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Women play to 0-0 tie

October 27

On a weekend that was supposed to clear up the women's soccer postseason picture, things only got cloudier as the three teams that entered Saturday's games tied atop the NESCAC were all involved in 0-0 ties. Two of those teams, Amherst and Williams, faced each other, while Tufts played to a scoreless draw against Middlebury. The tie between Amherst and Williams gave Tufts a golden opportunity to take sole possession of first place. With a win, Tufts could have moved to the top of the conference, a half game ahead of the other two with just one game remaining. But the Jumbos could not take advantage, playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer against the Panthers, keeping them knotted atop the conference at 5-2-1. The match-up was a good one. It pitted the NESCAC's top offense (Middlebury, with 46 goals scored in 13 games) against its second-best defense (Tufts, 11 goals allowed in 12 games). The game played up to expectations, as the two teams battled it out in a close, hard-fought contest. Tufts coach Martha Whiting was pleased with her team's performance, noting that, although the Panthers had some dangerous chances, her team out-played them most of the day. The Jumbos showed a marked improvement over last week's performance against Williams. "We played really well. I felt like we had control of the game for most of the time. The things that we didn't do well against Williams, like play the ball quickly, we did [Saturday]," she said. "I could tell that we were a better team, and the players could too. Other than scoring a goal, there was nothing else we could have done better. We went up there and played hard and did the best we could do." Both teams had their scoring opportunities, with balls hitting off crossbars and posts, and rolling untouched in front of the net. But it was the defenses that would prove to be the deciding factor, as both did an excellent job keeping the ball out of the goal. "Our defense played a great game," Whiting said. "And all over the field, we just seemed to be on. We just couldn't score a goal. We had numerous opportunities, but chance after chance we just couldn't put it in the back of the net." Tufts had its best opportunity to put one in late in the game, getting a penalty kick with five minutes left in the second overtime, but the ball sailed wide, keeping it scoreless. The Jumbos out-shot the high-powered Middlebury offense 24-19, but in doing so allowed the highest shot total against a Tufts team since the NCAA Championship game in 2000. Sophomore goalkeeper Meg McCourt picked up her fourth shutout of the year, making seven saves in the process. According to the tiebreakers, after Saturday's games, Tufts would have been in second place, with a 1-1 head-to-head record against the Ephs and Lord Jeffs, while Williams, at 1-0-1, would have held the top spot. That is, until Bowdoin stepped into the mix. The Polar Bears trounced Colby 6-1 Saturday, improving to 5-2-1 on the year and making it a four-way fight for first. Bowdoin beat both Amherst and Williams earlier this year, but lost to Tufts. So if the season ended today, the Jumbos, with a 2-1 record against the other top teams, would end up with the number-one seed by virtue of their win over the Polar Bears (also 2-1). Williams (1-1-1) would take third, while Amherst (0-2-1) would drop to fourth. In an odd twist of scheduling fate, these top four teams finish off their regular seasons next weekend with games against the bottom four teams in the conference. This gives Tufts an excellent opportunity to hold on to the number-one seed, as the Jumbos host Colby (5-8, 1-7 NESCAC). But even a win by the Jumbos would not guarantee them the title. Bowdoin must also win against Bates (6-6, 3-5), keeping them and their wins over the Ephs and Lord Jeffs involved in the tiebreaker scenario. Otherwise, it could go back to Williams, who hosts last-place Wesleyan (2-9-1, 0-6-1). Even fifth place teams Conn College (9-4, 5-3) or Middlebury (8-3-2, 4-2-2), who play each other next weekend, could end up jumping to the top spot, if the four teams above them lose. The number-one team will get a bye in the first round of the NESCAC Tournament, which starts Sunday, and will host the remaining games the following weekend. But first, Tufts must focus all its energy on Tuesday's non-conference match-up against Simmons. The game could turn out to be an important one, as overall record has a bearing on at-large bids to the NCAA Tournament. The Sharks are just 7-8, but the Jumbos have had trouble getting themselves up for mid-week non-NESCAC games, and will have to make a concerted effort to come out strong Tuesday afternoon. "We get up so well for the big games and the big teams. At this point we really need to make an effort to get up for Simmons," Whiting said. "They improve every year, and it's going to be a good game. We have to make sure to not look past them and to take it one game at a time."

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News

Field hockey falls to Middlebury, remains in playoff picture

October 27

The Tufts field hockey team was defeated 4-0 Saturday by second-place Middlebury in Vermont. The NESCAC loss leaves Tufts in seventh place and creates a must-win situation for next weekend's league match versus Colby. The Jumbos came into the pouring rain and biting 45 degree temperatures of northern New England with an upset in mind. Although facing one of the league's best, Tufts was intent on preventing the Panthers' potent offense from scoring and hoped to take advantage of any Middlebury mistakes. "We were really positive coming in off of the upset against Wesleyan," sophomore Dana Panzer said, "we were very optimistic." Tufts came out strong for the first ten minutes of the game taking Middlebury by surprise. "We dominated in the beginning and had a lot of shots," freshman Lea Napolitano said. Although Tufts initially caught the Panthers on their heels, it was unable to finish its shots. The first goal of the competition came sixteen minutes into the opening half when Middlebury freshman Channing Weymouth scored on an assist from sophomore Ashley Pullen. Ten minutes later, fellow freshman Panther Allison Smith tallied the second goal of the contest after capitalizing on junior Char Glessner's centering pass. After regrouping during half time, Tufts came out with a strong defense for the first twenty minutes of the second frame. "We did well containing and played a good defensive game overall," Napolitano said. The squad did not allow a goal for nearly half of the period and put together several attacks in the Middlebury zone. However, Pullen managed to find the back of the net at 18:29 to increase the Panthers' lead to 3-0. Sophomore Sydney Atkins added another Middlebury insurance goal just six minutes later to cap off the day's scoring and give the Panthers their ninth win of the season. Senior co-captain and NESCAC player-of-the-week Kate Perine assisted on both second half goals. "We knew about her going in and made sure she was marked," Napolitano said, "she was hard to contain." Tufts' offensive struggles continued as they were shut out for the sixth time this year. Although the team practiced on the artificial surface of the Gantcher Center all week and did not feel the adverse weather hurt its performance, it still could not capitalize in enemy territory. "It was an evenly matched game going back and forth," Panzer said, "the score really doesn't reflect how we played." With the victory, Middlebury now stands in a three-way first place tie with Williams and Bowdoin. All three teams hold 6 -2 league records and will host parts of the upcoming postseason tournament. Tufts remains in playoff contention going into the final week of the regular season despite the loss. The Jumbos will face non-league Gordon on Tuesday and fellow NESCAC member Colby on Saturday. The Colby game will determine whether or not the Jumbos will play the next day in postseason competition. The White Mules currently reside in sixth place with the Jumbos close-by in a seventh place tie with Amherst. To advance to the postseason, Tufts must either beat Colby or hope Amherst falls to ninth place Trinity. Should both teams see the same results, Tufts holds the advantage over Amherst due to its early season victory against the Jeffs. Given these circumstances, the possession of the coveted seventh NESCAC playoff spot will come down to the wire in this last week. Energy and emotion will feed a hungry Jumbo squad as they wrap up the regular season. "This game will be a large part of our season. If we win, we go on, if we lose, we're done," Panzer said, "There will be lots of emotion going in."

