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The beginning of the end

March 31

In many ways, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) was the brainchild of John DiBiaggio. The former Tufts president worked to found the institution two years ago and has remained actively involved, including starting a class on leadership that he still teaches - that is, for another few months. DiBiaggio, who resigned as president after the 2000-01 academic year but stayed at the UCCPS while his wife finished her degree at the Fletcher school, will formally leave Tufts at the end of this year. His plans do not include retirement, nor heading a fourth university. Instead, he's looking at opportunities within foundations or think tanks that would allow him to formulate policies and impact decision-making. Possible concentrations include K-12 education as well as health issues. For now, there's a sense of melancholy surrounding the founder's separation from his project. The goal of that project, according to DiBiaggio, was to integrate opportunities for leadership and public service into the fabric of the University. Open to all students, the college sponsors a variety of courses aimed at public service and leadership as well as scholarships for students looking to make a difference in their communities. "The thrust is to ensure that when you graduate, you have a commitment as a Tufts graduate to lead and address very critical problems that face society," DiBiaggio said. DiBiaggio's class, "Leadership for Active Citizenship," co-taught with UCCPS Dean Robert Hollister, explores how leadership strategies and styles relate to active citizenship and community service. It has been popular since its inception two years ago, and some say it's an example of how students will be affected by DiBiaggio's upcoming departure. "Quote." In the next five years, the UCCPS says it will develop a faculty Fellows program. Hollister also hopes the UCCPS will continue to increase sponsored courses and internships."We want to expand opportunities for students and faculty to participate in long-term community partnerships - partnerships that address community needs and thatalso enhance the learning of Tufts' students," says Hollister.Though the UCCPS will bid farewell to its founder, the college has several projects planned for the coming years. And while DiBiaggio will no longer teach his class (but may guest lecture, according to Hollister), the course is intended to continue. Additional developments include a range of courses co-sponsored by the UCCPS, the new student journal "Impact," and sponsored summer internships. Students can also apply for Omidyar or Dutko scholarships, as well as participate in some of the UCCPS's community partnerships, which include the Mystic Watershed Collaborative, K-12 education projects, and studies of Chinatown relations.

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News

All things must pass

March 31

While football fans spent Sunday evening glued to the television, a collection of folk artists and fans gathered at Club Passim in Harvard Square to celebrate the music of George Harrison. The club donated all proceeds to cancer research. The evening began with sound engineer Matt Smith on stage with a guitar, giving a rare performance of the George Harrison solo song "Dark Horse." Harrison wrote this 1974 song about himself. As he said in an interview, a dark horse was "the one that nobody's bothered to put any money on. That's me, I guess, the very last one anyone would have ever expected to come out a winner." Next on stage came James O'Brien of Passim fame and the collective sounds of John McGann (guitar), Aiofe O'Donavan (vocals), and Rushad Eggleston (cello). Rob Siegel lent humor to the evening with takes on "Apple Scruffs" and "Piggies" (complete with pig snorting), and Butch Ross played a tender rendition of "Art of Dying" off the album All Things Must Pass. The surprise act of the evening was the formation of the new band Girlyman, comprised of solo artist Nate Borofsky and the girls from The Garden Verge - Tammy Greenstein and Doris Muramatsu. Between Greenstein's drums, Borofsky's guitar, and Muramatsu's lyric vocals, Girlyman brought the house down with renditions of "Handle With Care" and "My Sweet Lord." Later, there came performances from Maybe Baby, The Resophonics, and Mark Erelli and Dennis Brennan with friends. By the end of the evening, a true sense of community emerged. "I've had a great time," Borofsky said. "It's like all my favorite performers playing a two-song open mic." Mandolin player Jonathan Pointer smiled and commented, "What vinyl! I had a good time." Many artists observed that they felt they were paying homage to their influences. "I thought the musicians either played faithful to the way George Harrison songs sound like, or they had really creative interpretations of his songs," soprano Doris Muramatsu said. "I had a really great time with my band, just finding new ways to perform his songs."

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News

Search continues for permanent University chaplain

March 31

Administrators continue to seek a permanent replacement for former University Chaplain Scotty McLennan, who left Tufts in January of 2001. Reverend Patricia Budd Kepler has served as interim chaplain over the last year and will stay at Tufts until the search is completed. President Larry Bacow and Provost Sol Gittleman have worked over the past six months with other undisclosed administrators to interview candidates. "We've been talking to people, interviewing... and because of the people who are involved, it's got to stay confidential," Gittleman said. Candidates both inside and outside of the University community are being examined, based on the input of a focus committee. Judy Olson, the president's executive assistant, said last semester that despite multiple forums held last spring aimed at clarifying the role of the University chaplain, Tufts did not initiate an active search last year. "We're very content at the moment with the interim chaplain," she told the Daily in November. Kepler assumed the position of interim chaplain when McLennan vacated his 16-year post at Tufts to serve as dean of religious life at Stanford University. When she accepted the position, her duties were expected to extend through June 2001, at which time a permanent chaplain was to take over. Administrators were hesitant to make a decision without consulting the new president, however, who had not been selected at the time. The search was delayed, and Kepler's duties were extended through June 2002. Gittleman said that the search would continue as long as necessary to complete discussions with potential chaplains. "It could be weeks, could be months," he said. "I understand the need for some longer term solution, and that's where we're heading ... Fortunately we've been in such capable hands since Scotty left... [Kepler] is clearly way above the bar." Kepler will remain with Tufts as late as June 2002 or until a replacement chaplain is found. "The issue of a permanent chaplain is on the president's plate, if you will, and I suppose I could extend my interim position until the issue is resolved," Kepler said. When Kepler accepted the interim position, she stipulated that she would not assume the role of permanent chaplain. She will retire after completing her interim duties to work on drafted writings, babysitting her grandchildren, traveling, and possibly serving as a consultant to religious communities. "I really do think that the next chaplain should be willing to commit an indefinite number of years to the position," Kepler said. This, however, is a commitment that she says she cannot make. Kepler has received enthusiastic praise for the role that she has played in the Tufts community over the past year, and many had hoped that she would assume the permanent position. "I would be delighted if she did," Gittleman said, adding that while "she loves her job, but right now she is not a candidate." Gittleman complimented Kepler and associate chaplains Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Father David O'Leary, and Reverend Steven Bonsey. "I am very delighted in the chaplaincy and in the activity of the associate chaplains and all the people associated with the chaplaincy." While the associate chaplains have not been directly involved in the search, they have participated in the discussions with Gittleman and Bacow. Kepler has done an "impressive and admirable job of maintaining this position," Summit said. "Now we need to look at the possibility of deepening this role with a full time appointment." The role of the chaplain is particularly important now, "at a time when religion and religious issues are increasingly on people's minds," Summit said. He stressed the importance of religious debate both in the greater society and on the Tufts campus. "The University chaplaincy has a history of being a wonderful support and facilitator of this debate between different segments of the Tufts community." Over the past year, Kepler has worked to maintain the traditions of the University chaplain position while adjusting to the changing global situation and attempting to aid students during this trying time. "I think we were helpful in the beginning after 9/11, helping the community pull together," she said. She stressed the importance of the chaplains' role in ensuring that students felt safe and added that Bacow was "very helpful" in working towards this goal. Five months after Sept. 11, it is difficult to know how to help students because "the community is probably divided in terms of what the national response should be," Kepler said. "Students need to tell us what is needed. There is a need to talk about it but also a need to not focus on it... to move on."

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News

3P'S Poster etiquette

March 31

To the Editor: I am writing in response to the Daily article about stolen Stop Kiss posters ("Posters for lesbian-themed play stolen," 3/1). The only thing foul about the disappearance of Pen, Paint, and Pretzels`s (3P) posters for Stop Kiss, a lesbian-themed drama, is their poor poster design. University policy states that all posters must contain both group name and contact information. A second glance at their posters, still in Jackson Gym, indicated that theirs contained neither. I salute their resilience, though, in boosting tickets sales through their use of The Tufts Daily. The 3P posters, though, contribute to the larger debate on campus about content. Stop Kiss's crass use of f-ck, for example, parallels the use of scantily clad woman in fraternity rush posters. The issue is most relevant now as perspective students swamp the campus for tours. Are these posters appropriate for public use? This topic will surely be taken up at eX College's Opening Up the Classroom, which is taking place Wednesday night. Such events are a constructive medium to further discussion on campus.Valentino CarusoLA '03

