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Unfamiliar terrain for women's cross country

October 27

The women's cross country team will be running on an unfamiliar course at the NESCAC championship this weekend, and its hopes of earning a spot at Nationals is relatively unfamiliar as well. "Of any team I've coached at Tufts, this is the best prepared," coach Kristen Morwick said. "We have our best shot of the last few years, so it's definitely a realistic goal for us." As the strongest region in the country for women, New England will send five teams to nationals later this fall. Those five teams will be finalized at the New England Div. III Championships in three weeks, with NESCAC schools expecting to dominate that race. Therefore, this weekend's NESCAC showdown in Middlebury, Vt. should be a good indicator of which teams will grab the five national berths. Tufts will likely battle Wesleyan and Bowdoin for fifth this weekend. However, Morwick noted that Bates is always good at the end of the season and has the potential to sneak into fifth. The top four squads in New England are already well-cemented. Williams -- the defending national champion -- is joined by Amherst, Trinity, and Middlebury in the league's upper echelon. Morwick believes that running against such teams could prove to be an advantage for the Jumbos later. "If we make it to the national level, we wouldn't be freaked out by the best teams because we already race against them every week," Morwick said. This Saturday, the Jumbos will rely most heavily on their top runners, senior captain Lauren Caputo and sophomore Becca Ades. Senior captain Lauren Dunn and junior Emily Pfeil have consistently rounded out the team's top four this season, and look to do so again at NESCAC's. According to Caputo, a crucial ingredient for the team's success will be securing a tighter top five spread. "If we have our fourth and fifth runners closer to our third, it will be key in qualifying [for nationals]," Caputo said. According to Morwick, freshmen Sarah Crispin and Sam Moland are the squad's fifth and sixth runners, respectively. The absence of sophomore Arielle Aaronson, recently sidelined by a stress fracture, has left Tufts' seventh spot a big question mark heading into the weekend.. According to Morwick, senior co-captain Katie Higley, junior Katie Sheedy, and freshman Angie Lee have the most potential to jump into that spot. "It's a spot you can gamble with, so we'll just have to see what the next few weeks tell us," Morwick said. "Sheedy's been running very well with only a few cross country races under her belt, but it'd also be nice for the future of the team to see a freshman jump in there." "Every week the freshmen are clueing in even more," Morwick said. "I think it's going to be key for the team if the freshmen can step up and do something great by the end of the season, and they're on the verge of that." Freshmen will be on equal footing with their more experienced teammates in at least one aspect of this weekend's race: none of the Jumbo athletes have ever raced at the hilly and difficult Middlebury course before. "It's a true cross-country course, it's not going to cater to the speedy kids," Morwick said. "It is more for the tougher, stronger runners. But we've done well on tough courses so far this season, so we could be good." Caputo said that the team plans to walk the course early Saturday morning, in order to familiarize itself with the terrain and help its chances of reaching its fifth-place goal. "We've also been watching race results to see how other teams are doing," Caputo said. "It will be tough, but we've been working really hard." "With the training we've had, I think we can do it," Caputo said. "We're ready." Tufts finished seventh at the NESCAC meet last year, and is also currently ranked in that spot in the New England Div. III coaches' poll. Morwick and her team are unperturbed by the poll's predictions, though. "Rankings are always different than how it actually turns out," Morwick said. "That's why you run the race."

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News

Screenwriter Peter Hedges shares secrets of the trade

October 27

Peter Hedges, the writer of What's Eating Gilbert Grape, has just written and directed his first film, Pieces of April, currently in theaters. The Daily recently had a chance to chat with Mr. Hedges about his thoughts on his new film as well as the subtle humor and human comedy he hopes audiences will find in this film. Tufts Daily: [Pieces of April] is your directorial debut? Peter Hedges: Well I've directed theater before. TD: So your background is in the theater? PH: Yeah - I trained as an actor. I was in a ton of plays as a kid and as a young man, and then I moved to New York and I started a theater company ... and I wrote plays for them. Basically what would happen is I would call them up and say, "Who's available?" I found a theater we can rent for cheap, and they'd say "we're available, I can do it" and then I would write a play for them based on the fact that we'd put a deposit down on a theater. SO in the early days it was just about making anything. Now as I get older, I don't want to just make anything...I want to make something. TD: Did you direct in addition to writing? PH: Well, I directed my own plays. TD: Do you find it difficult to direct your own material? PH: No, I love it. I mean the problem is that you sometimes might use the directing to fix problems in the writing. I found in my early plays, they worked if I directed them but they didn't work if someone else directed them and that's why I had to stop directing them. I realized that I could make them work but I wanted to make things that could work without me directing them. That said, for years I wanted to direct a film, so I looked a long time for a story that I felt that only I could tell, or that I could tell better than anyone, but in order to get the money for the movie to be made, the script had to be strong enough to attract people like Katie Holmes. So getting to direct this movie felt like a return to my early years as a person of the theater because we made the movie with very little money and with a lot of love and that was the same way we had made our plays. TD: Where did you come with the idea for the movie? Are they from true life experience? PH: They tend to be a collision of things. I had a great desire to tell a certain kind of story -- where a lot of people were thrown together that wouldn't normally be together. From just a writing standpoint, I wanted to do something a little different, even though people will look at this movie and say its another story about a family from Peter Hedges, who wrote What's Eating Gilbert Grape. I look at it as, yeah there's a family component but there's this whole other component of this building and all these other cultures colliding, which is something I have never done before. So there is a lot of newness to it too.... When [my mother] passed I realized that the great life isn't necessarily a life where you achieve everything you've set out to do, because she didn't finish everything she wanted to do in life. But one of the gifts she gave me was this kind of renewed determination to look at my own life and think about what I haven't done that I really need to do in order to feel like I lived a good full life. The one thing that I could definitely think I haven't done is write and direct a film. And if that movie could not be her story and my story but be a tribute to her then it would be a way to make some kind of meaning out of something that seemed devoid of meaning TD:You spoke about the film as a human comedy, was that a conscious effort to make the humor kind of subtle? PH:It's the kind of humor I like in a movie -- its human based. The humor needs to feel like it is born out of the situation, that I'm not trying to write jokes. And I feel like I'm almost ready to publish a book or shoot a movie when that kind of humor appears in the story. There are very few situations in the world that I can imagine where there can't be more humor, but I don't want there to be laughter at the expense of the characters, and the easiest and cheapest form of humor, as I see it, is the reductive humor where you diminish the people - you make fun of them, so is it possible to laugh with characters, instead of at them. TD: Going back to that Catch-22, do you ever feel like there is commercial pressure put on you by producers so that you have to make artistic compromises? PH: There are when you write the big movies. On this movie, there was pressure to write a big scene at the end. Yeah there's a lot of pressure - if someone gives you 10 million dollars...I am very interested in them not losing it. But at the same time I am also not interested in making a movie that violates what the movie wants to be about. I think that in the big commercial movie world there is a real fear of characters being unlikable. What I found out is that I want to write characters that I love or at least that I understand, but that doesn't mean they have to be likeable. I'm on another kind of mission to make movies about characters that are human...People who are sweet suddenly become very mean and people who were horrible people suddenly become loving...I want to make movies that seem real, where we see people at their best and at their worst.

