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The Setonian
News

TCUJ and CSL seats go uncontested

March 31

Student government positions on the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) and the Committee on Student Life (CSL) have been filled without an election, as fewer students than there were seats available submitted petitions at the Elections Board (ELBO) candidate's meeting last week. The non-election is the second this spring; all candidates for the TCU Senate were automatically named to the Senate two weeks ago because of a lack of competition. Only six students submitted petitions to fill the seven TCUJ positions. Junior Michael Ferenczy and sophomores Adam Biacchi and Alison Clarke will return to the Judiciary for a second term, while freshmen Jen Mendel and Mikhel Schecter, and sophomore Reid Van Gorder are new to student government. An election to fill the remaining seat will be held in the fall when the freshmen compete for their eight Senate seats. The five CSL spaces were automatically given to junior Amanda Berkowitz, sophomores Sam Dangremond and Megan Liotta, and freshmen Talia Alexander and Simon Holroid. There was a slight controversy over the TCUJ elections when Biacchi turned in his petition on time but failed to attend the mandatory candidates meeting. But ELBO determined that Biacchi was not disqualified because an ELBO member had initially told him that the meeting was optional. Some student government leaders attribute the low interest in both of these branches of government to a general feeling on campus that student government is doing a good job and there is no need for change. "I'd like to think everything has gone well and properly, and students are content to just kind of let us run and manage student government like we're supposed to and have been doing," CSL member Sam Dangremond said. "I find it ironic that this campus as a whole is generally thought of having a high level of political involvement, but not many students are involved in student government." "CSL is not generally contested because we're not really in the public eye as much as [the TCUJ] or the Senate," said Shou Min Tan, the CSL chair. "I'm not so concerned whether [elections] take place, so long as there are qualified people who are passionate about serving the student body. Student government is not a popularity contest." While low student interest has been normal for the CSL in recent years, the lack of competition for TCUJ seats came as a surprise to many. The TCUJ received much publicity this year after its controversial decision in the TCF case, and not all student leaders agree that students are students are satisfied with their government. "Normally, a low interest and low turnout would be a sign that [student government is] doing well and that people don't want to change what's going on. But I know that among some circles this year, there was dissatisfaction with the TCUJ and I'm disappointed," TCUJ chair Mike Ferenczy said. "I would like to see people get involved with something that could affect them." "It's a little shocking, because from what I understand, there were a lot of student groups who were expressing a desire to flood student government with their representatives, but none of them submitted petitions," ELBO chair Shane Mason said. ELBO treasurer Valentino Caruso said the problem is a general lack of student interest in its government. "Apathy is apathy no matter what the cause is," he said. The lack of student interest in the elections raises questions as to whether people will turn out to vote in Wednesday's TCU presidential elections. In order for the constitutional referendum and two accompanying amendments on the ballot to pass, 20 percent of the student body must vote on the question. In an effort to increase voter turnout, ELBO will be extending polling hours at the campus center to 11 p.m. ELBO will also advertise the election through posters and e-mails. Any changes in the elections system will be left up to the new Senate, and it is likely that the system will come up for review in the 2001-2002 academic year.

The Setonian
News

Fifth place finish in 1500 highlights busy weekend for Patterson

March 31

Senior Dave Patterson was the only member of the men's track team to qualify for the Division III Nationals that were held in Oshkosh, Wisconsin this past weekend. Patterson qualified in both the 1500 meters and the 5000 meters, placing fifth in the 1500 and 14th in the 5000. Patterson's time of 3:57.26 in the 1500 preliminaries gained him a trip to the finals where he bettered his time by more than five seconds to finish with a time of 3:53.10. Patterson finished ninth in the 1500 at last year's Nationals. Patterson's time in the 5000 at Nationals (15:33.34) was considerably slower than the time that qualified the senior Jumbo for nationals (14:52.37). A likely reason for this drop in time was the rigorous schedule of the weekend. The 1500 preliminaries occurred at 5p.m. on Friday and the 5000 race took place just two hours later.

The Setonian
News

Administrators begin dialogue with students on block schedule

March 31

Administrators took another step in their effort to examine the possibility of modifying the block schedule when they held an open meeting with students on Monday to discuss potential changes. The forum, which was intended to brief students on a proposed new schedule, was dominated by criticism of the plan, as those in attendance expressed concern that the changes would limit their academic flexibility. Kristine Dillon, dean of academic services and student affairs, and Mel Bernstein, vice president of arts, sciences, and engineering have created a proposal for a revised schedule that is currently being tested by academic departments. But on Monday, the two administrators emphasized that they are in the process of evaluating whether or not the changes are feasible or desirable. "We're not making any judgment at this stage, we're simply getting input," Bernstein said. The schedule presented to students calls for 50-minute classes to be held on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and 75-minute extended block classes to meet on either Monday and Wednesday afternoon or Tuesday and Thursday. While fewer than 20 students, many of whom are members of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, attended the forum, those who did were vocal with their concerns. Students were apprehensive about certain features of the new schedule, and said they were worried that their opinions will not seriously alter the administrative plan. "I think that if they're going to implement any change that affects the student body, then the student body, as well as the faculty, should vote on it," said Adam Carlis, a student representative to the Board of Trustees. "The only way to truly assess this is through a vote and education." Dillon and Bernstein said they want the process of changing the block schedule to be as transparent as possible, and plan to hold more meetings like yesterday's forum for both students and faculty. "If it makes your lives more difficult, this will never see the light of day," Bernstein said. Some were unconvinced by the administrators' explanations, and last night, a handful of students chalked and hung posters around campus to inform the student body of the planned changes. One member of the Senate executive board, who asked that his name not be tied to the anti-schedule campaign, said that the goal of students was "public outrage." "Isn't that the best way to get attention?" he said. Another member of Tufts' student government said that many students who did not attend Monday's forum are nonetheless willing to defend the current schedule. "If people see a sign that says the new block schedule sucks, they'll probably take the time to look at it and figure out what they think about it," she said. "While we were chalking, a group of people walked by and started talking about it.... I think there would be a bigger turnout if they hold another meeting." Tanya Gelfand and Alissa Kempler, students in Tufts' joint program with the MFA, said the irregularity of the current block schedule enables them to pursue their dual-degree program. Most museum school courses meet for intense class periods one or two days a week, and Gelfand and Kempler fear that if Tufts classes are scheduled in a more rigid format, it will be difficult for them to fulfill their requirements. Students were also concerned about the prospects of scheduling Experimental College classes under the new schedule, since they are often held as weekly evening seminars. Under the new schedule, seminar classes would be held from 1-4 p.m. and 7-10 p.m. everyday and from 4-7 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. The afternoon time slots may not accommodate Ex College classes, as many instructors work outside of Tufts during the daytime. At the meeting, students argued that 10 p.m. was too late for a student to get out of class. One problem that administrators see with the current block schedule is that most classes are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and this clustering creates the potential for scheduling conflicts. If classes were spread out, then certain classrooms could be removed from use for a particular semester and renovated. But, students countered that changing the schedule would not alleviate this problem, as departments would still be free to clump their classes during the middle of the day, barring a University rule that forces an equal distribution, which could implemented without changing the existing schedule. Bernstein and Dillon said that they have given copies of their proposal to the University's various schools and academic programs for review and are waiting to receive feedback. The proposal may need to be altered to avoid problems such as those raised at the open forum, or could be scrapped altogether if faculty and students find that it causes more conflicts than the current schedule. Each department is in the process of plugging this semester's classes into the new schedule to see if it is a preferable alternative. The simulation will be completed and evaluated over the summer, and another test with fall classes will begin next semester. The schedule will then be tested by students from an array of majors, who will plug in their courses, look for conflicts, and report the ease or difficulty they experience in planning their course of study. "Until it happens, it's going to be hard to know whether it is better or worse," Dillon said. The earliest that a decision would be made is spring of 2002, and a new schedule would go into effect that fall. If a version of the proposed schedule is not implemented, Dillon said the administration might consider alleviating some scheduling woes through minor modifications to clean up irregular times and restrict the use of arranged blocks.

