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Seven Questions with Deyvehn East

October 23

Full name: Deyvehn East Height:6'4 Weight:180 Hometown:Greenfield, MA Birthdate:4/13/82 Sign:Aries Nickname:D-Lo First of all, I would like to apologize to all seven questions readers who expected a question and answer session with an in-season athlete. Due to my laziness and lack of planning, I am running seven questions as a lazy man does, by scrolling down my buddy list and asking my friend seven questions. Junior Deyvehn East (pronounced Devin), is a member of the men's basketball team. East bursted on the scene toward the end of last year's season, pulling down rebounds and occasionally scoring double digits. Although East's game is usually on point, I ran into him bricking jumpers and barely missing dunks like the kid on the Sprite commercials, so it was only fitting seven questions followed. 1. Your sport is out of season, how did you persuade me to get you on seven questions? Twinkie and a Yoo·hoo. 2. We saw you in limited action last season, what can we expect out of you and the Jumbo team this year? We're looking toward big things this season. You can expect some show stopping, razzle dazzle coming from me. We're out to prove that we're the most talented, most aggressive, and most importantly best looking squad out there. 3. I've never seen your name spelled the way it is, any special reason? My parents were on point. They didn't want me to have a plain, normal name. Its the type of name when you say it and see it, you can feel it in your bloodstream. 4. Point guard Eric Mack is damn quick, who wins in a one-on-one match and why? Mack is definitely quick. His defense reminds me of Gary Payton, "the glove". We call Mack "the club" though, cause his defense leaves some bruises. In a one on one match up, we wouldn't be able to finish cause Mack has a tendency to quit games early out of frustration. A lot of ball throwing, crying and complaining. 5.You prefer a "badonkadonk" or a nice apple butt on a lady? No doubt a badonkadonk. I like the type of booty you can see from the front. 6.You remember that time I broke your ankles on the court? No. 7. Since I definitely slipped up and an interviewing an out of season athlete, is there any Jumbo you feel I should have questioned instead of you? First of all, basketball is always in season in my mind. No other sports compare. I wouldn't suggest interviewing any other real athlete. But I would love to see Andy "Rocky" Katz part II, the remix. Also, shout-out to Bisi. -Elliott Wiley, Jr.

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News

Final two weeks will determine team's fate

October 23

The time has come for the Tufts field hockey team to kick their play into overdrive. With just three games remaining before playoffs, the Jumbos must win at least one of their two upcoming NESCAC matches to ensure a spot in the postseason tournament. They will have their opportunities against Middlebury this coming Saturday and against Colby on Nov. 2. With a 3-4 league record, Tufts currently stands in sixth place. Tuesday's victory versus Wesleyan (4-3 NESCAC) enabled the team to remain in the playoff hunt. The top seven squads will be invited to the NESCAC tournament, which begins on Nov. 3. Whether Tufts is in action in the first round of postseason play depends on its performance over the next two weeks. The Jumbos will face off against third place (5-2) Middlebury in Vermont this Saturday. The Panthers boast last week's NESCAC Player-of-the-Week, senior Kate Perine, and have won their last three games. Middlebury's only NESCAC losses came to co-league leaders Bowdoin and Williams. Middlebury will be hungry for a victory in order to guarantee a first round home game and possibly a bid to host the tournament championship. To beat the Panthers on their home turf, Tufts will have to elevate its defense. It must stop Perine who scored four first half goals against Union in a 9-0 Middlebury victory and the game winning point against Bates last week. "We have adjusted defensively in practice and plan to keep a few girls back on their strong attack players," senior tri-captain Laura Hacker said. "Our team is very versatile and will be able to adjust." The Jumbos also need to find the missing pieces of the scoring puzzle, pieces which have been absent all season. Tufts has scored only six goals over the course of its eleven games and has been shut out in five matches. In order to beat Middlebury, the squad must capitalize on any scoring chances. The team has been working and organizing in practice to enhance their offensive opportunities. "We have switched around the lineup to create a stronger attack," Hacker said. Tufts will take the field at home against Gordon College on Tuesday. The Fighting Scots hold an impressive 12-3 record and are ranked first in the Commonwealth Coast Conference. Though a non-league game, the Jumbos will still have to play aggressively on both ends of the field to gain momentum for their next NESCAC match. "Gordon will be an opportunity to help or mental game and boost our morale," Hacker said. Possibly, the most critical remaining regular season game comes Nov. 2 at home against Colby. The Mules currently share sixth place in NESCAC with the Jumbos and are also battling for a playoff berth. After recovering from a midseason slide in which Colby was shut out in four straight competitions, the Mules have rebounded to win their last two matches. Last week, they tallied an overtime win against Southern Maine and a 2-0 shut out versus NESCAC rival Connecticut College. The Jumbos will have the home crowd advantage against Colby and should be ready after three days of practice following Tuesday's match against Gordon. As with the approaching culmination of any season, the players are beginning to feel the emotions associated with closing out a chapter of their athletic experiences. "It is sad, but also there is a sense of urgency to give it all we have," Hacker said. For tri-captains Hacker, Dana Chivvis and Ursula Stahl along with fellow seniors Karyn Moar and Lauren Rufino, these last two weeks will wrap up their college field hockey careers. They, along with the rest of the team, aspire to end the season with a bang by making and excelling in the playoffs for the first time since the 2000 season.

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News

Local band makes great strides in short time

October 23

Band members have the uncanny ability to form fast friendships between themselves. Maybe it has something to do with sharing the common interest of music, or the experience of performing together. Whatever it is, no one demonstrates this unique phenomenon better than Focusin, a local five-man band set to take the stage next Tuesday at Harper's Ferry. Formed only a year ago, Focusin members Mark Kevalis (vocals), Glen Goland (guitar), Yuri Grinshteyn (bass), Bennet Kolasinski (guitar), and Bill Passaro (drums) have gone from complete strangers to close-knit friends in only a short span of time. The process of finding each other, however, was not easy. With the exception of Kolasinski, the band met through www.massmusician.com, a website that allows independent musicians to post classified ads. Kolasinski was introduced to the band through Grinshteyn, having met when the two were students at Tufts. Mark was the final addition. "We clicked like a beat up jalopy," said Goland, referring to the band's rocky start. "We got worse and worse," he continued jokingly. Even with the addition of Mark, things looked bleak. He first met the band when he came to a rehearsal. Not only had he not listened to any of the songs the band had already written, but he arrived with a terrible head cold. "We were ready to crucify Glen," said Passaro, "because Mark had nothing." These glitches aside, the band realized it had a connection when they finally started playing. "As far as writing is concerned, we started pumping out songs," said Goland." While their extremely varied influences were at first a concern, the writing process proved to the band that it would help them to create their own individual sound. "We all have different influences. We kind of sound like everybody and nobody at the same time," Goland said. "We take little pieces from everything." Focusin has been able to find an audience for what Passaro calls its upbeat, all-original music. Their success in finding gigs can be attributed to the nature of the music scene in Boston. "Its really approachable for not knowing what you're doing," Kolasinski said laughing. Goland agreed with Kolasinski's observation, noting that in order to be successful, you have to approach landing a gig with a certain attitude. "We've approached people and listened to what they've said. We did whatever they told us," Goland said. "They've been really friendly [and] not that intimidating." Mark believes that the key to being successful is trying not to pay much attention to other area bands. Rather than worrying about them, "we try to make people like our music." Equally important to finding new audiences is playing at the right places. According to Passaro, the band sticks to "venues that primarily play our type of music." This has obviously been a successful approach, as "every place we've played they've asked us back. We've gotten some good responses." The band is surprisingly humble considering the progress it has made in only a short period of time. While Grinshteyn jokes that "we're going to be rock stars," each member expresses a certain amount of surprise at the success Focusin has experienced so far. "Everything that happens surprises me because I don't expect it," said Mark. Passaro expressed a similar sentiment, saying "We never expected to get this far." Venues "could pick a dozen bands," explained Goland. "We're honored that they want us." Still, the band recognizes that it has worked hard to achieve this kind of success and land gigs at such big-name venues as Harper's Ferry. "We've worked hard enough that we don't feel like we're out of our place," said Goland. "We deserve to be there. We know we're putting in the work _ it's not like it just happened." In terms of future aspirations, Goland puts it best, saying "We're not here because we want to play one weekend a month; we want to do this for a career." While each of the band members has a day job, Focusin is one of their primarily goals, and they are confident that they have the potential to be even more successful than they have been already. "We know it's going to go somewhere," said Mark. Focusin is a band that offers not only great music, but a fantastic stage presence that demonstrates the particular bonds that have formed between all five musicians. They each possess a peculiar, playful brand of humor _ when Mark referred to himself as "a slave to music," the band broke out in strains of Britney Spears' "I'm a Slave 4 U." And at Tuesday's performance at Harper's Ferry, the band will be dressed up as various famous musicians. They bring their antics to the stage, making audience members feel more like participants in the performance than mere spectators. They may be musical newcomers, but they have the presence and potential of seasoned musicians.

