Archives

News

This isn't a sports column, but it plays one on TV

October 20

The Sox lost. Let's face facts and stop pretending that it was all a bad, drug-induced dream. It's hard to let go, I know-- I'm as upset as anyone about it. But we need to move on. As part of my five step plan on not taking my own life, I found myself wondering about all the aspects of how Baseball affects our school, and I have come to a very interesting conclusion. Even Yankees fans wanted the Sox to win. Why? Aside from the fact that David Ortiz is THE MAN for proving that no matter how out of shape you are, you can still play sports, it's because everyone was hoping for another "riot." Now, astute readers may note that I put the word "riot" in "quotation marks," while less astute readers are sitting here trying to figure out what astute means. Honestly, though, we were all really too proud of ourselves after our little get together when the Sox beat the A's. There was a lot of back slapping and high-fiving afterwards, all of us quite content with demanding that the President of the school show himself while Northeastern went into meltdown, BC burned to the ground, and UMass Amherst disappeared into a black hole. (This was later blamed on MIT.) My point is that our "riot" was quite tame compared to other schools. Even so, it was still about twice as much as went on at Harvard. At least we burned some things and howled a lot. If it were the School of Hard Heads, it would have been much tamer. If they managed to set something on fire without hurting themselves, they would make sure to have someone standing next to the fire with an extinguisher at the ready, and a second kid holding the pin to make sure that no time would be lost if the blaze went out of control. In addition, they would march down to their President's house chanting "We politely demand that the President show himself so we can inform him of how happy we are that the local baseball team, The Red Sox, colloquially referred to as 'The Sox', have won the first round of the Baseball Playoffs." I grant that the Harvard kids would be more of a pain for the cops than we were, however. They'd probably lie down in protest. Now, as long as we're talking about baseball, I would feel dirty if I did not mention the staple of the baseball lovers diet-- Hot Dogs. Of course everyone loves Hot Dogs. If you don't eat meat, you love Veggie Dogs. If you only eat white meat, you love Chicken Dogs. If you only eat dog, you love Poodle Dogs. It's a fact of life. But how many of you out there have ever had an Octodog? Thanks to the bravery of thousands of German technicians, you can now have the fun and great taste of an Octodog in your home kitchen! According to octodog.net, the Octodog is a "fun hotdog you can make at home with our Frankfurter converter." Essentially, this miracle of modern technology is a little plastic tube (that disturbingly looks like a douche) with the design of an Octopus on top. When you insert a Hot Dog into the tube, it cuts the dog just so that when it is cooked, it comes out shaped like an Octopus. Why anyone would WANT a Hot Dog shaped like an Octopus is an excellent question, and one that better men than I have struggled with for about twenty minutes. However, this strange modern miracle is catching on around the country. According to the site, the Octodog was featured in "Trailer Park Queen" and "is on its way in becoming a household name within the Trailer Park community." Plus, Beyonce says "I've never seen anything like that before! It was very strange, but it was interesting! I guess it's nice for kids..." and who will argue with Beyonce? If you do, you're in trouble! Uh oh uh oh uh oh oh oh oh oh! Back to baseball, though. It's America's pastime. Even when your team isn't winning (a common occurrence around here) you still need to respect the athletes for putting in the effort to entertain the masses. Except David Ortiz. He's not an athlete. He's just the Mayor. Maybe we should set up a wrestling match between him and Ahnold?

---

News

Ready, willing, and 'Abel'

October 20

After nearly twenty years of experience in alcohol and drug education, Margot Abels is ready to take on the Tufts campus. Her goal: to smash the smashed and weed out the weed. She is the new Director of Alcohol and Drug Prevention. Abels is the very first to hold the position of Director of Alcohol and Drug Prevention. Previously, Tufts only had one counselor based in Health Services, an arrangement that had proven inadequate. Michelle Bowdler, Director of Health Services, expressed concern; as a direct result, the rest of the administration agreed that Tufts needed more experienced educators and counselors who would have a real presence on campus. Consequently, Abels was hired as Director, along with Liz Moore, the new treatment specialist. "Two people are much better than one," Abels said. "We both have extensive backgrounds in education and have much practice working one on one with people suffering from alcohol and/or drug addictions." Abels does not want the student body to be intimidated by her title. As she enters her third month here, Abels expects she will get to know more of the student body on individual bases. She wishes to be viewed as a friend, not as the enemy; she hopes to be an advocate as well as an authority. "My charge here is to establish an effective, comprehensive, science-based and collaborative prevention program that responds primarily to the needs of students who over-use and abuse alcohol and other drugs," Abels said. Along with Moore and Bowdler, Abels has created a system from within Health Services to better connect with the student body and offer education and counseling to those in need. As well as trying to help out those battling an addiction, Abels also wants to work with students in making Tufts a fun and safe place for everyone. "Nothing is set in stone," Abels said. "If the current policy is causing students to drink in more risky ways, then it should be changed." Abels has already met with TCU President Chike Aguh in the hopes of forming a collaboration between the students and administrators. She feels that the lack of communication between the policy makers and those affected by the policy, namely the students, creates tension and confusion. "Both President Bacow and Dean Reitman want a strong program," Abels said. "Nobody is trying to make drastic changes on campus. Our main concern is your safety." Abels graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a degree in Art History. She received her masters from Sarah Lawrence in American Women's History. She has been in the health education field since 1985, focusing a great deal of energy on alcohol and drug abuse in addition to a heavy emphasis on HIV prevention, women's health, and sexuality education. Prevention has always been her main focus, which she has applied to the politics of health care and health education as well as gender and sexuality studies. Though her true love is gardening, she has decided to continue along the path of health education and take a chance on the Tufts community. Since Abels was an undergraduate at a small, private school similar to Tufts, she says the transition to the University has been a comfortable one. She is highly impressed with the Tufts location and size, feels quite welcome, and is "floored" by the Health Services center. For the most part, Abels does not think the Tufts campus is one that is overly abusive of alcohol. She understands the necessity of a weekend outlet after a long, hard week of classes and tests. It is completely normal. "Tufts is not going to be on the next edition of Dateline," Abels joked. "But, I do see all the TEMS reports and they worry me. Honestly, we adults don't have all the answers, but we're trying our best to find them." One of the ways in which Abels hopes to find those answers is by creating an advisory council consisting of students and adults. Members of this committee will work together to come up with effective policies that they can present to the table of University Directors. The first "Think Tank on Alcohol and Drug Issues," a precursor to the creation of the advisory council, was held yesterday. Additional Think Tanks will take place on Oct. 27 and 29. Students interested in becoming affiliated with the advisory council should attend these sessions. Contact Abels at Health Services for more information.

---

News

Tufts participates in World Food Day

October 20

Africa should be "the world's wake-up call," Dr. Urban Jonsson, UNICEF's Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, told about 30 Tufts students and faculty members via teleconference last Thursday. The teleconference was part of Tufts 20th annual World Food Day which aimed this year to increase campus awareness about issues facing Africa. This year's World Food Day was titled "Collaboration or Calamity: Africa in Peril." It focused on the struggle of Sub-Saharan Africa and how to assist the continent in its fight against hunger, poor nutrition, poverty, and HIV/AIDS. Jonsson's main message in his televised interview from Washington DC was that Africa is in worse trouble today than ever. The emergence of HIV and AIDS has lead to a diminished ability to cope with future crises effectively. The results, Jonsson said, will be crippling. "First there will be the infection wave. Second, the death wave, and third, the orphan wave," he predicted. According to Jonsson, studies have shown a positive correlation between nutrition and learning, and he stressed that calorie intake is not the same as nutrient consumption. In addition, due to the high death rate of adults due to disease, many African households are led by children. Little of the money sent to African countries actually reaches the people due to what is known as the "top-down approach" - similar to trickle-down economics. The solution must come from the younger generations, said Jonsson. Programs should also be driven by the community, known as a "horizontal change" or a "grass roots process." The event was designed to alert the community to the challenges facing Africa that do not otherwise get much attention. "We're trying to raise the profile of the continent on and across campus. It's an effort to increase global citizenship," history professor Jeanne Marie Penvenne said. She has been in charge of the Tufts Africa Forum for the past three years. "The point of this is raising the issue of the crises in general and bringing awareness to food security on campus," she said. "In the United States, we're in food up to our hip boots, but that's not the case around the rest of the world." Senior Rachel Tulchin, who helped Penvenne organize the broadcast, said the most important goal of the afternoon was to increase understanding. "This is to make people aware of issues, to work together, and to take a stand," she said. Penvenne called Jonsson's speech "a very rich presentation. Following the presentation, participants debated the issue of governmental accountability and the role of the relatively recent gain of political sovereignty in African countries. Another topic of discussion was the differences between West and East Africa, geographically and culturally. Participants pointed out the disparity between the media attention given to starving children in Africa and the Super Bowl. Tulchin is optimistic that the event will have a positive outcome. "I hope undergrads take initiative and acknowledge that there are larger, global issues out there," she said. The Tufts Africa Forum and the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy sponsored the satellite broadcast. Tufts was able to air the feed in the basement conference room of the Tisch Library. In previous years, World Food Day teleconferences have been broadcast to the Friedman School. Last year's the teleconference with Ray Suarez, a senior correspondent with the Jim Lehrer News Hour on PBS, focused on issues of hunger and poverty in rural areas.