The Setonian
News

Following the trail to freedom and history

March 31

So what did you do this President's Day? Shopping, the movies, maybe a trip to visit a friend at another school. Or maybe you decided to take a tour of some of the most influential spots in the fight for American independence. Being only a few miles away from Boston affords Tufts students the opportunity to see where those lanterns made famous in Paul Revere's midnight ride were hung, or where five citizens were shot in what Samuel Adams and others would dub the "Boston Massacre." But do students actually care? "I think a lot of people take [Boston's history] for granted," freshman Mike Stevensen said. Sophomore Daniel Blake agrees. His dual-degree program with the Museum School in downtown Boston takes him by many of the city's historical sites every day, but it's nothing new to him. "I go in so much for school that I really don't notice [historical places]," he said. While Boston is easily accessible from campus, most students would rather spend any free time they have there enjoying the more entertaining aspects of the city: concerts, shopping, or clubs. But Boston's history isn't just contained in stuffy 18th-century buildings. For example, the Boston Common - an ever-popular place to ice skate, picnic (in warmer times), or just doze off - is full of colonial history. British soldiers camped there just before leaving for what would become the Battle of Lexington and Concord, and public hangings weren't uncommon in the park until the War of 1812. The Common also marks the beginning of the Freedom Trail, a winding, three-mile journey marked by a red path along the ground. It makes 16 stops along the way, including the Old North Church, where lanterns signaled the course of the British troops (one if by land, two if by sea), and the USS Constitution, more generally known as "Old Ironsides", which was commissioned by George Washington and used in the War of 1812. Faneuil Hall is another stop on the Freedom Trail, but it doesn't mean Abercrombie & Fitch or the Comedy Club. While many Jumbos enjoy the marketplace as a shopping, eating, and social center, most don't realize its history. Although freshman Yael Friedkin enjoys traveling to the Faneuil Hall marketplace, she "doesn't know what the historical aspect is." The revolutionary history of Faneuil Hall lies in the building at the head of the marketplace - the hall itself. It was there that the Boston colonists began meeting and seriously discussing the benefits and drawbacks of creating a national revolution against British rule. Samuel Adams and others also started speaking out strongly for independence there. After the war, Boston grew larger and larger, and Faneuil Hall was too small to accommodate a representative portion of the population. However, it is still used today for some city debates. Blake believes that, while Faneuil Hall's significance is important, he wouldn't make a special trip there. "I see it; I know what it is... do I go there as a tourist? Probably not," he said. Blake, who is originally from New Jersey, had previously taken an all-out tour of the city years ago on a trip. He cites his affiliation with the Museum School, though, with his reluctance visit Faneuil Hall and Boston's other historical places "as a tourist." "I'm just used to having it there," he said. For Friedkin, a native of northern California, it's a combination of interest and time. "I'm more interested in international history," she said. Friedkin does recognize that her residence at Tufts gives her a perfect opportunity to explore some of America's finest history, though she feels she is too restricted. "I think it's too bad that I haven't been out to see any [historical places], but they're not as accessible as I thought," she said. While actually getting to Boston is fairly easy - even for those without cars - Friedkin cites her job and other time constraints as reasons for not investigating Boston further. She won't deny that the history of the city is something that everyone should become familiar with during his or her stay at Tufts, but, in her defense, she does have three more years to go. Stevensen echoed Friedkin's thoughts about Boston's importance. "It's not just important to learn, it's interesting," he said. He also suggested an alternative to those who find the three-mile stretch of the Freedom Trail a bit daunting. "Just go through some of it," he advised, and stay directly on the path. "People just move out of your way if you're on the Freedom Trail line; they think you have some kind of noble purpose." While Blake may be slightly jaded by his frequent trips into Boston, he thinks that everyone at Tufts needs to get out sometimes - but not necessarily to see anything historic. "I think there's somewhat of a thing here that people become trapped on campus," he said. His advice: go outside, and do anything. "You don't have to be a connoisseur of Boston to enjoy it," Blake said.

The Setonian
News

Men's Swimming continues perfect season

March 31

After dominating Bates 161-111 on Saturday in Hamilton Pool, the men's swimming team extended its winning streak to eight meets. What makes the current 8-0 season so eye-opening is that Tufts has been powered primarily by the emerging freshmen swimmers, who have done more than fill the gaps left by last year's graduated seniors. The Bobcats entered the meet with a 5-2 record and impressive victories over Wesleyan and Bowdoin. But Bates was no match for the undefeated Jumbos. The men began the meet with a one-two finish in the 200-yard individual medley relay. The team of freshmen Aeric Solow and Tyler Duckworth, junior Scott Cohen, and sophomore Ryan Lahey beat out their fellow Jumbos, freshmen Sam Burlingame and Greg Schmidt, sophomore Jimmy Heagle, and senior tri-captain Nic Anderson for first place. The individual races unfolded in much the same way they have all season, with dominating performances from the freshmen, who accounted for 52 of the team's 139 individual points, and figured prominently in both relays. "Our freshmen are really swimming well," sophomore Jimmy Heagle said. He added that the team will send many of its freshmen to New Englands at the end of the season. Once again, Duckworth led the freshmen charge. In his first race, the 400 IM, he entered the final 50 barely leading Bates freshmen David Bear, but Bear edged Duckworth out at the wall by .22 seconds. It was Duckworth, however, who finished ahead of Bear in the 100 IM (57.33). That was one of two first place finishes on the day for Duckworth. "That was such nice revenge," Duckworth said on beating Bear. He also won the 100 breaststroke (1:01.75). Duckworth has contributed significantly this season with at least one individual victory in each meet and strong performances in the medley relays. Though only a freshman, he is acutely aware of the expectations placed on him. "I do feel a little pressure because I've performed well in the past," Duckworth admitted. "At the end of the day, I just want to say that I have contributed." Freshmen Kaili Mauricio and Solow, who also typically contribute points, had a somewhat disappointing meet. Mauricio produced a second place finish behind teammate Ed Edson in the 200 IM. Edson, a sophomore, led a one-two-three Jumbo finish with a time of 1:50.93. Mauricio followed in 1:52.76 and sophomore Shane Mason finished in 1:56.33. In the 500 free Mauricio finished third behind Bates' swimmers. Solow placed fifth in the 50 free with a time of 23.80, little more than one second out of first. In contrast to Mauricio and Solow, some typically quiet freshmen had a big meet. Burlingame led a Jumbo sweep in the 50 backstroke (26.80). Teammate Ryan Lahey finished second (27.01), out touching Heagle by .03 seconds. Burlingame's 57.35 in the 100 backstroke led another Jumbo sweep, in front of Mason (58.98) and tri-captain Chris Panagos (59.05). Schmidt (29.54) led a one-two Tufts finish in the 50 breaststroke as he finished ahead of freshman Jeffrey Held (29.67). In addition to the freshmen, Anderson had another impressive meet finishing first in the 100 butterfly in 54.48 and first in the 100 free. Anderson anchored the winning 200 free relay team with a 22.41 split. Cohen, sophomore Brendan Smyth, and Meyers joined Anderson to finish 1:30.87. Diver Pat Girvin had a lackluster meet as he did not finish first in either the one or three meter events. Girvin finished second to Bates diver Andrew Hastings in the 1-mtr event as Hastings broke his own team record with a score of 297.55. Girvin finished with a score of 249.95 and sophomore David Liebenstein came in third with a score of 208.30. In the 3-mtr event, Liebenstein edged out Girvin for second, 139.45 to 138.80. Hastings easily finished first with a score of 197.25. On Thursday, Tufts topped MIT in Cambridge by a score of 125-111 in preparation for its meet against the Bobcats. This Saturday, Tufts will face Williams at Hamilton pool for its last meet of the season. The Ephmen are 6-0 and have dominated the NESCAC with 14 consecutive New England titles. But while the Jumbos are not expected to prevail, they are not giving in just yet. "We will be competitive," Heagle said. Duckworth was more confident: "I don't care if they were New England champions last year. That was last year."

