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Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda

February 20

In a world where television, cars, and multiple story buildings are conspicuous in their absence, there is a community of about six hundred people living in a remote area of Eastern Uganda called the Abayudaya. Living in villages bordering the small town of Mbale, these poverty-stricken people worship and practice Judaism. Although they are surrounded by Muslims and Christians, and face hostility, they continue to celebrate Jewish holidays, observe the laws of the Sabbath, keep kosher, and pray in Hebrew. During the rule of dictator Idi Amin, their synagogues were closed and the community prayed furtively. For four generations since their initial conversion in 1919, these people have preserved their Jewish lifestyle. In the 1990's, free-lance photographer Richard Sobol, who received his BFA in the joint Tufts School of the Museum of Fine Arts degree program in 1976, traveled to Uganda to photograph African wildlife and became familiar with the Abayudaya. "Within seconds, I felt completely at ease and welcomed. That feeling has been pervasive throughout the time I spent there," Sobol said. "They are very hospitable people." He chronicled the lives of the Abayudaya in vibrant color images, and after hearing their music, requested that Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, associate university chaplain and executive director of the Tufts Hillel Foundation with a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology, record the Jewish music with its African rhythms. The two traveled to Uganda together and lived with the people, slept in the local high school on air mattresses and sleeping bags, and ate the native rice, beans, bananas, and their own PowerBars. In addition to recording their music, Summit was also able to expose the Abayudayans to other music from outside their own culture. When the Abayudayans got the opportunity to hear Tufts' Jewish a Cappella group, Shir Appeal, sing Abayudayan music on a recording in Hebrew and Ugandan, they cried, "Now we know we are connected to other Jews throughout the world." Summit was so taken by the everyday life and music of the Abayudayans, his first reaction was that he needed to let others know of the beauty that he had found. "I was so struck by how familiar this was to me," he said. "It was a part of my own culture and yet it was so far away from my community." Summit got the opportunity to share his experiences with the Tufts community on Feb. 13, when his recordings, along with Sobol's photos, went on display in the Aidekman Art Gallery. With familiar but outlandish Jewish songs in the background of the gallery, the exhibit gives an authentic portrayal of Abayudayan life. The pictures presented the Abayudayan everyday lifestyle, while also noting their fervent beliefs for their own culture. "You can really sense how spiritual they are," sophomore Erica Weitz said. "This is really what they live for." The vitality of the photos is so rich in color that one can indeed feel the softness of an Abayudayan mother's cheek pressed against her baby. Sobol catches a close-up of a tattered and well-used bible, dirt roads, bright garments, Kippahs and Talises, old grandmothers and young babies. "This is an amazing exhibit and a great chance for people to learn about the hidden cultures of Judaism that most people do not see in the Western world," freshman Marc Katz said. In one photo Ugandan Rabbi Gershom Sizomu and his daughter Daphne are shown lighting the Sabbath candles on Nabogoya hill. In another, two boys play with their own creation of a toy car, which Summit eventually bought for 2500 shillings, which is equivalent to about two dollars. This toy car is also presented in a glass encasement in the gallery. In order to further educate people about the Abayudayan culture, Summit recently signed a contract with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, and will release a CD of his recording this fall. Summit has signed all of the royalties over to the Abayudayan community and is also, in the interim, raising money for their school system. Sobol's photographs and Summit's field recordings and essay on the musical traditions of the Ugandan Jews were published last fall in Abayudaya, the Jews of Uganda. In addition, the exhibition will continue to run until Mar. 23. "This blows apart our stereotypes about what it means to be a Jew or an African American or anything else," Summit said. "We can't put people in boxes and think that we know them."

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News

Competitive times for men's track

February 20

With the sounds of Chopin's 'Polonaise' resonating across his office from a radio in the corner, men's track and field coach Connie Putnam did not look like a man entering championship crunch time. But with the New England Div. III's taking place this weekend at MIT, Putnam is looking for a very tight, close finish. "It's going to be very close," Putnam said. "It will be tooth and nail all the way. If we have a great day we could score around 65 points. We could be anywhere from third to sixth." Along with host MIT, the Jumbos main opposition will come from Bates, Williams, Bowdoin and Springfield. MIT, because of its all-around depth, is undoubtedly favored to win the meet, according to Putnam. "I don't think anyone can beat MIT, as sorry as I am to say it," Putnam said. "I don't think anyone can stop them. They have the best balance of any team." How the rest of the field falls into place will come down to who performs better on the day. The Jumbos will be in the thick of things, battling for one of the top five spots behind MIT. The news that Wheaton will not compete will create a greater battle between the teams for the additional points. Wheaton had figured to be a strong contender for second place, with star athletes in the sprint and jumping events. The Jumbos are most evenly matched with Bowdoin, particularly in the distance events. The team will be looking for strong performances from sophomores Nate Brigham with a seeded time of 15:11.05 in the 5000 meter, Michael Don (8:48.77) in the 3000 and Aaron Kaye (4:01.55) in the 1500. Senior tri-captain Adam Sharp (2:34.40 and 4:03.34), will be running the 1000-1500 meter double. "We need the distance guys to run effective races to beat some people out there to get some points," Putnam said. "We'll also be leaning heavily on our hurdles guys for the bulk of our points." Senior tri-captains Bryan Pitko (7.65 seconds, 55 hurdles) and Greg Devine (7.66), plus sophomore Nate Thompson (7.92), will provide the team with a strong presence in the hurdles. With Bates set to dominate the field events with one of the better throwing teams around, the hurdles will be particularly important in helping to neutralize Bates' points haul. The Jumbos have just one thrower in the field, sophomore Dan March, who won't know whether he will actually be able to compete until the morning of the competition. March (14.14 meters in the weight throw) is entered provisionally in the event. But if he competes, he is set for a bust out performance, according to Putnam. The 400 meter dash will create some interest, with sophomore Ray Carre (50.19) the sole Jumbo representative. Wheaton's Erik Benson (48.94), who had been dominating, will not be present, leading to what could be a very open-ended race. "That changes a lot of things," assistant coach Ethan Barron said. "Ray has a chance to do some damage." With Devine running on an abbreviated schedule as he continues to nurse a slight muscle injury, the team is somewhat thin in the sprints, including the 55 and 200 meter dashes. This will place added weight on the 400 and 600. In the 600, freshmen Shawn Hansberry (school record 1:22.49) and Pat Mahoney (provisional 1:24.08) will be looking to score additional points for the team. Putnam also believes the 4x400, 4x800 and distance medley relay teams could conceivably race to three third place finishes, also providing some strong support. In the field, Thompson will also contend in the long jump. Freshmen Seth LaPierre and Will Heitmann and junior Adrian Clarke will battle against a talented group of pole vaulters. The main thing though, according to Barron, is not so much the spread of over twenty Jumbo athletes across the events. What is more important is that the team goes out and competes hard and gets the job done. "We have everyone covered," Barron said. "We just have to go out there and beat them."

