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The Setonian
News

Program of 'EPIIC' proportions focuses on race

March 31

The Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC) begins its annual international symposium today. The program, entitled "Race and Ethnicity: A Global Inquiry," runs from March 1-6 and boasts a dazzling array of accomplished professors, activists, and scholars. This year's symposium examines how the concepts of race and ethnicity are approached from biological, cultural, and historical perspectives, as well as how these differing conceptions intersect to produce conflict or cooperation within the world at large. The symposium, which starts with tonight's "The Dream Deferred: Race and American Politics" at 7:30 p.m. in Cabot Auditorium, is primarily composed of student-moderated panels in which the panelists will present papers or documentaries, or discuss specific issues. The conference also includes a photography exhibit, two evenings of musical performances, and professional workshops with panelists and students. The events are open to all members of the Tufts community, although tickets are required. EPIIC's mission statement, "thinking beyond boundaries, acting across borders," suggests the unique philosophy beyond this comprehensive and multidisciplinary program. The EPIIC program synthesizes the benefits of traditional academic education with new components of application and public service that involve a much larger community than simply the enrolled students. "EPIIC is student-centered education that promotes the linkage of theory to practice and encourages moral responsibility, lifelong learning, and engaged citizenship," said Sherman Teichman, EPIIC director and founder. The panelists were chosen by the student-composed EPIIC Program Committee based on their expertise and experience in issues pertaining to their respective panels. Students made an effort to create balanced panels that will present varied outlooks on the issues at hand. EPIIC's international recognition and extensive network of alumni help students to recruit panelists of international acclaim. "I am hoping that people will learn about the 'real' world and will be able to connect with the panelists," said Douglass Hansen, a junior enrolled in EPIIC. "We have really wonderful people coming who are doing cutting edge work in many fields." The EPIIC symposium is left largely in the hands of the students, who are responsible for creating the panels and securing the attendance of the panelists. The speakers bring with them a high degree of scholarship and personal commitment. Svetlana Borz, for instance, is a peace activist in Sarajevo and the granddaughter of Tito, the former leader of Yugoslavia. She will speak at the "Women and Ethnic Conflict" panel. John Dower, the Pulitzer Prize winning author of Embracing Defeat, Muhamed Sacirbey, the ambassador to the Permanent Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations, and Durgham Mara'ee, International Law Advisor to the Palestinian Delegation in Sharm el Sheik and Camp David are a few of the other panelists that will speak during this year's symposium. Tufts Emeritus Professor of Philosophy Hugo Bedau, the editor of The Death Penalty in America: Current Controversies, will also speak. Donald Horowitz, a professor of law and political science at Duke University, will deliver the keynote speech at the symposium. Horowtiz will be honored with the Dr. Jean Mayer Global Citizenship award for his achievements in fields related to this year's EPIIC theme. Both students and teachers recognize the unique nature of the EPIIC organization as a whole. "[This classroom experience] has been so much more intense," EPIIC participant Sam Schwartz said. "This first semester we honestly probably read about 5,000 pages [of material]." EPIIC students are chosen based on an application process and often cite their interest in the annual theme as a major factor in their decision to take part in the program. Some students also find that EPIIC's practical side provides an extremely useful complement to other extracurricular interests. Sucharita Kuchibhotla, chair of the South Asian Political Action Committee and a senior enrolled in EPIIC, said that while racial issues have improved since her freshman year, "it hasn't been to the degree that we would like." For her, this year's theme parallels the motivation behind her political action at Tufts. Kuchibhotla said she is especially intrigued by the way this year's symposium dives into racial situations that are normally not addressed in the mainstream media. For example, the panel entitled "Ethnic Schisms: Spain and Sri Lanka" will address, among other things, how race, as well as nationalistic, economic, and political factors contribute to the current controversies in the Basque region of Spain. "[EPIIC] creates an intellectual community of students really questioning and probing [issues] over meals... instead of just what movies they saw over the weekend," EPIIC Assistant Director Heather Berrie said. When all is said and done, a number of students find that the EPIIC program sparks lifelong interests. Several graduates return to the symposium each year to share their postgraduate experiences in fields relating to the topic at hand. Matt Campbell, for example, an EPIIC '91 graduate and now among the leading US lawyers dealing with cases on death row, will return to EPIIC to speak at the workshop "Race and the Death Penalty." Teichman said he sees part of the program's success in "watching their [the students'] preconceptions break apart... and witnessing the deepening of their commitment to the examined, self-critical life." Students see the success of the program not only in what they have learned in preparing for and organizing the symposium, he said, but also in the knowledge and insight that the collection of experts will bring to others. "I hope others feel confident that they can use the information they gather at the symposium to challenge the world both in an academic and a social sense," Hansen said. Tickets for the symposium are on sale for $5, and will be available at the door until sold out. With one ticket, students will have access to all of the events over the course of the five days. All proceeds will go to the Nia project, a one-on-one mentoring program, and Seeds of Peace, a program that concentrates on building ties between teenagers in strife-ridden regions of the world, such as Israel and Palestine.

