Archives

News

Part-time professorships on the rise

November 7

Tufts has over 200 part-time professors teaching courses, with many of them clamoring for a chance at a full-time position. But Tufts' policy for part-time professors may be in many ways an improvement over other universities' policies. While the University's current finances limit the number of full-time professorships, both teachers and administrators hope for more tenure-track positions in the future. Over the past decade, the average number of part-time professors _ or "lecturers" as they are called at Tufts _ has risen from 33 to 43 percent in US colleges and universities, according to the American Federation of Teachers. Part-time professor positions give universities an opportunity to save money since the employees do not generally receive benefits and are not on the tenure track. While last year 40 percent of Tufts' Arts and Sciences faculty was hired as part-time professors, according to part-time professors, in general, it treats this faculty much better than most other colleges. The number of part time faculty was not yet available for this academic year though last year the University hired 254 part-time professors and 385 full-time professors. Tufts is different from other universities in that it is relatively easy to move from being a part-time professor without benefits to one with benefits, according to Kevin Dunn, the Undergraduate Dean of Academic Affairs. Part-time professors who receive medical and retirement benefits are usually happy with their position. "The benefits are very good, especially compared to other places," Spanish Department Lecturer Raquel Weitzman said. This policy is not the case at many other schools. Part-time professors at New York University, for example, have discussed unionizing to achieve more benefits as lecturers. But because lecturers work at Tufts for only a year or two, Political Science Chair Jim Glaser believes unionization will not occur at Tufts. "It doesn't make sense here... This is something just to tide them over. We aren't interested in creating a long-term exploitative relationship with them." The lecturers which Glaser hires are mostly recent Ph.D. graduates. While these instructors are not paid very well, he said, Tufts does provide them with teaching opportunities and r?©sum?© experience. Hiring of part-time professors also allows the University to bring in outside specialists to teach. Michael Goldman, a lecturer for both the political science department and the Experimental College, is one such person. A political consultant, Goldman most recently worked on Robert Reich's Massachusetts gubernatorial campaign. Because he is not required to publish or do research at Tufts, Goldman enjoys his part-time professorship. But often, schools may frown on this type of position. "There are a lot of talented academics that can't teach," he said. "What is exciting about this place _ unlike a lot of places _ is that [the Political Science Department] really respects classroom teaching." Part-time professors, such as Goldman, can be brought in solely for their ability to teach. Besides its obvious benefits to students, Goldman said Tufts' policy improves the teaching experience for lecturers. "The other thing they let me do here is have fun," he said. Hiring based on teaching skills gives more flexibility to tenured professors doing research and makes it possible for 'full-timers' to go on leave. The result benefits everyone, according to Dunn. "Part-time lecturers are such an integral part of the University," Dunn said. "We have an incredible talented pool of people doing it." Tufts is also different from other universities because it gives varied distinctions to part-time professors. The school recognizes four separate levels. Lecturers who act as replacement professors for full-timers on leave are paid by the course and do not receive any benefits. There are also part-time lecturers who are paid by the course yet receive medical and retirement benefits. To qualify for these benefits, professors must teach at least three courses a year. At the next level are full-time lecturers who receive salaries and benefits but are not on a tenure track. Finally, senior lecturers are the same as full-time lecturers, except for a new title to indicate that they have been with the University for longer. "Calling someone a senior lecturer is a way of acknowledging we like what they do," Dunn said. The University does not keep separate numbers for the different levels of part-time faculty. But departments which need time off for its professors to do research, like the political science department, will have more short-term lecturers. This is almost opposite of language departments where the majority of professors are part-time lecturers that stay for years at a time, long enough to receive benefits. While only working part-time is great for professors who enjoy those hours, the lack of open-tenured positions is frustrating to others. "If a tenure-track job was open at Tufts, I would take it in a heartbeat," Classics Department part-time Professor Anne Mahoney said. "I like this place, and the students are really great. But at this moment I am applying for other jobs, and if I get one, it's goodbye brown and blue." Tufts' endowment forces the small full-time staff, according to Mahoney. "Tenure track positions are expensive," she said. "With our relatively small endowment, we can't do all the things we want to do. What do you want to have? Two tenure-track professors or a new dorm?" But Tufts cannot be blamed for hiring too few full-time professors, Mahoney said. "If there are people who are willing to be part-timers, and the University can get by with less expensive resources _ maybe that's a good use of resources," she said. At Tufts the number of tenure-track professors is not decreasing, but Dunn says Tufts is increasing its number of full-time faculty "painfully slowly." But Tufts is able to offer enough professors part-time postions to make up for this shortage, at least in the short run, according to a number of part-time professors. "While I would, of course, love a full-time position," Classics Department Lecturer Linda Rabieh said, "I've benefited so much from my classes as well as from the excellent faculty, that teaching part-time here will do for now." While part-time professors would like to make more money, Dunn said he is "sure that they feel that Tufts is the best employer in the Boston area." "It isn't a perfect situation," he said, "but it's what we've got."

---

News

A daring production of Mamet's 'Life in the Theatre' at the BCA

November 7

Renowned playwright David Mamet says the main purpose of the theater is, rather simply, to entertain the audience. Therefore, by Mamet's own standards, the Basement on the Hill Stage's production of Mamet's A Life in the Theatre is successful. This rich and daring production, directed by Lilia Levitina (also the founder of the company, which literally started out in her basement), is now playing at the compact Leland Center at the Boston Center for the Arts. In this intimate, Off-Off-Broadway setting, Mamet's story of the trials and tribulations of two actors in their effort to "entertain their audiences" comes to life through a cascade of bold choices _ some of which pay off, and some which do not. Yet, this setting _ home of Levitina's previous production of Mamet's The Shawl _ serves as a theatrical laboratory wherein the traditional staging of any play would be a misuse of the space. Keeping this in mind, Levitina makes what turns out to be a great directorial decision in choosing to use dolls for the scenes of the play where the two actors are supposed to be "onstage" acting out a play-within-a-play. In the original staging of this show at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, director Gregory Mosher decided to use two curtains, so that one would open out to the audience and the other to the back wall, which was painted to look like the audience. This concept, now written into the published script, allows the actors to do those scenes that take place "backstage" facing the audience and those scenes that take place "onstage" with their backs to the audience. In this production, however, Levitina cleverly chooses to have the actors do the "onstage" scenes essentially like little kids playing with their dolls. While at first this seems a bit ridiculous, especially for a Mamet play, this decision helps give the production a playful and magical feel without ruining its serious and somber aspects of the play. In short, this choice simply shifts the focus to the more lighthearted features of the show. This bold decision, however, does not stand alone in this intrepid production. Drawing from the preface of the original script again, which says a stage manager is usually added to the cast to move around the set, this production adds a third character who becomes less of a stage manager and more like the eternal muse of the theater. Played splendidly by Chiara Durazzini, she represents the joy and beauty as well as the rejection and hardship of a life in the theater by clinging to those at the top of their careers and abandoning them as they fall. This beautiful metaphor is played out wonderfully in the performance. At the beginning of the play, she clings to the older actor, Robert (Will Cabell), as he comes off the stage from a performance glowing and they dance around happily while the younger actor, John (Zachary Falconer), looks on. Later on, however, as John's career seems to be taking off and Robert's slowing down, she clearly shifts her attention to John. Unfortunately, this culminates in one of the worst decisions of the performance, where John and the muse have sex on stage while John is talking offstage. Although the point is made that John now no longer needs to listen to the washed-up Robert and that he has obviously won the favor of the muse, the scene's dialogue is lost along with the muse's innocence, which made her such a magical, symbolic character. Despite this shameless diversion, the character of the muse is salvaged in an endearing and magnificent ending, which preserves the resonance of Mamet's play but highlights it in a very unique way. At the end, Robert and the muse are alone in the backstage of the theater. As Robert reflects on his life in the theater, they go around picking up all the dolls and putting them in a wagon. When he has filled the wagon and starts to pull it, the audience realizes that these dolls stand for the characters Robert has played in his lifetime and that now he is taking them with him, literally and metaphorically, because they have become a part of him. Cabell, in the part of Robert, deserves high praise for his organic and resonating performance. His character becomes the focus of the show, as it is his fall from power seen through his initial triumphs, his fits of anger and finally, his mature appreciation of his life in the theatre, which are most interesting to watch. He understands the role perfectly and provides the perfect blend of arrogance and self-consciousness and severity and tenderness in creating his character's speaking-from-experience attitude. On the contrary, Falconer, in the role of John, is very unimpressive playing opposite Cabell. He begins with a very annoying, over-the-top energy and stays at this one level for a long time. Then, when his character begins to change, he pulls a u-turn without even signaling his blinker, which allows the audience to see right through his obviously "unnatural" acting style. Throughout the rest of the play, with the exception of a few moments of sincerity, he stumbles from emotion to emotion from line to line creating a very choppy and unrealistic portrayal. In fairness to Falconer, however, the director shares as much responsibility for the creation of the character as the actor. Yet, all in all, the show is still a delight because it is full of risks and innovations _ some brilliant, some not _ as one would expect of a non-commercial, theater-for-the-sake-of-theater production. A Life in the Theatre is playing at the Boston Center for the Arts until November 16. Call 617-426-2787 for tickets and information.

