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The Setonian
News

Women's soccer easily advances with win over Nichols

November 13

Playing through miserably rainy, muddy, and cold conditions, the women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the Div III NCAA Tournament yesterday with a convincing 4-0 victory over the visiting Nichols College. Despite the fact that the team has not given up a goal in its last two games, players did not feel that they did as well as they could have. "We played okay today, though definitely not up to our potential," senior midfielder EA Tooley said. "The conditions were very sloppy, but we did what we needed to do to get the win, so we're happy." Tufts came out with aggression, sending the ball into the Lady Bison zone at the start of the game and keeping it there for the first seven minutes. Despite having numerous shot opportunities, the Jumbos were unable to capitalize. Tufts struck first in the 21st minute, when sophomore defender Catherine Benedict headed a Bison goal kick to sophomore midfielder Sarah Gelb just 20 yards from the net. Gelb then sent a centering pass to a crowd of Jumbos, which ricocheted off a Bison defender and skidded through two puddles along the way. Red-hot sophomore Jennifer Baldwin collected it and sent it into the far corner of the net for her team leading ninth goal of the season, and fourth in the past three games. Just 13 minutes later, in the 34th minute, the Jumbos struck again. Junior forward Becca Doigan sent a long ball up the middle of the field to freshman midfielder Lindsay Garmirian. The speedy Garmirian flew past Nichols' lone defender and fired the ball into the right corner of the net for her second goal in as many days, giving the Jumbos a 2-0 lead. They achieved this all before the Bison had even attempted a shot. Despite having a two-goal lead, the Jumbos continued to relentlessly pressure the Bison defense. On a corner kick in the 37th minute, sophomore midfielder Lindsay Wolejko sent a high ball at the right post, where senior co-captain Cara Glassanos was perfectly stationed to chip it into the goal for her third of the season, giving Tufts a 3-0 lead. The Jumbos were all smiles at the half, and they confidently jogged off the field to their locker room, while the Bison hobbled off to the visitors' locker room looking scared, frustrated, and beat up. The Jumbos dominated the Bison in the half, out-shooting them 23-1. Tufts kept the ball in Nichols' zone for the majority of the half, and the Jumbos back four defenders quickly quelled any of the Bison's potential scoring chances. The second half of action saw more of the same. While the Bison came out with a little more fire and aggression, the Jumbos continued to put pressure on the Nichols' defense and stop any of their potential opportunities on offense. The game got sloppier and more physical as time progressed. The rain started coming down harder, and the puddles on the field grew bigger and bigger, making it almost impossible not to slip. The Bison had their best scoring opportunity in the 74th minute, when leading scorer senior Kristine O'Coin blasted a shot on net from 20 yards away that Tufts keeper sophomore Meg McCourt had to leave her feet to stop. Just eight minutes later, the Jumbos struck again after being awarded a free kick 15 yards away from the net. Freshman forward Sarah Callaghan cut in front of the net and headed a pass from Wolejko into the right corner of the net for her second goal of the season to seal the victory for Tufts. As the final buzzer sounded, Glassanos and junior fullback Abby Herzberg dove headfirst and slid 15 feet through a huge mud puddle near midfield. With the victory, the Jumbos improved to 13-3-1 on the season. "We're a pretty good team in the rain," coach Martha Whiting said. "We used our heads today, keeping the ball on the ground, getting behind every ball and every shot. We definitely played a lot better in the first half, but we came away with the win, which is all that matters." The Jumbos out-shot the Bison 36-5 in the contest. McCourt needed to make only three saves in the game, all in the second half to record her seventh shutout of the season. Baldwin led Tufts with six shots, and Garmirian tallied five in the game. "The weather was a huge equalizer," senior co-captain Alle Sharlip said. But Sharlip was not entirely satisfied with the game. The Bison "acted like they were in seventh grade. They didn't care about being here at all, it was pathetic... I just wish [the win] hadn't been against Nichols in these gross conditions." With the win, the Jumbos advanced to the second round of the NCAA Div III tournament and will travel to Wheaton College in Norton, MA this weekend to face the Keene State Owls. The Owls, who are ranked second in New England, one ahead of the Jumbos, were in attendance for the game because they were awarded a first round bye. Most of the players know next to nothing about Keene State, but the team received help from an unexpected source. "The Williams coach is going to give us video on their game against Keene State," Glassanos said. "But ultimately, we can't control them, we can only control ourselves, and how we play."

The Setonian
News

Williams wraps up NESCAC season in fine fashion

November 13

The wicked witch is dead. Though Williams College has been dominating the NESCAC all season, this week's final round of competition, showed that only a few schools had enough tricks up their sleeves to topple the Ephs in a sport this week. The Williams football team's hopes for a perfect season fell one game short as the Ephs were outscored 43-35 by arch-rival Amherst. This week in the NESCAC, the Lord Jeffs sprinted to victory on the heels their star wideout J.P. Zito , who had 179 yards receiving. Exactly 102 of his 179 yards receiving were the results of 33 and 69-yard touchdown strikes. Amherst's win helped Trinity, which also finished the year 7-1 after the Bantams defeated Wesleyan 26-10. The Lord Jeffs finished a solid 6-2 _ one game short of first place in the conference. Hamilton finished the season without a single victory, going 0-8. An exciting week in men's soccer ended with the Williams Ephs winning the NESCAC crown where at least in this sport they could give Amherst a beating. The Ephs crushed Amherst on Sunday with a score of 3-0. Amherst squeaked out a pair of 2-1 victories over Tufts in the quarterfinals and Bowdoin in the semifinals to earn the right to play against Williams in the championship game. The victory over Bowdoin gave Amherst an at large bid to the NCAA Div. III national championship tournament. Bowdoin's Chris Kane earned NESCAC player of the week honors by scoring the game-winning goal in the team's victory over Bowdoin. The Tufts women's soccer team has stampeded over their competition on its way to a dominant 6-2 record in the NESCAC and a 12-3 record overall. The Jumbos easily defeated nemesis Williams College 3-0 to earn the NCAA bid. After today's 4-0 victory over Nichols State, the Jumbos will travel to Wheaton College to play Keane State on Saturday. Tufts boasts the player of the week in sophomore forward Jen Baldwin, who scored three goals in the two NESCAC tournament games over the weekend against Connecticut College and Williams. A score of 3-0 appears to be the most common in the NESCAC this week, as in volleyball action, Williams claimed the NESCAC title with a clean 3-0 sweep of Amherst. The Ephs also had a 3-0 thrashing of Trinity and a 3-2 scare against Bates before they defeated Amherst. Sophomore Robin Young paced Williams with 38 kills, 46 digs, and nine aces. Young's effort capped off an impressive season in which she recorded 400 kills and 500 digs. Tori Scott almost single-handedly propelled Williams to the field hockey title, as she scored the overtime winner in the semifinal match vs. Middlebury, and then scored both Ephs goals in the championship game victory over Bowdoin. If Scott was the Ephs' offense, then Wendy Stone was the Ephs' defense, compiling 23 saves in the tournament, a new NESCAC championship record. Stone also tied single game records with 11 saves in each of the Ephs games with Middlebury and Bowdoin.

The Setonian
News

Cambridge Common: a bit more than common

November 13

Cambridge Common may have a simple name and d?©cor, but in this case, simplicity equals charm. The bar is a respite from the dance club booty bars of downtown Boston and the image-conscious yuppie venues of Harvard Square. Dim lighting, wood paneling, and a spacious layout give Cambridge Common a more laid-back, honest feel. Going there requires an extra effort, because the bar lies in the no-man's land between Harvard and Porter Square. This creates a crowd of people who are not looking for a night of wild club hopping, but more for a place to hang out and chill. You won't see many people sitting around drinking cosmopolitans here _ sorry Sex and the City fans, take your business elsewhere. With 24 brews on tap, there is little reason to order anything other than beer here. Most of the offerings were American, with a heavy concentration on local brews, like Harpoon, Old Shipyard, Magic Hat, and Otter Creek. Cambridge Common goes beyond serving the typical signature beer from each place and features more obscure recipes _ for example, Magic Hat's Humble Patience. One lush was made happy by the offering of Cambridge Brewing Company pumpkin ale. The other lush is still wondering what Lush 1's obsession with pumpkin beer is all about. One thing that makes Cambridge Common distinctive is that it combines great beer and a chill atmosphere with above-par pub food. The menu has your typical nachos, wings, burgers, and pub food, but there are more elegant offerings like fish dishes, fancy pasta, and intriguing sandwiches. (We were going to insert a nacho cheese dispenser joke here, but we thought you might be sick of them by now.) The sweet potato fries are purported to be among the best in New England, according to the reviews we read online while trying to find inspiration for this article. Overall, prices were reasonable for the Harvard Square area and reflected the high quality of the food. The main floor of Cambridge Common is not loud, and the television screens are more prominent than the music. It's a great place to bring a date because you'll actually be able to hear each other speak, but you would also have fun meeting up with a large group at the bar. If you're looking for live music, head downstairs to the Lizard Lounge, which is actually for humans, not lizards. It's a bit more rowdy, but still forgoes the disco bar and strobe lights. Local bands are featured almost nightly, and the occasional comedy shows still do not feature lizards. "The stage is at floor-level, so you feel like you're part of the show," says Citysearch.com. "Harrowing, exhilarating, and intriguing," say the lushes. "Why are we spending $36,000 a year so they can write these things?" say our parents. If you want a meal and beer, Cambridge Common is a better alternative than the Joshua Tree in Davis Square or John Harvard's Brew House in Harvard Square, where you might have to line up outside to be seated on a weekend night. The atmosphere is a little more quiet than at these other bars, but fun nonetheless. We give it two beer glasses up _ fun for the whole family, even the pet lizard. All in all, a better commons than the one in the campus center. If you have a nacho cheese joke that you would like to see printed in next week's Traveling Lush, e-mail it to editor@tuftsdaily.com.

