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Week 3 Outlook

August 31

St. Louis Rams (2-0) vs. Miami Dolphins (2-0) This is the classic offense vs. defense struggle, as the Rams boast the second best NFC offense behind the Green Bay Packers while the Dolphins have the AFC's fourth best defense. As happens in games like this, it could come down to the Dolphins' offense, led by quarterback Jay Fiedler, and the Rams' defense. However, all the fun is going to be had when the Rams have the ball. St. Louis, which is even more explosive at home, will use the arm of Kurt Warner to spread the ball to his receivers - Isaac Bruce, Tory Holt, and Az-Zahir Akim - as well as the legs of running back Marshall Faulk. What makes this game one to watch is that the Dolphins have the talent to chase all those Rams' weapons. Cornerbacks Patrick Surtain and Sam Madison are amongst the best in the league, while linebacker Zach Thomas and lineman Jason Taylor will lead their units in stopping the run. Both teams are heavy contenders for the Super Bowl, so this game may have a playoff-type feel despite being played in Week Three. Denver Broncos (2-0) vs. Baltimore Ravens (1-1) Yes, the Ravens lost to the Cincinnati Bengals, but they're still the defending champs and a very good defensive team. Baltimore will have to rely on a stifling defense led by middle linebacker Ray Lewis if it plans to shut down a Denver offense that has averaged 34.5 points per game this season. Baltimore is hurting on the offensive side of the ball, where new quarterback Elvis Grbac has been unable to make up for the loss of running back Jamaal Lewis. Defensively, though, this team is the best in the NFL. Remember, this unit held the Broncos to three points - its lowest total in seven years - in a 21-3 win in last year's playoffs. Of course, the Broncos played that game without quarterback Brian Griese, who right now possesses a 134.9 quarterback rating. Denver has lost wide receiver Ed McCaffrey, tailback Terrell Davis, and fullback Howard Griffith already this season, but is showing no signs of slowing down. Like the Rams and Dolphins, these two teams have a chance at reaching this year's Super Bowl, wherever and whenever it is.San Diego Chargers (2-0) vs. Cincinnati Bengals (2-0) This is a game you have to watch? You're damn right it is. In year's past, this matchup was about as exciting as C-SPAN, but now, one of these teams will be undefeated after three weeks. Each are led by a quarterback previously discarded from another team. Cincinnati's Jon Kitna was shooed out of Seattle, while San Diego's Doug Flutie was run out of Buffalo. The teams are similar in a few other regards, as well. Both have strong, opportunistic defenses, and each features a young running back destined to become among the league's best. The Bengals' Corey Dillon has 161 yards and a touchdown in the team's first two games, while San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson has 203 yards and a pair of rushing scores. It's possible that neither team the playoffs, but that doesn't mean you can't get excited about these two underdogs.

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News

Psychology building still nameless, donorless

August 31

Tufts' psychology department is housed in a red brick building without a name, and according to University officials, there are no plans to name the building in the near future. Though the Development Office has identified potential donors, the University has not yet found anyone eager to make the multi-million dollar contribution required to earn naming rights for the Boston Ave. building. The building, which opened this year, cost over $5 million to construct. According to Provost Sol Gittleman, the psychology building should have a name soon. The University is "progressing well" in discussions with people interested in making donations, said Vice President of Development Brian Lee. "We are in contact with a number of individuals who are interested in funding our efforts," he said. They are, "impressed with facility and what it's enabling the department to do." For a donor to have his or her name on the building, according to Lee, he or she typically has to offer half the cost of the building's construction after any federal grants. Though the exact amount was unavailable, the donation would have to be in the multi-million dollar range. If a donor does not want to pay to name the building, there are other ways to contribute, Lee said. Donors gifts could be recognized by naming rooms, halls, and labs among other facilities. "It's a target of opportunity," he said. "The psychology building, we hope, is certainly an attractive naming opportunity." The senior director of development for arts, sciences, and engineering, Gary Lowe, said Tufts would likely continue searching for a major donor well into the future. Though the building is still without a principle donor, the construction of the 28,000-square-foot structure has been paid for. A $1 million grant from the National Institute of Health, a private $250,000 donation, and funds from the Arts and Sciences budget paid for construction. There is some speculation, however, about where the major donation will originate. Typically, buildings are named after individuals or organizations that donate large sums of money to the University. Buildings can be named after professors or prominent figures on campus, including former presidents, if the Board of Trustees approves. Monetary donations and campus prominence are taken into account when a building is named. The lack of a name has not bothered Psychology students, who refer to it almost officially as "the new Psychology building." "Everyone knows it by that," said sophomore Tara Paulose, who plans to major in psychology. "No one really cares," added sophomore Leigh Checchio. Students said the building is fully functional and the lack of name has not impacted the department. Tufts is offering the name of the building to potential investors and there are "no worries" about whether a benefactor will be named soon, Lowe said. "It's a wonderful resource for Tufts faculty and is certainly something many donors will be interested in," he said. According to psychology Professor Lisa Shin, the new building is unifying the psychology department. Previously, the department was housed in both Paige and Bacon Halls. The new building, located at 490 Boston Ave., unites one of the most popular departments on campus for the first time in 15 years. It's a matter of time before a name is found, said Shin. "It's a nice environment, students tend to be happier," she said.Nicholas Ferre contributed to this report.

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News

The logistics of the 'Hello'

August 31

The man walks in a gait so suave, it humbles those who walk past him. He starts down the steps from the academic quad, the long and winding descent through the Tisch area, as he heads toward the campus center. Amidst his sense of poise, though, one can sense a sheepish, self-conscious look in his eyes, which does, of course, make his movement all the more appealing to those less knowing in the field of how to walk around campus. The man's game is solid, he has his act and he sticks with it. There is quite a bit to know in the world of walking around campus and greeting acquaintances, but this man has it down. He's got himself together. The man, let's call him Dave, is a "how's it going" guy. At one point, he was more of a "what's up" guy but he decided to lose that image. It was too... too harsh. He wants to be a little more caring and thoughtful than the "what's up" people. In fact, he almost went so far as to be among the people that just say "hey" and nod their heads and smile. Of course, with all of these gestures, the expectation is to tilt the head in an upward direction, raise the eyebrows slightly, and smile insincerely. That's a given, but the ones who just exclaim "hey" are either too mysterious or too laid back, and Dave is not looking for that image either. If you really want to know the truth about it, Dave, in high school, was the "what up" guy. Logically, he saw the world saying "what's up" as being too drawn out and verbose. He thought to himself, "Ya' know something. They'll know what I mean if I drop the contracted 's' at the end of 'what's' and instead say the ever so-much easier 'what.' Sure, I might sound like a moron, but I think Tufts will accept me anyway." His mistake is a common one, and that is why Dave is so much happier saying "how's it going." He is in college. Dave is a big boy. He knows that if he wants to succeed in this world, he is going to have do a little better than "what up." From the very first day of his freshman year, whenever Dave wanted to ask how someone was, and did not want an answer back, he was, and still is, determined to say, as proud as a peacock, "how's it going." Back to our little story. Dave is walking down those stairs, past all the creamsicle-orange and baby diarrhea-green colored posters, exerting a sense of cockiness as he goes. Dave is pleased. In the distance, coming up the pathway to the steps, is a figure he recognizes. The person he sees is familiar, but not that familiar, which is just fine with Dave. Dave has things to do, people to see, and is not interested in visiting with a friend. All he needs is his fix of worthless interaction. And this is what Dave gets. Dave stares intensely at the figure for a few yards, but as the person gets closer, Dave suddenly turns on his "approaching persona". He turns away, looking down at his feet, perhaps fiddling with a pencil, in his ever-present desire to look carefree. His walk changes to more drawn out, slower strides. This other person, Dave hardly knows. He doesn't know his name, his year, where he is from; all Dave does knows is that he knows this guy, somehow. Dave, that embodiment of confidence that we all know and love, is putting his money on the fact that the other guy knows Dave too, at least well enough for the exchange they both desire. They walk at their respective paces, closer and closer to the big moment. And finally, with much anticipation, Dave is ready. The other dude is also ready. The other guy speaks first. He looks at Dave, and simultaneously smiles, nods his head upwards, and raises his eyebrows. He says, "what's up." Mind you, he does not say, "What's up?" (with a question mark) because the other guy is clever and wise, knowing that while his sentence is a question, he is certainly not seeking an answer. He says, "What is up" but does not really care. And the exchange continues. It is now Dave's turn. As quick as the other guy's turn was, so comes Dave's gestures. "How's it going," with the smile, tilt, and eyebrows. And they are done. Both walk by each other without stopping. It's like EZPass instead of stopping and paying the toll. They are not interested in giving each other an answer. This exchange was plainly for outside reasons. And that's all. Dave continues his walk with a smile, in his very perfect world. Dave's world is one where everyone thinks they are friendly conscience citizens, though this altruism is limited to the three seconds it takes to walk by someone. And people walk by a lot of other people.Eitan Hersch is a freshman who has not yet declared a major.

