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Prine is back

April 9

"Like stumbling onto Dylan when he first busted onto the Village scene." That's what Kris Kristofferson thought when he heard folk artist John Prine sing for the first time in 1971. Things were different back then, of course; America was in the middle of a war in a country where many citizens believed it did not belong, with a president some thought should be impeached. Oh, wait. I guess a copy of Prine's self-titled vintage album is just as appropriate now as it was when it first came out. With his twiney voice and his simple yet profound rhymes, Prine's sound shivers with the dust of country pines and coughs from the heart of America. The most blatantly political song on this album, "Your Flag Decal Won't Get You into Heaven Anymore", pokes fun at the many American flags people frequently carry and wear during wartime. Pine even goes so far as to claim he joined the Christmas club to get ten flag stickers for free, which he then stuck "all over my car and on my wife's forehead". Sadly, Pine says, there are so many flags plastering his windshield that he crashes his car in a fatal accident, only to be denied access to the "pearly gates" for the reason explained in the song's title. Another favorite that is as applicable to college students at Tufts as it was back at Woodstock is the first song, "Illegal Smile." This song explores the musings of a young man who enjoys the simple pleasures of cheap marijuana. Despite bemoaning his low-down existence and the fact that all his good friends turned out to be insurance salesmen, he returns faithfully to the refrain: "And you may see me tonight with an illegal smile it don't cost very much but it lasts a long while won't you please tell the man I didn't kill anyone I'm just trying to have me some fun" This is the kind of wholesome encouragement that transcends all generations. But Prine is not all about satire. He writes about love and tragedy as well, spanning topics with which he, at the young age of 24 years (when he produced the album), had no first-hand experience. One of his most famous songs, "Hello in There," is a strikingly tender depiction of the aging process. "Sam Stone" is about a war veteran whose morphine addiction slowly slips away his family's assets, a phenomenon Prine poetically sums up in the line "There's a hole in Daddy's arm/where all the money goes." "Far From Me," "Angel from Montgomery," and "Donald and Lydia" are all love songs, pure and sweet. And "Six O'Clock News" shows the folk artist's ingenious ability to divulge all but his main point -- to merely build us a cabin in the woods and let us fill it with our own ideas, dreams, and prejudices. As it did in the '70s and always will, folk music makes us ask ourselves, perhaps for the first time, in which of those categories our values actually belong.

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News

News Briefs

April 8

Student proposes rock wall at gym The construction of a $70,000 to $100,000 rock wall has been proposed at Cousens Gymnasium. The TCU Senate pledged support for the project through a "tentative agreement" of $3,000 in upkeep costs throughout the year. Senior Jonathan Jones began the effort as President of the Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) last year, and three underclassmen plan to continue the effort after his graduation. Although no money has been raised yet, Jones has already spoken with University officials about the possibility of finding a potential donor or alumni to donate. "Tufts' current tight budget is causing us to be cautious," Jones said. He stressed the importance of raising funds at the appropriate time. Staffing for the rock wall is also uncertain, although Jones proposed using trained TMC members or work study positions to supervise climbers. Meetings have also been held with the Athletics Department to determine possible locations and time to begin physical education classes on the wall. Eight of the 11 NESCAC schools already have a climbing wall on campus. Student database far from ready A new report from the US Department of Justice charges that the Immigration and Nationalization Service (INS) is far behind on creating a database that would track all foreign students studying in the US. The database, known as SEVIS, was supposed to be implemented by Jan. 1, but INS's schedule has now been pushed back to August. The program has not developed adequate measures to prevent fraud, the report alleges. INS officials defended SEVIS, however, and said the new timetable was consistent with Congressional testimony from last year. "We disagree with the inspector general's conclusion that SEVIS isn't fully implemented as advertised," Christopher Bentley, a former spokesman for the INS, told The Chronicle of Higher Education. The report recommends additional communication between the Department of Education and the Department of Homeland Security, which includes the INS. Medical School freezes tuition Tufts University School of Medicine has announced that its tuition will be frozen at $39,579 per year -- $40,094 including expenses -- for the 2003-2004 school year. The Medical School cited the already high cost of medical school for medical students. Currently, Tufts Medical School tuition is the highest in the United States. Dr. Nicolaos Madias, Interim Dean of the Medical School told the Tufts Journal that the high cost of education at Tufts med school is the result of a low endowment and the lack of revenue from a school-owned hospital. The high cost of a medical education "imposes a limitation on the pool of qualified candidates for admission," he told the Journal. "It progressively shifts the student body toward the offspring of the affluent; it influences our students' career choices; and it oppresses our graduates' lives as they launch their professional careers." --compiled by Keith Barry and Jon Schubin

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News

TCU Senate elections today

April 8

Despite the large number of rising sophomore Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate candidates, the differing personalities in today's election have a general consensus on policy goals. This year's TCU Senate race has been particularly popular, with 14 candidates competing for the sophomore senate seats. Normally only seven seats are open to each class, but because there are less than seven senators for other class years, 12 seats are open to the rising sophomores. Most upperclassmen senators are enthusiastic about this year's crop of potential senators, with eight of the current nine freshman senators running for re-election, and six new students looking to gain the rising sophomore position. The candidates are freshmen senators David Baumwoll, Jason Bauer, Rafi Goldberg, Jeff Katzin, Cho Ling, Alex Mendell, Chloe Snider, Jose Vazquez, and John Valentine. The new faces in the Senate race are Chris Eager, Diana Fox, Katie Herr, and Kyra Jackivicz, as well as John Gais, who was unable to attend the debate. Despite the large number of students running for Senate seats, there appears to be little enthusiasm among the rest of the class, with almost no freshmen attending the Monday night candidates' debate in Hotung Caf?©. "These forums don't seem to be working," current Senator John Valentine said. In order to encourage involvement in campus issues, Senator Chloe Snider proposed e-mailing students on a regular basis and offering food at open forums. The candidates onstage often appeared bored as they listened to each other discuss a variety of topics, from on-campus drinking to the importance of having an experienced Senate. The candidates pledged to try to find ways to solve the issue of student apathy. Many supported the new senate outreach program's attempt to meet with nearly every student, with help from student groups. Some candidates had different views regarding senate outreach. Senator Alex Mendell doubted that the outreach program would be successful. According to Mendell, it is less important to engage students than to ensure that routes are open for students to come to senators when they have problems. There was also a majority consensus in support of the Greek system. "I will not tolerate any attempt by the administration to get rid of [the Greek system]," Senator Rafi Goldberg said. Despite the general support of Greek Life at Tufts, none of the candidates offered concrete plans on how to lobby the administration on the issue, although several addressed the need to change the system if it is to continue at Tufts. "[Greek life] strays recklessly dangerous at times," Senator Cho Ling said. Many of the candidates were supportive of President Larry Bacow's Taskforce on the Undergraduate Experience. The Taskforce will publish a report at the end of the year to establish how Tufts can improve undergraduate life and community on campus. Other candidates expressed doubts about the Taskforce's recommendation for a college system, which would divide the campus into different houses in an attempt to foster a closer community. Katzin and Vazquez both said that they were concerned such a system would do more to divide campus than act to unite it. Among the candidates, Katzin carried the most impressive resume, claiming to have had intensive involvement in a number of changes and improvements to Health Services, the Spring Break shuttle, as well as attempts to reform the University's alcohol policy. "I actually do things for students, rather than talk up for them," Katzin said of his first year with the Senate. But not all candidates appeared so well prepared. One candidate, Diana Fox, was unsure of the details of the Taskforce's interim report, and many of candidate Chris Eager's attempts at jokes fell short with the small audience. All of the candidates pledged to work hard for students, and said they would find other ways to become involved in senate if they were one of the two not to gain a seat in today's election.