The Setonian
News

Eastern Mass. doubles up on area codes

March 31

Within the Tufts network, students may still only have to dial "7" plus a four-digit extension to reach out and touch someone, but to connect to everywhere else in Eastern Massachusetts, even lazy undergraduates must now dial ten digits - the area code plus the local number. The change comes in the wake of an explosive increase in demand for telephone numbers, and will be accompanied by four new area codes, in addition to the region's four existing codes. These new area codes will be "overlaid" on the existing group starting May 1, according to the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy (DTE). The current codes, 508, 617, 781, and 978, each will have another area code added to denote a specific region, allowing for any telephone number in those respective regions to have one of two three-digit prefixes. No existing numbers will change, and only new ones will adopt a new prefix. Western Massachusetts, which has a 413 area code, will remain unchanged. Yesterday marked the broad switchover from seven to ten-digit dialing, but Tufts students have had time to adjust to dialing ten-digit numbers to call off campus. When students returned to school after winter break, they had to dial areas codes to reach any Medford or Somerville numbers. That decision was made out of convenience, according to Gil Matos, the Campus Link account manager for Tufts. "It was easier to implement it while you guys were on break than when you were here, in case anything went wrong," he said. The new area code added to Medford's existing 781 code is 339, and 857 will be the new area code laid over Somerville's 617 code. Given that Tufts' campus lies in both Medford and Somerville, students will have to wade between all four areas codes to connect to friends and business in the surrounding areas. Nick's House of Pizza, for example, a popular take-out restaurant among students, is in Medford, while Urban Gourmet is located in Somerville. Despite the additional area codes, there will be no change in long distance rates. "Anything that was local before is still local," Matos said. The measure was necessary because of the increased demand for phone numbers created by a proliferation of fax machines, beepers, cell phones, and computer modems. "In the past four years alone, the demand for numbers has in certain area codes more than tripled because of unprecedented demand. In addition, companies that offer service in competition with Verizon are also using numbers to serve their customers," a DTE release said. Mandatory ten-digit dialing is necessary because of the overlaying of area codes. This method of dealing with increasing demand for numbers was chosen over splitting regions because of the likely confusion and even larger disturbance that alternative would create. "With a split, half of Eastern Massachusetts would have to change their phone numbers," said Paul Vasington, a commissioner for the Department of Telecommunications and Energy in an interview with The Boston Globe. "Massachusetts has already been through two geographic splits... I think people remember how painful it was." Area codes were split three years ago when Verizon, then Bell Atlantic, added 781 and 978 to the 617 and 508 area codes. "The inconvenience is part of the price to pay for having all the telecommunications devices that people now take for granted," Vasington said.

