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Tufts zips past Wheaton

February 10

It isn't too often you get the opportunity to dethrone a defending national champion, but last Saturday at the Gantcher Center, Tufts made the most of such an opportunity. A week after facing little competition in a dual-meet at Bowdoin, the women's indoor track and field team hosted a stiffer field of 15 other teams, including the defending national indoor champion, Wheaton. With 150 total points, the Jumbos took first place in the meet, ahead of Wheaton with 118 points. Ithaca College was a distant third with 81.5 points. "There were a lot of great performances," coach Kristen Morwick said. "We got a lot more people qualified this weekend, which was good. Overall, there were some ups and downs, but Wheaton won indoor nationals last year, and we beat them. It was a good meet." The Jumbos were led by the 4x400 relay team of senior quad-captains Emily Bersin and Jess Trombly, junior Sika Henry and sophomore Rachel Bloom. The quartet dashed to victory with a sub-four minute time, 3:58.76, qualifying provisionally for nationals while edging Wheaton's foursome (4:00.15) by a second-and-a-half. Trombly outduelled Wheaton senior Amber James, a national 400 champ, in the anchor leg. "It was really exciting to post a [provisional] time this early in the season because last year it came down to the very last meet before nationals to determine if we made it," Bloom said. "It's good to show us that we're back where we should be. That was also very exciting because [Wheaton] has incredible sprinters." "Bigger than the time was that we beat Wheaton," Morwick added. "[Our runners] had all raced quite a bit during the day [in other events], so none of them were fresh. Considering that, they did really, really well. It was really exciting." Bloom also placed third in the 200 dash (26.24 seconds), improving on her All-New England qualifying mark of 26.39 seconds recorded last week. Bloom placed behind Wheaton's speedy sister duo of senior Amber and sophomore Aspen James (25.31 and 26.08 respectively), who also reversed order and finished one-two in the 55 dash. The 200 result moves Bloom up in the Division III standings for All-New England's, held the last weekend of this month, and is the fifth-best Tufts mark ever. "It was really good for me to have them in the race because they pulled me along," Bloom said. "I think just having really good competition makes you better." Senior quad-captain Lauren Caputo added to her already-impressive indoor season with her third All-New England qualifying time in three weeks, this time in the 1500. Caputo finished fourth in the event in a career-best 4:49.18, edging Amherst's Alyson Venti by 0.16 of a second. "There were so many fast girls that were running it. When you have to run against other fast people you'll probably run a fast time too," Caputo said. "I was able to hang in there and I was able to qualify. It was really great coming off of this cross country season [because] I'm in a lot better shape and it's my last season so I want to do really well." Caputo has now qualified for All-New England's in the 1500, 3000 and 5000, but it remains a tossup as to which event she will run at the championship meet. According to Caputo, who also returned to the track an hour and a half later to place fourth in the 800 behind freshman teammate Samantha Moland (third with 2:25.66), it all comes down to the opposition. "I'll probably have to pick one of [the three to run at All-New England's], I don't know which one yet," Caputo said. "We'll see the competition. It depends on what my best opportunity to score in is." Trombly competed in three events on top of the 4x400. She placed second in the long jump (4.93 meters) and improved on her 8.64-second national provisional time in the 55 hurdles by clocking in at 8.58, good enough for the win. The Nashua, New Hampshire native also manned the reins in the 600 with an All-New England time of 1:34.13, finishing nearly four seconds ahead of the runner-up, Emily Maston of Ithaca. Trombly missed the Tufts 600 record by just a one-hundredth of a second. Senior Shushanna Mignott continued her recent success by winning the triple jump (10.60m), nine centimeters better than WPI's Rebecca Hamel. The win was crucial for the Jumbos, according to Morwick, as Tufts was neck and neck with Wheaton until the event. Mignott also leapt to a third place finish in the long jump behind Trombly. Junior Melissa Graveley competed in the pentathlon, faring well in all five of her events, while senior Lauren Dunn took third in the 5000 with a personal record of 18:54.05. The throwing squad racked up some points of its own to add to Tufts' tally. Senior Gwen Campbell claimed sixth in the shot put with an 11.11 meter throw, followed by classmate Jess Gauthier (10.78 m) in eighth. Gauthier was also fifth in the weight throw with a hurl of 13.51 meters, a season best. "We had a tremendous improvement last year from our new coach [Rebecca Brooks] and her coaching style," Campbell said. "This year we picked up pretty much right where we left off. We've had some really steady performances. We haven't blown anyone away with three-foot PR's, but the fact that we're all scoring and throwing really consistently is a significant improvement." With only a week remaining in the regular season before championship meets begin, Tufts is focused on adding some last-minute qualifications to its already-long list. A handful of Jumbos will head to Boston University's competitive Division I Valentine Invite this Friday and Saturday, while the rest of the team will be at home for the Tufts Stampede on Saturday. "Hopefully at BU [we'll] hit some national marks, which is why we take some of the better kids to that meet," Morwick said. "Stanford has shown up to that meet before, George Mason, Duke. That's a pretty competitive meet."

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News

Tufts tops Connecticut College on the road

February 10

The men's squash team escaped Connecticut College with a 5-4 victory over the Camels last Sunday. Earlier this season, the squash team hosted Connecticut College and dominated the match seven wins to two. While the match was much closer this time around, the team went 2-0 this season against the Camels and moved to 6-2 on the season. "We knew they were playing well and that they do well at home," coach Doug Eng said. "We were in for a close match." Sophomore Tom Keidel dropped a hard-fought five game match at the number one position (9-3, 4-9, 9-5, 1-9, 2-9), but classmate Spencer Maxwell did not even surrender a game in the number two slot (9-0, 9-7, 9-2). Senior co-captain Jordan Kolasinski was victorious at the number three spot, winning a tight match (9-6, 10-8, 9-10, 9-2). It was Kolasinski's match that broke the 4-4 deadlock. "My head was really in that match," Kolasinski said. "I had an idea it was coming down to my match just from noticing the buildup of the crowds. I told Doug I didn't want to know what the score of the overall match was, though, because I just focus better that way." "The third game was real close and it could've gone either way," Kolasinski added. "After a tough third game, I knew I would dominate the fourth one." Sophomore Pranav Tripathi came through with an easy victory at number four, (9-3, 9-1, 9-3). Sophomore Dan Karlin did not have the same success falling in three games at number five (3-9, 6-9, 0-9). Senior co-captain Jesse Goldberg lost by the same score at number six. "[In] a couple of the matches we dropped we just didn't have the mental edge," Eng added. "We are going to have to work on our mental preparation because when we get to nationals, all the teams are similar in ability. It's the mental toughness that sets the good teams apart." Senior Alex Busse and junior Fernando Kriete both notched Jumbo victories at the seven and nine spots, respectively, each taking their opponents in four games. "The victories by Pranav and Alex were real keys to the victory for us," Eng said. "They both had more success in this match than they did last time against Connecticut." Freshman Dave Linz lost in three games at number eight between the Busse and Kriete wins. The Jumbos look to build from the Conn. College win in their match against rival MIT tonight. "MIT is a huge match for us," Kolasinski said. "Last year they beat us right before nationals and it was probably our worst match of the season. They're ranked below us, but we know they're a good team. We need to win that one." In addition to facing MIT, the Jumbos will also compete against Brown in the same match. "Brown is ranked about twelfth, so we know they are going to be really strong," Kolasinski said. "We've never beaten them and I don't think we will this year but it's certainly good experience." Looking into the future, the men will have to face national powerhouse Trinity on Feb. 18. Trinity is the best squash team in the nation, and has even been covered by Sports Illustrated and ESPN. Due to the stiff competition, Tufts will need to be at the top of its game if it is to emerge victorious in the future matches. "We're getting to the heart of the season right now," Kolasinski said. "Some of our guys haven't quite come into their own yet. If everyone gets it together and plays their best, I think we can be very successful in this final push."

