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Jumbos fall to Brandeis on last second shot

January 29

Brandeis freshman center Patrick Collier took a pass from sophomore Glenn Wright and laid the ball in off the glass as time expired to deliver a heartbreaking loss to the men's basketball team 72-70 last Tuesday night. The loss, their second in a row, dropped the Jumbos back to .500 overall on the season at 8-8. However, their 2-1 conference record and 4th place standing in the NESCAC still remains intact as Brandeis is a non-conference opponent. "We really did not play well last night," coach Bob Sheldon said. "It was not a game of X's and O's, we just weren't ready to play. We looked uninspired" The Jumbos came out hot, scoring ten of the game's first 12 points. But Brandeis clawed its way back, scoring nine straight to take a one point lead with 13:39 left in the first frame. The Judges continued their hot shooting through the rest of the first half, and leading by as many as 12 at one point, and went into the intermission with a 39-30 lead. "We did not play very well in the first," Sheldon said. "We got down by nine, and we started to play better with our backs to the wall because we felt a sense of urgency." The Jumbos stormed out of the gates for the first part of the second session. They outscored the Judges 21-11 to take a 51-50 lead with just under 11 minutes to play in the game. The lead see-sawed back and forth for the remainder of the game, with each team going up by as many as only four points. Brandeis took a four-point lead with 2:14 left on the clock on easy lay-ups by juniors Jon Marks and Tim Deihl. Freshmen forward Blaine Lay and sophomore center Craig Coupe quickly responded for the Jumbos, tying the game up with just over a minute to play. With 34 seconds to play, Collier capitalized on an offensive rebound and was fouled by Lay. He sunk the free throw to give the Judges a three point lead. However, on the ensuing play, Tufts senior guard Mike McGlynn, who starred at Brandeis for two seasons, sank a jumper from downtown to tie things at 70 apiece. After two timeouts, with just nine seconds left, Collier put the moves on a Jumbo defender on the baseline and banked the ball in for the victory. "We let a team that I feel we were better than stay with us throughout the game," Sheldon said. "And to see that last second shot go in, it was tough." The loss marked the first time in four years that Tufts has fallen to Brandeis. Coupe tallied game highs with 18 points and 14 rebounds in 29 minutes of play. The Jumbos shot 42 percent from the field in the game, but were just 57 percent (17/30) from the line and a lowly 21 percent (3/14) from behind the arc. The loss comes in preparation for an important NESCAC weekend for the Jumbos, who are slated to face first place Amherst this Friday night at home. The Lord Jeffs, who are 15-2 overall (4-0, NESCAC), are coming off an upset over the then first place Williams Ephs, making them the number one ranked team in New England. The weekend does not get any easier after Amherst, as Tufts will try to avenge last year's loss when they face the Trinity Bantams on Saturday afternoon at Cousens. The Bantams are currently ranked third in the conference with a 3-1 record (11-5, overall) and have won five of their past six ballgames, with the only loss coming last weekend to Williams. "We have not played at home for seven straight games, so I think finally playing at Cousens Gym will give us the excitement we need to play a competitive game," Sheldon said. "Because when we are energized and playing up to our potential, we are as good as anybody in New England."

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News

Seven Questions with Maritsa Christoudias

January 29

Full name: Maritsa Christoudias Hometown: Saddle River, NJ Birth day: February 27, 1982 Zodiac sign:Pisces (the fishies) Nicknames: poop, poodawg, poody, rits, fatty Favorite athlete: Sue Berube This week's Seven Questions subject has begged and pleaded to be quoted in women's basketball articles and be questioned for Seven Questions. Finally I have compromised my morals and agreed to put junior Maritsa Christoudias on for Seven Questions. Christoudias has stepped up her game this year to average five more points per game then last year. She leads the team in steals with 41 on the season. With her toughness, scoring premise, and tenacious defense, she has earned a starting role in all 15 of the Jumbos games. In a gross display of just how lazy she really is, I caught Christoudias driving from Dewick Dining Hall to the Campus Center, and, naturally, Seven Questions followed. 1.After a couple of beers, the Daily's editor-in-chief admitted to having a crush on you last year. Why didn't you let him in the game? He had a crush on me? I thought he was just being nice by giving me a lot of ink. (I still liked my first answer better.) >2.What does this excerpt "(pooppee/poodawg/poody= gf :-*(not sexually))" from teammate senior captain Hillary Dunn's aim profile mean? Is it really that hard to figure out? And way to stalk the team Elliott _ it's things like that that make you sketchy. 3.How is it that you eat more food and with more frequency than any other human or mammal in general that I have ever met? How about we compare stomachs and then you ask that question again. >4. When the women's basketball team pretty much sucked last year you averaged 2.9 points per game. This year your points average up to 8.2 from last year's 2.9, what is your secret? Does it have anything to do with Wheaties or Cheerios? First of all, thanks for the reminder _ that's 2.9 points more than you averaged last year...jerk. Second of all, Wheaties and Cheerios are healthy foods, making that a stupid question. And lastly, it's amazing what a game against Johnson & Wales can do to one's stats. >5. Does an emotional win get that much more emotional during that time of the month? Do you get more ugly on weekends? >6. How did you get the nickname poop? And then why was pee added? My AIM screen name has "pooppee" in it (I'm really mature), and since "Maritsa Christoudias" is a mouthful, people would rather refer to me in terms of feces _ flattering huh? 7. You are half-Greek, have you been involved in anything like the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Well "big" "fat" and "Greek" all seem to agree with me...I'm workin on the boyfriend part before the wedding though. (Not you Elliott _ being that you stalked my team, tried to spread rumors, called me fat, recalled that I suck, and asked about that "time of the month" all in one interview) _ by Elliott Wiley, Jr.

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News

The glories of Alewife

January 29

As a wise man once said, "Get a car or start walking." Well, that wise man had never heard of trains, subways, trolley cars, the tube, or in this fine city, the "T." As a foreigner to Boston, I must admit that I tend to think of this city in terms of its "T" stops. Tealux Tea store is Harvard, Macy's is Downtown Crossing, and that place where lots of buses make friends with snot nosed travelers is South Station. Starting with the red line, get ready for a T-errific time and lots of puns come this semester. Okay, fine. I guess we can compromise on just that first one. First stop: Alewife. I hope you like 'em big and square: your parking lots that is. Because Alewife has a huge one. HUGE. You could fit about ten million pizza boxes in it, to give you a rough idea. But lots of commuters from neighboring Beantown suburbs such as Concord like to park there and pretend that they're hard core Bahstonites for the day. Many young men and women wearing suits, who claim when interviewed to be on their way to work, tend to park there as well. But, if big slabs of cement ain't quite your style, Alewife also holds claim to the scenic Alewife Brook Reservation, a 120-acre Reservation that provides shelter for some of Boston's most precious urban wilds. Some indigenous and migratory highlights include the Osprey and the Great Blue Heron. And, according to the reservation's website, "The anadromous Herring migrates each spring from the Atlantic Ocean to the Reservation's Little Pond and Blair Pond to spawn." Tell me that doesn't make you hot. Fresh Pond is also the name of the Loews movie theater that is relatively easy to walk to from the stop. But beware _ they post times online just to tease you. You will see that Harry Potter is playing at 9:50 p.m. You will venture through a snowstorm to arrive at 9:45, just to see that all the doors are locked. You will bang on the doors make frantic faces to all the little Voldemort devils, who were really just playing with your little Hogwarts heart. Then, you will cry. Oh, or I mean, that could have just been me. But you know, forget movies _ just go do what every member of the Tufts community secretly wants to major in, BOWLING@ Lanes & Games. Apparently voted best bowling alley by Boston Magazine, there's a rumor going around that you need at least a minimum score of 36 for admittance. And, while that pretty much rules me out, I must say that from the lobby, the joint ability to candlepin and tenpin bowl was enticing. Plus video games! Pinball! Yippee! And... we're done. That, believe it or not, pretty much sums up Alewife's attractions. So, if you are looking to explore the wonders of Boston, remember, go to Alewife last. That is why it's at the endof the line which, by the way, is an excellent song by the Traveling Wilberry's (Tom Petty and George Harrison). What's more, if I was held at water balloon-point, and I had to pick between the song and the stop, guess which one I'd choose. Other Alewife attractions: Brooks Pharmacy, Staples.

