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Good, cheap food in Davis Square

September 22

While freshman are often impressed with the "all-you-can-eat" factor of campus dining, others eagerly explore the many Somerville dining options on their college student's budget. But budgeting isn't only about money; it is also about finding more healthful options, even when grabbing a bite to eat out. Why? Because the average person eats 4.2 meals per week away from home _ that's 218 meals per year. At this rate, it's easy to lose sight of good nutrition, especially when you're on your own. But around town there are many easy, cheap and healthful options that let you eat well and keep the "freshman fifteen" under wraps. Speaking of wraps, the The Blue Shirt Caf?© in Davis Square is a great, though tiny, place to grab a wrap or gourmet sandwich. Located right on the square, you can pop in for a vegetarian Thai-Seared Tofu gourmet wrap ($5.95) or a meat-lover's Grilled Steak Burrito ($5.75). Or for a quick pick-me-up, order a fruit smoothie _ choices range from fruity flavors to milky milkshakes. * The Bottom Line: You won't pay more than $6.50 for anything. * Price Ranges: Breakfasts $0.95-6.50; Gourmet wraps and sandwiches $4.95-5.95; Salads $3.25-5.95; Soups $2.95-3.95; Fruit smoothies $3.50-4.25 * Health Tips: Most foods here are organic with plenty of vegetarian options. You can always leave the cheese off a wrap to cut calories and forgo some saturated fat. Choose wraps over panini or grilled sandwiches to further limit fat. Also, wraps can be served instead as a salad with fresh greens, helping to get those veggies in. FYI, beware of the "boosters" that can be added to the smoothies _ such supplements are unregulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and may not actually contain what their labels say they do. Mr. Cr??pe, as you might guess, serves crepes. (Duh.) You're probably thinking "pancakes," and therefore, "breakfast," when you hear the word crepe, but here you can get either savory or sweet crepes any time of day. So, it is possible to make a lunch or dinner meal of cr??pes at this French-inspired locale. * The Bottom Line: You won't spend more than $7.95 for a savory crepe, $6.90 for a sweet crepe. * Price Ranges: Build your own cr??pe $4.95 and up; Vegetarian crepes $2.95-$7.50; Meat-filled crepes $5.71-$7.95; Dessert crepes $2.95-$6.90 * Health Tips: The most healthful cr??pes are those packed with a variety of fresh vegetables and lesser amounts of cheese and meat. Cheese can really pack calories and fat, so ask for less cheese. Or skip the dessert crepe if you get the normal amount of cheese in your meal. * As the name implies, you might fill up at Diesel Caf?© to fuel your body. Stop in for a warm or cold beverage or for salads, soups or sandwiches. Try a simple Hummus Wrap or the "Monkey's Wrench" _ turkey topped with avocado, cheese, sprouts and tomato. This place stays open late and is a great place to bring some light schoolwork. And you might even take a pool-playing break with some friends. * The Bottom Line: You won't spend more than $5.25 on any item. * Price Ranges: Build-your-own sandwiches $4.25-$5.25; Salads $3.75-$4.75; Soups $2.95-$3.95; Hot teas (black, green and interesting herbal blends) $1.40 per cup; Coffee drinks $1.00-$3.00 * Health Tips: You can build your own sandwiches and leave off cheese if you want to cut calories and fat. You can also ask for your salad dressing on the side _ and use less. Old standbys include PB & J, like Mom used to make, bagel pizzas and even cereal. Many students get the majority of those "218 meals a year away from home" at Anna's Taqueria during their time at Tufts. Even though it's early in the semester, surely there will be all-nighters in your future and Anna's will provide a hearty dinner to get you through the night. They're said to have the best burritos in Boston and they may be the best buy of the Square. And while the lines are lengthy during mealtimes, it's worth the wait. But just because it's fast food, you shouldn't assume it can't be part of a healthful diet. * The Bottom Line: You won't spend more than $4 on any item. * Price Ranges: Quesadillas and tacos $2.95 and up; Burritos $2.95 and up; Super Burritos $3.40 and up; Standard fillings are extra $0.55 and up * Health Tips: The chips and salsa, while delicious, probably pack a little more fat than you'd want to add if you're eating at Anna's often. But the burritos with fresh beans, rather than refried beans, are a pretty well-rounded meal. They are completely stuffed with cheese, beans, rice, and then you can add grilled vegetables, chicken, or beef to the made-to-order Mexican meals. You could split half with a friend _ now that's a bargain. Brown and Brew, although technically on campus at its Boston Avenue location, is a fabulous place to grab some food and a cup of Joe... you'll be glad it's so close when winter hits. The food's not bad either _ I would go there even if I weren't a student. You can choose from a few healthful meal or snack ideas, such as sushi and California rolls, a veggie sandwich, fruit, or Stonyfield Farm yogurt. * The Bottom Line: They take meal cards _ Mom and Dad are paying. But if they aren't, you won't pay more than about $7.25 for anything. * Price Range: Sushi $3.70-$7.25; Sandwiches $4.60 and up; Coffee and tea $1.25 and up * Health Tips: When ordering your favorite espresso drinks or chai tea, ask for skim milk to save calories and fat _ depending on the size, you can save at least 100 calories. Of course there are treats such as Denise's Ice Cream, scones, muffins, and cookies, but don't make a meal of those treats. Try the veggie sandwich to get in some fiber and keep the fat at bay. Or sushi can make a great balanced meal. So, there you have it _ the "low down" on a few of the highest quality food establishments with the lowest prices around Tufts. Bon Appetit! Do you have a nutrition-related question for a Registered Dietitian? Send your question to tuftsnutritionmatters@yahoo.com

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News

Football dines Continental

September 22

The Tufts football team opened its season with a shutout of Hamilton 20-0 at home on Saturday. Senior Evan Zupancic and junior Jorge Rodriguez each had two interceptions, as the Tufts defense controlled the line of scrimmage all afternoon and made several key stops inside its own redzone. Zupancic, who with his two picks, tied the Jumbo career interception record with 15. The offense scored all of its points in the first half behind the steady running of senior halfback Chuck McGraw who gained 67 yards on 17 carries. Accurate passing from quarterback Scott Treacy, who finished the day 11-17 for 164 yards and two touchdowns also helped further the Jumbos' offensive onslaught. The team was happy with the results of the game, but members still say there is room to improve. "I thought we moved the ball well in the first half," senior offensive lineman Andy Dickerson said. "The running backs ran really hard. We're happy with the win. Zupancic agreed. "You can't ever complain with a shutout," Zupancic said. "It's always tough to win. We're still working on a lot of stuff, we'll only get stronger." The game began on a strong note as Hamilton went three and out on the game's first possession, the Jumbos blocked the ensuing punt to set up a first and goal. On Tufts' second offensive play, Treacy found junior tight end Ryan Papi in the endzone for an early seven to nothing lead. After Hamilton again went three and out, Treacy and McGraw led the Jumbos down the field in a time consuming drive that ended with a 22-yard field goal by junior kicker Marcellus Rolle and a 10-0 Jumbo lead. Hamilton's third drive again saw the Continentals come up empty-handed. Tufts took over the ball and put together its most impressive drive of the game. After an offensive pass interference call took away what would have been a touchdown, Chuck McGraw took a pitch from Treacy and ran right for 26 yards _ his longest sprint of the day. On second down, Treacy threw a bullet pass for another 26-yard gain. During the next play, Treacy found Papi again, who made a fine leaping catch in the endzone for a 17-0 lead. As the first half wound down that the defense had its finest moment. On a third down play, a lapse in the Jumbo defensive secondary allowed a Hamilton receiver to catch a short pass over the middle and gallop for a 48 yard gain. Only a sliding tackle from behind by speedy cornerback Mark Tilki saved a touchdown. But on a 4th and inches inside the Jumbo five-yard line, the defense stuffed Hamilton quarterback Greg LiVigne, who attempted to sneak through for a first down. "I don't know what happened on their big gain," coach Bill Samko said. "Somebody blew something but the defense really came up big after the lapse." "That was a big stop," Zupancic said. "Those types of plays set the tone." Rolle's second field goal of the day rounded out the scoring for the Jumbos midway through the second quarter, and the kicker barely missed a 38 yarder as time expired in the first half. Late in the second half, Zupancic picked off what would have been his third ball of the day and streaked down the sideline for a touchdown, but the play was brought back due to a defensive pass interference call. "I just tried to read the quarterback's shoulders and eyes." Zupancic said. "On both picks I saw him open up right towards me, I caught him eyeing his receiver the whole time and I just broke towards the ball. I'm just happy we were able to come out and win the game." Tufts never approached the endzone in the second half, and appeared terribly out of sink offensively. Luckily for Tufts, the defense was relentless and Hamilton never threatened to get back in the game. "We'll keep getting better," Dickerson said. "I don't think the sloppy second half was any lack of concentration _ we just have room for improvement." "We're happy with the win," Samko said. "But we could have won that game by 50 points." Next week's challenge will be a tougher one, as Bates visits Medford next Saturday. The offense will need to find consistency, and the defense also has room to improve. "Anytime they (the opponent) doesn't score, you're happy," junior defensive end Reid Palmer said. "But we have to build on this, we can't be satisfied with one win. We need to sure up on our tackling and fix some communication problems." "Bates is a good team every year," Zupancic said. "Anyone can beat anyone in this league." "Bates plays hard," Dickerson said. "We have to be ready.