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News

Disappointment with Trustees

February 10

As one of the participants chosen to attend the trustee luncheon this past Saturday, I am sorely disappointed by both the orchestration of this event as well as the response to student concerns by some of the trustees. An obvious problem with this luncheon was not simply the fact that it was invite-only, but that the invitations were limited to TCU senators, and with much provocation by TCU Chair Abby Moffat, two representatives each from the TCUJ and CSL. Understanding that the open forum that was offered two years ago resulted in unproductive outbursts, surely there is a means to open up this event to a wider range of students, whether through an application process or by RSVP. Even more frustrating was the response by trustees to legitimate student concerns. As a non-liberal, I have been disappointed by a lack of ideological diversity among our teaching staff at Tufts. Although we have a talented and ethnically diverse group of educators, I'm aware that an important aspect of my education is missing due to the limited number of non-liberal professors. Realistically speaking, the ideological background, not the religion or skin color, of our professors are what most influence their teaching and the classroom environment. Instead of listening to that very real concern I brought up, the trustee moderating the discussion immediately became very defensive, labeled this concern as "dangerous," and proceeded in a yelling tirade, first declaring that professors must be neutral, but then defending liberalist ideology as acceptable within the classroom. He also asserted that that there are no conservatives in academia, a laughable claim. Not one trustee called him on the blatant disrespect he displayed towards the students present, never mind the flaws in his argument. Appallingly enough, I later learned that this was not an isolated incident, but rather there has been a history of certain trustees actually screaming at students, more specifically, students who don't fit well into the liberal mold. I was both shocked and saddened by this response and have lost a great deal of respect towards the people who supposedly care about Tufts students. --by Jordana Starr

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News

A different kind of doctor's office

February 10

For most pre-med Tufts students, the days of actually administering health treatment, rather than just learning about it, seem very far off. For eight Tufts students, however, those days are only a month away: this Spring Break, they will be traveling to the Dominican Republic and giving medical care to Haitian refugees. The eight pre-med Tufts students, along with medical personnel and 15 University of Colorado students, will travel to Puerto Plata with medical supplies, food, and clothing. "They have no access to real medical care in the Dominican Republic," sophomore trip participant Eric Morley said. "We're going to see everything from poor nutrition to tropical diseases while we're there." The trip is co-sponsored by the Student Association for Pre Health Professionals and the Timmy Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose work helps needy children around the world. Throughout the trip, the pre-med students will be directly involved in the care of the refugees. "Unlike in the United States where there are a lot of restrictions on who can practice medicine, the [Dominican Republic] is a third world country where there are no restrictions," Morley said. "This is an opportunity for us to see physicians at work in special circumstances," senior and trip participant Charline Han said. "This is a great opportunity to see the conditions in another country and be able to help," agreed sophomore trip participant Cindy Marti. "It's an opportunity to get real experience." During the mission, the students will be staying with an American couple who has converted their home into a "ranch" for volunteer groups. Each day, which lasts from 8:30 am to 6 or 7 pm, the students and medical personnel will visit a different Haitian refugee village where they will set up three different stations-- triage, a doctors' station, and a pharmacy. The students will assist the doctors, help run the pharmacy, and perform "crowd control" by entertaining the refugees, who often spend long hours waiting for medical attention. "Infectious diseases are very prevalent in third world countries because the people are malnourished," Marti said. "They die of diarrhea and the flu. Things that are small problems for us are life or death for them -- something like Neosporin can save someone's limb." "Last year the group saw about 400 patients each day, and for many of the refugees, it was the first time visiting a doctor or receiving medical attention," Han said. Since there are no medical supplies where they are going, the students and doctors are responsible for bringing all necessary supplies, including prescription medications, vitamins, and bars of soap. The campus is encouraged to help in this effort. "Some of [the supplies] the doctors can get them themselves from pharmaceutical companies," Morley said. "But we're also giving boxes to the fraternities to collect supplies, and we're constantly asking around. We're even asking for crayons to give the children." Gaining an understanding of the Dominican and Haitian cultures has been an important part of preparing for the trip. The group has been meeting every other week this semester, discussing topics ranging from "History of the Dominican Republic and Haitian Refugees" to "US and International Healthcare Issues." A Haitian speaker is also scheduled to visit the University in order to educate the students. Since few of the students are fluent in French, Spanish, or Creole, they have been working on their language skills so that they can communicate with the Dominican and Haitian people. And perhaps most importantly, these future doctors are getting a crash course in triage skills. Despite such preparations, Han acknowledges that, "for many, visiting a third world country will be shocking." Marti agreed that the trip will be like nothing she has ever experienced before: "It's pretty alarming and disturbing," she said. "[In the pictures] these people are barely clothed and live in shanty homes, basically cardboard boxes." "It's a different kind of poverty over there," junior trip participant Rebecca Francis said. "In countries like that, if you're poor, you're poor. There's no help from the government...they benefit greatly from trips like this, because they have never received attention like this." Each volunteer will carry two suitcases with them--one containing clothes, the other medical supplies. All of their clothes will be washed and left there for the refugees. "We're all pre-med and this is an opportunity to have hands on experience," Morley said. "It's an opportunity to see this culture and get a real feeling for medicine." "Instantly, we will be able to see what kind of impact we will have on these people," Han added. "At the end of the day, I hope that we'll be able to take back from these people much more than we were able to give." If you are interested in donating supplies, please contact Eric.Morley@tufts.edu, Charline.Han@tufts.edu, Ray.Hsu@tufts.edu, or Cindy.Marti@tufts.edu. You can also drop off supplies with the RA of your dorm.

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News

More computers available for Eaton users

February 10

Thirty-eight new Dell computers were added to Eaton Hall's ITS Computing Center over the semester break. Located to the left of the Information Technology Services desk, each new computer has an Intel Pentium IV processor of 2.40 GHz, 512MB of memory, and Windows XP Professional. According to IT Instructional Services Assistant Manager Miriam Lau, the new computers have more processing power, more memory, and a larger hard drive than the old machines. New programs, including Greek and Latin language utilities, Macromedia applications, and statistics software, have been added in addition to the usual Internet access and printing capabilities. The new computers have a smaller tower unit and a thinner monitor, which allows for more room for books and papers on the desk. "It's definitely nicer than having a clunky thing in front of you," sophomore Jennifer Vasquez said. Other students also noticed the upgrade to flat screen monitors. "The main difference I noticed was in the flat screen," sophomore Ilya Lozovsky said. "The biggest improvement was in quality. Now it's a lot brighter and nicer to use." Lozovsky is one of several user consultants who work in the lab. So far "no serious technical problems have emerged," Lozovsky said. "Generally, we've seen a pretty positive reaction." Some students question the need for replacing older equipment while it is still working and functional. "They're nice, but I'm not sure they were necessary," sophomore Kevin Johannsen said. "The old ones worked just fine. There were no problems. I prefer this, but at what cost?" The lab is updated on a regular basis, Lau said, and the computers are replaced as their warranties expire, helping to keep the Computing Center running smoothly. The thirty-eight new computers join a mix of Pentium III Dells and iMacs that have been in the lab since before last semester, raising the total number of workstations to over 150. Lau did not immediately reply to a follow-up e-mail concerning the cost of the upgrade. Tisch Library also recently replaced a number of their thee-year old computers over the semester break. The cost was $60,000 to replace all of the library's public-access workstations.

