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Weather conditions thwart runners from peak performances

August 31

With half the team on the sidelines, the men's cross country squad raced to a ninth place finish last weekend at the Codfish Bowl in Franklin Park. The team's new training program means that half of the Jumbos run each weekend; this Saturday, the stronger runners, including both co-captains, sat out, while many of the younger harriers ran for the first time on a "fast" course. The last time this group raced, they participated in the Hayseed Classic on Tufts' home course in hilly Grafton. At Franklin Park on Saturday, the group found much flatter terrain. The Jumbos had hoped to use the weekend to accommodate the freshmen to a faster-paced race. But despite the easier conditions, the pace was not as quick as the team had expected because of the humid weather. "We wanted to try to work together and finish as a group," freshman Aaron Kaye said. Even without their strongest runners, though, the team was able to keep up with its opponents, which competed with full rosters. "They showed they can run hard and that they intend to race like a varsity squad," senior co-captain Ben Smith said. The strongest performance of the day came from junior Jacob Berman, who finished first for the Jumbos and 33rd overall with a time of 27:25.20. Berman's time was a vast improvement over his Hayseed Classic performance (29:18.6). "He went out there racing hard and has really started to come to the forefront as one of our strongest guys," Smith said. Berman was one of several Jumbos who shaved time off their personal bests. Sophomores Ian Joseph and James Lamoureaux finished second and third for the Jumbos, improving on their times as well. Joseph dropped down to 27:43.00, while Lamoureaux finished at 27:51.80. In fact, nearly all of this weekend's runners upped their times, and the team saw its average race time drop from 28:25.7 to 27:48.8. "We've been training hard and we're working really well together," Kaye said. The latest NCAA poll has Tufts ranked third in New England, behind Keene State and MIT, and eighth in the nation. But the team has tried to avoid paying attention to the rankings. "We're pretty proud of the fact that we don't pay attention to the rankings," Smith said. "They mean as close to nothing as you could get." Meanwhile, Smith and the others who did not race last weekend look forward to their first competition at Grafton in this weekend's Jumbo Invitational. After two weeks of rest, they look forward to seeing the results of the new training program on their personal times. "Everything we do from this day until November 17th [the beginning of postseason meets] is preparation. We want to do well at the NESCACs and the ECACs and nationals is our ultimate goal, so winning meets in the meantime is basically irrelevant," Smith said. Instead, Smith sees this weekend as a chance to improve individual times and for the younger freshmen on the second squad to run a challenging course. The Jumbos will begin their race this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

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News

NESCAC Roundup, women's soccer style

August 31

It's never too early to start studying the women's soccer NESCAC standings, especially considering that only the winner of the end-of-season tournament gets to play in the NCAA postseason. After the first full weekend of NESCAC play, Amherst and Tufts are sitting pretty in a tie atop the standings, with eight other teams trying to figure out how to catch them. The Amherst Lord Jeffs won their second conference game of the season last Saturday with a 2-0 shutout of Bates. Amherst was powered by two of its senior tri-captains - striker Cathy Poor, who scored her second goal in as many games, and goalie Hallison Putnam, who had six saves and recorded a shutout in her first-ever start in the net. Putnam, normally a midfielder and striker, was forced into the new role because junior starter Brooke Diamond is suffering from mononucleosis. Freshman Tracy Montigny posted her first career goal in the 66th minute to cap the scoring. The win propelled Amherst to 2-0 in the conference, dropping the Bobcats to 0-1 and in a tie for eighth place. For the Lord Jeffs, it was an important triumph, as they kept pace with the Jumbos, who continued to bounce back from a stunning season-opening loss to Babson with their second straight conference win. This one was a come-from-behind, 3-1 victory over the 13th-ranked Middlebury Panthers on Saturday. Last year, the Panthers, the top seed in the NESCAC tournament, were the only conference team the Jumbos failed to defeat at least once. The revenge was highlighted by two goals from junior midfielder Alle Sharlip, who was rewarded with NESCAC Player of the Week and the Daily Athlete of the Week honors. Sharlip's two goals sandwiched a tally from senior striker Lynn Cooper. Though Middlebury struck first with a goal from Leah Cumsky-Whitlock, senior goalie Mara Schanfield had five saves and kept the Panthers out of the net the rest of the day to earn her first win of the season. Looking up at Amherst and Tufts in the standings is Williams, though the Purple Cows are not far behind with a 1-0 conference record. Williams blasted the Bowdoin Polar Bears by a 4-1 margin on Saturday, handing Bowdoin its first conference loss of the season. The Polar Bears are now tied with Colby, Conn. College, and Middlebury for fourth in the conference at 1-1. For Williams, it was junior Stacey Starner reestablishing herself as the team's offensive leader - she led the Purple Cows in scoring the first two seasons of her career - with the first two goals of the contest. Starner was assisted on both scores by senior co-captain Marlene Bonasera. The Purple Cows' third goal came on a connection from a pair of freshmen, as Daniela Bailey set up Lindsay Dwyer. It was Dwyer's third goal of the short season. Bowdoin had something to cheer about when Jill Fallwall scored in the 85th minute of the game, but Williams answered right back with a goal from midfielder Lisa Schulman. The Colby White Mules find themselves in a four-way tie for fourth in the conference after evening their conference record to 1-1 with a 2-0 shutout of the Wesleyan Cardinals. The Cardinals didn't look much better the next day, as they traveled south to Bowdoin on Sunday, only to lose to the Polar Bears, 6-1. Bowdoin spread the scoring around, as six different players tallied one goal each. Only Becca Cohen got Cardinals fans excited with the lone Wesleyan goal. While the Bowdoin/Wesleyan contest may have been the least dramatic of the weekend, Conn. College's 2-1 overtime victory against the visiting Trinity Bantams was the most exciting. Senior forward Lena Eckhoff dribbled through the Trinity defense and scored from 15 yards out in the 104th minute to give the Camels the win. It was Conn. College's first conference victory of the season. The second weekend of conference play will peg Williams at Wesleyan, Trinity at Bates, Bowdoin playing host to Middlebury, Amherst traveling to Conn. College, Tufts on the road at Colby, and a Sunday matinee of Bates against. Middlebury. The only in-week conference game is today's contest, as Tufts welcomes Conn. College.

