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Off-campus residence inspections in the works

March 31

In the wake of the March 29 Capen Street fire that destroyed two homes and the garage of another, and a Nov. 2000 fire that destroyed the home of five students, administrators and students are looking for ways to improve fire education and safety in off-campus residences. Tufts Fire Marshal Perry Cayton said the majority of fires in student residences occur off campus. Such fires generally have more disastrous effects than on-campus fires because of provisions which institutions take against on-campus fires. He said that when students decide to live off campus, they should investigate the safety of the building before signing rental agreements. "It's important that people know what they're getting into," he said. Once students have settled into a residence, Cayton said they must "be diligent" about using high-risk items such as candles, cooking appliances, and halogen lamps. All residents sharing a unit should agree on a smoking policy and have a place to put their cigarette butts, he said. Residents should inspect the house and grounds for smoldering butts following any parties. Students living off campus have "a lot more responsibility now that they don't have people checking for them," Cayton said. Senior Lori Kessler lived off campus last year in what she termed "a luxury dump." She did not know the smoke alarms were broken until the Somerville fire chief forced the landlord to change them midway through the year. It's an issue that that the Senate hopes to address. Tufts Community Union (TCU) Vice President Melissa Carson, who was nominated Sunday as a presidential candidate, hopes to initiate a program by the fall semester that will provide students living off campus with the option of free or low-cost fire safety inspections. Carson cited faulty boilers as a common hazard, one that students usually are unaware of unless a professional inspects their homes. She said the program would keep students from paying high fees for private inspections. "Tufts keeps us fairly safe on campus but can't house us all, so it's not that they're responsible for [off campus residents]," Carson said. "But students should have access to what we need to keep ourselves safe." Junior Alison Clarke, the other presidential candidate, said lack of fire safety education is symptomatic of a larger problem - the inadequacy of Tufts' Office of Off Campus Housing (OOCH). "The Office of Off Campus Housing needs to be strengthened," Clark said. "[Fire safety education] is a small issue that's tied to a larger issue." Carson plans to meet with OOCH coordinator Clare Hurley later this week. Kessler says the University should provide free fire safety inspections for students living off campus. "I think it is Tufts' responsibility to take care of the students, and since some of these students live in off-campus housing, they should do all they can to keep them safe too," she said. Signs of deterioration, excessive clutter, and combustibles in the building are warning signs, Cayton said. The electrical wiring must also be checked - when there are not enough outlets, residents may use power strips and extension cords. Multiple outlets branching from one original outlet, as well as cords meant for temporary use but left in more permanently, are hazardous. Cayton says that students living off campus should be sure that sprinkler systems and smoke alarms are installed and working - most should be replaced about every ten years. Students should also ensure there are at least two ways to exit the building and that upper floors have a fire escape or a ladder, he said. Until such a program is underway, students with questions about a rented home can call the Tufts Fire Marshal for information, possibly even for an inspection if the residence is fairly local.

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News

Poll suggests close presidential election

March 31

Campaigning will become increasingly visible leading up to the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Presidential elections on Wednesday, as the two candidates struggle to win votes. A recent Daily poll showed that most students have yet to decide between current TCU vice president Melissa Carson and Judiciary (TCUJ) vice chair Alison Clarke. The poll shows Clarke - with 36 percent support - leading Carson by 16 points, but the full 44 percent of undecided students will determine the ultimate victor. Citing posters and chalking, many poll respondents remarked that this year's campaign has been more visible than in past years. This year, the Elections Board (ELBO) increased the spending limit for the campaign from its usual $150 budget to $200 and implemented a cap on donations. ELBO chair Joe Coletti said that this year's campaign has rapidly intensified. "Compared to last year I don't think this campaign started off as heated," he said. "But I feel like as this campaign has progressed - with all the publicity- I think it's starting to become more competitive as it winds down now." The election will be held online Wednesday, and outgoing TCU president Eric Greenberg says that will be the true test of the campaign. "Right now it seems like one campaign on paper is more visible than the other." Greenberg said. "The only true poll is the actual election itself - that's your true tally. You can't take anything for granted until the day of election." Both candidates said that the critical part of their campaign is meeting students. "The most important thing is to reach as many people as possible," Carson said. "Not just while you're campaigning, but while you're in office." Clarke agreed. "I'm having fun campaigning. It's great to talk to a lot of students because I can't think of everything myself and people are coming up with good ideas." The poll also revealed that seniors may not be voting in high numbers this year. Close to 70 percent of seniors polled said they would not be voting in the election. Some said they didn't know the candidates, and others cited lack of interest. "It's not necessarily fair to vote for something that doesn't affect us," one senior said. Greenberg, however, encouraged seniors to vote. "I think seniors should vote because they've been here the longest, they know what works and what doesn't work," he said. Some poll respondents said the high visibility of Clarke's campaign has influenced their vote. "She's the only one that's been publicized," Freshman Stephanie Albin said, citing posters in her dormitory's bathrooms. Though Clarke's visibility may be helping her lead, allegations of breaking campaign rules by using campaign stickers may slow her down. Coletti said the problem was resolved by deducting $25 from Clarke's campaign spending limit. "I called and made sure she stopped giving them out and she did," Coletti said. Since the stickers were only on clothing and backpacks, the fine was small, but Coletti said a further violation would "mean possibly doubling the fine and possible restrictions to her campaign." ELBO is also investigating other allegations of campaign rules violations. Students said they were voting for Carson because they had met her at club meetings. Freshman Carolina Schildknecht remarked about Carson's attendance at a meeting of the International Club. "I like the points [Carson] said," Schildknecht said. "I haven't met the other girl." "We have very different styles of campaigning," Carson said. "[Clarke] is all about the advertising blitz and I'm talking to people and talking to groups about things that they care about." Some, like sophomore Dave Geisler, criticized Carson for not making her platform more accessible. "I think Clarke wins the campaigning election," Geisler said. "She's getting her name out but I don't know what the other platform is about." Sophomore Tyson Little agreed. "[Carson] hasn't gotten her name out," he said. "How can you vote for her if you don't know what her platform is?" Greenberg says the large amount of undecided students will decide the vote on Wednesday. "It's still up in the air," Greenberg said. Both candidates said they will continue to campaign the way they have been for the remainder of the week. "I think its all about Wednesday and who remembers to vote." Carson said.

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News

Bentley batters men's baseball

March 31

The baseball team dropped its second straight game on Monday, a 15-5 loss at Bentley. Unlike the 2-1 defeat to the hands of Wesleyan on Sunday, there was nothing sudden, nor dramatic to the end of the Bentley game. Bentley score seven runs in the first three innings, and cruised to the 10-run victory. The 15 runs allowed were a bit misleading, however, as only four were earned. Bentley took advantage of six Tufts errors, which led to 11 unearned runs. "It was an uncharacteristic day for us defensively," junior pitcher Dave Martin said. "If you give a team more than three outs in an inning, they will hurt you." Aside from the poor defense, Martin also cited a tired pitching staff as partially to blame for the loss. "We were a little down on pitching," Martin said. "The kid that pitched [freshman Jeff Volinski] is a good pitcher, but he's probably our fifth starter." "You can't really expect to win games when you make six errors and don't hit the ball very well," junior center fielder Evan Zupancic said. "Hopefully that will be a big wakeup call." Volinksi got the start, the second of his collegiate career, as the top four starters were all used in the back-to-back double-headers the team played over the weekend. Despite the loss being the team's second straight, there is no panic in the Jumbos' locker room. "It was just an uncharacteristic game," Martin said. "We'll just have to work harder this week in practice." Zupancic said the team was not on its mental game. "A lot of us weren't in it and it wasn't just defensively," he said. "We couldn't pitch the ball well or hit the ball well. It just wasn't a really good, solid team effort." There were some bright spots in the game offensively, as juniors Jon Herbert and Brian Shapiro, and sophomores Adam Kacamburas and Greg Hickey all had two-hit games. Shapiro hit a homerun in the first inning, his fifth on the year. Fortunately for the Jumbos, the game was a non-conference contest, so it won't hurt Tufts' position in the standings. Bentley is out of the NESCAC, so the only impact the loss has is to drop Tufts' overall record to 12-5-1 on the season. Inside the NESCAC, the Jumbos are still in first place in the East Division, as they won both weekend games over division rival Bates. The doubleheader split with Wesleyan, a NESCAC team, do not affect the Jumbos in conference standings because Wesleyan is in the West Division. Tufts will play three division games this weekend, as it squares off against Bowdoin once on Friday and twice on Saturday. The Polar Bears are in last place in the East at 1-5, so if the Jumbos can get back on track, they should be able to maintain their division lead. For that to happen, though, Tufts must move past Monday's defensive debacle, something it seems already to have done. "We have three games up there," Zupancic said. "They are going to be tough. Every league game counts. We just have to come out ready to play, otherwise some like what happened with Bentley will happen again. And nobody likes that."

