wop act the Dells, Beatles guitarist George Harrison (posthumously awarded for his solo work), Detroit Rock City native Bob Seger, an epithet-less Prince, and "Rolling Stone" founder Jann Wenner. The Cleveland-centered Hall of Fame inducts musicians 25 years after the release of their debut album, a strategy that ensures a steady stream of rock legends with their best years well behind them. Nevertheless, with Prince and the Dells aside, the Hall of Fame's "Class of 2004" surely lies near to the heart of classic-rock DJs and Hall of Fame ballot-casters. Ask them and they'll likely tell you a similar story: rock and roll reached its apex sometime around 1974 and has been on a steady decline ever since; thus, the relentless archiving of the golden age of rock. The Hall of Fame and its corollary museum, "Rolling Stone" magazine and its incessant "best albums ever" listmaking, "Almost Famous," and Jack Black's entire career (especially "School of Rock"), all feed into this idea that rock and roll is a legendary, monolithic entity. This is classic rock, and, judging from inductees of the present and past, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is its sanctified home. There's no better icon for classic rock in all its glory and shortcomings than 2004 Hall-inductee Bob Seger. Seger was born and bred in the Midwest and his music sounds like it: sincere and forward, yet scaling unembarrassed heights of fist-pumping pomposity. Seger's songs are either about driving or the greatness of his chosen genre -- rock and only rock. After all, "today's music ain't got the same soul." After a pandering introduction from Kid Rock -- certainly Seger's artistic progeny if not his biological -- Seger took the stage to perform "Old Time Rock and Roll." Graying, disheveled, and bespectacled, Seger didn't look like a rock star at all, but rather a walking relic from some imagined past where the guitar solo was king and music was as ballsy and primitive as cheap draft beer. Fellow inductee Jackson Browne suffered from a similar staleness. Even more so than Seger's, Browne's music sounds readymade for a dusty vault in the Hall: "Runnin' On Empty," Browne's biggest hit, is so "lite" it could float away. Devoid of life, Browne pantomimed his performance of the song and, if you looked hard enough, seemed to be under museum glass already. One of the reasons that it seems so absurd to preserve the legacies of musicians like Browne and Seger is that rock music is, and has always, been "pop." Pop, not in the contemporary genre-defining sense, but pop in the sense that the music is manufactured, consumed, and thrown away like any other trend in fashion or television. The Hall of Fame inductees who looked relatively vital were the ones who didn't seem at all concerned with their legacies. ZZ Top blasted through "La Grange" like there was no tomorrow; they looked simply happy to be playing in front of a live audience, but then again, it was hard to tell through the beards. Prince not only seemed alive during his performance, but relevant. With Andre 3000 and Alicia Keyes as co-presenters for the notoriously camera-shy musician, it was clear that Prince didn't need a museum appointment to justify his importance to modern music. Perhaps the most telling performance during the induction ceremony was the "all-star jam" of Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." Tom Petty and ever-present sideman Jeff Lynne played along with Harrison's son and Prince. The latter two smiled and had fun with the performance, while Petty and Lynne, somber and stern, kept with the overall mood of the 2004 induction ceremony: they looked like they were at a funeral.

---

News

Whitney Biennial well worth the visit

March 29

New York City's Whitney Museum features a biennial exhibition of contemporary art. This year's pieces range from a modern interpretation of Titian's "Venus of Urbino" to flashing lights in the restrooms -- modern art at its finest. This popular exhibit is open until May 30th, and while the lines may be long, they are worth the wait to see the current works of over 100 American artists. There is a lot one can gain from seeing the Whitney Biennial exhibition, which has taken place at the Whitney every other year since 1973. The three curators, Chrissie Iles, Shamim Momin, and Debra Singer, bring in work that they see as reflecting life today and, in particular, as responding to the international political scene. There is a heavy emphasis on installation art, video and photography as well as painting, drawing and sculpture, and the enormous collection takes up the majority of the museum's space, spilling into Central Park. The fourth floor of the exhibit is the strongest. It contains two haunting paintings by Cecily Brown, whose work often strongly suggests a sexual quality. "Black Paining" depicts an abstracted woman lying naked on a white bed in a manner that imitates Titian's "Venus of Urbino." Brown's woman lies with her left hand casually touching herself between her legs, much as Titian's does, but in Brown's version, the woman looks up at the ceiling while Titian's looks straight out at the viewer -- an interesting difference. Above the bed is a black background with circular white splotches of paint. It is unclear what they are -- perhaps they are flowers or stars. Emily Jacir's work is especially poignant. She visited Palestine, and used her American passport to perform tasks that Palestinians, who had had their movement restricted by the Israeli government, requested her to do. The result is a series of poignant photographs with explanations in both Arabic and English. Jacir did things like visit the grave of a woman's mother and pay a man's phone bill at a post office that he was not allowed to visit due to his nationality. The work is upsetting because it shows how difficult even everyday life can be in the Middle East, though Jacir neglects the difficulties that Israeli citizens face in their lifestyle of constant anxiety. Katy Grannan, another of the artists on display, put an ad in a local paper offering a small compensation for models that allowed them to choose their outfit and how they posed. She photographed her subjects who responded to her ad in natural settings in upstate New York. The results show four people, all scantily clad and seductively posed. Erick Swenson's three-dimensional sculpture "Untitled 2001" shows a hairless white buck in the middle of a Persian rug with its head bent forward as it rubs its antlers on the ground. Swenson created the Persian rug by screen printing a design he made on a computer onto a piece of resin, and the sparsely presented sculpture is presented in the middle of a room of the museum, with velvet sheddings lying shriveled on the rug. The piece represents a buck's ritual of shedding its velvet lining from its antlers to prepare itself to fight with other bucks, but in essence, everything about this composition is false. A buck would not complete his ritual on a Persian rug, and rugs are not normally manufactured in such an unusual manner. The art even manages to follow the visitor to some unexpected places, including the stairwell and the bathroom. Julianne Swartz's installation of plexi-glass tubing brings the dialogue and music of "The Wizard of Oz" to all who put their ears to the open ends along the stairs, and Jim O'Rourke created an installation entitled "We're All in This Together" in the men's and women's rooms. Blue, green, purple, and pink lights glow while low music hums in the background, creating an altogether different bathroom experience. It is important to take the time and experience the installations many artists have put together for the show. One room, "Assume Vivid Astro Focus 8, 2004," was created as a joint project between artist John Connelly and music group Les Super Elegantes. Outside of the chamber, Fred Tomaselli's large scale photo collages hang on the walls, made of images of leaves, pills, body parts and other objects which are all assembled to resemble colorful beaded curtains, creating a psychedelic atmosphere. Once one steps inside the room, the visitor is transfixed. The room is covered with a collage of seemingly mismatched images -- a huge Buddha head, 1950s swing dancers, large images of random people. These images are shown under bright neon colored lights which flash around the room while a soundtrack plays, alternating upbeat hip hop with slow and somber alternative rock. In the center, a winding staircase lined with neon lights climbs right into the ceiling, though it nearly trips the many people who encircle the room with their heads up, observing all the room has to offer without looking where they are going. On the whole, the Biennial is a strong and extensive showing of current American art. The trick is paying attention to what interests you and keeping an open mind, because otherwise the enormous collection can be overwhelming.

