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The Setonian
News

MJ gets taught new game by McGrady

August 31

The struggling Washington Wizards (5-11) and the Orlando Magic (8-9) engaged in a battle of sorcery in DC on Saturday at the MCI center. The challenge of the getting the Wizards on track was not as important as the key match up: New Goliath vs. Old Goliath, or Tracy McGrady vs. Michael Jordan. Before the contest, the question was, could McGrady hold his own against the greatest player of all time? By the end of the game, the question was could Jordan play with a great such as McGrady? Through a series of post-moves and a good perimeter game, McGrady dropped 26 points on Jordan and the rest of the lackluster Wizards defense. Not only did McGrady lead Jordan in points, but he led his team to a much-needed win. McGrady displayed his offensive prowess and his defensive promise, holding Jordan to just 2-for-12 shooting in the second half. In Jordan's defense, he played most of the game with fluid in his knee and also left midway through the first half due to a finger in his eye. McGrady finished with eight rebounds and two assists to go along with his 26 points. Jordan finished with 15 points to go along with seven rebounds and assists. Jordan did not have the team high in scoring; Richard Hamilton led the way with 21 and rookie Brendan Haywood chipped in 18 points.Paul pierces New Jersey with 48 Also Saturday, the Boston Celtics traveled to East Rutherford New Jersey to play the New Jersey Nets. While all eyes were on the Nets' Jason Kidd, Celtics guard Paul Pierce stole the show when he scored a career-high 48 points on the night. After a dismal first half in which he shot 1-for-16, Pierce exploded for 33 points in the second half and 13 more in overtime as he led the Celtics to a victory over the Nets 105-98. Pierce shot 5-for-8 from the three-point line and had pinpoint accuracy as he went 17-for-18 from the free-throw line. He might as well have been the Windex man, as he cleaned the boards for 12 rebounds. Forward Antoine Walker carried the Celtics with 15 points in the first half until Pierce caught fire. Walker finished the game with 25 points to go along with 17 rebounds. The overlooked stat of the day was that guard Kidd had a near triple double in Saturday's contest. He showed excellent court vision by dividing the ball equally between teammates to accumulate a total of 19 assists, only turning the ball over six times. Even though he was busy dishing out the ball, Kidd found time to score 20 points and grab nine rebounds in 48 minutes of playing time. Utah product Keith Van Horn also contributed 17 points and nine rebounds in the losing effort.Lakers unstoppable so far Rounding out the weekend marquee match-ups were the Minnesota Timberwolves against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Timberwolves were 10-4 and battling for first place in the NBA's Midwest division entering the game, and the Lakers who were 14-1, owning the best record in the league. What was a close game on paper ended up as another Lakers' romp. As the final buzzer sounded, the Lakers had scored 102 points and still owned the best record at 15-1. As for the T-wolves, they dropped into third place in the Midwest division after only scoring 76 points. Shaquille O'Neal, who was coming off his first quarter ejection from Friday's game in Seattle, led the Lakers with 23 points and shot 9-for-15 from the field. He also pulled down the team-high nine rebounds, barely missing another double-double. Shooting guard Kobe Bryant had another good game, and he finished with 18 points, nine below his season average of 27 points per game. In a surprise performance, small forward, Devean George scored 15 points, eight above his season average of seven points per game. Timberwolves star Kevin Garnett had a sub-par performance, as he scored only 11 points on 5-for-18 shooting. However Garnett did let his presence be heard as he contribute 14 rebounds. Wally Szczerbiak who had 19 points to go along with eight rebounds led the T-wolves. Tonight's match-ups include a Steve Francis-less Houston Rockets team versus the New York Knicks, who have center Marcus Camby back in their starting lineup. Also playing is a rebuilt Phoenix Suns team, who has Anfernee Hardaway playing like he was on the Orlando Magic again. Along with Stephon Marbury at point guard and Shawn Marion at small forward, the Suns should give good match-ups to an underachieving Golden State Warriors squad. The final game tonight is the Magic, fresh off of their win in Washington vs. the Memphis Grizzlies who still are unpacking their bags and shaking out the cobwebs from their days in Vancouver.@s:Lakers have been unstoppable

The Setonian
News

Climbing out of the basement

August 31

Techno fans who have never heard of Basement Jaxx just might want to pay closer attention. The Jaxx clandestinely permeate our everyday lives - whether it's their song "Red Alert" in a Diet Coke commercial, in the background of a radio ad for the Avalon, or even inside the club itself.Simon Ratcliffe and Felix Buxton, the masterminds behind Basement Jaxx, have been the prodigal sons of the underground English house music scene since coming together in 1994. Their status as underground innovators drew what they like to call "properly pissed party people," and more than a few American technophiles. But unlike fellow Brits Fatboy Slim and the Chemical Brothers, they seemed to be content as fixtures the alternative club scene. Their 1999 debut album Remedy reached the top of the U.K. album charts, produced three number one singles for the Billboard Club Charts, and was adored by major music critics and Ibiza clubbers. Somehow they've managed to remain relatively unnoticed by American audiences.This same fate might not befall their second CD, Rooty, which was released this past summer. Past recordings have been heavily influenced by salsa, reggae, and disco music, and while the same can be found in Rooty in some shape or form, the album is much more streamlined, more of an amalgam of these and other influences. All in all, Rooty gives a truly "world music" vibe.Ratcliffe and Burton waste no time in letting their talent shine. "Romeo" is an amazing opening track, and one of the first singles released from the CD. It is also representative of what the rest of the album has in store: bounciness (thanks to a great bass line, which can be subtle at one moment, front-and-center the next), and undeniable catchiness, which can be attributed to the plethora of female vocalists the duo tapped to spice up their beats. Many electronic music artists put a lot of effort into their first track and subsequently seem to forget what it was that made the first song so solid. Not Basement Jaxx. "Romeo" is just the jumping off point for a great ride. It would be unfair to pick a few songs from this CD and refer to them as the "best" tracks. Each song on this CD is as unique as the last, and each could be released to DJs for use at clubs. Any good techno/house album should make the listener want to dance; that quality is so pervasive in Rooty that it's almost too obvious to mention. What's more interesting is the nuances of moods that Basement Jaxx takes its listeners through. Oddly, the songs are structured - not only lyrically and melodically, but also through the titles - to tell a story. It's a night out clubbing that ends in a one night stand, and its surprisingly fulfilling aftermath."Romeo" features lyrics about a breakup the singer wants to forget, stirring up the need for her to "Breakaway" in the second track and go have fun. The breathy incantations of "Kissalude" and the aggressive statement of sexuality in "SFM" are the manifestation of the fun, flirtatious atmosphere of the whole CD. The dance floor cravings of "Jus 1 Kiss" and "I Want You" lead to the pseudo-climax of "Get Me Off": "Give your body to me/Let your body be free/I wanna undress you, I wanna caress you/Don't wanna be coy, It's time to get me off." The start of "Where's Your Head At" sounds strikingly like the Beastie Boys, complementing the relatively slow "Crazy Girl" nicely, before the perky, almost-pop rhythms of "Do Your Thing." It's even more satisfying when you realize that you're at the end of the CD, and the music's energy and quality has not once decreased.Basement Jaxx is performing at the Avalon on Oct. 19. Tickets can be purchased online athttp://www.dlclive.com/venues/avalon-concerts.asp@thumbnail: CD Review, Basement Jaxx - Rooty, Astralwerks Records, 4 stars@edits: sg, rb, rc

