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Don't put all the eggs in one dorm

October 16

The University's plan to construct a new eco-friendly dorm with built-in features and attractions that make it more than a building with bed spaces is an exciting and practical one, but only under several conditions. The rationale that a school the quality of Tufts should offer attractive, comfortable housing with special features like seminar rooms, large "glass bridge" lounges, patios, and an apartment for a professor-in-residence is indeed valid _ nice dorms contribute to a nicer atmosphere on campus and greater comfort for students. In addition, residences that are not simply dorms but also places of gathering and campus activity, as the new dorm hopes to be, foster a sense of integration and community. However, the University ought not to place all funds and hopes in this new dorm when current dorms are deteriorating and need to be renovated. Houston Hall has not undergone renovations since it was built decades ago. The sub-zero levels in Wren Hall and its bugs have been notorious among students for years. The roof in Lewis Hall leaks. The list goes on, and in order to ensure fairness and a reasonable consistency in quality of dorms around campus, the University should focus not only on making a new dorm the best it can be, but on fixing old dorms as best they can. Steps like replacing old furniture with new go in the right direction, but problems with the buildings themselves still exist. Incoming freshmen have little choice in what dorm they end up in, and the lottery system we currently have is completely random by class. While there will always be discrepancies between dorms and people's preferences for each, it simply isn't fair nor practical if too much attention is placed on making new dorms spectacular while old dorms go practically ignored. This is not to say that Tufts should purposely build a mediocre new dorm. The important issue is paying equal attention to making all of Tufts' facilities up to par with a set standard, and with a school as good at Tufts, the University is right in setting that standard fairly high. Finally, the validity of the school's decision to select the 150-bed plan over the 300-bed plan depends on ResLife's continued efforts to inform students of housing availability. The reason for choosing the 150-bed plan was primarily to avoid an over-supply of housing, a phenomenon that occurred when South Hall was first built. This is a smart strategy, but given the current high prices for housing around Tufts and the hassle of securing it, students will likely line-up to live in new dorm when it opens. Two years ago, ResLife partially alleviated the housing crunch by releasing figures to upperclassmen and reminding rising juniors repeatedly and well in advance that they their chances of getting on-campus housing were limited. This caused many students to plan ahead and find off-campus housing. Such a strong effort was not made by ResLife this past year, resulting in a crunch at the lottery. Recent housing lotteries as well as the obvious comfort of living in the new dorm show that the building may cause yet another shortage _ the very problem it sought to alleviate _ if Tufts tries to sell the building as solving the problem.

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News

Zinn speaks against war

October 16

A last-minute speech opposing military action against Iraq by liberal historian Howard Zinn filled the Crane room beyond capacity last night, drawing more than 200 people and forcing organizers to turn away 50 more. Because of Zinn's busy schedule, the Tufts Coalition to Oppose War on Iraq (TCOWI), which organized the visit, accepted the only free time he had. Hasty organization also meant that only a relatively small location was available for the speech. Zinn, who is best known for his left-wing history, A Peoples' History of the United States, gave an engaging talk, which centered on the United States' historical goal of expansion and the governmental cloaking of this goal. "People need to be reminded of the history of government deception in order to begin to critically examine what is being said today," he explained. "There is a history of deception and lying by our presidents." Zinn offered the view that the US has often become the victim of attributing all world problems to a single evil, when that is not truly the case. "Terrorism is just the latest in a series of targets, which if attacked would solve a series of problems," he said. "[This series involves] something which is real being magnified in its danger to everybody, so that everything else in the world can be attributed to this." Tying in historical themes, Zinn said that Americans must realize the subliminal issues which underlie the push for war. "The common denominator to all these wars is simply the drive to expand American power throughout the world," Zinn said. Using examples ranging from America's "ruthless" expansion across the North American continent to its more recent expansion into the Middle East, he outlined a historical trend of empire making. He also compared the vilification of the German Kaiser Wilhelm II during World War I to the government's present portrayal of Saddam Hussein. In reference to the anti-Vietnam War movement, Zinn pointed out America's ability to misjudge its place in the world. "What looked impossible became reality. Something unheard of _ the United States losing a war _ became a reality." According to Zinn, when people are exposed to information that differs from that of the "establishment," they begin to rethink their opinions. "That is why the administration is in a rush," he explained. "That's what they learnt from Vietnam: If you're going to have a war, do it fast." As he expressed his anti-war sentiment, Zinn encouraged the audience to take action. He also expressed faith in the anti-war movement, based on his experiences in the movement against the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights movement. "...Movements do not spring up overnight. They grow," he said. Throughout the speech, Zinn repeatedly cited what he felt was the United States' historical hypocrisy, including condemnations of invasions of other nations' sovereignty while it did the same itself. He passionately addressed the issue of loss of life in war, saying it required a lack of respect for the lives of those on the other side. One of his most poignant examples was the question of whether the audience believed that in order to end World War II sooner, the American's would have sacrificed 100,000 American children _ they were, after all willing to kill the same number of Japanese children. Zinn pointed out that there are always "unforeseen consequences of necessary wars, consequences we can't see at the time." Freshman Nathan Todd had mixed feelings after the speech. "It forged a common sentiment among the people there, which was basically its purpose as an anti-war rally," he said. "However, he didn't really tell me very much that I didn't know; he spent more time painting the US as a historically evil empire than addressing the current situation." Rebecca Batch-Elder, an active member of TCOWI, the group which organized Zinn's speech, said its aims were very broad. Since the group started about a month ago, it has been working with people from a number of different organizations. Although TCOWI is small _ about 25 faculty and students attended the last meeting _ the coalition is quickly developing an active presence on Campus. Its agenda includes participating in the upcoming "March on Washington" and panels on anti-war activism. Batch-Elder feels that simply by being present, the group can accomplish a lot. "It's really important to let people know that there is a portion of people that are against this war," she explained. "I think it's going to be small groups all over the place that will raise awareness and cause this movement to grow. Seeing people speak will encourage those who are opposed to this war."

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News

Protests today

October 16

Protesting as a form of political activism has changed a lot in the last century. At the end of World War I, Mahatma Gandhi led a nationwide nonviolent protest in India to shed the nation of British rule. While his efforts took over 30 years to complete, the result was an independent India. Independence was gained without a war against England. Today, large-scale protests often include violence, particularly protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO) and International Monetary Fund (IMF). This change has weakened the concept of protests as a form of political action. While past major protests brought about changes in both American and world awareness, today most of the world regards protesters as rowdy, dangerous, and ineffective. Before protests can again become an effective form of political activism, protesters must return to the nonviolent, passive resistance that worked so well over the last century. Gandhi was successful because he swore off any form of violence. He urged his supporters never to counter force with force, and when they did, he fasted almost to the death. This often meant that protesters would march up to British forces that would promptly beat them down. Despite facing intense brutality, Indian protests against the British were almost entirely nonviolent. This built credibility, support, and sympathy throughout the world. Today, we regard these protesters as admirable activists, not dangerous rebels. The meetings of the IMF and the WTO have sparked many prominent protests over the past few years. Unfortunately, these protests have often become violent and have resulted in hundreds of injuries, and even some deaths. These violent protests turn into pitched battles between the police and the protesters, with protesters matching force with force. This violence has given IMF and WTO protesters a negative view in the public eye. Mainstream people perceive them as dangerous subversives and will not consider their views until they stop appearing as violent rebels. When protests turn violent, the protesters are not always to blame. The police often initiate the violence when confronting large protests. This practice is unacceptable. However, the police have the monopoly on the legitimate use of force. As soon as protesters turn violent, the public has all the justification it needs to regard these protesters as dangerous. When protesters stage counterattacks against police forces, similar to what happened at Genoa Italy, where a protester was shot by police after attacking the vehicle the police were taking refuge in, they have taken on the role of rebels. Nothing will corrupt the message they are trying to deliver more than the use of violence. I hope that the next IMF and WTO protests are completely non-violent. If the world watches protesters without gas masks suffer through tear gas attacks, they will get sympathy. If the world watches thousands of protesters lie down and surround the venue of the meeting, they will effectively disrupt the events. If the protesters stay nonviolent, and at no point respond to police force with more force, the world will be inclined to listen to their message. If IMF and WTO protesters can stay nonviolent, they will be effective in raising awareness and increasing debate. The fight for civil rights and the movement to end the Vietnam War perfected protesting as an act of political engagement. Nationwide, millions of people participated in nonviolent acts of civil disobedience. Since then, protests have become more violent, and less effective. These past protests demonstrate how effective nonviolent protest can be. When large number of people nonviolently rally together, they can change the world. Why protesters would turn away from successful methods of activism is inexplicable. It is time for protesters to again pledge and practice nonviolence, and reaffirm their role in the political process.

