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What's Your Problem?

August 31

Sexual tensions on the rise? Suffering from foot-in-mouth syndrome? Freaking out about midterms? Email The Daily's own "Dr." K at askdoctork@yahoo.com to get answers to your most pressing issues.Q: Dear Dr. K,I've been told that I'm a good-looking guy. But I'm also a friendly guy. And recently, I've been noticing that when I say hi to girls on the street, I'm always smiling and waving. And I was thinking: is this cool? Should I be acting all excited around all these girls or should I just play it cool and collected and act like I have somewhere better to be? Do girls like a guy with a little air of mystique about him?What should I do, Dr. K?-Friendly and FrustratedA: Ask yourself this question: are you looking for true romance or some hot lovin' in the form of late night booty calls? If your answer involves the former, then you should just be yourself - good-looking and unable to contain your, um, "excitement" upon meeting a potential love interest. If you want to build an eventual relationship, it's best to start off showing your true colors from the start. After all, if you put on this macho fa?§ade and act coolly indifferent, then when the girl finally sees how truly fun-loving and goofy you are then she may be freaked out (or at least confused) as to why your personality suddenly did a 180. Now, if booty beckoning is your main concern right now, then that is a totally different situation. It might just be in your best interest to act a little bit mysterious. After all, there is something truly sexy about someone who seems to be a bit secretive and has an air of mystique about them. This is not to suggest that you should act totally out of character, but perhaps holding back some of your enthusiasm might be a good idea if you're looking to get busy. A girl will probably find your slightly cooler attitude intriguing, so if you want to appear cool, then you've got to act that way! The bottom line: girls (and guys) are definitely attracted to people with an air of mystique about them, probably because it keeps them wondering what secrets the person is concealing. But people who are easy to talk to, interesting, and friendly are definitely more appealing when looking for someone to have a relationship with. So my friendly and frustrated friend, you must decide what you are looking for in a girl and figure out what message you are trying to get across and you will attract someone who will suit your needs. Q: Dear Dr. K,I have a patch of hair on my lower back and it kind of pisses me off. Imean, it's not that big of a deal - it's just a little hair - but I'msomewhat self-conscious about it and it definitely stands out when I'm atthe beach or in the pool. I've thought a little about perhaps getting havingpermanent hair removal or something along those lines, but that just seems alittle extreme. What do you think? Is this something that I should be soself-conscious about? Or should I just forget it and just accept myself the way I am?- FuzzyA: Ah, the joys of extraneous body hair. If you're serious about removing some of your freaky fuzz, you've got several options: 1) You could get it waxed. This involves going to a hair salon and putting your trust into the wax specialist who will proceed to cover you in hot wax and rip the hair out by the root. Unless you've got some sort of kinky fetish, this procedure hurts! The hair will stay off for about two weeks, which would be a good solution if you were going on vacation or something and needed a quick removal.2) Consider electrolysis. This is a permanent hair removal, which is costly but will rid you of the fuzz. Several visits will be necessary, as will a lot of money from your savings account.3) Shave it - although I wouldn't recommend it, unless you want to start investing in a load of razor refills. But before you run out to make an appointment, take a second to think about whether this is seriously something you need to do to feel better about yourself. You have to realize that every single person has some flaw that they see in themselves. So you've got a little bit of extra back fuzz. Big deal! At least you're not one of those guys who can easily be mistaken for an orangutan when viewed from the back. If you're happy with yourself for who you are, then a little bit of extra back hair shouldn't interfere with your hopes, dreams, and life goals. And really, who the hell cares if anyone scrutinizes you for your genetic makeup? So, my advice is to suck it up and deal with the way you were built - and be proud of yourself! You'll save yourself the time it would take to go through shaving it, the sheer agony to go through waxing, and the serious cash it would take to get electrolysis. Instead, focus on your own life - back hair and all.

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News

Kelly Gay wins in landslide election

August 31

The Somerville voters overwhelmingly showed approval of Dorothy Kelly Gay's first-term performance when they elected her to a second term yesterday.She beat competitor William Baro by an estimated 28 points, according to an unofficial count. Kelly Gay's goals for the term include improving the Assembly Square shopping center, increasing the amount of "affordable housing," and improving relations with Tufts. The unofficial results, as reported on the community cable access channel, placed the mayor with a 64 percent of the total 10,378 votes cast. Kelly Gay spent $92,000 on her campaign, as opposed to the $5,000 Baro spent. Kelly Gay has received many endorsements from local unions and community groups, according to the Somerville Journal. But she was most pleased with the support she's received from her constituents. "I'm the most proud of the personal endorsements I've received from the voters," she told the Journal. "Just the other day I was standing on the street and an immigrant came up to me who recently became eligible to vote. She told me she was very happy to be able to vote for me because she felt I am doing a great and have always been inclusive."Kelly Gay was elected mayor in 1999 in a hotly contested special election to replace former Mayor Michael Capuano, who left Somerville for Washington DC. The mayor's two years in office were marked by various challenges, ranging from garnering funding for new schools, to improving a public safety building and fixing troubles with the town's police department.She also increased the amount of affordable housing units available in the community by forging partnerships with local organizations. This created over 100 new housing units, some of which opened within the past two months, that provide affordable and assisted living for handicapped citizens.However, in his campaign, Baro criticized the way that Kelley Gay ran the city. He said the economy is declining, and he faulted Kelly Gay for employing people from outside the city in city offices.

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News

Power struggle engulfs NFL

August 31

From 1985 until 1997, every Super Bowl winner came from the NFC. The Denver Broncos broke that streak with consecutive wins against the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons in 1998 and 1999 respectively, but the AFC promptly forfeited the Vince Lombardi Trophy right back to the NFC, as the St. Louis Rams won the next season. Last year, the AFC's Baltimore Ravens claimed the title, which seemed to symbolize a balance of power in the league. However, it may be time for the AFC to get some revenge. The teams that carried the NFC during the 13-year run - the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, and San Francisco 49ers - aren't the powers they once were. And while the New York Giants, who won two Super Bowls during the NFC's reign, are still a contender, they are indicative of a number of NFC teams this year; they, much like the Philadelphia Eagles, Packers, 49ers, and New Orleans Saints, are a strong team but not balanced enough to win it all. So if you're looking for an early season pick to win the Super Bowl, the AFC is ripe with contenders. Starting with the defending champs, the AFC has three teams with legitimate shots to win the championship. The Ravens are 3-2, but their defense alone is enough to win a championship, as it proved last year. Teams simply don't run the ball against Baltimore, which makes it hard for them to win. The offense has covered up the loss of running back Jamaal Lewis by importing quarterback Elvis Grbac from Kansas City. Grbac is now comfortable in the offense and with his receivers, which means the offense should put up enough points to win most games from now on. Of course, the defense is so good that Grbac only needs about ten points a game to win. The Oakland Raiders may be the best team in the AFC, as they attack opponents with a careful, balanced system. Coach Jon Gruden, one of the top coaches in the league, has transformed Rich Gannon into one of the best quarterbacks in the league. Gannon's improvement in the past few years is due in no small measure to the personnel surrounding him. Wide receiver Tim Brown has been a Raider since 1988, but Oakland has brought in Jerry Rice to line up opposite him and Charlie Garner to carry the load in the backfield. Garner, a running back who came with Rice from San Francisco in the offseason, was supposed to split time with Tyrone Wheatley, though Garner has been impressive enough to get the majority of the carries. Garner's workload will only increase in the upcoming weeks as Wheatley recently suffered a right knee injury which will keep him on the sidelines for three to four weeks. The final team on this list is the Broncos, but if Brian Griese's shoulder injury lingers much longer, it will become a two-team race. The Broncos are 3-2 and have looked like Super Bowl contenders in the three victories. They've also looked terrible in their two losses, the most recent a 34-21 embarrassment in Seattle last Sunday. If the offense can find a suitable replacement for injured wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, it should return to the top of the league. New defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes has brought with him a defense that makes Denver balanced enough to win in the playoffs. Furthermore, Denver boasts the best punter, punt returner, and one of the top kickers in the league. If you were expecting to see the Indianapolis Colts on this list, look again when quarterback Peyton Manning stops throwing interceptions, and they start playing some defense. The good The way that the Rams and Raiders won their games last Sunday. Both were close, low-scoring games against top teams, but the two teams - who could face each other in the Super Bowl - figured out ways to win. The Rams scored a touchdown in the final minutes with their backup running back, Trug Canidate, to beat the Giants 15-14. The Raiders intercepted a Manning pass in the final drive to thwart Indianapolis' comeback hopes. The Rams are the only undefeated team and the Raiders are 4-1. As it stands right now, getting to the Super Bowl means getting past one of these teams. The bad The Monday Night Football game between the Redskins and the Cowboys, neither of which had won a game, was bad. The fact that the game received higher television ratings than game five of the New York Yankees - Oakland A's series was worse. What led people to tune in as the Cowboys kicked three field goals on their way to their first victory of the year is beyond understanding. How the Redskins could allow only three field goals and lose the game is also beyond understanding. To Jerry Jones and Dan Snyder, the owners of these once-proud franchises - good job. The ugly The bonehead play by Detroit Lions wideout Germane Crowell, at the end of the Lions - Minnesota Vikings game. With the Lions on the final drive of a tremendous comeback, still down by a score, and without timeouts, Crowell caught a pass, and instead of getting out of bounds, made a juke and was tackled in bounds. Time expired before the Lions could get off another play. If nothing else, the Lions, who have yet to win a game this year, are doing a good job of producing goats. First Ty "7-pick" Detmer, now Germane "stay in the lines" Crowell.