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News

A simple request

March 31

What do you do when something you love so much does something you hate? I listen to the radio on a regular basis, and nearly all of that time my radio is tuned to 100.7 WZLX. One might call me a loyal listener. I love classic rock, and in Boston when you want classic rock ZLX is where you turn. Growing up between two mediocre cities with two mediocre classic rock stations, I got used to flipping around for tunes. They called me the "seeker." Poking at the car radio often enough to leave my index finger sore and eardrums bruised, I got used to a hunks of rotting musical driftwood floating between the awesome Zep sets, Clapton riffs, and glorious Bohemian Rhapsodies. But suddenly, upon arriving in Boston, I was more than pleased to discover a near perfect classic rock station that consistently played one damned good song after the next. I soon learned to trust WZLX. I could always count on them. When I wanted good music, I knew where to turn, and I was grateful to live in a city with such a fine radio station. My head rocked back and forth; I lived my life to heavy drum beats and roaring guitar licks. Ahhh, these truly were "glory days. In the wink of a young girl's eye, glory days, glory days," I sang to myself - or maybe that was just Bruce Springsteen. But, of course, there's that phrase: something about glory fading, something in Latin. Could this apply to my favored radio station? Could WZLX, a station I had hoped would forever continue spreading musical joy in the form of Van Halen ballads like "Hot for Teacher," lose its steam? Sadly, I'm afraid this just might be the case. Don't get me wrong: every radio station, even the truly great ones, are allowed to let a few musical farts fly from time to time. It's when such flatulence becomes a habit that people no longer want to be associated with you. So, when I turned on the radio one morning and was treated to Fleetwood Mac's "Gypsy" I said "ugg" and turned the radio off. I came back five minutes later and Steve Miller Band's "Joker" echoed through the room. Ahhh, yes, "Thank you, ZLX ," I said. "Some people call me Maurice," I hummed. Imagine my surprise, however, when later in the day after a long, grueling adventure involving classes, meetings, and naps, I returned home, turned on my old friend, only to be treated to, yes, yet another Fleetwood Mac tune: "Go Your Own Way." Don't get me wrong, Fleetwood Mac ain't so bad. I mean "Don't Stop" evokes a certain cheery Clintonian optimism I love, and there must be a reason Rumours is one of the biggest selling albums of all-time. But damn it, Stevie Nicks is supremely annoying, and it seems like over the years the band's soft rock sound slipped a lot closer to the soft side than the rock side. Of course, there's nothing wrong with soft things per se (I like pillows and feathers as much as the next person), but on a classic rock station? No thank you, I'll pass. But of course, I couldn't pass, not when it came to ZLX. Perhaps it was just coincidence that whenever I tuned in I heard Fleetwod Mac songs, but I find that hard to believe. Everyday, every time I had the radio on, I was tortured with another painful experience. I lived life in foggy purple haze. It felt to me as if the folks at the station had an elaborate computer system that alerted them when I tuned in. That system then set off a big flashing red light with the words Play Fleetwood Mac on it. Meanwhile my own head throbbed, glowing bright with its own flashing red light that said "Why?" Like Mick Jagger,. I couldn't get any satisfaction. Something had to be done, but what? Last week when I heard that the upcoming long weekend was to be an "All Request Classic Rock Weekend" I knew. I picked up my phone and dialed.DJ: WZLX "All Request Weekend" What can I do for you.Me: So you're taking requests?DJ: Yeah, what would you like to hear?Me: Well, I'd like to request that you not play Fleetwood Mac.DJ: Not play Fleetwood Mac?Me: Yeah, it's like every other song you play is by Fleetwood Mac and I don't like them at all.DJ: Well, that's not true.Me: It practically is.DJ: Well we play a lot of CCR and Zeppelin, no one's complaining about that.Me: Yeah, that's because they're good. People like that music. But Fleetwood Mac, come on? The DJ was neither amused nor interested. He went on to tell me about market research and statistical analysis. He told me that radio stations have guidelines and they play music by the numbers according to what's most popular. He told me that Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham was one of rock's most underrated guitarists. He told me that the radio station was "no longer like jukebox." Every words the DJ uttered was another brick in the wall, closing me into a dark, unpleasant world. I wanted to be somewhere else, down on the corner, up on cripple creek, anywhere but here. My heart sunk, my gut churned. Shrouded in disappointment, I was suddenly Tom Petty, suddenly free fallin'. So what to do? I guess I'm just going to learn to deal, to live with a classic rock station that is in my eyes, less than perfect. I've been handling it alright so far, learning to rely a little less on those tunes to set the rhythm of my day, developing my CD collection, and always, always remembering the words of a few old fogies who once sang, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try some time, you get what you need." Amen.

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News

Soft money ban good for Tufts students

March 31

Students often feel like they don't have any political power. In many respects they are right. How many students can give five-digit or even six-digit donations to political parties? Today those who do not have large amounts of money often have their voices dwarfed by those who give huge unregulated, unrestricted donations to political parties in the form of soft money. But all of that is about to change. Early on the morning of Feb. 14, the United States House of Representatives passed a bill banning soft money. The Senate has already passed a similar version of this bill, and will hopefully take up the House version of the bill in the next few weeks. This bill will make history as the only restructuring of our campaign finance laws since the 1970s. The vote in the Senate is extremely important. This bill is not just good for our country as a whole and the future of our democracy, but this will specifically help Tufts students assert their political might. Ralph Reed, former Enron lobbyist and Christian Coalition chief, said in a recently released memo to Enron, "In public policy, it matters less who has the best arguments and more who gets heard - and by whom." Mr. Reed used this logic to justify his $380,000 fee. Senator John McCain, sponsor of the campaign finance reform measure, often says that everyone, including himself, is corrupted by the big money in politics. He admits that even he has been corrupted by the huge unrestricted, unlimited soft money donations. We have seen money corrupt very clearly in the recent airline bailout where the airlines got billions of dollars while they laid off hundreds of thousands of workers. The support went to the corporations rather than to those hundreds of thousands of employees who lost their jobs. Similarly, in the Enron scandal, Enron had contributed to the campaigns of numerous key legislators and many of their executives collected huge sums of money while their employees lost their life savings. While students lack large amounts of cash to give to politicians, they control a very powerful piece of virtually every political campaign - the staff. Most campaign staffers are very young, and many of them are students. Additionally, every campaign has numerous amounts of student volunteers. With the large campaign contributors out of the way, students will have the power to assert themselves as a political powerhouse. What does this mean for Tufts students? Tufts students often play large roles these campaigns. In the last presidential race, Tufts students played a key role in the Bush, McCain, Gore, and Bradley campaigns in New Hampshire. Furthermore, Tufts recent graduates often play key roles on Capitol Hill and in these campaigns. Without the influence of soft money, candidates will be able to listen more to their staff and more importantly to voters. Ultimately, the soft money ban will break gridlock on issues important to the strength of our democracy - things such as the Patient's Bill of Rights, which has been a fight between the Republicans, backed by the insurance companies and Democrats, who backed by the trial lawyers. Both have kept the voice of the people from being heard. Napster is another example where the voice of the people was dwarfed by the voice of big money. The 50 million people who used Napster weren't enough to dwarf the millions of dollars of the recording artists. There is still much work to be done on this issue, though. Campaign finance reform still needs to pass the Senate. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has vowed an all out fight and has threatened a Senate filibuster. The supporters of reform seem to have the 60 votes needed to force a vote on the issue, but this support is not by any means guaranteed. Large corporations who have benefited from the unlimited soft money donations are fighting as well to keep their control over our democracy. Similarly, President Bush has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill or cave to the pressure of the big money donors who backed his last campaign. During his campaign Bush did not support a soft money ban, but now he seems to have realized that it would be very costly for him to veto the bill. We must keep up this pressure on both the Senate and the president. Both Massachusetts senators promised to vote for the measure, but they probably could use a reminder. If you come from another state, call both of your senators in your home state, as well. The general switchboard number is 202-224-3121. Additionally, we should all call President Bush and tell him where we stand on this issue. The president's phone number is 202-456-1414. The McCain Feingold bill in the Senate is not a cure-all. I don't mean to suggest that banning soft money will solve the problem of money in politics. However, this bill is a great step in the right direction on this very important issue, and as leaders we must take steps insure its passage at help increase the political power of students everywhere.@s:Soft money hits students hardest