---

News

Alum co-founds 'thriving' business

November 7

Many students dream of starting their own businesses after they graduate from the University. For alumnus Nate Wolfson, this dream became a reality when he co-founded Thrive Networks. Thrive Networks, of which Wolfson is now the CEO, is a company that provides Internet Technology (IT) services to small businesses in the Boston area. Thrive Networks helps small businesses to maintain their computer systems. Wolfson, a native of Harvard MA, graduated from Tufts in 1998 and majored in political science. "Tufts was my first choice," Wolfson said. "I liked the size, the quality of academics, and I loved, and still love, the campus." Wolfson was a highly active student. He played ultimate Frisbee, was a member of the debate team, the president of the Political Science Honor Society, an RA, and also worked in computer services. But his favorite Tufts memories and experiences are about the people he met at the university. "I take pride in the fact that I went to Tufts," Wolfson said. "At Tufts, there's a great emphasis on collaboration and teamwork." After graduating, Wolfson was unsure of what he wanted to do. His first job was as a strategic consultant at Liberty Mutual, where he worked for two years. "I enjoyed the challenge of working on high-level business issues," Wolfson said. "It was good preparation for starting a company." Two friends, Chris Merrill and Calvin Wilder, approached Wolfson with the idea that would become Thrive Networks. "The basic idea was to serve as an outsource IT department for small companies," Wolfson said. The three men formulated a business plan, found a need that should be addressed, raised money, and started Thrive Networks. "When we first started, my parents thought it was a horrible idea," Wolfson said. "They were surprised by how well it turned out." Since the founding of Thrive Networks in August 2000, the company has grown from employing three people to 23. His company's focus is on good customer service and on helping small businesses be successful at what they do. "We have a great team of mostly young, smart people who love to come to work," Wolfson said. Although Wolfson and his co-founders started Thrive Networks at a time when the economy was in a downturn and many dotcom companies were failing, Thrive Networks has remained successful. The company has been profitable since its inception. Thrive Networks now has over 100 clients _ small businesses consisting of 10-200 employees, as well as non-profit organizations _ in areas such as venture capital firms and real estate. "It was a difficult time to choose to start an Internet company," Wolfson said. "But it forced us to bring our A game every day to every client." Wolfson credits the company's success to its relationship with its customers. In addition, he credits the caliber of the people who work at Thrive Networks, who are very proud of their company's over 97 percent customer retention rate. Thrive Network's excellent reputation has gained media recognition, including a front-page article in The Boston Business Journal, a prominent business newspaper. Wolfson credits Tufts for teaching him the value of teamwork and collaboration, as well as time management. "There's a willingness to challenge conventional wisdom when you get a Liberal Arts education," Wolfson said. "The culture at Tufts leads to innovation." Teamwork is especially important to companies like Thrive Networks. Interpersonal skills that are emphasized at Tufts lead to success, Wolfson believes. Wolfson has several pieces of advice for Tufts students. The first is to realize that grad school is not necessary for success and happiness. "It's ok to not know what to do with life," Wolfson said. "I still see myself as trying to figure out what I want to do with my life." Wolfson also tells students to follow their dreams. "There will always be people who discourage you from chasing your dreams," Wolfson said. "But if you work hard and have the right people, there's no limit to what you can do."

---

News

Captain's practice rule ain't all it's cracked up to be

November 6

Before I start, I want to make a few things clear. I realize that Tufts is a Div. III school, and that nearly all emphasis lays in academics, not sports. I realize that at least half of the student body has little or no interest in the school's athletic teams (just go to one of the football team's away games if you don't believe me _ high school badminton clubs have more fans.) I know that the success of any team is secondary to its participants' academic pursuits. I know that no coach will ever be fired by the school for a losing record. I have read and I agree with the NESCAC's mission statement, that athletics should be a supplement to the educational mission of the member schools. But still, I have to question the NESCAC's judgment in banning captain's practices. Granted, the NESCAC has never really allowed captain's practices, and this revised ruling came almost two months ago, so I'm a little late with this argument. But better late than never. No schools allow out-of-season practices with the coaching staff. Not even Div I football programs, where the season never really ends. But they all allow captain's practices. All except the NESCAC, that is. Bill Gehling, Tufts' Athletic Director, said that he knows of no other collegiate division that is as strict about out of season practice rules as the NESCAC. Even high schools have captain's practices. So why has the NESCAC all of sudden gotten its panties in a bunch about this? Part of it (an extremely small, miniscule part the size of a hair on a butterfly's back) is that the conference is concerned about the athletes' safety, and their ability to keep up with their academics. The biggest reason though, is that some moron at Colby was playing hockey without a helmet, hurt himself, and now the schools are afraid of getting sued. So now teams can't practice out of season. They have to wait until the designated start date, leaving them about three or four weeks to practice and learn to work together as a team before the season starts. Meanwhile, every other team in the nation has been practicing for months. Legally. The NESCAC is easily one of the best Div. III conferences in the country. Sports Illustrated just named Williams the top Div III school in the nation; Middlebury's lacrosse program could probably be a top twenty Div I team. I'm not exaggerating. But when teams can't practice together in the off-season, it makes them worse and puts them at a disadvantage compared to teams in the rest of the country. But we've already established that winning is secondary for NESCAC teams, so let's forget the last point and move on to a different one: safety. Is it really safer for the athletes now that schools are really banning captain's practices? If teams aren't practicing, then nobody can possibly get hurt, right? This might be true if teams actually weren't practicing. But the fact of the matter is that this rule hasn't stopped any team from holding practices. I've talked with numerous athletes and coaches, from various sports, all of whom admit that teams are practicing together. The only thing that's different is that now teams have to be sneaky about it. They have to make sure they play where nobody's looking. They have to sneak into facilities, or maybe practice without all the right equipment. And what happens if somebody gets hurt then? If it's a minor injury, do you think the athlete is going to go tell the trainer, and risk getting the team in trouble? Maybe I'm wrong, but I doubt it. Teams aren't going to stop practicing, no matter what rules you throw at them. Like lacrosse coach Mike Daly told me, he tries to recruit lacrosse junkies who love to play and who want to play. And they're going to play, even if you tell them not to. Athletic directors and school presidents would tell you that the rule is in the spirit of the NESCAC, that academics come first. You can believe what you want, but as far as I can tell, the conference just doesn't want to get sued. End of story. Is it in the spirit of the NESCAC to tell athletes they can't practice the sport that they're supposed to put their hearts and souls into? Is it in the spirit of the NESCAC to encourage athletes to try and find ways around the rules? This rule doesn't make anyone safer, because it doesn't actually stop anything. And to tell you the truth, I doubt if it's intended to stop anything. The NESCAC has to frown at out of season practices, so that when some idiot from Colby doesn't wear a helmet and hurts himself and decides to hold the school responsible, the school won't get in trouble. So they make the athletes suffer _ the ones that they're supposedly trying to help out. And who is this rule is supposed to be protecting?

---

News

First seed earns women's soccer week off

November 6

The NESCAC soccer tournament began last Sunday, with the first seeded Jumbos receiving a bye, and the second through seventh seeds facing off at the higher seed's home field. The second seeded Bowdoin Polar Bears snuck away with a 1-0 victory over the Trinity Bantams. The third seeded Williams Ephs handily defeated the Middlebury Panthers 3-0. In the lone upset of the day, the fifth seeded Connecticut College Camels defeated the fourth seeded Lord Jeffs from Amherst, 2-1. These games set the stage for this weekend. The Jumbos will play the Camels, while the Ephs square off against the Polar Bears, both on Saturday afternoon at Kraft field in the semifinals. The winners will meet on Sunday for the NESCAC championship and an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. The Jumbos and the Camels have faced each other in each of the past four years, with both teams winning two of the games. The Camels won the most recent game, earlier this year on Sept. 21, escaping with a 1-0 win on a goal from 35 yards out in the 41st minute of the contest. The Jumbos, however, have put that loss behind them, realizing that they are a better team than they were at the beginning of the season. "The game against Connecticut was at the beginning of the season, and we were not a cohesive unit yet, we were still getting comfortable with each other," senior co-captain Alle Sharlip said. "We're so much better as a team than we were when we played them the first time in September, and we're going in very excited and confident to play them again." The Jumbos are using this week to rest their bodies and work on refining both their offense and their defense for the weekend. "The week off is definitely going to help. At this point in the season, the players are banged up, over trained, and sick, and we're basically using the first few days as recovery days," coach Martha Whiting said. "Practices have been pretty light. It's also very nice not to have a mid-week interruption that we have to get up for, it just helps us focus more on Saturday's game." Sharlip is enthusiastic about the bye to the semi-finals as well as the time off. "Getting a first round bye is mainly a confidence builder. Also, towards the end of the season, our bodies are worn out, and it's a luxury to have a day off, especially for people who are nursing injuries," she said. While the Jumbos have been in the conference playoffs many times in the past, this marks the first season that they will be actually hosting the tournament. "For me and the rest of the seniors, it's so exciting to host the tournament, mainly because it gives us more home games," Sharlip said. "Just knowing you're in first place, and having family and friends there to watch you play makes it that much more special." Whiting agreed. "Not having to travel takes one bit of stress away. We get to sleep in our own beds, we don't have to wake up early and go on a long bus ride, and we get to play in a familiar environment surrounded by our fans," she said. "It definitely helps." While the Jumbos are both excited and confident to be going into the tournament in first place, they know that come game time, the seedings mean nothing. "We all know its an important game, so we are trying not to get too worked up about the fact that it's the playoffs and that we're the number one seed, and just focus on what we must do to beat Connecticut College," freshman Lindsay Garmirian said. "Everyone on our team loves to play soccer, and we're all so excited to be in the tournament," Sharlip said. "The fact that every game could be our last makes it all the more intense."

