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Portrait of a Young Artist: Dana Price

April 16

The Student Artist this week is Dana Price. She is an accomplished musician despite facing adversity. Price began her musical career playing piano when she was four-years-old and the violin when she was ten. "I just loved the violin, I guess that's why I started," she said. Apparently, Price had to beg her mother for years to let her get lessons. Price attended a performing arts high school where she played violin in the orchestra, for which she was the concertmistress and president. She qualified to play in the Florida All-State orchestra for six years in a row. And during middle school and high school, she won solo competitions on the piano and the violin. Price made her professional debut when she was a soloist with the St. Lucie Chorale, a professional orchestra in Florida. At Tufts, Price continued her musical involvement, playing piano in a chamber group and violin in the orchestra. Last year, she won the Music Department's solo competition. Price's musical career was threatened, however, when she got into a serious car accident last semester and shattered part of her left hand. Since she could no longer play the piano or violin, Price decided pursue a new instrument: the voice. She takes voice lessons and made it into the a capella group, sQ!, this semester. The Daily was able to sit down with this incredible, soon-to-be-world-famous musician for an interview. Daily: What musicians have inspired you the most? Price: When someone lives and breathes music they project this amazing, intense aura. Any musician that can get to that point inspires me. Daily: What has been your biggest musical thrill? Price: When I can get together with a friend or another musician and just play, sing, jam, or whatever together. You just connect on a whole different level and share something so personal. It's the greatest feeling. Daily: Can you play "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"? Half drunk? How high? Price: You're the millionth person to ask me. I can play it. Daily: Can you play it with your eyes closed? >Price: I'm sure I could do it with my eyes closed. Daily: Half drunk? Price: I've never played drunk. Daily: How high? Dana: Why don't you call me up on Thursday night? Daily: If you had one opportunity to play with any band, orchestra, musician, who would it be and why? Price: Edgar Meyer is the best upright bass player EVER. He plays the most ridiculous pieces on his bass (check out Zigeunerweisen, a violin piece by Sarasate). He's so versatile, he plays classical, folk, jazz... anything. He's too cool for words. Or Jeff Buckley (if he was still alive). He's so intense and passionate. They're both too cool. Daily: What is involved in being a concertmistress and why the name? Price: I nod my head a few times before a rehearsal or concert to tune the orchestra, I lead my section, I change/fix bowings, I keep those rowdy violins in order, you know... stuff like that. Why concertmistress? It's better than concertmaster. Daily: What makes a piece of music beautiful? >Price: Soul. After you've practiced and have all the technical stuff down, everthing's gotta come straight from the soul.

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News

Bush's tax cut

April 16

As the war in Iraq comes to an end, we can now safely shift our attention to other pressing, and no less distressful issues. Here's something to consider. During the past months, President Bush has been trying to push through Congress the newest component to his fiscal agenda: a big tax cut of $726 billion. The tug of war between the executive and legislative branches has already begun. There is strong resistance from the Democratic Party and among some moderate Republican leaders to Bush's tax cutting policy. Consequently, the US Senate recently proposed to slash the tax cut by half to a more prudent $350 billion. On Tuesday, the President made a counteroffer, which would lower his proposal to $550 billion. Negotiations will continue for some time, and the actual tax cut that Americans would receive could very well approach $550 billion, which is certainly not as high as the president initially proposed, but is large enough for him to claim victory. "So why does this matter anyway?" -- You might rightfully ask. To be sure, fiscal policy is not nearly as exciting as, say, war. But the possible consequences of this tax cut, under the current economic environment will definitely be far-reaching and will affect ordinary Americans in a more direct manner than the Iraqi war has. Since 2001, the economy of the United States has suffered greatly, and so far it has not yet recovered. An otherwise natural downturn in the business cycle was worsened by the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, and a shameful series of corporate scandals that stained investors' confidence in the stock market. Over the past two years, more than two million jobs have been lost in this country, raising the unemployment rate to 5.8 percent -- the highest it has been in a decade. People are really having a hard time keeping their jobs, not to mention finding a job. If you want to make a first-hand assessment of the current economic climate just ask any senior here at Tufts about his or her employment prospects. The long neglected economy needs fixing ASAP and Bush is certainly feeling the heat. His economic team thinks this tax cut will provide the necessary stimulus for the economy to get it back on track. Bush, more than anyone, knows that failing to provide economic relief soon enough will spell trouble for him in November 2004. Yes, the presidential election is not too far away, and we all know what can happen to a popular and victorious commander in chief if the economy isn't working. Is George W. walking in the same direction, which led his own Dad to electoral defeat? D?©ja vu? W certainly hopes not. The problem, however, is that it is far from clear as to whether this tax cut will provide the stimulus the economy needs. Furthermore, these massive tax cuts will almost certainly translate into dangerously high public deficits for the next decade. We could be seeing a lot of red ink in the near future with annual deficits running as high as $400 billion for the next ten years. Not long ago, in the years of our economic bonanza, projections of budget surpluses for years to come seemed to guarantee protection for such programs as Social Security and Medicare. But a combination of a recession with the first phase of Bush's tax cuts quickly vaporized those projections. The rewards of sound fiscal discipline were squandered in the first two years of the Bush administration. Congressional leaders, as well as, leading economists question the wisdom of pursuing another gigantic tax cut precisely in a time when budget projections seem so dire. Large deficits are hardly a good thing, and they have to be reckoned with sooner or later. For one thing, government borrowing could have a crowding out effect, thereby pushing interest rates upward for private loans. This in turn could further slow down economic activity over the next years. The short-term gains of putting money back into people's pockets might be offset by the negative impact of large deficits such as the ones this country experienced during the 1980's. Additionally, the costs of the current war with Iraq and the subsequent reconstruction of that country are anyone's guess. These costs could severely worsen the deficit projections. Is it really prudent to starve the government of badly needed resources precisely at a time when the country is embarked on a military campaign that can last for years? Is it wise to place the government on a path of future deficits precisely at a time when State governments across the nation are facing some of the most worrisome fiscal crises in decades? Is it fair to cut back on badly needed social programs, including benefits for veterans, so that the wealthiest Americans benefit from a large tax cut? The answer to these questions could be no, and not because tax cuts are bad; it just may not be the right time to do it.

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News

In response to column on sexuality

April 16

Amber Madison's recent column ("Breasts, Sex, and Power" 4/9/3 Tufts Daily) impressed me with its emphasis on self-respect and self-comprehension. Women notoriously have very complex relationships with their bodies and most of us struggle with body image and self-esteem issues at some point in our lives, but these topics warrant discussion on a college campus perhaps more than anywhere else because it is such a sexually charged environment. For many women, college is a time to experiment with personal sexuality and also an opportunity to learn about the power that accompanies it, ranging from the choices we make about how to dress to the decisions we make about whether to "flash our tits" on spring break. I appreciated her pro-nudity, anti-sexism stance on exhibitionism and the fact that she addressed a difficult and complicated topic. I was disappointed, however, with the examples of "controlling your sexuality" that the column proposes in the last paragraph. I completely agree with the idea of "being sexy when you want to, not at the request of others" but I firmly believe in the importance of not only controlling when you feel sexy but also how you feel sexy. It is important to understand that true sexuality has less to do with the clothes you wear than with the woman beneath them. "It's about learning to make your sexuality about you, not about them"... or what you're wearing, for that matter. To some people, controlling one's own sexuality means "having shaved legs, even if no one else touches them." But I know plenty of women (and men, for that matter) who consider unshaven very sexy. Wearing "lacy black thongs" can make a woman feel powerful and sexual, but we should feel that way in white cotton granny panties, too. Recognizing and accepting your own sexuality requires an examination of the society that has determined that shaven legs and lacy thongs are sexier than unshaven legs and cotton undies. While the majority of the column encourages each woman to define and express her sexuality as she sees fit, the examples of "controlling your sexuality" in the last paragraph reinforce narrow confines for female sexuality. To me, controlling my sexuality means defying society's preconceived notions of what it is. No one should feel that they can take my sexuality away from me, but neither should I internalize someone else's ideas of what it means for me to assert myself sexually. I believe in feeling as sexy in sweatpants as I feel in a miniskirt, as radiant in an oversized t-shirt as in a cleavage-baring tank top. I am not suggesting a mass movement to ban low-cut shirts; on the contrary, sometimes it feels awesome to wear one with confidence. As opposed to narrowing the definition of what sexuality can and cannot be, I hope to broaden it to include anything and everything that makes an individual feel good for all the right reasons. Because while dressing up can be a great expression of sexuality, taking a risk and confidently wearing something that's unusual, or something that's just plain comfortable, is the greatest indicator of a woman who appreciates the multitude of possibilities that come with controlling your sexuality. Kimberly Bullock is a senior majoring in English and Spanish.