The Setonian
News

Harry Potter 2: Longer, scarier, and even more fun

November 13

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is a babysitter's dream and a parent's nightmare. The movie packs enough magical action and plot to keep even the antsiest child still for two and a half hours, but it just might cause children (and the occasional college student) to wake up screaming at night. The second Harry Potter film is more plot-oriented than the first, which focused mainly on special effects and creating a fantasy atmosphere. The Chamber of Secrets also has more suspense, darker cinematography, and more monsters jumping out from under the bed _ or toilet. Though the child actors Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Rupert Grint (Ron), and Emma Watson (Hermione) are adorable, the show is stolen by Kenneth Branagh as Gilderoy Lockhart, the Defense from the Dark Arts teacher. The character is gleefully vain _ sort of the Fabio of the Dark Arts world _ and Branagh delivers a hilariously delicious performance. The story begins in a tense state, as a house elf named Dobby visits Harry at his "muggle" aunt and uncle's house and warns him that "most terrible things will happen" if he returns to school. These warnings prove true soon enough, when Harry and his friend Ron can't pass through the wall to platform nine and a half to take the train back to school and are forced to drive there in a bipolar flying Ford Anglia that nearly kills them several times. Within their first few weeks at Hogwarts, Harry, Ron, and another friend, Hermione, stumble upon a dangerous mystery. An heir to the founder of Slytherin has opened the Chamber of Secrets and let lose a monster that is petrifying students _ literally. When Harry is accused of being the culprit, he defies school rules to uncover the truth. Much of the plot is advanced through visual effects and actions, which makes it easier for children to follow. But there are more than enough creative nuances and jokes to keep adults entertained for the full two hours and forty minutes. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets quite cleverly incorporates moral themes that appeal to all ages but are not force-fed. It stresses that intelligence wins, and Harry's loyalty to his friends is what enables him to survive dangerous encounters. The movie also teaches children to push the limits and think outside the box, but stresses that there are always consequences for breaking the rules. One of the most apparent themes is the importance of accepting differences in others. The monster in the Chamber of Secrets was created by a founder of the Hogwarts School who did not want children from muggle (meaning non-wizard) parents to attend, and when unleashed it attacks such students. Draco Malfoy, Harry's peer nemesis, insults Hermione by calling her a "mud-blood" and frequently belittles Ron for coming from a poor family. In Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, the bad guys are clearly bad because they alienate others based on the classes to which they belong. These themes, though corny, are subtly entwined in the resolution of the plot, resulting in a heartwarming and triumphant ending. There is something for everyone in the storyline, whether you like action, suspense, special effects, humor, or feel-good family themes. The only thing missing is the element of romance, and frankly, it is quite refreshing to see a film where the screenwriters didn't force a romance in there just to have one, a la Disney. Romance between ten-year-olds is also a little risqu?© to say the least. On a side note, one of the previews before Harry Potter was for a movie about a kangaroo who steals a sweatshirt with money that was supposed to be delivered to somewhere in Sydney, runs away, and raps with an Australian accent. This movie makes it apparent that there is way too much money just floating around to be spent on movies in this country. It is recommended that you not only miss this flick in the theaters, but also that you close your eyes during the preview. But back to Harry Potter: though the writers of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets did lose some of the book's richness in the transfer to the movie screen, the film sticks fairly faithfully to the original plot and will bring the story to life for anyone who has read it. If you are not familiar with Harry Potter, however, you may want to do some legwork before you stand in line with a bunch of screaming preteens to buy tickets this weekend. Otherwise, you may have difficulty keeping up with the magical accessories that adorn the world of witchcraft and wizardry. Harry Potter, like The Lord of the Rings, is an exclusive club that everyone has to join to understand. Most of us, however, are already card-carrying members.

The Setonian
News

We've got them right where we want them

November 13

Flashback. March 4, 1933. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin Delano Roosevelt gives his first inaugural address. It is a bright day in the history of the Democratic Party. A leader is emerging from the midst of the Great Depression. He will capture the hope and imagination of the American people and, for the next decade, his unapologetic liberalism will be the guiding force in American history. The economy will be restored. The war will be won. Roosevelt will be elected President twice as many times as anyone in American history. Fast-forward. November 6th, 2002. Democrats all around the United States wake up find out Republicans have wrested an astounding victory from the grip of what summer analyses called certain defeat. It is a shameful day in the history of the Democratic Party. And it is all because they forgot the most memorable message of their greatest leader. They let fear distract them from their fundamental principles and lead them into the deadly quagmire of polling analysis. They bungled circumstances that should have led to a majestic takeover of Congress and instead walked away dejected and embarrassed. They should be. Flashback. 1933. A flurry of legislation initiated by FDR is passed by a democratic Congress. New innovations include a minimum wage, the Securities Exchange Commission, and Social Security. Conservatives and big business leaders fight back ferociously, but their efforts to erode Roosevelt's popularity are almost entirely unsuccessful. Fast Forward. 2002. Because of their lack of unity, Democrats loose control of all three branches of the federal government, allowing one of the most right-wing administrations in US history to have unchecked control. Their failure will result in conservative legislation, foreign policy decisions, and judicial nominations, the effects of which will impact the country for years to come. How did the Democrats possibly lose? They were up against a party represented by a president that gave the positions of Secretary of the Army, Federal Trade Representative, and Chief Economic Advisor to high-ranking employees at Enron _ the company whose financial misdeeds cost thousands of ordinary people, like my mother, part or all of their retirement savings. They were fighting a president who removed controls on arsenic levels in drinking water. A president who admitted global warming is a serious problem, but refused to participate in the Kyoto Protocol to reduce it. A president who perpetrated one of the largest civil rights abuses in recent history by holding thousands of people captive without charging them with a crime in the name of a "war" on terrorism. A president who still favors privatizing Social Security even as the stock market plummets 30 percent. A president who was elected by less than half of the people who voted. A president who has been arrested for driving drunk. A president who although he is a Yale graduate, has said things like, "It's clearly a budget. It's got a lot of numbers in it." (Reuters, May 5, 2000.) Oh please, God, make it stop! How did the Democrats lose?! They had only 13 senators up for reelection compared to the Republicans' 20. The election took place as the horrific actions of the snipers underscored the need for gun control. The election took place as Bush tried to force his invasion of Iraq on both his own country and the world as a whole. It is a policy that only 49 percent of Americans indicate they will support in the face of significant casualties. It is a policy that has been met by every nation other than our lapdog Britain with varying degrees of fear and trepidation. So how did the Democrats lose? The answer is simple. They lost because they sat in dark rooms pouring over poll results. They refused to confront a popular president and offer their own alternatives, and thus the alternatives were lost. They did not address the traditional issues on which they hold the moral high ground and thus the moral high ground was lost. Don't believe me? It's a trend that has existed for years. Consider the good old days of Clinton/Gore. They were the first administration since that of Lyndon Johnson to not require high fuel efficiency standards from auto makers. They opened up large portions of Alaska for oil drilling. (That's right. Bush just wants to drill in the Wildlife Refuge.) The Kyoto protocol I mentioned earlier? It's ability to control global warming in the first place is questionable at best. How about the arsenic? Clinton's effort at reduction was passed in the last few hours of his term and wouldn't take effect until 2004. Did he not have time in the first eight years? Minimum wage was about half of what it was in 1967, adjusted for inflation. Al Gore, the man who would be a populist, cast a vote to confirm Clarence Thomas as Supreme Court justice, helping Thomas secure his seat even in the face of a Democratically controlled Congress. How about current Congressional Democrats? For the most part, they are just as miserable. Nearly half of them voted to support Bush's invasion of Iraq, even as the public indicated it was unconvinced. Embarrassments like Torricelli and Traficant caught the public's attention. Numerous senators such as Joe Lieberman, the man that used to be called the "Conscience of the Senate" accepted huge donations from Enron and the like. Massachusetts' very own John Kerry, one of the most liberal members, voted for Bush's war. When was the last time you heard universal health care discussed? How about a repeal of the suffocating the Taft-Hartley Law, which seriously interferes with the ability of labor to organize? A moratorium on the death penalty? A control on genetic manipulation of food? Funding for renewable energy sources so we don't have to rely on OPEC? Give me something! Anything! Many of the great reforms of the past century, from workplace safety and civil rights to Medicare and women's equality, were initiated by self-described liberals. It is not something to hide. It is not something to apologize for. Robert Reich, Clinton's Secretary of Labor and a professor at Brandeis University, indicated that the recent Republican victory will guarantee Bush's removal in 2004. It is a hilarious notion. I can just picture Dick Gephardt and Tom Daschle snickering as Tuesday's election results came in. "You see? They fell for it! We've got them right where we want them." No, you don't go about winning an election by losing one. If the Democrats hope to evict Bush in two years they must select an unapologetically liberal candidate and become, once again, the party of the common man and woman. They must take a cue from good ol' FDR and realize that, truthfully, there is nothing to fear but fear itself. Timothy J. Ryan is a freshman who has yet to declare a major.

