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Streaming' soon to a computer near you

September 30

Tune into channel 43 on your television and the static login prompt of Tufts University Television's (TUTV) computer will fill your screen. The station has delayed its programming debut while it rebuilds with new programming and technological advances, including transmitting the station over the Internet. By using the Tufts intranet to distribute its programming, viewers would not need a television set with cable access. "Even if you don't have cable you can watch it whenever and wherever you want," TUTV President Adrian Pellereau said. Limited student involvement, technological problems, and broadcasting limitations have restricted TUTV in past years. But donations and new innovations are revolutionizing the group, according to Faculty Advisor of TUTV Howard Woolf. Formally a "video club" when it was founded 25 years ago, TUTV was reborn in the mid 1990s with the ability to broadcast. Distributing TUTV online _ on campus and eventually elsewhere _ would be advantageous in many respects. It would be "good to show potential employers... you could just send them a link so they can see your work," sophomore reporter Maureen Wiley said. It would also allow students to show their work to people at home. The station is currently putting some old episodes online for computer viewing, while it works with Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) to look at ways of multicasting _ sending a signal from one computer to several users _ over the Internet. Tufts has enough bandwidth, according to Rausch, to support transmission of full-screen, DVD-quality picture and sound. TCCS is trying to set up this new system for the Boston and Grafton campuses as well as the Medford/Somerville campus, but Woolf believes that those plans are "too ambitious." Streaming will probably be running on the main campus only next semester, he said. TCCS has successfully tested multicasting in Anderson Hall so far. Anderson, however, has only 35 computers in its computer lab. Whether or not TUTV can be distributed to the entire Tufts campus _ where there are thousands of computers and 15,000 network jacks _ remains to be seen. The Internet hookup is also advantageous for producers, Woolfe said, because streaming will allow the group to broadcast live from the football field or the gym. "It's not much to an audience to watch a delayed game," he said. For this reason, TUTV Sports will be a "definite growth area" this semester, according to Woolf. TUTV will be teaming up with JumboCast _ an audio broadcast of Tufts' sports over the web _ to distribute audio and video of sporting events over the Tufts network. Growth should also increase through student involvement as over 40 new people signed up for training at TUTV's first meeting this year. "TUTV [broadcasting] started out seven years ago with a small group of students and has grown dramatically since," Woolf said. The group has roughly 24 core members. Director of technology on the TUTV staff George Rausch said that his biggest aspiration for TUTV this year is "a rise in student production and advertising." Commercials will become more prominent in TUTV's programming, according to Nina Yadava, the station's director of public relations. She said the station has "already established some great contracts," including Picante Mexican Grill in Davis Square. The number of on-campus advertisers should also increase, Yadava said. Campus organizations should want to advertise with TUTV as "a relatively inexpensive way to communicate to everyone who lives on campus," she said. Advertising revenue would supplement the $9,000 of funding the station receives each year from the Tufts Community Union Senate. It current endeavors, however, are being financed by much larger grants from the University. Vice President of the Administration Wayne Bouchard last year gave TUTV a $30,000 for new digital equipment _ the first step towards broadcasting TUTV to a much larger audience, according to Woolfe. The President and Provost's Offices have also given TUTV close to $50,000 for the renovation of the Curtis Hall studio and editing space, Woolfe said. The station's ten-year-old editing equipment could also be updated. More than just the technology is changing this semester, though _ programming changes are being planned as well. "The fall lineup looks very promising," said TUTV's production director, Hannah Suh. There are a few old shows that will be making a comeback this year, including the popular Jumbo Love Match, which will return with two new hosts. TUTV is "getting the love matching all fired up again," Suh said. The show was delayed for auditions for the female role. The parody known as Tufts Today, featuring junior Allan Rice of Cheap Sox, is also expected to return. TUTV News is trying to rebuild as well. The staff of the News would like for it to be a bi-weekly production, Wiley said, but that is a "lofty task" now. "Tufts is such an active campus, so there are always events to cover," she said. But because the News is managed by students, there is not always enough time to do everything. "The ultimate goal of the News is to rival the Daily as a news source" on campus, Wiley said. There are also a number of new shows that waiting to be approved. TUTV Cribs is based on MTV Cribs and will take cameras into dorms and houses on the Tufts campus. Jumbo Jam is another program which will showcase Tufts' musicians. The show was inspired by last year's CD compilation of Jumbo Audio Project, Suh said. On Campus Live _ a political debate show _ a sketch comedy The Ian Tunbridge Hour and possibly a Tufts soap Opera called T could air later this fall.

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News

AL division series begins tonight

September 30

Television sportscasters assigned to broadcast the American League Division Series are likely to find themselves quite bored this weekend. The first round of the playoffs begins tonight, but with two uneven match-ups, it is likely to be finished faster than a young boy having sex for the first time. And now, The Tufts Daily presents you with: a bitter Red Sox's fan's guide to the Division Series. New York Yankees vs. Anaheim Angels The Yankees are the Strom Thurman of the baseball postseason. They are rich, powerful, have been there forever, and aren't going anywhere unless they collapse and have to be dragged off the field. And since the impact of Roger Clemens' weight crashing down on the grass would probably cause a minor tremor, we are forced to hope that won't happen. Though New York showed signs of weakness early in the season this year, a solid second half led the Yanks to clinch homefield advantage throughout the AL playoffs. They are traditionally the force to be reckoned with in the postseason, and there is no reason to believe this year will be any different. The Bronx Bombers have the best offense in baseball, and they led the league with 903 runs scored. If the rotation of Clemens, Pettitte, Mussina, and Wells is not enough to instill fear in the Angels, then the roars of New York crowd certainly will. On paper, Anaheim looks like it might be able to take a game or two from the Yankees. The Angels led the league in batting average and have a better earned run average than New York (3.69 versus 3.87). Pitchers Jarrod Washburn and Ramon Ortiz had career years, and the Angels have the best chemistry of any team in baseball. And Mariano Rivera, who has been crucial to the Yankees' success in recent postseasons, was hurt throughout September, and his appearances in the playoffs will be limited. But when the pressure is turned up, it is experience that makes all the difference, and that is what the Angels lack. New York's five starters are 37-18 in the playoffs, while the only Anaheim starter to ever compete in the playoffs is Kevin Appier, who pitched two games. The Yankees won't need Rivera if they head into the late innings with huge leads. The Yankees are the four-time defending American League champions _ that is all you need to know. A wave of Disney's magic wand may have been enough to give Anaheim the wild card berth this fall, but it's October now and that means the Angels turn back into a pumpkin. Oakland Athletics vs. Minnesota Twins Oakland does not have the advantage of having rowdy rude fans to scare the Twins players, but the thought of facing the Athletics pitching rotation is just as daunting as taking the New York subway at night. We know that Anaheim made the playoffs because of players overachieving, but how the Twins got here is still a mystery. They had no regular players hit over .300 this year, and their team ERA was 14th in the league. Granted, Oakland's offense is a far cry from the Big Red Machine but don't even bother reading the line-up cards for this series. Barry Zito, Tim Hudson, and Mark Mulder are the only players who matter. The Athletics rotation was third in the AL in ERA this season and the aforementioned triumvirate was virtually unbeatable in August and September. All three pitched in the postseason last year and have the experience needed to withstand the pressure of the playoffs. Their records would make any manager salivate _ Zito finished 23-5 with a 2.75 ERA, Hudson went 15-9 with a 2.98 ERA, and Mulder 19-7, 3.47. Throw in the fact that Zito and Mulder are lefties and the Twins already low team batting average was 30 points less against southpaws and it becomes clear that Minnesota is in trouble. While Brad Radke is not a bad choice to start Game 1 for the Twins, the Minnesota rotation is shaky beyond that. Game 2 matches up Joe Mays, with his stellar record of 4-9, against Mulder (19-7). Game 3 starter Rick Reed had a good season, but has never been among baseball's finest pitchers. His opponent, Barry Zito, had the most wins in the AL and the lowest ERA of all AL pitchers in the playoffs. The series begins with two games in Oakland, and the Twins were a .500 team on the road this year. In nine games, the Athletics gave up only 11 runs to the Twins. Minnesota may have saved itself from contraction by winning the Central Division this year, but even the USS Bud Selig won't be able to save them from the Athletics' pitchers.

