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Tufts Tomorrow collects $609 million in donations

September 15

The Tufts Tomorrow capital campaign concluded this June with an unprecedented yield of $609 million over seven years. The administration now seeks to examine the success of the University's largest-ever fundraising effort and evaluate future funding needs. The campaign, which exceeded its goal by $9 million, began in Nov.1995 under the administration of President Emeritus John DiBiaggio. Originally planned as a five-year effort to raise $400 million, the campaign met with early success and was extended two more years to raise another $200 million. Its primary goals were to strengthen the University's endowment, President Larry Bacow said, and to improve facilities, scholarships for undergraduates, and faculty chairs. Even after what is considered a hugely successful campaign, Tufts' endowment remains small relative to those of comparable schools. "We're disadvantaged in that our endowment does not match our aspirations," said Brian Lee, the vice president of development. "There's no question that our endowment is not sufficient to support us in ways that we might like." Today, Bacow said, "we are not a wealthy institution, but we are far from poor." Some of the success of Tufts Tomorrow, according to Lee, resulted from the economic boom of the late 1990s. "With the changing climate it's clear that we need to revisit and rethink our goals," he added. Of the $609 million raised, $223 million was earmarked for enlarging the endowment, $110 million was for renovation and new construction, $78 million went toward the Tufts Fund for current spending, and $198 million was allocated to restricted current uses. Restricted uses include $86 million for student financial aid, $55 million for endowed faculty chairs, and $81 million for other endowed programs. While the campaign received most of its private donations from former Tufts students, more than 133,000 donors contributed, which is more than the number of living alumni. The campaign also received donations from parents, friends of the University, corporations, and foundations. The 2002 campaign received 123 gifts of $1 million or more and set a new record of raising $92 million in one fiscal year. Tufts' endowment, which amounted to $193 million at the end of the previous capital campaign, is now worth $677 million. The fund's interest is used to finance university projects and cover expenses; the principal is never touched. The largest gift made to the campaign _ among the largest ever made to the University _ was an eight-figure sum for the naming of the Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. Other products of the Tufts Tomorrow campaign include the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center, Dowling Hall, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, and the Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical Nutrition and Research. The Center, to be dedicated Nov. 1, will house medical and nutritional research on the Boston campus. Not until former President Jean Mayer was inaugurated in 1976 did Tufts seriously think about building an endowment. "The Tufts you see today is not the University of 30 years ago," Bacow said. "It was very much a regional institution and predominantly a commuter school. It looked to and relied upon tuition as the primary means of support." Mayer, who is credited with raising admissions standards and the overall academic quality of the University during his tenure, began the first capital campaign, which raised $140 million. The next campaign grossed $251 million. Tufts was not thinking big when it first began fundraising, Bacow said. Despite the initial delay, the University has secured over $1 billion from private sources in the past 25 years. Although the campaign surpassed fundraising goals for many purposes, particularly financial aid, Lee noted that donations for endowed faculty chairs were not as high as expected. Still, he said, Tufts Tomorrow funded 34 new chairs, more than double the number from the last two campaigns combined. To generate renewed support and meet potential donors, Bacow traveled to 22 cities last year to meet with alumni. He also spoke at alumni events on campus, at the Alumni Council, and at reunions. "A big priority last year was getting to know people," he said. "It's very difficult to ask people for support before you know them." Representatives from various groups, including the Office of Development, Alumni Relations, and Bacow's personal staff, determine his schedule and how to coordinate it with fundraising goals. "My job is a combination of trying to articulate priorities for the institution... generating the resources needed, and supporting the people who do that," Bacow said. "It's a full day." Tufts believes that it was efforts like these to give the University's fundraising a face which made the Tufts Tomorrow campaign so successful. "We work hard to make sure that the case for support is articulated by the person who can best be connected with the potential benefactor," Lee said. To accomplish this, faculty, senior officers, the Provost, and the President often travel to represent the University. One of the most significant benefits of the campaign, Bacow said, is encouraging future donations from people tied to the University. Lee agreed that alumni, especially recent graduates, are an important source of support. Almost half of Tufts' alumni graduated after1985, a group "we have not been especially effective in reaching," Lee said. The University has embarked on efforts to engage younger alumni in recent years, including electing graduating seniors to the alumni council and holding events such as senior dinners at the President's house to bring the class together. For Bacow and the Office of Development, the end of the campaign is a time to analyze the effort and hone in on future goals. "Now we will reassess University priorities and sharply articulate these priorities within the community and then to the public," Bacow said. His future goals include raising more money to support student and faculty initiatives. Bacow also hopes to raise awareness among students of the generosity and dedication of alumni. "People are recognizing that the University did not build itself," Bacow said. "What we see today are the contributions of those who came before us on this hill." Despite the accomplishments of the recent campaign, there is room for more funding growth. "Although the Tufts Tomorrow campaign was a tremendous success, it didn't begin to fulfill all the needs of the institution," Lee said. "It's clear that philanthropy will play an important role in helping fulfill" those needs. Although another capital campaign is not slated to begin soon, fundraising will continue in other ways. Annual fundraising and "expanding [the] base of support" will be priorities of the Office of Development, Lee said. "Our agenda is to continue to introduce President Bacow and his exciting vision for the future of tufts to more potential donors," he said. "His vision and his message are resonating with our donors, as evidenced by some of the gifts he's brought in since his arrival." In addition, the Office of Development has plans to introduce a new alumni and development information system in the near future. The system, which was recently authorized by the Board of Trustees, will replace the database system implemented in 1985

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News

Sororities (and fraternities) serve many purposes at Tufts

September 15

Given that Daily articles appearing in the news sections usually display both quality and impartiality, many Jumbos were surprised to see a one-sided piece on page three in the Sept. 5 issue about sororities. The opinions presented in the article, which slammed the sorority system at Tufts, were offensive, foolish, and just plain wrong. Considering that the author, Joel Wertheimer is a male, there is no way he can judge a system that is not meant for him to be a part of. He contends that "not one life on the this campus would change if we did not have [sororities]." I guarantee that many people, besides sorority girls, on this campus would be affected if sororities were to disappear. Just because sororities cannot host parties does not mean that they are worthless. I also take issue with the opinions in the article about fraternities. Fraternities do not solely exist to throw parties; fraternity members serve as campus leaders in student organizations such as the TCU Senate, varsity athletics and, of course, in the classroom (DTD posted a 3.28 GPA last semester). However, as a non-Greek, Mr. Wertheimer should not make blanket assertions about a system to which he has had no exposure. Further, his contention that Chi Omega is "a waste of great party space" is absurd. These women need a place to live. I doubt that moving AEPi into the Chi O house would do anything to improve the social scene. People will walk the extra block to AEPi if they are having a good party. If people don't attend AEPi parties, I assure you it is not due to the extra three-minute walk. Another mistake made in the article is the statement that all sorority girls are rich. Not all sorority girls are wealthy, just like not all Tufts students are wealthy. They live and socialize together because they are friends, not so they can "think of themselves as superior to other people," as Mr. Wertheimer erroneously believes. Perhaps the most glaring error Mr. Wertheimer makes is when he chastises the sororities for failing to take part in philanthropic activities. Last semester, Chi Omega sisters volunteered at Kids' Day, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Food Rescue Hunger Project, Blood Drive, the All Stars program for kids, and did cancer outreach work. Both Alpha Phi and Alpha Omicron Pi do similar amounts of charity work. Finally, after ranting that sororities are unnecessary and wasteful, and that saying that he "barely even knows where Alpha Phi is," Mr. Wertheimer ends his piece by apologizing to a specific group of sophomores in that sorority. This sycophantic appeal is the most pathetic part of this whole article. Why berate the sorority system for an entire article and finish it by trying to stay in good graces with four of five sisters? Let me assure you, Mr. Wertheimer, there are much easier ways to appeal to cute women at Tufts than by calling them out in a poorly written, factually incorrect and journalistically irresponsible article. Daniel Kramer is a senior majoring in economics and political science. He is the president of Delta Tau Delta fraternity.

