Archives

News

NESCAC anounces All-Academic team

March 31

This past week, the NESCAC announced the 2001-02 Winter All-Academic Team, consisting of five men and five women from each school in the conference. Each member named has a grade point average of at least 3.35, and is either a starter or key reserve in a varsity sport. The following is a list of the Tufts All-Academic athletes and their athletic accomplishments: Junior Nathan Anderson plays the four spot for the men's squash team. He played a key role in helping the Jumbos claw their way into the NCAA top 20 rankings during the season, and finished the season with nine overall wins, three of which came in tournament play. Anderson, along with teammate junior Chris Choi, is expected to be one of the team's key leaders for next season. Junior Danielle Blaney has scored many points throughout the course of the season for the women's swimming and diving team. The freestyler and backstroker had many fine outings this season, contributing to a sixth place NESCAC championship finish. She had the team's best event time for this season in the 50-yard backstroke (29.46). Entering her senior year for next season, Blaney is expected to provide leadership as one of the core upperclassmen. Senior captain Tim Bouley of the men's swimming team provided leadership and contributed points as his team finished fourth in this year's New England Championships. Bouley swam a 4:31.77 400-yard individual medley, finishing in 13th place in the championships. Bouley's presence will be greatly missed, as he will be one of the few graduating seniors form the men's swim team this year. Women's basketball co-captains, senior Jayme Busnengo and junior Hillary Dunn, were also All-Academic selections. Dunn plays guard, while Busnengo plays forward for the 9-14 team. Busnengo overcame an earlier ACL injury in her career to be a steady contributor for the Jumbos, averaging 7 points and 5.4 rebounds this season. Dunn provided leadership as well, steadily running the offense as point guard. She finished the season with a team-high 118 assists, as well as averaging a steady 5.2 points per game. Despite their final record, Busnengo and Dunn provided an early season spark, as the Jumbos began the season with a 7-2 record. Though Busnengo will be departing after this season, Dunn is expected to be part of next season's core squad alongside fellow juniors Erin Harrington and Emily Goodman. Sophomore Leigh Checchio of women's squash provided much influence in the middle of the lineup, gaining ten wins this season. Though the Jumbos had a strong start - ranked 20th in the NCAA's in January - the team played inconsistently for the remainder of the season, finishing with a 7-13 record. Checchio will take a leave of absence for next year, as she is expected to study abroad. Junior co-captain Myriam Claudio of women's indoor track helped the Jumbos to a 7th place finish in the season ending ECAC championships. While also having successful sprints in the 55-meter dash, Claudio silently made an impact in the pole vault, breaking several personal records throughout the course of the season. Senior quad-captain J.R. Cruz of the men's indoor track team led the way for distance runners. The cross-country star extended his running prowess to the tartan tracks of Gantcher, accumulating fast times and many points throughout the course of the season, particularly in the 5000. This includes a 14:45.25 finish in the All-New Englands. Cruz is expected to be a key contributor for the spring outdoor season as well. Junior tri-captain Chris Martin, a defenseman for the men's hockey team, took over the leadership position for other defenders on the team. Despite finishing the season with a losing record, Martin hopes to make an impact next season. Martin had a solid season, scoring 13 points in 23 games. Junior guard Jim Wilson of the men's basketball team played a key role this season. He ran the court well, averaging a steady 8.0 points per game and 3.0 rebounds per game. Coach Bob Sheldon praised his confidence throughout the course of the season, as he was a dependable contributor in key situations. This included taking over the role of point guard after sophomore Phil Barlow's injury - Wilson stepped up to average 11.4 points in league play. @s:Wilson selected after taking over point guard position

---

News

Inside Fitness

March 31

What are some good exercises for the back of the shoulder? My trainer tells me that this muscle is crucial in virtually all pulling exercises, yet I am not sure how to go about training it. Your trainer is correct. The back of the shoulder, or rear deltoid, is a muscle that plays an integral part in any and all activities that involve pulling. These include rowing, climbing, and even throwing a baseball or serving in tennis. Aside from that, it also serves to stabilize the shoulder joint itself. A weak muscle may lead to shoulder impingement - a problem commonly associated with overuse and repetitive motions (such as pitching) - and other problems associated with an unstable shoulder. Here are a few exercises guaranteed to strengthen that important part of your shoulder: Reverse flys can be performed with or without a bench. In order to perform this exercise on a bench, it must be high enough off of the ground so that you can fully extend your arms downward without impediment. Grab two moderately light dumbbells (this exercise doesn't require excessively heavy weight; it is effective with low weight) and lie face down on the bench, arms perpendicular to your body. Slowly and deliberately extend your arms outward from your sides, keeping the elbows relatively straight (a slight break is okay) until they are parallel to the floor. Squeeze momentarily, and then return to starting position. If no bench is available, this exercise can be performed in the following way: Bend at the waist until your torso is parallel to the floor, with your arms (dumbbells in hand) pointing towards the floor. Looking straight ahead (this helps ensure back alignment), bring your arms out to your sides as if you were lying on the bench. Squeeze at the peak of the movement, and then return to starting position. An exercise that you need a cable for is relatively simple, yet effective. Adjust the pulley height to slightly below your shoulder. Attach a rope or a D-grip. Stand next to the machine, and grab the rope with the opposite arm across your body (so if you are standing with the machine on your right side, you will be working your left shoulder). Keeping your arm parallel to the floor and as straight as possible, move it all the way across your body until it is at your side (picture a back hand in tennis). After doing a set, switch hands. Another good exercise requires a flat bench and a double cable system. Set the weight relatively low to begin, as the motion for this exercise takes a little getting used to. Place the bench equidistant from each pulley, and adjust the height of the pulley on each side to its maximum. Attach the bars used for cable flys (the D-shaped ones), and grab one in each hand so that your arms are now perpendicular to your torso. Turn around completely (180 degrees) so that your hands and arms are crossed, while still holding on to the D-grips. Lie flat on the bench. In this position, your arms should be pulled in opposite directions. Slowly extend your arms out and down, so that at the peak of the movement, your arms are parallel to the floor. In essence, you are doing reverse flys on your back. The benefits of this movement are the ability to work both shoulders at the same time, and the continuous tension that cable work gives you. Since this exercise is primarily for stabilization and not so much for power, it is recommended that the rep range be kept relatively high, say in the range of ten to 16. Sometimes, because of the fact that a lifter may not be used to the motion, some slight pain will be felt in the shoulder joint. Should this happen, just lower the weight and focus even more on keeping strict form. When should I eat after working out? Experts say the ideal time to eat is 40 minutes to an hour and a half after a workout. As far as what you should eat, a meal that is high in protein (lean red meat, poultry, fish), as well as in starchy carbs (baked potato, brown rice), and low in fat is considered optimal. It has been determined through research that your body begins to repair the muscle that was broken down during the workout at around this time (40-90 minutes post-workout), and thus this would be the best time to replenish your protein stores.

