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Kilbourne advocates new female images in ads

August 31

Only five percent of American women have "the perfect body" - the body portrayed in most television and print advertisements, according to writer and lecturer Jean Kilbourne, who was brought to campus by the Tufts Feminist Alliance on Tuesday to address images of women in advertising and discuss how ads effect individuals, society, and stimulate a cycle of internalized violence. Kilbourne, who was twice named Lecturer of the Year by the National Association of Campus Activities, used slides of ads from as far back as the 1970s to demonstrate how the $130 billion advertising industry has influenced society. "There is nothing as pervasive or persuasive," she said. "There are very few people controlling all of the information we get.... The primary purpose [of the industry] is to round up people to be sold to advertisers." The advertising industry inundates consumers with images of women that affect their self-esteem, Kilbourne said. In the resulting climate, violence against women is rationalized, young girls are increasingly sexualized, and eating disorders are on the rise. After hearing her attacks on advertising, some students in attendance said that Kilbourne placed too much blame on the industry itself and neglected other factors which contribute to self-image. "I think she reads too much into some of the ads and sometimes overestimates their effect on society at large," sophomore Rachel Hoff said. By contrasting how the media portrays males and females, Kilbourne emphasized that the advertising industry abuses its power. In the media's image of ideal female beauty, "the woman's body becomes a thing," Kilbourne said. "Men don't live in a world in which their bodies are scrutinized daily.... Women are sex objects, men are success objects." According to Kilbourne, the increasing prevalence of eating disorders, especially in young girls, is directly correlated to this standard of beauty. Today's models weigh 23 percent less than the average woman, compared to eight percent less in the 1960s, Kilbourne said. She also cited a recent study that found that 80 percent of fourth grade girls are dieting. Kilbourne blames this on the $60 billion diet industry, which did not exist 20 years ago. The advertising industry, she said, creates "contempt for women who aren't perfect... women are made to feel guilty about having an appetite.""Dieting is not a solution," Kilbourne said. "It teaches women to loathe their bodies." Along with creating standards of worth based on beauty and thinness, the media often reflects passivity in women's body language in ads by "linking sexiness with innocence.... This sends out a powerful sexual message while denying it," she said. While Kilbourne said that men are also objectified in ads, the presentation is different. "Men are present as more powerful," she said. "Women are presented as less powerful." This, she said, leads to a greater threat of violence against women. The linkage between masculinity and violence creates "contempt for women and all things feminine" and the sexualization of violence that "normalizes and trivializes brutality," she said. Kilbourne concluded by stressing the importance of "counter-advertising" to remedy negative images of women in advertising, suggesting publicity similar to ads in the anti-tobacco campaign. The dilemma of negative female images in the media is "a global economic issue," Kilbourne said. "Changes have to be profound and global." Her projections stimulated thought among students who were inspired by Kilbourne's entertaining approach to the juxtaposition between advertising and society. "I really enjoyed Kilbourne's lecture," sophomore Emily Rhodes said. "She brought up some interesting points and shed light on advertising in a way I never thought of before."

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News

Mariners chase record for most wins

August 31

American League baseball began the final leg of its season on Tuesday night, and while the somberness from last week still persists, there were small signs of excitement on what was dubbed "re-opening day." The league's postseason berths are all but officially set in stone, though several record chases and the final games of notable players will give fans something to cheer about throughout the next three weeks. And while baseball may help the country heal from last week's events by giving Americans a way to escape, it is also contributing directly to the relief effort. The league and its players association announced Wednesday that they would each contribute $5 million to establish a fund to aid victims of last week's terrorist attacks. The MLB-MLBPA Disaster Relief Fund will distribute money after consulting with governmental and charitable relief organizations. On the field, the Seattle Mariners are pursuing the record for most wins in a season, and need to win 12 of their remaining 17 to eclipse the Cubs' 116 victories in 1906. Considering the way the Mariners have played this year, winning 12 of 17 is a distinct possibility. The team is riding a six-game winning streak, and has won 11 of its last 12. The Mariners beat Anaheim Tuesday night, 4-0. Freddy Garcia tossed a three-hitter for his third shutout of the season and earned his 17th victory. Equally as hot as the Mariners are the New York Yankees, winners of five straight and ten of their last 11 games, including an 11-3 trouncing of the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night. New York moved a season-high 30 games above the .500 mark and has blown the second-place Boston Red Sox out of the water. The Yankees-White Sox game, which took place in Chicago, was filled with displays of patriotism. Small flags were handed out to fans as they entered the game, fans held out signs that expressed support for New York and America, and patriotic music was played over the public address system throughout the evening. The Cleveland Indians are also cruising towards a division title and beat the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, 11-2. Kenny Lofton belted a pair of solo homers, and Travis Fryman had a grand slam to give the Indians their 11th win in the last 16 games. While the Red Sox are no longer competing with the Yankees for the American League East title, they have still had their share of melodrama this week. The Boston clubhouse looks more like backstage at the WWF these days, with several players waiting their turn to spar with management. Pedro Martinez officially announced he will not pitch again this season because of shoulder soreness. Reportedly, this decision came after Martinez stormed off the field because of an argument with manager Joe Kerrigan during a workout on Saturday. Over the weekend, Carl Everett decided he could not let Pedro and Nomar have all the glory. He took action on Sunday to make sure Kerrigan knew Carl should be number on his most-hated players list. Everett had an angry confrontation with the manager after he was late for a workout and has been suspended for four days. When play resumed on Tuesday, the Sox beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7-2, for just their second win in 15 games. Manny Ramirez led the offensive attack by hitting his 40th homer of the year during the sixth inning. Baseball fans across the nation are also keeping a close eye on the Baltimore Orioles' Cal Ripken as the season draws to a close. The veteran is ending his illustrious 21-year career, and has enjoyed salutes from several teams when playing his final game in their cities. Ripken will be playing in Baltimore when he dons the Orioles' uniform for the last time Baltimore.

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News

Giving thanks

August 31

A story: It was a gray September afternoon when I went for the interview. I didn't know then that my life would soon become like a warm pumpkin pie, deliciously perfect. I had driven by McPherson's Turkey Farm nearly every day for the last six months as I commuted from my small one bedroom apartment to my small cubicle where I sat in front of a small computer for eight long hours. It wasn't until I was oh-so-conveniently downsized about half a year after I was hired that I even considered searching for employment at that local palace of poultry. I pulled into the dusty parking lot outside the front office, poked my head in and asked if they were hiring. The plain-faced girl sweeping the floor responded curiously, "Hiring what?" "Uhhhh..." I hadn't really thought that one through. I just needed some money. The place was close to home and I figured since November was just few dozen flips away on my page-a-day calendar, the old turkey farm down the road may need an extra pair of hands. I hadn't had any particular turkey-related experience except, of course, for my ten-year-running wishbone victory streak at the annual family Thanksgiving feast. But I guess you might say I was feeling a bit plucky, so I decided to give it a try. "Hiring what?" She asked it again, annoyed this time, anger surfaced on her once-simple face. "Uhhh, employees?" "I'll go get Mickey," she said and passed through a back door. Two minutes later a large bald man wearing overalls entered the office and reached out his hand to meet mine. "Mickey McPherson, nice to meet you. So cap'n, my little sweet potato Sally Mae here tells me you'd like to be Turkey Minder?" "Well, actually, I... uh...don't exactly know wha -" I couldn't finish, he cut me off with another question. "So tell me do you have a girlfriend, cap'n?" I was confused. Why was this man calling me captain? Why was he asking me about my present relationship status? How could someone who had so little hair on the top of his head have so much of it growing from his nostrils? What's the difference between a sweet potato and a yam? The endless questions flooded my head. I felt disoriented and lost; as if I were suddenly thrust into large suffocating vat of cranberry sauce, the world was squishy and red. "Well, uh, gee sir, not really, but I don't really understand why, what you're going for? What do you mean, Turkey Minder?" The question seemed simple enough to me when I asked it. "Oh, you joker, you crack me up, cap'n Bob. What's a Turkey Minder? Ha! You start tomorrow, 6 a.m. Don't be late. If you're late, the turkeys start to get suspicious and I hate suspicious turkeys. I can't stand that look in their eyes; you'd think I was planning on eating them or something! Oh, wait a second, I am planning on eating them.! Ha! Ahhhh! Ha ha!" His whole gut shook hypnotically as he laughed, alive with joy; no darkness, no snide sarcasm, just pure and simple joy. "So like, I said, cap'n Bobby Boy, don't be late!" I didn't know what to expect, but because I had nothing better to do and Mickey McPherson intrigued me, I decided to give the whole Turkey Minder thing (whatever that was) a shot. The sun was slowly rising as I arrived, and the few clouds in the pink morning sky were fluffy and light, a celestial stuffing in the big banquet of nature. I walked around back to find the large turkey pens. At least 200 plump, chaotic turkeys filled an area no larger than half an acre. In the far corner stood a young woman. She, too, wore overalls, and her long flowing blond hair fluttered in the soft morning breeze. She was singing softly. Her beautiful, sweet, silky voice filled the void, melding perfectly with the rumbling clucks and gobbles that echoed across the vast New England valley around the farm. She looked at me and smiled but didn't stop. I moved closer, trying to hear what she sang: "Gobble-dee Gobble-dee Goo. Cluck-etee Cluck-etee Coo. Turkeys Turkeys Turkeys, I love-etee love-etee you. Gobble-dee Gobble-dee Goo." She was relentless. I was lost, drawn in by her beauty, her smile, her deft fluency in that mystifying language. "Hello," I said.. She stared me down, still smiling. Her head bobbing back and forth brought my attention to her bright cheeks, her full lips, her long neck. She pushed my outstretched hand away and gave me a soft, wet kiss right on the mouth. It lasted but a few seconds but it seemed as if an entire autumn had passed. Pulling her moistened lips away from mine she looked deep into my eyes and softly hummed, "Gobble gobble." I was smitten. The words went right at my heart. Like a simple plastic turkey baster, the words sucked away any glimmer of doubt I once had, and replaced it with infatuation. This was the love I had been searching for. "Oh cap'n, my cap'n, we found each other at last. Will you be mine?" I asked. She replied, quickly, "Gobble-dee gobble-dee." There was a glow in her eyes; she meant it. And so months later, we still sit here together, singing, soaking in the cool autumn air, minding our turkeys, and forever giving thanks.