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News

The Death Penalty

October 27

The end of the sniper attacks in Washington, DC poses an interesting question: what should we do with the killers? This decision will be settled in court, by an unbiased jury, who will make their decision based upon the facts and only the facts. Any prejudices they have will not play a role in their decision. In theory, this is how our nation's justice system functions. We would all like to believe that our judicial system is perfect. America is a land of opportunity and equality, and our courts should reflect that. Unfortunately, courts vary by state, and people are not perfect. Depending on where a trial occurs, the defendant faces different legal statutes and punishments. The primary problem with the death penalty is that it is not applied universally and fairly. This problem is caused by both the system itself, and the people who compose the system. Until our court system is perfect, and there is zero risk of the execution of an innocent person, we cannot continue to administer the death penalty. Instead, lifetime imprisonment with no chance of parole gives the opportunity for the presentation of new evidence and allows for DNA testing. State and Federal governments must take the steps necessary to enact a moratorium on the death penalty and commute all death sentences to life imprisonment with no chance of parole. The lawyers who prosecute and defend death penalty cases are not equal in ability. State-appointed defense attorneys are noble in their commitment to the Constitution, but not all of them rise to the occasion. There is not adequate regulation to ensure that all state-appointed defense attorneys are qualified. Defendants who cannot afford their own attorney face the greatest bias from juries, as these defendants are most often minorities and belong to lower socioeconomic classes. The discrepancies in the quality of defense attorneys should not determine the outcome of a capital trial. The variation in death penalty statues is unfair. Capital punishment should not vary based upon the state where a crime is committed. Equality in America should include equality of punishments for equal crimes. Currently, the justice system defines crimes as state or federal. The federal government sets the statutes for federal crimes. State governments set the statutes for state crimes. This separation is archaic and unnecessary. The federal government should at least set minimum standards for the prosecution and punishment of capital crimes. The federal government can also federalize more crimes, in order to exert a universal application of the death penalty. Every American should face the same legal standards regardless of what state he or she lives in. People are not perfect. We live in a society that is becoming less biased, but we are not yet close to forming opinions of people regardless of their ethnicity, religion, or social class. We cannot expect to have a judicial system that looks beyond ethnicity, social class, and religion when the people who compose the system are biased. We will never know how many innocent minority defendants receive guilty verdicts based solely upon the color of their skin. Our judicial system does not do enough to account for racism and bias based on socioeconomic class in the judicial process. Until the government and society effectively remove bias from the judicial process, we must refrain from capital punishment. Our nation cannot allow the hijacking of our justice system by racist individuals. There are criminals who deserve the death penalty. Convicts who willfully kill law enforcement officers, children, or random people at shopping malls do not deserve to live. However, the risk of errors in our current system guarantees that some innocent people receive capital punishment. When the government wrongfully executes an innocent person, then our justice system is unjust. We most stop running the risk of killing innocent people. When the punishment is death, the stakes are too high for mistakes.

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News

Students kicked offline

October 24

About 40 students were cut off from the Internet this month after media companies complained to the University that the students had downloaded copyrighted material illegally. Most notifications of copyright infringement come from music companies or representatives hired by them, according to Lesley Tolman, Tufts' Director of Networks and Telecommunications, although copyright owners of movies and games have also complained. The University has received official notification of copyright infringement from Sony, Warner Brothers and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), the main legislation used by copyright holders against Internet piracy, organizations which provide Internet access could be held liable for copyright violation that occurs on their networks _ unless they make sure that pirated material is removed when copyright holders complain. When it receives a notice of a violation, Tufts restricts the offending students' Internet Protocol (IP) address and does not lift the restriction until the student talks to a University official and the offending files are removed. According to the University's Information Technology Responsible Use Policy, users must abide by all applicable regulations, which include copyright law. Tufts reserves the right to "temporarily suspend or block access to an account, prior to the initiation or completion of an investigation, when it reasonably appears necessary to do so in order...to protect the University from liability." The problem is widespread among universities, where fast Internet connections make file sharing zippy and particularly appealing. An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education reported that schools such as Cornell University and University of Maryland, College Park saw increases in copyright infringement violations last fall. Most universities have a procedure similar to Tufts'_ they suspend of network privileges, give students a slap on the wrist lecture and force them to remove the offending file(s) before reactivating their Internet connection. The policy of restricting Tufts student's IP addresses due to copyright infringement began in the fall of last year after a decision by Tufts Computing and Communication Services (TCCS) and the Dean of Students office, according to Tolman. Copyright infringement is not the only problem universities have encountered as Internet file-sharing has proliferated. Sharing can also generate so much traffic that it slows down university networks. Doug Herrick, TCCS's associate director of data network operations explained that many students do not deactivate the file serving option in programs like Kazaa and Morpheus, which means other users can connect to their computers and download files they are sharing. As a result, the volume of outbound traffic on Tufts' network is ten times greater than the volume of inbound traffic. "This creates bandwidth congestion for everyone on the network," Herrick said. Some universities have restricted bandwidth to prevent their network from overloading. The University of Pennsylvania capped its outgoing bandwidth last November in an attempt to limit outside users from using the network to download files from Penn students. Herrick said that Tufts has chosen not to restrict the bandwidth since "this would unfavorably affect the legitimate outgoing traffic that the ResNet sends." Despite the problems caused by peer-to-peer file sharing technology, universities are reluctant to ban it because they say the technology has legitimate academic uses.

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News

Cheap Sox returns

October 24

"If you spell my name wrong, I will kill you." Senior Cheap Sox member Rah-Nee Kelly tells me, with all the deadpan seriousness she has. "Well, could you spell your name now, so we can avoid that?" I reply. "No." So it goes with Cheap Sox, Tufts's irreverent (and, frankly, hilarious) Improv Comedy Troup, which will perform this Friday at 9 p.m. in Dewick. Its last performance was during Orientation, so unless you are a freshman or an involved upperclassman, it's been six months since a big campus show. Watching the troup warm up, practice their games and sharpen their skills feels like revisiting an old friend _ an old friend who would drink all your parents' liquor, wear a lampshade on their forehead while belting out 'Louie Louie' and wake up naked in the birdbath. Wait, maybe that's just at the rehearsal I went to. You see some of that over the top energy even as they warm up. Sophomore member Stefanie Schussel asks, "Does anyone have any gum?" An honest enough question, but not with the sox. "Jesus, enough with the gum. You gum whore." replies Kevin Miller, another sophomore (but a recent addition.) "I can't help it." cries Stefanie, who gets cut off before she can defend her Gum honor. One gets the feeling that everyone is 'on,' regardless if they're on stage or not. So what's new with the troupe since they it left us? Well, a lot, actually. Three seniors graduated and one freshman left Tufts to pursue an acting career in California. That left them with six members, which can produce a strain. "Losing the seniors was tough because they anchored scenes and collectively had a ton of experience." says junior Graham Griffin. "And it was sad to see David go because he is a great talent, and he was on his way to being a great sox." But then came auditions, which produced three new members, or "Newbians" as junior Allan Rice named them: freshmen Alex Sherman and Katie Semine (little sister of senior member Charlie) and Miller. "The freshman are learning really quickly and they're all really funny," Griffin said. "We're really solid again and starting to establish a new identity as a group." Their first warm up has them gathering in a circle, preparing to scream like madmen (and women.) Before they shout, newbie Semine asks, "Are we going to offend the people next door?" Everyone looks at one another, a little baffled, and she says, "Oh, right. Nevermind." They then start the warm up, which involves screaming a phrase that can't really be printed in a newspaper but does involve the devouring of the innocent. After they're done, Miller runs over to the wall and screams, "was that loud enough for you?!" "They're going to work out just fine," says Cheap Sox President Mellisa Holman. Their next warm-up is called 'Leather Nun.' Allan Rice and Rah-Nee Kelly take the stage. "What are you doing?" asks Kelly. "Shooting a musket at the cat." reply Rice, and Kelly immediately imitates that action. "What are you doing?" asks Rice. "Converting the Pope." replies Kelly. And so Rice does, and begins slapping the Pope around. And so it goes. They next practice a game called 1:51, which has three sox performing a 60-second scene based on a one word suggestion. Then they convert that scene into 30 seconds, then 15, then five and finally one. Usually, they other members scream, "can it be done?!" when they get down to one second. This time around, the suggestion is 'Postering'. Again, innocent enough. But as the Sox could make his holiness dirty, it was only a matter of time before one of the sox attempted to stop any and all placement of posters with his 'dildo cannon.' (Don't ask.) Then, despite the fact that almost everyone was on the ground in spasms of laughter and disbelief, he is forced to replay the scene (cannon and all) in thirty, fifteen, five and finally one second. His one second scene? He screamed, "PHALLUS!" Afterwards, he said to me, "Is there any way you could leave the Dildo Cannon out of the article?" I look at him and in all seriousness replied, "No." The Cheap Sox perform tonight at 9 p.m. in Dewick with opening guest is Elephant Larry, an improv group from New York City. Tickets are $3 dollars and can be bought at the door.

