Archives

News

Confessions of a junkie

November 17

Here's a riddle: What's the one thing every kid in Miller has besides Prada shoes and cotton mouth? What's the one think every guy in a frat has besides a forty-inch neck and a bad case of the Clap? What's the one thing every IR major on campus has besides straight B's and a ticket for the unemployment line? Simple: A video game addiction -- and I know you've got it, because I've got it just as bad. Yep, when our parents sent us away to those prissy little New England prep schools, they never dreamed that one day we'd come down with a chemical dependency scientifically proven to be four bajillion times as deadly as heroine, meth, and rhesus monkey fur combined. My drug of choice is the soccer game FIFA 2003, and I take it straight up -- on the X-Box. My roommate and I play at least three twenty-minute games a day, at least. The freshmen across the hall from me estimated they play between seven and ten hours of Madden 2004 each week. They usually play two games a day, but "three if somebody is pissed," one of them said. I would venture to say, no make that guarantee, that playing video games takes up more of my time than anything else I do some days, including sleeping. The first step in any twelve-step addiction program is recognizing and admitting that you have a problem. Well, my friends, I am an addict. But for some reason, I don't really have any intention of moving on to the next step. I am fully aware that the voices of John Motson and John Madden have become more familiar to me than the voices of my close relatives. I am fully aware that I become slightly aroused when the guy comes on and says, "EA Sports, it's in the game." And I am fully aware that if I never graduate from Tufts, it won't be because I never took math or science. Nope, it'll be because I had my fingers surgically attached to the controller and a feeding tube shoved down my throat so I never have to move away from the screen. Whether you get your fix with NHL 2K2 for Dreamcast, NFL Blitz or Mario Tennis for N64, or NBA Jam for Super Nintendo, here's a quick checklist so you can rate you own dependency. You get one point for each "yes" answer. Feel free to e-mail me any additions to the list or hilarious video game-related stories. 1. Have you ever laid in bed at night and not been able to fall asleep because you're picturing moves you would do or plays you would call in the game? 2. Have you ever, when watching a real sports game, screamed at your team's coach, "Why didn't you push A, you freaking moron?" 3. Have you ever returned from class at 10 p.m. with a seven-page paper due the next day and said to yourself, "I can play a few games before I start working?" 4. Have you ever, when making a move on a member of the opposite sex, whispered, "Your graphics are very realistic?" 5. Have you ever pulled the fire alarm in your building just to wake up the kid down the hall with the PS2? 6. Have you ever said the following over the phone: "Um, mom, I know we need to talk about my underage drinking ticket, but I'm on a power play right now and I really need a goal?" By the way, I've already had to stop writing this column twice to play my roommate in FIFA. 7. Have you ever missed the first few minutes of a class because the game went into overtime, and then ditched the whole class because somebody wanted a rematch? 8. Have you ever gotten so competitive you start complaining about screw ups in the programming by saying things like, "Are you kidding me? You can't do that on a grass court?" 9. Have you ever told your parents, "Yeah, I'm getting plenty of exercise at school -- I play basketball with my friends every night?" 10. Have you ever had to call TEMS for carpal tunnel syndrome? 11. Have you ever destroyed school property in a fit of rage and blamed it on "that horse s**t pass interference call?" If you scored between zero and three points, your rank is Any Freshman from California. Between four and six -- Peace and Justice Studies major, and between seven and ten -- Rush Limbaugh fan club member. If you answered yes to all of the questions, you are so chemically dependent that you are now officially eligible for next year's Major League Baseball draft.

---

News

42 million and counting

November 17

Try something: look around and pick out one third of the people you can see at this moment. Tell them that you know how they are going to die, and that it is going to be excruciating, prolonged and beyond the reach of even the most sophisticated Western medicine. We're pretty good at poo-pooing what is occurring with AIDS right now in Southern, Central, and Western Africa, but there are a good number of countries, including Botswana, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe, where the above exercise would be devastatingly accurate. For the brief time I spent in South Africa and Zimbabwe this past summer, I tried not to think about it in those terms. I did not want to play the numbers game; I preferred to pose questions to NGO workers and political leaders on the theoretical plane, as if we were somehow immune to it all. It hurt when I really thought about it. So why care? India is making its own generic anti-retrovirals (the only type of pharmaceutical consistently effective at extending the life of AIDS victims significantly), Bush has just pledged $15 billion towards a global AIDS fund, Bill and Melinda Gates are funding 15 percent of the AIDS program operating budget in Botswana -- we're on the ball, right? And besides, what does Africa have to do with us? My response, I will admit, is biased: I am becoming increasingly incapable of thinking in terms of 'national interest' without thinking in terms of human interest. I cannot make an argument that given our miniscule portion of foreign investment in the African continent, even a dramatic collapse of economic viability would seriously threaten our own economy. Nor can I claim that it is of vital security interest. A great ocean and a greater gulf of power separate us for the foreseeable future. Rather, I implore you to think in broader terms. We are too lucky, too fortunate not to be doing more. Nicholas Eberstadt wrote in Foreign Affairs one year ago that the death tolls currently being seen in Africa are likely to be paled by those to come out of India, China and Russia in the coming generation as the epidemic spreads. If such predictions ring true, we will be looking at nearly a quarter of the population of the planet being either directly or indirectly affected. I believe this is an opportunity, in the grandest sense, to make good on our espoused liberal claims that we of Western, European stock are no different, fundamentally, from our brethren. We do have a moral obligation to utilize (CUT2) our expansive resources and stop something that kills so discriminately, bludgeoning the world's most marginalized and defenseless sub-populations. There exists no "magic bullet"; AIDS and its associated shockwaves are too sophisticated for that. And I don't expect everyone to rise up en masse, get doctorates, and move to Africa or work the World Health Organization. Oddly enough, caring, really caring, can be enough. Our legislators like being elected, and our appointed government officers like to keep them happy. All of these people might be more than obliged to start looking empathetically at our common human vulnerability if we, the voting, cranky, impatient populace, say that it matters. Many of us will go our lives unscathed by this historically unrivaled plague; we will not have to face orphaned children, daily, whose eyes scan for a reason. But we will all feel hurt, and we will all see loved ones fall ill, and we will all feel it our right to have the legions of innovation deployed to remedy it all. It is no more our right than any other's; let our international biomedical moral relativism be washed away by genuine tears of human compassion. Without it, the death march will only carry on. J. Jeremy Sueker is a sophomore majoring in International Relations and Community Health.

---

News

Stayin' alive: Phantom Planet proves that rock n'roll is alive and well

November 17

There are concerts that make you feel alive. Your skin is jumping with musical electricity and all thoughts of the day are stymied by the breathtaking act sprawled before you on stage. In your bones, you feel the crowd's energy sizzling. Phantom Planet's Friday night concert at Axis was such an affair. Apparently, the longer Bostonians wait to see their music de jour, the hungrier they get. Due to a mysterious no-show by opener Ben Lee, the concert began at 8:15p.m. instead of the earlier ticketed time of 7:00. But as soon as Phantom Planet (PP) took the stage, oh, did they ever take it. Originally from Los Angeles, the band has recently climbed a few rungs on the stardom ladder after their song "California" was chosen as Fox's The O.C.'s theme song, thus extending their fan base across this great prime-time country. The band treated all fans at the concert to the rocking caresses emitted from its music during the hour long set. Combining the known success of its album The Guest, now in re-release, with forthcoming songs from its new album Phantom Planet Forever due out in February, the group was able to texturize its performance to both its hardcore, lip synching 16-year-old girl clique as well as to the older rockers in the house, who, for whatever reason, have gotten turned on to PP late. That got the concert going -- that, and front man Alex Greenwald, who has the flexibility of a monkey combined with the slyness of a cat. He's one of those people whose only possible career option is rock star. From body surfing on two separate occasions toward various areas of the crowd to parting the sea of dizzy young things so as to reach the older crowd swaying in the back, he knew how to push the mass's buttons. The most incredible part of the show, however, was when he used the rafters running over the audience as virtual monkey bars, singing and swinging the entire time But as much attention as Greenwald gets (and deservedly so) for his antics, it is the band as a collective unit that marks the warm, bubbly feeling of rock goodness that so distinguishes Phantom Planet. With the stage as their swimming pool, these boys splashed all about, making sure everyone in their audience got wet. Between gratuitous grabbing of the guitarist's limbs, to Greenwald threatening to "f***ing kill" anyone not singing along with the chorus of their new single, "Big Brat," the concert was certainly a collaborative effort. With Darren Robinson and Jacques Brautbar both on guitar (see sidebar), Sam Farrar on Bass, and new drummer Jeff Conrad (original drummer Jason Schwartzman left the band to pursue acting full time) at the helm of the beats, these instrumental four didn't just provide background; they provided context. As a band formed first out of friendship that just happened to lead to success, part of the joy of watching their show is watching their own particular brand of friendship in motion. And luckily for them and even luckier for us, that brand sounds darn good. And while the band may not have hit its contemporaries, the Strokes', level of fame yet -- they certainly have proved to have more depth than the television show that's making them famous.

