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Athletes across country demand rights

October 22

A new organization has been launched to push for a bill of rights for student-athletes at National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) institutions, including Tufts. The National Student-Athletes' Rights Movement (NSARM), with its proposed Student-Athletes' Bill of Rights, intends to "restore the welfare of student athletes to their rightful place at the top of the priority list at the NCAA and at all member institutions" due to concerns over arbitrary rulings and abuses of power, according an NSARM press release. The Bill of Rights includes proposals that vary from changing the ways schools treat teams whose members break rules and the length of time students can participate in intercollegiate sports. The Bill of Rights also calls for athletes to have "the right to receive benefits and privileges generally available to the institution's students who do not participate in intercollegiate athletics." The bill of rights is part of a 64-page document entitled "The NCAA _ Who Protects Student-Athletes?" written by Bob Timmons, a retired University of Kansas head track & field coach. It also includes a section aimed at establishing a "fair" punishment system, responding to incidents at some institutions where entire teams were punished for rule infractions made by one or a few members. At Tufts, however, few see that there are problems that a bill is needed to fix. "I haven't experienced a situation in which I've been punished for something I haven't done," said junior Pete Jurczynski, who is on the cross-country and track teams.. "I think Tufts is pretty good about being fair in that regard." Jurczynski was in agreement with others in the Athletics Department about the fairness of the NCAA. "The NCAA has a pretty large breadth of responsibility, so they have to maintain strict policies to ensure fairness, and I'm not opposed to that," he said. "My experience with the NCAA is that they have been very responsive to student needs," Athletic Director Bill Gehling said. "Institutions and conferences [such as the NCAA and the NESCAC conference, of which Tufts is a member] have advisory committees...that has been their avenue to try to give students a voice...to protect their rights." But sailing coach Ken Legler said that rules need to be reformed so they are more clear. "I am not an expert on NCAA rules; they are as complicated as tax codes. As such, I am not surprised there is a student-athlete bill of rights document getting formulated," he said. The Bill of Rights also calls for the NCAA to allow for more than four years of athletic eligibility, a policy that many disagree with but think it does not apply to Division III schools like Tufts. "Even honor students take six years to earn their degrees in some majors," Jurczynski said. "To go in four years is crazy." But some see this as aimed more towards large, Division I universities. "There is a much greater expectation [at Tufts] for us to be students," Jurczynkski said. "Coaches understand this, and the athletic department prides itself on the fact that the athletes at Tufts, as a whole, have a higher GPA than non-athletes." As varsity crew member Alana Van Der Mude put it, "I came to Tufts to go to school, not to row." Despite general satisfaction with the NCAA, Gehling feels there are areas for improvement, including "captain's practices," out-of-season athletic activity. The NCAA has official start and end dates for sports, and until recently, out-of-season practices were forbidden. Currently the NCAA allows for limited practice outside the regular season; however the NESCAC does not. "The NCAA has been wrestling with this for years... the fact is our student-athletes do want to get together," said Gehling.

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News

Starting a fitness routine

October 22

I am just starting a fitness routine for the first time. What are the factors I should consider when trying to design a program for myself? Let me congratulate you on having enough motivation to start yourself off on the right track to a healthier lifestyle. It took almost all of last year to convince one of my friends to get his lazy ass in the gym, so it is to your credit that you are doing it by yourself. That said, I think the most important things to consider when first starting out on a fitness routine are your goals. A goal can be pretty much anything you want to accomplish with your training. The first thing to set is a long-term goal, something to be accomplished over time. It doesn't necessarily have to be a feat to be accomplished all at once _ rather, it is something to work towards, an end to always have in mind. For example, do you want to put on some muscle mass? Increase your cardiovascular endurance? How about lose body fat and tone up? Those are all good general goals to start off with. Once you have narrowed down your basic goals, it is time to get more specific. Try to break up your ultimate goal into smaller, short-term ones. If you want to increase strength, tell yourself you are going to increase your bench press by ten pounds in the next month. If you want to get in better cardiovascular shape, tell yourself you will be running an eight-minute mile before two months is out. By setting attainable, short-term goals, you stay motivated and it enables you to look more realistically at your long-term goal as something you can accomplish. Another factor to think about when designing a routine for yourself is how many days per week you want to come to the gym. Obviously, if you are pressed for time during the week, and can only make it to the gym three times or less, your workout will be different from someone who can make it to the gym four or five times a week. Something else to consider are your eating habits. It is generally pretty easy for you to tell whether or not you are eating healthy. If you are eating hamburgers a few times a week, added to fried foods and heavy desserts, you are probably not following a very healthy diet. When you start your fitness routine, you should put more thought into what you put on your plate at mealtime. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to help your metabolism stay active throughout the day. Try to break the calories from each meal up into 20 percent fat, 35 percent protein, and 45 percent carbohydrates. This way, when you put in your best effort in the gym, you are not sabotaging the hard-fought gains while you are eating. Take the aforementioned factors into consideration, and, with a smart training program, you will see that your progress will surpass all expectations. I did legs about three days ago and they're still a little bit sore. Should I train them again today? The general rule of thumb is to never train a body part that is still experiencing DOMS (delayed-onset muscle soreness). While at times, (if the DOMS is mild enough) you can get away with it with some serious stretching before the workout, I would generally not recommend it. Give your legs another day or two of rest. Make sure they are fully recovered before you hit them again. To decrease recovery time, make sure to eat well and get plenty of sleep. Stretch them periodically, and you should be back in the gym with legs that aren't sore in no time.

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News

Can I use that after you?

October 22

The movement for a new "Bill of Rights" for student athletes at NCAA institutions like Tufts is only one indication of the rising concern students involved in athletics have in the services and facilities offered by their university. At Tufts, dissatisfaction in athletics extends beyond student-athletes. The lack of adequate facilities at the fitness center, particularly the lack of cardiovascular machines, affects all students who wish to lead a healthier lifestyle by exercising regularly at the gym. The Tufts Athletics Department needs to address growing demand among students for more equipment and better facilities. For an institution the size of Tufts where a large majority of regular students go to the gym on a regular basis, athletic facilities should fulfill the needs of all students. There is little excuse for the long wait to use machines that currently plagues gym-goers especially at peak times and when Tufts athletic teams reserve blocks of time to use the equipment. When there is a line of up to four people to use a single cardiovascular machine, and each person must be on for at least twenty minutes to half an hour, the wait is both frustrating and at times unfeasible for students on tight class schedules. In addition, concerns among groups that use indoor facilities besides the gym for physical activity _ such as Jackson dance lab and the Hill Hall aerobics room _ are equally valid, as students in extracurricular performance groups such as Spirit of Color and Tufts Dance Collective, each of which involve up to 300 total members per semester, continue to struggle with the lack of adequate rehearsal space. Tufts has long prided itself as an institution that promotes healthy living, with a strong history in its Nutrition School and efforts to create healthy meal plans and dining options for students on campus. The University should be proud that so many students want to take advantage of the gym and other facilities, however insufficient they may be. At the same time, these inadequacies should be addressed. Many may believe that since Tufts is not a Division I school, attention need not be placed on its athletics or the facilities that the school has to offer. However, we cannot ignore that despite the fact that our stands may not constantly be filled with spirited spectators at each and every game, there is still a strong interest in health and fitness among all students. The University should continue to foster a healthy lifestyle not only in its nutrition programs and academic initiatives, but also in providing adequate athletic facilities for students to carry out that lifestyle. There have been discussions in the past about creating a loft in the gym or finding other ways to squeeze in more machines. For the sake of students' health, a solution should be sought immediately.

