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Tufts ready to challenge for All-American status at nationals

March 11

On Wednesday, coach Kristen Morwick and four members of the women's track and field team, senior quad-captains Jess Trombly and Emily Bersin, junior Sika Henry, and sophomore Rachel Bloom, flew west to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and the NCAA Div. III Indoor Track and Field Championships. Last night they enjoyed a banquet and entertainment. Today, that fun and relaxation turns to pure business as the four Jumbo representatives set their gazes on achieving all-American status by finishing in the top eight places in the four events in which Tufts will compete -- the 55 meter hurdles, 400 meter dash, 4x400 relay, and high jump. "I think any one of those, between the relay and the open events, could all place in the top eight, which is All-American," Morwick said. "The relay I think realistically top three, if we have a great day, we could win." Henry will get things started for Tufts at around 2:30 p.m., Wisconsin time today in the high jump. The Upper Montclair, New Jersey native enters the first national high jump event of her career tied with Colby senior Karima Ummah at 5-05.25 feet, ninth on the qualifying list, but the fifth-highest amongst competitors. Wilmington College's Emily Herring (5-10.00) sits atop the rankings, three inches clear of the field, and Henry is all but certain the senior will easily win the event. But despite her own position further down the seeding list, Henry says nothing is set in stone. "It would be great if I could be All-American. That's my ultimate goal," Henry said. "[Herring's] definitely going to win it, but I think any place after that is basically up for grabs. I've beaten people who are ranked second, third and fourth in meets before. I'm pretty positive and confident." Tonight's schedule will also feature preliminary runs of the 55 hurdles, 400 and 4x400, with finals for all three events taking place tomorrow. Trombly will run the 55 hurdles, followed a short time later by the 400. Currently tied for eighth with two other athletes, and on the bubble for All-American status in the hurdles (8.44 seconds), Trombly will nonetheless be looking to break into the placings and challenge those above her, including top seeds, senior Carrie Kerna of Elizabethtown College (PA) and sophomore Sheana Grigsby of Carthage College (WI), who are tied at 8.21 seconds. "In the hurdles, [Trombly is] tied for eighth, so if she made the final it would be great," Morwick said. "We're not expecting it, but why not try it?" "In hurdles, a lot of it comes down to form and technique. That's really important," Bersin added about Trombly's chances. "If any little thing goes wrong, anyone could win the race or blow it. I feel like it's a really open event." Trombly, who holds the Tufts 400 record of 56.26 seconds, set earlier this season, is more comfortably placed in that event, sitting fourth with a converted time of 56.46 seconds. Times run on certain tracks, such as Boston University's banked facility where Trombly set her school record, may be converted for consistency purposes between competitors and times. Seniors Amber James of Wheaton (54.68) and Langhan Dee of Mount Holyoke (55.80), and Illinois Wesleyan junior Gena Rawlins (56.31) sit ahead of Trombly, who ran the 400 at nationals last year, but missed the finals. "She's seeded fourth right now," Morwick said. "But I'm sure she'll be shooting for at least third." Trombly and Henry will join Bersin and Bloom in perhaps Tufts' biggest event of the meet, the 4x400. The team qualified for the event provisionally on Feb. 14 at the St. Valentine's Invitational at BU with a school record 3:53.94, before gaining auto-qualification two weeks ago with a 3:52.82 at the All-New England Championships, then the top time in the nation. The time converts to 3:53.62 for this weekend's competition. Since then, however, Bridget Burns, Holly Dorenkamp, Sarah Tompkins and Ashley Williams of Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa, have passed Tufts for the top seed, checking in at a converted 3:53.22. "We were kind of upset that we got passed because we thought we were going to go in ranked first, but the more we thought about it, we were happy because if we don't win it at least that wasn't expected," Henry said. "Before, going in ranked first, we were like 'oh God, now we have to win it' and there was a lot of pressure. I think we have a really great shot at coming in first. But even if we don't, the pressure's off of us now and I think it's better this way." Tufts ran the same foursome at last year's indoor nationals, but were in a different situation, barely qualifying for nationals in the first place, and narrowly missing a position in the finals, finishing in 3:55.68. Wartburg, meanwhile, finished eighth last year (3:58.31 in finals, but 3:54.70 in preliminaries), with a team that included two members of this year's squad, Tompkins and Dorenkamp. "We're just hoping to go and run like we've been running the last couple weekends," Bersin said. "We've been putting some good times up there. It would be nice if we could win it. There's going to be some tough competition, but I think we should be able to compete with [Wartburg] pretty well."

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News

Sumiyoshi, Wecksell, head to nationals

March 11

Seniors Mika Sumiyoshi and Beth Wecksell have one more shot at glory, and both look to make the most of it. The two headed to Nationals this past Wednesday to compete for the top spots in all of Division III swimming and diving at Principia College in Missouri. Sumiyoshi is entered in three events: the 200 individual medley, the 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. Wecksell will compete in both the one-meter and three-meter diving events. Sumiyoshi, the two-time NESCAC champion in the 200 and 400 IM, will be competing at nationals for the fourth straight season and is looking to make it two straight years as an All-American. Wecksell, one of the top divers in New England, looks to leave her mark on the springboards for the second time, after competing in both events her sophomore year. "They've both worked so hard this season and we expect them to do really well," sophomore Meghan Wallach said. "Mika's been in the pool training every single day since the season has ended. She's probably the best competitor I've ever met in my life." Last year Sumiyoshi finished in the top ten in both the 200 and 400 IMs, while also competing in the 200 backstroke. She earned All-American honors with a fourth place finish in the 400 IM, coupling that by touching home in ninth place in the 200 IM. She competed in the 200 IM yesterday, and while the final results were unavailable by press time, the fourth ranked Sumiyoshi finished seventh in the preliminaries with a time of 2:09.40 seconds, already improving her mark from last season. She will compete today in the 400 IM, an event where she is ranked third in the nation with a seed time of 4:31.33, and will compete in the 200 breaststroke, a new event for her, on Saturday. Wecksell competed in the one-meter diving event yesterday, and will compete in the three-meter event on Saturday. The Great Neck, NY native likely would have competed in nationals with Sumiyoshi last season as well, but she elected to study abroad for the spring semester.

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News

Franz Ferdinand hits the bullseye

March 11

Franz Ferdinand may be the biggest thing to hit the U.K. recently, but the band will soon find out whether or not it has what it takes to succeed in the American music industry. The group's self-titled album (the band's name is taken from the Archduke Franz Ferdinand), which hit stores March 9, is strikingly reminiscent of The Strokes. The old airy power guitar has a forceful sound, with rhythmic beats timed perfectly to a loose British voice. Franz Ferdinand creates music that is both catchy and smart -- Brit-pop with an edge. The band's sound can be described as 80's synth-pop infused by rhythm guitars and good ol' Beatles-indebted rock n'roll. Franz Ferdinand draws on all kinds of British music to combat the retro-rock threat, and create a sort of 'cross-the-pond hybridism -- a "White Strokes," if you will. Pre-"OK Computer" Radiohead is wildly evident on Franz's quieter songs like "Auf Achse" and "Jacqueline." The Blur influence comes in full force with rockers like "Come on Home," and the influence of the Strokes is omnipresent on all songs. It is as if Franz Ferdinand tuned their guitars precisely to match those of their New York rivals, while secretly practicing in the same garage for the last ten years. Nevertheless, this is smart pop music. It is music to get ready with, music you can drive with, and sing along with full throttle, all while feeling comfortable enough to keep the windows rolled down. Contrary to much of the bubblegum music that has hit airwaves recently, there is real musical talent underneath the pop-coating of Franz Ferdinand. The band's two singles, "Take Me Out" and "Darts of Pleasure," have been receiving major airtime in the U.K and are just beginning to emerge on alternative rock stations in the U.S. Although the singles are the highlight of the album, with their fast-paced, catchy rhythm, the entire CD feels wiry and energetic, flowing nicely through an intricate song lineup. Now that the members of Franz Ferdinand have the U.K. on its feet, they are looking to expand their fan base. Equipped with airy electric guitars and the pop British music, they're now following the plethora of English bands that come to the United States for the famed music industry. The album opens with the schizophrenic rocker "Jacqueline." The song begins with a soft strumming acoustic guitar ringing through the opening measures against the melodic voice of lead singer Alexander Kapranos, before quickly mutating into a fast paced monster. Moving into quieter territory is "Tell Her Tonight," a fun tune that is reminiscent of early '90s punk-ska filtered through the sound-system of a 70s disco. The Brit whine hits true in this catchy tune, with the chorus of "Gonna have to tell her tonight" skirting the thin line between catchy and irritating. All the songs have a catchy, repetitive tune, and you can't help singing along even hours after you've put the album down, definitely an economic pull for the band. They also have a danceable quality, as well as an ability to reach out and grab you. The album is a gem of sorts, one that delivers on its hype. It is smart, musical, and fun, a tough mix to come by these days, and Franz Ferdinand deserves all the hype it can get. All that being said, the songs end up being very similar, and it's hard to remember the individual tunes, despite their initial appeal. Nevertheless, the United Kingdom is on to something here: Franz Ferdinand is a good band with the songs to match. Unfortunately, none of it is really all that new.