---

---

News

Team opens home season with blowout win, goes 2-1 over break

March 28

While many Tufts students basked on the beach or hit the slopes for some spring skiing, the men's lacrosse team used the week off to work on its game. After falling 17-9 to national No. 14 Whittier College in Baltimore on Wednesday, the Jumbos returned home to blow out the Western New England College Golden Bears yesterday at Zimman Field, 18-9. Tufts handily controlled the game against the Bears. Junior All-American and co-NESCAC player of the week Bryan Griffin helped put Tufts up 4-1 near the end of the first quarter with goals at 4:15 and 3:02. The goals were just two of Griffin's five on the day. "Bryan did a great job being the best player in New England," coach Mike Daly said. "He helped us control the game early on." Western New England responded to Griffin's goals with one of its own, cutting the gap between the two squads down to one at 4-2 at the end of the first quarter. The Bears continued to inch closer to the Jumbos with another quick goal just seconds into the second frame. This would be as close as Western New England would get to the Jumbos, ranked No. 17 nationally. With sharp passing and long stints of possession in the Bears' zone, Tufts shot in four more goals before the halftime whistle. Junior goalie Luke Chicco came through in the clutch several times in the first half, blocking two hard shots from close range. Chicco surrendered just three goals in the entire first half and would only give up six during his 53 minutes between the pipes. Tufts drew first blood when play resumed after the break to push the score up to 9-3. Western New England seemed to fall back on its heels early in the half and had trouble clearing its zone and initiating counter attacks. Tufts kept the ball on the Bears' end of the field for the first part of the quarter, but began to falter as the seven minute mark approached. "Mental mistakes against college teams will cost goals," Daly said. "When we play the way we know how, we're successful. When we don't, we get into trouble." This brief bout of mental mistakes did end up costing the Jumbos in the second part of the third quarter. The Bears scored a quick, man-up goal when a Jumbo attackman bobbled the ball, causing a turnover and sharp shot. A minute later, the Bears struck again to edge closer to Tufts at 9-5. The momentum appeared to have shifted as the Bears put much more pressure on the Tufts net and played more physically. The quarter ended with the Jumbos up by four, 10-6, and the Bears on a surge. However, this surge quickly fizzled in the fourth quarter. The Jumbos bounced back with a vengeance netting eight unanswered goals to start the period, many by younger, less-experienced players. "The best part [about our team] is that we have 37 great players," Daly said. "There is not much a fall off when we put in the guys who [don't play as much.]." Seven Jumbos, including three sophomores and one freshman, scored in the game. Sophomore Billy Granger and classmate Adam Delaney-Winn each contributed three goals while junior Devin Clarke and sophomore Dane Carillo notched two. Senior tri-captains Matt Malatesta and Tom Mulcahy joined freshman Mark Warner with one each. Western New England scored three goals in the last few minutes of the game to create the final 18-9 score. With the win, Tufts moved to 3-1 on the season. The Jumbos fell to Whittier on March 24 despite three goals by senior tri-captain Matt Malatesta. Whittier senior Ryan Bateman stole the show scoring six goals and contributing two assists in the Poets' win. On Friday March 19, Tufts earned its second win of the season against Endicott College in Beverly, Ma., 9-4. The Gulls took their fourth straight loss despite the Jumbos' trouble with penalties early in the game. Junior Devin Clarke was Tufts' scoring leader in that game with three balls into the net. Tufts will continue its home season on Wednesday against Eastern Connecticut.

---

News

Miami heating up at the right time

March 28

Something has been happening in Miami lately, and it hasn't just been the beaches and clubs during spring break. With wins in ten of its last 11 games, including seven straight, the Miami Heat is one of the hottest teams in the league. And the W's haven't all come against softies either: the Heat defeated the Sacramento Kings, New Jersey Nets (albeit minus Jason Kidd), and Dallas Mavericks during the stretch. Miami fans now see in the future something so unexpected and absurd that they have to take their sunglasses off and rub their eyes. Nope, it's not the ghost of Tim Hardaway; it's far more enticing and brings a lot more hope to the table. That's right, it's a playoff berth, the kind the Heat actually used to get when Timmy, Pat Riley, and Alonzo Mourning and his healthy kidneys were hanging around. It won't be a number one seed like Miami used to get before being upset by the New York Knicks after the requisite brawls and whatnot. But it now seems increasingly certain that Miami could be a participant in the NBA postseason. The Heat is currently sixth in the Eastern Conference and only 1.5 games out of fourth place, meaning the squad could actually gain home court advantage (and with all those ugly yellow and red seats at its arena, it is an advantage) in the first round of the playoffs. At the beginning of the season, Inside the NBA noted that the Heat could possibly make the playoffs if Lamar Odom wasn't busted for pot. Miraculously, not only has Odom avoided run-ins with the guys in blue, but he has played out of his mind at times. Against Sacramento he poured in 30 points, clamped down on 19 boards, and whizzed out 11 assists; against Dallas he had 26 points and 18 rebounds. It has been a season in which a lot of new free agents have helped turned their teams in the right direction. James Posey is leading the way for the Memphis Grizzlies, and Sam Cassell, Jim Jackson, and Brad Miller are helping successful teams get even better in Minnesota, Sacramento, and Houston, respectively. (And in Dallas and Philadelphia, Antoine Walker and Glenn Robinson are taking their teams in the opposite direction, of course.) But out of all the free agents, Odom was the biggest gamble, and maybe also the biggest steal. Of course, we also didn't know that Dwayne Wade was going to be so good. Aside from Lebron James and Carmelo Anthony, Wade has been the best rookie in the league, putting aside the fact that he has sprained his ankle more than every other player in the NBA combined. That's the way it has seemed at least: every game, he either gives the Heat 17 points and five assists, or he sits out with a sprained ankle. Wade and Odom have given veteran guard Eddie Jones the offensive support he has needed (all three average between 16.7 and 17.7 ppg) and they have even gotten serviceable play from Rafer Alston, who hit the game winning three pointer against Dallas, despite the fact that he should be playing in the And1 streetball tour instead of the NBA. The Heat broke 80 points just twice during the first seven games of the season; in their recent winning streak, they have topped the century mark in eight of 11 games. Of course, the Heat's frontline sucks. Anytime you have Brian Grant, Udonis Haslem, and Malik Allen patrolling the paint, that's not good. But the Heat play in the east, so no one other than the Indiana Pacers and the Detroit Pistons are really around to take advantage of the Heat's weak front court. Also, the season has been a big disappointment for Caron Butler, whose sophomore season has been far short of expectations. Butler has played in only 58 games thus far, barely shooting 37 percent from the field, and his numbers are drastically worse that last year's in almost every single statistical category. However, Butler has looked more aggressive as of late. The Heat deserve a lot of credit for putting themselves in position for the playoffs rather than the lottery. Of course, they also owe thanks to some other teams, particularly, the Boston Celtics, 76ers, and fellow Florida bosom buddy, the Orlando Magic. All three were expected to be major playoff players, and all have floundered. Orlando was done early, and while Philadelphia and Boston both still have good shots to make the playoffs, both are heading in the opposite direction of the Heat. This is thanks to Danny Ainge, who is trying to play Oz. Expect the curtain to be ripped away sometime within the next two years, and it will become apparent that Ainge basically has no idea what he's doing.

