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Are advertisers getting more creative or just more bizarre?

February 2

The Super Bowl stopped being just about football twenty years ago when Apple Computers filled a thirty-second spot during the game with a high-concept ad for their new Macintosh PC. The ad, which featured a bodacious blond woman sprinting through a grayscale dystopia with a sledgehammer (all the better to smash the giant television screen of oppression with, of course), looked and felt like a real movie had replaced the usual commercial fare. Apple's ad raised the bar for Super Bowl commercials in 1984 and to this day we have them to thank for not only preventing a nightmarish, Orwellian future with their clunky, over-rated computers, but also for precipitating TV's chanting frogs ("Whassup") as well as the Britney Spears/Christina Aguilera, Pepsi/Coke turf-war. Looking for a unifying theme amongst this year's Super Bowl commercials is probably futile. If the ads left viewers with any lasting impression it's simply that America has grown incredibly weird in the last few years. A thirty-second spot in Super Bowl XXXVIII cost 2.25 million dollars, and advertisers spent their money wisely by filling their 750,000 dollar per second commercials with the usual talking animals, B-list pop stars, and, uh, non-talking animals. A good way to gauge the overall quality of the Super Bowl commercials each year is to look at the beer ads. After all, the people at Budweiser have been making creative, successful Super Bowl ads longer than anyone -- right? Their two most memorable ads for Super Bowl XXXVIII involved both animals and cartoonish sadism (the second most popular theme of the year). In one Budweiser slot, a horse farts on a woman holding a candle, inadvertently burning her to a hilarious crisp. In another, a man trains his dog to bite people in the crotch. Reportedly, Budweiser is working on an ad for next year where a man trips on a banana peel (probably discarded by the talking monkey from this year) and falls into a wading-pool filled with mousetraps. The mousetrap bit will have a difficult time, however, living up to this year's ad featuring a donkey who yearned to be a Budweiser Clydesdale. FedEx's creativity was also a highlight with a commercial that, for a change, didn't showcase any animals. The ad featured an alien posing as an office drone and was probably the funniest visual joke out of any Super Bowl commercial this year. H& R Block's "Willie Nelson advice doll" was funny relative to most other ads this year, as was the Simpson's Mastercard commercial. However, this year's crowning commercial was JetBlue's. The ad didn't appear to be made by a highly paid team of advertising-executives and wasn't high-concept in the least -- no computer-generated bullet-timed talking monkeys here -- but it worked. A father, dressed in pilot-uniform, meets his cute red-headed son at the door. Cute kid talks dad's ear off about how he wants to fly planes just like him and work for JetBlue. Dad tells son that he doesn't fly for JetBlue. The son, looking confused for a second, quickly retorts, "No wonder mom left!" and runs back inside the house. In the department of unintentionally funny ads, there was the unveiling of Detroit's newest cars, all of which have mythic, vaguely-Spanish sounding names and come in bright primary colors. One looks like a mini-van chopped in half height-wise and another like a wider, pancake-shaped convertible. The cars look funny enough on their own but zooming through the desert doing mach 10, they somehow appear even more ridiculous. The most absurd commercial of them all was Gillette's, which managed to compare shaving to sex, rock and roll, scoring a winning goal, space travel, "having an angel by your side," and running with the bulls, all in a scant thirty seconds. Well done. New to Super Bowl commercials this year were two companies advertising their erectile dysfunction drugs, Cialis and Levitra. Levitra's ad started out warm and sunny before turning nightmarish with a warning that if "your erection persists for more than four hours please seek medical attention." This was also the year of the special interest Super Bowl commercial. The anti-drug and anti-smoking ads, which prominently featured children drowning or strung-out, reminded us in between drinking beer, eating fatty foods, and watching Cedric the Entertainer get a bikini wax that, indeed, "we cannot rewind life". Truth.org compared cigarettes to "Shards of Glass Freeze Pops," and Philip Morris USA, cigarette-manufacturer, told kids not to smoke. Approximately ten o'clock eastern-time, irony passed away quietly. All jokes aside, nothing that appeared during commercial-breaks could rival the ludicrousness of the Super Bowl's own pre-game and halftime shows. Someone in an astronaut costume walked on a model the lunar surface as a tribute to the space shuttle Columbia (which was never going to the moon in the first place), soldiers in Baghdad took a live "freedom break" via satellite, helicopters flew overhead, barely-relevant pop stars lip-synched songs they made popular years ago, Kid Rock wore an American flag poncho, and the show came to an abrupt end when Janet Jackson bared a boob. The commercials resumed. We laughed. We cried. We eagerly await next year.

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News

M. Ward coming to Somerville

February 2

M. Ward will come to the Somerville Theatre on Feb. 29th to introduce the Boston area to his third album, Transfiguration of Vincent. The album has been warmly received by the press since its release in March and is a mix of different genres - rock, blues, country, and rock. His songs are melancholy and they often have the gritty vocals and uneasy guitar of old-school country. Ward is able to create a persona that is not as limiting as those of the artist's contemporaries. The strength of M. Ward's latest album means that there will be a fourth presence on stage at the Somerville Theatre - the questionable Vincent from the album's title. This presence begs the question, who is Vincent anyway, and what process has he undergone? The album's opener, "Transfiguration #1" would seem to say that he is a happy guy, with the song comprised of warm static, cheerful strumming, and what sounds like Jiminy Cricket croaking in the background. By the time the final track, "Transfiguration #2" rolls around, however, the happy fuzziness and reassuring presence of Vincent's conscience have been replaced by bittersweet piano, revealing a darker side. The contradictory nature of Ward's introspective lyrics combined with his upbeat guitar style gives the album its edge. In "Sad, Sad Song," the narrator's mother imparts the wisdom that "the hardest thing/in the world to do/is find someone/believes in you." The lyrics, which seem to be missing the crucial word "who," combined with the disparity between the overtly morose song title and the cheery guitar plucking, is indicative of M. Ward's complexity. After a listen, it's obvious that of all M. Ward's musical talents, his strongest is his guitar playing. Songs on Transfiguration of Vincent feature layers upon layers of acoustic plucking overlapping with smoldering electric solos. It should be interesting to see his live show, as even the talented M. Ward will be unable to replicate the four-to-five-guitar-per-song sound of the album. Despite all Ward's successes on the album, there are still some moments that miss their mark. He has an inclination in songs like "Vincent O'Brien" to slip into an unsettling falsetto. Presumably, the vocals are supposed to mirror the rising guitar, but they end up sounding like "The Barry Gibb Talk Show" from Saturday Night Live. Another bizarre moment is the presence of "Let's Dance," a cover of the David Bowie hit. By now, you'll know that M. Ward's version can be nowhere near the bouncy disco of Bowie's. Ward is appropriately emotional but the disparity between it and the original make it too disconcerting to truly appreciate. Uncharacteristically, M. Ward shows a sense of humor on "Poor Boy, Minor Key." The song is as spaghetti-Western-soundtrack as one can get, with the piano playing some kind of ragtime ditty. The final sound in the song is a metallic splat, sounding exactly like chewing tobacco launched into a spittoon. The title itself seems to evoke Western movie sensibilities reminding us that if a character is sad, it is necessary to shift to a gloomier sounding minor key. After 44 minutes of singing, we still don't know who Vincent is, but we don't need a cowboy's minor key to tell us his emotional state. Ward told us as much in the second song of the album, the appropriately titled "Vincent O'Brien": "He only sings when he's sad/but he's sad all the time/so he sings the whole night through."

