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Devils, Bruins could meet in first round

April 1

The path to the Stanley Cup Championships runs through the Meadowlands, and the Boston Bruins need to avoid this particular match-up in the first round of the playoffs if they want to prevent a speedy exit. New Jersey Devils netminder Martin Brodeur achieved his fourth 40 win season this weekend, making him the first goalie ever to do so in the NHL. Brodeur, who has never carried home the Vezina Trophy for top goalie, has historically played behind a strong defense in New Jersey. But this year, the Devils' offense dried up, meaning that all the pressure of the season has been on Brodeur's shoulders. And he never disappointed. How low were the New Jersey offensive numbers? Currently sitting on top of their division, New Jersey places third-last in goals among playoff-bound teams with just 209. It may have helped that Brodeur has been letting in a tiny 2.04 goals a game and is one of the top five netminders in the league, recording a league best nine shutouts and playing in over 70 games. However, the Devils will not have an easy time reaching the Eastern Conference finals. The Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers are also favorites to do well come playoff time next week. And no one knows for sure what to expect from the Boston Bruins. After floundering around for most of the season, they seem to have found their legs again under goaltender Steve Shields. This poses a problem for Bruins management, since it traded for Montreal Canadiens goalie Jeff Hackett to take the reins in a three-way deal to offload holdout defenseman Kyle McLaren. Hackett is sitting out right now with a broken finger, and with Shields playing well, Boston may have to ride Shields into the playoffs. That would mean that the Bruins are coached by a man who has never coached an NHL playoff game, GM Mike O'Connell, and their netminder has a playoff history that is less than amazing. With a career playoff record of 9-14, it would be smart to be a little worried about Boston's chances against the East's powerhouses. The match-up in the East that everyone will be hoping to see, though, will be between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Philadelphia Flyers. These are two tough teams, each with their own demons to deal with. The Flyers have been playoff imploders the last few years, highlighted by last season's explosion between goalie Roman Chechmanek and the entire rest of the roster. Toronto is going in with a goaltender who is not Curtis Joseph for the first time that many fans can remember. Eddie "the Eagle" Belfour has played a Vezina-worthy season this year though, and his playoff abilities are not in question after many successful runs with the Dallas Stars. But Toronto is still undisciplined and takes way too many penalties. That may help them, however, once the playoffs start and the refereeing becomes more lax, but if the supposed league crackdown on infractions extends into the playoffs, the Leafs could have some trouble dealing with the Flyers' offense. As the season wraps up, the hardware starts to come out. It is a tight race to the finish for who captures the Rocket Richard Trophy for most goals, the Art Ross Trophy for most points, and the Hart Trophy for MVP. Vancouver Canucks winger Markus Naslund still sits on top for both the Richard and Ross trophies with 103 points and 47 goals, but he is only one goal ahead of teammate Todd Burtuzzi, and one point up on Colorado Avalanche center Peter Forsberg. Forsberg is the favorite to win the Hart, with another unbelievable season under his belt. He leads the league in assists, is second in points, and has the best plus/minus in the NHL with plus 49. But do not expect him to walk away with the MVP honors, as Naslund is also expected to get his share of votes for the trophy. As for the Vezina, the decision is even more difficult. Brodeur proved his talent again this year, Belfour resurrected his career with a great season in Toronto, but Dallas Stars rookie goalie Marty Turco leads the league in goals against, with a 1.81 GAA, and in save percentage with .930. The problem with Turco taking home the hardware is going to be the 16 games he missed while nursing a knee injury over the last month. Other good players this year have been Colorado's Patrick Roy, Philadelphia's Chechmanek, and Ottawa's Patrick Lalime. But none of them have garnered much attention from the press, so expect the trophy to go to Turco or Brodeur.

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News

Culture rep system improving

April 1

The controversy surrounding the Senate culture rep system seems to finally be over this week with a proposed fix being included in the proposed new TCU constitution. The new arrangement does not require student body approval for groups seeking culture rep status -- it simply opens the opportunity to all recognized student groups. The change represents an ideal compromise between those who feel their interests are not served in a class representative system and those who oppose the preferential treatment current Senate culture groups enjoy. Theoretically, there is no need for the culture rep system at all. Students should be able to go to their class representatives with their concerns and expect them to effectively work with the government body to address them. However, it is understandable that class representatives may not be able to effectively communicate all issues secondhand. Under the current system, only a select few student interests have been given the ability to vote at Senate meetings (although all students can speak at the meetings). The exclusion of other campus interests is blatantly unfair, and the new proposal takes a big step toward remedying this. Of course, the Senate may want to try to estimate how many student groups will take advantage of the new rules. If the proposal is passed it would be possible (though unlikely) for group representation to comprise a significant fraction of the Senate. ThePrimary Source had the right idea by actively challenging the system and organizing a referendum that would give campus conservatives their own culture rep. Perhaps not surprisingly, the referendum failed to pass. But credit former Source EIC Sam Dangremond for sticking to his guns and maintaining pressure on the clearly flawed culture rep system. The culture rep arrangement is not perfect, and it may never be. But the new TCU constitution should clear up most of the perennial controversy about the system and let the Senate get back to dealing with more important things.

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News

Cheap Sox, Bubs entertain for charity

March 31

The Alpha Omicron Pi sorority served up a night full of a capella with a little improv on the side at the 2003 Benefit A Capella Concert last Saturday at Goddard Chapel. The concert was a part of AOPi's ongoing campaign to raise money for arthritis research. It featured three collegiate a capella groups, including Tufts' own Beezlebubs, and the ever-entertaining improvisational comedy group, Cheap Sox. This marked the sorority's second annual charitable benefit, which raised more than $1,200 last semester for juvenile arthritis research. The event had a large draw as nearly every pew in Goddard Chapel filled quickly before the concert began. The entire chapel brimmed with the chatter and anticipatory laughter of the gathered audience. Alpha Omicron Pi President Lindsey Bozak welcomed the people in attendance, gave a brief overview of her group's cause, and introduced the first performers, Cheap Sox. The audience's favor was evident from the very beginning as the Tufts improv group was greeted with a powerful round of applause. Cheap Sox quickly launched into the first of three short skits, titled "Styles," where two of its members acted out a scene while shifting into different genres proposed by the audience. This was followed by "Evil Twin," where the improv actors teamed up to play "good" or "evil" twins and had to adjust accordingly after their malicious double took their place in a scene. The third skit, "Party Quirks," a game that finished to rousing applause as the "host" of the party managed to correctly identify his quirky guests based on their actions (in order: an epileptic ballerina, a Muppet, and an entire a capella group). Next to perform were the Downbeats, a co-ed a capella group from Northeastern University. With a repertoire of songs including "Perfect Day" and "You're Everywhere With Me," the 'Beats displayed an infectious energy that had the entire chapel rocking along. Their selection of pieces seemed to stay mainly in the range of popular music, but this ensemble had more than the necessary individual strength to pull it off, featuring several powerful soloists throughout their songs that carried through the animation of the entire group. The Clark Counterpoints followed them to the stage, opening with a strong rendition of "Best Day of My Life." This all-female group showcased an extraordinary range of featured pieces, singing everything from pop to an all-vocal rap number to a Hindi Love Song that was received incredible audience approval. With their mesmerizing tonality and harmonic blends that managed to show off the strengths of singers throughout their ensemble, the Counterpoints presented a nice change from normal a capella faire with their varied selection of music and closed with an original gospel-style piece, titled "When Freedom Comes." The closing group for the evening was the Tufts Beezlebubs, who were greeted with a strong crowd reaction from the moment they took the stage. From the opening note of their first number, "Love the One You're With," the presence of this all-male a capella group lit up the chapel. Though their vocal dexterity is more than evident, the Bubs also clearly enjoyed singing to their audience, hamming it up throughout songs "Do I Love You?" and "Ordinary Man." At times, the entire ensemble often seems so powerful that dramatic pauses come to life, making silences in the middle of a song seem nearly as vivid as their music. The furor rose to a fever pitch, as the audience demanded an encore, which the group granted in the form of Simon and Garfunkle's "Cecilia" before making their final exit. "I loved it," said Becky Leifer, a visiting student from Northeastern who came over to support the Downbeats. "The Tufts group especially had such energy and power, and they really seemed to get the crowd involved." "It was a good mix of styles," agreed Jess Laundy, another Northeastern University student. "And a good representation of serious and fun. I especially enjoyed the song in Hindi [sung by the Counterpoints], because it seemed really unique."

