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Women's crews race to decent finishes at Head of the Charles

August 31

The women's fall crew season culminated this past weekend with the 37th annual Head of the Charles Regatta. As the best rowers the world has to offer descended on the banks of the Charles, the Jumbos sought to make their mark against local area teams and also watch some of the fastest boats in the sport of rowing glide down the Charles River."We were looking to see how we stacked up" before the spring season, coach Jessica Normand said. "It gave us a good gauge of what needs work and what in the boat is working really well as we head into the more competitive spring season."There were three boats entered in three separate races over the course of the weekend. The lightweight eight finished with a time of 18:33.27 for a 14th place finish in a field of 20 teams. In the Club Eight race, the heavyweight boat came in at 38th out of a 54-team field with a time of 18:58.52, while the novice team finished in a time of 19:01.47. This was good enough for a 23rd out of 36 ranking in the Youth Eight women's race. Three local teams that the Jumbos had hoped to keep in their sights had banner days and finished within the top ten in the Club eight race. Wesleyan, Smith, and Holy Cross tore up the course and secured fifth, seventh, and eighth, respectively. Two rival New England squads that the women defeated were Trinity, who ended up one spot back, and Middlebury, who ended up three spots back. In the lightweight eight race, Riverside Boat Club and Radcliffe had strong showings, taking second and third places. There were few other area teams in the lightweight race for the women to compare themselves to."It's just an honor to get back on the Charles and compete with other boats that are so accomplished and well-recognized in the rowing world," junior Amira Baker-Jud said. "It was the perfect day for a race and we all responded to that. Our coxswain definitely steered a really great course for us."Though the standings don't reflect a hugely successful outing, the rowers felt that the weekend provided a fitting close to the fall season. Many of the issues that cropped up during the beginning of the season were resolved as rowers became better acclimated to their position in the boat. "It was definitely the best race of the season - a perfect way to end the semester," junior Dianna Darsney said. "We raced at a 33 [rating] but it didn't even feel like it because we rowed aggressively and kept everything controlled. We started with a positive attitude, and that attitude never wavered throughout the course of the race."With the fall season behind them, the women are taking a break from rowing outside during the winter and will work instead on building endurance and power in anticipation of the spring season. "The short term goals that we made at the beginning of the season were reached," Normand said. Though there are no official races during the winter, there is still an event that the Jumbos will be training for. In a test of endurance, power, and strength, the event known as "the triathlon" is a true measure of how fit each person is heading into the spring season. The competition pits each rower against themselves and everyone else on the team with a measure of how fast they complete each of the three stages. The first stage involves a 7500-meter row on a stationary erg machine, the second leg is a three-mile run from Cousen's gym to the Harvard football stadium, and the final feat is a tour of the 37 sections of the Harvard stadium steps. The triathlon, which occurs at the end of the winter season as the team heads into the spring, is the result of months worth of training and a true test of how ready the team is to tackle the upcoming spring season.

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News

Universes tears the roof off

August 31

It is as black and silent as night in Cabot Auditorium. From one corner of the room comes a deep, adamant shout. From another corner, a woman's voice pours out a desperate song of Spanish prayer. The room begins to swell with chanting and chirps of wisdom and humor. Five teachers are at the front of the auditorium. Not professors, but the group Universes, performers from the soul of New York. Five minds are poised to convey to captivated students the knowledge of Coltrane and Ali, the thumping of black slaves' freedom songs, and the realities of everything from salsa, to domestic abuse, to racism, to how to survive in a neighborhood where you are not welcome. Universes came to Tufts last Wednesday night to "take you on a heartfelt rhythm - not just 'bout surviving the city, but surviving in the system." This rhythm is part journey into impoverished housing projects and part journey into the conscience of a people. The vehicle for this journey is a hybrid of rap, step, song, spoken word and limitless other forms of self-expression. The five soulful artists don't just represent the pain of life in New York's streets, but also the humor. "Did you know blacks and Jews can get along? All you gotta do is make kosher spare ribs!" chimes a voice from a corner of the dark theater, evoking uncontrollable laughter from the sold-out crowd. The lights come up. Before the laughs have entirely faded, Steve Sapp, from beneath a head of long braids, puts down a spoken word poem in a tone that calls to mind the Roots' "Black Thought." His voice paints a picture of two men summoning the courage to make eye contact with each other in a neighborhood where one of them is definitely not welcome. Before we can recover from the power of these words, one of the other members stands up and spits rhymes that "Dr. Seuss would have written if he was from where I'm from." His fairy tale discusses the commercialization of hip-hop: "a pimp who liked to sell one-liners and slamming sounds." In this humorous fable, the old-school rappers ally with those who drop the new slang against the ultimate evil: selling out. All five stand up. Seamless beat-boxing combines with honey harmonies of pristine intonation to form images of fatal domestic struggles and abandoned children. Voices mock evening newscasters monotonously reporting these horrific events. Poetic verses criticize us for not taking social responsibility, for "trying to wipe the yes off your face and replace it with an 'I dunno.'" In another number, Mildred Ruiz's voice fills the room with gospel preaching and song. Soon, audience members are snapping their fingers and humming along with the performers in response to her song. Flaco Navaja grabs the mic and recites an ode to "Newyorican poetry," a blend of Puerto Rican and American verse. He rhymes about his own personal influences, and the way in which he learned to create is especially beautiful when it draws on both the Spanish and English languages and tones. He concludes his poem, "The bastard child of two different languages, I move one step closer to poetic schizophrenia." After the show, the members of the groups stay for a "talk-back" session, in which audience members can ask the group questions or talk about their impressions of the show. The group speaks with a humble calm that is both amazing and inspiring. Universes have put together an off-Broadway show entitled Slanguage. The show ran at the New York Theater Workshop last year, was called a "roller coaster of rhythm" by the New York Times, and will run again this April. Anyone who is into underground hip-hop, spoken word poetry, or art that represents life in any form should not miss it. "Slanguage is great because it brings organic hip-hop to people who wouldn't normally be exposed to it," says Chinua Thalwell of Onyx, who introduced the group. At the end of the talk-back, students approach the stage to thank Mildred Ruiz personally for the incredible show. She responds with hugs and a business cards with the group's e-mail address on it. The only thing is, it's the wrong e-mail address. "You know, it's just ghetto like that," she says with a smile. If that's what it takes to have the talent and introspection which Universes brings to the stage, then to be "ghetto like that" is a beautiful thing.

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News

Field hockey drop first two games

August 31

After dropping a very close decision to Bentley College in its first game of the season, the field hockey team hoped to bounce back with a victory in its home opener against Middlebury on Saturday. But despite a staunch defensive effort throughout all of regulation and much of overtime, the Middlebury, the Jumbos fell in heartbreaking fashion, 1-0, to the Panthers. "It was a very even game that could have easily gone either way," senior Meghan Carleton said. Middlebury "was just fortunate enough to come out on the winning end." Both teams were frustrated by stalwart defenses and wall-like goalkeepers, as the game remained scoreless through seventy minutes of regulation play. Though the play was very even during the first half, Middlebury took control of the game in the second. However, the Panthers' offensive efforts were shut down by a strong Tufts defense, which denied ten penalty corner opportunities. Tufts goalie Lauren Rufino was effective in turning away shots, as she finished the day with eight saves while keeping the Jumbos in the match. Tufts mounted an attack late in the second half but was met head on by the Panthers defense. Goalie Jo Opot turned back all Jumbo scoring opportunities and finished with four saves on the day. After a scoreless regulation period, the game headed into overtime, where Middlebury again controlled play. The Tufts defense held strong, however, and with junior defender Ursula Stahl stopping the Panther penetration, the game seemed headed for a tie. With a mere ten seconds remaining in the overtime, though, NESCAC leading scorer Char Lessner found herself in open space in front of the goal and fired a shot beyond the reach of Rufino, securing the 1-0 victory for the Panthers. "I felt like it was a very good game," Carleton said following the game. "We played well and stuck with it all the way. We never gave up." The loss marked the second time the Jumbos have been shut out in as many games. Last Thursday, the Jumbos struggled to climb out of a 1-0 deficit as Bentley junior Kristyn Bates, a second-team All-American last fall, scored the game's only goal less than five minutes into the contest. Although Tufts contained Bentley for the remainder of the game, it could not find the net. "It was a hard first game to have to have played," senior tri-captain Christina Orf said. "They were really rough, and we only had a couple of days to adjust to playing on turf." Because the game was played on Division II Bentley's home field, the players were forced to adjust to the fast paced nature of Astroturf play. That, in addition to the scrappy nature of the Falcons' strategy, positioned Tufts as the underdog from the get-go. And Tufts' game suffered as a result of the Falcons' rough play. Midway through the second half, senior defender Liesl Bradford was taken out when she took a ball to the face off a Benltey chip shot. Bradford's injury forced her to sit out on Saturday's match against Middlebury, which removed a key component of the Jumbo defense. Just a few minutes after Bradford was hurt, Orf was blatantly taken down and sustained injury to her right calf, leaving her on the sidelines for the rest of the game. "I don't think that anything went particularly wrong," senior tri-captain Lindsay Lionetti said. "We can't attribute the loss to one thing in particular. They just got out and scored early, other than that it was a pretty even match." Although the team has yet to score a goal, it does not see its offense as a weakness. "We're not typically a big scoring team," Carleton said. "We do need to work on our offense, but I definitely wouldn't call it a weakness." The team foresees a close and spirited contest against Wellesley this week and will be hungering for the win after its last two close losses. "Wellesley is always a tough opponent," Carleton said. "Our main goal for the next game is to come out with the W. We've been so close in our last two games, and we really want the win." After playing so competitively against two very challenging opponents, Carleton and the rest of the Jumbos are positive about their chances the rest of the season. "It was a tough way to start the season," she said. "But we're confident and ready to play." The Jumbos will next face off in Wellesley at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. "Our next step is to work on defense to offense transition and to prevent defensive corners," Orf said. "The first few games are just a small setback, and we're excited to get out there and play this week."