---

News

Voting too soon for a sticky campaign

November 6

There are several issues of concern and contradiction inherent in the current campaign for the addition of a conservative culture rep and the attitudes leading up to today's election for or against it. But the student body will not get a chance to debate these concerns, as this election is perhaps happening too efficiently and rather hastily. The Elections Board should probably have pushed the election back or publicized it more widely and effectively to give students due exposure to the issue before voting occurred. Few students are even aware that elections on the recent proposal are being held today, and even fewer are likely to be able to make a well-informed decision after its hasty campaign. On a whole, students probably do not feel like they know too much about what the conservative culture rep would be, let alone why they should vote for it. And there is no way that freshman have a clue what a culture representative is and what the lengthy struggle over their voting rights has been. The little campaigning that has occurred seems mostly to have come from currently-existing culture reps who are opposed to the idea of adding a new conservative culture rep to their mix. However, in looking at the issue more closely, this opposition seems slightly hypocritical on the part of current culture reps. If they are indeed arguing that minority groups need representation on campus, it is a bit counterintuitive that they are so opposed to the creation of a minority culture rep. The real reason is likely that they feel their power will be de-legitimized by the existence of a culture rep from a group that has consistently mocked the culture representative system. This refusal to accept new players in the system illustrates the randomness and exclusiveness of the culture representative idea in the first place. Perhaps this contradiction points to the larger argument that the whole idea of culture reps runs counter to what Tufts and its organizations should truly foster _ cooperative diversity, rather than divisive diversity. While differences between groups and people should be celebrated, saying that one group has special interests and must be specially represented because they are of a certain color or possess a certain ideology or any distinct characteristic simply defines and places people by rigid compartments. What we need to do is look beyond such stereotyping of interests and issues, and if diversity is what we truly seek to foster, vote no to any efforts to promote diversity simply for its own sake.

---

---

News

Volleyball and basketball, intramurals is an alternative to NESCAC sports

November 6

Hello and welcome again to the Intramural update. Let's start with the freshman leagues. Both the first place Mad Cows and the second place Dirties won their games on Thursday, with the Mad Cows defeating Tilton 3 by a score of 3-1 and the Dirties downing the Titans 4-1. The Dirties are only one game behind the undefeated Mad Cows at 6-1. Uphill defeated South 2 7-2 to move their record to 4-2 and drop South 2 to 2-4-1. The Gangstars thumped Tilton 1 10-4 to keep pace with the Dirties and hover at third place with a record of 5-2. Haskell/Jeff shut out the Invasion 4-0 to move their record to 4-3 and drop the Invasion to 3-3-1. The Munchies pounded Haskell Maria 10-4 to boost themselves to a record of 2-4-1 and send Haskell/Maria to 1-6. The Felons scored a 1-0 victory over South 1 to tie the Gangstars at 5-2. In freshman volleyball action, we are down to the final four. The first round of playoffs featured all nine teams in action. The Wildcats defeated the Raskells in the 8 vs. 9 game. The 8 vs. 9 game was a play-in game to determine which of the last two teams would get to advance to the next rounds. The Wildcats, however, lost their second game of the night, falling to number one seed Hill. The Titans defeated South 3 to advance. Tilton 1 beat the Tramps for their spot in the final four. South 1 nipped their South 2 brethren to advance as well. In the semifinals, it looks like Hill will play the Titans and Tilton 1 will match-up with South 1. The semifinal games will take place at 7 pm on November 12 with the championship immediately following the conclusion of the semifinals. Moving on to the upperclassmen volleyball matches. The following six teams made the playoffs: Fletcher Globetrotters, HNRC, the Isotopes, the Killer Beans, the Hornets, and John Sholle. The Globetrotters and HNRC both have byes to the second round. The Isotopes will play John Sholle. The Killer Beans will play the Hornets. In the final week of action, John Sholle took a forfeit over Indy. HNRC defeated the Hornets 2-0. The Isotopes collected a forfeit over the Knee Pads. The Globetrotters beat the Killer Beans 2-0. The playoffs will take place next Wednesday with the first round. The next two rounds will take place the following Wednesday at 8:00 with the championship game at 9:00pm. There was another round of basketball games on Oct. 28. The Big Guns beat the Fatalists 52-45 to drop the Fatalists to 1-5 and to boost themselves to 4-2. The Remmies triumphed 56-40 over Fletcher 1 to move their record to 2-4 and drop Fletcher 1 to .500 at 3-3. The Hooligans beat the Troops 58-42 in a battle between to 2-3 teams. Fletcher 2 whipped the E-men 75-41 to move to 4-2 and drop the E-men to 1-5. The Joel Aranson Project collected a forfeit in their game against now 0-6 DTD. The Joel Aranson Project is still undefeated at 6-0. In the women's division, The Staff beat the Shooting Stars 47-39. There are only four more nights of the regular season left before the playoffs. Here is how the standings come out. In the men's division, Joel Aranson Project is in first with Nemotada just a half game behind in second. The Hanging Chickens, Big Guns, and Fletcher 2 are three, four, and five respectively and each has four wins. Special Sauce, Fletcher, and the Hooligans each have three wins and are six, seven, and eight respectively. AEpi, the Troops, and the Remmies are the two-win teams, occupying places ten through twelve in the standings. The Fatalists, E-men, and DTD, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen respectively, are the three last teams. The order of placement in the women's division goes: Staff, Shooting Stars, Lady Malds, then Balla Status. Another week, another round of intramural action. Stay tuned next week. I'm gonna go drink.

---

News

Source' culture rep up for vote today

November 6

Many students won't discover that Amendment 3, a proposal to create a Primary Source culture representative to the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, is up for a vote until they are asked to cast an electronic ballot on it today. The proposal was pushed forward quickly so that students could vote on it at the same time as the election for open Senate seats _ which has some members of the TCU government worried that uninformed students will vote arbitrarily on the question. The implications of the referendum range far beyond the specific culture representative question, and the vote is likely to show the significant changes that online voting has had on the TCU system. One issue is whether the ease of organizing online elections is allowing the vote on the referendum to take place before students have a chance to learn about the issues. "I would question whether something [that] is coming up so quickly would be the real will of the student body since there isn't going to be that discussion on it," Senate Treasurer Benjamin Lee said. "Many freshmen do not even understand the entire culture rep controversy that has been going on in student government." This is the first time in recent years that a constitutional referendum has been voted on during a mid-year election. A referendum must be voted on by 20 percent of the student body for it to be considered, and mid-year elections in the past have suffered from a lack of student interest and low voter turnout. Referenda are usually reserved until the April presidential election _ when students are more likely to pay attention to TCU politics _ but in the past, even this has not guaranteed a high enough turnout. In the spring of 2000, an amendment to create a presidential cabinet failed because fewer than 20 percent of students voted. Student participation, however, has increased dramatically since elections went online, thus eliminating the need to wait until the spring presidential election to vote on constitutional referenda. "One thing in the future that the Senate is going to have to consider is changing the criteria for voting on referendum," Elections Board chairman Joe Coletti said. "With online voting, what we would consider is a bad turnout is enough for the referendum." Though some senators feel that there are not enough issues requiring referenda in existence for online voting to spark a slew of proposals, they are concerned that the ease of having an online election will hamper the quality of dialogue on potential amendments. While students are traditionally apathetic toward student government, they will pay attention to an issue if they are given time to think about it and discuss it, Lee said. When he led a constitutional referendum in the spring of 2001, he was able to get students to understand and take an interest in voting on the issue by starting the discussion ahead of time, making efforts to reach out to different campus groups, and using mass advertising techniques. Less than 30 percent of students voted in that election, but Lee feels those who did made informed decisions about the referendum question. In the case of the conservative culture representative, the Elections Board was told only four days ago that the referendum had been approved to be voted on by the TCU Judiciary and Committee on Student Life (CSL) _ and thus much of ELBO's advertising of the election does not inform students that students will also be asked to vote about the amendment. A public debate on the issue last night was also not advertised, either in a campus publication or on tuftslife.com. The Source hasn't "done much [advertising] because we were unsure about its actually happening," Source Editor-in-Chief Megan Liotta said. The Source originally approached the CSL on Oct. 25 to have the referendum approved, but the student-faculty committee needed time to research whether the proposal violated any laws or University policies before it could send it on the TCUJ. CSL approval was given Monday afternoon, and the TCUJ acted immediately to set the wording of the question so it could go on the ballot this week. Lack of student knowledge about the constitutional referendum is more likely to decrease turnout than it is to cause informed students to cast opinions, senators say. Students will just delete the e-mail reminding them to vote if they don't know what the issue is, Lee said. Some senators also worry that the details of the proposal for the Source culture representative were not fleshed out, which could potentially pose problems for the operation of the Senate. If the amendment passes, it would take effect at next Monday's Senate meeting. But the Senate has not yet determined how it would even go about electing a culture representative and what qualifications are necessary for the position. "If it passes, you're going to have someone who has no plan or who doesn't know what they are doing," Senate Historian Alison Clarke said. Senate Vice-President Andrew Potts said that a lack of pre-planning on the part of the Source should not have too great an effect on the functioning of the Senate. The Source feels it has fleshed out many of the details in the last two weeks. Liotta said that the editorial staff would nominate a representative from the group, and that a few names are being considered. The Source also has developed an agenda of issues it would like to press in the Senate, including reforming student government to make it more democratic. "The rep would have an agenda mirroring other culture reps, including faculty retention, department funding, and seeing the classes and requirements we want," Liotta said. "We would like to see World Civ. Requirement include Western thought courses as well." A conservative culture representative would be able to influence important issues. Last year, the vote on buffer funding for Radix passed only because of support from the culture representatives. The vote not to have Fall Fest this year passed by a small margin as well. Regardless, senators say that they will accept the results, no matter whether the amendment is passed or not. "It's the campus who tells us what the constitution will be, so you work with it," Potts said. "There were plenty of people on the Senate who were against culture reps having the vote, but they got the vote, so we worked with it." Kathryn Mims contributed to this article.