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News

Second-half surge leads Tufts over MIT, 2-0

August 31

The men's soccer team responded from a 3-2 home defeat on Saturday to Middlebury with an expected yet important 2-0 victory over non-league rival MIT. After a lethargic first half, the Jumbos were able to respond to bring their overall mark to 2-1 on the season. Though Tufts has dominated the cross-town series of late, MIT entered having surrendered only one goal in an unblemished 4-0 start. "We did not have a good first half," coach Ralph Ferrigno said. "It was a very evenly played first half. I give credit to MIT, this is by far their best team in a long time. Luckily we responded well in the second half, but we certainly have room to improve." "In my 4 years here we have always had problems getting up for weekday games against non-NESCAC opponents," senior tri-captain Mike Prindiville said. "It's definitely something we need to learn how to play through." Tufts came out after the half with much more intensity. In the early part of the second half, the Jumbos controlled the ball in MIT's zone and deposited a series of shots on goal. The scoreless tie was finally broken roughly ten minutes in when junior Garrett Dale netted his second goal of the season, after with an assist coming from a header from sophomore mid fielder Brian Mikel. Dale showed both exuberance and a measure of relief when he threw his jersey over his head and collapsed on the ground in celebration. The Jumbos scored their second and final goal with 15 minutes remaining. Junior tri-captain Matt Macgregor was taken down on a break away and a yellow card was issued, setting up a direct kick opportunity for Tufts. Senior tri-captain Brad Stitchberry intentionally overran the ball, faking a shot, and Mikel delivered a rocket perfectly into the right corner of the goal to cement the win. "We played a good second half," junior fullback Rupak Datta said. "It was really all about intensity. We started winning 50/50 balls and came out stronger." "This may sound a little pompous, but at halftime I think we realized we were playing MIT," Prindiville said. "We made an effort to attack and I think we knew we'd win." The game also marked the first career shutout for freshman goal-keeper Scott Conroy. Conroy looked poised in goal throughout the match and made one particularly outstanding play on an MIT breakaway. "It's all about confidence and his will certainly improve as the season goes on," Ferrigno said. "Scott is incredibly talented in goal," Prindiville said. "After losing Steve (Mcdermid, a four year starter) goal was a question mark. Scott's shot stopping ability is at a high level. He needs to realize he's a centerpiece and step up and lead, which is sometimes a hard thing for a freshman to do." Although the Jumbo offense came alive in the second half, it had several injuries to contend with. Shortly after the game's first goal, Matt Macgregor collided with an MIT fullback. Macgregor clearly got the worst of the head-on collision, and dropped to the ground before rising shortly after. He stayed in the game but exited shortly after and did not return. After the second goal was netted, Dale was injured when an MIT forward jumped for a header and fell awkwardly over Dale, appearing to knee the junior midfielder in the head. Dale, who was actually called for a foul on the play, fell to the ground and bled heavily from a gash on his head. He also did not return. Both players were taken to the hospital as precautions after the game but were expected to be fine. "Things can get a little chippy at the end of a game," Prindiville said. "Frustration sets in, you just have to be careful not to get too involved with it."The Jumbos now turn their eyes to Saturday's contest at NESCAC rival Colby. "We've got a number of things to work on in the next two days," said Ferrigno. "We will most certainly have to play better against Colby. I have seen them play. They are a much better team than MIT.""We've gotten a good bearing in our first three games for what we'll have to do to stay competitive," Prindiville said. "It should be a tough game, especially up there. Colby's never a top NESCAC team, but we'll have to be prepared. We're starting to come together, if we play our game, we should put them away."

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News

Professors react with caution to attack

August 31

As students struggle to come to terms with yesterday's tragedies, some professors say it is too early to understand how these events will impact the United States. The most pressing question is who attacked and why. In an interview with AM 680, political science professor Richard Eichenberg said the tragedy arose from unresolved political issues in the Middle East. "I suppose Israel is helped in the sense that there may be those who assume that whoever it was was on the other side," Eichenberg said. Eichenberg, who teaches Introduction to International Relations, said the attack showed a deficiency in US intelligence. He said his most pressing concern, however, is that the US might launch an overly aggressive military response. "I actually worry a little that we might overreact," he said. The professors who spoke to the Daily said the ramifications for the country are unclear. "It's hard to tell how the nation will be affected at the moment, until we know who claims responsibility and how severe the casualties are," said sociology professor Rosemary Taylor. Yesterday's events could shock Americans into the realization that the world is not as safe as they once thought, according to Robert Devigne, a political science professor. "It's certainly a reminder to all of us that there's conflict in the world," Devigne said. "America cannot insulate itself from that conflict." "The fundamental issues of violence and justice and liberty are not going to go away," he added. "I don't think it's going to have a great impact on our quality of life," he said. "It will, however, have an impact on foreign policy and American security concerns. The typical response is going to be a military response." In searching for examples of similar events in US history, the national media frequently evoked images of Pearl Harbor. Tufts faculty members, however, said the analogy was somewhat misguided because the origin of the attack in Hawaii was much different than those responsible for yesterday's attacks. "In terms of a dramatic attack, that's where the Pearl Harbor analogy is right," Devigne said. "But in terms of the response, it's just too unclear in the source." Professors instead compared the attack to the Vietnam War, noting the similarities to how the public viewed the war on television. "I think Vietnam had a much more traumatizing effect on the American consciousness," said Taylor, the sociology professor. She added that the image of the plane crashing into the World Trade Center's South Tower could have a similar effect on the public. Recalling other domestic terrorist attacks such as the World Trade Center bombing in 1993 and the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, some professors said Americans should be careful before making assumptions regarding accountability. They urged the media and President George W. Bush not to jump to conclusions, such as the original erroneous assumption that connected the Arabic group responsible for the World Trade Center bombing to the Oklahoma City bombing. "The media is making the same assumptions again with seemingly no evidentiary basis and no self-awareness about how wrong they were before," said political science professor Gary McKissick. McKissick said the Bush administration should be cautious with plans for revenge and should instead focus on uniting the country. "In an environment of uncertainty, it's really easy to fuel passions that can't be contained," McKissick said. "I think in light of all the completely innocent lives lost and the risks taken by hundreds of rescue workers and firefighters," he said, "the president owes it to the country to be more visible and more active."