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News

Students, union fight for janitors' rights

August 31

"El pueblo unido jamas ser?? vencido!" A village united will never be defeated. The message came across loud and clear Tuesday night, passing among the Spanish and English speaking alike. The group that congregated in front of Curtis Hall represented a wide variety of people, from janitors and union leaders to students and professors. The issue uniting them? Improving working conditions and wages for Tufts' janitors. The "Teach-In", which was conducted in both languages, was designed to preserve the importance of unity and promote a mutual respect between workers and their student supporters. Many students didn't even need the English translation. Student Labor Action Movement (SLAM) leader Iris Halpern, for example, spoke briefly to the group both in English and Spanish. But despite lingual divisions, the spirit was universal. "Go get to know [the workers], go shake their hands," Halpern encouraged. "Give them the respect they deserve." Frank Sosa, a SEIU local 254 organizer, also spoke to the crowd at the Teach-In. "The abuse has to stop," he said to the group. SLAM organized a Learn-In to immediately precede a Teach-In. About 75 students, faculty members, and union officials gathered in the Arts House to hear what everyone - from union leaders to professors - had to say. Erin Dwyer, a junior, was one of the student organizers of the Learn-In. "It's really important to show our support to these workers," she said. The problem between students and janitors may be that they simply can't relate to one another. There lies an inherent division between the students who pay - or who have parents who pay - well over $30,000 per year to attend a school and the workers who clean the school and earn less than half that figure annually. The Tufts workers are making four basic demands: a living wage; job security; full-time work; and family health insurance. The highest-paid janitor at Tufts currently makes $10.50 per hour, while Boston lists its living wage - the amount that a worker needs to be paid to be able to pay rent - as $15 per hour. "No worker should have to work more than one job - especially not three and see their families four hours during the week," Sosa said. "You can't live on what these people make," Flores added. "They're totally taking advantage of these people. It's just very wrong." "I don't know how many people at this school have paid rent or even worked a minimum-wage job, but it's hard enough to sustain yourself on minimum wage, much less a family," Dwyer said. When Tufts employed its janitors directly, the University paid them $11.84 per hour and provided benefits and tuition reimbursement. That changed in July 1994 when the work was contracted out to UNNICO, a company that cut wages, hours, and benefits. OneSource, the contractor that now handles Tufts' workers, came onto the scene in Aug. 1997, making deeper cuts, and refusing to hire most of the janitors who worked under the UNNICO contract. Neither SEIU nor Tufts took action against these measures. "[The workers] feel that there is no security. There is a feeling of 'This can happen to us,'" Saenz said. As long as workers are listed as part-time, Tufts is not required to provide them with any benefits. In addition, full-time workers are paid on a higher pay-scale than are part-time workers. Physics professor Gary Goldstein was the only faculty member to speak at the Learn-In. Goldstein referred to the workers' lack of health insurance as "criminal". "I think all of us are part of the same family of workers," Goldstein said. "We are all working toward a common goal, to educate young people. We all deserve dignity and justice." Halpern agreed. "By paying tuition to this school, you are part of this community. By not being active and trying to change the working conditions at this campus, you're validating a classist, racist, and sexist structure," she said. "So by saying that you are neutral or that you don't have an opinion, you are actually supporting the University's stance and that classist, racist, sexist structure. Is that the kind of community you want to live in?" "This is just the beginning," Halpern added. "Today is the first day of school." For members of the union, SLAM, and the workers, now is the time to act. According to Saenz, the SEIU underwent a major administration change at the end of last February, and the janitors' contract expired in July. The contract has been extended twice; the second extension is set to end Sept. 28. "This is perfect timing to engage with OneSource and Tufts about improving working conditions," Saenz said. Negotiations between OneSource, Tufts, and the union have been going on for almost two months. Halpern recently met with President Bacow to discuss the situation, but was not satisfied. "Actions speak louder than words and all they've been giving us is words," she said. "Lip service doesn't count as action." In addition to Tuesday night's Teach-In and Learn-In, the SEIU held a similar Learn-In on Tufts' Boston campus last night and has a rally and march planned. The Sept. 12 event will include workers, students, faculty, and community members, as well as political, religious, and community groups. The union is reaching beyond the confines of Tufts, as well - the SEIU held a community meeting yesterday to discuss the university's situation. "We're prepared to mobilize to a greater scale," Rocio Saenz, SEIU local 254 Deputy Trustee said. "Other actions will be taken." One thing that every speaker at the Learn-In had in common was appreciation for those students who supported the cause. All repeatedly thanked the students for attending the meeting and urged them to spread the word to their peers about the Sept. 12 rally and march. "It's very inspirational to see so many students supporting these workers," Saenz said. Latino peer advisors Ariana Flores, a sophomore, and senior Maria Cristina Rveda were among those who showed their support for the janitors Tuesday night. For them, learning about the language barrier between the workers and the students inspired them to join the movement. "I really do understand what they are going through and I want them to have a better life," Rveda said. "It's hard for the workers to trust the students when they can't even communicate with them," Flores said. Flores also pointed out the hypocrisy of a university that pays its president $350,000 per year, provides him with a car and a home, yet will not pay its janitors a living wage. She also cited the recent indoor firework show at freshmen orientation as an example of unnecessary expenditure. "The University and OneSource have been keeping this a secret," Halpern said. "We need to start talking about it."