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News

St. Louis on two game winning streak

October 24

Apparently St. Louis isn't as bad as we once thought and Oakland isn't as invincible either. As the season enters the half way point this weekend, looking back on the last seven weeks of football leaves us with many unexpected stories. After winning the AFC championship last year, the St. Louis Rams entered the season as strong contenders for a Superbowl championship. Yet the defending AFC champs did not open the season playing champion-like football, going 0-5 to start the season. The story got even uglier for the Rams, as their star quarterback Kurt Warner was lost for several weeks after breaking his finger. But just when everyone had thrown in the towel on the Rams season, the Rams started winning again. When they beat the Oakland Raiders in week six, the Rams showed their victory was no fluke as they put together their season's first win streak with a victory over the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday. It may be too late for the Rams to turn their season around and make a play-off run, yet with their offense renewed, the Rams are playing to the ability everyone originally expected. Marshal Faulk hit the hundred-yard mark for the second time of the season rushing for 183 yards. The last time Faulk ran for over a hundred yards (158) was against Oakland, the other time Oakland's offense lifted them to a win. Mike Martz seems to have finally figured out the Ram's winning formula by focusing on Marshal instead of trying to discover new ways to run the offense. The Seahawks inability to stop Faulk on Sunday wasn't the first time the team's defensive line had problems stopping the run. Ranked last in the NFC for rushing yards allowed with 1,137, the Seahawks defensive woes have now dropped them into last place in the league. Seattle hopes to turn their season around against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Yet with Emmit Smith standing only 93 yards away from Walter Peyton's all time rushing record, Seattle's inability to stop the run may allow him to break the record at home. While neither of these teams have any reasonable hopes of a play-off run, Emmit's record breaking season may be just what the Cowboys need to draw fans to the stadium. Speaking of teams with playoff hopes, after week five, the Oakland Raiders seemed to be the strongest team with a 4-0 record. Since then, though, the Raiders have proved they are as immortal as the Seahawks, falling from first place in the AFC East to fourth place in a matter of two weeks. Yet after losing to the Rams in week six, the Raiders fell again to the San Diego Chargers in overtime, catapulting the Chargers into first place. Why this sudden demise of the Raiders? Like the Seahawks, the Raiders defensive woes have also caused their sudden downfall. After priding themselves on a defense that stopped the big plays, Marshal Faulk broke down the offensive line in week six with his 158 rushing yards. This trend continued in week seven as LaDanian Tomlinson ran for 153 yards and the game winning touchdown. If defense has become the demise of the NFL's greatest teams, it may also allow for the rise of other teams into greatness. After beginning the season with a dismal 1-3 record, the Baltimore Ravens have come alive as of late with a renewed defensive line. The defense made its first statement on Monday night against the Denver Broncos, led by the 18 tackles of Ray Lewis. Sunday's victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars was especially important to the Ravens as even without Lewis, the defense proved that they could stop their opponents. Is the Ravens recent turn-around enough to carry them into the playoffs? The Ravens still have significant holes to fill on offense yet with the resurgence of the defense, the Ravens do have a better chance at competing in the AFC East. The Good With their victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints proved to critics that they are one of the NFL's premiere teams. Helped by a defense that creates key turnovers, quarterback Aaron Brooks is the main reason for the Saints rise to greatness. Playing the best football of his career, Brooks passed for 254 yards and three touchdown passes on Sunday to help his team rally past the 49ers 27-35. The Bad The Chicago Bear's performance against the Detriot Lions against Sunday answered all questions about Chicago's ability to make a playoff run. Sadly, the Bear's loss proved that this is not the year the Bear's will be able to compete in the NFL. Jason' Harrington's 48 yard field goal in the last minutes of the game put the Lions up 23-20 to stun the Bears and drop them to 2-4 on the season. Apparently the Bear's have been unable to build off of their previous season's success. The Ugly With a 1-5 record the Minnesota Vikings now find themselves in the basement of the NFC Central looking up at the Detroit Lions. The Vikings season so far has been absolutely dreadful. With no visible strength to focus on in this rebuilding season, the second half of the NFL seasons should be a long and dismal one.

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News

UN flag raised for UN Day

October 24

The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy celebrated the contributions of the United Nations (UN) yesterday by holding a flag-raising ceremony with a keynote address by the UN's third highest ranking official, Syed Igbal Riza, the Chef de Cabinet to the Secretary General. The event signified Tufts' awareness of current world conflicts and support for the UN in solving them. Oct. 23, worldwide UN Day, marks the anniversary of the signing of the UN charter in San Francisco in 1945. "Symbolically, it is held for people to recognize the UN one day a year for keeping peace," Fletcher School spokesperson Terry Ann Knopf said. "Particularly in this time with the events happening in Iraq, Israel, and most recently Korea, we need peace." Riza, who graduated from the Fletcher School in 1957, stressed the role of the UN in the world. "The greatest challenge for the UN is the eradication of extreme poverty and international peace and security," he said. "We not only need the support of nations; we need the support of individuals like you for the causes of internationalism and multilateralism." The UN is the world's primary example for multilateralism, Fletcher professor Ian Johnstone said. Multilateralism, as Johnstone explained, is the idea that solutions to trans-national problems need to be pursued through cooperation among governments and other actors in international affairs. Riza touched on the current conflicts faced by Americans. In many ways these are like the issues being faced by Israelis, Koreans, and Middle Easterners today, he said. "The shadow of terrorism hangs over us in many manifestations. From the heinous attacks of Sept. 11 to that which plagues the nation's capital right now." "People are not born terrorists. They become terrorists," Riza said. At 11:30 the flag was raised by the Chef de Cabinet and Tufts ROTC/Color Guard. "The raising of the flag shows US involvement and awareness at Tufts," Jan Arno Hessbruegge, a first year Fletcher Student said. "The UN is now, more than ever, vitally important, and it is a great thing to celebrate their principles." UN Day is globally celebrated, but few college students are aware of the holiday or its purposes. Tufts is one of the few schools in the area to celebrate the UN in its progress for peace, human rights, and global development. The event was organized to provide a chance to reflect on the continuing value of the UN as a vehicle for promoting peace and prosperity around the world. "The fact that [Riza] came at a moment that is especially critical for the UN is a real honor and a great opportunity for the Tufts community to hear from somebody who is in the thick of things," he said before the event. Riza responded that the speech "was an invitation I couldn't refuse."

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News

Grad student lounge opens in West

October 24

The Graduate Student Council (GSC) opened the first lounge on campus explicitly for graduate students in the basement of West Hall yesterday. The goal behind creating a space for graduate students is that it will foster community among a fragmented population at the University. The space provides graduate students with a place to study and socialize. "Some graduate students don't feel comfortable studying in the library," said Hillary Green, a graduate student in history, who attended the opening. "This lounge gives them a chance to get out of their offices and study in a new environment, without having to compete as much for room, and especially computer space. I think it will be very useful and thus successful." The lounge has four rooms, two of which will serve as study rooms and the other two as hang-out spots for graduate students and meeting places for graduate student clubs and organizations. The lounge will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week; access will be controlled with student ID cards. Planning for the lounge began approximately five years ago after the administration decided to move the post office from the basement of West to Boston Ave. "It has taken a while to completely secure this space as ours," said Kellie Donovan, the president of the GSC for Arts, Sciences & Engineering. According to former GSC President Donna Wilson, the idea for a graduate student lounge first came about after the graduate councils from area universities such as Harvard and MIT met to pool their ideas and see what schools were doing for their graduate students. Harvard has a "gorgeous" graduate lounge, Wilson said, and she felt that graduate students at Tufts "needed a place that they can call their own," Upon proposing the lounge to the school, Wilson received the support of former Dean of the Graduate School of AS&E Rob Hollister. "They advocated for the center, and we decided that it was an excellent way to support the graduate students and reinforce their work at Tufts," he said. "Graduate Students are a substantial part of the student body, and while they have their own department space, now they have a centrally located space to study when the library is closed, or to meet and socialize with other students," Hollister said. The project was mostly funded by the Graduate Student Council, according to David Proctor, the council's treasurer and office manager, although the project also received significant financing from the Graduate School. A number of administrators and approximately 30 graduate students attended the lounge's opening. As he cut the ribbon to officially symbolize the opening, Provost Jamshed Bharucha said that "this space is an affirmation of the administration's value of the graduate programs here at Tufts." The lounge is technically open only to students in the Arts Sciences and Engineering (AS&E) Graduate program, but "we would never kick a Fletcher student out," Dean of the Graduate School of Arts Sciences and Engineering Robin Kanarek said.

