Archives

News

TUPD passes Source case to Dean of Students

March 31

Investigators believe that a December e-mail sent to Pan-African Alliance (PAA) alumni - which criticized The Primary Source and referred to "magazine dumpings" - is "valid," Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Lieutenant Detective Charles Lonero said last night. The authenticity of the message was evaluated by in-house computer experts. A copy of the e-mail obtained by the Daily contained passages allegedly written by former PAA President Carl Jackson which say the group has engaged in "magazine dumpings." Jackson, who is currently studying abroad, declined comment when contacted via e-mail and has referred reporters to the current PAA leadership. Sophomore PAA President Abdul Farah has firmly denied the allegations. "The PAA was not involved in any of the magazine stealing at all," he said. Source Editor-in-chief Sam Dangremond has repeatedly accused the PAA of orchestrating the thefts, and has asked for the organization to apologize for its alleged actions. The case has now been sent to the Dean of Students Office, and will remain open indefinitely until someone admits to the theft or the Source presses charges. "We never close a case unless there is a conviction or admission," Lonero said. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said the TUPD investigation has not determined with absolute certainty the identity of those responsible for the thefts. He acknowledged that Source allegations have pointed to Jackson, but because Jackson is not on campus this semester, "there is not much more that can be done without his participation," Reitman said. The Dean of Students Office declined to release the name of official suspect. The investigation began last semester after 4,300 copies of the Source's Oct. 25, Nov. 22, and Dec. 6 issues were stolen from various campus locations. Mostly funded by the Student Activities Fee, Dangremond has said the value of stolen issues is just under $2000 of University money. The PAA e-mail lamented what it perceived as Source racism, particularly in the Nov. 22 issue. University regulations allow the Source to press charges up to one year after the November, 2001 incident. But Dangremond said he has no intention of doing so because he does not want to reopen the issue. "I think that would be too vindictive," he said. Farah said the Source has not pressed charges because it has no evidence to prove that the PAA has done anything wrong. Both Dangremond and Farah say they are looking to put the conflict behind them. While Farah said the Source and the PAA have "no working relationship" right now, he hopes to hold more discussions and debates on issues that affect the Tufts community, the nation, and the world. Farah also said he hopes that, in the future, "the Source does not belittle people but rather focuses on the arguments and issues." At the close of a year that saw several large cases involving the Source, Dangremond is "interested in moving past this year's events." He maintained that free speech is of utmost importance to his publication and to the Tufts campus. Reitman said that the question at hand "is whether effective journalism, or even parody, should include predictably offensive treatment of campus individuals just because that right is protected."

---

News

Going live to the past

March 31

Students often stand in line for several hours waiting to gain admission to Tufts Beelzebubs concerts and sometimes they even find themselves shut out of the show because of seating limitations. The all-male a cappella group is now offering a solution for those times when students might miss out on a show. The release of their latest album, Punch, brings all the action and excitement of a Bubs concert straight to the stereo. Recorded live at Goddard Chapel during the Bubs' winter show this past December, the album captures the group's energized percussion and heavenly vocals while adding the extra dimension of (albeit mostly female) audience members cheering loudly with enthusiasm. This concert, subtitled "Generations," also featured performances by two professional all-male a cappella groups - Peking and the Mystics, and The House Jacks. The alumni group Mystics are a barbershop-style quartet composed entirely of former Beelzebubs, and the Jacks, dubbed "a rock group without instruments," prominently features Bub alums. These two groups combined with the Beelzebub's traditional pop covers to add a diverse mix to an album that appeals to people who fancy all musical genres, with its inclusion of contemporary standards, oldies-but-goodies, and a few of the Jacks' original tunes. The first track -the Bubs' own arrangement of U2's "Elevation"- is quite possibly the only disappointing selection on the entire album. The original song's effectiveness is largely attributed to its instrumentals, and it just doesn't carry over as well in its a cappella translation. However, the less than thrilling first song can be forgiven given the challenge of maintaining poise and professionalism all the way through a live recording. And more importantly, the first song is not a reflection of the rest of the album. In fact, the Bubs charm their audience from the second track through the end of the album. Let's just chalk up the few screechy notes and awkward rhythms on this first number as a warm up, as they are easily forgotten when the Bubs finish off their first of two sets with smooth renditions of Dave Matthews Band's "The Space Between" and Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet." The Mystics are probably old enough to be the fathers of the current Beelzebub members, yet they steal center stage for the next four tracks. The crowd goes wild for their often-humorous renditions of '50s classics such as "Who Put the Bomp" and "Duke of Earl," all performed with style, pizzazz, and musical excellence. Peking and the Mystics' comfort level and maturity as an ensemble is clearly evident on this recording, with solid blending, smooth harmonies, and exciting vocal dynamics. The same goes for The House Jacks, who offer two original a cappella pieces. Songs such as "More Love" and "From Sunday" can best be described as rock ballads with a creative use of rhythm, and the group's vocal percussion tracks give the Bubs themselves a run for their money. The Bubs continue to shine in their second set, which features among others, selections from The Beatles' Abbey Road. The cheers heard upon their return to the stage make it clear that the group alone has enough of a following on campus to carry the Goddard Hall audience without the presence of supporting ensembles. That said, the combination of all three groups made for both a stellar concert and a live album. This becomes especially clear on the final track, where all three groups join together for "Brothers, Sing On!" - the Beelzebub theme song. Though perhaps the most stereotypical a cappella number of the album, the blend of several decades of Beelzebub legacy makes for a strong and energized finish to an interesting and ambitious live a cappella album. The recording itself is of surprisingly top-notch quality, especially given that it was captured in a space where musical performances are often plagued by a brightly hollow sound. It was recorded under the auspices of Beelzebub alum Deke Sharon (LA/NEC '91), a member of The House Jacks and professional arranger of a cappella music. If nothing else, with all the alumni support and the network created amongst the Beelzebubs past and present, Punch offers living proof that Jumbo bonds last far beyond the four years spent studying at the University.

---

News

TCUJ approves Student Advocate System

March 31

The Tufts Collective Union Judiciary (TCUJ) approved the establishment of a Student Advocate System to aid recruitment of judicial advocates for students involved in disciplinary disputes. Judiciary members hope that the amendment to the TCUJ bylaws passed Thursday night will be a welcome addition to the Tufts judicial process. While TCUJ chair Mike Ferenczy hopes the system will "get off the ground this year," it remains to be approved by Dean of Students Bruce Reitman. Ferenczy said the advocate system was important because "it's an intimidating thing to be caught in a judiciary system that you don't know anything about." Currently, students implicated in the judiciary system may work with a student, faculty, or parental advocate or an attorney, according to the Student Disciplinary System handbook. The Dean of Students Office provides a list of possible advocates - people who are familiar with the Tufts disciplinary system - for anyone who files a complaint or has a complaint filed against them. This list does not include attorneys. The Dean of Students Office provides these advocates so that students do not have to seek legal counsel. "We don't want anyone involved in the judicial system to think that they're alone or that they need to hire an attorney," Reitman said. According to Reitman, the pool of advocates needs to be replenished about every four years. "It is self-depleting because people graduate," Reitman said. The advocate pool has been renewed four or five times since he has been at Tufts. Thursday's TCUJ approval signifies a new partnership between the student group and the Dean of Students Office in the advocate selection and training process. Ferenczy and former TCU Senate president David Moon came up with the idea to establish an official Student Advocate System through the TCUJ last year. Reitman said he is "happy to have the J participate" in the advocate process, though he emphasized that its members will have to remain neutral while working to coordinate the advocate system. Elected students will be more effective in recruiting advocates than the Dean of Students Office, he said, because prospective advocates are more likely to respond to fellow students than to administrators. The TCUJ wants to provide a way to train advocates because some students have been put at a disadvantage by not having an easily-accesible advocate. "Right now, if you know someone who's involved with the system, you're better off than someone who doesn't," Ferenczy said. Ferenczy's goal is to train five to ten advocates this year, which will not be expensive but will require TCUJ members to take time to do so. One member of the TCUJ will be moved into the position of Student Advocate Chair and will oversee advocate training along with the Dean of Students Office. When drafting the amendment that outlines the system, Ferenczy worked with Reitman to "iron out some of the kinks." The amendment nearly equals the length of the entire TCUJ bylaws. Ferenczy added several disclaimers to the document and stressed that the use of an advocate does not ensure a student's success in winning a disciplinary system case. Much of the need for an advocate comes from the difference between Tufts judicial hearings and US courtroom proceedings, Ferenczy said. The University's system does not require that the prosecution prove guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt, as in the American legal system. Hence, the chances of spurious punishment are increased. Because of this distinction between the Tufts system and the national system, the closing statement made in a Tufts hearing holds greater significance. Ferenczy said that the closing is the only part of a hearing during which the advocate is allowed to speak. Yet, according to Reitman, an advocate's work outside of the courtroom has significant influence on the case. "The advocate plays a larger role in preparation [for the hearing] than the hearing itself," he said. Advocates also aid students involved in mediations, which are more commonly used in Tufts cases than are hearings.