The Setonian
News

Living in a cellular world

November 13

Three months ago, I caved in and bought something I used to openly ridicule and abhor and now regret having: a cell phone. I first became acquainted with cell phone culture while studying abroad in Europe, where it's more likely to see an eight-year-old kid talking on a cell phone than riding a bike. Last December, before I left for Europe, about half of my friends had cells. To my astonishment, when I returned to the states a short seven months later, virtually everybody I knew had cell phones. It was impossible to walk down the street without seeing at least a dozen people, be they grandparents, infants, or Luddites, talking on cell phones. I even saw David West, the kid from my high school who grew up without a TV in his house, mindlessly chattering away. He was always a little different, and at first I thought he was talking to himself. Only later did I realize that he was speaking into a headset dangling from his ear. Not wanting to be left out and unable to resist free long distance and free nights (after 9:00 p.m.) and weekends, I called Zerivon (Note: the name of the company has been changed to protect its identity) and caught the caboose of the cell phone bandwagon. I finally got a real person, or at least a phone operator, on the line after spending 17 minutes weaving my way through an "easier to use" and "newly updated" automated answering service. "Hello, thank you for calling Zerivon. My name is Joey McIntyre, how may I help you today?" "What did you say your name was?" I asked, my eyebrows slanted downward towards my nose and an inquisitive upon my face. "No, sir, I was not in New Kids on the Block," he sighed. "And, yes, my name really is Joey McIntyre." "Oh, no," I quickly replied. "That's not what I was implying at all. It's just that...yeah. Anyway, I was hoping to find out more about your phones." "Ok, sir, do you know what model you're interested in?" "Yes, I was looking at the Zerivon LG510, but I'm not sure if it has, hmm, how should I put this... the right stuff? I just don't know if I'd be happy with the LG510. Maybe I should slow down and take things step-by-step." "Haha, very funny, sir. That's the first time I've ever heard that one," he sarcastically retorted. At that point, he did the unthinkable; the cruelest thing a telephone operator can do to another person: he put me back on hold. Having no interest in spending the remainder of the day listening to lounge music, I hung up. Before calling back, I did some in-depth research on all of Zerivon's different phones. The variety available was impressive to say the least. They had everything from the quarter-sized Derek Zoolander phone to the combat boot-sized Zack Morris phone. In the end, I decided to stick with my first instinct and get the LG510, a basic flip phone. I called the next day, successfully avoiding my favorite NKOTB operator, and had little trouble ordering my phone. I had originally seen the phone advertised on-line for $149.99 with a $50 mail-in-rebate. But when I received my phone, the bill was substantially higher than $99.99. I called Zerivon to inquire about the charges. They informed me for the first time about an extra $30 charge for only getting a one-year plan, a $30 activation fee, and an obscenely large amount of local, county, state, regional, federal, continental, intercontinental, and intergalactic taxes. After all of the add-ons, the price had shot up to over $200. Just before he hung up, the customer service representative also told me never to call back complaining about my bill. "Zerivon is always right. No matter how much information we withhold from you, you're contract still obligates you to pay us! Hahaha!" he demonically chuckled as he slammed down the receiver. I had just learned lesson number one of cell phone culture: from the get-go, accept that you're going to get screwed by your service provider. The sooner you can internalize this, the happier and less high-strung you'll be. I was also forced to learn lesson two of cell phone culture _ don't forget to turn your ringer off _ the hard way. During the first week of classes I walked into Cohen Auditorium at 9:30 in the morning to find out that class had begun five minutes ago. Unable to comprehend why class would begin at 9:25 instead of 9:30, I tried to discreetly grab a seat in the back. No luck. The entire back row was already filled with snoring, mouth wide-open students, drooling all over their neighbors. In fact, almost every seat in the whole auditorium was taken. So, I put my head down and tried to discreetly sneak down to an empty seat in the front row. Luckily, the professor was glued to the board, writing away, and had not noticed me. But, just as I was about to sit down, it happened. My cell phone, once quietly concealed in my pocket, began screeching louder than a dorm fire alarm. As I fumbled around trying to put an end to the piercing noise, I noticed that absolutely everybody was looking at me. I was conspicuous because of my late arrival and also because of my distinctive ring, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles theme song. From what I could tell, only one other kid in the class had the same ring, and he had violently jerked out of his stupor and had began to scavenge through his bag. These two unpleasant cell phone experiences are just the tip of the iceberg. I could go on for hours about the ills of owning a cell phone. The $40-$50 a month bill, unreliable reception, roaming fees, and high-intensity radiation are a few more of the major qualms I have with cells. When my contract expires next August, I doubt that I will renew it. I would like to invite all cell phone advocates and enthusiasts to change my mind and convince me otherwise. You can do so by giving me a call on my phone: just make sure it's after 9:00 p.m.

The Setonian
News

The best plutocracy money can buy

November 13

The results of last Tuesday's election were incredibly disappointing, but not very surprising. The party of the rulers won. Last Tuesday was a victory for the rich and powerful in America. President Bush now has the means to enact a legislative agenda that is even more destructive to the majority of people in this country than the one already passed with the help of the cowardly Democrats. President Bush and his cadre of top officials have made it quite clear whom they represent. Tax cuts that benefit the wealthy and powerful corporations are in place. These tax cuts ruin the economic prospects of the less fortunate, but ensure the wealthy have even more money than before. The environment is sacrificed to provide bigger profits for notorious polluters. The Pentagon system is gorging itself on the swiftly falling budget revenues and the idea of social spending is laughed at on Capital Hill. As terrifying a place as this country has become since Sept 11, the possibilities now presenting themselves are even worse. It seems incredible that voters have handed more power to the Republican Party after the disaster that the last two years have been. The economy is in a nosedive with prospects for the future looking grim. Every day the numbers of unemployed people and people living in poverty grows. Practically nothing has been done about the spectacular corruption and incompetence of corporate America and the same companies that bankroll our elections still have just as much influence over our leaders. As spineless and as dithering as the Democrats are, I find it hard to believe that many of the people who vote for Republicans actually believe that putting right-wing Christian fundamentalist war mongers in power will actually improve life in this country. However, looking at it rationally, this again is not surprising. Not surprising when the mass media in this country is all too happy to obfuscate and censor itself to serve the interests of the government. And not surprising when the official party line is the one we hear in our supposedly independent media. Moreover, the same corporations that bring us our news and shape our political views are very active in financially supporting the party of business. The President now has the power to make war on any country for any pretext. His definition of a threat to National Security is all that is needed to destroy another country. International law and self-restraint are dead concepts. The only important thing is raw power. American military might, always a tool for resource grabbing, can now be openly used to further the interests of the business class. The coming war on Iraq is fundamentally about oil and American control of the Middle East. If America takes over Iraq, we can shut out any rival contenders for its oil riches. Tens of thousands of people may die so that Exxon-Mobil and Halliburton can line their pockets. The notion that America will "liberate" Iraq and install a democracy is a sick joke. People in a democracy usually want control over their own lives. In a country with as much oil as Iraq, that is simply unacceptable. This is not unexpected if one pays attention to the people that placed George Bush and the Republican Party in power. The oil industry is a major player in Washington. It helps set energy and environmental policy, fuel-economy regulations and many high level officials in the White House have direct links to Big Oil. Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, and National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice are all former oil industry employees. This government is in power to enrich the business classes. Is it a coincidence that every corrupt, brutal dictator America supports is either in a resource-rich country or in a position to threaten such a country? We don't have military bases in Central Asia and Afghanistan to root out terrorists. The Afghan campaign was an abysmal failure on those terms: none of the high ranking Al-Qaeda or Taliban figures that America set out to capture or kill were found. However, it was a spectacular success in ensuring that America controls the next big source of oil, the Caspian Sea. There are US troops in every country in Central Asia and now that we have a "stable" government in Afghanistan a deal is being struck with Unocal to bring an oil pipeline through that country. The War on Terror is a naked power grab for the business class and their servants in Washington. Our government loves to tell us that it is fighting for our protection. However, a look behind the lies and distortions reveals its real agenda and where the biggest threat to our peace and security lies. Adrian Clarke is a majoring in English and Art History.