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News

Jumbos lose perfect record in season finale

February 9

High on spirits but lacking the necessary points for victory, the Tufts men's swimming and diving team lost for the first time this season on Saturday, falling 144-114 to the Williams Ephs in Williamstown, MA. The Jumbos end their season with a record of 8-1. Saturday's contest ended the regular season for the Jumbos as well as for the Ephs, who both entered the meet undefeated with identical 8-0 records. Williams finishes the season an unbeaten 9-0. The loss was not as much of a sting for the team however, thanks to Tufts' eight wins this year. Many Jumbos strove for personal bests instead of simply stacking races in hopes of a team victory. Because coach Don Megerle can only carry 24 swimmers on to the New England Championships later this month, Saturday's dual-meet served as a time for those swimmers not going on to try to achieve personal and seasonal bests. Seniors Nate Brown, Macey Harrington-Woodard, Jeff Held, Joseph Butterfield, Josh Edwards, and Michael Burr all finished the day with outstanding swims, many of them either being seasonal or personal bests. For these seniors who swam in their final contest, their superior performances were added to by the camaraderie of their fellow teammates. "What made me most proud was to watch kids like [Gabe Poliboy] and [Jeff Longcor] who got up and performed so incredibly well, and every time they were out of the water they were out cheering for their team," Brown said of two of his underclassman teammates. Brown took off .41 of a second on his 50 yard backstroke time, 1.64 seconds off his 100 freestyle time, and an incredible 3.43 seconds off his 100 backstroke, breaking bests he had achieved last year at Middlebury. "Also, watching people like our captains [Jamie Meyers] and Aeric Solow, they were cheering for the entire team and that spirit made it so great," Brown added. Fellow senior Harrington-Woodard agreed, who also turned out bests in the 200 and 500 freestyle. "This was my last meet ever, and that was a factor. It was very exciting, and a lot of fun to swim in," Harrington-Woodard said. "One of the amazing things about this team is how supportive of each other we are, and it helps your performance. I will walk away with a lot of fond memories. Swimming has been a very fond and positive part of my Tufts experience." Harrington-Woodard dropped an impressive 3.58 seconds on his 200 freestyle for a time of 2:08.12 and his 500 freestyle time was clocked at 5:49.8, knocking off 5.40 seconds from his previous best this season at Trinity. Held took almost two seconds off from his 100 breaststroke time, while Butterfield and Burr had strong showings in the 100 freestyle. Edwards, meanwhile, dropped over six seconds from his time in the 200 freestyle, clocking in at 2:00.77 against Williams. Juniors Chris Valente and Matt Cable also turned out strong showings, both swimming freestyle with Valente also undertaking breaststroke while Cable raced in the butterfly. Despite the superb performances and improvement from the Jumbos, their success continues farther than the swimming pool. In the fall semester, the Jumbos recorded a 3.48 team GPA. Although no official statistics are kept, Megerle believes it to be one of the highest in the area. Post-season play will begin February 27th, where the Jumbos will look to test their regular-season success at the NESCAC Championships in Maine.

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Biomedical engineering programs accepted for engineering school

February 9

The Engineering family welcomed a new member with the incorporation of the Department of Biomedical Engineering. Last Wednesday, the School of Engineering faculty voted to begin offering Master of Engineering and Doctoral degrees in biomedical engineering. The incorporation of program into a full department comes two years after the biomedical engineering program was established. Undergraduate students previously could only take biomedical engineering as a second major and graduate students received a Masters of Science. The creation of the graduate degree programs is the combination of faculty initiative coupled with increased student demand. The emergence of the new graduate degrees also "reflects this direction in science and engineering and clinical sciences at Tufts," said Professor David Kaplan, Biomedical Engineering Department chair. The evolution of the biomedical program has been under discussion for the past year. "[The incorporation] was not controversial," Chair of Engineering Curriculum Committee Alva Couch said.. In October 2002, the computer science and electrical engineering departments split and the biomedical engineering department was created. "This is a continued evolution of the engineering school," Kaplan said. In its proposal, the then-program said that the growing interest in biomedical engineering makes it "appropriate to establish this new department and programs as a beacon at Tufts." "As a school, we are trying to grow and strengthen our research activities and educational programs in many areas related to biotechnology and to strengthen our ties with the Medical School," Dean of the School of Engineering Linda Abriola said. This evolution "represents renewed commitment to life science part of much broader move to focus on life sciences in engineering" Couch said. "The degrees and the department also integrate research activities among the sciences, engineering and the clinical sciences at Tufts, strengths that we can build upon," Kaplan said. "Our goal is to build our research infrastructure and opportunities for students at both graduate and undergraduate levels," Kaplan continued. "We are gradually building up our graduate student pool." Abriola hopes the new graduate programs will enhance Tufts' ability to attract talented engineers and scientists who are interested in pursuing careers. The program aims to attract students currently working in the field, seeking to attain a graduate degree, and current undergraduates. The courses will be on part-time, evening, and summer programs to accommodate the needs of perspective students. The faculty's proposal noted that "activity and interest in biomedical engineering as a discipline is growing rapidly and is a vital part of the Boston infrastructure." Kaplan anticipates the hiring two new faculty members. He said only a limited number of courses will be added, since most courses needed are already offered. Currently Worchester Polytechnic Institute and Boston University are the only two academic institutions in the Boston area with a biomedical engineering department offering Ph.D. and master-level degrees.

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News

Magic, mobius strips, and moon mission modules

February 9

It's not often that one has the opportunity to visit the Earth's inner core, the Mesozoic Era, the interior of the human body, and the tomb of an ancient, long-dead decaying mummy -- at least outside of a bad B-movie. But Boston's Museum of Science makes such an elaborate trip as easy as hopping on the T. Located in Cambridge, the museum lets visitors learn about all areas of the scientific world, from chemistry to paleontology, and offers opportunities for the ultimate science experience with concepts that might even pop up in a university geology or physics class. Model ships line the back walls; the command module from the Apollo 11 moon mission sits in the corner; and, in a tribute to the sense of humor that the great lizards of the Jurassic must have possessed, the life-sized Tyrannosaurus Rex model keeping watch over the paleontology exhibit is decorated with a gigantic scarf, evidently to keep it from catching cold in the cold Boston nights. A giant mobius strip demonstrates the principles of mathematics, and huge, colorful display walls denote the history of math and chemistry. While many installations are permanent, a few of the exhibits at the science museum rotate on a seasonal basis. Current displays include a feature on birds, a hands-on display addressing how scientists use models to answer theoretical questions, and different interactive illusions that are normally used in professional magic shows. Visitors can also come face to face with a gigantic grasshopper, float in midair on a magic chair, or turn into a talking head to converse with their friends. A miniature archaeological excavation allows the adventurous to dig for ancient Etruscan slingstones (although real archaeologists have to slog through mud and hard-packed dirt, not crushed apricot pits), and a gigantic lighthouse demonstrates the principles of light refraction for all to see. The main appeal of the museum is its hands-on nature. Though some exhibits are elementary or clearly aimed at a younger audience (the "Science in the Park" area lets children learn about the physics of swinging and experiment with pulling tablecloths off tables without disturbing the place settings resting on top), there is still plenty to interest older visitors as well. It's easy to pass an entire afternoon indulging in a childlike curiosity by poking at the models of the human body or testing out magical illusions for yourself without even noticing how much time has passed. Small displays scattered throughout the museum also bring to light obscure bits of knowledge or trivia with illustrative, three-dimensional models. Random facts often have a strange appeal in and of themselves simply because they offer some little-known bit of knowledge that a viewer might never have heard before, and one can find them in droves here. While the subjects might not always make the best conversation topics for the dinner table (one fairly graphic display shows different types of malformed hands that resulted from birth defects, with small placards that explain how each has been fixed in the past), the one-shot exhibits are both informative and eye-catching. These succinct exhibits keep the viewer's attention in the time it takes to walk between the museum's more elaborate displays. Though it might not be the most complicated entertainment, the Museum of Science still presents a fun way to while away a miserable winter Friday afternoon. And the museum's colorful nature ensures a display certain to catch the eye and capture the interest of every visitor, whether it comes in the form of roaring dinosaurs, deep-sea excursions, or modern-day construction sites. The Museum of Science is located near the Science Park T-stop on the Green Line. Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Admission is $13.