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News

Quality over quantity is Savitz's goal for intramurals

August 31

Women's basketball coach Janice Savitz, also the head of intramural sports, has an extensive list of new proposals for the fall season. Included in the list are new activities like a Jumbo Challenge, fun runs, and kickball. To coincide with these additions, Savitz plans to cut the number of sports and focus on advertising and organization. Savitz, who will run the program alongside men's soccer coach Ralph Ferrigno, hopes to get the organization off to a running start. "I want to do something to set it off so it's not just bland and boring," Savitz said. To spice intramurals up, Savitz is considering the Jumbo Challenge, an event where individuals would have 30 days to compile as many miles as possible by running on the treadmill, riding the exercise bike, or swimming in the pool. Prizes would go to the student with the most total miles, and participants who attain a certain number of miles. Assistant Athletic Director (AAD) Branwen Smith-King, who is working with Savitz, proposed fun runs - one or two-mile jogs around campus. Competition would be de-emphasized during the runs, as Smith-King sees them as a possible way to bring students together. "We need to generate more enthusiasm with diverse activities to get people interested in getting out," Smith-King said. [Savitz has looked to other schools, like the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, to find more obscure yet popular intramural sports like kickball, and believes it could be successful at Tufts.] The second part of Savitz's plan is to improve the quality of the individual sports. In line with this, Savitz will push to reduce the number of sports offered to just soccer, flag football, and volleyball (with the possible additions of Jumbo Challenge and kickball). Last fall, the athletic department offered six sports, but touch football, field hockey, tennis, and basketball will be eliminated this year in an effort to consolidate resources. According to Savitz, dedicated referees and student commissioners will be the driving force behind reorganization. [Ideally, she would like to hire three commissioners in order to maximize the efficiency of each sport: one in charge of league finances, one in charge of scheduling and rules, and one in charge of advertising.] While the job of intramural commissioner is a paid one, many students are reluctant to make the time commitment necessary to become commissioner of an intramural league. "We need commissioners who will be dedicated and willing to spend the time," she said. In addition to commissioners, Savitz is looking to recruit referees more successfully. Like commissioners, referees are paid, but the time commitment discourages many from assuming the post. Smith-King, also head of the physical education department, has suggested a class that would deal with officiating. The commitment level required to play intramural sports, which cater to students lacking the skills or desire to compete at the club or varsity level, depends on the sport. In the more popular sports (soccer, football, volleyball, and basketball) leagues are formed and schedules usually run for four weeks with two weeks set aside for playoffs. Other sports like ice hockey, women's lacrosse, and tennis depend on the number of students signed up. These sports often deteriorate into haphazard pickup games, one of the reasons Savitz and Smith-King are open to students' suggestions. "We would like input from the students," Smith-King said. "Ralph did a great job but we would like to have more varied activities."

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News

Switching Sides

August 31

Since even before Bill Clinton's presidency, our nation has been associated with peace talks in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Granted, the issues present in this part of the world have been going on for centuries, but the US has become an active participant in the region more recently. In many ways we have designated ourselves the officers of peace in the Middle East. And one thing has always been for sure - we were not willingly going to allow Palestine to over turn Israel. But again, these were the beliefs held by our past governing bodies. These were the administrations that backed Israel. Unfortunately, it seems this is not the case for the present Bush administration. If you happened to have picked up Tuesday's New York Times, you would have quickly spotted a front page story that began with, "Before attacks, US was ready to say it backed the Palestinian State." Back the Palestinian State? This had to be a play on words maybe, but sure enough it was the truth. President Bush, along with Secretary of State Colon Powell, was ready to announce that the US would throw support behind Yasir Arafat.Is it not enough that our nation is going through indescribable mourning? The last thing I think people want to hear right now is that we are going to switch sides in an ongoing battle. And to make matters worse, we were going to join a side that has cultivated numerous terrorist acts, the one thing that sickens every American today.So one would think that after all that has happened, President Bush would think twice about following through with these negotiations. Au contraire - it seems that these negotiations are going to work to "our" advantage. And why not? We are about to initiate a war on Afghanistan, so it would be great to have large-scale support in the Middle East. One pat on the back deserves another right? So we help the Palestinian refugees back into Jerusalem. Maybe even turn our backs while they slowly envelope the whole nation of Israel. As long as we get what we want, a successful victory in our nearing war. Maybe this approach sounds fine from a political viewpoint. Logrolling has been a common practice in this nation ever since the beginning. But I imagine many Americans slammed this particular article down in disgust.How surprising is it that Arafat, along with other rulers, has informed the US that this is actually the optimal time to start the negotiations. The sooner we start, the sooner they'll help us. Apparently, the government doesn't feel that this is quite the right time to announce their new proposition to Palestine. I wonder if it has anything to do what just happened? Maybe they feel we, as the American people, won't back up this plan. If so, this would be correct. I haven't come across one individual who wasn't horrified by the idea of our support being swayed. It seems that former President Clinton, during his whole administration, made such a large effort to work on these problems. With one fell swoop, the Bush administration is going to let it all come crashing down.What does it say of our country that we can't stand behind Israel? We have so fervently stood behind it for so long, and now when it seems that the Palestinians could be our warring "saviors" we break all ties, throw away our support, and leave Israel stranded. It just doesn't seem right at all. All I keep hearing on the news is "... it seems that internationally, we're just not liked...are we not being portrayed correctly? We really are nice..."Maybe all those countries have seen something that I have been allowing myself to ignore - that we are selfish and work in our own best interest. When push come to shove, we won't be there backing up democracy, we'll be there catering to our own interests. I've led myself to believe that the US stood for so much good in this world, but maybe this is not the case.Whatever the case may be, let us hope and pray that President Bush realizes what a grave mistake supporting Palestinian statehood would be. Let Colon Powell recognize the error in this choice. Perhaps Palestinian support would aggravate Afghanistan's strategy, but look at the price we would be paying. It cannot possibly be worth it!Adrienne Yeganeh is a sophomore who has not yet declared a major.

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News

For men's soccer, dream ends 1-0

August 31

The soccer team's dream of winning the NESCAC Tournament came to a painful end on Saturday in a 1-0 loss to the Middlebury Panthers at Williamstown, MA. A victory would have meant a bout with the Williams Ephmen in the finals, with a chance for the Jumbos to avenge a 4-1 loss earlier in the season. A lone Middlebury goal by Connor Shapiro at the 62-minute mark proved the game-winner.With the win, the Panthers moved on to the showdown with Williams, which advanced easily to the final round with a 3-0 victory over Bowdoin. Yesterday, the Ephs topped the Panthers, 5-1, giving them a berth in the NCAA Tournament.There are four at-large bids to the national tournament, at least one of which a NESCAC team could pick up. While it will not be announced until late Sunday night, the loss to Middlebury likely puts Tufts out of the running. Last year, the women's team qualified on an at-large bid and advanced all the way to the finals of the NCAA tournament."If we had won that game we probably would have gone," tri-captain Brad Stitchberry said. "Even though our record is competitive, we don't think we will make it. It was very disappointing for the whole team because it was the closest we have ever come. We were essentially one or two goals away from going to NCAAs." Sporting an 11-4-1 record on the year and a 6-4 mark in the NESCAC (including the postseason), Tufts battled its way to a third place finish during the regular season. However, with four NESCAC losses, two to Middlebury and one apiece to Bates and Williams, it would appear the Jumbos are out of NCAA contention. Middlebury, on the other hand, could pick up the at-large bid, although its 10-6-2 record is not particularly outstanding. "If Middlebury goes, I'd be surprised," Stitchberry said. Missing the NCAA Tournament and a finals matchup with Williams will be especially hard for the Jumbos to swallow because they came so close to advancing. For nearly 62 minutes on Saturday, Middlebury and Tufts battled to a scoreless tie. With one resonating exception, neither team was able to put anything significant together and although both teams took a number of shots - 18 for the Jumbos and 15 for the Panthers - most of them were off the mark. "It was a game played between the two 18's," Stitchberry said. "It wasn't played in each box. The chances that came were few and far between. They had a chance off a corner in the first half that bounced to [goalie] Scott [Conroy]. Garrett [Dale] was about seven yards out on a tight angle in the last minute and the goalie got a toe on it and poked it away. The goalies made two reflex saves."Of Tufts' 18 shots, only three were accurate enough for the Panthers' goalie, Brian Hamm, to make a play on. Similarly, Jumbo goalie Scott Conroy only had the opportunity to stop three of 15 shots and was successful in two of those chances.Finally, at the 61:51 mark, Middlebury was able to break the tie when Shapiro beat a Jumbo defender off the dribble and drilled a shot into the right side of the goal from approximately 15 yards out."I can't wait to come back and watch him play when he matures," Stitchberry, a senior, said of Conroy. "He had an incredible season, and he is only gonna get better with experience. He is a very talented goalie. He is really talented player. It was unfortunate that he had to let a goal in. Their player just went on an outstanding run, and it was a tough shot to save. It wasn't anybody's fault."Following Shapiro's goal, the remaining 28 minutes played much the same way the first 61 did, with neither team able to get anything going offensively, despite opportunities. "I felt we battled and we didn't play a bad game," Stitchberry said. "A 1-0 score says the teams are pretty even," Stitchberry said. "They scored a nice goal and we had a lot of chances too. It was a game that could have gone either way."

