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An unbearable hour of 'Magic'

March 16

Everyone knows that kid who tries too hard to be cool. He wears a beret and dresses in black, as if he were a beatnik out of the '50s. But in truth, he isn't cool at all. Cool is something that people are born with; it cannot be learned. That kid, who only dreams he could be as "cool" as jazz greats like Miles Davis, has grown up and now plays trumpet for Blue Note Records. Ladies and Gentleman, Wynton Marsalis. Wynton's debut album for Blue Note, "The Magic Hour," is little more than an hour of yawns. This album features a classic Jazz ensemble of piano, drums, trumpet, and bass. However, the music is far more clich?© than classic. The musical arrangements are uninspired and the lyrics are cheesy. Even worse, the musicians are so absorbed in their jazzy perfection that they sound arrogant and sterile. Simply put, this album lacks the soul that makes jazz truly jazz. Wynton Marsalis is not new to the jazz scene though. He has produced 33 jazz and 11 classical records. Three of these albums are certified gold records. In addition to this, Marsalis is the Artistic Director of the prestigious Jazz Institute at Lincoln Center. Kofi Annan, the secretary general of the U.N., proclaimed him an international ambassador of goodwill and appointed him a U.N. messenger of peace. This track record does not speak to his talent, but rather illuminates Kofi Annan's poor taste in jazz. "The Magic Hour" is Marsalis' first jazz ensemble studio recording since 1999, and it shows. The album is all too formulaic. There's the smooth, female singer going on and on about jazzy this and jazzy that. There's the sexy cooing trumpet. And when the band wants to go "out," there's garbled, trite nonsense. The album sounds like it should be played in the Lincoln Center's elevators rather than on its stage. Marsalis seems so enamored with the idea of "jazz," that he cannot explore its complexities with his soul. His rendition of this timeless art is superficial and cerebral. He lacks the depth of the true jazz greats like Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, Herbie Hancock, and Bill Evans. Compare the works of these jazz gods to "The Magic Hour" and you'll see that music is an art of the soul, not the just of the mind. Wynton's cheesiness is apparent in the incoherent way he talks about the album. In the press packet provided to this reviewer, Marsalis felt the album was for both parents and kids. "From the perspective of the kids, you've got the 4/4 time of them running around and acting crazy, then you put the blues on them to calm them down," he said. "For the parents, it's that burst of activity right after the kids go down, then the blues where there's mutual recognition, the groove when there's realization and then the ballad for reflection." Recognition, realization and reflection? How pleasant sounding, but what about the music itself? Wynton sounds more like a salesman selling cheap charm necklaces on QVC than a musician who feels the music with his soul. The jazz greats showed their appreciation of the music with their songs, not with superficial adjectives. If Wynton was truly great, he would do the same. There are, however, some good things to say about "The Magic Hour." The musicians are professional, and as a result, the sound quality of the actual instruments is first-rate. Also, the song "baby, I love you" is above average, due to the vocal ability of Bobby McFerrin, a talented modern singer. Finally, the production of the album is well done, allowing for crisp, clear tracks. Still, this album is a big flop. Wynton seems to have nothing to offer in the way of creativity or soul. Instead "The Magic Hour" sounds uninspired and corny -- a deadly mixture. For those interested in real jazz, forget about Wynton Marsalis and pick up any album by Miles Davis or Herbie Hancock. It's there that you'll find the real soul of jazz that Wynton Marsalis so desperately lacks.

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News

Losing the fight against terror

March 16

Faceless cowards savagely murdered 201 people in Madrid last Thursday. They tried to spread fear through the hearts of men, women, and children. But Spain stood up to the sadistic terrorists with all the force of the human spirit, teaching us a lesson in courage and solidarity that we should never forget. My heart goes out to the millions of brave Spaniards who gathered in the streets of Barcelona, and Sevilla, and Zaragoza to show the terrorists that no bomb can ever destroy our faith in humanity. All indications point to Al-Qaida's direct involvement in Madrid's bombings. That means that this organization is still operational and that it can potentially attack targets in the United States. We cannot ignore the fact that Al-Qaida is still a grave threat. So we should all be asking ourselves one simple question: how well is this country defending itself against the possibility of another 9/11? The disturbing answer to this question is that the Bush administration is not doing what it should to defend this country. What happened in Madrid is a wake up call to all of us. The victims of the train bombings have reminded us that we are still at risk. But more importantly, they have exposed America's flawed understanding of the nature of terrorism. Terrorism is not a conventional enemy and it therefore cannot be fought in conventional ways. That is a fundamental lesson that this country's leadership has yet to learn. Let us consider Bush's record in fighting terrorism. When the United States was attacked in 2001, the Bush administration responded with an impressive display of military power. A few weeks after the twin towers fell, the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan, whose Taliban rulers had provided a safe haven for Osama bin-Laden. Going to war is never pleasant, but this seemed a just war if there ever was one. In March of 2003, the Bush administration succeeded in convincing a more reluctant public that waging war against Iraq was essential in the ongoing fight against terrorism. The casus belli this time was the imminent threat posed by Hussein's WMD and his alleged links to Al-Qaida. Once again, the Bush administration decided to deal with the threat of terrorism by taking military action against a sovereign state. Yet, the simple truth is that despite the fact that this country has gone to war twice in the last three years, it is still just as vulnerable to terrorist attacks. This country has spent billions of dollars of taxpayers' money and sacrificed the lives of hundreds of American soldiers in a failed pursuit that is more likely to increase the number of terrorist recruits than decrease it. In the process, America managed to squander the enormous good will the world had offered in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks. By acting unilaterally and in repudiation of diplomacy and international organizations, the Bush administration has damaged long-lasting friendships and alliances throughout the world. In the meantime, the U.S. government is diverting finite resources from Homeland Security and from detective work to immensely costly occupations in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has failed to engage in constructive diplomacy with potentially dangerous countries like North Korea and Iran. It has failed to pressure the Saudi government to reform its school system and to cut off its financial support for Al-Qaida. And while America was busy bombing Iraq and Afghanistan, Pakistan's top nuclear scientist was revealing nuclear secrets to the Axis of Evil. Is it just me, or is there something fundamentally wrong with this picture? America did win two wars, but it is losing friends, encouraging future resistance, and losing sight of the real threats to the security of this nation. If this is the aftermath of the "War on Terrorism," Bush's wars will set a new standard for the term 'Pyhrric victory.' Terrorist organizations are the ultimate non-state actor, and that means that they cannot be dealt with in conventional military operations. Terrorist cells operate in the shadows, oftentimes independently of one another. Organizations like Al-Qaida are loose networks of disciplined fanatics who rely on a complex web of financing and communication. Terrorism is also a borderless phenomenon and it is not an easy target for even the smartest bombs in the U.S. military arsenal. Bombing a few caves in Tora Bora might destroy some cells, but it will not kill this Hydra of a thousand heads. Fighting terrorism successfully is more about police and investigative work than it is about military might. It requires sharing intelligence with other nations and cooperating closely in matters of legal agreements, criminal profiling, and civil transportation. Given its borderless nature, terrorism must be tackled multilaterally. This, of course, can be exceedingly difficult when you alienate the international community by pursuing an arrogant and reckless foreign policy. Bush's militarism seems more like an act of vengeance than a carefully crafted policy to combat terrorism. I do not care if you are a Republican, Independent, Democrat, or Green, but if you think this country is doing its best to protect its citizens, you might be setting yourself up for a rude awakening. National security should stay above partisan politics. This is not an issue of political persuasions. It is an issue of common sense and doing the best thing for America's safety. My hope is that we do not have to suffer the horrors of another Sept. 11 to realize that. Rodrigo De Haro is a senior majoring in International Relations. He can be reached at deharo@tuftsdaily.com.