The Setonian
News

The Traveling Lush

March 31

"I know this place in Boston, it's really cute... I just hope we all get in the door." So spoke the leader of the pack, her followers oblivious to the double entendre that was to become all too clear as the evening progressed. As the young innocents trekked whole-heartedly to Downtown Crossing in search of said "cute" place, we imagined the possibilities: dreamy atmosphere, cushy booths for chatting, luxurious ladies rooms, elbow room. A place where one doubts one will "get in" is almost guaranteed to be the hot ticket for the night, right? What our fearless fellows did not realize, however, was that the difficulty in getting into The Littlest Bar is not due to exclusivity or even to extreme popularity. It's due to size. Recall: "I just hope we all get in the door..." In a space that feels about the size of a Wren single, you very well may walk right past The Littlest Bar. It doesn't help that the actual bar is a few steps down and into the building, which at this point feels more like a cave. The Littlest Bar makes the most of its scant subterranean space, and is always packed. To the rafters. With about 30 people. Thirty interesting people. The bar's dimensions are somewhere around 30 feet by 15 feet, so chances are you'll be rubbing elbows with the regulars or sharing a stool with an Irish expatriate. Don't worry, the locals are friendly enough, as we first-timers soon found out. "Can I see your ID please?" "You're kind of little for a bouncer, aren't you? And we've already got our beer." "I'm not the bouncer, I just want to see your ID." "We're all 21, sir..." "C'mon, it'll be fun!" Not exactly our idea of a good time... Cue the all-time favorite escape route, the emergency trip to the bathroom that requires the migration of our entire flock.We about face, fully intending to re-group in the privacy of our stalls, giggle like a gaggle of geese at the ganders gracing the bar, and plan a new attack.We about-face, and are presented with a serious obstacle; squeezing through thirty shiny, happy people who have packed themselves into this Downtown Crossing staple like sardines canned in Guinness. Short of crowd surfing to the loo, it looks like a lost cause. Our little plan would have required the cooperation and voluntary relocation of literally everyone in the place. We watched as our hopes for a subtle, smooth getaway were dashed against the rocks upon which our scotches had been served.Later in the evening, after a half-hour one-way trip to the bathroom, we found it to be "cozy" in the European sense of the word - meaning that boys and girls share a small room and maneuver around the payphone for, we assumed, privacy. But for now, we needed a new plan of action.We about-face. He's still there. "Hey, that's a tiger shirt. You're a tiger!" "It's a zebra." "And a damn good looking one!" "Ahem, bartender? Can we get a few more drinks over here?" And speaking of drinks, the menu is as limited as the floor space. With only two taps (likely for logistical reasons), a few bottled beers, and a limited supply of hard liquor, you'd be hard pressed to find a Stoli Raspberry with Ginger Ale or a Cosmopolitan. In fact, the bartenders have to store the empty bottles in the window well, where they also stick their musical guests. But they've got what's important - Guinness on tap, whiskey and scotch, and local music. This pint-sized pub packs quite a punch for patrons with a penchant for serious personality. And all thirty of them (the space is licensed to hold 38 drinkers... told you it was pint-sized) are serious Irish pub regulars loyal to The Littlest Bar or aficionados who work the circuit. Musicians who play in the window well are usually of the one-man-band variety - again, for spatial reasons - and are most often vocalists. On the particular night that your friends and mine, the "young innocents," came to town, the window well was empty (except for the empties, of course). But the bar was packed, and the crowd was lively. The nice thing about such a, shall we say, intimate venue, is that a small group of people feels like a huge get-together. Not even at an off-campus shin dig would thirty people justify the label "party." But, partly because of the location below ground level, partly because of the dark wood interior, and partly because of the regular characters, the personality at The Littlest Bar is one of the biggest in Boston... and personality makes the venue. While it may not be the place to go with a group of people looking for a Saturday night with enough adventure to occupy your thoughts during a week-long stay in the library, The Littlest Bar is a unique Boston experience. It's more like the Bull and Finch Pub than the atmosphere on Cheers, and its overflowing with enthusiasm and energy. Perhaps because it's overflowing with people, who have been known to continue the party on the sidewalk, drinks in hand. It's a nice change from nearby places like The Purple Shamrock which seem to feign pub-ness, and it's important that a place like The Littlest Bar exists for literary folk and homesick expats. Whether or not it's a place for college kids remains to be seen. College alcoholics, perhaps, as the doors open at 8:30 a.m. Chances are that at that hour, you'd have no problem getting in the door.