---

News

Friedman School fitness center re-named upon agreement with John Hancock Financial Services

October 20

Over the summer, the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy entered a partnership with John Hancock Financial Services that involved the renaming of the school's fitness center to the John Hancock Center of Physical Activity and Nutrition. Originally named The Center for Physical Fitness, the center was established in 1999 to create programs that would combat the problems of growing obesity and physical inactivity in the US population. University President Larry Bacow had expressed interest in expanding the center's scope and budget, and his office worked with the Development Office to put together a proposal for John Hancock, which was accepted. "The restricted budget was not scaling up, this long-term sponsorship will allow the center to grow," said Eric Johnson of the Development and Advancement Office. "The sponsorship is a ten-year agreement that provides significant resources, both in support for research and for outreach activities" Johnson continued. "John Hancock is excited about the goals of the center and wanted to partner with the school to accomplish these." Dr. Miriam Nelson, who founded the Center, added that with the sponsorship, "Our goals for the center have become more crystallized. Our aims are to do solid scientific research in large-scale programs that are researching the important questions of how can we get individuals, communities, states and even eventually the country, more physically active and eating better." Though the Center is funded from a variety of foundations, private donors and government grants, Nelson explained that this type of long-term funding represents a new milestone. "What the John Hancock sponsorship does is gives us core support that we can count on for a long time, which is enormously helpful with any university endeavors, as the funding always comes from a mixture of sources. It's helpful to know that this resource will last." Johnson explained that the agreement between the Friedman School and John Hancock does not have any oversight rule. "We recognize this as an act of philanthropy, so we will be in contact with the company, but there is no oversight rule in the contract." Nelson agreed that the contract leaves a lot of leeway. "Every agreement we make with anyone, not just the corporations, will always have expectations on both sides. The unique piece with this is that there is not a lot of obligation for us." John Hancock is the primary sponsor for the Boston Marathon, and some of the company's interest in the project comes from its interest in the annual event. Some of the Tufts staff will assist John Hancock's running team by providing seminars, as part of the agreement. Tufts Marathon team runners will also be able to participate. "Our agreement is very tied in with the whole marathon effort," Nelson said. "As part of our responsibilities we are going to be helping to organize, along with the Tufts Advancement Office and Larry Bacow, the marathon challenge -- helping to find people to run, helping with training programs, nutritional counseling and information." The late September buy-out of John Hancock Financial Services by Toronto-based insurance company Manulife had some skeptics concerned that the agreement with the school would be affected. Manulife bought the company for stock worth $10.8 billion. This merger makes Manulife the second largest insurance company in the United States. "There will be no change in the sponsorship," Johnson said. "Manulife said there would be no change in John Hancock's different community sports sponsorships, and we have been assured that we fall under that." Community relations at John Hancock said only that "there will definitely be no change [due to the buy-out]." Administrators are optimistic about the partnership. "We view this as an exciting development for the Friedman School and for the entire Tufts community," Johnson said.

---

News

Boston Ballet's Don Quixote is sugary in style, substantive in technicality

October 20

This year's season of the Boston Ballet, which marks its 40th anniversary, opened this past Thursday with the staging of the classic story tale Don Quixote. As the rest of the city suffered from Red Sox heartbreak, those of us at the Wang Theater were assured a happy ending. (Perhaps Pedro should work on his pli?©s.) We can all be thankful that with the distraction of the baseball sport gone, attention can be properly turned to Boston Ballet's new season -- with ballet as a sport in its own right. Eschewing the traditional choreography by Marius Petipa from the mid 19th century, the company chose to revive the 1966 choreography by dance legend Rudolph Nureyev, a version first staged by the Boston Ballet in 1982. The choice was especially poignant since Thursday evening marked the 10th anniversary of Nureyev's death, a loss still felt within the world of dance. The story itself is loosely based on the classic Cervantes novel of the same name. Don Quixote, an old knight in Barcelona, dreams of his Lady Dulcinea whom he believes to be in trouble. His fantasies take him and his faithful servant, Sancho Panza, to the port where the protagonists Kitri and Basilio seek a marriage blessing from Lorenzo, her father, who wishes to force Kitri to marry the wealthy and arrogant Gamache. The pair runs away and the tale follows the Don and Panza, as well as Lorenzo and Gamache, as the four chase the lovers across the countryside. After much foolishness and a brush with a Gypsy band, the couple trick Lorenzo into giving them his blessing, and finish the ballet with the entire corps out on stage in celebration. The dancing was markedly Boston Ballet, crisp and technically proficient but at times lacking the necessary flair or sensuality to draw the viewer into the story. Lorna Feijoo, dancing Kitri, did an admirable job at a very difficult role filled with show-stopping turn combinations, including a third act dance with the trademark fouettes (remaining on one leg, she does 32 consecutive turns by whipping her free leg around her body, every third turn a double rotation). Her partnering began somewhat rigidly but developed more softness by the third act. A piercing, solo violin provided the backdrop for a delicate pas de deux with Basilio (Yury Yanowski-Principle), with pirouettes and arabesques which were acutely accented but tender. Yanowski brings to the stage energy and exuberance that light up his character, despite the occasional unsure landings. His partner dancing was strong and assured, highlighted by a no-hands fish dive (Kitri ending a jump wrapped around Basilio's waist, his hands triumphantly extended) at the end of the first act and a series of one hand lifts in the second. The performance included more men than one is accustomed to in American ballet, which is exciting. During the opening port scene, a line of eight men was formed, arms interlaced, to hurl the poor servant, played by Parren Ballard, over 15 feet into the air. Also of note was Barbora Kohoutkova as Queen of the Dryads, who in the second act danced a supple, yet sharp, solo during the dream scene. Her subtle musicality and engagement with the audience spoke to the longing of Don's imagination. The Ballet is at times sugary, but fun and witty all the same. Discounted tickets may be obtained though student rush, as Boston Ballet rarely sells out. The show runs from Oct. 30 through Nov. 2, with "Stars and Stripes" running Oct. 23 through 26.

