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Failed States

December 7

Anyone who's taken a Poli. Sci. class will agree with me on this one: Understanding international relations means understanding a whole new jargon. Every institution seems to have an acronym; every international relations theory has a complicated title, (and a seemingly simple definition.) And there are tons of these catchy phrases that people casually throw around in conversation -- like "grass roots" or "sustainable development." Recently, one of these catchy phrases seems to be coming up in almost all of my readings. Apparently several Tufts professors have long since caught on, and it's become a favorite phrase when describing what was once referred to as the "third world." Although no one seems exactly sure who launched it- a recent IR phrase of the moment seems to be: "Failed States." Now let's take a moment and think about that- "Failed States." I feel compelled to ask what exam it was that we failed? According to the Center for Defense Information a "failed state" represents "...the inability of the state to provide for the needs of its citizens...such states threaten the security of their neighbors and their regions as the source of instability." I'm sure many of you third or fourth year scholars would jump at the occasion to point out that indeed Africa is a poverty stricken continent where a cycle of poverty instability and violence are all synonymous. Index fingers pointing to Zimbabwe would justify the use of the term "failed states" by pointing to Mugabe. Although I'm not a supporter, I would argue that it is easy to point to a government and place the blame there, but that is when it becomes necessary to draw a distinction between a failed "state" and a failed "government." It's also important to note that when we speak of governments who are unable to attribute funds to integral social services; what we fail to mention is that a lot of those resources are spent re-servicing the debts accumulated during colonial times. This is hardly discussed when giving countries with such potential such an undeserving failing grade. "Failed states are not simply a reflection of African incompetence or corruption but can be explained by such other factors as weapons proliferation, repressive regimes, external interference and Scarcity (Rothberg and Weiss, 1996:182)." In September of 1999, Former Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright pledged that "The U.S. will refrain from selling arms to regions of conflict not already covered by arms embargoes." Not only is that an admission that the US government was selling small arms to several African countries, but it is also an indication that until at least September 1999 many arms have already been accumulated and are for the most part the tools used in the various conflicts we have recently witnessed. While the Western Military Industrial Complex prospers off of these conflicts, African states are deemed failures for having engaged in them in the first place?!? In the world order of nation states that has existed since the Peace of Westphalia of 1648 it is disturbing to see such a categorical term launched. The leadership in the US has been advancing the notion of "failed states" as a mandate, for the sole remaining superpower to stage regime changes, in any nation deemed such. When one looks at the civil wars in many of the African countries, it is disheartening to see that what makes headline news is the morality of having Child Soldiers, and not De Beers' generational exploitation of the region's resources that sets the stage for the conflict in the first place. When the issue becomes HIV/AIDS, the headlines talk of prostitution, promiscuity among black people or the taboo placed on homosexuality in African societies -- and yet the question that needs to be raised is: "Where is the Anti-Retroviral Medication?" I would much rather not put all the blame of Africa's current situation on the shoulders of colonialists. But it is important that when a country is called a "failed state" one takes into consideration why it has even come to that. Why is it that a Western power with international clout is referring to countries suffering the World Bank and IMF's failed Structural Adjustment or HIPC initiatives and selfish pharmaceutical conglomerates caps on patenting anti retroviral medication, as "failed states." The point of the matter is that the phrase "failed states" is too terminal, and beyond even that -- it is inaccurate. A government might fail to deliver what it promised, but the state can not fail unless it has decided to disintegrate (USSR). The purpose here at Tufts, as I have understood it, is to prepare us to be leaders and citizens of the world. It is important that we gain an accurate and real representation of what the world we are about to enter is like. Most of the world is comprised of developing countries, struggling economies, desperate people, but if they haven't given up hope then we can't give up hope for them. I wrote this piece so that as we begin "hell week" of endless "study sessions" and all nighters we should take the time to think about what it means to "Fail." May Tufts Professors and Administrators be aware of the power they possess when using such biased terminology. And furthermore; may the students here at Tufts never give up hope in other people's abilities to overcome even the most horrendous situations. We are so shielded we don't even know the half of what millions around the world go through. May we give them the benefit of the doubt and the faith that they will overcome. "As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people the ability to do the same." - Nelson Mandela.

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News

Islam and the Naked Quad Run

December 7

The Muslims' holy book (Qur'an) reads, "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that will make for greater purity for them; and God is well acquainted with all that they do." It reads also, "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty; that they should not display their beauty and ornaments except what (must ordinarily) appear thereof..." Our Prophet Mohamed, peace be upon him (pbuh), saw a man washing in a public place without a lower garment; the prophet (pbuh) mounted the pulpit, praised God, and said: "God is characterized by modesty and concealment. So when any of you washes, he should conceal himself." Another time, the prophet Mohamed (pbuh) passed by a man who was chiding his brother about modesty; the prophet (pbuh) said: "Leave him. Modesty is part of faith." He also said on another occasion, "Every religion has an innate character; the character of Islam is modesty." In modern societies, there are several misconceptions about Islam. One of them that Islam required women to cover their bodies and men are free of that law. In fact, Islam promotes modesty and does not differentiate between men and women. Islam prescribes that both men and women behave and dress modestly. Muslims believe that an emphasis on modesty, chastity, and morality encourages society to value individuals for their wisdom, skills, and contributions to the community, rather than for physical attractiveness. Our Prophet Mohamed (pbuh) and his companions such as Abu bakir, Omar, Uthman, Ali, and many others were noble teachers to the whole mankind. Uthman was well known by his modesty, his piety, his humility, his charity and his resignation to God's will. Ali also, in his poems was shown as a moralist, freely expressing the righteousness of his cause. His poetry was neither romantic nor lyrical, but reformative. It contained no sensuous feelings or imagery and had nothing of the themes on which the old school of Arab poets delighted to dwell. There was no praise of women, wine, music, and amusement. Ali's eloquence was reserved for the praise of patriotism, humility, modesty, chastity, piety, and resignation. Historically, we have learned that there is no place in Islam for nudity or practices such as what we call "the Naked Quad Run," "Bingo," "drunkenness," etc. A person could try to argue encouraging such activities under the umbrella of a noble cause like charity or others. It is no secret to us what such activities lead to. The enormous harmful sides are very obvious and the results in most cases are severely painful to the individuals as well as to their surrounding. The Holy Qur'an already answered the ones who try to make such argument, "They ask thee concerning wine and gambling. Say: In them is great sin, and some profit, for men; but the sin is greater than the profit... Thus doth God make clear to you His Signs: in order that ye may consider." It had been said also in the Holy Qur'an, "... it is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But God knoweth, and ye know not." Others would say that we are following the tradition. The Holy Qur'an replied, "When it is said to them: Follow what God hath revealed; they say: Nay! We shall follow the ways of our fathers (tradition); what! even though their fathers were void of wisdom and guidance!" In Islam individuals become responsible for their deeds when they reach puberty. From that time, everyone is responsible for his/her actions and will be answering to what they did. Religion should not be a burden in our daily life. Indeed, it guides us to the right path, eases our way of life, and protects the rights of every individual. Knowing that the rights of an individual end when it starts to interfere with the rights of the others. Islam taught us to care for the whole society as a one body, not for an individual as the whole society. I would like to conclude this small article by the wisdom of our prophet Mohamed (pbuh) when he said: "Modesty is part of faith, but obscenity is a part of hardness of heart." He also said: "Indecency disfigures everything and modesty enhances the charm of everything." Imam Noureddine Hawat is the University's Muslim chaplain.