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News

Observer changes focus, style

August 31

As of yesterday, Tufts students will get their breaking news exclusively on a Daily basis. TheObserver, Tufts' 105-year old weekly newspaper, is revamping its focus, it announced in its Oct. 19 edition. Tufts' Newspaper of Record will keep its name, but will switch to a biweekly newsmagazine format that staff members hope will examine on and off-campus news in an in-depth, investigative light. After several weeks of deliberation, The Observer's executive board, headed by Editor-in-Chief Mara Vatz, finalized the decision after meeting with staff this Monday. The Observer's statement offered a summary of the publication's history and outlined reasons for the switch, citing changes in "technology and the nature of other publications." The editorial stated that The Observer was no longer able to deliver "fresh and breaking" news in its weekly format. "We as a staff decided to drastically alter the methods by which we operate, although our depth, breadth, and undying pursuit of accuracy will not be compromised," the statement read. The new, biweekly publication will feature a change in layout, and more importantly, a change in focus. Its pieces will be longer and more analytical, probing into on-campus issues and their effects on the student body. A dedicated sports section will be omitted to make way for what Vatz hopes to be "accurate, high-quality news analysis as well as thorough arts, entertainment, and opinions." Vatz, a senior who has been on TheObserver staff since her freshman year, rose in the ranks to take the paper's helm this semester. Yet her tenure has been met with anything but smooth sailing. Chronic equipment failures and recruitment troubles were driving forces behind the change, which has been in the works for about five years, according to Vatz. "This is an idea that has been present since before I came to Tufts. Over the past few years, the idea of switching to a magazine format has been suggested by a number of people, both on and off The Observer staff." Senior Erica Goldberg, who headed up The Observer last spring, cited short-staffed departments - resulting from a shift in focus away from recruitment - as the force that drove this overhaul. "There was a larger drive for recruitments in the past. Recent Editors-in-Chief concentrated more on building internal matters, like stronger writing and editing, and let recruitment slip. Eventually, this semester, they felt the effects of that." Until The Tufts Daily arrived on the campus scene in 1980, The Observer existed as Tufts' only source of news, arts, and sports. Originally called The Tufts Weekly, the publication moved to the forefront of campus journalism when it printed several times a week during wartime. After the arrival of its more prolific counterpart, The Observer had a new challenge to face - providing a different prospective on the news than its rival.The Observer shifted its concentration from reporting breaking news to reporting in-depth news. Last year, the paper created a niche for itself as a Weekend Newspaper with increased comics, arts, and features. Yet Goldberg says the newsmagazine will better fulfill The Observer's potential. "Because we do have such a successful daily newspaper, TheObserver needs to focus on different things now - not cutthroat journalism, or fast reporting," Goldberg said.The Observer's new focus on analytical, magazine-style journalism leaves the Daily unrivaled as Tufts's source of campus news.Daily Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Gedan welcomes the change with curiosity, but laments the loss of a more exciting news environment. "TheObserver has been on my radar screen since my first days at the Daily, when my fellow news editors and I worked hard to keep our big stories secret and rush breaking news into print. Brian's rumors page provided recent motivation, but for the first 20 of our 21 years of existence, it was TheObserver that kept the Daily honest and aggressive." Along with the loss of media competition also comes a loss that Provost Sol Gittleman, a 37-year Observer reader, understands - the loss of a century-old tradition. Although this is a goodbye for the Provost, he welcomes the change as necessary - both for The Observer itself, and for a campus rife with news. "The Observer was more of an opinion piece, and they didn't carry out the pieces on the Tufts scene that they could have," Gittleman said. "There's lots of good stories about this university that an in-depth newspaper could tell." Vatz, her Executive Board, and her staff, will spend the next few weeks discussing and fine-tuning the new publication, and morphing their newspaper masthead into a magazine masthead. Sophomore Erica Hirsch, who joined staff last year, barely had time to get used to her new position as News Editor before the changes were implemented. She entered the year excited about her move onto the masthead - she had specifically picked TheObserver to write in-depth articles. Hirsch, like many of her fellow editors, is excited about the paper's new format for this very reason. Her position will not change, and the new format will allow her to hone her news analysis skills. "I'm excited to be part of it," she said. "The editors of TheObserver have a vision of what it should be like, what our pieces should be like, what our mission is in printing the news." The notion of change has left the staff in a state of optimism, not nostalgia. Shifts in vision, format, and morale is what will keep old editors like Goldberg on board. "I still feel a close connection to it, and I'm looking forward to seeing it retain is place on campus. I want to help build staff, and edit...anything so we can maintain the legacy," she said. "Everyone knows what the Observer could be, and everyone wants to see it be what it should be. Sometimes changes need to be implemented if people feel like the paper isn't meeting its full potential."

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News

Panthers do some reshuffling

August 31

With over a quarter of the NHL season complete, the Florida Panthers, perhaps the league's most disappointing team to date, completed an overhaul of management yesterday in an attempt to resurrect their floundering team. New President Alan Cohen made his presence felt by firing coach Duane Sutter along with general manager Bill Torrey. Sutter is being replaced by Mike Keenan, who has coached six other teams, including the Boston Bruins last year, and is being called upon to rejuvenate a team that leads the league in losses despite the presence of the game's most electrifying player, Pavel Bure. It remains to be seen whether Keenan's style of coaching predicated on emotion and discipline will mesh well with a Panther team that is filled with a volatile mix of promising rookies and ego-driven veterans. While the season is still young, several teams have established themselves as the upper echelon of the league through shrewd personnel decisions in the offseason. The most dominant team so far is located in Hockey Town USA, namely the Detroit Red Wings. Boasting a 21-3-1-1 record, the Wings are the oldest team in the league, featuring veterans such as Brendan Shanahan, Sergei Federov, Steve Yzerman, and Chris Cheilos. The Wings are in cruise control in the Central Division because of the presence of their three high-priced free agents: Dominik Hasek, Luc Robitalle, and Brett Hull. While the sniper instincts of Hull and Robitalle have triggered a quick-hitting offensive attack, the Dominator has performed at his usual otherworldly levels, with a save percentage of .906. His success between the pipes has translated into a more confident Red Wings' defense. Despite a recent slump, the New York Islanders, a team whose most recent notoriety stems more from its owners being thrown in jail than for their on-ice prowess, have prospered this season. Much of this success has resulted from the decision to take on two veterans that were shunned elsewhere for their perceived selfish natures. Alexei Yashin and Michael Peca have thrown aside their reputations as weak-willed players. Yashin is currently in the top ten in scoring, while Peca has become the leader in the clubhouse that the Islanders desperately needed. Combine these improvements with the surprising play of Detroit cast-off Chris Osgood in net, and the Islanders have become the team that Mike Milbury envisioned when he opened his checkbook this summer. Across the river, the New York Rangers have also turned heads with their play of late, climbing to the top of the Atlantic Division. Their resurgence has been spearheaded by Eric Lindros, "L'Enfant Terrible," who has gotten off to a fast start with 13 goals and 26 points. With his spats with the Philadelphia Flyers behind him, it appears Lindros is finally healthy and ready to carry a team on his shoulders. Goalie Mike Richter, seemingly washed-up and left for dead, has reemerged as a bona-fide No. 1 goalie with a solid 2.41 GAA. The specter of injury, a recurrent problem for the Rangers in recent years, has yet to rear its ugly head. It appears that the Rangers have finally matched their huge payroll with on-ice performance. Finally, a list of the NHL's up-and-coming teams would not be complete without mentioning the Bruins. The B's did not look like a team on the rise this summer, as they only managed to sign Martin Lapointe to an overpriced deal. Things looked even bleaker after franchise center Jason Allison, third in the NHL in scoring a year ago, was traded to the Kings because of the Bruins' traditional refusal to spend big money to keep their players. However, Needham native and new head coach Robbie Ftorek has kept Boston from succumbing to its mediocre levels of the recent past. Joe Thornton has blossomed into an All-Star caliber center and winger Sergei Samsonov has at last complemented his impressive stick skills with some hard-nosed play. Goalie Byron Dafoe, after two injury-plagued seasons, has returned to his acclaimed form of 1999. The B's have also demonstrated a penchant for timely goals, as evidenced by their three overtime wins. Boston will be a solid team this season; the real question is whether Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs, a miser by ownership standards, is willing to pay for another veteran winger before the trading deadline. In doing so, he could push this team from a quick first-round exit in the playoffs to a sustained championship run.

