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Iranian intellectual on secularism in Iran

A mixed crowd of students, faculty and community members listened intently to the soft-spoken speech entitled "Secularism in the Islamic Republic of Iran" given by Abdulkarim Soroush, one of Iran's foremost contemporary scholars. Dr. Soroush's lecture, last Thursday, centered on the emergence of secularism in modern Iran and sought to trace its roots and analyze its causes. Soroush believes that an Iranian republic can coexist with Islam. He said a "tension" exists in Iran between a secular republic and the linkage between state and mosque that was created "right from the moment of the constitution being penned." Iran's constitution, the first in the Middle East, states that the ruler of Iran has an a priori (handed down from God) right to rule and is still in use today. "And this narrow field on which we are talking," Soroush said, "is the battleground." It is this inconsistency that causes the political turmoil that divides Iran today. The anti-secular thinking that stands in opposition to modern thought in Iran today was created under the leadership of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Soroush said. It was Khomeini and his administration that sparked an Islamic revolution in 1979. According to Dr. Soroush, who knew Khomeini intimately, Khomeini used his time in office to further anti-secularism with his "loaded language, mysticism... and the idea that people are nothing, God is everything." The belief in anti-secularism was furthered, according to Soroush's theory, by eight long years of war with neighbor Iraq. "What else [is a better justification for war] than God's word?," Dr. Soroush asked his audience. Much of Iran and its government is currently secular. An assembly now appoints the leader of Iran, and "religious clerics in Islam do not have any say and are virtually jobless; Islamic law is even secular in a sense too." Soroush was an influential lecturer, teacher, and thinker in Iran before the political and religious climate there forced him to abandon these pursuits. He was a former member of several councils under Khomeini and is the author of nearly 30 books on Iran and the Islam religion. Facing harassment from the government of Iran, Soroush left Iran several years ago for the United States and has been lecturing on Islamic and Iranian issues at Princeton and Harvard. He is currently writing Reason, Freedom and Democracy in Islam: Essential Writings of Abdulkarim Soroush, soon to be published in English, in addition to revising and translating several of his other works both into English and Persian. Soroush became involved with Iranian politics while studying in London. Studying Analytical Chemistry and then History and Philosophy of Science, he found himself surrounded by the political gatherings of Iranians. These gatherings abroad and the tumult at home drew Soroush into the fold as an activist intellectual. Freshman Ross York-Erwin said that he thought "Dr. Soroush's insights helped further an understanding of a Muslim world that is oft misunderstood or vague in the eyes of Americans." He said that Dr. Soroush's words on modern political and philosophical ideas in Iran were "timely and relevant to current problems in the middle-east." This speech was the last in a series called "Culture and Politics in the Middle East" that was organized by the Middle Eastern Studies Major at Tufts and co-sponsored by the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, the Department of German Russian and Asian Languages, the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, the Program in International Relations, Peace and Justice Studies, Department of Art and Art History, Department of History and the Dean of Liberal Arts & Engineering.

Romney revamps Massachusetts universities

Governor Mitt Romney announced that Massachusetts would dismantle the University of Massachusetts system, regrouping state and community colleges into seven regions and completely overhauling higher education in Massachusetts. In a press release Romney said the Commonwealth was at a "crossroads" and that he plans to close a $3 billion budget gap without raising taxes. Almost $2 billion of this money will come purely from the restructuring with $150 million in savings planned because of the UMass restructuring. The major component of the plan would be to separate the renowned UMass Amherst campus from the rest of Massachusetts' university system. According to the governor's office, the school will not be privatized, and it will still receive a significant amount of funds from the Commonwealth. The objective of spinning off UMass Amherst is to turn it into a "premier research university" so that it will be able to "more successfully recruit out-of-state students and compete for top research faculty and grants", the governor's office said. By dividing the schools into separate regions Romney is hopeful that they will be able to pool resources and obtain research grants more easily. Romney discredited the existing system saying that, "the current hodge-podge of 29 public campuses has no rational basis and is based more on politics than sound planning." Another important element of the proposed plan is to completely eliminate the Presidents Office, which oversees direction of all the UMass campuses. Besides the elimination of 68 jobs, the current president William Bulger would be removed from office. UMass president spokesman Bill Wright, however, denounced Romeny's plan saying "the system put in place ten years ago works well and is beneficial to all five campuses." Removing the Amherst campus from the UMass system will make it harder for the university to obtain grants, according to Wright, which would be the opposite of what Romney claims will happen. In addition the separation of the Amherst campus will make it more difficult for first generation college students to attend there, Wright said. There is a great deal of controversy surrounding the elimination of the President's Office because certain officials in the university are not satisfied with the way Bulger has run the university, The Chronicle of Higher Education reported. Many claim Bulger has not done a good job of controlling costs, payroll has increased, and there are many aides from his political days earning $100,000 or more. Before he was president, Bulger spent 17 years as the president of the State Senate. His political ties are deep and fellow Democrat, Senator David Magnani, defended him, telling the Chronicle that, "The burden of proof will be on the governor that the president's office has not done the two or three things that it was created for in the first place." The new plan would allow each of these regional schools to retain all of the money they earn from tuition. Instead of sending it through the state they will be in complete control of their budget. However, Romney promised that 46 percent of the funds would be committed to providing need-based financial aid. Romney's proposal for a replacement to the President's Office is a hierarchy consisting of volunteer regional boards, with the chair being a voting member on the Board of Higher Education. In addition, a new Executive Office of Education with Peter Nessen as the secretary will oversee the entire education system from elementary school through university. Students at UMass Amherst are positive about the separation of the campus. "As a student here, I think it's a good idea to help the financial situation and make it more of a national player when it comes to public universities," UMass Amherst student John Munro said. Munro also said that "it would be great if this school became like a University of North Carolina or University of Virginia, academically and athletically." This will raise tuition to a certain degree, though Massachusetts is currently below the average state university tuition. The seven geographic regions which will encompass all of the current state and community colleges include Berkshire, Pioneer Valley, Central, MetroWest, Boston, Northeast and Southeast. The plan calls for the merging between the Berkshire Community College and the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts; Greenfield and Holyoke Community Colleges; and Mount Wachusett Community College and Fitchburg State College.

