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The Setonian
News

Symposium panelists share perspectives on Chinese culture

March 31

Several internationally prominent scholars and authors met Friday night at Cabot Auditorium to discuss globalization and its effects on Chinese and American cultures. The speakers presented distinct perspectives on Chinese culture and the fusion of Eastern and Western culture while shedding light on China's economy, art, and political and legal systems. The panel, which was titled "Global Culture: Mediating the Unique and the Universal," was part the China Institute's annual weekend symposium. China Institute fellows and students who attended the program spoke enthusiastically about diversity of opinions reflected during the panel. "I'm looking at the panel and it's a phenomenal set of people, people whose books we've been reading, who are so important in this discourse of the globalization in China and culture," China Institute fellow Sarada Peri said. Esther Won, Director and General Counsel of the Silk Road Project, spoke on behalf of Yo Yo Ma. The Silk Road Project founded by Yo Yo Ma to expand the horizons of his own musical experience and highlight the musical traditions of Asian countries. In the short film on the Silk Road Project, Yo Yo Ma asks, "We're trying to bring people together who are great advocates of the traditions they come from, and if we make them meet, what happens?" The panel served just that function, as great minds with varying opinions were brought together in order to create a dialogue about Chinese culture. Dr. Lawrence Harrison, an author and scholar at the Academy for International and Area Studies at Harvard University, pointed out the similarities between Western, East Asian, and Judaic values. The three are alike in their emphasis on the future, strong work ethic and achievements, and the importance of education, according to Harrison. New York University Law professor Dr. Jerome A. Cohen spoke about the modernizing changes that the Chinese legal system is undergoing. He speculated that is possibly becoming a more federal, centralized system. Not all of the panelists felt that to speak of cultures in terms of East and West was the best way to view global culture. Lionel Jansen of the department of East Asian Languages and Literature at the University of Notre Dame disapproved of the way the Chinese and the Americans create a cultural chasm by dividing the world into two halves, the East and the West. Kwame Anthony Appiah, a professor of Afro-American studies and Philosophy at Harvard University, delivered his perspective through a filmed presentation because he was unable to attend the panel. He stressed that cultures are not self-contained, closed-off unique entities, but are shaped by interactions with different people and societies. Despite the differences in opinion, there was a general consensus among the panelists that China is presently undergoing a significant transition politically, economically, and culturally. All the speakers addressed the need to address this within an international context. The students in attendance responded positively to the panel and praised it for presenting a diversity of opinions. Brian Cathcart, a Japanese major who is involved with Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) said that the panel was a good chance for students to learn about modernization and progress in China. "This panel was particularly about what is important to develop," he said. "I think one of the good aspects of it was while there were people here that I did not agree with at all, various points of view were presented, and that allowed a chance for a genuine debate to take place." "I've learned to appreciate that the intellectual community can really be fraught with dissent and disagreement which was certainly brought forth tonight at the panel," EPIIC student Matthew Isles said. "I am looking forward to discussion because I think there is going to be a lot of contention. I'm hoping for it, actually." The China Institute, formerly known as Tufts Institute for Leadership and International Perspective, offers 14-20 Tufts students the opportunity to collaborate with students from Chinese universities to develop business and leadership skills. The students spend six weeks during the summer doing an internship in Hong Kong with students from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University, and Peking University. The Chinese students then come to Tufts later in the year for an international leadership symposium. China Institute students said that this weekend's programming gave them new insight into the culture of China. "I think the fact that we also have students from China and Tufts working together in this context is so important in informing the student body about what these issues are. I think that these are issues that are not necessarily discussed on an everyday basis and yet form the way we live our lives," Peri said. "The basis of the program, to create cross-cultural team building and leadership abilities, has been a success, basically," fellow Lisa Lake said. "I believe that each of us, though the exchange that we've had with someone from another culture, have gained an enormous amount, more than we even dreamed of coming into this program."

The Setonian
News

The Traveling Lush

March 31

What better place to look for Eurotrash than a club - excuse me, discotheque - in Europe? This Spring Break, the Traveling Lush crossed several time zones to bring you the latest from Rome, Italy, where fashion, gelati, and techno reign supreme. Thanks to a hint from a student studying abroad in Rome, we got in a taxi and headed toward Piper, supposedly Rome's oldest and biggest nightclub. Actually, we got into three cabs and drove, single file, like a funeral procession to the dark street where we found Piper closed, doors locked and lights out. This seems to be how Europe operates, where nothing runs by a coherent schedule or order, but rather by some kind of ancient, underground bureaucracy that involves lots of formulas and paperwork... but I digress. Our convoy continued, undaunted by this glitch in our plan. Have we mentioned that it's about 1 a.m. at this point? Since Romans don't eat dinner until eight or nine, everything is significantly pushed back in the evenings. They also enjoy the luxury of clubs and other establishments that stay open all the way into the morning, so you can start your evening at 1 a.m. and finish after dawn. Our cabby looked to us for directions; the destination was a bust. The other two cabs were quickly heading towards... well, somewhere else. One brave passenger shouted, "Follow that cab!" (Really. Lucky soul, how often does one find the opportunity to say that in real life? It's like saying, "Stop the presses!") One not-so-brave passenger asked the cabbie, "Do you speak English?""Si.""Um... sir, do you know where we're going?" "Si." Well, at least one of us knew. Upon further inquiry, he divulged to us our new final destination, "Ah Lyen." Huh? "Is it cool?" (Let's establish the important things first.) "I don't like it," Mr. Cabbie explained. "From the outside, it looks... not so nice." Just our kind of place: a seedy Italian club where we'll get a taste of true Roman culture. What could prove a better contrast to an afternoon spend wandering among the ruins of Augustus and Julius Caesar than to reaffirm our youth and vitality by immersing ourselves back in the modern world? We expected something shocking, some kind of clubbing experience completely different from what we're used to in Boston. Something real, something just a little bit naughty, and very new. Tired, weak and hungry for the dance, we expected Ah Lyen to shake the dust of the ancients off us. Mistake number one: "Ah Lyen" proved to be a misunderstanding. Think "Alien" pronounced with an Italian accent. Mistake number two: high expectations. Alien, according to Let's Go Europe 2000, is one of the biggest discos in Rome. After seeing it, though, it'd be interesting to see the others, or even to see the rest of Alien. Could this small room, the size of Hotung, with a low ceiling and only one bar possibly be one of the biggest in Rome? After paying L30,000 for cover and one drink voucher (don't worry, it's only about $15), we soon discovered why we would come to enjoy this small venue, and why we wouldn't want to leave when others started tiring. The all-important ratio: About 95 percent of the clubbers in Alien were male. Which meant that our three cabs constituted about 3 percent of the population and 60 percent of the women. Yes, the ratio was very much in our favor. That and being blatant American tourists made for an evening full of slick approaches and hasty getaways, sly glances and unwelcome advances. All attention was on us - well, perhaps not all of it. A lot of the guys were watching the professional dancers on stage. How could we compete with high boots and negligees? Other than the fact that we couldn't communicate with most of the people in Alien, the scene was identical to clubs in Boston. Girls tend to stick together, and those who stray from the herd are quickly pounced upon by flocks of men... or boys. One thing to note is that although the average age of the patrons was about our age, this range included both teenagers and skanky old men. One persistent older fellow (actually sporting a plaid sport coat) attached himself to our flanks for a solid two hours, content to dance behind us despite the fact that we kept migrating away from him.The communication in Alien, as in most clubs, is non-verbal. When a guy wants to dance with you, he comes at you from behind, hangs out for a while, and then starts in on your butt. If you don't say no, you've accepted his advances and the two of you dance. If you want to say no, you either wait for a male friend to rescue you, or you quickly switch places with a female friend and hope your suitor gets the message. You don't need to know Italian to pick up on the blatant body language of wandering hands, bedroom eyes and, well, tight pants. When attempting to order a drink, however, the language barrier makes things a bit tricky. How do you say "gin and tonic" or "Cosmopolitan" in Italian? When in doubt, rely on a faithful standby and international ambassador: Coke. "I'll have a rum and Coke, please." That should be simple enough. [Blank stare.] "Rum and Coke please." Why is this so difficult? [Blank stare.] "Rum. And Coke." And for some linguistic reason unbeknownst to us, this technique works, and we get our Rum. And Coke. So Alien is not about drinking, as evidenced by the fact that the small bar is relatively unpopulated by the clientele. Rather, it's about dancing - on the floor, on the stage, and even on an aluminum table we assume was put by the speaker for the precise purpose of deafening those who would dare to venture atop it. But we got up anyway (would you have expected anything less?). Though we didn't pretend to compete with the professional dancers - who by this point were in thongs and lingerie - we were still surprised by the lack of attention Americans dancing in the air roused. One curious onlooker seemed interested in the goings-on up there, but wait - was he smiling at me or at the guy in front of me? Huh. We danced the night away to techno, enjoyed some familiar favorites like "One More Time" and "Around the World," and watched as throngs of Italians chanted choruses of "Money, money!" And they say capitalism isn't the imperialism of our age.

