Archives

News

Perle speaks to students on merits of war against terrorism

August 31

The Taliban has still not fallen in Afghanistan, but according to defense expert Richard Perle, the US should start planning an attack on Iraq as the next step in the government's counter-terrorism efforts. Perle serves as the chairman of the US Department of Defense's Defense Policy Board and the Assistant Secretary of Defense for international security policy from 1981 to 1987. He told a crowd of students on Wednesday that the US should - and would - strike against Iraq soon, before an attack by Saddam Hussein necessitates retaliation. The US should have embarked on an operation in Afghanistan before Sept. 11, according to Perle. Prior to the terrorist attacks, he explained, the US never supported terrorist-harboring countries, but the government also did not retaliate against previous attacks. Perle, the father of Tufts senior Jonathan Perle, was speaking at a panel discussion titled "Countering International Terrorism: A Comprehensive Security Approach." He was joined by Dr. Andrew Hess, a professor of diplomacy at the Fletcher School and a Middle East historian. The panel was sponsored Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) and the Institute for Global Leadership. According to Perle, there are terrorist groups in 60 to 70 other countries centered around the Afghanistan-based Al Qaeda network. In destroying Al Qaeda bases and the Taliban, which allegedly protects them, Perle said that America will weaken the other groups as well. But weakening the groups is not enough. "America will now go after terrorists everywhere until all are gone, completely," Perle said. According to Hess, however, the decision to strike other countries is not a simple one. "Attacking just terrorists looks very good on paper," he said, but it may not be the best option for the US. He suggested cutting off the terrorists' resources as a more realistic and effective course of action. Perle said that the US only needs to go to war with some of the countries who harbor terrorist groups, not all of them. He explained that widespread attacks will set examples and make countries sympathetic to terrorists more inclined to change their official attitudes. But Hess warned that the US should consider the region's instability. He thinks the US should concentrate on curtailing the proliferation of anti-American sentiment and work to eliminate the resentment that has already taken root. To do that, Perle suggested cutting off funds to countries such as Egypt if their governments do not agree to stop anti-Western religious services. But the method would have little effectiveness in uncooperative nations like Iraq. Perle said that the US should go after Hussein because unlike other states sponsoring terrorism, Hussein has access to biological weapons of mass destruction, and within the next 2 or 3 years, he will acquire nuclear weapons. The US, he added, became particularly vulnerable when George W. Bush assumed the presidency. Hussein, with memories of Desert Storm, harbors particular dislike for the Bush family. He said the US should model an attack on Iraq on its operation in Afghanistan, by garnering local opposition to expedite victory. Susan Fink, a doctoral student at the Fletcher School, was "pleased that EPIIC took the initiative during this time." She said Perle's expertise as a strategist and a Hess's deep knowledge of the Middle East and its history were necessary points of view in any discussion about the US response.

---

News

Why are Israeli dreams the only ones that count?

August 31

Hearing that the US government is finally working towards creating a Palestinian homeland is almost surreal to me. Tears came to my eyes just at the hint of the possibility. I almost don't dare to believe that my dream and the dream of millions might finally come true. Palestine! It would be final justice after the suffering that the Palestinians have had to endure for over half a century now as the only people in the world whose land is still under an oppressive colonial occupation. Reading the letters and viewpoints in the Daily these past two weeks has really tempered my joy, however. A desire to not even hear the word "Palestine" was expressed and words like "disgust" were used to describe the thought of a Palestinian state. These articles expressed rage, disappointment, sadness, and fear at the thought of justice for the Palestinian people. I ask, why are your dreams the only ones that count Adrienne Yagenah, Andrew Leavitt, and Ariel Weissman? How saddening to read such unfair views in the Daily. I ask you, why was the Israeli dream for a state legitimate and the Palestinian one is not? If I remember correctly, the Jewish struggle for independence was far from peaceful. If anyone knows better how to achieve their goals, it's the Jewish people who fought long and hard to realize their fantasy of a Jewish state. Well now the Palestinians are fighting for theirs, and they are being called terrorists and being denounced for doing exactly the same thing! In fact they are being told that if they ever want to think about beginning to dream of their own state, they have to be peaceful and then MAYBE Israel might consider ending part of the illegal occupation of their lands. It's another way of saying, "You can have your state when you learn to live like good little natives under our oppressive occupation." The Jewish people would never have stood for this kind of humiliating, degrading scenario 53 years ago. They were fighters and because of this, they realized their dream. People say, "But the United Nations gave that land to the Jewish people 53 years ago and it was totally legitimate." Yes it was. But I turn to you and say that the UN, as well as International Law and the Geneva Conventions stipulate that the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem are Palestinian land and are not part of Israel. What is Israel still doing maintaining the only colonial occupation left in the world on that land? Totally hypocritical! Yes Andrew Leavitt, the occupation is not legal as you stated in your letter to the editor. People say, "But the Palestinians are using terrorism against the Israeli civilian population. How can we deal with terrorists?" Well, then I point to the Jewish groups like the Hagannah, Stern Gang and the Irgun who were responsible for murdering and terrorizing hundreds and thousands of British and Palestinian civilians to achieve their goals. These groups are hailed today as freedom fighters. Let them be called freedom fighters. Any people fighting for their independence and especially for their basic human rights should be called "freedom fighters." And no, I am not advocating attacks on innocent civilians in Israeli pizzerias or nightclubs. That's different. The vast majority of the Palestinian struggle is occurring in the occupied territories and that is legitimate freedom fighting. If the Israeli people want to end this long struggle and this current Intifada, realize that we Arabs don't deserve less than you. Stop giving us reasons to hate you. Stop bulldozing our homes in the West Bank before our crying eyes and building Jewish-only settlements and roads on them. Stop killing our innocent children with tanks, apache helicopters, and machine guns. Stop cutting off our water supply so that as one recent Palestinian speaker at Tufts remarked, it is a "luxury" to take a hot shower. Stop forcing us to wait hours at checkpoints where we are humiliated and degraded by Israeli soldiers. Stop preventing wailing ambulances from reaching hospitals and causing the deaths of our pregnant women inside them. I've heard people say that a neighboring Palestinian state means the end of the Jewish dream; that Israel will be a dangerous place if this happens. A Palestinian state does not mean the end of the Jewish dream of Israel. On the contrary, the lack of a Palestinian state represents the end of the Jewish dream. What is Israel today but a place that Jewish-American parents warn their kids not to visit because, "What if some crazy suicide bomber blows up another bus?" The dream of Israel, as far as I, an Arab, can comprehend it, is a place of sanctity and comfort; a safe haven for the tortured and abused Jewish people around the world where they can finally be free of suffering. What is it today? An anxiety-inducing, fearful place with an atrocious human rights record. A country condemned by almost every nation in the world for grossly violating numerous international laws, Geneva Conventions, and United Nations resolutions. In short, as one Jewish friend of mine called it, 'a terrorist state.' Did the Jewish people ever dream that one day they would be living in a terrorist state? All you people out there who love and support Israel, please continue to do so. But you don't have to do it by putting down the Arabs and dismissing the dreams of the Palestinians. You don't have to support Israel at the cost of supporting the Palestinians. I know so so many Jewish and Israeli people who love Israel and who are staunch crusaders in the fight for a Palestinian state. They say, "We will never have peace until there is justice for the Palestinian people." They say, "Being Jewish is about being just." America supporting the idea of a Palestinian state does not mean it is "switching sides," as Adrienne Yaganeh put it. One can support Israel and Palestine! For those of you who are fearful of Israel's security, let me remind you of a few things. Even if the Palestinians wanted to fight Israel after a Palestinian state is created, Israel is beyond able to defend itself. It is by far the most militarily-equipped, best-defended nation in the entire Middle East. In fact, it is the only country there that contains nuclear weapons. Israel is stronger, with the backing of its closest ally, the United States, than all 22 Arab countries combined. Don't you think that an occupied land full of oppressed and humiliated people right next door to Israel is what is a very dangerous threat to Israeli security? Dina Karam is a senior majoring in Sociology.