---

News

The Primary Source' Needs a Heart

March 31

In response to the piece "Primarily persecuted; defending the 'Source'," I am hereby recognizing the Source's "continued track record of . . . lawfulness and honesty." I leave out the word civility, because civility only partially applies. Civility has multiple meanings. Here's one that correctly describes conduct of The Primary Source: formal or perfunctory politeness. The staff of the Source does not break laws, they are not violent. They speak freely and honestly. Without getting angry, they almost always engage in heated debate with cool heads. One might say they have "good manners." But I cannot say that The Primary Source is civil, because there is another meaning of civility: courtesy. Key components of courtesy are respect and tact. Firstly, there's the issue of respect. I understand that the Source staff only wants to give respect to people who they feel deserve it. But it seems that respectable individuals who oppose Source views get smeared in the Source for missteps, and these same people receive no credit for their successes. I understand that kind and thoughtful praise would dilute the satirical bite of the magazine. With that, I can say that the Source staff's satirical ideals undermine their sense of respect (and, in turn, their civility) for people with opposing views. Indeed, freedom of speech allows them to be satirical. Secondly, there's tact. My Merriam-Webster dictionary defines 'tact' as a 'keen sense of what to do or say to keep good relations with others.' It is clear to me that tact is of no importance to the Source staff. They are more concerned about shooting people down than about promoting dialogue. They engage us with their motto, "Veritas Sine Dolo" ("Truth Without Sorrow"), which applies only to the Source's truth and the Source's lack of sorrow. They don't present the full truth, and they couldn't care less about anyone else's sorrow. I wouldn't call their conduct "civil." Still, I affirm that freedom of speech allows them to be as brutally honest as they want. The Primary Source staff uses clear and eloquent language to voice their opinions. They think deeply about the legal and political arguments they are making, because they strive to be a model of respectable journalism. Their articles contain arguments that are well-posed and usually based on indisputable facts. I applaud most of the articles they publish. Their writers are intelligent and articulate, and I appreciate what they have to say. Their analyses are usually well-formed and insightful. As for "From the Elephant's Mouth," "Fortnight in Review" and other sensationalist inserts, I think these "dirty" pieces diminish the quality of their magazine. They have every right to include these satirical pieces in The Primary Source, I just think that they weaken the otherwise intelligent views shown in Source articles. They often hit individuals below the belt even when there is no point to be made. That's fine with them, because your right to free speech is unquestionable. On the Source's subscription offer page, they write that the Source is "everything you always wanted to know about Tufts . . . But everyone else was afraid to tell you." This is not accurate. The content Source staff prints in their magazine falls into two main categories: (1) satire and (2) analysis. The satire is not what everyone else is afraid to say, it's what everyone else wouldn't say because it is tactless. And the analyses do not scare anyone, they are simply thoughtful arguments, as one would expect from "The Journal of Conservative Thought at Tufts University." Let me be clear. The Primary Source must exist at Tufts. I agree that the Conservative viewpoint is vital to debate on the Tufts campus. I have no problem with the Source's existence or your analytical views. I simply question the Source's sense of emotions, tact, and respect for others. The staff of The Primary Source seems to disengage from all their emotions (not just "sorrow") when they write caustic remarks about campus individuals. They don't care how they tear people down, and they don't ever regret anything they say because they are legally allowed to say whatever they want. They need not ever sincerely apologize, because ". . . it will never be the intent of [their] magazine to hurt any individual" ("From the Editor," The Primary Source, 11/22/00). This disclaimer absolves them from any regret or guilt because their version of the word "hurt" apparently does not include emotional or psychological pain. That said, I'll tell you what really bothers me. The Primary Source staff doesn't listen to anyone. People tell the Source that they feel hurt and the Source staff shrugs it off. Free speech, they say. They don't retract statements that hurt others because they can't give anyone the satisfaction of admitting that they've undeniably crossed lines of decency. Again, free speech. They're constitutionally protected, so they can promote hostility on the Tufts campus without any legal repercussions. Again, a clear effect of their "satire" is propagation of emotional and psychological pain - about which they could care less. No matter how much they hurt anyone with their words, no one has the right to steal Source issues. That's wrong and illegal. But I can understand that people are angry at the Source. Its staff doesn't listen and doesn't care. They stand by their freedom of speech and they close their ears to people who are only asking them to stop hurting others. Maybe if the Source staff didn't hurt others so much, people would stop lashing out at them. I am speaking from my heart and I just want the Source staff to think about how they choose to say what they say. I hope that when they defend the content of their magazine in the future, they can put their hearts into it, not just the First Amendment.Kenny William is a senior majoring in mechanical engineering.

---

News

At the head of the class

March 31

At this post-midterm point in the semesters, students generally begin the panicky process of assessing how their grades are measuring up. For many, a disappointing midterm performance impels them to hit the books more earnestly, but sometimes that may not be enough. A nose to the grindstone work ethic often pays off, but a little more strategizing could go a long way. With four years of college classes behind them, seniors say exerting that extra effort to improve one's standing in a class can be as simple as raising a hand, visiting office hours, and generally making yourself a visible member of the class. Senior Kenny William, a Mechanical Engineering major, is a big believer in the potency of going to office hours, and asking questions - even if it's just one. "In this one class sophomore year I only had time to do enough reading to ask one question per class, which I always did," William said. "I also went to office hours a couple times, which was more than just about anyone else. I remember the professor thanked me at the end of the semester for being so active a participant." Like William, senior Tristan Reed, an International Relations and International Letters and Visual Studies major, says it's definitely worthwhile to introduce yourself to the professor. "Talking to the professor makes it a lot more personable," Reed said. "I mean, they're there to help you, not to sink you." Students say politicking with professors has other perks, such as making extensions more likely. In the past Reed has met with the professor to gauge his options. "Once you get the feeling for the professor, you can figure out how best to improve your grade," Reed said. "It's easy enough to get extensions or to arrange to revise or rewrite a paper. Or if there's no chance for that kind of thing, you can always drop the class." Christian Trentacosta, a senior majoring in Clinical Psychology and English, remembers one particular psychology class where he tried to approach the professor with an innovative idea for extra credit. "I tried to be as creative as possible. I asked if I could do an experiment on superheroes, psychoanalyzing the likes of Superman and Spiderman," Trentacosta said. "Unfortunately, that didn't work. The professor said it wouldn't have been fair to the rest of the class, and it was too late in the semester for extra credit." Undaunted, Trentacosta stuck with the class and improved his grade by doing well on the final. "Talking with the professor definitely helped, as well as talking in class," he said. Going the extra mile is more than politicking for a better grade, Trentacosta said.More active involvement helped to better familiarize him with class material and prepare him for the final. As to any regrets he may harbor over his aborted superhero psychoanalysis, Trentacosta said that "the thing about extra credit work is, if you couldn't do the original work or couldn't do it well, how are you going to do something extra?" Nonetheless, professors can often prove sympathetic or at least understanding when it comes to deadlines, and many students find it worthwhile to seek extensions when necessary. Senior Alan Becker, a double major in German and Environmental Studies, said that while deadlines are not to be taken lightly, he has been fortunate on several occasions in dealing with professors on due dates. "This one class freshman year, one of those big, introductory classes, I kind of didn't start the final paper until the Saturday morning I was supposed to go home for semester break," Becker said. "It had been due a couple weeks before, and I didn't even get the chance to turn it in myself; I had to catch a plane, so I had one of my friends hand it in, but even then I still at least passed."

---

News

English dept. announces Asian American studies professor

March 31

The English department will soon begin a search for a professor of Asian American studies, after the administration last week approved its request under the Faculty Diversity Initiative. The decision was announced at a speech given by UC Berkeley Professor Ronald Takaki, a pioneer in the field of ethnic and Asian American studies. The Faculty Diversity Initiative was instituted several years ago, and allows for the hiring of two professors - typically minorities - in underrepresented areas of the curriculum each year. This year's decision was precipitated by months of lobbying by the Asian American Curricular Transformation (AACT) Project, composed of students and professors looking to further Asian American studies options at Tufts. Both faculty and curricular diversity have been debated since the 1997 Task Force on Race found that Tufts is lacking in Asian American, Latin American and Native American studies. Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye called the decision "fantastic," saying it will broaden Tufts' curricular diversity. "It's not a professor for Asian Americans, it's a professor for Tufts," he said. "It's realizing that diversity is actually a central organizing concept of intellectual life." Takaki's presentation was an appropriate setting for the announcement, as the speaker was largely responsible for the addition of an American Cultures requirement at Berkeley. Takaki's lecture - "Bursting to be told: Why Asian American Studies at Tufts?" - was planned well before the decision to hire an Asian American studies professor through the English department. Nonetheless, he congratulated the University on creating the faculty line and advised students on setting a vision for a comprehensive American Cultures program. Takaki met with students both at his lecture, which boasted an attendance of over 300, and at a luncheon with a multi-racial coalition of students to discuss curricular needs. At the luncheon, Takaki discussed ways for students to come up with a concrete plan and create coalitions to increase the study of American cultures at Tufts. The program's success at Berkeley, Takaki said, would not have happened without a strong vision. "I have found it's very important - the struggle for concrete goals," Takaki said. "I want us to see how this piece fits into a larger puzzle." Commenting on Tufts' strength in international relations, Takaki encouraged students to "link the study of diversity in the United States to diversity in the rest of the world." Inouye agreed, saying this lens would capitalize on Tufts' strengths. "There is a natural connection between international diversity and domestic diversity," he said. Many professors required their students to attend the lecture or opted to go to the lecture instead of teaching class for the evening. Speaking from personal experience, and writing notes on the blackboard, Takaki turned the lecture into a virtual workshop for students on how to achieve curricular diversity at Tufts. Takaki said the next step for Tufts students is insuring that all interests are represented on the search committee for the new professor. "We want to make sure those on the search committee are qualified to make this connection [about a broader goal], and are knowledgeable about Asian American studies." Encouraging students to work for long-term solutions and garner support from faculty members, Takaki said that studying diversity in America could leave a lasting impact on the University. "This could be your legacy," he said. "Just imagine if you did establish a requirement here that would be part of humanities and social sciences; if you put that into place." Students felt both the luncheon, which allowed for intimate discussion, and the lecture, which brought public attention to the issue, were beneficial. "It was amazing to see the Tufts student body coming to a lecture that finally deals with the experiences of Asian Americans and their history in the US," sophomore and AACT member David Wu said.Mary Anne Anderson contributed to this article