The Setonian
News

Save Falun Gong

March 31

Upon asking students if they knew what Falun Gong (or Falun Dafa) was, we received several interesting but incorrect responses: a religion, a political organization, a mixture of Buddhism and Taoism, something like yoga, etc. One person curtly replied, "I know about you. I read the newspaper." That was several months ago, when many of the major news agencies carried slanders against Falun Gong, born from the state-controlled Chinese media. During TILIP's 'Globalization and China' Symposium held in February, renowned media reporter Danny Schechter called for investigative reporting and urged everyone to learn the true story of Falun Gong. Simply put, Falun Gong is a "cultivation practice." It guides people in cultivating the body and mind through the coupling of a meditation and gentle exercise practice with the strengthening of moral principles. These moral principles are based on Falun Gong's core principle: Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Think about what Tufts would be like if we weren't allowed to believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. Without truthfulness, students would steal the answers to exams and deceive their friends. Actually, we wouldn't have friends without compassion, since we would only be interested in satisfying our own interests. Without tolerance, all kinds of prejudice and hatred would abound. With time, all goodness would disappear. Fortunately, Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance is highly valued and respected by the Tufts community. In China, however, it is considered evil. For 1.2 billion people, "goodness" has been outlawed. Imagine what the implications would be if all people of the world weren't allowed to believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance. There would no longer be any goodness, and a situation like that in China would extend to other countries. Despite having signed the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and having sworn to uphold a constitution that protects human rights, the Chinese Government has denied its people the right even to know what Falun Gong is. There, Falun Gong literature is banned, access to the related websites is blocked, and anti-Falun Gong propaganda is circulated. According to worldwide media reports, thousands of people have incurred fines from the Chinese government and have lost their homes, jobs, pensions, Communist Party memberships, and the right to school and university education simply because they choose to believe in this principle. In just over one and a half years, worldwide human rights organizations have stated that 50,000 practitioners have been detained, 10,000 have been sentenced to forced-labor camps without trial, and 1,000 healthy practitioners have been sent to mental hospitals. Police are employing all means of physical torture, including rape, burning of flesh, beatings with electric prods, forced salt intake, and forced drug injection, to punish and "reform" (in the mind of China's President Jiang Zemin) these completely peaceful people who practice Falun Gong. One hundred and ninety-three practitioners have died under police custody, with the majority of the deaths having occurred in only the past five months. After intensifying the persecution and even spreading the anti-Falun Gong propaganda overseas, however, President Jiang has not been able to crush Falun Gong like he has to so many groups that didn't appeal to the Chinese government's rigid communist and atheist ideology. Actually, his attempt to eliminate Falun Gong has backfired because many people around the world realize that Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance can benefit people around the world. Falun Gong has recently been awarded more than 400 commendations from government officials across America, despite the interference directed towards them by various Chinese consulates in an attempt to squelch their support for Falun Gong. These Chinese officials' disregard for US laws has even upset many US government officials. As increasingly more people are showing their support for this basic and universal principle of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance, they are making the Chinese government's ban on Falun Gong and its harsh treatment of practitioners completely baseless. As educated students who understand the importance of Truthfulness-Compassion-Tolerance in our lives, it is unacceptable to look the other way when people are losing everything in their lives because they choose to uphold this universal principle. As students in America, who live in a country that prides itself as a champion of human rights and the freedom of belief, it is our responsibility to take a stand against repression of conscience anywhere in the world. We ask you to support our appeal to China's Government to end the persecution of Falun Gong and its founder, Mr. Li Hongzhi, to release all the practitioners from detention centers, labor camps, and mental hospitals, and to lift the ban on Falun Gong. We urge you to make your voices heard by the media and the US government, as well as to educate your friends and family about the real story of Falun Gong. Start by exploring the information available on the Internet at www.faluninfo.org and www.falundafa.org.Christine Moon is a senior majoring in biology and environmental studies. Xiaomei Qi is a graduate student studying chemical engineering.