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News

Bridges program culminates in trip to Nicaragua

January 29

A student led ExCollege course _ Bridges _ culminated this winter break when 17 Tufts students traveled to Nicaragua to take part in community service projects and learn about the lesser developed country. The program was created last year when seniors Nathan Machida, Zaki Raheem and Jeanette Bailey organized Bridges through the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) and the Experimental College. Participants took a semester-long ExCollege class taught by the three leaders that led up to the trip south. The purpose of the class was to familiarize the students with Nicaraguan politics, society, agricultural concerns, and the involvement of the World Bank and the UN in the country. Several speakers _ including professors familiar with Latin America and students who had previously volunteered in the area _ prepared students for what they would experience on their trip. "We didn't teach a class," Raheem said. "We facilitated, we mediated, we organized. We aren't experts in this subject." Four months of class, two vaccinations, and several Malaria pills later, the group of 17 traveled to Managua and Siuna. The students were met by a group of students from, Nicaraguan University, with whom they worked for two weeks. The logistical side of the trip was organized through a New York-based non-profit community service program called Bridges. In order to go on the trip, the students had to raise $1,500 per head. Each student paid $500, and the group fundraised for the rest. UCCPS, student organizations, and academic departments contributed some of the money. Community service conducted by both the Tufts and Nicaraguan students included construction work on a women's center, and agricultural projects with local farmers. The students were rewarded for their manual labor by learning agricultural techniques from farmers who were under the direction of the Foundation for the Autonomy and Development of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua (FADCANIC), a non-governmental organization. The Nicaraguan students, who were majoring in agricultural studies, benefited from the new techniques they learned and gained field experience in their major. Meanwhile, the American students were given the chance to interact with students from a lesser developed country and learn about their society. The farmers became close to the Tufts students and frequently shared meals with them. Kelly Douglas said the opportunity allowed Tufts students to, "learn about their lives, and how they grew up." The three leaders agreed that the ties formed with the Nicaraguan students were key to the experience. Afternoon sports sessions and nightly reflections between the two groups of students allowed for interaction that included question and answer sessions that addressed societal differences, Raheem said. Such questions included career plans, and "the complications with living in a country that is as poverty stricken as [Nicaragua] is," he said. Speakers from Nicaragua offered additional learning opportunities to the students, who were lectured on various subjects, including medicinal plants and the development of the country. The semester-long preparation and learning was a large part of the trip's success, Raheem said. "Too often, Americans do volunteer work in different places around the world and don't know too much about the region they're going to," he said. "I think it was important for all of us to understand where we were going so that we could be more understanding, be more culturally sensitive, and learn a lot more in the time that we were there," he said. The program was originally inspired by the volunteer vacations that are offered through the University during spring break, Raheem said. "There wasn't really an opportunity like that on an international level." "We kind of just kept expanding on our outline," Raheem said. "What things would be interesting to understand about the country before we went?" Although the leaders of the trip are seniors, all three are in the process of organizing the program's future to enable other Tufts students to participate in the future. Their current efforts include seeking seed money so that less fundraising is required in future years. Increasing interest and collaboration among students and administrators will help the program gain exposure, and will encourage further student participation, Raheem said. Underclassmen who were students in the class this year may be willing to teach and lead the program in future years. "It sounded like here was a lot of interest from underclassmen to continue the program," Raheem said. At the end of February there will be a final wrap-up event _ a cocktail and slide show _ which will also help the group to raise funds. Bridget Behling contributed to this article.

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News

ExCollege profs face tough admissions decisions

January 29

A record number of students signed up for courses in the Experimental College this semester to learn about untraditional subjects ranging from "Shakespeare in Asia" to the "Making of Machismo." As a result of the college's growing popularity and small, discussion-based class philosophy, 14 Ex College instructors were forced to selectively admit students into their classes. Unlike the first-come-first served registration system for regular University courses, any student can sign up for an ExCollege course. If there are more applicants than spaces, students then compete for a spot in the class by writing essays and filling out personal information sheets. Instructors then attempt to compose a diverse and dynamic group of students who will benefit from and contribute to the class. However, of the three most popular courses offered by the Ex College, "Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation," "Understanding the Stock Market" and "Genetics, Ethics and the Law," no freshmen were admitted with the average class was approximately 70 percent seniors. According to Robyn Gittleman, the director of the ExCollege, instructors have discretion to pick students for their classes using whatever criteria they feel will be to the benefit of the class. These criteria often include, but are not limited to, a student's background, major, demonstrated interest, past experience, gender, and class level. "If a student has tried [to get in] before or if he needs it to graduate, I will definitely give preference," Professor Ronnee Yashon said. Her course, "Genetics, Ethics, and the Law," was the most popular this spring: 113 students applied for spots in the lecture class and 121 for the online course. Yashon had to limit the total enrolment of her class to just 40. Many underclassmen argue that it is unfair for professors to favor upperclassmen and those who have had the chance to previously apply. "Freshmen are equally qualified and contribute to the Tufts community just as much as seniors _ we should receive the same treatment and be considered equally for introductory level courses," freshman Giuseppe Aldina said. Seniors, however, feel that in their last year at the University, they should be given priority. For senior Camila Campos, time is of the essence. In two weeks she will be taking an internship at a major investment bank. Campos said that even with her major in Economics, she lacks a critical element of practical knowledge in business. She says that her class, "Understanding the Stock Market," will help her in her line of work. "This is my first opportunity to apply for 'Understanding the Stock Market,'" she said. "When you keep a senior out of the class you are postponing his advancement in the job market." Certain professors agree with Campos and don't think that favoring upperclassmen is discriminatory. Rather, they say it promotes a senior's last opportunity to take a course that may be very important to their lives. "Freshmen will have the opportunity to apply for my class another time. But this is the last time that seniors can take it," said Tim Stratford, the instructor for "Understanding the Stock Market." He said that he recognizes the interest displayed by students who have previously applied, which may help them be accepted the next time around. Other professors, however, say that there are also disadvantages to having a class largely comprised of seniors. "The problems with accepting only seniors is that they may be taking it as a swing course and devote less attention to class," said James Jabbour, who teaches "Forensic Science and Criminal Investigation." Another concern for underclassmen and instructors is whether or not popular Ex College courses will be 'voted in' and offered in future semesters, as the College continually seeks to vary course offerings. For a freshman who anticipates enrolling in a particularly popular class three years later, there is a good chance that the class will no longer be offered when he or she attempts to apply. The average Ex College course lasts for only two to three semesters. Some students argue that the solution to such high demand for certain courses should be met with an expansion of the Ex College. Senior Ira Fox, an engineering major, feels that if Tufts promotes a diverse education, "then why can't a student who is really interested in exploring an interesting class get into it?" "There is no reason why we can't have a single business class here that people can get into," he said. However, according to Gittleman, the success of Ex College courses depends on small classes and the diversity of course offerings. Unlike traditional departments, instructors come to the University with a specific proposal for a course in mind. Only in very rare cases does the College search out instructors to teach particular classes. "When I limit my class size," Jabbour said, "I am still eliminating many seniors and I expect that I will upset many people who want to be there and would have made good students. I tell students the first night not to get discouraged."