TASA culture show a vibrant success

The "glitz and glamour of the stars" was one of the reasons the TASA Culture Show directors chose this year's theme, "Chandni," which means moonlight. While the auditorium was decorated with this celestial theme, the show's true stars were on stage. If the TASA cast members were the stars, well, the show was their big bang -- their energy was explosive. The energy was only matched by the spirit of an audience of friends and family that packed Cohen auditorium both Friday and Saturday nights. Yelps, shouts, and cheers kept the energy level up for the audience as well as the cast. The trademarks of TASA's culture show were all there this past weekend: festively infectious beats, colorful and beautiful costumes, electrifying energy from the cast as well as from the audience, and what the culture show is known for -- Bhangra. In one of the skits, a Jerry Seinfeld impersonator said that Bhangra looked like a mixture of "ninja fighting and break dancing." In reality, Bhangra is a traditional, lively dance that originates from Punjab, India. In the dances, the cast members jumped around and moved their barefoot feet so quickly, it rivaled the moves of the Lord of the Dance. Each dancer's face was more animated than the next, with cast members singing along or just grinning and nodding their heads, in an expression that Bollywood has made famous. But what really tied the bow on this vibrant package were the arm movements. Depending on the song, the cast member's energized arm movements called out, provoked, exhilarated, seduced, but mainly captivated the audience -- all with graceful hand gestures that furthered the artful beauty of the show. Some dances mixed traditional moves and music with modern counterparts; one in particular, "Spirit of Brown" -- an all-male dance -- was a dancing duel between two Bhangra squads. The audience cheered on the dancers' acrobatic agility and attitude, especially when the boys took off their shirts (leaving on only tanks) when "It's Getting Hot in Herre" came on. In "Pyar Ki Kahani" (The Story of Love), male dancers wooed their partners to a medley of Hindi, Hip-Hop, and lyrical songs. Some dances also incorporated other cultures. "Fiesta del Andemaaj aur Maja" (Party of Fusion and Fun) combined Bhangra moves with Indian-Arabic-Spanish music and "Nachke Dikha," a dance that originates from Punjab, "attempts to bring in different cultures and peoples to show them what the dance means and signifies," according to the program. The skits, like in most culture shows, were specifically entertaining to the portion of the audience that understood the cultural jokes. However, jokes pertaining to generational differences, Tufts, and American pop culture were universally humorous. The skits all followed a South Asian-American young man trying to understand his more conservative uncle and South Asian culture. They touched on South Asian and South Asian-American issues creatively with spoofs of Seinfeld ("the housemate switch" and "curry Nazi") and American Idol (with Ozzy Osbourne and the uncle as judges.) While most of the skits were amusing, they lengthened the show (which was just over three hours), and delayed what the audience was really there to see: the dancing and musical acts. Amidst the dances were musical performances such as a song from a Hindi film and instrumental pieces. Music group Tarana played traditional South East Asian music with vocals and Desi Dhamaka played a mix of eastern and western music that included incredible drum solos, which received uproarious applause. The fashion show, "Shattered," showcased exquisite traditional and modern wear. Throughout the show, the colorful costumes of vibrantly beautiful flowing fabrics and scarves added to the bright spirit of the dances. Other props included fighting sticks that looked impressive in dances which imitated fight moves, finger cymbals, and small decorative boxes. The show aptly began with a performance by the freshmen and ended with a dance by seniors. In their last performance, the seniors vivaciously danced with pounding energy and beauty, exuding the same charisma shown by the future of TASA's culture show, the freshmen. As the first dance in the show, the many freshmen (they filled the Cohen stage) danced a number of different cultural dances from India as well as some modern moves. Their dance told the story of a South Asian-American boy trying to win the love of his life by traveling to India to learn more about the culture. The dance displayed an integral theme to the show, South Asian-Americans learning about their heritage and culture. The freshmen's fresh effervescence was a perfect start to the show. While the show was on the long side, the TASA cast members' explosive energy thrilled the audience and proved to them that they really were the stars.

Turnout at Bush forum a disappointment

I was quite disappointed at the turnout to Wednesday night's forum discussion on President Bush's speech. I expected to walk into an overfilled auditorium to a spirited debate complete with shouting and scrambling for microphones. When I walked in, there were even two TUPD officers in uniform by the entrances. These officers left before half of the speakers had spoken. I arrived late and didn't have the privilege of hearing Dr. Steven Marrone speak during his allotted time, but I did hear the other four members of the panel voice their opinions at the podium. Although I have the highest respect for Tufts faculty and was impressed with the words spoken by all members of the panel, I was disappointed that only two of the five panel members actually attended Bush's speech. Sixty percent of the panel had no basis on which to speak about the stated topic of discussion. The forum in Cabot was prepared and advertised as "an open discussion of President Bush's speech for members of the Tufts community." Certainly the forum was an open discussion, but how could the faculty members of the panel accurately discuss President Bush's speech if they weren't even in his audience? The only two members of the panel that did attend the Fares lecture were also the only student-panelists, Zoe Hastings and Sam Dangremond. I applaud both of these students for their civility, reasoning, and forthrightness. I am glad I attended Bush's speech and the discussion in Cabot; both were memorable and educational experiences for me. I certainly expected a larger turnout to the forum and I hope that students and Tufts community members like Adam Carlis ("Mistake of principles, not politics" Feb. 26, 2003), who specifically called for the event, attended. If they didn't attend the forum that they were calling for, then shame on them. I hope that Tufts will give us more opportunities for extracurricular open discussions on controversial current events topics. My thanks go to President Larry Bacow, Dean Bruce Reitman, Father David O'Leary, and all of those involved in the production of this forum discussion. Darrell Interess

Language in the modern age, part 2 of 2

We, the children of the 1980s, are the first generation with the privilege of growing up with and on computers. The information and tools available on the Internet are as expansive as the concept of the superhighway itself. The web's offerings are virtually limitless [pun intended], and yet by enjoying its sheer accessibility, we are unknowingly imposing limitations upon ourselves. Indeed, computers are shaping the present, and their effects on the future may prove detrimental in ways no one predicted. One would be hard-pressed to find a young adult who isn't in some way or another reliant on the Internet. Whether it be for research, commerce, or communication, the web is more than a convenience; it's a way of life. Though I hate to say it, there are certainly times when I don't know what I would do without the Internet. I am loath to admit how dependent I have become. It may not be rotting my brain entirely, but I'm pretty sure it's getting there. One needn't enumerate the millions of ways that online services have made daily life simpler. From McLuhan's global village right down to a personal homepage, the fantastically liberating effects of the Internet are wondrously apparent. The Internet has made communication easier and cheaper than it has even been before. People in different countries can meet in web chat rooms. College kids can instant message high school chums with whom they would otherwise lose touch. Grandparents can see pictures of their grandchildren growing up. On the other side of the coin, the amenities of e-mail and messaging services are stripping today's youth of the practical experience they need to develop the social and communicative skills essential to succeed in life. Simply put, kids don't talk enough. The enhancement of digital communication poses a frightening threat to the future of verbal and physical interaction, and is degrading linguistic intelligence as we know it. Face to face contact is a truly vital element in communication. When we fail to appreciate the value of unadulterated conversation, we deny ourselves access to the awesome capacities of human language, both spoken and implied. With the facilities that we have at our fingertips -- literally and figuratively -- we are constantly finding ways around the hassle of actually talking to one another. But when did just talking become a hassle? It's a chicken-and-egg relationship: either somehow we decided that verbal expression is too often a waste of precious energy, or computers have made it obsolete. Whether or not we realize it, we are already suffering the consequences of this unfortunate upgrade. Younger and younger are children donning Internet aliases, typing away to friends whom they may see within the hour. Rather than picking up a telephone, high schoolers will IM a classmate for the math homework. College students may save walking ten feet by sending a message to their neighbors in the next dorm room, or even to their own roommates -- or so I've been told. All too often, personal contact is avoided with a simple click of a mouse button. One email, and voil? , you don't have to face your teacher/boss/ex-boyfriend, you name it. Even flirting has gone digital. It's hard enough to read body language; innuendo and undertones do not translate well into HTML. A quick word of advice: if you like someone, you should at least call. I fear the consequences when the reproductive future of the race is threatened by a faulty modem. But I digress. It is important to see that computers' communicative affront is working stealthily from the bottom up. Programs like Microsoft Word with their all-important spell-checkers are already attacking our youth's grasp of the English language. Grammar and spelling tests are obsolete when you can have Gates' engineers correct your papers for you. Meanwhile, instant messaging spreads the damage by allowing, nay encouraging people to abandon their knowledge of spelling, capitalization and punctuation in the efforts of speed and in the name of lingo. "r u chillin w/ ppl 2nite?" is not a question, it's a travesty. Expressing human emotion through the use of cartoon smiley faces -- which, I stress, have evolved from a merciless bastardization of the ever-underappreciated colon and parenthesis -- should be a compelling-enough warning sign that something is wrong. Unfortunately, the reverse is true, and they are being embraced as the next wave of Internet cool. Soon the painfully annoying little icons will have all but replaced our true visages. Between them and screen names, who we are online is quickly diverging from who we are in the real world. But the Internet is by now intrinsically linked to what it is we consider the real world. Our lives are inextricably entwined with the inner workings of our personal computers. The whole notion of the world as we know it -- the elements, people and personalities -- is questioned by the addition of a new dimension. The Internet transcends time and space, and yet is just as real as either one. Thus, it comes to wonder whether we can any longer distinguish between the "real" world, and the world of the fiberoptic. Of course, the metaphysics of the Internet is surely a topic under speculation already. The irony is -- I would venture to guess -- that most of the discussion is probably on the web itself. The real question is: is it spelled right?