The Setonian
News

Men's frisbee team scores Spring Break success

March 31

Men's Ultimate While most Jumbos were living it up in Cancun or the Bahamas, the men's and women's ultimate frisbee teams were hard at work down South. The team competed in two tournaments: Terminus, on March 17-18, hosted by the University of Georgia (UGA), and College Easterns, hosted this past weekend by the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). The E-men took on a strong group of teams at College Easterns, an invitation-only tournament. The first day of an ultimate tournament consists of "pool play", in which the teams battle to maintain their seeds for the bracket play that takes place on the second day. On Saturday, however, the E-men were placed in a "power pool", which consists of the top nine teams. The Jumbos had also participated in the power pool the weekend before at Terminus. "There was a much stronger field at Easterns [than at Terminus], but we were in the power pool again," junior co-captain Mike Bright said. "We got to play a lot of good teams from the western side of the country." The squad first faced Stanford, winning 13-12 in an action-packed game. The E-men then suffered the agony of defeat to Carleton, the pre-season favorite to finish first in the nation, by a 15-10 score. The team would again taste victory against the University of California Berkeley, 13-11, but followed that game with a loss to UNC Chapel Hill. Conditions were tough on Sunday, as the E-men had to play in low temperatures, rain, and wind. The ominous weather would foreshadow the future for the squad, as it lost in the first round to Cornell. "We weren't too ready for it," Bright said.The mixed results at Easterns came a week after the E-men experienced their first losses of the season at Terminus. Coming off a 7-0 start, the E-men finished 4-2 after a loss in the semifinals. However, the squad is satisfied with the results. "We came in fourth out of thirty teams," Bright said. "This is better than ever, something we're very happy about." The play started on Saturday, March 17 with perfect Ultimate weather - sunny and warm. "This was the first time that we've been placed in a power pool since I've been at Tufts," Bright said. "We were really happy about that." In its first match, the team was able to beat North Carolina State (NC State) 13-8 with little trouble. The E-men next faced UGA, winning 12-9 in a battle against an improved team. The E-men came from behind in their next match, against Florida, securing a 10-9 victory. "Florida was a really exciting game," Bright said. After winning three in a row, the E-men could not continue the streak, losing 14-5 to an overpowering Duke team. "We got blown out by Duke," Bright said. "They're a strong team, and we were pretty tired." On Sunday, the E-men faced NC State in the quarterfinals of bracket play, winning 15-13. "It was a tougher match than Saturday's," Bright said. "It was good to beat them." Following this game, Tufts once again faced Duke, but fared no better than the previous day, losing 14-5. "Overall, the weekend was a success," Bright said. "We beat some teams that we had never beaten before, and we had our best finish ever in Terminus. We're really happy about the results." The spring break tournaments seem to be a good indication of the development of the men's ultimate squad. "We're starting to get some success that we deserve," Bright said. "I think getting put into the power pools is a sign of this." The E-men head to Haverford in Pennsylvania this weekend for the "Pig Out Lay Out," and then have a week off. Following this, they head to Yale for the "Yale Cup," where the strongest teams in New England will compete for the much-desired high seeds at Regionals.Women's Ultimate The women's ultimate team, the E-women, was also hard at work over the week-long break. Competing in the same tournaments as the men, the squad suffered some losses but came out of the two events with confidence. These tournaments were the first two instances where the women have competed outdoors since the fall. "The players had to get used to the differing conditions outside," senior co-captain Johanna Neumann said. "You could see the progression as they got more acclimated." The week started with Easterns, where the E-women faced the top 12 teams in the nation."Easterns was such a fun tournament," Neumann said. "It's a higher caliber tournament than Nationals, since it is by invitation rather than by region standings. These are the best women's teams competing, by invitation only." The E-women went in seeded third, but after a loss to UC San Diego (UCSD) on Saturday, entered bracket play seeded fourth. On Sunday, battling the treacherous conditions, the E-women faced UNC Wilmington (UNCW) in the quarterfinals. Despite rough play from UNCW, the E-women did not let the opposition's aggression rattle them. "We kept our cool and beat them with style," Neumann said. "We played a bunch of rookies and made some good substitutions." Following this game, the E-women attempted to avenge their loss to UCSD, but were unable to do so, losing 13-10. "It was such a hard-fought, well-spirited match against a really good team," Neumann said. "We were bummed about losing, but it was a good learning experience. The fact that it came early in the season keeps us from getting cocky." The loss in the semis came a week after losing to the University of Georgia, 15-10, in the finals of Terminus. The team attributed this loss to a lack of stamina due to poor substitutions in the squad's semifinal game against UNCW. "During the final game against Georgia, we were really tired," Neumann commented. "We subbed poorly in the UNCW match, so we did not have the stamina to be able to beat Georgia. We played our hearts out, but it was not enough." Down 8-1 at the half, the E-women closed the gap slightly in the second half, but it was not enough to emerge with the win. There were diamonds in the rough, however, with impressive performances coming from several rookies. "The rookies were amazing," Neumann said. "Gabrielle [Eklunhd], Anne Marie [Braun], and Britton [Goodale] all had really strong performances. I think this year it's going to be hard for them to find their niches on the team, since there are a lot of seniors on the team. But, they're going to learn a lot this season, and they have a great future ahead of them." The E-woman will head to Maryland for the Chesapeake Invite from April 7-9.

The Setonian
News

The struggle continues

March 31

I just sat down to write this after having listened to Patricia Ireland, the president of the National Organization for Women (NOW), speak for an hour and thirty minutes on the current issues and challenges affecting women's rights, and I can honestly say that I feel one thing right now: Frustration. No, not at men in general, or at my father, or at whomever it is that feminists are stereotyped to hate - I am frustrated and angry at history, The System, ignorance, apathy, and at those who have played a part in the relegation of women to second class citizens. I know, I know - perhaps there are many of you out there (including fellow women) who think it's lame and obnoxious to say that, in 2001, women are still second class.I was shocked to discover that it's true.Then again, maybe I should stay better updated when it comes to the news, since CNN obviously isn't cutting it.Many of us might have heard the recent update on the wage gap (women in general now make 72 cents for every dollar made by men - as opposed to our previous 75 cents. And if you want to get specific, African-American women make only 52 cents for each of those dollars). Maybe those in ROTC know that a woman in the military can't use military hospitals for an abortion unless her life is at risk, even if she pays for the procedure out-of-pocket. And I'm sure that some of us have noticed a disturbing trend in the White House, where President Bush has not only quietly dismissed the White House Office of Women's Initiatives and Outreach (an office of significant symbolic and organizational value started under the Clinton administration), but he is also trying to scale back federal funding to institutions that provide information on abortion.But that's just the beginning.Did you know, for example, that in South Carolina, the state legislature is considering cutting funding for family planning for unwed couples? Or what about the fact that, despite having been successfully used in Europe for 12 years (and by hundreds of thousands of women worldwide), officials in the US are going to reopen inquiries on the "safety of RU-486," a noninvasive, early stage abortion pill. Has anyone even heard a peep about the government checking into the reports of blindness and heart failure associated with Viagra? And I had no clue that, not only are female federal employees not insured for abortions, but that there is consideration of removing birth control from their insurance as well! And after hearing all of this, I was so stunned that I missed where it was in the US that there were state bills to deny any woman under age 18 birth control without her parents' explicit consent. And while we're talking about laws, did you know it is rumored that Sandra Day O'Connor will soon be stepping down as Supreme Court Justice, and that she has a tradition of being the swing pro-choice vote in all of those narrow 5-4 court decisions on women's reproductive rights?Walking into Ireland's lecture, I was already a feminist. That is, I already believed that women should be treated equally and with equal respect and protection under the law - no more, no less. And while I have yet to resolve for myself all of the issues fundamental to abortion, I realized that, quite frankly, I would at least like it to be my choice whether I have one or not. I am old enough and intelligent enough to come to my own decisions regarding my health and future, and it's insulting to think that the government or anybody else feels enfranchised to infringe on that ability.But abortion isn't really the end all and be all of this message. Abortion, Ireland made me realize, is just one symbolic issue - and a very volatile one at that - in a much larger, quieter political war. If women lose this battle under the artillery of the Bush administration, we will open ourselves up to lose much, much more. As I've shown above, the battle lines are many and sometimes subtly drawn. You don't hear about them until they affect you, and believe me, I don't want to end up where Patricia Ireland began - going to an OB/GYN in the 1960s as an engaged woman (with her mother in tow for legitimacy, no less) to ask for contraception only to have the doctor tell her to "come back after the ceremony" (when Ireland was getting married, birth control was actually illegal for unwed women in many states).I want the freedom to choose. I want to know that I can be valued equally for my hard work and professional abilities. I want to be able (with input from a significant other) to make my own decisions about whether and when to have a family, and I don't want to be endangered or targeted or discriminated against for that decision. Listening to Ireland tonight, I realized that movements of any kind are never over. You can never retire. Because there will always be a George W. Bush, or a senator, or a judge, or a neighbor who, for some reason or another, will not accept change. There will always be those who will feel threatened by others' acquisition of equality and power, those who will do their utmost to take away rights that we have become complacent about defending.Please, if you feel any frustration or anger about these current challenges to women's rights, please, please, please don't let it fester unvoiced. Send a letter to a congressman, participate in a rally, become an activist in whatever way or capacity works for you. Because if we don't start standing back up for ourselves, I fear we might lose more than we ever thought we could. And with someone like Bush in the White House, that could happen sooner than we expect.Emily Sporl is a senior majoring in international relations.