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News

Concert achieves the right MIX

September 22

"This is the biggest show we've ever had in our lives," exclaimed Rubyhorse's Dave Farrell in a soft Irish twang as his band stepped out on stage Saturday night to open MIX 98.5's MIXfest 2002. And to say that MIXfest was big might be an understatement _ the concert was huge, bringing together an audience consisting mostly of overly-eager high-schoolers but also college students and even a few adults. The initial crowd at the FleetCenter was far smaller than it eventually became later in the evening, when the more notable acts like Avril Lavigne and Def Leppard took the stage. Nevertheless, the little-known local group Rubyhorse managed to successfully set the scene for the exciting six-hour sampling of the music from some of the greatest stars today that followed. Rubyhorse, formed just four years ago, used its set not only to get their name known to the greater Boston community but to create the foundation for an indie film documenting the history of the band. Farrell jumped off the stage and raced through the crowd with a video camera, much to the delight of screaming fans. But the band's energy, as well as the crowd's, seemed to dwindle by the set's finale. "You've got soul _ Boston's got soul," crooned Farrell, with the hopes of engaging the crowd to sing along. The band members succeeded somewhat with those sitting in the very front, but most people seemed to be losing interest. The silence didn't last for long. By the time another hometown group, Tufts' very own Guster took the stage, the audience broke into screams and screeches even as the lights dimmed to signal the beginning of the set. It's a shame that the crowd was still a bit on the small side when the group broke into the first strains of "What You Wish For." The trio made for one of the strongest acts of the concert, including in their set such familiar favorites as "Barrel of a Gun," and the requisite "Fa Fa." It was clear that the group was truly excited to be part of such an eclectic concert. "I'm sweating just to be in the same building as Def Leppard," Ryan Miller exclaimed to the crowd when he disclosed that one of the first albums he ever bought as a kid was Def Leppard's Pyromaniac. The only problem with Guster's set was that its brevity had the crowd begging for more _ but time restraints prevented the group from delivering. To quell the disappointment, Guster left the stage with promises that the group will be back in Boston soon _ and that they're looking forward to playing "for longer than 20 minutes," said Miller. Disappointed fans quickly perked up again just 25 minutes later, when Avril Lavigne began her set with her catchy and fast-paced single "Sk8ter Boi." The yelps from the middle school and high school girls in the crowd were deafening. "Here's a new one...I just wrote it the other day," joked Lavigne before breaking into the familiar introduction to her signature tuner "Complicated." It's a good thing so many teeny-boppers were singing along, because at times it seemed like Lavigne herself was perhaps a little overly excited, to the point where she was singing a bit too sharp. David Gray's set provided a refreshing contrast, with his relaxed attitude and smooth vocals sailing through songs from White Ladder like "Please Forgive Me," "Sail Away," and "My Oh My." John Mayer brought a little too much attitude to the stage, portraying the sentiment of "I'm a superstar and I know it." But he redeemed himself by floating through his amazing cache of hit tunes, including "Your Body Is A Wonderland" and "No Such Thing." And thanks to Pink, the audience didn't even have to wait for Def Leppard to enjoy a nostalgic trip back to bubblegum '80s pop. The now-brunette included in her set a powerful cover of 4 Non Blonde's "What's Going On," which had the audience singing along and begging for more. Pink also paid tribute to one of her own musical heroes, the one and only Janis Joplin, by delivering a compilation of jazzy classics like George Gershwin's "Summertime." Pink is an exciting performer who really knows how to put on a show. Decked out in a bright red halter-top and tight pants, she clearly commanded control of the stage and the audience without the snooty attitude of the average diva, and clearly had fun performing. It didn't matter that her set went on beyond her initially allotted five songs, because her inclusion of covers along with own "Get the Party Started" and "Mizzundastood" made for an exciting collection of music that had the crowd going wild. MIX 98.5's claim to fame is playing "today's best variety," and the diversity of acts at MIXfest clearly helped the station to live up to its reputation. The concert's format insured that listeners would only be hearing the best of the best. Because each group was limited to five songs, the artists had to choose wisely to give the audience a proper sampling. And although six hours was a long time to spend at the FleetCenter, the concert still made for a fulfilling evening of entertainment

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News

Graduate students feel the pinch of little financial aid

September 22

Beginning this year, a number of Ivy League universities have implemented more comprehensive programs of graduate aid in an effort to attract the most qualified students. Graduate students' searches for aid have been stymied by continuing increases in tuition, stagnant levels of government assistance, and the decentralized nature of financial aid information. At Tufts, however, there have been no broad-based plans to offer more aid, and graduate students here face the same funding difficulties as other schools across the country. Undergraduate students are able to pool the resources of federal and state governments, colleges, and the private sector, but the choices available to graduate students are more limited. Many universities put most of their resources into undergraduate financial aid, and graduate students must more often confront the challenge of securing loans from private institutions, as the government limits their ability to take out federal loans. Since tuition rates for graduate schools continue to rise across the country, federal grants such as the Pell Grant cover increasingly smaller proportions of students' fees. In addition, several states are cutting their financial aid funds _ not promising trends for financially strapped graduate students. Low-income students and their families are responsible for covering a growing percentage of tuition costs, through loans, work study programs, and their own savings. In reaction to these trends, several schools, such as Dartmouth University, the University of Pennsylvania, Yale University, and Harvard University, have all announced increased spending on graduate student financial aid. These schools have created competitive packages that include faculty research grants, teaching assistantships, insurance coverage, and low-cost housing in order to attract the best students. At Tufts, managing financial aid for graduate students is split between the Financial Services office, which administers federal and state need-based programs, and the individual graduate schools, which give out grants, fellowships, and scholarships. At the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, scholarship decisions are based on both need and merit. Fletcher awards over $2 million annually in scholarship aid and does not distinguish between domestic and international students. Fletcher also offers the two-year, full-tuition Hargens scholarships to a small number of students. Fletcher students may also take advantage of student loans, student employment, and work study positions as teaching and research assistants. "Fletcher has been quite equitable with the funds that they have," said Lakshmi Sampathkumar, who came to Tufts from India to study international relations. "Most students think they deserve more financial aid than they are getting. But most people who really are struggling have received sufficient financial aid." Students at the Tufts Medical School can receive a stipend and are eligible for a scholarship for tuition. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) helps sponsor these opportunities and promotes biomedical research at the medical school. Students pursuing a master's degree at the medical school may also be eligible for aid from the University, mostly from the tuition fund. Financial aid officers are always trying to find the funds students need, but efforts are complicated by the degree of policy coordination required. "As a financial aid officer, you attempt to allocate as many funds as possible but, unfortunately, the final decisions come from the senior administration," said Tara Olsen, director of financial aid at the Medical School. The biggest challenge for graduate students, Olsen said, is that their federal grant opportunity is "cut off." Students burden themselves with loans while taking the time to "try and better themselves while they could be out there working and making money," Olsen said. Another potential problem confronting graduate students seeking financial aid is a lack of communication. Disconnection exists between the amount of information on financial assistance opportunities and its availability to potential students and their families. The difficulty of obtaining enough aid to be full-time students causes many to pursue graduate studies part-time while also working. Priya Selvakumar, who graduated from Tufts last May, is working toward an advanced certificate in epidemiology and says that many of her classmates have their education subsidized by their employers. "A lot people who are in my classes seem like they are working and doing this part time," she said. "It works for career advancement. As you get a better degree, you get promoted in your job.

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News

Edge Festival premieres 'Unitard 3'

September 22

The actress questions the audience: "Are you gay? Are you gay?" Immediately, the latest show in the Theater Offensive's Out on the Edge Festival puts its audience on the defensive. By this point, however, the Offensive has already commenced its attack on the straights in the crowd (i.e. non-lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered). A pre-show introduction to the Festival from Artistic Director Abe Rybeck _ and his five-inch, dangling earrings _ sets the tone for a night of flamboyant and energetic sketch comedy with gay themes. At the beginning of the performance, the three performers/writers of Unitard 3: Now More Than Ever (Mike Albo, Nora Burns and David Ilku) sit on three separate chairs spitting off one-liners _ some funny, some not and some hysterical, if you understand the references. The majority of these one-liners are spoken with in a stereotypical "gay" voice, which one might say simply, is a bit much. Yet, at the same time we've heard this concept many times before, and the jokes wane in their originality and subsequent amusement value. This is not to say that the rest of the show plays off this one joke. Actually, the sketches generally go beyond the superficial gay typecast to create actual characters who happen to be gay, which then makes the gay-related material funnier. Also, while homosexuality is the theme of the Festival, not all the scenes deal with gay issues or even gay people. The show's set is simple, rudimentary and flexible and for good reason. With sketch comedy, the goal is to only haphazardly create a scene with props and then to fill it out with dialogue and characters. To a certain extent, the writing and the acting accomplishes the goal, which is no small feat considering most of the scenes have only one actor on stage at a time talking to an imagined other person. Problems arise when either the idea for the scene or the character grows tiresome and the audience hopes for the scene to end. This setback may have been avoided with additional or stronger-written characters and shorter scenes. The audience cannot be expected to continue to pay attention to an essentially one-person scene once they have lost interest in that one character, especially in sketch comedy. This difference separates solo from multiple-person scenes in that that the latter category can survive with an annoying character or two while the former simply cannot. Since the majority of the scenes are basically monologues, the show is best evaluated on a scene-by-scene, actor-by-actor basis. To start with, Nora Burns played a variety of characters in her several scenes. Her first scene involves her as a straight woman trying to convince a gay man to let her be his "Fag Hag" _ the gay man's female companion who "goes out with him between boyfriends." With a funny, interesting character and concept, this scene demonstrates how good a one-person scene can be when the audience is implicated as the other character. Later on, after a couple mediocre scenes, she comes back with two great characters and concepts. The first being a woman pushing her newborn child in a stroller and running into a woman she used to work with before she had the child. She uses the baby very effectively by cutting off the imaginary other person with responses to the baby's coughing or simply by repeating things to the baby to emphasize how awful the other woman's life is that she is not married, still working and nearing 40. Her next scene shows her at an "Artists Anonymous" meeting where she confesses giving up a life of financial security to explore her creativity as an artist. She makes her way to this meeting only after, to paraphrase what she says, finding herself one day running through the streets of New York naked, shouting out Haiku poetry and scrambling for objects to make art from. The strength of this scene and the baby scene lie not only in the obvious humor of the characters and the concepts, but also in their inclusion of higher-level satire that makes one think as well as laugh. Some of the other scenes accomplish this feat, as well. Mike Albo does a scene where he is a gay man talking with his ex-boyfriend at a party and continually puts him down with socially inappropriate comments reminiscent of many encounters between ex's, whether gay or straight. In addition, David Ilku does a scene where he is a worker at Calvin Klein and he is showing the new guy around. This scene rightly puts the fashion industry in its place by basically saying, "at Calvin Klein, we don't believe in bodily functions." The remainder of the scenes, especially the ensemble pieces, range from kind of funny to forgettable. Certainly, the performance is filled with great one-liners and funny characters, although some become recycled. Overall, Unitard 3: Now More Than Ever is well worth checking out, once, no matter where your sexual preferences may lie. Unitard 3: Now More Than Ever is playing at the Boston Center for the Arts (617-426-2787) this Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. and next Friday and Saturday nights at 9:30 p.m.

