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Amherst trips women's soccer

August 31

In a nail-biting NESCAC matchup, the Amherst Lord Jeffs defeated the women's soccer team 2-1, leapfrogging ahead of the Jumbos in the conference standings. Tufts, now 4-3 in the NESCAC, lost only its second game in two years on Kraft Field, the first being the national championship last year. The winning goal came with 12 minutes left in the second half, when a defensive lapse allowed the speedy freshman Lee-Jay Henry to get open in front of the goal, where she rifled a shot past diving goalkeeper senior Mara Schanfield. "It was a close game, but if a team has just one mental lapse, then that can be the difference," coach Martha Whiting said. "We were evenly matched, and I think that we controlled a lot of the game," she said. "I thought [Amherst] capitalized well on the opportunities that they had." Amherst, now 4-2-1 in the conference, opened the scoring in the high-energy contest with just over seven minutes left in the first half. Off a corner kick, senior tri-captain Cathy Poor sent a point-blank header into the left side of the goal. Despite these two goals, the Jumbo defense, led by junior Cara Glassanos, played aggressively. Glassanos cleared numerous balls in the first half, preventing Amherst opportunities. More impressive was Schanfield, whose six saves included two diving stops. In the second half, with the game deadlocked at one, an open Amherst attackman fired a shot to Schanfield's left. Schanfield extended her left arm and deflected the ball in front of the goal. Filling in momentarily for the goalkeeper, sophomore Jess Lovitz stopped a shot, and kicked the ball to safety. Offensively, Tufts applied pressure often, but was only able to convert on one of 19 shots. Nine minutes into the second half, senior co-captain Lynn Cooper threw the ball in to sophomore Jess Trombly deep in Jumbo territory. Trombly duped a defender and crossed the ball to junior Elizabeth Tooley, who placed it past Amherst goalkeeper, senior Hallison Putnam. "Tooley's goal was great," Whiting said. "She was very composed and put it far post, and that got us right back in." With the crowd energized, Tufts kicked up its intensity another notch for an extended stretch of aggressive play. Junior Alle Sharlip led the charge, throwing elbows, knees, and even a punch at an Amherst player who was playing her too closely. "At the beginning of the game [the aggressive play] was a little distracting for the girls," Whiting said. "Then they just started to fight back." Statistically, Tufts had a slight edge in the contest, leading in shots 19-17 and corner kicks 7-3. The corner kicks, which provided both goals in Saturday's victory over Bowdoin, were less effective against Amherst. "They were pretty aggressive on the corners, and they have some tall kids who got to the ball first," Whiting said. With the loss, Tufts fell from second in the conference to a tie for fourth with Middlebury. There are two NESCAC games remaining and the Jumbos are in solid shape for a playoff berth. Home field advantage, however, will require some victories. "There are so many teams with two and three losses, so this is not going to kill us," Whiting said. But, she added, "it's important for us that we do well in our next two conference games." Tufts' next game is tomorrow afternoon against non-conference Simmons, who Tufts defeated 3-2 last year. Playing four games in an eight-day span will be draining for the team, especially at a time when Tufts needs wins. "Simmons has one great player, who is really fast," Whiting said. "She doesn't get much recognition because she is not on a great team. We will just put Lovitz on her and that should take care of it." The 4 p.m. game will be the fourth in a five-game homestand, which will culminate with NESCAC rival Trinity on Saturday.

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News

Men and muscle

August 31

If Barbie dolls give young girls a distorted image of what the female body should look like, are boys receiving the same messages through GI Joe and other action figures? And as many women feel shame and dissatisfaction with their bodies, are men struggling with similar issues? Although traditionally, most people affected with body dissatisfaction and eating disorders are women, an increasing number of men are coping with the same issues. In fact, just as some women worry about having unnaturally thin thighs, men can become obsessed with having a "washboard" stomach or "bulking up" because they feel they're too puny. What are the signs? Not every guy who goes to the gym on a regular basis has a distorted body image. But there are signs and symptoms of overdoing of which to be aware. Research led by Dr. Roberto Olivardia and Dr. Harrison G. Pope, co-authors of The Adonis Complex: The Secret Crisis of Male Body Obsession, has found that men who are dissatisfied with their bodies are more likely to: -Report that they are very dissatisfied with their bodies and can spend more than three hours a day thinking about their muscularity.-Admit having little or no control over compulsive weight lifting and dietary patterns. -Avoid activities because they are uncomfortable with their body.-Avoid participating in activities they previously enjoyed. -Skip work or other responsibilities to exercise. Who is affected? Experts estimate that about ten percent of eating disorder patients are men. However, this number may be low because of underreporting. Men are often reluctant to seek help for a syndrome commonly associated with women. Health care providers aren't used to identifying the signs of eating and body image disorders among men. Also, it may be easier and more socially acceptable for women to talk about body dissatisfaction and food issues than it is for men. Men with body dissatisfaction are very similar to their female counterparts in many ways. In a study by Drs. Olivardia and Pope that looked at 200 college-aged men in Austria, France, and the US, men were shown a computer image of a male body and were asked to adjust the image three times; first, until it reflected their own bodies; then, to what they wanted their bodies to look like; and finally, to the body type they thought women found most attractive. Although the images of their own bodies were fairly accurate, the men's ideal body type was on average 28 pounds more muscular than their own. And they thought women wanted even more muscle than that. Preoccupation with body image and appearance takes up mental energy that could be used on other activities such as enjoying friends, studying, and creative thinking. Also, these men are more likely to use dangerous anabolic steroids to achieve the look they desire. Why does this happen? Evidence suggests that cultural influences play into the development of body dissatisfaction just as they do with more traditional eating disorders. Magazines and movies bombard women with images of ultra-thin models and actresses, while men are confronted with images of muscular models and actors. And, as female movie stars get thinner, male actors are getting bigger. Marilyn Monroe and James Dean have turned into the ultra-thin Laura Flynn Boyle and pumped-up Bruce Willis. There is a culturally defined ideal that men are big and women are small. Body dissatisfaction among men may be a growing trend, and like body image issues among women, it is a multi-faceted problem. If you suspect that you or a friend is over-exercising, or too concerned about his muscularity, then encourage him to talk to a health care professional.

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News

Democracy possible in Middle East, speaker says

August 31

When he came to Tufts on Tuesday, Dr. Abdulkarim Sorush brought with him the experience of having been fired, banned from lecturing, and attacked by hard-line Islamic militants for questioning the religious Iranian regime. Sorush, a leading intellectual in the Iranian Revolution of 1979, fled the country to escape persecution. In America, he has continued to examine the possibility of democracy in Iran as a professor at the Harvard Divinity School while occasionally visiting Iran to lecture. In Sorush's talk before a diverse audience in Cabot auditorium, he said that those calling for democracy in the Middle East should look to combine Islam and democracy. "Since Sept. 11, Islam has become a national issue," Sorush said. "Too often though, Islam is characterized as being intolerant. [The public] needs to recognize that we are experiencing emerging democracy." Sorush described the current views of groups that do and do not support democracy in Islam. "The prophet was a political man who had to respond and react to his enemies and friends... Islam had to become politicized," Sorush said, explaining the origins of Islam and government. "In this world, the supernatural can enter into the world without being corrupted by man," Sorush continued. "These fundamentalists believe that only God is both creator and legislator." This strict interpretation has been a driving force in the Islamic world, inspiring various movements such as the 1979 revolution in Iran, the National Salvation Party of Turkey, and the Taliban. Some fundamentalist groups like the Taliban, Sorush said, interpret the Koran to oppose democracy. "There are many Muslims who believe that democracy is foreign and there are many verses [of the Koran] that seemingly support this statement," he said. "To paraphrase - 'Only God can rule' or ' No one else but Him can judge.'" Sorush was appointed as chair of the Cultural Revolution Institute by political leader Imam Khomeini in Iran in 1980, but the activist resigned soon afterwards. Though he had to leave Iran because of harassment for his ideas, other Iranian political figures, such as Khomeini, have admired Sorush's books, according to the political organization Seraj. However, other scholars, including professor Sohrab Behdad of Denison University, have attacked Sorush for his involvement in the revolution. In an open letter to the Middle East Studies Association, Behdad wrote that, post-revolution, Sorush was in a position of power and could have but did not protect the rights of others. "I find it delightfully ironic... that my association defends a man who could, but did not, defend my academic freedom and human rights and those of many of my colleagues and many more of my students, when their freedom and rights were brutally violated by the Cultural Revolution of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the spring of 1980 and the years that followed," he wrote. But Tufts comparative religion professor Farzin Vahdat defended Sorush, saying that Sorush had to resign because the institute's stated and eventual missions changed. According to Sorush, the institute intended to review syllabi for compatibility after the revolution, but it eventually turned into a search to get rid of certain academicians. "Professor Sorush's claim is that he resigned from the [institute] as soon as he discovered that it's purpose was an academic purge," Vahdat said. "The issue has not been resolved, but he is the leading authority on democracy and the Middle East." In his talk, Sorush also examined modern theorists who say that democracy has already been established in holy duties like thikr and baia, daily tasks that Muslims practice to remember their submission to Allah. "These theorists who wish to view Islam as a 'theo-democracy' are mistaken, because these concepts were here long before the advent of Islam," Sorush said. Sorush also drew a distinction between religion and government, a line which the current government blurs. "The emphasis of religion is on obligation," he said. "In a democracy, the emphasis is placed on rights. In fact, Islamic jurists have defined the sharia (Islamic holy law) as 'The Science of Obligation.'" Since Islam is "politicized," Sorush said it would be impossible to separate faith from government in the Middle East. He promotes an "extra-religious" perspective on government - a governing body that integrates religion, but brings in an outside force to "protect interpretation." "Pure religion is a myth," he said. "Purity is our own creation. Islam is a series of interpretations and so is Christianity... Diversity of interpretation must be recognized." This view directly clashes with organizations like the Taliban or the Iranian government, which use religious police to enforce their interpretation of Islamic law. "Once we allow liberty of interpretation, and license of interpretation, then you can begin to move forward," Sorush said. He said that basic Muslim convictions, like the obligation to "do good," establishes the concept that those who are evil must be resisted. This makes government accountable. "From the beginning, criticism is already a part of the Koranic text," Sorush said. One student in attendance said that he felt the lecture "was good, but was somewhat abstract. It dealt very much with ideas and beliefs, but didn't explain how this change was to come about."

