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Greenhouse gas woes

November 23

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) recently sponsored a bill that would increase regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, but the bill was defeated in the Senate. With a vote of 55 to 43, Senators defeated a bill that would have classified carbon dioxide as a pollutant for the first time. The vote was largely split across party lines, with Democrats in favor and Republicans opposed to the regulations. The bill would have required reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 2000 levels by 2010 and 1990 levels by 2016 by capping overall greenhouse emissions from electricity production, transportation, industry and commerce. The legislation would have also created a market for tradable pollution permits, allowing companies with higher abatement costs to buy pollution permits from companies able to reduce pollution cheaply. But the act's opponents worry that it could have detrimental effects on the recovering economy. The Bush administration said the bill would cost 600,000 jobs, cause electricity and natural gas prices to rise by half, and contribute $100 billion to the federal deficit by 2025. Estimates by the Environmental Protection Agency suggested that the act would require firms to purchase allowances at $14 per ton of carbon dioxide emitted -- effectively raising the cost of gasoline by nine percent, the cost of natural gas by 20 percent and the cost of coal by 100 percent. Coal, oil and natural gas currently supply 86 percent of all energy used by Americans. But McCain and Lieberman were still encouraged by the vote. "We've lost a battle today, but we'll win over time because climate change is real," Sen. McCain said. "And we will overcome the influence of the special interests over time. You can only win by marshaling public opinion." Backers limited the bill's scope so that it would not include residential or agricultural sources of greenhouse gases or firms that emit less than 10,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year. They also cited a study by researchers at MIT, which showed that the direct annual costs associated with the proposed legislation would amount to $20 for each American household. But opponents were not convinced of its feasibility. Many Congressional opponents of the bill claim that any effort on behalf of the US to regulate carbon dioxide emissions would be ineffective on a global scale as long as developing countries continue to industrialize with no intention of limiting their own emissions. "With the economy just coming out of a recession, this [bill] is not something that a bipartisan majority in the Senate was likely to support," Tufts Republicans President Phillip Tsipman said. Massachusetts senators Edward Kennedy and John Kerry supported the proposed legislation. Ten Democrats crossed party lines to oppose the bill, while six Republicans supported it. The fight over carbon dioxide regulations is not new. Twelve attorneys general, two cities, and 14 environmental groups are currently suing the EPA for refusing to regulate the gas under the Clean Air Act. Democrats and Republicans have clashed since 2001, when President Bush withdrew the United States from the Kyoto Protocol. According to NASA predictions, the Arctic ice cap will continue to retreat at a rate of nine percent per decade if current climate trends persist, and it could disappear altogether by the end of this century -- with disastrous effects for coastal areas. But some environmentalists said that the McCain-Lieberman bill, if passed, would not go far enough in limiting emissions. To stabilize current atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, worldwide greenhouse gas emissions must be reduced by at least 60 percent, according to Resources for the Future (RFF), an independent institute that analyzes environmental, energy, and natural resource topics. "The McCain-Lieberman act may have helped to put infrastructure in place to begin reducing carbon dioxide levels, but it may send the wrong message," said Anja Kollmuss, the outreach coordinator for Tufts Institute of the Environment. "If people think that the goal is to reduce emissions by single digit percentages, we will not achieve the larger goal [of preventing climate change]." According to Kollmuss, the McCain-Lieberman bill does not adequately address the problem because it does not require the development and use of alternative energy sources. The proposed legislation could be more effective if it were part of a package that reduced subsidies for fossil fuel programs and invested in renewable energy sources.

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News

A fresh look at coming-of-age

November 23

Few people would trust MTV to publish a thoughtful novel, but that is exactly what happened when the same network that produces Total Request Live published The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. The novel is a glimpse at teenage pop culture-ridden life, set in the early 1990s. The result is similar to the techno remix of a classical masterpiece, offering its own fresh perspective to an old favorite. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is similar to your classic coming-of-age story; however, it revives this tired genre through a vivid portrayal of modern adolescence. The individuality of this book is obvious from the first page. Its unusual form of narration reveals the plot through a series of letters to an unknown recipient. Charlie, the individual who writes these letters, begins them with the introduction, "Dear friend." This cryptic opener, which is never fully explained, adds a personal touch, strongly tying the reader to the protagonist and his emotions. Charlie candidly admits everything, including his confused and emotionally-charged thoughts and the reader is instantaneously immersed in Charlie's introspective world. Charlie, a high school freshman, is a wallflower because he stays on the sidelines of social interaction. Both sensitive and shy, he prefers reading books and observing others to the development of actual personal relationships, and his only friends are upperclassmen. Charlie is every bit as mature on an intellectual level, but na??ve when it comes to social interaction. Not knowing how to be honest with people, he ends up dating a girl who he doesn't like at all, having a crush on a girl he never confronts, and letting a boy kiss him, even though he feels no sexual or romantic interest in the same sex. Despite Charlie's social naivety and status as a wallflower, he has a fascinating social life. He attends The Rocky Horror Picture Show weekly, where his friends dress up as the film's characters and act out the zany roles of the story. He experiments with drugs, tests the waters with girls, and makes his own mix tapes. From the novel's first page to its last, Charlie undergoes strong character development and learns more about the subtle world that surrounds him. Charlie is a multifaceted character, one in which everyone can see a portion of themselves. He is certainly not the most popular kid in school, but then again, he's not the biggest loser either. Charlie is a young adult who is somewhere in between being popular and unknown, trying to find his place in the bewildering world of high school. In his first letter, Charlie writes, "So this is my life. And I want you to know that I am both happy and sad and I'm still trying to figure out how that could be." This image is a potent one and symbolic of the novel as a whole -- Charlie's life as a restless youth is nostalgically priceless.

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News

Administration working to reduce cost of tuition

November 23

Tufts is pooling its resources with other area institutions in an effort to control ballooning tuition costs. University administrators have recently employed several creative cost cutting measures, such as buying in bulk and joining purchasing pools. Students are paying $38,270 this year -- a $2,000 increase from last year's tuition. This figure far exceeds the national average of $26,854 for tuition at four-year, private colleges, as reported by the The Associated Press. Tufts' high price tag has scared off many potential applicants, and has placed a significant financial burden on families of the students who do attend Tuition increases have long been termed as unavoidable as the University must raise tuition in order to provide students with the best available resources. In a recent interview with TheBoston Globe, President Larry Bacow explained that Tufts is "responding in a very competitive market" to provide students with "fancy dorms and state-of-the art athletic facilities." Tufts is making an effort to limit costs by increasing private fund-raising efforts and collaborating with other Boston area college administrators, Bacow told the Globe. To cut costs, the University has joined other local universities in "purchasing pools" to buy commonly needed supplies and services in bulk. This allows schools to lower costs that would otherwise be much higher. "Working with non-profit higher education consortiums gives Tufts many opportunities for collaborating with colleagues at other colleges and universities to reduce costs and cut spending on non-academic purchasing and services," Vice President for Finance and Treasurer Thomas McGurty said. In cooperation with the purchasing pools, Tufts has recently purchased furniture and Dell Computers at greatly reduced prices, McGurty said. Tufts is also working with other local universities to fulfill insurance requirements. Through the Boston Consortium, a group of several local colleges and universities, Tufts has purchased "enhanced coverage at lower costs." McGurty indicated that his office is continuing to work to reduce costs and subsequently, to lower the cost of tuition.