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News

Megerle's presence sure to be missed

March 11

For the swimmers, saying goodbye to longtime Jumbo coach Don Megerle is something they've known they would have to do since their training trip to Florida over winter break. However, now that the season is over and farewells are in place, the team has time to look back and reflect on their coach whose tenure at Tufts has spanned 33 years. "Coach is willing to put absolutely everything he has into swimming. He doesn't have any kids, so he makes the swim team his family," senior Tyler Duckworth said. "You can't say enough about his dedication." There is no question to the degree of Megerle's commitment to excellence. Among other things, the coach has been known to appear at Hamilton Pool as early as 3 a.m. on weekdays, and he frequently doesn't head to bed until after 10. Further, each season he has prepared a multi-hundred page booklet for his swimmers containing customized quotes, anecdotes, training methods, and sports psychology methods meant to assist his team. However, the long hours and relentless work-ethic may have worn down the coach, and the swimmers say that although they'll miss him, they understand his departure. "He dedicates everything to our swim team, and that doesn't just mean 9-5 during the season," Duckworth continued. "He's here any time of the year, he's constantly recruiting, and he organizes both national meets. This gives him a chance to relax, and find out who is he outside of swimming, outside of his job. He's exhausted." Sophomore Jon Godsey agreed. "This isn't necessarily a sad thing for the team, because it's something that coach wants and we're all fully behind what's in his best interest," Godsey said. "I've had two great years here so far, and I attribute that to coach and the team. He's changed my outlook on stroke technique, which made me faster." Most intriguing about Megerle though is his coaching style, which is unlike most other college coaches. He doesn't stress distance swims, and instead focuses intensely on the mental aspects of dedicating oneself to the concept of the team. "The greatest thing I've gained from him is confidence; he's an amazing sports psychologist," Duckworth explained. "He will be missed."

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News

Math professor Guterman remembered

March 11

Friends and family gathered in front of a collage of photographs in Goddard Chapel last night for a memorial service for late mathematics professor Martin Guterman. Guterman passed away Feb. 1 at the age of 62 after a nearly two-year long battle with esophageal cancer. Math professors shared fond memories of Guterman. Professor Todd Quinto remembered Guterman for his concern for students' progress. "If a student showed a little bit of interest, Marty moved the world for him," Quinto said. Guterman had "strong and well thought out views," Math Department Chair Christoph B"rgers said. B"rgers also mentioned the many math courses and programs developed by Guterman, including math of symmetry, math of social choice, and the differential equations course for engineers. "Marty made Tufts a finer community," Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst said on behalf of the administration. "He helped [Tufts] look at our policies, our priorities, and how we treat each other. He brought attention to necessary issues," she said. Other faculty members remembered Guterman's sense of humor, his will to push others, and his love for classical music. Guterman's wife of 40 years, Sonia, closed the service. "He had this entire life that was very fulfilling," she said. "He created a whole life for me and my family." The University has created two awards in Guterman's memory. One is for excellence in mathematics by first-year Tufts students, and the other is aimed towards high school students involved in chamber music at the New England Conservatory of Music.

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News

Editors Weekend Picks

March 11

AMAN GUPTA FITTFU Semi-finals and Finals- Friday Is The Time For Ultimate. This Friday night, in Carzo Cage, sparks will fly, tempers will flare, and by night's end, a winner will be crowned: FITTFU champions 2004. The first semifinal match-up from 8:30-9 will be between the number one seeded Skippers Skipping School Girls against the fourth seeded Danny's Mad Cows. The School Girls have practically steamrolled over every horny boy that has come in its path this season, winning by a total of 29 points this season. The squad is led by alums Funboy, Nate, senior Zach "Snatch" Geller, and sophomore STUD Chris Healey. The squad crushed the Mad Cows earlier this season 11-3, and look for more of the same this week. In the other semi-final, The Dude's Dudes face off against Crocker's Roughnecks. Despite the absence of their injured captain, the Roughnecks, led by Speeeeeeeez, Neil Pallaver, and the hottest of them all, a Mr. Evan Ream, the Roughnecks won't give up the chance to face the schoolgirls in the finals. They'll also want to get back last week's 8-7 loss to the Dude's. Thus the stage will be set for the finals: Schoolgirls vs. Roughnecks: Prediction: Pallaver vs. Funboy, Ream vs. Healey, Spies vs. Snatch, Chira vs. Nate. And don't forget Skipper, the captain, the x-factor. In week three, the Schoolgirls crushed the Roughnecks 10-4, and look for more of the same tonight. Schoolgirls win a squeaker, and are crowned FITTFU champs. Sweeeeeet. KRISTY CUNNINGHAM The NHL vs. Hockey Violence -- In light of the Vancouver Canucks' Todd Bertuzzi pummeling Colorado rookie Steve Moore, violence in hockey once again has made the news. In a sport where checking and even fights fill the highlight reels, a line needs to be drawn between physical play and full-out battery. Bertuzzi was suspended for the duration of the regular season and playoffs and issued a hefty fine for his hit on Moore, action the NHL had to make to avoid a maelstrom of negative media coverage and questioning. These incidents of dangerous violence, though relatively rare, have no place in sports, even in hockey. Prediction: The NHL's decision about the Bertuzzi hit is justified and sends a message that violence will not be tolerated in the league. The NHL has to control its players for their own protection and the integrity of the game. Hockey will always be a physical sport, but the NHL did the right thing by penalizing Bertuzzi, and the Canucks, for this brutal act. >JESSE GERNER >St. Kilda Saints vs. Geelong Cats -- It's Grand Final time for the Wizard Home Loans Cup, the preseason tournament for Aussie Rules Footy that would be the equivalent of spring training, but with a championship game at the end. Tomorrow night in Melbourne, Australia, the Geelong Cats and the St. Kilda Saints will clash before approximately 53,500 people. But, you might ask, why should anyone care? Well, not too many people do. Just about the only interesting thing about this match is how irrelevant the results will be on how the real footy season plays out (and that's not really interesting, right?). St. Kilda and Geelong finished 11th and 12th respectively in last season's standings, well out of playoff contention in the 16-team competition. We probably can't expect too much difference. Prediction: I have friends who are St. Kilda fans, and just to spite them because their team has finished 11th and 15th, I'll pick Geelong. But do you really care? I know I don't.