The Setonian
News

NOW president promotes 'Emergency Action' for Women's Lives campaign

March 31

National Organization for Women (NOW) President Patricia Ireland spoke at Tufts on Tuesday as part of the organization's nationwide tour to mobilize college students for a rally and march in favor women's choice and against the George W. Bush Administration. The rally, which will take place in Washington, DC, on April 22, is part of a movement against President Bush's policies regarding a woman's reproductive rights. Ireland said NOW chose abortion as its primary concern because it pertains to the lives of all women. "Abortion is an issue about which people are truly passionate," she said. Eliminating legal abortions and access to birth control would place control over women's health in male hands, since government is male dominated, Ireland said. The goal of the march, part of a national campaign called Emergency Action for Women's Lives, is to show the seriousness of the issue, as well as raise women's morale. "This will stop attacks on all of our rights and will make us work together in a way that will strengthen all our movements," she said. "The election of Bush as president actually provides us with the opportunity we need... because poor women... and young women have already lost their access to abortion." Since as early as 1998, Bush has taken an approach to abortion unpopular to NOW members. His first action in the White House was to terminate funding to overseas abortion clinics, making it more difficult for women living abroad to receive family planning advice and abortions, or to lobby their governments on the issue. He has also repealed laws regarding the rights of US workers that were enacted under the Clinton administration. "We have real enemies, and we also have an armed right wing," Ireland said. Attorney General John Ashcroft poses as yet another threat to women's lives, according to the NOW president. A conservative Republican, Ashcroft has attempted to outlaw family planning, abortion, and birth control, including the morning-after pill and RU-486, also known as Methapristone. He is also a vocal opponent of prescribing drugs such as the morning-after pill in cases of rape and when pregnancy endangers the life of the mother. Ireland said that making access to contraceptives, family planning, and abortions illegal would take away the rights for which women have fought for centuries, but not prevent women from getting pregnant. Ireland said that many women would turn to illegal and possibly dangerous methods of abortions, as occurred in the past, if it becomes illegal in America. Ireland herself was forced to undergo an illegal abortion, a memory that made her visibly shudder. "We're not ever going back," she said. Ireland said that issues of abortion are indicative of larger women's issues. That women have the right to vote, earn equal wages, receive quality health coverage, and be in control of their bodies are signs of progress, she said. But, she pointed out, "progress does not mean equality... and moving forward doesn't mean you're there yet." The federal government is in a precarious position, she said, as Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor prepares to retire, putting the fifth pro-choice vote up for grabs. When she retires, the conservative Bush will make the new appointment. An additional conservative on the bench could throw off the balance of pro- and anti-abortion justices. Ireland is optimistic about the possibility of a Democratic filibuster, which would block the appointment and, in turn, help preserve not only abortion rights, but also women's rights. Ireland said she knows first-hand what it is like to experience inequalities under law. She was raised at a time when the term "sexual harassment" was not yet coined, and was refused birth control before marriage by a medical practitioner. Ireland was forced to have an illegal abortion, and was later refused health care benefits from work because she, and not her husband, was the head of her household. Her experiences led her to a life of activism, which is how she became involved in NOW. She served as executive vice president and treasurer in 1987, was elected president in 1991, and has been fighting for abortion, civil rights, and social justice ver since. Many students said Ireland inspired them to be involved in campus activism. "I was definitely empowered by her speech, and I found her to be very intelligent, very funny," said freshman Zoe Hastings, a member of the Coalition for Social Justice and Nonviolence. "I was really happy to have her share her feelings with us because a lot of the time I feel the same way about things." Busses will leave from several area college campuses as well as Boston Common for the April 22 rally. Thousands of men and women are expected to attend.