---

News

Men's and Women's squash enjoy successful weekend

March 31

The men's and women's squash teams both fared well last weekend in their respective tournaments. The women took on both St. Lawrence and Mt. Holyoke at the Amherst Invitational and split their matches, while the men's squad went 2-1 on the weekend against Stanford, Navy, and Rochester at the Yale Invitational. On the women's side, the Jumbos struggled against St. Lawrence, falling 6-3, but cruised past Mt. Holyoke, winning 8-1. Although the team acknowledged St. Lawrence's strong effort, the jumbos maintained that they could have won the match. "Next time I think we win that one," senior co-captain Justine Kurland said. "They were just a little bit stronger than us." The squad fared better against Mt. Holyoke. "They were a weaker team," Kurland said. "We all played really well." The match was a milestone for freshman Nicole Arens, who won the first match of her career. "It's the best I've played all year," Arens said. But the biggest story of the weekend was the return of junior Winnie So, who did not participate in the early part of the season for unspecified reasons. So, who stepped climbed back to the top of the lineup, played her first two matches this weekend. "I'm very happy," Arens said of So's return. "I am now in a spot (in the lineup) where I am more capable of playing." With So now occupying the top spot, everyone else in the lineup has moved down a slot. This places former number-one Anne Montesano at number two, and enables Arens to step down in the third slot. So brings experience to the team, playing in her sixth year of competitive squash. "I hope I am able to coach the team a little bit," So said. Though she was unable to secure a victory in her first two matches, So is confident her return will help to spark the club. "I think we have more depth," she said. "The top four can be strong." Coach Doug Eng is also confident that the return of So will prove to be beneficial. "It really helps a lot," he said. "It puts everyone in position where they can win their matches more easily." The team currently holds a 2-6 record but has not lost its optimism and is looking to build on its impressive victory over Mt. Holyoke. "I think we should use this as a turning point for our season." Arens said. The women are back in action again today, taking on Wellesley at home. In New Haven, the men's team continued its strong season, improving to a solid 6-4 record, with its two victories. The squad defeated Stanford in a nail-biter to begin the weekend, but was beaten handily by a strong Navy squad. The Jumbos rebounded nicely, though, with a win against Rochester. Upon the conclusion of seven matches against Stanford, Tufts trailed 4-3. Senior tri-captain Colin O'Higgins, the number-three player, took care of Stanford's Sam Gellman in four games, in a pivotal match to tie the score at four. Another Jumbo senior tri-captain, Neil Pallaver, found himself down 7-1 in the fourth game, but was able to knock off six straight points to secure the victory. "It was a matter of not losing his cool," Eng said. "It was ultimately the deciding match." The men struggled mightily as they were shut out 9-0 by a tough Navy Team. "They are very fit, they have very good depth, and they hit hard," Eng said. "It was a tough match." Adding to the Jumbos difficulties was the time of the match. "It was a really early morning match at 8 a.m.," junior Chris Choi said. "It was kind of rough." The Jumbos' third match of the weekend proved to be another nail-biter against Rochester. Junior Nathan Anderson won the final match of the day to give the Jumbos the 5-4 victory. Despite the victory, Tufts players felt that they played better than the score suggests. "I don't think the scores demonstrate how good we are," Anderson said. "We could have beaten them more easily." Eng appears satisfied with the victories over the weekend but feels the team needs to continue its upward climb. "We need to work on conditioning," Eng said. "We really have a lot of talent. We have a tough lineup and we should win at the bottom." Eng noted the subpar 3-6 record at the number eight and nine spot. "We should be flying at those positions," he said. Last year the team won 65 percent of its matches at the seven, eight, and nine positions. However, Eng feels the team will continue to improve. "They will rise up to the Challenge," he said. The Jumbos next contest will be at Bowdoin on Sunday.

---

---

News

The politics of bad movies

March 31

People bitch about it all the time. Why do bad things happen to good people? And why do good things happen to bad movies? Summer after summer, year after year, movie studios put out formulaic romances, low-brow action flicks, and moronic comedies. Bad movies, sequels, remakes, spinoffs, imitations, and the like keep our air-conditioned movie houses full and our film critics cringing. Everyone notices the trend, though they may not agree on its cause. Studios keep churning out charmless wastes of time like Miss Congeniality and Speed 2: Cruise Control - not to pick on Sandra Bullock - instead of supporting more dramatic and artistic work. To twist the knife a bit, studios then make bad sequels instead of attacking bold new material. With rare exceptions (such as the Terminator series), the original film is usually better than the sequel, even if the original was horrible. You're welcome to try to disagree, but the examples are so numerous that it's not worth arguing about. How about Mannequin v. Mannequin 2: On the Move? Or Sister Act v. Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit? And all nostalgic respect to Mannequin aside, this applies to good movies, too, not just dreck. Father of the Bride (the Steve Martin version, and yes, I realize that it's a remake) deserves all the praise you can think to heap on it. Father of the Bride Part II, on the other hand, deserves nothing. Please don't watch it. While these sequels may stink, they at least followed reasonably successful originals. Money motivates studio executives just as it does anyone else earning a living off of entertainment. If the upcoming crop of releases looks dismal, making a sequel to a profitable movie just to rake in some cash makes sense, even if it doesn't justify making a rotten, lifeless film. So the sin deepens: why make bad sequels to bad movies? It's bad enough to follow up good work with tripe, but why subject the public to multiple Mortal Kombat or Weekend at Bernie's installments? Don't start patting yourself on the back. Studios continue to make sequels because people continue to pay for them. Because you continue to pay for them. They made two sequels to Mortal Kombat because the original was profitable. It's the basic ecology of movies. Studios want to make money. Therefore, movies exist because the studio thinks they will be profitable. If no one had seen the first Mortal Kombat, there would have been no sequels. And don't claim that you wish things were different but that the American public has poor taste in film. You cannot blame the uncultured "public" for bad movies (or bad music, or anything else) because you are the American public. American entertainment is a capitalist market. If you don't like the movies in theaters, don't go see one anyway; don't go see one at all. Call it voting with your wallet, call it voting with your feet, call it not wasting your money, but don't encourage moviemakers to release films that you don't want to see. The theaters don't have a monopoly on entertainment. There are so many things to do in the world that you should never have to settle for something that you expect to waste your time. This is why Gladiator won Best Picture. This is why The Fast and the Furious did so well. This is why Jerry Bruckheimer can get away with producing Armageddon, Coyote Ugly, and Pearl Harbor. People like it, people want it, people pay for it. Don't fool yourself into thinking that the entertainment business isn't about money. It may not be about money alone, but it's still a business. And it's quite a business. So long as people like breasts, explosions, and bad acting, Hollywood will be happy to oblige. It takes a lot less time to come up with those than to make something good - and it's a lot less risky. I don't blame the studios or the producers for making bad movies any more than I blame the record industry for the debatable quality of pop music. Studios make bad movies for the same reason that people keep their money in banks. Who wants to take a huge risk when his livelihood is on the line? Stop picturing Hollywood as an evil, leering behemoth and start realizing that it's just a mirror the size of a movie screen. The big names may have enough money to market the hell out of anything they want, but I blame the consumer for being dumb enough to buy it. The bottom line: don't settle for something bad when you know it's bad... and if you do settle, at least stop complaining. If you voted for the wrong side, I'm not about to listen to any whining about the results.

---

News

Clinton to speak today

March 31

Former President Bill Clinton will speak at 4:30 p.m. today in the Gantcher Family Convocation Center on the topic of "Our Shared Future and Globalization in the 21st Century." Approximately 2,500 student tickets were made available for the event, along with additional spots for VIPs, the press, faculty, and members of the Senior Leadership Corps. The supply of the general tickets, which were free, seems to have been exhausted. Many students waited for three or more hours to get tickets from the Campus Center and Dowling Hall Monday morning, some to find that they had arrived too late. Sophomore Alex Bailey arrived in the early morning hours to secure a seat for the lecture. "I rolled out of bed at 5:30, and since my window overlooks the quad I could see people already walking down," he said. "It was quite an experience and a lot of fun just trying to stay warm and hanging out." But not all students were eager to stand around in the cold weather for Clinton tickets. Sophomore Dan Cardinal said Clinton's lecture was not a big enough draw to get him out of bed. "I didn't try to get Clinton tickets," he said. "That would involve me getting out of bed at some ungodly hour." Bailey said that seeing Clinton took priority over some of his other activities. "It's definitely worth it... I'm skipping a test to go!" he said. The event conflicts with several scheduled classes, many of which are taught by professors who have excused students with tickets for part of the afternoon. The event will begin promptly at 4:30 p.m. but students must be in their seats by 4:20 p.m. Clinton's visit is a part of the Issam M. Fares lecture series, which has previously brought speakers such as former President George H. Bush, now-Secretary of State Colin Powell, and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher to campus. Seating for the Fares lecture was filled to capacity last year when Powell spoke.