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News

Students 'pained' by parking limits

October 24

No changes are forthcoming to University parking procedures, despite the fact that students _ especially freshmen _ are clamoring for more spaces. As it stands, the parking policy does not allow freshmen to park or register cars on campus _ a rule that many students find to be restrictive. "Since I live near here, it's a pain not to have a car on campus," freshman Shaina Tofias said. "I wish there was a system of temporary permits or something." But the University could accommodate freshmen by allowing them to park on a specific lot only, according to Tufts University Police Department's (TUPD) Sergeant Paul Riley. This policy would be implemented much like the current sophomore parking system where students are restricted to parking only, in the Cousen's parking lot. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said that there simply is no space for this sort of expansion. "The police have told me 'no,'" he said. "If half the freshmen batch has cars, then that would be approximately an additional 650 cars. Where is the space?" A second reason there will be no changes to the parking policy is for intangible benefits, according to the University. "First year students usually have issues settling down to academic life. A car is just another temptation," Reitman said. "Are we being too parental?" he asked. "Perhaps _ but this is the University's policy." Freshmen who attempt to park cars on campus and sophomores who park out of place will be faced with parking tickets ranging from $15 to $50 depending upon the violation. Ticketing at Tufts is an activity that takes place 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Riley said. If they receive a parking violation, students have 14 days to pay or appeal. Collected money from paid tickets goes to the Tufts University General Fund. Unpaid tickets are added to the Bursar's account. This policy has generated complaints from parents who usually end up paying the costs in the end. These parents are mostly surprised to find the additional amounts added to their bills, Reitman said. All debt not routinely billed to an account takes a long time to sort out. "We don't have any alternative," Reitman said. "We don't wish to take any disciplinary measures. So, monetary decisions are our only option." Because the issue is detrimental to University morale, Reitman said that the administration does its best to cut down on as many fines and bills as possible. But this form of follow-up only applies to Tufts students. Non-Tufts visitors are issued warning tickets in the case of parking violations. If this happens more than three times, their names are added to TUPD tow lists. Once listed, cars in violation will be removed to Bill Stephens Automotive in Medford. At Bill Stephens, car owners must pay $75 for the tow and $20 per day of storage. The policy has not completely deterred visitors from irresponsible parking, however. One visitor said that she does not pay tickets because she does not think Tufts will be able to follow up on her. "I'm not sure if they could find out what my car is... registration and all that," Harvard student Mary Jirmanus said. "I did receive a ticket but I don't plan on paying it. I petitioned it and they told me not to bother." Cases of misticketing _ when the officer has not noticed a valid parking sticker _ can also be petitioned. These instances are "incredibly rare," according to Riley. Officers do sometimes make mistakes, however. "They're only human," he said. But buying a parking pass may not be worth the price, according to one student. At $190 per year for commuters and $380 for residents, it may be cheaper in the long run to risk ticketing. All previous tickets are usually waived, Riley said, once the parking pass decal is purchased _ as long they are not more than five or six in number. While parking on campus may not always be convenient with spaces often far away from classes, there is enough space for upperclassmen, Riley said. "Just be nice and legal," he advised.

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News

Golf team finishes season in exciting style

October 24

Capping off a surprising year, junior golfer Brad Hawes had a remarkable 80 yard eagle on the 18th hole at the New England Championships on Tuesday, which was the highlight of the two day tournament for the Jumbos. Amongst talented competition from all three collegiate divisions, the Tufts squad emerged with a fifth place finish out of the Div. III teams and a 15th place finish overall out of 47 teams at the Championships. Senior co-captain Elliot Barr led the team with a pair of 78s and a 31st place overall finish out of 250 golfers. Hawes finished two strokes behind Barr and placed 40th. Despite, Barr leading the team, Hawes' shot was the talk of the Jumbos' players. From the rough, on the 18th hole, Hawes made a seemingly impossible shot. "Brad Hawes, 80 yards out and sunk it for an eagle. In my 14 years of golf, it was the most exciting moment, screaming that eagle in," coach Sheldon said. "It looked good, it sucked back and rolled gently into the hole," senior co-captain Dan Kramer said. Outside of Hawes' shot, however, Tufts, like the other teams in the tournament, had trouble adjusting to the course and windy conditions and thus, had about an average showing score-wise. "I think it was a tough course. The tees were pushed way back, the holes were in tricky spots," Sheldon said about the Port/Starboard Captains' Course in Brewster, Massachusetts. Nevertheless, at least place-wise, the team was pleased with how it performed at the Championships. "The course was demanding, windy, the scores were very high... We beat a lot of Division one, two, and three teams though. We were pretty happy about that," Kramer said. Although the team placed better than it has in quite a few years, it still wished for a higher overall finish, and a better shot at qualifying for nationals. "After the first day we were one place higher [overall]... We've played better," Sheldon said. "It would be a long shot for nationals. We got beat by five Division three schools." Kramer echoed Sheldon's sentiments. "We finished pretty high and that was good. We were kind of disappointed. We really could have been three or four shots higher, which could have brought us to ninth place," Kramer said. "We just thought we could have done better." In addition to the team's success at the New England Championships, three members of the Tufts squad recently won NESCAC conference awards. Sheldon won the NESCAC coach of the year, Elliot Barr was named a member of the NESCAC Second Team, and freshman Dan Weinbeck won the NESCAC Rookie-of-the-Year. "It [the award] was a long time coming. He's one of the most genuinely nice, supportive, and funny people I've met both in and out of sports," Kramer said about Sheldon winning the award. "He was a big part of our success." Although, the team experienced much success this season, next year could be quite challenging as three top seniors, Kramer, Barr and Arun Lamba will be lost to graduation. The three seniors have a combined total of ten varsity seasons under their belts. But, Sheldon is excited about next year and expects some of his younger players to step up. "We're looking forward to it," Sheldon said.