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News

Today's New Releases - Nov. 13, 2001

August 31

Barenaked Ladies, All Their Greatest Hits, 1991-2001, RepriseBoyz II Men, Legacy: The Greatest Hits Collection, ChroniclesJohn Corbett and Davey Williams, Humdinger, Touch and GoCreed, Weathered, Wind-UpThe Cure, Greatest HitsDelerium, Odyssey - The Remix, NettwerkDJ Colette, Our Day, NettwerkGreen Day, International Superhits!, RepriseNathaniel Merriweather Presents, Lovage: Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By, Tommy BoyJon Secada, Xmas, EpicSting, ...All This Time, InterscopeThe Temptations, Awesome, MotownTimbaland and Magoo, Indecent Proposal, Virgin

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News

Arizona beats Yankees at last call

August 31

A dynasty was ended last night when the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the New York Yankees 3-2 in the seventh game of the World Series. The tables were turned, for a change, as Arizona gave New York a taste of its own medicine when it came from behind in the bottom of the ninth to take away both a victory and the championship title from the Yanks. The game may go down in history as one of the most thrilling and exciting ends to the World Series. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth and facing Yankee closer Mariano Rivera, who prior to the inning had the lowest postseason ERA of all-time, the D-Backs got men on first and second with one out, thanks in part to a throwing error by Rivera. The error would prove to be costly, as next batter Tony Womack tied the game with his clutch double to right, scoring Midre Cummings and sending Jay Bell to third. Then, after Craig Counsell was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Luis Gonzalez stepped up and deprived the Yankees of their fourth-straight championship with one swing of the bat. Gonzalez drove Bell home with a single to center field, and the champagne began flowing in the Arizona clubhouse. Maybe it was the desert air. Maybe it was the change of time zones. Maybe they were just scared by Randy Johnson's hair. Whatever it was, New York could not find a way to win in Arizona during this series, and the Diamondbacks won the first two and the last two games at Bank One Ballpark to bring their franchise a championship in only its fourth year of existence. Starter Randy Johnson, who won Games Two and Six, pitched part of the eight and the entire ninth inning to earn the save. He and Game Seven starter Curt Schilling, who won Game One and had a no-decision in Game Seven, were duly awarded the MVP award for the series - fitting, since the two were the main reason the D-Backs even made it this far. While the offensive fireworks were the big story in Game Seven, the contest was a pitching duel throughout the evening. Schilling and Roger Clemens matched scoreless inning for scoreless innings for six sets, providing a stark contrast to Saturday's Game Six, when the Diamondbacks pounded Yankee pitching for a 15-2 win. Arizona's first run last night didn't come until the sixth inning, which Steve Finley opened with a single, the host's fifth hit of the night. Danny Bautista then crushed a double to left-centerfield to drive home Finley, but Bautista was thrown out trying to stretch the hit into a triple on an amazing defensive play. The run was Bautista's sixth RBI in the last two World Series games. However, the Yankees broke through against Schilling for the first time the next inning and tied the score on three hits. New York opened the inning with back-to-back singles by Derek Jeter and Paul O'Neill. Jeter advanced to third on a fielder's choice by Bernie Williams, and then came Tino Martinez, who will be a free agent after this season and is likely playing his final game in a Yankee uniform. Martinez lined a single to right-center to drive in Jeter, and Williams stopped at second. The Yankees took the lead in the top of the eighth on a lead-off home run by Alfonso Soriano. They knocked Schilling out of the game three batters later, and the Arizona ace finished the game with 103 pitches, nine strikeouts, and having allowed six hits. Clemens, meanwhile, allowed seven hits over his 6 and 1/3 innings and struck out ten. He was one of several Yankees to display shoddy defense in the loss, as he dropped a toss at first base when he tripped over the bag early in the game and later swung so hard that he stumbled across home plate. New York made three errors in the game - not counting Rivera's final pitch to Gonzalez - and seven in the series. In the last three World Series the Yankees have played, they committed a combined total of just five errors. But what was really uncharacteristic of the Yankees was the silence of the offense during this series. The three games the Yankees won were all by one-run, and New York held a lead for only eight of the 67 total innings played in the World Series. Arizona outscored the Yankees 37 to 13 to give manager Bob Brenly a title in his first year as manager.

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News

Aging popster sings like a guitar hummin'

August 31

To be honest, I never gave too much thought to Neil Diamond. I always found most of his contemporary rock songs a tad over-dramatic. But it's hard to ignore the fact that the guy has been and remains a major concert draw. Regardless of the changing musical landscape, Diamond's tours usually rank among the top money makers of their given years - not that I care about, or give credence to, box office grosses, I mean, New Kids On The Block were the top draw of 1990. Nevertheless, many people genuinely love Diamond; he has an intensely, devoted flock of fans, labeled DiamondHeads. And he did pen one of the coolest party songs of all time in "Sweet Caroline" (if you don't think that it's a party song, then you have never experienced what the song does when sing-a-long/jester Jim Plunkett uncorks it at the Purple Shamrock in Boston). So I decided to give Mr. Diamond both ears and caught his live act at the completely sold-out FleetCenter on Wednesday night. Perhaps I'm getting less cynical, but I found his Vegas shtick, flashy shirts, and brass/string laced material... well... fun! Yes, it was a whole lot of fun. I mean I did get a kick out of eyeing the 50-something ladies, who had near climactic bellows when Diamond crooned a high note. Also, the larger than expected male portion of the audience really seemed to admire his charisma. Diamond is the consummate showman, and the show had enough glitz and chutzpah to make even ol' Wayne Newton proud. And... come on! It is damn near impossible these days not to get emotional over a song with such blatant patriotism as "Coming To America," Diamond's opener. Even several tunes that I never cared much for (e.g. "Love On The Rocks," "Cracklin' Rose") came off amazingly colorful live. And the introspective side of Diamond that everyone blabs about really was kind of endearing on "Solitary Man" and "I Am." One also tends to forget that Diamond also wrote some of the better "loss of chastity songs" (did I just create a new category for VH1's The List?) in "Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon," which was given a new life after Pulp Fiction, and the lesser known "Desiree." Neither song is subtle or lyrically wise, though Diamond's silky live delivery of "Girl" made it almost quixotic. It's a shame that the rousing "Desiree" went mysteriously un-played. Though most of the show was purely pleasurable, Diamond did hit a couple of snags along the way. He unearthed the maudlin duet he once performed with irksome Barbara Streisand a few decades ago, "You Don't Bring Me Flowers," with one of his back-up singers. Not his most shining moment - we sure didn't need a reminder of such lovely '70s schlock-rock (though, to be fair, his back-up singer did hit Streisand's high notes with amazing ease). Diamond quickly redeemed himself with the catchy "Forever In Blue Jeans" which The Gap is presently using with much success in its commercials. Only Diamond could get away with belting out lyrics like: "Money talks. But it don't sing and dance and it can't walk." Save for a rousing "Sweet Caroline" it was the best received song of the night. Diamond also offered a handful of songs from his new Three Chord Opera. They were interesting and well-received by the audience, but the tunes lacked the hooks of his historical catalogue. At 60, Diamond has really become the elder statesman of "adult pop." He has indeed proven that his catalogue can withstand generations (his "I'm a Believer," a hit in 1967, resurfaced last summer, and was a hit for alt-pop group Smash Mouth) - but after 40 years in the music biz, he really doesn't need to prove a thing.