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News

Alum, dean weigh in on North Korea conflict

February 20

North Korea's announced propagation of its nuclear program has caught the attention of a Tufts graduate and dean who are among the foremost experts on the region. Bill Richardson, who attended Tufts as an undergraduate and the Fletcher School of International Law and Diplomacy graduate, is currently Governor of New Mexico. "There is no doubt that the North Koreans pose a serious threat," said Richardson, who recently met with North Korean diplomats in order to discuss the crisis on the Korean peninsula. "They have actively pursued the development of nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them." Stephen Bosworth, the Dean of the Fletcher School and the Ambassador to South Korea under the Clinton Administration and the former head of the Korean Energy Development Organization, agrees that the North Korean nuclear threat should not be taken lightly. "Potentially it's dangerous -- it is credible, we have to pay attention to it," Bosworth said. The current crisis in Korea centers around a 1994 document known as the Agreed Framework, which set the terms of negotiation between the US and North Korea. The document stated that if the US would help North Korea build a light-water reactor if North Korea stopped building nuclear weapons. Additionally, until the completion of the light-water reactor, the US would agree to donate heavy-fuel oil to North Korea. North Korea claims that the US violated the terms of the Agreed Framework, and remains steadfast in continuing experiments with nuclear energy. Richardson and most Americans disagree. "The United States did not violate the Agreed Framework," Richardson said. Richardson sees North Korea's actions as being motivated by several factors including the feeling that it has been "ignored and insulted by the Bush Administration, [...] uncertainty about security," and a concern "about food and energy aid to North Korea," according to Richardson. Bosworth does not see Korea's nuclear threat as a useful mechanism to negotiate with the US. "They want security assurances and they want economic help, [but] they're not going to get either one until they put their nuclear program out on the table and say they're going to give it up," Bosworth said. Last month, Governor Richardson was asked to help facilitate dialogue between the two countries. "The North Koreans approached me in December to ask for the meetings," he said. Richardson who has traveled to North Korea three times, and twice brought back Americans who had been detained there. Bosworth sees negotiation as the best means to solve these disputes. "We really can't use a military response because the risk of catastrophic conflict and the damage to South Korea would be too great," Bosworth said. "I think it would've been much more prudent to continue a dialogue with the Koreans. "They see us as part of the solution to their problems. They are determined that they're going to have a dialogue with us, their real objective is normalization." According to Bosworth, the problem of negotiation is that "the US has been reluctant" to prepare to talk with the North Koreans. "I have been a proponent of dialogue with the North Koreans," Richardson said. "Not to make concessions, but to engage in serious discussions aimed at easing tensions."

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News

The 2002 Oscar Contenders

February 20

The nominations are in, and thus begins the wait to see who will take home the little gold statue, as well as the prestige, bragging rights that come with it. As far as this year's Oscar nominations go, there are some good choices, and some not-so-good choices. Lets first examine the Best Picture category, which includes, Chicago, Gangs of New York, The Hours, The Lord of the Rings: the Two Towers, and The Pianist. I just want to note the absence of Punch Drunk Love from not only this category, but from every nomination. Paul Thomas Anderson's film is a beautifully crafted, artistic, poignant love story; possibly the most realistic, yet abstract romance movie I have ever seen. However, I understand that at least half the people who read this will be thinking, "God I hated that, it made me feel so uncomfortable," and I guess that explains its absence from the list. Moving onto the actual nominees -- Gangs of New York should not be on this list, unless Best Picture means 'best unrealized directorial vision that got lost because said director bit off more than he could chew'. Gangs is a decent movie, but it lacks focus and overall coherence. It attempts to do too much and lacks the refined, perfectly sculpted elements of past Best Picture winners. Scorsese is past his prime. Next to go is Chicago, which seems to be this year's Moulin Rouge. Everyone loves it, it's fun, there's music, there's, uh, Richard Gere. However, the precedent for not picking musicals was set last year by Rouge, which at least was about love. Chicago seems slightly trivial in the Best Picture category, which usually goes to movies that tackle something epic, either thematically or content-wise, or have Russell Crowe in them. Chicago is also directed by an Academy rookie, Rob Marshell, who was also nominated for best direction. Chicago's best bet is in the Best Adapted Screenplay category. However, it will have to beat out Charlie Kaufman's Adaptation, which, as anyone who has seen the movie knows, was painstakingly adapted from The Orchid Thief. If I may digress again, this is another movie that is absent from the Best Picture list, despite large amounts of critical praise. It has the edge in the screenplay category; I mean, look at the title. Back to best pictures: the precedent for Lord of the Rings movies not winning best picture was also set last year, and despite living up to the expectations of the extremely enjoyable first installment, there is no way Two Towers can win. Hopefully I will be wrong. That leaves The Hours and The Pianist. Here it gets difficult. The director of The Hours, Stephen Daldry, is fairly inexperienced. He has done two other movies, and one of them was Billy Elliot, which is not too shabby. The director of The Pianist is Roman Polanksi, who has, incidentally, been nominated four times for Oscars, but has never won. Based on those facts, I would put my money on Polanski, who is also in contention for best director. As far as other categories go, Best Actor and Actress are difficult choices, as usual. Daniel Day-Lewis was great in Gangs, but he is up against Oscar heavyweight Jack Nicholson, who was phenomenal in About Schmidt, recent Academy favorite Michael Caine (for The Quiet American), Nicholas Cage at his best, who plays twins in Adaptation, and relatively unknown, first-time-nominee Adrienne Brody. Besides Brody, all four other actors have at least one Oscar. I would like to see Cage receive this award, as he has not had that much recognition as of late, and playing two completely different characters in one movie is very difficult. The women are in an opposite position from the men, as none of them have won an Oscar before. Selma Hayek, nominated for her spectacular performance in Frida, could be this year's Halle Berry, but she'll have to beat out Renee Zellweger's Roxie from Chicago, which could be difficult to do, despite the fact that Zellweger has never sung. Then there is Nicole Kidman, with a follow-up nomination after her first for Rouge last year. She is certainly due, but not as much as Julianne Moore, if we go by nominations, because she has had two. Last but not least is Diane Lane for Unfaithful. Whoever wins here will be filling in shoes as a new A-list high-caliber leading woman actress. Because of the (well-deserved) hype for The Hours, I would not be surprised to see Kidman walk away with it. Finally, Lilo and Stitch for Best Animated Picture. Hands down.

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News

No clear solution to excessive college drinking

February 20

Two months after President Larry Bacow sent his e-mail condemning students for their behavior during the annual Naked Quad Run, many students are still stewing and have complained that the president does not understand the issue. But in an interview last week, Bacow said he is not in a popularity contest and that despite the reaction to his e-mail, he believes universities have a responsibility to "manage" drinking in college, to help students understand the risks, and keep the situation under control. Bacow, who personally believes the drinking age should be lowered to 18, said that the issue cannot be ignored because the university risks letting the situation worsen. "Should we wait until a student dies before we do something?" Bacow said. Many students have said that Bacow's vocal denunciation of the Naked Quad Run was a result largely of the president's previous experience at MIT. When Bacow was an administrator there, freshman Scott Kruger died from alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity. Bacow admitted that the incident influenced his priorities. "Seeing what it did to all his frat brothers" was one of the hardest things to witness, Bacow said, and he wanted to avoid seeing other students in a similar situation. But the president said that while he "lived through a nightmare at MIT," Kruger has affected every university. Excessive drinking among students boils down to a matter of personal responsibility, Bacow said. "It has to do with students accepting the consequences of their behavior," he said, something that he feels many students lose while at college. But the president was at a loss on how the administration could instill this in students. Many students, however, feel that the administration is ignorant of the realities of the college alcohol culture and that the president is trying to control alcohol consumption, which they feel is not the right answer to the drinking problem. "What Bacow misses is that if he were to officially crack down on drinking it would only drive it further underground, causing more injuries," sophomore Benjamin Rubinstein said. "It would help him to evaluate how to encourage people to be responsible rather than outright ban it." But Bacow said he is "not na??ve about what goes on" and that the university has no pretenses when it comes to drinking. "I'm under no illusions that we will ever solve the problem," he said. Some have suggested that the University offer more activities or be more interactive with fraternities so that students would be less inclined to turn to alcohol. The president agreed that more activities to discourage drinking would improve the situation. "We need to provide more opportunities for [students] without getting loaded," Bacow said. But how the University should go about doing that is a much harder question to answer, he said. Since the infamous e-mail sent the day after the run in December, the president has faced significant criticism from alumni and students for his reaction. According to Bacow, the run was an example of students losing control. "This was different," he said. "Things have gotten out of hand, and over the top." Friction from students and alumni are not his biggest concerns, as he says that many students who talk about tradition often are not aware of what has actually happened in the past. Bacow added that he has received letters from alumni congratulating him for the action he has taken so far. And "if students can't figure how to control it," he has no qualms taking administrative action to control the run. "We have to try to not ignore [excessive drinking] in the name of tradition," Bacow said. The Naked Quad Run has not been the only subject of administrative concern about drinking: the administration has also increased scrutiny of fraternities this year. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said last semester that the fraternities on campus were facing a "last chance" to reform. Although alcohol problems are not confined to fraternities, Bacow said, the Greek system needs to gain a sense of self-respect. "How does it look," he asked, "[when] every Saturday morning the corners of Talbot and Packard are littered with bottles?"