The Setonian
News

Former Tufts president among top-earning presidents in US academia

August 31

Former President John DiBiaggio was paid $368,393 the year before he resigned from Tufts' helm, according to a recent survey by The Chronicle of Higher Education. During fiscal year 2000, DiBiaggio's salary was $317,009 and he received benefits worth $51,384. The figures were published in last week's edition of the Chronicle, which lists the compensation packages of presidents and the five highest-paid employees (other than the president) at 600 private US colleges. The Chronicle's data came from Form 990, a federal tax return filed by nonprofit organizations. Human Resources administrators refused to disclose how much Tufts' new president, Larry Bacow, is paid. His salary will not be available for another two years, when form 990 data for fiscal 2002 becomes public. Although Bacow was MIT's chancellor and, along with the provost, the school's second-highest academic officer, his 2000 pay was not high enough to be included on MIT's 990 filing. According to the Chronicle, MIT's sixth-highest paid employee was Engineering Dean Thomas Magnanti, who received $321,143 in pay and $24,638 worth of benefits. At Tufts, the second-highest paid administrator in 2000 was medical school Dean John Harrington, whose salary was $289,376. Executive Vice President Steven Manos, dental school Professor Maria Papageorge, Senior Vice President Thomas Murnane and Naushirwan Mehta, general dentistry chair, were paid $247,141, $274,008, $255,990, and $240,664, respectively. The five employees' average benefits package, which includes deferred compensation, pension plans, and health insurance, was $34,772. According to the Chronicle, benefits packages typically increase as employees approach the end of their terms, when they are more interested in deferred compensation and universities are more likely to award bonuses. The benefits paid to former president of Williams College Harry Pane, for instance, surged by $600,000 to $645,672 in 1998-1999, the year he resigned. DiBiaggio stepped down one year after the reporting period, but his benefits were only marginally higher than during previous years. No one from human resources was available yesterday to say exactly what constituted the president's benefits package or if it included accommodation in Gifford House, his official residence. DiBiaggio was one of 86 college presidents paid more than $300,000 that year, and his salary was above the average president's salary, which was of $207,130. But his salary was $14,718 below the median and his 2.5-percent annual raise was below national average of 11.2 percent. The annual inflation rate in 2000 was 3.5 percent. The former president's salary - frequently contrasted with how much OneSource pays its janitors - also paled in comparison with presidents at some other schools. The highest-paid president in 2000 was George Roche III, who pocketed $1.2 million the year he resigned from Hillsdale College in Nov. 1999. The package included $906,000 of deferred compensation. According to the Chronicle, Roche was president at Hillsdale for 28 years, and had turned the conservative college "into a fund-raising powerhouse." Among the four highest-paid presidents in 2000, fourth-ranked Judith Rodin, president of the University of Pennsylvania is the only one still in the position. That year, Rodin was paid $604,000, plus benefits. The university's trustees say Rodin's leadership talent justifies her salary - which to a large extent includes her fundraising ability. Salaries do not appear to correlate with a university's wealth or the size of its budget. At Harvard, for instance, former President Neil Rudenstine was paid $352,650 and received benefits worth $27,622. Harvard's annual budget is $2 billion and the school's $18 billion endowment is larger than any other university's, yet Rudenstine's salary trailed that of 42 other presidents. In some cases, administrators' salaries have little to do with a university's internal hierarchy; market forces have forced universities to pay salaries that are competitive with those offered by for-profit companies. According to the Chronicle's survey, the biggest earners among all university employees were medical personnel, lead by UPenn's William Kelley, who received $7.8 million in 2000. The package included $5.9 million in deferred compensation. Twenty-three other medical employees earned more than $1 million. Excluding medical personnel, the highest-paid university administrator was Issac Kohlberg, the associate dean for science and technology at New York University. His compensation in fiscal 2000 was more than $1.28 million. William T. Spitz, vice chancellor of investments and treasurer at Vanderbilt, was paid $954,804, including more than $300,000 in benefits. He was one of several finance administrators at the top of the Chronicle's list. At universities where sports generate revenue, coaches are well compensated. In 2000, Randolph Walker, the head football coach at Northwestern University, took home $914,181.

The Setonian
News

Less serious STDs still require attention

August 31

"High schools educate students about STDs, so by the time they get to college they can make informed decisions," junior Thomas Dionne said. But despite efforts to educate young adults about the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases, many college students still fall prey to the diseases, which tend to target the unsuspecting and unwary. Chlamydia is a group of infections caused by different strains of the chlamydia bacterium. Only one - chlamydia trachomatis - results in disease. The strain is one of the most widespread bacterial STDs in the US, with an estimated four million new infections each year. As many as one in ten adolescent girls tested for chlamydia is infected. Teenage girls have the highest rates of chlamydial infection (15 to 19-year old girls represent 46 percent of infections; 20 to 24-year-old women are 33 percent) regardless of demographics or location. People infected with chlamydia are often unaware they are infected and consequently do not seek professional health care. Approximately 75 percent of infected women and 50 percent of infected men experience no symptoms. Chlamydia can be contracted during sex with an infected partner or from a mother to baby during delivery. Once diagnosed, chlamydia can be easily treated and cured. But left untreated, the disease can cause serious long and short-term health problems in adults and newborn babies, including pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), which can cause infertility and sometimes fatal tubal pregnancy. Treatment includes a number of commonly used antibiotics, but partners must be treated at the same time. The chlamydia test at Health Services costs $40. Last year, Health Services was very involved in a campaign to promote the screening process for chlamydia. "Most men think the testing process is painful and invasive," Tufts University Medical Director Dr. Margaret Higham said. "They don't understand that it is as simple as urinating in a cup." Gonorrhea, second only to chlamydial infections in the number of reported cases, is an infection that is spread through sexual contact with another person caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Gonorrhea causes such long term conditions as epididymitis, an inflammation that may cause sterility in men and PID, ectopic pregnancy (a pregnancy outside of the uterus), perihepatitis (an infection around the liver), abscesses, and sterility in women. The gonorrhea germs are found in the mucous areas of the body (the vagina, penis, genital tract, throat, and rectum). In women, the opening to the womb from the birth canal is the first place of infection. But the disease can spread into the womb and fallopian tubes, resulting in PID, which may cause infertility in up to 10 percent of infected women and tubal (ectopic) pregnancy. Anyone sexually active person can be infected with gonorrhea, but it is more common among younger people (ages 15-30) who have multiple sex partners. Increases in the incidence of gonorrhea have been found among men who have sex with other men. It is the most common reportable sexually transmitted infection in the US, with an estimated 800,000 cases of gonorrhea reported annually. The Molluscum Contagiosum virus is an STD that is part of the pox family. It is spread through touching (hand/genital or genital/genital) an infected person's lesions, which can transmit cells containing the virus. Intercourse is not necessary for the spread of this virus. The symptoms include small, round, raised lesions with a shiny surface and a white material inside, and the lesions maybe located on genital skin, thighs, abdomen, or even the chest. Usually there are no symptoms besides an itch near the lesion. Unfortunately, there is no test to detect Molluscum Contagiosum before lesions appear, and the lesions have to either be frozen off using a cryogenics process or with chemicals or scrapings. Health Services recommends that preventative measures be taken by all sexually active people, but people who have more than one sex partner should especially be tested regularly. Condoms or diaphragms should be used during sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, and oral), and Health Services distributes free condoms and dental dams. Of course, for maximum protection, partners should form a monogamous relationship in which both are faithful - and are tested before sex. Limiting the number of sexual partners is also a wise idea; the risk for contacting a STD increases as the number of partners increases. Students do not need to wait for symptoms to appear before getting tested, and regular check-ups for STDs can be part of a regular examination. For more specific information, Health Services has detailed pamphlets, counseling, testing, and treatment for many types of STDs.

The Setonian
News

DiBiaggio leaves his mark on Tufts

August 31

When students arrived on campus this week, it was hard to miss the new addition to the light posts around the hill. Bright banners highlighting the sesquicentennial logo now adorn many of our walkways, complete with the slogan "Celebrating the Past, Shaping the Future." As indoor fireworks ushered in a new era at the Class of 2005 Welcome Event last Wednesday, it is easy to get excited about the new directions Tufts will be exploring in the next several years. However, before we look too eagerly to the future, we must pause to acknowledge those individuals who made Tufts what it is today. There has been a tremendous amount of change in the administrative offices in recent months, most notably Larry Bacow became our 12th president. And while I am delighted to welcome our new leader and his family, I think it's necessary to pay tribute to John DiBaggio, our departing executive. President DiBaggio has been an integral part of my Tufts career, not only as an administrator but as a warm hello and reassuring smile around campus. Since even the seniors have only been here for three years it is hard to know just how much of an impact DiBaggio has had on this University. But a brief look at his nine years at Tufts indicates that he is responsible for much of the school's increasing selectivity and national acclaim. In less than ten years he oversaw the tripling of our endowment, from $180 million to nearly $600 million. The capital campaign that he began exceeded its expectation by almost $200 million. This money gives the University the ability to construct new buildings, fund new initiatives, and improve those things that already exist here at Tufts. DiBaggio also strengthened the University's already impressive commitment to public service by spearheading the creation of the University College for Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS). While still in its nascent stages, the UCCPS has the potential to revolutionize education not only at Tufts, but around the globe. Under DiBaggio's vision, our generation's propensity to volunteer will not remain merely an extracurricular activity but will become an important part of our educational development. Because of DiBaggio's hard work, Tufts is at the forefront of training active citizens. Tufts students will no doubt have a greater impact on the world because of the skills they garner here. DiBaggio's commitment to Tufts and its students is clear. Even as his tenure as president comes to a close, he has no intention of disappearing. He has a new office on campus and will continue to be active in the UCCPS and his other endeavors. So if you see President DiBaggio around campus, be sure to thank him for his years of hard work and dedication to this University. I think we are incredibly lucky that he has decided to stay close to Tufts. I hope he will continue to impart his wisdom and vision for Tufts for years to come. I hope President Bacow can learn from DiBaggio's accessibility, dedication to the students, and commitment to building the best institution possible. If leadership had to change during my tenure at Tufts, perhaps my senior year is the perfect time. I had the advantage of being a student under a respected and well-established leader, but now have the opportunity to welcome a new leader and have at least a little impact on the direction of Tufts' future. As I, and the other members of the "sesquicentennial class," begin our final year here, we are filled with memories of three amazing years and with a little bit of apprehension of the future to come. We have been very fortunate to have had President John DiBaggio be a part of our time here and should look forward to what our new president, Larry Bacow, can add. Erin Ross is a senior majoring in political science. She is a member of the Tufts Community Union Senate.

The Setonian
News

Appreciation vs. jingoism; What's the real meaning of the flag?