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News

Music, food, and law for the masses

August 31

Saturday's well-attended Fall Fest concert quickly became a comedy of errors - one whose players included the funk band Deep Banana Blackout, rapper GZA, hip-hop act the Beatnuts, and a brief but forceful cameo by the Medford police. Deep Banana Blackout opened the show with a long, mesmerizing set. It was the second act that caused problems, after local residents complained to the police about the loud expletives used by GZA (pronounced "giz-uh"). And though the cursing soon subsided, the afternoon went awry again when headliners the Beatnuts couldn't find their way to the Tufts campus. Fall Fest began promptly at 2 p.m. with the synchronous blaring of trumpet, trombone, and saxophone over the deep rumble of a five-string bass broke out on the residential quad. Deep Banana Blackout had taken the stage and would play over an hour and a half of live funk. The eight-piece ensemble from Bridgeport, CA has built up a crowd of cult followers over years of touring, many of whom attended Saturday's show. Deadheads and neo-hippies played Frisbee as the funk spread across the open field. A pregnant woman in hippie-esque garb danced without inhibitions, and marijuana smoke clouded the front of the stage. Eric Kalb's heavy-duty drumming powered the act, fronted by lead vocalists/instrumentalists James "Fuzz" SanGiovanni and Hope Clayburn on guitar and saxophone, respectively. As the set continued, Latin percussion and syncopated piano chords gave way to the soulful tones of the Hammond B3 organ and the funky rumble of Ben Carr's bass. Searing blues guitar solos led to jazzy horn melodies and gospel-like choir singing. Regardless of the genre explored, the band remained true to its funk roots, and all eight instruments screamed in unison a groovy melody and a more-than-danceable beat. Compared to past Fall Fests, Deep Banana Blackout drew a crowd of hundreds, an impressive number for an opening band. Unknown to many students at the beginning of the week, the band proved itself an extremely well-rehearsed funk outfit with an incredibly full sound. Between sets, seniors Jay Kahn, Chris Harte, and Matt Kulkin of WMFO's "The Popy Chulo Show" took the stage and attempted to keep the crowd's attention. Antics included stuffing freshman girls' mouths with marshmallows and asking them to pronounce Popy Chulo slogans. But the real attention-getter was Indian restaurant Diva's vendor table in front of Houston Hall. Unfortunately, Diva was the only vendor to set up at Fall Fest this year, but its delicious free meals, which included curried chicken, spiced rice, and garbanzo beans, were popular with students hungry for lunch. Dinner was also served - the Carmichael staff prepared a barbecued meal that even the members of Deep Banana Blackout enjoyed. When GZA took the stage at 4 p.m., controversy ensued. "This crazy sh-t is all live," he proclaimed. "Ain't no tapes, and when the record is up, we gots to bring it all back around." Though he did bring with him performance skill and the obvious desire to put on a show, his frequent use of expletives offended several audience members. Worse, his cursing was apparently audible throughout parts of Medford. Local residents complained to the Medford Police, who wasted no time in responding. Halfway into GZA's set, six Medford police cruisers rolled up next to the stage, followed by an inconspicuous white Crown Victoria with police license plates. They requested that GZA stop using profanity and offending the citizens of Medford, or the show would be shutdown. GZA complied, seemingly without complaint. No longer did he compel the crowd to chant, "What the f--k" to the beat; now, "What the 'F'" was his battle cry of choice. The concert continued. GZA's high-energy set drew an enormous crowd, with an estimated 500 people dancing enthusiastically to the turntable beats and rapping along. To the crowd's excitement, the Wu Tang Clan member performed not only his own material but also some of the hits he created with the rest of his popular rap crew. He invited the crowd to chant "Free ODB" in support of Wu Tang member Ol' Dirty Bastard, who is "locked down" in prison. At one point, GZA said that he and his ensemble drove four hours from New York to perform and called on the crowd to contribute its energy to the performance. "We getting' paid to do this sh-t," he said. "That's not what it's about, but you gotta make us work for that money, it's your money, and we represent for the people." He then invited student rappers onstage to show off their skill. As usual, a handful of bashful students were pushed to the stage by their friends and nervously demonstrated their freestyle skills. After an exciting, if toned-down set, GZA left the stage and the crowd flocked to the Carmichael barbeque for dinner. Then there was silence. Rumors began to circulate that headliners the Beatnuts were lost in Boston. Adding credence to these rumors, a student DJ climbed onstage and tried to entertain the crowd with the one available turntable. Finally, it was announced that the Beatnuts had made their way to Medford Square. Within minutes, the Latin-influenced hip-hop troupe ran onstage, knowing there was no time to lose. Founding members Junkyard Ju-Ju and Psycho Les brought two DJs - one an Asian American - along with two other Beatnuts alums. "We're an equal opportunity employer," one announced. "We got a lot of people up here!" Unfortunately, the Beatnuts rushed through their set, which included the frat-house anthem "Watch Out Now." Their impressive stage display was reminiscent of last Spring Fling's Jurassic Five performance: four rappers singing and dancing in sync with each other. They called on the crowd to pay tribute to deceased Latino rapper Big Pun, and even got many to shout, "I love the nut!" But many attendees had grown tired of waiting for the lost Beatnuts and had already left the Rez Quad. Others grew tired of the similarities to GZA's performance: like most rap sets, both consisted of men rapping to a record with little distinction between songs and no live instrumental performances. The Beatnuts left the stage at about 6:30 p.m., but proceeded to converse with students and sign autographs backstage. The attendees left the residential quad a mess, strewn with crushed water bottles, paper plates, and half-eaten meals, a messy testament to the fun they had had at a show that was nearly overshadowed by complications, but where the music ultimately prevailed.

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News

Making your mark at home

August 31

The Arts Haus exudes creativity. From the bright red staircase that leads upstairs greeting you upon arrival to cupboards that open to empty space, the house is bursting with ingenuity. The project for the night is to paint the dining room. Can upon can of paint are laid out and the theme for the dining room is coordinated with the upcoming party. The Haus' theme parties are famous on campus, and attendants are strongly encouraged to dress up accordingly. Don't expect mundane themes, either - past parties have called for "Apocalypse Now" and "Clue" costumes. Located on 37 Sawyer Ave. - and technically called Bartol House - this three- floor, off-campus housing option is the dwelling place of devoted Tufts artists who strive to promote artistic awareness on campus. Thirteen students occupy several of the spacious double dorm-size rooms (each for one person), use the laundry machines that cost merely 25 cents per load, and enjoy RA-free living. Joining the chosen few isn't an easy feat. The theme house holds intense interviews for potential housemates each semester. The interviews are said to be memorable. According to Co-president Craig Wenner, applicants must "dazzle the current housemates," who collectively decide who will live amid the artistic madness the next semester. Wenner, a junior, lived in the house last spring and rose to the ranks of co-president, alongside senior Erika Martin, within one semester's time. "We all had to go through the interview," Martin said, remembering the ordeal. "The applicant should definitely have some sort of knowledge of pop culture," added Alissa Kempler, a sophomore enrolled in the five-year combined degree program for the arts, and a first- year Arts Haus resident. "Or at least the ability to shoot it down," Wenner chimed in. But the general purpose of the interview is to get a feel for a potential housemate's personality. With a unique group of people, the house bustles with the mix of interests and talents. Students who specialize in all areas of the arts, from music lovers to film buffs to those who possess a nonspecific love for art, come together under one roof. Taliser Avery - a senior who moved into the Arts Haus this semester - classifies herself as a general arts lover. "I'm not really into any particular style of art," she said. "I don't even really have any special talents. But I'm hoping that living here, some of that artistic magic will rub off." Activities hosted by the Arts Haus have been an eclectic mix, ranging from concerts to karaoke, pudding wrestling to film festivals. Its biggest scheduled event is in the spring when the Haus clears room for local artists to showcase their work. "Last year, a housemate brought up the idea of junkyard art, and we had lots of fun with that," Wenner said. Next week's benefit concert will showcase local bands to raise money for victims of the Sept. 11 attack. As with any household, however, the dramas of the real world creep up every once in a while. But residents say their housemates avoid the true collegiate melodramas. "Of course, some people get along better, but we are a tight community," Kempler said. "It's so much better than dorm life: the perks of a kitchen and your own space are great," she said. The household must work together to organize activities, so many of the members say they're comfortable with one another. "We are almost forced to be friends, but in a good way," Kempler said. "This is an intermediary between the dorm life and living on your own," Wenner said. "Every Sunday we rotate, taking turns cooking, and eat dinner together - so it brings us closer." Not even sharp objects can threaten that trust: Sometimes, the housemates give each other haircuts. A final decision has not been made regarding this semester's theme party, and the paint remains in the cans and on the floor. That sense of mystery., Wenner said, is part of the excitement: "I wouldn't be surprised to wake up and find the rooms were all a different color."

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News

1, 2, 3... Weight loss

August 31

Is it time to lose the extra pounds you gained during a semester of late night pizza orders? If so, what is the best way to get started? According to a recent article published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, the key to any lifestyle change, including weight loss, is to set realistic and attainable goals. Changing your daily routine can be tough, especially when your schedule is packed. Dramatic dieting measures like skipping meals or swearing off all snack foods and desserts can be particularly hard to maintain. But a weight loss strategy based on a series of small, manageable steps can result in the ultimate success story. Start by asking yourself what changes you can easily implement that will help you reach your weight goal. Try to come up with small yet specific objectives to help you reach this target. Here are some suggestions: -Take weight loss five pounds at a time. No matter what your ultimate goal is, aim for an initial five-pound loss and reward yourself when you reach this goal. Congratulate yourself by indulging in activities you enjoy. Read that mystery novel you've longed to finish, or stroll through an art museum. Keep it unrelated to eating; don't use food as a reward. - Get moving. It's often difficult to incorporate a scheduled exercise regimen into a busy lifestyle. If exercise is not usually part of your daily routine, moving just 30 extra minutes a day is an easy way to boost your physical activity level. If this seems impossible, remember that three ten-minute sessions work just as well as one half-hour session. Taking the long route to class, walking after dinner or as a study break, using the stairs, and parking your car at the far end of the lot are all ways to incorporate physical activity into your day without actually "exercising." - Tackle your sweet tooth. If desserts are your passion, try cutting back rather than totally eliminating those tempting sweets. For example, if cookies are your typical after-dinner treat, try reducing your serving size by half for a few weeks. When you've successfully reached this goal, maybe you'll be ready to substitute a piece of fruit or a dish of low-fat frozen yogurt for those cookies a few times a week. Remember that it's important not to deprive yourself of the foods you love. You'll ultimately be more successful if you incorporate your favorite foods in reduced amounts into your weight loss plans. - Minimize the daily munchies. Even if sweets don't cause your mouth to water, snack foods may make your belly rumble. If you find yourself digging into a bag of chips or munching away on fistfuls of pretzels consider the following: read the label and count out the number of items in one serving. Place this amount in a bowl and only eat that amount. If you're still hungry you can go back for more, but this tactic will prevent you from unconsciously reaching into the bag and overindulging. - Relax. When exam time approaches and you begin feeling stressed, try taking some time for yourself rather than snacking. Attending yoga class at your neighborhood gym, walking with friends, or calling an old friend from home are all great ways to unwind. Cutting back on emotional eating - eating due to stress and anxiety rather than hunger - can be a great first step towards your goal.Casey Lewis, a registered dietitian, is a Nutrition Communications student at Tufts