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News

WMFO getting $20,000 antenna transfusion

February 9

Tufts' radio station WMFO is working to replace its deteriorating antenna in the next several weeks, allowing it to resume transmitting at full power. The old antenna's poor condition limits WMFO to only 50 percent of its original power, which nearly caused the station to be shut down last year. Altogether it will cost $23,500 to replace the antenna, with most of the cost stemming from the price of the antenna and subsequent testing. The new antenna "will vastly improve the quality and strength of our broadcasts within their existing range. It has been a long process, but will be worth it in the end," said senior Emily Ryan, general manager of the radio station. "If all goes well with the new antenna we hope to apply for a power increase in the coming months, which would double our power output." The result of a power output increase would be a stronger transmission signal, and better quality sound. Ryan said there will probably not be any large changes in the broadcast range. This past summer, Tufts began the process of replacing the antenna, which required a petition that was approved by Executive Administrative Dean Wayne Bouchard and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman. Bouchard said that the University budget has leeway for building and equipment deficiencies. "Our goal is to address problems before they become bigger problems and are disruptive to the important programs on campus," Bouchard explained. "We didn't want to wait until the antenna failed completely to replace it." Bouchard credited Ryan for doing extensive research and presenting the information "in a way that made it hard for the administration not to approve the expenditure." The new antenna had to be similar enough to the old one in order to be compatible with WMFO's existing equipment. Tufts found the antenna in Germany, where it was then tested and shipped to Boston. Before it is installed on the rooftop of Ballou Hall, a local company will take down the old antenna and replace the old wires. WMFO has already been granted approval from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the new antenna. The antenna is connected to the WMFO studios in Curtis Hall via Tufts' underground fiberoptic cables. Originally the antenna was meant to be installed last week, but the guy wires that arrived to hold it up were not made of the right material, fiberglass, and the installation needs to wait for several weeks. Students at WMFO are excited about the possibilities of the new tower. "Boston is so packed with so many small radio stations -- you can go fifty feet and get ten new stations, so it's great that we'll be able to ultimately reach more people with a greater broadcast range," said junior Alexander Chassin, assistant general manager and training director for WMFO. "I am excited to see the station doing this well," Ryan said. "I feel that the station is headed in the right direction and with continued effort will really become a strong force on campus and in the community."

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Political Ideology in the classroom and on the hill

February 9

Although Tufts is commonly called a liberal university, professors and students say that students are moderate and not as active in politics as classes in the 70s, or even 90s. "The average political ideology is quite moderate, and what I would call risk-averse. I think most students are afraid to be seen as being outside the middle-of-the-road on either side," assistant political science professor Gary McKissick agreed, "This campus has a reputation for being a very liberal one, but I see more of a mushy centrism." "I would say that students at Tufts are generally left-leaning, but less activist and more moderate than the undergraduates of the 1970s, 1980s and even 1990s," Kerry Chase, a political science professor, said. Even if the campus is generally moderate, a consensus on campus does not necessarily mean that there is much of political conversation or expression. "I think there's usually a consensus, but a lot of people tend to keep their political ideas to themselves" sophomore and political science minor Abby Eastbrook said. "Many people don't consider themselves political." The atmosphere at Tufts may reflect a trend noticed in other universities. "I often hear senior faculty members at other institutions lament that students today are apolitical and inactive compared to students in the 1970s, and that trend probably holds across the country," Chase said. There is a general feeling that political activism of university students has decreased throughout the country since the days when protest was an integral part of campus life. Students at Johns Hopkins University believe that politics don't take as central a role in students' lives as in did in the past. "As in most colleges, the prevailing political affiliation here is apathy... politics and political opinion are viewed as remote and irrelevant," said Matt Bassett, a sophomore at John Hopkins. Political discussions in the classroom can be a sensitive issue, as professors strive to present multiple sides of the issue and refrain from alienating students with alternative points of view. "Personally, I do not feel it is my role to discuss my own political opinions," Chase said. "Rather, it is important to provide balance in the classroom so that students can make their own decisions." Despite the effort to include a wide variety of political opinions, some students feel a professor's ideological slant can impact the classroom environment. "In the classes I have taken, the professors seem genuinely interested in hearing an array of political views," sophomore and political science major William Dunn said. "What they do not realize is that their constant jabs at Republican candidates and conservative pundits make their classes less sensitive to the large scope of political opinions represented at Tufts." For some students at other universities political ideology in the classroom can have a huge impact on their college experience. It can even steer them away from certain academic areas. Michael Ellis, a sophomore at Dartmouth College, said that he makes it a point to take classes where ideological arguments are unlikely to occur, and stays away from the Government department. "Although most Dartmouth professors tend to stay away from political discussions, more extreme professors on campus let their ideology seep into their discussions to create a leftist slant," Ellis said, calling the atmosphere in such classes "hostile to opposing points of view." Some students feel political discussion has the potential to be a waste of class time, questioning whether time could be better spent on course material. "If [a student] started on a political tirade in the middle of class, I'd be pretty pissed," said another Dartmouth sophomore, Chris Leach. "Tuition is too high to waste class time on that." Some feel the value of political discussion outweighs some of these possible negatives. "Political discussion in class is vital," McKissick said. "I'm a political scientist. I think politics touches everything. That's just my bias, if you will. So to think we could move conversations about politics off the agenda, so to speak, runs against everything I believe in. This stuff matters, and it's important for students to start recognizing how the issues of the day affect their lives." Even if Tufts students, in general, agree on most issues, there is still room for and acceptance of debate, which is something that does not occur on many campuses. "Most people feel free to express their political opinions," Eastbrook said. At schools with more homogenous populations, the absence of diversity dispels any need for discussion, according to some students at those schools. Jen Austin, a sophomore at Brigham Young University, said, "Since nearly all of the students on campus share the same religious beliefs we agree on most controversial issues because of the shared background that we have, so there isn't much to debate." At Tufts, most agreed, there is enough diversity of experience and opinion to make political discussion viable. "Political views have moderated in the last 20 years, so there probably isn't as much political argument as in the past," Chase said. "But I don't think it is so homogenous as to stifle political discourse."

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News

NESCAC Championships await swimmers

February 9

Following Tufts' loss to Williams College on Saturday -- the only blemish on an otherwise perfect record -- there are three weeks of downtime before the NESCAC championship. This should be more than enough time for the 8-1 Jumbos, who have until Feb. 27 before hitting the pool. However, unlike the Jumbos' previous nine match-ups, this time the intensity will be turned up a notch as Tufts will travel to Maine to take on all nine of its conference competitors at the NESCAC championships at Bowdoin. Tufts will be taking 24 members of its 52-man team on to the next level of competition. Twenty-two swimmers will take part, as well as the two-man Jumbo diving team of sophomore Todd Putnam and graduate student Connell Cloyd. The other members of the Jumbo swimming and diving team traveling to the NESCAC championships at Bowdoin are: freshmen Greg Bettencourt, Nathan Cronin, Justin Fanning, Sloan Harris, Michael Kinsella and Ray Radovich; sophomores Brett Baker, Jon Godsey, Jason Kapit, Seth Rosenberg, and Steven Ward; juniors Seth Baron, Michael Rochette, and Alex Turner; and seniors Sam Burlingame, Tyler Duckworth, Nick Ghoussaini, Kaili Mauricio, Jamie Meyers, Greg Schmidt, Aeric Solow, and Richard Halpert, who is technically a junior but will be graduating this year. In anticipation for the meet, most of the members of the 22 man swimming delegation will shave down in hopes of dropping critical seconds from their times. A few members already were shaved for the dual-meet versus Williams last Saturday.