---

News

Learning to appreciate Tufts' janitors

November 17

I'll be the first to admit that my dorm room is a mess. I've got clothes, shoes, and food wrappers everywhere, and it would probably take me a good ten minutes to find the TV remote. However, it's not just my room that is in this state. As a freshman, I live in Houston Hall with 280 fellow first-years. Maybe we are simply overeager to shed the rules and cleanliness of our homes, but I can assure you that we as a group are not exactly the neatest of people. I feel safe in claiming that our pattern of filth is common in many of the other dorms and buildings around campus as well. On most nights, pizza boxes in the hallways and failed Easy-Mac attempts in the bathroom sinks are common sights. Boxes can be found strewn in the general direction of the recycling bins, and the carpets are dirty with the tracks of hundreds of students. But by the time we wake up, this filth is magically replaced by cleanliness and sanitation. Trash and recycling bins are empty (and sorted), the halls are clean, and the puke from the preceding night's festivities no longer stinks up the bathrooms. How is this magical spotlessness achieved, you might ask? The answer is simple: our dedicated and hard-working custodial staff. Tufts' janitors are truly phenomenal. They are the ones that come in every morning and night while most of us are asleep and clean up our messes. They clean up our hallways and common rooms, picking up after us, and ensuring our dorms are livable. They separate the trash from the bottles and cans (that's right, part of the janitors' jobs is to go through the recycling bins, making sure there is no trash in the recycling and vice versa). They clean up the barf from our crazy nights, and they unclog our toilets. Our janitors do all this for us, and they do it all without being seen or heard. In return for their hard work, Tufts must reward the janitors handsomely, right? Yeah, sure. Years ago, Tufts' janitors worked directly for the University. As such, they received many of the benefits given to all university employees. In 1994, however, the decision was made to outsource the janitors' jobs. By no longer hiring our janitors directly, Tufts avoided being responsible for their wages and benefits. Currently, the janitors work for a company called OneSource. Under the current contract with this company, many janitors are denied basic health benefits for their families, and are given a grand total of zero sick days. Their wages are well below the national living wage, and many are forced to work two jobs to make ends meet. Those who work part-time are not paid wages on par with full-time workers, and many part-time janitors complain that they are not given the opportunity to work full-time even if they want to. Some will argue that because Tufts does not hire the janitors directly, the University is not to blame for the unfair contract. This, however, is simply not true. While OneSource directly handles contract negotiations with the janitors, the Tufts administration still maintains a great deal of influence in the process. Due to the relationship between the University and this company, Tufts' ideas about the janitors' contracts are taken into account by both sides, especially One Source. It is therefore inaccurate to excuse Tufts from blame regarding their treatment of their janitors. In fact, the Tufts administration is directly at fault for the inhumane conditions under which most janitors work at their university. When Tufts treats its workers the way it treats its janitors, it sends the wrong message to its students, faculty, and to the community at large. The University is, in essence, lying to the outside world. It claims to be a place in which faculty and staff will "have opportunities to realize their talents" (Tufts Mission Statement). But, when the school fails to pay its workers enough to even live on one job does it really give them fair opportunities? The hypocrisy of the situation is overwhelming. Tufts teaches its students that they are, in effect, more valuable as people than its janitors are. The administration spends thousands of dollars per year on each of its 5,000 students, but refuses to sufficiently pay or insure its janitors. So, what can we, as students, do about this inequity? First of all, we can become more educated about the situation. We can talk to the janitors when we see them in the hallways. We can ask them about their lives, and find out exactly what they want in the upcoming contract negotiations and why, and try to look at the issue objectively. The Tufts administration, for instance, tells the community that any increase in the janitors' salaries will come from increases in student tuitions. They fail to note, however, that the proposed changes add up to a grand total of an extra $37 per student. There are numerous opportunities on campus to learn more about the lives of the janitors who are such an integral part of the school. Student groups, such as the Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM) are working with janitors to make their concerns known. In fact, there was a teach-last night to make the janitors' situation more known to the community at large. The least we can do as students is to show some solidarity with the janitors who work tirelessly for us. Mickey Leibner is a freshman who has not yet declared a major.

---

News

Jay Z Signs off in Le Album Noir

November 17

With a total of 17 million albums previously sold, one of rap's most talented, most productive artists dropped his last album on Friday - two weeks before the planned release date. The original date for Jay-Z's The Black Album was supposed to signify both the end of Jay's rap career as well as the launch date of Jay-Z (Sean Carter) the marketing commodity. But now, with the early release, as of November 28th - a date which being referred to by the industry as 'Black Friday'-- it is all about the business. Both Reebok's S. Carter black sneaker and Jay-Z's autobiographical The Black Book are set to arrive in stores just in time for the holiday season. Meanwhile, the reason for the early music release wasn't neccessarily by choice; only after The Black Album surfaced online prematurely was its release strategically pushed forward. The Jigga Man's plans for market domination may have been hurt by the music leak, but anxious fans are jumping at the chance to get their first listen of what could be that last of Jay. The legendary emcee, known for 'writing' songs in his head minutes before recording and nailing tracks on one take, has been producing hit albums roughly every nine months since 1996. Depending on how you count, Jay-Z's The Black Album marks the 10th release since his Reasonable Doubt debut. It will be his 9th platinum record, easily reaching one-million plus records sold in its first week. Even so, critics and fans question whether any of his later albums come close to matching the brilliance of Reasonable Doubt. Let's get down to it - no album, The Black Album included, can be what Reasonable Doubt embodies, artistically and sociologically. Jay-Z and rap have matured in such a way that creating another Reasonable Doubt would be impossible. Jay-Z's brand of confident and witty pimp-hop is still as enthralling as ever, but his rhymes slack on depth due to newer, slicker producers. While shallow lyrics can be disregarded as brief lulls in creativity, the changes in the production style of Jigga's music is permanent. The grimy street anthems of DJ Clark Kent and DJ Premier have been succeeded by the trumpets and strings of JUST BLAZE and the saccharine beats of the Neptunes. But let's hold up a minute: The Black Album is no disappointment. After multiple listenings, it has potential to be a fan favorite. Jay-Z fans know that his albums are best appreciated over time. And this latest sampling will no doubt pull through, too -- it just may take a little more time. The album's main problem is that almost every track has a different producer resulting in a listening experience is not cohesive. But even amidst the sometimes discordant songs, there are hot peaks that lead you through. "December 4th" is Jay's best story telling effort since the original Blueprint's "Song Cry" and "Momma Loves Me". In this opener, Jay once again makes himself vulnerable while telling the story of his early years. His verses are prompted by his mother's words on this emotional cut. JUST BLAZE follows with "Interlude", bringing the disc to a fresh, professional level. He blesses the track with a sound I can only describe as jive. Meanwhile, the newcomer producers continue to keep the album solid. Kanye West creates the best beat of the entire collection in "Lucifer," a sample of Max Romeo's "I Chase the Devil." The album ends with "My First Song", and Jay exits as strongly as he entered. It's one of those soulful tracks that Jay has learned to perfect since the days of The Dynasty's "This Can't be Life". However, the gunfighter walks away after this one. But to be clear, the songs in between these hits are not filler. On the whole, Jay polished his lyrics for his last effort, and the album glistens with top quality production. "Moment of Clarity" may be the biggest let down because it had so much potential. On this track Jay-Z puts together his sharpest response to criticisms of shallow lyrics and commercialism. The flow is tight, but Eminem produced a beat that sounds too much like a bargain basement rip-off of what Dr. Dre did in The Eminem Show. Still, the biggest and best surprise on TheBlack Album is Jay-Z - minus the opening intro, all 14 tracks are exclusive performances by the man himself. He was smart not to collaborate. Good or bad The Black Album is all Jay. The straight to radio tracks are fun for new fans. The references to old albums and hints of a return are fun for the veterans. Love him or hate him, Jay-Z was the best in modern rap. He leaves the game on top. You can't knock Jay's hustle.