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News

Lack of music equaled lack of enjoyment at Fall Fest

September 15

This year's Fall Fest was an experience in aimless wandering. The few times there were enough people to call it a "fest," the general mood was that of disinterest with the carnival amusements and lack of music. People came, saw their friends, grabbed some food and left. Although there were reports of greater attendance than last year's Fall Fest, there were never enough people there at one time for the place to start hopping. The major gripe voiced by the majority of students was the lack of music. Due to a Tufts Community Union Senate budget miscalculation, there was not enough money to hire live musicians. In response, Tufts called on local radio station WBCN to broadcast from the University for the first half of the show but the station backed out of a verbal agreement and did not show up. However, WBCN did send a vendor, reps for Everquest, a popular online fantasy game, who attempted to placate the crowd's desire for live music by playing tunes from their van. Unfortunately, the reps tried to recruit customers by playing all the hit songs from 1996. Sophomore Jon Cohen spoke for most of the attendees when he said, "Where's the [bleeping] band?" Fortunately, at around 2:30 p.m., Tufts managed to bring in DJ Elyte, more commonly known as Eli Levin-Goldstein, a junior at the University. While his setup was underpowered and did not put out enough sound to deafen everyone on the quad, he at least provided more musical variety than the boys from Everquest. For a casual, laidback affair such as Fall Fest, however, the noise level seemed appropriate. One could carry on a conversation with friends, yet still have something to dance to when the urge hit. In some ways, DJ Elyte saved Fall Fest. Unfortunately, he arrived so late in the afternoon that it was of little consequence. The rock climbing wall, obstacle course, and extreme bungee, were all amusing attractions that took attention away from the vacuum of tunes. The bungee was easily the best received, allowing participants to jump 15 feet in the air, and perform rolls and other acrobatics in a safe manner. Freshman also responded positively to the complimentary massages by Health Services, and the slushies and cotton candy provided by the Senate. Reactions to the changed format of Fall Fest were, at best, mixed. Sophomore Chris Bowen, who lived in Miller Hall last year, said of the previous Fall Fest, "The music was really loud, and all I wanted to do was go hang out downhill." However, he went on to explain that live music would be a better choice in the future. Many students, however, did enjoy last year's Fall Fest and were disappointed by this year's, as well. Sophomore Cecilia Dos Santos echoed Bowen's statement saying, "First of all, it's not loud enough, so you can't tell that there is music playing. Last year, everyone was dancing, and you could go over by the stage." After last year's noise complaints, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate chose not to hire another raucous rap group. However, this year's overly subdued festivities seemed an equally unfulfilling choice. An anonymous Concert Board member, who insisted on noting that Fall Fest was not their planning, said, "I think we could have gotten Tufts' bands to play, and at least it would have been live music." Unlike Spring Fling, where the focus is on the big-name acts, Fall Fest would have been an excellent chance for student bands to get their names out and would have fit the budgetary constraints. Unfortunately, the first-year students were not given much to get excited about in terms of big campus musical events. This year's Fall Fest was, at times, somewhat entertaining, but it clearly was not memorable. In a week's time, it is doubtful someone will say, "Hey, remember Fall Fest? Man, I have the craziest/funniest/best story from that day..." While there is a lot of potential to make Fall Fest an event for all of campus to enjoy, it still needs a lot of work to get there. This year's letdown will hopefully lead to the betterment of next year's Fall Fest

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News

Strengthening the endowment

September 15

The Tufts Tomorrow fundraising campaign organized by then-President John DiBiaggio in 1995 has far exceeded initial expectations and demonstrates that the University is capable of beefing up its formerly laughable endowment. The current endowment of $677 million is still far below other schools of Tufts' caliber, but it continues to grow at improved rates. Although endowment alone cannot completely speak to the quality of a school, the two go hand in hand more often than not. Greater endowments allow universities more freedom in retaining great faculty, constructing new facilities, maintaining up-to-date labs and technology resources, and offering ample financial aid packages. Tufts has only been concerned about building a sizeable endowment for the past 25 years or so, but progress since then has been impressive. Since the last capital campaign concluded a decade ago, Tufts' endowment has grown by over 250 percent. The bull market of the late '90s certainly didn't hurt the capital campaign, but the University should be able to maintain a high level of contributions despite the economy with properly targeted campaigning. President Larry Bacow has demonstrated his dedication to this by travelling often his first year to meet with Tufts alumni and other potential donors across the country. Bacow says that the number of individual donations during Tufts Tomorrow exceeded the number of living alumni, but many of these contributions came from parents, foundations, and corporations. By far the most disappointing aspect of the Tufts Tomorrow campaign is the lack of donations from alumni graduating after 1985. The University should be diligent in determining exactly why these graduates have not been not willing to donate so that it can quickly correct the situation when dealing with current students _ tomorrow's future donors. The Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience is a good starting place because it addresses the issue of student contentment with the University. If students graduate after four years of positive experiences with Tufts, they will be far more likely to give back to their alma mater than students who graduate feeling that they got nothing out of their undergraduate years. With a dual focus on improving the University for current students and reaching out effectively to alumni donors, Tufts will inevitably be able to bring its endowment to a satisfactory level

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News

No end to Fridays off

September 15

After 12 years of five-day-a-week schooling, many college students decide that four school days of classes per week is plenty. While some universities are increasing their Friday course offerings after realizing just how many students have Fridays off, Tufts does not plan to follow the trend. At some colleges, the number of classes that meet on Fridays is almost two-thirds smaller than the amount that meet on other weekdays, according to a Boston Globe article last May that reported some colleges wanted to put an end to Fridays off. A quick glance at the University's block schedule, however, reveals that there are fewer blocks offered on Friday than any other weekday at Tufts. Director of Administration Paul Stanton said it is too early in the semester to know approximately how many students have no Friday classes, but that for many, a three-day weekend is standard. Faculty members often avoid teaching classes on Fridays, understanding that students prefer not to have classes on that day. Before the current block schedule was created, the administration considered a system in which classes would meet either on Tuesdays and Thursdays, or on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The plan was negatively received. Dean of Admissions David Cuttino said that the main focus of the revamped block schedule was not on increasing Friday course offerings. "I think the primary focus here has been on the quality of the educational experience and the best use of time," Cuttino said. "The focus has been on students having access to the courses that are of interest to them and developing the most effective schedule to allow students and faculty to accomplish their academic goals." Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye agreed, noting that in 14 of the most popular blocks of the old schedule, one class conflicted with over 100 other courses. "With the new, modified block schedule and a policy to go along with it, we've managed to spread things out a bit more," Dean Inouye said. During his Tufts career, senior Chris Just has had two semesters with classes on Fridays. This semester, Just has Fridays free, as do many seniors. "It seems like a lot of people now have Fridays off, but there's always that one friend who's feeling left out when everyone else is going out Thursday nights," Just said. The ability to schedule no classes on Fridays often depends on students' majors. Stanton pointed out that in subject areas such as Physics, where students must take certain labs, they might be more likely to have classes on Fridays. Some universities are now cracking down on the three-day weekend that many students try to create, according to the Globe article. At Clark University in Worcester, the faculty recently decided that a four-day school week was harmful to academic life on campus. As a result, faculty there voted to increase the number of classes offered on Fridays. Some university officials in the Globe article argued that when students take Fridays off from classes, it makes it more difficult for students and faculty to gather for out-of-classroom sessions or other non-course-related academic pursuits. According to Stanton, having Fridays off can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on how students spend that free day. Some students use the extra day off for internships or jobs, while others are less productive with their time. "[Fridays off can be negative] if academic life is reduced to time in the classroom during the day Mondays through Thursdays," Stanton said. College administrators may worry that students choose classes based on when they are offered rather than the classes themselves, but the hope is that college students are interested enough in academics not to base their schedule solely on meeting times. "I first start on what I want to take and then tweak it if I can," Just said. "If not, it doesn't really matter." Freshman Jordan Kanter said that he considered the times that classes were offered in creating his schedule, but unlike many students, Kanter opted for a Friday morning class. "I kind of like that because if I didn't have any class I'd sort of sit around wasting my day," Kanter said. "The point of being here is to go to class." Another problem cited with no Friday classes is that it may encourage students to binge drink on Thursday nights. According to the Globe article, studies in the mid 1990s showed that a lack of Friday classes could be a factor in alcohol abuse by students. Some students, however, point out that people in college are going to drink on Thursday nights whether or not they have Fridays off. "I'm guessing that if people don't have classes on Fridays they're definitely going to go out on Thursdays _ not that they wouldn't anyway," sophomore Kim Folk said. Much like people in the real world, college students are eager to start their weekend as early as possible. As long as students are able to plan their schedules with Fridays off, many of them will continue to do so. Though many students are eager to start their weekends early, at least one Tufts administrator says scheduling is all about finding the right kind of balance. "Doing things with your friends on the weekends is fun, and being able to make and keep lasting friendships is all important," Inouye said. "But giving yourself whole-heartedly to what you're studying is also a blast. Work hard, play hard."