---

News

Baseball rallies to beat UMass-Dartmouth

March 31

The baseball team went on the road to beat host UMass-Dartmouth 9-5 last Tuesday and increase its record to 18-7-1. The team won the game comfortably on the scoreboard, but it was two four-run innings - one in the second and the other in the sixth - that propelled the Jumbos to victory. Junior tri-captain Evan Zupancic hit a three-run homerun in a four-run sixth inning, the main catalyst of the rally. Not only did that seal the game for the squad, but it also was his team record ninth homerun of the season. Zupancic finished the day 3-5 with three RBI and two runs scored. "Evan's become a complete hitter this year, worked real hard at it this season," coach John Casey said. "Sometimes you try not to hit homeruns and you hit them." A career record for doubles was also set that day by senior tri-captain Dan Callahan. With the score 8-5 in Tufts favor, Callahan approached the plate with one runner on. Callahan stroked his 42nd career double pushing the Jumbo lead to 9-5. Callahan's 42 doubles over his four year career sets an all-time record. "He's just continuing on, this is just a summation of his four years, he has a couple more he's going to break," Casey said. "Coach [Bob] Clarke keeps track of all those records, I tried, but my age is catching up to me." The team has been getting good production from the bottom of the lineup the entire season; last Tuesday was no different. Freshman catcher Bob Kenny and second baseman Frank Dinucci exploded for huge contributions from the eighth and ninth slots. Kenny went 2-4 with one run batted in and two runs scored. "It's just happening I guess. I'm not changing anything," Kenny said on his approach to batting. "I just swing the bat like coach tells us." Dinucci only had one hit, but it was instrumental in the four run second inning. The two run single pushed Tufts lead to 3-1, breaking the 1-1 tie. Dinucci also crossed the plate twice. "It was a curve ball that I waited back on and hit the other way," Dinucci said. "Basically I was glad to finally get a hit to help the team." Solid starting and relief pitching supported the Jumbos. Senior tri-captain Steve Lapham started the game and went four innings, surrendering four runs on six hits, while striking out two batters. Junior Mike Byron stepped in for Lapham and was a menace to UMass-Dartmouth. The less-than-slender, crafty right-hander quietly shutdown the opposition, scattering three hits and one unearned run over five innings en route to his second win of the season. The Jumbos hope to take the momentum from their first non-conference win in four games and use it against Colby at home this weekend. The Jumbos open up a three game series against the White Mules on Friday at 3 p.m. and amidst the annual Spring Fling extravaganza play two more against them on Saturday, starting at 12 p.m. "If we win one more league game we clinch first place in the NESCAC East, that's not something we can let influence how we play," junior pitcher Dave Martin said. "If we let that happen, it will set us up to not play to our potential and suffer a letdown. They're a good team; swing the bat really well. We have to be ready to play." Martin will be the starter for Friday's nine-inning showdown. The White Mules come into the game with a 7-13 record overall, 3-6 NESCAC, but still with the potential to beat the Jumbos. Last season, Colby stole the first game of three from Tufts behind the pitching of Brandon Royce. Royce is expected to be Martin's foe this Friday. "They beat us in the first one last year; same guy who pitched against us last year is throwing the first game this year," Martin said. "We know what we are going to get. We just need to focus on Friday and work from there." While Martin is focused on Friday's game because it is first and foremost and he is starting, the younger players are looking to demolish Colby throughout the entire weekend. "Big weekend for us in terms of the playoff, so we're excited to play," Dinucci said. "We're looking for three big wins against Colby and winning the league this weekend," Kenny said, finalized the point that the Jumbos intend on sweeping the White Mules.

---

News

New feminist art magazine will focus on gender-related issues

March 31

The University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) has given senior Iris Halpern $1,150 to publish the first issue of the Feminist Art Dialogue, her new campus magazine. The publication will feature student submissions from all genres of literature and visual works. "The works published will be focused on the issue of gender. Art will be used to have a more flexible statement, and silent voices that never had a chance to speak up will have the opportunity to say what they want to," Halpern said. "This will be a chance of interacting with many people, as different people with different experiences will have their works collected in one magazine." To qualify for a UCCPS grant, the publication had to be community service related. Halpern said that the establishment of the Feminist Art Dialogue is a service to the community because it will address feminist issues and give voice to people who have not felt comfortable speaking out in the past. The magazine will also accept submissions from students in other countries, she said, building ties between Tufts and other institutions around the world. A graduating senior, Halpern said she is unsure but hopeful about the magazine's future. "I got really good reactions and I got many submissions from 20 states and three countries including Israel, Canada, and the Philippines." Women's studies professor Sonia Hofkosh, who was involved in the committee that gave Halpern the grant, explained how the magazine met UCCPS's goals of encouraging active citizenship. According to Hofkosh, the grant is for faculty, staff, and students who propose to encourage the development of citizenship and facilitate dialogue that brings people together toward a social goal. She said the magazine meets these criteria. Halpern said the magazine will try to create a dialogue among diverse people to encourage increased understanding of social differences and similarities. "The feminist perspective the magazine hopes to convey... more about being conscious of difference and how it works and how it could bring people together rather than about promoting a particular political position or idea. It is about social responsibility." Hofkosh said. "What makes her magazine different than others at Tufts is that she has submissions from other countries as well." Hofkosh said the magazine was a good candidate for the award. "There are some offices and departments that encourage the development of senior projects but the UCCPS money is meant especially to help develop initiatives relating to the variety of ways individuals can be responsible, active citizens in large social world."