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News

LGBT community lobbies to include special interest programming

March 16

The Bravo Channel and Independent Film Channel (IFC) were added to the basic Tufts cable package in February in an attempt to increase LGBT television programming on campus. The initiative to expand the cable package, spearheaded by LGBT Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Representative Patrick Brown, began last October. The Tufts cable package offers an array of channels ranging from BET to TV Japan, Fox Sports, a variety of international news channels, and Lifetime. The Bravo Channel and IFC were previously available to students through Falls Earth for an added monthly charge. However, Brown said his constituents felt that despite the broad selection of channels, the previous options lacked enough LGBT programming. "Arriving on campus last fall, I noticed a lack of queer-related programming on the Tufts Cable package," Brown said. After he shred his concerns with English professor Jonathan Strong, they contacted Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) together to request the addition of Bravo, the station that airs "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy." Bravo has a reputation of airing progressive LGBT programs including "Boy Meets Boy" and "Gay Weddings," a series that followed same-sex unions. Strong offered faculty support on this issue because he felt it was important for the Tufts community. "If the campus is going to pay for other interest groups' programs, then they should add programming for gays and lesbians," he said. LGBT oriented shows like "Will and Grace" and "It's All Relative," which air on NBC and ABC, respectively, have always been part of the basic cable package. Many students felt that the addition of Bravo appealed to a broad base of students, providing both LGBT-themed programs and more mainstream programs including "Inside the Actors Studio" and "West Wing" reruns. While most students welcomed the addition of the Bravo/IFC package, others questioned why these channels were selected instead of HBO or Cinemax. "It's nice to have Bravo, but I don't really understand the reason. Maybe they could add HBO or Cinemax, which also offers gay and lesbian programs," sophomore Meg Simpson said. Cinemax has two prominent LGBT series, including "Queer as Folk" and "The L-Word," a new show portraying the lives of lesbian women in Los Angeles. HBO and Cinemax would cost the University and additional $3.50 per television per month, while the Bravo/IFC package costs Tufts an extra 30 to 50 cents per television per month. The Tufts cable package is provided through Falls Earth Station, which provides cable service to several universities throughout the country including Duke University, Hamilton College, and Marist College. "The package provided by Tufts is definitely much more inclusive than other universities," Falls Earth Programming Director Crystal Pierce said. While universities including NYU and Wake Forest have free cable packages which include HBO and HBO on Demand, other schools such as MIT and Harvard's older dorms do not have as comprehensive a package as the options provided by Tufts. Although students were generally pleased with the new addition, there is the question of whether now other minority groups will feel like they are no longer being evenly represented in Tufts' cable package. "I think it's great that Bravo was added, but there must be other groups that don't feel represented," sophomore Lily Risch said. "Perhaps the [TCU] Senate could work toward finding channels for them," she said. Many students want to see the addition of other channels, which they felt will represent a broad group of students on campus, including HBO and ESPN. Students are free to send suggestions to Falls Earth, which would then be reviewed by the university, Pierce said. In addition to the Bravo/IFC package, Tufts also added the Travel Network, the Food Network, and Home and Garden Television to its programming.

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News

Exotic coffee to beat the Starbucks grind

March 16

In a world of Starbucks and Au Bon Pain, where chain conglomerates spread so quickly that they force independent coffee houses out of existence, the Caf?© Algiers is a lone candle burning against the darkness. Located on Brattle Street in Cambridge, the caf?© features a variety of Middle Eastern coffee, drinks, and entrees for those who want to escape the monotonousness of commercialized America for something that's a little more unique. The Caf?© Algiers is just a short walk from the Harvard Square T-stop, arranged in a dual-level building on Brattle Street that looks more like a theater than a coffee house. Downstairs, the accoutrements are simple and bare, but for those willing to venture up a short flight of stairs, the upper level provides a haven from the bustling streets below. The close quartered tables might make one feel a bit crowded on a busy day, but when things are quiet, the nooks and crannies provide the perfect shadowy niche for a late night chat or relaxed study session. Most of the patrons who frequent the Cafe Algiers are college students, many of whom quickly sequester themselves away for the evening with an oversized book and a pot of Arabic coffee. The low-key atmosphere lends itself to cramming for a last minute midterm, and the change of scenery might be just what one needs to plough through those last few chapters on the Byzantine Empire. The specialty of the Caf?© Algiers clearly lies in its drinks. Though it offers a selection of Arabic and Middle Eastern entrees for lunch and dinner, judging from the fare at surrounding tables, most patrons pass up the dinner menu for a pot of exotic coffee. There are no attempts made to keep up with Starbucks here; the caf?©'s appeal lies in its unique offerings, not a half-hearted attempt to duplicate a double shot caramel macchiato. The coffee house's specialty is its mint Moroccan coffee ($4), served with a healthy dollop of whipped cream and just enough flavor to temper the strong brew. Coffee is also available by the pot, and customers will find none of the weak American beans that plague most espresso drinks. Everything is rich and flavorful -- perhaps slightly more expensive than the traditional cup, but all the more worth it for the exquisite taste. If coffee isn't quite your style (or if you're worried about the caffeine keeping you from getting to sleep in time to make it to that 8:30 class the next morning), there are plenty of other options to choose from, few of which can be found at your day to day coffee house. A variety of frappes, from espresso to strawberry, offer an escape from the encroaching heat of the summer, and the caf?© also brings an exotic spin to the simple Italian soda, offering unique syrups like pomegranate. Fancy teas of nearly every exotic flavor imaginable (hibiscus and gunpowder top the list) are available for only $3.50 a pot, and there's no need for store-bought teabags here: everything is brewed directly from freshly strained leaves in the tea kettle. The cafe also has a small menu of lunch and dinner entries, ranging from Middle Eastern staples like falafels to lamb sausage and kabobs. Sandwiches and salads are affordably priced, and the combination salad plate ($12) makes a good snack for an entire group, with hummus, rice, pita bread, and a handful of other different appetizers for you and your friends to sample. Dinner, unfortunately, is a more expensive prospect here -- non-salad entrees range from $10-15, and the meat tends to be a little overcooked -- but portions are big enough that it's possible to share, and most customers would probably rather stop in for a cup of coffee anyway. Whatever your reason for stopping in, the Caf?© Algiers is still a wonderful break from the usual commercialized coffee house, and more than enough reason to give the corner Starbucks a pass so you can try something new.

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News

Shake it like a digital photo

March 16

Gone are the days of slide carousels and messy chemicals. Now, when photographers want to share the fruits of their labor, they turn to one of the many online photo sites that have sprung up as a part of the digital photography revolution. Whether they are sharing family photos, artistic shots, or pictures from last night at ZBT, online photo sites offer Tufts students the opportunity to share their digital photos with whomever they desire. The advantages of online photo sites include the simplicity of sharing photos with friends and family and the high quality prints available through the sites. Of course, for starving college students, the price is right. The most popular sites are free, and give members the opportunity to purchase prints of the photos they view. Some of the most popular sites include Ofoto, Snapfish, and Club Photo. These sites all feature services to both digital and traditional film photographers. Users can register with the site at no cost. Once registered, they can either upload photos from their home computer or, for a small fee, mail in rolls of film or disposable cameras to be developed and uploaded onto the site. Users can then edit and organize uploaded photos into albums, which they can open up to public viewing and share with friends and families through e-mail links. Senior Meg Bliss, a Club Photo patron, uses the site for both artistic photography and more candid shots, such as pictures from a trip to Cuba she took last spring. She chose the Club Photo site because it enables her to share pictures easily. "I like it because it's free, and because other people can access my pics with my e-mail address," she said. Usually I use my own webspace, but I used Club Photo because people can order prints." The opportunity to peruse friends' pictures at your own pace also appeals to students. Junior Lauren Fein has been invited to view several albums on OFoto, and she appreciated the freedom she has to view the photos. "It's nice because I can do it while I'm IMing or taking a study break in the library." For students studying abroad, photo websites are an easy way to share their international experiences back home. Yet, problems sometimes arise with unreliable or slow internet access. Junior Andrew Churella, who is studying in London for the semester, hasn't been able to upload pictures yet this semester. "My pictures are on my computer, and I can't get it attached to the Internet," he said. He plans on putting his photos online once he returns to the States and a solid internet connection. Most college students use the sites with their digital cameras, but they are convenient for film users too. Fein was happy with the service that Snapfish provided her when she mailed in her film. "It's cheap and pretty convenient if you are willing to wait for the time to get your pictures. It's only around three dollars and then they are online." Overall, Fein was very happy with the quality of the Snapfish website. "The prints were great. And I dig the fish -- it's just really cute." In additional to online galleries and traditional prints, the photo websites offer the opportunity to have your photos reproduced on various novelty gifts. Club Photo users, for example, can order their favorite prints on coffee mugs, T-shirts, or even Rice Krispie treats.

