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Reassessing the Palestinian voice

September 29

After a dramatic spring semester, in which many students on this campus took part in the huge Israeli-Palestinian debate, and in which much frustration and unproductive criticism took place, I was hoping that this year would be a fresh new start. However, in my first weeks at Tufts, I still opened the Daily only to find viewpoints that repeat the same phrases and slogans over and over again. It was very disappointing to me to see the viewpoint "The Oslo peace process: RIP" (9/17), which declared affirmatively that the author, Ilan Behm, was an expert on the "Palestinian mentality" of terror and hatred, while highlighting that the Israelis in contrast are a "peace-loving people". It is strange how the article conveniently neglected to mention the acts of terror that have been carried out day after day, for as long as the Israeli military occupation has existed, by the side that supposedly wants to negotiate. I'm a Palestinian, and I've heard these things time and time again. Why do people assume the right to know what is going on in the minds of my people? What makes them think that they can make bold statements, such as yours, about the psychology of an occupied and confined being? Why have you assumed the role of telling me what the fundamental difference between my people and yours is? It is fine to criticize, but you lose much credibility with your approach, tone and language. For fear of following the same unproductive path, I will not proceed to complain about Sharon and his endless acts of "terrorism" (although a part of me feels as though I should since in my opinion Sharon does in fact play an integral role in the reason why peace has not been reached). I feel as though I would be redundant if I continued to rant and rave about all of the lives suffered and paid to feed his military occupation, particularly since last spring and the double standard of claiming that Sharon has a right to be at the negotiating table whereas Arafat does not. Instead I wish to convey the desperate situation with which the Palestinians are now faced. In addition to their homes being demolished, their land being literally raped, their schools being shut down, the prospect of any future slowly disappearing before their eyes, and their life being in constant threat, Palestinians now find themselves "governed" by the Palestinian Authority (PA) which lacks all the powers and requisites of government. This leadership has been incapable of delivering services (let alone security) to its own people, yet it is in control of political decision-making as the official "voice" of the Palestinian people. In the Palestinian's desperate situation, with virtually no other options at the table, they have had to rally in defense of an authority that they do not actually support. In the face of Israeli assault and dismantlement, their only option is to defend an authority, whose survival and reactive/defensive decisions of self-interest are actually contributing to their further deprivation and suffering. Who would want to back something that contributes to his/her suffering? Before pointing fingers and affirming that the PA's voice is the Palestinian people's voice, one must evaluate the context of Palestinian life within the occupied territory. It is precisely the escalated military operations on top of this seemingly endless occupation that has placed these people in that situation and has given them close to no other choices. It is clear, then, that anything is more desirable than their present situation. Elections are, needless to say, desirable tools of democracy, and the Palestinian people have been yearning for the free and fair exercise of their democratic rights. But in order to carry them out, they need proper conditions in the land. It saddens me when everyone talks about "democratizing" the Palestinians, while Israel continues to employ the most provocative forms of military force including constant siege, incursions, reoccupation, and curfews that do not provide the political climate for democracy; rather, they encourage a climate dictated by radicalization of pain, revenge, and victimization. By what right does Israel's 'democracy' continue its genocide, ethnic cleansing, displacement and assassinations? As an American, I was taught that democracy means right to life, freedom of speech, and due process _ all of which lack in what Israel considers a "democracy" as its army continues this form of assault on a nation, a people, and a land. The seeds for peace will not grow if the land is not fertile and the land in that occupied territory has been raped, figuratively and quite literally. Truly, this occupation has not been in the Israeli people's best interests and we see this more and more as the occupied Palestinians' situation gets progressively more desperate. The continuous deterioration of their situation is out of the Palestinian's hands. So long as the occupation helps manifest this deterioration, this will always be the case. Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the PA's legislative council and a true spokeswoman for the Palestinian people, once said, "If they insist on shooting and killing us, at least we have the right to defend ourselves. We are not occupying their territory. The Israelis are occupying Palestinian territory" (CNN, late edition). Clearly, reforms must come from both sides of the equation. Palestinians want peace but not peace as a prerequisite for Israel's terms; they want a peace in and of itself-because this is the only meaningful lasting peace. Their lives depend on this kind of peace-the alternative option is death, and Palestinians have been longing to live (in every possible sense of that word). Lastly, I've been fighting the urge to bring up Arafat in this viewpoint, but I feel the need to address one point. Israel's timing to isolate him could not be any worse, as even the US now cannot afford to fully back Israel's actions. In fact, Sharon seems to have once again helped the "terrorist" (to whom the previous viewpoint kept referring) reclaim his popularity. Clearly there is this ongoing psychological showdown between the two and ironically, Sharon's plans against Arafat seem to actually empower him. So a word to the wise-every time one boldly states that Arafat has no right to be at the negotiating table, one must keep in mind who keeps dragging him back to that very table. Reem Assil is a sophomore majoring in international relations and economics, and serves at the public relations representative of the Arab Students Association.

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News

Sensible, realistic snacks (ranging from 100 to 250 calories)

September 29

* Stonyfield Farm yogurt with 1/2 cup cereal * Tropicana Smoothies-yogurt and juice drinks * Fresh Samantha soy shakes, fruit juice and vegetable juice * Half a bagel with a 3/4-ounce container of peanut butter * A 12-ounce nonfat decaf caf?© latte * A one-ounce serving of trail mix (nuts, dried fruits) * Snack bars, such as Odwalla Bars or Balance Bars-choose those with 150 to 250 calories, at least 6 grams of protein, and some carbohydrate * Nature Valley granola bars-peanut butter or honey * About a cup of cereal with low-fat or skim milk (or soymilk) * A small handful of tortilla chips with salsa or low-fat bean dip * Fruit and cheese: apples or grapes with American, cheddar or provolone cheese * 3/4-ounce container of peanut butter on an apple or celery or carrots from salad bar * One slice of pizza * Roasted peanuts _ an ounce (not the whole bag) of plain or honey-roasted varieties * One piece of whole fruit _ apples, bananas, oranges * A half-cup of fruit salad from the salad bar * A small bag of Baked Lays potato chips * A small bag of Stacey's Pita chips _ plain, pesto sun-dried tomato or cinnamon sugar _try dipping the plain ones in hummus or salsa * One small handful of sunflower seeds (about one ounce) * Two or three cheese strips from the salad bar with 2 or 3 crackers * An ice cream sandwich

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News

Virginia Coalition and Aaron Katz Band to play at Fall Rock Show

September 29

Although this year's Fall Rock Show performers may be unknown to many students, Virginia Coalition and the Aaron Katz Band are expected to draw a large crowd to their Oct. 8 performance. "They're two solid bands," Concert Board co-chair Amy Dunphy said, and both bands exemplify the Concert Board's goals for the Fall Rock Show. "We try to have up-and-coming rock bands, and have groups before they get big or are just starting to be big in the underground scene." The concert will take place in Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall, which holds about 350 people. Although the bands have lower profiles than some past rock show acts, such as 1999 performer Fastball, Dunphy expects the show to sell out. Dewick is an appropriate location for the rock show because it allows more space to dance, as opposed to a venue like Cohen Auditorium, Dunphy said. The bands were selected in part because of their musical abilities, Concert Board co-chair Omar Ellis said. They "are very skillful, their music is intricate, and their music is interesting," Ellis said. "We felt they fit well together and it would be a very good show for everyone involved." Tickets for the annual event, which brings emerging rock bands to the Tufts campus, go on sale today at the Information Booth in the campus center. Virginia Coalition, from Arlington VA, has a large fan base in the Washington, DC area. The band has toured with the Dave Matthews Band and Counting Crows, and was influenced by music ranging from hillbilly country to jam bands. They have made a niche for themselves on college campuses on the East Coast and in the Midwest. The five-piece Aaron Katz Band hails from New Hampshire and is known for its intricate compositions, which stem from the late-1990s jam band trend. Former Percy Hill drummer Aaron Katz fronts the band, which has received recognition for its first album Simplest Warrior. The album's first single, "Faith (The Truth Behind Styrofoam)," was named song of the year by Jam Music Magazine. The NH-based newspaper Seacoast also named Simplest Warrior album of the year. Although both of these bands are based in the Northeast, the Concert Board does not necessarily consider a band's origins in choosing whom to showcase. "It definitely depends on who's on tour in the area," Dunphy said. The Concert Board is more likely to hire a bigger band if it is already touring the Boston area at the time of a Tufts show, eliminating the extra cost of airfare, she said. Dunphy and Ellis organized the Fall Rock Show over the summer since it occurs early in the academic year. The Concert Board works with Assistant Director of Student Activities Ed Cabellon when hiring bands and arranging large-scale logistics, such as police protection, facilities, and catering. The Board also works with agents at Pretty Polly Productions, who serve as middlemen in contacting and hiring the bands.