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Associate ResLife director's absence causes confusion

March 11

The departure of a senior official in the Department of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife) has coincided with the upcoming Housing Lottery and selection of residential assistants (RAs). Associate Director of Occupancy Management Lorraine Toppi left abruptly two weeks ago. According to Director of ResLife Yolanda King, Toppi took an "early retirement" and that her decision to leave before the end of the semester was "up to that person." The departure coincides with students expressing concerns that they are unaware of many of the details concerning housing for next year. In addressing students' complaints Director of Yolanda King said, "information is going to be released [regarding the lottery] and, indeed there were four information sessions for students about the lottery." Toppi was responsible for running the lottery, which begins next Tuesday. Current RAs, however, say they have been well-informed about their responsibilities during the housing selection process. Toppi was also responsible for the selection of RAs. A junior second-year RA, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, questioned whether Toppi left voluntarily. The RA said she had a conversation with Toppi a few days before the announcement of her retirement, three weeks before the lottery. "[Toppi] and I had gotten close and we were talking about how awful it would be if she left ResLife because she's the last ResLife person who's been here for awhile besides [King]. She was like the last man standing," she said. "[Toppi] said she was going to stick it out for a couple more years -- until early retirement at around age 62 or so," the RA said. "But then by the end of the week the announcement was out ... Either she wasn't being truthful with me -- which is hard to believe -- or something else happened." King reiterated that Toppi's early retirement was voluntary. "I have her statement in writing," King said. The resignation came three weeks before the housing lottery, one of the most important annual events at the ResLife office. "It's incredibly unfortunate because if there's any one individual who really tied down the whole process it was her," senior South Hall RA Adam Gustafson said. "Regardless, I think the lottery will go smoothly." The concern is especially acute for freshmen, a group who are required to live on campus next year but have never gone through the housing lottery. Matt Benson and Francesco Piattelli are two such students. Both said they only had a vague idea that the lottery is "sometime next week." ResLife assigns exact times for students to sign-up for new room reservations, which is currently available on each student's Tufts Student Services website. "We know we should know which rooms we would like and we know we have to show up at a specific time [to pick our rooms]," Benson said. "But we don't know where or when we're supposed to this." "ResLife hasn't said anything to us about [the housing lottery]," Piattelli said. "They should post information on tuftslife.com or something." Another problem that has arisen is the selection of RAs. Toppi's departure came in the middle of the selection of RAs for next school year. According to the Tufts Human Resources website, which is advertising for a full time replacement, the Associate Director also "assumes responsibility for the selection, management, and supervision of live-in residential staff." ResLife has hired Jason O'Neill as a temporary replacement for Toppi because of his experience with computers and computer systems, King said. ResLife began e-mailing decision letters on Wednesday, but some RAs said that they knew of applicants who have not yet received notification as of yesterday afternoon. These applicants are concerned that their notification will not come before the housing lottery. "They're sending [letters] piece by piece," the anonymous RA said. "Everything just seems so disorganized." Another complaint made by the RA is that ResLife not telling RAs who receive acceptance letters their housing assignment is until after the housing lottery on Tuesday. "Since we won't know where we're assigned [to be RAs] until after the lottery, we won't have the option to pick through the housing lottery," she said. "[Rising] senior RA's who have really great housing lottery numbers don't know if they should use them or not because they don't know where they'd live as RAs." "[ResLife] hires students who want to be RAs," King said. "[Applicants] had to decide whether they want to be an RA or if they just want to be an RA to secure housing."

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Madrid bombing affects study-abroad students

March 11

Tufts in Madrid students found themselves in the middle of an international catastrophe yesterday when ten bombs exploded in three commuter train stations. One of the bomb sites, Atocha station, is frequently used by Tufts in Madrid students. At least 192 people were killed, and more than twelve hundred more were injured by the blasts. No Tufts students were injured in the attack, Tufts Programs Abroad Director Sheila Bayne said. Due to a professors strike, most universities did not hold classes yesterday. This reduced the chances of students -- both Spanish and foreign -- being injured in the blasts. Madrid Program Director Angel Berenguer and Bayne have been communicating electronically since the explosion. Telephone circuits were jammed throughout the day. The bombing triggered standard emergency response procedures that are in place for all Tufts study abroad programs, Bayne said. Students were told to keep their cell phones on and be reachable at all times. The students were also given phone numbers where their resident directors could be reached. Atocha station is used by students at both universities in the Tufts in Madrid program. Approximately half the students who attend the Tufts program take classes at the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid and the other half attend Alcala. Depending where they live, Autonoma students sometimes used Atocha station to commute to classes. While Alacala students do not live in the city, they have to travel through Atocha to attend weekly meetings in the downtown area Recolebtos. The directors have encouraged students to e-mail and call parents and relatives to assure them of their safety. The office has also updated the Tufts Programs Abroad website with current information and sent out a letter detailing emergency procedures to parents. "People have done a good job of staying in touch with home," Bayne said. She said the fact that only two parents had directly contacted the Tufts office was proof that information was being disseminated well by students. The Tufts group will leave Madrid today on a pre-planned spring excursion to the province of Extremadura. The group will take taxis or buses to reach the excursion bus departure location instead of the commuter rail. The timing of the trip is regarded as a blessing by some administrators. "Our resident directors said it will be a good thing to get out of the city and out of the chaos for a while," Bayne said. The office has also been in contact with students who are studying with non-Tufts programs. "All of the American programs that are operating in Spain have been sharing information," Bayne said. By yesterday afternoon, Bayne had been in contact with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE), the Institute for the International Education of Students, New York University, and the Brethren Colleges Abroad programs. Tufts students who had previously studied on the Madrid program reacted to the bombings yesterday. "Honestly, I was shocked, just like everyone else," Senior Andrea Bahiman said. "Watching it on the news was horrible." Bahiman studied last year at Alcala, and had already heard from the program director and her host family, both of whom were unharmed. Despite the attacks, Bahiman has not cancelled a spring break trip back to Madrid. Senior Courtney Benson used Atocha station almost everyday when she studied in Madrid. "When I heard about the bombings I was trying to figure out where I would have normally been on a Thursday morning," she said. "Sometimes I was definitely sleeping, but by second semester I would be in the station early to get to my internship." "I definitely know people who travel that route every day," she said. The entire country has been placed on "highest alert," after what is being called "Spain's Sept. 11." It was not immediately clear who was responsible for the attacks. The government blamed the Basque separatist group ETA. Other officials noted that the bombings carried the hallmarks of the Islamic terrorist group al-Qaeda. A group with ties to al-Qaeda, the Abu Hafs al-Masri Brigade, claimed responsibility in a letter sent to an Arabic-language newspaper yesterday. The letter could not be authenticated and the government is investigating both possibilities. Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.

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News

Gomez to speak at May commencement

March 11

A personal account about balancing two different cultures was the winning speech by senior Candace Gomez at last night's Wendell Phillips finalists' presentation, held in the Coolidge Room of Ballou Hall. "Growing up in America, I feel like a tourist [in Trinidad] -- the place where my parents call home," Gomez said. She voiced frustration about how communication with her Trinidadian grandmother is often a challenge, as her noticeable American accent is hard for her grandmother to understand. "This is globalization. It's about losing touch with your family and your culture. [Is the Unites States] really this alpha and omega?" she asked. Yet Gomez said that she would not trade her American citizenship, even for all the faults she has found with her country. "I know my story is not unlike others'. Somehow, the red, white, and blue flag does not fit next to my Trinidad flag on my wall," she said. As the winner of the Wendell Phillips award, Gomez will be the only student to speak at this year's commencement ceremony. Many universities choose their commencement ceremony speakers through grades. Family was a prevalent theme in the other finalists' speeches. "My parents gave up their jobs in Taiwan to mop floors for my education. My brother continues to live in perpetual fear of himself," senior David Wu said, as he began his speech about his brother's decline into manic depression. Wu spoke of tolerating pain and sorrow, human suffering, and triumphs. He said his success is defined solely by how much he puts himself out and connects with his community, and that his greatest failure is his inability to see his brother, who remains in Taiwan. "We are afraid to be real, to be the agitator. I'm afraid to look in the mirror and see my brother's face in the reflection," Wu concluded. Senior Stacey Ulrich followed with a personal glimpse inside her relationship with her mother, a registered Republican who voted for President Bush and who is indifferent to gay marriage. "The indifferent people are the ones who upset me," Ulrich said. She expressed her frustration that 37 years ago, interracial marriage was legalized, but gay marriage has yet to be. "The arguments against [gay marriage] are so weak. Why are so many people against it?" Ulrich asked. She proceeded to explain that if "blacks and whites had their right for interracial marriage taken away, they would be up in arms." Ulrich credited Tufts with making her an active citizen. "I don't want to wait another 37 years for something that was granted in our Constitution over 200 years ago," she said. The recent film, "The Last Samurai," stirred anger in senior Chinua Thelwell, who opened his speech by recalling how he stayed in the theater to boo during the credits. "In true Hollywood fashion, [actor Tom Cruise] learns fluent Japanese and becomes a samurai warrior in one winter," Thelwell said, as he defined what he called "hyper-authenticity" -- or the way in which certain cultures and ethnic groups are inaccurately displayed in the media. The worst example of hyper-authenticity in the film was the end, he said. "The Emperor, who is seen by the Japanese as a direct descendant of the sun, is lectured by Tom Cruise about the ways of the warrior, or how to be Japanese," he said. Thelwell concluded his speech by sharing a recent dream he had with the audience, which took place at the Academy Awards ceremony. "Tom Cruise was still in his samurai gear and when his movie did not win, he yelled out to the audience and then turned to commit seppuku [the samurai practice of stabbing one's self in the stomach in the event of a defeat]." The final speaker of the night was senior Ariana Flores, who chose to speak about her passion for being a so-called "radical" on campus. "I do not like war. I am a feminist. I support socialism," she said. "But what makes an idea radical?" Flores talked about how current ideals that are taken for granted today were once considered radical, such as racial discrimination, the HIV virus, and women's rights. She spoke about how she and a small group of students protested during former President George H.W. Bush's speech at Tufts last year. One of the protestors, then-senior Liz Monnin, had a senior alumni award revoked for her behavior at Bush's speech. Flores questioned why the University invited Massachusetts Supreme Court Chief Justice Margaret Marshall, who was active in the opposition to the Apartheid government in South Africa, to speak at last year's commencement but was unable to embrace Monnin. "Create your own radicalism, find something and fight for it," Flores said. Fifty-seven juniors and seniors were nominated for the Wendell Phillips award in November, of which 15 were chosen to accept the nomination and prepare an essay and a voice recording of their speech. The Committee on Student Life (CSL) narrowed the field down to the final five students and also made the final decision to present the award to Gomez last night. "All of the five finalists were very strong, we were proud of everyone," CSL Co-Chair Barbara Grossman said. Two Wendell Phillips awards are presented each year, one to a Tufts student and one to a Harvard student. The award was established in 1896 by the Wendell Phillips Memorial Fund Association, in memory of the renowned Boston-area preacher and orator.