The Setonian
News

The end of an era

March 31

Michael Jordan should not come back. Most people can only dream of going out the way he did, with a last second shot to win a championship- nothing but net. That shot summed up everything we think about Jordan - beauty, grace, and excellence. Anything less than a title-winning shot would be a letdown. As a New York Knicks fan, I have suffered through years of heartbreak as the tongue-wagging deity that we know as Jordan ended the Knicks' seasons throughout my adolescence. In fact, in six head-to- head playoff matches between the Knicks and the Bulls when Jordan was active, my Knickerbockers went a painful 0-6. New York managed to pull out a victory in 1994, during Jordan's first basketball hiatus. After Jordan came back in 1995, he struggled. It wasn't as bad as his .202, 3 homerun, and 51 RBI performance as a White Sox minor leaguer in 1994, but it was still painful to watch. When Jordan floundered on the baseball diamond, it made him more human, perhaps even more lovable. This was the first time that the world saw Jordan was not perfect. Still, he made strides in his first and only year as a minor leaguer. After his season toiling for the Birmingham Barons, he played in the Arizona Fall league and improved so drastically at the plate and in the field that there was talk that he might one day become a major league player. After he quit baseball and returned to the hardwood, the world expected Jordan to continue where he left off - he didn't. Instead, he shot .411 from the field and averaged only 26.9 points. While his shooting percentage was down, his point production was still awe-inspiring - but not Jordan-esque. It's a hard standard to maintain when the most complimentary adjective in the basketball dictionary was created from your last name (see previous sentence). Despite his troubles after returning, Jordan managed to get rid of the rust just in time to torch the Knicks for 55 at Madison Square Garden. The man had single handedly beaten my team, yet again. But I couldn't help but root for the anomaly named Michael whenever he played the Knicks. I always hoped that Jordan would go for 50 and that New York would win by two at the buzzer. Most people shared my sentiments. Whenever Jordan and the Bulls went on road trips, the stadiums would sell out, and that included the homes of perennial losers such as the LA Clippers and the Dallas Mavericks. Jordan transcended winning and losing. He made people question their loyalty. How could we root for him when he was beating our team? It didn't make sense, but we kept rooting for him anyway.When Jordan struggled through the 1995 playoffs, the Orlando Magic's shooting guard, Nick Anderson had the audacity to say what we all saw - Jordan had lost a step. I was almost brought to tears when I saw #23 fumbling the ball against Orlando.Jordan was embarrassed and he came back in the 1995-1996 season, rededicated to being the best player in the game. He may have lost a step but he was wiser - even the holy sometimes need to adapt. Jordan had evolved from a slasher and a dunker into a man whose most lethal shot was his fadeaway jumper. The world was right again because MJ was back to his winning ways - three more scoring titles and three more championships.While still the NBA standard, there was no denying he was a different player. The last two of his three full seasons after his comeback, Jordan averaged under 30 points per game. While 29.6 and 28.7 are not too shabby and still led the league, they marked the only two seasons with the exception of MJ's rookie year in which he did not score more than 30 points per contest. The decline was minute and could easily be ignored, but nonetheless it was there.In 1995, when Jordan made his first return, he was 32 years old. Now he is 38. Although he could conceivably still be the best player in the NBA, once he works himself into shape there is no way he could be the same player that he was when he was 25, 32, or even 35. Even if he were the best, would he be Jordan?I don't want to find out. I'm content with the memories of Michael Jordan knocking my beloved Knicks out of the playoffs. MJ should be comfortable with his legacy. He truly is the greatest. He has nothing left to prove.Dan Fowler is sophomore majoring in political science. He is sports editor at the Daily.

The Setonian
News

Panelists say environmental justice a human, civil rights issue

March 31

Activists Veronica Eady and Heetan Kalan presented their perspectives on the environmental justice movement during the panel "Environmental Racism: A Discussion on Race and Class" on Thursday night. The two told a full Cabot Auditorium that pollution affects a disproportionate amount of minority and low-income communities. Eady, an environmental lawyer and director of the Environmental Justice and Brownfield Program in Massachusetts, said there is institutionalized racism in the system of environmental law enforcement. According to Eady, the traditional exclusion of blacks from election polls has led to low voter turnout in the African-American community, which has in turn led to the passage of environmental protection laws that do not protect people of color. Even today, environmental laws are more strongly enforced and carry more severe punishments in wealthier communities than in low-income areas. People with more education, money, and influence are able to hire lawyers and keep their neighborhoods clean. As a result, Eady said, the privileged become more privileged. Exposure to pollutants produced by factories occurs more often in urban, low-income areas than in wealthy communities or suburbs populated mostly by whites, the speakers said. Poor people and people of color often live in the urban areas where the factories are built, and many are hired by the factories and plants to perform hazardous tasks. Environmental racism has become a civil rights issue, Eady said, making reference to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s efforts to fight on behalf of sanitation workers in Memphis, TN before his assassination. "His death was really a death in the name of environmental justice, because his work around worker's rights was pivotal in expanding the notion of environment from the wilderness to include where we live, where we go to school, and where we play," she said. "I like to think of the environmental justice movement as a marriage between the civil rights movement and the environmental movement." Kalan, the founder and director of the South African Exchange Program on Environmental Justice (SAEPEJ), spoke about the fundamental changes that environmentalism has undergone. Kalan said he at first rejected the environmental justice movement because he thought environmentalists cared more about animals and trees than about people. A human rights activist who had fought against apartheid, he soon discovered that environmental justice had a decidedly human focus. SAEPEJ is a Boston-based non-profit organization that provides resources to South African developmental and environmental groups with the goal of rebuilding neglected environments in which black South Africans live. It also works to strengthen local environmental justice movements. Kalan recognized the relevance of the environmental justice movement to human rights violations during the apartheid period in South Africa. To demonstrate, he showed the audience slides of certain areas in South Africa: pictures of children in a playground overlooking factories emitting smoke, and people fishing in water poisoned by toxic waste from a nearby chemical plant. Young people have played a major role in bringing about social change, Kalan said, urging the audience to get involved in the environmental justice movement. The lecture was part of Inquiry 2001, a subset of Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship (EPIIC). Each year, Inquiry engages high school students from across the country in a simulation of an international issue that relates to EPIIC's theme. Students from New York, Chicago, Indianapolis, Atlanta, and the greater Boston area participated this year, and some of them were able to attend the panel. The panel continued a dialogue on the topic of environmental racism that began during the EPIIC symposium in March, when Eady, Kalan, and several other speakers participated in the panel "Environmental Racism: A Global Perspective." "The reason that we chose the topic environmental racism was because it was something that really tied together both issues of race and class that we've been working with the high school students with all year, so I think this was perfect for that," said Heather Barry, assistant director of EPIIC. The high school students who participated in Inquiry called the event an eye-opening experience. "While we are living in a thriving community, we do not realize that there are serious problems in other environments," said Natacha Meyer a high school student. "Addressing these issues is the only way to solve them." Tufts students involved said they appreciated the exposure to international issues that Inquiry provided the high school visitors. "I'm glad that the environmental justice movement is giving a name and a voice to problems that people have been living with for a long time," senior Jess Tonn said. "Many people may not realize that the conditions they are living in are far from safe. It's great that these high school students were exposed to these issues and can now bring them back to their homes across the country to start informing people in their communities."