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News

Geller and men's ultimate frisbee team hope to repeat last year's success

April 16

Since last year, the Tufts ultimate frisbee team, the Elephant Men, has playfully been divided into a "weird team" and a "normal team." Junior Zach "Snatch" Geller, who has played ultimate since his freshman year, is captain of the weird team. Geller is also ridiculed by his teammates for being high strung, although he vehemently denies this accusation. "When I was a freshman, I was a huge head case," Geller said. "Every time I messed up, I'd curse a lot or freak out. I don't do that anymore, but my team still says I do. I was just sort of branded as a 'head case' and it's not fair." Such light-hearted chiding is typical of the entire team, which calls itself the E-Men. The team's roster posted on its website lists a nickname for each player. Such names include Beef, Dad, El Guapo, Tall, Mickey Marbles, and Dick. Geller, or Snatch, said these nicknames often recall an embarrassing moment or some humorous trait of the player. Upperclassmen bestow the names upon freshman players, and "the more you resist a nickname, the more it sticks," Geller said. While it may be questionable whether the nicknames and teasing are always made in good taste, any deriding is certainly done in good humor. As a result, the atmosphere on the team is relaxed and fun. "We are each other's best friends so we always have a good time," Geller said. "But when we're on the field, it's about winning." Over the coming long weekend, the E-Men look for victory at the Boston sectionals tournament. As the host team, Tufts will have the advantage of playing on the familiar turf of Cousens Field on Saturday and Sunday. Harvard, MIT, and BU will likely be among their toughest competitors. After sectionals, the E-Men will compete in the New England Regionals, to be held on May 4, where they hope to hit the apex of their season. Placing in the top three at Regionals would assure the team a fourth consecutive trip to nationals. Last year, Tufts dominated in the regional tournament. "On that Saturday, we rolled over teams, we were peaking," Geller said. "Sunday, we played Brown in the finals. They are always a solid team -- the superpower of our region." Nevertheless, the E-Men came together in what Geller called one the team's greatest moments. Tufts beat Brown decidedly in the finals, ensuring a bid at nationals. The E-Men followed up their exciting regional victory with a fifth place finish at Nationals in Spokane, WA. The high point of the tournament for the entire team came not with their success on the field, but when last year's senior captain Mike Zalisk was announced as the recipient of the 2002 Callahan Award, an honor bestowed upon the best ultimate player in the country. Despite the loss of Zalisk to graduation, along with some other key members of last year's squad, the E-Men have not paused for a rebuilding year. Powered by a mixture of experience -- from upperclassmen and those members who played competitively in high school -- and constant improvement from those players who began their ultimate careers here at Tufts, the team has upheld its reputation for strength, skill, and intensity this season. Each year, some players are shifted up from the B team, known affectionately as the "B-Men," and Geller, who played for the B-Men as a freshman, says that this system is an asset to the Tufts ultimate program. Although he admits that he was initially "bummed" not to make the A team his first year, in hindsight, Geller is happy about his team placement. Being on the B-Men allowed him to greatly improve at the game, since he received a lot more playing time than he would have on the A team. "I think I'm a really good product of the Tufts program," Geller said. Geller moved up to the A squad as a sophomore, but did not receive much playing time until this year. "Now I'm a junior and we've graduated a lot of players, so now it's my time to start and to be an important player," Geller said. "I'm definitely not our most valuable player and I'm not our most skilled player, but now I can play right up against other college teams because of the good Tufts system." Throughout his three-year progression as an ultimate player, Geller has drawn on two of his strengths: his speed and height. These qualities are especially advantageous at Geller's position, deep, which he compared to a wide receiver in football. It is Geller's job to get in the end zone faster than opposing players and to catch the frisbee for goals. In ultimate, defenders typically match up against the opposing team's offense by height. At 6'3", Geller is used to being covered by his opponent's tallest players. "The majority of players that are taller aren't very fast. So the people guarding me are usually goons," he said. "I use my speed to get open and score goals." Geller feels that having a good knowledge of how his team plays is also important. "We have a really specific style of offense that involves knowing the timing and our different plays, so I always make sure to think about the game a lot and visualize what I have to do so I'm well prepared mentally," Geller said. Given the hefty amount of time that Geller puts into ultimate both on and off the field, it's impressive that he still has time for other activities, albeit in limited quantities. Geller enjoys his role as a tour guide, and looks forward to leading his second Wilderness Orientation trip next August. "It's not like I had to give anything up, but my time is filled and I'm very happy to be doing what I do," Geller said. "I think that's the way it is with most of the guys on the A team." The E-Men travel to tournaments most weekends in the fall and spring and practice three days a week. By all accounts, the players genuinely enjoy the time they put into the game and their team. The tight-knit camaraderie of the E-Men is evident both on and off the field. Their friendships and knowledge of each other as players translate into smooth transitions from offense to defense and the execution of seamless plays. Their close bond, mutual respect, and team pride are equally apparent. "We're just a fun bunch of guys," Geller said. "Our motivation comes from us and we're really driven and work hard. We're all really committed to the team, and we like to play and we like to win." Frequent e-mails circulate among the team and its coach, Tufts alum Jeff Brown. No one hesitates to praise, offer inspiring words, or give critical advice. In these e-mails, the word "TEAM" is always written in all capital letters, reflecting the E-Men's unique cohesiveness and the significance they place on being a tightly bonded unit. "That's the kind of TEAM we are," Geller said proudly. "That's the way we'll win."

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News

Mead, Newsom nominated for presidency

April 15

In a meeting last night marked by a serious discussion of the issues and a little bit of nudity, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate nominated Senators Randy Newsom and Joe Mead to challenge each other in the 2003 presidential race. Though both candidates expressed hopes that this year''s presidential campaign would focus on the issues, several senators suggested that there were few tangible differences between Mead''s and Newsom''s platforms. Voters will chose between the candidates in an online election next Wednesday. Mead and Newsom both cited the importance of instituting need-blind admissions, becoming involved with the planned expansion of the campus center, and working with the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience. The small meeting, which traditionally allows for the formal nomination of candidates and the announcement of individual platforms, began unconventionally this year when Stacy Ulrich, a member of the Committee on Student Life (CSL), streaked the assembly. "I can guarantee you that this is the first time we''ve ever had a streaker at a meeting," Newsom said. Despite the unexpected opening, the candidates quickly refocused their attention to communicating their platforms to the senators and culture representatives assembled at the meeting. Newsom spoke first and identified his "biggest goal" as turning the TCU Senate into a resource available to every student. For quick, short-term results, Newsom advocated Senate involvement in small projects such as extending fitness center hours on Saturday nights and altering dining hall hours to more closely fit students'' schedules. Newsom''s long-term goals include working with the administration to change the alcohol policy and the block schedule, bringing more alumni back to campus, and connecting Tufts'' undergraduate and graduate constituencies. Additionally, Newsom proposed restructuring future orientations so that guides would explain not only where services and staff were located, but also what they do. This change would shift students'' focus from merely "navigating Tufts to [knowing] how to use Tufts as a resource," Newsom said. Mead also identified student outreach as his primary goal and pointed out his aptitude for the presidency with references to his service on several organizations'' executive boards and on many Senate committees. "As Senate president, it''s all about work," Mead said. "It''s all about what you can do for the students." Among Mead''s proposed services for students are recruiting more restaurants and shops to the Merchants on Points System (MOPS), which currently allows students to purchase food from several local restaurants using Dining Dollars and Points Plus. Mead also hopes to improve Senate management of projects by developing a more involved training session for new members. But a few senators were wary of the candidates'' promises, and inquired about what they had accomplished this year to reach out to student groups and different communities on campus. Both Newsom and Mead assured that while they had not reached out to every group yet, they fully planned to if elected president. Mead and Newsom, who are also both brothers in fraternities, both mentioned the need to improve communication between the administration and members of the Greek system. "It is clich?© that the administration tells the Greek system that it isn''t living up to its standards," Mead said. He advocated more Senate involvement with administrators and suggested that members of the Greek system set more definitive guidelines for behavior. Newsom agreed that the Greek system was in need of change, though not using the current methods. "We can''t have an administration that only talks about the Greek system when disciplinary action is needed," he said. "The Senate needs to take a more active role in making the Greek system safe not only for the people within the system but also for those outside of it." The candidates do differ in their proffered solutions to the outreach problem, however. While Mead fully supports the recently-proposed outreach bylaw that would divide the student body into groups personally assigned to one senator, Newsom feels that the bylaw may be too limited and stressed the need to develop a more open and approachable Senate. Newsom maintained, however, that he supports the bylaw''s overall concept. Newsom and Mead will address additional issues at an open debate next Tuesday in Hotung Caf?©.