The Setonian
News

Two comebacks and a victory

March 31

The men's basketball team has come back from large deficits in three of its last four conference games, continuing the trend this past weekend in games against Colby and Bowdoin. While Tufts did not complete the comeback Friday night against the White Mules (a last-second three-point attempt by senior co-captain Bobby Mpuku rolled in, around, and then out of the basket) the Jumbos overcame a second-half double-digit deficit Saturday against the Polar Bears to emerge victorious. Saturday, the Jumbos learned the importance of practicing the fundamentals, capitalizing on a strong defensive effort down the stretch and getting 25 points off of free throws in the second half en route to an 87-85 squeaker over the Polar Bears. Bowdoin started off the game in the driver's seat jumping out to an early six-point lead, and pushing the edge as high as eight in the first half. Tufts battled back, keeping the game close for most of the period. The Polar Bears put together a late run, however, and led 36-31 heading into the locker room. Bowdoin built up its lead to as high as ten after a bucket by sophomore guard Braden Clement made it 62-52 with 9:20 to go in the second half. The Jumbos then caught fire, however, exploding into a 12-2 run that included a trio of three pointers and a traditional three-point play to tie the score at 64 less than two minutes later. Junior Bobby MacMannis was crucial during Tufts' second-half push, knocking down all of his season-high 12 points in the period on 3-4 shooting, including 2-2 from downtown and 4-6 from the free throw line. Tufts would not score a point from the floor in the final 6:15, though, and shot under 40 percent in the second half. But the two teams would stay close down the stretch, setting up a dramatic finish. The Jumbos relied on free-throw shooting to carry them through, going to the line 33 times in the final period and converting on 25 of their attempts (75.8 percent). Freshman guard Phil Barlow led the way, going 9-9 from the line on the day, as the team scored its final 16 points from the stripe. Barlow returned from a second-half injury to score a career-high 26 points, including 17 in the second half. The Polar Bears, on the other hand, shot a blistering 57.7 percent from the floor in the final period, including 4-9 from three-point range. The two teams combined for 105 points in the second half, compared to just 67 in the first. Despite Bowdoin's high shooting percentage, it was the Tufts defense that kept the team in the game. Tufts forced 19 turnovers on the afternoon, and added another 14 steals, including six from Barlow. The strong defensive effort helped the Jumbos during the lean offensive times, holding the visitors to scoreless stretches that kept the door open for a comeback. The teams remained neck-and-neck late into the game, with the Polar Bears evening the score at 80 with just over two minutes remaining. Tufts rattled off four free throws in six attempts to establish a two-possession lead with 42 seconds on the clock. Bowdoin hit a jumper with 34 seconds on the clock to cut the margin to two, but strong defensive stands and more free throws allowed Tufts to extend its lead to five. Bowdoin went on to score the last three points of the game, giving the Jumbos a scare, but it wasn't enough. Tufts came close to a comeback Friday, also, but fell just short, as the Jumbos missed three game-tying attempts in the final minute of play. The game stayed close for the first 35 minutes, with neither team taking more than a six-point advantage. With 6:14 to play, Barlow converted a shot from downtown to cut the White Mule lead to two, at 55-53. Colby went on a hot streak, however, hitting three consecutive three pointers within a minute. Only a Brian Shapiro lay-up broke up the run for Tufts, as the Mules stretched their lead to nine. The sequence could have been the final nail in the coffin for the Jumbos, but the team responded as it has time and time again this season, putting together a 7-2 run to keep the game from getting out of reach. Colby hit two free throws to push the lead back to six, but Barlow hit another three to cut the margin down to one possession, at 68-65, with 32 seconds remaining. The Tufts defense once again stepped up, forcing a turnover and giving the Jumbos a chance to tie the game. The team's full-court press, which had given the White Mules trouble all day, forced Colby to try to hurry the ball up the floor, and Mpuku took advantage of the opportunity, drawing a charging foul that give Tufts the ball back with 22 seconds left. Sophomore Brian Shapiro missed a three pointer, and Tufts was forced to foul. But Colby missed the front end of the one-and-one, setting up Mpuku's two last-second attempts. The weekend split pushes Tufts' record to 15-5 (3-2 in NESCAC play) with four games remaining in the regular season.

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Suffer through 3000 miserable miles

March 31

Sometimes, we are forced to do unpleasant things in life. Unclogging a toilet, for example. Holding someone's head when they've had too much to drink. Recovering the "black box" from a crashed 747 while the wreckage is still on fire. Seeing a Kevin Costner movie.Although he may have been a huge star once, his recent string of movies (13 Days aside) have become progressively more painful to watch: Waterworld. The Postman. Message in a Bottle. For Love of the Game.But there is nothing than can possibly prepare you for 3000 Miles to Graceland. No warning, no remark, no description can do this movie justice. It's hard to think of a recent movie that was so unbalanced in tone, so ineptly made, so tasteless, or so horribly acted.This is not an exaggeration. We're talking below Get Carter.Consider this: if one were to make a movie about Elvis impersonators robbing a casino in Las Vegas, what would be a good opening sequence? Shots of Elvis dancing and singing? Shots of Las Vegas with appropriate music? Fast cars driving in the desert? The gang getting their gear ready? Nope. If you're making 3000 Miles to Graceland, you show a badly animated clip of two computerized scorpions fighting to death while techno music blares in the background.Consider again: if the plot of this movie consists of the criminals robbing a casino, wouldn't it make sense to include a scene explaining the scheme and how everyone got there? No such luck, as all of the Las Vegas heist takes place - with a minimum amount of dialogue - during the first 20 minutes. Then the real "fun" begins. Costner's character kills everyone except Kurt Russell and the film goes from absurd Las Vegas action movie to absurd Idaho chase movie. Add in a cute kid, Courtney Cox as a love interest, and the revelation that - brace yourself here - Kevin Costner is actually Elvis's love child, and you've got a movie!We're talking worse than Battlefield Earth.Possibly the worst part of this movie is its completely inconsistent tone. Never mind that the plot simply doesn't makes sense; this movie can't even decide what it's trying to be. When the heist at the casino goes wrong, the movie suddenly becomes The Matrix, with techno, guns blazing in slow motion, and bodies piling up everywhere. Then, when one of the gang is killed, the music suddenly turns into something out of Miami Vice and the cast members scream and moan as if a great wrong has been done. Seconds later, the body is thrown out of a helicopter, Con Air style.This rapid change in tone makes the violent scenes more disturbing and the "emotional" scenes even sillier. Characters very close and unified in one scene shoot each other in the next. Cox's character is a sex object in one scene, a "hooker with a heart of gold" in the next, then a backstabber, then a hostage, all only to become a protective mother at the end.Costner's character is the worst of all. Sometimes in control, sometimes demented, sometimes a ruthless killer, sometimes having a sense of honor - but always awful - he never finds a consistent tone or accent. He may have had some good roles once, but 3000 Miles to Graceland only goes to show that those days are over.

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Equestrian team falters at Zone Championships

March 31

The postseason came to an end this past Saturday for the three riders who competed in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA) Zone Championships at the Stoneleigh Burnham School in Greenfield, Mass. In order to qualify for the National Championships, the riders had to place first or second in their class at the Mount Holyoke-hosted meet.The strongest performance came from junior Melissa Faubert, who finished third in the walk/trot, missing a spot in Nationals by one position. Sophomore Heather Foster did not qualify in the novice flat despite a solid ride, and junior co-captain Hally Phillips finished fourth in the open flat. "Melissa rode very well," Phillips commented. "Heather rode well also, but she made a careless error in front of the judge, which really hurt her. I was satisfied with my ride. My class was very rigorous; it was an hour long, which is very unusual." Some of the riders' failure to meet expectations might be the result of sub-par horses. In an attempt to make the horse selection as fair as possible, the Zone Championships use horses that have not been ridden by any of the meet's competitors - these horses are donated by local stables, and are typically less than ideal for a show. "Horses are usually donated for a reason," Phillips said. "The horses have progressively gotten worse at Zones. They were hard to ride, and the judges had a hard time determining whether it was the rider or the horse that was at fault." In order to help alleviate this problem, the judges had the riders perform "tests," or demonstrations of superior command over the horse, using three different horses. This was not enough, however, as some of the horses were not trained to do what the judges demanded of the riders. "My horse hadn't been used all day," Phillips said. "It was not calm and it was hard to control" Overall, Zones was disappointing for the team. Additionally, it proved to be a weak showing for the region, which only sent two riders to Nationals. "That's very unusual, because our region is considered to be very strong," Phillips said. "Even Boston University did not make it to Nationals. Our region has had bad luck recently. We're hoping for a better season next year. I think this was definitely a rebuilding year." Next year, however, might be a different story, with Phillips, co-captain Sarah Summers, and Faubert leading the team and Foster and junior Kate Johnston looking to step up. Students currently abroad could also be contenders and, as always, freshmen and new riders could emerge onto the scene and make an impact on the team. "Overall, I think there were definitely some successes this year," Phillips said. "And we've had disappointments. Hopefully, we'll be able to learn and build a stronger team."Men's Ultimate The men's ultimate team competed at the Yale Cup this past weekend, losing to Cornell, 15-13, in the semifinals. The E-men entered the tournament - generally an indicator of what lies ahead at Regionals - seeded third behind UMass Amherst and Cornell. On Saturday, during pool play, with shifting winds and sunny skies, the squad went 4-0, taking out Swarthmore (13-5), Brandeis (13-3), Boston University (13-5), and Middlebury (13-9). "We beat Middlebury, which was a big game," sophomore Ian Schneider said. "They're a team that we see a lot - they're in our region. It's important for us to beat them, and we came through." In Sunday's tournament play, the E-men first faced Utah State, winning 13-5 with ease. Still, the team feels it didn't perform at its peak both offensively and defensively. "We didn't do well in all of those areas," junior Neil Pallaver said. "We beat them purely because they are not of our caliber. We try to focus on ourselves - who we are playing does not matter. Despite the win, we were not satisfied with how we performed." The next victory came against Wesleyan. The team won 13-8, controlling the match from the beginning. "Wesleyan was huge," Pallaver said. "If we lost, it would have greatly affected our standing at Regionals. We came out strong and the team was really fired up. We had the game in our hands, despite the close score." Following this match, Cornell proved too tough an opponent for the E-men. The squad was able to come back from a 12-6 deficit, tightening the lead to 13-12 after a score by sophomore Josh Weisstuch. But the E-Mean could not muster up enough energy to complete the run, losing 15-13. "I was satisfied," Pallaver said. "We almost ended up winning, we just couldn't finish with the last push. We were disappointed in the fact that we did not win. We were satisfied that we did not roll over and lose." The E-men are looking to perform well in the postseason, as they head into the April 28-29 Sectionals seeded number two. "I'm not worried about Sectionals," Pallaver said. "Our goal is too high that we won't let [a poor performance] happen." Weisstuch agreed. "We feel really confident about Sectionals. We're hoping to make Nationals. We've been working really hard, and I'm excited," he said. Sectionals will be held on the fields across from Cousens gym, where the team hopes that the members of Guster visit before going on stage during Saturday's Spring Fling. Two members of the band played ultimate while at Tufts.