---

News

Seven Questions

November 6

Amy Cronin and Lindsey Beach Moses Hometowns: Somewhere over the rainbow in Seattle, Washington and Frisco, Cali... we're talking about the superior west coast. Birthdates: In these lives April 17 and June 10, 1982... the year of the um, dog, but we don't let this get to us. Zodiac signs: Aries and Gemini... fire and air signs, one kinda needs the other. Nicknames: Slymer and Moses or Mo if you are so inclined Favorite athletes: For me Ichiro... I am thinking his sumo stretch should be incorporated into speed school and for Linds Jeff Kent... he is just soo hot. @bodytext: Ever since I started this semester's work-out plan, I've been peeping two volleyball players from a distance. Amy Cronin and Lindsey Moses are dare I say, dominant in the sport of volleyball. Cronin with her vicious spikes and Moses with her picture-perfect sets. Although I've never actually attended a volleyball match to qualify my thoughts, I've watched the team warm-up on multiple occasions. I caught up to Cronin and Moses not pumping Junction in their walkmen, but practicing their teamwork in the gym so naturally seven questions followed. 1. One of you two are nicknamed "Slymer", care to explain? Yes, well I (Amy) am. What can I say, volleyball gets me all hot and bothered, and well, some females glisten, I slime. 2. Volleyball females are known for being tall, would either of you two even consider dating Jumbo Love Match host Andy Katzenberg, who stands at the height of 4'16''? Of course, although it did not work for Tom and Nicole, we are all about evening out the gene pool. My six feet and Andy's 4'16"... I think we could get someone of average height outta that, for a girl at least. 3. I hear there are many volleyball terms that the average Joe would not know, if you were to name a play after me, what would it be called? Hmmm, well we typically reserve the naming of plays to those men who have touched our lives in special ways, but for you we can make an exception. I think you would have to be the back-row attack, because it is powerful, almost illegal and leaves the receiver wondering what just happened. 4. New coach, same results, in my opinion you two are just dominant, but how dominant would you consider yourselves? We definitely try to dominate... once you're on top you just want to stay there. 5. How do you two feel about the spandex bottoms for uniforms? degrading? There is nothing degrading about wearing clothes like a second skin, especially brown shiny ones. Plus you can move quicker in them, which makes playing the game much easier. 6. I'm not joking on your fan support, but you two have any shout-outs to your fan base? Um, FANS? 7. You two are West Coast females; you miss beach volleyball? Sometimes, I mean you can take a girl from the West Coast, but you can never take the West Coast out of the girl.

---

News

Shedding some light on the hill

November 6

Tufts, like so many other colleges, is located atop a hill. Although the vast majority of Tufts students, faculty, and staff simply know it as "the Hill," University tour guides claim that its official name is Walnut Hill. While the hill undoubtedly plays an important role in shaping each Jumbo's college experience, I would argue that it most greatly affects the members of the debate society. They of all people should be thankful for the Hill. Without it, our thriving debate society would never have been able to reach its current level of international prestige. For it is the Hill that enables the debaters to hone their skills by arguing about the most divisive issue on campus: the legendary uphill-downhill feud. Whether the topic of conversation in the dining halls or in a foreign language class, the hill is always on students' minds. And in contrast to most other subjects, Tufts students do not drift to the middle when voicing their opinion about the Hill. Like New Yorkers are with the Yankees and the Mets, you're either uphill or downhill, but never both. I for one am sick and tired of the hullabaloo surrounding the Hill. That's why I have decided to set the record straight, once and for all. The following analysis is the product of three and a half years of grueling work and countless hours of research. So, without further adieu, I give you my definitive study of...THE HILL. Issue #1: Food. Dewick, Hodgdon, and the Campus Center comprise the three downhill eating establishments while Carmichael and Trios are both located uphill. Despite Carmichael's stir-fry, Belgian waffle, and omelet specialty nights, the centrally located Dewick is undoubtedly the superior dining hall. Providing more options, better quality food, a larger physical space, and an alcove, you're more likely to find an uphiller at Dewick than to find a downhiller at Carmichael. With a newly renovated patio, equipped with outside tables and scenic landscaping, not to mention a cool secret tunnel that connects to Dewick, Hodgdon take-it-away gets the obvious nod over Fletcher's Trios. Hotung Caf?©, the Campus Center Commons, and the student-run coffee shop, The Rez, can all be found in the Campus Center. I highly recommend the Rez's day-old muffins, the Commons' sun-dried tomato spread on deli sandwiches, and Hotung's chicken parmesans (but be prepared to wait half an hour and try to hold back the laughter when they ask the moronic question, "do you want sauce with that?" Who doesn't want sauce on a chicken parm?!). Advantage: Downhill. Issue #2: Dorms. Just to let you know, I am using the library as the uphill/downhill divide. Thus, uphill is defined as Miller, Carmichael, Houston, Wren, Hill, Hillsides, West, and Carpenter House, and downhill is Lewis, Hodgdon, Tilton, Haskell, Bush, South, Latin Way, Stratton, Metcalf, Richardson House, Wilson House, and all of the specialty houses. As uphillers have the pleasure of rolling out of bed and walking 25 yards to class, downhillers are forced to make multiple trips up and down the hill each day (Note: Avoid the deadly hill to the side of Hodgdon at all costs! Each week I see at least three downhillers hunched over, gasping for air as they attempt to ascend this mini-Kilimanjaro). Uphill loses points as a result of the rampant Wren bugs, but wins them all back thanks to Miller, the most social dorm, Hill, the dorm with the largest rooms, and most importantly, the oh-so-desired West, host of the Naked Quad Run. The only real redeeming quality of downhill dorms is that they are closer to the Campus Center, Dewick, and Davis Square and hence, the rest of Boston. Honestly though, how many times a week do you go into the city? Advantage: Uphill. Issue #3: Random Buildings and Facilities. Uphill's Dowling Hall is by far one of the best additions to the Tufts campus over the last few years. The prominent white pillars are the trademark of the University's oldest building, Ballou Hall. Resting at the summit of the President's lawn, students walk past Ballou a minimum of ten times a day but never enter the building. Furthermore, most students have no clue what, if any, purpose Ballou serves. (In case you were wondering, the admissions office claims that Ballou houses the offices of the president, provost, and former provost Sol Gittleman.) Downhill's Aidekman Arts Center, however, is by far the largest and most important building on campus. Aidekman is made up of the esteemed Alumnae Lounge, the beautiful Remis Sculpture Court, the high-class Tufts University [Art] Gallery, Balch Arena Theater, and Cohen Auditorium, which is utilized to host famous guest lecturers, comedy shows, concerts, Cheap Sox and Hype shows, and the TDC, Spirit of Color, and Sarabande dance performances. Moreover, located below Cohen is one of the best-kept secrets at Tufts, the Music Library. Just as if you were checking out a regular book, you can browse through the Music Library's extensive collection and take-out CD's. Advantage: Downhill. There you have it. Finally, a decisive answer has been reached; downhill is superior to uphill. I understand that some people will have a hard time accepting this and that they may doubt my reasoning. But I stand by what I have written. Not only is it what I believe, it is also the truth. So, if you see any uphillers on campus, be sensitive to their feelings. Embrace them and remind them that it could be worse. They could be uphill members of the debate society.

