Archives

News

Tufts alumni face-off in NM Governor's race

March 31

The odds of a tsunami hitting New Mexico are about one in five million. The odds of winning the New Mexico lottery, one in ten million. The odds of two Tufts grads competing in a New Mexico gubernatorial primary? Virtually impossible. But fact can be stranger than fiction. Bill Richardson and Ray Powell - both Tufts alums - will compete this June in New Mexico's democratic primary.Both candidates studied at Tufts, but this is the first time that their paths have crossed. Bill Richardson earned a B.A. from Tufts in 1970, and then went on to receive his Master's degree from the Fletcher School in 1971. After serving as a New Mexico congressman for 14 years, Richardson was appointed as ambassador to the UN in 1996. Two years later, he got the tap from then-President Bill Clinton to become the nation's first Hispanic Energy Secretary, where he served for the remainder of Clinton's administration.Richardson will compete against several democratic candidates on June 4, one who is none other than Ray Powell, a graduate of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine. Powell's resume is also impressive. After earning undergraduate and Master's degrees from the University of New Mexico, Powell received his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from Tufts in 1985, with a focus in wildlife rehabilitation. He has served as New Mexico's Commissioner of Public Lands for the past nine years. Prior to that post, Powell served as a special assistant to Governor Bruce King, where he was responsible for issues involving the environment, natural resources, health, and recreation. He also continues to practice veterinary medicine. Both men have had strong reputations with Tufts, and administrators were eager to praise the two contenders. "Bill Richardson has been a wonderful friend of Tufts," Dean of the Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst said. Richardson has spoken at Tufts several times, and as recently as last year. Ernst described Richardson's speech last year as "excellent." Tufts students also honored Richardson as the recipient of the "Light on the Hill" award in 1995. The award recognizes outstanding Tufts alumni. Powell, the sole alumnus ever to speak at a Veterinary School commencement, is held in similar esteem by members of University administration. Dr. Philip Kosch, Dean of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine, believes that the non-traditional courses offered at the vet school, such as public policy classes, opened Powell's eyes to bigger possibilities than private practice. "The unique educational experience that Powell had at Tufts Veterinary School prepared him to make a difference in overseeing New Mexico's wildlife and management," Kosch said. According to Kosch, Powell has said that Tufts gave him the confidence he needed to enter state politics, and credits the University with preparing him for the future. The candidates' will bring their varied experiences to each campaign. With a focus on education, Richardson hopes to invigorate the faltering New Mexican school system. Powell will most likely continue with the environmental focus that has been the cornerstone of his career. He may also take on health insurance and poverty. New Mexico political pundit F. Chris Garcia shared his thoughts on the election with Tufts' e-News. "The political caliber of Richardson and Powell will likely result in one of the most interesting elections in the state's recent history," Garcia said. The showdown has brought the University's name into the public eye. Ernst praises Tufts for preparing its students for successful careers after they leave the Hill. "Tufts is already well-known," Ernst said. "However, one of the things that makes us an excellent institution is what our alumni continue to do with their education. We're very excited about this." Kosch feels that Richardson and Powell's careers serve as models for future Tufts graduates. "These men serve as inspiration for our current students," Kosch said. Freshman Hollen Spatz, who heard Richardson speak earlier this year, described him as inspirational. "Listening to Richardson made a professional career after Tufts seem more accessible," he said. Ernst echoes the impressiveness the election poses for the University. "How often do you get two alumni as contenders for governor?" Ernst asks. In the history of Tufts, never. And no matter what the outcome, the 2002 democratic primary for governor of New Mexico will prove interesting. At the very least, it serves as one distinctive example of what the future can bring for Tufts graduates.

---

News

Afghani Ambassador says country has a long way to go to rebuild

March 31

Introduced as a man with "one of the most difficult jobs in the world of diplomacy," Haron Amin, Charge d'Affaire of the Afghan Embassy, spoke to students in Cabot last Friday about how the war-torn country should be rebuilt. Amin focused on security, education, and international cooperation at a discussion sponsored by the Fletcher School's Program in Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization. Amin focused specifically on the current government's plans to rebuild Afghanistan over the next ten years, emphasizing that because the nation has seen civil unrest over the past 23 years, improved security is a main goal. Improvements would allow women to walk around in public without fear, and would ensure a cleaner elections process. There are numerous obstacles, however, to instituting law and order in a country without an effective police force. Afghanistan lacks a national army, and has scarce physical and financial resources. In order to assist the administration, some European countries, along with the US, are currently helping train police forces and army personnel to work in Afghanistan. Amin also said that the nation could not develop without educated citizens. For that reason, the government hopes to bring a group of Afghan students from the undergraduate level to the PhD level. An admissions test to attend higher university is in place, and the government is trying to arrange scholarships to study abroad for qualified students. In addition to higher educational services, grade school education will also be reinstated - on March 1, over one million students will go back to school. This will prove particularly meaningful for female students, who were deprived of education under Taliban rule. But rebuilding the national educational system will also be difficult, Amin said. He spoke briefly about the destruction of many school buildings during the latest conflict. Some of these damaged buildings are windowless, with plastic serving as a temporary replacement, often leaving classrooms bitterly cold. The third key to rebuilding Afghanistan, according to Amin, is to provide a solid ground for the country to cooperate with the international community. The Afghani administration wants to avoid the "clash of civilizations," a phrase coined by Harvard Professor Samuel Huntington. Rather than being ideological and economical, Huntington said that new conflicts will be based on cultural factors and differences. More specifically, the fault line will occur between Islamic civilizations and non-Islamic civilizations. This belief, explained Mr. Amin, is held by many Islamic fundamentalists, including Osama bin Laden. But Amin disagreed that Islamic and Western civilizations are destined to clash. He said that in order to eradicate such beliefs, and in order to prevent fundamentalists such as bin Laden from striking again, civilizations must learn to co-exist and work with one another. Afghanistan will be a "litmus test," according to Amin. In addition to addressing the rebuilding of Afghanistan, Amin discussed human rights' violations, the integration of ex-Taliban members, and relations with Afghanistan's neighbors. Amin's thoughts on how to handle human rights violators, crimes of war, and crimes against humanity echo his thoughts on how to handle members of the Taliban. The foundations of country and government must be established first before these violators can be brought to justice, he said. Amin said he hopes his neighbors understand that Afghanistan wants to establish good relations, and added that he hopes Afghanistan's neighbors do not feel threatened by the presence of the international community, and particularly the presence of the US in Afghanistan.