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News

"Evil" vs. evil

October 22

Last January, in his first State of the Union address, President Bush described an "axis of evil, arming to threaten the peace of the world." The speech was immediately highly controversial. Critics claimed that the "axis" was a simplistic view of the world, blaming all that is wrong on three relatively unimportant states and ignoring the many factors that create insurgency, terrorism, and nuclear proliferation. "Axis" countries were in fact mostly irrelevant to 9/11 _ most of the 9/11 terrorists were Saudi. Also, many states were left out of the "axis" merely because of their political relationships with the US. China and Pakistan, for instance, are totalitarian regimes that possess nuclear weapons. But China has a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, and Pakistan was an important ally in the war against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Lastly, the declaration of the "axis" discouraged negotiation by emphasizing divisions ("us" vs. "them") rather than focusing on opportunities for compromise. A defensive reaction was the only option left to states accused in the "axis of evil". I agreed with many of these critics in their opposition to the "axis of evil" strategy. However, more recently, many of the same critics have come together to support the Israeli divestiture campaign. In my view, the divestiture campaign can be criticized on many of the same grounds on which the "axis of evil" was criticized in January. It is surely the case that the divestiture campaign focuses criticism on one actor in a conflict that has many parties and many causes. It is not my intention to absolve Israel of any guilt in that conflict, but merely to show that not all of the blame can be laid on Israel. Relevant UN Security Council resolutions cited by the divestiture petition, call on both sides to peacefully resolve the conflict and suggest measures towards that effect for both sides to follow. Neither side has implemented these measures. It is therefore making a special case out of Israel to single it out for a divestiture campaign. As with "axis of evil" members, Israel is then left with a defensive reaction as its only option. Like any other state, Israel will not surrender its sovereignty. As it sees the world closing in around it, it will therefore react not with surrender but with defense. Also as with the "axis of evil" analysis, the divestiture presents a simplistic view of the conflict that ignores circumstance. It is not valid to isolate Israel's actions from their context and judge them morally. The way towards resolution of the conflict will not be to close one's eyes as hard as one can and tell involved parties to just get along. Or worse, to tell one involved party to just get along while ignoring all other actors. The way towards resolution of the conflict will be to realize that both sides have created and then aggravated the conflict. Intricate webs of blame will be disentangled only with further bloodshed. For a political solution to be achieved, spite and revenge must be off the table. Finally, the petition singles out Israel for its "human rights violations." Let us leave aside for the moment the shaky position of "human rights" in international law. Singling out Israel, out of all states in the Middle East, for human rights violations, is selective morality indeed. The human rights records of states such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, the "axis of evil" countries and even "progressive" countries like Egypt, Jordan, or even Turkey do not compare favorably with that of Israel. For all the Arab claims of a Zionist media in the United States, the American media's focus on the Israeli-Palestine conflict puts Israel in the spotlight, while other governments can do their dirty business with the lights off. Bush's "axis of evil" campaign may have been wrongheaded and selective, but at least it had a point _ US security. Maybe it's hypocritical to define "evil" as "anything that harms US interests," but there are worse ways for a US politician to define it. Many would argue that there are no better ones. The divestiture campaign has no such noble motive that I can see. I believe (I hope) that anti-Semitism cannot account for all the support for the petition. It is notable that the campaign _ and American anti-Israel sentiment in general _ is focused among intellectual elites in private universities, mostly in fields like sociology, philosophy, linguistics, and literature. On the list that I found, of the 150 or so MIT and Harvard faculty members that signed, two were professors of something relating to political science or international relations. Likewise, on the list of faculty members signing the petition circulated throughout the University of California schools, there were two political science professors on a list of 196. Students and professors of these fields generally think of international politics in terms of morality. Israel kills people; that is bad. In fact, international politics have little to do with morality and everything to do with security. The divestiture campaign will not change this. Likewise, Bush's "axis" campaign will not rid the world of evil, in the absolute morality sense, but it may eliminate, or at least neutralize, some of the "evil" in the world, in the US interest sense. Either way, the similarities between the "axis of evil" and divestiture campaigns are striking. Maybe Karl Rove is doing some side work for Noam Chomsky?

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News

Man drag buoy at Head of Charles

October 22

The Head of the Charles Regatta last weekend transformed the normally quiet town of Cambridge into a Mecca for crew enthusiasts worldwide who make a pilgrimage here every October to participate in or observe the largest two day regatta the sport offers. The Head of the Charles represents the culmination of all the preparation and grueling training up to this point in the season. It is as much a social and cultural event as it is a competition. The thousands of eager spectators that peer over bridges and line the banks of the river create a charged atmosphere that seems to galvanize every stroke of the oars. The collection of hundreds of rowers from around the world into one small city in New England speaks to the enthusiasm for a sport that doesn't fill coliseums or rely on multi-billion dollar television contracts. For the Tufts men's crew team, the event was its biggest competition of the year and its final one as a team. The squad entered one boat in the prestigious ordeal and finished in twenty-sixth place out of forty-one teams in the Collegiate Eight Man division. However, in the first 1000 meters of the race, one of the buoy markers that lines the coarse became entangled with an oar, and the Tufts crew dragged it for a substantial portion of the race, adding about 15 to 20 seconds to their total time. "I feel we were fifteen seconds faster than we placed," captain Max Bernstein said. "After we overcame that setback, I felt the rowing was smooth." Without the added time, the men would have finished in the top fifteen boats among some tough competition, as the five mile race was composed of Division I college teams such as Harvard, Colorado, Minnesota, and Boston College as well as competitive local rowing associations. These teams mark somewhat of a higher caliber opponent than those the Jumbos will face in the NESCAC conference this spring. "We showed what we will be able to do against other college teams," Bernstein said. The conditions of the race, including strong winds that threatened to blow boats off course under tunnels, proved to be a formidable obstacle for all of the crews. But freshman coxswain Will Dunn weathered the harsh conditions and steered readily through the entire race. "Will steered an exceptionally straight course," Bernstein said. "He used the Head of the Charles to make a name for himself." In the short fall season, the men have had the opportunity to measure up against other crews and to set the tone for the upcoming season. "We're exactly on pace for where we want to be," coach Ben Foster said. "I'm excited by the prospects for the spring." With the fall season's race schedule concluded, the team now plans to focus on an arduous training program in which individual team members will focus on weaknesses and improve upon strength. The team will practice on the water for another month before freezing winter conditions take hold. Winter training, although not exciting, molds the team for the spring season and is imperative for maintaining peak physical condition. "Spring races are won and lost in winter training," Bernstein said. "We have one of the hardest winter training programs in the league." "During winter training, individuals start to do what they need to improve physically and technically," Foster said. It seems that the crew season has come to an end, for now. But, the team will continue to work until the spring season's inception next semester. The Head of the Charles race was truly a test for the men's crew team, and it confirmed its ability to perform well in important events. The coaches and team look towards the spring optimistically as the fall season proved the team's intense work ethic translates into impressive rowing.