EPIIC panel captures horror of violence filled regions

A slide presentation from the internationally-acclaimed anti-war photographer James Nachtwey began Saturday night's panel on "Humanitarian Intervention and Human Rights: The Responsibility to Protect," part of the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) symposium on Sovereignty and Intervention which took place last week. The slides, which captured images of crimes against humanity, set the mood for the evening, portraying the horror of violence-filled regions around the world. Three Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Awards were presented to speakers at the panel. Recipients included Lt. General Romeo Dallaire of Canada, the former force commander of the UN Mission in Rwanda, the Honorable Gareth Evans, president and chef executive of the International Crisis Group, founder of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and former foreign minister of Australia, and Dr. Mary Robinson, director of the Ethical Globalization Initiative, former UN high commissioner for Human Rights, and former president of Ireland. Before the speakers took the stage, they were commended for their support of humanitarian works. Speaking to a crowd of roughly 150 who filled Alumnae Lounge plus the audience of a closed-circuit simulcast in Jackson Gym, Dallaire recalled firsthand his experiences of the horrifying events of the Rwandan genocide. He explained that areas seemingly of no strategic value to the international community are of importance simply when human lives are at stake. Failure to protect human lives, as was the case in Rwanda, cannot be forgotten and "should be a reference when people say 'never again," Dallaire said. "Those who do not use their capabilities [to intervene in times of humanitarian crisis] will carry the guilt of their self-interest into history." Evans supported Dallaire's words, arguing that the language we use to debate such conflicts makes a difference. "This is no longer a debate about the 'right to intervene' but of the 'responsibility to protect'," Evans said. Panelists discussed the difference between intervention in such cases as Kosovo and the lack of regard for Rwanda. "Are all humans human or are some more human than others?" Dallaire asked. "Is the international community racist?" Panelist member and former US Ambassador to the Czech Republic John Shattuck agreed that inaction in Rwanda can be blamed on a lack of political will and also a lack of international understanding "of the forces of disintegration powerfully at work in our world," which according to Shattuck, "all people are vulnerable to." But if international will to intervene is based largely on public opinion and the will of the people to sustain casualties, as Dallaire said, there are further complications to stirring efforts. "We don't have the stomach for enormous amounts of casualties, even when our security is at risk," he said. Shattuck said that during the crisis in Rwanda the US was hesitant to intervene due to the closeness to the 1993 US Special Forces raid in Somalia where 18 US soldiers were killed. "We have to get over that," Shattuck said. "It was completely irrelevant to what was going on in Rwanda at the time." Dallaire agreed that Americans are particularly reluctant to commit to intervention to prevent human rights abuses. "The last people I want under my command in a peace keeping mission are Americans," he said. Former EPIIC student and panelist Nick Birnback ('92) said he would "like to see human rights made a standard in peace keeping missions." Birnback is a political officer in the Asia/Middle East Division for the Office of Operations and the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the UN. Panelist Frank Fountain, who served in a senior position in the US Senate staff suggested the use of private military forces. Private forces are more efficient with common training and a single commander, while government forces have "leaders who are reluctant to commit the blood and treasure of their nations," he said. Many panelists used the speech topic to express their hesitancy about going to war with Iraq. "I have no confidence in single nation efforts," Dallaire said. "They're ultimately not altruistic." Action must be made through the UN, many panelists said, to maintain the body's credibility and respect. Shattuck explained that intervention must be multilateral, with no risk of wider war, with regional support, and a limited risk that more lives will be lost than saved. Iraq is "mini-lateral at best," he said. "It may trigger the very thing we're trying to stop" According to Robinson, proportional means should be taken to ensure that the scale and duration of intervention be the minimum necessary to achieve the objective. "I want to stress the importance of avoiding civilian casualties and that there needs to be an accountability if there are casualties disproportionate to what would have been necessary," she said. "I would hope that out of your EPIIC symposium would come... an apprehension of military acts," she said. "I am troubled by the US administration using the language of war [to combat terrorism]," Robinson said. "It has put us now in a position where it becomes easy to shift attention to a focus on Iraq." The panelists agreed that Iraq is a very different case, since it does not meet the qualification of humanitarian crisis as did Afghanistan. "However horrible Saddam is, what he's doing now is not such as to require military action," Evans argued. The panel opened up to a question and answer series following the speeches which was rushed to avoid going much further over time. Sophomore Pon Souvannaseng said that the event was one of the strongest panels she's seen, but the questioning period was too brief. "Unfortunately the moderators are good at their jobs," she said. Running over time is usual for the panels, senior EPIIC student Victoria Hartanto said. "But this one in particular has drawn the largest crowd because it has probably the most prestigious panel members," she said. The audience members praised the experience of the panelists, especially Dallaire. "It's impossible to describe the significance to be able to relate to the lessons he's learned," sophomore EPIIC student Laura Gutierrez said. "I think most people feel that."

Student criticizes those who defaced flag at Bush speech

I am writing to discuss my deep personal feelings about a certain event that occurred during this year's Fares lecture. I was saddened, shocked, and angered by the behavior of the individual or individuals who defaced the American Flag with profanity and displayed it during President Bush's speech. I believe that the right to free speech, even of the lowest and most despicable form, is one of the elements that makes our country great. However, while the students' actions in regard to the Flag may have been technically legal, they were immature and childish. Furthermore, in my mind they demonstrated an utter disregard for the many individuals that, through countless generations, have fought and died in order that this nation might still stand as a beacon of hope and opportunity even in these tumultuous times. In particular, when I see the Stars and Stripes, I am reminded of the hundreds of thousands of soldiers, men and women of all political backgrounds, whom this very day are making enormous sacrifices abroad in order to ensure that we can continue our cushy academic discourse in an environment without fear. On an even more personal level, many of us have close relatives who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces, or perhaps friends involved in an ROTC program that has all too often gone unrecognized. Maybe I simply place too much faith in "old-fashioned" values such as respect for elders and love of country, but it is for these reasons that I cannot sit idly by as a small group makes an utter mockery of the institutions that so many have paid the ultimate price in order to defend. I know there are other folks, perhaps the silent majority, that feel the same way, and I hope that these individuals will join me in condemning this particular, cowardly and unpatriotic act. Sean Safdi LA '04