---

News

MLB offseason a horror movie

March 31

Lock the turnstiles. Stay out of the bullpen. Something terrifying is growing in the Major Leagues, and it's hungry... Spring training games begin this week, but this idyllic tradition has taken on the overtones of a bad horror movie. Specifically, an Atlanta-based movie called The Greenskeeper. This film, sure to be a blockbuster, stars Texas Rangers reliever John Rocker, 1999 lingerie model of the year Christi Taylor, and an Atlanta DJ, Southside Steve. Rocker plays a psychopathic killer who according to the movie's website "frighteningly and creatively" slaughters a group of teenagers at a country club. The movie, scheduled to be released in May, lures its unsuspecting viewers with the catchy line "It's par for the corpse."Rocker's Oscar aspirations aside, there is no more ominous figure in the major leagues than commissioner Bud Selig. Also the owner of the Milwaukee Brewers, Selig has been busy during the offseason, wearing a number of unflattering disguises. He's acted as shadowy kingmaker (his role in the contested sale of the Red Sox has been questioned), a poverty-stricken beggar (for his financial spin doctoring before Congress), and would-be assassin of the Minnesota Twins and Montreal Expos. Selig's latest problem is the expired collective bargaining agreement and the threat of labor strife. The players union, already miffed at his attempts to remove the Twins and Expos (and the jobs that they provide), is also opposed to the idea of increased revenue sharing and a luxury tax. A strike or lockout would severely damage Major League Baseball's reputation, and the lessons learned in 1994 may prevent a long labor dispute this time. Still, with no collective bargaining agreement, and a number of difficult issues on the table, the 2002 baseball season is by no means assured. If the players do end up working this year, they will surely not be working as hard as baseball's most tiresome and overrated ghost, Babe Ruth. The Bambino, whose specter haunts discussions of baseball from Beantown to Bangor, struck again this week as baseball fans in Sudbury, MA tried to recover his old piano - which was supposedly chucked into Willis Pond in 1918. Using logic as faulty as Nomar Garciaparra's wrist, the divers believe that playing this very magical piano will somehow remove the curse. Some say that the cult of the Bambino needs to be disbanded and Red Sox fans need to grow up. But growing up is another problem that Major League Baseball has faced this offseason. Stricter screening of immigrant's documents in the wake of Sept. 11 has aged a dozen major leaguers by as many as two years. Atlanta Braves shortstop Rafeal Furcal gained two years. Cleveland Indians pitcher Bartolo Colon also added a year. The two teams that came face to face with their own mortalities during this offseason, the Twins and Expos, are both dealing with ownership disputes. Carl Pohlad, the Twins owner, has said he will sell the team to a buyer on the condition that it stay in Minnesota. An owner with deeper pockets would make the Twins more financially competitive and thus remove them from Selig's hit list. The Expos will spend the upcoming season with a more exotic ownership. They were purchased by Major League Baseball, and will be run by the league itself. This means that the leagues' other owners each have a 1/29th share of the Expos, a fact that has led many to raise conflict of interest complaints. A pair of student journalists at the University of Pennsylvania have come up with an alternative proposal. The Daily Penslyvannian staff members set up a website (http://buytheexpos.poptopix.com/) to solicit pledges from people who want to own a piece of the Expos. So far, the campaign has raised $100,000, and if it stays on course, will reach the $100 million mark in late March. While there are legal questions (The campaign may be in violation 1933 National Securities Act which states that instruments of communication or the mail cannot be used to offer to sell or buy a company), group ownership is not without precedent. The Green Bay Packers have 111,000 shareholders. College kids owning the Expos? Just par for the corpse during this most sinister of spring trainings.

---

News

Double trouble

March 31

When most students leave home for college, one of the most important issues on their minds is learning to get along without family close by. But for one small group, loosening family ties is a chance for redefinition. This group at Tufts is the multiples - the unique part of the population that can claim to be a twin. The vast majority of multiples on campus go to a different school than their twins. Sophomore Mike Stanton-Geddes says that he purposely didn't go to the same school as his twin, who attends Amherst. "Our personalities are just too different," he said. According to Stanton-Geddes, he and his brother were always known as "the twins" in high school. Now that they are in different schools, the nickname has vanished. Sophomore Taiwo Oshodi says that she is more of an individual at college than in high school because she and her sister go to different schools. Her twin attends Northeastern. "She is more of a sister rather than 'the twins' as we were in high school," Oshodi said. For others, going to the same school was just a matter of fact. Jon and David Wallace, twin brothers who are also fraternity brothers at Delta Tau Delta, explain that they hardly even planned being at Tufts, let alone being at any school together. Still, as it turns out, being identical twins on a smallish campus has its perks. They say they don't want to give too much away, but with a similar haircut and late night swap of clothes, its funny what can occur. Sophomores Hussa and Hassa Blake also see the humor in being constantly mistaken for each other. "Just last week someone was looking for Hussa and said [to me], 'I take it your busy, I know we have to talk, we'll talk later," Hassa Blake said. Stanton-Gedde's twin brother was accosted in Espresso's when a friend of Michael's plopped down on his lap and started talking to him. When Michael's brother said he did not know who she was, the girl started crying. Oshodi claims that having her twin sister nearby is a great experience, and certainly very helpful. "There is always someone to confide in, support me," Oshodi said. "I can call her at four in the morning to talk, and if I have a test and need to be woken up, she will be willing to wake up at six and make sure I am doing my work. She knows if I'm stressed." And despite being identical on the outside, most twins claim to have completely different personalities. Friends of the Blake sisters say that one is typically calm, while the other is more spunky, but together they are both crazy. "I used to not be able to distinguish them, but now I can," freshman Mike Don said of his friends, the Stanton-Geddes brothers. "They are similar, but definitely have different personalities." Still, not everyone can always tell identical twins apart. "My mom still confuses us," Oshodi said. "Sometimes my mom will even call me and call me my sister's name!" The Blake sisters say their parents call them "big twin" and "little twin" and often do not attempt to differentiate, instead resorting to just calling them both "Hassa" all the time. And as far as "twin-myths" go, these siblings have heard the whole gamut of questions, ranging from "Do you two have the same brain? And If I pinch you will the other one feel it?" to " "Since you are so close with your twin, how will you have time for me?" According to Hassa Blake, being a twin is a very special bond, but also leads to some generalization from non-multiples. "We are sometimes seen as mutations and as 'different,'" she said. "People see us as one person."

---

News

Sophomores host 5k charity race

March 31

The first annual five-kilometer Charity Run/Walk/Roll, hosted by the class of 2004, will take place tomorrow morning on the Medford/Somerville campus with lunch and entertainment after the race. Organized by the sophomore and junior class staffs, the event is intended to raise money for local non-profit organizations supported by the Tufts Neighborhood Service Fund (TNSF) in Medford, Somerville, Grafton, and Chinatown locations. Participants will arrive at Ellis Oval 30 minutes before the race begins to hear a welcome address from President Larry Bacow, who will also be responsible for the gunshot signaling the start of the race. Beginning and ending at Ellis Oval, the course will take participants all over campus with balloons, banners, and posters marking the way. Assistant Director of Career Services and event coordinator Nicole Anderson said that the race, originally advertised only to sophomores, began as a public service event to bring the class closer together. "We want them to identify with their peers... with the class of 2004," Anderson said. "Freshmen have orientation, juniors go abroad, and seniors have commencement. We thought that we would do something for the sophomores." But as more and more people began to express an interest in the race, "We decided that maybe we should open it up to everyone," Anderson said. Approximately 50 people have already registered online but many more are expected to participate tomorrow. Donations to the TNSF will be collected by participants prior to the event and brought to the race. Participants who raise over $25 in donations will meet the "challenge" level for the event and receive a free water bottle. Other prizes will be given to the highest fundraisers and top finishers. Organizers have reached out to multiple campus groups, including the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS), the Tufts Athletic Department, and the Omidyar Scholars in search of volunteers. Olympia Sports, MVP Sports, and Poland Springs have also offered their services, donating prizes, offering discounts, and taking part in the day's events. Senior and student organizer Victoria Crispin said that the race will be a "pilot test" but will hopefully become an annual campus event. She said that race organizers had worked hard to maintain their original mission "in trying to unite the sophomore class and incorporate charity work" into the event. "It's for a really great cause," said Crispin. "It would be great to have the support [for the TNSF cause] come from right here at the University." Bacow, who intends to run with his wife, Adele, expressed enthusiasm for the 5k race. "I think it is terrific that the sophomores are raising money for good causes," he said. "I hope this event becomes a Tufts tradition." While most of the details of tomorrow's race have fallen into place quite smoothly, one still remains unconfirmed. "Pray for good weather," Bacow said. Students who with to make donations can give them to participants or assistants at the event.

