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Squash bounces through up and down season

March 31

The women's squash team picked up the second half of the season where they left off the first, winning against the divisional opponents they expect to defeat, while falling to the powerhouse teams that the Jumbos are not expected to beat. The Jumbos ended the first half of the season on a low note. After streaking to a 5-0 start, Tufts lost the last three matches going into the semester break. "We cannot be very competitive with the top 10 teams right now," Eng said. "But we can learn from all the matches." Even prior to the season, Eng was able to pick the matches his team would win and those it would lose. There were only a couple of contests that could go either way, and these are the matches that will determine exactly what sort of season this will be for the Jumbos. The Amherst match on Thursday, Dec. 7 was one of those telling matches. According to the Women's Intercollegiate Squash Association (WISA) rankings as of Dec. 4, the Lord Jeffs and the Jumbos shared the 12th ranking. However, Tufts came into this crucial match with a depleted squad. Due to the graduate school responsibilities of its number two player, Zaina Al-Awadi and injuries incurred during the course of the season to other members of the squad, the Jumbos were not able to perform at their potential and lost this very close team contest, four matches to five. Tufts was able to ride its depth as its six through nine players were able to come through with wins, but its top players could not pick up any victories. The Jumbos returned to school this semester determined to improve individually and as a team. Freshman Leigh Checchio described the team's experience of returning from the semester break. "Doug [Eng] had a routine of tough workouts for us to do as soon as we got back to get us back into shape," she said. As is the case with all winter teams, it is always tough for the squash team to get back into game shape following the month off, but the rigorous team workouts, leadership offered by captains junior Justine Kurland and senior Lani Radford, and collective dedication of the squad have all contributed to make the readjustment back to playing at a peak level, easier. First off for the Jumbos, following the vacation, was the Wellesley team that Tufts had demolished 8-1 back in November. Unfortunately for the Jumbos though, with junior Anne Montesano leaving the team for the rest of the season, to spend the semester abroad, and senior Kate Peterson resting an injury, the three through nine Jumbo players have each had to move up two spots for the rest of the season. In contrast, the Wellesley squad had added a transfer student from Smith before the game to play in their number two spot and the rest of the roster had thus been shifted down one spot. However, the Jumbos did not let this stop them from beating the improved Wellesley team. With team scores tied at four matches apiece, sophomore Iffy Saeed, playing in the fifth position, was down 4-7 in the fifth, and final, game of the match when she suddenly rallied to the cheers of her teammates and stormed to a 9-7 victory. Dartmouth, which holds a national ranking of nine, was next up for the Jumbos. Coming into the match, Tufts new that this was one of those contests that it was not supposed to win and thus, the goal was to try hard and learn from the experience. With a young team on which six of its nine starting players are sophomores or freshman, the focus for these matches according to Checchio is, "to learn how to play the [top-level] players and how they play so that we can do better in the future." Coach Eng is optimistic that in two years, the team will be able to compete with the best teams in the nation, and is therefore focused on individual and team growth as well as finishing strong this season. Needless to say, the Jumbos dropped eight out of the nine matches in the Dartmouth meeting. One bright spot of this showdown was freshman Julie Fox winning her first official varsity match in the number nine spot against a player on one of the best teams in the nation. This weekend will be pivotal for the Jumbos. They will travel to Smith college to take on Bates, St. Lawrence and Haverford, all in the same day. Bates and St. Lawrence will be serious tests for the Jumbos. As of the WISA rankings of Feb. 1, the Jumbos hold a national ranking of 15, with Bates and St. Lawrence at 14 and 16 respectively. This weekend's matches will shape the national rankings for these three rivals. Not only are the Jumbos gearing up for these tough matches, but Eng says of Bates and St. Lawrence, "They're gunning for us."

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News

Women's basketball turns it over against MIT

March 31

The women's basketball team has been winning games in the second half all season. Last night at Cousens gym, however, it was the MIT Engineers who took over in the latter frame, outscoring the Jumbos 38-22 after the break and handing Tufts its first home loss of the season. The 68-48 defeat dropped the Jumbos to 8-3 heading into NESCAC play on Saturday. MIT got 19 points from senior captain Christina Estrada, who also yanked down 16 rebounds, but it was the Jumbos' mistakes that gave the game away. Tufts shot 28.8 percent from the field and committed 21 turnovers. During the second half, the Jumbos dropped to 22 percent from the floor and turned the ball over ten times. "We did not play well - physically, mentally," coach Janice Savitz said. "We got open looks that didn't drop. At times we beat ourselves. We just had mental breakdowns. A couple of times we lost easy passes, we were not moving to the ball. Taking care of the basketball is key. We got caught up in their frenetic pace." MIT jumped out to an early lead, holding a 17-6 edge eight minutes into the first half. Estrada scored eight points during that span, not missing a shot until the 12:00 mark of the first half. "She had 12 points at halftime, which is key for them," junior guard Erin Harrington said. "Then she was dominant again in the second half." MIT sophomore Crystal Russell chipped in five points during the opening run, including the three-point play that gave the Engineers that 11-point lead. Tufts battled back with a 9-0 run over the next 3:07. The Jumbos' leading scorer, sophomore center Emily Goodman, scored five of those nine points, leading the Jumbos back into the game and forcing MIT to call a timeout. After the timeout, the Engineers boosted their lead to nine points, but freshmen Maritsa Christoudias and Kate Gluckman hit a three-pointer and a seven-foot jumper, respectively, to cut the lead to 30-26 going into halftime. At the beginning of the second half, it looked as if the Jumbos would pull off a comeback similar to the one that sparked them to a 53-47 win on Tuesday night against Brandeis. In a frantic first minute, Gluckman scored the first four Tufts points, on her way to ten for the game. Harrington's three-pointer gave the Jumbos their first, and last, lead of the game at 33-32. "They were physical and that may have got to our heads a little in the first half," Harrington said. "I think we adjusted when we made that run in the second half." Overall, however, the Engineers showed more muscle, out-rebounding the Jumbos 56-34 and swatting five Jumbo shots. With the score tied at 35, MIT pulled away again ripping off an 11-2 run capped by an Estrada putback with 11:32 to go. But once again, the Jumbos came back. Sophomore Hillary Dunn hit a three pointer from the right side to bring Tufts within six points, and Goodman cut the lead to three with a spin move that earned her a three point play and made the score 46-43. It was then, with roughly ten minutes to go in the game, that MIT ran away from the Jumbos for good. Led by Maria Hidalgo, who dropped in eight points in the next four and a half minutes, the Engineers scored 22 the rest of the way while holding Tufts to just five, including a three-pointer from Dunn. Tufts' poor shooting down the stretch was a key ingredient in the Engineers' closing run. "I'm curious as to what our shooting percentage was, because we did not shoot well at all," Dunn said. "We missed a lot of shots that we should have made. This whole game, like the first half against Brandeis, we were out of our rhythm." Foul shots also played a key role in this game. Tufts hit four of the five free throws it was awarded, while MIT converted 14 of its 23. MIT has now won six games in a row with road games against Mount Holyoke and nationally-ranked Wellesley, which defeated Tufts last week, on the horizon. Next up for the Jumbos are the 8-4 Bates Bobcats, who come to Cousens Gym at 2 p.m. on Saturday to kick off the NESCAC season. Tufts closes out its five-game homestand against Clark on Tuesday night at 7 p.m. "MIT has a lot of quality wins," Savitz said. "They really played a lot harder than we did. They came out with a lot more intensity and emotion. We have to work on getting mentally ready to play."