Hockey season concludes with loss at Middlebury

Extending their unbeaten streak to 19 games, the Middlebury Panthers sent the Jumbos packing Saturday night after a 7-1 rout in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs. Tufts' ended the season with a record of 7-11-4. The Panthers dominated the game, extending their lead to 6-0 before the Jumbos could net their first goal. "We obviously knew that they were one of the best teams in the nation so we knew that we were going to have to play about the perfect game. But we definitely thought it was possible," junior Timm Schatz said. Despite a 6-2 loss to Middlebury during the regular season, the Jumbos were confident that they could give the Panthers a good game this time around. "We were very optimistic going into the game," senior co-captain Chris Martin said. After practicing hard the week, focusing on what to improve, the Jumbos were once again plagued by penalties and an inability to convert on power play opportunities. The Panthers twice scored on power plays while the Jumbos went 0-3 in their attempts. While the Panthers were undoubtedly the stronger team by the end of the game, the first period featured competitive play. "It wasn't a bad first period," Martin said. "We were down 2-0 at the end of the first, but we had been down 1-0 to them in the last game too and came back to play hard." Although they still believed that they could secure a comeback, the Jumbos hopes were short lived as Middlebury poured on four goals during the second period en route to a victory. Middlebury sophomore Brian Phinney scored 32 seconds into the second period, taking some of the wind out of the Jumbo's sails. Four minutes later, Phinney's shot was followed up junior Kevin Cooper's power-play goal and two others later in the period. "In the second period they were off to the races," Martin said. "They got the bounces and the passes." All of the breaks seemed to go Middlebury's way as the Jumbos season slowly came to an end. It was not until the third period that freshmen Adam Delaney-Winn broke the shutout on a pass from senior co-captain Mike Carceo. Neither freshman goalie Matt Ninneman nor junior Ben Crapser could help prevent the Panther onslaught as both goalies were used in the game. While Ninneman started, both played an even amount of time--nearly 30 minutes each. Despite allowing seven goals, the two were busy blocking many more attempts as Ninneman saw 21 shots on goal and Crasper saw 17. Meanwhile, the Jumbos took only 13 shots on goal. "We didn't play the best game we could have played but they were a very, very good team," Schatz said. While the Jumbos did not have their strongest game as a team, credit should be given to the strength of the Panthers. Entering as the reigning three-year champions of NESCAC hockey, the Panthers seem on track to continue their rule. Meanwhile the Jumbos are left to look back on the season and focus on the season to come. After their second season in a strong NESCAC conference, this year's Jumbos end the season with both pride at their vast improvements, but also disappointment at falling short. Making the playoffs was an impressive feat in and of itself, for a team that finished in last place with a 6-17 record last season. "After going through what we went through last year, this year was ten times more fun and ten times more exciting," Schatz said. Losing only two starting seniors, Martin and Carceo, the Jumbos improvements should continue on into next season. "It's gonna be a great team next season," Martin said. As the Jumbos now look forward to the 2003-2004 season, Middlebury now concentrates on playing host to Hamilton next Saturday.

A loss is a loss, but there's more to this story

It was a perfect script, really. Tufts down by one point to one of the top teams in the nation, 13.6 seconds left, ball in the hands of the conference's best shooter, a clear lane to the basket, and an ideal chance to shock everyone. It was perfect, all except for the ending. Because in a perfect world, senior guard Mike McGlynn's shot would have fallen, or the rebound would have bounced left instead of right, or the officials would have seen a foul and sent someone to the line. In a perfect world, David would have beaten Goliath. Saturday's semifinal against Williams had all of the major features of the Jumbos' season: excitement, intensity, and -- most importantly -- unpredictability. When Tufts' preseason started with the quitting of three prominent players, some began to raise questions about team chemistry and missing pieces. And when the season began with a slew of injuries to players like junior Eric Mack and freshman Dan Martin, visions of the 2001-2002 season, when the team was hampered by injuries all season long, began to surface. So it came as somewhat of a surprise when the team that started the season with so many question marks ended the regular season with the third seed in the NESCAC playoffs, hosting a first round game for the first time ever. It similarly came as somewhat of surprise when the Jumbos dominated Middlebury in that first round game, a team they had lost to not more than a week before. And so, it was again somewhat of a surprise when Tufts' found itself with a chance to upset the third-best team in the nation on Saturday afternoon. It was a surprise, of course, to everyone but the players. "It probably surprised a lot of other people, but it didn't surprise us," senior co-captain Brian Shapiro said. "We were really prepared, whereas last time (against Williams) we only had one day to prepare before the game." But maybe it shouldn't have been much of a surprise to anyone that the Jumbos stared an upset straight in the eye. After all, they had done it before. On Jan. 31, the team knocked off Amherst, then the eighth-ranked team in the nation. "I knew we could do it, but would we do it, I wasn't sure," coach Bob Sheldon said. "All week long we told them that they just needed to believe in themselves. Because we matched up well against (Williams). We battled them. What else can you say?" Because the script ended the way it did, there really is not much else that you can say. "You want to be close at the end, those are the games you want to play in," McGlynn said. "But a loss is a loss just the same." In the not so perfect, real world in which we live, a loss, ultimately, cannot be anything more than a loss. The Jumbos' season is over, no matter how close the game was, no matter how the script should have ended. But, endings aside, nobody on the team would have wanted it to be any different. "We had a great opportunity and we didn't back down," sophomore Craig Coupe said. "The only thing you can ask of yourself is to give yourself a chance, and we did. The shot just didn't go in. I don't have too many regrets about this game." Because the truth is that there is no script in a basketball game, and any chance you get you have to give yourself. And if you are going to go down, the only way to do it is to go down swinging. "If you're going to lose in your last game, this is the way to do it," Shapiro said. "We played the number three team in the country, had the ball with 13 seconds to go, down by one. It's good to have it like that, without actually winning."

Jumbos lose heartbreaker to Williams 64-63

Senior guard Mike McGlynn's running shot rimmed out with six seconds remaining as the Jumbos fell to the Williams College Ephs 64-63 in the semi-finals of the NESCAC tournament last Saturday afternoon. With the loss, the Jumbos season ended with an overall 12-13 record, and a 5-4 mark in conference play. The Ephs, ranked third in the nation, moved on to defeat the top seeded Amherst Lord Jeffs 74-70 in yesterday's NESCAC finals. "I wanted to step back and shoot it but the guy was crowding me so I went by him and they all collapsed on me," McGlynn said of the last sequence. "It was a tough shot, it wasn't like a wide open lay-up The play was designed to me, and that's the way I wanted it. The shot just didn't go down." The Jumbos came out strong, amassing an early 6-0 lead to start the game. The Ephs, however, quickly countered with an 8-0 run of their own to take the lead with 14 minutes remaining in the first half. The two teams spent the rest of the half trading baskets and the lead until Williams junior forward Ben Coffin hit two consecutive buckets at the end of the half to give the Ephs a 33-27 lead going into the intermission. Williams started the second with a vengeance, slowly building on its three-point lead. With 10:23 left in the second half, Williams sophomore forward Tucker Kain nailed a three from the corner to give the Ephs an 11 point lead, its largest margin of the game. After a timeout, Tufts quickly battled back with a 10-0 run of its own over the next three minutes to put the Jumbos within one. But Williams went on another mini 6-0 run of its own, increasing the lead back up to seven with 5:36 remaining on a trey from junior co-captain Michael Crotty. With just over three minutes remaining, the Jumbos once again quickly closed the gap to 59-57 on a three by McGlynn. As was the theme of the contest, the Ephs countered Tufts with a 5-1 run of their own, going up 64-58 with 1:50 left in the game. McGlynn, on the ensuing possession, was fouled on a three-point attempt, giving him three opportunities from the charity stripe. McGlynn nailed all three and after a solid defensive stop, Tufts regained possession. The Jumbos worked the ball to sophomore center Craig Coupe who spun into the paint and dropped in a bucket to put Tufts within one with just 53 seconds left. After another solid defensive sequence, Tufts jumped back on the offensive and gave McGlynn the call. After McGlynn's shot rimmed out, Coffin grabbed his game high 14th rebound and was immediately fouled. Coffin headed to the free throw line for a one and one, and after missing the first, senior co-captain Brian Shapiro immediately grabbed the board and called timeout. The Jumbos were forced to advance the ball the length of the floor with just 3.9 seconds remaining, and Jim Wilson misfired on a desperation heave from half-court as the final buzzer sounded. "Mike's been our guy the whole year. When it comes to scoring, he's a great shooter and he's a play maker. If he couldn't get the shot he was gonna drop it to me," Coupe said. "He got a good look, he just didn't make the shot, that's how things go and it's too bad that had to happen. I had all the confidence in the world in him taking that shot." The Jumbos were led by McGlynn, who tallied 15 points, and seven assists, and Coupe, who scored 13 points, grabbed 9 boards and dished out four assists. McGlynn also went 2-5 from the three-point line. Shapiro, who had been hot of late, went 3-8 from the field and 0-5 from the three-point line for six points in 15 minutes of play in his last basketball game as a Jumbo. "This whole year I've been inconsistent. I feel like games like last week happen few and far between this season. But I wasn't gonna stop shooting," Shapiro said. "They run their stuff really well, but their strength is their defense, they play defense really well, it's hard to get open shots, they make you force a lot of stuff." The Ephs were led by Coffin, who put together a career day for Williams with a career-high 31 points and a season and game high 14 rebounds. The Jumbos held Williams' all conference center Drew DeMuth to just four points and seven rebounds in 32 minutes of play, and limited Ephs third leading scorer, junior Chuck Abba, to zero points in 29 minutes. "To come in here, to play them, to have a chance to win, it's just a good thing," coach Bob Sheldon said.