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News

Women's swimming launches 2003-04 season

November 23

Women's swimming and diving coach Nancy Bigelow warned that the 2003-04 Tufts' campaign may start out slowly. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, she was right. Tufts kicked off its NESCAC season on Saturday in a dual meet with the Connecticut College Panthers and UMass-Dartmouth Corsairs. The Jumbos dominated the non-conference Corsairs 216 to 76, but narrowly fell to the NESCAC competitor Conn College 156 to 142. "A lot of girls had really amazing swims," senior tri-captain Kierstyn Thayer said. "A lot of girls were swimming some events that they don't normally swim. We had some tough lineups, but overall I think we really performed extremely well." The Jumbos participated in 13 individual races, two relays, and two diving events, placing first in six total events. Senior tri-captain Mika Sumiyoshi took first in the 100 meter backstroke, the 100 meter butterfly, and the 400m Individual Medley. Freshmen Alaina Thiel (50m freestyle), Dierdre Cannell (100m breaststroke), and sophomore Beth Lopez (200m freestyle) all swam to first place finishes as well. The two freshmen, along with classmate Jess Bollinger, swam in eight other races combined and never placed lower than fourth in any event, including relays. "It's really exciting for us as a team, and even more so for them as individuals," Thayer said. "They really stepped it up and performed well, especially given that it was their first collegiate meet." The Jumbos also tallied a number of second and third place results. Sophomore Katie Mims swam in four events on the afternoon, placing second in the 100m freestyle, third in the 50m freestyle, and second along with senior tri-captain Amanda Bloom, Thiel, and Cannell, in the 400m freestyle relay. Classmate and distance swimmer Kristen Hyland also had a solid afternoon, placing third in the 1000m freestyle, and fourth in both the 500m free and 400m IM. One reason for the narrow loss to the Panthers could be the absence of six Tufts juniors, who are finishing up study abroad programs this semester. Most notable is Erika Wietz, one of the Jumbos top sprinters, who qualified provisionally for nationals last season. The six absences have caused many of the girls to swim in events that they wouldn't normally swim in, a problem that should be rectified come second semester. "It's exciting to know that once we get the six girls back, we'll be much stronger as a team and hard to beat when we're finally all back together and in shape," Thayer said. The Jumbos look to build off this loss and learn from their mistakes heading into the rest of the NESCAC season. "This was a good first meet to build off of, even though we didn't win," Thayer said. "It was a good starting point. Our team dynamic is really cohesive, and we're building off our strong unity." Being the first meet of the season, the swimmers also were able to get comfortable with themselves and realize what they can and can't do, and get the butterflies out of their stomachs. Also, as teammates, they discovered the most effective ways to help their teammates during a race. "Some people like everyone to be waiting at the end of the lane, while others just like everyone to be screaming and cheering really loudly," Thayer said. "Its things like that that we learned on Saturday and can use for the rest of the year." The Jumbos next test will come a week from Wednesday, when they face non-conference opponent Wellesley. The Blue have consistently been a tough matchup for the Jumbos, as the two have developed a bit of a rivalry over the past few years. "The Wellesley meet is going to be big," Thayer said. "We're all getting really charged for that one, because they have become one of our rivals and we're going to put forth everything we've got to get the win."

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News

SoC thrills an energized audience

November 23

Spinning, kicking, jumping, stepping, and gyrating dancers lit up the stage last Thursday and Friday in Spirit of Color's (SoC) fall dance spectacle, Climax. With pulsating beats, colorful lights, and challenging choreography SoC thrilled an already energized audience with 21 numbers danced by some of the most talented performers Tufts has to offer. An eclectic musical selection gave each number its own style and pizzazz. Of course there were the traditional dance beats derived from popular hip-hop, reggae, and teeny-bop-pop. However, there was also music seldom associated with dance, such as that of Rod Zombie, Bush, and Oasis. The broad range of musical genres allowed each group of dancers the freedom to express themselves through more than just the rhythms of traditional dance. Though each number had its own distinct high points, several stood out above the rest. The fourth number of the first act, entitled "Organized Chaos," offered steamily sharp sex appeal with its all-female company clad in black and red. With a dangerously fast beat provided by the music of Outkast, the dancers managed to stay in sync while still flirting with the audience. Strobe lights and silhouette effects enhanced the visual experience and made the dancers' movements that much more erotic. Complete with cinematic accompaniment, SoC's darker edge came out in full force with a number that was set to the music of Rod Zombie. "The Puppet Master" featured scowling, goth-like dancers popping out from under black cloaks after a somewhat disturbing Marilyn-Manson-video-like clip of the Tufts campus. Through the metallic driving music and acrobatic moves, the dancers portrayed a sinister aura. On the lighter side, the "Work Me Down" number choreographed by Tyler Duckworth brought the audience back to the 1980's when leg warmers, big hair, and shirts off the shoulder were all the rage. This cheerleading inspired dance highlighted Gumby-esque flexibility and dazzling kick-line synchronization. The second act began with pounding bass. "The Black Out" combined mind-boggling coordination with a military attitude. The all-male group stepped it up with little to no music creating SoC's version of Stomp without the props. The steppers threw in their own personalities with momentary pauses in the percussive action to make wise-cracks or break into less regimented dance moves. SoC's sex appeal came to a climax in "Hot Tenderness" set to the music of Otis Reading and Jessica Rabbit. The seven female performers utilized the whole stage with long seductive moves. Silhouette effects created by colorful backlighting coupled with graceful floor work and intermittent solos highlighted the dancers' sexy skills. In "The Chemicals Between Us," choreographers Lucia Carballo and Henry Myint (also SoC's director) brought together rapid, sharp movements and the alternative music of Bush. Myint was an obvious presence on stage with his seemingly effortless execution and confident poise. He and his neon-green clad fellow dancers seemed like machines straight out of a Matrix or Terminator movie. Though the SoC cast is primarily female, an all male group danced to the music of Justin Timberlake in "Senorita." This was clearly the high point of the second act. There wasn't a girl in the audience who wasn't aroused by these eight guys dressed in soccer jackets, white t-shirts, and jeans. The group tantalized the crowd with moves reminiscent of an ultra-sexy R&B video while proving that yes, real guys can actually dance. Though the choreography and execution were phenomenal, the show had some unnecessary breaks in the action. Several short comedy scenes took away from the fluidity of the production by creating some awkward moments. Though they drew a few laughs the production would have been more cohesive had these skits been cut out. The dance contest after the intermission was mildly entertaining, but "Benny from the Block" needs to go back to high school if he thinks he can win a dance contest by doing push-ups on stage. Though there were some talented dancers in the competition, it was more awkward than amusing to see non-SoC members improvising to random music. All in all, SoC lived up to its hype as one of Tufts' most anticipated fall fine arts events. Myint and assistant director Elizabeth Sutton brought this large company together for a show that was truly the Climax of the semester.

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News

A look at the All-NESCAC Jumbos

November 23

This is the second part of a two-part look at Jumbo athletes who were honored by All-NESCAC selections. On Friday, the men's cross country team and the football team's selections were reviewed; today, the other fall sports will be covered. In men's soccer, senior midfielder Brian Mikel made the All-NESCAC Second Team. This is Mikel's second straight year on the All-Conference Team, having earned a spot on the first team last season. The Tuscon, AZ native was a team captain and was one of two players to start in every game this season for the Jumbos. Although he only scored one goal this year, Mikel was the team's playmaker, setting up shots for others and playing suffocating defense. "He was our anchor in central midfield," coach Ralph Ferigno said. "He has a lot of natural athletic ability and is very strong technically. He'll be tough to replace." Women's soccer fielded three All-NESCAC players this year. Seniors Jess Trombly and Jess Lovitz were First Team selections, while junior Jen Baldwin made the Second Team. This was the second First Team honor for Lovitz, a team co-captain who started every game for the Jumbos and was the key player on one of the best defenses in the NESCAC. "She's been the most consistent player we've had," coach Martha Whiting said. "I can't remember her ever having to come off the field. She has a toughness and a willingness to win that you don't find in a lot of players." This was also Trombly's second year on the First Team. She was also named to the Second Team her freshman year, when she also took home NESCAC Rookie of the Year. She was second on the team in both goals and assists this year and finished third on the Jumbos' all-time scoring list with 58 points. "She is one of the best athletes I have ever coached," Whiting said. "Her speed, aggressiveness and determination turned her into a great player." Jen Baldwin made her second appearance on the All-Conference Team, after earning a spot on the First Team last year. The junior forward led the team in goals, assists, and points to finish near the top of the league in all three categories. "She's a different kind of player," Whiting said. "She's a really smart player and has an amazing ability to get away from defenders and get open." Freshman Kelli Harrison, from Rim of the World High School in Blue Jay, CA, was a force on the 20-11 volleyball team. Harrison ranked in the top ten in the NESCAC in kills per game and hitting percentage. The outside hitter's 413 kills were the best on the team, while her 265 digs and 36 aces were both second on the team. Harrison's impact was also recognized outside the NESCAC, as she was an honorable mention to the All-New England team and was selected to two All-Tournament teams, one at MIT and the other at the Coast Guard Academy. "The entire season was amazing," said Harrison. "I had a great time and we played really well as a team." Women's cross country senior captain Lauren Caputo was another Jumbo at the top of the NESCAC. Caputo ran strong all year, placed first for the Jumbos in nearly every race, and won All-New England honors in addition to her spot on the NESCAC First Team. Caputo won one of nine at-large bids to the NCAA Division III National Championship, at Hanover, Indiana, where she placed 71st in the nation. Rounding out Tuft's All-Conference athletes is sophomore field hockey standout Lea Napolitano. In only her second year as a Jumbo, Napolitano led the Jumbos with 16 points and six goals to make the All-NESCAC Second Team. "She's just incredibly talented and hardworking," coach Carol Rappoli said. "She makes the other players around her better. She is one of the best forwards in the league and one of the best 10-15 players." Napolitano's strong play also earned her recognition from the National Field Hockey Coaches Association, which selected her to the New England West Region Second Team.