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News

Glitched

March 31

"I just spent the semester in Australia and I'm a whole new Chris man and back here people are gonnatreat me like the same old Chris. But I'm not and - man, you just don't get it." -Christopher, Tufts University, Class of 2002"What's your glitch? Have I stepped over some line in the sands of coolness with you, because excuse me if somebody doesn't know the secret handshake with you." -Ben Stiller, Reality Bites Encountering people returning from abroad is a dicey matter. You usually realise when you're talking to someone who thinks they're better than you are, but you can deal with it by trying to figure out if that's their idea and in turn, thinking you're better than them. But when speaking with people who just returned from studying abroad you know they think they're better than you are - they're not really afraid to say it - and you, who just spent the time in Medford that they spent in another far sexier place, may be inclined to agree with them. My point is this: this sociological imbalance that exists at Tufts is ridiculous, and should be done away with. And I have a solution to a terrible error that's terribly engrained into a collective psyche. Everyone agrees that abroad students must find a way to convey their experience without leading anyone to infer from them that they think they're the first and last American to leave the States and survive to tell the tale. They must stop thinking that they're all Odysseus - reborn Jumbos. But it's not going to stop anytime soon, I have no intention of stopping it. I mean, they driveon the other side of the road here in Scotland. I don't know if it was the kilts, bagpipes, or aforementioned driving system, but within a week I wanted to call home and tell my parents I found God. Abroad students are so sure they're cooler, it's impossible to convince them otherwise. The only way for you to retaliate, then, in Ben Stiller's words, is to cross the line in the sands of coolness; enter, perhaps for the first time in your life, the realm of the uncool. Christopher, who said this to me over winter break, captures the exact syndrome I outlined above; fatal sense of self-importance derived entirely by being in another country, and a contagious insistence to make others feel inferior because of it. If you want worse, go to the Daily website and search for "home is transient," "I have noticed in Dublin that the Irish have a tendency to overuse the reflexive," or more generally, "Ehren Brav." But Christopher did say "getting it," which is a subjective judgement under the guise of an objective truth. There is no greater insult than telling someone they don't get it, and it can easily be used by the abroad student who is incapable of conveying their experience in a constructive manner. You can never pin down exactly what you have to do to be one who gets it, but there are always a number of wrong things to do for which you could be judged as not getting it. I, apparently, didn't get it by giving Christopher a blank stare as he was talking about the "new Chris." It could be more complicated though: my flatmate's girlfriend recently told him he didn't get it. He was crushed. He told me he immediately asked himself: is she breaking up with me or is this my cue to break up with her? Then neither happened, not even close, but he wasn't sure, maybe it was close. This, my friends, is the essence of not getting it. But beyond this, I can't help you. Even though I can say I live in a flat, I, admittedly, don't get it, just as Christopher said. It's disappointing, because now I've been in Europe for three months, and I thought I'd get it just like Christopher, but it just hasn't happened. The whole thing recalls "Reality Bites" in which Ben Stiller loses Winona Ryder to Ethan Hawke, not so much because the latter is more attractive, but because Ben just doesn't get it. To remind you: the only thing Winona cares about is a documentary of her friends she's made. Ben, in courting her, turns it into a TV show and butchers it in the process, exemplifying how much he just didn't get it, in this case "it" being artistic, aesthetic, or something. Winona dumps him, runs off with Ethan, and they live happily ever after, unemployed and with no money, but that's okay because they get it.But maybe, just maybe Ben realized her glitch, her inordinate sense of self-importance, and decided to exploit it for his amusement. Maybe he knew he was ruining the video and wanted to embarrass her, both of which he achieved brilliantly. Yes, he did this at the cost of losing all her respect for the rest of his mortal life, but if you could detach yourself from the inherent sympathy that goes along with her, it was funny watching her see her butchered video, which, let's be honest, showed all signs of being crap in the first place. Could this technique possibly be applied to returning abroad students? I've outlined our glitch above, can you provide the anecdote? The only way to subvert the massive social structure in place at Tufts is to go against everything you've learned and rather than pretend to be smarter and cooler than you are, be stupider and less cool. Become Ben Stiller. (It's easier than trying to be Ethan Hawke and Winona Ryder isn't even on the line anyway). Make a conscious attempt not to get it, and you, in effect, get it more. The people who think they get it may think less of you, but that's ok, because after pulling your Ben Stiller on them, they'll cease to get it, and you'll have no need for their friendship anyhow. If you do it right, they'll give you a grunt of indigence, walk away, maybe think no one could ever get it, and therefore stop being obnoxious about their experience. So if she went to London, talk about how Dewick food got better. If he went to Barcelona, tell him about how your aunt thinks everything she needs in life can be found in Central New Jersey. If he went to Germany, and you're really ballsy, tell him he killed Roberto Benigni and then gasp. Loudly. The four-year college goes back a long way and it's only within the last few decades that people decided it'd be hip to go to a foreign country for a semester or two. It used to take serious trauma to lead people to exile, now serious trauma or pre-medicine is implied if people decide to stay. Studying abroad is a peculiar phenomenon and I suppose we're blessed to be the pioneers during its gestation period. Eventually it will become normal - it already somehow makes sense that the administration encourages a mass exodus and doesn't take it personally - but soon enough, people will not care about staying, couples won't get so angsty about it, and people will stop being obnoxious about it. Even though I don't get it now, I have three more months. I still have time to become just like Christopher and I'm spotting some symptoms; I drink tea with milk and I feel my neck turn to the left before crossing the street. I can't imagine a full-on self-revelation is far off, so I'll be careful, but can't make any promises for my fellow expatriates. So watch out, don't put up with it, and you'll be doing your part to further social evolution. Jeremy Wang-Iverson is a junior majoring in English. He is studying in Edinburgh this semester.

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News

Go back 15 years and 50 years with 'Stand By Me'

March 31

Love modern music? Can't stand that "old sappy crap" on the radio? Don't understand how people can get nostalgic for old-time pop music? Broaden your horizons with an album that is guaranteed to be nostalgic for both you and your parents. The soundtrack to Stand By Me should remind the older set of the rock stars that existed before the Beatles, while younger listeners can remember a movie they grew up with. By themselves, the songs and musicians on Stand By Me are incredible; the album presents quick highlights of the careers of many great artists that younger people today might have missed out on. The beauty of the soundtrack is that nearly everyone recognizes the songs, but almost no one under 50 could tell you the titles or the bands. Almost anyone could (hopefully) identify Jerry Lee Lewis singing "Great Balls of Fire," but onetime favorites like the Del Vikings or the Chordettes are easy stumpers. There's variety in the sounds on the album as well. From the strong horns and bass of "Yakety Yak" to the overly familiar piano of "Great Balls of Fire" (thanks, Top Gun) to the punchy and lesser-known "Mr. Lee," this soundtrack covers a lot of peppy and upbeat '50s pop. There are also beautiful and reflective tracks, however, which maintain an upbeat voice but with a quieter tone - most notably Buddy Holly's "Everyday" and Ben E. King's "Stand By Me," two tracks easily worth paying for. Holly's work is often ignored by modern music fans, in favor of slightly more recent headliners like the Beatles. "Everyday" is a beautiful example of his work, featuring Holly's clear voice and a simple accompaniment of four bass notes, chimes, and thin percussion. As for "Stand By Me" - it's still instantly recognizable, it's still a tearjerker, and you can admit it. It's a great late-and-lonely-Saturday-night kind of song for all you yearning broken hearts out there. A bit of advice: try to fall asleep before the end or you'll just end up depressed. It's amazing how this kind of music has fallen out of production in the past 50 years. Listening to Stand By Me, one has to wonder why no one is still writing songs like these. With thick, simple bass lines and vocals that are easy to sing along to, it's a versatile genre to work in and one that's cheerful to listen to. Oldies radio stations aren't popular by accident - this is a lost kind of music that no one is making anymore, except for the occasional college barbershop group. For children of the '80s and '90s, though, one of the stealthier features of the album is how it instantly brings scenes from the movie back to mind. And since this is a movie most college students haven't watched in a while, the memories are deep and surprising. Hear the opening claps of "Lollipop" and you can't help but picture the four young adventurers walking down a woodsy dirt path in 1959. Remember Wil Wheaton as Gordie, before he grew up and joined Star Trek: The Next Generation? Remember when Jerry O'Connell as Vern, the little fat kid? Remember when River Phoenix was... well, alive? Do you remember Corey Feldman at all? It's enough to make you want to buy a Stand By Me video and poster and anything else you can find. Each song evokes a different moment from the film: hear the Del Vikings' "Whispering Bells" for just a moment and you're out with Wheaton on the dusty town streets, just like when you were younger. The only disappointing and aggravating part of the album: it clocks in at under 24 minutes despite its ten distinct tracks. Old radio singles were frequently short, and, with an average length of less than two and a half minutes, the songs on Stand By Me are no exception. Just as you're starting to realize how good some of this music is... the album's over.There are great movies, and there are great movie soundtracks - Stand By Me is a lock either way. Whether you like '50s music or you love the 1986 Rob Reiner film, the soundtrack to Stand By Me is sure to revive some great memories... and if 24 minutes isn't enough (and it shouldn't be), go buy some Buddy Holly CDs or turn on the oldies station. Most satisfying of all are the odd looks you'll get blasting '50s pop around anyone... under the age of 50 or not.Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, Stand By Me, 1986.