The Setonian
News

Track gets out of block quickly

March 31

The Jumbos began the season on a winning note, taking first place in the Tufts Invitational last Saturday. Facing fairly easy competition from small schools such as Worcester State and Fitchburg State, the atmosphere at the meet was relatively care free. "It was a pretty low key meet for us," coach Connie Putnam said. "These were not high performance teams." The lack of competition made the meet a painless victory for Tufts. Instead of focusing on winning, Putnam saw the meet as an opportunity for his men to ease into the track season. "It allowed us to get re-acclimated to racing," he said. Team members agree that the Jumbos were not thoroughly tested in last weekend's meet, nor will they face particularly strong opponents in their upcoming home meet this weekend. "Until we go to Bowdoin [January 27] we are going to be facing squads that won't pose much of a problem. We haven't really been tested yet," said Darren Fabbri, a senior. Although thus far untested, Tufts' coach was pleased with the team's overall performance in the season opener. "We had good balance across the board," she said. On the heels of the winter recess, the team had several strong performances. Taking first or second place in every running event, the Jumbos recorded wins by Fabbri in the 400 meters (53.06 seconds), and sophomores Bryant Coen (2:00.55) and Greg Devine (8.07) in the 800 and 55 meter hurdles, respectively. Returning from a semester abroad, junior Adam Barrer also had an impressive performance, placing fourth in the 200 (24.04). Putnam was impressed by Barrer's ability to adjust after missing the beginning of the season and all practices. Putnam feels that many of his team member's times were slower than usual due to the extended winter break and the meet's lack of competition. For the first official meet of the season, he felt that his men had a solid showing. Strong performances from Chinua Thelwell and Patrick Taylor showed that the freshmen will likely have an important impact in the upcoming season. Thelwell ran well in the 55 hurdles, taking second place (8.13), while Taylor helped the team in the jumps placing second in the long jump (6.17 m). "The freshmen are making a pretty big difference. Patrick and Chinua are making big strides, which helped a lot," Fabbri said. While Taylor's impact has helped strengthen a depleted jumping team, the Jumbos have little depth within this squad. "We're still a little bit weak there, but we'll strengthen up," Putnam said. To remedy the situation, Putnam hopes that Taylor will continue to improve and other freshmen will be able to join the group. The possibility of Devine jumping still remains if the team needs more jumpers later in the season. The Jumbos' other key weakness was in the high jump. With senior Adam Mantzaris out from a rugby injury, Tufts entered the meet without their only high jumper. Putnam hopes that he will be able to fully use Mantzaris within two weeks. "It will be a weakness in the meantime," he said. While problems with the jumping squad remain, this year's team should be a stronger and more balanced group than last year's. The Tufts Invitational this weekend should be another relaxed meet. Facing schools such as Hartwick and Western State, Putnam admits that his team "is not really racing hard yet." The women's team also enjoyed a successful weekend, finishing first in the Tufts Invitational by a wide margin. The Jumbos amassed 212 points, well ahead of second place Trinity, which finished with 85. A number of first-place individual performances carried the team to victory. Folake Aaron edged teammate Myriam Claudio, taking the 55 in a time of 7.87. She also dominated the 55 hurdles (9.01), winning by over a second. In the 200, Claudio won with a time of 28.14, while Jennifer Edelmann took the 3,000 (11:20.47). In the field events, Tufts put together a strong showing as well. Amy Spiker won the high jump (1.47 m), and Sarah Leistikow took the long jump (4.72). In the shot put, Jess Gauthier took first place with an 8.85 meter throw. Both teams will be settling back into the semester routine this upcoming week. Each squad will participate in the Tufts Invitational on Saturday at 12 p.m. before jumping into the hardest part of their schedules.

The Setonian
News

Admissions sees decrease in applicant pool

March 31

As the Tufts community heads into April, seniors are getting ready to leave the Hill, but a new class is beginning to take shape at Bendetson Hall - the class of 2005. Acceptance letters will soon go out to a new class of potential students, who must decide whether or not to chose Tufts as their new school. With April Open House approaching, current and prospective students get ready to usher in a new class of Jumbos. According to Director of Undergraduate Admissions Allan Clemow, regular applications decreased this year from last year. Admissions saw a small decrease of about three percent in applications, with 13,701 applicants, the second-largest application pool in the University's history. Last year, Tufts received the highest number of applicants in the ever, with 14,192 students applying. The number of students applying to Tufts has increased heavily in the last eight years, generating a sharper rise than many other schools, according to Dean of Admissions David Cuttino. "This is a very strong year in terms of competitiveness," Cuttino said, adding that more students are considering Tufts as their first choice. Despite the difference in numbers, admissions maintained the same ratio of 12 to one for applicants to available spaces. Overall, applications have risen nearly 70 percent since 1995, and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions continues to attract interest in Tufts through mailings, information sessions, and providing prospective students with the opportunity to take campus tours and attend classes. Despite this year's slight decrease in applications, at least one high school guidance counselor said that she has seen increased interest in Tufts. Elizabeth Jensen of Ardsley High School in Ardsley, NY, has noticed an increase in applicants to Tufts during her 20 years as a guidance counselor. "More kids are interested [in Tufts]," she said. "Now, more students are concerned about its acceptance rate. Students no longer see Tufts as a solid school, but as a more and more competitive school [to get into]." As interest in Tufts grows, so does student concern over its acceptance rate - or the "fear factor," as Jensen calls it. On the other hand, since Tufts offers two rounds of early decision, many students also decide to apply early, which may increase a student's chance of acceptance. Cuttino added that early decision applications were at an all-time high this year. To inform and assuage these anxious high school students, Student Outreach, an organization with over 600 volunteers, works in conjunction with the admissions office. In this organization, "students want to help other students," according to senior Leon McLean, one of the Student Outreach coordinators. The group focuses on campus tours throughout the year, giving high school students the chance to see the campus and interact with current Tufts students. The tour allows prospective students to view Tufts - its campus and its student body - in an open and informal atmosphere, giving them a peek into what their lives might be like at Tufts. "[My campus tour] made me decide to apply early," freshman Lauren Friedman said. Tour guides go through an application and interview process, and all work on a volunteer basis. "Other schools pay their tour guides," McLean said. "It says a lot about Tufts that people are willing to volunteer their time to talk about the school." April Open House (AOH), which will take place from April 18 to 20, is one of Student Outreach's major events of the year. For many current students, this weekend was influential in their college decision. "I was already accepted to Tufts, but felt better about coming here after [AOH] and meeting some people in my class and current Tufts students," freshman Graham Wilson said. Overnight visits also give accepted students a taste of student life, not only helping future Jumbos make decisions, but also reinforcing and comforting the students' choices.

The Setonian
News

The woman behind the vagina

March 31

Special to the Daily, the producer of Tufts' version of The Vagina Monologues interviews the woman behind the show. "I think what happens when you love your body and love your vagina is that you hold a sacredness around it and you know it's yours and you know it's your choice to give it or not to give it." This is one of Eve Ensler's many thoughts regarding issues raised in her book and Obie Award-winning, Off-Broadway play, The Vagina Monologues. The play is being shown across the country this week in conjunction with Ensler's V-Day, a substitute for Valentine's Day promoted by women around the world "until all the violence stops." As evidenced by the show's title, the play deals with issues surrounding women and their vaginas. And while it may sound like an elementary topic, Ensler was able to tap into a complex world of problems and concerns that include rape, domestic violence, childhood sexual abuse, and genital mutilation. Responding to societal ignorance and mystery surrounding the vagina, the monologues address all of these issues, and range from happy to sad to funny to tragic. "Well, I can only say it was very accidental. This whole thing has been like a divine accident" Ensler said of her creative process. Ensler recalled a conversation when, talking about menopause, she and her friend stumbled upon the topic of vaginas. She found herself surprised by many of the things that were said. "I realized I had no idea what women thought about their vaginas." Well, she can't say that anymore. Her realization sparked a quest during which she traveled across the country and around the world, interviewing over 200 women about their vaginas. While she sensed hesitation in response to her questions at first, Ensler soon found that women secretly love to talk about their vaginas - it's just that no one ever asked before. The interviews eventually turned into monologues which resulted in her award-winning performance. But it didn't end there. As Ensler hit city after city on her first tour, she found herself overwhelmed by the stories of countless women who approached her with their own accounts of abuse and desecration. "I just couldn't keep doing the piece if I didn't do something. It was too awful," she recalled. So V-Day was born. "We picked Valentine's Day because the theme was to take the romance out of Valentine's Day and put the vagina back in," Ensler explains. "I think a lot of violence has been committed towards women in the name of romance." Now, the "V" stands for many things, including "vagina," "violence," and "victory." "We have just about every women's group in the world working on this issue to stop violence whether it's female genital mutilation (FGM) in Africa or the desecration of women in Afghanistan through acid burnings and wife burning," Ensler said. (Female genital mutilation is the ritual practice of cutting a woman's clitoris or removing it altogether.) With the help of V-Day funds, a major group in Kenya is working on a movement to provide an alternative ritual to FGM. So what do The Vagina Monologues have to do with ending violence? On an individual level, Ensler believes that talking about their personal experiences helps women who have been victims of violence to recover. "I think the more you can talk about what you've been through, the more you can share it, the more you can process, the more you can have your feelings, the more possible it is that you can recover from this and move to another place in your life," she said. One of the greatest challenges to the movement is increasing male involvement. While men cannot be actors in the performance, they can get involved in all other aspects of the show and surrounding events. Ensler made it clear that this project "...is not so that women can become the dominant gender and oppress men, it's so that women can come into their full rights and their full being and liberate this Earth." Her advice to men is not to pretend they "know everything," as they are raised to do. This attitude, Ensler said, leads men to make assumptions that can be disastrous. "I think one of the things men could do is not know and not know openly," she said. "The other thing is for men to really think about what vaginas are and what women are and the depth and the profundity of that, and to honor where they come from. I mean, men come from vaginas, they pass through them. I think men often forget it. You know, it's like desecrating the house that you were brought up in." With The Vagina Monologues currently being performed in 20 countries around the world, and V-Day celebrations taking place at over 250 colleges and in 50 international cities, Ensler has sparked a movement that is growing more popular every day.