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News

Women's basketball set for playoffs

February 20

Excitement is the predominant emotion felt by the women's basketball team going into this weekend. The Jumbos qualified for the playoffs for the first time in two years and are gearing up for their NESCAC quarterfinal matchup at Bates in Lewiston, Maine on Saturday at 3 p.m. After wrapping up their regular season last Saturday against Williams, the Jumbos have had a week of practice to get ready for tournament play. "We are preparing the way we always do," coach Carla Berube said. "It's been good to not have a game like we usually do during the week. It has given us time to get our minds and our legs a little bit of rest so that we're ready for Saturday." The Jumbos racked up a 17-6 overall record during the regular season, including four NESCAC victories. The team's 4-5 league record earned it the sixth seed out of eight teams that qualified for the postseason tournament. Tufts' battle with Bates features a rematch of the regular season game the Jumbos won 66-59 on Jan. 25 at Cousens Gymnasium. "We have to be on top of our game to pull out a victory up there," Berube said. "They are playing great basketball right now and finished third in the league. But we've beat them once already this year and we know we can do it again." To win this game and advance to the semifinals, the Jumbos must continue to play their game with their style of defense. The team must also maintain its intensity throughout the contest -- something that it has had difficulty doing during several close games this season. "If we don't win, our season is over. So that is an incentive," Berube said. "It's a big game; it's the tournament; we're definitely pumped up for it." If the Jumbos are victorious on Saturday, they will move on to the next round of the playoffs where they will face either seventh seed Middlebury or second seed Wesleyan. The Jumbos defeated Middlebury just last Friday 69-58 for the first time since the teams began playing each other annually in 1993. The squad lost a heartbreaker to Wesleyan 79-76 in overtime on Jan. 18 after giving up a late game lead. Either way, the Jumbos have a good chance to advance further in the playoffs if they play up to their potential. "Whatever happens, happens. We'll be geared and ready to play who ever is next," Berube said. This year's success and resulting playoff berth are polar opposites of Tufts' dismal 2001-2002 season. The Jumbos won one single league game on their way to a 9-14 overall mark last year. They finished 0-for-February and took sole possession of last place in the NESCAC. The dramatic turnaround this year has come in Berube's first year at the helm. "We had very good chemistry this year," Berube said. "The team really enjoys each other and that can be seen both on and off the court. Chemistry is a big factor for a successful program." The squad came together despite having only one senior -- captain Hillary Dunn. "Hillary has been a great leader and captain and will be missed," Berube said. "But we have a group of juniors ready to break through and the underclassmen have followed suit very well. They are a great addition to the program and will be great here for many years." Whatever the recipe for success may be, the Jumbos are entering their very own Div. III version of March Madness (only a month early) beginning tomorrow. Top seed Bowdoin went 21-2 overall this year and 9-0 in the NESCAC. The defending back-to-back champion Polar Bears will look for their third straight ticket to the NCAA Div. III tournament. Second seed Wesleyan and the rest of the field will look to deny Bowdoin a threepeat. Even though Tufts holds the sixth seed in the NESCAC's, the team is optimistic about its chances for glory. "We're pumpin and ready to go on Saturday," Berube said. "If we play the way we are capable of playing, we can beat the talented Bates team. It's pretty exciting."

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News

Hillel sponsors

February 20

The event's title may have been humorous, but the subject matter addressed by Professor Malik Mufti in Wednesday nights's "Caught Between Iraq and a Hard Place" discussion was anything but. Sponsored by Tufts Hillel and held in the Hillel Center's small chapel room, "Between Iraq and a Hard Place" provided students with the opportunity to consider Mufti's point of view regarding the Iraqi conflict and raise concerns about the future. "Over winter break, the situation with Iraq really came to a head, but a lot of people, like myself, didn't know what was going on," senior Hillel president Erika Robbins said. Robbins planned the program with the goal of "[providing] people with information so they could form their own opinions." Before opening the floor up to the approximately sixty students in attendance, Mufti presented them with an overview of the U.S. motives in targeting Iraq. Mufti also detailed the potential pitfalls of U.S. military intervention, repeatedly emphasizing the unpredictable nature of war. "It's obvious on an intuitive level that Sept. 11 had something to do with our going to war, although links are tenuous at best," Mufti said. He added that what prevented the Bush administration from acting sooner was most likely "the enormity of the enterprise -- not just the war, but the aftermath. It's such a difficult project." The real problem the Bush administration has with Saddam Hussein, Mufti said, is not necessarily his harboring of terrorists or weapons of mass destruction. Rather, the administration is concerned with the geopolitics of the region. "Saddam Hussein represents a certain type of government -- he's a militaristic ultranationalist," Mufti said, describing Hussein's attempt to invade Kuwait as representative of what he plans to accomplish on a larger scale throughout the entire Middle East. If Saddam achieves his goal of Middle Eastern domination, Mufti said, "the regional balance would shift in a way inimical to U.S. interests." The Bush rationale in attempting to overthrow Saddam rests, then, on the tenet that "by overthrowing Hussein, we can change the political culture of the region in such a way that we can create a space for more liberal regimes to emerge." According to Mufti, the administration hopes that bringing a credible, stable, pro-American regime to power in Iraq will result in several things: the creation of a pro-American alliance consisting of Iraq, Turkey, Jordan, and Israel, the exertion of pressure on problematic regimes in countries such as Syria, and the building of momentum towards an Arab-Israeli peace. "Here is where things diverge," Mufti said. Iraq being Israel's greatest threat, Israel's government could react to the occupation of Iraq in two ways. The first would involve taking advantage of Iraq's weakened state and refusing to compromise; the second, using their advantageous position to bring about an Arab-Israeli settlement. Should Israel pursue the first option, the U.S.'s Middle Eastern agenda would be greatly threatened. Though Mufti described himself as "for the war because [he]'s against the sanctions" Bush Sr. imposed on the Iraqi people following the Gulf War, he readily admitted that a war with Iraq contains numerous potential pitfalls. "The closer things get [to war]," Mufti said, "the more worried I get." Mufti feels that an attack on Iraq is necessary to thwart Saddam because "[he buys] the argument that Saddam will not just stop at having weapons if he is left alone." "Some Iraqis are accusing the U.S. of betraying them _ already, the Americans are running into trouble," Mufti said, adding that installing a "decent" regime "could turn into a really ugly occupation that would undermine the reason for the whole thing." The tension between Kurds and Turks in northern Iraq poses another problem: "The country could just implode," Mufti said. According to Mufti, the key question is whether the U.S. "can really change the political culture of a region. Can we change the whole direction of the Arab-Muslim stance?" Mufti offered no clear-cut answers to that query, instead fielding an array of questions from an audience composed of both anti and pro-war students as well as University Rabbi Jeffrey Summit. Asked how the Bush administration's conduct will affect the U.S.'s relationship to its European allies, Mufti replied, "the tone of the administration has been unfortunate and childish. Obviously, the transatlantic alliance is being really badly hurt by all of this." Mufti also recognized the possibility that attacking Iraq could push Saddam to employ biological or chemical weapons against the U.S. "I think that's a very real fear," Mufti said. He also agreed that the war could provide bin Laden with a great opportunity to capitalize on anti-American sentiment: "I think bin Laden is very much welcoming this war." Mufti also warned against letting Iraq's weapon situation become analogous to that of North Korea: "Look at North Korea now, getting away with amazing things in the face of the U.S. Why? Because they have nuclear weapons." "We all have to start weighing, in good conscience, the good effects and the bad effects of going to war," Mufti said, adding that he hopes "this is one of those times when the goals of imperialism and idealism coincide."