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News

Mixed-gender dorm rooms gaining popularity at other schools

October 22

Though Tufts shot down the idea three years ago, co-ed dorm rooms have increasingly come to be viewed as plausible housing arrangements for college students. Policies allowing students of the opposite sex to share a dorm room have been instituted at schools such as Haverford College, Wesleyan University, Hampshire College, and, most recently, Swarthmore College. The issue of co-ed roommates was controversial subject at Tufts three years ago, when TTLGBC culture representatives Kat Cheung and Carl Sciortino lobbied the administration to change Tufts' policy. "For the LGBT community, the need to live in single-gender facilities was forcing them into tension-filled situations," Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said. But nothing came out of the discussions, as "Tufts is able to address co-habitation without resorting to" co-ed dorm rooms, Reitman said. Then-President John DiBiaggio said at the time that even though the University created a supportive community for LGBT students, student concerns could be addressed "on a case-by-case basis _ without digressing from University housing policy...which states that dorm rooms are single-gender." DiBiaggio's statement still stands, but Reitman said that Tufts' commitment to ensuring the comfort of its students living situations "goes beyond that." Individuals who feel uncomfortable living with a roommate of the same gender have multiple options available to them. "Anyone who really needs it can get a single room," Reitman said. Although freshman are normally not allowed to live in singles, "if someone presented needs to us, including those of the LGBT community," it would be seriously considered." The University also provides the Rainbow House, a cultural housing option for LGBT students. The Rainbow House has an environment "such that people can create comfortable living situations," Reitman said. The University has promised to make the Rainbow House "as large as it would ever have to be" to accommodate as many LGBT students as needed. Despite the availability of single rooms and the Rainbow House, the Tufts Transgender Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC) still feels that mixed-sex dorm rooms should eventually be considered. "It is always something LGBT students are aware of, and people have discussed taking the issue up again with [the] administration," TTLGBC Culture Representative Kelly Sanborn said. The issue, "directly affects the [lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender] community because some straight students don't feel comfortable with [non-heterosexual] students as roommates, and vice versa," Sanborn said. Instituting co-ed dorm rooms, however, would create a variety of issues for the University. It would have to figure out how to reorganize the housing plan, whether to offer first-year students the option, and deal with parents' inevitable concern. Another negative, Reitman said, is that instituting a co-ed dorm room policy might "force students to out themselves in order to opt for it." Although acceptance is increasing, the issue of mixed-gender rooming remains a deeply divisive one. "A lot of people don't think it's moral, in any way, shape, or form," Gary Scwarzmueller, executive director of the Association of College and University Housing Officers said in an FSView article. In the same article, Vice President of Student Affairs at Washington and Jefferson College Jeffrey Docking said "the idea of asking students to learn how to cohabit is frankly irresponsible." Swarthmore College allowed students to live in co-ed lodges last year, and this fall, seven two-person rooms were offered as co-ed. "I think the biggest problem that people see is that heterosexual couples might move into co-ed housing," Renee Willemssen-Goode, Swarthmore's Housing Committee member, said in the Swarthmore Phoenix. "But, I think that most people recognize the need to avoid that just in case something might happen to a relationship." In May, The New York Times reported that at at Haverford College, where co-ed rooming was instituted two years ago, the catalyst to bring about co-ed dorm rooms came from "gay groups that said it was 'heterosexist' to require roommates to be of the same sex.

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News

Phase III' of campus center never completed

October 22

The Mayer Campus Center is a shadow of what it was meant to be, according to architectural plans that detail an expansion of a three story building which would add and additional 15,000 feet. When the main building of the Mayer Campus Center opened in 1985, it marked the completion of the first of what was to be four phases of development. The second phase _ the building that houses the Bookstore and Jumbo Express _ was completed a few years later. It has been over a decade since there has been any construction at the campus center, and many students assume it to be a complete project. Recently, however, students and faculty have taken a new interest in developing the relatively unknown "third phase" into a more concrete plan. There is very little information about Phase III in the original proposal for the campus center, though there are architectural renderings of the building extension to be built on the lawn of the Women's Center. The building would include a faculty dining hall, multi-purpose function room, expanded recreational space and dining commons, an art gallery, rehearsal space and student organization offices. Many student groups feel that the current situation is not adequate to meet demand. Director of Student Activities Jodie Nealley would like to see "the campus center double in size so it can become the true center of campus." But despite her excitement at the possibility of an expansion, Nealley has recognized that changes _ if they are to come _ will not be swift. "If this project could be completed in the next five years, it would be a miracle," she said. There is a need for more meeting rooms and office space on campus, with many campus groups finding meeting and performance space in short supply. The Large Conference Room in the lower level of the campus center is the only meeting room that can accommodate up to 50 people, and student organization offices are scattered throughout the campus. Presently, there are offices in the campus center, Hayes House, and Curtis Hall, and there is a need for more offices as new organizations continue to grow. Last year alone, 15 organizations were recognized by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary, to bring to total to nearly 170 different student groups. Centralizing these offices would help facilitate communication between clubs on campus and create more unity between the groups, according to Nealley. Though many see a need for this construction, the funding does not presently exist. These improvements would be dependent upon donations by alumni and trustees of the University. A Union Advisory Board has been created to research what students want included in Phase III and to compare the student centers of other schools to the one at Tufts to brainstorm possibilities. The committee consists of four students representing each class year, and four faculty or staff members. Nealley and TCU Senate Trustee Representative Raji Iyer co-chair the committee. During one of the Trustees' three annual meetings in February, Iyer will present the ideas for Phase III to the Administration and Finance Committee. "The trustees respond to new ideas," Iyer said. "This issue has been previously swept under the rug, but new student interest will peak the trustees' attention." This resurface of interest is coming from a report created in July 2001 by then-Senator Michele Shelton (LA '02). The Campus Center Phase III proposal _ composed with the help of Assistant Director of Programming Ed Cabellon _ outlines the Phase III recommendations that were proposed in 1985, the needs of Phase III today, and points out who will benefit from this plan. "The research that is being done this year will lay the groundwork for future efforts," Iyer said. "As the standards of the student body are rising, there is an increasing need for better services. The interest in these services is always there, right now it's a mater of identifying those who will work to make it happen." Such research includes comparing the Mayer Campus Center to other student unions across the country. Colleges that recently finished renovating student centers were featured in a bulletin published by the Association of College Unions. St. Norbert College _ a private Catholic college in Wisconsin with a student body of 2,000 _ added 22,000 square feet to the 52,000 square foot campus center. The $5.9 million renovation was funded by private donations. In comparing the size of the community of St. Norbert to Tufts, and considering Mayer covers 28,000 square feet, the Tufts campus center falls behind in these areas. Transfer students, who have seen how other campus centers can work, are excited about the possibilities for the same type of building here. "There were tons of tables set up everyday, a bar and caf?© for grad students, conference rooms, a craft center, restaurants," University of Massachusetts transfer student Laura Janowitch recalled of her former school. "There was a lot going on, it was definitely the social center of campus." A particular area sparking faculty interest is the faculty and staff dining facilities in Mugar Hall which are in need of improvements. TCU Senator Alison Clarke, who has been looking into the issue, believes that if they were to be relocated to the campus center, it would promote faculty and student interactions outside of class. As well, its placement near the academic quad would increase convenience for faculty. A multipurpose function room is perhaps the most obvious need and the first priority in developing Phase III. This space, which would ideally fit 800 people, could be used to host a variety of events, including performances, lectures, and alumni functions. Currently, Dewick dining hall is the only space available on campus for such events. Nealley highlighted additional services that would benefit students, including e-mail stations, a mailroom and study lounges, which would allow for the game room to be expanded. e-mail stations would be useful for students, allowing them to "check-and-run," instead of seeking out a computer in Eaton Hall or Tisch Library. The ability for centralized US mail that would allow students to keep one mailing address throughout their four years at Tufts and receive mail at school during the summer was particularly appealing to Clarke. By eliminating the transport of mail to each dorm, she said the efficiency of mail services would be greatly improved. The inclusion of the Alumni Center has also been considered for the third phase of the campus center.

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News

Lights are bright with 'Broadway'

October 22

Hurting from all the postmodernist muck in theatres today? Broadway, the 1920s comedy-melodrama by American playwrights George Abbott and Philip Dunning will be performed this weekend in the Balch Arena Theater as this fall's Drama Department major. The play promises to be just the time-vacuum you need to suck you out of the fresh air and into the musty, smoky, bathtub-gin-reeking world of a Prohibition cabaret, promises director Laurence Senelick and his cast and crew of Tufts students and professors. Though the play was written way back when in 1926 _ making it an authentic period piece _ much of its message is still pertinent to current American culture. But the technical spectacle abounds, turning the Balch Arena into an authentic-looking 1920s speakeasy cabaret, in which we meet a cache of interesting and diverse gangsters and showgirls. "It's remarkable how many of the comments and emotions are identical to how they would play out in modern day," says junior Josh Bauml who plays the character of Steve, a bootlegging Mobster. But though the actors are all playing characters with a performance background (one particularly rooted in musical theater), the play itself is not a musical and contains no full-out song-and-dance numbers. The little bit of dancing the play does contain is started onstage but finished offstage, presumably in the cabaret itself. A catchy musical score accompanies the play, however, and audiences are guaranteed the satisfaction of humming the "hit parade of the 1920s," as described by a crew member. Still, the main auditory attraction of this play will be its lines _ that tough 1920s repartee that never misses a beat. The play centers on the lives of performers in the cabaret, with the Billie Moore _ the central ingenue character _ struggling to choose between the two men vying for her heart. One is a gangster and the other is the male star of the cabaret, both conforming to stereotypical caricatures of the Jazz Age. "One of the juiciest aspects of the play is its language," said Senelick, a professor in the Department of Drama and Dance who has previously directed shows like Euripides' The Bakkhi at Tufts. "It's packed with 1920s slang _ tough talk, vaudeville lingo, the backtalk of cops and reporters. The cast, the designers and I have worked hard to create the world of the period." Indeed, this is the jazz age, with all its flappers, sheiks, small-time performers and big time crooks. Broadway is atypical of the shows Senelick has previously directed with the department, in that it is firmly rooted in theatrical traditions and contains no twists and gimmicks. But that doesn't mean that the technical aspects of the show will be lacking. The complex sets and costumes alone will be enough to transport the audience through time. And, the talented cast, consisting of many newcomers to the Tufts stage (including several freshmen in leading roles), has been working with the material since the beginning of the fall semester. "It really looks great," said freshman Julia Arazi, who stars as Billie. "[The cast] has a great mix of professionalism... it's hard work but it doesn't feel like it." Such efforts will be brought to life over the course of this weekend and next, with a run of seven performances. And, in keeping with the slang of the period, Selenick promises that those in attendance will be treated to a "high old time."