---

News

Grad school blues

November 6

Exams, papers, extracurricular commitments, and busy social lives are among the stresses that college seniors face. But some have taken on an additional burden that they say occupies as much time as an extra course _ the standardized testing and application process required to enter graduate school. These students in their last year at Tufts must balance the pressures of preparing for further education with the desire to enjoy the end of their undergraduate careers. "I've tried to take things as they come and have fun, remembering that it's my senior year and that I will be facing much more difficult challenges in medical school," senior Katie McGinigle said. Graduate school standardized tests are a major source of stress for many students during the first semester of their senior year, with months of test preparation culminating in a grueling half-day or full day of examinations. The lengthiest of these exams, the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), is comprised of five hours and 45 minutes of verbal reasoning, questions on the physical and biological sciences, and a writing sample. Some students take the test on its April date so that they can work on their applications during the following summer. But others who study abroad their junior year usually opt to take the exam in August after a summer of studying. Senior Brad Crotty did not study abroad, and so he was able to take the MCAT last April. "I tried to get [what I could] done over the summer to avoid the problems with school work," Crotty said. "However, I have entire days for the next few weeks where I won't be in any classes [due to medical school interviews]. While interviews are great, it puts added pressure to stay focused on classes." McGinigle, on the other hand, was abroad last semester, and took the MCAT in August after taking a Kaplan preparatory class over the summer. "My practice scores didn't change all summer, but my actual MCAT score was higher," McGinigle said. "The class assured me that I had systematically covered all of the subjects and provided me with a lot of practice material." Another of the standardized graduate school entrance exams, the Law School Admission Test (LSAT), is significantly shorter than the MCAT. The LSAT is a half-day test with multiple-choice sections on analytical reasoning, logical reasoning, reading comprehension, and an unscored writing section. It is offered four times a year, and students who do not go abroad their junior year often take the June exam while seniors take the October one. The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is the most general of the graduate school examinations, as it is used for a variety of types of graduate school. It includes verbal and quantitative multiple-choice sections, as well as a new analytical writing section that was added this October. The GRE testing takes up to three hours and 15 minutes. Unlike the other tests, students take it on the computer, which enables it to be offered multiple times a week at various locations. Senior Kristin Sternowski took the GRE at the end of September because she plans to apply to physical therapy programs. To review, Sternowski bought a practice exam book that included a CD-ROM program. "Taking paper exams did not help at all, but taking exams on the computer was very similar to the actual exam," Sternowski said. "I also spent a lot of time studying vocabulary by making flashcards." Now that most graduate school-bound seniors have completed the required standardized tests, most of them mirror the emotions of GRE-taker senior Dave Cades, who said he feels an "incredible sense of relief." Although Cades is not applying to graduate school next year, he still decided to take the GRE this year. "I wanted to take them before they added the writing section, and because the best time to take them is when you're in school since you're used to taking tests and preparing for them," Cades said. Those students who plan to attend graduate school next year now have to deal with the stress of completing the application process. "I'm dreading all of the essays I now have to write," Sternowski said. "I think spending small amounts of time working on it, and then not thinking about it the rest of the time, works well for me." The application process for law school and medical school are quite different. For law school, students must register with the Law School Data Assembly Service (LSDAS). Students submit individual applications to law schools, and the schools then request transcripts, test scores, and letters of recommendation from the LSDAS. Law school applications are rolling, but it is recommended that they be submitted around the end of October. Medical school, on the other hand, requires a three-step application process, with a primary application, secondary application, and interview. Deciding on a career path is also a major decision for students. "I am excited and worried at the same time about actually attending medical school," McGinigle said. "It's really stressful to basically sign a decade of your life away." Although some students may cite the poor job market as a reason for attending graduate school next year, that is not always the case. Instead, many seniors have long wanted to attend a graduate school for their chosen career path. "To generalize, I don't think that many people applying to medical school these days are going because of the market," McGinigle said. "There is just too much bad press about health care for that." Overall, those seniors who are taking on the added burden of graduate school applications are just attempting to get into the best schools possible. "Whatever happens, happens. I am trying to put my best foot forward," Crotty said.

---

News

America's 'inaction' and Iraq

November 6

This viewpoint is in response to Jonathan Perle's viewpoint in support of the future US attack/invasion of Iraq. Mr. Perle wrote with great confidence that this invasion/attack will be beneficial for the world, especially for the Iraqi people who will have "democracy" imposed on them. I, as an Iraqi-American, with family in Iraq, disagree with him. The US had not been without action for the past 12 years. The US has been practicing "siege warfare" as used in the Middle Ages. In the Middle Ages this referred to when one warlord would surround the castle of another and try to starve the defenders into submission. Today this is called sanctions. Sanctions may not be forcing the US to do anything but they are causing every Iraqi to run around each day in search for a means to survive to see tomorrow. Where should I start? If not for being in America, I would be one of a whole generation now growing up with their future blighted by sanctions. Take Iraq's collapsing education system: One in four Iraqi children now drops out of school. According to UNICEF, one in eight Iraqi children still do not make it to the age of five, with malnutrition to blame for 60 percent of their deaths. In a country with no proper economy, the vast majority of Iraqi families rely on government food rations to survive and some have to sell them to meet other basic needs. UNICEF says the situation had been getting progressively better since the UN's Oil-for-Food Program was introduced. But it is one of the most inefficient systems ever. Imagine trying to constantly restock a refrigerator for 23 million people. Wouldn't it be better to give the people tools to be able to provide themselves with food (restore the economy, help rebuild infrastructure etc.) rather than throwing them their rations? This one program was never meant to replace an entire national economy. What about Saddam's mighty regime? They hit the jackpot with sanctions. With the population weak and the black market completely under their control, all deaths that result from starvation and inefficiency from Oil-for-Food, the Baathis can blame on outside forces. Although I look at past history and I already know that sanctions have never worked in any other country, I will offer a realistic alternative to those who see war as the only solution. I believe the US, and the rest of the UN could have reformed and restructured the sanctions many times in these past 12 years so as to fill up the holes and perhaps make them achieve their intended goal. The entire world saw Saddam grow stronger, why not change the sanctions against him? Instead, Saddam was left alone and contained while the US was busy fighting other things. And now their plan to "action" is just as sloppily thought out and will be just as ineffective as all their previous ones. We can't forget that for nearly 12 years, the US and UK have been bombing Iraq continually, the longest US bombing campaign since Vietnam. The Washington Post reported that the US and UK had flown 280,000 sorties over Iraq. Iraqis are faced with terror from the bombing almost every day. On Aug. 25, 2002, for example, US planes bombed the city of Basra, killing eight more people. How is this inaction? Mr. Perle shared in his viewpoint that war happens and people do die. That is something he may accept. Being an IR major myself, I know we have all been taught this "realist" way of thinking. I don't accept it. There are over 40 bomb shelters in Baghdad built in the 1980s. I want Baghdad to one day be a city that does not invite war. I want these bomb shelters erased from Iraq's memory. Just because realism, which supports conventional warfare, is the dominant ideology in America, it doesn't mean we shouldn't start building ways to reduce militarism and violence in our lives both in the US and in Iraq. There are other non-military alternatives. Lastly, I want to point out that an image of a democratic Iraq the "day after" the invasion and attack is mere illusion. This war will not be fought for democracy or because of this "sudden" threat to the US from Baghdad. Iraq is merely an opportunity for the US to control the region, plain and simple. The possible "successors" to Saddam have been called by the British Sunday Herald, "corrupt, feckless, and downright dangerous. Some say they even make the "Butcher of Baghdad" look good." Here is a brief overview of who they might be: Neither the Iraqi Communist Party nor the Islamic Call, who are both groups that exist within Iraq, will replace the Baathis. They are intensely persecuted by Saddam's regime, are not liked by the West, and strongly oppose a US invasion. Second, neither will the groups representing sectarian or ethnic interests such as the four million Iraqi Kurds and the country's Shi'as (60 percent of the population). The US has sought their backing for its invasion plans, but they remain split within their own ranks, and have no chance of being installed in Saddam's place as they cannot claim to represent all Iraqis. Third, there are the new groups, often formed under US auspices after 1990. The US has tried to encourage senior members of Iraq's military and civilian establishments to defect to the West. It is from these groups that the US will select the new rulers if they succeed in ousting Saddam. So who are these lovely chaps? We have General Al-Khazraji, who was Saddam's chief of staff until 1991, leading the army through the Iran-Iraq war and the invasion of Kuwait in 1990. He left Iraq in 1996. He led the 48-hour chemical weapons attack which poisoned and burned 5000 Kurdish civilians in the town of Halabja in 1988! Hmmm... this one is hard to beat... but perhaps General Al-Salihi can try. Salihi played a significant military role in Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and was a commander of Saddam's top division, the Republican Guard. He was also engaged in putting down the uprising against Saddam 's rule that followed Iraq's defeat by US-led forces in 1991. And last but not least is Mr. Chalabi. He came to international attention not for his politics, but for fleeing to London from Jordan in 1989 amid allegations of embezzling millions from a bank he used to own. Chalabi took the reins of the Iraqi National Congress (INC), an umbrella organization created in 1992 with the assistance of the CIA. Although he never showed up at his trial, if he ever decides to go to Jordan, he will begin his 32 years in prison. I know, it's a hard to tell. Which one will be the better democrat? No one wants Saddam to go more than myself. Iraqis are the ones who truly suffered under him. It is we who lived choking in fear and witnessed, ate and drank the bloodshed and murder of this regime. But I do not (along with the many other Iraqis) support this attack/invasion. Rana Abdul-Aziz is a senior majoring in international relations and Middle Eastern Studies.