---

News

Carmichael open for late night finals studying

August 31

For students who live uphill or for those who want a break from Tisch Library, Carmichael dining hall will be available for late-night studying again during the finals period. Hoping to use the popularity of the late-night snacks and study space at Carmichael, Tufts Union Community (TCU) senators are working to create a 24-hour year-round study space on campus. The dining hall will give students a quiet place to study and snack from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. starting on Tuesday, Dec. 11. Senators are unsure how late into the week Carmichael will be available. Last year, use dwindled during the second half of finals. But senators, pointing to the popularity of Carmichael's late hours, say students need better studying accommodations and plan to lobby the administration to open a permanent 24-hour study space. Last year, Carmichael late-night study was packed, sometimes with more than 200 students in attendance. Although Senate Parliamentarian Andrew Potts said it would be unlikely to see 200 people "in a 24-hour study space on a random Wednesday... [it's] possible to have 50 to 75 people use the study room in the library. It would be nice to offer another space for [studying] for students." Recently elected sophomore Senator Shaunik Panse will meet with Dean of Students Bruce Reitman next week to lobby for the creation of a study space by the end of next semester. Panse said he has researched the added security and hopes to submit a proposal over winter break. "I think there's a very [large] demand for a 24-hour study space," he said. "I've heard from a number of students for it. By March or April or at the latest, the end of the academic year, we hope to have some sort of facility ready." Freshman Senator Adam Koeppel said that other schools, such as MIT, have similar study spaces available for students. "You can't study in your dorm - that's why kids go to the library," he said. Potts tried to convince Tufts to leave open a reading room in Tisch all night during his freshman year on the Senate. But Tisch officials said that funding concerns rendered the plan unfeasible. Tisch's costs "increase much more than their budget does every year, due to publishing fees," Potts said. The reading room in the library remains open 24 hours a day during finals, but Potts said that students need such a space throughout the year. "I just think it'd be nice to have a place to study all hours, everyday," he said. Eaton would be a good choice for a potential 24-hour study space, according to Potts, who said students could then take full advantage of the computer lab. "I'd love to see it happen somewhere around or in Eaton - a 24-hour computer lab [and] study space... would be spectacular." And unlike the library, students could potentially munch while they study in another space, as they can during Carmichael late-night study. Last year, the demand for food during the study period far outweighed the supply and Dining Services and Potts have planned for more snacks this time around. "I didn't think that that many people would show up, nor did Patti Lee Klos," the director of Dining Services, Potts said. "We didn't know there was going to be 200 people," he said. "This year, we have some doughnuts and pizza."

---

News

Small fire in Carmichael Hall gives residents early wake up

August 31

A fire in Carmichael Hall forced the evacuation of students early Sunday morning. The fire, started in a trashcan in the first floor lounge, was extinguished by Medford firefighters and caused little damage and no injuries. Carmichael proctor Timothy Hegan called Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) to report a fire in the main lounge just before 5:30 a.m. on Sunday. Seconds later, smoke detectors set off the fire alarm and automatically alerted the 911 center in Dowling Hall. Hegan saw a flaming plastic trashcan that was burning upside down on a table in the lounge. According to TUPD Sergeant William McCarthy, the proctor did not report seeing anyone in the area when he made the call. "We were woken up at 5:30 a.m.... while we were running outside there was smoke all over the Carmichael lounge," sophomore Tauheed Zaman said. The TUPD has no suspects, and the Tufts fire marshal will handle the investigation. The Medford Fire Department found a box of candles near the scene of the fire, according to McCarthy. "We have no idea who caused it," he said. "Someone had some candle lit and it ended up a trash barrel caught on fire." Although students were interviewed by police, no one came forward with any useful information. The fire was limited to the trashcan, but the smoke filled the lounge. No dorm rooms were damaged and no one was injured. Residents reported smelling smoke throughout the building. "There was lots of smoke, but the fire wasn't that bad," McCarthy said. "People were pissed, but there were no problems." Although some students said the fire department took a long time respond, McCarthy said that the response time was adequate. TUPD called the department after the alarm went off, and the station is located in Medford Square. "Sometimes when you're outside waiting it seems like a while," he said. "From our perspective it was very quick. Five minutes or so is very reasonable."

---

News

Mass. Tattoo Fest brings crowd, bands together

August 31

"People suck. Society sucks. Government sucks. This country sucks." Ah, punk music, the enduring spirit of nihilistic youth. One might wonder exactly how this type of music fares after the Sept. 11 attacks. This past Saturday, the Massachusetts Tattoo Fest's Back to School Jam answered this question with ten continuous hours of punk. At the Worcester Palladium, a slew of bands - mostly local - performed on both the small club-like upper stage, and the main stage in the basement. People moved freely between both shows throughout the afternoon and after about 5 p.m. the upper stage area was cleared out as better-known bands began playing downstairs. Dedication, Panic, Carry On, Over My Dead Body, Death Threat, Kill Your Idols, Hope Conspiracy, Figure Four, Most Precious Blood, Pug Uglies, Unseen, Stretch Arm Strong, Reach The Sky, and Converge gathered growing crowds, although the majority of the audience came for the touring trio of Tiger Army, Sick of it All, and Dropkick Murphys. The crowd was not all mohawks, spikes, and chains. The performing bands varied in style and in turn attracted diverse ages and looks. Anticipation marked the young faces of the audience, at least until the evening came and people grew weary waiting for the headliners to arrive. Despite some problems with the sound equipment, Sick of it All and Dropkick Murphys refueled the crowd with frenzied passion. For a mere $20, the audience got much more than they paid for. The overwhelming tone of all of the performers was one of sympathy and unity. Most bands started their sets with words of condolence - strangely ironic, considering most songs were packed with furious roars and pounding instruments. Unseen dedicated their entire set to those connected with the World Trade Center attacks. They commented, "That's f-ked-up... This song is called 'Are We Dead Yet?'" Dropkick Murphys dedicated individual songs to the New York Police and Fire Departments, but played "Pipebomb on Landsdowne," a pyrotechnical satire of Boston's club scene, anyway. Regardless of such contradictions, bands acknowledged the national tragedy in non-aggressive ways, through simple words or overbearing stage preaching. Some bands used their speeches to fuel energy with patriotism and unity. Reach The Sky best expressed the mood by noting that the concert brought together completely different groups of people on the sole basis of appreciating something as silly as punk music.The sense of unity could be seen in the relatively courteous mosh pit, where complete strangers would sometimes put their arms around each other and dance. (If a clean-cut high school student wearing a Weezer t-shirt and a skinhead arm in arm, dancing in time doesn't move you, what does?) Many band members seemed to dance and stage dive as much as the audience. (The award for best stage dancing goes to Tiger Army's Rob Peltier who rushed and danced with a stand-up bass across stage with the impressive agility of a piccolo player.) The fact that audience members could stand on the sides of the stage as the band played further evidenced a strong sense of unity. Bands even traded members for some numbers. Since there were no bouncers, the performers got as beat-up by stage divers as the audience. With the audience on the stage and the band in the crowd, equality between all music lovers reigned in the concert hall. Irony and equality gave the show even more power. Some of the money made on ticket sales and t-shirt sales will be donated to the Sept. 11 Firemen's Fund. Although many avid concertgoers may say that nothing has changed since the attacks, there was one striking difference: nothing the performers said or did received more cheers than their displaying of the American flag.