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News

Williams dominates Middlebury Invitational

March 31

The women's tennis team finished tied for third out of 11 teams at the Middlebury Invitational this past weekend. The squad tied Bowdoin with a total of 13 team points. The two schools finished behind Williams (35 points) and Trinity (15 points), with Williams blowing away the competition by winning all six divisions - A through C - in both the singles and doubles brackets. This type of tournament features the top six players from each school split into three divisions to face each other in a single elimination tournament. The doubles is run in the same three-group manner. "[Finishing third] gave the team its confidence back after a disappointing loss to Amherst last weekend," freshman Neda Pisheva said. Amherst finished sixth (11 points) in the tournament, but continued to give the Jumbos difficulty in some individual matches. The Jumbos dropped two of three matches to the Lord Jeffs, with each of the top two Tufts seeds, Kate Nordtsrom and Barclay Gang, getting bumped out of the Group A singles bracket by Amherst opponents. Nordstrom lost in the second round after winning her opening round match 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 over Lindsay Shantz of Hamilton. Gang advanced to the quarterfinals after a first round bye and second round win over Bates' Heather Bracken (7-5, 3-6, 6-4). The brightest spot for the Jumbo's singles matches was freshman Trina Spear, who beat many talented opponents while advancing to the semifinals of the Group B bracket. Spear disposed of her first round foe in straight sets. Then went on to defeat Amherst's Wallis Molchen, in a grueling three set match, before beating a very talented Trinity player. In the semifinals, Spear fell to Williams' Stephanie Hall, but her run was well recognized by her team. "She had a tough draw and came out very well," junior captain Iffy Saed said. "She played in a higher division than normal and rose to the occasion." Spear was playing in a higher spot than usual due to the absence of two key players, as both Jennifer Lejb and Heidi Kashani sat out the tournament with injuries. Lejb, the team's top seed, did not play because of tendonitis in her shoulder that has kept her out of all but one match this semester - last weekend's Amherst match. Kashani missed the tournament because of a back injury that she has been battling all season. Both Kashani and Lejb sat out hoping to rejoin the team next weekend against top-seeded Williams. "The Middlebury Tournament is more of an individual event, so hopefully with the rest we can be at full power against Williams," Lejb said. Because of the missing talent, the strong finish was especially satisfying to the team. "This performance shows our good depth," Saed said. "We brought up two JV players and they showed they could compete with the other schools. Hopefully when we get back to full strength we can show everyone that we can compete with Williams." With Kashani and Lejb out of action, most of the seeds moved up one spot, while Trina Vu and Neda Pisheva stepped in to round out the six-player lineup. Pisheva, a freshman, made her mark when she joined Gang in the Group B doubles bracket. The two overpowered opponents from Bowdoin (8-3), Colby (8-3), and Trinity (8-4), before losing to a Williams pair in the final. In order for any Jumbo to win a bracket, they had to first go through a Williams player. And with Tufts playing Williams in a team match this coming weekend, the team saw the tournament as a good tune-up. "We got in a lot of good work against Williams opponents this weekend," Pisheva said. "These matches will come in handy for our match against them, as we know we can compete with them." The match with Williams could be instrumental in the Jumbos' quest to reach nationals. The top two teams at the regional tournament, which runs from May 10 to the 12, will qualify for Nationals. But the NESCAC alone features three of the top eleven teams in Division III - Williams, Amherst, and Tufts. Based on the setup of the playoffs, then, one of these talented teams will be left out of Nationals, making the seedings for the regional tournament all the more important. So for Tufts, a win or close result against Williams - the number-one team and defending Division III champion - could result in a higher regional seeding and, thus, a better possibility at qualifying for Nationals.

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News

That was a crazy game of ...Bridge

March 31

Contrary to popular belief, card games are not just for grandmothers and summer campers. Some college students have taken a liking to the intellectual, strategy-filled world of competitive card games. Senior Henry Wong is ranked as one of the top 20 junior bridge players in the country. He hopes that although video games have cut into the time once spent playing cards, at least some students all over the country will continue to enter skill-demanding Bridge tournaments. Wong and sophomore Andrew Rivnak are representing Tufts in the 2002 Junior Collegiate Bridge Team Championship today. They are accompanied by teammates Chris Storm, a Dartmouth senior, and Marc Glickman, a Yale freshman. Storm and Glickman are both among the top 20 junior bridge players in the country. To participate in the international tournament, sanctioned by the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and organized by online bridge clubs OKBridge and Fifth Chair, the members of each team must be under the age of 25, and at least two students on each team must be from the same school. Since Rivnak and Wong are both Tufts students, their teammates represent Tufts in competitions. The team rarely practices because its members attend different colleges and because they say they have "no time." "I'm doing a senior honors thesis and a major research project and I just cannot fit practice time into my schedule," said Wong, who is also busy completing a triple major in Quantitative Economics, Mathematics, and Psychology. "To be really good, you need more than practice," Wong said. "You need to be skilled in mathematics and have some understanding of psychology." Tournament Bridge is also called "duplicate" bridge because of the way that it is played. Both teams are comprised of four players. Two games of Bridge are played in each match, with two pairs from each team playing against two members of the opposite team. Wong and Rivnak usually face one pair from the opposing team together, with Glickman and Storm facing the other pair. The cards are passed between the two pairs that are on opposite teams, and so if one hand is particularly bad, both teams will have to play it. "It is actually a challenge of which pair does better with the same cards," Wong explains. This Friday, at 11 a.m., the Tufts team will compete against a team from Tbilisi State University of the Republic of Georgia in the final round of the tournament. Rivnak says that he plans to play on the computer in his room, whereas Wong may go to Eaton, because the connection in the computer lab is better than that in University dorms. The prize for winning will most likely be the distinction of winning and a higher ranking of the individual players on the winning team, as ACBL awards masterpoints (ranking/rating points) for this event. This particular online tournament has been held for four years, but it is the first time that Tufts has been represented in the tournament. After competing in the qualifying round, in which ten teams competed and each played 30 hands, the top four teams, including Tufts, made it to the direct elimination semi-final round. Wong recounts that with four hands to go in the semi-finals, Rivnak "...went for a huge minus score, and though I tried to recover I lost more points. We were down by 25 points, but luckily our teammates won and we won the round by three points." Wong sees the tournament as a way for Tufts to be recognized in a unique manner. "We know we're representing Tufts in a worldwide competition, so we will certainly try our best," Wong said. "If Tufts can be represented by a bridge tournament, then that's something new, different, and fun." After graduating, Wong will attend a one-year graduate school program for Statistics at Harvard University. He hopes to continue to play bridge, and says that he might even go professional. "I may also continue to compete until I win a national championship," Wong said. Rivnak admires his teammate's persistence with the game. "I take my hat off to Henry, he is really dedicated," Rivnak said. "He has bidding [a difficult part of the game] down to a science, whereas I'm not nearly as experienced, and yet he puts time into coaching me." Rivnak learned to play bridge from his parents and has played it with his family for ten years. Wong learned to play in high school and did not play the game competitively until college. Wong said that adults are hoping to engage young people in the game. Greenspan is vice-president of the Eastern Massachusetts Bridge Association, which overseas ACBL-sanctioned bridge in Eastern Massachusetts and who once taught bridge as an Ex-College class at Tufts. He plans to engage young people in the game by offering lessons and starting up clubs in various area schools. Wong and Rivnak would both like to see more young people playing bridge, but as Rivnak explains, "it's a lost art." According to Wong, card games were a source of popular family entertainment until video games came along. "Now, people don't know what they're missing," he said.