---

News

Senate in-house elections restaged, role on campus examined

March 31

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate's executive board was elected smoothly following a short controversy concerning the election of Senate culture representatives before students went home for the summer. With the new body now in place, many wonder how the Senate under TCU President Melissa Carson will compare to previous administrations. Elections first took place on April 28, but the Elections Board (ELBO) later nullified the results. The board was concerned that the culture reps had been elected by their respective culture groups without ELBO observation. Since culture reps take part in in-house senate elections, the entire election had to thrown out. The culture groups eventually restaged their elections with ELBO present, legitimizing future in-house elections. Senate elections were re-held to form President Carson's exec board. Junior Andrew Potts was elected vice president, junior Ben Lee was re-elected treasurer, and former presidential candidate and junior Alison Clarke was elected historian. Freshman Rachel Marx was elected Assistant Treasurer and freshman Adam Koeppel was elected Parliamentarian. The absence of rising juniors on next year's executive board is causing some to wonder where leadership will come for the 2003-2004 academic year. Traditionally, presidential candidates emerge from the Senate's executive board. Others, however, see the senior-heavy executive board as a way to increase efficiency for next year's Senate. "It's kind of nice having a mostly senior executive board because they don't have long term agendas or political aspirations," Koeppel said. This might allow the executive board to make more controversial decisions, since the seniors do not have to worry about re-election, he said. The Senate's official role is to manage the Student Activities fee and distribute it to various campus groups. Additionally, the Senate serves as a lobbying group to the administration and organizes services like the Turkey Shuttle. . The Senate also addressed some difficult and divisive issues throughout the year and took some principled stands, University President Larry Bacow said. "I believe the Senate provided very constructive input into the work of the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience," he said Each year, however, the Senate seems to redefine itself in terms of its leaders and membership. The most extreme example is the contrasting styles of TCU Presidents Larry Harris (LA'00) and Dave Moon (LA'01). Harris' Senate was marked by controversy and clashing personalities. His administration made headlines and stirred up campus opinion. While some felt Harris lost control of the Senate, others appreciated the increased campus awareness of student government that resulted. In contrast, Moon kept a tight grip on his Senate, encouraging issues to be solved internally and subduing controversy in the public eye. Some were grateful for a less hectic year, while others feel that, since Moon's administration, students have been less aware of the Senate's presence. Eric Greenberg's government this year continued Moon's low profile, to some senator's dismay. Greenberg's campaign emphasized the need for increasing student outreach but few noticeable changes were made during his tenure. Although the Senate passed bylaws requiring Senators to table in dining halls and visit dorms, little came of it in the end. Many feel that Senate presidents are instrumental in characterizing the nature of the Senate. "The role of the Senate in a given year begins with the president and the executive board," Potts said. "Not that they're in control, but because they set the tone. They are the leadership of the body." Harris voiced a similar opinion. "I feel like the Senate is the group of people on campus who are ultimately responsible for advocating for student interests," he said. "The president has a responsibility to assess student needs on campus and voice those to administrators." The Senate should be open to criticism and publicly available to the student body, he said. Moon, however, cautions against a Senate that has too much publicity and leaves itself open to widespread criticism. The administration notices if the student government is weak, he said, and it makes them less worried about having their actions scrutinized. "So when student groups are making a mess of the Senate, and the media is trying to slam them, this might impact our ability to advocate to the administration for other long-shot student policies," he continued. The Senate has control of its own image, according to Moon, based on its relationship with the media and student groups. But he added that some overly ambitious Senators inevitably try to move up in the body and undercut the balance. He calls this practice "detrimental to the entire cause" of the Senate. "I believe that if you need to get criticism, you should," Harris said. "It's fine to be in the newspapers. Then students will know about the Senate - otherwise, it's just useless." In reference to Moon and Greenberg, Harris said that their low-profile administrations "didn't live up to the responsibility and make it available to students." There seems to be optimism pervading through the Senate. "What we have [for next year] is a lot of people who are in the right positions and the right places," Potts said. Having the right people for the positions coupled with Carson's record of getting projects accomplished, leads him to believe that the body will "make student government run well next year."

---

News

Be GE free

March 31

Seeds are scandalous little devils. They go wherever the wind blows them without regard for property lines or trespassing laws. They're also remarkably promiscuous - reproducing anywhere they feel like it, and among whatever neighboring species happen to exist in that space. They are the harbingers of luscious plant life. I love seeds.I do not love the fact that three fourths of unique seed species were lost in the twentieth century, or that we eat grains that have been made to produce toxins in their own cells. Corporations like Monsanto and Aventis have patented certain seed species and are allowed to sue farmers who grow those plants without permission or payment. What is happening to the world? Why is a corporation allowed to own life?My theory is that the scientists who developed genetically engineered plants were terribly jealous of the good life that natural seeds have. Seeds live in complete freedom, and they represent the wonders of Mother Nature. In the laboratory that I imagine, the scientists are nearly all men, and they search for ways to harness and control this miracle of nature primarily because they cannot give birth themselves. Their desire to dominate manifests itself in their exploitation of nature and reproduction, which are symbolically female realms. Genetic engineering (GE) is therefore an extreme example of patriarchy.The creation of mutant seeds is driven not only by the male desire to conquer nature, but also by the longing to make money. Traditionally, farmers save a small portion of their fields to collect seeds that they reuse the following year. But with genetically engineered and patented seeds, farmers must buy new seeds every year or risk a lawsuit from the industry giants, who test fields for signs of their genetic codes in plants.In developing countries, the IMF forces farmers to plant certain kinds of seeds in order to receive monetary aid. This policy both manipulates farmers and contributes to the disappearance of thousands of native plant species. Biotech companies convinced the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the scientific complexities of genetic engineering are incomprehensible to everyone but the genetic scientists themselves, and were given the privilege of regulating themselves. The chair of the FDA committee on GE regulations, which formed in 1992, was in fact a lawyer who represented Monsanto; the system that he established caters to the biotech corporations and ignores public health and safety issues. The industry quickly proved itself incapable of functioning safely when it allowed Starlink corn (whose engineered pesticides were deemed safe for livestock but not for humans) to contaminate "normal" corn silos and find its way onto grocery store shelves in 1998. Contamination is not controllable; it will always happen because plants pollinate one another and their genes can travel undetermined distances. Some farmers who are sued by the biotech industry for using patented seeds without permission have no malicious intent whatsoever. Their fields are simply cross-pollinated by neighboring fields that may grow patented crops.Newly developed Terminator technology allows seeds to grow only in the presence of certain chemicals, effectively sterilizing the seeds themselves. This brings terrifying new dangers to the world of biodiversity and natural plant reproduction. This new terminating technology has not yet gone commercial, but when it does, it could cross-pollinate and sterilize other plants. Without taking extreme precaution, Monsanto could unleash a monster that wipes out a significant portion of plant life on Earth. Most European countries recognize the dangers inherent in genetic engineering and demand labels on food. Corporations like Shaws Supermarket, Kellogg's, Kraft, Nabisco, Nestle, and PepsiCo bowed to the tremendous pressure in Europe and eliminated GE ingredients from their products. They refuse to do the same in the US, though, because they claim that the public doesn't care. Do we care? The movement against biotechnology did originate in the US, and activists have staged thousands of protests opposing genetic engineering in the last three decades. But we are fighting a losing battle; more than 60 percent of the processed foods we buy are genetically engineered, and that number is growing. What can we do? Boycott companies that use GE ingredients, and buy local, organic whole foods. Encourage Tufts to eliminate GE foods from our dining halls, or to at least label the mutant food that they serve. We cannot allow greedy corporations to taint and kill the most precious, nourishing life on the planet. Four hundred years ago Francis Bacon said, "Science and technology do not merely exert a gentle guidance over nature's course; they have the power to conquer and subdue her; to shake her to her foundations." It is amazing how true this has proven to be, but there is still time to change our course. Of course, technology can be beneficial. But one should always be suspicious of technology that is employed solely for financial gain.Emily Good is a sophomore majoring in (I left a message for her, but I don't think she has declared yet).