---

News

Pulitzer Prize winning show comes to Boston

August 31

Off-Broadway musical Sunday in the Park with George made its Boston debut on Sept. 14. Written by James Lapine, this offbeat show won the Pulitzer Prize in 1985, yet failed to make it to Boston...until now. Using 19th century painter George Seurat's brilliant masterwork A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte as a centerpiece, this show struggles to link Seurat's life, thoughts, and work into a somewhat less-than-brilliant musical comedy.Sunday in the Park with George runs in two acts. The first act centers on the life of George Seurat, played by Christopher Chew, in the late nineteenth century. He is a lonely artist striving for order in a disorderly world. Seurat's mistress Dot, played by Maryann Zschau, feels alienated from George because he is too caught up in his work, A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. After he cancels one too many of their plans to stay at home with his canvas and paint, Dot leaves him for the town baker. Unbeknownst to the lovers, Dot is pregnant with George's child. The act concludes when Dot and the Baker move to America to make a better life, leaving George in Paris with his painting. The second act, set one hundred years later, features Seurat's great grandson, also named George, struggling with his career as an artist. He follows in his great grandfather's tradition of being obsessed with his art and oblivious to reality, as he tries desperately to find funding for his work. However, his grandmother Marie, the illegitimate child of George Seurat and Dot, teaches him that family means more than anything else. Sunday in the Park with George throws its themes wildly at the audience. George Seurat wants desperately to have real connections with people, especially Dot, but he can only experience the world through painting. He is alienated from his love because he is too obsessive about his work. The community around George views him as the very strange artist who spends his days drawing people in the park. The end of act one wonderfully shows his view of the world by recreating A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte with the characters in the park. George is finally able to be a part of society, albeit in a non-conventional way. This theme carries over to the second act where Seurat's great grandson tries desperately to find funding for his work. Here, the connection is based less on a romantic relationship and focuses more on family. As his grandmother Marie says, "Family is all you really have." Musically, Sunday in the Park with George lacks passion and interesting lyrics. One song's verse states over and over, "Sunday in the park with George, Sunday in the park with George." The repetitious lyrics lack sophistication, but still there are notably well-written songs such as "Color and Light" and "Beautiful." In "Beautiful", George states, "Change is beautiful," and beauty is how one perceives the world. For George, this means order and harmony in color. Despite having a good idea for its main focus, this show lets down the audience with its trivial love triangle and overall lack of passion. Although entertaining, it still leaves the viewer wanting something more. Sunday in the Park with George is a good show to see if you want colored lights, music, and an easy-to-follow theme. For those wanting something more profound, you may be in the wrong theatre.Sunday in the Park with George will run at the Lyric Stage, 140 Clarendon St., thru October20. Call (617) 437-7172 for ticket information and showtimes.

---

---

News

New Associate Dean of Students, third in three years

August 31

Marisel Perez became Tufts' third associate dean of students in as many years this summer. The University chose Perez after a year-long search process that involved more than 70 applicants. Until June 2000, Reitman held the position himself, when Lisa Smith-McQueenie became the interim associate dean. The committee searched for "someone who is flexible in a day-to-day routine, because, in that position, you can be working on one type of emergency one day and a different type the next," said Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, who chaired the committee. The group also included representatives from the administration and Tufts University Police Department along with graduate and undergraduate students. The associate dean is responsible for working on diversity issues within the student and faculty populations, assisting in the judicial affairs process, and answering general questions from faculty, students, and parents concerning student life and services. Perez also works with Residential Life and sits on several campus committees. Perez said she has done "lots of learning" since she arrived at Tufts. She is chair of the search committee for a new director of Residential Life and coordinating a dialogue series with students and the Dean of Students Office. She is also developing a Bias Response Team and a Bias Education Team and working with Residential Life and the Group of Six - a collection of culture centers and the Women's Center. More than four weeks into the semester, Perez has already faced several challenges: on the second night of orientation, she was the one to respond to a hate incident in South Hall. Although she is still learning about the Tufts community, Perez has already identified ways to bridge her office with students. "One of my immediate goals is to get involved whenever possible with student leadership and student groups - to broaden the link between [the] Dean of Students [office] and the student community," she said. Perez also plans to work with Residential Life on training and programming modules and with the University's culture houses. The search committee required a candidate with a degree in higher education and significant experience working in student services. Perez received an undergraduate degree in psychology and biology from Suffolk University and a master's of education in counseling psychology from Boston University. She has worked in higher education for the past 20 years, most recently at Boston College as the associate director of African-American, Hispanic, Asian and Native American (AHANA) student programs.

---

News

How to lose a beer gut without giving up beer

August 31

To get rid of excess body fat, be it in the form of a 'beer gut', 'love handles,' or 'cottage-cheese thighs,' you've got to burn it off. And there simply is no good way to 'spot reduce.' Just like crunches on their own won't make your waistline any smaller, leg-lifts aren't going to get rid of cellulite. If you're serious about trimming up any part of your body and keeping it that way, you've got to burn more energy than what you take in as calories in food.Weight-loss doesn't always mean giving up your favorite foods or alcoholic beverages. Rather than decreasing your caloric intake through dieting, why not increase your caloric output by boosting your metabolism? Going on a diet may actually be counterproductive to long-term weight control because your body reacts to a decrease in caloric intake by slowing down your metabolic rate. Extra fat in your trouble spots will cling to your body even more stubbornly in the face of a slowed metabolism.The key to getting rid of excess fat without having to eat like a bird or to swear off beer is to become a lean, mean, fat-burning machine. Here's how:Pump ironStrengthening muscles by lifting weights is the number one way to boost metabolism. Muscles burn more calories than fat whether they're being used or not.A study at Tufts compared women on identical diets. The women who trained with weights lost 44 percent more fat than women who only dieted. Another Tufts study showed that after 12 weeks of weight training, resting metabolic rates increased by 15 percent. This means that if you increase muscle tone, you will burn more calories all day.Even avid fitness enthusiasts often make the critical mistake of focusing on aerobic activities such as running when their goal is fat loss. When stretched for time, many of us have to choose between aerobic exercise and lifting weights - what we often don't realize is that better results would be achieved if we didn't skip the weight lifting.To get the most bang for your buck from lifting weights, you should focus on legs, which represent 60 percent of total muscle mass. Don't be discouraged if the number on the scale doesn't automatically go down when you start a strength routine; you'll be losing fat and replacing it with lean, sleek muscles that weigh more.Women who lift weights will not bulk up like men. Many people, men and women alike, shy away from lifting weights, thinking they need to lose weight before they build muscle. But, unless you use steroids, you're not going to end up looking like one of those models you see in muscle magazines. And weight training is the best opportunity for revving your metabolism - the best way to keep trim long-term.Eat BreakfastAnother study at Tufts showed that kids who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight than kids who don't (the same may be true for adults). Although you may think you're saving your calories for later on, you're not. When you eat breakfast, it signals your metabolism to keep running. But when you don't eat breakfast, your metabolism drops, and the calories you eat later are now more difficult to burn.Take the StairsRather than take the time to exercise or overhaul your lifestyle, you can incorporate metabolism-chargers into your everyday routine. Something as simple as swearing off elevators or escalators can add up to significant calorie-burn over the course of a year. Some estimate that if all you did was take the stairs, instead of the escalator, you could lose up to 6 pounds in a year. Ride your bike to work or class. Walk to the T rather than taking the shuttle. Take a walk around the block when you need a quick study break. Keep Drinking BeerControlling stress is a surprisingly important factor in optimizing metabolism. When we're stressed out, over-worked, and under-slept, we will have hormonal imbalances that increase the production of cortisol - a powerful appetite stimulant that will cause us to overeat and store fat. There is a lot of evidence to support the notion that people should continue to do the things they enjoy and eat the foods they love (in moderation of course), without getting all stressed out about it. And you just might do your heart a favor and stave off a heart attack later on if you have one or two drinks now. In Germany, researchers have shown that beer drinking is associated with a decreased risk for heart disease. But according to Tufts researcher, Dr. Jose Ordovas, this is most likely due to the 'celebratory effect.' That is to say, because Germans tend to drink beer socially and have a good time, they experience health benefits from the reduced stress that accompanies such activities.Get Your Good FatsEssential fatty acids are fats considered essential to life because the body can't produce them on its own. These fats - sometimes referred to as omega 3s - are essential to producing many hormones, some of which work to maintain the body's metabolic rate. Most typical diets fall short of adequate essential fatty acids. A deficiency, in theory, is likely to increase cravings for high-fat foods while simultaneously slowing down your metabolism - a bad combination. Good sources of essential fatty acids include nuts, canola oil, and fish - especially cold water fish such as salmon. Go for salad dressings in a canola oil base to get your omega 3s and just enough fat to turn off hunger cues.