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News

Women's volleyball goes 3-1 in first NESCAC weekend of season

August 31

After a sweeping its first three matches at Cost Guard on Sept. 8, the women's volleyball team suffered its first loss at Amherst last Friday in the first of a four game NESCAC weekend. Following its initial loss to the host team on Friday, the team rebounded to win its next three matches improving its overall record to 6-1.The squad started the weekend on a sour note, but quickly picked themselves up from Friday night's 0-3 loss to Amherst by conquering Middlebury 3-0 to finish the first day of competition.On Saturday, the team had a new determination and took down both of its opponents. Williams put up a fight taking the match to five games before falling by a 3-2 margin, while Hamilton had no bite and was easily swept by the Brown and Blue (3-0)."There was stiff competition this year," coach Kris Talon said. "Amherst won the NESCAC tourney last season and had most of their big guns back so we knew they were going to be good. Middlebury was third in conference last year but had lost their two best players, so they were a question mark, but a solid program. Hamilton is historically weak. Williams we beat in NESCACs last season but is always tough and has three very good freshman." Amherst, a team that beat Tufts twice during the 2000 campaign, struck again as the Jumbos dropped the match in three straight games (24-30, 12-30, 12-30). The defense seemed to be on target, but the hitting faltered. Senior tri-captain Jessica Stewart managed to knock down 11 kills, but offset that with six attacking errors, which lowered her attacking average for the season to .236. The defense was led by tri-captain Megan Pitcavage and freshman Emily Macy, who recorded 24 digs combined."Nothing was going well," sophomore Lindsey Moses said. "Our hitting was just not coming together.""We always expect to win," Talon said. "But odds were pointing toward Amherst because they are the top team and we played them first. We did not play well against them and it showed in the scores. Those scores indicate a smoking."Fortunately for the Jumbos, Middlebury couldn't get anything going against them on Saturday and fell in three games (30-12, 30-22, 30-19). The hitting, serving, and blocking all seemed to improve following the Amherst debacle. The trio of Stewart, Macy, and Pitcavage rallied together for 31 kills in the front row with only nine attacking errors. The defense was anchored sophomore Amy Cronin who led with 14 digs in addition to two blocks at net."We really dominated Middlebury physically and emotionally," Talon said. "Their defense could not compete with our offense." Stewart played her best match of the weekend with 5.67 kills/game (total of 17 kills against only five errors for a .353 hit percentage) while all four primary attackers (Cronin, Macy, Pitcavage and Stewart) had a hit percentage over .210.In Tufts' face off against Williams, the Jumbos were forced into a five game match for only the second time this season. The Jumbos captured the first game, 30-22, but lost the next two (24-20 and 20-30). But Tufts eventually prevailed, winning both the fourth and fifth matches (30-16 and 15-11). Stewart once again seemed to lead the team in this contest, despite the fact that not all of her stats were impressive (17 kills, 11 attacking errors, 18 digs). Defensively, junior Paulette Pacheco held strong with 14 digs, while freshman Carie Fowler aided the front row defense with three blocks at net."We knew we wanted to beat Williams," Cronin said. "We needed to redeem ourselves from the Amherst match, so we got our offense down and played well as a team."The Hamilton match - the final contest of the weekend - offered every member of the team a chance to play. Talon used the match against the week Hamilton squad to empty almost her entire bench - eleven out of twelve eligible players saw game time.The Jumbos took the match with the help of their young blood, sweeping the contest in three games (30-14, 30-28, 31-29). The duo of freshmen Macy and Ali Sauer combined for 27 kills, 16 digs, and four services aces while Pitcavage and Pacheco had nine digs each."We played well as a team," Sauer said. "I felt really comfortable on the court because everyone worked together. The captains aren't overpowering at all on the court. The [seniors] are just other players on the team - teammates."The Jumbos resume non-conference play tomorrow at Emmanuel College at 7 p.m.

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News

Early morning stargazing

August 31

Students bundled up and braved the morning chill on Sunday to catch a glimpse of the annual Leonid meteor shower. Jumbos all over campus woke up early or stayed up late to watch the luminous streaks dash across the dark sky in what was billed as the best show in 30 years. "It was spectacular!" freshman Lisa Schupmann said of the shower, which peaked around 5 a.m. yesterday morning. Schupmann and friends joined other students watching the shower from the Tisch roof, but soon relocated to the fields across from Cousens where they thought it would be less noisy."It was nice to lie down on the ground, but it got really cold," Schupmann said.Others watched the meteors from just outside their dorms, from the rooftops of houses, or just on their walks home."There was one that was a greenish color, and a few that lasted a really long time. I saw four together at the same time," junior Brendan Smyth said. Smyth watched the natural light show from the roof of Alpha Tau Omega.Schupmann was also surprised how well they she could see the meteors."I was amazed how bright some of them were, and some left such a distinct trail. I didn't expect some of them to be that bright because of the lights from Boston and Medford," she said. "I had never seen shooting stars before; it was my first time being able to see them. It was magical," sophomore Myra Valenzuela said. "I was surprised to see how many people came out." Valenzuela estimates that were 100 people on the library roof Saturday night and into Sunday morning. "I didn't stay that long because it was freezing," Valenzuela added. People brought sleeping bags and blankets and laid out on the grass to see the shower. Usually, pollution and weather make it difficult to view meteor showers, but this year the sky was clear and the Leonids were bright enough to be visible from cities. Astronomers had predicted that the show would be exceptional since the Earth was set to pass through a major Leonid debris clouds. The best viewing in the US was reported to be between 4 a.m. and 6 a.m. EST.Astronomy professor Ken Olum watched the shower from his home in Sharon, MA."It was really visually spectacular," Olum said. "It was very much as predicted, we really had a lot of meteors, pretty much at the time they said it would be. People were accurate in the prediction of these things, which was really difficult." Students that missed the meteor shower may have a second chance next year, according to Olum. There is a possibility of another great meteor shower next year, he says, but is unsure of when and if it would be visible from the US. For example, if it occurs during the day or during a full moon, the meteors cannot be seen at all.Olum explains that this year, Leonid meteor showers were particularly remarkable because of the accurate predictions as well as weather conditions."It was great for North America, the shower could be seen, and the time was predicted well. It might be at daylight next year," Olum said.The meteoroids, called Leonids because they appear to come from the direction of the constellation Leo (the Lion), are tiny dust particles from the Comet Tempel-Tuttle. The comet passes the sun once every 33 years, leaving a trail of dust - the Earth usually travels through this trail of dust in its orbit around the sun each November. The dust particles enter the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of 45 miles per second and burn up in friction in the air molecules. When they burn, they leave a shimmer of light, creating the shooting stars people see from Earth.The big peaks come every 33 years and Olum speculates that the next will occur in 2030.NASA astronomer Tony Phillips said to CNN that that this year's meteor shower was the most spectacular one since 1966, and was more of a storm than a shower. Comets, from which the meteors are shed from, are believed to contain materials that formed the solar system 4.5 billion years ago. The comets are made up of frozen balls of ice and debris, along with basic elements and carbon-based molecules. These organic compounds may have given Earth its first forms of life, scientists told CNN.In 1966, there was a meteor shower with shooting stars ranging as high as 150,000 per hour. Astronomers expect another such shower in 2099.Sophomore Dave Fernandes was happy that he caught the shower this year. Fernandes first viewed the show from the Tisch roof, then later at a Target parking lot in Everett, where Fernandes and friends were waiting on line for the new Nintendo Game Cube. "I thought it was pretty cool, it's something you gotta see because you're not going to see it again for a while," Fernandes said.