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News

The Palestinians' Judgment Day

January 29

I DO understand just how delicate the situation in the Middle East is and I DO realize that the discussion about the situation can evoke different emotions from different people; however, change and progress will not be made through Viewpoints articles in the Daily. It is a given that this campus is filled with liberal ideas and values and that is fine. However, at one point or another during our Tufts careers many of us will need one another in some way or form, whether as a new friend or a vote for a prestigious elected position. The only way for positive change to come about is through the actions of those in the Middle East today. The only way for peace to come about is through the realizations of the reality in which we are forced to live. Let us take it as a given that the Oslo Peace process happened and failed. Anyone who says it is still alive is lying to themselves. Both sides have broken promises that were made in the peace accords and debating who broke what is irrelevant at this point. I like to think that Oslo failed not because anyone wanted it to fail, but because it was ahead of its time. No matter what, what has happened has happened and we must look forward toward a brighter future. The reality of the situation can be seen throughout the streets of Israel. Unlike what was suggested, I do not need to walk through West Bank cities to know what is going on. Three weeks ago when I walked into the rebuilt Sbarros pizzeria (that was blown up by a Palestinian terrorist in the summer of 2001) in Jerusalem, I saw the reality of things. When as walking off a bus, a man patted me down to see if I was carrying a bomb, I saw the reality of things. Upon walking into a mall and being scanned for a weapon in Tel Aviv, I understood the situation. As I was sitting in my apartment in Givataym ( a suburb of Tel Aviv) on January 3, 2003, I heard two huge explosions go off maybe one minute apart, seconds later I heard ambulances racing through the streets trying to tend to what we would later find out to be 23 dead and hundreds wounded. That is the reality of the situation, innocent people are dying, people who have no connection to the conflict and just want to live in peace, are dying. Despite contentions that I am radical, narrow-minded or unfair, I will go out and make it clear now that I DO support the existence of a Palestinian State living side by side with Israel. I DO support the right of the Palestinians to govern themselves in a democratic fashion. Ariel Sharon is going to sit in Jerusalem as the Prime Minister of the State of Israel for at least the next four years. The Israeli people have spoken their minds, not with their "swords" but with their casting of a ballot. It must be understood that the huge triumphant win by Sharon and his Likud party is almost a direct effect of the Intifadah. The Palestinians' actions have brought this new makeup of the Knesset (Israeli Parliament). They must understand that they will be accountable for their actions. For example, the economy and social situation inside Israel today are disgusting and far from acceptable, yet, despite that, Sharon will serve another term. Despite the unemployment, despite the secular vs. religious debates, Sharon is going to be given another chance to quell the Intifadah. By shifting to the right, and electing the Likud so strongly, Israelis have spoken and have told the world, "We will not be pushed around by the Palestinians, we will not live in fear, we will live in peace, It will either be a mutual decision by both sides to cease the fire, or Israel will implement its own rules on the area." Ariel Sharon is a man whom I greatly admire for not only his long successful military career, but also for his political career. Ariel Sharon is NOT a war criminal of any sorts. His actions as Defense Minister during the Israeli presence in Lebanon were meant to solidify the security of Israel's Northern boarder. The "massacres" in Sabra and Shatilla were committed by Christian Arabs who at the time were aligned with Israel. However, Israeli forces did not take part in the attack. Furthermore, while denouncing this "massacre", I feel it should be noted that these Christian Arabs' hatred for the Muslims stemmed from the Syrian presence in Lebanon which resulted in the persecution of the Christians there. Sharon did not have direct involvement in this attack and blatantly labeling this man a war criminal is unacceptable and a scathing low-level attack on a man whom I admire dearly. But what is next? The Israelis have already spoken in the elections. It is now the time to hear the voice of the Palestinians. I dare them to speak up. I dare them to stand up to Arafat and take matters into their own hands. If they so passionately desire a state of their own, then they must prove so by ousting their current leadership. The violence must end and the notion that they can defeat Israel must cease to exist. The Palestinians cannot change the results of the election and they cannot bring back the lives of the hundreds of Israelis killed in terrorist attacks. What they can do is look at the reality of things. Sharon is once again, Prime Minister. If need be, he will use extreme force to quell the violence, but he is also willing to go back to the negotiation tables once the terror has stopped. The path he chooses will solely depend on the Palestinians actions. It is judgment day for the Palestinians; they now have the chance to change the course of history with peace and a state, or they can suffer and further lose that small glimpse of hope in their minds. Ilan Behm is a Freshman majoring in Environmental Engineering

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News

Women's squash gets rude awakening from Brown

January 29

Last Sunday the women's squash team lost to seventh ranked Brown 9-0 at Trinity College in Hartford, CT. The loss was the Jumbos' fourth straight, and dropped the team to 2-9 on the season. Losing all of their matches 3-0, the outgunned Jumbos were trounced in their second pass at a top-ten team this season. "Brown was a lot better than us," senior co-captain Winnie So said. Because of its repeated difficulties against Ivy League opponents, the Tufts squad knew defeating Brown would be a difficult task to achieve. With the absence of critical contributors such as sophomore Nida Ghouse (four spot) and freshman Joelle Polivy (seven spot) due to family obligations, the shorthanded squad filled the void with two players from its inexperienced bench. "They are a genuine Div I team," coach Doug Eng said. "There is a huge gap between us and Brown. Brown was not as deep last year. Their freshman class was great. [Brown's] coach told me he was surprised at his team's depth. It's their deepest team in years." While Tufts is a good program, it is difficult to match-up with a team that boasts multiple stars. "Most of their players are All-Americans," So said. "They have been training since they were little." Annually a formidable opponent, Brown has compiled a 5-3 record against tough competition _ six of the team's eight opponents were ranked 12th or better. Eng advised his players to perform within themselves. "I was very low-key," Eng said. "I told them to play shots they were capable of. I focused on the things we can do_fight hard and have fun." Despite the disparity in individual match scores, the Jumbos forced Brown to work for each point. "Winnie played well against her opponent," senior co-captain Abi Cushman said. "She was definitely in every point, and they had long rallies." Tufts must rebound from this loss very quickly to secure a spot in the C Division consisting of the teams nationally ranked from 17-24. If the season ended today, the 25th ranked Tufts team would fall to the top spot in the D Division. "I think only once we were in the D Division," Eng said. "We have to win at least two of our upcoming matches to get back into the C Division. We have to believe we have a chance to get into the final of Division C and we don't want to be the last seed of division C." The team does not only want to be a member of the C division for reasons of pride, it also yearns for decent competition. "The Division D teams we should beat really easily," sophomore Nida Ghouse said. "We can make it. We hope to have a good shot at it [Division C]." The team still hopes to salvage its recent disheartening stretch of the season and surprise some higher ranked opponents. In their upcoming match against Mt. Holyoke this weekend, the Jumbos hope to avenge the 2-7 loss that propelled the Lyons ahead of them in the national rankings. "The match against Mt. Holyoke was really close even in the loss," Ghouse said. "We really want to get that one." Even without assurance of a full lineup again this weekend, the team aspires to upgrade its ranking and improve upon its 2-9 record. "We're going to start beating several teams," Eng said. "This weekend's teams are within reach." At the Howe Cup _ the National Championship in squash _ to be held the weekend of February 14-16, the squad has a chance to repudiate its lowered ranking. The Jumbos were originally ranked 18th at preseason, but dropped to 25th in the Dec 5 poll. "We can't concentrate on the ranking," Eng said. "It's not indicative of how we're playing. We're playing for ourselves, and we're going to be good at the Howe Cup though it was a rocky road getting there."