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News

Women finish sixth amid tough competition

September 15

When the women's cross-country team traveled to Hanover, New Hampshire this past weekend for the Dartmouth Invitational, they did not take lofty expectations with them. The Jumbos managed a sixth place finish out of seven teams with 166 points. Providence College ran away with the meet, ending with a low team point total of 34, and the winner of the Invitational Roisin McGettigan, who crossed the line in a time of 19:05. At 3.3 miles, the course was slightly longer than the 3.1-mile distance that courses usually run. The competition also pit the Jumbos against six other teams, including Division I Providence College and Dartmouth, as well as the projected number one Division III team, Williams College. "We went against some great Division I and II teams, and it's hard to compare Division I to Division III when priorities aren't the same," said senior Kristen Munson. "We didn't go there to win, we went to have a good race and get in a good training run, and we accomplished that." Tufts had set its sights on a fellow Division III school, Keene State, which ended up one place ahead of the Jumbos, with 113 points. Keene State's front runner, Mary Proulx, placed second overall, propelling her team's standing. Unlike Keene State, the Jumbos do not have a standout, number one runner. Junior Lauren Caputo was the first to cross the finish line for Tufts, coming in 31st in a time of 21:03 and in the process establishing herself as a leader on the course. Though Caputo has emerged as the possible number one Tufts runner, having placed first in both races this season, she is not sufficiently high in the standings to be considered the clear leader _ this weekend, the time difference between the top five funners was just 50 seconds and the difference between the first and seventh runner was one minute, 11 seconds.. But the team's coach, Kristen Morwick, would like to see that gap narrow. "We'd like to see that be closer to a minute and we need to move the pack up, but for now, its a good place to be," she said. Without a star runner to provide leverage, the Jumbos engage in pack running as a racing strategy to improve in the standings. The pack is comprised of runners who finish close to each other and can feed off each other during the race. Part of the strategy involves using the pack to run together and break up other packs or get in front of individuals from rival teams who pose a threat in the standings. "If we want to beat teams with strong front runners like Keene State, we need to use our pack to displace their third, fourth, and fifth runners, and get them behind our fifth girl," junior Ashley Peterson said. "There's not a huge gap between Lauren and the fifth girl, we just have to move up the pack." Juniors Lauren Dunn (21:35) and Bethany Arrand (21:42) both had strong races and gave kicks in the last 1,000 meters as they finished 42nd and 47th respectively. Senior co-captain Mary Nodine (21:52) and Munson (21:54) rounded out the top five scoring runners, and ended two seconds apart in 49th and 50th places. Also aiding in the pack mobility were senior co-captain Sarah Foss (22:01), who had a stronger performance en route to 55th place, as well as freshman Rebecca Ades (22:14), who made her college debut at 57th place. "We stayed together well as a team with the pack running well and keeping within sight of each other," Nodine said. "We were disappointed with how we ran the third mile because there was large hill at the end that we weren't prepared for. Overall we ran well as team but didn't run the course as well as we could have." This weekend, the team will travel to the Purple Valley Classic, hosted by Williams. The classic is shaping into a clash of the titans match-up as it will include Williams and Middlebury, which placed first and second at last year's NCAA cross-country championships. As they go head to head with some of the toughest that Division III has to offer, the Jumbos look at the competition as an opportunity to fine-tune their pack against some truly worthy opponents. "We have a way to go in learning how to race better, but that's what these meets are for," Nodine said. "As we move the pack up and stay close together we learn how to work together and run a more gutsy race." @keywords:women#crosscountr

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News

Degree in engineering may not get you the job

September 15

When freshman Dan Roe decided to attend the Tufts School of Engineering, it wasn't just because of his interest in math and science. "My parents told me to be an engineer," he said. "Technical jobs pay more." Not only that, Roe believes _ as many Tufts students do _ that after graduation, engineers have an easier time finding jobs than liberal arts students do. "With a technical degree, [engineers] can go into the actual technical field or they can go in to business or anything else," Roe said. That belief will take on new meaning this year, as Tufts seniors from all walks of life face a job market that is far less inviting than in past years. While many engineers may have come to college thinking their curriculum would better prepare them for the world beyond, Director of Career Services Jean Papalia says that factors outside of one's curriculum play an important role in the career search. "I think it really depends on the economy," she said. "It's a real myth. It depends on the job market and what kinds of fields people are looking into." The number of engineering companies recruiting at Tufts during the 2001-2002 school year decreased by more than 50 percent from the 2000-2001 year. This was compared to only a 25 percent decrease in the number of financial services and consulting firms recruiting at Tufts in the same years. "A lot of the companies that are tried and true and always come just didn't have any openings last year," she said. The job search has changed for seniors in accordance with the changing market, Papalia said. "Tufts students typically have a high interest in the fields of consulting, finance, and high tech, all of which got hit very hard last year, so of course recruiting was down at Tufts as well as at all universities." In agreement with Tufts statistics, the National Association of Colleges and Employers predicts that employers will hire 3.6 percent fewer new colleges graduates in 2002-2003 than last year. In addition, engineering firms are expected to see the biggest decreases in college hires, with a projected 11.4 percent decrease. Papalia expects recruiting at Tufts to be heavier in government, merchandising, non-profits and biotech. But students aren't the only ones who subscribe to the belief that engineers have more success in their job search. Dean of Engineering Ioannis Miaoulis said that engineers are not as susceptible to job market fluctuations. "It's not a myth, it's a reality. There are a lot of technical firms looking for students." Engineers also bring many useful skills to the table. "They have good analytical skills and quantitative skills. They are good at problem solving," Miaoulis said. He also believes an engineering degree also never gets outdated, since students are given not only a technical background, but the ability to learn on their own. "If they learn the basics, they're able to adapt and to create technology themselves," he said. But it may not just be the engineering curriculum that causes people to think that engineers are more employable. The Engineering College's small size also facilitates the job search process. Freshman engineer Graham Good said that "there are less engineers than liberal arts students coming out of schools. So there's probably just less of an abundance." Because engineering professors have fewer students to deal with, they are able to give students individual attention. "The engineering department is so small. I have a lot of friends who found internships through their professors or their advisors, because everyone knows each other," said senior Michael Torsiello, a civil engineer. Though Miaoulis says that certain desired job skills are built into the engineering curriculum, Papalia contends that, after factoring in internship experience and background, many engineers and liberal arts students may have the same ability when it comes to analytical skills. When companies are hiring they're after other skills as well, she said. "Communication skills, ability to make decisions, work as a team member, time management _ those are the qualities they're looking for," she said. Liberal arts students may have a harder time in applying for jobs because they have to explain their background and skills. "When you say liberal arts, it's so broad because liberal arts means the rest of the world besides engineering," Papalia said. Overall experience will help students from both the engineering and liberal arts colleges find success in their search for the right job, Papalia said. "Everybody who comes out of Tufts has a really well-rounded education," she said. This broad experience is what attracts many to Tufts. "I figured that I could get a good background of everything at Tufts, and that was half the reason I came here, to meet a lot of people with different ideas," Good said. Regardless of the job search, many engineers maintain that they chose their course of study because of a strong interest in math and science, and not because of job opportunities. "It was complete interest in the classes," Torsiello said. Surviving in the engineering field requires a genuine love for the subject matter. "If you choose the discipline just for the job opportunities, you probably won't make it," Miaoulis said. Miaoulis also points out that a successful job search means finding the right job, not necessarily finding a job immediately. "I have been dean for nine years and nobody has ever complained to me that they cannot find a job," he said. "It may take a little bit longer than the typical year, but eventually if they try to find a job, they will." Engineers remain confident, though, that their skills will find them a job no matter what the economic situation, and despite the recent pessimistic statistics. Torsiello acknowledged that the attitudes his senior engineering friends take towards finding a job may be an indicator of the validity of the belief. "Not really any of them are nervous about finding a job, everyone just thinks they'll get one," he said