---

News

A fair education

October 20

A prolonged presence at a liberal arts university like Tufts inevitably exposes one to a number of radical views. Recent world events and a White House administration intensely hated by many have exacerbated the prevalence of such beliefs. To most of us, it should hopefully be confusing when a leader who brought down two of the world's most despicable and brutal regimes is likened to Adolf Hitler. Similarly, it is unsettling when the only solutions individuals can come up with are the kind provided by government. Downright disturbing is the only way I can describe the readiness with which our country is reshaped into an evil, stumbling, global tyrant when our record speaks volumes to the opposite. What prompts such attitudes, especially on college campuses? Frankly, leftists do. They tend to dominate Tufts University, as they do virtually every university. Why? Maybe it's the fact that academia frequently resembles an insular bubble whose members interact among each other more than they do with the real, outside world. Or, it may be due to a self-perpetuating cycle in which one generation of leftist academics breeds the next. While the cause is debatable, the leftist campus dominance is not. This preponderance of liberal views and consequent dearth of conservative perspectives prompts the concern that we, the students of Tufts, are not really getting the rounded education we (or our parents) are paying a very steep price for. We are making up our minds on important political issues under the frequently false assumption that we have been presented with a balanced consideration of arguments from all sides. If only the prosecutor's arguments were presented in a trial, would you consider it a fair one? As a member of the jury, would you consider yourself suitable to pass judgment in this trial? If the professors of almost all of your classes, almost all the officers of your student clubs, and almost all the people writing the news you read were conservatives.... Would you still be a liberal? Probably not. Let's face it - if your political views are derived solely from what you hear at Tufts lectures, read in the New York Times, and poster for in your student club, the foundation of your political beliefs may not be as strong as it ought to be. Would it conceivably hurt you to be presented with the arguments of liberals and conservatives? Or do you worry that given a broader array of information you might make a different choice? One gets the impression the University does. Convinced that a broader, more balanced, education hurts no one and benefits everyone, conservatives at Tufts are fighting on your behalf. The campus is faced with professors spewing their contempt for conservatives, angry guest lecturers blaming America for all the world's ills, rapid responses to "bias" incidents except when they are of an ideological nature, derisive Daily viewpoints, chalking advocating homosexuality, and bizarre and subversive orientation programs in which incoming freshmen are taught they need to group together to protect themselves from Tufts' masses of evil men and racist whites. While some students may agree with these views, more of us probably find them inappropriate, at the very least. This list, of course, doesn't even come close to capturing the entirety of the problem. Contrary to the impression one might get at Tufts, issues like gay rights and radical feminism remain very much unresolved in mainstream America. Why do so many Americans oppose these agendas? Are they really all religious, homophobic sexists or have they heard a side of the story you haven't? In mainstream America, patriotism and individualism remain commendable qualities. Can so many Americans truly be intolerant, jingoistic "hicks"? A Bachelor's degree can set us apart in terms of education, but it need not do so in terms of values. The "common folk" of America have built an exceedingly successful nation, despite their lack of sophistication. As conservatives, we've had about enough of the perpetual sidelining of our ideas, the unapologetic distortion of our beliefs, and the relentless assault on our values. It's hardly fair to anybody else in the student body either. All of us came to Tufts expecting a nonpartisan, fair-minded education that lives up to this institution's reputation. In the following weeks the Tufts Republicans, as part of an ongoing initiative to increase their visibility and counter the vast array of coalitions, alliances, collectives, and clubs that make up the liberal authority, will be pushing hard to get the University administration to adopt what is known as the Academic Bill of Rights, a document outlining a policy of non-partisan teaching, hiring, and grading that is gaining momentum across the nation. If approved, it will represent a small but important step in the direction of true academic freedom. You can, to a certain degree, compensate for what is being left out of your classes. The Tufts Republicans are not the only ones offering alternative political perspectives. The Primary Source continues to regularly expose campus lunacy of various sorts in print. A new student organization, Tufts Right to Arms, aims to provide differing views on the issue of firearms and 2nd amendment rights. Its activities will include off-campus gun training and on-campus, non-lethal, self defense techniques. Taken in combination with liberal campus groups, a better, more balanced education can be attained by considering the viewpoints of groups like these. So, enhance your education today. At the very least, you'll be strengthening the foundations of your liberal beliefs. You may even find some conservatism inside you. Nicholas Boyd is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.

---

---

News

Tufts takes second place at Twin Brook Invitational

October 20

The women's cross country team ran their way into second place at Saturday's Twin Brook Invitational in Cumberland, Maine. This race was particularly useful for the Jumbos, who will venture back to the same course next month for the NCAA qualifying championships with hopes of sending a team to Nationals. The one-two punch of senior tri-captain Lauren Caputo and sophomore Rebecca Ades came through yet again for the team, propelling the Jumbos to a victory over such rivals as Keene State, MIT, and Wheaton and falling to only Trinity College, which is currently third in the nation. Caputo once again pulled in the top time for the team, crossing the line at 22:59. Ades was on her heels, finishing with a time of 23:12. Trinity runners snatched the top three spots. Finishing behind Tufts in third place was MIT with 101 points, and Keene State who finished fourth with 105 points. Connecticut College, the only other NESCAC team racing, and Wheaton finished in fifth and sixth with scores of 154 and 168 points, respectively. "Overall, we ran very well," coach Kristen Morwick said. "Trinity is top three in the nation, so we weren't looking to keep up with them. The fact that Lauren and Rebecca kept up with the Trinity girls is very encouraging." Scoring important placement points for the team were the third, fourth, and fifth finishers. Senior tri-captain Lauren Dunn finished the race in 15th place overall with a final time of 23:38, followed by 22nd place finisher Emily Pfeil (24:19) and Sarah Crispin (24:28), who hustled into 25th place. "Our 3-5 runners ran well, but they are where we need to improve the most," Morwick said. "Those three girls stepping up and improving their times will be the key to our success over the next three weeks." Sophomore Arielle Aaronson, who entered the race as the Jumbos eighth runner, ran one of her top races of the season and finished 43rd overall, good for seventh best on the squad. "Arielle really stepped it up this weekend," Morwick said. "It's going to be a matter of our 3-8 runners stepping up to get us to nationals, and this weekend, they all ran great races." The Jumbos also used the race to avenge themselves on teams and individuals that had beaten them in previous races. Tufts was easily able to dominate regional rivals such as Keene State, Wheaton, MIT, and Connecticut College. "It was very nice because we ran considerably faster than some of the top teams in the region, teams that had beaten us a few weeks ago," Morwick said. "Becca, especially, was able to knock off a number of girls, including Conn College's number one runner, who had beaten her earlier in the season." Two weeks ago, the Jumbos had a week off heading into the All-New England Championships. They ran one of their best meets of the season, taking 12th place out of 41 teams from all three divisions. This week, the Jumbos have another week off, heading into their most important three week stretch of the season, NESCAC's, ECAC's, and the NCAA qualifying meet. "We always run really well off a weekend of rest," Morwick said. "It almost always pays off." The culminating meet, which will be held at the same Cumberland course on November 15th, will undoubtedly be the most important. And if this weekend is any indication for Tufts, things are looking very positive. "This weekend gave us an opportunity to race the course, and if we were going to make mistakes, this was the week to do it," Morwick said. "We went on a fact finding mission, and now we've seen the course and know exactly where we can cut down our times."

---

News

A Puerto Rican in the Bronx

October 20

Halloween came early this year with La Bruja's appearance as part of the Latino Heritage Month celebrations. Poet, rapper, actress, singer, and dancer Caridad de la Luz (whose alias means "the witch" in Spanish) was invited by the Association of Lating American Students (ALAS). De la Luz came to share her array of talents with the Tufts community, which she did last Thursday night in Barnum 008. She read poetry and sang and performed parts from her one woman show, Boogie Rican Boulevard, which tells a story about seven characters from a Puerto Rican family from the Bronx who struggle to maintain traditional Puerto Rican values while dealing with modern-day urban influences. Welcoming the audience, de la Luz acknowledged the importance of embracing and sharing Latino culture, something she gives great importance. She also emphasized the importance of appreciating one's culture, regardless of race or ethnicity. La Bruja used a two-way dialogue to create an inclusive atmosphere for her audience. Her give-and-take exchanges, peppered with questions like "Who here is a sexaholic?" or "Who here takes the train?" turned the presentation into something more akin to a group of friends speaking with each other than a formal performance. The relaxed attitude was further exemplified by de la Luz's own laughing reactions to her statements, and by the loud laughter of her three-year-old daughter, who was also in the audience. Throughout her performance, La Bruja touched upon different aspects of fear, from concerns about the destruction of Mother Nature to fear of the overwhelming negativity all too common in today's hip hop music. La Bruja verbally battled these environmental and social issues with a powerful energy that was reflected in both the laughs and pensive silence of the audience. De la Luz's performance was made further unique by the way she incorporated singing and acting into her poetry. The themes of most of her poems related to her experiences as a Puerto Rican living in New York City, but many also dealt with political and social issues. In one of her many haikus, La Bruja made reference to the dirty and overcrowded New York subway. She also told about her attitude towards the current president, saying that while she loved her own "bush" she was less than satisfied with the Bush in the White House. She also read an ode to her mother, talking about how the elder woman was one of her significant sources of inspiration. Capturing the audience's attention with an impressive stage presence and strong assertive commentary, de la Luz used humorous words or expressions to bring her listeners to hilarity. Catherine Serrano, a sophomore at Tufts, said that "watching La Bruja's performance is like riding a roller coaster. She made me laugh so hard that my stomach hurt, but in between the laughs, the emotions and ideas expressed through her poetry are so profound that they echoed in my mind for days." Ending her performance, de la Luz opened up the floor to questions. One student asked where she got the name La Bruja, and she answered by speaking of her ancestors. "In the past," she said, "those who suffered because of their spiritual beliefs were referred to as brujas or brujos." The name "La Bruja" is to her, an homage to her ancestors. At the end of the show, de la Luz spoke to the audience yet again, saying, "I hope I inspired positivity in you." This theme tied together all the pieces she had presented throughout the evening, from her concerns about fear and negative thoughts to the inspiration provided by her mother. Judging by the audience's overwhelming response, she succeeded.