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News

What I've learned

August 31

A few months ago, I decided to change the focus of my column. This was the sixth consecutive semester I had penned a weekly column, so to spice things up, I decided to focus solely on Tufts athletics. The problem is, these columns have been about as spicy as water. To my knowledge, no one had ever attempted to write a column exclusively on Tufts sports, and now I know why. It's extremely difficult. But, as with any experiment, I learned a few things along the way.1. The Athletic Department is a closed community. Athletic Director Bill Gehling runs a tight-lipped department. When I wanted to investigate how Title IX works at Tufts, all I was told by the department is the basic law it is required to follow, and that Tufts is acting within that law. When I asked the coaches whose players had said that things weren't always equal between men and women, the coaches replied that they had never really had a problem.There's more. One of the assistant trainers left over the weekend. The only way I know is because her name no longer appears on the website. When I asked the head trainer, Mark Doughtie, why she was gone, he replied, "I have no idea."Odd, isn't it, that the head trainer has no idea why a member of his staff no longer shows up to work. At present, I can't write why she's gone, other than the fact that she was fired.2. Promised changes are slow, if they happen at all. My first column this semester was about the lackluster condition of the intramural program. In response to my column, and recognizing the obvious need for improvement of a program that caters to a large population of Tufts students, both Gehling and Assistant Athletic Director Branwen Smith-King told me that I would be asked to serve as a consultant on how to improve intramurals.We are a few weeks away from the start of the winter season - which includes basketball, one of the most popular intramural sports - and I am still waiting for my phone to ring.I have a whole list of changes, but it appears that promises made about asking me were meant simply to appease an angry student with a voice.There's more. When I wrote the column about the new basketball floor, I did some research of my own. I played on the court, and discovered that it was slippery and dirty. I also discovered that it wasn't just dust and dirt on the court, there were hairs on the court, as well. These hairs were the type of hairs that fall from guys when they scratch themselves, and I'm not talking about scratching their head because they're confused.And not just a few isolated hairs, but armies of them all over the place. I mentioned this to Gehling as both a sanitary and aesthetic issue, and while the gym floor may be swept more regularly now, it's poor form when you need a college reporter to tell you how to maintain your new, $100,000 surface.3. Covering Tufts athletes is a hazard. All athletes love to see their name in the paper - when it's associated with wins, points, goals, or first-place finishes. But when something is printed that doesn't paint the athlete in the most positive light, they blame the writers.The women's cross-country team was going through a rebuilding season this year. It's understandable, two of its top runners from last year graduated. To expect anything more than an average season would have been unrealistic.But as soon as the articles discussed the fact that they were losing, coach Kristin Morwick got upset with our writer. I edited all of those articles, and took out a lot of the sugar coating that our writer had included, so I can take the blame for making them sound less positive.You know what, coach, when your team doesn't perform well, we can't write that they do. The articles did not trash the team, or its effort, they merely recorded the results.You can't have it both ways. If you want to be covered, you are going to be covered, entirely and without bias. It's a message we have tried to send to the Athletic Department and its coaches for the past few years. We are not your cheerleaders. You have people that steal pom-pons to do that.We write what happened, good or bad. Which leads me to number...4. The Athletic Department doesn't do a good enough job of cheerleading for its teams. I discussed this in an interview with Gehling, and he said that he feels that attendance at games is a reflection of how the team is doing. And that is true to a point. But it is possible for the Athletic Department to put in a little more work to increase attendance.Place seasonal sports schedules in the gym. Take out ads in the Daily, chalk, put up flyers. Make the games fun environments. Get the Bubs or Jills or the Gospel Choir to perform at halftime. Give away prizes, have raffles. Do all the things that other campus groups do to get the word out. But for God's sake, don't make your teams play in Cathedral-like environments.There are more people in my methodology course (ten) than at a lot of volleyball and women's basketball games. It's imperative that the athletic department do more to promote and advertise its teams, because like I said before, the Daily isn't going to do it.

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News

Renovations improve looks, safety of Tufts facilities

August 31

As thousands of students left Tufts last May, eager to begin their summer vacations, they were replaced by throngs of scaffolds, cranes, and construction workers that moved onto the Hill in their stead. These temporary fixtures took up residence at Tufts with one goal in mind: to complete a host of renovation projects before the students returned in the fall. The biggest project by far was the 28,000-square-foot psychology building, which was officially occupied by the psychology department in August. The department is finally united under one roof after spending years divided between Bacon and Paige halls. The facility contains state-of-the-art labs, improved offices, and classrooms. "It's definitely about time that psychology - one of the most popular majors here - has moved out of a temporary trailer to a real building," senior psychology major Amy Gelender said. "I thought the new building was really nice when I walked around." While the new building is Tufts' most prominent addition, many other buildings and classrooms have also been renovated. Some classrooms got much-needed facelifts and new technology. Braker 001 was gutted and now features auditorium-style seating and new audiovisual equipment. New seating was installed and the projection booth enlarged in Barnum 008. The room is a popular site for large lecture classes and home to Film Series. Eaton Hall classrooms were also wired for new technology, with video conferencing capabilities installed in room 208. "We wanted to update the classroom for modern teaching," said Vice President of Operations John Roberto. Operations also focused on improving the facades of buildings around campus. Workers are near completing the roof and stone masonry work at Pearson. The building was long-overdue for work, as it has not been renovated since its construction in 1921. "It's an exterior envelope project," explained Deferred Maintenance Program Manager Rudi Pizzi. "That means we're restoring the old side of the building... it's for the most part done, there's still some work we need to do." But Pearson won't only have an attractive exterior. The Chemistry Department will schedule interior renovations to the labs once the exterior construction is completed. Thanks to residence hall projects, many students will live and sleep better this year. The fences around Latin Way were finally torn down as the second phase of a two-year renovation to the dorm. More singles will be available in the newly renovated towers to accommodate the increasing demand for housing. Carmichael, Haskell, and Wren halls all got new sprinklers, smoke detectors, and other life safety equipment. The construction is part of a three-year plan to protect all residence halls with the fire equipment. Wood-framed houses were outfitted first, because they pose the greatest fire threat. Roberto said the work had to be done during the summer because it required extensive access to residents' rooms. "It's an invasive procedure... it's best to get it done while the dorms are unoccupied," Roberto said. Unexpected problems with Wren's infrastructure delayed completion of the renovations to its roof and exterior. "We needed to do more with Wren than we planned to do, which is why the roof was a little delayed," Pizzi said. He speculated that construction would be completed by the end of September. The departure of the former construction director , Biagio DiTullio, further slowed this summer's construction projects. A major Boston-area construction firm recruited DiTullio, pulling him out of Tufts. "We still managed to get done what we needed to get done, and to address planning needs," Roberto said. Though the department is only nearing completion of this summer's projects, it is already planning projects for next summer, including breaking ground for a new dorm. "Construction projects are planned well in advance," he said. "We lined up people for this summer seven months ago and we're now lining people up for next year."

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News

Online shopping clicks with students

August 31

It's two in the morning and the yen to shop has hit. Visions of sweaters, CD's, and collectibles dance in your head. The mall may be closed, but the stores are all open in cyberspace. The phenomenon of online shopping has consumed the lives of many students, including those at Tufts. And with the busiest shopping season of the year quickly approaching, many students are turning to the Internet to find the perfect presents. Online shopping definitely has perks: spending money without the hassles of waiting in line, getting stuck in traffic, and having to carry tons of bags through the mall. Some brands offer more of a selection, size-wise and style-wise, on their websites than in their retail stores. And on a cold Boston afternoon, hitting Newbury Street may sound less appealing than simply hitting the keyboard. Junior Michael Torsiello loves online shopping both for himself and for friends and has explored websites ranging from J. Crew and Banana Republic to eBay and Pottery Barn. "It's always been a pleasure; you order something, forget about it, and then a few days later you receive a package," he said. Some students say that online shopping requires less time and effort - two things that students are already lacking. All one has to do is get to the desired website, choose "online shop," click on the styles, colors and sizes wanted, and hit checkout. Once the credit card number has been submitted, all the shopper has to do is wait for the goods to arrive. A confirmation e-mail is sent immediately and the items can be received whenever you want - depending on what you're willing to pay for shipping. "It's easy and practical, and takes no time at all," freshman Trina Spear said. "Online shopping is simple and fun. Everything I've bought online has been satisfactory." But some say that online shopping has its share of disadvantages. Sizing can be tricky because one cannot try on the items, and computer screen can be inaccurate What may look like a blue sweater on a website could arrive unquestionably purple. Return policies can be challenging. Having to fill out paperwork and put the unwanted items in a large envelope and ship them back to the company requires time, effort, and money. In the end, shopping online may lead to a hassle that could have been avoided at an actual store. Sophomore Kerry Strapazon can vouch for the inconsistencies of online shopping. "I once ordered a pair of shoes from J. Crew and when I got them, I realized that they weren't close to what I had expected," she said. "Having to ship them back was such an ordeal because the customer service people were not helpful at all." Another problem is that many people do not feel comfortable entering their credit card numbers online. While many sites say that their connections are secure and safe, some students still feel uncomfortable entering their billing information, even if they have no qualms about ordering from a catalog over the phone. Away from home for the first time, many freshmen plan on using online shopping for other conveniences. "Freshmen at Tufts cannot have cars on campus so it's really inconvenient to have to take the T to a mall to do our shopping," freshman Caitlin McDonnell said. "Online shopping saves a lot of time, and all my Christmas presents can be sent directly to my house which makes it easier to travel home." "With the added stress of finals and the end of the semester being so hectic, online holiday shopping is definitely better than wasting a day in Boston that could be unsuccessful," Torsiello said. "And if you can't find something from the typical online shops, I've always had luck with eBay." On the other hand, traditional shopping is still the preferable method for some. "After the first disaster with J. Crew, I will not leave my holiday shopping up to chance," Strapazon said.

