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TCCS searching for new cable, phone, Ethernet providers

March 31

Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) is negotiating with at least ten prospective vendors to replace Campuslink, the University's current telephone, cable TV, and Internet services provider. Campuslink's eight-year contract will come up for renewal in May of 2003, and TCCS has begun to explore various options to replace the current provider. The vendors under consideration include telephone companies, cable TV companies, and companies called "aggregators" that bundle the services. "There is no clear leader at this point," Kathleen Cummings Topalian, Associate Director and Communications Officer of TCCS, said. TCCS and Arts, Sciences, and Engineering administrators will make the final decision next year. Administrators have considered the possibility of Tufts becoming its own provider, but Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said this would require many adjustments, such as an increase in University staff. Reitman added that TCCS must consider a number of issues before coming to a decision, which he said would probably not occur until next year, closer to the contract's expiration date. Now that at least half of Tufts students use cellular telephones as their primary telephone service, TCCS is exploring wireless and cellular options. Cummings Topalian said that low international long distance rates are also a concern for many students. "The business model that [the company] used in 1995 when they first came to Tufts is no longer practical," Cummings Topalian said. She said the idea at the time was to provide three services -"voice, data, and video"- for the price of just voice and video. While Campuslink currently provides all three services, Cummings Topalian said that this type of service bundling would not be possible in the future contract. Neither Campuslink nor any other company will enter a contract under that model any longer. Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate members Andrew Potts and Suman Rao will represent the student body in a committee made up of TCCS and Ballou. The committee will convene for the first time after spring break. Rao hopes to line up an official Tufts cellular service provider that will give students a discounted rate if a certain number of students sign up. The cellular phone provider would send plan information to students at the same time as the regular service provider so that students would have the option of choosing their service. Most of the preparatory work is scheduled for the fall of 2002, when vendor's 2003 plans will be available. Questions about future technologies, especially cellular technology, have delayed firmer decisions. In the 1995 contract, Campuslink agreed to hardwire all Tufts dorms with the expectation that the $3.5 million wiring cost would be paid off by earnings from long distance service. But long distance rates plummeted soon after the contract was signed, preventing Campuslink from breaking even until 1999. Reitman said that Campuslink, which is owned by the Michigan-based company Paetec, has done the "bare minimum" to fulfill the contract. Students have been dissatisfied with the calling plan choices, the cable line-up, and the service overall, leading to expectations that Campuslink's contract will not be renewed. "Paetec sent me a bill saying 'return seven to ten days before the due date,' but the bill arrived in my mailbox four days before it was due, so the late fee was attached automatically," freshman Jeff Zahler said. "And I haven't used their long distance service in a few weeks, but they keep sending me bills for it." Cummings Topalian emphasized the importance of student input in the decision-making process. "We have had informal student input all along the way," she said, encouraging students who are able to commit through the fall of 2002 to participate in the committee.

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News

Sabur delivers carefree atmosphere, quality cuisine

March 31

Remember the Ocean Reef seafood restaurant in Teele Square? If you can't, I don't blame you. But, if you have wandered down where it used to be, you may have notice a new joint - Sabur Restaurant and Lounge. Since it opened Nov. 18, Sabur has pleased the few Tufts students that know it exists. And now that it offers a 10 percent discount for Tufts students, the establishment can expect even more pleased Jumbos. Sabur is the Bosnian word for "set your worries aside," and that is exactly the carefree feeling that Bosnian-born owner Haris Jusufbegovic and master chef Chris Kane deliver. They have worked with each other for seven years and finally decided to open their own place, with the vision of providing relaxation as well as food. Sabur serves exotic Mediterranean cuisine. Jusufbegovic explains that the entrees are Bosnian-based, with Turkish, Arabic, Italian, and Eastern European influences. The menu is modest, yet the entrees are simply delicious. Kane specializes in lamb, and his Roasted Leg of Lamb is the best I've tasted. The restaurant also offers a full vegetarian menu, as well as Halal meat on request. If you still have room for dessert, the Glazed Apricots Filled with Mascarpone Cheese and Almonds are a very sweet end to a great meal. Sabur is a bit high on the price scale, with an average cost of $17 per dinner entr?©e, but it is worth every penny. Soon, Jusufbegovic and Kane plan to begin serving brunch on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. At Sabur, the atmosphere is an even better attraction than the food Every element of the d?©cor was imported from Bosnia, from an open-hearth grill down to the lamps. Jusufbegovic believes that the round brass tables and dim lamps, complemented with authentic Bosnian music, recreate an Eastern European atmosphere that is very hard to find in the United States. Sabur's hospitality is also a Bosnian import. Do not be surprised if Jusufbegovic himself greets you at the door. He's also always up for a good conversation and is not the least bit shy about it. You can also expect live music during the weekend. Thursdays, jazz, classic jazz, and world music is heard through the otherwise quiet Teele Square. Sabur's resident guitarist, Bosnian-born Boris J.S., is capable of playing a variety of music from traditional Balkan music to Pink Floyd and Jimi Hendrix. Sabur has also just started offering authentic Balkan music every first Saturday of the month. Jusufbegovic is always looking for guest musicians to complement his lineup. Overall, eating at Sabur is a full dining experience. The food, atmosphere, and service are top-notch, which is rather difficult to find these days. After being open for only four months, Sabur has already attracted regular customers. I have been very pleased with the pampering and relaxation I experienced the few times I dined there. When I asked Jusufbegovic how he runs the restaurant seven days a week while always being there in person to treat his guests with a smile (he prefers "guests" to "customers"), he simply replied, "If you do something, do it with passion."

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News

Not a sound amendment!

March 31

There are several problems with the Daily editorial "A Sound Amendment," published on Monday. First of all, the two so-called grievances in the current culture representative system, as enumerated by the editorial, are inaccurate. While it may be true that there are currently only four cultural groups being represented along with a commuter student representative, the legislative process does not exclude the possibility of future representation of other groups. "What makes these four [current culture groups with reps] more special?" Perhaps it is the fact that they took initiative in promoting their cause, and eventually garnered the support of the student body. The editorial is quick to pit groups against each other rather than promote an alliance and support for other culture groups. I agree that other groups should have a vote, but perhaps the Daily does not realize that this is a feasible goal, which can be accomplished within the current system. Another point of contention in the editorial is the claim that "no one voted for these culture representatives..." Those who did vote for their culture representative and ELBO know very well that these culture representatives have gone through election processes unlike many senators. Elections are open to the active members of these cultural groups, meaning those students who set time aside and attend meetings. This by no means excludes other students on this campus. It is possible for a non-Latino student to attend an Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) meeting. For those students whose minds and ideas are in sync with that of the editorial, I encourage you to attend these meetings, to prove to yourself about the democratic process that they go through. So to clarify, the culture representatives are also qualified elected members, and often hold contested seats. The movement of a culture representative to a lobbyist is retroactive. It is obvious the Senate is taking a step backwards rather than forwards. Lobbying gets nothing done. One vote does. Senators have selective hearing. If anyone attended the Senate meeting this past Sunday, you probably were disappointed when you saw a female senator, yawn, roll her eyes, and start laughing when students approached the Senate with statements at an open forum. If anything, these "qualified senators" should show some respect for the class members, whom they represent. It was very disappointing and discouraging to see this one individual give dirty looks and be unprofessional in front of many students. When reading the statements from different groups, these students (including myself) took on the role of "lobbyists", except one minor thing, ...I forgot to mention that lobbyist will be forced into attending about eleven hours worth of meetings, in one week. Members of the "elected" Senate, "elected" Committee on Student Life and "elected" Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ), have nothing comparable It is bad enough students have difficulty managing time, but to hold someone accountable for all these meetings and then not give them a vote is absurd. For those of you who do not know the intricacies of the amendment, the proposal gives senators the power to deem who is "qualified" to be inducted into a pool of lobbyists. Unfortunately, the proposal of amendment III to the TCU constitution has evolved from people that think one vote poses such a threat and influence that minorities will eventually take over. As I left the large conference room, I felt sorry for those who stayed during the "Good and Welfare" section of the Senate meeting, not only because it can go on for a long time, but also because that's the part where the bashing starts. The potential name-calling, finger-pointing and the criticizing of the lobbyists, since they will not be allowed in at this point, no doubt commenced. I left feeling sorry for the current representatives because even after having the full support of peers that attended the open forum, I knew that nothing was accomplished and that the proposal would still stand. A senator's job is to represent his or her class' ideas and concerns. If there happens to be a Latino person on the Senate, this doesn't in anyway guarantee the Latino community a voice that is guaranteed by the current system [vote]. It hasn't even been a year since last year's senate worked so hard to get this accomplished, so it is too young to make conclusions about the outcomes. Those who proposed the amendment are not listening to the students who have already voted. Will senators continue to contest current amendments because they do not wish to go through the same legislative process for other groups? What is wrong with having other groups have culture representatives? Absolutely nothing. However, with only four culture reps, senators' lives are less tedious and meetings are shorter. A senator's job is to represent the ideas and concerns of his or her class. Those who proposed this amendment are not listening to the students who have already voted, but are instead trying to make their own lives easier. Will senators continue to contest current amendments just because they do not wish to go through the same legislative process to add other groups? What is wrong with having other groups having culture representatives? Absolutely nothing. I encourage all culture groups to vote against the stripping away of the voting "privileges" and to propose your own culture representatives. Even if you are not part of a culture group, you should learn about them. I repeat, a senator's job is to represent his or her class and their broad array of concerns, but he or she does not speak for the individual groups. Even though many see this as a window of opportunity for minority students to take over, the reality is that we are just one voice that will be silenced if this proposal goes through. Noris Chavarria is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and American Studies.