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News

Women's crew competes at Textile Regatta

August 31

Both varsity boats earned decent finishes in this past weekend's Textile Regatta, and the women's crew team is beginning to show potential for future success. Battling unpredictable weather and a chaotic race-start environment, both boats stayed focused and have made progress in their goal of putting the Jumbos on the crew charts. The start of the event was anything but smooth sailing, with the varsity race kicking off 30 minutes behind schedule. Adding to the confusion were a handful of men's boats racing in the women's heat because they missed the start of their own race. Overall, the first varsity boat came in 26th out of 40 with a time of 22:16 and the second varsity boat came in 32nd out with a time of 24:00. However, according to coach Jessica Normand these standings and times are not representative of the actual performances by the two boats. "I'm very pleased with the level of performance displayed by both boats," Normand said. "The standings don't accurately reflect how effectively these boats rowed as one unit." The standings don't show the efforts made by both boats during the course of the race. The first varsity boat passed two other boats in its race, powerhouses BC and CRI (what is this?). CRI is a prestigious private rowing club that has its boathouse headquarters on the Charles. While the second varsity boat didn't pass any boats, it also was not surpassed. "They really did a nice job holding their ground," Normand said. Newly elected captain Shelly Nelson echoed her coach's sentiments about the team's performance. "The whole time in the boat you could tell that everyone was giving 110 percent, it's a very satisfying feeling," Nelson said. "There was really good pick up and really good run, the boat really felt like it was moving."Despite its performance, the team understands that it needs to do a lot of work to move into the upper echelon. In the coming weeks, the team hopes to hone its mental stamina. As well as a race's obvious physical toll, the mental equivalent is just as significant. In fact, a deficit in mental stamina can affect physical performance."There is a developing trust on the boat, we're all starting to really get comfortable with each other, it's a trust that only increases with time," said (year?) Rebecca Stein. Trust was evident as the squads fought to maintain control in wind pockets and still succeeded in keeping the boat steady and speedy.Looking ahead to the New Hampshire Championships on Oct. 13, the team has set goals and determined what areas need improvement. The varsity boats aim to again edge out rival BC and while finishing closer to Holy Cross. Holy Cross emerged victorious at the Textile Regatta and Tufts looks to cut their lead, thereby using Holy Cross as a gauge of their improvement. In terms of technique, the teams are looking to step up the intensity of practice, and work on endurance and conditioning. Overall, Normand wants to see the boats exhibit more tenacity in their stroke. "They all looked strong and consistent, but lacked uumph," Normand said. "I'd like to see them be even more aggressive."The crew team will try to be more aggressive this Saturday at the Head of Connecticut in Middletown.

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News

Women's field hockey drops to Colby

August 31

The women's field hockey team dropped its fourth consecutive decision on Saturday, falling to the Colby White Mules by a score of 3-1. The Jumbos' record dropped to 0-2 in the NESCAC and 0-4 overall, while Colby continued its impressive start to the season, improving to 4-0. The Tufts' offense attacked in first minute of play only to see its surge easily quelled by the stalwart Colby defense. The Mules then marched the ball downfield, catching the Jumbos off-guard, and took the early lead on a goal by senior Becca Bruce just 1:53 into the opening period. "Our defense has been very lax in the first and last five minutes of games," coach Carol Rappoli said. "Too many of our games have been decided in the first and last five minutes." After the initial rush by the Jumbos' offense, Colby found itself in control of the game for much of the first half. With 8:26 remaining in the period, however, sophomore Elizabeth Hayden was able to break through the Colby defense and fired a shot beyond the reach of Colby goaltender Carrie Torrisi to tie the game at one. The goal marked Tufts' first score of the season and ended a 250-minute scoreless drought. The second half of play saw the Jumbos offense shut down by an even stingier Colby defense. The White Mules, as a result of their defensive efforts, were able to generate more scoring opportunities. With 17:05 remaining in the second half, Bruce tallied her second goal of the game, a score that proved to be the game winner for the Mules. Play remained well balanced throughout the remainder of the period as Colby maintained its 2-1 advantage. The White Mules added an insurance goal by freshman Wendy Bonner with 2:32 left to play. Despite the lopsided result of the game, Colby held only a slight advantage in penalty corners, with eight to the Jumbos' six. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Rufino turned in another solid performance, tallying nine saves on the afternoon. This was the second time in as many games that the Jumbos have allowed three goals - a defensive lapse that the team hopes to fix. "It's definitely a problem," Rappoli said. "Any time you allow three goals it's not good. We need to be marking better." However, the defense has not been the biggest concern so far this season. The Jumbos have scored only one goal through eight halves of play and one overtime. If the team hopes to climb back from the bottom of the NESCAC rankings, it will have to improve its offensive productivity. "We've been working a lot on both ends of the field." Rappoli said. "We need to start taking advantage of our opportunities and work on converting them." The next NESCAC opponent for Tufts will be Bates, who sports a 1-3 record in conference play. The team faces a non-conference opponent in Gordon before this, however, a match that Rappoli foresees as a difficult one. (If results are up, say something about Gordon game, if PPD, keep this) "We always have tough games against Gordon," she said. "We'll need a very strong defensive effort." The Jumbos will try to find the fervent defense that has been missing since their first two games, and will also look to generate some offense. "Gordon is a good team." Rappoli said. "We can't let up just because they're not in the NESCAC."

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News

Trustees convene on campus, meet new president

August 31

For many Tufts trustees, Homecoming weekend was the first chance to meet the University's new president since the body hired him last spring. Approximately 30 of the 36 trustees - who gather on campus three times each year - met with president Larry Bacow on Saturday afternoon. "The purpose of the meeting was to hear about new ideas," trustee Bruce Male said. At the meeting, Bacow reviewed his priorities with the trustees, focusing on three areas: the University's need to generate more support for faculty salaries, increase student financial aid at both the undergraduate and graduate level, and integrate its seven schools. "We also talked about the need to engage younger alumni in the activities of the University," Bacow wrote in an e-mail this week. Bacow presented trustees with his restructuring plans for the administration, which included the creation of a University Council on Graduate Education headed by chemistry Professor David Walt, and the appointment of Susan Ernst as dean of Arts and Sciences. As part of the restructuring, Sol Gittleman is stepping down as provost after 21 years in the position and has asked President Bacow to begin a nationwide search for a replacement. According to Nathan Gantcher, the board's chairman, the trustees also discussed the proposed new dormitory, which he said will house 150 students. The site has not been chosen, and plans might be more concrete by the time the trustees reconvene in February. At that meeting, trustees will also get the chance to speak with Tufts' students representatives. This weekend, however, the focus was on getting acquainted with Bacow, and the board seemed initially pleased with its choice of president. "He is very happy to be here," Male said. "He seems very excited." As John DiBiaggio's successor, Bacow has "big shoes to fill," Male said, but "he's a very impressive guy." On Friday, about 60 faculty members from all of Tufts' schools attended a luncheon with the trustees. "The general sense of the luncheon was that Tufts has come an enormous distance over the past 25 years," said Provost Sol Gittleman, the University's chief academic officer. Since the mid-1970s, the University's endowment has grown from $28 million to nearly $600 million, Gittleman said, "which is still not enough." Tufts, Gittleman said, "is in need of the resources to take us to the next level." The University hopes to increase the alumni giving rate from 31 percent to 40 percent over the next five years. "The trustees promised we would do it. They also said that President Bacow is the person who will guide us," Gittleman said.

