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Nameless band seeking suggestions

November 6

I ring the doorbell to the Sigma Nu fraternity house on Professor's Row, and after about thirty seconds of waiting out in the frigid autumn air, I am let in. "I'm here to see Ben," I tell the guy who stands before me. He leaves to go find his frat brother, and after a minute, I hear footsteps coming down the windy wooden staircase next to me. "Oh, what's up dude," Ben says as he sees me standing before him. "I totally spaced out. Come on up." We make our way into a room in which a few other guys are watching television and we each plop down on our own couch. In between bites of pizza and chuckles invoked by a Saturday Night Live rerun, I get to know Ben Halperin, lead guitarist and singer for Boston Funk Band. "BFB," as Ben likes to refer to them, was formed about a year ago here at Tufts. Since then, Halperin and the other members (Rich Wilner, Brian Ezra and Mark Shwayder) have made themselves prominent figures on the Tufts music and party scenes. The group formed through mutual relationships and after about a week of jamming together they performed their first gig on Dearborn Street in a friend's basement. The band only managed to perform six songs before the cops broke up the party, but BFB still received great feedback from everyone in attendance. Since that first performance as a nameless band _ both literally and figuratively _ BFB has played at numerous fraternity parties on campus and has taken their music to Common Ground in Brattelboro, Vermont. "We're taking definite steps to get outside Tufts more," explains Halperin. "Hopefully, by the end of the semester we'll be playing somewhere every weekend." Ben hopes to bring his group as far as Providence, Worcester, and Framingham, and looks forward to gracing the stages at The Middle East, Harper's Ferry, and The Burren. After receiving his first guitar for his bar mitzvah, the twenty-one year-old college junior says "it has been uphill since then. I haven't hit a rut yet." Halperin plans to take his band with him to the top, but realizes that it will take time and a lot of luck. "If I could march into Sony and say, 'Sign me,' I would, but you can't do that. They made a movie about that. It's called Airheads." His explanation amuses everyone else in the room. "Fronk," not funk, is what the band calls its style of music, as it is a combination of rock and funk. With influences like Phish, the Beatles, jazz, and seventies funk, it is no wonder that BFB's music attracts an audience with a diverse musical palette. Boston Funk Band's promotional CD, Ride the Train, was released last year and sold about fifty copies at various Tufts shows. Although the album didn't quite go platinum, Halperin is optimistic about the band's upcoming release, Connected to the Ground. "But it's kind of hard to do that if we don't have a name for the band," explains Halperin, a grin taking over his face. The band, which was at one point in time unnamed, will soon again be nameless. That is, until they can come up with a new one. "We're open for suggestions to tell you the truth," says Halperin after explaining that the group's manager, Josh Klein, a Sigma Nu alum and former member of the band, Stufus, advised that they change their name for marketing reasons. Contributing to Halperin's enthusiasm about the upcoming album release was his involvement in creating the tracks. "In general I had a large influence on most of the lyrics," he says proudly. In the past, Halperin rarely focused on the lyrics in the music he listened to, but a song called "The Other Man" by the Canadian band, Sloan, changed all that for him. "After about a dozen times of listening to the song I finally said, 'Whoa, they're talking about something really cool here', " he explains. Aside from guitar practice on Mondays and Thursdays _ to which Halperin adds that Tufts need more practice facilities _ the musician keeps up with his studies as a political science major and still has a bit of leisure time. "We do a lot of chillin. Just chillin with the friends. Oh yeah, and I'm in a frat. I'm actually the president of this place," he tells me amidst the incessant crunching of pizza crust and a roomful of eyes fixated on ESPN. "I'm not that interested in growing up right now," he exclaims as he finishes off his last slice. It becomes obvious that what he is interested in is finding a new name for his band. "Remember, we're taking suggestions," I hear him call out over the clanking of my feet on the windy, wooden staircase before I make my way out into the night.

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News

Republicans gain control in Washington

November 6

Republicans hope to use their newly-regained control of Congress and the Presidency to push through a number of President Bush's policy goals. Although they will still face opposition from Democrats, the consolidation of power will help Bush make his post-Sept 11 plans a reality. The election results do not necessarily mean that the United States has made a conservative shift, Tufts professors say. The number of close elections and the small lead the Republicans have in Congress show that most Americans remain middle-of-the-road. The Republicans likely won this election because of their increasingly moderate stance, and on the continued coattails of Bush. Republicans emerged victorious from Tuesday's mid-term elections, winning majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. For the first time since the Truman administration, the president's party has gained control of Congress during midterm elections. In the Massachusetts gubernatorial race, Republican candidate Mitt Romney defeated Democrat Shannon O'Brien. Romney campaigned as an "outsider" to Beacon Hill and on his experience of running the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Political Science Chair James Glaser said the gubernatorial race "was a standard Republican-Democrat fight" the Republicans won by commanding the center ground and winning over independents, he said. Romney's victory means that the Republicans' 12-year hold on the Corner Office will continue for at least another four years. But things will not be altogether easy for the new governor, who will face a state legislature that has been controlled by Democrats for the last 40 years. Republicans also won gubernatorial races in Florida, Texas, Minnesota and New York. Democrats gained the governors' offices in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and Maine. The party held onto California. "The governors' races are local" and don't necessarily reflect national issues or trends, Political Science Professor Jeffrey Berry said. "When you need to throw the rascals out, you only have one other party to put in," so voters disappointed at the incumbent party's performance will naturally choose the other side. States are facing less revenue from a drop in taxes and a weak economy, so "the incumbents are less popular" because they couldn't do as much with less money. In states where the governorship transferred from one party to the other, the change was "because of fiscal pressure, not necessarily a swing to the right or left," Berry said. Democrat John Kerry was re-elected to his seat as Massachusetts' junior Senator, without any major opponents. Libertarian Michael Cloud ran against him but only won 19 percent of the vote. Republicans hold the US Senate with 51 seats, with two races undecided at the time of print. Last year, Democrats gained the majority with 50 senators, after one senator from Vermont defected from the Republican Party to become an independent. "The election was razor-thin up until the last day," Glaser said. "It's a period of even-steven but the Republicans have the opportunity to push their agenda and shape public opinion." With Republican majority in Congress, Bush will likely be able to pass legislation with greater ease. But, "the Senate is a graveyard for legislation," Glaser said. The Republicans still do not have 60 percent of the Senate, which is necessary for a filibuster, Berry said. No matter what, he said, "Republicans control the agenda." The swing "diminishes the Democrats' microphone" and puts the party "in a bit of shock and disarray." The main goals of the Republicans include creating an extensive Homeland Security department, domestic tax cuts, a national energy plan and the confirmation of conservative judges. The shift will not have an immediate effect, however. Bush will begin preparing for his re-election campaign in 2004, and is likely to be the leading candidate. If he is re-elected, the Republicans will have up to six years to institute their policy changes. Some have speculated that a Republican Washington will encourage conservative Supreme Court Justices, notably Chief Justice William Rehnquist and Sandra Day O'Connor, to retire because a conservative judge will likely replace them. In a reverse effect, liberal judges may stay on longer than they had planned, Glaser said. He pointed to Justice John Paul Stevens as a judge who is at retirement age, but does not want to be replaced by a successor who will undo his works. Democrats have already begun pointing fingers to explain Tuesday's loss, which was greater than expected. Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle of South Dakota has been under scrutiny _ critics blame him for letting the Democrats go along with too many of Bush's initiatives. The Democrats seemed to lose their character and not have anything to stand out on. "[They] have to stand for something," Glaser said. "They need stronger leadership." "They need a compelling alternative on the economy," Berry said. While the Democrats are still strong on social security and pharmaceuticals, they "need to communicate to the American public that their version [of Medicaid] is better." Missouri Representative Richard Gephardt has announced he will step down from his post as Democratic Leader in the House, after eight years on the job. Gephardt is likely to begin a presidential campaign, as he has been making frequent trips to Iowa and New Hampshire. Martin Frost of Texas and Nancy Pelosi of California are the front-runners to succeed Gephardt. If Frost takes the position, both Democrat and Republican leaders of the House will hail from the Lone Star State. Dick Armey, from Irving, Texas is the Republican House Leader. But the exact balance of power in Washington has not yet been finalized. Senate races in South Dakota and Louisiana have yet to be determined _ although the two seats up for grab would not change the Republican majority. In Louisiana, Democrat Mary Landrieu won the most votes, but had under 50 percent of the electorate. Under state law, she will enter a runoff election in December. Four House races remain undecided, as well as three Governor spots. In Alabama, both candidates claim they won the election, as both presidential candidates did in Florida in the 2000 election.