The Setonian
News

Medicines thrown off shelves

March 31

A box of tissues, a bottle of Robitussin, and a bag of throat lozenges; when you're suffering the common cold, you'll probably want these items close at hand. Decongestants or expectorants may also provide relief. Sooner or later, these drugs will nurse you back to your everyday health. But a new study has determined that certain over-the-counter (OTC) drugs may be doing more harm than good, resulting in the removal of several common medications from drugstore shelves. According to a recent study by researchers at Yale, an ingredient in many OTC cold medicines, phenylpropanolamine (PPA), may be linked to hemorrhagic stroke, a type of stroke characterized by bleeding in the brain. Women between the ages of 18 and 49 are especially vulnerable, the study says. As a result of the Yale findings, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Non-Prescription Drugs Advisory Committee asked suppliers and pharmacies that market pharmaceutical or drug products containing PPA to pull them off their shelves. The Yale study matched 702 patients who had suffered hemorrhagic strokes with patients from similar demographic categories who had not suffered strokes. The research found evidence that the stroke sufferers were 50 percent more likely to have taken products containing PPA than those who had never experienced stroke symptoms. Those women who use appetite suppressants that contain PPA, such as Acutrim and Dexatrim, experienced 16 times more risk of stroke after the first three days of use than those who did not. The median age of female stroke patients was 35. Increased risk was reported with suppressant dosages of more than 75 milligrams. In general, the chance that a causal user of OCDs will suffer a hemorrhagic stroke is very low. But the risk increases when combined with factors such as age, high blood pressure, smoking, alcohol, and the use of blood-thinning medications. The study also found that while men did not show the same levels of risk, they might also be in danger if use they continue to use PPA drugs. Because of the seriousness of the findings, the FDA has taken quick action. The Yale study was completed last May, and reports appeared in medical journals in October. A month later, the national media received press releases - an uncharacteristically rapid action by the FDA. "When scientific information is spread it takes a little while and people need to think about it a little bit. I think that the FDA acted quite quickly, and they are not known for acting quickly," said Margaret Higham, Medical Director of Tufts' Health Services. The medical establishment has been aware of the risks associated with PPA for more than 20 years. Some associates in the FDA criticized the recent findings, arguing that the results were published prematurely and that making such wide-based claims will negatively effect the general population - especially pharmaceutical providers, such as CVS and its 4,100 stores and Walgreens, which operates 3,200 stores nationwide. According to a WebMD article, about 100 companies are expected to voluntarily stop marketing products containing PPA while the FDA drafts new regulations that will effectively ban its use. The FDA concluded that it could not predict what group is most at risk from using PPA drugs, and the type of problem PPA drugs alleviate - a sore throats or stuffed nose - is not significant enough to keep PPA medications in stores. "I don't think that the removal of PPA is as much of a concern. I think the greater concern is, what about the other medications that are also decongestants that haven't been specifically studied. Those are still being widely used," Higham said. "No one has asked me if Sudafed is okay. Well, we're still recommending Sudafed, but to be honest, we don't know that it's okay," she added. Pharmacies are stocking up on alternative medications that contain safe cough-cold formulas such as pseudoephedrine, chloropheniramine, which is found in Chloro-Trimeton, and diphenhydramine, the ingredients in Benadryl. Those using OTC appetite suppressants will have to switch to prescription weight loss products, since all OTC drugs contain PPA. "I've never approved of those medications and I still don't. Studies have shown that is not an effective way to lose weight," Higham cautioned. With flu season in full effect, many students depend on OTC drugs to get them through the day. Though some students are reluctantly waving goodbye to Dimetapp and other OTC drugs, others are not that concerned about the study's results. "People have been using these medications for years, so I am not going to freak out because now the FDA says they are bad," senior Veronica McMahon said. Some students, however, are heeding the FDA advice. "I think they should keep PPA products off the shelves until further studies can be done," freshman Rob Curry said. "If a problem is found, then let them stay off." For students who grew up taking drugs with PPA, the findings are a bit disconcerting. "I don't use the products with PPA in them anymore, but as a kid I practically lived off the stuff from October until March every year," sophomore Emily Cappetta said. At her advisory capacity at Tufts, Higham cautions students about their choice of medication. "I tell people that they are welcome to try some of the other over-the-counter medications, but they need to decide whether they make a difference or not," Dr. Higham said. "The best thing to do is be patient and wait it out. People just have to be aware that if they are using any medications, herbal or otherwise, they don't always know what is in them. You can't promise them that they are going to be okay because we just don't know," she said.

The Setonian
News

Tufts in top ten for percentage of students opting to studying abroad

March 31

Tufts' study abroad program - one of the University's hallmarks in global education - is at a peak, with the percentage of student participants outnumbering all but a handful of other research institutions around the country. Globalization has always filtered through the Tufts community, providing an international component that helps bring national prestige to the University. Tufts ranked eighth nationwide in 1998-99 among research institutions in percentage of students sent abroad, according to statistics published by the Institute of International Education. With recent improvements made in the Office of Programs Abroad's system of record keeping, the University now has comprehensive statistics regarding abroad participation. Each school - from the School of Nutrition to Talloires to Fletcher - made an effort to gather the data, which helped boost Tufts in the rankings. "Tufts has always presented a high level of participation [in Study Abroad programs], but now we have a more accurate picture of how we stand in relation to other institutions," said Associate Dean of Programs Abroad Sheila Bayne, who compiled the data at the conclusion of last year. With 22.8 percent of its undergraduate and graduate population studying abroad in 1998-99, Tufts ranks higher than other research institutions characterized by an international relations flair, such Georgetown University. Although another 12.5 percent of the population would be needed to catch up to New York's Yeshiva University, which ranks first on the list, Tufts' figures are very comparable to four of the universities above it, which include the University of Pennsylvania and Cornell University. With its well-known dedication to international relations and a pronounced emphasis on foreign languages, many students apply to Tufts with an overseas experience in mind for their junior or senior year. "Even before I came to Tufts, I wanted to study abroad," sophomore Robina Bhasin said. Bhasin plans to spend two semesters away from Tufts - one in Chile to complement her Latin American Studies minor and another in Madrid to experience European culture. Bhasin cited the popularity of the international relations major and the importance of the study abroad program at Tufts as two determining factors in her college choice. According to Bayne, when students are asked to fill out an evaluation of their experiences abroad, the most frequent answer in terms of overall satisfaction is "it was the best year of my life." Junior Howard Wolke, who went on a non-Tufts program to Israel last semester, repeated Bayne's words verbatim. "I learned things I could have never learned before," said Wolke, who is majoring in comparative religion and history. On campus, Tufts imposes a language requirement of six semesters on undergraduates (or three foreign languages and three culture courses), as well as one world civilizations class. "The undergraduate curriculum at Tufts has always had an international, global reach," Provost Sol Gittleman said. This is the reason that the Olin foundation gave Tufts a grant to finance the F. W. Olin Center for Language and Culture, he added. The foundation traditionally reserves such grants to recognize the best aspects of the receiving school. "[The requirements] inspire curiosity about other parts of the world," Bayne said. Besides the more comprehensive tracking of statistics by the Office of Programs Abroad, actual numbers have also increased. Travel, in general, has become more common with advents in communications, and a developing trend towards higher education in the United States has also inspired many students to explore new cultures in person. The junior year has typically been the year of choice to travel because, by that point, students have selected a major and can continue to take courses overseas while still having time to make up any other University requirements during their senior year. The study abroad office encourages students to choose Tufts abroad programs. There are usually eight different cities to choose from in the Tufts program, though the Tufts in Ghana program has been suspended for the past two semesters. Tufts-run sites are generally easier for student in terms of getting course credits, since they transfer automatically. The University also benefits financially when students use its programs instead of going elsewhere. There are, however, numerous non-Tufts options available for students who prefer to take other courses or explore parts of the world that Tufts has not yet settled. The Office of Programs Abroad holds two weekly information sessions throughout the year, in which representatives from the different programs present both Tufts and non-Tufts and returning students recount their experiences in other parts of the world. Pizza parties at the Campus Center, videos, brochures, and a website are also used by the study abroad office to advertise and attract students.