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News

Islamic Center looks to incorporate Muslim House

October 16

The University may move the Muslim House to the same building that houses the Islamic Center next year so that prayer and residential space for Muslim students will be combined. The Islamic Center at 176 Curtis St. was renovated this summer to accommodate the increased number of students who have flocked to there in the last few years. The residence at 92 Curtis St. functions the Muslim House for its residents, but the students must go down the street to the Islamic Center to pray because the space above the Islamic Center is used as a normal, non-cultural living space by Residential Life. Although not everyone who lives in the Muslim House has to be involved with the Muslim Student Association at Tufts (MSAT), which uses the Islamic Center, or vice versa, many feel that it is appropriate for the two groups to be located in the same location. "It will give us more freedom to use the rest of the house," Muslim Associate Chaplain Imam Nouredinne Hawat said. "We would be able to cook meals right in the kitchen upstairs and make use of all of the bathrooms. It would ease the use of the basement. There would be a lot more freedom to make use of the facilities." Membership in the Muslim Student Association has grown significantly in the group's 15-year existence, as has the popularity of attending services at the Islamic Center _ an estimated 60 students attended services each Friday last year. The demand prompted the University to renovate the center to make more room by knocking down walls in the basement and expanding the prayer space. There are no plans for further construction, according to Hawat. An inaugural ceremony was held in September to open the renovated facilities. Though the Muslim chaplain and Paul Stanton, the administrator who helped plan the renovations, were pleased with the changes, many in the Islamic community feel it is an important next step to bring the residential and prayer facilities together. "It is one of those things that when you look at it, you say 'how did this happen?'" Stanton said. The fact that the housing above the Islamic Center is open makes the trade easier. Hawat presently has a verbal agreement with Residential Life that this can happen next fall. "There is no confirmation on it, but they swap all the time, and if it would help us out a lot, then maybe it will happen," he said. "But as of now, nothing is 100 percent." The Islamic Center is a large, multi-functional room reached through a side entrance in the building located behind Carmichael Hall. The center holds Jumma prayers every Friday, hosts holiday parties and guest lecturers, and participates in many interfaith and intercollegiate activities.

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News

Raising campus spirit

October 16

After a successful Homecoming Weekend, the Tufts University Spirit Coalition (TUSC) is brainstorming events to increase school spirit which members say has been lacking on campus for several years. Aside from the Homecoming Weekend activities, the other major event the TUSC organizes each year is the commemoration of Tuftonia's Day, the University's birthday and the official alumni holiday. But Tuftonia's Day will not take place until Apr. 24, so the Coalition has turned its attention to the period until then. One major event in the making is the "A Tid Bit Nippy" Winter Carnival, which may be held in January. If the plan materializes, the event will consist of a night of festivities in the campus center to kick off the second semester. There will be games and giveaways in an attempt to unify the student community. Other possible events include a residence hall spirit contest in which residents of each dormitory would compete against each other to see who has the most school spirit. Meghan Sweeney, TUSC's co-president, said that this year, the Coalition would also like to improve their promotion of sporting events. "Aside from the Homecoming football game, usually people don't have banners and face paint," Sweeney said. "It would be nice if we could support all of our athletes." The Spirit Coalition plans events in collaboration with other campus groups, especially those which belong to the Programming Board. The Programming Board is made up of nine different groups, including TUSC, the class councils, the Entertainment Board, the Concert Board, the Lecture Series, and the Film Series. The presidents of each group comprise an Executive Board that coordinates all events planned by each group. Freshman TUSC member Caroline Kennedy said that each group works closely with one another. "Everyone has the same mission: to promote school spirit," Kennedy said. "I first joined Entertainment Board, but everyone encouraged me to join TUSC as well." The Programming Board organizes retreats to promote leadership training and send members to the National Association for Campus Activities (NACA) conferences, where organizations encouraging school spirit meet to share ideas. TUSC is optimistic about what it will be able to achieve this year, despite the recent decrease in its budget mandated by the TCU Senate. However, TUSC is worried that many groups that co-sponsored events in the past with TUSC may not be willing to do so this year because of insufficient funding. Nonetheless, the Spirit Coalition considers its first event of the year _ Homecoming Weekend _ a success. "Although we rushed to plan it, because it was so early in the year, it still turned out great, especially with the voting [for Homecoming king and queen]," freshman TUDC member Jill Harrison said. "There was an even better turnout than expected." Sweeney said that although many students are apathetic when it comes to school events, "we have a good crowd this year." "We're excited because of better turnouts at the events we're planning, and hopefully this trend will continue throughout the year," she said.