---

News

By the numbers

November 17

In this installment of the Daily's "By the Numbers" feature, we take a look at Americans' and college students' ownership of cell phones - and attitudes towards driving while using them. Americans who own cell phones: nearly 50% College students with cell phones last spring: 78% College students with cell phones 3 years ago: 34% Cell phone users between 10 and 24 years old in 2000: 11 million Projection of cell phone users of the same age by the end of 2004: 43 million Cell phone owners who drive while talking on their phones "every day": 22.8% Who do so "several times a week": 16.0% Who do so "about once a week": 14.2% Who "never" do so: 21.2% People who think talking on a cell phone while driving is "very dangerous": 55.8% Who think doing so is "somewhat dangerous": 36.3% Who think doing so is "not too dangerous" or "not dangerous at all": 6.9% People who think state governments should outlaw using a cell phone while driving: 61.6% People who think state governments should not: 32.5% People to whom such a ban would be a "major inconvenience": 9.7% A "minor inconvenience": 22.1% "Not an inconvenience at all": 67.6% States that have enacted total "no cell phones while driving" bans: 1 (New York) States that have enacted partial bans: 11 (including Massachusetts) How much slower cell-phone drivers' reactions are than non-cell phone drivers: 18% The statistics cited above come from C. Barnes's CNET Tech News article "Half of U.S. teens to own cell phones by 2004"; Harris Interactive; Student Monitor; Mary Beth Marklein's Newsfactor.com article "Colleges Catch Cell-Phone Wave"; Strayer & Johnston's "Driven to distraction: Dual-task studies of simulated driving and conversing on a cellular phone" from Psychological Science; Strayer & Johnston's "Cell Phone Induced Failures of Visual Attention During Simulated Driving" from the Journal of Experimental Psychology; ABC News.com; The Gallup Organization: Brain; and Reuters' article "U.S. wireless use to nearly double by 2006."

---

---

News

New 2-3 zone D innovative in NESCAC

November 17

Coach Bob Sheldon has implemented a new 2-3 zone defense to combat the trouble the men's basketball team has faced over the last few seasons. This new strategy could be difficult for Tufts' opponents to crack as no other team in the league utilized the scheme last year. Senior co-captain Eric Mack explained the 2-3 defense as a variation from the original. A conventional 2-3 features two guards playing on opposite ends of the free throw line. The guards are generally responsible for defending the top of the key and wing areas around the three point line. However, in Tufts' variation, the two top defenders are responsible for the top of the key and fronting opposing big men on the post. Conventionally, there are two forwards playing on opposite ends of the lower box of the free throw key. Those two defenders generally cover the baseline, and are responsible for cutters and posting up forwards and centers who challenge the zone down low. In Tufts' offense, the two forwards will still play a role in post defense, but are now responsible for the wing areas around the three point line. The center will play the conventional role of posing a threat in the middle and essentially functioning as the last line of defense before an easy lay-up. Since the team currently only plans to play seven to eight players on any given night, this defense will help limit fouls. Without the aggressive man-to-man defense the squad played last season, the tendency to commit petty reach in fouls may decrease. In addition, sophomores Dan Martin (6'9") and Blaine Lay (6'7") provide height and reach that can stretch out opposing offenses outside of medium-range jump shots to longer more difficult attempts. While Mack says he would like to lead the NESCAC in steals and, at a quick 5'8", has all the tools to do so, Sheldon and Mack both believe that the defense is not being implemented to create turnovers, but to disrupt opposing offenses and create a lower opposing shooting percentage. The defense is formed so that teams should not be able to shoot over the zone. However, Sheldon admits that the one problem the team has faced so far is rebounding. In zone defenses, it is often difficult to stop penetration of tenacious offensive rebounders. In a man-to-man defense, a player is responsible for the person he is covering, but a zone involves more ad-libbing.

---

News

A winter carvinal will be added to Naked Quad Run

November 17

Students and faculty have joined to discuss changes in the Naked Quad Run (NQR) aimed at making the event safer, while still preserving its tradition. The new plans are a result of weekly meetings, which have included Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Judicial Affairs Officer Veronica Carter, and Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Captain Mark Keith, together with TCU Senators, members of the Programming Board, and a few other students. The result is a new NQR: the "Nighttime Quad Reception." This year, the program will present an array of different activities for students before and after the run itself. Plans include a live band, food, and giveaways, all for free, according to Senate Historian Jeff Katzin. Katzin said that "the purpose of this event is to enhance the already existing tradition of the NQR by expanding the options students have throughout the entire evening." Reitman echoed his sentiments saying, "The goal is not to disallow students from participating. The goal is to challenge the students to find a solution." He also notes that this is not a matter of students versus the administration. "There are just as many students who are concerned with what happened last year as there are critics." TCU President Chike Aguh is proud of what has come out of these meetings. "I think we have a very good idea as far as the Nighttime Reception. We are giving students another option that hasn't existed before." Reitman said that the "students have to come up with the plan. There have been situations in the past where students have fixed it." He gave examples such as Spring Fling, Greek Jam, and the Pancake Breakfast. Aguh also realizes the importance of an event like this to the Tufts community. "Something people always talk to me about is the lack of tradition here, even the alumni. Our goal was to preserve this tradition, because it's probably one of the biggest we have here, while increasing student welfare. Canceling the Naked Quad Run was never an option." Both Keith and Reitman are concerned about the underage drinking and over-consumption of alcohol. "While the University is willing to let it take place, we want to ensure that everyone knows that the same rules that are in effect every other day, including those about alcohol, will be in effect on the evening of the quad run," said Reitman. "And also if we have another disastrous night I will no longer support students' ability to have this event," Reitman added. One of the concerns the committee is addressing is the course layout. To mitigate this issue, the roads on which the run takes place will be heavily salted and sanded and barriers will be put up to direct students in a more organized manner. There will also be a group of student volunteers who are there to offer assistance to students. Senator Rafi Goldberg is organizing this aspect of the NQR. He is looking for "as many volunteers as he can get to act as the first line of defense in making people safe." "They will be roaming West Hall and making sure that all emergency exits are open." In addition, Goldberg added that the patrols will monitor the course during the run. The volunteers will undergo a training session with Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler in order to understand signs of alcohol related problems. The volunteer force will be made up entirely of students. Additionally, EMT stations will be dispersed throughout the quad and its surrounding areas providing students with any medical help they may need. There will also be an ambulance on campus. Concerning safety, Reitman noted that "one of the ironies is that students complain saying 'I pay $40,000 a year to come here, don't tell me what to do and that I can't take risks', but upon the death of Wendy Carman, who died in a fire off campus last year, they say, 'I pay $40,000 a year to come here, you're responsible for my safety.'" West Hall is one of the major issues surrounding the run. Reitman said of West "Its safe occupancy is around 200, last year there were 500-600 present." Keith said that "my biggest concern is West Hall and overcrowding." He said that TUPD is "attempting to draw people away from West. It has become the focal point of the event." Additionally, having live music and food set up will serve to ease the burden on West Hall, which was dangerously filled last year. The condition in which West Hall and the Academic Quad were left last year also disturbs the committee. "We want to keep West Hall from being a mess at the end of the night. When it is left as a mess for the custodial staff to clean up like last year it reflects an arrogant and elitist attitude. That is an attitude that can't persist." Reitman said. At the end of last year's NQR President Larry Bacow sent a letter addressing his concerns. Reitman feels that "the letter has taken on a life of its own. It has become an inaccurate myth. In no way did it say never again." He adds that at this point "The student community has to rise to the occasion to make the event something that can continue." Sophomore Will Dunn, who has been involved in the planning meetings, said that, "Last year, Bacow wrote the run would not be able to continue in that form. I just hope that there aren't any students who would want it to. This group wants to improve the more dangerous, sinister aspects of the run."