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News

Piano Man' to serenade a lucky few

August 31

"I tried to figure out a way to cheat the system, but I was unsuccessful," said freshman Jay Kim, an engineering major. Sound familiar? Many Tufts students, with and without ticket strategies, sat with fingers poised over their keyboards at 10 p.m. on Monday Oct. 29, hoping to be among the lucky few to get tickets for what Tufts and singer songwriter Billy Joel are calling "An Evening of Questions, Answers, and a Little Music." Considering how few tickets were available, some students did not have high expectations for getting them. "I didn't really expect to get tickets because so many people tried for them," sophomore Ally Fleming said. "So rather than being disappointed, I'm just happy that he chose Tufts." However, not all Tufts students are as detached. Sophomore Christina Zahara questions the random method of distributing the tickets. "How is it that despite being seated in front of my computer at 10 p.m. on that Monday and clicking away at the same link as everyone else that I couldn't get tickets, but the girl down the hall did?" Zahara said. Other Tufts students puzzle over the same question, including some who were unsuccessful despite having enlisted the aid of friends who themselves were not interested in going to the concert to get tickets for her. Freshman Nina Soares complains that the concert, for which she was unable to get tickets, will disrupt her classes. "I was unable to get tickets and the fact that my blues class is being either reconvened or cancelled the day of the concert so that they can set up Cohen Auditorium just adds insult to injury," Soares said. Problems with the overloaded website were a cause of disappointment for some students. "My request couldn't get through because of some kind of computer error," freshman Mike Gnade said. "And the tickets were sold out so fast that it was too late for me to reset the page to the request form after the error message came up." He added that his friend also had problems with her request form. "When she tried to get tickets, her request was accepted, but she never got the e-mail saying that she had actually gotten the tickets," Gnade said. The successful strategies of some determined students were fueled by their enthusiasm for the artist. Freshman Brian Kessler was a fan of the "Piano Man" long before it was announced that Joel would perform at Tufts. "Billy Joel was popular in my household since before I was born. We listened to him all the time; for example, when I was younger, we played Billy Joel cassette tapes in the car on road trips. When I read the Daily article that that he might come to Tufts, I was skeptical that it would happen," Kessler said. Kessler created an elaborate plan to procure tickets, which ended up being a success. "My strategy was to find out the exact address for the subpage that had the tickets on it - that way I didn't have to go through the TuftsLife link, saving me a lot of time," Kessler said. "I kept refreshing the page, and finally it lit up. I had my social security number on the [computer's] clipboard already. I typed in my name and got two tickets." I'm really looking forward to the 13th," Kessler added. Other students will be in attendance tonight because friends who were successful in getting tickets have chosen them to come along. Senior David Kraemer says that both he and his girlfriend were unable to get tickets to the show, but are going nevertheless. "Luckily, her brother and a friend of mine each got two tickets, so she and I get to go, too," Kraemer said. But as it turns out, it didn't require an engineering background to come up with a sneaky plan to get tickets. In the case of freshman Susie Jabaily, all it took was luck. "I was at my computer at 10 p.m. like most people," Jabaily said. "And I thought that I might as well try for the tickets. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that I only requested one ticket, but that wasn't really a strategy to get into the concert. I only requested one ticket because I only needed one ticket." Students fortunate enough to have gotten tickets are looking forward to a unique performance where Joel will reflect on his music. Last Sunday night, A&E aired a two-hour Billy Joel special taped live at the University of Pennsylvania. The program featured Joel performing hits and favorite songs from throughout his career. Guest pianist Richard Joo performed selections from the newly released classical album, "Fantasies & Delusions." At UPenn, Joel talked about his music and answered audience questions, in addition to his musical performance. Now Tufts students are eagerly awaiting the same opportunity. For students unable to get tickets to see Joel and Joo, there may still be hope. According to information on Tuftslife.com, tickets unclaimed tonight will be distributed "in a matter yet to be decided." The website promises to post information on unclaimed tickets before the show. Still, if you cannot obtain the golden ticket for entry into Cohen Auditorium tonight, there is a free alternative. As part of World Music Week 2001, you can attend "Rhythm is Cure," a night of southern Italian music and dance with Italian folk musician Alessandra Belloni at 8 p.m. in Goddard Chapel. Since admission is freely available, there is no need to park yourself in front of your computer an hour in advance with a surefire ticket-getting scheme up your sleeve.