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News

Transporter is all action, no brains

October 22

The Transporter is the sort of movie that you shouldn't ask 'why.' Doing such is to miss the point, or lack thereof. The film is a pure action movie, in the tradition of Die Hard or Predator, although not as clever as either of those predecessors. The formula is simple: establish the setting, establish the characters, establish what exactly the good guy can do when his neck is on the line and then rev up that baby and see how far it will take you. If you have a charismatic lead, this helps. How I miss the competent, personality-driven, well done action movies. We haven't had many until lately. This spring gave us the Rock-led Scorpion King, which was not exactly brilliant but was very entertaining. Then there was XXX, a movie that made Scorpion King look like a model of restraint. And now, we have The Transporter. While no Die Hard, it is the best of the recent thrill rides, and if you are a fan of this type of movie, you it will fulfill your badass quota. Yes, there is such a thing. Jason Stratham, best known for his roles in Snatch and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, has come into his own as an action star. He doesn't say much in this new movie, and frankly, he doesn't have to. He plays Frank Martin, an ex-soldier who now likes to keep things 'simple' and makes a living by Transporting any package or persons anywhere. He doesn't ask questions, he doesn't ask names. Naturally, during the course of the movie, he will ask questions, and learn names. Then he has to beat the living crap out of everyone, and the movie will be over. That's pretty much it. However, it's again, it's not the 'why' or even the 'what'. It's the 'how.' How does The Transporter beat the snot of everyone who crosses his path? He does it very cleverly. After the bad guys blow up his Bond-esque car, he uses simple methods: like fighting with his bare hands against duel ax-wielding martial arts masters. Or having a knock-down, drag out fight inside a city bus. Or parachuting onto a moving truck, and kicking in the windows as its moving. All this, and the man has time to play a mental chess game with Inspector Tarconi (Francois Berleand,) who knows what Martin does for a living but can't prove it. It's actually a nice touch that in the middle of all the bone-crunching, they left some room for well acted scenes. The film has one problem. Her name is Lai (Qi Shu), the woman that Martin is asked to Transport and causes all the questions, and she is an attractive woman. She also appears to be a fairly incompetent actress. Maybe it was because she hadn't mastered English that well, or maybe it's because her character is poorly written or maybe she's just awful. Who knows. But she stopped the movie dead in its tracks most times she appears, although the entire audience did burst out laughing when she said, "He was a bastard. But he was still my father." I'm not saying Al Pacino could have made that line work, but lord, she wasn't good. On a side note, I like that The Transporter has perfectly normal, respectable bad guys with a realistic, awful plan. Their crime: transporting Chinese immigrants in trucks and turning them into labor slaves. That's an evil plan that needs stopped, yes, but for once it's actually possible. None of this XXX 'Anarchy 99' crap, none of the hamminess of Scorpion King, none of the "I vil rule the world!' nonsense of every secret agent movie ever. Okay, I take that back, Matt Schulze (who also played a complete tool in Fast and the Furious) was pretty hammy as the main villain, whose name is listed in the credits only as "Wall Street." Fortunately, after some awkwardly awful opening scenes, Wall Street quiets down and simply plays out his role as a bad guy. But at least he didn't name his group 'Anarchy 99,' which will stand the test of time as the goofiest name for an evil organization ever. Anyway. Transporter proves that Jason Staham can be in action movies whenever he wants: he has the presence, the personality and the look to pull it off. Many of the action scenes are done in such a way that, yes, it is him doing most of the stunts and fight-work. Even the most jaded audience member should appreciate how well done and timed the fight sequences are, how ingeniously they are choreographed and paced. True, they are done only in the name of doing them, but again you'd be asking 'why.' I don't ask for action movies, like dumb comedies, to have a point. I only ask they be done well. Such is The Transporter, a movie that was probably not necessary, but I left with a goofy smile on my face anyway.

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News

Divestiture is necessary to end apartheid-like conditions for Palestinians

October 22

"If I were to change the names, a description of what is happening in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank could describe events in South Africa." _ Archbishop Desmond Tutu, December 1989. Faculty and students at Tufts, like those at Harvard, MIT, and many other schools across the country, have signed a petition (see www.israel-divest.org) calling for divestiture from Israeli companies and companies selling arms to Israel. Why did we start such a thing? What do we hope to accomplish? Why are we singling out Israel? Are we just anti-Semites? Israel's treatment of Palestinians is in many ways analogous to apartheid South Africa's treatment of blacks. In the days of apartheid, faculty and students called for universities to divest, and Tufts was one of those that did. The pressure exerted by the divestiture movement has generally been credited with an important role in bringing the apartheid system to an end. We hope that our movement will yield a similar improvement in the Middle East. But more important than any possible economic effect of divestiture, at least to me, is to call attention to the similarities between Israel and apartheid South Africa, and so bring the weight of American popular opinion to bear on the government of Israel. South Africa was a country in which a minority of white immigrants exercised control over a majority of indigenous black people. Blacks were not citizens of South Africa but rather of many disconnected "homelands". They had no vote in the government of South Africa, which imposed draconian rules on their lives. They were denied access to the best land, and were forbidden from traveling without a "pass", even from one "homeland" to another. Black people organized into groups such as the African National Congress, but the South African government refused to negotiate with them. When the groups turned to violence, the South African government used the violence to justify the oppression. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned and told that to be released he would have to renounce violence. Much of the violence, however, was committed against black people by the apartheid government. The situation in the occupied territories today is very similar. A minority of Jewish settlers lives in the territories with a majority of Palestinian people. Israel controls the daily lives of the Palestinians, who, unlike the settlers, cannot vote in Israeli elections. Settlers seize the best land, and Israel builds roads for Jews only and divides Palestinian lands into many pieces. Palestinians cannot travel without passes. Their lives are restricted by curfews. Palestinians have organized, but Israel will not negotiate with their representatives. They have turned to violence, and Sharon uses the violence to justify the oppression. Yasser Arafat is often imprisoned in his compound by Israeli tanks and told that he must renounce violence on behalf of the Palestinian people. Much of the violence, however, is committed against Palestinian civilians by the Israeli government. Prominent Israeli politicians call for a "separation" between settlers and Palestinians to reduce violence. The Afrikaans word for "separation" is "apartheid." But why single out Israel? Surely the situation in Sudan, for example, is much worse than that in Israel and Palestine. But for one thing, the fact that there is another, worse, situation, doesn't mean that the Palestinian situation is not terrible and in need of attention. Secondly, although the United States not solving the problems of the Sudan, at least it is not causing them. But Israel is the largest recipient of foreign aid from the United States, and most of that consists of weapons. The United States is often Israel's only defender at the United Nations. In a very real sense, the United States is enabling Israel to oppress the Palestinians, and therefore people in the United States have a special obligation to put a stop to it. But my main reason to concentrate on Israel is a personal one. I was raised as a Jew. At Passover we said "And the stranger shall you not oppress, for you know the heart of the stranger, seeing that you were strangers in the land of Egypt." I believed that Jews would always stand up for oppressed people and would never themselves be oppressors. So now that Jews have become oppressors, and, worse, have done it in the name of Judaism, I feel especially compelled to speak out. Harvard President Lawrence Summers said that the divestiture movement was anti-Semitic. Calling us anti-Semitic says, in essence, that our views are just prejudice against Jews, and therefore not worthy of any substantive reply. Of course he's free to disagree with us, but he should address the issues we raise, not merely dismiss us. The charge of anti-Semitism is also not true. I am not anti-Semitic nor am I anti-Israeli. I support the right of the State of Israel to exist and the right of Israelis to live in peace. But the actions of Ariel Sharon's government are not helping the people of Israel. Instead, whenever there's a period of relative calm in Israel, Sharon initiates some new military move against Palestinians, which is answered by more violence, which he can use as a pretext not to negotiate. The pro-Jewish, pro-Israeli position is to stop Israel's oppression of Palestinians and work instead for a negotiated peace. Ken Olum is a research assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy.