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News

Little-known administrator raised millions for Tufts

September 22

Dr. Thomas Murnane, a senior vice president who has been instrumental in more than two decades of fundraising at Tufts, has announced plans to retire at the end of the current academic year. Murnane set his final day as June 30, 2003 at this summer's Board of Trustees' meeting. Murnane has been affiliated with the University for over 40 years as a student, researcher, dean, administrator, and scholar. In his retirement, Murnane will remain a consultant to Tufts. In 1978, Murnane became the Vice President of Development. That same year, he became involved in the first of three successful capital campaigns. The purpose of these campaigns was to raise money from alumni, parents, and other friends of the University for new dormitories, labs, research centers, and academic buildings. Murnane holds four academic degrees from Tufts, including a bachelor's degree, a D.M.D, a postgraduate certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and a Ph.D. During the late 1960s, he taught in both the medical and dental schools, and served as acting dean of the dental school from 1971 to 1972. "Look around you at the buildings and endowment that we didn't have in 1975; look when Tom Murnane became Vice President for Development," former Provost Sol Gittleman said. "There are three presidents and thousands of students who should be thankful that he stopped practicing dentistry." Murnane, who was unavailable for comment, was also instrumental in the creation of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston during the late 1970s. In 1985, Murnane was promoted to Senior Vice President of Development, a position that he has held since. Murnane's efforts were crucial to the success of the capital campaigns because "while the presidents schmoozed with the prospects, Tom always did the actual requesting of donations," Nelson Gifford, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, said. While Murnane led a staff of people who worked on getting smaller donations, he was always the one to request the larger gifts. Murnane was "on the road quite a bit, talking to people about the University and trying to give them ideas of ways they could help the University with resources," Executive Vice President Steve Manos said. The first capital campaign raised over $100 million, the most money raised in one campaign in the University's history. The second capital campaign broke this record by raising over $251 million. Murnane's final campaign, called Tufts Tomorrow, began in 1995 and came to a close last spring. The campaign raised over $609 million, which will be used for new endowed professorships, new research facilities on all Tufts campuses, and dramatically increased financial aid for all Tufts students who need it. In addition to the three successful capital campaigns he headed, Murnane has served Tufts in many other ways. In the 1980s, Murnane hired Mike Jaharis to serve on the Board of Overseers. Recently, the Jaharis family donated $11 million to the Tufts Medical School to build the Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical and Nutrition Research. Dean of the School of Medicine John Harrington attributes the acquisition of funds for this "research dream" to Murnane, since he originally brought Jaharis to Tufts. The nine-story Jaharis research building will be the first of its kind in the 108-year history of Tufts Medical School Murnane also will be remembered for his genial personality and leadership skills. "He makes you feel at ease, he will mentor you and give you directions on how to succeed," Lonnie Norris, dean of the School of Dentistry, said. "He's sociable, and he gets to know people and brings things together. He has a great concern and dedication for the University." Murnane's renown extends to many sectors of the University. "Tom is a very easy person to work with, he's very responsive, and has tireless energy," Nathan Gantcher, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said. "The institution was very lucky to have the services of Tom Murnane over the last quarter century or more, and we'd have been hard-pressed to make the strides we've made without him as part of the team." Gantcher added, "His decision to retire as part of day-to-day activities will not be his last contact with us; Tufts will want to be involved with him forever." Manos also holds Murnane in high esteem. "I can't think of a person I'd rather work with," Manos said. "He has the most optimistic view of the world of just about anyone I've worked with. It's a pleasure to be around someone like that. Sometimes sheer optimism makes things happen, and that's been the case with Tom." Despite Murnane's instrumental role in the advancement of the University, very few students or faculty have heard of him. When asked why he thought this might be the case, Manos jokingly replied, "How many of you have heard of me?" "Tom Murnane is little-known on campus," Harrington said. "He was 'Mr. Outside' while ex-Provost Sol Gittleman was 'Mr. Inside.' Tom's been around outside as long as Gittleman has been around inside." As part of the transition, Vice President for Resource Development Brian Lee, will begin reporting to the President on July 1, 2003

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News

Tufts-in-Ghana resumes after suspension

September 22

Three students are currently studying at the University of Ghana in Accra as part of the newly reinstated Tufts-in-Ghana study abroad program. The program resumed operation this fall after a year and a half-long suspension following repeated incidents of sexual assault against participating Tufts students _ including violent rape. Program coordinator Janna Behrens said she believes that insufficient understanding of the local culture and community could have been a factor in the incidents, and that educational procedures for participants will help ensure that such events do not happen again. Although Ghana is the most popular location for students studying abroad in Western Africa, Behrens said that to the best of her knowledge, no other US university has had to cancel a Ghana program. The trend of violence that Tufts students have experienced does not appear to be a universal problem for US students studying in the country. To increase participants' understanding of the vast cultural differences between the US and Ghana and the associated risks, all prospective students must now fulfill two requirements before traveling to the country, Behrens said. A one-on-one interview and an extensive three-session pre-departure orientation are aimed at educating students on these differences and risks. The interview is also intended to "let students decide if the program is right for them," Behrens said. As an added safety precaution, a staff member will now accompany students traveling to Ghana. Once students are situated on campus, they are encouraged to seek assistance from resident director Dr. Kweku Bilson. Upon their arrival, participants are immersed in a ten-day orientation program, which includes lectures by natives on the history and culture of Ghana. Throughout the semester, students are continually informed about issues of transportation, culture, and safety, Behrens said. Past incidents have been attributed to cultural differences in the signals and expectations that precede consensual sex. The new educational measures attempt to make students aware of such differences. Alumna Laura Sheppard-Brick, who studied in Ghana in the fall of 1999, told the Daily in 2000 that Ghanaians often perceive American women as being more sexually promiscuous than local residents. Different clothing styles may be partly responsible for this perception. "Ghanaian women always cover their legs, and American women don't," Sheppard-Brick said. The issue of rape is one that must be addressed thoroughly with students traveling to African countries, where women may submit to undesired sexual advances and refrain from reporting sexual assaults for cultural reasons. Sub-Saharan Africa's HIV rates, higher than in any other region in the world, also make rape prevention an issue of utmost importance. The Tufts-in-Ghana program began in 1996, but was cancelled in the spring of 2000 after numerous instances of acquaintance rape and sexual assault against Tufts students studying in Ghana. Three on-campus incidents were reported to University police in 1998 alone. After a fourth off-campus occurrence was reported to the Dean's Office in 2000, all Tufts students studying in Ghana returned to the US and the program was brought to a temporary halt. Behrens was commissioned as program adviser after the program was discontinued. She headed a review of the situation at the University of Ghana, with particular attention to the incidents of sexual violence. Behrens discussed the matter with Tufts' affiliates, both in Ghana and on the Medford campus. After an extensive evaluation, she submitted a proposal in January 2002 recommending that the program be reinstated. The proposal was adopted last March. Tufts students join a student body of roughly 15,000 at the University of Ghana; approximately 200 of which are foreign. Three students spent a semester in Ghana when the program was initiated in 1996, and by 2000, nine students traveled to the country. Concerns about safety and the program's permanence, however, dissuaded some Tufts students from applying to Tufts-in-Ghana when it was reinstated in March. Some students may have also been discouraged by the initial February application deadline, which passed before the program's existence was assured, Behrens said Since the first year of the program, students have had the option of studying in Ghana for either the fall or the spring semester. Unlike many other Tufts study abroad programs, Tufts-in-Ghana only lasts for one semester. During the 2003-2004 school year the program will only offer fall semester study