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News

Classes, from the flip side

October 27

Not satisfied with next spring's course offerings? Make up your own. The Experimental College (ExCollege) has been offering undergraduates the opportunity to teach their peers since 1966. There are two different options for students seeking to view the classroom from the other side. The first is to teach a fall semester class in one of the two first-year peer-teaching programs, Explorations and Perspectives. According to ExCollege Director and Dean Robyn Gittleman, this opportunity allows students to serve as both peer teachers and advisors. The second option enables students to teach an ExCollege course that is open to students of all classes. This option is primarily a spring semester program because Explorations and Perspectives are taught in the fall. According to Gittleman, peer taught classes are kept small and are usually capped at 20 students. This smaller-sized class allows for more interactive learning. "In all cases, we encourage participatory education," Gittleman said. "We can plan to do things cutting-edge and not just through passive learning." Though no students are currently teaching ExCollege classes that are open to all students, those who did so in previous spring semesters found the experience to be rewarding. Chris Kohler (LA '02), who taught "A History of Video Games" in the spring of 2000 and 2002 semesters, had been interested in his subject matter for a long time. "I've been working towards a career in the video games industry since I was about twelve years old or so, and that involved studying a lot of the history of the business," Kohler said. "I'd already read the books I'd end up using as textbooks about twice or three times each just for pleasure reading, so I knew exactly what I was going to cover in this hypothetical history class I had in my head." Irene Psyrra (LA '03), who taught "Modern Greek" last spring, had a similar reasoning for wanting to teach an ExCollege course. Psyrra was interested in teaching others about her heritage, as well as teaching in general. "I have always loved teaching and wanted to give it a try," Psyrra said. "I thought that it was a chance of a lifetime to do something like that." According to Gittleman, the vast majority of peer teachers are juniors or seniors, but there are no age or class restrictions. Nor is there a GPA requirement, "a high GPA does not necessarily mean a good teacher," Gittleman said. What is most important is that the students have gained expertise in the area in which they wish to teach. To apply, students fill out an application that asks them to provide a tentative syllabus. Students are required to have their academic advisor sign off on the application. They are then interviewed by the Board of the ExCollege. "We expect students to have a real background in their subject," Gittleman said. "In the interview, they are asked to prove their expertise." According to Gittleman, there is no limit to the number of peer-taught classes each semester. "As many as 50 percent [of applicants] get approved," she said. "If we get five or six [student-taught courses], we are very happy." Once their course proposal is accepted, students begin the process of preparing to teach their class. Kohler described the often complicated process. "Since I was doing a history class, first and foremost I had to be completely up on my facts, names, and dates," Kohler said. "If I didn't know them, how could I expect the class to know them?" In addition to this research comes preparing for the actual classes. "Then it was a matter of carefully rereading the material and writing up lecture notes for each week, making sure that I had forty-five minutes of talking each day and enough classroom participation questions to keep everyone involved constantly," he said. Psyrra agreed that preparing for teaching took a lot of work. "I put a lot of work into it," she said. "I prepared the summer before because I knew that the Christmas break would not be enough. I had done most of the work beforehand, but it sill took a lot of time and effort." Through peer teaching, students get to experience the flip side of the professor-student relationship, encountering some of the same challenges that professors face. One such challenge includes dealing with students who are not succeeding in the class. "The hardest thing about teaching my peers was that sometimes you do have to fail people, whether it's on one assignment or to actually fail someone on their transcript," Kohler said. "In that case, of course, you encourage the person to just withdraw from the course, because a W looks better than an F, and I don't want that person to have any undue trouble. Just being in charge of a class doesn't put you on a psychotic power trip -- really!" Students who peer-teach are provided with some support from the ExCollege. They receive a credit for teaching the class and also participate in a seminar, which helps them prepare to teach the class. Both Kohler and Psyrra felt that the ExCollege did a good job providing advice and assistance to those teaching. Despite the difficulties that go along with it, students have positive memories from their peer-teaching experiences. "I loved teaching; loved the whole thing," Kohler said. "I met so many of my good friends through teaching them in class because you gather together people with a common interest and see them twice a week with the sole purpose of discussing that interest. I wish I'd taught it a third time; that's how much fun it was." In giving advice to other potential peer-teachers, Kohler stressed that students should follow their passions. "If you have a passion, if you have something that you know more about than any other Tufts undergrad, then teach it," Kohler said. "Don't listen to that little voice in your head that says nobody would want to learn about it -- if I could get a class on video game history, you can teach anything you want to." For more information visit the ExCollege website: www.excollege.tufts.edu.

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News

In the defense of the grading system

October 27

I am writing this viewpoint to express my disagreement with Sara Crowell's assessment of the teaching system here at Tufts in her viewpoint entitled, "A School without Grades" (Oct. 22nd). From my reading of of Ms. Crowell'sthe viewpoint, "A School Without Grades," (Oct. 22nd) it appears to me that herthe author's main problem with Tufts is in how students are assessed. Rather than receiving a simple letter grade, Ms. Crowell prefers a system where professors write "detailed evaluations of each student's strengths and weaknesses and how they can improve.". Although at first such a system may sound like a better alternative to letter grades, it is obviousseems that Ms. Crowellthis may be a misunderstanding of the does not understand the true meaning of a grade. A grade is simply an assessment of how a student has is performed performing in a class relative to their peers. who have taken the same class. Although a letter grading system may at first seem impersonal, it is this standardization that gives it its strength. By simply looking at the grade a student has received in a class it is easy to determine how that studentsstudent's' abilities match up to those of their peers. If a student wishes to learn what their strengths and weaknesses are and how they can improve them, they have a multitude of opportunities to speak to their professors during designated office hours. Ms. Crowell goes on to complain state that theIt is then argued that the letter grade system is also an unfair means of evaluation because "each student is different and has different strengths and weaknesses". While I applaud Ms. Crowell for noticing the diversity present in our student body, I must condemn her for disagree with her belief that all students should not be treated equally. (I am not sure if she is saying that all students should not be treated equally as much as she is saying that students should only be compared to their personal performance) Under the letter grading system all students are graded in the same way and no favorites are played. (Is she suggesting that favorites are played? I dunno) It is this impartiality of in the way grades are distributed that makes the system as strong as it is. Furthermore, Ms. Crowell finda fault is found with the fact that a letter grading system creates competition between students. . Unfortunately, I thinkPerhaps theis feeling reflects a fault here lies in Ms. Crowell'sstudents' character rather than the character of the grading system. The grades assigned themselves do not make students more competitive, rather it is the personality of a student that evaluates themselveshim or herself by looking at others that creates competition. That is not to say that competition is a bad thing. Competition can provide motivation to work harder and achieve better grades, better than any inspirational speech can. In addition to her gripes about the grading system, Ms. Crowell seems to also have a problemtakes issue with the control students have over their curriculum here Tufts. In her opinion, there should be very few requirements, in order to allow students to spend the maximum amount of time to pursueing their own interests. Once again Again, while this alternative system may sound better, it is apparent that Ms. Crowell does not understand the purpose of these requirements is lost. Although these requirementsthey may take away some time that could be devoted to personal interests, these requirementsy also help to foster new interests. Byfor in completing all the necessary foundation and distribution requirements, students are forced to take classes in a variety of subjects and departments. It is this variety that has shaped the student I have become and the decisions I have made. When I first arrived at Tufts I imagined myself being a biology major and taking 4-5 bio classes per semester. Never did I dream that I would take two foreign languages , or study Japanese architecture , or take a psychology class (a class that lead to me changing my major and entire course load at Tufts). Thanks to these requirements I have become a better-rounded student who has a much greater understanding of the world around me. A Although these requirements may be time consuming, Ms. Crowellit is wrong to state that Tufts does not allow students pursue their own interests. In factQuite the opposite, Tufts encourages students profusely to dig deeper into topics that interest them. At Ms. Crowell's schoolNew College in Florida, if a course is not offered a student may do a semester long project to study that topic. Here at Tufts we have the Ex-College where if a student sees something missing from the curriculum they can do one better than a project and can actually lead a class and teach others in topics that they feel are missing from the curriculum. while in the process learn themselves. FurthermoreIn addition, students are encouraged to assist professors in research, and when they are upperclassmeneventually to pursue research of their own and present their findings in a senior honors thesis. If a students simply wishes to cover a topic in more depth than a normal class can offer, they have the opportunity to take one of the manya seminars offered wherewhich offers much smaller class sizes and are much smaller andmore discussion takes the place of lecturing. While Ms. Crowell might argue that these opportunities are most often only afforded to upperclassmen, this is the case simply because underclassmen simply often do not have the background necessary to withstand the rigors of such intense study. Perhaps if Ms. Crowell had spent more than two years at Tufts she would have been able to take advantage of such opportunities. Overall, Ms. Crowellit is stateds that, "the purpose of education is to train tomorrow's leaders". While she Ms. Crowell may not believe that a Tufts education is able to provide such training, I seriously doubt the education she is receiving now does much more to prepare her for the real world. Once she graduatesUpon graduation from a school such as New College, Ms. Crowell, students will find that the personal attention she they now receives from professors and administrators will no longer be present. In the real world there is nobody there to hold your hand, and if you need help you must seek it out yourself. A truly valuable education is one that encourages students to be versatile and proactive in seeking ways to improve themselves. A Tufts education does exactly this. Seth Groman is a senior majoring in Biopsychology.