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News

To withdraw or not to withdraw?

October 22

All students want As. Some are thrilled with Bs. But no student enrolls in a course with the intention of receiving the grade _ or, rather, the non-grade _ of W. "W" stands for "Withdrawal," the option left to students who want to drop classes after the official drop date has passed. Unlike students who drop classes, students who withdraw from a course are left with a record on their transcript. Though some students view the W as no big deal, others worry that withdrawing from a course will prevent them from getting admitted to some graduate schools. But administrators say that a W doesn't necessarily reflect poorly on a student. "There are lots of reasons students have to withdraw," said Thomas Slavin, the director of admissions at Tufts School of Medicine. "And often it's the smart thing to do." Although the University does not officially track students' reasons for withdrawing, Lynne Ausman, the dean of students of the Tufts School of Nutrition, suggested several of the most common reasons for withdrawing. "A student takes on too many courses and realize that he or she won't be able to do justice to them, a student is doing poorly in the subject and would like to withdraw, or a student has a health issue and needs to withdraw," she said. One senior who decided to withdraw from his organic chemistry class said he does not regret it. "I had a heavy workload that semester and had just changed majors," he said. "I didn't view it as a big deal." A junior pre-med student majoring in Biology took a W last semester for a different sort of reason: she landed a good lab job that conflicted with her class, so her advisor suggested that she withdraw from the class, take the lab job, and retake the class in a later semester. One sophomore cited two reasons for withdrawing from Computer Science Primer last semester. "First, I just forgot to drop it _ I withdrew two days after the drop date," she said. "Second, I didn't like the course to begin with. Then it got really hard, and I decided that I'd rather withdraw than fail." The sophomore approached her advisor in making her decision. "My advisor, a dean, said it would be better for me to withdraw than to get a bad grade," she said. What constitutes a bad grade, however, is a contentious matter between students, advisors, and teachers, who have the option of not signing a student's withdrawal form if they feel the student's reasons for withdrawing are invalid. Robin Kanarak, the dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, said some students have told her they want to withdraw from a class "simply because they have a B [and not an A] in their class!" "It's a lot better to have a B than a W," she said, although she cited some valid reasons for withdrawal, like mononucleosis. Kanarak also said that the withdrawal option should be used judiciously, and that students should carefully consider in which areas they use it. She said that students should seriously weigh their options, especially when the course from which they're considering withdrawing is within their major. "A lot of premed students withdraw from organic chemistry, worrying that a C+ won't get them into medical school," Kanarak said. "But in that case, a C+ is better than a W, which suggests that the student couldn't do the work." Laurie Hurley, the director of admissions and financial aid at the Fletcher School, explained that the effects of a W vary. "Every graduate school will have a different take on Ws," she said. She said schools can be compassionate. "The admissions committee recognizes that things happen that cause students to withdraw," she said. "There's a million and one reasons why students withdraw from classes." Slavin, Kanarak, Ausman, and Hurley all concur that a single withdrawal is not likely to have an impact on a student's admission into graduate school. "An isolated W doesn't really mean anything," Slavin said. "It is not viewed negatively in and of itself." "If a pressing personal crisis arises or someone is overscheduled," Slavin said. "It's a wise thing to cut a course loose." Issues arise when there are multiple Ws on a student's transcript. "The problem is when there seems to be a pattern, which suggests that a student doesn't know how to budget their time," Kanarak said. Kanarak and Hurley emphasized the importance of notifying the admissions committee of the reasons for any Ws on a student's transcript. Students appear to be receiving that message. As one junior, who withdrew from Biology 13, said, "It's no big deal as long as your transcript isn't littered with W's."

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News

Anti-Divestiture, pro-Palestine

October 22

I believe that the Palestinian people, oppressed for decades under Israel's occupation, deserve their independence side by side with Israel. For this reason I do not support the nationwide divestiture campaign. It is not a constructive instrument to achieve the vision of a free Palestine. It rewards the current method the Palestinian Authority (PA) has chosen to pursue its aim of independence: militancy and terrorism, rather than helping the Palestinians embark on a path of non-violent resistance that will guarantee their eventual independence. The reason the Palestinians have yet to embark on such a path is two-fold. First, a significant proportion of the population still believes that Israel does not have a right to exist (according to a study by the Jerusalem Media Center, 41 percent of Palestinians equate a free Palestine with the end of Israel's existence). Second, they lack a leadership able to rally those in favor of non-violent opposition. Our brilliant professors are not putting their minds together to provide a positive policy, but instead they signed their reputation down the drain when they decided to make a flawed and unjust argument for divestiture. I write in opposition to this policy because it will only serve to delay the Palestinian dream of liberation. Divestiture calls for Israel's immediate compliance with UN resolution 242. It calls for a negotiated settlement, based on the principle of exchanging land for peace. The divestiture petition, however, calls for a unilateral compliance, which is not what the resolution itself calls for. Is it just for Israel to just determine the borders of a future Palestine without negotiations? Is that what the divestiture petition really wants to promote? Resolution 242 was drafted under Chapter Six resolutions. This chapter deals with the peaceful resolution of disputes and entitles the council to make non-binding recommendations and is to be distinguished from Chapter Seven which is binding (and is the chapter under which the resolutions against Iraq were written). Divestiture calls for Tufts to stop investing or collaborating with Israeli institutions of higher learning. The teaching hospital of Hebrew University is where many injured Palestinians are sent following violent clashes. Divestiture would mean preventing this hospital from receiving necessary funds. Do you want to hamper research in the medical field in an attempt to bring piece to the Middle East? This thinking is flawed. Israeli researchers have made a disproportionate contribution to the world of science (and many other fields) in the past fifty years. The Bi-national Science Foundation has financed a US-Israeli multi-centered study of parathyroid hormone (PTH) treatment of osteoporosis which showed that PTH is effective in treating women to prevent bone loss. Divestiture aims to halt such collaboration. Many labs in the university have joint research projects with Arab universities and Palestinian ones. Divestiture is not the right way to go to promote the Palestinian right for a homeland, unless one believes that research for the cure to cancer, AIDS, or other diseases, should be slowed. No attempt should be made at linking the divestiture campaign in South Africa and the proposed divestiture from Israel campaign; the differences are drastic. Divestiture was a practical approach to South Africa because one racial group systematically and institutionally oppressed another within one nation. By withdrawing international financial support, extensive economic pressure was placed on the authoritarian apartheid regime to grant equal rights to the black majority. Israel is an entirely distinct case. The Arab-Israeli conflict is not about Israel denying Israeli Arabs civil rights; in fact, Israeli Arabs have the highest living standards and greatest amount of freedom in the entire region. On the contrary, the conflict concerns Israel's right to exist. Israel occupies the West Bank and Gaza not because it made an imperialistic land grab, but because the surrounding Arab nations declared war on it _ a war that Israel won. Many countries have committed human rights atrocities all over the Middle East but consensus in the academia is that divestiture from these countries in protest of such violation is unproductive. Let us not hold Israel to a different standard. Divestiture might not be an anti-Semitic policy, but it is discriminatory in its application. By rewarding the course taken by the PA for independence, it is advocating the destruction of Israel. If you believe in the Palestinian People's right for independence, than you must join me in condemning divestiture as an unconstructive, inefficient, flawed, and discriminatory policy that will only serve to delay the dream of peace in the Middle East. Matan Chorev is a sophomore in the dual degree program at Tufts and the New England Conservatory majoring in Political Science and Cello Performance. He is co-chair of the Middle Eastern Student Society.