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News

Portrait of a young artist: Clara Kim

January 29

This semester, we in the Arts department are taking a nod from the Sports department in creating a special weekly column to highlight students on campus. We will be focusing on student artists and their talents. Our first portrait will be of Clara Kim, a second year student in Tufts-New England Conservatory double degree program. Clara has played the violin since she was five and has been featured as a soloist in several orchestras including the Lexington Sinfonietta, the Merrimack Valley Philharmonic and her high school orchestra. She has also played at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and has been involved with various orchestras, orchestra tours and summer music festivals. She has received the Eugene Lehner Chamber Music Award and the DiDomenico scholarship. The Daily was able to obtain an interview (albeit via email) with this larger-than-life violinist. Daily: What is your greatest musical moment? Clara: I went with the Lexington Sinfonietta to a prison in Boston last year to play the solo violin part of Schindler's List. It was a connection... with a type of audience I've never had before. Daily: What color inspires you to play? Clara: Red. For me, it stands for passion for something beyond mere technicalities (of how-to abilities of playing violin). Daily: When your conductor asks you how many hours you rehearsed for, do you tell the truth? Clara: Never. Daily: Which celebrity do you want to meet the most? Clara: Alive? Maybe Britney Spears so I can ask her what the deal is. Dead? Beethoven. Definitely Beethoven. Daily: Does the word "Neopolitan" do anything for you, musically? Clara: Ew. Not particularly. Daily: What movie made you think, laugh and cry all at the same time? Clara: Monsters Inc. Daily: When playing the violin, how do you do that voodoo, that you do, so well? Clara: Voodoo? I wouldn't say voodoo as much as connecting with ideas larger than myself and expressing them. It's mostly intuition, you know, something like a "universal truth" or God that you find deep inside of yourself if you search enough. The hard part is finding the right ways to say what you want to say. It has to be internalized, I think. In any case, it's a process just like anything else, and you have to be patient with it. If you know of a Tufts student artist who should be interviewed for this column, email DailyArts@hotmail.com.

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News

Walkout makes no sense

January 29

On Tuesday afternoon, I was handed a flyer exclaiming, "NO MORE BUSINESS AS USUAL!" This flyer encourages students to "walkout" on their regularly scheduled classes on the first day of war with Iraq, and proceed to Goddard Chapel for "demonstrations and teach-ins debating the war." I have generally maintained an interest in the activity of protestors on the Tufts campus, but this is by far the silliest thing I have ever encountered. First of all, the statement that this group is trying to make involves walking out on class. I, however, do not see any need to walk out of class to "discuss" the war. It makes no sense that I should skip my math class which is running at about $200 or more per session (do the math...its astonishing) to gather with people who will basically sit around and talk about how the cost of their freedom is too high (I am trying my hardest to keep my political views out of this). This altruistic gathering can easily be held on a weekend, during an open block, or all throughout a school day if protestors feel it necessary_but there is absolutely no reason to make cutting class part of the protest. Secondly, this proposed gathering intends to "debate the war," yet the flyer also says that, "we will create a space for dialogue and discussion for our Tufts Community, which is deeply skeptical of the necessity or justice of such a war." So, not only have the authors assumed that the entire community is skeptical of the war, they have also contradicted the notion that there will actually be any "debate" at this demonstration, with the exception of, "is this war bad? Or terrible? Discuss..." I challenge the authors of this flyer and organizers of this event to come up with a more educationally efficient way of discussing this important issue. It seems to me that the purpose of college is to learn, and by walking out of classes and going to an event in which ideas will not be challenged, and instead people will just be sitting around stroking their activist egos, the only consequence will be a disruption of the learning environment. If you want to educate, hold an organized debate with representatives from both sides, and an open discussion, and hold it at a convenient time that doesn't interfere with the classes we've paid to attend. I have not yet made my decision on the necessity of this war_I could really benefit from a truly educational forum. If you create such a gathering, I will be there with bells on. In conclusion, walking out of class is silly, and attending a forum which is "deeply skeptical" is sillier. Arun Lamba is a senior majoring in Economics and Physics.

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News

Pierce scores big with Tufts-NEMC

January 29

Boston Celtics' shooting guard Paul Pierce has pledged $2.5 million to the Tufts hospital that saved his life. Earlier this month, Pierce attended the unveiling of three new cutting-edge surgical suites in the Minimally Invasive Surgical Center at Tufts-New England Medical Center Two and a half years ago, Pierce was treated at Tufts-NEMC for multiple knife wounds received at a Boston nightclub, "the worst of which came within an inch of his heart," according to Tufts-NEMC News. Doctors at the hospital, led by Assistant Professor Roger Graham, MD, were able to save Pierce's life using the techniques of minimally invasive, laproscopic surgery. In what it refers to as Phase II, Tufts-NEMC plans to put the money donated by Pierce's foundation towards the development of four more technically advanced surgical suites and update its operating and laparoscopic surgery capabilities, according to Catherine Bromberg, a spokeswoman for Tufts-NEMC. The new surgical suites are equipped with what officials said were the most up-to-date technologies in the surgical field. Tufts-NEMC surgeons will have greater control over the devices and instruments used in surgery and will be able to control equipment through a voice-activation system, leaving both hands free for operating. Minimally invasive surgery minimizes scarring and lets patients recover more quickly than they could after conventional open surgery by using small instruments and an endoscope that films anatomy and displays it on monitors. Had it not been for the technology, the Celtics' captain would likely have spent the rest of the 2000 season recovering on the bench with a large scar. "I experienced the benefits of this advanced surgery firsthand," Pierce said in a press release. "I was lucky enough to have been at this hospital in my time of need." Minimally invasive surgery is not limited to treating victims of knife attacks. "This type of surgery has wide applications, it will benefit lots of people" Bromberg said. Doctors at Tufts-NEMC began learning how to do such surgery 13 years ago. Pierce's reasons for helping Tufts are sentimental. "He feels a very special connection to the hospital," said Carol Shackelford, a spokeswoman for the Celtics. Pierce said, "[I] want to make sure that other people in the same situation can get the care I received." Pierce's doctors seem pleased with the results of the new surgical suites and the ability to advance minimally invasive surgery. In a Tufts-NEMC newsletter, Senior Surgeon Roger Graham, MD remarked that "the opening of the new operating suites will enable us to offer [the] kind of surgery that benefited Paul to more patients, giving them a shorter recovery time, while sparing them time out of work, school or the basketball court."