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Mexico: Change in sight

March 31

On July 2, 2000, a most remarkable historical event took place in Mexico. For the first time in 70 years, an opposition candidate was freely elected to become president, thereby ending the political monopoly of power established by the anarchic and corrupt Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI). Vicente Fox's victory was an occasion to be celebrated. Indeed, this unprecedented electoral triumph for the opposition was met with waves of optimism from a people who had been disillusioned by decades of inept and repressive government. The long awaited "change" finally seemed to materialize with Fox's victory. But the electoral "fiesta" would not last very long. The newly elected president has found numerous obstacles along the way, making Mexico's political transition a turbulent ride. Fox's administration has inherited a government immersed in deep fiscal trouble and a highly inefficient bureaucratic system. Moreover, he faces a divided Congress and a hopelessly embittered opposition. For Fox and his team, there is little room for political maneuvering. Fox's numerous critics have accused him of failing to deliver the "change" he had promised during his campaign. Others claim that the unyielding opposition he faces will effectively prevent him from accomplishing anything at all. But, despite the many bumps along the way, there is an unquestionably different approach to governing under Fox's administration. Furthermore, Fox's electoral victory and subsequent presidency have served as a catalyst for deeper democratization of the political institutions in the country. Mexico is undergoing deep change, which cannot be ignored and must be thoroughly analyzed. One of the most prominent changes that came with Fox's presidency has been the way in which the Mexican government deals with the Zapatista rebels of Chiapas. The guerrilla type warfare, which erupted in this southern state in 1994, had been quieted down under president Zedillo's mandate, but effective peace had not been reached. The peace accords of San Andres, a series of constitutional amendments formulated by the rebel army and a congressional commission for peace, were ignored during Zedillo's administration. Fox, in his effort to reverse this trend of systemic neglect, assumed an attitude of openness for dialogue. In order to re-establish peace talks, Fox made several concessions to the Zapatista army in what many considered to be a dangerous political game. Mexican Army garrisons were evacuated, Zapatista prisoners were freed, and the peace accords of San Andres were sent to Congress for approval. The top commanders of the Zapatista army have acknowledged the president's conciliatory attitude, and have reopened dialogue with the Mexican government. Even though a final peace treaty has yet to be signed, President Fox's efforts to solve this pending issue of national security certainly are a welcome change. Perhaps the most significant change in Mexico's political landscape is the revitalized interaction among the three branches of government. Never before have the legislative and judiciary branches enjoyed such autonomy and power as they do today. During the PRI years, the Congress and the Supreme Court were effectively under the control of an all-powerful executive. A true division of powers did not exist in Mexico, and the president's will was the only authority that counted. Along with the growing democratic trend of the past few years, these relationships have evolved to become what now constitutes a more tangible division of powers. In past decades, the PRI-dominated Congress voted in bloc to pass any piece of legislation suggested by the executive, no questions asked. Today, a divided and liberated Congress is regularly in opposition to the president's will. Throughout this past week, President Fox has been trying to gather support for a desperately needed fiscal reform. However, despite the urgency of such legislation, it is likely that the bill will not pass through Congress. This will translate into a political punch for Fox, and possibly a blow to the nation's fiscal health, but the situation does underscore that Congress is no longer subject to the president's will. Similarly, the Mexican Supreme Court is now taking a more active role in the nation's politics. Its decisions regarding controversial disputes between federal and state governments are now being taken into account. One such controversial matter being discussed by the Supreme Court judges at this very moment challenges the authority of the federal government to implement daylight savings time in Mexico City. With the end of the PRI's monopoly of power, the relationship between states and the federal government are being redefined. The Supreme Court now has the historic challenge to interpret the Constitution and settle any disputes that may arisen in a new political environment. The highest court in the nation has gained a reputation for equanimity and independence, and it will continue to increase its influence and power in Mexico, as it should. It would be irresponsible to attribute this series of political changes entirely to Vicente Fox. The democratization current that now pervades Mexico was not created by Fox alone, nor was he its only promoter. There is a wide array of political actors responsible for the more democratic climate in Mexico, not the least of which is the Mexican people. But it must also be acknowledged that Fox's legitimacy as a freely elected president and his unquestionable commitment to maintaining an atmosphere of political liberty and the rule of law has provided the institutional framework under which the longed "change" can materialize. Rodrigo de Haro is a freshman majoring in international relations and economics.

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Activist says take action against human rights abuses

March 31

Every 15 seconds, a woman in the US is battered. Four women a day are killed by husbands or boyfriends. And 20-50 percent of women have been victims of domestic abuse. But for human rights activist Kerry Kennedy Cuomo, the statistic most significant to her is that 14 women she knows have been raped. Cuomo recounted these women's stories, as well as those of victims of human rights abuses worldwide, during her "Speak Truth to Power" lecture at Tufts Hillel on Tuesday night. She said discrimination against women is one of the most pressing human rights issues facing the world today. "Women constitute one-half of the people in the world, do two-thirds of the work hours, have received one-tenth of the world's income, and own less than one percent of the world's property," she said. "What a waste." The lecture was named for Cuomo's book, Speak Truth to Power, which recounts the stories of 51 human rights defenders. But Cuomo's talk revolved mainly around her personal experiences and the human rights abuses she has observed in her travels across the globe. Cuomo began her work as an activist when she was a sophomore in college, interning for Amnesty International, the international organization she worked for after graduating. Among the early assignments that inspired her future work was an investigation into abuses by American Immigration officials against the people of El Salvador. A Salvadorian family, Cuomo learned, suffered a double tragedy: the father disappeared, and the mother, who went to search for him, was told by Salvadorian soldiers to return home. The soldiers then went to her house and raped and killed her 14-year old daughter. Mother and son escaped to the US in search of refuge, but were taken by US immigration officials to a detention center, which Cuomo called "a prison built on a swamp." According to her story, the seven-year old refused to sign a form saying he would voluntarily go back to El Salvador, and the US officials broke two of his fingers. The boy then agreed to return to his Central-American home, and the mother followed her son to the land controlled by soldiers who had killed her husband and daughter. "I was shocked that our country was treating the destitute with such disdain," Cuomo said. Cuomo's message was not focused exclusively on human rights abuses, but rather sought to show the audience that there exists an abundance of solutions in which all persons can take part. Students said they were inspired by her message and touched by Cuomo's stories. "The whole presentation was so down-to-earth. It made us feel that it's possible to be a normal person and make a big difference," said Joshua Pressman, who helped organize the event. "You just have to give some of your time and all of your heart and you can be something great. You are a hero on a smaller level." "I think Cuomo's message is that you don't have to study for years and then take action," said Trustee Alan Solomont, who introduced the activist. Cuomo's observations were supplemented by speeches from three Fletcher student activists. Neamatollah Nojumi, a founding member of the American-based Afghanistan Rescue Effort, Lisa Karanja, a legal advisor on women's property rights and gender violence for the International Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya, and Bonny Ling, a member of the UN Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo, spoke of their efforts to advance human rights in their home countries and on UN missions. "A big part of the success of the event was that her speech and message was complemented by the message of the other speakers," Pressman said. "They gave a real and human perspective of what we as normal people can do." "Speak Truth to Power" was the inaugural event for a new Hillel lecture series - anticipated to take place annually - that is funded by Mark and Nicole Hirsh. Mark Hirsch is a member of the Hillel Foundation board of directors. Cuomo's visit was co-sponsored by Hillel, the University College of Citizenship and Public Service, and the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship program, among other organizations. Cuomo was chosen to be the first speaker in the series because of her extensive experience in human rights advocacy and because her speeches spread the message that one person can make a difference. She has led over 40 human rights delegations to over 30 countries. Among her many accomplishments is the founding of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Human Rights, an DC-based organization that works to ensure that countries conform to the UN Declaration of Human Rights. "At this season, while celebrating Passover and the freedom from oppression, it is particularly meaningful to have Kerry Kennedy Cuomo speak," Solomont said.Matthew Kane contributed to this article.