---

News

SLAM negotiation deadline pushed back for third time

August 31

The Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM)'s negotiations with OneSource have been extended for the third time after the custodial contractor refused to renew its three-year-old contract with Tufts' janitors, opting instead for another round of talks this week. OneSource officials, custodians, union representatives, and SLAM students met in Boston last Thursday - the original deadline for negotiations - without resolution, leaving Tufts' custodians without an agreement for the time being. The company had already extended the deadline by three months to discuss demands by SLAM and members of Service Employee International Union Chapter 254. The two asked the company that Tufts pays to clean the University to increase job security for its employees, put standards of labor in writing, increase wages, provide sick days and family health insurance, and offer full-time work to custodians. After last week's negotiations, OneSource officials told students and union representatives that they would meet with Tufts administrators and present their final offer on Thursday. Students and union representatives said the recent meeting gave them an idea of the new contractual provisions. Senior Iris Halpern, a SLAM organizer, said SLAM and the union made several concessions regarding the number of sick days and the wage increase. But she said the company did not offer family health insurance, sick days, or a "decent salary" in its proposal. "There has to be some give-and-take, but there are some things that are not acceptable," Halpern said. The custodians "know it will get worse without a contract, but they also are not going to accept a shoddy contract that will last the next thee years." Because no agreement was reached, custodians will be paid and work under the terms of the old contract this week. Technically, they do not have the safety net of a contract should they be subject to job-related injuries. John Roberto, the University's vice president of operations, said he was aware that OneSource and the union were negotiating. "There is communication that always takes place," he said. "We talk to OneSource quite frequently. I still believe the collective bargaining process needs to play itself out." Since the University is only observing the situation, Roberto said, the administration cannot distinguish how far apart the two sides' proposals stand. "We are monitoring the situation, and are aware of the discussions, but are not actively participating in the negotiations," Roberto said. "We're very much interested, but it is inappropriate for us to be involved in the specific day-to-day negotiations." Roberto added that he hopes negotiations will continue until both OneSource and the union reach a contract suitable for both sides. "I would hope that as long as both parties continue to advance proposals that can be taken seriously by the other party," he said. "I would hope that they would continue talking to each other." SLAM will continue to pressure the administration, particularly about job security and family health care, according to Halpern. SLAM members held a meeting last night to discuss new strategies before the Thursday deadline. "It's kind of an annoying game, but it's people lives, and it's sad that this is the way it's always handled," Halpern said. After seeing OneSource's offer last Thursday, Halpern said the workers' mood has become serious and solemn.

---

News

Assc. Dean of Academic Planning leaves Tufts for Brandeis

August 31

The task of restructuring the vice president's office that President Larry Bacow took on when he came to Tufts is about to become more complicated, as Associate Dean of Academic Planning Michaele Whelan announced that she will leave for Brandeis on Nov. 5. Whelan will once again work with Mel Bernstein, former vice president of arts, sciences, and engineering, who left Tufts over the summer to become provost at Brandeis. Whelan will assume the position of Associate Provost of Academic Affairs at Brandeis and will be working out of Bernstein's office. Though she also worked closely with Bernstein at Tufts, she said that her switch was not prompted by a desire to work with her former boss. "I've been really happy at Tufts and feel confident that I could have stayed," Whelan said of her five years at the University. "It's a time of change and opportunity... At Tufts I had a lot of flexibility and freedom, but the exciting thing about Brandeis is that I'll get to work between the schools." Whelan looked at other possible administrative positions over the summer, including an opening at Lesley College. She found Brandeis to be the "best fit" and said that she was excited about working with Bernstein again. "We had a very good working relationship," she said. The position Whelan will fill was created by Bernstein to complement an already existing associate position at the university. As a second associate provost, Whelan will add an arts and humanities dimension to an office that concentrated exclusively on issues related to the sciences. Whelan said that Bernstein added the position to help him achieve his "academic vision" for Brandeis, and that he hopes it will improve strategic planning and account for fiscal constraints on the university. "That office has evolved over time... it's natural when coming into a new position," she said. "Our president is doing the same thing here on a much larger scale."Since Bernstein's departure, administrators have been working in a team structure that Whelan described as "pretty complicated." Deans have been collaborating on projects and coordinating their agendas, and Whelan declined to elaborate on whether the changes were positive or negative. "It's always different when that person at the top is taken away... people really like and respect each other so it's exciting to work as a team," she said. "I think it's more confusing for students, though, when there's more than one person." Bacow is slated to announce permanent changes to the Tufts administration in the coming weeks. Whelan said this has nothing to do with the fact that she will be leaving just three weeks after learning of her appointment. "Mel is very eager to start thinking about his process," she said. "The sooner I'm on board for that, the better." At Brandeis, Whelan will find herself working for an institution different from Tufts in several respects. Tufts has seven schools all located on different campuses, while Brandeis has four schools located in the same area. But there are some similarities. Whelan described both schools as "innovative," saying that they are comprised of a faculty of administrators and scholars while also serving as top-notch research institutions.