---

News

Critical thinking

March 31

Want to see a movie but at a loss for a good pick? You can't pay any attention to ads or other promotions. Ever notice that most of the exultant quotes on movie posters come from the same rotating group of punchy reviewers? You can't trust them, either. (Ever notice that critics can describe a movie as an "action-packed roller-coaster thrill ride" but that no one calls a roller-coaster a "bloody, violent, car-chase-filled action movie?" But I digress.) No, if you're looking for an opinion, you can turn to a friend or you can turn to a full-length movie review. And contrary to what most people will tell you, a good movie reviewer beats out a good friend any day. Are the critics smarter than you or me? Maybe, but maybe not. They are experienced, however, and this makes them valuable. By watching every (or nearly every) movie that hits the big screen, they see and know more cinema than the average child, adult, or senior citizen does. I respect someone's opinion more when he knows what he's talking about, and I don't think I'm alone. You wouldn't believe someone who panned a particular rap album if he didn't at least listen to enough rap to understand its nuances, but you'd listen to someone with an extensive rap collection. Critics don't pay to see movies - they get paid for it - so they're likely to know modern film better than your wiseass friends. Think about it. Even if your best friend has excellent taste in movies and never steers you wrong, he can't advise you on everything because he probably hasn't seen everything - and it's a shame if he has because you'll never get to see a movie with him at all. If the two of you listen to a critic instead, you might get to see something together once in a while. Who but a critic can tell you about a movie before it comes out? Your friends have to wait until opening day like everyone else. Who but a critic will sit through everything, even the newest romantic comedy to squeeze out of the mold, and tell you exactly what was right and what was wrong? Your friends might hate romance, but you still need to know if the new Meg Ryan movie is right for a second date. Who but a critic can you always count on to have an opinion? Friends can be wishy-washy and avoid handing down a verdict on a movie (maybe they thought it was "okay," maybe they fell asleep, maybe they were busy making out with the girl from Italian class), while critics are nothing if not opinionated. A critic with nothing to say doesn't last long. People don't pay enough attention to who's writing the reviews, or they read different reviews every time, or they refuse to disagree with a review for fear of looking stupid, or they hunt around until they find a review that agrees with what they expect out of the movie already. These are the people that can pass judgment on a film from the first 20 seconds of its trailer. Don't fall into the same traps. Here are the four steps to making intelligent use of critics instead of being used yourself:Find a detailed critic and stick with him. Pick a newspaper, website, or magazine that you can read regularly (The New York Times gets delivered to the dorms, after all) and that runs frequent movie reviews. Most papers have more than one reviewer, so you might have to track a couple of different writers at once, but you'll learn the difference between reviewers' styles. Look for specific criticisms in the review; you need a little bit more than "thumbs up" to judge a movie. Are there enough details that you can judge whether this movie is right for you?Pay attention to his reasons. Just like the friend that hates action movies or the one that likes to make retching noises in the back of Julia Roberts movies, critics are all into different things, and some of them have axes to grind. A critic might care about something that you don't - like the narrative of Crossroads - and you might value something that the critic puts down - like Britney Spears dancing. Do you think this reviewer's priorities are worthwhile ones? Are his opinions justified?Look at his old reviews. Not sure if a critic is on the money or not? Go online and look up some of his old reviews. If he attacks the very things that you loved about something from a few years ago, maybe you're going to disagree with his latest reviews, too. Don't abandon him because of this; just bear it in mind. A critic that you disagree with is just as valuable as one that you do agree with, so long as you know where you differ.Read the review again afterwards. Read the review, see the movie, read the review again. Do you understand it better? Do you agree? Do you feel mislead? Were you reading carelessly? The critic's opinion is no better than your own, but if you don't understand what he wrote in the first place, you shouldn't bother reading it. Looking back on a review might help you judge a little better next time. Become a critic of critics the same way people like Roger Ebert become critics of movies: by experience. The more you pay attention to the critics, the more you'll know how far you can trust them, and the more accurate you'll be in picking a good movie for the night. When you're the most informed one around, you won't have to leave your choice up to the tastes and whims of your friends; instead, you'll get them to leave their choice up to you.

---

---

News

Public Safety undergoing extensive review

March 31

In an introspective move, Tufts' Department of Public and Environmental Safety (DPES) is working to develop a long-term strategic plan for its role on all three University campuses. The project began last semester and is slated to be finished toward the end of the calendar year. The large undertaking, which has been discussed over the past couple years, was initiated by Director John King to assess "strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges within and outside of the organization," he said. "We want to learn about the University long-range plan so we can better mirror where the University is going," said King. "We don't want to act retroactively." Public Safety includes the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD), Tufts Emergency Medical Service (TEMS) and several other safety services. The process will span many months and will involve a number of planned phases - including time management training for the staff, self-assessment, student feedback, procedural changes, and a formal peer review by the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA). The Tufts Department of Organizational Development & Training finished the first phase last semester. The phase included the creation of a time management program for policy supervisors, commanders, and various administrators in preparation for the greater workload involved with the self-assessment phase. "How do they - the police officers, sergeants, environmental people - think we're doing?" King listed as some of the questions being asked. "What type of resources do they think we need? How do they think we are perceived as a department?" The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate began the student input phase last week, during which approximately six student focus groups will gauge student opinion of the department. Representatives from culture, theme, and Greek houses, international students, Resident Advisors, and Fletcher school students will serve on the student groups. It is expected that employee and faculty groups will eventually be established as well, Safety Technology Services Specialist Geoff Bartlett said. An online survey will be created by Bartlett, the Department of Institutional Planning, and senior Jessica Boschee. According to Bartlett, the survey will most likely cater to the undergraduate population and is being designed to "get a breadth of feedback" without having to hold large forums. Those involved with carrying out the review say its effects will be important in evaluating the department. "Students often complain that the University doesn't understand or respond to their needs, and this is a way of breaking down that issue," Boschee said. "It shows a real commitment, ...that they are making such an effort to really listen to what the students want." Bartlett said he is "most excited that the department is actively seeking feedback from one of [Tufts'] largest constituencies." After student opinion has been gathered and assessed at the end of this semester, the department will work to implement any changes over the summer. The project's final stage will be the IACLEA review, performed in late fall or early winter to ensure campus law enforcement organizations meet all formal criteria. While King has some experience with strategic planning for a professional organization, he said he will still be "seeking out advice from people who have done it before," and has high hopes for the project. TUPD officers are welcoming the internal review. "I think this is something that any law organization should do," Sergeant Doug Mazzola said. "I think that the nature of the business includes self-analysis."Mazzola said the review of the TUPD was nothing to be scared of, but rather, is important to the maintenance of the department's quality of service. "The overall long-term goal is [to make sure] that we're keeping up with the standards of the industry," he said.TEMS will not be undergoing as extensive a review as the police department, according to Executive Director Eric Satler. "We're just planning on continuing to serve the community," he said. "We will continue maintaining the 24 hour, 7 day a week service to the community."