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News

Tufts Symphony Orchestra spring concert rocks

April 15

The magnificent work of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra (TSO) goes far beyond the fancy black attire or the performances on stage. As Malka Sverdlov Yaacobi, the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra and lecturer in the Department of Music, elevated her arms, the audience in Cohen Auditorium on Sunday afternoon held its breath in anticipation. All ears were ready to listen to the Concerto Competition Concert featuring the three talented female competition winners and to witness the hard work of the members of the Symphony Orchestra. Waves of assorted sounds echoed from different instruments as the program began with Finlandia, Op. 9 by Jean Sibelius. Starting with the low hum of the brass section, gradually adding the strings, and finally filling out the sound with clarinets, bass and bells, the Orchestra's beautiful tune resounded throughout Cohen. After their first piece, the Orchestra played Edward Elgar's Cello Concerto in E minor, Op. 85, featuring competition winner, Andrea Spirn. A senior who began playing cello at the age of ten, she played the piece from memorization and hit just about every octave on her cello. Spirn also played with the El Camino Youth Symphony for six years and with whom she toured Italy, Austria, Scotland, and played as a soloist in England. In addition, she participated in the Youth and Music Festival in Vienna and is the recipient of the Mabel Daniels Prize in Music. Bouquets and bravos were handed to Spirn and the Orchestra after her performance. The next piece offered a completely different air, featuring junior Lauren Phillips, a soprano opera singer and another competition winner. Phillips's voice brought a rousing approval from the crowd. A parent of one of the orchestra members said, "She is a wonderful singer, a real natural performer." While the Orchestra performed as her "back-up," she sang Il Barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), all memorized in Italian. Phillips was also recently seen as Mrs. Nordstrom in the Tufts Drama Department's production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, and will be singing in the Tufts Opera Ensemble's performance of Seymour Barab's A Game of Chance. Senior Jane Dechongkit, the final soloist, had the audience wholly engaged when she played Mendelssohn's Piano Concerto No. 1 in G Minor Op. 25. For 15 years, Dechongkit has been playing the piano, with performances at NYU and Carnegie Hall in New York City. She was also a recipient of this year's music award for Outstanding Contribution to Performance. Having heard Dechongkit play piano during performances at Poly Prep, her junior high and high school in Brooklyn, NY, I can attest to Dechongkit's virtuosity as a musician, for I have never seen hands move up and down the keys the way her's do. Therefore, it came as no surprise that Dechongkit and the orchestra played remarkably well together and that she left the stage to a thunder of applause.. Sophomore Violinist Michelle Guarin, co-president of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra, thought the solos were first-rate. "They worked very hard and I was pleased with the performance," she said. Elliot Cless, a freshman violinist added that "People have really done an amazing job in the past month getting the featured performers to play with the whole orchestra." After the soloists and intermission, the group performed Pyoty Ilyich Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5 in E Minor, Op. 64. The opening Andante presented the lowest notes on the clarinets over a string accompaniment. In the following Allegro con anima section, the clarinet and bassoons began, yielding a tone that was optimistic despite its severity, culminating in a climax which brought in the French horn and oboe. The ValseAllegro Modernato, sounded like a waltz and portrayed a jovial mood. The ensuing Allegro Vivace in the Finale left the audience with a triumphant and energetic feeling. With the sounds of the trumpets signifying an end, the performance concluded on an unquestionably high note.

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News

Real education

April 15

Ever since the announcement of a moratorium on classes following the declaration of war on Iraq, the question of whether to discuss the war in the classroom has been on the minds of many members of the Tufts community. Now, with the end of the war drawing near, even former skeptics may agree that those professors who have discussed the war for a portion of class time are to be commended for their commitment to education. Professors such as John Rogers, Jeffrey McConnell, Ronna Johnson, and Jeffrey Berry have proved that studying material within the context of global events is not only interesting, but is also intellectually fruitful. Paying specific attention to the war could only have enhanced the material in Berry's class on "Congress, Bureaucracy, and Public Policy," for example. Likewise, if an English class is described as covering American fiction from 1950 to the present, as Johnson's class is, it is almost unthinkable to neglect the topic of literature in the context of the present war. And thankfully students have, for the most part, responded respectfully and enthusiastically to the attention paid to fusing course material with current events. Similarly, professors in the sciences and mathematics departments who have found ways to connect their course material to current events should be commended for their ability as educators to add new dimension and analysis to the material at hand. Though it can hardly expected that every math, science, or engineering class will find an appropriate way to discuss the war, when the connection exists, it would be beneficial to draw parallels between the classroom and the news. It is a credit to Tufts that even professors in the more technical fields have looked for ways to make that connection happen. Some students have argued that they paid for an education, in which class time is supposed to be used only in the most traditional way. Certainly, it would be irresponsible in most circumstances for professors to veer off track completely, just as it would be negligent for professors to use class time to espouse their own political beliefs with little attention paid to thoughtful discussion. But, as much as students pay for classes they are also paying for the privilege of spending time with Tufts professors, some of the most talented minds in the country. So yes, maybe an hour or two will be "wasted" on discussion of the war, but there is no better place to develop a complete understanding of the global situation than in a university classroom.

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News

New constitution may put campus debate to rest -- for a while

April 15

Students will finally get a chance next Wednesday to vote on reforms to the Constitution that were proposed over three years ago. In March 2000, members of student government met to discuss reforms to the governing document of the Tufts Community Union (TCU). They raised the issues of whether culture representatives should vote, whether nominations for president should be open to the entire student body, and how to clean up wording in the Constitution to prevent election controversies. The new TCU Constitution sponsored by Alison Clarke, Chike Aguh, and Sam Dangremond represents the most comprehensive attempt at reform and compromise of any referendum in recent memory. Both Clarke and Aguh are TCU Senators, while Dangremond is a former editor-in-chief of The Primary Source. But the question remains, given the constant flurry of amendment activity at Tufts, will the compromise last? For the past four years, various students -- some members of student government and others not -- have attempted to change the Constitution because of disagreements whether culture representatives should have the right to vote in the Senate. The new proposed Constitution presents an answer that students who have spoken out on both sides of the issue say they can accept: any student group wishing to have a community representative can petition to put the question on a ballot, and community representatives would be re-approved by the student body every four years. The representatives also can vote on anything but fiscal matters. But given that the voting rights of Senate members who are not elected by the student body has been controversial for longer than even many administrators can remember, it is hard to say whether this year's changes will be enough to pacify critics in the future. "I just think that in two years or so, other senators are going to get upset again, are going to push for voting rights, and are going to set off the whole cycle," sophomore Senator Adam Koeppel said. "I just hope students in the future will remember that it's a compromise and that both sides were happy." The current four culture group representatives who sit on Senate will retain their positions in the new Constitution, but after four years the student body will need to vote on whether these organizations will get to keep their representatives. This guarantees another public argument on the necessity of special representatives to a democratically-elected body. By the time that debate is had in four years, all the students who remember just how major the initial compromise was will have graduated. Additionally, not allowing community representatives to vote on fiscal issues could be a big deal, given that a majority of the votes in Senate are about how it allots the nearly-$1 million student activities budget. That the TCU Constitution is so susceptible to change is not necessarily a bad thing, according to many student government leaders. "Ten years from now, the Constitution probably won't be what the student body needs, because it will be a completely different atmosphere and a completely different student body," Senator and TCU Presidential nominee Joe Mead said. Student government leaders who might have spoken against the document are supporting the new Constitution, simply because of the enormous amount of compromise between different groups and interests that has had to go into it. "I think it's amazing that we have so many different people who put their input in on something and came to an agreement on it," said Senator Randy Newsom, the other presidential candidate. "It's a step in the right direction." According to Clarke, the feedback to the ad hoc constitutional reform committee has been positive. "The fact that so many people came to a compromise makes it a welcome change," Clarke said.