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News

Cafe of India stands out among its faux-French surroundings

February 2

Boston may be far better known for its clam chowder than its lamb vindaloo, but as every adventurous college student knows, Beantown's sprawling streets and close-quartered alleyways are often home to ethnically-inclined restaurants that offer unique menus to entice the exploring diner. Such is the Cafe of India, an Indian restaurant situated on Brattle Street - just a few minutes' walk from the Harvard Square T-stop. Dinner at the Cafe of India is a multi-course adventure. Upon taking a seat, each visitor is supplied with his or her own individual mini-appetizer. Each starter is chosen by the server and the practice gives diners the chance to experiment with their taste buds and try something exotic (and presumably extravagant) at no extra cost. While the actual appetizer itself may be hit or miss, it is a nice touch that contributes to the well-crafted atmosphere and adds to the overall experience. Bread costs extra, but the wide variety of Indian loaves available (from the more traditional naan flatbread to the light, air-filled poori loaf) makes ordering a starter basket absolutely essential. Even those familiar with Indian food may not recognize the entire bread selection listed on the menu, and the many choices offered will send the less-experienced diner into a daze as they try to decipher exactly which loaf is the one to try that night. The wide spread of selections is not limited solely to the bread menu. All kinds of Indian dishes are available -- from lamb and beef to poultry and seafood -- and everything is cooked in a gigantic clay oven, bringing rich flavor to all the dishes. Selections vary with masala, vindaloo, and curry sauces. The vegetarian menu is fairly extensive as well and offers a wide variety of options to those diners who choose to avoid meat. While the dinner entrees are relatively expensive for the average student budget (with most averaging between $8-15), the appetizers are fairly affordable and give diners the opportunity to experiment with more exotic selections. The aloo tikki choat, or fried potatoes mixed with vegetables in a yogurt sauce, is particularly flavorful and rich (albeit a bit messy). The indecisive may want to try the recommended daily specials or simply attend the lunchtime buffet which offers multiple choices at a fixed price. Each entree is served with jasmine rice, with the option of bread to go along with it. The restaurant's mutter paneer (a vegetarian curry made with homemade cheese and peas) is delicious, with mild and creamy cheese and just enough spices to provide flavor without being too overpowering. Also good is the rogan josh (cubes of lamb in a yogurt sauce with various spices and fennel seeds), which proves to be just spicy enough alongside the recognizable tinges of cinnamon and garam masala (an Indian spice mixture). Set amid sandwich shops and endless Au Bon Pain franchises, the Cafe of India offers a wide variety of choices and a fascinating opportunity to try something new. The atmosphere of the restaurant is carefully crafted to delight all the senses, not just taste. Faint Indian music adds an exotic ambiance to the meal while carvings, paintings and rich tapestries alternate on the walls. Parties seated at the booths are supplied with pillows, and the entire building smells of cedar wood, a pleasant aroma that doesn't quite overpower the spices wafting out from the kitchen. Overall, the Cafe of India offers a unique dining opportunity, especially for those looking for an exotic night out on the town. Although the final bill might be a bit on the pricey side, the full experience, from the traditional dishes to the atmospheric music, will most definitely prove worthwhile.

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News

File sharing crackdown continues

February 2

Despite a recent legal victory for protecting file sharers' identities, Tufts administrators have continued to stress the unlawfulness of obtaining and distributing copyrighted material. Last month the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said the Record Industry Association of America (RIAA) cannot continue a special fast-track subpoena process which forced Internet service providers (ISPs) -- colleges and universities included -- to provide the names of suspected file-sharers. The alleged downloaders were then sued individually by the RIAA. Civil liberty groups applauded the ruling, as it protects the identities of accused ISP users. However, RIAA president Cary Sherman told The Chronicle of Higher Education earlier this month that his organization plans to continue suing unnamed file-sharers and then discovering their names through legal proceedings. Lesley Tolman, Director of Enterprise IT Infrastructure at Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) said file traders can also be identified by way of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Relevant sections of the DMCA are included in the "Academic Integrity @ Tufts" handbook. A university can be held liable under the DMCA if the school fails to terminate infringing users after repeat offenses. Though Tufts has not yet been served any subpoenas, the school has received many complaints from the RIAA, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), and similar groups, Assistant Dean of Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter said. In Fall 2002, Tufts received 63 complaints against students of allegedly illegal file-sharing, according to Marj Minnigh, Manager of Networks and Special Projects for TCCS. Last fall, the University received another 60 complaints. However, in spring 2003 Tufts received 400 complaints. Minnigh said the number of complaints could be the result of increased monitoring from media companies, who issued a number of lawsuits last summer. However, Minnigh theorized that the RIAA's monitoring of ISPs can fluctuate in unpredictable cycles. As a result, it is hard to pinpoint precisely whether Tufts' internet users' habits correlate with the Pew Internet and American Life Project report released on Jan. 5 claiming that file sharing has dropped 75 percent from mid 2003 figures, when the first lawsuits were filed. What TCCS does know is that file-sharing, or peer-to-peer (P2P) traffic decreased 50 percent last semester from the 2002-2003 academic year's average P2P traffic, Minnigh said. "We theorize that students were influenced by flood of publicity and dissuaded from using P2P to share music," said Minnigh. Many are still unaffected by this "flood." An Admissions survey filled out by the Class of 2007 before this past fall semester showed that 78 percent of the incoming freshman class downloaded MP3 or other media files from the Internet at least once a month. Thirty-seven percent responded that they downloaded such files once to several times a day. These figures were published in a full-page advertisement in the Daily last semester by the Dean's Office who warned students that "this is a case where there is no 'safety in numbers'." A junior who wished to remain anonymous said he and most of his friends at Tufts still use P2P file-sharing programs such as KaZaa, Gnutella and WinMX on a regular basis. "I honestly don't think I'll ever get caught, especially if I only download and don't let people upload off me -- there's just way too many of us." "Tufts, like most schools, can't pursue everything," Reitman said. "What TCCS can absolutely monitor is bandwidth and identify 'bandwidth hogs.'" High bandwidth users are investigated as well as those in complaints to the University. TCCS gives the suspected file-sharer a "warning," or first complaint, and shuts off his or her Internet access. Access is only returned after the student completes a "short educational session regarding the DMCA law and copyright issues," according to Tolman and Minnigh. If TCCS receives a second complaint about the same student, he or she is referred to the Dean's Office. The disciplinary action taken depends on the severity of the file-sharing offense. "If a student is distributing, trading or selling $600 software suites to others the action taken will be more severe than that [which is] taken against a student merely downloading and not sharing MP3 files," Reitman said. "Students may be expelled or suspended." "And we have done so in the past," Carter added. Last semester, there were less than ten second offense complaints -- one of which resulted in suspension, she said. As for students sure that turning off the upload option will prevent detection, according to Reitman, "it's a lot less dangerous than file-sharing but it's still not legal. You don't have the right to obtain anything that you're not paying for that requires a license. Though [TCCS] may not catch you, you are still at risk [at being caught] by the RIAA. [Not sharing your files] does not make you immune." Carter and Reitman stressed that they hope every Tufts student will disable file-sharing if they insist on using P2P programs but also said that the University cannot protect a student if he or she is caught by a group like the RIAA or MPAA. Freshman Tara Dhawan has changed her habits because of the recent actions. "I don't file-share because it's an unnecessary risk," she said. Reitman suggested legal Internet 'music stores' such as iTunes and the now-legal, reformed Napster as alternate ways to get music. Both iTunes and Napster sell songs for 99 cents each, and can then be transferred onto mobile devices or burned onto compact discs. Students using iTunes on the same network can listen to each other's music libraries but cannot download from one another.