---

News

A quest for identity

March 28

Between classes and life, sometimes it's hard to get in all the pleasure reading you'd like. Considering the time crunch, the time you do have to sit down and read a book ought to be made worthwhile. Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex," which was published in 2002 by Farrar, Straus & Giroux and has recently been released in paperback, certainly meets the necessary criterion. The 2003 Pulitzer Prize winning novel is epic in scope, ambitious both in its historical and emotional aspirations, as well as a remarkably good story. "Middlesex" is the story of Calliope Stephanides. Cal is raised in a loving Greek-American immigrant family in an affluent suburb of Detroit. When she is 14, she discovers that she is not actually a she -- Cal is a pseudo- hermaphrodite. Physically male, Cal has been raised as a girl. The story focuses in part on Cal's acceptance of his gender, traced by Eugenides from early childhood to his present life as a 41-year-old living and working for the U.S. State Department in Berlin. But equally important to both the narrative and Cal's development as a person is the history of the protagonist's Greek-American family. His grandparents came to the United States fleeing the destruction of the city of Smyrna, and settled eventually in suburban Detroit. The novel extensively explores the relationship between their flight, the family they create, and the man that Cal will become. Although Cal is a hermaphrodite, Eugenides channels her, and later his, voice with remarkable clarity. Cal is always believable, funny, smart, sometimes grandiose, sometimes vulnerable, and ultimately very human. The line between a male voice and a female voice is never drawn -- Cal does not change his linguistic mannerisms after discovering that he has a chromosomal mutation. Though he is definitely troubled by his differences, his confusion over an upset identity is not a gendered reaction, but a human one. The novel is very well constructed. Eugenides draws from classical literary style, and Cal riffs on the traditional invocation of the Muse at the beginning of epic poems, saying ''Sing now, O Muse, of the recessive mutation on my fifth chromosome." The author treats the details of Cal's medical condition in sufficient detail, and his history is fairly accurate within the framework of fiction. Cal and the members of his immediate family have a knack for getting themselves mixed up in the curious progress of history. His mother, for example, is the only white woman working for the nation of Islam. Thematically, Eugenides returns again and again to destruction and rebirth. Cal's grandparents flee from the burning city of Smyrna, and Cal's family is caught up in the race riots which raze acres of Detroit during 1967. Readers may be familiar with "The Virgin Suicides," Eugenides dreamy debut novel. "Middlesex" is grander in scope than the story of the five doomed Lisbon sisters, but equally enjoyable. Like the author's first work, "Middlesex" is also a coming of age story. Cal discovers what he is physically and decides how he will fit himself, emotionally and physically, into his surrounding world. As a hermaphrodite, his particular quirks are unusual, sensational even, although Eugenides never lets the novel descend into sentimentality or voyeurism. Cal's journeys across the country and through the even rockier psychology of his psyche are universally familiar, despite the character's unique situation. Anyone who has ever struggled with identity will appreciate Cal's growth. Those fond of lucid prose, witty, personal treatments of history, and really good books will enjoy Jeffrey Eugenides' "Middlesex."

---

News

So far so good for Lipson

March 28

For the first time in over five years, the women's lacrosse team has started its season 4-0, including an impressive victory over the Trinity College Bantams on Saturday afternoon in Medford. Tufts' 10-8 victory was the first time the Jumbos have recorded a win over the Bantams since the 1999-2000 campaign. The squad's most intriguing story has been the play of junior goalie Sarah Lipson. Despite the solid offensive play from juniors Willow Hagge and Meghan Doughty with four goals apiece and sophomores Dena Miller and Meredith Harris with nine and seven goals respectively, it is the goalie who is making waves Lipson, an attacker all through high school and for her first two years at Tufts, faced her first shot on goal last October in the Gantcher Center, and has been improving ever since. "I really couldn't have any expectations going into the season," Lipson said. "The defense is improving every day, and I'm improving every day as well. We have no expectations right now, which helps us so much because without expecting anything we're doing amazing." Senior tri-captain and defenseman Christie Langenberg says that the team knew Lipson would be able to perform. "[Lipson] is a really athletic person so we had high expectations for her coming into the season," Langenberg said. "But being a first-time goalie, she's definitely exceeded our expectations. She's confident, and she's playing really well." The junior has played in all but 15 minutes of Tufts' four games this season, sitting out only the last part of Tufts' 16-6 rout of Western Connecticut. The Arlington, Ma., native has allowed a mere 24 goals in four games for a goals against average (GAA) of 6.00. She's accumulated 29 saves on the season, sending back 55 percent of opponents' attempts. Lipson is getting used to the vast difference of playing goalie versus attack, but there are still some challenges. "Everyone starts off the game a little nervous, but once they get a few touches they calm down," Lipson said. "I don't really have that opportunity anymore, because the first time I touch the ball is usually when it's being whipped at me." The Jumbos' defense overall has stepped it up this season, especially in the second half of games, an area where they struggled last season. This year, the team has allowed an average of just under 17 shots against a game. Last season, there were over 30 shots against per game on average. To improve, the defensive unit has maintained a similar mindset as previous years, despite a new keeper between the pipes. "I don't think we've been playing any differently with Sarah in goal," Langenberg said. "Our mentality is that we want to slide and pick up girls in the critical area, and we've tried to emphasize not letting anyone taking an open shot." "But those are changes we would have made with any goalie, not just Sarah," Langenberg said. Lipson wants to continue her success in goal as the Jumbos head into the heart of their NESCAC season over the next two weeks, facing off against the conference's top squads in Bowdoin, Williams and Middlebury all on the road over the next ten days. "Everyone is playing to the best of their ability and we're improving as a team, not just as individuals," Lipson said. "The NESCAC is a really competitive league so we can't look three games in advance, we just have to look to the next game and get really excited for every game."