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News

Trustees put last year's meeting in the past, discuss future

November 5

Nine months after a heated discussion between students and Trustees erupted at an open forum last February, members of the University's Board of Trustees said the incident "is over and done with" and that they are ready to find new, more appropriate ways of interacting with students. At the Board's annual November meeting last Saturday, Student Trustee Representative Matthew Kane led a discussion about the future of the student-trustee relationship. Kane hoped that the discussion would expel any lingering resentment among trustees about the February luncheon. "While the point of my discussion was to highlight the need for more and better communication between trustees and students, it was also important for me to make trustees understand students' motivations in relation to the February luncheon," Kane said. Some trustees said they do not think the episode in February would have much of a long-term impact nor had it affected the board's willingness to address student concerns. "I think its something considered to be over with as far as the trustees were concerned," Norman Silverman said. "There was nothing mind altering [about the discussion]. The respect for the student body still remains." The discussion could raise the awareness level of trustees in learning how to deal with portions of the student body who have differences with the administration in the future, Silverman said. Students usually get a chance to meet with Trustees formally once a year. Last year, that interaction was in the form of an open-forum luncheon at Dewick, and students overwhelmed the trustees with aggressive questioning about racial issues and the political climate on campus. "If you were there, you recognized there was a mass of students who were so agitated over the issue that their expressions were not ones that were effective in capturing the respect of the trustees," Silverman said. The board's chairman, Nathan Gantcher, was forced to go to the hospital following the ordeal, according to Silverman. The students last year were mild when compared to the turbulent 1960s, Trustee Thomas Winkler said, but that it was far from what any of the trustees had expected. "It wasn't so much the issue _ it's just the tenor and the tone. I think we just expect more from our students," Winkler said. Silverman said that many trustees were "disappointed" with the meeting, which normally provides an opportunity to "get feedback from [students] on their concerns and their satisfactions, which are also nice to hear sometimes." Trustees were grateful for Kane's initiative, even though the discussion was hurried because it was placed at the end of the agenda of a meeting that was already running late. Winkler said this discussion fit in well with the "education of the trustees" as every year they must learn what issues are important to students. "All of us are good listeners and we're here to learn too," Winkler said The trustees said students need to have a clearer understanding of the Trustee's position and their responsibilities to students. "I think sometimes students get confused [about] what trustees are _ who we are and what we do," Winkler said. "Everybody might be a little surprised we're not as involved in day to day relationships with the University as you may think." Trustees generally try to keep their focus in the areas of fiduciary responsibility, academic affairs, buildings and grounds and the hiring and firing of important University personnel. They cannot get involved with changing everyday things, Silverman said. Both Silverman and Winkler had a positive outlook on future of the relationship between the board of trustees and students. "There's no reason for me to believe that they won't be excellent...as long as [the students] realize the limitations of the responsibility of the trustees." Winkler said he would like to hear from students even more frequently. "I think [students] should be [at trustee meetings] all the time, unless it is for an executive session," "It gives us input and insight," Winkler said. Though trustees do not want to repeat the fiasco in Dewick, they are open to ideas on how to incorporate students into their future meetings. According to Winkler, trustees are also eager to try a different kind of format and maximize their ability to communicate with representatives from diverse groups in the student body.

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News

Cruisin' USA

November 5

Even without training wheels on their bikes, the Tufts cycling team has managed to forge through adversity and compete at a high level in the Eastern Collegiate Cycling Conference (ECCC). With the first competitive mountain biking season in Tufts history now completed, the coach and the riders are looking forward the spring road racing season. This fall, the team had four races, occurring over nine days of racing. Highlights included a 13th place finish at the UMass race and eighth at a race two weekends ago at Plattekill Mountain in New York, hosted by BU and Northeastern. While no one from the squad made nationals, such expectations were not set in place from this essentially first year program. "When I first got here, there were only three or four guys on the cycling team," sophomore mountain team captain James Gronek said. "Now there are five guys who consistently race, not to mention the other fifteen or so who race with us during the week but don't compete. Our program is definitely making strides." Of the five riders who competed in races this fall, there was one freshman, two sophomores and two seniors. The one freshman, Charles Pace, put in a strong performance at the Plattekill race. He competed in both the dual slalom and downhill events and finished near the top in both. "A lot of the riders had never raced before and are getting into cycling for the first time," said Mark Abramson, head coach and conference director. But it was not only the freshmen newcomers making a difference. Senior Chris Gagnon was the only Tufts rider to compete in the A class, the best of the four classes. He finished near the middle of the pack most of the time, but in the process set a good standard for future Tufts riders to reach toward. In preparation for the competitive season, the team rides every day except for Sunday. The Fells, a ten minute bike ride from campus, provides a mountain biking course for the squad to practice on. This is a 3,000 acre area which surrounds route 93 and is complete with trails, fire roads and other suitable obstacles. For the road season, they gear up on a thirteen mile path that starts in Arlington and stretches through Lexington and Concord. "Believe it or not, there is some killer riding around here," Abramson said. Outside of riding, the team does its share of weight training and cross country skiing to prepare itself. At Tufts, cycling sits at club sport status, much like at every other school. Cycling is in fact a club sport at every school, largely because it is not a sport sanctioned by the NCAA. But would the team like the sport to achieve varsity status? "I like it the way it is set up now," senior road racer Sam Dangremond said. "This way, we can set up rules and do things without all the bureaucracy." Abramson agreed. "With cycling as a club sport, the students get a good opportunity to work on their leadership skills," he said. "They are the ones who organize the tournaments. They're the ones who get the sponsors and the alumni donations." But there are those who could tolerate the move from club status to varsity status, but still enjoy the system as it stands. "I think it would be awesome if we were varsity", Gronek said. "While school money covers the hotels and gas money, all the equipment is our expense. But, we would be restricted as to how many people we could have on the team if we were varsity. As a club sport, the more people we have the more fun we have." Whether these riders are varsity or not, they approach their sport with the same amount of vigor. In late March, they will host a race on our campus, bringing their energy and enthusiasm to a home course.