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News

Yanks are not Bronx Bombers of old

February 9

It's been a little quieter around campus recently. Some people may attribute this lull to an increase in studying by the student body, but baseball fans know the real reason: Yankee fans are worried. Usually, these fans have plenty to say about those 26 World Championships or about how good Derek Jeter is, but this winter they have been silent, and with good reason. Their team is full of question marks and they know that for the first time in a long while, New York might not have the division sewn up by early September. With just a few weeks remaining until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, Inside the AL delivers an in-depth look at each team vying for the top spot in the ever-competitive American League East. Baltimore Orioles: The Orioles seem to have gone to the New York Mets school of team building by signing overrated free agent hitters to long term deals for big money. Baltimore has improved somewhat, but it will not contend for the division title. Miguel Tejada, Javy Lopez, and Rafael Palmeiro will help them at the plate, but the O's have no pitching. Signing right hander Sidney Ponson was a good move, but Baltimore will miss solid hurlers Jason Johnson and Pat Hentgen. The offense should be fine with the new free agents, combined with the perennially underrated Jay Gibbons and the solid Melvin Mora. However, combine Baltimore's shaky bullpen with an already suspect rotation and you've got a team that will struggle mightily to win 80 games. Boston Red Sox: There is little doubt that the Red Sox are one of the most improved teams in baseball on paper. They finally seem to have found what they have needed for the past six years: a workhorse pitcher like Curt Schilling who can take the pressure off of Pedro Martinez. The bullpen has been another huge off season improvement for the Red Sox. Last year, the so-called "closer by committee" had absolutely no success closing games. Now the Sox have one of baseball's best closers in former Oakland Athletic Keith Foulke, as well as a solid setup man in Scott Williamson. Mike Timlin is underrated as well; he walked only 9 batters in eighty-three innings last year. If some of its Rule-V selections don't come through, Boston will need to find someone who shuts down lefty hitters, as southpaw reliever Alan Embree actually was better against right-handers last season. The acquisition of Pokey Reese will greatly improve Boston's defense up the middle. Reese will make groudball-producer Derek Lowe a much better pitcher, and the Sox have enough offense to make up for Reese's lack of offensive production (.215 batting average, 12 RBI and one homerun in 2003). Boston won't miss Todd Walker's glove and his bat was overrated. Walker's .760 OPS is right up there among studs like Julio Lugo. While the Red Sox might not match last year's record-breaking numbers on offense, they should still be a force. David Ortiz is only 28 and has the ability to repeat his performance from last year. Bill Mueller did overachieve in 2003, but his swing is built for Fenway and it's not unrealistic to expect him to hit .300. Catcher Jason Varitek and outfielder Trot Nixon might slip a bit as well for last year's career seasons, but they should still put up solid numbers. In addition, the Sox hammered righties last year, and as Peter Gammons pointed out, in 2004 Ted Lilly will be the only left-handed starter in the entire AL East. The big question that should make or break the season is which Nomar Garciaparra will show up in 2004? Will it be the Nomar of May and June who he tore the cover off the ball? Or will it be the Nomar of September and October who looked like he was either injured or had just lost his trademark bat speed? Garciaparra wants the big money, and the Red Sox are justifiably seeing which Nomar appears in 2004 before they dole out the dough. New York Yankees: The Yankees could win 120 games this year. They could also win 90 and miss the playoffs. It's hard to remember a time when the annual AL East juggernaut came into spring training with so many question marks. Will Kevin Brown, Javier Vazquez, and Jon Leiber stay healthy? How bad will the New York defense be? Can Jason Giambi handle full time duty at first base with his knee problems? Who's playing centerfield? How will the loss of Don Zimmer affect the team's fragile psyche? If Brown, Vazquez, Jose Contreras, and Mike Mussina are all clicking, the Bombers will be tough to beat. Brown is a groundball pitcher who won't be quite as effective with the pathetic Yankee defense behind him. Nonetheless, all of these pitchers battle and are extremely talented. It's hard to say how weak the Yankee infield will turn out. Note to broadcaster Tim McCarver: Jeter is perhaps the most overrated defensive player in the history of the sport. Alfonso Soriano can't play second, Giambi can't play first, and no one knows who's on third. This should be interesting. The New York bullpen, with Rivera and new additions Tom Gordon and Paul Quantrill, should be one of the best in baseball and if Steve Karsay comes back healthy, the Yankee relief will be even better. Gary Sheffield will certainly help to fill the right-field vacuum. However, New York will miss Nick Johnson's disciplined approach at the plate. Williams is clearly declining, and third base is a mystery; so there are some weaknesses in the lineup. Tampa Bay Devil Rays: This team isn't even worth talking about until prospects like B.J. Upton and Delmon Young emerge -- which won't be this year. Toronto Blue Jays: Toronto is the sleeper in this division. It will be hard for the Jays to earn a playoff berth because of the strength of the division, but they will compete. The Toronto rotation has improved tremendously in the offseason. Lilly will help take some pressure off of ace Roy Halladay. Miguel Batista and Hentgen are also excellent pickups that should give the rotation some depth. Toronto's weakness is its lack of a fifth starter and its shoddy bullpen. The offense will be hard pressed to match its success of last year, but any lineup with Carlos Delgado and Vernon Wells is dangerous.

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News

Swimmers drop second meet of the season

February 9

According to senior tri-captain Mika Sumiyoshi, the women's swimming and diving team did not fully expect to leave Williamstown, MA last weekend with a victory. The Williams Ephs have won the NESCAC championship for the past three seasons, and are undefeated so far this year. And as expected, the Ephs triumphed over the Jumbos, 177.5-102.5, but Tufts gained some valuable experience against the NESCAC's top swimmers in preparation for the conference tournament at Wesleyan in two weeks. "It was the last meet for a lot of our swimmers, so we wanted the focus of the meet to be on them," Sumiyoshi said. "We figured that we wouldn't be competitive with Williams points wise, but we had some amazing swims which was a great way to end the season for some of the girls. Many people finished with best times, and were pleased with the season in general." For the Jumbos who will make the trip to Wesleyan, the meet gave them a glimpse of the highest echelon of competition in Division III. The Jumbos competed against a program that consistently finishes in the top five in the nation, which should help Tufts achieve its own goal of breaking into the top five at NESCAC's. "Williams prepared us for racing tough, fast teams; the types of girls we will encounter at NESCAC's," junior distance swimmer Kate Sweeney said. "We don't swim against a lot of teams like that during the season." However, for the women not going to NESCAC's, the meet marked the end of the 2003-2004 campaign. The team wanted to make sure the season ended with a bang. "We had a lot of girls shave and taper for the meet who are not going to NESCAC's, so our main focus was to cheer for them and make sure they felt supported," Sweeney said. Sumiyoshi and freshman Alaina Thiel led the squad and were the only two Jumbos to capture individual victories. Sumiyoshi took first place in the 200 yard individual medley with a time of 2:12.96. She also took first in the 200 backstroke, dominating her competitors and winning by over four seconds. Sumiyoshi was not as successful in the 100 breaststroke, where she finished second by .09 seconds to Eph sophomore Tricia Chambers. It was the only time all season that Tufts' tri-captain did not place first in a dual meet event. Thiel continued her first-year excellence, winning the 50 yard freestyle by almost half a second over Williams senior Meredith Olsen with a time of 25.04. She also took first in the 100 free, touching home in 53.49 seconds -- over a second and a half faster than her closest competitor, fellow Jumbo freshman Dierdre Cannell. "Alaina wasn't shaved or tapered for this meet, and she still pulled out a best time out of nowhere," Sumiyoshi said. "I'm pretty sure she even surprised herself." Sumiyoshi and Thiel also were successful in the relay events, teaming up with Cannell and sophomore speedster Katie Mims to capture the 400 free by thirteen seconds. Cannell and Mims contributed handily to the Jumbos' effort. In addition to placing second in the 100 free, Cannell took third behind Sumiyoshi in the 100 breaststroke and teamed up with Thiel, sophomore Meghan Wallach and senior tri-captain Kierstyn Thayer to place third in the 200 IM. "It was a good opportunity to go up against some of the best swimmers in the league and see what I could do," Cannell said. "However, I didn't really put a lot of emphasis on competing against them; instead I concentrated more on perfecting my stroke and swimming a personal best time for the season." Mims also placed fifth in the 100 free and butterfly and fourth in the 50 free, while Wallach took fifth in the 200 fly and third in the 100 fly. "I think that overall as a team, it was good that we didn't let ourselves get overly intimidated by a team who's in the top three or four at nationals every year," Sumiyoshi said. The Jumbo divers also continued their solid performances, with senior Beth Wecksell and sophomore Jess Schwartz giving Eph divers a run for their money. The duo placed third and fourth in both the one meter and three meter diving events, in both cases finishing behind Eph seniors Rachel Gealy and Sara Gilliam. The Jumbos will now spend the next ten days preparing for the NESCAC championship meet, an event that they have been swimming towards all season. "I think that we've trained really hard and that we deserve to do well," Cannell said. "We're definitely prepared to do really well, it's just a matter of our attitudes at the meet and how hard we fight for every place."