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News

Hail to the queen

October 27

Since about three quarters of you are either from the Northeast or from over seas, and we don't quite have access to ESPN 2, odds are you've never heard of Charmayne James. Well, Charmayne James retired last week. She retired after winning 11 world championships. Eleven world championships and the Boston Globe didn't have an article, the New York Times didn't have an article, and as it turns out, not a single major paper in the country had an article. But if you're the kind of person who goes to the National Western Stock Show in Denver every year, where you can check out the going rate for a miniature Hereford and buy bull semen for artificial insemination (don't ask me how they get it out), you've heard of Charmayne James. Or if you're the kind of person who goes to Cheyenne Frontier Days in Wyoming, the world's largest rodeo and Western celebration, where you can see cowboys and cowgirls doing just about everything with horses including a race with 16 three-man teams, you've heard of Charmayne James. Because, folks, for the past 20 years, Charmayne James has been women's professional rodeo. "She was one of the best ambassadors for the sport," Guy Clifton, who covers rodeos for the Reno Gazette-Journal and ESPN.com, told me. "Everybody knew who Charmayne James was if you followed rodeo." After bursting onto the scene by winning the Women's Professional Rodeo Association (WPRA) rookie of the year award in 1984, James went on a run of ten consecutive barrel racing world championships, plus the gold medal at the 1988 Calgary Olympics. Her first ten titles were all on her legendary horse Scamper, but when James rode Cruiser to the 2002 world championship, her place in history was solidified. "Anybody that doubted her abilities, she just proved her abilities by winning with another horse," Clifton said. James winning with another horse is like Michael Jordan being told, "Look, Mike, I know you won some rings, but it was probably because you had Scottie Pippen on your team," and then going out and winning a championship with the Washington Wizards. Despite the fact that James was at the top of her game, her retirement wasn't that much of a shock to the rodeo community. "If she wanted to go hard, she would've been right up there again, without a doubt," Clifton said. "But I'm not really surprised that she wanted to finally settle down. It takes a lot to be on the rodeo circuit year in and year out." In a sentiment echoed by everybody in the rodeo business, Clifton told me, "She didn't have anything else to prove." James will get married later this year to her agent and business manager, Tony Garritano. She has sold her life story to New Line Cinema to make a movie about her early days on the barrel racing scene, and the rodeo community hopes it will bring the kind of attention that last year's "Seabiscuit" brought to horseracing. "Her relationship with her horse Scamper is like a Western movie; the relationship between a girl and her horse," Clifton said. And it's not like women's rodeo will die when James' name isn't on the entry list. James will continue to breed and train barrel racing horses and hold clinics, and Tim Gentry, the media relations director of the WPRA, told me, "We have a number of up and coming young barrel racing women who are eager to step up and fill her shoes." But it may be difficult to promote the sport without a superstar, Steve Schroeder, the public relations director of the Reno, Nev. rodeo, said. "I think it's tough because for 20 years we've been watching Charmayne James -- this is an athlete that has helped bring rodeo to the forefront and into our homes," he said. Schroeder compared James' domination to Tiger Woods' control of golf. "If Tiger's not playing, you're going to turn it off." James was inducted into the Cow Girl Hall of Fame in 1992, but since the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) -- the men's rodeo association -- doesn't have barrel racing as an event, James could only get into the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Hall of Fame as a rodeo notable, the same category as long-serving PRCA secretaries. Nominations for this year's inductees are due Jan. 15, but Anne Bleiker, the PRCA's public relations coordinator, said no one has nominated James -- yet. In case you were wondering, Scamper was inducted into the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame in 1996. Every conversation I had with someone about Charmayne James began with me saying, "I'm pretty clueless about rodeos," and the person on the other end of the line saying that James "dominated the sport in a way that no one else ever has," as Gentry put it. Since the fan bases for rodeo and NASCAR are fairly similar, Schroeder gave me this comparison: "No one will ever get to 200 wins like Richard Petty, and probably no one will ever win 11 barrel racing championships like Charmayne James." So when the cowgirls line up for the barrel race at the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas this December -- the Super Bowl of rodeos that James won a record seven times -- and for the first time in their lives they're able to fight for first instead of second, they'll be thinking of Charmayne James -- the queen of rodeo.

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News

Volleyball team struggles through weekend

October 27

Once again, it was a weekend of ups and downs for the women's volleyball team as it competed in the annual Hall of Fame Tournament at Mount Holyoke. The squad's final record of 2-2, which placed it in the middle of the pack, reflected its inconsistent play throughout the weekend. The Jumbos finished tenth out of the 16 teams that made an appearance, and now hold a 19-8 record moving into the last week of regular season play. Tournament play began on Friday night with a confidence-shaking 3-1 loss to Smith College. In its previous meeting with Smith at the end of September, Tufts was on the other end of a 3-1 match. Though Smith has now had a month to improve and gel as a team, coach Cora Thompson had predicted before the weekend that the Jumbos would have no trouble dispatching this opponent. However, continuing its struggle with intensity and control, Tufts had a wakeup call beginning with the close first game, which it lost 30-27. In the second game, the Jumbos were again unable to bring things together and fell 0-2 in the match with a 24-30 loss. It was not until the third game that the Jumbos got their feet underneath them and made a statement with a 30-25 win. By that point unfortunately, it was too late to make a run for the match victory, as the Jumbos gave the final win to Smith in game four, 30-24. "They played better than they had earlier in the season, but still we could have beat them," junior right side hitter Alison Sauer said. "I don't really know why it didn't come together for us." With the loss, the Jumbos were unable to get into Saturday's winners pool for a rematch with MIT, who handed Tufts a loss in its first game of the season. Instead, the Jumbos went on to rematch Gordon on Friday night and Wheaton on Saturday. Tufts was able to regroup after the Smith loss and came out strong in the first game against Gordon with a 30-10 win. "In our first game against Gordon, we came out with a ton of fire," Sauer said, "That is what we lacked overall this weekend. There was no pep in our step." The Jumbos were able to ride the momentum of the first game blow out to go on to defeat Gordon 3-1 (30-26, 18-30, 30-26). On Saturday, the squad continued to control the momentum with a no-contest 3-0 victory over Wheaton College (30-23, 30-18, 30-20). In their final competition for the weekend, the Jumbos were unable to put away Wellesley for what would have been the second time this season. In early September, Tufts sent out a message to New England volleyball with a decisive 3-1 victory over Wellesley. Saturday, the Jumbos were unable to find that same magic in a loss that was pushed to the fifth game (31-33, 30-27, 13-30, 30-27, 9-15). "We had our ups and downs," Sauer said. "We did come together at certain points, but we let games get away from us that we should have won at other points. Overall, we should have done better." According to the latest New England Women's Volleyball Association regional poll, which was released on Oct. 22, Tufts ranked eighth among the fifteen schools to make the list. Entering the rankings at number one was none other than conference powerhouse Williams, boasting an undefeated record in regional play. The Ephs sit atop the NESCAC standings followed in second by Amherst -- the only other NESCAC team ranked above the Jumbos. In fact, despite having only the fifth best record in the conference, Tufts was awarded the third highest rank out of the six NESCAC teams that were included in the poll. "At this point in the season, we know how to play volleyball," Sauer said. "It is just a matter of getting that fire back that we had in the beginning of the season. If we want it, we will win."

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News

Borghesani prize recipients present projects

October 27

Three former recipients of the Borghesani Prize described their experiences and encouraged others to apply at the Fall 2003 Colloquium. The Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize enables the recipient to undertake a project, activity, or plan of study in any field regarding international issues. "[The Borghesani Prize has] become a wonderful tradition, a wonderful occasion for students to have study projects, research projects, and internships that take them anywhere in the world," said Professor Christiane Zehl-Romero, Director of International Relations. One of the Colloquium's goals was to give prospective applicants examples of international projects so part of the prize is the opportunity for the past year's winners to share their international experiences with other students. The presenters at the Fall Colloquium were 2002-2003 winners senior Sarah Sliwa and senior Jenna Sirkin, as well as 2001-2002 winner senior Sadaf Gulamali. The three past winners shared many of their accomplishments and difficulties throughout the projects. Sliwa studied printmaking as an intern at a print shop in Poland. She helped coordinate an international print show and met Polish artists. She also observed the relationship between the United States and Poland from a Polish perspective. "It was an excellent experience. I learned about who I was as a Polish person," said Sliwa. Sirkin spent her time abroad studying reproductive health in Mexico and Cuba. She split time interning at a maternity hospital in Mexico and a non-governmental organization within Cuba. She attributed great personal growth to the prize. "My experiences abroad have provided invaluable insights to a subject I care about," Sirkin said. Sirkin was blown away by the Cuban environment. "It was shocking how old everything looks, I felt like I was in the 1950's," she said, "The experience was educational, but sometimes very challenging and frustrating." Gulamali studied tolerance and pluralism in Islamic societies in the United Kingdom. The three prizewinners and Zehl-Romero also discussed eligibility and the application process. While students have broad projects in mind before writing the application, a large part of the project comes together during the process. "You do have to have a project to apply, but there's flexibility," said Zehl-Romero. Second semester sophomores and juniors with a 2.8 grade point average or above are eligible for the Borghesani Prize. The students can be from any department at Tufts. Preference is given to US citizens but students of any nationality are encouraged to apply. Ultimately it is the value of the project that decides the prizewinners. The prize aims to encourage personal growth and independence as well as increase the student's understanding of all peoples and encourage a commitment to the world community. The award is a memorial to Anne Borghesani, a 1989 Tufts graduate with a degree in international relations. Borghesani's mother, Betty, opened the Colloquium with words about the life of her daughter. "I thought I would say a few things about Anne because over time the prize seems to get separated from the person," she said. "It seemed natural to have a prize here, because of her great experiences [at Tufts]." During her years at Tufts, Anne studied abroad at the University of Grenoble and visited both Russia and Berlin. "She was always concerned about freedom for others," said Mrs. Borghesani. As a memorial to Anne, the Borghesani Prize facilitates individual growth and understanding of other cultures. All three students seemed to have enjoyed their experiences, but also learned a great deal as well. Sliwa said, "I could have sat in the library every day this summer, and still wouldn't have learned as many things." The deadline for the Anne E. Borghesani Memorial Prize 2003-2004 application is next January 29. For more information see the Tufts International Relations Department website.