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News

Those damn Ephs

August 31

There are two things in the sports world right now that make me ill. There are two organizations whose successes and fans make me sick to my stomach. And while these two organizations may have little connection, they have much in common in my mind. I hate Williams College, and I hate the New York Yankees. There isn't a plainer way to say it. It's as simple as George W. Bush. To me, there are no two institutions of sports that represent evil and arrogance like the Ephs and Yanks. I was at the football game in Williamstown this past Saturday, and I tried to be an objective reporter and not just a fan. I couldn't. I hate Williams so much that I had to loudly root for Tufts. And that's why, as we were leaving the field and Williams was kneeling on the ball, I had a familiar feeling in my stomach. It's that same frustrating fusion of anger, jealousy, and helplessness I get watching the Yankees every year. It's the same feeling I had three nights ago when Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homerun to win Game 4. Just because the emotions are well-known doesn't make them easy to swallow. Especially when you have to deal with the fans. As we were walking out, a car full of Williams students started yelling at the football team. They were taunting them with sarcastic shouts like "better luck next year, Tufts" and "nice try, Tufts." Those damned arrogant fans. They didn't do anything to win - they're too intelligent to play on Williams' football team, and they certainly wouldn't say anything if they weren't in the protection of an SUV. But they were cocky and proud in their victorious, Western Massachusets, alienated from real city ways. But it gets worse. Did you know the Williams band made fun of us at halftime? Despite the fact that we were up 17-14, and it had about 12 members, the Williams band performed a skit that, I assume, was supposed to resemble the halftime performances of bands performing at rivalry games. I've been to the Harvard-Yale game, and this wasn't nearly on the same level. A high school band practice would have come closer. At Harvard, the bands formed interesting formations and made witty digs at their rival. Williams' band tried to make formations but had just enough people to form the number one. And their idea of wit was making fun of elephants. Why does Williams' band bother me so much? First of all, it's pretty bush league to insult a school when its band isn't there to defend itself. Secondly, they were making fun of our mascot, which, as we all know, is about 20 times cooler than a Purple Cow. And speaking of cool, these guys wouldn't know it if it stole their tubas. I have nothing against people in marching bands; I have something against this marching band. The name of their band is 'The Williams College, Imbibin', Proscribin', Dancin', Pantsin', Squawkin', Walkin', Wayfarin', Pleather(tm) Wearin', Honkin', Bonkin', Crunchin', Lunchin', Atrocious, Precocious, Lawn-mowin', Discus-throwin', Brick Layin', Bill Payin', Rootin', Tootin', Speedin', Bleedin', Mucho Macho Moocow Marching Band.' And I'm pretty sure one of them was wearing a cape. Plus, Williams always ruins everything for Tufts. Their football team ruined our football team's perfect season. Their women's soccer team ended our women's soccer team's season. And when our tennis team finished third in the New England Championships, of course Williams was ahead of it. So what does this have to do with the Yankees? Everything. Just like Williams, their fans are cocky and arrogant. What other fans would boo Senator Clinton at a fundraiser for the Sept. 11 fund? What other fans claim they don't have a rivalry with Boston, and then chant Red Sox suck at the end of a Yankees-Angles game? It's the same type of nose-in-the-air people that claim not to have a rivalry with Tufts, and then make fun of elephants at halftime. Similar to the Williams band, the Yankees play Frank Sinatra's New York, New York after a win. It's a great song normally, but obnoxious on the heels of another Yankees victory. And finally, the Yankees always win and ruin everything for everyone else. New York spoiled Oakland's remarkable comeback season. The Yankees ended the Mariners' record-tying season, and they might stop the glorious run of Arizona pitchers, Curt Schilling and Randy Johnson. But the Yankees are especially ruining my fun. I made a guarantee that the Yankees wouldn't win the World Series, and I said that if I were wrong, I would never make a guarantee again. Let's just say I was a lot more comfortable with my guarantee when the A's were ahead 2-0 than I am now. I'm not trying to make any outlandish accusations, all I'm saying is that both of these teams win because they cheat. And if I can't prove they cheat, both are the types that would cheat if they could. Williams steals some of the best athletes in Division III, who, I'm guessing, wouldn't get into Williams otherwise. New York steals the best free agents from the rest of the league because, well, they're rich. This may sound like the ramblings of a bitter, jealous sports fan, and maybe it is. But I'm being as impartial and objective as possible when I say that Williams College and New York - the Ephs and the Yanks - stink.

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News

The ills of fall's films

August 31

Now that classes are in full swing, the search is on for the best way to procrastinate. While going to the movies is usually a viable option, this week's premieres make your organic chemistry problem set look appealing. From some less-than-funny comedies to a Mariah Carey feature (yes, Mariah Carey), your options are limited - if they can be called options at all. The most promising of this week's premieres is The Affair of the Necklace, directed by Charles Shyer (Father of the Bride). Hillary Swank stars in this romantic drama based on the true story of Jeanne De La Motte Valois, a countess whose name and honor are taken from her by the Royal Family in pre-Revolutionary France. To avenge her family and restore her place in society, she devises a plan to steal a priceless diamond necklace. Of course, the road to riches - as any moviegoer would expect - is paved with mystery, perils, and passion. While The Affair of the Necklace may sound a little too predictable, the film boasts a stellar cast of actors capable of pulling off just about anything. In addition to Swank, the movie stars Simon Baker (Red Planet), Jonathan Pryce (Stigmata) and Christopher Walken, who last starred in America's Sweethearts. It starts to go downhill after that. For a little comic relief, Haiku Tunnel isn't a terrible bet. This comedy focuses on the inability of a neurotic office temp to mail 17 "very important" letters for his new boss. Written by John Bellucci and Jacob Kornbluth (who also co-directed with his brother Josh Kornbluth), the film sounds a little too much like cult favorite Office Space. And don't count on the cast to make up for what the screenplay lacks - with the exception of Fargo's Warren Keith, you probably won't recognize any of the names or faces in this movie. If you're feeling adventurous, Haiku Tunnel may be worth a shot... but don't say we didn't warn you. You're better off taking your chances on Waking Up in Reno. For starters, the cast includes a few recognizable names - Patrick Swayze, Charlize Theron, Billy Bob Thorton, and Natasha Richardson (yes, it's an eclectic mix of actors and actresses, but at least you've heard of them before). In addition to the big-name cast, Reno boasts a plot that is undoubtedly more creative than that of Haiku Tunnel. The movie focuses on two married couples and their dream of vacationing in Reno, Nevada during the Monster Truck Show. A series of marital mishaps ensues on the road to Reno as soon as the set out in their brand-new SUV. At the opposite end of the spectrum is Possession, a romance about a pair literary detectives who, upon the discovery of a love affair between two Victorian poets, fall under a passionate spell. It's not too surprising that romance-lover Gwyneth Paltrow stars in this film. At least director Neil LaBute can be considered versatile, having last directed the comedy Nurse Betty (2000). While Possession may be a far cry from original, it's probably a safe bet as far as movies go this weekend, especially for a "study date" that doesn't call for any studying. You can't go wrong with romance, right? Last but certainly not least is Glitter. If you haven't heard yet, this film's biggest star is Mariah Carey. Her music videos don't exactly portray her as a natural at acting, but then again, this movie so resembles her real life that it may not be such a stretch. Written by Cheryl L. West, Glitter tells the tale of a struggling young singer whose big break comes when she begins dating a DJ, Julian Dice (Max Beesley), who leads her to fame and fortune. If you've actually considered seeing this romance/musical/drama, remember that you'll have to stomach two straight hours of Mariah - including quite a few scenes featuring her stomach. Good luck.

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News

Harvard students march for better custodial pay

August 31

Hundreds of protesters marched down Massachusetts Ave. across Harvard's campus on Friday to demand a living wage for university workers, including custodians, dining hall staff, and security guards.The workers and Service Employee International Union (SEIU) Local 254, the union that represents them, organized the rally. The same union also represents Tufts workers and campaigned for better wages and working conditions for OneSource custodians earlier this semester.The rally comes after months of protests that came to a head last spring when the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) staged a three week sit-in at Harvard. In response to the sit-in, the university agreed to establish a committee of faculty, staff, and students - the Harvard Committee on Employment and Contracting Policies (HCECP) - to generate recommendations on worker wages.The PSLM and the union hope to influence the committee and the university through continued rallies and events before HCECP's findings are released on Dec. 19. The committee released its preliminary findings in mid-October, which stated that the university directly employs 424 workers and outsources 579 workers earning below $10.68 an hour, the City of Cambridge's designated living wage.The report also found that the university increasingly turned to outsourcing for lower-paid workers throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. The preliminary data showed that the number of custodians dropped from 980 to 260 from 1980 to 1994 and the median hourly pay for university workers dropped by 13 percent from 1994 to 2001.Friday's rally was one of the largest to date in the campaign for a living wage. The students and workers marched up Massachusetts Ave., blocking traffic, chanting and drumming. The protesters then congregated on campus at Massachusetts Hall - where the spring sit-in took place - to hear six speakers, including Harvard professors and students."We just need to show this community that the students are behind the workers completely, and that we want [the HCECP] to come out with recommendations that will include living wage," said Jessica Fragola, a PSLM member and Harvard sophomore.The rally also demonstrated that support for the workers has not faded, Fragola said. She felt administrators believe that protesters will stop pushing the issue so it can be resolved quietly."It was important that we rally to show that the energy that emerged during the sit-in hasn't faded out," she said. "I think this university hopes on some level that they can just sort of put the recommendations under the table... they're waiting for the energy to die and go back to their old ways."Fragola personally invited Harvard president Lawrence Summers to the rally on Thursday afternoon, but he "respectfully declined," she said. She said that she noticed an increased number of police officers during the rally, which she attributed to caution after last spring's sit-in. "There was a huge police presence on campus starting a few hours before the rally," she said. "Every time we [the protesters] would go near an administrative building, they would come over and stare at us."Harvard workers will enter into contract negotiations in January, a month after HCECP's report is issued. Tufts custodians came out of negotiations earlier this month with increased wages over the next three years, family health insurance, and more opportunities for full-time work.