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News

Condom Sense

November 5

There was one day in seventh grade that everyone dreaded, yet no one would have missed for the world. Our twelve-year-old bodies were blooming faster than the spring trees, Sean and Anna were just caught kissing in the woods, and it was time to learn how to put a condom on a banana. It seemed simple enough: pinch the tip, and roll it down. But then again, it's much easier to manipulate an unripe fruit than a fleshy thing with nerve endings. Seventh grade was a good introduction, but correct condom usage is much more complicated than pinch-and-roll-down-the-Chiquita. Most of the sexually active population has mastered the act of putting on a condom, but there still seems to be confusion surrounding where to keep them, how to take them off, and even when to use them. "Best if used by" dates are most closely associated with tomato sauce, milk, and loaves of bread. Since we don't eat condoms, it may not always occur to us to check the expiration date printed on the side of the package. I suggest checking this date before you plan on using the condom. In the heat of the moment, any mauled package with a word that resembles "Trojan" seems adequate. There is nothing that kills the mood more than having to tear through everything in your room to find a condom. For quick and easy access, keep your rubbers in a container close to your bed. Exposure to extreme temperatures can weaken the latex, so wallets and glove compartments are not good storage spots. Besides, chances are, you're not slick enough to have to carry a condom with you everywhere. You're probably not going to get lucky walking to the campus center, or cruisin' to Store 24. A well-stocked dresser drawer should be quite sufficient to fulfill most people's condom needs. When reaching for a condom, we can sometimes get a little carried away. In the throes of passion it is often tempting to rip the condom open with your teeth, let out a growl and then pounce on top of your partner like a caveman. Whereas some may find this behavior a turn-on, it is not advisable. Condom companies warn against any sort of violent ripping of the wrapper, as it can also tear the condom. (I don't mean to cramp anyone's style, you can still growl and leap if you want to, just be delicate when unwrapping the rubber.) In case the whole Tarzan act isn't enough to suitably excite your partner, you may need to use some extra lubrication. If you are out of lube, the kitchen is not a good place to look. Vaseline, Crisco, and anything that is oil based will weaken the condom. Latex condoms require water-based lubricants; you can never go wrong with a little KY Jelly. Now that you have a water-based lubricant, an un-torn condom, and a willing partner, it's time to perform what you practiced on that green banana. Pinch the top of the condom to make sure there are no air pockets, and roll it all the way down to the base of the penis. Congratulations! Your shloppy is now covered, lubed, and ready to ride. Whether it is a long Sunday drive, or a dash to the quickie mart, it is important to acknowledge when your outing is over. When you run out of fuel, stop driving. After ejaculating, the penis acts very much like the witch in the Wizard of Oz. (The line: "I'm melting, I'm melting" should spring to mind.) As the penis gets smaller, the condom fits more loosely. For this reason, it is important to grip the bottom of the condom while the penis is being withdrawn. After going through the trouble to practice safer sex, it's a major rip to have the condom slip off after the deed is done. Although condoms are marketed mainly for use during intercourse, if any orifice is being entered, the penis entering it should be covered. Words to the wise: flavored condoms are not manufactured because vaginas have taste buds. They are a yummy way to practice oral sex more safely. Spitting is not practicing safer sex; unfortunately, you cannot spit out an STD. Once semen has entered your mouth, the damage is done. Pulling a porn move, and having the guy ejaculate over your chest, instead of in your mouth, will greatly decrease your chances of contracting HIV or Hepatitis B. However, even if no semen enters your mouth, unprotected oral sex can leave you with herpes, syphilis, or in rare cases, HPV. Using a condom is a much more complicated task than was originally presented to us by our Sex Ed. instructor. Since you can't double-bag a penis for extra protection, every condom you use must be in tip-top condition. Each time you put a condom on and take it off, you must be sure that you are doing it correctly. After all, more than just your partner could be riding on it.

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News

A voting conundrum

November 5

My party has failed me. The Democratic Party has once again failed to produce a candidate with unapologetically progressive views. I don't want a moderate democrat who will compromise her progressive convictions, if she actually has any, in favor of politics. Nor do I want my vote for the truly progressive Green Party candidate, Jill Stein, to help the conservative idiots win. I am in a huge dilemma, along with many friends and colleagues. How can we vote our conscience on Election Day, and not have our vote count in the end against our values? Why can't I check "Jill Stein" and not worry that it is "thrown away," or that somehow it's actually a vote for Romney? Imagine if a vote for Nader in 2000 didn't help George W. Bush win the election. It is possible. It is possible. The solution is automatic run-off voting, and it needs to be instituted immediately. Haven't heard of it? If so, that's probably because the two major parties that control our government have every reason to keep it from happening. The two-party system, not surprisingly, has failed to support a voting system that would let us, the people, vote for who we truly agree with and support. The basic idea is that when you go to the voting booth, you can check not only your first candidate, but also your second. If your first choice loses, your vote is not lost, because your second choice candidate gets your vote. It is a simple way of leveling the playing field for more than the big-money parties. In my case, I could vote for Dr. Stein, and if she fails to get the majority, then O'Brien would get my vote automatically. The idea is not unheard of. It has been working for other countries, including Ireland, England, and Australia. Once and for all, let us have a true democracy. Let us be able to vote for the candidate that best matches our values, not the lesser-of-two-evils candidate who has a chance of winning in our political system. I am NOT making these suggestions because I am affiliated with a third party. I have been a proud democrat for years. But until my party stops catering to moderate, sometimes even downright conservative views, I plan to support the candidate with true vision, wisdom, and progressive values. I plan to unapologetically vote Jill Stein this Election Day. I only hope that if my vote ends up helping Romney to get elected, people will begin to realize it is not the fault of third parties; it is the fault of the big-money parties that fail to reform a flawed system. Carl Sciortino graduated from Tufts in 2000.

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News

Fashion Statements

November 5

So I was flipping through my copy of GQ the other day and I spotted the new Kenneth Cole ads; have you guys seen these things? Well, for all the non-fashion magazine readers out there, the ads feature hip-looking guys in smooth threads walking around New York City with newspapers under their arms. Each ad has some sort of political slogan written at the bottom. The two that I saw were "Not voting is so last year" and "Peace in the Middle East is a must have for this fall." At first I wanted to laugh-out-loud, but then I realized that the ads were not only probably serious, but that many people today think about politics in terms of these "fashion statements." Most people are willing to trust something that sounds good, irrelevant, pointless, or just plain wrong, as it may be. The result is a collection of snappy sayings that amount to nothing. Here is one factoid you hear bounced around a lot - "the largest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia." Now that is certainly true, and may serve to educate someone who has a conception of all Muslims as Arabs. But it does not constitute analysis. It makes no recommendation on US policy. But what you hear so often is "the largest Muslim country in the world is Indonesia...so let us not attack Iraq." That, in and of itself, does not make sense. What too few people realize is that foreign policy and its creation is a deeply complicated subject. In any given decision, there are many costs and risks that must be considered. And, to a certain extent, it is all guesswork, because decisions must be made after first predicting the reactions of other actors in the system. When those predictions are wrong, you end up with an undesired result. The point of all this is, that peace in the Middle East may be a must have for this fall, but getting it is a lot harder than convincing your friend to buy that really cute sweater. "Why can't we all get along"-type slogans are great ad copy, but they're essentially useless, because they obscure the real issues underlying conflicts. Conflicts like the one between Israelis and Palestinians are deep and torturous. Any resolution has to come up with a way to defend Israel's border, curb and roll back Israeli settlements, divide Jerusalem, divide water supplies evenly, deal with Palestinian refugees, and umpteen million other grievances that each side has. That is why we can't all get along _ because we have conflicting interests. Until those interests are reconciled, repeating the same tired question is pointless. Not that the right is innocent of its own fashion statements. The right-wing fashion statement goes like this, "we know the world's problems are essentially unsolvable, so let's just stay at home and ignore them." The problem with this statement is that even though we cannot all get along, we still have to live in the same world. Ignoring problems can be even worse than trying in vain to solve them. The United States, as the most powerful nation in the world today, is in a unique position to help states reconcile their interests. Ignoring that position and the responsibility that comes with it would be shortsighted. But our power is still limited. An entire administration's worth of diplomacy in the Middle East under President Clinton ended in the chaos we see today. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. America certainly has some tough going ahead. Getting through it will require a long and full debate. It would be a shame if political discussion, like so much else in modern media, degenerated into sound bytes and fashion statements.