The Setonian
News

Yale, Stanford alter Early Decision policies

November 13

In separate announcements last week, Yale and Stanford said they would switch from binding Early Decision polities to non-binding Early Action policies. The decisions surprised the academic world and have renewed the long-standing debate over early admission programs. "Early decision programs help colleges more than applicants," Yale University President Richard Levin said in a press release. "It is our hope to take pressure off students in the early cycle and restore a measure of reasoned choice to college admissions. Our new early action program will allow students who are very confident of their preference to receive early word from Yale while still allowing ample time for further investigation and the thoughtful weighing of options." Stanford's new policy intends to relieve pressure from high school students, who increasingly feel they must choose their first-choice school during their junior year. Both schools have adopted programs that allow students to only apply to one school early, but allow applicants to make their final choice in May after they may have been admitted to other schools through the regular admissions cycle. However, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) ruled that students could apply to more than one Early Action program over two years ago. This past summer, the NACAC said that students could apply to an Early Decision program and an Early Action programs at the same time. While Yale and Stanford ask their applicants to only apply to their Early Action programs, Princeton and Brown say their Early Decision applicants cannot apply to any other Early Action programs. Stanford came to its decision after students, parents and guidance counselors complained about the pressures "students were experiencing in making the commitment to enroll in a school by the beginning of their senior year," Stanford admissions officer Marcella Mu?±iz said. They wanted to keep a way for students to express their interest in Stanford, while decreasing the pressure of making their final college choice in the fall of their junior year. But Mu?±iz doesn't think that the switch from Early Decision to Early Action is a national trend. "Each school will have to consider its applicant pool and the institution that they are serving to consider whether or not [a switch] is such a choice is good for them," she said. "There is a lot of discussion about Early Decision and early admission programs in general and each school is going to have to make their own decision on their admissions program." Yale and Stanford now join Harvard, MIT, Georgetown, the University of Chicago and Notre Dame in offering an Early Action programs. Harvard President Lawrence Summers applauded Yale and Stanford's decisions. He called the decision "good news for college-bound seniors and makes the college process less pressured, more open and fairer for students." In a Monday editorial, TheNew York Times praised Yale and Stanford's switch, but called for an end to early admissions altogether. While Early Action relieves the pressure of choosing one school, the editorial said, students still worry about college admission early in their senior year, or earlier. If students learn of their admission early in the year, they often treat the rest of their senior year as a "joke." "The nation's secondary schools need to devise programs to make the last semester [of high school] meaningful. But in the long run, it might be healthier for everyone if there were no early applications at all," the editorial said. Tufts uses binding Early Decision, in two separate rounds, to let students know of their admission or rejection before the usual April date. Early Decision is intended to reward high-achieving students with admission to their first-choice college early in the year. Universities also know they are admitting a student who is guaranteed to matriculate. Despite Yale and Stanford's announcements, Dean of Admissions David Cuttino doesn't see Tufts ending its Early Decision program. "[Early Decision] has been a part of the University for... 30 or 40 years at least," he said. Under Early Decision's second round, students apply by the Regular Decision January due date, but indicate that Tufts is their first choice. They receive their decisions before the regular April date, and are required to attend Tufts if they are accepted. Ann Wright, Vice-President of Enrollment Services at Rice University, said Early Decision's popularity picked up after the U.S. News & World Report began releasing its College Rankings. Before then, Early Decision was used by a small minority of students who were absolutely sure of their first choice school. Since the U.S. News rankings account for schools' yields _ the number of students admitted who actually attend _ colleges have stressed the advantages of Early Decision, she said. "I think it's gotten too big," Wright said. She said Princeton's adoption of an Early Decision program encouraged the rest of the Ivies to follow, which brought more publicity to Early Decision. She said early programs encourage students to choose their first-choice school in their junior year _ when their choices may change dramatically from week to week. Tufts currently admits about 40 percent of incoming students through Early Decision. As the average class size is 1,200, this leaves about 720 spots open for over 12,000 regular decision applicants. Cuttino said that Tufts uses Early Decision as an "option for those students who have clearly done their research and have gotten to the point to say, 'This is where I want to be.'" Many students use Early Decision as an admissions strategy, thinking it improves their chances of getting admitted to their first-choice school "We worry about students who tell us they're applying Early Decision but they don't know where yet," Cuttino said. He said he was concerned "about students who are doing it for the wrong reasons _ regular decision is where they should be; that's where the majority of the decisions are made." Even though 40 percent of a class is admitted early, only 15 percent of the University's offers of admission are made early. More students are offered admission in the spring because they are not guaranteed to attend, as in early decision. Cuttino said that on average, students choose between four schools. Admissions must accept enough students to yield the target class size in the fall. He said that while Tufts has received a larger number of early applications in recent years, the admissions department is "still focusing on [making] a good match." He pointed out that every school has their own motives for offering Early Decision, Early Action, or no early program at all. Some are deterred from applying Early Decision, because they cannot compare financial aid packages. Those who cannot afford the price of a college education without help fear that if they apply Early Decision, they will be stuck with a financial aid package that does not match their needs. Most schools, however, will allow students out of the Early Decision contract if the financial aid package does not meet their needs, Cuttino said. Rice offers two early admission options _ the traditional Early Decision and Interim Decision, which works like Early Action. Wright said Rice chose this option because a large number of their Early Decision applicants come from within Texas, but the non-binding Interim Decision program encourages students from other areas of the country to apply and increases the geographic diversity of the admitted class. Wright said that the different options allowed "work to be spread out pretty evenly," for the admissions officers. Rice admits about 20 percent of its class under Early Decision, and the rest is "pretty evenly split" between Interim and Regular Decision. Countering the recent trend towards more flexible early admissions programs, Brown University switched from Early Action to Early Decision last year. According to Brown's website, early applications doubled after the NACAC allowed students to apply to more than one Early Action program. "No longer was Early Action at Brown a policy that matched the right student with the right college; the revised Early Action policy became an early testing of the waters." While the resources of Brown's admissions department remained the same, the switch to Early Decision allowed them to cut down on the workload. Early applications dropped from 5,521 under Early Action to 1,919 in Early Decision's first year.

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Former men's basketball players voice concerns