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News

UN-necessary

October 27

The Middle East is awash with violence. Africa is mired in poverty, hunger, and war, all while struggling to combat the raging AIDS epidemic. The people of North Korea suffer under the rule of a dictator as murderous and genocidal as Stalin. Human rights abuses are still widely documented in China. You would expect the United Nations to be concentrating its human rights efforts in these areas. But the latest country that has drawn its ire is, in fact, Canada. Last Monday, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child issued a statement telling Canadian parents and schools not to spank their children. How much money was spent, how many meetings were held to debate this vitally important issue? Meanwhile, in March, the Cuban government sentenced nearly 80 human rights activists, including outspoken poets and journalists, to lengthy terms in prison merely for voicing their opinions. What else, if not this, constitutes a fundamental breach of human rights? And yet, Cuba's position on the United Nations Commission on Human Rights was renewed for another term the very next month. This appalling failure of the committee's mission would perhaps be less surprising if a country like Libya were not its chair, and China, Zimbabwe, and Saudi Arabia not voting members. The absurdity does not end there. In 1999, an independent inquiry concluded that the UN was responsible for the failure to halt the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, in which 800,000 people were murdered. The UN mandate for Rwanda was far too weak to have any possibility of stopping or even slowing the genocide. The inquiry also concluded that the lack of political will in the Security Council and among member states was a key reason for the failure of peacekeeping. Another report, this time by a collection of children's rights groups, blames the UN security council for its failure to enforce its own resolutions in the Congo. Though it has passed 18 of these resolutions, it "has contributed to the lack of protection of civilians in the Democratic Republic of Congo by failing to vigorously hold accountable those parties that violate relevant resolutions," according to the report. Many more examples could be given, but the point has been made. The United Nations, well-meaning in its original intent, has proven ineffective in enforcing respect for human rights. In the majority of cases, nothing is done other than the passage of unenforceable declarations. When a real mandate is written, it is often not followed. The political will, the motivation, the drive to rescue oppressed peoples from their rulers is simply absent. This is why the United States was morally justified in ridding Iraq of Saddam. The arguments against unilateral action -- that it sets a risky precedent, inflames anger against the US, and its cost -- are valid ones, but faced with a timid, indecisive security council, the Iraqi people had no other hope. Had the United States not intervened, would the United Nations have enforced its own resolution about disarming Saddam, which it had failed to enforce over the preceding decade? Would Saddam's brutal repression of his own people have even been on its agenda? Judging by its track record, somehow, I don't think so. Taking action was a bold move, obviously a controversial one, but had the UN had its way, Saddam would still be in charge, and the country would not now be in the process of reconstruction. At least Iraqi mothers still have the right to discipline their children as they see fit. Ilya Lozovsky is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.

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News

Resident assistance

October 27

Resident Assistants have a tough job. Not only are they saddled with tedious administrative paperwork duties and periodically confined to their rooms for the night, but they also must strike a delicate balance between counselor and police officer. RAs are in the awkward position of trying to be friends to those in their care, and caring for them by enforcing the rules. Residents can make this job easier or harder. The problem is clearest when it comes to alcohol. This year, the University changed its alcohol policy, including the duty of the RAs in reporting violations. Previously, they had the discretion to report or not report offenses, but now they must document absolutely everything. If a minor is involved with alcohol in any way, it is written down. Many RAs were upset with this new policy, and the administration drew a lot of heat because of it. Of course, the law behind the policy is not anything new. It has been illegal for quite some time for someone under 21 to drink alcohol. I do not think any RA expects the University to promote illegal drinking, or even allow it to slip under the radar. I think what frustrates RAs most is not what they hear from the University, but what they hear from their residents. This is what they hear: "Look, you know we're going to drink. Now, you can either be cool about it, and we'll let you be our friend and all, or you could be 'That Guy' and we'll just go drink elsewhere and probably go over our limits and hide any drinking problem from you. So, you want us to be safe in our dorm or out getting trashed in Medford?" Are these fair options? Is this a real "choice" you are giving your RA if you say this? What should a woman make of a husband, if he came to her and said, "Baby, you know I'm going to cheat on you. So you can either go and buy me pornography, or I'll just go behind your back with one of the chicks at the office." Should the woman just buckle down and give in to the "lesser of two evils?" For you guys, consider if your wife said to you, "Honey, you know you cannot fulfill my needs. So, either pick one of your own friends for me to see on the side, or I'll just hire my own." Should the man just roll over and accept the inevitable? No. These are false choices. You do not have to choose one of them. The answer is not one or the other -- it is neither. The only reason you are able to propose the choices is if you first deny that husbands and wives are supposed to love and stay faithful only to each other. You must assume from the outset that cheating is an unavoidable law of nature. But it isn't! Husbands and wives can stay faithful to each other and keep their promises. Just as cheating in a relationship is not a forgone conclusion, neither is drinking in college a predetermined fate. RAs are often led to feel as if they are asking the impossible if they ask their resident minors not to drink. They are given the same look of bewilderment usually reserved for observing zoo animals. Is this fair to our RAs? Is it really so inconceivable that college students could go without alcohol? Some argue that it is. They make the case that alcohol is irreplaceable and required for bringing people together for a good time. Are we really not that creative? Social life at college has not always revolved around the keg or the Beirut table, after all. Even when 18-year-olds could drink legally, drinking was not as widespread as it is today. The generations before us found other ways to enjoy each other's company. Alcohol is not the only way to bring people together. Freshmen often find fraternity parties to be lame in their first few weeks, until they start to get to know and befriend the people there. It can't be the drinking that makes lame fraternity parties into fun ones, because the alcohol is present in both. What makes them fun is the people around you -- people you can laugh and kick back with. Can't this happen without alcohol? Some would like to say they are not using alcohol as a means to social interaction, but as an end in itself. The alcohol really is what they are after, and whether or not there are other people around doesn't really matter. If that is the case, and drinking is their top priority, you would think they could find cheaper means for getting what they want. Paying $40,000 a year for the right to walk down Professor's Row is not a very good deal. RAs who are trying to enforce the alcohol policy are not trying to be jerks - they are trying to help you be college students. Statistically, several hundred of us will not make it to graduation. Chances are good that someone won't cut it, not because the work is too hard, but because they waste their time and themselves getting smashed. Just as it is for their own good that husbands and wives promise to stay together, it is for our own good that the University doesn't want to see minors drinking. We should not give our RAs such a hard time for caring enough about us to enforce the rules. Our RAs would not have to crack down on enforcement if we were already policing ourselves. Of course they can't hunt us down. If you want to, can you drink without your RA knowing? Yes, if you put your mind to it. Your RA won't know. But you will know. You are the only one who knows who you are when no one is looking. But you will have to look your RA in the eyes.

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News

Campus to host 400 local kids for Halloween festivities

October 27

This Saturday, Tufts will host the sixth annual Halloween on the Hill (HoH) program, designed to promote friendly relations between the University and the surrounding community. Four hundred children in kindergarten through fourth grade from the Medford and Somerville public school systems are expected to attend between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. HoH is the "Senate's major outreach endeavor of the year to the Somerville and Medford communities," according to Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate special projects chair Cristina Gioioso. Events around campus will include trick-or-treating in West Hall, cookie decorating, and a haunted house. The Carmichael dining hall will host a donut-eating contest, face painting, mask making and a mummy wrap. The special projects and public relations committees of the Senate worked together to plan the events. Senior Senator Randy Newsom said he "has e-mailed the local papers, talked to a couple of administrators about funding, and helped get the permission slips." He added that "the whole event takes a ton of planning, a lot of patience, but it has paid off in the past and I have no doubt that this year will be even better." Other student groups on campus, such as Greek houses Zeta Beta Tau, Alpha Phi, Theta Chi, Delta Tau Delta, and Chi Omega, have all agreed to plan and host activities. Although representatives from the Greek organizations were not at Sunday's Senate meeting to comment on their specific roles, TCU Vice President Joe Mead said that "the Greek system is playing a huge role in this event. Nearly every house is contributing not only their house for activities the kids will do, but also with volunteers." The Senate hopes that such projects will continue to smooth relations between Tufts and its neighboring communities. "There are bad feelings and misunderstandings between the University and the community on a variety of issues and this event can only help build a better connection between all parties involved," TCU President Chike Aguh said. Mead spoke about the positive impact he has witnessed as a result of HoH. "[A mother who lives nearby] was saying how it can be trying for families that live in the community immediately next to Tufts... that noise and trash can become frustrating, but when she saw how many students came out to have fun with her kids, she said, 'It's all worth while.'" Similarly, freshman Senator Mike Abare said that "parents of local children see Tufts as more communal and in a better light by having activities like [HoH]." There are generally few instances throughout the year where Tufts students have the opportunity to host younger children on campus, senators said. "It's events like [HoH] that will help to bolster better community relations with Medford and Somerville; and the best part is that we do this serious, and beneficial act by playing with kids," Mead said. The funding for this project will be covered by the Senate's yearly budget. Additional funding will also be provided by co-sponsorships from the TCU Judiciary and Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel's office.