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News

Honoring a Murderer

August 31

On Monday, Oct. 8, 2001, Tufts University will officially celebrate Columbus Day. The vast majority of the student body will sleep late, catch up on missed reading assignments, and blindly accept the reasons behind their day off. Despite the fact that Tufts has gained a reputation for being a liberal institution with a hearty supply of free-minded students, very few Jumbos will invest the time to ponder why this nation bows to the "Saint" that is Christopher Columbus.However, given both the past and current conditions of public education in the United States, this does not come as a shock. From age three forward, American children are force-fed the exciting tales of the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria, and the heroics of the world's greatest navigator. They learn that a pious explorer tried to befriend the "savage natives" and bestow upon them the wonders of European civilization. Their ethnocentric texts portray the wild natives as actively resisting the gestures of wholehearted European goodness. Their history books depict the "Indian" as an untamed beast and an instigator of violent actions. Such accounts are so widespread that today's children and young adults attribute the observation of Columbus Day to the unmatched valiance of one man in his discovery of a "New World."Where in the course of students' education do they learn that the natives were anything but savages? Which text explains that the natives' society was more egalitarian and peaceful than that of any European nation? Which history book points out that the natives ran to the shores of their beaches with open arms and open hearts to welcome Columbus' brutish men?Which illustrations depict Columbus' violent enslavement of thousands of good-hearted, honest men, women and children? Which history teachers elaborate on Columbus' obsession with gold or his arranged killings of all natives who failed to bring him his cherished nuggets of material wealth? Which instructors note that our beloved nation was established by means of rape and destruction, and that Columbus set a precedent that ravaging and plundering for the "best interest" of the country were worthy and honorable actions?While it is disturbing that very few such texts or teachers exist, it is far from surprising. If this true version of colonization was instructed in this country's classrooms, young people may begin to question their allegiance to the blood-stained American flag and acknowledge that their country's past is not as glorious as is often depicted. Such realizations are, to say the least, discouraged in a country that praises and thrives on both uniformity and conformity.However, today's college students should be wise enough to disregard this overwhelming emphasis on conformity and should question the validity of the traditional depiction of the New World's discovery. They should notice the contradiction in observing holidays for both Martin Luther King, Jr., one of the greatest advocators of human rights, and Christopher Columbus, one of the greatest destroyers of human rights. They should approach the administration of this elite institution and denounce the observation of "Columbus Day." However, is this a reasonable expectation when the administrators themselves, the very people who should be providing us with an education of the truth and deterring us from conforming to the "system," are declaring that we should praise Christopher Columbus for an entire day? It should be the duty of the administration of Tufts (as well as that of all universities) to ensure that Columbus does not receive the respect that this holiday grants him. Holding classes on Monday, October 8 would be a step in the right direction, a step in freeing the campus from the ethnocentrism and racism that is inherent to such a holiday. However, because Tufts students annually receive this day off in early October, it appears highly unlikely that such a step will be taken. Therefore, as is the case year after year, Tufts administrators are once again admitting that a man who is guilty of rape, murder, and theft merits the honor of having his own national holiday. If you also want to make this cowardly admission, drink heavily on Sunday night, sleep late into Monday afternoon, and attend class on Tuesday with the illusion that a major injustice has not been committed. But if you are not so willing to admit to the glory of Christopher Columbus, pressure your professors to hold class, encourage other students to disrespect the memory of this inept navigator, and show the administrators that you are not as blind and na??ve as they presume. Josh Cohen is a junior majoring in history with a minor in sociology.

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News

A band as eccentric as its name

August 31

Nostrophone: hold one end in one nostril and blow notes with the other, depending on how far you hold it from the nostril. Players often turn purple in rehearsal. This musical instrument is an invention from the fertile brain of Spooky Daly, singer-songwriter of the band Spooky Daly Pride. The name comes from the lead singer's grandfather's Gaelic name, which he claims is Spookalicious. An inventive name for an inventive band, which cites such influences as Louie Prima, Elvis Presley, early Run-DMC, and early Beastie Boys. But mainly Prima, because he's a cool down-South N'awlins kind of musician. Almost every track on the album Marshmallow Pie is a different meshing of sounds. "Happy Happy" is practically ska and sounds a bit like Smash Mouth - low, gravelly sounds and repeated, off-kilter beats. Other songs, like the album's title track, have a kick all their own - kazoos, banjos, accordions, and other "whacked up sounds." So what is the meaning of Marshmallow Pie? Daly says it's all about unity, harmony, all of us being able to hop up and down like rabbits and eat marshmallow pie. But when pressed, he admits he was a little high when he wrote it, which is the case with most of his songs. The band is quickly becoming popular, with its brand of feel-good, whacked-up music that you can tap your feet to. The songs have a relentless drive and still manage to make you smile, even when they're yelling "Go get it, cause the devil's after ya!" The band members create choruses with psychedelic guitar feedback and a cappella do-do-dos. Musicians are older than Hanson, and younger than Garbage, according to Daly's description. The majority of them are from around Boston, but they definitely don't follow in the tradition of underground music in the Boston scene, which usually involves some degree of punk influence. The band isn't a Phish copy either, even though it's a jam band, or a new Soul Coughing, even if it professes Soul Coughing to be the band it most enjoys opening for. Spooky Daly Pride is a strange mix of alternative pop and high smiley faces with gravelly voices. Spooky Daly describes itself as a cross between a "phat-grooves sophistication thing" and "a duffel bag full of bolts and nuts and shit rolled down a hill." The same could be said of the bands it has opened for: the Foo Fighters, Kid Rock, Busta Rhymes, and the Cherry Poppin' Daddies. Daly says the band has never had a bad concert, but it has had strange ones. One of the strangest was at the Civic Center in Providence, RI. The group had just started playing at local clubs when one day they got an offer to open for Primus. "It was surreal. One day we're playing for a small club, and next we're playing for one of the biggest acts in the business, playing onstage in front of thousands of people," says Spooky. Spooky Daly Pride has since played for bigger bands and festivals, although the group says it would still be surreal to play at a concert of that size. It has played at Berkfest in the Berkshires, Harvest Moon Jambouree in upstate New York, and Leftover Salmon in Missouri. It was so popular that it was invited to come back to Missouri and play at an annual concert for the reform of marijuana laws. "I love playing festivals," says Spooky. "There are so many different kinds of music, from bluegrass to straight-up rock, and you meet a ton of people. Everyone's there to have fun." Spooky Daly Pride is on its way to stardom: "Go Get It" was just used in a scene on Alias on ABC this week and will be used in a Fox movie tentatively titled The First 20 Million is the Hardest. Spooky says he definitely achieved a new level of satisfaction with these accomplishments. The money was also "f---ing great. It's all going straight into the touring kitty." So where did Spooky Daly get such talent? He has been messing around on the piano for his whole life, and as soon as he got a few lessons, he was off and running. He doesn't know how to read music, but a melody will come out of sitting down at the keyboard. The lyrics follow. "I'm a stylist, if you know what I mean. I could put on a pair of boxing gloves and have it sound the same," he said. Harper's Ferry (158 Brighton Avebue) will be hosting a CD Release Party for Spooky Daly Pride on Friday, Oct. 26.Call 617-254-9743 for more information.

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News

Hip to be square

August 31

In a city as big as Boston, getting lost in the crowd may seem inevitable. But for those willing to explore beyond the boundaries of downtown, there are countless smaller nooks and crannies to satisfy just about anyone. Harvard Square hardly counts - with its plethora of pedestrians, performers, vendors, and congested corners, this convenient and popular hangout doesn't exactly qualify as an adventure. For those seeking a different, more ethnic, and less commercial flavor, there's a far better destination: Union Square. Furthermore, it definitely meets adventure qualifications. Reaching the little known spot might be considered a challenge if you're not fond of walking. From the Harvard T-stop (yes, you're still going to have to battle the throngs of Goths, geeks, and preppies who flock outside the Yard), Union Square is a 15-minute walk along Kirkland and Washington Streets. The route, however, is scenic - the walk offers glimpses of middle-class Boston with its quaint clapboard houses and random parks. If you find yourself in need of energy along the way, Beacon Street has several trendy restaurants about half-way to Union Square. There's Indian fare at the new Kebob Factory, Dali caters to the classy Spanish crowd, and Panini has casual Italian snacks. As a fashionable dinner option, the corner also boasts Evoo, a modern restaurant. Upon reaching Union Square, the first thing you'll notice is the lack of people- in a good way. It's not desolate, but the people aren't milling around like they do in Harvard. It is apparent from the Doherty's Funeral Services sign, the prominent St. James' Parish church, and the large Fleet Bank that Union Square offers more everyday amenities than chic cafes and popular shops. Although it is located only two city blocks from the brand-name retail extravaganza of Harvard, Union Square is virtually devoid of any recognizable retailers. Instead, there are various ethnic grocery stores such as Maria's Portuguese and American Foods, the International Food Corp, and the Asian-oriented Reliable Market. Further distinguishing the locale from Harvard are several beauty salons and nail boutiques, as well as a laundry service. But don't be discouraged - if you're prone to nosing about and are uninhibited by musty smells and streaky glass, there are a few quirky stores to scrounge through. Diggs Footwear offers a small assortment of running shoes and athletic apparel. Other shops include the eclectic antique store Jimmies' Discount Outlet and St. Gerard's Thrift Shop. While the number of practical stores might imply that there is little to attract anyone to Union Square beyond daily errands, there's actually a promising variety of restaurants to be had. After a more rigorous investigation, there appear to be as many (if not more) interesting eateries in Union Square as you'll find in Harvard. All it takes is a little initiative and investigative work. Underneath an insurance agency you'll find Macondo, a tasteful Latin grill and bar. Further along Bow Street, there is a classic American bistro. On the south side of the square there is an inexpensive Thai restaurant and a modern eatery, Eat. You'll also find the classy-looking pub The Independent and its more home-style neighbor Irish Eyes. For a quicker meal, there's India Palace as well as several Chinese take-out options. If you're in the mood for ethnic food, your options include the Mexican and Salvadorian fare at TaQueria La Mexicana, an Hispanic eatery. With such a varied and international selection of unique eateries, Union Square definitely beats Harvard when considering the available assortment of food. To be sure, Union Square is nothing like its popular neighbor, despite its proximity. If you're looking to escape the large crowds and same old options, this nearby niche offers a great variety of cuisines, a curious assortment of stores, and a charismatic rural atmosphere.