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News

A University in your backyard

November 23

Though Tufts is no longer the commuter school it was in the past, local students from the Medford and Somerville communities continue to enroll at high rates. Tufts receives between fifteen and twenty-five applications from Medford and Somerville High Schools each year, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Lee Coffin said. Students also apply from several private and parochial schools in the area. Administrators said there is a comparative advantage to being from a local community. University President Larry Bacow said local students tend to "do far better in the admissions process," than the total applicant pool. Bacow also said local students sometimes receive some bonus financial aid. "Like legacies, we know our local communities have a special relationship with the University, and that counts for something in the admissions process," Coffin said. This year, Tufts enrolled six freshmen from Somerville High School and five freshmen from Medford High. With an enrollment rate of over fifty percent, accepted local students who attend Tufts far exceed the average enrollment rate of 8.7 percent for other University applicants. "In a most-selective admission process like Tufts', these types of matriculation levels are substantial," Coffin said. Despite the high rates of admissions, Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel said there are no guarantees in the process. "I would never characterize it as an expectation," she said. "Historically, [local] kids have applied and been admitted to Tufts." Tufts draws many local applicants partly because of its involvement in the community, said Rubel. "Students who grew up here form a connection between the University and the community, and that makes us seem like part of their real life environment," she said. This year, the University hosted the first annual Community Day, an outdoor carnival for local children with free catering from the University. The Leonard Carmichael Society hosts Kids Day and Read by the River each spring for local children. Another LCS Group called Kids for Colleges, and the CHANCE program educates sixth graders about the advantages of high level learning. The University also allows some high school seniors to audit courses on a space available basis. Rubel said between two and eight students take advantage of the free class. All local residents, including local students, are allowed to use Tufts' libraries. Such programs are common across the country. Renesslaer Polytechnic Institute offers selected free classes to students through its Young Scholars Program. If a student completes the program with a GPA of above 3.0, they are automatically admitted to the school. Rubel said the programs were not done with admissions in mind. "They are not done as a recruitment tool, she said. "They are just done [as] community relations." Somerville High School Guidance Counselor Frank Howard said these programs, along with many traditional factors make Tufts a popular choice at the school. He said students weigh the selectivity of the school, programs offered, the climate and atmosphere of a school when deciding. This year, although no one has applied yet, Howard said one student was showing interest. One advantage local students do not receive is additional recruitment efforts. This year, no admission officers have visited Somerville High. Howard said Somerville's small size has convinced many recruitment officers to stay away. "Most colleges don't send representatives like they did ten years ago," Howard said. The school now has to rely on word of mouth, websites, and mailings to draw new students. He said while other students are drawn by the close location, others are repelled. Sophomore Tim Manning, a Medford resident, applied to Tufts, along with several schools outside of the Boston area. "I was familiar with the campus, I knew the Boston area, it's easy for me to get home and back," he said. Ultimately he chose to attend Tufts despite concerns that the University was too close to his home. He described his process of coming to Tufts as similar to other students, in that his knowledge of the school came through tours, flyers, and his sibling's experiences. Two of Manning's older brothers graduated from Tufts in 1998 and 2002. Massachusetts, and especially the Boston area, has always been a large part of the student body. Last year, 1,015 students, or twenty-four percent of the student body was from the state. The percentage was even higher in decades past, when Tufts was a smaller liberal arts school with a commuter base. "In the early days of Tufts tradition, everyone who came from Tufts was local. Rubel said, "There were no real dorms on campus."

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News

Squash opens season at Harvard

November 23

The men's and women's squash teams both faced opponents on both ends of the spectrum in their first matches of the season, held Saturday at Harvard University. Both teams faced Williams, which represented a tremendous challenge, and Connecticut College, a school that both teams expected to beat fairly easily. Coach Doug Eng said at the beginning of the season that one of his goals for the teams was to defend their positions and beat the teams they were capable of beating. The Jumbos took the first step to achieving that goal, as the women defeated Connecticut College 9-0 and the men won 7-2. Neither team could match up with Williams, as both the men and women fell 9-0. A third match scheduled with Brown was postponed because of transportation issues. Despite losing by such a large margin to Williams -- neither team won a game -- both teams felt it was a valuable learning experience. "Everyone held up alright against Williams," senior co-captain Jordan Kolasinski said. "We get a lot out of playing opponents who are a few levels above us. It's really beneficial to get a feel for that quality of play." Senior Leigh Checchio, the captain of the women's team, agreed with Kolasinski. "Williams was ranked a lot higher than us, so it was a real tough match, but I thought we did fine," Checchio said. The women had no problems with Connecticut College, even though it was the first competitive match for the freshmen. Freshman Jules Avrutin led the way for the Jumbos, winning in five games at the number one spot (9-2, 9-0, 7-9, 7-9, 9-1). Another freshman, Erica Adler, performed well at the number two spot, winning (9-10, 10-8, 9-2, 9-5). A third freshman, Liz Thys also played solidly for the Jumbos, winning easily at the number eight spot. Eng was impressed with the performance of his freshmen. "In the first match of the season you're going to be nervous, but the freshmen played real well," Eng said. "Jules and Erica were both very good. It was a good start for them and the entire team played well." Checchio won easily at the third spot, despite playing her first match in well over a year. "I went abroad last year so I hadn't played in quite awhile, so I was pretty nervous," she said. "But I calmed down and I think I played pretty well." Junior Nicole Arens won easily at the number four position, and juniors Nida Ghouse and Eliza Drachman-Jones followed suit at five and six respectively. Senior AJ Crane battled at number seven and prevailed in four games. Sophomore Joelle Polivy rounded out the successful match for Tufts by having no trouble at the number nine position. Checchio felt the team played very well in its first match. "We were expecting to win, but not by a score of 9-0, so I thought it was a very good performance," she said. The men also had a successful match against Connecticut College, despite a few nervous moments at the beginning of the match. "It was a little closer than we expected at first," Eng said. "We thought our closest matches would take place near the middle of the lineup, and we lost a couple of those, so it was a bit scary. But we picked it up later and our guys at the front and end of our lineup played well." Sophomore Spencer Maxwell won in four games at the number one position (6-9, 9-3, 9-4, 9-5). Tom Keidel, also a sophomore, prevailed in five games at number two (9-5, 6-9, 9-1, 6-9, 9-7). Kolasinski won in four games, while sophomore Pranav Tripathi fell in a hard-fought five-game-match. "It was a tough match for Pranav," Eng said. "He played well, but I'd like him to be more aggressive." Sophomore Dan Karlin won at the number five spot for Tufts, while senior Alex Busse fell at number six. "Alex was in a real tight match," Eng said. "It was actually his first competitive match with us, so I thought he did fine. He just couldn't quite put the ball away in some cases." Senior co-captain Jesse Goldberg, junior Fernando Kriete, and freshmen Dave Linz all won easily for Tufts at the seventh, eighth, and ninth positions respectively. Eng was satisfied with the men's performance. "Things weren't happening quite the way we wanted at first, but it was just our first match. The guys played hard, they played pretty well and we're happy," he said. Kolasinski echoed Eng's comments: "Everyone played a really good match against Connecticut College," Kolasinski said. "They've sort of been a rival in the past, so it was a solid win." The team should be more relaxed and ready for itss next challenge on Dec. 6 when it plays Trinity and St. Lawrence. "Trinity is incredibly good and St. Lawrence is strong too, so we're gonna have our work cut out for us," Kolasinski said.