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News

This time, it's an international affair

October 26

It's every reality TV whore's dream come true. Fourteen European women, none of whom are even the slightest bit familiar with last season's runaway hit Joe Millionaire, are whisked away to an isolated estate as part of an unnamed dating game. There, the women are introduced to the main prize - 24-year-old David Smith, a Texan cowboy who recently inherited $80 million from a dead uncle and who is supposedly looking for someone with whom to share his newfound wealth. But, of course, it wouldn't be reality television if it didn't have a catch. Not only does "Joe" have the power to evict one or two women every episode (which he does by denying them diamond necklaces or bejeweled rings at the end of the show), but, as the audience knows all too well and as these unfortunate beauties will soon find out, he isn't even rich -- he's a rodeo circuit rider, racking in a mere $11,000 a year. And so starts the second season of Joe Millionaire: An International Affair. Looking to capitalize on the incredible ratings from their early 2003 surprise hit and to duplicate a show that they claimed could only be a one-time event, the network executives at Fox searched high and low across Europe, trying to find a cast of women who had never heard of the reality television twist. The females they managed to track down embody the "spirits" of the countries they represent, from the beautiful-yet-tactless Italian Alessia to Czech cutie Tereza. The stage seemed set for another run at Joe Millionaire's heart -- love, money, and a chance to laugh at stereotypical Europeans: it seemed like a plan for a runaway hit. That is, until the ratings came in. Joe Millionaire: An International Affair finished fifth in its time slot, attracting only 6.6 million viewers after the season finale of its first installment drew in over 40 million. Considering the heavy marketing campaign that Fox ran during the baseball playoffs, to call such a poor showing a disappointment would be the understatement of the rating sweeps. The network had been expecting Joe Millionaire to be its lead-in on Monday and Tuesday nights, and the fact that it crashed coming right out of the starting gate does not bode well for the upcoming television season. And so the prognosticators at Fox have been left scrambling to explain this unexpected disappointment. Excuses have been everything from a pool of contestants that is too international (many of them have heavy accents, triggering subtitles and making it difficult for viewers to understand them) to a poorly-thought-out marketing strategy (that was run during a baseball playoff campaign that few women who are interested in dating shows would have watched) to an overall diminished interest in reality television itself. Even reality staple Survivor has been clocking in with fewer viewers in its seventh season, so it's possible that the genre has just worn itself too thin. Viewers of the premiere might be surprised at the low ratings. The show preserved many of the quirks from the original -- a clueless, uncultured "hero" and a selection of women with dollar signs that flash across their eyeballs whenever David's fortune is mentioned -- and dropped one of its most annoying traits: Alex McLeod, the expressionless, irritating host from the first season. The cast itself promises an interesting mix. The Italians are saucy, the Dutch are air-headed, and every single woman knows the theme song to Dallas, judging by the way they all started humming it after David's fortune was announced. The editing of the show made it more than clear that each and every one of the "contestants" thinks that Americans in general and cowboys in particular are clumsy, socially-impaired oafs, which will only make it easier for them to write off the inevitable gaffes of their clumsy, socially-impaired prize as he tries to convince them he's really as cultured as producers want him to think he is. David, of course, is bland and almost unbearably uneducated (he even had to ask which country the Dutch come from), but the show revolves less around him than it does the conniving, self-centered women who are trying to win his heart in order to worm their way into his pocketbook. Viewers might roll their eyes at the lead man's attempts to master the intricacies of wine tasting or polite introduction, but they're really tuning in to see all the European beauties get their comeuppance in the end. Joe Millionaire is, after all, one of the few reality television programs where being completely focused on the ultimate prize is punished instead of rewarded. And punishment will indeed come in time for those viewers faithful enough to stick out the entire season. Each woman will eventually be forced to either face humiliation in the form of rejection, or will have to choose between "love" or admitting that she was only in it for the money. Will the ratings recover? Will wholehearted greed win out in the end?

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News

Truman Capote's Breakfast at Tiffany's is a story of desire objectified

October 26

It only took moments to hook me. The first paragraph of Truman Capote's novella Breakfast at Tiffany's aptly foreshadows the intoxicating sensory imagery that distinguishes the text, making it a story I have returned to again and again: "I am always drawn back to places where I have lived, the houses and their neighborhoods. For instance, there is a brownstone in the East Seventies where, during the early years if the war, I had my first New York apartment," he opens. "With all its gloom, it still was a place of my own, the first, and my books were there, and jars of pencils to sharpen, everything I needed, so I felt, to become the writer I wanted to be." I was given my copy of Breakfast at Tiffany's as a gift for my 16th birthday. It was a text I would return to again and again. The visceral experience I had upon first encountering the text was intense: I was thrilled by feeling the slim volume in my hand, its slight weight pressing into my palms. A paper jacket enwrapped the hard cover and spine, gold-leafed letters pronounced its title. It was a brand new book, its pages still smelled inky and felt crisp. When I first read Breakfast at Tiffany's, I knew very little about its actual plot. The only familiarity I had with the story was the knowledge that it was a movie -- which I had never seen -- starring Audrey Hepburn and a very long, black cigarette holder. The presence of the unknown surrounded the text and made it all the more intriguing. The very day I had received the book, I stayed up all night to read the novella in its entirety. Breakfast at Tiffany's gave me a wonderful protagonist to mull over in Holly Golightly. To this day, I simultaneously feel like I understand Holly at her core and that I will never be able to peel back enough of the crust to expose the "real" Holly. She is wholly objectified by her setting - she is that which is desired, though I am unsure what her identity might be outside that realm of want. The narrator's first encounter with Holly aptly captures this problem: he learns of Holly though the label on her mailbox in the apartment building. "Rather Cartier-formal, it read: Miss Holiday Golightly; and, underneath, in the corner, Traveling. It nagged me like a tune: Miss Holiday Golightly, Traveling." It nagged me like a tune, too, this woman embodied by the words and images associated with her. It nagged me like a tune in other ways, as well. There is a distinct musicality to Capote's text; phrases and sentences take on a life of their own merely through the aural sensation which they yield. The narrator's description of Holly is a most pleasing passage. "I discovered, from observing the trash-basket outside her door, that her regular reading consisted of tabloids and travel folders and astrological charts; that she smoked an esoteric cigarette called Picayunes; survived on cottage cheese and melba toast; that her vari-colored hair was somewhat self-induced," it reads. "The same source made it apparent that she received V-letters by the bale. They were always torn into strips like bookmarks. I used occasionally to pluck myself a bookmark in passing. Remember and miss you and rain and please write and damn and goddamn were the words that occurred most often on these slips; those and lonesome and love." The sensory imagery conjured by the text is intoxicating, lulling the reader into the story and the world of Holly and her admirers. Perhaps the most rewarding part of Breakfast at Tiffany's is its ending, which ends as enigmatically as its protagonist's characterization demands. The ending is complete in its lack of completion: It is most appropriate that the plot refuses to yield to traditional standards of closure. I became acutely aware of the appropriateness of the novella's ending when I finally saw the film version: Though you will find me hard-pressed to say anything negative about Hepburn and her Givenchy costumes, the movie left me longing for the novella and its words. While the film presents completion as kissing-in-a-downpour, the novel's ending is superior. It reads, "I wondered what [Holly's cat] name was, for I was certain he had one now, certain he'd arrived somewhere he belonged. African hut or whatever, I hope Holly has, too." I'll take words that hope for belonging over embracing to Mancini music anyday.