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News

Freshmen spar for senate seat

February 2

Although there were not many there to hear it, the six prospective freshmen candidates for the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate debated at last night's candidate forum in Hotung. Kelly Ferro, Daniel Masvidal, Jonathan Chan, Evan Lichtenstein, Vlad Gil, and Adrienne Vannieuwenhuizen are vying for the seat left vacant following the resignation of freshman Nick Schroback last month. The election is to be held Thursday. After introducing themselves, the candidates answered a variety of questions from the audience. The majority of questions came from current TCU Senators, with freshman Senator Andrew Caplan acting as moderator for part of the forum. Candidates identified specific issues as their top priority. Gil mentioned clarifying the alcohol policy, while Vannieuwenhuizen said she would focus on converting the campus to clean energy. "Changing the campus to clean energy would be at a cost of $1 per student, like the University of California," Vannieuwenhuizen said. Masvidal called for better communication and increased connections between administrators and students. Ferro wants to "unify uphill and downhill," and setup a student online review process. Lichtenstein emphasized his dedication. "What does matter is determination and commitment in the long run. I'm here tonight to say that problems that arise and have arisen will be addressed over and over again," he said. Chan touted his experience as Freshmen Class Council Treasurer as qualification for office. All candidates appeared relaxed and poised when answering questions, and there was some levity interjected into the discussion. After Masdival said his personal reason to join the senate was "the girls," Sophomore Senator Jeff Katzin had a quick response. "There are only three in Senate!" he mocked.

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News

Jumbos rally to edge MIT and Bowdoin

February 2

After the first several events on Saturday afternoon at Bowdoin, the men's track team found itself staring down an early deficit against both the MIT Engineers and the host Polar Bears. But in a dramatic turn of events, juniors Ray Carre and Nate Thompson combined for five event wins, Tufts dominated the long distance runs, and 28 different Jumbos scored as the squad rallied to edge out both rivals in a back-and-forth meet. Tufts finished with 133 total team points, MIT had 123, and Bowdoin ended with 118. "It was a pretty good meet for us," senior tri-captain Adrian Clarke said. "We were down in points and we bucked up and pulled it out. Guys really got their act together just in time, and we pulled back a lot of points at the end." Tufts was down early despite the efforts of sophomore Matt Lacey, who finished third in the mile, and junior Dan March, whose 15.63 meter heave was good for second place in the weight throw. However, Tufts got things going when Carre captured back-to-back races, running the 200 meter sprint in 23.22 and the 400 in 50.27, just three-hundredths of a second in front of runner up Phil Webster of Bowdoin. Despite being down, Carre said he didn't feel any pressure. "You have to focus on your race and race every race the same," he said. "If you over-think it, you're just going to shoot yourself in the foot." Carre's back-to-back wins kept Tufts in contention and got the proverbial ball rolling for the team. Sophomore classmates Patrick Mahoney and Trevor Williams finished second and fourth, respectively, in the 600, and freshman Nate Cleveland placed second in the 800. The 600 and 800 races set the stage for the 1000 meter run, in which sophomore Matt Fortin placed first, freshman Scott Merritt finished second, senior Michael Stanton-Geddes finished fourth, and freshman Peter Orth landed sixth. "That was the key race," coach Connie Putnam said. "We got our tiny lead in the 1000, and then the distance guys dug in and ground out a bigger lead." Junior Mike Don won the 3000 with sophomore Kyle Doran (third), junior Brian McNamara (fourth), and senior Jon Rosen also scoring points for the Jumbos. In the 5000, junior Nate Brigham claimed first place and was the only competitor to finish with a sub-fifteen minute time (14:58.71). Freshman Josh Kennedy and sophomore Neil Orfield finished third and fifth, respectively. "We definitely put some hurt on them in the distance runs," Putnam said. Meanwhile, Thompson took over his trifecta of events winning the triple jump, the long jump, and the 55 meter hurdles, where he set a personal record of 7.86 seconds in the finals. "Rae and Nate had great days," Putnam said. "The pressure was on them to get the wins they got, particularly without [injured freshman] Freddie [Jones], and they got it done." Despite the fact that Carre and Thompson accounted for over a quarter of the team's points, Putnam was most pleased with the depth his squad displayed, with 28 team members scoring points. "In an average meet, you might have 18 [guys scoring]," he said. "That's the benchmark of a great team effort. All the guys threw their weight around." The Jumbos had multiple point scorers in 11 of 15 events and reeled off a nice collection of second place finishes over the second half of the meet, courtesy of the 4x400 and 4x800 relay teams and junior Evan Blaser's 1.85 meter high jump. "If you're behind at the beginning it's easy to let up," Putnam said. "We stayed serene and stuck with it and won."

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News

A New Place to Live

February 2

These days the majority of college graduates are choosing not to apply to masters programs immediately after graduating. Instead, they are taking a few years off to serve coffee at Starbucks, work for their parent's company, or travel abroad. The lucky few might have a legitimate job or internship in their field of interest. So where does everyone go after college? Well, the obvious choices are staying in your college town, going home, or attempting to make just enough money to pay off outrageous rents and feed yourself while living in New York City. Although these seem like the most pragmatic or opportune places to live, why not try living somewhere novel? A place that is beautiful, full of friendly people, reasonable and caters to a young crowd. Recently, I stumbled upon this ideal city in Eugene, Oregon. The most wonderful benefit of Eugene may be its location. Populated by 140,000 people, Eugene is surrounded by the foothills of the Cascade Mountains. The actual town is flat, but in every direction there are peaks with the highest being snow covered. An hour away is the Pacific coast and although the water is probably too cold to swim in year round, the rocky Oregon coastline is extremely picturesque. Skiing is nearby, Mount Hood and Bend, Oregon are both within a few hours drive and Mount Hood can be skied all year. And then there is Portland, the largest city in Oregon. Portland is less than two hours away and continues to grow in size and popularity as a city that offers a lot of culture and activity. But even with all these great escapes nearby many Eugene residents are content spending time within the city limits as it has a lot to offer and exudes an all-welcoming feel. A local radio announcer proclaimed Eugene, Oregon to be the hippie capital of the world and although dreadlocks are as common in Eugene as red sox hats are in Boston, that statement is debatable. What is not debatable is the overwhelming friendly and liberal aura of Eugene. Unlike most cities, it is neither uncommon nor frowned upon to approach complete strangers and engage in conversation; in fact I experienced this phenomenon a few times. At the track, a middle-aged couple looking to talk about running approached me, and at a clothing store I was given a 25 percent discount after chatting with the owner for a few minutes. The cashier at the bank taught me all about Oregon geography when she found out I was a visitor. I began to notice a trend that everywhere I went I was meeting welcoming, extroverted people. Unlike a large city, Eugene offers a nice slow pace where people don't honk their horns if you sit at a light a split second too long. In fact, many opt to ride bikes or take advantage of the excellent public transportation system. Although the pace is slow and relaxed, there is plenty of life and activity for those looking to go out. Bars and restaurants account for a lot of the business in Eugene and they range from college type establishments to a little bit posh. The town also has theatres, jazz clubs, museums, comedy clubs, and botanical gardens. There are always events being held on campus at the University of Oregon as well. Eugene is partly a college town, which keeps the crowd young. Living is extremely affordable in Eugene. Apartments start at around $250 a month and most restaurants are in the $5-$10 range per entr‚e. Thrift stores are prominent and most likely outnumber the designer clothing market. Overall, a low corporate influence keeps Eugene a small town, but also limits work opportunity. Because of this, lack of professional work may be Eugene's biggest advantage and disadvantage at the same time. At the airport I picked up a pamphlet entitled Track Town USA, not knowing how conducive Eugene is to running. I found that Eugene is full of wonderful running trails; the Amazon trail is a one-mile loop comprised of woodchips, there is a bike path that follows the Willamette River that goes forever and there are many other great places to run and workout. It is evident that people value running, eating well and staying in shape more so than the norm. So in the vulnerable years of putting on weight after college, Eugene is a good place to keep one lean and healthy. So if you are graduating soon and seeking a fresh place to live, Eugene, Oregon may be worth considering. Eugene offers everything a big city has without the hassles of traffic, parking, expensive housing and high crime rates. A resident said, "It is a very livable, easy life." Eugene provides an ideal setting for someone making the transition from college to the real world with many benefits that most cities cannot offer. Mike Don is a junior majoring in Psychology.