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News

An American tragedy in Spain

August 31

Madrid, Spain - How do you tell someone that the unimaginable has happened in 120 letters and spaces? How do you tell them that the foundation of their homeland has been rocked when they are walking along a Madrid street 3,500 miles away? The truth is that you can't, but you try. "Terrorists attack, four planes crashed, two into the WTC and one int..." and that was all my father was able send. With the rest of his message cut off, I walked blindly into a world that only terrorists, and those devoting their lives to finding them, may have contemplated before. While America stopped working to gather around TVs with family and friends and watch the collapse of the Twin Towers, students at the International Institute in Madrid had to deal with the tragedy alone. When American students here tried to find that familiar face and comforting embrace of a best friend or significant other, they realized that everyone they loved was an ocean away, and possibly still in harm's way. On Sept. 11, the hallways of the International Institute in Madrid were alive with students running back and forth trying to get reception on transatlantic cell phones. You could easily identify the New Yorkers, or anyone that had a loved one or friend who worked at the World Trade Center, simply by seeing faces turned red from crying. But for the rest of the students, it felt more like a movie than an actual event. Little by little, more information trickled in, but never fast enough or complete enough to crystallize the events in our minds. "It seemed like a really sick sci-fi movie," junior Veenita Kaushik said. "It was almost like another terrorist attack somewhere else." For a while, we looked for information on the Web, but it was impossible to log on to the CNN or New York Times websites the day of the tragedies. Eventually, the program directors told us - in English no less, in itself a surprise - that a TV had been set up on the school's first floor. As the room filled up, many of us saw the images of the planes crashing in the WTC and of the collapse of both towers for the first time. But the Institute only carried the news in Spanish, so we wandered around nearby hotels and bars in search of an English-language station. Finally, a mixed group of Tufts, Colgate, and NYU students assembled at the Hard Rock Cafe, which was generous enough to switch on the news in English while many students ate for the first time in hours. In the days that followed, Tufts students in Madrid were consumed by the same emotions students on the Medford campus experienced. The majority of the people we encountered were sympathetic to our plight. Two weeks after the attacks, for example, I was walking through a small town north of Spain and a little old woman approached me to express her condolences for the US's tragedy. Not everyone in the country was so compassionate, though. There were comments that appeared in the papers and on television from certain Madrile?±os who were happy for what had happened to the US. This minority sentiment so worried the directors of the nine schools represented at the International Institute in Madrid that they warned us about acting "too American" and speaking English in the streets. As the days wore on, others in the Spanish press did not turn negative toward the US, but appeared more and more concerned about what American military reaction would be. Editorials in the newspaper El Pa?­s called on the US to behave in a more globally-oriented fashion and act with restraint when launching its counter attacks. Accompanying the editorial was a political cartoon depicting Uncle Sam driving a tank at breakneck speed with a blindfolded EU (European Union) character sitting beside him. In the cartoon, the EU figure asks Uncle Sam, "What do you want me to do?," to which Uncle Sam replies, "Sit still and be quiet." As the third post-attack week comes to a close, students in Madrid are still thinking about what happened in NYC - but it is not foremost in our thoughts. The news programs no longer lead with stories about the attacks. And fewer and fewer students linger in front of the makeshift memorial on the Institute's third floor. The major news story in Madrid for the last two days: AirEuropa held a fare sale of 50 percent off.

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News

Tufts authors promote their mystery novels

August 31

Lily Connor, an ordained priest, discusses scripture with her lover as they lie in bed in the morning. Faith Fairchild can't seem to escape the dead bodies that follow her on sabbatical from New York City throughout dreary towns west of Boston. Don't worry - these aren't bizarre tales of Tufts professors or students. They are plots from the mystery novels of Tufts authors.Over the last couple decades, mystery novels have become less plot-driven and more character-centered. Such was one of the many lessons learned Tuesday evening in Braker Hall as approximately 25 students and Tufts affiliates gathered to listen as mystery writers Michelle Blake and Katherine Hall Page discussed their newest novels. The two women took part in the second year of "Author Talks," presented by the Friends of Tufts Libraries.Tufts alum Page and current professor Blake spoke Tuesday night to promote their most recent mystery novels, amid questions and an opulent snack table. Page received her masters in secondary education from Tufts in 1974 and was first published in 1981. She said her enthusiasm to come back to Tufts was affected by the backing of the Tufts libraries. "Libraries are my favorite places to be," she explained. "I really like to do library series." A self-described writer of "cozy mysteries," Page prefers the Agatha Christie-type village mystery, in which the focus is on "whodunit" and not on gore. She likes to make her protagonists parents, in a way carving out her niche. Relating her writing to the tragedies of Sept. 11, Page quoted PD James in explaining that mystery novels are always popular in times of chaos and tension. The rational, beneficent universe present in such novels creates sanity for the readers, Page explained.Blake, meanwhile, teaches in the English department. A poet and writer, Blake arrived at Braker on Tuesday to promote her Earth Has No Sorrow, her second book in the Lily Connor series. A self-described "soft-boiled" writer (she finds a happy medium between "cozy" writing and the gore that defines "hardboiled" works), Blake loves the idea of mystery novels that "order will out." Page shares the sentiment, especially in the wake of Sept. 11 and the sense of chaos and uncertainty that ensued. Questions from the crowd, which was composed mostly of older adults with only a handful of students, included a request for the authors to describe how they avoid being formulaic, as well as an explanation of the strong presence of religion in their writings. Although dissimilar on the surface, Page believes the two share common traits. "Underneath there are many parallels," she said.Although there were favorites for some audience members, many came to see both women. The few students present said they went at the suggestion of professors. "I heard about the talk from my creative writing teacher and I've read some books of Katherine Hall Page, so I thought it would be interesting," sophomore Kate Williams said.In response to a request to define themselves as writers, neither woman was slow to designate herself a "mystery writer." While acknowledging that many authors of mysteries prefer to be called fiction writers or mystery novelists, Hall said simply, "story-telling is story-telling."Blake agreed, but admitted she was thrilled to think people were reading her work. "I love the idea of someone reading my book on the beach," Blake said. "I don't care where they read them. Just read them." As a mother and poet, Blake eased into novel writing fairly easily, motivated by her childhood love for mysteries. Page has been writing since the early 80s, getting her start in France. Since then, she has had a successful run with her mystery series starring Faith Fairchild. Both women shared a common fondness for the theological work of Dorothy Sayers, although Sayers is usually remembered for her mystery novels. Tufts graduate and active alumna Sondra reads both authors. "I've heard Katherine speak before and I've always enjoyed listening to her," Szymczak said. "This was my first time listening to Michelle and I think she is marvelous. I would love to have the opportunity to take a course with her." Sophomore Christine Hendrickson was motivated to come Tuesday partially by the fact that Blake is her teacher. "As my creative writing professor, Michelle is very human, so hearing about her transitions from poetry to short stories to novels makes writing as a profession a reality," Hendrickson said.

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News

UN flag raised over Tufts

August 31

The under secretary general of the United Nations, Alvaro de Soto, spoke yesterday on the academic quad as Tufts raised the UN flag to celebrate of UN Day. Although professors seemed pleased with the event, which further strengthened Tufts' ties to the UN, de Soto's tone was less than joyous. Criticizing the US foreign policy's aversion to establishing governments in foreign lands, he said that post-conflict peace, so-called nation building, is essential. "Unless you help the citizens where internal conflict takes place to create avenues of settlement, you really haven't done your job," de Soto said. De Soto emphasized the UN's role in nation building, saying the organization is "faced with new problems without passports," such as terrorism, environmental threats, and pandemics. At Tufts, he also made reference to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, responding to Secretary of State Colin Powell's remarks to Vladimir Putin, the Russian head of state, that the world has entered a new, post-Cold War era. "I think [Powell] meant that what had come to an end was an era of uncertainty of relations between the United States and Russia, as the successor to the Soviet Union, and that relationship was beginning to be clarified," De Soto said. In a letter de Soto read, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, who spoke last May at Fletcher commencement ceremony, called Tufts an important global institution. "Tufts epitomizes the face of the United States of America that the world appreciates most," wrote Annan, who shared this year's Nobel Peace Prize with the UN. Tufts' connection to the UN goes far beyond speeches and flag ceremonies. Many professors and students have worked for the UN in the past or plan to in the future. Fletcher student Hinako Toki, who attended the flag raising, volunteered for the UN High Commissioner on Refugees while living in the former Yugoslavia for two years, where she worked with displaced Kosovars. "Those who served with the UN shared the same feeling looking at the flag on this special day," Toki said. "It shows that the Tufts community is also part of the world." Fletcher professor Alan Henrikson, president of the UN Association of Greater Boston and the chair of the Fletcher Roundtable on a New World Order, first proposed to bring the UN to campus. The Fletcher school, renowned for its international law program, provides training for diplomats and non-governmental organizations workers, with courses on foreign policy, international criminal law, and human rights. "Many of us came to Fletcher because we want to be part of the UN, to improve the situation in our countries and around the world," said Tania Chavarria, a Fletcher student from Nicaragua. Dean of Admissions David Cuttino speculated that the ceremony could become an annual fixture on campus. "There is an ongoing effort in all parts of the University to support the understanding of operating in a global community," he said. "There is an enthusiasm for anything that encourages that kind of perspective and broader understanding." Students shared Cuttino's enthusiasm, including the few undergraduates who attended the early-morning ceremony. "I hope this tradition will continue," said Aditi Chawla, an IR major who works for the international relations journal Hemispheres. "This kind of event will make people outside of Tufts and people on campus more aware of the international focus." De Soto has a personal connection to Tufts, as his son Lucas is a freshman. A native of Peru, de Soto has been Annan's Special Advisor on Cyprus since 1999. He has worked at the UN for 20 years and served as assistant secretary-general for political affairs, covering the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, from 1995 to 1999. From 1990 to 1991, he led the negotiations which ended the decade-long war in El Salvador.

