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Who will march out of the madness?

March 31

As so-called experts remain in hiding, and a nation of office workers cries over brackets with more X's than the backside of hands at a frat party, the Final Four teams standing in the NCAA Tournament will travel to Atlanta to contend for the championship this weekend. The region's top seed, the Maryland Terrapins, emerged out of the East bracket. Led by a core tandem of seniors, Lonny Baxter and Juan Dixon, both of whom could have gone pro after last year, the Terps might be the frontrunner for an NCAA crown. The two combined for 56 points in a regional final victory against UConn. In addition to his 29 points, Baxter snagged nine rebounds in one of the most dominating performances of the tournament. Dixon is shooting better than 50 percent from behind the three-point arc in the tournament, and has never fouled out of a game in his career at Maryland. The Terps also have a deep bench and perform well in every facet of the game. Of the remaining four teams, Maryland is averaging the most points, the most assists, the most steals, and most importantly, the highest free throw percentage. The Terps' first opponent in Atlanta will be another number one seed, the Midwest champion Kansas Jayhawks. Kansas rolled through the Big 12 schedule, going undefeated until a loss in the finals to the Oklahoma Sooners. Kansas is an offensive juggernaut: after almost falling in a first-round classic to Holy Cross, Kansas obliterated Stanford, rolled through Illinois, and broke open a game against Pac 10 champ Oregon. Not only that, the Jayhawks are physically the biggest team in the country. They have averaged over 47 rebounds per game in the tournament, almost ten more than any other team in Atlanta. Kansas also blocks almost five shots per game, and alters countless more. The matchup with Maryland is a true "pick em," and should go down to the wire. The tournament's biggest surprise is the fifth-seed Indiana Hoosiers, who emerged from the South bracket. They are the only five seed to survive the first round, let alone win a region. Indiana's biggest win of the tournament came against Duke, the top-ranked team in the nation entering the tournament. The Hoosiers erased a 17-point second half deficit by exploiting the Blue Devils' inside weaknesses and hitting pressure shots down the stretch. Of the four teams left, the Hoosiers are averaging the fewest points, the fewest rebounds, the fewest assists, the fewest steals, the fewest blocks, the most turnovers, the lowest free throw percentage. But they do boast, by far, the highest field goal percentage, a stunning .559 percent. Besides Duke, Indiana beat a weak Utah team, Cinderella UNC Wilmington, and tough Kent State, but it still appears the Hoosiers are the Final Four's weakest link. Unless its torrid shooting continues, Indiana might be an early out this weekend. With the talk saved for Maryland and Kansas, few have talked about Oklahoma - the winners of the toughest region in this year's tournament, the West. The Sooners took out Xavier and Arizona easily, before surviving a test with Missouri in the Elite Eight. Oklahoma is tough inside, with Aaron McGhee, Ebi Ere, Jason Detrick, and Jabahri Brown. Add sweet-shooting Hollis Price and his 18.5 points per game to the mix, and you have an attack that can intimidate and play both inside and outside. The team has also seen some adversity, with head coach Kelvin Sampson's father being hospitalized in San Jose during the regional finals. The Sooners have shot above 80 percent from the line in the tournament, and while as a team they haven't shot well from three point range, they rarely turn the ball over and block many shots. Perhaps these experts, myself included, should burn the brackets and simply enjoy what is destined to be a fantastic weekend of hoops. That being said, it should be a Maryland vs. Oklahoma final, with the Terps taking the crown.

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News

Capen Blaze destroys two houses

March 31

Over one hundred people looked on in shock as two three-story Medford homes were destroyed by a four-alarm fire Friday afternoon. No one was injured in the fire, but two residences rented by Tufts students were also damaged. Students, administrators, and Medford residents lined the streets as 20 fire engines from at least eight departments fought the flames at the corner of Capen and Winthrop Streets for more than three hours. Biology Professor Victoria Meller and another Tufts staff member lived at the now-destroyed 44-46 Winthrop Street but were not home at the time of the fire. The Medford Fire Department placed early estimates of property damage in the range of $1 million. "They're pretty much gone," Medford Fire Department Deputy Edward O'Brian said of the houses at 7 Capen Street and 44-46 Winthrop Street. "There'll be structural damage, major structural damage." Fire hoses, which shoot thousands of gallons of high-pressure water per minute, were a large cause of the destruction. The fire started around 2:45 p.m. at 7 Capen Street and spread quickly to the neighboring structures. Gail Landry, a resident of 46 Winthrop Street, said she heard a loud explosion while in her kitchen. She watched as the second of two motorcycles under the porch of 7 Capen Street blew up in front of her eyes. Minutes later, Landry was chased out of her house by the flames. Medford fire officials have not determined the cause of the blaze. "They're leaning towards the motorcycles... that is probably the cause," O'Brian said. "It's under investigation, and it will be for a while." The houses at 7 Capen and 44-46 Winthrop were completely gutted by the fire and the roofs of both homes collapsed. The garage of 50 Winthrop Street, a house rented by students, also burned to the ground. Fire Trucks from Cambridge, Somerville, Somerset, Medford, Arlington, Massport, Malden, and Winchester were all called in to fight the fire. Many administrators were at the scene consoling those involved, including President Larry Bacow, Deans of Students Bruce Reitman, Dean of Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter, and Residential Life Coordinator Jen Bevins. Three Capen Street- the home of 13 Tufts students next-door to where the blaze began- suffered minimal structural damage. Part of the roof was lost to the fire, and some clothing was damaged by water when firefighters entered the house to fight the flames at the rear of 7 Capen Street. But the house is without electricity, gas, and water, and students are temporarily residing at the Best Western Hotel in Alewife. The landlord's insurance is paying for the stay. Meller will reside with a friend for the time being. Tufts is also be assisting those affected by the fire, Reitman said. "We're providing help if they need it - coordinating clothing donations, providing meals, contacting professors if they lost books," he said. Bevins said that the displaced students were offered free meal vouchers from Tufts and will be given housing if needed. The students who live at 3 Capen St. expect to return home soon.

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News

Immaturity Abounds

March 31

For the first time at Tufts, I was not proud to be a student here while reading yesterday's Daily ("Students put trustees on the spot at luncheon turned confrontation"). I was shocked that such a fiasco, filled with immaturity and poor communication, would happen at an institution that prides itself on intellectual development and the exchange of diverse viewpoints. With Trustee Chairman Nathan Gantcher asking only to entertain questions from the audience, how could he expect to have the dialogue the trustees wanted? Did the trustees expect us students to tell them only what we love about Tufts? I am disappointed that 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. Rather, by making the trustees aware of certain campus issues, they could offer their ideas while asking the trustees' opinion. Regardless of students' actions, though, the trustees should not have avoided certain questions or skirted around issues. Sometimes the hardest thing to do when being aggressively confronted is to respond with answers far more respectful than the questions posed. In the words of Trustee Alan Solomont, "Life's a two-way street." I believe that the majority of the student body is very pleased and grateful with Tufts and all that it has to offer, which is thanks, in large part, to the work and generosity of the trustees. Tufts must not give up on student-trustee interaction simply because of this year's event. Engaging in dialogue to improve the life at and quality of this university is something that will benefit all involved and will make us proud to be here.Mitch Lunn LA'04