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News

Jumbos brace for Panthers

October 23

The women's soccer team will be challenged yet again this weekend as it travels to Middlebury on Saturday to face the Panthers in a crucial NESCAC match-up. The Jumbos, coming off a tough 2-0 loss against arch-rival Williams last Saturday, remain tied atop the standings with Williams and Amherst with an 8-3 overall record and a 5-2 league record. Tufts had not lost a game since Sept. 21, but is determined to put the loss behind them and focus on beating Middlebury. "It's always hard to lose at home," senior co-captain Alle Sharlip said. "But we are still confident in our team's level of skill and ability to make it through the NESCAC. I think we're all excited for the game." "We were extremely disappointed with the loss, because we clearly wanted a different result, but you can only dwell on it for so long," coach Martha Whiting said. "We have a really big task ahead of us on Saturday, and we have moved on and are focusing on Saturday's game." The Panthers, who are 8-3-1 overall and 4-2-1 in the NESCAC, are currently tied for fourth place with Bowdoin. The Jumbos are 1-3 in their last four meetings against the Panthers. "We are very excited to play Middlebury. We have a long history with them, going all the way back to my sophomore year in which we played them at least twice. We love to play them and get very excited to do so," senior co-captain Cara Glassanos said. This year, however, the Jumbos have one of the best road records in the league at 4-1, whereas the Panthers are a meager 3-2-1 at home this season. "We have been doing so well on the road this year. Sometimes it is really hard to ride on a bus for three or four hours and come out ready, but this year, we are doing just fine with it," Glassanos said. As the season winds down, each game is of greater and greater importance. If the season ended today, Williams would win the league, as it defeated Tufts last week. However, if Tufts defeats Middlebury and Amherst defeats Williams, then the Jumbos would be the heavy favorites to win the NESCAC with only two games to play _ which is why Tufts is placing such importance on this game. "Right now, we are hoping to end the season number one so we can skip the first round of the tournament," Sharlip said. "However, this depends greatly on our game against Middlebury, and also on how well Amherst does against Williams." Despite its importance, the team is not doing anything different in practice, but rather working on the same things they have been all season. "At this point in the year, we're just fine tuning, we're not going to change anything, because we didn't play badly last week" Whiting said. "But we need to focus on finishing our shots on net, really playing quickly with only one or two touches, and not holding the ball for too long. We need to play smart defense, play as a team, and go into the game with a positive attitude with the confidence that we can win." The Jumbos defense will probably face its toughest challenge of the season this Saturday against Middlebury's prolific offense, specifically from senior forwards Leah Cumsky-Whitlock and captain Meg Bonney. They form perhaps the most dangerous duo in the NESCAC. The two have combined for 25 goals this season, with Bonney scoring 16 times and Cumsky-Whitlock scoring 9 times. In comparison, the entire Tufts team has scored a total of 20 goals over the course of the season. "We have so much potential this year and I truly believe that we can take this as far as we want, it is only a matter of heart. If we keep our hearts in it and going as strong as we are now, the passion of each player on this team will enable us to continue our way up," Glassanos said. "It is such an amazing feeling being part of such a successful team."

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News

Rep furthering dialogue on trustee-student relations

October 23

In an attempt to mend fissures that resulted from an incident at a meeting held last year, Trustee Representative Matthew Kane will facilitate a dialogue on student-trustee relations at the Nov. 2 Board of Trustees meeting. The dialogue is intended to address the future of student-trustee relations rather than focus on the details surrounding last February's open forum, where heated interaction between students and Trustees left some with negative feelings. "The trustee luncheon last year pointed out the fact that there needs to be better communication between trustees and students," Kane said. "This [dialogue] is a result of that increased awareness." During February's gathering of trustees and campus leaders, over 100 students crowded into Dewick-Mac Phie Dining Hall and proceeded to ask questions and voice complaints on what they called the University's insufficient attention to diversity. The question-and-answer session at February's luncheon became confrontational and more negative than intended, one student participant said. A collaboration of students had extensively prepared questions to ask trustees, but a few individuals who had not participated in this process undermined their efforts with a more confrontational approach, the student said. The purpose of the organized questions was to bring important issues to the front and show that the students felt uncomfortable and unsafe at Tufts, the student said. Since February, the relationship between the two groups has been strained. But November's meeting, Kane said, will provide an opportunity "to quell any lasting resentment between students and trustees." Kane, who serves as trustee representative on the academic affairs committee, will encourage conversation on the state of relations at the committee's meeting. Each of the three Tufts Community Union (TCU) senators who serve as trustee representatives presents their main agenda to their respective committee once during the year. But following "the strife that emerged last year," Kane asked to be placed on the agenda for a special presentation, separate of the presentation he will make to the committee later this year. The request was unusual, as past trustee representatives have generally not asked for additional speaking time outside of their allocated yearly presentations. Although the presentation "does not involve [his] specific program of work as a trustee representative... it does fall within [his] responsibility of representing students to the Board of Trustees," Kane said. After discussing the idea with President Larry Bacow, Provost Jamshed Barucha, and Trustee and Chair of the academic affairs committee Joyce Barsam, Kane was granted fifteen minutes of the Nov. 2 committee meeting to initiate discussion. "It shows that the administration and the trustees are very receptive to this idea, talking about trustee-student relations," he said. The student presentation is intended only to gather trustees' opinions on relations and how to improve them, not to present student grievances. Kane "will be asking for feedback about student-trustee relationships on campus," Trustee Secretary Linda Dixon said. All three trustee representatives may make a more formal presentation on the matter in February, Dixon said. Kane plans to listen to trustees' "hopes for making the situation better" and answer questions, but will not actively participate in the dialogue, he said. Many in student government welcome Kane's move. Dialogue "needs to happen," said sophomore Chike Aguh, who serves on the culture, ethnicity, and community affairs committee of the senate and participated in last year's forum, so that trustees understand students' concerns. "Hopefully, all parties involved will keep their minds open and put whatever bad feelings they have behind them and work towards making Tufts better," he said. The upcoming student presentation "is a good method" to begin working towards this goal, said senior Joi Brown, who participated in last year's forum. It is appropriate "to start off very general," she said, and important "that [Kane] doesn't bring specific issues outside of" the need for conversation between trustees and students and for students' voices to be heard.

