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Jumbos fall to Middlebury by a goal

October 26

The men's soccer team fell to NESCAC foe Middlebury before a large home crowd on Saturday, 2-1. The loss moves the Jumbos into sixth place in the NESCAC and solidifies Middlebury's fourth place position in the league. The Panthers came out quickly against the Jumbo defense. Just one minute into the contest, Middlebury junior John Rusten caught Tufts on its heels and nailed the first goal of the game past Tufts junior goalkeeper and quad-captain, Scott Conroy. After this rude awakening, Tufts began to gain better control of the ball and played evenly with Middlebury in the middle portion of the field. "We did quite well with possession," associate head coach Andy Nelson said. "We created many good chances for ourselves in the first half." As is the case with most conference games, the level of physical play was elevated right from the beginning of the match. Tufts earned seven free kicks outside the goal box in just the first half alone. "It gave us chances to get shots on goal," Nelson said. "They gave us a lot of free kicks and it played into our hands a bit. It was not a dirty game; there were just a lot of fouls." Most of these fouls, however, were committed by the size-dominant Panthers. Middlebury was responsible for 20 of the match's 26 infractions. Though Tufts controlled the ball and did set up chances for itself throughout the first half, the Jumbos failed to put the ball between the posts. Many shots sailed wide of the net and several were stopped by Middlebury junior goalkeeper Craig Hirsh. Both teams battled back and forth in a scoreless stalemate for the remainder of the first frame. Tufts upped the intensity in the last few minutes of the half putting pressure on the Middlebury defense, but no goals resulted. After halftime, the teams continued to play back and forth, mainly in the neutral zone. At 59:15, Middlebury scored its second goal of the match when freshman John Sales took a shot from around the 18 yard line through the Tufts defense. After the insurance goal, Middlebury's pressure on the net virtually stopped and Tufts had the ball in enemy territory for most of the half. "[Often] when teams are winning 2-0, they drop off and play defensively," Nelson said. "There is less pressure on the goal, and we can bring [the ball] up with more control." Tufts orchestrated several attacks, but was frustrated when shots would go wide, or a sloppy touch would end the push. Tufts had one of its best opportunities with 26:19 remaining in the second half. Sophomore Todd Gilbert took the ball down the left side of the pitch, moving with ease around a Middlebury defender. Gilbert then stopped suddenly and passed the ball back to waiting senior Andy Wood. Wood sent a cross shot towards the far post that barely missed wide right. Midway through the second frame, Conroy suffered a concussion when he collided with an oncoming Middlebury attacker. Classmate Matt Sullivan came on in relief, but was only forced to make two saves. For the rest of the match, the Panthers hardly crossed the half field line. They hunkered down defensively and continually thwarted the Tufts attack. Tempers began to flare, however, and with ten minutes left, Middlebury sophomore Gabe Wood vented his anger by knocking senior quad-captain Mike Blea off his feet with an obvious shove. Wood was issued a yellow card, but a brawl nearly broke out as each team tried to restrain itself from attacking the other. Play resumed a few minutes later and was all Tufts for the rest of the match. Sophomore Mike Guigli helped the Jumbos avoid a shutout with his second goal of the year just six seconds before the final whistle. Guigli faked out a defender and rifled a bending shot into the upper right hand corner of the Middlebury goal to make the final score 2-1. The Jumbos now stand at 5-5-2 overall and 3-4-1 in the NESCAC. With the loss, Tufts falls to sixth place in the league, but is still in playoff contention. However, the Jumbos must wait for the outcomes of some other key league games to determine whether or not they will stay in sixth, or move around in the standings. "Hopefully we'll be in [the playoffs] already come next weekend," Nelson said. "We'll have to wait and see the results. We will probably be away for our first game though." Playoffs begin next Sunday, Nov 2, and times will follow as more becomes clear in regards to teams and seedings.

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News

Ceremony honors United Nations

October 26

Students and faculty gathered on the academic quad Friday for the third annual celebration of United Nations Day with speeches, singing, and the raising of the UN flag. Guest speaker Dr. Lawrence S. Finkelstein, who joined the UN during its formative years, said the UN was entering a new phase following the Iraq war. "We might see the emerging of a revitalized spirit to reform the UN," he said. Finkelstein gave a brief history of the UN and was optimistic about the organization's role in international relations over the past 58 years. "While people are accustomed to thinking that the UN is no good or hasn't accomplished much, that is not the truth," said Finkelstein. "I'm absolutely certain that the best American foreign policy depends on successful leadership in the UN... Here in this country, we have such a tendency to forget about the outside world and the relationship that the UN has to our own needs and security." Finkelstein has a long history with the United Nations. He joined as a young professional and attended the San Francisco conference where the UN Charter was adopted. He also took part at the very first session of the UN General Assembly in London. Finkelstein's address was accompanied by musical performances by the Tufts Trumpet Ensemble, Essence, and the Ambassachords, the Fletcher School's a capella group. Following the Ambassachords performance, ROTC members raised the UN flag. The ceremony concluded with the reading of the 1945 UN Charter. The ceremony was organized by Fletcher students along with professors Alan Henrikson and Ian Johnstone. Countries around the world have celebrated the holiday since its conception by declaration of the UN General Assembly in 1947. Jonas Hagmann, a Fletcher student involved in UN Day's planning, emphasized the event's symbolic importance. "It's an excellent way to remind ourselves of the attitudes back when the UN was created right after World War II," Hagmann said. "It's important to know how the people felt and why there was a need to have such an organization which caters to international peace." Fletcher's emerging tradition of celebrating UN Day has been an inspiration to other schools and according to Hagmann it has spread to other universities throughout the US. "UN Day informs the people of the world about the aims, purposes, and achievements of the UN," said Fletcher student Yanina Golburt. "It honors the UN values of helping to relieve suffering and gain peace."

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News

The Atlantic' joins college rankings club

October 26

A new set of college rankings places Tufts 36th out of its list of the top 50 schools in the country. The November issue of The Atlantic Monthly includes the magazine's first annual report on colleges and the admissions process Unlike US News & World Report, which has fine-tuned its school rankings to make them one of the primary references for many prospective college students, The Atlantic's rankings only include three criteria: acceptance rate, SAT scores of admitted students, and the percentage of matriculating freshmen who placed in the top ten percent of their high school class. The survey did not include some of the subjective measures included in the US News rankings, such as the "peer assessment" rating. This rating, based on evaluations completed by other university presidents, provosts and admissions officers, counts for 25 percent of the final score. The survey also evaluates all colleges together, whereas the US News rankings are divided into universities that award doctoral degrees, universities that award masters degrees but few doctorates, liberal arts colleges, and undergraduate colleges that offer a mix of liberal arts and pre-professional degrees. Tufts was ranked 27th among universities that award doctoral degrees in US News' 2004 rankings. In The Atlantic's rankings, ten liberal arts colleges were ranked ahead of Tufts. Administrators at Tufts have long stated that any ranking within an elite group of schools is excellent. "If this survey is ranking the 50 top colleges, then any spot within that top 50 is laudable," said Dean of Admissions Lee Coffin. But the admissions office has scoffed at the practice of ranking schools in a precise order. Coffin said that The Altantic's criteria may make the rankings more reliable. "Reputation, that's so subjective," he said. "Having that removed is probably a good thing." The purpose of The Atlantic's rankings was to dispel some myths regarding the importance of school selectivity -- measured by how low its acceptance rate is. "By way of experiment, The Atlantic gathered data on America's most selective schools and created a ranking of the top 50," the magazine wrote. "The ranking is derived entirely from three variables that college admissions officers commonly say are most indicative of a school's competitiveness." But the magazine argues that acceptance rates, one of the three factors used, are not always reliable indicators of the quality of a school and its students. Based on The Atlantic's research, MIT is the most selective school. However, it is easier for women to get admitted to MIT than any of the other top 20 schools. The percentage of students admitted early decision can also affect an institution's selectivity. In The Atlantic, Princeton was ranked as the second most selective school, with the lowest admittance rate, but the magazine noted that while only eight percent of applicants were accepted through regular decision, almost four times that many (31 percent) were admitted through early decision. The article challenged the qualifications of early decision applicants, and cited a recent study by Harvard researchers that found that applying early as opposed to regular decision had the equivalent effect of adding 100 points to an applicant's SAT score. Tufts regular decision admittance rate for 2002 was 27 percent. Its early decision rate was 43 percent. While Coffin disagreed with the precise findings of the Harvard study, he did acknowledge that they may have some validity. "A student who has applied ED [early decision] but is slightly off the profile but comes with enthusiasm and commitment -- that does count for something," he said. "This student has declared us first choice." He added that admissions offices can manipulate regular decision numbers by admitting a high proportion of students early, leaving few places for those who apply during the regular admissions cycle. George Matranga, visiting Tufts with his son, a prospective student, had not heard of The Atlantic's college ranking, but said he feels that rankings are overvalued. "It's a pretty screwed-up system," he said. "I'm not sure it's really accurate." Coffin advocates using rankings such as the Atlantic's as more of a general guide. "What [the ranking] is telling us is 'this is where high-powered students have enrolled,'" he said.