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News

Time for Sox management to pack their bags 1918

March 31

A significant changing of the guard will occur in Boston today: the reins of the Red Sox organization will be handed over from the Yawkey Trust to former Florida Marlins owner John Henry. This may look like no more than a shady business deal to many, but to the diehard Sox fan, it has the potential to mean the world. Like Thomas Yawkey did 70 years ago, Henry is taking over what many believe to be a beleaguered franchise. It will take strong leadership and several major changes to keep the Sox from sinking like the Titanic - which coincidentally happened in the first week that Fenway opened.The sale - which at $660 million is the highest-priced sale in Major League history -represents the first time since 1933 that the Yawkey family name hasn't been associated with the Red Sox. When Tom Yawkey took over the Sox in 1933, he invested his heart, soul, and wallet into improving what was then a last-place team. Boston baseball nearly died when Babe Ruth left town, and Yawkey transformed the Sox into a competitive team. Now John Henry is facing similar circumstances. Boston has been a decent team for the last five years, but we in Red Sox nation are thirstier for a championship than ever. Last summer, we paid exorbitant ticket prices to watch our beloved Sox self-destruct. We cried when Pedro went down, we cried when Nomar went down, we even cried when manager Jimy Williams went down. We had no tears left when the Sox went 22-33 in August and September and didn't make the playoffs despite having been in first place at the end of July. We are tired, fed up, and we want change.The number one thing Henry needs to do to start this season off on the right foot is dump Dan Duquette. In eight years in Boston, Duquette has consistently gone on shopping sprees with fans' money and brought back a few superstars - but he doesn't seem to realize that the Sox can't win on the arm of Pedro or any one star alone.Duquette may have been the one to sign Martinez, but he's been unable to assemble a rotation, or a lineup for that matter, beyond the ace. This is the same guy who brought us Heathcliff Slocumb, Mike Stanley twice as a player and now as a coach, Jose Offerman, Mike Lansing and Rico Brogna - and don't forget Izzy Alcantra. Duquette's constant feuds with former manager Jimy Williams left fans with a worse taste in their mouth than that of the so-called Fenway beer. The two squabbled over roster moves for several summers until last August, when Duquette fired Williams and replaced him with a puppet manager that would do what the GM wanted with the line-up. At the end of last season, rumors flew that Pedro wanted out, Manny wanted out, Nomar wasn't happy - and we all knew Carl Everett wanted out. The Sox have some great players right now, but they will never win without team chemistry. And they will never have chemistry with Duquette running the show because he thinks it is his job to create tension in the clubhouse.While he is at it, Henry might as well send manager Joe Kerrigan packing. Kerrigan is a great pitching coach, but showed last fall that he has the managerial sense of a kiwi. Kerrigan got his job because he was willing to be Duquette's ally, and players will continue to resent him even if Duquette is gone. Henry should get rid of these two now before Red Sox nation gets frustrated and dumps them in the Boston Harbor along with the overpriced Fenway food.The other thing that Henry and his partners need to do to revive the Sox is build a new ballpark. Plans for a new Fenway got put on the shelf when current owner John Harrington decided to sell the Sox. Boston has the oldest ballpark in Major League baseball, and for the Sox to compete at the level of the other teams, they need to have a ballpark that will generate the same amount of revenue.Right now, the Sox are to the Yankees what many say Tufts is to Harvard. Harvard's unlimited endowment provides the university with money to secure all the resources it needs, and Harvard continues to be the most prestigious school in the country because it can constantly pay for whatever advances it needs. Tufts, however, has a small endowment, and the administration simply does not have enough money to raise faculty salaries, build a new dorm, improve financial aid, and continue to fund structural improvements like exterminating the Wren bugs. The Sox similarly do not have the money to buy players for positions they are weak at each offseason, while the Yanks GM has carte blanche in the free agent market.For both Tufts-Harvard and the Sox-Yankees, financial superiority causes an intense rivalry - though I doubt we will see students selling "Harvard sucks" t-shirts at baseball games this spring. Money also creates disparities in the team's records. Though it is tough for a Sox fan to admit, the Yankees have been a consistently dominant team, while Boston has (gulp) not won a championship in over 80 years. Likewise, Harvard dominates Tufts in the US News and World Report rankings each year. We can argue all we want that certain things are better here, but the national perception is that Harvard is a superior school.The answer for how to raise Tufts' endowment is not clear, but for the Sox, it is: build a ballpark that will bring in the revenue that the team needs. Fenway may be beautiful and historic, but those words mean little to the fans sitting behind the poles who are watching a team that hasn't won a championship since their great-grandfathers sat behind those very same poles. Build the park where Fenway is now, build it in Southie, or build it on the waterfront - it doesn't really matter. Just build it, because if Henry does, more fans will come, and the Sox will get the revenue they need to operate a top-notch club. And while Henry is evaluating changes to make, Sox games could do without that pointless post-third inning game where the fans scream loudly to choose between two songs and the announcer plays them later.

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News

Track teams fare well in All-New Englands

March 31

The men's indoor track and field team finished 11th in a pool of 27 squads in the Men's Track and Field All-New England Championships last weekend at Boston University. The Jumbos grabbed 15 total points on Saturday and edged out five NESCAC opponents, including Williams, Trinity, Bates, Bowdoin, and Colby. Junior Adam Sharp finished sixth in the 1,000-meter run, scoring one point for his team with a time of 2:30.74. The last time Sharp had run the 1,000 was two weeks earlier at the Tufts Stampede Invitational with a time of 2:42.68. Senior JR Cruz, finished second in the 5,000, picking up eight points for Tufts. Cruz improved his time to 14:45.25 from 15:08.24 the week before at the New England Division III Championships. The Jumbos' distance medley team also fared well and ran to a third-place finish with a seasonal best of 10:12.13. Senior Ben Smith also performed solidly last weekend, finishing 14th in the 3,000 with a time of 8:44.44. Junior Peter Bromke ran to a 14th place finish in 15:24.80 while senior Jason Mann followed two spots behind with a time of 15:29.33. The women's squad also competed in the All-New England's and ended the weekend 30th of 43 squads on its home track. The Jumbos grabbed their points in the 4x400 meter run with a sixth-place finish. The team of junior Myriam Claudio, sophomore Emily Bersin, freshman Sika Henry, and sophomore Jessica Trombly finished with a time of 4:00.01. In the 55 hurdles, Trombly qualified for the finals with a time of 8.82 seconds, but fell short of placing in the final round. The distance medley of sophomore Lauren Caputo, freshman Claudia Clarke, freshman Katie Sheedy and junior Mary Nodine also nearly placed, but finished ninth in 12:31.41. The jumping events saw solid competition on Saturday, as senior Sarah Leistikow placed 15th in the long jump at 5.04 meters and sophomore Shushanna Mignott placed 12th in the triple jump at 10.65. Both squads will compete in the weekend-long ECAC Championships this weekend at the Gantcher Center.

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News

In retrospect

March 31

W.B. Yates said, "Education is not filling a bucket, it is lighting a fire." It is hard to get a mental handle on graduation: one week we are studying our posteriors off for finals and the next week we finish Tufts. Thinking back, I have been trying to get some understanding of what I have and have not learned - not just specific factual stuff, though that has been substantial - but more of the big picture. There is critical thinking: knowing the difference between an assumption and argument, realizing that perfect objectivity is impossible, a wariness of verisimilitude, knowing the arcane but essential rules of logic and understanding the difference between a correlation and causal relation. Although these may never have been explicitly spelled out by any one professor, they have been emphasized consistently from the beginning. There is communication: how to make an argument, how to be concise, how to footnote, how to network, how to organize using e-mail lists, how to advertise, how to write a memo and how to use a Xerox. OK, so some of these are really specific, technical skills, but they will be really useful later on. There is research: how to sift through huge piles of information, how to divide up work, how to allocate time, how to work in study groups, the importance of detail, being comfortable with multiple correct answers and being at home with ambiguity. That, again, has been drilled into me from the beginning. But all of this stuff is functional - it is the engine, not the driver. None of these skills really tell you how to find your way from point A to point B. That brings me to what I did not learn. Beyond occasional discussions of plagiarism, there is very little ethical training at Tufts. Take for example, our infamous alumnus who became CFO of Enron. He certainly had the brains to get him where he wanted to go, but felt little compunction about cheating the government, the shareholders, or even his own employees. What was missing? It is impossible - and pointless - to devise a complete set of ethical rules. There are simply too many temptations in life to account for, and too many ways of bending the rules for personal gain. What needs to happen is training for ethical thinking - how to constantly question the rightness or wrongness of actions - rather than mindlessly telling people what they should and should not do. Ethical thinking largely comes down to the old "Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you." This mental discipline could be taught through discussion and case studies. The aim would not be to formulate guidelines for ethical action, but rather to help people think in an ethics-promoting way. Thinking is like athletics: in order to perform when called upon, you have to train. Our ethics are tested at numerous points throughout our lives - it seems strange not to help students prepare for these tests in the same way Tufts helps students prepare for the GRE, LSAT or MCAT. Why not have a class that all Tufts students take - call it Applied Ethics. Instead of dealing with this subject philosophically (a class for this already exists), the emphasis would be on training students how to think ethically; to cultivate a mental discipline of constantly questioning actions. The course would be discussion based - students would talk about ethical dilemmas in their own lives and analyze realistic case studies. The goal would not be to arrive at consensus about what is and is not right, but to develop individual responsibility for thinking ethically. Perhaps the reason we do not have such a subject is the dominant view that ethics cannot be taught, or must be taught by parents. Although students should indeed know by now that they are not supposed to cheat, steal or deceive, they rarely think about why they have been taught these rules. By developing ethical inquisitiveness and a habit of ethical thinking, Tufts can indeed help students develop these skills. In the balance, Tufts really does an outstanding job helping its students develop critical thinking, communication and research skills, beyond the academic education we get in our particular majors. Yet it seems strange for a school that prepares its prepares us so well to not offer any assistance in developing ethical thinking. Medical schools and law schools teach applied ethics, but why must students wait so long for such an important subject?