---

News

Lessons from the Venezuelan political crisis

March 31

Last week's political turbulence in Venezuela seems to reaffirm the growing notion that Latin America is still one of the most backward and unstable regions on this planet. Despite the wave of promising economic and political reforms on which several Latin American states embarked during the 1990's, the most recent events around the continent underscore a sharp regression in both fields. The clumsy tug-of-war for power in Venezuela is only the latest of these mishaps, joining the Argentine financial crisis, the vicious war in Colombia, and the collapse of the Fujimori government in Peru in a tragic list of setbacks for the region. Indeed, there is little source of optimism in Latin America these days. But why do Latin American countries seem unable to overcome this recurrent cycle of economic stagnation and political turmoil? What are the underlying reasons for this endemic chaos? There are no absolute answers to these questions, but the latest crisis in Venezuela reveals a strong insight. The deep social inequalities that have prevailed in Venezuela over the decades have developed into an irreconcilable clash between the upper and lower classes. This extensive socio-economic divide is mainly responsible for the pervasive unsustainability of democratic institutions. Last week's events are an example of just that. A thorough examination of the causes of this seemingly ordinary (in the context of the region) and yet remarkably revealing Venezuelan crisis can help us better understand the challenges Latin American nations face.Venezuela has had a long history of antagonism between the different social classes. This tension grew considerably during the rule of the corrupt right-wing governing class that preceded the infamous current president, Hugo Chavez. Chavez understood the lower classes' frustration with the ruling elite and made his way to the presidency by exploiting the social divide to his favor. He entered the Venezuelan government with one foot already outside the realm of democracy. On Feb. 12, 1992 he attempted a coup against then president Carlos Andres Perez. The attempt failed miserably and Chavez was sentenced to two years of prison. So the second time around, he tried to reach power through democratic means. Chavez created his power base by targeting the needs and wants of the poorest classes in the Venezuelan society. The latter had been marginalized and had grown in number and discontent throughout the previous presidency His formula worked, and he was elected on December 1998, with 56.2% of the votes. As soon as he assumed power in 1999, he announced a referendum in which the approval would grant him exceptional powers and a reformed version of the Venezuelan constitution. Although the electorate did concede to these radical desires, only half of the Venezuelan population went to the polls. But Chavez's leftist tendencies and need for extra-democratic measures did not stop there. In the year 2000, he began expropriating land based on his own criteria and began making other sorts of social promises. The more radical the president became, the further he alienated members of his own political party and the further he divided the already unequal Venezuelan society. Civil and military members of the MVR party disjointed and Chavez aligned with the civil representatives. Furthermore, his populist parlance and leftist political actions alienated the industrial sector of society and much of the developed world.Chavez, however, continued to have the majority support (mainly from the lower classes) and was re-elected in 2000 with 59% of the votes. He again obtained special powers from the National Assembly so that he could legislate by decree for one year in the economic, social, and public administration sectors. With these powers, he passed 49 new laws, which caused repudiation from the business sector. And then the social situation mutated from tight to explosive. Strikes organized by leaders of the industrial sector and supported by the major unions in the country, such as the Confederacion de Trabajadores de Venezuela (CTV) took place in December 2001 with wide support.Matters got much worse when the top leaders of the state-managed oil company, PDVSA, decided to disregard Chavez's new laws. And then, in a matter of days, Venezuelan affairs reached the front covers of newspapers worldwide when the police clashed with protesters and the images of strikes showed disgraceful violence.The Venezuelan people, led by the angered industrial sector, turned against their President and asked for his resignation. Pedro Carmona, one of the head haunches of PDVSA, thus assumed power as interim president. Twenty-eight hours later- with his ambitious goals stomped and to the astonishment of the world - Carmona was ousted and Chavez returned with a counter-coup, claiming his democratically rightful place on the Venezuelan stage.It is difficult to draw conclusions at this point; the political sandstorm in Venezuela has yet to settle down, and Chavez's security as president is still shaky. However, one thing is certain. Instead of trying to heal the wounds of Venezuela's social inequality, Chavez made sure they would not stop bleeding. This ultimately worked against him, in the form of an attempted coup, but more importantly, it worked against Venezuela itself. The aftermath of this chaotic week is a generalized sense of frustration, uncertainty, and disenchantment. Inevitably, a larger problem looms in the horizon: Can other Latin American states fall victim to the same demise of democracy and rule of law? Is the political crisis in Venezuela just another detail in the tumultuous history of Latin America, or can it be viewed as a warning for other nations in the region? The rest of Latin America should take note of this and insist on working out the problems of social inequality in the region before it is too late. Paloma Cataife and Rodrigo de Haro are sophomores majoring in International Relations and Economics

---

News

Mastering the art of adding, dropping, and signature chasing

March 31

Having a tough time getting back into the swing of classes? For many students returning to the academic grind, the process is exacerbated by an inevitable semesterly tradition: adding classes, dropping classes, and chasing signatures. "Basically every semester I have to [add/drop classes]," sophomore Julia Hoffman said. "There are always other classes I want to take, so I sit in classes and see if I want to take them." The University's system of adding and dropping classes gives students a way out if they realize that a certain class wasn't for them or, in some cases, a way in, as students try to add classes in which they are waitlisted. But some students find the process of adding and dropping classes to be troublesome, as it requires getting the signatures of an advisor, the professors of the classes you are adding or dropping, and of course a trip to Dowling Hall to hand in the form. "I went to an ex-college class that was bad and decided not to take it and I also plan on dropping this photo class," senior Eric Shrago said. "So I have to find my professor and advisor to get that taken care of." Students who decide to change their majors consequently may also have to change their schedules. "I decided to switch my major to American studies over the break," sophomore Kate Harris said. "So, I dropped two political science classes and a creative writing, and then added one ex-college, the stock market class, short fiction writing, and another literature class." Harris added that not knowing if you're in an ex-college class until you get back to school makes it more difficult to finalize your schedule. Some students try to skirt the entire add/drop process by researching professors and classes beforehand, but this does not always avoid an early-semester trip to Dowling, especially when there is no information posted about a class or professor. "Well, I usually do research on the professors before, but I chose a class [for which] I hadn't heard about the professor before," sophomore Dana Sussman said. "It just wasn't what I wanted at all." And while the last day to add classes is this Wednesday, Jan. 30, some students feel rushed to make their decisions earlier so that they don't fall behind in class work."I just found a class right away that fits my schedule and fulfills my requirements," Sussman said. "It was one of the only options I have left. I'm registered for it without even taking the class." She added that she feels greater pressure to get her classes settled as an international relations major because there isn't much time to complete all the requirements.Seeking professors and advisors for signatures is one of the primary complaints made by students. Harris, who added three classes, found it difficult to get all her professors' signatures and meet with her advisor, who happened to be out sick."I think it's ridiculous to get signatures [for] classes that you are dropping, especially [if] you're adding a class that meets at the same time, and you don't know the professor's office hours," Harris said."[The add/drop process] is not so bad, but it's kind of a pain trying to find my advisor and professors," Shrago said. "Last year, my advisor was gone writing a book, I had to go find another professor to sign it." Shrago believes that the current system should be replaced by an online procedure.Presently, the add/drop process is carried out on paper until it is handed in to Dowling. But students hope for a more technological and convenient system."I think [adding and dropping classes online] would definitely facilitate the process," Hoffman said. "It would get rid of all that running around." Another problem that faces students who are still shopping for classes is struggling with the workload of both registered classes as well as classes to which they are hoping to gain entrance."I couldn't buy my books because I didn't know if I was in my English classes, so I am behind in the homework already," Harris said.And missing important in class notes and lectures causes more catch-up work for students."It's hard missing the first class and then going to the second," Hoffman said. "Some professors don't acknowledge that they have new students and you miss a whole day of notes and you have to do the work on your own." At other schools, shopping for classes is a little easier. Nearby, at Brandeis, students have an official two-week shopping period to check out classes, and they can add or drop classes online or by phone. But as Brandeis sophomore Barbara Rosenkranz warns, professors are assigning work from the beginning, so a student still has to catch up. Students think that an official class-shopping period here would be beneficial. "I wish we had a shopping period," Hoffman said. "In one day, I would go to six or seven classes, and you can't miss [some classes] because the absence would count against you," said Hoffman.At Tufts, where a great number of sophomores are busy applying to go abroad their junior year, "signature-chasing" can become a regular activity.Sussman, who is applying for Tufts-in-Paris has found herself visiting her advisor to get signatures for what seems like an endless number of forms. But not everybody has trouble adding and dropping classes. Some are just satisfied with the classes they are already registered for at the end of last semester."There are some people who know what they want to take right away and they don't have to go through the process," Hoffman said.Others may have more room within their major to explore other classes and are not confined to the classes dictated by major requirements."Some people don't really care as much about what classes they have to take, and their majors give them more leeway," Sussman said. "It's really not so bad when you're adding and dropping one class, but when it becomes two or three classes it just becomes more annoying."

---

News

Some students are an embarrassment to Tufts

March 31

On Monday April 29, Mark Regev from the Israeli Embassy spoke at Cabot Auditorium. After his talk, the floor was opened, and several students asked very challenging questions. However one student stood up and told Mr. Regev that he was racist for explaining that Israeli incursions are responses to attacks against Israelicivilians. There's going to be a person like that in every crowd; but then many students clapped loudly, rewarding a cheap and unfair verbal attack. Everyone is of course free to disagree with everything that Mr. Regev said, but applauding a completely unjustifiedcharge of racism does nothing but stifle political debate and freedom of speech. Instead, that group of students should have applauded when Mr. Regev stated that suicide bombings against civilians are morally wrong.Jeremy WarrenEngineering '97