---

News

Latest production at Lyric Stage Company fumbles

November 6

"It's not a religion. Devotion isn't enough." So says a professional musician to an amateur musician of a career in the music business, in the Lyric Stage Company's new production of The Gig. Unfortunately, a lack of devotion to this point turns Douglas J. Cohen's musical adaptation of Frank Gilroy's film of the same title into another "decent but predictable" musical (which, incidentally, is what can make the genre so irritating). To its credit, however, the play does have some very good moments, musical numbers and an array of great one-liners. The play even has a great plot with very accessible characters: six guys with typical vocations who get together once a week to "jam." When they get an opportunity to play for an audience _ a "gig"_ they decide to give it a shot. Their motivation is two-fold: they want to have the experience of playing a live show and they want to see if they really are any good. When they get onstage, it is bliss. As the band-leader Marty says, "It's better than you could've ever imagined." But when their amateur status is revealed and they are told to pack it up, the band heads home feeling dejected. As band member Jack says, "The truth hurts." In typical musical theater "happy ending" fashion, the guys decide that the music is what matters most and they end the show with a happy, energetic musical number that sends the audience on its way with a stupid smile on its face. But to end the play joyously is unfair to the story, because this story is better than that. These guys are amateurs, and they were given the opportunity to get a glimpse of the life of a musician _ the feeling of performing onstage, and they loved it. When they are fired, they have to face the realization that music is not their life and they will not be able to spend their lives playing music for people. Instead, they are condemned to a life of suburban mediocrity _ the life of a dentist, a used-car salesman, or a real estate agent. Yet, the ending is not altogether depressing, either. Rather, it is, or at least can be, a realistic blend of joy and sadness. While the band's love of the music may always be present (as it is in the final number), every time they now meet to "jam," they will be painfully reminded that they are not playing for an audience and utterly conscious of their inescapable amateur status (whereas before they may have still had their pipe dreams). This ending reveals the true picture of most Americans today, who give up their dreams for their responsibilities and thus are left to deal with their realities _ though they usually do this by dreaming. In this story, however, these men have had the opportunity to put their dreams to the test and reality has cut them down. But in some ways, this experience is good for all of them because it allows them to face their lives more truthfully, focusing on their realities rather than their dreams. Despite the director's, and to a degree the playwright's, oversimplified interpretation of the story, the plot's merit still emerges in this production as the actors generally do a good job of telling the story. As used-car salesman and band leader Marty, Chip Phillips delivers a great performance by understanding that his role as "salesman" extends to more than just used cars. He convinces the guys to do the "gig" by telling them to do something for themselves, but then he turns the same demand back onto himself and effectively develops a three-dimensional character. Peter Edmund Haydu, as Jack, the pianist, is also impressive. He matches the intensity of Phillips as they fight for control of the band and control of each other, but at the same time share some great moments together. Paul Farwell and Peter A. Carey add pretty strong performances in addition to their strong vocals. In contrast, however, Brian De Lorenzo, Benjamin DiScipio and Brian Robinson, while displaying maybe the best vocals, lack a bit in the acting department, as their characters were very one-dimensional and they were obviously much more comfortable singing on stage than speaking. John Davin, who played the Hotel owner Abe Mitgang, and Kathy St. George, in her role as the fading star Miss Ricki Valentine, gave the show some very refreshing comedic moments. St. George's musical number as Miss Valentine leaves the audience in an uproar as she sings about her "hiatus" from singing spent in "detox." Similarly, Davin keeps the audience going with his non-stop so-cheesy-they're-funny jokes and quick one-liners like "The average age of this room is deceased." Yet, for all the show's humor, the fact that the end tries to, in the typical musical manner, wash over the realities and issues presented by the story keeps this production from being anything other than another "decent but predictable" musical with the slight advantage that it has the potential not to be. But, then again, so do a lot of musicals, if only they would let go of the need for that last note to be so ostensibly uplifting.

---

News

Vote yes on conservative culture rep

November 6

Prior to a TCU senate meeting last month, Rafi Goldberg had never considered that a "political minority may be suffering from the lack of a voice on the Senate, or that conservatives may be the targets of hate crimes," as a Viewpoint yesterday indicated. In doing so, the piece showed the campus exactly why it needs a conservative culture representative. Fortunately for Rafi and the rest of Tufts, the staff of The Primary Source is keenly attuned to the problems facing conservative students and is willing to work through student government to address those problems. A referendum on today's ballot calls for the creation of a conservative culture rep to the TCU senate. Clearly conservatives are a distinct minority here at Tufts, and consequently, the concerns of our community are not adequately represented by the TCU senate. But why does Tufts need a conservative culture rep, and why should you vote yes on this referendum? In the past year alone, conservative students have been harassed and physically assaulted, their media stolen and vandalized. Hate messages have been scrawled on bathroom walls and dorm whiteboards, and individuals have been verbally berated and ridiculed for wearing clothing that identified them as conservatives. Has the Senate passed a resolution asking for dialogue with conservatives to be free from harassment? No. Has the administration allocated increased resources to promote understanding of conservatives? No. Has the Bias Response Team taken the time to consider these problems with the same seriousness they show other minorities? No. The agenda of the conservative culture rep is no mystery, in many ways it is the same as every other culture representative. In addition to student safety and tolerance, a conservative representative would work on issues of faculty diversity, departmental funding, legal resources, and curricular diversification. For example, in an extensive study only two percent of Tufts' faculty was found to be registered Republicans, a clear indication that the conservative ideology is sorely underrepresented. Within the curricula, conservatives note that Tufts' "world civilizations" requirement is distinctly anti-Western civilization, is Western civilization not a "world" civilization that should count for this requirement? In addition, the voice of the conservative minority on campus also agrees with TTLGBC rep Kelly Sanborn and sophomore senator Chike Aguh in believing that the present culture rep system is less than ideal. The culture rep system cannot, however, properly reform itself without the input of the one culture on campus that has taken upon itself the task of naming the flaws themselves. Conservatives do believe that the current culture rep system is not perfect, but we hope to work with the other culture reps to create a system that all Tufts students can agree on. Too many times on this campus, students have been forced to fight against each other politically_ let's begin to work together. By being an active member of the senate and the Culture, Ethnicity, Community Affairs (CECA) committee, a conservative culture rep could be the catalyst for change that students of all ideologies and backgrounds would agree on. A culture rep is nothing more than an elected spokesperson for a group of people. Just as other minorities campaigned for a rep in the past, so too do conservatives feel that our voice is not being heard on the TCU senate. We seek only to add our voice to the dialogue that is student government, in order to foster discussion about what is best for all of Tufts University. The intention of creating a conservative culture rep is to cooperate with the current system and to increase productivity, not, asGoldberg's viewpoint alleges, "to stifle the development of Senate initiatives, preventing other members of the Senate from serving the people who elected them." On the contrary, we, the conservative community at Tufts, would like very much for the senators to serve the students as best they can. They can only do this if they understand fully the concerns facing these same students. Voting "yes" for the conservative culture rep can only aid them in their doing their jobs efficiently. Rob Lichter, a senior, is the News Editor of The Primary Source and vice president of the Tufts Republicans.

---

News

Candidates debate for open Senate seats

November 6

Hotung Caf?© played host last night to a candidate forum for the three recently vacated Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate seats. The candidate forum was followed by a question and answer session about Amendment 3, which would create a conservative culture representative to the Senate with full voting power. The main issues discussed included the Senate addressing international and national concerns, the justification for the closed Good and Welfare (G&W) session and the proposed conservative culture representative. There are currently two open Senate seats for the sophomore class and one for the freshman class. The vote will take place today online, and all freshmen and sophomores are eligible to vote. All of the candidates agreed that declarations on national or international policy should not be a primary concern of the TCU Senate. "Tufts should be the main concern," Jill Friedman said. Saj Pothiawala said the Senate's priority should be to "police Tufts." The question of the G&W sessions also produced widespread agreement. "Obviously they're important if they're there," Bianca Flores-Wyont said. In addition, Loi To argued that G&W sessions are useful to Senators. "It's just like a jury deliberating," To said. "You don't walk in on a jury deliberating." The only source of disagreement among the candidates was on the issue of Amendment 3. Several candidates said that conservatives deserve representation on the Senate, but The Primary Source should not serve as the umbrella conservative group. There needs to be a "new conservative organization representing all conservatives on campus," Alex Chassin said. On the other hand, Yang asked, "Do they really qualify as a culture?" Jeffrey Katzin disagreed, saying there "isn't a clear definition of culture." Another option suggested was allowing for partial representation without voting power. These objections, as well as others, were addressed during the question and answer session, when five members of the Source, including current Editor-in-Chief Megan Liotta and Editor Emeritus Sam Dangremond, fielded questions specifically about Amendment 3. Liotta defended the choice of the Source as the umbrella conservative group. The Tufts Republicans "do not represent all conservatives on campus _ they represent Republicans," Liotta said. In order to explain conservatism as a culture, Dangremond said that conservatism "cherishes the past" but is a "dynamic ideology." Conservatism is a set of "practices that we hold on a personal level," Dangremond said. The Source would support any group having a culture representative, according to Source News Editor Rob Lichter. "We would support a liberal cultural rep. and a moderate culture rep," Lichter said. Liotta continued, "Every culture that feels that they are marginalized on campus should have a vote." According to Liotta, some of the goals of the conservative culture representative would be to expand the World Civilizations requirement to include Western civilizations and examine methods of retaining conservative faculty members. At the end, Elections Board (ELBO) chair Joe Coletti emphasized the need for students to vote. Twenty percent of students are required to vote to make a decision on the referendum, but unless twenty-five percent vote, a two-thirds majority will be required, according to Coletti. The freshman candidates are William Dunn, Katzin, Flores-Wyont, Naomi Mower, To and Bharat Burman. The sophomore candidates are Chassin, Pothiawala, Friedman, Zijiang (Rodney) Yang and Cartter Evans.