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News

Current world events not expected to affect study abroad

October 23

The political turmoil of a potential war in Iraq and the Middle East is not expected to have a major effect on applications in the upcoming months, according to Tufts' Programs Abroad office. The number of abroad applicants is predicted to increase this year _ in spite of global tension caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, unrest in Indonesia, Russia, and Afghanistan and an impending war with Iraq. "It hasn't been mentioned by one student who has come into my office this year," Foreign Study Director Sally O' Leary said. Underclassmen considering the option said they did not expect events in the Middle East to affect them negatively in other countries abroad. "The political situation hasn't affected the decision making process," freshman Andrew Chapman said. "I think in a way it is safer in another country than here." Security is still a key issue for students, many who are going on their first long-term stay out of the country. Students often discuss concerns in this area, according to O'Leary, coordinator to the over 200 non-Tufts programs approved by the Tufts Faculty. Parents have also expressed security concerns, O'Leary said. "I basically advise them to make a prudent decision, and to advise them of any dangers that could happen in the area," O'Leary said. This awareness of the current climate, she said, is why there are no students studying in Israel this semester. Tufts investigates security measures and feels "confident" about programs which have been approved by the University, O'Leary said. Ultimately, since students are taking a leave of absence from the University, the decision is up to the student and their parents. Since Sept. 11, the University has continued to enforce existing security measures to protect students. "I am in constant contact with the Program Directors in the host countries, keeping them updated on the latest developments and safety measures," Dean of Study Abroad Shelia Bayne said. Among these precautions are measures to immerse students into their host country's culture and to not identify students as Americans. Tufts' policy is to follow the guidelines with the United States State Department, which issues travel advisements for US citizens abroad. Non-Tufts programs may have different policies, but the State Department is the most common gauge. Any student fully immersed in the Study Abroad program should have a limited risk according to Bayne, because they will "blend in" to their surroundings. Tufts encourages students to speak in the area's native tongue, to associate with people from the host country, and to participate in cultural events. Students were given the option of returning from abroad to the Medford Campus after Sept. 11 without penalty. Four students chose not to leave the US to go abroad, and instead were given housing on campus and enrolled in classes. This was possible to due the attacks happening early in the semester, Bayne said, and because of cooperation with the Office of Residential Life and Learning, which was able to find limited housing for the students. Letters and e-mails were sent to all students on a Tufts program, approximately 50 of which had already arrived in their host countries. The University also diffused the information it received from the government before giving it to the Program Directors who were preparing for student arrivals. Last minute changes were made _ in particular, flight changes for the 50 students headed to the University of London who were scheduled to go on Sept. 13, 2001. O'Leary also tried to contact students who were studying in non-Tufts programs. "I was totally overwhelmed by the response," O'Leary said. "From Australian Universities setting up phone lines so students could check in on relatives to incredible amounts of e-mails from students all over the world." These students were also offered the options of cutting short their leaves of absence _ although only two chose to do so. Bayne and O'Leary both expressed surprise at the low number of students who decided to return, considering the political instability. Bayne said this willingness to stay abroad represents a commitment to learning about other cultures and an understanding that she believes is vital to preventing the next Sept.11 from happening. Other universities have been reluctant to stop any programs despite the possible war with Iraq. Dr. Loti Citti of Georgetown University, which operates programs in Egypt, Turkey, and Morocco, said no "red flags" have been raised that would cause a program recall. Although Tufts' students have never been recalled due to an international crisis, there was a close call in 1993. During the siege of the Russian Parliament ordered by then President Boris Yeltsin, an advisory was issued warning against travel to Russia. Those students from Tufts at the University of Moscow stayed. Tufts has a major commitment to learning in foreign countries _ with an average of 40 percent of the junior class studying abroad at least one semester every year. Approximately 500 students studied abroad last year _ an increase over the 464 during the 2000-2001 academic year.

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News

Volleyball tops Brandeis again

October 23

In its second match against Brandeis this season, the Tufts women's volleyball team played almost a carbon copy of the first match, beating Brandeis 3-1 on Tuesday. Tufts expended all the energy to topple Brandeis in the second set this time around, winning by the slimmest of margins, 31-29. In its previous match, played at the Bates Invitational in Lewiston, ME, Tufts won the second set by just three points, 30-27. Then, due to some mis-hits on kill attempts, the Jumbos suddenly found themselves down big in the third set. And although Tufts put up a good fight, it was never able to climb out of the hole it had dug and lost the third set, just as it had in its first encounter with Brandeis. And to add to the coincidences, the Jumbos came back from their disappointing third set to close out Brandeis, as they had 18 days before, with a dominant fourth set. Freshman April Gerry led the team with 19 kills. But news was not all good for Tufts. Emily Macy went down with an injured ankle early in the first set, and returned later on crutches. Sophomore Rebecca Shaevitz really stepped up for the team, having a good all-around game with nine kills, ten digs, and two aces. "In games I'm usually a very consistent server," Shaevitz said. "I usually am able to hit my spots, if not I usually get it in." With the victory, the Jumbos' record improves to 17-9. Their conference record remains the same at 6-4. The Tufts squad is currently on a three-game winning streak thanks to a strong showing this weekend at Colby College, where it went 2-1. The team defeated both Bowdoin and Colby, and dropping its game against Bates. The Jumbos' weekend ended with possibly the biggest win they have produced all year, as they swept the team with the second best record in the league and the host, Colby College. "Colby will hopefully be the turning point in our season," coach Thompson said. "The team knew that this was a huge match and stepped on the court ready to play from the beginning." Shaking off the fatigue that has plagued the Jumbos on many a NESCAC weekend this year, the Tufts team played well on both sides of the ball. Four players had at least nine kills, with Junior Amy Cronin leading the way, notching 12. Cronin also had a big day serving, totaling five aces. Because of her stellar play over the weekend, Cronin was named NESCAC player of the week. On defense, the squad had one of its best blocking games all season. Though blocking is not usually a strength for Tufts, the whole team produced against Colby, with six players helping for at least two blocks. Freshman Courtney Evans led the team with seven blocks. The backline also played well, gobbling up any balls that squirted through the defensive frontline. Sophomore Emily Macy led the team with 13 digs, but senior Paulette Pacheco, junior Danielle Cafasso, and sophomore Ali Sauer were right behind her, with 12 digs each. The win gave the Jumbos the sixth seed at the NESCAC Volleyball Championships, while Colby was dropped from a tie with Williams and given the second seed in the tournament. Third seeded Amherst will be Tufts' first round opponent. Amherst won the only match the two played 3-0, but anything can happen, as Colby also beat Amherst before playing Tufts last weekend. Earlier in the day, the Jumbos defeated Bowdoin 3-1. The Jumbos dropped the second set, but demolished Bowdoin in the other three sets. Tufts won by an average of over 19 points in its three victorious sets. Cronin and Gerry tied for the lead in kills, with 11 apiece. The Jumbos punished Bowdoin with the serve, as the team scored 19 service aces over the four sets. Lindsey Moses did most of the damage, accounting for seven of those aces to go along with 34 assists. Due to the Tufts potent offense, the defense had a much easier time, with Emily Macy the only player to total double digits in digs, with ten. The Jumbos began their weekend with a disappointing loss to Bates in four close sets. The regular season is for the most part over for the Jumbos. They have secured a .500 record in the NESCAC conference, with their final conference game at Wesleyan next Tuesday. They will be playing this weekend in the Hall of Fame Tournament. However the rest of the season is just a tune-up for Nov. 8. The best teams from the NESCAC will converge on Williams College to participate in the NESCAC Championship Tournament. Holding the titles of defending champion, host, and top seed, Williams is the odds on favorite. However as this weekend showed, any team can be beaten on any given day, and if the Jumbos stay hot going into the tournament they will be tough to beat.

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News

Senior Appreciation Program to encourage unity, future giving

October 23

In an effort to increase Class of 2003 unity and strengthen graduating seniors' ties to the University, the Senior Fund Committee will host the first event of its Senior Appreciation Program tonight. The reception will address various options for the Class of 2003's gift to the school and will inform seniors about the Senior Appreciation Program. Thursday's cocktail reception, which will take place at Davis Square pub and restaurant The Burren, will offer seniors free food and beverages and the opportunity to mingle with University President Larry Bacow. The Committee has held similar events in the past, including a wine and cheese reception and other events at The Burren. The Appreciation Program is a revamped attempt to increase class unity and ultimately encourages future alumni giving to the University, Senior Fund Committee Co-Chair Alison Clarke said. Thursday's reception "is designed to be a fun event for Tufts seniors," she said, "both to gather together as a group and have fun as a class, and to make people think about giving back to Tufts, which has done so much for all of us." The annual senior gift is the primary focus of the Senior Fund Committee, a group of seniors representing various campus organizations and athletic groups brought together each year to raise funds to donate to the University. The group is also responsible for overseeing the Appreciation Program. The Senior Fund, Clarke said, is a gesture of gratitude for four years of education. The money gathered through the Senior Fund is added to the general Tufts Fund and used for various University purposes "such as financial aid or books in the library, et cetera," Clarke said. The donation to the Tufts Fund provides for a variety of activities and events, according to Joan Puglia, Manager of Program Support for the Arts and Sciences and Student Services. The gift "to the Tufts Fund is used to assist students in a number of ways: guest speakers, special programming, better resources," said Puglia. "Many fun activities are planned to get the class involved in this endeavor." Last year, the Class of 2002 broke records when 51 percent of the class donated, amounting to $26,000. Seniors' responses to the invitation show that the event is likely to be successful in uniting the class. "Free food and chance to chill with other seniors. It's nice to see Tufts doing things for us off-campus," senior Lorraine Sense said. Thursday's events "will give seniors a sense of solidarity and fond memories when they graduate. It will make them satisfied, supportive alumni." Recently graduated alumni are commonly believed to be the largest and least giving category of potential Tufts donors. The Appreciation Program's focus on the Senior Fund, Clark said, is an effort to change that pattern. Publicity for the Fund, she said, "show[s] seniors how important it is to give back to Tufts after graduation." Without alumni donations "we would not have had the resources that exist today at Tufts, and... future generations of Jumbos will not enjoy the same quality of experience that our class has," Clarke said. Donations to the senior fund are solicited at events like the one on Thursday, at tables in the campus center, and through advertisements and personal solicitations. "Every senior is encouraged to give to the Fund, even if it is a small amount," Clarke said. It has not yet been determined who will talk about the senior gift Thursday night, Clarke said.