---

News

Be aggressive

March 31

In 1982, before the House of Commons, Ronald Reagan addressed Parliament with words that became known as "The Evil Empire Speech." His words, a sharp attack on a Soviet Union devoid of all morality were decried as hasty, rash, and irresponsible by many of the liberal academic "intelligentsia," and supposed elite of both the United States and its allies abroad. To those living within the Soviet Union, how different it was. To them, Reagan's words delivered a message of hope. When the Soviets published Reagan's words in order to denounce him within the USSR, it had the effect of rejuvenating dissidents within, who had watched as America ceded away its moral duty by engaging in the ever more practical and smart (once again, according to the "elite") notion of d?©tente. As it turned out, Reagan was right and they were wrong. The Soviet Union was gone within a decade. Last week, President Bush made a similar statement, obviously drawing upon Reagan's poignant words by labeling Iraq, Iran and North Korea an "axis of evil." Once again, as with Reagan, the supposed elite both at home and abroad have denounced the phrase as simplistic and indicative of a lightweight. And, once again, the same group of people has failed to recognize both the moral as well as the practical message behind the words. Bush's statement went to the people of Iran, who are suffering under a repressive regime that many of them would like to see changed. (There is already a large groundswell of anti-government sentiment that, if nurtured, may help to bring down the Iranian government). It also set the basis for US intervention in Iraq, where it is sorely needed and long overdue. Both for moral and practical reasons, Saddam Hussein cannot be allowed to remain in power for much longer, and Bush's words clearly pave the way for US action (as did Colin Powell's a few days later). Yet, many members of the intelligentsia, the academic elite, and established liberals have resoundingly criticized Bush's words. These are, in many cases, the same people who criticize the US for, among other things, acting unilaterally in a fashion that is not good for the world. Chris Patten, the EU commissioner in charge of Europe's international relations (a position which is laughable for its impotency), who now wishes to snuggle with the authoritarian and totalitarian regimes of Iran and North Korea, found it "hard to believe that's a thought-through policy" and found it "unhelpful." Unhelpful for Chris Patten, perhaps, but not so for the millions of people starving in North Korea or languishing under Tehran's oppressive regime. Mr. Patten's greatest complaint, however, (and, once again the same complaint of many of America's elite), is that America cannot "go it alone" in the world. Yet, that may be what America should and must do, given the problems we face. Unilateralism is not a dirty word, despite what liberals and EU diplomats might say. Had France acted unilaterally in 1934, or the United States in 1936, or a lone gunman in 1938, the world might have been spared 50 million dead and an Eastern Europe held dominant by the Soviet Union for 45 years. It is not only the right of the United States to act in its own defense by seeking out and eliminating terrorists, it is our moral duty to do so. The members of al Queda and other networks receive their support, in large part, from countries with repressive, dictatorial regimes that seek to dominate both their populations and the nations around them through force. In North Korea this includes starving millions to death while pursuing weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. In Iraq, Saddam Hussein has used chemical weapons on his own people and routinely tortures them in the most sadistic manner possible. (One favorite punishment includes taking a female member of the family of the "guilty" party, filming her being raped, and sending the video back to the family). Given that nearly every European government, as well as many on the American left continue to want to deal with such regimes, it makes it necessary for this administration to act alone. Twenty years ago the same people were saying that we had to bargain with the Soviet Union, and they were proved wrong. Forty-five years before that the same people were saying we had to bargain with Nazi Germany and that we could have "peace in our time." They were wrong. The regimes which control the countries that form the axis of evil are incapable of reform. Their very composition assures corruption and oppression. Dealing with these countries so that we may profit in the short term would be a moral failure and a strategic error, as helping them to grow stronger can only increase the threat to American security. Just as we could not bargain with Adolf Hitler or Joseph Stalin, so too we must stand firmly and resolutely against Hussein, Khatami, and Kim Jung Il. The world may not go with us and the elite may cry on the sidelines, but in the end we will have made the right choice over the easy and expedient wrong.

---

News

Coed sailing team hopes to beat Harvard and qualify for nationals this weekend

March 31

The coed sailing team expects positive results when it heads to the New England Team Racing Championships this weekend, hosted at the Coast Guard Academy. Only the top two teams will qualify for a trip to the National competition, hosted at the University of Hawaii in May and June. Tufts will send three boats to race against several other colleges in this weekend's competition. Juniors Pete Levesque and Caroline Hall will comprise the first boat, senior John Birkett and sophomore Katie Shuman will comprise a second, while juniors JR Maxwell and Deane Madsen will make up the third boat. Unlike fleet racing, which involves one boat representing each university, the six sailors will tackle the competition in team racing; all three Tufts boats will sail against three boats from a competing school, seeking the top three out of six finishes. Levesque maintains confidence in the team's ability to qualify. "We definitely have a good shot at making nationals," he said. "Only the top two teams make it, and we have been in the top two this season." Among the best in team racing, the Jumbos reportedly expect the strongest competition to come from Beantown rival Harvard. Levesque did note that Harvard is "a clear favorite" to win the competition, and has been Tufts' main source of competition this season in team racing. Both Tufts and Harvard have pulled away from the rest of the competition this year, consistently taking the top two spots in team racing regattas while the Tufts coed team has yet to beat Harvard this season. "[Harvard is] number one in the nation right now and they keep winning," coach Ken Legler said. The last time that Tufts and Harvard met in team racing was at the Friis Trophy Regatta, on April 6 and 7. "Every race we had with other teams, we ran away," Levesque said. "But the races with Harvard were really close. We're going to have to make sure we communicate as a team." Nevertheless, the coed team remains confident that it will not only qualify for Nationals, but also possibly beat Harvard. "We're not going into New Englands to take second place," Levesque said. "We're going there to win. Winning will require a smart race. We're going to sail conservatively against the rest of the teams because we don't want to lose any easy races." "Our goal outright is to win New Englands," Legler agreed. "If you set the goal of just qualifying, you have less of a chance of doing so than if you set the goal to win." The team has worked steadily on perfecting the art of team racing this year by attending weekly meetings during winter training to discuss winning strategies. "We've been working on our team starts, and our team covering strategy: being in a winning combination and staying in that winning combination," Levesque said. The team noted that weather will have a considerable effect on the final results of the regatta. "Harvard is better when there is no breeze because they're more kinetic," Levesque said. "As soon as there is a light to medium breeze, we're better because we're faster. But Harvard has better boat handling in heavy wind." Legler agreed that weather will affect the final results, and maintained a positive attitude after checking out this weekend's weather report. "The wind looks pretty light this weekend, so I think we have a good chance," he said. "We're happier if it's not real windy. We're looking to use our speed." The co-ed team hopes to see the same success that the women's team did this past weekend, when it placed fourth in the New England Championships, hosted at the University of Rhode Island. Sophomores AJ Crane, Liz Bancroft, and Kristen Tysell placed fifth in the A division, while Juniors Clare Dooley, Marjorie Affel and Caroline Hall took fifth place in the B division. The final results allowed the team to qualify for Nationals, which will take place at the end of May. The coed team practiced its fleet racing skills and earned a seventh-place finish last weekend in the Thompson Trophy Regatta, hosted at Connecticut College. Senior John Birkett and Katie Shuman took seventh place in the A division, while Maxwell and Madsen took tenth place in the B division.

---

News

Housing lottery numbers provided under new system

March 31

The Office of Residential Life released housing lottery numbers to students Wednesday under an altered system intended to increase the privacy of the allocated positions. Few students expressed dismay at the new system, while the typical barrage of satisfied students with useful numbers and disgruntled students who were not so successful ensued. Last year, ResLife provided all lottery numbers on one web site. This year, rankings were presented individually to each student on the Student Services web page. Students had to log in with an ID and password to see their rank. Most students, like freshman Christina Bernadotte, said the system made sense and operated smoothly. "There isn't any reason for anyone to need to see other people's numbers," Bernadotte said. One complaint that some students registered, however, was the added difficulty of finding out the numbers of students you intend to live with next year. Generally, though, students were satisfied with the process. "I didn't like my number very much," Freshman Suzi Ascoli said. "But I didn't have any problems with getting my number. The system works fine." Students will select their dorm rooms for next year from April 2-11 in Hodgdon Hall. They found out how promising - or, like Ascoli, unlucky - that process will be earlier this week. Rising sophomores and freshmen are guaranteed housing, while rising juniors and seniors are not. The ResLife office came under fire recently for not following through on its plan to publish the numbers early so as to lessen the burden on rising juniors who are denied housing. The extra month ResLife originally expected would have offered these students more time to scour the saturated local housing market for apartments after seeing their lottery position. "I feel bad for the sophomores," freshman Marco Enriquez said. "[ResLife] should have adhered to their schedule better." Rising juniors and seniors are under added stress with housing costs increasing every year. Upperclassmen say they've had to deal with rent increases of up to 50 percent throughout the past few years. "Finding a house in Medford for less than $600 is almost impossible," sophomore Mike Krafft said. "Anything you find for less than $600 is dingy and far from school, and all the houses on College Ave. are $700 or more and are generally full already. "If you don't find a house before your first semester exams, you're not in a very good spot," he said.