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News

More brown, blue, and elephants to be added to campus

September 30

In an effort to increase campus unity and spirit, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is working on heightening the visibility and frequency of the University seal and colors around campus. Senate Historian Alison Clarke, who is leading the effort, thinks students should be "excited and proud to go here." By adding Tufts' signatures, such as images of Jumbo, around campus, the University can "show that it appreciates itself so that students can appreciate it as well," Clarke said. The idea behind the initiative is to strengthen University identity so that "you could randomly land on Tufts' campus and [immediately] be able to tell where you are" Clarke said. She plans to do this by furnishing the Medford campus with more directories, University seals, and images of the School's mascot, Jumbo. Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall is one location Clarke thinks needs more Tufts insignia. "In Dewick, you can't tell you're in a Tufts dining hall," she said. She has discussed adding a Tufts seal to the blank wall behind the stage area with Director of Dining Services Patti Lee Klos. Clarke has reviewed her ideas with Director of Medford Facilities Ron Esposito and plans to talk with the Vice President of Operations, John Roberto. Her plans also include increasing Tufts' visibility off-campus with the installation of signs to Tufts in Davis Square and other neighboring areas. It is not uncommon for people coming from the T-station in Davis to get lost looking for Tufts, Clarke said. Clarke hopes that when the Mayer Campus Center is re-landscaped next summer, two campus directories will be installed on the premises. She also wants to add blue identification signs to important buildings, such as the Campus Center, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, and Tisch Library to help visitors on the campus. A Tufts seal was recently added above the stage in Cohen Auditorium, but it is not exactly what Clarke would like. The Senate was not involved in installing the crest, and members are dissatisfied with its colors: red and gold, which makes it look "like a Harvard seal," Clarke said. She plans to talk to Cohen Manager Bob Cardoza to see if the colors can be changed. Senator Randy Newsom, who is working with Clarke, especially wants to work with the Athletic Department. The initiative's approach to the school colors should "mainly use blue with brown as an offsetting color," as the bookstore has done with its Tufts merchandise, because "that's what the students want," Newsom said. Although Clarke and other senators have brainstormed a number of ideas, their project is still in the planning stages. "It's all speculation now," Newsom said. He calls the initiative a "year-long goal," but Clarke hopes to see some changes made soon.

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News

Earth 1, IMF and World Bank 0

September 30

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank had their annual fall meeting this weekend in Washington, DC. It was originally scheduled to span the entire week, but they decided to cut it down to just the weekend in order to save some money on security costs. You see, the IMF and World Bank have become rather unpopular and their meetings draw thousands of protesters virtually anywhere they go. Protesters, this weekend, marched with thousands of others and heckled delegates to voice their disapproval of IMF and World Bank structural adjustment policies (or their equivalent), which they believe are harmful to developing nations. Some believe that these international institutions of finance should be abolished while others seek systematic reforms. Critics of the World Bank and IMF argue that structural adjustment policies (also known as SAPs) do not help developing nations, but rather contribute to their impoverishment. Although these institutions have stated missions of altruism, many of their actions have shown just the opposite _ nothing but self-interest. Some SAPs aim to reduce government spending, privatize public goods, and open the economy to foreign investment. The reduction of government spending oftentimes comes at the expense of social services. These cuts in services, however, can happen in nations with large populations of economically impoverished people _ where these social services are needed most. SAPs force countries to reduce public subsidies for critical resources such as water and impose user fees on necessities such as health and education. These fees make up a small percentage of the income for government, but even the most modest of fees will reduce access to resources people need to survive. The privatization of public goods also reduces access to resources in developing nations. With privatization often come job losses, reduced wages, and lack of accountability. Labor laws are not as strong in developing nations, which puts the economically poor at risk. But some countries cannot simply improve their labor laws because then international investors will flock to countries where they can be more profitable _ leaving those who do improve labor standards high and dry. Opening the economy to foreign investment may sound like a positive goal, but it can have disastrous effects. In theory, companies that are better at producing X should be able to produce X over companies that are not as good at it. But in practice, the morally impoverished companies of the overdeveloped world (like in the United States) have the most advanced technology and have the greatest amount of resources. So to open the economies of the developing world to foreign investors will force their local companies to compete with these larger international conglomerates. Not only that, but while local companies circulate resources within the country, it seems that large international companies extract funds from developing nations and funnel it to overdeveloped nations. This would be like a major league baseball team playing their minor league counterpart and whenever the minor league team gets a good player, the major league team takes that player. This already happens, but in this case the major league team and the minor league team are in the same league. How can we expect the minor league team to ever be competitive! In order to attract foreign investment in the first place, developing countries need to provide the most profitable environment for business _ especially since nations are competing against each other for the same business. Labor laws and environmental policies are common roadblocks that obstruct the bottom-line for business. Thus, in order to remain competitive, nations must be more lenient on environmental policies and step back when it comes to protecting the rights of workers. As a result, the developing nation's environment is mistreated and people have to work on comparatively low wages and in poor working conditions. Small subsistence farmers that have been growing indigenous foods for decades cannot compete with the large plantations and are forced to sell their farmland and work for the large plantations. These larger plantations oftentimes grow foreign crops for export. They are also called "cash crops" because they are grown for the purposes of maximizing profits for the large company. The environmental impact is significant as well. The large plantations focused on cash crops plant their seeds in a monoculture, meaning they cultivate only one crop at a time. This makes the harvesting process more cost efficient, but causes the soil to become weak, causing erosion. Monocultures are also more susceptible to pests, making the use of pesticides necessary for crops to survive. Pesticides are often applied by aerial spraying. Much of the pesticides do not actually land on the intended targets and end up floating into local streams and rivers intoxicating those who dare drink. It is not so simple for countries to simply refuse these loans. Some countries cannot get around it. There are a variety of reasons why some nations are now heavily in debt. Some are in debt because international financial institutions lent money to their country when the political system was undemocratic. In these cases, the political leader would take out a loan, keep the money, and leave the country in debt. Others are in debt because of economic destabilization or recessions. Whatever the reason, the IMF and World Bank have refused to cancel the debts of countries that cannot pay these loans. It is not surprising that the World Bank and IMF have created a situation where the money is flowing from developing nations into overdeveloped nations since the countries that have the most pull in these institutions are the overdeveloped nations. This problem however, is not one without solution. There are many proposals for reform. Some want grants to be given in addition to loans, to lessen the burden of the countries in most need. Clearly, the processes of these financial institutions should be more transparent. They are international institutions yet their Board of Directors meetings are held behind closed doors. Environmental impact assessments should be made on all sectoral and structural adjustment loans _ even the US military runs environmental impact assessments when building foreign bases. Developing nations need increased resources allocated to promoting internal development. The World Bank and IMF need to be held accountable to their mandate of promoting economic development, not stagnating it, as has been the trend in many Latin American and African countries. There is hope for these changes to move forward. With protestors at the meeting of the IMF and World Bank in DC and the millions around the world who disapprove of their morally impoverished policies, we can begin to shift the paradigm. We can move from a worldview that values money and commodities to one that values people and communities.