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News

Diversity remains University priority

August 31

Tufts' Class of 2005 floods campus today, as 1,170 first-year students move into dorm rooms, meet roommates, and participate in the University's matriculation exercises. Twenty three percent of applicants were accepted to this year's incoming class in the University's most selective admissions process to date. The Admissions Office chose the class from 13,700 applicants, a decrease from last year's record-breaking pool of over 14,000 applications. "We're having two interesting experiences," Dean of Admissions David Cuttino said. "One, that the percentage of students admitted has dropped and two, that the percentage of students accepting admission has increased significantly." Selecting a diverse student body remains one of the admissions office's goals. Students of color constitute 33 percent of the incoming class. African-American students comprise ten percent of this year's class, a two percent rise eight percent last year. The percentage of Latino freshmen rose from nine percent in 2000 to ten percent this year. Conversely, the number of Asian-American students enrolled declined from 15 to 13 percent this year. Cuttino said the number of Asian Americans admitted by Tufts remained constant; the number of accepted students who decided to matriculate, he said, went down. "Our expectation was the size of the class' Asian American [population] would be stronger than it was. We're not where we'd like to be in terms of Asian American enrollment," Cuttino said. The number of Asian-American students has dropped, risen, and dropped again since the class of 2000, which had 192 Asian American students, the highest number in Tufts history. The class of 2004 had 187 Asian American students; this year's class has 144. "I'm not sure exactly why we have this drop with this incoming class, which I feel is very concerning," said Linell Yugawa, director of the Asian American Center. The admissions office enrolled nearly 60 percent of the incoming students through early decision, the largest percentage ever, part of a national trend. Admissions officers say early decision candidates are desirable because these applicants are guaranteed to matriculate. The process complicates the admissions process, however, as officers must predict applicant trends to ensure that regular decision applicants are of similar caliber to those accepted early. "If you look at objective characteristics, they have typically mirrored characteristics of [early decision] students," Cuttino said. An increased number of international students enrolled this year - 19 percent of incoming students are foreign citizens, permanent residents, or US citizens living abroad, up from 15 percent last year. Four percent are dual citizens, and ten percent are non-resident aliens. International students comprise 15 percent of the entire student body, a figure that may increase if the international student yield continues to grow, Cuttino said. For some incoming students, diversity of the student body constituted a major concern. "It's very pleasant to see such a diversified student body," freshman Zijiang Yang said. The international student body also attracted freshman Tanya Beja, as did the school's location and reputation. "I wanted to study in Boston," Beja said. "It's a good academic institution and there are lots of international students, that's important to me," added Beja, who hails from Mexico. The class as a whole continues a trend of increasing selectivity. Tufts accepted 25 percent of applicants to the class of 2004, as opposed to the 23 percent mark for the incoming class. The number of admitted students electing to enroll increased by four percent. Thirty percent of the class ranked one, two, or three in their graduating high school class, and the average class rank falls in the top ten percent. The median SAT scores was between 590 and 700 for verbal and 620 to 720 for math. These scores were lower than last year's ranges, which were between 610 and 700 for verbal and 630 and 700 for math. Students represent 800 high schools in 44 states and 41 countries, which Cuttino said creates a diverse environment for the freshmen. "It's more than test scores," he said. "The fun is getting beyond that - who will make this a more rewarding place to be and add dimensions to a class."

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News

University revamps orientation week programs

August 31

Dining hall food, new faces, and dorm life - these are only some aspects of college life which lay in store for the class of 2005. To address the transition from high school to college, administrators and faculty have revamped orientation with a host of new events, culminating in a dinner which will bring together the entire class of 2005. These changes come in conjunction with the inauguration of Tufts' 12th president, Larry Bacow, who will make his first official address to the Tufts community at today's matriculation ceremony."It's a kickoff to a year that has a new president, Tufts' sesquicentennial, and the class of 2005; a good time to feel good about the University," said Dean of Students Bruce Reitman. "It's Tufts pride. We want to give students a sense of belonging to a particular class." The most significant change has transformed the first night's dining hall meal into a celebratory dinner being held tonight in the Gantcher Center. In the past, students ate with their individual advising groups at staggered times, seating half of the class in Carmichael and the rest in Dewick, leaving them without the opportunity to interact with the other half of their peers. "We want to create a sense of community as soon as possible," Dean of First-Year Students Jean Herbert said. "It's something we've wanted for a very long time." The dinner, which will feature speeches by the president and other administrators, will be followed immediately by the traditional Light on the Hill ceremony, which was previously held on the Friday following move-in. All members of the Class of 2005 will also receive t-shirts designed for their class tomorrow night. Funding for the Gantcher event and several other new orientation programs came from the reallocation money already designated for orientation activities. "Orientation is already expensive, so the costs were shuffled," Reitman said. Although the orientation committee has not calculated the final costs of this week's activities, Orientation Co-Coordinator Moira Poe (LA '01) said that they will probably come in under the new budget allocated for orientation events, since she worked closely with the Office of Student Activities when developing the programming. But the additional celebratory events, created mainly for the sesquicentennial, will raise the cost from years past.The higher cost "is probably more with the anniversary and new initiatives with class identity," said Poe. "This year is just going to be crazy." Students criticized past orientations for not bringing together the entire class through activities, and the Gantcher event is meant to remedy this. "All [post-orientation evaluations] indicated that there should be more done for class identity, unity, and school spirit," Reitman said. "Getting the whole class together in Gantcher on Wednesday night is directly responsive to that." Herbert speculated that this will become an annual tradition but said that the University must first weigh whether such an event is worth the cost. The University once attempted to bring together an entire class in Cousens Gym, according to Herbert, but the event failed because the gym lacked warmth and acoustics. The 68,289 square foot Gantcher Center, a more versatile space, was specifically designed as a multi-purpose facility with a state-of-the-art sound system to enable the University to host large amounts of people in one place.Administrators hope to make better use of the Center in the future as a means of uniting entire Tufts classes, such an event to welcome back this year's seniors which is still being planned. "Matriculation, graduation - those are the only times an entire class is together," Herbert said. "Having something that's a celebration of their first night here - that's the tone we want to set."The budget for preparing food for the first night was used to pay for the celebratory dinner. After receiving quotes from seven different caterers, Poe found it cheaper to hire an outside caterer for the Gantcher dinner than using Dining Services."I don't think the [total] costs were dramatically different - people had to eat last year anyway," Poe said. The elimination of some of the poorly-attended events from past orientation programs, such as Monte Carlo night and Midnight Madness in Cousens Gym, also helped to consolidate funds.

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Men's squash off to quick start after three road wins