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News

Last night on the hill

March 31

Just a snapshot - or two - of Walnut Hill's performers alive with the sound of music... Giants, princesses, and other fantasy figures will take up a three-day residency in Cohen Auditorium, where Torn Ticket II's spring production of Into the Woods opens tonight. The popular Stephen Sondheim musical details the antics of some of society's most renowned fairytales; taking a look at what happens when happily-ever-after endings turn sour. Directed by senior Tom Damassa, the production is packed with performers who have been working hard all semester to make Sondheim's multi-faceted characters come to life. Pictured here in rehearsal are Little Red Riding Hood (senior Vanessa Schiff) and Jack (freshman Michael La Fazia) as they wait in earnest for their wishes to be granted. Check out tomorrow's Daily for full coverage of what Into the Woods has in store. The Music Department, with help from the Diversity Fund, sponsored a presentation by At Place Congo earlier this week that featured two evenings of music by composer H. Leslie Adams. Adams' pieces were presented on the program alongside many original works by Tufts' students and faculty composers. Tuesday night's performance featured vocal selections performed by students studying voice in the Applied Music program, as well as two choral pieces sung by the Tufts Chamber Singers. Music Department Chair John McDonald provided the piano accompaniment for these selections and for several pieces written by students in the composition program. Wednesday's concert focused more on instrumental music written by both Adams and by Tufts composers. McDonald is pictured here taking a bow with voice student Megan Brachtl after performing "Night Song."

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News

A new dimension to the critical scene

March 31

Pen, Paint, and Pretzel's minor production of The Real Inspector Hound turns the tables on traditional drama by putting the actors in the audience and the critics on the stage while utilizing a mysteriously complex play-within-a-play structure. The play, which will be performed tonight in the Balch Arena Theater, centers on a whodunit murder mystery but offers an underlying commentary on the state of theater as an art form and the relationship between drama and life. Hound was written by Tom Stoppard, who many in the cast - including director Megan Kiefer - describe as "a theatrical genius." Kiefer offers this as one of her major reasons for choosing to direct the play, also citing the challenges it poses for both directors and actors. "It's a complicated play to pull off," said the junior and International Relations major, "because there are so many ways to interpret it." The show's stage manager, senior Amanda Berkowitz, says that Hound has surprising depth for a short play: "There are so many levels to both real life and the life of the show, and there's not really anywhere in between," she said. "It's up to the audience to decide where everything fits in." But several things happen before the audience can even begin to figure out what is happening on the stage. The play opens with a dialogue between two theater critics, Birdboot (sophomore Josh Bauml) and Moon (sophomore Sam Rivers) that sets the scene for what becomes an engaging comedy involving situations that are not necessarily funny on their own account but come across as ingenious once combined. "Just when you think you know what's going on everything gets flipped around," Rivers said. "Everything is fair game." Many of the characters and events are over-dramatized because Kiefer saw that as the best way to integrate the play's relationship between theater and life. Thus, in the stereotypical murder-mystery sense, much of the action involves what Kiefer described as "popping heads." Senior Melissa Holman, who plays the stern servant Mrs. Drugde, consistently makes references within the play to the presence of a mysterious fog lifting outside of the mansion where the action takes place. This alone helps the audience to visualize the eerie setting. "It's really important to pay attention to everything that's happening on the stage," said junior Emily Jerez, who plays the sultry and rich Cynthia. "People have a tendency to zone out when seeing a play, but there are just so many substories here." Aside from the relation between the theater critics and the actual play, there are a few conflicting romantic relationships - one of which is based on a mistaken changed identity. Then there are several times when one or more of the cast members expresses a desire to kill the character Simon Gascoyne (freshman Brett Weiner). When he actually does die, the play takes an entirely new direction. And, of course, there still remains the question of who really is Inspector Hound. Is he the police officer played by freshman Andrew Churella? Or is he someone entirely different; someone we don't meet until the play's end? Churella offers his own interpretation. "I guess it makes more sense if I am the real Inspector Hound," he said. "The part is kind of weird - I come in from nowhere, and it's kind of unclear why I'm there...he's not the greatest example of law enforcement."But regardless of which way you look at it, Hound still embodies what Birdboot describes in the script as one of the most important ingredients for successful drama: "It has a beginning, a middle, and I have no doubt that it will prove to have an end."3P's production of 'The Real Inspector Hound' will be performed tonight in the Balch Arena Theater at 7 pm with a repeat performance at 9:30. Admission is free.

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News

Women's basketball loses to Clark in second OT

March 31

Just two minutes into Tuesday's contest against Clark, junior center Emily Goodman reached a career milestone. Her 15-foot jumper swished through the net, giving her 1001 career points and making her only the seventh female Jumbo to reach the 1,000-point mark. But the celebration was brief - Tufts soon found itself in a double overtime battle, and despite comebacks in regulation and the first extra frame, lost 76-62 after a disastrous final five minutes. The loss was the fifth in the past seven games for Tufts, which now stands at 7-7, but the team was pleased with its performance against a reputable Clark team (11-6). After yielding 93 points to Bates on Saturday, the 52 points scored by Clark in regulation testified to a stronger Tufts defense. "Our defense was a million times better than at Bates," Goodman said. "We need to have a good defensive game if we are going to have a good offensive game." "Compared to the 40 point loss to Bates, this was much better," junior guard Erin Harrington said. "We couldn't pull it off in the end, but there were plenty of things to be happy about." Trailing by 11 points towards the end of regulation, Tufts battled to tie the game after a Goodman lay-up with only two seconds remaining. The Cougars jumped out to a five-point lead in the first overtime period, but the Jumbos had an answer. Mimicking the drama from regulation, freshman Krissy Nierenberg drained a lay-up as time expired, deadlocking the game at 60. There was no such drama in the second overtime - Clark went on a 14-0 run to end the game. The biggest difference Clark's ability to get to the free-throw line. "[Clark] went to the foul line about three times as much as us," Goodman said. "The calls weren't really going our way. But when we did go to the foul line our shooting percentage wasn't as high. If it was, we could have won the game in regulation." Goodman, who led Tufts with 19 points and ten rebounds, is currently tied with Paula Moss '82 for sixth place in Jumbos scoring with 1018. She also became the last person since Jodi Beach in 1995 to reach the 1000-point milestone. With a season and a half remaining in her Tufts career, Goodman is within striking distance of Teresa Allen '89, who compiled 1,257 points in her career. Senior co-captain Jayme Busnengo was the only other Jumbo to finish in double digits, with 10 points. The team's entire roster saw time in the loss."The NESCAC games are close and intense like that," Goodman said. "It is good for the younger players to experience that." After five straight road games, the Jumbos will return home this weekend to play a pair of NESCAC contests against Trinity (7-6) tomorrow night and Amherst (8-7) on Saturday. After playing ten of its last 12 games on the road, the team is looking forward to the upcoming five-game homestand. "It will be nice to play at home," Goodman said. "After travelling for two and a half hours you are already at a disadvantage. We will be pumped to play in front of the home crowd." @s: Squad anxious to return to home court