The Setonian
News

Getting intimate with Lewis Black

March 31

You do a lot of shows. I wanted to know, why do you this type of show, this cross between comedy and politics?It came about because I wanted to be a playwright, so I didn't really expect to be doing this for a living. I started doing standup as a way to do my writing and get it out there, and then that started to generate an income and I got really tired of trying to fight the American theater. I mean, they're exhausting. Then I found out it was easier to deal with raging alcoholics in clubs.Do you plan on doing any more playwriting?Well, I wrote a ton of plays. I've written three or four potential shows for myself along the way, in the last few years. What I think I'll write more of, if I get any goddamn time, is articles and stuff. What I'll probably end up doing... when I finish doing this, I'll write plays againWhen did you really start getting into comedy? When did you start getting popular? Did it just come all of a sudden or was it a slow process?It was a slow process - it started about six years ago, then it kind of exploded about two years ago, where I was performing and people started coming to see the shows and now it's like they pay me to see an audience. What's your best audience?Right now, college students. There are certain clubs that I like to play a lot where I can kind of just riff more. I feel that, for the money I get paid in college, that this is ok... except for when that stuff happens like this, when they didn't laugh at that...Were you really disappointed by the audience's reaction?I was shocked. I wasn't disappointed, but I was shocked. And it was the pc thing, which really raises its head with me and I was like "Ah, f-ck, here we go again. I'm so tired of this sh-t." So that was fun. But I like colleges. I mean I think they're enjoying it. They get it, they listen, they really pay attention. If I'm not gonna have children of my own, I might as well f-ck you guys up.Do you feel like you actually get a message across by working with college students?No, I don't think I get a message across. I mean, I don't really think about it as a message. The only message I really have is that, you know, you can't trust authority. That's the only message, I think How long do you plan on continuing to do standup comedy?I hope another probably five to ten years. I mean, what I hope is that this generates into some other... get out of the Daily Show and spin-off into some other show. And hopefully I can act more, which is what I really want to do.You really want to be an actor?Well, I want to act more. I still want to do this, even if I'm acting, or writing for ten more years. And it will be until I stop enjoying it. And now I really enjoy it 'cause you get an audience, and you can really go much further than you went before.What was your best experience working as a comedian?The best experience was in Las Vegas, of all places, and I was yelling and screaming on stage and this old farmer from Iowa came up to me and said, "You know, I really appreciate your philosophy." And I thought "Wow, philosophy?" And I thought if the farmer from Iowa could get me, I was finally able to talk to people. And your worst?The worst experience was a show that I did in Connecticut when I was auditioning for these people and, to cut to the chase, a woman came on the stage while I was talking and pulled her blouse up. She said, "You're not talking about boobs." This was years ago. She said, "You're talking about tits." She pulled her blouse up and then turned around and showed the audience. I'm in a rock 'n' roll club, so now the audience is seeing her tits. And then there's about five seconds there I could've said anything I wanted, and before I could say something in order to get a laugh, a guy jumped on the table - no exaggeration - and screamed, "Ladies and gentlemen, I am a f-cking faggot but I brought this girl here tonight and I think I deserve a round of applause." And my mind... I was so blown away... I had no crowd control, my brain exploded. And I said, "I'd like to thank my brother and sister for coming here tonight and helping me with my act." Then I started to walk offstage and a guy in the back said, "No, keep going, you're great!" And that was just insane. That's the most really insane thing that's ever happened.

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BU rape trial awaits verdict

March 31

The man accused of raping a former Boston University (BU) freshman is awaiting the verdict from his three-week trial which ended on Tuesday. After beginning deliberation at noon yesterday, the jury has reached a decision on at least one count, but will wait to announce its decision until all charges have been decided. South Boston resident Abdelmajid Akouk, 33, was charged in Suffolk County Court with two counts of aggravated rape, making threats, breaking and entering, kidnapping, and indecent assault and battery, BU's Daily Free Press reported last week.According to the prosecution, Akouk climbed through the basement window of BU's Loretto Hall on the night of Sep. 11, 1999 and made his way to the second floor women's bathroom, where the alleged rape occurred. The BU student had returned to her dorm from a party earlier that evening and was leaving the bathroom when the perpetrator allegedly attacked and threatened her with a knife. He then forced her to lead him to her room, where prosecutor's say he raped her while her roommate slept. "Abdelmajid Akouk was a man on a mission: a mission to commit rape," said Assistant District Attorney Edmond Zabin in his opening arguments to the court.Akouk's defense attorneys, led by Mary Ames, spent most of the trial trying to convince the jury that the female consented to intercourse. The defense argued that the details of the incident were suspect, given the number of contradictory descriptions of the night's events recounted by witnesses.The female, who has since withdrawn from BU, was one of the first to testify. She denied the defense's claim that she allowed Akouk into the building and explained that she did not scream during her attack because the defendant threatened her with a knife. She broke down only after Akouk left the building, and her hallmates rushed to her aid.According to the defense, the alleged victim was unclear on the exact location of the rape, and attorneys for Akouk argued that she initially reported to a nurse that it occurred in a toilet stall but later claimed she was attacked in a shower. The defense also cited contradictory testimony made by the woman's former roommate, who was in the room at the time of the rape.According to the Daily Free Press, the defense pointed to initial statements to police in which the former roommate said she pretended to be sleeping, so as not to embarrass her roommate, whom she believed to be engaging in consensual sex. During her testimony on Monday, however, the former roommate flatly denied any such recollection. These discrepancies led Akouk's attorneys to question the credibility of the woman's story. The defense dealt blows to the Commonwealth's case by challenging the BUPD's handling of the weapon found on the suspect at the time of his arrest; police officers allegedly did not use gloves when patting down Akouk. Ames and her colleagues also questioned the accuracy of BUPD records on the computer aided dispatch system, whose documented time was different than that of police testimony.Both the prosecution and the defense rested their cases on Tuesday, as Akouk's attorneys opted not to bring their client or any other witnesses to testify in his defense.The trial has served as a wake-up call for students at area schools like Tufts. Still, students at Tufts say they are aware of the low number of stranger rape incidents on campus and say that although safety should not be ignored, it is not their primary concern. "When I consciously think about it, I realize that there is the potential for danger since our campus is an open campus, but normally I'm not thinking about that and I feel perfectly safe," sophomore Jane Dechongkit said. "Since we're college students, we are expected to know and take safety precautions ourselves.""When incidences like the BU case first happen, people perhaps became a little more concerned, but over time it dissolves into an 'it could never happen here' mentality," junior Alex Alexiou said. "Somerville's not a bad area, but it's not a good one either, and you don't have TUPD all over the place anymore," Alexiou said. Stranger rape, as was alledged in the BU case, is rare on most college campuses, according to Peggy Barrett, director of Tufts' Women's Center. "Typically the danger is not from strangers," Barrett said. "Acquaintance rape is far more common and often more difficult of a situation as well because it involves so much betrayal and loss of trust." Tufts students say that suburban campuses like Tufts' and urban environments like that of BU differ in their safety conditions. "This case hasn't had too drastic of an effect on my view of safety because BU is a bigger university and it's harder to patrol than Tufts," Dechongkit said.Programs sponsored by the Office of Public Safety and the Women's Center have worked in the past to raise awareness among the student body."The issues never go away," Barrett said. "Our goal is to help people protect themselves but also provide the resources they need in case."

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Mariners overtake Twins for best record in AL

March 31

In Boston, the seasons are changing from winter to spring. But they are not the only thing changing this week, as the tables have turned in the American League, and the winningest team in baseball is no longer the Minnesota Twins. After their big loss to the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, the Seattle Mariners have now taken over the throne of the Major Leagues, riding a 17-4 record. On Tuesday, the defending World Champion New York Yankees went down as just another victim in the Mariners' win column. The Yanks fell hard, losing 7-5 on a disputed home run off of All-Star pitcher Roger Clemens. Tom Lampkin hit a long ball that hit the heel of Chuck Knoblauch's glove, caromed off the top of the wall, and back into left field. The umpires ruled it a home run but, when replayed, it appeared to show that there was no fan interference. The Mariners on Wednesday again took the Yankees by a score of 7-5. Japanese rookie sensation Ichiro Suzuki was a big help at the plate. The rookie, who is batting an exceptional .355, went 2-5 with two hits and two RBI. Suzuki, a major celebrity in Japan, is being hounded by a Japanese publication that is bidding $2 million for pictures of the Seattle right fielder in the nude, an offer that even the once popular A-Rod never received while in the Evergreen State. The Central Division-leading Minnesota Twins won a tough one Wednesday night over the Red Sox. The Twins were trailing early on, but fought hard and won in the tenth inning. In the ninth, Minnesota tied it up with a double by AJ Pierzynski that scored Jacque Jones and pushed the game into extra innings. But in the top of the tenth, the Twins offense dominated and they pulled ahead on a three-run double by Torii Hunter. This elevated Minnesota to a 16-4 record, leaving many people wondering if this is actually not a fluke. It is rumored that the Twins have been scheduled to grace the cover of Sports Illustrated on the April 30 issue. Could the "Sports Illustrated jinx" claim another victim? "So now we've got to fight that. When I was talking to their writer, I said, 'Just don't put us on the cover and jinx us,'" Denny Hocking told the St. Paul Pioneer-Press about the team appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated. The Twins aren't all business these days though. Funny man David Ortiz, known not only for his .349 batting average, but also for his shaving cream pie pranks, was dealt some payback. Closer LaTroy Hawkins crept behind Ortiz while he was giving an interview with ESPN's Harold Reynolds, and delivered a shaving cream pie right into his face. The Toronto Blue Jays have been battling the Red Sox for first in the AL East. Meanwhile, the Yankees are settling in third with a winning percentage barely over .500 (11-10, .524). The Blue Jays took their fifth straight from the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night (8-5) in front of a crowd of just 15,021 fans. Toronto center fielder Jose Cruz, Jr. is posting a league-leading 18-game hit streak and an impressive .355 batting average, which he improved upon against the Rangers, reaching on a two-out infield single and going 2-4 on the night. When pitcher David Wells was traded to the Chicago White Sox, Mike Sirotka came to the Blue Jays. Since arriving, Sirotka has failed to play in a single game, with shoulder problems ending his season. On Tuesday, he underwent extensive arthroscopic surgery on his ailing shoulder. Doctors repaired three tears in the labrum of Sirotka's shoulder. It is expected he'll be ready to return for Spring Training 2002. Although the season is still just heading into May, many things have already become clear for 2001. The Sox are surviving without Nomar, the Yankees are dangling lower than number one, and the Minnesota Twins, of all teams, are leading the AL Central. Most surprisingly is the utter demise of the Oakland Athletics, currently at 7-14. They were projected to be a top contender, but for now have been hanging out in the basement of the AL West.