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News

Preserving our tradition: a rationale behind NQR reform

December 7

I am a sophomore and member of the planning committee assembled by The TCU Senate and the Program Board to solve some of the problems associated with the last year's Naked Quad Run (NQR). Adam Pulver's article "Born to Run" reminded me that there were many elements of the Naked Quad Reception that our group had yet to explain clearly and that concerns, like those of Mr. Pulver, needed to be addressed in a public forum. The NQR is one of the great, and few, Tufts traditions -- an event I would sorely miss if it were canceled. However, I was disappointed the morning after last year's run. I found that the importance and fun of the event were eclipsed by a laundry list of complaints by neighbors, and numerous unnecessary injuries, three of which resulted in hospitalization including one near-death due to the result of binge drinking and overcrowding in West Hall. It seemed to me that a really fantastic Tufts event was going to waste and that administrators and students alike were responsible for its collapse. The conversations of our group began by discussing our biggest concerns, the most pressing of which was the pre-party in West Hall. President Bacow addressed this issue last year in an email, the content of which has been stretched and manipulated. In the email Bacow demanded that changes be made to the event. Consequently, we, the planning group, organized a Winter Carnival type event, on behalf of Tufts' students, before the NQR in order to provide attendees with alternatives to the West Hall gathering. It was our belief that many students were uncomfortable in West Hall and moving some of the festivities outdoors seemed like a logical, not to mention safe, substitute. By adding additional activities we are attempting to make the NQR a school wide event, enjoyed by all. The reason for adding entertainment was very simple; it was obvious that what needed to change was the tone of the evening. By removing some of the angst, the tension, and by simply providing a "good time" we hope students will have fun, rather than place themselves in danger. I agree with Mr. Pulver's suggestion for a broader based alcohol awareness and education on campus. I also understand that sadly these initiatives, though good in theory, will do little to curb the small minority of those who, as the author indicates, "[are] going to drink themselves into an oblivion." What I can suggest is that we all take care of each other that night. If you are with someone, a friend, who appears to be acting dangerously, do what you can to calm them down and help them out. Nobody wants to mourn the loss of a friend next Wednesday. Is that statement too dramatic? I don't think so. Rather, I feel it is the reality in which we all must live. It is my belief that nobody on this campus wants to be faced with a tragedy the morning after the NQR, however I feel it was inevitable if we, the students of Tufts University, accept the episodes in West Hall last year. I speak now especially to those members of our community currently living in West. Keep whatever festivities are planned in your Hall safe. I do not think I need to remind anyone of the Station Nightclub fire last spring in Warwick, Rhode Island, a tragedy which killed 100 people and injured many others. The overcrowding experienced in West last year was unacceptable and placed everyone in the building in danger. Moreover, I take issue with the fact that Mr. Pulver considers "crowding in West Hall and drinking with your friends" the "tradition" of the NQR. This type of assumption is certainly a problem if students like think this should be the focus of the event, or at least what makes it important. The pre-run party in West Hall had never really been an issue until last year, before which there were few complaints of the type received the morning after last year's event (destruction of property, etc.). Mr. Pulver is correct in saying that the pre-run party seemed to be the focus of last year's event, but to call it a tradition (implying a passing down of customs or rituals) is nothing less than irresponsible. I use the word irresponsible, to remind the author that most traditions, if not sponsored by the school itself, are passed down orally, the tone and structure determined by those involved in communicating the event to new members of the community and those unfamiliar with the NQR. Let everyone know that the real tradition is running, and the bond that is formed by baring it all and joining with the school in a bizarre winter ritual. Regardless of if you run or not, it is very clear that we the students of Tufts must change the tone of the event, and hopefully in the process create a tradition at our school, of which we can truly be proud. How we do this: GET OUT THERE! Have a blast that night and if you want to run, enjoy your lap around the residential quad. Participating in the NQR and its festivities are a part of being a Tufts students. Ending up in the emergency room because you drank too much isn't! Have fun, but remember why we're out there. It is our responsibility to ensure that this great Tufts tradition is around for years to come. William Dunn is a sophomore majoring in Political Science.

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News

Top 10 Off-Campus Events

December 7

10. Poetry readings by Paul Muldoon, Charles Simic, and Donald Hall -- Harvard University 9. Ben Folds -- various Boston campuses 8. Improve Boston Mainstage 7. Bruce Springsteen -- Somerville Theatre 6. The Exonerated -- Wilber Theater 5. Guster's free concert -- City Hall 4. Tom Petty and the Heartbreaker's and Jackson Brown -- Fleet Center 3. Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker -- the Wang 2. Liberation Films' The Seagull -- the ICA 1. Hairspray -- the Colonial Off-campus events is a broad topic. As a result, I've tried to pepper my list with personal favorites(The Seagull), shows roundly known to be "hot"(Hairspray), concerts scalpers couldn't even get tickets for(the Boss), as well as often overlooked Bostonian gems (Improv Boston!). I worry no one save us arts writers, threatened by performers to trek into Boston to review the arts scene, has seen ten arts events this year -- even with all the student discounts and rush tickets at our beck and call. How 'bout this: let's make a pact to get out more. Next time I get free tickets to a theater/concert/crazy artistic event I'm going to call you. And we'll charter a bus into downtown and expand our horizons together. -- Alissa Green

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News

Re-registration process may undergo changes

December 7

Recent reports that the federal government may end its highly controversial immigrant registration program are good news for non-US citizens, particularly citizens of Muslim countries, who plan to travel to the US. The original re-registration process was confusing to many immigrants who wanted to apply for visas and citizenship. Failure to register correctly led to the prompt detention or deportation of more than 13,000 men from predominantly Islamic nations, under the National Security Entry/Exit Registration System guidelines. While there may be no known examples of Tufts students who have experienced difficulties due directly to re-registration, some students have been dealing with problems related to it. "There has been a couple of incidents where [Arab or Muslim] students were detained for long hours at the airport, not because the registration process took long, but for no apparent reason," said president of Tufts' Arab Student Association, senior Abdul-Wahab Kayyali. "That was a big inconvenience for students coming from abroad, because on top of their multi-hour flights across the Atlantic, they sat in an airport for three to four hours." Aside from airport detainment, Arab and Muslim students have expressed concerns with the transitions between home and Tufts. "Returning undergraduate and graduate students have had trouble renewing their visas to return to Tufts," said secretary of Tufts' Arab Student Association, senior Yasmine Iliya. "Students also worry about traveling outside the US or returning to the Middle East once they are here." Iliya is a Lebanese and American dual-citizen, so she has not experienced any conflicts when traveling. Kayyali is a citizen of Jordan, and while he has not had any problems either, his roommate from Saudi Arabia has had "all sorts of problems, from non-visa renewal to detention in the airport." These differences in treatment have led Kayyali to believe that the re-registration process is "more an issue of nationality than ethnicity." The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is one of the most prominent opponents to the re-registration process, most recently having sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, demanding an explanation of why the re-registration process had been so complicated. While there is no one aspect of the re-registration process that can be pin-pointed as "troublesome," there are various opinions as to why Arabs and Muslims have been having such a hard time. "I think there is a general lack of support for Arab and Muslim immigrants when they come to the US -- besides the usual language and culture barriers. Perhaps it's due to the fact that many immigrants are constantly trying to keep a low profile and thus there is a lack of unity and no support network for them," said Iliya. "I don't know why Arab and Muslim students did not understand the process. What I do know was that the process was spontaneous, arbitrary, and unorganized. Maybe that led to all sorts of misunderstandings," added Kayyali. The International Center at Tufts works with foreign students and their transition to the US. Director of the International Center Jane Etish-Andrews acknowledged that students, faculty, and research scholars who have gone through the original re-registration process did not encounter many problems, but "it certainly was an inconvenience to them." Etish-Andrews explained that several of the incoming students and faculty have had to go to the Office of Citizenship and Immigration Services in Boston within 30 days of being temporarily registered at the airport. Although the International Center encourages foreign students and faculty to study at Tufts, Etish-Andrews is glad to hear that the registration process will no longer be limited to individuals of specific backgrounds and countries, but to all visitors to the US. "This seems more fair than identifying one group of people, but we are concerned that the new security measures and visa requirements may discourage individuals from choosing to come and study or work in the US, because of the imposed difficulties," Etish-Andrews said. "[These obstacles] encourage people to study or teach in another English-speaking country, such as the UK, Australia, or Canada," Etish-Andrews said. "We might see the numbers of international students, scholars, and faculty decrease in the US, and this would be a loss to our economy as well as to the positive impact of having students and faculty living on our campus and in the local communities." Even with possible changes to the re-registration process, Kayyali feels that the reaction in the Middle East is not likely to change. "Arabs and Muslims still view themselves as targets under this re-registration process, however nuanced it will become," he said. The government is also planning a new border security program that would into effect in January, called the US VISIT program. Under this system, 24 million foreign visitors to the US from countries without visa waiver programs will be required to include fingerprints and photos in their citizen's passports.