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New legistlation's effects prompt concerns

February 20

New legislation being drafted in Medford and Somerville has prompted concern amongst Tufts students and local landlords about its effects on rent prices, legal rights, and safety. The new legislation will require official inspections when landlords rent their buildings to new tenants. The legislation -- written in response to the death of a Tufts student after a fire in an illegal loft last month -- would require all landlords to arrange an official inspection of the premises with the Building Commissioner at a cost of $75. An inspection would take place each time new tenants moved into the building, and a fine of $100 would be charged for each day that the tenants lived in an un-inspected building. Some disagreement about the perceived effectiveness of the inspections has arisen. Sophomore Hilary Van Dusen, who is currently seeking off campus housing for next year, feels that a mandatory inspection will help keep her safe. "It will look for things that I don't necessarily know to look for," she said. "People cannot live in some of these places," said Allison Bedwinek, a sophomore who has already signed a lease for a house next year. "Students are looking for cheap places," she said, and might not know what to look for in terms of safety. However, some landlords feel that the inspections are punishing them for a wrongdoing they are not responsible for. "It's just unfortunate because of a tragedy where someone did something illegal, and we all have to pay," said George Silvestro, a Medford landlord. "I have 12 units in this city and all mine are up to code." Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn feels the legislation is necessary, despite the additional hassle landlords might feel it causes. "I'm sure landlords aren't going to be pleased, it's another step they have to go through," McGlynn told the Daily last week when he announced the legislation. "But I think those who care about public safety should welcome the ordinance. Let's face it _ people who are renting those structures around Tufts are getting substantial rents." Other property owners feel that the new ordinance would be a means for the city to protect itself against future legal issues. "If they were doing their job they would have known there was an apartment there," a Somerville landlord who asked to remain anonymous said. The new legislation might actually work to the advantage of local landlords, who would be less likely to suffer from lawsuits if something went wrong with the house. "If the house passes inspection then it's probably my fault if there were a fire," Van Dusen said. Disagreement over who should pay the $75 fee for the inspection has also arisen, especially among students. "I really think the landlord should pay it. Because I think it's the landlord's responsibility if the place is falling apart," Bedwinek said. Van Dusen felt the same, although she noted that the extra security would be worth the price. "In terms of safety, I think my parents would feel a lot better knowing that the inspection took place, so they might be willing to pay it," Van Dusen said. But Silvestro feels that costs will inevitably be passed on to renters. "Obviously that's where it's going to end up," Silvestro said. "Increases are going to be passed on to tenants. It's just like anything else where cost goes up." Most students and local landlords agreed that the new cost would not prevent students from moving off campus, and that a decreased interest in off-campus housing would not occur. "Is a $75 going to change whether you take an apartment or not? Being in business myself, I would say no," said Sam Bihni, a Medford landlord. Landlords and students alike understand that the demand for off campus housing could not decrease, due to the lack of on campus housing. "Being close to Tufts it doesn't really affect the rents as much. You have the students there. If they need a place and they want to be near Tufts then they're going to have to be there," Silvestro said. Bedwinek felt that rent prices would not be affected by the new costs, given the "exorbitant" prices that are already being charged. She feels that demand for housing remains high in Medford and Somerville because of the Tufts students. "I think they're just taking advantage of the fixed market here," she said of the landlords who hike up rents. The University should put more of an effort into purchasing the property near campus, Bedwinek said. This way the University might be able to enforce its own inspection regulations to keep students safe. Van Dusen said that her choice to move off campus was based on the living arrangement available in a house. "I want to be able to cook and stuff but if they had more dorms with kitchens, like Latin Way, then maybe it would be different," Van Dusen said.

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News

Plans to charge for printing still in planning

February 20

Plans to charge students to print from the Tisch Library and Eaton computers are still underway, although they may take longer than expected to go into effect. The library staff on the Medford-Somerville campus has been speaking extensively with the vendor of the printing software to test the new program and work out the details. The process has also taken student input into account -- a student sits on the library committee -- as well as looking at other schools' printing policies. The committee has focused especially on the policies of schools among the Boston Library Consortium Colleges, such as MIT, Boston University, and Boston College. According to Tisch director Jo-Ann Michalak, the printing program has not left the planning stages. "We're still testing," she said. Ideally, the plan would go into effect soon, but a change so late in the semester might be stressful for students, Michalak said. One idea is to install the software now but wait to implement the charging system. "It all depends on when it comes in the semester," she said. A majority of the investigated Boston schools have already implemented a pay-for-print procedure, and they usually charge students between ten to 15 cents per page, Tisch's Assistant Director for IT Support Christine Kittle said. Models Harvard, Boston University, and Cornell currently charge for printing, but NYU, Emory University, and MIT do not have such a policy. Student response to such policies has varied widely. "I think it's necessary, otherwise people might take advantage of [free printing]," Cornell freshman Carmel Dibner said of her school's charging policy. Rebecca Barron, a freshman at Harvard disagreed. "I think it's kinda wrong given how much we pay for tuition," she said. Tufts freshman Cynthia Waite feels similarly. "College students are hard-pressed enough for cash," she said. "With books, food, board, and tuition, you would think that it would include the cost of paper." Some opponents of pay-for-print policies are concerned with technical issues rather than issues of principle. Students often have to send sheets to the printer more than once, leading some to question whether they would be charged for computer glitches. To combat this problem, the Tufts committee is testing for glitches and believes the new program will be pretty reliable, Michalak said. Students will not be charged for computer issues that are not their fault. In the past, students have expressed anger over the environmental explanation for the new policy -- ideally to save trees -- and they are concerned that the environmental reasons are merely an excuse for making a profit off of students' printing needs. Tufts students have offered countless objections. "What they need to do is increase student awareness of the wasting of paper that goes on, not charge us for it we already pay for a lot of things," freshman Sam Ronfard said. Aaron Held, another Tufts freshman, thinks the policy is necessary to cover printing costs and curb waste but added that Tisch should only charge students "exactly their operating costs for machines, paper and toner." Michalak claims, however, that the money will solely be used to cover the printing expenses. Thus far, printing expenses have been borne by the library's operating budget and these expenses continue to rise as the library purchases more full technical services. "We're actually digging into our pockets and taking money we would be paying for other things and sending it to pay for printing right now," she said.