Despite loss, hockey team makes strides

The roller coaster ride that has been the hockey team's season came to an abrupt conclusion on Saturday night as the powerful Middlebury Panthers dealt the Jumbos a 7-1 defeat in the NESCAC quarterfinals. Putting the loss aside, though, the fact that the Jumbos were even present in the NESCAC playoffs is something they can hang their hats on. "Going into the season, our goal was to make the playoffs, and we accomplished that goal," said senior co-captain Mike Carceo, who along with senior co-captain Chris Martin played in his final collegiate game on Saturday. After last year's 6-17 campaign, in which the Jumbos finished last in their first year playing in the NESCAC, almost anything would have been an improvement this season. With most of their talent coming back, the Jumbos came into this year reinvigorated. The team knew it was a different season after playing both Norwich and Colby tough and beating the likes of Hamilton and Williams. "We went out and won some games this year that we wouldn't have even had a shot at last year," Carceo said. "The wins against Williams and Hamilton stand out. We knew we could play with anyone in the league this year, and that wasn't the case last year." The problem is that knowing you can play with everyone and actually doing it, night in and night out, are two completely different things. While 7-11-4 is an improvement over 6-17, the team knows that it could have made bigger strides this season than it did. Inconsistency plagued the Jumbos, as a three game win streak in January was the one blip on the radar screen amidst a sea of losses and ties. The Jumbos point to defense as being the biggest key. "Next year, they are going to have to work better at the defensive aspect of the game," Carceo said. "In our league, we can't allow four to five goals a game and expect to win." The improvement from last year to this year has been vast, both offensively but more importantly defensively. While last year's squad gave up a whopping 144 goals, this year version held opponents to 100 in 22 games. While such a statistic doesn't paint the Jumbos as an elite team, it certainly affirms that they have become respectable again. In addition, they scored 87 goals as opposed to 76 last year, and in one fewer game. Sophomore forward Shawn Sullivan showed the most offensive improvement, as he led the way with 32 points, 12 points better than a year ago. Junior forward Pat Byrne stepped his game up as well, notching 22 points as opposed to the 16 he had last season. "It seems like some guys on this team are proud of the season while others are disappointed," Martin said. "Some are disappointed, but there are a lot of statistics that show we improved this season." Carceo echoed those sentiments. "I think this year proved that we are not the doormat of this league. Next year these guys will be right in the thick of the NESCAC race, if not at the top." Carceo's prediction may hold some water, as he and Martin are the only players the team will lose to graduation. With the rest of the squad intact, and with lessons learned from this year's experience, it not entirely out of the question to believe the Jumbos will be battling for the NESCAC championship next season.

When the lights go out, the fun begins at 'Black Comedy'

Like any great farce, 'Black Comedy' is propelled by an essentially simple gimmick. In their spring major production of the student theater group, Pen Paint and Pretzels (3P's), the script plays with light: when the characters are submerged in dark as a result of a blackout, the space is fully lit; when the power is on, the lights are off. Luckily for 'Black Comedy,' the gimmick is a clever one, as the script does not offer much depth outside of this. Under the direction of senior Megan Kiefer, the ensemble cast of 'Black Comedy' adroitly navigates their way through this gimmick-driven farce, embracing it for all of its gratuitous silliness and physicality. The plot of 'Black Comedy' in brief goes as such: boy wants to be an artist. Boy gets engaged to wealthy, yet flaky, debutante. (Boy needs money to fuel career.) Oh and by the way -- boy had been involved with Bohemian girl for four years. Bohemian girl ran off to Finland, and gets back just in time to crash at boy's house the same evening that Debutante is bringing her father -- the colonel -- to meet boy. To top things off, an eccentric European art collector is supposed to come and see boy's work. Throw in flamboyant neighbor and alcoholic neighbor. Power goes out. I secretly suspect that the role of fumbling artist and protagonist Brindlsey Miller was written specifically for performer Taylor Shann. Shann infuses his Brindlsey with a perfect mix of Woody Allen-meets-Robin Williams: self-effacing schlepiness seamlessly fused with a flawless sense of timing and ability for physical comedy. Though Brindlsey has no one but himself to blame for the subsequent chaos that is the play's action, Shann plays the role in such a way that the audience cannot help but sympathize with him and cheer him on chair-by-chair. Shann is fortunate to have a strong ensemble to play off of. As Brindsley's fianc?©e Carol Melkett, actress Jess Fisch offers an ing?©nue doused in saccharine, which is a personality trait that lends itself perfectly to the role. As Carol's father, Alex Sherman plays his Colonel Melkett over-the-top, suggesting what might happen if Foghorn Leghorn joined the US Army. This caricature-infused portrayal lends itself naturally to the farcical nature of the script, organically fusing into the roller-coaster of physical humor and extreme personalities that is Black Comedy. Rob Curry is a true stand-out as Brindsley's neighbor Harold Gorringe. From his polyester leisure suit (kudos to costume designer Heather Tamarkin!) to his ever-twinkling eyes, Curry's Harold cannot help but revel in the audience's attention. His already flawless performance could only be made better had he burst out with "I Am What I Am" mid-performance, but I suppose that Tufts' audiences will have to comfort themselves with the hope that La Cage Aux Folles will be done at Tufts before Curry graduates. Hearing Curry proclaim, "You took my Buddha?!" alone was worth the cost of my ticket. Melissa Holman also offers a praiseworthy performance as Clea, the aforementioned Bohemian Girl. Considering the amount of time that Holman is on stage in proportion to her amount of spoken dialogue, Holman should be commended for her ability to command attention by means of a vibrant stage presence. Rounding out the ensemble is Regan Cerato as the Alcoholic Neighbor, Armen Nercessian as an electric company employee, and James Foster-Keddie as the Eccentric (albeit deaf) European, all of whom offer memorable on-stage moments. Kiefer chose to change the setting of the play from its original 1960's London digs to New York City circa 1970, and all for the better. Without the mechanics of maintaining accents to inhibit them, the ensemble cast was able to better immerse themselves in the script and its subsequent physical humor, the very essence of the show. While some actors managed the script's physicality with more ease than others, it was clear that all of the performers were enjoying themselves, making their performances all the more enjoyable for their audience. The evening of high farce was only enhanced by a set that is both clever and practical, as designed by Keegan Kok. Profound character arcs and Shakespearean soliloquies Black Comedy is not, but neither is the nature of farce, nor this specific script itself. However, an entertaining evening of dark-in-the-light Black Comedy most certainly is.