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News

Buy low, sell high to excel in fantasy

April 15

So we're into week three of the season, and everyone in your fantasy league is scrambling to trade. Maybe they've realized that they own too many starters and have a weakness at first base. Maybe their closers aren't closing, and they've panicked and picked up the flavor of the week (who currently seems to be Mike MacDougal or, even worse, Joe Borowski). Some fantasy owners may believe that the events of the first three weeks will determine the next five months; they're ready to bail on Torii Hunter because last year must have been a fluke, and Austin Kearns will now be the cornerstone of their outfield. We're all looking for a little excitement, and even the slow learners in your league have figured things out by now. So, the trade proposals keep coming in. How do you make light of all this? The goal for any trade is to buy low, sell high. Check the values of where your players stand right now, compare that to their pre-season speculated value, and then gauge how to get your team going. You can go to ESPN.com fantasy pages and look at the average draft position of a player compared to his current fantasy rating, or in Yahoo leagues, the Sporting News gives a fluctuating offensive rank of the supposed overall value of a player. Whatever format you use, you know that Vernon Wells is not going to remain a top five fantasy hitter, and you know that Randy Johnson will not finish the season with a plus 4.00 ERA. But, you might want to convince someone that it's true. In fantasy, especially at the beginning of the season when team owners are looking to jump off to a fast start, it's easy to get frustrated with an early slump. A lot of good pitchers have gotten hit hard lately, so look for their team owners to be offering them up. Some starters whose values are looking unnaturally low right now are: Randy Johnson, Curt Schilling, Mark Mulder, Freddy Garcia, Roy Halladay, Tim Hudson, Odalis Perez, Wade Miller, A.J. Burnett, C.C. Sabathia, and, of course, Greg Maddux. For batters, look out for slumpers: Hunter, Manny Ramirez, Magglio Ordonez, Sammy Sosa, Lance Berkman, Mike Piazza, Chipper Jones, Mike Sweeney, Eric Chavez, Ryan Klesko and Mike Cameron. You should want any of these players, and, with the exception of a few, they can all be had. Owners will be fed up with these guys and have them on the table. Take advantage. On the other hand, taking a look at the top of the 5 x 5 (the traditional fantasy categories) player rater, Jose Cruz Jr. is the fourth best fantasy player right now. While Cruz, Jr. has shown decent potential, he hasn't been able to match up good plate discipline with his isolated power over the past few seasons. He likely will not end up a top 50 fantasy player, but some might argue that a little good coaching could turn him into a superstar. If you own Cruz Jr., convince someone that Felipe Alou is the answer, and trade him for one of the players who's underperforming right now -- like say, Maddux. Other batters who are currently benefiting from an upside are Austin Kearns, Carlos Delgado, Preston Wilson, Vernon Wells, Edgar Renteria, Kevin Millar, Mike Lowell, Tim Salmon, and Jason Kendall. These players could all be decent, but for most of them, their ceiling has already been determined. We all know that Renteria will be a solid average/runs/stolen bases guy, but he's not going to be hitting 30 homers. Mike Lowell, also, has been around long enough for us to know that he's not breaking out. Wells and Kearns are a bit younger, so their ceilings are a bit higher and they could end up being strong forces, but they could also be mediocre. There are some hot, young pitchers out there, as well, but it'll be a little bit harder to get anything good for them. Pitchers playing above their average level right now are Runelvys Hernandez, Vincent Padilla, Kris Benson, Brian Lawrence, David Wells, Randy Wolff, and Jeff Suppan. My advice is always to try to trade hot players high for supposed "sure things" rather than waiting to see if they last. Buy low, sell high. It'll take some negotiating skills, but I believe in you. Last year, after Mike Lowell got off to a hot start, I traded him for a slumping Troy Glaus, which eventually turned into a huge gain. Another early deal in my 2002 league was Trot Nixon for Roy Halladay. It's not the early season performances that will have a big impact on your team, but the early season trades that could make or break you. So be smart and recognize potential.

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News

The war of humiliation

April 15

This Viewpoint is about something called pain. And about something called dignity. And something about loss. A friend of mine, a poet, once told me that he wished he could transform his pain as a human being living with the tragedy of war, the destruction of mankind, into a river of words that naturally formed a poem. He told me, in such times, one attempts to do the impossible -- to create; to create from a situation incomprehensible to the mind and heart, from the absolute anti-thesis of normalcy, while being surrounded by constant destruction. This need to create stems from humankind's endeavor to firmly grasp onto their dignity. During this 20 something daylong war on Iraq, I have been feeling so much pain. And I wish I were a poet so I can try to create like my friend. The only rivers I have created are those of tears I have shed; I cannot seem to use to grow and nurture anything. I thought to myself, perhaps my tears are my poems. Nizar Qabbani, an Arab poet, once wrote that a tear is a poem. Why am I writing this? There is a desire in me to share something of my experience with the "liberation" of Iraq -- since I have spent since September on this campus talking about Iraq and her problem. It is my attempt to create something from my pain and from the loss I am feeling. Unlike the images of "victory" that I saw on the screens all last week, neither I nor any Iraqi I know was happy about what we were seeing on television. To me, it was the epitome of horror. Perhaps words of another Iraqi can express it better than I can. Yasmin, an Iraqi woman in NH, wrote this about the "victory" that struck Baghdad. She writes, "Today is a sad day for all the people of Iraq. Baghdad has been raped. The singing and dancing in the streets is a terrible movie. I cannot put it in a better way than my husband, as he has said, 'the American Army and the Bush administration, have used lots of horrible weapons... but the most lethal weapon of all... is the savage people, that they have unleashed in the streets of Baghdad, calling them 'the people of Iraq!' Those people whom you see dancing, were the very same people who used to appear on TV, clapping for Saddam like crazy, when everyone else was against him. They are opportunists who have no principles at all. Always with the winner... and they sell very cheap. Please... you can believe what ever you want, just don't call a bunch of looters and murderers, 'the people of Iraq.'" I am opposed to all the actions that took place in Iraq because to me, peace and justice do not come from the simple removal of Saddam Hussein. The real Iraqi people need to have their dignity restored to them. They need to be allowed to own it. They need to speak and tell their own history. Saddam was simply one robber amongst many in the Iraqi story. And right now, sadly, all of my suspicions and fears about the intentions and actions of the US and Britain have been proven correct. The case of US actions not taken towards the protection of the Iraqi Museum of history serves as a micro-example of the macro approach the US is taking when it comes to the treatment of Iraq and Iraqis. Civilization was ignorantly robbed while the television vomited images of US marines feeding animals at the zoo while hospitals are lacking their protection from looting. Hospitals face more than 100 casualties an hour from the war, all this while people are in need of the restoration of power and electricity, food, and medicine. The message is clear: we care more about the animals. The Museum of History in Iraq is a building representing so much to Iraqis everywhere -- and it should to mankind as well. The NY Times this weekend had a very moving quote by an archaeologist, Mr. Muhammad, as he was called, that perhaps can illustrate what the significance of this place is: "A country's identity, its value and civilization resides in its history. If a country's civilization is looted, as ours has been here, its history ends. Please tell this to President Bush. Please remind him that he promised to liberate the Iraqi people, but that this is not a liberation, this is a humiliation." Why is this building especially important? Let me share this: In the midst of the crippling sanctions of 13 years on Iraq, where an entire population was humiliated by the world, I sat crying one day at the al-Rashid hotel in Baghdad after having experienced a day of death and suffering. Two Iraqi journalists approached me and urged me to stop crying about what was happening in Iraq. The woman, whose name was Nada, told me she would like me to enjoy Baghdad and be assured it was okay. She insisted on taking me to that very museum. To her, this was the jewel that would cause me reassurance. To her, it was the symbol of Iraqi dignity that still remained. My mother always felt that it was in this building that "her heart would open up." This is an Arab expression, "the opening of the heart," the means you feel rejuvenated, relieved, at peace and happy. In a stifling system like Saddam's, such places are rare. Under crippling sanctions, suffocation was even more. But it was here that 7,000 years of my history -- the history of all humans was housed. Here used to be the most precious museums possibly of the whole Middle East! And the images and stories I read of accounts and pleas for protection of the museum by Iraqis who worked there and from scholars from all over the world that were ignored by the administration and the troops on the ground. I am not being sentimentalist. It is the responsibility of a body that comes in and dismantles a system, to restore order and treat people and their land in a dignified manner. The US and UK, as the occupying powers, are obligated under the Geneva Conventions to fix what they destroyed and provide people with the basics. Rather, the intentions of the American troops and administration are quite clear. Of all the buildings that they could have monitored, the universities housing library collections, years of research, that very museum -- of all the buildings containing artifacts of people's dignity, the only one heavily guarded and secured was the Oil Ministry -- a building securing only mankind's lust and greed. All this is but an ounce of the loss Iraqis are going to face in their future. All of the human costs paid by Iraqi civilians and unwilling conscripts alike -- death, grievous injury, loss of family members, destruction of property -- are still being paid. We don't have any idea, yet and may never, of the human toll from this war. And because this war is not about dignity, we never will. Rana Abdul-Aziz is a senior majoring in international relations.