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News

The religious right: the real American Taliban

September 15

Although not 'the evil one' President Bush so vehemently wanted captured 'dead or alive' the detainment of the hirsute American Taliban John Walker Lindh on Dec. 8, 2001, and his subsequent confession of guilt nearly six months later, was a small and somewhat satisfactory consolation prize in the War on Terror. A minimal threat compared to the duo of Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, Lindh's capture gave the government a surprising if not bittersweet success story, one of the very few to come out of this war thus far. The only other victory came courtesy of a decisive strike against a weak and depleted enemy; suddenly the Taliban were no longer the burqua-enforcing, Buddha-exploding leaders of Afghanistan, that privilege once again returning to the regional warlords who operate on their own agendas. The average American still waits nervously in fear of "what next," sitting at home with a glass of water in one hand and a potassium-iodide pill clenched in the other while safely detained in some federal prison is one American Taliban, a misguided youth who got caught up in the dangers of religious ideology run amok. But for all it's worth, Lindh's transformation from a quiet suburban boy into an obstreperous supporter of theologically based fundamentalism is not unique internationally, especially when speaking about members of extremist religious factions that flourish within the United States. Our nation, so passionate in its love of freedom and democracy, has a dangerous undercurrent of non-secular ideologues, who, like the former rulers in Afghanistan, seek to create a nation, and a world, that bow down to its own brand of religious idealism. Those who would rather live in a nation bound by the bible, not by the constitution, those who seek to create systems and constructs that promote purely puritanical beliefs, and those that choose religion over reason constitute the greatest internal threat to our national security; they are the real American Taliban. Shortly after Sept. 11, Jerry Falwell eloquently expressed his own irrational reasons for why planes hijacked by religious zealots attacked America. "I really believe that the pagans, and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way _ all of them who have tried to secularize America _ I point the finger in their face and say, 'You helped this happen.'" These asinine words from the American version of Mullah Omar need no explaining _ the idiocy involved speaks for itself _ but what stands out is his insistence on blaming the secularization of America, the failure of morality in this nation, for influencing the events of Sept. 11. He used a tragedy as a vehicle to criticize everything that cuts against the current of his utopian, ideologically religious nation. Placing blame on individuals merely seeking to live the American Dream who don't conform to his own brand of extremism, and subtly calling for their removal from the American landscape in order to "right a nation wronged," is equitable to the ideology the Taliban and its leaders forcibly impressed upon the people of Afghanistan for nearly a decade. Zealots like Falwell who deride the Taliban while supporting their own ideal of religious fundamentalism in the United States fail to see the hypocrisy in their visions, and if this ultra-religious faction had their way, America would look more like the Afghanistan of pre-Sept. 11 than the America of 1997. What happens when conservative ideologues clash with society because American children are learning that evolution, not creationism, may account for mankind's existence? The science of evolution can no longer be taught in a science classroom. For two years, no public school in the entire state of Kansas could teach about evolution in the classroom. In Ohio, lawmakers are seeking to appease religious factions by instituting a curriculum of intelligent design rather then strict evolution, teaching children that primates evolved only after being created initially by a "God or godlike creature." What happens when science reaches a point where cures for various deadly diseases may be found using a process that defies what the religious right deems as acceptable? Science would be sacrificed in the name of, what these religious ideologues consider moral righteousness and spiritual sanctity. In order to satisfy their own vision of what America could and should be, a vision emanating from their pervasion of the world's best-selling fiction book of the past two thousand years, this same faction seeks to subdue research that one day may lead to cures for hundreds of debilitating and deadly human afflictions. This includes an affliction that has disintegrated the mind of their so-called conservative hero, Ronald Reagan, simply because the process in which these remedies could be extracted does not conform to their ideals of a moral society. The religious right in America wants to curtail a woman's right to choose what she does with her own body while at the same time desires to dictate what can and cannot be viewed on television, be read in schools, and be worn on the streets. They seek to suppress individual free will for the sake of religious doctrine, accompanied with an ultimate aspiration for moral dictatorships without reason, turning our government into a regime reminiscent of the Taliban. But only an exiguous number of Americans believe in these visions, only a very vocal few subscribe to such ideological beliefs. The danger therein lies the fact that so too in Afghanistan did only a very minute minority agree with the doctrines of the Taliban _ the sharp rise in American style clothing, entertainment, and even food in the streets of Kabul shortly after liberation attests to this fact _ and yet they were still able to retain supremacy for nearly a decade. Spirituality and faith is the epicenter of human fortitude, but the flashpoint arrives when faith becomes ideology, and the ideology turns into a hatred for all those who hold different beliefs. This is the impetus for religious extremism in the Middle East, amongst men of all faiths, in America and across borders in every corner of the globe. It doesn't matter which religion it is, for the inherent danger of extremism founded in faith is one that has faced the world for thousands years before and will for another thousand years hence. Not all religious Americans would rather live in a land with laws drawn out of individual proliferation of spiritual indoctrination, and a man of faith is not the same as a man of oppressive faith, but the fact remains that a strong faction in this nation wants to impress upon all people a certain ideological zealotry that inhibits the life of men and women alike in order to fulfill a greater view of morality in the eyes of faith. There are not many other belief systems that represent a greater threat to a free and open society Religion in its nature is not an oppressive institution, but when hijacked by those with ulterior motives of domination and control, it becomes just a hollow vehicle for megalomaniacal men. The tragedy of Sept. 11 demonstrates these truths, and highlights the perils of unbridled religious adherence. Perhaps religion, like other potentially hazardous substances, is best served only in moderation. Adam Blickstein is a junior majoring in Political Science.

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News

Lyrical rhythms of Dylan Thomas' radio play come alive on Tremont stage

September 15

Upon walking into the Tremont Theatre, which is nothing more than a large open space with tiled floor, it is hard to notice where exactly the stage ends and the audience begins. The Ablaze Theatre Initiative used this wonderful little space for their premiere of Dylan Thomas' last and most famous work, UnderMilk Wood. Rows of chairs completely surround the elegantly simple set: a bench, a patch of grass, some cobblestone. Other set pieces are placed throughout the rows of chairs, so that once the production begins, the actors are dispersed among the audience. This has the effect of blurring the lines between the actors and the audience, thus adding a new level to the play. During many scenes where one actor is delivering a monologue, the rest of the actors surround the audience adding short lines or atmospheric sounds that make it feel as if the audience is part of what is going on, rather than simply watching it. In effect, we become members of the town. This effective set design, envisioned by director Mitchell Sellers, perfectly compliments the style of Under Milk Wood, a hilarious and touching play about a day and night in the life of a small Welsh town called Llareggub. Yet, Thomas' play was originally meant as a radio play, which was often apparent in the production. The work rests on Thomas' lyric poetry which washes over the audience, carrying earthy imagery and heartfelt emotion. It is the strength and power of this language that makes the play a work of art, but at times some of this power was lost in the acting, making it hard to follow for anyone who is unfamiliar with the prose. It was one of the few plays that work almost as well if you close your eyes. Yet it is not necessary to catch every single word to still be affected by the play. By offering us a glimpse into the simple minds of the inhabitants of a small Welsh town, showing us their hopes and dreams and secret desires, Thomas reminds us of the essence and uniqueness of human life. While each character goes about their own individual lives, we see their experiences intertwine to form the rich and varied tapestry that is Llareggub. This adds to the feeling of a collective human consciousness; despite the uniqueness of our own individual dreams, the human ability to think and dream in fact brings us together. In creating the atmosphere of this small, seaside Welsh town, nine actors portray about seventy different characters. There's old Captain Cat, the blind old sea-dog who will never sail again; Organ Morgan, who never stops practicing the organ; Cherry Owen, who can never be found without a drink, and many others. The different characters are all introduced rather quickly as actors make small costume changes to indicate they have changed roles. The play begins before dawn as Jeff Gill as the First Voice (narrator) pierces the initial blackout with his powerful voice. As the town sleeps, the dreams of all the characters are revealed through poetic anecdotes. The narrator tells the audience that "from where you are, you can hear their dreams." At dawn, the town starts to wake up. The narrator then takes us through a typical day, showing the interactions between the different characters as well as their private thoughts toward each other. Coming full circle, the play ends as the characters return to bed and the "rain of dusk brings on the bawdy night." Through quick character changes, and many different plot lines and anecdotes, the play moves rapidly through the lives of the townsfolk. The result is a rich mosaic of small town Welsh life, full of colorful characters and their vivid experiences. Because each actor must play more than one part, it is essential the cast be extremely versatile and dynamic. Sellers did a good job of assembling a cast that had little difficulty taking on completely different personas for each of their characters. Robert Astyk did a wonderful job of subtly changing the timbre of his voice to let us know whether he was Captain Cat, Utah Watkins or any of the other characters he played. Jeff Gill was superb as the First Voice, among other characters. His rich voice navigated the complexities of Thomas' language and brought the lyricism to life as he narrated the lives of the characters. Although there was no problem differentiating between different characters a single actor played, oftentimes the lines would get bogged down by the different accents and inflections the actors used. But, because of the rich language and characters, anyone coming to see this production with an open mind and a love of the English language will not be disappointed. Under Milk Wood is showing at the Tremont Theatre. For tickets call 617-846-SHOW. Two tickets for the price of one with Tufts student ID.