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News

Women rowers not fazed by Head of the Charles carousing

October 22

Large crowds, howling winds, strong currents, and stiff competition met the Tufts women rowers head-on this weekend when they participated in the Head of the Charles Regatta. But rather than be daunted by these challenging conditions, the Jumbos did what they do best _ compete hard and well. In the biggest race of the fall season, in front of hundreds of spectators who had decided to sacrifice the warmth of the indoors to experience the once-a-year party that is the Head of the Charles, the first Tufts' boat quietly went about its business. The crew finished tenth in the new college-only division out of a total of 34 boats. "I'm very pleased," coach Jessica Normand said. "I think that it reflected the amount of work we've put forth all fall." Led by coxswain Beth Grosart and stroke Loi Sessions (the rower who sits closest to the stern and sets the rhythm for the rest of the crew), the boat looked in sync throughout the three-mile course, fighting unpredictable winds and tight turns. The team's second entry, listed officially as the Mystic Valley Rowing Association due to a one-boat limit on colleges, finished last in the competition, as it never got comfortable in the new environment. "It was pretty rough conditions out there," co-captain Maggie Danielson said. "We did, as a team, fairly well." What sets the Head of the Charles apart from other crew competitions in the fall is the immense fanfare _ unusual for a sport considered by many to be mundane and not conducive to spectators. Along the bank of the river (and on the various bridges overlooking the course), hoards of students and adults, most holding an allegiance for the hometown Crimson team, enjoyed the competition. The race itself wasn't the only attraction though, as many spent their time eating what was hailed as "The best popcorn in the world" and shopping for Head of the Charles merchandise. After some independent research, this reporter found this seemingly-hyperbolic statement not far from the truth. "It's just a fun, very exciting event to be at," Danielson said. The party-scene on the banks of the river couldn't compare with the intensity on the river itself though, pitting some of the best rowers in the world against one another. "It is always an honor for us to be able to row in the Head of the Charles," senior co-captain Amira Baker-Jud said. "It is a chance for us to race and also to enjoy being rowers, to be inspired by the best in our sport." With a final time of 18:06.525, the first Tufts boat barely squeaked by Queen's University from Canada to take the tenth spot. Lehigh College won the event, finishing with a time of 17:23.548. West Virginia University and the University of Louisville were next to cross the line. By finishing tenth, the first Tufts boat captured the fastest time out of any of the other NESCAC entries. The second Tufts boat finished with a time of 19:30.505. Now, the team looks ahead to a winter of training in anticipation for the spring season which starts in April. This result "puts us in a good place to start winter training," Normand said. The team plans on participating in the Crew Triathlon in December _ an event that should motivate the Jumbos throughout the otherwise dreary winter months. The triathlon consists of rowing on an erg machine, running from Cousens Gym to Harvard Stadium and climbing each section's stairs in the stadium. The lightweight and novice teams also were given the opportunity to experience the Head of the Charles extravaganza, with two Tufts boats entered in the Lightweight Eights on Sunday. Unfortunately, the two entries were out of their league, coming in 20th and 24th respectively out of 24 boats. The novice team's next and final event of the fall is the NESCAC Novice Championships in Worcester this Sunday.

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News

Things that go bump in the night

October 22

Last Friday, mystery author and Tufts alum Christopher Golden made an appearance at Tisch library to discuss his thrillers and his time spent on the Hill. Golden is best known for his books based on the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but he has also written several original novels including Strangewood, The Ferryman and his Body of Evidence series _ a collection of mysteries set at Somerset University, a fictional campus based on Tufts. "One of the things that has come up in my work is that a lot of it is set in this area," Golden said. "I had such a wonderful time here and enjoyed it so much that when it came time to do the Body of Evidence series, it was so easy because it recreated for me what it meant to be here." There are, of course, several important distinctions between Tufts and Somerset University. Somerset had a medical hospital on campus where much of the supernatural action in Golden's books takes place. Vampires and corpses generally do not come alive on a typical day at Tufts, but this is indeed the norm at Somerset University. "I was always fascinated by scary things, but [horror] is not always about scaring," Golden said. "Horror, in a way is comforting because you can go to it and know that when it's over, it's over." Golden likes the idea that there is more to this life than what we see. "If I can convince you with writing that ghosts and demons are real," he said, "you must also believe that the opposite [angels] exists." But Golden did not always want to be a writer. "For me it's always been more about being a storyteller than a writer per se," Golden said. "I almost went to the University of Southern California for film school _ I went to Tufts so that if I blew it, I could still wind up doing something I enjoy." During his time at Tufts, Golden experimented with story writing. By the time he was a junior, Golden no longer wanted to write movies, but decided to a make a career of writing horror novels. In his talk, Golden stressed that horror novels have themes that go deeper than just witches and goblins. He describes his book The Ferryman as "a 400-page meditation on the nature of death." Though highly unrealistic in some aspects, even the Buffy-based books deal with some very real issues about growing up. Friday's audience was comprised primarily of parents, but many Tufts students are familiar with Golden's work, especially the Buffy books and the Body of Evidence series. "My son calls me everyday and tells me how much his experience at Tufts has been like Jenna's [the heroine of the Body of Evidence series]," said one parent who described the series as a cross between Nancy Drew and Patricia Cromwell. Golden ended his talk with a message to Tufts students and their parents "You're part of a larger community now, if you have a fraction of the time I did here, it will be the best time of your lives." Look for Golden's upcoming novel, The Boys are Back in Town, and his comic book series for DC Comics entitled Dr. Fate. @keywords:golden#christopher#buffy#body of evidence#author

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News

Housing numbers to be released in the fall

October 22

Numbers for next spring's housing lottery numbers will probably be released this fall, in an attempt to help upperclassmen make early decisions about living situations for next year. The Office of Residential Life (ResLife) planned on issuing numbers as early as November last year, but technical problems delayed the release until the usual March date. The lottery that spring left many upperclassmen homeless, as only 70 out of 1,200 juniors were given on-campus rooms. Though the effort to get the numbers out early last year failed, ResLife is confident that it can happen this year. Students are also optimistic. "I've heard from the administration dates such as before Thanksgiving," said Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator Josh Belkin, who has been working with ResLife on this issue. The reason why lottery numbers cannot easily be released earlier is that they are assigned based on class standing. ResLife needed to wait to know which students would be in each class before being able to assign them appropriate numbers. But "academics wouldn't matter if they did the numbers earlier," King said. "It would all be based on providing housing to students who want to live on campus." "All they need to do is say, 'This lottery number is contingent on your progressing with your class'," Belkin said. Though early release of numbers would help students plan ahead, it will not solve the problem of the lack of housing for juniors _ the only class not guaranteed a room on campus. "Nothing really can be done," King said. "What...decreases the number of spaces is that seniors are given seniority to live on campus." This policy, King said, is not likely to change soon. A major problem in the past is that juniors who find out in March that they will not be housed on campus do not have time to find other arrangements. Finding affordable housing in the area is a difficult task, given that the cost of housing in Somerville and Medford has risen with the elimination of rent control in Boston and Cambridge. Furthermore, the apartments surrounding Davis Square have become more desirable to the general public as they are some of the most affordable places to live within walking distance of public transportation. "The lottery happens after most leases are due for off-campus housing, and I think that is unfair to people who can't get on campus," junior Jeff Rawitsch said. If numbers were released earlier, students would have the first shot at housing, he said. Though ResLife takes various measures to aid students in finding off-campus housing, they are limited in how much they can help. The Office of Off-Campus Housing, for example, publishes local listings and information on leases and tenant rights. "We try to list any and all apartments," King said, but the list is limited by the cost and availability of housing. Most juniors think that the list would be longer if there were more time to search for housing, she said. The construction of a new dorm will only do a little to alleviate the housing crunch, and it will not be finished for several years. Work on the building is scheduled to start this summer, but its 150 beds will still not be enough to help the junior class. The housing shortage problem is not unique to Tufts, as there are over 50 colleges in the metropolitan Boston area. "Any of the Boston schools face the same issues regarding the housing and cost," King said. Over 57,000 students in the Boston area live in off-campus housing. While an earlier release of lottery numbers wouldn't solve the socioeconomic factors that lead to housing shortages, it would certainly alleviate the headaches of many a rising junior. "People want to know generally where they are," Belkin said.