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News

Jumbos, unable to score, fall to Bates

September 29

The women's field hockey team (2-4, 2-1) battled it out in its Homecoming game on Saturday against Bates. It was a hard fought match, but Tufts came out on the losing end of a 1-0 decision. This was the team's first loss to a NESCAC opponent this season. The game pitted two strong defensive teams against one another, thought Bates eventually got the upper hand. The only goal of the game was scored in the first half, with 26:24 left on the clock, as Johie Farrar of Bates made a clean, cross-cage pass to teammate Julia Price, who was able to convert for the only goal of the game. The Bobcats dominated the first half of the game, as the Jumbos had difficulty getting the ball across the midfield. The defense had their work cut out for them as the Bobcats challenged several times. The numbers reflected the pace of the game _ Bates had four shot attempts and nine penalty corners. Meanwhile, Tufts was held to only one shot attempt. The Jumbos rallied during the break and came back in the second frame with a new intensity. They were able to move the ball better, and spent a majority of the time in Bates territory. "We stepped it up in the second half," freshman midfielder Jeanne Grabowski said. "We played strong at the end, but unfortunately there wasn't enough time to finish it." Freshman midfielder Lea Napolitano was able to take the ball down the field to set up an attack several times, sidestepping Bates defenders with good ball handling and well-timed passes. "It was a physical game," Napolitano said. "Bates is a really good defensive team and it was hard to penetrate. We needed to do more passing." While the Jumbos were more in control during the second half, they were, nevertheless, still unable to get the ball between the posts. The Bates defense fought to keep Tufts away from the box, and the match-up between Grabowski and Bates senior Kathrene Tiffany was especially physical. "I had to keep a tight mark on her," Grabowski said. Grabowski and other members of the squad did a solid job of keeping on top of the ball, but it was still difficult for the attackers to find their shots, notching only three attempts. Tufts has struggled this season to finish its drives and this game proved to be no exception. The Jumbos had a couple of opportunities to tie late in the second half, including back-to-back penalty corners with about five minutes left in the game. Unfortunately for Tufts, the team was unable to find the back of the net. "We carried more of the play in the second half, but we were unable to finish plays," coach Carol Rappoli said. "We had two great opportunities, but we were unable to score. It was disappointing." Despite the loss, the Jumbos defense remained strong, at it held Bates to only one goal and essentially shut down the Bobcats during the second half. Bates had only one breakaway, which was quelled when defenders sophomore Jayme Heller, senior Ursula Stahl, and junior Kelly Sarson all converged to dig the ball out of danger, sending it back across the midline. Bates was held to only one shot attempt and two fruitless penalty corners. The Jumbo's ability to defend their goal has become vital, due to the team's scoring difficulty. The story was no different at Wheaton last Thursday afternoon. Again the Jumbos were held scoreless. However, the team was able to hold Wheaton to only one goal, scored on an unassisted breakaway by Wheaton senior Katherine Sciolto. The Jumbo offense was slow to come on, as it was held to only two shot attempts in the first half. They came on strong in the second half, however, with seven shot attempts and seven penalty corners. This week, Tufts will play away at Babson (4-4) on Thursday, followed by a Saturday away game against Bowdoin (5-1).

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News

Equality of education

September 29

America is the land of opportunity. The Pilgrims first came for the opportunity to practice religion freely. Colonists came to our continent for the opportunity to start a new life. In the late 18th and throughout the 19th centuries, immigrants came for financial opportunities. Today, immigrants still come to America for the opportunities she offers. America's reputation as the land of opportunity is rooted in the text of the Declaration of Independence. Thomas Jefferson's now famous line Although the public school system in America is an achievement worth recognizing, the quality of public school education does not compare to that of private schools. Depending on the quality of a child's education, he or she may grow up to be successful, or homeless. Until every American has the same educational opportunity, our equality of creation only exists on paper. Education must begin at a young age. Today, children begin their formal education in kindergarten. However, children whose parents had the foresight and money to do so placed their children into a preschool years before kindergarten. This jump-start on education sets some children apart form the rest of the class. Children learn fastest at a young age and several years of preschool gives some children an immense advantage over their peers. The government must begin opening public preschools in order to insure that all children receive this essential head start. Teachers are the heart of our educational system. We give them the immense responsibility of shaping our children's futures. Yet, the janitors who clean our schools often make more than the teachers do. If we want to ensure that talented and motivated professionals are teaching our children, we must pay teachers the money they deserve. Instead of pouring money into standardized testing, an increase in teacher salaries will yield the results we seek. The American college education system is the best in the world. A college degree is the best indicator of future success in America today. Unfortunately, not every student who should attend college can. Significant financial obstacles remain. While many scholarships and loans are available, finding and qualifying for financial assistance to offset the high costs of college is often an insurmountable obstacle. The government must set up a massive educational grant program for families in low tax brackets. Although government educational loans are helpful, they still leave students with hundred thousand-dollar debts at graduation. In addition, many students default on their loans and end up never paying them back, even after becoming financially successful later in life. Instead of offering easily forgiven loans that are a deterrent to students considering college, the government should offer large scholarships. These proposals are all expensive. They would require new taxes, and cuts to other services the government provides. We must acknowledge that these sacrifices necessary for investing in our children's futures. Instead of focusing on covering the costs of prescription drugs for the elderly, and providing massive welfare programs, the government should give children the ability to afford their own drugs and always be able to find a lucrative job. America must ensure that every one of its children receives the same educational opportunity.