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News

Reitman assumes leadership of Task Force

September 15

Dean of Students Bruce Reitman was appointed co-chair of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience in August in an effort to enhance the committee's understanding of the non-academic aspects of life at Tufts. Reitman was chosen by President Larry Bacow to replace former Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs Kristine Dillon. Dillon left Tufts this summer to become the President of the Consortium on the Finance of Higher Education. "We are all grateful for Kristine's leadership on the Task Force," Bacow said. "I am confident that Dean Reitman will do an excellent job of continuing her work on the Task Force." Economics professor Gilbert Metcalf and Dean of the Colleges for Undergraduate Education Charles Inouye are the other co-chairs of the Task Force. Reitman is not unfamiliar with the Task Force, having attended some of its meetings last year. He "hit the ground running," Metcalf said, allowing the Task Force to maintain its momentum. Reitman's appointment indicates that the co-curricular aspect of the undergraduate experience is as important as the academic aspect. The Dean of Students explained that his work with student groups, student leaders, and professionals give him perspective on the non-academic elements of the Tufts experience. "I am glad to have an opportunity to bring these perspectives to the work of the Task Force, he said, "and am pleased that the members of the Task Force are very focused on the entire experience in the Tufts community _ not just the classroom." Bacow established the Task Force when he became the University's president last fall. He appointed 11 members: six faculty, three undergraduates, one academic dean, and one administrative dean. The Task Force also has staff and a Student Advisory Committee. Bacow charged the task force with "evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of Tufts' curriculum," "assessing the contribution of residential and co-curricular life to the... undergraduate experience," and "identifying the resources that are necessary to effect the recommended changes." To execute these objectives, the Task Force gathers input from the "various constituencies that make up our community, considers its strengths that we can build upon, and identifies new initiatives and directions," Reitman said. But, he said, this does not mean that every complaint can, or should, be addressed. The mission of the Task Force is to enhance the undergraduate experience as a whole, Reitman said. Therefore, the committee is more concerned with issues related to the dynamic, rather than the technicalities, of campus life. Over the past year, 505 members of the University community have attended 33 outreach meetings. The Task Force has also held student group meetings and received hundreds of e-mails. The Task Force has thus far come to the consensus that while the Tufts experience is a positive one, every university has room for improvement. Three themes have emerged from conversations with members of the Tufts community, Metcalf said. The first, referred to as "climate," concerns creating "an atmosphere that encourages the convergence of the intellectual and social spheres on campus," he said. The second, "coherence," entails making this convergence, and the undergraduate experience as a whole, more seamless. "Community," the third theme, refers to "the network of relationships among students or faculty, and between students and faculty that supports the intellectual and educational mission of the University." These themes will be presented in an interim report that is projected to be released this week. The report will outline a few possible scenarios of what Tufts should be like in 10 years. Once the report is released, the Task Force plans to gauge the reaction of the community and gain widespread support for the necessary changes. The University ultimately seeks to provide a "24 hour learning experience," Metcalf said. This experience requires a climate that encourages curiosity and engagement in students, whether in the classroom, during dorm discussions, or over dinner or coffee, Metcalf said. A status report will be released this week, making public the information that the Task Force has gathered. The Task Force's research will culminate in a report to be issued next June, which will include an overview of the collected data, its implications, and a specific recommendation for what a Tufts education should be. The report will provide a blueprint for a "Tufts of the future," Inouye explained. Lara Birk, the Task Force's project coordinator, said the community's willingness to get involved with the mission had been invaluable. The Task Force encourages members of the community to voice their opinions, either by sending e-mail suggestions to ugtaskforce@tufts.edu or by attending a "speak-out" session

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News

Field hockey pitches shut out

September 15

The field hockey team began its NESCAC season in successful fashion on Saturday as they traveled to Amherst and shut out the Lady Jeffs 1-0. The win was a big confidence booster for the team as Tufts has not beat Amherst since 1998. After a season opening loss against Bentley college last week, the Jumbos rallied to push their record to 1-1. In last year's match-up, it was Amherst walking away with a 1-0 shutout and ending last season ranked eleventh in the nation in Division III. This year however, the roles were reversed. "We were expecting a tough game," senior co-captain Ursala Stahl said. "But we've always played well against Amherst, so we knew were capable of beating them." Tuft's lone goal came from sophomore Jennie Sachs with 10:55 left in the second half. She was able to convert on a pass from freshman Jeanne Grabowski, giving her two goals on the season. Sachs was also responsible for Tufts only goal in last weekend's overtime loss against Bentley. "I got the hit from outside," Sachs said. "It was a great hit. I was able to get my stick on the ball and it went in the goal." The Jumbo offense routed the Lady Jeff defenders, as it posted nine attempted shots and nine penalty corners. Meanwhile, Tufts held Amherst to only five attempts and three penalty corners. Amherst was slow to come alive, as it posted only one attempt in the first half. "The defense played a great game," Stahl said. "We didn't have any defensive corners in the first half, which gave the offense the opportunity to capitalize." Amherst picked up the intensity in the second half, with four attempted shots, none of which was able to find the back of the net. Junior goalkeeper Julie Jackson had two saves, compared to Amherst goalkeeper Anne McMullen's five saves. "It was an offensive game," Sachs said. "We probably could have beaten them by a lot more than just 1-0. Both our offense and defense are playing really strong right now. We can get the ball up in the circle, now we just need to put it in the net." But one goal was all that was needed to put this game away. The Jumbos are showing a complete turnaround from last year's team, which posted a dismal 3-10 record. This year the Jumbos appear to be moving in the right direction. Despite losing to Bentley last weekend, Tufts was able to give the defending Division II champions a run for their money. Bentley was able to squeak out the win in overtime, 2-1. The Jumbos were then able to come back and beat a team that it has struggled against for the past three years. "We played so well together," Stahl said. "We still had the momentum from last week's game. This week we upped the level of play and excelled." Next week, the Jumbos will be playing two games at home. On Wednesday, Tufts will go up against Wellesley at four o'clock. The Jumbos have been 1-2 in their past three meetings with the Blue. Following this matchup will be a NESCAC game against Connecticut College on Saturday at one o'clock. Tufts has won two of their last three games against the Camels. "Right now we are trying to shape up every aspect of our game," Stahl said. "There is always room for improvement. Our attitudes are high right now so we want to just go out and keep on winning.

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Senate elects three trustee reps

September 15

The Tufts Community Senate (TCU) Senate elected seniors Raji Iyer, Matthew Kane, and Sarah Sandison as trustee representatives for the academic year yesterday. The three beat out the five other sophomores, juniors and seniors for the spots. Although candidates run individually, the three tried to present themselves as a united front during the elections process. "The three of us each were considering running for trustee reps, and decided that the best way for trustee reps to operate was by using a coordinated and united approach," explained Kane. "We all have very similar overarching goals." "I couldn't be happier," said Iyer, "Sarah, Matt, and I have worked together in the senate and I know we'll work well together here too." Trustee representatives are the liaisons between students and the Board of Trustees. The representatives attend all of the Senate meetings and report the actions and recommendations of the Senate to the Trustees at three meetings in November, February and May. At the May meeting, the representatives are responsible for a large-scale presentation during which they submit the major developmental and constructional proposals of the Senate. The Board of Trustees is divided into three committees _ Academics, Development and Administration & Finance _ and one trustee representative sits on each committee. Iyer will sit on Academics, Kane on Administration & Finance and Sandison on Development. In their election speeches, Iyer, Kane, and Sandison all said completing the third phase of the construction of the Mayer Campus Center was one of their goals. Each added a different twist to reflect the three trustee committees to which they could be elected, to ensure they would all be picked. Phase three plans to extend the Campus Center into the space occupied by the Women's Center and the lawn next to Stratton Hall. The addition of an extra wing with an extra story would include a mid-sized performance center, a faculty dining hall and an expanded alumni center. They would also like Tufts to create a late-night healthy food stop, an on-campus pub, and find a room to house the Women's Center, which would be displaced if the Campus Center was expanded. Kane called the Campus Center construction "one of two main prongs" the representatives hope to focus on this year. The second is increasing interaction between alumni and current undergraduates. Increasing interaction is a non-monetary way to get alumni, especially those who recently graduated, involved in the University. Other schools, they said, foster a "family" network between alumni and students. The three cited a "vicious cycle of dissatisfaction" that is the source of Tufts' problems. Unsatisfied students do not give back to the University after graduation, which keeps Tufts' endowment small and leads to more student dissatisfaction. They believe the third phase of the campus center and increased interaction with students are two concrete ways to increase the alumni giving rate. The positions the three trustee representatives have on the Trustee committees will allow them to pursue their goals. The Committee of Administration & Finances is responsible for approving the University's budget, commissioning construction and renovations on campus, and deciding how much to allocate to the school's various organizations. The Committee on Academic Affairs deals with everyday life issues at Tufts, including faculty affairs. Iyer feels that improvements in faculty life, like a new faculty cafeteria in the campus center, will help decrease faculty turnover rates and improve Tufts' reputation. The Development Committee's main concern is alumni relations and fundraising for the school. One of Sandison's ideas to help alumni relations is to establish "Tufts Target Cities." Initially focusing on cities such as Boston, New York and Washington, she hopes to create a nation-wide Tufts community to keep alumni connected to the school, thereby increasing the annual giving rate. The Elections Board also announced yesterday that that freshman John Valentine was elected to the Senate last Thursday