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News

The transfer's transition

October 24

When transfer students moved into Carmichael and Lewis Halls at the beginning of orientation, they brought with them one thing that new freshmen do not _ knowledge of what the college experience is like. A month and a half later, the transfer students have adjusted to the new environment. Leaving a school where connections have already developed can be difficult, and transfer students have various reasons for leaving their former institutions. Some students are drawn by the academic resources to be found at Tufts, in general or in specific fields of study. Sophomore transfer student Matt Pohl left his previous school when he discovered that it did not offer enough classes in the disciplines that interested him. "Dickinson lacked certain academic resources in the areas of international relations and political science," Pohl said. "It would not have been able to accommodate my interest in learning the Hebrew language." Other transfer students decide to switch schools based on criteria other than academics. The make-up and behavior of the student body as a whole can be just as important in the decision to transfer. "The reason I transferred was because of the homogeneous student body at my old school; it was about 72 percent Texan," said sophomore Jon Kruesi, who spent his freshman year at Trinity University of San Antonio, TX. "I was looking for a more worldly community. People would ask me, 'Why in the world would you come to Texas?'" The social life on a campus can also be a major draw to students. "I was happy with it academically, but I found the social atmosphere unfriendly and cold," Wellesley transfer Liz Francis said. "It was very work-driven, and there wasn't much of a social aspect there." The all-female student body at Wellesley was detrimental to the students' social lives, Francis said. "People would ask me if I transferred because it was all girls," Francis said. "Because it was all girls, people would leave campus on the weekends. It was a lot harder to meet people." Academic adjustments are sometimes necessary for transfers, as different universities have various class sizes and different workloads. Coming from a smaller university, Kruesi said he was surprised at the number of students enrolled in lecture classes at Tufts. "The most striking thing for me was the size of the classes; the class says there should be a max of 70, but then there are well over 80 people in the classroom," he said. "Whether or not we're meeting fire codes, there are more than expected. All my classes at Trinity had no more than 30 people." The caliber of academics is also often surprising to transfers, as senior Joi Brown pointed out. "What I noticed in transferring was that because Tufts is obviously a prestigious school, there was a higher standard here than at Temple" University, she said. "I realized it was a lot more work. There is a lot more effort involved in classes here to get an A." The social life at Tufts is an important factor for any student, but expectations are sometimes not met. One transfer student described the atmosphere as more focused on the Greek system than anticipated. "Although there was a higher percentage of students in fraternities at my old school, the fraternities here seem to be more dominant," the student said. "I would say that there is a greater emphasis on smoking [marijuana] and heavy drinking here than I expected." Making social transitions is often as challenging as adjusting to the new academic setting. "You're considered a sophomore but you have the blank slate of a freshman," Pohl said. He advised, however, that transfers can find their place at Tufts by getting involved with activities. "As long as you jump into it, and make an effort to involve yourself, you will meet so many people," he said. Students say this transition was eased by the fact that they were included in freshman orientation and that they often live near fellow transfers. "A good number of the transfers are together in Lewis; it's good to have some cohesion," Kruesi said. Rediscovering how to balance academics and social life can also be a challenge. "At Temple I had a lot more time to be socially active, outside of organizations," Brown said. "Here, I have my classes, my job, and the organizations I am involved in, and don't have time for much else." On the other hand, the academic atmosphere can be appealing to some students. Pohl said he appreciated the increased interest in academics at Tufts. "I thought [Dickinson] was stifling, particularly in the way the academics did not leave the classroom," he said. Adjusting to another school can have its trying moments, transfers say, pointing to transferring credits as an initial stressor. "It is kind of frustrating when classes were not accepted [for credit]," said Brown. Additionally, the process of transferring credits to Tufts differs from that of other institutions. "The process is exasperating. The other schools to which I was accepted basically gave me a report of which credits would be approved," Pohl said. "Here representatives from individual department approve credits of the courses you have taken, requiring bulletins and course descriptions. In some cases, you need to go seek out reps from certain departments on your own." But though the process can be irritating, it is an expected part of the transfer students transition, Pohl said.

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News

Charade well worth watching

October 24

Those of you plan to see the upcoming release of the new Mark Wahlberg film, The Truth About Charlie, probably are unaware that it is a remake of Charade, a witty and charming classic film starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. The film was released in 1963, but unless your mother was a fan of old movies in general _ and Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant in particular (mine was!) _ you probably have not even heard of this movie. Audrey Hepburn plays the young and beautiful Regina Lambert, who is frustrated by her husband's secretive business dealings. On a vacation she tells her friend that she plans to divorce him only to discover that when she returns to Paris, he's already been killed, and she is the prime suspect. Penniless, she accepts the help of Peter Joshua (Cary Grant), a very attractive friend she met on vacation. Reggie soon finds out that her husband's secrets involved the theft of a large amount of money from both the American government and three of his associates. All of them assume that Reggie has the money, and she feverishly tries to find it before one of them gets impatient and kills her. Meanwhile, she finds herself falling in love with Peter Joshua, but his name never seems to stay the same for more than 15 minutes, and he may very well be more interested in getting her money than her affections. The search for the money then becomes even more important, as many of the men following her mysteriously begin dying. In the midst of all this intrigue, the film does not miss a chance to offer some comic relief. One of the funniest scenes is actually a funeral, when all of her husband's associates appear, each with their own peculiar manner of verifying Mr. Lambert's death. As light as the movie is, it makes you care about the characters, and keeps you guessing about their true identities until the last scene. The incredible chemistry between Hepburn and Grant supports the film's fast-pace and witty dialogue. Audrey Hepburn plays Reggie perfectly. Thrown into a situation where she is absolutely clueless, Hepburn's trademark flair and simultaneous innocence reveal a character who is smart enough to figure out this mess. Hepburn plays Reggie as the kind of woman who will say exactly what she feels whenever she feels like it _ a refreshing mix of the clever and ridiculous, astute and utterly oblivious. Cary Grant is also intriguing as the mysterious Peter. Grant combines his physical comedy from his earlier screwball works with intelligence and humor. Even though he is called Peter, Adam, Alexander, and other names throughout the movie, Reggie can't help but trust him. The dialogue throughout the movie is wonderful to listen to, whether it's the villains discussing what's next or Reggie confiding in her friend Sylvie. The verbal sparring between Grant and Hepburn is strikingly humorous, especially when combined with the talented supporting cast, including a young Walter Matthau and James Coburn. The last scene is especially suspenseful and includes a masterfully done scene in a closed theater with Reggie trapped by the men after her. Charade reminds me that most of today's actors are shadows of the stars of Hollywood's golden age, and this isn't just nostalgia. Regardless of how The Truth About Charlie, is received (and so far, that's not very well at all), Thandie Newton is no Audrey Hepburn (although better than Jennifer Love Hewitt, who tried to play her in a made-for-TV movie) and Mark Wahlberg is certainly no Cary Grant. You will not come away from watching Charade with the meaning of life, but you will have a great time and the chance to indulge yourself in a film from Hollywood's finer era.

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News

Tufts takes seventh at Navy Invite

October 24

This week the Sailing team took on bitter rival Navy in their headline race at the Navy Fall Invite. Falling to seventh place out of 20 boats, the race turned out to be a controversial match-up, leaving many teams questioning the final results. Stanford and St. Mary's had an impressive day as both teams, finished over ten points ahead of any other teams taking first and second, respectively. In the A-boat, Tufts seniors JR Maxwell and Deane Madsen tied for third (90) with Boston College. Freshman Bryan Prior and senior Caroline Hall tied for sixth (97) in B with Hobart. St. Mary's once again had a dominating set with 58 points. Freshman Zander Kirkland brought in some impressive points for the C race, even against top-ranked competition from Georgetown. Kirkland sailed solo and took seventh (116.) Georgetown finished with 38 points, 78 points in front of Tufts, 20 in front of second place Kings Point, and 35 points in front of third place Navy. In D, sophomore Brendon Shattack performed well, sailing into fourth place (86) and seventh place overall (389.) "Many of the scores were not accurate," Coach Ken Legler said. "Navy's boat blew over and following the race Navy and a few other teams requested a do-over." If this protest was not shocking enough, many racers were even more shocked that the officials took the protest into consideration and thought it to be valid. "There was a redo of the race and now some other teams were not as satisfied with the second race as their first. To try to be fair, officials let the teams pick one of the two times to report to the score keeper," Legler said. The Tufts sailors were not happy with what was going on and they let everyone know about it."JR Maxwell went face to face with an official for a good amount of time," Legler said. Despite the controversy, freshman sailor Bryan Prior said there were other problems with the race. "The race management was definitely not that good," Prior said. "Even if there was not a race score mishap, we still could have done much better than we did here. I expect us to do better next week." The Jumbos also took part in the Wood Trophy at Harvard where Tufts took fourth place overall (134 pts). Division A, sophomores Lindsay Shanholt and Kate Singleton, had a rough start taking seventh place (35). Roger Williams, who had an overall mediocre finish, took first place, in the set. In the second race, sophomore Kara Kelly and senior Marjorie Affel, took seventh place as well (43). Boston University had a commanding second set with 17 points. In the third group, freshmen Ian Beam and Rachel Filip put Tufts back on the map by taking first (21). In the final division, junior Ross Icyda and freshman Zoe Bolesta tied for fifth (35) with Harvard. Dartmouth only finished first overall (90). At the Women's Intersectional at Yale, Tufts finished third (44). In Division A, seniors AJ Crane, Clare Dooley, and Kristen Tysell, took second (12). Dartmouth finished a point ahead of Tufts with the two schools distancing themselves from the third and fourth place teams, Yale and Brown, respectively. Seniors Clare Dooley and Taylor Fallon fell behind in B as Tufts slipped to third (32) in the set and overall.Yale, Brown, and Dartmouth distanced themselves from Tufts and the rest of the schools in the second race. Dartmouth finished first both times with a score of 11 points to give them an overall 22-point first place finish. In the two round Lane Trophy tournament at Tufts, the Jumbos went undefeated at 5-0. In round one, Tufts went 3-0. The two top teams, Tufts and MIT, raced against each other in round two. The Jumbos swept the Engineers, winning both races. Finally, in the New England Sloops in New York, Tufts took fourth with 46 points led by seniors Pete Levesque, Rob Pascal, and sophomore Rory Gitten. Next week the coed team goes to Coast Guard for the New England Men's Singlehanded Championship. Members of the team will also travel to Brown for the Sherman Hoyt Trophy, as well as to Boston College for the Oberg Trophy. The Women's team goes to Connecticut for the Women's Stu Nelson Trophy.