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Editor's Picks

February 20

ELLIOTT WILEY, JR Tyson vs. Etienne Iron Mike is back and he is still black, at least in most places on his body. Tyson decided to get a tattoo on his face before his fight against Clifford Etienne as a possible show of lack of respect for his opponent. I believe if Tyson does not take his medication, Etienne is still done for. Tyson is one of the most ferocious fighters of all time and he shall not be denied. As far as him being a convicted felon, I do not vouch for those actions, however I do believe Tyson could kick my ass, so I will not write badly of him. Verdict: Tyson gets a knockout in some round and thousands of fans that paid top dollar to see the fight in person will be angry. >BEIBHINN O'DONOGHUE >Galway vs. Dublin Finally, the lull common in sports this time of year is over, the void will be filled. How? This weekend, the Hurling season gets under way. Europe's oldest field game is set to get under way and my Men in Maroon are slated to take on the Dubs. I have to admit, my nerves are a bit fraught as Dublin recently took down the indomitable Kilkenny Cats in the Walsh Cup. However, there isn't much else to do in the country aside from honing hurling skills, so hopefully this will give the Gaillimh side a much needed advantage. Verdict: Gaillimh are out and out a more attractive squad. Galway 2-05 - Dublin 1-14. MANALI SHAH >Maryland vs. UNC It's been the Terps consistent problem: they play up and down to their competition. So the question for this Sunday's matchup is how good do the Terps think that UNC really is. With a 4-7 conference record, UNC obviously has shown a weakness against ACC opponents. Let's hope that Maryland doesn't notice though because as long as they play UNC their hardest, there's no question that they can beat them. Coming off a tough loss to Duke I say this team has a fire burning and is looking for some revenge. Back at home this Sunday afternoon, Maryland should be able to handle UNC without too much of a problem Verdict: Terps 77-UNC 65. AMAN GUPTA >Seattle vs. Milwaukee Gary Payton and Desmond Mason to Milwaukee. Gary Payton reunites with Grandpa Karl. Ray Allen, Joel Pryzbilla, and Kevin Ollie to Seattle. I don't get it. Seattle (after trading away Kenny Anderson for Elden Campbell a little later) now has a perennial superstar in Rashard Lewis, one of the best shooters in the history of the game in Ray Allen, a half-decent center in Elden Campbell, a good small forward in Brent Barry, but nobody to get any of them the ball. Their current roster point guards are the ever so dominating Kevin Ollie and Sean Colsen. Milwaukee on the other hand traded trades away Allen for a point guard in Payton, because Sam Cassell isn't good enough, and a swingman in Desmond Mason, because they don't have enough of those already. Verdict: Milwaukee comes away on top, obviously, because the Sonics GM is an idiot. TIM WHELAN >Sane Mike Tyson vs. Insane Mike Tyson Granted, this matchup probably does not exist because Mike Tyson is always insane. But for argument's sake, is it possible that Tyson could actually go into the ring in Memphis and finish a fight? The answer is no. My prediction is that on Saturday morning, he goes that next step and gets another tattoo to match that heinous tribal thing that is drying as we speak. While insane Tyson would be most entertaining to see in Saturday's bout with Clifford Etienne, a sane Tyson would keep the fighter from fading into "bolivian." Verdict: Insane Tyson. Only Michael Jackson is more of a looney toon than him. KRISTY CUNNINGHAM >Ken Griffey Jr. vs. Michael Jackson It's funny how stars can be at the top of their game and suddenly fall off the radar screen altogether. The Cincinnati Reds' Ken Griffey Jr. went from a Cooperstown shoe-in to an injured underachiever in just three years. Griffey won nine straight Golden Glove awards from 1992-96 and earned American League MVP honors in 1997. After being traded to the Reds in 1999, Jr.'s numbers have plummeted and many critics question his lack of conditioning and overall will to play the game. Michael Jackson's career went south after he removed most of his talent via plastic surgery. So who is the bigger flop? Verdict: Michael Jackson mainly because of the creep factor. Griffey is just an over-paid injured outfielder with no motivation.

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Jumbos prepare for Middlebury in playoff opener

February 20

The men's basketball team looks to avenge last weekend's loss tomorrow with the Middlebury Panthers at 3 p.m in Cousens gym, in the first round of the NESCAC tournament. Despite finishing the season with losses to both Williams and Middlebury, the Jumbos held on to the third seed with a little bit of help from their NESCAC foes, thus setting the stage for a rematch against the Panthers tomorrow. "We dug ourselves into a big hole early in the first half because we hadn't played them before and we were very tentative on D," senior co-captain Jim Wilson said. "They took it to us early, but we bounced back and played much better in the second half. We now know their style of play and we'll definitely be ready for tomorrow." Last weekend against Middlebury, the Jumbos got solid performances from their five starters, all of whom scored in double digits. Tufts was led by its two go-to guys, senior guard Mike McGlynn and sophomore center Craig Coupe. McGlynn led the Jumbos in scoring with 21 points in 33 minutes. While he did not shoot particularly well from the field, McGlynn hit nine of 12 shots from the free throw line and bucketed two three pointers, putting him on the top-20 all time three pointers list in Div. III with 304. Coupe also had an outstanding performance, bucketing 15 points, hauling down a team and season high 20 rebounds, and dishing out a team high of four assists. Going into this weekend, Coupe is ranked 1st in New England and 8th in the nation in rebounding with 11.4 per game. In order to come away victorious this weekend however, the Jumbos need much more production from their reserves. In the previous game against Middlebury, Jumbo reserves scored a total of only ten points in a combined 46 minutes of play. Tufts has always relied on its depth to pull out victories in close games, and the bench players especially need to come through come playoff time. "Our offense has been pretty solid all season, we're not really worried about it," Wilson said. "We are fully capable of scoring enough points to beat any team, we just need to work on holding them on defense." Once again, this week in practice, the Jumbos focused primarily on defensive strategy. The Panthers are ranked 12th in the country in overall team scoring, something that the Jumbos are very well aware of. "We've mainly been focusing on defense all year, but especially this week. Middlebury shoots a lot of three pointers and does not have many post-up guys, so we've sort of tailored our defense to their style," Wilson said. "In practice, we worked on getting back on the fast break and finding shooters along the three point line rather than running under the basket like we usually would. We're pretty much playing the same style of defense, just tweaked a little to fit their fast paced style of offense." However, the major difference between last weekend's game and tomorrow's game is that the Jumbos will be at home to face the Panthers rather than on the road. The Jumbos are 5-3 overall at home this season, including an impressive 3-1 mark against NESCAC opponents, while Middlebury is a mediocre 1-4 on the road in conference games this season. "It's definitely a huge advantage to be at home no matter what, but especially in the playoffs," Wilson said. "We usually get huge crowds to come and support us, and we're playing on the court that we practice on every day, which gives us that much more confidence that our shots will drop."

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Domestic violence prevention project Respond releases new CD

February 20

Think celebrities don't have hearts? The organizers of Respond Incorporated, a Massachusetts-based violence prevention fund which provides a 24-hour hotline in multiple languages for battered women, would beg to differ. In 1999, a group of female artists including Joan Baez, Patty Larkin, Juliana Hatfield and Melissa Ferrick, all of whom had gotten their start at Open Mic Nights in the Boston area, decided to join forces against domestic violence. They created Respond (now called Respond I), a compilation of beautiful recordings whose $125,000 in profit went to a domestic violence agency. The Boston artists have come together again to put out Respond II, but this time they have invited female artists from all over North and South America to join them. These new artists have brought a distinctly different flavor to the latest CD. These new fresh voices include Slater Kinney and her punk sound, the gospel group Sweet Honey in the Rock, and Latino singer Ela Guerra. The team has expanded to include not just singers, but entertainment lawyers and graphic artists as well and many of the musicians from the first album have taken over as producers for this album. Again, all proceeds are going to Respond Incorporated. Even apart from the destination of its proceeds, the list of artists on this album makes it well worth the damage to your wallet. "Lily," by legendary Boston-based folk singer Joan Baez, is a can't miss song. Jonatha Brooke, Sarah McLachlan, Ani DiFranco, and Aimee Mann are also featured on the CD. The Respond Office has a shelter that helps 3000 women each year. The organization also has what Coordinator Susan Kelihar calls a "longstanding relationship" with Tufts. After Respond I came out, the artists gave a concert at the University. Kelihar, was at Vulvapalooza both nights last week promoting Respond II. Many Tufts students also intern at the Respond office, both during the year and during the summer. Respond Incorporated started in 1974 through a grassroots effort of community women who were determined to assist women who were victims of domestic abuse. For those interested in learning more about Respond Incorporated or the Family Violence Prevention Fund, the organization's website, www.respondinc.com, contains information about the organization as well as warning signs of domestic violence.