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News

Breasts, sex, and power

April 8

As I was growing up, everything was pretty much naked. On a nice day, I'd lay out on my back deck completely nude. If either of my parents happened to walk through the house without clothes on, it just wasn't a big deal. I swam naked with my neighbors in the creek behind my house, and I can't think of one close family friend who I haven't seen in the buff. Considering the ease with which I both witness and partake in group nudity, most people are shocked when I tell them I get disgusted by wet t-shirt contests and would never participate in one. Some find it bizarre that seeing a post-childbearing body in the nude doesn't faze me, but seeing an 18-year-old flashing her tits to a crowd makes me cringe. The confusion about my views on nudity can be traced back to the belief that being naked is inherently sexual. But it really isn't at all. Believe me, after growing up around naked 50-year-olds, I have learned to separate one's body from one's sexuality. Viewing all nudity as sexual is an oversimplification that degrades the entire human population to nothing more than sex objects. There's a difference between being naked for comfort and being naked for show. For me, nudity is not a spectator sport. When it turns into one, that's when you can count me out. I guess I just don't understand how showing the world your knockers is really all that sexy. Take a moment to pretend you're the "lucky" dude who's hooking up with the hot chick that just flashed 100-plus other guys. How lucky are you really? Hooking up with a flasher is like getting a birthday present when you know what it is. Yeah, you had the chance to pre-approve it, so you know you'll like it, but it takes away from the element of surprise. Half the fun of getting presents is unwrapping them, just as half the fun of hooking up with someone for the first time is undressing them. The untying of the bow, unbuttoning of the dress, ripping of the paper, unsnapping of the bra... Okay, I realize that boobs and birthdays are quite different, but the same principle applies. Knowing what's inside the box makes a first experience anticlimactic. Why hook up with someone for the first time who's already danced around naked for you? In a way it kills the suspense by giving away the ending. And suspense makes any experience more fulfilling. I mean, isn't that the whole idea behind foreplay? Sure, naked women dancing around disgusts me. But I am neither a man nor a lesbian and don't have the authority to dictate whether this is sexy or not. Where I do have authority is knowing what its like to be a woman and be gawked at. I know the empowerment. The rush of knowing that if moved correctly, your body can be an instrument used to make grown men beg to touch you. I know that cleavage is correlated with "free" and "discount." And I know that a bite of the lip and tilt of the head can be enough verification of being over 21. But I also know what its like to have your sexuality usurped from you by leering drunk men who find it to be their responsibility to remind you that you're sexy. I know what it's like to dress like you're 20 when you're 12 because you think that just because you look the part it means you have to act it too. I know what it's like flaunt sex when in reality it's something you're too scared to touch because you've never owned it, but it's owned you. When I see a girl give in to a crowd chanting "show your tits," I can't help but wonder if she's doing it for her, or doing it for them. If it turns her on, hey, whatever floats her boat. But if she feels obligated to please others because she's insecure or because others expect it of her, then it makes me sad. I know what it's like to feel controlled by you're sexuality and I've come to the conclusion that it's much better to control it than to let it control you. Controlling your sexuality means being sexy when you want to, not at the request of others. It's about having shaved legs, even if no one else touches them. Or wearing lacy black thongs, even if no one else sees them. It's about learning to make your sexuality about you, not about them. It's your gift to use how and when you want, not a show that they own the rights to.

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News

Website includes ratings of some Tufts professors

April 8

In an age when the Internet is used for everything from purchasing movie tickets to ordering pizza, it is now becoming commonplace to use websites to let other students know how you feel about your professors. One such website, ProfessorPerformance.com, has received mixed reviews from Tufts faculty and students. The site, formerly known as MyProfessorSucks.com, serves as a forum where students can anonymously grade their professors using a scale from A+ to F in the categories of "coolness," "ease," and "worth." Though students have rated close to 11,000 professors from institutions across the country, only 16 have been from Tufts. Most of the professors listed have received only one or two evaluations, though some have received as many as eight. According to the website's founder and president, Kasey Kerber, ProfessorPerformance.com "allows students to... find the best professors in the nation." But some on campus wonder why such information needs to be available to the public beyond the Tufts community. "I think it's an okay site, [but] I'm not sure what the purpose [is] of announcing to the world outside the University whether a professor is good or bad," political science professor Shinju Fujihira said. The University-based course evaluations, which contain structured questions, a space for written comments, and a statistical measure of professor performance, "work well," according to Fujihira. University-specific evaluation systems sponsored by Tufts are also more reliable, according to assistant professor of philosophy Nancy Bauer. "It seems to me that students are likely to get a more accurate sense of a professor's talents by looking at statistics from a whole class," Bauer said. Students should try to "sit in on a class or two," suggested Bauer, "to see what he or she thinks of the teacher. Some professors' styles work better for certain students than others' styles." Other professors more readily support the idea of evaluations being made public in an easily-accessible forum. "When I write a book, it is reviewed publicly," history professor Martin Sherwin said. Though he acknowledges that his classes are not open to the public, Sherwin does not object to his students sharing their views of his teaching. If a professor believes that an evaluation on ProfessorPerformance.com is libelous or misleading, the site allows for a measure of recourse. "Any person who feels that a posted evaluation is objectionable is encouraged to contact ProfessorPerformance.com immediately by e-mail," the site's legal disclaimer states. "We will investigate all claims and remove content that violates the above terms." Students' opinions of the site are as varied as professors'. "It seems okay in theory, assuming there is some method behind it for guaranteeing some form of accuracy," freshman Mark Robinton said. Others are more skeptical. "If people actually took it seriously and didn't use it merely to insult their professors, I think it could be a good resource," freshman Erin Miller said. Such a website merely duplicates the services provided by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Course Guide, according to sophomore Jonathan Silver. The guide is published every semester, and is compiled from end-of-semester course evaluations filled out by all students. "They can [evaluate courses and professors] online already," he said. "Why would I want to rate my professor, or want to read anyone else's rating [on another website]?" In addition to the TCU guide, several other on-campus groups, including ThePrimary Source and the Daily, offer course evaluations.