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News

Student group to protest treatment of janitors

August 31

The Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM), a student group formed over the summer, plans to protest the University's treatment of janitorial staff at today's matriculation ceremony on the academic quad. While promising not to disrupt matriculation activities, the group hopes to promote the message that Tufts' 1994 decision to outsource custodians allows administrators to ignore their complaints. Group leaders say that the University permits OneSource, the company which provides Tufts' cleaning services, to practice unfair employment polices in its treatment of over 170 janitors. They assert that current wages do not meet Boston's cost of living and that full-time jobs, which provide better health benefits, are scarce. President-elect Larry Bacow said he plans to work with the group to reach an acceptable resolution. Senior Iris Halpern, one of the organizers of today's event, met with Bacow on Aug. 17 to discuss future action. Though both say the discussion was frank and honest, Halpern says the meeting did not meet her expectations. "I don't think it was promising," Halpern said. "I didn't walk out feeling like they were going to start seriously changing things." Bacow, however, said the hour-long meeting went well. "I think it was a good conversation," he said. "It's terrific that our students are engaged, that they are interested in making the world a better place." During the meeting, the two discussed the history of labor relations at Tufts, the financial constraints under which the University operates, and how to be fair to those on both sides of the debate. Halpern said that Bacow, who studied economics, too often focused on the economics of the situation, ignoring the social effects of Tufts' decisions. "I think he's a politician," she said. "We're a university, not a corporation." Though Halpern said she was unconvinced that Bacow would in fact look further into the issue, the president-elect said he would work with SLAM to address its concerns. "I have a lot to learn," he said. The initial meeting, he said, "won't be the last." According to Halpern, the outsourcing has enabled Tufts to ignore custodians' complaints over what she called inadequate wages. She said that salaries, which range from $8 to $10.50 an hour, are competitive with the national average, but pointed to Boston's high cost of living as a reason to increase wages. SLAM is working with the AFL-CIO's Service Employee International Union (SEIU) local chapters to organize various protests and activities around campus. In addition to the Sept. 4 "learn-in," a rally and march are scheduled for Sept. 12. SEIU employees from Local 285 and 254, OneSource employees, and Tufts students and faculty members are expected to participate. Rocio Saenz, a SEIU 254 deputy trustee, said that the union is negotiating with OneSource. Its chief complaints are the low wages OneSource pays and the scarce availability of full-time jobs. "Many of our workers must work two or three jobs to make ends meet," Saenz said. Universities often outsource non-academic services, such as dining and janitorial, to cut costs. OneSource privately negotiates the wages of its workers. At today's event, group members will distribute information packets promoting an upcoming "learn-in," and post banners throughout the day. "This is an opportunity to tell the school that we're dead serious, because we haven't gotten very much positive feedback," Halpern said. "We're serious but we don't want to be disruptive." Director of Public Safety John King said he was aware of the Sept. 4 learn-in, but had no knowledge of any other scheduled SLAM events. King said he expects no violence at today's demonstration.

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News

Brown and Brew opens patio

August 31

Since Brown and Brew unveiled its new patio at the beginning of this semester, students have been sitting in the sun, enjoying their chai tea and sushi. But the addition of the patio has raised questions among the Tufts community regarding the priorities of university spending. While many students and faculty members appreciate the new flower beds and improved walkways around campus, others believe that Tufts has a growing need to reprioritize its budget toward more pressing problems. Physics Professor Gary Goldstein advocates an examination of budget priorities at Tufts. Goldstein initially acknowledged that the patio certainly has aesthetic appeal. "It certainly is attractive, enhances the pleasure of being at Brown and Brew and looks good to participants on campus tours," Goldstein said. However, Goldstein argued that Tufts did not desperately need this patio to continue university operations. "It is rumored to have cost in the vicinity of $50,000," he said. "[The creation of the patio] was not a necessity by any stretch of the imagination," Goldstein said. "Then there are the new curbstones and pathways that were installed on the hill, whose cost must be of the same order of magnitude and whose need is purely for appearance." Similar controversy arose in the spring of 1998 when the Tufts Community Union Senate proposed spending $100,000 of the Student Activities Fund surplus on the patio outside of Hotung Caf?©. The reason for the creation of the patio was the enhancement and cosmetic appeal of the area behind Mayer Campus Center and to provide a new venue for programming events. Student backlash occurred because the funding for the project would come from the activity fund, which meant that every student was essentially paying for the improvement, whether or not they supported the idea. Because the money for the Brown and Brew patio came from outside the student activity fund, students may not feel as strongly about the addition. Goldstein suggested that the Tufts administration focus its attention on more urgent needs for improvement on campus, such as the current plight of its janitors. Due to loss of jobs, benefits, and a dramatic wage cut, the workers are struggling to create better working conditions for themselves through raising awareness among students and faculty. Junior Josh Grim agrees that the university may need to refocus their budget spending. "[Tufts] is making a lot of aesthetic improvements with the same money that could be used toward the janitors," he said. "The aesthetic improvements could be made in the future - they're not pressing."Freshmen Chrissy Lo, Crystal Chung, and Angela Chai sat at one of the tables on the patio as they discussed the merits and problems of the addition. While the three agreed that Tufts should ensure better working conditions for its janitors, they enjoy being able to sit outside."I'm sure that this increases the number of customers that come to Brown and Brew," Chai said. "But doesn't our school have a lot of money? Instead of spending $60,000 on an elephant head, they could pay their janitors more.""The bottom line is, we need to pay our janitors," Chung said. On the other hand, Chung pointed out, you have to take into consideration that the patio will need little money for maintenance and will last a long time. The janitors hope to acquire higher wages, family health insurance, full-time work opportunities, pensions, and job security - efforts that should, Goldstein said, take precedence over cosmetic campus improvements. Goldstein pointed out that the funding needed to fully address these concerns would be approximately $400,000, an amount easily covered by putting several cosmetic building projects on the back burner. "It seems obvious to me that the well-being of [the families of the custodians] and the livelihood of a hundred workers, whose efforts are a necessity for maintaining our buildings and environment, are higher priorities than the Brown and Brew patio," Goldstein said.