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Midseason trade rumors: Much ado about nothing

March 31

Every NBA general manager knows the importance of February 22. This day, the NBA trade deadline, offers one final chance for playoff contenders to shore up their holes and for basement dwellers to dump high-salaried veterans for cost-effective youth with potential. This season, perhaps the most provocative dilemma looms in Sacramento. It is common knowledge that blossoming superstar power forward Chris Webber's contract expires at season's end. In a recent ESPN The Magazine interview with Webber, the Sacramento King's leader in scoring, rebounding, field goal percentage, and blocks said, "I'm bored to death here every day." Webber has given all indications that he won't re-sign with the Kings in the off-season. While Webber has received criticism for voicing a desire to leave a winning franchise in Sacramento, the place where he turned his career around, his departure really does make sense. First, he's gone on record to say he is bored out of his mind in small potatoes Sacramento, which, aside from being a state capitol and a nice rest stop for San Franciscans on the way to Lake Tahoe, isn't much of a town. Second, while the Kings have a great foundation and are playing great basketball, so are their competitors. The Los Angeles Lakers have two very young superstars, in the form of Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant, who have few equals in the league, and the Portland Trailblazers have enormous depth and a good mix of veteran leadership and young talent. There is no indication that either team will be fading back anytime soon, so Webber's chances of winning a championship, let alone a conference or division title, may be better if he ventures east. At 31-15, the Kings are second in the Pacific Division (two games behind the leaders in Portland) and have at least a reasonable chance of winning the title this year. But if Webber leaves at season's end and the Kings don't receive anything in return, the effects would be disastrous. The team would have to replace an MVP candidate who averages 27.3 points per game (fifth in the NBA) and 11.4 rebounds per game (sixth overall). One rumor has lingered, and it is a bold one. The Kings could trade Webber to the Orlando Magic for all-world athlete Grant Hill, who is out for the season with an ankle injury. It would take serious guts on the part of Kings GM Geoff Petrie to make this deal now, and that is one reason why it probably won't happen. But it should. This is a deal that makes a lot of sense for both clubs. Tracy McGrady has come into his own, and while Hill would undoubtedly be an excellent compliment, Webber would better fit Orlando's needs on the floor. The Magic would be a serious force with a good low-post power forward, especially one with adept passing skills like Webber, who is second on the Kings in assists with 4.2 per contest. By making this trade, Sacramento would be scrapping its season. While the Kings are definitely in the thick of things, their front office has to realize they are fighting an uphill battle. Sacramento has come a tremendous distance from its days as a perennial lottery finisher. If they lose Webber at the end of the season and get nothing in return, the team's fate will ride on the shoulders of sharp-shooter Peja Stojakovic and flashy point guard Jason Williams - both of whom compliment Webber well, but won't make it anywhere without him. But outside of the pre-deadline realm of rumors, it's questionable whether the Magic will offer Grant Hill to any team, and even more unlikely that the Kings will break up what may be their best team since they settled in Sacramento. But such is the beauty of February rumors. Teams that already have issues with chemistry rarely dare to alter the balance so drastically in mid-season. Trade deadline time is an exciting time in the NBA, but more often than not, the month of February is filled with talk rather than action. In the ESPN interview, Webber went on to discuss his interest in a collection of teams. He spoke most favorably about playing for the Magic, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, or the Phoenix Suns. Also, there is speculation that he may wish to play for his hometown Detroit Pistons, or join the Lakers, where he'd be fitted for a championship ring before his plane landed in LA. What the NBA has shown in recent seasons is that the midseason trading deadline is only one component of the transaction trail, and a relatively minor one at that. Seemingly more significant, in recent seasons, have been the period just before the late-June draft and just after the Aug. 1 start of the free-agent signing period. In all likelihood, that's when Webber will start packing the U-Haul. Unless he gets anxious and just needs something to do.

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Renowed 'Seeds of Peace' founder, panel discuss Arab/Israeli life

March 31

Five Arab and Israeli teenagers sat side-by-side Tuesday night in Barnum 008 and discussed their experiences living and learning together while at a program called "Seeds of Peace," which brings teenagers from war-torn areas of the world together to reach deeper understandings of each other. The five young people were led by Seeds of Peace founder John Wallach, who also spoke Tuesday and showed a documentary of the group's time together. Wallach was also presented with the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship Award, one of a number of annual awards given by the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) program, which hosted the event. The award is given in recognition of his immense achievement in a field related to the organization's theme this year, "Race and Ethnicity: A Global Inquiry." Tuesday's program was the latest in a series of EPIIC programs focusing on Middle Eastern affairs. Wallach, an award-winning journalist and a seasoned author, created Seeds of Peace in 1993 to "equip them (the next generation) to make peace." He said the mission of "Seeds" was partly to "break the cycle of dehumanization" that can be so evident in a situation like the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. He described the program as a "grassroots movement that is changing the world." Seeds of Peace participants attend a three-week camp in Otisfield, ME, where they meet peers of different backgrounds and participate in "coexistence sessions." They also enjoy typical summer camp activities. Arab and Israeli teenagers who participated in the program were chosen by their government for exemplary characteristics as distinguished young people. The chosen youths have the opportunity to break down stereotypes about their supposed "enemies" and live, work, and play alongside each other. Tuesday night's documentary and discussion were well received by the capacity crowd in the Barnum lecture hall. "[The program] was an extremely humanizing experience for both sides. It expressed the Palestinian point of view about this conflict, which is so rare to hear," said Dina Karam, co-president of the Arabs Students Association. Alumni of the program talked to the Tufts community about the understandings gained and friendships formed while at camp. Many participants, upon arriving their first few days at camp, were either nervous about meeting peers from "the other side", or were anxious to convince others of the validity of their views. Many were surprised, however, that they ended up questioning the "truths" they had been told in their history books and by their leaders. During the daily hour-and-a-half facilitated coexistence sessions, the teens had a chance to confront the preconceptions of their peers, and to discuss such controversial issues as Jewish settlements, the status of Jerusalem, and the rights of return for Palestinians. "To listen to how these participants' lives have been changed is inspiring," said Rabbi Jeffrey Summit, director of the Tufts Hillel Foundation. The documentary, entitled Peace of Mind and made by seven "Seeds" participants over the course of their camp experience, showed the effort that the teens were making to maintain the friendships they had formed. The Palestinian and Israeli friends visited each other at their homes in towns and cities to which they normally would not travel. Furthermore, Seeds alumni have the arduous task of not reverting to the often prepackaged opinions and stereotypes their communities hold. The teens try to maintain their friendships despite discouragement - and sometimes threats - from those around them. Seeds of Peace tries to support its graduates in the difficult transition back home after their summer experience. A Center for Coexistence has been set up in Jerusalem, where graduates can go with their families to work on projects and to meet the families of their peers. Furthermore, Seeds graduates go to local schools to give presentations about their experiences in the program. While the presentation focused on the experiences of Israeli and Palestinian teenagers in the program, Seeds of Peace also hosts young people from other conflict-ridden regions of the world, such as India, Pakistan, Greece, and Turkish Cyprus. In fact, Wallach was uncertain as to whether the Arab/Israeli facet of the program would even take place this year, because of the recent intifadah - Arabic for "conflict" - and exceptionally high tensions. It would be the respective governments' decision as to whether or not to send its teenagers to the program. EPIIC's ties to Seeds of Peace dates back to 1994, when it welcomed one of the first Seeds delegations to Tufts. Its return this year came partly because of EPIIC Director Sherman Teichman's desire to honor Wallach. The program was one of many that will address the Israeli/Palestinian conflict in an effort to maintain a viable connection between the groups.

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Esparza's comments do injustice to Submerge

March 31

Two weeks ago, just before break, the Daily ran an article which quoted founding members of the new campus publication, Radix, as disrespecting the publication Submerge and its achievements ("TCUJ recognizes campus media groups," 3/14). I'm writing this Viewpoint because there are issues tied up in this affair that never received voice. Louis Esparza did apologize privately for his comments, but still, I'd ask that this response be read, because there are things to learn from this incident which go perpetually unlearned and unknown at Tufts.Esparza was quoted in the Daily as stating that Submerge "was not successful because of the hierarchical structure of [our] staff," and that Radix would be "more inclusive" than Submerge. I know not from whence these ideas came, but they are patently untrue, and it angers me that they should be paraded as truth.Submerge was, first and foremost, a venue for self-expression that served a community of self-empowering, self-educating, dedicated, and critical thinkers. There was never a hierarchy, never a chain of command; we did not even have a staff to organize in such a fashion. Submerge was the product of individual members of a larger community who gave their time so that the works of friends and allies could be published. Rejections were uncommon at worst, non-existent at best. How could we have strived to be "more inclusive"? Each piece received last year was included and celebrated, and each author was encouraged to write more.Hierarchy was antithetical to the beliefs of Submerge's community members, and it saddens me that Esparza should characterize our organization as such. There is no basis for his claim, and it is an insult to those who worked so hard combating hierarchy and domination in all its forms. It especially saddens me that he should state such bold-faced lies for no purpose other than to debase the publication upon which we worked so hard, only to glorify his own publication by comparison. (Note that the basis of hierarchy is the valuing of one object over another, and certainly his comments serve the purpose of creating such a relationship. Hmmm....Reflect a moment on this thought before pointing fingers again.)What saddens me most of all is that Mr. Esparza should characterize Submerge as a failure. What is the definition of success? Submerge sought to encourage critical thought, to challenge students to question and explore the fundamentals of the society and world in which they live, and to fuel self-reflection. It looked to broaden the spectrum of political debate, and to introduce to campus an element which had been missing for many years - a radical voice in publications and campus events. Each and every one of these goals was achieved, thus fulfilling our own measures for success.My freshman year saw an uproar of political activity the likes of which had not been seen on campus for some time. I feel foolish referring to events of two years ago as "back in the day," ancient history, but he seems to have forgotten them. Submerge, the publication and the community, played an instrumental role in this activity, with members consistently challenging administrators, students, and faculty to think critically about their world, and to expose fundamental lies and injustices. We achieved all that we could, and led the charge in shaking up the campus.Failure, then? Why? The entire campus stands to benefit from our achievements. Activism on campus is weakened with every graduating class; orators, experience, writers, and minds are lost, never to be gained again. The lack of continuity hurts student voices on campus, for strength is not conserved from year to year. As a result, the student body never builds power, but rather is kept in a state of perpetual weakness in the structure of the University. Given this, why would Mr. Esparza actively weaken the student body by attacking one of Tufts' most significant student movements of the past decade, upon whose achievements he immediately stands? In doing so, Mr. Esparza weakens himself; he alienates individuals who are his potential allies, and he rejects wisdom, experience, and power gained in previous movements.I understand he is eager to build the power of his magazine and community, but attacking your potential allies is a foolish way to do so. I hope he is successful in his endeavors, but I also hope Mr. Esparza will take my words to heart, for he is doing himself and the student body a great disservice by championing division among the student body, and specifically those called leftist, who need as much strength as they can muster in this struggle.As a final note, by encouraging division, Esparza encourages his successors to revile him. By adopting these attitudes, he cannot help but show by example that future generations ought to act as such. Protect your own organization and legacy: be proud of those who came before you, so that future organizations will be proud of you.Kris Paddock is a junior majoring in American studies.