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Alum shoots, scores with 'Shoot for the Cure'

March 11

One brother was an investment banker, the other was a publicist -- both quit their jobs to move back home when they heard that their mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Tufts alum Scott McWilliam and his brother, Kendall, redirected their energies towards caring for their mother. Later, they formed the Brothers McWilliam Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps to raise funds for health-related charities. This weekend, the brothers will bring Shoot for the Cure to Cousen's Gym in an effort to raise money for breast cancer research. The event is part of an intercollegiate basketball tournament sponsored in conjunction with the Massachusetts Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The Komen Foundation also holds the Race for the Cure, a well-known charity marathon for cancer As part of the Boston-wide event, tournaments will be held at 14 participating schools. Entry into the tournament costs $5, and the brothers hope to raise $500 at each school. These tournaments -- including the one taking place in Cousens this weekend -- will consist of three-on-three games and three-point and foul-shooting contests. The winners of each school's tournament will duke it out at the championship, which will be held at Tufts on Friday, April 2, and the winners will receive free New Balance sneakers. "We came up with the [basketball] idea during March Madness," said Scott, who is no stranger to volunteerism. As an undergraduate at Tufts, he started the Food Rescue Program of the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS). Scott sees the tournament to be a chance for students from various Boston schools to interact -- something he found lacking while a student. "When I went to Tufts, the schools didn't really interact with each other ... I came up with this idea to combine everybody," he said. "There are 200,000 college students in Boston alone, so there is huge potential for fundraising." After the Komen Foundation agreed to co-sponsor the tournament, Scott got in touch with Tufts and received positive feedback from his alma mater. According to Scott, Tufts Athletics department's Rick Miller has been instrumental in making the event happen. Along with the support of various University staffers, the student coordinators of Cancer Outreach, a program of LCS, were also happy to help out. The two brothers cite students' willingness to be involved as an essential factor in the tournament's inception. Cancer Outreach has already sponsored basketball and football tournaments as part of their fundraising efforts. "This is a great opportunity to build on that," Cancer Outreach coordinator and sophomore Dave Baumwoll said. Baumwoll credits former Cancer Outreach coordinators -- seniors Lauren Weintraub and Sarah Axler -- for setting a precedent. Groups other than LCS have also gotten involved in the tournament. Sophomore Erin Poth, another Cancer Outreach Coordinator, approached Theta Chi for their involvement, and the fraternity was eager to participate. The tournament also attracted corporate sponsors such as 7Up and Nantucket Nectars. According to the McWilliam brothers, who have already raised $826 at Harvard's Feb. tournament, this year's Shoot for the Cure is just the beginning. The brothers hope to "expand this to the rest of the schools [in the country] and beyond," Kendall said. For more information on Shoot for the Cure, visit www.brothersmcwilliam.org. Signups for the event are still going on, and students can register at the entrance of the tournament. Spectators are welcome.

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Mid-major upset wreaks havoc on bubble teams

March 11

This is the week when the Cinderellas discover if the slipper fits or the glass shatters on their dreams. For three and a half months the premier teams are given marquee prominence nightly on ESPN, while many of the mid-major teams get no TV exposure. The week before tournament selection week is a time for the Davids of college basketball to step into the spotlight as America watches their attempt to bring national recognition to their universities. Teams are given a fresh slate to their season. Any team in the nation, with the exception of Ivy League teams, can run the table in their conference tournament and get invited to the NCAA Tournament. A team could come in with a 2-14 conference record and get an invitation this Sunday. There is so much good basketball to watch this week. Sunday night you could have watched Steve Nash's alma mater, the Santa Clara Broncos, take the number three Gonzaga Bulldogs to the wire. While a conference championship was on the line for the Bulldogs, their season was not. Santa Clara had much more to lose, because for them it was lose and go home till next season. On Monday night, the Southwest Missouri State Bears battled the Northern Iowa Panthers in two overtimes in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game. The Panthers escaped with a 79-74 victory and a trip to the NCAA Tournament. Across the country, the Virginia Commonwealth Rams, coached by former Duke star Jeff Capel, beat the George Mason Patriots, 55-54, to win the Colonial Athletic Championship. And who wouldn't want to see a match-up between the Sam Houston St. Bearcats and the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks? This Southland Conference tournament game certainly features one of the odder name match-ups of the week. Somewhere, Bob Jones University is itching to get in on the name game. Everyone's favorite real Cinderella from the late 90's, the Valparaiso Crusaders, are back and ready to cause some trouble. On Monday night, the Crusaders beat the IUPUI Jaguars to get into the big dance. With coach Homer Drew back at the helm after a year off, look for this potential number 13 seed to be a possible bracket buster. This can also be a stressful time for bubble teams around the nation. At the same time, bubble teams are sweating over their RPIs, strengths of schedule, and records against top-25 and 50. Some of the small conference teams are making them sweat even more. Once again, there are 34 at-large bids for the NCAA Tournament. Assuming that there are about 25 near "locks" for the tournament, that leaves only about nine slots open for debate. Teams like Southwest Missouri State beating the 15th ranked Salukis of Southern Illinois (RPI 21) are a bubble team's worst nightmare. Despite being a mid-major team, the Salukis had an outstanding season worthy of an at-large bid to the NCAA's. Yet, by losing in the semi-finals in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament they have opened the door for another team that would not have gotten in without winning the tournament. This loss will force one of the teams in the middle of the ACC, Big 12, or the Big East to be left out of the dance. As of Thursday morning, fourteen automatic bids have already been handed out with 17 more on the way before Sunday's selection announcement. This group includes the LA-Lafayette Ragin' Cajuns (Sun Belt), Ill-Chicago Flames (Horizon), Princeton Tigers (Ivy League), Central Florida Knights (Atlantic Sun), Liberty Flames (Big South), Manhattan Jaspers (MAAC), Murray State Racers (Ohio Valley), East Tennessee State Bucs (Southern), Eastern Washington Eagles (Big Sky), and the Monmouth Hawks (Northeast) in addition to the teams mentioned previously. Championship Week is a time for the smaller schools of college basketball to grab the national headlines for once. At the same time, bubble teams that fall short of winning their conference tournaments better hope that the favorites win their conference titles. For every non-favorite that wins a conference tournament, there is one fewer bid for a major conference school to get into the Big Dance. Come Sunday, we will see who gets their tickets punched, and those who are left crying at the foot of the door.

