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Competion in ECAC Northeast so hot, it melts ice

March 31

With less than a month left in the regular season, the men's hockey team is finding itself in a dogfight for the best record in the ECAC Northeast conference. Among a trio of powerhouses with only one conference loss apiece, including Wentworth (11-1) and Johnson and Wales (11-1), the Jumbos (9-1) are one of the favorites to win the title next month. "I would have to say that we would be the best team right now," senior tri-captain Dan Mahoney said. "We just had the big win over Lebanon Valley, and I think everyone's confidence is pretty high because of the way we totally shut them down, although there are a few teams that are also playing well such as Wentworth and Johnson and Wales." The Jumbos have lost four of their last eight games, but only one of the losses came at the hands of a conference foe, and Tufts blamed a mental lapse, more than anything else, for the defeat. Against more talented opponents, Tufts has fared better, recently beating both Johnson and Wales and Lebanon Valley. Of the seven ECAC Northeast opponents the Jumbos will face in the next month, only Wentworth and Fitchburg State boast winning records. Thus, Tufts ability to maintain mental toughness against sub-par competition will be key. Wentworth has been on a scoring tear recently, blanking Nichols 9-0 on Tuesday and demolishing Curry 11-1 on Jan. 21. The defending conference champs have outscored conference opponents 71-17 this season, with their only loss coming against a tough Fitchburg State team, who shutout the Leopards 1-0 on Jan. 17. The Jumbos will face Fitchburg State on Saturday in an attempt to oust the team, which eliminated them from the semi-finals of last year's playoffs. Fitchburg State, with a 6-5-1 record, has struggled this season, but a match up with the long-time rival should make for an exciting game. In fact, the Falcons have consistently dominated the Jumbos, beating them in every meeting over the past four years. Before the Fitchburg State grudge match, the Jumbos will have to face an 0-10-1 Curry team that has been outscored 20-63 this season. The Friday night game in Lawrence, Mass should give the team the necessary tune-up it needs before its more challenging games. Lacking a home rink, Tufts is one of the few teams in the league never to enjoy home-ice advantage, but it has become accustomed to play on the road. "It can be tough to adjust to different rinks against different teams when you're supposed to have a clear advantage as a result of the home ice," Mahoney said. "We've been dealing with it for years so I'd say we've adapted well. It really helps when we have a lot of student support, like the Lebanon game, and I think no matter where we play the playoffs we'll get a large turnout." "This year we have either practiced or played games in eleven different rinks," senior tri-captain Natan Obed said. "Our practice times range from six a.m. to midnight. Because of this, I believe we will have an edge in flexibility. During the playoffs, it won't matter because we are used to a nomadic existence. We are practically Bedouins." Even without a home rink, the Jumbos have been the league's most statistically dominating team. "Although we haven't played Wentworth, I believe we are the best team in the league," Obed said. "No other team can match our scoring depth and defensive depth. We have two game-braking forward lines and three excellent defensive pairings." As a team the Jumbos have scored 6.5 goals per game in conference play, led by junior Jason Boudrow (40), sophomore Mike Carceo (23), and Obed (23), who are the top three scorers in the conference. Boudrow also tops the conference in goals (16), assists (24), power-play points (21), and power-play goals (9). The power-play, which has accounted for 32 of the Jumbos 88 points on the season, has been the most lethal in the ECAC, converting over 33 percent of the time. They have also remained disciplined in a very physical conference, leading the way with an average of 13.2 penalty minutes per game, compared to 25.9 by Johnson and Wales. The defensive unit, although it struggled early in the semester, remains one of the strongest in the league. Tufts' defense has relinquished only 2.80 goals per game, good for fourth best in the conference. Mahoney is leading all defensemen in scoring with 15 points. Freshman standout Ben Crapser is seventh in the conference for goals allowed per league game with 2.91. In its final season as a member of the ECAC Northeast, this could be Tufts' last chance for a postseason title for a very long time. The NESCAC, which the team will enter next year, is regarded as the most skilled in the nation, and will be a daunting step up for the program. Tufts lost in a close contest to Wesleyan earlier this season, and will face future NESCAC rival Connecticut College on Feb. 6. When considering its current conference, the team feels confident that if it focuses on correcting past mistakes, Tufts will come out on top. "I think the key for us to win the conference is to play solid team defense," Mahoney said. "Our offense will get goals, it's just a matter of shutting down the other team's top players." "The keys will be hard work, and the ability of our team to play through injuries and other distractions, such as poor refereeing and dirty play by opposing teams," Obed said. With eight games in the next 16 days, the Jumbos will have ample opportunity to prove their conference superiority.

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News

Bowdoin, Colby separate themselves from NESCAC opponents

March 31

With all ten NESCAC schools in action on Saturday, the day belonged to a pair of teams that are starting to pull away from some of their division rivals. Both Bowdoin and Colby improved their NESCAC record to 4-0 and remained tied for first. The premier game of the day took place in Brunswick, Maine, where the Bowdoin Polar Bears hosted the always-dangerous Williams Purple Cows, which entered the game at 2-1 in the division but just 9-7 overall. It looked like the Purple Cows were out to make a statement, as they jumped to a 12-point lead in the first half. After a hot-shooting first half, Williams took a 38-30 lead into the locker room. Bowdoin shot only 29 percent from the field. In the second half, after Williams increased its lead to ten, Bowdoin scored the next 12 points to take a 42-40 lead with 14:48 remaining. But the see-saw battle continued, with the Purple Cows mustering a 7-0 run of their own, giving them a five-point edge less than three minutes later. But at that point, the Polar Bears put together the spurt that finally decided the game, a 14-2 run, which left the score at 56-49. From that point on, Bowdoin was able to hold on for a big 71-65 victory. The Polar Bears were carried by an imposing inside game, dominating the glass by a margin of 50-33 (including 30 to 14 in the second half) to make up for a lower shooting percentage than Williams. The NESCAC's other undefeated team, Colby, put its 3-0 NESCAC record on the line against Middlebury. For a while, the game had the feel of an upset, with Middlebury's Kristin Hanley scoring 18 points in the first half to give the Panthers a 30-27 lead. But the White Mules bounced back in the second half, outscoring Middlebury 44-33 and picking up a 71-63 home win. While Colby won the game, Hanley's individual performance turned heads as she scored 31 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to single-handedly keep her team in the game. Bates' victory over Trinity followed a similar pattern, with the Bobcats pulling away in the second half for an 88-72 triumph. A precarious 35-33 lead against a bad Trinity team, which is now 0-4 in the NESCAC and 5-10 overall, became an 88-72 victory after Bates scored 53 points in the second half. The Bobcats were led by forward Kate McLaughlin, who scored 24 points and grabbed 19 rebounds to carry her team. Trinity was hurt by an unbalanced performance, with only five players able to get on the scoreboard. In a battle of teams that aren't going to take anyone's attention away from Division I powerhouse, UConn, Wesleyan finally broke into the win column with a home victory over Connecticut College. The Cardinals scored the game's first nine points, then were outscored 9-1, before using a 12-4 run to take a 21-13 lead that they would never relinquish. The team extended a 32-23 halftime lead to 46-27 with a 14-4 run in the first 6:06 of the second half and never looked back, on the way to a 70-42 thrashing. In Friday night's action, aside from the Jumbos' win, Amherst scored a 58-46 win over Bates, Bowdoin defeated Bates, 70-57, and Colby was an 84-70 victor over Williams. Those results, combined with Tufts' split over the weekend, mean that the Jumbos are tied with Wesleyan for sixth in the division, two and a half games behind Bowdoin and Colby. The top seven teams will be invited to participate in the inaugural NESCAC tournament next month, with a berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament at stake.