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News

Jumbos leave friendly confines for nonconference road game

February 2

The beginning of February marks the beginning of the end of the women's basketball season. With just seven of its 23 games remaining, the Jumbos enter this month in search of momentum for the NESCAC playoffs. February play begins for Tufts tonight in Newport, Rhode Island against the Salve Regina Seahawks. With two critical league wins last weekend over Amherst and Trinity at home and a three game unbeaten streak, the Jumbos have their heads held high as they hit the road. "We are pretty motivated," coach Carla Berube said. "But we have a tough week ahead starting with a very good Salve Regina team [tonight.]" The Jumbos have not squared off against this Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) squad in any of the past four seasons, but could face a challenge in the form of the 15-2 Seahawks. "They play very hard," Berube said. "They have nice young players, but it's about us, not our opponent." The Seahawks have a seven game win streak intact and, like the Jumbos, are undefeated on their home court. They came out victorious, 73-59, over the same Trinity Bantam team the Jumbos walloped on Saturday, 93-76, but fell to CCC rival Gordon -- a team Tufts trounced 91-58 before winter break. The Seahawks are small in number, with just nine players, and bring a youthful flavor to the court. The squad features five sophomores, two freshmen, and two juniors. Tufts will be the more experienced of the two teams with three seniors and two juniors on its 13 player roster tonight. However, youth does not equate to lesser play for the Seahawks. Sophomore forward Lindsay Frederick is second on the team in scoring at 10.6 points per game and also clamps down on 9.9 rebounds per game, tops on the team. "[Frederick] is a strong player and goes to the basket well," Berube said. "But she is just another player [to us.] If you focus on one player, someone else will hurt you." Other Salve Regina players who may pose to be problems for the Jumbos are sophomore guard Meaghan Stapleton, who leads the team in scoring at 11.6 ppg, sophomore Kelly Mallon (10.2 ppg), and freshman Megan Barry, who contributes solid averages of 9.4 ppg and 8.9 rpg.. Despite their victories last weekend, Berube believes her team still has some problems it needs to work out on its own end of the court if it is to be successful tonight. "Our defense wasn't where it needed to be on Saturday," Berube said. "Our transition defense was not so good." Tufts will face another two NESCAC opponents at home this weekend in a Friday/Saturday double header on February 6th and 7th. This time, the visiting rivals will be the nationally number one ranked Bowdoin Polar Bears and the Colby White Mules. Last year, the Jumbos fell to both Bowdoin and Colby, 63-46 and 73-50, respectively. These games, however, were away from Cousens Gym. Tufts holds a perfect record on its home court this season and has gone 17-2 in Medford since head coach Carla Berube took over last season. The Polar Bears are in the midst of an undefeated season boasting a 19-0 overall record and a perfect 6-0 league mark along with their national number one rating. Second-place Tufts will have its hands full with this fearsome team, but will treat the match-up just like any other game. "We will prepare [for Bowdoin] the way we do for any other team," Berube said. "Bowdoin just happens to be the number one team in the country." Colby, on the other hand, has not had as much success as Tufts' Friday opponent. The White Mule's sit in seventh place in the NESCAC with a 2-4 league record and a 9-11 overall mark. Tufts will square off in its third straight home game next Tuesday against Wheaton and then finish off the 2003-2004 campaign against NESCAC rivals Middlebury and Williams and non-league MIT on the road. The future for this team has yet to be determined, but will gradually unfold as the month progresses. With NESCAC playoffs looming just around the corner, Tufts looks to use these last seven games as a stepping stone to a high tournament seed.

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News

To Vote or not to vote?

February 2

As voters head to the polls today in the seven states holding primaries, Tufts students from those states are faced with the decision of whether or not to vote. For college students, voting takes more effort than simply walking down the street to the local polling station. Unless they live close by, students must obtain absentee ballots. Even more time is consumed researching issues and candidates. Voting in the primaries also raises the issue of political party affiliation. "I'm not voting because I don't belong to a party," junior Neil Hirsch said. "I strongly do not believe in belonging to a political party." Belonging to a political party does not necessarily result in voting, however. Many students feel uninformed about how and where to obtain an absentee ballot. "I think it's important and I'd like to vote but I don't have a ballot and don't know where to get one," senior Rachel Narrow said. "In college, it's a hassle to get an absentee ballot," Hirsch said. "Last year I didn't vote in the election because I didn't get my absentee ballot in time." Those students who live in Massachusetts or New Hampshire have the option to vote in person. Junior Jen Gehling drove home to vote in last week's New Hampshire primary. Although she said that living close made it easier for her to vote in person, living far away would not have stopped her from voting. "I believe it is my right as a citizen of the U.S. and my civic duty [to vote]," she said. "I would have gotten an absentee ballot." While students have the option of registering to vote in Massachusetts when they arrive at Tufts, many choose to stay registered in their home states and vote by absentee ballot. "I am going to vote by absentee ballot," senior Melissa Frankel said. "Ohio is a swing state and I want to keep voting there because my vote is more important." Few college students vote. According to The Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), only 42 percent of citizens 18 to 24 years old voted in the 2000 election, while 70 percent of those citizens over 25 did. Many organizations exist to change these statistics, including MTV's Rock the Vote and Youth Vote. These organizations sponsor "Get Out the Vote" campaigns, give students information on how to register, and help young people obtain absentee ballots. The field site of Youth Vote in Boston sponsors "Dunk-the-Vote" basketball tournaments and hosts speakers about public policy and student engagement. The coalition also works to register voters on college campuses and at events such as CollegeFest. Time is also a consideration for students. "People just forget and don't make it enough of a priority," Gehling said. "They think their vote won't matter." In order to make informed decisions, students also need to do research on the candidates. "From my own experience and those of my friends, people are so busy," Narrow said. "As sad as it is, there's not enough time to research issues and learn about them." A study from CIRCLE found that asking a young person to vote through personal contact increases the likelihood that they will vote. However, some are skeptical of current tactics groups use to increase youth voting. "The Get out the Vote campaign doesn't reach people our age," Frankel said. "We're a harder group of people to reach and it's much easier to reach a less transient population." There is some promising news for advocates of youth voting. According to polls taken during the Iowa caucuses and reported by Rock the Vote, 17 percent of those who attended the caucuses were between the ages of 17 and 29, a six percent increase from four years ago. While some students agree with the generalization that college students are apathetic and do not care about politics, others disagree. "You can't generalize about the entire young population," Narrow said. "Some people are apathetic, some are very interested, and some don't care and don't know how to make a difference or don't have the time even though they want to."