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News

Men's Tennis goes 1-1 over weekend

April 15

A weekend trip to Maine left the men's tennis team back where it started, with a .500 record. The team split its weekend matches with a 2-5 loss to the Bowdoin Polar Bears on Friday and a 7-0 win over the Colby White Mules on Saturday. On Saturday, Tufts was determined to beat the Mules and end its four match losing streak. This resolve started out in singles with a dominating victory by senior co-captain David Ruttenberg, 6-1, 6-2, with sophomore Rifat Perahya following suit with another straight set victory, 6-2, 6-2. Junior Jon Bram, senior co-captain Danny Lang, and junior Adam Yates all cruised through their matches, each winning in straight sets, 7-6 6-0, 6-3, 7-6(6), and 6-3, 6-2 respectively. Sixth seeded freshman Ben Alexander had a little more trouble against Colby sophomore John Fallon, but came out on fire in the third set to take the match, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0. The win extended his team-best singles record to 7-1. While Tufts took the doubles point with wins by the number one team of Ruttenberg/Perahya (8-4) and number three Bram/Jon Rubenstein (8-6), the Mules got their only win of the match as Colby's number two doubles team stole a 9-8 victory over Lang and Yates. Ruttenberg said the team must build off its win over Colby. "Staying positive is the only thing we need to do," he said, "All we are concerned with right now is making regionals." The Jumbos squared off on Friday against the Polar Bears in Brunswick, ME, with Perahya and freshman Ben Alexander continuing to be the team's most consistent players. Perahya won a three set match in the number two spot, 6-2, 1-6, 6-4, to improve his record to 5-2 and Alexander won at the sixth spot, 7-5, 2-6, 7-5, to earn himself a 6-1 record. Ruttenberg lost a close number one singles match 7-5, 6-4 while Bram lost at number three, 7-5, 6-3. Lang and Yates both went down at the four and five seeds, 6-1, 6-2, and 6-2, 6-2 respectively. The Jumbos did not fare any better in doubles against Bowdoin. The Polar Bears took the doubles point with a 3-0 sweep, winning the matches 8-2, 8-4, and 8-5 as they handed Tufts another loss. The team can lock up a spot in the regional tournament with wins over two NESCAC opponents over the next two days. The Jumbos will play a home match today against Trinity and a match tomorrow away at Amherst. "We should win the next two and get into regionals," Ruttenberg said. "We should definitely win. We are a better team than both Trinity and Amherst." Coach Jim Watson wants his team to get sufficient rest going in to its third and fourth matches in seven days. The Trinity match was rescheduled from last weekend, meaning that Watson thinks his team may be tired by the time it gets to Amherst. "The drawback [to rescheduling the Trinity match] is that we play Trinity at home and turn around and go to Amherst the next day," Watson said. He also commented that the frenetic pace of the team's schedule may have lead to defeats at Middlebury and Williams. Should the team qualify for the tournament, Ruttenberg feels that it is very optimistic of its chances. "We can beat every team in the East. The top two teams are MIT and Middlebury and we only lost to both of them 4-3. We just have to turn one match around to win both and make Nationals," Ruttenburg said.

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News

Hey man, nice manicure

April 15

Wake up early, quickly groom and exfoliate, then jet out the door to grab some quality time with the manicurist. After your nails are buffed to perfection, it's time for hair maintenance: your stylist rids your strands of any split ends. After having highlighting foils strategically placed throughout your hair, you look into the mirror. Oh no -- those eyebrows are definitely overdue for some professional attention. After an emergency waxing, you are finally ready for... guys' night out? That's right: the gender of the ambiguous "you" is becoming increasingly male. If students find this shocking, than they probably haven't stepped into any Davis Square salons lately. "We've seen, I'd say, an increase of 20 to 30 percent in men requesting coloring, highlights, or frosting lately," said stylist Franco Ingraiti of Ultima Hair Design in Somerville, which was voted "Best Place to Get a Haircut" in the Daily's 2001 Survey. Ingraiti went on to emphasize that the change isn't stylistic. "The cut men ask for has essentially remained the same," he said. Rather, the influx of men into salons reflects a rising male preoccupation with fine-tuning appearances. Ingraiti also added that a lot of male Tufts students frequent his salon. Manicurist Heather Femia of Square Nails Studio in Davis Square agreed with Ingraiti's observation that males are becoming open to working with their appearances. According to Femia, "men are more open to [manicures and pedicures]" now than they have been at any other point in her 12 years of experience. Femia estimates that up to five percent of her clientele is now male. April's Hair Cutting in Somerville proudly endorses this male movement towards the middle of the gender continuum for traditionally effeminate salon services. The salon has posted a sign on its exterior encouraging men to partake in their body waxing services. The large placard reads: "We do body waxing! Bikini, legs, under arms, facial & arms -- Men and Women!" The sign reflects society's acceptance of increasingly blurred gender roles. Men are finally catching on to a secret woman have possessed forever: one's appearance is an undeniably powerful -- and malleable -- asset. A poor complexion, unruly brows, and ghastly cuticles are not something that one must tolerate. All of these genetic curses can be scrubbed, plucked, or buffed away -- for a price, of course. Men are now reaping the benefits of a society that increasingly disregards preconceived notions of gender stereotypes. This trend is not just the wishful notion of a population of hopeful females: it is, in fact, backed by numbers. A Mar. 17 People article reported that men currently make up 25 percent of the spa-going population. A significant societal change may be able to account for this increased predilection for male pampering. Gender theorist and Professor of Sociology Susan Ostrander offers several possible explanations for the newfound focus on polishing male physical appearance. "Some men may feel less in control of their own lives than they used to," Ostrander said. "So they -- like women -- are seeking to control what they can, namely how they look." Another explanation described by Ostrander as "[her] personal favorite" is that "women like men to look great, and [they] now feel empowered to ask for what [they] want and get it." "I have really calloused hands and could use a manicure," one male University freshman said after being asked if he'd consider going for some professional grooming. "I wouldn't actively think to seek it out, but I wouldn't be embarrassed to try it out." Sophomore Michael Fuerstman said that he'd agree to a facial if he didn't have to pay for the relatively expensive procedure. "I'd rather spend my money on more important things, like beer," Fuerstman said. When pressed, however, Fuerstman conceded that he frequently solicited his girlfriend's assistance in plucking his eyebrows.