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News

Helping students make the grade

August 31

While many students complain about the length of seminar classes, for some, paying attention for three hours is more than they can bare. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is just one of the many learning disabilities that make seemingly simple tasks, such as taking notes in a lecture and participating in class discussions difficult undertakings for some students. An estimated 150 students on campus have some form of disability, according to Sandra Baer, coordinator of Academic Services for Students with Disabilities. Few of these disabilities are physical, and the most-often diagnosed disabilities are ADD and dyslexia. Tufts provides many resources for student with such disabilities. After submitting proper documentation, students can meet with Baer to discuss solutions. They can get books on tape, note takers, and peer tutoring, in addition to academic counseling and support from the ARC. Baer's office can also contact professors to obtain extended test time for the student and can alert them to the fact that the student has a learning disability. While these services are helpful, some feel that they are not ample. Senior Mara Schanfield, who has ADD, is working on an independent study project about disabled services at Tufts and says they could use some improvement. "The improvement is two-fold. One is a student focus, having students come together with similar problems, and the other is educating the entire Tufts community," she said. For students who experience hearing and sight difficulties, note-takers are available. It is possible for students to employ professional stenographers to take notes on everything the professor says have that text fed into a laptop computer, but few students choose this option. Most of the time, a fellow classmate is asked to take notes for someone with a disability. Some students come to Baer because they are experiencing these issues for the first time. Often, they were able to "get by" in high school on hard work, but that became impossible with increased lecturing and reading. Diagnosis of learning disabilities can be tricky, however, because they are often "invisible," and neither the student nor the professor may realize the source of academic problems. Students may also feel some amount of embarrassment in reporting difficulties. Schanfield hosted an orientation event as an informal place for students to ask questions and let them voice their concerns. She proposes that a support group for disabled students would be a significant help and comfort for those students. According to Baer, having a student, not administrator, start such a group, would encourage much more involvement from people embarrassed or shy about their problems. "An important goal is to raise awareness of both faculty and students," Baer said. As part of Schanfield's project, she organized a screening of "Ennis's Gift," a movie that chronicles some famous cases of people with learning disabilities - notably James Earl Jones and Ralph Winkler - on Oct. 15. "It really was great way to see some interest in the problems of disabled people at Tufts," Schanfield said. "Many professors need to be made more aware of people with problems." When a disabled perspective student is considering matriculating to Tufts, Baer encourages him or her to ask other students who are disabled about their experiences on campus and to take a look at the campus before making a final decision. According to Baer, students with disabilities don't always list Tufts as their first choice school because of the hill and the lack of handicap accessible buildings. Students who have physical disabilities - both permanent and temporary - are entitled by law to have access to classrooms. Should a student break his leg, for example, he can submit a request to have a class moved to another location to accommodate his ability to move. Students interested in contacting being part of a student group about learning disabilities should contact Mara Schanfield at mschan01@emerald.tufts.edu@s:Landscape makes life difficult for handicapped students

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Scratching the surface

August 31

When the women's basketball team opens its season next Tuesday night, it will do so on a brand new surface. Dust. That's not fair. When I played in a 3-on-3 charity basketball tournament last Friday, I felt a little like Paul Simon - slip, slidin' away. The new court was slippery and a little dirty, but that is easily taken care of, which means that by Tuesday evening, the women will really be playing on a brand new surface. For the first time in Tufts' history, a varsity basketball team will jog out onto the only surface basketball was meant to be played on - hardwood. Over the summer, the Athletic Department oversaw a project that gutted Cousens Gym. To the dump heap - or wherever old basketball surfaces go to die - went the old rubber floor, and in came shiny, new, glistening wood. To add to the aesthetics, blue padding was put on the walls, new baskets were installed, the walls were painted off white, and a gallery of Tufts athletic photos was begun. You may not think this is a big deal. You would be wrong. Playing basketball on a rubber surface is like playing hockey in the street or football on green cement. Okay, so they do both of those, but street hockey and astroturf are the ugly, drunk cousins of ice hockey and football on grass. In the same light, basketball was meant to be played on hardwood. The modest renovation of Cousens gives it a traditional, yet unique feel that is important for a structure of such importance. "Cousens Gym is an important facility," Athletic Director Bill Gehling said. "In addition to being the court for the basketball teams, it's the heart of the indoor facility." While Gehling might not have ordered a heart transplant, he's made it healthier and more aesthetically pleasing. It used to be an unbearable place to watch a game. A dreary brown color was omnipresent, the seats were seemingly designed by a torture expert, and the players ran around on a court middle schoolers would be embarrassed to call home. But now, it's white, bright, and wide open in there and even Red Auerbach would be pleased with the new surface, which is decorated simply with a large "T," lending a more traditional look to the court. There are still the uncomfortable brown benches, but I'll sacrifice my knees and back for the sake of an historic look. In other words, it's now a facility fit to host two top-flight basketball programs. Plus, it's a safer place to play. "I can exit practice without my back hurting," women's basketball coach Janice Savitz said. Her male counterpart, Bob Sheldon, agreed. "The court will help in an injury way," he said. "It will keep the players healthy." In fact, the whole project was done because of injury. Though the concept of renovating the gym was part of a general indoor athletic renovation plan 12 years ago, it had lost steam in the last half of the 1990's. Then, renovating the cage area became the top priority. "We wanted to put a new floor in there," Gehling said. "Plus new netting and intramural basketball courts. We're still planning on doing that in the future." That was until the rubber floor got so hard that injuries became commonplace. It was even used as an excuse for out of shape former players when they came back and injured themselves in alumni games. One of them, Danny Doherty, knew it was time for a new floor, and as a member of the Board of Overseers of Athletics, contributed and raised the funds for a new floor. What type of cash are we talking about? Surprisingly little. For the new floor, new baskets and padding, Tufts spent around $100,000 dollars. The Building and Grounds committee used part of its budget to pay for the paint job. If that sounds like a lot, listen to the alternatives that most students were asking for. There were two, large-scale projects in consideration, but the likelihood of having them approved was in the "not likely" category. So Gehling made the prudent decision to take what he could get - a modest renovation - and hope for bigger projects in the future. "It made much more sense to take the short-term action," Gehling said. "This will benefit the athletes the most right now." Don't get me wrong, the alternatives do sound nice. It would be nice to have a state of the art field house with a huge floor, cushioned seats, and maybe an elevated track around it. But what we have is pretty good, too. Our gym says tradition, it just says it in an eclectic way. Plus, keeping our gym a little small, and keeping the bleachers extremely uncomfortable costs a lot less. To turn the floor 90 degrees, taking out the bleachers, and making the court regulation 94 feet (it's 90 now, which prohibits Tufts from hosting an NCAA tournament games): $2 million. To elevate the court to the same level as Chase gym and the fitness center, and use the room underneath for more athletic facilities: $5 million. To keep one of the most unique, traditional gyms in the northeast: priceless.