---

News

Tufts grad keeps her promises

March 31

Move over William Hurt and Hank Azaria - another Tufts graduate has made it in the film industry. Justine Shapiro, a 1985 Tufts graduate who studied theater and history while in Medford, earned an Oscar nomination for her documentary feature Promises, based on interviews with Israeli and Palestinian children on their feelings about the peace process. Though the Academy Award was given instead to Murder on a Sunday Morning, Shapiro has earned acclaim and awards for her work. TheNew York Times calls Promises "an intensely personal and insightful documentary that demonstrates the unusual power of thoughtful, subjective filmmaking." The Jerusalem Post has praised Promises for offering a glimmer of hope in the difficult struggle in the Mideast. Shapiro's use of children in her documentary has been hailed as particularly innovative and very revealing about the way information is processed by the youth caught in the crossfire of the conflict. Shapiro and her colleagues focused on seven children from both sides of Jerusalem. Shapiro was able to portray the many dimensions and complexities of the children by becoming a part of their daily lives. Her work is considered an impressive portrayal of the children as individuals, rather than as cultural stereotypes. The project has struck a chord with many who are concerned with the Middle East - The Promises Film Advisory Board is supported by a number of prominent figures, including Richard Dreyfuss, Norman Lear, and Debra Winger. Many critics were surprised at the documentary's failure to earn the Oscar, particularly in light of its critical acclaim. Promises earned top honors at International Film Festivals in San Francisco, Munich, Jerusalem, Locarno, Vancouver, Valladolid, and Sao Paolo. And Promises is the first documentary to ever win top honors at the Netherlands' Rotterdam Film Festival. "Good documentary films reveal what is under the surface of a situation or a person," Shapiro told PBS. "It is the process of unearthing these complexities that motivates me. Ultimately, I believe that life is all about learning something more about oneself and the world around us." Shapiro can regularly be seen as the host of "Lonely Planet," an adventure show on the Travel Channel. Promises can be viewed at the Coolidge Corner Theater in Boston, MA.

---

News

Transgendered students face unique challenges at college

March 31

To most people, the words "sex" and "gender" are synonymous. But for people who identify as transgendered or transsexual, gender is not a clear-cut issue of being physically male or female, girl or boy. Instead, it is a contradiction between physical features and psychologically determined gender identity. Some students believe the visibility of transgendered students is minimal, and many wonder what the second "T" in TTLGBC actually stands for. The Tufts Transgendered Lesbian Gay Bisexual Collective attempts to provide a safe space and a forum that allows these "trans" students to learn about and discuss sexual identity issues. Transgendered students are present at Tufts, though they may keep a low profile. "There is not a large population of trans students at Tufts," transgender senior Phillip Anwar said. Of the trans students on campus, many choose not to make it known because of the delicate issues surrounding the lack of knowledge about transsexuality. "The trans students on campus are a large part of TTLGBC because that isa home they can reconcile with," Anwar said. "Many people don't understand gender in the broad way that TTLGBC does." "The general atmosphere [of students] is totally unaware," Anwar said. "Trans students are not always cross-dressers, and so it is very difficult to say who is and who isn't. This is propagated by the lack of knowledge about trans issues in the general populace." Anwar identifies himself as a transgender person who is mostly male but also partly female. Those who are active in the LGBT community at large say that lack of knowledge about transgendered individuals is common, and the Tufts campus is no exception to the rule. "In society, people are always questioning, is that a man or a woman?" sophomore trans-activist Kelly Sanborn said. "Tufts is not exempt from this. People can react violently when confronted with something or someone they don't understand or treat as equal." Trans students say accurate information about transsexuality is crucial for the creation of a safe space for the discussion and questioning of the traditionally binary concept of sexuality and gender. "We all grow up knowing things about transsexuality, but it's all wrong. Information is everything," Stacy Montgomery, a self-identified male-to-female transwoman said. Montgomery was a workshop leader at Safe Colleges Conference 2002, which was held on campus two weeks ago. Transgendered students say they have to face even more hurdles than most in the LGB community. "They do not have a large population of individuals who are going through similar changes [and] realizations," Anwar said. "There are tons of coming out stories, and many supportive nods at meetings, however the trans experience is basically shrouded in mystery." "When you're trans, you're always alone," Montgomery agreed. According to transgendered individuals, these problems extend from the realm of personal to political because many basic civil rights laws do not cover transsexual discrimination. "You can be fired for being trans," said Montgomery. "You lose out on basic civil rights, jobs, health care, etc." Oftentimes trivial luxuries are not available for those who wish to transition to their psychologically identified gender. Montgomery feels that single-sex bathrooms are especially troublesome for both people who are mid-transition and those who have already fully transitioned. Transgendered people who do not completely pass as the gender with which they identify can be arrested when they use bathrooms of either sex. As a result of this possibility, Montgomery abstains from eating or drinking whenever she leaves home for fear of being accosted or arrested for using a bathroom. Sanborn is currently spearheading a trans-friendly bathroom initiative in which single-sex bathrooms could be made trans-friendly by changing the sign in front to say unisex instead of being gender specific. "Being trans can be a huge draining experience, especially when people can't safely use a restroom all day long," Sanborn said. While they may face more sexual identity issues than most, trans students at Tufts refuse to fade into the background. In addition to using the TTLGBC community as a safe haven, many trans students have found that it is a forum in which they can take an active role. "Trans students are active; they have been TTLGBC co-coordinators,helped lead activist events, as well as other great things in the queer community," Sanborn said.

---

News

Six Degrees' of Luke Jorgensen

March 31

Every director faces three questions when starting a project. Well, sometimes more, but at least three: What play, why that play, and why that play now? For drama professor Luke Jorgensen, the answer to the first question wasn't hard. His directorial debut at Tufts University is Six Degrees of Separation, written by John Guare. It opens tonight in the Balch Arena Theater. "I read somewhere that everybody on this planet is separated by only six other people," says Ouisa Kittredge (played by Allison Clear) about halfway through the play "Six degrees of separation between us and everyone else on this planet." This idea is at the center of the play, and of Jorgensen's vision. "I've wanted to direct this play since I first read it," said Jorgensen. "The structure of it just stuck with me. It's very intimate and free flowing. The characters speak their minds directly to the audience, and in this space..." - He gestures to the Arena Theater around him - "...the characters can look and connect right with the audience." The play is all about connections. Based on a true story, the play involves several of members of the upper-upper class community in Manhattan being swindled by an outrageous, brilliant, pathological-lying gay man named Paul (Jeff Brea) who claims to be the son of Sidney Poitier. He staggers in to the Kittredge home one night, a victim of a mugging attack, asking for help and saying he knows their children. Ouisa and her husband, Flan (Graham Outerbridge) are at first cautious, then interested, and then enraptured with what Paul has to say. He spins an involving tale, talking of his father and a theory explaining every major assassination attempt of the past 50 years. He completely talks his way into their hearts, and is asked to stay the night. Then, the next morning... What happens next is left for you to find out, but it turns out that Flan and Ouisa are one of many people that Paul has visited. We meet their kids, we meet their neighbors, we meet the neighbors' kids, we even meet their doorman. Everyone in the play has some connection to Paul, who is not a friend of their children, not a college graduate, and probably not even named Paul. He is also not just a con man, either. The play has no set heroes or villains, which is one of the reasons Jorgensen was drawn to it. "The play has no set structure," he explained. "When a character needs to say something, he just comes on and says it. When the setting needs to change, it does. No scenes, no acts, just moving thoughts, emotions and people." The set is deceptively simple. A beige floor with a few pieces of furniture greets the audience, along with a huge painting and two screens that project pictures of people sitting. Much of the play concerns art, as the Kittredges are art dealers: paintings, famous painters, and their use of color and emotion. This influences the lighting, and thus the bland stage becomes alive with brilliant shades of red, green, blue, gold, and pink. Each color paints the stage with a mood, thought, expression, or emotion. "It's sort of a Pleasantville effect," said Jorgensen. "The colors bring out things from the characters that they've never experience before, or maybe haven't in a long time." But the simplistic design scheme does not take away from the play's depth. "Six Degrees still has a lot to say," Jorgenson assured. "I think people have lived with the idea of political correctness for a while, and are now experienced at expressing how they feel without really saying it. "When I asked this cast to think of a specific incident of overt racism, they couldn't think of much. But when I asked them to think harder, think of something subtle but definitely there... everyone had witnessed or been involved in at least one incident of racism or bigotry on some level. There are a lot of characters in this play that will be startlingly familiar to a lot of the audience. A distilled memory of that friend from high school, that uncle who always talked that much, etc." In fully answering the question 'why now?' it turns out that this wasn't Jorgensen's first opportunity to produce Six Degrees. "This is my first show here, but by no means my first show. I wanted to do this first at Boston College but..." - he laughs - "...I hope my boss doesn't read this. I wanted to do it there but I got lots of concerned faces. Lots of people concerned that maybe it'd be offensive, maybe the time was right. But when I brought it up here, the first reactions I got was enthusiasm." That energy has spilled over into the cast, a veritable who's-who of previous department and student-directed theater efforts. The leads from all of this year's shows have returned to portray the many characters who show up to complete all the various connections made during the play. Romeo and Juliet are here (David Greene and Nicole Frattaroli), Uncle Peck and his wife from How I Learned to Drive (Graham Outerbridge and Ann Blumenstock), half of the cast from Stop Kiss (Rachel Jablin, Kevin Miller, and Sam Rivers), and lots of the tavern inhabitants from Playboy of the Western World. Each makes some kind of mark on the play, distilling that memory of the rich, the poor, those that grow in life and those who stay where it's comfortable. "The issues this play deals with - examining closely how similar and connected we all are, and yet how we still manage to keep ourselves apart - still rings true, even if it's over ten years old," said Jorgensen. "But, and perhaps most importantly, it's about ideas and people, not issues. It's still a comedy, but it's a comedy that stings because it brings up all these problems, and promises no solutions. I like that."Six Degrees of Separation opens this Thursday and will run until April 20. It runs about one hour and 40 minutes with no intermission. Tickets are available at the Balch Arena Box office.