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News

Printer Error: this plan must shut down immediately

November 5

The recent decision to begin charging students $.10 per page to print documents in the Tisch and Ginn Libraries and Eaton computer lab is absolutely ridiculous. An effort to encourage responsibility in students to conserve ink and paper and to prevent an unnecessary waste in resources is valid, but the proposed solution to the problem _ to nickel and dime students at the risk of impeding education_ certainly is not. Problems with the new pricing policy number more than one might expect. Lines at Eaton during peak hours are already long and congested. Adding an extra payment step to the printing process, even if it is through some sort of automated prepaid card, will inevitably result in even more congestion, and possibly more confusion given the added technical functions the system would have to accommodate. In addition, given the track record of other types of automated card machines that have had a history of being out of order at the University, refilling these cards could be inconvenient, cumbersome, and frustrating for students who already function on tight schedules. The biggest issue, however, is the principle involved in this new policy. When students are charged for every page of a journal article they need for a research assignment, money rather than learning is pushed to the forefront of student concern. Furthermore, students who face financial challenges would be impacted most severely, and these students should not be charged such an astronomical amount simply for doing their work. When research for classes becomes more a monetary concern than anything else, the quality of assignments students turn in would most likely suffer, as most students, for the sake of saving money, will seek out shorter articles with which to conduct research and use fewer than the necessary resources to conduct that research properly. There are a number of alternative solutions that could achieve the same goal of ecological preservation without making students who pay upwards of $35,000 a year feel completely cheated of their money. It is highly unlikely that the University simply cannot afford the printing resources financially _ the issue is to conserve and to avoid waste. A starting step could be to implement the setup Eaton currently has to manage printing in Tisch. When students have to go to a desk and ask for documents to be printed, they are less likely to print so irresponsibly and limitlessly. Or, student workers in the computer lab could be asked to become more vigilant about letting students print large amounts of pages. Yet another approach would be to place scrap paper bins where paper could be put to be used again for students printing drafts. Just as students who used to use Ginn to print moved to Tisch when the former started charging, students will most likely continue to seek out alternative methods to print for free even when both libraries and the computer lab impose a charge. They will simply resort to exploiting their connections to other resources _ academic department offices where they or their friends work, student organizations, and the like _ to print their documents. When the purpose of an educational institution is to educate and to push students to their limits, limiting the resources available to them _ and their ability to use those resources _ is both ironic and unfortunate. Tufts should seriously reconsider the printing charge before it starts to adversely affect students.

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News

Trustees focus on med school at weekend meeting

November 5

Trustees got a change of scenery this weekend as the University Board of Trustees convened on Tufts' Boston campus in order to focus on issues concerning the School of Medicine. The first of three meetings of the board this year, the meeting continued to pursue President Larry Bacow's goal that trustees become more familiar with each of Tufts' schools. Each recent meeting has focused on a specific sphere of the University, such as May's examination of the undergraduate schools. This weekend trustees met with faculty, deans, and administrators to gain a more thorough understanding of the challenges facing the School of Medicine. Though the meeting allowed trustees to better grasp issues particular to the school, the ability to raise funds to put toward addressing such issues remains the salient matter, Trustee Brian Golden said. As everyone is aware, "all of these things take money," he said. In a study group led by medical school Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Amy Kuhlik and Dean of Admissions Dr. Robert Sarno, the trustees discussed graduate students' concern with the rising costs of housing, transportation, and of their medical educations. Although a medical student scholarship program has been in place for several years through the executive committee of the Tufts University Medical School Alumni Association, many students still graduate with crushing debt loads. The trustees are sensitive to this problem, Golden said, and are not just interested in "bricks and mortar." Over the weekend Board members divided into four "study groups" _ Teaching and Learning, Clinical Teaching Programs, Research, and Student Services _ to consider the different facets of a superior education in medicine. In its attempt to address issues related to the non-academic side of a medical student's experience, the Student Services "study group" assessed the conditions of one of the dormitories, group member Golden said. Student housing is a particularly difficult problem, he said, because of the graduate school's location in the center of Boston. The Student Services "study group" visited the medical school's dining areas, which are "relatively new, but limited," Golden said. The group also met with students to discuss the curriculum. The other "study groups" focused on different aspects of a Tufts medical education. Members of the Teaching and Learning group discussed the current trends in medical education, as well as Tufts' efforts to remain competitive with other medical schools in some areas, and to become a national leader in others. In order to explore the University's relationship with Tufts-New England Medical Center (T-NEMC), the Clinical Teaching Programs group met at the T-NEMC. The Research group recognized the new Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical and Nutrition Research as a major boon and noted the challenges the School of Medicine faces in the current competitive research environment. Friday's dedication of the Jaharis Center _ an academic and research coup _ was made possible by the generosity of trustee Michael Jaharis and his family. In conjunction with the meeting's medical school focus, the trustees awarded honorary degrees to two members of Tufts' health sciences departments. John T. Harrington, M.D. was named Dean Emeritus of the Tufts University School of Medicine, and Louis Lasagna, M.D. became a Dean Emeritus of the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences. Although Trustees focused on the medical school, they also engaged in discussion on issues pertinent to Tufts' undergraduate community. The Board officially marked the end of the University-wide "Tufts Tomorrow" campaign with a gala celebration. Faculty and student members of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience presented initial findings to the Academic Affairs Committee. Professor Gilbert Metcalf, Dean Charles Inouye, Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, and students James Blockwood and Charline Han discussed ways to enhance students' four years at Tufts and to create a lifelong relationship with the University. The same committee heard a presentation from Trustee Representative Matthew Kane on improving trustee-student relations. Trustees plan to continue to make improvements to Tufts' undergraduate schools while simultaneously bettering the graduate schools. "We've put a lot of money into the undergrad campus in the past few years, and now we're looking to the other schools," Golden said. The Board will not overlook the Medford campus as there are still "problems there as well," he said. The Board of Trustees' meetings, in which long-term University plans are discussed, are not open to students. Student input is usually relayed through the three Tufts Community Union (TCU) Trustee Representatives and special pre-planned student presentations. The entire Board of Trustees meets only three times a year, but smaller groups of trustees gather more frequently in one of three committees: Academic Affairs, Development, and Administration & Finance. The Board of Trustees is also deeply involved with the University's financial considerations, and prepared to approve Tufts' budget for fiscal year 2004 over the weekend. President Larry Bacow announced several new, large gifts to the University, including a $5 million challenge grant aimed at increasing minority financial aid. This challenge grant, given by alumni Daniel and Karen Pritzker, has already received two separate $1 million gifts in response, including one from Trustee Katherine Chenault. Other new gifts included an anonymous $1 million donation toward the new music building and a $500,000 gift to the School of Engineering. Outgoing trustee Ed Budd gave a $1.5 million challenge grant for the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Finally, the Board of Trustees engaged in self-maintenance by beginning the process of choosing a successor to current Chairman Nathan Gantcher, who will retire at the end of the year. The Board also bid farewell to five trustees who have completed their terms of service: Frederick "Rick" Hauck (LA '62), Jane Scanland (J '68), Dr. Barbara Rockett (M '57), Jack Krol (LA '58), and Gordon Wood (LA '55). The tide of outgoing trustees was partially replenished by two new Alumni Trustees, Deborah Jospin (J '68) and Edward M. Swan, Jr. (LA '63). Jospin is the partner and co-founder of a Washington, DC consulting group that advises non-profit organizations and foundations, and Swan serves as president of Fiduciary Investment Solutions Group of Philadelphia, which manages assets of $1.2 billion.

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News

University welcomes first Muslim Chaplain

November 5

Tufts' two new associate chaplains, including its first Muslim Chaplain, have begun to accommodate to University life after being named to their positions during the summer. Imam Noureddine Hawat, formerly Tufts' Muslim affiliate, was appointed Muslim associate chaplain and Ann Penick, formerly of St. Anne's University Parish in Boston, was hired as the University's associate Catholic chaplain. Penick replaced Father David O'Leary, who is now the University chaplain. The Chaplains are full-time Tufts employees who coordinate religious activities on campus and serve as counselors for students. "I heard they were looking for someone to do Friday services, and I volunteered," said Hawat said, who has been at Tufts since December 1998. Hawat considered his recent promotion "just a title change," since his responsibilities as an affiliate were the same as those of an associate. "It's not about the title, it's about the job," Hawat said. "If you want to do it, do it. That's why I've been with the school [this long without caring] about the title. It's a duty I've been doing." Administrative changes within the University Chaplaincy delayed Hawat's appointment. No permanent appointments were made after the departure of the Former Chaplain Scotty McLennan while the University was looking for an official replacement for him. According to Hawat, O'Leary was instrumental in appointing a Muslim chaplain. "He already talked about it before he took his position [as University Chaplain], and when he took his position, he pushed it very quickly," Hawat said. Penick is also the director of the Catholic Center. "I'm looking forward to being here for hopefully a long time. Each year I'll be getting to know campus," Penick said. Right now, Penick's immediate concern is the maintenance of the Catholic Center Building, where a new heating system is being installed. Both new Chaplains see themselves part of a larger community rather than just resources for students of the same religion. Hawat has been involved in several dialogues with Hillel and other Jewish student groups. "We like to reach for any other group _ we like open discussions, we encourage open discussions," Hawat said. "The only way we can unite each other is by discussion, and look to the positive of each one instead of looking for the negative." Hawat encourages opportunities for strengthening students' faith. For example, the Islamic Center is hosting dinner and a special prayer every night of Ramadan. Penick would like to become more involved in different organizations, but she is "still finding [her] way." In her previous post, she was active in dialogues with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender group at Emerson. Penick began her career in the campus ministry at the College of Charleston and the Medical University of South Carolina. She was most recently a pastoral associate at St. Anne's University Parish in Boston. After she received a call from Tufts this summer asking her to come for an interview, Penick said she "jumped at the opportunity." Penick considers working at Tufts as a chance to "come to an excellent school, with a great group of students." Coming to Tufts has also allowed Penick to continue working full time, which she would not have been able to do at St. Anne's because of future Archdioceses' staff cuts. President Larry Bacow appointed the new chaplains on a recommendation from the Chaplain's Office. O'Leary is very happy with the two new additions to the Office of the Chaplaincy. "I was thrilled that they were both interested. They're both doing excellently, trying to get us established," O'Leary said.