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News

Women's basketball wins sloppy game against Clark

January 29

It was not pretty, but the women's basketball team collected its 13th win in 15 contests after defeating Clark University 73-65 last Tuesday in Cousens Gymnasium. The game was filled with runs, giving spectators the illusion one team was about to blow the other out until the other mounted a small comeback. At 8-7 entering the contest, Clark should have been a beatable opponent for the Jumbos, who are the eighth ranked women's basketball team in New England. On the first defensive stand of the game, junior guard Maritsa Christoudias stole the ball and pushed it up court. While she did not score on that possession, Tufts later jumped to a 2-0 lead. But for the next five minutes, Clark capitalized on numerous Jumbo mistakes to mount an 11-0 run and push coach Carla Berube to call a timeout after being down 11-2. "It looked like we were not as intense as we should be," Berube said. "It's happened in the last couple games and that's not good enough. We need to start the game like we play the last two minutes." The timeout must have worked, as Tufts mounted an 11-2 run of its own. Capped by a three-pointer by sophomore guard Erin Connolly, the Jumbos tied the game at 13 with 10:32 left in the first half. However, Clark then retook the lead, scoring six of the next eight points. Berube had seen enough of the up and down pace and called a timeout with 8:12 remaining in the half. At that point in the game, the pace had resulted in Tufts having seven turnovers and Clark having three. "I didn't change anything," Berube said. "I said that wasn't us." After two Clark free throws following the timeout, the Jumbos were down 21-15. This game was a contest of runs and Tufts contended by scoring the final 15 points of the first half, amassing a lead of 30-21. The Jumbos disallowed Clark from scoring a single point in the last seven minutes of the half. During this run, only two players did the scoring. Freshman guard Jessica Powers added two points, but the highlight was center Allison Love who scored 13 of her career high 31 points during the 15-0 run. "(Love's) getting open and we are finding her," Berube said. "She has a nice offensive game." Love attributes her career game to team chemistry. Love believes that if one team member has an off night, others will be there to fill that void. "Recently I've stepped up my game," Love said. "But it is a team effort." For most of the second half Tufts controlled the lead, increasing its advantage to 11 points with 16:30 left in the game. But, as the theme of games past has proved, no lead is safe. Clark cut the Jumbo's lead to 50-47 with 10:15 left in the contest. With 9:45 remaining, Clark guard Heather Kamyck completed the 20-9 run by knocking down a three pointer to tie the game 50-50. Although the team blew a second half lead for the third time in four games, Berube was not fazed by the lapse. "I didn't feel it slipping away," Berube said. "I got a lot of confidence in our girls that we were not going to let it go." Tufts and Clark traded baskets for the next two minutes before the Jumbos made the last run to put away the Cougars. From the 7:34 mark to the final buzzer, tufts outscored Clark 20-11 to seize a 73-65 victory. "We were making silly turnovers," Love said. "But had to step up like it was a NESCAC game. We persevered and came through and won." Although the team pulled out a victory, Berube was not completely pleased with the game. She feels the second half was far better than the first, but playing a complete game is imperative for NESCAC success. "To come out with a win in a tight game helps us out," Berube said. "Hopefully we will come out and play 40 minutes of Jumbos basketball out next time out."

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News

Travelling Lush: Basement dwelling

January 29

The question came as a surprise. The answer was all too easy. It was another cold Saturday night at Tufts. Crammed up against weekend pizza boxes and overflowing recycling bins, a few of my housemates and I relaxed in front of the television. Our Saturday night, devoid of all the quality reality TV that could occupy any average American for hours on end, was fading fast. Too tired to muster enough energy to organize the troops for the night's festivities and too broke to spend another night out on the town, we slowly went our separate ways. One to a house across campus, one to a Boston bar, another attending a late night dinner, and the stragglers still stuck on the couch. And so it happened that it was just Justin and me... just Justin and me. And then it all started: a miraculous and unexpected burst of energy. And then there were quarters, and then there was beer, and then there were quarters and beer. And as the quarters started bouncing and the Pabst started flowing, some unexpected visitors and a vodka-sprite on the rocks with grenadine suddenly brought the night back to life again. Who cares if the heat had broken for the third time in the last four minutes and that we were running out of liquids? The night was alive. It was back. "Where to?" someone asked. Davis, Orleans, Underbones and good old Sligos were among the offers. And so it was decided. A night that had been nothing would now be something. Bouncing around the night spots in Davis was the plan, and even the frigid temperatures that had slyly snuck back nearly to zero could not dampen our spirits. But almost as soon as Davis became our objective, the material constraints of the green back brought us back to reality. We were broke. A night at Il Panino in Boston the previous Thursday had drained us of our reserves, and even a few cheap drafts at Sligo's seemed out of reach. With Davis gone, we did what any twenty one-year-old seniors would do: we traded the atmosphere of a bar for the nostalgia and dirty shoes of Frat Row. The night had landed us right back in freshman year, and I had to admit, I wasn't the least bit disappointed. As we slid past the bodies of our fellow Tufts students, the Pabst kept flowing and the music kept playing. Davis Square long gone from my mind; it was there, amidst the dancing and the freshman, that I learned of my new title. Ironic, yes, that such a revered position would be awarded in such an atmosphere. More ironic even, that the title should come to fall upon someone who hadn't the will to make it anywhere on a Friday night other than the basement of a frat. And ironic even more still, that he was enjoying it. But the question did come. And the answer was all too easy. "Of course, I'll be the new Travelling Lush," I said. Of course I'll spend my nights perusing hot spots with the "intellectual" excuse that I am actually researching them. Of course I'll drink beer and write about it. Who could resist an opportunity like that? Now if I can just make it out of the basement...

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News

Goddard Chapel reopens

January 29

A recently renovated Goddard Chapel greeted Tufts students returning to campus this semester. The Tufts community had been unable to use the chapel since restoration of the 119-year-old edifice began last May. The renovation project, which cost an estimated $2.3 million dollars, was the first major work done on the building since its construction in 1882, University Chaplain Father David O'Leary said. The renovation was one of several projects to be completed this year under Tufts' Deferred Maintenance Program. The Deferred Maintenance Program sets aside money each year in order to meet the needs of a backlog of University maintenance projects. The program was expanded in 1996 as part of a "University-wide recognition of the need to maintain the University's physical assets," said Vice President of Operations John Roberto. According to Roberto, the program now allocates between $10-12 million dollars a year for repairs on major building components to make the structures serviceable. Although approximately $2.5 million dollars was allocated for the project, final costs for the restorations are expected to come in under that figure, at around $2.3 million, Roberto said. The money was primarily devoted to exterior repairs aimed at strengthening the aging building, including waterproofing and patching the slate roof, cleaning the stained glass windows, and repairing the foundation, Roberto said earlier this month. Additionally, a light was placed at the top of the bell tower, another section of the building to receive some much-needed structural repair. "From a distance there will always be a 'Light on a Hill'," Father O'Leary told Tufts Magazine earlier this year. While the main focus of the project was on the building's exterior, the University also funded some interior renovations such as new paint and carpeting for several chapel offices and the restoration of the chapel's Hook and Hastings organ, Father O' Leary said. Workers also stripped a coat of light blue paint from the ceiling to reveal a light colored wood. Although the University paid for these most recent repairs, Father O' Leary has created the Friends of Goddard Chapel fund to allow for continued improvements to be made to the historic sanctuary. O'Leary says that he hopes to use this money to finance additional programming and to purchase things such as an air conditioning system and new cushioning for the chapel's seats. Faculty and students alike were happy to see the chapel reopened. "It's wonderful to see Goddard Chapel being such a central part of the campus again," sophomore Lindsay McNeil said. "I now enjoy attending Catholic mass on campus, and appreciate the close proximity and new atmosphere." The chapel will be officially rededicated during a March 13 ceremony featuring the presentation of the Russell Lectureship to Reverend Peter Gomes of Harvard University.