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News

Dream Street may have hit a dead end, but freshman Matt Ballinger's dream lives on

March 16

The phone rings and a squeaky female voice is on the other end. "I love you, Matt!" she screeches. "This isn't Matt, it's his roommate, Ken," an agitated male voice responds. Before freshman Matt Ballinger unlisted his dorm room number out of necessity, this exchange was the norm for him and his roommate, freshman Ken Kitchin. Ballinger, a former member of the boy band Dream Street, and Kitchin got a kick out of the numerous calls from teenage girl fans. "It was really funny to mess with the girls that called," Kitchin said. "At the same time, it got really annoying" Ballinger laughs at his teenage stardom. "I was flattered, but it was weird," Ballinger said. "I just thought everything was funny." Ballinger grew up in Westchester, New York and was always passionate about music. In fifth grade, he became involved in the Broadway music world. He was in "A Christmas Carol" at Madison Square Garden for two years, and later had a part in Broadway's "The King and I" and "The Sound of Music" in seventh grade. After all the extensive singing and acting, Ballinger decided to take a break. During eighth grade, he went from Broadway to lacrosse and soccer. "I wanted to be a normal kid," Ballinger said. The following year, however, Ballinger returned to his musical inclinations. His agent called to inform him that there was a casting call for a new pop group. Since it was at the time when boy bands were just beginning to gain popularity, Ballinger thought the idea sounded appealing. He went back to Manhattan to audition with 500 other aspiring teenagers. After the group was cut down to eight boys, Ballinger rehearsed for about a month during the summer of 2000. The producers made their final decision and included Ballinger in Dream Street's five members. During the rest of the summer, the two producers, who independently funded the Dream Street project, taught the boys how to sing and dance. "Matty B was always very serious about his work," said former Dream Street member Greg Raposo. "He never played games." As the boys perfected their songs, record label heads began to scope out the band in their Manhattan studio. Dream Street eventually got picked up by Atlantic Records, home to artists including Kid Rock, Brandy and Jewel. The boys recorded their first album and the release date was set, but there were problems between the producers and the record label. "Our producers were really crazy people," Ballinger said. Atlantic dropped Dream Street, but the group was quickly picked up by independent record label Edel. Edel marketed the band through promo commercials a month before the first album dropped into stores. Dream Street's music video could be seen on channels from Disney to Nickelodeon, and fans spread their names on the internet prior to their album release. "It was the time that boy bands were the thing," Ballinger said. "All these little girls were getting all crazy and into it." The album, released in July of 2002, was a success, selling 30,000 records its first week, and eventually almost one million. "We were shocked," Ballinger said. Dream Street continued its success and opened for Aaron Carter while on tour the winter of 2002, which was an exciting experience for the group. Ballinger missed three months of school and got tutored while on the road. "It was a big deal," Ballinger said. "Aaron Carter is the man for little girls." After the tour, however, there were problems between Dream Street and its producers. The producers wanted the boys to quit school and focus solely on their boy band occupation. "My parents supported my career," Ballinger, then a junior in high school, said. "But they wanted me to stay in school and get an education. You never know what's going to happen, especially in the music industry with its ups and downs." Problems escalated, resulting in a lawsuit aimed to remove the band from its producers in the summer of 2002. The band also learned that one of the producers was heavy involved in teenage porn, which didn't go over well with the boys' families. "It's not a good image when you have a teenage girl following," Ballinger said. Dream Street won its lawsuit, but the decision had an unanticipated result: as per the settlement, the boys were never allowed to perform as a group together again. Not wanting to get into another messy legal battle, the boys went their separate ways, and Ballinger returned to everyday high school life. "Senior year, I was a totally normal kid," he said. Currently continuing his normal academic career at Tufts, Ballinger is working on a new project called The Juice, a band he and his freshmen friends recently started. Their debut show was March 13 at Harvard's Battle of the Bands. He has moved away from his previous pop style into more alternative music. "It [The Juice] is kind of Dispatch-Sublimey stuff," Ballinger said, referring to his favorite alternative bands. The Juice, which practices two to three times a week in Haskell Hall, consists of two singers, a bongo player, and a base and guitar player. "It's cool to work with Matt," said freshman Leon Mandler, a vocalist for The Juice. "He adds experience to our band that is absolutely crucial, and he knows what needs to be done." Roommate and bandmate Ken Kitchin agrees, adding that fame hasn't negatively affected Ballinger. "Matt never gloats," Kitchin said. "But he's always willing to tell us about his experiences when the other dudes in our suite and in the band want to hear about it." The Juice is going to Miami over spring break to record its first album. "I just wanna play as much as we can, and hopefully people will like us," Ballinger said. "We'll just go from there." Although Ballinger is thinking of majoring in economics and going to business school after college, music remains his passion. "I'd really like [The Juice] to get big," Ballinger said. "That would be cool." With a steady following of teenage girls across the country and a promising new band in the works, Ballinger's dream might just return to the street.

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News

Conservative 'takeover' is anything but

March 16

After reading the article "Students search for answers on student government's political makeup"(March 15) I am pleased yet compelled to reiterate the article's headline to the Tufts community. Since the fall, the Daily has printed several pieces mentioning the "large number of conservatives" in our student government. However, I have yet to read an analysis of this "vast right-wing conspiracy" by the numbers. The aforementioned article cites a poll in which ten percent of Tufts students plan to vote for President Bush in November. Based on this number, it is clear that conservatives are actually under-represented in the TCU government. There are 28 senators, seven TCUJ members, and currently five student CSL members. There are only 3 prominent conservatives in these groups, totaling 40 students in all. Three conservatives out of 40? That's only 7.5 percent! It is obvious that those spreading rumors and complaining about conservatives "taking over" the TCU are reacting to the strong, clear message presented by conservative groups. The Primary Source and the Tufts Republicans tirelessly challenge the liberal foolishness that takes place every day on campus by presenting factual, moral-based arguments. Although the active members of these groups constitute a minority on campus (yes, minority -- where's OUR culture house?), there are many, many students who also hold conservative ideologies, but are not politically inclined, or are afraid of being confronted by those around them. What Tufts leftists do not realize is that the more outrageous they act, the more motivated these silent conservatives will be to stand up and challenge their liberal agenda. So if conservatives are under-represented in the TCU, then what are Tufts' liberals complaining about? Are they really scared of those three students? By constantly exaggerating the campus right's presence inside the TCU government, leftists are trying to push these students out of their own student government. If the left succeeds, it would eliminate any conservative voice from the TCU government. How would a single-sided debate amongst like-minded people foster any of the "dialogue" that liberals constantly espouse? Tufts liberals, if they truly believe in inclusiveness, equality and an "open-dialogue," must accept conservatives on campus. They must encourage Republicans and Conservatives to run for office and play an active role in the Tufts community. To do anything else is hypocrisy. Nicole Brusco LA '06

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News

A just cause?