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News

Best and worst CDs of the year

March 31

While 2001-02 may not have been the most groundbreaking year in music, it did see some exciting acts evolve - such as Pink, Ja Rule, and Brandy. Unfortunately, we also had to witness some promising musicians take missteps (Ludacris), while lesser artists put out nothing better the usual banal claptrap they always create (Britney Spears). But we shouldn't complain - it could have been much worse. At least Ricky Martin and the Backstreet Boys have virtually disappeared from the pop airwaves and have been banished to adult contemporary stations. Here is a flashback to some of the most memorable (and painful) sounds of the last nine months:The Divas In the overwhelming world of Divas, there have been three who have captured a ton of media awareness as of late: Pink, Ashanti and Tweet. While Pink made her debut in 2000 as another dance/techno pop queen, she stood out from the pack with her tough exterior and the voice of a leather-throated angel. Ashanti came to national prominence after tag-teaming with hip-hop heavyweights Ja Rule ("Always On Time") and Fat Joe ("What 's Love") on their Top Ten entries. Though she has a major solo hit with "Foolish," Tweet is, and will probably remain a one-hit wonder after producing a not-so-subtle ode to her cuticles, "Oops, (Oh, My)." While Ashanti and Tweet both have similar breathy and sensual voices, their music possesses an odd feeling of soullessness with grooves that just don't groove. Pink, on the other hand, has churned out a classic with Missundaztood. Whereas she could have just retreated to the formula of the CD's first hit, "Get The Party Started," she instead showcases her talents on blues and acoustic tracks and even hooks up with Steven Tyler - and gives him a run for his money. Pink gets extra points for being brutally honest and writing about her insecurities, and the fact that she lets down her emotional guard is appealing.No Doubt: Rock Steady I really didn't think that No Doubt had much life left after 2000's Return to Saturn, the lackluster follow-up to the mega-huge Tragic Kingdom. The group seemed to be heading in the same spaced out non-direction as the B52's, and seemed destined for the dreaded stigma of being a 90's band. Guess hanging out with Moby and Eve the past couple of years really paid off for Gwen Stefani and company, because the band hit a major high note with Rock Steady in 2001. The bouncy "Hey Baby" was fun-yet overplayed, but the rest of the album contains many stronger moments - especially "Hella Good" and "Start the Fire." Maybe Steffani's magic will eventually rub off on fianc?©e Gavin Rossindale, as Bush's most recent product went over about as well as Return to Saturn did two years ago.Hip Hop Three of the more anxiously awaited hip-hop releases were definitely those by heavyweights Ja Rule, Ludacris, and Fat Joe. Ja Rule's Pain is Love is quite possibly the best rap CD of the new millennium. Chock full of sort-of-romantic duets ("Always On Time" w/Ashanti and "I'm Real" w/Jennifer Lopez), alongside some of the better gangsta gits ("Dial M For Murder" and "Smokin And Ridin"), as well as the best use of a Stevie Wonder sample on "Livin it Up." Not only does Ja Rule have possibly the most appealing voice in rap, he also has the material to back it up. Ja Rule's recent releases are very unlike Ludacris' fairly juvenile Word of Mouf disc. Yes, he did have a big hit with "Rollout (My Business)," and a decent follow up with, "Saturday (Oooh Oooh!)." But the rest of the CD sees him trying too hard to be a "freak." Obvious and repetitive songs like "Freaky Thangs" and "Get The F*** Back" are just tedious and way below his potential. Nothing on Word of Mouf even holds a candle to 2000's staggering "What's Your Fantasy." While Fat Joe does owe a bit of a nod to Ashanti for bringing "What's Luv" into Top Ten province, his disc is still full of some of the best jams around. Full of party's tracks like "My Lifestyle" and "We Thuggin," Fat Joe is sure to be a part of hip-hop royalty if he continues on this track.Sheryl Crow: C'mon C'mon Sheryl Crow has been a serious thorn in the side of the music scene for way too long. Who actually ever told her that she was a "major" artist? And why does she have such a self-important attitude of a big "legend?" Just because she has dated rock legends like Eric Clapton does not mean their greatness just rubs off on her. And if it did, I'm With The Band author Pamela DesBares would be the greatest musician of all time. Yeah, one would have to be a major downer not to appreciate a feel-good song like "Soak Up The Sun." But is rehashing the idea of sun worship on wax really a breakthrough? Well, sure - if this was 40 years ago and she was named Brian Wilson, it could have been. But jumping on the Beach Boys bandwagon - now?. Oh well, I guess I can't blame her. She really is going to need a hit to move C'mon C'mon from the CD bins, because the rest of the disc is mainly filler that sounds like leftovers from her Tuesday Night Music Club days. Not that it is terrible - it's just kind of stale. And if she wants to be taken seriously, she probably should have passed on the cheesecake photos that she posed for in last month's issue of Stuff magazine. Not really the kind of "stuff" a legend wannabe should be dipping into. Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet Yeah, the (original blood soaked) cover is kinda dopey and WWF-ish, but Andrew W.K.'s major label debut has probably been the definitive rock CD of the year. With titles like "Party Hard" and "Party Till You Puke," there is no confusion that Andrew has no deep thoughts to share on I Get Wet - but that's the point. This is the best revelry record so far this year, and Andrew W.K.'s two area performances at the Paradise this spring became the most exciting shows that Commonwealth Avenue has seen since the legendary club, The Rat, was demolished. I Get Wet is also a nice break from the rock/rap overload we have been tolerating for the past couple of years. It's promising indication that (good) straight-ahead rock may see a re-birth. Finally. Dance Remix As a young tyke in the '80s, I remember the annoying trend of dance artists who had some success with a tune. They would go running to some "DJ Mixmaster" who revamped the song, turned it into a dance mix and released a "remix album." Huge singers like Madonna did this and even one time big acts like Bobby Brown and Milli Vanilli (sorry for digging up that old wound), jumped on the "remix" bandwagon. Fortunately, the albums were not all that successful (imagine, the nerve of the public not wanting to pay for the same song more than once) and the custom of remixing seemed to wither away. But since the major success of the Jennifer Lopez/Ja Rule remix of "I'm Real," the door is now open wide for a return to the rehashes. So it was no surprise that Lopez was the fist to strike with J To Tha L-O!. Though it does have the new hit with Ja Rule ("Ain't It Funny"), the rest of the disc is just a mishmash of earlier Lopez hits. The most disappointing is the "Waiting For Tonight" remix, which turns out to be a case study in how to ruin a perfectly fine dance tune. Destiny's Child and Shaggy did not fare any better with their similar projects. The man behind 2000's monstrous hit "It Wasn't Me" gives us two new versions of that smash, while lamely rehashing the reggaefied "Angel." Destiny's Child does have a couple of bright spots on This Is The Remix (e.g. "Bootylicious" and "Bills, Bills, Bills"), but the harder edged raps and tones, just don't suit this pop act. And now that TLC's future is uncertain (RIP - Left Eye), this is the most promising female trio we have at the moment. And you though that the alleged New England drought was a scary thought.B2K: B2K MTV pop darlings B2K had the benefit of major promotional campaign saturation for their eponymous debut. Now hype can backfire, and while the group's first disc has been selling steady, it has not been reaching the numbers that it should be. A catchy quartet of teen hip-hoppers, B2K is probably trying to appeal to the fans that have outgrown the teenybopper sounds of the last couple of years. "Uh Huh," is groove filled and irresistible, as is "Gots Ta Be." B2K is probably what Boyz II Men wished that they could have sounded like at their age (or even now, for that matter).Petey Pablo: Diary of a Sinner, 1st Entry Petey Pablo's "Raise Up" is quite frankly one of the best hip-hop party tunes period (ranking right up there with DMX's "Party Up"). Though I have seen one too many calorically and alcoholicaly challenged bozo's at dance clubs take the line about "take your shirt off, spin it like a helicopter" to heart and wack some unsuspecting dance floor patrons with their Corona-soaked golf shirts. With the exception of "Raise Up," Pablo has some other amazing moments on Diary Of A Sinner, with the contagious "La Di Da Da Da" and "Y'All Ain't Ready (Come On)". Pablo is a promising and unique rapper, emerging from a sea of repetitiveness.Britney and Brandy Here is a prime example of two singers who both started in their teens and have seen different levels of fame. And while one is growing up, the other is just continuing to empty her parents' Visa account. Brandy has not has a hit since 1998's drab, "The Boy Is Mine." And while we're on it, it is beyond me why someone would want to rehash a bad idea of Michael Jackson's, which added up to the most embarrassing moment on his classic Thriller - "The Girl Is Mine." Now in her post-Moesha days, the married and mother-to-be Brandy has really emerged from a three-year hiatus and created a great artifact in Full Moon. Her major hit, "What About Love" is stylish and alluring - as is, "Come a Little Closer." Coming from a singer whose career was seemingly over, Brandy has turned out to be more of a musical force than was once apparent. Britney Spears, on the other hand. really should go away (and not just for three years, like Brandy). First off, I don't care if she is a "good girl," or if she really did the deed with Justin Timerberlake or not. Though a lot of people do seem to really care about her sexual status, they have a lot more to worry about than they realize, if they really do care! And I certainly don't need to her hear her whine about her hormones in "I'm Not A Girl, Not Yet A Woman." Also, her phony breathing on that major hit "I'm A Slave 4 U," is supposed to be a turn-on, but comes off as plastic and very non-sensual. Maybe it's not so bad that her flick Crossroads was not quite as bad as Mariah Carey's Glitter. Hopefully, it will encourage her to do more celluloid work. At least if she's on a studio lot... she won't be in the recording studio.