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News

The exonerated

January 29

Death is the one punishment that can never be undone. Imagine, if you will, what it would be like to be arrested for a crime you did not commit, given a death sentence, and found innocent fifteen years later. Then imagine your husband had already been executed. It happened to Sunny Jacobs. The Exonerated, a new play by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen, takes a seething look at such true cases of wrongfully convicted death row inmates, making a strong case against capital punishment. Told through graphic monologues, forceful interchanges between the accused and the accusees, and quieter moments of grace, the strongest aspect of the play lies in the truth that every word spoken on stage was, at some point, spoken or written by the man or woman who's story is being shared. In total there are six exonerated characters but as the cast, including the likes of Marlo Thomas (as Sunny Jacobs) and Brian Dennehy (as Gary Gauger), would gradually share, the web of family and friends also affected by their loved ones' death sentences far exceeded that number. "If you are accused of a sex crime in the South you probably should have done it. Cause you will be found guilty," remarked Delbert Tibbs (William Jay Marshall) at one point during the production, attempting to make a light of his situation. In the audience, people laughed, nervously. At times, the moments of humor were even harder to bear than the moments of torment shared by the different characters. Amidst the stories of six innocent people, there was a fair amount of second hand guilt, or at the very least luck. At one point, Ms. Jacobs asks the audience to "reflect, from 1976 to 1992. Now just remove that entire chunk from your life." She has. In political pieces, it is easy to wander into the area of manipulative speeches and exaggerative outburst. The Exonerated refuses to be dismissed that easily. Its manner is bare-bones and biting; it startles from its own sheer strength. Yet amidst tales of involuntary scars tattooed by crude fellow inmates and the ghosts of lost loved ones, there is little bitterness amidst the play. For while there is certainly a large amount of indirect blame in terms of the United States government and its current legal system, the play is more of a call to action than a condolence of past events. The characters share a stoney tenacity about their lives that those in all stations of life could stand to benefit from _ to live as fully as possible, no matter the circumstances. Instead of visiting her husband Jesse's gravesite, like his mother requests of her, Sunny instead chooses to see herself a "living monument" to his life. Her voice could not sound more beautiful, more inspired or joyous. In the past few months, The Exonerated, with its rotating cast of ten, has been making its tour of the country, starting in New York, traveling to Illinois (which is currently in the midst of one of the biggest capital punishment debacles to date, amounting in four exonerated peoples already) and Washington D.C.. Many a theatrical and Hollywood star, including Susan Sarandon, Alec Baldwin, and Tim Robbins have agreed to lend their time and talent for essentially minimum wage. These actors are donating their time in order to fight for a cause, not a Tony. It's quite honorable _ as is the attention to detail, careful melding of facts and dialogue, and general respect for both the audience and people represented on stage. The only remaining question in terms of the success of The Exonerated is whether or not it succeeds as a play, in the traditional sense of the word. With no set, no costumes, no lighting design to speak of, it is difficult to critique it as such. Perhaps it doesn't need to be. As a theatrical and political hybrid, it arrests the heart and begs clemency of the soul. That type of artistic creature is far more rare.

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Tufts scientific, religious leaders weigh in on cloning controversy

January 29

It is a story that, until recently, would have seemed at home solely on the pages of The National Enquirer: the Raelians, a group whose members believe that human beings are descendants of aliens, claim to have successfully cloned a live human embryo and created a baby that is an exact replica of her mother. The Raelians' failure to produce the cloned baby has resulted in skepticism among the public at large, and has generated enormous media attention and controversy to the extent that the story appeared on the front page of The New York Times. The debate over experimentation on stem cells from human embryos has pitted patients, scientists, and doctors (who believe that this research could lead to new treatments and cures for diseases such as Parkinson's, heart disease, Alzheimer's, and diabetes) against anti-abortion activists and others who oppose the destruction of the embryo. The Tufts community's interest was similarly piqued by the Raelians' recent announcement. This semester, Professor Ronee Yashon's popular Experimental College course, Genetics Ethics and the Law, had an unprecedented amount of students vying for the 20 spaces available in both the regular and online versions of the class. At the time that the Ex College's online registration closed, over 100 students had signed up to take each of the two classes. "Issues having to do with genetics and especially cloning are very prevalent today, especially as our research advances," sophomore Rebecca Plofker said. "I tried to get into the class to better understand what I hear in the news." The concept of human cloning has stirred strong reactions from members of the University's faculty as well. Academics and religious figures on campus are both intrigued by the potential medical contributions of cloning, but are wary of potential health complications to a clone or to one who is cloned and that cloning might become a corrupt financial enterprise. Although Biology Professor Eli Siegel finds it "hard to understand why anyone would want to clone a human being," and believes that the repercussions of cloning could be devastating, he suggests that cloning solely for therapeutic purposes might be beneficial to humanity. There are significant differences between therapeutic and human cloning. In therapeutic cloning, leftover embryos from the in vitro fertilization process are used to clone stem cells which could possibly grow into new nerve cells and organs needed to cure diseases. The embryos used would otherwise have been frozen or discarded. The process of human cloning is different: the nucleus is extracted from a donor egg, and the DNA is combined with that from a cell from the human who is being copied. Then, the new cell begins growing into a genetic double. "[In therapeutic cloning] you are trying to create stem cells for people you are trying to treat or cure of diseases. Tissue typing (the matching of tissues between different individuals) is like matching blood types, but much more difficult. There is a one in 1,000 chance of tissue being matched, so stem cells could remove this problem," Siegel said. For religious figures on campus, personal views must be reconciled against the dictates of higher religious authorities. University Chaplain David O'Leary stated that the Roman Catholic Church has not issued a decree on animal cloning, but that he personally sees a benefit to cloning if it is to be used to better human lives, but not to make new ones. "There are two major questions that must be asked," explains O'Leary. "First, where are the cells being used for cloning coming from? And second, what purpose are the cloned cells serving? If the cells are being grown to produce skin, then I see that, as a medical ethicist and a theologian, as wonderful because it is vital in helping people such as burn victims survive." O'Leary also cautions that scientists are uncertain as to the degree of success achieved in cloning Dolly the sheep. "We don't know what kind of pain she is in and why would you want to put a human through that kind of pain. Would it be a life of suffering?" University Rabbi Jeffrey Summit also sees cloning as potentially beneficial if it is used on a limited basis. "The general Jewish approach to new techniques in medicine and now cloning _ when used to or applied to saving a life, which is considered the highest good _ is seen as positive usage," Summit said Summit also has reservations which, like O'Leary's, deal with cloning's ethical implications. "Exploration for the sake of exploration, such as creating life in a Petri dish, is not seen as a valid direction to go," Summit said. Biology Professor David Cochrane agrees that cloning merely to obtain scientific recognition is unethical. "Cloning of human beings is not a good idea, ethically and scientifically," he said. "There are many embryos in animals that they have attempted to clone and only a few have been viable, so scientifically it's not a good idea. But therapeutic cloning is a very different thing that offers great hope for the treatment of many diseases." Higher religious authorities offer more decisive positions on cloning, whether or not it is done for therapeutic purposes. The Vatican has issued statements decrying human cloning, the Koran forbids humans from "playing God," and religious fundamentalists have linked stem cell research to abortion. Despite the benefits cited by Siegel, Summit, O'Leary, and Cochrane, human cloning could be potentially employed for less idealistic means: particularly, as a moneymaking enterprise. The Raelians, for example, see cloning not as a solution to disease or infertility, but as a business to cash in upon. Also, the safety of the procedure is uncertain. "They've cloned a cat, a mouse, a goat, a pig, and a sheep, so who knows, why can't people be done? But it's very hit or miss," Siegel said. "There have been a lot of problems with the cloned animals. They have been deformed or sick, and people don't want that to happen with human beings." A bill outlawing human cloning but permitting therapeutic cloning will soon be introduced in Congress. Currently, though, there are strict federal restrictions on public funding of any kind of research involving human embryos. Stem cell researchers are eager to differentiate between cloning for medical purposes and cloning for reproduction, hoping to lift the restrictions on public funding of their research.