---

News

Men's track looks to build on solid indoor season

March 31

The 2001-2002 Tufts outdoor track and field squad is excited about the upcoming season, and rightfully so. Captains, seniors Andrew Benedict, J.R. Cruz, Ben Smith, and junior Greg Devine are expected to lead the Jumbos, who hope to be one of the more competitive schools in the NESAC. Much should be expected from a team that placed seventh at the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship at the end of the indoor track season. However, despite the solid indoor showing, the Jumbos realize that they will face some intense competition from NESCAC schools during the outdoor season. Last spring, the Jumbos had an impressive 12th-place finish in the New England Div. III Championships, and finished fifth out of 12 at the NESCAC Championships. Last season in the New England Div. III Championships, performances from such athletes as then-sophomore Bryan Pitko, who finished third in the 110m high hurdles, then-senior David Patterson, who placed fifth in the 1,500 and then-juniors Bryant Coen and Adam Sharp, both of whom finished sixth in the 600 and the 1,000 respectively, helped lead the Jumbos. These performances enabled the Jumbos to finish ahead of NESCAC foes such as Trinity, Colby, Wesleyan and Conn. College. Unfortunately, Tufts was unable to surpass and assortment of other NESCAC schools including Williams, which actually won the meet. Devine and Pitko are both coming out of strong indoor seasons, and the duo will be counted on to continue that success in the outdoor season. Devine missed qualifying for Nationals during the indoor season in the 110 hurdles but did qualify in the 400 hurdles during last year's outdoor season. Meanwhile, Pitko qualified for indoor Nationals in the 110 hurdles during the indoor season, and the pair should be two the Jumbos' top point garners. In addition to its strength in the hurdling events, the squad also boasts a strong distance team. Leading the team in the distance events is Cruz who placed fourth in the 2001 campaign's New England 5,000 meters indoor event. Also, Smith along with seniors Jason Mann and Justin Lewis are expected to race well in distance events. Among Smith's recent accomplishments as a distance runner include a third-place finish in the 3000 at the ECAC meet in March. Sophomore Patrick Taylor has also shown impressive talent that may earn the team points in the jumping events. The Jumbos will compete in their first meet this weekend at Northeastern University.

---

---

News

Full Mettle Jacket

March 31

A choice must always be made when a film is based on real life. Do you focus on events as they actually happened, or do you re-shape material to form a better story?A Beautiful Mind, for instance, has been accused of altering the nature and timeline of the events that shaped John Nash's life. These changes made things more dramatic, moving, and clear. I respect these decisions; they made the audience more involved with the character and his life, and were a better way to tell an obscure story to lots of people who would otherwise be in the dark.Black Hawk Down goes to the other extreme, foregoing character and drama to tell things exactly as they happened. All attention has been focused on explicit re-creation; it's as if the directors traveled back in time to make a documentary of the actual time. If you get to know some of the soldiers along the way, great. But that is not the goal. The goal, rather, is to show what happened, how serious it was, and what our soldiers went through. Period. I respect this choice as well. No expense has been spared, and what we have here is the most intense combat movie I have ever seen. It is more honest than Saving Private Ryan, where we got to know the soldiers' quirks before they faced their fates. It is more realistic than The Thin Red Line, where every face was a vehicle for poetic statements. And it is more on target with its portrayal of war-as-chaos than Full Metal Jacket. It is also the least watchable of all these war movies. Part of the appeal of Ryan was how well you got to know the men, even if it wasn't that realistic. The Thin Red Line was able to distance itself from the battle to look at the act of war itself, and contemplate it. Full Metal Jacket used satire to cover up the worst parts of war, making it uniquely Kubrickian. Black Hawk Down is so intense, so faceless, and so constantly nightmarish that it will be a uniformly unpleasant experience for everyone watching it. Blood flows, bones break, and buildings shatter at such a pace that you can't breathe. And while your heart goes out to the men, you lose track of who is who. Soon, characters can only be told apart by their faces and by who's not dead yet. While you always know where the men are and why they are there, you never quite know the who. By the end you are numb, shaking, and maybe even a little bored. (A friend of mine said, "You can only watch so much mayhem before you tune out.") However, director Ridley Scott did not make this movie to please you. He did not make this movie to glorify the violence, seek out the pathos, or punch up the wretched irony of it all. He made it to show exactly what happened. Is it repetitive? What really happened was horribly repetitive. Is it far too gory? What happened to our soldiers and their omnipotent enemy was far too gory. Are the Somalis faceless enemies? To the American soldiers, that's what they became. They were everywhere, determined to resist these invaders of their homeland. Should we have been there? Did we act accordingly? Did one side provoke the other? The movie cannot say. All it wants to do is to take you there, and show you that these men - right or wrong - went through hell. They went through pure hell in the name of our country. Though the mistakes made in the operation were honest ones, they still cost lives. Even the most highly trained operative can be overwhelmed, even the best medic can fail in the line of duty. And the soldiers must live with it. The special effects and cinematography are nearly flawless. We never doubt the battle scenes for a moment. We cannot tell when models and computers are used, and when real helicopters are used. The blood looks real, the carnage looks real, everything feels so real. And yet, we are moved past the point of sympathy and simply continue watching, like a duty. This movie is a shadow of what really happened and what is really happening right now millions of miles away from our safe campus. As a movie, it is long, exhausting, and not much fun. As an attempt to take you to a time and place in history like no movie has before, it is unmatched. The movie's creators made a choice, and I respect them for it. I also will not be standing in line to see it again any time soon.

---

News

Yale President denounces early decision

March 31

University officials have acknowledged that Tufts' early decision option may put stress on high school students, but Ballou and Bendetson do not endorse Yale President Richard Levin's proposal to remove the program from America's top colleges. In a Dec. 13 New York Times article, Levin said that the increasingly popular option for high school seniors is unfair and should be abandoned. According to Levin, the process harms students in need of financial aid, students with poor college counseling, and students of color. "If we all got rid of it, it would be a good thing," he told the Times. Levin is currently lobbying other colleges to abandon the process, and said he will abolish the program at Yale if other elite universities follow suit. University President Larry Bacow said discussion on the issue was important but that early decision ultimately benefits certain students. "Levin has stimulated a healthy debate on an important topic," he said. "Early decision works well for students who are absolutely clear about their preferences. However, most students can be happy at more than one place. Some students lose sight of this fact as they seek to narrow their options to a single first choice." For Levin, the narrowing down happens all too early. He said that college decisions cause more stress when pushed into the junior year of high school and that, as it stands now, the system benefits colleges more than students. "The move towards early decision [can] increase the stress of college admissions. [It] stresses everyone else involved in the admissions process - parents who feel compelled to complete college tours early, high school teachers who must complete letters of recommendations early, and colleges that must process thousands of applications early." Tufts Dean of Admissions David Cuttino agrees that the proliferation of information has pushed some of the college search process into junior year, but said the trend actually benefits many juniors. "It's clear that there has been more research, and greater readiness on the part of students," he said. Cuttino insisted it would be a mistake to encourage or pressure students to apply to a school early if they are not sure it is their first choice. "Early decision is an appropriate choice for students who know that this is where they really want to be," Cuttino said. "The danger is if there's an emphasis on [early application] for strategy, that it's not really a student's first choice." Provost Sol Gittleman concurred, saying that early decision is an "appropriate activity for a University," but that students "should only apply early if they've fallen madly in love with the school." To give students the time they need to make that decision, Tufts offers two rounds of early decisions. Early Decision II applications are due just weeks before the regular deadline. Last year the Tufts admissions office enrolled nearly 40 percent of incoming students through early decision - the largest percentage ever. And while preliminary numbers this year indicate that early decision applications are still on the rise, Cuttino said the admissions office continues to hold early and regular applicants to the same standards. "From the standpoint of the admissions committee, they will only admit those students they feel they would admit in the final review process," he said. A study done by Harvard's Kenendy School of Government, however, found that the benefit of early decision is equivalent to 100 points added to an applicant's SAT score. Levin's opinion prompted debates all over the Times' editorial pages, with people who believed that Levin is a radical, that he misjudged the process, or that he might be on the right track. Some said that early decision is simply part of the American trend of moving important dates forward, similar to the Christmas shopping season and presidential primaries. Others maintained that the process is beneficial for high school seniors because students with an affinity for a particular school can avoid the stress and cost of filling out multiple applications. A Times editorial on Dec. 16 agreed with Levin. It said that it is easy to see why colleges like the system but that it penalizes "those less well situated or not ready to make up their minds, or most in need of generous financial aid offers." The editorial further alleged that it helps colleges reduce uncertainties and eases the burden on admissions offices nationwide by reducing multiple applications. Some op-eds asserted that early decision is simply a way for colleges to boost their rankings in magazines like US News & World Report by inflating the number of students who accept offers of admissions. Cuttino said that if schools were accepting to increase ratings it would be reflected in the caliber of students at the institution. "We're talking about admitting students we think we would admit in the end. With the same level of achievement, interest, and experience that makes them compelling candidates," he said. Ultimately, Tufts officials are uncertain whether there will be any significant changes in the admissions process. "I think the discussion of this issue is healthy," Cuttino said. "I don't think it is likely to see many institutions that will suddenly make that change."