---

News

Three games you gotta watch

August 31

Green Bay Packers (5-2) vs. Chicago Bears (6-1), Sunday @ 1 p.m. Neither of these teams care that the Tampa Bay Bucaneers were supposed to run away with the NFC Central. This is a game with serious divisional consequences, as the Bears could build a cozy, two-game cushion with a win. Both teams are a surprise, but on opposite sides of the ball. The Packers have always had a good offense, but their defense is fourth best in the NFL. The Bears were supposed to have a good defense, and they do, having allowed the second fewest points in the league, but their offense has been surprisingly efficient as well. This rivalry is as old as football, and now that both teams are talented, it will get heated like it did in the old days of Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke.Miami Dolphins (5-2) vs. Indianapolis Colts (4-3), Sunday @ 1 p.m. The Dolphins have a great defense and the division lead, but it seems that they always have a great defense and the division lead around this time of year. It might be time for the Dolphins to start their annual fold, but a good way to stave that off would be to knock off the Colts. Indianapolis had looked anemic for a few weeks, but two strong offensive showings in the team's past two victories have renewed playoff talk. Running back Edgerrin James may not be healthy for this game - he sprained his knee two weeks ago against the Kansas City Chiefs - but backup Dedrick Dodge has proved adequate enough to keep the offense rolling. Miami quarterback Jay Fiedler will need to have a big game against a suspect Colts defense if the 'phins can win.New Orleans Saints (4-3) vs. San Francisco 49ers (5-2), Sunday @ 4:15 p.m. The Niners are coming off a bye week. Oh, wait, they played the Detroit Lions last week. Either way, they should be rested and ready for the Saints. San Francisco developed one of the most prolific offenses in the game, and it's based around three players, but their names aren't Montana, Rice, and Craig. Quarterback Jeff Garcia, running back Garrison Hearst, and receiver Terrell Owens are the new kids in town, and they're doing a pretty good job of mimicking the old Niners. Teams know that Garcia is going to throw the ball to Owens, but they just can't stop it. The Saints are the only team to beat the St. Louis Rams this year, but they are still a young, inconsistent team. Quarterback Aaron Brooks has a good arsenal of weapons around him - Ricky Williams, Joe Horn, Willie Jackson, Cam Cleeland - but he still needs a few more games under his belt before becoming a top-flight quarterback. Assuming the Rams continue to play well and win the NFC West, these two teams will be fighting for wild card spots at the end of the season, making this game that much more important. - Jon Japha

---

News

DiBiaggio moves to Bendetson, not Boston

August 31

Until last May, John DiBiaggio sat at a massive wooden desk in an office with high ceilings, plush carpeting, and French doors that opened to his secretary and support staff. More than just a personal workspace, the president's Ballou office housed high-power meetings between senior administration officials. The move across the quad to Bendetson Hall changed more than DiBiaggio's address. He now works in a small room at a small desk. The walls are bare, the furniture will arrive "shortly," and DiBiaggio is still searching for a secretary. For now, he answers his own phone. DiBiaggio, Tufts' 11th president, announced last spring that he would continue working for the University College for Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) from a downtown Boston office. But because of a cost-cutting effort, he was placed in Bendetson Hall in the former Office of Equal Opportunity. Vice President of Finance and Treasurer Thomas McGurty is negotiating an early end to the lease for the downtown office DiBiaggio was to share with the Tufts University Development Coorpation (TUDC). "It was an area that we could realize some cost savings," McGurty said. DiBiaggio said he would have preferred to work downtown to avoid interfering with President Larry Bacow's new administration. During his nine-year presidency, DiBiaggio occasionally used the office he anticipated occupying this year. But since TUDC no longer uses the space, DiBiaggio would have been the sole occupant. The Boston office was originally leased ten years ago by then-outgoing president Jean Mayer so he could work with TUDC as University chancellor. Mayer's unexpected death left the office to DiBiaggio to use as a downtown outpost. The lease was originally set to expire in nine months, when DiBiaggio plans to leave Tufts. Rather than continue the lease for one year to use only one office, officials relocated DiBiaggio to Bendetson. DiBiaggio's official title is president emeritus, and he will continue to fundraise for the University in a limited capacity and to work with UCCPS, a project he spearheaded. Dean of the UCCPS Rob Hollister said he is pleased that DiBiaggio is working from the Medford campus. The former president will help the young program more strongly establish itself, he said. "We're delighted that he's close," Hollister said. "The kinds of things that he will be doing include continuing to contribute to fundraising and external ambassadorship, because he's highly regarded nationally on issues of education for active citizenship," he added. DiBiaggio will also travel to other universities to discuss the UCCPS model. "[They're] interested in learning more about what they see in what we're doing here, more innovative, more comprehensive approach to citizenship and public service," Hollister said. DiBiaggio's new office is not housed in the Lincoln-Filene Center, home to UCCPS, because his role still includes the Tufts Tomorrow capital campaign. The Bendetson office suits these responsibilities, especially meeting with potential donors. "President Bacow strongly felt that he wanted me to be in an attractive and desirable facility," DiBiaggio said. "If you're meeting with major donors or potential donors, you want to do it in a desirable location."

---

News

Golf places 6 of 11 at NESCAC's

August 31

The Jumbo's golf team finished in sixth place out of 11 spots this past weekend in the NESCAC championships at Williams College's Taconic Golf Course. Once again the Williams Ephs were runaway winners, and the victory was the Ephs' third NESCAC championship in the last three years. In their three-peat performance, the Ephs placed three players on the All-NESCAC First Team, landing the one, four, and five slots on the first team. While Tufts was only a middle-of-the-pack team in the NESCAC, the Jumbos did have a pair of outstanding individual performances. Sophomore Brad Hawes and junior Dan Kramer both scored All-NESCAC Second Team honors. The Jumbos were able to finish in sixth place despite missing one of their top three golfers - junior Elliot Barr - who is abroad this semester. For the tournament, Hawes (76,83) and Kramer (79,80) led the way on the two-day, par-71 course. Senior Eric Muhlanger shot 87,85 while juniors Arun Lamba and Brian Tarmey had an 84, 83 and 83, 91, respectively. Since four out of the top five scores count, Muhlanger's day-one 87 and Tarmey's 91 on day two were discarded. Based on the high scores, it was clear the team was not completely comfortable with the course. "The greens were really fast," Brad Hawes said. "Very tough." While the Jumbos were not thrilled with their overall performance, they were not heartbroken either. "It was good but could have been better," junior Dan Kramer said. Echoing Kramer's sentiments was Hawes. "We didn't play our best golf." Interestingly, after a solid first round of golf, the Jumbos' scores tended to increase in the second round. "We didn't step it up the second day" junior Arun Lamba said. Tarmey and Hawes suffered the biggest drop-offs from day one to day two. The pair scored 83 and 76, respectively, in the first round but increased their scores by eight and seven strokes, respectively, in the second. These jumps played a large role in the Jumbos' tumble from fifth place, and three strokes out of the third after round one, to their eventual sixth place finish. Nevertheless, the squad can take solace in the knowledge that with everybody playing to their potential, the team can improve its results in the upcoming tournaments. "We've got seven or eight guys who are capable of shooting 70's and low 80's in practice," Lamba said. "We want to bring our combined score under 320 for a single day." The team and its coach, Bob Sheldon, seemed to be in agreement about the squad's most glaring flaw. "Five guys need to step it up at the same time," Kramer said. "It's a question of getting five guys to play well at once." "We need to find out who the best five are, because we need some more depth," Sheldon said. "I'm looking to find a few more scorers in the 70's." The team must now look forward to its two remaining tournaments, the Western New England Tournament, to be held on Thursday, Oct. 11, and the New England Championships on Oct. 22-23. The New England tournament will feature 48 teams from Divisions I, II, and III and from public and private universities. It is considered one of the most elite collegiate golf tournaments in New England. "I'd be happy with a top 20 performance," Sheldon said. Tufts will also compete in a match play against Salem State on a date to be determined. During match play, one golfer is matched against the other and whoever gets a lower score on a particular hole wins that hole. Most tournaments are played in the stroke play format, where the team's total strokes are totaled.