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News

Romney's Education Failure

February 2

Massachusetts legislators are correct to attack Governor Mit Romney's budget proposal this past week, especially the increases to the education budget. While the $70 million increase is one of the few significant increases in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year, it masks the larger problem faced by education in Massachusetts, especially at the state's institutions of higher education. Last year, Massachusetts gained the undesirable distinction of being the state to have made the largest budgetary cuts to secondary and higher education. In 2002, under acting-Governor Jane Swift, the UMass-Amherst campus alone had to deal with a $20 million cut in funding. Over the last three years, the legislature has cut the higher education budget by 25 percent. Last year, for the first time in four decades, the state spent more money on prisons and jails than on education. The $70 million increase Governor Romney proposes for the 2005 fiscal year will only be a ten percent increase to spending on public higher education. For most of the state institutions, the money will immediately be spent on salary increases that were negotiated two years ago, but so far have been left unfunded. Despite the emphasis he places on the education increases in the message that accompanies his budget proposal, there are numerous reasons to doubt his true intentions. Rep. Ellen Story (D-Amherst) is fearful of the precedent set by former acting-Governor Jane Swift. In 2002 her administration negotiated a new payroll contract with University faculty, which it never followed through on. The university system faces even graver problems than maintaining and attracting faculty with a smaller budget. A report by the state Board of Higher Education in October 2003 found that the 24 state and community colleges in Massachusetts need over $1 billion dollars in construction and renovation to be able to serve their function for the rest of the decade. The options of the UMass system are limited, and if state funding continues to drop the universities are at risk of failure. Public education is a vital component of American society, and one that even students at private institutions such as Tufts should care about. The majority of students at Tufts have attended a public school for some period of their lives, and many will attend graduate school at a public university. Residents and students in Massachusetts should be aware of Governor Romney's failure to make a real commitment to education. Every state faces the same problems as Massachusetts. Tuition increases have been so steep that it drew the attention of the national legislature. Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) proposed a bill in November 2003 that would have limited federal financial aid to any university that increased tuition at a percentage greater than the inflation rate. This bill simply highlights the problem, but does not offer a solution. At the state and national level, legislators need to be more creative and committed to maintaining the gift of a low-priced and high-quality public education.

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News

Students find ways to escape the Hill

February 1

Students return from break not only with suitcases, books, and winter clothes, but with big plans to leave as soon as they get the chance. There are many options for Tufts students looking to take a brief escape from Medford and Somerville. With some careful planning, and a little research and organization, students plan economical weekend getaways that make every weekend this semester their own miniature spring breaks. Upon returning to sub-zero temperatures and several inches of snow, senior David Hendler immediately decided he had to escape the winter weather. "I plan on going back home to Florida President's Day weekend. With no school on Monday, I figure I have enough time to go back and get in a few rounds of golf," Hendler said. "I just really miss the 80 degree temperature." Junior Kimberly Boehler, on the other hand, enjoys the cold weather and relishes any time she can spend skiing on the weekends. "I go on weekend trips to various resorts around Massachusetts with the ski team all the time," Boehler said. "We stay overnight at mountains like Mount Snow in Vermont or at Dartmouth Skiway." Boehler finds that these weekend ski team trips brake up the monotony of weekends on campus. Students also use the weekends to go visit family and friends who live outside of Massachusetts. "I like to visit my friends at other schools," sophomore Ilana Kahn said. "Visiting them during the school year is a great way to see how they experience college." Freshman Steven Green tries to go home WHERE? to visit friends but says it is tough because of scheduling conflicts. "I like going to see my buddies at home but a lot of times we can't work out a weekend that is good for both of us," he said. Green also says that weekend getaways can be rough without a car. "I am lucky because I have an older brother who also goes to Tufts. He can usually drive me where I need to go, or sometimes we go home together," he said. Indeed, one of the biggest challenges to going on a weekend trip is vehicular transportation. Without a car on campus, many students feel trapped. However, there are many options for students who wish to travel on the weekends without them. Junior Melissa Ventura says she used to go home twice a month to visit her boyfriend on Long Island. "I would take the Delta Shuttle from Logan airport into New York. It would cost me around $120 for a round trip ticket but well worth it because the flight is only about 50 minutes long." On a college student's budget, keeping travel costs down is a concern. Discounted transportation, such as air carrier JetBlue, provides affordable options. JetBlue flies to locations such as Burlington, Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and several cities in Florida. JetBlue has flights out of Boston for under $100. With South Station only a few T stops away, Amtrak trains are another great option, especially for nearby destinations in the northeast. With a Student Advantage card rail fares are discounted by 15 percent. Doing your research online can save you money as Amtrak.com and other companies' websites feature special savings and promotions. Escaping the daily grind of college life is enticing to many students, but even a brief respite can be damaging to one's academics. Junior Jessica Gioia recalls a bad experience when she decided to take Greyhound bus service to Ithaca on Valentines Day weekend to visit her boyfriend at his school last year. "I had a huge biology exam the Monday I was scheduled to return. But because of a massive snow storm that hit the Northeast, I wound up stranded for nearly 48 hours in random cities along the Ithaca-Boston route," she said. "The experience was awful, but I am just lucky my biology exam got cancelled. Two-day weekends sometimes turn into three-day weekends when Saturday and Sunday are just not enough. Several students admit to taking off Fridays so that they can get the most out of their trips. Most professors discourage unnecessary absences, but policies vary from class to class. Child Development Professor Kathleen Camara says students are capable of making responsible decisions regarding class attendance. "Certainly, there are legitimate reasons why a student may have to miss a class- illness, family situations or emergencies," she said. "But in my opinion, visits to friends and families should be arranged around classes and during breaks." As a courtesy, Camara likes to be informed when a student has plans to miss a class. She also believes it is the student's responsibility to check in with his classmates or check the Blackboard site to obtain missed assignments. English Professor Lee Edelman says he has a clear attendance policy spelled out for his courses. "Most students I deal with understand the tremendous value of a Tufts education and make it to class in spite of mild illnesses, terrible weather, and looming deadlines in other courses," Edelman said. He adds that if students fails to take responsibility for their actions, they will see the consequences in their final grades.

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News

Jumbos on wrong side of two routs

February 1

Hartford, CT -- It was a rough weekend for the men's basketball team. The Jumbos suffered a tumultuous two-day road trip at nationally ranked opponents Amherst and Trinity. Despite putting up a good fight during the opening minutes of both games, the Jumbos were outgunned by two high-powered offenses, 74-52 on Saturday at Trinity and 99-54 on Friday at Amherst. Coming off the 45 point-loss at third ranked Amherst, Tufts appeared ready to take out its frustration on former teammate Craig Coupe and the 11th ranked Bantams. Both teams started cold and shot poorly, but Tufts stayed in the game with intense defense, forcing Trinity to take tough outside shots and limiting sophomore superstar Tyler Rhoten to awkward hook and jump shots. This trend didn't continue, however. After the half-way point of the first half, Tufts began committing turnovers and Trinity commenced to seemingly make every shot. The Jumbos were up 9-8 with just under nine minutes remaining in the first half, but that was as close as the game would be. Trinity went on a 26-3 run in front of its home court crowd to close out the half, including a 21-0 run from the ten minute mark to the two minute mark. The Jumbos also did not convert a field goal for the last 10:42 of the first period. Percentage-wise, both teams weren't shooing too well. Trinity finished the half at 32.4 percent from the field, but Tufts was even lower, only scoring on 16.7 percent (3/18) of its field goals. To make matters worse, Trinity attempted over twice as many shots as Tufts in the first half, controlling that facet of the game 37 to 18. "We just really didn't come to play," freshman Brian Kumf said. "Their defense was absolutely suffocating. We had 16 turnovers and 12 points at the half. That's not too good." Down 34-12 at the half, Tufts came out with more intensity in the second half and played Trinity evenly. "We were really intent on getting to the basket and scoring some points," Kumf said. "We felt we can play with those guys, the second half showed we can." An offensive rebound and layup by senior co-captain Deyvehn East closed Tufts to within 15 at 55-40. However, the Jumbos were called for goaltending, sophomore Dan Martin missed a jumper, and then Trinity junior John Halas provided one of his many nails in Tufts' coffin by drilling a three-pointer to stretch the Bantams' lead back to 20. Throughout the day, the inside-outside combo of Rhoten and Halas was too much for Tufts. After starting the game cold, Rhoten continued shooting and finally started making them. He finished the game 12-23 from the field and scored 26 points. Halas knocked down three of six three-point shots attempted. If there was any positive of the trip, it was the fact that the duo of sophomores Martin and Blaine Lay held Coupe to zero points, eight rebounds, and four assists in only 19 minutes played. According to Coupe, his performance followed along with Trinity's plan for the offense. His role this season has been to get rebounds and block shots and only to occasionally score. Although Trinity had a very potent offense, Tufts seemed to beat itself. The Jumbos only shot 30.9 percent from the field and 16.7 percent from three-point range. In addition, Tufts committed 24 momentum killing turnovers to Trinity's 13. Junior Reggie Stovell had a Tufts-high 13 points and East contributed ten points in 24 minutes of play. On Friday, Amherst gave the Jumbos their worse loss since the 1970-71 season when Tufts lost to Northeastern by 47 points, 95-48. Contrary to the Trinity game, Tufts came out shooting well in the first half, making 13 of 25 shots (52 percent) attempted. However, the Jeffs were simply better than the Jumbos. Amherst shot 61.1 percent from the field, including 8-14 from three-point land en route to a 59-29 halftime lead. "You have to tip your hats to them -- their offensive execution was absolutely flawless," Kumf said. "Every time there was a turnover or missed shot, they would come down and score." The second half was more of the same, as the Jeffs outscored Tufts by 15 points to close out the contest. Amherst did its damage through balanced scoring. Four players finished in double-digits and another two had nine points. Tufts was sloppy again, turning the ball over 22 times compared to Amherst's 11. East continued to score in double-figures, putting in 11 points, while Kumf added ten. Tufts is now 5-13 on the year, sitting at 1-4 in the NESCAC. The Jumbos have a midweek tune-up tomorrow at home against nationally ranked Keene State at 7 p.m. "We have to put together two halves of solid basketball," Kumf said. "We want to play the spoiler role."