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News

Debunking the DVD revolution

September 30

Remember life before DVDs? It wasn't long ago that they were the "next big thing." Critics lauded DVDs as a revolutionary format that gave the viewer things that VHS never could _ deleted scenes, commentary tracks, storyboard materials, cast interviews, and the best picture and sound quality around. And the critics were wrong. In the scope of movie history, the "revolutionary" features of DVDs mean next to nothing. People used to only see movies in actual theaters. Even when televisions brought a new form of entertainment into the home, theaters still held a monopoly on actual films, be they serious dramas, low-budget horror flicks, or serial adventures. Movie theaters were like actual theaters _ they offered you the chance to see something once that you might never get to see again. There was no magic behind the technology, of course. The advent of home movies demystified the process of recording and projecting films, but movies still remained locked in the theaters. Watching clips from your Florida vacation of your fat, shirtless uncle didn't compare to going to the movies. But everything changed in 1975 when Sony's Betamax video recorder hit the market. For something that we take for granted every day, the introduction of the VCR was an entertainment revolution akin to recorded music. What was once a public form of entertainment that would change from month to month became something tangible that people could keep and love and watch again and again... and no amount of chapter-selection menus and foreign subtitles can have the impact on the medium that home recording did. The two uses of the VCR _ the potential for both recording programs off television and watching feature films at home _ have equal power and importance. Putting the tapes themselves into consumer hands gave people control over what they watched and when they would watch it; letting them make their own tapes blurred the line between cinema and television, a blurring that continues today with the notable success of "cinematic" television features. After all, what is The Sopranos if not a refined, home-viewed version of the serials that used to run in movie theaters everywhere? Aside from the conveniences, however, consider the elemental changes that home video has made to the experience of movies. Even as home theater systems now surpass the sound and picture quality of public screens, the change in setting and etiquette has made movies a far different commodity. There's no air of reverence surrounding films anymore. The performance mystique is all but gone. Think about it. When you see a movie in a theater, you can't adjust the volume to your liking. You can't pause it to go to the bathroom. You can't stop the movie, go to bed, and watch the rest in the morning. You can't answer the phone, knit, balance your checkbook, drink a beer, or take off your shoes. Putting movies in your living room instead of a theater makes them an on-demand commodity rather than something more unique. Yes, these things seem ridiculously simple and minor to us now; we've been watching movies on cable, network TV, and VCRs all our lives. But try to imagine how differently you might feel about your favorite movies if you could only see them in theaters. Love The Shawshank Redemption? Hope you got your fill of it in 1994, because you're not likely to get to see it again. No more rediscovering the classics, no more snuggling on the couch to a romantic comedy, no more watching Star Wars for the 35th time. Unless the only movie you want to see is The Rocky Horror Picture Show, you're not going to find any films that stay in theaters indefinitely. Or would you? If we couldn't watch movies at home, maybe there'd be more film festivals, letting friends finally catch each other up on their favorites, letting adults relive childhood classics, letting the obsessed get their Indiana Jones fix. Or maybe movies wouldn't have the cultural importance that they do today. Without the luxury of repeat viewing, few people would develop the cult fervor that many films generate today. Rather than being a permanent piece of art, people would see movies and television as transitory performances, just like theater. Sure, you could reminisce about how great Kenneth Branagh was in Dead Again, but you couldn't go back and watch it again. Movie actors would have the status of stage actors again. No more banking on your old performances to keep you afloat _ movie stars would have to put out or get out, so to speak. Video rental chains are so ubiquitous that we think nothing of ignoring a film's theatrical release and waiting for the home version. Income from video sales can mean as much as a movie's box office grosses. Moviemakers have reconciled themselves to the fact that marketing a film doesn't just mean getting people into the theaters; it means giving people a reason to buy the tape or disc six months later, too. And both good and bad, these changes are here to stay. So while DVDs are marginally more convenient than VHS tapes and give higher-quality performances, don't buy into the idea that they represent a revolution of any kind. They're a great evolutionary step in home theater, but the changes wrought by DVDs mean nothing next to those brought by the pause button.

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News

The voice of a bookstore employee

September 30

These students rack up enough hours to get a large paycheck and the ability to access the discount (20% off textbooks, 35% off everything else besides convenience items) which requires a minimum of 30 hours. I needed to work the whole semester in order to pay for books, phone service, and other hidden University charges. I felt very lucky that the person who hired me, assured me that working for the entire semester wouldn't be a problem. I started at the University Bookstore on August 26, 2002. Throughout the course of rush I worked a total of 21 hours confident that there was plenty of time to acquire the necessary 30 hours to access the discount. On Thursday September 12, 2002, the official end of rush, I received my first paycheck. Attached to my check was a peculiar letter thanking me for working rush and offering me the opportunity to reapply for the next rush in January of 2003. I quickly took the letter and my confusion to the assistant manager to tell her there was some kind of mistake. She assured me there was no mistake and that all the students who were hired at the close of summer were done so with the intentions of only giving them hours during rush. I tried to explain to her that the man who hired me promised I could work the whole semester and it wouldn't be a problem. But she repeatedly answered me with the same response. When I referred to the man that hired me my stomach sank and my eyes filled with tears as he told me there was nothing he could do for me, something about a budget cut. At this point most on-campus jobs are already filled and my old job was out of the question because there was no room in my schedule for the commute. I suddenly realized that I hadn't worked enough hours to even get the discount on my textbooks. Thankfully, he told me I could have the discount anyway. If I had known I was only going to be hired for rush I would never have quit my old job and taken the job at the Bookstore. I believe that had the managers at the Bookstore been honest with the student employees, hired over the summer, and warned them about the cutbacks, maybe students like myself could've avoided this position. Instead, there are students on this campus that are out of a job because, in my opinion, the Bookstore didn't put the Tufts community first. In addition to this, two weeks after rush, there are junctures when the line at the register extends deep into the store. At these times, students are forced to sit in line waiting due to the lack of student employees. The Bookstore is such a vital element to student life it's a shame that it doesn't take into consideration the students as employees opposed to mere customers. Jessica Cooney is an English major

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News

Weather neutralizes Noles' attack

September 30

In the midst of a torrential downpour, unranked Louisville shocked the then-fourth-ranked Florida State Seminoles 26-20 in overtime. The Seminoles, who boast the ACC's second leading passer, Chris Rix, second leading rusher in Greg Jones, and second leading receiver in Anquan Boldin, were absolutely grounded. Louisville, which should have been destroyed, and might have been in good weather, matched State's marquee player's stat for stat. In fact, quarterback Dave Ragone passed for nine more yards than Rix and Florida State (129) amassed only eight more yards on the ground than Louisville (121). The weather made the contest so sloppy that the game's leading passer at halftime was Boldin, who completed a pass from the wide receiver position for 33 yards. It was difficult for either team to pass a ball that became slippery as soon as it was placed on the ground to be snapped. Rix had balls slip out of his hand as he threw to seemingly open receivers and running backs lost their feet due to mud. The weather conditions took away Florida State's solid team speed and placed them on a somewhat level playing field with Louisville. Florida State was ahead for most of the game, but like that guy who comes in your dorm room to harass you every night, Louisville would not go away. In fact, the Cardinals were not down by more than seven at any point in the game. The playing field was so similar that the game went into overtime. A Louisville interception on the Florida State possession led to a 25-yard touchdown run by Cardinal running back Henry Miller. The Seminoles' loss dropped them to 4-1 and 11th in this week's poll, while Louisville upped its record to 3-2. The Cardinal's victory was not convincing enough to break into the top 25, but they did receive votes in this week's poll. What is this you say? Iowa football is back! Excuse me, I know you mean the Hawkeyes, but Iowa as a whole? Like you actually mean that Iowa State is good? The Cyclones are putting together a decent season? Have they even had a win since Heisman hopeful Troy Davis graduated to be an NFL bust? It's true: Iowa football is putting together another solid season, putting it on pace for a bowl selection. This is expected for a Big Ten contender such as the Hawkeyes, but the Iowa State Cyclone's performance this season could not have been predicted.. After starting its season with a terrible first half of football against Florida State, Iowa State has played like bats out of hell. The Cyclones stormed back from what was playing out to be a blowout to loss to the Seminoles 38-31. Iowa State has not played a bad half of football since, winning five straight en route to its current national position as 18th in the country. Among those five victories are Big Ten pretender Kansas and instate rival Iowa, who are ranked 24th in this week's poll. Most recently the Cyclones knocked the roofs off of Cornhusker faithful, digging into the Midwest's team 36-14. The loss means Nebraska is unranked for the first time in 21 years and Iowa State has been elevated to a pedestal from which it could be deposed by the remaining competition. While the Cyclones are only two wins away from being bowl eligible, they still must be on their toes as they play Oklahoma (3), Texas (2), Kansas State (17), and last year's Big 12 champion, Colorado, over the next six weeks. Knocking off Nebraska earned the team respect, but the next six weeks will be the difference between a good season ending in a good bowl and a Big 12 championship and the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).