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News

Sweeney's rise to the majors

March 31

From playing on youth soccer fields, to baseball diamonds, to football gridirons, boys and girls everyday come to the humbling realization that they will not grow up to become professional athletes. But for Paul Sweeney, a self-described mediocre athlete, childhood passion for professional sports has been redirected to his current job as Tufts' sports information director. "I've always had an interest and love of sports," Sweeney said in an interview with the Daily. "I wasn't much of an athlete. I played a little football in high school." While he may have lacked talent on the athletic field, Sweeney excelled as a writer. Born and raised in Chelmsford, Mass., Sweeney attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH), where he majored in English and became sports editor of The New Hampshire, the school's daily newspaper. Most importantly, UNH is where he refined his craft - not pitching or dunking - but rather writing. "My writing ability is the most important skill I have," Sweeney said. After graduating from UNH in 1989, Sweeney reached a crossroads in his life. Two things were certain - he would not be a professional athlete, nor did want to be a sports journalist. Other than those two fundamentals, Sweeney found himself lacking direction. "I had an internship at the Peabody Times as a junior," Sweeney said. "It wasn't my style to be an aggressive reporter. When I graduated from college, I really didn't know what I wanted to do." While not quite as Rockwell-esque as a father-son backyard football toss, Sweeney's father threw him a touchdown pass after graduation. With no idea what he wanted to do career-wise, Sweeney's father suggested he go to the Sports Information Director's Convention in Buffalo, New York - it turned out to be his big break. As fate would have it, Sweeney found an internship working with the sports information director at Umass.-Lowell, right near his parents' house. "I had no experience in the field," Sweeney said. "My location helped me get it. I was honestly making like one hundred dollars a week, and I was living at home." After two years on the job at Lowell working under veteran SID B.L. Elfing , Sweeney was given a full-time position, which he held for two years. But he wasn't earning enough money, and felt that a change was in store. "Elfing taught me a very professional way," Sweeney said. "I was learning on the job. Four years [at UMass-Lowell] was probably too long for me. I was so comfortable and happy, but then I had to look at other jobs." In July, 1993 Sweeney received a call-up in the world of sports information. After four years working alongside Elfing, he applied and was hired for the SID position at Tufts. "My role is to get as much info out as possible on [Tufts] sports and athletics on the web page, programs and newspapers," Sweeney said. "I'm in charge of getting the word out." Among Sweeney's greatest accomplishments at Tufts was his help with the development of the athletic department's webpage four years ago. Prior to the webpage, most of his written work came in the form of press releases and sending information to local newspapers. The site (ase.tufts.edu/athletics) is immensely popular in Tufts' athletic world and has received over 28,000 hits since Jan. 30. "The web site has been the most rewarding thing," Sweeney said. "The webpage is tangible. I have a hit center on the webpage. It's definitely rewarding because it is used and appreciated." In his role as Tufts' SID, the biggest sporting event he has ever experienced occurred this past fall, when the women's soccer team hosted and competed in the NCAA Final Four. "The Final Four was the biggest event we have hosted here," Sweeney said. "Everyone thought we did a good job. There was a lot of excitement on campus." Perhaps surprisingly, Sweeney has no aspirations of becoming an SID at a Division I school, where he would receive more money and have the opportunity to cover higher quality sports. "If I was going to stay in sports info, I wouldn't leave Tufts," Sweeney said. "Tufts has treated me well and I make a decent living. A lot of the profession isn't well paying. [Tufts] treats me well in that regard. I have my roots here."

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News

Rumors Daily site shuts down

March 31

Two and a half years after senior Brian Finkelstein showed the Tufts community the power of rumors with the launching of his website Brian's Rumors Daily, he abruptly decided to end his venture and shut down the site early yesterday morning. Surfers who attempted to visit the page yesterday were surprised to find it had been replaced by a fan page for Rembrant Brown, of the television show Sliders. There was no immediate controversy that prompted Finkelstein to close the site, he said. However, he said that the increase in sentiments of intolerance and decrease in quality of content on the site's anonymous forum were large disappointments. The rumors page published both confirmed and unconfirmed campus news, and broke a number of stories during its short tenure. Its last "rumor," which reported that Guster had confirmed that it would play in Spring Fling this April, appeared four days before the Daily's story did. In a hidden farewell column to readers, Finkelstein said the page began as "a silly idea" of creating an underground news service. But the site's readership grew and changed at a rate that neither he nor the page could handle. "This year, the web page simply became too popular for its own good," he said. While many students have heard of Finkelstein and his website, many more have not. In a Daily poll released last April, 16 percent of respondents said that they visit the site. According to the site's counter service, Extreme Tracking, an average of 4,461 unique visitors went to the page each week over the past five months. The highest daily visitor total was on Dec. 13, 2000, when 1,283 unique visitors viewed the page. Among the site's regular readers were a number of Tufts' elected student representatives, and those students more involved in campus organizations have traditionally been avid readers. "It was one of the things that made our school different, and I thought it fit in very well here," Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate President David Moon said. "[Closing the site] changes the political landscape a lot, because the page served as a sort of check and balance for a lot of student activities. And it was a great way for us to tap student opinion on certain issues." While the site's anonymous forum did provide an outlet for student opinion, Finkelstein noted that it became a center for personal attacks, racist comments, and vicious squabbles at points during this year and last. As slurs, bigoted one-liners, and character attacks became commonplace, Finkelstein began to clamp down on some of the freedom of expression he had allowed, and subsequently began to receive criticism for doing so. Finkelstein displayed recurrent animosity towards the University fraternity system throughout his farewell column, and suggested that problems created by the Greek community influenced his decision to shut down the site. "The torrent of homophobic and racist comments grew exponentially along with the number of posts where frat boys attacked other frat boys," Finkelstein said. "I personally saw a link between the apparent increase in frat usage of the page and the decline in general quality of the page." The rumors page has facilitated several campus controversies since its inception in 1998, and often received criticism for allowing viewers to post inflammatory remarks anonymously. Former TCU Senator Ralan Hill once challenged a fellow senator, Larry Harris, to a forum debate on a topic of his choosing. When Arthur Sulzberger, publisher of The New York Times, spoke on campus last year, he was questioned about anonymous online forums, such as Brian's Rumors Daily and the Drudge Report. Sulzberger responded that he did not put any faith into anonymity in general, but saw no reason that such sites should be eliminated. "People are theoretically giving their opinion, so I don't see any damage in them," he said.