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News

A cause for war, but not a cause for support

October 16

In the beginning of October, Political science professor Malik Mufti made the case that while concerns for security and humanitarianism had merit, they were not worth a war that could "lead to high casualties, inflame the Arab world, and strain relations with allies." Sufficient cause for war must outweigh these undesirable consequences. Such a cause exists, he said, in the prospects of avoiding a larger conflict than the one presently before us, and the opportunity for a US commitment to Iraq "comparable" to its efforts in Germany and Japan after World War Two. This would include giving the Kurds of northern Iraq sufficient autonomy and a "genuine" effort to resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict. Even if Mufti's calculation of appropriate reasons for going to war is correct, there are problems with supporting war for those reasons under the present circumstances. Notably there is an alternative to war: unfettered weapons inspection. This would severely limit Iraq's aggressive tendencies and capabilities, and reduce the calamity and likelihood of any future conflict. Also important, weapons inspections do not carry the unsavory humanitarian and diplomatic consequences of war. In the absence of weapons inspections, which is becoming a more likely possibility, the question remains: is the elimination of a theoretical massive conflict and installation of a "more liberal and inclusive order that can serve as a model for the rest of the Arab world" worth a war? Maybe it is. War, however, may only be supported at this time if it is reasonable to believe the US will follow war with the required commitment. Anything less will result in a situation, Mufti states, worse than the current one. Unfortunately, it is not reasonable to believe the US will do what is needed, making war against Iraq unsupportable. The Bush administration, from the beginning, has framed the Iraq issue in terms of war and "regime change," not in terms of post-war Iraq. Questions of security, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction have been repeatedly cited as reasons to go to war. Saddam's pathetic human rights record has been mentioned, but has become a secondary reason for invasion. Additionally, the reluctant consideration of weapons inspections, are a mere half-hearted attempt to assuage allied concerns of US' unwarranted, unilateral action. This would address the administration's concerns regarding weapons of mass destruction, and participation of the United Nations, which would surely be a partner in post-war Iraq, have been treated as an afterthought. Instead of pushing for Iraqi compliance with new unfettered weapons inspections, the administration has been complacent, standing back and saying "I told you so" when Iraq rebuffs inspector demands. According to Tuesday's New York Times, the administration is now hoping to provoke internal rebellion. This would not only relieve the US of any post-Saddam responsibility, but also call into question the legitimacy of a US role in shaping any new government. In every way, Bush proves to be concerned only with the immediate future of Iraq and the US. Moreover, the administration has yet to make a convincing argument that Iraq presents an imminent threat that deserves attention now, rather than any time during the first year of Bush's presidency, for example. In 2001, Secretary of State Colin Powell was calling for "smart sanctions," not "regime change." Today, evidence of Iraq's ties to al Qaeda is limited to Bush rhetoric and unconfirmed reports of an Iraqi meeting with al Qaeda and the presence of an al Qaeda operative in an Iraqi hospital. While Bush suggests that Iraq may acquire nuclear capabilities in a year, US intelligence says it will more like ten years. Such floundering for reasons to go to war and avoiding suggestions of a long-term commitment suggest that perhaps the administration's real motive for war is not human rights or security but oil and/or politics. If this is the case, which is not so far-fetched, then the administration would have little desire to commit anything more to Iraq than is absolutely necessary for access to Iraq's huge oil reserves. Especially considering the administration's deep, far reaching ties to the oil industry and the suspicious timing of the administration's call for action. Even when support of democratic freedoms is an explicitly stated policy, the administration has been less than steadfast and unwavering. Egypt's incarceration of Saad Eddin Ibrahim and other democracy advocates has brought a belated and weak response from Washington. The administration has turned a blind eye in Pakistan to Gen. Pervez Musharraf's assault on democratic norms and consolidation of power. And this spring, the White House immediately stated its acceptance of a most undemocratic coup in Venezuela and then waited patiently until it was apparent that the coup would fail and the rest of Latin America had denounced the coup, to express its own disapproval. In Afghanistan, though the US has been the largest monetary donor to the new government, the US has not readily supported the infant and weak Afghani government with non-monetary but perhaps more valuable goods, such as a national security force to aid in the consolidation of power and preservation of peace among feuding warlords. If the Bush administration is unwilling to do what is needed in Afghanistan as a member of a multilateral coalition, what will happen to Iraq following a war that will no doubt have considerably less international support? So far, it has been assumed that a liberal, "better" regime can be implemented. This assumption may be unfounded. Iraq is home to a spectrum of religious sects and ethnicities. Rival resistance groups are already fighting over post-Saddam Iraq and the Iraqi people, according to recent reports by New York Times columnists, may not be looking forward to an American liberation as much as (our) conventional wisdom would hold. The effect of these conditions will be (even more) astronomical cost to a successful post-war Iraq. As for Israel and Palestine, and the necessity for a "genuine" attempt to resolve the problem, the fact that Mufti calls for a change in policy reveals that the administration has done unsatisfactory work. It is difficult believe the administration will adopt new policies or renewed effort after an invasion of Iraq. With little reason to expect a commitment needed to avoid what Mufti calls "a true nightmare," and many reasons to expect much less, the Bush administration's quest for war cannot be supported with Mufti's argument. Sam Abrams is a sophomore who has yet to declare a major.

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News

War means killing people

October 16

Among the many recent voices on these pages, two in particular are especially worth consideration. I offer my own reflection guided by one question and concern: who have the readers believed and felt more helpful in understanding the current rush to more war fighting, the respected professor (Malik Mufti, Casus belli, Oct. 3) or the compassionate student (Rana Abdul-Aziz, My City, Sept. 30, Waiting in fear, Oct. 7)? Not being an expert on Middle East politics, history or culture, I found Mufti's essay quite informative for its various details and provocative for its interpretation of the trends described. I don't know enough to counter his claims of ostensible fact or his assertions of appropriate action based on his assessment of the situation. But, as a peace educator I do recognize "realpolitik" and "geostrategic" discourse when I see it. And I have come to learn that such language conceals as much as it reveals and, like all paradigmatic and strategic thinking, that it is simultaneously a way of seeing and not seeing. Given that Mufti's views likely resonate with most people as being "realistic" in analyzing the way things are, an alternative perspective follows. First, of course his purpose for writing is simple; his analysis finds justification for the use of force by the US military against Iraq, and he aims to persuade everyone he can to support that course of action. He believes the situation compels a "war to preempt" the threat of Arab fascism so described, in addition to overthrowing the Iraqi regime. Both must be "neutralized." Subsequently, "the US must foster and defend" a different regime and social order capable of engendering a new political culture for Arab people everywhere. To keep it simple, the plain truth of all of such thinking is that violence against the Iraqi people must be used. In other words, they must be bombed, shot and killed by most any means necessary _ though the Bush administration insists every possible means may be appropriate _ in order for US soldiers and sailors to carry out the plan of removing the current Iraqi government and putting in place one designed by ours (and, as we now know, establishing another military base for our armed forces for the foreseeable future). To complicate it a bit, also concealed is the fact that any unilateral preemptive war will undermine all international law and institutional arrangements for diplomatic and legal conflict resolution established or cultivated during the last half-century and more. Nor do we see how the new strategic plan for US military dominance in the 21st century is given concrete footing in yet another country (not unlike the new military base being built outside of Kosovo) by a US invasion. Nor are we told that many in the "Arab world" will see this as a bald-faced grab of empire. What Mufti does suggest, however, is that our armed violence will somehow lead to 'healing a [part of their] political culture.' Really? From what I understand, not once in the 20th century did an armed invasion of one country lead directly to the establishment of democracy there. And when did violence ever lead to healing? Destructive violence is used when problems cannot be solved constructively. From what I know of nonviolence, the congruence of means and ends is of paramount concern in any strategic action to upset the bases of power of any dominant political actor or institution. I also know that "all-out conflict utilizing all the weapons at hand will become inevitable" is not and was not true for the roughly 3.3 billion people on Earth in the 20th century that gained new political leaders or created less oppressive cultures from nonviolent struggles. In 1989 alone the overwhelmingly nonviolent dismemberment of the so-called "evil empire" positively affected the lives of more than 1.7 billion people. It was only the "realists" among us that were prepared to use all the weapons at hand to settle that global problematique. For me, what Mufti's way of thinking and language conceals is the very inhumanity and terror that Rana's refuses to accept. For all that her article said, the plain truth is captured in what she tells simply: she, her extended family and many others live in fear. The "nightmare" Mufti fears if war is not waged is exactly the reality that Rana's family lives each night and day. Yet they not only wait for the worst and most direct terror, they already live with the ongoing toll of a war now carried out by "sanctions." If the horrific witness of Sept. 11 should mean anything to each and every person, it is that similar destruction and suffering awaits the Iraqi people _ and their neighborhoods, places of business, caf?©s and parks _ when the first "smart bombs" fall (guided by technological and geostrategic thinking, though not bodies). Their fire fighters, police, and public servants will rush to aid their friends, families, and strangers with no less courage than did ours, regardless of the size and symbolism of any building destroyed. And though they will have no doubt as to who caused such horror, many will surely wonder why we "hate them so" for the ways of their government and political and cultural leaders. Similar destruction and suffering were true for the Afghans. As it was for all those who lost their lives on Sept 11. As it was for every victim of "legitimate" armed violence in my lifetime (regardless of what thinking and who justified it). In 1970, I was trained in our armed forces to handle the prototype generation of so-called smart bombs. I watched countless films of live aircraft missions against the Vietnamese and still more from World War II and aircraft carrier battle groups to prepare me for the fighting ahead. The taped death and destruction were enormous and nauseating. In all my training the most simple and direct message came from a non-commissioned officer as he forcefully slammed a pointer across a screen and screamed "men, the enemy must be killed!" That alarmingly hostile act contained the simple truth in all the sophisticated machinations of realpolitik. When force is justified the plain truth is that someone _ and by ever larger numbers _ must be killed. If there is a teachable moment in this truly Orwellian time, when the government that possesses more than half of the nuclear weapons on Earth fears another regime might produce one and use it against "us," it is this: killing people or not is what we are talking about. In these pages the student in effect said, "please, don't do it anymore." The professor said in so many words that "it makes sense and is okay"; indeed, "we must if we are to save lives." She spoke truth to power. He addressed power but omitted basic truth. Dale Bryan is the assistant director of peace and justice studies at Tufts.