---

News

Yanks' starting pitching key to success

October 20

It has almost gotten to the point that the New York Yankees should not even bother with the regular season and just start playing in the playoffs. They should automatically be crowned American League East Champions and be given an easy path to the World Series. This year, it looked like that easy road might be a little bumpy. The Boston Red Sox seemed like they were going to make a run; heck, even Boston's bullpen was dominant in the playoffs (when manager Grady Little used it). The Sox had game seven of the ALCS in hand, but someone forgot to wake up Little when it came time to pull Pedro Martinez. Little's name will be etched in eternity along with the likes of Buckner, Dent, McNamara, and the many others who have caused New Englanders so much pain. Meanwhile, the Yankees play on, taking on the Florida Marlins in this year's World Series. It isn't a fair matchup, really. It's a team of giants with a $160 million dollar payroll, against a team of little guys who run fast with a payroll of $50 million. The Yankees play in the glorious "House that Ruth Built". The Marlins are forced to play in a converted football stadium because no one will pay for anything better. However, the Marlins did manage to pull off a split in the first two games of the Series at Yankee Stadium. The speedy Juan Pierre wreaked havoc on the basepaths and also drove in two to lead the Marlins to a 3-2 victory in game one. Marlins reliever Ugueth Urbina played a Mariano Rivera-like role as he came in and got the Marlins out of a jam in the eighth and then closed it out in the ninth. In game two, Yankee starter Andy Pettite dominated in a one-sided 6-1 Yankee victory. If the Yankees are going to win their 27th World Series, their starting pitching must lead them to it. With a rotation consisting of David Wells, Andy Pettite, Mike Mussina, and Roger Clemens, they certainly have the talent to win. But the Marlins hitters can be pesky. The team is capable of exploding, as they illustrated in beating Mark Prior and Kerry Wood in the NLCS. The Yankees need good performances from the starters because their middle relief is their Achilles heel. Jose Contreras can be dominant, but he is erratic. Other than Contreras, New York has almost no one else who is capable of shutting the door on a rally. If they cannot find someone to effectively bridge the gap between the starters and Mariano Rivera, they will be in trouble. The starters for New York are also important because Florida's pitching is mediocre. The Yankees will have a tough time putting runs on the board when Josh Beckett is pitching; but it's just a matter of getting enough hits in those other games to take the series. While Beckett can dominate and Brad Penny is decent, Mark Redman and Carl Pavano are second-rate. Dontrelle Willis had a great regular season, but teams seem to be figuring out his leg kick, and he is getting hit hard (7.94 ERA in NLDS and 18.90 ERA in NLCS). If Alfonso Soriano can emerge from his coma, then the Yankees have a great shot at winning. The Bombers have the talent at the plate; it's just a matter of getting the sluggers to produce. Giambi, Williams, and Soriano -- all potential Hall of Famers -- had below average seasons by their standards. Jorge Posada was the only Yankee who really exceeded expectations at the plate in 2003. But if the Yankees find their swings early on; this could be a quick series. Aside from their middle relief, the only other real weakness for New York is its defense. Derek Jeter is one of the most overrated defensive players in baseball. He looks better than he is because of his diving attempts on balls that would be easily fielded by other shortstops. Alfonso Soriano is awful playing second base (he and Todd Walker had an "anything you can do badly, I can do worse" contest in the ALCS). New York's outfield has decent range, but their arms are so bad they might be better off running the ball back to the infield. If the Series stays close, the Yankees' defense could be a deciding factor. It's hard to see how the Yankees could lose this series. New York should be favored in any game that Beckett does not pitch. However, the Marlins just have that air of destiny about them that the Angels did last year. It's the team of destiny versus the team of the century, and although money can't buy love, it can buy the Series. Yankees in Six.

---

News

Kasper brings instrumental albums back in style

October 20

Some say music is dead. Listening to Julien Kasper suggests otherwise. On his first full-length album, Flipping Time, Kasper's trained ear for musical melodies soars in a more abstract, often overlooked musical category: instrumental. His eccentric mix of organ, guitar, and bass is new and cutting edge. The tune never falls. Every silence is placed with genius intentionality, creating some of the loudest of musical moments. The beats are mixed and new, creating what Kasper calls, "psychedelic roots fusion." Flipping Time opens with the upbeat "Home Place." His eclectic blend of blues, jazz and rock 'n' roll are all evident on the opening track. A steady rolling drum beat keeps the music at full force, and the melody is carried by an old Fender guitar, creatively harmonized with an organ. The title track, "Flipping Time," commences with a jazzy drum solo, and then goes on to portray Kasper's fiery blues ambitions mixed with a taste of tangy Texas country soul -- a style acquired from his two year studies at the University of Northern Texas, where he earned his MA in Jazz studies. Kasper's grade-A ballad work is evident on the track "I know." The music rapidly swells and ebbs as the song runs, magically creating a psychedelic mood. It is filled with minor keys and special effects that help sever Kasper's music from any specific category beyond instrumental. The third track, "Now We Know," perhaps the best representation of Kasper's spontaneous side, is replete with a throbbing beat carried by the bass. The same sad Fender elegantly thrives through the background beats, bursting with Hendrix-style improvisations. The various instruments used throughout Kasper's music -- the high guitar, the organs, the drumbeat -- collectively work to establish a certain spin-off blues style. All the tracks are created to encompass an overall striking effect, whether it is crying, pondering, or getting up and dancing. Kasper knows from first-hand experience what types of sounds represent which types of emotions and experiences -- he is a man with a rich musical history. Born in France, Kasper was reared on many styles of music. From the age of eight, he could always found with a guitar, exploring the intricacies of greats, such as Eric Clapton, BB King, Freddie King and Duane Allman. Kasper is also well schooled in music. He received a scholarship to University of Miami's Jazz and Studio Programming before headed off to the heart of country soul in Texas. He is currently an associate professor at the School of Music at Berkeley, in which he is noted for his two high demand lab courses that specialize in deciphering the unique musical styles of Jimi Hendrix and Jeff Beck. Kasper composed all the tracks on Flipping Time himself, but it is performed with the aid of six fellow musicians and friends. Most notable is Bruce Katz, a world- renowned organ player. Kasper eloquently mixes his many musical styles and training together on his first album. He creates a sort of hybrid funk composed of jazz, blues, country, and 60's rock. It is instrumental music that keeps you rocking, moving, and jazzing. He blends sounds and music so creatively, that the album seems more like a funk-jazz orchestra than a traveling band. The depth of this music is unbelievable. Kasper proves that instrumental music is happening. People tend to think that music without lyrics is without entertainment value. Kasper proves this ideology wrong. He fills all the spaces that could be saturated with lyrics with head on and in your face music fusion. He brings back old styles reminiscent of B.B. King, and mixes them with guitar solos of Jimi Hendrix to mold into today's techno-jazz culture. Flipping Time is truly a piece of interactive modern art. Julien Kasper has been around the block and his experience is well displayed on Flipping Time. It is a rare album that fits under no particular category, because it not only pushes, but extends beyond all limits of jazz, blues, and country and furthermore infuses the funk music of today. Bottom line: Julien Kasper is a wildly inspiring musician in addition to a fabulous listen.