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News

Bowdoin to host field hockey championships

November 5

With a 2-0 victory over Bates on Sunday, the Bowdoin Polar Bears earned the right to host the NESCAC field hockey championship semifinals and finals this upcoming Saturday. The playoff picture was settled last weekend as Wesleyan gained the tournament's fourth seed after sneaking by fifth seed Colby 2-1 in sudden death. Number three Middlebury also needed to go to the extra period to defeat sixth seed Bates 3-2. Williams, on the heels of a victory over nemesis Amherst, will now take on Middlebury this Saturday, while Bowdoin will utilize its home field advantage against Wesleyan. Bates running back Sean Atkins put in an impressive performance on his opponent's football field as he led his squad to a convincing 48-28 victory over Bowdoin. Atkins had one of the greatest performances in NESCAC history, carrying the ball 38 times for 298 yards and amassing seven touchdowns on the day. Both his yardage and touchdown totals set Bates records. In other football news, Wesley Connors of Williams earned defensive player of the week honors due in large part to his four-sack performance against Wesleyan. The champagne is on ice for Williams, who is one win away from another perfect season. The 7-0 Ephs are clinging to a one-game lead over Trinity, which currently stands 6-1. Hamilton, on the flip side, faces the prospect of finishing the year without one victory, as it will get its last chance this Saturday. The team is 0-7. The Amherst soccer team put a halt to Tuft's post-season in the first round of the NESCAC last Sunday with a 2-1 victory. The most valuable player for the Lord Jeffs was goalkeeper Greg Lockwood. Lockwood, a freshman, played like a seasoned veteran, stopping seven Jumbo shots on goal. In the other first round match-ups, Williams defended its home turf with a convincing 5-1 victory over Wesleyan, and Middlebury was equally dominating in its 5-1 defeat of Trinity. The two semifinal matchups, both to be played this Saturday, will pit Williams against Middlebury and Amherst against Bowdoin. While the men's team wraps up a disappointing season, Tufts' women's soccer team could relax last Saturday after it earned a bye into the semifinals. Shaping up the rest of the NESCAC tournament, Bowdoin sneaked by Trinity 1-0, while Williams won easily shutting out Middlebury 3-0. Connecticut College stole one on the road against Amherst 2-1. The semifinals will be held Saturday, Nov. 9 as Bowdoin will take on Williams and Connecticut College will travel to Medford to take on the well-rested Tufts squad. Eliza Allen of Wesleyan had a match to remember against Amherst. Allen set a single-match record of 32 kills while battling it out with Lady Jeffs. The quarterfinals will take place this Friday at Williams, where Trinity will take on the host, Middlebury will try to upset two seed Colby, Tufts will battle Amherst, and Wesleyan will try to upstage four seed Bates.

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News

Author gives wisdom on life, writing & politics

November 5

With razor sharp wit and a whiteboard, Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., the acclaimed fiction writer, shared his views on everything from writing to politics to life with a packed auditorium last night. The first speaker for Lecture Series this year, Vonnegut spoke to over 620 people. "If you really want to hurt your parents and you don't have nerve enough to be a homosexual, the least you can do is go into the arts," Vonnegut said. The point of art is the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment obtained through creation _ not fame and fortune, he said. The author, who turns 80 on Monday, confided that this might be one of the last times he speaks at a university, due to the increasing difficulties of traveling. Lecture series paid Vonnegut $25,500 to speak last night, capitalizing on the fact that he was already in the area due to a book signing at the Harvard Coop today. Vonnegut, a World War II veteran and a socialist, originally studied to be a chemist _ a perspective that he has brought into his own work and the critique of others. He explained his views on literature with the assistance of two axis he drew on a whiteboard: The vertical line representing the range of happiness to misery and the horizontal beginning to end. Upon these, he demonstrated that all of the best genres typically experience a low point on the vertical axis during the story and then rise up towards the end, except for Shakespeare, who was "as poor a story teller as any Arapaho." After studying anthropology at the University of Chicago, Vonnegut concluded that "All the primitive stories were lousy, they were level. It proved to me again that they deserved to lose." The speech touched on politics as well, and Vonnegut placed himself against the Bush administration and its intentions of going to war with Iraq. "Whenever we do this sort of thing.... we kill so many people, men women and children in the process of getting the bad guy," he said. He said today's government is "television," and politicians don't like peace because it is not entertaining. "What is entertaining is revenge," he said, linking Bush's desire to overthrow Saddam Hussein to his father's failure to overthrow him. Recent economical scandals like Enron, Vonnegut said, illustrate the need for economics courses to include discussion of morality. He suggested a medical text, The Mask of Sanity, now out of print, as standard reading for any economics or political science course in college He also encouraged audience members to read Howard Zinn's The People's History of the United States. Zinn, who visited Tufts last month, was frequently referred to by Vonnegut for his friendship and political views. Both are vocal about their stance against the prospect of war in Iraq. He recommended adding Othello's Iago into any story that young writers struggle with. He said Iago would make other characters "bounce" around. Vonnegut also emphasized that nobody should ever use the semicolon, which he called "hermaphrodite transvestites," that serve no purpose. "The only reason to use one is to show you've been to college." The audience was treated to a preview of his unfinished book, which he called "so pessimistic that it breaks my heart." Excerpts of the work proved to be very much in line with Vonnegut's previous works, displaying biting humor that pierces through societal illusions _ attacking the nation's obsession with petroleum and its disregard for the environment. One of the characters in the book, a mauve Martian, said that after ten years of studying American culture, Martians would never understand the obsession with "blow jobs and golf." In addition to his novels, Vonnegut is an avid drawer. Although none of his works have been in an exhibition, he said a representative of the Whitney Museum is coming to look at his works later in the month. Many of his drawings have been included in his novels as part of the story. Students were impressed by the humor and intelligence Vonnegut displayed during the speech. "He was amazing," sophomore Sangeeta Parekh said. "It was really exciting to hear him talk, and I was surprised at how funny he was." Vonnegut, who originally began his career as a journalist, ended the way he wraps up most of his talks. He asked audience members to tell their neighbor the name of a teacher that truly inspired them. He then encouraged the audience to appreciate "being happy now," quoting his Uncle Oleg. "If this isn't nice what is?"