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News

Juber jams

March 31

Sophomore Nico Juber not only grew up with music as a constant presence in her life, she has music in her blood. Her father, Laurence Juber, was the lead guitarist for the Paul McCartney's band Wings. And in addition to being surrounded by guitars during her childhood, this philosophy and psychology major studied the piano and flute. Involvement with the latter, however, was short-lived. "I got annoyed with the flute because I couldn't play and sing at the same time," she said. Juber, who grew up in the warmth of Los Angeles, describes her high school self as being a dork. Her small private school embraced differences, though, and while there Juber funneled her love of music by participating in choral groups. But her tastes changed upon arriving at Tufts, and she started composing music in addition to performing. "When I got to college, I realized that I was much happier playing my own stuff," she said. Juber describes her songwriting process as subconscious exercise. It usually begins with her making up a chord progression and then writing stream of consciousness lyrics and finally putting the to a melody. "My songs are like my personal diary, and my most random thoughts," Juber said. "They just happen; sometimes they're good and sometimes they're bad.... I'm not writing them for other people, but they're my silly way of psychologically expressing myself." Often compared to Sarah McLachlan, Juber's sound is a combination of folk, pop, and rock. She shies away from the "angry chick" label put on most solo female artists bearing a guitar, describing her music instead as "straight pop." When home, she and her sister, who Juber describes as "an amazing drummer," use her father's studio to creates mp3s for her website, www.nicojuber.com. Juber's personal musical tastes range from oldies to punk to techno. But the artists who most influence her writing are the Beatles, Sarah McLachlan, and the Smashing Pumpkins. Juber credits the Smashing Pumpkins with giving her the idea to change instruments and pick up a guitar. "What I love about their music is that Billy Corgan writes his lyrics as poetry, which is what I always try to do," she said. "I like my songs to stand alone as text." Last fall, Juber had her first performance at Oxfam Caf?©, alongside several other Tufts groups. She enjoys playing this intimate venue because of the encouraging and friendly staff. Despite a bout with stage fright and nausea before her set (which she still battles with today but to a lesser degree), Juber enjoyed the performance and the support of her friends. Her most recent performance was at the Oxfam/Hillel Hunger Banquet, where she said she was a little nervous at first because she felt that her music had little to do with the event. But she was gratified to see that her name was used to spark interest in the dinner. "Suddenly I found my name on posters all over campus saying 'Nico Juber: Live at the Hillel Hunger Banquet'," Juber said. "It was then that I knew I had made it big." Juber's favorite performance was at last year's Battle of the Bands. As a solo act, she had to rush to assemble the backup band that Concert Board required of all entrants. And it worked, for the most part - Juber and her group tied for second place in the contest. But Juber does not bemoan the loss, as she feels she could not have handled the stress of opening Spring Fling as a freshman. Outside of music, Juber is the founder and president of the Tufts Mac Users Group. She also enjoys web design - her work can be seen on her own site and the site for the Jumbo Audio Project. As for her life post-Tufts, Juber has made no definite decisions. "I plan to be very happy doing something that I love, which is at this point undetermined," she said, before admitting her ultimate aspiration: "I'd be happy as a rock star, though."

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News

Jim Wilson thriving in new role

March 31

From Kurt Warner to Sandy Koufax, the sports world is filled with the stories of late bloomers: athletes who, for one mysterious reason or another, take a longer time to hone their skills and develop their talents than their counterparts. While some late bloomers are former top prospects who need years and maturity to realize their full potential, many seemingly appear from the depths of obscurity. Jim Wilson, a junior guard on the men's basketball team, is a perfect example of a late bloomer. Barely a blip on the radar screen of Jumbo basketball last year, Wilson appeared in 18 games, averaging six minutes and 1.4 points per game. But with injuries to sophomore Phil Barlow and junior Lee Neugebauer, Wilson has flourished in a dramatically increased role. In conference play this year, the 6'1" junior guard from Maine is second on time, playing 26 minutes per contest, while averaging 13 points and hitting on 52 percent of his shots from the floor. "Jimmy is the American success story of sports," coach Bob Sheldon said. "He played JV as a freshman, he was a role player last year, and now he is starting for us. Only in America." "With Phil going down, we've been trying to try different guys in different roles," Wilson said. "Coach always puts a lot of confidence in every guy he puts out there, and I've just been trying to fit my role. The last two seasons I was playing behind many talented players. With the opportunity I've had, I've just been trying to make the best of it." Though Wilson has been the first man off the bench all season long, his minutes and production dramatically increased after Barlow was shut down for the season after a Christmas break tournament in upstate New York. His first hugely productive game came on Jan. 17, a 95-75 home loss to UMass-Dartmouth. As the sixth man, Wilson played 21 minutes, finishing with 16 points, five assists, and two rebounds. "He stepped up and filed the void when Phil went out," Sheldon said. "He plays within himself, so he doesn't take bad shots or make bad passes." Wilson also had big games off the bench in an overtime win against Bates, netting 21 points and four rebounds. But his best game of the year came in the first start of his collegiate career, an 88-85 loss to Keene State. Wilson led the Jumbos in points with 21, rebounds with 11, assists with five, and minutes played with 31. "I think my improvement has a lot to do with adjustments I've made," Wilson said. "When I came in as a freshman, I was totally unprepared for the physical nature of the game. I didn't have a lot of experience lifting weights, and I wasn't used to the amount of contact on the court. I think also with experience my ball-handling and finishing have improved. As I've gotten more minutes, I've realized the differences. My preparation and approach has changed, it's a different sort of psyche." "I think it's all about confidence and opportunity with Jim," junior forward Kyle Van Natta said. "We've all known he could do this for a long time. We've seen this player in practice for three years. But there's a difference between practice and games. Jim has seized the opportunity to play and really shined." Wilson's scoring outbreak could not have come at a better time for Tufts. When junior Brian Shapiro injured his leg against Trinity and missed two games, the Jumbos were in dire need of offensive help. Yet since Shapiro's return, Wilson's role has changed yet again: he is now chiefly a distributor. "Since Brian came back, I've been starting at the [point guard]," Wilson said. "I've really tried to be a floor general out there. When Brian was out and the offense needed some more balance, I took more shots. With Brian back, it's my responsibility to try to create shots for guys. I feel like I can produce without shooting, and I can score without shooting a lot." With an 11-9 overall mark and a disappointing 2-3 record in NESCAC play, the Jumbos have work to do in order to secure a playoff birth. Of the four games remaining on Tufts' schedule, all are NESCAC games, and all will be played at home. For the Jumbos, the goal is simple. "We want to make the playoffs," Wilson said. "We have four winnable games left. We want to win them all." "The tournament is all we're thinking about now," Van Natta said. "We've shown we can play with the best. I'm confident we can do a lot of damage if we get into the tournament. Anything can happen." The Jumbos take to the floor on Friday night at 7 p.m. in Cousens against Williams (18-3, 5-1), followed by a 3 p.m. matinee against Middlebury (10-11, 2-4) on Saturday.