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News

Football to open season, finally

September 19

As the Jumbos take the field for the first time this season, against Hamilton this Saturday, the overall feeling among the players may be one of relief rather than nervousness. After practicing together for nearly a month, the team is anxious for real competition. "It'll be fun to go out and play somebody finally. We've been here for a long time," coach Bill Samko said. "It'll be fun to play somebody else and see where we really are." Fun aside, however, Tufts will be focused on the task at hand: getting its first victory of the season. This will be the first time since 1999 that the Jumbos have taken on the Continentals, when Tufts walked away with a 28-25 victory. The opener against Hamilton on Saturday will be the only difference in schedule for the Jumbos from last year, when they opened the season with a 35-20 victory over Wesleyan. This year the Continentals replace the Cardinals in Tufts' schedule, as Hamilton tries to recover after posting a 6-34 record over the past five years. While Tufts will feature 16 returning starters from last year's team, Hamilton will take the field with a much younger squad. The Continentals lost 19 players to graduation last year, and have an entirely different look than last season's team which finished with a 1-8 record. Of the few returning starters for Hamilton, the most notable is last year's NESCAC Rookie of the Year Peter Simon. A defensive back, Simon should be a threat to the Jumbos' passing game, which was shaky at times last season. Although Hamilton's lineup features 19 freshman, Tufts is not taking anything for granted. "We haven't seen any film on them," Samko said. "In the first game of the season anything can happen. I expect them to come down here and play hard, and I'll be very disappointed if our effort isn't tremendous." The only competition the Jumbos have seen so far this season came in a scrimmage last weekend against Wesleyan. While the teams did not keep score, the scrimmage was nonetheless valuable for looking at players and getting an idea of how they will perform. "We didn't play the scrimmage like a game, because it doesn't count," Samko said. "But I thought it went fairly well, and we got a good look at some guys." The new looks at younger players did not change the Jumbos' game plan, however, as Samko will still start an experienced lineup over some younger talent. According to Samko, no freshmen will start in Saturday's game. As the team will feature a majority of the starters from last year, the basis of comparison for Saturday's game and the season as a whole, will no doubt be the successful campaign of last year's team. The Jumbos routed Wesleyan in their season opener last year, setting the tone for the rest of the season. Whether or not they can begin this year on the same note against a highly inexperienced team may be a good indicator of things to come. But, despite the inevitable comparisons between this year's and last year's squad, the teams are in very different situations. "Last year was very very different," Samko said. "It was a bunch of kids who were coming off of a 2-6 season. I'm not sure if they had a chip on their shoulder, but they had something to prove. And they proved it very well." While last year's success may be the bar that many people have set for the team, Samko views the group's success in somewhat different terms. "The outcome of the games is almost, almost secondary," Samko said. "My view is, did they play? Did the play well? Did they answer the challenge? Did they respond when response was needed? If the answers to those things are yes, then sometimes you win _ most of the time you do.

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EPIIC Students Participate in UN Earth Summit

September 19

Over the summer, 22 Tufts, Fletcher, and Urban and Environmental Policy (UEP) students attended the United Nations (UN) World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa in conjunction with Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program. The purpose of the WSSD was to address specific environmental issues and to come to agreements on issues such as the regulation of carbon dioxide emissions, poverty eradication, and technology transfer between developed and developing nations. EPIIC students earned the privilege of attending this year's World Summit because of their prior contribution to UN forums. Earlier this year, the students used their experiences to apply for UN accreditation as a non-governmental organization (NGO) based at Tufts and called it the Institute for Global Leadership. The express purpose of the creation of an NGO was to be able to participate in the proceedings of the WSSD. Despite the grand expectations that some students had about the benefit of the summit, many returned from Africa somewhat disappointed. Most were glad they had witnessed first-hand how international forums are conducted, but were dismayed that the main goals of the summit were not accomplished. The problem, students felt, was that no weight was given to what they had to say. Malini Goel, one of the Tufts delegates, said that participation of NGOs could make a difference at conferences "as long as they are not placed on the other side of town logistically and their message does not fall on deaf ears." Most of the student delegates echoed her frustration and spoke of a great "divide" between UN officials and NGOs. Although the youth panel in which the Tufts delegates participated presented its thoughts to the official plenary, student Joseph Gulezian doubted that the officials were paying attention. But UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who spoke at the Fletcher School in 2001, said in Johannesburg, "We have to be careful not to expect conferences like this to produce miracles." Thought students doubt the effectiveness of their trip, many felt it was a good experience. Tufts student Anne O'Loughlin appreciated the diversity of the people at the summit. "I don't think I'll ever be in a situation like that again where I can sit in Africa between a man from Peru and a woman from Sri Lanka, listening to someone speak from Costa Rica, Pakistan, New Zealand [or] Egypt," she said. A small contingency of students attended the Earth Summit in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil along with Rio journalist and Nieman Fellow Geraldo Samor and The Boston Globe's photo-journalist Stan Grossfeld. In the years since, EPIIC students have attended a number of summits around the world, discussing international issues ranging from economic development to religion and politics. The ultimate goal of sending students to Johannesburg was educational, both for the students involved and for the entire Tufts community. Ongoing "wrap-up" meetings among the delegates, EPIIC Director Sherman Teichman and Assistant Director Heather Barry will address how to inform the student body of their discoveries in Johannesburg. For most of the Tufts delegates, this was their first time in Africa, so the trip was also an opportunity to experience a new place. "We spent a good two to three hours each day driving to and from the conference and between conferences," student Josh Metcalf-Wallach said. "And these times gave me opportunities to speak with local South Africans who were driving the buses or on them. To be able to hear first hand their experiences, what their life is like, and to hear how things have changed, or not changed, since '94, the end of apartheid, was really powerful and fulfilling for me." A few students had been to the continent before. Kate Davenport and Sara Standish tudied abroad in Zimbabwe and Cape Town, respectively. They said that attending the summit was a way to apply what they had seen to their academic pursuits. For the students for whom international forums were new, it was an exciting experience. Chelsea Freer said she attended a speech by former South African President Nelson Mandela, and that other delegates heard British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Secretary of State Colin Powell, and other heads of state and foreign dignitaries speak. In Johannesburg, that sort of thing was "commonplace," she said. Teichman said the student delegates had "prepared in ways that were truly remarkable." Those who had taken the EPIIC course described it as very informative and a lot of work, preparing them well for thinking critically about global issues. The delegates also attended several preparatory conferences in New York before the summit in Johannesburg. The creators of the Institute for Global Leadership set up an application process for other interested students and any student was eligible to apply to become a delegate. Delegates academic curiosities ranged from world politics to environmental issues

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Spike' in University crime stats misleading

September 19

Tufts has witnessed rising numbers of alcohol violations and disciplinary referrals, motor vehicle theft, forcible sex offences, hate crimes by prejudice, and aggravated assault on campus and off campus property in the past three years. But despite these number shifts, students insist that they continue to feel safe and have not noticed an appreciable difference in campus atmosphere. That's because the numbers are misleading, Police Captain Mark Keith said. While the number of reported incidents has gone up over the years, there is a discrepancy between reported and actual occurrences. Increased awareness is partially responsible for the rise in numbers, Keith said. The Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) event Operation Awareness is now a required part of orientation, and numbers rise when students recognize that they can and should report these crimes. "Students are advised of all the services we have. I think the word is out there," Keith said. While Tufts cases of reported aggravated assault rose from zero to nine cases in three years, at nearby Brandeis University incidents decreased to zero in the year 2000. Boston College, which is in a similar location but has a much larger student body, had a decrease in aggravated assaults from nine to five from 1999 to 2000. Boston College is, however, a much larger campus with twice the population. "We're kind of unique," Keith said. "For our size campus, we're in the middle of two cities. We really have an open campus. Which is good in many ways but it lends us to be a bit more vulnerable." Making these types of comparative evaluations cannot do the numbers justice, Keith explained. "You can't use these statistics for comparison. They just give prospective students and prospective employees an idea of the type of crime" in the area he said. Despite difficulties in making comparisons, TUPD is required by law to make these numbers available to the public. The 1990 Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, referred to as the Clery Act, obliges federally funded colleges and to make public annual crime statistics. The US Department of Education could fine Tufts up to $25,000 per violation of this law if it failed to comply. Tufts won the Clery Award for leadership in campus safety programs in 1997. Police Lieutenant Linda O'Brien said that another reason it is hard to compare statistics over time was due to the recent changes to reporting measures. In the past, Tufts had to report on and off campus incidents. But under the new amendment, universities must now breakdown campus crime, differentiating between on-campus residential, non-residential crime, and crime on off-campus property. Another big change was reporting disciplinary referrals, O'Brien said. "Now we report any referrals we get to the Dean [of Student's] office _ that makes the numbers spike." In three consecutive years, 1999-2001, the rising trend in alcohol violations and referrals saw numbers rise from 178 to 190 to 223, respectively. Assistant Dean of Students Veronica Carter said that this could be attributed to reporting style, with the inclusion of off-campus incidents, rather than an increasing trend. "It is more likely that the numbers are remaining constant," Carter said. In fact, Keith said, he has observed that this year there was a decrease in the first three weeks of classes compared with last year's first three weeks. There are certain times of the year when crimes seem to spike. "At the beginning of the year we get thefts of bikes and other 'crimes of opportunity,'" Keith said. To prevent such incidents, TUPD has several programs in place. It produces a bicycle security pamphlet as well as sponsoring "Operation Identification" where personal items can be marked and inventoried to deter theft. TUPD expressed satisfaction at these services. "Generally, the public here really appreciates our programs," Police Captain of Administrative Services Ronald Brevard said. He added, though, that the department is always seeking to improve. "We're going to step up our efforts to have additional programs," he said. The success of those programs is mixed, according to some students. "The first year you come, they tell you about the resources you have but I wouldn't know who to call for the escort service," senior Rodrigo Dumont. "Maybe we aren't well enough informed. Right now I can't think of the police phone number." The blue light phones and panic buttons have been used over the years on several occasions to report active crime, Keith said. But the student escort service, which started last year, was not used and is being scaled down. "You could still call for an officer and have a driving or walking escort at any time _ it just won't be a student," Keith said. So far, however, those programs have elicited a good response from students. "When you get here, you get the [rape] whistle and you get paranoid. But you stop thinking like that," sophomore Emily Rubinstein said. "Blue light phones are like a security blanket. They're here, they make me feel better." While students use JumboFob, the Tufts Shuttle, and campus phones on a regular basis, other safety services vary in their usage. "I think it depends on what's going on in and around campus," Keith said. "These services are used more when there have been higher activities of crime." Some students don't ever require the TUPD's services, by choice or by circumstance. "I've definitely noticed their presence, and it's nice to know that they're there if I do need them," junior Peter Jurczynski said. "But in the heat of the moment I'd be more likely to call 9-1-1." Overall though, Tufts is a safe campus, Brevard said. "We're taking great strides here over the years with things like the security screens, and lighting on campus. If people utilize our services and take advantage of what there for them, I think they're safe," he said. Still, though, Brevard would "advise them to be aware of their surroundings at all times.