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News

Team makes waves at season opener

November 23

Most teams use the first match of the year to work out their kinks and tune-up for the remainder of the season. For the men's swimming and diving team Saturday at UMass Dartmouth, however, there just weren't too many kinks to work out in its 208-81 bludgeoning of Connecticut College. Although the meet was held at UMass Dartmouth, Tufts only receives a mark on its record for facing off against the Connecticut College Bantams, a member of the NESCAC. Had the Jumbos been scored against UMass Dartmouth, they would have come home dual-champions, as they outscored UMass 234-55. Tufts rolled to victory over the Camels after placing first in 14 out of the 18 total events. The swim team gained first in 12 out of its 16 events, while the diving team earned the top spot in both of its tries, the one meter and three meter dives. Not known for its swimming and diving prowess, Connecticut College worried some Jumbos prior to the match, who feared Tufts might take the match too lightly. Even swimming coach Don Megerle had his concerns, fearing the weaker competition could produce a lackluster performance. However these doubts were snuffed when the Jumbos continued to win event after event. "The kids swam even better than I had anticipated," Megerle said. "I'm not sure what it was, maybe an intensity from [Connecticut College or UMass Dartmouth], but we swam quite well given the relatively weak teams. We had several best unshaven swims." Megerle was referring to the swimmers, who have yet to shave down to make themselves quicker in the water. This ritual usually occurs later in the year before the larger invitational meets, and typically yields faster times. Swimmers felt the same as Megerle regarding the team's performance. "It's good to know that at this point of the season, we are better now than we were last year," sophomore swimmer Marc Katz said. "We had some really great swims [on Saturday]." For the swimmers, junior Seth Baron and seniors Tyler Duckworth and Nathan Brown led the way. Baron took first in both the 500 yard freestyle and the 200 yard fly, the latter of which wasn't scored. Duckworth and Nathan won the 400 yard inter-medley and the 100 yard freestyle with times of 4:27.32 and 54.19, respectively. The presence of senior Nick Ghoussaini, junior Mike Rochette, and sophomores Brett Baker, Jono Godsey and Steve Ward was also felt, as each placed first in their respective races. The much heralded Jumbo freshman class weighed in too, with a strong showing by Sloan Harris, Greg Bettencourt and Ray Radovich. "They're a good bunch," Megerle said of his class of 2007. "Ray [Radovich] had possibly the best swim of the day, it's unfortunate it wasn't counted towards the final standings." Because of the nature of the three team/one opponent meet, some of the events that the Jumbos won weren't counted. The divers went home happy as well, with graduate student Connell Cloyd and sophomore Todd Putnam each placing first in one of their events. Cloyd took first in the three meter dive, while Putnam took first in the one meter event. In both events, the two Jumbo divers placed first and second, silencing their competition.

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News

Jumbos finish 11th at nationals

November 23

As junior Nate Brigham said, "Some days you either have it or you don't." The men's cross country team just didn't quite have it Saturday at the Division III National Championship race in Hanover, Indiana, finishing 11th out of 24 teams. The result was far better than the 23rd place finish the team earned in its last nationals two years ago, but it was also short of the squad's goal of a top six finish, which would have been Tufts' best finish ever in the race. Calvin College dominated the meet, placing its top five runners in the top sixteen overall for a cumulative score of 48. The next closest competitor was Wisconsin Stevens Point with 128 points, while the Jumbos finished with 298. Freshman Josh Kennedy and sophomore Kyle Doran, both running at nationals for the first time, came out conservatively but gained momentum throughout the meet and ended up leading the way for the Jumbos. Kennedy finished 40th overall in the nation with a time of 26:10, while Doran finished two spots back in 42nd place at 26:14. "I'd run in big meets before but never this big," Kennedy said. "I figured the race would settle after a mile, but the initial pace held for about a mile and a half. Obviously I wish the team had done better but I thought I did OK. I passed a lot of guys down the stretch instead of getting passed." Kennedy attributed the fact that the initial pace held for so long to both the quality of the runners and the fact that guys were probably overexcited to be racing in nationals. Doran, like Kennedy, was pleased with his personal performance despite the squad's worse-than-expected showing. "Today was a pretty good day for me personally," Doran said. "But the team does better when I'm back in third or fourth and that's the way it should have been." The team's usual lead runner, Brigham, who earned All-American status in last year's nationals and was coming off a dazzling race at the New England qualifiers, finished 67th overall in a time of 26:40. "I was in the top five or ten at the mile mark, but I just didn't have it today," Brigham said. "When Kennedy went by I tried to team up with him, but he was having such a good day that I couldn't. Same with Kyle Doran." Sophomore Neil Orfield and junior Brian McNamara finished back to back in 74th and 75th place overall with times of 26:46 and 26:47, respectively. Finishing sixth and seventh for the Jumbos in nonscoring positions were senior co-captain Peter Bromka at 99th with a time of 27:08 and sophomore Matt Fortin in 123rd overall at 27:34. The Jumbos got out to a solid start, with Brigham up with the leaders and McNamara off to a fast start as well, but the two faded throughout the course of the race. The temperature at Hanover College stretched into the high sixties and affected several other runners, but none of Tufts' competitors. However, the Jumbos were unable to hang close to one another as well as they have done time and time again this year. "There were so many runners, we couldn't quite stick together like we would have liked to," Brigham acknowledged. Tufts (298) finished third out of New England schools, behind sixth place Williams (220) and eighth place Keene State (279), but ahead of Amherst (575), which finished last. But unlike many of their previous races, Tufts wasn't gunning for any of their regional rivals. "We were pretty much just racing the field," Brigham said. "At New England's, you can key off certain guys, and you know which teams you're competing against," McNamara added. "Nationals is a whole different world. There's people lining the course, it's loud, and there's five guys right in front of you and five guys right behind you the entire way." Reflecting on the race while eating ice cream in a Chinese restaurant in Indiana Saturday night, the team sounded extremely upbeat and relaxed; while it was undoubtedly disappointed in its performance, it was determined not to let it undermine the success of the total season. "This wasn't like two years ago, which was a complete meltdown," Brigham said. "We didn't have our best day. We still had a solid day, because we have a solid team. It doesn't take away from everything we accomplished this year." "Nate and I didn't run our best races, but when two of your guys have off days, and you still finish 11th in the nation, that says something about your team," McNamara said. Kennedy echoed these thoughts. "We had a rough day, and we still finished 11th," Kennedy said. "The trip itself was amazing. It was just a great experience to build on. I'm just happy to be here." "Coach said after the race we have nothing to hang our heads about," Brigham said.

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News

Add a dash of color to your winter wonderland

November 23

It's that time of year again -- winter is upon us and this means bidding farewell to fun summer clothing. As your thermometer takes a nose dive you won't be able to pull off that carelessly worry free outfit of jeans and t-shirts much longer. There's no way around it: heavy coats and bulky sweaters are the only way to stay warm when the temperature plunges. Coordinating outfits with so many layers can be particularly challenging. Perhaps this is why winter clothing is traditionally darker and more somber-looking than warm weather clothing. Additionally, the heavy wools so typical of winter clothing are more difficult to care for. Many opt for darker colors that are easier to keep looking clean. If you've already been through a dreary New England winter, you know that the last thing you need on those overcast miserable days is dark oppressive color in your wardrobe. You see, winter is all about color. Cheery hues work wonders for a drab outfit and can brighten your entire outlook during endless weeks of ice and snow. Most people rely on one "winter coat" throughout the season. This item is obviously a tricky choice, because it theoretically has to work with everything in your closet. This is why many people end up selecting classic black. Of course black always looks great, but if you have decided to go for black outerwear, try and find something with some interesting detail. For example, a unique woven texture in fabric can add excitement to a classically shaped coat. Don't feel like you have to go for black. Sometimes, color can be so bold that it stands alone and in a way, becomes neutral. By neutral I mean that the color is so dramatic that it doesn't really matter if what you are wearing with it matches exactly. Besides, if you keep the coat closed, no one will be able to tell that your shirt clashes with it! So, don't be afraid to go for that gorgeous crimson red or deep blue. Just imagine how dramatic you will look against all the white snow. While we are on the subject, let's discuss white. There is a distinct difference between summer and winter white. According to the salesperson at United Colors of Benetton, winter whites are warmer "cr??me" tones, while summer whites are true stark white shades. If you are unsure of what's appropriate, you probably don't need to worry because it is almost impossible to find summer white in any store right now. On that note, what are stores carrying this season? I've noticed that now, more than ever, there is a huge emphasis on accessories. While gloves and scarves were once practical afterthoughts to an outfit, people are discovering that one can change the whole look of one's outerwear with accessories. These accessories are typically less expensive than coats, so it's feasible to have a broad selection of interesting hats, gloves, and scarves to incorporate into all sorts of interesting looks. If you have a black jacket, colorful accessories are a must. Conversely, if your jacket makes a bold statement, steer clear of outrageously loud accessories that will end up making you look like a gaudily decorated Christmas tree. However, a little sparkle can be quite lovely. Try adding a unique broach or pin to the lapel of your coat for instant personalization. For stunning vintage costume jewelry try Twentieth Century Limited on 73 Charles Street in Boston. Vintage costume jewelry also doubles as a great gift. This winter, don't be afraid to be colorful, even with those selections in your wardrobe you wear all the time. Why should gorgeous color be restricted to special occasions? Consider color an everyday luxury that is easily affordable. When everything around you is dull and bleak, wrap yourself in lovely hues and bring back a little piece of those bygone summer days. This time of year is notoriously stressful, so go into it prepared with a confident, bold look.