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News

More MOPS the merrier

August 31

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate and Dining Services Chair Patti Lee Klos are deciding whether to add Rose's to MOPS despite the fact that the Chinese restaurant may not extend its operating hours later into the night. Although slowing the process, the senators are correct to assert that Rose's remain open past 11 p.m., when most students crave local fast food. If Rose's does not adjust its hours, the MOPS contract should be given to Golden Light, the runner-up in the Senate's Web poll. The Chinese restaurant in Davis Square has comparable quality food and advertises itself as open the latest in town. The Senate should be applauded for its quick efforts to replace the popular Urban Gourmet, which dropped out of the program earlier this semester. Working with Dining Services, a Senate committee organized a Web poll, and promptly began negotiations with Rose's after it garnered the most votes. Now, however, those senators have understandably balked. Since meals cannot be purchased with points until 7 p.m., students would only have a four-hour window during which points can be used to order Chinese cuisine or sushi from Rose's. The Senate should use the lull in negotiations to push Lee Klos to incorporate other restaurants into the program, rather than simply filling the Urban Gourmet vacancy. Although there was considerable interest in adding a Chinese restaurant, there was no cause to include only Chinese restaurants on the poll, leaving any alternative for the never-popular "other" category. The Boston Ave. dual-establishment Pasta Pisa/Caf?© de Crepe, for example, has shown interest in joining the program, and students should be given as many MOPS options as there are interested businesses. Furthermore, it is entirely unreasonable that Tufts information and technology staff cannot overcome the technical limitations Lee Klos has cited to justify limiting MOPS participation. MOPS would also be enhanced if Tufts lessened the University bureaucracy involved in reimbursing the restaurants. Urban Gourmet dropped out complaining of the difficulty of working with dining services, whose payments to participating restaurants can allegedly arrive as much as two months late. This is unacceptable, and dining services should be more conscientious and prompt in working with local businesses. If, as it appeared yesterday, Lee Klos signs a contract with Golden Light, the student body will have been well served by their administrators and elected leaders. But the focus on the MOPS program should not be diverted until other pressing concerns are met.

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News

Weights or aerobic exercise first?

August 31

My workouts generally include weights and aerobic exercise (running, stationary bike, etc.). Is there any advantage to doing one before the other, or does it not matter?It's generally recommended to do a five to ten minute cardiovascular warm-up before engaging in any sort of exercise, be it resistance training (weightlifting), aerobic exercise, or anything else. Studies have shown that doing a cardio workout before a weight training session effectively reduces muscular strength, lowering the amount of weight one can lift. In the opposite case, lifting weights before doing cardio does reduce the capacity to perform (this is obvious... the muscles are tired), but does not, however, reduce the effectiveness or the cardiovascular benefit gained through aerobic exercise. In other words, whichever workout completed first affects performance in the subsequent one. For most people, the goal of weight training is to lift the heaviest weight possible with the strictest form possible. The goal of aerobic exercise, however, is usually to achieve either fat loss or cardiovascular benefit. In that light, I recommend that you consider your fitness goals and perform whichever workout you deem most important, first. If you are looking for gains in strength, start off by lifting. If you are looking primarily to increase speed, reduce fat, etc., and not specifically to increase strength or muscle mass, do the cardio first.I need some new exercises for my biceps. I usually do standing dumbbell or barbell curls, ending with one-handed cable curls. Now, I'm bored. Any ideas?There is one basic movement for which the bicep is used: the bending of the elbow joint. However, that is not to say there aren't a plethora of different and effective exercises that will make your biceps bigger and better than ever. Standing curls are the standard biceps exercise. These can be varied by doing them sitting (this is possible only using dumbbells) at either a right angle or at a slightly lower incline. Doing seated curls with the bench tilted back a little bit hits the part of the bicep closest to your forearm, and helps round out the muscle. Another great resource is the cable machine. Instead of plain old one-handed curls, you can do reverse curls, in which you grip the bar with a palms-over grip, or quick twenty-ones, to really burn. Another good exercise utilizing the cables is the following: Position each cable stack so the pulley is a little bit higher than your head. Attach a handle to each stack, and grab the weight, one hand holding each side. Position yourself so you are pretty much equidistant from both sides. Holding your arms straight out, parallel to the floor, slowly bend at the elbows until your fists are as close to your ears as your biceps will allow. At the same slow pace, lower the stack until your arms are almost straight. Do not let the weight rest, and repeat. This is a real burning exercise, so lighter weight is recommended, along with a rep range of 12-16, although heavier weight and lower reps can be substituted.Recently my shoulder has been bothering me while I am bench pressing. I've never had shoulder problems before, so I have never dealt with this type of injury. What could be wrong, and how can I fix it? Shoulder problems are serious, and are often more complex than they seem. If your shoulder is bothering you while benching, there are a few possibilities. Should problems often occur when a nerve is pinched in the joint, causing pain and discomfort. This is common in people who perform repeated motions, such as throwing a baseball. It also might be a bruise, which can happen if your shoulder pops out momentarily while lifting.But chances are that if you are benching heavy, your shoulder joint isn't strong or stable enough to deal with the stress of the weight. A solution would be to concentrate on physical therapy exercises to strengthen and stabilize your shoulder. These include light seated cable rows, lying dumbbell extensions, and front shoulder raises. In the case of a shoulder injury, however, always consult a doctor.