---

News

Let's do right by our janitors

March 28

I have been a Tufts student and community member since the fall of 1999. During this period of time I have undergone enormous change, adversity, successes and many struggles, but one thing has remained very consistent: no matter what difficulty I have encountered, the Tufts community of students and faculty has been there to offer compassion, patience, and guidance. I believe that many students can relate to what I am saying and are very grateful to this institution for many things. It is precisely because of my respect for this community that I have been so disillusioned by the treatment of our janitors. I would be surprised to learn of any Tufts student who did not acknowledge and appreciate the important role that our custodians play. These are individuals who keep our facilities functioning at the highest levels by doing the necessary and often disgusting grunt work that we as students and faculty are privileged not to do. I am sure every student can remember at least one time when their residence hall was left in a nasty state due to immaturity, whether alcohol-induced or not. How often did the students responsible clean up the AI Steak Sauce they exploded on the wall, the vomit that they deposited in the hallway, or the toilet that they clogged up and flooded? It is enough that our students make the jobs of the janitors extremely difficult and gruesome. What is totally unacceptable is the ingratitude and callousness that we show to the janitors by not paying them a living wage, offering no paid sick days, denying part-time workers healthcare benefits, and severely limiting the familial health care of full-time workers. This is not a Tufts administration problem, this is a Tufts problem. As community members, we all must stand up for the most vulnerable in our community. The janitors are not insignificant. The work they do is essential. We must honor their work, honor their importance to our lives, and honor their basic human desire to provide for their families with reasonable security. No Tufts employees should have to live in fear because their job is insecure. No Tufts employees should have to compromise their health to come in when they are sick because they will lose a paycheck otherwise. No Tufts employees should have children without healthcare. Now, the university may counter that the custodians are not Tufts employees. As of 1994, the janitors lost their status as school employees and Tufts hired an outsourcing firm that employs the janitors. This switch, which was done for economic reasons, does not shift the responsibility of our community to do right by the janitors. I am not hyping up the rough treatment of our custodial staff. Their pay is significantly less than the pay of janitors at other universities in Boston, and their benefits packages and job security are similarly lacking. Let's step up as a community and do the right thing. Let's demand that the janitors be treated like the valued members of this community that they are. Let's bestow upon them the kind of warmth, compassion, and kindness that we show to each other day in and day out. It will be well worth the relatively minimal cost. Michael Pollak is a senior majoring in Comparative Religions

---

News

University College works to gain outside funding

March 28

After administrators expressed financial concerns two years ago, Tufts' University College is making progress towards strengthening its financial position. When the University College was founded in 2000 as the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS), it received a start-up donation of $10 million from the Omidyar Foundation. The Omidyar Foundation is funded by Tufts alumnus Pierre (LA, '88) and Pam (LA, '89) Omidyar. The grant was given with the understanding that that the University College would attempt to raise $20 million from other financial sources by the end of 2005, at when further funding would follow. According to University College Director of Principal and Leadership Gifts Eric Johnson, some advancement has been made towards these fundraising goals. "The University College has made significant progress in diversifying their funding base, having raised $5 million on top of the original Omidyar Foundation grant," he said. Contrary to claims that the Omidyar Foundation has not been satisfied with the University College's efforts, Omidyar Foundation Vice President for Civic Engagement Lisa Spinali said that the Omidyar Foundation's investment in the University College would continue. "We're not going to pull out, that's never been the intention," she said. "We don't know what the numbers are going to look like, but we're committed to the long term success of the University College." The University College was created by former Tufts President John Dibaggio to inject career-minded students with a social conscience. The University College funds local community projects, and gives individual funding to Citizenship and Public Service (CPS) Scholars to help them create their own projects. Dean of the University College Rob Hollister said additional funding for the University College is unlikely to come on the scale of the Omidyar Foundation commitment. He said donors would probably be smaller-scale institutions and individuals. "The nature of our mission restricts and limits prospective investment by others who don't have a direct allegiance to Tufts," Hollister said. He said the same problem surfaces when local foundations want to partner with the University College on community projects, but not to support the University College itself. One problem that plagued early University College fundraising efforts was the lack of completed projects to point to as evidence of an effective program. "People like to support initiatives with a strong track record," Hollister said. At the beginning of the University College, "that was an obstacle, certainly," he said, but that problem has "largely disappeared as programs have proven to be successful." Those participating in the program agree that it is moving in the right direction. "There is a lot of room for improvement, but it has come a long way in a short period of time," Sophomore CPS Scholar Matan Chorev said. "There is a lot more rigor in the academic program and increased accountability between the students themselves." "People always try to find flaws in the program," Chorev said. "It's not perfect, it's not even great yet, but it will be. The community needs to be patient with the College." A board of overseers for the University College was established last year to help with fundraising. According to board member Tom Alperin, the board "further legitimizes the purpose and cause of [the University College] within the overall University." So far, the board has raised $500,000 -- about three-quarters of which was contributed by board members and one-quarter of which was raised from alumni. "We have an ambitious goal for this year, but we're on target," board chair Alan Solomont said. "We're really coming into our own in terms of using the board of overseers for fundraising." The University's next capital campaign will also address University College funding concerns, Johnson said, but the "scale and timing of the campaign have not been finalized." The University College's money goes not only to maintain its core faculty and academic programs, but also to "support the research of faculty fellows as well as [student] community service and educational initiatives," Hollister said. Stanford University's Haas Center for Public Service, a program similar to the University College, also received substantial startup funds from a single foundation. According to Haas Center Director of Development and External Relations Suzanne Abel, the process of development began with an endowment to establish an active citizenship fellowship program for graduate students in 1985, supported by the Walter and Elise Haas Fund and the Haas family. Another endowment to establish the center itself followed in 1989. Overall, $6.2 million was allocated in the initial stages for the development of the program. Grants to the Haas Center are matched by Stanford as part of the university's capital campaign, Abel said, which has helped the center towards financial security. "When all is said and done in 2008, we will have a $3 million directorship and a $6 million program fund in place in addition to the earlier endowments," she said. "The ideal goal for any unit of a university that is attempting to influence the institution and its students widely and systemically is a healthy mix of funding streams with multiple and diverse investors," Abel said. This includes "some degree of annual direct support from the university." Spinali said diversifying from a large initial donation is "a tough thing to do." She said program administrators "are on track -- they're doing lots of great work, it's a very innovative approach." "In reality, the field for higher education is a pretty crowded one," she said, and that many universities and colleges solicit donations from the same sources. "It's not as easy to finance as some other programs might be," DiBiaggio said. Regardless of funding prospects, DiBiaggio said that the key indicator of UCCPS' success would be its impact on alumni. "The most critical evaluation will be what happens to people after they graduate, and does the program have the impact that we wished?"