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News

Where's my morning music?

March 31

Born a dancer, always a dancer - you can't play music in my presence and expect me not to dance. Whether in a club, in the car, or in the privacy of my own bedroom, there's something about music that renders me incapable of sitting still. Which is why I like to wake up to music in the morning. When I set my alarm the night before, I expect to awaken to some familiar song that will inspire me to start my day when it goes off a few hours later. This does not strike me as too much to ask. With disappointingly little exception to the rule, however, this never happens. Instead, I am greeted by the grating voices and irritating commentary of one radio morning show or another. Not surprisingly, this does not make me want to get out of bed and shake my groove thang - it makes me wish I'd never registered for early morning classes and that I had the luxury of sleeping past noon, when radio stations actually play music. Being a little too late for adjustments to my class schedule, I have to wake up just the same and spend much of the morning in a sour mood that often lasts until lunchtime. The majority of mainstream radio stations appear to subscribe to the belief that those of us who are up by 8 a.m. on a regular basis actually want to be subjected to a jarring ensemble of radio personalities with nothing intelligent (or intelligible, even) to say. Someone evidently did not consult the listening public. Who decided that we would rather spend the first moments of our day being subjected to offensive humor, cruel practical jokes, and less-than-enlightening broadcasts on everything ranging from President Bush's latest mishap to the favorite sexual position of local Bostonians than some good ol' fashioned tunes while we get ready for the day? In the interest of accuracy, I will acknowledge that there are indeed times when the tedious back-and-forth banter is interrupted by a few songs. But the musical interlude is never long enough to satisfy musical needs. Just as you begin to think that maybe, just maybe, the horrors of typical morning radio are over, the music ends and the voices return, just as maddening as they were when they made their exit. Add the perkiness factor to the general irritating attributes of morning radio, and the programming you find on most stations before 10 a.m. is even more intolerable. (I'm a morning person, and even I can't muster as much perk as morning radio hosts.) I need to ease into my day, not be thrown viciously. The process of waking is a gradual one, and as such should be approached gently by the radio stations many of us wake up to every morning...should being the operative word. High-pitched squealing and violent laughter are common characteristics of morning radio, and arguably not the easiest (or most pleasant) things to wake up to. Is it any wonder that we're late for class? Who wouldn't be overcome by the urge to just shut the alarm - forget the snooze button - in an attempt to put an end to the pain inflicted by these overbearing, hyper radio personalities? Perhaps the lack of music on the airwaves would be more tolerable, if only marginally so, if morning show hosts were less brazen and piercing and more subdued. Instead of waking up wincing, early risers such as myself might instead stretch, reflect on our dreams, take an extra five minutes before getting out of bed to face the day. Such subtle consideration on the part of radio stations might be enough to make everyone just a little bit nicer, and make the world a better place all-around. Ok, maybe the impact wouldn't be that far-reaching, but it certainly couldn't hurt anyone's morning mood. Think perhaps how much more understanding your 9:30 a.m. professor might be about your not being able to finish the assigned reading for the day. Or how easily your roommate might forgive you for forgetting to tell him the night before that his girlfriend called. Waking up would no longer be the dreaded process it once was. I'm not maintaining that the concepts upon which morning radio was founded be abandoned altogether - I don't mind hearing a little news, an update on the day's weather, or even a joke here and there. What I want more than an end to the essentials of morning radio is to be able to shampoo my hair to the sound of Madonna's "Like A Virgin" and sing Robert Palmer's "Addicted to Love" into my hairdryer. My first instinct of the morning should not be to frantically cover my ears with the nearest pillow and make it all go away, but rather to get up on my feet and start the day dancing. But the sad truth of it that until station managers take a serious look at the format of the programming they air before 10 a.m., I'll be waking up with a roll and a groan and a longing for some good ol' tunes.@s:Keep the essentials, lose the excess

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News

Shapiro, Burnett to receive Light on the Hill award

March 31

NBC News President and Neal Shapiro (LA '80) and Emmy-Award winning CBS producer Rob Burnett (LA '84) will both be given year's "Light on the Hill" award at a ceremony on April 11. Though Burnett will not be able to accept the award in person until next semester, Shapiro is slated travel to Tufts from his California for the event. The "Light on the Hill" award, sponsored by the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, recognizes Tufts alumni who have achieved outstanding distinction through their work after Tufts. TCU President Eric Greenberg worked with Senators Bill McCarthy and Rachel Marx to select the recipients. According to Greenberg, who had the final say in the selection, he decided it was appropriate to give the award to two people in honor of Tufts' 150th anniversary. "We felt they were both high caliber," he said. Shapiro's visit next Thursday will be in conjunction with a Communication and Media Studies lecture where he is expected to speak about the media since Sept. 11. The "Light on the Hill" award ceremony is typically held in the fall, but has occasionally been held in the spring. In 1998, an award ceremony was held in March. Past recipients of the award include eBay founders and philanthropists Pierre (LA '89) and Pam (LA '90) Omidyar, actor-comedian Hank Azaria (LA '85), Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson, New York Times Publisher Arthur Sulzburger Jr., and NASA astronaut Rick Hauck. Shapiro was appointed president of NBC News, the most-watched news organization in the world, in June 2001. He also oversees the cable news channel MSNBC. Before serving as president, he worked as the executive producer of the Emmy Award winning Dateline. He has produced ABC's PrimeTime Live newsmagazine, Nightline, and worked in the company's Chicago bureau. A former Observer editor-in-chief, Shapiro graduated magna cum laude with degrees in history and political science. Shapiro has retained close ties to Tufts since his graduation, and he is currently chairman of the Communications and Media Studies Alumni Advisory Board. Rob Burnett has produced CBS's Late Show with David Letterman since 1996. Additionally, he serves as president and CEO of Worldwide Pants, Letterman's production company, and oversees CBS's Everybody Loves Raymond and The Late Late show with Craig Kilborn. He oversees NBC's Ed, which has featured allusions to Tufts in the past. Burnett has won numerous Emmy Awards for his work on the Late Show. He joined the show as an intern in 1985, and became a writer for the show in 1988. A former varsity soccer player, Burnett graduated Tufts with a degree in English. NBC's Ed was honored with a People's Choice Award as Favorite New Comedy earlier this year. In addition, series star Cavanagh won the TV Guide Award as Actor of the Year in a New Series. The series also recently received three Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Writing, Directing and Casting for a Comedy Series.

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Men's and women's skiing performing well in the snow

March 31

Tufts' alpine ski team started its season with a trip to Bromley Mountain in Vermont on Jan. 12 and 13, the weekend before most students returned to campus for the spring semester. With two more meets under their belts since then, both teams have completed a strong start to the young season.Some attributed the successful start to the return of coach Rob McCune, who took last year off to travel around Germany. "The return of [McCune] has been a great source of motivation for both the men's and women's teams," men's skier Jack Kramarczyk said.With the momentum from having McCune back, the men turned in an impressive day at Bromley, finishing fifth in the slalom (SL) and fourth in the giant slalom (GS).Following this race the teams skied the next two weekends, first at Haystack Mountain in Vermont and then this past weekend at Cannon Mountain in New Hampshire.On the women's side, Bromley was equally a success. In their first race they finished second to the Green Mountain College (GMC) in both the SL and the GS races."We know that GMC will be almost impossible to beat," sophomore captain Courtney Benson said. "We are capable of consistently finishing second during the season and when districts come, try and knock off GMC then." Traditionally, GMC is the division's strongest team, and this year is no different - the team has placed first among the men and women in both the SL and GS in all three competitions so far this year. Tufts' women might be the only squad able to compete with GMC, but the University of Connecticut and Boston University will likely offer the Jumbos competition for the second seed.Tufts women have finished only two races below second place this season - third in the SL at Haystack and fifth in the GS at Cannon. Benson said the women's success is a result of "new, hard-working freshman, strong upper-class role models, and the benefit of no major injuries."On the men's side, the team has fallen off slightly since Bromley, and overall has felt the effects of losing veterans to last year's graduation. Some team members are classifying this year as a rebuilding season. "Tufts graduated a number of top men's skiers and as a result has seen some inconsistencies this year," Kramarczyk said.So far, the team has been led by Nat Sager, Michael Krafft, Jack Kramarczyk, and Michael Coughlin. Kraft finished eight out of 65 in the SL at Cannon, and Kramarczyk finished 10th out of 82 in the GS at Haystack.For the women, Benson, Kate Meierdircks, and Sophie Dabuzhsky have led the way. The best individual finishes so far have come from Benson, who finished first out of 51 in the SL at Cannon and sixth out of 61 in the GS at Haystack.With three races completed, the ski team has its sights set on the last three regular season meets. The women hope to maintain their second place seeding, while the men hope to climb from fifth in the district to fourth, which would then earn them a spot in the regional race."If we ski to our potential, we can definitely make up that difference and gain entry to the regional race," Krafft said. "We are starting to see benefits from summer workouts that should help propel us to that fourth seed."The team heads to New Hampshire this weekend to compete at the Dartmouth Skiway.