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News

Pride in the USA

September 15

Before Sept.11, 2001, Americans had a lot to be proud of _ the most successful government and richest people in world history, over 50 years of Pax Americana under its direction, a diverse, multi-ethnic society living in relative harmony, and the cutting edge in music videos and soft drinks. A year after Sept. 11, Americans have even more to be proud of. Despite a few ugly incidents, American Arabs and Muslims have been treated with respect and consideration, and enjoy more political, economic, and social freedom than they would in their countries of origin. The US government has responded decisively and successfully, but not excessively, being carefully to build international support before taking military action. And the American people have banded together to show the world that the American spirit is something that transcends music videos and soft drinks. However, Americans have also had to face virulent anti-American sentiment in much of the rest of the world and reconcile this with their pride for their own country. Some have gone to history in search of the seeds of this resentment and found reasons to question their patriotism. While America's past is not spotless, it is difficult to justify the amount of anti-Americanism in the world today based on past American failures in judgment. We are not perfect, but we are good. Indeed, America's successes have bred more hatred through envy than have its failures through indignation. Given its wealth and power, there is very little America could do to placate anti-Americanism, even if it tried. This is partly because anti-American rhetoric is so varied and contradictory. America is at once too realistic, too idealistic, too rational, too irrational, too democratic, too undemocratic, too isolationist, too interventionist, too aggressive, too passive, too religious, too secular, too stoic, and too hedonistic. Appeasing one anti-American faction justifies the bias of another. This array of charges against the US in part represents the world's ambivalence towards us. The world needs us to get anything done. This at once brings efforts to obtain our assistance and envy and ill will bred by its need, even when the assistance is given. I once asked an expert on anti-Americanism if there were any US action that might be welcomed by all anti-Americanists. He suggested scholarship programs to bring bright young students from poor countries to the US to study. This seemed adequately noble and pure to me at the time, but not 24 hours later I found myself listening to an activist rail against similar programs as "subsidized brain drain." Similarly, US programs to give away food surpluses to poor countries are criticized as an effort to drive out local farmers by pushing food prices impossibly low, and it is said that the food dependency is used later as a political tool. Someone might suggest that a country wanting to avoid these problems could grow their own damn food, but this would be decidedly politically incorrect. Another important lesson from Sept.11 is that anti-Americanism is often a product of internal politics, rather than any heartfelt conviction that the United States is in fact an agent of the devil. This is certainly true with regards to bin Laden and his relationship with the House of Saud, but it occurs in Europe as well. In Italy last spring, when tempers flared over labor laws, unions brought anti-US rhetoric into the debate, even though the US has very little to do with Italian labor laws. This, again, is unavoidable. There are and always will be those who insist on construing every US action as an attempt at world domination. There is, of course, no plan in the US for world domination. But we do have significant interests in world affairs, and we shouldn't feel ashamed of defending them. Pandering to the anti-Americanists is a futile exercise. America's and the world's interests will be better served if US politicians ignore the peanut gallery and get back to the business of serving and protecting the people who elected them for that purpose. Although we have much to be proud of, now is no time for revelry. The world needs us, and they know it. David Eil is a senior majoring in international relations and classics.

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News

Tufts ranked 28th in annual college report

September 15

Tufts was ranked 28th in U.S. News & World Report's annual "America's Best Colleges" edition, which hit newsstands Friday. The University tied with the University of North Carolina for the second year in a row. Princeton University topped the list for the third year in a row, while Harvard and Yale tied for second place. Tufts was also recognized as among the universities with the "Most Diversity," "Best Value," "Most Selective," "Highest Graduation Rates," "Least Amount of Debt," and "Best Undergraduate Engineering Program." Two Tufts students were also mentioned in the magazine, as Kaity Colon and Kate Elder were quoted in a feature article about how to survive one's freshman year of college. Colon told U.S. News & World Report that "there will be classes where you'll work your behind off and you will get a C." Colon said that because college is an intellectual jump from high school, she had to change her study habits to return to getting A's and B's. Elder recommended that students join an extracurricular activity to meet more people and to ease the transition from high school to college. Elder became active in the Leonard Carmichael Society and said it "was an instant group of friends." Amid the usual controversy over the validity of the rankings, many prospective Tufts students say the rankings will have little to no effect on their college decision. "I've looked at [the rankings], but in the top 50 it doesn't really matter," high school senior Lauren Janowitz said during a visit to the University on Saturday. While the rankings are "a place to start from," she does not think they necessarily reflect the quality of each school. "They're all really good schools," Janowitz said. The public's perception of Tufts is more important than its ranking, high school senior Matthew Bellof said. "Tufts has a really good reputation," he said. But others, like prospective student Alexandra Hartz say rankings do affect college decisions. The rankings "affect where I could get into and where I look," Hartz said. "My parents base which school is better on how they're ranked." A recent poll of over 500 high school seniors published by independent polling organization Arts & Science Group, which focuses on higher education issues, found that many high school students have heard of or read the rankings. But the poll also showed that while some use them as a tool in their college searches, others consider them inconsequential. Of the students polled, 21 percent said the rankings were "extremely valuable," while 18 percent said they were "not valuable at all." Prospective college students most often turn to current college students, admissions representatives, parents, and college catalogs in gathering information about different institutions. Students found news magazine rankings to be "unreliable," and used them "largely to validate and inform pre-existing college interests and evaluations," the polling group reported. U.S. News & World Report uses basic statistics _ acceptance rates, freshmen retention rates, graduation rates, endowment _ and "peer assessment" to formulate its rankings. The peer assessment portion for a given school is based on opinions gathered from top-level university administrators of other institutions. A quarter of a school's ranking is based on these assessments, which are designed to evaluate the "intangibles" of each school. Tufts' peer assessment score was 3.6 out of a possible 5.0. About 65 percent of the peer assessment surveys sent out were completed and returned. Tufts and 248 other universities were ranked in the category of national-doctoral universities. Liberal arts colleges, regional master's degree universities, and regional bachelor's degree universities were ranked in separate categories.

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Women take out nationally ranked Amherst