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News

Viewpoint is disheartening

October 24

When I scanned Wednesday's Viewpoint page, I was honestly impressed with the brilliance of juxtaposing a Jewish member of the Tufts community arguing for divestiture in Israel, and a member of the Middle Eastern Student Society arguing against it. I was genuinely awed, but then I got to the column on the same page written by David Eil, entitled "'Evil' vs. Evil." What he argues for in this essay is incredibly offensive. The column suggests that examining situations in the world, such as Israel's actions in the West Bank, etc., should not be judged by our morals. He writes that "international politics have little to do with morality and everything to do with security." As evidence for this he cites the fact that very few political science or international relations professors have been supportive of divestiture. This is the most cynically depressing and jaded view of the world I've ever seen published in an editorial, as Eil is basically saying that to judge actions based on the human life lost is inappropriate. America's avowed enemies, such as Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein, have used the word "security" to justify any expansion or repression. Afrikaners in South Africa during apartheid could have formed a much stronger argument against American div The column leaves me sad and disheartened with the willingness to argue that morality holds no place in the sphere of international relations. How is it not apparent that, when it comes to people's lives, morality is always an issue? I'm willing to examine all opinions on an issue but when someone suggests I check my morality at the door because, I get sincerely scared. What bothers me is not that these article were printed, but that these sort of extremely controversial views have become the norm in the Daily over the past few months. I speak as one person, but I don't think the Tufts community is expecting this sort of thing when they open their paper. Robert Sierakowski LA '05

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News

All who "Yonder" are not lost

October 24

The Paradise Rock Club was full of an interesting mix of bluegrass lovers, hippies and music-buffs for Yonder Mountain String Band (YMSB) on Wednesday. It was quite fitting for a band that delicately and expertly bridges the genres of traditional bluegrass and the jamband. Classifications aside, YMSB provided three hours of exhilarating, energetic music that got everybody dancing. Pretty good for a quartet with no drums. YMSB hails from Colorado, and their music certainly evokes images of the forests and mountains of their home state. The band consists of Jeff Austin on mandolin, Ben Kaufmann on standup bass, Adam Aijala on guitar and Dave Johnston on banjo. All four members of the band play their instruments expertly and all sing as well. Contrary to popular opinion, bluegrass is not hick music. It is extremely complex, while maintaining a quality of musical purity. Few chords are used in any one song, and harmonies are kept simple and tight. The real complexity comes in the individual musicians' abilities to play both very fast and very cleanly. The band succeeds in blending elements of traditional bluegrass music, which typically involves short solos by all band members, with whole group improvisation resembling the Grateful Dead and Phish. Songs like "Forty Miles From Denver" and "Idaho" draw heavily on the mandolin and banjo, like the music of bluegrass legends Bill Monroe and The Stanley Brothers. YMSB is also capable of jamming out songs like the Talking Heads' "Stop Making Sense" for upwards of fifteen minutes while still keeping the songs rooted in a bluegrass feel. Wednesday's performance got off to a good start with some traditional sounding YMSB originals. Aijala's guitar work is impeccably precise. He flatpicked every note with great speed and soared up and down the neck while circling around a few notes. Kaufmann's traditional bluegrass bass lines are slightly jazzed up to make them a little more interesting; Austin and Johnston are virtuosos at both soloing and comping on their instruments. One of the things YMSB does exceptionally well is get people energized and dancing without drums. Kaufmann plays with a percussive feel, while Austin's muted strumming has the effect of keeping the time. Bluegrass harmonies are simple but so good, and echoed around the room Wednesday night. The band also played a number of medleys, segueing seamlessly from song to song _ then back while never stopping. They capped off the evening after two sets with an acoustic, microphone-less encore of two of their most loved songs. There is no doubt that bluegrass is alive and well in the 21st century. Bands like YMSB are helping to bring one of America's most beloved and ancient musical traditions to an entirely new, young crowd with the energy of an Appalachian freight train.

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News

Stopping Ladd will be key to Jumbos' success

October 24

With the smell of last week's fourth quarter meltdown against Williams still lingering in the air, the football team will head west this weekend to take on Amherst. Also reeling from a stunning defeat at the hand of Wesleyan, the Lord Jeffs currently find themselves in a tie for second place in the conference, with a 4-1 record. The Jumbos meanwhile, have slipped to 3-2 after consecutive losses to two of the top teams in the league, and the waters will not get any calmer this weekend against Amherst, which boasts the NESCAC's top running game. "We're going to have to play very well," coach Bill Samko said. "They're a good team and they have probably the best running back in the league." The Lord Jeffs have relied heavily on the running game and junior tailback Fletcher Ladd, who has averaged 164.8 yards per game, and nearly six yards per carry. Amherst is far and away the best rushing team in the league, averaging 216 yards on the ground per contest. Tufts is ranked a distant second, running for a combined 172.8 yards per game. The Jeffs present a very one-sided attack, however, relying heavily on their seemingly unstoppable running game. The Amherst pass attack is far behind that of other league leaders, ranked eighth in the conference. Sophomore quarterback Marsh Moseley has only thrown for 120 yards per game and five touchdowns. But when the Jeffs do throw the ball, they have done so effectively _ as Moseley's 131.6 efficiency rating is second only to Williams' Joe Reardon. Mosely has surrendered only three interceptions this season while attempting only 17 passes every game. In comparison, Tufts's senior quarterback Scott Treacy attempted 46 passes last week alone. To counter this pounding attack, Tufts will present the NESCAC's second ranked defense. After opening the season with four straight games allowing fewer than 15 points per game, Tufts was run over by Williams last week to the tune of 36 points. The Jumbos had a tough time stopping Williams running attack, and despite picking off Reardon four times, were unable to stop him on several long completions and two touchdown tosses. So if the Jumbos were not able to stop Williams, which does not have a single player averaging more than 82 yards per game, can they reasonably expect to stop the NESCAC's top rusher? Amherst's lopsided offense should help Tufts considerably, as the Jumbos will not have to concentrate on stopping the pass as much as they did against Williams. This will allow for more pressure up front, and less room for Ladd to find holes. "Williams throws the ball all over the place so when you have to concentrate on that as well as the run interesting things can happen," Samko said. "They're not 5-0 for nothing." The Jumbos' defense took a major blow last week however, when junior safety Drew Blewett left the game with a concussion in the first half. Blewett will be out for Saturday's game, and there is no known timetable for his return. He was tied for second on the team in interceptions, with three so far this season. Statistically, the Jumbos have a solid shot at beating Amherst. The team is ranked in the top three of every major statistical category but one, pass efficiency. They are second in total offense and total defense, and score the second most points of any team in the league. A quick glance at the NESCAC weekly report and it's hard to believe that the Jumbos are only 3-2. So why is Tufts alone in fifth place in the NESCAC? The most obvious problem is mental lapses. In their loss to Trinity, the Jumbos missed two extra points and a field goal, en route to losing by one point. Last week against Williams, Tufts failed to convert on three two point conversions, missed a field goal, and allowed a safety with under three minutes left in the game. The team must find a way to overcome these miscues if it hopes to turn things around at Amherst. "I'm not a big believer in statistics, but we're first or second in every offensive category, so we've been doing something right," Samko said. "But we need to play better."