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News

Special events planned for Carmichael dining hall

October 23

If you've eaten in Carmichael Dining Hall recently, you may have noticed the Giant Pumpkin or the blown-up Homer Simpson doll standing imposingly in the entrance. These decorations are a component of the special events planned this year to make Carmichael a more fun and exciting place to eat. Some of these events include the "Giant Pumpkin Contest," "South of the Border," "Apple Harvest," "Tailgate Brunch," "Wing It," "Farm Market Day," "Beach Party," "Under the Boardwalk," "Grand Slam Baseball," "Texas Barbecue," and many more. "Menus for each special event will be posted one week in advance to allow students the opportunity to come to Carmichael and enjoy our mini-theme special events, just relax, have fun, eat great food, and just enjoy our entertainment," Carmichael manager Dave Kelley said. This month's events include "Trick or Treat," when students will be asked to guess the weight of the giant pumpkin in Carmichael within five pounds to win prizes. "Apple Harvest," which took place on Tuesday night, featured bushels of assorted apples to pick from, fresh baked apple pie with vanilla ice cream, apple cider, bobbing for apples, and caramel apples with assorted toppings. On Sunday, Oct. 27, there will be "Tailgate Brunch" with a menu comprised of all types of barbecued foods. Future events will include a carnival theme dinner with cotton candy and popcorn machines and a "Gone Bananas Night" with all different types of banana-themed deserts and blow-up banana dolls to hand out to students. Kelley implemented many of these events when he worked at Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall before moving uphill. "We wanted to bring fun stuff to Carmichael," Kelly said. "We call these events 'monotony breakers' because we want to get the kids involved. We did a lot of things like this at Dewick in past years and we wanted to bring it up to Carmichael now." These events serve as exciting additions to the already popular dinner specials such as Stir Fry Night, Omelet Night, Mediterranean Night, and Make Your Own Belgian Waffle Night. Students have responded positively to the creative dining options. "I really like the fact that they're trying so hard to have events for the holidays, and I love omelet night," freshman Cho Ling said. "They should keep it up." The events demonstrate Dining Services' openness to meet student needs, Kelly said. "We are now looking at putting organic food into the menu because the kids liked our 'Farm Market Day' so much," Kelly said. "We take that seriously. When the students respond well to one of our events we work with the dietician to add [it] to our menu." Students can look forward to postings advertising menus and events at the entrance of Carmichael starting this week.

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News

Food, mood, and music in Davis Square

October 23

Davis Square may be quaint, but it still offers an array of various eateries _ from Italian to Indian to just plain dessert, it can be hard to choose. Restaurants must find a way to distinguish themselves and catch the attention of potential diners before they even cross the threshold. With a large, distinctive sign, strings of white Christmas lights and the sound of music playing, Johnny D's Uptown Restaurant and Music Club does just that. Setting this eatery apart from the rest is its multi-purpose nature. Johnny D's is not just restaurant _ it's also a bar and, more importantly, a music club. Each night there are different musical genres. Some nights local bands are scheduled, playing everything from bluegrass to African to swing. Sunday nights the club/restaurant is transformed from your everyday music venue to a salsa club, with dance lessons beginning at 9 p.m. Earlier in the evening, Johnny D's features the Blues Jam. Musicians can sign their names on a list and are allowed to "jam" with strangers to entertain the audience. This sign up sheet allows for a more diverse selection of songs and styles of music. Upon entering the restaurant, patrons are greeted with a blend of live music and conversation. It is an extremely casual atmosphere, as you seat yourself and are greeted by a waitress who must scream over the music in order to be heard. The inside, much like the exterior, is adorned with white lights, which succeed in setting a mellow mood. This dim lighting contributes to the calm, restful ambiance of the restaurant. The waitstaff is extremely friendly and helpful in answering any questions, but don't expect to see your waitress after she takes your order. The service is slow, you can never find help when you needed it and it takes a long time for the food to arrive. The selection of beers and other alcoholic beverages is quite extensive, while the food selection is limited in comparison. This, however, proved not to be a shortcoming, as the food is delicious, satisfying and worth the wait. The quesadilla appetizer came with all the necessary extras _ salsa, guacamole, and sour cream. Sliced into four equal pieces like a pie, the tortilla was soft and crispy on the outside and just the right temperature. It was filled with at least two kinds of cheese, black beans, olives, jalapenos, and chicken _ a perfect combination. One drawback, though, was that we were not given plates when our appetizer arrived, so it was difficult for more than one person to try and eat over the individual plate in the middle of the table. (We of course could not find our waitress to ask for two more plates.) Our entrees came out soon after the appetizer. In fact, we had not even finished eating half of the quesadilla when they arrived. Disappointingly, there was nothing extraordinary in the presentation _ it was rather simple and minimal. This drawback notwithstanding, Johnny D's knows how to make a cheeseburger _ cooked to perfection, it was juicy and full of flavor. It was so big it took up half the plate and could probably satisfy even the most voracious of appetites. Be forewarned, however, that it came served with bacon, which was not mentioned in the menu. The fries were incredible _ fried to perfection, this restaurant adds just a touch of garlic to its spuds, adding to the taste. The chicken and cheese sandwich is also impressive. Set on a lightly toasted roll, the cheese is melted onto the tender and juicy chicken. The setup at Johnny D's is just right for a music bar. The acoustics are such that the sound is directed towards the audience for maximum listening enjoyment. The tables are centered around the stage, allowing for a small dance floor in the middle where couples occasionally get up from their chairs to show off their dancing skills. Combined together, the atmosphere, music, and food contribute to a very positive dining experience. But the restaurant, it seems, is geared more toward the music-listening crowd as opposed to a one that is more interested in eating dinner. It is the perfect place for students to split appetizers and listen to music, but do not going to Johnny D's expecting a full course meal and extensive menu. It may not be a five-star restaurant, but it certainly is a place to go to relax, kick back, have a drink, and let the musicians do all the work.