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Minimize recovery time and maximize workout frequency

March 31

I am still sore from my chest workout five days ago. Should I workout anyway, or should I let it rest? A general rule of thumb that has served me well is to never train a body part that is still sore from the previous workout. So, to answer your question in short, no, you shouldn't train chest when you are still sore. However, five days rest should be enough recovery time for even the most intense workouts. Here are a few helpful tips to minimize recovery time and maximize workout frequency:First, get plenty of sleep. The typical individual needs between eight and ten hours of sleep per night. A person who is physically active usually needs a little bit more (maybe eight to nine hours per night). Getting enough sleep is essential. Not only does lack of sleep affect your recovery time, it weakens your immune system and also lowers your reaction time. To give you an idea of what a lack of sleep does to an individual, consider the following results. A test was given to a group of people who were legally intoxicated. The same test was given to a group that had been sleep deprived (less than five hours of sleep per night). When the results were calculated, those of the sleep-deprived individuals were similar to the drunk individuals. In other words, lose enough sleep, and you may as well be taking that math test with a bottle in your hand. Second, make sure to eat breakfast, and have three to five small, subsequent meals throughout the day. Studies have been done that show that those who skip breakfast tend to snack more frequently throughout the day, as well as consume more at each individual meal. This not only leads to a slower metabolism (which means more fat deposits), but it also impedes the body's ability to recover after workouts because the nutrients it utilizes to rebuild muscle torn during a workout aren't as available as it is optimal for them to be. By eating small quantities frequently throughout the day, you maintain a faster metabolism and keep the nutrients your body needs more consistently available. Third, avoid over training. The adage "more is better" does not hold true for weightlifting. In reality, "better is better." Sacrifice volume for slower sets, and pay more attention to form. Lift lighter weight if your joints hurt after heavy sets, in order for the tendons and ligaments to become more gradually accustomed to the poundage. Keep your time in the gym from 60 to 90 minutes. Anything in excess of that is probably superfluous and a waste of time. Also, effort starts to fade around the hour and a half mark, which leads to a slow and lagging workout. If you find yourself dragging yourself through a workout, it might even serve you well to go home and come back the next day more intent and motivated.Fourth, be sure to take time off. Working out five, six, or seven days a week is usually too much. Take a day or two off between workouts. This gives your muscles a rest, as well as makes you more eager to return to the gym after your day(s) off. Also, once in a while (like every three of four months), take a week or two off to re-evaluate your fitness goals and rebuild your commitment to achieving them. What are front squats, and how are they performed? Front squats are an advanced squatting exercise that places more emphasis on the quadriceps by placing the weight forward on the body. This is difficult to do with free weights, so it is recommended to start by experimenting and getting the motion down on a self-spotting machine before you attempt them with a barbell. The motion is as follows: cross your arms, with each hand grasping the opposite bicep, and hold your arms in front of you, perpendicular to your chest. (This exercise can also be performed with your fists under your chin, thumbs grasping the bar - some say that this adds more stability to the bar - but do whatever feels best for you). The weight then rests on the front of your shoulders, right under your chin. Follow the same motion you would if you were to do regular squats, keeping your head up, back straight, and heels on the ground.

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News

Statistically superior St. Louis set to lose

March 31

This isn't your typical Super Bowl preview. Of course, this isn't your typical Super Bowl matchup, and certainly not a typical NFL season. Normally, we compare the two teams position by position, examining which has the edge at each spot. That can't happen this year. On paper, the St. Louis Rams have the advantage at virtually every position, except one - backup quarterback. Kurt Warner is the best passer in the game, Marshall Faulk is the best running back (if not player) in the game, the Rams' receiving corps is the deepest and quickest, the offensive line is big and strong, the defense best-rated unit in the NFC, and their special teams is no slouch. Games aren't played on paper, they are played in domes on green cement, which is why the New England Patriots, despite being two touchdown dogs, have a chance in this game. Despite all the mismatches, the Pats have a few advantages, and I'm not even including having Drew Bledsoe in the bullpen. For starters, they don't have to defend against Warner's 4,000 passing yards or Faulk's 2,000-yard season. They only have to stop them for 60 minutes, and they have the best defensive mind in the game. Head coach Bill Belichek is to defensive game plans as Deep Blue was to computers. Is he going to shut the Rams offense down? No. It is probably the best the game has ever seen. But if the Patriots can hold the Rams under 25 points - a feat accomplished by only four teams this year, including the Patriots, - New England can win the game. The second advantage the Pats have is confidence. They have won eight games in a row, their last loss coming at the hands of the Rams. In addition to the win streak, that Nov. 18 contest has to give the Patriots confidence. The Rams won 24-17, but not without a scare. Ignore the fact that the game was played in New England in the cold and wind while the Super Bowl will be played on turf in a dome. When you're playing the Rams, you take any confidence boost you can get. As close as the Patriots got in that game, there were a number of things they must improve upon on Sunday. For starters, Antowain Smith rushed for only 36 yards on 15 carries and had a fumble. He will have to be more productive against the Rams this time. It will be difficult for offensive coordinator Charlie Weiss to keep calling Smith's number if St. Louis jumps out to a lead, but New England must have the advantage in time of possession, so a running game, or short passing game is crucial. That means that Tom Brady, anointed the starting quarterback two days ago despite a high ankle sprain, will have to improve on his numbers from the first St. Louis game. He went 19 for 27 for 185 yards, a touchdown and two picks. His completion percentage was good, as always, but he will need more completions for more yards, and decrease the interceptions. Defensively, the Patriots intercepted Warner twice and forced him to fumble once, but trading turnovers with the Rams is not enough, the Pats must come out ahead on this statistic. Warner had a monster game against the Patriots, throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns. The most important stat, though, was that Warner got sacked only once. The Patriots must get consistent pressure on him. If he can sit back in the pocket, he will chew through the New England secondary. Finally, the Pats will need some special special teams play. New England scored two special teams touchdowns last week, but the Rams aren't quite the special teams bumblers the Pittsburgh Steelers turned out to be. The Pats can definitely win this game, but a lot of things must go right. Will they pull it off? I'm not ready to make a prediction quite yet, but I will say that the two best teams in the NFL are in the Super Bowl this year. Okay, now I'm ready. Cinderella makes it to the ball and wins on a Rams missed field goal - 25-24 Patriots.