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News

Fletcher conference addresses future of Sudan

March 11

"Our relationship has no trust -- it is fear, fear, fear, year after year," Stephen Wondu said last night of the relationship between the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) and the Sudanese government. Wondu, the SPLM's representative to the U.S., spoke at the panel entitled "The Triumph of African-Led Negotiations? Brokering Peace in Sudan." The panel was part of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy's two-day conference on "Sudan at the Crossroads: Transforming Generations of Civil War into Peace and Development." The conference resumes today, with a keynote speech by Acting U.S. Secretary of State for African Affairs Charles Snyder. During the evening panel, Sudanese Ambassador to the U.S. Khiddir Ahmed, Senior Coordinator of the Sudan Team for the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Fridtjov Thorkildsen, and Wondu debated the likelihood of a peaceful solution to the civil war in the near future. Since gaining independence from British and Egyptian control in 1955, Sudan has been plagued by civil war between the predominantly Muslim North and the predominantly non-Muslim South. The 1972 Addis Ababa Accord provided a decade of relative calm, but violence resumed in 1983. The Sudanese government in Khartoum and the SPLM have been in negotiations for the past two years to resolve the conflict. Ahmed said the Sudanese government is "open to any solution short of self-determination" for the South. He said the majority of the decisions have been made at the current negotiations, and that "it will be unjustifiable to squander this chance at peace for only one or two issues." Wondu, however, was skeptical of this claim. "I would like to be wrong," he said, "but the government may have come to the conclusion that the best way to avoid the successes of the past two years is to comport a situation and return the country to war." Thorkildsen discussed Norway's role in the negotiations as a member of the troika -- along with the U.S. and the U.K. -- that is working with the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) to develop a comprehensive peace deal. When asked during the question and answer what the will of the international community would be if the peace process fails, Thorkildsen said "it is important to give the parties the time they need -- too much external pressure is counterproductive." Yesterday's first panel, titled "God, Oil, and Country: Sudan's Long Road to Peace," covered the history of the modern Sudanese state and the civil war. Dr. Osama Abdelgadier, a professor at Framingham State College and one of the panelists, attempted to clear up several generalizations about the conflict. "Some people reduce the war in Sudan to a religious conflict," he said. "We have many conflicts." Abdelgadier said no comprehensive peace process would be possible without an understanding of the many cultural, religious, and ethnic divisions within the country. In addition, he said, policy-makers must recognize the diversity within both the North and the South of Sudan, and they must demand the participation of "different political, cultural, and regional identities in the peace-making process." John Prendergast, a Special Advisor to the President at the International Crisis Group, cautioned against making predictions about Sudan's future based on the current negotiations. "Before, you could always see the track ahead," he said, likening Sudan to a rollercoaster. "Now, for the first time, the track has simply disappeared." He said the motives of the SPLM are relatively clear. "It's in their strategic interest to gain what they want to gain through the peace table," he said. The Sudanese government's plans, on the other hand, are more "opaque," he said. Prendergast listed several benefits the government can reap by stalling on the peace process, including continuing to profit from oil sales. "The government can remain in this situation until the cost calculus changes," he said. Prendergast cautioned that ongoing violence in the Darfur region of Sudan could undermine the current peace talks. "We are on the brink of another deadly civil war in Sudan," he said. "It is a threat to international peace and security." He said the Darfur situation requires separate negotiations, something the Sudanese government has refused, and increased outside involvement. "Just when this pressure was needed, the international community went soft," he said. The U.S., however, has improved its public diplomacy and willingness to use threats to force action. One of today's panels, "Promoting Democratic Governance," is at the center of controversy on account of one of the scheduled panelists, Dr. David Hoile. The American Anti-Slavery Group is organizing a rally prior to the panel to accuse Hoile of supporting slavery through agents of the Sudanese government and previously supporting policies of the Apartheid government in South Africa.

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News

The writer who didn't want to grow up

March 11

Fairy tales are written for children, but Gregory Maguire must not have gotten the memo. His new novel, "Mirror, Mirror," is an original interpretation of the well known story of Snow White. With an energizing command of the podium and easy confidence, Tufts alum Maguire captivated his audience with a reading and discussion of "Mirror, Mirror, on Wednesday. Maguire is the writer of the well-known novels "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West," "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister," and "Lost." Producing props to aid his presentation from a seemingly endless tote of tricks, Maguire conveyed a zest for drama and literature during his discussion about "Mirror, Mirror." "Mirror, Mirror" is set in renaissance Italy andthe story centers around the well-known Borgia family -- sometimes identified as the first family of organized crime. The corrupt, glamorous, and beautiful Lucrezia Borgia, lends herself well to the role of the vain mistress of the household and architect of the poisoned apple scheme. Cesare Borgia, Machiavelli's model for "The Prince" and a murderous duke, is Lucrezia's brother -- and lover. Snow White (Bianca de Nevada) and her father are beholden to the Borgia family, and when Lucrezia grows jealous of Bianca's beauty ... well, the rest of the story is pretty self-explainable. According to Maguire, "the story of Snow White is the story of evolution of a child to a woman, and of a woman growing old and accepting her corruption." Maguire began as a children's book writer, and his novels for adults are essentially super-sophisticated children's stories. In "Wicked," his first novel for adults, he invents a back-story for the Wicked Witch of the West from "The Wizard of Oz," but also tackles the theme of ostracism. It turns out that Elphaba (the Wicked Witch of the West's real name) isn't so evil after all. "Each [book] attempts to do something a little bit different with the cultural inheritance of the literature of childhood ... [they cut] across socio-economic, ethnic, and religious barriers," Maguire said. Maguire's books are characterized by a rich texture, which comes from their insight into universal themes and basis on historical fact. "I pride myself on having taught myself to get things straight," Maguire said. Maguire encouraged would-be writers to "read dangerously, adventurously ... Read if not for the reading, then for the poetry." "Writing requires awareness. Noticing is the beginning," Maguire added. Writer's block is something that happens to all writers, and Maguire had a unique way to combat it when writing "Mirror, Mirror." The book began as bits and pieces of text that came to him that he subsequently posted all about his kitchen on small squares of paper. Maguire has enjoyed continued success with his novels for adults. "Wicked," the most successful of his books, has been adapted into a Broadway musical. "Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister was turned into a made-for-TV movie. Maguire received a Ph.D. from Tufts in 1990.

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News

Foreign Films are Fun! Seriously!