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News

Patriotism and dissent unite at Boston anti-war rally

March 31

The Boston anti-war rally last Saturday attracted thousands of protesters, many of whom expressed visible and vocal patriotic sentiments. The rally highlighted a pro-America, anti Bush attitude that has been growing among war opponents since the United States' attack on Iraq began. Protestors began the rally at Boston Common before marching through blocked-off streets of the Back Bay area. The police presence ensured a peaceful atmosphere for the rally. The prevalence of American Flags was one of many aspects of the rally that differed from the protests that occurred before military action in Iraq began. Waving red, white, and blue, and hundreds of signs illustrating support for US troops demonstrated a new patriotic shift in the anti-war movement. "The protests before the war centralized around anger towards the US government," said a protester on Saturday. "Now, people are showing that they do not agree with US actions, but are not by any means anti-American. We need to demonstrate that dissent is not unpatriotic." Small demonstrations of pro-war supporters gathered at various points along the march to voice their opposing views. They argued for the public's need to support the United States government and army. "Protesting the war now is a lot different than a few months ago," said Mark Rogerson, a pro-war demonstrator. "Now is the time to support your country and your troops. Men and women are risking their lives in our name; it's times like these when showing support is most important." Pro-war protestors wore t-shirts emblazoned with the American flag and held hundreds of signs displaying massive support for US troops. Other pro-war demonstrators support the nobility of the US' actions in attempting to replace a corrupt government with an established democracy. But many anti-war protestors felt that these pro-war demonstrators were supporting democracy elsewhere, while in the process challenging its fundamental applications at home. "The United States is supposed to be the prime example for a democratic government. When our right to protest and to voice our opinions is challenged, it is violating the principles which democracy is founded on," said Sarah Arkin, a Tufts student and anti-war protestor who was present. A greater range in the age of protest participants is another sign that the anti-war movement is evolving in other respects as well. Saturday's protest saw families, young children, and elderly people in addition to the mainly student-based group that has been rallying since September. "You're noticing a much fuller spectrum of ages represented now compared to a few months ago," said Adam Aslan, a Tufts student who has attended many antiwar protests throughout the year. The spectrum of ages can be attributed to the increased media attention being given to the war, he said. With high attendance and an increasingly diverse population of protesters, the antiwar movement does not appear to be slowing down. However, some of those involved in the movement are questioning what steps to take next. Anti-war protestors should focus primarily on spreading the anti-war message and educating the public said Phil Martin, a Tufts student involved in the movement. "I don't think it's probable that the movement will stop the war," he said. "But if we can get people to start realizing that what their leaders are doing is unjust and wrong, then we will be able to accomplish something and start to move society in the right direction."

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News

Ask Angie

March 31

Q: Angie, this summer after we graduate, my girlfriend and I are supposed to be moving in together. I'm okay with the whole thing but she is getting really scared about it as we get closer to the end of the year. She is scared to the point that she's sick all the time, saying she doesn't love me anymore and things to scare me. I think she is getting cold feet, but what can I do? - Moving In? A: Cold feet, eh? It sounds like her feet are a little bit more than cold! She's obviously so anxious that it's making her physically ill. Maybe that should be telling you something -- she's really not okay with this whole idea. The idea of the permanence of your cohabitation may be what's getting to her -- after all, it's a huge step to move in together and will inevitably change the dynamics of your relationship. She might be saying that she doesn't love you because she's decided that this move together will be disastrous. With that mindset, she'll inevitably make it come true. You may want to talk it out and make this step more of a "trial run." You have to be open to the idea of getting separate places if things don't work out, and if she knows you're willing to do this she may be more keen on giving this a shot. Q: Dear Angie, an old friend of mine just came back into my life. We used to hook up and now he is 20 and MARRIED to the girlfriend he used to cheat on! When we were just hanging out he was still trying his moves on me. I still want to be friends with him, how can we get past that behavior? - Old Fling A: Well, obviously the act of making those marriage vows didn't change a thing about your friend. It makes you wonder if that girl knew what she was getting herself into when she committed herself to him -- although she may have seen marriage as a way to save their shaky relationship, which will rarely stop a cheater. A true friendship is probably out of the question at this stage in your lives because his intentions seem to be less than honorable. As long as you're not reciprocating his advances (which would probably be a really bad idea, by the way), there doesn't seem to be any harm in spending time together. If he's making you uncomfortable, it would be best to lay down the ground rules of your friendship as soon as possible. It's possible that since your friendship had previously been based on attraction and flirtation that he is unsure of how to act in any other circumstance. As a friend, it's also your responsibility to push your relationship in a healthy direction, whether that involves time apart or quality time together. Q: Hello Angie, I'm kind of embarrassed to explain my situation. My mom is pretty young looking and acting. I am 18 and she is 38, she had me when she was in college. When I was just home over Spring Break, and every time I am home, she invites my guy friends over to the apartment and flirts with them in front of me. She even has 20-year-old friends of her own that hang around and think she's really fun and cool. She never realizes how uncomfortable it all makes me, and I seriously don't want to go home anymore. What am I supposed to do? - Distraught Daughter A: The fact that your mother had you at such a young age probably left her feeling like she never got a chance to really be a care-free young adult. The problem is that you want and deserve a mother, not a flirtatious friend. She likes to surround herself with these young men because they probably make her feel young and confident. I have no idea if you've even told your mom that this behavior bothers you. That's obviously the first step, even though it will probably be the hardest to take. Without honesty on your end, she may have no idea that this is impacting you -- she may feel like she's acting young and cool and you love her for it. If you've talked to her and she is unresponsive, the next step would be to involve a counselor or perhaps another trusted authority figure. Someone needs to intervene and tell her how she is making you feel. Be aware that your mom is at a point her life where she is afraid of getting old -- what she's doing is not to hurt you, but an attempt to cling to something she's afraid is quickly slipping away.

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News

Committee proposes a new constitution for student government

March 31

A Senate-initiated committee has proposed changing the way students elect presidents so that more than two candidates could run, because many senators felt that the present system is too limiting. The Constitutional Reform Committee, which was set up by the Tufts Community Union Senate and whose members include senators and other students, has suggested a system that would allow the Senate to nominate more than two candidates for the presidential elections. Under the proposed system, any senator who receives a two-thirds vote of confidence from the Senate would be able to run for the presidency. "Many of us felt that it was unfair to restrict the presidential election to having two nominees when there may in fact be more than two viable candidates," freshman senator Rafi Goldberg said. Because a large number of candidates would likely split the vote, the Constitutional Reform Committee suggested a system whereby students would rank the candidates to ensure that the winning candidate is preferred by a majority of students. If no candidate receives a majority of first choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes will be eliminated, and the ballots of the people who marked the candidate as their first choice will be redistributed to count towards their second choice, Goldberg explained. Under the direction of the Elections Board, the process would be repeated until one candidate received a clear majority. The new method of electing presidents has been included in a new draft of the TCU constitution, which the committee would like to put to students in a referendum. The constitution''s main backers are Sam Dangremond, chair of the Committee on Student Life, and Senators Chike Aguh and Alison Clarke. The new constitution was presented to the Senate at its weekly meeting on Sunday and also included other suggestions to change student government. The committee also proposed guidelines to clarify the procedure for filling vacant student government positions, following the confusion that followed TCU Senate President Melissa Carson''s resignation from her post in February. The proposed constitution specifies that a new election will be held if the office becomes vacant during the fall semester. If the president left the post in the spring, the Senate could decide by majority vote whether to hold another election. The new constitution, if approved, could avoid the use of ad hoc procedures like those employed earlier in the semester. Another major change would be to replace the current position of Assistant Treasurer with an Associate and Assistant Treasurer to better distribute the treasury''s workload and expand the number of treasury office hours each week, according to Dangremond. And in an unusual compromise, the Committee has proposed replacing the current Culture Representative system with the Community Representative system. The Committee''s proposed amendment would open the representative system to any TCU-recognized student organization that petitions using standard procedure, which entails a petition with 250 signatures followed by a referendum at the next regularly-scheduled presidential election, Goldberg said. The student body will vote every four years on whether to re-approve or remove a Community Representative seat. Under the new system, the Asian Community at Tufts (ACT), the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), the Pan-African Alliance (PAA) and the Tufts Transgendered, Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC) will all be allowed to retain their representatives in Senate. The proposal includes removing the Commuter Representative. According to Goldberg, feedback from commuting students indicated that they did not believe that the position, currently held by Josh Kersting, was necessary. The senate will sponsor a forum on the proposed constitutional changes tonight at 7:30 p.m. in Hotung Caf?©.