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News

E-mail to Source listserv upsets students

December 7

A recent e-mail on a student listserv has sparked controversy for its references to gays and lesbians, and prompted several students to forward the e-mail to administrators. In an e-mail message to The Primary Source's listserv, junior Brandon Balkind -- one of the publication's managing editors -- said in deprecating terms that the children of lesbian parents would eventually be drawn to gay sex. This would happen, he wrote, because of the "overwhelming psychological damage of having two mothers and no father." The e-mail was forwarded to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman and posted anonymously on the rumorsdaily.com website, where it generated significant discussion. Balkind sent the e-mail on Nov. 18 in response to the Massachusetts Supreme Court's decision in favor of same-sex marriage. After viewing the press conference that was "better than what you could find on the most hardcore sites on the net," he noted "the abundance of interracial lesbians" and ultimately questioned why the movement towards individual freedom should involve gay rights. But administrators said that they have no jurisdiction over the e-mail, since it was not sent over a university-maintained listserv. However, the e-mail was sent using a Yahoo service and may have violated the company's terms of service. Balkind and Source Editor-in-Chief Simon Holroyd both defended the message. Balkind said the e-mail was meant to be satirical. "That was the irony -- that it was pornographic and offensive," Balkind said. "People think that homosexual marriage is pornographic and offensive." Holroyd said that "this is the type of satire that the Source encourages and looks for." Dean of Students Bruce Reitman acknowledged the post was an "odious message," but said because the listserv was not maintained on a Tufts server, the University has no jurisdiction over it. "A listserv is something that one chooses to subscribe to," Reitman said. "If you can anticipate a certain kind of message [from the listserv], then it's like walking into a pornographic movie. You can chose not to go into it or you can chose to go into it. You can chose to subscribe [to the listserv] or not." Balkind said that the post used off-color humor and was intended to stimulate discussion. "It was a parody to a group of people who understand my views," Balkind said. "They understood [it] was neither inflammatory nor insensitive. But he acknowledged that his comments may not have been appropriate for a broad readership. "Knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have written it. It was intended to be an internal memo." Holroyd supported him. "I understand what Brandon was trying to say in the e-mail," he said. "We will continue to foster that in discussions." "I don't have a problem with this type of e-mail being sent to the list," he continued. There are a number of listservs on Tufts' servers but they are used primarily by faculty and staff. At the Fletcher School, students are automatically subscribed to a listserv, and then they also have the option of subscribing to a social listserv. The list is maintained by Marinela Fula, the school's secretary for academic support. Her only responsibility is to subscribe and unsubscribe students, and forward any posts that were made incorrectly. She does not control what students say. While Fula said that the students are respectful for the most part, debates occasionally get heated. "The Middle East debate has been on everyone's mind," Fula said. "Discussions go back and forth and escalate. It's easier to be more aggressive when you're not face to face. Even intellectuals can get pretty nasty. "Other than my own cringing [at the content], there hasn't been anything that I've had to report," she said. Fula would consider reporting a threat, but only for moral reasons -- the University does not require her to do so. Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) is responsible for maintaining the University's e-mail systems. While TCCS has guidelines for responsible use, they do not address content. Kathleen Cummings, the director of IT support services, said that while there have not been issues dealing with university listservs, her office has occasionally received complaints about sensitive e-mails. These complaints were passed on to the Dean of Students' Office. TCCS is responsible for potential violations of copyright, not issues with content. Reitman cautioned students from feeling too at ease on private listservs. "There is no guarantee of privacy or control of where e-mail will go," he said. "Unless people who write things like [Balkind's post] are prepared to be held accountable, then it's a pretty dumb thing to do." Although the University has no jurisdiction over the post, it potentially violated a number of Yahoo's terms of service. According to the terms of service, group owners agree not to "upload, post, e-mail, transmit or otherwise make available any content that is unlawful, harmful, threatening, abusive, harassing, tortious, defamatory, vulgar, obscene, libelous, invasive of another's privacy, hateful, or racially, ethnically or otherwise objectionable." Holroyd said that he had not received any communication from Yahoo regarding the content of Balkind's post.

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News

Jumbos stumble at St. A's

December 7

The hockey team continued its post-Thanksgiving break struggles with a loss Friday night at St. Anselm College 7-3. The Jumbos fell to 1-4 (0-3 in NESCAC/ECAC East), while the Hawks moved to 4-1. Tufts' game scheduled for Saturday at New England College was postponed until Tuesday. The Hawks had a sellout crowd of almost 1,100 to usher in the new Thomas F. Sullivan Arena on their campus in Manchester, New Hampshire. Early on, the Jumbos quieted the crowd on a goal 55 seconds into the first period from junior forward Gino Rotondi, his second of the year, assisted by fellow juniors John Hurd and tri-captain Jack Thompson. After that quick strike, though, Tufts wouldn't have a shot for the next six minutes as St. Anselm proceeded to pelt senior goaltender Ben Crapser with 24 first period shots, two of which went in. In contrast, Tufts only had seven on St. A's goaltender Jim Merola at the end of one. "We just haven't come together as a team yet," sophomore forward Matt McCarthy said. "We haven't been able to get all of us going at the same time, and that's frustrating." While the rest of the squad has been lacking a bit of firepower, Hurd continued his hot start to the season, as he netted a power play goal at the eight minute mark of the second period, assisted by junior tri-captain Shawn Sullivan and Thompson. His tally pulled the Jumbos within one at 3-2. But the resilient Hawks added another before the second intermission and went into the locker room up 4-2. St. A's came out shooting again in the third, as they netted two quick goals to give themselves a comfortable 6-2 lead. Then Hurd added another score at 13:44 of the third, assisted by senior tri-captain Pat Byrne. Through only five games, Hurd now leads the team with nine points (six goals, three assists) after his two goals and one assist performance Friday. One silver lining to the loss was a new Tufts record for goalie Crapser. His 35 saves gave him 1,570 on his career, breaking the nine year old record held by alumnus Steve Tomasello (1990-1994). Putting a bit of a damper on the record was the fact that he was replaced after the sixth goal he gave up by sophomore Tim Kane, who ended up making seven saves on eight shots in his third period action. "To help our goalies out, we have to work on our team defense," McCarthy said. "Not necessarily just the defensemen, but the forwards, as well, who are working in our defensive zone." Overall, the seemingly overmatched Jumbos were out shot 49 to 20 by the Hawks, whom they had more luck with last season. In a home game at Malden Forum, Tufts tied the Hawks 3-3. The Jumbos feel they need to get some kinks out at practice this week. "We'll work on our coverage in front of our net and our forecheck," McCarthy said. "If we get those right, we should be OK."