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News

Can the D-backs win without Gonzalez?

September 30

The Cardinals and Diamondbacks series begins tonight in Arizona. The other division series match-up is the San Francisco Giants versus the Atlanta Braves. The Giants come to the playoffs after a grueling wild card race against the LA Dodgers that went down to the final weekend of the season. Thanks to several late-inning come-from-behind victories, the Dodgers kept pace with the Giants, but they were not able to overcome the two-game lead that the Giants held at the start of the week. In a match-up of two teams that were slated to meet in the first round of the playoffs, the Diamondbacks and the Cardinals battled in a series that seemed to have nothing at stake. Besides the fact that Arizona still had not clinched a playoff spot, its lead over the Giants made a division title seem inevitable. The series had an ominous beginning during Monday's game when Gonzalez dove for the Cardinal's Tino Martinez's bloop double and collided with shortstop Tony Womack, separating his shoulder. Gonzalez was batting .288, with 28 homeruns and 103 RBI. Junior Spivey, an all-star second baseman and veteran CF Steve Finley, will have to shoulder the offensive load in the absence of Gonzalez. To make things worse, Arizona Manager Bob Brenly did not want to pitch Curt Schilling against the Cardinals, who the Diamondbacks are slated to play in the first round of the playoffs. But because they had not clinched a playoff position, Schilling was forced to start as scheduled and lost whatever supposed advantage he may have had in the playoffs. So after losing games one and two of their series, Curt Schilling lost his second straight decision in as many starts, diminishing his Cy Young hopes. Teammate Randy Johnson is now all but certain to receive his second straight Cy Young as a result of Schilling's recent and untimely losses. One can't help but think that Curt Schilling has lost some of his invincibility, and without Gonzalez the D-backs might be the weak link in the NL playoffs. As they face the Cardinals will the Luis Gonzales-less Diamondbacks have enough pitching to balance their lack of offensive firepower, or will the Cardinals prevail despite their emotional roller coaster of a season? Wait and see. The wild card race lived up to its billing this week. Both the Giants, against San Diego and Houston, and the Dodgers, against Colorado and San Diego, won consistently this week, extending the race to the final games of the season. With Saturday's 5-2 win over the Astros, capped by Barry Bonds' 46th home run, the Giants clinched the NL wild card. Bonds, who is batting .370, with 110 RBI, is a lock to win his second straight, and an unprecedented fifth MVP award. He lead the league in average, walks, on base percentage, slugging percentage and was second in home runs only to Slammin' Sammy Sosa's 49. After clinching the division seemingly months ago, the only meaningful part of the Braves final two series was locking up home field advantage in the NL playoffs and helping relief pitcher John Smoltz break the single season save record. With wins against the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Mets, the Braves easily locked up home field this past week. Smoltz had 52 saves with six games remaining and the only thing stopping him was the amount of chances he would get down the stretch. He was only given three chances and he capitalized on all of them, breaking the National League record with his 55th save, and falling just short of the major league record of 57 saves. Along with Ted Williams, Barry Bonds makes a compelling case as the most disappointing postseason player in baseball's history. Perhaps the greatest question of the divisional series is whether Bonds can finally rid his legacy of this dubious distinction, or if the Braves will accentuate his lack of postseason prowess as they've done for a decade. The Braves' trio of Smoltz, Tom Glavine, and Greg Maddux, will be sure to stand in Barry's way, on his journey for his first World Series ring.

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News

Sensible snacking suggestions

September 29

Some college students don't think twice about reaching for the Doritos or Tostitos to stifle the afternoon munchies. But if you do, you might be interested to know that Frito Lay recently announced plans to make these snacks more healthful by changing the type of fat used to cook them. They've also introduced lower-fat versions of Lays potato chips and Cheetos. This move is part of a new trend in the snack food industry toward "better-for-you snacks." For many people, the issue of snacking has been a subject of much debate. Some health professionals point to America's love of snacks as the reason that so many of us are overweight, but others say that more than snacking is to blame. Why the controversy? For one thing, one person's snack is another person's meal. That is, the definition of a snack can vary from person to person _ in both nutritional content and portion size. And when 75 percent of men and women in the United States have at least one snack per day, that's a lot of variation. The bottom line is that calories are calories, and if we eat too many, we'll gain weight _ whether we eat a few calorie-dense meals or quite a few smaller "snacks." Snacks are contributing more and more to the daily caloric intake of young adults, who consumed 26 percent more calories from snacks in 1996 than in 1977. Young adults in 1996 ate 14 percent more snacks per day than in 1977. So, with more calories from snacking and more snacks per day, it is plausible that snacking could indeed be contributing to obesity among young adults. But snacking doesn't have to equal weight gain. Choosing more healthful snacks and balancing your overall intake throughout the day with exercise is the key to sensible snacking. Sensible snacking can be difficult, though, especially for a student. First of all, your busy life makes it difficult, if not impossible, to plan your meals and snacks in advance. Therefore, you might be more likely to succumb to impulse eating. Ever spontaneously order a pizza when you're ravenous? Secondly, your eating choices are largely determined by the University's dining options. Clearly, it's not home cooking. But next time you stop by the Campus Center for a quick bite, you might be surprised to see the vast array of delicious, yet healthful snack possibilities. Keep in mind that a snack with a balance of carbohydrates, some fat, and some protein will keep your hunger at bay for a longer period of time than will foods with only carbohydrate or sugar, such as candy and soda. To achieve this balance, it is helpful to choose snacks that contain at least two foods groups. For example, tortilla chips with low-fat bean dip or crackers with peanut butter. However, if you do crave a candy bar once in a while, choose one that has nuts, such as Snickers, that will provide some protein along with the carbohydrates and fat. Do you have a nutrition question for a registered dietician? E-mail your question to nutrition@tuftsdaily.com.

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News

Tufts' secret garden

September 29

Why is there a vegetable and flower garden on campus? Who planted it? Who uses it? Lying snug between South Hall and Latin Way, vegetables and flowers spring from the soil of the large plot of land that comprises the downhill garden. While the garden, surrounded by a metal fencing is easily noticeable to all passers by, the garden's purpose is not so clear. The tomato plants supported by metal poles, the dirtied shovel left standing upright in the ground, and the green hose strewn over the fence give some hint of human presence. Yet, there is no one in sight. There is also no sign listing garden rules, no indicator as to whom the garden belongs to, or why it is occupying the space beside the student dormitories. While many students have observed the garden while walking to the track, the downhill tennis and basketball courts, or on their way to Davis Square, most have ignored it and continued walking. In fact, many students don't even know that the garden exists. "Garden? What garden?" sophomore Diane Rish asked. Even some people who live in dorms adjacent to the garden are not even aware of its existence. Responding to what she thought of the plot of land outside her South Hall dorm room, sophomore Sangeeta Parekh said, "I just never noticed it." Sophomore Carlos Cueva, another resident of South Hall said, "I've never even paid attention to the garden." Despite the general lack of student knowledge about the garden, it actually has a deep-rooted history. "The garden goes back 20 years, to when the city of Somerville encouraged the development of a community garden," Tufts' Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel said. The garden became an alternative to Somerville residents who experienced difficulty in growing vegetables and flowers on their own land. "The residents had lead paint in their small plots of land," Rubel said. "Neighbors of Somerville asked if Tufts would allot them the space for the community garden" and the University agreed to share a plot of land with the Somerville residents. Throughout the past 20 years, the garden has been situated in three different locations and moved to its most recent location around the time South Hall was being constructed in 1991. Although the garden currently belongs to Tufts University, members of the Somerville community are actively using it. "In the early evening, one can catch people working there," Rubel said. The maintenance of the garden is volunteer-based, with a garden coordinator in charge of workers. As a result, the garden does not provide an additional expense for Tufts University. Rubel praised the responsibility of the garden's users, who hold a meeting once a year and hold regular clean-ups to ensure its upkeep. "The program of community gardens has really grown in the city," Rubel said. "Chinatown has a community garden in the South End, under BUG (Boston Urban Gardeners)." She stated that there are also community gardens in many Boston neighborhoods. The University points to the garden as an example of its philanthropy. "Part of our policy is to share our resources when we can," Rubel said. The use of Tufts' fields and the Tot Lot, located directly behind South Hall are other examples of this philanthropy. "When local residents live in such a densely populated city, it seems only fair that we would find some way to share the space we have," Rubel said. Although a number of students were unaware of the garden, many have seen it and appreciate what it represents. "The garden is an outreach to Somerville, giving residents an opportunity that they don't have on their own property," senior Maggie Pastuszak, a Latin Way resident said. "The garden doesn't bother anybody and isn't in the way of Tufts students." Other students responded positively when informed about the garden's history and purpose. "The garden is a good thing as it is a form of community outreach," senior Derek Keswakaroon, a Latin Way resident said. "This outreach eases the strain between the Tufts community and Somerville residents." The lack of student knowledge about the community garden reflects the fact that students are not in contact with the garden's users. Rubel, however, described the fact that local people tend the garden without being obtrusive as a positive element. Students, though, are not prohibited from gardening with Somerville residents. "It may be good if the Somerville work in the garden becomes more integrated with the Tufts community," Rubel said.