---

News

18 to serve, 21 to drink

March 31

Ah to be a bartender. To be the one person who possesses the vast alcoholic knowledge necessary to turn ounces of liquor into Sex on the Beach. The one person who is calm, collected, and in control of all the liquids that bar-goers desire. And, with special training, you too can be a Buddha of beers, a guru of grenadine, a wizard of wine, a connoisseur of cocktails - without even being legally permitted to drink the stuff. In all New England states, the legal age to serve alcohol is 18 (and in Maine, 17) as long as a 21-plus manager or supervisor is present. This is true in most states with a few exceptions, according to University Bartending. And no bartender - 21 or not - is permitted to drink on the job. University Bartending is a class, not associated with any university, that uses campus locations in 22 states to teach students how to bartend. Their mission is to provide quality bartending training at a reasonable cost, and to equip students with the skills necessary to become responsible tenders. Sophomore Eugenia Vandoros, who took the course this weekend in the Mayer Campus Center, said she took the course for its life-lesson value, and was happy to have learned how to concoct her favorite drink - the "fudgsicle" (see box for recipe). "I thought it would be a useful thing to learn, just something you could always have, and always use to make extra money," Vandoros said. "I've learned a lot, and had a lot of practice making drinks." There are four class options for different costs, levels, and schedules. Vandoros chose the "Weekend Professional" package, which allows her to earn a government-issued bartending certificate. Her class was taught over one weekend for long blocks of time, instead of shorter, weekly classes spread out over a number of weeks. The classes consisted of lectures on alcohol-related issues such as drunk driving and alcoholism, as well as opportunities to practice both pouring and making drinks. Vandoros estimated that only half of the students in the class were from Tufts - the rest were other Boston-area students interested in bartending. All participants were given a handbook produced by the government and a free shot glass with the course. At the end of the course, participants take a government exam that tests them on laws concerning underage drinking, after which they are legally allowed to bartend at establishments. University Bartending classes are taught once a semester. Senior Trent Ruder took the University Bartending class in the fall of his sophomore year when it was taught in a restaurant in Teele Square. Ruder found the course to be an enriching opportunity that taught him not only how to bartend, but also the rudimentary ingredients of different drinks. "The most valuable thing [about the course] is that I learned about alcohol, not just what's in a fuzzy navel, but the [alcoholic] elements of it," Ruder said. Ruder took the class for the simple joy and social aspects of bartending. "I do want to be a bartender, but let's be honest, I like alcohol," Ruder said. "I like having a good party, making people happy." Although he is not officially licensed, as he took the "Basic" course option, Ruder has had some professional bartending experience since the course. Ruder has been a "barback" (bar lingo for a bartender's assistant.) and has also bartended at some less professional on-campus parties, during which he invented a "Wednesday Night" (see box for recipe). What Ruder found valuable were all the fundamentals of alcoholic beverages, the various kinds of liquors, martinis, and beers - information most college students don't even think about when they're downing one at the keg. Ruder says that the class is not a necessity when it comes to non-professional bartending for the fun of it, but is entirely worthwhile for the basic knowledge about drinking that can be applied to any Saturday night. "I think [the class] doesn't necessarily teach you how to be a bartender," Ruder said. "I think being in a bar can teach you how to be a bartender, it's more about the fundamentals of drinking." Ruder said, pointing out that he learned that Amstel Light is the only true light beer because of the way it is brewed; other beers are just watered down. But not everyone learns serving skills from University Bartending. Junior Alex Reeves took a TIPS certification course through his employment, Tufts Catering. Reeves learned the most basic bartending codes involving issues of safety, such as when to stop serving drinks to tipsy customers and how to identify fake IDs. He learned that bartenders are accountable for the people they serve and should know when to stop serving a customer. Over the summer, Reeves worked as a bartender at a hotel in his home state of Vermont, but didn't find it particularly lucrative. He explained that a bar in Vermont does not typically bring in as much money as one in New York City or even Davis Square. Reeves currently works as a bartender for Tufts Catering. He recommends the "Cape Codder" with the greeting "Welcome to Massachusetts." According to Reeves, being a bartender for catering has put him in a few awkward positions. "It's just interesting at Tufts to be serving my peers and checking IDs, when I go out to bars with a fake ID myself," Reeves said. "It's ironic to be the regulator."

---

News

Thank You

March 31

I have been the Interim Chaplain here at Tufts since December 2000. Before that I was a Protestant Affiliate Chaplain for most of seventeen years. I feel very much a part of this place. Being on campus has, of course, been a much more complete experience than serving from the community. And I have loved it. Tufts University is a great place. Being in the midst of so many rich resources, I have felt like a kid in a candy store. Being able to relate to students, faculty, staff, and administration has enabled me to explore so many different faith perspectives and has been a great learning experience. I only hope that I have been able to give a small portion of all I have received back to the community. We went through the trauma of Sept. 11 together. We have faced very serious questions together as our government and the world has responded to those events, and to all the critical issues, which led up to that fateful day. Faith struggles to make sense of it all and to give ethical directions for the future. The fact that we on campus come from such diverse religious traditions gives us insight into the depth of problems and the effort and commitment that is required in addressing them. I was hired by President John Di Biaggio and Provost Sol Gittleman and have had the privilege of participating in the inauguration of our new President, Lawrence Bacow. I appreciate the opportunity given me by them, and by former University Chaplain Scotty McLennan for suggesting that I apply for the job. On top of everything, we have been celebrating Tufts' Sesquicentennial. What a time to be serving as Chaplain! Working with Linda Karpowich and Edith Stead, and with Joyce Galantic and our student monitors in the Chaplaincy Office and with our current team of Chaplains, Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, The Rev. Steven Bonsey, The Rev. David O'Leary, and Imam Noureddine Hawat, along with all of our Affiliates, has been wonderful. Now I am able to welcome one of us, Father David O'Leary to the position of University Chaplain and turn over this work into his capable hands. Religion has a very important place in the Tufts University campus. In this setting, the education of the whole person for a full and engaged life is accepted as normative. The secular environment in which we are set is, in my opinion, good soil and essential to the development of a spiritual life; a life which has integrity, that understands itself in light of other experiences of religion and which is open to the unfettered life of the mind in a global context. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as Interim University Chaplain. Thank you, each one with whom I have come in contact, for who you are and all you do. Thank you for making real the words expressed by so many when I first came on board, "Welcome to Tufts." Blessings to The Rev. David O'Leary as he continues his work in your midst in his new role.Patricia Budd Kepler is the Interim Chaplain of Tufts.