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News

Naked Quad Run

December 7

Greetings! I have asked my colleagues, the associate chaplains, to offer their thoughts on the Naked Quad Run. It is my hope that offering the views of the University Chaplain and the views of the Catholic, Jewish, Muslim and Protestant associate chaplains that the individual students can form their own conscience and act accordingly. First, I would like to offer some history or lack of history concerning the NQR. There is no written documentation concerning the NQR. Russell E. Miller's two-volume history of Tufts, "Light on the Hill" does not give it any attention. Most of the recent editions of The Pachyderm, state "We can't talk about it!" Thus we are left with living tradition or oral history. Most people of a certain age would recount that the NQR first began as a protest against women being admitted to Tufts College/Jackson College. But, over the course of years this protest against women has been eliminated. The more modern history of the NQR has been more of a means of release from the pressures of finals. It has always been up to the residents of West Hall to determine the time and date. Mostly, it has taken place the first or second day of reading period. As University Chaplain, I am all for the upholding of Jumbo traditions. I am also in favor of protecting the health and safety of all students all the time. Since 1998, I have had the very tragic task of calling or helping parents deal with the death of their son or daughter. I do not want to make that task a regular job duty. Thus, moderation in drinking is very important. The laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts need to be followed at all times. A student should never put one's self in the position of not being in control of one's own senses. As a professor of Comparative Religion and the instructor of the course titled "World Religions and Sexual Ethics," I have a few more insights on the NQR. I do not see anything sexual about the NQR. Once the outside temperature dips below 60 degrees, blood flow is needed elsewhere in the body. Also, the human body should always be seen as the gift of God's creation. Look at the statue of Michelangelo's David. The sculpture upholds the human body as something glorious. On the opposite extreme is the entire pornography industry. The pornography industry reduces the human body to the level of domination, conquest and lust, especially degrading of all women. I would see the NQR falling some where in the middle of these two positions. Personally, I have the strongest level of moral indignation to those folks who try to record and or broadcast the NQR. One moment of college fun should not be part of a video collection or part of a webcast. I would ask and pray that all students treat each other with full respect and dignity. I will hope for a level of maturity that was missing last year, resulting in alcohol poisoning and students tripping one another. Finally, I would urge any participant to carry their own can of silly string in order to shoot at any electronic equipment being used to record the event. Pax et Lux to all. ReverendDavid M. O'Leary, S.T.L., Ph.D., is the University Chaplain at Tufts

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News

Judiciary responds to new pressures

December 7

The Tufts Community Union Judiciary has passed new bylaws in response to concerns about the rights of student organizations' subgroups. Controversy arose earlier in the semester when the Bhangra Club tried to separate from the Tufts Association of South Asians (TASA), its parent group. Representatives from the Bhangra Club said the club had a different membership from the rest of TASA, and would develop better as an independent group. Bhangra also said that it should not suffer from TASA's ineligibility for buffer funding after it made an illegal reimbursement request last semester. The Judiciary denied the request, and said the issues could be solved with increased communication with the TASA executive board. "Bhangra was not an easy decision to make," Judiciary member and sophomore Jordana Starr said. The decision was without obvious precedent, and forced judiciary members to closely examine the TCU Constitution. The new bylaws, passed last month, attempt to clarify the rights of subgroups. In order for a subgroup to leave its parent organization, the bylaw states the group must prove that the "continued existence of the subgroup under the parent organization jeopardizes the purpose and/or function of the subgroup." The group must also meet the eligibility requirements for any new organization -- that is to say, groups cannot have missions that overlap with existing organizations, and must benefit from University recognition. The new bylaws will also require all subgroups to be registered with the Judiciary when it begins re-recognizing student organizations next semester. Moffat said the Judiciary was concerned new groups could exist as a subgroup, but function as a new group. "The thing for subgroups that is kinda scary is you can just bypass the entire recognition process," she said. "TCU Senate budgets are not required to broken down by subgroup, so groups could theoretically use funds allocated for the main group to fund a new subgroup." But the original purpose of the bylaws was much more mundane: to ensure that campus flyers were legitimate. Moffat said that requiring subgroups to register helped the Judiciary ensure that posters on campus were placed by recognized student organizations -- a task that became increasingly difficult as subgroups proliferated. "We need to know who you are," Moffat said. "This is a really helpful way for us to do that." Many organizations which appear to be officially-recognized groups are actually subgroups. The Tufts Coalition to Oppose the War in Iraq (TCOWI) is part of the Coalition for Social Justice. The Leonard Carmichael Society has almost fifty different subgroups. The Judiciary also hopes the registering of subgroups can ensure that proposed groups do not interfere with the purpose of a subgroup. So far this semester, the Judiciary has approved ten new student organizations. Seven more have been tabled because the Judiciary sought more information. Almost 40 new groups have filed for temporary recognition -- the first step in the recognition process. Organizations can file for recognition until February, when the Judiciary stops accepting new groups for this year. Sophomore Priti Julka, the head of the Bhangra Club, was confused at Judiciary's intent. "We said our purpose was different than TASA and now they've changed the rules, and that's what we've been arguing all along," she said. Julka said the group is in the process of appealing the decision to the Committee on Student Life (CSL), but is still waiting to receive the minutes of the Judiciary's meeting. She said members plan on filing the appeal next semester. Under the new regulations, all groups would have to amend their Constitutions to define subgroups and their purpose. Each group would have a defined mission statement and purpose, which the Judiciary could enforce. If a group member or another student filed a complaint against a subgroup, the Judiciary could find them in violation of the Constitution. But Starr said she does not expect the Judiciary to interfere with subgroups' activities. "We haven't had that," Starr said. "People tend to join groups in which they are interested in the mission statement of the constitution." Chemistry professor Chris Morse, a member of the CSL, said the board would review the new bylaws to ensure they complied with the TCU Constitution. "The [TCU]J is certainly within its powers," he said. "The bylaws are changing as new issues come up and none of the previous precedence or issues cover it." The new bylaws will also be sent to the TCU Senate, a process TCUJ Chair Abby Moffat described as a "courtesy." The Senate has no power to overturn the rules of the Judiciary. However, the Judiciary is required by the TCU Constitution to present bylaws at the Senate Meeting following the passage of the rules. Moffat said she was aware of the regulation, and had been in contact with Senate President Chike Aguh. Moffat plans to outline the new regulations at a Senate meeting next semester.

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Sox and Yankees wage offseason chess match

December 7

It has been an exciting last few weeks, to say the least, on the baseball hot stove. Things may get even more interesting at next weekend's winter meetings -- that is, if John Henry and George Steinbrenner don't sign or trade for every decent player in the major leagues, leading all the teams to end up like Baltimore, with players the caliber of Jay Gibbons as their best player. Boston's trade for Curt Schilling put the Yankees on the defensive for once. The Yanks countered, of course, by trading for former Expos ace Javier Vazquez, one of the few players available who was in Schilling's league. But what happens if the Sox take the war to the next level and acquire Alex Rodriguez from the Rangers? At that point would Steinbrenner just pick up his toys and go home? Would he sign Bartolo Colon AND Kevin Millwood AND trade for Kevin Brown? Who knows, but it will certainly be exciting. Vazquez gives the Yankees something they badly needed, a young ace who can anchor their staff in future years. Yet, by acquiring Vazquez, the Yankees created a new hole for their team. In order to acquire Vazquez, New York had to give up first-baseman Nick Johnson, a stud in the making. Johnson, only 25, posted a .420 on-base percentage and played exceptional defense last season. Now that he is gone, when Jason Giambi's knees finally disintegrate, the Yankees will be in deep trouble. New York will also need to find a designated hitter to replace Johnson's production. Still, Vazquez was one of the few players valuable enough to warrant giving up Johnson. But the Yankees have also more than made up for the loss of Johnson with various other acquisitions. Because of the Steinbrenner spending spree, the Yankees bullpen is now stacked beyond belief. Mariano Rivera is getting older but is still nasty, while Tom Gordon and Paul Quantrill give the Yanks an impressive setup tandem that will be even better if Steve Karsay is healthy. Even Grady Little wouldn't be able to screw up a group that talented. Unlike the Vazquez trade, the Red Sox did not have to pay as high a price for Schilling. The Diamondbacks asked for only unproven pitchers Casey Fossum and Brandon Lyon as well as minor leaguers Jorge de la Rosa and Michael Goss. Fossum and Lyon have a little bit of potential, but neither will ever be anything close to dominant. De la Rosa, a left-handed pitcher who pitched as high as AAA ball last year, has a chance to be the best of the bunch, but he's still no sure thing. Goss is fast, and that's about it. He posted a measly .622 OPS (on base + slugging percentage) in low A ball, and that's all you need to know. Despite a vastly improved rotation, the Red Sox still have a number of questions, the most important of which is "who's on second?" Epstein has done a fantastic job so far, but his one major mistake was to trade second-base prospect Freddy Sanchez to the Pirates for Jeff Suppan, who did his best impression of John "way-back" Wasdin, giving up one mammoth home-run after another while with the Red Sox. There are not any obvious choices on the free agent market to fill the gap, so Boston will likely explore trade possibilities. The Red Sox could also use another solid reliever or two. There are a number of options available. Eddie Guardado and Keith Foulke could provide stability at the back of the pen, while there are number of cheaper, serviceable relievers like Steve Reed on the market. And of course, there is the A-Rod situation. Will he be shipped to Boston for Manny Ramirez? There have been rumors of such a trade for weeks, and they are starting to intensify. The trade would make sense for both teams. Texas would gain some payroll flexibility and the Red Sox would get one of the best players in the game while unloading the talented but controversy-ridden Ramirez. Once A-Rod arrived, the Sox could trade Nomar Garciaparra to Los Angeles or Anaheim and receive some prospects that could re-stock the near barren Boston farm system. Trading Garciaparra would also free up some money to address the second-base situation. A lot of these questions will likely be answered at the winter meetings, but we know one thing right now: the Red Sox and Yankees are not going to stop battling until one of them is taken down hard like a charging Don Zimmer.