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News

Part-time faculty deserve a fair deal

October 26

According to the American Association of University Professors, 43 percent of all faculty are part-time, and non-tenure-track positions account for over half of all faculty appointments in American higher education. The growth of part-time faculty has often come at the cost of stable employment for those who seek full-time careers. There is a fundamental problem with the tendency to rely on contingent faculty when they receive limited opportunities for professional advancement, their performance is not regularly reviewed, or they may be shut out of governing structures of university departments. More fundamentally, part-time faculty are denied the same kind of academic freedom protections that tenured faculty enjoy, a necessary precondition for the free exchange of ideas that universities are supposed to promote. It also leads to instability, and makes the institution more vulnerable to critics, who charge that universities pursue research at the expense of teaching. This is a part of a broader societal trend. Workers in general are increasingly treated as commodities, and universities want the workers to be there when they are needed, and disappear when they are not needed. What is the impact on students? It is not uncommon for contingent faculty to teach as many as six courses per semester at several institutions in order to survive financially. They rarely have office space or academic support and typically do not keep office hours or serve on any committees. Because the possibility of tenure is not available to them, as a practical matter they are deprived of the protection that academic freedom affords and are vulnerable to arbitrary hiring/firing decisions. Student evaluations serve as the materials used to assess professors, and for fear of poor evaluations, many professors censor themselves. This self-censorship is detrimental to the development of their students. Professors also face the threat of salary cuts that are often made on the basis of last-minute enrollment figures. In Emerson College, which has a majority of part-timers, a part-time professor has to accept a salary cut when less than ten students enroll in a class. Most contingent faculty members are highly qualified and dedicated members of the profession, but they are often stretched beyond any reasonable limit by their schedules. As it is, many part-timers are forced to teach at several institutions or to hold other jobs in order to secure benefits, limiting their availability on campus and their chances for developing meaningful relationships with their students. An otherwise amazing professor might be less able to assess his/her students' progress because of a temptation to cut corners; giving less assignments and exams. The two outcomes are an unchallenging environment for the students and a lack of knowledge of their progress. Yet despite their qualifications - a master's degree or a Ph.D. - professors cannot perform to the best of their abilities and have little job security. We as students are paying for good teaching; a college is only as good as its faculty. Better instruction for students requires a more stable faculty population. By being paid more, by securing health benefits, by improving morale and by imparting institutional respect, professors will be even more committed to and available for students. Finally, it is important to realize part-timers are not looking to be difficult. They are simply looking for a fair shake. The benefits to us and our greater community include: improved campus morale, greater faculty continuity, improved instruction, and the creation of an atmosphere of mutual respect and greater cooperation among the part- and full-time faculty, the administration and the students. On Oct. 29, Emerson College Part-time faculty will be holding a demonstration at 4pm in downtown Boston at the corner of Boylston and Tremont as part of a series of events for Campus Equity Week, a US & Canada-wide week of action by faculty organizers and organizations throughout higher education. The goal of these events is to raise awareness in campus communities, the public and policymakers about the negative impacts of contingent academic employment practices. As students, we should be concerned about these trends because we have a right to quality education in return for our investments. Furthermore, by promoting the enhancement of the quality of higher education, we are working to create a more just and equitable society. I encourage students to show up on the 29th to show solidarity with this cause. Reem Assil is a junior majoring in International Relations and Economics.

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News

Development in Assembly Square stalled

October 26

The development of Assembly Square has become the primary issue for many Somerville voters as they prepare to cast their ballots in next month's mayoral election. And the two candidates, Joseph Curtatone and Tony LaFuente, disagree with how the project should proceed. Curtatone advocates immediate development of Assembly Square to increase commercial tax revenue. LaFuente has advocated more planning before beginning construction. Assembly Square is Somerville's only undeveloped waterfront location and the largest space for commercial development in the city. It extends along a 3/4-mile strip on the Mystic River next to Interstate 93. City officials have been eager to develop the area for commerce, which would increase the Somerville's tax base reduce the burden on residential taxpayers. Development has been held up for five years because of disagreements between state and town factions about what the development should include. Talks between state and town officials broke down in August. The biggest debate is whether or not "big box" stores, such as IKEA and a new Home Depot, should be allowed. Although both stores were approved the city, the Mystic View Task Force (MVTF), a community action group set up to scrutinize the project, has filed lawsuits to prevent construction. The MVTF's vision of the site forgoes large retailers in favor of offices, smaller shops, and green space. They believe office space will bring in five times more revenue than big box stores and produce less congestion. Both mayoral candidates believe Assembly Square should include a mixture of developments, but have different ideas about timing. "My proposal would give Somerville its best opportunity to move quickly on Assembly Square so that we can begin reaping the $5 million in tax revenue that the city so desperately needs," Curtatone said. LaFuente disputes his opponent's estimate of the tax benefits because he says they suggest that the city will earn the maximum tax revenue sooner than it could. "Joe, you have to stop telling these lies," LaFuente said at the mayoral debate. State Rep. Patricia Jehlen told The Somerville Journal that "even if the city had done exactly what the developers wanted and Mystic View had not filed any lawsuits, we would have at most $250,000 in new revenue this year." Curtatone is advocating a compromise and has been pushing for rapid development. His plan calls for construction of the IKEA store to begin immediately, but he says Home Depot should stay in its current location. But LaFuente criticized Curtatone's plan, predicting any attempt at development would fail without the approval of all the principal parties. "We need to bring everyone back to the table," LaFuente said. At a debate last Monday, LaFuente promised voters that development of Assembly Square would happen within two to three years. For Curtatone, that is not soon enough. He cited figures from City Assessor Richard Brescia that indicate the average two-family property owner could save up to $1,000 per year if residential taxes were replaced by income from Assembly Square. Curtatone based his numbers on a site with "mixed use development with public access to the beachfront." Residences and offices would be mixed with commercial properties, ensuring a 24-hour presence in the area. While Curtatone and LaFuente originally supported the MVTF, they have spent their campaigns trying to distance themselves from the MVTF's current litigation. "I agree with the long-term vision of the MVTF [to develop Assembly Square], but not with the current tactics," Curtatone said, even though he is a member of the task force. Although LaFuente believes that Assembly Square needs a mixture of development, he disagrees with the tactics of the MVTF and has made criticizing the task force part of his platform. He has also criticized Curtatone for being a member of the MVTF, and says that his plan will lead to the creation of a strip mall. If the city returns to the negotiation table as LaFuente suggests, it may be able to secure a T stop at Assembly Square. The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) proposed building a stop at Assembly Square on the Orange Line, but withdrew the offer because of the project's delays. Transportation is one area Curtatone and LaFuente agree should be improved. The increased access to public transportation would relieve traffic congestion in the area make it easier for residents to commute. MVTF President Bill Sheldon said the MBTA has promised complete funding for a T-Stop to be built at Assembly Square if plans for development can ensure 8,000 boardings a day. The target for the stop at Davis Square is 10,000 boardings a day. But he argues that building big box stores would not entice the MBTA to the site. "The state will not give us a dime for a T stop if Assembly Square develops into a big box mall," Sheldon said. Somerville residents have become frustrated at the delays in starting construction. The Somerville Journal suggested in a recent editorial that the delays contributed to the defeat of Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay in last month's primary election.

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News

Rank and rile

October 26

The Atlantic Monthly's recent release of yet another compilation of college rankings joins US News & World Report and The Princeton Review in the sludge of assessments of academia. They guide the desires of prospective applicants, affect university administrative policy, and create endless elementary debates on whose university is better and why. Do they create any productive outcomes other than profits for the magazines from increased sales to frantic parents scrambling to send their kids to a school in the top 20? The frivolity and superfluous nature of such rankings lend themselves to empty promises and false reputations based on subjective data and peripheral observations. Applying to colleges then becomes a number game. Tufts falls, depending on which list being scrutinized, in the 27 to 36 range, meaning we attend a top school, though we are not at the peak. The numbers get more specific. According to The Princeton Review, we rank 13th for food, but according to a survey in the publication, "It's true what they say about Tufts; the school is filled with bitter Ivy League rejects." Great. So according to the experts Tufts is a well-fed but acrimonious campus whose students, upon hearing that Tufts would be home for the next four years, gave out a grand Al Gore sigh of disgust. These gurus of the undergraduates really have honed down their skills to a science of generalities. So what are parents and students purchasing when they buy these bibles of the bachelor's degree? First, they receive an effective guide to the colleges and universities in America. For all their faults, these compilations do tend to provide some analysis of the various programs, specialties, and atmospheres of different campuses. They also, through their rankings, create divisions between top tier schools and secondary schools that allow students of differing academic abilities to genuinely guide their college search in the right academic realm, even if the cut-offs are imperfect. Where they are wrong, though, is in the creation of a precise hierarchy which alienates, divides, and dictates choices and decisions by prospective students to the point where a school becomes unattractive because a 45-year-old editor decides that its town-gown relations are bad. Well, if the university fails to play nice with its neighbors, then maybe it will fail to educate me, the prospective students must think. The bottom line is that university analysis by newsmagazines is tainted by worthless rankings. By jumping on the "best of" bandwagon, The Atlantic Monthly has succeeded in creating even more confusion for prospective students and more contention for current students -- not to mention an inevitable boost in circulation. But don't worry; word is that the administration is trying to bring us into the 20-to-15 range for next year. Let's hope.