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News

Players stinking it up and stepping it up early in the NBA season

August 31

On second thought, maybe the Washington Wizards' Michael Jordan should have remained in retirement. Despite a couple games where he scored more than 30 points, seven games (not including last night) into Jordan's second comeback, it appears that he may be better suited to shoot hoops with his three young children on their Fisher Price hoop than play in the NBA with the big boys. At least on the Fisher Price hoop, Jordan might be able to dunk. In Sunday's dismal 5-26 showing, Jordan missed his first 14 shots before making a lay-up and drawing a standing ovation in the third quarter. "His Floorness" also missed a perfect alley-oop pass from Christian Laettner when he tried to lay it up instead of dunking it, and he still missed. Though he is averaging 24.1 points per game, Jordan is shooting a horrific 37.8 from the floor, and the Wizards are doing even worse as they are off to a 2-5 start. While Michael Jordan is struggling, another embattled shooting guard, the Phoenix Suns' Penny Hardaway seems to be making a successful rebound from year's of injury. Hardaway, who hasn't played more than 60 games since the 1995-1996 season and who has not averaged 20 points since 1996-1997, is reviving memories of the youngster who was supposed to become one of the league's great players when he debuted in the NBA in the fall of 1993. It's hard to do, but just think back to the 1995-1996 season when Penny and Shaq guided the Orlando Magic to the first of what experts expected to be many NBA Finals appearances. Sadly, for the Magic and Penny, Shaq fled to LA, where he picked up two championship rings with the LA Lakers. Hardaway become a walking injury and was eventually traded to the Suns. In seven games thus far this season, Hardaway has averaged 21.9 points per game and 4.1 assists and has been one of the few bright spots in the Sun's slow 3-4 start. Another team off to a disappointing start is the LA Clippers, who were expected to make some noise in the West this season after the acquisition of Elton Brand from the Chicago Bulls. While father time is preventing Jordan from leading his team to success, another demon is holding back Clippers' "leader" Lamar Odom, as the forward was recently suspended for five games for the second time in two years after testing positive for marijuana use. Although he has the talent to carry the franchise, it seems very iffy whether Odom has the mental makeup necessary to succeed in the NBA. There is no denying that with Odom, Brand, Darius Miles, and Corey Maggette among others, the once downtrodden Clips finally have some talent but if their centerpiece can't stop puffing on the peace pipe the Clippers season could be wasted. This might sound ridiculous but perhaps Odom should follow the example of the Philadelphia 76ers Derrick Coleman, who seems to be finally getting the picture after years of wasting his enormous talent. A big appetite, a bad attitude, and terrible work habits have plagued Coleman throughout his career, but at age 34 the center/forward is in good shape and appears focused on basketball. After practically being given to the Sixers in the off season by the Charlotte Hornets, Coleman currently leads the injury depleted, 1-5, Sixers in scoring and is second in rebounding, averaging 18.5 points and 9.8 rebounds per game, respectively. A trio of rookie point guards have also begun making names for themselves through the early portion of the NBA season. The Indiana Pacers' Jamal Tinsley usurped Travis Best and Jalen Rose in Indiana's point guard rotation as a result of a strong preseason. Tinsley's performance forced Best to the bench and Rose back to the small forward spot, a position where he is probably more suited to play. Through eight games Tinsley has not disappointed, averaging 7.6 assists and 7.5 points per contest and has become an early favorite for the rookie of the year award. Similarly, Tony Parker and Speedy Claxton have forced their way into the starting lineups of the San Antonio Spurs and the 76ers respectively. The 19-year-old Parker pushed Antonio Daniels into a backup role after the Spurs' 2-2 start and in three games as a starter, Parker has guided his team to a 3-0 mark. Likewise, Claxton, who was technically a rookie last season but missed the entire year after undergoing reconstructive knee surgery, is excelling in the absence of Eric Snow and Allen Iverson and has averaged 17.2 points and 4.6 assists as the starting point guard. Even with Iverson's return, Claxton will take on the ball handling role, as Iverson will play in the two slot. These are just a few of the players who are either stinking it up or stepping it up in the early goings of the NBA season. Among others who are making successful returns from injury include the Magic's Grant Hill, the Golden State Warriors' Danny Fortson, while the Miami Heat's Alonzo Mourning and the Memphis Grizzles' Shane Battier are two more prominent examples of players who are struggling.

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News

Celebrities join in the healing process

August 31

As Americans across the country donate their time, energy, and money to relief efforts for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, celebrities are donating their time and money in more ostentatious ways to benefit the victims of the tragedy. Madonna concluded her Drowned World tour with a series of concerts from the Staples Center, from which all proceeds went to the victims of the attacks. Dressed in an American flag kilt and speaking as an American mother, Madonna encouraged her 20,000-member audience to promote peace and resolution and to keep the world safe for their children. Madonna also led a prayer urging President Bush to use restraint in responding to the attacks on the US. Fans of the many celebrities participating in the relief efforts have praised them for their generosity. "This summer I went to see Madonna and it's nice to know that the last leg of her concert is being donated to relief funds," sophomore Megan Sullivan said. "I think it's nice for everyone to see that celebrities are making efforts to help out the victims and their families just as much as everyone else." Nineteen-year-old pop star Britney Spears is planning to donate $1 of every ticket sold for her upcoming fall tour to the children of firefighters and police officers killed in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center. In addition, Spears is planning on selling merchandise and auctioning off front-row seats to raise additional funds. Her ultimate fundraising goal is $ 2 million dollars. Michael Jackson has already announced that he is kicking off a relief program similar to the "We Are the World" campaign against starvation in Africa. Pop stars Destiny's Child, Mya, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake of 'NSync, and Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys are all slated to record a song entitled "What More Can I Give," to aid victims of the attacks. According to Jackson's New York spokesman, the song will be released soon, and more pop stars are lined up to participate in the recording. Jackson hopes to raise $50 million through sales of the record. Rosie O'Donnell has also turned her attentions to aiding charities that are vital to rebuilding after the attacks. O'Donnell, who tapes her highly-rated talk show in New York City, has donated one million dollars to the American Red Cross to help last Tuesday's victims. The list of celebrities donating their time and financial resources to victims of the attacks is made longer by a benefit created jointly by NBC, ABC, CBS, and Fox. "America: A Tribute to Heroes" will air Friday night from 9-11 pm on those four networks and on any additional television or radio networks that wish to join the effort. This past Tuesday, organizers confirmed that actors Amy Brenneman, Jim Carrey, George Clooney, Tom Cruise, Cameron Diaz, Robert DeNiro, Clint Eastwood, Calista Flockhart, Dennis Franz, Kelsey Grammar, Tom Hanks, Conan O'Brien, Ray Romano, Julia Roberts, Will Smith, Sela Ward, and Robin Williams would be participating in the Friday night benefit. The musicians who will lend their support to the event include Sheryl Crow, Alicia Keys, Faith Hill, Billy Joel, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Neil Young, and Bon Jovi. "I think it's a great idea," sophomore Bobby Dutton said of the benefit. "It's nice to see that they're spending money on something worthwhile rather than stuff they've got more than enough of." Dutton will be donating his own time and talent at a fundraiser this weekend, where he will be DJ-ing for free. The benefit represents the first time the four networks have agreed to air the same program simultaneously. The networks will each contribute to paying for the event, while all of the stars are donating their time. Network executives have not yet decided if they will establish individual relief organizations for victims of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. Some celebrities are reaching out through their television shows. Oprah Winfrey, noted for her commitment to charity and her interest in personal healing, has devoted all of her shows this week to the aftermath of the attack on America. Shows have ranged from guidance in explaining the acts of terrorism to children to a session with life strategist Dr. Phil McGraw, who devoted this week's appearance to the grieving process. In a step away from their usual formats, kings of late night David Letterman and Jay Leno returned to the airwaves this past Monday with shows that were more informative than comical. Leno kicked off his first show back by recalling the bravery of rescue workers and tragic losses of the past week. His guest, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), commented on US foreign policy in the aftermath of the attacks. Letterman's show was equally somber as he skipped his usual monologue and Top Ten list and interviewed a very emotional Dan Rather this past Monday night. "I think it's good that celebrities are using the advantages they have to benefit the victims and I think it's representative of how this tragedy has brought the entire country together," sophomore Mike Ciacciarelli said.