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School a balancing act

March 31

It's 4 a.m. and you haven't even gotten the bulk of your homework done. You have three papers due at the same time, a class presentation to work on with several other classmates, and a midterm on a subject that you have never even heard of, let alone understand. On top of all of that, you have to go to sports practice in an hour and complete your resume for prospective summer internships. Stress and anxiety don't even come close to describing your state of mind.

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Life after Tufts: a look at post-graduation success

March 31

As the Class of 2001 enjoys its final semester, anxiety about what the future holds is quickly becoming a common sentiment among seniors. Despite these pre-graduation qualms, studies conducted by the University suggest that Tufts graduates fare quite well after they leave the comforts of their undergraduate campus. The annual senior survey compiled by the Office of Institutional Research for last year's graduating class showed fifty percent of seniors had received at least one job offer by graduation, while over a third of those who had applied to graduate or professional school had already been admitted. An estimated two-thirds of last year's seniors said they planned to work full-time after graduation, while around 20 percent planned on attending graduate school in the fall. Director of Career Services Jean Papalia said that there has been a high rate of job offers and an equally high job acceptance rate in the past few years because of the strong economy. "A larger number of people want to work before attending grad school," Papalia said. "It's a great economy so students can get jobs right out of college and then decide what kind of degree they want." Careers in banking and finance were the most popular choices among liberal arts graduates. Not surprisingly, engineering professions ranked as the appropriate top choice for engineers. The computer and technology field proved especially popular; along with Internet design and development, the high-tech vocations offered the highest median annual salary, most in the $50,000 range. Computer science majors fared better financially than students from all other fields of study. Economics majors came in second, as they typically accepted offers with annual salaries ranging from $45,000-$50,999. Despite the surge in computer and Internet businesses in recent years, the failure of many dot-coms in the current market may affect the decisions of this year's graduates. "Recruiting hasn't slowed down at all, but the closure of these dot-coms, if anything, makes students more closely consider the risks involved," she said. The effect of a student's undergraduate major on his or her career choice is difficult to gauge, particularly for liberal arts majors. But participation in internships can be a key determinant in a student's post-graduation plans and can also improve one's desirability as a worker. "For most students it really isn't what you major in but what you want to do with that major," Papalia said. Although students maintain that enjoyment within a field should be of primary importance, the popularity of high-paying jobs within the business and technology sector often draws the unavoidable correlation between job choice and salary. Most students admit that money does factor into their decisions. "Salary played an important role in my job search because of the high cost of living nowadays," said senior Mike Tithe, an economics and English major. Tithe added that he targeted sectors of industries that still remain strong, like consulting and I-banking. The popular international relations major has directed students towards a variety of career fields, from financial banking and consulting to health care and civil service. Tufts' emphases on study abroad programs and providing a global perspective have also influenced students' career paths. Although the senior survey reported that less than ten percent of respondents planned to work overseas directly after graduation, Papalia said that many graduates may eventually spend a limited amount of time working outside the country. "A lot of students want to experience the international business aspect but not necessarily within the first six months after graduation," she said. Many students, particularly IR majors, look to past abroad experience for direction. "I know I want to work outside the US at some point after college but a lot of that depends on next year," said sophomore Robina Bhasin, who plans to study in Chile in the fall. Many abroad candidates also hope to pursue an internship while overseas, which would offer a further glimpse into future work opportunities. US-based companies have also increased domestic and international travel opportunities for employees. Alumnae Sarah Kim (LA '99), who works for the Yankee Group - a research and consulting firm in Boston - has attended events in Chicago, San Jose, and London over the past six months. "Most of the trips are conferences and trade shows, and it's a great opportunity to gain new perspective and experience," Kim said. Of the vast majority of the Class of 2000 who planned to remain in the US for work, over 70 percent accepted offers in the greater Boston area or in New York. Students cited a variety of professional and personal reasons as to why they remained in the Northeast. "From a career point of view, there are a lot more opportunities for my field and my major here," said senior Leslie Kung, who studied biology at Tufts. "A lot of people that I know are still going to be in the area," she said. Although most Tufts students choose to work upon graduation, 20 percent of last year's graduates enrolled directly into graduate school. Tufts' graduate schools, most notably Tufts Medical School, attracted the largest number of Tufts graduates, while Harvard graduate schools were also a popular destination. The senior study projected that a large majority of students who accept a job straight out of Tufts are likely to pursue a graduate degree at some point in the future. MBA programs at business schools, however, often prefer applicants to have several years of work experience before graduate school, which contributes to the large career pool, according to Papalia. Despite fear of an imminent downturn in the economy, Papalia does not foresee a significant decrease in the number of students who enter the work force immediately out of college. "There will always be entry-level positions; nobody's putting on a hiring freeze as of now," she said. Career Services holds a variety of recruiting events, panels, and workshops throughout the year to help seniors make post-graduate plans. The department has designated this week "Career Week," and among the many workshops planned are several that will bring Tufts alumni back to campus to speak with students. Many seniors also look to family and friends to learn of job positions, which may facilitate the job search and make the working world more attractive for students. "Networking is something we really stress," Papalia said.

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Justify My Commencement

March 31

Let me start off this column with a disclaimer: I'm glad that I go to Tufts and not Harvard. To be honest, I didn't always feel this way. There was a time, long, long ago, when, like many dorky kids from suburban New Jersey, I hoped against hope that the words "wait list" weren't just some cruel joke. Unlike many other Ivies that year, Harvard actually DID let in a few people off of its wait list. Thankfully, I was not among them. I have done more at Tufts, a place that I have grown to love over the course of my four years hear, than I would've ever dreamed of at Harvard or any other college. But that's neither here nor there and has NOTHING to do with this column, so let's move on. Once in a while, I do hear news about something really awesome happening at Harvard. One such item is the naming of their graduation speaker for this year. On June 6, the Harvard class of 2001 will have the pleasure of hearing from none other than U2 frontman Bono. Now, to be honest, June 6 is Class Day at Harvard, not graduation. Also, according to sources, Bono will be talking about his work on debt relief, not necessarily about his music. Still, neither of these truths negates the fact that hearing Bono speak is pretty damn cool. As a senior hoping to graduate in May, this news definitely caught my attention. Wouldn't it be unimaginably cool if Tufts managed to get a speaker of similar entertainment industry clout to speak at my graduation? Last year, we managed to score Bill Cosby. True, Mr. Cosby has spoken at nearly every commencement EVER, but I was still impressed and charmed when he stood in front of the class of 2000 wearing a Tufts sweatshirt. I also felt an overwhelming need for a Jell-O pudding pop. Just last week, the Daily announced that Kofi Annan would be speaking at the Fletcher graduation. That made sense. Now I realize that the Arts and Sciences graduation speaker is probably all but confirmed already, but I felt it necessary, in light of Harvard's spectacular choice, to present my case for a number of possible graduation speakers in the entertainment field, both music and otherwise. Should the administration take notice, or perhaps even anticipate my wishes, I will perhaps get over the not-so-minor slight of not being picked to be the Wendell Phillips speaker. (Yes, sore loser is a state ingrained in my being.) My knee-jerk reaction to the phrase "graduation speaker" is Oprah Winfrey. She may not be a perfect human being, but it blows my mind to think about all she's accomplished. She overcame all sorts of adversity to become one of the most powerful people in entertainment. Even supposed chinks in her armor, such as Beloved, are impressive insofar as that movie was made exactly as she specified. Now that she has a magazine, she has become a multimedia superpower. In some ways, I suppose that Oprah would be a clich?©d choice. She does speak at countless graduations every year. Then again, Cosby's speech last May was hardly the exception for him. Think about all of the knowledge that a woman like Oprah could impart upon the Class of 2001. She literally has her hand in every aspect of the media. The Oprah Winfrey Show, Oprah's Book Club, O Magazine, a number of motion pictures and TV movies, Oxygen (her cable network), Oprah.com... need I go on? Maybe she'd even have a picture of herself wearing a Tufts sweatshirt on the cover of her magazine. Now, even I think that's a bit weird. Putting yourself on the cover of every magazine? If Oprah did come to our commencement, I'd have to have a little chat with her about that. My next suggestion would be Anthony Hopkins. Oh, excuse me, Sir Anthony Hopkins. He's definitely very topical with the recent release of Hannibal. Grossing $103 million in two weekends is quite the feat. I saw the film during its opening weekend and enjoyed it. It's got NOTHING on Silence of the Lambs, but there was little hope that it could possibly even come close. In fact, just to prove it to myself, I watched Silence of the Lambs again the other night. The scene where Clarice first meets Lecter, with the camera panning across his glass cell, still creeps me out to the max. But then I heard that Hopkins won the Hasty Pudding Man of the Year Award. In a year that Harvard honors him, we have him as commencement speaker? I think not. Now, I would be really impressed if Tufts' administration thought outside the box when choosing a graduation speaker. For my next proposal, I submit *NSYNC. Now, I know what you're thinking. "They're a group, not a person, silly!" Imagine how beneficial it would be to the Class of 2001 to hear the viewpoints of not just one, but FIVE successful people? They are all just around our age and could really appeal to our demographic much more than just about anyone else Tufts has gotten in the past. Even the Backstreet Boys would be a bit too old. I was thinking they could start with a performance of "It's Gonna Be Me" and then each of the members could come up for a short speech. The ceremony is already long as heck so they would have to be prepped to make brief comments. Maybe Justin could convince Britney to speak as well. Whoa. That might be a bit too much. At the end - to bring it all together - they could then perform "Bye, Bye, Bye." How fitting is that? I am a genius. For my next recommendation, I return to a much more traditional commencement speaker. This man is a master of social interactions and quite the brilliant strategist. He is also a survivor of the highest order. Yup, you guessed it, my fourth commencement speaker recommendation is none other than Richard Hatch. In case you are a pop-tard, Richard Hatch was the winner of the summer ratings phenom, Survivor. He managed to survive 39 days on a deserted island and defeat 15 others (including my personal fave, oh-so-cute Colleen) to win $1 million. Richard is an incredibly intelligent man who just recently published a book. It's not about his experience on Survivor because he's contractually banned from doing anything like that. Instead, it's more like a guide to life. 101 Survival Secrets: How to Win $1,000,000, Lose 100 Pounds, and Just Plain Live Happily would be the perfect topic for a commencement speech. The way I envision it is that Richard could run up through the graduates with the music from Survivor (for the record, it's called "Ancient Voices" and is composed by Russ Landau... yes, I am an ever bigger dork than you all thought). Maybe he could be holding the immunity idol. For my mom and dad's sake, if not for my own, I definitely require that he be dressed. None of this 'birthday suit' bullshit. My final suggestion is my most serious. I would absolutely and unequivocally die if Tufts, by some bizarre grace of God, managed to get this person to speak at our graduation. She is an international personality. She is a pop sensation. She is the mom of two. She still looks unimaginably hot at the age of 42. She is Madonna. Since Evita, she's even learned the importance of good diction. She'd probably be overqualified for any other commencement, but we all know just how special the Tufts Class of 2001 has become over the last four years. No one on this earth has had a life quite like Madonna's. Imagine all that she must have learned over the years. I was thinking that we might hand out copies of Sex with the commencement programs. Or maybe we could just have a sample of the book right in the program! How brilliant would that be? I'd want a picture of Madonna making out with Naomi Campbell on the page with my name on it. As with *NSYNC, it would be really swell if she could maybe throw in a performance to cap off her speech. Her song "I'll Remember" would be very fitting. Then again, so would "Justify My Love" and "Like a Virgin." How would one ever choose? For the sake of the paper, I'm going to stop here and limit myself to only five commencement recommendations. For the record, here are some more that I thought up (some serious, some a bit less so): Kevin Spacey, Ricky Martin, Arundhati Roy, Eminem (maybe there'd be a sit-in!), Joan Allen, David Letterman, Michael Ovitz, Connie Chung (whatever happened to her?), Lil' Kim, Stephen King, Tori Amos, the cast of Dawson's Creek, and, finally, Joe Roth (formerly of Disney, currently of Revolution Studios). I hope administrators are listening. For their sake - and yours - I'd best be appeased.