August 31

Walk through a mall today, drive down a residential street, or turn on a television program, and you will see the American flag. My fear is that as it hangs, many forget the meaning that lies beneath the stars and stripes. Read the stories below of three Tufts students' experiences coming to this country and what distinguishes America becomes clear. These stories of sacrifice, of struggle, and ultimately, of success, represent a tiny fraction of the stories on our campus and throughout our country. The American experience is why they covet our technology in China, why they burn our flag in Iraq, and why two planes flew into the World Trade Center last month. Our freedom is a threat to the control of oppressive rulers around the world. Chau Hua, a senior majoring in French, was born to parents who escaped North Vietnam's communist regime. After the government prevented the couple from living together, they decided to leave. Mr. Hua secured enough gold to buy four spots on a small boat leaving for Malaysia. "My uncle left his family to board one of those boats and nobody ever heard from him again; my parents would have chosen death over a life of oppression," said Chau. They boarded the boat late one night with their two children and a few valuables. During the two-day journey, Mr. and Mrs. Hua refused to eat in order to feed their children instead. When the boat docked in Malaysia, border patrols forced it back to sea. They drifted for three days, during which time pirates confiscated all their valuables, and when the boat finally returned to Malaysia, everyone quickly descended to land before officials could reject their re-entrance to the country. Chau's parents waited at a Malaysian UNICEF refugee camp until they were granted permission to enter the US. Upon arriving in New York, they received government assistance from programs that included ESL courses, a sponsoring American family, and free clothing from the Salvation Army. During the last 20 years, they have immersed themselves in American culture. To this day, an American flag appears in Mr. Hua's car window. Daniel Bakalarz is a junior whose family immigrated from Colombia when he was 15. "The reason why my family moved to this country was because of the enormous freedom and sense of security it offers. Every day was scary, not knowing who was going to be murdered or kidnapped or mugged, etc. Just driving with the windows down is a freedom that Americans take for granted." Daniel's family still owns a shoe factory in Colombia, and his father commutes from Miami to run the business. Security concerns forced him to hire personal security when he travels to Colombia. Daniel fears for his father's safety every time he leaves. Though the Bakalarz's face fewer economic struggles adapting to life in America, in conversations, Daniel constantly confronts the "drug-dealer" stereotype applied to his father, who risks his life and left his country in the name of providing for his family. In the future, Daniel plans to globalize his family's business, Stanton & Co. Last August, Yoni Gorelov signed a contract to begin working at Lehman Brothers in New York City after graduation. His path to Wall Street was paved by his grandfather, who moved to Israel in 1974 after spending eleven years in a Russian prison for being Jewish. Yoni lived in Israel until his parents moved the family to the US in 1989. He sometimes considers returning to Israel, though his father warns him that, "life here is easier because you don't have to worry about dying from a suicide bomber on a daily basis and your kids aren't always on the front lines." Though America has become his home, transitioning from life in Israel to a suburban New Jersey town was not easy for Yoni, who arrived at age nine without a command of the English language. He admits that his "first couple of years in America were really tough." Today, he is aware of the sacrifices made by previous generations in his family. Yoni says the most satisfying part of being an immigrant in America is "knowing that the doors that are open are far greater than anything your parents had. There's an innate appreciation for your parents that develops, because you realize that they gave up so much just so your life can be easier." No discussion of the opportunities that abound in America should ignore those who were brought here by force or who inhabited this land before Europeans killed most of them. While the treatment of African and Native Americans includes the worst of our nation's past and their journey continues to be an uphill battle, their quest for the opportunities open to Chau, Daniel, and Yoni's families continues to be America's quest. The opportunities that make it possible, even probable, for our children to live better than we have is what makes this place different.

The Setonian
News

Senate budgeted itself $47K for overhead

August 31

When senior Michele Shelton resigned from the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate last weekend, she left behind a treasury that is in better shape than it has been in years. In addition to streamlining the budget for campus groups, the Senate has made efforts to improve its internal finances. This year, the Senate budgeted itself an operating sum of $46,575.84 from the student activity fee. The fees cover the extensive overhead the Senate incurs executing its constitutionally mandated duties throughout the year and during the summer. Only the largest TCU-funded groups, such as Hillel and the Leonard Carmichael Society, had budgets near the Senate's own. Of that money, $22,738.84 makes up the Senate budget, which takes into account $800 of anticipated income from running airport shuttles before major breaks. This fund is used for programming expenses, office overhead, two Senate retreats, and various discretionary funds. A separate $23,036 budget for TCU operations pays for the accountant the Senate retains and other miscellaneous office supplies. The Senate also gives individual $3,400 stipends to the incoming president and treasurer and the outgoing treasurer to cover the costs of staying at Tufts over the summer. The stipends pay for the students to work between 15 and 20 hours per week to prepare for the upcoming year and covers personal expenses such as housing cost and meals. Former treasurer Michele Shelton said that many of those who stay over the summer do make additional money in outside jobs, but that all three were kept busy with senate duties. "There's extensive training for the incoming treasurer; obviously you can't do that in two weeks," she said. "There's a lot of work that has to be done." Detailed documents outlining the Senate's budget are available on its website, http://ase.tufts.edu/senate/. But many students were surprised to learn about the money the Senate spends on its own costs. Some question the $2,500 expenditure that the Senate allocated for its biannual retreats at the Mountain Club's New Hampshire Loj. But senators defended the retreat, saying not all the money goes toward the retreat itself and that it is necessary to prepare for the year. "The retreat serves a really good purpose," former senator Benjamin Hayden said. "Though it might sound ridiculous to someone who is not part of the Senate, [it is] a real bonding time." But the Primary Source Editor-in-Chief Sam Dangremond said that it was an excessive expenditure. In the past, the Source has claimed that it does not receive enough funds from the student activities budget. "They get an all-expensive paid trip for a weekend. They say it promotes group unity, but heck, every group on campus would like to promote unity among its members," he said. "Just because they're the ones doling out the money they get to do it? That doesn't seem right to me." However Dangremond defended the chairs of the allocations board (ALBO). "They are very fair; they're just trying to do their jobs," he said. Vietnamese Student Club president Mary Ly saw her budget drop from $2,000 to $1,758 this year. She was surprised at the amount of the Senate's budget and felt that it should raise money as other groups do. "We all have our retreats too, but we have to fundraise for them," she said. "I wish they would do more for the organizations with that money." Though Shelton acknowledged the immense amount of money the Senate budgets itself, she said that it was well allocated. Part of her tenure with former President David Moon was spent reducing the bottom line and ensuring the Senate was solvent. "The Senate has had a consistently high budget for years, and David and I have worked to reduce it," Shelton said. Shelton required the Senate to bring in an income for the first time ever during her tenure. The Senate turned a profit with many of its events, such as the Thanksgiving airport shuttle - money that went directly back into the Senate treasury. "We felt that the Senate, like any other group, should give money back to the group if we are making money," Shelton said. The extra money allowed the Senate to sponsor special events, such as last year's concert by Jimmy's Chicken Shack. The concert was not on the Senate's agenda until the body realized there was enough money to organize it. The Senate also uses its money to fund individual student events that generate income for charity. "When the Senate wasn't receiving income we couldn't be event-focused and charity-focused," TCU Senate Treasurer Ben Lee said. University funding distributed by the Senate could only be given to student groups for general funding. Finding new sources of funding was not the only improvement Shelton accomplished during her tenure. According to Lee, the Senate got a higher interest rate when it shifted its surplus fund from Fleet Bank to Citizens Bank. The increased income allowed the Senate to add $5,000 to the New Group Fund without dipping its budget surplus. During the past few years, several new groups have formed, but the Senate has had difficulty funding them all. Lee said he wanted to increase the visibility of the Senate as treasurer while building upon Shelton's work. He also attributed a lot of the improvements over the past year to Moon. "Dave really increased the visibility of the Senate, which is something they were never able to do before," he said. But Lee added that he would like to change the Senate's budgeting process, though he is waiting until he finishes the ALBO training process to draw up a definite plan."I'm trying to tweak it, I just haven't had a chance to think," he said. "One of the greatest challenges is helping groups stay on their budgets... I'm trying to work with the treasuries [of student groups] to help them be a little more accurate, keep accounts up to date, and spend their budget but not more than their budget."

The Setonian
News

Medford asks Tufts to turn down the music

August 31

Less than a week after Medford residents complained to police about loud music and vulgar lyrics at the Sept. 9 Fall Fest concert, Tufts agreed last Thursday to investigate ways to minimize disruption caused by outdoor concerts. The University sent letters of apology to 200 Medford residents after nine residents voiced their grievances to administrators during an hour-long meeting organized by Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn. The residents also presented signed petitions and letters from neighbors who could not attend. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman said "there was a good deal of anger" expressed by local residents, many of whom have young children. Unable to escape the music in their own homes, some people left town for the afternoon. Medford police told organizers to turn down the volume and to ask the artist, Wu Tang Clan's GZA, to tone down his language, but residents complained that the police did not respond quickly enough. Reitman said he had expected the criticism. "This level of intrusion into the neighborhood is not a good neighbor policy," he said. "We don't want bad relationships, and we will in fact work with our community to make sure that this sort of thing doesn't happen again." Today, the administration, the Office of Student Activities, Concert Board, the TUPD, and some Tufts Community Union (TCU) senators will meet to decide how to hold outdoor concerts without upsetting neighbors. According to Reitman, the University might retire Residential Quad events and instead use the Academic Quad or the President's Lawn. He said that the Residential Quad functions as an unplanned amphitheater, where sound bounces off the Olin Center and carries down the Medford hillside behind campus. According to Director of Community Relations Barbara Rubel, there may not be a perfect location for concerts on Tufts' hilltop campus, just a better one. "The acoustics here are amazing," Rubel said. "People behind Cousens can hear all the words at Spring Fling clearly." Spring Fling and Fall Fest are the year's only major outdoor concerts. Neighbors said they did not expect Tufts to eliminate outdoor concerts altogether and would be willing to tolerate some disruption. "I don't think anyone living next to a campus community expects there to be no outside activities," said Paul Cioffi, who lives on Capen St. with his wife and six children. During Fall Fest, the family tried to drown out lyrics with air conditioners and a television, but were unsuccessful. Rubel said neighbors want to know when to expect noise. In the future, Community Relations may advertise in surrounding towns, posting dates and times for Tufts' outdoor concerts. But the profanities that upset residents might be the most difficult problem to solve. The University could require performers to sign contracts prohibiting explicit lyrics, although Reitman said this would be less "doable" than other options. The University will compile suggestions concerning events in a written proposal to the mayor before applying for its next outdoor concert permit in the spring. If future events cause disruptions like Fall Fest, the city could seek injunctions against the University or invoke local noise ordinances. "We don't want to force them into that situation," Rubel said. Mark Rumley, Medford's solicitor, said he is optimistic that Tufts and the city will come to an agreement. "People that had a grievance or a complaint were heard [at the meeting]," he said. "I have every expectation that Tufts will make an appropriate response to the citizenry."