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News

Mack steps up big in the Jumbo backfield

October 26

Going into Saturday's game against Amherst, it was easy to wonder whether the Tufts football team would be able to move the ball on the ground against the Lord Jeffs. The Amherst defense was holding teams to just 76 yards rushing per game, and the Tufts backfield had been unsettled by multiple injuries. Senior Tim Mack, a converted wide receiver starting at running back for just the second time, served notice that the Jumbos can run the ball against anybody in Saturday's 24-17 overtime win. Mack gained 138 yards on 32 carries and scored two touchdowns, including the score that put Tufts ahead for good in overtime. "It feels great. It's all about pride," said Mack after the game. "Obviously it's not going to be easy for us to win the league, but anything can happen. We were just concentrating on getting the W." The Tufts offensive line had a great game opening up holes for Mack. Senior fullback Adam Wylie, who became the starter earlier this year because of injury, had another great game. Offensive coordinator Mike Daly recognized his contributions before the game, and Wylie was able to come through with his second straight outstanding effort. "The O-line did a tremendous job," Mack said. "I always say that anybody can run with holes that big." While there is some truth to Mack's observation, there isn't likely to be anyone else doing much running anytime soon after the way he's played the past two weeks. His performance against Amherst followed a game against Williams in which he gained 114 yards on 22 carries. Mack also had six catches for 27 yards, and he lined up at his normal position of WR on several plays during the game. He will likely continue to see time there, despite his success as running back, as the Jumbos try to reintroduce junior Steve Cincotta into the offense. Cincotta started the year as the team's primary running back and was running well before he injured his ankle in the third game of the season. After the game Mack said that he wouldn't mind moving back to receiver. "It doesn't really matter to me where I play, I just want to get my hands on the ball," he said. With the way he has been playing, it's likely the Jumbos are going to get the ball to Mack as much as possible. Tufts Defense The Tufts defensive players went into the Amherst game feeling like they had something to prove after two straight sub-par performances in losses to Trinity and Williams. With a dominating performance against one of the best offenses in the NESCAC, the D redeemed itself. The Amherst offensive attack features two productive running backs in Fletcher Ladd and Matt Monteith, and one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the league, Marsh Moseley. Tufts was able to contain Ladd, the league's leading rusher, and shut down Monteith and Moseley. Monteith gained just 17 yards on 6 carries and Moseley threw for just 51 yards and was picked off twice by the Jumbos. Tufts defensive coordinator John Walsh was impressed by the way his team handled Ladd, who gained 94 yards on 23 carries. "Anytime you hold a back like that under 100 yards, you've done a good job," Walsh said. "He's a kid who gets a lot of yards after contact, but we did a decent job tackling and surrounding him. That's how you contain great backs, by swarming them. We consistently had lots of brown jerseys around him." Walsh was very pleased with the all-around effort of the defense, which held an Amherst offense that he described as "hard to contain" to just 201 yards. The Lord Jeffs had been averaging nearly 434 yards of total offense per game on the season. "Our kids battled. They fought hard in tough situations and showed a lot of character," Walsh said. "It was a great team defensive effort. It was one of the first games that I though we played consistently throughout the whole game." Although Walsh emphasized that it was a complete team effort, he singled out the defensive line as playing "a phenomenal game". In particular Walsh mentioned senior Matt Keller, who led the Jumbos with 11 tackles and controlled the line of scrimmage for the entire game. This dominating defensive performance showed the kind of game that Tufts is capable of playing. The Jumbo defense is one of the most talented in the league and when it plays consistently, it is very hard to move the ball against. Tufts Passing Game It is generally acknowledged by the Tufts players and coaches that the running game is the team's bread and butter. But lost in this week's dominating performance by Mack was the fact that the Jumbos gained more yards through the air than on the ground. This was thanks to tremendous games from junior quarterback Jason Casey and senior wide receiver Kevin Holland. Casey completed 23 of 36 passes for 227 yards, with Holland catching seven of those balls for 121 yards. The two also hooked up for a touchdown in the second quarter, a 29-yard pass that put Tufts ahead 14-7 at the half. In the fourth quarter and overtime, when Tufts had to move the ball quickly, the passing game was particularly sharp. Casey, who has been splitting time with fellow junior Casey D'Annolfo but played the whole game against Amherst, had completed less than 50 percent of his passes going into the game, and had been intercepted three times. However, against Amherst Casey didn't throw any interceptions and completed 64 percent of his passes. The passing game gave Tufts its most balanced offensive performance of the year. That balance needs to carry through the remaining two games for Tufts to repeat its success against Amherst."

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News

Local band 'Focusin' delivers stong performance at Hotung

October 26

With his humorous introduction, "Hi, we're the Beelzebubs," Focusin guitarist Bennett Kolasinski, set the laid-back and at-home tone that marked his band's performance Thursday night at Hotung Caf?©. For a crowd of less than ten, the small audience made for a more intimate, highly energized performance "We really enjoy small crowds," vocalist Mark Kalivas said. With Tufts graduates Yuri Grinshteyn ('02) on bass, and guitarist/vocalist Bennett Kolasinski ('01), the band's set included covers by the Beatles and The Who, along with about a dozen original songs. The young band has recently received first place at Hard Rock Caf?©'s "Boston Battle of the Bands." Focusin's win at the competition meant they were the opening act at the 2003 Town Fair IV. The group played a twenty minute set at Heinz Field, home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, and got to rub elbows with the likes of Def Lepard and Blink 182. "Playing in front of a crowd of 30,000 people was so nerve-racking," Bennett said, "we played our songs like we were on crack." In that same comical attitude, Focusin, takes its name from an episode of The Simpsons which parodies the drug Ritalin. Focusin most resembles a cross between Huey Lewis and the News and the more modern group Train. The band has an upbeat sound which combines elements of blues, jazz, and rock and roll. Kalivas' tone is fluid, and he is adept at capturing the various levels of intensity that occur throughout any given song. Tough the band fluidly blends different musical styles in their work, choosing a favorite original song proved to be a harder task. "Picking your favorite song is like picking your favorite son," says Kalivas. Kalivas did comment, however, that he and his band mates had an affinity for the recently written song "Hypnotize." Focusin writes almost entirely from personal experience and "Hypnotize" is about coping with the mistakes people make through self-hypnosis. The Tufts grads did note that they are not yet capable of fully indulging in the "rock star lifestyle," as they are now faced with real world struggles. Focusin's core supporters are still the band's family and friends. "It's a lot more expensive when you graduate and you have to pay for rent and food. Who would have thought?" says Grinshteyn whose frequent business trips often force Focusin to go on hiatus. "At this point, the jobs are what feed us. When Yuri's gone, we just don't play for a couple weeks. He gets back. We suck for a while. Lather, rinse, repeat," Kolasinski said. Still, the beat goes on because their love for music remains strong "The band helps balance my life between the sterile day job and everything else," Kolasinski said. Focusin's short term goal is to develop a major following outside of family and friends. Thinking farther into the future, Grinshteyn says, "We want to be known as the best band ever to come out of Tufts."