September 15

After beginning its season in disappointing fashion last week, the women's soccer team (1-1, 1-0) rebounded in a big way this weekend by defeating defending NESCAC champion and NCAA finalist Amherst, 1-0, on Saturday. Amherst, which entered the game ranked second in the nation, ended the Jumbos season last year in the first round of the NESCAC playoffs, with a 3-1 win. The victory set the tone for the Jeffs' playoff run, which eventually carried them to the NCAA championship game. If revenge was on the minds of the Jumbos this weekend, they succeeded, as they handed the Jeffs their first lost of the season. "We played wonderfully," sophomore midfielder Jen Baldwin said. "I really had no expectations going into the game, but I think we showed that we're as good, if not better than they are." Baldwin scored the lone goal of the contest, the first of her collegiate career, in a first half that was dominated primarily by Amherst. In a slight reversal of roles from last week's game against Gordon, the Jumbos were able to capitalize on the opportunities they had, while the Jeffs continually fired shots just wide of the net or off the posts. Less than 15 minutes into the game, Amherst's sophomore striker Tracy Montigny took a feed from junior Jenny Rossman and launched a shot just wide of Tufts' goal. Shortly thereafter, a rocket off the foot of sophomore Adrienne Showler flew just over the crossbar. Not long after Amherst's missed chances, at 28:46, Baldwin took a feed from senior co-captain Cara Glassanos and, after getting by one Amherst defender, punched a low shot into the bottom corner of the goal, netting the eventual game winner. Early on in the second half, Tufts saw another golden opportunity, as junior forward Becca Doigan blasted a point blank shot at the Amherst net. The Jeffs' senior goalkeeper Brooke Diamond was there, however, smothering the shot to keep Amherst in the game. Both goalkeepers had strong showings in the game _ Diamond finished with eight saves on nine shots, while Tufts sophomore netminder Meg McCourt stopped all nine attempts that came her way. Although the second half was more evenly played than the first, the Jeffs had a chance to tie the game up in the 66th minute of the match, when sophomore midfielder Ashley Harmeling fired a sharp-angled shot over the cross bar. As Harmeling's shot sailed away, so too did the Jeffs' chances, as the Jumbos held on to squeak out the victory. The win improved Tufts' record to 1-1 overall, and 1-0 in NESCAC play. The Jeffs dropped to 2-1 on the season, and 1-1 in the conference. Tufts is now tied with Bates and Williams for first place in the NESCAC, while Amherst is part of a five way tie for fourth with Bowdoin, Middlebury, Trinity, and Wesleyan. Though it is still early, the win over the highly touted Jeffs puts Tufts in good position for the remainder of the season. The Jumbos next game is a non-conference, home matchup against Babson College on Tuesday. The team was routed by the Beavers in its season opener last year, falling 4-1. Following its victory over a heavily favored Amherst team, Tufts will be riding high coming into the game against Babson. But the Beavers, currently 2-2, have shown flashes of a high powered offense already this season, with a 7-0 victory over Anna Maria, and a 15-0 victory over Emmanuel. Though neither of these teams is of Amherst's caliber, Tufts found out in its opener against Gordon that non-conference opponents cannot be taken for granted. "They have a lot of great goal scorers," Baldwin said. "We haven't thought too much about that game yet, but it's definitely something we'll have to keep in mind." The Jumbos will square off against the Beavers on Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Kraft Field

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News

Kevin who?

September 12

1079 total yards. 135 yards per game. Eight touchdowns. That is what running back Kevin Kelley brought the Jumbos last season, and that is what the team must try to replace this year if they hope to post back to back winning seasons for the first time since 1990-91. Ask coach Bill Samko about the six-foot 238 pound freight train running back, and you're likely to get a "Kevin who?" in response. "It's a new year, with new people," Samko said. "One person doesn't win games, and we've got some guys back this year." These "guys" include senior running back Chuck McGraw, who will likely have the task of filling the mammoth void left in the Jumbos' offense when Kelley left Tufts after his junior year to get married. For McGraw, however, this might not be as daunting a task as it may seem. While backing up Kelley last year, McGraw gained 449 yards on the ground, scored three touchdowns, and matched Kelley's 4.7 yards per carry. He was also the team's leading receiver, hauling in 16 catches for 118 yards and one touchdown. With last year's offensive line primarily still intact, Kelley's numbers do not look too far off. "I think that Chuck was able to make bigger plays for us last year," Samko said. "Kevin could pound the ball up the field for more yards, but Chuck made the bigger plays. If you add his receiving yards to his rushing from last year, his production isn't much different from Kevin's." McGraw (5'11" 200lbs) is not physically as big as Kelley, and he may have as many carries per game. "But he will likely touch the ball 20-25 times per game," Samko said. Backing up McGraw at the running back position will be sophomore Steve Cincotta, and junior Matt Malatesta, both of whom saw limited playing time last season. Also impressive so far has been sophomore Matt McMillan, Samko said. At the helm of the offense will once again be senior Scott Treacy, who quarterbacked the team in its romp through last season. The team relied heavily on the run last year, passing for just 75.8 yards per game, and 5 passing touchdowns on the season. Treacy completed 49 percent of his passes last season, accumulating 466 of the team's 606 passing yards. So far, it appears that Treacy will be the go-to-guy again this year, while sophomore Jay Casey will back him up. Casey played in three games last year, completing six passes for 82 yards and no touchdowns. The Jumbos' roster lists four other quarterbacks, all freshmen. But according to Samko, Treacy should see the majority of the snaps. "Quarterback is a hard position for any freshman to come in and play," he said. "Scott's one of our captains and he's had a few years of experience." Despite the loss of Kelley, Samko said that he doesn't foresee relying on his passing game anymore than he did last season. "It's a different year with different people, so some things may change," he said. "But we've always said 'If you can't run you lose.' We were very successful with our game plan last year, so I wouldn't do a whole lot differently this year." One of the reasons Samko is so confident in his running game may be the team's offensive line. The line opened gaping holes for Kelley last season, and again looks strong this season, despite the loss of All-American lineman Mike Wiley. A number of last year's starters will return to the line this year, including senior tackle Andy Dickerson (6'1", 315), and junior tackle Adam Collette (6'8" 282). Senior Sean Casey (6'1" 280) will start at center. "We have some cornerstones in Dickerson and Collette, so it's not like there's nothing," Samko said. This weekend will provide a first good look at the team, as the Jumbos take on Wesleyan in a preseason scrimmage. The team opened its season last year with a convincing 35-20 victory of Wesleyan, and many players will undoubtedly be eager to start this season off in the same manner. However, Samko says that he will not treat the scrimmage like a real game. "We're gonna treat it like a scrimmage, and a lot of guys are going to play," he said. "You like to win every time you step on the field, but at the same time, it's just a scrimmage."

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News

Stanton serves as temporary replacement for Dillon

September 12

Paul Stanton, Director of Administration for Arts, Sciences, and Engineering, will temporarily fill a key administrative position vacated by Kristine Dillon in August. Dillon served as Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs before leaving Tufts to assume presidency of the Consortium on Financing Higher Education (COFHE). Stanton will fill this position until a permanent replacement can be found. Stanton was selected because he "has played key roles in the design, articulation of goals, identification of people, and contribution to the subsequent success of the Student Services organization project," Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst and Dean of Engineering Ioannis Miaoulis wrote in an e-mail to the Tufts community. They also said his "straightforward, consensus-building leadership style" factored into his selection. Over the summer Ernst, Miaoulis, and Dean of Finance Wayne Buchard consulted with Dillon and other student services representatives and faculty members about an interim replacement. There was "an overwhelming majority of support" for Stanton, Ernst said. A national search firm is conducting the search for a permanent replacement, as is commonly the practice in filling administrative vacancies. In contrast, search committees comprised of administrators and department faculty address faculty vacancies. The University has not set a date for selection of a permanent replacement. "We expect it at some point this year," Ernst said. Administrators, however, are prepared to wait throughout the next academic cycle if a selection is not made sooner. Stanton said it was important to fill the position before a permanent replacement could be found. "Essentially, the [Student Services] organization involves almost one hundred different staff [members]," he said. "[There was a] real need to continue to manage the operation," which includes various positions from management to event planning. Student Services underwent a thorough restructuring in 1999, when Dillon led a committee to centralize various administrative and academic services. The committee organized Student Services into what later became Dowling Hall. When the committee's report was completed, Dillon accepted the permanent position as dean. Stanton was confident that he could compensate for Dillon's absence. "I, like all the other [administrators], will carry more responsibility," he said. "That happens whenever a senior position is vacated." Stanton directs administrative support for the Tisch Library and Information Technology Services, classroom management, and space planning for the Medford Campus. Other members of Arts and Sciences will assume some of Stanton's duties while he is filling the interim position. When finalists for the position are selected, student and faculty groups will have the opportunity to meet with the candidates and give feedback, Ernst said. Outside firms were also used in hiring President Lawrence Bacow and Provost Jamshed Bharucha. Such firms are employed because they "know who to ask at other institutions, they might have a good fit already in mind, and they know where to advertise," Ernst said. Dillon also served as co-chair for the Task Force on Undergraduate Life, a position that has been permanently filled by Dean of Students Bruce Reitman.