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News

A source of contention

November 5

During a recent Senate meeting, several members of The Primary Source presented a referendum that proposes the addition of a conservative representative to the undergraduate governing body. As a freshman senator on the Culture, Ethnicity, and Community Affairs (CECA) committee, I watched the presentation with great interest. Never before had I contemplated the concept 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. I like to think that I am committed to increasing the quality of life for all of my constituents, so such complaints deeply concern me. I am also concerned, however, by what appear to be the true motives behind this referendum. The Source has historically opposed the idea of special interest representatives, and according to the organization's presentation to the Senate, it continues to do so despite its request to add one of its own. Over the past several days, it has become clear to me that the true goal of this referendum is to disrupt the system of special interest representatives. Members of the Source who presented this referendum to the Senate were unable to think of a specific agenda when asked for examples of what a conservative representative might work for while in office. One thing they were sure of, however, was that the representative would work to eliminate his own position and those of his colleagues. A representative with such a goal would serve only to hinder productivity and to stifle the development of Senate initiatives, preventing other members of the Senate from serving the people who elected them. This deadlock appears to be precisely the point; the Senate would essentially be held hostage until special interest representatives are eliminated. Last April, the student body had the opportunity to eliminate these representatives through a proposed third amendment to the TCU Constitution _ and chose not to do so. Unsatisfied with this result, the Source is now attempting to subvert the democratic process in order to get its way. Members of the Source maintain that they need to have a special interest representative in order to eliminate the system of representatives, but this excuse lacks any foundation in truth. Student government officials are not inherently in a better position to alter or eliminate the role of special interest representatives than anyone else who understands the procedures outlined in the Constitution. In fact, the process for amending the Constitution is identical to the process that the Source is currently carrying out in its efforts regarding this referendum, which is itself a constitutional amendment. There is no doubt in my mind that the Source is capable of working with other student groups to draft a system-altering amendment that could be acceptable to the majority of Tufts students. But, by choosing instead to employ subversive tactics, the organization is implicitly conceding that it does not have popular support for its goals. Perhaps, the most disturbing problem is that different members of the Source seem to have different ideas about this referendum's goal. During a later CECA meeting, Source staff member and former editor-in-chief Sam Dangremond managed to enumerate some vague examples of what a conservative representative might work for. He suggested that a conservative representative would be dedicated to finding a popular solution to the conflict over special interest representatives. Not only is a representative unnecessary for the Source to work with other groups, cooperation simply does not appear to be on the agenda of other members of the publication. Current editor-in-chief Megan Liotta takes a hostile attitude in the latest issue, stating plainly that a conservative representative "would then undermine the entire unjust culture rep system." With some Source members not even appearing to know that their leader intends to use this referendum for nefarious purposes, it is ridiculous to suggest that the group has made the case for its own representative. It is unfortunate that the Source has chosen to disguise its crusade against special interest representatives as an attempt to address the needs of conservative students at Tufts. All students have the right to live without fear, regardless of their political ideologies. I am certain that there are issues affecting conservatives that the Senate needs to address, and I would hate to see these issues ignored in the midst of a controversy ignited by the Source's plans. I therefore strongly encourage the student body to vote against this referendum. I hope that the Source will carefully consider the benefits of working with people, rather than against them, in the future. Rafi Goldberg is a freshman whose views do not reflect the views of the TCU Senate.

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News

Seniors complete one final project

November 5

Ever have the desire to create an in-depth study of sexual obscenity in the arts? Or compare the post-abortion grieving process of Japanese and American women? With the senior thesis program, these goals can come to fruition. While many seniors are looking forward to next semester as a time to slack off and enjoy Thursday nights at the Burren, the estimated six percent of the class who chose to write a thesis have their work cut out for them. "Writing a thesis is by no means an easy task," Dean of Colleges Charles Inouye said. "It takes many years of careful preparation, methodology, knowing your discipline well enough, and knowing your professors well enough to become their peers." Many students say the hardest part is coming up with a topic and finding three professors to serve as advisors. Though the process of researching, outlining, and writing the thesis is demanding, the seniors working on projects this year say they are intellectually engaging. Senior Allison Archambault has chosen to explore solar energy development in Rural Mali. Archambault, an international relations major, called her topic "really random," although "perfect for [her] because it combines [her] two interests: the environment and French." Thus far, Archambault has found that it is difficult to make money in Mali because the markets and companies are extremely small, pollution is a huge problem, and because trees are being used for firewood. She has chosen to take economic and social models from other countries and apply them to Mali, especially models relating to solar energy to propose a solution to these problems. Marianne Chow is writing a comparative thesis about post-abortion grief between American women and Japanese women. Chow, an international relations major with a minor in Japanese, studied abroad in Japan last year, researching the topic by going to abortion clinics in Japan. There, she searched databases and medical journals to see how medical professionals view this issue. She found that Japanese families memorialize aborted fetuses, a concept that seemed foreign to her. "I couldn't even imagine this happening in American society," Chow said. "I was curious to see how American women cope with post-abortion grief." Both Chow and Archambault have been impressed with the thesis program in general, especially the enthusiasm of the professors. "I've gotten a lot of help, my professors are extremely excited and always willing to help," Chow said. "There have been workshops, and the wonderful thing is that there are graduate student mentors who are really helpful because they know what I'm going through." Lizzie Stark, a double major in philosophy and English, initially chose to do her thesis on pornography, but changed her project to obscenity and communication in modernist literature and film. She has chosen to look into obscenity in language in the novel Lady Chatterley's Lover, and in DH Lawrence, a film by Victor Fleming about the author of the book. "The film is not pornography, but it's extremely obscene because there is so much implied sex," Stark said. Stark plans to look at how obscenity works in the novel, formulate analogies to obscenities in the film, and ultimately figure out how obscenity in film works. Stark's topic is particularly tricky because she is working with primary texts and reader response theory. Though the other two seniors felt supported by professors at Tufts, Stark said she did not get the help she needed in narrowing her topic down to something manageable. "You almost have to start planning your sophomore or junior year to have the kind of depth they want," Stark said. "I found a lot of resistance, I think because my topic was pornography. I came in with a thesis that was all over the place; in fact, I had enough ideas for six theses. "I ultimately needed to choose one, but I feel I didn't get a lot of help in doing so, but maybe that's just part of the process," she continued. Despite the amount of work that goes into a thesis, according to Inouye, they are becoming more popular, as they maximize the opportunities of learning that exist here at Tufts. "Writing a thesis essentially allows a senior to make a creative and in-depth contribution to the world of knowledge having discovered his or her intellectual passion, had the discipline to develop that passion with methodology, and having established good working relationships with at least three professors," Inouye said. "It's the culmination of four years of undergraduate education."

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News

Men wrap up season with novice race

November 5

Like a fighter on the night of a big match, the men's novice crew team was put to the test after months of grueling training in the Men's Novice Championships at Lake Quinsigamond in Worcester last Saturday. The team, comprised of two boats of predominantly freshman rowers, finished in fifth and 11th out of 13 beginner crews. The first Tufts boat posted a final time of 13:54 in the five kilometer race, just 26 seconds behind the victorious WPI boat. The second Tufts boat finished near the end of the fleet with a time of 15 minutes and seven seconds. All of the schools competing in the race had to field at least two boats, therefore only six colleges were actually able to compete in the event. Between both boats, the Jumbos turned in a mediocre performance, but showed promise for improvement in the more important spring season. "It was a disappointment for some of the guys, but we were in striking distance of some of the best teams" said freshman rower Trevor Williams, who sat on the first boat in the race. The majority of the men rowing novice crew had never rowed before or had scant experience on the water. The idea of the fall season is to get the rowers acquainted with the fundamentals of the rowing motion and the feeling of coordinated, precise motion on the boat. "Your technique determines your success" in the fall, Williams said. Eventually, the fledgling rowers hope to achieve the mechanized precision of the varsity team, where the oars seem to be guided by a single force in their synchronized strokes. A well-trained and talented crew hardly makes a splash when the oars dip smoothly and succinctly in and out of the water. But the training process dictates how well the men row in race situations, and novice rowers are subjected to equally demanding training schedules as any other team. The training that led up to the race on Saturday demanded that every member of the team become more comfortable with the rowing motion by practicing on "erg" machines that simulate the sliding and pulling movement the men will have to master in the boat. Additionally, good conditioning comprises one of the most important elements that will help win races. Daily running, weight lifting, and practice on ergs or in the water is essential in preparing for a race. Gradually, the novice men felt the boat becoming more balanced throughout the season as they rowed as a team. When the final test came last week, many of the men felt they finally united. "We spent a lot of time on the water, which helped a lot," Williams said. "We pulled together, the boat was pretty balanced." The novice men have trained hard thus far and plan to continue the arduous conditioning schedule throughout the winter in preparation for the spring season. "With intense training over the winter, we look forward to doing well in the spring season," Williams said. It is important that many of the novice men blossom into varsity caliber rowers in order to continue the success of Tufts crew. Many of the men on the varsity team started as novice rowers with no past experience, and this year's novice team should not be a disappointment. They have perpetually improved throughout the fall and mastered the most difficult aspect of rowing, the technique. "We have good technique, we're just lacking some strength" said Williams. The men intend to work hard in the weight room and on the ergs throughout the winter to fill what they feel are the gaps in their way to success as a team. But, even in spite of the team's lackluster results at the novice championships, the varsity team feels confident that their replacements will prove worthy. "The varsity guys are impressed with the improvement and commitment of the novice team," said sophomore varsity rower Rick Dalyai. The novice team now looks forward to a rigorous winter training schedule off of the water in order to prepare for what should be an exciting spring season.