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Roll over, Beethoven!

September 19

Camper Van Beethoven was formed in June, 1983 in Redlands, California. It originally focused heavily on electric guitars and garage-band sound, melding the various elements into a mixture of classic covers and traditional Russian music. As time wore on, Camper Van developed its own unique style, not adhering to any particular musical label. Most of its compilations consisted of a myriad of forms ranging from southern bluegrass and Eastern European folk tunes to the more typical '80s ska. From the start, Camper Van was intent on casting aside pretentious labels and artistic materialism. Most songs combined offbeat musical instruments with goofy lyrics that seemed to poke as much fun at the band as whatever songwriter David Lowery was intent on parodying at the moment. The band's first album, Telephone Free Landslide Victory, was released in June, 1985, and quickly became a hit among independent Californian radio stations. A year later, the band's second record, II & III, was released in the United States. Camper Van's unique style was augmented with an assortment of folk-punk fiddles and banjos that contributed to the off-beat reputation of the group. Up until the release of the band's self-titled third album in 1987, Camper Van consisted of a constantly rotating group of musicians that changed from month to month. By the time the aptly named Camper Van Beethoven was recorded, the band had settled down to its core members _ David Lowery (guitar), Victor Krummenacher (electric bass), Jonathan Segel (violin), Greg Lisher (guitar), and Chris Pedersen (drums). Lowery, one of the original founding members, was long considered the inspiration behind the group, crafting many of their absurd lyrics as he acted as lead vocalist and musical director. Krummenacher, a former member of the jazz ensemble Wrestling Worms, was another stabilizing force in the band, staying with them from late 1984 to their breakup in 1989. Lisher and Pedersen were both later additions who joined Camper Van full time after February 1986, simultaneously experimenting on the side with Krummenacher's pet project _ a mostly-rhythmic band called Monks of Doom. Jonathan Segel arguably created the group's signature sound with his electric violin, which is featured in many of the band's most popular songs. The instrument helps to combine their eclectic folk roots with the more modern feel of late '80s rock music. But as time wore on and Lowery took more of a personal interest in reigning in the previously wild sound of Camper Van, Segel began to work more and more on the outskirts of the always volatile group. After releasing Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart in 1988, Segel and Lowery had a series of falling-outs that culminated in the violinist being fired from the band in 1989. Segel was replaced by street violinist Don Lax in early 1989, and the band went on to produce their last full album, Key Lime Pie. Soon afterwards, Krummenacher, Lisher, and Pedersen split to more seriously pursue their side project, Monks of Doom. David Lowery went on to found the still-functioning band Cracker, which combined much of Camper Van's early offbeat styles with a more commercial backdrop in an attempt to create a more marketable product. A decade later, Lowery and Segel got back together to produce the group's last album, Camper Van Beethoven is Dead, Long Live Camper Van Beethoven! This compilation included reworked versions of early tracks as well as a few new songs written years after the band's breakup. Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart is less edgy than Camper Van's early music, mostly as a result of Lowery's increasingly heavy hand. The opening track, "Eye of Fatima," quickly became a popular music video showcased on MTV. The album itself is a typical combination of laid-back folk tunes and more intense musical riffs, but it also features a more closely rocking band than previous CVB albums. Lowery's unique lyrics are showcased to their fullest (a typical line from Turquoise Jewlery reads "Come down from your tree house condominium/And start driving around that station wagon/with the wood on the side"), and the lead singer himself makes better use of his vocal talents by avoiding his tendency to speak-sing lines like he did on past albums. All in all, Our Beloved Revolutionary Sweetheart is typical Camper Van Beethoven, perhaps demonstrating the group's tightest musical work as they constantly seek to redefine their sound in new and exciting ways

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Defense looks to repeat strong season

September 19

When the football team opens its season at home against Hamilton on Saturday, the major question facing the defensive unit will be whether it can match its 2001 achievements. Last year's squad allowed a stingy 10.4 points per game, and with an offense that featured a clock controlling running attack, the Jumbos found a winning formula. Though a rash of preseason injuries have plagued the defense, optimism abounds as the Tufts defense returns nine of its 11 starters. "I think (the defense) can be as good as last year," coach Bill Samko said. "Will we be? I don't know... We were pretty much sophomore dominated last year, and now they're not sophomores anymore. These guys have more experience, so they have the potential to be better." Only two defensive starters were lost to graduation, lineman Everett Dickerson, and linebacker Scott Mittenthal. Mittenthal was the team's leading tackler with 59 while picking up one sack, while Dickerson recorded 24 tackles and two sacks. Yet Samko is confident that Rich Aronson and Chris Lawrence, two sophomores who each saw limited time last season, will fill the void left by Dickerson. Northeastern transfer junior Gaetan Kashala will help fill the void left by Mittenthal. The Jumbos certainly boast one of the league's top defensive backfields. Juniors Jorge Rordriguez and Drew Blewett return at safeties. "We think the backfield is a strength. They've played well in preseason," Samko said. "Jorge started every game for us last year, and Blewett will be a very, very good player who has a chance to be outstanding." The tandem of senior tri-captain Evan Zupancic and junior Mark Tilki return at corner. Both boast outstanding speed. Zupancic intercepted three passes last year, bringing his career total to 13, only two short of the Tufts all-time record. Zupancic's junior season was enough to earn All-Nescac second team honors. Tilke led the squad in interceptions with four, and was voted to the All-Nescac first team as a special teams player. The linebacking core is the team's most suspect, as a rash of injuries have spread through it. Freshmen Robert Borney, who was expected to see some gametime this season was injured in the Wesleyan scrimmage last week. He tore his ACL and will likely be out for the rest of the year. Freshman Zack Dumas, whom Samko hopes will contribute at linebacker, has also dealt with early season injuries. But Tufts does return some experienced linebackers. Returning starter senior Sean Kennedy has drawn rave reviews as the defense's most improved player, senior Matt DePaolis, whose fourth quarter interception against Colby clinched an important victory last November, and headsy sophomore Jack Byrne round out the unit. The defensive line returns strong off the 2001 season. Junior tri-captain Caleb Hudak, an All-NESCAC first team selection last year after leading the Jumbos with four sacks, anchors the line along with junior Matt Keller. Both started every game last year. "Hudak has a chance to become a special player," Samko said. "He's good and his attitude is terrific. Kellar ain't fancy, but he shows up all the time, he's very solid. Those two are really cornerstones, and I trust they'll play well this year." Tufts rotated three players to play the two defensive end positions last season, junior Reid Palmer, senior Brian Burbank and junior Jay Hirsh, all of who return for the 2002 season. "Burbank and Hirsh have had really good preseasons," Samko said. "And I think Reid is arguably our best player." Though Tufts enters the season with high expectations, looking to complete its first back to back winning seasons in ten years, Samko is careful not to make too many bold predictions. "Our goals are the same as they always are," Samko said. "Be as good as you can be, play as hard as you can every play, and the results will take care of themselves. Really we have one goal, and that's to win. If you're better at the end than you were at the beginning, I think that's the sign of a successful team.

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Film examines dangers of nuclear action in South Asia