Final Destination: Exit 31

There are some pleasant (and lucky) surprises that can be found on and around campus this spring: a forgotten quarter on the washing machine, open lanes at the pool or free machines at the gym, dollar night at Balch Arena Theater, semi-formals, Sound Bites, benefit shows, and stir-fry night at Carmichael. This undergrad was pleasantly surprised a few weeks ago when she stepped into Brown & Brew for a late night snack to find the sound of Chris Martin's voice and Seth Pasakarnis's lyrical guitar filling the coffee house. The Boston-bred duo, named Exit 31 (as in the Mystic Valley Parkway exit off of I-93 North), has been in action for a few years now. Both men are engineers with a love of music. Martin, a senior electrical engineer and captain of the Tufts hockey team, picked up a guitar about two years ago when he met Pasakarnis, a first-year grad student in geo-technical engineering. Pasakarnis has been entertaining his friends and family with his music since the tender age of five. As for the future, the duo recently entered a reality TV contest, Nashville Star, on the USA Network, for which students may have seen commercials, possibly thinking the competition was only for cowboys and Dixie Chicks. The contest consisted of the submission of a cover song, firstly. Eighty of these songs were chosen, including Exit 31's, and those eighty songs were then cut down to twenty. A live performance competition was held to weed out ten of the twenty competitors, and Exit 31 then proceeded with the nine other finalists to Baltimore where, according to Martin, "it was just like American Idol." Three judges got down and dirty with the bands, telling them what was what with their music. The two favor cover songs over their own material, though Seth loves to write, and the crowd doesn't seem to mind. Their covers of Creed, John Mayer, The Dave Matthews Band, Stone Temple Pilots, Tenacious D, and almost everything alternative-rock are well-received by audiences at Brown & Brew, ATO, Hannah's Bar, and their home base bar, the Wave in Waltham. Most songs seem to be chosen for Martin's voice range, though they do perform an upbeat rendition of Bon Jovi's "Livin' On A Prayer." At Brown and Brew that evening, Seth and Chris showed how they loved to get the crowd going, making this rock alternative a nice reprieve from the hip-hop scene. The two have a very nice sound: not harsh, but not fall-asleep soft. They rarely have problems with something that plagues musicians everywhere: intonation. No one likes walking into a bar and listening to off-key karaoke. Seth and Chris keep it together through raucous frat parties and packed bars. To find out whether or not Exit 31 will win the Nashville, tune in on March 8 at 9 p.m. on USA. And if seeing the handsome duo on TV just doesn't do it for you, check them out at Hotung caf?© on April 24. Of the Tufts bands, Exit 31 is up-and-coming. With a unique sound to rival any, and Seth's motto of "music is who I am," future success, if they reach far enough for it, is imminent.

Eat your way to a healthy smile

When most people think of keeping their teeth healthy, they think of brushing and flossing. After all, isn't that what dentists recommend the most? Well, if you don't want to end up looking like Austin Powers, there are several additional things you can do to keep cavities away, avoid bad breath, and maintain that bright smile. Diet and nutrition are extremely important to oral health. Bacteria in the mouth feed on sugar and starch from food and produce an acid that causes cavities. The longer food remains in the mouth and the higher its sugar and starch content, the greater the chance for tooth decay. Sugar can be found in many processed foods and is added to many condiments, sauces, and salad dressings. If you chew gum or drink soda, choose sugar-free brands. Juice also has sugar, and sipping on it all day may harm your teeth. Dry and sticky foods adhere to teeth and are not easily washed away by saliva or beverages. For example, although raisins or crackers are better for you than chocolate, they may cause more tooth decay due to their stickiness. Foods that are eaten as part of a meal cause less harm to teeth: you produce more saliva during meals, which helps wash away foods and reduce acid in the mouth. Limit the number of snacks that you eat. If you do snack, choose nutritious foods, such as cheese, raw vegetables, plain yogurt, or a piece of fruit. Cheese and other dairy products may help prevent cavities by neutralizing the acids in the mouth. There are many possible causes of stained teeth. Your teeth constantly develop plaque, a sticky bacteria-filled film. Plaque can harden into tartar, a crusty deposit that forms bonds with stain-causing compounds. You can help reduce the formation of tartar by brushing with tartar-control toothpaste and having your teeth cleaned by your dentist regularly. Try to avoid or limit beverages including coffee, tea, red wine, heavily dyed foods like fruit drinks, and dark colored soda. Foods such as chocolate, berries, and beets can also cause stains. Finally, smoking, chewing tobacco, and swimming [due to chemical additives in the water] can also produce considerable staining. The foods you eat can also affect the way people think of you by causing bad breath. Pungent foods, such as onions and garlic, contribute to unpleasant breath. Dieters may develop bad breath from infrequent eating, or high protein/low carbohydrate diets, where you exhale ketones [produced from the breakdown of fat]. If you allow bits of food to remain in the mouth by not brushing often enough, this food will collect bacteria and cause foul-smelling breath. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day to remove food and plaque. Use floss to remove food from between teeth. Mouthwashes usually only offer a temporary fix for bad breath. Gum disease is caused by bacteria in plaque becoming severe enough to irritate the gums. A major sign of gum disease is persistent bad breath or a bad taste in the mouth. If you experience these problems, record the foods you eat and the medications you take, and let your dentist know at your next appointment. Use of any tobacco product, whether smoked or chewed, can increase your risk of developing oral cancer and gum disease. Tobacco damages your oral structures by loosening the attachments between bone, tissue, and teeth, causing receding gums. Smoking can also contribute to bad breath, stains on your teeth and tongue, and tartar formation. Additionally, tobacco products dull your sense of taste. Bulimia nervosa is an eating disorder that is extremely harmful to the teeth, leading to thinning and chipping of tooth enamel. This damage results from excessive vomiting, which causes the highly acidic stomach content to wear away tooth enamel. This happens most frequently to the incisor teeth, so those with bulimia may have shorter than normal incisors. A bulimic's teeth may also change color from white to brown or gray. A dentist can help someone with bulimia minimize oral complications until the underlying condition is treated. Replace your toothbrush regularly. Recycline, a local Teele Square business, combines convenience with dental and environmental health. Join their subscription program for $17.50 online at www.recycline.com, and every 3 months the company will mail you a new brush. [It's always nice to get a package too.] Preventing tooth decay and gum disease involves five simple steps: 1) Brush your teeth, gums, and tongue at least twice a day; 2) Clean between your teeth daily with floss; 3) Eat a well-balanced diet and reduce or eliminate sugary snacks; 4) Avoid hazardous activities such as using tobacco and vomiting; and 5) See your dentist every six months for dental cleanings and examinations.