The Setonian
News

A Tufts without Greeks, a college without fun

March 31

The Greek system on this campus has been mired, for the last few years, in an unenviable situation of great student apathy, administrative neglect, and an arrest-happy TUPD. Several instances, which I need not recount, have left the Greek system reeling, as it seems that almost every semester a slew of incidents occur that both tarnish the Greek system's reputation and/or put one of its fraternities on probation. This piece is not an attempt to win over administrative support (for they seem hell-bent on destroying the Greek system altogether) nor is it a plea to police officers to quit breaking up parties (they're just doing their job), rather I will attempt to demonstrate the many advantages of Greek life, despite the negative connotation that currently surrounds that institution on this campus. There is little doubt that Greek life is the center of what little social scene exists on this campus. Other options might be available to some students, but the vast majority of underclassmen get their kicks at fraternity parties. True, these events often degenerate into nights of drunken debauchery, but come on people, this is college. For four years, you're given the opportunity to live with little or no responsibilities. Before you know it, you'll be working a nine-to-five, and ten years down the road, you're going to wake up one morning, look over and wonder, who is this person beside me? At that point, you might ask, what happened to my youth? Tufts might not be FSU, but since we're here, we might as well make the best of it. Fraternities provide an outlet for basic socializing that simply does not occur on a Friday night at the library. For those of you who do not take advantage of this excellent Tufts resource, I am truly saddened. As for the rest of you, put your beers on the ground when the cops come in! But I have digressed, for in truth, Greek life isn't just about partying. The Greek system runs many events that give back to the community. Some examples include Greek Jam, held at the end of Spring semester, sorority club nights, Kids Day, and Read by the River. That is not to say that more could not be done, but these serve as adequate examples of the Greek system's doing more than just throwing parties. If social functions were the only attractive aspects of Greek life, I highly doubt that the Greek system would exist on this campus at all. Still, fraternity parties and charity events aren't the only factors that have allowed the Tufts Greek system to survive. In my opinion, many other reasons exist that make a decision to join the Greek system the right one. Firstly, joining a fraternity or sorority gives many students the chance to take pride in something. Moreover, for many, it offers a sense of purpose, a direction that is sometimes lacking for underclassmen. Starting college is often a difficult adjustment. Being thrust into a strange, new environment, far from home and family, can be downright traumatic for most students. Many students search in vain for a sense of direction freshman year. Joining a fraternity or sorority is often the solution. I, for one, felt that joining a fraternity helped me consolidate my goals and allowed me to better strive to achieve them. Ironically, my GPA has risen this year despite living in a fraternity house. Admittedly, that does not hold true for every fraternity brother, but personally, joining a fraternity and living in the house was the best decision I have made at college. Secondly, some of the best advantages of joining a Greek house are the connections one gains from simply becoming a member. Not only have I developed good relationships with the 50 or so brothers in my house, but with many other members of the Greek community as well. Additionally, the fraternity has given me more than just a group of guys to hang out with on the weekend. I now know that I have developed a network of friends and associates that I will have long into the future. Some may feel that this network might come at the price of others outside the Greek community. Others might say that they feel "stuck" in the Greek community. But that really depends on the person. I still maintain strong ties with friends from freshman year, and I remain actively involved with other aspects of Tufts life. Lastly, and this ties in with what has already been mentioned, a fraternity or sorority offers students a place they can call home. Whether you live in a chapter house or just stop there for lunch or on the weekends, you know there is always someone to hang out with, someone who you would consider a friend. In my opinion, this sure beats eating Hodgon alone in your dorm room, or watching the Super Bowl from the "comfort" of a Tilton or Carmichael common room. On a related note, any man who has yet to see the Super Bowl half-time show at DTD has never really lived.Furthermore, calling a fraternity or sorority home for your college days makes you a life-member of a greater national body. Often, alums return to their chapter houses ten years later, and buy the booze for the weekend. I can clearly recall when a certain Randall Pinkman returned last semester; not only did he buy all the beer for the party, but he was also the most ridiculous man there. I guess he put new meaning into the term "life-member."For many, pledging a fraternity or sorority was the best decision they ever made. Understandably however, the Greek system isn't for everybody. Still, it remains an important facet of campus life. Without it, a certain element (not just parties) would be missing. Thus, last semester's actions by the administration and TUPD left me pessimistic. But as of this past Super Bowl weekend, some of my confidence has returned. Parties basically went as planned, though an unofficial 2 a.m. curfew seems to be in effect. Hopefully, this is a sign of things to come, as it bodes well for a warming relationship between the Greek community and the rest of the school on a whole. Hopefully, bodies like the IGC will help to break down the walls that separate Greeks from non-Greeks, creating an environment in which we can coexist peacefully, while still having some fun.Aren Prupas is a sophomore majoring in political science. He is a member of AEPi and is the public relations representative for the Inter-Greek Council.