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News

Seniors lead Jumbos over Judges

March 31

Balloons, banners, and senior day decorations adorned the edges of Spicer Field for yesterday afternoon's softball game against the Brandeis Judges. But it was two Tufts seniors that provided the most fitting decorations for the softball team. Randee McArdle launched a solo home run in the second inning, and Rachel Brecher flung six innings of four-hit, shutout ball as the Jumbos blanked the Brandeis Judges 6-0. The win upped the Tufts' overall record to 22-8-1 and dropped Brandeis to 12-13. The game was a non-conference tilt, so its importance in terms of the playoffs was negligible. But it was senior day, and the fourth-years stepped up to the plate. "It was definitely not just another game," Brecher said. "It was an awesome senior day," coach Kris Talon said. "We always have interesting games with Brandeis. It was a school day, and sometimes that's hard, but our intensity was great." McArdle stepped up to the plate first, belting a home run to right field with nobody out in the second inning. The homer off Brandeis freshman starter Leigh Warren gave Tufts a lead that it would never relinquish. It was all that Brecher needed for the win. The senior threw six solid innings, painting the outside corner of the plate like it was one of the several banners bearing her name, earning in the process her eighth win of the season. The defense behind (and in front of) Brecher was strong as well. In the third inning, sophomore Lis Drake made a diving catch on a bunt that was popped up near the plate, and in the fifth inning, junior shortstop Jen Mackey ranged to her right to make a nice backhand stop, and gunned down the Brandeis base runner at first. And sophomore right-fielder Nikki Blotner recorded a rare 9-3 assist when she threw out a Brandeis runner at first base in the sixth. But Brandeis was still in the game until the bottom of the fourth inning when Brecher herself extended the Tufts lead. Drake led off with a single to right, McArdle walked, and freshman Deana Davidian singled up the middle to load the bases. Freshman Julie Fox grounded to second, but Brandeis freshman second baseman Emily Watterworth bobbled the grounder before throwing out Fox, allowing Drake to score. Brecher stepped up and slashed a double over the head of the Brandeis centerfielder, plating two runs and giving herself a 4-0 cushion to work with. The Jumbos were not done with the fourth inning yet. Blotner walked, and after advancing to second on a passed ball, was driven in by junior Emily Ferrazza who laced a screaming double to left center. McArdle extended the lead to 6-0 in the fifth with a double of her own. The outfielder was 2-2 with two RBIs in what was possibly the final home game of her career. Whether or not McArdle and Brecher play another home game will depend on how well the team does in its two-game showdown at Bowdoin on Saturday. If Bowdoin swept its doubleheader with Colby yesterday afternoon, this weekend could feature two undefeated teams facing off for the NESCAC East title and home field advantage throughout the NESCAC playoffs. A sweep of the Polar Bears, or a split of the doubleheader would give Tufts the title and the home field, but the team has other reasons for wanting to earn the sweep. Last season, the Jumbos suffered a humiliating 10-0 loss at the hands of the team from Brunswick. Bowdoin scored 10 runs in four and two-thirds off Brecher, invoking the mercy rule after only four plus innings. "Bowdoin is in our sights," Talon said. "We're really looking forward to it. We've got to go back and make a statement. We don't just want a split. We know we are the better team, we just have to go out and prove it." "We are planning on sweeping them," Brecher said. "After last year, we have something to prove."

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News

Men's volleyball ends regular season on winning streak

March 31

With two consecutive home wins, the men's club volleyball team ended its stellar regular season on a positive note. After defeating Northeastern University last Thursday, the team emerged from a competitive contest against Boston College with a satisfying season-ending win this past Tuesday. The victory finished off Tufts' regular season at 32-3. "It [B.C.] was one of the best matches this season," tri-captain Adam Goldfarb said. "Everyone is happy with the way we played; we were blocking well, hitting well, and we played good defense." Tufts emerged from the best-of-five contest with three straight wins, 25-19, 25-22, and 25-22 respectively. From the start, the Jumbos were composed and all aspects of their play remained solid. They faltered early on in the second game, falling behind 8-2; however, superior serving by freshman Dan Coleman allowed the team to quickly regain its footing. "Dan went on a serving streak. He had two aces and we won five or six points in a row," Goldfarb said. "His jump serving really brought us back into the game." Senior tri-captain David Chang also contributed significantly to the team's success. Chang, whose former high school coach is now coaches Boston College, looked forward to playing the Eagles. "Dave was really excited to play them," Goldfarb said. "He played great; he had a good block and some good hits." The team's win last week against Northeastern, although both less exciting and less difficult, was not less well played than its bout against B.C. The Jumbos dealt a pounding to the weaker Northeastern squad, defeating it in three straight games, 25-14, 25-14, and 25-15. The game ended in less than an hour. "We beat Northeastern pretty badly," Goldfarb said. "It was a real dull game. They were missing two starters and they weren't returning balls." With the regular season now over, the team will begin two weeks of practice after break in preparation for the league championships, followed by the National tournament in April.