---

News

Jumbos limp into NESCAC Tournament

March 31

The men's basketball team dropped its final two regular season games over the weekend, falling to Weslyan on Friday 72-65 and Connecticut College on Saturday 89-84. Despite the losses, however, the Jumbos managed to clinch a berth in the playoffs, earning the seventh and final spot in the NESCAC Tournament. That tournament starts today, with Tufts (12-2, 3-6 NESCAC) heading to Williams today for a first round match against the Ephmen. The winner will take on Trinity in the second round on Saturday. The weekend games also secured postseason berths for both Wesleyan and Conn. College. The Cardinals nabbed the sixth spot with a NESCAC record of 4-5 (14-9 overall), while the Camels ensured the third seed and home court advantage, ending the season at 6-3 in the conference (16-8 overall). With victories in the two contests, the Jumbos could have achieved home court advantage in the first round, as well as gained momentum heading into the playoffs. Not surprisingly, the team comes off the weekend dissatisfied. "There's obviously some disappointment," junior Kyle Van Natta said. "Both teams were really good, but I thought our intensity was really high. We just kind of struggled at the wrong times." After heading into halftime down 51-42 and trailing Conn. College for the entire second half on Saturday, a late surge gave Tufts a chance at splitting the weekend.The Camels led 86-73 with 3:53 left on the clock, but the Jumbos scored the next 11 points to close to within 86-84 with 23 seconds remaining. After a Conn. College free throw made it 87-84, Shapiro missed what would have been a game-tying three with 17 seconds left, forcing Tufts to foul. The Camels made both free throws to go up 89-84 and secure the victory.The Jumbos were led by junior Mike McGlynn, who finished with 21 points, and freshman Craig Coupe, who had a double double for the second consecutive weekend, with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Freshman Reggie Stovell tallied 14, while juniors Brian Shapiro and Jim Wilson finished in double figures, with 12 and 10 points, respectively.McGlynn, who had five threes the night before, drained five again on Saturday and finished with 99 on the season, su+rpassing Bill Slackman's single season record of 90, set during the 1990-91 season.Tufts wasn't too far from a victory against Wesleyan, either. The Cardinals, who entered the weekend standing alone in ninth place but leapfrogged ahead of the Jumbos with two wins, started out slowly Friday night. Tufts opened up a 12-5 lead early on, but Wesleyan quickly bounced back with a 21-4 run, producing a 26-16 lead at 10:23. Tufts responded with a run of its own, however, outscoring the Cardinals 22-9 over the remainder of the half and heading into the locker room with a 38-35 advantage. The Jumbos were led in the first half by Shapiro's 11 points, while the squad outrebounded Wesleyan 24-17. In the second half, Tufts expanded its lead to six on a layup by Coupe, which made the score 43-37 with 18:41 to go. But Wesleyan managed to stay close, before a three pointer by Cardinal senior Leo Jones gave the visitors their first lead of the game at 58-55 with 6:29 on the clock. The Jumbos would manage to knot the score at 60 at 4:37, but the Cardinals went up for good on a three pointer by junior Chad Gordon with 3:10 to play. Wesleyan did not look back from there, and cruised to its second consecutive victory over Tufts.Jones led all scorers with 25 points. Tufts was led by 18 points and eight rebounds from Coupe, as well as 18 points from McGlynn. Shapiro and Wilson also finished in double figures, with 14 and 10 points, respectively.The Jumbos face the powerhouse Ephmen in the first round of the NESCAC tournament tonight. Williams finished the regular season in second place with a record of 20-4 (7-2). Earlier in the season, Williams defeated Tufts by an 85-69 margin at Cousens Gym. "Williams is so disciplined and they just do everything," Van Natta said. "We'll have to go in and just be smart. We'll have to take care of turnovers, because they can always capitalize on turnovers. We have to limit their chances of scoring, and we have to play our game." Williams will also have the momentum coming into the game, following a 25 point win over Middlebury on Saturday. Still, the Jumbos remain optimistic, despite dropping the two games that could have given them home court advantage. "Obviously if we had gotten two wins we would have had momentum," Van Natta said. "But now it's do or die, so I think we'll go in with same intensity." An encouraging factor for Tufts has to be the play of Coupe. Over the last three games, the freshman has averaged 14.7 points and 9.3 points per game. Over that stretch he also recorded two double doubles. "Coupe was a big factor this weekend, especially against Conn.," Van Natta said. "He had a lot of big plays and he really kept us in it. I'm sure he's playing with a lot of confidence right now."

---

News

@colhead:Two short unrelated stories

March 31

"I like a thing simple but it must be simple through complication." -Gertrude SteinReflection Richard was dancing around his apartment naked when, passing in front of a full length mirror, he noticed for the first time in his life that he had an extremely hairy ass. This revelation surprised him, though looking back on that moment hours later, he didn't know why. He had a hairy chest. His arms, legs, knuckles, ankles, and toes were hairy as well. Occasionally, Richard took note of the hair that sat proudly upon his shoulders like the lapels of a great general. Reaching beyond those shoulders one day, he had pawed his back to discover still more hair. Later that day Richard sat fully clothed at the kitchen table thinking about this new perception of his ass. Stroking the long hairs of his beard, he understood that it was silly of him to have been so shocked at seeing the reflection of his rear end there in front of him, full and fuzzy with the forest of fine black follicles he had long known to cover the rest of his body. "I ought to dance naked more often," he thought. "Who knows what else I've been missing all these years?" Richard went into the bathroom and combed his ass, careful to part the hair to the left so as to favor his better side.Romanticism Ronald was sitting on the toilet in the third stall. As things were taking longer than he had expected he looked around, searching for something to pass the time. Ronald wished he had brought his checkbook; he could have paid his bills and balanced his account by now. Looking up at the pale blue metal door in front of him, he noticed some small scribblings, graffiti, marks left by a man who had been here before him.Sure that there was no one else in the men's room, he read aloud the first few words, scrawled with black ink in a sweeping script: "'Much madness is divinest sense' - E.D.""Ahh yes, the dear Miss Dickinson, how I love her mystical words," Ronald thought quietly, suddenly unsettled by his voice echoing against the tile walls of the empty lavatory. Then he noticed a next line scrawled in smudged blue ink below the first: "Who the f-ck is that?" A bold arrow pointed accusingly at the "E.D." It seemed a simple question, and after flushing the toilet, pulling up his pants, tucking in his shirt and buckling his belt, Ronald whipped out one of his favorite red pens, leaned over against the cold metal, and wrote clearly, "Emily Dickinson, dickwad!" It was cathartic. He had felt proud coming to the defense of the powerless Belle of Amherst. "And she'd be proud of me, that crazy poetess," he told himself as he left the bathroom and returned to his office. "She'd be grateful."But later he felt guilty and immature. His remorse ate away at him, tearing at his every thought. That evening he called up an old friend. They hadn't communicated in well over a year. She was a fellow poetry fanatic whose long dark hair, perky breasts, and affinity for caesuras he remembered as exceptionally attractive. They used to talk for hours about Byron and Bishop, Shelley and Stevens.And as if they had just graduated only yesterday, they picked up where they had left off. She told him that it was OK, that "Emily surely wouldn't mind, because it's not like she's the one who was the dickwad." Ronald felt better and they talked Whitman and Ferlinghetti, ancient mariners and grecian urns. He felt full of life again as his heart pounded with the furious beat of iambic pentameter. He asked her to join him for dinner next Saturday. She was busy on Saturday, she said, and suggested instead that they go for tea Sunday afternoon. Tea, he thought, how poetic. It was agreed.Gently she said, "Goodnight," and he replied eagerly, louder than usual, "Ahhh, my dear, do not go gentle into that good night." He could hear her giggling softly as she hung up the phone.