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News

Tufts finishes third in season opening tournament

November 23

Over the weekend, the men's basketball team hit the road for its first games of the season at the Max Ziel Tip-Off Tournament in Oswego, NY. After facing tough man-to-man pressure that disrupted Tufts' offense in a 67-55 loss to St. Lawrence on Friday, the Jumbos bounced back on Saturday with a 69-60 victory over D'Youville College. "We weren't really prepared to handle the pressure we faced the first game," senior co-captain Eric Mack said. "We had a lead, but they picked it up and we weren't ready. Then we gave up too many easy baskets in the beginning of the second half." In the second game, the opposite was true for Tufts. "We won because we picked it up defensively," Mack said. "We were down by ten and then we stepped up our defense and scored some easy baskets and just kept the lead from then on." Against D'Youville, the Jumbos had an uphill battle as they faced a 31-17 deficit at one point in the first half. However, Tufts went on a run capped by a half court buzzer beater by Mack, cutting its deficit to 34-29 at halftime. "We played real good D during that stretch to get a lot of easy lay-ups," Mack said. The second half was all Jumbos, as they outscored the Spartans 40-26. Tufts' shooting percentage jumped from 36.7 to 59.3 percent in the second half, and the team shot much better from the three-point line (3-5 in the second compared to 1-8 in the first). In addition, Tufts only made 12 turnovers compared to last year's team average of 19. Sophomore Scott Armstrong led the way, coming off the bench to pour in 19 points in 23 minutes of play. "We saw flashes towards the end of last year when [Armstrong] started to become healthy," senior co-captain Deyvehn East said. "This year he's going to get some playing time and can be a post presence for us." Sophomore Dan Martin put down ten points and three other players had nine points in the win, but overall shooting was poor. The Jumbos shot 44 percent from the free throw line for the game. "There was really no excuse to shoot that bad from the free throw line," Mack said. "We just need to concentrate or focus more when we get to the line." The conditions of the away game were not in favor of Tufts. East believed the gym was a little colder and rims were tight. Mack thought that balls were in terrible condition. Those factors led to poor shooting, but also provided opportunities to rebound. East took full advantage, pulling down five offensive rebounds and ten defensive boards for a total of 15 on the day. "I knew since I hadn't been shooting well from the field," East said. "I had to do something to contribute to the squad." In the contest, eight players got substantial playing time. When junior Reggie Stovell, who is currently injured, returns to the team after winter break it could turn into a four-person bench, for a nine-person rotation. East feels the Jumbos' bench will pay dividends. "We have guys coming off the bench that can put up 15 to 20 points a night," East said, specifically highlighting freshman Dave Sheppard and Armstrong. In Friday's game against St. Lawrence, not too much went right for the Jumbos. They only turned the ball over 16 times, but other than that, the game was tough, as the Jumbos shot 38.5 percent for the game and 25 percent from the three-point line. "We just weren't used to playing offense against that type of pressure," Mack said of St. Lawrence's intense man-to-man defense. In addition, Tufts only shot 52.2 percent from the free throw line. The team didn't see these low percentages coming. "It's not like we have anybody that consistently misses free throws in practice," East said. Sophomore Blaine Lay put up 17 points on six of nine shooting and eight rebounds, but was Tufts' only bright spot. Tufts played its new 2-3 defense and it proved effective during some stretches, but was also scored upon at times. "It worked well in stretches," Mack said. "Sometimes the other team made adjustments and we would give up a couple easy buckets and then we would have to make some changes ourselves. We played man-to-man the second game a little more than the first and that went well." Overall, Mack said he felt the trip went okay and would have been better if the team went 2-0 instead of 1-1. He feels the squad has a lot of room to improve. "We needed to learn how to win," East said. "The second game was a big step towards that."

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Tufts ranked fifth for study abroad programs

November 23

Tufts moved up five full spots to fifth in a list of American research institutions that send their undergraduate students to study abroad, according to the Institute of International Education (IIE). This year's list marks Tufts' highest ranking in recent years. It was ranked tenth in last year's study abroad survey, down from a ranking of eighth in the 1998-99 school year. The IIE, funded by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, compiled this most recent list using figures from the 2001-2002 academic year. They were published it in its Open Doors Report, which provides comprehensive information on international educational exchange in the United States. For the purpose of the Open Doors Report, IIE defines study abroad as only those students who receive academic credit from US-accredited institutions of higher learning after they return from their time abroad. Heidi Reinholdt, an IIE public relations representative, also said that the survey only tracks US citizens going abroad. As a result, the numbers do not include international students enrolled in American colleges and universities who study abroad during their junior year. Surveys were sent out to 1,286 institutions during the fall of 2002, asking them to provide statistics on the number of their students whom were awarded academic credit for studying abroad in 2001-2002, including during the summer of 2002. Of those institutions, 87 percent completed the survey. The report says Tufts had 584 study abroad students in 2001-2002, 553 of whom were undergraduates. These 553 undergraduate students accounted for 41.6 percent of the junior class that year. The number-one ranked institution was Yeshiva University in New York City. Nearly 75 percent of its undergrads participate in study abroad programs, most in Israel. Yeshiva is followed by Georgetown University, the University of Notre Dame, and Duke University, with 52.1, 50.6, and 49.7 percent, respectively. Sheila Bayne, Associate Dean of Study Abroad Programs at the University, said that having a strong study abroad program distinguishes Tufts from other institutions. "I think that there is a lot of interest in study abroad here. Tufts is always in the top ten or 20. We are a very different study abroad institution in that we have a very serious language requirement," Bayne said. As an example she cited the fact that Tufts has one of the few study abroad programs in Paris that requires six semesters of university-level French. She also said that International Relations -- one of the most popular majors at the University -- requires eight semesters of foreign language. "We have intellectually sophisticated students," Bayne said. The report also recognizes the fact that though the United Kingdom is still the most popular destination for American study abroad students. With 300,000 students heading there this year, it also marks the first time that the numbers fell slightly -- by half of a percent. Less traditional destinations, such as China, South Africa, and the Czech Republic became more popular, with popularity increasing by a third. Open Doors 2003 reported that most American students go abroad for shorter periods of time. Ninety-one percent of students in 2001-2002 went abroad for a semester or less, the report said. "It's difficult for students to imagine to go abroad for a full year, but almost anyone who does is glad they went for the whole year," Bayne said. Bayne also said that when students apply to any of the Tufts-run study abroad programs, preference is given to those who say they want to go for the entire academic year. The report showed a 4.4 percent increase in US students abroad in 2001-2002. But that only represents only 130,000 of the country's 13 million undergraduate students. A $3.5 billion dollar a year program known as the "Lincoln Fellowship" has been proposed. Its goal would be to increase US study abroad students that go overseas for at least one summer or semester to half a million. These students would also receive a $7,000 annual stipend and be encouraged to study abroad in developing nations. "I think it's an excellent initiative and I am strongly in support of it," Bayne said. "It's nice to know that [Tufts] is at the forefront of what needs to be done." According to freshman Rahel Menghestab, the University's emphasis on study abroad opportunities is one of the exact reasons he came to Tufts. "I chose Tufts because it offers a lot of diverse study abroad programs within the school - it makes it a lot easier to transfer credit and receive financial aid," he said. Senior Courtney Benson said she studied abroad at The Autonomous University of Madrid last year through the Tufts-in-Madrid program because it facilitated the credit transfer process. Others, such as sophomore Will Northrop, who is planning his year abroad for 2004-2005 said he was not going to go on a Tufts program because "it's a full year and very expensive." On the most part, however, Tufts students are satisfied with what the abroad experience has contributed to their undergraduate studies. The graduating class of 2003 filled out a survey, Bayne said, in which 55 percent indicated they were 'very satisfied' with study abroad at Tufts. Those that responded that they were 'satisfied' numbered 34.8 percent.

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News

A pub night for all seniors?