Men's track and field finishes 14th at All New Englands

Four individual competitors and a relay team combined to score all twelve team points last Saturday, leading the men's track and field team to 14th place out of 31 teams at the All New Englands at Boston University. University of Connecticut won the meet with 166 points, easily beating UMass/Lowell (84), Northeastern (80), and Boston University (54). The Jumbos, anchored by strong performances by the team's three captains and several freshmen, notched a number of personal best results. "Part of it was [the level of competition]," senior tri-captain Adam Sharp said. "But part of it is that it's the end of the season, and we've all been resting up and preparing for this all season." The 4x400 relay team, consisting of sophomore Ray Carre and freshmen Trevor Williams, Pat Mahoney and Shawn Hansberry, finished eighth in a season best 3:20.47, and also qualified for IC4A, an out of season competition. The result was particularly impressive because of Williams' late substitution in the event. Williams replaced senior tri-captain Greg Devine, who was feeling hip tenderness following his 55 meter hurdle event. Following last weekend's dominating win at the New England Div. III's, the team is looking strong heading into the ECAC's next week. "The 4x400 was awesome," Carre said. "The freshmen were always there, they always put it on the line." Carre also ran a career best in the 400 dash, running 49.37 seconds in the preliminaries and 49.44 in the finals to claim eighth place by just one fifth of a second. Mahoney also ran a career best 50.24, slicing off three-quarters of a second from his previous mark. Carre, now the second fastest Div. III 400 runner, beat out Colby's Xavier Garcia (49.63), exacting revenge for Garcia's win at the Div. III's. "It was big for confidence," Carre said. "Xavier has been a constant opponent, always there, even through high school, and he's a great athlete. I'm really pleased with how things are going right now. The pace of the race dragged things out, and I stuck with it." Senior tri-captains Greg Devine and Bryan Pitko placed fourth and eighth respectively in the 55 hurdles with times of 7.68 and 7.83. The pair earned a combined six points for the team, with Devine earning IC4A qualification. URI's Colin Aina won the event in 7.43. Sophomore Nate Thompson, fresh off a strong second place finish in the long jump at the Div. III's, leapt 6.65 meters to claim fifth place. The jump, slightly down from last week's 6.95, earned Thompson four points. Several other Jumbos notched personal records. Sophomore Michael Don ran 8:41.84 in the 3000, finishing 14th, while freshman pole vaulter Seth LaPierre cleared 4.45 meters, 16 centimeters higher than his best, set at the Div. III's. LaPierre tied for ninth with two other competitors, narrowly missing out on the scoring. Senior tri-captain Adam Sharp (4:18.16) ran a career best in the one mile, a race won by Keene State's Mark Miller (4:07.29). Sharp, who finished 16th, also helped contribute to the 4x800 relay team's season best 7:53.90, nearly eleven seconds faster than last week's performance. Freshman Matt Lacey, sophomore Aaron Kaye and senior Jake Berman helped Sharp in achieving the result. "We had gone into it hoping to break eight minutes," Sharp said. "We really destroyed them, it was awesome." Sharp also had high praise for the distance medley relay team, comprised completely of freshmen this weekend. Freshmen Matt Lacey, Kyle Doran, and Neil Orfield joined Trevor Williams in pulling off a 10:25.26 finish. "They ran really well against some tough opponents," Sharp said. "They really stepped up." Carre agreed, believing the team will be a strong force in the future. "In the next couple years, they'll be unbelievable," Carre said. "When I'm a senior, they'll be there." With next weekend's ECAC's being hosted by the Jumbos, focus now turns to the opportunity to add names to the school record list in front of a home crowd. The meet is the final home meet of the indoor season, and the last of many athletes' careers. "Well be putting together the fastest DMR team we can," Sharp said. "And I'll make a run for the school record [in the 1000]." The men's track and field team competes this Friday and Saturday at the Gantcher Center.

Studying abroad adapting to changing international climate

As the impending war on Iraq becomes more of a reality each day, increasing international tensions have resulted in different reactions by the Office of Programs Abroad and by students. Concerns about traveling and anti-American sentiment have not prevented large numbers of Tufts students from studying abroad, but have caused the office to change some of the recommendations it makes about programs. Though changes in the international climate after Sept. 11 prompted many to predict a decrease in travel, Foreign Study Advisor Sally O'Leary said that there "was not a dramatic drop off" in the number of students who have wanted to study abroad in the last year and a half. The number of students heading to what are considered more dangerous locations, though, has dropped somewhat according to O'Leary. For example, three to four years ago, an average of 13 to 15 students visited Israel per year. Currently, O'Leary reported that only one student is studying abroad in Israel this semester. The changing feelings towards Americans have also prompted O'Leary to adjust the types of recommendations she makes to those who express interest in dangerous locations. O'Leary is focused on encouraging students to study in safe locations, and to assure that their parents are involved in the decision-making process if they express interest in a dangerous country. "I would discourage certain locations right now, but ultimately the decision lies in the hands of the students and parents," O'Leary said. If a student expressed an interest in visiting Israel, for example, O'Leary said that, "My first response would be, 'how do your parents feel about this?'" O'Leary said that the "leave of absence" that a student takes from Tufts when studying on a non-Tufts program is part of what makes ensuring safety difficult for certain students abroad. Students who travel on Tufts programs generally have the advantage of being kept informed by the University while abroad, according to Program and Orientation Coordinator Janna Behrens. Warnings issued on the State Department's website are forwarded on to Administrators of the Tufts programs, so the University is assured that students will receive the message. But many students who have studied abroad on non-Tufts programs -- as roughly 350 students do each year -- said that Tufts does not disseminate safety warnings to them on a regular basis. All students who spoke to the Daily said that they received safety warnings only from the program they were studying with, and never from Tufts itself. Most students who studied on non-Tufts programs were satisfied with the level of communication, even though it was fairly minimal. "I never really communicated with Tufts but it wasn't really a big deal," said senior Lindsay Aldrich, who spent her junior year on a non-Tufts program in London. "I never felt in danger anywhere I was -- and I even [visited] Moscow which is way off the beaten path," Aldrich said. Safety information is normally left for the program itself to distribute, O'Leary said. "I would assume that a reputable advisor such as Hebrew University would stay on top of those advisories," she said. Instead of feeling pressure to communicate information directly to Tufts students abroad, the University feels that putting programs through a rigorous selection process is the more important step in determining whether students will be kept safe. O'Leary said that the safety of the programs has to be trusted completely for it to be recommended by Tufts. Part of a program's evaluation process is based substantially on student feedback from those who have petitioned and enrolled in the program. Without that feedback, as well as clearance by professors, the program cannot be approved. "Safety is an enormous concern for all of us in the Study Abroad office," O'Leary said. But students traveling on non-Tufts programs are subject to safety standards that are not set by Tufts, O'Leary said. While Tufts could decide to cancel one of its own programs, or suspend it for a few years if the country were unsafe -- such as it did with the Tufts-in-Ghana program -- it does not have the same control over outside programs, O'Leary said. The type of information that is being communicated at the mandatory pre-departure meetings is also changing due to the international scene, according to Behrens. The meetings serve partially to inform students of safety concerns they may encounter while abroad. While pre-departure meetings in past years have included information about culture differences, gender roles, health and safe sex, Behrens said that "Safety within study abroad is changing. We update our messages as world events change." Such changes include advising students to refrain from engaging in heated political discussions or protests while abroad, and avoiding dangerous situations that could otherwise make them subject to terrorism. But many Tufts students who were in foreign countries during Sept. 11, 2001 said that they did not feel as though they were in danger. Most students agreed that any negative comments were directed at the United States as a country, and not at the citizens themselves. "It wasn't as focused on the people as it was on our government," said Holly Goyert, a senior who spent a year abroad in Argentina on a non-Tufts program. Goyert said that "the normal turmoil of the country" was at times a safety concern, but that in general she said, "I felt perfectly safe when I was there." Some foreigners were very sympathetic to the terrorist attack on the US, but some were not. "I encountered a lot of people who said, 'your country deserves that,'" said Rachel Messer, a senior who spent her junior year in Spain on a non-Tufts program.