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News

New Confusing take on Uncle Tom

October 24

The Coyote Theatre's production of a modern adaptation of the old Harriet Beecher Stowe classic, re-titled for the stage as Uncle Tom's Cabin; Or, the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life, contains many poignant, thoughtful, funny and touching moments, but lacks overall coherence. The story follows the lives of several slaves, virtuous and noble Uncle Tom, owned by dying little Eva, whose last wish is to give Tom his freedom, Topsy, a young girl with no parents or relatives and nothing to hold on to, and several others. The adaptation relies too heavily on the audience's knowledge of the novel, and for those unfamiliar the work, its quick vignettes of the storyline serve more to complicate than illustrate the ideas and events of the book. Much of this is due to the rather avant-garde methods of the production. Five actors play several different characters, but in addition to playing more than one character, they swapped these characters with other actors. The result was that Uncle Tom was played by almost every single actor at least once in the production. This was very interesting, but also extremely confusing, especially for those of us unfamiliar with the novel. It was difficult to keep the characters straight and therefore many plot elements were lost as the audience straggled behind, taking moments to reorient themselves with new actors playing the parts. To make matters worse, the actors were flubbing a lot of lines, making the production feel like a dress rehearsal. Unfortunately, sloppy acting is rarely excusable. One actor did join the production very late to replace an actor that had to leave, but he was no worse than the others. In the hopes that the cast members were having an off night, I will give them the benefit of the doubt, and focus on the more positive aspects of the production from here on in, which was by no means a failure. Rather, it was a risky production and risks taken in theater should always be applauded. There are many moments in this production that are well worth watching and the production is definitely an interesting and intellectual alternative to more mindless forms of evening entertainment. So, while confusing, the interchangeability of the actors was intriguing. For example in one combination, a white man played Uncle Tom, a black slave, while a black man played his white slave owner. This takes the emphasis off of the characters and places it on what they are actually saying to each other. None of the characters are continuous, as they are played by different actors, and therefore the characters change slightly. The only consistency is in the language. This language is about how people treat one another. One man owns another man. Does it matter which one is black? No _ therefore either actor can play either part and they do. The point is that owning a human being is wrong, not just owning a black human being is wrong, which would stand out more in a traditional adaptation of the novel. The production rings true in that its central theme stands out amidst the confusion. Treating any human being as anything less than an equal to yourself, should not be done. We should never identify others through their race, but rather, through their actions. Uncle Tom's Cabin runs from Oct. 10 - Nov. 2 at the Boston Center for the Arts Call 617-426-ARTS for ticket information

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News

Upcoming Fall Movie Preview

October 23

It's a pretty slow week for films _ between Jackass: The Movie and Ghost Ship _ so it's time to take a look at those big movies that have yet to come out this year. There's an awful lot crammed into the next two months, and expect most of the Oscar winners to come out around this time. Number 10:Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (11/15). The students of Hogwarts return in the next installment of the insanely popular series of books by J.K. Rowling. Plus: Kenneth Branagh should make a great addition to an already stellar cast, and now that the characters are firmly established the movie should get down to business quickly. Minus: The first film was a perfectly competent, interesting adaptation of the novel. Some of the satire was lost, but overall the feel and look was faithful. The film will probably be much of the same, and while that's by no means bad, it's the least interesting of the top ten. Number 9:Die Another Day (11/22). Bond returns, in what is supposedly supposed to be the last Pierce Brosnan film. But we'll believe that when we see it. Plus: Director Lee Tamahori has a distinct visual style, which should help the recently sluggish Bond series. The addition of Halle Barry is a good one, and the action sequences on ice fields look amazing. Minus: Do you hear that whispering during the trailer? It's many, many people in unison saying, "Don't suck, don't suck, don't suck." The Bond series has yet to be forgiven for that Denise Richards fiasco a few years back. This looks like a step in the right direction. Number 8:Star Trek: Nemesis (12/13). Step right up and get yer sequels: this time it's the tenth Star Trek film, and (supposedly) the last film with the Generation cast. This time it's about some renegade Romulans who... on second thought, if you care, you probably already know this. Plus: The crew looks like they've finally been given the tools, the money, and the epic scope they deserve for their supposedly final voyage. It looks to be at least as good as the last good Trek movie, First Contact. Minus: The buzz is that while the action delivers, the story and dialogue aren't so hot. Hopefully, if everything else is in place, that won't matter. Hopefully. Number 7:8 Mile (11/8). Eminem stars in a story of growing up in Detroit that's strikingly similar to his own, helmed by the director of LA Confidential (Curtis Hanson) Plus: Putting together very different people can pay off hugely or bomb completely. But the word from early screenings is that Eminem's story is worth telling, and he does a damn good job of performing it. This movie should be worth a look, and look for at least a Golden Globe nomination for Eminem. Minus: While Eminem is apparently very good at playing himself, it has yet to be determined if he can play anyone else. The film might yet be another one-movie endeavor from a musician (Prince's Purple Rain, Bjork's Dancer in the Dark) that is more of a vanity project than a start of a career. Number 6:About Schmit (1/3/03). The boys who made Election return to tell the story of a man who, at the age of 60, realizes he has wasted his entire life. That man is played by Jack Nicholson. Plus/Minus: I'll admit it: I love watching Jack Nicholson doing practically anything on screen. Having the guys who made Election at the helm helps, but it's mainly the Jack appeal. If you don't like Nicholson, chances are you won't this time around either; but if you're a fan, you'll probably already be there. Oh, and it's going to be a really good movie. Number 5:Catch me if you Can (Christmas Day). Based on a true story, Spielberg directs this story of an FBI agent trying to catch a young con artist who successfully impersonated an airline pilot, doctor, assistant attorney general and history professor, cashing more than $2.5 million in fraudulent checks in 26 countries. Plus: Another meshing of great talent with a great concept: Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Christopher Walken, Martin Sheen led by Spielberg? This one should be sure-fire. Minus: For the record, this is the same story with Road to Perdition, a movie that many people admired... but I've yet to find one person who actually thought it was great. You can cover too many bases when you make a movie like this, and there's been little to no buzz about it so far. Number 4:Chicago (12/27). In an attempt to outdo Moulin Rouge, Miramax is putting out Chicago, a film of the revived Broadway musical. Lust, Seduction, Drunken Murder, Dance, Jarring Lighting, etc, etc, etc. Plus/Minus: There's actually a lot being gambled here. Will audiences accept a film musical that's actually a musical (as supposed to Moulin Rouge, which was more of a three ring circus)? Can stars Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger carry off a movie like this? Can Richard Gere sing? Either way, as a spectacular Spectacle or a train wreck, it should prove to be one hell of a show. Number 3:Solaris (11/27). George Clooney arrives at a space station orbiting an ocean world called Solaris to find bizarre things happening, such as the appearance of old acquaintances of the crew, including some who are dead. Steven Soderbergh (Ocean's 11, Traffic) directs, and James "I did Titanic and then sat on my ass for five years" Cameron produces. Plus/Minus: Well, we haven't heard much about this project except that it was supposed to come out later. However, filming went so smoothly that they were able to release it in November. That's a pretty good sign that the studio has faith in their project, especially since it's competing on Thanksgiving Weekend. Expect thoughtful, spooky science fiction with a minimum of big-badda-booms, and plenty of George Clooney. Number 2.Gangs of New York (12/20) This is director Martin Scorsese's (Casino, Goodfellas) labor of love which has taken almost a year and a half to release. The film starts in 1846 and ends in 1863 with the draft riots in New York's five points, the most violent part of the world at the time. The story is raised out of the conflicts between the white Anglo-Saxon "natives" and the Irish immigrants coming into the five points. Big names include Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz. Plus/Minus: In terms of artistic achievement and overall quality, this will be the one that will probably take the Oscar. It's got the pedigree, it's got the actors, it's got the director and the concept. In fact, if it weren't for one more little film, it'd be at the top of this list... Number 1:Lord of the Rings: Two Towers (12/18). Enough said. Plus: If anyone tells you that this film isn't the 800-pound gorilla of the holiday season, they are uninformed or lying. No film has more built in buzz or higher expectations, and no film will do as well. Minus: Practically nothing. Only people who were turned off by the first one won't see the second one, or third one for that matter. Also...Analyze That answers the question, how much can you sell out, Mr. DeNiro?... I Spy will be the worst buddy comedy ever made, period... Treasure Planet is yet another overly ambitious Disney Animated project. It looks to have great visuals, but it's got very, very strong competition... Slap Her, She's French may have the best title ever, but that doesn't mean people will see it... Robert Benigni's Pinocchio is apparently visually exciting, but it's also being released at Christmas, when is has to compete with, well, everyone... 8 Crazy Nights, an animated Adam Sandler movie. Huh?... Santa Clause 2 may prove to be the most unnecessary sequel since City Slickers 2... wait, no, that's Friday after Next... and Steven Seagal is in a movie called Half Past Dead. Sounds about right.