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News

A different kind of V-Day

March 31

Senior Lisa Goodman saw The Vagina Monologues, playwright Eve Ensler's Obie award-winning play, off-Broadway in New York. Three women - barefoot, clad solely in black, perched on stools a few feet from Goodman's seat - spoke frankly and openly about their vaginas. Goodman, already signed on to produce a version of the play for Tufts, felt that this sort of dialogue would be just what women on campus needed."When you stay silent about something, nothing gets accomplished. It's kind of like, if you own your body, you reclaim yourself, and stand up for yourself," Goodman said. For Goodman and others honoring V-Day today, being able to talk about their vaginas and bodies is an integral part of the fight to end violence against women. Rather than celebrating Valentine's Day, V-Day pushes romance aside and puts the focus on women's safety and personal issues.V-Day began in 1998 as a product of The Vagina Monologues. A group of women founded V-Day to demand an end to violence against women. V-Day puts Valentine's Day on hold until violence stops; the group also declared that when violence ends, V-Day will be known as Victory Over Violence Day. The V-Day College Initiative invites colleges to mount their own productions of The Vagina Monologues on or around Feb. 14 to raise money and awareness for violence against women. According to Goodman, over 250 colleges and universities are participating this year and over 50 cities throughout the world will also launch productions of the play. The proceeds from the college events are given to organizations in the schools' communities that work to stop violence against women. The Tufts group will donate their proceeds to Emerge, a domestic violence crisis center, and Boston Area Rape Crisis Center. The production is sponsored primarily by the Women's Center, along with other academic departments and culture centers. The Jackson Jills will perform in "Vulvapalooza", an event in the lobby of Balch Arena Theater preceding Sunday's production of The Vagina Monologues. Local charities will also be tabling side by side with games such as "Pin the Clit on the Vagina" and a silent auction offering vibrators - donated from Hubba Hubba and Condom World - as prizes. Goodman hopes that these activities along with the information available at the event will encourage women to speak more openly about their bodies. After becoming involved in the production, Goodman said that she has no qualms about screaming "vagina" across the academic quad to crew and cast members. "[The play is] really an experience," Goodman said. "It's basically listening to stuff you think about but never heard out loud before." And according to supporters of V-Day, this lack of discussion on issues surrounding the vagina hurts the movement to stop violence against women. In addition to discussing the more pleasant aspects of women's bodies, the play confronts issues such as genital mutilation, rape, and molestation. Sophomore Erin Dwyer, one of the play's directors, got involved because she felt that seeing The Vagina Monologues was "definitely something the campus needed." Violence, Dwyer said, will not stop "unless people can talk openly about it and are aware of it. When you stop talking about things, they get put into a closet." The play not only addresses the community at large but has also changed the perspectives of its own cast and crew. "I have so much more confidence in myself. I'm so much happier about myself," Goodman said about her involvement with the play. "I don't think twice about saying 'vagina'." Potential cast members also held some of the insecurities that Goodman has shed. Dwyer recalls that many audition applications often held some surprising answers to a question asking about conflicts - that is, scheduling conflicts. Some of those trying out interpreted this to mean personal conflicts, so instead of reading about class times and job obligations, Dwyer found that some of the auditioning women felt uncomfortable with the play's issues and their own bodies. "So many people came in and you would never think so much is going on under the surface," Dwyer said. "There are so many layers to what we're doing, having people on campus think about it, talk about it." Another layer to the V-Day event is the participation of men. Goodman and the rest of the crew were concerned about attracting male students to their audience and to the issue of violence, but they actually received a warm response. "It's surprising how many guys are into this," she said, adding that this is significant to the cause. "You can't stop violence against women without the guys," she said. Emerge also takes the male perspective into account with its counseling offerings. "They're not just blaming the man," Dwyer said, explaining that the counseling sessions for male offenders suggest that violence can be discussed and resolved. In order to continue addressing violence, the college initiative continues beyond this year as well. With the first V-Day initiative underway, Goodman hopes that a tradition has begun. "[The event] is going to happen every year now," she said. "We're supposed to do it annually." Goodman and others will pursue the creation of a club that will continue to perform The Vagina Monologues and other V-Day events annually, in hopes of getting Senate funding and increasing student participation, which is already enthusiastic. "People just jumped at it. There's a lot of interest on campus," she said.The Vagina Monologues will be performed on Sunday, Feb. 18 at 8:30 p.m. in Cohen Auditorium. Tickets are $7. Vulvapalooza, a free event, will begin at 7 p.m. in the lobby of Balch Arena.

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Community Health Program celebrates 25th anniversary

March 31

Alumni, students, faculty, and guests gathered last week to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Community Health Program (CHP). Speakers and faculty reflected on the history of the CHP and reminisced about their personal experiences with the program during the main event Friday afternoon in Barnum Hall. In his opening address, University President John DiBiaggio emphasized that the CHP's goal of encouraging students to be active and engaged citizens plays an important role in helping the University realize its mission. "The CHP is a mandate I believe we have at this institution," he said "It takes programs like Community Health to remind folks to give a little something back to the community." The CHP is designed for students who are interested in health and health care. Students who take the eight required courses receive a certificate in recognition of their work, but must also complete a regular department major. Two events contributed to formation of the community health program on campus, according to speaker Dr. Jack Geiger, the former chair of the department of preventive medicine at Tufts' medical school. During the late 1940s and early 1950s, a community health program was created at the Nelson Mandela School for Medicine - a school for non-white students in the Zulu Tribal Reserve region of South Africa. Ten health centers were erected in rural and urban areas around the region, and as word of success spread during the 1960s, a CHP was created in Mississippi. In response to the deaths of three activists who encouraged the implementation of a community health program, the Medical Community for Human Rights was formed to provide assistance and protection for black and white activists. Its task, to recruit interested volunteers for its efforts, was risky because of the racism, social stigmas, and stereotypes of rampant at the time. Meanwhile, a community action program was flowering at Tufts. But merging this program with the one in Mississippi was not easy because of concerns of impoverished people in the Boston area and the white powers in Mississippi. To quell widespread anxieties, Tufts' community health participants implemented a public housing project in downtown Boston, where 8-10,000 apartments were built. They were met with much opposition from whites when they tried to do the same in Mississippi, but they eventually built centers in the areas of Palaila and LeMontville. Five additional centers were opened nationwide. The Tufts Medical Center has been instrumental in the success of the community health programs, according to Geiger, and Tufts contributes $10-25,000 every year to the program. Scholarship funds are set aside for remarkable students in the hopes that they too will continue the traditions started by their predecessors. "We're focusing on social change in the medical field," Geiger said. "The communities that the CHP works with are tap-full of human talent, resourcefulness, strength, and motivation. The main thing is to look beyond the formalities of treating patients and realize that this is a partnership between whole communities and those involved in the health professions." Bernard Harleston, a senior associate at the New England Resource Center for Higher Education's Graduate College of Education at the University of Massachusetts-Boston and former dean of arts and sciences at Tufts University, shed light on the rise of the CHP at Tufts. The CHP was one out of four interdisciplinary programs that was created to encourage interdisciplinary study for undergraduates. The program aspired to broaden Tufts' curriculum to encompass issues of community, health, applied politics, and diplomacy, and to engage students and faculty in thinking about interdisciplinary studies, activities, and programs. Students became the CHP's main focus, as it endeavored to give them a chance to take active roles within the University make their academic education more meaningful. "It was clear that these sorts of efforts were the ones that would open up the arena for student opportunity," Harleston said. Strong faculty leadership was key to the development of the program, which emphasized the commitment of students to conflict resolution, according to Harleston. Seymour Bellin, professor emeritus and former director of the CHP, brought smiles and laughs from his audience when he said that his primary objective during his work with the program was "to always look for reasons why programs in health policy don't work." He also emphasized the importance of maintaining a deep dedication to the creation of community health in communities nationwide. LeRoy Charles, a graduate of the first Tufts CHP class in 1976, gave a heartfelt personal reflection of his involvement in CHP, and thanked Tufts for its moral support and for having bestowed him with values with which he's resolved to continue the tradition. "Community health is a passion," Charles said. "You must do it with the goal of giving back to the community. It's not about wearing a suit and looking important on a stage - it's about giving back and going out on a limb to serve those in need." Like the speakers, students at the CHP afternoon event praised the program for its emphasis on involvement in the community. "Having participated in the program for the last four years, it's been a really important part of my experience to witness the evolution of the CHP and expose myself to the lessons it strives to teach not only to those directly involved in community health, but to the Tufts community in general," senior Gillian Galen said. The Friday event was the culmination of a week-long celebration of the CHP anniversary. Movies related to health issues were screened throughout the week, and Friday was designated as community health day across campus.