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News

Strange trends dominate big leagues

April 8

Well, it's been ten days of baseball, and things couldn't be more exciting. No name players are being added to fantasy teams, big boppers are slumping, and the fantasy baseball world is in general chaos. Don't worry, this is just how things go at the beginning of the season. Every day you look at the player rater, and someone else you've never heard of is ranked number one. Vladimir Guerrero is about the 500th best fantasy player in the league right now, while a guy named "Runelvys" (that's "Run Elvis") is dominating. Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson have combined for zero wins in four games. The Pittsburgh Pirates and the Kansas City Royals are leading their respective divisions. This is messed up. So, for now, I'm going to give you a quick run down of the "Who The Heck Are These Guys" list, and you can decide whether you want to add them or not. Let's start with the San Diego Padres' Jake Peavy, one of the hotter commodities in fantasy baseball right now. Peavy pitched on April 3 against the Dodgers, went five innings and allowed one hit, a solo home run to Brian Jordan. But what raised some eyebrows was that in those five innings, Peavy struck out eleven Dodgers. At 21, this kid is San Diego's number two starter. Still, as a rookie last season, Peavy started 17 games and won six, and accumulated 90 strikeouts in 97 innings. This is a good sign. Pick him up if you can. Another one of the bigger surprises has been the aforementioned Runelvys Hernandez of the Kansas City Royals. In two starts he's given up one run, four hits, and only four walks. Also a second year pitcher, Hernandez's strikeout to walk ratio last year was over 2:1. While that is decent by major league standards, he still has much to prove. I wouldn't jump on him without some more convincing. All that glitters, is not gold. Also on the fantasy radar this past week has been Alex Gonzalez. That's not Alex S. Gonzalez, the bum shortstop on the Chicago Cubs, but we're talking about another guy. This guy is also a bum, but is a shortstop on the Florida Marlins, who happens to have ripped four homers in the first seven games of the season. Gonzalez has been around for five seasons now and has done nothing impressive, so don't expect him to break out now. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays' Carl Crawford is also a popular pick-up, having tallied 13 hits and four steals in the first week of play. You can add this guy and see if he keeps hitting, but I doubt he will ever do more than steal bases for you. Still, his speed is a fine reason to have him. If you're looking for just steals, also check out Doug Glanville, Dave Roberts, or veteran Tony Womack. Lastly, there are two guys whom I know nothing about, but have great names and show some powerful potential. They are Carlos Zambrano and Xavier Nady. Or just forget I ever mentioned them. In other fantasy news, the stars who are showing their potential so far are Reggie Sanders, Jeff Bagwell, Alfonso Soriano, and Jim Thome. Also, don't look past Shea Hillenbrand, who is currently leading the AL with 15 RBI and is always good through May. Juan Encarnacion, Jose Cruz, and Mike Lowell are also hot, but it won't last. Some key players that are very cold are Magglio Ordonez, Mike Piazza, Lance Berkman, and Larry Walker. Don't fret about these guys, because they'll surely be sweet again soon. Almost all starting pitchers are cold, but that's just because it's cooler weather and guys like Greg Maddux are having trouble gripping the ball. Don't sell out on any of your starters yet. Who are the budding stars? Kris Benson is certainly one, so try to get him before his value goes way up. Kevin Millar, too, will be solid in Boston -- I'm calling a trip to the All-Star game for him right now. Injuries? Well, Griffey, Jr., of course, went down with a shoulder injury, dampening the hearts of so many fantasy owners who put their hopes and dreams into him. Just stick him on your injured list and hope that he won't have surgery. Other guys to go down are Mo Vaughn, Kevin Millwood, and C.C. Sabathia. Well, that's it for now. Send me your fantasy questions at Elliott.Freeman@tufts.edu and watch as much baseball as you can.

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News

Freshmen Anthony and McNamara lead Orangemen to National Championship

April 8

The monkey is finally off coach Jim Boeheim's back. The Syracuse Orangemen captured the NCAA Championship on Monday night. After heartbreaking championship game losses to the Indiana Hoosiers in 1987, courtesy of Keith Smart, and in 1996 to the Kentucky Wildcats, Boeheim depended on a group of freshmen to win him that elusive championship 81-78 over the Kansas Jayhawks. Syracuse's freshman duo of Carmelo Anthony and Gerry McNamara played with experience and composure throughout the entire tournament, especially in the Championship game. While the Orangemen dominated this game in the first half, the contest was well within reach for the Jayhawks in the final seconds. Ultimately, it was the lack of bench depth and poor free throw shooting that led to the Jayhawks downfall. Not since Danny Manning of Kansas single-handedly led his Jayhawks to the championship in 1988 has one superstar carried his team as much as Carmelo Anthony. Anthony, the Final Four's Most Outstanding Player, was the most versatile athlete on the floor, scoring 20 points, downing ten rebounds and amassing seven assists. He was guarded by Kansas' Nick Collison for the majority of the game and clearly had the athletic edge. With a barrage of outside shots and drives, Anthony repeatedly drew Collison away from the ball. The usually surefooted Jayhawk was left frustrated and in foul trouble. Even in the second half, when Anthony was obviously hurting from a back injury he suffered in the semifinals, he was able to rebound and bring the ball upcourt when Gerry McNamara was double-teamed. McNamara, the freshmen point guard, might have been the difference in this game. He scored 18 points, all in the first half, on six three pointers. The Orangemen's first half lead completely wore out the Jayhawks as they were forced to run with the fast paced Syracuse offense. Kansas was also forced to push the ball up the court on offense in order to keep Syracuse's 2-3 zone defense from having sufficient set up time. At the half, with a 53-42 Syracuse lead, Kansas was completely worn out and the Orangemen seemed to have the championship in the bag. While the game was far from over, it was the Jayhawks' deficiencies rather than the Orangemen's play that led to the Syracuse win. In the second half, the Jayhawks missed free throw after free throw, shooting 12 for 30 on the night from the line. They also ran deep into foul trouble as a result of a shallow bench. Keith Langford, who proved to be the Jayhawks' most dominant offensive force, fouled out with nearly six minutes left, and Collison was forced to foul out to stop the clock with under a minute to go. It was Collison's absence during the final two Jayhawk shot attempts that was most obvious. Without having to face either of these two players, the Orangemen were able to double and triple team Kirk Hinrich, who had resprained his ankle, as he came off screens in the final few minutes. Syracuse left room for a Kansas comeback, as the Orangemen players showed their inexperience by throwing the ball away on several consecutive possessions and missing key free throws that would have sealed the win in the final seconds. By the time Kansas was primed for a comeback, there was just no juice left in their tanks from the tiring first half. In the end, the Jayhawks' two last second shots were no good, with the first one being blocked and the potential buzzer beater by Hinrich sailing wide. The conclusion of this game leaves two of the most interesting questions in college basketball up in the air. First, will Anthony bolt for the NBA where he is projected to be the third pick in the draft? Anthony's college dreams may have been achieved last night, or he may decide to return and make a run at another championship. The other question is whether Kansas coach Roy Williams will stay in Lawrence or jump ship to his alma mater, the North Carolina Tarheels, where he is rumored to be the successor to Matt Doherty. Williams has baffled parties at both schools as he has refused to answer questions about his possible departure during the Final Four media days. To add more fuel to the fire, CBS sideline reporter Bonnie Bernstein pushed Williams a little too far after Monday night's Championship game when she questioned him about the subject. Many expect Williams to leave because he obviously can't win the big one at Kansas. With the Final Four done and a new champion crowned, the only thing left to do now for college hoops fans is wait until next November for the beginning of the 2003-2004 season, and the new class of freshmen.

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News

Stretching and form key to preventing injury in the gym

April 8

How do I minimize the risk of injury while working out? I just recovered from shoulder surgery, and I want to make sure that I don't do anything that would put my shoulder, or any other part of my body, at risk. --Mike Atkins, Yale University First of all, make sure you stretch thoroughly before each and every workout. For example, if you are working your chest on a certain day, stretch each body part, regardless. A good stretching session should take approximately 15 minutes. Secondly, perform light warm-up sets before each and every exercise. Exaggerate the range of motion, and concentrate on maintaining perfect form; this gets your muscles and joints ready to handle heavier weight. Use a spotter when performing heavy barbell or dumbbell exercises. Another important method of injury prevention is taking care to exercise the stabilizer muscles. Do exercises to strengthen the rotator cuff, the back of the shoulder (posterior deltoids), and the lower back, among others. Also, exercises to strengthen the muscles in the neck are recommended for injury prevention in many sports. Try to avoid exercises that place your joints in anatomically dangerous or unstable positions, such as heavy behind-the-neck shoulder presses, or lat pull-downs behind your head. For narrow grip bench presses, don't put your hands too close together, as this can injure the wrists. Proper form throughout each exercise is obviously very important; improper form can often lead to an injury. Listening to your body is another crucial factor in preventing injury. Never work a muscle that is still sore from a previous workout, and never try to 'tough it out' and work through an injury. I saw a woman doing these weird squats in the gym the other day. She had the bar resting on her shoulders, in front of her neck. What exercise is that? Is it better than regular squats? -Rizza, Lewis Hall You're describing an exercise called the front squat. Front squats are a variation of standard barbell squats. They are an exercise that places more emphasis on the quadriceps by placing the weight farther forward in relation to the body. This exercise is difficult to do with free weights, as it requires very good balance and flexibility. For that reason, it is recommended to start out by experimenting and getting the motion down on a self-spotting machine before you attempt to do them with a barbell. The motion is as follows: cross your arms, with each hand grasping the opposite bicep. Hold your arms out in front of you so they are perpendicular to your chest (this exercise can also be performed with your fists under your chin, thumbs grasping the bar; some feel this adds more stability. Do whatever feels best for you). The weight rests on the front of your shoulders, right under your chin. Follow the same motion you would if you were to do regular squats, keeping your head up, back straight, and heels on the ground. Perform the movement slowly, inhaling on the way down, and exhaling forcefully on the way up. Make sure you have someone spotting you during your first couple of attempts at using a barbell for this exercise. The correct way to spot someone squatting is to stand behind the person with your hands under his arms, holding his chest lightly. As the squatter bends down, squat with him, keeping light pressure on his chest with your arms. As he stands up, follow his motion, keeping your hands against his torso. If the squatter struggles, pull up and towards you, trying to straighten his back. Don't pull too hard, however, as you may very well pull the squatter over backwards. That said, squatting -- front squatting included -- is a great lower body exercise, and performing it with a spotter can only enhance the experience.