March 16

I find it quite ironic that two recent viewpoints, one by Carl Martin (Who will be the enemy of tomorrow, March 8) and one by Gary Leupp (Opposing an unjustified war and occupation, March 10), have so fervently criticized the war and rebuilding efforts in Iraq, when perhaps the most positive and hopeful event yet on the long road to democracy there occurred this past Monday: the signing of an Iraqi interim constitution. Yes, there were struggles over certain clauses of the document, and the signing even got delayed for a day because of some important disagreements, but it was signed nonetheless. To my mind, that is considerable progress, and something to be hopeful about. I implore the anti-war/anti-occupation crowd to separate the means from the ends in this debate, just for a moment. Get rid of your hatred for President Bush, get rid of your knowledge of the build-up to the war, the lack of U.N. approval, and get rid of your anger that there haven't been any WMDs found or proof of an Al Qaida-Saddam link. Now analyze the situation. From this perspective, we have the world's most powerful state (along with some important allies) forcing a brutal dictator from power, and providing the chance for democracy and human freedom for the first time in a long-oppressed polity. Does it still look so bad? Democracy in Iraq would be good for Iraqis, the Middle East, and also (realists may not want to proceed reading here) for the United States, Europe, and every other freedom-loving country as well! Democracy, human liberty, and free markets in Iraq and the rest of the region would curb the appeal of terrorist organizations, allow these states to become productive members of the world community, and would surely mollify some of the anti-Western sentiment that has become so pervasive there. Let me turn to some specific criticisms of the argument presented by Professor Leupp. In the opening paragraph, he declares that "Iraq ... was not a threat to U.S. security." I happen to agree, but I would qualify the statement by saying that Iraq was not an imminent threat. And even then, so what? Arguing against the war is, ultimately, arguing for the continued rule of Saddam. How can you justify that to the millions of Iraqis who have been tortured and oppressed for decades under the Baath regime? Furthermore, should we only intervene in countries when they are a direct and imminent threat to U.S. security? The human rights crowd would be, literally, up in arms. What if one of our European allies was under attack from some rogue country? Would we not intervene? How about for a mass genocide in a foreign territory that had no real consequences for American security? I just don't accept the notion that we should use force only when our security is overtly threatened. Well then, the argument goes, why aren't we intervening in every oppressive dictatorship around the globe? Because the United States has to balance its liberal optimism with realistic assessments of its capabilities. We don't have the capability to democratize and free every oppressed country in the world, so we balance that desire with our strategic interests. Iraq is a case in point. There were surely selfish reasons to invade: maybe oil, maybe other corporate interests, maybe military presence in the region. So when these strategic goals are juxtaposed with the promise of an effort to democratize the country, it seems like a good deal for everyone. Another flaw in the Leupp argument is a narrow focus on the negative. He claims that "the occupying troops did not meet with riotous jubilation but with sullen tolerance at best." Perhaps some Iraqis strongly disapprove of our presence, but surely there are others who truly welcomed it, and are assisting in many ways to help establish the rule of law (for example, Saddam would not have been captured without the help of Iraqi citizens). Absent from Professor Leupp's argument is any acknowledgment whatsoever of the progress that has been made, such as the training of an Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, the productive debate going on in the Iraqi Governing Council, and most significantly, the recent signing of the interim Constitution. Furthermore, Professor Leupp points to the casualties that have been inflicted during the effort -- both military and civilian, Iraqi and American (among others). Of course, no one wants to see this happen. But freedom has always come at a cost, and part of that cost is human casualty. To be sure, a history professor would be intimately familiar with cases in the past where soldiers and civilians have died in vain for ostensibly "good" causes, and would translate this knowledge into opposition to a war effort like that in Iraq. But one must also recognize that the beloved freedom enjoyed by Americans, western Europeans, and many others today was only made possible by centuries of long, hard, extremely bloody struggles. Would we relinquish our beloved freedoms today if it meant we could bring back all those valiant men and women who have died for that very cause? Finally, I was incredulous at the suggestion to "bring the troops home now." This would surely create many more problems than it would solve. The threat of civil war, outright anarchy, or the re-establishment of an oppressive military dictatorship would be the likely result of an American withdrawal. Professor Leupp's analogy to the kidnapping thug who stays around after the crime is based on an erroneous premise. The invasion of Iraq was not a wanton crime, and the long-term prospect of democratic nation-building was one of the goals from the start. It is certainly true that eventual democracy in Iraq is no guarantee, and I have no doubt that the Bush administration should be taken to task for obscuring the evidence for the war, misleading the public about a bin Laden link, and failing to achieve a more representative coalition. But I also recognize that part of the cause -- destroying a dictatorship and trying to establish the rule of law- has many virtues, not least of which is the hopeful prospect of representative government and individual liberty in a hitherto authoritarian country. I truly hope that the effort in Iraq becomes the vanguard for a democratic Middle East. I know that's the kind of future that most Americans, Iraqis, and citizens of the world hope for as well. If, however, we maintain a perpetual state of inaction vis-...-vis the most abject autocracies, how will the world ever witness the next frontier of freedom? Todd Walters is a senior majoring in Biology.

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News

March Madness

March 16

I can't hide the fact that come March, all I can think about is college basketball and the NCAA Division I tournament. Forget that Tufts' biggest NESCAC rivals Amherst and Williams are playing each other in the men's basketball Division III Final Four; I'm all about Division I. There is nothing better than filling out multiple brackets and watching your winners move on. However, there is nothing worse than picking an upset and then watching the team you had losing in the first round go all the way to the Final Four. So instead of drawing out some long sequence of predictions for "the Big Dance," I broke down the top eight seeds of each region in two sentences each. St. Louis Region aka Midwest 1. Kentucky -- Can anybody outside of the fried chicken state name two players on this team? Even so, Tubby Smith once again has a national championship contender. 2. Gonzaga -- Its only two losses came to Stanford and St. Joseph's, which is a plus. However, perennial underdogs usually don't do well when favored. 3. Georgia Tech -- Call it an East Coast or just ACC bias, but don't be surprised when the Yellow Jackets storm all the way into the Elite 8, if not further. The Yellow Jacks have great guard play and decent big men. 4. Kansas -- About as wack as they come. The Jayhawks have worse game than Andy Katzenberg. However, they should make it to the Sweet 16 just off a lucky draw. 5. Providence -- Actually not bad, but only have one real player in Ryan Gomes. Look for the Jayhawks to knock the Friars out in the second round. 6. Boston College -- Hey, the Red Sox season is almost here for more disappointment. 7. Michigan State -- Never count out a Tom Izzo squad. 8. Washington -- Never count on a team from the Wac-10, near the Wac-cific Ocean, but the Huskies are kind of hot. Phoenix Region aka West 1. Stanford -- Although the Cardinal played a weak Wac-10 schedule they have some "hella tight" players and could go places. 2. UConn -- Here's to you Andrew Gelfand, but that's only if Okafor can stay healthy -- Ben Gordon and a bunch of young forwards won't take the Huskies to a National Championship. 3. N.C. State -- The Wolfpack love to play boring basketball. They hold opponents to low scoring totals, but that brand of basketball might be played out in the NCAA's. 4. Maryland -- Fear the Turtle. The Terps can beat anybody at any time, but on the flip side could lose to anybody and I mean anybody at any time. 5. Syracuse -- No Carmelo means no championship. Sorry James Clark, but your Orange Crush is going down. 6. Vanderbilt -- The Commodores' toughest game could be their first round match-up against Western Michigan (26-4). If they pass that test, they could do damage. 7. DePaul -- Did I miss the memo because I have little to no respect for DePaul. Dayton is a ten seed specifically for this "upset." 8. Alabama -- The Crimson Tide are so up and down that it seems just perfect for them to exit early. Atlanta Region aka South 1. Duke -- You live by the three or die by the three. Duke will be living for a good amount of time. 2. Mississippi State -- Every year it seems like the SEC produces some upstart team that creates a buzz because of its regular season. And every year that team goes out like Chris Rock/Pookie in New Jack City. 3. Texas -- A team full of athletes that could skate to the Elite 8. Texas/UNC second round will be the best second round match-up. 4. Cincinnati -- The Bearcats are not known for their team GPA, but have been known to at least make it to the Sweet 16. 5. Illinois -- Dee Brown's quickness and explosiveness makes him one of the best point guards in the tournament. However the Illini will not be playing bad Big 10 teams. 6. North Carolina -- The Tar Heels possess the most raw talent out of any team, which causes the worst team chemistry. However, Roy Williams won't let them go out like suckers. 7. Xavier -- The Musketeers shot down St. Joe and continued their unbelievable shooting to an Atlantic 10 Championship. However, first round opponent Louisville is no slouch. 8. Seton Hall -- The Pirates were above average this season, but would have had better luck as a lower seed, as opposed to playing Arizona in the first round. East Rutherford aka East 1. St. Joseph's -- Most overrated team in the tournament, enjoy the media spotlight now. 2. Oklahoma State -- The anti-Mississippi State because the Cowboys are actually good, not just seeded second for the heck of it. 3. Pittsburgh -- Better than most number two seeds. I wish they had dropped to a fourth seed just to see the Panthers smoke St. Joe's. 4. Wake Forest -- Went out like some busters in the ACC tournament, but expect the Deacons to do well because they are on the St. Joe side. 5. Florida -- Many are predicting the Gators to be upset by 12 seed Manhattan. Not far-fetched, but also not for sure. 6. Wisconsin -- This bracket is easily the hardest anytime you see the Big 10 Champion as the six seed. Can the Badgers get some respect? 7. Memphis -- The Tigers are led by a freshman -- he's good, but freshmen have been known to crumble in the tourney. Luckily their opponent, South Carolina, isn't the toughest competition. 8. Texas Tech -- If coach Bobby Knight can choke his players into out-performing Charlotte in the first round, Texas Tech would get the first real chance to unseat St. Joe's.