March 11

This is the fourth of a bi-weekly feature on movies: "In Case You Missed It the First Time." This week, it's Emir Kusturica's 1995 film, Underground. Underground was released to great acclaim in '95 but has since passed into obscurity. Long, dull, and bleak. For most decent, hard-working, red-blooded Americans, watching a foreign film is an experience not unlike going to church on a sunny day, or sitting through a root canal during the Fourth of July. After all, what's the use of the slow, subdued filmmaking of an Antonioni or a Tarkvosky when there's gas in the car, money in your pocket, and a new Adam Sandler movie at the theaters to blow your mind into oblivion? At first glance, Emir Kusturica's "Underground" wouldn't seem to interest the majority of domestic moviegoers. Not only was "Underground" made in Eastern Europe -- not, we have been led to believe, the happiest place on Earth -- but it takes as its subject not one war, but three: a world, a cold, and a civil, to be precise. Most Americans would infer already that "Underground" is a cold, lifeless piece of agitprop complete with subtitles, black and white photography, and a downbeat ending where our heroes die instead of living happily ever after. And they'd be right too if they weren't so wrong, because "Underground" is one of the wildest, funniest, most colorful films I've ever seen. There's enough lowbrow here to keep even the most puerile Sandler aficionado drooling and enough "high art" to appease the snobby cinephile too -- it won the Palm D'Or at Cannes, after all. The story of two ludicrous, often drunk friends named Blacky and Marko, "Underground" follows the Yugoslavian natives from gun-runners in the German resistance movement during World War II to very different destinies during the Cold War and Serbian/Croatian conflict. After fleeing from a Nazi prison, Blacky must hide in an underground basement with other wanted Slavs, while Marko guards their stronghold from above. Yet, when Yugoslavia is liberated and turns into a communist state, Marko neglects to tell Blacky and the others. As Marko rises through the ranks of communist Yugoslavia, Blacky remains in the dark, assembling weapons to fight the German occupiers who he still thinks move about above. "Underground" is so much more than its synopsis lets on though. Anything but a simple cross between a history lesson and an allegory of the Yugoslavian plight, at times "Underground" resembles a Three Stooges episode at its most absurdly slapstick or a Gilbert and Sullivan operetta gone mad: Blacky and Marko smash bottles over their heads in drunken revelry as they explode like sugar-glass, a marching band follows the two characters throughout the movie adding an impromptu soundtrack, and an ape takes control of a tank and nearly wipes out a wedding party. Yet for all its cartoonish qualities, "Underground" has a more serious core too, one that fortunately never becomes heavy-handed or pretentious. There's something sweet and na‹ve about the first trip of Blacky's son to the surface in his lifetime as he mistakes a deer for a horse and the moon for the sun, just as there's something overwhelmingly tragic in seeing the movie's tone shift from comic insouciance to grim reality in its third act. "Underground" attempts to be everything at once -- a screwball comedy, a politically-minded farce, a tragic war movie -- and surprisingly succeeds on the strength of its own wild energy. Don't let the subtitles throw you, there's literally something here for everyone.

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News

It may be ballet, but 'It's Still Rock and Roll To Me'

March 11

The Broadway production may have started the fire, but the Boston cast sure is keeping it blazing. If you're a Billy Joel fan, you've probably always wondered what ever happened to Brenda and Eddie. Just how did the prom king and queen end up? The pair are two of the five protagonists in "Movin' Out!," directed and choreographed by dance legend Twyla Tharp and set to the hits of five-time Grammy award winner Billy Joel. The show is actually a ballet masquerading as a musical that wants to be a rock concert when it grows up. There is no dialogue whatsoever -- Tharp lets Joel's lyrics tell the story, while her clever choreography provides the emotions. In addition to Brenda and Eddie, the show also features three other characters from Joel's songs -- James (from "James") who dates Judy (from "Why Judy Why") and their friend Tony (from "Movin' Out"), who was working in a grocery store the last we heard of him. Things don't go so well for the five. Brenda and Eddie's relationship goes awry quickly. Shortly thereafter, James and Judy are engaged, only to be separated when James, Tony, and Eddie are shipped off to Vietnam, but not before "Uptown Girl" Brenda finds her downtown man in Tony (don't worry -- Eddie gets over it). Act one ends with Tony and Eddie presenting a folded flag to poor Judy who is comforted by best friend Brenda. Act two is the story of Tony and Eddie's mental demons. Tony pushes the ever-supportive Brenda away, to the tune of hit-song "Big Shot," while Eddie struggles with drug addiction. The talented cast puts emotion and meaning into the songs that even the most devoted fan wouldn't have envisioned before seeing the show. Most notable is the unprecedented hard-rocking rendition of "We Didn't Start the Fire" which provides the soundtrack to the battle in which James loses his life. Further depth is added to this rock 'n' roll effect when he comes back as a ghost in Eddie's nightmares. Set to a beautifully choreographed flashback of "Goodnight Saigon," the number nearly draws tears from the audience. Tharp's choreography, at times fun and at times poignant, is always dynamic and breathtaking. The cast executes it with precision, energy, and grace. The precision is perhaps the most important factor -- in some cases, it seems that one misstep will lead to serious injury. While the entire cast is talented and enthusiastic, it is Eddie, danced by Ron Todorowski (original Broadway cast), who shines the brightest. With the audience fearing an inevitable face plant during a particularly acrobatic series of flips, there is no doubt that his abilities are something special. His flips and lengthy spin sequences drew mid-song ovations and nods of approval from Joel himself, who attended the show. Aside from the incredible enthusiasm emanating from the performers themselves, the show was also fueled by a wonderfully energetic and talented band. Led by singer-pianist Darren Holden (whose renditions of Joel's hits are second only to Joel himself), the group won over even the skeptics. An Irish singer boasting top ten hits in his own country, Holden had the powerful voice, piano skills, and charisma to hold the audience during scene changes as well as a post-show rendition of "I'm in a [Boston] State of Mind." The stage is completely devoid of scenery throughout the show, and only a small amount of large prop items are used, including several bars and a working red convertible. The lack of scenery is never an issue, as the space is filled with larger than life dance moves and energetic performers. Colorful costumes, which take you right back to the sixties and seventies, also add to the show's aesthetics. The ensemble members are to be commended for making countless costume and character changes. If you've been saving your pennies for someday, like our friend Tony, this show is a worthy reason to break open the piggy bank; despite the expensive ticket prices (a seat in the second balcony will run you $69.50). The show is playing at the Colonial Theater until April 10 with shows on Tuesday through Sunday evenings and matinees on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. If you're a Billy Joel fan or a theater fan or a ballet fan or have a pulse, take a night away from campus. After all, 'working too hard could give you a heart attack -ack -ack.'

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News

Trade deadline reshapes the league

March 10

After weeks of punditry, speculation and sleuthing, the nation's hockey sportswriters are going to get some time off from hazarding guesses at what trade is coming next. The NHL's trade deadline passed by on Tuesday, and as the dust settles, we are treated to a very different league than we had last week. If some fans were looking for the NHL to remove a couple teams from the league, this may be the second-best thing. Underperforming, overpaying teams like the New York Rangers and the Washington Capitals gutted themselves in some weird form of hari-kari, sending half their respective payrolls around the rest of the league. Carolina Hurricane Ron Francis, the man who said he would not leave his franchise of 17 years, was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs, as was Ranger Brian Leetch, who said that all he wanted of his hockey career was to stay in New York. With a lockout nearly assured by this point for the 2004-2005 season, it seems that those teams that have the remote chance of grabbing the illustrious Stanley Cup this go-around are betting the farm, the house and the kids' college funds on doing it right now. Teams like Toronto and the Detroit Red Wings have average player ages of over 31 years, and they know that they cannot afford to risk not winning this year, since half of their rosters will enter the geriatric ward when the lockout ends. And teams that have been on an upward trajectory the past several years, such as the Vancouver Canucks, are concerned that when everyone comes back in 2005, they will have missed their chance. So now that the rosters are set, who won the Battle of Barter? For those that cheer all that is Beantown, the Boston Bruins picked up the best defenseman available in Sergei Gonchar, as well as strong center Michael Nylande from the Caps. The two additions give the team some great defense, especially with Gonchar, but where's the goalie? Andy Raycroft is untested in the playoffs, and Felix Potvin is a head case that should never be trusted with a book of matches, let alone a playoff game. The rest of the East is loaded with goaltending talent. All-Star Sean Burke was picked up by the Philadelphia Flyers from the Phoenix Coyotes. The New Jersey Devils have Martin Brodeur, arguably the best goaltender in the league. The Tampa Bay Lightning have Nikolai Khabibulin, who has lost two games since Jan 21. The Maple Leafs have Eddie "the Eagle" Belfour. The Montreal Canadiens have Jose Theodore, the hero of Quebec. And against that, Boston has "Consistent Collapser" Potvin and Raycroft the Rookie? For the first time in a long while, the East is looking seriously serious. The West is starting to quake in its boots as it realizes that it might not have done quite enough to prepare for whatever powerhouse decides to make it out from the other side of the Mississippi. Detroit made its usual splash by picking up Robert Lang from Washington, but what good does that do with Lang now out for over a month with broken ribs? The Colorado Avalanche did a lot by picking up another goalie in Tommy Salo from the Edmonton Oilers. Salo is not what you would call "clutch" in the playoffs, with an awful postseason record, but he does provide a sensible insurance policy if the Avs' David Aebischer has problems in his first year as playoff starter. But Colorado fans must be wondering if perhaps General Manager Pierre LeCroix is starting to lose his touch. No big move, no star player added to the Avalanche roster this year, a serious trade faux pas in Denver. But despite the playoff performers bulking up before the big Cup competition, some fans think that teams have not done all that they needed to do. To get some idea of the state of the league, we talked to some Canadian hockey experts this week to figure out the state of the NHL. Uncle Lou, a Newfoundland native, is having serious doubts that the Maple Leafs are going to be able to get very far with only Ed Belfour to netmind. "Well, the problem is that Eddie's back is hurting him these days," uncle Lou explained. "I don't think it's gonna hold, and we got no one to really back him up." This might be the case, but cousin Paul from Kingston, Ontario senses that an experienced goalie like Belfour should be able to make through the injury alright. Paul is much more worried about Toronto's lack of defense against a Montreal team that now has sniper Alexi Kovalev and a Philly team that added scoring threat Alexei Zhamnov. What about their recent pick up of All-Star Brian Leetch? "Well, the problem is that Leetch is old," Paul said. "We really wanted Sergei Gonchar, but Boston nabbed him first." That should make Bruins fans quite pleased. But my money would never go on a team that might need Potvin to actually perform in the playoffs.