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News

Toning your arms: a three step process

April 15

How do we tone the back of our arms?- Three girls from South Hall Exercising your triceps is easier than you think. Your tris work as secondary muscles in virtually all chest exercises, so whenever you go to the gym and do push-ups or get on the machine bench press for three sets of twenty pounds, you are working your triceps along with your chest. If you want to really isolate the back of your arms, here are three simple exercises that will target that area: Triceps Extensions: These can be done with one or two hands. For ease of explanation, I'll assume you have taken a single dumbbell and are going to work both arms at the same time. Start off with light weights until you get the form down well. You can perform this exercise standing or sitting -- that is purely preference. Grab a dumbbell and raise it above your head. Hold it with the palms of both hands facing the ceiling, with the weight held vertically behind your head; in other words, don't hold the weight by the handle. You want to hold the flat plate at the end you're holding to face up. Once you are in the starting position, slowly bend your arms to approximately ninety degrees, and then straighten them. Do not lock your elbows at the top of the movement, this puts undue stress on your shoulders. While you are doing the exercise, concentrate on keeping your elbows as close together as possible -- you don't want your elbows flaring out away from each other. Also, try to keep your elbows as motionless as possible. This helps keep the focus on working the triceps. Triceps Press-Downs: This exercise is done with a cable. Adjust the pulley to its highest point, and attach the v-bar to the pulley (the one shaped like a "V" with flat circles at the end of each point of the "V"). Start by facing the column, back straight, feet about shoulder width apart. The starting position is upper arms at your sides with forearms bent to ninety degrees. Keep your shoulders back, and try not to hunch over the weight as you are doing the exercise -- this takes emphasis off the targeted muscle, and can also lead to injury through improper form. Slowly straighten your arms, keeping your elbows motionless and in tight at your sides. At the end of the movement, it's okay to lock your elbows to give your triceps an extra squeeze. This will help with the overall burn of the exercise. Triceps Kick-Backs: This is a true isolation movement, in that you really don't need heavy weight in order to reap the benefits and feel the burn. This is a one arm at a time exercise, so I will explain it in terms of working the right arm. Grab a light dumbbell and lean over a bench so your upper body is parallel with the floor. Bring your right arm up so it is in line with your body. Bend your forearm so it is perpendicular to the floor. In this starting position, your right arm should be bent at ninety degrees, with your upper arm in line with your torso. Slowly extend your forearm straight back until your elbow locks. Bring your arm back down to the starting position, but no further. Bringing your forearm past ninety degrees starts would incorporate the biceps into the movement, and gives the triceps a rest, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the exercise. This exercise depends on the effort you put into emphasizing the contraction at the top of the movement (when your arm is straight), so make sure you really focus on feeling that squeeze in your triceps. The triceps are fairly easy muscles to work, so you should see some good results with these three exercises. There are also countless variations off these exercises, so you won't get bored. If you have any questions, ask a trainer in the gym, or e-mail me at fitness@tuftsdaily.com.

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News

Anyone could win it. Except the Bruins

April 15

Could this be the age of the underdog? There are no teams walking away with the Stanley Cup just yet, no matter what their expectations were going in to the playoffs. The Anaheim Mighty Ducks are up 3-0 on the Detroit Red Wings. The Edmonton Oilers have a 2-1 lead on the Dallas Stars going into last night's game. And even the New York Islanders are only one game behind at 1-2 against the regular season champion Ottawa Senators. The only underdog that isn't fighting like a champion is the homegrown one, the Boston Bruins. Down 3-0 to the playoff heavyweights New Jersey Devils, possibly knocked out by last night's game, they are sitting in some hot water right now. The Devils went out in the first round against the Carolina Hurricanes last year, and that memory of playoff failure has definitely had an effect on this team. They are playing their defensive system well, especially former playoff MVP Scott Stevens, who is cramming up the middle, preventing half the Bruins shots from getting to the net. And once they do get to the net, it's Martin Brodeur, who has been playing like a man possessed. He stops the breakaways. He stops the rebounds. He stops the deflections. Brodeur in game three was a sight to see, stealing goals away on several good attempts by Boston. Jeff Hackett, who replaced goalie Steve Shields in game three, did not quite meet that level of play. On two New Jersey breakaways, Hackett got completely beat. Luckily for Boston, one of those attempts hit the post, but the second one went right over his glove to get the second goal of the night. The Devils were expected to walk away with this one, so it doesn't surprise too many. What is shocking the hockey world is how the Ducks are playing. Jean-Sebastian Gigure has been an unstoppable force for them in net. His enormous size, along with some beautiful positioning, has allowed him to stop nearly everything while looking like he's going for a Sunday morning skate. The games look incredibly lopsided, with the puck spending most of its time in the Anaheim zone, but that's the way their defensive system is designed to work. Keep the shots from the periphery, and then when Detroit makes mistakes, the Ducks are there to capitalize. Of course, it helps when Curtis Joseph has let in a couple softies, notably the first goal of the game last night. A Stanley Cup goaltender can not do that in the playoffs because it only deflates the team and sets a poor tone for the rest of the game. If there's no faith in the goaltender, then the team is in trouble. Joseph played a little better in the game Monday night, but was outmatched by Gigure across the ice. No matter what you think of the Red Wings, do you really think they're good enough to come back from a 3-0 deficit, something only the '42 Toronto Maple Leafs and the '75 Isles have ever been able to accomplish? Despite being up 3-0, Anaheim would do well to remember last year's first round series between Detroit and the Vancouver Canucks. Vancouver won the first two in Detroit, then proceeded to lose four straight to the eventual Stanley Cup Champions. Anaheim will be less likely to have the type of defensive breakdowns that Vancouver did last year, but the danger of Detroit and its All-Star cast are ever-present. The other series that has a good chance of going the way of the upset is Dallas-Edmonton. And the prime reason for that concern is the way Marty Turco played in net Sunday night. Going into the third period of game 3, Dallas was up 1-0. For a team that prides itself on defensive responsibility, the game did not end well. Turco was scored on three times in three minutes, to give Edmonton the win 3-2. The loss is not the concern. The concern is that Turco, a playoff newbie after a record-breaking first season, fell apart. All three goals in the third period went five-hole, which has got to get in a goalie's head. By the end of the third, every Edmonton player was trying to get the puck through Turco's legs. A champion caliber goalie does not breakdown like that. To be fair, Tommy Salo at the other end of the ice was lucky, lucky, lucky. But it doesn't matter if your goalie is going to give up three goals late in the game. What kind of confidence can your team have if they feel that no matter how well they play, their goalie is going to blow it in the final minutes? A team that has to be feeling frustrated right now is the Minnesota Wild. After winning the first game, they have not been able to figure out Patrick Roy in games two and three. In game three, they would dominate the Colorado Avalanche for lengths of time. But Roy would save his team, and the Avs would come back immediately and score. The idea that your best is not good enough does not create confidence in a young team like the Wild, who are in the middle of their first playoff series in franchise history.

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News

Un-Interested?

April 15

Virtually all of Western social science is based on the rationality of the individual -- the idea that an individual always acts in his or her best interest, narrowly defined. Far from destructing society, many thinkers have proposed that self-interest in fact maximizes social welfare; that aggregated self-interests make a social interest. This kind of thinking led to the claim that democratic countries are less prone to go to war than un-democratic ones. Since the working class generally pays most of the costs of modern warfare, it would be in their interest to oppose war, in general. Democracy gives the working class a forum to express their views and the power to act on them. The cost calculus has not changed. It is still the working class that is paying the cost of this war in Iraq. The soldiers who are risking their lives are not graduates of private universities such as this one. That front line is much different from the "front line" against terrorism, the 3,000 that died in the World Trade Center. But thinking about America today, and reading opinion polls, the working class is much more favorable towards the war than the upper class. Where's the one place where you are always sure to find an American flag? On a construction vehicle. I don't think I've seen a construction truck since September 11 without a flag either painted on the side or attached to the hood. Meanwhile, universities, particularly private, elite, universities, are full of anti-war sentiment. There's probably a contingent of silent supporters of the war, but even so, here at Tufts, general opinion seems to be anti-war, and the same would be true at most similar institutions. This is why university students and professors can't understand how polls can show support for President Bush and the war in Iraq. After all, everybody they've talked to is against the war. The reason is that the lower portions of the income bracket, irrationally, are in favor of the war. I don't know if I can even count the number of times in the last two months I've heard professors or fellow students call for democracy in Iraq in order to empower the Iraqi population, and ridicule the stupidity of the general public in America in the same breath. Democracy is rule of the majority. It does not guarantee that everyone will agree with you, and you still have to live by their decision. Even if they're stupid. Why would the American working class act and vote in opposition of its interests? There is a duo of ideologies at work that I believe is much stronger among blue collar workers than among white collar ones. The first is religion, the second is patriotism. Living on a college campus, it is difficult to remember and understand how religious this country is. Forty-six percent of Americans describe themselves as evangelical or born-again Christians. These Christians are keen on human rights and are willing to support a war to "liberate" Iraq once they are shown the regime's transgressions. This is the same group that wanted to revoke China's MFN(Most Favored Nation) trade status in the early Clinton years because of its human rights violations. Those outside the Ivory Tower are also determined in their patriotism, especially once a war has started. I even found on the Web (http://www.conknet.com/~mmagnus/PatriotDemog.html) a survey someone had done, counting the proportion of flags flying outside houses in a given neighborhood in February 2002. This is what she found: Total houses counted -- 892. Total houses displaying American flags -- 391 or 44percent. Houses in upper class neighborhoods displaying flags -- 2/36 which is six percent. Upper middle class houses displaying flags -- 160/486 which is 33 percent. Lower middle class houses displaying flags -- 229/370 which is 72 percent. The sample size isn't huge, but it's large enough to see that there is a strong correlation between income and flag-waving. Flag display may not necessarily be a good indication of "patriotism." Maybe people in upper-class neighborhoods think that putting a flag outside their house is tacky. In any case, I don't mean to question the patriotism or loyalty of those who don't show their colors on their doorstep. I only want to show that patriotism is especially strong in lower and lower middle classes. People are not always rational in their opinions and decisions. In America, we see that people's faith in their religion or their country can outweigh their own self-interest. That's not necessarily a bad thing. In Iraq, the opposite is occurring -- people are looting their country's national treasures for personal gain (in an entirely rational way). But we should be careful that our support for wars remains based on rational calculation, even if our determination and will come from love of God and country.