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News

Panelists debate gene patenting, genetic privacy

March 31

With the plethora of technological advances that define our recent history, the science community, government, and general population face difficult questions about the ethics of studying the human genome. Moreover, increasing information on genetic composition leads to increasing responsibility. This, as well as questions surrounding gene patenting and genetic privacy, were the topics of a conference held Wednesday evening in Dowling Hall, where four panelists discussed the technology behind gene sequencing and the links between science, technology, law, and public policy. "How can you patent a gene? It's so personal; it's a part of your body," sophomore Katheryne Hughs asked. A gene sequence is not something that has been invented, but rather is discovered and exists in all creatures on Earth. However, researchers have already attempted to obtain patents for their genetic finds. US patent laws state that an invention or discovery can be patented as long as it meets official patent criteria, according to Dr. Sheldon Krimsky, a Tufts professor of Urban and Environmental Policy. The issue of genetic privacy was tackled by Dr. Norman Daniels, a professor of medical ethics at Tufts, and Boston University professor Dr. George Annas. "I don't believe that anyone should open your DNA diary without your consent," Annas said. Prejudices by insurance companies that know a person is genetically programmed to have a disorder or disease was another topic of debate. Should an insurance company be allowed to refuse coverage to a person because he or she could develop diabetes, Huntington's disease, or any other hereditary disease? This is already happening in England, where insurance companies will soon be allowed to use results from genetic testing to increase premiums or refuse coverage to persons born with genes that could lead to fatal conditions. Students who attended the conference said they came because they were concerned about how these issues will play out in an era dominated by technological advances. "It is worthwhile knowing about this stuff, because it affects every person in our generation," said sophomore Danielle Perrin. She cited the movie Gattaca and its discussion of eugenics and the ideal child as an example of how she has encountered this debate. Tufts Chemistry Professor Dr. David Walt discussed the utility and benefits of gene sequencing. He feels that it will mark a step forward in healthcare around the world and could in fact decrease the price of drugs. Each drug will be a "designer treatment" for each patient. However, other panelists disagreed with this statement, citing past occurrences in which new and better drugs entered the market, only to wind up costing more. Daniels offered a radically different perspective when he asked the audience to consider socio-economic effects on healthy living, healthcare, and public policy on health. A great deal of progress has been made in nutrition, sanitation, and life styles during the last century, and this has increased life expectancy more than any drug. Daniels suggested that maybe improving nutrition education and sanitation around the world is a better weapon against disease than innovative technology. During the question and answer session, audience members probed further into the issue of gene patenting. Many other countries, especially third world countries, have opposed gene sequence patenting. US patent laws, however, make it relatively easy to obtain a patent for a gene sequence. The most difficult part is finding someone who understands the art of gene sequencing enough to demonstrate the discovery's utility. The event was sponsored by TuftScope, the new journal of health, ethics, and policy on campus; the Boston University Bioethics Society; the Tufts Biology Department; the Tufts Philosophy Department; and the Tufts Political Science Department.

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News

West Side stereotypes

March 31

I just want to point out to Mr. Ruben Salinas Stern of the Latino Center that the stereotyping of Puerto Ricans in West Side Story is intentional by the writers ("West Side Story stereotypes Puerto Ricans," 4/12). Their motive is to demonstrate how ridiculous stereotypes are and to eliminate them. West Side Story is one of the most progressive and socially conscious musicals of our time. A thousand word Viewpoint in the Daily heavily criticizing the depiction of Puerto Ricans is rather unfortunate and demonstrates that you simply do not grasp the play's message.Joseph Palazzo, LA '01

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News

Sun sets on Moon's presidency

March 31

Last night's presidential nomination meeting marked the first gathering of next year's Tufts Community Union Senate and the official end of the 2000-2001 term. Under the leadership of President David Moon, this year's focus shifted more to lobbying the administration than previous senates, but continued the trend of bypassing traditional methods such as passing resolutions that demand or declare positions to the University. In their year-end addresses, Senate committee chairs spoke about the flurries of change that occurred on campus this past academic year. But the single most significant achievement in many people's eyes was the board of trustees' decision that a new dormitory should be built.The Senate has pushed for the new dorm since last year, and the board made its decision after hearing proposals from Trustee Representative Jesse Levey and Vice President of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Mel Bernstein. Levey argued that the University needs a 300-bed dorm, while Bernstein said that 150 beds were enough. The trustees approved the dorm project and, while not specifying the size, did set 150 beds as the minimum. The administration will present its final proposal at next month's trustee meeting, but Levey has already expressed reservations about its preparedness. The Senate has experienced success this year in several lobbying efforts, including the elimination of disciplinary and Tufts Emergency Medical Services fines, the creation of the Student Health Advisory Board, changes in student parking policies, and the use of detail officers to monitor parties. Throughout this year, Moon purposefully contrasted his Senate to Larry Harris's 1999-2000 Senate. He ran on a platform to cut Senate bickerering and egos - problems that created a public relations nightmare last year. For Moon, this shift marked a fundamental change in governance. "What I wanted to try was something very different than what had been done in the past, and I would even venture to call it an experiment in campus politics," Moon said in his state of the Senate address last Tuesday, at the final full meeting of the 2000-01 Senate. To Moon's credit, there have been a number of visible differences between this year and last. The continued public criticisms between the Senate and the TCU Judiciary have subsided, the number of Viewpoints by senators in the Daily has significantly decreased, and the continued chiding of public figures that was rampant last year has seemingly vanished. Also in contrast to former administrations was the absence of issues that could anger or alienate students. Past Senate actions that drew widespread criticism, such as the construction of the campus center patio and last year's full-page advertisements to publicize the Senate's work, were avoided. Placing televisions in Dewick-MacPhie presented the only major Senate-centered controversy. But that issue began last spring - before the current Senate convened - and stemmed more from the work of Dining Services than the Senate. While the Senate Services Committee was involved in the initial discussion, it was also integral in mediating talks between concerned students and Director of Dining Services Patti Lee Klos. One thing that didn't much change this year was the acclaimed work of the treasury. Under Treasurer Michele Shelton, the Senate did not receive any appeals from student groups unhappy with how their funding needs were met. The treasury also balanced the budget for the first time in at least five years, erasing an $8,000 deficit left over from last year. Shelton, with Budget Coordinator Frank Nocito, also changed banks this year, allowing Student Activities Fee accounts to collect interest for the first time ever. These initiatives will help the surplus grow instead of shrink, as it has in the past few years. "This may not seem like a lot right now, but this extra growth can be added to the Buffer, Capital Expenditure, or New Group funds," Shelton said. "Our surplus can see real growth in future years."@s:Treasury highlights accomplished year for Senate@j:SENATE@c:continued from page 1edits:Em, Ray, bo@bodytext:SIDEBARSoundbites from last Tuesday's Senate meeting:"This was an A week."- Outreach Committee Chair Paul Fridman"We have managed to be a productive and efficient committee despite our conflicts."- Administration and Budget Committee Chair Jill Bier"It's hard to get done, and not very rewarding."- Education Committee Chair Abbey Wilson"I declare the issue of soap and paper towels officially finished."- Services Committee Chair Melinda Coolidge"The trustees are very old and very wealthy and very white."- Trustee Representative Adam Carlis"As a whole it was a good year."- Trustee Representative Alethea Pieters"We worked as a unit."- Vice President Eric Greenberg"ALBO has gone above and beyond the goals for the year."- Treasurer Michele Shelton"I wasn't quite sure if I was going to be able to pull off what I had envisioned."-President David Moon