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News

Film Series drops fee to zero

March 31

Film Series, Tufts' student-run movie club, dropped its two-dollar fee this semester to encourage higher attendance at screenings. Before the removal of the fee, student attendance at movies usually averaged about eight people - but now students are packing into Barnum 008 to watch their favorite films. "It wasn't even worth it," Film Series President Christophe Renaud said. "It was a hassle to deposit such a small amount." According to Cohen, because ticket profits were minimal, the group's budget has barely changed despite the cut in income. Film Series has also made cuts this semester by showing fewer films. Movies cost approximately $1,000 per movie for the weekend, and the group also purchases trailers to show beforehand. Since eliminating the fee, Film Series attendance has skyrocketed. "We're getting about six times as many people," Renaud said. Renaud decided to drop the fee at the beginning of the semester because although his group was not making as much money as hoped, it was not losing funding either. He hopes to keep Film Series admission free again next year, but the decision depends on how the group's budget will be affected by funding changes. Now that the movies are free, movie-goers are packing into Barnum 008. "I think it's great that people can stay on campus and still be able to see a collection of some of the newer movies," freshman Ralph Bassett said, adding that students enjoy having new releases available on campus at such a low rate. Additionally, students who favor the "theater experience" can watch their favorite old movies with the Film Series. Many students said that although two dollars was not an unfair price, the inconvenience of paying prevented them from attending. Freshman Brett Weiner said that the word "free" plays into Film Series' attraction. "They could charge only 50 cents and not get as many people," he said. This weekend, Film Series will be showing Leon the Professional on Friday at 9:30 p.m. and The Man Who Wasn't There on Saturday 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

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News

Newly inaugurated NYC mayor proud of Medford roots

March 31

Talk about big shoes to fill. When Michael Bloomberg took his seat as the newly elected mayor of New York City earlier this month, he found himself filling a pair of shoes big enough to fit a professional basketball player. Not only had former mayor Rudolph Giuliani spent the past eight years as the mayor of New York, but since the Sept. 11 attacks, Giuliani has become a little larger than life. Trailing behind the man recently named Time Magazine's Person of the Year, Bloomberg will have to work hard to build the kind of relationship with New York that Giuliani has cultivated. But Bloomberg isn't the type to sit back and soak up his success. The self-made billionaire fought his way to the top from humble beginnings in a little city called Medford, MA, and hasn't seemed to have forgotten the importance of getting his hands dirty. Bloomberg's life has been an embodiment of a rags-to-riches success story. Born in Brookline, MA, his parents moved to Medford when he was four. His father, who worked six days a week during Bloomberg's childhood, never earned more than $6,000 a year. Now a big-city man, Bloomberg still remembers his childhood home fondly. He once wrote, "If I screw it up, you can't blame my parents, you can't blame the city, or the school system. It was a great place to grow up." Bloomberg involved himself with various town activities during his childhood. When he was 12 years old, Bloomberg was the youngest Eagle Scout the city had ever seen. During his time at Medford High School, Bloomberg was on the Debate Team and president of the Slide Rule Club - a club that studied higher mathematics and the proper use of the slide rule. After graduating high school in 1960, Bloomberg worked his way through an undergraduate career at Johns Hopkins University, earning an engineering degree in 1964. When he was a senior at the university, Bloomberg's father, a bookkeeper at a local dairy, passed away. His mother Charlotte still lives in the Medford home in which Bloomberg was raised. The Salomon Brothers hired Bloomberg fresh out of Harvard Business School to work on Wall Street, where he started as a processing clerk. By 1972, he became a partner in the firm and handled all of Salomon Brothers' most important cases before he was fired in 1981 when the firm was sold. From his severance with the company came a $10 million pay-out with which Bloomberg began building an empire that now stands as one of the most powerful organizations in the business world. Today, Bloomberg L.P. is a major global financial information company that owns a wire service and multiple television and radio stations. Bloomberg's career seems to follow a tried-and-true maxim: If you want something done, you have to do it yourself. Tending to rely on his own proven abilities, Bloomberg does not typically utilize significant outside help in his professional dealings. In August 2000, Bloomberg played a central role in capturing two computer hackers from Kazakhstan who attempted to extort $200,000 from his company. Bloomberg met the men in London, convincing them that he was going to comply with their monetary demands. He was accompanied by two London Metropolitan police officers, one posing as a company executive and one as a translator. When the men repeated their demands in the presence of the police officers, they were arrested. Last March, Bloomberg stepped down as the chairman of the board of Bloomberg L.P. to focus more on his race for the mayoral seat, but he remains the company's chief executive officer. Until last year, Bloomberg was registered as a Democrat, but switched to Republican in his campaign. Bloomberg admitted that he switched parties solely to avoid the crowded Democratic primary that he didn't think he could win. The primary included longtime politician Mark Green, whom Bloomberg beat in the election by three percentage points, despite the fact that Democrats outnumber republicans 5:1 in New York. For senior Mike Feldman, a Manhattan resident, Bloomberg's party switch was a matter of good strategy. "These parties are overrated," he said. "If switching parties was what he needed to do to get elected, it was a good choice." Feldman cited two of Bloomberg's promises - his vow to ride public transportation every day to the office and his decision not to reside in Gracie Mansion - as qualities that set him apart from former mayors, along with the fact that Bloomberg's campaign was self-fueled. According to a Nov. 14 Boston Globe article, Bloomberg spent $50 million of his own money on the campaign. Bloomberg's net worth - although he has been private about his own finances - is estimated at $4 billion, a far cry from his days of selling wreaths door-to-door to pay for Boy Scout camp. Bloomberg is generous in his charitable donations with those billions of dollars. He donates funds to education, arts, and Jewish charities, as well as public workers including firefighters and police officers. Last January, Bloomberg gave $1 million to the Medford Temple Shalom, where his 93 year old mother is the co-president. When it reopens with its renovations, it will be renamed the William and Charlotte Bloomberg Community Center. And since graduating from Johns Hopkins, Bloomberg has donated over $50 million to the school. The money came with the stipulation that $30 million be used for student financial aid, providing students opportunities that their backgrounds may not have previously afforded - for students, no doubt, in similar situations as Bloomberg's.