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Tufts escapes from corporate influence

December 7

Despite the growing prominence of industry monies, Tufts research remains primarily focused on government monies and public grants. While many universities are actively seeking corporate sponsorship, Tufts is resisting. This situation has allowed the University to deflect a recent round of discussion criticizing closer ties between companies and colleges. In his new book, "Science in the Name of Public Interest," Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy Sheldon Krimsky argues that university research is being increasingly corrupted by corporate interests. He says professors are establishing companies to profit on inventions or innovations made at the university. Although schools retain some of the profit on discoveries made at university facilities, Krimsky is concerned about the potential consequences of a profit-driven academia. The university, Krimsky argues, is one of the last remaining places to do scholarship for public interest. Scientists in business are tied to defending their parent company. "It's not that corporations are evil," he said, "but they will defend their point of view." The lure of private money, compounded by poorly performing stock portfolios and declining federal aid, has tempted many schools. Schools such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California San Francisco have actively recruited funding - both more than doubled corporate monies in the last decade, the largest increases in the nation. Tufts does not rely on corporate monies as much as other large universities, such as Harvard or Cornell. At Stanford University, corporate sponsored research has increased 142 percent in the last ten years, compared to a 31 increase for all research. According to Krimsky's book, research money from corporations have doubled in the last twenty years. At Tufts, the vast majority of research is still funded by the federal government. Associate Provost of Research Peggy Neule said at any one time between seven and nine percent might be funded by corporations. All private companies must exist in a location outside the school, although they may rent space from the school. However, Neule said the school has detailed provisions to ensure unbiased research. When a faculty member makes a proposal to do research in the grounds of the University, Tufts insists faculty members retain the right to publish the material. Neule said any clause that would give a company veto power "would inhibit the objectivity" of research. Tufts also does not allow the use of the University's name in any commercial context, which protects the school from any misuse by the corporation. All proposals by the school are reviewed by Neule to ensure compensation for room use, materials, and use of the technology developed at Tufts. Any research developed at the school is registered as intellectual property. Krimsky said the fields of toxicology, nutrition, global warming, and energy research have been particularly prone to an influx of corporate dollars. He said there is a problem whenever a researcher has financial interest in the particular outcome. "Researchers tend not to see things they don't want to," he said. He recommends conflict of interest rules be strengthened for universities. "If you are running clinical trials, you should have no financial interests in the results." Krimsky said. To ensure integrity in research, Krimsky also suggests universities bar faculty members from simultaneously serving as Chief Executive Officers and Professorships. In his book, Krimsky relates the story in his own experience about Tufts sheltering objective discussion. When he was an assistant professor, Krimsky was investigating water quality in the nearby rivers. Just as he was about to release a report which criticized local chemical manufacturer WR Grace, the company president made an appointment with then University President Jean Mayer. The Grace official requested blocking the release of the report. Mayer refused. Neule emphasized the benefits of allowing professors to perform corporately funded research. Often a professor can take a development made at the school, and transform it into a marketable product. Some schools, such as Columbia University, have made millions based on discoveries made and copyrighted by the schools. "It's hard to license early stage inventions [to companies]," Neule said. "The earlier stage the technology is, the higher percentage that it will turn out to be completely worthless. The later the stage, the closer you are to a commercial product." Krimsky has been investigating the changing links between industry and research for more than three decades. However, it was recent scholarship by other professors that inspired his new book. "I saw research popping up, and decided it was a good time to take a systematic approach to this problem," Krimsky said. "Why was this commercialization occurring and what were the scientific norms that make this possible?" The book's September release generated much discussion in the press. In addition, Krimsky appeared at a Washington press conference in October with three other experts on university research trends. Representative Henry Waxman (D-CA) was also at the conference, where participants shared cautionary words and horror stories. While the links between industry and academia are on the rise, their monies still account for a small minority of funding. Most monies still come through federal grants and non-profit organizations. However Krimsky is concerned that any increase in sponsored research may limit opportunities for others. "The space of the university is shared with public interest scientists," he said. "They have contributed enormously to the public understanding of science through their research-and that space has to exist."

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Protestant Chaplain's opinion on the naked quad run

December 7

As a newcomer to the Tufts community, I was interested and a little surprised to hear about the annual "Naked Quad Run" tradition on campus and what it entails. I asked a senior what the appeal was and he said, "It's just for fun," a sentiment echoed by the University Chaplain, who said it is intended to be a light-hearted way to reduce tension during a stress-filled time of the semester. "Intended." I was also informed that, unfortunately, there are often more unintended consequences than intended in the Naked Quad Run -- the exploitation of the vulnerable in this case -- when students combine this venerable tradition with drinking and/or taking drugs. When I asked my senior friend about the drinking that always seems to go with the event, he said, "I know I wouldn't be able to get up the courage to strip down and run naked through the campus if I didn't have something to drink first." The fact is, alcohol provides only a false sense of courage, ability and safety. Drinking lowers inhibitions, leading to risky behaviors, unsafe circumstances, and even to injuries and hospitalizations. Alcohol impairs physical sensation, reaction time, coordination, and judgment (spatial as well as moral), skills that one would especially need in such a running event. Drunken runners are not the smartest or safest runners. And then, because the campus is more or less unsupervised and accessible to all during this event, I'm told that voyeuristic outsiders (fellow students, too?) prey on participants by bringing in cameras, resulting in photos and video recordings posted to the web. This, to my mind is especially reprehensible, a violation of one's right to control the production and distribution of personal images, and an added threat to personal safety. Given the out-of-control elements of the NQR, I have to ask: how many relationships are put at risk because the intended fun is betrayed by stupid and unsafe behavior? How many people feel worse after the event than before, either physically ill or hung-over, or remorseful about things they did and said, conveniently video recorded for posterity and perhaps for all eternity? How many people feel used, because they were told they would have fun and instead end up being vulnerable to abuse and exploitation? In my religious tradition our bodies are "temples of the Holy Spirit" (St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians, 6:19): we honor the Giver when we cherish these flesh-and-blood gifts we have been given. It is a theological way of referring to the common-sense wisdom of self-care: giving our physical bodies the love, respect and nurture they deserve, so that we can realize our highest potentials. I would urge all who are thinking about participating to consider the personal safety, self-care and respect issues that are raised by this event. I also urge those in charge of the NQR to do all they can to make this a safe, respectful and constructive event. Laurie Rofinot is the Associate Protestant Chaplain of the University.