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News

Women's cross-country comes last at Jumbo Invitational

September 29

With some runners injured and others absent, the women's cross country team finished last at its own meet this weekend. Tufts placed fifth, far behind perennial cross-country powerhouses Williams College and Middlebury College, who ran away with the Jumbo Invitational at the University's Grafton course. The Purple Cows garnered the top two spots as well as fourth place, while Middlebury had a substantial pack which captured sixth through tenth places. The meet was scored so that the top five finishers combine for a team's total points. In a competition such as this, a team that has its top five finishers within the top ten overall is almost untouchable. Tufts' effort was hindered by minor injuries as well as the fact that some key contributors had off-days. A pack that had begun to take form over the past few weeks was disrupted slightly as a few of its members didn't have the kind of races they wanted. "A couple of key people just didn't have their best day, but I still think the team as a whole raced well," coach Kristen Morwick said. "It was nice to get a good look at those teams and see what we can do for later on in the season." While the overall results seem to belie a poor finish by the Jumbos, a closer look at the results shows promise for future contests with NESCAC foes. Wesleyan and Amherst were the two teams that Tufts was gunning for at that particular meet, and they only beat Tufts by six and 15 points, respectively. In the world of cross country, 15 points can be made up by the advancement of one or two of the scoring runners. With a squad at less than full strength, the Jumbos managed to stay within striking distance of their two target teams. The team remains confident that when it is up to its full potential, it can make the necessary changes and gain the places required to beat out the teams that are within its grasp. "Wesleyan and Amherst were only a maximum of 15 points ahead of us, and when we have a good day they're definitely within our reach," junior Lauren Caputo said. "We just need to work together these next two weeks and figure out who we need to pass in order to beat these teams." Caputo has run well consistently each week, and remains the front runner. This week she crossed the finish line one place shy of the top 10 in a time of 23:19.50. Behind Caputo was freshman Becca Ades, who has shown improvement over the past weeks and had a breakthrough race. Her time of 23:52.32 was good for 17th place overall. Close behind was senior co-captain Mary Nodine, who also stepped up on a day when others weren't able to. Nodine has overcome injury and a two-year hiatus from the sport, making her 21st place finish (24:01.96) more impressive. Junior Lauren Dunn was the next Jumbo to finish, taking 27th in 24:14.23, while senior co-captain Sarah Foss followed in 32nd in 24:25.23 to round out the top five scoring runners. Seniors Heidi Tyson (24:54.49) and Megan Dibiase (25:00.73) rounded out the top seven with their 32nd and 37th place finishes, both making large moves up in the pack to compensate for the absence of other teammates. "I'm usually 13th but in the first mile I noticed a whole group of people in front of me and I thought 'I can do this and keep them in my sight,'" Dibiase said. "There was a little bigger delta than we're used to for the pack, but it's only something that will improve." The squad has this weekend free from a formal competition, meaning that their next NESCAC meet will be at the All-New England Championships at Franklin Park. In that time the team will work on keeping people healthy and injury-free as well as working on strategy to beat the teams they know are within reach. "People just need to race together and race better," Morwick said. "People know they need to move up in the race. We are at a point in the season where we've had four hard races in a row and we see little injuries affect people, so it's time to regroup and work on the little things. "We're not the same team in September as we are in November and we're working towards getting stronger."

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News

Football not the only game in town

September 29

While the football team was clamping down on Bates, thousands of Jumbos, old and new, gathered at tailgater's village to cookout, dampen their pallets with a frosty beverage, and pass the day away with friends from yesteryear. The decision to switch homecoming dates from mid-October to late-September seemed like a good one, as the community was blessed with a beautiful fall day. "Homecoming is a very special day," former Tufts president John Dibiaggio said. "It's a great opportunity for everyone to gather and have fun. Former students love it too, they really feel a great deal of fondness for their undergraduate experience." Students, alumni, and others in attendance all praised the day's events for fostering connections to Tufts. "It's great to be back," said Larry Harris (LA '00), former student body president and current student at the Kennedy School. "The best thing about it is seeing everyone. I think it's so smart Tufts moved the date; not only is the weather nicer, but we get to play a sorry team." "I have a feeling of wistfulness," alumnus Neil Taylor (LA '02) said. "Maybe I'm feeling some happiness to see some of my prot?©g?©s fulfilling their dreams. It's a feeling of pure joy, pure pure joy." Though everyone present was united in Jumbo pride, not everyone had the same expectations for their afternoons. "I come back all the time," said 1951 football captain Dick Walsh. "I like to make it to a few games a year. I really enjoy watching the games." But many of those in attendance were not actually there to see the game. "There's no doubt I'll make it into the game," Harris said. "I'm not exactly sure if I'll be making it in to watch football," sophomore Elizabeth Katcher said. "I hope I do, I'm going to try really hard." "If I make it into the game, it will be the biggest upset of the day," Taylor said. "Though I'm not there in person, I'll be there in spirit. I really hope we master Bates. I'm a little nervous though, only Adam Vinitieri could kick a field goal in this wind." Certainly homecoming provided an opportunity for Jumbos to wake up early, and savor the day. "I woke up and made love," Taylor said. "Then I walked over. Even though I graduated, I still sleep under Bowen Gate sometimes. So I bought some Natty's and started reconnecting with old friends." "I feel a lot of appreciation for this day," sophomore Joe Meade said. "This is the type of event that brings the Tufts community together, and keeps people coming back. It instills you with a lot of pride in your university. It really warms my heart to see so many people having a great time." Even non-Jumbos were impressed with the day's festivities. "This is a great day, a beautiful day," said John Beatty, the parents of a Bates football player. "It seems like a really great crowd has turned out. Tufts really does a nice job."

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News

Soccer set for Bobcats

September 26

The men's soccer team hopes to extend its four game winning streak against the 2-3 Bates Bobcats during Homecoming weekend. The Bobcats, who enter the game at 0-3 in the NESCAC, are not the division's greatest threat and should become another victim for the Jumbos. Still. Tufts is cautious about its opponent and enters the game with a serious mindset. "We definitely think that they're a team we should beat, but we have to play them well," senior tri-captain Matt MacGregor said. Though the Jumbos are clearly the stronger team, in last year's matchup against Bates, the team quickly learned a lesson about taking weaker opponents lightly. Playing against the winless Bobcats last year, the Jumbos entered confident that they would prevail. In the end it was Bates, playing to save their season in that game that pulled off the 2-1 upset. This year, though still sitting at the bottom of the NESCAC standings, the Bobcats enter Saturday's game coming off of a 2-0 victory against University of Maine Farmington. Bates "was in a similar situation last year. We just weren't prepared to play them and they ended up winning," junior tri-captain Mike Blea said. Playing on their turf this homecoming weekend, the Jumbos are hoping that history won't repeat itself. The team prepared for the Bobcats as seriously as they do for any opponent, and the men are excited to show off their talent. "We get really pumped up for Saturday games in general and especially for homecoming. There are so many people there, it's a lot of fun," MacGregor said. Ranked as New England's number one Div. III team and 26th in the nation amongst NCAA Div. III teams, the Jumbos young season so far has been a story of successes. The Jumbos also hold first place in the NESCAC standings with quite a lead on second place Trinity (2-1-1 overall). While the upperclassmen core from last season has remained largely intact to lead the team, the Jumbos have also been strengthened by the insurgence of a strong freshmen class. Most notable of the team's newcomers are freshmen Mike Guilgi and Todd Gilbert. Both freshmen have had an instantaneous impact on their team as Gilbert scored the team's game winning goal in last Saturday's match-up against Conn. College. Guilgi has also played an integral role, controlling the midfield at his position. "Guilgi is one of our most dynamic players," Blea said. Also helping out in controlling the midfield is senior Garret Dale, who won the honors of NESCAC Player of the Week after scoring five points in the Jumbos last two games. Together, the players have taken the Jumbos to its first 4-0 start since 1999. Even with this record, the men do not feel that they have been playing their strongest soccer yet this season. "We've actually been disappointed with some of our performances," Blea said. "But we've been working with each other and finding ways to win." And as coach Ralph Ferringo always states, "A win is a win." If all goes as planned, the Jumbos should be able to add another W to their win column this Saturday against Bates. The game kicks off at 1:30 p.m. on Kraft field