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News

Men's track hosting ECAC race tomorrow

March 31

The Div. I Indoor Track and Field Championships held this past weekend were memorable for more than being the last meet ever held at the historic BU Armory - for Tufts, at least. The men's track team put forth a solid 11th place showing in a field of 27 teams from all three divisions. The Jumbos led all NESCAC teams in their most competitive meet so far this season, and several athletes notched personal records on the day. One of the event's highlights occurred in the 5000 meters, where senior quad-captain J.R. Cruz put forth an impressive second-place finish with a personal record [PR] of 14:45.25. Solid efforts in the same distance came from junior Peter Bromka, in a time of 15:24.80, and senior Jason Mann, who crossed the line in 15:29.33. "J.R. Cruz had a great performance. He led the race for much of the way and is almost assured of a spot at nationals in two weeks," Bromka said. "For me, it wasn't a particularly good race, but it was great to be in such a competitive field." Junior Adam Sharp turned in another standout performance in the 1000, a highly competitive distance that saw him place sixth (2:30.74). "Sharp ran a great race on Friday to scrap into the finals on Saturday," Mann said. "Then, he ran an even better race on Saturday to score some huge points for our team. I think Sharp, like a lot of the athletes at the collegiate level, rises to the level of his competition." The Distance Medley Relay provided a surprisingly strong effort from the Jumbos in an event where Tufts does not normally combine its best athletes. In last weekend's case, coach Connie Putnam brought together four of his best runners: junior Bryant Coen, junior quad-captain Greg Devine, sophomore Ian Joseph, and senior quad-captain Ben Smith. The Jumbos' new strategy paid off as Tufts had a strong third-place showing in a time of 10:12.13. "That race was a huge effort," Bromka said. "A group of four of the best guys on the team combined for third place, a season best, and only a few seconds off of the school record while recording a provisional time for nationals." There were several other noteworthy performances from the Jumbos this past weekend. Smith placed in the top 15 of the 3000 final in a time of 8:44.44. In 4x800 relay, Tufts crossed the tape in 8:03.79 for 16th place, and in the 4x400 the Jumbos placed 11th with a time of 3:21.44. Overall, the meet was a success - Tufts was the third highest placing Div. III team at the meet. "It's a great thing to run against schools that can offer scholarships and recruit overseas because it shows us we belong there," Mann said. "We're not going to go out and beat a team like UConn, but we also aren't going to get blown off the track." The Jumbos have remained strong throughout the season, and are anxious for this weekend's ECAC meet, being held today and tomorrow at the Gantcher Center. For a selected few runners, the season will extend to the Nationals in two weeks at Ohio Northern University. "As a senior, I only have one indoor race left," Mann said. "I'm hoping to build on my improved performances from this past weekend and run a great race in the ECACs. Obviously, being at home is helpful."

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News

Cat Stevens lays back and lets loose

March 31

When Cat Stevens released his third album Mona Bone Jakon in April of 1970, it was his first with Island Records. The result - 11 soft and spare tracks that exist as a seemingly untempered outpouring of emotion - signified a sort of rebirth. For Stevens, born Steven Demetre Georgiou in post-war London to a Swedish mother and a Greek father, this was neither the first nor would it be the last of such personal reinventions. Steven's first top 40 British hit entered the charts while he was still a teenager, and by the time his second album New Masters was released, he was already fed up with the life a young pop star (albeit a folk-pop star). When he contracted tuberculosis shortly after his 21st birthday and was hospitalized for three months, he dropped Decca records and nearly disappeared from the scene entirely. Looking for a new start, Stevens went personal, writing a handful of songs that are rife with anxiety and pain, yet still glinting around the edges with flashes of hope. Though some songs definitely hide it well, Mona Bone Jakon is an undoubtedly life-affirming work. It is the grace and humble eloquence with which the songs' style evokes that emotion - that feeling of cynicism, that sensitive acknowledgement of life's pain that makes this album stand out from the rest. The late '60s and early '70s were the heyday for albums of this ilk, but Stevens isn't a lone man on stage with an acoustic guitar, nor is he drug-dazed hippie protesting the war. Rather, he sings from the heart, with carefully and cleverly arranged tunes, sharp but not overly elaborate lyrics, and a sweet supple voice. That Cat Stevens-sound rings with the sincerity and abandon of a man whose willing to push his voice in funny, odd directions. The risks pay off, and in place of bland, lilting, casting-about present in some of Stevens' folk contemporaries' music, we get something that's idealistic without being na??ve; hopeful without being forced and cheesy. You'll find it liberating. A lot of fans might own Stevens' Greatest Hits or name the delicate, fine Tea for the Tillermans as his best, most complete album. Some may recall his blissful tunes on the Harold and Maude soundtrack or a tune of his in the popular film Rushmore, but this album possesses something a lot of his later work doesn't: a freedom, a peaceful contagious feeling of relief that comes with letting go. So when in "Fill My Eyes" he sings "I'm just a coaster but my wheels won't roll/can't make no headway on this road," it's no surprise when he comes to a sudden understanding, a new realization, aha!: "What road?" You can look at the blurred image of Stevens on the back of the liner notes, legs crossed, hands folded, eyes closed and turned to the heavens, and just imagine him writing lyrics, Zen-style in his head. This abandon, this unrestrained passion makes everything - the lolling, lazy ballad "Lady D'Arabanville," the wickedly snide jab "Pop Star" and even the ecstatic, grateful tribute "I Think I See The Light" - all the more potent. Occasionally, that might seem a little much, but more often than not Mona Bone Jakon will strike just right chord, offering the perfect dosage of heart and pleasantly surprising joy.

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News

Three Jumbos in a Tub O' Joy

March 31

Tub O' Joy is quite possibly the most unique musical act at Tufts. "We draw on so many traditions and so many styles. We adopt jazz songs, blues songs, funk songs, and rock songs. We play songs that were written 75 years ago and songs that we wrote a month ago," drummer and lead vocalist Phil Erner said. "Playing from so many different categories makes it interesting." The group - which has mistakenly been referred to as Sack O' Fun and Pot O' Love - includes Worcester native and senior bassist Seth Kaufman and guitarist Rob Bellinger, a junior from Queens. Erner, a recent graduate hailing from just outside Albany, rounds out the trio The group formed when Kaufman, Bellinger, and Erner lived in Metcalf Hall two years ago. Kaufman and Erner were roommates, and Bellinger lived down the hall. "Rob and Phil jammed together in our room," Kaufman explained. "I was at my computer - I'm always at my computer - when I turned around and said 'you could use a bassist,' so Rob took out his extra [bass] guitar and taught me how to play 'Fortunate Son.'" The three have been playing together ever since. The group's focus is on all varieties of blues, inspired by Professor Michael Ullman's "History of the Blues" class, which both Bellinger and Erner have taken. The group plays music ranging from a Sonny Rollins cover, to original blues and blues-funk compositions, and also samples "more active funk" like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. "We may be the only band at Tufts that plays the blues, and we are definitely the only band that swears by the blues," Bellinger said. Bellinger has seven guitars and two basses - he claims to have purchased many from eBay at an average cost of $145.97 each. With so many instruments, many of the group's songs are based on the distinctive sound of a particular guitar. Their equipment also includes a 1970s boom box, on which they record every practice and performance. Later the band members listen to each recording to note areas in need of improvement. They also have the Tub-mobile, Erner's yellow Geo Tracker which uncomfortably fits the band and its equipment. Tub O' Joy considers itself one of campus' more serious bands. Since its first official performance last year at the Carmichael kickoff party, it has performed on-campus several times. This year the trio has played eight gigs, including two shows at Hotung and one at the Naked Quad Run. The three enjoyed the show despite their limited performance space. "Because it was small, we got to talk to people," Bellinger said. Tub O'Joy's favorite show was this year's first Hotung performance. The group didn't advertise much, but when it began its set, something unexpected happened: "a bunch of people walked in who didn't know who we were and started dancing." Bellinger said. The group was also featured on WMFO's The Mikey Dee show, and even had a blues jam with Rabbi Jeffery Summit. "He played the backup [guitar] and I played the lead." Bellinger said. Kaufman later saw Summit, who expressed his wish to play with the band again. "At every show we touch at least one person," Bellinger joked. The band members do concur: a Res Life barbeque, for which the group had not practiced, was their worst performance. "We were often out of synch, sometimes even playing different songs," Erner said. The group claims to thrive on audience reaction: "You listen to a recording and when someone enters the room, you can hear we start playing better," Kaufman said. Tub O' Joy is currently recording a professional-quality demo. The band plans to distribute it to bars and clubs around Boston and New York - it remains optimistic because, according to Bellinger, "there's no music for drinking like the blues." The trio encourages Tufts students to support campus bands. Bellinger summed it up this way: "When you've got nothing to do and you see a flyer go, it's not going to ruin your life." For more information about Tub O' Joy and upcoming shows visit Tubojoy.com