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News

Boston Ballet opens season with a bang

August 31

The Boston Ballet opened its 38th season last Thursday with Bruce Wells' magical fairytale, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Gerald Arpino's tribute to the American dream, Suite Saint-Sa?ns. Following the disappointing production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame last season, the company's abilities were called into question. But fears of another letdown vanish within the first two minutes of this season's opening piece, Suite Saint-Sa?ns. Unlike traditional ballets, this modern piece is built around the music and not based on a particular story or fairytale - the dances can often be difficult to watch because of the lack of plot. Suite Saint-Sa?ns deftly sidesteps this pitfall thanks to the seamless choreography of Arpino, Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Recurring choreographic themes create a cohesive piece that easily captures the audience's attention. Composed by Camille Saint-Sa?ns, the music in Suite Saint-Sa?ns is lively and energetic. These aspects are mirrored in the choreography, which consists of fast footwork, soaring jumps, and smooth partnering. A technically demanding work, the company dancers prove themselves more than prepared for the challenge. The women undoubtedly steal the show - they are both technically precise and artistically expressive. The intricate pas de trois is carried out effortlessly and impeccably. The men, on the other hand, lag behind the ladies. Where are the awe-inspiring jumps? The powerful triple pirouettes? Luckily, the ladies are able to make up for what the men are lacking in vigor and force.A Midsummer Night's Dream follows Suite Saint-Sa?ns. Based on William Shakespeare's play and set to composer Felix Mendelssohn's Incidental Music, the piece is playful and humorous. Most of the ballet's two acts take place in a mystical forest outside the gates of Athens. Hermia has been promised to Demetrius but is in love with Lysander. Helena is in love with Demetrius. Forbidden lovers Hermia and Lysander flee to the forest and are followed by Demetrius and Helena. In this same forest, Oberon, king of fairies, and Titania, his wife are quarreling over a child fairy that has been placed in Titania's care. Enter the mischievous Puck. With the help of the magical nectar of a flower pierced by Cupid's arrow, he intervenes between all the lovers in the forest, both mortal and mystical. After being sprinkled with the bewitching nectar, Titania falls in love with a man-turned-donkey. Lysander is accidently sprinkled with the same mystical potion, causing him to fall in love with Helena and scorn his beloved Hermia. In order to remedy Puck's wrongdoings, Oberon creates a mysterious fog under which everything is fixed. The mortals marry their lovers and Oberon and Titania are happily reunited. Despite the complex web of plots and subplots, A Midsummer Night's Dream is surprisingly easy to follow on stage. The choreography, by former Boston Ballet Interim Artistic Director Bruce Wells, is very clear, and the dancers vividly portray their characters. Where the production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame fell victim to the intricate weaving of several storylines, A Midsummer Night's Dream seems to revel in it. What separates this ballet from the host of others that are based on familiar fairytales is its combination of romance and humor. Most ballets, such as The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake are purely romantic. While the love triangle is fundamental to A Midsummer Night's Dream, it isn't the only thing going on. The combination of storylines, and the unmistakable element of comedy, makes the ballet entertaining and enjoyable. Like Suite Saint-Sa?ns, the dancers again demonstrate their seemingly endless energy and flawless technique. Principal dancer Larissa Ponomarenko is the perfect Titania, simultaneously gentle and vivacious. Pollyana Ribeiro, another principal ballerina who has been with the company since 1992, captures the playfulness and mischief of Helena, making her irresistible and endearing. Paul Thrussell steals the show as Puck. In addition to dancing impeccably, he interacted with the audience, eliciting numerous bursts of laughter throughout the production. The set design by Lewis Folden is breathtaking, transporting the audience from a theater in downtown Boston to a bona fide enchanted forest complete with graceful vines, lush greenery, and mysterious fog. The lighting, created by Craig Miller and recreated by Linda O'Brien, takes its cue from the beautiful scenery. Together, they create a mystical ambience that permeates the entire Wang Theatre. The distinctive infusion of energy and technique demonstrated the season's opening program might be the result of several changes at the Boston Ballet. First and foremost, the company recently announced the appointment of Mikko Nissinen as Artistic Director. His influence is already being felt at the company, although he does not assume his full responsibilities as Artistic Director until July 1, 2002. Nissinen is an internationally recognized dancer, teacher, and Artistic Director. He brings to the company not only an extensive career as a dancer at companies such as the Kirov Ballet and the San Francisco Ballet, but also experience as an Artistic Director at both the Marin Ballet in San Rafael, California and, as of 1998, the Alberta Ballet based in Canada. His vast background and "tremendous respect for the history and tradition" of the Boston Ballet have undoubtedly influenced the energy at the company. In addition to the appointment of Nissinen, the company has also added nine new dancers to its corps de ballet this season- Josey Silva, Li-Yin Chen, Emi Hariyama, Christine Kelliher, Nao Kusuzaki, Yosuke Mino, Joel Prouty, Raul Salamanca, and Richard Collins. The addition of these fresh, new faces (not to mention fresh, new technique) has made the company more dynamic and rejuvenated the foundation of dancers upon which it is based.Suite Saint-Sa?ns and A Midsummer Night's Dream are nothing short of masterpieces in the glorious tradition of the Boston Ballet. The success of the season's opening program can only be an omen of good things to come.Suite Saint-Sa?ns and A Midsummer Night's Dream will be playing at The Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., thru September 30th. Tickets are available through Telecharge (1-800-447-7400) and at The Wang Theatre Box Office, $25-78. Student rush tickets are available the day of the performance for $12.50.

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News

Low-calorie media munching

August 31

Perhaps it is fitting that Shallow Hal, a film featuring stick-thin starlet Gwyneth Paltrow decked out in a fat suit in order to show that "it's what's on the inside that counts," was released just in time for Thanksgiving weekend, traditionally reserved for gluttony and gorging. After Americans stuffed themselves silly, they could trek to the theaters to learn that, hey, all of the weight they gained doesn't matter! We're still willowy, lithe, and gorgeous on the inside! Uh huh. Paltrow can shed her faux layers of flab by stepping out of foam rubber and back into capris. Then she can chat sentimentally with Rolling Stone (as she did in a recent issue) about finding living life as an overweight individual "a profound, very sad, and startling experience." What this all amounts to is a mockery of the very issues she and the movie claim to combat. I want to steer clear of writing a hackneyed diatribe on the overly-thin female stars that parade around movies, television, and music videos, and the discouraging messages they send to women everywhere. It's true, but it's been done. What I'm focusing on here is the media's coverage of such issues - its continued spotlight on Hollywood's battles with weight that do nothing more than encourage unhealthy eating habits and promote insecurity in readers looking for some way, any way, to lose weight. In conjunction with the release of Shallow Hal, the Rolling Stone article speaks of the struggles stars have had with their weight. Yet the article, like most other pieces that tell how these women have significantly dropped in dress size, does not highlight just how dangerous the lengths taken are. Instead, they use phrases like the preposterous "Drew Barrymore, a size eight, has a healthy attitude about her healthy size." A size eight is "healthy?" Barrymore is essentially being portrayed as a weighty star - but oh, it's all right. She's got a healthy attitude. She's fine with being "big." Women reading this don't want to settle for simply "hearty but happy," so they'll look toward success stories that are conveniently laid out step by step, like this one: "...in the late 1980s, the five-foot-three [Janet] Jackson put herself on a 900-calorie-a-day-fish-and-vegetable diet and an exercise regimen of boxing, running and sit-ups, and she trimmed down to 110 pounds." Wonderful. A diet that doesn't provide nearly enough calories for a woman who isn't exercising, written in a national magazine, with no warnings of its immense danger, is explained as a method that worked beautifully for shedding weight. And this Rolling Stone story isn't anything close to an exception. No, Time and Newsweek aren't printing pop culture nonsense like this, but earlier this year, other less respectable but more prolific magazines (should I name People?) could not keep women like former Wilson Phillips singer Carnie Wilson, who underwent a stomach stapling surgery in order to shed lot of weight, off their covers. Wilson is then given ample magazine space in order to tell America how wonderful her life has been since losing all the weight and what a miserable experience she had growing up heavy. Then, readers are treated to accounts like the following, a tale from that same Rolling Stone article of how Jennifer Lopez toned the most famous ass in the country (and quite possibly the world): "'Enough already,' she groaned that June, [in response to national spotlight on her derriere] and four months later her backside appeared less bodacious...'I'll have egg whites in the morning, carbs for lunch, and a salad for dinner,' she said - though she does admit to longing for a chocolate-chip cookie now and then." And so we have a detailed description of the extremely scant diet of one of the most coveted women in the world, laid out for anyone to copycat. Stories like this crop up every now and then... maybe spotlighting Calista Flockheart and her troubles maintaining that yes, she does eat, and then on the next page detailing the trend of "thin Hollywood" by showing pictures of Jennifer Aniston pre-diet and 30 pounds lighter post-diet. The media focus on weight loss is simply an extended advertisement for men and women to follow in their dangerous footsteps because, you know what? All they see is that Too-Skinny Aniston is now married to the most coveted guy on the planet. Nothing wrong with that, and so there must be something right with sticking to low-carbohydrate, high-protein, "I wish I could have a chocolate-chip cookie" regimens that take over your life. What is a teenaged girl, anxious to have boys drool over her like they do over these stars, going to think except that this is the way things get done? Rarely are these articles accompanied by methods of safe dieting or a mention of the imminent dangers in the practices that some of these women employ. A quote from a nutritionist exclaiming that something is unhealthy, mirrored on the opposite page by a picture of the star, in makeup, smiling, and happy with her new dress size. All they show is the positive, and all readers receive are the surface benefits of unhealthy eating and living. It's a sick fascination to see stars like Julia Roberts, who donned a 60-pound suit for this summer's lukewarm America's Sweethearts, or Paltrow mask their beauty to play Fat for a day. People flock to these features largely because of insecurity - the pleasure of seeing the statuesque stumble. It's a trend that I hope is left behind with all the other dismal films of 2001 - that, along with the unnecessary media hype surrounding starlets and the disturbing lengths to which they go to ensure the camera's extra ten pounds won't push them up to a size 2.