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News

Literary crimes at Tufts

March 31

"The first day at college, my professor dropped dead. The second day, I assisted at his autopsy. Let's hope I don't have to go through four years of this . . ." says Jenna Blake, the protagonist of alumnus Christopher Golden's mystery thriller series Body of Evidence. This collection of books about a college freshman is set in Somerset University - but with some name changes and location modifications, the series actually takes place at Tufts. Last Thursday, Golden gave a walking tour of all the locations on campus he features in the series. For example, his books mention the memorial steps and West Hall - "Sparrow Hall" in his books. Murders have occurred at Cohen Auditorium, Miner Hall, and even on the library roof. He got the idea for this particular series from an editor who suggested a series about a young, "Scully-like" woman who was a college freshman. Why Tufts? Well, for one, Golden, a Massachusetts native, graduated from Tufts in '89. "I have very strong memories about the time I spent here...I just loved it. I had a great time," Golden said. "I have such fond memories of the professors that I had, the people that I knew, and just the time that I spent here." His personal tour, attended by a group of about ten people, began at the bookstore. Golden first led the group to the library, speaking about his books and relating personal anecdotes about his time at Tufts. He pointed out that the library roof was where he concluded his first date with his girlfriend at the time- now his wife. He also laughingly added that it's on the library roof where one of his characters gets "brained." Also part of the store were stops at familiar campus buildings like Miner and West. "I really enjoyed the tour. I know it was hard trying not to give away plot points," freshman Rebecca Anderson said. Following the tour, Golden held a book signing at the bookstore and spoke about his current and future literary projects. The latest installation in the Body of Evidence series is Skin Deep, which deals with Jenna's interracial relationship and the murderous tensions that develop on campus. In addition to the Body of Evidence series, Golden has another series, Prowlers, revolving around a character who becomes embroiled in an ancient race of monsters. Series aside, Golden's novel Straight On 'Till Morning has also just been published. "Morning is very autobiographical despite the horror. It's a coming of age story," said Golden. The tour was originally Golden's idea. "I loved being at Tufts as well as talking about it. I feel like I still go here when I walk around. Things haven't changed that much," he said. The Body of Evidence series, targeted at young adults, has reached many young women especially. Golden has been amazed at the positive reaction he has received, particularly from older high school students. Golden's future release is Ferryman, which is due in March 2002.

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News

Palestinians don't have 'right to return'

March 31

I am writing in response to Abdul-Wahab Kayyali's Viewpoint ("Sharon: A murderous prime minister," 2/20.) In his piece, Kayyali explains that Barak's concessions were not far reaching because there was no inclusion of a right of return for Palestinian refugees. In fact, Barak's concessions were more far reaching than any other leader in Israel's history, and they did not include a "right of return" because, as Florice Engler explained ("Good Luck Ariel Sharon," 2/8), such a demand is indeed "unfeasible" and "insulting." Throughout history, peoples, like Palestinian refugees, have been both forcefully and voluntarily displaced. This may be "unfair," but it is a fact of life. My family history is actually analogous to the current situation of many Palestinian refugees. Before immigrating to Israel in 1948, my grandparents were ordered to leave Iraq by an anti-Jewish government. Can my grandmother now, 53 years later, demand land back from Saddam Hussein? Is Spain's government required to give land back to Jews that it seized in the Inquisition? If Native Americans from Boston demanded the city back, would President Bush have to comply? Of course, the answer to all of these questions is "No." So by what right can anyone demand a right of return for Palestinians? According to Kayyali, "the number of Palestinian refugees is six million, not four million." Well, according to the Israeli government, the total number of Jews in Israel is 4.7 million. Does Arafat really expect Israel's Jews to become a minority in their own homeland? Absurdly, I fear that he does. I fear Arafat was unsatisfied with Barak's far- reaching concessions because he wants not just the West Bank, Gaza, and parts of Jerusalem, but Tel-Aviv and Haifa as well. For Arafat, or any future serious potential negotiator to have the courage to make peace, they must first have the insight to drop this illogical demand.Adam Halperin, LA '01

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News

Memoirs of a 28-year-old orphan

March 31

When Dave Eggers published the hardcover edition of his memoirs, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, he expected to die. In fact, according to the appendix added to the recently published paperback edition, he still does. This is not unusual for a memoirist, memoirs being the sort of thing one usually publishes at the end of one's lifetime as a summation of past events and recollections. Eggers, however, published his memoirs at the ripe young age of 28, documenting his experiences between the ages of 21 and 27. It is unusual for healthy 28 year-olds to expect to die, almost as unusual as it is for them to publish bestsellers. Despite what this may lead readers to believe, the memoirs of this twentysomething are not necessarily the account of a college graduate partying with his friends in San Francisco, consuming and creating pop-culture, and wrestling with his younger brother. Well, not entirely. Eggers' parents both died of cancer, within a month of each other, during his senior year of college. A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius is one of many creative ventures Eggers has undertaken during the mourning process, and as such is an account of his life after their deaths. What makes the book unique, however, is the combination of mourning and celebration, death and sex, destruction and creation... that doesn't actually sound so unique when one comes right out and says it. But when Eggers says it, with the voice and anecdotes of a 21-year-old, the result is a staggeringly surprising work of, well, of genius. Eggers' refreshingly honest and young voice contains echoes of self-consciousness and struggle. Even while relating fuzzy memories about lighting streets on fire with neighborhood friends or hitting (in vain) on women in San Francisco bars, there is the undertone of desperation so present in people of his age - a result of longing for normalcy, pressure to succeed, and insecurity about the future. Add to this the responsibility of caring for and educating a younger brother, and you have justification to write your memoirs. That younger brother, Toph, is one of many saving graces in the story. Though he seldom appears in the dialogue, his and Eggers' antics while trying to keep themselves entertained (perhaps distracted?) are the memories that stand out the most. His personality shines through the narrative, and is polished by Eggers' overt dedication to him, both in life and as a character. Eggers himself as a character is possessed with the intelligence, humor, and paranoid delusions of most men his age. His ego and sarcasm permeate the thoughts and stories he shares, and not always in a good way. But the fact that he knows this, writes about writing about it, and chooses to publish compromising tales of himself and his acquaintances is a testament to his courage and overwhelming need to share his story. And it explains why he believed the birth of this book would lead to his own death. The idea of sharing the pain is a theme Eggers returns to several times throughout the story. After the first 100 pages or so, which retell the deteriorating health and death of his mother, his parents are alluded to only when referring to his present life. He speaks often about the difficulties of explaining to strangers why he is his younger brother's guardian, but with distance and humor that make an uncomfortable situation easy to swallow, both for the author and the reader. Always the prankster, he gets fed up with answering "How's Toph?" with the expected response, and allows his creativity to play tricks on unsuspecting inquirers. Revised responses range from, "Still limping," to "Back from reform school," to "I dunno, he took off a couple days ago." The novel exists as much as a means to share pain as it does as a medium through which Eggers can dote on himself and his own creativity. He readily admits that while his situation is tragic, he sometimes uses it to his advantage (though not without second thoughts). The wit and humor with which he tells of tricking people or making fun of them somehow excuses his actions, until the reader remembers that the events in this story actually did take place - he actually did fake Adam West's death, for example. The fact that he is telling this to an audience of thousands, however, speaks to the fact that he is purging himself of ugliness in his life, of mistakes he may have made, of feelings he may have hurt, and of bitterness he may have felt because of the unfairness of his own situation. The book speaks with the angry and clever voice of a 28-year-old man who loves unconditionally, hates without justification, overanalyzes himself and others, and has, through the publishing of his story, "lost his taste for blood." Though a relatively quick read because of its pace and entertaining voice, A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius can at times be as difficult as drudging up one's own childhood memories. There are things in life that everyone would rather forget. As Eggers explores these things for himself, the reader not only empathizes with him but also is reminded of personal defeats. The whole thing isn't as melodramatic as all that, though, and some parts are more akin to listening to a friend who drones on and on about a topic which does not interest you.On the other hand, the reward for listening to Eggers' unrelenting self-discovery (specifically, through the guise of an interview to appear as a guest on MTV's Real World) is entrance into his community. His network of friends and acquaintances, and the experiences they share, are as personal as remembering one's own stories. For college students, the book could be one long e-mail, written in an informal and personal tone, including rants and grotesque imagery.In the appendix, which, similar to the preface, exists as its own storytelling entity, Eggers admits to never actually re-reading the whole book before sending it to the publisher, either for its first publishing or its more recent paperback edition with revisions. To some, this may seem like a careless oversight typical of his personality. But for the romantics in the audience, it seems more like proof that his blood is on these pages. The process of writing was, for him, so painful that once written, he found himself unable to revise. He has published his raw emotions and thoughts, and just as we (and he) tune into reality programming on television, so are we enthralled by his real world. Just as he wants to swim in a sea of naked friends and loved ones and sit at its bottom for a while, so we want to devour the pages and believe in the characters.Dave Eggers, author of A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, will be speaking at the Brattle Theatre in Harvard Square next Monday, April 16th.