November 13

Junior Phil Barlow and senior Kyle Van Natta's recent retirement from the men's basketball team recently raises questions as to why two impact players, who started most of their collegiate games, would quit a sport they claim they love. Barlow and Van Natta do not only love the sport of basketball _ they excel at it. Barlow was named NESCAC Rookie of the Year two seasons ago after averaging 11 points a game, shooting 43.8 percent from three-point range, while Van Natta started 20 of 25 games last season, scoring 4.6 points a game. So why would two successful players quit a team of which they were an integral component? "It wasn't fun anymore," Barlow said. "We should have been a lot better than we were last year. We had a ton of talent on the team. We have had the last three rookies of the year and to be a game under .500 is a little frustrating and demoralizing as players." Because Barlow broke his foot during the summer between his freshman and sophomore year, he was only able to play the first ten games of last season. During that time, he struggled through the pain of a broken bone that was not healing correctly, but still managed to score 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds a contest. "My Tufts experience wasn't great for basketball," Barlow said. "I played organized basketball in high school and loved it. I wouldn't say organized basketball is not for me, just basketball at Tufts didn't work out." In the weeks leading up to this season's opening practices, Barlow decided to throw in the towel. Although Van Natta has started most games since his sophomore year, he lost his passion for basketball while playing for Tufts. Part of the reason for this is that he was used to playing shooting guard or small forward, but was pushed to power forward, a position he rarely played in high school. "Playing time also came into effect," Van Natta said. "It is a huge time commitment and the amount of fun I was getting out of it wasn't worth the time. I wanted to do other stuff with my senior year. I had pretty good reasons for not wanting to play. (Sheldon) accepted and understood my reasons." Though Barlow and Van Natta both listed concerns about the team among the reasons they quit, Coach Bob Sheldon says that their unhappiness is part of the nature of the game. "College basketball is not for everybody," men's basketball coach Bob Sheldon said. "It's a big commitment of two to three hours a day. It becomes not fun because there is so much involved other than just playing the games." Even though Barlow and Van Natta started to dislike their college basketball experience, Sheldon believes it is not a team wide feeling. "I think college basketball is fun for the guys who are playing," Sheldon said. "Some guys have fun working out, and being part of a team is fun. Some guys want to be intramural All-Stars." The lack of fun within Tufts basketball was only part of the reason Barlow and Van Natta quit. They have been frustrated with constant changes in the team's strategy, caused by the fact that the team has had three different assistant coaches in three years, the last of whom attempted to put in a new offensive system similar to that of Princeton University. The change in offense was difficult to adjust to because the team only has two weeks of practice before its first game, Barlow said. Sheldon disagreed with Barlow, arguing that the new offense was implemented to adjust to a young frontcourt and to add focus to the team's perimeter game. "The new coach and new system had nothing to do with it," Sheldon said. "Part of (last season's) offense was based on Phil being there. We should have been smarter because we counted on him being there for the whole year, and he never made it a full year." For Van Natta, the issue of the team's adjustments translating to losses combined with the fact that he was not having fun anymore was a difficult pill to swallow. "You really try to win especially, at the Div. III level," Van Natta said. "If it's not fun, there are other things you can do with your time." Though the decisions to quit by Van Natta and Barlow were personal, several other basketball players have become disillusioned by the team in recent years. Junior Troy Palmer was recruited to come to Tufts and play basketball. In his freshman season, he played on the now extinct junior varsity team, where he dazzled crowds with thunderous dunks. Palmer never realized his full potential, as he quit the squad midway through last season after appearing in only a handful of games. "Basketball at Tufts is nothing more than glorified high school basketball," Palmer said. "Besides the politics, which can be expected, the attitude taken to the floor by the coaching staff wasn't genuine." Palmer also expressed the same concerns Barlow and Van Natta had with last season's new offense. "The head coach came into the season with a new attitude of run and gun, fun basketball," Palmer said. "But then totally abandoned it when he didn't quite understand what to do." Palmer was passionate about his reasons for quitting, which may have been the reason he chose to do so in the middle of last season, instead of waiting until the off-season like the others players. "The nature of Tufts basketball could've been expected. I just thought if I looked past it, the season would be worthwhile; it just didn't turn out that way," he said. "The coaches did contribute to the reason I quit, but in no way were they 100 percent responsible." Other players were unhappy because they felt their roles were not well defined, Barlow said. The issue of playing time on the college level is a difficult one for many college coaches since most players who make up the roster were stars in high school. "We have role meetings," Sheldon said. "We try to put team first. The coaches don't always agree with individuals, but we all have to be part of a team." But former player Lee Neugebauer disagreed, saying that players sometimes do not know their role on the team. "The last part of the season wasn't fun for me because my time was inconsistent," Neugebauer said. "Every game I prepared myself to play, but the games I didn't play was a let-down." Because of the erratic nature of his playing time, Neugebauer quit the team this year. "As you get older there are more thing that interest you," he said. "Basketball is too much time." The departures of Barlow and Van Natta will not only affect the basketball team's performance this year, they will affect its sense of unity. "They were players on the team everybody liked," junior Deyvehn East said. "It affects team chemistry; we all got along well. It's a little different not seeing familiar faces out there. But we got a good young group of guys that should have some impact this year."

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Let's make the players pay

November 13

Have you guys heard about this story? A pro soccer team in the Czech Republic has stunk up its season so royally that team officials made the players pay for fans' tickets to the game last Saturday. Team Sigma Olomouc (don't ask me how to pronounce that) was so embarrassed by its 2-5-5 start that officials decided they needed to punish the players for not performing. And what better way to do it than to make then foot the bill for their fans? According to an AP report, everyone got a free ticket into the stadium, which can hold up to 12,119 people. Tickets go for about $1.70 apiece, so a sellout crowd would cost the players a combined $20,000, give or take. For a professional athlete here in the good ol' US of A, $20,000 is chump change. They buy jewelry that costs more than that. Hell, they could buy toilet paper that cost more than that if they wanted to. But over there the Czech Republic, where men are men and a cheeseburger's a cheeseburger, pro soccer players make an average yearly salary of about $5,900. $5,900!! That's .0002 percent of what A-Rod made this year. You can't even buy a car for that much money. You can barely even buy tires for that much money! If you figure that there are maybe 20 players on this Czech team; that means that each one will have to pay around $1,000. That's 16 percent of their yearly salary. That's a HUGE chunk of your pay to give up just because you've been playing lousy. In the AP report, club chairman Jiri Kubicek said "We were wondering how best to punish players who are paid royally but play lousily." Royally? Now, I don't really know too much about what goes on over in the Czech Republic, and I don't know how much $5,900 is over there. But something tells me that $5,900 there is nowhere near what $5,000,000 is in the United States. Call me crazy. And these players who are getting paid "royally" aren't even complaining! Is this some kind of twilight zone? After officials announced the punishment, the team captain said "None of us even thought about grumbling. We hope the stadium will be packed. We want the fans back on our side." Ahhh. Isn't that music to your ears? We want the fans to be happy. We appreciate you, fans. Thank you for still supporting us even though we suck. This story makes me downright giddy. Why can't we see more of this type of action in sports? Am I the only one who thinks that this is an absolutely fabulous idea? I think we should institute some sort of policy like this in the United States. I don't think that athletes should get their full salary if they're not playing up to snuff. Sure, to them this idea will look about as attractive as back hair, but who cares what they think? I'll be damned if I have to sit through another crappy game that I paid 20 bucks to get into. Enough is enough! And we don't have to impose this penalty in exactly the same that they do over in the Czech Republic. We're Americans. We should think of our own way to do it. The way I'm thinking, it will be different for every sport. Every time the Red Sox bullpen blows a lead in the ninth inning I want a free hot dog, or something like that. Or if you wanted to get even more ambitious, every year from now until the Red Sox win a World Series, the players should have to pay for everyone to get drunk enough to ease the pain. I'm really not asking much. And all of those NBA games where the teams combine for 44 points total? They can be a thing of the past. We could make a rule that whenever your team doesn't make it to at least 85 points they have to buy everyone cheesy bread. (Don't you love cheesy bread?) This would be a revolutionary movement. No more slow moving, crappy basketball games with 900 missed shots. Players might actually try to score points. Can you imagine? Sure it might suck if you sit through a whole game and your team ends up scoring 86, but life's a gamble. And you can probably make it that one night without the cheesy bread anyway. In the NFL we'll just have the Bengals pay everyone ten bucks at the start of the season. No reason to wait around for the misery to start. Might as well just get it over with as soon as possible. And in certain years we can have other really bad teams buy us bobble head dolls too. Like this year the Vikings would have to throw in for that. And maybe the Bears too _ just for kicks. Am I delusional? Certainly. Is this really a good idea? Without a doubt. Did anybody actually read this far? Absolutely not. But if we all work together I really think that we can pull this off. The Czechs have already taken the first step, and it's just up to us to make the next move. Join with me, reader! Together, we can take back sports.

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University reforming student advocate system