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News

TRA fired up by successful trip to gun range

February 9

The moment you pull the trigger of a nine millimeter automatic handgun, you feel like the guy standing beside you just took a punch at your arm. Hard. After doing the same motion 50 times in less than 15 minutes, you begin to feel like your arm has turned into jelly. At the same time, you vainly try to hit the target over 40 feet away. Shells eject from your neighbor's gun into your chest, which is only slightly less startling than the constant roar of gunfire all around as the other participants empty their clips and instructors help them reload for another go. The Tufts Rights to Arms (TRA) group took 15 members and non-members to a shooting range last month, where they shot over 1,000 rounds of ammunition from nine millimeters, .38- and .22-caliber revolvers and .22 semi-automatics. The excursion was the TRA's first event, after the group received recognition last semester from the TCU Judiciary decision. The approval of the group sparked some outcry on campus from liberal groups and protests were made to the administration. Many of those groups felt that supporting gun use would result in more gun deaths. According to the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, 30,708 people in the United States died from firearm-related deaths in 1998. 12,102 (39 percent) of those were murdered; 17,424 (57 percent) were suicides; 866 (three percent) were accidents; and in 316 (one percent) the intent was unknown. TRA President Nick Boyd said while students on campus associate the group's activities with violence, it is something that he hopes to change through educating that "responsible firearms use does not cause crime, does not cause violence," Boyd said. "That was the message that was misunderstood by the student body, and that's why it was so controversial." The trip was sponsored by the gun-advocacy group Gun Owners' Action League (GOAL) and cost participants nothing. The cost for shooting that amount of ammo and for gun rentals could easily reach over $100 according to TRA President Nick Boyd. GOAL may also sponsor the one or two other trips this semester, limiting the costs to $10 a student Boyd said. "They're certainly helping us get off the ground," Boyd said. "We're relying on them at least for now." Ask those who went to the range why they wanted to shoot deadly weapons against a tiny target, and the answers that start coming back at you could fill a book. There were people who loved to go to the shooting range as a recreational activity, and a girl who used to skeet shoot competitively. However, there were also those who simply wanted to see what it was like. Many at the gun club spoke of the empowerment that they feel from owning, holding, and most importantly, shooting a gun. The TRA says that it is an open group, and that left-wingers are welcome just as much as right-wingers, as long as you enjoy recreational gun use and want to discuss gun ownership rights. But a quick glance at the bulletin board of Woburn Sportsman Association reveals strong right-wing affiliation for gun users, with articles, letters and pictures supporting the Republican Party and president George W. Bush. Sophomore Elise Sabbeth argued ardently that in her hometown of Denver, Colorado, guns and politics are rarely mixed. Sabbeth grew up skeet shooting with her dad and even shot in amateur competitions when she was younger. "When a couple [eastern] people found out I shoot guns, they think I'm a raging conservative," Sabbeth explained, who was on the shooting trip. "But it has nothing to do with politics where I come from. It was always just something I did with my dad." Sabbeth said that she has fired nearly every type of weapon short of automatics, but that does not mean she supports groups like the National Rifle Association (NRA), and she is not a member of the TRA. "I just wanted to go shooting because I haven't been able to do it for a while," Sabbeth said. "I was shocked with all the politics surrounding gun issues out here... In Colorado, it's just a sport." In the northeast, gun clubs are more popular with older citizens. Jon Green, Director of Education and Training with the Gun Owners' Action League, said that "when you look around, especially at meetings, they're all white. I would have to say the mean age is 50, and that's really too bad." Dick Dyer, president of the Woburn Sportsman Association and former coach of the MIT pistol and rifle teams, said the MIT students had no problem with a shooting team at their university. "Surprisingly, it was a non-issue," Dyer shouted as gun shots reverberated around the room. "Ninety-nine percent of the kids I got on the team never shot a gun before, but they were fast learners." Green reiterated the point when speaking to the group of TRA members that guns prevented more deaths than caused, and cited facts that more students had died in cheerleading competitions than shooting competitions over the past 50 years. He also complained about what he considered Massachusetts' restrictive gun laws, which he says makes it too hard for a law-abiding Massachusetts citizen to purchase firearms. The Brady Campaign gave the state an A- report card this year on its current firearm restrictions.

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News

Commencement credit regulations to be enforced

February 9

Close will now truly only count in horseshoes, as seniors will need the full 31.5 credit requirement to walk at commencement this year. Previously, as long as students came close to fulfilling the University requirements, they could "participate in Commencement exercises," Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser said. "The 'new' rule is not really new. It's been in the books for as long as I've been at Tufts," Glaser said. The rule states that in order for liberal arts students to participate in Commencement, 31.5 out of the 34 credits necessary to graduate must be completed in the College of Liberal Arts. Engineering students need to complete 34 out of 38 credits. "This rule was not enforced in the past," Glaser said. "We will be enforcing it now and we have the ability to enforce it. The rule is important as it gives integrity to the Commencement exercise, but it also allows for some flexibility for those who just fall a bit short." The various departments within the undergraduate program have not expressed any immediate concerns about the administration's decision to enforce the old and sometimes forgotten policy. "The new policy has not had any real effect on our department," Economics Department Chair Gilbert Metcalf said. "I doubt many students will be affected by this policy. With sufficient publicity, students should not be caught by surprise." Political Science Department Chair Vickie Sullivan agreed. "I have not yet seen panic from seniors regarding this resolution," she said. "I expect that there may be a few majors who are right on the line now." In the fall, an e-mail was sent out to all seniors asking them to submit their degree sheets by a November deadline, which was ignored by many students. The change in the Commencement policy, however, had nothing to do with students ignoring the deadline, Glaser said. "Most students do get their degree sheets in on time. Many others don't for good reasons," such as leaves of absences and study abroad programs, Glaser said. "And then there are those who simply ignore the deadlines. These people complicate out efforts to certify degrees and plan Commencement." "So far I have only seen one student who may have difficulty. Otherwise, all the students who came to have their degree sheets signed did not have or foresee any problems," International Relations Department Chair Christiane Zehl Romero said. Most seniors do not anticipate any trouble either. "I don't really see it as much of a problem because with all the distribution credits you need and the requirements for your major, most people end up having that many anyway," senior Lisa McNally said. One option for students who are just short of the required amount of credits needed to graduate is to take summer school classes, but department chairs do not anticipate a significant rise in summer school enrollment. "There may be a few [students who enroll in summer school to fulfill graduation requirements], but it won't have much effect," Metcalf said. "We have quite a few students enrolling in summer school courses in economics already. Most, however, are enrolling in lower-level classes." Romero also emphasized that summer school has always been a popular option for students who need to finish up their college work.