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News

Bhangra team blows up DC

March 31

Acrobatic moves, colorful outfits, lively music: three ingredients needed to perform the traditional Indian dance known as Bhangra, which originated centuries ago in the state of Punjab. In keeping with several other colleges around the US and Canada, Tufts has formed its own Bhangra dance team, which just competed in the prestigious "Bhangra Blowout" at George Washington University. At the end of last month, the Tufts team made the competition - and the seven-hour drive to DC - and competed against nine other college Bhangra teams from around the US, from schools such as the University of Maryland, the University of California at Berkley, and the University of Michigan. "It was amazing!" team member Salil Bhandari said. "You go onstage and you see thousands of people screaming your name and watching you, your every move, your every step. Just the adrenaline rush of being on stage made me forget how tired my muscles were." "Going to George Washington University was a great experience, and a great start for the team this year," team founder Vidushi Gupta added. The chance to compete in the annual "Blowout" competition drove the team's members throughout the year. "After we put so much time and effort into the dance, it became really important to us to make the competition. We really wanted to make a memorable impression in DC," team member Neha Surana said. The dancers made the competition their first year out - Gupta began the Tufts Bhangra team this year, after hearing about her sister's experiences in MIT's Bhangra group. "I really like the Bhangra style of dancing, and this year I really wanted to form a team," she said. Gupta also had the bigger goal in mind - she wanted the chance to compete in the Blowout. At a Tufts Associate of South Asians (TASA) meeting in the beginning of the year, Gupta announced that she was looking for dedicated students to try out. Gupta chose seven males and seven females out of the many who auditioned for the team. "After tryouts, I didn't think I made it because it was so tough, but I'm definitely glad I tried out because I it was a blast working and dancing with such great people," Bhandari said. Making it to the Blowout was not so easy. Gupta became the team's leader and choreographer, and drew up a strenuous practice schedule in order to master the dance routines that she choreographed. "Being on the Bhangra team was almost like playing a sport. We frequently had four to five hour practices on a daily basis," team member Shanunik Panse said. But Panse didn't hold anything against his leader. "Vidushi's dedication and compassion towards Bhangra and the team itself motivated all of us to try out hardest even when our bodies refused to work," he said. The Bhangra team perfected its routines in front of live crowds at various events on campus, such as last semester's International Show and TASA Cultural Show, winning over some fans. "The Bhangra team was amazing. They were extremely energetic, and you can tell they put a lot of time into making the dance flawless," said Dave Pegnataro, who attended the International Show. As the team's first year is nearing an end, team members have an optimistic outlook for next year. "Our team has learned much from this year, and we have a lot of room for growth and improvement. Next year we'll do even better at the competition in DC," Bhandari said.

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News

Reckless driver flees accident scene

March 31

An unidentified driver abandoned his car after crashing into a utility pole and a fence on the corner of Boston Ave. and Winthrop St. last Thursday. The driver fled when police arrived, abandoning his red Subaru SUV on Professor's Row near Packard Ave. While there was only moderate damage to the pole and fence, the SUV's front was destroyed by the impact. A light pole located next to the fence was also damaged. Witnesses said that the offender, identified as male, was driving recklessly in the moments before the accident. "I was driving some friends home when I saw the guy flying up Winthrop St., and really hugging the curve. He was hitting garbage cans, so I figured it was just somebody out having a good time," Junior Perry Mcconnell said. Mcconnell grew more concerned when he saw the speeding SUV later that night. "The guy tried to make a right from Boston Ave. to Winthrop St., and just didn't make it," he said. After hitting the corner fence, which surrounds Sacred Heat church, the driver then backed out, and continued up Winthrop St. According to Mcconnell, the car's right front tire was completely deflated, and the entire front end of the Subaru was visibly damaged. Another witness, senior James Winkler, said the driver left various debris, including the bumper, at the scene of the accident. Mcconnell called 911 to report the accident, and Medford Police officers commenced a search for the dented vehicle. At 1:23 a.m., a TUPD cruiser noticed a badly damaged vehicle driving on three tires. TUPD Patrol Officer Cheri Burton pursued the car, and had the TUPD dispatch center contact the Medford and Somerville Police Departments. After Burton described the vehicle to his fellow officers, TUPD suspected that the car in question was the same one that fled the Boston Ave. accident. After being pulled over, the driver abandoned the vehicle and ran from Burton. The officer followed on foot, but was unable to apprehend the suspect. Medford officers arrived moments later, but the driver was already out of sight. The abandoned vehicle was impounded, and the New York license plates are being traced to determine the car's owner. If no one is convicted for leaving the scene of the accident, the owner's insurance company will be liable for the property damage, at which point the insurance company would likely conduct its own investigation, and determine whether or not to continue insuring the owner. Investigators must be able to prove that the owner of the vehicle was, in fact operating the car at the time of the accident in order to convict him, according to TUPD Sergeant Doug Mazzola. If convicted, the driver would face at minimum a charge of leaving the scene of an accident, an offense punishable by up to two years of jail time.

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News

Countdown to Valentine's Day

March 31

Countdown to Valentine's day... do you have a date? If so, screw you. If not, you've got t-minus 5 days to find one, or you'll be chowing down on greasy Chinese take out and Ben & Jerry's, watching cheesy videos on TV and feeling sorry for yourself. In the interest of research, and purely for those purposes (no, we did not enjoy this, nor did we benefit socially from this process in any way), the Daily has exhaustively looked at several Internet dating services. Internet dating has become the latest hot trend of the singles scene. It is a good and time-efficient way to meet people with similar interests, and an e-mail correspondence is a good way to "screen" a person before you meet them. However, if you become aquatinted with someone online, you might be reluctant to tell your friends how you met your sweetie. "Oh, I bumped into him at a party," you'll say. "It was love at first sight." That might sound a little better than, "Oh, I met him after searching every entry on Udate.com. He was the only one who looked semi-normal."Despite the social taboos surrounding internet dating, it is still not a bad option... especially if you're facing a time crunch. Even if you have remain apprehensive about Internet dating, you don't have too many options at the moment. It is only six days till V-Day, so get moving and grooving! First Thing to do: Check out the websites Address: www.GoodGenes.com 'Good Genes' users must have graduated from a reputable universities, with degree-holding members ranging from 22 to 77 years old. It was started in Nov. 1999 and has resulted in at least one marriage, many long-term relationships, and is responsible for connecting a clientele serious about finding an educated partner. It calls itself the "introduction service for the Ivy League, et. Al," and won't accept your application unless you can prove your status as a graduate or faculty member from a well-known university. As a Jumbo, it is practically guaranteed you'll be accepted. But be wary, membership costs sixty dollars. You might want to seek some cheaper options.Address: www.matchmaker.com This website calls itself the "most entertaining place to meet new people." Its biggest advantage is that it contains an extensive library of customers (50,000 people join every week). It's a good place to look for a platonic as well as a romantic relationship. With so many people to choose from, you're bound to find somebody who fits your fancy. Address: www.kiss.com 'Kiss' is an entertaining way to find a mate from a different walk of life... perhaps even a walk in another country. You can find dates from Norway, Italy, or the greater Boston area. Some of its advantages are that it has live chat as well as love advice from Dr. Pepper Schwartz. What could be better? You can even post your profile for free, if you're that daring. Just be aware that you have no control over who ends up contacting you!Address: www.Udate.com Yet another good dating site. They even have an online messaging system with the enticing name "Whispers." When conducting a search, you type in your "ideal date," such as "Tall, blond man who plays tennis." The website promises that "After only a few weeks you will find that your new Udate friends will become a significant element in your social life." Is this a threat or a promise?Second Thing to Do: Place a personal in the Globe Just in case these Internet sites don't work out, you might want to have a backup plan. Place a V-Day personal in the globe. For $3.50, you can run your 3-line message in the Globe on the dreaded day. Who knows, you might be able to get a date for the evening. The ads will also appear online at www.boston.com/valentines. Third Thing to Do: Meet your sweetie By now, you've had a furious e-mail correspondence going with your Internet pal. It's only been five days, but you're in a rush. Tell him/her you want to meet them. Ask them, "How does Wednesday sound?" Don't mention to them that it's Valentine's Day (that might freak them out). Arrange to meet at Icarus or some other romantic restaurant in town. Make sure you dress swanky, but whatever you do, don't wear red! Get to the restaurant a little early, sit at the bar, and order a martini. You'll look so suave when your date walks in, it will be love at first site... guaranteed. Well, almost guaranteed. If things don't work out, there's always the lo-mein waiting at home in the refrigerator, as well as the dog-eared copy of the latest Danielle Steele book on your night table.Alternatives for those not looking for a date: If you're not in the mood to do Internet searching, you might want to check out these anti-Valentine day websites. They're a great deal of fun! Check out the links on this page: www.netreach.net/~trishy/vday.html. You'll get to check out pages with such names as "Heartless Bitches International," "Valentine's Day? Bite Me," and "Protest V-Day... 12 Steps for Anti-Daters." See? You're not alone in your hatred of the dreaded V-Day.