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News

College football match-ups give you a reason to stay in front of the TV

October 16

Last weekend's match-ups in college football were so delectable, you could put 'em on a plate and sop 'em up with a biscuit. Then number two Longhorns of Texas battled with then number three Oklahoma in a game that has taken place 96 previous times. Florida State pushed in-state rival Miami to the utter limits of its winning streak. Meanwhile, in SEC country, Tennessee was out to prove that it deserved the number nine ranking it received in last week's poll against equally disrespected Georgia. Man, I was upset! While I was caught in a torrential downpour at Trinity College, Oklahoma completed a total comeback against Texas. The Horns did not trail once through the first three quarters of the contest. However, what Texas did not plan on for the entire game was Sooner running back Quentin Griffin. Griffin had 248 rushing yards on the day, which stood out even more because preseason All-American Texas running back Cedric Benson only tallied 54 yards by game's end. Griffin added two touchdowns (one rush, one reception) in the fourth quarter as Oklahoma outscored Texas 21-7 in the last stanza to win 35-24. It was truly a terrible day for both quarterbacks. Longhorns quarterback Chris Simms, son of former New York Giant quarterback Phil Simms, played like absolute doo-doo. Not only did Simms throw for just 156 yards on the afternoon, but added to his problems by tossing three picks. Needless to say, his QB rating was garbage. Sooner QB Nate Hybl only threw for 131 yards and compiled four interceptions. But, the difference in the game was that Hybl tossed for two touchdowns compared to Simms' zero. Texas dropped to 5-1, while Oklahoma continues its perfect season at 6-0. Wow, Miami must really believe in God as the Hurricanes escaped with their 28th straight victory 28-27. The latest victim was then 12th-ranked Florida State Seminoles. The story of the game was wide left. Florida State completely abandoned its passing attack and relied on Heisman hopeful Greg Jones for a powerful running attack. Jones got 31 touches to amass 191 yards and one touchdown. Nick Maddox also provided a viable run source with 12 carries reaching a total of 76 yards, 30 of which came on a touchdown run in the second quarter. Miami does not have a bad running back either: Heisman hopeful Willis McGahee finished just short of 100 yards with 92. The difference in the game is clear _ the Hurricanes QB Ken Dorsey stepped his game up when Seminole QB Chris Rix just did not. Dorsey got dirty with 360 yards in the air, connecting on two touchdowns. Even with the lopsided passing totals, Florida State had a legitimate opportunity to seal the victory. With seconds left, Florida State kicker Xavier Beitia hooked a 43-yard field goal wide left. The missed attempt saved Miami's nation-leading winning streak and sent Florida State back north devastated with its second loss of the season. With starting quarterback Casey Clausen, the Volunteers needed every bit of overtime to defeat a decent Arkansas Razorback squad. Without Clausen, the prospect of beating then sixth ranked Georgia was bleak. Though the game ended 18-13 Georgia, the contest was not as narrow as the score suggests. The Bulldogs never trailed and were actually pitching a shutout through three quarters. Georgia kicker Billy Bennett was clutch, hitting on field goals from 27, 44, and 47 yards out. Quarterback David Greene (230-1-1) who might be the best QB Georgia has seen since Quincy Carter, was also big for the Bulldogs. Running back Musa Smith is normally a force, but was stifled by an excellent Volunteer run defense. Although Tennessee was getting beat in most categories, trick plays and tough running helped put 13 points on the board in the fourth quarter and pushed the Volunteers within 5 points. Unfortunately for Tennessee, there was not enough time in the game for the Vols to mount a full comeback, leaving Georgia still perfect on the season at 6-0. Tennessee is now 4-2, with its only two losses to top-ten teams, then-top-ten Florida and now fifth-ranked Georgia. And oh yes _ Florida has completed its total nosedive by getting rolled by the 13th ranked LSU Tigers 36-7. The Gators are now 4-3 and ranked 24th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and are unranked in the AP poll.

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News

A little bit country, a little bit rock and roll

October 15

Imagine that one day Woody Guthrie and the Vines were touring a nuclear power plant and somehow fell into a vat of various chemicals that fused them together in classic comic book style. What would emerge would be Three Day Threshold (well, without the mutations or unfortunate chemical burns). This local band has found a way to bring the sounds of the dirty south to CBGB (the famous New York punk haven) and make it work. The band, which consists of John Ransom on bass, drummer Jack Morris, lead guitarist Sam Reid and Kier Byrnes who plays banjo, guitar and mandolin. The group got together through both typical and unusual means. "I met John at a Morphine concert and we met Sam when we were auditioning a guitarist," Byrnes explained "We dragged him to an undisclosed location and made him play for us" The group's name originated from a time the band members spent in Maine when they had some downtime around a show and rented a fishing boat and waders. The members had a contest to see who could remain in the waders the longest. The winner was former band member Jason Warne who stayed in the heavy waders for two days and 16 hours. The group decided to round up to three days and took the name as a "homage to that crazy time." Warne still works with the band as its graphic designer. The band sites its big influences as country music, traditional bluegrass, Irish music and punk. "I like to think of it as rootsy flavors with Boston attitude," Ransom said. Despite the southern accent on their music the three band members interviewed for this article, hail from New England. Ransom is from Cambridge, Byrnes is from Salem, NH and Reid is from Alston, MA. They each came to appreciate bluegrass in a different way. Reid grew up listening to country and blue grass music while Ransom was exposed to this style by his fellow band members. Byrnes was exposed to the music while driving cross-country when he hit the southern states. According to Brynes, "Johnny Cash had a punk feel even though he was country. The roots of rock and roll has a lot of heart and soul that is there" The group has been playing together seriously for about four years initially with mixed results. "It was very hard starting out because we were too rock for country and too country for rock and booking agents didn't know what to do with us," Reid said. In addition, to having some problems setting up shows, even after the group began performing regularly they had some harrowing on stage experiences as well. "Once at a show in New Hampshire and we had an audience of the bartender and two dogs. But the dogs were dancing, like paw to paw," Ransom said. The band also recalled a difficult show on Dec. 7, 2001 at a venue with an open bar. The concert hall opened at 6:00 p.m., but the band didn't go on until 11:30. The group didn't go into details about what exactly occurred but one gathers that it was not pleasant. Most shows are good shows, however, and the band plays more than 50 shows a year in the area. Byrnes recalled one particularly good show at Harper's Ferry. "We showed up with our gear but weren't on the bill, so we played anyway and won the crowd over," he said. The group also played at the Freedom Rally, a benefit for the Green Party. In the four years that the band has been together it has made significant progress, according to Brynes, and hopes to experience continued success. "Over the years we've been selling out venues," he said. "We hope to sell out our CD release party. It may be great or it may be a bust. That's the risk we always take." The Three Day Threshold CD Release Party is Friday, Oct. 18, 2002 at The Paradise _ 7 p.m. pre-party, 10:30 p.m. show. See threedaythreshold.com for more details.

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News

This time try to find the right hole...