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News

Philosophy prof. Bauer receives Professor of the Year Award

March 31

Philosophy professor Nancy Bauer was joined by students past and present yesterday as she received the Professor of the Year award in the Remis Sculpture Court. Some of Bauer's students participated in the laid-back ceremony - sponsored by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate - by sharing their experiences from her classes. The popular professor frequently draws students back to her courses for a second and even a third time. Senior Jed Fowler said that after having her as a professor the first time, he decided to take advantage of Bauer's multiple course offerings. "The amount of time she put into critiquing my papers was almost more than I put in myself," he said. Students said Bauer is conscious of her students' feelings, and that she encourages strong feedback from her classes so that she can adapt to better satisfy students. She said she took this approach from lessons learned when she was a student. "When I stand at the front of the class at the beginning of the year, I see many Me's facing back at me," she said. Bauer said she had a difficult time as an undergraduate, suffering from undiagnosed depression and often feeling lost. "I know my students are capable of more than they think they're capable of," she said. One student described Bauer's ability to make material that he would normally find bland come alive through her energetic presentations. "I had a two-and-half hour class with difficult material," sophomore Alex Madva said. "She made it really engaging - I've never had that before." After nearly a decade of indecision, Bauer decided to become a teacher when she was in her 30s. After completing a dissertation at Harvard University, a friend who taught at Tufts left for a sabbatical. When the University needed someone to fill in for a course on feminist philosophy, the friend suggested that Bauer could take the job. Bauer taught occasional classes at Tufts for a few years before being offered a tenure track position in 1999. She said she has never regretted the decision to stay at Tufts. "I actually turned down a bunch of tenure track positions to come here," Bauer said. "I've never really taught a class here yet that I really didn't like." Bauer's tenure at Tufts will be interrupted next year, however, when she takes a yearlong sabbatical at Harvard while working on her second book. Like her first, her next book will examine pornography within society. "It's about the different philosophical attempts to weigh in on the pornography debate," she said. Bauer believes that philosophy must examine issues on their philosophical merit alone, and not necessarily apply them to real world issues. Though the book may be controversial, it will not be the first time Bauer has weighed into a debate. Earlier this year, she encouraged the University to stand up against The Primary Source after senior Iris Halpern charged the publication with sexual harassment. The Professor of the Year Award was first given in the 1998-1999 academic year to associate professor of history Gerald Gill. Current Dean of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Robin Kanarek received the award in 1999-2000 during her time as chair of the psychology department. The 2000-2001 award was given to three professors: chemistry lecturer Christopher Morse, Japanese lecturer Kiyoko Morita, and sociology lecturer Lee Vigilant, who is now teaching at the University of Minnesota. In selecting Professor of the Year, the Senate elicits student nominations for professors who have made deep impacts on both their academic and personal lives. This year's questions focused on the ways the professor has "improved the academic environment at Tufts," and also "how they have benefited the surrounding community."

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News

TILIP to hold China symposium next week

March 31

The Tufts Institute of Leadership and International Perspective (TILIP) will hold its annual symposium on China: Dimensions of Security next week. The symposium, which will feature experts on China and security, is the culminating event for students who participated in the Hong Kong intern program in April 2001. According to TILIP's founding director Sherman Teichman, this year's symposium will be particularly interesting because faculty and senior cadets from the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point will participate in open forums on security in Asia. In turn, they will host the Chinese and Tufts delegations at the USMA at West Point the week prior to the symposium. "This is a very unusual program," Teichman said. "Students get access to cutting edge scholars to discuss cutting edge issues." The theme of the symposium, chosen last spring, will address broad security issues. Discussions will include strategic dimensions of security, the international and internal roles of the military, personal security and dilemmas of health, human rights and labor, environmental issues, the role of law, and China and the World Trade Organization. US-China relations will also be emphasized. "Terrorism is as much a smokescreen as anything else," Teichman said. "Since Sept. 11 the US and China have gotten to get closer." He added that president Bush's trip to China the week after the symposium makes the time and context for these discussions particularly appropriate. TILIP students prepare for the symposium by selecting and arranging the panelists. This year, the students contacted the authors of recently published books that they studied. They also arranged for the participation of leading government figures, directors, and analysts with whom they formed connections while in China. "The prime responsibilities of the students participating in this is the intellectual public act of designing the symposium," Teichman said. The symposium is one facet of the Institute for Global Leadership program, which will also sponsor the annual EPIIC symposium during the last week of February. TILIP students were paired with top students in Beijing and Hong Kong to participate in programs such as Leadership and Team Building and Weekly Leadership Lecture Series. "It is remarkable that we are able to do this. It's particularly interesting because we have students from the finest Chinese universities participating," said Teichman. The Chinese students participating in the symposium are in the top five to ten percent of the 300,000 students in their senior class. On Tufts' end, according to Teichman, the staff of seven professors that interviews students selects participants based on personality, intellectual curiosity, interest in China, and scholastic achievement. Once enrolled in TILIP, the 13 Tufts students are paired with 13 Chinese students and are prepared for internships in Hong Kong. Teichman says the internship program and symposium are meant to challenge students. "It is our intent to open the doors for access to an intellectual team. These students are future leaders," he said. "They have already distinguished themselves in many scholastic and extracurricular ways." Professor Zhu Feng, director of the International Security Program at The School of International Studies, Peking University, will deliver the keynote address at the symposium. He has written on issues ranging from ballistic missile defense to human rights and Sino-US Relations, to the Asian financial crisis and East Asian economic cooperation. Dr. Shahid Yusuf, Research Manager of the Development Research Group of The World Bank, will deliver the concluding address at the symposium. Yusuf is the lead economist of the World Bank's China Department. Other panelists include Dr. Su Hao, a Fulbright Fellow at Columbia University, and Ms. Veron Mei-Ying Hung, a senior scholar in the China Program of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. This year will mark the TILIP's fourth Sino-centric symposium and its 18th annual symposium. In recent years symposium themes have included Preparing the Next Generation: Global Leadership Across Cultures, Globalization and Modernization in China, and Globalization and China: Challenging Cultural Boundaries.General admission for attendees outside of the Tufts community to the Feb. 14-16 event is $20, and non-Tufts students and senior citizens are invited to attend for $5. All panels will be held in the Aidekman Arts Center's Alumnae Lounge, except for Feb. 14th, when panels will be in the Coolidge Room of Ballou Hall.

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News

I-Club garners support for Intercultural Festival

March 31

Saturday night's Parade of Nations Fashion and Talent Extravaganza - both to be held in Cohen Auditorium - will mark the culmination of the weeklong Tufts Intercultural Festival, which kicked off on Valentine's Day with parties at Boston-area nightclubs. Sponsored by the International Club and the International Center, its purpose is to bring together the University's different culture groups and teach people about the different cultures on campus. The Parade of Nations Extravaganza allows various culture clubs to sing, dance, act, and model clothing from around the world. Sean McDermott, former president of the International Club and organizer of last year's Festival, said that about 18 different groups performed approximately 20 acts last year.The Parade garners the highest level of participation of all the week's events. "There are so many culture groups on campus and it's great to see them all together," McDermott said. Last year the extravaganza had standing room only because of the high turnout. In all likelihood, this year's Parade will gather a similarly high number of attendees.The Oliver Chapman Award for Leadership and Community Service will also be presented during the show on behalf of the International Center and the International Club. The award has been given out to a Tufts senior who has made exceptional contributions to either the on-campus or off-campus international community since then- senior Chapman passed away seven years ago.McDermott said that the amount participants take away from the festival is equal to what they put in. Some groups choose to attend certain events, and some events are better attended than others, but McDermott says that "the Festival successfully promotes cultural interchange" no matter how large or small the venue.The International Club sponsored Valentine's Day parties at Boston nightclubs Avalon, Embassy, and The Modern. According to International Club Uphill Representative Nicolas Chaset, the evening was a success. Despite complications with the buses that drove students to the clubs, all of the attendees were transported to their destinations. "We had over 200 Tufts students attend the event," Chaset said. "It worked out better than we had expected." As part of the Festival, the Tufts Institute for Leadership and International Perspective (TILIP) sponsored a four-day symposium entitled China: Dimensions of Security. According to TILIP Director Sherman Teichman, the event encouraged "a free exchange of ideas" about China's role in today's world, focusing on such topics as human rights, international cooperation, and personal security. The club also sponsored World Cup Playoffs and Finals, held Monday and Tuesday nights, in which independent six-person teams played in the Gantcher Center and Cousens Gymnasium. Both nights were well attended, and teams were loosely formed so that the event resembled the actual World Cup. "There was an Arab team, a French team, a Greek team," Chaset said. More events will take place this week before the closing Parade, including the International House Pancake Night, the Faculty Waits on You Dinner and Auction, and the ONYX Black History Month Celebration. International Club President Eli Levin-Goldstein and Vice-President Maria Eugena Garcia planned this year's events. "So far it's going really well; obviously the next few days are when we have all our main events," Goldstein said. "I'm happy with it so far and just keep your eyes peeled for international events this week."