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News

Turning 21 at Sligo's

March 10

Turning 21 is one of the greatest (and last) coming-of-age events in life -- no longer is your nightlife restricted to frat basements, no more "hoping" you'll get a bracelet or not get carded, and no more memorizing addresses and birthdays that are not your own. After this, there aren't many birthdays left to look forward to, but on the upside, you never have to give a second thought when a bouncer asks for your ID. Although we had planned a joint-celebration with one of my friends for that weekend, the actual night of my 21st birthday was unplanned -- an impromptu decision to leave the house at midnight -- but that night lives on as one of my top five nights out at Tufts. So, let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we? Imagine yourself in a warm place, where homework is a distant memory, and luckily, work isn't until 11 a.m. the next day. Imagine that it is summer -- June 11, 2003 to be exact, 12:15 a.m. After visiting friends (and getting silly) on College Ave., I wander into Davis Square with my two partners-in-crime. (From this night on, I can never walk into Davis Square without remembering -- and laughing at -- certain episodes of this evening.) Stumbling across the street, my cell phone vibrates. I jump. It's my dad. "Mr. Muuuuunnoooooz!!!" my friend screams. "Can I talk to him? Your dad is funny!" "Nooooo!" I retort. I may be silly, but I'm not stupid: Dad doesn't need to hear his little girl tanked. Dramatically, I hang up the phone over my head. We make it to Sligo's in one piece (barely), where I readily shove my ID into the bartender's face. "It's my birfday!" I say with a huge grin. It's the bartender's birthday too. He makes my friends and me free shots of Surfer on Acid (now my favorite), and we are handed pieces of cake. I am loving this place. And I still do. People give Sligo's a bad rap. Sure, it's small and gets cramped, but hey, if you wanted more room you would've paid the $3 cover at the Burren only to wait in line a second time for the back room. Sligo's is a neighborhood, no-frills pub at its best -- and with the most reasonable prices to boot (or rather not to boot, as no one got sick.) That night, I ordered two shots and two beers and was told, "That's $13." Thirteen dollars?!! I paid $13 for just two of the same shots at Joshua Tree 30 minutes before. (And, I know what you're thinking, no, these drinks weren't all for me.) Hands down, Sligo's offers the most affordable selection of beers, mixed drinks, and shots in Davis Square -- it is very college student friendly. The crowd at Sligo's depends on the night and the season. During the summer, Sligo's is a mixture of Somerville locals and a few Tufts kids enjoying life at school without the actual school part. Sligo's is also authentic enough that you may meet an Irishman or two. During the year, expect to see more Jumbos, especially those who don't want to shell out a lot of cash or wait in line at the Burren. Contrasting with the youngins' and their sparkling new IDs are the old men. For some reason, Sligo's attracts them, and they, for some reason, think you like being hit on by people old enough to be your grandfather. The atmosphere can be anywhere from chill -- just you and your friends drinking beers at the bar -- to raucous -- you, your friends, kids from your "Intro to Mass Media" class, the baseball team, and even that girl you haven't seen since freshman year crammed between the chairs and small tables that line its corridor. All in all, Sligo's presented a wonderful outlet for my much-anticipated birthday, and in many ways, I think it is underrated. Sure, the floor there is probably as sticky as in 123, but it doesn't try to pretend it is anything but an Irish divebar that caters to college students. The night of my 21st birthday is a lot like Sligo's -- on the surface, possibly just another night out, but turns out to be a fun and memorable time. It probably isn't a story to tell the kids later (and I have spared you most of the details of debauchery), yet it certainly is one of those nights you look back on and laugh.

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News

Dynamic exhibit highlights artist's depth

March 10

Before departing for Tahiti in 1890, Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) considered himself nothing more than a "Sunday painter," only practicing art on the side while working at the Paris Stock Exchange. Soon, however, after befriending famed artists Pissarro, Degas and Van Gogh, Gauguin decided to leave France and explore the Tahiti of his imagination; a land he felt would never be touched by modernization. "Gauguin Tahiti," the Boston Museum of Fine Arts' newest blockbuster show, explores Gauguin's perpetual quest for paradise with an exhibit of over sixty paintings, in addition to woodwork, sculpture and pottery. The show's major strengths are its variety and complexity. The display is also unique in that many of the works, especially those from the Hermitage, are rarely seen in the United States. The exhibit is organized chronologically, beginning in 1889, and the paintings are hung on matt walls in shades of white, slate blue and deep pink. At the beginning, visitors are presented with the artist's earlier work, which was done while he was still living in France with his Danish wife, but the whole show builds up to the critical piece, "Where do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" And understandably so -- after completing the work in 1898, Gauguin went into the woods, swallowed arsenic, and attempted suicide. Though Gauguin did not spend all his days in Tahiti as he had planned, the artist did produce a great body of work during his two year stay, much of which is exhibited at the show. Gauguin, in the style he coins as "Synthetism," rejects depicting texture and realism, but rather uses bold colors, stylized forms, and a smooth, modeled look. In "The Loss of Virginity" (1890-91), a pale woman lies naked on the earth, holding blue and red flowers in one hand. Her eyes are closed, her hair flat and dark; she lies on dirt that isn't quite brown, but more orange. Ambiguous green-gray stones lie at her feet and a fox, Gauguin's symbol for perversity, sits quietly on her chest, his paw casually on her breast. In "Vahine no te vi," or "Woman with a Mango" (1892), a dark skinned woman casually stands holding a fire-orange mango. She wears a full-length European style dress, which had since replaced the traditional Tahitian cloth skirt (pareu), the garment in which Gauguin had envisioned all Tahitian women. She exemplifies the Tahitian woman of the artist's imagination, with warm hued skin and sculptural, rather muscular bodies. The painting displays Gauguin's illusion of what native women were like, mixed with the reality of a nation already visited by missionaries. In addition to paintings, ceramic pieces and carved wooden bowls with traditional Tahitian relief prints are showcased in glass cases throughout the space, displaying Gauguin's broad range of skill and adding depth to his body of work. These diverse pieces, however, often go unnoticed with his bright paintings hanging on the walls. Of particular interest is the original copy of Gauguin's manuscript, Noa Noa. In addition to his travel writings, Gauguin illustrated the document with snapshots, drawings and watercolor sketches. The book is telecasted on two screens, as the pages automatically turn for the viewer, showing his personal writings and drawings. The original book is displayed alongside, marking the first time it has ever been shown outside of France. The apex of the show lies within the only room painted in dark gray. The entrance is narrower than for the other rooms, forcing the viewer to pay close attention upon entering - thus highlighting the central question of the masterpiece. When his great masterpiece was painted in 1895, Gauguin had returned to Tahiti following his last trip back to France. He was stunned to find electric lights on the Tahitian streets that he had envisioned as forever archaic and, in response, he created the mammoth piece, "Where do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going?" displaying various episodes of human life in from childhood to death. The composition is a sort of Eden, with animals, greenery, one lone Adam, and many Eves. It is the highlight of the show, and, for the first time since 1899, it has been reunited with seven of the small paintings that Gauguin produced following his suicide attempt in response to the monstrous composition. "Gauguin Tahiti" ends with pieces from his 1901 trip to Hiva Oa in the Marquesas Islands, in search of a land even more primitive and pristine than Tahiti. There, he again painted women, and when Gauguin returned to Tahiti, he lived until his death in 1903 in a house he built on the shore (the carved doorframe is on display as well). Gauguin never did find the paradise he was eternally seeking, though he read about it in novels and saw it in contemporaries' works, but his art is the art of his illusions of paradise -- illusions that he wished to believe were truly there, even as he makes his viewers believe that they're there.