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News

Defending the US invasion

October 23

Over the past few weeks, I have read with interest a number of Daily viewpoints concerning a potential United States war with Iraq. I count four viewpoints altogether, one in favor of war by Professor Malik Mufti, and three against by Dale Bryan, Sam Abrams, and Tana Abdul-Aziz. Since it is now three to one against a war with Iraq, I would like to offer a defense of a US invasion, and address some of the points brought up in the anti-war articles. I start with Dale Bryan 's piece, entitled "War means killing people," which is refreshing in its honesty but does not reveal anything about the 'ostensible facts of the politics, history, and culture of the Middle East. Ignoring this state of affairs, which seems to be a perpetual state for some, the viewpoint lists a number of reasons why the United States should refrain from war with Iraq, beginning with the banal assertion that Iraqi people will die if the United States attacks Iraq. This argument might be of some merit if the viewpoint showed the numbers of people who will be killed in a war, but merely to assert that people will die in war is hardly a convincing argument against war, unless it is against all war, in which case the viewpoint may as well assert that all wars are unjust and leave it at that. The more useful question to ask, assuming that the only issue was the immediate number of lives lost due to the direct consequences of war, is whether ultimately the number of people who are saved by the United States ' action and a free Iraq outnumber the people who are currently dying as a result of Hussein 's brutal and repressive regime, including the sanctions which he has the power to lift at anytime, and which Mr. Bryan finds abhorrent. The viewpoint's fatuous claim that "not once in the 20th century did an armed invasion directly lead to the establishment of democracy there" and that violence never leads to healing reveals a lack of knowledge not just about the politics and history of the Middle East, but of the world in general. In World War II, America invaded Germany and established democracy there. True, it was only after Germany invaded most of Europe, but it was an invasion nonetheless. Under the first Bush administration the United States invaded Panama, removed Noriega, and established a democratic government. That is more than the bumbling international lawyers and bureaucrats at the United Nations (which the viewpoint seems to favor by its reference to "international law and institutional arrangements") have ever managed to do. The United Nations is a joke; a snapshot of the world at the end of the 1940s, it neither reflects current international reality, nor does it contain the elements necessary to resolve even the most minor of disputes. The general assembly is a collection of mediocre diplomats (at best) arguing about who sits where, drafting resolutions no one reads, taking on issues no one cares about, and make decisions no one takes seriously. These are, after all, the people who elected Libya to lead the UN 's Commission on Human Rights (other members include China, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia.) The security council (which is where the real power lies, if one can say there is real power in the UN), is a paper tiger standing on its last quivering legs; its credibility in shreds. In the end, the security council will probably even approve the invasion, or else have to face the reality that its power to affect the course of world events is somewhere on the level of Andorra 's. While Bryan 's article offers up two of the trademark pillars used by those opposing Iraq (the moral objection to war and the internationalist approach), Sam Abrams' viewpoint fills in some of the other standard arguments quite nicely, beginning with the comical, yet oft repeated line, that "unfettered weapons inspection[s]" must come first. Such inspections, the argument goes, are needed because war is such a terrible thing and any alternative is better. But the plain truth of the matter is that inspections are a mere charade. Even when we had them we were reliant on people to tell us exactly where to look; we almost never found anything due to our own information. If inspections are re-instated under current scenarios, Saddam is likely to continue developing weapons of mass destruction with near impunity. Perhaps this viewpoint is proposing a new type of inspections, not currently conceived. That would be wise, as current inspection plans call for weapons inspectors in the low hundreds. Iraq is 437,072 sq km. In contrast, California is 403,932.8 sq km and Massachusetts is 20,305.6 sq km. In other words, you could subtract the area of California from Iraq and still have an area the size of Massachusetts to be searched by a mere 250 to 300 UN weapons inspectors. To make the case that even Massachusetts could be searched with that many men is a stretch. To say that 250 to 300 people could effectively search an area the size of California and Massachusetts is simply ludicrous. The other bulwark argument of the anti-war side which the viewpoint brings up, and which seems to be the main point, is that the United States is simply in this for the oil, and will not help Iraq once it is liberated. This is simply not born out by the current reality. As of today, oil is relatively cheap, and the United States has steady supplies and suppliers around the world. Opening up Iraq 's oil reserves, while it has interesting applications in allowing the United States to bring the Saudi 's to heel, will not have a significant impact on this country 's oil position. It is certainly in no way analogous to 1991, where our strategic position on oil was jeopardized. Ultimately, war with Iraq comes down to some very basic concepts. Iraq is controlled by a brutal dictator with a hatred of the United States. That dictator is working day and night to acquire weapons of mass destruction. Saddam has been responsible for two wars in the Middle East already, and had he possessed nuclear weapons either time, the world would be a very different place today. The United States has the technology and ability to take on Saddam in a way which will minimize casualties to both sides. We also have the chance to reform Iraq 's society. Before the Ba 'ath party took over, Iraq was on its way to modernity, the most advanced Arab country in the world. The anti-war side seems to think that it is amoral to attack or unrealistic to expect a victory that can enhance the Middle East and the world in general. The costs, they argue, are too high. The costs of inaction are higher.

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News

Jumbos on horses

October 23

While it is the Tufts way to swear allegiance to a giant elephant, there are some on campus who find another four-legged creature suits them. While Jumbo brings to mind an intimidating beast, the Tufts Equestrian team competes on the backs of beauties. Horses are the animal of choice for these riders. With the Show Season underway, the squad is hoping it can build upon the success of the last few years with strong performances both this fall and in the coming spring. The team made up of both men and women had its first show season in Hanover, MA this past Saturday. It finished fourth out of ten schools, which included BU, MIT, Harvard, UMass-Dartmouth, Endicott, and Stonehill, among others. "We did pretty well. It wasn't the best that I've seen, but it was a pretty solid performance overall," senior co-captain Ellie Langevin said. "The majority of our freshmen placed 3rd place or above in their respective events, so we were pleasantly surprised." Among those freshmen who contributed were Kate Stewart and Andrea Savage, who were seeing their first actual show experience with the team. The newcomers as well as the returning riders will be expected to step up and carry the load after nine of last year's team members graduated following a second place finish at Regionals. Included in that graduating class was Hally Phillips, who won the Chaccione Cup three years ago. This is the highest individual award in collegiate equestrian. While some may believe it is the horse that does all the work and that there can't be much skill involved, the contrary is actually true, Langevin says. "At a show, you draw a random horse, so that's where you can separate the good riders from the great ones," Langevin said. "Anyone can be great on a $50,000 horse, but being able to maintain control of an excitable horse is the challenge. We are basically competing with new horses as well as against new horses every time." The dedication and time the team puts in is especially noteworthy. The "home" stables are almost an hour away in Apple Knoll Farm in rural Millis, MA. It is required for each of the nearly forty-five members to go there at least once a week, but those who are in the shows will go up to three or four times a week to prepare for the weekend. The team started near the end of September and will continue until the middle of November. They then have a whole other season in the spring, where just as many newcomers arrive as did in the fall. "It takes up three and a half fours of the day, if you include the ride down. But it's totally worth it if you're passionate and willing to sacrifice that free time," Langevin said. While many of the riders have been honing their riding skills for many years, there are certainly those on the team who came to Tufts new to the world of equestrian sporting all together. "Some of the team had never been on a horse before freshman year. Others have been doing it for nearly our whole lives. We are all across the board as far as levels of experience go," Langevin said. "But for competition, the less experienced walk/trotters are as important for us as the jumpers. All the points matter the same amount." But the Equestrian team does more than just ride horses together. "We go skiing and snowboarding together up at the Tufts Lodge at least once a winter, if not more," Langevin said. "During the week at the farm, we connect with each other. Both of my roommates I met through the team, so we definitely have a lot of bonding time." The team travels to the Stonehill College Horseshow in Hebron, CT this weekend.

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News

Trustee discussion needs modification

October 23

Though next weekend's trustee meeting is not an open one, it is likely that President Larry Bacow will be discussing _ or at least thinking about _ his intentions for next February's weekend retreat. Last February, Bacow changed the format of the traditional trustee retreat to one with heavy student interaction. A large turnout resulted, with labels of activism flying and The Primary Source sexual harassment case at the core of the crossfire. Despite the Dewick incident last year, Bacow told the Daily he would like to continue to have open discussion. It would be nice to assume that Tufts students wouldn't continue to blast trustees about such short-term issues as a campus media fray, important as they are to those here for only four years. The trustees are responsible for managing a plan for the future of the University decades from now, and need not be involved in every specific matter that arises throughout the course of a semester or a year. That being said, Bacow is very interested in making undergraduate student concerns and experiences known to the trustees, hence the inception of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience. But perhaps a better medium for dialogue would be to invite a representative sample of students to the trustee forum. This would obviously cut down on the amount of students in attendance, but it would still provide the opportunity to raise concerns and pose questions to the trustees. Selection of the sample of students would not have to be difficult _ if campus groups with membership over a certain amount of students were to send one or two members, it would be a fair and diverse representation. Students with individual concerns could be allowed on a case-by-case basis, or could be heard through their class representatives in the Senate. Also, the meeting would be more balanced because students would not go to address a specific small issue, they would be their to offer constructive opinions. Bacow needs to find a way to balance the need for students and trustees to communicate with the desire for an orderly discussion. In a smaller setting, it would be more of an honor to be selected to represent a particular interest, and the students in attendance would be able to voice their concerns more effectively.