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News

Field hockey drops another game, remains 0-1 in NESCAC

August 31

On Wednesday night, the field hockey team went scoreless in a 3-0 loss to Wellesley College. The Jumbos' setback was their third in a row - their longest losing streak since 1991. Tufts has yet to score a goal this season, but team members hope to set aside their frustrations as they prepare for this weekend's crucial match against Colby College. "Basically they flat out beat us," senior defender Liesl Bradford said of the Wellesley game. "What they did and what we failed to do was move to the ball." Wellesley jumped to an early lead in the first half when junior Marret Arfsten scored the first of her two goals, 29:40 into the game. That goal turned out to be game winner. Tufts had several scoring opportunities throughout the half, but could not find the net. Despite its experience, the team continues to suffer from the same problem as last season - capitalizing on offensive opportunities. On Wednesday, senior tri-captain Lindsay Lionetti had several promising shots on goal that were stopped, and her teammates failed to rebound them. "We're getting the initial shots off, but the support around the circle was not there," Bradford said. Wellesley's Arfsten found the net for the second time with 12 minutes left in the first half, leaving Tufts with a 2-0 deficit heading into the second half. The Jumbos failed to step up. "We were very shaky in the second half," Bradford said. "We changed our lineup and things just weren't going smoothly." Coach Carol Rappoli altered the Jumbos' newly formulated lineup of 3-2-3-2 to a 3-3-3-1 partway into the second half. The new formation seemed to work well for Tufts, but the team could not score. Wellesley's offense, meanwhile, was fluid throughout the contest. Junior Betsy Masiello connected on her team's final goal off an assist from Arfsten with 6:20 left in the game. Junior goalkeeper Lauren Rufino made 12 saves in the Tufts cage, including seven in the second half, while Wellesley first-year goalkeeper Caitlin Andrews made six saves in the shutout. The squad's obvious strength thus far - though perhaps not reflected in the score of its most recent game - is its defense. "We have a solid defense," Bradford said. "It's not of question of skill for us right now. It's a question of people getting used to playing new positions." Junior Ursula Stahl led the Tufts defense through the first three games until she was injured in the squad's match-up against Middlebury, when Stahl was hit in the hand in the second half, and suffered severe bruising and swelling. Injuries are becoming a trend. Including Stahl's injury, the team has already suffered from three injuries since the season's start last Thursday. Bradford took a ball to the eye last Thursday and sat out the Middlebury game, while senior tri-captain Christina Orf suffered from a calf ailment in the opener against Bentley that forced her to miss crucial minutes in that game. Bradford and Orf are back to full throttle, but it remains unclear whether Stahl will return to the field this weekend. Though the Jumbos have lost three times this season, two of the losses were against non-conference opponents and will not hurt the team's NESCAC standing. The Jumbos face their second NESCAC foe on Saturday when they travel to Maine to play Colby College. The White Mules, ranked second in the NESCAC division with a 2-0 record, are a historically talented squad. Last year, the Mules put up a strong fight against Tufts in the Jumbos' 2-1 double overtime win.

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News

Tufts celebrates return of alumni

August 31

Trustees and alumni descended onto the Hill this weekend, decked out in Halloween costumes and blue face paint for Homecoming weekend, to celebrate Tufts' sesquicentennial.After months of preparation, the weekend was marked with century-old traditions and acclamation for the University's new president.President Larry Bacow found himself surrounded by returning alumni and the University Trustees, some of whom met the new president for the first time. Bacow and his wife Adele Fleet Bacow were introduced to the Tufts community during the football game's half-time show.At half-time, with Jumbos ahead 10 to 7 and spirit high among fans, seniors and former TCU senators Michele Shelton and Dan Zandman, were named homecoming king and queen. Tufts' newfirst lady, Fleet Bacow, and former first lady Nancy DiBiaggio crowned the pair in what has become a time-honored tradition."It's exciting to be representing the school in front of the alumni and students and parents," Shelton said on being named queen. "It is quite an honor."The Class of 1952, the 100th class to graduate from Tufts, was recognized for their generous support of the University. Their 50th "gold" reunion takes place this May, and representatives of the class will be honored then. This year's homecoming was marked by a dramatic increase in participating graduate students from the Fletcher School, who were co-sponsored by the International Club, the Brazilian Club, and the Association of Latin American Students. An estimated 350 students attended a Fiesta Latina in Dewick, which featured live meringue and salsa music Saturday night."Dewick was transformed into a dance hall, it was a lot of fun and a lot of hard work," said Fletcher student Daniel Ades, who helped organize the event. "We tried to get Fletcher and undergraduates together."The homecoming celebrations began early last week, with student organizations building floats for Saturday's parade and welcoming back alumni as early as last weekend's Head of the Charles crew races. Wednesday night's rock show featured the Pat McGee band and Thursday's pep rally in Dewick officially kicked off the weekend. The Inter-Greek Council hosted its annual Block Party on Friday afternoon, but in a different location from years past. Students heading to Friday afternoon classes found the academic quad filled with music, cotton candy, and carnival games. Later that night, the Amalgamates, the Beelzebubs, and the Jackson Jills held their annual homecoming a capella show in Goddard Chapel.But athletics generally lures most of the alum, and the Ellis Oval stands were nearly filled during the football game. Attendance at the men's soccer game was also higher than normal. This year's games were noticeably fewer than those in past years, however, as only two teams played during homecoming.Many teams and other student organizations used the weekend to reconnect with alumni. A special tent in Tailgaters' Village featured tables from different student organizations, and the men's lacrosse team sold concessions to fundraise. The lacrosse team held a game against alumni to introduce some of the younger players to the graduates. "We scrimmaged with the alumni like we do every year. It was a fun game and we had our annual barbecue after," men's rugby player Rich Nightingale said. "It is nice for the rookies to meet some of the older guys." But for some undergraduates, watching athletics and seeing alumni were secondary to partying. Even before noon, undergraduates swarmed Tailgater's Village and fraternity parties."I think it was great that during homecoming everyone showed Tufts spirit," said sophomore Ross Icyda. "I think the parties were a bi-product of it."

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News

Tufts wooed Binladin family members

August 31

Tufts' connection to Osama bin Laden's family goes beyond the $300,000 given to Fletcher professor Andrew Hess in the mid '90s. Since at least 1996, the Office of Development has maintained files on two separate families within the sprawling Binladin clan. In 1996, then-freshman Salman Binladin and his mother, Prohaksa, met with Senior Director of Development Gary Lowe during a Parents' Weekend luncheon. Lowe asked for a $1 million donation to the music department, according to a report Lowe filed after the meeting. A source familiar with the file said that Binladin and his mother specified interest in funding a music complex. Director of Development Tom Murnane referred questions to a University spokesman, Pete Sanborn, who said development officials did not speak with the Binladins about paying for a music building. Tufts is planning on constructing a new facility on Professors Row, and it is being partially funded by an anonymous $4 million donation. The projected cost is $11.4 million. Abdullah Binladin, Salman's uncle, donated money to Hess to finance lectures, language study, and internships, as part of Fletcher's Program for Southwest Asia and Islamic Civilization. After proposing the $1 million gift, Tufts officials maintained contact with Prohaksa, Salman's legal guardian, who remarried after her husband's death in the late 1980s and now lives in Paris. In 1998, Salman's sister, Sarah, applied to transfer to Tufts from Simmons College, hoping to start in September of that year, according to a source familiar with her file. She was denied admission. The file contains two letters sent to Prohaksa - one from Dean of Admissions David Cuttino and the other from Murnane. The letter from Cuttino, rejecting Sarah's bid for admission, mentions her family's ties to the University. In Murnane's letter, the high-ranking Tufts official said he was disappointed to learn of the admission decision. Osama bin Laden's immediate family, which consists of over 50 children, owns a prominent construction firm in Saudi Arabia, the Saudi Binladin Group. The company owns many of the contracts to build military support facilities for US forces in the region. In the 1990s, the family disowned Osama bin Laden. The most recent entry in either of the two files is reportedly a research update from Sept. 2001, confirming Abdullah's gift to Hess. The only mention of suspected terrorist Osama bin Laden in the files is an update on the entire family dating from December 2000. The report describes Osama as having being disowned by the family and unconnected with other Binladin gifts to the University.