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News

Red Sox give up

March 31

In an unprecedented move, the Boston Red Sox's majority owner John Henry announced today, in an impromptu news conference, that his team was waving the white flag for at least the 2003 season and possibly more. In laymen's terms, the Red Sox are taking the year off. "My baseball people and I have just come to the conclusion that we are not good enough to compete this year," a discouraged Henry admitted. "I am a man of dignity and I just refuse to put a product out on the field that will be embarrassing to watch." Commissioner Bud Selig has yet to comment on Henry's announcement, but insiders say that he supports the decision. After the 2002 season when the Red Sox finished 93-69, 10.5 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East, Henry expected to make a flourish of off-season moves to put his team over the top, but nothing seemed to pan out for Boston. First, the team seemingly snatched GM Billy Beane from Oakland by offering him a ridiculous sum of money. After agreeing to the basic terms of a contract with the Red Sox, Beane backed out at the last second. "Initially it seemed like a great idea," Beane said. "If I could have turned the Red Sox into winners I would have become the most famous GM ever, but then I realized that even a man as talented as I am cannot do the impossible. All the money I was being offered was not worth the agony." Following Beane's decision to spurn the Red Sox, the team found itself in the unenviable position of begging people to fill the GM role. Despite offering millions of dollars to respected GMs nationwide, none were willing to take on the tremendous challenge. "No way I'm taking that job," said one NL GM who was offered the position. "It's simply a no-win situation over there. I could make all the right moves and the team would still finish in last place. The organization is cursed I tell you." The search for a new GM got so bad that Henry and team president Larry Lucchino actually considered rehiring former GM Dan Duquette, whom they fired last spring. "We needed somebody to serve as the GM, but in preliminary discussions with Dan, he made it pretty clear that it would take $100 million for five years to get him back," Lucchino said. "We would only go as high as $50 million so talks quickly ended." Finally the team was forced to hire the now 29-year-old Theo Epstein, whose only previous GM experience came last year when he was the GM of his own fantasy baseball team on Yahoo. "Sure, I have no professional GM experience, but I was the Yahoo fantasy baseball champion in my 12-team league," he boasted. Immediately after agreeing to a contract, Epstein went to work. One of his first planned moves was to sign Cuban ace Jose Contreras. Perhaps not surprisingly, the transaction did not go smoothly and actually did not end up happening at all. While the Sox had already marked Contreras down as the team's third starter, Epstein went to Nicaragua to get Contreras to officially sign on to what Boston already considered a done deal. "We had already designed the team's 2003 yearbook with Contreras on the cover," Henry said. "Not signing him was a big blow." Epstein was so positive that he was going to sign Contreras that he rejected trades for much needed aces Kevin Millwood and Bartolo Colon, who were eventually given to the Phillies and the White Sox, respectively, for basically nothing. But of course the formality of signing Contreras to a contract did not go according to the plan when the pitcher decided that he would rather be the Yankees' mop up reliever than a starter for the Red Sox. "I just want to win and I knew that I would never fulfill that dream as a member of the Red Sox," Contreras said. After being trumped by the Yankees, Epstein threw a hissy fit, reportedly breaking chairs and windows in the hotel where he was staying. Despite evidence to the contrary, Epstein denied the allegations. "Why would I do that? I am a grown man," Epstein said. "We didn't want Contreras anyway. We have a better plan which involves signing a number of journeymen relievers." Soon after going public with his plan to sign journeymen relievers instead of solid starters or a closer, Epstein held a press conference to announce the signings of Ramiro Mendoza, Mike Timlin and Chad Fox. "See? I nabbed some pretty fine journeymen just like I said I would," a giddy Epstein gushed. Next, Epstein decided that he needed to bring in some heavy hitters and made failed attempts to sign Jeff Kent and Edgardo Alfonzo. "We didn't want them anyway," Epstein said. "I have a better plan and it involves fielding a team with three designated hitters who all play at the same time." So Epstein went out and acquired Jeremy Giambi, David Ortiz and Kevin Millar. "I know that these guys all play the same position, but we'll just stick them all somewhere in the field... Defense is overrated anyway and they all have relatively high on base percentages. Remember, that mantra guided me to the Yahoo championship last year." Following an off-season when the Red Sox hired a kid GM and signed six journeymen (this does not include new second baseman Todd Walker), Henry and Lucchino went into spring training expecting nothing less than perfection. But, after finishing the Grapefruit League schedule one game over .500, Henry concluded that 2003 was not going to be the Red Sox's year. "We give up," Henry said. "We surrender. We forfeit the 2003 season. We will take the next year -- and maybe even the next few years -- to rebuild the Red Sox organization. It would just be too embarrassing to play any games this year. "But don't worry," he continued, "we'll be back in a few years and when we do put our players back on the field, I promise you that they will be good. In fact, I promise you that by 2018 we will have a championship team for you Bostonians... But, for at least this season you will just have to sit tight and bear with us." In place of regularly-scheduled Red Sox games, Fenway Park will play host to a number of Little League games throughout the summer. "The kids will look better than us out there," Henry said. "You can be sure of that." April fools?

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News

Lee throws no-hitter as Jumbos take three from Bates

March 31

The Tufts baseball team began its NESCAC season with a bang last weekend sweeping the visiting Bates Bobcats in a three game series. Tufts had three remarkable pitching performances highlighted by senior Jon Lee's no-hitter in game one of the Saturday double header. The Jumbos are now 8-4 overall and hold a perfect 3-0 NESCAC record. Lee's 8-0 gem on Saturday marked the second time in his four-year Tufts career he has recorded a no hit game. He blanked Bowdoin May 7, 2000 as a freshman. Saturday's performance was a vast improvement upon Lee's disappointing outings on the team's recent Spring Break road trip to Virginia and North Carolina. "We challenged Jon this game," coach John Casey said. "He is a tremendous competitor and always responds. It was a mechanics thing down south, but he threw a great game [Saturday.] He mixed it up really well and threw the curve for strikes." Lee was in complete control of the game from the very beginning. With a nearly 25 mph wind whipping in from left-center field, Lee managed to knock the Bobcats out in one-two-three fashion in six of his seven no-hit innings. Lee also recorded eight strikeouts on the day, and was named a NESCAC Co-Player of the week for his work. "I felt good at the end of the week," Lee said. "I've been working... I tried to stay calm throughout the entire thing." The Jumbos' offense scored the runs needed to secure Lee's victory during a marathon fourth inning. With the help of four Bates errors, three walks, two hit batsmen and five base hits, the Jumbos scored all of their eight runs in the bottom of the fourth. Later that day, Tufts earned its second straight shut-out victory, 5-0, on the arm of junior starter Randy Newsom. Though overshadowed by Lee's no-hitter, Newsom threw a complete game, two hit shut-out. He struck out eleven Bobcats and did not surrender a hit until the fifth inning. The only other Bates hit of the contest came in the top of the ninth and was followed by two consecutive strikeouts to end the game. "We got two great pitching performances," sophomore Greg Hickey said. "We practiced pretty hard all week. It was just what we needed to start the NESCAC season out 3-0." As in game one, Tufts struggled to produce runs consistently, but managed to cross the plate often enough to earn its second win of the afternoon. The Jumbos scored their first run after junior Drew Blewett smacked a double between the center and right fielders. Leadoff man senior Jon Herbert followed with a single and then was matched by junior Adam Kacamburas to drive in Blewett. Tufts struck again in the bottom of the fifth for two runs. The team was helped by an error that allowed junior Nick Palange to reach first, Blewett being hit by a pitch, a base hit by Kacamburas and a sacrifice fly by Zupancic. The last two Jumbo runs came in the bottom of the eighth as a result of three hits and a fielder's choice. Hickey contributed with an RBI single to left adding to his already-productive spring. "I've been seeing the ball well lately," Hickey said. "It looks like a balloon up there." On Friday, Tufts won its first regular season game 10-6 in the opening match-up of the weekend series with Bates. Senior tri-captain Dave Martin pitched eight and two-thirds innings scattering eight hits and striking out eight. Tufts started out early offensively with two singles by Herbert and Kacamburas followed by three walks that drove in freshman Matt Clement and Shapiro in the first inning. The Jumbos struck again in the third when Hickey doubled in Zupancic and Shapiro. Hickey went 2-4 on the day. The Bobcats did not go down as quietly as they would the following day. In the top of the fourth, Bates scored three runs with the help of two singles, a Tufts error and a double by outfielder Nate Reid. Tufts countered in the second half of the inning with five runs of its own to push the lead up to 9-3. Bates would score three runs in the top of the ninth, but could not get enough runs to force the game into extra innings, giving the Jumbos their first NESCAC victory. The successful weekend was due primarily to the powerful arms on the mound. "Martin, Lee and Newsom were the high points," Casey said. "We gave up one hit in 16 innings [on Saturday.]" Despite the victories, fine tuning still must be done on the offensive end if the Jumbos are to be successful this season. "We are exactly what you see: very inconsistent. We can't tell what will happen at the plate," Casey said. "We just need to relax. We're not doing smart things. At least you know if you have defense and pitching, you'll be in the game. Offensively we have to be better or else we won't beat good teams." The team will be back in action today at Huskins Field against Mass Maritime at 3:00. "[Today] is time to see who will emerge as the fourth pitcher," Casey said. "Right now the bull pen is struggling so we will probably throw three, four, or five guys and see who steps up."