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News

Tufts Med School to keep race-based programs

April 8

Tufts plans to ignore a cease and desist order from two conservative lobbying groups, a move which could prompt a government investigation. Two Medical School programs, the Post-Baccalaureate Research Program (PREP) and the Externship program, were identified by the groups as being in conflict with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Title VI prohibits discrimination based on race, sex or gender for any program that receives federal monies. The two Medical School opportunities are funded by grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and operated by the Medical School. In a letter sent last month, Edward Blum, a representative for the Center for Equal Opportunity (CEO) and the American Civil Rights Institute, gave Tufts until Apr. 21 to end the programs and warned other actions could be taken if the University does not comply. The current Medical School programs do not require students to be part of a federally recognized minority or ethnic group. Students must demonstrate, however, that they come from an under-represented area of society. If the University refuses to comply, CEO will file a complaint with the Office of Civil Rights. The office is obligated to investigate, and if found guilty of violating Title VI, Tufts will be required to end the programs or lose all federal funding. Blum indicated that he would be willing to give the school additional time if they requested it, but Medical School spokesperson Peggy Hayes said the school is not planning to respond. "They're not a court," Hayes said. "If the University believes they are in compliance, I don't think a response is necessary." Tufts General Counsel Mary Lee Jacobs, who is handling the complaint, refused to comment, describing it as "a pending legal matter." Thirty other schools were sent similar letters, including Harvard, MIT, and the University of Michigan. CEO's current effort focuses on professional school orientation programs, because these offer "tangible benefits" to those that participate in them, according to Blum. Six programs, including Princeton's Junior Summer Institute in the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, have accepted non-minority students for the first time because of the complaints. CEO also filed complaints against programs at St. Louis University and Texas A&M after those schools refused to change eligibility requirements to include non-minorities. Since the University believes that the Medical School is in full compliance with all state and University laws and is awaiting a decision of the University of Michigan affirmative action case, it is reluctant to take any action, Hayes said. A decision by the high court, which should be available in June, will allow Tufts to have a better understanding of whether or not it is in compliance, according to Hayes. But CEO General Counsel Roger Clegg rejected Tufts' claim that the two cases are connected. "It doesn't matter what the court rules in Michigan, because whatever they do, running a racially exclusive program will remain illegal," Clegg said. The Externship Program allows students to spend one month in a hospital environment before attending medical school. PREP receives money to hire five to ten students with a BA to work in a laboratory setting before entering medical school. In other parts of the University, programs exist which are only open to minority students, including the Asian-American center's annual trip to George's Island. In addition, the Sackler School of Biological Science runs the Summer Research Program for Undergraduate Minority Students. The program is sponsored with funds received from the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute, which is also part of the NIH.

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News

Men's tennis falls to 3-3 after losses to Middlebury, Williams

April 8

The men's tennis team continued to struggle in the month of April, with losses to Middlebury and Williams over the weekend. The loss dropped the team to 3-3 and dropped the team's record to 0-3 since April 1. "We are going to see what will happen," Coach Jim Watson said. "We just had three very good, very tough teams back to back." Hosting Middlebury on Friday, senior co-captain David Ruttenberg and sophomore Rifat Perahya squeaked out the number one doubles match 9-7 while the Lord Jeffs took the second doubles match over senior co-captain Danny Lang and junior Adam Yates. Junior Jon Bram with freshman Jon Rubenstien pulled through 8-5 at number three to clinch the doubles point for Tufts. In singles though, Tufts would only win two matches -- one by Perahya at number two and one by freshman Ben Alexander at number six. The wins put Perahya at 4-1 and put Alexander at an impressive 5-0. However, with Ruttenberg, Bram, Lang, and Yates all taking their opponents to three sets, the 4-3 match could have easily swung the other way. "Middlebury was a real backbreaker physically and psychologically," Watson said. "The guys played to the best of their ability, but just came up short." The Jumbos were not as close Saturday when they traveled to Williams to take on the defending Div. III National Champions. The Ephs began the rout in doubles, defeating Tufts in all three matches. Williams went on to win four singles matches in straight sets, with only Bram and Alexander taking Williams players to three. "A lot of what happened this weekend had to do with so many matches in such a short time," Lang said. "We were pretty fatigued by the end of it." Watson felt that Williams' home court advantage played a part in the lopsided score. "Having to get in the van and drive up to Williams early Saturday morning [after the Middlebury match] made it even tougher," Watson said. "We were pretty flat against Williams, it shouldn't have been that way, it should have been much closer than that." Although the team hoped to bounce back yesterday at home against Trinity, the match was postponed until Apr. 16 because of snow. Lang thinks that the break is just what the team needs to get back on track. "The day off gave us a chance to rest our bodies," Lang said. "We came back to practice today with a new focus and are looking ahead to this weekend and think we can still make a run at this thing." Watson thinks the postponement may hurt Tufts in the long run though. "The drawback [to the rescheduling] is that we play Trinity at home and turn around and go to Amherst the next day," Watson said. The Jumbos are looking for a more successful weekend when they travel to Bowdoin and Colby this Friday and Saturday. However, Watson warns that it will not be easy. "We don't even have a week's rest because we have to go to Bowdoin and Colby this weekend," Watson said. "They are both tough teams, especially Bowdoin. Everyone is saying Bowdoin is the second best in the NESCAC." Once again Watson feels that the weekend trip may hurt his team, but in this case, because of the facilities. "More than likely we are going to be playing indoors, which is going to be very favorable to them," Watson said. "At this high level of play it's very hard to adjust to a court in 20 minutes. We have our work cut out for us."

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News

TCCS made a good call

April 8

The decision by Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) to provide free local and campus phone service is a smart one. Few students seem to have been pleased with the PaeTec service, thereby necessitating a major change in the business of campus communications. TCCS should be commended for looking to student opinion and making a thoughtful, wise decision. With the popularity of cell phones on campus, some may question the decision of TCCS not to switch over to a cell-phone-only system, thereby eliminating dorm landlines. Though TCCS was of course limited by the price of a cell phone plan, it made the right decision in maintaining the use of room phones. Though no one would question the convenience of a cell phone, eliminating landlines would create new complications. Students who lost or broke their phones would have to deal with the hassle of not having phone service, not to mention that some dorms might not receive consistent signals for cell phones. And hardly a class goes by that is not interrupted by the electronic melody of a cell phone ring. One can only imagine the chaos if literally everyone on campus carried a cell at all times. The new plan does not call for free television services, which is understandable and hardly an issue. After all, not all students bring televisions to school, and even those who do, don't seem to have a problem with splitting the cost of service with their roommates. It would be nice, however, if TCCS and ResLife could provide the dorms with new televisions so that students could watch TV for free with their hall mates. Providing students with free local and campus service will reduce stress by making it easy for students to contact with each other, as well as with people and places in Boston. The new plan will certainly open the lines of communication. The only hassle that remains is the ability to call home. Since Tufts draws students from all over the world and from all 50 states, it seems that TCCS should look into making sure that calling cards are sold in campus venues or vending machines. Now that would be a good call...