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News

Boston 101: Exploring Boston beyond campus

October 23

While most of us are aware that, Boston is a city overflowing with cultural and historical landmarks, the fact remains that a great number of students have yet to explore the city that exists beyond the walls of Tufts. Whether you're a freshman who hasn't had the chance yet or a senior who simply hasn't given it much thought in four years, there are plenty of sights to see and locales to explore in Boston. Here, the Daily break down the best of the best Boston attractions, perfect for an outing with friends or a visit with the 'rents. You'll find Boston's version of the yellow brick road if you follow the Freedom Trail, that mysterious red line you may have seen running through the city. Funded by various private foundations and government agencies, the three-mile trail covers Boston's numerous and varied historical monuments. Free guided tours leave from the National Park Service Visitor Center located at State and Washington Streets, but feel free to roam the path on your own. Sights to see include King's Chapel and Burying Ground, the Boston Tea Party Ship and Museum, the Old South Meeting House and the USS Constitution. A perfect outing for cool, autumn day, this trip will also cost you next to nothing _ many of the sites are open to visitors free of charge. For $20, you can catch the sights by duck instead of on foot. Boston Duck Tours combines sight-seeing with pure amusement, as you'll ride through such historic areas such as Back Bay, Beacon Hill and North End. This 80-minute ride concludes with a cruise along the Charles River, where passengers are encouraged to quack at passers-by. Ducks depart every half hour from the Prudential Center. If you're looking for a combination of historical value and, well, shopping, head to Faneuil Hall, located at Faneuil Hall Square between Congress and North Streets. This marketplace was once the site of the first town meeting in America, anti-slavery assemblies during the 19th century, and women's suffrage rallies in the 20th century. Part of the notorious Freedom Trail, it houses the museum of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company in its attic. The actual marketplace, referred to as Quincy Market is located in three long buildings across from Faneuil Hall on Chatham Street. It offers visitors everything from takeout to bath and beauty supplies. You can shop at such national chains as Crabtree and Evelyn or Abercrombie & Fitch, then order some takeout from Bangkok Express or sit down to a meal at Trattoria Il Panino. Merchants also roam the marketplace grounds, selling various gifts and trinkets. You can finish off your fun-filled day of feeding and shopping at the Comedy Connection, located on the second floor of the Quincy Market Building. Far from plush or posh, this is where you'll find some of the most recognized names in stand-up. You'll find even more shopping along Boston's famed Newbury Street, accessible by T. Not for the faint of high price tags, this stretch of sidewalk features some of the most upscale shopping in town. Among the big-name shops are Armani and Calypso. You can also get a high-priced, swanky haircut at one of the posh salons, such as Bella Sante or Salon Mario Russo. Also lining the street is an array of contemporary art galleries like Gallery Naga and Chase Gallery. But even if you can't afford to spend the cash that Newbury St. demands, it's one of the area's premiere sites for walking, people-watching and window shopping. And everyone can always afford one of the decadent ice cream creations at J.P. Licks. With winter months fast approaching, perhaps one of the best ways to enjoy Boston sights outdoors is to wander through Boston Common. Located at Beacon Street, the Frog Pond is transformed every November from a huge wading pool to an outdoor ice-skating rink. Admission will run you a mere $3 if you have your own skates; otherwise, for an addition $5, you can rent skates from the park. Don't worry if it doesn't seem cold enough for the ice to be solid _ the city uses ice-making equipment to ensure that any possible mishaps are avoided. Boston also offers plenty of ways to get back in touch with your childhood. Located off the Blue Line's Aquarium T stop, the New England Aquarium gives visitors a sneak peak into the lives of all kinds of underwater creatures. The space is small, but you'll find everything from a 500-pound sea turtle to jellyfish to penguins to sea lions within the aquarium's walls. Getting there early will ensure that not only will you beat the crowds, but you'll also have a chance to catch all the special animal presentations and feeding times that make this outing more exciting and interactive. The Children's Museum, located conveniently at South Station, is all about hands on activities. You may be one of the oldest people there, but everyone loves that giant soap bubble activity. The museum is comprised of four floors of varied activities. Head over to "Construction Zone" to try your hand at solving the infamous Big Dig dilemma. Hands-on activities are also a prominent feature of the Museum of Science, located at Science Park. Check out the Light House to experiment with optics, or the Human Body Connection, where you can witness the hatching of baby chicks. The biggest draw here is the Mugar Omni Theatre, where you can catch thrilling movies on a 180-degree screen. Whether you're looking for a taste of history, a shopping spree, or way to be five years old again, Boston is jam-packed with attractions to meet all your needs. These are just a few of the many reasons why you should hop on the T and expand your horizons off the Hill.

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News

This is what happens when I can't think of anything else to write...

October 23

Ethan: Good afternoon everyone, I'm Ethan Austin and I'd like to welcome you to today's episode of "The Sports Reporters 14." The format of today's show will be somewhat different than usual, as we will be joined by three special guests, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott, and color commentators John Madden and Tim McCarver. We certainly have an interesting show ahead of us here this afternoon, so I'll get us all started. First off, Tim, we all know you're an idiot, but how stupid are you really? McCarver: Well let me put it this way, Ethan. Yes. Ethan: Well, uh Tim, I don't think I entirely understand. Would you mind clarifying that? McCarver: Well let me put it this way, Ethan. Back in the '50s when Ken Griffey Jr. played on the San Fransisco Yankees, I used to watch a lot of baseball. Somehow I ended up playing in the major leagues even though I was terrible, and eventually I ended up broadcasting. To tell you the truth, I don't really know how it happened. I don't know the first thing about baseball. Wait, should I say that? Maybe people shouldn't know that. Ethan: Oh come now Tim, you know nobody reads this column. So you really don't know anything at all? McCarver: Well let me put it this way, Ethan. Yesterday I figured out how to tie my own shoes, and I've made three tuna fish sandwiches in the past week, so that's been pretty good. Ethan: Do you think that this might be one of the reasons why your nickname was "Buckethead" while you were playing? McCarver: Well let me put it this way, Ethan. I have used a bucket once. Ethan: All right then.We're going to forget than Tim McCarver exists, and turn next to John Madden. So John, what's it like not working on Sundays for the first time in your life? Madden: I mean, here's a guy, John Madden, who has worked every single Sunday for as long as he can remember, and then BOOM! He's working on Mondays now. Ethan: Your mind is absolutely fascinating John. Do you ever miss Pat Summerall? Madden: I mean, here's a guy, John Madden, who worked with Pat Summerall for almost as long as he can remember, and then POW! He's working with Frank Gifford. Ethan: Really a good point. I hope you all at home are taking notes. So what are your thoughts on Terrell Owens and his latest display on the field? Madden: I mean, here's a guy, Terrell Owens, who's a football player. He runs around the field, and he catches the football. He knows how to play the game of football. A week or two ago, he used a pen in his sock to sign a football. If you look at the tape you see BAM! He takes the pen out of his sock, and then BOOM! He signs the football. I don't think it gets much more clear. Ethan: Let's pretend that that little interlude didn't just happen, and we'll move on to Stuart Scott. So Stuart- Scott: Boo Yeah! Ethan: Well Stuart that certainly is interesting but- Scott: He's makin his kin folk so proud, Pookey and Ray Ray and all them. Bringin it to da hizouse! Boo yeah! Ethan: Stop it. Scott: And the lawd said-a, ya gotta rise up! Ethan: I hate you. Scott: C'mon, show me some love! Boo yeah! Ethan: I never thought I'd say this but, let's go back to Tim McCarver for a minute and talk a bit about the World Series. So Tim, it's pretty tough to bet against those Angels, especially with that rally monkey on their side. Your thoughts? McCarver: Well let me put is this way, Ethan. There's an unwritten rule in the game of baseball that whenever there's a monkey involved in a game, the home team always wins, so it's really tough at this point to say who will win this series. Ethan: You really are the stupidest man alive, aren't you? McCarver: Well let me put it this way, Ethan. The New York Yankees are the best team in the history of baseball. The always win and have never lost. If I could marry George Steinbrenner, I would. I've always said that. Now, after that happens, I will be more closely associated with the New York Yankees. Ethan: Remarkable Tim. I would go back over to John Madden to talk a little more about the NFL, but it seems as though he has gotten lost inside of his own sweater. Madden: (from inside the sweater, trying to escape) I mean, here's a sweater, my sweater, and I can't find my way out! I was just trying to find my belly button, and then BOOM! I'm lost inside my own sweater! Ethan: You are truly an impressive man, John. We're almost out of time here today, so let's get to our parting shots. Why don't we start with you Tim. McCarver: As the World Series goes on, we will find out who is the better team. Whoever pops the ball up more will probably lose this series. There is an unwritten rule in the game of baseball that the team with the taller players catches more pop up balls, unless that team is the Yankees, and they catch more pop ups than anybody. This is what will win the World Series. Ethan: Couldn't have said it better myself, Tim. John? Madden: I mean, I'm in a sweater, my sweater, and I'm just completely lost inside. If you look at the tape again, the first minute I'm out of my sweater, and the next minute, BAM! I'm lost inside of it again! Ethan: And I almost hate to say, but, Stuart? Any final thoughts? Scott: Why ya gotta be so mean, Ethan? Boo yeah! Gimme a pound dog! Ethan: Well that's it folks. I hope you've enjoyed this as much as I have. For Tim McCarver, John Madden, Stuart Scott, and annoying sports broadcasters everywhere, this is Ethan Austin. Goodnight.