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News

One-woman show at Davis Square theatre

August 31

Great theater is just around the corner this weekend in Davis Square as the Nexus Theater opens a new show titled Now What? Now What?, a one-woman show, features actress-comedian Daena Giardella who explores the issues surrounding Sept. 11. The play combines stories, observations, monologues, and humor from these recent events, all combined with a little music, theater, dance, and comedy to make this performance an unforgettable mix of art and impact. Giardella hopes to confront some of the questions that people have on their minds since Sept. 11. Giardella has been involved in improvisational theater for over 20 years, and uses this experience in her current production. Giardella has turned this difficult subject into a piece that incorporates humorous elements. She gives voice to the individual stories of those affected by this tragedy. She magically moves from one scene to another using bits and pieces from everyday life, breaking news, satire, along with stories and images. The play is extremely diverse in the way that one moment can be filled with laughter while the next can be extremely touching. Giardella is a well-versed performer, having performed in many national and international productions. Her work has been seen at the International School for Movement Theatre and Mime Festival, The World Symposium on Humanity in Toronto, the UN Conference on Women in Copenhagen, the Susan Delal Center for Dance and Theatre in Tel Aviv, and many other theaters in Israel. Since beginning in theater she has utilized a truly innovative style which uses dramatic stories, touching characters and comic relief. Many of her other one-woman shows in the US and abroad have won her exciting reviews. Giardella currently offers improvisational acting workshops throughout the country, but has previously been on the faculty at Emerson College and the Boston Conservatory, as well as the drama director at Roxbury High School under a grant from Harvard University. Her most recent project is a TV pilot for Oprah Winfrey's Oxygen network. Now What? is sure to be an intriguing show with many unforgettable moments. It runs this weekend through Dec. 14 at The Nexus Theater, next to The Burren in Davis. Students tickets are available for just $15.

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News

Bacow spends week abroad

August 31

University President Larry Bacow spent the first two months of the year settling into his role at Tufts, and last week, he took his show on the road to London, England, and Atlanta,GA to meet with students and alumni in London. He will meet today with representatives from the Mellon Foundation and other potential donors in New York. Bacow's travels began last Tuesday, when he left for London to meet with Tufts students, alumni, and international overseers. He returned to Tufts on Sunday, and on Monday flew to Atlanta to meet with members of the city's Tufts Club. After spending Tuesday on campus, Bacow flew to New York this morning and will return tonight. Although Bacow has made previous trips to New York and Washington, this last week was the first time he logged significant mileage since assuming the presidential post this summer. According to the president's executive associate, Judy Olson, Bacow spent the majority of his first two months in office on Tufts' Boston-area campuses getting to know students, faculty, and staff. As a new president, Bacow said he was required to travel to introduce himself to Tufts' affiliates. "This is a chance for me to meet Tufts alumni in other cities," he said at a reception for international students and at a meeting with the International Board of Overseers in Ballou Hall last night, adding that he uses the time to recruit support for the University. Olson would not say how Bacow's travel schedule compared to that of his predecessor, John DiBiaggio. "Travel is, and probably always will be, part of the president's job," Olson said. "When he does travel, the trips will be designed to address multiple priorities of Tufts," she added, "so that we are making maximum use of his time." In England, for example, Bacow met with a member of the International Board of Overseers before attending a one-day conference at Cambridge University on the competitiveness of British industry. When he returned to London, Bacow met with a large group of Tufts overseers, Tufts alumni, and Tufts-in-London students. He also met with Sir Chris Llewellyn Smith, the provost and president of University College London, which hosts Tufts-in-London students. Bacow's travels resume next week when he will return to New York to meet Tufts alumni. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, he will meet with former students in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Washington DC, and Chicago.

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Short people do have reason to live

August 31

The summer is over. The heat lingers, but the weather is inclement - it's the best time of the year to stay inside. Unfortunately, mediocre summer films linger in the theater, as well. So what's the solution? The answer lies in the following story... I was over in the Harvard area after my classes had ended. Paranoia got the best of me as five o'clock neared, and I feared that all the stores would shut down soon. So I sped up my walk. I wasn't going anywhere in particular. I pass this guy on Brattle Street who's about four-foot-nothing, and he grabs my arm. I stop and say, "Why are you holding my arm?" A fair enough question, I thought. And to me the little man says, "Slow down brother, you'll get there in time." The moral of the story is that little people have really interesting things to say, and they also make great movie characters. Hold onto your cash for a few more days (good movies will be released in the coming weeks), rent these movies, and acknowledge the dynamic abilities of the stature impaired.Rental Pick #1Time Bandits In Terry Gilliam's first non-Monty Python directing experience, a boy named Kevin helps a band of time traveling dwarves save the universe from a villain named Evil. Kevin, who is obsessed with history facts, goes to bed one night and awakens to the sight of a knight on horseback bursting through his wardrobe. Kevin copes with his shattered reality until the following night when armed dwarves lay siege to his bedroom and take him hostage. These Time Bandits have stolen a mystical map of the universe from the Supreme Being and are using it to travel through time and filch from famous leaders at different points in history. In Kevin's journeys he meets up with historical linchpins such as Napoleon, Robin Hood and King Agamemnon. In addition to the Supreme Being hunting them down, Evil himself seeks out the map for his own diabolic plans. Fellow Python-ites Michael Palin and John Cleese make appearances, as do Ralph Richardson and Sean Connery. David Rappaport stars as Randall the dwarf, and Craig Warnock plays the inquisitive Kevin. 110 minutes. Rated PG.Rental Pick #2The Bride Sting has his largest film role ever in the 1985 remake of Bride of Frankenstein. Forgetting that he's a musician, Sting continues to land roles in terrific films that include Dune, The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. With Sting's name right there in the opening credits, you may even be able to convince your girlfriend to watch a film about carnival freaks and men who build women. Baron Charles Frankenstein (Sting) lives alone in a big castle with his monster, Viktor. Viktor (Clancy Brown of Highlander, Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai) is your average reanimated dead person: slow on the draw, ugly, powerful, and naive to a fault. The macabre Baron decides to add one more to the family, and creates a bride for his monster. Eva the bride (Jennifer Beals of Flashdance) turns out to be very attractive for a reanimated corpse, and the Baron decides to keep her for himself. Disappointed at his loss, Viktor runs away from home and befriends Rinaldo the Midget (David Rappaport) In Rinaldo, Viktor finds sympathy and protection from those who would otherwise abuse his simplicity. At the castle, Frankenstein attempts to acclimate his new "lady friend" to the lifestyle of high society. As Eva slowly becomes aware of who and what she really is, she longs for the company of someone who can truly understand her. A love triangle and murder ensue. 114 minutes. Rated PG-13.Rental Pick #3Willow If you were born before 1988 and you haven't seen this movie, you need to put down the paper and rent it before someone finds out. A staple in '80s fantasy film, Willow sits alongside Legend and The Dark Crystal on the shelf of movies you know you loved as a kid, but may have since forgotten about. A child is born in the dungeons of the evil Queen Bavmorda. According to the prophecy, it is this child that will bring about the end of the Queen's reign. The baby princess is smuggled from the castle by a selfless midwife, but she is forced to abandon the child when the Queen's Hounds discover where she has gone. The child is sent adrift in a cradle, floating down the river to a village of dwarves, where dwarf Willow Ufgood (Warwick Davis) finds the child and vows to protect it. When the Hounds come for Willow, he finds himself on a quest of mammoth proportions. With a little bit of magic and the reluctant help of the "master" swordsman Madmartigan (Val Kilmer), Willow battles his way through a perilous fantasy world to save the life of the child. Directed by Ron Howard. 130 minutes. Rated PG.