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News

Semen: The man, the myth, the legend

October 22

I don't believe that there is a woman, homosexual male, or flexible boy out there who would claim that semen tastes great. However, regardless of the taste, many end up with this salty snack in their mouth. Some spit, some swallow, some even use it as hair gel, but what really is the best thing to do with the tapioca pudding? Several people choose to spit because they are concerned with the calorie content. Sometime during my junior year in high school, an acquaintance of mine shared details about her oral sex habits with me in the middle of a dance class. "I never swallow," she told me. "It has as many calories as a Whopper!" For the remaining 40 minutes, I was preoccupied with mental pictures pertaining to her comment. I saw my hands clenched around a burger piled high with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, ketchup, all on a sesame seed bun, with a thin line of grease dripping down my chin. Then there was the second alternative. Kneeling by the side of the bed, arms wrapped around sweaty thighs, with saliva covering the entire bottom half of my face. For the same amount of calories, the first option seemed much more appealing. It wasn't until recently that I learned the truth about the caloric content of semen. In reality, a typical load of semen contains about five calories, the same amount as the slice of tomato on that Whopper. Hindsight is 20/20, but I'm still not sure why I believed my dance classmate. If a teaspoon of semen really contained 610 calories, oral sex would be used in third world countries to combat malnourishment. Some choose to swallow because they've been told that they're missing out on something special if they don't. Many men have a grandiose view of the nutritional value of their sperm. No, semen is not chock-full of vitamins, and you can't skip your Women's One-A-Day just because you swallow. I know one girl whose boyfriend tried to persuade her to swallow by saying that his ejaculation would help her to loose weight. Sorry buddy, but last time I checked semen was not an ingredient in Slimfast bars. In reality, semen is not the answer to any problem aside from blue balls. After seeing There's Something About Mary, I was hopeful that maybe there was a practical use for it. But despite hours of brainstorming, I have yet to find a good application. I briefly toyed with the idea of using it as a peel-off mask after discovering that some of the ingredients were similar to those in facial peels. I quickly disregarded this idea as I reminded myself that for less than five dollars I could purchase a peel-off product at any local CVS. I would rather pay $4.59 than rub ejaculate on my face, wait twenty minutes for it to dry, and then walk through the hall to the shared bathroom on my floor in order to wash it off. And I just wouldn't know what to do if I was ever faced with the question "gee, your skin looks great, what type of facial products are you using?" Even though I wasn't willing to add semen to my skin care regime, I was convinced that there must be something that it was good for. This fall, when I was setting up my room, I ran out of stickytac and had an epiphany. I could avoid long lines at the bookstore and save money by using semen as glue! The problem was that since most ejaculations contain only one or two teaspoons, I would have to rob a sperm bank in order to put up all of my posters. Even if I was blessed with enough semen to decorate my room, I don't think I'd want to live in a place that constantly reeked of the stuff. Though Monty Python claims that "every sperm is sacred," and the Bible chastises Onan for spilling his seed upon the ground, I have yet to be convinced that semen is a precious commodity. There is no significant nutritional value, and there isn't anything practical that it can be used for (other than making babies, but at the moment that's anything but practical). In truth, low-calorie-love-oil is a good-for-nothing reward for going down on someone; so it is completely irrelevant whether you spit, swallow, or keep it in a drawer next to your duct tape. If you can think of a good use for sperm, feel free to e-mail me at sex@tuftsdaily.com. @keywords:semen

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News

Annual Take Back the Night event protests violence against women

October 22

The Tufts Feminist Alliance (TFA) protested violence against women in the annual Take Back the Night event held Monday night on the Tisch Library rooftop. The purpose of the event was to send the message to the campus that violence happens, but women need to refuse to be afraid, and refuse to be victimized, according to co-organizer Emily Rhodes. The event began with a silent candlelight vigil, followed by a performance by the Jackson Jills. The vigil was followed by a rally that featured Linda McMaster from the Transition House, New England's first Battered Women's Shelter. McMaster told the stories of three different women who sought support or aid from the shelter, touching on various types of abuse, which ranged from a woman who was beat with a baseball bat by her husband to a woman who received countless death threats from her boyfriend. Statistically, one in three women will be violently attacked in their lifetime, she said. As the stories were told, a common theme emerged: "All of these women were affected by domestic violence, and all of them reached out for help," McMaster said. "You don't have to be a victim or a survivor to call [the hotline]; it is your responsibility to speak up." McMaster was followed by Sonia Chin, a Tufts University Police Department officer, who spoke of the various resources available on campus for victims of domestic violence. She also spoke on how to prevent domestic violence from happening in the first place. "Creating awareness is one of our highest priorities," she said. Once Chin finished her speech, the microphone was turned over to anyone who wished to comment on the issue, and many tear-filled stories were shared. Various students stepped out to speak of their horrific experiences with domestic violence, and what they learned from it. One girl told of how her mother was called names ranging from "bitch" to "slut" by her husband every day for 21 years. "After 21 years of feeling like shit everyday, my mom picked herself up and raised all three of us" children, she said, as she burst into a fit of sobbing. "We're fine, we're survivors" After the speakers, the group marched to the Olin Center. Take Back the Night rallies and marches began in England as a protest against the fear that women encountered walking the streets at night. The first Take Back the Night event in the United States was held in San Francisco in 1978. The event is now held nationwide. Colleges across the country set aside a night in October to observe Take Back the Night. According to Rhodes, attendance at the Take Back the Night rally at Wesleyan University exceeds 500 people. The event does not raise funds _ it's sole purpose is to create responsiveness on campus. "If it makes one person feel supported or safer on campus, then we've succeeded," Rhodes said.

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Recommendations to the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience