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The Bulls and Trailblazers send players packing

December 7

With Bonzi Wells on the team, the Portland Trailblazers were headed for the playoffs for the 21st consecutive year. This is no small feat and certainly nothing to be ashamed of -- especially in Portland where there is little else to not be ashamed of, basketball-wise. Having a competitive playoff-caliber team that keeps the fans hooked can be a good thing. But it only works if: You can keep the fans hooked, and you actually have a legitimate shot at contending for (or are building towards) a championship. Remember, this is professional sports; the ultimate goal is to compete for a championship year in and year out. True fans aren't happy with an organization that is content with the sixth seed and a first-round bow out every year. As things stand now, the Blazers have no shot at winning a championship, and they know it. They haven't been out of the first round in three years and they don't stand a chance against the Shaqs and Duncans of the world, let alone against teams like the Sacramento Kings who (gasp) actually like each other and like passing to each other. And in a town where a prominent citizen has taken out a billboard ad urging home game boycotts, it is safe to say they lost their fans somewhere along the line. The Blazers had their shot to win a championship. It was four years ago in the 1999-2000 season, when they blew a 15 point fourth quarter lead to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals, and then watched the Shaq-Kobe monster go on to corral the Indiana Pacers in the first of their three straight championship wins. So Portland is not going to win a championship. Management knows it; the fans know it, and since the fans don't like the team anyway, the Blazers may as well start from scratch. They can try to build a team based on chemistry, a team that can compete for a championship, a team that doesn't get arrested every fourth day. This is exactly what Portland GM John Nash is trying to do, and he proved it last week by trading Wells to the Memphis Grizzlies for veteran Wesley Person and a future number one draft pick. The Blazers might not immediately get better, and they might not even make the playoffs this year, but Nash knew that the team could not keep going in the direction they were heading. Wells, in particular, had been on such bad behavior that the team had stripped him of his captaincy. Expect Nash to try to follow suit with Damon Stoudamire, Rasheed Wallace, and possibly even Zach Randolph if he gets the right offer. Of course, don't expect him to get any good offers, except maybe for up and coming talent Randolph, because all those guys get paid too much and are not exactly model citizens. As for Memphis, this trade sends the message that Jerry "I AM the NBA" West expects this team to make the playoffs this year, and there's really no reason they should not. In Wells and Pau Gasol, the Grizz can now trot out two top fifty talents in their starting lineup. Granted, making the playoffs in the Western Conference is no sure thing. But throw in Shane Battier, Mike Miller, Jason Williams, Sharone Wright, and Stromile "I left college too early" Swift, and the Grizzlies are more stocked than a dorm room fridge. A second trade rippled through the NBA waters when the Chicago Bulls sent Jalen Rose, Donyell Marshall, and Lonnie Baxter to the Toronto Raptors for Antonio Davis, Jerome Williams, and Chris Jefferies. For the Bulls, the trade lets Eddie Curry know that he has to start playing like he's in the NBA, because Chicago now has other options inside. For Toronto, this trade makes them downright dangerous. Rose, Marshall, and Vince Carter can all put the ball in the hoop, and covering all three will be a nightmare matchup for the rest of the Eastern Conference. Toronto's offensive doldrums should be a thing of the past; if it can tighten up its defense and still manage to rebound without the departed forwards, Toronto should be one of the better teams in the east, for whatever that is worth. And finally, kudos to Charles Barkley, for calling the player's union "cowardly" in its stance towards drug offenses, quite a statement from a former player. Barkley, while admitting that he has smoked marijuana before, said that when you're a professional athlete it is unforgivable to smoke pot while driving. He was right on the money when he suggested that when players get arrested on a drug charge, the first time should mean a month in drug rehab, and the second time a season suspension. Only Major League's Baseball's steroid policy could make the NBA's drug stance look good.

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Top 10 Critical Flops

December 7

10. Monstrous Regiment, Terry Pratchett 9. Runaway Jury 8. The Haunted Mansion 7. 24 6. Timeline 5. Metamorphosis-Hillary Duff 4. Joe Millionaire: An International Affaire 3. Brother Bear 2. Skin 1. The Cat in the Hat There's no question that it's been a sorry semester for television fans; shows like Joe Millionaire 2 and 24 failed to draw in the viewers that they attracted in previous seasons, and short-lived new additions like Skin crashed and burned almost before they got off the ground. The movie industry has continued to produce such repulsive flops as The Haunted Mansion and Brother Bear, which might dominate holiday tie-in toy sales but proved to be less than enthralling on the big screen. The fact that teenie-bopper favorite Hilary Duff made a CD shouldn't even require explanation. Timeline tires, Runaway Jury makes one want to escape to the aisle, and Monstrous Regiment is just that. Topping the list, however, is Cat in the Hat, which isn't even worth sitting through for the MST3K factor.-Sara Ludovise

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Men's, women's track open season at Northeastern

December 7

On a Saturday in which most intercollegiate athletic events in the northeast were snowed out, the men and women's track and field teams managed to reach Northeastern's Reggie Lewis Center to open their winter seasons with the Huskie Winter Carnival. The event featured competition between Division I, II, and III New England schools and is therefore a non-scoring event, meaning there is no winning team or ranking of schools at the conclusion of the meet. Instead, the competition serves as an opportunity for individuals to hone their skills in a competitive atmosphere, while not having to worry about the outcome for the team. "It's a way to get everyone set for the season," senior men's tri-captain Adrian Clarke said. "There's no pressure. Especially for the freshmen, it's an introduction to what intercollegiate track is like." In men's events, freshman Fred Jones was the story of the day, winning both the long and triple jumps and breaking the 29-year-old Tufts triple jump record in the process. Jones hopped, skipped and jumped his way to a 46'8" foot mark, eclipsing the 1974 title held by Mike Gorham (45'11"). In the long jump, Jones edged out the unaffiliated Luis Moreira by half an inch, 22'2.25" to 22'1.75" feet. "[Fred] had a great day, he jumped almost 47 feet his first time in a collegiate meet," Clarke said. "He's all set to be amazing, and to have a great season." Junior Nate Brigham, relatively fresh off the NCAA Div. III cross country meet held three weeks ago, put in a strong race in the 5000 meter event, placing second to Quinnipiac's Jeff Roginielewicz in 14:47.04 minutes. The Jumbo men's cross country team also featured prominently in the one mile. Overall, Tufts claimed the fourth through ninth, and 11th, 18th, and 22nd placings. Freshmen cross country runners Daniel Sullivan (fourth), Scott Merrick (fifth) led the charge, with classmate Peter Orth (eleventh) rounding out the top end of the field. Junior Ray Carre raced sixth in the 200 dash in 23.21 seconds, and fifth in the 400 (50.54), while classmate Nate Thompson leapt his way to a fourth place finish in the 55 hurdles (8.05). Freshman Nate Cleveland (1:59.50) was second in the 800. In women's competition, the Jumbos placed in the top eight in the 13 of 15 events in which the team competed. Senior quad-captain Jess Trombly won the 500 meter run in a time of 1:16.25, three and a half seconds faster than the runner up, Northeastern's Natalee Pennicooke (1:19.75). Fellow captain and classmate Emily Bersin (1:21.74) finished seventh. Trombly shaved 0.66 of a second off her team-leading 500 meter time from last season. Junior Claudia Clarke (1:22.00) and freshman Kate Makai (1:22.42) finished close behind Bersin in eighth and ninth place respectively. Sophomore Rachel Bloom finished third in the 200 in 26.39 seconds, just over her career best mark set last year, while senior Shushanna Mignott (7.83) ran eighth in the 55 final. Junior Sika Henry was second in the 800 (2:23.74) and high jump (5-04.00 feet), while sophomore Rebecca Ades (18:34.05) shaved nearly a minute off her previous career best 5000 time to finish fifth in the event. "It was a good opportunity for the team to compete in a meet where individual performance didn't affect the team as much," Ades said. "It was a good starting point." The women also put in solid performances in the 4x400 and 4x800 meter relays to finish second (4:04.27) and fourth (10:29.27) respectively, while seniors Jessica Gauthier and Gwen Campbell both finished in the top eight in both the weight throw and shot put. The Jumbos will break for winter vacation, before returning to the track on January 11 at the Dartmouth Relays. "It gives us confidence, having a race on the track," Ades said. "We train for so long before the first meet, so it's good to get [a race in]."

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Tis the season to spend?