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News

Give it back

August 31

Let me begin by saying that I like cheerleaders. Cheerleaders represent teamwork, sportsmanship, and pep. They rally crowds to their feet to fire up the home team. They dance around in next-to-nothing in freezing weather just to entertain. They risk injury by participating in pyramids, basket-tosses, and other acrobatic feats. Most of all, I like cheerleaders because, like me, they're full of cheer. However, at homecoming, I was much dismayed by the behavior of a particular Tufts' cheerleader. Here's the story, you decide: My friends and I were enjoying the crisp air, the free-spiritedness, and the nostalgia that comes with attending our last homecoming football game as Tufts undergraduates. We were in the stands, having a jovial time, as we always do. One of my friends handed me a pompom that he had brought from home. The pompom was baby blue - Tufts spirit no doubt. So I was waving the pompom and being cheery. I left the bleachers and went down to the field to celebrate my friend Dan's coronation as Homecoming King. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a glowering Tufts' cheerleader marching towards me with a dutiful TUPD officer at her side. As a law-abiding citizen, I have a good rapport with police officers, so I smiled at the duo, cheerfully. I did not expect them to march up to me. The cheerleader pointed to my pompom and declared, "That's stolen property." An expression of bewilderment came over my face as I looked at the pompom in my hand. I explained that the pompom was not stolen, but rather, the property of my friend. But the cheerleader was relentless. My two friends standing near me looked on with concern. The Tufts police officer stood silently with his hand in his pocket and a sheepish look on his face. Yes, he was supposed to be backing the cheerleader, ensuring the well being of the pompom, but I have to say that he looked reluctant to demand the pompom. Attempting to be diplomatic, I asked if I could clarify the origin of the alleged contraband with my friend. The cheerleader refused my request. Instead she growled, "Just give me the pompom." And who can argue with a bright red, hands-on-her-hips, growling cheerleader? So, I, afraid that she might spontaneously combust if I refused, handed it over. She took it with a sarcastic smile and stomped away. Let's reflect. In front of the entire homecoming crowd, accompanied by a police officer, the cheertator accused me of stealing, took my pompom, and didn't even say thank you. I returned to my seat in the stands and explained the story to my friends who held the lone pompom. Before long, the same cheerleader accompanied by the same police officer, jumped the chain link fence, stomped into our section, and snatched the other pompom from my friend. We were rendered pompomless. And the cheerleaders didn't even use the pompoms during the game. There are several points to be made here. Firstly, the pompom was not "stolen," as she insisted. Rather, it was left by former cheerleader Robyn Herzog in the off-campus apartment where my friends now reside. According to legal advisors, any article knowingly left at a location and not retrieved or claimed is considered "abandoned." According to this statute, the pompoms were the LEGAL property of my friends. Secondly, by falsely accusing my friends or me of stealing the pompom, the cheerleader committed an act of unnecessary slander. But, I'll give her the benefit of the doubt and just chock it up to bad manners. Thirdly, could she not have waited until the end of the game and politely explained the situation? I sympathize with organizations that have limited funding and I might have agreed to donate the pompom to the cause. After all, I have a friend on the squad and didn't I say that I like cheerleaders? Yes, I do. So the point? I want the pompoms back. That cheerleader stole the pompom from me. It was no longer Tufts Cheerleaders' property, but that of my friends. We were robbed of our pompoms. We were just trying to have a good time at our last homecoming and we were just trying to show some Jumbo pride. Sheesh.Jennifer Marsidi is a senior majoring in English.

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News

Seven admissions officers leave Tufts

August 31

As members of the class of 2005 adjust to life on the Hill, many of the people who admitted them no longer work at the University. In an unusually high annual turnover, seven of Tufts' 12 undergraduate admissions counselors have left over the past nine months. While all but one of the openings have been filled, the exodus calls into question the office's ability to cope with Tufts' ever-expanding pool of applicants. One former admissions officer, who spoke to the Daily on the condition of anonymity, said that many staff members were frustrated that Tufts' admissions office had not altered its administrative organization to accommodate the 60 percent increase in applications since 1995. Saying that the new hires would fill the gaps left by their predecessors, Dean of Admissions David Cuttino maintained he is confident that the turnover will not affect this year's admissions process. "We have a wonderful group of new people," Cuttino said. "They'll be getting acquainted with what we're doing here, the students and faculty, and alumni around the country," he added. "They bring a range of experience and perspectives that will be helpful to us." But former Tufts admissions officers and their counterparts at other schools say that a turnover of that size negatively affects the decision-making process. "If you lost a lot of people in one year, you would be behind the eight-ball for sure," said Richard Nesbitt, director of admissions at Williams College. "When you hire new people, there's a tremendous amount of training that has to go on, particularly if you lose a lot of senior people who have a lot of expertise in one area." While Tufts has employed new technology and hired more staff members to help read the 14,000 applications that Tufts receives annually, "the office didn't adapt well to some of the new realities of Tufts' selectivity," said the former officer. "There was a lot of frustration." Admissions has used a similar process for the past six years, during which time annual applications have increased by over 5,000. Cuttino said that the seven departures make this year unusual. Last year, the office experienced no turnover at all. Admissions officers at Tufts and its benchmark universities typically leave after four years, according to Nesbitt, the Williams' admissions director. "We generally expect one, two, maybe three people to leave each year," he said. The turnover is especially high for recent college graduates, who regard the position as temporary employment. While often enthusiastic about their new positions, Nesbitt said young admissions staff lack the necessary experience and connections of their predecessors. "There's a lot of experience lost in working with current students and schools, and you don't replace it over night," said the former Tufts employee. "Experience is great, and it's helpful. Enthusiasm is nice also, but I do think you lose some history." Cuttino, however, said the new hires are equipped to handle the responsibility. "We're looking at people who can be effective, will be good planners, and flexible enough to handle this kind of a schedule," he said. Admissions officers are required to travel - often cross-country - during the fall, spend long hours reading applications during the winter, and speak to thousands of prospective students and parents during the spring. Despite the intense workload, the position is sought after as a training ground for graduate schools and a jumpstart to other career paths. "Our admissions office has an outstanding reputation in the larger academic community," said Executive Director of Human Resources Larry Hunt. "Through the years, the people who get experience there work very hard, but they also are very marketable. Because they come from Tufts they are high quality applicants." Of the admissions officers who left, two were hired by other college admissions offices and two became college counselors at private high schools. According to University officials, the admissions office has not experienced difficulty finding replacements for the vacant spots. "[The positions] have really filled pretty quickly when there have been openings," Hunt said. "Generally," he said, "there is a lot of interest in student affairs-related positions at Tufts."

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News

Jumbos end impressive season, Kelley reaches rushing record

August 31

With a 20-6 win over the Middlebury Panthers on Saturday, Tufts clinched third place in the NESCAC with a 6-2 record, the first winning season since 1998, when the Jumbos went 7-1. Junior running back Keven Kelley also set the school record for most rushing yards in a season with 1079, eclipsing Paul Dressen's record of 1070, set in 1988. "Setting the record is a testament to the offensive line and everyone that blocked for me," Kelley said after the game. "And also to the coaches for giving me the ball." Kelley rushed for 136 yards on 35 carries in the contest, but it was his third quarter touchdown that shifted the momentum of the game and helped give Tufts its sixth win of the year. Six minutes into the third quarter, with Tufts up 3-0, Middlebury was driving deep in Tufts territory. On first and ten from the Jumbo 17-yard line, Panthers senior quarterback Scott Roberts threw a pass to a receiver in the flat, but sophomore defensive end Reid Palmer got there first, intercepting Roberts toss and returning the ball 71 yards to the Middlebury 16. Kelley scored on the ensuing play to give Tufts a 10-0 lead and more breathing room. "That play, and the goal line stand in the first half, got our momentum up," sophomore defensive lineman Caleb Hudak said. "We just went from there." The end of the second quarter resembled the beginning of the third, as again Middlebury had the ball in scoring position, only to turn it over to Tufts. With less than three minutes to play in the first half, the Panthers had a first and goal from the one-yard line. On the first play, Tufts' junior linebacker Brian Burbank tackled Middlebury's junior running back Bill Lazzaro for a four-yard loss. On the next play, Roberts' pass fell incomplete, and on third down, when Roberts dropped back to pass, he was met by an onslaught of Tufts defenders. Burbank was credited with the sack, but on his way down, Roberts fumbled the ball, and Tufts' senior linebacker Gregg Barton recovered the loose ball. Those two defensive stands were typical of a unit that held the Panthers well below their season averages. Lazzaro came into the game averaging 93.7 yards rushing per contest, and the Jumbos held him to 64. In fact, the Panthers were averaging 121.3 rushing yards a game, but could only muster 78 on Saturday. "We just went out and played hard," Hudak said of the defensive performance. "We have a great group of seniors, and we wanted to send them out with a win." Tufts' seniors did receive a proper send off. When freshman cornerback Donovan Brown returned a punt 89 yards for a touchdown with 11:10 left in the fourth quarter it gave Tufts a 17-point cushion, which allowed coach Bill Samko to get all of his seniors into the game. The Jumbos defeated Middlebury with freshman Jay Casey - the third string quarterback - getting the start. Tufts was also without starting center, sophomore Justin Kelley, and junior Sean Casey started in his place. With 2:54 left in the contest, senior kicker Howie Rock tacked another field goal onto the score to make it 20-0. Rock finished his career a perfect 2-2 in field goals on the day and 2-2 in PAT's. He leaves the program as one of the most prolific punters in the school's history. While this senior class will primarily be remembered for the few starters - linebacker Scott Mittenthal, defensive tackle Everrett Dickerson (graduate student), Rock, and offensive linemen Jim Higgins and Mike Willey - it was the leadership of the entire group that will be missed. "It's going to be hard to replace their leadership," Hudak said. "It wasn't just from a few of the seniors. There were a lot of guys who did a lot for this team."The senior class includes the five starters, plus Barton, safety Phil Struzziero, cornerback Chris Mellon, linebackers Tim Robinson and Jeff Ryan, fullback Steve Lapham, and safety Shane Waldron. And despite the leadership this unit provided, Samko will once again field a strong team next year. "The whole secondary is returning and so are all the skill position players," Brown said. "If we work hard, we can have a great year next year." Any success the team has next season will be based on the foundation the team laid this year. While Tufts finished third in the NESCAC, there is the sense that it is not a great distance between the Jumbos and the top two teams - Amherst and Williams. In each of Tufts' two losses, both to Amherst and Williams, the Jumbos played well enough to give themselves chances to win, only to beat themselves with fourth quarter mistakes. "We were a great team this year," Hudak said. "And the two teams that beat us know that."