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News

Positive results of Yankees loss

August 31

By giving up the game-winning hit to Luis Gonzalez in the 9th inning of Game 7, Mariano Rivera and the New York Yankees did not bring a championship back to New York for the first time since 1997. But even as a New Yorker, I can admit that many positives resulted from the Yankees loss. Most importantly, the Yankees' World Series loss brought unimaginable joy to the Boston community. Not since 1918 have Bostonians been so happy. Actually, they probably weren't all that excited in 1918 because it appeared that the Sox World Series win would be just another in a long line of titles. Sometimes, reality can be so unfair. The Yankees loss also brought me untold enjoyment in the form of away messages from bitter Red Sox fans celebrating the Yankee loss as if it were a Red Sox win. Here are two of my favorites: "THAAAA RED SOX WIN!!!!!! THAAAA RED SOX WIN!!!!!! oh wait... THAAAA YANKEES LOSE!!! THAAAA YANKEES LOSE!!!" and "Does it make me a bad man to jump up and down laughing (metaphorically speaking) over the fallen body of Mariano Rivera? Perhaps. But tonight I know happiness, curled up under the covers in my Yankees Suck/Jeter Swallows t-shirt, sleeping peacefully with the knowledge that somewhere in this great land of ours, a certain baby blue-eyed shortstop weeps tears of misery." The Yankees losing will also surely benefit those gentlemen on Landsdowne Street, outside of Fenway Park, who, for reasons unbeknownst to me, sell Yankees Suck T-shirts. If they were able to sell those shirts when the Yanks were in the midst of winning three straight World Series Championships, they should do a booming business now that New York has lost Game Seven of the World Series. Next year, perhaps the T-shirts will be adjusted to say "Yanks Lose Game 7 - Now, they really, really, really suck." The loss also provides Bud Selig and Major League Baseball with a unique opportunity to fix all that is wrong in Boston baseball. With a simple asterisk, Selig could undo nearly a century of wrongs that the Red Sox and their fans have experienced at the hands of the evil Yankees. The asterisk, next to the Yankees loss in the record books, will signify a decision by Selig and Major League Baseball to officially count the Yankees defeat as a World Series Championship for Boston. Moreover, the Yankees loss also gives circuitous glory to an assortment of other teams outside of Boston that likewise haven't experienced much success. First, I would like to congratulate the Chicago Cubs for having had the services of Arizona first baseman Mark Grace for 13 years before he left for Arizona as a free agent last winter. While this might not seem like much, when you haven't won a World Series since 1906 you will look for positives anywhere. Furthermore, I would like to commend the Cleveland Indians. Although they did make the playoffs this year, and have been consistently good since 1994, they have not won a championship since 1948. But with at least three former Indians - Matt Williams, Greg Swindell, and Jay Bell - on the Diamondbacks roster, the Cleveland organization played an instrumental role in this year's World Series, and thus should be proud. The Diamondbacks victory was also positive because of the presence of 75-year old Mike Morgan on the active roster. Morgan's situation provides the possibility for a new senior citizen income alternative other than disability or Medicaid. The Diamondbacks will be holding a tryout camp for players 60 or older in January. Arizona's win, and more specifically the performance of Randy Johnson, did a lot to help the cause of another disadvantaged group, namely 6'10" men with mullets. Johnson's dominance should help this group gain some national exposure and hopefully prevent further persecution. On a more serious note, the Yankees also helped avert a potential casualty. After Byung-Hung Kim gave up his second consecutive game-tying homerun with two outs in the ninth, visions of Donnie Moore were running through my head. Moore, a former California Angles pitcher served up an ALCS ending homer to the Red Sox Dave Henderson in 1986 and it is thought that the homerun was a major factor in his eventual suicide. Had the Yankees not bailed him out, Kim would have gone down as the biggest World Series goat this side of Bill Buckner. Obviously, the Yankees are humanitarians and wanted to help prevent such a horrible plight. With the Yankees taking Kim off the hook, that leaves former Diamondbacks and Yankees manager Buck Sholwalter as the saddest man alive. Sholwalter was fired as the Diamondbacks' manager after last season only to see Arizona win the World Series this year. Likewise, George Steinbrenner chose not to bring back Sholwalter following the 1995 season and then the Yankees went on to win the World Series in 1996, 1998, 1999, and 2000. And finally, the Yankees' loss is positive because it makes me look like a prophet. In one of my earlier columns I said that this year was time for New York to let another team taste a World Series championship. While I wouldn't have picked the Diamondbacks to take over New York's throne, it just goes to show that even New Yorkers can't have everything. This loss gives New York the opportunity to be the lovable losers, for once, and will make next year's championship that much sweeter.

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News

Looking beyond the cloud of smoke

August 31

For many a cigarette smoker, whether an occasional or regular, pack-a-day puffer, lighting up on campus isn't quite what it can be elsewhere. For the many international students at Tufts and the estimated one-third of juniors who chose to study abroad, many - if not all - will notice the not-so-subtle difference in attitude towards smoking between the US and other countries. In the midst of tobacco lawsuits and anti-smoking commercials, it's easy to forget the social role that smoking has played for much of this country's history, and continues to enjoy in other parts of the world. Tristan Reed, a double major in international relations and International Letters and Visual Studies, grew up in France and has lived in the US, Spain, and Hong Kong. When he started smoking in high school, like virtually all of his international classmates, he saw it as a social habit. And while many see smoking as dirty and self-destructive, for Reed it remains a friendly vice. "It's always just been something I do when I'm having dinner or hanging with my friends or if I'm at a party," Reed explained. "It's also a great way to start a conversation or meet someone. There's a saying in French, 'A man without a light is [not a man.]'" But Reed has found that in the last few years, even France began to require non-smoking sections in restaurants. Spain has also begun an anti-smoking poster campaign under European Union (EU) auspices as a result of changing global opinion on smoking. "It's like the effect of the US is spreading everywhere," senior Sarah Vivenzio said. Vivenzio, a smoker, feels that at least some of the anti-smoking messages are getting out of hand. "I saw this one [commercial] where a guy barfs up his lung and his dog eats it. I mean, that's just gross," Vivenzio said. "It gets to the point where it's like, why do they have to push it in my face like that?" Vivenzio spent last semester in Florence, Italy. Like Reed, she found smoking to be pleasurable and relaxed abroad and often enjoyed a smoke at the dinner table, which she said was a pleasant change from smoking at Tufts. "I think Tufts is almost a non-smoking school," Vivenzio said, comparing the prevalence of smoking at Tufts to other area schools. "BU is like Europe. Everybody smokes. It's totally different." "Even when I'm at a party I have to step outside to smoke, because hardly anyone else does," Reed said. He feels that Tufts typifies the American attitude towards smoking in general. "The street is really the only place you can smoke freely," he said. "[In the US,] I feel more self-conscious about smoking. I'm much more aware of who's around me, and if they don't want me to smoke, I step outside." Reed said that he finds it "iffy" to smoke even in an outdoor caf?©, and he gets the occasional dirty look when he lights up. Vivenzio runs into similar reactions when she goes out in public. "People totally judge you when you smoke because, a: you're a loser because you can't control your need for a 'nic fix,' and, b: it's disgusting, you're poisoning yourself." In effect, cigarettes, which are seen as a social catalyst much like beer in many parts of the world, can lead to social awkwardness and criticism in America. And while it may be upsetting to some, senior John Ghisoni, a chemical engineering major, doesn't let the anti-smoking sentiment get to him. "I don't care at all. I smoke for me, not to fit in with others, and everyone I know smokes. Lots of people are anti-smoking, but I kind of avoid them," Ghisoni said. Like Reed and Vivenzio, Ghisoni sees smoking as a great social tool. "I can't tell you how many people I've met by smoking with them. I met all of my best friends that way," he said. As far as how other cultures look at smoking, Ghisoni says that smoking in Europe is better. "You can smoke anywhere - everybody smokes. Even Canada is better [for smoking]. But Europe is the smoker's palace," he said. For many who smoke, it's not just about the health issues. While cigarette smoking is linked to lung and heart disease, and nicotine is a highly addictive drug, smokers have their side of the story, too. It's not about blowing smoke in others' faces, or starting a nasty habit. It's a way to relax and enjoy the company of their peers. One thing that may be missing from public dialogue is how new anti-smoking policies, like smokeless bars or entirely smoke-free restaurants, can take into account the smokers themselves and offer them ways to adjust their social habits rather than just stamping them out.