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Heroes for today

March 31

So, you wanna be a hero? Grab a slogan - any catchy one will do - bring some explosives for good effect, and go kill some people. At least that's the way it seems to work according to the Hollywood execs who are responsible for pitting two epic battles against each other this week in the box office. This Friday sees the release of Exit Wounds, depicting a battle between good and evil involving corrupt cops and drug money. Here, the slogan is "This is gonna hurt." How decidedly masculine. Exit Wounds will compete for an audience with Enemy at the Gates, depicting several different battles at the same time and on multiple intellectual levels. Here, the slogan is, "Some men were born to be heroes." How... well, we don't want to be too cynical in the first paragraph.So we'll just start a new one and get right on with the previews. All in all, it's quite a week for one's hubris. If you're feeling a little full of yourself and you think you might want to start a fight, head to the theaters instead of the streets for a little vicarious violence. You'd never be able to kick ass like Steven Seagal in reality, anyway.Exit WoundsDirected by: Andrzei BartkowaikStarring: Steven Seagal, DMX If you cast Steven Seagal as a police detective, you've already established the character as a renegade hero. After his unorthodox ways (would you expect anything different?) result in his demotion to an inner-city precinct, he teams up with hip-hop star DMX to attack corruption and conspiracy that reach as deep into the precinct as they do into the streets. With DMX's character Latrell Walker's unlimited money and shady connections, you can expect Exit Wounds to have more than a few things in common with a rap video: fast cars, flashy moves, and firearms. Director Andrzei Bartkowaik's beginnings shooting commercials will add to the fast pace of the film, and his experience with independent films should add a fresh, artistic element to the often-stale crooked cop story. Expect something visually similar to his feature film debut, Romeo Must Die, mixed in with a little Lethal Weapon to ensure box office success. Interestingly enough, DMX's limited experience on screen does include a role as Silk in Bartkowaik's Romeo, so the two must share a certain chemistry to work together again. It should be worth seeing, however, just to find out how they manage to respectably fit Tom Arnold into the film.Enemy at the GatesDirected by: Jean-Jacques AnnaudStarring: Joseph Fiennes, Jude Law, Ed Harris The trailer for Enemy at the Gates tosses around words like "hero" and "destiny" to such an extent that you're not sure if this is going to be a war movie or a Greek tragedy. Perhaps that's the point. "A conflict between two nations became a battle between two men." Isn't that always the way? Since the days of The Hunt for Red October and even Schindler's List, fiction and non-fiction alike rely on history or other actual events for plot while inflating characters to the point that one man can represent the ideals of an entire nation. In Enemy at the Gates, Joseph Fiennes plays Danilov, the Soviet political officer who creates celebrated sniper Vassily Zaitsev's (Jude Law) into a national hero. The plot ("based on a true story") thickens when both men fall in love with the same woman, played by Rachel Weisz, and Danilov begins to regret transforming Vassily into the adversary he has become. Enter Ed Harris as Major Koenig, the Nazi's best sharpshooter, who is ordered to kill Vassily. Set behind the blood bath of Stalingrad, the story focuses on these two men as they stalk each other, battle personal demons, and wage their own war in solitude, yadda yadda yadda. If you like books about war, you'll be attracted by the plot. However, the addition of French director Jean-Jacques Annaud (Seven Years in Tibet) promises to provide ample visual stimulation for the artistic fans. Using filming techniques similar to those seen in Saving Private Ryan, Annaud shows the violence of war without getting gruesome enough to turn you from your movie snacks. And speaking of visual stimulation, Fiennes, Law, and Harris aren't so bad, either.

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Madness resumes this weekend

March 31

March Madness is coming to a furious conclusion with the Final Four this weekend. The four teams remaining - Michigan St., Arizona, Duke, and Maryland - will battle for the right to play for the National Championship.The first game, scheduled for late Saturday afternoon, has Arizona squaring off against Michigan State. Arizona is in the Final Four for the first time since 1997, when it won it all - its only National Championship in school history. This year's team, led by Loren Woods and Gilbert Arenas, was the preseason favorite and has not disappointed. Defending champion Michigan State has six key returning players, including senior starters Charlie Bell, Andre Hutson, and David Thomas.It seems that Arizona is the more talented of the two teams, but Michigan State has a number of veterans that play well together. The game may be decided by rebounding and whether Loren Woods, the 7'1" Arizona center, can establish himself inside.The second game pits Duke against Maryland for the fourth time this season. Though all three previous games were close, Duke won two of those meetings, including the most recent, in the semifinals of the ACC tournament. All-Americans Shane Battier and Jason Williams lead a balanced attack for the Blue Devils. Maryland is in the Final Four for the first time in school history. The Terps, led by Juan Dixon and Lonny Baxter, will come out with a lot of energy at the start but experience and poise in the game's last ten minutes, which Duke possesses, generally proves more valuable. Barring a very poor shooting night from Devil point guard Jason Williams, Duke should win. In baseball news, injuries are the big story. Star players likely to miss Opening Day include Kevin Brown, Derek Jeter, Greg Maddux, John Smoltz, Javy Lopez, and Nomar Garciaparra. Garciaparra has an injured right wrist and has not played all spring. If his wrist requires surgery (which it most likely will), he will miss between three and four months of the season. Garciaparra has opted to wait a few days, hoping the injury will improve, before deciding whether to succumb to the knife. Lou Merloni, Mike Lansing, or Craig Grebeck would likely fill in for Garciaparra. At least, for Boston Red Sox fans, Pedro Martinez seems as good as ever. In his most recent start, Martinez allowed four hits and struck out three, lowering his earned run average this spring to 0.47. Overall, he gave up one run on 11 hits, walked one and struck out 24 in 19 innings.After flirting with .400 last season, Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton has agreed to a new contract worth $151 million over 11 years. It is the fourth-largest deal in sports history. In NBA news, Alonzo Mourning of the Miami Heat, played in his first game of the year on Tuesday. In October he was diagnosed with a kidney disease and was expected to miss the entire season. In Tuesday's loss to the Raptors, Mourning had nine points and six rebounds in 19 minutes. Although he is unlikely to be the Mourning of old immediately, his return will make the Heat a very tough playoff team.

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Poll worker skullduggery no problem at Daily elections