October 15

Finishing off my third Starbucks frappuccino at two in the morning, a mere six hours from my first final, I staggered down the hallway of Miller, clutching the empty bottles. As I tossed them into the bin labeled "commingled containers," I didn't hear the normal sound of glass breaking upon impact. Now, I'll be the first to admit my thinking may have been a bit fuzzy at this time, but I thought I'd investigate (who hasn't tried to delay additional cramming?). What I found was no big surprise, having lived in the dorms for two years. Not only was there a pizza box with its attached cheese and mushrooms acting as a cushion to the bottles, but there were several tissues, a rough draft of a paper, an Easy-Mac package and a few aluminum cans. Now I was facing a mini-dilemma at 2:00 a.m.: should I remove the pizza box and its fellow intruders from the recycling bin, thereby risking getting old cheese all over me for the sake of recycling? Or, should I just leave them, and let someone else deal with it? I confess _ I did leave them there... I was too tired and stressed to care, and I thought, "Why bother? If someone put a pizza box in the bin for cans, then it doesn't matter what goes in after that. It will just serve as trash." I trudged back to my room, with my books for a few hours of sleep. But, when I woke up, I saw something that made me regret my inaction from the night before. A worker from OneSource (the company employing the dorm custodians) was emptying out the bins; I watched as he took the pizza box and papers out of the containers' bin, and put them in the trash. Considering OneSource is not responsible for sorting the recyclables, it must have been a personal ideal that compelled this worker to remove the trash in order to recycle the glass containers and the aluminum cans. Two years later, Tufts has finally figured out how to deal with those college students who, once capable of mastering the SAT, apparently have lost their ability to comprehend signs and follow simple instructions. There are now lids on the bins for recycled paper and containers, which remind me of those plastic play blocks we used when we were toddlers: a long narrow slit is for papers, and two circles are for containers. I've finally come to realize that in my third year at college, I still love to stare at shiny objects, and throw cans in little circles. These new lids, provided by Tufts Recycles, are located all over the campus, in dorms and academic buildings. Hopefully, students will figure out where papers go, and where containers go, as it is nearly impossible to fit a soda can through the paper slot. Some students, however, still manage to avoid recycling as I did see someone lift the lid to throw away a huge shopping bag (despite the signs specifying where to throw away which objects), which brings me to another point. One of the reasons so many recycling bins were contaminated with trash was because there were not enough trash bins around. Previously, the media center in the library contained only a recycling paper bin, resulting in soda cans, glass bottles, and trash being mixed together, defeating its original purpose. Now, however, there are approximately two trash bins for every two recycling bins, in addition to the trash disposals outside. Hopefully, this will ease the situation, but, as college students are extremely wasteful, not even having the trash emptied every day will remedy the problem of overflowing bins. Now, I'm not saying that these new recycling lids are a panacea for saving the world; they are, however, a great start for trying to make students more aware of what they waste. Considering that North America generates more waste per person than any other country in the world, we, as a student body, should try to limit ourselves to less material consumption. Just as Tufts made a pact to uphold to Kyoto Protocol (which asked the US for a seven percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels by 2012), we should advocate, also, the generation of less solid waste, which will ultimately help the environment on a local, national, and international scale. Just imagine what is required in the "life" of a Coke can: it takes energy, water, and raw natural resources to mine, transport, manufacture, use, and recycle or dispose of it. Most of these energy sources have a huge negative impact, with such consequences as acid rain, photochemical smog, and global warming caused by the combustion of fossil fuels used for transporting a lot of materials. The solution to this problem sounds simple enough, and we've heard it often enough since we were in kindergarten: reduce, reuse, recycle. And, if Tufts wants to make it easier for us to do by beckoning to our inner child with bright lids and slots, so be it. Erin Greenfield is a junior majoring in Environmental Studies and Art History.

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News

Turn the lights on... now

October 15

We were considering reprinting our editorial from last month on the College Ave.-Boston Ave. intersection in this space, as it is apparent that no one has heeded its words. Just a few months after traffic lights were installed at the intersection, one student has been hit by a car. Medford had previously delayed the installation by months in order to work on utility services underneath the roadway. But even now, after the completion of the project, the lights are not yet operational, and the intersection remains a grave safety hazard. Tufts needs to focus its primary attention on ensuring that the lights in the intersection are turned on as soon as possible. The city blames "conflicting traffic patterns" for the (hopefully) temporary flashing lights that, along with often-blocked lanes, make driving on Boston or College Ave. a nightmare. Various timelines have been given for an ultimate turn-on date, but the project's recent history should demonstrate that delays are far from uncommon. Regardless of the reason for the delay, Tufts needs to seriously pressure city hall to complete the transition to fully functional traffic lights. It is by far the most serious safety concern at its largest campus, and the University needs to do all it can to prevent the worthless and dangerous flashers from being on one day longer than is necessary. It is true that Tufts doesn't run the city of Medford and cannot simply dictate instructions regarding the intersection. There is little more the University can do if it has already tried in vain to speed up the project. But Tufts should be willing to station its own police officers at the intersection if possible to bring some order to the streets. This time, the student involved in the accident apparently has only minor injuries. But in February 2001, two other students that were hit by a van while crossing Boston Ave. were told that they were extremely lucky. If the vehicle had been moving slightly faster, the victims were told they would have gone under the wheels instead of thrown over the hood. Next time, it is very possible that a student could be seriously injured or killed. How many accidents will it take to convince someone to switch the traffic lights on?

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News

Students, alumni weigh the true benefit of private education

October 15

Tufts students and their parents will pay more in yearly tuition alone than many people earn as an annual salary _ a price of $27,450.00 for the 2002-2003 school year. With room, board and other fees added on, the total cost of a Tufts education this year is approximately $36,465.00. Future charges are predicted to rise, leaving many _ including two Princeton University professors _ to wonder if the price of attending an elite university is worth such a cost. MSNBC recently reported that the cost of a private education does not pay off monetarily in the long run, according to Princeton University economics professor Alan Kreuger and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Researcher Stacy B. Dale. But when it comes to r?©sum?©s, a recognizable university name can make a great difference, said Lynn Gray (J'71), a Senior Vice President at Lehman Brothers in New York City and a graduate of Tufts. "When I go to speak at conferences and it says under my name that I'm a graduate of Tufts University and Cornell Law School, it definitely gives me a degree of stature that the University of Vermont and Suffolk Law School wouldn't," Gray said. "There is an inherent snobbery in the world." This attitude of snobbery, Gray said, affects the hiring process. When faced with a candidate from Yale and a candidate from Tufts, Gray said that, "if [the applications] are of equal people, there's no question we're taking the person from Yale." Companies often choose applicants from well-known universities, according to Bob Haber (E'79), a Chief Investment Officer at Fidelity Investments in Boston, MA. "Opportunities may come a little easier if you're part of these brand-name institutions," he said. Companies rely on the selectivity of universities to help narrow down the number of candidates according to Haber, who has had experience with recruiting for entry-level positions. With a candidate from a highly competitive school, "you know there's been a lot of selection and filtering that has already gone on," he said. Networking is another advantage of attending an elite university, according to Gray. Companies like to establish relationships with certain universities who they know will send them reliable job candidates. "It is more difficult to get in [at Lehman Brothers] from a state university," she said. "We still hire state school students, but you definitely have an easier time getting in here from Cornell or Harvard. Employee recruiting programs at state schools are not as strong as at private schools, Gray said. Her daughter currently attends the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In her daughter's case, Gray said that "at the end of the day, she will have a much harder time getting a job out of Wisconsin than she would out of Tufts." While a big name school may get a candidate's foot in the door, there is some debate as to whether the high cost of a private education pays off in earnings and salary. Kreuger and Dale compared the earnings of those students who graduated from elite colleges with those students who were accepted to _ but did not attend _ elite colleges. They found that the two groups of graduates actually earned very similar salaries. The researchers concluded that the caliber of the student rather than the school attended was the greater factor in long-term job success. In other words, those students who are intelligent enough to be accepted by an elite university are intelligent enough to succeed regardless of the schools they attend. But the price of an elite university education is just that, University Professor and former Provost Sol Gittleman said. Students are paying for education, not a future job _ and this should be the order of priorities, he said. Universities should not have to justify whether the education's price is worth it or not, Gittleman said. "We believe it's worth it," he said. "It's up to parents and their students to decide whether they can afford it." Cheaper schools, however, may provide courses which are more beneficial to students after they graduate. While the enormity of state schools works to the disadvantage of students with larger classes and less personal interaction, Gray said, their diverse range of classes and programs is a benefit. "Here I am an investment banker, and there is no business program at Tufts," she said, suggesting that a different plan of study would have been more applicable to her current field. But Gittleman gave a contrasting example with a different program. "Political science doesn't even offer a masters degree here, and yet it has some of the finest scholars in the country," he said. The focus is on educational experience, not jobs, he said. While different schools offer their own combinations of opportunities and limitations, Gray and Haber said that personal achievement is the ultimate factor in entering the career world. The hard work of one from a lesser-known university will not be ignored just because he is up against a candidate from a better-known university, Gray and Haber said. Faced with choosing between a candidate from Tufts with a 3.3 GPA and a state school candidate with a 4.0 GPA, Haber said, "I think that both would have a shot, but I'd be more intrigued with the person who had the 4.0." In the end, it is truly one's own ambition that will result in success. "I'm sure it helps to have [an elite college] on your r?©sum?©, but again it's only going to make the opportunities come a little easier. Just having the name is not going to make you succeed," Haber said.