December 7

Tufts students making long, pre-finals treks between their dorms and the library were not the only individuals inconvenienced by this weekend's snowfall. Retailers and market analysts expressed fears that the wintery weather would result in a substantial sales drop, citing the decreased sales figures that resulted from an early December snowstorm in the Northeast last year. "Shoppers in the Northeast tend to be spending more at this time of the year than in other parts of the country," chief Bernard Sands retail analyst Richard Hastings told CNN. "So any disruptions to their shopping schedules could have a material impact on overall sales." Even before this weekend's snowstorm, however, economic experts were viewing the season with trepidation. In mid-November, Tufts alumnus and Vice Chairman of Goldman Sachs International Robert Hormats told CNBC that consumer behavior throughout the holiday season would play a large part in determining whether the recent economic upswing will translate into long-term recovery. "I think it still remains to be seen how strong the American consumer is going to be. I think the American consumer will be relatively robust," Hormats said. "But we're getting a lot of warnings from department stores, from big chain stores, that the consumer may not plunge in there." In general, however, Tufts students' attitudes toward "plunging in" to holiday shopping defy the stores' early pessimism. "I've been fortunate enough not to be severely affected by our lagging economy," sophomore Jessica Simoncelli said. She, like fellow sophomores Alice Chiou and Abby Estabrook, plans on spending the same amount for holiday gifts this year that she did last year. Estabrook, who spends "at most, $20 a person," does most of her shopping at Target: "It has everything," she said. Estabrook is not alone in her appreciation of retail stores like Target, K-Mart, and Wal-Mart: according to market research firm Harris Interactive, 80 percent of college students patronize such "general purpose retailers" and will likely do so this holiday season. A large proportion of consumers and college students in particular are also expected to utilize online shopping options this holiday season: according to a recent ABC News survey, 31 percent of Americans will engage in e-commerce this holiday season. (24 percent did so last season.) Online shopping provides an attractive alternative for students like Simoncelli and sophomore Telly Kousakis. "I hate being in malls," Kousakis said; "I abhor malls and their thronging masses," Simoncelli agreed. "I love online shopping, especially for things like DVDs and CDs," Kousakis said. "It just makes things easier when you don't have to go out and get it. Delivery is usually really prompt, and sometimes they have online deals, so who can complain?" "Only recently have I begun shopping online. It's only of late that I've started visiting Amazon and Ebay," Simoncelli said. "It's actually fairly painless, and certainly efficient -- my orders usually consist of DVDs, CDs, maybe books." Simoncelli and Kousakis's preference for purchasing online is consistent with a national sales trend. Online stores saw an over 25 percent jump in sales compared to last year, according to Bizrate.com. The company tracks sales of over 2,000 e-commerce sites. Some students remain wary of Internet shopping, however: "I don't usually shop online," Chiou said. "I don't really like it because when purchasing clothes it is difficult to know what size to get." Chiou prefers a more traditional method of holiday shopping: "Most of the time, I go to malls to go shopping because there are a variety of stores that I can pick from," she said. Along with conventional methods of shopping, some students continue to utilize traditional methods of paying for purchases. "I like to use cash to buy presents, so that way I can keep track of how much I am spending," Kousakis said. "If it's on debit, I end up spending more money than I would like to." Other students, including Fairchild and Simoncelli, pay for their holiday purchases with their debit cards. "In a store I'll usually end up using my debit card because using cash can become disheartening -- you physically watch it dwindle," Simoncelli said. "Plus, [using a debit card] makes receipts easier." If Tufts students have anything to do with it, retailers will see a sales spike after the last day of finals, Dec. 18: "The end of semester is usually so hectic that I can't find the time to get off campus and go shopping," Kousakis said. "With schoolwork, classes, sports practices, and friends, it is tough to find enough time to make a serious Christmas shopping trip seem worth the hassle of carrying bags on the T," Fairchild said, adding that most of her holiday shopping is done in the days after she returns home from break. "I try to [shop before break], but it is difficult because of finals," Chiou said. "Also, usually I am sick around this time." "I definitely do not do any sizeable amount of my shopping before winter break," Simoncelli agreed. "If something strikes me as a gift [someone] would love during the fall, I'll nab it then, but I'll get most gifts in the few days - or hours! -- before Christmas."

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Before You Decide Not to Run

December 7

Sorry Jack, but it just isn't fair to only present one side in the debate of whether or not to participate in NQR. For those who are undecided on whether or not to strip down, bare all, and join hundreds of other Jumbos in a dashingly dashing dash around uphill, you hopefully haven't cast your verdict based solely on Jack Grimes' column ("Before you run" Nov. 25). At least hear the other side of the coin. OK? Good. With this in mind, I would like to examine Mr. Grimes' arguments and maybe offer one of my own. (Am I attempting to influence you in your decision-making? Yeah, probably, so read on at your own risk.) "You will be very, very cold." Yup, you will be. But you'd be pretty cold just standing still while watching everybody run. At least you'll be moving around and have your blood circulating a little bit. But honestly, if you're undecided about running and you decide not to because of the cold, then... I dunno, pick a better reason not to run. "You will be photographed. There is just no doubt about this one." Can't say I understand why there is certainty about being photographed. I haven't seen a single picture of myself. And while I've seen a single picture (just one) of a friend of mine, that was all. Yes, some shady townies will be there, and some will have cameras, but maybe some people actually like that. Most runners just don't care. I didn't specifically see any photographers while I was running last year, and ignorance is bliss, baby. "You will be buck-naked." Well, this is true; you will be naked. I interpret Mr. Grimes' words as inspiration for a lot of runners, though: "To be nude is to hide nothing, to hold nothing back." Doesn't that sound pretty cool? Kinda like an action hero or something: This summer, one man will hold nothing back. "Get down!" I understand that girls are more self-conscious about their bodies than guys are, but there really isn't any gender specific advice I can offer. The thing to remember if you are worried about being naked in front of people is that everybody else is in the same position you are. It might not sound all that comforting, but it really is quite meaningful. Once everybody starts pulling those clothes off in West, you join a group, and for a lot of people, that's pretty important. Not a single time last year did I hear anybody in West point to a fellow runner and make a crack (pun intended, apologies) about his/her body. There's nothing but love amongst those running. And if you're worried about the watchers, remember that you had the guts to run, so you've got the upper hand in that argument if they wanted to try and make themselves feel better about not running by trying to make fun of you. But believe me, people don't go around after the run saying "Did you see such-and-such's body? Maybe the fro-yo isn't fat-free!" In no way am I saying that observers of NQR aren't running it because they lack the courage to do so; this is obviously not the case at all, as shown by Mr. Grimes. If you regard nudity as a private and solely intimate affair, then running is not for you, and I hope that I have not offended those who choose or have chosen not to run based upon legitimate reasons such as those. I would simply like to present one point on why I believe undecided people should run: It's f**king fun! Honestly, how many times does the campus get a chance to really party all together? Twice: NQR, and Spring Fling, which we didn't even get last year. I don't know a single person who has regretted running the run. Maybe that means something, like that it might be a good time. The night of NQR is just amazingly fun, but running it yourself adds an intangible to the evening: you helped make the night. Just going into West and grabbing some beers and saying "Have a good time" can be done on any given night. But for NQR, everyone there wants you to run with them, wants you to have fun and enjoy Tufts' coolest tradition. Plus, it's a free ticket to party just about anywhere in West, and if that ain't good, then I think I want to be bad. In closing, make sure you do what you really want to do on the night of NQR; it's your body, so it's your choice. But whether you choose to run or not, drink or not, or watch or not, make sure you don't spend the whole night studying. Josh Cohn is a sophomore majoring in Music.