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News

Fitness ball can be a helpful workout tool

November 5

I see people using those big rubber balls in the gym all the time. What is the point of them? What muscles can I use them to work? The big rubber balls in the gym, generically called "fitness balls", are a tool used primarily to develop stabilization and balance. This, when incorporated with weight training, leads to a stronger base (important for contact sports such as soccer and football). When performing exercises with the ball, the muscles have to work harder to maintain stability because of the convex surface. For example, if you are sitting on the ball and doing dumbbell shoulder presses, you are simultaneously struggling to press the weight up and maintain your balance with your legs and torso. The result of this is a shoulder workout, as well as a workout for all of the little stabilizer muscles in your trunk and lower body. Doing exercises with a fitness ball can add an extra element of balance to your workout, making it a little more strenuous. It adds variation-an immensely important component to any exercise regimen. It can also improve flexibility. Using an exercise ball can help streamline your physique. In other words, if you use a fitness ball for a month or two, you should notice a smoother, less blocky musculature. However, one of the worst things you can do is merely replace the benches you use with fitness balls. First of all, if you want to use them in your workout, you must significantly reduce the weight you use _ with the added element of balance comes an added risk of falling off the ball with heavy weights in hand. Second of all, there are all kinds of specialized exercises that can be done that target different muscle groups; limiting the use of the ball to a replacement for a bench is severely short-changing the potential it has for improving your physique and balance. While your best bet for finding exercises to target specific muscle groups is to ask a trainer in the gym, listed below is my favorite exercise to do with a fitness ball. Doing crunches on the fitness ball is a quick and easy way to add intensity to your ab workout. Lie on the ball, placing it as far down toward your buttox as you can without falling off (this may take a few tries, as at first the position is a bit wobbly and awkward). The farther down the ball slides and the closer together your feet are, the higher the intensity of the movement. When you have acquired your balance, crunch up until you feel your lower back press into the ball. Imagine your abs as an accordion while you are squeezing up. Do this with good form ten to15 times and I guarantee you'll see a good burn much faster than if you were doing normal crunches on a plain old mat. That said, like any one piece of fitness apparatus, the exercise balls are not the be-all end-all to a healthier body and improved physique. However, if used properly, they can help to improve your body and balance. Just ask the trainers in the gym for some innovative and effective exercises to do. What is a good finishing exercise for triceps? I have been doing kick-backs, but I am getting sick of them. A good finisher for triceps that you could try is the one-handed extension with twist at the end. Go to a cable stack and set the pulley as high as it will go. Affix the D-handle (the one used for one-handed exercises). Stand facing the pulley, and grab the handle with a palm-up grip and pull it down. Standing straight, keep your upper arm and elbow stationary as you extend your forearm down toward the ground. When your elbow locks at the end of the movement, twist your palm toward your body until it is facing behind you. Focus on squeezing the triceps hard at the end of this motion to really burn in the definition. Don't worry about using heavy weight for this exercise; since it is a finishing movement, form is paramount and should never be sacrificed for heavier weight.

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News

Novice Crew's work pays off in Championship

November 5

The women's novice crew team had been looking forward to the novice regatta for the entire fall season, as it is a chance to show off its proficiency on the big stage, no longer overshadowed by the varsity teams. So when the team traveled to Worcester on Oct. 26 to compete in the NESCAC Quinsigamond Novice Regatta, the team's unprecedented effort came as no surprise. The first Tufts boat, led by freshman co-captain Samantha Hilbert, finished sixth out of 15 total boats with a time of 16:06.58, trailing Trinity College's third boat by eight seconds. Overall, Trinity dominated the event. Its first boat won the race handily with a time of 14:57.27, more than 20 seconds faster than the second-place boat from the US Coast Guard Academy. Wesleyan came in next, followed by two more Trinity boats. Team members were pleased with the finish. "I thought that we worked really hard for this event and it paid off," freshman rower Rachel Arguello said. This year's novice team, led by freshmen captains Allison Bransfield _ one of the only experienced rowers on the team _ and Hilbert, is comprised of 29 rowers in all. With less than two full months of practice under its belt, the team's performance this past weekend is even more notable. Five of the eight rowers on the Jumbo's A boat had no experience going into the season this fall. Tufts' second and third entries came in ninth (16:52.22) and 14th (18:48.92) respectively. Tufts' B boat had perhaps the most impressive outing, finishing second among other B boats entered in the competition. "All three boats rowed well," coach Jennie Dapice said. The conditions on the frigid Quinsigamond Lake for the event were far from optimal, throwing constant winds and rain at the rowers. Also, the Tufts squad was forced to borrow a boat from WPI because of a mix-up loading the third Tufts boat onto the trailer that made the trip from Medford to Worcester. This complicated circumstances even more, forcing the second Tufts crew to row a heavier boat. The Novice Championships are unique because they permit three entries from the same school, allowing almost the entire novice roster to participate. This lets everyone get some quality experience. The event was the last in the team's fall season, capping a strong season in which the A Boat finished fourth in two different events. The team will now use the winter to condition for the spring season, comprised of shorter races and considered more important than the fall season. "It's a very strong team and we look forward to a really successful spring," said Hilbert. The squad will probably face much of the same competition in the spring season, so the team now knows what to expect and has something to work toward.