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News

Bacow books unidentified commencement speaker

March 31

University President Larry Bacow has selected the keynote speaker who will address Tufts' 146th graduating class, but has declined to reveal the speaker's identity until he notifies the University's Trustees. According to Ballou, the invited speaker has already accepted the invitation to speak at Tufts' commencement ceremony on May 19. Provost Sol Gittleman defended the secrecy surrounding the decision, saying that commencement speakers have historically not been named until later in the year. "In the past, the announcement came in March or even April," he said. Saying only that he is "confident that the student body will be pleased," Bacow stressed that University affiliation played into his decision. "What better way to celebrate our 150th anniversary than by recognizing the extraordinary accomplishments of some of our alumni?" he said. To select the keynote speaker, Bacow said, he reviewed student recommendations - including an editorial printed in the Daily last fall - as well as the list of past speakers. He also consulted with Gittleman and President Emeritus John DiBiaggio. Seniors expressed their preferences in a Daily public opinion poll conducted on Tuesday. Students were asked to rate the importance of four aspects of a commencement speaker: political prominence, association with Tufts, academic prominence, and celebrity status. Among the 105 seniors polled, 32 percent considered celebrity status the most important factor in choosing this year's speaker. "It should be a big name," one senior said. Academic prominence received the second highest number of top-rank votes, at 28 percent, while 23 percent of students considered the speaker's political prominence most important. Of the students surveyed, only 16 percent - the lowest number of votes tallied - preferred a speaker associated with the University. One such senior suggested that the speaker be "connected to Tufts and academically oriented." In the survey, students were asked to spontaneously suggest a hypothetical speaker of their choice. Bono, lead singer of U2 and speaker at Harvard's 2001 Class Day, received the most mention. Other favorites included former President Bill Clinton, former New York City mayor Rudolph Guiliani, comedian and actor Adam Sandler, and author Maya Angelou. Students also recommended several alumni who have received national renown, including former New York senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. But Moynihan, former Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, NBC President Neil Shapiro, and New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzberger - all prominent Tufts alumni - told the Daily yesterday that they had not been asked to deliver the keynote address. Omidyar could not be reached for comment. Finally, seniors were asked if the commencement ceremony speaker should have been selected differently from years past because of Tufts' 150th anniversary. Of the students polled, 36 percent thought that this year deserved different treatment. "Extra thought should be given to the appropriateness of the speaker, given the importance and history associated with an anniversary graduation," one senior said. Another student suggested that seniors should have more say in the selection process. On the other hand, 17 percent said that the selection process should not be any different this year. And a near majority, 47 percent, had no opinion on the matter whatsoever. According to Gittleman, Bacow did not select this year's speaker any differently from year's past. The University has traditionally invited commencement speakers from diverse backgrounds. Last year, veteran journalist Jim Lehrer delivered the keynote address. Other past speakers include comedian Bill Cosby, cartoonist Gary Trudeau, journalist Ted Koppel, media mogul Ted Turner, and author Elie Wiesel.

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News

The museum that's close to home

March 31

For students who avoid art like the plague, the excuse of not wanting to shell out T fare to the MFA just doesn't cut it - Tufts has its own bona fide, if little-known, art gallery right on campus. Nestled in the back of Aidekman Arts Center behind the Balch Arena Theater, the Gallery has been in existence since the mid-1970s. It is now home to two major exhibits per year, as well as 20 to 30 displays of MFA theses presented by students of the Tufts-Museum School joint program. According to Director Susan Masuoka, the Gallery has gained increasing popularity among members of the University, and aims to make art more accessible to the students. She believes that the Gallery helps students to relate to art more easily. "Many students tell me that they're even intimidated to go into galleries," Masuoka said. "[The Gallery] makes Tufts students more comfortable with art, looking at art, and everything that entails." According to Exhibition Designer and Permanent Collection Manager Doug Bell, an exhibition opening can usually draw around 300 people. Speakers and special events draw many guests as well. However, "students could always take more advantage," Masuoka said. Currently, the Gallery attracts mostly Art History majors and graduate students. Dozens of students come as part of their Masters in Fine Arts program, or at the behest of their professors - several art and art history professors incorporate exhibition visits into class assignments. Students may write papers on paintings or see a question on their final that refers to a Gallery exhibit. Masuoka tries to present a range of mediums and subjects that will appeal to a variety of students. "The mission of the Gallery is to show that there are visual materials in all disciplines, such as science, math, and anthropology," Masuoka said. She adds that they try to appeal to visitors from the off-campus local community as well. The Department of Art and Art History ran the Gallery when it was unofficially referred to as "Gallery II" and located in the basement of the Aidekman Arts Center. In 1975, during the presidential term of Jean Mayer, the Gallery's directorial position was held by a junior faculty member. The position soon expanded to the full-time title of Manager/Curator. According to art professor Madeline Caviness, popular programs helped bring the Gallery into the spotlight. "[Gallery II] was used in teaching. Professor Pamela Allara's seminar on modern art, for instance, staged a reproduction of Stieglitz' famous New York gallery from about 1920," Caviness said. As the Gallery gained recognition, further funding from the University was provided, and more positions were added. Towards the end of his term, Meyer opened up the Gallery to the entire Tufts campus towards the end of his term. The unofficial art gallery became an official "University Gallery." Last week marked the opening of a new exhibit, titled "Great Blast From the Past," which features photographs taken at Tufts from 1915 to 1940. According to Allara, the exhibit is partially in honor of Tufts' 150th anniversary, but is also intentioned to raise more alumni interest in the art program. "These pictures "are a real demonstration of what the Gallery's used for," Masouka said.

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News

Shapiro speaks on the media since Sept. 11

March 31

The last time alumnus Neal Shapiro (LA '81) entered the Coolidge Room, the year was 1979, and he was a student journalist covering a ceremony for a Tufts professor who won the Nobel Prize. Yesterday, the NBC News President returned to Ballou to be honored himself. Shapiro received this year's Light on the Hill award and spoke afterwards on "The News since 9/11." Exactly seven months after the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, Shapiro said the news has fundamentally changed. On Sept. 10, Shapiro gave a speech in London in which he told the audience that Americans were not interested in foreign news. Everything changed the next day, and the media experienced a renewed interest in foreign affairs. "We're not going to slip back into the days when OJ, Monica, and Chandra were all we wrote about," Shapiro said. "9/11 has accelerated a world in which there are fewer and fewer answers." Sept. 11 made the job of being a journalist more dangerous, as an estimated 100 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan, he said. The public's view of the media also changed as it watched intense news coverage in the days following the attacks. "Some of the glamour may be coming off this profession, and that may be a good thing," Shapiro said. CBS Producer Rob Burnett was also named as a recipient of the award but could not attend yesterday's ceremony. He plans to visit Tufts in the fall. According to Tufts Community Union President Eric Greenberg, the Light on the Hill award, presented annually to a distinguished alumnus, was given to two graduates in the journalism field in part because of the important role the media has played in the world since Sept. 11. "Neal Shapiro played a major role in how everyone saw 9/11 and its aftermath," Greenberg said. "He has also shown excellence in his field and maintained an excellent relationship with Tufts." Shapiro maintained a positive outlook on the media industry throughout his speech. He asserted that network news would not be replaced by the Internet or cable stations any time soon and spoke positively of media company conglomerates, downplaying the existence of any conflicts of interest. When asked if journalists felt pressure not to criticize President Bush during the period after Sept.11, Shapiro's answer was a resounding no. "In the early days after 9/11, I'm not sure there was much to criticize," he said. "Now there are a lack of voices out there - it's not that we're afraid to put them on the air." On occasion government officials asked NBC to hold off on airing a military story, but Shapiro said these requests were presented merely as advice. The station was ultimately left to make its own decisions. When the networks obtained the first video of Osama bin Laden, National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice held a conference call in which she asked them to consider the effects of airing the entire 35-minute tape. NBC later decided that airing a long video of "unmitigated hate" was not a good idea. Though he had high praise for the news magazine format, Shapiro acknowledged that shows are structured according to their audience. However, he said that he was proud of NBC for the line that they have found between "commerce and arts." "News can't be like spinach," he said. "You have to prepare it to make the audience like it, and if you prepare it well, people will respond." The event attracted students participating in the Communications and Media Studies (CMS) program and others interested in the news industry. The majority of Shapiro's time was consumed by a lively question and answer period. Audience members responded positively to the speech. "He had a lot of really good insights into how news has changed since 9/11," said senior Liesel Bradford, a CMS minor. "It was really a tribute to reporters." "I thought it was a very lovely ceremony and that Neal Shapiro was the right person to receive such an award," Experimental College Director Robyn Gittleman said. Shapiro was praised for the close ties he has maintained with Tufts since his graduation. He is currently chair of the CMS alumni advisory board and has helped many Tufts students find internships and jobs with NBC. As Tufts expressed its pride in Shapiro yesterday, the alumnus shared a similar fondness for his alma mater. Since Sept. 11, Shapiro said he has realized the importance of his broad-based liberal arts education. He also credited the Observer, on which he once served as editor-in-chief, for providing him with journalism experience and said managing a college paper was "one of the greatest thrills I've ever had." Shapiro stressed that students interested in going into journalism hone their writing skills, even if they do not want a writing job. "It forces you to condense your thoughts, express them clearly, move things around, express a point of view, opinion, and emotions," he said. Administrators at Tufts who remember Shapiro as a student have high praise for him. In addition to working for the Observer, Shapiro was on the Ex College board and taught an Explorations class on the news and Watergate. "He was a very active member of the Tufts community," Gittleman said. "He was always extremely bright and asked very challenging questions. I think he feels that Tufts was a wonderful training ground for what he has to do now."