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News

Mixing it up with Carrie Larson, Homecoming queen

September 29

Them There Eyes by Billie Holiday This woman knows how it's done. No one is more fun and playful than she is. Te Espero by Shakira Until I heard this song, I didn't know Shakira could mix it up and rock out. Paper Bag by Fiona Apple Her music is so full and luscious. I misplaced this CD. Will someone burn me a copy? Wasting Time by Blink 182 Fun and upbeat, this song is flattering and makes me smile. Everything Sucks by Reel Big Fish I admire a band that makes fun of themselves and makes everyone happy about it. Divorce Song by Liz Phair I can listen to this woman's CDs on repeat forever. Here, she tells it like it is and makes you believe her. Fake Plastic Trees by Radiohead Any time I pick up a guitar, this song comes out: one of the all time greatest ever. Stephanie Says by The Velvet Underground When I listen to this song, I get shivers. Lou Reed means everything he says. Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan I had trouble picking only one Dylan song. His music is poetry. Perfect Day by Lou Reed 'Nuff said.

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News

Tufts students 'Light The Night' in Boston

September 29

Participants in the second annual Boston Light the Night walk braved the rain last Thursday, forsaking umbrellas for red and white lighted balloons. Over 30 members of the Tufts community walked two miles through Boston Common to raise money for cancer research. The walk is held nationwide every year during September, National Leukemia and Lymphoma Awareness Month, to raise money and awareness for blood-related cancers and to honor those touched by cancer. The Massachusetts chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society began the Boston Common walk last year. Members of Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) fraternity, Hillel, and the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) raised over $600 for walking in the event. They carried white balloons honoring patients and cancer survivors, and red balloons representing friends and supporters. The walk was particularly meaningful to Tufts students following the death last year of student David Medeiros from pancreatic cancer and the death of student Jonathan Neuman from lymphoma over the summer. Leukemia, myeloma, and lymphoma make up almost 40 percent of all cases diagnosed among 15 to 19-year-olds in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. According to the Leukemia and Lymphoma society, approximately 106,300 people living in the US will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma this year. Tufts Hillel Social Justice Coordinator Deb Wachenheim promoted the walk at Tufts community in an effort to include more participants from college campuses this year. Wachenheim, whose mother has leukemia, also recruited students at MIT and Northeastern University. Wachenheim thought students would be interested in the event not only for personal reasons, but also because of the nature of the walk. "It's a little different from the usual organization," she said. "I think this theme of lighting the night with the hope for a cure and for a good future for people who right now are struggling with the disease is important." The walk, Wachenheim said, is also a good way for survivors of leukemia and lymphoma to do something together with their friends and family. Several Tufts students will also participate in the Breast Cancer Walk along the Charles River next Sunday. "While it's important to find a cure for such a widespread disease," LCS Cancer Outreach co-coordinator Sarah Axler said, "it's also important to help people of all ages who are living with cancer." Junior Ed Schwehm, who walked with members of his fraternity, ZBT, thought it was important that Tufts students reach out to the community by using their time and energy, since college students do not have much money to give. "It was great to see so many people mobilized for a good cause," Schwehm said. "Donating money is one thing, but when people donate their time and energy it really shows you they care." The event was "a huge success," according to Jessica Mironick, who organized the Boston walk for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. An estimated 1,200 people participated, and though the money is still being counted, the Society believes that over $140,000 was raised for research, according to Mironick. All proceeds from the Light the Night walk go toward research for the cure of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, and myeloma, and toward improving the quality of life for leukemia patients and their families.

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News

Tufts women tame Bobcats

September 29

The women's soccer team climbed back above .500 with a 2-1 win over the visiting Bates Bobcats at Homecoming on Saturday. The Jumbos (3-2) picked up their second conference win to move to 2-1 in the NESCAC, where they are tied with Williams for third place. "We came out very determined today, right from the beginning," coach Martha Whiting said. "I feel like we outplayed them all over the field. We defended well, we had a lot of opportunities, and finally, this time, one of them went in." Sophomore Sarah Gelb headed in the winning goal for Tufts with just under six minutes to play in regulation. Defender Catherine Benedict got possession about 25 yards out, and fired a laser shot off the crossbar, sending the ball soaring into the air. It came down on the right side of the goal, where Gelb and a crowd of other Jumbos were waiting to knock in the rebound. Gelb got to it first, heading the ball past Bobcat keeper Kim Martell for the game-winner. "Catherine had a great shot," Whiting said. "One thing we've been working on is crashing the net on every single shot. There were probably three girls there who could have scored that goal, and Sarah got her head on it. That gave us a little sigh of relief." The goal was an important one for the Jumbos, who have been having a hard time finishing chances this season. They are last in the NESCAC in goals scored, with just five on the year, but after a full week of practice, where offense and finishing scoring chances were the main focus, the team looked much better Saturday. "We've been working on that a lot," junior Jess Trombly said. "We'd been having trouble putting it into the back of the net. It was really good for our confidence to finally finish. We had a lot of good plays up at the front, so hopefully we'll be able to continue that." "We've really been focusing on not forcing the ball," senior co-captain Cara Glassanos added. "Playing the simple easy passes, and making it easier for ourselves, instead of trying to take on more people. Every day, that's the first thing we started off with in practice, and I think that's really made a difference." The Jumbos came out strong from the start, generating good chances early on, and netting the game's first goal on a penalty kick in the 25th minute. "I think we really came together as a team today," Glassanos said. "We learned our lesson coming out slow, and we really came out strong today. Everybody was really fired up for Homecoming." Junior Becca Doigan took the penalty kick, after she was tackled from behind by a Bobcat defender inside the 18. Doigan sent a low ball towards the right post, and although Martell got a hand on it, all she could do was deflect it into the goal, giving Tufts the 1-0 lead. The Jumbos did a good job protecting that lead throughout the remainder of the first half, and threatened to add to it a number of times. It was more of the same as the second period began, with the Jumbos taking two strong shots in the first minute alone. But Bates wasn't giving up yet. Fifteen minutes into the second frame, the Bobcats suddenly came alive, taking control of the ball and making a series of strong pushes into Jumbo territory. "They came out somewhat flat in the second half, and then I don't know what happened, but they really fired up," Whiting said. "They started to play hard and they started beating us to balls." The intensity burst paid off for the Bobcats, as they evened the score with 29:04 to play. Junior Catherine Crosby fired the ball off the right post, and then followed her shot in, taking the rebound in front of the net and popping the ball up and over Tufts keeper Meg McCourt to tie the game at one. The goal seemed to ignite both teams, as the two sides fought back and forth over the next ten to 15 minutes. But it was the Jumbos who would win out, as they gradually took back control of the game. The team stepped up its intensity, determined to win it in regulation. "[Losing a lead] is always a downer," senior co-captain Alle Sharlip said. "It snaps you back into reality. But our team is really good at getting it back after something like that. And it was a reality check for us. We know we can't be playing like that and let them score." After a number of close calls, the winning goal finally came on Gelb's header with 5:51 to play. The goal was her second of the year, and she now leads the team with four points. On the day, the Jumbos out-shot Bates 32-8, and held a 4-1 advantage in corner kicks. "We played really well," Sharlip said. "We dominated pretty much the entire game. We had tons of shots on the goal, which is what we needed. We were very composed, and did the things that we were supposed to do. We talked about specific tactics we were going to work on in the pregame talk, and we did it all. We did a great job _ everybody was really working their butts off." Next up for the Jumbos is WPI, a team that surprised Tufts with a 2-0 win last year in Worcester, after suffering consecutive 5-0 defeats to the Jumbos in 1999 and 2000. Tufts will look to avenge that loss at home on Kraft Field Wednesday at 4 p.m.