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News

Women's lacrosse drops conference opener to Trinity

March 31

The women's lacrosse team ended up on the short end of the stick for the third time in as many years last Saturday against the Trinity Bantams in Hartford, CT. The Bantams are currently ranked 16th in the country. Trinity senior Laura Davis scored the go ahead goal with 10:58 left in the game to lead the Bantams to a 10-8 win over Tufts. The Jumbos, who lost for the first time this season, fell to 3-1 overall, and 0-1 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Tufts junior Willow Hagge, who has 13 goals and seven assists in her last four games, scored three goals with freshman Ryan Killen tallying two more to lead the Jumbos in the loss. Senior midfielder Katelyn Bowman gave the Bantams an early 1-0 lead, opening with a quick goal just 27 seconds into the contest. The Jumbos went on a mini-run over the next 14 minutes, shutting the Bantams out and running off four goals of their own to take a 4-1 lead with just five minutes left in the first half. Trinity clawed its way back into the contest with two goals by Bowman and Davis to bring the Jumbos lead down to one as the first half buzzer sounded. "As a team, we played an amazing first half," junior Lauren Peach said. "It was clearly our best individual half of the season." Tufts came out with a newfound intensity to start the second half. "Trinity is a really fast team, so coach just told us to keep running with them and hustling down the field on fast breaks to try and score quick goals," Peach said. The Jumbos rattled off three of the next four goals to increase their lead back to three goals, 7-4. Trinity quickly countered the Tufts attack, as the relentless Bantams scoring three goals over the next five minutes to tie the score at seven apiece with 13:26 remaining. "We played an excellent first half, and kept up our intensity through the first part of the second half," Peach said. "But we stopped playing good defense in the second part of the second half, and we lost a lot of possessions late in the game." The Bantams, however, did not stop there. Trinity sophomore attacker and NESCAC player of the week Bea Gratry found a streaking Davis who shot quickly past Tufts senior co-captain and goalie Ari Kristan to put Trinity ahead to stay with just under 11 minutes to go. Gratry and senior Elizabeth Miller tallied a goal apiece to give the Bantams a 10-7 lead with under five minutes to play. Killen led the Jumbos final run with a laser shot past Bantams junior goalie Alexandra Benjamin to pull the team within two scores at 10-8, but that was how the game would end. "We made lots of mistakes in the second part of the second half," Peach said. "Trinity was not playing better than us; we played better in the first half but played down to their level in the second. They wanted it more later in the game, so they deserved to win." Kristan finished with a season high 16 saves for Tufts, while Benjamin paced the Bantams with nine. With the win, the Bantams moved to 7-0 on the season and 2-0 in the NESCAC, sitting in a tie for first in the conference, while the Jumbos dropped to a tie for seventh in the NESCAC. "The game against Trinity was a great game for the younger players," Peach said. "It was the first time this season we played a good overall team, and their defensive pressure surprised the younger kids. Possession late in the game is key, and we need to work on turning the ball over less against tough defensive teams." The Jumbos face the Bowdoin Polar Bears in their NESCAC home opener today at 4 p.m. on Kraft Field.

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News

Iraqis and others discuss war

March 31

Amid growing tensions over war in Iraq, organizers of the panel "To Fight or Not to Fight" provided their audience a respectful discussion with varying viewpoints and perspectives on the current conflict. The discussion -- which invited students and faculty to speak in Braker 01 on Thursday -- became charged at times as panelists talked about personal and emotional issues surrounding the war. An intense dialogue arose between two Tufts seniors who were born in Iraq and lived much of their lives under Saddam's regime. Although they both agreed, along with other panelists, that the regime should be taken out of power, they disagreed sharply on the US's decision to go to war. "I think a lot of good can come of this war -- call me an optimist," Iraqi senior Firend Zora said. He acknowledged that the fighting was frightening for him, as he still has relatives in Iraq, but praised the United States for sincerely developing more accurate weapons. He also applauded the US's record with rebuilding democracies. Since World War II, Zora said, this has been "the most just war" that America has fought. He also said that the war was the only solution at this point, and that it was "12 years too late" to remove Saddam's regime from power. But the attempt to remove Hussein's regime comes at the wrong time, said Rana Abdul-Aziz, another Iraqi senior and IR major. Although removing the regime would stop much of the suffering in Iraq, the US should have attempted further diplomacy, Abdul-Aziz said. Though she acknowledged that Hussein's regime is atrocious, Abdul-Aziz said that unseating the regime so suddenly would "take away the glue that holds together Iraq." Because of the current cultural and political chaos in Iraq, a "fragmentation of the country" is inevitable if he is taken out of power, she said. The other panelists also had diverse opinions and offered new perspectives on the war. France, Russia, Germany and China are preserving their good relations with Iraq -- and maintaining their source of oil -- by not supporting the war, said senior engineer and Primary Source contributor Brandon Balkind. Though the US is perceived to lack international support for the war, those four countries "are all just as self-interested as the US" in their stances on the war, Balkind said. But carrying out the war may send the wrong message, senior and anti-war activist Craig Wenner said. "Victory can't be glorious. The Administration and public see it as glorious to liberate people by waging a great war," he said. Diplomacy would have been a better way to deal with Hussein's regime, said Reverend Ben Tousley, a Unitarian Universalist. He cited his childhood in Ireland as a large factor in his current stance on war. I saw "a lot of suffering, sadness and misery" and how the "will to fight perpetuated conflict" while growing up in the midst of the struggle between Catholics and Protestants, Tousley said. Megan Liotta, former editor of The Primary Source, said that the US had no choice but to go to war. "We can employ our own evil to remove another evil... or leave evil alone," Liotta said Allowing the Iraqi people to rise up against Saddam would have been ideal, but it is no longer an option, she said. Both Zora and Abdul-Aziz also shared similarly emotional stories about their ties to Iraq, which highlighted the emotional mood at the panel. Zora was born and lived much of his life as a Catholic Communist in Iraq. He recounted how his relatives and neighbors were tortured by members of Hussein's regime. "Every once in a while a student would be missing or a neighbor would be missing," Zora said. In fact, Zora may not have been at the panel to tell his story if Hussein had been successful. Zora's mother was forced to flee her home while she was pregnant when Hussein began a campaign to exterminate Communists living in Iraq. Abdul-Aziz's family was vacationing in the US when the Gulf War broke out and decided to stay in the US despite beginning a life here with merely "30 days worth of luggage." One discouraged student asked panel members at the end of the discussion how she was supposed to keep hope in humanity when there seemed to be no clear answer to the Iraqi situation. But this question spurred a much more buoyant thought from Liotta. "It's always a positive when things are shaken up and people realize their assumptions are not really what they thought. I am happy to see people come out [of the panel] with their minds not made up," Liotta said.