November 23

Senior Pub Night (Seen-yor pub nite): Evening of festivities with friends and classmates in a social environment... supposedly... "Class of 2004 CALLING ALL CLASSMATES You are cordially invited to attend A Senior Pub night for the Class of 2004" Calling ALL classmates? Not quite. Above is an excerpt from an invitation sent out prior to this past senior pub night on the evening of Nov. 13. Senior Pub Night was designed to bring the senior class together to socialize, fundraise for the senior class, and celebrate the last year together at Tufts. The senior pub night on Thursday, however, excluded two-thirds of the senior class from attending when tickets sold out soon after going on sale. Just 380 tickets were available, which accounts for barely a third of the senior class population. Granted, not every senior will purchase a ticket to every pub night, but I am willing to bet my favorite shot glass that the Senior Class Committee would have no problem selling to half the class (approximately 600 students). It may mean working a little harder to promote the events, timing the day more carefully, finding larger venues, or having the events on-campus, but t would be worth it. Since we were currently in-between athletic seasons, many more athletes could attend this event, and the council failed to take that into consideration. I suggest trying to do a senior pub night on campus in Gantcher, much like the one held in Dewick at the end of the year, but hire a caterer to serve drinks and food instead of spending money on transportation. That way, the students could potentially save money by selling tickets at a lower rate, but the committee could offer students food as part of their buying incentive and sell more tickets. You could get a student entertainer to DJ the event (free), set up some chairs (also free) and make sure there is plenty of booze served at a semi-reasonable price -- that is all you need. An event such as this could entice even more students to come because some (believe it or not) do not like drinking in bars, or in general. If Gantcher is not an option, then try to have it at Dewick, or Jackson, or my house (I make a mean White Russian). However, there are more issues than just the location of the event. The main problem lies in the structure of the ticket sale operation. Some tickets were even sold to underclassmen that should not have been able to purchase them in the first place, because Information Booth attendants neglected to check IDs. The invitation states loud and clear, "Class of 2004." The Senior Class Committee should have instructed the Information Booth attendants to take names and check identification numbers. This simple task would have eliminated many of the problems that occurred Thursday night. This excluded seniors from the event that they actually had the privilege of being invited to attend. In addition, a mix-up at the Information Booth caused ticket sales to halt on Tuesday, Nov. 11 when "someone locked the senior pub night tickets somewhere" and they could not be found. Students who attempted to purchase tickets Tuesday were sent away empty-handed, some only to come back Thursday at noon when tickets were already sold out. Without any warning of how many tickets would be available, many seniors were shut out of an event that they should have been allowed to attend. I realize that the last pub night supposedly did not sell out, and that the council lost money because they could not meet the bar minimum, but that could have been avoided with more advertising and word of mouth. If I had known the event was failing, I would have personally e-mailed every person I knew to buy a ticket. I suggest a more personal approach to ticket sales, by setting up a table in the campus center a couple of hours a day (during lunchtime) in the week prior to the event and selling tickets that way as well. If there are a lot of tickets to get rid of, simply having them available at the Info Booth will not sell the maximum. A few things occurred due to these problems with Senior Pub Night -- many have been mentioned in previous articles, but I will clarify them for you now if you have been living in a hole for the past couple of days. As a result of the lack of organization and planning with ticket sales, tickets sold out and students were upset that they spent money on an event that would only include half of their friends. Consequently, some seniors decided to help out their friends by scanning a few fake tickets. Unfortunately, a few too many students had the brilliant idea, which caused a bit of overcrowding at Hong Kong in Harvard Square, where the pub night was held. Later events included a fight, which led to a broken window on the hired transportation. How the broken window has anything to do with some extra people going to Hong Kong, I do not know. The window could have been broken by anyone, fake ticket or not. I would love to know how some fake tickets escalated this matter to such a degree. Regardless, the window is expensive to fix and the Tufts Office of Student Activities is out to catch the perpetrator (so watch out). Of course, in typical Tufts manner, the way that they plan to catch the window-breaker who owes money is by spending... yes, more money. As a senior, you begin to realize that the time you have left here is dwindling, and that means time spent with friends becomes even more precious (I realize this is cheesy, but it is true). The Office of Student Activities recently gave word that they would give any student who had information about Thursday night's problems free Senior Week passes and cold, hard cash (potentially a $700 value). This act against students who used or created fake tickets to enter the pub night represents a serious misappropriation of Tufts funds, as well as an uncomfortable dilemma for students. To turn classmates against their peers is disgusting, and what is even more abominable is the fact that Tufts is spending thousands of dollars to weed out students who used fake tickets simply because the students actually wanted to participate in a school event in order to be with their friends. It is no wonder why Tufts, for a top-tier university, has one of the lowest endowment rates in the country. Who would want to give back to an institution that causes alienation and disrupted camaraderie? At college, you are supposed to have the time of your life. This includes studying, making friends, and partying, if you are lucky. For me, this has certainly been the case... until now. Shira Levy is a senior majoring in economics.

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News

WHAT'S GOING ON?

November 23

There has been a lot of activity lately surrounding this year's Naked Quad Run (NQR), which is less than a month away. The TCU Senate, Programming Board, and administration have all been working on developing new aspects of the "Nighttime Quad Reception," including adding a carnival with food and entertainment and "increasing safety precautions." While all these are good ideas, none of them have anything to do with the major problem associated with the NQR last year and in years past: binge drinking. While I commend the training of volunteers by Health Services in order to identify signs of alcohol-related illness, it is a shame that nothing is being done before people drink themselves sick. Prevention is far more important and more effective than damage control. The Naked Quad Run does not become safer in any way if medical staff are able to more quickly identify students who are sick. In fact, moral hazard may become a problem: students, cognizant that there has been an increase in safety procedures, may decrease their own personal responsibility and engage in riskier behaviors than they would otherwise. The argument that providing other activities surrounding the festivities will decrease drinking is ridiculous. Students who were going to drink themselves into oblivion, especially upperclassmen, will do that regardless. Crowding in West Hall and drinking with your friends is the tradition of Naked Quad Run, and anything that addresses other issues is superfluous. The students who take advantage of the new programming will likely be drunk or be the students who were not going to engage in risky behaviors otherwise. This is not a problem that funding the Programming Board will fix, unless the Programming Board had attempted a massive health education or social norms campaign -- and unfortunately it is too late for both of these. Students will have already decided on their behavior for the night before they set foot on the quad and see free Chinese food. Therefore, students needed to be educated about reducing their risks of injury while participating in whatever they choose to do at Naked Quad Run. This is not a task that the new Director of Alcohol and Drug Services could have accomplished alone. But it is unfortunate that the Senate and administration have misguidedly focused on entertainment issues. The problem with Naked Quad Run in the past has not been a lack of fun. Rather, it is that the fun has gotten out of hand and that people have engaged in unsafe behaviors. Any solution must address the real problem. Another completely irrelevant NQR-related initiative is the addition of a fundraising component to the evening. First of all, there is no reason why the Special Olympics should be the organization receiving funds from this event, other than personal connections of individual senators. If anything, funds raised at the NQR should go towards TEMS or Alcoholics Anonymous. Regardless, turning the event into a fundraiser does not address the problems associated with it, but just covers them up. It sends the message that getting wasted and running is acceptable if you are helping a good cause, even though many could argue that school spirit itself is cause enough. No one has been brave enough to ask the question that matters here. Why do students decimate their bodies with alcohol one night a year? There are a number of explanations: the culmination of a stressful semester, tradition, the availability of alcohol, the need to warm a naked body, liberation from societal mores regarding sexuality, etc. Notice that the lack of things to do on the first night of reading period is not one of them. (In fact, I know several students who have run sober and then returned to the library to study or finish papers.) To make NQR a better experience for those involved, the reasons why people endanger their health and safety must be examined. And what of the groping? The spectator attendance? The videotaping? Last semester, these were all mentioned as huge problems with the Run. Keeping people in neat lines only scratches at the issues. The roots of these problems, largely related to perceptions of human sexuality at Tufts and in the greater society, have been ignored. The student body has largely been left in the dark in the seemingly-haphazard planning of this year's NQR. Involving members of the TCU Senate in the planning of this event does not mean that the community itself has been involved. Students involved in student politics are not representative of the average apathetic drinker/streaker who will be running in December. Efforts to figure out the needs of these students have been lacking. Some people see the problem of the Naked Quad Run in its existence. For these people, adding non-naked, non-drunk events will reduce the problem. But for me, the problem is when students get hurt. It is possible to address this problem without adding new activities to the Run. While it is too late for this year, there is hope for the future, as concepts of health education and promotion are slowly making inroads into the masses of students and administrators at Tufts. I worry, though, that due to the lack of parties with alcohol thus far this year, students will be particularly steadfast in their desire to drink and run. Adam Pulver is a junior majoring in Political Science and Community Health. He can be reached at pulver@tuftsdaily.com.