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News

Ben Kweller brings pop back to its roots

November 5

It seems that the gods are angry at pop music. Since its inception in the early 1960's, pop has been blown far off its course by powerful winds, and the genre is now hopelessly shipwrecked on an island populated by bland boy bands and whining sirens. But hark! What's that in the distance? Sha sha, sha doo . . . La la-la la-la . . . Bah bah bah bah bah baaaaaah! Can it be true? Have the gods finally smiled down upon pop and set it back on its rightful course? Maybe they have. The growing popularity of Ben Kweller, a 20-year-old Texan with shaggy hair, a penchant for nonsense syllables, and some serious guitar and keyboard skills, is evidence that the gods may, at long last, allow pop to end its perilous journey and return safe and sound to its origins, nonsense syllable choruses and all. Saturday night, Kweller played a sold-out show at the Paradise Rock Club that embodied the sweet, carefree spirit of old-school Pop music. The Paradise was crowded with college students, groups of swooning teenage girls, and a minority of concert goers who were actually old enough to buy drinks at the bar. There were so many shaggy-haired, vintage t-shirt-clad boys in the crowd that when I actually spotted Ben Kweller (talking with the people at the merch table), I figured he was just another fan. The college and high school students stood packed together on the dance floor, while the 21-and-over crowd kept to the back of the venue, closer to the bar/lounge area and further from the excited squeals of Kweller's less mature fans. Everyone was anxious to hear Ben Kweller perform, and this eagerness was apparent in the shouts that greeted the opening act, the Spaceshots. As soon as they took the stage, audience members screamed "We want BEN!" and, perhaps even more discouragingly, "Freebird!" The Spaceshots managed to overcome this initial cold welcome, and the crowd seemed to enjoy the first few songs they played. Their song lyrics relied mainly on distorted cliches, which worked better in some cases ("The spy who loved me/ The spy who left me") than in others ("For the love of company/ I'm giving up on misery"). The lead singer had a versatile voice that ranged from soft and plaintive to a punk snarl, and the drummer's insistent, driving beats helped pull the many of the songs together. By the sixth Spaceshots song, however, a few people were still nodding their heads to the beat, but most of the audience seemed to be getting bored. Three songs later, shouts of "Where's BEN?" bid the Spaceshots farewell. After a brief intermission, Ben Kweller and his band took the stage. The audience screamed with excitement, and the swooning high school girls swooned. Kweller sat down at the keyboard in the middle of the stage, surrounded by a guitarist, bassist, and drummer, and played the opening notes of his hit single "How It Should Be (Sha Sha)," which, of course, inspired another round of screaming and swooning. Everyone sang along, belting out the incredibly catchy chorus. He followed "How It Should Be" with two other crowd-pleasers, "Launch Ramp," a fast song with bouncy "Doo doo doo/ Doo doo doo" refrain, and "Wasted and Ready," which crescendoed into thrashing Pinkerton-era Weezer-style rock after a quiet beginning. After the third song, his band left the stage and Kweller picked up an acoustic guitar and played "Panamanian Girl," a slow lovesong. Kweller's band returned to play a number of slower numbers, including "Family Tree," a folk song, and "Falling," a piano ballad that legitimizes the comparisons that are often drawn between Ben Kweller and Ben Folds. The Paradise is a fairly large venue, but it still manages to be an intimate space. During the show, people in the front row rested their arms on the speakers at the base of the stage, and after Kweller finished "Falling," various fans handed him presents: a handmade card, a Burger King french fry box (with his initials, BK, emblazoned on it), and a green beaded bracelet, which he wore for the rest of the show. Kweller revisited the straight-out rock of his opening numbers with "Harriet's Got a Song" and "Commerce, TX." The song, which is, all in all, an enjoyable song, but which contains lyrics so embarrassingly bad ("My brain is super-fried/ It involves pain to look inside") that I'm really hoping Kweller somehow intended them to be "ironic." (It involves pain to look inside? He sounds like a non-native English speaker. Or an angsty eighth-grader at open mike night at Starbucks.) Then Kweller played a new song, "Hospital," which had a playful "La la la/ la la-la la-la" refrain that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a Raffi cassette, and lyrics as straightforwardly romantic ("Give me some time/ To get on your mind") as Please Please Me-era Beatles material. Nobody knew the song well enough to sing along this time, but I have a feeling that "Hospital" will quickly become a crowd favorite. After he finished the song, Kweller said goodnight and left the stage, but, after a moment, he moonwalked back out for an encore. He played a few of his more folk-influenced songs unaccompanied on his acoustic guitar, and then his band joined him for one last rock song, "No Reason," whose chorus contains the almost unforgivably saccharine line "There's no reason, reason to cry." But somehow, in Kweller's hands, the words "There's no reason, reason to cry" don't seem forced or offensively sweet. There's no pretension in his music. He writes earnestly happy songs that are intelligent but not profound - - 1960's-style Pop songs. And like his songs, his concerts are about having a good time, about jumping up and down and singing along to the Doo/ Doo doo doo! parts.

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News

Tufts students attend peace rally on Boston Common

November 4

In what organizers called the largest peace rally since the Gulf War, more than 15,000 people assembled on Boston Common Sunday to protest for peace. Protestors at the rally expressed a wide variety of views on peace, holding signs with messages ranging from "Shalom" to "Oil and blood don't mix." Several Tufts students attended the rally, scattered throughout the crowd, as there was no organized Tufts representation. A few students went with a Peace and Justice Studies class, while others went on their own. Some students, such as senior Eugene Schiff, went on their own to support the cause of peace. "I was impressed that there were a lot of different types of people there," Schiff said. "It was good to get away from campus and see that there was a whole range of children and adults present; that's something that you don't often get to see on campus." The group of speakers addressing the crowd was as diverse as the crowd itself _ a Buddhist monk, actor Tim Robbins, and historian Howard Zinn all expressed support for peace. The rally had clear political overtones and references to today's midterm elections. Jill Stein, the Massachusetts Green Party candidate for governor, spoke at the event, while signs supported Democratic Party candidate Shannon O'Brien. Supporters for write-in candidate Randall Forsberg were also present. One of the rally's main themes was concern about government interests in Iraq and how they might lead to war. Robbins spoke about how "we are giving power to the oilmen," who he claims are seeking contracts with dictators in order to further their economic gain. Vice President Dick Cheney was named as one of those "oilmen." Zinn focused on the irony of perpetrating terrorism in the name of eliminating it. "War is terrorism," he said, and proposed devoting resources to helping "wherever people are hungry and sick." Although most of the attention was on the speakers, there was a lot of peripheral activity at the rally. A group of "radical cheerleaders" conveyed their message creatively, waving black and red pom-poms and showing off their choreography. The rally concluded with a march down Tremont St. "I thought that it was really successful; the march got the attention of a lot of people in Boston," Schiff said.

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News

Paying for recognition

November 4

As the fall semester nears its end, students begin to dread the final examinations that loom ahead. The cycle of papers, midterms and finals causes some to wonder about the benefits of good marks on their transcripts _ is the effort really worth it? One such tangible benefit of hard work is admittance to an honor society to impress graduate schools, employers, relatives and friends. This year, over 300 Tufts juniors and seniors joined the Golden Key International Honor Society. Each year, Golden Key invites the top 15 percent of juniors and seniors with GPAs of at least 3.4 to join its membership. Those who join benefit from advantages like scholarships, professional connections, and volunteer opportunities. The Golden Key International Honor Society is "the world's premier, largest honor society," according to Alexander Perwich, the society's national chief executive officer. Golden Key consists of a network of chapters in more than 300 colleges and universities whose common aims are to promote leadership, academic excellence, and community service. High grades is not the only criteria for invitation to join Golden Key. "In addition to a high GPA... you're assumed to be involved in volunteering and [to be] well-rounded as a person," said Anjana Srivastava, the president of the Tufts chapter of Golden Key. The criteria help add to the prestige of the award. "It definitely will help including it in your resume, applying for a job, and applying to grad school," senior Rodrigo Dumont said. Aside from the monetary value of Golden Key, many members simply want to participate in a good cause. Membership requires that "you have chosen to live with a lifetime of service," said Jodie Neally, the director of Student Activities and the society's faculty advisor. Senior Francis Otting sees his membership as an opportunity to pursue volunteering on a larger level and "get the community to be more involved in volunteering" through the activities of Golden Key. Golden Key participates in service events throughout the year like Halloween on the Hill, Kids' Day, and Make a Difference Day. The purpose of these activities is "to give back something totally different than your GPA," according to senior Treasurer Kerry Biggs. To join Golden Key, invited students had to pay $60. But should there be a fee for the recognition of academic excellence and the opportunity to volunteer? "It might seem hypocritical to charge a fee to join an honor society where, in theory, the costs of entering should be only the hard work put forth in academics," senior Daniel Bakalarz said. But Bakalarz said he understood that the society needed to raise money to achieve its purpose. "In order for an honor society to gain international recognition and respect, it must be capable of marketing itself and creating an image of importance," Bakalarz said. "It does so through its fees and various other contributions." Members who have paid the fee to join seem to consider it worthwhile. "I consider the fee for Golden Key membership a small price to pay in exchange for the numerous scholarships, exclusive job fairs, and alumni networks available to members," senior Swati Mehta said. "As a senior, these opportunities and resources are important to me as I start the job search and apply for graduate schools." The membership fee is one source for the $500,000 Golden Key awards in scholarships annually. Corporate sponsors like Ford Motor Company and General Mills add to the pool of scholarship money. Senior Vice President Michael Coughlin explained that the fee not only provides scholarships for students, but also finances the activities of the organization. The Tufts chapter does not receive any financial support from the University. "[The membership fee] is good because we don't rely on the University for funds," Coughlin said. "The money comes directly to us. That's our budget." Students in Golden Key receive a feeling of personal triumph after years of hard work, a cost that overshadows the $60, Coughline explained. "You...bust your ass for three years and now you're getting rewarded for it... you pay $60 dollars one time and you're a member for life," he said.

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