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News

Teaching movie stars how to play cards

August 31

Stefan and I were settling into our third round of Manhattans at the Ritz-Carlton bar when a nearby conversation piqued our interests. A tweed-jacket clad member of the intelligensia and a Humphrey Bogart throwback in pinstripes were embroiled in a debate about Steven Soderbergh's remake of the Rat Pack classic heist film Oceans Eleven, which, coincidentally, we had seen that very evening. The following is our account of their dialogue. -D.S.Man of Action: ...you get Clooney coming out of jail in a tux. That's grand. Then all of sudden he's runnin' around America assembling his crack team of big hitters. Brad Pitt comes into it, and he's playin' cards with a bunch of sitcom stars in Atlantic City, teaching them a thing or two about a thing or two. But he hates that gig, so Clooney goes in there, pulls him out and tells him about the heist to end all heists. These guys are gonna take Vegas for 150 large, and it just sounds crazy. They sure did their research though, and they look as smooth as Dino's voice sounds when they pull it off. Not without a little romance, neither. Clooney and Roberts go back and forth, Andy Garcia's in the mix. Big names, baby, big names. How the hell they get a nuclear bomb outta there without anyone noticing, I cannot tell you, but hey, it worked for me." The Idea Man: The modernization of classic films is often a complex and treacherous process for artists.Man of Action: Look, people don't want to pay ten bucks to sit in the dark and start worrying, at least I don't. You go to see Danny Ocean and his crew hitting the bigtime. You want the news you stay up and watch Walter Cronkite. Otherwise, just buy your popcorn and relax.The Idea Man: The remake of this brainless heist flick merely asserts the all-too-troubling tendency of our culture to embrace light entertainment in times of woe. This tale of the confluence of avarice and "cool" and its impending excessive popularity reveal our society's overwhelming obsessions with materialism and celebrity. The safe, surefire hit status of a remake like this one is another symptom of an industry more concerned with opening weekend than opening minds. In this time of political strife, it disturbs me greatly that the creative figures in our society would hearken back to a time of social complacency and requisite conformity when upper-class middle-aged white males' status not only remained virtually unchallenged by American youth culture, but was actually considered "cool." Man of Action: Listen buddy boy, here's the thing. They know well enough to look back to Frank for the right kind of thing, you know what I mean? I don't know what's happening to us these days. A fruity little magician is pulling in all the dough. There's brainless for you. When people are more excited about that than they are about Montgomery Clift, then I think we're in trouble. We're going to the movies to watch kids who ain't even old enough to order a drink. That's when you need The Chairman of the Board. Speakin' of which, how's about another drink there, four eyes?The Idea Man: I request you refrain from ridiculing my designer spectacles.Man of Action: No problem, professor. And ya poison?The Idea Man: Pardon me?Man of Action: What'll ya have? To drink?The Idea Man: Hm, something Continental...Pilsner Urquell, if you will.Man of Action: Whiskey and a whiskey, for me. I'll tell you one thing, I think that Soderbergh guy's got it. He just wants to keep these damn kids off of the pills, cause that's when they start acting crazy. Hey, I saw Traffic - that's one flashy flick. Michael Douglas was the only one who had the right idea. He puts in a hard day's work, and then comes home and pours a little on the rocks and cools off. That's natural. None of this smoking aluminum foil in the little boys' room.The Idea Man: Traffic was an utter failure. Soderbergh's attempt to make a two-hour long MTV-style clip telling everyone to 'Just Say No' not only exposed his true lack of originality, but also his desperate desire to recapture the magical feeling of 9012Live, his dazzling profile of the rock band Yes.Man of Action: That 'yes' is a big time combo. They got the class to play the big rooms.The Idea Man: Agreed. The bass work of Chris Squires is particularly breath-taking.Man of Action: Forget about "just sayin' no," I'm too busy hearin' "Yes," baby.The Idea Man: Yes, indeed. Traffic could have only impressed an audience that had never seen an independent film, heard rock 'n roll music or ever even considered ingesting a controlled substance. Only in comparison to, say, Steven Spielberg could one possibly label this purveyor of status quo triviality edgy.Man of Action: Spielberg, huh? I wouldn't mind having a "close encounter" with that Spanish number from Out of Sight. See, it ain't just Traffic you're talking about when you're talking about Soda-Burg. He's got a couple other tunes I like. That Out of Sight, there's one you could set your watch to. And Lopez, she could take me South of the Border anytime. You want edge? She's got edge baby. Clooney played a good thief in that one, too. He didn't have any problem stealing some hearts while he was at it, the lucky bastard. I'm telling you, Georgey boy could carry two movies with one performance, but they still brought in all the big guns for this new flick. You got Georgey, Brad Pitt, Andy Garcia...The Idea Man: Let us not forget Matt Damon.Man of Action: Aaahh, the Harvard boy. Good Will keeps hunting him down, eh? I don't know if he can play with the big boys here, but it's fine. You know what, these guys know there ain't no 'I' in team. When you come to play, you leave everything else at home. They don't worry about their salaries - all their checks are already clearing, baby. They just want to come in and get one for the gipper. Frank, Dino, and Sammy would've been proud.The Idea Man: While the average viewer will take pleasure in the public relations story that each of these excessively wealthy and not-particularly-excessively talented actors acquiesced to a lower salary than the astronomical figures they regularly demand, I cannot share in this sensation with the foresight that the almost assured success of this film will catapult these actors into previously unheard of echelons of movie stardom.Man of Action: Yeah, but movie stars make for some great eye candy. Hollywood looks and Vegas glamour coming together, you can't beat it.The Idea Man: Truly George Clooney and Brad Pitt conform to, or perhaps to some extent even dictate, the narrow standard for American male hunkiness. But this standard is only accessible with the money, free time, and vain ambition that accompany success in show business. The discrepancy between these iconic figures of the contemporary silver screen and the average man is damaging not only to the collective psyche of American males, but also to their romantic counterparts who will find that their partners' appearances surely fall short in comparison to the god-like features of Clooney and Pitt.Man of Action: Are you alright, there, boy-o?The Idea Man: Yes, I am. How about another drink? What is your preference?Man of Action: Whiskey and a whiskey.The Idea Man: I think I'll have a wine. Man of Action: What is that, for a ladyfriend?The Idea Man: No, for me. Wine is the most efficient of thirst-quenchers.Man of Action: If that's your alibi, kid. You know what was quenching my thirst? That Roberts dame they put in this one - she's all right. But, to be honest, she's no Lauren Bacall. You know who they could have used? Charlize Theron. She's one tall glass of water.The Idea Man: A merely superficial assessment of Roberts' looks is inadequate in judging her performance... Her talent...Tall glass?...Her screen persona is one of...Hm.Man of Action: Loosen up, all right.The Idea Man: Honestly, she didn't really do it for me, either.Man of Action: How about another round before we split. Are you in or are you out? The Idea Man: Well, I am not sure that I...Man of Action: C'mon buddy, you're thinkin' too hard about this one, you gotta play the game like you got nothin' to lose. Are you in or are you out?The Idea Man: In.

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News

Tufts grad to appear on Survivor

August 31

On safari in the African plains, complete with hungry leopards and circling vultures, doesn't sound like the type of place where Harvard University career counselors would be hanging out. Especially if they have to contend with Immunity Challenges along with the bloodthirsty bugs. But for 44-year old Linda Spencer, the wild animals and blistering heat of Kenya's Shaba National Reserve - home to Survivor: Africa, CBS's newest reality show - are simply the price to pay for a shot at $1 million. The show, which scored sky high ratings during its previous two runs, promises a $1 million prize to a single winner - and nothing to the 15 losers. The contestants are split into two tribes, and work together to complete various challenges, voting one person off the show at a Tribal Council at the end of each segment. Spencer, assistant director of Harvard's career services office, received her master's degree in education at Tufts. Her resume reveals that she's not so unlikely a candidate for the show, either. Spencer has previously served as director of African Adventures at an overseas adventure travel company and spent two summers in African villages that did not have running water or electricity, according to CBS. Spencer's personal profile, posted on the network's Survivor website, reveals that while she has had her share of setbacks, she's managed to fight back - and stay incredibly active. Diagnosed with thyroid cancer in December 1999, Spencer went through a thyroidectomy the next month and later received radioactive iodine treatments.But Spencer beat her cancer, and climbed to the summit of Washington's Mt. Rainier the September following her diagnosis. Mountain climbing, incidentally, is one of her hobbies, along with ice climbing and winter camping.Previous to the show's taping, which took place in July and August, TV Guide magazine reported on security concerns for the Kenya setting. They weren't talking about protecting information relating to the outcome of the show, though. The article cited worries about the threat of terrorist attacks on American citizens in Kenya; where a 1998 bombing of the nation's US embassy killed 213 and injured thousands. The country also has an unusually high crime rate.CBS upped its security budget and publicly downplayed any perceived hazards, according to TV Guide. The show completed taping without incident, but Americans soon learned the full reality of a terrorist threat after four passenger planes were systematically hijacked on Sept. 11, slamming into New York's World Trade Center and the Pentagon.Survivor: Africa will debut one month to the day after Terror Tuesday. CBS now faces the unusual situation that Americans may have lived through a little too much reality to be in the mood for more so-called "reality TV."Associate Ex College director Howard Woolf says that while the numbers aren't in yet, the networks are going to have to do some active editing in order to maintain viewership."They might tone done some of the carping, the fighting, and emphasize more of the cooperation," he said of Survivor's producers.Woolf believes that audiences may be turned off by bitter rivalries that are usually inherent in reality TV. The problem is that the juicy contentions are considered by many to be mostly responsible for the skyrocketing popularity of reality shows."I would guess there would be some disaffection for the entire concept [of reality TV]," Woolf said. "They're based on the worst concept of people, and nobody wants to see that right now."Much of the entertainment media's worry lies in the sheer uncertainty of public reaction during the coming months, says sociology professor and former director of the Communications and Media Studies program Paul Lopes. And he insists that CBS isn't the only one worrying."Media producers are not sure what the impact of these events are - in terms of reality TV, in terms of movies, in terms of music," he said. The media certainly appear to be erring on the side of caution, though. Many radio station producers, worried about the appearance of insignificance in wake of the attacks, have yanked songs that some could view as eerily reminiscent of the attacks, such as Alanis Morrisette's "Ironic" or Dave Matthew's Band's "Crash Into Me."Over time, Lopes believes that the attacks will not significantly affect America's media culture. But for now, he says, it's anyone's guess."Everyone's trying to figure out, 'Are we in a new world, and [if so], how do we deal with it?" Lopes said.Last April, then-Tufts junior Gary Wilson lived in a tent on the roof of Tisch Library for five days, depriving himself of a change of clothes or a shower, as a backdrop to his taped audition for Survivor's third season. While Wilson's application was ultimately rejected, he says he'll still follow the show closely."I thought I had a chance, but they had to look at thousands of videos," Wilson said, adding that he still had fun making the video.Since Survivor: Africa was filmed over the summer, most of its contestants know how they fared. The finalists, however, will appear on a live broadcast at the end of the series for the final episode. Survivor: Africa debuts Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. on CBS.