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News

Classroom current events discussions fruitful, profs say

April 15

As the war in Iraq winds down professors of many disciplines are finding ways to incorporate discussions on the war and current events into their classrooms. Some professors have held discussions in lieu of participating in the boycott on classes that was held on Mar. 24. Professor John Rogers, currently teaching "Gandhi and Mandela" and "Gender and Imperialism in South Asia," had his classes read war stories and drew parallels between the British-dominated world of the past and the American-dominated world of the present. "When current events are relevant, I try to bring them in only briefly," Rogers said. "In extraordinary times like this, we go further." Some professors have found recent events to be an even easier fit with their curriculum, such as political science Professor Jeffrey Berry. Berry devoted a period of his class "Congress, Bureaucracy, and Public Policy" to students' responses to a number of questions about the war. Professors from disciplines with less obvious ties to the war and its political impacts have also found ways to incorporate discussion into their curriculums. Though philosophy Professor Jeffrey McConnell said he often uses examples from current events in class, he is considering adding more material on the war to one of his fall courses. "In times of war, it's very difficult to be conducting classes in a vacuum," he said. Some classes have undergone more drastic changes to their classes as a result of the war, such as English Lecturer Ronna Johnson's class "American Fiction from 1950 to the Present." After consulting with her students, Johnson decided to change the last book of the course to The Things They Carry, a 1990 memoir written by Tim O'Brien, a student who was drafted to fight in Vietnam. Johnson made sure to fit her change with the chronology of the course, she said, but wanted to share the perspective of her generation with students. "As an educator, and as someone who has lived through domestic war [the war with Vietnam], I have information that I can share with students," Johnson said. But not all students have gained the benefit of this type of teaching, nor do all of them think it is appropriate. "While discussion is very important, I don't think an engineering class or math class or economics class is really the proper venue," freshman engineering student Aaron Held said. "People are paying for their educations, class time is valuable, and classes are already behind." Another engineering student, freshman Daniel Trichon, agreed. "I'm here to learn, I'm not here to discuss the war. [People should] do it on their own time, not when I'm paying for it," he said. According to Berry, however, most students are very appreciative for the chance to have classroom discussions about current world issues. "What struck me is that students weren't on one side or the other," Berry said. "For the most part, they acknowledged that this is an issue of real complexity and there aren't simple, easy answers to problems on terrorism." But Rogers was surprised by the lack of opposing viewpoints manifested in his discussions. "I was surprised that I wasn't able to get any students to defend the war," he said. Many students have been pleased that professors have taken time to address current events, though. "I find taking real-life events and applying them to class to be relevant and to be very important to the goal of the class," freshman Jos?© Vazquez said about his "Public Opinion and Foreign Policy" class. Freshman Patrick Mahoney, who takes both "American Fiction from 1950 to the Present" and "Gandhi and Mandela," said the war was relevant to both disciplines. "If there's a connection to be made, it should be made," he said. "Why are you learning anything if you're not going to apply it to your life?"

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News

Porn and sexuality

April 15

Last Thursday night when all of my friends were out to bars, I stayed in and watched porn. I had intended to write about how pornography is unrealistic and demeaning, but after two hours of '80s techno and repair men, I've come to the conclusion that maybe porn isn't that bad after all. I'm not about to go out and buy the full boxed set of Anal Adventures, but I do think pornography has gotten a bad rep, and not necessarily for legitimate reasons. Sure porn sex is a little idealized, but I'd argue that it's much closer to the truth than the sex scenes in most R rated movies. The typical Hollywood sex scene shows a man and a woman romping under the covers and breathing heavily. During this passionate love making the man's hands gravitate towards the breasts, the hair, or anything to make the scene more dramatic. So unless our Hollywood stud has an extra growth above his Johnson, I think it's safe to assume that the woman's clitoris is completely neglected. Now, the unrealistic part isn't the clitoral neglect (I'm sure it happens quite often), but the breathy "ah... ahh... ahhhhh... I love you" orgasm that follows. Given the fact that most women need clitoral stimulation in order to get off, I guess I feel like the woman should be breathing "ah... ahh... touch me" instead. In a porn on the other hand, the clitoris gets as much attention as the breasts. Whether through masturbation, oral sex, or a sex toy, I can't think of one porn I've seen that didn't show direct clitoral stimulation. SO when the porn women sound like a banshee when she orgasms, I don't doubt the authenticity of her moans. Hell, if all men were that gifted with their tongue I bet the number of un-orgasmic women in the world would drop drastically. It may not be normal that men are that gifted, but given their gift, I don't find the woman's reactions implausible. The most unrealistic part of a porn is its plot. But man, I'd argue that the plots are also the best part of any porn. You have to admire the simplicity in which problems are handled... "You didn't have the manuscript I wanted? No worries, lets bang!"... "I'm so horny, and my husband is at work! Guess I'll finger the chick next door."... "What? You slept with my girlfriend? Problem solved, I'll screw your wife." Much of the anti-porn movement is based on the view that it is demeaning to women. Based on the porn that I've seen, I don't think this is true at all. The thing about porn is that it de-emotionalizes sex. The man and woman fornicating in the nudy flick do so for no other reason than to get off. The men use the women in the same way that the women use the men. To argue that it objectifies women, but not men supports the stereotype that the only pleasure women find in sex is through the emotional aspects, not the physical ones. Not only do I believe that porn doesn't harm women, but I think that in some ways it leaves women better off. It's a great instructional tool for teenaged boys who might otherwise be perplexed by that thing some call "the vagina." How else would they have the chance to get up close and personal and learn the tricks of the trade before the real thing? And although nothing can beat hands on experience, it's nice to have at least watched a detailed account of what one should be doing. Meanwhile, the R rated movie advises boys to get under the covers and do push ups until their girlfriend whispers she loves them. My biggest complaint to the porn industry is that it very rarely uses condoms. I find this unethical for the actors and a bad example for the viewers. But then again, I can't really think of that many times condoms are used in R rated sex scenes either. There's porn out there that is horrible and violent, but it's not the majority. All of the attention that porn gets for being sexist and promoting violence towards women is, in my mind, wasted effort. You can spend your time scouring through millions of porn videos, find the sickest ones and attack the industry based on that. Or you could turn on Kiss 108, the number one radio station in Boston and hear Matty from The Morning Show joke about date rape. And then in the afternoon watch General Hospital, a popular soap opera that features Laura, who fell in love with Luke, after he raped her. If you want to point fingers at something promoting violence against women, look to the mass media, not pornography. Nudy flicks may not be your thing -- they're not mine either -- but they're also not the downfall of healthy sexual relations.