The Setonian
News

Are you ready for some football?

March 31

As the Red Sox have continued to tumble further and further into the abyss of eternal mediocrity, fans throughout New England have been patiently waiting for a "messianic" day to arrive. On this day, the heartache will end, the suffering will cease, and Terry Glenn will be in Green Bay. This day is today, and legions of fans will rejoice tonight as the Patriots open up the 2002 season against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football. The quixotic frustrations of an entire generation of New Englanders were put to rest last year, when the Patriots stormed their way through a Cinderella season, en route to one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history - taking the "greatest show on turf"; the St. Louis Rams. Tonight, in a rematch of last year's AFC Championship game, the defending Super Bowl Champions will take on Bill Cowher's Steelers, early favorites to finish atop the AFC this season. In last year's game, played in Pittsburgh, the Pats emerged with a 24-17 victory, despite an injury that forced Pro-Bowl quarterback Tom Brady to leave the game. With Brady out, head coach Bill Belichick put the ball in the hands of Drew Bledsoe, who orchestrated a drive at the end of the game to secure the win. This year, Bledsoe will be in Buffalo, and the game will be in New England, where the team will christen the plush, new Gillette Stadium. But despite these differences, the teams will look very much the same. The only real difference for the Patriots will be on offense, where Belichick installed some bigger targets for Brady to throw to. Donald Hayes, a 6'4", 220 pound wide receiver towers over Troy Brown and David Patten, and should help Brady on passing downs. Tight ends Christian Fauria, Cam Cleeland and Daniel Graham will also provide Brady with different passing and blocking options. The defense will be essentially unchanged, with Ty Law, Lawyer Milloy, and Tebucky Jones leading the secondary, and Tedy Bruschi at middle linebacker. The Steelers roster will also be very much the same, except for a few minor changes, most notably the acquisitions of Antwaan Randle-El, a college quarterback turned pro wide receiver, and Terrence Mathis, a 35 year old veteran with 666 career receptions under his belt. The teams will do battle with essentially unchanged rosters, in a different location, and in a new stadium which will hold even larger throngs of football starved fans. New England won the last meeting in Pittsburgh, and odds are good that it will win this one too. For one thing, the Pats are opening the season at home. Cowher's record in opening games isn't good, and it's even worse when those openers are against the defending Super Bowl champions, in front of 100,000 fans who have spent the off season listening to nothing but disrespect for their team from everyone in Oakland, St. Louis, and yes, Pittsburgh. True, the Steelers will be seeking revenge for a loss that they blame more on behemoth running back Jerome Bettis' groin injury than anything else, but the Patriots have something to prove. New England is out to prove that last year was not a flash in the pan. For whatever reason, the Patriots have received little, if any respect from the rest of league despite its championship. This season, they are looking to prove the nay-sayers wrong. A team with something to prove can be a dangerous thing. New England has put last season behind them, and seems to be focused entirely on this year. None of the players have been seen sporting a championship ring, and the Lombardi trophy has apparently been buried underneath Foxboro Stadium. They may have been winners last season, but right now they are tied with every other team for last place. A ring won't stop Bettis from plowing his way through two linebackers, and it won't stop Plaxico Burress from scoring touchdowns. If nothing else, the Patriots need a win tonight more than the Steelers do. As the defending champs, New England has been slapped with a schedule that's uglier than Janet Reno in spandex. Next week the Pats will head to New York to take on the Jets in one of their six games against AFC East teams - any of which could be a post-season threat. The team will also face Green Bay, Denver, and Minnesota, and will travel to Chicago, Oakland, and Tennessee. Not exactly a friendly season. While a loss in the opener would not be good for the Steelers either, Pittsburgh's schedule does not even compare to the rigorousness of New England's. Look for the Pats, and especially Brady, to come out firing tonight. Belichick will likely have concocted some scheme to shut down Bettis and Kordell Stewart, but the Steelers should be ready to play. Expect a close, hard fought game, with New England coming out on top.