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News

Unionization remains frozen for graduate students

September 26

Results from the push for graduate student unionization have been put on hold _ possibly for years _ as the University appeals last spring's vote to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Complications in the unionization process have also arisen since last April because United Auto Workers (UAW) has challenged the voting status of a number of Teaching Assistants (TA) from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy. UAW found grounds to question their votes because they felt these students were not true employees of the school, but merely "casual employees" _ the difference being the amount of time and money devoted to their TA position. The contested ballots were placed aside. The results of the election, organized so that graduate students could decide whether they wanted to join the UAW and have the union negotiate for them, were sealed indefinitely until a decision can be reached by the federal NLRB. Only graduate students with a TA or Research Assistant position could vote because they were the students determined by UAW to be the most affected by the formation of a union. Tufts chose to appeal the decision from the regional wing to the federal wing of the NLRB _ an action taken by many of the schools where graduates students have been declared employees. The lack of progress has left many people on both sides of the issue frustrated. "Starting a union has, in effect, frozen the status quo," organizer of the anti-union student group, Why Have a Union at Tufts (WHUT), Kendal Wolf said. "We're here to work and study and this is taking up an unnecessary amount of time." "It's disappointing. It can feel like the ball's out of our hands," said Association of Student Employees at Tufts (ASET) President Joe Ramsey. The decision process is further lengthened by the fact that the NLRB must consist of five appointees and at the moment there are only three. One member's term ends this December, and two are only temporary judges appointed by US President George W. Bush during a congressional recess. Adding to the delay are the appeals by other universities _ including Brown and Columbia _ which are ahead of Tufts' appeal on the NLRB's agenda. Little progress has been made in the meantime, partially due to the University administration's contentment with the current system of giving stipends to individual departments and letting them determine TA and Research Assistant salaries. Despite controversies over voting, the main reason for the lack of progress on improving graduate student salaries and medical coverage is that Tufts cannot institute a change while awaiting the federal NLRB decision. Offering concessions would actually work against the University, according to Executive Vice President of Tufts Steve Manos. "There might be an opportunity on the part of the union... to claim unfair labor practices." Negotiations Tufts makes with its graduate students could be seen as an attempt to undermine the UAW, WHUT organizer Brian Comeau said. "[Administrators] have their hands tied behind their back," he said. Tufts, however, is still looking to create a higher end health plan on the Medford campus for graduate students, according to Manos. In the event that the NLRB rules in favor of unionization, the question of what to do with the contested votes still must be decided. Although, it is possible that the still private initial graduate vote was against unionization. All parties would prefer a swift decision from the NLRB, but said that it is unlikely. "I hope for a ruling in the spring," Ramsey said. Wolf was not as optimistic. "I'm thinking on the order of years." The concept of the formation of a graduate student union at Tufts began to gain acceptance on campus last spring. Some graduate students supported the idea of becoming part of the UAW _ one of the largest and most powerful labor unions _ in an attempt to improve the quality of life for graduate students at Tufts, and specifically to increase TA salaries. Another goal was to improve medical coverage for graduate students at the Medford/Somerville campus to bring it to the same level as students at the Boston campus. "Unionization has been very successful at a number of universities at increasing graduate student stipends, [and] graduate student benefits," Ramsey said. Graduate students at other universities, such as UMass, Amherst and New York University (NYU) have successfully unionized in recent years. At other schools, including Brown and Columbia graduate students had considered joining the UAW at the same time as Tufts. Members of WHUT feel that the graduate students' role at Tufts is to be a student first and foremost, not to earn substantial wages. "We knew well what we were getting into," when we accepted graduate positions, WHUT organizer Jason Walker said. Other graduate students felt that they should not unionize for many reasons, including the possibilities of lengthy contract negotiations, a reduced number of TA and RA positions, and the elimination of individual voices and concerns. A series of court hearings with the regional wing of the NLRB were held in late 2001 on whether graduate students were employees, and had a right to unionize. Based on a precedent set by NLRB hearings on graduate students at NYU who are now unionized, the court decided in favor of the students, declaring them employees. The fact that graduate students had to prepare resumes to obtain TA positions was also a factor in the decision

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News

Campus phones lose dial tone without notice

September 26

The discontinuation of phone service to students who have not paid their bills caused an uproar across campus this week, as frustrated students were unable to reach people via phone numbers listed in the directory and angry that room-to-room phone service is no longer free. On-campus dialing, students say, is necessary so they can all 911 or the Tufts police in case of an emergency. When students' dial tones were dropped on Monday, many thought it was because of a policy change because they were able to make room-to-room calls last year without subscribing to the service. But in reality, Campuslink _ a subsidiary of PaeTec Communications that provides Tufts' phone, cable, and Ethernet _ never intended to offer room-to-room service for free to begin with. "Last year, for an unknown reason, PaeTec made a mistake and left room-to-room service on," said Marj Minnigh, the manager of networks and special projects for Computer Services. "This is not part of their contract with Tufts." Most students, however, were unaware that Campuslink had made a mistake and assumed that they would have free room-to-room calling this year. "They never told me," sophomore Jeffrey Martin said. "I thought I was still going to be able to make on-campus calls." Many on-campus residents were outraged that they were suddenly disconnected. "It's ridiculous that we have to pay for intra-campus calls," Freshman Joseph Alexiou said. "We get the Internet free of charge. Room phones are just as necessary, if not more so." Since the dial tone drop, some students have been unable to order food because restaurants will not deliver food without an extension that can be dialed from the blue light phones outside residence halls. Other students have also found it difficult to contact their friends. "I can't call any of my friends because they don't have phone service," student Ilan Behm said. When he visits friends in other dorms, he has to "piggyback," or enter behind an entering resident, because he cannot call his friends from a blue light phone to let him in. Piggybacking is forbidden by the University police. Many students expressed concern about being unable to call the Police from their rooms, but Minnigh, of Computer Services, said there are other safety precautions in place to make up for this. Resident assistants and proctors have regular phones, and are on call for emergencies. Every residence also has at least one payphone and at least one blue light emergency phone that is directly connected to the Tufts Police. The number of students who sign up for landline phone services through Campuslink has declined significantly over the last few years as the cost of owning a cellular phone has dropped. But unlike room phone numbers, most students' cell phone numbers are not available in the directory, and many did not inform people of their numbers because they assumed their room phones would continue to work. "Due to the emerging 'bucket plans' provided by various cell phone providers... the number of sign ups for phone services have gradually declined over the past few years, even though our rates have actually decreased," PaeTec Finance Department Head Keith Wolfson said. The term "bucket plan" refers to cellular packages which include a fixed number of minutes for different times of day, and sometimes allow for unlimited calling at night or on weekends. Student opinions of campus telecommunications service are varied. The majority of students who own mobile phones say that the service plans offer more minutes for less than it would cost to subscribe to a landline. Sophomore Matthew Magpayo opted not to sign up for Campuslink phone service. "I didn't sign up because I'm not in my room most of the time," he said. "There isn't a purpose for me to sign up if no one's able to reach me." Most students who signed up for the landline service do not own a cell phone. Elizabeth Chen, a freshman from Singapore, uses the landline service to call home. "I signed up for the phone service because it's much cheaper to dial home using a calling card rather a cell phone," she said. Other students, like Zoe Lee, resist the pressure to buy a mobile phone by signing up for Campuslink service. "I signed up because I'm too busy with school to use the cell phone," Lee said. "My family is 20 minutes away so I only make local calls." PaeTec has an exclusive contract with Tufts provide Ethernet data connections, telephone and voice mail, and cable television to residence hall rooms. The decade-old contract expires next August. PaeTec's service includes voice mail, call waiting, unlimited on-campus calling and unlimited calls to eastern Massachusetts area codes. For a single room, telephone service costs $31.50, and increases $6 for each additional roommate. Students that paid for the entire year before Monday received a $16 discount

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Football gears up for Homecoming against Bates