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News

Lyric Stage fails Mamet's salesmen

March 31

No question. Mamet is hard to pull off. But when it's done well, it can be amazing and mind-blowing. Unfortunately, for much of the performance, the Lyric Stage Company of Boston's version of Mamet's Pulitzer-prize winning play Glengarry Glen Ross doesn't get there. The story revolves around the Chicago real estate office of four salesman who are forced into a sales competition. The winner gets a Cadillac, the runner-up gets a set of steak knives, and the other two get fired. Mamet's play depicts the dreadful existence of salesmen through their dependence upon money, willingness to sacrifice anything to get it, and inability to communicate without trying to sell someone something. The production has a promising opening. Pink Floyd's "Money," a perfect fit for the play, starts things off. Then the lights come up and the audience sees two men sitting in a booth at a Chinese Restaurant - the entire first half of the show takes here. To credit scene designer Janie Howland, the restaurant scenes are well-placed and the booth very real. In the first scene Shelley "the machine" Levene (Ken Baltin) talks with John Williamson (Neil A. Casey). Levene is telling Williamson, the manager of the office, that he used to always be at the top of the sales list. In this scene, Levene is merciless - as only a desperate and disgruntled salesman could be - in his attack of Williamson, who the elder Levene sees as a white bread brat who has never really had to work. Alas, anyone who sees the performance will be confused by this interpretation of the first scene because Mr. Baltin fails to assert Levene's dominance. It also seems that he missed some of the lines in which Levene repeats over and over that he has " brass balls" and Williamson does not. Without the introduction of this idea and with the faulty interpretation of Levene's character, the first scene ends with Williamson as the dominant character. This damages the role reversal at the end of the show, and what's more, it keeps the audience from feeling sympathy for Baltin's version of Levene. Amazingly, the worst part of the first scene has not even been mentioned yet. The actors' obvious discomfort with Mamet's dialogue - commonly referred to as Mametspeak - is the most antagonizing part about the first conversation, and, to an even larger extent, the second conversation.The first half of the play consists of three textbook examples of "Mametspeak" with words compiled into a seemingly splotchy, but actually well-calculated, rhythm. This suggests that words themselves actually have little value and, ultimately, must be spoken with no particular care. Along this same line, the meaning in Mametspeak can be found in what is not being said. Here lies the problem. The actors in these opening scenes treat the words with extra sensitivity to create the disjointed feeling of conversation, but the result of this effort is that the audience starts to feel the actors' awkwardness. It ends up looking like they lost their place.In fairness to the actors, Spiro Veloudos's direction is mostly responsible for the lack of chemistry in these scenes. Luckily, the audience is spared another agonizing stumbling attempt at a pure Mametspeak dialogue in the first act's third scene. Ted Reinstein, who plays salesman Richard Roma, eloquently and diabolically delivers one of the finest-crafted monologues in modern drama. Fortunately, Mr. Reinstein's excellent hold of his character and the dialogue foreshadows a much stronger second act which takes place in the office. Here in the office, Roma has more lines and the other actors feed off his energy. Mamet's play finds new life and the plot thickens when the audience realizes that someone has robbed the office.As soon as the energy of the play starts to rise, however, the clouds start to gather, but this time in the form of a set error. The back office where the detective (Peter Darrigo) interviews each of the salesmen about the thief is made visible to the audience and the actors pantomime the interviews. This continuous scene - which is not in the script - only detracts from the action and dialogue in the main office. That is, until the audience learns to stop watching it, rendering it a waste of theater. Despite these shortcomings, the show actually works for about a solid half-hour. The end, however, doesn't, and it's hard to tie together the two acts. The production gives Mamet a shot, and although it works for a while, neither the play nor the playwright is done justice.

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News

Men pound Beavers, fall to Polar Bears

March 31

After a rough start, the men's tennis team finished up a triumvirate of matches nicely. The squad went 2-1 over the three-game stretch, defeating Colby and Babson, while falling to Bowdoin. The wins improved the team's record to an impressive 9-2 on the year. The most consistent play throughout the three matches came from the top two seeds, number-one junior tri-captain Dave Ruttenberg and number-two freshman Rifat Perhayha. The tandem won all three of their doubles matches, and individually both players won against their opponents from Colby, Bowdoin and Babson. While the team's one- and two-spot players were strong, the depth of the Bowdoin squad proved to be too much to overcome, as the Jumbos fell 5-2 last Friday. "Bowdoin is one of the deepest Division III teams," Ruttenberg said. "They are a deep team so we are very even." Despite Bowdoin's depth, head coach Jim Watson felt that the matches could have gone either way. "They had a little more fire power than we did," Watson said. "But we could have turned around some of those matches." While Ruttenberg won in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, Perhayha had to battle in his match to a 7-6,3-6, 6-3 victory. Aside from the victories at the one- and two- spots and Ruttenberg and Perhayha's doubles victory, Tufts fell in all of its other matches, en route to the loss. However, in a somewhat strange turn of events, Bowdoin turned around the next day and fell to a Middlebury team that the Jumbos defeated earlier in the season. "It shows how competitive the conference is," Watson said. The next two matches against Colby on Saturday and Babson on Tuesday more closely resembled the strong play that Tufts has displayed throughout the season. "Colby is not a bad team," Watson said. "The guys, however, stepped up their games; we needed those wins. It's a great tribute to the team's resiliency to bounce back after a tough loss. It really shows energy and spirit to come back and raise the game again in less than 24 hours, it's hard to do." Saturday's match against Colby marked the final home match of senior tri-captain Mark Fitzgerald's career. "Mark has been a great contributor for four years," Watson said. Fitzgerald fittingly dominated his opponent in the number-four spot, 6-0, 6-1. With number-three player John Brahm out of the lineup for the day, the players usually occupying the 4-6 positions all had to move up a slot, and sophomore Sonny Kathpalia had to assume the six position. Despite the jostling around of the lineup, the Jumbos were still able to hand Colby a 5-2 defeat. While Colby did pose somewhat of a challenge to the team, the same cannot be said for Babson, as the Jumbos blitzed the Beavers, 6-1. "We are just stronger at every position," Ruttenberg said. "Babson is not on par with us at any spot." Kathpalia, who played his first official match on Saturday, was able to grab his first victory of the year against the Beavers, handily defeating Babson's number six 6-1,6-3. Junior Danny Lang was also impressive, scoring a tough three set victory, 5-7,6-4,7-5 at the three spot. The team next turns its attention to a solid Bates College team. The Jumbos will play at Bates on Wednesday April 24. "We've got to beat Bates, and it will be a tough one," Watson said. The team must then quickly turn around and head to Amherst for the NESCAC tournament, which will begin Friday April 26. "We will see what happens, its kind of a crap shoot," Watson said. "We should be seeded relatively high because our guys have done well at their respective positions."