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News

Adventures in haircutting

October 26

I have a confession: I hate getting my hair cut. To me, the thought of someone slicing strands from my scalp is as unpleasant as a trip to the dentist. However, hair management is a necessary component of a healthy lifestyle and certainly a concern for those who would like to cultivate a stylish appearance. Yet, in this aspect of personal style, I fall embarrassingly short. I'm one of those people who do exactly what hair care professionals advise against: I wait months between cuts and sometimes don't bother to use conditioner. Needless to say, my locks aren't as wonderful as they could be. I congratulate all those people who pay special attention to their hair and participate in the fast-paced world of ridiculously chic hair salons and bizarre color treatments. This is a world I may never fully understand, but I have attempted to break into the scene. I wanted to discover for myself those sumptuous salons on Newbury Street where they massage your scalp and give you exotic tea while you wait. I wondered if these supposedly-perfect haircuts are really worth the expense. Here is a tale of my hair cutting adventures that I hope will shed some light on your own quest for stylishly-coiffed tresses. We begin with a visit to an establishment I shall call "Salon A." I discovered "Salon A" while flipping through one of those free college student guides to Boston they often have at Mail Services. I had been psyching myself up for a haircut for quite some time and decided that this salon just might be interesting enough to distract me with its mod d?©cor and hip music while razor sharp metal implements were flying at my head. I booked an appointment and soon enough it was time to begin my journey. After finally locating the business among the millions of salons on Newbury Street, I was greeted by a moderately pleasant receptionist. After giving my name, I was told to have a seat while the receptionist proceeded to go and talk excitedly to a group of stylists in the back of the salon. Apparently, the staff was convinced that I was Lucas Haas (you know, that Amish kid in the Mel Gibson film Silent Witness). While I'm sure it can be fun to be mistaken for a celebrity, I was a little weirded out when the shampoo guy kept asking me, "Are you sure you aren't he?" I briefly considered playing along but decided that I just didn't know enough about the film career of Lucas Haas to construct a conversation. The weirdness did not stop there. After the shampoo massage and several cups of tea, the cut began. Unfortunately, the d?©cor and the music were not nearly distracting enough to make me stop thinking about how much I hated strangers touching my head. Now, I know one must expect to have their bubble of "personal space" violated while getting one's hair cut, but I was not prepared to have my stylist press up against me for the duration of the process. It is one thing to have a stranger touch your head, but quite another to experience full body contact. Gross, I know. Needless to say, that was the only time I went to "Salon A." Months passed, and I was finding it difficult to see from behind my bangs. This time around, I convinced a friend to come along. I highly recommend this approach for those of you who are less than excited by hair cutting (it's always nice to know that you are in it together). This next salon, "Salon B," was quite a bit more exciting. Both the music and the d?©cor were sleek and stylish, plus there was a complimentary espresso bar with fine cheese and other tasty morsels. The haircut itself did not turn out to be as good as the food. This stylist remained at a comfortable distance but seemed quiet resistant to any direction. This is always a problem if you have a clear idea of how you want your hair to look. After asking for a little more to be taken off the sides because it looked too "poofy," I was told that was precisely the way it was supposed to look and that no more could be trimmed off the sides. This left me a little disgruntled because if I'm going to shell out the big bucks, I want to like the end result (even if I don't enjoy the process). After these less than fabulous experiences, I decided that perhaps those extravagant salons on Newbury Street aren't all they're cracked up to be. For me, the price did not translate into the professionalism and quality I expected. Next time around, I'm grabbing a friend and heading to Supercuts. I figure I can deal with most things if the price is right. Plus, with the money I will save, I can buy a whole plate of imported cheeses.

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News

Students weigh in on bill banning partial-birth abortion

October 26

Last Tuesday, a ban on "partial-birth" abortion was approved by the Senate and the House of Representatives and provoked strong reactions across the country. The Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 was the first federal legislation to be passed regulating abortion since the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade in 1973. The bill defines partial-birth abortion as aborting the fetus "after the entire fetal head is outside the body of the mother, or if the baby is in a breech position, when any part of the fetal trunk past the navel is outside the body of the mother." As a result of the bill, physicians who perform the procedure could face several years in prison. Throughout the nation members of the Right-to-Life movement rejoiced, while concern grew among pro-choice groups. At Tufts, student reaction to the bill was also varied, ranging in disagreement over what the legislation actually means, whether the term "partial-birth abortion" should be used at all, and what the actual implications of the ban will be. Some students are concerned that the legislation is the first step toward revoking abortion rights entirely. According to sophomore Alison Isaacs, the ban is the "first in a series of knocking down women's rights...next, they might limit access to the [birth control] Pill." Senior Philipp Tsipman, president of the Tufts Republicans, is skeptical about these concerns. "A lot of people who voted for [the ban] are generally for abortion... it's very clear that this is not where they're going," he said. Tsipman adds that he himself is generally "pro-choice," but feels that "partial-birth abortion is something that borders so closely on infanticide that it's unbelievable how it could be legal." Rachel Hoff, former president of the Tufts Republicans, disagrees. "Having a completely Republican Congress and Presidency, [the illegalization of abortion] is a very valid concern... We may in fact see that in the near future." Some students are uncomfortable with the government's regulation of reproductive decisions in general. "Making reproductive rights a matter of government control is unsettling," Isaacs said. "I don't trust the rest of America with my body." "A woman's [medical choices] should be left up to her and her doctor, not the men in suits in Washington D.C.," President and founder of Tufts Voices for Choice Judith Neufeld said. Tsipman points out, however, that the government legislates on other aspects of medicine. "It's not like we don't regulate medicine at all - a lot of ethically repugnant practices are outlawed," he said. "Partial-birth abortion is an extremely violent and vicious way of ending the life of an unborn baby," Hoff added. Some students are opposed to partial-birth abortion but are unhappy with the idea of a total ban. "The idea of partial-birth abortion makes me uncomfortable... because at that point in the pregnancy they're pretty much fully formed babies, but I do believe there are circumstances where it is the better option," sophomore Katie D'Aco said. "Basically, I think they should be legal but restricted to extreme circumstances." There is much debate over whether the term "partial-birth abortion" should even be used in legislation, with pro-choice groups saying that the term does not exist in medical dictionaries. "There's actually no such thing as partial-birth abortion. It's something anti-choice activists use to describe late-term abortion," Neufeld said. She feels that the language of the ban is intentionally unclear. "The procedure is not defined," she said. Others disagree that the term needs to be a medical one. "It's a legal term, and that's what's key here...It's a very specific procedure they are outlawing," Tsipman said. According to Neufeld, the procedure comprises less than .one percent of abortions, and is usually done to save the mother's life. Many states have passed partial-birth abortion bans in the past, but they have contained provisions for cases in which a mother's life is in danger. The federal ban contains no such provision. Sophomore and volunteer for Planned Parenthood Marion Phillips argued that the ban "is a violation of the rights secured in Roe v. Wade, and poses serious risks for the health of women." Others like Tsipman, however, maintain that there are no circumstances when partial-birth abortion is the only medically appropriate procedure. "It's a procedure that is not needed to save the life of the mother," he said. Tsipman added that a fetus past the point of viability is an "actual living baby." He points out that other laws reflect this belief. "A murder of a pregnant woman counts as double, and we take care that a woman does not damage her body when pregnant," he said. Neufeld fears that the legislation is the first step in "taking away women's right to choose, and make their own medically complicated choices." Phillips added that "the right to choose is legal, constitutional, and necessary for women." Hoff said, however, that the ban is not unconstitutional. "Congress is asking the President to support a culture of life...I am very optimistic that President Bush will sign the act [into law]". The bill banning partial-birth abortion has been passed by the Senate (64-34) and House of Representatives. Before becoming a law, the bill must be signed by President Bush.