September 26

The statistics say this: Not since 1985 has a Bates football team defeated a team from Tufts. Last season, Bates was outscored by opponents 275-110, allowed 216 rushing yards per game, was out gained by opponents by over 1000 yards, and was on the losing end of seven of eight ballgames. If games were played on paper, the Jumbos would have this Saturday's matchup against the Bobcats in the bag. But games are played on grass, and that's where coach Bill Samko likes to focus. "I'm not a big believer in statistics," he said. "Statistics don't win ballgames." But the statistics do tell the story of last season, when the football team traveled to Bates for the second game of the year, and decimated a severely outmatched Bobcats team by a score of 41-12. The Jumbos thoroughly demolished the perennial NESCAC doormats last year, out gaining the Bobcats 437-256, and possessing the ball for nearly 11 more minutes. So dominant was Tufts' effort that it built up a 27-0 lead before Bates was able to get on the board with 3:27 remaining in the second quarter. The victory improved Tufts' record to 2-0 on the season, and sent the team on its way to one of the school's best seasons in recent memory. Bates meanwhile, dropped to 0-2, and finished the season at 1-7. This Saturday Bates will no doubt be looking to exact a bit of revenge, as the Bobcats visit the Jumbos as part of Tufts' annual homecoming weekend But if visions of last year's drubbing are dancing in the heads of any of this season's players, no one is showing it. "We try to approach every game the same way," senior defensive back Evan Zupancic said. "Once we start underestimating our opponents, that's when they'll sneak up and beat us." Bates looks to field a much improved team this year, returning 18 of 22 starters from last year's squad, including 11 seniors. Most notable of these seniors are tailback Sean Atkins and quarterback Kane Jankoski, both of whom ranked third in the NESCAC in rushing and passing, respectively. Jankoski threw for 1115 yards last season and ended the year with an efficiency rating of 106.5 Joining Jankoski on the Bobcats offense is junior wide receiver Owen Miehe, who was ranked in the top ten in the NESCAC among receivers last year. Last week in its season opener, Bates was shut out by Amherst, but managed to hang with the Jeffs at 6-0 until the end of the third quarter. Despite the shutout, however, the Bobcats displayed flashes of a solid offensive core. Against an Amherst defense that was ranked number one in the nation last year, allowing just 6.1 points per game, Jankoski threw for 188 yards and just one pick, and Miehe hauled in 11 catches for 99 yards. With this offense, it appears that the Bobcats may be ready to climb out of their position as the conference cellar dwellers. "They look pretty good, to be perfectly honest," Samko said. "They threw the ball extremely well last week, and it will definitely be a challenge." To meet this challenge, Tufts will have to show the efficiency it displayed in the first half against Hamilton last weekend, when the offense scored on its first four drives. If the team plays like it did in the second half when it was plagued by poor execution and turnovers, the Jumbos could be in for a long afternoon. "You have to play to what your capabilities are," Samko said. "I think sometimes when you get way ahead like that you start to play down to your opponents level. Whether or not that happens against Bates, we will find out on Saturday." Indeed, the biggest challenge for the Jumbos in preparing for this weekend may be the mental aspect. With 16 consecutive victories over the Bobcats, the team has been focused on not getting over-confident. "It's like coach has said a few times _ we need to overcome our attitudes," Zupancic said. "We can't go in expecting to win or thinking we're better, because that's how they'll sneak up on us." If Samko has anything to say about it, all of his players will be just as fired up for Bates as they would be for rival Williams. "The biggest game we play this year is Bates, because it's on Saturday," he said. "If you lose one, no matter who it's to, it still goes down as one (loss).

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Leader in philanthropy to retire as trustee chair

September 26

After almost 20 years of service on the Board of Trustees, including seven years as chairman, Nathan Gantcher (LA '62) will retire at the end of the current academic year. Gantcher is credited with creating an atmosphere of generosity and philanthropy toward the University replacing the more parsimonious spirit that had previously existed. Gantcher was "a tremendous chairman," said University Professor Sol Gittleman, who has worked with Gantcher for many years. In recent history, the trustees of the University tended to shirk their philanthropic responsibilities, Gittleman said. "In the last 25 years, thank God it's changed ... Of all the last three chairs, Gantcher was the most philanthropic, and the most willing to step up to the plate." The legacy that Gantcher leaves at Tufts is a new understanding of the Board's responsibility to the University, Gittleman said. "My deepest hope is that this sense of real philanthropy is permanently embedded in our Board of Trustees." Gantcher has served on the Board of Trustees since 1983 and has acted as chairman since 1995. He had planned to leave at the end of the previous academic year, but agreed to stay during the transition when Tufts was gaining a new president, Larry Bacow, and losing a provost, Gittleman. The process of choosing the next chairman of the Board of Trustees is in its initial stages. The committee on trusteeship, which governs the Board's operations, has begun to seek out qualified candidates. Trustees work with President Larry Bacow to identify the needs of the Tufts community and to form an agenda. The process is more "comprehensive" than when he became chair, Gantcher said. Excluding trustees emeriti, there are currently over 30 members of the Board of Trustees. The entire Board meets three times per year, but its committees meet more frequently. One of Gantcher's primary contributions as chairman was his participation in the past three capital campaigns. The most recent campaign, titled "Tufts Tomorrow," raised $609 million and was co-chaired by Gantcher. The Board of Trustees and the Board of Overseers contributed a large proportion of that $609 million, Gantcher said. Over the past few decades, Tufts' endowment has grown concurrently with its status in the greater academic community, the caliber of its students and faculty, and the quality of education that it offers. "I've been lucky enough to witness in the last 19 years a tremendous growth," Gantcher said. "I think I've seen a school which has grown in almost every way." Gantcher credits most of the University's growth to the dynamic leadership of Tufts' presidents. The first major gift that Gantcher made to the University was a chair in Judaic Studies. Sol Gittleman, who was recently honored with the title of University Professor, continues to hold the Alice and Nathan Gantcher chair. Gantcher's most visible gift to the University was funds for the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center. The $9 million, 70,000 square-foot Gantcher Center was completed in Nov. 1999. The center's facilities include a 200-meter track, four tennis courts, and enough space to accommodate up to 6,000 people for events. Tufts was seeking funds for the new athletics center at the same time Gantcher was seeking to make a major gift, he said. At first he resisted because "Athletics were not my priority," Gantcher said. "[But] my family and I decided to answer the need of the school rather than [what] we particularly needed." "[He] is just a very generous, very giving guy," Gittleman said. "Every gift that Nathan Gantcher gave was a defining gift." Gantcher was also responsible for connecting the Lunder family to the University. As a result, members of the Tufts community can now make use of the exercise equipment in the Lunder Fitness Center. Students have also benefited from Gantcher's generosity through his gifts to Hillel, the library, and financial aid funds. After completing his final year as chairman, Gantcher will continue to serve on the board of the Columbia University business school and remain involved with a number of organizations in New York City. He is a trustee of the Anti-Defamation League Foundation and the director of the Jewish Communal Fund. "I think I'll keep busy from a philanthropic point of view," Gantcher said, adding, "I hope to continue to be involved in Tufts." Aside from his tenure as chairman, Gantcher has also served on the investment committee and committees on trusteeship and compensation. The first chairman ever based outside of Boston, he worked from his home in New York. Working remotely is easy, he said, "as long as one is willing to travel and to do things by video and conference calls." Gantcher's most recent position in the business world was as president and chief executive officer of Alpha Investment Management. He continues to act as an adviser for the firm. Previously, Gantcher worked with CIBC World Markets Corp. and Oppenheimer and Company, Inc. Gantcher currently resides in Scarsdale, New York and New York City with his wife Alice. They have three grown children

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Tufts students take part in river cleanup