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Women's basketball gets big win over Amherst

March 31

Just as the women's basketball season seemed to be teetering on the brink of collapse, the Jumbos came through with an important 71-62 victory over Amherst on Saturday, featuring tenacious defense and a poised offense down the stretch. Following a 71-53 loss to Trinity the night before, the team responded well and broke its three-game losing streak. The game against Amherst was a nail-biter from start to finish, with 13 lead changes - including nine in the second half. With 4:30 remaining in the game and the score locked at 60, Tufts rattled off 11 unanswered points from five different players to finish off the Lady Jeffs. During that stretch, the Jumbos went 9-10 from the line and kept Amherst scoreless with solid rebounding and defensive grit. "We played with a sense of urgency," coach Janice Savitz said. "We had more poise out there and defensive intensity." Junior center Emily Goodman led Tufts with 19 points, including the first seven in the second half. Down 32-28 after a streaky first half, the Jumbos tied up the game 38-38 four minutes into the second frame with a three point basket by junior co-captain Hillary Dunn. From there it was a dogfight, as Tufts saw contributions from nine different players and played its best half of basketball this semester. Amherst sophomore Sarah Bergman led the charge with a game-high 23 points, but the bigger story was the Jumbos ability to shut down the Jeff's leading scorer Shannon Russell. Russell averages over 13 points a game, but on Saturday she scored only eight and never really posed much of an offensive threat. "Katie [Kehrberger] and Maritsa [Christoudias] did a great job defensively against [Russell]," Savitz said. "I am very proud of how the whole team came out after last night's loss; it really showed a lot of character." Kehrberger, a senior, picked up six points (including four clutch free throws down the stretch) as well as four assists and four rebounds. With 1:11 left and a four point lead, Kehrberger netted both attempts in the one-and-one situation, sealing the victory for Tufts. "I was a little nervous, but we shoot so many practice shots every day, so it wasn't that big of a deal," Kehrberger said. The only other Jumbo in double digits was Hillary Dunn, who tied her season high with 11 points. Freshman Devin Rhoades had a career-high nine points, including two important three pointers. The victory was especially sweet, considering the 71-53 trouncing the team received the night before at the hands of Trinity (8-6, 2-1). The Bantams, who have won eight of their last nine against Tufts, were led by senior guard Alison Hadden, who had 21 points. Trinity built up an early lead, and never allowed Tufts back into the game. Tufts was led again by Goodman, who had 16 points to go along with eight rebounds. Junior Erin Harrington also reached double figures with 10 points, and had eight rebounds and three steals. The loss dropped Tufts to 7-8 overall - the first time it had been under .500 the entire season. Back up to .500 and with its first NESCAC win of the season, the team appears to be getting back on track at an important time. "The two NESCAC losses really put us down, but now we will have a little momentum going into next weekend," Kehrberger said. "Defensively we played a lot harder, getting in passing lanes and being as aggressive as possible."

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Freshmen and experience guide men's track to victory

March 31

Using a combination of strong freshmen and crafty veterans, the men's indoor track team dominated the seven-team Tufts Invitational in the Gantcher Center on Saturday. The Jumbos finished with 217 points, crushing second-place Keene State College at 132 team points. Colby College finished third with 95 points, and Northeastern University fourth with 81 points. Even with these impressive scores, the team was not satisfied. "It was a good early season performance, but there is still a lot of work to be done," senior quad-captain Andrew Benedict said. The most exciting race of the day was the 600-meter race where freshman Ray Carre picked up the win. Carre finished with a time of 1:23.03 edging out National Champion Mark Miller from Keene State who finished in a time of 1:23.66. Making the win even more special for Carre is the fact that he also set a school record in the event. "We are really proud of him," Benedict of said of Carre. Fellow freshman Tom Tropea also competed in the 600 and ran a solid race, finishing fifth with a time of 1:28.45. "I raced all right [but] wasn't quite happy," Tropea said. Tropea was running his first race since suffering a foot injury. "Ray is a great guy, I'm happy to see him do so well and I know he is happy seeing me push myself." Another nail bitter was the 55 final. This time, the competition was not coming from another team but rather was amongst Jumbo runners. Junior quad-captain Greg Devine, Benedict, junior Bryan Pitko and freshman standout Isaiah Nelms-Osayande all met in the finals of the 55-meter dash. From the start of the race, it was a battle between Devine and Nelms-Osayande. "I was looking at their backs the entire time," Benedict said. At the end, just as when it seemed that the speedy freshman was going to out leg the proven junior, Devine passed and won by a neck. "I saw [Devine] next to me and just concentrated on running my own race," Nelms-Osayande said. Devine finished with a time of 6.62 and Nelms-Osayande second with a 6.69. Although Benedict was staring at his teammates' backs for the entire race, he still managed to finish third with a time of 6.79 and Pitko finished fifth with a mark of 6.91. "Greg's an amazing runner, Isaiah is not in great shape, but could be there," Benedict said. "He could be the fastest guy on the team." Other good individual performances included senior quad-captain J.R. Cruz, who finished first in the 5,000 in a time of 15:01.84, beating fellow senior Justin Lewis who finished second with a time of 15:56.13. Sophomore Ryan McPherson had personal bests in the shot put and the weight throw. He placed seventh in the shot with a throw of 12.49 meters and threw the weight 9.91 meters. The team is not dominated by any one group of athletes as the Jumbos had victories in sprints, distance, and throwing. "We have a great distance background and the sprint team is really picking it up," Tropea said. "It is a step up from other years." The Jumbos continue to work towards their goal, which according to Benedict is performing well at the New England Div. III Championships on Feb. 15 and 16 at Bates. The team looks to use the momentum from this win and continue its success on Saturday, Jan. 26 at Bowdoin.