---

News

Come on in, the water's fine

October 20

Water Watch received a new level of recognition for its achievements last month when it was given the prestigious National Take Pride in America Award. The award went to the student organization for its exceptional public service in preserving Masachusetts' public waterways. "This award is a huge accomplishment for Water Watch," sophomore and Water Watch intern Sue Bernstock said. "As part of the media, our goal is to get the word out there. Being recognized like this both acknowledges all of our hard work and promotes our cause so more people can get involved." Water Watch is a national student-run organization that participates in educational programs, cleanups, and other promotional activities to raise awareness about the severe environmental issues that plague individual states. Massachusetts currently has 18 local chapters on different college campuses. "Water Watch is a great organization that brings together community members and student volunteers," Bernstock said. "It has been very successful over the past year in both pinpointing the sources of pollution and in cleaning the results of this contamination." According to Kate Drexler, the Water Watch organizer at Tufts, Massachusetts has the second worst water quality in the country. The waters are contaminated with industrial waste, mercury, raw sewage, pesticide and fertilizer runoff, and trash. "Clearly, something needs to be done about this pollution," Drexler said. "By getting involved with Water Watch, it empowers our volunteers to realize they can make a difference." The success of Water Watch is due partly to the high level of student participation this year, said Bernstock. Massachusetts Water Watch has been ranked sixteenth in the country for size of its core group. Among the 18 chapters, over 3,400 students and volunteers have given their time and efforts to the cause. This effort has now been rewarded. The Take Pride in America award is presented to 15 public service organizations in the nation for their outstanding efforts to serve our communities. Founded by Ronald Reagan in 1984, the program has gained much prestige over the years. Gale Norton, US Secretary of the Interior, and John Bridgeland, Director of US Freedom Corps, presented the award in Washington D.C. on Sept. 26. Tufts Water Watch members are hoping this recognition will promote more participation among students. According to Drexler, the group is expecting an even larger interest in Water Watch once the award is publicized. "The award shows that we are an organized group who take action and actually affect water quality awareness and outreach," Drexler said. "We are really making a difference." Senior Turner Savard, cleanup coordinator for Water Watch, focused on the effect the award has had on current volunteers. "It is great to be rewarded like this," he said. "It shows that we are actually doing something significant." But, according to Savard, the award isn't the real form of validation that Water Watch volunteers have found. "When you come to a cleanup, you can physically see the trash and pollution in the morning," he said. "By the end of the day, there is such a clear difference; it's really empowering to see the effect you can have." Drexler agreed, stating that the award isn't what gives her a sense of validation for her work. "This award has not validated anything, but has simply added to the fuel," Drexler said. "It allows us to look at the bigger picture and see we're a group who is active and making change happen." This year, Water Watch has begun an educational program at local grade schools to teach children about water pollution. It is also hosting an Awareness Week from Nov. 9 to16 at Tufts, where speakers, panels, and activities will be held to raise awareness of the local water quality. Tufts Water Watch will also be conducting stream monitoring to test pollution levels in local waterways. The most significant goal of Tufts Water Watch is to organize one major cleanup each semester. This year it's the Make a Difference Day Cleanup, scheduled for Oct. 25 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Mystic River Reservation. Tufts Water Watch will be inviting over 100 participants, including students, community members, and local leaders. Food, refreshments, and music will be served and transportation to and from Tufts will be provided. A shuttle will leave from the Campus Center at 9:15 a.m. and will return on the hour. "We're hoping for a big turnout at the Cleanup," said Bernstock. "It should be a really exciting day; a great way to meet other volunteers, have fun, and do something significant at the same time. We're looking forward to a fun and successful event."

---

News

Senate pledges support for Hindi/Urdu

October 20

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate passed a resolution at last week's meeting in support of a more permanent Hindi/Urdu program. The resolution called for the administration to show its commitment to the program by moving it out of the Experimental College for next year. Students and professors say the University needs to hold up a commitment former Vice President Mel Bernstein made three years ago. He said Hindi/Urdu would be implemented into the Arts and Sciences College after a two-year trial run. "When I was offered this job three years ago, I wondered why Hindi was not treated like French, Spanish, Japanese, or other languages," Professor Sooda Bhatt said. Bhatt is a part-time lecturer in the Ex College and the only Hindi/Urdu professor. "It is so much work for just one person and so many students, and considering this is only a part-time job, I could be getting much more pay for this elsewhere." Since Bhatt does not have an office, it is hard for students to contact him for extra help or with questions, and he is forced to create extra course material to provide them with adequate sources. Eager to see the program expand, Bhatt said, "I would be very willing to do full-time work here if I was offered it -- I can work with whatever budget, number of other professors, or variety of courses the administration decides upon." Senior Pritesh Gandhi is one of the four students who brought the resolution to the Senate. "Every other group gets some part of the curriculum, but we've gotten shit every year," he said. "We're getting tired of being ignored and of the administration not keeping its promises." Gandhi said the Tufts Association of South Asians (TASA) has been working on this since 1994. It has been met with what he called "empty promises used to allay the organization." Though he acknowledged budgetary issues could play a roll in the delay, he said "serious and prolonged interest" had been demonstrated. The resolution was submitted by TASA and the South Asian Political Action Committee (SAPAC). It passed by a vote of 23 to one with one abstention. The resolution suggests that Arts and Sciences Dean Susan Ernst, President Larry Bacow, Ex College Director Robyn Gittleman, and the director of the German, Russian and Asian languages department present a plan to incorporate Hindi/Urdu into the Arts and Sciences College. The language would be integrated for the 2004-2005 school year. The University should also release a written statement underscoring its commitment and dedication to the creation of a "legitimate" Hindi/Urdu program. It urged the awarding of a full time contract to Bhatt. And it recommended that the administration work with the Senate and SAPAC to create a long-term plan for the program. "We hope this will call more people's attention to the issue and put more pressure on the administration to finally take action," Gandhi said. "Our next step will be to try to set up meetings with language faculty to gather more support."

---

News

Men's cross country grabs first victory of season

October 20

In a race where they were really just trying to get some practice, the men's cross country team finally won a meet. Running at a controlled pace in order to get a feel for the course where the national qualifiers will be held, the Jumbos notched their first top finish of the season; easily blowing away the rest of the field of 12 teams at Saturday's Twin Brook Invitational at Southern Maine. The NCAA New England Championship will be held on the same course November 15th. The top five Tufts finishers' places amounted to an impressive 37 points, 27 points ahead of second place MIT (64). Four Jumbos placed in the top ten and the squad's sixth and seventh runners finished ahead of every other team's fourth man. "Given the competition, there was no way we should not have won," coach Connie Putnam said. But if the competition was not tough, the assignment that Putnam gave his runners was. He asked the squad to go out at a pace of about 5:25 for the first mile and stick together for about three miles. This meant that Tufts' usual front runners had to slow their normal pace until the end. "Now they can feel comfortable and confident with whatever happens during qualifiers," Putnam said. "If we get bottled up in a slow pack at the beginning, we now have that confidence to run for position and still qualify for a spot." Freshman Josh Kennedy led the way for the squad, finishing in 27:02, good for second overall. "When everyone was allowed to break out and run how they felt, he ran amazingly," senior co-captain Peter Bromka said. "I was watching him from about thirty seconds back, and it was impressive to see how easy it was for him to float past the top runners for MIT and Dartmouth. We told him we think he's one of the top freshmen in the region, and he ran like it [on Saturday]." Finishing second and third, respectively, for the Jumbos and fifth and seventh overall were sophomore Kyle Doran (27:12) and junior Brian McNamara (27:14). Juniors Nate Brigham (27:20) and Mike Don (27:24) rounded out the Jumbos' top five, finishing tenth and 13th overall. Putnam instructed Brigham, normally the team's lead runner, to take it easy and to essentially not waste a race. But even without Brigham at the fastest, the team still cruised to a comfortable victory. "Even though we ran relaxed, it was good to come away with a win," Bromka said. "It was a nice confidence booster to run as a pack for three miles and to hear spectators say, 'here comes the Tufts pack.'" "Our intent going up there was first to learn the course for qualifiers, and second to run close as a pack," McNamara said. "We felt if we did that and tried hard, we'd have a shot to win, and we did." The team was happy to finally nail down a victory after a season in which they finished second in the first four races, often racing at only half strength. "We would have loved to win some of those earlier meets, but coach knows what he's doing," Bromka said. "The whole season is planned out, and it's the end that's important." This upcoming weekend is the team's only bye weekend of the season, and it plans to use it to travel to Middlebury to train on the course there. On Nov. 1, the team will return to Middlebury to compete in the NESCAC Championship meet. Because of next week's bye and because Putnam viewed this past weekend's meet as a workout in itself, the Jumbos find themselves in the midst of a three-week workout cycle instead of their usual one week pattern. This should help the team rest up and work out kinks as they gear into their final, and most crucial, segment of the season. After the NESCAC's come the ECAC's on Nov. 8, and then the national qualifiers back at Southern Maine. A similar performance to the one Tufts put on this weekend would then propel the Jumbos into the Division III National Championship meet. "This is the perfect time of the season to start winning invitationals," Bromka said. "We hope to continue that trend."