---

News

Sigma Nu brother arrested for assault

November 17

Junior Sigma Nu brother Joe Cerra was arrested on Nov. 8 after an altercation with Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers. Cerra has been charged with disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, and assault and battery of a police officer. According to the police report the incident took place early Friday morning at approximately 2:30 a.m. The incident occurred when a TUPD supervisor pulled to the side of the road to answer his cell phone in front of the Sigma Nu fraternity on Professors Row. Cerra reportedly began to scream obscenities out the second floor window and pointed a stereo out the window. After the officer "repeatedly asked the individual to quiet down" a confrontation ensued on the front steps of the fraternity house, according to TUPD Captain Mark Keith. Keith said "the disturbance became louder and began to draw a crowd. At this point the decision was made to place the individual in custody." Cerra was then transported to the Somerville Police Department, which is standard procedure, according to Keith. Keith added that the chosen local department depends on which side of campus the incident occurs. Professors Row lies in Somerville. Cerra was booked for the three charges at the Somerville Police Department. An arraignment was held on the Monday following the incident. TUPD filed the charges. Keith said he believed that a court date was set for January; however the Somerville District Court could not confirm this. Judicial Affairs Director Veronica Carter said that she was aware of the incident, although, nothing had yet reached her office. Any judicial process within the University will be up to the discretion of the Dean of Students Office. This could potentially lead to a hearing. Cerra declined to comment on the situation. He did however say that he "hopes any of the witnesses to the situation will please come forward and provide any information." Keith said he was not aware of any attempted contact with witnesses as part of the investigation.

---

News

Giving credit to the Cadets

November 16

The decision made by Tufts in 1997 not to accept credit for classes taken in the Reserve Officers Training Corps represents a contradictive and convoluted policy regarding students involved in ROTC activities. Protecting the university's non-discrimination policy, the given reason for not allowing students to receive credit for ROTC participation, is not a satisfying reason to validate this reality. The ROTC Task Force convened in 1997 examined the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military and concluded that the Department of Defense's policy contradicts the University's non-discrimination policy. Though this stance may have a certain degree of justification, it does represent a substantial inconsistency on the part of Tufts. The underlying issue of accepting money from the DoD while at the same time denying credit to the students who utilize said money exposes a hypocrisy in current administration's approach to the ROTC. A more likely reason the University does not accept ROTC credit rests in the administration's hesitance to give credit to military funded activities, even though, academically speaking, they may be on par with courses taught at Tufts. Courses that ROTC students are required to take as part of ROTC training, including certain courses that MIT students receive academic credit for, should be treated in a similar fashion to courses taken by Tufts students at an outside university, and thus be under the same transfer of credit scrutiny. Several of the ROTC courses have correlating classes at Tufts, such as Thermodynamics and Entrepreneurial Leadership. At a school that gives students credit for studying golf, massage, and the interaction between hops, barley, yeast, and water, our University fails to give students credit for taking courses in entrepreneurial leadership and thermodynamics merely because they fall under the ROTC umbrella. Tufts currently allows students to receive AP or other comparable credit from High Schools located on military bases and schools funded by the DoD, so why should ROTC funded classes be held to different standards? It is imperative to the future viability of ROTC at Tufts that a substantive decision on the issue be made. The university cannot continue to be in a position of purgatory regarding its approach to the contentious issue. There are only two realistic options. The first would be to stop receiving DoD financing of ROTC programs at Tufts, with the unwelcome residual effect of eliminating the ROTC completely. If Tufts is determined to truly live up to its "non discrimination policy", then it should not accept any money from the DoD, and the hypocrisy would stop. Of course this would then be construed as class based discrimination as students rely on ROTC scholarships to fund Tufts exorbitant tuition fees. The more logical option would be to continue accepting DoD funds, and allow students who wish to receive academic credit petition for the appropriate transfer of credit. The contentious nature of this issue demands tough and decisive decisions. It will be impossible to appease each side, but what is necessary here is not appeasement, but rather giving equal credit for equal work. This would be the least discriminatory practice of all.

---

News

Presidents' salaries near million dollar mark

November 16

A recent report by The Chronicle of Higher Education revealed college presidents' salaries have skyrocketed in the last several years, propelling the total compensation of many within close proximity of the million-dollar range. The increase has led some universities to question what they are paying for, and whether they are receiving good value for their money. Selecting criteria upon which a university can base its president's salary is an imprecise and difficult process, former Harvard President Derek Bok told the Chronicle. Because so many people and factors contribute to traditional measures of success, such as the university's ranking, it is nearly impossible for trustees to pinpoint the president's influence in this collective effort, he argued. At Tufts and most colleges around the nation, the Board of Trustees determines the president's salary annually based on report from the Compensation Committee. It bases its recommendation on background information provided by an outside consultant. "First and foremost, the President's compensation is based on his performance," Tufts Board of Trustees Chairman James Stern said. He heads the committee and said the Board also looks to other institutions for comparison. Last year, the Board of Trustees awarded President Larry Bacow a salary of $365,990. When combined with a benefits package of $48,485, Bacow's total compensation of $414,475 was slightly lower but comparable to the salaries of presidents at several peer institutions. According to the Chronicle's report, several college presidents, including Dartmouth President James Wright and Harvard president Lawrence Summers received more than Bacow, earning $444,894 and $487,687 respectively. Some presidents earned less. Northeastern awarded its president Richard M. Freeland $408,058, and Brandeis President Jenuda Reinharz received $373,594. Maintaining presidential salaries at a comparable yet competitive level with peer institutions is an important consideration for many universities. "I wouldn't call [Freeland's] salary excessive." Northeastern Assistant Director of Communications Christine Phelan said. "My sense is we're generally on par with the colleges we consider our peers." However, there is a "great disparity" among the salaries of presidents nationwide, Phelan added. Some institutions, such as the Rensselear Polytechnic Institute (RPI), pay their presidents far more than most other universities. Last year, the Chronicle named RPI's Shirley Jackson the highest paid university president in the nation. Last year Jackson received $891,400. When combined with the $500,000 she made serving on several corporate boards, Jackson's total compensation was nearly 1.5 million dollars last year. The head of Boston University (BU) is not far behind. Chancellor John Silber earned $807,229 last year. BU Director of Media Relations Colin Riley stressed the importance of individual contributions and longevity of tenure in determining the president's salary. "Silber transformed [Boston] University" and had served the institution for over 30 years, Riley explained. "BU has been around for 174 years, and so far [it has] had eight presidents," he said. "That speaks to a factor in considering how things are done here." Competition also affects the amount presidents receive. "Universities compete for excellent people just as for-profit corporations do. We look at the market and adjust our salaries accordingly," Tufts Executive Vice President Steve Manos said. "Some institutions are at the extreme high end of the scale," he added. BU is among the institutions populating the "high end" of salary spectrum. BU has invested nearly $2 million in its search for its next president. Before he even began working, BU paid Daniel Goldin $1.8 million to step down from the presidency. The trustees chose to pay Goldin to leave because they lost faith in the efficacy of their newly selected president, the board said in a press release. "They did a very courageous thing," Riley said. "They acknowledged their errors and did what they could to fix them to ensure that the University hired the best possible candidate." Riley said the goal of an educational institution such as BU is to provide opportunities to all students. "The person who makes that happen is the president because he oversees this very complex institution," she said. Therefore, finding the perfect president is important to the continued success of the university. Manos rejected claims that devoting attention and money to the presidency could exacerbate tensions between the administration and faculty members. "There are markets for deans and faculty members as well as presidents. We study those markets and make similar adjustments in order to recruit and retain good people," she said. "Faculty members and senior staff understand the situation and have no problem with it." While the average full professor makes $300,000 less than Bacow does each year, several distinguished faculty members make salaries comparable to his. Maria Papageorge, Professor and Chair of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Tufts Dental School, received $402,655 last year. Dean of the Medical School John T. Harrington received a salary of $341,146.