---

News

Men's swimming makes mark at NESCACs, finishes fourth

March 31

The men's swimming and diving team entered this weekend's NESCAC Championships in hopes of gaining a top finish against some of the conference's finest. The 9-1 squad did just that this Friday at Wesleyan, emerging from the deck with a fourth place finish. Tufts placed one position higher from last season's championships, scoring 1,213 points in the 225-event competition. The scoring total reflects Tufts' gradual improvement in the championships; the Jumbos have steadily climbed from last season's 1,188-point performance and from a 705-point finish the season before. And this year, Tufts also found itself alongside exclusive company - the meet's top three spots went to Middlebury (1,544), Williams (1,422), and Amherst (1,301). These three powerhouses have been fixtures at the top of standings for the past decade, and usually place in the NCAA Top 25 by the end of the season. Coach Don Megerle, normally not an emotional team figure, was ecstatic over the Jumbo's final finish. Placing much emphasis on the squad's taper, Megerle cut down practices to about 200 yards, much less than that found at other schools. His rigorous schedule of mental preparation for the players paid off. "I came into the championships expecting us to finish around fifth place," Megerle said. "Fourth was a good goal for us, and we achieved that. I am very proud of them." Despite the Jumbos' impressive finish, much of the weekend was filled with anxiety as the squad maintained a narrow cushion over fifth place Hamilton for the majority of the meet. At one point, the Continentals trailed the Jumbos by a margin of 7.5 points, and the teams tied each other in the 800-yard freestyle relay. The suspense settled down at the end, however, as the Jumbos rallied to extend their lead (Hamilton finished with 1153.50 points) and secure their final placement. All of the Jumbos swam well - every competing swimmer earning at least one point in the meet, and contributing to much support on the deck throughout the weekend's competition. "This was one loud and crazy weekend," freshman Rich Halpert said. "There was a lot of team spirit out on the deck. We cheered for each other and it paid off beautifully; everybody performed very well." The team placed sixth in the 200 freestyle relay behind a strong 21.08 split by sophomore Nick Ghoussaini. Halpert overcame illness he faced the week of the meet to claim one fourth place and two sixth place finishes in the 200 freestyle, the 200 IM, and the 200 backstroke. Freshmen Seth Baron and Mike Rochette, and sophomores Tyler Duckworth and Ed Edson also exhibited strong improvements. Many points came more quietly from the divers, as freshman Jon Perry and juniors Dave Liebenstein and Connell Cloyd gave the Jumbos some much needed scoring to keep a lead over Hamilton. The three finished in close proximity to one another, finishing ninth, eleventh, and twelfth, respectively. Three school records were set doing the course of the weekend by Baron, Halpert, and Duckworth. Baron broke the Tufts record for the 200 butterfly with a time of 1:55.72. Halpert set a new mark in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1:56.23, while Duckworth broke his own school record set last year in the 200 breaststroke (2:08.21). With their fast finishes, Baron and Duckworth earned themselves B-cut considerations to compete in the NCAA swimming championships. Overall, the season ended on a high note. Many Jumbos offered praise for departing captain Timmy Bouley, the only competing senior for Tufts in the championships. In his last meet, Bouley contributed not only leadership, but a twelfth place finish in the 400 IM, as well. Many teammates will miss his presence and leadership ability. "He was an excellent team leader," Halpert said. "He approached the team with great support and great attitude." Bouley expressed much gratitude for the season as well. A member of the team for four years, he emerged to be one of this year's main figures of support throughout the course of the season. "I was as confident as I ever have been heading into the championships," Bouley said. "I knew we would do well. We traditionally have strong finishes in the end, and this year was definitely a reflection of that." Megerle attributes the team's placement to strong efforts all throughout the season, both in training and in maintaining confidence and a strong mental attitude. "It was such an exciting meet, and the team really deserves some praise," Megerle said. "They went in confident and prepared for the water. They definitely approached the championships with the right mental attitude, and things like that pay off." The Jumbos' attitude was indeed one of camaraderie, as all of the 24 swimmers followed each other behind Megerle's instructions. Team chemistry was also evident, and players were appreciative of their opportunity to be able to compete in Tuft's final event for the season. "This season went by beautifully," Halpert said. "I can't wait till next year."

---

News

Duke dethroned, Kansas is the nation's top team

March 31

After weeks of repetition atop the NCAA poll, an ACC upset shook up the top five, leaving Kansas as king of the land. The third ranked Maryland Terps, led by Juan Dixon and Chris Wilcox, had few problems defending their home court, easily upending Duke 87-73. With the loss, Duke dropped to number three overall, while Maryland moved up to number two. Cincinnati, which defeated St. Louis and Southern Mississippi easily, moved up to number four, while Oklahoma, which lost to in-state rival Oklahoma State, dropped to number five. The Duke/Maryland rivalry has intensified in the past few years, especially after Duke erased a ten-point lead with a minute left in regulation last season. The Blue Devils went on to win that battle at Maryland's Cole Field House in overtime, in one of the wackiest endings in college basketball history. This year, however, the Blue Devils never found their offensive rhythm. Mike Dunleavy and Jason Williams, Duke's two best players, combined to shoot a mere 11-36 from the floor. Chris Duhon was 3-12, and Dahntay Jones was 1-8. Williams appeared confused all game by the harassing defense of Maryland junior Steve Blake. The Terps led by nine at the half, and never allowed Duke to get back in the game with one of its patented scoring outbreaks. However, this meeting will most likely be the regular season's penultimate between the two powerhouses, which are destined to meet in the ACC tournament, and perhaps again in the final four. The finest game of the week took place in Los Angeles, were UCLA upset Arizona 77-76. The Bruins' Jason Kapono, one of the nation's best shooters, drained a trey with 19 seconds remaining. Arizona's Channing Frye missed a ten foot bank shot, and UCLA sealed the victory. Six teams with four conference losses make PAC-Ten the nation's most wide-open conference. Major upsets also occurred in the static SEC, where number eight Florida avenged a loss by beating number 22 Georgia, but then lost to unranked Mississippi by almost 20 points. Georgia went on to upset Kentucky, who defeated Vanderbilt earlier in the week. The Bulldogs have proven to be a puzzling team, capable of beating any team in the country on a given night, but also quite susceptible to upsets. The Pitt Panthers were the week's big winners, moving up to number ten from number 16 after defeating West Virginia. One of the nation's biggest surprises, the Panthers stand at 22-4 overall, and this week take on Rutgers in what should be a fierce, physical Big-East game. Also making great strides last week was Ohio's Xavier, which entered the poll at number 24. Led by 6-8 forward David West, who averages 18.5 points and 10.4 boards per game, Xavier cracked the top 25 for the first time this season after defeating George Washington and St. Joseph's. The week's big loser was the University of Arizona, which dropped hotly contested games to UCLA and USC. The Wildcats, who entered the week as the nation's tenth ranked squad, dropped to number 16, and look to rebound this week against mediocre rival Arizona State. The conference battles continue this week, as number four Cincinatti takes on number nine Marquette, while number 21 Wake Forest takes on both Duke and Maryland. In the SEC, number six Alabama plays number eight Florida, and in the PAC-10, number 22 USC looks to upset number 11 Stanford. With the NCAA tournament only two weeks away, all teams will look for a final push to cement spots.