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News

My spoken heritage

March 31

To the Editor: I want to commend professor Gidney on his assessment that all languages and forms of languages are equally legitimate. He also stresses the fact that "proper" English is only proper in the sense that it is the dialect of those in power in this country. Therefore, it is simply expedient for everyone to master it. There is nothing shameful in switching from one dialect to another, as I myself frequently enjoy chatting with my friends in the ways of our African-American heritage, which have existed for nearly 400 years and will remain for years to come. When the time is appropriate, I revert back to the language which society at-large can easily comprehend.Reginald I. Dorsey, Jr. LA '01

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News

Crew program optimistic about spring season

March 31

Facing the challenges of bad weather and roster changes, the men's and women's crew teams have a lot of work cut out for them this season. Both teams will be using this Sunday's race against WPI and Tulane as a good indicator of the results of off-season training and the work that still needs to be done. The men's crew team has big shoes to fill, as the last spring season was a successful one. The team came in sixth at the New England Championships and 12th at the National Championships, finishing the season with a 26-17 overall record. "Last season was one of the best seasons that Tufts has had in the last ten years," coach Ben Foster said. However, this year's team has almost an entirely face on it, right down to the coach. Foster took over the job of head coach from Ted Benford this past fall. Foster has six years of coaching experience under his belt, three as the head coach at Mercyhurst College in Pennsylvania from 1997-99. Last year, he coached the freshman team for Tufts. The coach is not the only change that will affect the team this season. The varsity is almost a completely new group of rowers. Only three of the varsity eight has returned, including senior Michael Friedberg, junior Shane Black-Macken, and senior coxswain Jeff Lindy. Some losses are a result of graduation, and three juniors (Chris Mitchell, Ben Wilkinson, and Nathaniel Swinburne) are abroad for the year. After a long winter, the team will use these early races to gain experience in order to be ready for the championships in May. "We should have good success this season," Foster said, "...and by the time Championships comes around, we'll do well. There is a lot of youth on the team, and we need to get some races under our belt." The team has over a month to work on getting itself ready and doing what needs to be done to be successful later in the season. "We need to work on maturity," Lindy said. "A race is 2,000 meters and around six minutes. That is a lot of time to face the pain and a lot of time to doubt yourself. We need to work on the confidence and swagger that you see in more experienced boats and try to instill that in [the team]." The women's team, however, is not beginning its season with many changes. Last season's young team (four freshman in the varsity eight) has matured and looks to be a strong one, with four returning varsity rowers, and one returning varsity rower for the lightweight team. Adding to this group of veterans will be sophomores from a very successful novice team from last season. The team also has a lot of depth, with enough members for a varsity open eight, a lightweight eight, a varsity open four, and almost three full novice boats. "Last year, we were a really young team," coach Gary Caldwell said. "This team is more mature and we are coming off a successful fall season. We also will have a last year's novice squad that made it to finals rowing in the varsity program. We also have a lot of high quality, experienced rowers at the freshman level." What will be an obstacle for the team is the weather. With the cold, combined with winds or precipitation, the team has not gotten a lot of water time, something that could have an affect on the first part of the season. "The Northeast weather has really cut into our practice time on the water," Caldwell said. "However this affects many teams in the North and therefore the early season results will be affected." The teams will open their season against WPI and Tulane this weekend. "WPI just turned varsity last year," Caldwell said. "We beat them last season, but they did really well towards the end of the season. We are going to have to race really well to beat them." Both teams will be using this race as an indicator as to where they stand as a result of training in the off-season. "We always go into the races planning on a victory," Foster said. "However, this race will be a building block. We will be able to see where we are going." Caldwell agrees. "We are still trying to figure out who is going where," he said. "This will be a good measuring stick to see where we are and how far we have to go." Though it is the opening race of the season, it is not always an indication of where the team will be come championship time. "It is really difficult to predict the season," Lindy said. "It all depends on the chemistry, how the team gels. We did really well last year and I wouldn't have predicted that until three weeks before the end of the season."

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Eden White grows up to sing about 'What Really Matters'

March 31

It's a relief to know that singer/songwriter Eden White has not disappeared from the music scene. For a while, it had seemed as if the former Jumbo, who received the Light on the Hill Award last year along with Hank Azaria, had fallen into some black hole. Rumors swirled that White was producing a live CD from recorded performances at the Bitter End in New York.