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Responding to the gay marriage debate

March 16

There is one, tiny-teeny, itty-bitty thing that Lydia Claudio forgot to mention in her long-winded article about God and his (her) ideas about "the unnatural lifestyle" of homosexuals -- God has absolutely no place in the United States government. It does not matter what some fictitious book written thousands years ago says about homosexuals. Here is a crash course in American history: the church, and therefore God, is separate from the government. What Christian radicals and other protesters who claim the immorality of homosexual lifestyles seem to forget is that it does not matter what one person's God says is immoral, nor what anyone else's religion values. This country's government will not base its laws solely on what a particular God says is allowable or not. For some reason, many believe that their religion is better qualified than others, and therefore we should base our country's laws completely on the values and morals their religion teaches. That, my friend, is what people see as "unfair, narrow-minded, and discriminatory." You are not tolerant of diversity and you are narrow-minded if you do not see that cramming your religion down people's throats is unfair and uncalled for. You can rave about sin, you can claim that it is undermining the institution of marriage (sorry, but divorces are undermining your so-called holy institution), and go on and on - but it does not matter at all. Sin and your religion's qualifications of marriage do not count in politics. As for condemning adulterers and alcoholics in the same category with homosexuals, they should not be seen in the same light. Adulterers (one reason for failed marriages, not gays) and alcoholics usually end up hurting others through emotional and physical abuse. For this reason, they should be punished and their activities should be condemned. But I fail to see who homosexuals hurt by being married to each other. Gays happily married, committing themselves to a loving relationship ... ooooh, spooky. You cannot condemn the lifestyles of homosexuals based on the qualities of adulterers and alcoholics -- homosexuals do not commit crimes, so why do you treat them like criminals? Additionally, in reference to the comment that the homosexual lifestyle is "clearly and explicitly contrary not only to nature, but the very nature of God," -- we have already covered how the nature of God is irrelevant in this conversation, but how homosexuality is also against nature is again, wrong. I need only mention a viewpoint ("Oh the things we can learn ... from penguins, Feb. 12") that highlighted the homosexual relationship between two penguins in the Central Park Zoo located in New York. No, they are not freaks of nature, possessed by the devil, or lab experiments. They are just two normal male penguins who engage in a monogamous relationship, have sex, sit on an abandoned egg, and raise a baby penguin. How much more natural can you get? What makes the Christian faith so amazing that everything in this nation must somehow tie back to it? After years and years at Catholic school, I still have no answer to that question. What I do know though is that when it comes to the discussion of politics and law-making, religion has no place. All that really matters is that people -- all people, from all walks and thoughts of life -- are allowed to do what they want. That is what a democracy is based upon. And just because your God (or any other God for that matter,) says otherwise, it should not mean we have to cheat citizens from enjoying their democratic freedom. Aysenur Nuhoglo is a junior majoring in International Relations and Economics

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Morwick's intensity leads to success

March 16

Kristen Morwick has headed the women's cross country and track and field programs for almost four years. On any given day depending on the season, she can be spotted leading a group of distance runners through the streets of Medford/Somerville, prowling around the Gantcher Center, or heading practice at the outdoor track. "She is a great coach, very enthusiastic and encouraging of the team. She pushes you to put in a good effort and it pays off," said freshman Kate Makai, who just finished her first collegiate indoor season under Morwick and earned a fourth place finish in the 600 meter run at Div. III New Englands. Morwick took over both Tufts programs for Branwen Smith-King in June 2000, as King moved up to be the Assistant Director of Athletics. Morwick had prior experience with the Tufts program, as she assisted King from 1990-96. From there she went on to NESCAC rival Williams to head the cross country program. Highlights included four straight national championship appearances and two New England Coach-of-the-Year awards. Morwick returned to Tufts as an accomplished head coach, and has added to her accomplishments during her four years here. She has coached two cross country individuals (Leslie Crofton LA '01 in 2000 and current senior quad-captain Lauren Caputo last season) to Nationals, though she has yet to duplicate the team success she produced with the Ephs. As for track and field, Morwick considers last year's indoor and outdoor teams among her highlights, where the indoor team took second at New England's, while the outdoor team was second at NESCAC's and third at New England's. She also coached then-junior Jess Trombly to a third place finish in the heptathlon at Nationals. As far as coaching goes, Morwick likes the atmosphere that a Div. III school provides. "I like coaching Division III because athletes are hopefully here because they love sports and want to work hard to improve," Morwick said. Morwick particularly likes coaching at Tufts because of its emphasis on academics and the "excellent facilities for track." As far as her team goes, Makai appreciates the two sides to Morwick. "She can be a lot of fun," Makai said. "She is intense on the track because it's necessary to the track mentality. The intensity helps us to perform better. But we can also have fun with her, and that is important, too." For the upcoming spring season, Morwick is working toward two personal goals. "I want to win NESCACs and send as many team members to Nationals as possible," Morwick said.