---

News

An Open Letter to Fletcher Students: Why You Shouldn't Work for Philip Morris

October 20

One of my students recently saw a flyer in the Fletcher School advertising a recruiting visit by Philip Morris International. In my Introduction to Community Health class, we are currently studying the international devastation caused by the tobacco industry, and she was shocked to know that Tufts would allow them to recruit here. I share her concern and wanted to take this opportunity to give you my top nine reasons why you don't want to work for Philip Morris or any other tobacco company. 1. Smoking kills. In 2000, smoking killed 4.2 million people, half in the developing world. By 2030, the World Health Organization (WHO) predicts 10 million people will die of tobacco-related illness, 7 million of those who will die will be in the developing world. As recently as 1950, smoking was a negligible cause of death in the developing world. 2. Smoking is a leading killer. Again, according to the WHO, tobacco kills more than AIDS, legal drugs, illegal drugs, road accidents, murder, and suicide combined. 3. Smoking isn't a choice. Philip Morris and other tobacco companies will argue that people choose to smoke. But most smokers want to quit and can't. Nicotine is highly addictive and keeps people puffing. 4. Smoking isn't a choice, part 2. Last year, the tobacco industry in the United States spent over $11 billion promoting its product. International figures are not available, but let's assume, given that the industry is allowed to advertise on radio and television in most other countries, in addition to all other kinds of promotions, that billions are spent worldwide. This ability to create environments in which smoking is portrayed as modern, attractive, sophisticated, and commonplace means that "choice" is really "manufactured desire." 5. Secondhand smoke and children. While secondhand smoke is harmful to all nonsmokers who breathe it, it's particular risky for children. Problems related to secondhand smoke exposure include asthma complications, pneumonia, increased coughing, and middle ear infections. In seven countries (Cuba, China, the Russian Federation, Argentina, Poland, Indonesia, and Chile), more than half of children are still exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. Philip Morris International is likely to tell you there is no proven risk to secondhand smoke. This is not true. 6. Tobacco farming is toxic. Tobacco is now grown in over 100 countries, including 80 developing countries. Over 10 million acres of land, which could be used to grow food, is instead used to grow tobacco. In addition, tobacco requires heavy use of pesticides and fertilizers, which deplete the soil and sicken those who grow tobacco. 7. Tobacco drying causes deforestation. In more than 30 countries, tobacco-related deforestation is creating what WHO describes as an "environmentally critical situation." 8. Recruiting teenagers (a sad project, given the above points). According to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, "No matter what the cigarette companies say or do, they cannot stay in business unless kids smoke. As the companies know, the vast majority of all smokers begin their addictive habit before they reach 18, the legal age for buying cigarettes." 9. Recruiting teenagers (still a sad project). In the words of Philip Morris itself: "Today's teenager is tomorrow's potential regular customer, and the overwhelming majority of smokers first begin to smoke while in their teens" (1981) and "the ability to attract new smokers and develop them into a young adult franchise is key to brand development" (1988). So Fletcher students, please do not work for these folks. You will help perpetuate a bad business. Should you wish to read about these issues in more detail, please visit the Campaign for Tobacco-free Kids website and read "Golden Leaf, Barren Harvest: The Costs of Tobacco Farming" (www.tobaccofreekids.org) or any of the materials available from the World Health Organization (www.who.int/tobacco/en). A University of Sydney website (tobacco.health.usyd.edu.au) provides access to tobacco industry documents, as does the University of California at San Francisco (legacy.library.ucsf.edu). Edith D. Balbach, Ph.D. is the director of the Tufts Community Health Program.

---

News

Senate passes two new bylaws

October 20

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate has recently passed two new bylaws, the Outreach bylaw and the Constituency bylaw. The bylaws were added in the hopes of "increasing the body's responsibility and accessibility to the Tufts community," a Senate press release said. These bylaws were passed late last semester, but it was too late to implement them. According to Senate procedure, the two bylaws had to be reconsidered this year and voted upon again. Both bylaws passed by a large majority at last week's Senate meeting. Through the Outreach bylaw, every student organization on campus will be contacted in the near future by a senator to gather information about the organization's mission and how the group can be helped by the Senate. Each of the 32 members of the Senate (including community representatives) will be responsible for between five and seven student groups. Each senator will correspond with his or her groups by attending meetings or joining the groups' e-mail lists. "We will truly be fulfilling our jobs as liaisons for the student body to the administration," sophomore Senator David Baumwoll said. The Senate supported the Outreach bylaw because "it gives every single student group a representative voice on the Senate and will help the body make more well-rounded decisions," according to the press release. The Constituency bylaw was passed to ensure that contact remained consistent throughout the year between students and their senators. Senators from each class are required to e-mail the other members of their class several times each semester and organize open forums. "It ensures that the Senate will hit every individual student, including those who are not necessarily in a student organization," the press release stated. The Senate also emphasized that students should always feel free to recommend changes to the campus. The two bylaws were written in the spring semester of last year by a group of senators that included Baumwoll, sophomore Senators Chloe Snider and Rafi Goldberg, Senate President Chike Aguh, and Senate Treasurer Josh Belkin. Snider believes that the implementation of the bylaws will increase the Senate's ability and desire to represent everyone. "I think that the new bylaws represent a willingness of senators to represent the entire student body, not just their friends," she said. "[These bylaws] are something the entire student body stands to benefit from," Goldberg said. The changes are a part of the Senate's desire to revamp its image as an inclusive body for students. "[The Senate] must as a group strengthen outreach commitments and effectiveness," the press release said. "In implementing these bylaws, we hope to make students and or groups aware of the fact that we are there to serve them," Baumwoll said. "These bylaws will hopefully allow us to focus our efforts for those issues that really concern the student body." The Senate is not concerned by the fact that these new bylaws have not been thoroughly explained to the community. "Our goal on Senate is not for people to know the intricacies of our bylaws; rather, it is so that we can become better civil servants," Goldberg said. At this past Sunday's meeting, the Senate already began the process of dividing the various student organizations between Senate members. "It remains to be seen exactly what the effect and reaction will be since this is the first year of the bylaws' inception. However, everyone on Senate seems very optimistic regarding the effectiveness of these bylaws," Senate Historian Jeff Katzin said.