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News

Twelfth Night' is hilarious but hectic

April 8

Walking into the Balch Arena from Boston's bizarre "spring" weather last weekend, I was immediately swept out of the cold and into the atmosphere of a late summer garden party. White paper lanterns weightlessly dangle above an understated multi-leveled stage, colorfully painted with earth tones. After I realized that I was still bundled in untimely winter clothes and entirely indoors, it was hard to tell where I was supposed to be. This is the setting for the Department of Drama and Dance's production of Shakespeare's classic comedy, Twelfth Night, Or What You Will. The play focuses on a love triangle between a shipwrecked woman named Viola, a nobleman named Orsino, and Lady Olivia. Viola disguises herself as a man named Cesario in order to work for Orsino. However, she then falls in love with him. Orsino, however, is in love with Lady Olivia, who in turn falls in love with 'Casario,' completing the love triangle. While this is the main plot, there are many other things going on as well. The play is a typical romantic comedy and contains all the standard elements of the time period: mistaken identity, separated twins, and disguising gender, all of which at one time or another serve as obstacles which the characters must overcome to find true love. Directed by Don Weingust, the play flows along swiftly; however, some of the transitions were a little choppy. Shakespeare is difficult enough in its own right to understand, and this quick-paced rendition can be quite disorienting if you are not already familiar with the extremely complicated plot line. The lead roles of Olivia, Viola, Mariah, Sebastian, and Toby Belch were well-cast and well played. Highlights included Charlie Semine as Sebastian. He was the most realistic actor and made a part that could have seemed ridiculous and minor compelling and amusing. Telly Kousakis was hysterical as Toby Belch and Chris Bonewitz was an equally funny Sir Andrew. Laura Semine was a charming Mariah. Lisa Birnbaum was well cast as Olivia, although her performance resembled her character in A Little Night Music. Sarah Kauderer's portrayal of Viola was complex and realistic. Unfortunately, within the tricky portrayal of several complicated characters and subplots, the show at times was confusing and moved too fast. It feels like you could be watching two completely different plays because of the confusing transitions between the parts with Mariah and Malvolio and those with Olivia, Viola and Orsino. Toward the end of the show, there are a few minor characters that seemed to have been randomly thrown into the mix, which lack the in depth direction provided for the leads and at times seem farcical and improvisational. Shakespeare's poetic but unfamiliar language requires an enormous amount of comprehension on the part of the actors and requires that lines be delivered so the audience can comprehend them as well. While it was clear that the actors had a clear concept of what they were saying, as someone who had a very vague knowledge of Twelfth Night, it took me quite some time to understand what was happening on stage. However, the actors' comprehension, as well as their highly physical acting style, finally clued me in to the storyline, although I was not helped by their speed. Many of the characters spoke very quickly, making it nearly impossible to follow their extended monologues. What was even more confusing, although amusing was the addition of voices and accents that left the audience feeling utterly lost, but ultimately entertained by the funny, gibberish-speaking people on stage. The play overall was well acted and very aesthetically pleasing, although for a typical college production, two hours of Shakespeare without an intermission was a little much. Nevertheless, the play's fantastical characters, set, and costumes offered an ambiance of warmth, romance, and fancy -- not to mention a much-needed break from the cold.

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News

A better way

April 8

For thousands of years man has been waging war in the name of freedom and liberty. For thousands of years people have been killing each other and have failed to achieve "world peace." In the case of the war in Iraq, fighting for peace is indeed futile and will only serve to end thousands of innocent lives too early and aid in the destabilization of the world community. At this point in time of world history, the United States and the United Kingdom have absolutely no right to act as the moral authority of worldly affairs. As the wealthiest and most powerful nation on the planet, we need to set an example that will breed peace in the international community and here at home. Politicians justify American aggression in the Middle East with dubious claims of Iraqi connections to terrorists and claim to have the support of the international community. There is no doubt that the American aggression in the Middle East is a perfect example of a rich man's war being fought by patriotic poor American men and women. Many war advocates use history as a justification for military action against Iraq. Admittedly, Saddam Hussein is a man with a history of bloodshed and oppression. In no way do I support his regime and am completely aware of the devastation it has caused the Iraqi people. But, it is also undeniable that the recent history of American and British military intervention throughout the world is stained in blood. The indiscriminate bombings of Southeast Asia in the 1960s and 1970s, in addition to killing and deforming hundreds of thousands of innocent people, led to the destabilization of the region. Consequently, the Khmer Rouge under Pol Pot were able to take control of Cambodia in 1975. Pol Pot's regime oversaw the systematic genocide of over three million innocent Cambodians in the following years. Ironically, and embarrassingly, the Khmer Rouge's reign of terror was only ended by the same Vietnamese communists that thousands of Americans died fighting only a few years before. American authorities remained quiet while millions were killed in the Rwandan genocide of the 1990s. Most recently, American forces justly defeated the tyrannical Taliban regime in Afghanistan, but have since abandoned the Afghani people to the will of warlords, terrorists, and an impotent central government. The British have a long history of imperialism and military conquest. The British government brutally oppressed hundreds of millions of people in Asia and Africa for hundreds of years. For centuries, British military forces have been responsible for callous murders of innocent Africans and Asians. The imperialist extraction of economic resources and oppression of millions has greatly contributed to the current suffering of billions of people around the world today. American and British imperialism in Iraq is immoral and unjustified. Mr. Hussein is often criticized for his brutal treatment of ethnic minorities, such as the Kurds, within Iraq. The US government has brutally and immorally murdered, cheated, and oppressed the native peoples of this country for over 200 years! The treatment of people of African heritage in this nation is well known and I do not need to extrapolate on 300 years of slavery and oppression. Appropriately, I deny the US and the UK and right to claim the authority to act as this planet's moral police. President Bush has already asked Congress to provide almost 80 billion dollars to cover the costs of the war in Iraq. Does this make sense? We as the American people are paying 80 billion dollars to kill our fellow human beings in an unnecessary war! If President Bush allocated 80 billion dollars for constructive and progressive programs such as education in the inner cities or Medicare, then our nation could solve innumerable problems that face us everyday. Recently, a school for children in Jamaica Plain has been shut down due to lack of funds. Personally, I would prefer tax money spent on education than killing. Two months after 9/11, talks were held in Doha, Qatar with the intention of reducing the motivations of terror by helping the world's poor. This promise has gone unfulfilled and the $50 billion that rich nations spend on foreign aid annually is far less than the cost of the war. Our tax money should be spent fighting AIDS and poverty, not on tanks and multi-billion dollar bombers. Appalling war crimes have already occurred in the Iraq conflict. Reports of Iraqi forces committing atrocities against Americans sadden me greatly. I believe American forces are taking innocent life as well. Dozens of people have died from American missiles missing their military targets. I believe this is a war crime as well. To me the innocent loss of life in any form is not simply "collateral damage," but a crime against humanity. It is easy for people to say they support the war against Iraq because of the promised disarmament of a dangerous regime and better life for the Iraqi people. I challenge war advocates to volunteer themselves or their loved ones as soldiers in the war. Only then, will they be able to speak in support of the war without a trace of hypocrisy. Dead Americans and even more dead Iraqis are not the sign of progress, but of a barbarous trap that mankind has been stuck in for thousands of years. With the level of anti-American sentiment dangerously rising all over the world, the US government needs to set the moral example of truly believing in peace and world harmony. Peace breeds concord, and violence breeds hatred. Wars have been fought for millennia and have still not brought about world peace. We as human beings must look to love, wisdom, and understanding to solve our problems. As the sole global superpower, the US government and the American people need to set the example for the rest of the world to follow. So let us, as the American people, urge our government to do away with the violent policies based on barbarous ignorance with imperialist intentions. Tyrants around the world are using the war in Iraq to commit atrocities that go unnoticed. Let us uplift the poor of the world through monetary aid and collective security. Let us prove to the world that Americans are not violent imperialists by ending our policies of destabilizing violence, and by fostering an era of peace, love, and generosity towards all mankind. I hope this war comes to a swift end and our soldiers come home safe. My fear for the future lies in the long-term problems that American imperialist aggression will cause among the depressed and hostile peoples around the globe. Whatever happened to "Thou Shall Not Kill"? We are all one people, so let's act like it. Sunil Purushotham is a sophomore majoring in history.