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News

A letter to my son

October 23

Dear Hamad, A few weeks ago, I woke up in a bunk bed on the shore of Lake Ossippee in New Hampshire. Turning on my side, I noticed Jason in a towel groping his way to the shower, Craig sealing off the sunlight with a pillow and Adam cursing me in Arabic that any normal person would have forgotten by now. But this was not a normal experience. These are the experiences that some people are fortunate enough to have and that others can only read about. Throwing a pair of socks at Adam for old time's sake, I felt every care in the world dissipate. And I felt ten again. I felt ten because these are the men that I had grown up with for ten summers as a child. I felt ten because my present tapped a past that was frozen in time. I felt ten because I was mouthing lyrics to songs I thought I had long forgotten. And I felt ten because I was the only Arab at a predominantly Jewish summer camp. I felt ten, and if not for you Hamad, I didn't want to feel 31 ever again. Not knowing the demographic constituency of the camp, your grandparents sent me to Camp Robin Hood to lose weight. But instead of losing, I gained. I gained friendships, self confidence, and yes, weight. And of course, for fear of not being allowed to return, I learned how to conceal the demographics of camp. But the one thing that I gained that shaped the person I am today was an early exposure to a culture foreign to my own. I learned to make out the etchings on both sides of an increasingly jagged coin. And I fought hard. I fought at home where I was thrown out of class for not accepting anti-Semitic remarks. I understood the frustration of my teachers. I respected the propaganda and its role in promoting the esteem of my people. But I abhorred the generalizations that I was being taught. No one can speak that way of Jason, Adam or Craig in my presence. After all, I was brought up to believe that Arabs were loyal to their friends. I also fought at college, demanding respect for the Arab voice at university and ultimately engaging in a long and drawn-out media war against an Israeli group on campus. Personally, I was very happy with the outcome. These guys were not Jason, Adam, or Craig, and I owed them nothing. They made the mistake of picking on the one Arab that grew up fearing the Holocaust. And they didn't have a chance in hell. A few weeks ago, somebody asked me how I would raise you. Would I raise you along secular lines, more in line with my acquired belief system, or would I raise you along conservative lines, more in line with my heritage? There is no doubt in my mind that this will be one of the hardest decisions I make and given the state of the world today, my choice will be a gamble. Hamad, last week an American soldier was killed by a Kuwaiti gunman. The Western media was indignant. They decried that the Kuwaiti was biting the hand that was protecting it and that he was most probably part of the al Qaeda network. Whispered consensus among a more conservative element believes that the Kuwaiti was protecting Kuwait against American colonialism and would surely win a place in paradise for his sacrifice. These explanations are mutually exclusive for most people. And for a select few, both explanations "make sense," even if neither is "correct." I want you to be one of those few. This is my wish for you. And it is a wish that I will have to strive hard to make a reality if Kuwait's political landscape does not change. When I was your age, Kuwait had a strong liberal presence. Fearing a challenge to their rule, our leaders gerrymandered and gave access to parliament to people who were fundamental (less emphasis on the first syllable, more on the last two) in their beliefs. This led to an increasing intellectual stagnation. However, what I believe will stifle your intellectual growth is not religious fundamentalism. After all, there are fundamentalists in all societies and they should be allowed to practice their beliefs. What will stifle your growth is the fact that any ideas that oppose these "fundamentals" are not given voice in Kuwaiti society. And this, Hamad, is Kuwait, by far and away one of the freest Arab states. Most of us have recurring dreams and I'm no exception. There's the one about the ill-prepared math exam (although at business school I feel that I am of the minority that has that as a waking dream). And there is the dream in which you lose one or more of your teeth. I have one where I am wobbling because one of my legs is longer than the other. But of all my recurring dreams, there is one that I look forward to. The content of this particular dream varies but the look and feel of the surrounding is unmistakably Robin Hood. And always, without fail, I wake up with a smile on my face feeling like I am back at camp. In fact, I never left. Hamad, next summer I will most probably send you to Camp Robin Hood. I will send you to the land of the White Mountains and the waters of Lake Ossippee. I will send you to the place where I learned the importance of diversity and teamwork and the value of camaraderie that crosses conventional boundaries. But most importantly, I am sending you to a place where intense color war among arbitrarily chosen factions is inevitably followed by a time of reflection, healing and reunification. May the experience be as rewarding to your life as it has been to mine. Your Father, Naif Naif Al-Mutawa is a Tufts alumni and will graduate from Columbia Business School this spring.

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News

Vonnegut appearance marks changes to Lecture Series

October 23

This week's announcement that author Kurt Vonnegut will speak at Tufts on Nov. 5 marked changes in Lecture Series goals and operation. The student organization is working to heighten the level of prestige of its commissioned speakers and to broaden its membership. Series members "hope that by bringing Mr. Vonnegut, we're upping the ante," Co-President Ayesha Choudhury said. His prestige as "a legendary author" and "an amazing speaker" will raise the bar for future Lecture Series speakers, she said. Vonnegut's lecture will be the first of most likely two Series events this year, although no plans have been made public as to who the second speaker will be. Members decided to focus on one or two better-known figures this year rather than many lesser-known speakers. "One or two big speakers are generally more exciting and draw a larger audience," Choudhury said. Limited funds often play a role in speaker selection, and price tags range from a few hundred dollars to as much as $350,000 for former President Bill Clinton, who appeared on campus on March 13 this year as part of the Issam M. Fares Lecture Series. Lecture Series members chose Vonnegut's higher price tag over arranging multiple speakers with lower demands because of the respect and prestige granted him by students and faculty. Lecture Series has several options for dealing with increased speaker costs, one being to charge an entry fee. But members prefer to search for sponsorship within the Tufts community. Departments and clubs are often willing to sponsor speaker events, which in turn increases their visibility, Choudhury said. The Series is also attempting to change the way it operates and move beyond its previously exclusive nature, Choudhury said. Previously, only two members participated in the decision-making process. Series membership and structure have expanded this year to include an executive board and about ten other students who consistently attend meetings and share in the decision-making process on possible speakers. Another of the organization's major goals this year is to increase visibility. Vonnegut's upcoming lecture has generated significant interest, Choudhury said. "We hope above everything that people have a good time and enjoy watching an amazing speaker, but we would also like people to notice lecture series for what it is." After brainstorming a list of possible speakers, the group contacts the speakers' agents. The University has a strong relationship with an agent who works with the lecture series. Choudhury described the process by which Vonnegut's lecture was arranged as a "pretty typical process. We contacted his management and found available dates and negotiated prices," she said, after which the Series and the author's representation each signed contracts. Kurt Vonnegut's lecture will take place Tuesday Nov. 5 at 9pm in Cohen Auditorium. Tickets will go on sale Oct. 29 and are $10 with Tufts ID. The title of his speech is "How to Get a Job Like Mine."