---

News

Dali serves up Spanish flavor

November 6

For anyone eager for an authentic taste of Spain or looking for sangria as good as you found abroad, Dal?­ is an elegant, yet expensive place to try. If a jumpin' party crowd is what you're looking for, you won't find it at Dal?­. However, the bar next door and certainly the booze luge stand across the street make it well worth the venture. Dal?­ is located a 15-minute walk from Harvard Square on Washington Street, and we suggest not drinking too much before you leave or else you may accidentally stumble into the Harvard Chemistry Department's mid-semester celebration (oh wait, that's at the bar next door... we'll explain later). After looking at the pictures of couples making out on the Dal?­ website, we expected to witness some Spanish style loving firsthand, but instead, we found a rather tame atmosphere. Not only were we the youngest people there, but were among the few not on dates. And if you didn't come with one, you won't find an amante here since there was about as much mingling at Dal?­ as at a middle school dance. Aside from this lack of interaction, it was still a fun, hip scene to chill with friends. We had no problem hearing each other over the music, which was a unique assortment of traditional Spanish songs, Ricky Martin "hits," and our personal favorite, the Spanish version of "Hands Up." The d?©cor was quite impressive, especially the massive taxidermy attached to the kitchen sign. Other unique decorations included a mobile hanging from wine corks, a fishnet-clad pair of legs protruding from the wall, and a jack-o-lantern carved to look like the mask from Scream. It was the fun-loving staff, however, who contributed the most to our experience. The use of a bubble-blowing gun to liven up an already spirited rendition of Happy Birthday was representative of the staff's sense of humor. Likewise, one waitress dressed up as Cruella Deville remarked, "That's the way we like it, loud and dirty" after one lush spilled a few drops of sangria. We later observed Cruella and a few of her compadres slipping not so inconspicuously away for their own mid-shift spirits, and we don't blame them because the sangria rivaled that of Tiz??n, reportedly the best sangria in Spain. You can get the sangria by the glass or the liter, but the two-liter pitcher at $27 is the best bang for your (or your mom's) buck. If sangria is not your thing, there is an extensive, yet expensive, wine list. In addition, there is a small selection of beer, which includes one draught beer and three bottled varieties. We were hoping to try the infamous Spanish beer, Estrelle Galicia, but they were out of it when we went. Obviously, beer is not their forte, so we recommend sticking with the sangria. For those not willing to fork over the $12 food minimum required to sit at a table, you can order tapas at the bar. While we chose to stick with the safe, yet delicious option of tortilla espa?±ola, there were 35 other tapas on the menu. If you're feeling adventurous, we dare you to try chipirones rellenos, stuffed squid in its own ink. While Dal?­ is a great place to begin your evening, it does close at midnight. But the bar next door, The Kirkland, stays open later and is definitely worth a stop on your way home. Although somewhat intrigued by the music we heard coming from inside the bar, we didn't intend to investigate it until we were waved in by the Frankenstein-like bouncer and pardoned of the standard $5 cover charge (probably because there were more people playing in the band than there were drinking in the bar). The twelve-man Calypso band, however, was both entertaining and original (think the Swinging Johnsons on spring break in the Caymans). Although we were still unable to find any Spanish beer, The Kirkland had a wide variety of your standard fare. Be forewarned, if you need to break the seal, we recommend doing so at the clean dentist office-like bathrooms at Dal?­. Not only was The Kirkland's bathroom a little bit smelly, but one lush was attacked by Depo-Provera pamphlets upon opening the stall door. Both Dal?­ and The Kirkland offer distinctive experiences that are off the proverbial beaten path. Don't expect a raucous party crowd at either though. After all, tonight's feature at The Kirkland is the Harvard Chemistry Department's mid-semester "celebration." Most importantly, don't forget to pick up a booze luge at the big, white ice-vending stand across the street for the rest of your weekend's festivities.

---

News

Asian American rally celebrates diversity

November 6

The Asian Community at Tufts (ACT) kicked off Asian Heritage Month yesterday with an Asian American rally that trumpeted the theme of united diversity and focused on the need to break racial barriers on campus. The goal of the month is to increase campus awareness of the rich heritage of Asian-American and Asian students. ACT culture representative Kelly Condit expressed hope "that people can learn to cross color lines _ everything lines _ to make this university a better, safer community." "We are all privileged, educated young people of the future and we must realize that one can not celebrate diversity if one does not understand the people," she said. The theme of awareness and knowledge as a means for change in the community was suggested as a feasible course of action. "As citizens of the world we must seek to fulfill a global obligation. We must ask ourselves, 'How?' Why are we at this college?" Meena Sharma of the Tufts Association of South Asians (TASA) said. "This is not just a stepping stone on the corporate ladder." Sharma implored listeners to mobilize the strong support of the existing community and to "change the face in the mirror from one of diversity to one of unity." The rally is just the first of many events planned for Asian American month. A food fair will be held at the campus center today, and sushi-making workshop is planned for next Thursday. Several films with Asian American actors and themes will be shown each week. The month-long festival culminates with the Asian/Asian American Culture Show on Thursday, Nov. 21. At yesterday's rally, speakers shared thoughts on their experiences with identifying as Asians. While many felt as freshmen, that their concerns and problems were unique, one Asian Peer Educator said that she had also had difficulty identifying herself as an Asian. Having grown up in "white, middle-class suburbia," Sonya Jairaj considered herself as simply American. However, during the course of her first two years at Tufts, and with the help of the Ex-College course Untangling the Asian-American Web, she "came to recognize [herself] as an Indian-American woman living in America," she said. Many of the speakers also emphasized building unity within the Asian community at Tufts. Karen Lynn, a freshman in the Taiwanese Association of Students at Tufts (TAST), praised the council of Asian groups that has formed this year for its efforts to build ties within the Asian Community. Aaron Chiu, a senior in ACT said he never before realized that many of the groups shared the same concerns. "Each individual in this room has some quality that is different, yet we are all a part of the mosaic that is this community," he said. Even though speakers expressed frustration that past efforts at breaking down racial barriers had failed, they said not to point fingers but rather take responsibility and action. Yoonji Kim, a junior in the Korean Student Association (KSA), urged attendees to leave their comfort zones. "Whenever you see racial cliques in the dining hall or hear of a group feeling uncomfortable going to a culture house, realize that we can only win the fight against racism if you first win the battle within yourself, the battle to not become angry, bitter, or biased," he said. As an example of a diverse community, Casey Wong, spoke of his home state of Hawaii and how cultural connections there can supercede ethnic boundaries. A member of the Hawaii Club, he said Hawaii is "a living, breathing Mecca of diversity." Although Wong admitted that there are prejudices, there also "is less polarization of ethnic groups," than on the continental US, he said.