---

News

Someone Dropped the Bomb over 'The Queen of the Damned'

March 31

Sitting through Queen of the Damned did, in fact, make me feel like I was suffering damnation for all eternity. It is the most mediocre film I have seen since Anaconda. The hour and a half I spent sitting in that theater felt like seven hours, and the prospect of death did not seem too dreadful toward the end. The acting was an absolute mockery, the music deafening, and the plotline crude at best - Queen of the Damned was a disappointment in almost every aspect, other than its special effects. If you have read Anne Rice's novel by the same title, you will notice that the plot did no justice to its inspiration. The book was philosophical in nature. But here, the scriptwriters decided to overlook any depth, and stuck to the raw plot. The story features a vampire named Lestat (Stuart Townsend) who arises from a long slumber due to the interesting sounds and music of the day. Apparently, he's a maladjusted vampire, suffering from severe depression about being lonely for all of eternity. To solve this problem, he devises an evil plan: he becomes a famous rock/heavy metal star, and declares to the whole world that he is a vampire. Rumor has it that declaring to humans that vampires exist is a no-no within the vampire circle, hence Lestat enrages all the vampires, and they decide to kill him at his concert in Death Valley (how ironic). This, of course, is what Lestat wanted, as he is sick and tired of his life, and wants to be killed. Of course, the Queen of the Damned, Akasha (Aaliyah), has other plans for the one who has enchanted her with his noisy music. One of the sad things about this film is that it seemed more of a heavy metal concert than a movie. There were little bits of acting inserted between metal songs and sequences of special effects. They should have not hired actors all together, and instead simply let the computer and a few metal bands do the job. There was no acting to speak of. The characters try their best to convey that Lestat is unhappy with his eternal loneliness. And of course, they succeed in conveying this message within the first few minutes of the film, yet continue to shove it in our faces again and again until the end of the film. Other than that, there is a lot of screaming and biting. As far as the music goes, it would have been great had I planned on attending a metal concert. But I had gone to a movie; it was simply loud and obnoxious. The soundtrack features bands such as Disturbed, Static X, Marilyn Manson, and Papa Roach. Hence, if you are a metal fan, the soundtrack could be a good investment. That said, this next bit is for you Aaliyah fans. Please do not be fooled into seeing this film expecting that she is the star. Aaliyah was in the film for exactly 3.2 scenes, or less than ten minutes. It was rather sad to see about 200 Aaliyah fans leaving the theater disappointed and angry. The film's advertising committee marketed the film to look as if Aaliyah was the star actress in it while, in fact, she might as well have been an extra. I went into a theater expecting a film starting Aaliyah, and that was far from the truth. It is truly disturbing to see how the filmmakers decided to win many audiences on account of the deceased singer's name. That is all I can say about this film. I tried really hard to like it, but did not succeed. For heavy metal fans, this film might still hold promise. For Aaliyah fans, buy a he record instead. For everyone else, you're better off watching another movie

---

News

Michael Ferenczy wins Wendell Phillips Prize

March 31

As the doors of Ballou's Coolidge Room closed for the Committee on Student Life (CSL) to consider the speeches just heard in the annual Wendell Phillips competition, contestants and onlookers knew the committee had a difficult decision ahead. After the deliberation, the CSL awarded the honor of speaking at the 146th commencement to senior Michael Ferenczy. Ferenczy, who chairs the Tufts Community Union Judiciary, spoke second among the group of eight, almost all of whom described how their personal experiences influenced their views on this year's topic of education. From tear-jerking pasts, to meaningful college enterprises and noble goals for the future, each speaker articulated how education has affected his or her life and future plans. Drawing on the death of his father when he was 17 and subsequent economic difficulties, Ferenczy said the most important lessons in life are not learned in school. Moreover, he emphasized that times of hardship can be the defining moments in a person's education. "Simply watching my mother quietly bare the burden of a family's heartbreak taught me more than any book ever has," Ferenczy said. "...The most important lessons of life you don't learn in a classroom. You learn just by the act of living, especially during times of struggle." The other seven finalists took on the issue of education by describing it through the prism of their experiences and interests. Working off the given quotes by Phillips - "Seldom ever was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart; the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment," -seniors Seren Levinson and Anoop Swaminath told the CSL and gathered audience that education must be seen in the context of the larger world around us. For Levinson that meant seeking out "cultural exchanges" so that all people could better understand each other, and hopefully avoid conflict. Opening his speech with a quote in Tamil, Swaminath underscored the importance of seeing the world from an international perspective. Translated, his quote said "actions and events in places near and far are interconnected. And that no region of the world can be ignored." Several other speakers said that a quality formal education was the key for disadvantaged youth to break out of the cycles of poverty and violence. Some commented that the paradox that higher education is only available to those who can afford it has led to "vicious cycles of educational inequalities," as senior Alethea Pieters stated. "For too long this jewel, knowledge, has been locked in a box that only the elite can look at," she said. Every finalist championed the idea giving back to one's community and personally working to improve their societies. Ferenzcy will teach in an inner-city school with Teach for America next year, while Levinson also hopes to teach English and in a foreign country. "We need to reverse the stigma that there's something wrong with being a teacher," finalists Erin Ross said, summing up the group's general views on service. Senior Jesse Levey noted specifically that public service should be realigned with the worthy efforts of teachers and other community servants. The decision to choose Ferenczy was formally made by a majority vote of the ten CSL members present for the speeches. Committee members grade each finalist in a small number of categories for general guidance, but the final choice is very much a product of group discussion and deliberation, according to CSL member Sam Dangremond. CSL Student Chair Amanda Berkowitz stressed the comprehensiveness of the body's analysis and eventual choice of Ferenczy. "We looked at every aspect of anything you could grade a speech on," she said. "What separated him was all the things we considered in our deliberations."

---

News

Welcome to 'Falsettoland'

March 31

To ensure that the freshmen arriving on campus today get a better taste of Tufts theater than he did during his orientation week, sophomore Michael La Fazia took on the task of directing Torn Ticket II's portion of the Orientation Show (O-Show), Falsettoland. "I remember seeing the O-Show last year, and kind of saw it as testing the waters of Tufts theater," he said. "While I enjoyed [it], I think it kind of misrepresented Torn Ticket... I think I may have gotten the idea that that's all we were capable of. " The sophomore engineer got his first taste of Tufts theater when performance organizations Torn Ticket II and Pen, Paint and Pretzels (3Ps) presented (O-Show) a production during freshman orientation featuring two short plays. But while La Fazia enjoyed Torn Ticket II's version of the parody revue Forbidden Broadway, he admits that the production did not quite reach his expectations for musical theater at Tufts. Two semesters later, La Fazia has changed his mind about Tufts theater. He performed in the group's productions of Into the Woods and Hair last year, and realized Torn Ticket's ability to put on what he described as "amazing major productions." For the O-Show he chose the 1990 musical Falsettoland, a piece that he already knew he wanted to direct at some point during his time at Tufts. La Fazia saw the Orientation Program as the perfect venue to mount the musical, which will be performed by Torn Ticket later this week alongside 3Ps' production of the play Thanks. "[Falsettoland] has some rather catchy songs that I know the cast can handle, and some great opportunities for some great dancing, and hopefully some wonderful acting," LaFazia said. "I wanted to show the entering freshmen a taste of this talent... I think Falsettoland allows us to do just that." Falsettoland is the middle segment of a trio of one-act musicals that detail the relationship of a family coming to terms with AIDS, divorce, and homosexuality. In the section performed by Torn Ticket, the family explores whether the happy occasion of a Bar Mitzvah can be properly celebrated under such turmoil. "I think it's a show that shows family isn't necessarily who you think it is, and despite all the fighting and bickering, there really is a strong support base that you don't get to see until something negative comes about," La Fazia said, explaining why he likes the musical so much. Though the complexity the show gives La Fazia the chance to showcase the talent at Tufts, the cast faces many challenges simply because of the nature of an orientation production. The cast and crew arrived on campus just this past Sunday, with only three and a half days to block the show followed by an evening of tech work and four full run-throughs. "The time restrictions held on an O-Show are a bit of an obstacle," La Fazia said. "Since we are given only one week to rehearse, a director has no time to really experiment." The cast members were given copies of music, a script, and a CD in the spring and were expected to arrive on campus having the material already memorized. La Fazia spent much of his summer creating the artistic vision of the show, blocking everything in advance. The cast and crew kept in touch over e-mail, which La Fazia said, "allowed us to prepare as much as we can without actually being together." This was also crucial for the cast in regard to obtaining costumes and props - the O-show works with a small budget, meaning that cast and crew members had to provide items from their personal wardrobes. But the most difficult obstacle presented itself just days before rehearsals began with conflicting news regarding the renovations of the Balch Arena Theater, which is being converter to a proscenium theater for the coming year. La Fazia said that he was told the stage would not be changed until after orientation, when the changes had in fact been made over the summer. As a result of this misinformation, he had blocked the show as if it was to be performed in an arena. "For a person that has spent months blocking this show, this was not happy news," La Fazia said. "However, I'm sure we can get through it just fine... with a little tweaking, an arena show can easily, hopefully, be turned into a proscenium show." Freshmen and other students on campus this coming weekend will have a chance to see the final product this coming weekend. Falsettoland debuts Sunday, Sept. 1 immediately following 3P's 7:00 production of Thanks. On Monday, Sept. 2, the show will play alone at 7:30.