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News

Tisch offers wireless ethernet

August 31

Students and faculty began testing a new wireless ethernet system last week at Tisch Library that allows them to connect their laptops to the Internet without cables. In a pilot program between Tisch staff and Tufts Communication and Computing Services (TCCS), students can now check out wireless ethernet cards from the circulation desk. While students have had the ability to plug their laptops into ethernet ports in the library for the last year, it can only be done on one of 28 ports available on the main level of Tisch. The new cards will expand the areas where students and faculty can use the Internet in the library and allow more people to take advantage of the technology. Among the advantages of being able to connect to the Internet from personal computers is that students cannot access word processors, and many other applications, from the Tisch terminals. Staff from Tufts OnLine, the University's residential computing network, will assist students in loading drivers for the network cards onto their laptops. To use the cards, students must complete a series of forms, including an authorization form and a general information form on wireless networking. The packet, available at the Tisch reference desk, also includes a map indicating the best reception areas in the library. When Tisch was built around the Wessell Library in 1996, wired ports were included, but it was difficult to wire some of the older portions of the building, according to Library Systems Administrator Richard Heckbert. "One of the reasons we were so quick to join in on this pilot project was the library's desire to provide network access for our patrons all over the building," he said. "This is one of the great advantages of wireless in that you don't need to tear up a building to add network connectivity." The ports that were built into the library were not activated until last year for security reasons. Since that time, many students have suggested implementing wireless ethernet to the library. TCCS formally proposed the pilot after TCCS administrator Doug Herrick asked Tisch to participate. TCCS and Tisch will evaluate the project under the pilot program to determine how useful the service is to students. If successful, Heckbert said, TCCS will consider adding more access points to provide library-wide coverage. The cards may eventually be improved to operate at a higher frequency and provide a faster connection. Library patrons may also be able to use their own cards for wireless access. The connection now used at Tisch, called Wi-Fi, operates at rates up to 11 Mps, comparable to the speed of networks in Tufts dormitories. In the past, high costs prevented the University from experimenting with wireless technology. "Only in the last few years have standards settled enough and prices come down enough to make it feasible for us," Heckbert said. Other universities have implemented extensive wireless ethernet systems in the past few years. Yale has wireless ethernet in two of its residential dorms and several academic buildings, and Carnegie Mellon University wired all of its academic and administrative buildings and outdoor areas in 1999.

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News

Joel to play Cohen tonight

August 31

The last time Billy Joel held a concert in Boston, he played at the Boston Garden - a 15,000 seat venue in the heart of the city. Subtract over 10,000 seats and move out to the suburbs, and you have the slightly lesser known Cohen Auditorium. But at this point in Joel's career, size doesn't matter; 620 adoring fans are all the Piano Man needs. Joel has chosen to grace Cohen's stage tonight at 8 p.m. for his much-anticipated "Evening of Questions, Answers, and a Little Music." Pianist Richard Joo will join him to play selections from Joel's latest classical music album, Fantasies and Delusions. Concert Board co-chairs Aaron Wright and Christian Trentacosta and Assistant Director of Student Activities Ed Cabellon worked this semester to bring Joel to campus. After learning about the opportunity this summer through their entertainment agent, they put in Tufts' name among 55 other Boston-area schools interested in hosting Joel. The coveted tickets were distributed on TuftsLife.com on Oct. 29 on a first-come, first-served basis. There were 470 tickets available to undergraduate and graduate students, and they sold out in 44 seconds The next day, faculty had a chance to snap up the 50 tickets available to them. The rest of the seats were allocated to Concert Board members, special Tufts invitees, and representatives from Sony Music, Joel's record company. Tufts is one of six stops on Joel's college tour. Earlier this month he visited the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown, and according to Cabellon, he will also stop at Princeton, Northwestern, and New York University. Tufts concertgoers had the opportunity to preview the performance Sunday night, when Joel's two-hour UPenn performance aired on A&E Network. "Billy Joel: In His Own Words" put the singer/songwriter both at center stage and behind his piano, where he fielded questions about a career that has spanned over 30 years. Joel is not new to college tours; he explained to the UPenn audience that he has been everywhere from UCLA to Oxford, taking questions from young fans. "And I didn't even graduate high school!" he quipped. Despite his recent focus on composing classical music, he gladly played several crowd favorites to help answer questions like: "What is the meaning behind 'Miami 2017'?" Joo, who Joel admitted can play his classical compositions better than he ever could, joined the Piano Man about halfway through his set to showcase the pop legend's newly rediscovered first love. "I wrote that!" said Joel with pride, after watching Joo pound away in front of a mesmerized crowd. Joel stopped recording original pop music after the 1994 release of the multi-platinum River of Dreams. The current mini-tour is intended to showcase his new work in intimate settings.

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News

Smooth criminals

August 31

Five and a half years after Alien Ant Farm formed, the band hit it big with the help of its insect friends. More specifically, it was the band's ties with Papa Roach that proved the vital link to a major label contract. "They just wouldn't shut up about us," said guitarist Terry Corso with pride. His voice crackled in and out of aural focus, coming from a cellular phone on the band's bus. As part of a ten-date tour with 311, the band was heading from Houston to Amarillo, Texas when the Daily caught up with Corso."They thought we were a great band, had the potential for becoming one of the greatest bands," he continued excitedly. "And [Papa Roach singer] Coby Dick has a huge, gigantic mouth... when they started reaching a certain level, people started listening to what they had to say. When you sell a million records, you have instant credibility."With the help of Papa Roach's much welcomed credibility, AAF, rounded out by singer Dryden Mitchell, bassist Tye Zamora, and drummer Mike Cosgrove, signed with Dreamworks under Papa Roach's imprint. The group released its first full-length CD, ANThology, this year, and the album has already been certified gold. Quite unlike the band's independently released debut, Greatest Hits, which is now out of print."I saw it on eBay, but they wanted like 300 bucks for it, which is ludicrous," Corso said. "I don't even have a copy."Though you may not yet be familiar with Alien Ant Farm's original work, you doubtlessly have heard the band's take on "Smooth Criminal," Michael Jackson's Bad 1987 hit."We used to play a different cover song every night, and this one kinda stuck," Corso said of the path to fame this song helped his band discover serendipitously."K-Rock New York let 'Smooth Criminal' out of the bag - we didn't want to release it until the end of the album cycle," he noted. A point well taken; why would a band that works so hard to create original material want to release a cover as its first single? But K-Rock, which Corso called a "huge trendsetter," set the pace for AAF's success. Soon the song was on alternative stations' playlists nationwide, and a staple on hip-hop and teenybopper-dominated MTV. Surprised at how much the cover did for his band, Corso and his bandmates now don't mind its early release at all."It doesn't bother me in the least," he said. "The kids like finding out that we have songs that destroy that Michael Jackson song. When the kids come to the shows, they sing every word on the album.""Smooth Criminal" has been on the airwaves for a few months now, and AAF has followed up with the release of "Movies," an angst-laden, sing-along single. "Wait till you see the video," Corso said emphatically. "'Movies' is gonna rip 'Smooth Criminal' a new asshole!"Since the release of its major-label debut, Alien Ant Farm has toured the US extensively with alternative bigwigs Linkin Park, Taproot, and, of course, Papa Roach. "It's our kind of element," Corso said about the realm of the live performance. His band has also toured Europe four times and performed on this year's Warped tour. Thanks to the Warped tour, the boys of AAF became friends with their heroes, 311, and landed a spot opening for them on a leg of their US tour."Now we get to see one of the greatest bands play every night," Corso said. Boston gets to see Alien Ant Farm tomorrow night, when the band headlines Axis. It'll only be the group's second show in Boston, but Corso is sure he'll find "lots of kids with very positive minds" here, the type of crowd his band has been drawing worldwide. Opening for AAF is Pressure 4-5, a hardcore act, and Dredg which Corso described as "outright mellow, kind of a Radiohead." Despite Dredg's mellowness, Corso says his audience has been readily accepting the band, a fact he appreciates. "Kids would just love 'em... they'd watch 'em and get tranced, get captivated by that band." It is precisely that musical open-mindedness that Corso hopes to find here tomorrow night. In the meantime, things are looking very positive for Alien Ant Farm. Corso says that after finishing its tour, the band will go "right into the Christmas radio show circuit." The band works with new material every day; there's a portable recording studio on the bus. And there are talks of touring Europe and Japan."It depends on the success of this record, we still got a ways to go on this one," Corso cautioned. But for now, he can't complain about life on the Ant Farm.