---

News

Faculty pushing for changes in commencement format

October 20

Administrators have not yet determined what, if any, changes will be made to the upcoming 2004 graduation ceremony. But the administration is considering a proposal to split commencement ceremonies into two parts in order to alleviate concerns that they are impersonal and long. Students from Liberal Arts, Engineering, Special Studies, along with Arts and Sciences graduate students receive their diplomas in one lengthy ceremony. Reading the over 1,500 names often took upwards of two hours. Professor James Glaser, recently named Dean of Undergraduate Education, is serving on the committee looking at possible changes in the commencement ceremony format. "Lots of people are milling around, very few people stay in their seats, and it doesn't make for a very meaningful moment," Glaser commented on the current system. He likened previous ceremonies to "assembly lines" of students receiving diplomas. The first phase of the proposed ceremony will be attended by all undergraduate and graduate students. All students will see the academic procession -- in which honorary degrees are awarded -- the keynote speech, and the president's address. The second phase calls for the reading of names and presentation of diplomas to take place in smaller, more personal settings, organized by department. Graduates of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy will continue to attend the first phase of the ceremonies on the Medford/Somerville campus before breaking off for a separate ceremony. In addition to simply reading names, Glaser added that the department heads could "provide meaningful information... such as people who provided special services to the department, people who have written honors theses, or people who have won departmental awards." The new format will reduce the amount of time that graduates and their families spend waiting around "from two hours to more like 20 or 30 minutes," Glaser said. Glaser and his committee seem to have the overwhelming support of the administration and many department heads. "The plans for graduation would make it possible for faculty members to interact with graduates and their families," said Political Science Chair Vickie Sullivan. Sullivan also said that, if the changes were to go into effect, members of her department would "look forward to giving graduates and their families a warmer, more personal farewell." Math Chair Christoph Borgers agreed the changes would "certainly be a good thing," as "the ceremony, as it has been, has had problems." Some departments would be combined because of size and logistical reasons. Geology Chair Anne Gardulski said that "too small of a group would be awkward." Glaser insisted the committee would look closely at potential arrangements of departments to reach an appropriate balance. Biology Chair Harry Bernheim raised an additional concern that students "would be forced to choose between two different venues if they are majoring in two different subjects." Students have also expressed concern "There are drawbacks to both...if you split it up, you don't get to see your friends graduate, and they don't get to see you. But if we were all to graduate together, we would have to sit through a very long ceremony," said freshman Adam Thayer. Glaser was quick to point out that the potential changes are far from being established. The committee is in their planning stage and not ready to issue a formal statement about this year's ceremony, which will be held on May 23, 2004.

---

News

Cursed?

October 20

They thought it was over. After nearly a century of World Series drought, two cities thought they were finally going to make it. Both Chicago and Boston came within innings of winning their league's pennant, only to see their teams inexplicably fall apart. No one even had to say what was on everyone's mind: The Curse. What is a curse? And why are we so inclined to believe in them? Curses seem to come in at least two types. One is the kind supposedly afflicting the Chicago Cubs, a destiny of failure wished upon them by the ill will of a man whose billy goat was refused access to Wrigley Field. Another kind is the one allegedly over the heads of the Boston Red Sox, the natural karmic result of committing the grievous baseball crime of selling Babe Ruth. The first curse arises from a strange cantankerous "shaman," the second from offending the equally mysterious "baseball gods." The appeal of thinking these curses are true might come from our excitement toward the out-of-the-ordinary. Something within us seems to affirm that life should be more than what we understand, that reality is not limited to what we can see and touch. Our favorite legends and myths are filled with this idea, frequently involving a quest to reverse a curse. But curiosity and excitement can't be the only reasons some people believe in curses. They are, after all, curses. It's not exactly fun to see your favorite baseball team take a dive year after year (after year). And who can find excitement in any of the number of real evils and tragedies we associate with curses? The fact that bad things happen, especially if they happen to us, does not make us idly curious but desperately questioning. We grasp at the darkness, wanting to know why bad things happen, and some settle on the idea of the curse. Curses provide at least a reason behind what seems so senseless, and in that way they can even be comforting. There is still a subtler way to treat curses seriously: If you do, you might be able to do some cursing of your own. A curse is simply a wish. But if you believe that wish actually has power over events, then you are really giving that power to the wisher. If curses are real, that means whoever gives the curse (whether shaman or layman) can really get things to go their way, just by wanting to. This desire - for people and circumstances to bend to our will alone - is not new. The only thing new is our technique. We have (for the most part) given up on the magic spells and amulets of our ancestors, but only in exchange for more modest methods like passive aggression and corporate lobbying. People in the past were no less power-hungry than we are, only more honest about their intentions. But whether in the past or the present, the idea that reality can bend to your will by your will alone has always been plain superstition. It just doesn't work. If something is true you can't make it false, and if something is false you can't make it true, just by wishing it were so. You have only the option of working along with what's true or against it. Moreover, if the Jews, Christians, and Muslims are right, and there is an all-powerful God who created and now sustains all that exists, then there is nothing that can happen outside his permission. Curses made by men cannot have irrevocable power. You cannot sneak around God. You only have the power to do what you can in fact do. While curses can give the illusion of control, the belief in them can also blind someone to the control they really do have. If someone is convinced that it is a curse, or some kind of inescapable fate, that is the cause of all their ills, it becomes very easy to hide behind that belief. You can avoid responsibility for doing anything about your faults. What was responsible for the Red Sox loss to the Yankees? It was not a curse. It was not the constellation of the stars. It was a choice, made by Grady Little, to leave a pitcher in one inning too long. Grady might be able to defend himself saying he did what he thought was best, but he cannot defend himself saying "the curse made me do it.". Only if he says "I made a mistake" can he make steps to improve. His choice is also ours, when we try to blame our faults on uncontrollable forces. The only real curse is our freedom to be wrong. And until we admit that, we only bring a curse on ourselves. Jack Grimes is a senior majoring in Philosophy and Political Science.He can be reached via e-mail at grimes@tuftsdaily.com.

---

News

Pierre and Pudge Steal Game 1

October 20

Both of the Florida Marlins' brightest assets shined on Saturday night in the Bronx during the first game of the World Series. In the first at-bat of the game, Juan Pierre executed a perfect drag bunt to the right side of the infield that nobody was able to field. Pierre soon stole second base and scored seconds later from third on a sacrifice fly by Ivan Rodriguez. After working their speed into the game plan, the Marlins soon capitalized on their other weapon: Pudge Rodriguez behind the plate. He was able to stop a rally by picking Nick Johnson off at third. Both of these assets will be important in the Marlins' series game plan. >Speed Despite possessing an incredible amount of speed, the Marlins are not about to steal on every pitch, as they did in the beginning of the season. Now that they have learned how to play within a realistic offense, Florida has been able to use its speed to push other teams' defensive limits. The Marlins will hit and run, fake steal attempts to open up holes on the left side for batters, and eventually get under the pitchers' skin. >Defense Defensively, the Marlins are definitely a superior team to the Yankees. Shortstop, third base, and leftfield are probably the only positions at which the Yankees are better equipped. Despite Alex Gonzalez not being Derek Jeter, the double play combination of Gonzalez and Luis Castillo is a dangerous tandem. Behind the plate, Ivan Rodriguez effectively stops the opposing team's running game with one of the most accurate and lethal arms in major league history. His fearlessness to call pitchouts and throw behind the runner at first, and even third, will be sure to keep the Yankees on their toes -and base paths. Derek Lee is a wizard at first, capable of stretches that no man should physically be allowed to do. With the double play combination of Gonzalez and Castillo, and either Mike Lowell or Miguel Cabrera at third, the Marlins are not likely to give away any free outs in the infield. With Juan Pierre in centerfield, the Yankees will have to either hit it out or hit it a long way into the gap to escape his glove. >Offense The Marlins' offense is based on the notion of speed and "small ball." Despite hitting more homeruns than the Yankees in the playoffs so far, their offense revolves around the ability of Pierre and Castillo to be the table-setters and for Rodriguez, Cabrera, Lee and Lowell to drive them in. >Starting Pitching On the mound, Josh Beckett has emerged as the ace of this staff and has been incredible in the playoff run to date. The Marlins' staff pales in comparison to the Yankees' big names of Mussina, Clemens, Pettite, and Wells, but don't underestimate the Marlins. Brad Penny proved that he can bring the heat in Game 1 of the World Series, Mark Redman is a much younger Jamie Moyer, and Carl Pavano showed great promise the second half of the season. >Bullpen In terms of setupmen, the Marlins have a slight advantage, especially because manager Jack McKeon has decided to use rookie phenom Dontrelle Willis in a setup role for the series. Willis will either be used as a situational lefty to pitch against some of the Yankees' big left-handed bats, or for long relief as he was used in Game 1. The Marlins will also rely on setup men Chad Fox and former closer Braden Looper with Ugueth Urbina serving as the closer. Urbina is definitely a downgrade to Mariano Rivera of the Yankees, but he has shown that he is capable of getting the big outs in key spots. McKeon has infused this young team with energy despite his ripe old age of 72 years. This is his first World Series experience so he is definitely in some unfamiliar managerial territory. History may be on the Marlins' side. Florida has never lost a postseason series and with its win over the Chicago Cubs, the Marlins' record is now 5-0 in playoff series. Despite losing Game 2 of the World Series, the Marlins head back home to Florida with a key split in the Bronx.