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News

Pats win Championship, 32-29

February 1

Horns honked, cheers erupted, and fans spilled into the cold from the comforts of their couches as New England kicker Adam Vinatieri's field goal with four seconds left sailed through the uprights, en route to the Patriots' 32-29 Super Bowl victory over the Carolina Panthers last night in Houston. Time expired on the ensuing kickoff, sending New England to its second World Championship in three years and quieting the Carolina faithful, who just two seasons ago witnessed their Panthers go 1-15. At Tufts, students emerged from their dorms, houses, fraternities and apartments in the 28 degree weather to celebrate with one another. And while the revelry was certainly filled with excitement, it also was peaceful and restrained, unlike last October's Red Sox Division Series victory over the Oakland Athletics. "Everything was totally under control," junior Caitlin Moss, who works at Hotung Caf‚ and is a dual English/American Studies major, said. "When the game was over, the aura here was positive." Hotung Caf‚ in the campus center provided an enjoyable venue for students to watch the game in front of the caf‚'s big-screen television, and raffled off a flat-screen TV and a DVD player to encourage participation. "Even when the Patriots were down [22-21 in the fourth quarter], everyone here was hopeful and not negative," Moss continued. The crowd in Hotung had almost completely dissipated within 15 minutes of the end of regulation, making life easy for the Tufts University Police Department. Students viewing the game in the fraternities along Professor's Row were the most rowdy, on-scene TUPD officers said, but there was no indication of serious problems or riotous behavior. The extent of discontent following New England's win seemed to stem in front of the Delta Upsilon fraternity house, with large numbers of students milling about in front of two university police cars, organizing for spurts to chant "Yankees Suck." "I'm from New York, and I completely expected to hear that [Yankees Suck chant] being here," said freshman Ryan Lippell, who watched the game at Delta Tau Delta, "It seems like that's how they operate here." Fellow freshman Jessal Shah, who also watched the game at DTD agreed. "We both knew that they would be chanting that," Shah said. "Still, we had an awesome time watching the game. They had great food inside of DTD and it was a great game."

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News

New director appointed for arts galleries

February 1

The Tufts arts community gained a new member earlier last month, who plans to raise the profile of Tufts' arts exhibits. A search committee for a new director of the galleries in the Aidekman Arts Center appointed former curator Amy Schlegal in December after a year-long search. "We were looking for someone who could work with others in art at Tufts to make the arts more visible here," said Susan Ernst, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences. "We were excited about Amy from the start and she quickly became, without question, our first choice." Ernst also cited Schlegal's "excellent credentials, her vision for the galleries, and her connection to the academic arena" as the strengths that gained her the position. The search committee included faculty members from various departments and was chaired by Kevin Dunn, Dean of Academic Affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences. Schlegal, who holds a doctoral degree in art history from the University of Chicago, is the former curator of the Philadelphia Art Alliance and has more than 17 years of experience as an art historian and scholar, curator and arts administrator. She has also served as curatorial assistant at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago and director's assistant of the DeLaurenti Gallery in New York City. Schlegal also previously taught at Columbia University and the University of Vermont. Her work has been published in numerous art and scholarly publications and has received many fellowships and grants, including a technical assistance grant from the Pew Fellowships for the Arts. "[Tufts does] not have much of a profile compared to other schools and museums," Schlegal said. "What I hope to do is originate more of our own exhibitions rather than continuing to simply employ traveling ones." At this point in her career, Schlegal has coordinated 65 exhibits. "Right now I don't believe most people here know how much is being offered to the community," she said. She hopes the galleries will be "talked about by students from all disciplines [and] for visiting the galleries to be considered something to do on a Wednesday night, as a boon to their education and an enhancement to their time here." Schlegal is attempting to reach out to other departments and the University. She said she wants to work with the University's Drama and Dance Department to organize speeches and exhibits. She will also hold an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Art and Art History. "She has a keen interest in combining her breadth of experience as a curator with museum studies and teaching, and she will play a key role in shaping Tufts' permanent collection of art," Ernst said. The Aidekman Arts Galleries include the Tisch Gallery, Koppelman Gallery, Slater Concourse Gallery and the Remis Sculpture Court. Schlegal is taking over for Interim Director Doug Bell, who followed Director Susan Masuoka

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News

NESCAC playoff picture shaping up

February 1

The men's basketball team faces a bleak future after this weekend's road trip. Not only did Tufts lose to two teams back-to-back by a combined total of 67 points, but it is likely that one of those teams or Williams would be the Jumbos' first round opponent in the playoffs. But before the team can worry about the prospect of playing Williams, Amherst, or Trinity in the quarterfinals, the team must first worry about getting such an opportunity. The Jumbos now find themselves hanging on to the last playoff spot in the NESCAC. Tufts' 1-4 record in the conference puts them in a tie for seventh place with the Middlebury Panthers. Standing in the way will be the Panthers and the Colby White Mules. Colby is currently in ninth place with a 1-5 record, and it will be only two of these three teams that make the playoffs. To make things more interesting, Tufts faces both teams in the final two weeks of the season. If any ties need to broken to establish playoff standing, then the winner of the regular season head-to-head match up earns the spot. Therefore, each squad controls its own destiny. Middlebury's postseason prospects look the strongest right now considering it still has yet to face Connecticut College, the team responsible for Colby's and Tufts' sole respective victories. Also, Middlebury already beat Colby during the regular season, so it is more concerned with gaining a higher seed rather than making the tournament. Tufts' final four NESCAC games include Bowdoin, Colby, Middlebury, and Williams. Williams is currently ranked as the number two Division III squad in the country, and last weekend was able to edge out an 84-80 overtime victory over the same Amherst team that just beat Tufts by 45 points. While anything can happen in any single game, Tufts cannot let the fate of its postseason rest on its game against Williams. In order to circumvent that scenario, the Colby and Middlebury games become must-wins for the Jumbos. The squad plays Colby on the road next Saturday and then returns to face Middlebury at home the following Friday. The home court will certainly prove advantageous for Tufts, which has the talent to beat both teams. Before that happens, Tufts travels to 3-3 Bowdoin, another team that the Jumbos can feasibly beat. In fact, if Tufts goes 3-1 in these next four games, it could possibly propel the team into the sixth seed and most likely a first round matchup with Trinity. A first round match up with the Bantams might not make the team sleep easy, but it sits a lot better than the prospect of Amherst or Williams in the first round. Most unlikely but most ideal would be for two of the four, five, and six teams (Wesleyan, Bates, Bowdoin) to falter in these last few weeks, allowing Tufts an opportunity to play one of those three teams from the fifth spot. Tufts has already played on of its best games of the year against Bates, a 65-62 loss at home two weeks ago. If given a second chance at the Bobcats in a quarterfinal round, Tufts' playoff picture looks a lot prettier.