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College voters key, but deadlines, paperwork make voting difficult

March 16

November's presidential election will be a close contest, and polls suggest that mobilizing the 18-24 year-old demographic should be an important goal for both major political parties. A June 2003 survey by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard showed that the new demographic up for grabs is the "campus kid" -- the politically aware college student. The survey, reported in the Chronicle of Higher Education, found that 59 percent of college students said they would "definitely be voting" in the 2004 election and 27 percent said they would "probably" vote. In 2000, only 32 percent of 18-to-24 year olds voted. The authors of the survey linked the expected increase in political participation to Sept. 11 and the Iraq war. The findings of the Kennedy School survey are mirrored by trends at Tufts -- a March 3 Daily poll showed that 36 percent of students claim to be more politically active than in the previous year. Twenty-seven percent of students said they were less politically active than last year. Registration deadlines, however, have made voting difficult for college-age students. Students at Tufts whose primary addresses are not in nearby communities have to decide whether they will register to vote in Medford or Somerville, or request an absentee ballot to vote in their home communities. Brian McNiff, Communications Director for Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin, said that students who are interested in voting need to keep track of registration deadlines. "I think that if they don't continue their registration at home, they may be up in the air as to where they want to [vote]," he said. "Sometimes indecision takes them past the registration deadline." McNiff said that students should check with their local officials where they are registered to vote. "We encourage them to do that before the registration deadline, which falls 20 days before the election," he said. "It's really up to them," said Medford's Senior Clerk of Voter Registration Joanne Abbott, regarding students' choice of where to vote. "If they are here and they'd like to vote they're welcome to." Abbott said the only problem she has encountered is students who register to vote in Medford and their home community. In that case, she said, "we find out an address to send a copy of their [voter registration] card" so that their home state is notified to take them off the list of registered voters. Medford keeps a list of registered voters who are Tufts students, while Somerville does not. A Somerville elections clerk said that it does not matter where students are registered because students are more interested in presidential or gubernatorial elections than town elections. "We don't encourage them either way -- it's their choice -- some prefer to stay registered in their home community," she said. Even though the "campus kid" is an important factor in the 2004 election, examples from across the country have shown that some towns and cities do not welcome the college vote. The Chronicle reported two incidents in the past two years --at Skidmore College and Texas A&M University -- where local officials "intimidated" student voters. In one case, at Texas A&M, the local district attorney said that student voters had "feigned residency" and "deprived" the county of "fair elections."

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News

Winter momentum should carry over for spring track

March 16

After a third place finish in the New England Div. III championships last spring and a successful indoor campaign this winter, the women's track team should be a force to be reckoned with as the spring season gets under way, especially in the track events. The Jumbos' strengths will lie in the sprint and hurdle competitions. The sprinters will be led by senior quad-captain Jess Trombly and classmate Shushanna Mignott, junior Ayako Sawanobori, and sophomores Rachel Bloom and Katie Gadkowski. Trombly broke five school records outside last year and also qualified for Nationals in 11 events. The long sprint group will be comprised of senior quad-captains Emily Bersin, Kate Higley, and junior Sika Henry. Junior Katie Sheedy will lead the Jumbos in mid-distance events. Bersin, sophomore Molly Whittington, and freshmen Mackenzie Rawcliffe and Leah Venti all look to contribute in the hurdle events. The team will also look to many other athletes from the winter season -- including Mignott, Sawanobori, Bersin, Bloom and Gadkowski -- to step up as veteran leaders this spring. Coach Kristen Morwick expects the success from the indoor season to carry over as the weather warms and the team moves outside. "We've got the same cast of characters from the winter," Morwick said. "Most of the athletes who competed indoors will compete outdoors; we'll be relying on their continued success. They should do very well." The Jumbos will also rely on some of the younger athletes on the team in competition. Morwick believes the young runners should mesh well with many of the veteran leaders and strengthen the team. "We've got some great young talent in the track events," Morwick said. "Whittington, sophomore Jillian Warner, and freshman Whitney Walters should all do very well and improve us in competition." Morwick expects the team to excel in the track events this season and looks to place among the top teams in the NESCAC and New England. Williams College and Wheaton College will be tough competition, but after an impressive indoor campaign, Morwick is comfortable with her squad. "We've made a lot of improvements in all our events," Morwick said. "We've got a lot of athletes competing for us from the indoor season. We should place in the top ten in New England and the NESCAC." The team's first meet is scheduled for Saturday, April 3, when the Jumbos will travel to Hartford, Connecticut to take on Trinity College.

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Tufts graduate schools seeing drop in international applications

March 16

Tufts' graduate programs are suffering from a shrinking international applicant pool as students become deterred by increases in U.S. visa restrictions. The decrease is common across the U.S., with top American research universities noticing a decrease in graduate school applications from abroad for the first time in years. "Everyone's down," Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Robin Kanarek said. She said that deans from other graduate schools have listed drops from 10 to 25 percent. Some schools have experienced as much as a 30 percent decline in their applicants, according to a recent article in the Boston Globe. "Deans from schools all over have been e-mailing each other to verify that this trend is not unique to their institution," Kanarek said. "I'd say that [Tufts is] probably in the mid-range of the statistics," she said. The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy has witnessed a similar decline in applications. Fletcher School Executive Associate Dean Jerry Sheehan said that after holding steady for the past two years, international applications are now down eight percent. "This is the first year since 9/11 that there is a noticeable difference," Sheehan said. Both Kanarek and Sheehan mentioned students' difficulty to obtain student visas under new U.S. restrictions outlined in the Patriot Act as a possible factor for the decrease. "Unfortunately, the U.S. is not seen as welcoming a place as it had in the past," Sheehan said. "Our unilateral actions in world events have undoubtedly made a negative influence in the willingness of students to study in the United States." The combination of frustration with the visa process and international politics can prompt foreign students to look to non-American graduate schools. "Universities in Europe and Asia in particular have made a conscious effort over the last five to six years to increase their yield of students," she said. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, the U.S. share of international students has dropped to 30 percent in 1995 -- the last year figures are available -- from nearly 40 percent in 1982 But visa issues have appeared for Tufts graduate students, and made some parts of studying in the United States harder. Graduate economics student and Iranian Sara Mohammadi missed her first semester of her undergraduate senior year because it took six and a half months last year to get her visa processed following the implementation of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). She said that both the University and the Institute for Global Leadership helped her contact state representatives to help expedite up the process. SEVIS is an electronic database instituted to keep better track of foreign students studying in the United States. The system was created by Congress in 1996, but was not fully implemented until after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. According to Mohammadi, "not all universities are as accommodating as Tufts," but that "their leverage is limited." Mohammadi said her brother -- a student at Boston University -- was unable to return to the United States for school last fall. As well, Mohammadi's family was unable to attend her graduation last year from their home in the United Arab Emirates, and she was unable to visit them during this year's winter break. "The visa process works against us in both ways," Mohammadi said. "The immobility is really suffocating and it does affect quality of life," she said. "I can't leave the States, because I am constantly afraid that complications will occur and the U.S. consulate will not issue a re-entry visa." Despite recent data, Kanarek said she is confident that a smaller foreign applicant pool will not result in a decline of international presence at Tufts. "We will still accept consistent numbers of foreign students," Kanarek said. "The strongest students, those serious about studying at an American university, will continue to apply." The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences admissions officers have also made their application deadline earlier to ensure students enough processing time for their visa applications. The deadlines used to be in February, Kanarek said, and have already been moved to mid-January. She said the school is currently looking at pushing the deadline further back to late December. Tufts' proactive role in assisting its international students with visas seems to have been effective in ensuring enrollment. According to Sheehan, no students have been unable to enroll at Fletcher due to visa issues. In order to expedite the process, both the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and Fletcher School have tried to make information about new government policies readily available to prospective students. In addition, the International Center is offering a list of resources to help students simplify the process.