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Hockey team stays hungry as they head to Connecticut for weekend tilts

February 20

After the cancellation of Tuesday's home game with Plymouth State, the hockey team now focuses its attention on two road games to finish the season. The Jumbos head to Middletown, CT tonight to face Wesleyan at 7 p.m., and then make the short trip to Hartford for tomorrow's 4:30 p.m. tilt with Trinity. With the playoffs beginning next weekend, Tufts has some tuning up to do before Mar. 1. Tuesday's game was supposed to be the last hurrah for the Jumbo seniors on their home ice. The cancellation kept the seniors from receiving a final sendoff or getting a chance to excite the crowd one more time. "It was pretty disappointing," senior co-captain Mike Carceo said. "The seniors wanted one last chance to go out and play on our own ice, especially in front of the parents who don't get to make the road trips." Coach Brian Murphy shared those sentiments, but knew it couldn't be avoided. "That was a tough situation and it would have been a nice night for the seniors especially. But there were circumstances beyond our control, so now we have to focus on getting the job done this weekend." That job is to win both games and get the best possible playoff seed. All the NESCAC playoff teams have been decided, but it is now a matter of seeding. At the moment, Tufts (7-8-2 in league, 16 points) is tied with Williams (7-8-2 in league, 16 points) for the seventh spot. Whether it ends up being the Ephs or the Jumbos, the eighth seed will have to go to Middlebury to face the vaunted Panthers. The Jumbos would rather it not come to that, though. "We're happy to already have a spot locked up, but we really don't want to have to go up to Middlebury," sophomore leading scorer Shawn Sullivan said. "Any spot from sixth to eighth is realistic, but we need to control our own destiny and win this weekend to avoid that eighth spot." Tonight's game does not look like too much of a challenge on paper, but games aren't played on paper. The Cardinals are 5-13-3 and hold the ninth spot in the NESCAC, trailed only by Connecticut College. Their lone bright spot has been senior forward Jon Blanchard, who is sixth in the NESCAC with 27 points. "We need to come out to play," sophomore defenseman Sean Hayes said. "We beat them last year (5-4), but there really aren't any guarantees in this league." Tomorrow's game certainly will pose more of a test for the boys in brown and blue. Trinity is currently tied with Colby for the second spot in the NESCAC with a 14-5-2 record. It is certainly in the realm of possibility that the Bantams end up being the first round opponent of the Jumbos. They will have to contest with an offense which has four guys who have 23 points or more, including team leading scorer Joseph Ori (29 points). The Bantams are a stingy defensive team as well. They have only allowed 2.71 goals per game (third in NESCAC) and sophomore goalie Douglas Kisehus has put up a stellar .909 save percentage. Last year, en route to a 6-17 record, Tufts was trounced by the Bantams 9-3. Should we expect a complete turnaround from that performance? "Even though Trinity handled us last year, a lot's happened since then," Sullivan said. "We're a better team than we were, so now we just have to go out and prove it." The Jumbos go into the weekend ready to use junior Ben Crapser in goal. Crapser has been out for much of the year with a leg injury after starting the first 11 games of the season. They have been using freshman Matt Ninneman, who has posted a decent 3.36 goals against average in his time in net. But who will be in net for this weekend's playoff tune-ups? "[Ninneman] will be in net tonight and [Crapser] will be in there tomorrow," Murphy said. With the final weekend of the regular season upon them, the Jumbos know that it's crunch time. "With a spot locked up, we can go out and have some fun," Sullivan said. "But we need to keep battling at the same time."

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News

Send in the clowns

February 19

Sex is alternately intriguing, amusing and exciting. Sex is the center of many of the greatest stories ever told (all of them, if you look hard enough). In short, sex sells. Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, playing in the Balch Arena Theater this weekend, exploits sex to its fullest and most entertaining potential. Director Barbara Grossman presents this lively comic take on sexuality and society. The play follows the life of Frederick Egerman (Josh Bauml), a well-to-do middle-aged lawyer. He lives with his teenage wife Anne (Merrin Lazyan), with whom -- to his great frustration -- he has yet to have sex with in the 11 months they've been married. The house is also inhabited by Fredrick's son Henrik (Adam Stahl), a melancholy seminary student, and their housemaid Petra (Julia Arazi). Fredrick's roving eye is drawn to a former lover/actress Desiree Armfeldt (Lisa Birnbaum), who has come to town to perform. He visits her in her room one night and renews their affair. Afterwards, Desiree's current lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (Mike Flynn), arrives and is very displeased to find another man half dressed in his mistress's apartment. Carl-Magnus returns home and tells the tale to his wife Charlotte (Suzanne Corbett), who slips off to tell Anne (a childhood friend of Charlotte's younger sister) of Frederick's infidelity. Meanwhile, Desiree has invited Fredrick and his household out to her mother's country estate for the weekend. Carl-Magnus learns of the gathering and packs Charlotte into the car to join uninvited. The cast then descends on one another, all desperately seeking to stake their own thirst for sex in whatever form they think is best. Normally, I would talk about the actors here, but I feel the design staff deserves a nod before you skip to reading Dilbert and doing the crossword. The elaborate set looked marvelous and often conveys the light-hearted nature of the production. Large set pieces roll on and off the stage, changing the scene without disrupting the show's flow or mood (except in Thursday's production, when several things broke). The costumes are showy where they need to be, ridiculous at appropriate times, and, in general, convey the personas of the characters that inhabit them quickly and effectively. Bauml and Birnbaum lead a capable cast through the show. Bauml's Frederick is likeable and understandable. The clear and hilarious juxtaposition of Frederick's worldly, grounded experience and Anne's bubbly naivety carries the early part of the show. Birnbaum's delightful voice provides the high point of the show, the touching number "Send in the Clowns." Strong character work from Arazi, Stahl, Corbett and Flynn provide color, life and comic relief. The one downfall of the show is the music itself. Perhaps the story should be at the mercy of the songs. But although the music is pretty, the songs seem to hinder the story instead of building it. A play with a storyline like this one should be a comic assault with brief pauses for sentimentality and a satisfying conclusion. The classical (if upbeat) soundtrack slows the story and often distracts the viewer. Maybe if the pit were a bit tighter, maybe if the songs were less about showing off and more about the characters. But for me, with the exception of Clowns and Stahl's song Later, the singing took away more than it added. Overall, the production is nevertheless successful. Provided with a talented design staff and a strong cast, director Barbara Grossman presents an enjoyable night at the theater.

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Senior Bryan Pitko overcomes knee surgery, continues to lead the Jumbos