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News

University searching for new telephone, cable TV provider

August 31

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is working with administrators to find a new telecommunications service provider to replace Campuslink, whose contract with Tufts expires in the spring of 2003. Mounting student complaints about high prices and unreliable service have complicated the search. Paetec, the Michigan-based company that owns Campuslink, operates the University's cable, phone, and Ethernet services. Although Paetec diversified its offerings last year with three different long-distance plans, students are not satisfied. "Students are looking for a phone service that's more affordable and a cable service that has a better line-up," said TCU Senate President Eric Greenberg. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman and the TCU Senate's Administration and Budget committee are looking to find students a cheaper and more accommodating service. "We've established a timeline and over the next six months we will be meeting with vendors to discover the extent of our options," said Lesley Tolman, director of networks and telecommunications at Tufts Computing and Communications Services (TCCS). But finding a new service provider is not a simple process. Many corporations that provide such a wide variety of services will not sign long-term contracts. "Few [companies] are going to risk a ten-year contract," said Marj Minnigh, manager of networks and special projects at TCCS. "Tufts has the best connections available, but what is 'best' will certainly change in the next couple of years." The administration has considered making Tufts its own service provider, but may not be willing to add the necessary support structures such as customer care and billing and service staff.. Student input will be considered throughout the process, Tolman said. "We want to start surveying students in the spring to find out exactly what they want and what prices they are willing to pay," she said. Tufts may also choose a local cable company and a different telephone service provider, allowing students to pick and choose their services, according to Senator Andrew Potts, chairman of the Senate's Administration and Budget committee. "Giving students the ability to choose allows them to find their own solutions rather than relying on a bulk package that may not suit their needs," he said. Though students have complained about expensive service, phone companies have suffered because of a decrease in long-distance use. When Campuslink signed its contract with the University in 1991, it agreed to wire the dorms for free. Campuslink hoped to make up the cost of wiring the dorms through an exclusive long distance contract with students. At the time, long distance calls cost about 40 cents per minute. But during the past ten years, deregulation in the telecommunications industry has led to a significant drop in cost, giving customers more choice and hurting companies like Paetec. In January 2000, Paetec entered the Nasdaq, but was forced to withdraw its shares a year later because of market conditions. Because the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) eliminated tariffs in the long-distance industry at the end of July, improved rates must be made available to consumers, who have the freedom to shop around for the best deals. "The FCC has applied minimal regulation to long distance rates in recent years and has allowed the marketplace to regulate these rates," said K. Dane Snowden, chief of the FCC's Consumer Information Bureau in a statement. "Long distance prices have never been lower, choices have never been greater. This marketplace is serving consumers very well." Students are underutilizing long-distance companies because of increased cell phone and calling card use. "Why use a Tufts service when I can easily find a better deal?" sophomore Michael Krafft asked. Promotional cell phone deals such as free nights and weekends also draw people away from long-distance companies. Along with phone service, students have complained about limited channel selection on cable television and poor TV reception. "I pay $264 per year and I'm watching Sex in the City on videotape? Not worth it," sophomore Hannah Suh said. Greenberg said that students were also concerned with the disparity in the cost depending on room occupancy. "A lot of students are frustrated that the same connection costs incrementally more if they are sharing their connection with more roommates," Greenberg said. "Shouldn't the hook-up price always be the same?"

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News

Cooper finishes a career filled with individual and team accolades

August 31

As the women's soccer season came to an untimely end two weeks ago with a 3-1 loss to Amherst, so too ended the career of one of Tufts' most prolific athletes. Lynn Cooper wore a Jumbos soccer jersey for the final time against the Amherst Lady Jeffs, closing out her four years as a leader on the Tufts soccer team. Cooper's is a story of a career that might not have existed. "I didn't even know if I wanted to play after high school," the Wilton, Connecticut native said. "If I had gone to a different or bigger school I probably wouldn't have." Fortunately for the Jumbos, Cooper chose to extend her soccer career into the levels of collegiate play. She cites the coaching staff and the welcoming atmosphere of the team as the main reasons for her decision. "I didn't really know what to expect," she said. "But the coaching staff [Bill Gehling and Martha Whiting] really made me feel comfortable. The team was very welcoming and it was just a great way to start the year." Cooper made her presence felt early in her career, pacing the Jumbos' offense with 24 points (ten goals and four assists) as a freshman and leading the team to the postseason for its third consecutive year. She continued her impressive play the following season, again racking up 24 points, and notching only one fewer goal. In her first two seasons as a Jumbo, Cooper accumulated 48 points in the form of 19 goals and ten assists, in a mere 31 games. In her sophomore season, which culminated in her being named to the NSCAA All-New England Region Second Team, Cooper tied a team record with three goals in a game versus Curry and scored in ten of the team's 15 games, including a stretch of six in a row. "Lynn has always been a very explosive player," assistant coach Andrea Licari said. "She sees the ball so well and has a great touch. She always knows where the ball needs to go."The individual accolades continued for Cooper in 2000, as she was named to the NSCAA All-New England First Team, following a career-high 28 points. Cooper's third year was the most prolific for her, as well as for the team. She led the way with 11 goals and six assists, as the Jumbos marched all the way to the finals of the NCAA tournament. The tournament featured one of Cooper's career highlights, as she notched the game-winning goal in overtime against Wisconsin-Stevens Point in the semifinals. "I remember last year in the postseason," Licari said. "Lynn knew when we needed a goal and she always stepped up."The team achievements were what Cooper valued the most throughout her career. "The individual awards are always nice, and I'm proud of them," Cooper said. "But it's what the team does that's most important. Without the team I would never have been able to get them." The 2001 season marked a slight downturn for Cooper in terms of offensive productivity. She accumulated only nine points on the year, and for the first time, did not lead the team in scoring. The team as a whole also experienced a bit of letdown, as it finished 8-7 and lost in the first round of the NESCAC tournament. Cooper however, does not see this as a disappointing way to close out her career. "I'm not disappointed with my numbers," she said. "It's refreshing to see younger players stepping up and doing well. I'm really psyched for them." Cooper also did not feel that the season was a disappointment. "Last season was awesome," she said. "And obviously it would have been more satisfying had we gone further this year, but it was just a different team this year. Teams change so much from year to year, and that's what makes the NESCAC so great." Cooper's contributions to the team over the past four seasons are immeasurable. Aside from leading the Jumbos in scoring three of four seasons, finishing with 85 career points, Cooper has always been a respected leader, as is evident from her selection as captain this year. Cooper's captaincy this season showed how much respect the team and coaches have for her. "I think that being chosen as a captain was definitely my proudest achievement," Cooper said. "It's always really telling about your teammates when they trust you enough to be their captain." Cooper will certainly be sorely missed. Though the team will likely be strong again next season due to it's depth and talent, a player like Cooper is irreplaceable. "We definitely can't replace someone like her," Licari said. "We might be able to replace her offensive numbers, but you can't replace her as a person. Most of all we'll miss her smarts and just the consistency of her being there." Cooper will not only be missed by the soccer team, but by the Tufts community in general. She played a crucial role in revitalizing school spirit, as all came together last year to cheer on the soccer team as they fought for the national title. All Jumbos would certainly echo Cooper's parting thoughts: "I'm certainly glad I decided to play," she said. "I had a great time."