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A closer look at the NBA rule changes

March 31

With the NBA playoffs coming soon, fans can be sure of a few things: there will be illegal defenses called, ticky tack fouls will determine the outcome of games, and shot blockers like Dikembe Mutumbo and Alonzo Mourning will be lurking in the paint, ready to scare away opposing players. But on April 12, several rule changes were approved that would eliminate these staples of today's league. The rule changes, as approved by the board of governors, are: Illegal defenses will no longer be called, a defensive three second violation will be enacted, teams will have eight instead of ten seconds to get the ball up to the half-court line, and incidental or touch fouls will not be called unless they impede the progress of the offensive players. The changes were designed chiefly to quicken the game's pace and to increase overall offensive production. Illegal defense - intended to prohibit zone defenses - is called when a player or players are not guarding a single man and are instead camping out somewhere on defense. With the removal of the rule, teams will now be able to play off the man and stop prolific scorers like Allen Iverson or Shaquille O'Neal from taking their men one on one. It is a change that should favor more balanced scoring attacks like those of the New York Knicks, Portland Trailblazers, and Charlotte Hornets. Allowing zone defense will increase passing and create a more team-oriented, five-player attack than the constant one-on-one action that - in the views of the NBA board of governors - has resulted in stagnant offenses. But teams such as the Philadelphia 76ers may struggle in this new system, because they can no longer simply dish the ball to Iverson and hope for him to break down inferior opponents. The new rule may also hurt teams with dominant big men, like the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers, by hampering their ability to dump the ball down to the likes of David Robinson or O'Neal in the hopes they will dunk the ball over smaller defenders. Still, the prevailing wisdom from NBA coaches, owners, and players is that the better teams will still play man-to-man most of the time. An interesting addition to the NBA rulebook next year is the new limit on defending in the paint - starting next season, a defender cannot remain in the paint for more than three seconds without closely guarding an opponent. The rule will mainly affect shot-blockers like Mutumbo and Mourning. Mutumbo may not be pointing that finger at his opponents too much if he continues to stay camped in the paint. The three-second rule also makes it less likely that teams will utilize the zone very often. A normal zone defense would consist of a 3-2 or 2-3 formation - in either setup, there would be at least two players near the paint area guarding the inside. With the three-second rule, these defenders will have to play their zone primarily outside the paint. Again, the best teams will still rely on man-to-man defense. The other two changes more directly encourage a faster-paced and higher-scoring style of play. First, officials will be encouraged to swallow the whistle on touch fouls next year. One can't help but remember then-Knick Hubert Davis's missed jump-shot against the Chicago Bulls in the 1994 conference semifinals. If not for a touch foul called on Scottie Pippen, the Bulls would have won a pivotal Game Five, turning the series in their favor. Next season, in order to increase the speed and, more importantly, the fan interest in the game, officials will be encouraged to not call similar fouls. The final rule change implemented for the 2001-2002 season cuts from ten to eight seconds the time a team has to get the ball across the half-court line on offense. The rule may create a few interesting changes. For one, it will likely increase pressing and trapping on defense. With a decrease in time allotted to get the ball past the half-court line, teams on defense will likely apply increased pressure on opponents. In turn, this may result in an increase in turnovers. The bottom-line, however, is that the rule changes likely will not lead to dramatic increases in scoring or decreases in shot-blocking. Good teams with good coaches will, in due time, adjust to the rules. Zone will be used, but only sparingly. It remains to be seen whether these changes will help to achieve the hoped-for results of increased scoring, a faster pace, and, most importantly, greater fan support.

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New Dorm will help build community

March 31

I recently participated in a focus group during which we discussed the image of Tufts, as current students, prospective freshmen, and the outside world perceive it. One of the common complaints voiced among group members was the lack of community and school spirit at our University. We resigned, however, that there is no simple answer to reversing this trend. After reading yesterday's Viewpoint, "Creating a True Residential Community," by three Student Trustee Representatives and one former representative, it occurred to me that there is at least one step that can be taken: to provide as many students as possible who want to enjoy campus life and be part of the community a chance to do so. I applaud our Board of Trustees and our student representatives for their attempt to make this possible by building a new 300-person dorm. It is time to be proactive in our attempt to build a stronger community at Tufts.

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News

Field of mutual fund dreams

March 31

@continue:New era of corporate stadiums@edits:nt, ms,rc

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UCCPS announces grants opportunity

March 31

The University College of Citizenship and Public Service (UCCPS) is continuing to expand its operations and has implemented a formal application process for individuals and groups seeking funding for community service projects. The program is the latest in a series of initiatives that the UCCPS has developed this year as a result of a donation from alumni Pierre and Pam Omidyar. The grant program, designed to encourage active citizenship at Tufts, is now accepting proposals from interested groups, students, faculty, and staff. "This is a terrific opportunity to seed new ideas and expand the dialogue on campus about active citizenship," Education for Active Citizenship Grants program coordinator Nancy Gabriel said in a press release. The grants are designed to bring together different community groups to promote creativity and civil service, according to Gabriel. "The idea is to find ways to partner students, faculty, and community organizations in looking for what will have a lasting impact long after those involved have moved on," she said. The initiative is organized through UCCPS's Education for Active Citizenship Grants program and the Omidyar Scholars program. Money from eBay founder Omidyar's $10 million donation to the University last year will be used to help fund the grants. Awards will span from $500 to $5,000 each, and will be distributed in three cycles, the first of which is already in progress. The remaining grants will be awarded in October 2001 and February 2002. In total, about $100,000 has been allotted to fund the grants. Gabriel said she did not expect a large number of student applications for this round because this is a busy time of year, but that she expects more applicants in the fall and next spring. "We felt it was really important to get the process out, so we'll just fund what we can for now," Gabriel said. Grant recipients will be decided by a committee comprised of four faculty members from the UCCPS faculty steering committee, three students from either the UCCPS student advisory board or Omidyar Scholars, and Gabriel. "We tried to make sure that the faculty was fairly interdisciplinary, so it won't simply be UCCPS deciding," Gabriel said. The committee may expand the number of student members next year to further diversify its makeup. Many faculty members are optimistic about the implications of the program for Tufts and surroundings areas. "This represents an opportunity to provide for the Tufts community and the community that we serve outside," said child development Professor Richard Lerner, a prominent expert in his field and a member of the UCCPS grant committee. "It is a means to collaborate around important projects that serve civil societies." The decision to create a more formal grant process comes a year after the establishment of the UCCPS, which was founded after the Omidyar donation in 2000. Though a number of grants were awarded last year, the funds were given out on a relatively informal basis. "This year, we wanted to make it a more formal grant cycle and more outlined application procedure," UCCPS staff member Louise Dyer. Funding will be awarded based on a number of factors, including the project's ability to promote active citizenship skills Tufts' student body, develop tools for further enhancement of public service, and build community partnerships. Those who submit proposals must also outline how they plan to use the money and resources, as well as attract funds from other sources. The UCCPS was founded last year with the intent of shaping young public servants and leaders both in and out of the Tufts community. Its mission is to encourage involvement in solving community challenges by developing and sharing knowledge on citizenship and public service. Previous UCCPS grants to student groups have included funding for United Leaders, and the Nia project, which connects Tufts' black community to area high school students. A number of the grants typically go toward graduate students in search of funding for specific projects. Gabriel stressed the importance of undergraduate student involvement in the program. "The students we have funded so far have really made a lot out of the money they have received. Some of the best projects have been from the students," Gabriel said. Proposals for the first round of grants must be submitted by May 15. Grant awards will be announced on June 1.