November 13

After forceful criticism from former Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) Chair Michael Ferenczy last year, the TCUJ and Dean of Students Office are collaborating to reform the student judicial advocacy process through a new initiative. A new advocate system, which has been in the works since last year, is beginning to fall into place and advocates will be available for contact sometime after Thanksgiving break. Through the proposed new advocacy system, students would be provided with a list of advocates comprised of students, staff, and faculty familiar with the process. Effectively, the advocates would "allow students to better navigate the disciplinary system" in what may be a time of crisis for them, said TCUJ Vice President Kenny Bain. But Dean of Students Bruce Reitman disagreed with the assessment. While the system's "marketing and packaging" may now appear different, the system itself is quite similar, he argued. With over 100 complaints filed each year, the current system is "an effort to help students through the very confusing and hectic process," Bain said. When students wanted to file or receive a complaint in the past, they first met with Dean of Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter to discuss their options _ to either do nothing, to attempt mediation, or to go through the complex student judicial process outlined in the Green Book, a description of the University's student judicial process. According to Abby Moffat, head of the advocacy system initiative and a member of the TCUJ, this first meeting is often quite overwhelming for students. "[Students] don't know Veronica [Carter] or the process," she said. "They get really intimidated, don't speak up for themselves, don't know that they can, and don't know the Green Book." These limitations can cause serious problems for students. "Kids who get in trouble are often completely incapable of holding a conversation with Veronica [Carter] _ a conversation that could have life-changing consequences," Moffat said. Moffat said that this "dialogue between students going through the disciplinary process and those who understand the process is vital" to ensure justice. A comprehensive list of advocates will soon be available to all students online The directory will replace the more impersonal list that most students avoided, instead preferring to rely on friends for support. The revised list will also include biographies of each advocate, their year, their interests, and any other pertinent information that may be helpful to students in picking a person to represent them that they would feel comfortable with. The advocates will have an earlier involvement in the judicial process under the new initiative. Although a list of advocates was available to students in the past, "many felt it was nonexistent" because it was not always offered to them in their first meeting with Carter, Moffat said. The list was provided to students only after they took the initiative to file a complaint, she said. Several members of the TCUJ have voiced concern that this practice has resulted in a bias to settle disputes in mediation so as to diffuse the situation and avoid negative public relations for the University. In an article for The Primary Source last spring, Ferenczy, the former chair of the TCUJ, alleged that there existed a conflict of interest in the Dean of Students Office where the administration acted as advisor to both plaintiff and defendant. No system is perfect, Reitman said, but he said the office does not take sides. "We can't approach cases with anything but neutrality. Veronica [Carter] is not a prosecutor for the University or for any individual," Reitman said. "She presents complaints without any presumption of guilt, without any pretense of defense." Because, according to Ferenczy, mediation keeps crime statistics down and keeps Tufts from getting sued, "the Dean of Students office usually pushes for mediation, regardless of whether it serves the interests of anyone involved." The administration, however, stands by its methods for mediating disputes. "A student may prefer mediation because there is an agreed-upon outcome," Carter said. "Mediation is always an option to settle a dispute as long as both parties wish to forego their right to a disciplinary hearing." If they wish, the parties may resolve a complaint by negotiating a resolution without any admission of wrongdoing. Ferenczy supported changes to the timing when students will have access to student advocates in the disciplinary process. He called the proposed new advocacy system "the most important and provocative action the TCUJ has taken in my tenure" during his State of the TCUJ speech last year. Under the new system, mediation does not have to be the preferred method of resolution. Students will be provided with the option of an advocate as soon as they walk in the door to discuss filing a complaint. Through additional training and testing, and certifying a group of advocates, the system should overcome the former inherent flaw, Ferenczy said. Reitman, however, disagreed. "While Mike [Ferenczy] was criticizing Veronica [Carter] for being involved in the advocacy system, he was proposing that he and the [Judiciary] do the same exact thing," Reitman said. "There should be total separation between the two systems." The current consensus is that advocates will be 'familiarized' with the standards of evidence and detailed procedures in the Green Book, but will not be certified as having any special ability to advocate because of liability reasons. While the Dean of Students Office will remain involved in the process of discussing student complaints, they have agreed never to "put pressure on any student to make a certain decision about which option they should choose," Carter said.

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"Smelling a Rat": satire and slamming doors

November 13

Upon first seeing the cartoonish set _ complete with a series of doors and a fuchsia and teal color scheme _ for The Nora Theatre Company's production of Mike Leigh's Smelling a Rat, it seems hard to believe Leigh's description of his 1988 play as an "anti-farce." Mission accomplished. Under director Daniel Gidron's well-balanced direction, The Nora delivers a tightly constructed production that flawlessly balances comedic entertainment and subtle social satire. The general premise that propels Smelling a Rat is simple enough: a pompous and wealthy owner of a pest control business, Rex Weasel, comes home early from his Christmas vacation _ only to find upon his unexpected arrival the equally unexpected presence of two couples _ an employee and his wife (Vic and Charmaine Maggot) along with Weasel's son Rock and Rock's girlfriend Melanie-Jane Beetles _ in his London flat. Prerequisite farcical chaos ensues - but with one substantial difference: rather than rush his characters through a harried script that relies wholly on sight gags and physical comedy, Leigh conscientiously slows down the pace of action, allowing the audience to peer into the substance behind his character's seemingly comedic context. The outlines filled in, Leigh presents a script that it is both genuinely funny and substantive. The cast of Smelling a Rat is its backbone and driving force; the actors in this production possess the natural sense of comedic timing and innate ability to create humor without succumbing to caricature. Likewise, credit must be given to director Gridon for choreographing the action of the play in perfect time with its script. As Victor and Charmaine Maggott, Paul Kerry and Stephanie Dorian are perfect. Though it is true that their respective characters are the ones with the most potential to flesh out a well-rounded role, Kerry and Dorian do so with such ease and novelty that their performances could very well be the focal point of The Nora's production. Kerry and Dorian play off of each other with an organic ease; whether fumbling in and out of that ever-present series of doors or commenting on some of the more realistic social issues probed by the script, these two actors create their characters with complete charm and ease. These veterans of the Boston theatre scene grace the stage with a contagious sense of energy and dynamism. Completing the ensemble, Randall A. Forsythe plays his Rex Weasel as the slightly more subdued version of Darrell Hammond's impersonation of Sean Connery on Saturday Night Live. However, Forsythe imbues his character with a callousness that fills out the outline of caricature. His character his quite adequately embodied by the contrast between his clown-like golfing attire and the severity of his personality. His range of performance seems somewhat limited, however, as he seems to shy away from venturing into slightly more refined tones of emotion. As Rex's son Rock, Charles Linshaw aptly combines the tension and blandness that define his character. Linshaw is a highly effective stage presence _ though his role gives him few spoken words, Linshaw is one of the most palpable performers on stage. From his facial expressions to the way he shifts his feet, Linshaw creates a complete and fully realized character in Rock. Mara Sidmore comes on too thick at times as Rock's girlfriend, Melanie-Jane Beetles. With her English accent wavering, Sidmore's performance initially came across as imbalanced _ too flustered, too intense, too flighty, too na??ve, too cartoonish. While all of the characters at times teeter on the brink of extremity, Melanie-Jane seems to spend most of her time lounging on this very place. As the show progresses, Sidmore's character becomes much more alive and much more real; the second act is certainly Sidmore's stronger act. Sidmore's strongest moment comes when she engages in a prolonged conversation with Rock towards the end of the show - but never speaks once. Without extreme vocal tricks to fall back on, Sidmore adroitly fleshes out a very human character that is defined by her insecurities and pain rather than her exaggerated manner. Set, sound, and lighting design complete this already solid production. Eric Levinson's scenic design is a perfect fit, satirizing the stereotypical farce set of the wall-of-doors by underscoring the most clich?© element of this form of design. By housing the characters in what is essentially a large pink box, Levinson fulfils a multi-purpose task: he creates a setting that simultaneously evokes classical farce and subtly satirizes contemporary British society, especially underscoring the class divide of Thatcher-era London. Likewise, Scott Pinkey's lighting design is both pragmatic and lends to the general function of the production. Pinkey uses lighting to create separate registers of space on the stage, breaking up the otherwise linear set. The amount of light on stage is also varied according not only to the action as dictated by the script, but also by the general mood. Sound design also enhances the production. From the opening sequence to which Rex Weasel's arrival is tightly choreographed, to more subtle, period touches like Madonna's "Crazy for You," sound is used precisely and productively to emphasize the show's action and the dialogue. With its tight script directly filled with humor and more discreetly shaded with social satire, The Nora's production of Mike Leigh's Smelling a Rat aptly lives up to Leigh's mission of creating an "anti-farce" by creating a production whose slamming doors yield more than just laughter. Smelling a Rat runs through November 10 at the Boston Playwrights' Theatre. Tickets are $25. For more information, contact The Nora at 617-491-2026.

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Ex College is improving registration process

November 13

The editorial page editors must have read our minds. To help alleviate some of the problems students face when choosing Ex College courses, the Experimental College decided last year to try to implement an online signup process for the spring 2003 semester. Utilizing the university's Webcenter, students will be able to sit at their computers and choose to electronically place their names on a list for up to four Ex College classes for which they have an interest. While students will still need to enroll in a course using an Add/Drop form, online signup will eliminate the need to wait in a long line. We are very excited about this opportunity we will be able to offer to students. The Experimental College will have more information regarding this new signup process as we near the end of the semester. Kelly Wisnewski LA '02

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Nutrition School gets grant to fight obesity

November 13

According to the Surgeon General, in 1999 13 percent of US children from age six to 11 were overweight. As nutritionists fear that the world may soon be afflicted by an onslaught of obesity-related diseases, it has become increasingly important to research what is making children so fat. With the help of the US government, researchers at the Tufts Nutrition School are looking into ways to prevent obesity in young elementary school children in Somerville. The program is aimed at helping high risk students and is supported by an almost $500,000 grant from the US Health and Human Services Department (HHS). Researchers will study 1,000 children from the first and third grades in the Somerville public school system. One thousand children from two control group school systems will also be involved. The program, called "Shape Up Somerville: Eat Smart Play Hard," will not begin until next year and is scheduled to take three years to complete _ one year each for intervention, study and a follow-up analysis. The principal investigator for the study is Dr. Christina Economos, an assistant professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. "The program focuses on elementary school-aged children and trying to promote healthy lifestyles in elementary school children," said Dr. Jeanne Goldberg, director of the Tufts Center on Nutrition Communication said, who is a co-investigator in the research initiative. Preliminary plans are for subjects to burn 125 kilocalories through physical activity a day, as well as several healthy eating choices. Progress will be gauged by tracking the students' Body Mass Index _ a measurement of their relative weight based on their height. According to the researchers, children are at high risk for obesity because of lack of exercise and high calorie foods. The food most easily available to them is "calorically dense food, and [there are] lots of opportunities to eat [those foods] at low prices," Goldberg said. "These stack up to create an imbalance in the energy equation." The constraints on school lunch programs may be one of the causes of the problem, according to Goldberg. The programs are required to use commodity foods from the US Department of Agriculture surplus program, while at the same time the Federal Government mandates them to follow certain nutritional serving guidelines. Budget constraints add to the problem. The "Shape Up Somerville" program was selected by the HHS along with 24 other programs from an initial applicant pool of 300. The researchers say their work is unique because it looks at small changes throughout the day, and provides the students with many choices.