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News

The class of 1952

March 31

In the 50 years since the 100th class graduated from Tufts College, it has been more involved in Tufts than any other group of students. But when these alumni return to campus next week as the honored guests at this year's commencement and for their 50th reunion, they will find that much has changed in the last 50 years. Many alumni will stay in the dorms in which they resided as undergraduates half a century earlier - but they will find the facilities and the campus much different today. The bookstore was in Bendetson Hall on the academic quad, the library was in Eaton, and there was a University golf course. No one complained about having a closet single in the basement of Haskell and Wren then because those dorms were still 12 years from being built. Latin Way, South Hall, and the campus center also did not yet exist. The student body was also quite different 50 years ago. The class of 1952 was much smaller and more homogeneous, but did have students of diverse religious backgrounds and a few international students. Also, at that time, women were students of Jackson College. In 1952, tuition was approximately $625 for classes, board, and meals. Additionally, many of the people for whom buildings and other places on campus were named after were still active on campus. One such person was basketball and football coach Ellis. Archives of the Tufts Weekly show that student concerns in 1952 were similar to concerns that students have today. Student government elections, later library hours, voting rules, and instituting an honor system for exams were just some of the issues that made the headlines. Perhaps the biggest news in 1952 was University President Leonard Carmichael's announcement that he was leaving Tufts to become secretary at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC. The social scene on campus was similar to the current scene, with students taking the T to Boston, fraternity parties (many of them in the same exact houses they are in today) on weekends, and school group socials on weeknights and weekends. However, while many of the activities were the same, the time frame when socializing occurred was not. Weeknight social activities could not go past 10 p.m., as Jackson women had to be in their dorms for curfew. "Dorm mothers" checked in to see if the girls were in by 10 p.m. on weeknights and 12 a.m. on weekends. "We had a dorm mother, we had called her the 'evil witch of the west' at the time," said Anne Torrey, who lived in Stratton Hall back in 1952 when she was Anne Jenkins, or "Jinx." "We were expected to have proper manners for ladies at the time." According to Torrey, she loved living in Stratton Hall because it was the only dorm to have its own dining hall and back then was "very elegant." One significant change on campus in the last 50 years has been the equalization of the male to female ratio. "At Jackson College with maybe 100 girls in the whole class and 500 men, the odds were wonderful," Torrey said. Male enrollment was high in 1952 with the return of men from the war, and the ratio was often joked about among students. When Torrey returned to campus for homecoming last year, she noticed several changes in students life. Torrey, a former head cheerleader at Tufts, majored in education and was a sister of Sigma Kappa. Both her sorority and her major no longer exist at the University. During homecoming, Torrey visited campus and met with the current Tufts cheerleaders. She observed many changes since she was head cheerleader; for one, there are now men on the team. Also, past uniforms were much more conservative. Their uniforms consisted of brown slacks and heavy knit sweaters with a blue T and a megaphone. "We could not show our legs, let alone our panties. We were Miss Prim and Proper," Torrey said."We did short cheers that everyone participated in and the student body was with us, and that doesn't happen today." The sports, however, teams competed against the same teams in 1952 as they do today. As a member of the cheerleading team, Torrey was able to escape freshman hazing, a Tufts tradition that was once very popular. "Freshmen girls had to wear green ribbons in their hair and guys had to wear beanies for first semester," Torrey said. The sophomore honor society, called the Sword and Shield, coordinated activities for its class and was in charge of freshmen hazing. Another expired Tufts tradition that meant a great deal to students at the time was the Mayorality Campaign held every spring. The Mayor of Tufts was a position parallel to a homecoming king - an elected student with no real duties. However, it involved highly competitive campaigns with campaign themes, posters, parades with elaborate floats and live horses, and parties throughout the week. At the end of the week, students voted for the Mayor of Tufts. "The Mayoralty Campaign was a hoot and a holler, it was party time for five days," Torrey said. "Three or four students would compete, it was pretty much backed by the fraternities." "You folks, without having seen it, can't imagine the energy and effort that went into those campaigns," Alan Bruns, another 1952 graduate, said. His wife, Roberta Bruns (in 1952 she was Roberta Shepard), was also a member of the class of 1952. During her time at Tufts, she was a sister of Alpha Omicron Pi. She says that Greek life was bigger on campus in 1952 than it is now partly because there were more commuting students or "off-hill students," as they were called. "That was a nice way to get the off-hill students to be more of a part of the non-academic side of the college life too," said Mrs. Bruns, who was also a member of the modern dance group and the Jackson archery team. The Bruns are co-chairs of the 50th reunion. They are part of the Centennial Class Coordinating Committee (C4 for short), which plans reunions, publishes a bi-annual newsletter for their class, and meets back at campus twice a year. The class of 1952 has the highest rate of alumni participation ever - 65 percent. The committee works to help reconnect the class of 1952 with each other and the students of today. Five years ago, they established the centennial scholarship for exceptional students, which has been awarded to five students from this year's graduating class. Mr. and Mrs. Bruns met during their freshmen orientation at their advisor's meeting. They also had an English class together, but didn't start dating until their junior year. Mr. Bruns, a physics major, recalls loving his dorm, West Hall, where the only showers were in the basement while he lived on the fourth floor. He played lacrosse and was also a brother of Theta Delta Chi and lived in the fraternity house on 123 Packard Ave., the same address it has today, for two years. As a NROTC student, Mr. Bruns received a scholarship to attend a number of colleges from which he selected Tufts. "In the NROTC I had a choice of 52 schools and I've always been happy that I chose Tufts. I enjoyed it," he said. "I wanted to pick up a coed school and I wanted a school that had lacrosse, and I didn't want a school that took too much pride in being Ivy League." However, Mr. Bruns thinks the University has changed greatly since his time as a student. "There were no midnight dashes through the park without any clothes on, and happily very little drugs," he said. "Alcohol was not as severe a problem as it is now." Torrey agrees that there are many distractions for students and does not exactly like what college life has disintegrated into. "Kids go into it for the experience, not the education, and it's a shame," Torrey said. But she still thinks that college is a wonderful time and should be enjoyed. She still has her diploma, "a sheepskin" she calls it, tied in the brown and blue ribbon she received it in.

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News

It's all about the Benjamins

March 31

"My parents pay enough," junior Mauro Ferman said. Ferman, along with other guilt-ridden college students, have acknowledged the financial sacrifice made by their parents for a college education by finding off-campus jobs. A Tufts education is not especially cheap, and many students attempt to supplement the thousands of dollars their parents shell out in any way they can. "The money I make pays for all my personal expenses," Ferman said. Ferman works at two off-campus jobs; he runs a nightclub on Saturday nights and works at Merrill Lynch during the week. Ferman enjoys the entertainment aspects of his job at Zenu, a Boston club where he has been working since his freshman year, but also appreciates the income. "It's great revenue. It beats washing dishes at Carmichael for seven dollars an hour," he said. Ferman also pointed out that his real world experience helped him secure his month-old job at Merrill Lynch. "They were impressed. I've been promoting and running clubs for three years - that's more [experience] than most college kids," Ferman said. He says his new job will prepare him for a future in investment banking. Senior Jeremy Zuniga has been working as a bartender's assistant at the Florentine Caf?© in the North End since last year. He believes that the benefits of an off-campus job are twofold. "The money's great...and I get perspectives and opinions from older people who come into the caf?©," Zuniga said. It's pretty dynamic and diverse." He says most customers are in their thirties or older, and he meets people from a variety of backgrounds. While his job is "definitely worth the trip out to Boston," Zuniga admits that the 30-hour a week time commitment is a down side. "I really don't have time for an internship right now. It [would be] too hard to balance school, work, and an internship," Zuniga said. Some off-campus jobs can provide future career experience with the added benefits of a salary. Sophomore Colin Stewart works in the sports department at the Boston Globe as a "night hawk" - which he defines as basically an "office gopher." Last semester, however, Stewart covered a high school soccer game for the Globe, and his article was published. "It's great if you want to get into the sports journalism field...It interests me. This could be something I want to pursue [as a career]," Stewart said. While his current salary is not significantly higher than his previous one, Stewart insists that there is no comparison between his job at the Globe and his previous on-campus job at Telefund. "[Telefund] was mindless. Calling old ladies for money for four hours straight was awful," he said. He now works one shift a week for seven and a half hours. Stewart admits that his job wouldn't be feasible if he didn't have his own car. "I work a late shift until 1 a.m. when the T is closed. It makes it much easier if you have access to a car," he said. For those without personal transportation, on-campus internships can be more convenient and equally fulfilling. Sophomore Valerie Wencis works as an intern at the Tufts Public Relations department. As a communications minor, she believes she is gaining valuable experience while earning a good amount of money. "[PR] is something I may want to do [later on]... and Tufts pays really well," Wencis said. She also notes that the job was fairly easy to come by. "There was no experience needed, I just sought it out. I knew a wanted a communications-related job." Work study and non-work study job hunters both complain that obtaining on-campus jobs can be difficult. Sophomore Caroline Abbott worked at Denise's Ice Cream in Davis Square her freshman year after exhausting on-campus possibilities. "I searched the online job finder, and only three or four of the jobs listed were non-work study. They were already taken," Abbott said. Abbott said that while she wasted her time looking for on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs were also filling up quickly. "By the time I started looking off-campus, those jobs were gone [too]," she said. Denise's pay was "decent," so she took the job. Freshman Tim Reardon is on work study, but when he applied for jobs at the library and the bookstore, they were already filled up. "They told me to come back next semester," he said. Reardon ended up working at Telefund for five months before quitting this month. "I needed the money, and I made a lot of it, but I was fed up a lot of the time. I'm happy that I worked, but I'm even happier that I quit," he said. In the future, Abbott and Reardon both plan to find internships related to their majors. But for now, like most students, Abbott says she is "just looking for a job that pays."