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Back when trance was young

March 31

At the Soundgarden, an alternative music store in downtown Baltimore, the techno section boasts a hand-lettered sign identifying it as "Stuff we'll catch people stealing." Aficionados of electronica are insatiable - only the freshest sounds and newest albums will do, and they tend to be expensive. Moreover, the ever-churning genres of electronic music are too many to count and too specific to handle (while you read this article, a kid in a basement somewhere will likely invent a new name that covers only the music that he just made on his parents' computer). There's still merit in the older stuff, however. Enter BT, a.k.a. Washington, DC-native Brian Transeau. Transeau has been on the scene since the mid-'90s which makes him virtually a classic name in the short history of electronic music. And while his style has evolved along with everyone else's, his earlier albums still pull their weight against most artists on the market today. His first album, 1995's Ima, feels symphonic at times as Transeau flirts with his classical influences and provides an excellent "non-threatening" introduction to electronic music. The superior ESCM departs from that, however. It's more intense but arguably more beautiful, and if you're one of the die-hards, you shouldn't pretend to own a complete collection without it.ESCM marked the beginning of BT's attempt to pull away from the trance that he pioneered - a variety of electronica later artists called "dream-house." It represents the start of his move toward a progressive form of house music. Hard tracks like ESCM's "Solar Plexus" and "Love, Peace, and Grease" mix in an element not usually found in electronic music: rock and roll. This trend continued in 2000's Movement in Still Life, which featured little that you could pin down as purely electronic. At concerts on that tour, Transeau would sometimes apologize for the heavy influx of rock, promising that he would get back to playing progressive house in a song or three. It's not so much a problem as a trademark. BT's music is known for its eclectic themes. Like much of his work, ESCM teases back and forth between dark intensity and lighter, cheesier fare. As that rift between styles has grown, however, his albums have become less continuous and more song-oriented. Unlike popular DJs Paul Oakenfold or Sasha, BT remains focused on producing original music rather than mixing together other people's work, and on creating individual tracks rather than nonstop sets. Of course, that means people in the market for traditional trance music (a genre that's been supplanted of late by an infinite variety of darker music) won't fall in love with ESCM - too little of it falls into the trance category. In fact, the tracks that demonstrate the greatest trance influence stick out on the album. If all of ESCM's ten tracks were as head-thrown-back inspired as the emotional climax of its opening number, "Firewater," the disc would sell off the shelves even today. The oceanic opening - complete with mumbling surf, splashes, and the calls of tropical birds - and the tinkling thread of piano notes should feel familiar to listeners who know BT's Ima. After a full minute, however, these soothing sounds take a backseat to increasingly intense rhythms and several soaring sets of intertwined vocals. The song can't be said to crest the opening and hit its stride until three minutes in - an appropriate touch for the introductory track. The only regret: the best musical theme only emerges in the last two of the song's eight minutes, leaving you begging for more. But BT doesn't waste all his ammo at once. Instead, he brings things down to a more manageable level by playing more with rhythm and less with emotion on "Orbitus Teranium." He then snares the listener in the ethereal melodic hook of "Flaming June," likely the album's most widely recognized song. One sticking point on the album is the slightly cheap sappiness of "Lullaby for Gaia," but the problem is more with the listener than the music. Why? Because it's embarrassing to get caught listening to something so unabashedly cheesy. Everything in the music itself is solid, from the extraneous melodies that creep into the layered sounds to the coordination between rhythm and vocals. For the sake of your dignity, put some headphones on for this one. Otherwise, your friends may never let you hear the end of it. The biggest potential problem for most listeners: BT tends to be pretentious from time to time. The lyrics in "Lullaby for Gaia" and "Remember" are prime examples. You shouldn't expect anything else, however, from a style called progressive house - emphasis on the progressive. If you're looking for a distinctive style, some classic electronica, or just some clever, mind-blowing music, BT's ESCM is a strong ticket - even if it's five years old.

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Young pitching could carry Marlins, Cubs

March 31

It seems like only yesterday when a bloop single sailed over the head of Derek Jeter, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks the World Series victory to close the 2001 season. But finally, after a four-month layoff, opening day is only two weeks away. Here's a breakdown of the National League, division by division.East Besides their counterparts in the Bronx, no team will look more different this year than the New York Mets. After a World Series appearance in 2000, the Mets stunk up the joint in 2001. This year's team has been renovated, starting with pitching. The Mets' starting rotation is totally different than last year's, though Al Leiter remains the staff ace. While the south-paw is 36, he is still going strong. Gone to the Anaheim Angels was last year's number two starter Kevin Appier, replaced by Shawn Estes, a former 20-game winner who has battled inconsistencies for the past few seasons. The Mets also traded for Jeff D'Amico, who though often-injured, has nasty stuff. The Mets signed another injured yet talented arm in Pedro Astacio, who has the stuff to be one of the finest in the league. While Astacio has ability, he has never realized his vast potential. New to the lineup are a host of mashers. Robby Alomar moves Edgardo Alfonso to third base, Mo Vaughn comes in at first, and Roger Cede?±o and Jeremy Burnitz are new additions to the Mets offense.Prediction: If Alfonso and Vaughn stay healthy, the Mets offense will be awesome. The pitching is a bit suspect - D'Amico has already had injury scares this spring. With a healthy staff, the Mets will win over 90 games. The NL East also houses the team that could shock the world this season: the Florida Marlins. The team features five young arms who all throw well into the '90s. Though perhaps not yet ripe, if these pitchers realize some of their vast potential this year, Florida could have its second winning season in franchise history. A.J. Burnett is 24 and threw a no-hitter last season. Ryan Dempster was an all-star in 2000, and at 24 has one of the best up-sides in the league. Brad Penny, who is 23, came up last year and pitched to a stellar 3.69 ERA. Matt Clement, a former Padre top prospect, could breakout and become a star if he learns to control his lively stuff. Finally, Josh Beckett is possibly the best pitching prospect in baseball. At 21, his stuff is electric and he could be a star for the next decade.Prediction: The Marlins finish over .500 and battle the Mets for the division until September.Central The Central race will be a battle between three squads, the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals improved on one of the National League's best infields, signing Tino Martinez, a solid if not spectacular offensive player, who is also tremendous at defense. The Cards, which have struggled to find a "shut-em-down" closer for the past few years, also signed the A's Jason Isringhausen. The Astros have a great set of young arms, led by Roy Aswalt. With a healthy Billy Wagner closing and a healthy Shane Reynolds starting, the Astros pitching could lead them to a division win. The Cubs are the other team that should contend for the Central crown. Chicago added Moises Alou and Fred McGriff to bat behind Sammy Sosa in the lineup. Even with their hitting, what the Cubs could excel in is pitching. Kerry Wood is the staff's ace, and when healthy, is as good as it gets in baseball. Scouts are "gaga" over Mark Prior, the 21-year-old pitcher who was called the best college pitcher ever after going 15-1 for USC last season. Frank Thomas said short of Curt Schilling, no one in the majors has better stuff than Prior. He will start the season in the starting rotation. With Jason Bere as a solid veteran fifth starter, the Cubs will also rely on right-hander, Juan Cruz, a young flame-thrower with vast potential.Prediction: Cubs battle before falling apart in July. The Cards win more than the 93 games they won last season and battle into September with Houston for the division crown. Don't fret Houston fans; the Astros will get the wildcard.West For years, the NL West has been the most unpredictable division in baseball. It's tough to bet against the reigning world champions, the Arizona Diamondbacks. However, while Arizona's 1-2 punch of Schilling and Johnson is tough to beat in the post-season, during the regular season Arizona's lack of depth in the staff is exposed. The return of closer Matt Mantei from injury bodes well for the D'backs. With manager Dusty Baker, the San Francisco Giants are never to be counted out. While Barry Bonds most likely won't repeat last year's season, he is still, even in his late 30s, the best all-around player in the game. Jeff Kent should improve on his lackluster 2001 season and the Giants should contend for the division. The other threat in the NL West are perennial underachiever Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers added a wildcard in Japanese lefty Kazuhisa Ishii, who some scouts say has some of the best stuff in the majors. He is added to a rotation with ace Kevin Brown. If the Dodgers can realize their vast potential, they could also compete for the division title.Prediction: Giants beat out the Diamondbacks and win the division. Arizona misses the playoffs.

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TTLGBC to host Safe Colleges Saturday

March 31

The Tufts Transgendered, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Collective (TTLGBC) is gearing up to host its largest Safe Colleges conference in five years this Saturday. With over 450 pre-registered attendees, campus will be flooded with LGBT discussions on topics ranging from self-identity and parenting options to body image in gay men and bisexuality. The event will be topped off by a Poetry Slam and the third annual dance and drag show. TTLGBC culture representative Kelly Sanborn said she expects even more people than have pre-registered to attend the annual event. "This will be our biggest turnout yet," she predicted. Keith Boykin, former executive director of the National Black Lesbian and Gay Leadership Forum and former special assistant to President Clinton, will give a keynote address. Boykin authored Lambda Literary Award winner Respecting the Soul: Daily Reflections for Black Lesbians and Gays. The University-sponsored conference provides the LGBT community with an opportunity to increase its visibility within the Tufts community, and demonstrates Tufts' commitment to tolerance and diversity in action, according to event organizer Ken Hammill. "I think visibility is the best weapon against intolerance," he said. Safe Colleges attracts students from Massachusetts and the rest of New England, as well as local, state, and national leaders. "The main purpose of the conference is to inform and network students from colleges all over Massachusetts about pertinent LGBT issues," Hammill said. "They will get a chance to learn about the progress being made by other members of the LGBT community, and get to share their own thoughts and ideas." The event will include two workshop sessions that cover topics such as gay marriage, civil unions, parenting options for LGBT people, transgender issues, and minority issues within the LGBT community. Male and female body image, homosexuality and religions, transgender issues, ways to improve LGBT student organizations, and dating within the LGBT community will also be discussed. Transsexual author and performance artist Kate Bornstein will also present a keynote address. Bornstein has published multiple works including Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us and My Gender Workbook. University President Larry Bacow will join national LGBT leaders in addressing attendees. The annual conference was first held at Tufts in 1998 with around 100 attendees. Over 300 people attended last year's event. The conference will take place Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at various campus locales, with free lunch provided. Following the conference, Brown & Brew Caf?© will host Poetry Slam/Queer Caf?© from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. The third annual Glitter Dance and Drag Show will be held in Hotung Caf?© from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.