---

News

Students lose Tufts affiliation, briefly

August 31

On Friday, all Tufts students were informed that their affiliation with the University was terminated and that their e-mail accounts would shortly be eliminated. A computer hardware glitch generated the erroneous e-mail, which gave students a November deadline to find an alternative e-mail service, and college to attend. The message was sent when a chip malfunctioned on the system that controls a large database of student, faculty, and staff names, removing all student names from the database. When a Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS) program conducted a scheduled search for the names of students who were eligible to have accounts, it did not come up with any names. The failed search prompted the program to send an e-mail to students informing them that their accounts would be closed. While TCCS officials were able to resolve the hardware problem, employees spent the rest of the day trying to solve the mass confusion caused by the e-mail. TCCS identified the problem early Friday, when it began to receive an abundance of phone calls from students insisting that that they were, in fact, still affiliated with the University. Some students called as early as 8 a.m."My parents are still paying tuition," said sophomore Rachel Narrow. "I don't think they'd be too happy if they found out I wasn't affiliated with the University." TCCS employees assigned a team of technicians to fix the problem, which necessitated replacing a piece of hardware. "When we do have a problem, we want to jump on it and fix it as soon as possible," said Kathleen Cummings, associate director of training and documentation for TCCS.To clarify the situation, TCCS sent an e-mail to University support staff including cultural centers, student services, and the TCCS helpdesk. The TCCS helpdesk set up an automated message explaining that students with e-mail accounts on Opal, Emerald, and Coral were sent false expiration notices, and that the warnings should be ignored. The e-mail had stated that students should call the helpdesk if they believed the message was erroneous. Later in the day, TCCS sent an e-mail to students explaining the problem, and all students in campus dorm rooms received automated phone messages saying that the e-mails were false and apologizing for the confusion. "When we've confused our largest customer base, we're pretty concerned," Cummings said. "The last thing we wanted to do was add to the confusion. Our strategy was really to bring clarity."If a termination e-mail had been legitimate, the TCCS e-mail told students they would receive an additional message. The hardware error was located in a failed chip in the motherboard that corrupted the database. Tufts uses an Academic Technology Account Management System (ATAMS) to update local account information, expire accounts, and create new ones when someone's enrollment or employment status changes. Tufts has been using an automatic database to determine eligibility for services and benefits since 1996, and officials say were no previous problems. "The fact that it ran flawlessly for so long is amazing," Cummings said. The system allows Tufts to integrate many of its business processes and create an online directory. Before the system was implemented, changes in a student or employee's University affiliation required significant amounts of paperwork. The automated system expedites the business process and also increases its security. Enrollment and employment status is sent to the database nightly through an automatic feed. This allows the University to keep a current list of which students and faculty are entitled to certain benefits because of their University affiliation. TCCS officials said they were sorry for the confusion caused by the hardware problem. "Its regrettable that what's really a small hardware problem, ended up causing such total confusion for the students," Cummings said. "That's really the last thing we wanted."

---

News

Today's freshman elections delayed

August 31

Citing contractual problems with its online voting company and miscommunication between its four members, the Elections Board (ELBO) announced late last night that today's online election of eight freshman senators and one member of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Judiciary will be shortened by 12 hours. The election will be administered by iBallot.Com from noon today until midnight. Voting was scheduled to begin at midnight last night and continue for 24 hours. According to a statement from the TCU Senate Executive Board, ELBO said yesterday that there was a "good possibility" that the election would be cancelled. But after negotiations between the Senate and ELBO last night, Senate President Eric Greenberg said senators believed that the election would be held today, but "by no means has it been confirmed." Shane Mason, the ELBO chairman, said yesterday he was "extremely confident" the elections would take place. Once ELBO sorts out paperwork with iBallot.Com this morning, he said, the company will send an e-mail to eligible voters with instructions for casting their virtual ballots. "I don't think there will be any problems," Mason said, "although there is always something that can go wrong." If something does go wrong, and ELBO's original predictions materialize, the Senate will be forced to postpone its annual retreat, scheduled for this weekend, until freshman senators are chosen. Greenberg said a postponed election would also push back the election of trustee representatives. Yesterday, Jon Gold, one of the freshman candidates for a Senate seat, criticized ELBO for failing to inform students about the status of the elections. "ELBO hasn't lifted a finger to tell the candidates what's going on, or that the election might be postponed," he wrote in an e-mail. "This lack of organization and communication has given me doubts about ELBO's ability to run elections." ELBO's lack of organization seemed at the root of the problems. At about 7 p.m. last night, ELBO Treasurer Valentino Caruso said he knew nothing about today's elections and was unable to contact other ELBO members. Miscommunication also prevented ELBO from placing its usual advertisement in The Tufts Daily, which typically includes a photo and 50-word statement from each candidate. Although ELBO said the ad did not run because of poor planning, Mason said ELBO is not required to advertise the candidates, and the information that would have appeared in print will be available online at the election website.

---

News

Morwick gets her team on track as indoor season begins

August 31

This Saturday's Huskie Carnival at Northeastern University will kick off the women's indoor track season, serving as a gauge for how the team will perform this year. A mix of returning runners and promising freshman, the squad hopes to culminate with a postseason run similar to last year's."The first meet is pretty low key," senior Heather Ballantyne said. "It's an opportunity to get out there and test out the track and the effect of our training. There's no pressure." At the end of the indoor season last year, the Jumbos finished third at the New England Div. III Championships, ranked 12th at the New England Championships, and placed an impressive 16th at NCAA Div. III National Championships, where they had five representatives compete. This season, even with the loss of key seniors, the coach and the team hope to repeat their performance at the New England Div. III Championships. Last year's captains, Leslie Crofton and Sarah Deeb, along with fellow senior Folake Aaron were important assets to the team and contributed in the long distance, middle distance, and hurdles categories respectively. At Nationals, Deeb flew to an unprecedented second place finish in the 400. Filling the shoes of these impressive athletes will be the main task for the Jumbos this indoor season."Leslie and Sarah were a huge part of the team, and they'll be hard to replace," senior co-captain Lauren Esposito said. "But if the right people step up we can fill their shoes. Some people will really have to step up, but we can definitely do it. In this early meet we're looking to get out there and see where we are." In the sprints, the team will look to co-captain junior Myriam Claudio and sophomores Emily Bersin and Jess Trombly. Trombly, also a soccer standout, was a part of the five-person dynamo that made the trip to Nationals last season. Esposito, an All-American in the Distance Medley Relay last season, fellow senior Colleen Burns, and junior Mary Nodine will be vital in the middle distances, while Ballantyne, freshman Rachel Brandenburg, sophomore Lauren Dunn, and junior Sarah Foss will round out the long distance field. Sophomore Shushanna Mignott, who placed third in New England in the triple jump last season, and senior Sarah Leistikow will be depended upon in the jumps category, while Trombly and sophomore Amy Spiker will be integral in the hurdles. The throwers are represented by a strong group of freshmen and sophomores. In addition to this depth, there are many freshmen that coach Kristen Morwick feels will be great assets to the team. Sika Henry looks to contribute in the sprints and jumps events, Katy Sheedy in the middle distance, and Ayako Sawanobori and Claudia Clarke will add their skills to the long sprints. "Losing those three All-American type runners was huge, we'll need other seniors to step up." Morwick said. "We have a real strong freshman class. Depending on how well they do, it'll tell the story of the season. It's putting some pressure on the younger folk, but they're up to it."Another advantage to this season is that Morwick is no longer a newcomer. In her second year at the helm, the coach is ready to take on a team that she has had more of a hand in molding. "I know the team better this year," Morwick said. "The new incoming people are people that I recruited and haven't had another coach at Tufts before me. Last year was definitely a transition year, but I feel like each year I'm here it'll only get better."In terms of competition, the Jumbos will look to keep Wheaton and Williams in their sight. The pair finished first and second respectively at last year's New England Div. III Championships. Rounding out the top six at the Div. III Championships were Middlebury, Wesleyan, and Colby, and these three teams will also be healthy competition for the track team. It's hard to tell so early on in the season who the real competition will be, which is why the early non-scoring meets will provide an important measure of where each team is at. As Ballantyne said, "At the early meets we'll see where the other teams are at. It's hard to tell right now." This weekend's Huskie Carnival at Northeastern will provide just such an opportunity for the Jumbos as they use the un-scored meet to determine how much their training, up until now, has paid off, and what needs work over the winter break. "These first few meets are pretty low key, they're warm-up meets. It'll be mostly sprints, hurdles, jumps, and throws." Morwick said. "They haven't done anything hard since May, so it'll be a good check to see where they're at. It'll be a good measuring stick for how hard they've worked over the fall."