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News

Search for Gittleman replacement continues

March 31

Three months after Provost Sol Gittleman announced his intention to step down from the second-highest position at the University, a search committee is still gathering names of potential replacements. Following Gittleman's announcement in October, President Larry Bacow appointed a six-member advisory committee - five faculty members and one administrator - to suggest sources for nominations and help identify qualities a new provost should possess. Bacow said he has received applications from both Tufts and other institutions, though he declined to comment on the identities of the applicants. It will be a first for Tufts if Gittleman's successor comes from the outside - all previous provosts have come from within the University's ranks. But advisory committee member and biology professor Abraham Sonenshein says that Bacow is committed to a national search. "The president would like to have as wide a net in finding people as possible," Sonenshein said. Bacow said he wants to have someone in place by the start of the fall semester, but according to philosophy professor Daniel Dennett, also a member of the committee, the decision may come much sooner. He added, however, that no deadline has been set due to the importance of the selection. The position falls immediately under Bacow on the University's chain of command, and the president said he is particularly interested in locating a candidate that matches his own leadership style. "I am looking for an academic who can provide intellectual leadership for Tufts and someone whose skills compliment mine," he said. Bacow has also said that one of the primary responsibilities of Gittleman's replacement will be to take a closer look at the operations of Tufts' different schools. "The new provost will play a significant role in helping to formulate academic and budgetary priorities for each of the schools," he said. Dennett said the ideal candidate would also be one who would be respected by the University faculty for his or her breadth of intellect. Bacow can reserve the right to narrow the list of nominations to a "small number of final candidates," after which the committee will rejoin him to meet and assess the final group. During an administrative reshuffling last semester that coincided with Gittleman's announcement, Bacow appointed Dean of Engineering Ioannis Miaoulis and Dr. Mary Y. Lee as associate provosts in part to help unite Tufts' seven schools. Gittleman said the ultimate fate of these positions would lie with his successor. "The new provost will decide how he or she wants that managed," he said. "There may be some restructuring." As the University's first humanist provost, Gittleman said that candidates' academic backgrounds will play a large role in their skills as provost. "The position itself is an empty stocking," he said. "It fits the leg of the person wearing it." Though he is stepping down as provost, Gittleman is far from retiring. He plans to continue teaching at Tufts and is already set for next semester. He will again lead the freshman writing seminar on baseball's influence on the 20th century. Gittleman will stay in close contact with Bacow in his new role and plans to travel more, mainly on University-related trips. The purpose of the trips include fundraising efforts and improving alumni relations: "Anything the president wants me to do," Gittleman said. With the search process underway for his replacement, Gittleman is looking forward to his new role at Tufts. While he expects a decision from Bacow before next semester, he's ready for the announcement any day. "I hope it's sooner rather than later," he said.

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News

Racist and sexist campus materials must stop

March 31

Dear President Bacow,I hope that when you receive this letter, you, along with your wife and family, find yourself in good health. I am writing to you for a number of reasons. First and foremost, I would like to apologize for the informal and impersonal form of this e-mail, but due to your busy schedule I have never been able to sit down with you and talk with you about these issues.My name is Noris Chavarria. I am currently a sophomore and will be majoring in Spanish as well as anthropology. I consider myself active in the Latino community at Tufts, helping in programs such as the Latino Peer Advising as well as a member of the Association of Latin American Students (ALAS), and will be starting an English as a Second Language Program for the Janitors. I would like to address my biggest concern first, the lack of diversity on campus. To me, diversity means the interaction and development of friendships between different cultures, as well as a growing understanding and appreciation for the differences among us. However, I do not and have not witnessed this on campus as much as I would like to. A key element in facilitating this process would be the enforcement of the right to free speech, guaranteed by the first amendment of the US Constitution - however, free speech that also guarantees other citizens the right to feel safe. This past academic semester has been one that has left an indelible mark on me. Not only have I been attacked as a minority, but also my peers have been attacked both as groups of minorities and as individuals.Ariana Flores, Iris Halpern, and Carl Jackson have all been victims of what I view as maliciously degrading materials in publications sponsored by Tufts University. These materials base their assertions solely on blatant misrepresentations of race and gender. The integrity of the publication is called into question by the inclusion of such racist and sexist content. What worries and disturbs me most is the fact that the University allows this inappropriate behavior to continue. A university as diverse as Tufts claims to be should be more liberal, proceeding on a path of acceptance rather than one of divisive intolerance.If you would like to see Tufts prosper culturally as I do, I challenge you to do something about this issue. I hope that my plea does not fall upon deaf ears, and I urge you to challenge yourself in your first year as president of the University. Perhaps, as I know that similar issues have come up at other universities, you would consider their handlings of the problems.Please make it so that I don't have to live in fear of being the butt of someone else's jokes.Noris Chavarria is a sophomore majoring in Spanish and anthropology.

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News

Jumbo Audio Project arrives

March 31

If you haven't noticed the tablers in the dining halls or the posters in every dorm, the efforts of the Jumbo Audio Project are upon us. But unlike department shows or recitals, this project has resulted in a work both artistic and physical: an 18-track CD of music written and performed by Tufts musicians. The 18 selected tracks, chosen from a pool of over 25 submissions, not only reflect stylistic diversity but audibly display impressive, professional production values. There's blues, rap, funk, folk, rock - and much of it is indistinguishable from anything you'd hear on the radio. While the tracks are "scrambled" to create a more diverse listening experience, it's easier to talk about them by category. Ian Greenhouse kicks off the CD with "What Is It?," an adorable number that takes time-tested lyrics and melodies, then adds backing vocals and electronic samples for flavor. Bub Ed Boyer also takes the male singer-songwriter path, proving his vocal range over a looped beat on "Stranded." So does Joel Cairo, whose "After Thoughts" features his confident, gravelly, detached voice. Three artists take the female singer-songwriter path. Ex-College instructor Katie McD's "75 Cents" is pure folk rock. With a full band backing her and gentle vocal harmonies propelling the song, McD fits right into the established Somerville folk scene. Nico Juber's "One More Kiss" is a song that hurts: grungy electric guitars and Juber's delicate lyrics, always building toward the song's chorus: "I'd give it all for one more kiss..." And then there's the stunning Annette Farrington, whose tour de force "Dive" might be the most compelling track on the album: it's literally got everything. Lyrical depth, Farrington's incredible vocal range, a bouncy beat, an intense bridge, and a bassline so simple you can't forget it. In the jam category, Redshift 6 serves up its "Captain Wonderpants," a disco-tinged track reminiscent of Soulive's work. Guitars slide up and down over a danceable bassline and some truly hip organ solos. The Boston Funk Band reinterprets the Chicago blues on a track called, well, "Chicago Blues." Jazz chords mesh together nicely between keyboards and guitar, below the blues' traditionally simplistic, omniscient lyrics.J.A.P. also serves up a host of alternative/rock selections: Drowned's "These Days" mixes up fuzzy guitars and poignant lyrics: "Would you rebuild this Jericho if it came tumbling down?" Stellar's "Come to You" makes use of a chorus-y, bouncy guitar line over delicate-but-scratchy vocals. Carefully placed cymbal crashes add to the song's ethereal effect. Human performs "After Its Over," a grungy, depressing, and contemplative number. Meanwhile, Doug Fell Down's "Little Fish" combines elements of blues and emo to create a sing-along that's sad, happy, and bouncy all at once. YGS' "Dear Sarah" is straightforward three-chord rock, a bittersweet and sometimes funny letter to an ex-girlfriend gone away for good. Dan Aaronson provides the only solo instrumental, "Nod to Bruce," which inspires a vision of fingers dancing over smoking piano keys. His knowledge of the instrument and pure speed shine through on the inspiring track. Similarly, there's only one techno track, Fede's "La'Madda," which blends samples and saxophone blips over a frenetic beat. The album's three rap selections are among its most memorable. Afrodzak's "Lyrical Aerobics," despite the trite title, throws down the kind of beat that you can't get out of your head - as well as some slick rhymes. Infiniti & MPC provide "Who Gon Do It," taking a more vengeful approach to rapping. The duo provides a selection of attitudinal, anti-"hater", ego-thumping rhymes. HMO's "TU-Nite," however, is doubtlessly the most hilarious song on the album. With an almost-comical '80s-style beat and hilarious sound samples, the song follows a group of drunken Tufts students around on Friday night, from chicken Teriyaki at Carmichael to the frats to Boston Ave. HMO on 123: "Here's the catch: the place is sketch/ Too many townies, they on some quicker picker-uppers, but not Bounty...Out the window, saw lights flashin'/ It's only twelve, how can cops be crashin'?" As a physical object, Jumbo Audio Product Volume 1 is as impressive as the music it contains: it's a professionally produced and duplicated CD, complete with student artwork and photos of each contributor. This first volume is a timely chronicle of an underside of Tufts that unfortunately doesn't get the respect it deserves. Pick one up, soon.The Jumbo Audio Project, Volume I will be available at Dewick and Carmichael this week. It is also offered at the bookstore. For further information, see www.jumboaudioproject.com.