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Anecdotes of a Departing Senior

March 31

I would like to say a few words to the senior class of 2002. As we all come back from spring break we are now forced to face the reality that there are less than two months left in our long run as college students. I'm sure reading that last sentence was as depressing to read as it was to write, but I have good news: We got good times ahead. Firstly, I would like to make sure we all are approaching these final weeks with the right mindset. What is natural for us to do is to dread every tomorrow what with having to find a job, getting into graduate school or figuring out just what in the hell we're supposed to do now. I'm thinking this is the end of a long race. What do you do when you finally see the finish line? I'll tell you what you do: you sprint your ass off like a tortoise on smack. Whatever it is that you enjoy about college, revel in it. If you loved barbecues, reading on the quad, playing some sport, whatever you considered good times then I implore you to have as many more of them as you can because the simple fact is that the precious friends and relationships that we all have built over the last four years are never going to be the same after you graduate. Don't let your responsibilities cloud the reality of where we actually are in life. Keep your eye on the big picture. We have to celebrate each other to the point that when graduation comes there will be no room for any "I wish I could have spent more time with" or "its too bad I never got around to". When I receive my diploma I want the first thing in my mind to be "Damn I sure am sick of these people". If this is the mentality we carry with us, then the next few weeks are going to be exhausting, but that's how you know you did it right. With regards to post-college living, it's not as bad as we fear it to be. I acknowledge that I have no firsthand experience that would corroborate this little claim of mine, but hear me out. We've all been inundated with the "real world" brouhaha that we will all to join with 9 to 5 jobs, bills, student loans, and all that cheery ice cream. If you're focusing on that then I think you're overlooking something pretty exciting. We are all extremely dumb right now. Look at yourself when you were a freshman in high school as opposed to a senior in high school. Then again look at yourself when you were a freshman in college as opposed to a senior in college. Comparing these times in your life with each other reveal that growing generally makes you better. You are able to come into who you are, you can involve yourself in things you never would have thought would interest you, you meet strange, interesting, annoying, cool, fun and amazing people, and without fail you can look back on yourself and know that you had so much to learn. We're all going to have phases in our lives that begin and end with hallmark moments. We are all now staring down the barrel of a diploma. I simply say that we don't stop running. Continue to grow and celebrate life with those around you. I'm really trying not to sound like such a flower child here but I can't help but say that roads are for journey's, not for destinations. I'm still enjoying this one. I can't wait to enjoy the next.Ricardo Martinez is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering

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Crazy Bley's crazy music: crazy fun

March 31

Hmmmm ... how to describe Escalator Over the Hill ... Let's see, how about odd? Or pretentious? Maybe insane or indulgent? Bizarre, lame, oblivious, self-conscious, happy, sad? Yes, all of these adjectives do apply at one point or another, along the long, long way that is Carla Bley's 1971 extended jazz composition. When it first hit the scene, originally as a three-LP release (and now available on a double CD), it earned plaudits from some, bitter rebukes from others, and left everyone else scratching their heads. But of course, that really doesn't help you much, does it? Indeed, classifying this album as jazz would be like describing your finest, most tasty Thanksgiving dinner as simply food. We're not doing it justice. One of the few great jazz composers of the last 40 years, Bley is a freak. Or at least it is fair to say that her music is freakish. This creation seems like the wild invention of a mad scientist. She had a lot of tools at her disposal and eagerly wore them all out, bringing each to its limits and going beyond. Each song is jam packed, overflowing with musical styles, tonal curlicues, lyrical farts, and rhythmic fits. It's so damned weird, you've got to love it. You've got to laugh. The work unabashedly reeks of avant-garde pretension. These folks truly didn't give a damn and that somehow seems liberating. With passing glances/tributes/parodies at/to/of everything from German cabaret music to Broadway musicals to classical dirges to disco funk to Native American chants to beat poetry to pulp fiction to big bands to early electronic experimental funk. Escalator Over the Hill is something one experiences by giving in. To try and grasp it fully would be foolhardy. To try and take away some greater meaning would be looking for something that doesn't exist. Just listen. Cherish the musical flights of fancy and wonder at the all-star cast of artists that populate this adventure produced by Bley's second husband Michael Mantler. Guitarist John McLaughlin, clarinetist Perry Robinson, and the young saxophonist Gato Barbieri were among many who lent their talents to the work. Even Linda Ronstadt offered her voice to a few tracks. With insanity of this sort, produced from this era, it is easy to blow it off as grade-A bullshit. A bunch of hippies got together, toked up a few too many times, and made a record, right? Not exactly. There is method to this seemingly interminable madness. Each song has been delicately composed and elaborately arranged, the musicianship is stellar, and unrelenting passion is evident in their dedicated work. Each trumpet flair or reverberating drum loop rings true with the heart of artists who love what they do and will carry on just because they can. No work has ever seemed so free and so complex at the same time. The libretto by Paul Haines is simply indecipherable. The words themselves are quite understandable, but it's the order in which these words are placed that makes no sense. Consider a bit from "Doctor Why": "Nurses dyeing their hair don't care/if the horse is locked in the house, they're there." If the listener is not prepared, he'll be knocked on his fanny trying to place the experience in some kind of reasonable framework. If the meaningless words don't do it to you, the recurring spats of carefully placed deliciously deafening cacophony will. This is not be-bop, or free jazz. This music has no name and that's probably best for all involved. Some have called it a jazz opera but that's just not right. Bley and Haines themselves subtitled the work "A Chronotransduction" but that only confuses us even more. Of course, isn't that the point? Or wait... maybe the point is that there is no point? No... but... wait... I... She... hold on, this makes no sense. I guess we should just throw the disc in the stereo and let the Escalator Over The Hill take us where it may. At least we know it will be different.

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Hits and Misses

March 31

AngusFace The DayBlack Potato Records2.5/5 stars There's something about Angus. That would probably be The Matt Angus Thing, a blunt name for the latest project from an artist whose most recent album Face The Day is a pleasantly mellow listen. Angus, who performs here with Kim Williams and John Davies, has written and performed a handful of lively tunes with cheery pop-based lyrics and innocuous melodies that rest comfortably without grabbing too much attention. It's friendly music and the performers' skills are apparent. But then again, it's not especially compelling or innovative either. Ordinary drum licks rumble through the tracks, organ chords pop up then softly fade away from time to time, and Williams' sweet, subtle voice occasionally gives much needed texture to the dusty sonic landscape. Ultimately, the foreground is overshadowed by the background and Angus, who happens to be performing at the House of Blues in Cambridge on Feb. 24, just doesn't posses the vocal agility or imagination to sustain an album so full of potential. -Rob LottDakota MoonA Place to LandElektra3.5/5 stars I have yet to decide whether Dakota Moon is a male version of TLC or Destiny's Child, the African-American answer to a boy band, or a new, up-and-coming incarnation of Boyz II Men. Perhaps most intriguing is that the band manages to combine the best of all three genres on it second album, A Place to Land. If the title song, "Looking For a Place to Land," sounds familiar, it's because it was featured on NBC commercials that promoted the network's new series last fall. The tune is upbeat and catchy, despite uninspiring lyrics - perfect for use in an advertising campaign. The rest of the songs are surprisingly crisp, encompassing a range of styles and communicating effective presentations. The entire album would make a great soundtrack for any road trip with its polished spunk and accessible - though a bit simplistic - collection of music. -Lauren PhillipsGreat Big Sea Sea Of No CaresZo?3/5 stars It's pretty hard to pin down Great Big Sea - does the band purvey modern-day pirate music, Celtic-influenced drinking songs, or something in between? The Canadian quartet blends fast-paced acoustic guitars with inventive percussion and traditionally folk instruments - like fiddles, mandolins, banjos, and the bouzouki, yet another stringed instrument. The album takes on a distinctly nautical theme, with track titles like "Barque In The Harbor" and "Yarmouth Town." Great Big Sea's fast-paced, storytelling numbers would sound great in any bar, whether performed live or on disc. On "Scolding Wife," the band sings in unison the undeniably fun sing-along chorus: "And if the devil would take her, I'd thank him for his pain/I swear to God I'll hang myself if I get married again." The lyrical strength of softer tracks is practically nonexistent ("While you waste your precious hours, I could fill your day with hours"), but the band provides enough rollicking numbers to keep Sea Of No Cares from... capsizing. -Rob Bellinger