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News

Professors should not be participants in walkout

January 29

I love Tufts _ everything about it, even the food. But my favorite thing is the endless amusement provided to me by certain individuals who do not bathe. Remember when Tufts Students Against Discrimination (TSAD) skipped class for several days to sit in Bendetson until then-President DiBiaggio sent out a meaningless email? While prospective students and administration officials were greatly inconvenienced by the leftists' childish behavior, students who were responsible enough to attend classes could easily laugh it off. The newest incarnation of this inanity comes in the ever-expanding acronym of Tufts Coalition to Oppose (Showers and the) War on Iraq (TCOWI). It used to be SLAM, and before that it was TSAD, and, before that, my memory fails me. According to an article in the Daily ("TCOWI plans day_after_war walkout" 1/27/03) however, TCOWI plans to boycott classes the day after President Bush declares a war in Iraq. As of the writing of this viewpoint, TCOWI had circulated a petition declaring its opposition to the prospective war. So far, 430 members of the Tufts community have signed it. This all sounds pretty funny at first. Imagine what Bush and his Cabinet will think. Some nuts on a college campus are so strongly opposed to his intended course of action that they're willing to not go to classes. What a sacrifice! The Commander in Chief is considering putting troops into combat, where they may die. A complacent "teach-in" at Goddard chapel in lieu of classes that are not so scrupulously attended anyway does not carry enough weight to sway his opinion. Unfortunately, from a Tufts student's perspective, this time the demonstration is not nearly as amusing as usual. Somehow, this juvenile activism has spread beyond our students, for whom it is only slightly more appropriate, to our professors. Fully 46 of them, or 12% of our faculty, have signed this petition declaring that they object to a US-led war in Iraq. On the web page proudly displaying this petition, TCOWI provides a link to its "news." There they declare that on the business day following the start of an "unnecessary and unjustified bombing campaign or land invasion of Iraq," the students will not attend classes, and neither will the professors. Although the professors' behavior is absurd, for the students, such action is more understandable. We are college students and are at that age when bleeding-heart idealism is expected. If, on the other hand, 12% of Tufts professors refuse to hold class, then the entire Tufts community loses more than it gains in entertainment value. We are each paying $36,465 to study here. That means, assuming I take 4 classes a semester and each one is offered three times a week, I am paying, very roughly, $217.05 for every class a professor teaches me. If any of our professors skip work for such a spurious reason, President Bacow must ensure that such delinquent behavior does not go unpunished. Certainly, pay cuts and tuition refunds would be in order, and replacing these 46 professors with professors who make teaching their first priority should be strongly considered. These professors think they can walk out on us just because they disagree with 64% of Americans who support taking military action against Iraq? I think not. They were hired to do a job _ to teach us at scheduled times. They were not hired to inconvenience us every time they decide they have found a new cause du jour. What professors do on their own time, when they are not scheduled to be in class, is up to them. They may engage in whatever inanities they see fit. In fact, from what I understand of academia, they are encouraged to do so. But not on my dollar. Talia Alexander is a junior majoring in biology and environmental studies

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News

Speech doesn't cut it

January 29

War with Iraq is now all but inevitable, with President Bush telling the nation Tuesday night that Saddam Hussein had blown his "final chance" to disarm. Though Bush's State of the Union address touched on domestic issues including his recent tax proposal, Medicare reform, and drug treatment, the prospect of war overshadowed all else. It is a course of action that will affect every single American and cost many lives. Although there were similar anti-war protests in anticipation of the Gulf War in 1991, that engagement was actually supported by the majority of the country. The current conflict could hardly be more to the contrary. As more and more US troops depart for the Middle East, public support for a war _ already low _ has been sinking even further. The international opinion is much the same. Of course, there is quite possibly a good deal of intelligence regarding Iraq and its weapons that cannot be made public. Unfortunately, with the information currently available, Bush has certainly not made a convincing argument for war. The President's tax policy is equally problematic. Its centerpiece is the elimination of the corporate dividend tax, which produces two relatively undesirable results. The first is an immediate windfall to mostly wealthy stockholders as stocks get a one-time boost (the middle class tends to hold most of their stock in pension or retirement plans, and poorer people usually do not own any). The second is that the benefit of the new law will be realized in a much longer time period than, say, an across-the-board tax credit. Indeed, Fed Chair Alan Greenspan has indicated that the plan will provide virtually no short-term stimulus. If Bush intends to follow through with the policies he outlined Tuesday night _ and if he hopes to gain a mandate for war with Iraq _ he's going to need to come up with a clearer rationale for his decisions. Otherwise, his approval rating won't be going anywhere but down.

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News

Enrollment verification goes online

January 29

Students can now submit enrollment verification requests online and improvements have shortened the time it takes to release the documents. The feature is part of the Webcenter, and allows students to have enrollment verifications sent directly to a third party by mail or e-mail. They can also collect the documents in Dowling Hall. Last year, Student Services started printing enrollment verifications on one printer at the student services desk, which tended to be a lengthy process. Now, at least ten people in Dowling Hall have the ability to print enrollment verification requests. This change alone reduced the time it took to release enrollment verifications from over a week to one or two business days. "With this new enhancement, students will no longer have to wait in line at Dowling to request the information," JoAnn Smith, Acting Registrar and Manager of the Student Services Desk said. Students applying for car insurance, outside employment, internships, scholarships, and credit cards are often required to prove their student status. The online request takes only about two minutes to complete. If students choose to e-mail their enrollment verification information, the message is sent immediately. "It's significantly easier than the old system," said sophomore Caitlin McGarty. Last year, in a continuing effort to streamline student services, Dowling outsourced its enrollment verification service to the National Student Clearinghouse, which verified students' status for third parties, such as insurance companies and employers. The University soon stopped using the National Student Clearinghouse because, as Smith said, "they could not provide the level of service we were looking for." Although Clearinghouse did provide a prompt e-mail service, the website was difficult to navigate and required students to pay a $2.50 processing fee for each request. The processing fee irked students and was the main reason the University cancelled the arrangement, Smith said.