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News

Study reveals that students drink less than perceived

August 31

A study of alcohol use at Tufts released in May shows that although four out of five Tufts students drink, most students think their peers drink more than they really do. Although national drinking statistics are widely available, The Tufts University Alcohol Study was the first focused on alcohol use on this campus. The report recommended the University run a "social norms" campaign to inform students about how much other students really drink. The study, released by the community health program, was conducted by department chair Edith Balbach, lecturer Charlene Galarneau, and students who took a year-long course devoted to the study, which began in September 1999. Galarneau said she and the students examined drinking in different situations - not just binge drinking - to characterize overall alcohol use on campus. "In general, Tufts students are like [those at] many other campuses," Galarneau said. At Tufts, overall alcohol use falls is consistent with statistics for similar-sized schools, where drinking is neither unusually light or nor heavy. At larger universities, Galarneau said, heavier drinking often occurs more frequently. The survey did find, however, that a significant number of the students surveyed - 15.8 percent - typically consumed six or more drinks at one time, which is characteristic of alcohol dependency. The study compiled students' drinking habits through written surveys, group discussions, and one-on-one interviews. The researchers also focused on first-year student's perceptions of drinking. "The first-year drinking experience in many ways is different from other drinking," Galarneau said. "When students first come to campus, they bring a lot of expectations about drinking." But these expectations often turn out to be false, Galarneau said. The study found that freshmen and other Tufts students, like other students around the nation, overestimate the amount of drinking their peers do. "I think to a certain extent, [students] think it's cool to drink a lot," said Steve Metzger, a senior and one of the student researchers. This makes student think that their peers drink more often than they really do, he added. In fact, the study found that 19 percent of students do not drink alcohol at all, a statistic that surprised junior Viola Manteufel, another student researcher. "That's a lot bigger than I had expected," she said, "and I think other students would be skeptical of it. But that's what we found."Manteufel pointed out that students may perceive heavy alcohol use among their peers because they are more likely to remember frequent drinkers than nondrinkers. "The people who do use alcohol are so visible," she reasoned. "It's easy to find the drunk people, but it's harder to find the people who aren't drunk."Although participation in the Greek system is high and fraternities are popular spots for freshman drinking, the study found that drinking often occurs elsewhere."It was... significant to validate the theory that students are drinking as often in their residence hall rooms as they are at the frats," said Armand Mickune-Santos, coordinator of the alcohol health education program. The student and faculty researchers ended the study with eight recommendations which address student well-being. "[The] emphasis is on how to create an environment that is safe and healthy as opposed to a punitive approach to drinking," Galarneau said. The University's underage drinking policy was recently relaxed for students caught drinking in dorms. The new policy puts students on residential life probation, keeping them in "good standing" with the university. Last year's policy, which Dean of Students Bruce Reitman called an "aberration," in a Daily interview earlier this month, placed students on university probation and took away good standing privileges, such as pledging fraternities and sororities. The recommendations include a social norms campaign that would correct misperceptions of student drinking, continuing research on campus alcohol use, and implementing a campus plan to address alcohol-related concerns."Designing and implementing a social norms campaign to compliment the educational and the counseling services we now offer would work well this year," Santos said.As the only alcohol health counselor on campus, Santos emphasized the need for others to become involved in campaigns on drinking awareness."This 'alcohol abuse drinking culture' is too significant of a problem that can only be addressed as a community effort," Santos said. "Social and non-drinkers should not have to tolerate other people's inappropriate and unwanted behaviors and attitudes." Santos recommends that Greek students in particular lead the campaign, because they are sometimes criticized for making alcohol widely available. "Fraternities spend a great deal of time defending and defining the great things they do for the community regarding campus life," he said. "Now would be a great time for fraternities to promote a lifestyle that has less emphasis on alcohol parties." The study, a result of Tufts' involvement in the Boston Coalition's Task Force on Underage & Problem Drinking and the University's own Alcohol Task Force, was sent to 45 to 50 administrators, faculty, staff, and student groups. "Now we have actual Tufts data that tells us how much Tufts drinks," Galarneau said. "It's really an at-home picture." "We hope that everyone involved with the University will pick up on this and pick up on a discussion and some sort of plan," Galarneau said.

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News

Gators drop ball against Auburn, Miami now #1

August 31

When the number one Florida Gators rolled into Alabama to face the unranked Auburn Tigers this weekend, Florida coach Steve Spurrier and quarterback Rex Grossman figured they could easily dispose of their conference rival. The Gators hoped for a victory that would place them first in both national polls, but in overlooking their opponent suffered an unexpected 23-20 loss. In fact, the 4-1 Tigers have been overlooked all year, mostly because prior to Saturday they had not played any ranked teams. But with a chance to show off their skills, Auburn did not miss the opportunity, winning a tight contest when Damon Duval kicked a game-winning 44-yard field goal with just ten seconds left. Auburn stayed with Florida throughout the game, and even led 10-6 at halftime. Though 21-point underdogs, the Tigers controlled Florida's high-octane offense, intercepting Grossman four times, and came away with an important SEC win. Spurrier's Gators, meanwhile, were put in the unenviable position of having to right a fallen ship, one which had its sights set on a national championship. Back in the state of Florida, the top-ranked University of MiamiHurricanes played at the number 14 Florida State Seminoles. Miami took advantage of special teams play to spark its 49-27 victory, which should help to solidify its shaky claim atop both national rankings. Early in the game, the Hurricanes blocked an FSU punt and returned it five yards for a touchdown. Later, they turned a botched field goal attempt into a touchdown.FSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Chris Rix threw four interceptions and lost two fumbles, making a difficult game impossible for the Seminoles. The only bright spot was the Seminoles' ability to run against the Hurricanes' defense. When the running game picked up speed, however, it was too little, too late for Florida State.Miami earned respect with this victory. Despite the team's undefeated record, the knock on the squad was that it had not faced any quality opponents. And while Florida State is having an off year, the Seminoles are regardless a formidable opponent - indeed, the Hurricanes snapped FSU's 54-game unbeaten streak at Doak Campbell Stadium with the win. While Miami-FSU was a match-up of powerhouses, perhaps the weekend's most anticipated game was the seventh-ranked UCLA Bruins' bout with the number eight Washington Huskies. But instead of a great game, the Bruins jumped out to 21-0 first-quarter lead over their Pac-10 Conference rivals. In the end, the Bruins completed the route, winning 35-13. The main component to their victory was running back DeShaun Foster's 301 rushing yards and four touchdowns. The Huskies had not allowed a rushing touchdown all season.In addition, Washington, a clock-controlling team, was held to 16 rushing yards including minus 18 yards for leading rusher Rich Alexis. Playing from far behind throughout the game, the Huskies were forced to pass more then they like. Moreover, the team gave Taylor Barton his first collegiate start in place of injured quarterback Cody Picket. While Barton did pass for 316 yards, he fumbled twice and was intercepted once.Now, UCLA has a legitimate shot at playing for the National Championship. Two of the team's remaining six games come against ranked opponents Stanford and Oregon, and with wins in those contests, UCLA would make a legitimate case for a one or two ranking in the Bowl Championship Series rankings at the end of the year.In other news around the country: Lou Holtz' South Carolina Gamecocks are no longer undefeated nor ranked in the top ten. They lost 10-7 to unranked Arkansas. . . . Fresno State did stay unbeaten, squeaking a 25-22 overtime victory over Colorado State. Quarterback David Carr continued his stellar season, leading Fresno to a last second game-tying touchdown. . . . In a classic Big-10 matchup, the Wisconsin Badgers upset the Ohio State Buckeyes 20-17. The Badgers were down 17-0 in the second quarter but rallied behind quarterback Brooks Bollinger and a defense that was able to hold the Buckeyes without a score for the remainder of the game.

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News

Losing your gut, and more

August 31

Say I wanted to start a cardiovascular program to get back into shape. I'm not talking about getting strong, just losing my gut and extra fat. And say I wanted to swim three days a week. Could you plan a program to make me lose weight? The first step in planning any exercise program is evaluating your fitness goals. You want to lose fat and get in shape, so I'll assume you're looking for a program of moderate aerobic intensity. Before launching into an all-out fat burning program, there are a few caveats that must be mentioned. First, as with the beginning of any exercise program, make sure you talk to your doctor before you start. Second, start out slowly and then work up to your fitness goals. Going all out the first time in the gym will not only leave you sore for days, it will lower morale and diminish your enthusiasm for your next workout. Third, an aspect of the program that is equally as important as the actual exercises is your diet. Eat smaller meals more frequently throughout the day, and keep your caloric intake to roughly 50% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 20% fat. Also, try not to eat for an hour or so before exercise. That said, here is a program that should help: Plan on working out three to four times per week. Start on a Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule, and then add a day that is convenient once you've settled into the workout. Since you want to incorporate swimming into the workout, I recommend either two days of swimming and a day of running or cycling, or two days of running/cycling and a day of swimming. Try to avoid doing the same thing every day, since a lack of variation can impede your progress. It's been clinically proven that as little as 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise three times a week is not only beneficial to cardiovascular health, but also facilitates fat loss. In other words, for each workout session, start out with 20-30 minutes of exercise, be it swimming slow, easy laps, jogging at 6 miles per hour, or riding the bike. On the cardiovascular equipment, try to monitor heart rate, as the optimal heart rate for fat loss is around 60-65% of your max heart rate. As these sessions become easier, add another day or increase the time to 35 or 40 minutes. The key is constant variation, as your body will adapt quickly, especially in the beginning.Are there any exercises that put particular emphasis on forearms? I am lifting heavy, without straps, and sometimes the bar slips out of my hands because my grip isn't strong enough. The forearms are used in almost every sports movement when the upper body comes into play. Because the muscle is used so much, it's often difficult to effectively strengthen it. Some people's forearms grow stronger naturally and proportionately to the weight they lift. For the rest of us, there are a few key exercises that can be utilized to make sure your forearms keep up with your upper body. Two great exercises for the forearms using a barbell are wrist curls and reverse wrist curls. Sit on a bench, with your knees at right angles and close together. Rest your forearms, palms up, on your thighs, so your legs are supporting your arms to just before your wrists. Hold the barbell loosely in your hands and let your wrists break so the barbell rolls down your palm to your fingertips. Curl the bar up with your fingers, finishing the movement with your hands fully clenched and your palms facing your body. The reverse movement is similar, except with your palms face down. Make sure you go through the full range of motion, as forearm exercises are easy to cheat on. Another good exercises requires nothing more than a tennis ball. Holding the tennis ball in your palm, squeeze it as hard as you can for a ten-count. Release. Repeat as many times as you want, but be forewarned - this produces a serious burn.