September 26

Last Saturday, 50 volunteers, including 12 Tufts students, cleaned a half-mile stretch of shoreline of the Mystic River in Somerville as part of Coastsweep, an annual state-wide initiative to clean the shoreline. Janet Kovner, Director of Stewardship and Outreach at the Mystic River said the Watershed Association was pleased with the number of volunteers who showed up last Saturday. "This is a pretty good turnout," Kovner said. "For people to come here on a beautiful Saturday morning and pick up trash is great. Our goal is to have people be eager to help out, to actually want to get involved in the community and work to better the environment." The point of Coastsweep is to excite and motivate people to volunteer for similar projects, Kovner explained. Last year, over 4,000 volunteers scoured 180 miles of coastline in Massachusetts and removed close to 70,000 pounds of trash and marine debris. "All we want is for people to get involved in the many programs available," she said. "Getting people down here and realizing that this is a resource worth protecting is what it's all about." "Water is the most important resource in the world," one volunteer said. "We have to work as a community to keep it clean." Several corporations, including Coca-Cola, Bank of America and Shell, sponsored the event, along with the US Environmental Protection Agency. The University was also a sponsor. "Our goal is to try and make the Mystic River swimmable and fishable by 2010 through river clean-ups and education of children about the water," said senior Caitlin Majocka, a Tufts volunteer. The Mystic River begins at the Lower Mystic Lake on the Arlington/Medford town border and runs southeast into the Boston Harbor, where it converges with the Charles River. Man's use of the Mystic River dates back over 300 years, to when Native Americans and European settlers used it for travel and as a source of freshwater. The river has also been used for various industries, such as brickyards, shipyards, and tanneries. The Mystic River Watershed Association (MRWA) is the only grassroots membership organization with a watershed-wide focus. A watershed is a land area that drains to any body of water; and over 400,000 people live in the Mystic River watershed, which includes the Tufts campus. The MRWA coordinates the activities of community-based organizations active on water issues and works closely with municipal, state and federal agency staffs that have watershed responsibilities. At Tufts, the Institute of the Environment (TIE) tries to raise awareness about the environment and to actually help the community and the surrounding areas. Mass Community Water Watch is a statewide program on college campuses that works to engage students in water quality issues in their local communities. Massachusetts has the second-worst water quality, after New Jersey, of any state. "Sometimes it can be very frustrating, there is a lot of apathy out there regarding the environment," said Michael Hart, a sophomore volunteer. "However, if we can only make baby steps towards improving water quality, I appreciate it." Water Watch is a project of MassPIRG, Americorps and the Mass Service Alliance, and focuses on organizing river cleanups, educating school children and running stream-monitoring programs. Eleanor Bates, the Americorps volunteer organizer for the Tufts Water Watch chapter, hopes to set up a monitoring program in the watershed this semester to document pipe locations and activity along one of the streams. The core staff in the Tufts chapter is made up of approximately ten students, and about 30 students attended the first general interest meeting last week. "Water contamination is one of the largest ecological problems in Massachusetts," said Emily Estrada, a sophomore. "If you go to the Mystic River, you can literally pick up handfuls of garbage, ranging from bottle caps and used needles to shopping carts and sink fixtures. It's hard to turn your back on that kind of thing." The next big cleanup is scheduled for Oct. 26 for "Make a Difference Day," a nation-wide service day. "I think that people think that the problem is so big that there is nothing that they can do," Majocka said. "But what people don't realize is that just by doing something little, like putting flyers to advertise a clean-up, or taking water samples on the Mystic for an hour, or talking to a third grade class makes such a difference." "It's about getting the word out, getting people aware of the problem and aware of how they can help," she continued. "It really is within out reach to make a huge difference as long as we are dedicated to the cause.

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Class of 2002 sets fundraising record

September 26

The Class of 2002 raised a record-breaking total of approximately $27,000 for the Senior Fund last year and attained the highest-ever percentage of graduate participation for the campaign. The Senior Fund Committee, composed of seniors from various campus organizations and athletics groups, coordinates the yearly fundraising initiative, and the money the group collects is donated as a parting gift to the University. Another group, the Senior Leadership Corps, decides how the funds will be distributed each year. Recently the bulk of the money has been donated to the Annual Fund, which uses the money for scholarships, salaries, and bill payments. The Committee will be under new guidance this year because of the departure of its former leader, Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs Kristine Dillon. An estimated 640 seniors participated in the fundraiser, which achieved a 51 percent giving rate. "[Last year] was the best year, as percentages are concerned, that we have ever had," Tufts Fund Assistant Director Ben Foster said. The success of the Senior Fund can be attributed to a number of factors, according the work of Foster. It "is a tribute to every graduate who was on the Senior Fund Committee," he said. "They did a great job of advertising for the Fund by planning events, proper solicitation, and stressing the importance of this to their class members." After the fundraising was complete, a recognition ceremony took place with the presentation of a check for over $27,000. The average senior contributed to the fund with a gift of $10 dollars, according to Foster. The monetary range ran from $5 to the largest gift from a sole student of one hundred dollars. Aside from students, some parents, alumni, faculty, and staff members took part in the fundraiser. The committee used various marketing campaigns, especially using campus publications and e-mail to contact members of the senior class. Many of the events and activities that raised money for the fund were also co-sponsored by the Senior Fund's sister committee, the committee for Senior Week. The Senior Fund and Senior Week committees fall under the umbrella group of the Senior Leadership Corps. Ticket sales for Senior Week events also went to the Senior Fund. The Senior Week events vary from year to year, according to Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Historian Chair Alison Clarke and Senate Treasurer Ben Lee "In the past there have been trips to Jillian's (in Boston) and a boat trip from Boston Harbor," they said. What happens this year "is pretty much up to the Committee." This year's Committee remains unsure of what the class of 2003 will be doing for the Senior Fund and Senior Week. The first meeting of the Senior Leadership Corps will be held next Friday. Foster and others within the Tufts Fund and the Office of Development are optimistic that this year will also be a strong one for the Senior Fund. "The Class of 2003 is an enthusiastic one," he said. "They can do a good job and we believe they can reach the level of the class of 2002.

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Scheduling conflicts push Homecoming into September

September 26

Religious holidays and school sporting events have caused this weekend's Homecoming to shift nearly a month earlier than usual. Parent's weekend has also moved _ pushed back a week to Oct. 18. The rearrangement resulted from conversations between the Alumni Association and the Athletics Department about various timing problems that interfere with the two weekends. In recent years, many sports teams have played away from the University on Homecoming and Parents Weekends _ preventing parents, students, and alumni from attending home games and campus activities. The new schedule is an effort to split a variety of home sporting events between the weekends and allow for greater turnout at both. Football, men's and women's soccer, and field hockey games are typically held on Homecoming Weekend, according to Director of Athletics Bill Gehling. But last year, only football and men's soccer could play. "It's been very difficult over the past few years to find two weekends that work," Gehling said. "This weekend was considered too early for Parents Weekend. From a Homecoming standpoint, we felt that it would be okay." Additional complications, such as changes in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) schedule, the Columbus Day long weekend, and the cluster of Jewish holidays in the fall, affected the decision. The scheduling reorganization was considered before, Director of Alumni Relations Tim Brooks said. But it was too late in the planning to implement the change. This year was different. "We thought about it in late fall so that we had the benefit of almost a full year to get it out," Brooks said. Early planning allowed publicity for both events to be distributed before people made their travel plans, he added. Traditionally, the Homecoming football game has been played against rotating opponents Williams and Amherst Colleges. This year, the Jumbos will face off against the Bates College Bobcats in Ellis Oval at 1 p.m. Parents Weekend will coincide with the home game against Williams this October. Administrators are optimistic that the rearranged dates will improve turnout on both weekends. "We consulted just about everybody on campus who we felt would be affected by it before reaching a conclusion," Gehling said. "But it's a conclusion I'm pretty happy with." Sports Information Coordinator Paul Sweeney agreed. "We've got a lot of teams that will be competing on Tufts soil," he said. "It's better, if anything." In addition to the usual games, a women's tennis match, a cross-country event in Grafton, and another men's soccer game on Sunday will be played, Sweeney said. Signs of increased participation are already visible, Brooks said. "The good news is that we have a tailgater's area right there next to the athletics field _ one barometer to see if the date works is to see how well that sells. It sold out already." Nicer weather was considered a benefit of an earlier Homecoming date, but clouds and a chance of rain are predicted for tomorrow. The rescheduling will increase the prominence of sporting events on Parents Weekend, an added benefit of the switch according to Director of Parents Programs Eleanor Short. "It's very important that we have athletic sports during the time that the parents are here," Short said. "Well over 300 parents have children who participate in the sports." The Alumni Association is responsible for much of the setup behind Homecoming, including organizing event publicity, catering, tent setup, a DJ, a children's activity area, giveaway activities, portable bathroom facilities, police support, and local community event notification. Brooks was confident that the closer deadline did not affect Alumni Association preparations for Homecoming. "It just gave us one less month of preparation time," he said. "We have pretty much a set formula. This year we just did it all earlier." Students greeted the change with mostly positive reactions. "I think its good," sophomore football player Jack Byrne said. "Everybody's still in the swing of getting adjusted and I think it helps [students] get together and have a good time." Junior Kurt Bruch felt unaffected by the change. "If it's going to happen it's going to happen," he said. "It should be nicer weather, I'd hope.