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News

Living on the edge

September 29

The life of a flamboyant 91-year-old transvestite living in New York is most certainly an interesting one. So playwright Tim Fountain didn't need to work terribly hard to make Resident Alien, a play based on the autobiography of famed homosexual writer Quentin Crisp, into a humorous, witty work _ the material was already there. From Sept. 4-28, the Theater Offensive, a company committed to presenting original gay and lesbian theater throughout the country, held its "Out on the Edge" festival in Boston. This year's festival, the eleventh of its kind, featured six gay-themed works by up-and-coming local artists. I had the pleasure of recently seeing well-known West End veteran Bette Bourne in Resident Alien, the final play of the festival's run. The original book version of Resident Alien is a recollection of Crisp's years in New York, featuring selections of his diary from 1990-1994. Crisp first stepped into the limelight in 1968 when he published his autobiographical work, The Civil Servant. He quickly rose to fame in England, and he was hailed as "one of the stately homos" of Britain. But Crisp was no typical homosexual man _ though he was determinately effeminate, he shunned gay pride and gay activists, regarding homosexuality as an illness. He published Resident Alien at the ripe age of 90, and the world was taken in by Crisp's incredible wit and humor. Fountain does a wonderful job of transforming Crisp's work into a punchy, sparkling monologue, tempered with the perfect amount of Crisp's gentle advice. Set in Crisp's filthy Lower East Side apartment (Crisp does not believe in cleaning because "after the first four years, the dirt doesn't get any worse"), Fountain presents Crisp as he was in the early 90s _ a relatively secluded old writer who was still much sought-after for his advice on how to be happy. The idea of watching an elderly man deliver a monologue amidst the unchanging backdrop of a dirty apartment might seem boring to some, but Crisp's incredibly unique character is so intriguing that you want to listen to the old guy rattle off sentiment after sentiment. Fountain presents the audience with a most rare stream-of-consciousness, made all the more surprising by the fact that it was cooked up in the mind of a 90-year-old man. Throughout the course of the play Crisp relates many stories to the audience, often reflecting on his younger days back in England, and each one ending with a lesson, of sorts. Crisp muses on politics, TV, celebrities and love as he endows the audience with his wisdom in a humorous _ albeit roundabout _ way. Crisp is completely candid and uncensored; very sane and brutally honest. At one point early in the play, he explains to us that Princess Diana was a "piece of trash" who "got what she deserved." Though this might anger some, Crisp lets us know that he does not say things to be liked _ he says them because he believes them. His observations on life in New York are at times similar to those of a bright-eyed child, and they're so full of humor and charm that one can hardly believe that the man saying them is supposed to be 90. The mixture of memories of the past and reflections on the present are flavored by the wit of a man who has undoubtedly experienced a lot, and can talk about it all without reservation. I couldn't help but crack up each time he answered the phone, completely changing his voice to that of a nasal old man and beginning with an uncustomary, "Oh yee-ees?" Yet there are also very honest, poignant moments scattered throughout the monologue. After relating a story of the time in his life when he felt most in love, Crisp assures the audience that "your love is of value simply because you give it." Bette Bourne's portrayal of Quentin Crisp is simply marvelous. From the moment he appears on stage, he connected instantly with the audience. One felt that he was speaking to each person individually, and one felt truly enlightened when it was over. Bourne's vocal and physical characterizations were nearly flawless. After seeing a picture of Crisp on one of his book-covers, I was convinced that Bourne had not appeared in the show, but that Crisp's own corpse had risen from the dead to play himself _ the resemblance was that incredible. Bourne delivers every joke with Crisp's infamous sharpness, and has the audience feeling with him as analyzes the course of his life. The only inconsistency lay in the fact that Bourne often moved about his left hand freely, which he reported to us as being "paralyzed" in the play's opening. Otherwise, he captured Crisp's spirit magnificently. Resident Alien is one of the most unique works out there today, and truly does justice to the life of Mr. Crisp. This continuously-running social commentary is simply hilarious, full of hysterical moments, yet still at times serious and moving. If you can see past some of the unconventional details, Resident Alien is not merely a play, but a very enriching experience.

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News

My city

September 29

There are many times when I feel insecure about my identity. I was born and raised in Iraq until I was ten and since then I have lived in the US. The obvious political tensions between the two countries reveal the complexity of being linked with both of them. I grew up in an environment that was heterogeneous and I have traveled and seen a lot of this world. The result is that I do not feel with and for just I came to this realization long before Sept 11 through many interactions with different people. An example of such an interaction was between an Irani girl and myself at Tufts. Iraq had been involved in an eight-year brutal war with Iran in the 1980s. The impacts of the war marked me dramatically as a child, because of experiencing bomb drills in schools, nightly air raids, losing friends and feeling uncertain about living to see the next day. What I discovered from meeting this Irani girl, was that she knew exactly what I was referring to. Our experiences were mirror images of each other, except Iraq was Iran, Saddam Hussein was the Ayatollah Khomeini, Baghdad was Tehran. We were told we were "enemies" and living in our countries we consumed the labels and images our nations produced for us to eat and the result was we had bureaucratized our minds with misconceptions about each other. What then am I, and this girl, and people like us, concerned about? Security. Traditionally and today, security means the defense of the state against internal and external threats. But it is much more than that. In order to attain true security, humankind must emancipate itself not only from war and the threat of war, but from poverty, scarcity, illiteracy, oppression, overpopulation, ethnic hatred, environmental destruction and disease. Security needs to be looked at in human terms _ at the human level. A glance at television today reveals the US sending its military machine to Iraq. People will never forget the sight of NYC, but why can they not think about what may happen when these weapons are used against Iraq? Iraq is not just land but has its people too. And when images of Arafat's compound are shown on television, to the average Palestinian, does this sight not look like ground zero in NYC? Does the average American not see that when looking at the rubble? The images of an Israeli mother crying at having lost a child in a bombing are the same as one of a Palestinian mother whose child was attacked by a settler _ the same cries as a New Yorker's. My lack of fixed identity allows me to see this, to understand that a lot of us fail to see what is around us. We fail to see each other, we fail to see what we have in common and we fail to see the dangers of what is being thrown at us in the media. I will not be deceived by this nation, or any other nation that claims its security through insecurity of another's. That is not what true security is. The world today seems to see the attainment of peace through acts of war, as one friend said to me once, it is like performing the sexual act as a claim to save all future virginity. Peace should be seen in its "positive" definition, an approach in which peace is viewed as the attainment of collective security, justice, welfare, freedom, and self-fulfillment. I will conclude my thoughts with a poem by John O'Connor, a labor organizer in New York who captures our interconnectedness and the need to see what we all are going through in this world. It is entitled "My City." What if life were long and eternity short? In my city innocent people are killed by a thunderous terror from above. Vendors in the street are pummeled by rubble. Men and women on their way to work are greeted with the anonymous hatred of those they have never met. Janitors, businessmen, clerks, cooks, construction workers, the rescue workers who risk all to help these. My beloved city showered with death. We cry up and ask, in the midst of the screams of loved ones, why do they hate us so? Why do they do this to our city, to our lives? My stomach turns in on itself. The people I love, burning, dissolving, dying. The city I love, attacked from above. My brothers in agony. My sisters. Children. Mothers. Dead. Who would do this? Why my beautiful city? How do we survive this but by breathing the city's name over and over like a mantra, a prayer? Baghdad, Baghdad, Baghdad. The Baghdad, Baghdad, Baghdad in italics can mean any city. Most people who read this poem assume the whole time that it is NYC, but it can be Kabul, Tehran, Paris _ any other city. All of these cities are my cities. Rana Abdul-Aziz is a senior majoring in international relations and Middle Eastern studies.