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Tufts medical school slapped with cease and desist order

March 31

The Medical School may be in violation of federal law, according to a letter from two conservative think-tanks that was received by the school last week. In the letter, Tufts was given until Apr. 21 to change its Post Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP) and its Minority Externship Program or face possible legal action. At issue is Title VI, a section of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requiring that any program which spends public funds not spend them "in any fashion which encourages, entrenches, subsidizes or results in racial [color or national origin] discrimination." Action against Tufts is part of the broader campaign being waged by the Center for Equal Opportunity and the American Civil Rights Institute, two Washington DC based interest groups. Six universities, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have agreed to modify their programs after receiving similar letters. The letter sent to the medical school identified the PREP and the Minority Externship Program as those not in compliance with Title VI legislation. Edward Blum, legal affairs advisor for the Center of Equal Opportunity, said that action was being taken because "these programs offer tangible benefits," which are not available to non-minority students. The complaint alleges that the two medical school programs violate the statute because they use race "as a prerequisite" Blum said. Henry Wortis, a professor at the Medical School, who sought government funding for the PREP program denied the program was illegal. The federal funding that the program receives would otherwise not be given to the school, and thus other programs are not suffering in the wake of PREP's existence, he said. PREP allows students who are demonstrated minorities and have received a bachelor's degree to work for one or two years in a research position at the Tufts medical school. Participants receive a $21,000 yearly stipend. The grant allows for as many as ten assistants at any one time. Wortis said that the University considers all groups of people who might be underrepresented in the medical field for the PREP program, not just "historically defined minorities." The Minority Externship Program, gives students the opportunity to do a month internship in the community, with a $350 stipend and a free metro pass. Applications are floating and students are accepted from "under-represented minorities" already accepted at the Medical School. Director of the Externship Program Di Pierce defended the program's attempts to address issues of equality. "This program is directed toward under-represented minorities but nobody is excluded from applying." Dean of Student Affairs at the Medical School Amy Kuklik and Tufts General Counsel Mary Lee Jacobs were unavailable for comment. If the Medical School refuses to change the program, it could face an investigation from the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which Blum warned was "not a good thing for any University to endure." The OCR is a subset of the Department of Education that assures the enforcement of Title VI by conducting inquiries based on complaints filed with the office. Blum warned the process could take "years," and most universities are charged with some form of non-compliance. Blum, however, was confident that Tufts would follow the lead of other universities and comply with the statue. In response other schools have formed "committees to look into allegations and given reasons and why they have asked for more time, and we have been more than accommodative." The School of Arts, Sciences and Engineering also holds several programs exclusive to students of a certain racial or ethic group, including the Asian-Americans Center's "Annual George's Island Outing" and a trip to Cape Cod sponsored by the Africana Center. The Center for Equal Opportunity believes these programs are in violation of Title VI, but has decided not to pursue it, instead focusing on programs at professional schools. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman denied the charges, and questioned why cultural programs were being targeted for media attention. He emphasized the program offered at Tufts, during the general orientation period, was legal and one of 40 programs offered during the period after general matriculation on Aug. 28.

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Supreme Court to hear University of Michigan case today

March 31

The US Supreme Court will hear oral arguments today in the University of Michigan''s affirmative action case. When the court delivers its decision, expected in June, it could set a defining precedent on how diversity can be considered in college admissions process. The university, a public institution, is currently facing legal action from two white students rejected from the University who claim that their race disadvantaged them in the admissions process and that the rejection later lessened the professional opportunities availed to them. The cases have sparked an affirmative action debate unlike any seen since the court ruled 5-4 in 1978 to outlaw racial quotas in university admissions but allowed race to be considered as a factor. Applicants for Michigan''s undergraduate classes are scored by points, with minorities, some underprivileged applicants and some athletes receiving a boost of 20 points on a scale of 150. The school also awards points based on alumni relationships, Michigan residency and residency in underrepresented Michigan counties. The law school uses a looser formula that aims for a "critical mass" in minority enrollment. Tufts, along with other universities, organizations, and individuals, has filed an amicus brief in support of Michigan''s current policies. The brief was filed in February on behalf of Tufts and 27 other colleges and universities, including Amherst, Bowdoin, Davidson, Middlebury, Vassar, and Williams. The brief supports Michigan''s policy of considering race and other non-academic factors in its admissions process. "Private, highly selective colleges have a compelling educational interest in enrolling highly diverse -- including racially diverse -- classes, and cannot do so without taking the diversity they strive for into account," the brief said. "Thirty-five years [after its implementation], the colleges'' experience demonstrates that affirmative action has had educational benefits -- and benefits for American society." Sixty other briefs were filed in support of Michigan by 65 Fortune 500 companies, 12 Democratic Senators, several important figures in the US Military, and numerous other colleges and private organizations. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, even though the amount of support found in the amicus briefs is unprecedented, most of the documents will be merely skimmed by clerks, and a majority of legal analysts believe that the justices will only look at very few of those submitted. "There is at least a possibility of backfire," Emory University law professor David L. Garrow told the Chronicle. "The greater the number of amicus briefs, the lower the chances the justices themselves will flip through them." As a private institution, Tufts would not be directly bound by a decision against Michigan, although the University could be compelled to comply because it receives some government funding. In any case, the ruling would stand as an important precedent that could affect how the University''s admissions office uses an affirmative action policy. Tufts'' current policy, according to the admissions web page, includes "a commitment to enroll students from a wide variety of backgrounds, perspectives and interests, including ethnic and cultural experiences, who will make study on the university campus more rewarding and productive." The lawsuit to be heard today began in 1997 when Barbara Grutter, now 49, sued Michigan''s Law School upon her rejection. Grutter felt that her application hadn''t been properly considered because of her race. While a district court ruled in favor of Grutter, the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned the case. Jennifer Gratz and Patrick Hamacher, now 25 and 24, respectively, also filed a suit against the university after they were rejected from the university''s undergraduate school. The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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Gang life examined in 'Breath, Boom'

March 31

A gang is a lifetime commitment. Once you're initiated, you are in it for life. And if you want to get out, you will be killed, or beaten so badly you will wish you had been. Once you're in, there is no easy escape. Similarly, once you find your seat for Kia Corthron's play, Breath, Boom, there is no easy escape from the story unfolding in front of you. Her play, now running at the Huntington Theatre Company through Apr. 6, explores gang life, and most specifically, girl gangs. While the script is ambitious and the production daring, the story is ultimately less informative about gang life than it is concerned with intimidating the audience. While Corthron's dialogue reads like powerful spoken word poetry, the director, Michael John Garc??s, decision to have the actors speak many lines as if they were delivering poems prevents the audience from experiencing the reality of his language. In other words, since the actors force the lines, they appear more like someone angrily reading a poem from their journal at an open mic night than a theatrical character. For example, the main character, Prix (Kellee Stewart), never waivers from her cold, hard "gangsta" attitude in her tone, even after she has left that world. Thus, the audience is never given a chance to see through her gangsta persona except for some sparse, stilted and somewhat out of place vocal outbursts. While the acting and direction do more to hinder the audience from taking in the cruel realities of gang life, the technical aspects have the opposite effect. The technical aspects (i.e. set, lights, sound) were certainly the most impressive components of this production. The agile set, designed by Adam Stockhausen, plays a large a role in bringing the audience into this street life, in turn allowing the audience to take it in as the show progresses. Using literally the same space twice, he creates two completely separate apartments -- one being Prix's room in her house and the other her very own apartment. He effectively contrasts the two living spaces with one being ornate and the other more barren. Stockhausen also constructs a very detailed prison setting with two floors of bunk beds and a fly-down wall of doors that open and shut automatically. His realistic background gives the audience an immediate feel for the barred existence of its prisoners -- girls entrapped not only in a prison but in a way of life. The sets give the lighting and the sound designers more than an ample palette for their work, as well. Many times, the three designers work in unison to create a very effective and impacting motion onstage. During the scene changes, sound designer Martin Desjardins chooses a loud and metallic rhythm to accompany the darkened spaces in which people walk on- and offstage bringing props and moving around set pieces. Lighting designer Kirk Bookman uses a wide variety of gobos (templates with designs cut into them to put the light into shapes) in these scene changes, as well as throughout the production. He uses lights with cage gobos to represent the spaces in which Prix must stay while she awaits the scene changes. Usually, these also signify her entry and exit from prison. In one scene, he uses a side light with a parallel line gobo, which creates the effect of a light shining through a window's blinds. The theme of prison bars was utilized to its full effect throughout this production even when, in this case, they were rotated 90 degrees. Following along this imprisonment theme, the costume designer, Karen Perry, made an excellent choice to have the run crew dressed in security guard outfits to signify the trappings of Prix's world. This decision was extremely successful when the security guards (run crew) transformed the set from a prison to Prix's apartment and vice versa. At home, she was just as much of a prisoner as she was in prison and to the gang life. Yet, while the production owes most of its success to some very impressive technical elements, the actors, writer and director should not be entirely discounted. It does take tremendous courage to even write a play on this alarmingly relevant topic, as well as to produce it. Undoubtedly, the play leaves its audience with some very unsettling images and powerful moments, which do not allow the viewer to leave unharmed. Yet, because the story merely glances at the gang life instead of peeling back its skin, the audience finds any easy escape underneath the "exit" sign of the theater. Breath, Boom is playing at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston thru April 6. Tickets are available by contacting 617-266-0800.