March 31

After a semester filled with coverage of vaginas, snow days, and the many activities of Adam Carlis, the Daily is moving on. Despite drama, heated debate, surprise candidates, and sexual innuendo, Tufts' daily newspaper managed to complete its elections last Friday afternoon without TCUJ intervention. Ben "This girl in my weightlifting class..." Oshlag relinquished command of the editor-in-chief position to Benjamin "I lent my girlfriend to Russ" Gedan. During his term, Gedan plans to serve donuts and Doritos at Friday meetings and institute weekly vocabulary quizzes. Oshlag, however, will be neither gone nor forgotten, promising to cover women's soccer while attending Tufts' graduate school. Serving as Gedan's understudy will be Managing Editor Russell "Business casual" Capone, who will continue to call section editors, and "Vinny," with questions at least five times a night. After having difficulty with the French women, Will "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" Kinlaw will be returning to Tufts to try his luck on American soil and join the exec board as associate editor. Rachel "Yeah, I'd hook up with Val for money" Rubenson will be leaving her post in news and her "journalistic responsibilities" in sports to work with fellow New Hampshirite Kinlaw as associate editor. She hopes to work with Russell to form a partnership between the Daily and Green Mountain Coffee. Leaving the Daily as editorial page editor, Brooke "Snoopy, come home" Menschel will be truly missed, as she parts for bigger and better and more Jewish things. Good luck next year as Hillel president. In the news department, Mary Anne "I can put Jacob in his place" Anderson will come over from features to take the reins as Matthew "Lousy whore" Kane takes off for Belgium. Anderson will be joined as a full editor by Nick "the Mexican Kinlaw" Ferre, who is stoked to teach grassroots journalism while meeting the 10 p.m. news deadline. Staying on as assistants are Lauren "I like arguing with MANE" Phillips and Paloma "Why won't Matt Kane leave me alone?" Cataife. Jacob "I like long walks on the beach" Silberberg returns from a semester abroad in Chile to take on the role of news assistant. Joining him will be Emily "I like to guide tours" Chasan and Adam "Get me away from Online and Josh Belkin" Cooper. Kane will continue to cover TCU Senate meetings from Brussels using video conference equipment, and Jeff "Anything oral..." Gelinas will take over as the department's Parisian correspondent. In features, Laurie "I bring sex to the features department" Johnson and Joe "How do I have three editing nights with Matt Kane" Welch will continue to bring you hardcore investigations of sex and dating on campus. Joining them will be assistant editors Laura "Writing about sex is more fun than reading the opinions of Jesse Levey" Israel and Amanda "Manderina" Mu?±oz. The men of the Daily are anxiously awaiting the return of Leigh "Is my Bub still here?" Wald from France, as she comes back to the Viewpoints department. Ilene "No more Russian-Slavic living" Stein will serve as Wald's co-editor. Viewpoints is bidding farewell to Dena "Get me out of here" Sloan, but Danny "Sorry, I was busy pledging" Adam will stay on as Viewpoints assistant. Sports will be the largest and most alcoholic department next semester, though Ferre will single-handedly tip the balance to News. The Sports department will be doubling in size thanks to the return of its former editors from abroad, and Neil "Hold on, let me ask my girlfriend" Taylor will cede control of the department to Neal "#11" McMahon-Shapiro. Erin "I like writing about players and dating players" Desmarais and Jon "Varsity athlete in two countries" Japha will also return, but sadly, Val will not be here to enjoy his return. Dan "The People's Choice" Fowler will continue to analogize sports losses to historical tragedies, and Matt "Hip-flask" Bennett has pledged to put more effort into sports now that he is disease-free. Assisting the seven editors will be Manali "Hold on, let me check my buddy list" Shah, who shares Desmarais' journalistic style. Arts thinks it will be the coolest department next semester. Good luck without Caroline "Traveling lush" Wolter and Alison "Sex in the City" Damast, who are leaving for big bad NY City. But rest assured, Arts will still forget who is supposed to edit the page each day. Drew "Red pants are sexy" Shelton will stay on as full editor so he can continue to receive promotional underwear. Rob "Pimps a" Lott is coming back from London and will put the cool quotient back into the department Also continuing as full editors are Kristen "Don't ever call me Kenipple" Keneipp, Rob "Dining Services pimp" Bellinger, and Sheryl "Mix tapes are cool" Gordon. And while Marci' "Speedreader" Ferraro provides (wo)man-power as assistant editor, arts will continue to refuse to go double. Always conscientious, the photography department has learned to take "live" photos of bare, intertwined legs. Staying on as full editors are Justin "I'm ghetto" Golub, Chlo?© "only I can pronounce liasOn" Sallin, Brad "Laid-back" Stitchberry, and Trevor "Dude, where's my car?" Harris. Eva "Espana esucks" Rebek returns as assistant editor along with Marie "What's your F/Stop" Lee. After successfully transitioning to modularity, Quark, and a digital paper, the production department is looking forward to a calmer semester. Leading the way is Paula "I put Benny in his place" Romero, who plans on bringing her Chilean know-how to The Daily, completing the transformation to: El Daily-o,solamente en Espa?±ol. Paula will take over for Valentina "I've closed the EPDC" Clark as production director. The department will greatly miss Clark's sexual comments, and will also mourn the loss of production managers Sandy "Future Mix 98.5 dee-jay" and Michaela "I need a break" Vine. But all is not lost, and Jenny "Faaaaa-bulous" Ahn, Madelyn "Have sympathy for me, I live with Matt Kane" Medeiros are looking forward to more late nights as production managers. Moving up to layout editor are Jonathan "Only guy in production and loving it" Cohen, Lisa "It's an enye" De Elizalde, Mollie "Only female AEPi pledge" Greenfield, and Abby "Chica" Volin. Elaine "Associate editors are so fickle" Wang defected from the news department to help Romero whip exec into shape as layout assistant. She promises, however, to continue her weekly column, "Professors in the News." Sparring with Benny over the finer points of grammar will be copy editors Melissa "Not even if Matt Kane were the last guy on earth" Landrey, Lisa "Coom is roblem" Cooms, and Dave "Abercrombie" Perkiss. Graphics editor Brad "Wait, we have meetings?" Callow returns. Karen "1-2-3" Forseter, Adam "I'd like to split Ehren Brav's infinitive" Dobson, and Ann "Why do I deal with Craig" McGinnis are leaving. Keeping up with the Daily's efforts to stay at the forefront of technology, an Information Technology department has been created for the fall. Gloria "Benny likes me" Chen is moving up to Online Editor. She will be joined by Josh "Can we write an article about snow removal?" Belkin, provided he has enough time in his busy schedule of sucking up to Eric Greenberg and watching The Simpsons. Fred "Where are the clipboards?" Liu will stay on as assistant to help Online continue the progress it made this year. Online will be mourning the loss of senior Meryl "Benny, shut up" Hertz, but Hertz will leave her wisdom behind in the form of her 23,465 page online thesis... I mean manual. Seth "Let's play a game" Kaufman will continue to fix late-night network disasters in his capacity as Systems Manager. Meanwhile, the business department announced at Friday's elections that it will in fact exist next semester. Dave "CFS hotshot" Lattanzi will continue his role as executive business director. Rachel "Shalom" Finklestein will double-team as both business and receivables manager while Stefan "Did you know the president of Indonesia falls asleep when he's talking?" Lukac returns as advertising manager. Victoria "Sendables" Luxardo takes over from Eric "They really are letting me graduate?" Siwy.

The Setonian
News

Offensive message on cannon covered up by Tufts Facilities

March 31

A controversial epithet on the cannon was painted over by Tufts Facilities yesterday afternoon after at least two students called the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) to complain. The message read "Don't ideologically molest my kids with your rainbow propaganda." It was painted by senior Mark Sutherland, the same student who was investigated for tearing down a banner outside the sit-in at Bendetson Hall this fall, according to Admissions Office Coordinator Doug Burns. Burns said he saw Sutherland painting the beginning of the message between 12:30 and 1 p.m. yesterday. TUPD responded to an anonymous complaint about the message on the cannon and arrived at the academic quad just after 1 p.m., according to TUPD Sergeant Doug Mazzola. The scene was cleared and a maintenance worker from One Source was called to paint over the offensive message. Senior Natalee Holt also saw Sutherland painting the message and, after conferring with other students, called TUPD to complain about the sentence and to file a charge of vandalism because she did not think Sutherland was a Tufts student. "I wasn't really sure where the lines of free speech were for that... I couldn't really tell whether what he was doing was wrong or not. Later I decided what he was doing was wrong," she said. The University's decision to paint over the message on the cannon raised concerns over free speech rights, since the cannon is a traditional publicity tool for students. Holt, who did not initially think Sutherland was affiliated with the University, did say that his status as a student leads to more of a "gray area" concerning whether the sentence should have been covered. It is unclear who gave the order to have the sentence painted over, Mazzola said. There is no clear policy concerning this type of situation on campus. "There's no protocol per say, but if there's a complaint, we'll take action, i.e. cover it up," Mazzola said. Many other students who either saw or heard about the incident felt no hesitance in destroying Sutherland's deed. "In the interest of the University, just as he has the right to write something, TUPD also has the right to write something and cover it up," said Mike Lambert, co-coordinator of Tufts Transgendered, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Collective, who advised Holt to call TUPD. "They obviously see a compelling interest in keeping hate messages off the campus and I happen to agree with it," he said.