---

News

Sounds like Sicily

March 31

For freshman member Merrin Lazyan, singing has always been a passion. A member of her high school a cappella group and performer in an assortment of musical productions, Lazyan says she has found her niche at Tufts with the Chamber Singers. The singers, a diverse group of about 20 students, rehearse regularly with Jim John, the director of choral activities and a lecturer in the Department of Music. The intensity of the group's bi-weekly meetings demonstrates each individual's level of dedication. Practices last approximately two hours and are arduous, but, as described by one member, "highly satisfying." During practice, the group works on its repertoire of classical songs from the likes of composers such as Debussy and Josquin. In recent years, the group has been striving to increase its mark on campus. While the student music scene has long been dominated by a cappella groups, the Chamber Singers present an eclectic array of music performed both in English and in foreign languages, exposing their audiences to classical traditions. "People don't see our music as something they can relate to," said junior Tamra Spector, who has sung with the Chamber Singers since her freshman year. "We've been trying to get people to come and see us more...now that we've gotten out into the community, we've gotten a lot more gigs." The Chamber Singers have performed on campus numerous times over the past year. With concerts during Parents' Weekend, joint shows with the Tufts Flute Ensemble and individual performances in Alumnae Lounge, the group has had ample opportunity to demonstrate its skills. Spector also organized a fundraiser during which merchants in Porter Square paid the group to sing Christmas carols. Such concerts have been in preparation for the group's central performance of the year: a spring break tour to Sicily. The trip, which was arranged by John and funded in part by the music department and members' fundraising efforts, includes a multitude of performances at various churches and in a variety of ceremonies in Sicily. The Chamber Singers began a touring tradition last year when the group traveled to Italy. According to Spector, touring provides the group with opportunities to see Europe and get the Tufts name out to the international community. "It's such a great experience," she said. "We're a close-knit group, we do a lot of bonding...singing in St. Peter's Basilica was amazing." This year's ten-day visit is seen by both the students and John as a chance to take advantage of the Italian culture, to spend time as a coherent group and to display the singers' vocal skills to a foreign audience. For those who haven't had the chance to enjoy the Chamber Singers' classical sounds, the group is hosting a concert this Sunday afternoon at a local church as a pre-tour celebration. The event will highlight key pieces and old favorites while functioning as a preview of its journey. The group has also scheduled a final, end-of-year performance for the evening of April 25 in Alumnae Lounge. While this may be the last show for the group's seniors, for freshmen such as Lazyan, the Chamber Singers will continue to be a weekly "highlight." "We're a young group," said Spector, citing that there are currently only five upperclassmen. "It's been kind of nice to have new people...we used to have sort of a lazy lackluster dynamic. Now we're more serious and I think that comes across with our sound."The Tufts Chamber Singers will perform at the Church of St. John the Evangelist, 35 Bowdoin Street in Boston, this Sunday at 3 p.m.

---

News

The truth about climate change

March 31

Most of us barely know what global warming is. We think it has something to do with the ozone layer or why it was so hot last summer. If you asked someone if they thought global warming was occurring, they would most like say yes, based on what they have seen in the news or in conceptions of weather changes. Few of us know how real global warming is, and even fewer of us know the massive cover-up of certain industries trying to convince us that global warming isn't real. Guess what, it is. On March 29, 2002, a huge iceberg in Antarctica, measuring 51 by 38 miles, broke free from the Thwaites Ice Tongue. This incident and other frequent iceberg calvings in recent years corresponds with other drastic warning signs of global warming. Global warming is caused by carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels, and by other gases. These gases absorb heat that would normally go out into space. More heat is stored in the atmosphere, heating and expanding oceans, causing a rise in global temperatures and increasing severe weather events. Heating oceans is similar to water boiled in a pan; the water level rises. When water levels rise, delicate eco-systems are threatened, animal habitats and feeding grounds are disturbed and low sea level cities are in danger. The island of Tuvalu, a small island in the Pacific, had to be evacuated because of rising sea levels. The average global temperature is predicted to rise by as much as 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit by 2050. A few degrees doesn't seem very costly to the environment except for the fact that the Ice Age occurred with average temperatures only five to nine degrees cooler than today. Already, the rise in temperature has caused a drastic increase of insects in northern latitudes. The upsurge of mosquito populations has cause a dramatic increase in Malaria worldwide. Some models show that by the end of the 21st century, ongoing warming will have enlarged the zone of potential malaria transmission from an area containing 45 percent of the world's population to an area containing about 60 percent. Another disturbing effect of climate change is the erratic weather patterns due to global warming. There is an increase in hurricanes, heat waves and then drastic floods in the same region, and prolonged droughts. Mexico had its coldest winter in 25 years in 1996 and snowfall for the first time since 1976. In Fairbanks, Alaska, temperatures were reported 42 degrees higher than normal last January. The United States had the warmest winter on record this year, with November through January temperatures averaging 4.3 degrees above average. Despite the overwhelming evidence of global warming, there are "greenhouse skeptics" who don't believe the trend is proven. These skeptics represent a small minority of scientists and are largely representative of coal and oil interests. Coal and oil lobbies pay millions of dollars to back a few scientists whose work is discredited by the majority of mainstream scientists (Gelbspan, Ross, "The Heat is On," 1997, Perseus Books). The lobbies also buy access to the Congress, the media, and create their own anti-environmental organizations and media. An industry-backed measure in March voted down an increase in Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency standards by 50 percemt in the next 13 years. Last March, 11,000 documents were released revealing that the controversial Energy Plan released last year by the Bush Administration excluded all public relations or environmental groups in its decision-making. It did, however, hold meetings with 36 representatives of the energy industry and other business industries, as well as many Bush campaign contributors, proving industry access to politicians. The documents alleged that anti-climate change organizations often distort the truth, out right lie, or slander scientists to get their point across. The industries launch intensive media campaign in an effort to convince the public that global warming is not really happening or anything to worry about. A Gallup Poll last March showed that only about one third of the population believes global warming is a serious problem, a number that has steadily decreased in recent years. With lack of evidence, greenhouse skeptics often revert to slander of scientists who do support global warming to discredit their work. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a group of over 2000 well respected scientists from around the world, issued a report with strong evidence towards climate change. Unable to dispute theories, skeptics reverted to personal attacks on the authors. They accused the authors of falsifying their results. One does not have to look very far for the motivations behind the skeptics' lies and slander. Coal, oil, and utility industries pay millions to fund, support, and publish the skeptics. The industries themselves list the amounts they spend on anti-environmental action. In 1994 and 1995, the Global Climate Coalition spent over a million dollars to downplay the threat of climate change. In 1992 and 1993, the National Coal Association spent over $700,000 on anti-environmental regulation. The American Automobile Manufacturer's Association spent $100,000 on global climate change representation in 1993. While some industries acknowledge and show some action to climate change, others renounce it and refuse to work with any environmental standards; the worst of these is ExxonMobil. It claims "projections are based on completely unproven models or more often on sheer speculation." It also broadly disseminates misinformation, refuses to report CO2 emissions or comply with an emissions reductions program, or commit to renewable resources. The numbers alone show how desperately industry tries to sway public opinion and prevent environmental regulation. They pay scientists millions to lie about global warming and question the scientific integrity of scientists who support global warming. Climate change is in the hands of gas and oil companies. It is they who refuse to reduce emissions, lobby congress, and lie to the public. It is they who will ruin our future if we don't stop them.Rachael Hereford is a student representative for the Tufts Climate Initiative. She has yet to declare a major.