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How to pick your March Madness winners

March 16

If you think things don't get heated during March Madness, just ask the St. Joes Eagle's coach Phil Martelli and CBS broadcaster Billy Packer. Packer ripped the Eagles before and after they received a number one seed, and went a little overboard in his criticism of the selection committee's choice. The feud picked up steam as Martelli nearly challenged Packer to fight in the schoolyard. Just wait until Packer calls one of St. Joe's games -- that should be awkward. Despite an overtime loss to the Maryland Terrapins in the final of the ACC Tournament, the Duke Blue Devils still received a number one seed in one of the other brackets. Yet, with the loss, they were bumped down from the first number one position. The Kentucky Wildcats slipped in to grab the overall number one seed, while the Stanford Cardinal nabbed the third number one slot. This only matters if all four number one seeds get to the final four, so that the one plays the four, and the two plays the three. Looking at Duke's Atlanta bracket, the region is stacked with talented teams. When the North Carolina Tarheels, Duke's mortal enemies, are placed as a sixth seed in their bracket, you can see this portion has the potential for some great games. This region may also have the strongest two seed in Mississippi St. Bulldogs, along with the Texas Longhorns (third seed), Cincinnati Bearcats (fourth seed), and a great first round match-up between the Xavier Musketeers (seventh seed) and Rick Pitino's Cardinals of Louisville (tenth seed). Here are a few overall tips for picking your brackets. First of all, there has never been a 1-16 upset, so don't pick it. No matter how close a Cinderella comes, a la the Holy Cross Crusaders or Princeton Tigers, they will not beat a top seeded team. Don't try and pick a 2-15 upset either. Despite the occasional Hampton upset, the odds of this happening are slim to none, as well. Here is where it starts getting interesting. With the 3-14 and 4-13, it is inevitable that one of the higher seeds in these match-ups will lose. Just don't go looking for the upsets when they aren't there. Remember if you pick an upset in one of these games and it doesn't happen, that three or four seed could easily go on for two more rounds and burn you. Next, the dreaded 5-12 game is one of the biggest upset match-ups every year. Many times the 12 seeds are some of the last at-large teams to get invited to the tournament, so they are very dangerous. Just look at this year's 12 seeds. The Manhattan Jaspers (East Rutherford), BYU Cougars (Phoenix), and the Murray St. Racers (Atlanta) could all easily upset their opponents. Each of these 12 seeds is playing a middle of the pack major conference team that could flame out in the first round. Late Monday night the Associated Press reported that two key members of the Murray St. basketball team, juniors Kelvin Brown and Adam Chiles, were arrested on drug charges. Their status remained unknown as of Tuesday morning in terms of their involvement in Friday's game against the Illinois Illini. So for those who thought that Murray St. was a potential 5-12 upset, don't count on the Racers without their leading rebounder and starting point guard. The 6-11 contests are just as unpredictable this year. Just look at this year's 11 seeds: the Utah Utes, Richmond Spiders, Western Michigan Broncos, and the Air Force Falcons. They all look primed to knock off their higher seeded opponents. With the 7-10 and 8-9 games, it is basically a toss up. Just flip a coin or if you have a real gut feeling about one team, go with it. There is no rhyme or reason to the outcome of these games. Here are the final tips: 1. Don't pick all the top seeds to go to the final four -- most years only one of the four number ones ends up going. 2. Look for where teams are playing, and if they are close to a spot where they would receive a large amount of fan support. 3. See who has entered the tournament hot. Winning conference tournaments doesn't mean everything, but a team that's on a roll can many times carry that momentum late into March.

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News

TCOWI rallies outlast war

March 16

Among cries of "bring our troops home" and the falling flakes of a spring snowstorm, the Tufts Coalition to Oppose War in Iraq (TCOWI) gathered on the Tisch library patio yesterday to reinvigorate support of their opposition to US policies in Iraq. The general sentiment at the rally was that the Bush administration had no right to keep U.S. troops in Iraq since the formal end of the hostilities on May 1 of last year, and that the present government of U.S.-appointed leaders was as unjust as the war. In addition to a strong showing from the English and history departments, a number of local residents were present. Joseph Ramsey, a graduate student in English, led the rally and introduced speakers. Although the forum was shared equally, Ramsey was the most vehement in his criticism of U.S. policies. He stressed that "the end of attacks on civil liberties in Iraq will bring an end of attacks on civil liberties in the U.S." "The war on terrorism is like the Cold War in that the enemy, terrorism [or] communism, is not tangible," history professor Gary Leupp said. "Bush uses rhetoric such as 'terrorism' and 'evil' to describe his enemies so no one can say he's in the wrong." During the speeches, demonstrators handed out fliers to passersby, encouraging them to join the tight circle of speakers. Despite the central location and the music on the stereo, few undergraduates were part of the group.

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Trombly's hard work pays off

March 16

Women's track and field senior quad-captain Jess Trombly is the quintessential multi-event athlete. Aside from playing soccer in the fall and anchoring the national runner-up 4x400 relay team in the indoor season, the Nashua, NH, native is a dominating force in the spring time on the outdoor track. Last spring she placed third in the heptathlon at the NCAA Division III Championships at Saint Lawrence University in Canton, N.Y. This year, Trombly will be more focused on the heptathlon, as she was new to the event last season. Trombly has plenty of experience with the heptathlon's track events -- the 200 meter run, 800, 100 hurdles, and the jump. Last year alone, she broke five school records and qualified for Nationals in 11events. Trombly finds the high jump and shot put to be the most challenging events. "Most heptathletes participate in all [seven] events during the regular season," Trombly said. "Sometimes I'll do the shot put, but not the open high jump. It makes it hard when I go compete [at Nationals]. I do practice twice a week with the shot put coach." Trombly's extra work does not go unnoticed by her teammates, including classmate and fellow quad-captain Katie Higley. "Her success is definitely a combination [of natural talent and work ethic]," Higley said. "She works harder than most people I have ever seen, she's a fierce competitor who always works hard on the track whether in practice or meets. She's always in the weight room, and when she's near the track she's always thinking about how she can improve as an athlete, which is essential if you want to be as successful as she's been." Trombly's national success with the 4x400 relay team along with senior quad-captain Emily Bersin, junior Sika Henry, and sophomore Rachel Bloom, has also distinguished her as one of the top athletes in the region. Trombly's duties as a captain and her close work with younger members of the team, like Bloom, have put her in a leadership role on the team. "She contributes a lot in regard to setting an example of how to get great things done on the track. She's been really successful all four years," Higley said. "Emily [Bersin] and Jess helped set a precedent for Rachel [Bloom] and lots of other freshmen on the team." Ultimately, the success Trombly gains from her talent and work ethic inspires the rest of her teammates to do their best. "Everybody looks up to her because she's the standard for the team," Bloom said. "The rest of the team tries to reach [her] level in our training and everything else."

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News

Like a Virgin

March 16

Perhaps nowhere is the phrase "one person's trash is another's treasure" more true than with regards to virginity. Especially around this age, there are those who are as eager to get it over with as their mid term exams and others who are keeping it stored away like a vintage wine, waiting for the perfect occasion to uncork the bottle. But regardless of how we view (or for many of us, viewed) our virginity, very often our thoughts on losing it or keeping it are equally irrational. Many feel pressure to lose their virginity because they don't want to be regarded by their peers or their future partners as sexually inexperienced. We draw a thick line between those who have done it and those who have not, and it only takes one time to cross over to the other side. We delude ourselves about virginity, much in the same way as we delude ourselves about going to the gym: As long as we have the plastic membership card dangling off our key chain, we can justifiably call ourselves "gym goers". And whether we've gone once or we go everyday is seemingly irrelevant. But just as the act of joining a gym doesn't get you in shape, the act of losing your virginity doesn't deem you sex guru. Just 'cause you picked up a guitar once and played around with the strings doesn't make you anymore of a rock star than if you never touched it at all. Not that you need to learn to play fifteen different instruments to be a bona-fide musician, but it takes lots of practice before you can call yourself skilled in the art of music. Ironically, there are a lot of virgins who are more sexually experienced than a lot of "non-virgins". But this is a hard concept for us to grasp since we tend to view sex, virginity, and purity in very black and white terms: someone who has not had vaginal intercourse is a virgin, and someone who has, is not. By our standards, a girl who has engaged in vaginal intercourse once or twice is less virginal then Windy Sue, who, though she has never had sex, has blown half the football team and taken it from behind a couple of times. And yet we would applaud Sue for her "sexual restraint", and comment on the nobility of saving oneself for marriage. Why is it that vaginal intercourse is the only type of sex that really counts? When we talk about our "number", we include only the number of people we have had intercourse with, not the number of people who have been up close and personal with our genitals. Oral sex, anal sex, digital sex; they all have qualifiers because they're all "sort of sex". Real, true sex, the kind that determines the status of our virginity, is vaginal intercourse, and nothing else. So then by this definition of sex, are all homosexuals virgins? Or do we hold a double standard? That oral and anal sex mean more to gay couples than straight couples. If we believe that heterosexual couples can retain their virginity while still having all other types of sex, then aren't we also claiming that gay couples never engage in "real" sex at all? By placing vaginal intercourse on a pedestal as the most defining and intimate sex act that two people can perform, we belittle any other type of sexual encounter. And isn't that a slippery slope: suggesting that gay couples don't reach the same level of intimacy or that their sex is somehow less meaningful? Furthermore, since sex is something we can all agree is a significant part of marriage, could the notion that gays don't have "real" sex play into some people's belief that gays shouldn't be able to have real marriages? Before the days of reliable contraception, it makes sense that vaginal intercourse was seen as more significant, but now, given our medical advances and the disease risks associated with anal sex, the increased importance we place on vaginal intercourse seems obsolete. Yet we still assign more emotional meaning to this one sex act over any other, taking for granted that that alternate types of sex can be just as emotionally significant, can leave us feeling just as vulnerable, and can bring us just as close to our partner. Believing that vaginal intercourse is the only type of sex that really counts puts unnecessary pressure on people to engage in it, obscures the significance of other types of sex, and belittles the physical relationships of homosexuals.