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News

When lushes are blinded with science

October 23

Introduction: Previous research (Lush, 2002) on venues in the Boston area and interactions with socially inept MIT students led us to wonder whether there are any cool bars in the MIT area. The Miracle of Science Bar & Grill, located on Mass. Ave. several blocks from the Central Square T stop, was chosen as the setting for our study. The experimenters were interested in the relationship between student nerdiness and bar likeability. It was expected that, of bar attendees, the majority would have pocket protectors and tapered stonewashed jeans. Methods: Experimenters entered the bar. Drink orders were taken. Food board was analyzed. Food was ordered. Beer was sipped. Food was eaten. Dessert was ordered. Beer was guzzled. Dessert somehow disappeared from bowl. Check was brought. Beer was chugged. Check was corrected. Bathroom was examined and measurements were taken. Check was paid. Materials: Various beers, chicken skewers, potato side (really an undescript way of describing spicy fried chunks of potato), seven layer bar with vanilla ice cream, knife, fork, spoon, rubber chicken. Results: The relationship between nerd value of the clientele and cool value of the bar was not found to be significant. See Table 1. Discussion: The Miracle of Science is the opposite of a Harvard Square bar. While these establishments try too hard to be trendy but come off as pretentious and fake, Miracle of Science is effortlessly laid back and comes off as classy casual. It is a place where you could bring a group of friends for some Saturday night partying and come back on Sunday with your TI-6x10^23 calculator and work on a problem set. The bar occupies an odd trianglur space on a street corner, the inside of which is decorated with exposed brick, deep red paint, and dim lighting from trendy fixtures. It is intimate but not cramped, as the large windows make it feel open. The furniture is simple but classy _ granite table tops in squares and triangles complemented by light wooden chairs. No Discovery Channel interior design guys were harmed in the decoration of this establishment. Though beer offerings were few, Miracle of Science doesn't play around with light beers and girly drinks. On draft were Guiness, Bass, UFO Hefeweizen, Trement, Ispwich, and Brooklyn Lager. The bottled selection featured regional beers such as Harpoon IPA and Magic Hat #9 and other familiar favorites. If that doesn't whet your palate, there are three shelves of hard alcohol _ and several sketchier bars across the street. The "& Grill" part of Miracle of Science is not to be forgotten. The centerpiece of the bar is a large chalkboard displaying food offerings in the form of a table of the elements. Don't come here expecting Dewick nacho cheese _ the menu is much more creative and less radioactive. Dinner choices were sandwiches, burgers, and quesadillas, all prepared at an open grill behind the bar. If you're looking for something to quickly absorb the alcohol in your stomach, try the skewers, which come in chicken, beef, vegetable, or shrimp, and are served with a variety of chutneys and dipping sauces. If you still have room for dessert, sample the miraculous seven layer bar with Toscanini's ice cream. Suggestion for future research: trying to ascertain what the seven layers actually are after consumption of seven beers. Though the Miracle of Science escapes the stigma of its nerdy title, it is certainly not a bump and grind bar. Music was catchy but not terribly loud and lacked a dance beat. The bar is also not the best place to catch a game, as the one television it displayed was small. But it's a good place to go with a mixed crowd if conversation and food are going to be the foci of the evening. And hey, we like conversation and food. And words like foci and matrices. Suggestions for future research: Effect of alcohol consumption on ability to write Daily articles. Effect of weekly alcohol-related articles on parent-child relations and parental willingness to send checks for "school supplies."

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News

An impromptu laugh in Davis Square with Improv Foundry

October 23

Have $10 and a Friday night to spare? Then, without question, run _ don't walk _ down to the Elm Street Theatre in Davis Square to see one of the newest groups to hit the Boston improv scene: Improv Foundry. Improv Foundry was founded by two Brown University graduates, Matt Fisher and Jon Bender. After having been involved in improvisational theatre in college, the duo "got sick of trying to be involved in other people's improv groups" and decided that "there was a lot of room for new competitors in the improv scene here in Boston." The group expanded to include eight additional members (including Tufts Cheapsox alum Shannon Choy) following a draft held at Improv Boston last April and has been working Boston-area improv venues ever since. The team at Improv Foundry performs short-form improv, which consists of sketch-length scenes which are generated from prompts suggested by the audience. According to its unofficial mission statement, Improv Foundry strives to create "high-energy comedy that doesn't fall back on theatricality... If we can keep the audience laughing pretty consistently, that's the only skill we're interested in demonstrating." This high-energy aspiration was certainly achieved during last week's Improv Foundry. Group members began their show by first introducing the premise of their style of improvisational theatre to the audience, explaining the pivotal role that the audience plays in the performance. To get the show going, the performers, rather than getting themselves warmed up, got the audience warmed up. Instructed to merely "respond and not think," and given the stipulation that "the less sexual the suggestion, the funnier the sketch," audience members were asked to give words resulting from promptings ranging from "adjectives" to "favorite childhood candy." The audience prepared, the members of Improv Foundry began their show. One of the strongest aspects of Improv Foundry's performance was the cohesiveness of the members as a troupe. There was no star performer _each performer seems to be fully aware of the fact that an improv performer is only as good as his troupe as a whole. The chemistry between the players was palpable, as was the inherent level of trust necessary for a strong improv performance. A prime example of the group's cohesiveness came during the game "1234321." Here, the troupe flowed naturally between seemingly unrelated scenes in which the performers took turns portraying the more prominent role. The troupe progressed with complete ease between a lacrosse coach announcing his retirement to the PTA, to Fran Drescher (The Nanny) clothes shopping, to the bodyguard of David Hasselhoff protecting his charge from a batty female stalker, to a university president reprimanding fraternity boys for inappropriate behavior, and then back again. All the while, the troupe never let the energy level of the game as a whole drop, thus maintaining the charge and humor of the sketch as a complete unit. The members of Improv Foundry have the art of give-and-take, an improv necessity, down to a T. Another particularly strong element of Improv Foundry's set is variety. The group aptly mixes up sketches which involve the entire troupe and those which involve only a few members _ sometimes even creating sketches where troupe members essentially give alternating improvised monologues. Such a skit was done using the premise of a 2 a.m. Home Shopping Network program. In this skit, two performers alternated in taking the stage, each trying to sell, as prompted by the audience, "saucy coconuts." This sketch was followed by an activity which involved the entire troupe: a game called "World's Worst" in which the performers had to step forward and give an example of the world's worst in whatever category was suggested by the audience. (The night I was there, suggested topics ranged from "tele-evangelist" to "taxidermist" to "planet.") What sets the Improv Foundry comedy troupe apart from many other improvisational theatre groups is its sheer inventiveness _ and their ability to not sacrifice "keep[ing] it clean" for truly funny material. The troupe is able to create original, high energy entertainment without falling back on toilet humor, sexual innuendos, and _ most impressively _ the standard regime of recycled improv games used week after week on ABC's Whose Line Is It Anyway? and used by many other improv troupe nationwide. The members of Improv Foundry keep the audience laughing throughout their hour-and-a-half long show. This is one exceedingly clever and intelligent group _ this is not a troupe that tweaks its performance to get a cheap or easy laugh. Add to that the convenient location, student-friendly price, and high-quality comedy, and an evening with the members of Improv Foundry is not one to be missed. For general information, show times and ticket prices contact (617) 628-9555 or visit www.improvfoundry.com.

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News

Williams continues good year in NESCAC

October 22

Defense wins championships. Apparently, it also wins you NESCAC football games. This week, a few stellar defensive performances were key to football victories. Jeremy Carroll of Amherst earned Defensive Player of the Week honors for picking off three passes, one of which was taken 33 yards for a touchdown. But despite his efforts, the Lord Jeffs lost a 14-13 nail biter to Wesleyan. Sophomore Quincy Francis of Wesleyan had a Ray Lewis-like performance running all over the field en route to making 18 tackles, 12 unassisted. He has now made 60 tackles on the year _ good enough for first in the NESCAC. Williams remains the lone undefeated team in the NESCAC with its 36-28 victory over Tufts, and has won its first five contests. Hamilton and Bates remain stuck in neutral as they both remain winless at 0-5. In men's soccer, the Connecticut College Camels were able to ride the play of senior striker Erich Archer to their first victory of the year. Archer put in the game winner with just five minutes remaining in the contest. His timely goal was enough to give him player of the week honors in the NESCAC. Bowdoin and Babson played overtime twice before ending in a tie; Bowdoin remains at a record of 6-1. Bowdoin is joined by the Ephs of Williams atop the NESCAC. Colby and Connecticut College each have only one victory in seven tries as they try to get out of the NESCAC cellar. In women's soccer action, three times was the charm for Amherst's Adrienne Showler. Showler, a sophomore midfielder for the Lady Jeffs earned a hat-trick while leading her squad to a convincing 4-0 victory at Wesleyan. With the win, Amherst is keeping pace in a very competitive NESCAC soccer bracket. Amherst is deadlocked with Tufts and Williams, as all three schools are 5-2 in NESCAC play. Williams has the best overall record of 9-3. And Wesleyan just can't seem to get it together as the team has been unable to put together a single victory this season. Williams, which is having an unsurprisingly strong year all around in the NESCAC has not disappointed in volleyball either. The Ephs, who finished the NESCAC schedule going 9-1, have claimed the right to host this year's NESCAC championships to be played on Nov. 8 and 9. Led by junior Amy Cronin who put up an impressive 39 kills in the three game stint,the Jumbos helped themselves in the standings with a 2-1 weekend in the NESCAC. Amherst, who has also had a solid fall season in several NESCAC sports, finished 8-2 in conference play earning 2nd seed honors in the NESCAC Championships. Hamilton, Bowdoin and Connecticut College each have only one victory in ten tries this season, placing them in a three way tie for last place. In field hockey, Middlebury buried Union 9-0 this past Thursday. NESCAC player of the week Kate Perine's four goal performance highlighted the victory. All of Perine's four goals were in the first half. Bowdoin and Williams are tied for first with six victories a piece. Connecticut College is winless in six tries this season, as they stand alone in last place.

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