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News

Jumbos earn huge win over Salem St.

February 1

With six conference games left in the season, over half of which are against lower echelon squads in the NESCAC, the men's hockey team is back in the playoff hunt. The squad jumped back into contention with a 6-3 victory on Saturday at Salem State, after tying Southern Maine in conference action the previous night. The victory puts Tufts in ninth place in the NESCAC at 2-9-1, just four points behind Amherst for the eighth and final playoff spot in the conference. With the loss, the Vikings drop to 10-7-2. "The morale on the team is very high right now," senior tri-captain John Van Pelt said. "We definitely still think we still have a chance, especially because we still have to play Amherst." The Jumbos were paced on offense by senior tri-captain Pat Byrne, who scored two goals on the afternoon, while junior tri-captain Shawn Sullivan chipped in with a goal and two assists. Freshman forward John Murphy hooked up with junior Gino Rotondi to get things started for Tufts. Rotondi squeaked the puck past Vikings goalie Kevin Adam to give the Jumbos a one goal advantage with 11 minutes to play in the first period. Van Pelt put Tufts up two goals with just over a minute to go in the period on an assist from sophomore Adam Delaney-Wynn. The goal was Van Pelt's third of the season to go along with four assists. Salem State came out hot to start the second, determined to claw its way back into the contest. Sophomore Josh Cartier came through first for the Vikings, netting a goal past Jumbos senior netminder Ben Crapser to bring Salem State within one. Eight minutes later, with just under three to play in the second period, Tufts regained its two goal cushion when Byrne connected on a goal, assisted by Sullivan and classmate John Hurd. Once again, Tufts went into the intermission comfortably up two goals, especially with the hot play of Crapser, who saved 25 of Salem's 26 shots in the first 40 minutes. The combination of Byrne, Sullivan, and Hurd struck again seven minutes into the third, with Byrne scoring what proved to be the game winner for his tenth goal of the season. Sullivan added a goal of his own only a minute and a half later on an assist from sophomore Jack Thompson to give Tufts a commanding four goal lead. "Throughout the whole game we did a much better job of breaking the puck out and keeping it in their zone," Van Pelt said. "Our forwards played well keeping the pressure on and we had good passing from our defenders." Vikings sophomore Drew Maderios cut the Jumbos lead in half with two quick goals of his own just 40 seconds apart to bring Salem to within 5-3. However, Crapser held the Vikings scoreless for the rest of the game, with senior Timm Schatz putting the icing on the cake for the Jumbos with two and a half minutes to play. The win was especially important for the team's confidence heading into the end of the season, as Salem State is one of only two teams to knock off powerhouse Middlebury, currently ranked third in the nation. The night before, the Jumbos skated to a 3-3 overtime tie with the Southern Maine Huskies on goals from Rotondi, Van Pelt, and Murphy. Though he didn't earn the victory, sophomore goalie Matt Ninneman sent back 41 of 44 shots in the gamer. The big win over Salem State sets the stage for next weekend's ECAC showdown on Friday night with UMass Boston, a team the Jumbos should handily defeat if last year's 9-0 success is any indication. "We can't afford to take any teams lightly at this point because it's so late in the season," Van Pelt said. "We're going to continue to work on the things we have been all year, especially our defensive zone." The Babson Beavers will come to town on Saturday afternoon, as the Jumbos will look to avenge last seasons 5-2 loss at Babson. A pair of wins over the weekend would most likely bump Tufts up into eighth place in the conference, that much closer to securing a playoff spot. "Everyone's looking forward to next weekend," Van Pelt said. "We're starting to play more consistently and figure things out as a team.

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News

Tomorrow's Dream at Today's Expense?

February 1

If the entire history of our Earth, all 4,600 million years of it, could be compressed into an hour, mankind (starting with the first hominids, about four million years ago) and all its civilizations would appear only within the last quarter of a second (source: the film Evolution: Great Transformations). And yet, we as a species upon this planet have had an impact of unprecedented magnitude upon its other inhabitants, geography, environment and atmosphere. In our short time on this earth, we have at times defied laws of nature as we let our imaginations take us beyond the skies above us to the limits of scientific possibility and human exploration. What separates the human species from the rest of the animal kingdom is our insatiable curiosity and thirst for more knowledge. The quest is, however, not without its costs. I wholeheartedly support scientific exploration and the advancement of knowledge as it shapes and defines the world today. As scientific discovery generates new and more intriguing questions, and as we move with exponential speed toward whatever the future holds in store for us, I recognize as a citizen of a planet with finite resources that priorities must be established. On occasion this may need to be done at the expense of giving scientific exploration a free reign. The recent juxtaposition of Earth and Mars close orbits has spawned a flurry of new robotic space exploration prompted by Europe's first mission to Mars with the little probe Beagle-2. Earlier this month, President George W. Bush heralded a new era of space exploration by proclaiming that "Human beings are headed into the cosmos." In short, his plans for the future of this country include sending astronauts back to the Moon by 2015, using robotic exploration of the Moon to prepare for a base to be inhabited by humans, missions to Mars, fixing and developing space shuttles for manned exploration by 2014, and finishing U.S. work on the International Space Station by 2010. It is estimated that the Moon plans alone will cost $12 billion over the next five years; furthermore, it is said that Bush would ask for a five percent increase of NASA's $15.4 billion budget for the next three years followed by a one percent increase thereafter (source: the BBC). Though I agree that space exploration is the future and that it should be embraced, I question this administration's timing and motives. Why spend billions of dollars on space exploration when we could better use our spending toward preserving the Earth for future generations? When this country's education and health care system are in dire need of funding? When the U.S. budget deficit is expected to surge to more than $500 billion this year? In response to the supporters of this program who claim that our future will depend on space exploration today, I ask them to consider the needs of humans on our planet first. However enticing the dream of exploring the heavens may be, we must not forsake the reality of life here on Earth. The billions of dollars being spent on space exploration should now be funneled to try and remedy the disaster Bush has created in Iraq. The War on Terror has stretched the resources of the United States thin, plunging it into a huge deficit as defense spending skyrockets at the expense of other needs in this country. As a superpower playing a leading role in an unprecedented era in global politics, the U.S. has a duty to the international community to use its power judiciously. Instead, the Bush administration has redefined its role by taking unilateral initiatives as a "global policeman." No sum of money can rectify the damage U.S. foreign policy has done to its international image, especially during the last year. Our greatest problems, however, lie within our own borders. The American public should question the motives of this administration because we are living in an era of hypocrisy. Our president subjects the international community to U.S. regulations while simultaneously acting unilaterally as an autocratic hegemon, and he continually evokes notions of the future by proposing extravagant space travel while sentencing our children to live in a world where mistrust and hate reign, and where health care and education are low priorities. The commencement of the year 2004 marked the beginning of a pivotal election year. Bush's term in office has been marked with tragedy, war and controversy. Before November, Bush and the Democratic nominee will vie for leadership of this country. The space exploration program Bush proposes serves as a smoke-screen for the problems he has created in this country and as a ploy for re-election this fall. Space exploration is necessary, but not on the scale that is proposed for today. The heavens will be there for us tomorrow. Today, the American people need to get involved and force their government to adopt a more benign foreign policy and cultivate cohesiveness amongst the world's nations. The domestic focus should aim to better the conditions and standard of living of its citizens, pay off the budget deficit, and fund scientific exploration geared toward protecting the resources and people of our Earth, before looking up to explore (exploit?) the heavens. Daphne LaBua is a Sophomore majoring in Political Science