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Goddard to reopen with concert in January

November 13

The Jan. 26 concert will be the first "Noon Hour Concert Series" event in the newly-renovated chapel. It will also be the first opportunity for the public to see the changes to Goddard's interior. The Black Catholic Choir is a program sponsored by Archdiocesan Office for Black Catholics, which was established in 1988. The concert is the first in a series of events intended to draw attention Goddard once the renovations are complete. Other events include the resumption of the Wednesday "Reflections", featuring speakers who address spiritual and philosophical issues and the renewal of wedding vows on the first Saturday of every month, starting in July. The chapel will be officially rededicated on Mar. 13 with the presentation of the Russell Lectureship to Reverend Peter Gomes, the pastor of Harvard University's Memorial Church. Peter Gomes has been the pastor of Harvard's Memorial Church for 25 years, is a professor of theology at Harvard and a best-selling author. "We wanted someone in religious circles," said University Chaplain Fr. David O'Leary. He selected Gomes because of his scholarship and his dedication to the university chaplaincy. "He is the grandfather of all university chaplains in the area," O'Leary said. "He was my first choice." The Russell Lectureship is the oldest continuing lectureship at Tufts, first given in 1873. The 2002 recipient was South African Archbishop and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Desmond Tutu. In past years, the Russell Lectureship hasn't been given "due to fundraising issues." O'Leary is hoping to make the presentation of the Lectureship an annual event once again. The recipient of the award is selected by the University Chaplain and confirmed by the associate chaplains and the University President. The Chaplaincy would like to start a second lectureship but requires more funding for it. Along with the "Noon Hour Concerts", Goddard will feature special concerts with its newly-restored Hook & Hastings organ. "The restoration of a Hook & Hastings organ is quite an event in itself," O'Leary said. A new fundraising campaign, the Friends of Goddard Chapel, will begin soon, with the intent of raising money for future renovations of the building. Among other things, O'Leary wants to add air conditioning in order to attract more summer weddings to the chapel. The chapel first opened in 1882 with a donation from Mary Goddard in honor of her late husband. The renovations, which have kept the chapel closed this semester, include structural reinforcements, removing the screens which previously covered the pipes of the organ, and replacing the original stained glass windows opposite the organ. Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox services will resume in Goddard at the beginning of next semester.

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Fuzzy math?

November 13

I rarely agree with Lou Esparza's columns, but I was downright disturbed to read the column "Ten cents none the richer" (11/12/02). Ignore, for a moment, that Mr. Esparza blithely ignores the vast majority of the actual printing costs (toner, library staff, electricity, the printers themselves). Mr. Esparza multiplied 9.4 cents by 5 million pages and came up with $47 million. Does anyone else see a problem with this? (Hint: $470,000.) The sad part is that I actually agree with Mr. Esparza _ not that Tufts is mired in some sort of wide-ranging conspiracy to milk every student for all they're worth, but that charging for printing is a ridiculous idea. Unfortunately, in his typical style, Mr. Esparza has presented an argument so utterly faulty as to actually hinder his cause. Colin Teubener-Rhodes LA '03

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Administration calls for improvement to Greek system

November 13

A perceived decrease in organization and community leadership among fraternities and sororities has caused University administrators to call for changes within the Greek system that they say will be crucial to its future. Membership in Tufts' fraternities and sororities has dropped from a high of 18 percent of student enrollment several years ago to 11 percent this year. According to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, the University is currently, "not satisfied with the level [the Greek system] is at." "I think there's a potential value in that system. It's not being realized here. President [Larry] Bacow is a member of a fraternity. He believes in their value if they are also believing in themselves as being part of a value system," he said. The University is searching for a new administrator to work with the Office of Greek Life, in hopes that this will help the system improve. The future of Greek houses will depend on the abilities of the individual houses to focus more on philanthropic efforts, to encourage more pride and cohesiveness in the system, and to show leadership in the Tufts community, Reitman said. If the fraternity system does not improve, Bacow and the Dean of Students Office will stop supporting it, he said. A lack of such efforts may explain why interest in the Greek system is decreasing. Both the Alpha Phi Delta and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternities, among others, suffered from low numbers of pledges last spring, and there has been a generally lower level of interest in the entire system since the 1980s, Reitman said. The decreased interest is not felt by fraternities alone. Last year, Alpha Omega Pi, was worried that a small pledge class coupled with a large number of graduating seniors would put the entire sorority system in jeopardy. One reason for the waning interest could be that students view fraternities as places for socializing and partying, not as houses with a specific purpose, according to Reitman. The amount of drinking that goes on at fraternities also worries administrators. "When we read some of the incident reports and find large amounts of alcohol and kegs, it's a source of concern," Reitman said. But students involved in fraternities disagree. They say that the Greek system does not focus too closely on social life, nor does it neglect leadership opportunities. "Gain leadership experience? What has it done for me and the other people who serve on the exec board? It has done 100 percent of that," Delta Tau Delta President Daniel Kramer said. "Being a leader in the Greek System is something that is so recognized and valued. It's the kind of thing that gets you a job." Others say that fraternities do a great deal of philanthropic activities that the community is not aware of. "All of them are doing at least some type of fundraising for charity," Inter-Greek Council (IGC) President said. An example of philanthropy efforts is the IGC Mud Volleyball tournament that took place two weeks ago on the Residential Quad, which donated went proceeds to charity. "That's the kind of thing that the Greek system can do for the school," he said. Fraternities began to feel pressure from the administration to change last year, when Bacow arrived at Tufts. "Now that we realize that, we've been wanting to work more closely with the University. [The administration] has realized that, and has been working with us more," Zeta Psi President Ken Kozlo said. Time may be running out for the Greek system though, and Reitman said that remaining opportunities to change may be dwindling. "They have to respond. It's make or break. It should more be viewed as a challenge to succeed, because if they don't, there won't be any more patience," he said. Though administrators are frustrated with the Greek system, Reitman conceded that some problems may be caused the lack of administrative support, which was the motivation behind the creation of an administrative position to work with the Office of Greek Life. "Other schools who have Greek systems do provide more of a supervisory structure than we do," he said. "That's why we're now looking to be similar to those schools and give the system a chance to succeed." The new administrator could help advertise what fraternities and sororities are trying to accomplish, according to Alpha Epsilon Pi President Josh Gold. "This new office will help communicate to the Tufts Community the stuff that we're doing," he said. Kramer felt, as many members of the Greek system did, that a new administrator and the Office of Greek Life would be an indicator of the administration's already evident efforts of cooperation in trying to achieve change. "The thing that we as Greek leaders like about this administration is its willingness to talk to us as opposed to impose things. And that's why I think our relationship with the administration is pretty solid," he said. Last year, members of Kramer's fraternity had a dinner with Bacow and other administrators where they discussed numerous issues affecting the Greek system. Kozlo agreed that administrators have been giving them support to make the changes they are asking for. "I think especially as of lately they've been very positive, more of working as an ally than against us," he said. The new office would also help by making the fraternity system more organized. "Having a centralized office where the rules are laid out and where we have someone who we can talk to about those rules would help us a lot," Gold said. "Right now it's hard because you have to talk to a lot of different people," he said. Another change that Bacow has encouraged, according to Adam Biacchi is more cohesion in the system as a whole. "He'd like to see more Greek solidarity. It's not like there's a lot of in-fighting among the houses, but I guess he'd like to see more togetherness, more pride in the Greek system," he said. The University is not going to assign a deadline for the requested changes, as Reitman feels it will be clear whether the fraternities are responding to the call for change. And though Tufts is trying to provide fraternities with more support, changes will have to come from the system itself. "I'm not trying to make it sound like an ultimatum, but the President has said, and I have said, to the system that this is it," he said. "You're going to get the chance to respond to needs. It's not clear that you'll get many more chances."