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News

Two freshmen fill open senate seats in contested election

March 31

Freshmen Alexis Smith and Chike Aguh were elected to fill the two open freshman Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate seats Thursday, edging out opponent Michael Handwerker in a three-candidate race. Of 1,163 freshmen, only 101 students cast ballots, filling the two spots vacated when Brendt Patterson and Vuong Nguyen stepped down. The new senators were introduced to the Senate at last night's weekly meeting. The election comes during a period characterized by considerable apathy from the student body - despite the perennial list of service-oriented promises from candidates, many students say that they have little or no interaction with the Senate. "I didn't even know there was an election this week," freshman Christina Bernadotte said. She suggested the Senate should publicize its elections and proceedings more aggressively. Even so, both new senators seemed enthusiastic to bring their agendas to Tufts' student government. "I think Tufts is a really great university and I want to make it better," Smith said, adding that she was excited to join the Senate after spending a semester on the freshman class council. Though Smith has identified certain issues she wants to address as a senator, she said she is approaching the job with an open mind. "I didn't really go in with a platform, because as a freshman you really don't know everything," she said. "I knew that there were a lot of things to do, and that I wanted to be involved and work hard." Freshman meal plans and campus discontent are two important issues Smith hopes to address. But some constituents are less optimistic. "I don't know what Senate does, they don't seem to have any point," Bernadotte said, adding that the only interaction she has with the Senate is when candidates ask their fellow students to sign petitions. She suggested that when candidates ask for signatures, they should explain what the Senate does, and explain why they would like to be a part of it. "If it weren't for the petitions, I wouldn't know there was a Senate," she said. This is the second mid-year election the Senate has held this year. In November, three sophomores were elected to fill the spots left open by one senior and two juniors. No upperclassmen ran for the spots, so they were opened up to sophomores.

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News

From groceries to nightclubs

March 31

Freshmen may have seen some of the wonders of Davis Square - like eerie statues of old people and the Someday Caf?©, home of the world's best chai latte - when they visited Tufts last year. But the best part of Davis is that, thanks to its conveniently located T station (Boston's version of a subway), it serves as a gateway to the rest of the Boston Metropolitan area. You have probably already noticed the lack of a grocery store, nightclub or real bowling alley in Davis - though the square does have its own New England-style candlepin bowling lanes). But not to fear: these and many other things can be found in the surrounding areas. And the beauty of Boston is that with the T, you can get just about anywhere for $2 round trip. Porter Square, the first T-stop from Davis heading into the city is home to Star Market. It's the place to go if you're dying for fresh fruit or French bread, or you are just sick of paying out the nose for yogurt at Jumbo Express. Porter Exchange houses an Asian market with numerous sushi restaurants. And from the shopping center that houses such staples as CVS and Tags to the conveniently located Pier 1 across the street, Porter is ideal for picking up all your necessary odds and ends. Just one stop further is another shopping haven, Harvard Square. The area serves as a bastion of irony: Harvard Square is one of the few neighborhoods where you'll find a daily congregation of punk kids sporting Mohawks and studded clothing standing less than fifty feet from a gigantic Abercrombie and Fitch. Harvard Square also boasts such mainstream retailers as The Gap, Urban Outfitters and Diesel. For those seeking something more unique, there is Planet Aid, a used and vintage clothing store whose proceeds help to stop world hunger. Also along the lines of alternative clothing is The Garage, a mini-mall containing a plethora of one-of-a-kind stores. Hootenanny is a slightly pricey retailer of Goth and punk clothing that would shock your grandma. It is also home to an Anime shop, sci-fi bookstore and a reputable piercing and tattoo parlor. The array of stores is rounded out by a Newbury Comics and Ben and Jerry's. More practically, Harvard Square has both a Staples and a Kinko's, because - preppy or punk - all our printers need ink. MIT is situated between the next two T-stops, Central and Kendall. In addition to another Gap location, Central Square offers more diverse shopping options such as Tello's (ideal for club clothes), Hubba Hubba (a sex shop), the large studio Danceplex and an arts and crafts store. It is also home to The Middle East, a popular nightclub, restaurant and live music venue that frequently offers 18+ shows. You will also find the much talked about Garment District - which is not actually a district, but rather the best vintage and used clothing store in the area. It's also great for inexpensive clothing, used cds, books, and records. After Kendall Square, the train emerges from underground, revealing breathtaking view of the Charles River. It then stops at Charles MGH - overlooking the Esplanade - followed shortly by Park Street, located right in the center of downtown Boston. The stop is adjacent to Boston Common. At the nearby duck pond, one can harass the geese and ride in the famous swan boats. Less than a block away is a large and architecturally impressive multiplex that shows current and popular films. Further down the street is Boston's theater district, where musical theater, ballet and other performing arts are showcased. The next stop is Downtown Crossing, which offers several blocks of good (and cheap) shopping. You can find Macy's, Filenes's Basement, both Borders and Barnes and Nobles and an H&M, among other retailers. Immediately after Downtown Crossing is South Station. If you take Amtrak or Greyhound to come to Tufts you can save yourself some cab fare and take the subway. Keep in mind that this option is better suited to light travelers. The Park Street station is a major transfer point along the T. Venturing from the Red Line to the Green Line takes you to several other points of interests. The Lechmere bound train will take you to the Haymarket stop and the Fleet Center. The arena hosts basketball and major sporting events as well as concerts and other large special events like the circus. If you can't find what you need at Downtown Crossing or prefer your shopping indoors with escalators and a food court, then take this train to its last stop at Lechmere for the Cambridgeside Galleria Mall. The mall features a Filenes's, Old Navy, Best Buy and Borders, as well as many other stores not for the faint of wallet. A hint, though - the T ride to Cambridgeside can be lengthy, and you are better off taking the 80 bus, which leaves from Boston Ave behind Hillsides or College Ave next to the LGBT center. If you head in the other direction and venture further into Boston, both the B, C, and D trains will take you to the Kenmore stop. From here you can catch a Red Sox game at the infamous Fenway Park go clubbing on Lansdowne Street. While many of the clubs and lounges enforce a 19+ minimum age requirement for entrance, you can still catch numerous live music acts at Axis and Avalon, which frequently offer 18+ shows. The E train takes you to the Prudential Center, a good place for dining. Try March?©, a cafeteria style restaurant featuring cuisine from all over the world. It also has some shopping and one of the best views of the city from its top floor. The next two stops take you to the Boston Symphony and the Museum of Fine Arts. While the Red and Green lines will take you to most of Boston's main attractions, the Orange and Blue Lines are also worth exploring. These lines feature convenient station locations such as the Aquarium, Chinatown, and Logan Airport. Before you head underground, however, there are some things you should remember. First, street musicians are people too. Even if you are can't or don't want to give them money acknowledge them with a nod or smile and - no matter what - always clap at the end of a song. Second, no matter how odd, sketchy, loud, or drunk the person in the seat directly across from you is, do not stare. Just keep reading the ads until he or she gets off. Otherwise they may try to engage you in conversation. Third, and most importantly, remember the T closes at 12:30 every night - even though there is an elusive late night bus, called the Night Owl, which runs until 2. You don't want to risk missing the bus - take this one from experience.

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