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News

Marlins stun Yanks in six games

October 26

Jack McKeon would have faced many years of second-guessing if his experiment had not paid off. Luckily for him, 23-year old Josh Beckett was practically perfect in Game Six as the Florida Marlins clinched their second World Series title. Despite heading back to New York with the prospect of facing both Andy Pettite and Mike Mussina, the Marlins decided to go for it with their ace in Game Six. The move paid off with a dominating pitching performance and a 2-0 win over the New York Yankees. Rightfully, Beckett was named the World Series MVP. He was masterful in Game Six, getting into trouble a few times with leadoff hits, but he was able to escape with the aid of his high 90's fastball and poor situational hitting by the Yankees. Beckett pitched a complete game five-hitter, racking up nine strikeouts along the way. Despite powering through the National League playoffs over the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago Cubs with a burst of power hitting, the Marlins demonstrated again that small ball can win championships with their barrage of singles and timely two-out rallies. Throughout the series the Marlins had 47 hits, 37 of which were singles. They continued that trend in Game Six with six of their seven hits being singles. All of the games were excellent contests, especially Game Four that ended in the bottom of the 12th inning. Shortstop Alex Gonzalez's line drive homerun over the leftfield fence in gargantuan Pro Player Stadium put an end to Roger Clemens' final start and saddled Jeff Weaver with another loss in his lackluster Yankee career. It was just another example of the timely hitting executed by the Marlins in this series. The Marlins did all of the little things right, even down to the picture perfect slide that Alex Gonzalez executed around Jorge Posada's glove to score the first and decisive run of the final game. The Yankees absolutely could not hit. It seemed that the struggles of Alfonso Soriano and Jason Giambi were too much for the rest of the team to overcome. Giambi, who will need off-season surgery on his left knee, basically played as such. All of his bat speed appeared to be lost and pitches that he normally crushes into the upper deck were just blown by him. And until Saturday night, Soriano was mired in such a bad slump that the all-star second baseman was benched in favor of utility-man Enrique Wilson. While last year the Yankees were plagued by a lack of pitching, it was ultimately their lack of contact hitting that was the cause of their downfall this year. The only Yankee who played consistently well throughout the series was Derek Jeter, and even he struggled with the bat and glove on Saturday night. If you had told the Yankees that their starting pitchers would go out and give up three runs or fewer in all of the series games, and that Mariano Rivera would be unhittable, they would have felt pretty good about their chances. Unfortunately for New York, the Marlins' young pitchers were just as good, or at least the Yankees' batters made them appear that way. The Yankees were again beaten by a younger, cheaper, and less talented team. Everyone can talk about the vast difference in team payroll ($161 million to $54 million), but in hindsight everyone knows that despite their spending, the Yankees are no longer invincible. The Yankees' age and injuries caught up with them in this series, and maybe George Steinbrenner will realize that you can't just create a rotisserie team of all-stars and expect them to blend together. The Yankees need some team chemistry and some contact hitters to put an end to the swing-for-the-fences-or-strikeout mentality. The Marlins may now realize for certain how important Pudge Rodriguez is to the success of their club, and they will be sure to try to resign him for several years. With the re-signing of Rodriguez and the maturation of Miguel Cabrera and the young pitching staff, Florida will be sure to be a contender for the next few years.

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News

Tufts football scores huge OT win over Amherst

October 26

Going into Saturday's game against the Amherst Lord Jeffs, the Tufts football team faced many questions. The Jumbos wondered if they would be able to move the ball against a defense that already had four shutouts this year, and stop an offense that was averaging over 400 yards per game. The team answered these questions and proved that it is one of the best teams in the NESCAC, with a 24-17 overtime victory over Amherst at Zimman Field. Tufts dominated the game statistically, outgaining the Lord Jeffs by 180 yards and controlling the time of possession by more than seven minutes. Senior Tim Mack had a huge game in his second start at running back, gaining 138 yards and scoring two touchdowns, including the eventual game winner in OT. Junior quarterback Jason Casey had his best game of the season, completing 23 of 36 passes for 227 yards. The Jumbo defense set the tone early in the game, stopping Amherst on its first two possessions. Amherst running back Fletcher Ladd, the league's leading rusher entering the game, was repeatedly stopped at or before the line of scrimmage on both of the series. The first quarter ended in a scoreless tie, despite Tufts having moved the ball well. The Jumbos put up the first points of the game with 9:04 to go in the second quarter, when Mack ran 11 yards into the end zone. The touchdown was set up by a 44-yard punt return by senior Mark Tilki. The Lord Jeffs were stopped on their next possession but got the ball back when Tilki fumbled the ensuing punt return. With the ball on the Tufts 16-yard line, the Jumbo defense stopped Amherst from gaining any yardage, and it appeared they would have to settle for a field goal. But an offsides penalty against Tufts on the field goal attempt gave Amherst first and goal on the five-yard line. Ladd scored on a one-yard run with 4:59 to go in the half to tie the score at 7-7. Tufts was able to regain the lead before halftime, driving 65 yards on their next possession for a touchdown. The drive was capped off by a 29-yard pass from Casey to senior wide receiver Kevin Holland that put the Jumbos up 14-7 going into the half. Neither team scored in the third quarter, but Amherst was able to tie the score early in the fourth on Ladd's second touchdown run. It appeared that Tufts would score again with just over nine minutes to go in the game when Casey connected with Holland at the Amherst two-yard line. However, Tufts was penalized for a personal foul on the play, taking the ball back to the 16-yard line. Senior kicker Marcellus Rolle missed the resulting field goal attempt, his second miss of the day. Amherst took the ball 68 yards on its next possession, scoring on a 29-yard field goal that gave it a 17-14 lead 2:28 to play in the game. On their next possession, Casey was able to move the Jumbos down the field. Tufts failed to score a touchdown after having first and goal on the Amherst three-yard line, but Rolle kicked a 20-yard field goal to tie the game and send it into OT. "It's the best feeling of my life," Rolle said after the game. "This is the result of everything we've worked for. The belief and the trust that the coaches had in me, and that we all have for each other, that's what makes us a team." In overtime, Tufts scored on a three-yard touchdown run by Mack. Casey set up the score with a 20-yard pass to Holland that took the Jumbos to the Amherst three-yard line. On Amherst's ensuing possession, Tufts senior Caleb Hudak intercepted a tipped pass from quarterback Marsh Moseley to end the game. "[Defensive coordinator John Walsh] gave us a great game plan. He went to Amherst so he knows their system pretty well," Hudak said. "Everybody did their job and we came out with the win." According to Hudak, the game is important because of the course it sets for the rest of the season. "We were in the same position last year, and when we lost in OT to Amherst, it kind of deflated the rest of the season," Hudak said. "Hopefully we're on the way up."