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Women seek to get back on winning track

September 26

It's been an up and down season for the lady Jumbos this fall, as they enter their homecoming game against Bates with a 2-2 record. After dropping their season opener to out-of-conference Gordon College, the women rebounded on the road for a victory against Amherst, followed the next weekend by a victory against Babson. Just as it seemed that the Jumbos were getting back on the winning track though, the women lost a 1-0 nail bitter to Conn. College last weekend. The women, who currently sit in fifth place in the NESCAC standings, hope to get back on the winning track with a victory over 3-2 Bates, currently in third place in the standings. The team's weakness in its losses has been its inability to start the offense, as it was shut out in both losses. Scoring against Bates should not pose too great a problem this weekend, though, as the Bobcats have yet to hold their opponents scoreless this season. Although Bates is typically a cellar-dweller in most sports, Tufts fell at the hands of the Bobcats last year in a close fought 1-0 game. The Jumbos will strive to avoid a similar fate this season, with a strong defensive unit. Defense has been the Jumbos forte thus far, as they have held opponents to an average of .6 points per game. This defense will undoubtedly come into play against the Bobcats on Saturday, as Bates is coming off of a number of high-scoring games. Bates defeated Colby 5-3 for its first NESCAC victory of the year, and beat Trinity by a score of 3-1. The Tufts offense, meanwhile, has remained stagnant this season. The team has a combined three goals through its first four contests, though one of those goals came in its win against nationally ranked Amherst. Amherst followed that loss up by defeating Bates in a hard 1-0 game. If the Jumbos are to take out the Bobcats, defense will be the name of the game. And though the women currently sit below Bates in the league standings with a lower winning percentage, the New England Standings has the Jumbos ranked as tenth while Bates remains out of the top ten. After reaching NCAA Championship game in 2000, the women did not live up to high expectations the next year, when they lost to Amherst in the first round of the NESCAC tournament. Because only four seniors graduated last year, much of the team remains in tact this season and together they hope to achieve the high expectations many have set for them. Also joining the team this season is sophomore transfer Jen Baldwin who received the honors of NESCAC player of the week recently. Scoring the lone goal in her team's 1-0 victory over Amherst, Baldwin has made an immediate impact on her team. Together with her team the women team hope to get their team back into the win column this weekend with a win over Bates. The game kicks off at 11 a.m on Kraft Field this Saturday

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NFL week 3 filled with turnarounds and disappointments

September 26

Out with the old and in with the new _ that's the story of this young NFL season so far, as old powerhouses are dying quickly while unexpected new teams are rising to the top. Perhaps the team experiencing the greatest turnaround from the 2001 season is the Carolina Panthers. After finishing last year at 1-15, the Panthers are now sitting in first place in the AFC East with a 3-0 record. Are the Panthers worthy of 3-0? After picking up victories over the Baltimore Ravens, the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings (all of whom are 0-3) the answer is probably not, but there is not denying that the Panthers are an improved team. While a playoff appearance may still be a reach for Carolina, Panthers fans can already brag that their team has tripled last year's win total. The resurgence of veteran quarterback Rodney Peete and running back Lamar Smith have created an offensive threat in Carolina. The real test of the Panthers strength will come this Sunday when they play the Green Bay Packers. While the Panther's 3-0 record may be the result of an easy schedule, the New England Patriots 3-0 record has proved to all critics that this team is the real deal. Turning the Kansas City Chiefs into their most recent victims, this victory did not come as easily to the Pats as it had in the prior two weeks. Entering halftime down to the Chiefs, the Pats required overtime to secure their victory. So while New England surely didn't dominate its opponent, the result in the standings was the same as usual, another W. Also proving that they deserve to be feared by the league are the New Orleans Saints. Meeting the Chicago Bears in an early season test of their strength, the Saints looked weak early in the matchup, falling 20 points behind the Bears. The Saints rallied quickly in the second quarter and came out strong in the second half to eventually overpower the Bears for the 29-23 victory. Quarterback Aaron Brooks has been outstanding for the Saints, and his showing against Chicago was no exception as he threw for 233 yards. However, the biggest question going into the season for the Saints was not how Brooks would perform, but rather how the offense would respond to the trade of RB Ricky Williams. While no dominant running back has emerged for this team, Deuce McAllister has been doing just enough and that's all that they've needed so far. Though Williams' absence hasn't hurt the Saints, his presence seems to have jump-started the Miami Dolphins offense. Running for 151 yards on Sunday, Williams played a key role in the Dolphins rout of the Jets. Under this new offense with Williams as the featured back, the Dolphins are now sitting pretty at 3-0 as well. With some unexpected teams starting off shockingly well, it is not surprising that a number of formerly revered teams find themselves wondering what went wrong this off-season. The most surprising losers thus far have to be the St. Louis Rams, who made it all the way to the Super Bowl last season. With Monday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers _ the team's third loss of the year _ the Rams spiraled further into NFL purgatory. After falling to 0-2, Mike Martz told his veteran bunch to forget worrying about their past losses and focus on regaining their strength. After watching the Rams play on Monday night, however, one wonders what strength Martz is speaking of and when he will realize the time to worry has arrived. Apparently recent Super Bowl contestants aren't the only teams having trouble finding their winning ways. Former AFC Champions the Tennessee Titans seemed to have regained their swagger after their opening week victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. After Eddie George's superior performance, it looked like the Titans were headed back down the playoff path again. Apparently they've decided to take a detour though, as weeks two and three brought losses to the Dallas Cowboys and the Cleveland Browns _ not exactly the leagues' toughest teams. Leading the Browns 28-14 in the second half, the Titans had their second consecutive late game meltdown. This lack of closing ability is due to the inconsistency of both Steve McNair and Eddie George. While the Titans offense depends on the great potential of these men to perform, they are both extremely injury prone. The Good During a pre-season matchup the San Francisco 49ers were displeased with the Washington Redskins for running up the score in a game that didn't matter in the standings. Well this week when the game did matter, it was San Francisco who got their revenge, defeating the Redskins 20-10. The Bad For Dallas fans, last weekend's NFC East game between the Eagles and the Cowboys was disheartening. Riding high after a victory over Tennessee in week two, the Cowboys foolishly believed that they could compete with the Eagles. Ending the first quarter up 10-3, Cowboy fans bought into this hope as well. But in the end the Eagles proved Dallas wrong, finishing up the game with a 44-13 romping of their division rivals. The Ugly This week the Cincinnati Bengals deserve sole possession of this honor. The story is quite ugly in Cincinnati these days, as the Bengals are averaging 5.3 points per game _ not exactly enough to worry any opponent. To make matters worse this week, the Bengals' offense put in their poorest offensive showing yet, mustering up only three points, while being called for a penalty before the first snap.