---

News

Oh, the places they go

November 16

Whether a member of the class of 2004 or the class of 2007, chances are, most Tufts students have given at least a few moments of thought to the real world that awaits them after graduation. But where do most Tufts grads go? What do they do? According to a survey done last year around graduation, about 21 percent of the class of 2003 went to graduate or professional school this fall. This number increases within several years of graduation. "Historically, about 70 to 80 percent of Tufts students go on to grad school within five years after graduation," Director of Career Services Jean Papalia said. The majority of students who pursue graduate school choose to take a year off after their Tufts undergraduate careers, citing a variety of reasons. "It will give me a better sense of what to focus on in grad school, and it will also give me some financial stability," senior Louise Flannery said. Simply being unsure about what type of graduate studies to pursue is another common factor. "I do eventually want to go to graduate school, but I do not yet know what I would want to go to graduate school for, so it would be a waste of time and money for me to go right now," senior Aaron Weinstein said. Alumni also stressed the importance of taking a year off between undergraduate and graduate studies. "I worked as a legal assistant at Planned Parenthood for two years in between college and law school." Shilpa Patel (LA '01) said. "I highly recommend this... working in between gives you a sense of the real world and motivation to go back to school." Citing the need for a break, Rebecca Rich (LA '01) said "pre-med classes as well as my major were pretty intense... I was feeling burned out by my senior year, and knew that I couldn't start medical school that way,". Rich took time off to work in oncology research at Dana Farber after graduation. "There is no rush," Rich said. "Medical school will always be there. You can only be enhanced as a person by spending time doing other things. The more you know yourself, the better equipped you will be to handle the intensity and excitement of medical school." Many students chose to head directly into the work force: "About half of the class planned to work full time and about half of those had already received a job offer by graduation," Papalia said. The preliminary numbers of those 2003 graduates who had job positions before graduation showed that education was the most popular field for Tufts graduates, with 14.8 percent of graduates pursuing a career in that field. Engineering followed with 9.7 percent, Law/Paralegal pulled 8.9 percent, Banking/Finance took 8.4 percent; Consulting, 7.6 percent; Government, 5.5 percent; and Communications (including media, marketing, journalism, writing, advertising and public relations), 5.2 percent. These numbers are taken from those students going into the work force following graduation, and, according to Papalia, subject to change, because only half of those students going to work had firm plans at graduation time. Even the careers of those who had chosen positions by graduation are subject to change. "The days of one career or job for a lifetime are well behind us," Papalia said. "Reports indicate that the average person will be in several careers and hold 12 to 15 jobs over the course of their work life." "I think my first job will be something that gives me good experience and a source of income, but not necessarily one I'll keep for many years to come, although at least a few years would be nice!" Flannery said. The graduation-time survey also collected information about the destination of graduates once they leave the hill. Last year's survey suggests that 55 percent of the class of 2003 intended to stay in the Boston area or the Northeast. A large portion of students also planned to seek employment or graduate studies outside the US. Given the make-up of the Tufts population, this information may not be surprising, because of the large number of students from the Northeast and from abroad. However, many students choose to stay in the Boston area for job or housing purposes, or for graduate studies. The resources of the Boston area help to account for why so many people stay here. "Boston is the place for medical training... The amount of learning, clinical care, and research done here is incredible," Brad Crotty (LA '03) said. Crotty decided to stay in the area to attend Harvard Medical School. "It's less overwhelming to look for jobs close to home and where you could room with friends," Flannery said. "People... have a feel for the process of getting an apartment and a job here." Others say that the desire to stay near home could be a result of the current economy. "That could also be a function of the tight job market -- might as well stay where you have friends and know people if you're going to work a menial job anyway," senior Julia Buck said. As far as making plans for after graduation, many students do not have specific plans upon graduation. For this year's seniors, the process of finding a job is in its very early stages. "It is still quite early in the year for the majority of students to know their post graduation plans," Papalia said. "Career Services staff is available to help seniors figure out what they want to do and how to obtain it." However, even though it is early, some seniors are already feeling the pressure of graduation. "Most of us don't know yet, which is stressful!" Flannery said. "I think it'll come together in the spring for most of us." "I feel pressure when all the kids around me are talking GRE business and applying to grad schools and I don't even know what I want to do yet," Weinstein said. "It's very hard to do all these plans and do school and extra curricular activities and jobs and all that. I know I won't regret not making plans as of tomorrow, but I think by February I should have the ball rolling." Alumni say that not having a job lined up is relatively common. "Most of my friends and I were in the same boat," Patel said. "Not many people had jobs lined up at that point and the economy was just beginning to turn from great to bad."

---

News

Huskies and Blue Devils Top Polls

November 16

While everyone loves March Madness, real college basketball fans love Midnight Madness, when college programs can officially practice for the first time in the year. Unlike professional basketball, where the cast of characters is the same year after year, college ball allows for new faces to emerge every fall, with every team having legitimate hopes of attaining a national championship. Ultimately, a team may appear out of nowhere to win, yet at the start of the season it is often the "usual suspects" at the top of the polls. This year is no different with the UConn Huskies and the Duke Blue Devils voted to be the preseason number 1 and 2 teams. UConn is lead by All-American Emeka Okafor and guards Ben Gordon and Taliek Brown. Okafor is thought to be one of the leading candidates to be selected first in the 2004 Draft, dominating the court on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball. Although, until last year, Okafor, with his defensive shot blocking, was only a one-dimensional player, last season he emerged as a true inside scoring threat. Their team should also be greatly improved with the addition of top-10 recruit Charlie Villanueva. He is definitely a Top-10 recruit and has a great chance of being the Big East freshman of the year. Coach Jim Calhoun has been able to produce a winning program for the last 10 years, and this season he looks to ride the back of Okafor to national dominance. Duke is back with another strong team after only losing seniors Dhantay Jones and Casey Sanders. Leading the team will be super sophs J.J. Reddick, Shelden Williams, Shavlik Randolph, and Sean Dockery. After recovering from hip surgery and gaining 30 pounds of muscle, Randolph is certain to be much more of an inside presence this time around. Most importantly for the Blue Devils is the addition of freshman Luol Deng. He is considered to be the best incoming freshman in the nation and fashions his game after Grant Hill. Deng was born in Sudan, raised in England, and finished his high school career in Blairstown, NJ alongside Villanueva. Coach K (Mike Krzyzewski) has already proclaimed that Deng is Duke's best player and will give the Devils more help inside and out. Captains Daniel Ewing, Chris Duhon, and Nick Horvath with all provide valuable leadership on this youth-filled team. The ACC will be an interesting conference this season with the homecoming of former North Carolina Tarheels' assistant Roy Williams. Williams returns to lead his trio of sophomore superstars to national dominance. Point guard Raymond Felton, swingman Rashad McCants, and bigman Sean May look to show the Blue Devils that the Tarheels are the superior North Carolina program once again. Lute Olson's Arizona Wildcats once again look like a Top-10 team. Despite the loss of All-Americans Luke Walton and Jason Gardner and senior Rick Anderson, the cats reloaded just like any year. Freshmen Mustafa Shakur enters at the point, and will probably be one of the biggest impact freshmen in the country. Gonzaga's Bulldogs have become the kings of the mid-major conferences over the last few years, and coach Mark Few claims to have his best team ever. They are the nation's Cinderella no longer, although anyone who called them a Cinderella for the last three years hasn't been paying attention very well. Preseason All-American Blake Stepp, Corey Violette, and transfer Errol Knight look to lead this team to the top of the WCC Conference and back to the NCAA Tournament. Despite an opening night loss to the highly ranked St. Joe's Eagles, this team has their sights set on the Final Four. Even with the loss of Carmelo Anthony, the Syracuse Orangemen may be a Top-10 team. Anthony leaves the biggest gap of any departing college player, but the Orangemen still have a solid team led by sophomore Gerry MacNamara and junior Hakim Warrick. After an exhibition loss to the mighty Harlem Globetrotters, this Big East power is ready to show the nation that they are more than Carmelo's sidekicks. The Kansas Jayhawks are another team that underwent a major overhaul during the summer as a result of Roy Williams' exit to North Carolina. Illinois' Bill Self quickly stepped in to help the Kansas program. Unfortunately for Kansas, not only did they lose their coach, but they also lost senior All-Americans Nick Collison and Kirk Heinrich. This year they will be led by guard Aaron Miles and Wayne Simien, who missed the majority of last year with shoulder ailments.