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News

5,000 jack-o-lanterns draw crowds

October 23

It's called the "Tree of Light." The oak tree's branches stretch out to the sky, carrying with them the glow of hundreds of lit jack-o-lanterns. The jack-o-lanterns, hanging by metal wire and rope, are all different; some grin widely, others scowl hauntingly. Giant human sized pumpkins each with a different look of surprise on its face decorate the bottom of the giant oak. Behind the tree, mist swirls around the majestic sight, while Pink Floyd music plays in the background. Appearing to be a scene from the Halloween cult movie, The Nightmare Before Christmas, the jack-o-lantern-decorated tree is actually part of the second annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular put on by the Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence, RI. And, if you are looking for an escape from the normal Boston/Tufts night life and you want to take a step back into your childhood, than this might be just the place for you. "Our annual Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular features over 5,000 illuminated pumpkins throughout a three-acre woodland trail," Lisa Bousquet, Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Roger Williams Park Zoo, said. "Over 30 professional pumpkin carvers spend six weeks creating the trail, going through over 150,000 pounds of jack-o- lanterns." The "Tree of Light" is the centerpiece for the event. Besides this scene, there are 25 other themed settings, ranging in style from "Van Gogh-Sunflowers," to "Middle Earth." Each setting has a sound system with different themed music. There are at least 200 pumpkins at each scene. Describing the intricacy of the carvings, Bousquet referred to the "Great Writers" setting. Here, one can catch such greats as Charles Dickens and James Joyce etched into the pumpkins. According to Bousquet, to carve the faces onto the pumpkins, the professional pumpkin carvers "use special tools like ones used in ceramics. The carvers use these tools to peel different thicknesses of the rind away, creating a 3-D shading effect when the light shines through." In this way, Shakespeare's exact likeness can be achieved on the surface of a pumpkin, or the face of a tiger can be carved, with details like those found in National Geographic photographs. "I don't think I've been to an event like this before," Tufts sophomore Diane Rish said. "It's really unique." According Bousquet, the Spectacular targets all age groups. When asked what his favorite jack-o-lantern was, Jack, a young boy from Providence said, "I really liked the woodpecker. [My family] love[s] birds." Even older people were able to enjoy the displays. "The carvings are so gorgeous," Rosemary, an elderly woman from New York, said. "My daughter told me about this event, though I never thought it would be this impressive or creative." And, after 9 p.m., when the families have gone home, the Spectacular takes on a great dating atmosphere, explained Bousquet. The "Romance" scene is especially conducive to couples as it features intricate carvings of couples in love, surrounded by "filler" jack-o-lanterns with hearts carved in them. The event was first held in Oxford, Massachusetts in 1988 (and was held there until moving to Providence in 2001) and was set up by a mailman named John Reckner. "About 300 people attended the one-night viewing of 185 jack-o-lanterns," Bousquet said. The size and scope of the Spectacular has grown dramatically _ last year's drew more than 80,000 visitors from all over New England. Those people were able to view first hand, the work of the professional pumpkin carvers, all from the town of Oxford, MA. "It takes the carvers four hours up to a day to carve each of the ornate pumpkins," Bousquet said. "It takes approximately a minute for them to carve the 'filler' pumpkins." The fillers are most similar to typical Halloween jack-o-lanterns. She also noted that each pumpkin is replaced with an exact replica every four days to avoid rotting. Carving the pumpkins becomes the full-time job of the professional carvers during the four to six weeks that the Spectacular is held. "The skill of the carvers is amazing, and the huge amount of pumpkins used is unbelievable," Rish, the Tufts student said. The lighting of each of the 5,000 jack-o-lanterns differs depending on the type of pumpkin. The fillers are lit with tea lights, which are inserted through a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin. Bousquet said that lighting a jack-o-lantern through a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin rather than through a hole in the top gives more stability to the jack-o-lantern. In contrast, the intricately carved jack-o-lanterns are lit with light bulbs. The Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular will run through Oct. 31 from 6-10 p.m. It is located in Providence, RI at the Roger Williams Park Zoo, exit 17 off I-95 south. For more information, check out www.rogerwilliamsparkzoo.org.

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News

Reviving rockappella

October 23

Last week my sister Alyssa, a high school junior, asked me how I chose Tufts. Out of all of the colleges, universities, junior colleges, technical institutes, distance learning programs, and online programs, why Tufts? A daunting question, yes, but nonetheless, I tried to answer honestly. Aside from the beautiful campus and close proximity to downtown Boston, the main reason I chose Tufts was because of my tour guide, Josh. He was energetic, funny, witty, and seemed like he truly enjoyed being at Tufts. Josh showed us his typical college dorm room (a quad in West) and told us about the scrumptious dining hall food, the history of Jumbo, and an intriguing event called "The Naked Quad Run." However, what interested me the most was when he talked about student organizations and the possibility of creating your own club. According to Josh, worthwhile and productive groups such as the Simpson's Club and the Monty Python Society were just two examples of the genius spawned by Tufts' finest. In fact, during his sophomore year, Josh started Paradox, a long forgotten, yet still valuable group to have on campus. Paradox, Tufts' only coed a cappella group with instruments, is currently defunct and unrecognized by the TCU Senate and TCU Judiciary _ but not for long. There are five reasons why Paradox should be revived. First, Tufts simply does not have enough a cappella groups. With a paltry six organizations, Tufts falls well short of Yale University's 17 ensembles (Source: A Cappella Almanac,www.casa.org. Yes, it really exists! I swear!). As the seventh group on campus, Paradox would provide quality music to a university that is severely lacking a cappella entertainment. Secondly, President Emeritus John DiBiaggio would officially introduce each and every one of Paradox's performances. After a year-and-a-half hiatus, DiBags is ready to resurrect his famed "or, as we here at Tufts like to call them" line. "And now, I'd like to present Tufts' very first and only co-ed a cappella group with instruments, Paradox. Or, as we here at Tufts like to call them, Para [insert 'the Mates,' 'the Bubs,' or 'the Jills']." How could you not enjoy the show after such an enthusiastic, heart-felt, personal introduction? Thirdly, using the inspiration of its a cappella peers, Paradox would strive to create innovative and humorous skits. The following is part of a new skit I just came up with: "In the spirit of The Naked Quad Run here at Tufts, we invite you to join us in imagining what college would be like if everything was done naked." (Sketchy 70's porn music interlude) (Said in unison with a hint of surprise) "Naked? Naked? (emphasis) Naked!" (Bust a move and act cool) At this point I'm not really sure if it would go over well, but hey, at least it's original, right? Fourthly, unlike some of the other groups, Paradox will distinguish itself by dressing stylishly. There will be no tight black shirts and pants (although cowboy hats are optional). People who dress as if they're auditioning for American Idol will be immediately kicked out of the group. Bright, solid colored shirts will not be tolerated. And absolutely nobody will be wearing a suit with a football jersey underneath singing, "shoo bee doo wop shoo bee doo wop, magic. That came from the heart." The staples of the dress code will be tacky flannel and plaid shirts that were popular in seventh grade and Converse Chucky T's with obscenities scribbled on the soles. Members will also be required to get bowl cuts and shave the hair out from underneath. Finally, Paradoxes will never again be lonely, worry about being popular, or be depressed about being single. They will instantly become campus-wide celebrities, looked up to, admired, and desired by all of Tufts. The group will form an unbreakable internal bond by spending 110 percent of their time together (26.4 hours a day). While some would consider this to be an unhealthy time commitment, it is measly in comparison to the 133.3 percent of each day (32 hours) that the other a cappella groups share. Despite all of the valid motives I listed above, deep down I know the real reason I'm doing this is because it's what Josh would have wanted. Revitalizing Paradox is my way of thanking him for having such a significant impact on my life. Next week you can help me in personally thanking Josh _ and all of those influential people in our lives _ by signing Paradox's petition for TCU recognition and funding. Also, tryouts will be held next Wednesday; remember to wear your flannel shirts.

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