---

News

Phenom & Giddy's Urban Vibez

March 31

PHENOMenal Singles to get GIDDY AboutRemy Shand - "Take A Message" Imagine Maxwell. Now imagine him learning how to play every instrument known to man. Then imagine him producing, writing, and arranging all of his own work. Now imagine he's white. This is Remy Shand, Motown's newest addition to their Neo-Soul roster. His first single, "Take A Message," is causing quite a stir in the urban music industry and his album is bound to create the same excitement.Choclair - "Light It Up" Canada is taking over! OK... well, maybe not. But, with the likes of Choclair, Remy Shand, Glenn Lewis, Kardinal Offishall, and Tamia (just to name a few), one could make a case for Canada's music scene. Choclair's lead single on his new album Memoirs Of Blake Savage is bound to cause some commotion. A wise man once said, "Yo, that song is mad chill... that's hot right there." Who am I to disagree to with a wise man?Musiq Soulchild - "Halfcrazy" One "Lisn" and you'll be singing "La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La La" right along with Musiq in his first single off Jusslisn due out late May. Phenom and Giddy are going "Fullcrazy" for this mid-tempo R&B joint. You know we'll hit you with more info on the album shortly.Method Man and Redman - "Part 2 (Remix)" I'm definitely PHEelin this Megahurtz remix of the track that highlighted the How High soundtrack. The original version included a somewhat tired Toni Braxton sample, whereas this joint is nothing but flames. You know Meth and Red wouldn't want their joints anything but smokin'.4th Avenue Jones - "Do Re Mi" For all those on the less commercial rap tip, 4th Avenue Jones' new album No Plan B is going to be a huge hit. "Do Re Mi" is a laid back rap/hip-hop track that brings with it serious heat. The group uses this track to ruminate on some real issues facing their lives, rather than the standard "bling bling" and "smoke cheepa cheepa" we so often hear.Isyss feat. Jadakiss - "Day and Night" Can you say radio-friendly? Phenom smells a serious 94.5 and 97.7 FM hit here. Isyss' powerful yet soft vocals coupled with Jada's rugged flow keep the mid-tempo to upbeat rhythms hot for both sexes. Be sure to pick up this track now before you hear the radio playing the heck out of it.Let's Gid Geared Up For these GoodiesBrandy - Full Moon (Atlantic) It's been four long years since Brandy Norwood released her latest album, Never Say Never. Although it's been quite a while since her last full release, she was gracious enough to whet our appetites with a hit duet with Monica, "The Boy Is Mine." On her new album, Full Moon, we see the growth that occurred while Brandy was out of the limelight. Her first single, "What About Us," produced by Rodney Jerkins, and "I Thought" highlight this change, focusing on the empty words and promises of a former boyfriend. While Brandy takes time to express her pain of the past, she also manages to capture her happiness and joy. In "He Is," Brandy talks about that special someone who is everything to her - producer and songwriter Robert Smith. "Full Moon," the story of love at first sight, has a hot bass line that gets your head bobbing immediately. Other highlights of this album include the poppy "Anybody" and "Another Day In Paradise," a duet with Brandy's younger brother Ray J. While the first half of the album is more up-tempo, the second half is laced with ballads and more R&B oriented cuts. Brandy's strong voice and help from super-producer Jerkins make this album an easy listen. There's no need to fast forward to another track - just put this CD in and press play. If the first single off this album is any indication of what's to come, Ms. Norwood might just be sittin' on top of the world.X-ecutioners - Built From Scratch (Loud Records) "Two tables, two turntables and a microphone, that's how it started..." exclaims Large Professor on the second track of this album, entitled "XL." Not only does this line highlight the significance of the title of this album, it also refers to one of the core elements of this thing we call hip-hop. While a DJ compilation is nothing new to the music industry, the X-ecutioners (Mista Sinista, Total Eclipse, Roc Raida, and Rob Swift) manage to bring together the best of both worlds - great scratching and great lyricists such as Kool G. Rap and Evidence. While this album does feature original cuts, the highlights come where these four DJs scratch over classic songs or underground hits. "Genius of Love," featuring Biz Markie, has the rapper emceeing over the Tom Tom Club's "Genius of Love." If that reference doesn't ring a bell, think of the beat from Mariah Carey's "Fantasy" featuring Ol' Dirty Bastard. "Yall Know The Name," which features Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, Inspecta Deck and Mad Skillz, cleverly uses the hook from Pharoahe's "Simon Says." This album appeals to lovers of hip-hop, but the X-ecutioners also attempt to cross the bridge and make their mark on the alternative side of music by collaborating with Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park. Although the mention of this rock-influenced track leaves some surprised, it's a surprisingly strong track that highlights the talent of all the collaborators. Other artists featured on this album include M.O.P., Big Pun, and Everlast. While many in the music industry are concerned with pushing the envelope and being evolutionary, the X-ecutioners bring the genre back to its roots with this album that effortlessly blends rhyme and rhythm.

---

News

Cantemus: Music for peace

March 31

As said by Paul Winter, "Music is an expression of sound that reflects the beauty of life." With so much tragedy and violence around the globe, we often find ourselves perhaps feeling depressed, helpless, or hopeless. The search for world peace is long and challenging. I offer you not a solution, but one of the greatest comforts: music. Music is a beautiful medium to communicate our wishes, whether they are anger, love, or peace. We can celebrate with music, or we can cry with music. With just the right chord, or the right blend of lyrics, music is our own tool to share what otherwise would be left unsaid. Leonard Bernstein once said, "Music ... can name the unnamable and communicate the unknowable." Psychologically speaking, there are many emotions in the human brain. Perhaps some emotions have begun to be understood. But for those emotions and feelings still hidden from our consciousness, music serves to elucidate them. And while musicologists have analyzed the theory and structure of musical composition, the emotions remain enigmatic and original. When we sing "Happy Birthday", for example, we have feelings of happiness. Just the sound of the tune brings out subconscious feelings of joy and celebration. To just think that a simple song can bring such seemingly automatic reactions truly is remarkable. Music is an aura. It is a completely encasing mood that is more than just a feeling. It is a wave of inexplicable emotions. Somehow, after certain songs, whether pop, classical, jazz or rock, we remain left with a touch of sensation. One can find comfort, find joy, find rejoice and sadness both in music: the search is not difficult. Music is our answer for uniting society with supreme emotion. No matter what religion, what nationality, what race, or what gender you identify yourself with; there is a way to find yourself and to connect to others through music. However, music can also provide religious, national, and cultural identity. All throughout history, music has been used in cultures worldwide. From the European Renaissance string quartets, to African drumming, to Native American flute playing, the list is endless. Cultures have founded traditions on music and its power to bring society closer. So, unite yourself with others through music, creating peace in our own Tufts community. We all sing with our voices. Our voices are a gift; they are our own instruments to cherish. We all sing in the shower, in the car, and perhaps even at religious services. It is our individual way to create this an aura of emotion, floating through our ears and processed by our spirits. We celebrate life, we celebrate peace, and we celebrate love with our own voices. In the Chamber Singers, we sing pieces of art which exemplify my understanding of emotions. Is music the voice of angels, whispering in our ears as we transform our gift of voice into chords of beauty and pain? In "Ubi Caritas" a piece by Durufl?© which we sing, I have incredible feelings of peace. Durufl?© ( 1902-1986) wrote in the style of Gregorian Chants, although he was a professor at the Paris Conservatory. The lyrics to "Ubi Caritas" translate to "Where there is charity and love, God is there... And from a sincere heart let us love one another." Although the text is in Latin, when singing and listening to this beautiful, powerful music, these feelings of peace, comfort and love enter our souls. Agony appears as well in Josquin's "Mille Regretz", a text in French translating to "I have such grief, and sorrowful anguish". When singing these words of pain in chords that wrench your insides, it is inconceivable that the music was created from print on paper. Seeking comfort and peace is difficult in a troubled world such as ours. Here at Tufts, we are privileged to have so many excellent musical ensembles to provide us with the emotional fun or comfort we need as humans. Through my experience I have learned that the Chamber Singers can offer an evening of supernatural peace, along with great delight in our various selections of pieces of different languages, different eras and different styles. We sing stories of love and passion, of seasons and crickets, of rejoice and of sorrow, of "Hallelujah" and feeling the sprit. And we sing of the simple: loving to sing, in "Cantemus" by Bardos Lajos (1899-1986): Cantemus, quia cantare bonum est. Cantemus, quia cantare iucundum est. Cantemus, quia cantare amantis est. "Let us sing, to sing is a blessing. Let us sing, to sing is a delight. Let us sing, to sing is love."Yasmine Afif Iliya is a sophomore majoring in Biological Psychology. She sings alto with the Chamber Singer and plays flute in the Wind Ensemble.

---

News

Men's track finishes second behind Springfield College

March 31

Over the weekend, the men's track team put together an impressive group effort in its second home meet of the season. The Tufts Invitational II saw the Jumbos garner a second-place finish with 142 points, just behind Springfield College's 152.5. "In a meet featuring eight schools, over 800 athletes, and some Division I competition, I thought that we fared extremely well," sophomore Nate Thompson said. With a successful showing in a highly competitive field this past weekend, it appears that the Jumbos have begun to establish themselves as one of the top teams in the region. Tufts had some solid performances to lead the way. Among the notable contributors were freshman Ray Carre, who won the 800-meter dash in a time of 1:57.99, and junior captain Greg Devine, who won the 400-dash in 50.32 seconds and the 55 hurdles in 7.83. Senior captain Ben Smith captured the 3000 crown in convincing fashion with a time of 8:45.51. Fellow captain and team leader J.R. Cruz rolled to victory in the 5000, finishing in 14:50.69 and leading a pack of Jumbo runners to take six of the first eight places in the event. "This home meet proved to our team that we can compete with the top teams in New England," Cruz said. "We feel that we are a top-three New England team. Going into the season, we knew that we had a good team and our confidence has always been high." This success is due in part to the immediate contributions of some underclassmen in the field events. Thompson, a jumper, produced strong results in the meet, including a fifth-place 13.01m finish in the triple jump and a third-place showing in the long jump with a distance of 6.40m. "Like the rest of the team, I feel very confident when I get to compete in familiar surroundings," Thompson said. In the pole vault, Adrian Clarke continued his strong season as he cleared a height of 3.88m to finish in second place. As demonstrated by this weekend's meet, the Jumbos have developed a good balance between success on the track and in the field events. "Early on, we were unsure about our abilities in some of the field events, but many underclassmen have stepped up," Cruz said. "We've gotten great help from Adrian Clarke, Patrick Taylor, and Nate Thompson." The talent and depth of this Jumbo line-up has been further illustrated by strong showings in the relays - events that rely heavily on a joint effort from a number of runners. In the distance relay, the Tufts "A" team ran its way to a second-place finish in 10:31.41, while in the 4 by 400 relay, Tufts pulled away to capture the title over Springfield in a time of 3:23.96. Next up is this weekend's home meet, necessary for the Jumbos to get qualifying times for the New England Div. III Championships to be held at Bates in two weeks. "That meet is what we have been working for all year," Cruz said. "We hope to have everyone peaking for that event."

---