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Education, literacy take Tufts, national stage

March 31

Adding to the mounting dialogue on American education, US Senators Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Thad Cochran (R-MS) introduced a bill on Monday to continue support for a national program called Ready to Learn. The subject of the bill will likely hit home for many students at Tufts, as improving children's education and learning has been a longstanding goal for many campus groups. Kennedy and Cochran's bill, "Ready to Learn, Ready to Teach Act of 2001," seeks to ensure the progress made by the Ready to Learn program, which was established in 1992. Education was a hot topic among the candidates in last year's presidential election, and was especially relevant to college students. The candidates mostly targeted early learning, saying it is the most crucial time in a student's academic career, and that a shaky start can create numerous problems in the future. President Bush has stayed true to his word, and just three days into his term he unveiled his own education reform package, one he hopes will force America's public schools to shape up, providing an alternative in the form of school vouchers. This plan, however, has been met with large opposition from democrats, who feel that public schools should not be abandoned, and that the government should do all it can to aid children. Tufts students are doing their part to combat the growing illiteracy problem in America through initiatives such as a program sponsored by Tufts Hillel is this Sunday called "Read by the River." Just as television programming on Ready to Learn strives to make learning fun for children, Read by the River hopes to get children excited about reading. The culmination of Read by the River will be a carnival in Cousens Gym. There will be 18 booths, each run by various Tufts organizations and each focusing on encouraging reading and literacy. Last year, this event attracted 200 children from Medford public schools, despite a last-minute location change. Organizers hope this year's event will attract at least 500 children. Read by the River has also expanded since its inception last year to include social advocacy and lobbying. These efforts and its mission statement link the program to national education initiatives, like Kennedy's bill. "It all ties in together because it's all about teaching and promoting literacy and education," said Lauren Bloom, program director for Tufts Hillel. "The carnival, as huge as it is, is just a piece. We're trying to make change and educate the community on literacy... We've become change agents." Throughout the year, representatives from the Read by the River program met with local elementary school principals to see what their schools need to better teach children. In turn, Read by the River sponsored book drives, wrote petitions, and did all that it could to help these school get supplies they need. This weekend's carnival will include reading circles run by students, professors, and other Tufts groups, including Provost Sol Gittleman and Traveling Treasure Trunk. The Pan-African Alliance will also host a booth at which children will design book covers. The booths are aimed at making reading fun for children. Members of the Medford Library will also be there with library card sign ups, giving more children access to reading. The Ready to Learn program was created to give children the tools they needed to learn, primarily through public programming, with shows such as Arthur, Barney & Friends, Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, The Puzzle Place, Reading Rainbow, and Sesame Street. "Today, by the time [children] enter school, the average child will have watched 4,000 hours of television. That is roughly the equivalent of four years of school," Senator Kennedy said through a press release. "Through Ready to Learn television programming, children can obtain substantial educational benefits that turn TV time into learning time." In addition to funding these shows, the Ready to Learn Program created workshops for parents, day care workers, and teachers, providing them with the information to help kids learn. These workshops are hosted by local Ready to Learn stations. WGBH, Boston's public television station, hosted 34 Ready to Learn workshops last year. Two hundred books were also given to each Ready to Learn television station, and distributed in the area. Kennedy's bill, the "Ready to Learn, Ready to Teach Act," has been proposed as a way to strengthen the previous Ready to Learn program, by increasing its budget to $50 million a year, up from $30 million. In addition to funding many of the programs above, this bill adds a new Ready to Teach program, which is aimed at realizing student's potential by improving the quality of teachers. The Tufts event has been advertised at local elementary schools, encouraging kids to write book reports before the event. With each book report a child brings with them, they will receive a free movie pass. Event organizer Marissa Goldberg, a freshman, said she is looking forward to interacting with the kids, and hopes the carnival will make an impact - "If there is just one child who leaves at the end of the day with a desire read, then I think we've done our job."

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News

Athletes staring in the classroom

March 31

It is often thought that one can be either a student or an athlete, and that one cannot be both. It's called the "dumb jock" theory. However, at Tufts, an institution that prides itself on rigorous academics, this questionable theory typically does not hold true. On Wednesday, ten student-athletes were recognized for their performances in competition and in the classroom when they were named to the NESCAC All-Academic Team. The team is comprised of five men and five women from each school in the NESCAC who have been major contributors to their teams' success while also maintaining a GPA of 3.35 or better. On the men's side, the award winners include senior swimmers Nic Anderson and Chris Panagos, junior runner J.R. Cruz, senior runner Darren Fabbri, and senior hockey player Natan Obed. The women's team consists of senior runners Leslie Crofton and Sarah Deeb, senior swimmer Nancy Leahy, senior squash player Lani Radford, and senior basketball player Shira Fishman. "It feels great," Fabbri said. "It's kind of nice to be recognized for working my butt off as an athlete and as a student. It's a lot of work." As student athletes, this group has been able to find a delicate balance between studying and practicing for success in both arenas. "I think that being on the team helps me organize my time and reduce stress," Fabbri said. "Being on a team and having practice every day, you know how much time you have to get work done at night and in between classes. It helps with managing time." Anderson, who is majoring in psychology, was tri-captain of the men's swimming and diving team, and recently finished fourth in the 100-meter butterfly (52.36) at the NESCAC Championships on Feb. 24. Panagos, an electrical engineering major, placed sixth in the 50 backstroke (25.68) at the same meet. Cruz, who is double majoring in biopsychology and classics, recently picked up a sixth-place finish in the 5,000 (14.57.74) at the All-New England Championship meet, while Fabbri, who is a double major in electrical and biomedical engineering, was the leading point scorer in the 400 during the indoor track season. "I think maybe a good race feels better than doing well academically," Fabbri said. "Doing well in school, you just go to your class and do your work and you will do well if you put in the effort. With races, you only get out of it what you put into it. You have to work so hard in athletics, and when you put so much effort in and when you see improvement, that feels great." A double major in English and American studies, Obed was the hockey team's third leading scorer, with 15 goals and 27 assists, and helped guide the squad to a ECAC Northeast Division regular season title. In the final game of the season, Obed tallied his 100th career point. Crofton, an English major, had one of the best seasons of any Jumbo athlete - winning the New England Division III Championship in the 5,000 (17:45.80) and qualifying for Nationals both in the 1,500 and with the distance medley relay team. Her teammate Deeb, a biopsychology major, also had an outstanding season of her own, finishing third in the 800 at the All-New Englands. She was also a national qualifier in the 400 and as a member of the distance medley team. Leahy majors in international relations, was a consistent scorer in the 100 butterfly, and was also tri-captain of the swimming team. Radford, an art history major, alternated between the eight and nine spots for the women's squash team, playing a key role in the team's 10-8 record. Fishman, the floor general for the women's basketball team, ranked second in the NESCAC with 3.0 steals per game and third with 4.4 assists. She is majoring in mechanical engineering. According to Fabbri, becoming a student athlete is now increasingly more difficult, and could become a thing of the past, not because of lack of time, but rather because of Tufts' scheduling. "As an upperclassmen, a lot of the classes that we need to take are graduate-level classes," Fabbri said. "The school has been scheduling them later and later in the day because they want students from other schools and fields to be able to come. It is screwing up everyone's practice time. I think that should be brought to light. Making [classes] scheduled in the afternoon makes it hard for teams to schedule practice in the afternoon. Some schools like Williams have holes in their schedule where they don't have class so they can have practices. It's hard to have practices and class not conflict."