September 19

South Asia peace activist Zia Mian presented a documentary entitled "India and Pakistan Under the Nuclear Shadow" at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy last night. The 35-minute documentary, made through the Eqbal Ahmad Foundation, examines the aftermath of the May 1998 announcements that India and Pakistan had developed nuclear weapons. The Center for South Asian and Indian Ocean Studies sponsored the event to "educate people about what [conflict between the two countries] entails _ nuclear holocaust," Director Ayesha Jalal said. At this point, the worst in the history of relations between the two countries, the public must look beyond the "jingoism that has paraded as national pride," she said. Mian collaborated with fellow physicist and peace activist Pervez Hoodbhoy in "an act of desperation," with the goal of educating the public on the dire consequences of nuclear conflict. The two activists were prompted to make the film after attempting to engage in peace dialogues with many people who did not have an adequate understanding of the consequences of nuclear action, Mian said. Americans have a particular perspective on nuclear weapons, ingrained in popular culture by the Cold War, Mian said. "It's hard to be American and not know something about nuclear war." But South Asians have not been exposed to the concept of nuclear war in the same way, often never having seen images and having no way to assess its implications, he said. Made in Pakistan, the film incorporates commentary from people on all sides of the issue. Senior military heads of both countries, leaders of Islamic religious organizations and militant groups, noted peace activists, academics, and journalists give their perspectives in the film. The film chronicles the rise of the nuclear age, beginning with the creation of the atom bomb during World War II, through the Cold War, and up to the testing of weapons in India and Pakistan. The documentary shows images of Indians and Pakistanis celebrating the production and testing of nuclear weapons, shouting, "Hail the scientists," and erecting monuments to the warheads. But Admiral Ramu Ramdas said the supposed advances have been economically and politically counterproductive for Pakistan. "It has not been at all helpful; if anything it has made things... worse," Ramdas tells viewers. An estimated one out of three Pakistanis live below the poverty line, and the film warns that continued focus on arms spending could lead the already-suffering country to complete collapse, similar to that of the USSR at the hands of the Cold War. "The fallout of the nuclear testing is the main reason we are in the crisis we are in today," a senior Pakistani journalist said on camera. The documentary was produced in Urdu as well as in English, and has been shown in Pakistan, India, Japan, across most of Europe, North America, and Canada. Mian studies nuclear disarmament, a main theme in both the documentary and his discussion. He called the nuclear weapons industry in Pakistan a "cottage industry," saying that it has one of everything, rather than involving tens of thousands of weapons, people, and buildings. Because of this minimal infrastructure, it would not be terribly complicated to dismantle the armaments, he said during the question and answer period. Pakistan could follow the lead of South Africa, which successfully dismantled its nuclear industry, Mian said. "The sooner we do that the better," before more arms and waste is produced and more money is spent, he said. Mian addressed the current situation between the US and Iraq, commenting that the use of the blanket cause of fighting terrorism could lead to India's justification of an attack on Pakistan. US action against Iraq could prompt warfare in South Asia "in the same way that Israel took the US response to Afghanistan to act against Palestine," he said. The documentary was well-received by its audience. Fletcher School PhD candidate Maria Stephan "found the film to be powerful because it has the power to appeal to different groups at different levels." "It revealed the reality of the dangers," she said, showing military, scientific, economic, developmental, and political perspectives. The documentary effectively showed how ludicrous the arms race is, Stephan said, and showed that "every social movement should have a film that can mobilize people" such as this one. Its depictions of worst-case nuclear scenarios and military mistakes "showed that this is just ridiculous," she said. "Look how much money is being wasted, when so little is being spent on education, social services, poverty elimination," Stephan said. "From a strategic perspective alone, this film is a very powerful tool," she added. Freshman Becky Swartz said she was intrigued by the documentary's depiction of the different perspective that South Asians have on nuclear armament issues. She has always learned about them in history classes in the US, where the context is very different, she said. Indian-born freshman Priyanka Boghani, a student in Jalal's History of South Asia course, said the issues Mian addressed have always been close to her heart. Mian is involved in the quest for peace in both India and Pakistan. He works as a research assistant with the Program on Science and Global Security at Princeton University and lectures on public and international affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School

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News

The making of the band

September 19

"This is going to be a film about a band called Wilco," says a beer belly smoking a cigarette; or, more accurately, Wilco's singer/songwriter Jeff Tweedy's beer belly smoking a cigarette. The face has been drawn on his beer belly with a black sharpie and the cigarette is secured in his belly button by a piece of gum. And the rest of the film I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is essentially a reflection of this opening sequence: it is about a ridiculous situation turned into a triumph. Anyone familiar with the Chicago-based folk/rock band already knows this story. It is the tale of Wilco's fourth and arguably best album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. The film details the ensuing difficulty of releasing the album after being shamelessly dropped by Reprise Records. But this documentary goes further than that struggle _ the film is an expose of the hypocrisy of the music industry. The irony of Wilco's story is that after being dropped from Reprise _ facing a struggle which caused one of the band's founding members to leave _ Wilco signed with Nonesuch Records, owned by the same mother-company as Reprise: the infamous Time Warner. The beauty of this triumph over the industry is that Reprise paid the group over $100,000 to make the album, and then dropped them only for Time Warner to indirectly buy the album back for nearly twice the price. As if it could get any worse for Time Warner, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot was one of the most talked about, critically-acclaimed albums of the year. Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is a groundbreaking, sonic journey through excellent songwriting, quirky textures (kitchen appliances appear as percussion in one song), and deeply introspective lyrics. The movie lends a great deal of insight into the creative processes that led to these innovations. Reprise basically rejected the album for commercial reasons. Like the few clueless imbeciles who canned OK Computer when it was first released, Reprise failed to let the album sink in. After listening to the album once, the label decided that either the band had to change the album, or the band was to be dropped altogether. Disgusted, Wilco decided to turn the other cheek, and paddle against the crosscurrent of commercial success and artistic achievement. He managed to achieve both. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart, named accordingly after the first song on Yankee Hotel, is a gritty documentary, directed by the award-winning photographer Sam Jones. What you get in this movie is bitter, unrelenting honesty. You won't find any glamour, sex, or drugs here, and if you're looking for them you're better off watching Meat Loaf's Behind the Music. The film bears an intense realism, as a result of Sam Jones' direction. The tone of the movie is completely congruent to the album's avant-garde dreariness _ I am sure of this because it didn't occur to me that the movie was filmed in black and white until the very end as I was shuffling out of the theater. The tension between the characters is all real, literally, because here you will find no scripts or costume designers or screenplays _ simply an accurate portrayal of one of modern music's most interesting and previously underrated bands. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart is essentially a film for pop music fans who are disgruntled with the hypocrisy of the music industry. Wilco fans will enjoy the rare live and studio footage. If you've never heard of Wilco and don't like pop music, then you probably will not like this film. It is, nevertheless, entertaining, humorous, and starkly impacting. I Am Trying To Break Your Heart succeeds in its goal of documenting one rock band's struggle against the machine

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News

NFL week two dominated by upsets

September 19

Perhaps football fans found week one in the NFL predictable and boring. But if anyone thought that would be the pattern for this season ,they were proved wrong in week two, as numerous upsets and surprises made football fans across the country rethink their pre-season predictions. Early in the season, NFL analysts predicted that the road to the Superbowl would be through Pittsburgh in the AFC and St. Louis in the NFC. While it's too early in the season to count either of these teams out, both the St. Louis Rams and the Pittsburgh Steelers are currently 0-2. After losing the Superbowl to the Patriots last year, the Rams have been on a decline. Dropping their season opener to the Denver Broncos, the Rams dug a deeper hole for themselves this weekend in their 21-26 loss to the New York Giants. The "greatest show on turf" seems to have displaced its offensive prowess, as Kurt Warner and company were unable to control the offensive tempo of the game. Down early to a 17-point Giants lead, the Rams made an attempt at a comeback, but time ran out before they could overcome their opposition. The last time St. Louis started off 0-2 was in 1998, when the team went 4-12 on the season. The Rams won't have an easy time preventing history from repeating itself either. Their next opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, look strong after their 25-0 thrashing of the Baltimore Ravens. The other Superbowl favorite, Pittsburgh suffered a fate similar to the Rams. After losing their season opener to the New England Patriots, the Steelers were not able to turn their play around this week, and they dropped their season's home opener to the Oakland Raiders. Heralded in the preseason for their defense, the Steelers predicted strength has become their weakness so far this season. Oakland blew past Pittsburgh's defense to put 30 points up on the Steelers board. Nearly as great a surprise as the 0-2 teams this week is the pack of teams who now stand at 2-0. After winning only one game last season, no body expected to see the Carolina Panthers at 2-0. After beating the Ravens to open their season, the Panthers beat up the Detroit Lions Sunday 31-7. Although the Panthers haven't proved themselves as Superbowl contenders, as they beat the washed up Ravens and the incessantly bad Lions, quarterback Rodney Pete looked strong for the Panthers as he passed for 310 yards. Though it's unlikely that we'll see a Superbowl parade in Carolina anytime soon, the Panthers won't be an easy victory this season. The true test to the Panthers strength will come on Sunday as the face the Minnesota Vikings. The loudest statement made this week by 2-0 teams comes from the New England Patriots. Once again the defending Champions entered into Giants Stadium as the underdog against the New York Jets. By holding the Jets to only nine first downs, the Patriots dismantled the Jets' game plan and ran past them to a 44-7 win. Once again Tom Brady looked flawless, passing for 269 yards, while the Patriots defense held Vinny Testaverde to 150. Perhaps after their second decisive victory of the season, the Pats will be favored to win against the Kansas City Chiefs this weekend. But we're not holding our breath. By upsetting the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, the New Orleans Saints showed that they will also be a true contender this season. Despite losing Ricky Williams to the Miami Dolphins in the off season, the New Orleans offense looked alive and well in week 2. Quarterback Aaron Brooks may have finally come into his own as he fired two touchdown passes as the Saints passed the Packers 35-20. Others on the list of unexpected contenders this year are the Chicago Bears. Sitting at 2-0 for the first time in over a decade _ 11 years to be exact _ the Bears defense is back in full form. Defensive linebacker Brian Urlacher was dominant throughout the game as he sacked Atlanta's Michael Vick twice while also recovering a fumble and finishing the day with a game-high 12 tackles. Rounding out the Sunday of surprises was the Dallas Cowboy's victory over the Tennessee Titans. After beating the Philadelphia Eagles in their season opener the Titans re-established themselves as a bona fide threat in the NFL. With the return of Eddie George, the team felt this was the season they could return to their AFC Glory Days. On came the Cowboys, licking their wounds after a season opening loss to the expansion Houston Texans. Somehow the Cowboys found enough strength in their shallow talent pool to overcome the Titans though and pull off the week's greatest upset. The Good After dropping their season opener to the Titans, the Eagles rebounded to rout the Washington Redskins in a Monday Night football debacle. Beating Washington 37-7, McNabb passed for 292 yards, while the Eagles defense held the opposing offense scoreless. Washington's only points were scored when Jaquez Green returned a 90-yard punt for a touchdown. The Bad As the Redskins continued to get stomped on by the Eagles, fans became impatient and started a fight in the stands that required the police to use pepper spray to break it up. The scent of the pepper spray traveled down to the Eagles bench and delayed the game in the fourth quarter as the Eagles waited for the odor to subside before returning to their side of the field. The Ugly Once again the Detroit Lions and the Cincinnati Bengals are in this category, and they'll stay here until one of them wins

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McDonald's as the newest health food?