The Setonian
News

PS dept not increasing courses on Middle East

August 31

While interest in the Middle East has risen drastically at universities across the country in recent weeks, Tufts' Department of Political Science does not plan to add classes dedicated to the region next semester. Members of the department say that course offerings have not been affected by the Sept. 11 attacks, but that some professors have altered their curriculum to address current events. Professor Malik Mufti, a Middle Eastern expert who teaches the "Foreign Policy in the Arab World" seminar this semester, has altered his course since the terrorist attacks. "We talk much more about current events than we would have otherwise," Mufti said. The political science department is also using the resources of its diverse faculty to offer weekly seminars and lectures open to the student body. Over the past two weeks, the department has hosted lectures concerning the economy and how to deal with terrorism, as well as panels featuring Muslim students. This evening, three professors - Mufti, Tony Smith, and Robert Devigne - will speak at a forum on "US Policy Options in the War on Terrorism." Other colleges have reported a rise in demand for classes related to the Middle East. Harvard reported an over-enrollment in Middle Eastern studies classes this semester, according to its daily newspaper, the Harvard Crimson. Because of the increased interest, professors were forced to enlarge significantly the number of students allowed in their classes. According to Mufti, the political science department should be able to handle increased demand next semester. But he said he expects that lecture courses usually capped at 40 may now allow 50 or 60 students to enroll. "I won't turn anyone away unless there's no room to sit in the class," he said.Mufti's course is the only political science class about the Middle East. It is capped at 15 students to maintain foster discussion in the seminar. Next semester, the political science department will offer two lecture courses on the Middle East but likely not a seminar, because Mufti will be teaching Introduction to International Relations. "To my knowledge, interest in courses in the Middle East have been consistently strong," said John Jenke, assistant director of the International Relations program. "What has declined at times is the number of courses offered due to faculty leaves." Some students say they are satisfied by the recent panels and do not feel the need for added courses. "It's different to take a course than to go to a lecture. You can get questions answered and not necessarily have to do the work, and it's a lot less commitment," said senior Ben Altman after attending a recent Middle East panel."I feel like there are so many opportunities to learn about what's going on, just in having panels and discussion groups," said senior Molly Field said. "I don't really feel the need to take a class."

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National tragedy sparks hate crimes

August 31

Sophomore Abdul-Wahab Kayyali can't escape the aftermath of last Tuesday's terrorist attacks. He didn't lose any family members, nor did he witness the event firsthand. But the native of Jordan does have to cope with the tragedy's ramifications on Arabs and Muslims in the United States. On the McGraph highway in Cambridge, Kayyali and a friend saw anti-Islamic rhetoric, including the phrase "Nuke them all!", displayed on the back of a pickup truck. As the nation focuses its investigation on Saudi millionaire Osama bin Laden, and reports of hate incidents abound, Arab Americans across the country are concerned about their safety. "My daily routine is affected greatly," Kayyali said. "I can't help to think of what could happen "We've suffered with everyone in this tragedy, and now we're suffering for being blamed for this tragedy." At Tufts, no formal reports of hate crimes have been filed. But Dean of Students Bruce Reitman says incidents may have occurred."I haven't heard of anything concrete," he said. "I have heard stories; I don't have actual reports. I know it is going on in the Boston area and throughout the country, so I wouldn't be surprised if it was happening here, although I hope the students are above that."In an e-mail yesterday to the Tufts community, President Larry Bacow addressed the issue. "I have heard reports that some of our Muslim, Arab, and international students have been subject to unkind remarks or worse. We cannot tolerate this behavior. I hope if you witness it, you will speak up and express your disapproval. We must reach out to everyone, and not allow anyone to be isolated during a time when each of us feels fragile and vulnerable," Bacow stated.Kayyali witnessed one such incident at the campus center last week. She said a female Arab student watching television was interrupted by a phone call from Saudi Arabia and left the room speaking Arabic; she later returned to hear another student ask her, "how dare you watch TV with us?" Over the last week, Tufts has made known its concern over the safety of Arab students. Police patrolled the area surrounding the Islamic Center during last Friday's prayer service, and the University held a forum called "Blaming Others: Demonizing/Dehumanizing" on Thursday. Arab students were also given the opportunity to vocalize their concerns at last Wednesday's candlelight vigil.But while students understand the emphasis on safety, some believe that it has detracted from those who are mourning. Sophomore Colin Stewart, for one, spoke about the importance of supporting those who lost loved ones in the tragedy. "I think the concern [for Arab and Muslim students] is warranted, but my main concern is that Arab student safety is overshadowing what has happened. There were three straight speeches about Arab student safety at the vigil. I think people should reflect on the tragedy instead of just being concerned for things that haven't happened yet," Stewart said. "On the flip side, we can't do anything about the tragedy at the World Trade Center, but we can prevent future unwarranted acts of hatred against anyone."While the University has not had to deal with widespread intolerance, there has been a multitude of reported hate crimes towards Arabs and Muslims across America. According to CNN, there were more than 300 reports to the Council on American-Islamic Relations of harassment and abuse from last Tuesday through Thursday night, nearly half the total number it received last year. Despite the discomfort that has set in - and the fact that his parents call him from Jordan everyday to make sure he's safe - Kayyali feels secure at Tufts. "I give credit to students and security," he said. President and vice-president of the Arab Students Association, Sarah Yamani and Seif Shieshakly, have expressed their fears to Kristine Dillon, dean of academic services and student affairs."Many people [in the association] were concerned the first week, just afraid, having heard incidents all around America, of people getting threatening phone calls, racial slurs, vandalism," said Yamani, who spoke at the candlelight vigil last Wednesday. "The university has done what it can and we all appreciate that," Shieshakly said. "But you can't control what people may think."He noted that the Arab freshmen in the group feel particularly vulnerable at this time. "For some of them, this is their first time in America, their first month here... they're really scared, they're in the dorms away from their families," Sheishakly said. The emotions of Arab and Muslim students have been effected by events that extend beyond the Tufts campus."Muslims and Arabs are being discriminated against throughout the country," Kayyali said. He stressed that bin Laden is an extremist with his own views and that he doesn't have Arab and Muslim support."He doesn't represent Islamic views in any way," Kayyali said.Other Boston-area schools are also making an effort to ensure Arab and Muslim student safety.At Harvard University, members of the Islamic Society received an e-mail that blamed all Muslims for the terrorist attacks. The society immediately reported the incident to both the Harvard Police and the FBI. The author of the message subsequently wrote an e-mail apologizing to the group.Yamani attended a discussion at Boston University that addressed discrimination. BU also heightened security for its Arab and Muslim students.Some Arab students have opted to leave school for the time being. Yamani knows Arab students at Boston College, BU, and Georgetown who are returning home to Saudi Arabia out of fear of war and discrimination in the US.Yamani feels that Tufts is a safer campus than most. "I can't speak for everyone on campus, I can only speak for the safety of Arab students on this campus, but the University has made us feel safe. I think they've done a good job," she said."I am proud to be at Tufts right now," she added. "At Tufts, people are exposed to different political issues and different people from different backgrounds and there are so many international students here, you are more open and exposed to more ideas. On the streets, the Arabs need to be aware. We are warned 'don't go out in public alone,' because that is where the incidents happen."Yamani hasn't felt as safe off campus. "When I'm speaking in Arabic, I notice people from far away watching, normally they wouldn't even notice. I feel like we're more watched now," she said.Muzzamil Mustufa, president of the Muslim Student Association, has his own concerns. "I think that we're trying to be careful. Our main concern, especially for Arab or Muslim students, is that they feel that they have someone to talk to. We're trying to make people feel safe. We want everyone to be careful," Mustufa said.Mustufa emphasized that the attacks do not represent the people of Islam, nor do they represent the Arabs. "It is unnerving that something like this, something you can't control, causes some people to look at you differently and be suspicious of what you think," Mustufa said. "Personally, I want this to go through this as peacefully as anyone else."