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Mets improving but are still a long shot

August 31

When the New York Mets' Matt Lawton smacked a two run double to give his team a 9-7 victory over the Florida Marlins on Saturday night, he did more than just win the game. The victory brought the Mets up to one game under five hundred for the first time since April 12, when the squad's record stood at 4-5. While approaching .500 may not seem like a remarkable feat to most teams, it is a sign of how far the Mets have truly come. It appeared that their season was over 21 games ago, as the team was 14 games under .500. Then, almost as suddenly as their fall from World Series runners-ups in 2000 to a squad which was battling the lowly Montreal Expos for last place, the Mets started winning. While they are still clearly a long shot to make the playoffs, the Mets now find themselves seven games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East with 19 games to play, which is a much great improvement from only a few weeks earlier. Although Lawton's hit on Saturday night it became clear that the Mets' luck was changing for the better, signs that the team's fortunes were beginning to shift were obvious last Monday. In a game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Todd Zeile who is not known for his foot speed, raced from second to home and scored the game winning run. He began running from second when reliever Jose Santiago missed a routine throwback by Phillies' catcher Todd Pratt and scored when Phillies' shortstop Jimmy Rollins threw the ball past the third baseman. In a year highlighted by Barry Bonds' run at the 70 home run plateau and the Arizona Diamondbacks dynamic pitching duo of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling, the emergence of the St. Louis Cardinals' young ace Matt Morris has gone almost completely unnoticed. On Sunday afternoon against the Los Angeles Dodgers, the young righty looked to become the second 20-game winner in the Major Leagues. Morris (19-7, 3.73 ERA) is in the midst of a seven game winning streak and it appears that he is finally living up to the potential he displayed as a rookie in 1997 when he went 12-9 with a 3.17 ERA. Since his debut, Morris has battled injuries and missed parts of the 1998 season before sitting out 1999, following surgery. He returned to the Cardinals last year but only now is returning to his old form. As the season winds down, it appears that Rickey Henderson's lengthy career may be coming to an end as well. The question remains whether or not Henderson has enough time to reach the two milestones he is still pursuing - 3,000 hits and Ty Cobb's all-time run record of 2246. Going into spring training, it looked like Henderson might be out of luck, as no one was willing to pick up the self-absorbed outfielder. However, towards the end of March, the San Diego Padres made the decision to sign him to a one year contract. And despite his meager .220 batting average, Rickey still has managed to help his team with a .369 OBP. He needs 15 more hits to join the 3,000 club and only ten more runs to surpass Cobb, so its now or never time for Rickey. Just as the Boston Red Sox have ostensibly been eliminated from the American League playoff hunt, the National League's lovable losers - the Chicago Cubs - are beginning to show signs of crumbling as well. The Cubs lost their fourth straight game on Saturday but did not remained 5 and 1/2 games behind the Houston Astros, who lost to Milwaukee. While the Cubbies stand only one game behind the Giants in the wild card, the situation has become so dire in Chicago that manager Don Baylor called a team meeting prior to Saturday's loss to encourage his team to focus. Judging by the outcome of the game following the meeting, Baylor was not overly effective. @s:Cubs showing signs of weakness

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Hockey team must cope with exodus

August 31

The hockey team's Class of 2002 started out an ample ten. Now, only three remain - senior defenseman Rob Greene and senior goal keepers Ian Kell and Jeremy Zuniga. Five seniors have left the team in recent months, and in total, nine players chose not to return for the 2001-2002 campaign. Seniors Harris Dainoff, Jordan Karp, Mike Lamson, Andrew Markus, and Chad Pessini, and juniors Tim Havern, Rob LaQuaglia, Mike Silver and Conor Sheehan are no longer skating for the Jumbos. Contacted in his office yesterday, coach Brian Murphy said the exodus was not the result of a "major coup." "There was no reason why these players left," he said. "There was no problem with any of the guys that I've spoken to." But one former player, who asked not to be named, stated otherwise. "I couldn't believe what happened this year," he said. "It was a domino effect. It started out as a few of us, then the rest followed suit. It was a strange phenomenon." He said that communications problems with the coach were among the factors prompting his departure. Two other players cited differences with the coaching staff as playing into their decisions. "I just didn't think [Murphy] did a very good job with finding practice times," Karp said. "I just couldn't take that anymore and coupled with my ideologically opposed views to hiscoaching style, hockey was not adding to my quality of life as a senior." Markus said that differences with the coach influenced his decision, but that the hockey team's success last season should nonetheless speak for itself. "It's hard to say something bad about a coach that's gone 14-1; it's hard to argue with the results that he got last year," he said. Last year was successful for the Jumbos, who went 15-1-1 in their division and brought home the ECAC Northeast Division Title. And for the majority of the non-returners, coaching had nothing to do with their decisions. "Everyone left for their own reasons, and they are good reasons," senior tri-captain Rob Greene said. "I don't think they quit because of animosity or anything like that, they just found new priorities." Regardless of reasons, the team will have to compensate for lost talent. One of the most significant losses, not by choice, was former center Jason Boudrow. Boudrow would have been a senior and captain this year, but due to academic ineligibility cannot play for the team. Boudrow, who is not enrolled at Tufts this semester, was named the ECAC Northeast Player of the Year last season, as well as a member of the All-League First Team, after scoring 24 goals and 27 assists. Havern also hung up his skates this season after seeing considerable playing time the past two years. Last year, he racked up three goals and dished out 10 assists for 13 total points. "My decision was more personal," Havern said. "I was just burnt out. I have nothing but respect for the coach, staff, and the players that are still on the team, and I wish them the best of luck in the season. I left on good terms and I thank [Murphy] for doing that." One of the most surprising walkouts was LaQuaglia. He was fourth in scoring for the Jumbos last season as a sophomore, matching his 12 goals of the previous year, and adding 23 assists. "Rob's a great player, and I wish he was part of our program," Murphy said. Pessini, who also left, contributed 11 assists last season. Murphy said the defenseman might return to the team in the near future. Tufts does not house a hockey rink, and in the past, the Jumbos have practiced at a rink in Arlington, constantly competing for ice time. This year, the team switched to a more convenient Malden rink, which will eliminate the unpopular early morning workouts. "The guys that are no longer playing made their decisions for various reasons, but our program will continue to improve," Murphy noted. "Many of the former players attend every game and support us and what we are trying to accomplish." The league change - from the ECAC to the NESCAC - has also increased the team's obligations. "I think the majority of the kids who left the team couldn't put forth the time commitment," Greene said. "What we're dealing with this year is that we're moving up in divisions and in competition, and it's extremely difficult to put in those hours. We're just spending more time on the ice and in the weight room...and we'll be on the road a lot." Junior tri-captain Mike Carceo agreed that the time commitment poses a new difficulty. "The fact that they all left weeds out the kids who aren't committed," he said. "The kids who are still with us are the ones that are committed...if the others were on the team, they'd probably bring us down." Markus admitted that one of the reasons he left the team was because of the increased time commitment. "For me personally it was an issue of basically taking up too much time, so I did a cost/benefit analysis, and the costs outweighed the benefits," he said. Murphy said he harbors no ill feelings towards the players who have left, and wishes they were still a part of his team. "These guys are not on scholarship, I cannot make them play," he said.