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News

Local firefighters host race for burn victims

September 29

In support of local firefighters, over 400 runners gathered on the Tufts campus yesterday morning to participate in the Big City Five and Dime race. The proceeds of the race, in which participants could choose to run either 5.5 or ten miles, will go mostly toward the Shriners Hospital in Boston. This is the first year for the Big City Five and Dime, which is a joint project of the Somerville and Medford fire departments. The race came about in response to the events of Sept. 11. "There's a firefighter theme going on around the country. We wanted to help in any way we could," said Jay Colbert, the Union President of Somerville Fire Fighters. Each runner paid between $18 and $22 to enter the race. The course began and ended at Ellis Oval and went through Somerville and Medford. The Somerville firefighters felt that a donation to the Shriners Hospital was particularly important this year. There are twenty Shriners Hospitals in the US, though Boston's is dedicated to treating children with severe burns. No child, parent, or third party is billed for treatment at Shriners Hospital, and therefore the hospital depends on donations to continue its service. "9/11 is pretty much covered. Everyone donates to those funds, so other fire-related charities like Shriners have been neglected recently," Colbert said. Among the volunteers and runners in the race were firefighters and their families from six different states, serious runners training for marathons, and locals supporting their fire departments. Most participants got involved by searching for races on the Internet or by word of mouth. "My husband's cousin is a Medford firefighter," one woman said. "I really wanted to help support them, even though I don't consider myself a runner." One serious runner was looking for a ten-mile race online when she came across the Big City Five and Dime. Since it was affiliated with local firemen, she signed up right away. "Everyone loves their firefighters," she said. "We all want to support them." Many participants became interested in the race for the sport, but committed to it because they were interested in Shriners. "This is one of the more expensive races," one supporter on the sideline said. "I think so many people have turned out because it is affiliated with firefighters and charity." Boston area running clubs also gathered for the event, wearing group t-shirts and hats. A group of college students was training for the Disney World marathon in January. Other runners were winding down after months of training for the Chicago and New York marathons, which take place in two weeks. A student from the Boston area, Nancy Huang, signs up for races like this one as often as possible. "I have to motivate myself to run, so I set goals for myself to get better. The fact that this race benefits Shriners makes it even more worthwhile," she said. Tufts graduate student Anna Tischler also came to take part in the race. "I run about three times a week and try to do races like this one," she said. Tischler is a medical student at the Boston campus. The Somerville High School band played the national anthem while the runners waited on College Ave. at the starting line. Once the Somerville fire chief gave the "ready, set, go," the racers took off towards Davis Square. The race included a four-mile scenic run along the Mystic River. Fire trucks guarded all the streets surrounding the campus to make it safe for the runners. Area policemen also helped with security and supervision. "We got a big turnout for the first race," Colbert said. "If this is a big success, we are definitely planning to try it again next year."

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News

A masterful performance

September 29

Defense was the story of the game for the second straight week, as the football team got its second straight shutout on Saturday, disposing of Bates 27-0. It was the first win at homecoming for a Tufts football team since 1991, when they beat Amherst by a score of 28-17. The win was Tufts' 17th consecutive victory over Bates. The Jumbos improved to 2-0 on the season, while Bates fell to 0-2, and has yet to score a point this year. With the win Tufts is tied for first place in the NESCAC with Amherst, Wesleyan, and Williams. The Bates offense was stymied all afternoon by the Jumbos' defensive unit, which allowed the Bobcats inside the Tufts 40 yard line just twice. "Our defense is playing unbelievable football right now," senior quarterback Scott Treacy said. "It was a tremendous effort, and everyone is doing a great job on defense." But while the Tufts defense thrived early on, allowing Bates just one first down in the first quarter, the offense struggled to get anything going. The first half of play featured ten punts between the two teams. With three minutes left in the first half, Tufts faced a third down and six yards to go situation, from their own 23 yard line. Junior receiver Matt Cerne found himself open down the sideline, but was overthrown by Treacy. Following a Tufts punt and a three and out by the Bobcats, the Jumbos got the ball back with 0:50 left on the clock at their own 16. They ran the same play again, and this time Treacy's throw was right on the money. Cerne reeled in the catch and pulled away from his defender to sprint 84 yards for the touchdown. Junior place kicker Marcellus Rolle missed the extra point, but the Jumbos went into halftime leading 6-0. "Cerne just made a great catch on that one," Treacy said. "Coach had faith in that play and it worked out." "We thought that Cerne was open the first time we ran the play," coach Bill Samko said. "The way we coach is to never overthrow _ let the guys go up and battle for it. So we just reminded Scott of that. I almost said just take a knee, but luckily we ran the play." Treacy's 84 yarder to close the opening frame, sparked the offense in the second half, as the Jumbos posted 20 more points. With 6:59 left in the third quarter, senior cornerback Evan Zupancic returned a punt to the Bates 44, and Treacy followed with a 20 yard completion to bring the ball to the 18. Three plays later, on second and goal from the 13, Treacy hooked up with junior wide receiver Tim Mack, who made a diving catch to post six more points. Rolle proceeded to nail the extra point to put Tufts up 13-0. On the next Bates possession, junior linebacker Gaetan Kashala forced a fumble that Zupancic recovered. On the ensuing drive, the Jumbos went to senior running back Chuck McGraw on six consecutive plays, ending with a nine yard touchdown run with 48 seconds remaining in the third. The defense was equally as dominant in the second half as it was in the first, as it held All-NESCAC running back Sean Atkins to just 52 yards on 22 carries, and star receiver Owen Miehe to three catches for 39 yards for the game. It was also the defense that sealed the deal for the Jumbos in the fourth quarter. With 2:36 left to play, Bates senior quarterback Kane Jankoski threw a pass from his own 26, which junior safety Jorge Rodriguez picked off and returned 34 yards for the touchdown, giving Tufts the 27-0 lead. "I read it right and I got in front of it," Rodriguez said. "Our defensive line had good pressure on him, our coaches made the right call, and then I just broke and took it." When all was said and done, Tufts gained 345 yards on offense, including 106 on the ground from McGraw and 158 in the air by Treacy, who finished 9-19 with no interceptions and two touchdowns. Cerne led all receivers with three catches for 100 yards. The Jumbos did not turn the ball over once during the game. Junior defensive end Reid Palmer was in on nine tackles, while junior free safety Drew Blewett led the way with six solo tackles, as the defense held Bates to 218 total yards. Next week the Jumbos head to Brunswick, ME, to take on Bowdoin, who lost 42-20 to Amherst on Saturday. The Polar Bears are 0-2 and tied for last place in the conference with Bates, Colby and Hamilton. While Tufts will have to focus on improving its consistency throughout the remainder of the season, on Saturday all were enjoying the team's first homecoming victory in over ten years. "It's wonderful," Treacy said. "Especially in my senior year. It's a great feeling."