August 31

Beginning its season with a trip across New York this weekend, the men's squash team emerged with as many wins as it racked up during all of last season. After finishing the 2000-20001 with a record of 3-13, the team now sits at 3-1. "I think we're a better team this year," senior co-captain Colin O'Higgins said. "We've got a couple of freshmen in our lineup and the top three are the same." After losing only two seniors, the team enters this year with its top three men in tact: senior co-captain Neil Pallover, junior Chris Choi, and O'Higgins. Along with the new influx of freshmen, coach Doug Eng and his team enter the winter season with high hopes. The team's main vision is focused on improving its performance at Nationals. Of the teams that enter the tournament, the groups are broken down into three divisions where brackets of eight teams each are formed. After competing in the third bracket last year, Eng hopes to move up to competing in the second division bracket or to win the third division bracket. While these hopes are high, Eng believes that his team has a good chance at accomplishing these feats. Along with the high expectations at Nationals, the men also hope to break the top 20 in the national rankings. Hovering around the top 20 at the finish of every year, the team is currently ranked 20th in the nation and hopes to move up by the time the season comes to an end. The greatest challenge facing the Jumbos is that they are forced to spend a significant amount of time practicing and playing at Harvard, since the Tufts facilities do not meet international specifications. According to Eng, constantly being on the road is a handicap for the team, meaning that they must raise their level of play, lacking a home court advantage of their own. The division of practice courts has also impeded the team building process, a major focus of the mid-November New York trip. Playing four matches in twenty-four hours, the trip was the first time the team was entirely together this season. Facing a strong team in Vassar to begin its season, Tufts edged out the opponent for a tough win. A critical five-game win by freshmen Jason Krugman clinched the victory for the Jumbos as they defeated Vassar 5-4. The Jumbos entered the match expecting to beat Vassar, though the absence of fourth seeded, freshman James Chung due to a personal conflict, paired with the surprising strength of the their opponent made the victory much tougher than the team had anticipated. "It was a very good win considering the conditions," Eng said. The opening victory included losses from two of the top three men, Neil Pallaver and Chris Choi, yet Eng was not concerned about their play losses. "We have a very solid one, two and three even though the scores don't show it, I expect they'll do better," Eng said. After defeating Vassar, the Jumbos went on to defeat Bard decisively, 9-0. They continued their streak the next day, beating St. Lawrence at Hobart, 8-1 on Sunday. Sunday afternoon the men were handed the season's first defeat in a 0-9 beating from Hobart. Despite the loss, team spirits remain high as Hobart was a stronger team than they had expected. "They're a much better team than we are and they deserved the win," O'Higgins said. Overall, the coach was pleased with the weekend performances, and especially the team's toughness against Vassar. Winning close matches will be the team's greatest challenge over the course of the season. "What it's going to come down to is how we perform in the clutch," Eng said. While the team finished its weekend with a strong performance, it faces its first NESCAC opponent this weekend against Wesleyan. "Wesleyan on Sunday will be a big match, they're a tough team to beat," O'Higgins said. After losing 1-8 to the Cardinals last year, the team hopes to find retribution. But to do so will require the Jumbos to win on the road. "We don't have much leeway against them, we have to go in there and play hard," Eng said.

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News

Driver's Ed was never this weird

August 31

Combining a superbly written script with an outstanding student production staff, the 3Ps' major fall production of Paula Vogel's How I Learned to Drive allowed the audience to laugh, to cringe and, most importantly, to leave feeling satisfied. The show was a great accomplishment, barring a few drawbacks. Drive's cast rose to the challenge of portraying the script's weighty situations - overall, the acting was tremendous despite the considerable difficulties involved in each role. Topics like pedophilia and incest were handled with grace, allowing the audience to walk out of the theater content that the past had been resolved for these characters. The play was not written to make audiences dwell on these taboo issues but rather to make them see how it is possible to move on with your life. Director Jennifer Bien deserves credit for imparting this message unto her audience members through her directorial vision. She was clearly assisted in her realization of this vision by five committed actors. Junior Sarah Kauderer portrayed Lil' Bit at several different ages and stood out as a noteworthy talent. She exhibited great ease in making the transition from talking to the crowd and then jumping back into a scene and commanded the stage with the same strength that her character possessed after leaving her past behind. Sophomore Graham Outerbridge faced equally daunting challenges playing Uncle Peck, an aggressor of molestation and incest, an ex-soldier, and an alcoholic. Undoubtedly, he ran into some problems trying to identify with such a complex character. To his credit, he managed to uncover some of Uncle Peck's layers, forcing the audience to see the human being behind the gruesome actions. The rest of the cast comprised the Greek chorus, which took on several roles throughout the play. Senior Ann Blumenstock's roles included Lil' Bit's mom and Uncle Peck's wife, and she displayed a dead-on sense of comedy. She had the whole audience in an uproar with an "how to drink like a woman" talk with Lil' Bit. Sophomore Sam Rivers switched from portraying a hysterical high school geek to giving a knee-slappingly funny rendition of The Monkees' "I'm a Believer" as the grandfather. Sophomore Megan Hammer added to the play's comedy by playing an amusing sex-obsessed grandmother, among other roles. On the whole, the members of the Greek chorus demonstrated great versatility as actors and provided the funniest moments of the play. Still, the assignment of so many roles left certain characters undeveloped. For as much work the chorus had to do onstage, the director must have done three times the amount to put the entire show together. Certainly, Bien took on an enormous task in coordinating the production - not only because of the play's density but also the scores of technical additions. In general, she used smooth blocking patterns and made the transitions seamless, especially considering the nonlinear sequencing of the script. She definitely made some bold choices in the decoration of the theater, which aided the overall presentation by providing more outlets for storytelling. The entire technical staff deserves praise for giving the Balch Arena Theater a distinct style. Technical Director Ben Gomberg should be commended for pulling off many technical cues with minimal errors. The slide projector displayed images coinciding with the story, and audio recordings from educational driving videos throughout the play. These stimuli provided the audience with an abstract metaphor that it had to interpret for themselves. Below the slide projector, Set Designer Annie Cardinaux and her construction staff put half of a real car onto a platform built partly into the seats. The infusion of the car into the space served as a great example the power a prop can hold. Looking at the stage, the audience is immediately drawn to the car - it is immediately apparent that cars, or driving, will be crucial to understanding the focus of the play. Along this same vein, there were also video monitors running a drivers' education video and the other an educational video on family sexual assault prevention. Road signs (with sexual innuendoes) were placed all along the sides of the theater. All these additions, along with strong acting, directing, and impressive use of technology, contributed to a great fall major performance.

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Bacow bonds with University in face of national tragedy

August 31

As freshmen prepare for their first bout of college finals, their rooms cluttered with last minute projects, books, and review sheets, another "freshman" sits in a Ballou Hall office that is neat and warm, but also professional, just like him. President Lawrence Bacow is also completing his first semester at Tufts. Like any student's dorm room, Bacow's office is filled with personal memorabilia from both his family and his professional career. A painting of George Washington hangs behind his desk. The standard elephant figurines are displayed, along with family pictures - including one of Bacow and his wife, Adele, decked out in full clown attire for a costume party. Two silvery shovels lean against the wall - gifts from MIT, in honor of his fundraising efforts as chancellor there.Even after a long day that begins with a 6 a.m. run, and is filled with endless appointments and meetings, Bacow still greets everyone with the amicable smile and good humor for which he is known. Bacow has always had a dedicated interest in his students. During his 24-year tenure at MIT, Bacow was "routinely interacting with students in class" and took on the additional responsibility of being a student advisor. Coming to Tufts, Bacow planned to continue the same commitment to students, but now as a university president."I gave a lot of thought to whether or not I wanted to be a college president and I recognized that I'm not your prototypical college president," Bacow said. "You might think of somebody who is older, more seasoned, more serious, more formal, and I decided that if I was going to do this the only way that I could do it, is to be myself, so that's what I've always tried to do." But no amount of experience could have prepared anyone to handle the tragic events of Sept. 11. "For the first half of the semester, [Sept. 11] colored everything I did," Bacow said. "I don't think anything can ever prepare you for anything like that." But the horror of the terrorist attacks solidified Bacow's role at the University, as students and faculty immediately turned to their president for guidance and support in the face of the tragedy."It gave me an opportunity to get to know the community in an interesting way," Bacow said. "The silver lining in an otherwise very dark cloud was that it presented lots of opportunities to interact with students and faculty."In response to Sept. 11, Bacow wrote personal e-mails to students and faculty of the University, was present at discussions, and addressed the University in a quickly organized service on the afternoon of the attacks."With regard to 9/11, he set the proper tone when he called for a sensitivity to the rights of all," Dean of the Colleges Charles Inouye said. "He has encouraged critical thinking about the issues of the day, and that is precisely what we've been doing."So far, Inouye is impressed by Bacow's leadership."He's a rare combination of good qualities," Inouye said. "He's intelligent, accomplished, down-to-earth, accessible, and compassionate. He has vision, and is just the person to help us take Tufts to the next level."Other faculty members feel that Bacow has already contributed a great deal to the University."He has spent his time doing the most important things: getting to know the faculty and raising money," Provost Sol Gittleman said.Representing Tufts requires the president to travel a great deal. Already, Bacow has visited San Francisco, Los Angeles, Atlanta, and Washington DC, as well as various European destinations. But travel does not imply vacation for the busy president. The trips all entail meeting with either alumni alliances or individuals who are exceptionally supportive to the University, either financially or by representing Tufts' interests to the government."There are lots of pieces to this job that students never see," Bacow said. "They have to do with representing the University's interests in Washington, legislation that affects us on Beacon Hill, meeting with state representatives that have expressed interest in issues that affect us," Bacow said.Despite these extensive commitments, Bacow remains unfazed by his workload. "Most of it is fun. I love being able to represent the University and speak on behalf of it, whether it's speaking to freshmen at matriculation or welcoming parents on Parents Weekend, or the entering medical students at the medical college," Bacow said. "I've enjoyed getting to know our principal donors. They are very interesting people. They're passionate about Tufts...They help strengthen the University."In addition to his work outside of the University, the president has devoted a great deal of attention to restructuring the inner workings of the University as well. He reorganized the undergraduate department of the University and formed a council on graduate education. He also took time to listen and speak with people about the recent debate over custodial salaries and benefits so that the issue would not polarize the campus.But according to Bacow, the best part of the job is simply participating in the multitude of campus performances and programs. And when it comes to attending student events, it certainly helps that his home is located at the center of campus."Living on campus turned out to be a nice surprise," Bacow said. He and Adele have found the time to attend many student performances, and members of the Tufts community have spotted the couple at a number of campus arenas, including Cohen Auditorium for the Supershow, Alumnae Lounge for the woodwind ensemble concert, Balch Arena for Zombie Prom, and at the campus art gallery. Despite the numerous obligations and responsibilities Bacow has as president, he has made it a main priority to get to know the students, faculty, and the University community as a whole. He religiously responds to every e-mail, and has been seen eating at Dewick-MacPhie with students who have requested a casual meeting. Bacow has run with both student and faculty joggers and Tufts athletic teams, including men's cross country and women's crew. Bacow says he has a special bond with the class of 2005, whom he called his fellow freshmen at this year's convocation ceremony. But ten of those freshmen have gotten to know the president more personally as his advisees. Bacow wanted to be able to interact with students on a deeper level, and when he accepted the position at Tufts, asked to co-lead an advising group.Executive Director of Institutional Research Dawn Terkla is Bacow's co-advisor. She says that the president does "an excellent job as advisor," understands undergraduates and, as the father of two college-age sons, makes an especially empathetic advisor. According to Terkla, during her 17 years at the University, Bacow is the first president to undertake the responsibility of freshmen advising.Freshman Kenny Bain was shocked to find out that the new University president would be his advisor. "I was a little surprised," Bain said. "I actually found out over the summer."But while he was initially a bit intimated, Bain says he has had a positive experience with the president."He's a really nice guy, and he told us, 'call me Larry,'" Bain said.Bain adds that their advising group had a pizza party in the beginning of the year at Gifford House and since it also happened to be Bain's birthday, the president had ordered him a cake. Bacow has also maintained a good relationship with President Emeritus John DiBaggio, whose office is just across the academic quad in Bendetson Hall. "He's been a wonderful teacher," Bacow said. "He was a university president twice before Tufts. I have a lot I can learn from John. He's been very supportive." As he finishes his first semester at Tufts, Bacow looks toward the future. He hopes to continue interacting with students and learning more about the spirit and traditions that characterize the University. And eventually, he hopes to teach a class. Gittleman accurately depicts Bacow's relationship with the University and his approach to his job."What pleases me most is that he loves his job, loves being president of this University. The feeling is mutual," Gittleman said.