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Plans for new dorms starting to shape up

August 31

Tufts evaluated three potential sites for a new dorm this summer, coming one step closer to construction. The Board of Trustees approved funding to research the project last semester. The Department of Operations conducted topographical surveys and analyzed the soil of plots next to Hill Hall, across from the Aidekman Arts Center on Talbot Ave., and the land on which the Start and Alumni houses stand. One of these sites will likely house the new dorm. What began last year as a tentative plan has become more concrete. "There's certainly no doubt in my mind that we'll build it," said John Roberto, vice president of operations. Roberto expects the design process to begin next month, when the University will select an architect. Planning the drafts, which will include student input, will take about six months. Next summer, the administration will ask trustees for funds to begin constructing the building, and Roberto said groundbreaking will begin soon afterwards. The dorm is scheduled to open in the fall of 2003. Although Tufts would not give a price estimate for the dorm, Roberto said the decline in local construction work could reduce the project's cost. The trustees approved tentative plans for the new dorm in February. In response to student concern over a growing housing shortage, former Tufts Community Union Trustee Representative Jesse Levey lobbied for 300-person capacity residence hall. This year, Levey heads the Student Housing Coalition, which aims to solve the housing crunch by asking students for workable solutions. "It's important that the dorm meets the needs of students in size, location, and programming," Levey said. Roberto echoed Levey's sentiment, but said that the new dorm needs to balance residential space with facilities for student programs and events. A 150 to 200-bed dorm is the most feasible arrangement, he said. Administrators remain cautious about overbuilding on the University's hilly swath of New England real estate. After South Hall was completed in 1991, several student rooms went unoccupied. Bush Hall was largely vacant several years ago, when local rents decreased dramatically, luring students off-campus. But the demand for a new residence hall has surged, with off-campus housing more expensive and scarce. According to a spring 2001 survey by the Office of Off-Campus Housing, the average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Medford/Somerville area is $1,200 and the average monthly rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,600. But according to Cheryl Janse, an agent at Rental Experts in Cambridge, rents remained steady during the past year despite a declining economy. With steep prices and no guarantee for housing after sophomore year, sophomore Kurt Bruch said a new dorm would be an "excellent idea so that everyone can live together in one community." Students are not adequately informed about the procedure for finding junior-year housing, he said. "I'm not thinking about [housing], but I probably should be," Bruch said. "I don't know where to go for resources." But his concerns are not universal. Junior Meredith Gilbert said she did not have problems finding off-campus housing and that the difficulty of finding somewhere to live - on-campus or off - is exaggerated. "I had a lot of junior friends that were really worried," she said. "They couldn't afford off-campus housing, they had bad lottery numbers, but they all got housing."

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Stickers disrespectful

August 31

I was dismayed to have seen some defacement of a campus publication on Tuesday night in the campus center. I am referring to stickers placed over each copy of The Primary Source's cover stating "imagine a campus free from sexism." I feel that such actions set back the cause of activist groups by merely creatinghostility in an already sensitive environment. I think that many good discussionshave come from the events which led to both the cover choice of the latest edition ofthe Source and the sticker placements, such as the TFA and DTD discussion on sexism,but that this occurrence is detrimental to the success of such discussions. The people responsible for this vandalism do not have bad goals or intentions, butthey should recognize that they are resorting to vandalism and that as a community weshould not encourage this behavior. We should respect the legal processes that arein place with our school, and we should respect one another's viewpoints andefforts. While the Source may have opinions that everyone does not agree with, wemust respect their right to their opinion, and realize that this incendiary behavioris only going to cause more strain within our community.Brad CrottyLA '03

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Cross country a few steps behind at New Englands

August 31

The women's cross-country team finished 23rd out of 35 schools at the New England Championships at Franklin Park on Friday, in a race which included squads from all three divisions. The Jumbos hoped to remain competitive with Division III rivals but finished seventh among NESCAC teams (574 points). The top NESCAC finisher was Middlebury, who finished second overall with 102 points, 56 behind Providence College. The always-competitive Williams (239) and Amherst (251) teams finished sixth and seventh respectively. Sophomore Lauren Caputo crossed the line first for Tufts with her best team finish of the year. Senior co-captain Heather Ballantyne was the top finisher in the first three races of the season, and sophomore Lauren Dunn pulled out a narrow victory at Williams on Oct. 5 to break Ballantyne's streak. Caputo finished 94th overall with a time of 19:41, averaging 6:19 a mile. Although Ballantyne was not the top finisher for the team, she was second, placing 103rd overall crossing the line at the 19:48 mark. Junior Aly White placed 116th with a time of 19:56. White continues to improve, finding herself in the top three Jumbos for the last two races. Sophomore Lauren Dunn, who won the Fall Foliage Frolic at Williams, slipped to fourth on the team. She finished 135th with a time of 20:07. "I didn't feel like I ran to par," Dunn said of her performance. "I did not do what was needed for the team. I was overwhelmed by the size of the meet. I let the race carry me, and I was not running my race." While there were some promising individual performances, the team's finish was lackluster. "We had a good performance individually, but we can't get comfortable where we are." Dunn said. "It was an indicator on where everyone else is and the kind of work we have to do." Finishing 138th, rounding out the scorers for the team was junior Heidi Tyson. She crossed the line one second off Dunn's pace at 20:08. Tyson has had good performances as of late, continuing to score points for the team. The top five of this race ran 27 seconds apart at Franklin, a far cry from the nine seconds that separated those same positions at the Fall Foliage Frolic. "We ran okay as a pack," Dunn said. "Our top five was close for most of the race, but in the last minute we lost that pack." Since the meet has such a large number of participants, each team is only allowed to race seven members, and the top five scoring points for the team. The other two runners in the race for the Jumbos were sophomore Katie Mason, who finished 149th with a time of 20:16 and averaged 6:30 a mile, and freshman Rachel Brandenberg, who placed 185th with a time of 20:49. Brandenberg continues to improve on her finishing times, even though she only practices half as much as the rest of the team because of a stress fracture she sustained last summer.The Jumbos have a tough schedule ahead of them as they approach the championship races. They have this week off in preparation for the NESCAC Championships that are held at Bowdoin on Saturday, Oct. 27 at 12 p.m. The season does not get any easier after that, as the squad will travel to Williams on Saturday, Nov. 3 for the ECAC Championships."We need to go into races with more confidence to stick together," Dunn said. "This last meet meant nothing; we are looking forward to the NESCAC's and ECAC's.

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Spanish folk and Irish jigs form untraditional ballet