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Suicide Kings' deserves a second look

September 26

When a DVD is reduced to $10, it usually means one of two things: it's in the Warner Brothers/MGM bin of "movies that everyone owns, so who cares if they're cheap," or it's a reasonably bad movie. However, occasionally a sleeper drifts in, unsupported by its studio and dropped in the cheapo bin for you to dig and find. Such is Suicide Kings, a movie that came and went nowhere in theaters, but deserves a second look. The plot of Suicide Kings is recycled Tarantino: five rich boys kidnap a mob boss (Christopher Walken) in the hopes that he can free one of the boys' kidnapped sister. But as we learn more details and watch the way the kids react to each other, the mob boss starts unraveling them and the mystery. Walken is a national treasure. Here is a man who, though tied to a chair, commands your attention in scene after scene. He exudes calm, coolness and control. He talks rings around everyone with nary a hand gesture. Of course things aren't what they seem. Of course one of the five guys is in on the deal. And of course Denis Leary shows up as yet another supposed badass, ranting and shooting people. The twists that come, while hard to pin down initially, aren't as surprising as the movie thinks they are. But, again, one comes back to Walken in the chair. Half the fun of Suicide Kings is watching Walken unravel the plot fast than we do. Turning the tables is a staple of the thriller, but when it's Christopher Walken, major attention must be paid. Every moment he is onscreen is electric, and he brings out the best in the younger actors. Of these, the stand out is Jay Mohr as the kid who insists on bringing a gun to the party. So, of course, the captors can turn it on each other. The movie has a slick look and tight direction, and it gets a lot of mileage out of flashing back to events in every character's past. Some of the performances are weak (especially Rosanne's Jason Galiciki, who plays his character as two-dimensionally as possible) and there are one too many characters for what is essentially a filmed play. Most of the action _and all of Walken's scenes_ take place in a mansion, and the extraneous scenes feel... well... extraneous. One of the blessings and curses DVD is the ability to look at alternate endings and see why or why not they were used. This is a rare case where the unused versions actually make the movie play better. But Christopher Walken in the chair, man. It doesn't get much better than that. And while the movie lacks a good ending or a truly sympathetic character (Walken is badass, but not really a nice guy), it has some of the best acting you'll see on screen. At least the best you'll ever see from a man tied to a chair, for $10 on DVD. Suicide Kings Rated R, Christopher Walken, Jay Mohr, Sean Patrick Flannery, Dir: Peter O'Fallon. 1997.

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News

Jumbos get new Homecoming rival

September 26

A old tradition will take a new form this weekend when the Tufts community gathers for the Homecoming games. The event was moved a month earlier this year, causing several positive changes for Tufts sports teams. "It was very disappointing to not have all the teams home last year, especially to have none of the women's teams. That was a priority this year and I think it was achieved," Athletics Director Bill Gehling said. The timing of last year's Homecoming caused football and men's soccer to be the only athletic events. And, the match-ups were disjointed because each team played a different opponent, with the football team taking on Amherst and the soccer squad squaring off against Connecticut College. There was an absence of women's teams because by the time Homecoming occurred, the women's soccer and field hockey seasons were over. "We're excited to play because last year our [the women's soccer] season was over and we had to watch other teams compete instead of being able to do so ourselves. It's fun to play when the school comes out to support the teams, it adds a new level of play to our game," senior EA Tooley said. Not only will a larger number of fall teams be able to display their talents throughout the course of the day, they will be able to do so against a mutual rival: Bates. This is a change for the Jumbos, who have played Amherst of Williams for the past 11 years. What effect playing Bates will have on crowd spirit remains to be seen. Repeatedly playing the same rival is usually a signature of homecoming weekends, as crowd the aversion to a visiting team grows exponentially with each Tufts team that is competing against them. There is some contention over the selection of this weekend for Homecoming, because there is another weekend that could be chosen. On Oct. 19, which is closer to that of the date that Homecoming is usually held on, all the Tufts teams face a tougher NESCAC opponents in Williams College. "Williams is at the top of the conference and we do unfortunately have more losses than wins against them, but that didn't play into the scheduling of Homecoming," Gehling said. But that weekend is Parent's Weekend, so it couldn't be Homecoming. No matter what the date, the teams are ready to take on any opponent put in front of them in their quest to advance to postseason play. "Homecoming is a little bit early, but every game counts on your record so we'll be ready. I don't think it really matters who we play," football coach Bill Samko said. The players "better be fired up for every game, no matter who it is that we're playing." Even for those athletes who aren't directly participating on Saturday, the excitement is mounting. The undefeated women's tennis team will take on Middlebury on Sunday, leaving Saturday open for playing a role it rarely gets to play during the season, that of spectator. "We've been away during Homecoming weekend in the past so we haven't always been able to go to some of the homecoming events like the pep rally and the football game," senior tennis player Katie Nordstrom said. "This year we're excited to go as a team and support other Tufts athletes. It's going to be fun going to the homecoming football game and watching the team dominate the field.

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News

How to mooch your way across the union

September 26

Beg, Borrow and Deal, the new ESPN reality show, is sort of a cross between Road Rules and Survivor. It's a cross-country battle between two teams, each vying for completion of a number of sports-related tasks. At the same time, the contestants must find shelter and transportation without the use of money. Composing one quarter of Team Cobi is Tufts alum Joshua Gates (LA '99). Gates realized that qualifying for the show might be more than just a far-fetched dream after he met with the shows executive producer Neil Mandt. Mandt encouraged him to send in an application and video to the show's headquarters and after reviewing Gates' applications and viewing his video, the producers flew Gates and fifteen others to New York City for the final round of decisions. When dust had settled, there were only eight left, and Gates was among those left standing. "Apparently they liked my video a great deal," he said. While on the Hill, Gates majored in Drama and Archaeology. After college, he relocated to Los Angeles and did a bit of traveling in order to pursue his acting career. With his new role on Beg, Borrow, and Deal, Gates' dream is finally coming to fruition. Interestingly, although Gates has always aspired to be an actor, the fact that his new role is on an ESPN created show is somewhat surprising. "I think [the producers] thought this would be a particularly difficult gauntlet for me to run," Gates said. He claims that he "lacks even the most cursory knowledge of sports." The premise of Beg, Borrow and Deal is that two teams must make it from New York City to Los Angeles in less than 30 days, while completing a total of ten tasks along the way. They have 40 tasks from which to choose, ranging from the relatively benign (catching a pass from an NFL quarterback), to downright weird (throwing an octopus onto the ice at a Detroit Red Wings game, or playing a state governor in a game of Twister in his/her office). Though all are related in some way to sports, many are not your typical sports activities. When questioned about the most difficult portion of the show, Gates gave a surprising answer. "Begging, borrowing and dealing for transportation was the most difficult thing, because it usually involved a lot of money, or a lot of time and energy for a friend," he said. Anyone who brought them somewhere in a car would then have to turn around and drive back, and it was hard to find someone willing to pony up the money for a train ticket. The contestants were not permitted to receive any aid that lasted longer than 12 hours (i.e. borrowing a friend's car). And because they were not allowed to handle money, their visits were almost always unannounced. On the list of places he would have loved to visit, Boston was pretty high, but their direction of travel didn't take them near Beantown. "I didn't push for it," he said. "It was moving in the wrong direction." Thanks to a non-disclosure clause, Gates was unable let any spoilers out about the show, but he was able to comment upon the way things worked. In order to perform their tasks, the team members would basically just show up at a major sports arena and demand to be let in. "So long as they let us explain the circumstances, things were okay," Gates said. While at first confused and suspicious of their presence, most security guards and officials relaxed when they heard the explanation given by the contestants. As for getting harassed for sleeping in strange places, Gates explained that the accommodations were not that bad and they didn't get bothered all that much. Each team had two Winnebagos following them, which contained five or six cameras plus executive producers, he said. There were credentials on hand to vouch for their legitimacy, if one still had doubts. Gates' biggest worry going into the show was that he wouldn't be all that excited about meeting sports celebrities. In the end, he was eventually won over by the interesting places he was able to see. "I got to actually go to cool places," he said, "I was able to go behind the scenes and see the nuts and bolts [of the arenas] that most people don't get to see." With homecoming fast approaching, Gates of course had some words for the Jumbo sports teams: "Keep at it, be tough, be tenacious," he said, "It certainly worked for the eight of us.

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