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Junior professor Chatterjee considering offer from Berkeley

March 31

Saying Tufts was an "apolitical" campus where his voice as a South Asian might not be heard, junior drama professor Sudipto Chatterjee is considering leaving the University for a position at the University of California at Berkeley. The decision would remove one of Tufts' most recognized directors, as well as one of its few professors of Asian American studies. While Chatterjee has only received an initial offer from Berkeley, he said the search committee there has all but guaranteed he will glide through the approval process.The junior faculty member, on tenure track, insists he will also carefully consider any counter offer from Tufts. And while he says he loves the school and his department, Chatterjee said that, politically, Berkeley is more attractive to him. Provost Sol Gittleman declined to comment on Chatterjee's potential departure, and Dean of Arts and Sciences Susan Ernst could not be reached for comment yesterday. Barbara Grossman, the chair of the drama and dance department, wrote a letter of recommendation for Chatterjee to Berkeley but said Tufts would do its best to retain one of its most popular professors. Chatterjee said the politically active Berkeley campus, well known for its free speech and anti-war movements during the 1960s, offers a stark contrast to Tufts' political climate. After Sept. 11, he became even more concerned at what he perceived to be a lack of campus interest in the US response to terrorism. "It's as if nothing ever happened," Chatterjee said. "[EPIIC director] Sherman Teichman seems to be the only person who is being visible and speaking loudly about it." Chatterjee said he is concerned that the warning signs of what could become a global war with South Asia and the Middle East right in the middle are falling on deaf ears. "I feel like my voice will never be heard [here]," Chatterjee said. South Asian culture is important to Chatterjee, another reason he may find Berkeley more attractive. The school has a South and Southeast Asian studies Department, as well as an independent South Asian center, both of which are absent at Tufts. And although Chatterjee says that the drama department is like a family to him, and that he has made some of his best friends there, he said he needs to feel more like he is a part of his own community. "The family is one thing, but you need the world as well," Chatterjee said. "I think I'll have a home [at Berkeley] that Tufts cannot provide. Despite his concerns with Tufts, Chatterjee insists he is extremely happy on the Medford campus. He is well-regarded among his students - recently, three nominated Chatterjee for an award honoring the professor that most changed their lives. Grossman acknowledged that the drama department has essentially allowed the professor free reign in the classes he wants to teach and the plays he wants to direct. "I can't even qualify how good it's been," Chatterjee said. "When I first got here from NYU [his first job] I had to pinch myself some mornings."Hayavadana and Playboy of the Western World, both directed by Chatterjee, have been campus hits. And Chatterjee's courses that focus on non-Western drama - Film in India and Asian American Film and Theatre - have been so popular since his arrival in the fall of 1999 that he has offered both classes twice. Grossman said she hasn't written Chatterjee off just yet "We will do whatever we can do to keep him," Grossman said. "But it's all going to come down to salary, and if Tufts is going to be competitive." Grossman says that a Chatterjee departure would leave a large void in the drama department, particularly in non-Western theatre opportunities. While she would immediately submit a proposal for a replacement with expertise in a similar area, the University deadline for hiring requests is mid-April. If Chatterjee makes his decision after the hiring deadline, Grossman says, the drama department would be without a replacement until the fall of 2004. Junior Aaron Chiu, a member of the Asian American Community at Tufts (AACT), said it was unfortunate that Tufts may lose a "great professor." Chiu said he is also concerned about Tufts losing Chatterjee's Asian American Film and Theater class, since it represents about a third of the courses currently offered under the realm of Asian American studies. Chatterjee has told Berkeley that it would have to accommodate his sabbatical plans for the upcoming semester. He said he expects to receive a final offer within a few weeks.

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Desmond Tutu to visit Tufts today

March 31

Nobel Peace Prize recipient and former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu will speak in Goddard Chapel at 7 p.m. tonight. Tutu will also receive the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award from Tufts' Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program. EPIIC Director Sherman Teichman, whose organization has been working for four years to bring the archbishop to the Hill, partially credited Tutu's arrival to an arrangement with the Chaplaincy. Tufts students have been working in South Africa over the last ten years, including work with Tutu's commission, through the EPIIC program. Tutu is in residence at the Episcopalian Divinity School in Cambridge for the semester. He served as chairperson of then-South African President Nelson Mandela's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. University Protestant Chaplain Steven Bonsey secured Tutu's visit. Tutu was invited since he was "in the neighborhood," according to Bonsey. While some students speculated that the speaker would prefer a smaller audience, Interim University Chaplain Patricia Kepler said the Chaplaincy had hoped to find a larger room. "We wish that we could have found a venue that could have seated more than 300 people," Kepler said. "We hope to have video tapes and transcripts of the event so that more students can participate." Tutu is one of a myriad of prominent speakers to visit Tufts this year. Vice-President Al Gore and author P.J. O'Rourke visited recently, and President Bill Clinton will be visiting this Wednesday. Bonsey said he does not think that Clinton's visit will detract from Tutu. "They are two very different events," he said. He hopes that the Archbishop's appearance "will be one that focuses on the vitality of the faith communities." "It's a historic event for him to be coming here to Tufts and a great honor for Tufts," Bonsey said.