---

News

Class of 2002: impact on Tufts and beyond

March 31

@viewbody: Someone once said you should leave something better than you found it. While I think the expression may have originated as a way to encourage people not to litter in national parks, the Class of 2002 has succeeded in making Tufts, an already renowned institution, that much better. On a hot August morning four years ago we sat in these very same seats, exhausted from moving in but wrought with excitement and anticipation of what the next few years would hold. We could not imagine the friends we would make, the opportunities we would have, in the classroom and out, the places we would travel to, and the impact that being a Jumbo would have on the rest of our lives. Four years later, it has all gone by so quickly that it is still hard to comprehend. In a few short hours, these chairs will be folded up again, gathering dust until August when they will be set out for a new generation of Tufts students. But even after we have been ushered off the Academic Quad and into the real world, the indelible mark that our class made on this university will not soon be forgotten. And it is not simply the happy coincidence that we are the Sesquicentennial Class that makes us such an integral part of Tufts. We have been here as the university transitioned into a new millennium and a new era, from new buildings, new colleges, new student organizations, to new university leadership. As students, we played a major role in shaping this new Tufts. President Bacow has looked to us this year as he has set out a vision for the future of the University. Even with only a year under his belt, he can recognize the unique nature of our class. As he toasted us at the President's Reception that kicked off Senior Week, he announced that we were the best senior class this university has ever seen. Granted he will probably say this every year, but we will always be remembered as his first graduating class at Tufts, the ones who shared our experiences so that he could fully understand what Tufts had meant to us. Our class has worked with unwavering passion and commitment to make Tufts a community we are proud to call our own. As freshmen, we dove into our experience with enthusiasm and curiosity, soaking up all the university had to offer, often outside of the classroom as well as in. As sophomores we took the reigns, garnering much power and influence throughout the school, in student organizations, sports teams, academics and beyond. As juniors we spread throughout the world, not forgetting our little hill as we explored what the rest of the globe had to offer. As seniors we were reunited, only to be struck shortly thereafter by tragedy. As a class and a community we came together, bonded by our common pain and our desire for the light and peace embodied in Tufts' motto. Throughout of all of this, the Class of 2002 has set itself apart from our predecessors, exceeding even our own expectations. While our impact has been felt on Walnut Hill, it is time we take this drive and the skills we acquired here and again go out into the world. Everyone sitting at Commencement today has been given an incredible opportunity. We have been tremendously privileged to study under some of the world's best scholars, to be a part of a university that believes that learning does not just happen when a student is sitting behind a desk, and to have a network of teachers, advisors, family and friends who believe in our ability to do something extraordinary. We cannot forsake this privilege. Tufts is such an incredible place that it becomes very easy to forget that we do not live in a perfect world or anywhere near it. The problems facing our society and the world are far too great to mention. The degree we receive today makes us part of an elite group, but it is not a one-way, single ticket to a better life. As they say in the movie Spiderman: with great power comes great responsibility. Our diplomas are a charge to take advantage of what we have been given but to also remember those who haven't had the same privileges, and those who helped us along the way. I am sure throughout these next few days we will be told over and over again that we are the future. As trite as this seems, especially when printed on graduation cards, it is true. Those things our parents' generation could not accomplish now fall into our hands. It is we, graduating today, who will have to discover the cure for AIDS, revitalize our political system so that people want to have a voice in their own democracy, fix our crumbling and crippled public schools, and work to build a nation that appreciates and seeks to understand different cultures and ethnicities. I am sure there are a few parents who are reading this and shaking their heads at my naivet?©. What they may not realize is that they have raised a generation of idealists, a group of young people who believe that change is possible and worth working to achieve. Our four years at Tufts has only reinforced this notion. I truly believe that we, the Class of 2002, have the potential to change the world. So, as we sit in these chairs one last time, we should take a deep breath, because we have a lot of work to do. Good luck '02, and congratulations. Erin Ross will receive a degree in political science today.

---

News

Nonprofit career fair attracts interest

March 31

Students seeking employment in nonprofit fields attended the second annual career fair for nonprofit organizations last Friday. Though only about 1,000 students attended from the 1,200 who pre-registered, organizers said they were satisfied with the event, citing rain and traffic accidents as deterrents. The fair was organized by www.idealist.org, a member of Action without Borders, an international network of organizations and individuals working in the nonprofit sector. Career Services, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS), and groups from other Boston area universities co-sponsored the event, which attempted to attract students from all over the area. Students encountered a variety of nonprofit organizations at the fair, ranging from the Peace Corps to the American Heart Association. Attendees with hopes of finding a job agreed that the event was a good outlet for nonprofit organizations seeking both long-term and summer volunteer hires. "Knowing that I'll become an unemployed graduate in nearly a month I thought I'd attempt to rectify the situation," senior Roger Winn said. "The career fair seemed like the place to do it. Sometimes getting into the nonprofit sector can be difficult if you don't know where to look, and this gives people a place to begin looking." Recruiters were enthusiastic about the event, pointing out that it is the only one of its type in Boston. "This is a great fair. We're always swamped with people; it's very fruitful for us," Peace Corps recruiter Liz Demarest said. She said nonprofit fairs attract people already interested in the nonprofit sector, as opposed to the typical career fair that attracts many students looking for high-paying jobs. Most representatives present felt the event was a productive way of attracting interested people to relevant organizations. "Helping students connect with meaningful nonprofit opportunities is one approach to foster a lifelong exploration of active citizenship. There are also opportunities in the corporate sector - with 8,000 students, it is important to give the student body exposure to all kinds of career opportunities," UCCPS Student Leadership Programs Director Carey Levitt said.Idealist.org Career Coordinator Emma Kalonzo was pleased with the event and said there was a positive response from Tufts students.