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News

Farewell to the Dean of Dowling

March 31

Dean Kristine Dillon has literally served as the cornerstone of Dowling Hall for the last three years. After coordinating the restructuring of student services that accompanied construction of the building, Dillon moved into a corner office, where she has sat to coordinate the various offices that surround her and oversee a multitude of student services projects. Dillon's legacy upon leaving Tufts is an impressive model of student services that is a far cry from the scattered student offices that littered the Hill uphill, downhill, and everywhere in between not so long ago. Originally hired as a temporary consultant for the integration project, Dillon demonstrated tremendous skill in identifying and addressing the needs of the students. Dowling Hall effectively bridges the gap between student and administrative bodies with its open layout and well-informed front desk staff. But her ability to improve student life on campus extended beyond the creation of Dowling. After the center was constructed in 2000, Tufts created a new permanent position for Dillon as the Dean of Academic Services and Student Affairs. Along with the Dean of Colleges and Dean of Students, the post is one of the most powerful deanships at the University. Dillon effectively shifted gears in her new role as the "Dean of Dowling," organizing workshops and seminars, overseeing the launch of the class teams and online registration, and co-chairing the comprehensive Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience. But Dillon's main tasks as dean did not follow a specific set of guidelines. The novelty of the position allowed her to easily rework the student services environment as she saw fit, bringing in new ideas and innovations to improve student interaction with the University without the burden of much administrative oversight. The end result was a constant focus on student life, with Dillon possessing the necessary power and leadership skills to implement change. In the coming search for Dillon's permanent replacement, it is essential that Tufts identify candidates who will share the ingenuity and foresight of their predecessor. With the somewhat ambiguous responsibility of improving student services, the new dean needs to be confident and highly student-focused. To hire a desk-sitter with little student interaction would be to waste the essence of the position. A truly effective candidate needs to be interested in changing the status quo and constantly re-examining the student experience. Dillon's accomplishments at Tufts will be evident for years to come. She paved her own way, using her fifteen year experience in student affairs to contribute to everything from the construction of the new dorm to her Senior Leadership Corps project. Though Dillon's work has been impressive, Tufts needs her replacement to arrive with a new set of ideas and projects - not thoughts about how to continue Dillon's projects. Having a dynamic person in the corner of Dowling will ensure that student life is kept at the forefront of the University's attention.

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News

One small step for man, one giant leap for women

March 31

The purpose of the culture reps in the Senate is to offer their perspectives on voting issues that come before the group, as well as to act as a liaison between their specific student groups and the Senate. Good culture reps will tell the Senate every Sunday night what their group is doing, what events they are planning, and what issues, if any, they face on campus. Good culture reps will then let their group know what the Senate is doing, perhaps in response to an issue that that group is experiencing. And when an issue comes before the Senate, good culture reps would offer, when relevant, information on how that issue affects their group. Last Spring, the student body voted in referendum to give culture representatives a vote in Senate decisions. the Pan-African Alliance (PAA), Tufts Transgender Lesbian Gay Bi-sexual Collective (TTLGBC), Asian Community at Tufts (ACT), and Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), each hold elections for a person who not only has a vested interest in the group but is also competent in conveying the group's interests to the Senate. This person sits on Senate and votes on everything from technology issues to new group funding, because they aptly represent their culture group. You can vote for a culture rep too if you want to have a say in who is voting for many issues that affect you, regardless of your race or culture, simply because you are a student at Tufts University. The rules, as I understand it, may vary from group to group, but in general, you must attend three meetings of that culture group in order to participate in that election. And there are people on this campus who do just that: voting in five different elections (four cultures and their class rep), in order to get specific people onto Senate who will vote their way. I understand the perspective of those who would like to see a Senate free from culture representatives. Over break I came in contact with friends from different colleges, all of which handled such an issue in different ways. But more often than not, the answer was the same. When I asked a friend at Yale (who also runs the budget for the Women's Group and is very active in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender group there) what she thought about culture reps in student government, she looked shocked. "If anyone ever approached our black group on campus, or our gay group, and suggested that they should have their own rep in government, they would be SO insulted." Apparently at other schools, to suggest that a group is incapable of voting for a class rep who holds their views is an insult, and also a very big error. I understand that here at Tufts, few people understand what is happening in the Senate, but adding more members who are voted for by fewer people is not the answer. A culture group can be informed of Senate issues without having a personal liaison. And their issues can, of course, be heard without having a member on Senate. The open forum system takes place already: during the first part of any Senate meeting, students can voice their views or concerns on any issue for whatever reason. That way, when an issue that affects women comes up, I may tell the Senate information that I think is necessary in casting a vote. And I can perhaps participate in their debate, and be a part of their decision-making process, because it matters to me. But I would feel like I were cheating if I made my way onto the Senate by being a good representative for women, and then voted on issues that had no more of an affect on us than on anyone else. For example, technology issues or whether we should grant Allocation Board's (ALBO) proposed budget for the Italian Club. That's not why I'm there and that is not why my culture rep is there. I understand that each culture rep does not in fact represent a culture, but the perspective of their student group; and right now, the women at Tufts don't have a group to call their own. But that can be changed, and when it does, unless the student body as a whole makes culture reps nonexistent, women cannot, by precedent, and should not, on principle, be denied such a position. I personally do not support the notion that culture representatives have votes. But the majority of Tufts Students do, so that's what we want, and that's what we have. So what does this have to do with a prospective women's culture rep? As I see it, and as I have witnessed it, there is no one currently sitting around the Senate table on Sunday nights who takes into account - or makes it their role to convey - a woman's agenda. Issues on campus affect women differently than they do men, and many of these are ignored. In my opinion this is because no one on the Senate assesses how, for example, issues of campus safety, student complaints about TUPD, or even votes on what to do about a proposed resolution on sexual harassment, affect women on this campus. Women make up over half of the students on this campus, a solid majority. Yet in terms of financial success, high paying jobs, or even pay comparable to men's, we make up the national minority. One in four women in this country are beaten by their spouse, and let's not forget that 95 percent of the beneficiaries of welfare are women. These are issues that may affect the women who graduate from Tufts. These are also issues that women and men who graduate from Tufts have the ability to affect, but in order to do that they need to think about them now. Yes, rape and sexual assault and harassment affect the women on this campus. Yes, it happens more than most people here believe. But we absolutely have a say in how the campus handles these things, how our judicial process works for victims and aggressors of sexual assault, and what to do about the lack of education on such topics. If there is ever a group that needs to offer its perspectives, its voice, and its vote on Senate, it is the women.Abby Moffat is a sophomore double majoring in political science and women's studies. Moffat is the Co-chair of the Tufts Feminist Alliance.