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News

Football outplays Amherst, but loses 14-10 on homecoming

August 31

For the second straight week, Tufts faced an undefeated opponent. Just like last week, the Jumbos played on equal footing as their foe and gave themselves opportunities to win. But for the second consecutive game, turnovers around the goal line cost Tufts the chance of an upset. Amherst sophomore Flethcher Ladd scored from five yards out with 12:52 left in Satuday's Homecoming game to give the Lord Jeffs a 14-10 lead, one they would not relinquish. Ladd rushed for 144 yards and Amherst's only two scores on the day, as the Lord Jeffs move to 6-0 and remain in a tie for the NESCAC lead with rival Williams. The Jumbos fall to 4-2, and for the second straight week, are left with a lot of "what ifs?" For the second straight week, Tufts squandered opportunities to win the game. Ahead 10-7, the Jumbos went on an impressive 16-play, 8:31 drive that ended the third quarter and brought them down to the three-yard line. But the first play of the fourth quarter was the last play of the drive, as junior running back Keven Kelley fumbled the ball as he attempted to dive over the pile. "That was a major turning point of the game," coach Bill Samko said. "If we score there, we go up 17-7, maybe it's over, maybe not. But you have to give them credit. They made the plays." Amherst recovered the fumble and marched down the field for Ladd's game-winning score. Tufts had one more good scoring chance in the game, as sophomore Mark Tilki recovered a fumble at the Jumbos' 38-yard line with 8:34 remaining in the contest. Junior quarterback Scott Treacy led the march down to the 13-yard line before the drive stalled. Facing a fourth and eight, Treacy was forced to throw into a crowd over the middle, where the ball was tipped then intercepted by junior Paul Micelli. Though Tufts got the ball back one more time, it was only with 14 seconds remaining and without any timeouts. The clock wound down before the Jumbos could get off a Hail Mary. Kelley got the day started when he ran in from one yard early in the second quarter. The score, which gave Tufts a 7-0 lead, was significant for a few reasons. It was the first touchdown the Amherst defense had succumbed all season. Further, it gave Tufts a seven-point cushion. "We heard about their defense and how good they were," Tilki said. "Driving down the field and scoring on them was a big boost to our confidence."That lead was swiftly squandered, though, as Ladd scored his first touchdown of the game, a one-yard run. The scoring drive was a short one, as Ladd ran 44 yards down to the one-yard line on the first play of the drive, then scored on the second. Tufts answered on the ensuing possession, though, as Tilki returned the kickoff 48 yards, which set up a 5-play, 16-yard drive that stalled on the Amherst 21. From there, senior kicker Howie Rock booted a 38-yard field goal to put the Jumbos up 10-7 with 5:20 left in the half. It would remain that way until Ladd's second score. Saturday, Tufts ran the ball 63 times for 225 yards, as Kelley, who took the ball 41 times for 155 yards and a score, spearheaded the rushing effort. "Running is what we do," Samko said. "That's what our strength is." The 225 rushing yards were 37 more than the Lord Jeffs, and Tufts also held an advantage in total yards, first downs, plays, and time of possession. The biggest reason for Tufts' statistical advantage was the defense, which played on par Amherst's defensive unit - the best in the country heading into Saturday's game. The Jumbos held Amherst to a mere 35 passing yards and eight first downs, while forcing two fumbles and an interception. "We played our asses off and we played really hard. That's all you can ask," graduate defensive lineman Everett Dickerson said. Despite two straight weeks of statistical domination and winning opportunities, Tufts is now 4-2, and must bounce back to play Colby on the road next weekend. "It will be interesting to see what our players do next weekend," Samko said. "Colby can beat us, we can beat them. We gotta go play extremely hard. I think our players will react fine, but they're upset now." If nothing else, the consecutive losses to NESCAC leaders proves that Tufts can play with the best in the conference. "There's no question that we can play with them," Samko said. "We're finally at that point, but now we have to get past it. We only have four senior starters this year, so we're young, but experienced. But this was very disappointing today. We should have won."

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News

What are you going to watch tonight?

August 31

When the World Series was moved back a week following the events of Sept. 11, and Michael Jordan announced his comeback in early October, many people looked to Oct. 30 as decision day. What would it be - Game 3 at the Stadium or MJ's return at the Garden? Three weeks later, that question is still as pressing as ever. What are you going to watch tonight?

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News

Just what do you do as president, anyway?

August 31

Last Friday night my wife Adele and I had dinner with a number of students. One of them, an incoming freshmen, asked me, "Just what do you do as president anyway?" It was a good question. In fact, given that I am new to this job, the answer comes into sharper focus daily. Let me try to describe to you how I see my role at Tufts. For a relatively small university, Tufts is a complicated place - seven schools, four campuses, 8,500 students, thousands of employees, and over 80,000 living alumni. It would be a gross overstatement to say that any one person "runs" the university. Our traditions of collegiality and shared governance between the faculty and administration make the job of a university president quite different from that of the typical CEO. If I am going to be an effective leader, I need to know Tufts well. I have spent the past few months visiting with faculty, staff, trustees, and students to get their perspective on the challenges we face. Each time I meet with people, I ask them the same question: If you had three wishes to make Tufts a better place, what would they be? Many of these conversations have been quite revealing. At heart I am a teacher and love interacting with students. I am advising ten freshmen this year together with Dawn Terkla, head of Institutional Research. I am learning a lot both from my freshmen and my peer advisors. Next year I also hope to do some teaching. I enjoy being in a classroom, and I am not ready to give it up.Probably the most important part of my job is helping to shape University priorities. At any point in time, people have far more good ideas than the University can possibly support. For example, from my conversations with students, I have already learned that many of you believe Tufts would be a better place if we reduced tuition, increased financial aid, built more dormitories, provided more support for large on-campus social events, provided more late night dining opportunities, reduced the size of classes, improved mail services, paid our custodians more - I could go on.Faculty have their own list of priorities. As your new president, I am spending a lot of my time listening, trying to understand how to make the hard choices that will best strengthen Tufts. Given that we have only one pot of money, we must use it wisely.Making that pot larger is another major part of my job. Fundraising is more than just asking people for money. Most people give because they want to make a difference. We must sharply articulate a vision for our future and help donors understand how they can help us achieve this vision. I think students can play an important role in this process, especially in communicating to donors our needs in the area of student life. Since many donors want to meet the president, I expect to spend a fair bit of my time on the road.Helping to build a stronger sense of community and increasing the visibility and reputation of Tufts are other important components of my job. Over the course of the academic year, Adele and I will host some eighty different functions at Gifford House. Many of these events will involve large parts of the student community. For example, on Sept.12 we will host a reception to welcome the senior class back to campus. We will also host dinners for distinguished visitors to Tufts, government officials, trustees, alumni, and other friends of the University. We will also be visiting alumni clubs around the country throughout the year. (I am starting to think that my real title should be "University Stomach" given how many meals I eat on behalf of Tufts. One of the occupational hazards in this job is a growing waistline.)In addition to the above, there are lots of other things to do - chairing numerous meetings, maintaining good relations with our neighbors in Medford, Somerville, Grafton, and Boston, meeting with various student groups, acting as the primary point of contact between the trustees and the University - on some days the list seems endless.It is an incredibly interesting and rewarding life, one that brings me into contact with smart and dedicated people on a daily basis. I feel very fortunate to have this wonderful opportunity to serve Tufts.One of my greatest challenges (and yours as well, I suspect) is to find balance in my life. If I let it, work can easily crowd out time for everything else. I try to run three or four times a week, usually early in the morning. I also like to sail in the summer and ski in the winter. Anyone who wants the ear of the president is welcome to run with me. Just send me an e-mail so we can coordinate schedules.I run early - usually around 6 a.m. - but my pace is reasonable. Hope to see some of you jogging around campus.Lawrence S. Bacow is the 12th president of Tufts University.@jump:Bacow

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