---

News

Looking for a creative outlet?

August 31

Freshmen haven't yet been tapped by Tufts' plentiful crop of performance groups, but opportunities to sample each group abound, especially during orientation. Students interested in a cappella will find a number of outlets for their voices. A cappella groups are key players in the performing arts scene on campus, and each of Tufts' six groups manages to maintain a particular appeal. Three of the groups are coed: the Amalgamates, Shir Appeal, and sQ, while the University features two all-female groups and one all-male group.The Amalgamates, often referred to as the 'Mates, are the most celebrated of the coed groups. The group's latest album, Juice, was honored with awards for Best Mixed Collegiate Album, Best Mixed Collegiate Song ("I'm Your Baby Tonight"), and Best Mixed Collegiate Soloist (Becky Rubin). Founded in 1984, the 'Mates is one of Tufts' oldest a cappella organizations. Shir Appeal, Tufts' coed Jewish a cappella group, is a younger organization. The group was founded in 1995 and performs both traditional Jewish songs and songs by popular artists like Sting and the Indigo Girls. Last year the group became the first Jewish a cappella group to be featured on the prestigious Best of College A Cappella CD. Founded in 1994, sQ describes itself as "less intense" than other a cappella groups at Tufts. The group's less strenuous rehearsal and performance schedule allows students with less free time to take the stage. The Jackson Jills and Essence are Tufts' all-female a cappella groups, but that's where the similarities end. The Jills were created in 1963 and named after Jackson College, once Tufts' all-female undergraduate program. The group performs songs from an array of artists that range from N'SYNC to Susan Tedeschi. Essence is comprised mostly of African-American women. Dedicated to singing the music of the African Diaspora, the group is scheduled to release its second CD this year. The Beelzebubs, also founded in 1963, is Tufts' only all-male a cappella group. The group tours extensively and is known for both its rigorous rehearsal schedule and its ability to excite an audience. The Bubs' most recent album, Next, features songs from such varied artists as Destiny's Child, the Beastie Boys, and James Taylor. If a cappella isn't your style, the Tufts Chorale offers numerous performance opportunities. Its members include both undergraduates and faculty members. Last spring, the group performed Mahler's Symphony No. 2, also known as Mahler's "Resurrection" Symphony, in collaboration with the Tufts Symphony Orchestra and the choruses and orchestras of Brandeis University, Wellesley College, and MIT. Whether you've been dancing since preschool or are looking to put on your dancing shoes for the first time, Tufts has three major dance groups. The student-run Tufts Dance Collective (TDC) is open to dancers of all levels and experience. No audition is necessary to participate in the group's Fall semester performance. Each show features student choreography in a variety of styles ranging from tap and hip-hop to jazz and modern dance. More experienced dancers often audition for Sarabande, a group designed to allow dancers and choreographers to operate in a more professional atmosphere. Like TDC, Sarabande performs once a semester. Dance styles featured in the group's performances include modern, jazz, ballet, and character dance.The Spirit of Color Performing Arts Troupe strives to promote awareness of the various cultures at Tufts through dancing, singing, and acting. Founded in 1996, the group encourages students of all races and cultures to participate in its performances each semester. Theater-oriented students have a variety of performance groups from which to choose. Having recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, Pen, Paint and Pretzels is the oldest student organization. Serving as an umbrella organization for student drama organizations, 3Ps performs two major productions, an orientation show, a freshmen play, and several minor productions each year.Torn Ticket II is Tufts' only musical theater group. The student-run organization performs one major production each semester. Recent major productions include West Side Story and Jesus Christ Superstar. The Black Theatre Company, formed in 1989, provides students of color with an outlet to perform dramatic and musical works by black artists. In addition to plays, the group has recently incorporated dance and vocal performances. Past performances have included George Wolfe's The Colored Museum and an adaptation of Grease. Cheap Sox, Tufts' improvisational comedy troupe, performs regularly on campus. Its performances incorporate audience participation into a series of games and skits, resulting in unpredictable, often outrageous humor. Formed in 1998, Hype is Tufts' only mime troupe. Shows are comprised of short vignettes written by group members and set to music. The group performs at Cohen Auditorium each semester.Traveling Treasure Trunk allows students to couple their love of acting together with their passion for working with children. Co-sponsored by 3Ps and the Leonard Carmichael Society, the children's theater group performs a series of short plays at local schools, hospitals, and day care centers. This past spring, members of the group returned to their former elementary schools to perform during Spring Break.

---

News

Bush administration faces tough choices

August 31

Two weeks after the Bush administration declared war on terrorism, the fight is beginning to take shape. Troops, aircraft, and ships are being deployed to the Persian Gulf, southwest Asia, and former Soviet Republics while the state department is cobbling together an international anti-terrorism coalition. Meanwhile, saber rattling by the Bush administration continues and likely will for some time. The administration must produce at least one story every day demonstrating its progress so it can continue to influence the media, according to political science Professor Jeffrey Berry, an expert on the presidency. "Each day [Bush] tries to communicate some sense of progress." Berry said building a coalition will prove a critical aspect of the administration's progress. George Bush senior was noted for his coalition building in the Gulf War and his son is now trying to forge similar ties. "He deserves high marks in an absolute sense. Clearly there is an apparent sense of coalition building," Berry said. "To his credit he created a strong foreign policy team." That team, which includes Vice President Dick Cheney, National Security Advisor Condoleeza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, and Secretary of State Colin Powell, has scored several victories, including securing the support of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. Yesterday, Saudi Arabia cut ties with Afghanistan, leaving Pakistan as the only country that recognizes the Taliban. "Pakistan is going to be an important player in the region for a long time," political science Professor Malik Mufti said. Pakistan's help comes with a price - the administration has lifted economic sanctions on the country and has also promised debt relief. In addition, Pakistan as an ally is threatening to China. While China has a vested interest in rooting out terrorism and Islamic insurgency in its western provinces, which share a 47 mile border with Afghanistan, China also exercises heavy influence in Pakistan. In the days immediately following the attacks, Pakistani leaders consulted with Beijing before committing to help the US. "China does not want to see the US increasing its influence in south or central Asia," Fletcher professor Robert Pfaltzgraff Jr. said. An additional security concern, according to Pfaltzgraff, is the coming power vacuum in Afghanistan. US strikes there are imminent, and the Taliban government will likely be decapitated. The ensuing vacuum may be filled by the Northern Alliance, the group which claimed responsibility for explosions in Kabul immediately following the attacks in New York and Washington. The Taliban, which controls roughly two thirds of the country, rose to power during a political vacuum in 1996. Many scholars agree that greater regional stability will depend on domestic stability in Afghanistan. Government officials, however, have a weak understanding of the Afghan political structure and the complexity of the situation, according to Afghanistan expert and Fletcher Professor Andrew Hess. "There should be some kind of proposal for the politics of Afghanistan." Hess said that any lasting solution in Afghanistan will involve supporting a government chosen by the Afghan people. The US should make contact with Pashtu leaders in the south and others who reject the Taliban. They should explore the possibility of a Loya Jerga meeting, as well, he said. The Loya Jerga is the confederation of Afghan leaders that represent clans, tribal units, ethnic groups, in addition to the clerical leadership. It is traditionally assembled to advise on important decisions. "We ought not to follow the Russian model," Hess said. "We ought to make it very clear that it is the Afghans who are going to determine what Afghanistan is going to do," he said, referring to the Soviet support of a 1979 coup. Soviet troops did not leave Afghanistan until 1989, and the USSR and US stopped arming warring groups in 1991. Hess sees two potential approaches for Afghanistan aside from a Loya Jerga, after initial strikes are made and the Taliban is removed from power. Afghanistan's ambassador to the United Nations could return to his country and build a coalition government. Or former Afghan king Muhammad Zahir Shah could return. Shah's age and prestige might give him the legitimacy and support necessary to lead a government-building process, according to Hess. The India Abroad News Service reported last year that Zahir Shah was interested in rebuilding Afghanistan. From Rome, he asked the international community for support.