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News

Jessica Eason: Wellesley senior living with HIV

April 8

Jessica Eason, an HIV positive senior at Wellesley College, gave students an optimistic and honest look at living with the disease on Monday, using humor and realism to convey the message that HIV and AIDS can happen to anyone. Her speech, which kicked off Tufts' AIDS awareness week, resonated strongly with her audience of about 30 students. Eason contracted HIV during her semester abroad in Tanzania. After a night of partying, Eason went home with a local man, and although she was not pressured to have sex, she felt obligated to follow through. "I didn't have the self-esteem to say no," Eason said. "I didn't have the self-esteem to not get totally wasted and put myself in this bad situation." Eason addressed the group with the frankness and humility of someone still learning about her sickness. "I don't know how to teach value," she said. "I'm just learning what it is." Eason treated the audience members as peers, and spent a large portion of her talk answering questions about changes in her lifestyle, beliefs, and decisions. "I guess the best part about contracting HIV is that my family has become much closer and we realize that we should not be so distant," Eason said. Eason stressed the importance of focusing on quality of life, rather than being consumed by the idea of death. She attributed this outlook to her boyfriend in the Philippines. "I think it has to do with the culture he was brought up in," she said. "When I told him I had HIV he just said, 'so we may fall in love and die happy.' It was really nice having such positive support." Though some students were opposed to Eason's beliefs, they agreed that the forum had an accepting attitude for alternate viewpoints. "She was really positive about the different opinions," freshman Sarah Rasheed said. One area of contention surrounded Eason's recent discovery that she might be able to inform the man who infected her that he is a carrier of HIV. Many students were shocked and confused by her inclination to not tell him. "In Tanzania, it's a death sentence to be told you have HIV," Eason said in explanation. "I'm not sure what placing the burden would do; he doesn't have the same medical help we get in the US." The most heated dissent surrounded Eason's opinion on when to reveal one's HIV-positive status. As a member of the Wellesley rugby squad, Eason immediately informed the team that she had been infected with HIV. The girls supported Eason, she said, and would not allow her to follow through with her initial plan to quit the team. The squad did not inform opposing teams of Eason's condition, however, a decision that many of Monday night's attendees found unfair and inappropriate. "I think it was unfair of you to continue playing without notifying other teams about your condition," one freshman girl said. "I want to play rugby here at school and would be uncomfortable knowing there could be a girl playing with HIV without me being told." Students also seemed troubled by Eason's decision to have unprotected sex with her boyfriend, who is aware that she is HIV positive, or her desire to still have a baby. "I just don't understand how your partner can be comfortable with having unprotected sex?," one student asked. "Does he want to die?" Eason did seem to convey effectively the dangers and possibility of contracting HIV even for students at a prestigious university. "When we would get on the bus to come to Boston, we didn't think any of the cute dudes at Harvard, MIT, or Tufts had HIV," she said. A large portion of Monday's audience consisted of members of AIDS Outreach, a group within the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS). Other students were interested in learning about living with AIDS while young and in college. "I have always been interested in how society acts with people they perceive to have disabilities, and sadly AIDS has become a disability," freshman Elana Eisen-Markowitz said. In collaboration with Sex Talk, AIDS Outreach has dedicated this week to educating students at Tufts about HIV/AIDS prevention. The week's activities include Sex Talk Meetings, an AIDS Outreach meeting, and an AIDS film screening. On Saturday, Amnesty International will sponsor the annual Jamnesty for AIDS charities in Carmichael lounge.

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News

TCCS to offer free local phone service

April 8

The nature of Tufts communications will change drastically as a result of the expiration of the University's contract with PaeTec Communications at the end of this semster. Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) has decided to operate the previously installed phone systems and offer free on-campus and local telephone service beginning in the fall semester. The new arrangement highlights a growing trend of campus communications moving away from the traditional business models embraced through most of the 1990's. When the contract expired, Tufts did not have strong feelings towards re-signing with PaeTec, saying that PaeTec was no longer offering the type of arrangements that had been made in the past. "PaeTec is in a very different business than the original CampusLink," said Marj Minnigh, the Networks and Special Projects Manager. The school's original contract was with CampusLink, which was later bought out by PaeTec Communications. In exchange for $3.5 million in new telephone and cable hardware, CampusLink, and then later Paetec, received all of the student fees during the eight-year partnership. Since the initial contract however, "it was clear from the students' perspective as well as from TCCS that it was not an optimal partnership," Director of Networks and Telecommunications Lesley Tolman said. Under the new arrangement, the school will take over the phone lines and provide the service for free. Students will receive unlimited on-campus calls in addition to several local area codes. A calling or credit card will still be required for students to make long distance calls. There was no chance that TCCS would assume the task of operating the cable service as well. Associate Director of Data Network Operations Doug Herrick said, "[Cable television is] clearly a service we'd never be in a position to provide." TCCS underwent negotiations with several local cable providers -- a task previously performed by PaeTec. After a competitive bid process, the University decided on Comcast, who also was the University provider under PaeTec. Tolman said that Comcast provided the University with a wider range of options than other providers. Though the specifics of the cable television deal are still being negotiated, the arrangement most likely will allow students to select individual packages from the provider -- rather than having a standard package. The end of Tufts' relationship with PaeTec and TCCS's decision to operate its own telephone network follows several other universities' decisions to stay away from former methods of campus communications. According to last week's Chronicle of Higher Education, a number of schools have opted to provide students with cell phones rather than dorm room services. The service will begin this fall at Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, and the New Jersey Institute of Technology is negotiating with several cell phone providers to begin its service. Administrators at these schools believe the use of cell phones will be just as reliable as current wired communications. "We have tested all of the area and we have real strong signals, so we don't anticipate a problem," Marshall University Senior Vice President for University Operations Ed Grose told The Chronicle. TCCS said they did explore the cell phone market, but found it to be prohibitively expensive. "We couldn't find any cell phone vendor who was interested in giving us a bulk deal," Minnigh said. TCCS discovered that the burgeoning cell phone market gives cell phone carriers few incentives to offer a bulk discount.