The Setonian
News

Chez Henri fizzles, not sizzles

March 31

The overall effect of Chez Henri is like buying a CD with well-written music but lame musicians. The elements are all there: hip surroundings, creative flair, and good service, but when they should be rocking the house, they end up with some guys sitting on stage with bored looks on their faces.Just a few blocks before Harvard Square, nestled next to a Starbucks on Shephard Street, Chez Henri is the brain-child of Boston-native Paul O'Connell. O'Connell learned his craft at Johnson and Wales University, and later worked with some of the finest East Coast Chefs: Lydia Shire, owner of Biba, (sometimes called Boston's best restaurant), famous TV Chef Todd English at his restaurant Olives; and Chef Chris Schlesinger at the nearby East Coast Grill.His idea for Chez Henri is no doubt a sound one: Take classic French cuisine and fuse it with the spiciness and vibrancy of Cuban food. It was precisely this unique combination that prompted me to try out his restaurant. After viewing the menu on www.bostonchefs.com, I set out last Friday with a friend to see what creative fusion dishes O'Connell could stir up. Upon entering, we were immediately greeted by a jovial gentleman with a French accent who shook my hand and seated us right away. With walls decorated in rich red earth tones, black tables for two lining the booth-seat walls, and pastel-colored funky artwork hanging at eye level, it was evident that the restaurant caters to a young, hip crowd. Thankfully, the stuffiness associated with some upscale French restaurants is absent here. The young wait staff contributes to this feeling as well, and to top it off, check out the photos in the front window of the Buena Vista Social Club savoring some of the chef's dishes.AppetizerAfter perusing appetizers such as grilled anticuchos of salmon (sugarcane glazed salmon skewer served over a salad of smoked salmon escabache with mojo rojo and green olive salsita) and an onion soup gratinee with gruyere cheese, I decided to try the Duck Confit, with a port wine-apricot tart, almonds and winter greens ($12.95). A confit is any type of meat that is cooked in its own fat and then immersed in it to prevent contact from air _ basically a sort of flavor-giving preservative. It arrived shortly after I ordered it, and the presentation was superb. The meat was nice, medium-hot, and tender, with that lush richness usually associated with duck. Unfortunately, it was also quite salty, and although this was diminished some by the winter greens, the prevailing taste of saltiness lingered in the mouth. As for the apricots and the small pastry with the almonds, the fruit's consistency was similar to that of a dried apricot (though slightly stickier), and although the pastry was flaky and quite good, it just couldn't save the dish from the damage done by the salt. Rating: 2 stars out of 4.Entr?©eLike the appetizer menu, the choice of entr?©es demonstrated creativity on the part of the chef. Among other things were seared sea scallops with a spicy star anise-citrus drizzle, potato tortilla, and seviche salsa; a wild mushroom and faro grain stew with a napolean of roasted beets, pear and goat cheese; and grilled beef ribeye, with a chimichurri and a piquillo pepper-caper tempranillo sauce (wow). After some deliberation, I settled on a Wood Grilled Swordfish Steak with grapefruit glaze, Valencia black rice, braised squid with smoked paprika, tomato and chorizo ($25.95). My friend ordered the Herb Roasted Cod with a Riesling beurre blanc (white butter sauce), carmelized fennel-lobster salad, and sweet parsnip puree (also $25.95). (Two quick definitions: Fennel is similar to an onion though thicker in texture, and its flavor is likened to black licorice and anise; a parsnip looks like a white carrot, though it contains much more starch, and is thus more similar to a potato). Again, the presentation was wonderful, but I could have done without the "Chez Henri" printed across the top of every plate. My swordfish rested atop a green tomato-colored broth bursting with thick grains of rice, and the cod was arranged with similar flair. But once again the food was disappointing, especially in light of the prices that they charged. Despite the supposed glaze on the swordfish, the only grapefruit flavor in my dish came from the few pieces of fruit scattered about, leaving the actual steak itself simply boring. Instead of that melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness that swordfish should have, when this fish reached the palette, it just sat there. Furthermore, the concoction meant to be its compliment also came up short. With the exception of the strong, spicy flavors of the three bite-sized morsels of chorizo (a kind of Latin everything-meat, produced in the same manner as American sausage), the combination of the rice, tomato, and paprika from the squid had the effect of canceling out each of the individual ingredient's flavors. The result was a sort of green mushy substance which tasted like _ well, a warm, flavorless green mushy substance. Thankfully, my friend's herb roasted cod fared slightly better. The Riesling beurre blanc had a nice complexity to it, with undertones of the wine and a silky, not-too-buttery finish. The parsnip puree was an interesting concept, slightly thinner than your average mashed potatoes, with a good flavor, and the fennel was caramelized to a crunchy texture and sweetness, though the lobster didn't shine at all. The main problem with this dish was, once again, what should have been its main attraction: The cod. Like the swordfish, it was boring, and although in this case its accompaniments were more interesting than those of the swordfish, they could not rescue it from its inherent blandness. Overall Rating: 2.5 stars out of 4. One appetizer, two entrees, and three glasses of wine later, with tip, the tab came out to be around $110. The next time you're going gourmet, pass by Shephard Street, take a look, then keep going toward Harvard Square.

The Setonian
News

Grant to pave way for Vet School's science park

March 31

The town of Grafton received a Public Works Economic Development grant from the Massachusetts government last Friday that will increase accessibility to the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine's new science park. The donation of nearly $1 million will help improve roadways that lead to the science park, which could in turn lead to economic growth on Tufts' Grafton campus. The grant proposal was jointly prepared by Tufts and the town of Grafton, according to Joe McManus, associate dean of administration and finance for the vet school. Its inception is the product of over two years of work from state and local officials, who hoped that the creation of Tufts Biomedical Science Park would boost the local economy by increasing the job market and providing tax relief to Grafton residents. "The school is an engine for economic growth in the state, especially in central Massachusetts," McManus said. Though the grant was presented directly to Grafton and the infrastructure will essentially belong to the town, Tufts will benefit because the roadway will provide access to the vet school's new facility. The science park is being developed to attract companies that need the expertise of the school's faculty. The increased traffic will bring additional funding for the research opportunities that the companies will provide. The school already receives an annual appropriation from the state so that Massachusetts residents can have access to a veterinary education. Officials hope the science park will provide an additional source of revenue through leases that will support the operating costs of the school. "The origins of this idea sprang from the realization that, while the veterinary school is not financially well off, it has a wealth of faculty expertise and available land," McManus said. "It was decided that the school would leverage these two assets and use them as a magnet to draw economic development to the region." The science park will create an estimated 1,650 new jobs, in addition to the 1,300 jobs the vet school already provides, according to the governor's office. The school also conducts $2.5 million of biotech research collaborations with local companies, a number that is also expected to increase. "We started by developing a collaborative and contract research program with companies in the life science industries of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and animal health," McManus said. "Developing the Tufts Science Park is the next step in this process of generating economic development, research synergy, and a revenue stream for the school." A federal grant has already enabled the school to build a biotech incubator building, which has attracted many companies who prefer to start up in a supportive environment. Such companies, according to McManus, like to cluster around a university in order to share ideas, research, employees, and suppliers. Tufts is modeling its park after similar facilities at other universities. "Most of these are built on the idea that companies in knowledge-based industries seek to be near universities, the source of ideas," McManus said. Other such parks in Massachusetts include Massachusetts Biotechnology Park near UMass Medical School in Worcester and University Park at MIT.

The Setonian
News

Hate groups on America soil

March 31

In filming her documentary, Invisible Revolution, filmmaker Beverly Peterson found herself at the front lines of the struggle between hate groups in the midwest and the Anti-Racist Action (ARA) group. Tuesday night, about 160 students bore first-hand witness the experiences of these two disparate constituencies and the battle they fight. As part of the Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) Race and Ethnicity Film Series, Invisible Revolution was viewed by an audience of students, professors, and members of the ARA, some of whom traveled from as far as Montreal to watch the documentary. Invisible Revolution concentrates on the conflict between members of three different hate groups - the World Church of the Creator (WCOTC), the Ku Klux Klan (KKK), and Independent Nazi Skins (INS) - as well as the ARA, a youth organization actively opposed to racism. In producing the documentary, Peterson spoke to a Grand Dragon in an Ohio KKK chapter; Matt Hale, the leader of the WCOTC; a jailed member of the INS; and several prominent members of the ARA. The film documents a cross burning in the woods, KKK weddings, KKK rallies, and ARA demonstrations.Invisible Revolution was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah last month. In accordance with this year's EPIIC theme, "Race and Ethnicity," students felt that acknowledging the proximity of hate groups in the US was important for the Tufts community."There is a very vivid undercurrent of racism still in this society and there's a youth culture that embraces it and needs to be confronted," said Sherman Teichman, director of the Institute for Global Leadership, which oversees EPIIC.With security concerns in mind, Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) initially required visitors show a university ID to gain access, but ARA members were eventually permitted entrance to the film and the following discussion.Junior Vanessa Dillen, an EPIIC student, was thankful the ARA shared its point of view. "I really appreciated the fact that the ARA drove down from Montreal to speak with us," she said. The ARA voiced several concerns about the film during the discussion with Peterson, with some cautioning that teenagers might see the film and become attracted to hate groups. Freshman Geoff Downs, who attended the screening, agrees with the ARA. "I have qualms about the film itself.... I feel like it unintentionally gave these white power groups another pulpit to preach from and to play into the fetishism of their own groups," he said.Downs also said that younger viewers may view the KKK wedding and the dramatic cross burning in a positive light. "[The groups] try to portray this image of this neat, little group that does cool things in the woods," he said.Sophomore Kristen Lawrence has friends in the ARA in her hometown, and said the film did a disservice by focusing on the human aspects and rituals of the hate groups rather than the logistical activities of the ARA. "[The ARA] is a group that isn't just sitting down and waiting for things to take place. These are kids going against young people, not adults," she said.Others felt that the film fairly portrayed the hate groups by humanizing the members, which allowed viewers to gain a new, perhaps unpopular, perspective. "I think the director did a really good job of presenting both the hate groups and the anti-racist group as real people - that they were leading everyday lives and what they go through on a daily basis," said senior Mimi Feldman, an EPIIC student.To address the existence of white supremacist groups in the US, EPIIC considered showing American History X, a fictional film which also focuses on hate groups in the midwest, but chose the documentary format instead. Looking back, Teichman said that screening Invisible Revolution was "the right decision," because it addressed a "cutting edge issue and it was real... the immediacy and authenticity of the people who came to the film, which included a constituency that was represented in the film, made it an important educational moment."Tuesday night's audience was one of the largest crowds EPIIC has ever received for a film. In fact some viewers were ushered into Tisch Library for a private viewing, as the original venue, Pearson 106, could not accommodate everyone. Danielle Lightburn, program assistant for the Institute of Global Leadership, felt that a good public relations effort and the film's subject matter led to such a large turnout. "It's a topic that people can relate to, something they see as a problem in American society," Lightburn said. "Even if our campus hasn't been particularly influenced by hate crimes, it's still an issue that comes up on other campuses in other cities."Feldman agreed that students were attracted to the film because its subject matter interested them on a personal level. "I really heard a buzz around campus," she said. "It's something so close to home, something people really understand."The writer is a member of the EPIIC class.

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