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News

Field hockey team suffers heartbreaking loss

October 26

Amid teary eyed seniors who had just played their last home game, along with their exhausted teammates who will not be returning to Huskins Field until next year, there was a sense of pride and determination following Tufts' loss to nationally ranked Middlebury. The Jumbos left their hearts on the field, matching their opponent step for step before losing in overtime 2-1, as the undefeated Panther's winning score came with just 15 seconds remaining. With the loss, Tufts' league record dropped to 3-5. "It was a tough loss, we played amazing [field hockey] though," said sophomore midfielder Erika Goodwin, who scored the lone Jumbo goal. "They're a hard team to play." Hard is an understatement. As of October 21, Middlebury was ranked second in the 2003 STX/NFHCA Division III National Coaches Poll, trailing only The College of New Jersey. Middlebury is now 12-0, and New Jersey is 13-1. Goodwin's goal began the scoring 11:29 into the first half. It halted Middlebury's offensively-minded beginning, in which they unsuccessfully fired seven times on the Jumbo net in the first ten minutes of play. Goodwin whipped her quick shot to the right of the pads of Panther freshman goalkeeper Meghan McGillen for the point, getting an assist from freshman forward Tracy Rittenour. Middlebury responded however, and eight minutes later Panther senior forward and scoring leader Char Glessner pushed a shot past Jumbo senior goalkeeper Julie Jackson, evening the match. Jackson had an outstanding day, saving a season high 14 shots, many of the difficult variety. Jackson did not allow another Panther goal until almost 65 minutes later. Still, Jackson praised her defenders. "Our defense played so well today," Jackson said. "We knew it was going to be tough, but we held. The outcome was unfortunate." The Jumbo defense continually thwarted Middlebury attempts inside of the scoring circle, with the Jumbos' backs to the net for Panther corners 19 times. Of those chances, Tufts was scored upon only once. Although she scored twice, Glessner's chances were strongly limited by an energized Jumbo resistance that gave her few offensive choices to make. Goodwin, sophomore midfielder Jeanne Grabowski, and junior midfielder Dana Panzer all had superb defensive plays on the day. "We knew going in what we had to do," Panzer said. "My job was to shut down [Glessner]. It's just unfortunate that we lost." The second half of play was scoreless, although both sides threatened one another. The Jumbos earned four consecutive penalty corners late in the half, but couldn't put the ball through the uprights. Overtime was played briskly, with both teams rapidly exchanging offensive drives. Neither side could fully penetrate the other's defense, and as the frame wound down it looked like a score was unlikely. After Jackson made a spectacular save with 1:06 left, it looked like the second overtime was inevitable. Unfortunately for the Jumbos, a third penalty corner was assessed and Glessner slammed a shot through the right side behind the pads of Jackson, ending the game and stunning the Jumbos. After the game, Glessner had nothing but praise for Tufts. "[Tufts] played us really strongly, it was our toughest game of the year," Glassner said. "It was a really great game." Although this wasn't the ideal ending to their careers at Huskins Field, the Jumbo seniors were in agreement with Glassner's statement. "I'm glad we ended our last home game like this," senior co-captain Kelly Sarson said. "We played one of our best games of the season." Fellow senior co-captain Willow Hagge concurred. "I was really proud of how we played," Hagge said. "We showed a lot of heart; we were the first team to take them into overtime. This wasn't a bad way to leave." Tufts is still in control of its own destiny, as the Jumbos' magic number for the playoffs holds at one thanks to Tufts winning the tie-breaker, their regular season victory versus Trinity. Hence, either a Tufts win or a Trinity loss next week will send the Jumbos on to the postseason.

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News

Tufts clinches playoff spot with victory

October 26

The Middlebury Panthers led the NESCAC heading into Saturday afternoon with 38 total goals on the season. Clearly, Tufts was ready. The women's soccer team ensured that it will be playing next Sunday in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs with an important 2-1 victory over the Panthers at Kraft Field on Saturday, in what could be the last home game for Tufts' four seniors. The win ends a four game weekend losing streak and moves the Jumbos to 9-4 on the season (4-4, NESCAC) and into a tie with Middlebury for sixth place in the conference. However, if the playoffs started today, the Jumbos would earn the sixth seed because they hold the tiebreaker over the Panthers. "We were absolutely awesome on Saturday," junior goalie Meg McCourt said. "We played fantastic, and came together and played like a team yesterday. We are peaking at the right time." The Panthers, who were ranked fourth in New England heading into Saturday, were no match for Tufts this weekend. "I was really happy with our intensity coming out," McCourt said. "I had a great feeling during warm-ups, and even in the locker room. Being the seniors' last game, [senior co-captains] Abby [Herzberg] and [Jess] Lovitz got together and motivated us really well." The Jumbos controlled the game from the start, using everything they did in practice during the game to stun the Panthers. "We defended pretty well as a team, and we won a lot of balls in the air," McCourt said. "We ran through balls and just played our own game, a really aggressive game." Despite controlling the first half, the Jumbos were not able to find the net early on. But with 1:30 left in the first frame, the Jumbos earned a corner kick on the left corner of the Middlebury zone. Sophomore Ariel Samuelson took the corner, and sent a lofted strike towards the middle of the box. The ball deflected off several players before classmate Sarah Callaghan gained control, and drilled it into the back of the net to give Tufts a 1-0 lead heading into halftime. The Jumbos continued their strong play through the second half. Despite focusing a little more on defense in the latter 45 minutes, Tufts was well aware that Middlebury's potent offense could strike at anytime. In the 75th minute, the Jumbos got a much needed insurance goal, again, off a corner kick. Samuelson struck another effective corner into the center of the box to a waiting junior Sarah Gelb. Gelb controlled the ball and sent a quick pass over to senior Jessica Trombly, who tore it into the back of the net to put Tufts up two with 15 minutes left in regulation. Middlebury and top attacker Brittany Cronin would not go down without a fight. Cronin brought the Panthers within one on a Beckham-like bender into the top left corner of the net over a leaping Meg McCourt to put the score at 2-1. However, the Jumbos were able to control the tempo of the game for the last five minutes and run out the clock for the victory. The Jumbos are now looking to their final match of the season against the Colby White Mules, who currently sit at ninth in the conference. Barring a complete breakdown, the Jumbos should get past Colby to earn fifth place in the NESCAC, and will most likely face the Trinity Bantams in the first round of the playoffs the next day. "[Coach] Martha [Whiting] said to the athletic department that if we beat Middlebury, watch out," McCourt said. "She's right; we have great momentum right now. The Keene game and this one are truly indicative of how we can play, and I have great faith that we are going to turn some heads."

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News

An environmental option for graduating seniors

October 26

Not sure what to do after graduation? Neither was Tufts graduate Johanna Neumann (LA '01), the current Field Organizer for the Boston division of Toxics Action. A Biology and Environmental Studies double major, Neumann did not want to begin graduate school immediately, but desired a positive and challenging project after earning her degree. Over Sunday morning brunch, a friend gave Neumann advice that would shape her career. The friend recommended that Neumann join Green Corps, calling it "by far the best program that you could possibly do." A field school for environmental engineering, Green Corps was founded in 1992 in Boston by environmental activists Lois Gibbs, David Brower and Cesar Chavez. The three organized Green Corps with the hope of uniting skilled people and training them to bring about social and environmental change The program is designed to yield the next generation of environmental leaders. Although Green Corps is based in Boston, organizers travel the country initiating campaigns and recruiting. Green Corps has just begun to recruit for the coming year. Neumann took her friend's advice, applied to Green Corps, and was accepted. She participated in the year-long training session, which consists of both classroom training (learning how to run press conferences and campaigns) and field work (running campaigns) around the country. In 2002, the year that the United States Senate would reevaluate its energy policy, Neumann coordinated a campaign to protect the National Wildlife Refuge. The last pristine wilderness in the US, the refuge contains enough oil to power the country for about six months. In an effort to persuade Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas to protect the refuge, Neumann held press conferences with farmers and hunters, met with Lincoln's staff, and convinced hundreds of people to send letters and postcards to the Senator. Her hard work paid off: Lincoln was the 51st senator to commit to protecting the refuge. Neumann speaks of her Green Corps experience with animated enthusiasm: "It was a very powerful experience. It convinced me of the power of the work that Green Corps teaches. I believe that grassroots organizing is the best way to change the world, and Green Corps teaches those positive skills. During her time with Green Corps, Neumann traveled from Boston to San Francisco, Washington D.C., Denver, Little Rock and New Orleans. According to Neumann, Green Corps changes the world by starting with activism in the US "Even though Green Corps operates on only the national scale, the United States is responsible for the majority of environmental problems that we see in the world such as greenhouse gasses, and pollution by corporations," she said. "Therefore, change in the US will make change on a global scale." After students have completed the year-long Green Corps training program, Green Corps then helps them to secure a position with a prominent environmental group. Eighty percent of Green Corps graduates now have leadership positions in top environmental organizations. Green Corps placed Neumann at her current job with Toxics Action, an environmental organization that helps residents of dangerously polluted areas wage to protect their health and safety. Neumann recommends Green Corps as "one of the greatest programs out there." Green Corps graduate Amy Leery, another organizer at Toxics Actions, also commends Green Corps. "My English major didn't fit with the work that I wanted to do... how do you get your foot in the door for environmental activities? This is the way to go - you get experience, training in multiple areas of the non-profit world, and an average salary for a recent college graduate," Leery said. Although her experience was mainly positive, Neumann does criticize the program's size. "It's not big enough," she said. "We need more people. The more people, the more you can make a difference." College graduates can apply to Green Corps at Green Corps.org. for one of 35 available positions. Green Corps refuses both government and corporate funding. Members and partner groups such as the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, and Public Citizen subsidize Green Corps. Green Corps workers are fully compensated, including a salary of $19,500, two weeks of paid vacation, and sick leave. Green Corps also offers a need-based student loan repayment program. This program allows Green Corps to add a $100 stipend to loan payments made by the student borrower. "Green Corps is designed to help launch your career. It is the first step to providing services for a long-term career," Neumann said.