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News

Balls'

April 15

A packed Goddard Chapel was chock-full of energy as members from the Amalgamates -- Tufts' oldest co-ed a cappella group on campus -- performed their spring show on Friday evening. Before singing, the 'Mates opened up with a humorous and original skit in order to animate the crowd and get the "ball" rolling. The theme of the opening act was that Colin Simson, a senior member of the 'Mates, could not find his "balls," and the performance would not be able to commence without them. One of the 'Mates acted as John Travolta and was about to throw a disco ball until three other 'Mates, dressed up as fruit, offered Simson some "melon balls." After the 'Mates stirred up the audience enough, Simson found the actual "balls" he was looking for and the performance began. The first tune produced a soothing atmosphere in contrast to the vigorous tone set in the beginning skit. Sophomore 'Mate, Jessica Sutton, the opening soloist performing Evanescence's song, "Bring Me to Life," enchanted the crowd with her soft and poised voice. A student visiting from Harvard Law commented that, "the group really has some musical ears; the singing is unbearably good." The crowd's faces seemed to concur with this outlook. The 'Mates second song, "Friday I'm in Love," by The Cure, was performed by junior soloist Josh Benham (who sang the entire song in a British accent). Although the next tune differed in tone and liveliness from Benham's bubbly beat, the quality of both song choice and soloist was still remarkable. As sophomore soloist, Liz Macari sang, "Wild Horses," she "dragged the crowd away" and according to a sophomore Ani Bagdasarian, "She almost brought tears to my eyes." The 'Mates' voices resonated throughout the Chapel and caused a harmonious rhythm and sweetness to all ears. Simson, known to recreate hard-rock tunes, partially due to his percussion experience, was the soloist for the next song, "Everlong," by the Foo Fighters. His radical head bobbing motion made the crowd dizzy and some of his fellow 'Mates are even surprised that his head is still attached to his neck. Sophomore soloist Anna Vodika led the group in harmony and mesmerized the crowd with Fleetwood Mac's song, "Rhiannon." Junior Pete Coombs and freshman Matt Reveley executed the daunting task of singing REM's "End of the World (As We Know It)," a song swamped with a rapid string of tongue-tying words that require one large breath of air. The similarity between REM and the 'Mates version was striking and the boys' ability to not only to memorize, but to perform such a difficult song was impressive. The Amalgamates also invited the a cappella group, The Johns Hopkins Allnighters, a diverse group of ten guys dressed in snazzy vests and ties, to partake in their show. Some of their songs included Green Day's "Welcome to Paradise," Vertical Horizon's "Best I Ever Had (Grey Sky Morning)" and Dispatch's "The General." Sophomore Kate Hoffman believed the Allnighters "were really full of energy. I've been going to 'Mates concerts for the past two years and this was, by far, my favorite." The impressiveness of the show can be attributed to the members' adoration for what they do. "We just love to sing, and we have so much fun doing it," Macari sad. Ending with several uplifting commemorative speeches from fellow 'Mates about three departing seniors, the audience was able to see the passion the Amalgamates possess for their singing. Each senior sang a solo after he or she was spoken about, and their collective passion for singing was appreciated by the audience through a standing ovation for their performance.

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News

SARS jeopardizes China, Hong Kong abroad programs

April 14

The University is allowing Tufts students studying abroad in Asia to return to the United States in the wake of the SARS outbreak. Ten Tufts students are currently studying abroad on the spring Tufts-in-Hong Kong program, of which a few have returned home. "We have authorized their voluntary departure," Associate Dean for Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne said. Bayne's office is also considering suspending its study abroad programs in Asia, including the fall-only Tufts-in-China program in Hangzhou. But for now officials are watching the development of SARS, which stands for severe acute respiratory syndrome. "We are monitoring the situation from a medical perspective on a daily basis," Bayne said. In the meantime, the five students planning to participate in Tufts-in-China have been advised to plan for the possibility that the program will be cancelled. "They have been informed that they should register for classes here in Medford," Bayne said. The fate of the program will be decided on June 13. Other American colleges and universities face the same dilemma as Tufts. According to a New York Times report last week, study abroad programs in Hong Kong and China through Syracuse University, the University of Michigan, and Indiana University Bloomington have all been cancelled. The University of Pennsylvania, however, has allowed its students in Hong Kong and China to stay. Though SARS has generated panic throughout Southeast Asia, the "mystery flu" has infected fewer than 3,000 people, with a mortality rate of 3.5 percent, according to Dr. Sherwood Gorbach, a professor of family medicine and community health at the Tufts School of Medicine. There have been no deaths reported in the United States, and most deaths from SARS have been among elderly people, he said. Gorbach agrees with the University's decisions on the Hong Kong and China programs. "We don't know what's going on in China," Gorbach said, referring to the allegations that Chinese officials have attempted to cover up the true scope of the epidemic. "It's really quite prudent to wait until we see what's happing." Until more information surfaces about SARS, the University should not force the students currently in Hong Kong to return, Gorbach said. "The numbers are not so high that they would demand a return home," he said. "It is a personal choice." By allowing students the option to stay or return, "the University is taking an extremely reasonable stand," Gorbach said. SARS will also keep some students from returning home to Asia this summer, including freshman Sonia Mak, a resident of Hong Kong. Her parents will not visit her either because of the forced quarantine policy for people suspected of carrying SARS. Even though her parents may not experience the symptoms, Mak said her parents could be carriers of the disease and transmit it to her. People who have contracted SARS experience symptoms similar to those of the flu -- fevers above 100.5 degrees and respiratory symptoms such as coughing and shortness of breath. According to Gorbach, the virus can survive for an average of four days, but up to ten days, before the infected person has any of the symptoms. Doctors and scientists are struggling with ways to control the spread of SARS, but they have yet to find a fully reliable method to prevent contraction. "You can wear a mask, you wash your hands [but] there's no real way to prevent it," Gorbach said. SARS is spread primarily through airborne droplets. Unless the case is extremely severe -- in which case the person with the disease is given assisted breathing, broad spectrum antibiotics, and corticosteroids -- infected people are "usually put in a hospital for observation to see that they're not going to progress to more severe circumstances," Gorbach said.

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News

Construction on solar powered residence set to begin

April 14

The construction of the new solar-powered residence hall is slated to begin this summer. The dorm, a 55,000 square foot building located between Professors Row and Talbot Avenue, will house 150 students and integrate the latest in energy-efficient technologies. The Solar Residence Hall comes as part of a larger initiative to reduce emission of greenhouse gasses and educate Tufts students about energy, energy technologies, and climate change. "Now is an opportunity to put our money where our mouth is," said Project Manager for Tufts Institute of Environment Sara Creighton. In what Creighton said will be the first time that such a combination of energy saving technologies are installed in Massachusetts, the construction plans will require the removal of three existing houses prior to construction. Completion of the project is scheduled for the fall of 2004. All infrastructures for steam, electricity and telecommunication will enhance environmental safety. For example, the integration of solar hot water is expected to reduce energy use by 45 percent. "This is exciting new design territory and it will be a good reflection on the University," Architect Steve Dadagian said. High performance windows will enhance efficiency, resulting in decreased stress on air conditioning units. The design team will seek accreditation for the project with the US Green Buildings national rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which measures buildings against independent standards. As a means of promoting careful energy consumption, monitors that display energy consumption in the building will remind faculty, staff and students of the combined effectiveness of solar heat and power, project designers said. The new residence is one of Tufts' first initiatives to promote a greater intellectual climate on campus, according to Task Force director Gilbert Metcalf. In a system similar to the one present in Tilton Hall, a faculty member housed in an apartment on the top floor of the residence will be at the disposal of the students living in the dorm. A programming budget that will allow for activities within the dorm will aim to create a community environment for students. "This initiative is consistent with the initiative in the college system to support a greater sense of community and more interaction between students and faculty," Metcalf said. There will also be increased common spaces used for study, meetings, and community gatherings including a roof terrace, and a spacious atrium. The spaces will be designed to look inviting and maximize natural day lighting. The dorm's design is expected to be "a new model for living and learning at Tufts," according to Tufts planners. The building is also anticipated to be a focus of study for students and faculty. The design team is led by Graham Gund Architects of Cambridge. Steve Dadagian, project architect, designed a solar house when he was an undergrad at Tufts nearly 20 years ago. Steven Strong of Solar Design Associates is designing the photovoltaics and solar thermal systems.

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