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Field Hockey slaps Beavers in 2-0 shutout

August 31

The field hockey team bounced back from a sub-par effort against Connecticut College on Tuesday with a 2-0 thumping of Babson College Beavers yesterday on Huskins field. The victory lifted the Jumbos' record to 2-5 overall, though it did not help their 1-3 NESCAC record. With the loss, the talented Beavers' squad fell to 8-4 on the season. After dropping its first four decisions, the Jumbos have won two out of their last three games and carry momentum after Thursday's victory. The win was Tufts' eighth consecutive victory over Babson since 1994. The Jumbos found themselves in control of the game very early on but was unable to find the net until 3:45 left in the opening period, when senior tri-captain Lindsay Lionetti fired a shot beyond the reach of the Babson goalkeeper, sophomore Colleen Kelley. Kelley was tested early and often by the Jumbos' offense, and she finished the game with ten saves, including seven in the first half. "This was really the first time that we played as a unit," coach Carol Rappoli said following the game. "We played very well, and I'm very pleased with everyone's effort." Tufts went into the break holding the 1-0 lead and maintained their aggressive play in the second half, controlling the pace of the game throughout the period. Despite a number of scoring opportunities for both teams, the score remained 1-0 until late into the half. With 7:27 remaining in the game, it Lionetti helped the Jumbos again, this time setting up junior Dana Chivvis, who found the back of the net amidst a flurry in front of the goal. The goal was all the insurance that Tufts would need, as the Jumbos' defense held strong to record their first shutout of the season. "We did a much better job of marking on defense," Rappoli said. "There weren't people left open all over the place." The victory was a marked improvement on both ends of the field for the Jumbos. Except for a five goal outburst against Bates on an turf field, Tufts had managed only one goal in five games. The squad was more cohesive on defense as well, limiting a strong Babson squad to only three penalty corners and one shot on goal. "It was very good for team morale," Rappoli said. "It's very good for them to know that they can compete against a strong team like Babson." The team will look to improve upon its last place standing in the NESCAC on Saturday against Bowdoin at 1 p.m. Tufts will need to replicate the effort put forth against Babson in order to compete with a Bowdoin squad that boasts an impressive 3-2 NESCAC record. "There's not much we didn't do well today," Rappoli said. "If we play like this (against Bowdoin) it will be a good game." "It's going to be a bloodbath," Rappoli said. "I wouldn't miss it."

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Seeking an end to dictatorship

August 31

On Oct. 18, Burmese student leader Min Ko Naing spent his 12th consecutive birthday behind bars in Burma's infamous Insein Prison, where he has been tortured, starved, and held in solitary confinement by the Burmese military dictatorship since 1989. In 1988, Min Ko Naing was at the forefront of Burma's national movement to end dictatorship, which culminated on August 8 with nationwide demonstrations. The protests were carried out by hundreds of thousands of Burmese students, monks, lay people, and defected members of the military. Tragically, the demonstrations were quashed by the military dictators, who executed, imprisoned, and forced into exile tens of thousands of Burmese people. Today, the Burmese military dictatorship is seen as one of the worst abusers of human rights in the world. Burmese citizens are commonly conscripted into what the International Labor Organization calls "a modern form of slave labor" by the military for tasks ranging from building hotels and roads to carrying artillery and acting as "human mine-sweepers" - literally forced to walk at gunpoint in front of military troops so that they can detonate landmines. Citizens conscripted into slave labor are almost never compensated for their time and endure brutality at the hands of the military. Those who resist work are tortured, murdered, and mutilated; women are forced to work during the day only to be gang-raped or otherwise sexually assaulted by soldiers at night. In addition to enduring the sufferings that accompany slave labor, the people of Burma live in a crumbling economy with the second poorest health services in the world (222 percent more money is spent on the military than on education and health services combined), and the second highest population prevalence of AIDS and HIV in all of Asia (although the military denies that there is any recognizable AIDS problem). For all its mismanagement of the country, the military maintains a firm grip on Burma, propped up by foreign investment in oil, natural gas, and the apparel export industry. The greatest American benefactor to the military dictatorship in Burma is the petroleum company Unocal. The company, in collusion with other oil companies and the Burmese dictators, built and maintains the Yadana natural gas pipeline that runs through Burma. Unocal has contracted with the Burmese military to provide security and infrastructure development for the pipeline project. Human rights organizations have documented evidence detailing the systematic rape, torture, execution, forced relocation of entire villages, and slave labor that has ravaged communities along the pipeline route. Unocal is not the only company whose ties to Burma's dictatorship spell suffering for the people of Burma. Connections between investment and human rights abuses can be drawn for almost all foreign investments in Burma because state enterprises, especially those controlled by the military, dominate local and joint venture investments. Whereas international investors in most countries set up partnerships with independent businesspersons, almost all joint ventures with foreign companies in Burma are controlled by an economic holdings company owned by the dictators. Aung San Suu Kyi, 1991 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and colleague to Min Ko Naing in the Burmese democracy movement, has called on foreign corporations to avoid operating or investing in Burma: "Until we have a system that guarantees rule of law and basic democratic institutions, no amount of aid or foreign investment will help our people." Ironically, as college and university students in the US, we unwittingly contribute to keeping our fellow students imprisoned in Burma. Indeed, many of the schools we attend invest directly in companies operating inside or exporting from Burma - this means that some of our tuition dollars through our endowments may be lining dictators' pockets and financing their violence and brutality. In effect, we help to keep our fellow students in Burma in jail. Realizing this terrible irony, students at the University of Virginia, American University, Bucknell University, University of Wisconsin, University of Minnesota, London School of Economics, and Edinburgh University organized to stop their universities from propping up Burma's military dictatorship. Many of these students have succeeded in prohibiting their schools from investing in or purchasing from companies that operate in or import from Burma. In honor of Min Ko Naign's birthday on Oct. 18, students across the US and around the world are embarking on another campaign to help free Burma from the suffering imposed by the military dictatorship and supported by the foreign corporations doing business in Burma. The retirement fund that most of our high school, college, and university professors use, the Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association-College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF), holds $63 million in Unocal shares. Our teacher's retirements are literally being paid for by money earned from the use of slavery in Burma. Students across the US are calling upon their professors and administrators to send letters to TIAA-CREF demanding that the retirement fund exert shareholder pressure on Unocal to pull out of Burma. To many, repression in Burma might seem far off or irrelevant, but to our fellow students who languish in Burma's prisons, there is nothing more real. Thoughtful and forward-thinking students in the US should take action to ensure that our high schools, colleges, universities, and teachers are not complicit in human rights abuses in their country.Naomi Sleeper is a ? majoring in philosophy and environmental science.

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Historic landmark rocks Davis Square

August 31

The Somerville Theater, a historic landmark in Davis Square, is capitalizing upon the square's new status as a mecca for fine dining and funky stores as well as its proximity to mass transit. The theater's monthly programs, which include live and film performances, attract a regional audience and enjoy renewed patronage. Restored and reconstructed in 1996, the theater reflects favorably upon the square's recent improvements. "Its outer appearances are deceiving, but it's much nicer inside than you would ever think it would be," said sophomore Sandy Kunvatanagarn, a frequent patron of the theater. One the oldest independently operated theaters in the Boston area, the Somerville Theater maintains its original vintage look, complete with red-eyed owls peeking out from the auditorium walls. The only modern-looking items are the large screens screens.Junior D.J. Lee said the Somerville Theater "claims a unique presence in the heart of Davis Square." Since 1996, the theater has not only become more comfortable but also more economically sound for college students - movie tickets are only $5.75. And unlike the sticky-floored theaters of Copley Place, Somerville Theater is clean and attractive inside, with excellent sound and picture quality. The five screens show current commercial films and art-house hits such as Shall We Dance? and Chasing Amy, which both enjoyed long runs. Sophomore Jeremy Leung, who got his first taste of The Exorcist at the Somerville Theater, enjoys having an outlet to see his favorite vintage films. "Whenever you miss the old movies, you can always count on Somerville to have them for you at a cheap price," Leung said. But movies haven't always been the main draw at this entertainment hot spot. As early as 1914, the theater served as a vaudeville house, and for five years housed entertainment that would surprise most Tufts students. The Vaudeville industry was highly competitive and found a large audience in the Boston area. Even though movies are one of the new Somerville Theater's greatest draws, during the Vaudeville era, silent films were actually a sideshow for live performers. When the Somerville Theater decided to show films, it created new auditoriums that were actually modeled on institutional facilities,and newly designed to house emerging symphony, opera, ballet and classical theater groups. Resident artists had become highly educated and skilled in American conservatories. The resulting symphonic societies, ballet and opera companies, and "classical" theater groups had been developing for 50 years and became substantial institutions. Students have some appreciation for the Somerville Theater's continual dedication to promoting local talents. Senior Joseph Pak praises the artistic integrity of the theater and says that it has always promoted quality entertainment for the entire Somerville community. "[The theater's history distinguishes itself from] variety both by packaging and disciplining performers within proscribed taste, and by exhibiting their work in palaces for the common man," Pak said. The entertainment palace comes complete with 900 seats and offers performers an ideal mid-size venue - not too small that fans will be shut out by limited space, but not so big that the intimacy between crowd and musician is lost. On the weekends, the theater showcases some of the hottest names in cutting-edge folk and comedy acts. Ani DiFranco, Ferron, Hot Tuna, Jane Siberry, Joe Jackson, and Susan Westenhoefer have been among the theater's most popular acts in recent years. It has only been in the last decade that the Theater has dedicated itself to presenting live music on a regular basis. Not too long ago, the theater might have hosted ten concerts each year. Now that average is close to 80 and features a world-class roster of performers working in a dizzying range of styles. A night of music here might also mean other prominent folk musicians such as Greg Brown, Bruce Cockburn, and Patty Larkin, who all performed last November. At times a world-renowned harpist or even Tuvan throat singers may make an appearance. The Somerville Theater's ability to draw a crowd after 87 years of business played a role in Davis Square's ranking as number 14 on the Utne Reader's list of "The 15 Hippest Places to Live" in the US and Canada. This ranking, compiled by the self-proclaimed "alternative" magazine, was based on conversations and interviews with many community members and leaders, such as shop clerks, gallery owners, urban planners and advertising agencies. "It's a treasure in town. There are very few classic theatres that still exist," senior Ming Chow said. And, as if the Theater weren't economical enough, there is an alternative to paying for a ticket to see a show: ushering. The music venue hires ushers on a volunteer, per-show basis. Simply sign up to work a show. If they call, all you'll need is a flashlight and a friendly smile to watch your favorite musicians perform. However, a limited number of ushers are needed, so be sure to sign up well in advance.