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News

TCU Elections uncontested

October 23

Two new Tufts Community Union (TCU) officials were added to the student government Sunday. Neither candidate went through the election process, as only two candidates expressed interest in running for the two available seats. Sophomores Nicholas Boyd and Athena Bogis, were nominated to the TCU Judiciary (TCUJ) and the TCU Senate, respectively. Because Boyd and Bogis were the only two who were attendees at the general interest meeting, the vote scheduled for Tuesday was cancelled. TCU Senate Constitution does not provide for a vote of no confidence. Boyd heard about the open seat from a friend and "felt that this would be a good opportunity to do something for Tufts." The main theme of Boyd's goals for the TCU is removing inefficiency, he said. One of these issues he says is the organization's website. "I have website experience and am interested in this aspect of communication." In addition, he views the club application process as burdensome. "I know from starting a club, the forms are outdated, and it is complicated process," he said. Boyd will be replacing Riyadh Mohammed on the TCUJ who resigned for personal reasons. Bogis will be replacing Alex Mendell who passed away last month. Bogis did not immediately respond to inquiries for comment.

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Students debate Medford city politics

October 23

Whether it was "Mitch for Medford" or "Hauswirth is worth your vote," catchy slogans tried to lure voters to Pearson Hall Wednesday night. The two candidates, freshmen Heather Hauswirth and Mitch Robinson, squared off in a mock debate on the Medford mayor's seat. Students offered views on problems facing Medford, all while trying to sway the audience in their favor. Both candidates offered similar solutions to city issues. In their roles as candidates, Hauswirth and Robinson stressed that their inexperience and innovation were their best qualities, as well as that by optimizing Medford's resources, the city would be able to open up to businesses and end the budget deficit. Concerning the budget, both candidates agreed that Medford was the ideal location for business growth, and that environmentally-efficient development along the Mystic River would also greatly benefit the community. "Medford is in need for change, the future of Medford can be changed," began Robinson. Hauswirth later added, "I want to capitalize on the resources Medford, has to offer." Both candidates rejected the implementation of a Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) payment program -- where Tufts would give a set amount of money to the city of Medford for services provided. The University does not have to pay taxes to the city because it is a non-profit institution. Neither candidate felt that PILOT payments were an appropriate means for reaching cohesion between the Medford and Tufts communities. "Tufts does not have access to as many resources as Harvard or MIT to donate money to the community," said Hauswirth of the Cambridge schools that do participate in PILOTs. "I do not support the PILOT system, but Tufts students can go in to the community and help and strengthen the relationship," she said. Both Robinson and Hauswirth also sought methods to ameliorate the breach between the Tufts and Medford communities. Before the debate, local community leaders spoke to the class to educate students on Medford issues. Somerville Alderman Bill White, State Representative Vincent Ciampa, and Medford Police Officers addressed the class. Students broke into "campaign teams" before the debate, researching issues and questions for the debate. The teams also produced brief campaign commercials. The debate was held as part of "Generation Y and the Future of Political Service," an Explorations class led by senior Laura Lessard and junior Jeff Finkelman, both members of the campus organization United Leaders. United Leaders was founded at Tufts to encourage students to put public interest before self interest in the next generation of political leadership. Lessard and Finkelman's expectation for the course is, "to bridge the gap between service and politics by talking about the political implications of service." They hope to "get [the students] thinking about how to get involved in politics, what it takes to run for office, and the issues they might need to deal with in public life." Students were required to fulfill eight hours of community service around the area during the month of October, in an attempt to gain a better understanding of local issues. Upon the completion of their eight hours, the students will complete paper on a public policy issue related to their service. Freshmen Sarah Rapaport was satisfied with the course material and activities. "I'm interested in politics and change; it's a good opportunity to help the community," Rapaport said. "The course focuses on the politics of community service, which is usually not covered."

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Saudi Ambassador speaks at Fletcher

October 23

Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the US, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, played defense during most of yesterday's lecture when answering questions that ranged from the government's policy on women's rights to its role in the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. Bandar's entire talk with students and faculty functioned as an extended question and answer session. A number of student questions criticized Saudi political policy. Bandar consistently reminded the full ASEAN auditorium audience that Saudi Arabia was moving forward, even if it was at a slow pace. "If my grandfather returned [to Saudi Arabia], he would think we were crazy," Bandar said. Instead, Bandar believes, the US needs to remain out of Saudi politics. "Why don't you let us decide for ourselves?" Bandar said. "It is arrogant to assume that you know better than our people." He argued that when the people were ready for changes in the political structure to take place, then they would happen. "There is no point of being 100 steps ahead of the people," Bandar said. "Once we have the right majority, then we will go for it." At present, Saudi Arabia is a monarchy. Bandar appeared confident that the Saudi people were happy with the current state of rule. He argued that they could protest and rebel any time they wanted to. "Think of Russia," he said. "Think of the Red Army. Change happened there in spite of the KGB. You can not govern a people who don't believe you are good for them." Bandar sent a similar message when asked about women's rights: keep out. In Saudi Arabia, women have no voting rights, are not allowed to congregate in public, and are not allowed to drive. Bandar stressed that change would come. "Saudi women want economic independence," he said. "First they have to have an education. Saudi women are much, much better off than 30 years ago. Give them a chance -- give them economic potential." Saudi Arabia has been forced on the defensive since Sept. 11, when it became clear that 15 of the 19 hijackers were Saudi nationals. Bandar said that it isn't fair to pass judgment on an entire nation over the actions of a small number of extremists. The fundamentalists "have hijacked a great religion," he said. "These cannot be people who believe in this faith." The Saudi Embassy released a 350-page report last month as proof of the work that has been done to counter terrorist activity. Bandar is confident that part of the purpose of the attacks was to break down the relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US. Before the lecture, Bandar held only his second press conference since the Sept. 11 attacks. During the press conference, he said that part of the reason why there is so much animosity towards the US is because it is not skilled at making a good impression through the media. "You are not so hot when explaining yourselves to the world," he said. "The other side defines you." Just last week, Saudi officials announced that within a year elections would be held for municipal councils. This is a step from which there is no going back, Bandar said. He acknowledged that Saudi Arabia still had much work to do. "We should open the media more, we should open dialogues more," he said. "We should continue the election process. I think if Saudi people know what the plan is, they will be willing to wait." Bandar left to a standing ovation, and those who attended the talk were satisfied. "He was defensive, but that didn't surprise me," Fletcher student Chris Cady, said. "That's a diplomat's job -- to represent his country. He gave good answers." Professor Andrew Hess, Director of the Program for Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, recruited Prince Bandar to come to Tufts. Bandar previously visited Tufts in 1990.

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Parents weekend to hold a variety of activities