---

News

More money (and choices), more problems

March 28

Prada-clad Paris and Nicole parade across the TV screen, rappers and pop stars show off their multi-million dollar pads on MTV's "Cribs," and Rolling Stone and Forbes magazines put out annual "rich lists" that catalog the assets of the country's wealthiest entertainers and entrepreneurs. With the multitude of media products focused on the rich and famous, it's no wonder that Tufts students -- and the American public in general -- are envious. "Who doesn't follow the lives led by rich people and wish that they, too, could have that financial security and leisure time afforded by such wealth?" senior Rosalyn Chi said. "Well, with the notable exception of Paris Hilton. I truly doubt any sane person wants to be like Paris Hilton." Hilton's notoriety notwithstanding, the glut of media coverage of the well-to-do suggests that America's current culture is one in which, in the words of E!'s popular show, "it's good to be" rich and famous -- but not so good to be anything else. According to New Republic magazine Senior Editor Gregg Easterbrook's new book, "The Progress Paradox: How life gets better while people feel worse", Americans have more material wealth and choices than ever before, but are less happy -- due in part to the media's slavish coverage of the upper crust. Thanks to media treatment of the wealthy, Easterbrook says, "people can see, in agonizing detail, all the expensive things they will never possess." Tufts students seem to agree with Easterbrook's commentary. "The media constantly focuses on the rich and famous and the lives that they lead," sophomore Austen Eadie-Friedmann agreed, citing "Cribs" as an example of a TV show in which "the opulent life of the host is shoved so far down your throat...." "How could you not feel inadequate?" asks Eadie-Friedmann. According to ExCollege Program Director Julie Dobrow and Assistant Psychology Professor Sam Sommers, the idea that media coverage of the wealthy contributes to the dissatisfaction of the "average" is plausible but unproven. "One theory, called cultivation, suggests that people who expose themselves the most to messages of mainstream primetime media are more likely to espouse its ideas than folks who are not such heavy consumers," Dobrow said. "I'm not aware that anyone's [tested] whether the materialism on TV makes people feel like they need to have things in order to be happy, but you certainly could use the theory [of cultivation] to hypothesize this." Sommers agreed with Dobrow that while no specific research exists, the idea is certainly possible. "There is research that suggests the media has a profound impact on our self-concept, self-esteem, mood, and general life outlook," Sommers said. "For example, the unrealistic body type norm portrayed in the media has been linked by some psychologists to lowered self-esteem," Sommers continued. "I don't know of research looking at portrayals of wealth per se, but it wouldn't be a huge leap to suggest that [they could be similarly influential]." According to Easterbrook, the media's focus on the rich is just one of the reasons that Americans, though wealthier, remain dissatisfied. Another is that the very amount of wealth accumulated by Americans can contribute to their feelings of wealth-related dissatisfaction: in short, having more makes people want more. "I think there is much truth to the fact that American consumers have more but are less happy," said Arnold Worldwide Advertising Agency Chief Strategy Officer Barry Silverstein. "It starts at a young age when children are exposed to every type of toy imaginable, it continues through the teenage years particularly with brand-name clothing, and it extends into adulthood with an emphasis on ever-increasingly expensive cars and 'adult toys.'" Silverstein teaches a course on brand marketing at the ExCollege. Modern Americans have more opportunities to make choices than they did in the past, Easterbrook says. He suggests that the anxiety caused by making these choices is another reason that happiness and wealth levels haven't risen concurrently. Tufts students -- a decidedly option-riddled bunch -- agree with Easterbrook's assessment. "I felt that way about the college application process, the class registration process, [and] the post-graduation plans," Chi said. A psychology major, Chi has often felt that "the consequences of making a wrong choice would somehow reverberate throughout the rest of my life...I would always look back and imagine how much more satisfaction the other alternative would have provided." "There are so many options available that it's almost dizzying," Eadie-Friedmann agreed. Due to the stress involved with making countless decisions in their daily lives, some students wish that they did not have such an overwhelming number of options -- or that, as in earlier eras, someone else could just make their decisions for them. "There are so many options that it really would be much easier to have someone decide for me," Eadie-Friedmann said. "Those with fewer choices have an increased sense of security in knowing exactly what they'll experience and without regret, since there is no alternate choice [for] comparison," Chi said. "They don't have to agonize over multiple choices and later regret the [consequences] of any single choice." "In some respects, materialism is like an addiction -- and as with any addiction, the more you have, the more you want," Silverstein added. "So it's hard to be happy when you always want more ... there is a sense of decreasing satisfaction, simply because the thrill is gone." Sommers agreed. "Social psychologists often talk about relative deprivation, which is essentially the idea that 'the grass is always greener on the other side,'" he said. "Research suggests that many of the achievements, possessions, and events which we believe will make us permanently happy often fail to live up to expectations," Sommers said. "As our standing in life increases, our standards for happiness often go up as well, so we find ourselves no happier than we were to begin with." With this in mind, then, it's not surprising that, as Easterbrook points out, the average person's income has doubled since the 1950s but the number of Americans classifying themselves as "happy" has remained the same. It's also not surprising that even winning the lottery -- one of the culture's most exalted feats of instantaneous "success" -- doesn't guarantee long-term satisfaction: "Contrary to intuition, people who win the lottery are not found to be any happier years later than others who didn't win," Sommers said.

---

News

Jumbos off to best start in years

March 28

Coach Carol Rappoli says they're very young. Returners say they're only looking to see where they stand. But no matter what anyone says, the women's lacrosse team is 4-0 on the season, and so far, "impressive" seems to be the best term to describe the Jumbos' play so far. Tufts dropped Wellesley on March 18 by the score of 7-5, beat both Union and Western Connecticut during their training trip to Florida by the blowout margins of 14-6 and 16-6, respectively, and then returned home to win their home and league-opener over Trinity, 10-8, on Saturday in Medford at Kraft Field. Saturday's victory over Trinity was probably the most rewarding, and certainly the most important, of the first four victories for the Jumbos. The win was Tufts' first league game of the year and could set a much-needed precedent for wins in league, something the Jumbos lacked last year after going 2-6 in the NESCAC. Last season at this point, Tufts had won its first three match-ups, but failed in its first NESCAC conference game against the same Trinity Bantams, who, at that time, were ranked 16th in the nation. "We're really psyched right now," sophomore attack Dena Miller said. "We have haven't beaten Trinity in five years, and winning our first NESCAC game is a great start to the season, as is going 4-0. We're a really young team and everyone has a lot of positive energy and is thrilled to be in the situation we're in." On Saturday, junior midfielder Megan Doughty gave the Jumbos the boost they needed to stay undefeated, scoring four times and helping the Jumbos hold off a late second-half comeback by Trinity with three of her goals coming in the second frame. Her final goal came with 3:08 left to play and gave Tufts a 9-6 lead and all the scoring they would need to secure the victory. Juniors Willow Hagge and Jen Griffin, sophomores Meredith Harris and Dena Miller, and freshmen Jackie Thomas and Danielle Vardaro all also scored once for the Jumbos. Hagge, the team's career scoring leader with 93 points, 64 of them coming on goals, also added a pair of assists. The Jumbos were able to hold off a late Bantam charge in the second half, something the squad struggled with in NESCAC competition last season. "Coming out strong for every half is a huge goal of the team's," Miller said. "We're really making a conscious effort to stay really confident throughout the game. Coach [Rappoli] has also really improved on her morale throughout the game, and its trickling down to the rest of the team." Junior goalie Sarah Lipson, who notched the win and has all four victories for Tufts under her belt, helped the Jumbos by saving 11 shots. Leading 4-3 at the half, Tufts briefly pulled away to start the third quarter, at one point leading 8-4 well into the second frame. Trinity refused to go quietly, however, netting two quick goals to close the gap to 8-6. Trinity also answered each of the Jumbos' next two goals with scores of their own. Trinity attack Lauren Malinowski scored with 1:09 remaining in the game to push the score to the final 10-8 margin. With the win, Tufts gained its first victory over the Bantams in four years. Earlier in the week, while many of their fellow Jumbos headed towards tropical climates to work on their tans, the Jumbos worked on dismantling opponents Union and Western Connecticut in West Palm Beach, Florida. Tufts, which won both games by a combined 30-12 margin, received votes in last week's national poll. Tufts has had a four goal scorer in each of its games so far this year. During Tufts' first match-up of the year against Wellesley, sophomore scoring-leader Miller notched four goals in a game that was played at Boston University thanks to the snow. She now has 10 goals on the season. In Florida against Union, Doughty knocked four in for the first time this season, and against Western Connecticut Vardaro scored four as part of the 16-goal barrage. The Jumbos used the trip to work out the kinks in both their offense and defense, and generally give their younger players more experience in college lacrosse. "Our defense has been incredible, our zone is working together really well," Miller said. "We could use some work on our ground balls, our midfield connection, and defense in the midfield. We have a lot of returners on attack which is definitely positive, but even so there are always things to work on. Overall, we're playing really great as a team all over the field." Tufts looks to continue its strong play when it heads to Maine tomorrow to face off against the NESCAC foe Bowdoin.