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A disappointing finish to a good season

August 31

The men's cross country team left this weekend's NCAA Championships with a disappointing 23rd place finish out of 24 teams. Competing against the top Div. III teams across the nation, the men entered the tournament expecting to place within the top ten and hoping to break the school mark of seventh place set in 1996. They did not come close, however, despite entering on the heels of the varsity lineup's successful New England season. At last weekend's New England Regionals, the Jumbos had finished first among Div. III squads. Team members could not figure out what went wrong, then, at Augustana College in Illinois this weekend. "We're all pretty puzzled about what went wrong on Saturday," freshmen Nate Brigham said. Highlighting the team's struggles was the race of senior co-captain J.R. Cruz. Typically the team's most dependable runner, Cruz finished fifth on the team and 195th overall with a time of 27:10. Throughout the season, Cruz had led the team consistently - coming in as Tufts' top finisher in five of the six meets in which he raced. The team's finishes were unusual in general, though, as Cruz was not the only Jumbo to experience a rough day. Senior Justin Lewis was Tufts' top finisher of the day, finishing in 109th place overall (25:52), followed by senior Jason Mann (25:58). While both Mann and Lewis are among the team's top runners, without Cruz and fellow senior co-captain Ben Smith to lead the way, the team could not run at maximum strength. Smith finished third on the team and 135th overall (26:10). "There's no one thing that sticks out," Brigham said. We feel that we prepared ourselves to run our best race on Saturday and it went the other way." The Jumbos entered the race hoping to beat out most of the New England teams. And considering their finish at the New England Regional meet, these hopes were not unwarranted. But despite their season-long dominance of most New England squads, the Jumbos were beaten Saturday by rivals Bowdoin, Williams and MIT (whhich finished 11th, 16th and 20th , respectively, on the day). The Jumbos' performance represented a disappointing finish to a strong season. But now, with the 2001 cross-country season coming to a close, the focus shifts to the indoor track season. "It's going to be hard but we just have to put it behind us and move on," Brigham said.@s:Team doesn't know what went wrong

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Skipping reels of rhyme

August 31

I have had a revelation, and it was brought on by an brief encounter with a young lady. She came to me in a dark cavernous room. I was not expecting her when she approached me from behind, and, before I knew it, she was directly on top of me. I grappled for position, my hands full. I wasn't prepared, and I struggled to place my feet. I felt my spine and neck tighten then crumple, an accordion beneath her weight. I tried to keep it up, grabbing blindly with my hands, but before I knew it she was on the floor and then gone, disappeared, vanished like a specter back into the darkness from whence she came. There were many more to follow her, but she was the one, she was the first. Yes, she was the one who hurt me good. The crowd roared. They sang in unison - though, I think, not for me. And with that, I experienced a moment of clarity. The dark room was a packed concert hall in Providence, Rhode Island. The young lady was a 16-year-old crowd surfer of considerable heft who was passed to me and those around me from the throngs behind us. I did what I could to avoid injuring myself to enable her surf-ride upon the waves of so many hands below her to continue. But I failed and, with that I had a thought - the seeds of a revelation that I have acknowledged, refuted, and finally acquiesced to over the past few months: "I am too old for this." Or at least that is what I said as reached around and pawed the streaks of pain that sped up and down my back. "Oy, vey that hurts," I groaned, suddenly reminding myself of my septuagenarian Aunt Shirley. What was I doing there? A good question. The concert featured Our Lady Peace. I had not heard much of their music, but a friend was going and invited me to join. "They are Canadian," he said of the alternative-rock band that started to earn its name in the mid '90s after most of the similar Seattle outfits of such a bent had come and gone in a noxious cloud, smelling of teen spirit, rife with melancholy and infinite sadness. The words Canadian and musician remind me of two people: Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. I imagined Our Lady Peace as a waifish yet sexy performer with long blond hair, a prominent chin, sloping forehead and an extremely high voice. "Sure," I said, "I'll join you," not knowing what to expect, but not worrying much either. I've been to gobs of concerts before. Why should this one be any more traumatic than the last? Of course, when we arrived a bit early to snag our tickets from the will-call window, there sat a bevy of teenage girls, all Gothed-up, sending out glowing rays of their premeditated morose groupie-dom throughout the surrounding hills and into nearby unsuspecting Seekonk, Pawtucket, and Warwick. I felt a bit - dare I say it - "old." And yet who am I, a mere 21-year-old, only beginning to comprehend the complexities of one's age, to suddenly feel old? Nevertheless, the feeling came back sharply when the crowd surfers started our way. Sometimes they didn't always make it all the way to our spot a few feet from the stage. They often hit the mosh pit, a danger-filled black hole of sorts to be feared by any crowd surfer. As we all know, the hooligans who fill such pits are more concerned with flailing their arms, legs, and other extraneous body parts into one another than in supporting the dead weight of yet another punk rapidly approaching their oblivious heads. Now, none of this was new to me. I had experienced a number of these physically intense, full-body-participation-necessary kind of concerts in the past, but it had been a while. That, coupled with the fact that I hadn't adequately prepared myself for such an experience, caught me off guard. "I paid 20 dollars for this?" I asked myself, as the crowd of which I was a part physically hemmed and hawed, swaying in a massive chaotic flow that was both random and sudden, requiring full concentration and complete abandon. The doubt and skepticism in my voice - "I paid 20 dollars for this?" - reminded me of my mother complaining as she failed to understand why on earth I would ever want to go to what she often simply referred to as a "rock and roll performance." Chills ran down my spine. Of course, that could also have been the mint flavored Binaca-enhanced breath of the concert-goer standing approximately three centimeters behind me. I didn't know exactly what to think. I was drowning in a sea of sweaty, angst-filled teenagers singing in unison with their Canadian demigods, and I was afraid that I had suddenly grown out of something I loved so much: live music. Is it possible? I swung my head around and stared at the crowd. "Dude, have you seen my seen my shoes?" a young kid questioned me. He was lodged right there by my side in the mass of people. I couldn't tell if he was intoxicated or if, these days, young are significantly more retarded than I remember being myself. "Forget it buddy, they're gone!" I said. Right then, I looked beyond the young guy and suddenly right there I saw it all so clearly. The truth was there, clear and obvious, as bare as the young guy's feet beside me: I saw a sketchy old guy. He was 40 at least, and seemed to be enjoying himself. Really. Suddenly it all made sense. This man, a generic sketchy old guy seen at nearly every concert was fully prepared for the events of the evening and, as such, was able to fully enjoy them. He wanted to be there. He could care less that he appeared to be both sketchy and old. His manner shouted to all might notice, "Who cares?!" We go to concerts for the experience. "It's an atmosphere thing," I'd always say to skeptics. As viewers and attendees, we make up part of that atmosphere. The moshers give way to their desire of complete abandon. The surfers give themselves up entirely to the whim of the hordes below them - even that young, hefty 16-year-old with whose grand buttocks I unexpectedly communed early in the show. And yes, even that sketchy old guy wearing the polo shirt and a pair of bifocals didn't give a damn what those around him thought. He was there for the music, for the atmosphere, to be part of it all. How could you blame him? How could you say he's too old? So, what the heck! Let me keep going to concerts for years to come, I say. As long as it's music I enjoy and a scene for which I have fully prepared myself, mentally and physically, I shall attend shows next month, next year, next decade. If I become that sketchy old guy, so be it. I promise you, I won't give a damn. And you, my friends, can join me if you like, just as long as you promise to have a good time, give yourself up to the moment, and of course, let me know when a quickly approaching crowd surfer has her large ass aimed at my fragile little neck.