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News

Men's cross country team runs best race of the season

October 15

Under cloudy skies and a steady drizzle, the men's cross country team ran to a strong finish of 15th out of 46 teams from Divisions I, II, and III at the All-New England Championships Friday afternoon at Franklin Park. Providence (36 points) won the meet for the second year in a row, with three of its runners among the first four overall to cross the finish line. Brown (70), Dartmouth (128), UMass-Lowell (166), and Boston University (232) rounded out the top five in team scoring. Tufts (522) finished sixth out of Division III teams, and junior co-captains Jon Rosen and Peter Bromka both considered it the team's best race of the season. In the fastest showing of the season, the top five Jumbo finishers all set personal records. Sophomore Nate Brigham led the way, staying right behind the top Division I athletes to finish with a sensational time of 25:01, good for 32nd place overall. "For him to stay close like that indicates the kind of runner he's capable of being," Rosen said. "We need him to be a consistent front runner for us to do well." Bromka raced to a 95th place individual finish with a time of 25:58, followed by sophomore Neil Orfield at 113th overall and an impressive 26:08. Junior Ian Joseph and freshman Matt Lacey rounded out Tufts' top five, completing the course just one second apart at 140th and 142nd, respectively. Rosen and freshman Matt Cummings garnered the sixth and seventh spots on the team. The fastest times of the year were the result of a fast course that was 80 meters shorter than normal, the cool weather conditions, and the intense competition. Even with these beneficial conditions, there was, however, a facet of the race that impeded the speed of the squad. The smattering of three hundred runners competing at Franklin Park led to tight packs that made both separating from slower runners and passing extremely difficult. This factor had an unfortunate impact on the Jumbos as the third through seventh runners got off to a slow start and had trouble advancing as far as they could have through the swarm of runners. "We were passing people the whole way," Rosen said. "It just wasn't quite enough." The Jumbos did not reach the top ten finish that they achieved in the race last year but still finished in the top third of teams competing, a strong statement considering that the best schools from all three divisions competed in the meet. The Jumbos finished behind Keene St., Williams, MIT, Bates, and Bowdoin from within Division III, but they edged out the highly touted Coast Guard by 20 points, and also handily defeated Amherst, whom they had previously been unable to beat. "It's a signal that we're moving up in the right direction," Jon Rosen asserted. "Hopefully we'll use it as a stepping stone," Joseph added. The team is still looking forward to the return of top form of sophomore Michael Don. In his second race back from injury, Don finished first for the Jumbos in the JV meet with a time of 26:25, which would have placed him on the heels of Joseph and Lacey in the varsity meet. "We're hopeful he'll be ready to help out some time in the next month," Bromka said. The team's next match is this Saturday at the James Early Invite at Westfield State. "Next week we'll try to match up more head to head with certain teams that are there," Bromka said. "But in a big race, we just had to run for ourselves." @keywords:crosscountry#men#Franklin Park

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News

More funds needed for new pool

October 15

Although the University included a new swimming pool in renovation plans more than a decade ago, the athletics department will not confirm rumors that the Tufts will build a new pool to replace the aging Hamilton Pool. Tufts has the oldest swimming pool of any NESCAC school. Nancy Bigelow, the women's swimming and diving coach, estimates that it dates from the early 1940s. "It wouldn't be a stretch to say that the campus would benefit from a new pool," she said. Athletics Director Bill Gehling echoed Bigelow's sentiment. "It's clear and obvious that we would like to have a new pool," he said. The current pool "is small and old and outdated for the amount of use that it gets." According Gehling, a master plan created in 1990 included the construction of a new pool. The plan also outlined other athletic improvements that have since been completed, including construction of the fitness center, the Chase Gymnasium, and the Gantcher Center, and installation of wooden floors in Cousens Gymnasium and the artificial flooring in Carzo cage. A new pool "would be the next big element, but there just isn't enough funding at this point," said Gehling. "It would be a very, very expensive project _ $10-12 million. It would require a major fundraising effort." The University has other financial priorities now, Gehling said, as there it needs money for the new dorm, music building, and financial aid. The annual budget for the athletics program is one to two percent of the overall Arts and Sciences budget of $230 million. But funding for a pool would likely require a special fundraising project, much like the current effort to finance the new music building. "We need a big, Olympic-sized pool," said freshman Beth Bishop, a member of the girl's swimming and diving team. Olympic-sized pools are 50 meters long, twice the length of the Hamilton pool. "We call it the duck pond," she said. The pool area does not have much room for spectators and that the ventilation of the pool area is inadequate, said freshman Kristen Hyland, another member of the team. "I know a lot of people with asthma have to use inhalers because the air quality is so bad," she said. An estimated 100 students belong to the University's swimming and diving teams, which use the Hamilton Pool regularly. At least another one hundred people from within and outside the Tufts community use the pool each day as well. "It totally gets crowded, and it's hard to get pool time with two swim teams when there are lessons going on," Bishop said.

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News

Soccer team extends winning streak

October 15

The men's soccer team is on another winning streak, as it beat up on the Garnet Tide of Swarthmore 4-0 yesterday at Kraft Field. In wrapping up their third consecutive victory, the men seem to have fully rebounded from their mid-season slump, as they recorded the season's first shut-out. Facing the 5-7-1 Garnet Tide, the Jumbos expected to dominate their opponents. Going into the game, they looked to get their scoring back on track in order to carry momentum into their next NESCAC match-up against Williams. Scoring did not pose a problem for the team this time, as both senior co-captain Matt MacGregor and freshmen Todd Gilbert amassed two goals each and now stand with four and six goals respectively on the season. With nine goals in their last three games, the team seems to be back into a scoring grove. "We're definitely finishing our opportunities better," senior co-captain Mike Blea said. Leading the way for the Jumbos over this recent winning streak is Gilbert, who scored two goals against Trinity on Saturday along with his two yesterday afternoon. Now that he has settled into college competition, Gilbert has become an integral part of the Jumbos offense. "I had heard before he came here that he could score. He goes straight for the goal and that's what you want your striker to do," coach Ralph Ferringo said. "We've brought him along and he's doing a great job." "It's really no big surprise," Blea said. "We've had high expectations for him all season and he's been stepping it up." Gilbert finished the day with five points in the game, recording an assist along with his two goals. Gilbert's assist led to the Jumbos' game winning goal, as Tufts scored within the game's 13th minute on a header from MacGregor. Later in the first half, Gilbert scored a goal of his own on an assist from his freshmen counterpart Mike Guigli. The Jumbos took a 2-0 lead into the half, but their intensity did not let up in the second half. Holding down the Swarthmore offense, the Jumbos scored again in the 80th minute on MacGregor's second goal of the game on a pass from freshmen Dan Backman. Five minutes later, Guigli set up Gilbert for another goal to put the Jumbos up 4-0. Guigli "made it really easy for me to score both times," Gilbert said. The scoring outburst was not the Jumbos only positive of the day as the Jumbos also recorded their season's first shut out. The Jumbos defense held Swarthmore to only four shots, putting sophomore Scott Conroy in position for only one save on the day. Despite the successes of the day, the Jumbos are not over joyous. "Today's team wasn't the best competition of our season so we can't be too happy about this," MacGregor said "We've gotta win in the NESCAC to get excited." The men have a much more difficult opponent in their sights in Williams this Saturday. Though Williams is traditionally among the NESCAC's strongest teams, the Jumbos believe that the Purple Cows can be beaten this year. "Williams is a little bit suspect this year. They've been on a roller coaster season just like us," Blea said. Coming off of three consecutive NESCAC wins, the 7-2 Purple Cows are on a roll and will present the Jumbos with a test to their scoring ability. Now that they're back on the winning track, the Jumbos believe that this year they'll be able to take down Williams. "It'll take a whole-hearted effort but we can do it," MacGregor said. Despite their past struggles against NESCAC opponents, the Jumbos believe that their recent performances will continue throughout the rest of the season. "I think it was just a bad spell and this is the real Tufts team we're seeing," Gilbert said.