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News

Swimmers end season by sending three to nationals

March 31

When the women's swimming and diving team stepped out onto the deck for the first time this season, it knew it was facing a significant challenge. The team had lost many seniors, including its top breaststroker, graduate Kristin Horton. Ignoring an uncertain future, the Jumbos stepped up and picked up a commanding victory in their first dual meet of the season against Clark. Five meets later, the team found itself undefeated - a position that the Jumbos had not been in for the last two years. "The dynamic on the team was great," senior tri-captain Sarah Hertzog said. "Swimming is a very individualized sport, but the girls this year swam not just for themselves, but also to score points for the team. It was a great team atmosphere and a fun season in general." While the schedule is usually less challenging in the early part of the season, squads in the previous two years have not been able to go through this beginning unscathed. Wellesley in particular has often given the Jumbos trouble, as the swimmers have lost to Wellesley for the past two years. This year, however, Wellesley was unable to continue its winning streak, and with the victory, the Jumbos proved that they were out to meet bigger goals this season than they had in the recent past. "The Wellesley meet was the highlight of my season," senior tri-captain Miranda Eagles said. "When we beat them I just said that was it. That is all I needed to have this year be awesome." The Jumbos continued to enhance their record with wins against Wesleyan and Trinity in a double-header weekend on Jan. 19 and 20 respectively. The streak would not last forever, though, as the second half of the season was riddled with injuries and illness. The biggest blow to the team was the loss of sophomore Mika Sumiyoshi to a knee injury, as she was the only swimmer to qualify for Nationals last year. Directly following the injury to Sumiyoshi, Bates brought the Jumbos their first loss of the season, 106-192 on Jan. 26. If that score was not bad enough for the team's morale, it also knew it had only two days of rest before an evening meet against a strong MIT group. However, the team pulled together and swam a competitive meet against the Engineers, losing by only twenty points, 137-157 on Jan. 29. By the next weekend, the squad had regrouped even further and was able to pull out a victory against Brandeis 165-127, relying heavily on a core group of freshman who had been putting points on the board for the team all season. "Everyone did a great job this season," Bigelow said. "The underclassmen really stepped it up for us when we needed them too, they are definitely a strength of the team, which is good for the future." A meet against Williams marked the return of Sumiyoshi, as well as the close of the regular season, giving the team a 6-3 record for the season, an improvement of last years 5-4 finish. "We had a really strong dual meet season," coach Nancy Bigelow said. "We had a lot of versatile kids and strong leadership this season." Heading into the NESCAC championship, the team did not have the unrealistic visions of a victory. They set attainable, yet high goals. They reached their goal of sixth place in the meet, again an improvement from the past two years. The team also placed higher than Colby, a team it had not seen in the regular season, but that Bigelow knew would be difficult competition. "The team accomplished what I expected they would at the championships," Bigelow said. "Everyone did what they needed to do and everyone left the meet proud and excited."All that was left was to redeem themselves from their earlier performance against Bates. While the Jumbos did not place above Bates (fifth place), the team fought hard throughout the entire championship weekend to stay with them, at some points even leading the team."Competing against Bates in the end was great," Eagles said. "We deserved the place we got because we fought hard for it." All in all, the team this season showed resilience and a newfound sense of unity, which buoyed it to a successful season. This can be attributed largely to the strong leadership of the upper classmen, particularly the three senior captains Eagles, Hertzog, and Joan Vollero. "The juniors stepped up with strong leadership to help the seniors, since there were only three of them," Bigelow said. "But the seniors really gave it their all for the team. It is a big accomplishment to stick with it for four years and I am really proud of them. They were great team captains." While this marks the end of the season for most of the team, two swimmers and a diver have one more meet left. Sumiyoshi, freshman Erica Weitz, and sophomore diver Beth Wecksell will be competing at the National championship meet in two weeks. "I am really excited and am just looking to do my best," Wecksell said. "I didn't expect to be going to Nationals. I really didn't know how I compared to the rest of the division and the rest of the nation. The coaches told me I would make it but I didn't really believe them, but I guess they were right." Next year, Bigelow has high hopes for the team, as the freshmen from this year show the promise of only getting faster. That along with the possibility of a few new talented recruits, gives the team the potential to improve on this year's finish. "I had a fun year with a great group of girls," Hertzog said. "If the team next year is anything like it was this year, they will probably do even better than this season" It is likely next year that the three captains will be on the sidelines, cheering their former team on. "When I look back at my four years of college, this will be the first and most important thing I remember," Eagles said. "I am sad to leave, but I am sure you'll be seeing me drop in for a few meets next year."

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News

No shocker: Duke dominating

March 31

There have been few surprises in men's college basketball thus far this season, and as teams gear up for the heart of their league schedules, the focus of the nation remains on the six power conferences. In the most recent coach's poll, 23 of the 25 teams hail from the ACC, Big12, SEC, Big10, Big East or the Pac10. The two ranked teams outside of the six major conferences, Cincinnati and Gonzaga, are both perennially strong teams. To the surprise of no one, Duke is the nation's top team. Despite a slipup against a mediocre Florida State squad, Duke has dominated non-conference opponents, and ACC powerhouses Virginia and Maryland. The Blue Devils sport arguably the nation's two finest players: junior point guard Jason Williams, who probably would have been the top pick in the NBA draft had he left last year, and junior Mike Dunleavy, a 6'-10" forward who can play both inside and out. Complimenting this tremendous duo are big-man Carlos Boozer, sophomore guard Chris Duhon, and Rutgers transfer Dahntay Jones, a scorer with outstanding athletic ability. With a starting five that will all almost surely play at the next level, any scenario in which Duke does not win the NCAA tournament is unlikely, however, the team does lack depth and foul shooting proficiency, two integral factors in winning a championship. Duke's best competition might come from Big12 challenger Kansas, who last week beat both number six ranked Oklahoma State and number five ranked Oklahoma. Kansas is led by one of the best front court duos in the nation. 6'-10" forward Drew Gooden leads the Jayhawks and the conference in scoring and rebounding, netting 20.6 points and pulling down 11.8 rebounds per game. Junior Nick Collison averages 15.3 points and 8.2 boards per game while shooting a stellar 60.7 percent from the floor. A pleasant surprise in the Big 12 has been Bobby Knight's Texas Tech Red Raiders, led by super sophomore Andre Emmett and senior center Andy Ellis. Closer to home, the Big East remains one of the nation's top conferences with three ranked squads and two others in the top 30. The league's two toughest teams are also its two biggest surprises. Pittsburgh, traditionally dwelling near the conference basement, owns an 18-3 mark overall and a 6-1 mark in the league. The Panthers are led by the underrated junior guard Brandin Knight, who scores 14.6 points per game while dishing 6.8 assists and grabbing 5 rebounds. The league's other big surprise: the University of Connecticut Huskies, who stand alone in the league's east division with an unblemished 6-0 record. UConn is led by one of the premier small forwards in the country, sophomore Caron Butler, who averages 18.9 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Connecticut's efforts have also been aided by the additions of two of the nation's top freshman, guard Ben Gordon - an explosive sixth man - and center Emeka Okafor, who ranks among the nation's leader in blocks. The hometown Boston College Eagles began the season with high hopes but in recent weeks have floundered their way into a .500 conference record. Troy Bell, expected to be one of the nation's top players in the preseason, has had a disappointing start. Bell, who returned to campus after having considered entering the NBA draft, has struggled with his shot accuracy all season, connecting on less than 30% of his three-point shots. Yet when Bell plays his best, few are better. He penetrates tremendously and possesses a surprising ability to block shots despite his diminutive size. If Bell catches fire, BC could potentially go far into the NCAA tournament. The SEC might be home to the best basketball in the nation. Alabama, Kentucky and Florida have played well, as expected. Teyshawn Prince, one of the nation's most explosive players, leads Kentucky in both scoring and rebounding. Yet the biggest surprise in both the SEC and the nation has been the Georgia Bulldogs. Coach Jim Harrick, who established winning programs at both UCLA and the University of Rhode Island, has turned the Bulldogs' program around. Junior guard Ezra Williams and sophomore forward Jarvis Hayes have led an attack that has beaten both Florida and Kentucky on the road. Perhaps the most interesting conference battle will unfold in the PAC 10, where little difference exists among UCLA, Arizona, Stanford and USC. Arizona has at times appeared overrated, but with eclectic big man Luke Walton and guard Jason Richardson, who can lead a scoring burst at any moment, Arizona could go on a significant run.

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News

Harvard prof. Cornel West leaves for Princeton

March 31

Leading scholar and African-American studies professor Cornel West will leave Harvard to assume a position at Princeton University, Harvard officials announced last Friday. The renowned academic resigned from his post as Fletcher University Professor, having taught at Harvard since 1994, in a move following a publicized feud between West and Harvard President Lawrence Summers last semester. Conflict between Summers and West first arose in the fall when, after reviewing the department, Summers challenged the professor on what he saw as insufficient scholarship. The dispute made national headlines as a battle between a new president and a distinguished scholar. The controversy soon subsided for a short time, until West's announcement last week. West said Princeton put forth a stronger and more sincere pitch for him to join its faculty. He said Princeton President Shirley M. Tilghman and new Provost Amy Gutmann contacted him once a week following his surgery combating prostate cancer. In contrast, Summers sent West a "get well" card more than two months after the surgery. "I think in one sense that Larry Summers is the Ariel Sharon of American higher education," West said in an interview with Travis Smiley on National Public Radio (NPR). "He struck me very much as a bull in a china shop, and as a bully, in a very delicate and dangerous situation." West led Princeton's African-American studies department and taught religion before moving to Harvard. He brought a number of professors with him, transforming Harvard's program into one of the most prestigious in the country. Ten years ago, the department had one tenured professor, who was white. Today, it is viewed as having a superstar roster of faculty. But that roster has taken some hits this year. Dr. K. Anthony Appiah left for Princeton after last semester, citing personal reasons, and West recently alluded that Dr. Henry Louis "Skip" Gates Jr., chair of the department, is considering making the same move. Summers conducted similar reviews of the Kennedy School of Government and the Graduate School of Education at the start of his first year as president. According to the New York Times, he questioned the purpose of the School of Government, asking why it is needed to prepare students for public service instead of Harvard's Law and Business schools. West is a University Professor, a title held by only 16 other professors at Harvard. While other professors report to department chairs or deans, University Professors report directly to the President. On the NPR radio show, West alleged that Summers had treated him in a manner not appropriate for an assistant professor, "let alone a University Professor." Summers allegedly criticized West's work without having read it and suggested that he keep check on West's research. West told the New York Times that Princeton's atmosphere and the enthusiasm of its administrators "pulled" him away from Harvard. He is currently on leave from Harvard as he battles prostate cancer. Summers has said he wishes West the best at Princeton, and regrets his decision to leave. West has said he remains optimistic for the future of Harvard and that the talented faculty and students will keep the university on track.TheNew York Times and Harvard Crimson articles contributed to this report.