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Patches for Peace collaboration a success

August 31

Yesterday afternoon, in a long-awaited ceremony in the Meyer Campus Center, Tufts unveiled a 96 square foot banner created by campus organizations in response to the Sept. 11 tragedies. The banner, entitled "Patches for Peace," was organized by Tufts Hillel to serve as a reminder to students that despite diverse interests and backgrounds, we are united as one community. Seniors Brooke Menschel, the Hillel president, and Rachel Kaplan, vice president of Hillel outreach and the coordinator of the Patches for Peace program, devoted an extensive amount of time over the past two months to the project. But the rewards are obvious - their initiative has received nothing but praise from its conception to its completion. "This project began as a tribute to the victims of the horrible terrorist attacks in this country, but it has developed into a true show of the spirit of the Tufts students and faculty," Menschel said. The patches symbolize unity within the Tufts community - a common thread unites each patch, as one learning community unites the different individuals and groups at Tufts. After the event last night, Kaplan said that all her work paid off. "I've been incredibly overwhelmed with all of the support and enthusiasm for this project," she said. "Making a 96 square foot banner in less than two months should probably never be done - but we did it, and we did it well." I hope that the banner will lead towards future collaborations with student groups rather than a finished project," Kaplan added. The patches represent the sundry organizations at Tufts, with hundreds of individuals and 88 student groups collaborating on the project. From the No Homers Club and the Monty Python Society to the RAs of Miller Hall, the participants ran the gamut of student interest. Other contributors included choral groups, fraternities and sororities, athletic teams, and various cultural and ethnic organizations. Many of the student organizations that contributed to the banner avoided labeling their patches with their names and slogans, not wanting the commemorative banner to look like an advertisement. Patches were due Oct. 5 to leave time for the Crafts House to sew them together. Junior Francis Harper, a Crafts House resident, proudly surveyed the banner yesterday afternoon as others admired her handiwork. "There were times when I was worried that the patches wouldn't line up neatly, that it would come out messy because some of the clubs forgot to leave the border that we required to sew the patches to each other," she said. "But in the end, we managed and it looks great," she added. Working alongside juniors Brian Powers and Sarah Ferguson, Harper spent 15 hours sewing the enormous banner. Father David O'Leary, who addressed the crowed at the campus center, said the banner defines Tufts as "one family and one community." Rabbi Jeffrey Summit agreed, saying the project is special because it brought together people in discussions that will promote harmony within the community. "We have been reminded of the reality that nothing is expendable," said Reverend Steven Bonsey, speaking at the ceremony. "The lives lost on Sept. 11 are remembered and we are reminded that life has an infinite value that must be appreciated." An energetic speech by Massachusetts gubernatorial candidate Steven Grossman, former chairman of the Democratic National Committee and chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, followed the unveiling of the banner in Cabot Auditorium. Grossman's spoke about community values following Sept. 11, and urged students to do what the Patches for Peace banner stands for and "find common ground" between themselves and others with differing opinions and beliefs. Unfortunately, Grossman said, many Americans are ignorant of Islam and Islamic culture. Grossman stressed that it is imperative that Americans learn about the faith, values, and ideals of all Muslims - not just fundamentalist groups such as the Taliban - to foster dialogues with different peoples. Students must avoid judging others, Grossman said, and embrace the values of a multicultural society. "This project wipes away the allegations of cynicism, complacency, and apathy among university students, and it is a magnificent work of art expressing the values of this community," Grossman said, adding that Tufts students must take the banner collaboration opportunity to begin a process of educating fellow students and others in communities both at home and in Medford and Somerville. When Grossman solicited questions from members of the audience, one student asked about his views on President Bush's response to the terrorist attacks. Grossman replied that in this time of national tragedy, it is important to put partisanship aside and rally around our government. But Grossman expressed concern with the tax rebate plan that Bush is promoting in Congress, saying the president's "domestic priorities are incorrect" because the country's poor are not getting the assistance they need. Grossman, the former president of the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee, also cited what he called a double standard in Bush policy that criticizes Israel for fighting terrorists while sending troops into Afghanistan in response to a terrorist attack in the USA. Initially, Hillel's Patches for Peace committee considered working exclusively with Tufts' Muslim student groups, but later decided that involving all interested student organizations would make the banner more symbolic of the entire student body. Menschel says the group made the right decision. In her speech at the uncovering of the banner, Menschel expressed appreciation for the participation of all of the students making up the Tufts community. "You poured so much of yourself into each patch, and each brushstroke has made a difference," Menschel said.

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Here come the brides

August 31

Tufts students will try everything from flirting at the frats to appearing on Jumbo Love Match to land boyfriends and girlfriends, but junior Melissa Ausman and sophomore Katie Symmes have more solidified plans for their romantic futures: they're both engaged to be married. Ausman shocked Harvard's entire student senate earlier this month when her then-boyfriend - now fianc?©e - concluded a routine Harvard Undergraduate Council meeting with a marriage proposal to his Jumbo girlfriend of three and a half years. Harvard senior Justin Barkley prefaced his proposal with a touching speech about the support he received from friends on the council who had assisted him during his term as treasurer. Ausman grew teary as she listened to Barkley recall various anecdotes about working with his friends, but was overcome with emotions when Justin began to talk about his supportive relationship with her. "He made me come on stage. I was embarrassed because I was good friends with many of the council members," Ausman said. "Then he got on one knee and I knew what he was going to do. So, I really started crying." The proposal was preceded by a reading of the country song, "Amazed," by Lonestar. Ausman has the full support and congratulations of her parents in accepting Barkley's proposal. In fact, Barkley called Ausman's father earlier that day to ask for permission to propose. Ausman reports that her parents were her age when they got married, and Barkley's parents were younger. She suspects that both sets of parents expected marriage since she and Barkley had been together for so many years. "I've talked about marriage with them before. They said that I've made good choices in the past, and they support my decision," Ausman said. The couple has received support from their peers as well. Though many are in long-term relationships, none of Ausman's friends are engaged, and they are eager to see the first of their friends tie the knot. "My friends are excited, especially about being in the wedding," Ausman said. Ausman and Barkley's plans after their Aug. 10 wedding are still in the works. Barkley is planning on attending law school immediately after his graduation from Harvard, and Ausman hopes to graduate early through advanced standing, take a break, and then get a job. "We'll live close to his law school, and that's where I'll be working," Ausman said. "We just want to be together." Though the couple is younger than most newlyweds, Ausman does not question that the time is right for her to enter into this commitment, and adds that she and Barkley do not plan on starting a family for a few more years. While many young people can hardly imagine a life without "playing the field" during their college years, Ausman doesn't feel that she missed out by making this decision. "I have plenty of guy friends, and I would date them if I wanted to. Justin has plenty of girl friends," she said. "I don't feel like I'll be missing out on anything." Engaged sophomore Katie Symmes agrees. She met her fianc?©e, Sean Morris, when the two were working at a day camp in Danvers, MA - Symme's hometown. The couple has been together for almost two years. Twenty-eight-year-old Morris is an elementary school teacher during the winter. "Honestly I don't think I'm missing anything by not being single at Tufts," she said. "It seems to me that a lot of people try to meet people and enter into relationships by first "hooking up" and then seeing if it goes anywhere from there. I just wouldn't be interested in that kind of method, and 'dating' on campus is not really all that prevalent." Like Ausman, Symmes was surprised at Morris' proposal, but not at the idea of marrying him. "I honestly didn't see it coming, which is why, I am sure, he proposed then," Symmes said. "We had talked about getting married but more in a casual way." Symmes will be studying in Spain this spring, and had expected that she would be wearing an engagement ring by then. "In the back of my mind I sort of thought that the proposal would have come some time this winter before I leave for Spain," Symmes said. Being young and engaged has presented some challenges for Symmes. Her parents expressed some concern over such a serious commitment at a young age, even though Morris had gone to her house earlier that week to speak with them and "ask for permission." "They have some fears about different things, about my being so young, most of which have been resolved and reassured. And then the regular parent concerns, like how they will pay for the wedding, which we still have some time to figure out," Symmes said. Symmes and her fianc?©e have yet to set a date for their wedding, but have decided that will take place after Symmes graduates from Tufts. In the meantime, Symmes' friends remain excited and surprised about the future of their friend. Symmes believes that the idea that she was engaged was shocking to her friends because it made them see that they weren't far away from that type of decision themselves. "I think for a lot of people our age all of these 'real world' issues - like marriage, careers, family - are on the brink of happening and that's kind of scary," Symmes said.

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A night at the Milky Way

August 31

We arrived at the Milky Way, a Jamaica Plain bar/bowling alley/live music venue at around 10:45 p.m. Having missed the evening's opening band, Araby, we grabbed a drink at the bar and settled in for what proved to be one of the best shows we've been to in a long time. Set Director, a band that has been together only two months, set up slowly on stage, checking the sound system as well as paying respects to the sea of personal friends that lingered to the right of the stage. Influenced by bands such as Bell & Sebastian and the Velvet Underground, Set Director consists of four instruments: lead guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums. At the Jamaica Plain gig, the band played considerably well for one that has only practiced a handful of times. It was clear, however, that time will lead to an even tighter repertoire of songs. Set Director's lead singer, who goes by the name Jesse, began with vocals that resonated with the familiar intonations of The Clash. Each band member was consumed by the beats they created - sometimes seeing a band truly enjoy their music makes the audience enjoy it that much more. It was uplifting to see that there was parental support for the band. Emily, the band's keyboard player and female back-up vocalist, had her own cheering section - her parents - who were among the enthusiastically dancing crowd. Even with such friends (or, more specifically, family members) present, Set Director communicated directly with the audience. "This is a song called Northern Kids and it sounds like this," they explained at one point. The group's anxious members courted the audience's support, though the show was only their second ever live appearance. After the set, John, the bassist and a Tufts alum, personally greeted audience members as he hurried to load the band's van after the show. Lyrics like "I've got stretch marks that you can't see" underscore Set Director's desire to create music that is both beautiful and meaningful. Musically, the band is nothing short of solid. Their set culminated in a dueling of the bass and lead guitar - a duet that seemed more like an elaborately choreographed dance - that brought a smile to everyone's lips. The two players stepped into each other and rocked out, playing as they would have done in the privacy of their own practice space, but mingling their instrumentals together perfectly. Kitty Monkey followed Set Director with a weaker set. While the band showed its musical talent, it is forgettable in the image it tries to convey. Kitty Monkey walked onstage with an air of what can only be described as "We want to be Garbage." Many who were unfamiliar with the band's music did not seem to anticipate its lack of original sound. Kitty Hawk's slower, repetitive ballads were what brought them down a notch, seeming to serve only as filler. All in all, the evening's performance proved to be a good time despite Kitty Monkey's uninspiring set. Garbage fans may have minded less than I did, but there's no denying that Set Director stole the show. In the near future, Set Director hopes to obtain another keyboardist, a cellist, and a second guitarist. The band is already playing tightly at such an early stage of the game and will no doubt prove its potential in the months, and perhaps years, to come.