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News

Artists remain PC at 46th Grammy Awards

February 9

With an ostentatious "purple" intro number performed by artists Prince and Beyonc‚, the 46th annual Grammy Awards began with gimmicky showmanship and a new-generation-loves-old motif that continued throughout the stolid award show. After last weekend's Superbowl fiasco, CBS can rejoice in an utterly respectable, if somewhat predictable, airing of Sunday's prestigious event. This is not to say that the network alone was responsible for the play-it-safe attitude of the evening. The show's artists also seemed to bow to the subdued, funereal theme, which was solidified by an extensive video montage honoring several past awards won by the deceased. Despite the low key energy, the Grammys retained the well-loved, elaborate performances reserved for "music's greatest night." This year saw the arrival of hip-hop like never before as Outkast garnered the top honor of the evening, Album of the Year, for Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. The group of nominees represents the changing direction of music in pop culture. R&B diva Beyonc‚ brought home five awards out of her six nominations. Performances were energetic and ornate, with characteristic antics meant to differentiate each individual artist. The White Stripes' trippy black and red light show and Outkast's future-tribesman jungle green performance are examples of the lengths artists are willing to take to set themselves apart. Now that the man-made fog has cleared and there's been ample time to recover from the ubiquitous strobe lights, let's rehash Sunday's awards. After Prince and Beyonc‚'s lively but unremarkable anniversary performance of his well-known "Purple Rain," the show unearthed another song from the vault. A quartet featuring Sting, Vince Gill, Dave Matthews, and Pharell Williams honored the Beatles with their own rendition of "I Saw Her Standing There." Meant to pay homage to the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four's first performance on the Ed Sullivan Show and the subsequent British Invasion, these random artists could do little justice to the contagious energy of the world-famous boys from Liverpool. Justin Timberlake and Arturo Sandoval infused some vigor into the lagging evening at its halfway point. Performing a spirited, saucy version of "Se¬orita," the two were a welcome reprieve from the beautifully slow and sincere previous efforts of Martina McBride, Alicia Keys, and Celine Dion singing a tribute to Luther Vandross with the song, "Dance With My Father." Timberlake also spiced up the evening with his acceptance speech for the Best Male Pop Vocal award. "It's been a rough week," he stated, in reference to last week's Superbowl "wardrobe malfunction." "Unintentional, and completely regrettable. I apologize if you guys are offended," Timberlake said. He didn't mention Janet Jackson, who was not present at the ceremony, though she had been slated to make an appearance prior to the highly contested half-time peep show controversy. Her presence was missed, seeing as the award show could have used a bit more controversy. The artists were cautious and obviously mindful of their careers and record contracts. Christina Aguilera was the only person on air to refer to Jackson by name. She remarked that she wanted to avoid "what happened to Janet," as she adjusted her dangerously low cut dress. Queen Latifah remarked that sometimes "it is just about the music." However, this year's Grammys saw an interesting new addition which focused far more on the business: the introduction of a PSA to discourage teens from downloading music illegally. So really, in the words of the Black Eyed Peas, "Where was the love?" The Grammys filled the evening with Lifetime Achievement Awards and tasteful video wakes for the artists of yesterday while the nominees remained hush-hush on recent issues. Hip-hop and rap busted out into the mainstream with the triumphs of Beyonc‚ and Outkast, but memorials lurked before every commercial break. The 46th Annual Grammy Award Show was as silent as the grave.

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News

Student senate survey results released

February 9

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is making headway on projects culled from a Fall 2003 survey. The survey asked students' opinions on a variety of campus issues, such as a Universal JumboFOB system and e-mail stations at Brown and Brew. The questions enabled TCU senators to consolidate general student opinion regarding their projects. One question the survey asked was whether students are in favor of having a JumboFOB system which would anyone with a FOB access to every single dorm on campus. Currently students with FOBs only have access to the dorm in which they live. 80.9 percent of survey respondents supported the idea of universal FOB access. Another question on the survey referred to Freshman Senator Simon Sassenberg's project for the year: the installation of new e-mail stations across campus. "My original idea was [to place] e-mail stations in the dining halls," Sassenberg said. "We were all gung-ho about it, but I changed my project based on student reactions to the survey." Survey answers help senators fulfill their leadership duties. "Even though [the dining hall e-mail stations] was my idea, with the survey I can better represent the student body. It's my responsibility to get basic services that everyone would need," Sassenberg said. 53.1 percent of surveyed students showed interest in setting up e-mail stations in Brown and Brew rather than in the dining halls (32.6 percent) or the Dowling Hall common area (14.3 percent). A computer for Brown& Brew will be installed sometime in the coming week. Projects that did not receive much student support were also adjusted. Freshman senator Zachary Landau suggested that the bookstore did not carry enough apparel with Tufts colors and proposed what is known as the Brown and Blue initiative. Based on the survey, students are not overwhelmingly upset with the lack of selection in the bookstore. Only 22.8 percent of those polled thought that the bookstore does not provide enough Tufts apparel in brown or blue. "It has taken a back seat because other issues have come up," Landau said. In addition, the survey expedited the course of several projects. Andrea's Pizza and Pasta Pisa will be added to Merchants on Points (MOPS) after receiving positive responses on the surveys. Additionally, the survey resulted in the purchase of new equipment for the Lunden Fitness Center in Gantcher with donated money. The TCU plans to release a second set of surveys to the student population sometime next week, according to junior senator Baumwoll. "The next survey is a continuation of projects as they've developed," he said. Following this second batch of surveys, a third set are will come out near the end of the semester. "The surveys have worked the way we've intended. A lot of the data we received was really helpful in allowing us to be more efficient," Baumwoll said. This survey polled 1655 students overall. While all classes were fairly represented, the sophomore class represented 31.8 percent of the survey respondents.

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News

Violation of human rights in Sudan

February 9

On Jan. 18, the Arab World celebrated "Arabic Human Rights Day." This day marked the 19th anniversary of the public execution of the 76 year- old Sudanese Muslim reformer, Ustaz Mahmoud Mohammed Taha for an offense related to apostasy (falling out of Islam, a crime punishable by death.). The accusation and execution took place because of his firm opposition and criticism to the implementation of Sharia law, which was enforced in Sudan in Sept. 1983 by President Numeri and the Muslim Fundamentalist Movement. Mahmoud Mohammed Taha, a Sudanese Muslim Reformer, graduated from Gordon Memorial College in Sudan in 1936 with a degree in engineering. He bravely struggled for the independence of Sudan from the British. He went into a period of self-imposed religious seclusion that lasted for five years. He emerged from this phase of his life with a comprehensive new concept of Islam. This new concept represented a paradigm shift in Islamic religion. Included in this new perspective was his interpretation of the reform of Sharia law to address issues of equality, democracy and justice. Taha turned to the Koran to explain how Islam had been based on the principles of freedom of choice and equality. According to Taha, the first part of the Koran, which was received when the prophet Mohammed was in Mecca, established the moral and ethical foundation of the Muslim community. Accordingly, Islam was presented in terms of freedom of choice and personal responsibility for making that choice. However, his peaceful and voluntary message of fundamental social and economic egalitarianism was violently rejected in Mecca and the Arabic world in general. He believed that the Mecca message was not suitable for the stage of human development at that time. In Medina, where the prophet migrated to seek a more receptive environment, the second and final part of Koran was received. This Medina part of Koran signified a shift in the content of the message itself. It was established on compulsion and guardianship. Yet Taha believed that the Medina message was not the fundamental, universal, eternal message of Islam. He believed that the founding and enduring message of Islam was from the Mecca part of the Koran. Accordingly, he felt that this interpretation would lead to the reconciliation between Islamic law and the modern development of human rights and civil liberties. Ustaz Mahmoud and his followers held a strict adherence to a very peaceful means for disseminating and advocating their opinion of Islam. They concentrated solely on giving public lectures, holding public debates and distributing their publications. Ustaz Mahmoud also opposed the primitive understanding and application of Islam represented by Saudi Arabia and the Muslim Brother movements in other countries. In keeping with his approach, it was no surprise that Taha was the first man to propose a direct dialogue for a peaceful coexistence between the Arab States and Israel. He addressed this issue in his books, The Middle East Problem and The Challenge Facing the Arabs, both of which were published in Arabic in 1967. Another example of his progressive perspective was in 1965 when, Usatz Mahmoud objected vigorously to the dissolution of the Sudanese Communist Party by the ruling parties in Sudan at the time. He considered this step as a falsification of democracy. He took this stand, despite his principle opposition to Marxist Communism. Mahmoud's modern understanding of Islam and his strong belief in freedom of thought united fundamentalist groups to silence him and his movement. Consequently, in 1967, Mahmoud was accused of apostasy. He refused to stand before the Court based on his constitutional right of freedom of thought and expression. However, the Court was able to issue a nominal verdict. In September 1983, President Numeri imposed Sharia law by a presidential decree -- leading to harsh and repressive polices in the country as a whole. This resulted in the amputation of limbs of many citizens and subjected large numbers to the degraded punishments of whipping. In such a horrifying atmosphere, Ustaz Mahmoud and his followers started an anti -Sharia campaign, peaking in December 1984 with the issuance of a leaflet entitled "Either This or the Flood." The leaflet called for the repeal of the Sharia laws, the ending of the Civil War in the South, and the implementation of a peaceful solution. The leaflet charged that the laws "have humiliated and insulted the Sudanese who have seen nothing of them except the sword and the whip." On Jan. 5, 1985, Ustaz Mahmoud and four of his followers were brought to a trial facing a crime of apostasy. Ustaz Mahmoud and his followers boycotted the court and remained silent during the entire trial. Taha explained his reasons to boycott the proceedings. "I'm not prepared to cooperate with any Court that has betrayed the independence of the judiciary and allowed itself to be a tool for humiliating the people, insulting free thought and persecuting political opponents," Ustaz Majmoud said. At the end of the trial (which lasted for less than two hours,) Ustaz Mahmoud and his four followers were given the death penalty. On Jan.18, Ustaz Mahmoud was publicly executed after the Special Court confirmed the sentence. Jan. 18, 2004, which coincided with the Arab Human Rights Day, marked the nineteenth anniversary of the execution of the Martyr Mahmoud. At this time, the picture of human rights in Sudan remains bleak. The situation grows worse with the growing radical interpretation of Islam - resulting in increased human suffering, extrajudicial executions, and unlawful killings. The security apparatus still remains as the main entity for human rights abuses as well as the impunity enjoyed by security. As a result, enormous challenges remain in order to attain justice, equality and democracy in Sudan .Abdal Monium Khidir Osman is a Ph. D. candidate at the Tufts University School of Nutrition Science and Policy