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News

The next capital campaign still months away

October 26

While plans and a timetable are still undeveloped for the University's next capital campaign, the fund raising aspect remains a priority for the administration and development office. This year's campaign will be created as soon as "we first finish building a new information management system necessary to support such a campaign," President Larry Bacow said. Tufts' last capital campaign -- Tufts Tomorrow -- ended in June 2002 after raising $609 million. The details of the next campaign -- namely its dates and monetary goals -- remain unclear. Trustee Secretary Linda Dixon said a campaign is "not going to happen for another year or two -- there's just too much to be done. The President's office has to decide upon its parameters, put it all together, and then submit it to the trustees for their approval." In the meantime, according to Bacow, "we are nonetheless still continuing to raise money." Last year the University raised a record $94 million, topping the previous record of $91 million raised in the next to last year of the Tufts Tomorrow campaign. Vice president of the Advancement Division, Brian Lee, has been working heavily on the fund-raising aspect of development, to show that the department of development is not entirely about deciding what needs to be done with available resources. These significant fund raising efforts go to a variety of University groups, including Alumni Relations, Educational Travel, and the Parents Program. "Any of our respective outreach efforts are closely aligned with the goals of president Bacow and provost Bharucha, and the deans and directors at Tufts," said executive director of development, Lawrence Link. "Building on the momentum generated by the ideas and experience of the president and provost, and the wonderful array of programs and research by faculty, the division is an important factor in helping make Tufts an ever-stronger university." Link outlined the key financial goals of the University Advancement (UA) division: to support "university-wide initiatives" -- from the basics of faculty and student support, to the facilities and operations of Tufts -- to the "new and innovative", such as the success of the Summer Scholars program that debuted this summer. "Two other tangible signs of progress include the marvelous new basic research laboratories in the building on the Boston health sciences campus," said Link. "The neurobiology complex has provided an enhanced workspace, and has become an instant success in recruiting new faculty and graduate students to Tufts." The second major example of progress is the donation from trustee Bernie Gordon for faculty development at the School of Engineering, and well as for funding the environmentally-friendly Sophia Gordon Hall "Gordon's gift and commitment has strengthened the next generation of faculty through an endowment which will supplement salaries, equipment, new labs, and sharing the costs for funding faculty research projects," added Link. The University also set a record for the annual fund, raising over $10 million. "Gifts to the annual fund support unrestricted current giving and are always given in cash. By contrast, capital gifts may be paid in over five years," Bacow explained. Important financial goals for the future include raising significant endowment funds to eventually make Tufts a "need-blind" admissions institution -- "a status nearly every one of our peers already enjoys," said Link. Funding for faculty and students is continually sought after, and the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience has been feeding ideas to the administration and development offices. Recommendations from the Task Force, which issued its final report last spring, will play a strong role in the next campaign. Its most expensive recommendations include the construction of a residential college system, a caf?© inside Tisch Library, and expanded research opportunities for undergraduates. Bacow remains optimistic that all of these options are within reach. "I expect the Task Force to inform our priorities for fundraising in the area of undergraduate education and life for the next campaign," Bacow said. "While we were very successful in our last 'Tufts campaign', you can tell we have many of these objectives that require more and sustained support," added Link. "We set ambitious goals each year, both to 'touch' individuals and constituencies, as well as to raise resources." The Tufts Tomorrow campaign yielded $609 million over seven years. It began in Nov. 1995 under the administration of then President John DiBaggio. Originally planned as a five-year effort to raise $400 million, the campaign met with early success and was extended two more years to raise another $200 million.

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News

Michael Hardt comes out against war on terrorism

October 26

Though he gave his speech shoeless, Michael Hardt's message was nonetheless serious. The prominent liberal and Duke professor spoke at Tufts this past Thursday on issues of war and its impact on democracy. He co-authored the successful political and philosophical book, Empire. Hardt argued that due to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, global affairs have merely "gained more attention." "Today, lethal violence is always a threat, waiting to happen everywhere we go," he said. "Can we hope for real peace?" According to Hardt and his co-author, Antonio Negri, war should be something completely reserved for major external conflict. Conflicts within a state should be resolved peacefully. He defines this as the liberalist dream, where "the end of war within states, the end of war in general, [will] lead to the continuation of peace." There are three reasons as to why war has become legitimized today, according to Hardt. The first is law, both international and national. An example Hardt gave was the first Gulf War. The second, moral foundations, includes human rights, and can be associated with the Kosovo war. The third and "most tenuous", is that the potential effects of war could maintain global order, as in the second Gulf War. "In a world where all violence may be legitimized, all war may be called terrorism," Hardt said. Today, he said, we have more so-called "wars" against broadly-defined threats, such as the wars against hunger, drugs, and terrorism. But Hardt explained that "they still use armed combat and legal force," as well as maintain constant alliances of friends and supporters. These kinds of wars show how war never really ends, and how one could technically claim that the world is in a constant state of war, Hardt said. He stressed that this state has continual and serious effects on democratic institutions. "Democracy is undermined by the current state of war," he said, and in contrast "war is due to a lack of knowledge regarding democracy." Using the ongoing wars in Iraq, Colombia and Israel as an example, Hardt emphasized that today's armed conflicts are really more like civil wars. The global world has seen a great decline in the strength of the representation of nations, so that the meaning of democracy is not clear anymore, he said. "Imperial sovereignty conflicts with popular sovereignty," Hardt said. "The International Monetary Fund and the World Trade Organization cannot and do not represent the people." Hardt confessed that he did not believe that any democratic reform of global institutions is possible, mainly because "the United Nations' General Assembly is skewed." Instead, Hardt called for "a shift in focus from the people to the 'multitude', to invent a new institutionality that addresses democracy." Hardt defined such a "multitude" as a way of viewing the people not as one, but as a plural, and says that someday this "multitude" may transcend and defeat the new empire. Many students were either unable or unwilling to sit through Hardt's high-level discussion of political theory. The initial crowd of 50 students had thinned to 15 by the end of the lecture. At the conclusion of Hardt's speech, there was a time for questions and answers. One student asked about Hardt's feelings toward the building-up of global power from city states to nation states to a global level. "I like the build-up of the ladder," answered Hardt. "And I can't stress this enough, but the root to security is democracy, and vice-versa." Students found Hardt's views radical and thought-provoking. "He's revolutionary is his perception of global order," senior Erica Levine said. The majority of the fifty person audience in was comprised of EPIIC students.

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News

The law of unintended consequences

October 26

When you were a little kid, if you inadvertently caused something bad to happen, you could explain to your parents, "But I didn't mean to!" And they would say, "Aw, sweetie, we know you didn't mean to." And you would get a hug and a kiss and everything would be better. But after age seven, your intentions cease to matter. You are responsible for the outcomes of your actions, regardless of your intentions. The fact that the outcome is not necessarily the outcome you intended is irrelevant. Unfortunately, many people within the University have failed to grasp this concept. The changed enforcement of alcohol policies and new regulations regarding social life are one of the most obvious examples in recent memory. In an interview with the Daily ("Alcohol policy also frustrates administration" Oct. 15), TUPD Captain Mark Keith said, "Speculation that the administration is seeking to kill the social life here is absolutely not true." But regardless of what the administration is seeking to do, there has definitely been a dulling of the social scene here as a result of its actions. There are, in fact, dangerous unintentional consequences of the changes surrounding partying and alcohol policies on campus. Four times more students have been treated for alcohol poisoning by TEMS this year than in years prior, and it's easy to understand why. While some of this increase can be attributed to the change in policy surrounding alcohol-related calls to TEMS, the majority of this increase is likely due to changes in drinking behaviors. As fraternity parties decrease, students begin drinking in their rooms and apartments more often. In these settings, there are less non-alcohol related social activities such as dancing. Students tend to drink more hard alcohol and less beer, and there is less restriction of access to alcohol. Acknowledging that college students will drink regardless of law or school policy, fraternity parties offer protective factors, particularly in that they're location is known and that they can accommodate large numbers of students in one place. There is safety in numbers. These decisions are rampant this year and extend much farther than changes in the alcohol policy. Ranging from decisions by the TCU Senate to possible changes in graduation, administrative bodies would do well to thoroughly examine the consequences of their actions. Changes to undergraduate graduation recently proposed by academic administrators also would have severe unintentional consequences. Having students graduate by major instead of by college would actually counteract the desired goal of creating a more 'personal' graduation ceremony. Since only some of students' friendships are academically based, students will not have the chance to watch their friends graduate. Sense of community will decrease, as students will be divided by major on their final day at Tufts, something that has not been particularly divisive in the rest of a student's four years in school. Yes, the ceremony would be shorter and people would be less restless, but the unintended negative consequences of short major graduations would far outweigh the inconvenience of a lengthy ceremony. Our highest-ranking administrator, President Bacow, felt the wrath of unintended consequences himself last winter. In response to the Naked Quad Run and surrounding activities, he sent a somewhat-hostile email to the student body. Presumably, his intentions were to make undergraduates realize the magnitude of the unsafe and out-of-control nature of the event. However, he ended up angering students with his harsh, uncompromising language. Ironically, many of these students had also been upset by the tone of the 2002 Run, and, given a gentler response, would have worked to increase the safety of the event. Now, some of these same students are convinced of the need to party harder at this year's Run. But, of course, "adults" aren't the only ones on campus failing to realize the range of effects of their actions. A change in the TCU bylaws passed last year prohibiting student organizations from charging admission to student activity-funded events has led to numerous negative consequences, although cynics would argue these consequences were intentional. The first concrete example occurred at this year's Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) annual semi-formal, when the group raised $1,000 less for charity than last year, despite increased marketing, likely due to the fact that the admission fee was a "suggested donation." The Senate argued the changed policy was to argue for fairness, in that students already pay the student activity fee, and that students shouldn't "pay twice." At the time, it was argued that this practice led to "compulsory charity." Charity is a large part of the mission of groups like LCS, and since LCS is a recognized student organization, charity is implicitly funded anyway. However, this policy actually sends an anti-giving message to student organizations and the students that participate in them. This attempt at "fairness" ends up being the most unfair, because it provides funds for students who want to do purely social things, but penalizes students who wish to do things like raising money for others. At a university grounded on the ideals of public service, this does not make sense. In none of these situations have people meant to do harm to the University community, but, nonetheless, bad policy has occurred. I've personally learned the danger of unintended consequences the hard way. The old adage, "Think before you speak," does not lose its meaning as we age. Before making any decision in life, we have to analyze every impact it could potentially have. If we don't, not only do we risk advancing a position contrary to one we intend, but we also risk being the ones to blame for the troubles that exist.

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