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News

Stoplight project to be completed by end of fall

September 12

The junction of College Ave. and Boston Ave. has long been a dangerous pedestrian crossing and a constant construction annoyance to Tufts students and local residents. But by the end of this semester, traffic at the intersection will be regulated by fully functioning stoplights. Although the stoplights were connected to a power supply shortly before school resumed, they only flash red and yellow, signaling cars on Boston Ave. to stop before entering the intersection but allowing College Ave. traffic to proceed with caution. The lights are not yet fully operational because of what personnel in the Medford mayor's office called "conflicting traffic patterns." The unconventional intersection requires that the lights undergo special procedures to effectively filter traffic. Until the stoplight has been adapted to do so, it will continue to blink. The Massachusetts State Engineering Department is working to write the specification to correct the problem, after which the state contractor can do the work on the intersection. When the work is done, the stoplight will be in red, yellow, and green full stop mode. Medford officials expect completion of the project in one to three months. Construction on the intersection, which has been planned for years, began about six months ago with the replacement and repair of underground utility lines. The road was repaved in late May, but complications with the signal work delayed installation of the traffic lights until mid-August. The entire project was planned by the city and state, and Tufts knew about the construction but was not greatly involved, according to Vice President of Operations John Roberto. Students have expressed frustration at the delayed installation and now the postponed operation of the stoplights. "When the hell are they going to turn them on?" said sophomore John Dulac. Though the blinking lights can be confusing to some, many say they improve the intersection. "It puts it in some order," said Adam Rowell, a sophomore. "Before it was just a free-for-all." But engineering student Mike LaFazia, a sophomore, says he felt safer last year before the stoplights were installed. "I actually think cars stop less now," he said. "Just today I crossed the street, and the only car coming had a red flashing light, which would normally mean to stop. But it didn't seem to want to stop." The problematic parking situation in front of Brown and Brew makes the arrangement even more dangerous. "It seems they put all this effort into dividing the road into lanes, but you can't follow them because there are always cars blocking one of the lanes," LaFazia said. One Tufts secretary said it was impossible to drive in the intersection because of the combination of new lanes and confusing traffic signals. The skewed angles at which Boston Ave. and College Ave. intersect also make it hard for motorists to see what vehicles are coming from the other directions. Medford officials said the intersection project was initiated partially because of several Tufts students who have been injured while crossing the intersection in the past. Officials from the city and Tufts hope that the upgrade will help prevent future accidents.

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News

Walnut Hill commemorates a somber anniversary

September 12

A year after the University community joined together in horror and in mourning, students, faculty, and administrators gathered again in front of Ballou Hall on Wednesday to remember the tragedy of Sept. 11. Although the shock has begun to fade, the continuing need for community was apparent from the turnout of roughly 850 people at the academic quad memorial service. University Chaplain David O'Leary opened the "Service of Remembrance," which began at 5 p.m., by asking for a moment of silence. He then spoke about the "University family," and the way in which it joined with others throughout the country in response to Sept. 11. Rabbi Jeffrey Summit spoke of the healing effects of gathering one year after the tragedies. "We come together to mark this difficult year now passed," he said. He then shared Poet Laureate Billy Collins' poem "The Names," which Collins read during a special joint session of Congress in New York on Friday. Following the service, Summit said he chose to share the work because he was "very moved" by the poem's reciting of some of the victims' names and by its "symbolic inclusiveness of the men and women who were lost." On behalf of Imam Noureddine Hawat, Tufts' Muslim chaplain who could not be at the service, O'Leary read a passage from a book entitled Islamic Way of Life that said religion "declares that all people in the world are sprung from the same parents, and therefore are equal." The Chaplain also shared a fitting passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah that read, "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." O'Leary highlighted the civilians, police, firefighters, families of the victims, and other people affected by last year's events, and said it is important to "remember we are a global village." Calling the Sept. 11 attacks "unspeakable acts committed against ordinary people," President Larry Bacow said the victims "were guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time." Bacow spoke of the lesson learned from the tragedies of the importance of community, and of the fragility of life. "If there is a lesson in this tragedy, it is that we must savor every minute and make the most of what we have," Bacow said. He emphasized the responsibility of members of the Tufts community to commit to "making the work a better place through our words and deeds." Tufts' African-American female a cappella group Essence performed the John Newton hymn "Amazing Grace" and "Wanting Memories" by Y. M. Barnwell. Sophomore Sharla Sullivan, a member of Essence, said performing the songs was an act of remembrance and healing. "We sang these songs because they remind us of what happened and why we should be there for each other in this time of hardship," she said. "But at the same time, they inspire hope for the future and an optimism that everything will work out if we are there for each other." Reverend Steven Bonsey shared two brief texts, the first of which was entitled "Tuesday 9/11/01" by poet Lucille Clifton. The second simply read, "Jesus said 'love your enemy.'" Catholic Center Director Ann Penick closed the ceremony with a moving performance of the song "God of Day, God of Night" by Marty Haugen. Penick chose the song because "the message I think it says is that this is a time to grieve, there is still much to be done, a lot of sorrow is still there, but there is hope, we can heal, we are able to be refreshed and renewed." Dean of Students Bruce Reitman thought the service provided a certain level of closure, especially since the memorial service was held at the same place and time as last year's Sept. 11 service. These elements of consistency, as well as having the same speakers at both events, provided people with comforting stability, Reitman said. Bacow said he was pleased with the turnout at the memorial service, as well as at Wednesday's other campus events. He described the mood on campus as "contemplative." "People have paused and thought about things in a way that they normally don't do in their daily lives," Bacow said. O'Leary was also struck by the number of people who attended. "It is one of a few times I can remember the University family coming together like that," he said. The service's purpose was to bring the community together, Summit said, adding that the community had a responsibility to do so. "Communities have to mark important times that we've all lived through together. This was a way to not let this pass," he said

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News

A developing story

September 12

It has become a trend in recent films for comedians to play serious roles. Following in the paths of noted funny men like Jim Carrey and Jamie Fox, Robin Williams _ master of improv and quite possibly one of the silliest men alive _ has made the transition to drama. In Insomniac, it is apparent that Williams is a completely different actor when it comes to being serious. Williams takes the refined, subtle acting style he premiered in Insomniac to the next level in One Hour Photo, creating one of the creepiest characters to grace the screen since Dr. Lecter returned in Hannibal. He plays Sy "the photo guy" Parish, the film developer at a local Savmart, one of those giant stores that sells everything and seems to need its own zip code. He stands behind the counter of the photo development center and gazes with a tight smile out at the customers in the rest of the store. Parish's eyes light up whenever he sees his favorite customers, the Yorkins, approaching. The Yorkins _ at least through the pictures they give Sy to develop _ seem to be a perfect loving family with their adorable little boy Jakob. Parish is obsessed with their life, and wishes with all of his heart that he could be in their photos. But the Yorkins don't pay much attention to Sy, even though he has their address memorized. They probably don't think about the fact the he looks at every single picture they give him to develop. They certainly never speculate that he makes a copy of every single picture they give to develop and takes these copies home. In reality, the Yorkins are far from perfect. Nina Yorkin is a frustrated mother who must cope with a husband whose job seems to be more important than his wife. Being in charge of the household chores, including shopping, Nina has the most contact with Parish. Parish admires Nina as a prime example of a motherly role-model and even starts reading a book because he saw her reading it in a photo. But while Nina may be a good mother, we find out through another female customer's photos that there is actually a far more disreputable reason for Mr. Yorkin's neglectful behavior. Once Sy discovers this, his serene vision of the Yorkin's life is shattered and the depth of Parish's obsession is revealed. Williams' performance is excellent, full of subtleties and nuances that were unexpected from a man famous for being a human cartoon. As the film goes on, it is revealed that Parish has some very sizable issues that contribute to his isolation from humanity. Williams captures the essence of a character who we cannot relate to on the inside; a man that is far from normal, but who has developed methods to cope with and blend into society. He manages to fester a look in his eyes so that the audience can tell that behind his "the customer is always right" smile, there is a profoundly disturbed man Besides Williams' performance, the most striking feature of the film is its cinematography. Writer/director Mark Romanek creates a stark contrast between the pale lackluster colors of Robin Williams' life and the bright colors of the Yorkin's. The lights in the Savmart where Parish works are garish _ so bright it's as if Sy was under the bright lights of an operating table. Parish's face is washed out, his hair is bleached blonde, his clothes are all pastels. At night he goes home to a house devoid of color except for the pictures of the Yorkins. These photos are vivid as if one of the Yorkins was a professional photographer. Every aspect of the Yorkin's life is filled with warm, lush and vibrant colors. We cannot blame Parish for his interest in the Yorkin's life, but we can blame him for his obsession The set up for One Hour Photo is creepy and well done, but once the story gets going Parish's next moves become predictable. We see his obsession with the Yorkin's fester, and it is not that hard to guess what he is going to do. Romanek takes the easy way out at the climax, fitting all of Parish's extremely creepy eccentricities into a standard psychological model. And when the credits role, the audience is left with plenty to mull over. Everyday thousands of people drop off photos to be developed and usually never think that the people who are developing them are getting these glimpses into our lives. In the broader scheme of things, we may realize how often we overlook certain people in our lives. While the complexities of Parish were unraveled by the climax of the movie, the film still remains a deeply provocative character study _ one that leaves the audience thinking about their own inner thoughts and those of the everyday people we often neglect

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