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News

Save our house

March 31

On Jan. 25, members of the Asian American community met with Vice President for Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Mel Bernstein at the Start House in an open forum to talk about issues facing Asians on the Tufts campus. One such concern was the cramped size of the Start House, which functions both as an administrative office for the Asian American Center as well as the residential Asian American cultural unit for eight students. Many felt that the Start House seemed too small to comfortably accommodate events and meetings, especially given the fact that Asian Americans constitute the largest minority population on this campus. Vice President Bernstein assured us that the community would be able to maintain its desirable central location and even discussed the possibility of expanding the facility. Thus, we were very surprised to read in the Daily ("Case for new dorm to be brought to trustees," 2/6) that the real estate occupied by the Start House is a potential location for a new dorm. As current residents, we are confused about the impression we received from Bernstein just two weeks ago that supported both the center and residential unit's presence on this campus. We are also very concerned about the possible threat to the Start House posed by a possible new dormitory. The Start House serves as a vital resource center for Asian-American students at Tufts. Its physical presence helps establish a sense of community and is a meeting place for academic, political, and social gatherings. The house is open to all members of the Tufts population who wish to learn about the Asian-American experience. We sincerely hope that the administration recognizes the importance of the Start House and supports maintaining its location and presence on campus.Tanai Kamat, LA '03Amee Kantesaria, LA '02Kristen Kawachi, LA '02Mika Mutoh, LA '03Joe Pak, LA '02Caroline Park, LA '03Mimi Trinh, LA '02Devang Vasani, LA '03

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Fletcher gets its new dean, finally

March 31

Former US Ambassador to South Korea Stephen Bosworth will become the seventh dean of Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy next Thursday, more than nine months after he was hired. Fletcher announced the appointment last July, but Bosworth's arrival was postponed when ambassadorial obligations kept him on the Korean peninsula. Diplomats generally relinquish their posts when a new president is elected, and Bosworth requested to finish his term before assuming the top Fletcher position. Bosworth replaces John Galvin, who retired from Fletcher in June at age 71. In the intervening months, Joel Trachtman, a professor of international law and Fletcher's academic dean, has served as interim dean. "We decided it was better to wait and get the right person," Trachtman said. "And the feedback we have had indicates that we made the right choice." With a diplomatic career dating from 1961 that includes posts at several political hotspots, Bosworth is well-known and respected in his field. Tufts hopes its newest dean will add to Fletcher's international reputation; the University's best-known graduate school is regarded as one of the world's top academic centers for diplomacy. "He brings relationships and knowledge and his experiences give him a real sense of what international relations is," Trachtman said. "People have always felt that a high-profile background is important." While ambassador to Korea, Bosworth worked to ease tensions that have divided the peninsula since the Korean War. Perhaps the highlight of his tenure was a historic summit between the leaders of North and South Korea which he was instrumental in coordinating. Fletcher students hope that Bosworth's status will bring prominence to the Fletcher School. "Galvin was a really great dean and I'm hoping [Bosworth] will be of the same caliber," first-year student Faris Khander said. "I'm hoping he'll keep the same level of interaction with the students. His presence might bring more attention to the school and more resources." Trachtman said that once Bosworth arrives he will spend six months familiarizing himself with the school before making any major policy decisions or teaching any courses. Eventually, Bosworth will have to confront budgetary issues and find the resources for an expansion of Fletcher's curriculum in humanitarian studies, Latin American studies, business, and other fields. The administration would also like Fletcher to improve its financial aid offerings - the school's tuition this year reached $23,000 - and ensure a careful approach to new technology issues. Fletcher's distance-learning program, which it launched a year ago, is also in need of administrative guidance. "He'll want to try to figure out a course for the next five to ten years so that Fletcher remains the leading school of diplomacy," Trachtman said. Bosworth, 60, graduated from Dartmouth College and studied graduate-level economics at George Washington University. He served as chairman of Dartmouth's Board of Trustees, and between 1990 and 1994 he taught international relations as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs. From 1979-1981 Bosworth was the US ambassador to Tunisia, before assuming the ambassadorial duties in the Philippines during the last years of Ferdinand Marcos' dictatorship. He held various diplomatic positions in Paris, Madrid, and Panama and with the State Department in Washington, including director of policy planning, principal deputy assistant secretary of state for inter-American affairs, deputy assistant secretary for economic affairs, and directory of the Office of Fuels and Energy. Trachtman said the ambassador's academic experience was a key factor in his selection and complemented his reputation in diplomatic circles. Fundraising experience gained from his work as president of the United States-Japan Foundation, a private, grant-making organization, will also help him in his new job. The search for a dean began in mid-1999 when Galvin, who served as the Supreme Allied Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Europe before coming to Tufts, announced his intention to retire. The US presidential race posed a minor problem, as some candidates for dean said that their decision to accept the post would depend on the election's outcome. The committee wished to avoid that uncertainty and rejected those candidates outright. Bosworth will make his first official appearance as dean next Thursday at a welcoming reception at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. during the annual Fletcher student career trip. An official installation ceremony for him will be held at Tufts on March 7.

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Business briefs

March 31

Fed cuts interest rates again In response to signs of an economic slowdown, the Federal Reserve (Fed) cut interest rates by half a percentage point on Wednesday, which brings the federal funds rate to 5.0 percent. The Fed's decision to lower interest rates for the second time in January comes as no surprise to investors, who see the nation's economy quickly slipping into a recession. The Fed's action came after the government reported that economic growth slowed to an annual rate of just 1.4 percent in the fourth quarter of 2000. This was the weakest increase in the gross domestic product in more than five years. Interest rates will have a large impact on students who expect to mortgage their homes after college or borrow money to start a business after they graduate. The decision to lower the federal funds rate, or any interest rate reduction for that matter, is designed to encourage young adults to borrow money toward a home or business. "On top of the important effects on the economy that this [rate cut] will have, it also makes me feel a little more confident about borrowing money to start my life after college," Tufts sophomore Christopher Goodchild said. The rate cut came just a day after the Consumer Confidence Index reported a 14-point drop during December, marking the index's fourth straight monthly decline. "Consumers with adjustable rate borrowings will see a reduction in interest payments," George Bicher, an analyst at Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown. "Hopefully that will improve consumer confidence. At least that's what it is supposed to do." Tech companies see decline in share prices Technology stocks, as measured by the Nasdaq Composite Index, closed in negative territory on Wednesday despite the Fed's rate cut. The Nasdaq experienced a one percent gain immediately following the Fed's announcement, but quickly slipped 65.62 points to 2772.73. Among the stocks that were hit by Wednesday's decline in the tech sector were AOL Time Warner (AOL), Yahoo Inc., Ask Jeeves Inc., and Amazon.com. AOL, the largest internet media company in the world, posted a loss of $1.09 billion, mainly due to merger-related costs in the last three months of 2000. AOL shares closed down 1.75 to 52.56 on Wednesday, the day of the announcement. Products provided by the company such as MoviePhone.com, Instant Messenger, and various cable networks, are widely used by college students for communication and entertainment interests. Global Internet communications, commerce, and media company, Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) closed down 2.38 to 37.31. The leading provider of question answering technologies and services, Ask Jeeves Inc. (ASKJ) closed down 0.44 to 3.75. The largest dot-com retailer, Amazon.com (AMZN) closed down 1.63 to 17.31. Products provided by these online companies such as Yahoo! Shopping, Amazon's books, music and DVDs, and Ask Jeeves's question answering services appeal specifically to college students.International tech stocks slip The Fed's decision to support the economy with lower interest rates did not help Tokyo tech stocks, which closed lower on Thursday. Sony shares slipped along with most other high-tech issues, dropping 0.12 percent to 8,440 yen. Because Sony has had trouble delivering enough machines, costs associated with PlayStation 2 are draining its profits. Lowered US interest rates resulted directly in a decline of lending rates in Argentina, which the government hopes will be the key to dragging the economy out of its 30-month lull. Argentine stocks slipped in value on Thursday as well. Bank and telecom shares led UK stocks to decline on Thursday as investors backed away from the market to analyze the outlook after an anticipated 50 basis point cut in US interest rates. "At the moment the market does not want to move higher, it is focusing on the potentially negative outlook for the economy rather than the stimulus from the rate cut," said Jeremy Rigg, UK equity manager at Investec Asset Management.