October 23

Finally, for parents that long hiatus is over. They have tried hard up until now to avoid visiting their children at college, so that they can get settled and gain independence. But now that Parents Weekend is upon us, parents and other family members of freshmen can get a glimpse of what college life is like at Tufts for their son or daughter. At the same time parents of upperclassmen can see what has changed since the last time they were here. According to Director of Parents Weekend, Eleanor Short, the weekend is popular among Tufts parents. "3,500 parents, students, and family members usually attend Parents Weekend and they come from all over the United States and the world including England, Italy, and Switzerland," she said. Each year,Parent's weekend revolves around a central theme. This year the theme is "Great Explorations," while last year it was "Our Changing World." The wealth of activities available throughout the weekend take almost a year to organize. According to Short, "Great Explorations" focuses on the scientific and technical side of the community, while "Our Changing World" focused on the aftermath of Sept. 11, and centered on the areas of international relations and political science. "This year, the speakers pertaining to the theme will be professors of physics, child development, and biomedical engineering," she said. Provost Jamshed Bharucha is the keynote speaker, and will be speaking on the topic of "Music and the Brain." Although the types of activities vary from year to year depending on the theme, some events are traditionally repeated. The Parents Committee Reception on the Friday of Parents Weekend is a regular feature, as is the President's Reception on the roof of Tisch library and the Goddard Chapel steps. This year, the a cappella group, The Jackson Jills, will perform at the reception. After dinner at the dining halls (parents eat free with their student) is a concert called a "Great Musical Exploration," where several other musical groups will perform. A variety of programs are administered throughout the day to accommodate different intellectual interests of parents and students. On Saturday, presentations will be shown at Tisch library such as "What Does Superman See with X-ray Vision?" "Beyond the Human Genome: Challenges in Biology and Chemistry," and "Understanding how Stress Helps Wild Animals Survive: Following in Darwin's Footsteps." These presentations are given by distinguished professors in their fields. On Saturday, for those parents and students interested in athletics at Tufts, there are opportunities to watch soccer, field hockey, and football games. "The football game is always a big draw," Short said. That night, "Doctor Faustus," a play written by Christopher Marlowe and directed by Associate Professor of Drama Downing Cless, will be shown. The play will be followed by an acapella concert given by sQ!. Parents and students can also get physically involved with programs rather than sitting on the sidelines. On Sunday morning, parents and students can take part in either a four-mile run with President Bacow, a 2.5 mile run with Adele Fleet Bacow, or a brisk walk with Eleanor Short. Some students believe that Parents Weekend is designed solely for freshmen, who have just arrived at college and are still adjusting. Junior Lauren Miller's parents will not be attending this year's Parent's Weekend. "My mom attended enough of these events when I was in boarding school," she said. "Plus Parents Weekend is used as a way of providing comfort to freshmen. As an Upperclassmen, it just feels like another weekend to me." But Eleanor Short disagrees. "Freshmen parents are here in large numbers, but we do have parents who come all four years and a large number of senior parents due to the fact that it's their last opportunity," she said. The events planned for Parents Weekend are meant to be fun and entertaining, but some students also enjoy spending time with their parents off campus. Freshman Megan Ault looks forward to her mother's visit. "My plan is to take a bath in my mother's hotel room first and foremost," she said. "We will definitely attend the 'Doctor Faustus' production and many of the other informational programs. I'm also going to shop and take advantage of being able to eat out as much as possible." According to Short, Parent's Weekend gives students a chance to spend time with their parents and parents an opportunity to explore the collegiate lives of their sons and daughters. "The most important part of Parents Weekend is the connection between the parents and the students," Short said. "It is important that parents get to interact with members of the Tufts community and get to meet the brilliant professors their children have access to."

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News

Elliot Smith leaves a legacy of truth, eloquence, and melody

October 23

Let's face it: there are a lot of abysmal singer-songwriters out there. At every open mic night that a coffee shop hosts, there are at least ten people with a shaky voice, a meager handful of chords, and an abundance of bad poetry. The truly great singer-songwriter has become a rarity today: a diamond in the rough of teenage pretension and badly tuned guitars. Which makes the recent death of Elliott Smith that much more tragic. Even at his worst, Smith was miles ahead of the singer-songwriter angst rabble. At his best, he was a contemporary nonpareil, a singer-songwriter whose work was worth a good listen. To get an idea of what Elliott Smith sounded like, think if Simon and Garfunkel had used opiates instead of pot. Think of Cat Stevens without God. Think Nick Drake at his most lucid, Lennon at his most despondent. Think even of a less cloying James Taylor. Smith was the sum of all these parts. Admittedly, the sound he cobbled together from these influences was not very divergent from its source material, but Smith's goal was never to revolutionize or even advance the singer-songwriter genre. Smith had always been an artist more concerned with airing his personal grievances -- his favorite themes were drug addiction and relationship problems -- in the form of poignant yet accessible songs. Sadly, these personal grievances seemed to have been getting the best of Smith in recent years. According to an interview Smith did with Under the Radar magazine after finishing the tour for his latest album, the singer entered a drug rehab center to undergo a radical treatment for his long-standing addiction. But a series of cancelled and erratic shows after this treatment led many to believe that the singer was not entirely clean or emotionally stable. After witnessing one of Smith's shows in Los Angeles, a writer for Pitchfork Media, an on-line music magazine, said that he had never before been so concerned for an artist's well-being. On top of all this, Smith was having difficulties with the release of his new album, From a Basement on the Hill. Whatever the cause of the singer's depression may have been, all that is currently certain is that on Monday, Smith was pronounced dead at Los Angeles County hospital from a self-inflicted stab wound to the chest. Smith was 34. Born Steven Paul Smith on Aug. 6, 1969 in Omaha, Neb., Smith attended Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass. before moving to Portland, Ore., to start his first serious band, Heatmiser, in the early '90s with college friends. By 1994, still an active member of Heatmiser, Smith had begun to release solo records under his own name, beginning with Roman Candle, followed by a self-titled album shortly thereafter. Smith's earliest records owe the biggest debt to Nick Drake, whose quiet, ethereal ballads are the principal point of comparison here. Like Drake, Smith was able to tease out complex, melodic pop songs from a simple acoustic guitar. Also like Drake and other singer-songwriter forbearers, Smith was not afraid to let his saccharine voice carry just as much melody as his guitar. With 1997's Either/Or, Smith's most consistent album, the singer's sound began to move away from Drake and towards Lennon. Filling in the space of previous releases with organ, piano, and vocal overdubs, Smith recorded an album that was less desolate but just as immediate. The change in sound could not have come at a better time for Smith. The same year the singer was nominated for an Academy Award for "Miss Misery," one of his contributions to the Good Will Hunting soundtrack. The nomination and Smith's show-stopping performance of the song at the awards ceremony earned him a flood of new fans and even radio play. With 1998's XO and 2000's Figure 8, Smith did not disappoint these newfound fans, releasing the most accessible records of his career. The Lennon influence was even more evident on these albums, which prominently featured orchestra-arrangements in addition to Smith's trusty guitar work. In fact, as much as Smith's sound had expanded, the songs always remained true to the style he made his own in earlier records. There is a tendency to romanticize the life and work of artists who die prematurely. This is especially the case for rock stars, whose premature deaths are almost revered, viewed as a stamp of validation for the seriousness of their music. Certainly, Smith's songs -- which often dealt with suicide -- will be regarded differently from now on, but it would not be fair to reevaluate Smith's career as a whole in the wake of his death. Simply put, the man wrote elegant, melancholy songs, no more, no less. As time will come to tell, this is an achievement that needs no exaggeration.

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Substitute Teachers: Are Beantown Notes and similar companies literally stealing the words right out of professors' mouths?