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News

New president gets acquainted

August 31

University President Larry Bacow has been on campus for just two weeks, but he and his wife Adele are already making an effort to meet students and faculty. By working as a freshman advisor, attending student performances, and jogging through campus each morning, Bacow says he hopes to meet as many undergraduates as possible. Bacow, who left his post as MIT chancellor last May to assume the presidency at Tufts, officially became the University's 12th president on Sept. 1 after working on campus all summer. "Some of the [students] don't know who we are yet," he said. "Hopefully, that will change over time." But other students, including the ten in Bacow's freshman advising group, say they're already acquainted with the new president. "It's a good way to see [Tufts] through the eyes of students," Bacow said. "It's been enormously valuable." Bacow has also encouraged resident assistants to invite him and his wife to dinner in residence halls and fraternities, and has attended campus events such as the music department's orientation concert as well the campus center carnival, A Wee Bit Warm. On Friday night, Bacow appeared at Hillel's religious services and dinner. "We hope to be a visible presence on campus," Bacow said. "We're looking forward to getting to know people and we hope that students will invite us to various events." While former President John DiBiaggio was often seen on campus walking his terriers, Bacow - who is allergic to dogs - said he will travel the University streets at a faster pace. "People should know we're avid runners," he said. "We run every morning and we welcome the opportunity to run with students." Bacow first addressed the Tufts community at matriculation [see exerpts, page ?] where he said that he is as new to Tufts as the incoming freshmen. Addressing topics such as notable alumni, life in Boston, and Tufts' faculty, he spoke of building bridges between Tufts' undergraduate and graduate communities. "Recognize, too, that in addition to our excellent undergraduate college, Tufts offers you all the benefits of a first-rate research university," Bacow said in his matriculation address. "[The graduate] schools all offer seminars, lectures, and opportunities to collaborate with faculty on research. Get to know them... It will help you to appreciate the vitality of Tufts." Over the past weeks, Bacow has met with faculty, but he has not yet made any decisions for administrative changes. "I've been talking to the faculty of the School of Arts and Sciences about the structure and leadership of the school," Bacow said. Through informal discussions, the new president is gathering faculty opinions related to the office of the vice president of arts and sciences, which was vacated by Mel Bernstein in May. By October, Bacow said he will either fill the position or eliminate it. Though Bernstein is gone, Bacow said that the administration has reliable temporary replacements in Ioannis Miaoulis, dean of engineering, and Susan Ernst, dean of natural and social sciences. "We have a good interim process in place," Bacow said. Ernst and Miaoulis "have stepped up and taken on additional responsibilities, as have other people in leadership positions," he added. The role of the vice provost is also under consideration, now that June Aprille, the former vice provost, has resigned. Yesterday, Bacow said the office may be combined with another position or kept at a part-time status. An environmental economist and lawyer, Bacow was chosen from the four finalists recommended by the presidential search committee. More than 100 candidates were reviewed over an eight-month period. Bacow served as MIT's chancellor for three years, where he oversaw student life and services, research policy, and management of the school's institutional partnerships. Among the international initiatives Bacow coordinated was the Cambridge-MIT Institute - a $135 million partnership funded by British government and private industry. The institute supports joint research, curriculum development and teaching, and student, faculty, and staff exchanges.

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News

Good luck

August 31

The Concert Board should be applauded for bringing Billy Joel to Cohen next month. His show will likely be the most eagerly-anticipated performance event for the year, as the campus has been abuzz since the Daily broke the story last month. Joel is a musical juggernaut, the likes of which Tufts has not seen in recent years. The details of the event, announced at a press conference yesterday, seem surprisingly reasonable. The move to online purchasing is an unprecedented arrangement that eliminates the possibility of fans setting up camp outside Aidekman. But the Concert Board's decision to open the virtual ticket windows at 10 p.m. gives no advantage to die-hard fans, who would gladly arise as early as 6 a.m. for a chance at the tickets. An earlier time would lessen the traffic on the site, and dampen the disappointment among serious Joel fans, who could find solace in the knowledge that the tickets went to students whose dedication to Joel brought them out of bed before sunrise. If properly executed, the ticket sale will be a seminal achievement for tuftslife.com, which has already established itself as the premiere online resource for Tufts students. Concert Board should also explore the possibility of providing a live video feed of the concert into the Jackson gym, as was done when former-Senator Bill Bradley spoke last fall. Hundreds of additional students could see the concert, which will assuredly sell out in as little time as is technologically possible. There is no reason that the administration should not subsidize an event of this scale to reduce the $35 price tag of tickets, which is prohibitively high for some members of the Tufts community. If the University helps foot the bill, perhaps the fall rap show would not be cancelled, an unfortunate consequence of the Joel event that will surly disappoint rap fans who do not share the same fervor for Joel that is spreading across campus. The Concert Board, moreover, should do its part by releasing the ten tickets the body reserved for the performance into the general pool and paying for any tickets its members ultimately receive.

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News

Drag, click, register

August 31

Long gone are the days when registration meant students standing in endless lines that snaked their way around the inside of Eaton's Computer Lab down the stone stair case and about the building. In this day of high-speed Ethernet connections and palm pilots, Tufts University is keeping up with the times. While students two years ago hailed the convenience of a technologically-advanced registration system, the kinks of the system are still being ironed out. Spring registration two weeks ago went off without any major glitches, according to Susan Daigle of the registrar's office, but there were some minor ones. For example, there was a three-minute time difference between what the clock in the Registrar's Office said and the time on the SIS page. This caused students who logged in to register to receive a computer message that they were not eligible to do so yet. "We got many calls during the week about people who were concerned that they could not register," she added. Online registration is not a new concept to universities and colleges on the cutting edge of technology. Colleges such as University of California at Los Angeles and its state system have been using this system since the early to mid '90s. A system for it was implemented at Tufts in the Fall 2000 semester, and students can now sign up for classes by going to the SISonline page and clicking a series of buttons. Since then, terms such as "clicking off" - meaning to have one's advisor approve one's intended schedule - have become part of a college students' vernacular. While this was intended to simplify the process of advisor approval, some students complain that they have to return to advisors after discovering at their computers that they are still not eligible to register. "One of the semesters of my sophomore year, I sat down to register just to find out that I wasn't allowed to register," junior Bridget Fay said. "I had to run all the way over to the Science and Technology Center to find my advisor and get him to release me for registration." Many students also complain that it is difficult to get in contact with one's advisor - especially if the advisor is on leave for the semester. These advisors have allowed others in their department to click off for them. But this is not a problem that emerged because of web registration; students previously had to have their advisors sign their registration forms. The classes of 2002 and 2003 can fondly - or not so fondly - remember when each student had to have his or her advisor fill out the papers that would be turned into one of the multitude of registrars in Eaton's Computer Lab. Many of these students find the new process convenient despite its small shortcomings. "The online registration process was really easy for me," junior Austin Tracy, who was away for the fall semester in Washington DC, said. "I guess it might have been a little more difficult for the students who are abroad, with the time differences and such." This fall, as always, some students were disgruntled with their late registration times, which caused them to be blocked out of desired classes. "Registration frustrated me because there are hardly any classes offered in the spring and the classes that I wanted or needed for my major were already full by my registration time," sophomore Kimberly Wong said. Juniors Courtney Brown and Amy Reid both had in-class exams scheduled during their registration times. "I thought about walking into the exam a few minutes late, but I didn't want to do that," Brown said. "They have our schedules, why can't they schedule our registration time around our schedule?" While registration went smoothly a few weeks ago, this has not always been the case. During registration for the spring 2001 semester last November, when a number of students experienced difficulties logging on or remaining logged on to SIS Online. Many were prevented from choosing their classes at their scheduled times because of technological difficulties because of this. However, when this problems occur, there is help available. "There were three registration coaches in the Eaton Computer Lab at all times during the allotted registration periods but they were very much underused," Daigle said. The task of registering online can be even more difficult for students spending their semesters abroad. These students do not often bring computers with them or are not in locations where they can constantly be connected to the Internet. Students abroad often spend a great deal of time traveling and sometimes are not near computer portals. Some of these students ook to friends on campus for help with their registration time woes when abroad. Junior Leela Nayak registered for another student who was abroad in Australia. "Her registration time would have been at a very inconvenient time for her, so she sent me all her information and I registered for her," she said.

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News

Incestuous undertones?