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News

Greeks urged to be better than stereotypes

March 10

Tufts sorority and fraternity members were told last night that they were the "best thing about a college campus," but that they had to resist becoming the negative stereotypes of Greek life. David Stollman, the recruiting president of the National Inter-Fraternity Conference, addressed a meeting organized by the Inter-Greek Council (IGC), Pan-Hellenic Council, and Office of Greek Life. Attendance was mandatory for members of the Greek system. Stollman's speech, "Fraternal Values: Standards, and what to do about those who break them," encouraged Greeks to support the entire Greek system, and not allow negative actions to define the entire Greek system. "My challenge to you is to buy into what we're about, and if not -- to get out," Stollman said. "You exist for the same basic purpose: to make men better men and to make women better women." Stollman asked all members to stand and recall their pledges. "Are you living up to that oath better today than yesterday?" he asked. He emphasized the special bond brought about by brotherhood and sisterhood, and highlighted the difference between a fraternal bond and friendship. "I bet you guys could sit in a room for hours with no entertainment except for making fun of each other," he mused. Stollman then asked fraternity brothers to list stereotypes of sorority sisters, and vice-versa. He supplemented these stereotypes by projecting photos he had downloaded from websites of fraternity and sorority chapters across the country that showed Greeks vomiting, drinking, and engaging in risky sexual behavior. "This, gentlemen, is beneath you," Stollman said. "There used to be a different connotation from 'fraternity man' to 'frat boy.'" He continually addressed the theme of a minority of students misrepresenting the majority of Greeks. "I think there are a few people we allow to perpetrate these stereotypes," Stollman said. He spoke about issues of racism, rape, and hazing, calling them a "corruption of our values." "The safest place on any college campus for any woman should be among fraternity men," he said. "Anyone who thought hazing was a rite of brotherhood or sisterhood never understood that concept in the first place." Stollman also spoke of a connection among fraternities and sororities that is lacking on many college campuses. "Many chapters think that if [another] chapter went down, that'd be great, that'd be cool." According to Stollman, Greek houses' rush can often be a "bait and switch," which recruits people based on partying and then requires those recruited to participate in service and philanthropy. "Our stereotype is attracting people who are using us," he said. "And we wonder why so many people only show up for parties." Freshman and Alpha Tao Omega (ATO) pledge Jennifer Giroux said that the audience seemed to like Stollman. "Most people were expecting some long, boring speaker and were surprised," she said. "He was pretty funny -- obviously he was prepared for the audience he was up against." At times during his talk, Stollman quieted hecklers with jokes that elicited laughter from the audience. Stollman's speech is the latest of many events sponsored by Director of Greek Life Todd Sullivan intended to shed a positive light on the Greek scene.

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News

Aspen Extreme

March 10

Look in any almanac and you'll see that in 1993, Jack McDowell won the American League Cy Young award for the Chicago White Sox, Marty McSorely of the L.A. Kings was penalized for an illegal stick in the Stanley Cup Finals, and the Cowboys beat the crap out of the Bills in the Super Bowl. But what you won't see, and what really matters most, is that in that same year Patrick Hasburgh wrote and directed one of the greatest sports movies in history, "Aspen Extreme." Yes ladies and gentlemen, "Aspen Extreme." I've sat by for too long as this cinematic tour de force has been bad mouthed and belittled, and it's high time that this classic gets the respect it deserves. Sports Illustrated gave it a nod in its recent list of the best sports movies of all time (an entirely incomplete list that didn't even include "Rudy" anywhere, but that's beside the point), but other than that, the film has been swept into the dustbin. And that's why it's time for a quote by quote salute to the classic story of T.J. Burke and Dexter Rutecki and their adventure into the rough and tumble world of Aspen ski instructors. But before we get into the quotes, we should acknowledge a few things. First, there might never have been a movie in history that was cast better than this one. Peter Berg as Dexter Rutecki and Paul Gross as T.J. Burke were impeccable, as was Finola Hughes as Bryce Kellogg. Gross' blinding white smile and Berg's goofy expressions and crooked teeth couldn't have been more perfect. And along those same lines, Bryce Kellogg and Dexter Rutecki might be two of the best names in movie history. Seriously, if you met a dumb looking lift operator from Michigan, wouldn't you just expect his name to be Dexter Rutecki? But on to the quotes: T.J. -- Everyday people go out there and they do something with their lives, and everyday it isn't you and it isn't me. Dexter -- T.J., we're from Detroit Now, if there's a flaw with this movie, it's explained right here. It just doesn't make any sense that two guys who have lived in Michigan for their entire lives would be able to the things that Dexter and T.J. do on skis. It's just not possible. Plus, what are these guys doing with avalanche beacons and probes? I don't think that avalanche danger was that high back at Mt. Brighton in Michigan. But looking beyond the movie's one fatal flaw, this quote is brilliant. Could there be a more perfect way to sum up the entire point of this film? Karl Stall --For those of you still on your feet, welcome to the Aspen Ski School Hiring Clinic. My name is Karl Stall, and I'm the Ski School director. There are five positions open. Dexter --Three. You got anything tougher than that? At this point I feel it's necessary to bring up a theory that needs to be examined. You might hate me for saying it, but Dexter Rutecki is a better skier than T.J. Burke. Even though the whole movie is based on the premise of Dexter never being able to live up to T.J.'s perfection, Dexter is just a naturally better skier. T.J.'s style seems conservative and forced, while Dexter free wheels it, balls in his pocket, and rips this first run in half. He also pulls a 720 off a bump that T.J. only managed a weak 360 off of. This stuff is important. You also have to love that Dexter is skiing in jeans and gaiters. Any other person skiing in this outfit is a total loser. And how fun is that whole first skiing sequence to watch? Those soft, perfect, Volkswagen sized bumps couldn't possibly look any better. Robin Hand --I stopped dating ski instructors when I was 16. T.J. -- Why? Robin -- Because they always leave town. First of all, who the hell is this woman that she had already had her fill of ski instructors by age 16? I guess I don't really have anything else to say about this quote. Just had to get that off my chest. T.J. -- Well then you got nothing to worry about a**hole. I don't go to college. Fantastic moment here that has "Top Gun" written all over it. You almost expect T.J. to say, "That's right Ice, I am dangerous." This is also the first time we see T.J. start to surpass Franz as the superior ski instructor. Dexter -- Relax, we're not curing cancer here. We're teaching people how to slide down hills with sticks on their feet. This is exactly what we like in Dexter, but we all know that attitude can't work at the Aspen Ski School. Not with Karl in charge. Come on Dex! T.J. -- I'm tired of picking up after you. End of the really disturbing Dexter drug sequence. If there was a part of the movie I wish I didn't have to watch every time, it's Dexter going crazy in that bar waiting for Steve. It's almost as disturbing as the pink elephants sequence in Dumbo. At the same time though, it's crucial to the movie. It's sort of Dexter's moral conundrum. He wants to make some money and be independent of T.J., but he knows he's not doing it the right way. Very intriguing. Robin -- Things happen, T.J. To everyone. T.J. -- Yeah well it didn't happen to me. Always get a little choked up at this point. Never fails. T.J. realizes how much Dexter meant to him, that he wasted so much time he could have had with him, that if he had dropped in first he probably would have gotten swept up in that avalanche instead of Dexter. I'm getting all misty just thinking about it. T.J. -- I'm not leaving, I'm staying right here. Robin -- Why? T.J. -- To see if I can become a real writer... And because I love you. Sure it's cheesey. Sure it pretty much comes out of nowhere. I mean, they haven't really even talked to each other in months, and they were together for all of one summer (as far as we can tell) but could this movie have ended any differently? I sure as hell wouldn't have wanted it to.

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