August 31

Most ballet events do not travel from Spain to Ireland in one evening. But From Distant Shores, the newest production of the Boston Ballet featuring two debut pieces, mixes a taste of traditional ballet along with traditional Spanish and Irish dance and music. In addition to the unique choreography, the choreographers and dancers themselves come from all over the world, adding an intriguing international flair to the entire performance. From Distant Shores features three separate dances. "Ginastera" and "Jardi Tancat" are Boston debuts; "Celts" debuted in Boston in 1996. Each dance is a separate and unique entity that captures very different emotions and cultural aspects. The first dance of the production, "Ginastera," features the choreography of Rudi Van Dantzig from a piece he originally created in 1976. The number is the most traditional of the evening, as dancers dress in typical ballet attire and perform more traditional ballet moves. The dancing itself, however, leaves something to be desired. "Ginastera" claims to have many underlying themes, but they are not clearly conveyed in the dancing. At time, it is whimsical, but this is not strong enough to make up for the lack of coherence among the dancers. They are often disjointed and fail to dance as a unit. The choreography is enjoyable in its own right for those who enjoy classical ballet, but the deeper meaning of the dance is difficult to find. The audience noted this fault, as its applause hardly rivalled the enthusiasm for the other dances. The next two dances take the audience on an exciting trip to the little known Spanish island of Majorca, and subsequently to Celtic Ireland. Be prepared for an emotional journey as "Jardi Tancat" takes the stage and takes the audience off to the peasant fields of Spain. The dance's title means "enclosed garden" in the Catalan language. This piece is a powerful, welcoming change from the style of the previous dance. It shows the struggle of the peasants who work the land of Majorca. The dance has an exciting array of images that are quite different from traditional styles- dancers perform with flexed feet, hunched backs, and run across the stage with their heads in their hands, evoking their pain and suffering. Only six dancers perform in this piece, which is choreographed by Spanish native Nacho Duato. The small number of dancers allows for a more intimate and simple performance. Traditional Majorcan folk songs accompany the dancers, making a powerful contribution to the dancing. The songs emphasize the connection to the earth and the singer's voice conveys strong emotions. While the words are in a foreign language, the music is extremely powerful and a great complement to the emotions expressed in the dance. "Jardi Tancat" also uses unique staging with twisted sticks on the stage to represent the earth. In this piece, dancers stay on the stage the whole time, lending to a sense of coherence among the performers that was lacking in "Ginastera." The costumes successfully add the finishing touch, using peasant clothes to round out the piece's theme. Following the intense emotion of "Jardi Tancat," the program ends on a happy, energetic note with "Celts." This performance immediately redirects everyone's emotions to the cheerful, bouncy style of Irish dancing, quickly animating the audience. The piece is composed of a series of dances, choreographed by Lila York, that aim to capture the soul of the Irish people. It mixes classical ballet and traditional jigs, all containing speedy footwork set to a wonderful mix of Irish music. The music is a welcome array of traditional tunes, modern pieces by The Chieftains, along with original scores composed by various artists. Of all the main dances, "Celts" was clearly the crowd favorite. The performers in "Celts" are amazing - they fly across the stage, leap into the air, and form lines of unified dancing that are wonderfully engaging. They have truly mastered their footwork and manage to work together as a coherent network of dancers. Watching the audience, it is difficult to find someone in the crowd who is not bobbing up and down to the music, fighting the temptation to get out of their seat and do a jig. The dance features a large group of dancers and several soloist performers steal the show. They demonstrate amazing ability and power in their dancing. Despite the high level of demand in this dance, they do not seem to tire and only gain energy from the crowd. Not all the dances in "Celts" are fast - one slower dance had a different tone from the others, but was equally intriguing. Placed in the middle of the performance, it allowed the audience to rest before the pace picked up once again for the final dances. The dance does not attempt to convey any larger themes, but it does capture the culture of the Irish and creates a wonderfully packaged performance. The scenery, the costumes, the music and the dancing are each successful components of this piece. As a complete program, From Distant Shores, is intriguing and well worth seeing. The overall product leaves the viewer with many strong, unforgettable images. Most likely, you'll be bouncing out of the theater with the Irish music in your head. From Distant Shores continues this weekend only at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts. Take advantage of a special promotion, Bring a Friend on Friday, which allows you to get two tickets for the price of one if you mention this promotion. This promotion will also be available for other productions throughout the season. Student discounts are available as well. Call (617) 482-9393.

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More PCs needed

August 31

After construction problems delayed its opening last year, the Eaton computer lab is two months into its first full year of operation with an expanded base of computers. Although the lab design is high tech and attractive, some students are complaining that more PCs and fewer Macs are needed.

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Thanksgiving football

August 31

Jon Japha is still in Colorado. He spent the entire Thanksgiving break in the same chair watching football. He doesn't think he can move anymore. He got up three times. Once to attend the CU-Nebraska game, the other to watch the Colorado Avalanche retire Ray Borque's jersey. The third, to call the Daily and tell them he wasn't coming back. He's watching football in his chair until after the Super Bowl. In desperate need of a column, the Daily decided to call Jon in his chair and interview him. Jon liked this idea. Most of the time, he interviews athletes who give him the answers he expects. He gets tired of that. He wanted to take a crack at getting interviewed. Plus, he had a sports-filled break. Okay. First question. Jon, you were at the CU-Nebraska game. Can you compare that to, say, Tufts versus Amherst? No problem. I'll start with the similarities. In both games, the teams I was rooting for were the underdog, playing against the stiffest competition of the year. Both Tufts and CU had the ability to win the game. CU's middle linebacker is named Shawn Tufts. Plus, when Colorado fans cheer, they yell "go Buffs," which sounds a lot like "go Tufts." However, the differences were astounding. I had never been to a college game of this magnitude, and I felt kind of out of place. I think I know how college football analyst Lee Corso feels hanging around college campuses. I was an imposter, a liberal arts football fan, not a state school football fan. Just getting into the game was a struggle. At Tufts, you can show your ID, though it's not required, and stroll right in. The entrance to the CU game was mobbed. I was getting batted around like a beach ball. People were screaming the school song. Plus, they have another chant, which involves cursing loudly twice, then yelling "Go CU." Once we got into the game, things were different, as well. The stadium holds about 40,000, and when you are in the student section, you stand the whole game. Some of the players, you knew, were going to be in the NFL. You never once stop cheering, especially when your team is destroying the number one team in the nation. The biggest difference, though, was what happened after the game. When CU won, people didn't mill about for a few minutes, then go back to their dorms or apartments and get on with their lives. They stormed the field. They tore down a goalpost. They carried it around the field. Then they partied like they had just beaten the number one team in the nation.So which did you like better? Well, the CU game was one of the best I've ever seen. Who scores 62 points in a game against the number one team in the nation? But I'm not sold yet. I like the cozy feel of Ellis Oval. I like being able to get in the game without feeling like a pinball. I like sitting down between plays. I like knowing that the guys I'm rooting for are playing without dreams of the NFL clouding their vision, that in fact, they're real student-athletes. I really liked going on the field, though. Is it true that you didn't come back because you didn't have anything to write a column about? Next question.What do you think about the BCS?I think it's a ridiculous way to determine a postseason. You can't measure a team's success by a mathematical equation. It's arbitrary, nonsensical, and unfair. But you know what, it beats the hell out of the system we have in the NESCAC. Oh, wait, there are no football playoffs in the NESCAC.You said that you got out of your chair to watch Ray Borque's jersey get retired. What was that like? I'm not really supposed to talk about it in this column. This is supposed to be about Tufts sports, but to be nice, I'll answer that. It was great. All of the Avs players warmed up in Borque jerseys, which he signed then auctioned off for the Sept. 11 fund. The 22 jerseys went for 190,000 dollars. And I know that a lot of Boston fans don't like the fact that Colorado retired number 77, and I get that. But if you would have seen the support Colorado fans gave Borque, and the look on his face when he received ovation after ovation, you would know that his jersey belongs in Colorado's rafters. It's not home to him - he was careful not to say that - but it's where he enjoyed the greatest moment of his professional career, so, as he said, it will always have a place in his heart. Did you bid on the jerseys? No, minimum bid was $500, and they didn't take points. You didn't have an idea for a column, did you? No! You got me, okay?Exactly how many games did you watch this weekend? Not too many, actually. Just the Lions-Packers, Broncos-Cowboys, CU-Nebraska, Texas-Texas A&M, Michigan-Ohio St., Syracuse-Wake Forest (basketball), Florida-Florida St. (1995 game on ESPN Classic), Titans-Steelers, Colts-49ers, Raiders-Giants, and Bears-Vikings. Wow, you're a giant loser. Didn't you have Thanksgiving dinner? In the words of a sign I saw at the CU-Nebraska game, "I sacrificed family for football."@s:I am a loser

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