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Go ahead -- be a quitter!

March 31

It's that time of year again: spring is in the air, flowers are blooming, and the air is fresh -- or not. Have you ever been walking to class and enjoying the breeze on a nice, sunny day, only to be consumed by a cloud of smoke as you pass by a smoker? Or maybe you are that smoker: a recent study showed that nearly 30 percent of college students smoke. The survey, conducted by the US College Students' Use of Tobacco Products in 2000, also indicated that large numbers of students try to quit while they are in college. Whether you're trying to help someone quit, trying to quit yourself, or simply curious, read on to discover the truth about quitting smoking and gaining weight. Myth: Everybody gains weight when they give up smoking cigarettes. Fact: Not everyone packs on the pounds when they quit lighting up. Although the average for those who do gain weight is about ten pounds, the people most likely to gain weight are those who have smoked for ten to 20 years or who smoke at least one pack a day. Plus, according to the National Institute of Health, you would have to gain 100 to 150 pounds to equal the health risks of continuing to smoke! Myth: People gain weight because they eat more after they quit. Fact: While many try to satisfy cigarette cravings by snacking, there are many other reasons for putting on weight. First, nicotine may keep your body weight low; quitting, then, returns you to your normal body weight. Also, water retention in the days after quitting might add three to five pounds to your body weight. Finally, heavy smoking causes your body to use more calories, so your body needs fewer calories after quitting. If your diet is not adjusted accordingly, you could possibly put on a pound or two. Myth: You can't do anything to prevent weight gain. Fact: Quitting is hard enough, and starting a diet or exercise at the same time would be torture for some. It is generally assumed among the scientific community that smokers tend to have a worse diet and exercise less than non-smokers, so try and make small diet changes or become more physically active before you quit. When hunger hits after you quit, don't reach for a candy bar. Instead, go for filling, fiber-rich foods like whole grains, fruits, or vegetables. Eating a healthy diet includes these foods as well as low-fat meat and dairy products. Also, try to consume fewer high-fat and high-sugar snacks. Myth: Cravings for cigarettes and food will take over your life. Fact: You can do something about cravings -- be they for cigarettes or candy -- when they hit. Relax and remember that most cravings only last for about five minutes. Replace smoking with healthful snacks, gum, or a hobby that keeps your hands busy. Avoid caffeine, as it will exacerbate withdrawal symptoms like nervousness and shakiness. Eat only when you are hungry -- it usually helps to write down all the foods you eat and in which situations. Avoid situations that tend to make you eat more or snack on unhealthy foods. And don't forget about exercise, which can not only distract you from cravings, but also help to release feel-good chemicals and burn calories. If you are just not interesting in quitting right now, the least you can do is make sure your body is getting everything it needs to keep up with the effects of your bad habit. Myth: Your body needs no extra nutrients if you're a smoker. Truth: Smoking can ease hunger pangs in some smokers, and they may satisfy their feelings of hunger with cigarettes rather than food. This can lead to poor food choices and low nutrient intake. Smokers need more vitamin C [an additional 35 mg per day] because their bodies use it to repair cells damaged by smoking. Even those exposed to second-hand smoke may have higher vitamin C needs. Smokers also have lower intakes of fiber, vitamin A, beta-carotene, folate, and vitamin C. Remember that foods contain many compounds that have not been discovered or put into supplement form, so try to eat a balanced and varied diet, rather than popping pills, to minimize the damage from smoking. Finally, there is one type of smoking that hasn't been mentioned so far, and it isn't a cigar or pipe. Marijuana can also impact your diet and weight status, but it does so in very different ways than cigarettes. Myth: Marijuana does not cause weight gain in some people. Truth: Most people have heard of the munchies -- the increased appetite that some experience when smoking marijuana. Studies have shown that marijuana is related to an increased frequency and amount of eating. One study, from 1970 entitled "Marijuana Use Patterns," showed that 91 percent of users ate every time they smoked. Another conducted in the same year entitled "Marijuana Intoxication: Common Experiences" showed that 93 percent ate much more when they smoked because it caused them to enjoy eating more. Finally, the sluggishness that comes along with marijuana use may decrease your physical activity and cause you to burn fewer calories -- another way to put on pounds. Remember, nicotine is an addiction, so steer clear of other addictive habits like overeating and drinking that may replace smoking after you quit. If you're not ready to kick your smoking habit, at the very least try to maintain a healthy diet and some form of physical activity. If you are planning on quitting, steer clear of social situations [where smoking or marijuana use may be common] that cause you to take in too many calories from alcohol or junk food. Try not bringing cigarettes along when you go out, and convince your friends to do the same. Keep in mind that on May 5, Boston begins banning smoking in bars, clubs, and restaurants. Stop now rather than suffer later. Plus, spring is a great time to try to quit: the fruits and vegetables are fresh, the weather is right for exercising, and you'll be doing your small part to keep that spring air crisp and clean.

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Putting Oscar in his place

March 31

It's been more than a week since the Oscars. Does your food taste better? Are your classes shorter, your step lighter, your bills lower? Has your life improved in any way? Then why the hell does America obsess over the Oscars so? For most people, the Academy Awards possess a retroactive Midas touch. An Oscar-winner suddenly becomes better, as though the presentation of a statuette has some mystical effect on the quality of the acting or directing or sound editing of a film. The fact that Gladiator won Best Picture makes it worthy of a second look. If the Academy gave it this impassive, gold-plated little man, clearly it must be more than a crowd-pleasing gladiator movie. It's drama! Substance! Art! Protest all you like. I know that you don't think that you think this way, but it would hardly work if it were a conscious act. Like it or not, the Oscars bestow an air of legitimacy on whatever they touch. "It's an honor just to be nominated"? Damn straight it is! Any actor or director who gets the chance to win an Oscar can then put "Academy Award-nominated" in front of his title ad nauseum -- at least until he gets an actual award to put next to Mom's Hummel figurines next to the fireplace. It's a high school student government election all over again, with uncomfortable foreign and progressive films filling in for their 16-year old counterparts. And why not? It's certainly easier that way. Back in 1929, the judges were probably sitting around a board room with their hands down their pants, bitching about how hungover they were and how much work there was to do before this big awards shindig. And then one of them leapt to his feet, shouting, "I got it! Screw taking our time and making controversial decisions! If we want people to like our choices, then we need to make sure that our choices are supported by the majority! We'll just make it a popularity contest -- then no one can complain. Now, who wants to go shopping for some stock? This bull market is great, isn't it?" Hey, laziness I can understand. Weaseling out of things is what separates us from the animals (except the weasel). Unfortunately, these lazy Oscar judges have propagated a misguided legacy that we have to thank for the spurious accolades for Gladiator and Denzel Washington. The Oscars aren't evil. That may seem faint praise, but you must realize that I don't think awards themselves are evil. Why not recognize outstanding art and the people that make it? The Oscars aren't always wrong, and they do get people to see good movies that might have been overlooked otherwise. The problem is that they give us such a narrow perspective. Sure, Spirited Away won Best Animated Feature (I was hoping it would lose just so I could forever point at Mar. 23, 2003 as evidence that the Oscars are irredeemably flawed), but why shouldn't animation compete against live film? I'd put Spirited Away up against most films you'd care to name. And where was this kind of recognition for Miyazaki's last film, Princess Mononoke? Both of these caught some American attention, though I'd wager that a large part of that had to do with the Americanized vocal casts. You don't often see dubbed Japanese anime starring Claire Danes or Billy Bob Thornton. The Oscars deal in the mainstream, the popular, the American. That's fine. People forget it, though, and assign far more importance to the awards than the Academy has earned. The danger in a facile award is not in its frivolity but in its ability to convince people that it's serious. Look at the Grammys. Yes, they often recognize pretty good musicians. I'm sure it's pretty neat to win one. But no one takes them seriously! No one pretends that the Grammy winners are the best of the best. And no one revises his opinion of any music based on the awarding of a Grammy. If you hate Eminem, no amount of gold-plated gramophones will change your mind. Movies and music reach audiences differently -- a $5 radio will give you music nonstop, whereas $5 will hardly get you into a single movie nowadays -- but I don't see why our opinions of the awards should be so different. Let me say it clearly: the Oscars are no better than the Grammys. The Oscars are the Grammys. And if people would treat them that way, I'd have nothing to complain about. You barely notice when your favorite band doesn't win a Grammy. Why get so worked up over a freaking Oscar? Requiem for a Dream didn't get any Oscars. Neither did Fight Club or 12 Monkeys or You Can Count On Me or Apocalypse Now or The Shawshank Redemption. Some of these were overlooked completely, some were beaten out by stiff competition, some were robbed. So what? It doesn't upset me that so many of my favorites -- movies that I consider to be potent and significant works of film -- have been passed over by the Academy. After all, art is all about taste. Sometimes we can separate our personal likes from appreciation for the work, and sometimes we cannot. I don't expect everyone in the world to like what I like. What upsets me is the exaggerated importance of the awards. Hey, if a movie won an Oscar, it probably isn't bad. If that encourages you to rent it, go for it. And Spirited Away was just re-released to theaters based on its Oscar, so some good can come of the Academy after all. I just refuse to let the fact of an Oscar put a movie any higher in my estimation. Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington are welcome to brag about their acting chops -- they are good, and I know I like them -- but the minute either one tries to hold his Best Actor Oscar over someone's head, I'm putting bounties on their lives.