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Israel resolution, rep amendment make sparks at Senate meeting

March 31

Voicing vehement opposition to a proposal that would strip Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate culture representatives of their vote, more than a dozen campus organizations attended an overcrowded Senate meeting on Sunday. In a tense atmosphere punctuated by personal attacks, those present also debated the passage of a TCU resolution condemning Israel's incursions into Palestinian territories. The culture rep resolution will be decided by a campus-wide vote this month, while the latter never came up for a vote. According to Senator Ben Lee, the meeting - the last to be held with outgoing TCU President Eric Greenberg at the helm - remained orderly and civil despite "some personal attacks" between senators. "The presenters who came were very civil and made their cases very eloquently," he said. The most vociferous opposition to the Culture Lobby proposal came from culture groups with prepared statements denouncing the "clandestine" manner in which senators attempted to strip their representatives of a vote. Under the amendment, more culture reps would exist, but their role would be restricted to siting in and speaking at meetings, without the right to vote. For over an hour, campus organizations voiced their dissatisfaction with the proposal itself and with what they called its misleading presentation. Many said it simply formalized opportunities to attend Senate meetings that all culture group members already have. Another issue of contention at the meeting was former Senator Pritesh Gandhi's proposed resolution to condemn Israel's actions in the Middle East. The senate meeting saw adamant opposition to the proposal, mainly from campus organizations and individuals who said such a proposal could not represent the views of the entire Tufts campus. Of the proposed culture rep amendment, Zeleka Weraswork, a member of the Pan African Alliance (PAA), said she is "more disappointed with the fact that students won't know exactly what they are voting on because the wording [of the amendment] is so ambiguous. That's what makes it deceiving." Vice-Chair of the TCU Judiciary Alison Clarke was happy about the presence of the culture groups at the meeting "because it opened up lines of communication with the student body. I thought it was really beneficial for the Senate to see what groups are opposing the amendment because they hadn't had that perspective before." The PAA, the Tufts Transgendered Lesbian Gay and Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC), and the Asian Community at Tufts (ACT) spoke most prominently at the meeting. They were critical of the way the amendment "surreptitiously" purports to both increase minority representation on the Senate and take away the vote. A statement released by the PAA said that the new policy would not allow a stronger minority voice as it proposes to do, but would instead "further jeopardize our equal stance on campus." The statement also asserted that culture representatives are legitimately elected from within their groups, and pointed out that many of next year's at-large Senate seats are uncontested. Many groups argued that each culture representative conveys minority viewpoints to the TCU Senate that would not be considered otherwise, and therefore serves a legitimate purpose. The second proposal, to condemn Israel's military actions in the Mid East, also attracted stiff opposition. A signed petition with over 300 names and a prepared statement from members of Hillel, Friends of Israel, and the Tufts Democrats, among others, condemned the resolution on the grounds that no such statement could "fall under the jurisdiction of the TCU Senate." They argued further that it would be counterproductive and undermine the relationships between many groups on campus with different opinions. Before the resolution could even be debated, however, TCU Senate Parliamentarian Andrew Potts ruled that the resolution was infeasible because the charge of the TCU does not include the release of official political statements. Potts went on to argue the purpose of the TCU Senate is to deal with campus affairs and student life rather than attempt to legislate international politics. "It would be pointless," he said. "If we were trying to constantly solve AIDS, world peace and third world debt, we would not find time to do the business of the students." Not all senators agreed with Potts' decision, but no one challenged it. "Even though I don't think it's something the Senate should have made a stand on, it's something that could have been discussed," Lee said. He said other senators shared this point of view. Because the resolution was not sponsored by an official group, many also said it lacked legitimacy. Nevertheless, Gandhi said that he "does not buy the argument that the TCU Senate should not be involved in political affairs." With such a resolution, Gandhi wanted Tufts to join other institutions like Cornell University and University of Texas, among others, that are "active in domestic and international political affairs."

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Women's squash team squashes the competition at Smith

March 31

It was a successful couple of days for the women's squash team as it emerged from the weekend victorious in three out of four matches, more than doubling its previous win total for the year. The four matches, which took place at Smith College, took place on Saturday and Sunday. The weekend started off on a bad note, with the team dropping a match 6-3 to a tough Middlebury team. The Jumbos regrouped for their match against Vassar later that day and stormed back with a 5-4 win. When play resumed on Sunday, Tufts found itself facing William Smith College, where the team came away with another 5-4 victory. The weekend ended with an 8-1 thrashing of the hosting Smith squad. The women's squash team improved its record to 5-10 with their string of victories on Saturday and Sunday."We came into the weekend 100 percent confident that we would win these games," coach Doug Eng said. "This is the best squash we've played so far this year, this team is really getting into a groove." Eng was especially impressed by the way his team overcame the fatigue that comes from playing four intense matches in 48 hours, as the players rebounded from their disheartening loss to Middlebury, their first match of the series, to win three consecutive matches. "All the players feel it at the end," Eng said.One of the most notable aspects of this team is its lack of individual stars. While there have been some outstanding performances lately, they have been largely spread out among the roster as the squad relies on solid team play for victory. Junior Eileen Connors was the only Jumbo to win all four of her matches this weekend. Junior Winnie So, sophomores Leigh Checchio and A.J. Crane, and freshman Nida Ghouse each notched up three victories. If any player does have the potential for stardom, though, it is So. Recently regaining her spot as the number one seed this year, So represented Tufts at the National Intercollegiate Squash Racquets Association (NISRA) Championship last season. After missing the first part of the season, she showed some rust after her return, dropping five straight matches, but bounced back this weekend with her first three wins of the season."All of So's wins were good ones," Eng said. "She still looks a little rusty though, she will get better as the season progresses." The team faces a tough schedule this coming week, with three matches on consecutive days all against opponents ranked higher than the Jumbos by the Women's Intercollegiate Squash Association (WISA). Tufts, ranked 20th, will face fifth-ranked Brown and sixth-ranked Dartmouth on Thursday and Friday, with a match against 18th-ranked Connecticut College following on Saturday. "You can't just focus on the scores, you have to focus on your own goals, on what you can and can't do," Eng said. "They should be pretty tough matches though." The match against Connecticut College should proves to be the most intriguing of the three, as Tufts appears to match up best with them. "We're confident that we will win that match, but of course they are the home team and are ranked higher than us, so they will be confident too." Eng said. "It should be a battle."

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CCC to respond to campus hate crimes

March 31

In response to incidents of hate crimes earlier this semester, a new student group intends to combine numerous campus voices in an effort to increase awareness of intolerance on campus. The Cultural Coordinate Committee (CCC) began operation earlier this month. Towards the beginning of the semester, a number of cultural groups were targeted by hate crimes. The Africana Center and its residents were objects of an attack in which racial slurs were written on flyers throughout Capen House. Racial epithets about Asian American students also appeared in South Hall, and homophobic slurs were scrubbed off of University sidewalks. Created by the TCU Senate, the CCC is a branch of the Cultural Ethnicity Community Activities (CECA) committee. Attendants at a follow-up meeting to the "Dialogue on Race" hosted by Hillel on April 1 voted to create the CCC. In their last meeting before Spring Break, CCC members broke up into working groups to examine aspects of campus life that need change. The three groups reported on issues that include Curriculum and Faculty Retention, Hate Crime Reporting and Awareness, and General Atmosphere and Education. The contact people for each group are, respectively, Chike Aguh, Iffy Mora, and Iris Halpern. The group hopes to "accomplish an increased respect for the difficulties facing many of the students on this campus, creating a more positive and respectful atmosphere for the diversity at Tufts, and to create a sustainable movement by the end of this year which will carry on into the next year with increased strength and resolve," Halpern said. After increasing campus awareness, the group intends to foster a campus-wide dialogue in which all students will participate. "It is important that all students participate, and not just those that are already supportive," Halpern said. "Otherwise, it's preaching to the choir." Senators have stressed the need to inform students how to respond if they are victims of hate crimes. Outgoing president Eric Greenberg has proposed the creation of a website outlining the steps a student must follow in order to file a hate crime report. TCU Vice President and junior Melissa Carson said she supports the idea. "I think that a website outlining the steps and what to do if the steps fail is of the utmost importance," Carson said. "Students need to know where to turn if they follow the steps and fail to accomplish what they need to do. If someone calls the TUPD and does not get the appropriate response, they have to have other options available to them." Carson said it doesn't matter whether the website is written by the CCC, the TCU Senate, or Student Services - as long as it gets completed. Other campus groups are also taking action. Senior Vanessa Dillen, TTLGBC political co-chair, has created cards for students to carry in their wallets detailing the proper authorities to contact in the event of a hate crime. Carson hopes to put similar information in the Pachyderm. In the spirit of the CCC, a number of campus groups have offered cross-cultural events, as well as programs designed to educate students about racism and prejudice. The Coalition for Social Justice and Non-Violence sponsored a workshop entitled "Confronting Racism, Challenging Privilege, Building Movements" on April 1. The Association of Latin American Students (ALAS) has sponsored two events designed to bring together students of different ethnicities. ALAS and the Pan-African Alliance (PAA) held a semiformal on April 13, and four comedians of different ethnic backgrounds presented a show titled "Spectrum of Laughter" on April 20. The PAA, African Students Organization (ASO), and Hillel have organized a number of programs focusing on black-Jewish relations. Members of the student body are not alone in their efforts to ameliorate the situation, according to head of the Tufts Bias Response Team and Associate Dean of Students Marisel Perez. According to Perez, the administration has not seen a major increase in the amount of racist incidents on campus. Nevertheless, the administration is working to reduce the occurrence of these incidents and is hoping to train 12 sophomores and juniors next fall as peer educators. "Most of the time, we have only been able to give an official response after an incident of racism," Perez said. "However, we recognize that this is not enough, that we need more student involvement and community outreach." The Bias Response Team is currently waiting on funding from the Diversity Committee to implement formal dialogues, produce accessible information on filing incident reports, and hire a trainer for the 12 students who will comprise the committee. Halpern said that individuals can be the driving force behind a change in campus atmosphere. "Every person on this campus has the capabilities of doing something if they just invest in educating and understanding first," Halpern said.