---

News

AL West shouldn't be counted out

March 28

With opening day approaching, some fans are already looking towards October and a possible Red Sox-Yankees showdown. There is a good reason to do so, as both teams are stacked and certainly must be considered the favorites to win the pennant. But don't forget about the American League West, a division that has consistently produced 100 game winners and should continue to be strong in 2004. The two teams that should compete for the top spot in the division are the Oakland A's and the Anaheim Angels. The Angels improved themselves just as much as the Yankees or Red Sox this off-season and perhaps more so. They went out and signed the best player on the market, outfielder Vladimir Guerrero and also bolstered their starting pitching staff -- a staff that needed a lot of bolstering. In addition to adding Guerrero, Anaheim also signed outfielder Jose Guillen to an affordable contract. Guillen had an excellent 2003 season (.311 Avg. 31 HR), partially attributable to playing a lot of games in Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark -- which has similar dimensions to Fletcher Field. The final cog in a very strong Anaheim outfield is Garret Anderson, who consistently puts up very strong numbers. The infield is where Anaheim is weakest. With the addition of Guillen they have decided to put Darin Erstad at first base. This is a puzzling decision to say the least. Erstad has incredible range in the outfield, but he hasn't even been a decent hitter since 2000. Erstad's OPS in 2001 was .691, it was .702 in 2002, and finally it dipped to .642 in 2003. That's all you need to know. The rest of the infield is a little better. Adam Kennedy is a pretty good second baseman, and Troy Glaus can mash at third if he's healthy, which is a big if. As much as everyone loves little David Eckstein, he's not very good. In fact, he was absolutely awful last year (.651 OPS) and this position is a big problem for Anaheim. Can you say, Nomar? Anaheim did a lot to upgrade its starting pitching, but the staff is still far from dominant. Bartolo Colon was a solid addition, and it helps give the staff consistency. But Colon has never really been outstanding other than his 2002 season. Other than 2002, his best ERA was 3.71 in 1998. Another addition was free agent Kelvim Escobar. He is more of a risk. Escobar is still young at 27, but he's never really had a successful full season as a starter. Jarrod Washburn and Ramon Ortiz are nothing special. At best both pitchers are a little bit above average. Anaheim will need John Lackey to turn it around and exhibit the form he showed in the 2002 World Series if they are to be successful. The heart of the Angels, as it always has been in the last few years, is its bullpen. When Troy Percival is healthy he is dominant. Fransisco Rodriguez is nasty as well, as evidenced by his stellar 2002 playoff performance and his 3.03 ERA in his first full season in '03. Setup man Brendan Donnelly is also a fantastic reliever -- his 1.58 ERA last year is enough to prove that. The outfield and the bullpen are the clear strengths of this team, but if they are to emerge as division champions or wild card contenders, they are going to need their starting pitchers to carry them there. Now let's turn to the Oakland A's. The A's are the anti-Angels: they have a dominant rotation, a somewhat shaky bullpen, a crappy outfield, and a decent infield. Everyone knows about the top three in the Oakland rotation: Tim Hudson, Mark Mulder, and Barry Zito. If all three stay healthy, the A's will be tough to beat. They brought in Mark Redman to join their rotation in the off-season. Redman's a pretty consistent pitcher, but it's not clear he's an upgrade over Ted Lilly, who had higher upside. They will count on 22 year-old Rich Harden to fill out the rotation. Harden may very well be the key to the A's season. He dominated the minor leagues and has tremendous potential, but he's still very young. He struggled with his command towards the end of the 2003 season and finished with a 4.46 ERA. If Harden can control his pitches he and the A's should do very well in '04, if not, it may be the Angels' year. The A's bullpen is a question mark heading into the season because of the loss of closer Keith Foulke. Relievers Chad Bradford and Ricardo Rincon are pretty solid, so newly-brought in Arhur Rhodes will have to step up and fill Foulke's role if Oakland is to succeed. Third baseman Eric Chavez anchors the A's infield. Although he can't hit lefties worth a darn, he still mashes righties and plays a phenomenal third base. With the loss of shortstop Miguel Tejada, the A's badly need rookie Bobby Crosby to step up. Crosby hit well in the minors, and he will need to step up for Oakland to succeed. The mediocre Scott Hatteberg will platoon with Eric Karros at first. Now that Mark Ellis injured his shoulder, the A's have a gap they need to fill at second base. Finally, the A's outfield is abysmal. The Oakland secret defensive statistics seem to show Mark Kotsay is a very good defender so they'll go with him in center. The secret statistics probably show Jermaine Dye stinks, but he's overpaid so they'll go with him in right. Who knows what the statistics say about Bobby Kielty, but he's a decent hitter so he'll play left. What about the Seattle Mariners you ask? Well, they're old, older than last year, when they were, well... already old. And the Texas Rangers? Well, they're not old, but they suck, so don't count on them winning anything in the next three years.