---

News

Part I

March 31

Last semester, following the Sept. 11 attacks, faculty at Tufts and many other universities spoke out against war preparations. As US attacks upon Afghanistan began on Oct. 7, we spoke out against the bombing. A Daily editorial ("A time to educate", 10/11) disparaged our statements, dismissing them as '60s rhetoric "not used since the Vietnam War."Meanwhile, a national right-wing think tank inveighed against academics as the "weak link" in the "war on terrorism," while some mainstream pundits found antiwar intellectuals less threatening than "irrelevant." In the view of the latter, the marvelous success of the bombing in bringing down the Taliban and routing al Qaeda, and the continuation of relative stability in Pakistan, proved the propriety of the president's course and rendered the standpoint of the anti-war left merely ludicrous.In fact, our dissent has been wholly justified by the events since. What has the bombing brought to Afghanistan and the world? Two positive developments: the overthrow of the Taliban regime, and the perhaps fatal weakening of al Qaeda. Not that one should overstate these successes. Many members of the Taliban, including some former leaders like the notorious Justice Minister Nooruddin Turabi, have been released or were never under detention; while the Taliban's fundamentalist Islamic ideology retains a social base and dangerous influence in the country. Many believe that tribesmen hired by the US to search the caves of Tora Bora actually allowed hundreds of al Qaeda forces to escape into Pakistan. But the thugs that pulverized the Buddhas of Bamiyan have been toppled, and while al Qaeda may survive, its command center has probably been shut down. Well and good!But what about these other results?First, the bombing has produced a power vacuum, in which violence and drug-trafficking flourish. There are widespread reports of shootings, looting, murder and kidnapping, in Mazar-e Sharif, Balkh, Kabul, Kandahar and elsewhere. In Kabul, a man interviewed by a reporter from the Observer said, "We were expecting peace, but we were much happier before. We don't want to see anyone with a gun walking in the streets." An MSNBC reporter wrote Jan. 25, "In spite of the widespread popular perception that the war is over, the bourgeoning reports of threats against foreign targets in Kabul suggest the conflict cannot be considered over even within the capital itself."Bandits infest main roads. There is no functioning national military or police force, and the warlords who are really in charge routinely violate human rights. In November, US ally General Abdul Raschid Dostum's forces summarily executed over 400 captured Taliban in Mazar-e Sharif. Militias control the streets of major cities, abusing women, demanding money from foreigners, and squabbling with other militias over turf. Opium production, successfully curbed by the Taliban, is back big-time. Second, the bombing has re-empowered the Northern Alliance. The human rights record of the main Northern Alliance leaders (mostly Tajiks, Uzbeks, and Hazaras) is abysmal. The State Department is well aware of it; most of the warlords had cordial ties with the CIA in the 1980s. They are particularly feared and hated by the population of Kabul, who suffered under their rule from 1992 to 1996. The Pakistani military, which plays a significant role in the "coalition against terrorism," hates them because of their abuses of Pashtuns, and was therefore disturbed when Alliance forces moved into Kabul Nov. 12, reinstalling former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, before a coalition government could be formed insuring Pashtun representation. The interim government created in Bonn three weeks later was supposed to be such a coalition government, but over half its 30 seats went to Northern Alliance representatives. Interim head of state Hamid Karzai was once deputy minister of foreign affairs in a Rabbani cabinet (and then served briefly under the Taliban). Interior, Foreign Affairs, and Defense ministries all went to Tajik Northern Alliance figures. Alliance warlords like Ismail Khan and Dostum, who command private armies and head ethnically based Islamic political organizations, control most of the country. Dostum demanded and received the post of deputy minister of defense on the day of Karzai's inauguration.Consider the history of these warlords. In Jan. and Feb. 1994, Dostum and former CIA favorite Gulbuddin Hekmatyar jointly attacked Rabbani's forces; killing 4,000, injuring 21,000, and forcing 200,000 to flee Kabul. Various Northern Alliance militias killed about 50,000 around Kabul before the Taliban came to power. Indeed, it was the general climate of lawlessness that made the Taliban, with its emphasis on restoration of law and order, based strictly on Islam, appeal to many. Already, factions of the Northern Alliance have again skirmished in northern Afghanistan. Forces loyal to Defense Minister Fahim have exchanged fire with forces loyal to the Deputy Defense Minister Dostum! (Not encouraging.) Of course, the infighting extends beyond the Northern Alliance. Two Pashtun factions have clashed in Khost, and Kandahar warlord Gul Agha Sherzai has threatened to lead 20,000 troops to attack Ismail Khan's fief around Herat. Many fear a return to the Rabbani-era violence. A few thousand international peacekeepers around Kabul will do little to comfort them. (Small wonder that the UN is now talking about maybe sending 30,000 peacekeepers to Afghanistan - not that that would liberate its people.)Some argue that at least women's status is somehow improving through all of this. In fact, the prospect that once rid of the Taliban, women would be able to come out from behind the veil hasn't materialized. It was Rabbani who issued a rule in 1994 making the burqa obligatory for women in Kabul. Between 1978 and 1992, many women had adopted western or modified traditional dress; the post-Soviet leadership (back in power now) deplored that. The Taliban did not invent the burqa nor were they the first attempt to impose it on all women; key figures in the current power structure seem as committed as the Taliban to restricting Afghan women's progress in the struggle for sexual equality. Third, the bombing has killed thousands of civilians. It looks likely that the Afghan civilian toll now far exceeds the loss of life in New York and Washington DC on Sept. 11. A study by University of New Hampshire Professor of International Relations Marc W. Herold, published in December, cited credible journalistic reports indicating that over 3,700 Afghani civilians had been killed by US bombing to that point. These included about 100 killed in Karam in November (reported by Time); at least 128 civilians when bombs destroyed the village of Shahagha Nov. 10 (CNN); and 150 in Kama Ado Dec. 1 (Boston Globe, NBC). Since then, some of the more destructive attacks killed 60 in a civilian convoy in the village of Asmani Kilai Dec. 21 (Guardian), and up to 107 were at Qalaye Niazi, on Dec. 28 (Reuters). Herold now puts the reasonably documented minimal civilian death count at over 4,000.The imprecision of the bombing - manifest from the outset, when four UN landmine-sweeping specialists were killed - was never better illustrated than on Dec. 2, when three US Special Forces, and five Afghan allies, were killed by "friendly fire" north of Kandahar. Hamid Karzai himself was wounded by shrapnel. Meanwhile, unexploded bomblets, like those that killed seven children in a village near Mazar-e Sharif this month, will pose a threat for a long time. In late December, Defense Minister Fahim stated that now that al Qaeda was defeated, the US should stop bombing Afghanistan. A Defense Ministry spokesman added that the "remaining [al Qaeda] forces are few in number and may be annihilated in a maximum of three days, and once this is done there is no need for the continuation of the [US] bombing. We demand America stop its bombing of Afghanistan after this goal is achieved." Gen. Tommy Franks' response (from President Bush's Texas ranch): "We will not be pressed into doing something that does not represent our national objectives, and we will take as long as it takes." The new Afghan "government" has no veto power over US bombing of its own territory, which continues. On Jan. 24 another 16 civilians were killed by a US attack north of Kandahar.These are only results of the bombing that pertain to Afghanistan itself. The consequences for the world are equally devastating. Gary Leupp is a history professor at Tufts University. Part II of his viewpoint "Why the war was, and is, utterly wrong" will be printed in tomorrow's Daily.

---

News

Freshman Class Council presents Tufts Night at the Apollo

March 31

Hoping for an evening of heavenly fun, freshman class president Liz Sutton is coordinating Tufts Night at the Apollo, campus' answer to Ed Sullivan's famous talent show. This Friday in Cohen Auditorium the show will let the audience see their friends in action, and let them decide on Tufts' most talented student. Apollo is Tufts' first freshman-run talent show. The idea was born early last semester, after Sutton was elected to represent her class. Initially envisioned by the vice president of social programming, the concept was heartily endorsed by other officials and planning began. The work has continued since long before winter break, and is still growing, even as the event approaches - the Council is still waiting on authorization to include several of the more original acts. While secretive about the specific nature of the acts, Sutton is confident about the variety of routines. Informal auditions were held with the aim of finding individuals who could be incorporated into the dynamic of the show. Few were actually refused, and the total number of acts now hovers around 16. Sutton claims to have acts of all genres, with performers representing all class years. The success of this trial run of Apollo will be evaluated this weekend with an eye on possibly making the talent show into an annual tradition. Sutton hopes to create such a legacy. She and her entire Council are confident that Tufts Night at the Apollo will be a night of quality entertainment and diversity. Tickets are on sale at the Campus Center InfoBooth and during meals at the dining halls for $3, and at the door for $5.