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News

A bloody good time

March 31

My English professor looked up from Down and Out in Paris and London by Orwell saying, "It's almost like a national stereotype isn't it, the way Orwell asks him if he plays golf, as though it is expected?" I stifled a laugh, looking down at the note I sat composing for my Austrian friend Christine who sat next to me. I was in the middle of writing to her about our British friends, and how each of them fills a comical stereotype, and had just looked at my professor's enormous bouffant of hair, sickly yellowed skin and fingernails from spending far too many days indoors reading, and his pointed, intellectual nose supporting half-glasses with gold rims. "He looks like the Grinch!" I wrote. Looking again, I recognized the "English professor" stereotype making eye contact with me, pleasantly amused with his comments. His monotone voice and British accent droned on in the aging classroom as I mused over the framework of stereotypes that come into play when national prides collide. I told my flat-mate recently, a girl from Essex (known for its accent and Essex "tarts," which we would call "skanks," I believe) that we Americans have stereotypes about British people too, firing back at her for laughing at my expressions. "Oh my Gad!" she said, mimicking me. I had kept our stereotypes out of play, wanting to surprise her at the right moment when she once again called our television trash and our films filth. "You know, in America, some people say British people have bad teeth and are drunks." She quickly turned her head, saying, "Really? Wow, that's actually somewhat true. At least the drinking part." I nodded in agreement, thinking about the Brits I know, particularly men. It seems, when drinking, they have an odd penchant for rowdiness, vandalism, and vomiting. The British, it is true, love to drink. It is normal to take a study break and walk two blocks to our local pub, the Crown and Anchor. One pint and I am heading back to work, but in the hour that I am there with my British mates, they have accumulated a stack of pint glasses so high it boggles the mind. Where does it all go? It is also normal to hear my friend Jimmy outside my window after drinking with his "rugby mates," puking up, as they put it. And mind you, I hear him with the window closed. I am convinced that many British men have a constant supply of alcohol in their veins. During lunch, after work, after dinner, they are in the pubs. I feel "pissed" (drunk) merely talking about it. Not only do they drink, but it seems they are so reserved during the normal hours of life, that once they get going on the pints, they let loose in a way I still struggle to comprehend. One bloke, having gulped a few too many, stumbled into a party I attended, carrying his recently killed pheasant on a wooden stand, waving its decaying body around in my face. "Look at my fresh kill. Isn't she a beauty?" Another boy thinks vandalism is a good idea, choosing to punch numerous ceiling tiles in the hallway and throw bottles out of the windows rather than get a groove on to some good music. His voice grows decibels and his sense leaves him quickly as the level of alcohol increases. While discussing prostitution with him one night, he said, "Hell, I'd do the Queen Mum for a fiver if I needed to." That's five pounds by the way: $7.50. Some Brits also seem to like to shoot off the fire extinguishers and steal construction signs from the numerous road work sites around my building. And no one has been spared the image of a drunk Englishman screaming at a giant screen TV in a pub, encouraging his favorite football club, with much profanity, yelling, "Ohh... come on boys... bloody hell!" Of course, these are futile stereotypes, but what accuracy some people provide to these expectations! I can't help but laugh hysterically at the hilarity of it all, knowing full well that my loud laugh and Maine accent cater oh so well to the British mind's categorization of Americans. But oddly, my speech has become a certain hybrid between Maine and Essex accents, and some of my British friends have dropped "bloke" for "guy" and "Alright" for "What's up." We label each other, but not vindictively. We laugh and realize how well we seem to fit the molds sometimes, and at other moments, how we all mesh together into a pot of people getting drunk and talking nonsense, screaming at the tops of our lungs down empty streets in London after a rowdy night at the pub.Eds:jw, bo

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LCS serves up $4,000 for charity at auction dinner

March 31

Ever want to tell your professors what to do? Students were able to do just that last Thursday at the annual Faculty Waits on You Dinner, sponsored by the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) and held in Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall. Money raised by both admission to the dinner and a country-style auction - the evening's main event - benefited the Somerville Homeless Coalition. "We're here to support LCS in its continuing effort to provide financial support and human resources to the Somerville Homeless Coalition," AEPi fraternity member Dan Sinrod said. Members of AEPi, will be assisting the Somerville Homeless Coalition by creating a website for the organization. This year's event brought in approximately $4000 for the Coalition, which is slightly higher than the amount raised in years past. Though some students would have liked to see the money go to causes such as earthquake relief - especially in light of recent natural disasters in India and El Salvador - LCS felt strongly that the proceeds should benefit a local charity. "The event started specifically for [the Coalition], thus the cause is always the same. We have raised money for them for many, many years, so we stuck with the tradition rather than taking away money that they depend on," event co-coordinator Sheri Weinberg said. "They really count on this money and they run some great programs so we were glad to help them," added Rachel Peck, the other co-coordinator. Peck and Weinberg collected "prizes" from faculty members, student organizations, and local businesses for the auction, which was led by men's track and field coach Connie Putnam. Students bid on items such private concerts from the Bubs, the Mates, sQ, and the Jills, a year's worth of dry cleaning, and dinner and a massage courtesy of Dan Landman and Angel Hossein. Among the most popular prizes in recent years has been lunch with President DiBiaggio and a ride in his classic Packard car. This year, Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, Sol and Robyn Gittleman, and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman were among the faculty members who took part in the auction. While the dinner has become a tradition for many faculty members and students, this year's event was also attended by many first-timers. "This is the first one I've been to and I'm amazed at how eager the faculty and staff are to wait on the students," Traveling Treasure Trunk member Ariana Wohl said. "I think it's great that we can all come down here and have a good time with good food and good people," added freshman Colin Stewart. Organizers were pleased with the turnout, as the event attracted enough students to pack the dining hall and keep the numerous faculty volunteers running back and forth from the kitchen with more bread baskets. This year's dinner attracted 18 faculty members, fewer than in years past. Organizers say the recruiting process was more personal than this year, as LCS members were asked to invite their favorite faculty members. "Most faculty are glad to help out and enjoy the event. Many of the professors have attended the dinner in the past and enjoy coming back each year," Peck said. Cathy Doheny, who works in the vice president's office and has participated four times, said, "It makes me feel good to help out." The Faculty Waits on You Dinner has been a tradition for nearly 30 years and is one of LCS's most popular and successful events. "I think the students give so much to the University so for us to give back at least once a year is just great," Student Activities Program Coordinator Ed Cabellon said.

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News

Points machine problems to be repaired

March 31

Points machines whose screen displays read "error" have been common this semester, leaving students aggravated and unable to refill their ID cards. But Dining Services is working to upgrade the machines, and hopes that recent servicing will rectify the problems. The reason for the malfunctioning, according to Dining Services Director Patti Lee Klos, is that the cash-to-point machines are serviced infrequently, and when a machine accumulate a certain amount of money, it can no longer perform transactions. The majority of student complaints have come from residents of Hill and Houston halls, the two dorms on campus with cash-to-points machines that allow students to insert cash to transfer money onto the vending stripe on their ID cards. Residents say these machines are frequently out of service, which has led to a variety of inconveniences. "When I do my laundry, I want to use points. It's cheaper and easier, but since the machines are always broken, I'm always on the search for quarters," said Katie Finkelstein, a sophomore in Houston Hall. Shortly after winter break, freshman Aaron Orenstein, a resident of Houston Hall, had a $10 bill eaten by a points machine. He e-mailed a complaint to the Canteen Corporation, the company responsible for maintaining the points and vending machines, but did not receive his money back for two months. "I was really frustrated," Orenstein said. "How could it possibly take two months to do something so simple?" Dining Services has been working to improve its communication with Canteen, according to Lee Klos, and there have been efforts to have Canteen representatives come to campus more often to service machines that are currently left inoperable for extended periods of time. One reason that points machine problems often go unaddressed is that Dining Services relies on students to report problems. "We don't have a staff person that can go around and check on them," Lee Klos said. Once the problems are reported, staff members of Canteen, which subtracts with Coca Cola, are dispatched. If someone from Coca Cola notices the problem, he or she must call Canteen to make the necessary repairs. Students have also complained that many of the vending machines in dorms do not accept their dollar bills and cards. According to Lee Klos, this problem should be resolved soon. "What in fact has been happening is in the cash mechanism, they had to be upgraded so they would recognize the new currency, and that has been done over the past few weeks," Lee Klos said. Fixing the technology that reads the cards is a fairly simple process and is also a priority of Dining Services, according to administrators. Much of the technology on campus is aging, and Dining Services has talked to Canteen about the possibility of upgrading all of the software to reduce problems. That is unlikely to occur by the end of this year, but could possibly be completed next year. Dining Services will also be installing an automatic debit machine (ADM) in Eaton Hall, similar to the machines in Carmichael, Dewick, and the campus center. These ADMs allow students to transfer money to the vending stripe, the narrow stripe on the back of the student ID card that can be used for the laundry machines as well as over 70 vending machines across campus. South Hall, the most-populated resident hall on campus, houses no points machines. "The other day, I had to go to the campus center only to find it wasn't working. The inconvenience is really frustrating," South resident Caroline Levy said. According to Klos, there used to be a points machine in South, but it was removed after being damaged by students several times. "When we have vending machines that are repeatedly vandalized, they take them out," she said. Cost is the primary reason that points machines have not been added to other dorms on campus. While Dining Services has not identified additional places to install machines, Klos said that adding more is not out of the realm of possibility.