October 23

Deliberation over the legality of music file sharing has recently dominated both television and print media. Yet another debate over copyright infringement has also arisen, and it is beginning to hit close to home. Across the United States, small companies are giving college students the opportunity to obtain class notes for a price through the Internet. Located on Boston University's (BU) South Campus, Beantown Notes is one such service. It offers specific class notes for 26 BU courses and is continuing to add more as the fall semester progresses. Although no knowledge of such a service at Tufts exists, the fact that professional note-taking companies have reached nearby campuses raises ethical questions for all universities. The professional note-takers deny that the service is a violation of intellectual property rights, pointing out that as long as their employees do not submit a professor's lecture word for word, the notes are mere student interpretations of a class. In that case, the copyright may belong to the note-taker, but the laws are not explicit in this matter. "Often, and I'm hardly alone, I am working out in the classroom setting views and angles on the material that are to make their way into print," Professor of Philosophy Dr. Jody Azzouni said. "I assume that even if I wasn't intending to print such things, that for someone else to make a profit of them would be such a violation." These companies obtain their materials by hiring other students enrolled in the course to take notes, which are then edited for grammar and spelling mistakes, and sold. Note-takers are selected after an application process that examines their class notes, their grade point average, and their transcript. A student with comprehensive and accurate notes will be hired to cover the class for a semester. Back up note-takers, however, are also selected to ensure that an employee will attend each lecture. Freshman Heather Roughton was surprised to learn of the proliferation of commercial note-taking services. "As far as the morality issue goes, I think that selling the notes without the approval of the professor is wrong and they should have the discretion over where their lectures are distributed," Roughton said. "The professors, I believe, have a right to be upset over these services, as it is their work that is being used by someone else to make a profit." Some professors are less concerned with the moral aspect than with the true value of the notes provided by such a service. How useful are another student's interpretations of a lecture? Professors fear they may be misquoted, thus providing students with an inaccurate representation of the class. "My concern is not so much with the morality of the service, but rather with the possibility of being misrepresented," Assistant Professor of Philosophy Nancy Bauer explained. "I would not want my name to be associated with something I did not really say." "It would be hard to know whether or not to trust the quality of the notes," Roughton pointed out. "Depending on who the note-taker was, they may have had a different perception of what was important, or may have missed a key point during the lecture." Junior Deanna Rodriguez agreed. "The way I might describe a concept isn't exactly the way someone else might," she said. "Each person learns differently." For this reason, many believe that notes are not enough to succeed in a course, and that it is essential for students to attend class and hear lectures and discussions firsthand. Bauer does not feel that notes in general are sufficient to receive the full breadth of her course. "I frequently tell my students to stop taking notes and think," she said. "Notes never serve as anything other than reminders. If you are not there to hear the words behind the reminders, the notes are useless. Students cannot understand someone else's notes." "Though some lectures can be boring, I think it is the professor and student interaction that helps you learn the most," Rodriguez said. "The professor might use certain examples or perform an experiment in the classroom that can visually help you understand the concept. Reading someone else's notes describing the experiment really doesn't capture the full essence of what was done." Beantown Notes provides a disclaimer on the bottom of every page of notes stating that, far from trying to undermine professors, the notes simply "constitute as a supplemental study guide, not a substitute for reading text material and attending class." Senior Taiwo Oshodi also believes that it is "important to attend class even if you already have notes because the notes might not cover everything. Writing your own notes helps with the learning process," he said. "You are able to retain the information better." Nadia Medina, Tufts Academic Resource Center's Director, concurred. "Students learn something by being in class, where they can ask questions and interact. Lecture notes do not convey the sense of class at all. I cannot imagine anything substituting going to class." Aside from the ethical queries that arise from the actions of these companies, many are uncertain of the need for note-taking services in the first place. Medina cannot understand the essentiality of Beantown Notes. "If someone was sick or injured and had to miss a class, I would imagine he could get the notes from a friend or classmate. So I don't really see who it would benefit." "I can't say that I would [use such a service] because my professors usually post their notes online, so there wouldn't be a need to. I don't really see a use for the service, because most people are willing to lend their lecture notes if you miss a class, so why pay for the service when they're so readily available?" Roughton agreed. So while the legality of professional note-taking services is being debated by university administrations and lawmakers, so is the practicality of such companies. "These services are suggesting that whatever is being taught in class can be conveyed through notes, and that is false," Bauer said.

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Schools weigh in on tuition-saving through Independent 529 Plan

October 23

A new tax-free, prepaid tuition plan has been introduced that allows parents to save for college and pay lower tuition. But Tufts has decided against joining the plan because administrators claim it limits students' college choices and negatively affects their financial aid eligibility. Known as the Independent 529 Plan, the savings scheme was launched in September by the nonprofit Tuition Plan Consortium (TPC) and is managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc. The plan allows people to purchase future years of tuition at member institutions -- there are more than 220, all private -- at discounted current prices, protecting them from ballooning college costs. For instance, contributing $10,000 buys a full year of tuition at a similarly-priced school or half a year at a school whose tuition is around $20,000, although plan members do not have to choose a school until a the beneficiary is admitted. Participating institutions are also required to offer enrollees a discount of at least half a percent of annual tuition costs (the program does not cover room and board). "It's like buying a shopping certificate for use at any of the stores at a mall," explained Doug Brown, TPC's chief executive. Member schools include Skidmore College, Wellesley College, and Berklee College of Music, and members of the Five-College Consortium in western Massachusetts. Princeton is the only Ivy League school that has joined. "As private institutions are constantly under pressure to keep costs down, finding a savings vehicle for families with a discount was the incentive," said Basil Steward, the controller at Smith College in Northampton, Mass. Smith, a member of the Five College Consortium, has signed onto Independent 529. Steward said Smith is committed to letting qualified students attend the college regardless of income. "Independent 529 is a good fit for Smith," he said. "It guarantees you pay less." "It can be a win-win situation for both the parents and the college. What the families would have to do is some forward-looking thinking, ten years or 15 years from now, where your child would be." But Patricia Reilly, Tufts' director of financial aid, said the University did not join the plan because it restricts college choices and, like most college savings plans, it can reduce a student's eligibility for financial aid. "I'm not comfortable steering parents to a plan. Having the plan can hurt you," she said. Students who have a college savings plan are less eligible for government grants and loans, although recommendations to the Reauthorization of Higher Education Act may change the way financial aid is determined. Reilly said Tufts may join Independent 529 if the government changes its regulations. The Independent 529 plan is only valid at member colleges, but Steward argued that the lack of flexibility is not necessarily a problem since the contribution to Independent 529 Plan is transferable. "Even if your son or daughter decides not to go to a member institution, it can go to a nephew or a niece, or you can transfer it to another 529 plan," he said. Alternatively, savings plan members can cash out, there is no guarantee that they will recoup all of their original investment and returns are capped at two percent for every year the tuition certificates are held. Most other college savings plans offer higher returns and last year college tuition jumped by six percent on average. Boston University is also a member of the plan. BU spokesman Collin Riley said the university decided to join because "the ability to pay should not be a barrier to education" and said the university supports "anything that will help parents pay for their children's education." He added that it is important for parents to think about financing their children's education early. "All those programs out there that provide tax benefits and other incentives are a very good thing," he said. Reilly recommends that if parents do choose to use a college savings plan, an unrestricted plan is best. "It's tax-free and gives flexibility in terms of what school the student can go to," she said.

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Women's soccer looks to improve NESCAC standing

October 23

Over the past month, the women's soccer team has gone 1-4 in NESCAC play, with its one win coming against the lowly Wesleyan Cardinals, who haven't won a conference game in three years. The Jumbos have lost on four consecutive Saturdays, giving up 11 goals while only finding the back of the net four times during those losses. Currently in seventh place in the conference but still in the playoff picture, the women's soccer team hopes to climb up the NESCAC ladder this Saturday at 1:30 against the Middlebury Panthers at Kraft Field. The NESCAC playoffs involve the top seven teams, with the number one seed getting a bye to the semifinals. Seeds two through four host five through seven on Sunday, Nov. 2, and the winners head to the number one seed's home field to play the semifinals the week after. "A good showing on Saturday would prove that we can play against the better teams." junior midfielder Sarah Gelb said. "It doesn't really matter that much as long as we are in the playoffs, but it would certainly help our confidence level." Tufts is coming off its best game of the year on Tuesday, a sound 3-0 defeat of the Keene State Owls. Not only is Keene the team that beat Tufts in last year's NCAA regional semifinals, but the Owls have also had extremely close games with both Middlebury and Williams earlier this season. The win gives Tufts an extra confidence boost heading into Saturday. "The Keene State game was a huge confidence booster for us," Gelb said. "It showed both us and our opponents that we could come together as a team and beat anyone, and is really going to help going into the Middlebury game." Beating Middlebury, however, is not going to be an easy task for Tufts. The Panthers are currently 4-3 in the conference, already having beaten the likes of Williams and Bowdoin this season. Middlebury traditionally is known for its offense more than its defense, something which should work to Tufts' advantage as the Jumbos boast one of, if not the top, back four in the conference. The backline will be led by senior co-captains Abby Herzberg and Jess Lovitz, who have been the backbone of the Jumbos this year. The two will be supported by sophomore outside backs Ariel Samuelson and Cate Meeker, and junior keeper Meg McCourt. The defense will have its hands full with the entire Middlebury offense, but mainly junior forward Brittany Cronin, who leads the NESCAC with 25 points on 10 goals and five assists. In practice this week, the Jumbos will be working on many of the same things that they have all season. "We need to work on condensing our defense and moving together and transitioning to offense, so that as soon as we win the ball, we're all moving forward," Gelb said. "We also need to work on capitalizing on the chances we get." The Jumbos offensive charge will be led by the one-two punch of junior Jen Baldwin and senior Jess Trombly. Baldwin leads the team in goals (7), assists (6), and points (20). Trombly sits tied for second in each offensive category with sophomore Sarah Callaghan, both of whom have tallied five goals, two assists, and twelve points on the year. Trombly and Baldwin look to use their speed and ball control abilities to overwhelm the Panther defense that has only allowed seven goals in seven NESCAC games this season. Callaghan will look to wreak havoc from both her center midfield and right forward positions, using her ability to send the ball to open space to find attackers cutting towards the net. The midfield, which is finally coming back to full strength, will be the most important factor in Saturday's game. Junior Alina Schmidt and sophomore Lindsay Garmirian are close to full strength, which gives the Jumbos two more midfielders off the bench. In addition, freshman Jenny Muller will most likely see a bigger role this weekend after her two goal outburst against Keene State. "It's really exciting to have everyone finally back," Gelb said. "Now we know that we are able to play as hard as we can, and know that we have a deep bench to come in and do well."