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News

A call for action

March 31

To the editor:I was pleased to see a recent article in the Daily concerning the Stop Staples campaign and its progress in the Boston area. I thought you provided a deserving challenge with the inclusion of both sides of the story. However, I would like to voice two additional opinions regarding the Stop Staples campaign.Staples is an $11 billion company, quickly growing as the world's largest office supply chain. It represents tremendous resources and unprecedented power in the world of paper and our nation's forests. Staples claims that it is already a leader in the environmental movement. With paper products composing 50% of trash in typical landfills, I feel a massive supplier of these goods, like Staples, is certainly the most appropriate candidate for such a position of leadership. But why then is 97% of the paper sold at Staples produced from virgin tree fiber? Staples has the power to change this.Sadly, corporations as successful as Staples rarely have internal police geared towards ensuring environmental sustainability. But as students and citizens of this planet, we have been charged with that challenge. If you enter a Staples, try to purchase their newly added line of Living Tree Paper, a 100% tree-free paper product. In addition, speak to a manager, asking her or him how Staples plans to help ensure the sustainability of our nation's forests. Together we can send a message to Staples about the future we want to see.I very much doubt any long-term sustainability of our species on this planet. However, were any such sustainability to possible, I think the Stop Staples campaign is a good place to start towards a future of more responsible corporations and more responsible consumerism. Simon Goldberg LA '04

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News

Diverse but divided?

March 31

Students debated both the merits and shortcomings of diversity at Tufts in a heated forum at Hillel on Monday while a panel of seven students spoke on their college experiences with race and identity. With a handful of administrators in attendance, the "Discussion about Race at Tufts" was described by junior Rachel Jones as the "first step" towards easing racial tension on campus. Jones, a member of the liberal student magazine Radix and an organizer of the event, said the discussion was important as a launching point for solving problems of racial divide. The sentiment shared by many in attendance was that Tufts is cosmetically diverse but internally segregated. "Our community has become divided. We want to work to resolve that," Jones said, emphasizing that "when part of our community is wrong, we're all wrong." She and junior Lou Esparza, the event's other coordinator, said that the risks taken by participants in "talking about these issues outside of their own communities" were impressive. The evening began with slam poetry by Candace Gomez and Chinua Thelwell, the co-editors of Onyx, Tufts' black literary magazine. Student panelists from a range of backgrounds then addressed the audience. The speakers were passionate and sometimes emotional in their short presentations, and many drew murmurs of agreement and applause from the crowd. Senior Kat Cheung, the opening panelist, talked about her participation with the Tufts Community Union Senate's Culture, Ethnicity and Community Affairs (CECA) committee, where she said she was identified as the "queer voice" on the Senate. According to Cheung, most people think that "queer means white." "Race and sexual orientation are not often talked about" together, Cheung said. Although she has always identified herself as a representative of the gay community, Cheung, who is biracial, said she has only recently begun to identify herself as a person of color. Senior Mike Ferenczy took a different line from most panelists, and while he admitted to being ignorant of racial issues before coming to college, said he couldn't understand the anger expressed some friends when he began writing for The Primary Source, Tufts' conservative journal. Ferenczy said. He was frustrated by what he said was a lack of respect for straight white voices on campus. "Somehow, being a white straight male makes you less legitimate, and [people think] you can't relate to the human race. That's unacceptable - everyone can empathize. You can't live someone else's life, but we've all felt pain or been ridiculed," Ferenczy said. Senior Alwin Jones, who spoke later, said that subtle racism permeates the campus atmosphere and is pointed more at minorities. Jones, originally from Guyana, cited the typecasting of minorities in classes and said that he has been told repeatedly by various English professors that he is "lyrical" and "rhythmic," and that his "work on paper is not as good as [his] performance [of his work]." Minority groups are unfairly criticized for living or hanging out together, Jones said. "No one asks DTD, 'Why are you living together?'" he said, drawing chuckles from the crowd. This later drew a comment from audience member and DTD president Dan Kramer, who said there are "a lot of stereotypes about my house." Jones responded that he did not mean to imply anything about DTD in particular. Several speakers addressed the difference between the appearance of diversity and the realities of life on campus. One such student was sophomore Ariana Flores, who said that segregation at Tufts is visible. "The desire to interact with other groups is there. I don't know why it doesn't happen," Flores said. Flores thinks Tufts should work on diversifying its curriculum and require students to take courses on different races and cultures. Sophomore Nik Abraham agreed, but said the lack of interaction between culture groups is not unique to Tufts. "I hear the same comments from people at other schools," Abraham said. "Minorities are competing for the same [resources]; they're fighting for particular causes instead of working together." Sophomore Laura Herszenhorn said she was chosen for the panel not because of her race, but because she is Jewish. She focused on "identity," saying that Jews have a "shared history and culture." Herszenhorn said she has not encountered "institutional racism, but [has noticed] racial and cultural divides" at Tufts. She thinks that issues of religious prejudice sometimes take a backseat to issues of racial prejudice. "There are stereotypes and [there is] anti-Semitism. But somehow we [Jews] are not allowed to be upset," she said. The administration has taken legitimate steps to counter stereotypes in the wake of Sept. 11, said senior Sarah Yamani, a panelist and the president of the Arab Students Association. She applauded the University for taking efforts to protect its Arab students, citing the fact that Tufts is one of the few Boston-area schools where no Arab students returned home. This helped produce Yamani's optimism about the future of race relations on campus. "The beauty of America lies in the variety of its cultures, and that beauty lies here at Tufts also. Let's work together to keep it that way," Yamani said. After the student panelists finished speaking, moderator Armand Mickune-Santos opened up the floor for discussion and questions from attendees. Students asked questions about diversity training for faculty and followed up on Flores' ideas about mandatory classes on race. "If a science major has to take a history class, and a history major has to take a science, then all students [should have to take classes about race] - race applies to everyone," one student said, garnering applause from the group. Many students agreed that a skit or workshop on race should be incorporated into the freshman orientation program. One participant said that if the "Why No Means No" program can identify rape as a problem, then a program about race could raise awareness about racial tensions. That could help combat hate crimes, which Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said he fears might not be reported because students think nothing will be done. "I urge you to report [these incidents]," he said. Reitman said that while perpetrators are rarely apprehended, there is a "usefulness" to reporting hate crimes, if only to "create dialogue" on campus. Afterwards, organizer Rachel Jones said she was satisfied with the event and received positive responses from students in attendance. "I was really happy with the dialogue. I felt like people talked about the issues; they weren't just glossed over," Jones said. "It was a good first step." Jones said the event's organizers will have an evaluation meeting and discuss hosting another dialogue before the end of the semester. "I wish the room would have been overflowing. The people who weren't there would have benefited from the discussion," Jones said. The "Discussion about Race" was organized by Radix and Onyx, and paid for by the Dean of Students Office.