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Welcome to Avalon

August 31

You feel the resonating bass as soon as you walk through the door. Past the security guards, the coat check, the line for the ATM, into a large metallic tunnel, on the other side, it hits you in a rush of sound and air. Music is everywhere, the dance floor is packed, and it's not even 11:30 p.m. yet. The lines at the bar are at least three deep, but no one seems to mind. This is the place to be in Boston. This is the Avalon's Avaland. The Avalon exudes a presence several blocks before it is visible. Streams of couples, groups, and singles - nicely dressed for an ordinary Friday night - head toward a small street pressed tight against Fenway Park. The streets surrounding Avalon are empty and dark, but Lansdowne Street is bright from the headlights of cars dropping off the night's shift of clubbers. On the corner, a man sells glow sticks of every possible color, shape, and size. The Avalon itself is painted black, and there isn't a sign proclaiming the club inside. Everyone still knows where to go, though - after all, this is where the lines are the longest. Avaland, the Avalon's creation, is undoubtedly a unique experience. Avaland features well-known DJs from both the US and abroad every Friday and Saturday night, with decorations to match. The theme changes each weekend: last week clubgoers danced under a sign proclaiming, "Four legs are good. Two legs are bad." The theme was Animal Farm, and this included a man in a pig suit, a life-size fake horse, and dancers dressed up in jeans and cowboy hats. Neon animal faces hung from the ceiling. According to Lauren Crucius, systems director for the Avalon, "this is where you come for huge, world- renown DJs. Everything changes each week for Avaland to give the club a new and different feel." Crucius is right about the world-renown DJs. Fatboy Slim, Paul Oakenfold, Dave Seaman, Armand Van Helden, and Basement Jaxx have all performed there. While the decorations make Avaland a visually-pleasing experience, the most important part is the music. It is safe to say that Avaland lives up to its name as "the ultimate sound experience." It takes restraint not to dance. The music is loud, but not overbearing, and the bass is at just the right level to be felt through your whole body. Like any club, the Avalon's intention is to sell as many tickets as possible. As a result, the wait to get in is not that bad: a little over 15 minutes. The coat check system is also surprisingly efficient. One of the longer lines is at the lone ATM, however, so get cash beforehand. The Avalon is laid out to optimize the dancing area. Two bars line the walls of the club, each with five bartenders. There are seven bars in total; the others are spread throughout the rest of the club. But alcohol is not the only thing on sale at the Avalon. There is also an oxygen bar for those who want to invest in some fresh air after dancing in the surprisingly smoky club. The club next to the Avalon, the Axis, is also open for Avaland. Buying entrance to either of the two clubs gets you access to both. The Axis has its own DJ spinning as well.At the Avalon, there are two dance floors: one main one, and another, smaller floor. By the time the night gets going, this floor is completely packed. But the smaller floor has plenty of room for people who want to bust a move. For those who need to rest their tired dancing feet, there are three places where chairs are available. The largest rest area is upstairs, with a view of the dance floor and the DJ. It is fascinating to watch the DJ spin his records and switch from song to song. Avaland is the main attraction at the Avalon - it has been selling out since its conception - but the club also holds concerts on a regular basis. Concerts can happen any night of the week. Crucius recommends going to a concert on a Friday or Saturday night, when, after the band leaves, the DJ spins and Avaland commences. "The night turns over to the dance, and the main thing is it's the most unique part of Avaland," Crucius said. The concert-goers mixing with the clubbers create an interesting blend of newcomers and diehards. Getting to the Avalon is no hassle whatsoever. Next to Fenway Park, the club is near the Kenmore Square T station on the Green line. Getting back to Tufts, however, can be a bit problematic. The T's Night Owl bus service is a good idea in principle, but the buses only run every half hour. By the time the Avalon closes at 2 a.m., there is only one bus left to catch before they stop running at 2:30 a.m. That bus line stops at Government Center, leaving the unfortunate Avalander in search of an expensive taxi ride home. Most choose to take taxis home directly from the club, or drive themselves down and back and fight for parking. The Avalon is Boston's premier nightclub, and with good reason: it showcases the hottest DJs in a unique setting with a few thousand other college students. "This is the way to culture yourself on DJs," Crucius said. "If you are into this scene, this is the best place to go."

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News

Friendly folkster fills Passim

August 31

James O'Brien takes the stage like he's defending his turf. His fingers curl around the smooth guitar in his hands and riddle out taut melodies with in-your-face political lyrics. Energy is high the moment his boots hit the carpet of Club Passim's stage, and it holds you there until the last encore. His voice yells to you from under the lights, and you hear it echoing long after you've gone home. On Wednesday night, James played to an audience of approximately 50 fans. That's a medium-sized crowd for the venue, but a good-sized crowd considering it was a weeknight. O'Brien didn't seem to notice how many were in the room, just that they were there, waiting for him to interact with them. Communication, after all, is why his fans are so enthralled with him. James' songs relay his thoughts on almost every topic imaginable, from the current state of the nation ("I did not start the war ...") to gender discrimination ("It doesn't matter what they look like, what they wear, what dangles between their legs ...") to religion ("The thing about God is that She's a good surfer ...") to surrealism ("I am a rain cloud in my own country ..."). It's a personal art being presented on stage, and the raw music holds each individual listener spellbound. Between songs, James talks with the crowd. He informed the audience Wednesday night that he had called the Pentagon with some good news. He left a message: "Hello, I don't know what office I'm trying to reach, but I got the anthrax, and folk music seems to be helping. Just thought you should know." Since that phone call last weekend, he said, mail service at his apartment apparently halted and his phone was disconnected. Audience members were amused. James also had a conversation with the listeners about his playing style: "I'm already f-cking with the drummer!" he shouted happily. "The last thing I want is a studio sound band, where you know they can count to four." James' performances are not for the weak of heart - they don't always rhyme, but they're often profane, profound, and gut-wrenching. A new song about the events of the past month includes in the chorus: "Nine o'clock in the morning, Sept. 11, the finger of God came down, and it touched me, and it touched you ..." Some audience members had the suspicion of tears in their eyes. Dylan-esque folk legend Dan Bern greatly influenced O'Brien's style, so it is very appropriate that James has an upcoming show with Dan Bern at the Middle East on Nov. 6. Buy tickets early to get a good seat - it's should be an outstanding concert in a very full room. James O'Brien's most recent album, Life Underwater, is available from his independent label, Life Underwater Music.