---

News

The problem with the general population

October 19

I am writing to express my disagreement with Steve Williams' characterization of Tufts students as "spineless sycophants" who possess "an overwhelming and completely undeserved sense of entitlement" in his Viewpoint ("The problem with Tufts," Oct. 14). The piece a number of behaviors he feels are common among Tufts students, among them littering in the campus center, not thanking cafeteria workers, and cheering at poor displays of sportsmanship during an Athletics-Red Sox game screening in Hotung. While the Viewpoint does begin fairly with the assertion that "Tufts is not all bad," I want to address some faults I found with the bitter generalizations of Tufts students that came later. Williams' Viewpoint at first implies that only some people engage in each irritating behavior, but then goes on to generalize the issue as a campus-wide problem of a sense of entitlement. While I do occasionally notice the behaviors mentioned, I want to emphasize that no one is perfect. While students still have no right to litter and be rude, I attribute these actions to a generation-wide, perhaps even nation-wide, carelessness due to laziness and busy schedules, not to some special characteristic of Tufts students alone. Actually, I have found Tufts students to be very thoughtful and concerned with bettering the lives of others. As a freshman, I was immediately impressed by the kindness, friendliness and concern with social change so many people exemplified. Also, according to Tufts E-News, the University's public relations website, by March 2002 more Tufts alumni had become Peace Corps volunteers than alumni of any other university or college of similar size; additionally, over 1,000 Tufts students volunteer with Leonard Carmichael Society. Despite saying all this, I want to stay away from generalizations of all Tufts students. We are diverse in terms of ethnicity, nationality, background and personality; William's generalizations only indicate behavior that is common to the national (and maybe international) population. Littering is not a problem unique to Tufts: the state of California spends $100 million per year cleaning up roadside litter. In a 1990 experiment, 37 percent of subjects who found a flier placed on their windshield dropped the flier on the ground. In a 1997 study of table littering at Ball State University, 29.3 percent of observed tables in a library caf?© were left with trash on them. Coincidentally, for one of my classes I recently conducted a (somewhat informal) study on prosocial behavior, which included measuring how many customers at Dunkin' Donuts in Porter Square thanked the cashier in three separate conditions. Overall, 42 out of 121 subjects -- that's about 35 percent -- did not thank the cashier. Sadly, the disrespect that "indicates a sense of entitlement among Tufts students" is common to the larger population. I also want to address the behavior at the baseball game screening in Hotung, where, according to Williams, viewers "gleefully jeered Barry Zito (the A's pitcher) during replays that revealed the pitcher's forlorn expression as Manny's ball sailed out of the park." While I wasn't at Hotung at the time, it seemed like people simply reacted to an expression the pitcher made when he realized he had given up a home run. Ever see any slapstick humor? It's funny when people mess up, when they trip, when they accidentally give up a run and look dumbfounded by their error. It isn't nice to laugh at others' mistakes, but it's hard not to find them funny. The other day I slipped on a watermelon rind in front of Tisch (don't ask me what it was doing there), nearly did the splits and landed on my butt, yet when I got up, I encouraged some bystanders trying to stifle giggles to go ahead and laugh -- heck, it was funny. When we find something humorous, we cannot always immediately think of the lack of sportsmanship exhibited in the situation, especially in a setting like a baseball viewing, where team coalition and prejudice toward the out-group, the other team, are rampant. Tufts students are people, and while most of us have some admirable characteristics that allowed us to be admitted here, we're only human, and we all have faults. But I do appreciate some of Williams' points. It disappoints me to see students working at Brown and Brew spend a half an hour cleaning up after others at 1 a.m., and angers me when the griller at the Campus Center Commons doesn't always get a "thank you." However, instead of blaming people for acting this way, I want to use this space to encourage readers to go out and show a little more respect. Look around when you leave the table, and pick up the empty soda can that was there when you sat down. Thank the women and men who cook your food, swipe your card and clean your dorm. Put away the Daily -- yes, even the crossword -- during class and give your professors some respect. I'm not saying that I'm perfect and always do the things I recommend here, but I'll try along with all of you. And conformity research shows that prosocial behavior spreads: kindness is infectious. Start showing some respect, and others will follow. Gina Kessler is a junior majoring in Psychology and English.

---

News

Williams deep-sixes Jumbos

October 19

For the field hockey team, Saturday was not a day to remember. Tufts' attack was shut out, the Williams Ephs unloaded an offensive bombardment on the Jumbo defense, and the field hockey squad came home in critical need of a win to help right a faltering record and regain composure after a gristly 6-0 loss to Williams on Saturday. The loss drops the Jumbos to 3-4 in NESCAC, their first losing mark in league competition this season, and puts the team at a disappointing 4-7 record on the year. Williams boasted a host of heroes on its offensively happy day, with junior forward Krista Patrelli scoring three goals, senior tri-captains Molly Jennings and Tori Scott each netting a goal and notching an assist, and the defense not allowing a score. The Ephs wasted no time getting to work, with Patrelli finding the back of the net twice in the first eight minutes of play. Tufts' disheartening beginning only led to more trouble. "We were discouraged early when they scored those two quick goals," sophomore midfielder Lea Napolitano said. "It shouldn't have been a six-goal game, but we really didn't play very well after they scored so quickly." To Tufts' credit, Williams was held scoreless for the next 25 minutes, with senior goalkeeper Julie Jackson ringing up six of her eight saves on the day, amid high shot totals by the Ephs. The shot attempts continued to barrage Jackson, however, and with 2:39 left in the first half, Jennings slipped through a crowded scoring circle to find the back of the net, by the pads of Jackson. Williams refused to allow Tufts back on its feet after the half, with Patrelli completing her hat trick unassisted just 28 seconds into the second frame of work. Williams would score two more before the end of the day, with freshman forward Katie Wilkes and Williams' scoring leader Scott each getting their names in the book with less than five minutes left to play. Jackson played ten minutes into the second half and blocked two more for saves, before freshman Angela Rappoli came in to replace her for the final 25 minutes. While the Jumbos knew the game would be tough, they also know they could have done a few things differently. "Williams was the best team we've played so far, but we didn't play a good game," Napolitano said. "Offensively and defensively, we just didn't play well." This is the second time the Jumbos have been shut out on the season. The first time came on Sept. 13 against Amherst, in a tough 1-0 game in which Tufts outshot the Lord Jeffs 24-2. This loss was different, and it didn't sit well with coach Carol Rappoli, who didn't say much after the loss. "She told us to come to practice on Monday, so that we can revaluate everything and see where we go from here," Napolitano said. "She really didn't say that much, there weren't too many words to describe it. We will have to come out and play hard on Thursday [against Wheaton]." Rappoli, a fiery leader who led Tufts to seven straight winning seasons between 1994 and 2000, has taken the Jumbos to two NCAA tournament appearances, and coached them to the ECAC championship in 1996. This Thursday's afternoon home game against Wheaton should allow Tufts an opportunity to gain momentum without much risk. The non-conference contest against the 6-8 Lyons provides the Jumbos with an opportunity to improve upon their 4-7 overall record, without worrying about the fallout from a NESCAC loss. On top of working on their overall record, Tufts' is 1-4 in weekday games and the upcoming game grants the Jumbos a chance to work out the midweek kinks.

---