---

News

For an epic without much battle, Commander stays afloat

November 16

Life on Napoleonic era battleships has never seemed more realistic than in Russell Crowe's latest effort, Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, directed by Peter Weir. The film follows the British warship HMS Surprise as she traverses two oceans in search of her enemy, the French frigate L'Acheron. Master and Commander opens with a fantastically powerful scene where the Surprise is nearly sunk by L'Acheron in a thick fog. The Surprise's Captain, Jack Aubrey, decides to make repairs to his vessel at sea as opposed to returning to England (to the dismay of most of his officers), and resumes his chase with L'Acheron to all ends of the globe. Captain Aubrey is played brilliantly by Crowe, who displays all the signs of a seasoned mariner from days past, with a touch of British class, of course. Crowe is as comfortable ducking from enemy cannon fire as he is sipping tea in his quarters while playing the violin with the ship's doctor, Dr. Stephen Maturin Maturin, played by Paul Bettany, shares a fascinating relationship with Captain Aubrey. Though they are personal friends, they often harbor very different outlooks on life in the 1800s. In fact, Maturin's relationship with Aubrey is what really drives this film. While the battle scenes are epic and tremendously engaging, Master & Commander is really a study of the characters of men forced to live in close quarters and deal with their different phobias, jealousies, and outlooks on life as well as accomplish their assigned tasks. Some of the most poignant and deepest moments in the film come when Aubrey and Maturin disagree on the necessary or correct course of action. Aubrey is a show-boating warrior with no regrets and Maturin serves as his alter ego -- a progressive intellectual who seems more interested in stopping warfare rather than in carrying it out. Master & Commander must be credited with unforgettable cinematography and strict adherence to historical detail. The set of the HMS Surprise spares no expense. When watching the film, it is easy to imagine yourself on the deck of this wooden hulk in 1805. Every element, from the ropes used in the sails to the dinner forks, had been meticulously researched and recreated. The few scenes on land give the crew and the audience a breather from the tense and uncertain atmosphere of the sea. Director Peter Weir makes great use of the unique creatures of the Galapagos Islands to showcase Maturin's curious and academically centered naturalist side, which is a stark contrast from the main concerns on the Surprise. Maturin's sidekick during his specimen-collecting expeditions on the islands is the young Lord Blakeney, a next-generation British figure whose persona consists of a balanced blend of Aubrey's passion for battle and Maturin's thirst for knowledge. 13 year-old Max Pirkis plays this intense role with passion and convincing sincerity. Master and Commander truly stands out as a thoughtful, majestic recreation of life aboard ship in the 1800s. At times, it seems as though the film is almost too true to form; of the two and a half hours it runs, about a total of 45 minutes are dedicated to battle or land scenes. The remainder of the movie painstakingly illustrates life above and below the decks of a 19th century warship, which often consists of some sort of cross between claustrophobia and boredom. All of the acting was unparalleled in Master and Commander, although the real star was the Surprise herself. Her every creak and groan brought the audience onto her decks, and the film's two major battle scenes had many in the audience audibly gasping.

---

News

Caputo to race at Nationals

November 16

At the Div. III regional meet on Saturday, women's cross country tri-captain Lauren Caputo earned the opportunity to extend what has already been a stellar senior campaign by another week. And this time, she will be competing at the highest level possible--Nationals. Caputo will be the first Tufts woman to run at Nationals since 2000, when Leslie Crofton was fifth in the country. Caputo will be the sole representative of the women's squad at the NCAA meet, to be held next Saturday at Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. Many of Caputo's competitors will be familiar faces, as all five New England teams to qualify -- Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, Trinity, and Bowdoin--hail from the powerhouse NESCAC league. At the NE Div. III meet in Cumberland, Maine Saturday, Caputo placed 20th overall, in 23 minutes, five seconds. The top nine individuals not on a qualifying team earned a trip to Nationals, and Caputo was fifth among this group. Sophomore Becca Ades barely missed NCAA's, as she was the tenth finisher not associated with a top-five team. Ades completed the 6K course in 23:23, good for 31st overall. Both she and Caputo earned All-New England honors. "Becca deserves to be going to Nationals, but there isn't anyone on this team who's disappointed in her," senior tri-captain Katie Higley said. "She missed by four seconds and one place, and she ran a gutsy race. She was very strong from the beginning." The entire pack went out extremely fast - a factor that Higley said may have thrown off some Tufts runners and many of their competitors as well. "Some people weren't mentally prepared for it," Higley said. "It's hard to change your racing strategy in the middle of the race." As a team, Tufts placed ninth, with 269 points. Entering the meet, the Jumbos had an outside chance of placing fifth and taking their entire squad to Nationals, but they were well aware that such a feat would be difficult. "We knew going in that it'd be an uphill struggle to overcome some of the great competition out there," senior tri-captain Lauren Dunn said. Unfortunately for Tufts, their performances on Saturday were a mixed bag, and in the face of some squads' performing at peak level, the Jumbos fell short of their team goal. "Some of us had a good race and some of us didn't, so that hurt us," Dunn said. "It also hurt us that some teams came out really strong at the end [of the season] and surprised us." Keene State's eighth-place finish (253 points) was one surprise. The Owls were not even ranked in the NE Div. III top ten prior to this weekend. Bowdoin's fifth-place finish was also somewhat unexpected. "We saw them at NESCAC's and they weren't that strong," Dunn said. "But Saturday they had their top three in front of our number one, which didn't happen all season." Although the Jumbos may not be entirely satisfied with Div. IIIs, the team nonetheless posted some exciting results. Freshman Sarah Crispin, who was usually Tufts' fifth or sixth runner this season, was the third Jumbo to cross the line, placing 57th overall, in 24:07--about 40 seconds faster than her previous best on the course. "She was fired up all week, I knew she was going to do something big," Higley said. "Sarah was so smart about her race and so confident. She was phenomenal." Among Tufts' upperclassmen, Dunn was fourth for the Jumbos, in a time of 24:28, good for 73rd. Junior Emily Pfeil was the fifth and final Tufts scorer, in 87th place (24:39). Junior Katie Sheedy was 116th in 25:14, and freshman Sam Moland was 127th in 25:25. Middlebury, the top-ranked team in the nation, won with 51 points, followed by defending-national champions Williams, who tallied 77. Williams boasted the top finisher, sophomore Caroline Cretti, who set a course record (21:51) and defended her regional title. Despite falling short of a team trip to Nationals, Higley said that the Jumbos are pleased with their season as a whole. "We're sad and frustrated that we didn't put it together, but that would have been icing on the cake," Higley said. "We already had an amazing season." "We made some big strides as a team this season and had some great performances," Dunn reiterated. "[Caputo] made it to Nationals and that's what we needed her to do."