---

News

Spring Comedy Show a quick Sellout

March 31

This year's Spring Comedy show, which will feature acclaimed comedian Dave Chapelle, sold out in just under four hours Tuesday morning. According to Kelly Wisnewski, one of three Entertainment Board co-chairs, that's a new record. "Entertainment Board has worked really hard on the show this year," she said. "It's just really nice to know that people are interested in our events. Entertainment Board, which also organizes the annual Fall Comedy Show, brought Dave Attell to campus last semester. Students recognized his coincidentally rhyming moniker from his work on Comedy Central, but Chappelle, an accomplished screen star, has proved to be the greater draw. Chapelle rose to fame throughout the 90's, with supporting roles in major features like Robin Hood: Men in Tights, Joe's Apartment, and 200 Cigarettes. Admittedly, though, he is best known for his role in Half Baked, the smoked-out college cult classic. Though Chappelle's film career has been quiet for the past two years, he's been garnering attention on the stand-up circuit, and recently served as one of Jay Leno's Tonight Show correspondents during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Opening the show will be Rich Ceisler. Known as the "Corporate Chameleon," Ceisler is known for his custom-tailored appearances in corporate settings. He has also toured the Northeast extensively. For those lucky enough to hold tickets, the show starts Sunday night at 8.- Rob Bellinger

---

News

Trailing Along

March 31

It's not often that four guys can grow up together in the same town and still go on to tour together for months on end. The Lost Trailers have managed to do just that. Vocalist and lead guitar Stokes Nielson claims that they have known each other since high school. While one might imagine this might lead to weird occurrences because the band members know each other a little too well, Nielson claims that exactly the opposite is true. "I can come in with a raw nugget of a song, and [band members] Ryder and Jeff and Cam can help make it into a song" he said. "And if a song sucks, we say 'This song sucks'." The comfort to be completely honest is a big plus when they have to spend a good portion of their waking hours with each other. The Trailers - composed of Cam McElroy on bass, Jeff Potter on drums, Ryder Lee on the piano and vocals, and Nielson - range in age from 23 to 26, and have all been playing since their teens. The Lost Trailers have been making music since July of 2000, though not always with the same membership. The current Trailers have been together since last spring and began touring in June. They released an album, Passport, in January and are currently touring to promote it. The sound that The Lost Trailers produce defies easy categorization, as their style crosses into genres not normally treasured by college audiences. Their band tends to attracts fans of Dispatch and Virginia Coalition, both known for their college rock beats. But The Trailers add a bluegrass sound that differentiates it from the myriad of college rock wannabes flooding the marketplace. Nielson's smooth southern drawl rings out clearly on "Horse," a story of lost love. He hides his true pain behind a veil of sarcastic humor with lyrics like: "You say he's short and handsome, with an alternative flair / He's got a tattoo of Limp Bizkit and Clorox in his hair." In the background, the banjo and the steel guitar strum along to complement this "sad country song." The Lost Trailers repeatedly expressed excitement regarding their return to Boston. Oddly enough, their reason for wanting to come back is tied to one of the worst experiences of their careers. When playing one of their first shows in Boston, they returned to their trailer after the show to find that it no longer occupied the spot at which they had left it. Someone had made off with $40,000 worth of their equipment, effectively rendering it impossible to continue touring. But somehow they pulled through it, borrowing the instruments they needed, and playing what Nielson called "one of [their] most energetic sets" the very next night. The band's song "Birds in Boston" details the circumstances surrounding this traumatic experience, and Nielson says that this piece strikes a particularly personal chord. He cited the lyric: "When you've lost everything / It's hard not to feel free" as the moral of the story. "A lot of our society is based on materialistic things," Nielson said. "[The theft] was terrible, but there is a sense of freedom, because even though all your stuff is gone, you still have your love of music." The band managed to keep touring and raise enough money to buy back the things that they lost, but the experience has stayed with them. It drew the group closer together; almost as a test of their cohesiveness. Everyone agrees that the theft made them a stronger group, more capable of dealing with the hardships that life on the road provides. "I'd have it no other way," Lee added. "It's pretty difficult not to be happy." All the band members repeatedly named their love of performing as the motivation for their existence as a group. "We love to play," Nielson raved, "It doesn't matter whether it's for six people or six hundred." The set they played at The House of Blues in Cambridge was absolute dynamite. They were energetic and intense, and had the packed house begging for more. Bands just can't fake intensity like that; it has to be the real thing, and The Lost Trailers certainly aren't poseurs. "We're in it for the long haul," McCaul said.The Lost Trailers will be performing at Oxfam Caf?© on Saturday, March 30 at 9 p.m.

---

News

Panda Palace to join MOPS today

March 31

Medford Chinese restaurant Panda Palace will join the Merchants on Points (MOPS) program today, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate announced Sunday evening. Panda Palace will replace Rose's Chinese Restaurant as the fourth vendor on the program, which allows Tufts students to order food from off-campus vendors using Points Plus. The Senate's announcement comes after months of searching for a new vendor, a quest that has included negotiations with at least four different restaurants. Equipment problems have plagued the search process. Last month, Rose's, on Boston Ave., had to leave MOPS after just two days of operation due to an inability to handle the high number of orders. Dining Services director Patti Lee Klos said that Panda Palace's bigger kitchen was the decision's defining factor. "We knew that students wanted Asian food, so we looked for a restaurant that we thought would have capacity because that was the main issue with Rose's," she said. Dining Services said they will make sure the fourth vendor has the means to service the average of 100 to 125 MOPS deliveries per evening. Panda Palace has installed a new phone line to accommodate the increased orders. Klos and the Senate are confident that this time the restaurant will be able to handle the orders. "Panda Palace is an established restaurant, the family has owned it for 12 years," Klos said. "They're not on the immediate periphery of campus but they have, over the years, provided service to Tufts. They feel they'll be able to keep up with demand." Panda Palace charges a two dollar delivery fee, but Senate Services Committee member Josh Belkin said it is his understanding that a separate tip is not expected. Dining Services finalized the terms of the contract with Panda Palace on Thursday. In preparation, Dining Services reclaimed the equipment used for MOPS transactions from Rose's to began training the new restaurant's staff. Panda Palace was also advised on how to familiarize their drivers with the Tufts campus. Panda Palace differs from current and past MOPS vendors because it is located farther from campus than the other MOPs vendors. The restaurant is 3.2 miles away from campus - a five-to-ten minute drive. Belkin said the restaurant's distance was not an issue. The only thing that matters is the total time it takes to deliver the order, he said. He speculated that delivery times would be reasonable because of the restaurant's large kitchen. Belkin says Panda Palace's capacity places his mind at ease. "I feel much better this time around. The restaurant is confident they can handle the additional orders that Tufts students bring in." Klos said she approached Davis Square's Golden Light and Teele Square's Kee Kar Lau, but the restaurants ultimately said they were not interested. She expects Panda Palace to make a successful switch to the MOPS program because spring break will give staff more time to get used to the program. "You might call it a soft opening," Klos said. "It will give the restaurant the opportunity to get used to it as well. It's a more gradual start up." Menus for Panda Palace will be available on the Dining Services website and Tuftslife.com today.