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News

Phenom & Giddy's Urban Vibez

March 31

Weekly PHEast of SinglesP.Diddy feat. Ginuwine -"I Need a Girl Part 2" We were all caught shakin' it to the first part, featuring Usher. Who is the one male in hip-hop who can battle Usher on the dance floor? Ginuwine. Droppin' Ginuwine on the remix was the only way to amp this song up. Just as intoxicating as the original, Part 2 provides a little more heat to the Spring.Beenie Man & Gringo - "Get Yourself a Gun" The inclusion of Nas' hook caught my ear, but the flow of Beenie and Gringo "smacked it up, flipped it, and rubbed it down... Oh nooo." Okay, back to the track at hand, drop this beat at a party and watch the thugs get their backs up off the wall.Ghostface Killah feat. Cappadonna - "Odd Couple (WTC Part. 2)" Given the difference in talent between these two artists, I'm surprised that this collabo doesn't sound like the pairing of an odd couple. With a flute-laced sample that is definitely from some old-school Wu-Tang flick, Ghostface and Cappadonna flow back and forth effortlessly. Once again Ghostface gives Wu fans something to smile about.Dave Hollister - "Keep Lovin' You" In this new single from his upcoming LP entitled, Steve Harvey: Sign of Things To Come, (yeah, I don't know what the deal is with his album titles) this former Blackstreet member professes his undying and unconditional love for his woman. While the beat to this track is simple, it manages to get your head noddin'. See, good things happen when you stay away from Teddy Riley.Jermaine Dupri feat. Snoop Dogg, P. Diddy, St. Lunatics - "Welcome To ATL Remix" First JD enlisted the help of Ludacris, now he brings in Snoop Dogg and others for another take on this ode to his hometown. While Diddy's verse leaves a little to be desired, Snoop and the St. Lunatics do the song justice. While this song has the same beat as the original, the new players on this track give it a more laid-back feel.Giddy's Word on the Street...Jodeci has been pushed back again to early 2003. Word also has it that there has been a fallout between the two sets of brothers. K-Ci and JoJo have been rumored to want to jump ship over to The Row (*Phenom shakes his head*), while Devante and Dalvin want to stay with MCA. Glenn Lewis has recently received the "Best R&B Soul Recording" at the Junos Awards in Canada for "Don't You Forget It."Faith Evans and Voletta Wallace have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the LAPD, its officers, and the city of Los Angeles. The suit claims that the police department intentionally, willfully, and recklessly delayed and stopped the investigation as soon as it became apparent officers employed by the Los Angeles Police Department were involved in the murder... In album news, Bone Thugs N Harmony are back in the lab working on their upcoming album entitled Thug World Order. Look for collaborations with Bobby Brown, Avant, and Snoop Dogg's artist Mr. Kane. The group says it's coming with a more political slant this time around. In addition to the title track, they have recorded four other songs. Thug World Order is due out this summer... Def Jam has canceled all promotions surrounding the R. Kelly/Jay-Z collaboration album, Best Of Both Worlds. Jay-Z will not appear with Kelly in any pictures either and recently had his removed from the Vibe magazine which features R. Kelly on the cover... Word is that Foxy Brown is looking to leave Def Jam for P. Diddy's Bad Boy label. It seems both Def Jam and Foxy are both not happy with the other party. While this move has not been confirmed, Def Jam has been trying to get 112 to move to their imprint. Puff surely has extra incentive to sign Foxy since Faith wants to leave Bad Boy as well... Look out for the Dream Team this summer. And I'm not talking about basketball players, I'm talking about a group featuring Jay-Z, Beanie Sigel, Memphis Bleek, Cam'ron, and Freeway. In other Roc-A-Fella news, Cam'ron's album Come Home With Me is due out on May 14. Don't hold your breath waiting for that to drop as you know Def Jam constantly pushes albums back. Jay-Z is also scheduled to release a new collection, The Gift And The Curse, in November. Can you say overexposure? That will be four albums featuring Jay-Z in one year... After having his album widely bootlegged, Kool G Rap is looking to revamp his upcoming album, The Giancana Story. Eight new tracks have been recorded for the LP, which include production from Rockwilder, RZA, The Neptunes, and guest spots from Raekwon, Ghostface, Fat Joe, and Ashanti. Look for Giancana Story to drop in July... Also, back in the lab is Royce 5'9, who is recording some new, last minute inclusions for Detroit Rock City with Rush, who produced "Were Live" (Danger) & "Rock City." Also, while some of Royce's older material such as the Primo blessed "My Friend" and "Boom" will be included on his debut.

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News

Brown implements need-blind admissions, Tufts thinking about it

March 31

Following in the footsteps of fellow Ivies, Brown University recently decided to implement a need-blind admissions policy. Along with other selective private colleges, the Ivy League admits students without regard to financial considerations. Because of Brown's similar size and proximal location, it is frequently considered one of Tufts' "benchmark schools" and is used as a standard for comparison. Tufts' admissions policy is not need-blind, but director of financial aid Bill Eastwood says it is very close. "It depends on the year," Eastwood said. Admissions officials currently disregard applicants' financial situations but meet with the Financial Aid department in March before acceptance letters are sent out to "tweak the margins," Eastwood said. "It's really only a matter of 30 or 40 students, and those are usually the students on the margin." Even before Brown's policy changed, at least 90 percent of the its admissions decisions were made with no regard to the students' ability to pay tuition. The University's administration had long argued that the institution lacked the funds to completely disregard financial matters in the admissions process. But Brown officials say that policy changes such as a tuition raise for full-paying students will increase the financial aid budget by at least $1.3 million in the first year. Brown's current price tag, which includes tuition, fees, and room and board, is $34,750 and will rise to $36,356 next year. Brown president Ruth J. Simmons called the switch to a need-blind admissions policy a moral imperative given the quality of the education Brown provides. Unlike most institutions with similar admissions policies, Brown will not require first-year students on financial aid to work. Simmons said the university wants all first-year students to concentrate on their studies. Dean of Admissions David Cuttino said Brown's move should provide Tufts with momentum. "I applaud Brown," Cuttino said. "Brown gives us all the more reason to want to make this final step. He added that Cuttino said that while other institutions may be need-blind, many of them do not promise - as Tufts does - to meet admitted students' needs. Students' needs can unexpectedly change during the four years at Tufts, and the office will adjust financial aid to match. Currently 45 percent of Tufts students receive some form of financial aid, including federal, state, or a private Tufts scholarship or grant. About 37 percent of students receive University aid. A standard Tufts aid package is about $2,000 in work-study eligibility, $4,000 in loans, and the rest in grant and scholarship aid. The average Tufts aid award amounts to about $22,100. Dean Cuttino called this amount "very comparable" to those of Tufts' closest competitors, the other institutions that prospective Tufts students most often consider. Of the students admitted to Tufts, those who are offered financial aid choose to attend the University at a rate of five to six percent higher than those who did not apply for aid. Student, faculty, and administrative support for implementing a need-blind admissions policy has been increasing, Cuttino said. "The effort to increase funding for students has been a major part, and one of the most successful parts, of the Capital Campaign," he said. That campaign, with a goal of $600 million, is scheduled to conclude in June. By the end of December, 96.6 percent of the funds had been secured. Dean Cuttino called the decision to go need-blind "an important step, about which there has been a good deal of conversation. We want students with talent, perspective, and experience, from rural and urban settings, from all over the world, and from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds," he said. Tufts spends about $25 million a year on unrestricted grants and scholarships. Implementing a need-blind admissions policy would be expensive, though it is premature predict exactly how much such a policy would cost the University. Given the emphasis Tufts places on an internationally-oriented education, administrators have said that Tufts has also considered offering a limited amount of financial support for foreign citizens.

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News

Friendship or love: the conflict continues

March 31

Stop Kiss is a powerful play about the human struggle to say aloud what we are truly feeling. Director Rah-nee Kelly and her cast filled this weekend's Pen, Paint and Pretzels performance with flawless acting, and characters that hit close to home. The play opens with Callie (senior Rachel Evans) singing alone in her messy New York City apartment. She closes all her blinds and even puts tape over the peephole of her apartment door, giving the impression that she is hiding a part of herself that she doesn't want anyone to see. Evans gives a flawless performance, and helps the audience understand exactly what it was that Callie was trying to hide - she does a wonderful job of communicating Callie's emotional journey. However, It takes an entire cast to help Callie figure out how to say what she is truly feeling. We then meet Sara (senior Rachel Jablin). She sharply contrasts with Callie, wearing light colors and a bright smile. Sara's curly blond hair frames her face, giving her the perfect look of innocence. Jablin also does of good job of helping the audience understand her character's feelings. The audience watches her character grow and change, as much as her wardrobe does. Little by little, the audience watches as she switches from beige khakis to New York black. This adds to Sara's realism, making the character change seem more natural. Sophomore Taylor Shann, who plays Detective Cole, also fits his role perfectly. Although he seemed to have been cut and pasted from a '80s action movie, he does a wonderful job of playing the tired and frustrated detective. Likewise, junior Megan Hammer (who doubles as the nurse) impressively portrays Mrs. Winsley. She plays up her inability to realize what is really going on, and is more interested in hearing herself talk than anything else. Frustrated and left in the dark, the audience finally meets Sara's ex, Peter (Sam Rivers). Without ever being introduced, the audience immediately knows who he is. Tall, blonde, and wearing khakis, he embodies the typical small town suburban American male. His inability to understand the relationship between Callie and Sara builds tension in his only scene with Callie. Rivers portrays Peter as dry and discreet, a perfect depiction. Kelly made insightful set and staging choices. For example, using Callie's dinning room as both the coffee shop and police station worked wonderfully. By focusing the light on a specific spot, the locales transformed. Seniors Hana Yoo and Jennifer Bien constructed a convincing set. Everything from the wooden floors, to the pull out sofa bed, and even to the Tae-bo tapes atop the television created Callie's world. It was not the sofa bed that lit up the audience, but rather when George (Kevin Miller) walked through Callie's apartment door. He entered with a burst of energy and boyish charm that gave the entire audience a smile. Filled with good humor, he was the only person who seemed to have the upper hand on Callie. Miller fit his role perfectly, playing for laughs whenever he had the chance. Nearly flawless acting, fine, casting, directing, and design made this play a special treat. This production breathed life into the script. And if nothing else, the audience can at least walk away asking the fundamental question: Do we really say what we want?

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