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News

Indoor cage dedicated to Rocky Carzo

September 29

Retired athletic director and former head football coach Rocco "Rocky" Carzo was honored for his contributions to Tufts athletics on Saturday when the newly-renovated indoor field house and batting cage in his name. A plaque about Carzo's career and the donors who paid for the renovation was unveiled on a wall of the facility, which is part of the Cousens Gym complex. Robert Bass, the first Jumbo football captain under Carzo's coaching, was the event's keynote speaker. President Bacow, President Emeritus John DiBiaggio also attended the ceremony. After the plaque was revealed, Carzo expressed the importance of family relationships and thanked the Tufts family, which he has felt a part of for so many years. Carzo coached Tufts football from 1966 to 1973, and he served as athletic director for next 26 years. As athletic director, Carzo pushed for renovation of the field house, which had one of the first artificial surface facilities in New England when it was built in 1932 and is primarily used as batting cage. When the project was approved after Carzo stepped down, the Athletic Department decided that naming it after the former director would be an appropriate honor. Administrators and other members of the Tufts community agreed with the decision. "This cage is a very tangible and longstanding tribute to Rocky," Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst said. "I love [Tufts] and it loves me back," Carzo said. Calling himself "a Tufts guy," he said he is "enormously appreciative of a college that really cares about its kids. Tufts never forced me to be someone I didn't want to be." Bacow said that Carzo has "always been a coach" and a leader. "He makes all members of the Tufts undergraduate athletic community part of his team," the President said. The former athletic director has worked to keep the tradition of Tufts athletics alive. "One of the reasons I didn't want to retire is that I had so many projects to finish," Carzo said. "If you've been here as long as I have, you would understand how inspiring the history of the athletics at Tufts is." Carzo has worked at Tufts for over 35 years. Although officially retired for the past four years, he has continued to commute from his home in Winchester to work five days a week. He is currently collecting and compiling historical Jumbo records for a book called Jumbo Footprints, which will be available at the University bookstore in six to seven months. Carzo has also served as Commencement Marshall and Director of the Summer Fitness Program at the European Center in Talloires, France. He was inducted into the National Association of College Directors of Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000.

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News

Take me out to the football game

September 29

It doesn't get much better than this. This year's homecoming featured a beautiful fall day, a wealth of fans and alumni, and a winning football team. But perhaps the most striking highlight of the weekend was the rare display of school spirit and unity. Tufts sports teams have long been used to sub-par attendance at a school where only the sailing team competes above the Division III level. Maybe this year's homecoming will convince some that rankings and NCAA levels really don't make a difference when it comes to supporting the people you go to school with. When you're in the stands, surrounded by your classmates and cheering for whatever team is playing, you can feel a sense of pride for your school that doesn't just come from going to classes or wearing the occasional Tufts t-shirt. Since there are only a few large school-wide events each year, it's easy to get the impression that the Tufts population is segregated and detached. There is so much going on here _ so many clubs, activities, and diversions _ that it's not often you find a lot of Tufts students in the same place at the same time. Maybe that's why homecoming and Spring Fling (and even the Naked Quad Run) are looked forward to by so many. But homecoming doesn't have to be a one-time event that gets everyone interested in the football or soccer team for an afternoon, only to be forgotten about tomorrow. These teams play every week, and it couldn't be easier to get to or watch the games. There are no tickets to buy, no stadiums to deal with, and no driving involved. Though it would be impractical to have a tailgaters' village every weekend, Tufts would be wise to expand programming at regular home sporting events. Most students don't come to Homecoming for the football game, they come for the atmosphere and social aspects. If Jumbo's tent could be set up every week, with different groups offering food and promoting Tufts spirit, then football games would become a place for students to congregate and hang out on a Saturday afternoon.

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News

Are students customers?

September 29

As inter-university competition becomes greater and greater, schools across the country are bending over backwards to make themselves look attractive to the next round of high school graduates moving on to higher education. Tufts itself has made attempts to become a more "user-friendly" institution in the past few years, as evidenced in the construction of Dowling and the hiring of a Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs. The "Dean of Dowling" is gone now _ she left the school in August _ but the legacy of treating the "student as customer" continues. It was Dillon who revamped student services all across Tufts into an efficient and student-centered system, building Dowling Hall out of nothing. But in the wake of her departure, the concept of student as customers remains unclear as the University struggles to define itself on a tightrope between service and education. Paul Stanton is Dillon's temporary replacement as the Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs, and he feels strongly that with the high level of competition between elite schools, Tufts needs to compete not just in academics, but in student services as well. "It's many consumers shopping out the service," Stanton said. "There's a lot of pressure from the customer." Stanton's office sits in the corner of Dowling Hall, where students have access to information booths and the Office of the Registrar, Career Services, Study Abroad Offices, the Dean of Students Office, and a number of administrators and assistants. Where previously these groups were spread across campus, today _ as a result of student input to create a friendlier and easier system _ they reside in one space. Next to Stanton in Dowling Hall _ just one door over _ is Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye's office. Today, Inouye has just finished speaking with a student for over an hour _ an example of what he thinks makes Tufts different from just any business. "Our relationship [professor and student] is not a customer-provider relationship," Inouye said. "I don't think in those terms at all." The University relationship can be likened to that of a family, Inouye said. Economics is kept separate from the interpersonal ties. Administrators say the school works on two different levels, providing education and services for students _ in the form of gyms, cafeterias, and shuttles. But where the dividing line is between the two worlds may be becoming blurred. "It's hard for people in this 'buy off the shelf' attitude" to understand education, Inouye said. "The problem with this consumer mentality is that it makes a lot of false assumptions" on what is valuable, forgetting intangibles like friendship and personal growth. But even Tufts' administrative side avoids becoming a business in how it accepts students. Many admitted are given financial aid and numbers are often limited. "If we were a business, you know how many students we would have here? All of them," University Professor and former Provost Sol Gittleman said. If Tufts wanted to maximize its profit, it would accept as many students as it could fit in the classroom. The primary factor that prevents Tufts from ending up like a business is that, as a university, it was never meant to be efficient. Despite Tufts' high tuition, the University spends much more per student than it takes in _ over $10,000. But should the University start to worry if this rise in costs is sustainable financially? "We've become like a mall, almost... we spend a lot on non-educational things," Gittleman said. "It's too much... that's as far as I want to go" with facility growth. But it was that emphasis that attracted many students to Tufts in the first place, and many say the University needs all the different facilities and services which the school has to offer. "What do you define education as?" junior Valerie Wencis asked while sitting in the campus center studying. It was "definitely the total package" that led her to Tufts, saying that a university is more than just a classroom education. Having spaces available like the campus center were part of the reason she came here, not just the academics. And, the Senate trustee representatives all promised in their campaign to promote completion of phase three of the campus center. Many students believe that space and facilities have an effect on community-building and on the amount of pride students take in Tufts. Gittleman now works a floor below where he used to in Ballou when he was provost, but that hasn't prevented him from maintaining a vision of what Tufts should be. "There's been a change in the attitude in the students," Gittleman said. In his 30 years of experience teaching at Tufts, Gittleman has noticed a trend towards students demanding more and more, even expectations of better grades because the financial price has been paid. "Society has created an atmosphere of service to people who expect a level of service," Gittleman said. "Universities have somehow slipped into that." He pointed out a page in a book off his shelf, mentioning how students at University of Pennsylvania can appeal their grades to a university body, a concept he finds ridiculous. "If that is higher education, I don't want any part of it," Gittleman said. "That sense that the faculty is here to serve" is wrong. The reverse is also true for some, as students can feel sometimes that the school becomes a business when it comes to financial cases. Wencis said that she feels "the school needs to act like a business sometimes" because of its low endowment, making it more dependant on student fees and tuition. Junior Alex Levy had the same perspective of the school, but doesn't think there's anything wrong with it. "If it seems like they're eager to make money where they can, it's because they are," Levy said. "Money from students is a big source of income." The concept of student as customer doesn't mean that the school is trying to take advantage of its consumers, Stanton says. In fact, Stanton argues that this perspective makes the University more interested in making sure that students are happy. "We maintain that customer-service relationship for a long time," Stanton said. "It's all part of that customer-service perspective. You don't lose them."

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