---

News

A More Meaningful Commencement

November 16

For many years, Phase II of the Tufts' commencement exercise, the awarding of degrees, has been a long, tedious, and, in the opinion of many families, an impersonal affair. Since most students have not experienced it, let me describe it. Up to 1500 names are read off in a ceremony that can last up to two and one half hours. Only the brisk pace of the name reading keeps the ceremony so "short." Once called, students cross the stage in assembly-line fashion. And the guests who can see - rest assured, not too many can -have to pay close attention in order to witness the eight seconds of glory that belong to their graduate. Students, once recognized, do not generally return to their seats to watch their friends receive their degrees. Indeed, the most notable attribute of Phase II is the general milling around while the ceremony is still underway. Afterwards, the Uuniversity does provide a nice lunch, but the line is incredibly long, and Granny has to sit on the grass to eat it. Students sometimes get to say goodbye to a parting friend or a professor, but they have to find them in the chaos - no easy task. A new plan for Commencement is now emerging - , a plan that addresses many of the deficiencies in the old system. Under this proposed plan, students from all the Tufts schools will will continue to commence together in Phase I. We will still be together as a community for have community togetherness with remarks from President Bacow, the awarding of honorary degrees, and a high profile commencement speech. But a new Phase II will will follow in separate ceremonies staggered over the next few hours. Altogether, there will will be 10-ten to12 ceremonies, each comprised of clusters of related departments. Instead of 1500 students crossing the stage at a rapid pace, congratulations will will be offered to between 50 and 250 students at each ceremony (the largest ceremony belonging to Engineering).. With one exception, the venues will will be large indoor spaces. Most important, the ceremonies will will include more personal and intimate moments -handshakes and hugs from faculty members who know the students, the recognition of departmental awards and honors, and real opportunities for students, faculty, and parents to meet. The new Phase II willould be less rushed and still shorter. And it will will provide all kinds of other benefits. Because the venues are inside, the rain plan will will change. Under the old model, the plan was to get wet. The new plan will will be to stay dry. Because the site lines are so much better in the smaller venues, parents will be able to see and take photographs of the climactic moment. Because of changes in how marching cards will be distributed, students will now be able to sit with their friends in Phase I. This was actually restricted in the previous commencement plan. The Luncheon will be more enjoyable because everyone the whole community will not be descending on the lunch site all at once, and tables and chairs can be set up to accommodate our guests. It is true that students will not be able to see every one of their friends shake hands with the dean. This is the cost of the new plan. Students, however, will be able to be with all of their friends in Phase I, as well as at the Baccalaureate Ceremony, and will be given a meaningful moment with their professors that was not possible before. It is also true that double majors will have to choose which ceremony to attend,. It should be noted, though, that through because of the staggered times, three-quarters of them will be able to be recognized at more than one ceremony, if they so chose. These downsides are very small compared to the advantages. These proposed changes do not come out of the blue. They were recommended by the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience as one concrete way to create more significant moments in the student experience. This proposed plan was shaped in the many meetings the Task Force held with students, faculty, and administrators, and students. These changes also reflect evaluations of many years of Tufts' Commencement exercises, in which students and families have complained about said that the length, conduct, and content of the Phase II ceremony should be more meaningful. The changes The changes we propose to commencement that are coming to commencement are not being made because the Uuniversity is cutting corners (the new plan will be more expensive). They are not being made because the logistics will be easier (there are lots of moving parts). They are being made because we can do it so much better than we have in the past. Commencement is the last thing we do for our students before they become alumni, and we owe it to students and their families to make it more meaningful. James M. Glaser is the Dean of Undergraduate Education.

---

News

Jumbos earn first New England title

November 16

All season long, the men's cross country team has focused on the November trifecta of championship meets: NESCAC's, ECAC's, and the NCAA New England Championship. On Saturday, Tufts won this Triple Crown by capturing its first ever New England championship before crazed teammates and fans at Southern Maine. The victory qualified the team for Saturday's Division III National Championship meet in Hanover, Indiana, sent the Jumbos into jubilation, and, on the heels of a NESCAC title and an ECAC title, left no doubt that Tufts is the best Division III team in New England this year. Led by junior Nate Brigham, Tufts jumped out early on the field of 38 teams and held course throughout on the way to its third consecutive championship victory. Tufts' top five accumulated a score of 74, allowing them to solidly outdistance Keene State (98), Williams (107), and Amherst (145), all of whom also qualified for nationals. Brigham turned in his best race of the season for the Jumbos, finishing second overall in the region behind MIT's Ben Schmeckpeper with a time of 25:55. Freshman Josh Kennedy ran a 26:05 to secure a top ten finish at seventh overall. "Kennedy was exceptional," junior Brian McNamara said. "To do that as a freshman is very impressive." Putnam was also impressed, but said that "Kennedy had exactly the kind of race I expect him to at this point." Sophomore Kyle Doran (26:34) finished 19th overall with junior Brian McNamara (26:35) right on his heels in 20th place overall. Sophomore Matt Fortin finished in 26th place at 26:47, while sophomore Neil Orfield (26:50) and senior co-captain Peter Bromka (26:57) finished 27th and 30th overall, respectively. As usual, Tufts' victory was the result of a team effort. The score of Keene's top three runners was seven points less than that of Tufts' top three, but the Owls could not match the Jumbos' depth, as Orfield and Bromka finished ahead of Keene's fourth man. "Running in seventh, I could see everyone ahead of me, and I knew if we held pace we would win," Bromka said. "I knew I didn't have to advance, I just had to stay ahead of Keene's number four guy." All seven Jumbos who ran earned all-New England status by virtue of finishing in the top 35. "Before the race, coach told us about an article from Keene where their coach kind of slighted us, so we had some motivation there," Bromka said. "We thought we were better than Keene, but until you prove it in a race it doesn't mean anything," McNamara added. "It was great to finally get the job done," Brigham said. "There was a lot of talk before the race about people saying we didn't have the guys to roll with Keene. We showed that we've got the guys to roll with them." Tufts' win marked a near perfect second half of the season. At the end of October, Tufts finished first out of Division III schools at All-New Englands and then captured first at the Twin Brook Invitational. But that was just the warm-up to what has thus far been a perfect month. "All season we've been looking to November," McNamara said. "The first half of the season was OK, but we really peaked at the perfect time."

---

News

To the members of the Class of 2004:

November 16

I am writing today on behalf of the entire Senior Class Council about last Thursday's Senior Pub Night. It was held on Thursday, Nov. 13 at Hong Kong in Harvard Square, as many of you know. Senior Pub Nights are held to give the Senior Class the opportunity to celebrate four great years on the Hill together and reduce the cost of Senior Week event tickets. Senior Week is a week of events held in May dedicated to the Senior Class. Tickets to each event, which are limited, can be steep. The revenue generated from Senior Pub night ticket sales is used to reduce the cost of Senior Week event tickets. Several incidents occurred on Thursday night at Hong Kong that reflected poorly upon the Senior class and disheartened Tufts administration and the Senior Class Council. As a class council, we work diligently to ensure enjoyable events and memorable moments of Tufts for our class. Incredible amounts of energy go into the planning of each event. However, all energy is wasted when fake tickets are used for admittance, a fellow peer breaks a bus window, altercations arise when students are denied entrance to Hong Kong due to inappropriate IDs and tickets, and individuals who invested effort to ensure an enjoyable Senior Pub Night for their peers are personally insulted and physically hurt by the very people they work so hard to please. On the route back from Hong Kong, one of our peers broke a window on a bus that was transporting Seniors. This student has cost all Seniors $500 to pay the bus company, Vocell, which Tufts has an established business relationship, for the damage. This $500 is coming out of our Senior Class Council Budget that funds Senior Week in May. One Senior had the audacity to run up the back stairway of Hong Kong in order to get into the bar area. Obviously, he was found upstairs and kicked out. This later led him to a disrespectful dispute with a Tufts administrator. Some students fraudulently produced tickets to gain entrance into Hong Kong. These students sold the fraudulent tickets to friends and unexpecting students who thought that the tickets were legitimate. Approximately 60 fraudulent tickets were used to get into the event. The maximum capacity for Hong Kong is 325 people. Seniors that bought legitimate tickets at the Information Booth were denied entrance because Seniors with fraudulent tickets took their place inside. Individuals who produced the fraudulent tickets claim they made one or two tickets for their roommate who forgot to buy a ticket or for a friend who could only stay for thirty minutes and did not want to pay $10 to stay, but you all are at fault. Due to your disrespect and immaturity, all Seniors will be forced to pay more for Senior Week event tickets. These fraudulent tickets cost the rest of our class an additional $500. This is a lesson for all of us - only buy tickets from the Information Booth or other University sponsored sources. Tufts hires Senior Week Coordinators in the fall after a rigorous application process. The Senior Week Coordinators start working in the fall in preparation for the intense week that they run for the Class of 2004. On Thursday night, these four coordinators were working the door collecting tickets, loading buses, and ensuring the event ran smoothly. Their authority was simply disregarded by students who pleaded to enter Hong Kong without the proper identifications (Tufts ID and another form of ID) and admission ticket. Do not beg them to let you in. They abide by strict regulations set forth by Tufts. It does not matter whether you are friends or acquaintances, or simply know of these coordinators collecting tickets. To those of you who participated in such activities, you have disappointed the entire Senior Class, embarrassed Tufts University, and disrespected the administration, staff and council who work for you. It is a privilege, not a right to attend class events. We do this for the Class of 2004 and look forward to pleasant upcoming events without the immaturity that engulfed Senior Pub at Hong Kong. We hope you take this into consideration. This viewpoint was written by Courtney Benson on behalf of the Senior Class Council. The council also includes, James Christian-Blockwood, Andy Katzenberg, Tiffany Gee, Caroline Postel, Doris Lin, Eugenia Vandoros.