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News

Fewer undergrads apply to medical, dental schools, backing national trend

November 23

While the number of applicants to medical and dental schools increased by 4 percent this year, reversing a six-year trend, the number of applicants from Tufts remains low. This year, 107 undergraduates applied to medical and dental schools, compared with 113 last year and 117 the year before. Applications peaked in 1997, when 143 students applied to such schools. Nationwide, the numbers of applications have still not rebounded to the all-time high of 47,000 reached in 1996; this year, there were almost 35,000 applicants. Applications to graduate schools have historically increased when there has been a downturn in the economy. "My reading of the tea leaves is that when the economy starts to sour, more students apply to med schools," Bernheim said. "When times are robust, economically speaking, more people seem to go into business." Initial indicators suggest that with the economy rebounding, members of the class of 2004 will have an easier time finding a job than last year's graduates. A survey by Michigan State University of 450 small and large companies found that 60 percent of respondents expected to increase or maintain hiring levels. Fifty-five percent of companies responded the same way a year earlier. "I don't think people are all of a sudden switching from other tracks," said Kimi Kobayashi, co-president of the Tufts Pre-Medical Society. "Tufts has such a strong pre-med reputation." In recent years, about half of all medical school applicants from Tufts have been accepted to at least one school. With the applicant pool expanding, however, the chance of admission diminishes. "Competition becomes more furious," said Tufts University School of Medicine Dean of Admissions Robert Sarno. He emphasized that students should not get too ahead of themselves during the admissions process, as there is little a student can do to become more competitive in the eyes of admissions officers. "Either you are or you aren't [competitive]. You can't cure cancer before you graduate from college," Sarno said. According to Ed Dagang, Director of Admissions at the University of California at Davis, the achievements outside the classroom are what make a candidate unique. "Folks believe that if they complete everything, get the GPA and MCAT scores, then there's an entitlement to a spot in med school, but that's not the case," he said. Dagang said that the applicant pool at Davis has grown slightly over the past three years. "I'm not sure students at Tufts are worried," Kobayashi said. "I don't think people are anxious about getting in, more just about the process. It might become more competitive, although I feel pre-meds on the whole are pretty competitive anyway. I'm not saying to myself 'I wish I had applied five years earlier because of all these increased applicants.'" While requests for application materials to Tufts Medical School have declined steadily over the past five years from 9,338 in 1998 to 7,430 this year, the number of completed applications has remained relatively stable. This year, the school received 5,668 applications, compared with 5,121 applications in the 2001-2002 academic year. Over the past five years, between eight and ten percent of applicants were accepted, but the school's yield -- the number of accepted students who actually attend -- has fallen from 41 percent in 1998 to 32 percent for this year's first-year class. A year at Tufts Medical School costs $40,094, including fees. Even though tuition did not increase over last year's rates, Tufts remains the most expensive medical school in the country. The school is starting to introduce programs that help students with financing. "Life Skills" is scheduled to be introduced in 2004 to assist students with budgeting, loan payments, and preparing financially for residency. "We're here to help students," said Tara Olsen, the medical school's director of financial aid. Four of five students receive financial aid of some form and the average debt for members of the 2003 graduating class at the medical school was $160,343. "Any type of free money the student can get helps out," Olsen said. Sarno, the dean of admissions, acknowledged that student debt is a problem. "It affects the choice to practice when they [med students] get out," he said. "They won't be able to their pay debt if they're just doing primary care. It's becoming obscene, the amount of debt some of these students are graduating with."

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News

Little Shop of Horrors delightfully entertains

November 23

The cast and crew of Torn Ticket II's Little Shop of Horrors left no stone unturned as they pulled out all the stops to produce a thoughtful and thorough version of the dark 1960s musical comedy. The small but strong cast charismatically carried the show with help from a talented and well-timed pit, artistically thoughtful costumes, and of course, a humongous and voracious alien plant. Little Shop of Horrors tells the sentimental story of downtrodden dweeb, Seymour Krelborn, played by sophomore Alexander Sherman, who is forced to sleep under the counter in the basement of Mushnik's Flower Shop. Mr. Mushnik, played by sophomore Aristotle Kousakis, treats the adorably pathetic and bumbling Seymour like dirt. As Seymour bemoans his fate, he swoons over the shop's sweet secretary, Audrey, portrayed by sophomore Julia Arazi. Audrey, played with a deep and smoky voice, is trapped in an abusive relationship with a psychotic denstist, Orin Scrivello, played by junior Armen Nercessian. Seymour finds an outlet for his affection when he discovers a "strange and interesting plant" during a solar eclipse months earlier and decides to name the plant "Audrey II." Seymour's discovery seems like the answer to all of his problems as the bizarre fly trap saves Mr. Mushnick's failing flower shop and wins him the attention of his love interest, Audrey. Things seem to be looking up for Seymour as Audrey II brings fame and fortune to the "Skidrow" flower shop until Seymour's botanical find turns out to have a dangerously insatiable appetite. When Seymour discovers the "secret formula" to save Audrey II's wilting leaves is actually human blood, he is able to appease the plant by pricking his own fingers until the exponentially growing plant starts demanding bigger and fresher flesh. The deliberately dark tone, set by the show's visual elements, effectively contrasted the blatant but disturbing absurdity of the plot as well as the catchy Motown-esque musical score. As costumes and props adjusted to reflect the darkening mood and thickening plot, the music effectively moved the show along. The audience left the theater invariably humming one of the show's hit numbers, "Skidrow." The over-the-top characters were portrayed wonderfully with good old fashioned physical comedy. The Doo-Wop girls, played by sophomore Kirign Elstad, senior Nicole Frattaroli, and sophomore Valerie Hattis, helped to smoothly deliver the show's narration as the commenting chorus. Clad with teased hair, tight retro dresses, four inch pumps, and fifties-esque clam diggers, the talented but trampy Skidrow girls, along with their various outfits, are a perfect reflection of the show's darkening mood as well as its increasing absurdity. Nercessian, could not have played a better Orin Scrivello. In his motorcycle leather jacket, the pain-obsessed, nitrous oxide inhaling dentist looked like a combination of an aggressive John Belushi and a very greasy, hip swiveling Elvis. With one latex glove, bad boy Nercessian performs a mock oral examination on the three Doo-Wop girls as they seem to experience an orgasmic rush and gasp for air when he tells them to, "open wide." By the end of Act I, the human actors are hilariously upstaged by a now talking and singing plant who is, at this point, taking up a considerable portion of the stage. The voice of junior Andrew Beattie bellows out from the mouth of a frighteningly large and animate plant puppet, shouting, "feed me... feed me all night long!" The meek and loyal Seymour, feeling like he owes everything to Audrey II, responds to the plant's jivin' demands by making supper out of Audrey's sadistic boyfriend. When a young cowboy entrepreneur played by junior Dan Balkin presents the opportunity to market Audrey II and guarantees to have the popular plant in every household in America, Seymour realizes that this was what Audrey II had been planning all along. Deciding that the murderous plant had gone too far, Seymour finds himself in a climactic showdown between himself and the monstrous flower. Sherman effectively brings his character into hysterics as he finds himself sick with mad scientist syndrome and without a reason to live on his own when he finally throws himself into the carnivorous jaws of his own creation, Audrey II. In the end, with the majority of the cast somewhere under the stage, the moral of the story is clear, resounding in the actors' final song, "don't feed the plant!"

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News

Event aims to build bridges

November 23

A group of ninth graders from inner-city Boston got a glimpse of college life with a visit to Tufts on Friday with the Building Bridges class. The students from the Josiah Quincy Upper School in Chinatown, which is just a few blocks away from Tufts' Boston Campus, got a chance to see, test out, and literally taste, undergraduate life at Tufts. The high school students spent the day on campus in small group discussions focused on encouraging them to pursue a college degree and discussing a college checklist to help them prepare. Throughout the day they ate in Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall and toured dorm rooms and the computer lab. The event was organized by the twelve students in American Studies 192, Building Bridges. Junior Jennifer Ji described the day as a "side event" to the class. In addition to class work and volunteering, the AS192 students planned and organized the entire day for the students. Some of the Tufts students tutor at the Josiah Quincy Upper School as part of the class's weekly community service requirement. "We go into their community, and this event is a chance for us to bring them into ours," said Emily Keifenheim, the Americorps Volunteer in Service to America (VISTA) working in the Tufts Chinatown Partnership Office. "We want to help them see that Tufts is not that far from the neighborhood and that Tufts, or a school like it, is an option for them," Keifenheim said. The day's events also included a scavenger hunt and performances by members of the Ballroom Dance Team, who demonstrated several Latin dances and by members of Cheap Sox, who improvised skits based on college life. "We wanted to give them a college perspective. A lot of them are first generation [immigrants] and have lots of family members who haven't been to college," Sophomore Loi To said. The younger students responded positively to the day's activities. "I had a lot of fun learning about Tufts," ninth grade student Tammy said. "I never thought about going here before, but now I am." Other students agreed. "I learned about sororities and RA's and dorms," said Tamesha, another ninth grader. "I would definitely think about coming here." Tory, another ninth grader, however, said he didn't think Tufts was exactly right for him. "This campus seems pretty boring," he said. "I want to go to college, but not in the suburbs." Student organizers still said the event was a success in allowing students to get a taste of campus life, and encouraging them to go to college. "When we asked the kids if they want to go to college, they all said 'Definitely.' That's what we're aiming for," Ji said The event was sponsored by a number of offices and organizations, including the University College, the American Studies Department, Dean of the Undergraduate Experience, the Office of Community Relations, Dining Services, Hillel, the Latino Center, the Asian American Center, and the TCU Senate. The course -- subtitled "Active Citizenship in an Urban Community: Race, Culture, Power, and Politics" -- is a joint effort between the American Studies Department and The University College of Citizenship and Public Service. The full-year, 1.5-credit class is taught by Professor Jean Wu.