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News

Dowling Hall eliminates mailed grade reports

August 31

Following a trend among national universities, Tufts is giving students the option of deciding who gets to see their academic records. Students received information explaining the new option in a mailing this summer. According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), no institution of higher education may release educational records to any third party without the permission of the student. The law - which includes financial records, grades, unofficial transcripts, and disciplinary records - makes no exception for parents. But universities across the country are beginning to make available FERPA-covered records to individuals authorized by the student. Students at these schools can sign a release form stating whom they wish to have access to their records, and which records they would like released. Under FERPA, Tufts students were able to view academic records in the dean's office with their parents. But this summer, a mechanism was created that gives students the opportunity to grant their parents access to records without having to go through the red tape. The 'Authorization for the Release of Student Records' allows parents named on the release form to make a written inquiry to the school about their student's educational records. The release form is slightly different than the one mailed to students over the summer. The latest version includes a list of options for students: they can pick from several records which documents to release. According to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, by signing or not signing the form, students are not making an all-or-nothing decision. Only the specific records they authorize to be released will be made available to a third party. In previous years, semester grades were mailed to students' homes, but neither the students nor their parents were satisfied, Reitman said. Now, Tufts has a clear policy on the release of grades - it is all up to the student to decide. The policy prior to the creation of the release form brought students, deans, and parents together in conversations regarding information requests. "Before, the requests were responded to individually on a case-by-case basis," Reitman said. The vulnerability to parental pressure for students to share their grades under the old system remains under the new policy. But by sending the form home during the summer, the Dean of Students Office hoped to open lines of communication between students and parents to foster discussions about the new arrangement. The FERPA raises the question of parental rights to access students' grades. Many parents feel that because they pay for their student's tuition, they should be able to see their child's grades. According to Reitman, there is no right or wrong side of this debate: "It is not unreasonable for parents to ask to see a student's grades, and it is not unreasonable for a student to say no," he said. If a problem arises, and a student who signed the form decides that he or she does not want the individual named to have access to the records, the student has the right to revoke the authorization. "The students have the support of the school in protecting their privacy rights," Reitman said. "I can see how some people would want to keep information private," junior Dan King said. Campus reactions are mixed regarding the availability of the new release form. Some say the procedure is unnecessary and that students should be open about discussing grades with their parents. "Aren't we all mature enough that we're going to tell our parents what our grades are?" senior Sarah Siegel said, adding that the majority of students will speak to their parents about grades anyway. To senior Ariana Steinberg, those who pay for the classes deserve to see the grades. "The parents are paying for school," she said. "I would assume that students would tell them their grades." Freshman Ilsun Bek, who chose not to sign the release form, said that college students should be able to decide which information to reveal to their parents. Although student opinion differs about the benefits of releasing information to parents, the release form gives students the opportunity to open up a dialogue with their families regarding this issue. By creating an administrative mechanism to deal with the issue, some of the pressure created by mailed grades may be relieved. Already over 500 students have signed, according to Reitman. By making a decision about whether or not to give parents the opportunity to receive academic information, and with the elimination of mailed grade reports, students no longer have to worry about racing to the mailbox to intercept bad news. "There will be no more steaming open envelopes," Reitman said.

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News

Davis Square gets a little more theatrical

August 31

You might think that Davis Square is the last place you'd go to see theater on a Saturday night. You might want to think again. The Nexus Theater is an up and coming theater company looking to expand the arts in Davis Square. What's more, besides Aidekman Arts Center, it's the only place in Somerville to enjoy a theatrical production. You've probably passed by the Nexus, located next to the Burren at 225 Elm Street, several times without realizing it. Instead of fancy signs or neon lighting advertising its existence, the theater is graced by a simple black and white sign with a large downward arrow. This is the spot. As you descend the stairs and follow the hallway around the theater, it may seem like you're in the wrong place. But don't turn back just yet. Despite the simple atmosphere and lack of fancy decoration, the Nexus Theater does not disappoint. The theater itself is a small, comfortable venue in the process of being renovated. With about 120 seats situated around the stage, everyone is sure to have a perfect view. The stage is small and at floor level, allowing for an intimate experience with the actors, musicians, or whoever the night's performer might be. Before becoming the Nexus Theater, the space was used as a community theater with only one or two shows a year. The new venue, managed primarily by executive director Larry Jaquith and programming director Nick August-Perna, opened this past July as a non-profit organization. The Somerville Arts Council approached Jaquith with the proposal to take over the theater, and the Brandeis graduate was immediately interested in bringing theater to Somerville. At the time, Jaquith decided that, "If I come in, we're going to be here everyday." He wanted the venue to become something special in Somerville and for the Boston area. The word "nexus" means link, connection, or bridge - which is what Jaquith hopes to do with the theater on many levels. He said that his goal is for the Nexus to be a bridge to the community. Among the ways in which he hopes to achieve this is to ensure that a variety of culture groups perform at the theater. He also wants programming that is "off the normal path of what is seen in Boston." Nexus's first performances during the summer included "The Downbeat," a series of jazz shows. Performances were offered by jazz bands such as Jama Jigi, a mixed group of African and American artists. Jazz shows, which the theater is looking to feature again in the near future, are a great way to spend a Thursday evening - for just seven dollars you get an evening of jazz music along with free food from various Davis Square restaurants. Among the acts Nexus is looking to bring to the theater is Escena Latina, an all-female Spanish drama group based in Jamaica Plains, and Slant Trio, an Asian group that already has a following in New York City. Jaquith is also planning to involve families in the arts through a ghost storytelling event, which will run on four weekends in late October and early November. The event will explore the myths of ghosts in conjunction with historical information on houses in the Boston area that are rumoured to contain ghosts.Rickey, which was met with much praise, was the first play to open at the Nexus Theater in early September. It is the story of the baseball executive who signed Jackie Robinson to the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. A few weeks later, A Place Called Home premiered to similar applause. Before the tragedies of Sept. 11, the Nexus Theater had five shows planned for the upcoming season, two of which had to be cut due to topics that were deemed appropriate. But despite - and even in light of - the recent events, Jaquith feels this is an important time for the arts, and especially theater. In fact, several organizations want to use the theater for various productions that will give audiences a deeper understanding of the present political situation. "You can either fall apart or adjust to the situation," Jaquith said. Jaquith and August-Perna have big plans for their theater - and Davis Square's newfound reputation as a Boston-area hostpot can't hurt either. With improvements and innovations on the horizon, local students should put the Nexus Theater on their list of venues to visit.