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News

Occupational history

April 8

Current conventional wisdom has it that our postwar reconstruction efforts in Iraq will only be successful if we have full support of the Iraqi people, which can only be gained by minimizing civilian casualties, if we leave much of the decision making to the Iraqis themselves, and if we are quick to minimize our military presence. I mean, that's what we did in Germany and Japan after World War II, right? Actually, couldn't be more wrong. Both Germans and Japanese hated America at the end of World War II. Japanese women were willing to kill their own children rather than let them live under American occupation. American soldiers were likewise greeted with hate from the German population as they pushed towards Berlin. In each case, the strong feelings of these populations came in part from the propaganda put out by their respective governments, but also by the impressive bombing campaigns carried out by the Allies on civilian populations. Everyone knows about the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. But they weren't the most deadly of the war. The fire-bombing of Tokyo killed 85,000 Japanese and burned 16 square miles of urban space to the ground. The German city of Dresden was literally leveled by constant air bombardment. Eighty-five percent of the city's buildings were destroyed. All in all, World War II marked the most deadly and destructive bombing of civilian populations that the world has ever seen. Nor did the American occupations of Germany and Japan leave a whole lot of the decision-making to the Germans or the Japanese. The Germans were afforded more autonomy than the Japanese, where General MacArthur ruled almost as he pleased. The US redistributed land based on its own ideas, dismantling Japan's quasi-feudal society. The new Japanese constitution, complete with Article 9 stating that Japan not be allowed any military capabilities, was written by the United States. Japan still uses this constitution today. Finally, not only have we not been quick to diminish our military presence in Germany and Japan, it remains quite strong to this day and shows no signs of going away. And even against strong public outrage, the United States maintains bases in South Korea, another successful American prot?©g?© (though a country that we defended from invasion, rather than conquered). Yet the differences between the American occupations of Germany and Japan after World War II and the coming occupation of Iraq are significant. It has been noted that Germany and Japan were already industrial nations with educated populations and a history of democracy. I would not discount that observation, but there's not a whole lot that can be done about that now. We can't change Iraq's past, only its future. The more significant difference is the amount of international support and credibility we had in occupying Japan and Germany. Not only did their neighbors support our presence, they actively encouraged it. And we, in turn, at least kept them informed of our plans, even if they were not always a part of the decision-making process. Furthermore, we created multilateral institutions that provided a forum for debate and legitimized the US occupations. This willingness to cooperate with others did not arise from weakness on the part of America. On the contrary, America then was at least as powerful as America today. It came from the knowledge that we need partners and support in order to build new societies. President Bush has been meeting with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss post-war plans for Iraq. But his agenda should not stop there. The President also needs to talk with France, Germany, and our other NATO allies. He also has to talk with Jordan and Egypt, and even some nations we really do not like such as Syria. It is ridiculous that we have no official line of communication with Iran, Iraq's biggest neighbor, traditional rival, and who fought a long, bloody war with Iraq in the 1980s. Talking does not mean capitulating or even changing policy at all. President Bush's vision of a UN role in Iraq -- providing humanitarian aid and acting in an advisory capacity to the government -- is a prudent one. Too much UN control means complicated chains of command and decision-making. Talking means communicating, making clear what it is you're doing and explaining your policy. And even if the audience does not like the policy, it's a lot better than not talking at all. We probably won't have the full support of the Iraqi people for a while, if ever. But we can come to an understanding with the Iraqi people, and its neighbors, and the rest of the nations of the world. That understanding can build a nation out of rubble. Without it, no matter how many civilians, oil wells, and buildings, we manage to avoid destroying, we will be left with a dead-end job -- an occupation with no future success.

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News

Cuba trip participants near completion of project

April 8

Those University students who travelled to Cuba during this year's winter break may have physically left the island, but they have not left the memories of the trip behind them. In hopes of increasing people's understanding of Cuban society and culture, the students, who gained a deep appreciation of Cuba while visiting there, are creating a website sharing their experiences. From the beginning, those who went on the trip -- 19 undergraduates, seven graduate students, and two faculty members -- planned to publish material that would reflect what they witnessed in Cuba. "On the questionnaire to apply to the trip to Cuba, we were already asked how we thought we could share our experiences back at Tufts," sophomore Kirit Radia said. "It was a preoccupation for everybody during the trip," Radia added. "We kept telling people to think about a topic they would like to develop. After the trip we set up a deadline, and everybody came up with one of several articles." The students, led by junior Laura Irizarry, initially planned to publish their material in magazine format. Because of financial troubles, however, they decided instead to create a website. At that point, Radia became the project's coordinator. While in Cuba, the students visited an elementary school, a secondary school, a family clinic, and a day care center. This direct access was completely new; last year, students had less access to Cuban institutions. During the trip, the students also listened to several speakers on political and social issues. They visited the Museum of the Revolution and interacted with students from la Universidad de La Habana (University of Havana). Additionally, they spent time on a small farm in the Cuban countryside and set up several community service projects. "We went out there and listened to everybody," Radia said. "We would get in the streets and talk to people. They are really educated people -- most of them speak two to four languages -- so it was easy to converse with them." The website, which is organized into three main parts, aims to convey the students' varied experiences and impressions in a way that will educate people about the realities of Cuban society. The first section of the website is composed of several profiles of unique individuals that the students met on the trip. The second section is dedicated to essays and articles on economic and political issues. Topics include Fidel Castro, the American influence on Cuba, the effects of the American embargo, agrarian reform, and the living situation of Cuban farmers. A last section of the website provides a venue for those students from the group who would like to share a souvenir, an experience, or even a feeling from their trip. Some students will express themselves by posting poetry or pictorial art; others will post essays or an article. Even though it has been almost a semester since the students returned from Cuba, their memories -- kept sharp by their involvement in creating the website -- remain intact and passionate. "I would definitely do it again," Radia said. Prior to going on the trip, he, like many of his fellow travellers, was curious about Cuba and sought to educate himself regarding its culture. Radia and the other students on the trip were also motivated to visit Cuba by the "once-in-a-lifetime" nature of the trip. Their motivations may have been similar, but the backgrounds and ages of those on the trip were very diverse. The group's spectrum ran from undergraduate freshmen to graduate students. "It was really interesting having grad student with us," Radia said, adding that the diversity of trip participants will be reflected in the diversity of thought presented on the website. In creating the website, Radia and his fellow travellers hope to promote next year's trip to Cuba as well as to correct people's misconceptions about Cuban life. "I actually first thought about going to Cuba, when one day my Spanish teacher listened to me making a comment about Cuba and then said jokingly, 'You don't know anything about Cuba; you should go!'" Radia said, illustrating the necessity of increased awareness regarding the trip. "I had so many misconceptions broken thanks to this trip," Radia said. Even though he had previously travelled to other regions of Latin America, the Cuban trip was a unique experience due in part to the embargo and American influence there, Radia said. Also, he said, public service systems such as healthcare and education are different in Cuba, making time spent there very different from time spent in other Latin American countries. The link to the site, which will open within the next several weeks, will be posted at the Latino Center's website,http://ase.tufts.edu/latinocenter/.