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News

Despite shortcomings, 'The Last Castle' stands strong

August 31

The camera swoops over the prison walls. Men are walking through the exercise yard to the gate where a prisoner bus has arrived. The current inmates rush to the bookie and place their bets, in cigarettes, on how long the new fish might last. But wait! This isn't The Shawshank Redemption. Welcome to The Last Castle, Rod Lurie's new action-drama set in a military prison. The film certainly borrows heavily from prison movie conventions - the "new fish" scene being the most startlingly obvious - but overall it is a fresh and entertaining variation on the genre. Eugene Irwin (Robert Redford), three-star general and world-famous tactician, has been sent to military prison after a court martial for disobeying the Commander-In-Chief. The warden, Colonel Winter (James Gandolfini), initially treats the general with respect. Irwin, however, soon realizes that the man employs questionable methods and a sometimes lethal attitude toward prisoners.The inmates- all former soldiers themselves- are stripped of all their military trappings; having lost all rank, they are not even allowed to salute each other. General Irwin's natural leadership wins over the other prisoners as he restores their self-respect as military men and begins his struggle - not to escape from the prison but to control it and knock the colonel from power. Standout performances by both Redford and Gandolfini make the film work, though in entirely different ways. Redford's General Irwin is calm and confident; never worried or surprised. While this might not have been the most varied role for Redford, his charisma and leadership are unquestionable.Gandolfini, however, takes on a part far different from his most famous work on HBO's The Sopranos. Colonel Winter is a thinking man rather than a battlefield warrior. His office is full of carefully polished military memorabilia, and he is proud of having brought the facility under a tight control. At the same time, however, he is uncertain with himself - he finds the general's reputation intimidating and, as the film continues, even threatening. The struggles between Irwin and Winter are some of the movie's finest points, as the audience comes to see the effect of both the general's plans and Winter's slipping control over the prisoners. The two leads make up for the film's various smaller shortcomings, but there are flaws that cannot be overlooked. Most of the film's stumbling blocks come from insufficient characterization. In several cases, people make huge emotional turns with little explanation to the audience. Other times, characters get such token representation that they should better have been left out entirely. For example, Colonel Winter begins with a wealth of respect for General Irwin. "They should be naming a base after him," he says to one of the guards, "not sending him here." Only a few minutes later (and these are not "movie minutes," which may gloss over weeks or months of time, but actual minutes) he has picked Irwin as an adversary because he overhears the general remarking that the colonel's collection of war memorabilia is a clear indication that he has never been on a battlefield. Irwin struggles against Winter for the rest of the film because he believes it is best for the prisoners; Winter fights Irwin, it seems, in large part because he heard the general insult his collection of bullets. There is also the matter of Clifford Yates (Ruffalo), who begins as an outsider but is eventually drawn into Irwin's rebel cadre. How? No one knows. The audience knows that the bookie will join with Irwin, but only because it serves the plot, not because he's come to some life-altering realization about duty and country. As for the less necessary characterizations, the introduction of Irwin's family is glaringly unnecessary. His daughter Rosalie (Robin Wright) appears once and makes it clear that she doesn't really know her father and doesn't want to. Later, she sends him a letter with a picture of her son. That's it. Exit Rosalie stage left. If Lurie wanted to make a point about the general's family, he missed it, and cutting moments like her visit could only serve to streamline the film. Moreover, her introduction and Irwin's interest in his grandson add a sentimental note to the movie that is unnecessary and unrepeated. Like so many prison movies, The Last Castle sympathizes with the prisoners. This makes sense to a point - a movie about a righteous warden punishing vile criminals would be an unfulfilling ride - but it goes too far in forgetting that each of the men in the prison are there for a good reason. Winter makes this very point to Irwin, but it is quickly glossed over, as he is, after all, the villain. In this population of violent, military-trained inmates, there are only two fights: one intentionally provoked by the colonel when he allowed only one basketball in the exercise yard (apparently only to prove his sadism) and one planned by the prisoners themselves as a diversion to keep the guards busy. In fact, when asked by Winter what he expected to do while in prison, General Irwin replied that he wanted only to serve his time and go home. Wouldn't his first concern be surviving, or at least avoiding being raped? This is prison and he is a prisoner, not a downtrodden fry-cook in a boring, dead-end job who just wants to finish his shift and get home. In a shakedown, the guards find numerous shivs, saps, and clubs, yet the audience never sees the prisoners make use of these homemade weapons. The inmates of The Last Castle are, of course, too nice to fight, cut, kill, and rape each other. For a movie that borrows so heavily from the likes of The Shawshank Redemption, The Last Castle may have missed its mark by not having a single disreputable prisoner. One last complaint: an introductory monologue is sometimes an effective way to start things off, but no matter how good Lurie thought the monologue was, there was no need to use it both at the beginning and halfway through the movie. Once is plenty. These flaws should not, however, be overplayed. It seems unlikely that the prisoners would be so well behaved and disciplined - these are soldiers who were put in jail, after all - but that's hardly the point of the film. The Last Castle is about remembering that your life has meaning when you've lost everything you valued; it's even about finding the good in people, about remembering that men in jail are still real men, and about a respect for one's nation. Most of all, this movie is about the character of leadership, and Redford's portrayal of an irrepressible human leader is right on target. At a time when patriotic sentiment is burning brightly, The Last Castle might find a receptive audience based solely on its respect for the American flag - expect at least one cheer to come from the audience during the show. More importantly, however, the film deserves credit for being entertaining and intelligent no matter the patriotic elements; the inevitable showdown is sincerely clever and well worth the buildup. Money spent on this one is not money wasted.

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News

Defending Israel

August 31

Reading the Oct. 11 viewpoints, "why are Israeli dreams the only ones that count?" and "the other family in the picture" inspired me to write this letter. One of the worst enemies of the Israeli people is lack of information, and after reading the articles, I decided that it is my duty to correct some of the glaring errors. In Israel this summer, I saw the anger, frustration, fear and sadness among my family and friends. I can't describe the horrible feeling that this left me with. Hearing about bombs exploding everyday, families being destroyed, and constant casualties left me with an overwhelming sense of horror that I will probably never be able to express in words. In the past 13 months, Israel has had to face up to a new reality; a reality in which terrorist attacks and bombs murder civilians everyday. It is a place where parents ask their children to refrain from spending time outside because no place is safe. Israel has become a place where people feel as if they are in home custody. I ask Ms. Al-Saban: do you think that this is what Israel desires? The majority of the Israeli population strives for peace; no mother wants to send her child to the army to die. In fact, the previous government offered Mr. Arafat 97 percent of the occupied territories with a settlement in Jerusalem, but Mr. Arafat denied the conditions. It is extremely important to remind Mr. Arafat and the Palestinians that we did not initiate a war with the Arab countries, but rather they attacked us in 1967. We won the war and the occupied territories only because the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was strong. Like a wise person once said, "terrorism is the war of the new century." Israel is facing a new reality where the safety of the population against terrorism does not depend on the IDF, but rather on the Palestinian police under the supervision of Mr. Arafat. Ms. Al-Saban mentioned that the IDF kills innocent children yet it is the Palestinians who use children as a shield. They teach children how to use a gun and where the best locations are to throw cement blocks at soldiers in order to kill them. The IDF has no desire to attack innocent people. Live ammunition is only used in a life or death situation. Unfortunately, like every war, there are casualties on both sides. One solution that Israel tested several times was to close the border to any Palestinian from the occupied territories. This might be the best solution for Israel but may lead to the starvation of many people in the occupied territories, as the Palestinian people depend on Israel's economy to survive. Every country in the region protests against Israel and their actions, but no one helps the Palestinian people financially. Instead, the other countries give money to the terrorist organizations while the people in the occupied territories survive on the generosity of Israel. As a solution, Israel lets a small number of people cross the border everyday. Instead of thanking Israel for the generosity, people just like Ms. Al-Saban complain that Israeli soldiers force Palestinians to wait hours at the checkpoints. After the horrible terrorist attacks of the Sept. 11 the first security measure taken was to close the borders with Canada and Mexico. When America closes its borders, it is seen as an obvious and necessary policy; yet when Israel does the same it is considered unjust and overly harsh. However, the Palestinians not only depend on Israel for their work, but also for their hospital care. While serving in the army, a friend of mine was shot. Both he and the person who shot him where hospitalized in adjacent rooms in an Israeli hospital. This is clearly not the action of a country that does not care about the Palestinian people. Ms. Al-Saban also mentioned that Israel stops the Palestinians from having water. Israel is a country with minimal water resources. Every person in Israel is responsible for saving water. Israel is also a water resource for the Palestinians. Just as it is for the people in Israel the use of water is limited for the Palestinians. In order to evade the restrictions the Palestinians steal water from Israel. I believe that this fact was left out of the article. Can Israel let the Palestinians have their own country? History taught Israel that they couldn't depend on any government to stop terrorism. Just a year ago after the UN declared that Israel gave all the occupied territories back to Lebanon, a terrorist organization kidnapped Israeli soldiers. Until now the UN could not get a reasonable agreement for their return. Should Israel give all the power to Mr. Arafat and depend on him to stop the terror? Israel is not afraid to use the word Palestine, but rather that when Palestine is declared a country, Israel will not be able to protect itself. After the tragedy of the Sept. 11, the US knows first hand that a strong army is not a solution against terrorism. As long as people believe that terrorism is a solution to their problems, the Israeli government CAN'T proceed with the peace process. Only when this brutal violence ends and Mr. Arafat stops supporting terrorism can Israel proceed with the peace process. The war against terrorism is probably the most heinous war that anyone will ever have to face. Terrorists hurt innocent men, women, and children. They don't fear death and believe that they act in the name of god. The only solution is to find them first and prevent them from taking action. Israel has asked Mr. Arafat to arrest these people. However, no arrests have been made and terrorism continues all over Israel. During this past summer a sniper shot an infant and another terrorist used a bomb in a nightclub killing 23 teenagers. There is no country that can ignore these vicious attacks on its youth. Israel decided to find the men responsible for these attacks. The new government decided that if Mr. Arafat will not help in this matter the IDF would take action. The new slogan was "dead or alive the terrorists will be stopped." Similarly the new slogan in the US is Ben Laden "dead or alive." Mr. Kayyali in his article blamed Mr. Weissman for not coming to terms with the atrocities Israel has committed against the Palestinian people. To him, I would like to say use your own words to judge yourself and the people that you represent. Use the past to learn from your mistakes, but don't live by the past. Until you realize that terrorism is not the solution you will, as you said, probably not be able to walk in the streets of Jerusalem. I do believe that a solution can be found. Most Palestinians are good, only a small group of terrorists believe that terror is the solution to their problems. Their money comes from terrorist groups, like bin Laden, and they ignore the devastating conditions that their people have to live with. When the majority of the Palestinians take action against these terrorists a solution will be found. Tsvika Klein is a graduate student pursuing a masters in computer science. He served in the Israeli army from 1993-1996.

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