The Setonian
News

One Beatle is all you need

March 31

Sure, you could go buy the Beatles compilation, 1. But if you already have every album it offers - no mean feat by itself - you might be at a loss as to where to turn next. The band did break up over 30 years ago, after all. What could possibly follow it up? Maybe it's still been awhile, but Paul McCartney and Wings did a highly respectable job in 1973 with their now-classic release, Band on the Run. Any fan of the original Fab Four will find quite a bit to like, and McCartney is still as prominent as ever. Hear the voice, hear the guitar, and you might think it's the Beatles. Hear his wife, Linda, and... well, you probably won't hear Linda at all, at least not if Paul's doing his job. Bringing a family member into the band isn't always the best decision, musically speaking, but Wings didn't seem to suffer for it. One has to give the McCartneys credit for doing what John Lennon and Yoko Ono never pulled off: making enduring popular music in the aftermath of the Beatles' breakup.Band on the Run easily could have never happened, which would have been all the worse because it certainly surpassed the previous two Wings albums. Due to unfortunate circumstances (and McCartney's decision to record in Lagos, far less convenient than Abbey Road), the band was cut from five members down to three - just Paul, Linda, and rhythm guitarist Denny Laine - and left without a real drummer or a lead guitarist. Not to be stopped, the trio forged ahead. The McCartneys and Laine split up the percussion and ended up making an album full of catchy, recognizable tunes that were more than empty pop. Between Paul McCartney's voice, Paul McCartney's songwriting, and... well, everything Paul McCartney, there certainly ended up being a lot going for Band on the Run. If you can name a song by Wings, you probably already own the album. It's guaranteed, however, that you will recognize at least recognize the title track. "Band on the Run" goes from soothing to dark to bouncy, all in the space of five minutes, and remains a rock radio staple today. Without delving into tricky rhythms or melodies, the song catches the listener through each of its moods with airy guitar and echoing vocals. The entire album remains cheerful and enthusiastic - making it a well-paced record overall - without becoming flat and monotonous. The sweet vocals and guitar of "Mamunia" blend with the background hand drums, while the more rock-out chords of "Helen Wheels" and punchy rhythms make for a forceful, driving listen. Not to get bored, the band still gets to play around. "Helen Wheels" and "Jet" both feel like grinning inside jokes, while "Picasso's Last Words" was written on a dare from Dustin Hoffman to see Paul come up with a song on the spur of the moment (and includes one musician playing nothing but a tin of gravel). Even slightly darker sounding material like "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" is still exuberant and rich in sound, with all sorts of sounds and melodies meshed together. The only part of the album that could be called disappointing is its end - and not for any conventional reason. It closes neatly, but one is left wishing it could go on. "Nineteen Hundred and Eighty Five" gets so heavy and absorbing by its climax that turning off the record seems a shame. In fact, the song ends with a quiet piece of the chorus from the opener, "Band on the Run," giving the lonely listener a license to cycle back to the beginning again if absolutely necessary. If you liked the man when he was with the Beatles, you're sure to like his later work. Whether Lennon or McCartney deserved more credit for the Beatles' success is moot. Band on the Run proves just how much McCartney could do without any of those friends to help him out.

The Setonian
News

Student escort service begins operation

March 31

Police officers are no longer the only option for students seeking to be escorted across campus in the wee hours of the morning. Two weeks ago, the Department of Public Safety started offering student escorts in addition to the regular police escorts for anyone journeying through campus late at night. The service resulted from the work of Senator Margery Yeager, co-chair of the Tufts Community Union Senate's Culture, Ethnicity, and Community Affairs committee. Yeager felt that, in the wake of a rash of hate crimes early last semester, there was need for extra measures to be taken in order to ensure student safety. The new student service - which provides walking escorts only - is available from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. during weeknights and 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. on weekends. Though Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) officers escort students 24 hours a day, wait times during the weekends can be lengthy. The student escort services will hopefully alleviate this problem and increase student safety. "We thought that supplementing [the existing police escorts] during peak hours with student escorts could decrease waiting times when the police are busy, and also make students more likely to use the service," Yeager said. Seniors Eddie Galbavy and Brian Walsh were selected to be the first escorts by TUPD Sergeant Sonya Rodrigues from only a handful of applicants. Rodrigues interviewed the candidates in the way security guards would be interviewed, and then chose Galbavy and Walsh because of their experience and familiarity with the campus. "We're very pleased with them," Rodrigues said. "They're both dependable, and we put our trust in them." Once selected, the escorts went through a basic security officer training program, which consisted of watching a series of videos and using Internet-based learning tools. In addition, they were both taught standard police procedure regarding reports and radio protocol. Galbavy became interested in the program after reading about the idea in the Daily. He said that the escort's hours were what drew him, but also felt that the job was a good way to "convey my trust in the school, and my confidence that this is a good place." To request a walking escort, students can call the police department at x7-3030 and leave their name, identification number, and say where they are and where they want to go. When the escort arrives, he will introduce himself, ask to see the student's ID card, and take them to their destination. Escorts will be easily identifiable by their uniform orange student escort vests. This is not the first time Tufts has offered late-night safety services. Five years ago, the University piloted a free emergency taxi service, but was forced to suspend the service three weeks later due to widespread abuse of the program.

The Setonian
News

Theta Chi robbed over weekend

March 31

Police have yet to apprehend the perpetrator of a reported theft that took place at Theta Chi Saturday night. During a small gathering at the fraternity house on 100 Packard Ave., an unidentified man entered the residence and stole over $2,000 worth of student belongings. According to Tufts University Police Department Captain Mark Keith, the suspect, dressed in an oversized coat, entered the fraternity while approximately 20 brothers were in the building. Although several members reported seeing the man, no one tried to identify him or to call the police. Based on the fraternity members' accounts, the suspect likely escaped between 2:30 a.m. and 4 a.m. with personal belongings of three brothers. The fraternity brothers should have reacted when they first spotted the stranger in their house, Keith said. In general, he added, the fraternity should increase its security measures. "The fact that many of the fraternity houses are not secured properly has been an ongoing issue for years," said Keith. "They need to take some steps to correct that." In the wake of the theft, Theta Chi President Brett Kobelin is urging his brothers to take house security more seriously. "We're going to make sure that if we're having people over, if there are more than just brothers here, that the doors are locked at all times. At any gathering that is not a party, we're actually going to make sure anyone coming in the door can be vouched for by a brother." According to Keith, this weekend's incident was not connected to the burglary that occurred at DTD over winter break, when a man stole $8,000 worth of property while the brothers slept. The items stolen from Theta Chi on Saturday included a laptop, a PlayStation2 system with a number of games, and three leather jackets, one of which had a cell phone in the coat pocket. The students estimated the items' worth at more than $2,000. JR Cruz, whose room is located on the third floor of the fraternity, had his $400 PlayStation2 system stolen. Cruz said that that while he locked his bedroom door, the door to a common room with access to his bedroom was left open. Cruz did not notice that his video game system was missing until 1 p.m. on Sunday. Following the theft, Cruz said that he and his brothers should look for ways to avoid future incidents. "We could have been more stringent on who we let in," Cruz said. "Usually if someone is in the house it's someone's friend. We tend to take it for granted and we should lock our doors." According to Keith, robberies are not a common occurrence on campus. This year, he said, "there may have been a few isolated incidents, but this one was so noticeable because so many things were taken."

The Setonian
News

Bush introduces education reform legislation

March 31

President George W. Bush is expected to make his first legislative move after only three full days in office when he sends his education reform legislation to Congress today. Experts are concerned about what the president's proposals might mean to students at universities throughout the country. Bush's plan is expected to increase state control of education standards and federal funds while limiting federal intervention in addressing failing school systems. In addition, a substantial amount of money will be devoted to school vouchers and charter schools - possibly as much as $300 million. The proposals are also expected to place emphasis on accountability by having schools test reading and math skills more regularly. Higher education will likely receive a considerable amount of attention in the Bush plan, which is expected to include an increase in the maximum amount of Pell grants and opportunities for enhanced grants going to disadvantaged students. During his presidential campaign, Bush also promised to increase federal funding for historically Black colleges and universities and Hispanic serving institutions. There may also be added opportunities for parents to save for their children's education if the maximum annual contribution to tax-free "education savings accounts" is raised from $500 to $5,000. Other higher education funding plans are also forecasted to be introduced during the Bush administration. Despite a likely focus on literacy and early education systems, Bush's plan will have an impact on institutions of higher learning. Tufts professor and Director of Teacher Education Linda Beardsley said that she hopes the Bush administration realizes that universities are dealing with the same questions and problems as other schools. "I think people are moving away from just teaching factoids and are realizing that a classroom can be a really vibrant environment," she said. "We [at Tufts] are exploring the question, 'What are some ways a liberal arts university can work in that community?'" The relationship between universities and lower educational institutions is important on a national as well as local level, according to Beardsley, who works with the Malden, Medford, and Everett public school systems to facilitate Internet usage in the classroom through a federal grant. Tufts is also the recipient of another federal grant which works with the Somerville public schools to teach early algebra. "I hope that whatever George W. Bush and his Secretary of Education [Rod Paige] do, they really start looking at the whole continuum through universities. I think universities are a little bit of an untapped resource," she said. Education was a key campaign issue for Bush, who considers the reformation of Texas' education system as one of his greatest accomplishments. Bush and Secretary Paige, confirmed as a cabinet member just hours after Bush took the oath of office Saturday, promise to team up to continue such reform on a national level. Paige, who was previously the Houston Superintendent of Schools, played an integral role in the state-wide education reform, and was selected largely for his ability to close the achievement gap between disadvantaged students and their peers. Paige will work with Bush to allow all students the same educational opportunities through proposals on school vouchers, charter schools, and incentive programs for teachers in inner-city schools. While education is currently Bush's top priority, a tax cut proposal is expected soon. Tax cuts and education were among Bush's main campaign issues, but political science department chair James Glaser said that some compromising may have to be done in order for a bill to pass the divided Congress. "You might see a modest tax cut, but not a big one like Bush is proposing," Glaser said. "I don't think we're going to see anything really dramatic from the administration... given how closely divided Congress is and given the incentive that creates for both sides." One of the bills Glaser thinks may be approved soon is the McCain/Feingold campaign finance reform bill. "Bush will want to have some reform feather in his cap, and he may try to compromise with McCain and Feingold," Glaser said. "The more controversial things, I don't think will happen."

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