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News

A Mighty Wind' soars with laughter

April 8

Christopher Guest and his super-talented crew of improvisers/actors have proven the strength of his mockumentary style once again in their new film A Mighty Wind. Without an actual script, the actors create their own characters and their own dialogue while following some basic script structures. Guest, along with co-writer Eugene Levy and co-actor Catherine O'Hara, have also reinforced something the cast of Kids in the Hall, Jim Carrey and Mike Myers did long ago -- that the funniest people come from Canada. In this third Guest-directed mockumentary (This is Spinal Tap is not included as it was directed by Rob Reiner), the audience is taken into the world of folk music. As in Guest's last two movies, Best in Show and Waiting for Guffman -- which star many of the same actors as Wind -- the plot is based around one big event. In Guffman, it was a community play; in Show, it was a dog show; in Wind, it is a one-night folk music reunion concert. As the story unfolds, the director makes very good use of some black and white flashback scenes to introduce the characters and to show them at the height of their folk music glory. Guest does an excellent job of bringing the audience into this world from the point of view of the characters' memories, where the past is neatly stored with visions of grandeur. Next, film editor Robert Leighton -- who has worked on previous Guest movies -- cuts to full-color scenes of the different folk groups playing now, not at auditoriums, but amusement parks. Then, the history and members of each of the groups unfolds in the familiar short-scene-hodge-podge format which defines the mockumentary. While the concept for the plot of this film is in some ways funnier than the premises for the last two flicks, ultimately, the story lacks an overall unity that makes the others so memorable. To be fair, these movies, especially the characters, have a tendency to grow on you after multiple viewings. It is not hard to imagine these characters doing just that after repeated showings. Yet, as funny as the characters are and as ridiculous as the plot may be, the movie as a whole does leave one feeling slightly unfulfilled and disappointed. Whereas in Guest's past films, the audience cared enough about the characters to see what happened to them after the film's central event, in Wind it is almost irrelevant. The ending for most of the characters is bleak, at best, because the movie reveals that the world has no more room for folk music stars like it did in the 1960s. To be honest, creating an end for any mockumentary is a difficult task. The purpose of the genre is to elucidate the ridiculousness of everyday people who strive for fame -- essentially, to be someone they are not -- and ultimately being forced to come to the realization of their own mediocrity. In many ways, Guest and his crew do a better job in the two previous movies of embracing, and then stripping away the layers, of the characters' dreams of stardom than in Wind. This is not to say, however, that the actors in Wind do not do a great job in creating some of the funniest and most idiosyncratic characters ever on screen. Catherine O'Hara has demonstrated her ability as one of the best improv/actors working today and she proves herself again here. She and Eugene Levy always have a great comic connection. Fred Willard steals the show for a while with his unbelievably funny bits as the producer of the Main Street Singers. Parker Posey, who has been in all of Guest's films, creates a very funny character, who is not given nearly enough screen time. Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, along with Guest do an excellent job of playing the folk trio, The Folksmen. All the actors definitely have their moments, but, ultimately, the lack of unity among them and the lack of interest in the character's futures leaves this movie below Guest's other works.

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News

Admissions unaffected by Greek issues

April 7

While the recent investigation into Greek life has created a stir on campus, undergraduate applications continue to rise as prospective students and their parents remain unfazed, or simply unaware, of the problems. "It's been my experience that campus events don't have a big impact on applications," said Assistant Director of Admissions David Brunk. "If you are [an applicant] from Kentucky, unless you investigate, you don't find out about it." Because Greek systems are known for having problems on many campuses, Tufts doesn't stand out. Bobbi Nichols, the mother of a prospective student said, "Unfortunately, I think [hazing] would be a common thing on any campus. It wouldn't affect my daughter's decision to go here." The recent events are viewed as problems within the Greek system, and not with Tufts as a whole. "For something to impact the school in terms of admissions it would have to be something the school did," said Brunk. He cited university-wide food poisoning as an example. The timing of the events also means that it is unlikely there will be any effects in terms of number of applicants. Applications for next year were already sent in before spring rush started, and the prospective students visiting now will have almost a year to forget there was even an issue. Though, in most cases, prospective students remain completely unaware of campus news. Erin Connolly, a tour guide and member of Chi Omega sorority said, "Most prospective students come in pretty blind. I haven't heard anyone know anything about what's going on at Tufts right now." On tours, prospective students and parents ask about Greek life in general, but have not specifically questioned recent events. "I think everyone is in the dark," Connolly said, but "I don't think it's necessary to tell because these are isolated incidents and they shouldn't overshadow the great things that frats and sororities participate in." Of course, anything a prospective student learns about Tufts is going to color his perception accordingly. "While [these events] wouldn't affect my decision to apply or not, it would definitely affect my decision to pledge," said Jodie Slezak, a prospective student from New Jersey. The percentage of students involved with the Greek system at Tufts has decreased in recent years to 11 percent. But Recruitment Chairman of Chi Omega Sarah Hoffman said that all the Greek houses are working with the administration to produce a booklet to come out next fall that more specifically outlines exactly what the Greek houses do. "We've had some problems, but we are working on recruitment," Hoffman said.

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News

Baseball team takes two from Wesleyan on Sunday

April 7

While inclement weather would not allow the baseball team to play on Saturday, the Jumbos followed Mother Nature's example and stormed out against Wesleyan on Sunday, sweeping the double header in Middletown, CT, 7-4, 3-2. Amidst the two victories were personal achievements for senior pitcher Jon Lee and fellow senior and tri-captain Evan Zupancic. Lee was named NESCAC Co-Player of the Week thanks to his 82 pitch, no-hit performance against Bates on Mar 29, while Zupancic broke the Tufts career homerun record in the first inning of game two on Sunday. The blast was the centerfielder's 20th career homer, surpassing the old record of 19 long balls shared by Bill Canon (1987-1990) and Eric Sholds (1990-1994). "It was a pretty impressive shot considering the wind was blowing in and it was only 20 degrees," coach John Casey said. "[Zupancic] has been a good player for us especially since he was the lead off hitter for three years and just now is hitting third." In the same game that Zupancic broke the Tufts homerun record, sophomore second baseman Frank Dinucci, put the Jumbos for good, 3-2, in the top of the fourth inning. His two-run single allowed the team to overcome its early 2-1 deficit. "Dinucci was outstanding yesterday," Casey said. "He made every play and got the big hit that brought in the two runs." Tufts' defense and pitchers stranded nine Wesleyan base runners en route to the victory. Lee recorded the win, bettering his record to 4-2 on the season, with a 3.30 ERA. Junior Randy Newsom earned the save, his second of the afternoon after retiring three straight batters in the seventh inning. "[Lee] struggled a little bit, but he hung in there," Casey said. "Newsom did a great job at the end of both games with his saves." In the first contest, Tufts defeated Wesleyan 7-4. Wesleyan went up 4-3 in the third inning after senior right fielder Matt Johnson belted an RBI double. Tufts senior Jon Herbert tied it up in the fourth with an RBI single. Herbert went three for four in the game and also scored two of the seven Tufts runs. "We're hoping Jon gets a little more consistency," Casey said. "He hit the ball pretty well yesterday and is coming around. He certainly is working hard. It's important for him to score being our lead off guy." Senior tri-captain Brian Shapiro scored an unearned run to break the 4-4 stalemate in the fifth inning after he legged out an infield single, and advanced around the bases on a passed ball, and two wild pitches. Shapiro also added insurance runs for the Jumbos with a two run single in the sixth. Fellow senior tri-captain Dave Martin earned the win and remains undefeated at 4-0 this season. He went six and two thirds innings, surrendering seven hits. Newsom preserved the win for Martin in the bottom of the seventh by forcing a fielder's choice to end the game with two men on base. As in other recent games, pitching and defense allowed the Jumbos to come out on top. "We got good pitching and played fairly well defensively," Casey said. "That's what carried us. Some kids are starting to swing a bit better, but it would be nice to feel like everyone is getting there." With the two wins on Sunday, last Wednesday's victory over Mass Maritime, and a series sweep of Bates two weekends ago, Tufts is now 6-0 since returning from its spring break trip. The Jumbos (3-0 NESCAC East) are the only NESCAC team in either division still undefeated in league play. Amherst, Williams and Trinity are all 2-1 against league foes. The Jumbos face off against non-league Bentley College this afternoon at 3 p.m. on Huskins Field. Bentley has played just seven of its 18 scheduled games thanks to the New England spring climate. In those seven games the team has amassed a 2-5 record with its last game--a win--coming on Mar. 28 versus Bryant College. Tufts fell to Bentley 15-5 exactly one year ago today. The Jumbos will try to continue their post-break win streak as well as give some young pitchers a chance to show their stuff against this non-conference adversary. "[Last year against Bentley] we were coming off a weekend where we played four games," Casey said. "We were down in the pitching staff and it gave us chances for kids to pitch. It's the same thing this year. We'll pitch a bunch of guys and see how they shape up. As the schedule gets more condensed, they are going to have to step up and throw more."

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