---

News

News reel without the news

August 31

A good question to ask anyone under 45: remember the '50s? Remember the black-and-white film reels, the cars with fins, and the cheesiest TV commercials sponsors could buy? Of course not, you weren't there. But these images have become part of the modern American mind, accurate or not, and they all come with a soundtrack: production music. The Music for TV Dinners collections bring these instrumental tracks from industry archives onto CD and into your nostalgic ear. What is production music? Not to be too circular about it, it's the music that played behind all those '50s cultural images, behind the kitchen-cleaner commercials, the driver's ed. videos, the newsreels before movies, even the movies themselves. Production music makes up its own industry, assembling "prefab" instrumental music that is inoffensive to the ear and evocative of the appropriate consumer-related mood. At least, it did make up its own industry when this kind of material was in demand from the '50s through the '70s. If your head is spinning trying to grasp what this sounds like, don't bother yourself - you've heard it already. You would recognize most of the tracks on the two CDs, and they'd all at least sound familiar. The most quasi-contemporary example of famous production music would be on The Ren and Stimpy Show (1991-1995). Ren and Stimpy often featured animated "advertisements" for nonsensical toys, and the soundtrack was invariably production music. The second track on Music for TV Dinners, Laurie Johnson's "Happy Go Lively," should immediately recall Ren and Stimpy to anyone familiar with the show. For something as inane, artificial, and cheery as production music, the songs are impressively effective at evoking specific moods. The Music for TV Dinners collections include little blurbs on each song - on "Trafficscape," for example, "A fast paced, noisy, and comical tune for avoiding road fatalities," - but you won't need them to understand the message of any given song. The rhythms, melodies, and instruments imitate their intended scene so well that the image of a crowded highway jumps to mind immediately, complete with good ol' Dad cruising his way home to his pipe, slippers, wife, and 2.3 children: he's hit some traffic on the way home, but he'll be there soon enough. Besides being well suited to their topics, these songs are irrationally catchy, though at the same time eminently forgettable. You'll bop your head along to every track, but not be able to hum the melody a minute after it ends. These two compilations of production music, Music for TV Dinners and Music for TV Dinners: The '60s, collect some of the genre's most explosive and well-worn tunes. Songs like "Holiday Playtime," "Bargains Galore," and "Shopping Spree" may not have familiar-sounding titles, but the music itself is irrepressibly familiar. The composers are equally unknown, though they're anything but anonymous: names like King Palmer, Jack Beaver, John Shakespeare, and Syd Dale sound more like porn stars than composers. Most people have no idea of the industry behind production music, and even fewer have ever heard one of the names behind the soundtrack. The second disc, Music for TV Dinners: The '60s, is somewhat less recognizable than its companion volume, but it's more distinctive to its era and therefore more consistent in tone. Like the other disc, each song is short, averaging just over two minutes per track, and it covers many different aural scenes. With everything from car chases to shopping trips, it's a great '60s psychedelic mood-setter - if you're looking to alienate whomever you're trying to set the mood with, that is. This is not what most people expect to hear coming out of your stereo. If it's so unexpected and disconcerting, why should you want to listen? If you're not sure about it, go online and listen to some samples. You'll know right away whether it's for you. For some, the very shock value of playing this music may be worth it. Other people appreciate the charm of production music. For all its artificiality, it qualifies as some of the catchiest and strangest easy listening you'll ever find. You don't listen to Music for TV Dinners to pay attention to the details. Put it on, do some work, and let the people down the hall wonder what you're up to.

---

News

Our safety jeopardized

August 31

How would you feel if a student sitting next to you in class drew a sexually explicit picture of your body, wrote an offensive caption, and displayed it in front of your class? Now imagine that this picture was then printed in a university-funded publication and distributed to the entire student body. How would you feel? Who would you turn to for help? Until the dismissal of the sexual harassment charges brought by Iris Halpern against The Primary Source, we thought we could turn to the administration for support. Unfortunately, its blatant disregard of the sexual harassment policy has left us nowhere to turn for help. In its Oct. 11 issue, instead of attacking her ideas and opinions, The Primary Source attacked Iris' body and reduced her to a sexual object. She not only felt violated but threatened by these images and confronted the publication by filing sexual harassment charges - a difficult and emotionally trying decision.Our intent is not to attack The Primary Source, since we recognize its right to free expression. Sexual harassment, however, is not legally protected expression. Tufts' sexual harassment policy exists to keep the students on this campus safe. Students, faculty members, and staff are required to uphold this policy and student publications must also be held accountable under this policy. We care about and protect our right to free speech, but we do not believe that we should be made to feel threatened and unsafe through the words and actions of fellow students. To the surprise of most students, the Committee on Student Life (CSL) is one of the most powerful groups on campus. The CSL speaks on behalf of the entire University. It has the power to make decisions regarding policy issues. To read its decision on the Iris Halpern vs. The Primary Source case, one would think that the case's principle concern had been free speech and censorship. The CSL neglected to address or even consider the true purpose of this case, sexual harassment. By doing so, it basically nullified the sexual harassment policy and removed the only avenue students have to deal with sexual harassment. As a result, it jeopardized the safety of all Tufts students.This decision reflects the administration's consistent failure to recognize violence against women on this campus. We, as women, don't feel safe on this campus. The purpose of the administration is not merely to provide an education; it is responsible for providing a safe environment for that education. Instead of upholding policy and acknowledging the hostile treatment of women, it has instead chosen to be a silent bystander, thereby condoning the actions of those who perpetrate such violence. While the administration's actions should make us feel safer, we instead continue to feel threatened by its intentional abandonment of women's issues. The student body has the power to dictate what atmosphere it wants to live in. This atmosphere should be one in which students are protected from being personally attacked in a sexual manner. We refuse to sit idly and allow the degradation and harassment of women to continue. We demand that sexual harassment be taken seriously by students and administrators alike.Melissa Callan is a junior majoring in political science. Caroline Davis is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major. Lauren Schulman, a sophomore majoring in history, contributed to this viewpoint. All three writers are members of the Tufts Feminine Alliance.

---