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Singer-songwriter surplus

March 31

They may not rule the radio airwaves, and their videos might not be featured on the latest episode of MTV's Total Request Live, but believe me when I tell you they're out there. You know who I'm talking about - all those guys and gals with guitars strapped to their bodies like vital organs who will stretch their vocal chords in front of just about anything resembling a microphone. These are the singer-songwriters with no label, no manager...just the music in their souls and plenty of heartbreak to cry about. And here in Boston, there seems to be no shortage of the species. If you're looking in the right places, they seem to be everywhere from music clubs to subway platforms. I have nothing against singer-songwriters. In fact, I'm not ashamed to admit that I myself own an acoustic guitar. I've even been known to write my own music from time to time about failed relationships and my misgivings about life and love. I just choose not to subject the rest of the world to my moaning and groaning. This much can not be said, however, for the musicians who often grace the stages of such venues as Club Passim and The Somerville Theatre, or whose CDs cross the threshold of the Daily office and into our mailbox. Whether on stage or on an album, they fearlessly bare their emotions and life experiences before audiences of complete strangers, and every moment feels nothing short of genuine. And if you're the kind of concertgoer who appreciates the latest brand of folk music, there's no denying that the new generation of singer-songwriters is, for the most part, quite talented. They know how to manipulate their instrument and write the kind of lyrics that make you feel as though each song were written specifically with you in mind. But here's where they falter - with the exception of a singer-songwriter enthusiast's personal favorites, most of these performers are hard to tell apart. There's no doubt that they are gifted; it's just that they each tend to be talented in all the same ways. They can all write music, play guitar, and compose lyrics that are honest and heartfelt. The problem is that after a while, it all begins to sound the same. Everyone has suffered a broken heart at one point or another in their lives - singer-songwriters are not the only ones who have lost at the game of love. In fact, you can only listen to so many "I will never love again because of you" songs. And after a while, each of their individual laments melds into one big sad song, to the point that, unless you have an especially discerning ear, you can't be sure if it's Lori McKenna or Kris Delmhorst that you're listening to. This lack of originality can further be attributed to a shortage of inspiration. Think back on the days of the original singer-songwriter era - Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Carole King had more than their love lives to work from. The '60s and '70s were a time of turmoil and change in this country - from the sexual revolution to civil rights, people felt compelled to speak their minds. People including musicians. Music became an arena for expressing political and social sentiments, and the singer-songwriters of the time fully capitalized on the opportunity. This is not to say that they didn't write love songs, because they did. It's just that they didn't stop there. Due to a less turbulent social climate, today's singer-songwriter simply has a lot less to work with and is turning to heartbreak to make up for it. The result - a slew of love songs from countless singer-songwriters that seemingly have nothing new to say. Still, perhaps there is some comfort to be had in the knowledge that these singer-songwriters appear to flourish the way that they are. After all, the current climate of mainstream music does not exactly embrace anything resembling folk. Flip on the radio these days and you'll be hard pressed to find anything outside the realm of rap, classic rock, or bubble gum pop. Even the Billboard Top 200 is a representation of this anti-folk phenomenon - while legends like Neil Young and Bonnie Raitt have recently managed to find a place for themselves amongst the top-selling albums, artists like Ashanti, Celine Dion, Linkin Park, and Pink are still indisputably the norm. And no one can deny that they are certainly a far cry from singer-songwriters. But despite whatever various charts and countdowns might reflect, there's no ignoring the innumerable concert listings each weekend in local publications from The Improper Bostonian to The Phoenix for artists like Dar Williams, Mark Erelli, and Steve Tannen. You might not know who they are, but their survival in a world where *NSYNC and Britney Spears rule the airwaves is evidence of a prominent and powerful contingent of fans who do. Despite their shortcomings, it looks like the new generation of singer-songwriters is here to stay - at least in Boston. People seem to love their acoustic music. And as long as these fans attend concerts and buy albums, the singer-songwriter community will continue to flourish. Which is okay, even if it all sounds the same. Things could be worse - we could always have a community of Ricky Martin wannabes instead.

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Juniors build BRIDGES

March 31

When junior Zaki Raheem was a junior in high school, he took a trip that changed how he viewed the world. That trip was a community service program in Nicaragua, and this year, Raheem, junior Nathan Machida, and junior Jeanette Bailey are working to give other students the same opportunities - but not just on vacations. The three students have been given the green light to bring BRIDGES, a service program in Nicaragua, to campus. Next year, with help from the Bridges to Community organization, 15 students and the three leaders will participate in a semester-long Experimental College class that culminates with a trip to Nicaragua. During the trip the students will assist in building schools and other facilities for a rural farming village, and will have the opportunity to address other Tufts students about the experience upon their return. According to Raheem, the idea to do global community service has been well received by the University. "I would say that the support has been great," he said. "I mean, we have had to do a bit of leg work to try to get [the UCCPS, the Ex College Board, and the Institute for Global Leadership] to help us out, but it is great to be getting so much encouragement from staff and administration." Sherman Teichman, the Director of the Institute of Global Leadership and Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship, endorses the program's goals and is serving as the group's Ex College advisor. "BRIDGES is a powerful opportunity to immerse yourself in the global enterprise of meaningful, active citizenship and thoughtful, engaged service," Teichman said in a press release. The three student organizers said they've been impressed by the student response as well. They hope that enthusiasm for the program in its first year will lead to it becoming a staple of the curriculum. "It's going to be a very difficult application process when we have to select our participants," Machida said. According to Raheem, nearly 40 students attended the General Interest meeting for BRIDGES, and at least 15 other students have since expressed interest in participating in the program. While BRIDGES bears some similarities to LCS's Volunteer Vacation (VV), its organizers claim the program's international orientation makes it significantly different from the highly successful VV. Both Raheem and Machida participated in VV and said that Bridges will be different. "The VV program is absolutely amazing," Machida said. "There really is no better alternative to experiential learning." While VV is a domestic program, he said, BRIDGES involves a trip to Nicaragua; moreover, the former does not involve taking a class. "I think LCS's programs are great, but with international relations being such a popular major and volunteerism being so predominant, I think that the opportunity for Tufts kids to engage in international volunteerism is needed," Raheem said.Machida credited LCS as being a major springboard for his interests in active citizenship and community service. "Being an IR major, I naturally have an interest in putting things in an international perspective," he said. "BRIDGES is my first attempt to step back and really look at active citizenship on a global level." Tufts already has at least one international volunteer program available for students - the Hillel Alternative Spring Break trip to El Salvador, now in its second year. Last week six Tufts students, along with about forty students from other universities, worked with a grassroots organization in a rural town on agricultural and community development efforts. Unlike BRIDGES, the Hillel-run program was student-led and not a class. Like Machida, freshman Adina Allen was looking for a spring break experience that coincided with her academic interests and participated in the Hillel Alternative Spring Break trip. "The project was sustainable development, which I'd like to do in the future," said Allen, who plans to major in environmental studies and anthropology. According to the BRIDGES organizers, a typical day in Nicaragua will prove physically demanding. Raheem anticipates that participants will begin their days with breakfast at 7 a.m., followed by work with some Nicaraguan students on either a new classroom or a storage facility. According to Raheem, this construction generally involves mixing cement, laying brick, and taking measurements all morning. After an afternoon of touring the area, the organizers hope to bring the participants back together to discuss social and political issues, as well as global concerns with Nicaraguans. In the months to come, the student organizers plan to continue their work to create a program that accomplishes two main goals - to promote discussion of the different social challenges in the US and in other countries and to provide the Tufts community with a first-hand experience of these problems facing a developing nation. "The point is not to go, build something, and then return feeling content," Bailey said. "The idea is to return with the knowledge that you have to do more - that the trip was only the beginning."