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Somerville formulates plan to reduce emissions

October 23

The City of Somerville has adopted a plan to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases in the city. A Climate Action Plan, formulated by the Somerville Commission on Energy Use and Climate Change, suggests steps the city can take to reduce emissions and indicates how private citizens, businesses, organizations, and government can contribute. The Commission hopes the plan will help fulfill a goal set by Aldermen last year to reduce emissions to 1990 levels by 2010. Two representatives from Tufts contributed to the Climate Action Plan: Anja Kollmuss, a project coordinator for the Tufts Institute on the Environment, and Justin Sullivan, a graduate student at Fletcher. The University's greenhouse gas emissions were included in an evaluation of the city's energy efficiency. "The University is not entirely an island," said William Moomaw, a professor of international environmental policy at Fletcher. "We produce greenhouse gases just like everyone else." Sullivan, who interned for the city while it formulated the plan, explained that Tufts is involved because it "realizes its visibility in the community, as well as its responsibility to take action on these issues." "Moving forward the way we are living is not sustainable," he said. The CAP includes suggestions to make public buildings more energy efficient and recommends that all municipal building projects in the future be designed as "green" buildings, although Environmental Protection Officer Vithal Deshpande said that budget issues may restrict the city's ability to construct such buildings. The plan also suggests that the city evaluate less polluting power sources for its buildings, implement energy efficiency policies, and enforce anti-idling legislation for vehicles. On the residential level, the plan recommends launching campaign named "Somerville Sees the Light," which would encourage households to replace one incandescent light with a fluorescent light each year. Replacing incandescent with fluorescent bulbs would both increase efficiency and lower costs. According to Sullivan, the initiative "is idealistic but at the same time very practical and pragmatic." Somerville follows Brookline, Arlington, and Medford in adopting an action plan. But unlike the other towns, Somerville's plan was written by a commission consisting solely of volunteers rather than city employees. The initiative, according to commission chair Lori Segall, "came from the ground up as opposed to the top down." "We want the rest of the country to see that the Northeast is taking this issue seriously, because the federal government is not," Segall said. "If Somerville can do it, the federal government can do it." The plan follows other environmental programs in Somerville. The recently-constructed Capuano School on Glen Street reduces carbon dioxide emissions by more than half a million pounds a year, uses 43 percent electricity and 56 percent less water. It is the first public school in New England that meets official standards for environmentally-friendly buildings. Somerville has also made some municipal buildings more energy efficient. For the University, involvement in CAP is part of a spate of environmental initiatives: plans for the new dormitory between Talbot Avenue and Professors Row include solar panels and Tufts became the first university to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, which allows member organizations to trade pollution permits and encourages them to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Moomaw, who teaches a course on Energy, Technology, and Policy, said that the precedent for environmental consciousness at Tufts was set long ago: in 1990, Tufts became the first university with an environmental policy. Also that year, former University president Jean Mayer brought the leaders of 19 other universities together to sign the Talloires Declaration, a ten-point action plan for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. "Tufts has a tradition of students who are interested in engaging society in all kinds of ways," Moomaw said. "We are on the academic, operational, and outreach sides of issues here."

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News

Broken Science speaks mind on current hip-hop

October 23

"The essence," says artist Broken Science at a recent interview, "is lost in today's hip hop". In his first solo mix-tape, Show N Prove, first year Tufts graduate student Ajahne Santa Anna, using the pseudonym Broken Science, will take his music back to "the essence" in hope of reaching a large audience. He calls it a mix-tape instead of an album because the beats used are recycled from such established artists as Jay Z, Ghostface and even legendary singer Curtis Mayfield. He hopes to use the familiarity of these beats to get his audiences' ear and use his unique lyrics to get to their mind. Released this past Tuesday, Show N Prove includes 17 tracks in which Broken Science will attempt to prove his rhyming skills. According to Santa Anna, you don't have to be a hip hop fan to appreciate those skills, "I want everyone to know about Show N Prove... even if they don't like hip hop I want them to have been exposed to my album". Although this is his first solo venture, Show N Prove is Santa Anna's second release. His first album, The Foundation, featured a varied group of emcees under the "Iron Mic" production company. Along with vocals by Broken Science, The Foundation featured three emcees: Idealty, Freeze and Tenth Noble, Tufts graduate student Connell Cloyd. The album also features backup singer Eshena Davis. Santa Anna traced back the origins of hip hop in order to give perspective of its present state, "Hip Hop was a way people of color from urban neighborhoods could express themselves, whether by cutting a record or in a rap battle... " The hip hop culture that Santa Anna was raised on is much different from that of younger generations who, according to Santa Anna, started listening to hip-hop music in 1997 and missed a 20 year period of groundbreaking music. These newer fans think that what they listen to is "real hip hop", however, as Santa Anna explained, "they have not heard the earlier music and therefore have nothing to compare the new stuff with". In response to a question on the messages that today's hip-hop sends out to the youth; Santa Anna had a lot to say. "All of the lyrics that have bling bling and shooting up people are absorbed by youth. There's more to urban life than these things". Broken Science commented on the brainwashing effect that hip hop is having on youth as well, "Rappers who use negative themes like bustin' their gun is heard, but when a rapper tries to spit knowledge, it's seen as a bad thing to be educated." This emcee is committed to changing that mentality. His own emcee name, Broken Science is a reflection of his dual nature, the urban streets which he grew up in and the "Science" or education he has acquired at Tufts. What inspires Broken Science? The need to hear that "nod your head" beat along with the creative rhymes that originally made hip hop music such a powerful presence in our country. "Since no one else is making it right now, I will, because it's what makes me feel good," Santa Anna said about his drive to make music. The confidence in which Broken Science expressed his conviction for making the true form of hip hop is the same confidence he has for its success. "Show N Prove," claimed Broken Science, "will show and prove to the public that I am nice on the mic." Santa Anna started rapping in high school, mostly free-styling with friends back home, in Springfield, MA. His freshman year he began writing and performed his art for the first time at an Onyx Open Mic Show. His spoken word piece was also published in Onyx, the Tufts literary magazine, shortly thereafter. The release of his first album, The Foundation, had in large part to do with a hip hop performance at Hotung Cafe by Broken Science and Tenth Noble, collectively calling themselves C.R.U.M.B.S, which stands for Corporations Rape Use and Manipulate Black Style. C.R.U.M.B.S represents their social consciousness that they aim for in their music. The crowd at Hotung responded to C.R.U.M.B.S with a strong love and energy that made the rappers start thinking about making more music for the people. However the cycle that took Broken Science into the recording studio did not begin with this event. Tufts senior Alexander Ramirez, in collaboration with Santa Anna, initiated the creation of "Iron Mic", the production company that releases the music of Broken Science and other artists, including Tenth Noble. Both students met the summer after their sophomore year when ideas of a production company were causally mentioned. After being encouraged by many other friends to start such a business, Santa Anna importantly noted, "Alex was the first person to call back..." Less than two years later, the first album under "Iron Mic", The Foundation, sold about 400 copies. Santa Anna also has high expectations for the future of his music, but is already planning a future in video game production using his degree in Computer Engineering. In his plans, he spoke about owning his own recording studio and getting more media exposure for his music, "I want to be interviewed for magazines like Vibe and The Source. I want to be recognized, whether it be for more than five years, or less than one, I want to get my message across". Show N Prove will be sold at the Campus Center for $5 till the Oct. 31. Any questions on the album or for the artist can be emailed to Show_N_Prove@hotmail.com.

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