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News

Genital warts: another reason to have sex with the lights on

October 15

Whenever my mother tells me about her escapades of the 1960s, she always ends by saying "it was a different time then, sweetie." (Her version of do as I say, not as I did.) In the decade of free love and hot tub orgies, casual sex did not pose much of a risk beyond that of pregnancy. These days, unprotected sex is likely to leave one with bumps, rashes, and unexplained genital dripping. The most common STD that affects our age group is Human papillomavirus (HPV), the virus that causes genital warts. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimates that up to 75 percent of sexually active men and women will get a genital HPV infection in their lifetime. Unless you are a nun, a priest, or just spit real bad game, most likely this virus will affect you. Acne is to teens what genital warts is to sex: painful and ugly. On page 494 of my "Sexuality Today" textbook, there is a picture of genital warts that has almost left me vowing to a life of celibacy. The head of the penis looks more like the mane of a lion than part of the male anatomy. Although popular slang refers to the vagina as a small feline, I would certainly freak out if mine looked like one. Rule number one of having genitalia: if it begins to resemble an animal, go see a practitioner. Healthcare providers urge young men to "cover their stump before they hump." Yes, sex is safer with condoms, but you can't just slap one on and assume that it is straight to screw. Condoms are latex, not magic. And though your stump may be covered, you testicles are still flapping in the wind. Genital warts affect not only the genitals, but the entire "boxer short" area as well. This means that unless you fornicate in a wet suit, there is a lot of "at risk" skin exposed even when using a condom. According to the CDC, not everyone with HPV develops genital warts. In fact, most HPV infections are asymptomatic. Since there is no way to test for the virus until symptoms occur, most carriers are unaware that they are infected. However, HPV is most contagious in carriers with symptoms, so it is useful to scout out your partner's genital area before having sex. You would never pitch a tent without first examining the area for rocks, roots, or uncomfortable slants. There is no reason that sex should be any different. I'm not suggesting that you bring a magnifying glass to your booty calls, only that you leave the lights on and engage in a little oral sex before the big bang. There are countless reasons you can cite for not wanting to turn out the lights. My personal favorite is "baby, leave the lights on, I wanna see every part of you." And that's not a lie, it's just a little more palatable than "hun, I wanna see if your sex organs are growing barnacles." It's a win-win situation; you get to check for lumps and sores, and your partner thinks you're sensitive and kinky (score two for the home team). There is no cure for HPV, although the warts themselves can be removed. After contracting the virus, it can take the symptoms anywhere from three weeks to several years develop. So unless you are coming off a five-year dry spell, you can't assume that your most recent partner is the one who gave you genital warts. Part of life is taking risks, and sex is no exception. These days you have to be smart about who you have sex with and the type of protection you use. Just as the DMV encourages defensive driving, I'd like to encourage defensive screwing: screw as though everyone in your bed has an STD. Bestiality isn't that much of a turn on; don't let your penis grow a mane. If you need more information about genital warts, please contact Health Services or visit www.cdc.gov/std/.

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News

Eaton Computer Lab extends hours

October 15

Eaton Computer Lab extended its hours from 2 a.m. to 6 a.m., beginning on Sept. 16. In addition to the late-night study hours at Tisch Library, the new computer lab hours give students another option for late night/early-morning study on campus. "The decision to keep the lab open was based on student demand," Jeff Weiner, manger of Instructional Services said. Despite the lack of campus-wide publicity, Eaton workers said students have taken advantage of the extended hours. The costs of keep the Eaton lab open late are minimal, Weiner said. "I think the number of students using the lab will increase as more students become aware of the extended hours," he said. "It's pretty surprising how many students actually show up each night," said Amiti Wolt, who worked the two to six shift for two weeks. "At two, there are always at least 20 people here, and even at five in the morning, there are at least two or three students hard at work." Students have responded positively to the new service. Sophomore David LaPorte was pleased that Eaton extended its hours and said while he doesn't like the idea of staying up that late to do work, he probably will have to at some point. "I often use the computers at Eaton because they are connected to the computer labs at Halligan Hall, which provide programs that are not attainable on my own computer," he said Other students such as seniors Matt Berlin and Tanya Poon felt that the extended computer hours would only have an effect on people who did not have personal computers in their rooms. "I think it is commendable that Eaton provides these services late at night for those students who don't have their own computers and are struggling to finish a paper," Berlin said. While Eaton is practical for computer work, some feel the lack of room makes it difficult to do other types of homework. Freshman Ben Harburg visited Eaton after the library closed and found that, "There is no working space and with all the computers I just end up checking the ESPN website every few minutes." Harburg, along with LaPorte, suggested that Tisch Library respond to student demand just as Eaton has and extend its hours as well. Many students feel that 3 a.m. is too early for the library to close. "It is impossible to do work between the hours of seven and twelve because there are far too many distractions," said Harburg, a regular at Tisch's late night study. "By the time I get to the library it is a struggle to finish the ridiculous amounts of work I have in three hours." The Eaton extended hours are part of a movement begun last year by former Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator Pritesh Gandhi to add a 24-hour study center to campus. Tisch was open all night during final periods and its late night study hours were extended until 3 a.m. last year.

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News

Incorrect muscle training can lead to bench press difficulties

October 15

I think I've reached a sticking point with my bench. The bottom half of the motion feels strong when I am going heavy, but I just can't get to the top and complete more than a few solid reps. Any suggestions? This is a common problem for people who have arms that are disproportionately weaker than their chest or back. It can also happen to people who neglect to train the smaller muscle groups in favor of the bigger ones. Here is how to overcome your sticking point: If you aren't training your triceps separately from your chest, do so. This will allow you to really focus on the muscle when it is fresh, and not pre-fatigued from the chest exercises. Therefore, the intensity of the triceps workout will be greater and more beneficial. Another technique that is used to blast through sticking points is the partial-rep method. Load the bar with about 110 percent or your working weight. Bring the weight about halfway down (through the first half of the full range of motion for the exercise). Return it to the starting position explosively, doing between 10-14 reps. This partial movement will help you break the sticking point by focusing solely on the part of the exercise where you are weaker. Use this technique for a few weeks, and when you come back you should have a more powerful bench press. Note that the partial reps technique can be applied to virtually any exercise. My workouts generally include a combination of weights and cardio. Is there a specific order in which I should do each part of my workout? Does it even matter? It is generally always recommended to do a light five to ten minute cardiovascular warm up before engaging in any sort of exercise, be it resistance training (weightlifting), aerobic exercise, or anything else for that matter. Studies have shown that doing a cardio workout before a weight training session effectively reduces muscular strength; this decreases the workload the muscles can handle, and therefore reduces the benefit of your lifting session. In the opposite case, lifting weights before doing cardio does affect the capacity to perform (this is obvious-the muscles are tired), but does not reduce the fat-burning properties or the cardiovascular benefit gained by way of aerobic exercise. In other words, whichever workout is done first affects performance in the next one. However, for most people, the goal of weight training is to lift the heaviest weight possible with the strictest form possible. The goal of aerobic exercise, however, is usually either for fat loss or cardiovascular benefit. In that light, I recommend that you should consider your fitness goals and perform whichever workout you deem most important. If you are looking for strength gains, lift first and do cardio afterwards. If you are looking primarily to increase cardiovascular capacity, reduce fat, etc., and not specifically to increase strength or muscle mass, do the cardio first. I saw a guy in the gym the other day doing squats with the bar in front of his neck. Is this a real exercise, or did he just not know what he was doing? He was doing front squats, which are a variation of the traditional, bar-behind-the-neck kind of squats. Front squats are an advanced squatting exercise that places more emphasis on the quadriceps by placing the weight more forward on the body. This exercise is relatively difficult to do with free weights, so I recommended you start out by experimenting and getting the motion down on a self-spotting machine before you attempt to do them with a barbell. Cross your arms, with each hand grasping the opposite bicep. Hold your arms out in front of you, so that they are perpendicular to your chest (this exercise can also be performed with your fists under your chin, thumbs grasping the bar; some feel this adds more stability to the bar-do whatever feels best for you). The weight rests on the front of your shoulders, right under your chin. Follow the same motion you would if you were to do regular squats, keeping your head up, back straight, and heels on the ground. Exhale forcefully during the concentric part of the exercise.