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University to upgrade three dorms among other projects

March 31

Though students returning next semester will not be greeted by any "Wrenovations" or new buildings as they were last year, the University still has multiple projects slated to take place over the summer. Bush, Hodgdon, and Blakely residence halls will be outfitted with sprinkler systems, Goddard Chapel's structure will be reinforced, and Pearson 104 will be completely renovated. Sprinklers are being installed as part of a continuing effort to outfit Tufts' dorms with advanced fire-safety equipment, according to Vice President of Operations John Roberto. Because the total job is so large, with pipe installation requiring extensive access to rooms and buildings, the University is not expected to have the improvements to all dorms completed until 2004. The combination of smoke detectors and sprinklers decreases the chance of death during a fire by 98.5 percent, according to Life Safety Fire Protection, a sprinkler sales company. This is a 48.5 percent increase over prevention by smoke detectors alone. Goddard Chapel will also receive improvements to its foundation and structure. The aging 119-year-old stone building will have its mortar repaired inside and out, and its foundation will also be strengthened. Some parts of its slate roof will also be replaced. The repairs are expected to continue well into the fall 2002 semester and will destroy most of the landscape around the chapel. The Pearson 104 classroom will get a face-lift similar to that of the Barnum 008 and Braker 01 rooms. Better seating, lighting, and audio-visual materials will be installed in the heavily used lecture hall. The much-awaited music building is still waiting for "fundraising achievements," so no plans have been made to break ground. Preliminary sketches have been drawn, but, presently there are no firm schematics or blueprints. President Larry Bacow is looking forward to the time when this new addition can become a reality. "The music building will finally provide our talented students and faculty with the facilities that they deserve," he said. Though the University is hoping to break ground on a new dorm within the upcoming months, plans for the structure are still under development. Roberto said the 150-bed dorm, to be situated on Talbot Ave., has not yet been completely designed. The structure will likely include a mix of singles and doubles, a professor's apartment, study rooms and lounges. The dorm is likely to promote Bacow's campus unity ideals. "We need more housing so the dorm will help," Bacow said. "I also think this dorm will represent a different kind of housing for Tufts, one that consciously tries to create a strong sense of residential community." As a result of an expansion boom during the '60s, many buildings were constructed in a short period of time, according to Roberto. This trend happened nationwide and, consequently, many universities have a backlog of critical maintenance issues. Tufts spends about $10-12 million a year in deferred maintenance projects, a sum which Roberto says is due in large part to the Trustee's commitment to maintaining the three campuses. "University-wide, including utilities, we have about a $70 million backlog of work," Roberto said. "That's not too bad compared to the value of our physical plant." Roberto said that, under the deferred maintenance program, campus appearance has improved over the years. "We're definitely making headway," he said. Several of the projects that have been undertaken are expensive "system" replacements. As many of Tufts' buildings age, they require new roofs, windows, and mechanical or electrical systems. These repairs are both costly and invasive, so the University often must complete them during very short periods of time. Roberto said that many of the more difficult and expensive repairs had already been completed.

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News

Baseball team rips Mass. Maritime

March 31

What seemed to be a competitive match up on paper turned out to be a runaway victory for the baseball team. Last Tuesday, while pounding out 25 hits, the Jumbos scored in all but two innings and cruised to a 25-4 victory over Massachusetts Maritime Academy. Rallies were the theme of the game as the Jumbos exploded for six runs in the second and third innings, while tallying four runs in the seventh and the ninth. This win propelled the team to its ninth straight victory, improving it's mark to 9-3-1 overall, and dropped Mass. Maritime's record to 6-5. Although there were many solid performances at the plate, the story of the game was sophomore middle-reliever Dave Frew, who picked up his first collegiate win. Frew entered the contest in the third inning after starter, senior tri-captain Steve Lapham, surrendered two runs in the second inning to go along with three walks. Frew saw limited action last season, but has worked his way onto the staff as a long reliever. When given the opportunity, Frew seized it. He pitched five strong innings, giving up only one earned run and striking out two batters. "Anytime you can get a team win it's great," Frew said. "To add your first career win is just as nice." Senior tri-captain Dan Callahan had a memorable day at the plate. He broke two Tufts baseball records: most triples and most hits, all time. Callahan's two triples pushed his career mark to 11, breaking the previous record of nine, set by Dan Morse (1996-1999). He also picked up the 182nd hit of his career with a single in the ninth innings. Junior tri-captain Evan Zupancic proved he hit the weight room during the off-season by belting two homeruns from the leadoff position in the lineup. Zupancic finished the game 4-6, with four runs scored and six runs batted in. Joining Zupancic with homeruns were junior designated hitter Jon Herbert and junior shortstop Brian Shapiro. Herbert matched Zupancic with six runs batted in, hitting from the second spot in the lineup. He also crossed the plate three times, en route to a 3-for-5 day. Shapiro was 2-for-6 on the day, but the homerun blast was his team-leading fourth of the season. He also contributed four RBI. "It took a little while to get used to their pitching," Shapiro said of Mass. Maritime, who used four pitchers, none of whom went longer than 3.1 innings. "But by the middle of the game we started going opposite field and ball kept dropping." The Jumbos have been getting solid contributions from a platoon of third basemen, sophomores Adam Kacamburas and Nick Palange. Kacamburas' season batting average is .424 (14-33) and Palange's is .500 (7-14). Against Mass. Maritime, the duo combined to go 2-3 from the plate with three walks. Kacamburas scored three times, while Palange crossed the plate once. While the older players are the leaders of the team, freshmen Frank Dinucci and Bobby Kenny showed why the squad has promise for years to come. "We (freshmen) are guys who like going out playing with older guys and going out competing against other great players," Dinucci said of his chance to be in the starting lineup. Dinucci was 2-4 with one double, also walking twice. He made Mass. Maritime pay each time as he scored five funs on the day. "I'm glad coach Casey has been giving me an opportunity to play," Dinucci said. "I try to help the team every time I play."Frew was quick to point out a major reasons for his effectiveness on the mound was Kenny's work. As a catcher, he called a great game and offensively, he went 1-6, scoring one run. "Bobby Kenny called a great game," Frew said. "He kept hitters off balance." Sophomores Drew Blewett and Greg Hickey combined for five runs batted in as the whole team ran on all cylinders. Even ninth place hitter, Dinucci got in on the action scoring five runs. "Anytime your ninth hitter can score five runs in a game, you know you're doing something right," Frew said.This weekend, the baseball team will be double dipping twice against a tough Wesleyan (9-5) opponent. On Saturday, the squad travels to Middletown, Connecticut to take on the Cardinals and on Sunday, the two teams battle at Tufts. Wesleyan swept perennial NESCAC contender Amherst last weekend, so this weekend should be a true test for the Jumbos.

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