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News

It was not a riot, protest, demonstration or rally.

March 31

On Saturday, Feb. 9, 2002, students exercised their right to free speech at Saturday's trustee luncheon. Despite the fact that the events of Saturday are currently being viewed as an attack, students were simply practicing their right to assemble peacefully, as they presented the audience with their conception of the tense atmosphere currently found on campus. The students who addressed the attendees of the trustee luncheon did not intend to create a hostile environment and they welcomed the voicing of dissenting opinions. Some might argue that the students, who are perhaps being portrayed as unnecessarily argumentative and discourteous, were in fact more respectful of others' opinions than several individuals who left the luncheon without hearing what the students had to say. The students who addressed the attendees of the trustee luncheon did not intend to create a hostile environment and they welcomed the voicing of dissenting opinions. However, it was hard for me to accept the fact that they were listening, when you see individuals' nervousness on their faces. When diversity was seen for once on this campus (in Dewick), all seemed hesitant to commence the program at 12 noon, and moved it to 1 p.m. in hopes that the crowd would die out. Fortunately, everyone stood strong in their beliefs and if anything the audience grew. A non-monetary request made by myself, with the support of others, was to "...hold the administration accountable for not fulfilling the promise of community set forth in the Pachyderm's Code of Conduct, page 54, and in other University literature." This point goes far beyond freedom of speech in campus publications. There is not enough attention paid to day-to-day hate crimes. How many people knew about the luncheon with the trustees? Very few. Students, who pay thousands to be heard, should know. Was not the format altered to allow for interaction? Why wasn't it publicized? Interaction, with the student body, is more than just having lunch or dinner with a handful of student senate members. Perhaps there were students who wanted to pose more questions in the remaining seven minutes, however because of the lack of communication on the administration's part they will also remain unanswered. It seems to me that many of the problems that are currently facing the University boil down to a lack of communication between students, faculty, and administration. Without consistent and comprehensive communication, changes will never be made. I believe that Saturday's luncheon was a wonderful step towards better communication on campus. The students voiced their opinions and called for change. It is unfortunate that the trustees and administration seemed to not understand the reciprocal nature of communication. Students posed a variety of questions to the trustees and others in attendance. Questions are made to be answered, and the students are still waiting for their answers. The students' questions were avoided, set aside and/or ignored; not an uncommon occurrence in the history of the University. As Danika Kleiber pointed out "...these problems will not go away, no matter how many graduating classes you see go by with a sigh of relief". In response to Mitch Lunn's statement on Tuesday, "students acted immaturely with bitterness, irresponsibility, and anger. Students should not have attended this luncheon with the vision that by simply voicing their problems with Tufts they would be immediately answered and fixed," we are all human beings, we know and understand there is no immediate cure for this, but it has been here for DECADES, enough said. As far as feelings go, anyone is entitled to express what they feel, and bitterness wasn't an appropriate adjective. Why weren't you there? Who is the majority? And what makes you think that this majority is "very pleased"? All in all, I thank everyone for their support, and regardless of some people's opinions, the truth is, it was a simple, VERY civil luncheon, where students showed support and observed indifference.Noris Chavarria is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and Anthropology.

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News

The school for old husbands

March 31

Anyone who claims that operas are boring and too difficult to understand should head over to the Shubert Theater for the Boston Lyric Opera (BLO) production of Don Pasquale. Though the opera is sung entirely in Italian, English surtitles translate the lyrics into English so that anyone with a little patience can easily figure out what is happening. And the performers interact with one another so dynamically, and offer such precious facial expressions, that it is often possible to understand the witty storyline simply by observing the action on stage. Such movement helps the story flow gracefully, and the opera flies by so fast that it is hard to believe that the performance was nearly three hours long. From the moment the first notes of Don Pasquale's spirited overture ring from the orchestra pit, the audience is transported into a unique, old-fashioned world filled with excitement, humor, and romance. While it isn't always clear where exactly BLO's first-ever production of this 19th century Donizetti opera takes place on a dramatic timeline, the company delivers such a stellar evening of entertainment that any flaws in interpretation - and there aren't many - are forgivable. The creative team behind Pasquale tried hard to place the opera in the 17th century style of commedia dell' arte - a setting that works very well given the plot structure: Young lovers Norina and Ernesto are kept apart by Ernesto's uncle Don Pasquale, who resolves to disinherit Ernesto and get married himself. Dr. Malatesta helps the lovers unite by tricking Don Pasquale into falling in love with his imaginary sister Sofronia, who is actually Norina in disguise. Several humorous duets and arias and a dramatic revelation scene later, the story is resolved and Don Pasquale realizes that he is in fact too old for marriage: "Any old man with a young wife should have his head examined," as Norina so eloquently sings in the opera's finale. The problem with the presentation is that only a few of the large chorus numbers make use of the masks that so characterize commedia dell' arte, and some of such numbers seem to come out of nowhere - particularly a fawning chorus of servants that served as the finale of one of the acts. Also, many of the costumes - namely some of Norina's dresses - seemed to be a little too modern for the time period. Though it can be argued that masks are used in a figurative sense in that the characters all have something to hide, the fact that they were not used in an all-or-nothing format made for a few inconsistencies. But structural details aside, the performers themselves were solid. One of the nice things about opera is that some of the repertoire is so difficult to sing that it requires artists with lots of talent to begin with. And the singers in Don Pasquale have just that, alongside great gifts for stylistic interpretation and comedic timing. Soprano Sari Gruber is delightfully charming as Norina, with glorious high notes that flowed freely and easily. Gruber uses her own acting prowess to play up Norina's role as an actress both on the stage and in real life as she aids in the plan to deceive Don Pasquale. Perhaps the greatest moment in the entire opera is a duet sung between Gruber and the dynamic baritone Jeff Mattsey, who plays Malatesta. Malatesta has a particular vision for how Norina should act while tricking Don Pasquale into marrying her, and attempts to explain this to her in a marvelous scene in which Gruber plays everything from a damsel in distress to what finally becomes, in Malatesta's words, "a sweet young thing." Though not at all pompous, Mattsey carries himself with an air of distinction on stage and impresses with both strong singing and acting. Tenor Charles Castronovo plays Ernesto, serving up some fine singing in his central aria and throughout the opera. And while Kevin Glavin as Don Pasquale could have added a slightly darker tone to his bass voice, he makes up for it with hilarious antics like hugging the bed curtain as he longs for romance and flitting about the stage in his undergarments. Situations like these add flavor to an already clever story as a result of excellent staging. Though not entirely successful in developing benchmarks for time and place, the staging pulls together the talented cast of lead singers and chorus into a farcical world filled with romance, laughter, and a moral that, as Norina describes, "is benign enough."The Boston Lyric Opera's 'Don Pasquale' plays at the Shubert Theater through tomorrow evening. Tickets are available through Telecharge.

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