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News

Easy A's at Harvard inflate student egos

August 31

Harvard is at it again. The world-class academic institution that has been to known inflate its grades, has been reported to be committing the practice of grade inflation at an all-time high frequency level. Only nine percent of Harvard's class of 2001 did not receive the honor of cum laude or higher, according to an article in the Boston Globe. The percentage of Harvard students graduating with these Latin honors is more than double that of its Ivy rival, Princeton, where 44 percent of graduates are deemed cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude. At Tufts, grade inflation is reportedly less rampant. According to Dean Charles Inouye, 50 percent of the class of 2001 received honors. That number is up from 45.5 percent the year before. By the numbers, it seems getting an A is a more difficult task at Tufts than at Harvard. Although according to the Tufts administration, the current statistics for getting top grades are too high. The average grade given out last year was 3.38 in the fall, and 3.26 in the spring. The cut-off for cum laude is 3.4. Getting cum laude at Harvard may be a lesser challenge. A B-minus average in one major subject is enough to earn cum laude. And at a university that awards A-minuses and A's to 51 percent of its students, that feat does not appear to be too difficult. With grade inflation on the rise, numerous Harvard officials have spoken out both for and against the status quo. Henry Rosovsky, a former president and current acting dean at Harvard, told the Globe that "honors at Harvard has just lost all meaning. The bad honors are spoiling the good." Some Tufts students say, from an outsider's perspective, that Harvard is an institution that focuses on high grades. "I think they put a little too much pressure on their students to succeed," sophomore Jonathan Parker said. Harvard humanities Professor Stephen Greenblatt believes that Harvard students deserve their high grades. "A very remarkable number of these projects are publishable quality," Greenblatt said. "Is someone who graduates summa cum laude at a less selective university really the same as a summa at Harvard or Yale?" If that's the story Harvard professors are selling, Tufts administrators aren't buying. "It's just another symptom of their culture of arrogance - image over substance - and it's finally catching up with them," Inouye said. "Everybody in the business knows just how little Harvard students work. They're essentially a lazy bunch. A lot of them aren't even that smart." Harvard senior Trevor Cox supported Inouye's assertion in the Globe. Cox described a career characterized by an easy grading scheme that has left him with a B+ average. "It's scandalous," Cox said. "You can get very good grades, and earn honors, without ever producing quality work." "I feel like Tufts is different because if you hand in less than quality work, your grade will reflect it," sophomore Lauren Amira said. "Harvard seems like an elite society where, once you get in, everything is handed to you on a silver platter." The Tufts Honors Committee has sought to correct grade inflation problems at Tufts. Last spring, the committee identified grade inflation as a problem and has made plans to address the issue this year. Inouye said the problem the committee faces is the Lake Wobegone syndrome, "where everyone is above average." "You're all pretty darn smart, well above average," Inouye said. "But then there is a Tufts average, too, and those who are above and those who are below this higher standard. Should that be stressed or played down?" One remedy to grade inflation, under review by the Honors Committee, could be a slight adjustment to the numerical cut-off for cum laude so that only the cream of the Tufts crop obtain that GPA. Another alternative would require research by students who are seeking the summa distinction. The psychology and biology departments have already instituted this requirement. According to the National Association of Scholars, there are a number of ways a university can limit grade inflation. Executive director of the association, Bradford Wilson, recommends that universities tighten their curricula so it is more difficult for students to choose what he calls "academically inferior courses and programs." In addition, Wilson advises colleges to limit the number of students who receive academic honors to the top ten percent of the class. Whatever road Tufts chooses, the question remains: Will Tufts follow in Harvard's footsteps and earn a similar reputation for inflated GPA's? Inouye admits that Tufts shares some of Harvard's problem, but he says Tufts does not share Harvard's reputation for giving students undeserved A's. While students wait to see what the administration will present as a potential solution for what some call problematic grade inflation, they can be assured that Tufts does not hold grades alone as its highest measure of achievement. "The point of college isn't to study your rear off to worry about getting good grades," sophomore Jonathan Parker said. Inouye, for his part, encourages students to lead full lives, both here at Tufts and in the world beyond. "Good grades from a good school will help you get a job or into an excellent graduate program," he said. "But, in the end, a screaming GPA won't guarantee that you'll prosper unless you've really learned to have a life as well." "You're here to prepare for a life," Inouye said. "You can have a career and not have a life. But if you have an abundant life, then the career will usually follow because you've made success a habit."

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News

Before there was Eminem

August 31

Sing, to the tune of "London Bridge is Falling Down": "Watch a n-gga pimp some hoes, pimp some hoes, pimp some hoes/ Watch a n-gga pimp some hoes/ pimp deze bitch-ezzzz." Sounds like something from the mouth of Eazy-E or Snoop Dogg - though maybe even they would have used more tact. The "artist" in question here is White Dawg, whose 1999 debut album, Thug Ride, might as well have never existed. At the time, Eminem's debut had also just hit the streets. Surprisingly, it met with a rabid response from rap and alternative radio stations alike. Noticing that he himself was white, White Dawg made a quick attempt to jump on the bandwagon. The result: an under-produced, cuss-laden, 20-track album filled with everything a wannabe gangster loves - from porn to prostitution, from AK-47 shoot-ups to the occasional "ballad" about the ghetto woman he truly loves. "I was born a playa, and I'm'a die a legend," White Dawg proclaims on "I Just Wanna Get High." And, surprisingly enough, this is the most concise biography available about him. Some say he's a hard-hitting white boy gangsta from Broward County, Florida. But others proclaim he's from Alabama, the son of a respected studio musician father and a mother who has a masters in music history. Either way, White Dawg has a pretty strong Southern Accent, which he advantageously uses to rhyme words such as "head" and "spent." No matter what White Dawg's background is, Thug Ride is one of the few albums with the potential to offend absolutely anyone who hears it. First off, White Dawg (emphasis on white) repeatedly refers to himself and his merry band of hooligans as "niggas." Second, White Dawg just can't contain his condescending attitude towards women. Consider the song titles "Wuz Up Bitch" and "I Could F*ck You." As if there weren't enough implied violence on the album, White Dawg lays it down straight in "Get 'Um," a brief interlude. We hear a bunch of white guys, also with heavy accents, loading clips into automatic weapons. "Let's twist this n-gga's cap back," one of them proclaims. And then they kill some guy- guns blazing, shells making sharp pings as they hit the floor - presumably twisting his cap back.Thug Ride features guest rapper Blac Haze, whom we should presume is black despite the misspelling. On the album's title track, Mr. Haze offers the listener several exchanges with Mr. Dawg and other characters that are both lyrical and conversational at the same time. Consider this exchange that takes place with a random voice in the song's background:Blac Haze: ...otherwise, you ain't sh-!Random Voice: You tryin' to tell me I ain't sh-?

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News

JumboFob's South Hall debut a success

August 31

Despite the popularity of the keyless, wireless entry pilot program in South Hall this semester, Tufts officials are hesitant to say whether the JumboFob system will be implemented in other dormitories. JumboFob, which allows South hall residents to access the building by swiping a small electronic "wand" at the front door, has worked well in its first semester of implementation, South hall residents and Department of Public Safety officials say. South, Tufts' newest dorm, was wired with the "proximity technology" necessary for such a system during is construction in 1991. Most other residence halls, which are much older, are not equipped with the new technology.The Office of Public safety, along with Residential Facilities, Tufts Community Union Senate representatives, and the Dean of Students office, will meet again to discuss expanding the keyless system to include other dorms. According to Tufts University Police Department Captain Ronald Brevard, the committee has not yet established any concrete plans for other dorms. Students and administrators have been enthusiastic about JumboFob's debut. "JumboFob has become second nature," South resident David Chen said. "Many of my friends in other universities have been using a similar system, and I'm glad that we finally decided to bring it to Tufts." Brevard said members on the committee that originally implemented JumboFob have also found the system successful overall. He said that surveys from other universities - which showed that most were using electronic access - served as a driving force behind testing the JumboFob system at Tufts. Last semester, South Hall residents received an e-mail survey asking their thoughts on keyless access. Brevard said most of the feedback voiced concerns about "not wanting to carry too many things, assuming the card was the size of a credit card, in addition to one's room keys." The actual fob is very small and can fit on a key chain.Implementing JumboFob also addressed safety concerns. The wands cannot be copied, unlike most keys, and, if stolen, can be immediately deactivated by the public safety department. Though public safety has received few reports of stolen wands, officers stressed the advantage of deactivating them.A "fob," which originally referred to the "small pocket at the front waistline of a man's trousers or vest, used to hold a watch," is now defined as "an ornament or seal" attached to a key chain.