September 19

McDonald's and "low-fat" are not two words that go together. It is usually assumed that when one walks into a McDonald's, one is going to consume a high amount of fat along with that tasty burger and order of french fries, supersized. In response to health concerns and the obesity problem created primarily by America's fast-food culture through restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, and Taco Bell, the McDonald's USA corporation has announced that it will serve a new "less-fatty" type of french fries at all of its 13,000 restaurants. The McDonald's official website states that level of trans-fatty acids in the fries will be reduced by 48 percent, that saturated fat will be reduced by 16 percent, and that the level of polysaturated fat will be increased by 167 percent. Many who frequently eat at McDonalds are concerned that the new french fries will not be appetizing. "I'd be interested to see if [the fries] taste any different," sophomore Margaret Merrill said. "Generally, fat-free foods are less tasty, but with McDonald's, I will keep an open mind," sophomore Gabriel Mas said. According to Mike Roberts, president of McDonald's USA, the new fries will taste the same as the old ones. "It's a win-win situation for our customers because they are getting the same great french fry taste along with an even healthier nutrition profile," Roberts says on the McDonald's website. "This leadership initiative is all about giving our customers a wide range of wholesome choices, the highest quality ingredients and the same great taste that they have come to expect from McDonald's." But is the decision to infuse the new fries with trans-fatty acids truly going to benefit the consumer? Professor Alice Lichtenstein from the Tufts' Nutrition School explains that hidden dangers lie behind McDonald's new campaign. Earlier this month, Lichtenstein commented on McDonald's new french fries in an article that appeared in The New York Times. Her opinion was solicited because Lichtenstein researches full-time in the area of lipid metabolism. Although the new french fries will contain fewer trans-fatty acids, Lichenstein warns that they are not necessarily healthy, as the amount of calories in the fries will be the same. But, cooking the potatoes for the french fries in polysaturated fat will reduce the amount of fat that is absorbed, and thus potentially help McDonalds eaters to reduce their blood cholesterol levels and risk of heart attack. "However, that still does not mean that fries are good for you or that because they are made with a 'healthier' fat it is okay to go from a small to large order," Lichtenstein said. "It certainly does not mean you should eat them because they are 'good' for you." It remains to be seen whether the switch to the new fries is just a publicity stunt to counter the current slew of lawsuits that have been brought against McDonald's or whether McDonald's is, in fact, starting an industry-wide initiative that will positively impact all fast food restaurants. Among the french fry lovers on the Tufts campus, there are no clear answers to this question. "I would be skeptical of less fatty french fries," Sophomore Nick Chasset said. "I would say that the reduction in fat is good, but I would be curious to know what the replacement is." "I definitely think that the fries will sell because many Americans are very concerned with losing weight," Mas said. "I think people will be willing to sacrifice less tasty fries in exchange for less fat." Others remain skeptical. "I don't think I would be any more tempted to go to McDonald's than I otherwise would be," Kristian Horvei said. "Nobody goes to McDonald's for the fries anyway, they are kind of extras that you shove in your mouth after the burger." The new fries, Horvei believes, are a "...hyped-up quick fix" that, in the long run, will not contribute to reducing American society's obesity. Freshman Jessica Harris agrees with Lichtenstein that some may now purchase greater quantities of fries under the false impression that the fries are now a healthy food. "They're probably just as bad for you because McDonalds will put lots of chemicals in them," Harris said. Time and Newsweek magazines have recently run articles outlining America's growing problem with obesity. The diet industry has grown immensely in the last ten years, with fad diets and exercises springing up by the hundred every year. Health articles and Internet websites claim that Americans are gaining weight largely because of large portion sizes and an overindulgence in carbohydrates and sweets. McDonalds goers who will purchase more fries because they are now lower in fat therefore run the risk of weight gain. Americans also have a much wider pool of unhealthy foods to choose from, causing many to sample more than one unhealthy item at meals. Having lived in Amsterdam before coming to Tufts, Chasset thinks that Americans are considerably less prudent in their choices of food than are Europeans. "In the more metropolitan areas [of the United States], there is a lot more variety in unhealthy foods in supermarkets and restaurants than there is in supermarkets abroad," Chasset said. "But I think [the options] in the supermarkets in Europe are becoming increasingly more diverse." Statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention report that 61 percent of Americans and 13 percent of American children are obese. This is a dramatic increase from the numbers of 20 years ago. "Many times people habitually consume too many calories relative to the amount of calories they burn," Lichtenstein said. "The problem is getting worse and worse in the US." Ideally, the McDonald's corporation's new initiative will help people to reduce the amount of calories in their diets rather than encouraging patrons to purchase more unhealthy food. In the meantime, experts advise consumers interested in their health to be aware of the dangers of trans-fatty acids and polysaturated fats found in fast food

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News

Foreign Minister of Armenia speaks at Fletcher School

September 19

For Vartan Oskanian, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia, coming to the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy on Wednesday night to deliver a speech on diplomatic relations was like any trip home. He came to see his loved ones and was welcomed by many interested students, old professors, his son, and other members of the Armenian community. Oskanian holds degrees from the Tufts School of Engineering, the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, and the Kennedy School of Harvard. His son, Ara Oskanian, is currently a freshman at Tufts. Oskanian's speech, "The Effect of Great Power Politics on the Caucasus," gave an overview of the political and economic turmoil that Armenia endured over a decade ago and the progress the new state has seen in recent years. "Armenia is an old nation, but a new state," Oskanian said. "I have been lucky to see the new state from its creation. The eleventh anniversary has marked amazing improvement for Armenians." Oskanian's speech touched on the path Armenia took after its independence from the USSR and the Nagorno-Karabakh discord as well as the importance of cooperation without conflict for maintaining international relations. "Complementarity," or the ability for countries not to be equal but still retain relationships without favoritism, has been the underlying principle of the Armenian government. Oskanian also praised democracy and the fact that Armenia will be the first beneficiary to reconcile United States and Iranian conflicts. "Mediators must resist the breaking up of states; they must also keep peace. Unfortunately, these two goals are not simultaneously achievable." Unity, peace, and prosperity were the main points stressed by the Foreign Minister. The tenth anniversary of Armenia's independence coincided with Sept. 11, 2001. Although Oskanian made no mention of Sept. 11 during his speech, he implied that the solution he proposed was functional in the context of the tensions between the US and many Middle Eastern countries. This resolution of conflict is essential to peace between caucuses, he said. The audience consisted mostly of middle-aged citizens from both the Tufts community and the Armenian-American community. The Dean of the Fletcher School, the Armenian Ambassador, and the Armenian Ambassador to France were also present. Cabot Auditorium reached its capacity with the Foreign Minister's party and several interested students from the Fletcher school. After Mr. Oskanian was finished speaking the talk opened up to a heated question and answer session. "The speech was very eloquent. However, I couldn't tell who were the tougher questioners, the Diaspora (Armenian) audience or the Azerbaijan audience," said Sean Becker, a returning Fletcher student who was the first to ask the Minister for a response to the conflict. There had been a bitter dispute between both groups after the assassination of the Armenian Prime Minister several years ago. Small traces of rivalry seemed evident during the discussion. Ara Oskanian was pleased with his father's performance. "Coming to Tufts and following my father's footsteps has always been a lifelong dream," he said. "Last night's speech at the Fletcher School and my father's role in international relations not only made me proud to be an Oskanian but has also inspired me to go into diplomacy." The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy has a longstanding relationship with Armenian society, having graduated both the Foreign Minister and 30 other diplomats to the country. Oskanian continues his speaking tour at Yale today and Ann Arbor University this weekend. He will then return to Washington to give a formal briefing and soon after will return to Armenia. He will certainly visit Tufts again in the future, he said. The event was sponsored by The Fletcher School's program in Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization, with the help of Tufts Trustee Joyce Barsam and Fletcher Director of Publications Terry Ann Knopf

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News

Golf team sweeps through first week

September 19

The golf season began with a bang this week, as the Jumbos swept through the WPI Invitational to pick up an important win. Led by its top three golfers strong performances, the squad posted a collective score of 304. In collegiate team golf, the lowest four out of the five competing golfers in each round combine to sum up the team score. The squad averaged an impressive 76. The number one golfer, senior co-captain Elliot Barr, scored a 76, while the number two, junior Brad Hawes, led the team with a 72, to clinch the individual title. At the number three spot, freshman newcomer Dan Weinbeck achieved a promising 76. Senior co-captain Dan Kramer and senior Arun Lambda rounded out the scores with an 84 and 80 respectively. "My 84 was a score that we were happy to drop, which shows the difference (from last year)" Kramer said. The Jumbos won by ten shots over second-place Trinity. Although a smaller tournament, they also defeated host WPI and Worcester State College. "I think it's our first tournament win in four or five years," Hawes said. Tufts' impressive roster includes Barr, a former number-one player who studied abroad in Spain last year; last year's number one player Hawes; and newcomer Weinbeck. Wednesday, however, belonged to Hawes, who stayed just a shot over par to take the top spot at the tournament. As a number-two player who took the top spot, Hawes' performance shows the depth of the Tufts squad. "The team is really good this year," Hawes said. "We only lost one senior who used to play in the fifth spot." The Tufts squad has amassed both raw talent and considerable experience. Although Hawes called Tufts' performance in the NESCAC in recent years "kind of average," he feels that the Jumbos can contend for the NESCAC title. Already this season, Tufts has shown its depth. En route to an unofficial second place finish at the Bowdoin Invitational last Sunday, Tufts defeated fellow NESCAC schools Bates, Bowdoin and Colby. The results of the tournament were unofficial, as the heavy rains forced the cancellation of the event. With its defeat of Trinity on Wednesday, Tufts has defeated all four of the NESCAC teams that it has faced. "I wish they (other NESCAC schools) had been there," Kramer said. "They will be surprised." The tryouts last week produced some remarkable numbers as well. The highest average to make the team was an 83 and the lowest a 73 during the four-day tryout. Many of the newcomers impressed the veterans on the team. "Besides the six who've already played, we have many other guys who can perform," Kramer said With a 73 average during tryouts, Weinbeck secured the number three spot on the team for the WPI Invitational. After an 86 in his first round of collegiate golf Bowdoin Invitational, Weinbeck settled down and dropped ten strokes at WPI. "He's good enough to lead and win tournaments," Kramer said. "His talent is there. He has a very solid overall game." If the first two outings of the year are any indication, the prospects for the year are good. "I expected this," Kramer said. "I'm not surprised. This is what people should expect from us." Already in the first tournament, the team has surpassed expectations. "In the past we've had one or two [players] in the seventies," coach Bob Sheldon. "Now we have the potential to get all five. That's how you win the tournaments." The team nearly reached that goal this week, with only one score counted in the 80s