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Tufts alumnus elected City Council president

March 31

Tufts alumnus Charles Yancey (LA '70) was elected Boston City Council president on New Years Day. After 17 years of service on the council as a representative for Mattapan, North Dorchester, and parts of Hyde Park, Yancey became the second African-American council president in the city's history. His election was part of a stunning political move by seven-year City Council President James Kelly. When it became clear that Kelly would not receive enough votes to secure an eighth term, the former president threw his support behind Yancey, citing his colleague's reputation for independent thinking and his ability to work well with people. "I am even more shocked than you are," Yancey said about his election.Yancey credits much of his success to skills he learned as an undergraduate at Tufts. "[Tufts] proved to be invaluable in terms of developing leadership skills, working with people from different backgrounds, and learning how to build coalitions," he said. During his time at Tufts, Yancey, who majored in economics, was very concerned with diversity on campus. He was a founding member of the African-American Society, and worked with the administration to increase diversity at Tufts. "My freshman year there were only two dozen African-American students," he said. "We pressed the administration to improve outreach and create a more diverse student body." In the following years, Yancey saw the number of African Americans on campus climb to between 200 and 300 students. He has continued to stress commitment to minority issues during his political career. Yancey has three main priorities for his term as president: working to change the housing crisis in Boston, increasing benefits to all the people of the city by promoting economic development, and raising the quality of education in Boston's public schools by involving the community and raising the standards for administrators, students, and teachers. "I believe we can make the Boston public schools the best public school system in the nation," he said.Yancey cited a recent resolution passed by the Boston City Council for the federal government to reopen investigation of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as an example of the opportunities he will have to bring about change."[It puts me] in a position to negotiate and put things on the agenda that may not ordinarily see the light of day."

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News

Where the money goes

March 31

Money: there never seems to be enough, whether you're a struggling college student or a campus organization trying to fund a year's worth of events. Avenues by which student groups exhaust their budgets - from sponsoring campus-wide events to holding meetings to advertising - abound. After settling their budgets with the Allocations Board (ALBO) each spring - this year's process is currently underway - the organizations begin planning for the next year's meetings and events. With the plethora of student groups on campus, from relatively small pre-professional groups to super-groups like the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) and Concert Board, student leaders fund many different programs in just as many different ways. According to Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Treasurer Michele Shelton, each organization spends its budgeted money on events pertinent to its ideology and interests. "There are a lot of groups that do the large-scale events, then there are other groups that do small things," she said. Shelton cited the Concert and Programming Boards, Hillel, the Pan African Alliance, and the Feminist Alliance as groups that usually produce large events each year, such as concerts and semi-formals. On the other end of the spectrum, Shelton said that many of the pre-professional groups, like the Pre-Vet, Pre-Med, and Pre-Law Societies often bring in speakers and go on field trips to educate their members. "We mainly spend our money on educational trips, veterinary enrichment trips," said sophomore Meagan Rock, the Pre-Vet Society treasurer. TCU assistant treasurer sophomore Sarah Sandison said that although groups spend their money in various ways, many sponsor a few main events each year. "In general, across the budgets, [most groups] have two big events," she said. One group that requested more money from ALBO for the coming year was the Chinese Students Association (CSA), one of the largest cultural organizations on campus. CSA Treasurer sophomore Chester Mui explained that this year's expanded budget will help fund the Chinese Culture Show it will be hosting this Thursday. In addition to receiving money for big events like the Culture Show, Mui said that the group has received more co-sponsorship money this year. "[The TCU] is trying to pull all the clubs together," he said. Anne Keefe, editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Queen's Head and Artichoke, is also looking into expanding the group's co-sponsorship fund. She said her group is trying to "[foster] a community environment between magazines." Although increased co-sponsorship budgets will facilitate better communication and cohesion between similar campus groups, Keefe noted that another area of Queen's Head's budget was not as equitably funded. "This year we didn't even get what our printing [cost] is," she said. Other campus leaders expressed similar concerns about the lack of needed money in their budgets, such as sophomore Vicky Hartanto, co-coordinator of the LCS Shelters program. "They cut our budget a lot this year because the people who did Shelters last year didn't spend anything," she said. Rock agreed. "We haven't really spent too much [this year] so we don't know if we'll get the same money next year," she said. Rock isn't the only leader worried about the upcoming budget decisions. Tufts Dance Collective (TDC) co-director Amanda Miller hopes that the group's budget will match the growth of her organization. Each TDC show requires the group to spend money for technical assistance, dance space, advertising, and costumes. As the group grows, Miller finds it more difficult to put on a safe, entertaining show within its budget. On the other hand, new organizations face a different problem in finding money to fund events and attract members. - they only get a temporary budget, which typically falls far short of their wants. Sophomore Viola Manteufel, a member of the recently recognized Tufts Religious Union for Cooperation and Ecumenicalism (TRUCE), said that the group is planning to host a forum on the Bush presidency and its implications in society. Since TRUCE is a new group, though, it doesn't have a budget to fund the forum. A universal expenditure for campus organizations is advertising. Through posters around campus, table tents in the dining halls and the campus center, and ads in the Daily, groups hope to attract new members to their meetings and events. Hartanto said that most of the Shelters budget goes toward advertising in hopes of catching the attention of possible new volunteers. Sophomore Dan Rosenberg, editor-in-chief of the literary magazine Optimus Prime agreed that ads were an integral - and expensive - part of a group. He said that although most of the magazine's budget "clearly goes to printing," the group also spends a lot of money on advertising for submissions deadlines and interest meetings. With increasing expenses, groups may do almost anything to pass a higher budget, and some students are concerned about rumors suggesting that organizations stack their e-mail lists to prove they have more members than they actually do - subsequently raising their funding. However, many student leaders believe that this does not generally occur among Tufts organizations. "I don't think the size of the group plays into [the budgeting process] as much as how much money they need," Hartanto said. She pointed out that only a few students plan and coordinate the LCS Kids' Day program, yet they have quite a large budget. Sandison said that the Allocations Board (ALBO) looks at organizations' spending each year - not the number of people in their group - to determine the next year's budget. If ALBO finds that the group's money has been well spent, it will usually allocate a similar amount to the new budget. "In my experience, the groups that have members spend their money and spend it well," said Shelton.

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