---

News

Unborn Victims of Violence Act factors into abortion debate

March 28

Laci Peterson's murder is a mystery that has plagued law enforcement for the past year. Soon, it might not be her murder alone, but also the murder of her unborn child, that remains unresolved. On Thursday, March 26, the Senate approved legislation that makes it a separate offense to harm a fetus when violence is committed against a pregnant woman. Cases like Peterson's have helped to build support for the act, known as the Unborn Victims of Violence Act. Senator Mike DeWine, a republican from Ohio and strong proponent of the bill, brought the debate to the Senate floor on Thursday. In DeWine's press release, he states, "it is just plain wrong that federal law does absolutely nothing to recognize that violent acts against unborn children are a crime." "We are going to close this glaring loophole in our federal criminal code once and for all. This is a vote about justice for all of the victims of crime, including the unborn child," he continued. The measure has already been passed by the House, and is now in the hands of the president. A strong supporter of the Bill, President Bush is expected to sign it into law. According to The New York Times, Bush issued a statement on Thursday night stating, "Pregnant women who have been harmed by violence, and their families, know that there are two victims -- the mother and the unborn child -- and both victims should be protected by federal law." Opponents of the law, however, feel that it is not directed towards ending violence at all. They feel that the new legal designation of the fetus is just a tool for anti-abortion advocates. Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), a group known for its pro-choice position, denounced the Senate's passage of the bill. "The so-called Unborn Victims of Violence Act is not intended to protect pregnant women from domestic violence or punish individuals who harm them," President Gloria Feldt said in a statement on the organization's website. "It is part of a deceptive anti-choice strategy to make women's bodies mere vessels by creating legal personhood for the fetus." Junior Judith Neufeld, co-president of VOX, is concerned by this and other recent legislation. "The goal behind all these acts that are being passed is to strip away a woman's right to choose," she said. "They're trying to mask this bill, but the larger agenda is it is an anti-abortion agenda." Tufts political science professor Gary McKissick shares the position taken by Neufeld and PPFA. "When the sponsors and main proponents of the legislation claim it is not about abortion they are lying, plain and simple." "The law itself will have virtually no effect on crime," he continued. "It applies only to what happens in the commission of a federal crime of violence -- so it simply adds on a newly created category of punishable outcomes to a behavior already deemed illegal, and "federal" crimes constitute a rather small category of violent crime." Sophomore Meredith Harris agreed with McKissick. "I think the act is a bridge for President Bush to later use against pro-choice groups in passing laws against abortion," Harris said. Many opponents feel that the bill will lead to an eventual challenge against the Roe v. Wade decision. According to the PPFA website the act "was created with the sole aim of undermining the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision." "For opponents of abortion rights, it's a politically expedient strategy," McKissick said. "They know they don't have the support to take on Roe v. Wade directly. This law, though, is an easier sell. Because it's dealing with criminal activity, lawmakers who oppose it risk looking 'soft on crime.'" Other members of the Tufts community support the act and question McKissick's assessment that it will directly affect Roe v. Wade. Robert Curry, vice president of The Catholic Community at Tufts, believes the act is a good thing for our country. "I view life in all forms as sacred," he said. Senior Matt Dysart also supports the act. He says it is explicitly provided in the bill that it won't be used to challenge Roe v. Wade. "The biggest reason in my mind of supporting the bill is that the distinction between a 'fetus' moments before birth and a 'baby' moments afterwards seems so arbitrary and artificial," Dysart said. For Dysart, the goal of the bill is to protect human life in all possible forms. "I think there is a universal instinct to protect developing infants from violence from without," he explained. "Our children are protected from murder and abuse and adults are protected, but for some reason previously we have not protected human life before the moment of birth. The distinction seems so unnecessary to me." Dysart challenges the assumption that the goal of the bill is to undermine a woman's right to choose. "I think you can be morally consistent and state that a woman's right to choose is consistent with the right of a fetus to not be harmed from without," he said. Whether or not the act has an ulterior motive, McKissick feels that basic logistics were overlooked. "Lost in all the hoopla over the abortion issue is a relatively simple question: how exactly is a law like this to be enforced?" McKissick asked. "Has anyone considered how hard it is to establish -- concretely -- 'fetal harm' and, especially, its causes?"

---

News

Summer Session hopes to rebound from enrollment slump

March 28

Administrators are scrambling for ways to reverse the slipping undergraduate enrollment in the Tufts Summer Session as summer registration enters its second month. Fewer Tufts undergrads have taken summer courses at Tufts each year since 1998. According to the Tufts Fact Book, enrollment was 1,587 in 1998 and had decreased by 26.3 percent by 2003. Over the same period, full-time undergraduate enrollment increased by 2.3 percent. The Fact Book is issued each year by Tufts' Office of Institutional Research. Summer Session Manager Sean Recroft hopes that a market research project in conjunction with Institutional Research will result in new, more effective promotional strategies. Summer Session market research currently examines the ease of the enrollment procedure, the effectiveness of Summer Session office publications, and how the idea of staying at Tufts for the summer has been communicated to students. "We didn't have good research before, but we're building data now," Recroft said. The sluggish state of the national economy over the past few years may be partly to blame for the enrollment decline, according to Recroft. He said that students are more likely to look for summer jobs than spend money going to school. "When the economy isn't doing so well, there's less discretionary spending in the summer," he said. That discretionary spending includes summer school tuition, which ranges between $1360 and $3120. For some students, credit load is a bigger factor than money when deciding whether or not to stay at Tufts for the summer. "I am taking summer classes so I don't have to take five credits every semester," sophomore engineering student Ellen Kasson said. "Summer classes will give me a lighter load next year." Another possible factor is increased competition from state schools, whose summer programs are often less expensive and more convenient for students who wish to stay at home over the summer. Steve Angelo, the financial manager for the summer sessions program at the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), said his office occasionally targets students who attend other universities but who live near UCLA. "We buy lists from list companies where a [University of California at] Berkley student might have a Los Angeles address," he said. However, Angelo said, most of the effort is focused on students at other California schools. "In general, it's local," he said. Recroft agreed that cost could be a strong factor in deciding whether to stay at Tufts or attend summer courses nearer to home, but he said "most students who go to Tufts stay at Tufts." In comparison, undergraduate enrollment in the Summer Studies program at Brown University has remained relatively constant over the last four years, with 319 to 336 Brown undergraduates enrolled in the university's summer courses. Brown's Dean of Summer and Continuing Studies, Karen Sibley, disagreed with Recroft's theory that a poor economy has a negative effect on summer enrollment. Rather, Sibley said that "students take courses when they have difficulty finding employment." "We're a little bit insulated from economic concerns by our curriculum," Brown Summer Studies Public Relations Manager Rob Kerr said. Kerr said that the summer program administrators can count on a core group of classes to fill up each year. Summer Session has also revamped its publications in an effort to attract more students. "We're seeing strong response now," Recroft said. "We have expectations for a strong summer."

---

News

Boise Style

March 28

Greetings from Boise, Idaho. That's right, this week's column is coming right at you from the heart of the northwest -- land of big sky and ... well, potatoes. It's another fun-filled spring break with the family at the old homestead. Yes, behind all the glamour, the life of this Daily columnist is very, very lame. However, I'd like to make the most of this situation to share with you curious East-coasters a little about Boise style. True, it isn't the most exciting place in the world, but it does have its hip side. Many geographically-impaired individuals make the incorrect assumption that Idaho is a Midwestern state. Thus, one might infer that Boiseans sport the same big hair, leisure-suit look favored by our Bible-belt neighbors. In fact, fashion in Boise looks remarkably similar to fashion in Boston: simple and conservative. There is a fairly large yuppie contingent, so pristine sweater sets, designer sunglasses, and SUVs are popular. Of course, there are those who embody every stereotype one might have about a "backwards, middle-of-nowhere" state: Think oversized t-shirts screen-printed with things like howling wolves, black jeans, and yes, cowboy boots. However, these real-life fashion nightmares are becoming harder and harder to find. In their place, you'll find a much more widespread, and equally atrocious, style: the Abercrombie & Fitch look. This unimaginative brand, which is thankfully loosing favor on the east coast, is still very big back west. Most males below the age of 25 are barely distinguishable from one another in their identical striped polo shirts, visors, cargo shorts, and flip flops. Females also embrace the A&F look, but this is mostly concentrated in the junior high-aged population. Another big style movement is the natural "outdoorsy" look. In a state where outdoor recreational opportunities abound, this look makes a certain amount of sense. However, some unfortunate individuals end up looking perpetually as if they've just gone rock climbing. (Yet, because the person actually may have just gone rock climbing, looking this disheveled is forgivable in a place like Boise.) I always smirk when I see students in Boston in their fleece camping-style North Face outfits; because the only climbing they're doing are the library steps! Thankfully, there are a growing number of Boiseans who want something a little bit more exciting. In fact, the city now boasts a range of cute vintage shops that outshine Boston vintage stores in style and selection. I always make the rounds when I'm in town, because you just can't find many cool retro things in Boston outside of the Garment District. While Boise does not yet have some of the major retail chains we take for granted back east like Urban Outfitters and J. Crew, a few stores are beginning to slowly introduce items like designer jeans and handbags. The best part of shopping in Boise, though, is the funky independent retailers and quirky thrift shops. Sure, some people in Idaho still don't get it, but there is still hope. Since big name brands haven't completely taken over the market, you can still find some interesting, unusual things. It just proves that, no matter where you are, style will find a way!