---

News

Musical rendition of 'Marty' debuts in Boston

November 6

If you're in the mood for a quaint, predictable, softy of a musical, Marty at the Huntington Theater might just be your ticket. Starring John C. Reilly, the film star from both Magnolia and The Good Girl, Marty attempts to explore the era of the mid-1950s in New York City amongst the glories of post World War II victory and the shadows of prejudices that lurk in very same hearts of those victorious. Marty's highs are just swell, however, as the underbelly of substance that Marty tries so hard to create just doesn't gain momentum. Based on the screenplay by Paddy Chayefsky, this musical rendition showcases both the life of 34-year-old Marty Pelleti (Reilly) and those he calls near and dear to him. The first scene gives a fairly direct portal to the world of Marty, taking place in the butcher shop where he works. People continually buzz around him, their demands ranging from meat to company to pressuring Marty to settle down and finally get married. Amidst all the chaos, Marty ponders if he is in fact a "lucky guy." Girls, apparently, would say no. Neither would his friends, a pack of four regular Joes, or his mother, played impeccably by Barbara Andres. In fact, the only person who sees Marty as a special and unique presence is his love interest, Clara, who is somewhat of an odd duck herself. Yet, every character still wants Marty to hang around their lives as somewhat of a reliable consolation prize, thus discouraging him from seeing the one person who sees him as the prize. In the end, while Marty uses the traditional love story as its vehicle, the underlying theme of play is indubitably about the various types of loneliness plaguing the world. Be it the loneliness of an empty-nester mother, to that of a smoozing best friend, to the individual loneliness that Marty himself must attack in order to accept that he has a right to be happy, the glitz of the jitterbug cannot balance out the heaviness of the play. But, the dancers in the Stardust Ballroom certainly come close. With glittering red dresses and a bandleader with a voice straight out of the rat pack, the dancers practically float along the stage. For the first time, everyone in the theater, actors and audience included, seem to be having fun. Another terrific scene occurs in a bar where the four fellas regale each other with both fictional tales and ladies _ who literary pop out of the scenery. The tempo picks up and certain originality to the show is gained. In the second act, Marty and Clara tour the city's bridges and Marty talks about his time in North Africa, and a star that his father gave him when he was younger. In the scene, Marty becomes an enriched and lively character. No longer is he the standard, lonely misfit that has been played in every feel-good show since the dawn of theater. He is this specific boy, talking to this specific girl whom he hoped liked him back. In that sense, Chayefsky succeeded as he "set out in Marty to write a love story_ the most ordinary love story in the world... I wanted to write a love story the way it would literally happened to the kind of people I know." Amongst all the characters, Clara and Marty are the most identifiable. The other characters are, unfortunately, mostly well done caricatures. His best friend, Ange, is fairly one sided, consistently selfish in his desires of Marty, but that's a fault in the plot _ not in the actor. Jim Bracchitta, who plays Ange, gives a lively performance that is enjoyable, but his character simply doesn't seem to have a life outside of his relationship to Marty, which is limiting. Meanwhile, Marty has a cousin and cousin-in-law who crash in and out of the story like bad houseguests, messily complicating the life of the host for no apparent purpose. Their subplot attempts to bring depth to the idea that everyone uses and abuses Marty, yet it is too blas?© and lacks the depth of diversion that Marty's friend have in their antics. With musicals often seem to come stereotypes. The music and lyrics of Marty were written by the same men, Charles Strouse and Lee Adams respectively, who penned the music and lyrics of Bye Bye Birdie. But, in Bye Bye Birdie, the stereotypes fit together to make a sensational, if not cheesy, musical. Marty has the same upbeat score, jiving choreography (by Tony-award winner Rob Ashford), yet the sensational aspect is somewhat lacking. Marty is a good show. It is a mildly entertaining musical. John C. Reilly is charming as always with his loser-turned-winner character and, for the most part, so are his fellow cast members. The difference, however, between Bye Bye Birdie and Marty is that Marty wants to be taken seriously. Yet sadly for Marty, people these days rarely tend to take Elvis impersonators seriously.

---

News

Homestyle southern fare in nearby Davis Square

November 6

Red Bones is a way to get away from the usual northern US cuisine. Hidden in Davis Square, Redbones, along with its bar counterpart UnderBones located in the basement, offers something you usually find down south. What's better about Red Bones is that instead of a plane ride, you just need to walk to Davis with only a few bucks and an empty stomach. No fancy dress required, no expectations needed. Red Bones is a great place to eat cheap, quick, and easy. The entrance is found on Chester Street, across the road from McDonald's. There is a parking lot located conveniently nearby if you decide to drive. The door is a little hard to see, as it looks like more of a night club entrance from the outside. That all changes immediately once you get inside. As soon as you set foot in the door, you have a choice to make. You can sit down at a table and get some ribs, or you can go down the stairs to the bar. Both settings are fantastic. There are bright colors, pictures of ranchers with huge slabs of beef, and plenty of other things that grab your attention. We chose to stay upstairs. Once seated, you are greeted right away by a waitress. The menu needs no explanations, as each item is pretty simple. But, if you do have a question, such as the difference between styles of ribs, the servers are more than excited to tell you all about them. Aside from setting and service, what makes a place successful is the food. Red Bones succeeds in this area, too. First off, your drink will come in a glass jar the size of a Nalgene. Next, instead of a basket of butter and rolls, you'll get something a little different. The butter will be there, but you won't get the normal bread. Instead, a warm, large, thick piece of cornbread will make your appetite switch right into southern mode. What about the dishes? Well, you do not really go to a place like Red Bones and order a salad or fish. We got some meat: the ten-ounce sirloin and the Memphis ribs. The Memphis ribs were fantastic. Basically, they fell right off of the bone. Not only that, but the serving is huge, as are most of the dishes at Red Bones. The ten ounce sirloin was also good, but about two of the ten ounces must have been thick, hard fat. Red Bones isn't the Four Seasons, but still, nobody really wants to down solid chunks of fat. The steak was ordered to be cooked medium, but at Red Bones that means rare. It had to be sent back, but there was no problem and in about a minute, it was back on the table, cooked to order. In total, three different servers asked if the steak was better after being sent back _ showing that they actually care about what you think, not just about getting the check. There are not many other places with this genuine southern hospitality. Along with your meal, you'll get a side order. Go for the fries. They are big, and you get a lot of them, easily enough for two hungry people. If you do not want fries, you can get just about anything else you can think of, and if there still isn't anything that suits you, you can get some more corn bread. Unfortunately, the restaurant can get a little cramped at times. We were lucky enough to get our own table. A lot of people end up sitting at long, cafeteria-like tables. If this happens, you'll probably sit across from your date, friend, group, whatever, and on both sides will be random strangers. Most of the people eating there seemed kind-hearted and genuinely nice, but if you wanted a large dinner with other people you could just go to Carmichael or Dewick. The noise level is also a little more than you might want at times, possibly having something to do with the close quarters in which you are eating. Elbow room is virtually non existent if you land one of the group tables. In total, the check came out to about $35 with the tip, drinks, sides, and entrees. If you wanted to minimize your expenditures, two people could get by with about $20. As for the bar, it has become a popular place on Thursday nights, and it can fit a lot of people. It is large, nicely lit, and has a good reputation for being clean and laid back. All in all, Red Bones is a great place to go before a night out, or after a long day of classes and exams. Just sit back, relax, and prepare to reward yourself with some great ribs.

---

News

A confident volleyball squad beats up Clark

November 6

For the second consecutive year the volleyball team reached the 20 win plateau thanks to a 3-1 victory over Clark College last Thursday. With an overall record of 20-12, and a conference record of 6-4, the Jumbos are seeded sixth in the NESCAC playoffs. Although the match ended 3-1, it was not that close. Tufts dominated for the majority of the game, winning its sets 30-18, 30-22, and 30-15, while the Penguins managed to eek out a 30-27 victory in the second set. The back-line combination of senior Paulette Pacheco and junior Danielle Cafasso continued their impressive play, totaling 29 and 23 digs respectively. The front-line of the Jumbo defense played well as a group, as the team recorded 16 assisted blocks. On the offensive end junior Amy Cronin led the team with 25 kills. Freshman April Gerry and sophomore Ali Sauer also had a good game, tallying 14 and ten spikes respectively. The spikers benefited greatly from strong setting work by junior Lindsey Moses, who averaged over 14 assists per game. Despite the win however, all is not well for the Jumbos. The team is banged up after fighting through a rigorous season during which the team played more than four times a week. Thus, the seven-day break between the Clark game and the start of the NESCAC playoffs will be crucial period as the team hopes to get as close to 100 percent as possible. The biggest injury to the team came when sophomore hitter Emily Macy went down with an ankle sprain and missed the end of the season. "Macy will definitely be back in action in time for NESCACs," assistant coach Jessica Stewart said. It was important that after losing its previous two games, Tufts took care of Clark to give itself some momentum heading into the NESCAC Championship on Nov. 8 and 9 at Williams College. The Jumbos will begin their drive for the title with a match against third-seeded Amherst. In their previous match against Amherst, the Jumbos went down in straight sets. That match was Tufts fourth match in two days, however, as the game came on the tail end of a NESCAC weekend held in Cousens Gym. The team was fatigued and did not play its best game. But, it was also the fourth game of the weekend for Amherst. Although Tufts lost to Amherst in their previous meeting, the Jumbos are very positive going into their second match with Amherst. "I am completely confident that we can win that game. We are a faster, a more intense, and a more disciplined team than they are," Pacheco said. "Amherst is a really quiet team and I just think we need to keep our energy up and let our enthusiasm fuel us. We definitely didn't play our game when we saw them earlier in the season, so they still haven't really seen us. We are all really excited that we get to see them first." Coach Cora Thompson is also confident that if the Jumbos play to their potential they can handle Amherst. As a result, she is not planning any major changes to combat the Jeffs. Amherst is 19-6 overall, with an impressive 8-2 record in conference. Its two losses in conference came at the hands of the one and two seeds in the tournament, Williams and Colby respectively. The Lady Jeffs also defeated Colby once, as did Tufts. The winner of the Tufts-Amherst game should face Colby in the semifinals. Williams is the odds on favorite. The defending NESCAC champions added the 2002 Little III Championship to their resume with wins over Amherst and Wesleyan this weekend. The Ephs are 9-1 in the conference, having lost to Colby once. Williams defeated the Jumbos 3-0 in their one match this year. The Jumbos seemed unfazed by an opponent as menacing as the purple clad Ephs. "Player for player I honestly believe that we are better than any other team in the league," Cronin said. "If we play our best, sell out, and leave it all out on the court, I believe we will come back from Williamstown with a NESCAC championship."

---