August 31

So are they brother and sister, like they said... or are they really divorced... or what? That's the question that bounced between Time, the New York Times, the music press, and fans everywhere this summer. The duo in question, Detroit-based boy-girl group the White Stripes, has been selling out shows nationwide for the past few years. Composed of guitarist-singer Jack White and drummer Meg White, the band blends the influence of 1930s blues greats with that of 1960s garage rock pioneers to create a unique brand of music that is countless times more sincere than anything on the radio right now - or as far back as you can remember. The White Stripes' past is mired in secrecy: there is no officially available biography of the band's history. Jack, who seems to do all the speaking at live shows, usually addresses Meg as his "big sister." But this summer, Time broke the story that the band, which had been garnering positive press from publications as varied as Rolling Stone and the New York Times, was really just a very talented divorced couple. The resulting confusion lends an eerie air to the Stripes' songs and creates an intriguing, yet inviting rock 'n roll mystery. To even the most avid fan, it seems the duo's career started in the late '90s with the release of a handful of vinyl singles. In 1999, the band recorded a 17-track, eponymous full-length debut. The album was released on almost-unheard-of indie label Sympathy For The Record Industry, with which the band has loyally stuck through its skyrocketing career. On The White Stripes the band offered covers by Bob Dylan ("One More Cup of Coffee,") and blues pioneer Robert Johnson ("Stop Breakin' Down") as well as a traditional lament, "St. James Infirmary Blues," proving early on that the duo is not afraid to show its musical roots.The White Stripes is based heavily on garage rock and that genre's characteristically low production values. Powerchords played on cheap old guitars perfectly match Jack's yelping, cracking voice. Meg's drumming is always astonishingly simplistic - she's just keeping time with bass drum hits and her tambourine, until it's time for her to give accent to her brother's (er, ex-husband's) screams and chord bursts with her crash cymbal. The duo's second album, De Stijl, is named after a Dutch minimalist art movement. (Maybe the White Stripes met in an art history class, but they're clearly not telling.) More bluesy and mature, De Stijl is an incredible listen: never boring, constantly changing, but always the White Stripes. The album features a touching - if politically incorrect - rendition of "Your Southern Can is Mine," by '30s bluesman Blind Willie McTell, to whom it is dedicated. Aside from the one cover, De Stijl shows exactly what the Stripes can do as songwriters. The album opens with "You're Pretty Good Looking," a three-chord pop gem with lyrics as simple as its title. "Hello Operator" brings the worlds of garage and blues together, melding bent-note melodies and delightfully rhyming lyrics with unified bursts of powerchords and cymbal crashes. Jack shows off considerable slide skill on "Death Letter" and "Little Bird," becomes gently pensive on "Apple Blossom" and "A Boy's Best Friend," then returns to garage excitement on the furiously-paced "Let's Build A Home." The White Stripes perfectly balance their ballads and hard rock songs - and their ballads aren't boring. Rather, they intelligently address human flaws and insecurities. Yes, intelligently. This year's White Blood Cells is the 16-track artistic accomplishment that won the band favor with the arts press. Production values are a little better than those of the past two albums - but the result is still aurally rustic. "Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground" opens the album with some heavily distorted notes, recounting a tale of longing. "Hotel Yorba" allows for floor-stompin' fun with its bouncy rhythm, acoustic guitar, and playful, rhyming lyrics. "Little Room" is a shouted, but melodic, vocal rant accompanied only by bass drum and tambourine. As expected, tracks like "Fell in Love With a Girl" and "Expecting" are pure garage, but the album shies away from the blues influences with which the Stripes experimented in the past. White Blood Cells is laden with heartfelt ballads and intricate finger-picking, from the moving, minor-key "The Union Forever" to childish, adorable "We're Going to Be Friends." It is easy to see how past fans might criticize this choice, but White Blood Cells on the whole is no less intriguing than the albums that preceded it.No one seems to know who the White Stripes are, or why people throw peppermint candies onstage when they perform. Despite the mysteries surrounding the band, its music is incredibly genuine and austerely perfect. If you are intrigued, you may want to start by investigating De Stijl, or by seeing the White Stripes live (shows are usually cheap) the next time they're in the area.

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News

I have a dream

August 31

If the sons and daughters of former slaves, and former slave owners could see us now, what would their reactions be? Would they look upon our black, brown, white, and yellow faces and feel that we are a breed of humans totally unlike themselves? Or, would they look upon our institutions and us in fond familiarity, because even over the past hundred or so years, not much has changed? These are the questions I would first ask myself, before I sat down to berate a race of people, emphasize the ails in affirmative action, and make over-generalized comments about a topic I have not even taken the time to fully examine. See, from these simple questions, one's answers will reveal whether Tufts University, or the nation for that matter, has truly changed since the Emancipation Proclamation. Here is where some will groan and say, "Oh no, not that slavery thing again," but I say YES, that slavery thing again. It is exactly that slavery thing, that racism thing, that inferior/superior thing, that keeps people from seemingly diverse populations printing articles such as the one that appeared in the Nov. 22, issue of ThePrimary Source, written by Matt Senko. It is the ignorance surrounding that slavery thing that has students at Tufts University thinking they have overcome some great racial boundary, like the Civil Rights movement, and earned some great understanding, like racial tolerance, when in actuality half of the student body cannot clearly identify covert/intentional racism (for an example see the Nov. 22 issue of The Primary Source). Ignorance surrounding race in America allows people to print half-researched, highly opinionated pieces on minorities and affirmative action, without considering the preexisting effects of institutionalized racism, which influence the practice of affirmative action. I am sorry to break it to you, and this is where you may want to sit down, but our parents had the civil rights movement, La Raza, and the American Indian Movement to learn from. We are not even adequately taught those histories in school; yet, we constantly try to appropriate knowledge we do not comprehend. For those who are truly concerned about diversity at this university, perhaps we should look into diversifying the curriculum. Simply because a civil rights law was passed, and there are more happy brown, and yellow faces walking on the same side of the street as white people, eating at the same lunch counters, and even attending the same universities, does not mean that our work is complete. This may come as a bit of a shock, but numbers are not exactly reflective of attitudes. So there are more blacks in higher education, (I am using the term blacks in reference to all persons of the African Diaspora) but does that mean white students are learning about black culture, because how much social interaction do whites and blacks on this campus have outside of the classroom setting? The same sentiments can be applied for the other minority groups that I'm sure the article meant to include, but did not mention specifically. Numbers are a start, but they do not make a population diverse, because the human interaction needs to exist as well. You cannot throw a whole group of different color people together and call it diversity. Diversity is something that comes when cultures are shared and respected. Thus, I believe the article should not have been so preoccupied with admitting more white students and fewer black students, but more so with diversifying the curriculum, of the black, white, Asian, Latino, and Native Americans, already on campus. I am inclined to agree with Mr. Senko in that, "It is a racist assumption suggesting that people of different colors are inferior to whites and need the help of admissions officers," but it is also racial blindness not to acknowledge the fact that blacks, both qualified and unqualified, get turned away from schools, and jobs everyday. In making his case, Mr. Senko forgot to acknowledge the very real presence of institutionalized racism in our society. Mr. Senko also neglected to mention the role of gender in his affirmative action argument, as affirmative action was originally intended to benefit women, not minority groups. I am not against pointing out the flaws in affirmative action, because there are some. What I am against is the negligence in which the topic was approached. There was no consideration for black students on campus, and how we may have felt about being the only identified beneficiaries of affirmative action. There was also no proof from the administration to back claims that affirmative action is practiced at Tufts. Finally, there certainly wasn't a logical, well-researched solution to the issue of campus diversity. As an African-American woman learning at Tufts, I feel that I am here because of my abilities as a student, and that the admissions board saw a characteristic in my records that set me apart from other applicants. This was not the first article to degrade and insult my presence at Tufts, and it probably will not be the last, but I hope my honest opinions, as stated here affect some form of change. Since the Source article ended with a reference to Dr. King's "I Have A Dream," I think it only appropriate that I end on the same note. I too have a dream, and my dream is that the writers on the student news publications, as well as my fellow classmates, take these four years as an opportunity to get to know someone they may not have encountered on a daily basis back home, as well as take classes that challenge their thinking on race relations; that we do not assume that because we are not as separate as we used to be, that we are fully equal. I too have a dream that we will have more respect for one another's past histories, so that we can have intelligent conversations about race, affirmative action, and institutionalized racism - and most importantly, that we demand better education in those areas.Jamila M. Moore is a junior majoring in English, American studies, and Africa & New World.