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Struggle to regain normalcy after terrorist attacks

August 31

New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani has urged New Yorkers to resume their everyday activities, national airports have reopened, and television programming is back on schedule. Last Thursday, President George W. Bush expressed hope that "in the months and years ahead, life will return almost to normal." But for the millions of Americans traumatized by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, "normal" is an elusive concept. The unprecedented event changed the world politically, economically, and socially overnight. With the casualty count rapidly rising and threats of war looming, Americans feel overwhelmed and uncertain about their future. Immersed in this suburban collegiate bubble, seeing the smoke and ashes only through television and newspapers, Tufts students say their lives have nonetheless changed in both short-term and long-term ways. Students' perceptions of the future in the wake of the attacks vary. In their daily lives, many have implemented a range of precautions. Some, for example, say they are hesitant to venture into any crowded area, at least for the time being. Junior Kristin Sternowski had plans to go shopping last week with her friends but cancelled the trip after the attacks. "We didn't want to be in a mall, or in public places like Downtown Crossing," Sternowski said. Wary of bomb threat rumors, and generally reluctant to use public transportation, Sternowski and her friends say they prefer to play it safe. Others feel similarly anxious, but are carrying on as usual. "People's sense of security will be altered, at least for the short term," said Krista Linstroth, a senior. Though she said she is more aware of the dangers of public transport because of the tragedies, Linstroth insists she will not be more cautious when traveling. Young people, Linstroth said, have the attitude that they are invincible, and the terrorist attacks probably won't change that. Some students prefer confronting their anxieties head on. "There's a general sense of foreboding, an apprehension in everyday life," senior Chris Mitchell said. But nervousness has not caused Mitchell to cancel travel plans that some might call ominous in light of the recent terrorist activity. Mitchell will be traveling from Boston to Los Angeles on either United or American airlines - riding one of the hijacked airlines on the route the first plane traveled before it crashed into the World Trade Center. Mitchell says he is unfazed by the coincidence and is adamant that his trip will proceed as planned. To rearrange his life around the tragedies would be "a victory for the terrorists," he said. The terrorist attacks also shaped students' perception of the media. Many students say they are regularly keeping up with current events for the first time, while others have adopted a a media diet. Opinions on media coverage of the attack are mixed, with students expressing everything from approval to disgust. Linstroth said she is impressed with the media coverage as well as with TV commercials advising people not to watch the news if they were having difficulty coping with the attacks. Senior Nick Bolt, however, said the media was irresponsible and that news reports were exploiting the human tragedy by "pulling heartstrings rather than reporting something substantial." Freshman Maxwell Newlands said he has switched to international newspapers after finding the American news coverage "slanted... making stories where there weren't stories." Students also say that the Sept. 11 events will drastically change their political perspectives. Many foresee a future wrought with racial hostility. Freshman Dimitri Tsoup said that if he met someone from Afghanistan, he would not feel unbiased. "Unfortunately, sometimes race is reality," Tsoup said. Mitchell, however, said in interacting with Arab Americans, he would overcompensate for the racial tension. Because of the rise in Arab-directed hate crimes, Mitchell said he was almost more conscientious of being a good neighbor to Arab Americans and that he feels obliged to go out of his way to smile and be friendly. As a result of the attacks, some Tufts students say they see themselves as more likely to be politically active in the future. Until recently, Newlands said he was not compelled to act on his political views. But the terrorist attacks have strengthened his political commitment to non-violence. "Now I have a cause," he said. "I have the need to fight going to war." Others, such as Bolt, see themselves as less likely to speak out politically in the future. "I have a brother in the Marines. I believe in this form of government," he said. But Bolt says he feels the need to assess national politics with added skepticism. "Democracy reaching too much of a political pitch can be used for bad ends," Bolt said. In the long term, Bolt said the attacks might point to a fault within the government that America will recognize and address. It will make people in America think about their way of life, he said. Overall, though students could pinpoint the severe emotional effects of the tragedy, most say the attacks will not significantly impact their behavior. "Right now, I don't want to fly anywhere," said Beth Dolsky, a senior. "But after the emotions wear off, things will go back to how they were." Generally, students seem confident in their ability to recover from the tragedy, with many, like Mitchell, saying the best retaliation against the terrorist crimes is to live their lives as normal as possible. They say the attacks will change their perspectives, but won't cripple their everyday decisions. "The way I'll see things will change, but the way I act won't," Linstroth said.

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News

Night of the living dead

August 31

Torn Ticket II brought a show back from the dead this weekend, breathing new life into the wonderfully zany musical comedy Zombie Prom. The original production premiered off-Broadway in 1997; though popular with theatergoers, it was thrust into oblivion after critics panned its lack of originality and superficial treatment of deeper underlying themes. But none of these flaws were apparent in Torn Ticket II's production. In fact, the stereotypes inherent in the script are precisely what made this show work as it combined the best of Grease, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Saved by The Bell, and everything in between. It didn't matter that the lyrics rhymed "wax" with "nymphomaniacs" or declared that "everything morphs when you're boyfriends a corpse" because they matched perfectly with the ridiculous nature of the show as a whole. Though the story is rather hokey, senior Mike Robb directed the cast with just the right touch of parody. The show's premise is an unlikely mock-up of the traditional musical theater plot, retelling a tired story with new and bizarre ideas. Instead of boy-meets-girl, boy-loses-girl, boy and girl get back together and live happily after, Zombie Prom adds a twist: Jonny (junior Scott Doty) commits suicide after his girlfriend Toffee (senior Kathleen Mulready) dumps him, but comes back from the dead to reunite with his love. The brilliant chemistry between Doty and Mulready appeared right from the moment they laid eyes on each other under a table during a nuclear disaster drill. Their relationship provided a serious humanistic dimension to a show that is largely focused on poking fun of life, love, and musicals themselves. As the ultimate ing?©nue, Mulready embodied everything that is good and sweet in her portrayal of Toffee, and her gorgeous vocal styling allowed her to do so in a way that was not overly syrupy or even a bit annoying. Doty's Jonny came across as the suave and popular rebel, though his biggest "crime" was ripping the "H" off his jacket to symbolize changing the spelling of his name. Nevertheless, Doty took his character seriously, even after he came back from the dead clad in eerie but fabulously designed green makeup. A newcomer to Torn Ticket II, he is definitely a talent worth keeping an eye on. A mix of veteran and new Torn Ticket actors portrayed the rest of the students at Enrico Fermi High School -which, by the way, is named after the inventor of the atomic bomb. The biggest strength of these actors was their ability to create individual characterizations while still acting as a cohesive ensemble. Of note were Enrico Fermi's very own Screech Powers and Violet Bickerstaff, Josh (freshman Billy Stanford) and Ginger (senior Seren Levinson). Vanessa Schiff's bubbly and incessantly nail-biting Candy was also entertaining, with senior Ashley DiPetrillo's Coco, sophomore Adam Stahl's Joey, and junior Dan Fink's Jake rounding out the cast. But if the show belonged to any one particular actor, it was senior Kate Goldberg. Her portrayal of Miss Delilah Strict, the high school principal everyone loves to hate, was dead-on (no pun intended) and uproariously hilarious. In the first act she used vocal inflections a la Miss Lynch in Grease to come across as a no-nonsense control freak, but still managed to intertwine a sense of comedy. As the truth about her tainted past unfolded in the second act, Goldberg milked the humor for all its worth. In a duet sung with her past lover Eddie Flagrante (freshman Steve Harris), called "Expose," Goldberg's character transformed instantaneously as she symbolically discarded her glasses, loosened her hair, and planted a big smooch on him in the cleverly designed senior prom scene that followed. Other aspects from the technical side of the show also helped to pull the production together. Costume Designer Lindsay Braun focused on assigning colors to each character and matching them with their respective love interest. The colors were everywhere from the characters' poodle skirts, prom dresses, nightclothes, and even the furry phones the girls used to gossip during the song "Easy to Say," and, like the show itself, were very much in the style of the '50s. Lauren Rodan's set design achieved a similar feat. She chose day-glo colors like neon green, orange, and pink to offset the blackness of the arena, using a "googie" style of theatrical design to emphasize that the show was parody. But it wasn't just talented actors, catchy lyrics, and a creative production staff that made the show a success. The performance thrived on the intense energy on the part of both the cast and the crew, and the fact that the cast was having so much fun on stage made it so much more enjoyable to watch. Torn Ticket II truly believed in Zombie Prom, and the group's passion and enthusiasm clearly shone throughout the production.