---

News

Jumbos compete against one another in annual scrimmage

November 16

The men and women's swimming and diving teams competed last Friday in a meet that was a little different. The squads joined forces for their annual "Brown and Blue" meet, a fun, lighthearted, intrasquad event, giving incoming freshman much needed experience heading into the season. "The meet was a low key way for the all of the new freshmen to get some meet experience and make them feel like they are part of the team," sophomore Meghan Wallach said. "It was also a fun way for us to get to know each other, too." Coaches Don Megerle and Nancy Bigelow and captains Kaili Mauricio, Jamie Meyers, Greg Schmidt, Amanda Bloom, Mika Sumiyoshi, and Kierstyn Thayer organized the event. Each squad was divided into two teams, one brown and one blue, appropriately. The teams raced in three relay events, with each team consisting of three boys and three girls, and several other shorter distance stroke events, including the 50, 100, and 200 meter freestyle, and the 100m backstroke, butterfly, individual medley, and breaststroke. "The team looks really good this year," Wallach said. "The freshmen did well and are already showing that they are going to help the team. Mika looked great, she's already beating her record times in various events." Sumiyoshi echoed Wallach's positive outlook. "Although it wasn't a real meet, people were able to sprint very well and surprise themselves," she said. "We were not completely serious and still people got close to their best individual times, which hopefully is an indication of how the rest of the season will turn out." The teams also used the meet to bring the men's and women's sides closer together, as they have been relatively divided in previous years. "It was nice to have the men's team out there as well, because usually we're kind of separated," Sumiyoshi said. "It was fun because everyone was cheering for everyone else, the guys for the girls, and the girls for the guys." Although they didn't keep score, the Jumbos showed their competitive spirit and raced hard in their events, with hopes of proving themselves early on in the year. "This meet was really just to get the team together and get us pumped up about the beginning of the season," Wallach said. "Because this is a new team, it takes some time to get adjusted. It was a fun competition, and everyone's really excited about the season." All four classes are coming in looking very strong, especially this year's freshmen and seniors. The freshmen are led by Aliana Thiel, Jessica Bollinger, and Dierdre Cannell, all of whom have come out early and raised some heads. The seniors are led, as always, by Sumiyoshi, who is coming off her All-American performance in the 400 IM at Nationals last winter. The senior tri-captain broke her individual record in the 100 butterfly already this season, and hopes to lead the Jumbos past regional powerhouses Williams, Amherst, and Middlebury this season. "This year I started swimming seriously in September," Sumiyoshi said. "In my three previous years, I only started swimming seriously when the season began." The Jumbos look to showcase their talent against the Connecticut College Camels this Saturday at UMass Dartmouth.

---

News

Fly me to the moon

November 16

Confusion reigned supreme and the Balch Arena Theater was transformed into a lush garden this weekend, providing the setting for Pen, Paint, and Pretzels' latest production. The play, a little-known comedy called Ring Round the Moon, was directed by Taylor Shann and proved to be the latest in a long line of entertaining performances put on by 3Ps. The production itself is the story of two identical twins, both of whom are played by Josh Bauml. Frederick, the younger of the two, is good, kind and desperately in love with an heiress (Laura Semine), so evil brother Hugo takes it upon himself to cure his brother of his obsession. He recruits the help of a young ballet dancer named Isabelle (Megan Hammer) to perform at an engagement party that his aunt Madame Desmortes (Kathryn Tabone) is putting on, but his plans go awry when the other guests begin to misinterpret Isabelle's presence and the young woman herself falls in love with the dastardly Hugo. Because of the nature of playing identical twins, much of the weight of the performance lies on Bauml's shoulders and he manages to carry the energy of the play skillfully. One of the most fascinating parts of Ring Round the Moon is watching him switch between his two personas and their carefully adapted mannerisms, leaving the audience to try and ferret out which one is on stage by facial expression and body gestures alone. Though he borders on overacting at times, Bauml usually manages to stay on the right side of the line, and his enthusiasm in his role as the evil twin makes Hugo's plots all the more enjoyable. Megan Hammer in her role as Isabelle is less convincing. Watching her, it is a bit more difficult to imagine precisely how she managed to capture the attention of everyone at the ball even with the help of Hugo's best laid plans. Her interactions come off as slightly flat, which stand out in a cast full of so many extraordinarily quirky characters. Jessica Bauman, a freshman in her first 3Ps performance, is particularly enjoyable in her role as Isabelle's mother. She dominates the stage every time she enters a scene. Also notable was Brendan Shea in his role as the nervous, neurotic Romainville. Amid a slew of fast-paced lines Shea is nervous and slightly awkward at first, but Shea had more than settled in by the end of the performance and played proficiently off the energy of the other actors. Unfortunately, setting the play in the Balch Arena Theater detracted from the actors themselves. The circular theater, which puts the audience right on top of the stage, automatically makes the setting more intimate. In a play like Ring Round the Moon, scenes rely heavily on facial expressions and body language and staging these elements in a theater in the round can mean that part of the audience will miss the joke because they are unable to see anything but the players' backs. Ring Around the Moon's blocking did not seem to adequately address this problem, especially in regards to the final few exchanges that meant so much to the overall storyline. Fortunately, the best part of Ring Round the Moon is its constantly moving dialogue. This dialogue would challenge even the most inspired actor yet the players of Ring Around the Moon pull these lines off without tripping, maneuvering quick-fire exchanges, and rapid dialogue. This provides most of the energy of the play, along with the quirky secondary characters who add so much depth to the performance. For the most part, the cast seemed awkward at the beginning but quickly settled into their roles, which elevated their capacity to plough through the extensive wordiness of the script. Caitlin McGarty and Chris Babayan, the erstwhile lovers Lady India and Patrice Bombelles provide an energetic boost, especially with their well-choreographed dance routine. Robert Curry, in his role as the Jewish businessman Messerschmann, added a colorful backdrop for the main storyline. Semine was believable but unexciting in her role as Diana Messerchmann, Frederick's original love interest, and Tabone did a fair job capturing the busybody spirit of the twins' aging aunt, Madame Desmortes. Sam Rivers was also entertaining as Joshua, the butler, providing a good straight man for the other characters' antics. Amanda Haley's Capulet was the opposite, having fits of overenthusiastic romantic fancy that seemed to materialize out of midair in the middle of the play. The simplicity of the set and the well-planned integration of both music and lighting contributed well to the ultimate performance in spite of the blocking problems, and the dance exchanges were especially intricate. All in all, though the last scene seemed a bit flat and a bit too contrived, the production was for the most part enjoyable, representing a worthy culminating effort of the incredibly wordy script.

---