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News

Caution: Heart of darkness ahead

October 15

As I said in last week's column, very few nations have zero or negative economic growth. However, a startling number of the countries that do are in sub-Saharan Africa. The region as a whole had a negative growth rate during the nineties. One reason for economic stagnation in Africa is, and has been, the lack of political stability in the region _ not only between countries, but more importantly, within countries as well. No state exemplifies this more than the Congo. The Congo is a vast country, with many natural resources (such as rubber, which is why Leopold and the Belgians were so eager to get their hands on it in the colonial era), and important inland waterways. After finally winning its independence from Belgium in the 1960s, the Congo (then known as Zaire) was ruled for 32 years by Mobutu Sese Seko. Mobutu was a horrible person and ruler. However, he was not Communist, which is why the US installed him as dictator and supported him for nearly 30 years. After the fall of the Soviet Union, the US began maneuvering, eventually with success, to remove him. Mobutu's departure left a vast power vacuum in the Congo; a central government fighting against various militias, and each side with backing from neighbors eager to grab natural resources and power. Last week, remarkably, the last of these foreign armies (that of Rwanda), left the Congo. This represents a huge opportunity not only for the Congo, but Africa as a whole. If the Congo manages to create a strong central government, capable of maintaining peace and private property rights within the country, and the security of its borders with other countries, it could lead much of sub-Saharan Africa in a drive for democracy and economic prosperity. However, if the Congo remains a failed state, it will breed instability in the region. There are several reasons why the US should be interested in a strong, stable Congo. The first is that, as I described above, a weak Congo creates a huge power vacuum, and foreign invaders dive in. In part armies invade out of greed, but also out of concern for their own security. Rwanda, for instance, went into the Congo because many of the groups who perpetrated the genocide of 1994 were hiding there and making cross-border raids. This only aggravates the endless list of problems in Africa. Second, "failed states" are havens for terrorists, extremists, and drug cartels. It is in the US interest to minimize the reach of these organizations. Third, the US, through its support of Mobutu, bears some of the responsibility for the failure of the Congolese nation-state. There are many things that the US can and should do to facilitate the creation of a strong, liberal central government in the Congo. The US can make diplomatic statements and put diplomatic pressure on Congolese leaders to resolve their differences peacefully. The US should loudly applaud Rwanda for pulling out of the Congo. The US should be willing to send negotiators _ someone like Jimmy Carter or Richard Holbrooke (who brokered the Dayton Accord) _ to moderate discussion if all sides show interest. The US should work with South Africa, the regional powerhouse who has promised peacekeeping troops in the Congo, towards these ends. The US should make World Bank or other funds available on conditions that peace be maintained and markets left free. The US should heighten efforts to fight the battle against malaria and HIV in Africa. There are also many things that the US should not do to help the Congo. The US should under no circumstances use military force to help the Congolese with their "emerging democracy" in a region where no core US interests are at stake. This would be asking for a repeat of the disaster in 1993 in Somalia. Neither should the US tie itself too much to any one figure within the Congo, liberal though he may be or seem. This would mean a loss of credibility if and when that figure missteps or becomes unpopular, as happened with post-Cold War Russia and Boris Yeltsin. The US should support democracy and free markets where they arise, and help countries toward these ends. But American diplomacy must never forget that ends must be aligned with means. Entangling ourselves in a risky commitment to create peace and prosperity in regions that have never known them, where no core US interests are at stake, is to extend US power beyond its means to relatively unimportant ends. As Secretary of State John Quincy Adams said in 1821 (concerning Greece's war for independence from Turkey), "Wherever the standard of freedom and independence has been or shall be unfurled, there will be America's heart, her benedictions, and her prayers. But she goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy...She knows well that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standards of freedom..." The main challenge facing US policymakers today is to choose from our many goals the most important ones, and focus our resources on them. In other words, we have to differentiate between what's worth supporting and what's worth fighting for. In the end, as Adams says, we are the only ones worth fighting for. We support American values. We fight for American security.

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News

Student satisfaction with Health Services increases

October 15

Health Services has drastically improved its reputation among students over the past six years. As a result of increased community participation and greater visibility on campus, student feedback on Health Services has become much more positive. When a 1996 senior survey showed that a quarter of students were "very dissatisfied" with Health Services, Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler and her staff addressed the complaints. The first problem that was solved related to the actual facility. The building at 124 Professor's Row was "unsightly" and had to be renovated. After renovations, the building became a more functional building for Health Services. "The building allowed us to save money," Bowdler explained. The cost savings from the new facility allowed Health Services to allocate the same budget more efficiently. Students could now receive 12 months of care for the price of nine months, and a nutritionist was added to the staff. Previously, students were annoyed by small charges on top of the basic health fee, such as for ace bandages and over-the-counter medications. These were eliminated, as processing these charges actually cost the University more money than if Health Services gave out samples of medications and absorbed minor expenses. Together, the savings have helped Tufts avoid the national trend of outsourcing student healthcare to a private company. Health Services has also made efforts to increase visibility among students. The staff felt that many complaints against Health Services were from people that never used it and strove to set the record straight. "If you could get someone through the doors, they would say that they'd been treated courteously and that they've received good care," Bowdler said. In order to improve students' impressions, Health Services needed to advertise. Health Services increased its visibility by sponsoring and appearing at lectures, joining the Leonard Carmichael Society, collaborating with student groups, and visiting the dorms. Students are noticing the accessibility of healthcare at Tufts. "I noticed their table at the Food Fair," freshman Jonathan Sonis said. Health Services also become more proactive in increasing small services. For example, condoms are now placed in the waiting room. Within the past five years, the amount of flu shots given by Health Service has increased from 200 shots per year to 1,500. According to Bowdler, this increase is due to advertising and "developing trust." The raw data suggests that students are satisfied with improvements. Ninety-one percent of students have used Health Services _ which is comparable to the library and computer services. In 1996, according to the senior survey, only five percent of students were "very satisfied" with Health Services, compared to a 25 percent who were "very dissatisfied." By the 2002 survey, these statistics were much improved. But there is still room for improvement, according to Bowdler. Health Services solicits feedback from students in its building and on its webpage. Currently, Health Services is working to improve the healthcare options open to graduate students, who often have their own primary care physicians. Even though there are complaints, the staff at 124 Professor's Row is receiving more constructive criticism. "The complaints are often fixable," Bowdler said. Student opinion of Health Service is consistently going up, "We receive fewer complaints and more praise than in the past."

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