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News

Women's volleyball looks to build on last season's foundation

August 31

After a season of improvement for the women's volleyball team last year, which saw its victory total jump from 13 in 1999 to 18 in the year 2000, the women hope to build off that momentum during the upcoming campaign. The Jumbos' goal is to win 20 games - a lofty but achievable goal - for a team which has done it under coach Kris Talon's leadership three times before. "We haven't won 20 games in two years," Talon said. "So first thing this season we would like to improve is our showing of the last two years. Last year, we finished sixth in NESCAC. This year, we want to finish in the top three." The team returns this year without tri-captains Karen "Bear" Sillers, who placed second on the team with 3.117 kills per game last year, Kyre Austin, the team's starting setter, and Nancy Phear, who played a key role in the squad's defense. The team does not want to dwell on the loss of its seniors - rather it looks to the returning players, transfers, as well as, the freshmen to help replace the graduating leaders."We are a different team this year," coach Talon said. "We lost three important players, but we are a completely different team. We will miss them, but we can replace them. We have a strong freshman class." Emily Macy leads the incoming freshmen class and will be a regular starter, replacing Sillers in the lineup. However, the heart of the Jumbos will once again lie in their senior class. Senior tri-captains Sarah Leistikow, Megan Pitcavage, and Jessica Stewart will be the leaders of the squad. Unfortunately, Leistikow will have to provide leadership from the sidelines as she has been unable to completely recover from last spring's ACL injury. Leistikow underwent total reconstruction on her knee and despite rehabilitation attempts over the summer, the senior has been unsuccessful in her effort to return to her full form. Leistikow actually practiced with the team for a week this season, but realized she could not continue, instead she has decided to remain on the team, where she hopes to provide leadership and inspiration from the bench. "The seniors will be getting a lot of playing time," Talon said. "I am excited for them because this will probably be the best season over their last three. The [seniors] will lead by example, rather than by words. We are not in a pyramid of leadership. We are all on the same page."Another senior looking to make an impact on the team is Stewart, who was a First Team All-NESCAC team member last year. Stewart also ranked sixth in the conference in 2000 with 3.53 kills per game. Despite reaching the postseason last Fall, the Jumbos must now make adjustments in their scoring game due to NCAA rule changes. Instead of the normal scoring system, where the first team to 15 wins the game, the league has now declared that "rally score" must be enforced. This means that teams will play until 30 and whenever a squad makes an error and the ball hits the ground, the opposition receives the point. In other words, a team can score points even when they are not serving. If there is a need for a fifth game, the winner of that contest will be first to 15 points.Tufts began their season by competing in the Coast Guard Invitational where the squad came away undefeated - winning the invitational. Stewart and Cronin were named to the All-Tournament team for their performances in the invitational. The first victim of the team's 2001 season was Westfield State, which went down hard losing in three straight games to the Jumbos (30-9, 30-22, 30-11). Stewart led the offense with 15 kills, while both Macy and fellow freshman Alison Sauer covered the defense, racking up 12 digs apiece."Westfield State was not a very strong team," sophomore setter Lindsey Moses said. "We didn't play down to their level and we kept our intensity up, which allowed us to cream them."The Coast Guard, Tufts' second opponent, gave the squad a run for their money, but the Jumbos prevailed by a 3-2 margin (27-30, 30-25, 21-30, 30-28, 19-17). "Coast Guard was a good game to show how the team can come together and fight," Pitcavage said. "The freshmen fit in well and we saw that they could contribute."The troop rounded out the day by defeating Rhode Island College 3-1. After a shaky start against Rhode Island, in which the Jumbos lost the first game of the match 23-30, the team regained its composure finishing strong by sweeping the last three games 30-19, 30-15, and 30-13. The leader on the court for Tufts' was Stewart as she dominated the front row with 15 kills, behind the line with four service aces, and in back row defense with 19 digs.The team's first home match which was scheduled for last Tuesday was postponed until September 25th in wake of the attack on America. The Jumbos next match will be held tonight as part of the NESCAC Weekend in Amherst.

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News

Voices on the Verge' of greatness

August 31

Any type of live music is a good thing. When the performers have amazing voices and talent, and perform in an intimate setting, this is a great thing. This holds true for the small concert held last Thursday at Tufts Women's Center open house, featuring Voices on the Verge, an all-female band on nationwide tour. Beth Ansel, Jess Klein, Erin McKewn, and Rose Polenzi all left solo acts to tour as a group, and have since recorded a CD together, Live in Philadelphia. The set consisted of eight songs, each unique and different. There were sweet love songs; loud, soulful songs; bluesy, spiritual songs; and personal songs about childhood experiences. Songs ranged from "Moses," which included colorful imagery such as the chorus phrase "technicolor calvary," to "Long Island Sound," a song about a relationship with a father, to "I'll Be All Right," a song about girls from Lowell, Massachusetts who were shipped to the city during the Industrial Revolution. In each song, all of the members sang, blending different voices in both traditional and unique harmonies. Each vocalist had her own distinct style, giving everyone in the audience something to connect with. The group played an impressive range of instruments, including acoustic guitar, electric guitar, tambourine, clarinet, and several percussion instruments. And the lead guitar was not restricted to one person - they all took the lead, depending on the song. Not only were the band members skilled at their craft, they were also friendly and fun. They talked both amongst themselves and with the audience between songs, oftentimes about silly, random subjects - sharing everything from embarrassing cell-phone stories to their opinions of Neil Diamond.The group was particularly fascinated with the chocolate flavored condoms available for free at the Center, and even went into an improvisational song about them. The band members also complimented the Women's Center in general, describing it as a warm resource on campus. When asked why they wanted to play at the Women's Center, Klein responded, "I love playing at colleges, and I've been to Tufts before." She went on to explain how she really enjoyed playing intimate settings, especially at a women's center. Ansel added that it was so overwhelming when she first came to college, she needed a place like the Women's Center, as none were really available at her school, she enjoyed showing her support for this one. When asked about inspiration behind their songs, Klein said that she feels inspired all the time, and has the urge to "make art out of everything I see." Her main problem is trying to narrow down her vision to something that will interest people. Peggy Barrett, founder of the Tufts' Women's Center, and Liz Mannin, who organized the event, brought Voices on the Verge to campus to increase the visibility of the Center and the resources which it offers. "Music adds so much culture and art," Barrett said. According to Mannin, it was also exciting to acquire an off-campus music act, especially "women making wonderful music." It was a pleasant treat for all of those present at the Women's Center Thursday to experience such refreshing, beautiful music. For those who missed the show, or would like to see Voices on the Verge again, they are playing this Saturday at noon at Faneuil Hall. They are definitely a band "on the verge."

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News

TUPD eases sophomore parking restrictions

August 31

Some sophomore drivers on campus will now be spared the arduous walk to the Cousens Gym parking lot thanks to new parking regulations. Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) determined that sophomores who have purchased decals before Sept. 24 will be able to park in most residential lots. Students with the yellow sophomore decal can now park in any resident designated area, called green areas, except for the Jackson lot and the lot in front of Latin Way Apartments. Sophomores who purchased their decals after Sept. 24 must continue to park in the Cousens lot. According to TUPD Captain Mark Keith, the department has conducted a demand analysis since the beginning of the school year. TUPD officers performed counts of empty spaces in the residential lots every night from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Approximately 160 spaces were open around campus every night, Keith said, and up until Sept. 24, the department had sold 100 sophomores decals. "We found we had more spaces than sophomore decals sold," Keith said. The TUPD did not lift the parking restriction until now because officers wanted to ensure that the number of open spaces would stay constant. The "rush" for purchasing parking spaces occurs at the beginning of the year so the department waited until the end of the month before lifting the restriction. "We wanted to make sure that we have ample spaces available well into September," he said. Sophomores who purchased parking decals before the deadline seemed satisfied with the change, and said that it was fair to initially designate the more convenient parking spaces to upperclassmen. "It has to be done somehow," sophomore Doug Smith said. "When I'm a senior, I'm not going to want to give up my spot to a sophomore." But Smith added that the ability to park his car closer to where he lives is a safety concern. "I guess I'm glad I don't have to walk down to Cousens," he said. "You can't really walk past your car and make sure it's safe. I was always worried that someone would break its' windows or something." Keith said that vandalism concerns are not specific to the Cousens lot. "[Vandalism] is always an issue," he said. "No matter where you park on campus, your car could be vulnerable to vandalism." The three cases of vandalism that have been reported this year all occurred in the Cousens lot on the same night. Keith would not say whether this constitutes a high or low rate of incidence, but said that TUPD performs regular nightly rounds through the lot. "That's one incident where three vehicles were vandalized," Keith said. "There have been months at a time where there was no vandalism at all." Sophomore Jim Cappadona's car was the victim of the vandalism. A rock was thrown through the passenger window of his Wrangler last Sunday night. Though he said he will now park closer to his dorm to occasionally check on his car, he said that the general parking situation is fairly safe. "I don't think it's all that unsafe. The police found out about it way before I would have," he said. Cappadona said he assumed that people were trying to break into his car to steal his stereo equipment, but since he removed it, nothing was taken or disturbed other than the window. "If you're smart about it and if you take stuff out of your car... it's pretty safe, as long as you take the precautions," he said. Students generally said they would want to keep their cars close-by. "I kind of like having my car near me where I know where it is," sophomore Mike Stevenson said, though he added, "But I also don't think we're likely to get our cars broken into on campus." Stevenson, who plans to buy a decal next semester, said that the situation should be reassessed in the spring, when juniors who now park on campus go abroad. "I guess it makes sense that parking should be on a first-come, first-served basis, but they should also reassess the situation," he said. "[Public safety] don't have any idea what it's going to be." After Dowling Hall was completed summer 2000, public safety reconfigured parking arrangements on campus. Because the 450-car garage provided ample spaces for visitors, faculty, staff, and commuters, spaces were freed up for students. The lot behind Miller Hall, previously reserved for faculty and staff, changed to resident parking. The area behind Carmichael was also mostly designated for students. TUPD changed parking assignments for sophomores last year as well, but did not lift the restrictions until last November.

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