---

News

Swift cuts vet school budget

March 31

Massachusetts' proposed budget for the fiscal year 2003 projects to cut the state's contribution to Tufts Veterinary School in half. The state typically allocates approximately $5.3 million annually, but proposed to give $2.5 million next year. The University is lobbying to prevent the cuts. Massachusetts' current "fiscal crisis" led to cuts across all departments and agencies, according to Nicole St. Peter, spokeswoman for the state's office of administration and budgeting. "Almost every line item in the budget was cut because of decline in revenues," she said. "Currently, fiscal year 2003 has a structural deficit of $2.3 billion, so other cuts will have to be made to fill in the gap." The proposed $2.5 million for the Vet School will fund the care of the state's police horses. Funds from the state are also usually used for a tuition remission program. Spokeswoman for the Vet School Barbara Donato said that the school is optimistic that the state legislature will not go through with the proposed cuts. "We would prefer to speculate on the cuts not happening," she said. "We hope the legislature does what they've done in the past" by granting the typical amount. President Larry Bacow echoed Donato, saying that the University is currently lobbying state representatives to secure the typical amount of funding. "Last year, the Governor proposed similar cuts and the House and Senate restored funding for the Vet School in the final appropriation bill which the governor signed," Bacow said. "We are working with the Governor's Office as well as members of the House and the Senate to help them understand the important role that our Vet School plays in the Commonwealth." Bacow said that such proposed cuts are part of the "normal political process that is involved in putting a budget together." If the proposed cuts are approved, Donato said no contingency plan currently exists. "There are no announced plans to cut any programs, projects or employees," she said. Tufts Veterinary School opened in 1979 and is one of 28 veterinary schools in the country. The state procured the land for the Grafton campus, which was once the site of a mental hospital, and sold it to the University for $1. The state continues to support the school and the school makes certain provisions to the state in return, such as allotting 51 percent of its 80 slots per class for Massachusetts residents. All 28 of the country's veterinary schools are partially funded by their resident states. But according to Donato, Massachusetts provides the lowest amount of funding for its vet school. The Vet School acquires 13 percent of its funding from the state, whereas the average for most schools is 26 to 36 percent. Some schools get as much as over 60 percent of their funding from the state. Most other veterinary schools are public, and St. Peter said that Massachusetts may fund less because Tufts is a private institution. The budget was proposed in January of this year, and will be approved in its final form in July. Along with cuts across the board, St. Peter said the state may have to dip into its "rainy day fund" to make up for the gap in the budget.

---

News

Same-sex dating scene comes out

March 31

The transition from a high school dating pool to the collegiate scene is not always an easy one. Ask your average Tufts student and they'll probably list lame parties and lack of interest as prime reasons for why they haven't "gotten any" since arriving on the Hill. And for gay students, the pressure of same-sex dating in an entirely new environment could make the process even more difficult - but not necessarily. According to some members of Tuft's Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) community, same-sex dating in college isn't as hard as it may seem at first. TTLGBC co-coordinator Vanessa Dillen has spent the past four years as an active member of the gay community and said that same-sex dating only gets easier with time. "When you're first coming out, it seems like an added burden to have to find someone else who's queer, but it gets easier," Dillen said. "I want people to be hopeful about it because a lot of people get discouraged about same-sex dating." And according to sophomore Kelly Sanborn, Tufts does its part to foster same-sex relationships by providing social events both on and off campus. "We do a lot of social events with other schools," Sanborn said. "We co-sponsored a dance here last semester, with kids from a lot of different New England colleges." Dillen agreed, adding that even if you don't find a soulmate on the Hill, you're bound to find a few good friends. "At Tufts we have a very solid queer community. It's not necessarily easy to find someone you want to date, but it's easy to find queer friends," Dillen said. "I think that Tufts is a lot better than a lot of other colleges, and I think that a lot of people don't realize that. Tufts is a great place to be queer - we have a lot more resources than other schools, a pretty strong student group, a lot of queer faculty... It's a good place to be." Sophomore Mitchell Lunn was hoping to find an accepting community when he arrived at Tufts, and it wasn't long before he became an active and vocal member of the gay community. "When I first got here, I wasn't thinking that it was going to be paradise for LGBT students," Lunn said. "I knew that Massachusetts was liberal, and, there being the student group and center, it obviously had to be accepting. For the first little while, I tested the waters to see how accepting the campus was before I really started getting involved." In many ways, the problems associated with same-sex dating are the same as the ones that heterosexual singles face. The parties, clubs, and bars that many college students frequent on weekends are not exactly the perfect "getting to know you" environments. "Most people start out by going to clubs, and that works for some people, but it can be pretty frustrating," Dillen said. "It's kind of intimidating - it's not the best scenario, because it's loud. It's hard to just go up to someone and make conversation and be natural about it." Concerts, coffee places, and certain queer events can be better places to meet people, according to Dillen. She said that the quieter and more relaxed atmosphere lends itself to more conversation than bars and clubs. Lunn said the differences between same-sex dating and heterosexual dating were relatively minimal. "If we compare it to the heterosexual dating scene, I think that same-sex couples will do the same types of things that heterosexual couples do - going out to dinner, movies, club, dancing, hanging out, whatever - all of that stuff is the same," he said. But same-sex dating does contain a unique strain of problems - namely, attempting to figure out the other persons' sexuality. Approaching someone at a coffee shop and asking them for their phone number is hard enough without having to worry about whether the person is interested in your gender, let alone in yourself. "You don't want to make people feel uncomfortable or put yourself in a dangerous situation," Sanborn said. "You have to try to get an idea of who the person is before they approach them." Dillen agreed, saying that having "gay-dar" is important. "Sometimes someone's sexuality is in question - you could have a crush on someone and not even know if they're interested," she said. She added there exists a universal assumption that everyone is heterosexual unless they formally 'out' themselves, which leads to added worries. Just as important as figuring out another's sexuality is understanding it, Lunn said. He said respect is a two-way street when it comes to making people feel comfortable. "Because we're well respected here for being who we are, we can't disrespect the people we think are attractive by assuming they are gay as well," he said. "Just as straight people need to respect our sexuality, we need to respect theirs." College is a relatively popular time to "come out" to family, friends, and, most importantly, to oneself. Members of the LGBT community say this often causes confusion and stress that aren't conducive to a healthy dating career. "One of the more difficult things about same-sex dating, especially if you're coming out in college, is that you have to face issues in coming out and getting into the whole dating scene" Dillen said. "And it can be really hard if both and your partner are facing coming out issues." And sometimes college students who are confused about their sexuality want to explore their options in a casual way. The college atmosphere lends itself to such exploration, but can also lead to some uncomfortable situations. "The one hard thing for women is that it's kind of hard to tell if someone else is really interested in you," Dillen said. "There's that whole myth that sometimes when women get to college, they want to experiment. Sometimes it's hard to tell exactly what their intentions are, whether they're just having fun or if they're actually taking it seriously." Dating aside, members of the LGBT community largely say Tufts is a tolerant campus compared to other colleges. Most say the student body is relatively accepting - to an extent. "I feel like students here are generally accepting, especially when it's distanced from them," Sanborn said. "If they see a queer couple walking around campus, they may not make a homophobic remark. But it is purely situational - you can get the wrong people in the wrong situation and bad things can happen." Because of this, some in same-sex relationships shy away from public displays of affection. For Dillen, it's a matter of individual preference, and the level to which each partner is comfortable being openly gay. It also depends on the situation. "I wouldn't hold hands at a frat party - it totally depends on your surroundings and who you're with," she said. "Some people are in situations where their whole group of friends know that they're gay and are totally okay with it and then some people are still really closeted." Sanborn and Lunn agreed with the distinction between particular incidents and the overall atmosphere on campus. "I know we've had a number of hate crimes against queers, but I feel like those were individual cases and that the average Tufts student is not going to lash out in a violent manner," Sanborn said. "I feel like the campus as a whole is tolerant." Lunn said that Tufts is safe, but that everything is relative. "I'm originally from North Dakota and that environment was very non-accepting, diverging on non-safe. So coming to Tufts, it was a 180 degree difference from what I had at home. On the flip side of that, I know people who have come from very liberal places and find Tufts very conservative," he said.

---