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Nutcracker a real present

December 7

"On with the dance," Mark Twain once said, "let joy be unconfined." While he likely was not talking about the St. Petersburg born Nutcracker, the amount of seasonal joy piled onto the traditional Nutcracker is incontestable. Consider that the original Nutcracker premiered in 1882, at least twenty years before Twain's death. But, with the benefits of old age also come certain pitfalls. Since people will buy tickets to the Nutcracker on name alone, often the overall quality of the production suffers. Cynical Scrooges have been known to call this graceful merriment the partridge in a pear tree clich?© of the Christmas season. Thankfully, though they are now in their 40th anniversary season, the Boston Ballet lives up to no such fickle expectations. Their Nutcracker is fresh, daring, and creates a genuinely heartfelt atmosphere that blends fantasy with reality both on and off stage. As the first orchestral chord is plucked, the journey to dreamland begins. At once, the previously stationary curtain begins to shimmer and sway, signaling a departure from the daily mundane and an entry into nothing short of the extraordinary. For those unfamiliar with the actual plot of The Nutcracker, the story follows young Clara Silberhaus' Christmas Eve adventures. The ballet begins at Clara's house where her family is in the midst of throwing an extravagant holiday party. The real excitement doesn't begin until her magician godfather, Drosselmeyer, appears. He makes a grand entrance and brings many a trick up his sleeve, including one charming nutcracker in the form of a toy soldier. Clara proceeds to falls asleep under the tree, her childish mind transforming her godfather's mild skills of trickery to full-fledged magic. With these powers, he casts a spell on her toy nutcracker, morphing him into a life-sized fighting force. From the moment the young girl closes her eyes, the stage becomes an international free for all. Characters from all across the globe appear as part of Clara's dream, including those from the often neglected land of the imagination. One of the greatest qualities intrinsic to dance productions is that a director can take the time to tell his story gradually. Unlike in theater, artistic tangents are welcomed instead of seen as pretentious; no one is going to tell Pavel Gurevich (Cavalier) with his gift for flight that he can't perform another Cabriole jump. A delightful consequence of this lack of restriction is that it gives the audience the ability to imagine endlessly. Is the Sugar Plum Fairy madly in love with the Cavalier? Are the Rats hearty fighters? From a layman's eye, each step is left for each individual audience member's own eye to interpret -- which is, of course, half the fun. However, beyond the lively dance performances, especially that of the evening's mystic Drosselmeyer, Gianni Di Marco (dancers rotate per night), it is the stunning visuals that draw the most awe. In the first act, various colored screens allow for sets ranging from a frosted town to Clara's Christmas tree-filled living room to an enchanted forest complete with falling snow. The act concludes as Clara and her now full size nutcracker exit the stage in a hot air balloon. The elaborate costumes also further the fantastical world of the ballet. Clara's simple white nightgown lends to her whimsicalness, making her movements especially smooth and delicate. Drosselmeyer's bright plum cape seems to actually give him the ability to propel himself into the air as he flies above the stage. The second act included visits from dancers from all part of the world, ranging from Spain and Russia to even the fabled lands of Arabia. With flashy red designs for the Spaniards, czar-inspired Russian outfits, and gold pants reminiscent of Aladdin for the Arabic dancers, the costumes continually outdid themselves. But unlike most traditional Nutcracker productions, the Boston Ballet does not treat the show like it is some historic valuable that needs to be kept away from the sticky (perhaps candy cane holding) fingers of its patrons. A significant amount of action takes place off stage within arms length of the audience. Dancers dressed in the finest 19th century garb mingle with the audience in the aisles, thus making the world of The Nutcracker extend beyond its natural theatrical boundaries. It is this concern for its patrons, ranging from the tickled grandmother to the teetering tot, which makes this particular production so incredibly dear. This particular ballet was beloved by its audience before the curtain was even raised. The fact that the Boston Ballet used its entire cast and crew in order to create an original Nutcracker for its viewers by show's end demonstrates pure ingenuity.

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News

Top 10 Movies

December 7

Often times the semester goes by so quickly and we are so busy, that we do not always have time to carry out all our plans. For some, this may mean not getting to see that concert, or take that weekend trip. For me, it meant not writing that paper or taking that test. For many, it means not getting off campus to see the latest movies when they come out. So here is a list of movies, all released between the middle of the summer through this month, that you should see by the end of the semester... after finals of course. They are in order of mass appeal. For those who like to go with the flow, head from #1 up; those who like to run against the grain, starting at #10 is a good idea.-Max Dionne 10. Bad Santa 9. A Mighty Wind 8. Lost in Translation 7. Master and Commander 6. Elf 5. X2 4. Love Actually 3. Kill Bill 2. Finding Nemo 1. Pirates of the Caribbean

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News

Judicary members see no conflict of interest

December 7

Despite questions surrounding the body's objectivity, the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) members with conflicts of interest in an issue will continue to be able to decide for themselves whether or not to abstain from voting. Members of the Judiciary said new regulations are not needed, as the individual justices can determine whether they need to recuse themselves. In addition, members of the TCUJ may force other member to sit out votes. The discussion emerged following the recognition application of the Tufts Rights to Arms Club, which was co-founded by Judiciary member Nicholas Boyd. He decided to recuse himself from the Judiciary's deliberations. "I don't want to create any more controversy than the club already has," he said at the time. But before the Judiciary's deliberations began, Boyd said he "may change his mind" if the vote was close. The Judiciary's regulations do not mention conflicts of interest, except for student disciplinary hearings. Boyd's participation turned out to be unnecessary, as the TRA was approved by a 4-0-1 vote, with one member abstaining. As a recognized student organization, the group is allowed to use the Tufts name and will be eligible for student activities funding. TCUJ Chair Abby Moffat said judiciary members were expected to remove themselves from any discussions they believe they cannot be impartial in. The TCUJ Chair can also bar a justice from a vote if he or she believes the justice would be unable to perform his or her duty. Moffat said that justices regularly abstain from voting, but recusal was rare. She said Boyd was the first member who had decided to recuse himself from the recognition process in two years. "Abstention is if your vote is biased, recusal is if your opinion might bias others," Moffat said. She said someone might abstain if there is a possible relation, such a friend, which might affect how a justice would vote. A member would recuse themselves when they have vital role in the organization, such as Boyd's role as co-founder of the TRA. The Judiciary's written regulations -- the TCU Constitution and its bylaws -- do not require judicial members to refrain from voting on the recognition of student organizations they belong to. Judiciary member Jordana Starr is also a member of the TRA's executive board. Starr said she joined the club after the organization was approved. Her name was not on the list of members submitted to the Judiciary in its application to be recognized. She said she joined because she was "friends with a lot of people in the club" and participating in The Primary Source's annual trip to a shooting range had increased her interest in second amendment issues. Starr said she became the group's secretary after the original candidate decided not to join the organization. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said justices should recuse themselves from any vote they have a stake in. "If someone is not in a position to consider something objectively, in any type of vote, he or she should not participate. This is a judiciary, not a legislative body," he said. The regulations governing disciplinary hearings are different. The TCU Constitution requires Judiciary members to recuse themselves from any case for which they have a "relationship or involvement, current, or past, with any persons who are litigants in a hearing." Judiciary members said it was impractical for these bylaws to apply to recognition process, because of the size of Tufts' student body. Starr said the rule could limit the ability of judiciary members to join organizations. "Let's say there's a club that would garner a lot of interest, and a huge proportion of the student body," Starr said. "Then we can't have a quorum and we can't have a vote." She added that it would be impossible to prove someone is biased when recognizing a new group. "There's no way to prove by a standard whether someone has an interest in the club." Reitman said that since the criteria for recognition are clearly defined -- an organization must fit within the TCU constitution and not duplicate another group's purpose -- there should rarely be a problem. "There have been appeals of J recognition decisions, so there is room in the process for contention," he added. Another check on the power of the judiciary is the Committee for Student Life (CSL). The TCU Senate and Judiciary meet at the behest of the CSL, and all student government decisions can be appealed to the CSL, which includes students, faculty and administrators. CSL member and chemistry professor Chris Morse -- an expert on the rules and the structure of Tufts student government -- likened the CSL to "judicial review" of the entire student government process. "If someone feels there is a problem with the process, the CSL is here to deal with it," he said. "The CSL is the primary appeal body for anything that comes from the Judiciary." Morse admitted that the environment of the University may prevent the Judiciary members from avoiding all conflicts of interest. He said the school is too small an environment for students not to be familiar with a group of students pitching a new organization, he said. "Half the students who came before the CSL last year were my students." Morse said. "Am I supposed to recuse myself every time I know the person?" He added that the Pachyderm allows complainants to file appeals to the Judiciary and CSL within 24 hours of a hearing if they believe any justice will be biased. A conflict of interest bylaw could also come from external sources. Students or faculty can propose any changes to the TCU Constitution, which must be approved by the student body in a vote.

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