February 19

With his third-consecutive trip to the NCAA Div. III National Championships nearly assured, senior Bryan Pitko stands as the fastest 55 meter hurdler in Tufts history. Despite undergoing knee surgery this fall, he has remained a leading force on the men's track and field team -- a team that has enjoyed three first-place finishes this season. Pitko, a tri-captain of the squad, broke his own school record during the 55 hurdle trials of last winter's National Championships, where he raced to sixth place and garnered All-American status. Pitko also hurdled at the Outdoor National Championships last May. Currently ranked fifth in the country for Div. III, Pitko will likely return to nationals, to be held Mar. 14-15 at DePauw University in Indiana. With only three weeks of competition remaining before the championships, Pitko's season-best 7.65 seconds and "being a year older and with experience at the NCAA's" both bode well for him, as head men's track coach Connie Putnam said. Fellow senior captain Greg Devine, currently ranked seventh in the same event, will likely qualify as well. He expressed admiration for Pitko's "determination and resilience." "Bryan's been plagued by several injuries through his career," Devine said. "Whether it be nicked, banged up, or perfectly healthy, he's out there doing his best every day." Pitko's achievements this season have been especially notable in light of a serious knee injury suffered only months ago. During football preseason, Pitko tore his lateral meniscus. He underwent surgery to repair the ligament and worked hard through weeks of rehabilitation, but remained sidelined for his entire senior fall. "The good news is that I recovered pretty quickly," Pitko said. He speculated that had football been his last athletic season at Tufts, he might have tried to play in some games. However, looking ahead to track weighed heavily on the decision for him not to return to the field, where as a junior he led Tufts wide receivers in touchdown receptions. Most recently on the track, Pitko won the hurdles last Saturday in 7.75 seconds. Teammate Nate Thompson finished second -- in fact, Pitko's strongest competition often comes by way of other Jumbos. Currently the top-ranked hurdler in Div. III New England, he is trailed by Devine and Thompson, ranked second and fifth respectively. Thompson, a sophomore, has had an impressive early career at Tufts. He credits Pitko and Devine with helping to ease his transition to college track. "Having two leaders, two All-Americans, hurdling next to you every day gives you something to strive for and look up to athletically," Thompson said. Devine expressed similar sentiments, citing the strength of Tufts' hurdling squad, and especially Pitko, as factors in his own success. "I would say that there is friendly competition between us," Devine said. "Bryan motivates me, not only on Saturdays when we're racing, but five days a week when we're practicing." "Bryan's a fantastic captain and he can motivate others to be their best," Devine concluded. Putnam echoed Devine's notions, praising Pitko's leadership. "He has command presence," Putnam said. "When he sets an example, people tend to follow." Putnam also noted Pitko's development from a freshman with leadership potential to an experienced, mature senior. "He's learned not only to lead by example, but also to encourage, to correct, to counsel," Putnam said. He cited Pitko's role as an RA as "an example of how he's grown to lead in more than one area." Back in high school, Pitko was captain of both the track and football teams in his native Arlington, MA. Ironically, he says that he started track to keep in shape for football. The 100-yard dash appealed to him initially, but "an interesting combination of medium height and gigantic feet" eventually led him to the hurdles, he said. "The first day of practice, I found out that as a result of the whole clumsy feet thing, I wasn't too good at just running really fast," Pitko said. "My coach decided that I might be better suited for the hurdles. I was pretty disappointed, but I gave the hurdles a shot anyhow." Pitko progressed rapidly, graduating as one of the top high-school hurdlers in New England. According to Putnam, "He probably ran hurdles almost as effectively as a freshman in high school as he does now, because he's a very natural athlete who has a very natural hurdling stride. Also, Bryan's interesting in that he actually runs faster with hurdles in front of him than he does with no hurdles." "Put him in blocks with five or ten barriers in front of him and he's really at his best," Putnam added. "Frankly, I think running without anything in front of him bores Bryan." This weekend, Pitko will race at Bowdoin College in the Div. III New England Championships, where he won the 55 hurdles last year. Poised for his third national championship meet, he will undoubtedly continue to lead the men's track team, fueled by the perseverance and talent admired by his coach and teammates. "Bryan's a great athlete," said Devine. "He's got a never-quit, never-give-up attitude that is really contagious and one of the best things the team has going for it."

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Women hoping to swim to fourth

February 19

While the NESCAC Championships will be the last time the 2002-2003 team will be together, it will be the first time the Jumbos will be able to measure themselves against the entire conference. A select few swimmers will qualify to move onto a more prestigious meet -- the NCAA Div. III Championships -- but that meet will have much more of an emphasis on individuals. For most members of the women's swim team their season will culminate over this coming weekend when the squad will compete in the NESCAC Championships. A successful meet would only seem fitting end to an impressive season. If not for one small out of conference blemish at the hands of MIT, the Jumbos would enter the Championships undefeated. As it is they are 7-1, with three wins against conference opponents. A solid performance at the NESCAC Championships does not mean a team victory, however. It would be a small miracle for any team other than the Williams Ephs to emerge victorious at the end of the weekend. Williams has won the only two NESCAC Championships thus far and does not seem willing or able to give up its third in as many tries. Behind them are Amherst and Middlebury Panthers who will be battling for second place. The Jumbos got a taste of both the Ephs and Panthers at the Middlebury Invitational a week ago. However, neither the Jumbos nor their future NESCAC Championship opponents gave everything they had at the invitational. The meet was used more to rest the swimmers and have them swim their off events according to Coach Nancy Bigelow. After the "big three" Tufts should be battling Bates for fourth. Last year the squad finished two places behind Bates, who took fourth. At the beginning of the year, senior captain Rebecca Ullman stated that "our biggest conference competition will be Bates." Ullman's prediction seems valid if the regular season meet between the two teams was any indicator. The Jumbos edged the Bobcats by just two points, 151-149, two weeks ago. The meet came down to the final event. The match, which took place at Hamilton Pool, was on senior day and could be considered the biggest win of Tufts' season. The win was validation that the Jumbos and their record were legit. Before that meet, the team competed against many lesser caliber squads, such as NESCAC bottom-feeders Bowdoin and Wesleyan. The victory against Bates was a far cry from the 192-106 drudging that the Jumbos suffered last year at the hands of the Bobcats. While one of the factors that lead to the lopsided victory was the absence of Junior Mika Sumiyoshi for Tufts, Bates was still clearly a better team last year. This year the gap between the teams was dramatically smaller because of marked improvement on the part of the Jumbos. Not only did the skill and speed of the Jumbo swimmers increase, but their depth was also a contributing factor. A very strong freshman class and an experienced sophomore class are two key reasons for this improvement. The Jumbos could look to improve in the 1000-yard freestyle, where last year's third place finisher -- sophomore Kate Sweeney -- could be joined by freshmen Kristen Hyland and Katie Seyboth. Freshmen Meghan Wallach and Katie Mims should also give the Jumbos points in butterfly and freestyle events. One glaring deficiency that this year's team will have is in the diving events. Junior Beth Wecksell -- who earned honorable mention All-American honors last year -- is studying abroad this semester. She scored points in both the one and three meter diving events last year at the NESCACs and will be sorely missed. However, the Jumbos will also be able to depend on the experience of Sumiyoshi and sophomore Erica Weitz. Both have had great success in the meet, with each qualifying for the NCAA Championships in three different events last year. Sumiyoshi and Weitz competed and qualified for the NCAA meet in the both 200 and 400 IM races. With a newfound depth and competitive edge, the women's swim team will look to fend off Bates to take the fourth spot at this weekend's championship endeavor.

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Documentary focuses on EPIIC speaker

February 19

A handful of students braved the snow Tuesday night to attend a showing of the documentary The Last Just Man. The film, made by Steven Silver, focuses on Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, who was in charge of the United Nations mission in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. The movie combines extensive interviews -- both with Dallaire and with others who were in Rwanda during the genocide -- with new clips and on-site footage. The screening was sponsored by the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program. The Last Just Man was also shown in January as a part of the Boston leg of the Human Rights Watch (HRW) International Film Festival. The festival features films pertinent to issues of human rights from all over the world. Though attendance was low, audience reaction to the film was generally positive. "My first reaction was to wipe the tears away, but immediately afterwards, all I could think was that I wanted to meet Romeo Dallaire," said Nick Chaset, a member of this year's EPIIC colloquium. Dallaire will be a participant in the upcoming EPIIC symposium on "Sovereignty and Intervention" -- which will take place from Feb. 27 to Mar. 2 -- and many students voiced their excitement about the opportunity to speak with Dallaire. He will be at Tufts on Saturday Mar. 1. Dallaire has been the object of both international criticism and praise for his role in Rwanda, and he suffers ongoing psychological problems as a result of his involvement. He currently works as a special advisor to the Canadian Defense Ministry on the use of child soldiers. Earlier this year, a representative from the HRW film festival spoke to students about the EPIIC topic, using film clips from this year's festival to support points and stimulate discussion. Another HRW documentary, Crazy, by Heddy Honigmann, about the toll peacekeeping missions have taken on individual peacekeepers, was shown at Tufts at the end of January. General Dallaire will be present at the upcoming EPIIC symposium as both a panel participant and as the recipient of a Jean Mayer Award Global Citizenship Award. Past recipients of the award, which honors former Tufts President and Chancellor Dr. Jean Mayer, include John Kenneth Galbraith and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. This year's honorees include Dallaire, Pulitzer Prize winner David Halberstam, former Irish President Mary Robinson, and President of the Council on Foreign Relations Leslie Gelb.