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News

Students holiday plans change amid security concerns

August 31

Although fewer people are expected at the nation's airports, the hassles of flying on what are traditionally the heaviest travel days of the year promise to be extensive. Predicted delays at airports, coupled with a fear of flying engendered by the crash of American Airlines Flight 587, have caused some students to reconsider their Thanksgiving travel plans. Airlines have advised passengers to arrive two hours before their scheduled departure time. Those flying out of Logan have been asked to arrive three hours ahead of time. The delays are in spite of a decreased passenger load. The airline industry is bracing for 27 percent fewer air travelers compared to last year, according to the American Automobile Association. The Air Transport Association (ATA) reports that in October there were 22.3 percent fewer paying customers compared to the same period last year. Denver native freshman Jill Friedman will not be flying home for Thanksgiving in the wake of the attacks. "My travel plans changed because I live so far away," she said. "I am going to visit family in Massachusetts instead of going home for Thanksgiving." A CBS poll of 805 adults found that 42 percent were "not at all afraid" of flying, and another 31 percent were "bothered slightly." Many Tufts students say they are not worried about flying home. "I'm not worried about flying. The way I look at it, you can either get busy living or get busy dying," freshman Michael Cherney said. The same poll found that 66 percent of Americans thought that airlines had "not done enough" to increase security, and 56 percent said the federal government had "not done enough" to make flying more safe. "I have already flown to New York and Miami since Sept. 11 and it wasn't that bad," sophomore Jenise Sierra said. "It was a little scary with all the security guards but I am not afraid to fly home for Thanksgiving." Amtrak, the only nationwide US rail service, is bracing for what might be the busiest Thanksgiving in its history. In addition to boosting its capacity, the company is borrowing trains from commuter rail services to meet increased demand. Amtrak will also operate many all-reserved trains along the densely populated northeast corridor. "I'm taking the train home because my parents don't want me to fly," sophomore Lauren Amira said. "I tried to get Amtrak tickets back to Tufts but they were already sold out, so I'm taking Amtrak home and driving my car back." On Friday, the US House and Senate passed the Aviation Security Bill by a margin of 410-9. The bill makes baggage screeners federal employees, and requires all checked luggage to undergo inspection. Fares are expected to rise substantially to pay for the increased security. After Jan. 1, taxes and fees for passengers will include a new security fee of up to $10 per roundtrip ticket, a 7.5 percent domestic ticket tax, a $3 per-person, per-flight segment fee, and a maximum of $18 in airport passenger facility charges, according to the ATA. Airlines will also be required to pay an additional $4 per passenger, on average, to the government to cover security screening costs.

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News

Religions come together to celebrate Thanksgiving

August 31

Last night, members of several religious communities on campus gathered to celebrate an early Thanksgiving. Featuring all the trimmings of a traditional Thanksgiving meal save the turkey, the "Interfaith Thanksgiving" was held for students and professors to discuss prospects for American unity. Comparative religion professor Elizabeth Lemons addressed the group to present religion's power to unite, rather than to divide. Differences within the same religion, she said, can unite people from separate religions. "What many do not appreciate is that there is diversity within each tradition, not just among traditions," Lemons said. "Often it is the differences within a tradition that is more important than the differences between traditions." The Sept. 11 attacks weighed heavily on this year's event. Like many students and professors around campus, those involved with the celebration recognized how recent events have changed their perspectives on Thanksgiving. "After Sept. 11, it seems especially important to gather together and give thanks for our loved ones... and to do it as Americans," Lemons said. Sophomores Flori Engler and Rich Kalman, co-chairs of Hillel's Holiday Committee, organized last night's event. The two felt the celebration served to reassure students who felt alienated after the attacks that they would find acceptance in the Tufts community. "Especially this year we wanted to promote togetherness on campus," Kalman said. Lemons said that a wave of religious persecution following the attacks was incongruent with the ideal of American unity. "An attack on one religion is an attack on the freedom of all religions," she said. Saying all religions can find common ground, Lemons noted it was easy for the members of the different religious communities to decide what food to serve at the dinner, and that they decided to advertise the meal as a celebration "without the relatives" - a fact that, she said, pointed to a similar understanding of what Thanksgiving is. "Despite our rich differences... there's still a general consensus as to what Thanksgiving is - at least, what foods to serve and who's supposed to be there," she said. Engler added that the fact that Thanksgiving doesn't evolve from any specific religion makes it a more universal holiday - religions can bring their own influences to it, she said. The groups involved consisted of members from the Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Catholic, and Unitarian faiths, along with members of the Chaplain's Office and the Comparative Religion Department. Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, the Director of Hillel, saw the event as a powerful tool to bring people of different faiths together. "It is one of the best ways to learn about one another, to celebrate together," Summit said. "The people I'm sitting with at my table are just wonderful people that I didn't know prior to this event." Sophomore Josh Pressman paused over a plate of green beans, mashed potatoes, and stuffing to reflect on the gathering of faiths. "I'm here because very rarely do I get the chance to spend time with people coming from a wide variety of faiths," Pressman said. "It's refreshing to be with people other than people of my own faith and people who have no religious persuasion whatsoever." At such an interfaith event, saying Grace before eating might have posed a problem, were it not for Alexis Gerber - the freshman organized the prayer by collecting statements from each of the groups. Representatives around the room stood up, one by one, to add to the prayer, each expressing what their group was thankful for. The Muslim Student Association, for example, thanked God for the opportunities that an education at Tufts provided, and expressed hope for future religious understanding. "May this gathering bring people from all races and faiths together, to unite and promote peace and happiness." "I think we need to do more than build tolerance, we need to build community," Gerber said. "Tolerating means that you simply accept someone's presence. Community implies mutual caring."

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News

Phi Beta Kappa unveils new Book Award

August 31

George W's father was recognized for his academic progress in college. He was even allowed to join the club. Sure, Phi Beta Kappa isn't a secret society, but it does serve to acknowledge and reward a similar ideal as the Skulls and the Golden Key Honor Society: academic excellence. Phi Beta Kappa has had a long-standing relationship with Tufts, offering membership to a select group of juniors and seniors. The group has recently instituted a Book Award, aimed at sophomores who have exhibited academic excellence. Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and considered the most prestigious national honor society in the US for liberal arts students. Founded in 1776 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, the society sought to promote the values of friendship, morality, and literature. Although the Revolutionary War temporarily disrupted the progress of the society, chapters at Yale and Harvard evolved into the honor society that now exists at 262 colleges and universities throughout the country. Simply having a chapter is an honor in itself for any university. According to Emese Soos, a lecturer in the romance language department and Tufts' President of Phi Beta Kappa, the requirements for entry into the organization are strict. "Each institution had to undergo a rigorous process of self-study and observation by a Phi Beta Kappa committee in order to obtain a charter for a chapter," Soos said. The present goals of Phi Beta Kappa are to return to a liberal arts focus in education. Douglas Foard, executive secretary of the society, laments the current emphasis on technological skills in education. "Students think they can take a one-year certificate course in computer networking and programming and start earning $50,000 a year," Foard said. "This creates a public perception that it doesn't pay to pursue studies in traditional academic disciplines," he added, calling the implications of this mindset "tremendous." William R. Shipman, a Middlebury graduate and Tufts' first librarian, and Frank Pierpont Graves, a Columbia graduate and renowned Tufts professor, founded the Tufts chapter in 1892, creating the fourth chapter in Massachusetts. The society was open to women from the start; it currently includes between 50 and 60 members. Eligibility for membership at Tufts differs from the Golden Key Honor Society in the respect that membership is only open to liberal arts undergraduates and there is no fixed GPA requirement. Six to seven percent of Tufts seniors receive membership, along with a handful of juniors. Membership is contingent upon a high GPA, recommendations from professors, and excellence in all distribution requirements, as well as proof of a broad and challenging course of study. In addition to the reward of membership for upperclassmen, the Tufts chapter of Phi Beta Kappa has recently established a Book Award geared towards sophomores based on their first year studies. While Book Awards exist at other chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, they are not staples of the honor society, says Soos. "I got the idea when I attended the Phi Beta Kappa triennial convention a couple of years ago," Soos said. During the ceremony, honorees receive books that are selected according to their first year course selections. The recipients of the award are Jonathan Cohen, Adam Cooper, Emily Craighead, Christopher Kottke, and Carmen Staaf. They were selected by the strength of their transcripts, regarded alongside the other 28 members of the class with the highest GPAs. Jonathan Cohen, for one, was excited to be selected. "It's an honor to be recognized out of such a large group," he said. Chris Kottke says he also felt honored. "I was really surprised when it came, and I'm glad to finally be recognized for my academic ability instead of for my stunning good looks," he joked. While the Book Award is meant to reward students for their excellence in academics, Soos believes it will help the honor society gain more visibility and support. "Besides singling out sophomores who embody the ideals of Phi Beta Kappa, the award is meant to give our organization a more active presence on campus and to create interest in ideals," Soos said. As it becomes more recognizable as a beacon of success and prestige, Soos hopes Phi Beta Kappa will become a greater motivator to students who need an extra push academically. Many inductees into the honor society at Tufts have gone on to achieve greater things. Cindy Manning, elected to Phi Beta Kappa as a junior, won a scholarship and entrance to Tufts' Medical School soon after her induction. Last year, newly elected member of the society Abdalla Simaika won a Fulbright scholarship to study abroad in Egypt. Famous members of Phi Beta Kappa have included Ralph Waldo Emerson, Michael Crichton, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Teddy Roosevelt. President Clinton was even a member of this society, which now boasts about 500,000 members. The society, whose name stands for the initials of the Greek motto Philosophia Biouy Kubernetes, or "love of wisdom, the guide of life," offers fellowships and scholarships to its members.

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