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News

Red zone mistakes cost Jumbos homecoming win

August 31

In the last two weeks, the football team has gone up against the top two teams in the NESCAC, Williams and Amherst. Both times, the Jumbos outplayed their opponents, and looked to be in position to win near the end of the game. But both times, luck did not seem to be on Tufts' side, as costly mistakes down the stretch translated into two straight losses. "If you don't take advantage of opportunities, you won't win," coach Bill Samko said. "I told our team not to feel sorry for itself, I don't feel sorry for myself. We could have won the game, but we didn't take advantage of opportunities." For the second week in a row, Tufts ran the ball effectively and held the advantage in first downs, time of possession, and passing yards. Not only that, the Jumbos also out-gained Amherst, 337-223, ran nearly twice as many plays (82-45), and snapped Amherst's six-quarter shutout streak. "We thought that we matched up well with them," junior running back Keven Kelley, who rushed for 155 yards, said. "We were just going to go right at them and didn't think of them as the best defense. We thought our guys were just as good."The hosts also played their own version of the spoiler, scoring the first touchdown the Lord Jeffs have given up all year when Kelley went in from one yard out with 11:21 to go in the third. "It felt good," graduate defensive lineman Everett Dickerson said. "At that point it was like, now we're rolling, it's time to win. It's time to win the game." The Jumbos continued to roll for the rest of the first half, tacking on a Howie Rock field goal with 5:07 to go to take a 10-7 lead to into the locker room. After Kelley's score, Amherst countered with a touchdown of its own two series later to knot the score at seven. But then sophomore defensive back Mark Tilki took the ensuing kickoff back 48 yards, and junior quarterback Scott Treacy ran for another 12, and four plays later Rock was good from 38 yards out.Once again the game was a story of two halves as the Jumbos could not continue to hold down Amherst after the intermission. Just like in the Williams game (Tufts led, 14-13 at the half) Tufts entered the second half with the lead, but then turned the ball over twice on critical possessions and ultimately sealed its own fate."We got down and needed big plays [at the end] and just didn't get them," Kelley said. "We just didn't execute when we needed to."Against Williams, Treacy was intercepted twice in the second half, with the first pick ending a lengthy drive and the second halting the Jumbos' attempt at the two-minute drill with 1:20 to play. And against Amherst, a 6,000-member Homecoming crowd was silenced not once, but twice, after a Kelley fumble late in the third and a Treacy interception with 3:44 to go in the contest. The first turnover was more painful, as Kelley's fumble came on the Lord Jeff one at the beginning of the fourth quarter after an eight-minute drive and the Jumbos still leading, 10-7. Amherst's Jay Hutchins picked up the ball and returned it 24 yards, inciting a 7-play, 75-yard drive that lasted just 1:55 and ended with a touchdown and the Lord Jeff's first lead of the game at 14-10. Treacy's interception was another stinging blow. Tufts had the ball on the Amherst 13 and was in the midst of another lengthy drive, poised to take back the lead. But Treacy's pass sailed towards the end zone and into the hands of Lord Jeff Paul Miceli.Also reminiscent of the Williams game was the fact that the Jumbos had another stab at the two-minute drill, after an Amherst punt with 22 seconds to play. This time, it was not an interception, but the clock itself that ended any chance of last second heroics. Treacy completed two passes and the Jumbos got off three plays and appeared to be lining up for another before the officials signaled that time had expired."The defense gave the offense a chance to win," Dickerson said. "But we just ran of out of time. That's basically what happened. We can't give up now, though. We have two more games left, that's not the end of our season right there."And with two games remaining against Colby and Middlebury, the Jumbos appear to be all but locked into a third place finish in the conference, their second top three finish since 1998. But for another year at least, Tufts will close its season without defeating either Amherst or Williams.

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News

Yankees beat D-backs 3-2 in 12 innings

August 31

Fox television could have saved money last night by replaying the tape of Game 4 instead of recording Game 5. For the second night in a row, Arizona Diamondbacks closer Byung-Hyun Kim blew a lead in the bottom of the ninth and allowed the New York Yankees to win the game in extra innings. The victory gave the Yankees a 3-2 series lead over the Diamondbacks. With the momentum New York generated by the late-inning heroics in Games 4 and 5, Arizona will find reigning in the reigning champions a task almost as difficult as hailing a cab in New York. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Jorge Posada on second, and Arizona ahead 2-0, Scott Brosius lauched a two-run homer to left to save the Yankees from defeat. The feat was similar to Tino Martinez's blast to tie Game 3 in the bottom of the ninth, and both shots came off of Kim. Three innings later, Chuck Knoblauch opened the bottom of the 12th with a single against pitcher Mike Morgan and moved to second on Scott Brosius' bunt. Rookie Alfonso Soriano, who also had a key defensive play in the top of the 11th drove him in with a single to give the Yanks the victory. Arizona starter Miguel Batista pitched seven scoreless innings, but his efforts were in vain. Mike Mussina started the game for the Yanks and gave up two solo homers in the fifth. The game story was much the same on Wednesday night, when ghosts, warlocks and an assortment of other nether world spirits came out at Yankee Stadium this week, disguised as Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Martinez In Game 4 on Wednesday night, at four minutes past midnight, Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate in the tenth inning and smacked a home run to give the Yankees the 4-3 win. The shot over the right field fence came with two outs and completed Kim's destruction of Curt Schilling's dominating seven-inning start. The Diamondbacks chose to start Schilling, who had been 4-0 in the post season, on three days rest rather than pitch Batista, who was 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two starts and one relief appearance in the post season. The move appeared to pay off, as Schilling held the Yankees to three hits over seven strong innings. He left with the score 3-1 in the Diamondbacks' favor, thanks to a Mark Grace fourth inning home run and RBI hits by Erubiel Durazo and Matt Williams in the eighth. But in came Kim and the Halloween spirits, and out went Arizona's chances of taking a 3-1 lead over the defending world champions. With two outs and Paul O'Neill on first in the ninth inning, Tino Martinez launched a home run that saved the Yankees and tied the game. Rivera sent the Diamondbacks down in order in the top of the tenth to set the stage for Jeter, who was dubbed baseball's first Mr. November by sportswriters immediately after the game. The victory was New York's record ninth-straight home World Series win. Number eight came the night before, when Arizona fed young starter Brian Anderson to the wolves that are the Yankees lineup and the New York fans. While Anderson did better than expected, surrendering only two runs in 5 and 1/3 innings, Arizona predictably couldn't break through against Yankees starter Roger Clemens. Clemens proved why he's earned five Cy Young awards when he held the Diamondbacks to one run over seven innings in a game that was a must-win for the Yankees. Clemens held Arizona to just three hits and is now 3-0 with a 1.86 ERA in his five career World Series starts. Rivera reminded Major League Baseball why he's the most dominant reliever in World Series history when he pitched two perfect innings for the save in the Yankees' 2-1 victory. Halloween spirits were evident in this game as well, as Arizona, which led the NL in fielding percentage this year, committed three errors which the Yanks capitalized on. New York got on the scoreboard first with Jorge Posada's home run in the second inning, but Arizona tied the game on a sacrifice fly from Matt Williams in the fourth. Then, after Brenly lifted Anderson in the sixth inning, Scott Brosius came to bat with two outs and runners on first and second and drove in Bernie Williams for what proved to be the game-winning run. Game 3, however, was as much a tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11 attacks than it was a celebration of great baseball. Many have said that a Yankees world championship this year would bring a special meaning to a city torn apart by tragedy, and sentiments of mourning were evident on Tuesday night. President Bush wore a New York Fire Department fleece when he threw out the first pitch before the game, and a tattered US flag that was recovered from the World Trade Center flew over Yankee Stadium during the game. New York and Arizona now head back to the desert for Game 6 on Saturday - a repeat of the Game 2 match-up of Randy Johnson and Andy Pettitte.

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