Budget cuts put pressure on Medford and Somerville

The cities of Medford and Somerville have been scrambling to close budget gaps in the wake of massive state funding cuts for the 2003 fiscal year. The cuts were made by Governor Mitt Romney as part of a comprehensive plan to close a $3 billion statewide deficit. Both communities have begun plans to address the reductions. A Feb. 14 memo from Somerville Mayor Dorothy Kelly Gay outlined a plan that included the elimination of stipends for 25 positions -- a few of which were already vacant -- in order to deal with the cuts. Somerville's state aid was reduced by $5 million for fiscal year 2003 -- more than any other city in Massachusetts, according to Director of Communications Bill Doncaster. The City of Medford has also taken measures in order to deal with its monetary losses. A mid-year cut in state aid of $1.4 million was alleviated by an early retirement plan offered by the city. The budget cuts for both cities have been particularly troublesome this year, due to the unusually heavy snowfall. One of the possibilities that cites can use for the snow removal is "free cash," which is a contingency fund built into budgets which cities can use to cover unexpected emergencies. Doncaster, however, said that this is usually reserved for catastrophes such as a school fires or accidents. Somerville has been discussing with Tufts for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT). PILOT payments are made voluntarily by a tax-exempt organization to a municipality in exchange for the use of its services, according to the University. Somerville's President of the Aldermen Sean O'Donovan told the Somerville Journal that the city received $25,000 last year from Tufts. Tufts officials confirmed the payment but said it was only for a past real estate transaction. Tufts' payments pale with some other local institutions. Harvard gives Cambridge approximately $2 million in payments, and MIT about $1 million. Tufts spokeswoman Barbara Rubel was quick to note that only the wealthiest institutions can make payments to communities. "Tufts does not [pay a PILOT] because we can't afford it and we don't feel we put a burden on the community." Tufts has, however, made some "one-time deals" in support of community development, including donations for a community development office, playground renovation, and adding lights to a baseball field. Both sides have said that there have been discussions between the president and the Somerville mayor, although neither was willing to comment on the exact nature of these talks. This issue has come up before, and Rubel said "we've engaged in discussion and explained what we can live with." Medford is currently trying to find ways to make up its shortfall. The Medford Transcript reported that early retirement of 47 employees made up for almost half of the cut. The rest of the cut is being made up through purchasing freezes and fund shuffling. Despite this effort, popular services, such as a summer recreation program, had to be cut to close the gap. Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn warned that additional services could be trimmed if Romney's upcoming plans for further cuts go through. With another round of cuts, Medford could face a $5 to $6.5 million dollar loss. But Richard Leigh, an aid to the Medford mayor, believed the city's cost-cuttings measures have closed most of the budget gap after the first round of State cuts. "The budget will be okay through June [end of fiscal year], the only caveat being snow and ice removal," Leigh said. The costs of cleaning up an unusually severe winter might leave the city with a deficit of $200,000 to $250,000. Somerville is also having issues with snow removal due to the unusually heavy accumulation, Doncaster said. "We are already in the red for snow removal, however this is the only area where we are allowed to go over budget by law, it's a matter of public safety." The final Somerville budget is scheduled to be finished this week. Medford's, however, will not be available until the end of June. Leigh describes the process as "very time consuming." "Medford has never had to do something like this before. It's going to be a difficult year," he said. Romney made almost $343 million in immediate budget cuts earlier this month. The majority of this was made up of local aid, $114 million, meaning cities and towns around Massachusetts are facing similar problems to Medford and Somerville.

Ski team has a great time both on and off the slopes

The Tufts ski team's season came to a close last weekend with the women's team finishing eighth out of 15 teams in the Eastern Conference Championships regional competition. The men's team failed to qualify for regionals, but finished sixth out of ten in the Thompson division. Both the men's "Bob" and women's "Betty" teams have been training and racing since early January. Both teams took a training trip to Waterville, New Hampshire before the start of the spring semester to either learn or fine tune their alpine racing skills. "We don't require any racing experience," senior captain Anne Marie Braun said. "[Ski team] is a club sport and is open to everybody. We get a mix of people who have been racing their whole lives and people who have never raced before." With a total of about 60 racers on the roster and 35-40 skiers regularly competing, the ski team boasts a variety of talent both young and old. Three strong freshmen helped boost the women's team from a fifth seed in the Thompson division at the start of the season to a third place final position. Lael Nelson, Eliza Appert and Chloe Snider all finished ranked amongst the top twenty individual racers in the division as well. Appert's season was shortened due to a pre-season foot injury, but she still managed to place sixth in her first collegiate slalom race and end up ranked 13th overall. Her performance along with those of 12th ranked Nelson, 14th ranked fifth year Jordana Fish, and 16th ranked Snider enhanced the team's standing and helped filled the void left by two prominent junior skiers who are abroad this semester. "This season we had a lot of new freshmen," Braun said. "There are only two senior [women] on the team so the freshmen came in and helped us get to regionals." Although the men's season did not culminate with an appearance at regionals, the team enjoyed its season and looks forward to a promising future. In much the same way as the women's team, the men's squad featured freshmen in high places. First year Andrew Tonelli had the best overall ranking of any Tufts man finishing 17th overall in the Thompson division. Fellow freshman Max Felker-Kantor ended the season ranked 32nd after never having raced competitively before coming to college. "I had never raced before," Felker-Kantor said. "But after Waterville and practicing twice a week, it was an easy transition from free skiing to racing." Not to be overshadowed by the rookies, senior Michael Coughlin also had a solid season finishing with a 28th divisional ranking. Although individual racing is a very important part of being on the ski team, members love being around each other off the slopes as well. "It's been a great team dynamic this year," Braun said. "Everyone gets along... we are a really close team because we spend so much time together. You make a lot of close friends that want to have a good time. There's great camaraderie." The team takes weekend trips to races six times over the course of the season. Members pack up their cars on Friday night, race all day Saturday and Sunday, and then return Sunday evening. With a substantial amount of time spent in hotels together, the team has more than enough time to connect. "Even though I missed out on the first part of the season because of my broken foot, the team was really welcoming when I came back," Appert said. "Everyone is really laid back and we have a lot of fun." When asked what the best parts of being on the ski team were, Felker-Kantor broke into a laughing grin. "Those would have to be going away to ski every weekend, being with the team, Redrose, and seeing all the hot girls in their tight GS suits," Felker-Kantor said.

Bush Lecture Photospread

Jumbos begin post season quest

After missing the post season last year, the hockey team is pleased to have a look at the playoffs this year. The team's 7-10-4 record has earned it the eighth and final playoff spot for this year's NESCAC tournament. Facing off against number one seed Middlebury in the first round, the team faces a tall task if it wants to keep championship hopes alive. "We're feeling pretty confident," senior co-captain Mike Carceo said. "We played them well most of the game last time so everybody's pretty excited." The Jumbos have not advanced past the first round of the playoffs since 1999. That year, after defeating Johnson and Wales 7-3 in the first round, Tufts suffered a heartbreaking 4-3 OT loss to Fitchburg State. The Jumbos made another playoff appearance the following year as well, but were unable to advance beyond the first round, suffering a close overtime loss to Salve Regina, 6-5. The Jumbos feature three seniors in their lineup, Carceo, co-captain Chris Martin and Dan Geary. Each of these players carries with him experience from the team's pervious playoff appearances. In contrast, the Panthers enter with much more experience in the postseason. As the defending NESCAC Champions for the past three years, Middlebury will be intent on continuing its reign. The Panthers enter the tournament with a 19-3-2 overall record, and a 16-1-2 NESCAC record. They now enter the tournament red hot, with their last loss coming on Dec. 7 against Salem State, their only conference defeat. Meanwhile, the Jumbos are struggling as they enter the post season riding a three-game losing streak with their last victory coming on Feb. 14 against Amherst. The team is determined not to let the season's dismal end carry onto the post season and has focused on improving in practice this week. "Hopefully it's out of our system now," Carceo said. "Last weekend was pretty tough but I think we've snapped out of it." Beating Middlebury will be a tough task, but the Jumbos believe they are up to the challenge, despite the outcome of their last matchup. When the two teams met in early January, the Jumbos were struggling much as they are now and ended up losing the battle 6-2. During that game, Middlebury outshot the Jumbos 52-28. Yet the Panthers were not as dominating as the statistics make them out to be. The game was fairly tight until Middlebury pulled away in the third period with three goals. Their ability to keep with the Panthers for much of the game is encouraging for the Jumbos as they prepare for tomorrow's game. Going into this weekend's game Tufts hopes to approach the matchup with a different outlook. Struggling with the power play in their recent games, the Jumbos will need to capitalize on any opportunity they receive if they want the game to go their way. The venue, Middlebury's Kenyon Arena, will require that the Jumbos are on top of their passing game and will most likely feature a high paced matchup instead of the tough physical play to which Tufts is accustomed. According to Carceo, the team knows it needs to slow down the Panthers to get their offense out of sync. As for facing the league's toughest team in their first postseason game, the Jumbos are not going to let Middlebury's top seeding scare them. "We're playing the best team first and you'd have to meet them eventually, so we might as well get it out of the way," Carceo said.