October 21

Before I begin to explain what it is that I have to share with you all, I think it's important for me to point out that it is only because there is room for change that I am writing this viewpoint. This opinion is in no way meant to take away from the hard work and time that people have put into the Task Force on Undergraduate Experience here at Tufts; it is just meant to point out that there are discrepancies and questions that seem to go unanswered and that there is an incredible need for me to put my views in writing to perpetuate some thinking and _ more importantly _ some questioning from the greater Tufts community. It is interesting that this year the topic for my EPIIC class is "sovereignty and intervention," because while analyzing these broad issues, the reoccurring question seems to center around that of accountability. I feel the need to question the accountability of this group of individuals brought together to paint an accurate view of what the life of an undergraduate at Tufts appears to be. I understand that the group of students is doing a wonderful job, but to tell you frankly, I did not elect any of the students on this Task Force. To have a clear overview of the undergraduate life here at Tufts, it is insufficient to have a black man or an Asian girl as student representatives unless they were chosen by their community as such. If on the other hand, the Task Force will argue that these students were chosen on the basis of their credentials I will very blatantly ask: how can student representatives to the Task Force be elected by anyone other then the students themselves? Who do we hold accountable if our questions and concerns don't make it into the Task Force's report? As for the objective of the forum in Hotung (Thursday Oct. 10), I found it very necessary. Besides the dialogue alone, the intimacy between students and administrators is to be commended. But I am not quite sure I understood the point of it. As I was told, it was to "...gather input from the students, analyze the comments and questions amongst the task force and then go through and prioritize the list to see what should be included in the report." So there is no guarantee that concerns voiced at the forums are going to make it into the report. And I wonder how many of these concerns were written into the Task Force's notes. I by no means consider myself the representative of the students, but I would like to in my own way outline yet again topics I thought to be of concern and that should indeed work their way into this report. (If any student wants to add any more I suggest they write a viewpoint and/or submit an e-mail copy to the undergraduate Task Force.) In no particular order: The question of why Tufts is far lacking in terms of various services they offer (or rather don't offer) to the students. For example, students should have a free telephone connection to intercampus lines and Medford/Somerville area code numbers. This is essential for calling Dowling, contacting student help centers and lines like SSARA, and for keeping in touch with students or administrators, both on-campus or off-campus. Students should also receive free access to cable television networks. The question of faculty training with respect to minority issues, on the topics of race and ethnicity, sexuality, gender, socio-economic background or political views. This is important to allow for a friendly class room environment whereby the teacher is in touch with issues that concern in particular minority students perhaps in relation to the syllabus. The Task Force should also address issues of curriculum transformation. Tufts can not hope to remain competitive academically with other universities until we begin to invest in a solid African/African American studies major, Asian American studies, and Latino culture. We probably can't yet hope to push the issue of putting Sexuality and Gender on the agenda but even that is a subject in which the Tufts community should take the forefront. It is important to invest in both professor facilities and space for this major type of curricular transformation. It is essential that we not be content with just having an "American Studies" major when the meaning of race and ethnicity are constantly being brought to the table for discussion as globalization takes over it is an ever-growing ever pressing issue _ that of identity and culture. Tufts can not afford to ignore the importance and significance of race and ethnic content in its coursework. The Task Force should encourage the increased social interaction amongst students of the same graduating class. Perhaps ensure all-freshmen housing for incoming freshman or strengthen orientation to make it more cohesive. It should also consider decreasing distribution requirements for all liberal arts students. If the true focus is on a thorough and rigorous education than perhaps we should call for an increase in credits required to graduate or strengthen all majors to ensure quality education _ so long as we significantly decrease the distribution requirements. Another angle to solving the issue of too many unnecessary requirements that detract students from taking classes they like is to at least allow for distribution requirements to be taken pass/fail. Another issue is equipment for sports teams, especially men's crew. There was also concern about the need for school spirit, and it was suggested that Tufts should invest in cohesive activities amongst the students, as well as focus on recruitment for sports teams to perhaps entice student turn out at games and further school spirit. Now I'm certain that I am missing several points. I was not in attendance for all the sessions, but if we can ensure that what was mentioned above will in some way or another be in the Task Force's report then we will know that you are truly representing the demand of undergraduates here at Tufts. If we didn't care we wouldn't have attended and voiced our views. It is no longer about questioning the system to prove we can, it is about questioning the school to point out that there is room for improvement and our struggle is that we want to make sure we are a part of the improvement.

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News

Oregon underestimates Sun Devil's and Notre Dame works Air Force

October 21

Last weekend's college football games were so exciting that narrowing down three games to cover is downright disrespectful. Pac-ten football is generally avoided, but last weekend, the Oregon Ducks game against the Arizona State Sun Devil's was too attractive to pass up. Notre Dame faced off with undefeated Air Force with the winner remaining undefeated and still in BCS competition. Does Arizona State actually have a football team? Apparently they do and the squad is actually 6-2. Well, they were 5-2 before going to Eugene, Oregon and shocking the then sixth-ranked Ducks. Behind quarterback Andrew Walter, the Sun Devil's placed a rain cloud over the head's of all Duck faithful. Oregon was 6-0 with legitimate National Championship dreams. The Ducks seemed like they would have very little trouble putting away the upstart Sun Devil's as they jumped to a 21-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter. Arizona State started chipping away at the lead after that, scoring ten points in the second quarter to Oregon's seven and then exploding for 22 points in the third to Oregon's 14. State took its first lead in the fourth quarter after Walter connected on his fourth touchdown on the day. Oregon later tied the contest, but a field goal by kicker Mike Barth with 1:58 left on the clock sealed the deal for Arizona State 45-42. Heisman hopeful, Oregon running back, Onterrio Smith rushed like a mad man, amassing 172 yards, scoring three touchdowns. Even with the spectacular day, Smith could not outshine the diamond in the rough that is Andrew Walter. Walter tossed for 536 yards, completing on four touchdowns, while tossing only two picks. Arizona State has quietly put together an undefeated in Pac-ten play and is tied for first place with Washington State. Oregon suffered its first loss in conference as well as overall. What do Tiger Woods, Venus Williams, lil' Serena Williams, and Tyrone Willingham have in common? Answer: they are all the black poster people for their respected Caucasian dominated professions. Willingham is one of a hand-full of black Division I football coaches in a sport that is heavy in African-American talent. Football analysts have studied Willingham's work to find flaws harder than detectives trying to find a bloody glove at the OJ Simpson estate. With his Notre Dame team still undefeated, critics expected a solid then-undefeated Air Force team to break the Irish out of National Championship contention. The game ended 21-14 in Notre Dame's favor, but the score is in no way a measure of the thrashing the Irish put on the Falcons. Behind 190 yards on the ground from Ryan Grant and 71 from quarterback Carlyle Holiday, the Irish totaled 335 yards on the ground to Air Force's 104. The Falcons passing game was surprisingly weak for a school named Air Force. Quarterback Chance Harridge threw for 57 yards with one interception. Had anyone bothered to calculate his QB rating, I would find that the rating would be as weak as Jumbo Love match host, Andy Katzenberg's, pimp hand. The Air Force's ground game needed help from the Army as they totaled only 104 yards as a team. Notre Dame's passing game needed a band-aid as well, being that Holiday (8-15) only threw for 112 yards. The Irish did what it took to win, scoring a touchdown in the first three quarters. Notre Dame remains undefeated at 7-0, while Air Force drops out of the nation's top 15 and to 6-1.

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News

Ask Angie

October 21

Q: I want to have sex, but my girlfriend says she isn't ready. I don't want to pressure her. I'd really like to take our relationship to the next level, though. What should I, a poor horny teenaged boy, do? _Sex Starved A: Whoa, down boy. This happens more frequently than you probably think. It's common in a relationship for one partner to feel ready to take a new step, and the other to feel the opposite. This is what you have to do: wait! If she's not ready, then you're right in not wanting to pressure her! I know you're curious, I know you're anxious, but you can't rush your girlfriend into this big step. If she wants to hold off, there's probably a reason. Maybe she's nervous about birth control options or sexually transmitted diseases. There's a lot more going into sex than we usually stop to think about. Have you talked to her about it honestly? I know it's hard to have "the talk" with anybody, but maybe her reasons for waiting will make you rethink your reasons for wanting to rush ahead. Be understanding and respectful, and maybe you'll come to a compromise. There's plenty of fun you can have without having sex _ the more you explore and get to know each others' bodies, the better prepared you'll be when the big day comes along. Q: I have a friend who is really going through this depressive stage. I can't call her anymore because she's too sad to talk to, and she's totally irrational. She thinks she needs medicine because she's so out of it, but she won't get it because she thinks her parents will be sad if they find out she's not happy. What should I do? How can I convince her to get the help she needs? _Depressed about Depression A: I'm sorry your friend seems to be having such a hard time, but it sounds like she's dealing with a major case of depression. If this has been going on for a while, it's possible that she may do harm to herself if she thinks it's her only way out. The fact that she's "totally irrational," as you said, doesn't help either. She may appear alright, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Her parents would probably be more upset to know that she was making herself live so miserably if she doesn't tell them now. If you cut off all contact with her because she's just too much of a downer, you may throw her into an even deeper and more dangerous depression. Why don't you call her and tell her that you're worried about her? The fact that she thinks she needs medicine is good _ she knows there's something wrong. Maybe she needs a little nudge from you in the right direction. Otherwise, if you are getting desperate and you know her parents, you might give them a call and tell them not to be alarmed, but you feel like their daughter is in a bit of a rut. Ask if they'd be willing to help her out if she needed it. Even if they do get "sad" upon hearing this news, your friend's mental health is the most important thing in the long run, and their sadness will pass.

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