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Ode to Harvard Square

February 19

Did you know that there was a snowstorm this weekend? Did ya? Well. I bet you think that that little inconvenience of there being no shuttle, snow falling at a blindly rate and my lack of winter boots stopped me from visiting Harvard Square. Have no fear! Not only was I there, but in celebration, today, I would like to share with you, an ode. Harvard Square Lovely lovely square, do I dare stare at you square? Yes! From inside Au Bon Pain I can watch chess whiz's without care. Strolling down the street there's a Chinese restaurant with mythical Serpents straws and drink -- after you finish one with 16 of your closest friends, its amazing how the whole world just seems to sink.... Further down sits the adorable Grolier Poetry Book Store Hark! Drinking poem after poem I cannot help but want more. Oh let's play dress up vintage style at Oona's >Rock Bottom for fish? Who doesn't love tuna? Let there be food in my belly made of Fire and Ice Or glittering Beadworks on my fingers made from string or rice. Karate Chop! Check out the Tokyo Kid! Seduce some beatniks at Tealuxe, but don't forget that lid. Jasmine Sola swanky swanky ooo Smokers love Caf?© Algiers, especially its loo. Curious George bookshop is for kids of all kinds Or, sigh, there is the Coop for those of Crimson mind. Ye ol' House of Blues really knows how to rock out And there's always the Starbucks for all you sell outs. Border Caf?©, Border Caf?© Ole Ole Ole. Upstairs on the Square will make you pay pay pay It's an ostrich, it's a helicopter, it's Newbury Comics So very much. In this great big world. Happens to rhyme with -- comics. In terms of that gift horse there's Calliope and Black Ink And, I mean, everyone's heard about the frosh that was eaten by that pink mink. Dig Bogart, like that kid Bacall? Check out the Casablanca restaurant if you want it all. Closing up shop, don't forget Pho Pasteur when yearning for 'Nam Let's have a bit of regression -- Play, it again Sam. All in all, it ain't so bad that tricky square, And heck there's even that mysterious University around somewhere.

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New policy could ban smoking in dorms

February 19

Though 18-year-olds have traditionally cherished their legal right to smoke, Tufts is seeking to expand its general smoke free policy by banning smoking in all dormitories on campus. The residential smoking ban, proposed by Director of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife) Yolanda King, would end the current policy that allows students to smoke in their rooms if windows remain open and doors remain closed. The current policies also require smokers who live with roommates to obtain the mutual consent of those they live with before lighting up. Tufts students have been involved at the core of the campaign to implement the smoke free policy, according to King. Many students who have been annoyed with smoking in the dormitories have contacted ResLife to complain, she said. The administration has also faced pressure from parents, a few of whom have called to make complaints. The hazards associated with second-hand smoke have also prompted many to encourage the implementation of the new policy. Second-hand smoke is a recognized cause of lung cancer and is associated with increased risk for respiratory tract infections, asthma, and irritation of the eye, nose, and throat. ResLife already forbids other smoke-producing objects, such as open-flame candles and incense, but these bans are in place largely because of the fire hazards they pose. King's proposed residential ban has already received a favorable reaction from the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate. Senators approved of the policy under the conditions that one residential building on campus would be designated specifically for smokers and that cigarette disposal containers are provided. Designating a smoking dormitory may not be practical, however, since smokers would have little opportunity to change rooms during their college career without sacrificing their habit, King said. Many Tufts students seem to approve of King's smoke free policy due to the harmful effects of second-hand smoke. Junior Shibon Torres, a community health major, feels that the deadly consequences of smoking speak for themselves. A policy like the one ResLife is proposing would be a positive move in a campus campaign against smoking, Torres said. Even some students who smoke, such as freshman SooYoung Park would like to see this policy implemented for health reasons. The current policy still exposes students to smoke since it seeps out through the opening at the bottom of the doors, Park said. But other students feel that ResLife does not have the right to impose this policy because it infringes upon the smoker's legal right to smoke. If smoking bothers some people a great deal, they always have the option of substance free living, these students say. ResLife has scheduled an open forum in the upcoming week so that students can voice their opinions and concerns on the new provision. Discussion of a residential smoking ban on campus comes on the heels of a recently-passed ban on smoking in bars and clubs in downtown Boston. Like the proposed Tufts policy, the Boston law was crafted with the victims of second-hand smoke-- mostly waiters and bartenders -- in mind.

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News

Men's Squash to face Stanford in Postseason Opener

February 19

The men's squash team begins its postseason play this Friday at the University of Pennsylvania where it will most likely take on the Stanford Cardinals in the first round of the 9-Man National Tournament, pending a MIT loss to Wesleyan University tonight. Tufts (7-7), as the 20th nationally ranked team, goes into the tournament as the number four seed in their bracket and number 21 Stanford (6-5) is seeded third. The two teams met in the Dartmouth Invitational Tournament on Nov. 23 when Stanford defeated Tufts in a close 5-4 match. Beating Stanford would have allowed the Jumbos to enter the tournament with a winning record. "We would have loved to beat Stanford," Coach Doug Eng said. "But this is pretty much where we want to be [going into the postseason]." "We should have beat them last time. Our players have gotten better and we are ready to win it this time," freshman standout Tom Keidel echoed. Putting the past behind them, the Jumbos now focus on their upcoming match. "It's going to be a tight one because we lost to them 5-4 in season. We both have strong teams. It's going to be a battle," senior captain Chris Choi said. Both teams are coming into the tournament from season ending victories. Tufts is coming off a 8-1 win over Connecticut College on Saturday, Feb. 8 and Stanford defeated University of California-Berkeley 7-2 last Monday. According to Choi, the Jumbos have "trained really hard" in the two weeks since their last match. "We have spent a lot of time sharpening our shots," Choi said "We are ready." Keidel agreed that the Jumbos are ready for action. "We are rested from our hectic schedule, and have had time to get ourselves straightened out," said Keidel, who is tied for the winningest player on the Jumbo squad. Choi, who was beaten 3-0 by Stanford's Rich Sherwood in the teams' last meeting, said that the difference will be in the lower matches. "Its going to come from the four match down to nine, those are going to be tough," he said. "Stanford is strong at the top and it will be big to get a win in the top three." Teammates predict that the close matchup will come down to the wire and a Jumbo victory will need a full team effort in order to be achieved. "We can't just rely on people who have been consistent. We need to get our nerves under control," Keidel said. The team believes that their recent rest period and good practices will help calm the Jumbos nerves entering the match-up against the Cardinals. "[The match] will be very intense, but the pressure is more on Stanford than us," Choi said. "Last time it was just a matter of some calls that could have gone either way. They have to prove they can beat us again. Traveling so far from the west coast is going to add to their pressure." Should the Jumbos win, the team will take on either Franklin and Marshall or Navy in the semifinals. "If we get past Stanford, I have a feeling that we will play the number one seed, F&M, who is very skilled. They will be a tough team but we can match up with them because of our depth," Keidel said. "It will only get tougher after Stanford. We'll take it as it comes, one by one. The Stanford match will set the tone for the tournament." "If we win then we can place well in our league," he added. "It all revolves around that match." While Coach Eng stressed that either Franklin and Marshall or Navy will be very tough in the semifinals, his team is focusing only on Stanford and that they will be taking Nationals one match at a time.

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