---

News

TCUJ approves abundance of student groups

March 31

The Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) has recognized 13 new student organizations this semester, and continues to review applications submitted by other groups. These 13 approvals make for a total of 19 newly-recognized organizations this academic year. "There are a lot of new groups - more than usual," junior Adam Biacchi, the TCUJ member responsible for new group recognition, said. Biacchi attributed the high number of new clubs to the diversity of interests represented on the Tufts campus. "There are a lot of cultural organizations, and any cultures that don't have [a group] want one," he said. "Every language wants an organization, every major wants one... there's no limit to the imagination." Many applicants noted that the recognition process was hurried this year. "The process was stressful because of the rush," said sophomore Abby Moffat, co-chair of the Women's Union at Tufts (WUT). "We only had one week." Biacchi said that the TCUJ encouraged groups to complete their applications before the Feb. 1 deadline in order to be considered for next year's budget allocations. "We basically said, 'If you want a decent amount of money, it would be in your best interest to get recognition now.'" In order to be recognized, a student organization must serve a unique function on campus. Sophomore Nico Juber founded the Tufts Mac Users Group (TuftsMUG) as a source of support for Macintosh users, an outlet that had not previously existed. "I know a lot of Mac users who have problems with their computers, and they have nowhere to go," Juber said. "I think it's a resource Tufts could benefit from." New groups have to go through various administrative procedures, such as submitting a proposal, a budget, a constitution, and proof of adequate membership. "Getting my group recognized definitely involved a lot more steps and formalities than I had envisioned at the start," freshman Niki Luhur, president of Students for a Free Tibet, said. "You have to run through a lot of hula-hoops. I guess they're there to see if you're serious... It was a lot of busy work, and was a little discouraging, but it's stuff you have to do." Junior Todd Scalia said that filling out the "useless paperwork" was "painstaking and unnecessary" and that it ultimately deterred his Aquarium Club from seeking recognition. Most recognized groups, however, are optimistic. "We are very excited," sophomore Mary Ann Treist, founding member of Multiracial Student Organization for Students of Tufts (MOST), said. "Our group's main goal is to be a support for multiracial students, but we also hope to be very active in educating the tufts community about multiracial issues." The new groups generally plan to expand their support base through programming and activities. MOST, for example, aims to set up a multiracial peer mentoring program, while WUT and TuftsMUG plan to bring speakers to campus. The Chorale of Tufts University, formerly the Tufts Chorale, received official recognition after a push by members to gain more funding. In the past, Chorale members had to supply their own folders and music because of budget constraints. According to sophomore Jeff Rawitsch, the Chorale's efforts were expedited because of its status as a credited course offered by the University's music department. Rawitsch said that the group offers "a great opportunity for people who are interested in music to come together, even if they're not technically superior, and have a good time." Other groups that gained recognition were the Swahili Club, the Latino Dance Troupe, and Fantoche, a puppetry group. "I think there were some very worthwhile clubs approved, and I think a lot of them will be successful," said Biacchi. He noted that the No Homers Club and Tuftslife.com, two groups that were recognized last year, have been very active since their approval. Recognition enables groups to poster on campus, reserve rooms in campus buildings, and use the Tufts name in naming their organizations.

---

News

Closed process kills new ideas

March 31

Massachusetts is quite possibly the most backward thinking state in the union. State politicians seem to have forgotten that this is 2002 and not 1902. Because of some arcane rule, no candidate for Governor can get on the Democratic primary ballot unless they receive 15 percent of the vote at the state convention. This system - one of the most ridiculous and closed I have ever encountered - is keeping students out of the process. The delegates for the convention are chosen in caucuses around the state in early February. These delegates then go to the convention in late May and vote for their candidate. Candidates who receive at least 15 percent of the vote at this convention are placed onto the ballot for the primary election, which occurs in September. The winner of the primary is then the Democratic nominee and is placed on the ballot in November. The problem with this system is that the voters may not be able to choose which candidate they want. Instead, party insiders control the process and can keep out people who are challenging the system. Students are also barred from this system because traditionally they are not delegates at these conventions and are rarely organized enough to get involved. Tufts students are almost never delegates. In fact, most are older, white, middle-class people who have been going to the state convention for 30 years. Students don't usually have large support networks which can go to party caucuses and vote for them as delegates. The districts are often gerrymandered in such a way that there aren't many students in the same district. This year there are five Democratic candidates for Governor and so far only two of them have secured the 15 percent needed to get on the ballot in September. Warren Tolman, Steve Grossman, and Robert Reich still do not know if voters will even have the opportunity to vote for them. These three candidates all have spoken at Tufts and each have a special connection to the University. Warren Tolman has an extensive campus organization and has a reform message that particularly appeals to students. Steve Grossman has been on campus numerous times and his wife, Barbara Grossman, is the Chair of the Drama Department here at Tufts. Robert Reich also has a campus organization here and Michael Goldman, who teaches here, is running his campaign. However, it is unlikely that students will ever have the opportunity to cast ballots for these three candidates. Instead of fighting amongst each other, these three candidates should work together and force the Democratic Party to change this arcane practice and open up the system to anyone who gets the required signatures. These candidates have important messages to be heard and the Democratic Party needs to listen. Massachusetts has been a Democratic stronghold for a long time now and yet Democrats have not controlled the Governor's office in 12 years. The party has really lost its way in this state and the establishment won't recognize that they need to change their ways if the expect to survive. Success in any organization lies in the ability to adapt and find new creative ideas. Political parties are no different and must be able to find innovative solutions to social problems. Over the last 12 years it has been the Republicans who have come up with these new ideas and it has been the Democrats who have been fighting for the ways of old. I attribute this old time thinking directly to their nomination process. New ideas can't get into the system because new candidates are pushed out before they have the chance to be heard. The Tom Birminghams of the world have been involved in Massachusetts politics for so long that they cannot come up with new ideas. Voters are not too excited about an insider who isn't ready to improve on the status quo. Businesses are no different. It is rare that a new CEO is chosen from within a company because the Board often wants a new outside perspective for the company. Universities also often hire a new President from outside of their current employees because they too want a new perspective. It is my belief that this closed system actually has its roots in student movements. Massachusetts has so many college students that they could become a real political force if they were ever mobilized. The Democratic Party has traditionally had problems when large student groups have tried to mobilize a shift in their thinking, particularly in 1968 at their convention in Chicago. This battle was a similar one about a closed process that did not allow new ideas to be heard and left out students. In Massachusetts that process has persisted and it maybe it is time for us to protest the closed process in this state. The Democratic Party shouldn't need a protest to realize that they are excluding the new ideas that they desperately need. The time is now and the place is here, let's open up the process and build an inclusive party for the 21st century.

---

News

Pitko poised to thrive in nationals

March 31

One of the men's track team's key components for success this winter season has been the effort of junior Bryan Pitko. This wide receiver for Jumbo football has also had a breakout season on the track, where he runs the 200-meter dash and the 55-meter hurdles. Pitko's time in the latter event at last weekend's ECAC meet qualified him for this weekend's Nationals at Ohio Northern University. The Arlington, MA, native won he 55 hurdles to become the New England champion at the New England Division III championships at Boston University two weeks ago. A time of 7.69 seconds made Pitko a provisional qualifier for the NCAAs. Consequently, the junior was placed on a list ranking athletes for consideration for Nationals after the automatic qualifiers had been determined. The automatic qualifying time of 7.59 seconds was registered by only two athletes, meaning that Pitko will compete in the NCAA Division III Indoor Track and Field Championships, to be held today and tomorrow in Ada, OH. Pitko will participate in the event with 13 other athletes from across the nation. His qualifying time of 7.69 seconds ranks him eighth among his counterparts. The preliminaries for the 55 hurdles begin Friday night, and the final is slated for Saturday afternoon. Pitko carries the distinction of being the only member of either the men's or women's teams to qualify for Nationals. A handful of runners on both teams were provisional qualifiers , but barely missed making the cut. Although most of the competitors will be new to Pitko, he competed against two of the qualifiers at the ECAC meet last weekend, where he came in third with a time of 7.73 seconds. Enrique Llamos of Montclair State College, the ECAC champion, was the leading qualifier for Nationals after recording a time of 7.56 seconds. Also participating in Ohio with a time of 7.71 seconds is Shawn Levinson from the College of New Jersey. His time was good enough to place just ahead of Pitko at the ECACs. Levinson was also finished sixth-place at Nationals last year. Adding to the talented field in Ohio are the two of the top five finishers at the Nationals from last year, Ryan Rogers of Wheaton College and Chris Pearson of Carroll College, respectively. Pitko's success this season reflects over two years of track success. As a freshman, he placed third at the New England Div. III with a time of 7.81 seconds. He duplicated that result in his sophomore campaign, improving his time to 7.74 seconds.This season, Pitko's times have steadily improved. Pitko's athletic ability has been demonstrated on the football field as well; he was a steady contributor for the Jumbos in their 6-2 season this fall, making five catches for 129 yards while leading the receivers with two touchdown receptions.

---