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Failing professors criticized on Net

August 31

Collapsing onto a couch after a "horrible" class at the University of Nebraska, Kasey Kerber wished that he could have known what to expect in the course before signing up for it. A short time later, with the help of some technologically-inclined friends, Kerber introduced MyProfessorSucks.com, a website that provides students with the opportunity to share their opinion of different professors. It is now four months after the website's first appearance, and it is growing on a national level. "Basically, we just wanted the site to be a resource for students," said Kerber, who has graduated since he set up the webpage. "It's not only a site for students to find out what professors are bad, but it's also a site to find out what professors are really good - about 60 to 70 percent of the evaluations are good." Some really glowing things are said. And when a student posts a negative evaluation, students who don't agree will post subsequent evaluations and come to the professor's defense pretty quickly," he continued. One University of Nebraska professor, for example, had been voted Teacher of the Year two years in a row but received a poor first evaluation on the website. Several rebuttal evaluations rolled in during the subsequent hours that disagreed with the first one. "We didn't create it to rag on professors [although] the name gives it that impression," Kerber said. "It's the good mixed in with the bad." Though the site was built to give students the chance to "hand out the grades," comments are examined for content before they are posted. A student can choose a formulated statement for immediate posting or write an original one that will be read by one the site's managers before appearing on the site. "If you harm a professor's reputation with his students or his colleagues, they could come after you. We want to be very fair and respectable," Kerber said. "We want students to know that they are grading their professors on their performance and not on whether or not they have a wart on their chin." So far, no evaluations of Tufts' professors have been posted, nor have evaluations cropped up from any other Boston-area college - but the website is still young. "It's still kind of small. We don't have a ton of evaluations," Kerber said, adding that approximately one thousand evaluations have been posted. The evaluations have come for the most part, from schools in the Midwest, where the site's designers have been able to do promotions and other colleges have featured the site in their newspapers. "The University of Southern Illinois ran a story in their newspaper, and within 24 hours, there were 75 different professors evaluated," Kerber said. He added that the students who originally visited the site have been returning to "see what's new" with evaluations of their own professors. Upon entering the site, students can choose the state where their college is located and then click on the specific school from the three subheadings that divide the schools by size. "Big Daddy" describes a student population of 20,000 or more; "Medium's My Style" has between 10,000 and 19,999 students; and "Hey! Size Doesn't Matter" labels schools that, like Tufts, have a student body of 9,999 or less. In submitting an evaluation, the site asks the student to grade the professor on his "coolness," the toughness of the class being taught, and the worth of the class. All professors who receive an overall grade of B+ or better are inducted to the "A+ club" to recognize their achievements. MyProfessorSucks.com grades on a curve, too.

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Cleveland no match for Seattle in AL division series

August 31

The weather may have turned colder in New England this weekend, but in the few American League cities that are still playing baseball, things are about to heat up. Competitive division series pit a team that equaled the best record in the history of baseball, the Seattle Mariners, against a strong Cleveland Indians squad, and the defending world champion New York Yankees against the surging Oakland Athletics.Seattle vs. Cleveland Seattle was in a league of its own this year, and its pulverization of opponents likely won't end with the regular season. The Mariners (116-46) tied the 1906 Chicago Cubs for the Major League Baseball record for wins in a season, and despite Cleveland's September surge, it will take supernatural force for the Indians to break the Mariners' momentum. For Seattle, the numbers say it all. The Mariners were the first team since the 1948 Cleveland Indians to lead the league in hitting, pitching, and fielding. They established an American League record for road wins with 59 and won 43 series. And then there was Ichiro. The rookie, who doesn't even need a last name, led the AL in batting with a .350 average, hits with 242, and stolen bases with 56. He was second in runs scored with 127, and word has it that the baseball writers' association has already inscribed his name on the Rookie of the Year trophy. Seattle's success was not just a product of Ichiro's effort, but of the combination of stellar efforts from the entire team. Bret Boone, a mediocre second baseman until this year, led the AL in RBIs with 141 and hit a career-high 37 home runs. Closer Kazuhiro Sasaki was near the top in the AL in saves, and pitcher Freddy Garcia lead the AL in ERA at 3.05. While the Indians come off a solid season - they compiled a 91-71 record - they remain the weakest team in the AL playoffs, and their statistics pale in comparison to the Mariners. Seattle won the season series 5-2 against Cleveland this year and has the starting pitching to overpower the Indians. Cleveland does wield some offensive strength, as Jim Thome was second in the AL with 49 homers this year, and Juan Gonzalez had another MVP-caliber season in which he batted .325 with 35 home runs. But their bats, as well as those of Roberto Alomar and Ellis Burks, will have to face three of the best pitches in baseball this season in Seattle's Garcia, Jamie Moyer, and Aaron Sele. The Indians' pitching staff, on the other hand, has struggled this season. Bartolo Colon, who will start Game One against Garcia, had control problems; Game Two starter Chuck Finley is coming off an injury and will have to face Moyer, who went 11-2 with a 2.22 ERA after the All-Star break. Game Three, however, boasts the exciting match-up of Sele against Indians rookie C.C. Sabathia, a promising left-hander who throws in the 90-mph range and surprised baseball by recording a 17-5 record this year. The only minor roadblock for Seattle is that shortstop Carlos Guillen is sick with tuberculosis and is not expected to play in either the division or championship series. But while Guillen is an integral part of the team, Mark McLemore should be an adequate replacement. In a best-of-three series that is spread out enough to give pitchers plenty of rest time, the strong rotation should give Seattle all it needs to dispose of Cleveland. New York vs. Oakland The Seattle-Cleveland series may seem like it's over before it begins, but the New York-Oakland match-up promises to give fans all the drama and suspense missing from the other pairing. The Yankees - winners of the last three World Series - have more playoff experience than the other three teams in the AL playoffs combined and have a reputation for stepping up when it really matters. The Athletics, however, have a better record, a strong pitching staff, and desire to avenge their close loss to the Yanks in the division series last year. Oakland was second only to Seattle with a 102-60 record this year, while New York finished at 95-65. This series will be one of momentum against experience. Oakland was 58-17 after the All-Star break, the second-best winning percentage during that time next to the 1954 Cleveland Indians. After a horrendous start, the Athletics became the first team in history to win 100 games after being ten under .500. Both teams have formidable pitching rotations, and the match-up of Oakland's Mark Mulder and New York's Roger Clemens in Game One will rank among the top pitching duels this season. Mulder (21-8) was one of the AL's three 20-game winners this year and had a solid 3.56 ERA, while Clemens (20-3) became the first pitcher in baseball history to earn a 20-1 record and could be on his way to a record sixth Cy Young award. The trio of Mulder, Tim Hudson, and Barry Zito is one of the only sets in baseball who can rival the dominance of the Yankees' Clemens, Pettite, and Mussina. But pitching is one area where the Yankees' ability to perform under pressure may make the difference, as their arms have far more playoff experience than Oakland's. New York, however, may have to play without pitcher Orlando Hernandez, who is scheduled to pitch Game Four on Sunday. The series doesn't start until Wednesday, which means that both teams will need a fourth solid starter - which Oakland has in Corey Lidle. Hernandez is 8-1 in the postseason, and while he threw four scoreless innings coming out of the bullpen on Sunday, he remains questionable for the start this week. At the plate, New York and Oakland put up numbers this year that differ by only a few percentage points. The Yankees have a better team batting average by a mere .003 points, while the Athletics scored 80 more runs. For New York, rookie second baseman Alfonso Soriano broke into baseball in a big way and energized the team's running game. Derek Jeter had another solid year at shortstop, Tino Martinez put up his best numbers in the last four years (.280 batting average, 34 home runs), and Bernie Williams hit .307 with 26 home runs. Oakland will be powered by first baseman Jason Giambi, who had an MVP-esquse season and led the team in every offensive category. Midseason pickup Jermaine Dye was just what Oakland needed to energize its offense, and he won the AL player of the month award for August. And three out of Oakland's four infielders - Giambi, Eric Chavez, and Miguel Tejeda -hit more than 30 home runs. The Athletics also boast a formidable defense, with Dye, Johnny Damon, and Terrence Long in the outfield and potential Gold Glover Chavez at third. But the Yankees are a far more aggressive team and have a strong bullpen that is anchored by the game's best closer, Mariano Rivera. Oakland is 6-3 against New York this season, and each team swept the home series against the other. This week's series should provide the excitement that was missing from the AL pennant races. And even if New York wins, this may be the year that the Yankees are dethroned - the Mariners would be up next.

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