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News

Dale, MacGregor combo fights past Engineers

September 19

The men's soccer team can breath a little easier after a 2-1 win at MIT last Wednesday. After beating NESCAC foes Amherst College on Sept. 14, there was a fear of a letdown in a non-conference game. Although MIT was not as strong of an opponent as Amherst was, it took the same determination to put away the feisty competitors. "We take every game seriously," senior Garrett Dale said. "We are trying to build up to the climax at the end of the season. " Early on, the Jumbos were dominant as Dale netted his first goal of the season 23 minutes into the first half. Senior tri-captain Matt MacGregor won a head ball to put Dale in a one on one situation with MIT goalie Morgan Mills. Dale smelled blood and pounced, sending a shot into the left corner of the goal. "It was a nice ice breaker," Dale said. "I'm just ready to help the team as much as I can. " The Jumbos applied pressure for most of the first half, but MIT tied the game1-1 six minutes before halftime. MIT's Arron Parnes gained possession of a free ball, about 18 yards from Tufts' goal, and sent a shot into the left corner, past junior goalie Joe Coletti, who was starting in place of injured sophomore Scott Conroy. "Not much Coletti could do," Dale said. "It was a great shot, you have to give him credit for that. " While a halftime tie was not in the Jumbos' plans, they managed to come together and pull out a win in the second half. Once again, Dale and MacGregor hooked up for the score _ a game winner. This time, it was a Dale pass that set up a MacGregor goal. Dale won the ball on the right side of the field, 25 yards from the MIT goal, while MacGregor sat wide open in the middle of the field. Dale delivered the ball to him, and with one swoop of his left foot, MacGregor sent the ball into the right corner of the goal. "We have been playing together for four years _ since day one we have had good chemistry," Dale said. "As you can see from today, he had the assist on my goal and vice versa. " Although the tandem of Dale and MacGregor highlighted the game, Coletti also had a solid afternoon, saving three shots, in his first career start in goal. The Jumbos' regular starter, Conroy was lost for several weeks after he fractured his elbow last Saturday against Amherst. "(Conroy) woke up Sunday in severe pain and x-rays showed that (his elbow) was fractured," assistant-coach Justin Dechene said. Coletti's performance was especially noteworthy because goalie is typically a difficult position to step into, as the net minder is rarely substituted during the flow of a regular game. "A goal keeper is a position that we mostly do not switch," Dechene said. "You don't substitute somebody in throughout the game. You aren't surprised when a striker comes off the field, but you don't see a goalkeeping change. You usually make a switch because you have two inexperienced players, a player is not doing well, or an injury, and in this case it was an injury. " Dechene believes the key to being prepared to sub in during a game or to replace an injured starter is for the sub to practice as if he were going to start every game. Whether the practice is for the experience or to simulate the completive edge, the repetition is a must. "Joe's a very good goal keeper, we have a lot of confidence in him," Dechene said. "We know Joe is a good goalkeeper, we expected him to do well and he did. Joe trains everyday as if he is going to be playing the next game, so when he did get the call he was prepared and did do a good job. " This Saturday, the Jumbos will host NESCAC foe Connecticut College at 11a. m. on Kraft Field. The Camels proved they are no slouch, hanging with the sixth ranked team in the nation, Williams College on Sept. 14, eventually losing 1-0. "Any NESCAC game you expect to be very competitive, we have one of the top conferences in the country," Dechene said. "You can't be surprised if a top team losses to a bottom team because there is a lot of parity. We certainly expect to play better on Saturday.

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News

TEMS, alcohol policy 'is a problem'

September 18

Sunday morning, 3 a.m.: The Hill is filled with sounds of drunken laughter, as students return home after a long night of partying. But what about your friend who has had a few too many drinks and has been vomiting for the last hour? You think he may need medical attention, but the fear of punishment for him, or both of you may influence your decision to call for help. These are the moments when the threat of academic probation forces students to choose whether to call the Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) for emergency care or whether to tough it out and pray for the best. When a student calls for assistance, a TEMS officer is dispatched along with a representative of the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD), who ensures the scene is safe and investigates any criminal activity. If the student is found to have been illegally consuming alcohol, a variety of actions can be prescribed, most commonly Probation Level I. A student on Probation I is ineligible to join a fraternity, to be a Residential Assistant, or to hold certain leadership positions. Parents are not notified when the University places their child on Level I, and it does not appear on a student's permanent record. Probation Level I, which lasts for one year, also means any additional offenses will lead to Probation Level II. Director of the Tufts Alcohol and Health Education Center Armand Mickune-Santos questions the role of any disciplinary action in the medical assistance process. His personal recommendation is educating and counseling for any student convicted of underage drinking. "I think that what hinders the alcohol policy is the attachment of Probation I," Mickune-Santos said. "If you and your friend call TEMS and know that you can get in trouble, he might say 'don't call.' This is a problem." Students often are discouraged from using what otherwise is a beneficial Tufts program, because they are unsure of disciplinary consequences. "People don't want to call. They think they're going to get in trouble," sophomore John Paul Fontelo said. Tufts is not looking to drop the disciplinary aspect of the policy anytime soon though, according to Dean of Students Veronica Carter. "We have to enforce the alcohol policy, we have to enforce the Massachusetts state law...We can't ignore that," she said. Prior to the 2000-2001 academic year, students had to pay a $50 fine if they were caught engaging in underage drinking. In 2000-2001 the policy was changed to include Probation I instead of a fine. At the time of the policy change, TEMS said the primary motive behind adding the disciplinary action was to make sure that "people [were not] deterred from calling for medical help." The thinking was that students did not call TEMS because they did not want to pay a fine. Carter said the changes were made because both TEMS and a task force on student alcohol use were adamant that the fine needed to be dropped. The task force "felt that they wold rather do anything than have the fine," she said. But the Executive Director of TEMS Eric Staler noted that there has not been an appreciable difference in call volume since the fine was dropped and the disciplinary action was added. Alcohol related incidents still account for approximately five to ten percent of the yearly call volume, or between 50 and 60 cases per year. Reiterating that she feels the Tufts' system tries to be more educational than disciplinary, Carter says there should be no rush to remove Probation I from the policy. There have been no noticeable increases in calls since the $50 fine was removed and the change was made at the bequest of students. Probation I is only "a warning that you have broken the standards of the community," Carter said. In addition to the consequences of a Probation Level I, students are required to visit the Alcohol and Health Education Center for an evaluation session. After the meeting, Mickune-Santos can recommend and require weekly or monthly visitations from the students. The Dean of Students Office can also require students to attend these sessions after multiple offenses. All of these factors play into students' decision on whether or not to call for help. But students are warned not to hesitate. "We want the student to have total confidence in the medical community on campus. If there's a situation, pick up the phone and call TEMS," Mickune-Santos said. Several students questioned if they could feel completely comfortable calling TEMS for a friend if they knew punishment was involved. Freshman Caroline Kennedy said, "I would definitely hesitate to call TEMS for someone else. I just don't want to wind up on Probation I." When asked to come up with an alternative way of dealing with Tufts alcohol problems, though, many students were at a loss. "I think the current system is pretty good," sophomore Carlos Cueva-Alegria said. "You would have to be pretty dumb not to call; better to get Probation I than to die." The introduction of a new alcohol awareness course on its use and consequences is a step towards a more educational policy. The course, which will be offered online, includes links to other websites and resources available to students. Administration officials, who plan to make all first year students complete the course, are excited about the program. "I'm very happy about the online course because I think it's an educational course," Carter said. "Education is the most important thing we can do for an alcohol policy." Mickune-Santos explained the role of the new course, "We didn't want to offer another seminar during orientation, or make students go to a classroom," he said. "This will be available for people to complete at their convenience." Santos estimates the courses will take three hours "at most" to complete. New additions to alcohol related programs across campuses in the US have been brought on by increasing problems with underage drinking across the nation. In 1998, MIT changed its procedure to completely remove any disciplinary action from their policy after a student died of alcohol poisoning at a fraternity party. Under the "immunity" provision, students who have not damaged property or assaulted anyone would not be issued citations when seeking medical treatment _ even if they were underage. Despite disciplinary action at Tufts, Fontelo, like many students at the University, realizes that the benefits of a TEMS call far outweigh the possible consequences. "You have to do what you have to do. I think in an emergency it's just more important to call and make sure you are fine," he said

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