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News

The band without a plan

February 9

The old adage may go "third time's the charm," but in the case of BFB, the charm may only emerge after the 15th try. After countless reconfigurations, member replacements and relocations, BFB -- formerly Boston Funk Band -- has not only stumbled upon a combination that works, but has a discovered a chemistry and cohesive level of talent that far exceeds any of its previous lineups. The group currently consists of five members: senior Ben Halperin on lead guitar, Tufts graduate Rich Wilner on drums, Tufts graduate Mark Schwayder on bass, 23-year-old Tim Shepard on keys, and the newly inducted sophomore Sean Zimsmeister on lead vocals. This combination was not easy to come by. In addition to missing a steady keyboardist -- a role that was eventually taken on by Shepard -- the band was in need of a solid lead vocalist to tie the group together. While Halperin and Wilner often split the role, the group agreed that the arrangement was less than ideal and held a series of auditions to find a steady lead singer. Zimsmeister is a classically-trained music major and member of the Beezlebubs a cappella group. He knew Halperin prior to joining the band and never underwent a formal audition. Halperin was well aware of the singer's musical experience. The two are both brothers at Sigma Nu, where the group holds the majority of its concerts, so Zimsmeister entered the group with a feel for BFB's sound. The current five members played as a group informally for the first time last semester when Zimsmeister made an impromptu appearance during a concert. "I just jumped up on stage at their last gig and started harmonizing," said Zimsmeister of the unexpected performance. The sudden confidence and talent that radiated from every player during this performance made it clear that this newfound chemistry could amplify BFB's on-stage magnetism as well as allow the members to pursue more advanced musical endeavors. "The five [members] we have now are far and away the best combination," Halperin said, referring to the 15 different member configurations over a better part of a year before finally installing Zimsmeister as the band's official lead vocalist. Despite this initial boost of confidence, however, the band has been having difficulties scheduling performances and practices when all five members can be present. As a result, the group has been playing a game of catch-up rather than being able to focus on creating and polishing new material. BFB's Saturday night concert in the basement of Sigma Nu was successful, despite frantic preparation. The performance was a showcase for the band's ability to come together and play successfully with little to no rehearsal time. Two groups who were to serve as Saturday's openers were cancelled and BFB was forced to rely on a set heavy with covers to make up for lack of material. Complicating the picture is the fact that Zimsmeister is still in the process of learning and learning and mastering the band's existing materials. Thus, even the covers were played on short notice, with Zimsmeister learning three of the songs only the night before. The audience was hard pressed, however, to sense the lack of preparation seeing as the band performed with the utmost confidence and no unfortunate surprises. The only hint that the group was struggling for material was the amount of covers played which included an unexpected rendition of the Beatles' "Let it Be," -- not a song one expects to hear in the basement of a fraternity. The group reportedly needed the song as filler, and although they realized it was unusual, it didn't appear to inhibit the concert's crescendo. "People didn't sit down or anything," said Halperin of the mellow rendition, "so that was good." If BFB can do so well after haphazardly throwing something together, it's exciting to imagine what the group could accomplish were they to actually rehearse. Halperin recognizes their potential and is eager to explore "the things you can do when you have talent and no weak links." Despite the band's bursting potential, BFB has no current plans to take the group to the next level. Though they'd like to explore venues outside of Tufts and are always interested in playing charity events as well as on campus parties, the group is planning on taking the semester in stride. "We are still in the rebuilding process," said Zimsmeister. The group may not need to make any giant leaps off campus just yet, as the two-year-old name is easily recognizable as one of Tufts' favorite jam bands. Although you won't hear your "typical dance music," the BFB -- influenced by groups such as Phish, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and the Beatles -- has already carved out its on-campus niche. Halperin concedes that the group's party style isn't particularly bump and grind. "The hippies can twirl up front," he said referring to the music's "jam" style, "but it's not really dance music." Dance music or not, plan or no plan, judging by Saturday's crowd, BFB must be doing something right..

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News

Bigelow announces squad for NESCAC meet

February 9

Last season, the women's swimming and diving team finished in sixth place at the year-end NESCAC championship meets. They were led by then-junior Mika Sumiyoshi, the only Jumbo to qualify for the national meet, then-sophomore Erika Wietz, and then-freshman Meghan Wallach, both of whom missed nationals by fractions of a second. This season, the squad looks to improve its standing in the conference and send multiple women to nationals for the first time since 2001, with Sumiyoshi looking to qualify for the fourth consecutive season. After a season of watching her swimmers in their respective races and determining their niches on the squad, coach Nancy Bigelow made her decision yesterday afternoon as to which 24 women she will bring to NESCACs. The group is well rounded with multiple swimmers from each class, including six from this year's freshman class. The freshmen include sprinters Dierdre Cannell and Alaina Thiel and distance racer Jess Bollinger, all of whom have consistently won all of their races this season, along with classmates Eva Johnson, Angela Chou and Shanti Sattler. The sophomore class will be represented by sprinters Wallach, Katie Mims and Beth Lopez, distance swimmer Kristen Hyland, and diver Jessica Schwartz. The juniors heading to Connecticut will be Suzi Ascoli, Katherine Ferguson, Sarah Ferranti, Alicia Flanagan, Kate Sweeney, Hollen Spatz, and Wietz, and the seniors making their final trip to a NESCAC meet will be tri-captains Sumiyoshi, Amanda Bloom and Kierstyn Thayer, along with classmates Bridie McElroy, Roxanne Kritzer, and diver Beth Wecksell. The Jumbos begin "shaving and tapering" this week, when they will gradually reduce the amount they swim over the next 12 days in order to be completely relaxed for NESCACs a week from Saturday. "We are just starting our taper now," Sweeney said. "This is probably the hardest point in our entire season." Aside from doing well at the meet, one of the Jumbos' major goals this season was team unity; they want to be the most spirited team in the conference. "We've made some team goals, and most people are in agreement that we want to be the most spirited team on deck, making sure to cheer for everyone who's up at the blocks," Sumiyoshi said. "I think being aware of what people are swimming, and what their goal times are is important as well, and of course, many of us want to achieve our own best times."

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