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Student works with Somerville community to encourage environmental awareness and education

March 15

When senior Ariela Summit began to intern for the Eagle Eye Institute through Tufts Introduction to Peace and Justice Studies class, she had no idea that she would be tapping maple sugar trees around the Tufts campus -- but that's exactly what she ended up doing. "I got involved with [the Eagle Eye Institute] through an internship requirement," said Summit, the daughter of Jewish Chaplain Rabbi Jeffrey Summit. "Through that program I heard that they were looking for someone to continue the syruping project." Summit came to Eagle Eye through an internship with the Tufts' River Institute, and a summer course studying the Mystic River Watershed in relation to social activism. Along with other Tufts students and volunteers from Somerville and the surrounding areas including elementary school students, Summit has spent the last few months tapping maple sugar trees in Medford and Somerville in order to extract the sap. The group used several maple trees on campus, including the ones surrounding Tisch Library and Bromfield-Pearson. The process culminated this past weekend when the students from Somerville elementary schools came to the Somerville Growing Center and boiled down the sap in order to make maple syrup. The students were taught about the value of trees and the environment through skits and activities. Summit plans to take over the program next year, after one of the teachers involved retires. "I'm training under him to teach a curriculum on environmental education," she said. "The point of the event was to get people out there, and raise awareness and to teach about the trees," Summit added. "It's a way to perform outreach in the community and teach environmental education. It's not just for the schools, it's also a community outreach project." Both the Somerville Community Growing Center and the Eagle Eye Institute are organizations concerned with community organizing and outreach. According to the Eagle Eye Institute, its purpose is to encourage "hands-on exploratory learning on environmental topics for underserved urban youth of color". The Institute joined with the local Somerville Community Growing Center in order to get this project off the ground. "The idea for those two days is to get as many people as possible out there and get as many people from the Somerville community as possible involved," Summit added. In two weeks, Summit will return to the elementary schools for a "pancake party" with the home-made syrup made from the trees. She will also continue to teach about the environment along with the Eagle Eye Institute. "It's a chance for me to work with the community and teach about the importance of the environment," Summit said. -by Rebecca Dince

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News

ROTC resolution passed by TCU

March 15

A long-running debate about the place of military on the hill was revived at Sunday night's Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate meeting. Senior David Taylor, who is a member of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, came to the meeting with a proposed resolution supporting academic credit for military science classes. The Senate passed the resolution with a vote of 14 to five with four senators abstaining, but not before a heated debate. The resolution, which has no binding effect on curriculum requirements, recommends academic credit for course taken as part of the ROTC program. In part, the resolution states, "Whereas, students are explicitly denied credit because they are ROTC participants; Resolved, that the Tufts students involved with the MIT ROTC program deserve credit and recognition for the courses they take while involved in the ROTC." "I'm disappointed with Tufts' policy with the ROTC program," Taylor said at the meeting. The lack of credit for the program made him feel "discriminated against by both individuals and the official school policy." The University has maintained that the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for gays in the service violates the school's non-discrimination policy. As part of his presentation, Taylor described his personal experience trying to use military classes for credit, but being told they could not count. Taylor said he was personally not in favor of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. He said Tufts, with its liberal-minded students, should work toward a solution. "We're ostracizing the people who could alleviate the problem down the road," he said. Taylor said Tufts ROTC graduates would be better suited to work for reform in the Army's policy toward homosexuals, since they would be more receptive to change than graduates of the Citadel or West Point. The resolution notes that the military sciences courses are not subject to the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "These courses are open to any and all students regardless of race, gender, religion, and/or sexual orientation," the resolution placed before the TCU Senate stated. Some senators supported the resolution regardless of their personal opinion on the issue. "This will be the first step to get people thinking about the issues. To support the student body," TCU Senator Mike Abare said. "We have an obligation to support the resolution." A representative from the Tufts Transgendered Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC), Kit Stanton, and two co-coordinators from the gay advocacy group Emerge, Mario Ceravantes and Matt Pohl, disagreed. "By accepting the [ROTC] scholarship you accept the closet," Pohl, who is also a member of the Senate's Culture, Ethnicity and Community Affairs Committee. Pohl is a former TCU senator who resigned in December to focus on Emerge. "I don't know what other means we have of sending messages to the government regarding the [Don't Ask Don't Tell] issue," LGBT community representative Patrick Brown said. "Would we be sitting here if the government was excluding racial minorities?" Pohl argued that in order to gain ROTC scholarship money, students must agree to join the army, which is discriminatory. TCU President Chike Aguh tried to focus the conversation on whether courses should count for credit, rather than the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy. "What we are debating is should these courses count," he said. TCU Treasurer Josh Belkin agreed. "The issue I see is Tufts not recognizing the academic credit, not government policy," Belkin said. When Aguh tried to focus the conversation, Pohl became frustrated. "I'm quite furious these concerns haven't been addressed at this meeting," he said. Pohl then threw some papers and left the room. He clarified his comments at Sunday's Senate meeting, noting yesterday that "Sure, the military can definitely be appropriate for some people, and a lot of people derive positive experiences from it, but in the end discriminating against one group means that [that group] can't take advantage of all the opportunities the program has to offer." Pohl said Taylor did not have adequate evidence from professors to prove that the courses would be accepted by the University, even if ROTC students were allowed to petition for credit. "Why should the university offer academic credit to a program that systemically discriminates against a portion of the student body," Pohl said yesterday. TCU Senate Vice President Joe Mead said there was no need to punish cadets for army policy. "I do not think you can fight discrimination with discrimination. We're punishing students for things they have no control over," he said. The resolution is the latest in a series of efforts by both liberal and conservative activists to change campus policies on ROTC. ROTC was banned from the Tufts campus during the Vietnam War. According to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, military science classes have not been approved to count toward the distribution requirements since the 1970s. Other schools give academic credit for such classes. MIT students, who take the same classes as Tufts ROTC students, receive partial credit for military science classes. The Arts & Sciences Department passed a resolution in 1990 which said it would not cooperate with the ROTC until the military's policy on sexual orientation was change. Many of these issues surrounding ROTC were also discussed further at last night's Tufts Joint Operations Meeting. Joint Operations is the new name of the Tri-Service Committee, which represents army, naval, marine and air force ROTCs at the school.

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