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News

Clearing up the gray areas of Greek life

February 1

Members of Tufts' Greek community spent a night last Thursday to explain to students the positives and negatives of becoming involved with the campus' fraternities and sororities. Students gathered to listen to a variety of student panelists speak about their experiences with and without Greek life in the Lewis lounge. The Greek system suffered serious blows to its reputation last year when several fraternities and one sorority were shut down due a variety of violations. The Zeta Psi fraternity is still closed until next fall. The panelists included two seniors not in the Greek system, and four students with a large involvement in their respective sororities or fraternities. "I felt like a panel could be a very useful resource to people who are questioning whether the Greek system at Tufts or an individual organization [in particular] is for them," said Randy Newsom, the organizer of the event and a Delta Upsilon brother. Newsom said that the panel was meant to be a non-biased informational session. The panelists said that they wished to fight the reputation of Greek life fostered by popular culture in movies such as Animal House and Old School. The Greek panelists tried to impress on their audience that the Greek experience is what you choose to make of it. "I hope people get a better understanding of what happens within the Greek system. I want people to not let stereotypes affect their opinion," senior Danielle Holmes said. Holmes is Vice President of Recruitment for the Tufts Panhellenic Council, the student group which oversees the campus' sororities. "It's not like Sorority Life or Fraternity Life on MTV," junior and Theta Chi brother Ray Carre said. "For one thing, Tufts has a philanthropic aspect that those other chapters [on television] don't have." He added that this sort of charity work is just one of the many ways that Tufts fraternities and sororities are attempting to eliminate what Tufts' Greeks consider unfair stereotypes. Noticeably absent from the event was Todd Sullivan, the Director of Fraternity and Sorority Affairs. But According to Newsom, Sullivan was not invited intentionally. "I wanted students to be able to ask pretty much anything and get an honest answer," he said. Sullivan agreed with the decision. "My job is to act as a liaison between Greek student leaders and the administration," he said. "I educate people about policies. Having an administrative presence at the panel might limit the questions that students ask." Senior and non-Greek senior panelist Angelica Lundquist explained how she found other ways to get involved with campus life with joining the Greek community. In fact, only approximately ten percent of Tufts undergraduates are involved in fraternities and sororities, according to Sullivan, a number which was closer to 15 percent several years ago. He expects those numbers to rise soon because Rush Week starts Feb.1 for fraternities and Feb. 8 for sororities. Discussion panelists argued back and forth on the merits of the Greek system, citing as advantages association-only events and the family-like atmosphere in the house. Drawbacks mentioned by panelists included the pressure to both provide and control the social scene at Tufts as well as the automatic reputation one acquires when joining a Greek organization. None of the Greek panelists used the discussion to recruit pledges. At the beginning of the meeting, Newsom told those in attendance that the panel "isn't a recruiting meeting; it's a general information session so that students can talk to each other." Most of the approximately 15 students that attended were unsure about whether or not they wanted to participate in Rush. That reaction was exactly what Newsom had hoped for. "I want students to have as much information as possible available to them before they make what can often be a very big decision," he said.

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News

Pats get the job done

February 1

It felt like the bottom of the eighth all over again. Following the spectacular tradition of New England sports, the Patriots held fans in suspense throughout last night's entire Super Bowl. All year, the Patriots seemed incapable of making it through a game without causing at least a few heart attacks. But the curse of the Bambino didn't extend to football last night. To the relief of New England fans, Bill Belichick managed to do what Grady Little could not. Win when it counts. Still licking its wounds from the Red Sox's tragic fall, Boston needed this. Whether it is nightlife, food, or sports, Beantown is a city that's always had a second-best label. Until Bill Belichick's Patriots, there was no reason to doubt the status. New England's 15 straight wins makes this season more than just a successful Super Bowl. It's a season for the history books. It's a season that brought life back into the city. It's a season that gave Bostonians something to be proud of again. New England fans have known all season that the Patriots are the best team in football, period. This year, there were no doubts as to whether the Pats had earned their trip to the Super Bowl. There was no tuck rule, no AFC Championship Snow Bowl, and Tom Brady delivered a steady and solid performance all season. Bruins, Celts, and Sox fans have all had their hearts broken believing that their team was the best in the league. Finally, someone stopped the bleeding. Congratulations are deserved all around. Bill Belichick has orchestrated another phenomenal season, and the Carolina Panthers proved they were tougher than anyone believed. Both teams played to win until the final whistle. In the end, the Patriots deserve credit for executing their game plan, maintaining focus, and getting the win. Even for a team that clearly had the roster to get the job done, this is no small task. Just ask a Cubs or Red Sox fan.

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News

Fulbright scholars' visit ties into EPIIC's curriculum

February 1

Foreign Fulbright scholars in U.S. National Security Policy discussed America's role in the world with students on Friday in Tufts' EPIIC Colloquium. The scholars were professors, journalists, researchers, politicians, and military leaders enrolled in the Fulbright American Studies Institute at the University of Delaware. For three weeks, the international students studying the U.S. visited universities, think tanks, and government organizations in Boston, New York, and Washington, DC. For the EPIIC students, a casual lunch and discussion group on the Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa offered exposure to a wide variety of international figures from Argentina to Mozambique to the West Bank. It also provided networking opportunities for the independent research key to the EPIIC program, as well as for internships. EPIIC director Sherman Teichman was confident that the event would provide the critical "continuity and depth of relationships [necessary for] research." "It's amazingly interesting to see what their perceptions [of the U.S.] are," said senior EPIIC student Erica Levine, who is hoping to do research in Morocco. The program arose from EPIIC's collaboration with Mark Miller, Director of the Fulbright American Studies Institute, who delivered an address at EPIIC's 1998 symposium. Impressed by EPIIC's format and curricula, Miller wrote an article in the International Migration Review deeming the program an "educational tour de force". "What I saw accomplished at the symposium are what proponents of undergraduate educational reform dream about," Miller wrote in the article. Miller hopes to use the EPIIC program as a model for undergraduate curricular reform at Delaware. "The students are prepared by diligence, thinking, and meeting with people to make their own way in the world" Teichman said. EPIIC's theme this year focuses on America's Role in the World, with its aim to "to transcend an 'Ameri-centric' point of view," Teichman said. The parallel aims of each program as well as previous collaboration between Teichman and Miller, offered valuable opportunities for exchange. The goal of the visits was to educate the scholars about the influences upon policy-making, mainly academia, think tanks, and the government itself. "We hope they leave here with a better understanding of the U.S. and of Americans, [and that it is] a mutually beneficial educational experience," Miller said. "It's an opportunity to see from inside all of the things I've been reading about" scholar Georgios Michalakopoulos, who teaches Geopolitics at Greece's Ionian University, said. "We met those involved with foreign policy-making -- the writers of the books that I read back home. It's a major advantage to develop a personal view of the U.S. The image comes from movies, which don't reflect reality." Slovenia's Gorazd Barto, who develops military education curricula, entered the program wanting to "understand the U.S. style of thinking" as a military and economic superpower. Having previously only visited military sites in Texas, Utah, and Colorado, Barto found there to be "a great difference between civil and military society. [Civil society is] much more open and mixed."

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