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News

Finding comfort in a duvet

March 31

"Oh wow, are you an American?" I hear this question daily. Some people stare in amazement at the fact that I come from "America," a seemingly mythological place consisting of New York City, L.A., fast food, and feature films. Others apologize for my misfortune. Before coming to London for the year on the Tufts-in-London program, I had no idea what it was like to be a foreigner. But when I walked out of Heathrow Airport in London, my suitcase and backpack in tow, the cold rain stinging my skin still warm from Boston sunshine, I realized that I was far from home, and far from Tufts. Stepping into my new five-bedroom flat was disappointing to say the least. It is difficult enough to move into a new dorm room in the fall, but the empty flat, five stories up in a strange, foreign city, stood before me as a hopelessly uncomfortable place to live. I threw my bags down, sat on my bed, and frowned at the view of a skyscraper from my window. Nothing was familiar, but would be in time - I hoped. I was hungry, wet from rain (and yes, it does rain almost every day), and tired.The process of adjustment began, slowly progressing over a matter of months. There were the initial grievances in the first few weeks that made me want to sit down in the street and cry out in defeat, as suited commuters and individuals exceeding all my prior notions of coolness trampled me. Among other things, I had to achieve some sort of comfort level with my room, which posed a challenge. In England, there is no such thing as a comforter. Here they say "duvet" (pronounced doovey) to mean that lovely puffy article that makes sleeping so enjoyable. In my ignorance, I purchased a "duvet set," and received a small flat package. "Where is the comfort?" I thought. Of course, the set I bought merely contained the cover for the duvet, not the duvet itself. In fact, I encountered much difficulty with language, mainly when discussing sex. To "get off" means to hook up, and to "snog" means to kiss. To "make out" is too ambiguous a term to use. "Pants" are underwear and "trousers" are pants, and my initial American understanding of these terms naturally caused much snickering by my British friends. Using the restroom proved yet another challenge. I have created a simple way of tackling this issue, dividing it into steps:1. Ask someone for the "toilets."2. Find your way through a maze of doorways, halls, stairwells, and signs (using caution proportionate to number of pints consumed).3. Avoid locking yourself inside.4. Need I say it?5. Flush. This is the most difficult step of them all. Some flushes are above on a chain, some below in the form of a foot pedal, others a seemingly normal flush until you realize that the tension is completely different, and that a special quick, fluid motion of the wrist is necessary to complete the task. Some even need to be pumped.I was also met with a surprising amount of animosity towards my American-ness. Apparently, America is a baby at 225 years. Some English people feel America should be re-colonized, and the 2000 election strengthened this belief. I heard tirades about the superiority of Parliament and the farcical nature of American government. Outwardly, I defended my "home sweet home." I surprised myself by fiercely defending something in which I had never previously had faith. One night another Tufts student and I even walked home at 3 a.m. singing "God Bless America" in defiance of some drunken opinions from British persons.Academically, the English program here is traditional and sometimes highly comedic. My seminar professor's British accent proved so indecipherable that when he began to lecture on Tennyson's "In Memoriam," I resolved to be "that weird American girl in the corner." I played with my hair, coughed, and sneezed, all in an attempt to avoid any request to contribute my clueless American voice to the discussion. Over the course of the term - after a month-long bout with mono and numerous visits to the health center, witnessing the pitfalls of socialized medicine, and struggling with outlets and cars on the wrong side of the road - my frustrations eased, and I began to love London. I became part of a community of people, some Tufts students, many Brits, and international students as well. I managed to reconcile with periodic loneliness, join the dance society, and get a part-time job. My once empty flat now teems with activity and drum and bass music, and London is somehow becoming a new home, away from the shelter of familiarity, and an endless source of experience.

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News

Congress considers Bush's Pell Grant increase

March 31

Given President George W. Bush's recent flurry of budget cuts and program reductions, his proposal to increase the amount of Pell Grant funding comes as a welcome surprise to underprivileged students across the country. The move supplements the president's education plan - the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 - which was introduced in the House of Representatives last week. Pell Grants are federal educational grants of up to $3,125 a year that are available only to underprivileged students. Bush's proposal would raise the average subsidy by $200, while modestly increasing the maximum possible grant to $3,750. Both the House and the Senate have endorsed increases in the Pell Grant program. The Educational Excellence for All Learners Act of 2001 being considered in the Senate would increase the maximum grant to $4,700 per year. The House has discussed raising it to a compromised $4,350. While an increase in the subsidies ould have a large effect on college students from low-income families across the country, it would mean little to the small number of Tufts students who receive Pell grants. "Independently, no, it's not a lot. But then there are other grants and aid involved, and it helps in the overall package," said Al Mangini, Tufts' assistant director of financial aid. Unlike loans, Pell Grants do not have to be repaid. They are typically awarded to students whose families make less than $20,000 a year, though students with family incomes of up to $40,000 a year are eligible. Ten percent of Tufts students receive a total of $1,007,692 of aid through Pell Grants, according to Tufts Director of Financial Aid William Eastwood. The average grant amounted to $2,254, well above the national average of $1,890. During the 1999-2000 school year, 43 percent of first-year Tufts students received financial aid, with the average package totaling $19,000, according to US News and World Report. While Bush's proposed $200 increase is not that large compared to Tufts' yearly tuition or the average financial aid award, Eastwood said that "every bit helps." According to Eastwood, federal funding of the grants did not increase enough during the 1980s and '90s to keep up with the rising cost of higher education. A heavier reliance was placed on federal student loans, which caused educational debt to rise significantly. "While recent increases in Pell funding have been better, there needs to be a dramatic increase if Pell grants are to ever approach the purchasing power they held 20 years ago, when the maximum Pell Grant of $1,670 represented 24 percent of Tuft's tuition, as compared to approximately 14 percent today," Eastwood said. If Bush's proposal passes, it would represent a 39 percent increase in Pell Grant money since the 1997-1998 school year. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce linked continued economic prosperity to having a highly educated and skilled workforce. The committee called for "the continued investment in the Pell Grant program... if college is to remain an achievable part of the American dream." A study conducted by the Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance - an 11-member body that advises Congress on student-aid policy - found an average of $3,800 of unmet need for low-income students at four-year institutions. According to the report, many low-income students have the same qualifications as their wealthier peers, but without proper financial aid are unable to attend the institution of their choice. The increase in Pell Grants are just part of Bush's overall plan to improve education nationwide. The Republican National Committee's website says that Bush's budget proposal "provides the Education Department the largest percentage spending increase of any federal department." The department's budget would increase by 11.5 percent, or $4.6 billion. Other proposed measures include federal monitoring of under-performing school districts, increases in tax breaks for educational savings and expenses, and a controversial plan to introduce school vouchers to allow public school students to attend private institutions. Pell Grant recipients are determined by a formula that is revised and approved by Congress every year. The formula assesses the price to attend the institution, the family's financial situation, the size of the family, and whether the student is attending part time or full time. Since the inception of the Pell Grant program in 1973, nearly 80,000,000 grants have helped low and middle-income students attend college.

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