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Police brutality forum questions number, type of force used

March 27

The issue of police brutality against anti-war protesters at last month's Fares Lecture -- where there was a confrontation when protesters tried to break a police line -- was discussed by about 20 students in a forum Wednesday. The event, "Why Was There a SWAT Team at Tufts? A Forum on Police Brutality," was organized after 13 protesters were arrested for disorderly conduct, although the charges were eventually dropped. Several of the arrested claimed the police used unnecessary force and acted inappropriately while attempting to control the protesters. The presentation began with a slide showing pictures of the police presence, including officers arresting students. Also screened was a FOX news clip where reporter Bianca de la Garza described the skirmishes between police and protestors which, when describing the scene, said "there were moments when this could have gotten completely out of control." Panelists blamed the University and police for allowing the situation at Gantcher to escalate. The presence of armed police in riot gear, which were placed in front of Gantcher Center to meet the protestors, created a "bad environment" for protest, one student said. Many of the students at the panel preferred not to be named for fear of possible consequences. Students alleged that the large police contingent was condoned by University administration, therefore making them responsible. "[President Larry] Bacow is unfazed by the rise of the police state at Tufts, and that bothers me," one student said. According to that student, the administration was also a factor in the protest because the University set up the protesters as "the enemy." "People need to realize that not all people who are protesters are bad," the student said. Tufts University Police Department Captain Mark Keith stressed that the University respects "the right to express their opinions as long as they don't interfere other's people right to go about their business on campus." Keith countered the claim that Tufts was responsible for the riot gear, as the protests were on public property, falling under the jurisdiction of the Medford Police Department. TUPD was only responsible for handling security on Tufts properties, including inside Gantcher. Although Tufts was not responsible for the actions of police officers outside Gantcher, Keith defended police action, saying that TUPD and the City of Medford had several meetings with local law enforcement agencies before the event. Additional personnel were hired by the Northeastern Massachusetts Law Enforcement Consortium, who provided riot police from around the Boston area. "It's difficult to gauge [numbers]. There were several flyers around campus we knew about, and flyers on other campus. We didn't know what to expect, a hundred or a thousand people. I think it's always safer to have more bodies than needed," Keith said. Attendees at the forum found issue with the police plans to enclose protesters in a small area, and were suspicious that there was any space for the protesters at all. "I don't think [the police] were ever going let people in that pen. The protest area was just for mobilization," a TCOWI member said. Participants said they felt "betrayed" by the University administration, which in an e-mail sent out by Bacow said there would be a place set aside for protesters. Attendees of the forum also expressed a distrust of the police, saying that they were always against protesters and protesting in general. Attendees did see a positive role for police at marches and rallies. Stories were relayed about how law enforcement officers have assisted protesters by closing off main streets to march down, or in one case shuttling groups of people in paddy wagons to reach the main protest site. Others at forum said the most dangerous thing police and the general public can do is belittle their protests. Students criticized those who held an "anti-protest protest" at the event, which mocked the anti-war rally. Finally, some worried all the attention focused on police brutality, counter protests, and University relations detracted from the heart of their messages.

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Rally addresses recent campus hate incidents

March 27

Following a recent spate of "crimes of bias" detailed in Dean of Student's Bruce Reitman's Mar. 12 campus wide e-mail, faculty and students rallied on the porch of the campus center Wednesday in an effort to raise awareness. Students and faculty took the chance to respond to seven events of bias recorded in the e-mail, six of which took place in the Tufts residential community. "We wanted to provide a place to express opinions and support to those victimized," peer educator Judith Neufeld said. "We wanted to raise awareness of what's going on. A lot of people had no idea about what happened here before the e-mail." The rally entitled "Speak Out. Stop Hate," was sponsored by the Bias Intervention Team and marked its first campus wide event. Peer educators and members of the Bias Intervention Team led the event, which was planned to coincide with the opening of the play of "Spinning Into Butter" on campus. The rally featured an open mic, with both faculty speakers as well as student speakers, in an attempt to provide a forum for self-expression. Dean of Arts and Sciences, Susan Ernst described the perpetrators in her speech as those who "lack courage to put themselves in others' shoes." Reitman addressed the crowd and explained the group's title word "bias." According to Reitman, the word bias "is not just racism," but can include other components as well. About 40 students and faculty gathered to listen to the speeches while many passers-by joined the crowd to listen as they shuffled through the campus center. The first student speaker, Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator Chike Aguh, described differences between the Tufts he saw in the viewbook and the one he has actually experienced. Although campus has people of many different races, "the people who talk to each other are the same," Aguh said. In an emotional speech, junior Ariana Flores complained that no one was yet caught or punished for the incidents, and that campus awareness is lacking. "There's not enough people at this rally," she said. For every reported incident there are many other incidents that go unreported, English professor Elizabeth Ammons said. American Studies lecturer Jean Wu went further to describe the hate crimes as acts of terrorism on campus that indicated, "I don't approve of you, if you can't change, go away or go die." At the end of the rally, senior Pete Shungu took hold of the open mic and recited a spoken-word poem, which he closed by saying, "the human race is the only race that matters." The increased number of hate crimes on the Tufts campus in recent weeks may be attributed to the war in Iraq and the slow state of the economy, according to Reitman. "People are on edge," Reitman said, implying that hatred provides a channel for many to displace their insecurities. Reitman said that if those students who have committed the crimes are found, they might face punishments as severe as expulsion from the University. Investigating those who committed the crimes will include following their patterns of behavior, such as repeated acts in the same location. The Bias Intervention Team has no plans for other campus wide events for the rest of the year, but the group plans to put together a project for next year's freshmen orientation. The Team makes immediate contact with the victims when events take place and plans to lead more small group discussions in the future. The rally coincided with the opening of "Spinning Into Butter" which takes place at a small New England college whose faculty has to deal with a racial incident.