---

News

Not your normal Kevin Smith

March 28

"Jersey Girl" isn't your typical Kevin Smith movie. Jay and Silent Bob are nowhere to be found. There are no lesbians, no mall-rats, no one works at a convenience store, and Ben Affleck turns in a subtle performance. And while it is sappy at times, the movie hits more than it misses, leaving audience members to walk out of the theater feeling upbeat. Right off the bat, this movie distinguishes itself as different. The plot, while slightly clich‚, is moving. Stylish music advertising executive, Oliver Trinke (Ben Affleck), and his wife Gertrude (Jennifer Lopez) are a happy young couple living in New York City in the early 1990s. Warning bells immediately sound. "Oh no," the wary audience thinks. "Will this be more of the hair-pulling, stomach twisting excrement that was 'Gigli'?" But fears are quickly put to rest: Gertrude dies during childbirth ten minutes into the movie and the baby, Gertie (Raquel Castro), survives, leaving a heartbroken, embittered Oliver to take care of the child on his own. He moves back to his father's (George Carlin) house in New Jersey, and subsequently gets himself fired when, stinky baby in arms, he lashes out in frustration at the media and up-and-coming star Will Smith. Flash forward seven years and Oliver is driving a street cleaner, having developed a wonderful relationship with Gertie. The rest of the film is devoted to exploring that relationship as Oliver struggles to regain the life he once had and begins a clumsy romance with a sexy video store employee (Liv Tyler). Those expecting a comedy about sex, weed, and shopping malls will be disappointed. Smith's first films worked extraordinarily well because they were directed at 14-18 year olds. "Jersey Girl" is aimed at the same audience, but ten years further into their lives. Fans that were acne and braces ridden teens when "Clerks" came out are now full fledged adults, looking to marry, have kids, and join book groups. As such, their movie tastes, and those of the director, have changed. Although "Chasing Amy" was a romantic comedy, Jay and Silent Bob were present and raunchy language was commonplace. Not so in "Jersey Girl" -- the movie is rated PG-13. The tamer rating alone is enough to make younger Smith fans pout, as they will unfortunately have to continue stealing "Maxim" from convenience stores and watching the Super Bowl halftime show for their fix of breasts. Above all else, the acting is most impressive. Ben Affleck is moving as the main character; somehow managing a believable performance as a music exec, public works employee, and a confused father. Liv Tyler is at her absolute best as Maya, a funny, nerdy, oversexed sociology major. George Carlin is sweet and likeable as the elderly father, a non-comedic role that is a departure from the actor's norm, and seven-year-old Raquel Castro is perhaps the most enjoyable child actor since Jonathan Lipnicki in "Jerry Maguire." The child star's performance is indeed a testament to Kevin Smith, as her dialogue and emotions are believable and funny without being saccharine sweet. The movie is new territory for Smith in a number of ways. Many moments in this film show Smith's evolution as a director. When Affleck's character is informed of his wife's death, Smith uses music to convey the emotion of the moment, which is quite a change from the verbal fireworks of "Clerks." The story itself is much more adult, centered on a young man confronting his fears of parenthood. The fear of inadequacy in the real world is one to which all twenty-somethings can relate. As is to be expected when a filmmaker departs from his bread and butter, the movie is not perfect. The story is a bit forced, and the ending is a tad "It's A Wonderful Life." But perhaps these shortcomings are what make the movie so endearing. Smith, like the rest of our generation, is not perfect, and the movie is a charming tribute to his wife and daughter, and indeed to young parents everywhere. As in the movie, growing up involves a seemingly unending stream of awkward sexual and cultural encounters. "Jersey Girl" is announcing to the film world and to the viewing audience that Kevin Smith is no longer just Silent Bob; at this point, he's Invisible Bob, content to remain behind the lens and let his movies speak for themselves (pun intended). It seems that Kevin Smith has grown up with his audience. Give "Jersey Girl" a chance; while it isn't perfect, it's worlds better than "Agent Cody Banks 2," and you can still take your significant other without fear of awkward glances.

---

News

Fixing the book system

March 28

Some commonsense efforts would go a long way towards reducing the waste in Tufts' book system. Recent efforts by Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senators to improve the book buyback system should be the first step of a larger effort to reform the way the University handles books. A perennial complaint on senior surveys, few things feel worse than getting $2 back on a $30 book that you ended up not reading. In the meantime, students are spending more and more on textbooks. A University of California survey conducted in 1997 showed the average student spent $642 per year on textbooks. A 2003 survey said students now spend $898 on textbooks per year. While publishers do much to drive the costs up, Tufts' system does little to help the problem. There is a complete lack of efficiency in how books are bought and sold through the bookstore. Students usually do not know what books to buy until the beginning of the semester. At that point, students wanting to save money by purchasing books online will not have their books until a few weeks into the semester. Anyone who cannot wait that long has to use the bookstore. The bookstore often has very few used books, and its prices (new and used) are usually significantly higher than online options. The frustrating experience is completed at the end of the semester, when students get pennies on the dollar for most of their books. While many point the finger at the Barnes & Noble managed bookstore, the bulk of the problem lies with Tufts. Professors frequently fail to get their book requests in on time, which leaves the bookstore completely blind as to what will be needed during the upcoming semester. Because much of the solution likes with faculty members themselves, it is disappointing that professors have not made more of an effort to reduce bookstore inefficiency. Despite an information campaign by senators, there was still poor response to efforts to get booklists out before the beginning of the semester. More education would be helpful, as some professors seem insensitive to the high cost of books. Sometimes books are assigned in which only a few chapters are relevant. Other times, professors ask for more expensive versions of textbooks that include little-used extras like study guides or CDs. More extensive use of legal online options for distributing assigned texts could also be pursued. Professors can also help keep costs down by not requiring the newest versions of textbooks when possible. Publishers often update books frequently in order to make the older versions less desirable and push student to purchase new texts. Professors who are cognizant of this can assign a range of versions to allow previous versions (sometimes only a year or two old) to be used. Saving a few hundred dollars a year might seem trivial next to Tufts' $40,000 tuition. But for students on financial aid the cost is burdensome, and what is most frustrating is how needless some of the expense is. With more coordination on the part of students, the bookstore, and the faculty, a significant source of waste could be eliminated and an annoying problem alleviated.

---