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News

New Flaming Lips: makes you laugh, cry, think

January 29

When one thinks of solid concept albums, Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon certainly comes to mind as being one of the primary examples. The band's testament of how money and time have such control over our lives remains one of the landmark concept albums of our time (some even dare to call it the best album ever). Since the release of Dark Side, many bands have been influenced by Pink Floyd and their seminal LP to make their own concept albums. The Flaming Lips are one of those bands with the release of their new concept album titled Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots. After listening to the new Flaming Lips' CD, we could say this new album will be proclaimed the new best album ever. We could say that, but we would be wrong. The newest effort, however, from a band known more for its interesting live shows than its studio prowess, is certainly a solid, if bizarre, concept album. Noted for their unusual live shows, where among other strange events, extras in fuzzy animal costumes are known to dance across the stage, the Flaming Lips have had little studio success. In fact, one of their albums, Zaireeka, is downright impossible to listen to without your own recording studio, as it is recorded on four separate audio tracks, each making up its own CD. Of course, it's supposed to sound really cool, but I don't own four stereos. Do you? If you do, can I come over and listen to Zaireeka? Moving on, we come to the Lips' latest release Yoshimi, a rich, textured, existentially-tinged album that tells the tale of one pink robot that learns to have emotions, and a small Japanese girl, who happens to be "a black belt in karate," who was delegated to defend the city against the pink robots. Pretty standard stuff really. We learn about the aforementioned plot elements in the third track, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part I, a lyrical acoustic ballad with some electronic studio tweaks, such as guitar drop offs. In the following track, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots Part II, a battle ensues, told not through lyrics but through a driving rhythmic beat and bass riff topped with the screams of apparently-tortured souls. At this point the album departs from the standard Japanese girl fighting emotional pink robots motif to a more existential one. This is where the Lips prove their artistic merit, after already proving their somewhat odd sense of humor. Each song poses a question about the nature of life through a unique blend of electronics, which contribute a futuristic feel, and acoustic elements that help keep the album down to earth. However, all the questions revolve around existentialist themes. The song In the Morning of the Magicians brings up the depressing question, "what is love and what is hate?" and goes on to say that neither is relevant in a world that seems to be devoid of meaning. Not to be outdone, the epic Do you Realize?? contains the haunting lyrics "Do you realize that everyone you know some day will die?" The song, however, like all of the tracks on the album, is somehow not depressing. Perhaps it's the juxtaposition of the lyrics against the flowing, predominantly major melodies. Still, the Lips offer qualifying lyrics. While they describe a world where nothing matters and everyone will die (which sounds a lot like this world), the second to last song on the album reminds us "all we've ever had was now/all we have is now [and] all we'll ever have is now." While this "carpe diem" theme has become clich?©d, the Lips somehow make it seem novel. After a rough week, Yoshimi is the perfect album to relax to; it's silly and reassures you that none of your mistakes really matter in the end as long as you take advantage of the moment.

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News

McGlynn's outside game completes men's basketball offense

January 29

Despite his quiet and unassuming demeanor, when senior guard Mike McGlynn steps onto the court, he is undeniably one of the best shooters the Jumbos have to offer. Hailed as the best three-point shooter on the team by his coach, McGlynn plays an integral role in the Jumbo offense. "He's very quiet but he does all the talking with his game," coach Bob Sheldon said. Raised in nearby Medford, McGlynn is actually the son of an Olympic team hockey player. Yet instead of following in the footsteps of his father, McGlynn never laced up a pair of skates and fell in love with the basketball court instead. "[My dad] didn't mind so much cause hockey equipment is expensive," McGlynn said. "With basketball, all he had to do was buy me a pair of sneakers and I was set." And so, beginning close to the age of five, McGlynn became involved in basketball, along with soccer and baseball during his childhood. But basketball was always this guard's true love; a love he credits his father with developing. "My dad's coached me since I was little. He always had me on the court shooting drills," McGlynn said. Throughout his middle and high school years, when he would sneak into the Tufts gymnasium to shoot around, McGlynn always dreamed that playing basketball for the Jumbos was in his future. After giving up soccer, McGlynn also put baseball aside in high school despite the wishes of his coaches, so that he could focus on basketball for his future. "Basketball was my favorite sport," McGlynn said. "[Giving up baseball] was a choice that I made. I wanted to focus on just basketball." Unfortunately for McGlynn, the Tufts admissions committee halted his wishes to play for the Jumbos and he ended up attending Brandies for the first two years of his collegiate career. Though he enjoyed his time at Brandies, the point guard was unwilling to give up his original wishes to play for the Jumbos and transferred as a junior. Though his reasons for transferring were mostly financial (McGlynn's mother works at Tufts which helps his tuition rate), McGlynn was also pleased with the new basketball program, of which he had become a part. "We have more competetive players here and they're more serious," he said. "The program at Brandies wasn't really going anywhere. There wasn't really a commitment to winning." As he was entering a team that needed a shooting guard with range from the outside, the team felt McGlynn's impact almost immediately. He scored 21 points in his first game as a Jumbo, and added an instant jolt to the team. "He changed [the team dynamic] in a positive way," Sheldon said. "He came in as a shooter and a good shooter. He was coming into a spot that we needed too so he wasn't pushing anyone out of their spots." Over the course of the season his role on the team continued to grow. McGlynn also hit several milestones along the way including reaching the mark for 1000 career points in January of his third collegiate season. As only the 22nd Jumbo in school history to be a part of the 1000 points club, his accomplishment was more exceptional with the speed at which he reached it. "I didn't set out to do it, but I'm proud that I got it," McGlynn said. "It's a good accomplishment that he should be proud of," Sheldon said. Over the course of the season McGlynn started in each of the Jumbos 25 games and finished with a .486 shooting percentage and an average of 18.0 points per game. Even more impressive than his overall shooting abilities was McGlynn's three-point shooting aptitude. The guard lead the league with a .481 three-point shooting percentage, hitting 102 three-point shots on the year. Though there are plenty of shooters on the men's basketball team, no others can match McGlynn's outside shot. For this reason, Sheldon labels McGlynn as one of the team's go-to guys in the clutch. "He's so important to our offense. He's our best three-point shooter and when he gets going he's the best of our team," Sheldon said. And while McGlynn enjoys being the Jumbos clutch man, he understands that the Jumbos have multiple able shooters on their hands and he has no problem spreading the wealth. "A lot of people want the ball in their hands at the end of the game," McGlynn said. "But we have five or six guys on our team who can shoot." As McGlynn's collegiate career begins to draw to a close, Sheldon believes that his guard could continue on a professional career overseas. "He has the ability to do it. He's just a basketball junkie."

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