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News

Impaired vision

November 23

When I came to Tufts last year, I felt that Tufts provided me with a more than adequate social scene, and I thoroughly enjoyed going out on the weekends. After a week of classes and homework, I could find numerous venues on campus to unwind and meet new people. However, with the advent of the University's new alcohol policy, such a vibrant social scene has all but disappeared, as the administration seeks to eliminate such an atmosphere from Tufts. In the last two weeks, I have heard about maybe one party on the Tufts campus. It seems that thus far, President Bacow's crusade against an on-campus nightlife has been successful. Fear of being shut down or placed on social probation has kept the Greeks from organizing any sort of party or social gathering. This is more than a crackdown on underage drinking; this is a crackdown on fun. Personally, I feel that Bacow does not realize the implications of the administration's new policy. Moreover, as an individual who earned his position on this campus due to his reputation as a successful fundraiser, I find myself questioning the true motives behind this new policy. It seems likely that Bacow is more concerned with ensuring the donations of wealthy alumni rather than providing a well-rounded college experience for the student body. Yet by allowing the short term economic benefits of this new policy to overshadow the repercussions on the social scene here at Tufts, the administration has overlooked the negative effects that such a policy will generate in the future. More immediately, Tufts may gain a reputation as a school that only stresses the academic aspects of the college experience, thus preventing the institution from distinguishing itself from the other top tier universities in the northeast. One can predict that this policy will undoubtedly result in a drop in the number of applicants as publications such as the Princeton Review and US News and World Report shed light on these issues. In addition, the administration's crackdown will inevitably result in a decrease in alumni contributions in the near future as students who are dissatisfied with their overall college experience will refuse to donate money to a school that does not cater to the needs of the student body. Assuming otherwise is shear folly as students and their families will have already spent upwards of $160,000 for their Tufts' degree. The priority the administration places on acquiring funds permeates numerous other aspects of this institution. The President's house, where meetings with wealthy alumni take place, has one of the most meticulously landscaped gardens, while important student services are ignored. The administration turns a blind eye to the fact that one is more likely to find a broken Debitek machine than a working one, forcing students to embark on the infamous quest for quarters. While our $40,000 a year goes to maintaining Bacow's garden, we are also left with inexpensive, half-ply toilet paper that is so thin that one cannot even pull off a roll without their hand going through it first. The fundraising mentality even permeates lectures on the campus-life at Tufts. The other week, I attended a lecture by the Institute for Global Leadership during which a Dean continually regurgitated the "selling points" of the school that we have had drilled into our heads since our first on-campus tour. Did she really expect me to break out a checkbook and make a donation right there? If the school needs more money for things like working card machines, or halfway decent toilet paper, maybe they should sell some of the plasma TVs around campus that serve no purpose other than creating the illusion that the administration cares about the needs of the student body. After a closer evaluation of the new alcohol policy, it became evident to me that it is symptomatic of a larger problem. The administration does not seem to be aware of what its top priority should be: the overall well-being and happiness of the student body at Tufts. The formulation of a working alcohol policy is undoubtedly a daunting task. However not only were the needs of the students overlooked, but even the Tufts' senate, the "voice of the student body" was not consulted in the decision. Moreover, the administration's logic behind the new policy was flawed from its inception, with its focus on the elimination rather than control of the nightlife. There is a middle ground somewhere and the administration needs to find it. I challenge President Bacow to demonstrate his true commitment to the students of this university and devise a policy that both students and alumni can tolerate. Phil Martin is a sophomore majoring in Political Science.

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News

Boston among numerous teams looking to move players

November 20

If you're a Boston Red Sox fan, you might not recognize the team in 2004. There are numerous accounts of Red Sox officials listening to offers for Manny Ramirez and Nomar Garciaparra, among others. The World Series only finished less than a month ago, but the Red Sox along with numerous other teams are looking to overhaul their rosters for next spring. It's going to be a busy offseason with many clubs looking to move big name players with even bigger contracts such as Alex Rodriguez, Curt Schilling, and Richie Sexson. The New York Yankees will no doubt vie for some of those players in addition to various big-name free agents such as Bartolo Colon, Vladimir Guerrero, and Gary Sheffield. The Red Sox need to upgrade their pitching significantly if they are finally going to win it all. Free agents Keith Foulke and Kelvim Escobar have reportedly piqued Boston's interest. Unless the Sox can move Ramirez, it is unlikely they will be able to add a top-flight starter like Colon or Kevin Millwood. Originally, it was thought that Schilling might be a fit with the Red Sox. Boston is looking for pitching, and it was rumored Schilling was interested. Yet, he quickly dispelled those rumors when he said he had no interest in playing for Boston because he thought Fenway park wasn't a good stadium for a right-handed fly-ball pitcher. However, Schilling has expressed interest in pitching for the Yankess in the hitter's paradise that is Yankee Stadium. Sounds like Curt could use the benefit of a Tufts University education. There are rumors that A-Rod is possibly coming to Boston, but that will be hard to accomplish unless the Texas Rangers warm to the idea of taking on Ramirez's inflated contract. The good news for the Sox is they now have a shot at winning a World Series because they have removed "manager" Grady Little from the helm. Little was a mastermind when it came to keeping players happy, but his game calling ability was abysmal. Speaking of A-Rod, it's about time he finally got the MVP award. There have been all sorts of debates about what "valuable" means. ESPN columnist Rob Neyer points out that the instructions that are sent to MVP voters declare value to be equivalent to "strength of offense and defense." Well, A-Rod was a Gold Glover, and he also put up incredible offensive numbers -- that should be good enough. The idea that his monstrous salary should prevent him from winning the award does not make sense either. If the MVP was given out as some sort of measure of production per salary, you would have to give the award to Esteban Loaiza or Alfonso Soriano or someone like that, but that's just getting silly (they arguably weren't even the best players on their teams). The value associated with the MVP award is defined differently than the abstract concept of value, so the decision for AL MVP should have been pretty clear cut, and it was. The sad situation involving the cash-strapped, ownerless Montreal Expos has always been an embarrassment for baseball. But now the 'Spos have some competition. The Milwaukee Brewers have let it be known they are reducing the team's payroll next season to $30 million. At this rate, the Brewers ought to just take Alex Rodriguez's $25 million salary and then fill the rest of their roster with various buffoons dressed in sausage costumes. Look out for the Toronto Blue Jays next year. They have had a powerful offense for awhile, but now the pitching is starting to fall into place. Roy Halladay, Ted Lilly, and Pat Hentgen make for a respectable top end of the rotation. With a few small upgrades to their bullpen, the Jays could contend for the American League East title next season. Meanwhile, the steroid controversy has shown how dumb professional athletes can be. The system was originally set up so that no penalties would be levied on any player who tested positive for steroids in 2003. In addition, no penalties were to be assessed in 2004 unless over five percent of players tested positive in 2003. Players knew when the steroid tests were coming (spring training) and could have resumed their cycles right afterwards. Even though the whole plan was a farce, some players were still dumb enough to take them, and they somehow managed to break the five percent barrier. Despite the fact that penalties will actually be levied in 2004, they are far from harsh. The first time an individual tests positive, his name will remain anonymous and he will go to counseling. If an individual tests positive a second time, he may be suspended. The whole policy is so ridiculous that the head of the World Anti-Doping Agency called the testing scheme "a joke." At least they're setting a good example for little leaguers.

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