The Setonian
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Creating an A+ advocate system

November 13

The push to establish a reformed Student Advocate System for judicial charges and complaints is a noble effort, but the system could use some further modifications. The proposed system is just in its attempt to personalize and facilitate the often-convoluted judicial process for students. There is no doubt that such processes can be complex and intimidating, and the addition of student advocates to represent students is a helpful one. However, the list of advocates must comprise of members who are capable, professional, and objective. Although students can arguably better represent fellow students, and may do so at a greater comfort level, the new system must be careful not to create or intensify a divide between students and the administration by allowing for student advocates who will be biased in favor of any particular party. Should this occur, the system, along with the student advocates who uphold it, would lose validity and credibility. Likewise, the Dean of Students Office must work to ensure that administrators involved in the process are indeed neutral in both speech and actions. Only with this kind of neutrality and objectivity can there be a truly fair trial, free of a feared student/administrator "us vs. them" rift. It has also been said that the new system involving student advocates can more likely ensure a judiciary hearing rather than mediation, a means the Dean of Students Office often supports. Yet it is necessary to note that while judicial processes through an advocacy system may be needed in certain cases, mediation is sometimes the better route. When both parties can come to an agreement without a disciplinary hearing, there is often no need to push for a complex process that drains energy and resources. Finally, there must be an incentive for students to become advocates, in part to ensure accountability and a higher level of professionalism. One possibility is to attract students who are interested in a pursuing a legal education or a future career in law. Since Tufts has no specific pre-law program and few well-known initiatives for aspiring lawyers, experience as a student advocate could prove ideal. It seems that the TCUJ and the administration have put much effort into detailing the student advocate system. Hopefully just as much effort will be put into attracting the caliber of advocates needed to make the system work.

The Setonian
News

With top runners resting, women finish eighth

November 13

In anticipation of the NCAA qualifying meet taking place an Westfield State this weekend, the top seven runners who will compete in the event were given the week off from competition. This gave the second seven a chance to shine at this past weekend's ECAC Championship race hosted by Williams College, where the Jumbos finished eighth amongst a varied field of 43 teams. "Some teams run some of their top seven if that group isn't totally set or to give someone who has been injured a chance to compete again, but most rest the top seven," coach Kristen Morwick said. "It gives a chance for the second seven to run their own championship race." The eighth-place finish put forth by the squad was a remarkable accomplishment, marking the first time Tufts placed within the top ten at ECAC's since 1997. While the Jumbos team was comprised wholly of the second seven, some of the teams that they were up against had remnants of the top seven competing. The US Coast Guard, who captured second place overall, raced its full top seven while third-place Colby College contended with members of its top seven. "Everyone was really excited for the meet because it was the last race of the season or, for some, the last race ever," senior Sarah Foss said. "Even given this excitement, I think everyone felt that it was a very challenging course. The first words out of my mouth were that it was the hardest race I have ever run. But, at the end, we were all satisfied because we knew that we had given the course all we could." For seniors Ashley Peterson (25:43.3), Foss (25:50.4), and Megan Dibiase (27:27.8), this race was the last of their cross country collegiate career. Peterson, who was the first Tufts runner to finish at 38th, could compete next weekend, making the trip to the NCAA qualifying meet as an alternate. Junior Katie Higley (26:21.3) was the fourth Jumbo to cross the line, behind Peterson, Foss, and freshman Arielle Aaronson (26:13.7), having a strong race to end the season. The three freshmen who competed _ Aaronson, Kristin Shinkawa(26:32.1), and Elyse Archila(26:39.6) _ all gained valuable experience at a championship venue that will carry over to next season. "It's a good experience for people to get in the setting of a championship race," Morwick said. "Kristen (Munson) and Ashley both got experience at ECACs last year and now they are both heading to the NCAA qualifiers this year with that much more familiarity." With the top seven runners set for this coming weekend, the Jumbos have their eyes set on one of five coveted spots that will send teams to the NCAA Championship meet in two weeks. Seniors Mary Nodine, Danielle Perrin, Heidi Tyson, Kristen Munson, juniors Lauren Caputo and Lauren Dunn, and freshman Becca Ades comprise the core of runners who will look to topple the top five. While Williams and Middlebury have essentially clinched the first and second spots, given their performances thus far in the season, there are three spots that any of as many as six teams could fill. Bowdoin poses one of the greatest threats in winning one of the spots, having flexed its muscle in an impressive third place finish at the NESCAC Championships after remaining inconspicuous for most of the season. Wesleyan finished one place behind the Polar Bears at the same race, and will also be viable competition in rounding out the top five. While Trinity has proven dangerous at some points, its track record of not quite being able to put it all together at important races could come back to haunt the team at the NCAA qualifiers, much as it did at NESCACs. Keene State and Brandeis could pose a challenge for Tufts, but both teams have been plagued by injury woes in their top seven in the past weeks, which could make them a nonfactor this weekend. "Bates ran out of their minds at the NESCAC Championships, who knows if they can repeat that performance," Morwick said. "If Trinity races as they should they could be contenders and Bowdoin also has a really good shot. The 6K suits our team better and we know the course having run it earlier in the season. So we're ready for this race, it's just a matter of putting it together on the day." The squad hopes to employ the pack racing strategy that has been used throughout the season to neutralize the top runners of other teams. If Caputo and Ades can place as well as they have done and if the pack can move up with them and get between the second and third runners for schools like Bowdoin, Wesleyan, and Trinity, then the result the team is looking for would be attainable. "I think the key of making a top five finish realistic is that the top seven come together and run as a solid pack," Foss said. "The pack will have to be right there and really push forward to Caputo and Becca. We just have to hope that everything goes well and that our pack moving up a lot will push others back. It's been developing over the past couple of weeks and hopefully it's there this weekend."

The Setonian
News

Let's play 'guess the champion'

November 13

Welcome to this week's intramural update. Big doings in the freshman intramural world as there is a soccer champion. Unfortunately, this article was due last night and thus I unable to find out the name of the champion in time. There were also freshmen volleyball results from last night, but again, same problem. Tune in next week when I will update all you eagerly awaiting intramural fans about the newly crowned champions and some of the results which I missed from this week. Here is some information that I do have. In soccer, the Mad Cows of Metcalf capped off an undefeated season with a win over the Gangstars in action Tuesday night. The win over the Gangstars capped off an impressive run through the playoffs with the Mad Cows beating Uphill 1 and the Invasion to reach the finals. In non-freshman soccer action, Thursday night saw Simon from England collect a forfeit win over the Sugar Daddies. Simon from England is now 4-2 in the Thursday night division while the Sugar Daddies are 1-4-1. Indy 1 took out the Larry Birdmelts 3-2 tying them with Simon from England at 4-2 and dropping the Larry Birdmelts to 2-4. Juice took a forfeit over In Your Eye while Bombshell smoked DTD 6-2. Bombshell and In Your Eye both sport 4-2 records. DTD is 2-3 while Juice is now 1-6. The Rabid Wombats dropped a 5-3 decision to I-House dropping them to 4-2 and improving first place I-House to 5-1. Psycho beat the Lightning. They are now 3-3. The Lightning are 0-7. On Monday night, the Halligan Hooligans took a forfeit in their game against Ill on the Hill. The Hooligans are 6-1. Ill on the Hill is 2-5. In other action, HDL took out Carmichael 7-2 to move their record to 3-4 and Carmichael's to 2-5. Zeta Psi collected a forfeit in its scheduled game with the School Psychs to improve to a 5-2. The School Psychs dropped to 1-5-1. The Greeks beat the 357 Tigers to improve to 6-1 and drop the Tigers to one game above .500 at 4-3. Insanity and Los Pieds Radicales tied 1-1. It was both teams' first tie of the season. Tappa Kegga blasted Indy 2 5-2 to advance themselves to 5-1 and dropIndy2 to 1-5. The Revolution topped the Screaming Butterflies 6-2. They are now 7-0. The Scramming Butterflies now stand at 5-2. A Tribe Called West nipped the Hodgdon Hobgoblins 5-4. A Tribe Called West is now 3-4. The Hodgdon Hobgoblins are now 0-6. Regular volleyball is ready for the playoffs. In first place is Fletcher, who nipped the Isotopes 2-0. Now they're 6-1 or something. HNRC beat the Killer Beans 2-0, according to the website. The Hornets beat Jon Stol by a 2-0 margin. Now HNRC is 6-1 while the Killer Beans are 4-3. Now, I'd like to take this time to discuss the inherent inequalities between winners and losers which are evident in humanity, but play an especially prominent role in the intramural world. This scholar finds it troubling how even in the comparatively tame intramural world we still must differentiate between the good and the bad. But such is the nature of life. Some are champions while others must be the runners up or even the losers. Sometimes it is hard for scholars, such as myself, to get by that. Anyway, the volleyball playoffs are rolling toward their inevitable conclusion. Somebody will be champion _ probably Fletcher. Each champion in each league will receive a championship t-shirt, further widening the gap between the "haves" and the "have-nots" in intramurals. Well tune in next week, or not as the case may be, for the intramural score here at The Tufts Daily. I'm going to go drink. Oh wait, I already did.

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