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Republicans hold troop-support rally

March 27

Approximately 40 to 50 people gathered around the flagpole at noon yesterday to take part in a rally to support American troops serving in the Persian Gulf. In the opening speech, the Tufts Republicans attempted to clarify the purpose of the rally. "This is not a pro-war gathering, this is a support-our-troops gathering," senior Sam Dangremond said. "This is a gathering to unite as a Tufts community and to thank our troops." Anti-war protesters did have a presence at the rally, bringing signs and banners that read "No war," "War on Iraq: The rich lie, the poor die," and "Bomb Texas: they have oil, too!" in an attempt to drown out patriotic songs like Bruce Springstein's "Born in the USA" that blared from a stereo. Conflict between the two groups was minimal, as Dangremond requested, "We didn't interrupt your rally, and we'd appreciate it if you didn't interrupt ours." Following the opening remarks, lyrics sheets were passed out, and both "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America the Beautiful" were sung by attendees. Three Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) members from the Medford community came to share a few words of support and encouragement with the crowd. "This is not a question of who is right and wrong... Everyone needs to realize that our service people are out there, protecting us. I'm proud to be here and I'm proud to be a part of this," VFW member Frank Guerriero said. "Support our troops, keep them out of harm's way," echoed fellow VFW member Richard Hill. A request to sing "Proud to be an American" was granted, and the rendition was a big hit with the crowd. Dangremond then asked if anyone would like to come forward and honor someone they knew who was overseas at the moment. He began by praising the boyfriend of a close high school friend who chose to serve in the army instead of attending college. "This is someone who I have tremendous respect for," Dangremond said. Five or six other students stepped forward, honoring high school friends, uncles, cousins, mentors, West Point cadets, and former Tufts classmates. The rally, which lasted about half an hour, was ended on a solemn note by Dangremond. "The situation here is grave, but I think we have something to be proud of," he said. Students were able to mingle and speak with the VFW members afterwards, and many students expressed great thanks to the men. Tufts Republicans contacted outside media sources to attend the event, including members of The Boston Globe. The rally sponsors made yellow ribbons that were passed out to attendees. "The yellow ribbons are a symbol from the first Desert Storm," explained Tufts Republicans President Anne Siarnacki. "I think what many people on the other side of this issue fail to see is that Americans are dying overseas for our rights," Siarnacki said. "I don't see how you can protest peers and families who are at war. A lot of people in this community have people fighting, and I hope this is the message that gets out -- not 'steal their oil,' which is a huge misconception."

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News

Agbekor Society concert livens the atmosphere

March 27

Low echoes and deep vibrations penetrated the minds and bodies of the crowd gathered in the Alumnae Hall on Wednesday. Students, faculty, friends, and children assembled to hear the striking rhythms and beats of traditional West African drumming performed by the Agbekor Society and special guest, Dolsi-naa Abubakari Luna. Dolsi-naa was a teacher of Professor David Locke, the associate professor of music at Tufts. Locke traveled to Ghana in 1974, where he met Dolsi-naa. While there, Locke learned African drumming, which he brought back to Tufts by founding and directing the Agbekor Drum and Dance Society in 1979. Dolsi-naa led the group of seven with his luna, a wooden, hourglass-shaped "talking drum," with ropes made of antelope skin joining the two goatskin heads. The drums were slung from one shoulder by a silken, traditional cloth and beat with a cane-shaped drum-stick made out of wood. The pressure on the ropes allowed for the drummer to change the drum's pitch, causing it to sound much like the intonation patterns of their vernacular language, Dagbani. Five members played the luna while two others hit a larger, lower-pitched drum called a gun-gon. The ensemble had three musical roles: the leading luna by Dolsi-naa, the answer luna from the five luna players, and the background gun-gon. The group dressed in African garb, each wearing a hat shaped like a night-cap called a zipiligu, a decorative, striped robe called a Gbinma, and leather boots with intricate designs made out of brightly-colored thread. When they began to play, it was as if the small room itself was transformed into the kingdom of the Dagomba people from Ghana. Forces of energy from the drum beats and the audience surged forth and enlivened the atmosphere, causing much toe- and hand-tapping. The actual sound was a mix between drum beats, a buzzing from the antelope ropes, and a low snare drum. The music was very fast and the beats correlated to the African words in the program. For instance, the song, "Damba Sochendi," had a translation in English, "naa wum- naa wum- naa wum," depicting how the beats would sound when performed. The rhythms were catchy and the performers moved in circles across the floor, captivating their audience. It was apparent that they had a lot of fun while they were playing. One of the members of the Agbekor Society, Joe Galeota, a professor at Berklee College of Music, said that throughout his fifteen years of playing, "It became more exciting for me with every year. The music is very complex and it has to do with their language. Musically, there is a lot of call and response as if there is dialogue between the leader and the supporting players." During the performance, some of the audience placed dollar bills on Dolsi-naa's forehead to show a sign of gratification for his music. There was one woman who even threw a mass of bills in the air, showing her immense appreciation. "It made me feel like just getting up and dancing," sophomore Aaron Phillips said. The group was evidently passionate about the traditional music. Locke feels that music can even be therapeutic. "The music is healing energy of the universe," he said. "At times like these, we are glad to put soothing vibrations into the cosmos." It is essential to find happiness during these difficult moments in the world. The Agbekor Society was able to free the mind of the barrage of chaos it is so used to nowadays, and provided a rich and entertaining evening.

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News

Diverse panel addresses many aspects of war

March 27

In what Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy Dean Stephen Bosworth called "a model discourse in civility and respect," five Tufts and Fletcher professors held a refreshingly calm forum last night on the ongoing war in Iraq. Each professor spoke about the war from their area of expertise in a program that was so well attended it needed to be simulcast on a screen in the Hall of Flags outside the ASEAN Auditorium. Professor Leila Fawaz, director of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, used her time to address the views of the war emanating from people in countries other than the US -- specifically Arab countries. There are just as diverse opinions between people in Arab countries as between people in the US, Fawaz said, emphasizing the need to differentiate between different regimes. "We must distinguish between rulers and rulers... rulers and populations," she said. Fawaz spoke of several historical and current opinions of the US invasions frequently held in the Arab world. Western colonization, US self-representation as a liberating force, and the view that the US holds double standards for human rights abuses and democratization are all prominent views among Arab populations, she said. Political Science professor Tony Smith focused on the future of US diplomacy and multilateralism, and the practical end of major multicultural bodies. Because the US was able to invade Iraq without UN approval, Smith said, the future of the UN is in jeopardy. The UN is "over, at least for the foreseeable future" he said. In addition, Smith said, the war in Iraq marks "the effective end of NATO." Due to blunders in French and American diplomacy, more general multilateral relations are at risk. "Chirac has set back the future of the European Union," Smith said, and "the prospects don't look very good for European integration." Smith also stressed that the US was never interested in multilateralism, even before Sept. 11, pointing to the US pulling back on the Kyoto Protocols, the International Criminal Court, the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. Fletcher professor and former United Nations official Ian Johnstone, in contrast, outlined why the UN can and will maintain legitimacy in light of the US sidestepping the Security Council en route to Iraq. A second UN resolution on Iraq would have had broad support, Johnstone said, and the blame lies on "poor diplomacy." Furthermore, he said, "Iraq is not the only issue on the Security Council's agenda that is important to the United States," as the UN has been deeply involved both with the war on al Qaeda and the war against Afghanistan. Dr. Robert Russell, Director and Senior Scientist at the Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center, shared details of the humanitarian crisis in Iraq. Russell was a member of the first UNICEF team to enter Iraq after the first Gulf War. According to Russell, who was with a team primarily centered around the southern city of Basra, "the situation at the start of this war... is much worse than at the start of the first Gulf War." Basra is the site of the current Gulf War's largest health crisis. Infant mortality has doubled and mortality at five years of age has tripled since 1991, Russell said. In addition, cases of the waterborne diseases such as typhoid and cholera have increased 1,000 percent. The war will only intensify the problems, Russell said, as the US continues "knocking out the electrical supply needed for water supply and sewage." Iraqi children have diarrhea 14 days each month on average, he said. Fletcher International Economics professor Lisa Lynch addressed the economic impact both domestically and globally of the war in Iraq. Though there have been many proposals of the war costs based on a short, successful war, she said, "there's been very little discussion of what the costs of this war would be under different scenarios." The costs of peacekeeping and reconstruction will affect consumer confidence, the stock market, the amount of business investment, and the price of oil, Lynch said. Outside of the domestic economy, she said, the failure of war-averting diplomacy will have a "tremendously chilling effect on EU-US trade relations." The Bush administration's "explosive rhetoric" on the Iraq issue will make the US's task of selling globalization to Third World countries much more difficult as well, Lynch said. Even more foreboding, Lynch said a protracted war "could precipitate a global recession." The most important lesson of the failed diplomacy with Iraq, Fawaz said, is to "get armed like Korea." North Korea's supposed possession of nuclear weapons has allowed it to avoid similar invasion, she said. "Armament is the preemption of the weak." The panel's use of professors from a broad array of disciplines is somewhat rare, but a reflection that "this [war] is obviously a unique event," Bosworth said. Fletcher organized similarly broad panels after Sept. 11.

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