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Jim Lehrer to speak at commencement

March 31

Renowned journalist Jim Lehrer will be the commencement speaker at Tufts' 149th graduation ceremony this May. The selection of a figure well-known in academia is a marked contrast to last year's choice of comedian Bill Cosby. Jim Lehrer will speak to graduates from all of Tufts schools at the beginning of the commencement ceremonies on May 20. "When I heard it was Jim Lehrer, I jumped for joy," Provost Sol Gittleman said. "It made me proud of my University. He's the most responsible journalist in the United States." Many of the individual schools have already lined up speakers for their subsequent ceremonies. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will give the address for the Fletcher School. Wendell Phillips Award recipient Thea Lavin will be the only student to speak in the undergraduate ceremony. Gittleman said that Lehrer does not typically speak at commencement ceremonies and was recruited to speak at Tufts by friends of the University. His last commencement address was in June of 1998 at the University of Washington. Lehrer served as the moderator for nine of the nationally televised presidential debates over the last four elections, including the three debates last fall between presidential candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore. According to Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, Lehrer's perspective is especially relevant "in a year when the press played such an important role on the election." Lehrer's 'day job', "The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer," is considered a high-level discussion of current events in an era of infotainment, though the PBS show does not attract high ratings. Lehrer has received numerous awards for his journalistic excellence and was the recipient of the National Humanities Medal, presented in 1999 by then-president Bill Clinton and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Representatives from the Board of Trustees and University President John DiBiaggio were responsible for the selection of the commencement speaker. Typically, the committee looks for candidates with name recognition who are also highly regarded in academic circles. "I think you have to have a mix," Reitman said. "With Lehrer, you achieve that sort of thing." While some seniors said that Billy Cosby was a better pick, and had to pause to remember where they had heard or seen Jim Lehrer, others were impressed with the University's selection. "I think it's great to have such an important and active figure come to speak at Tufts," senior Jennifer Dunn said. "He's involved in so many different fields and I think that reflects the interdisciplinary focus of the University." Jim Lehrer started his journalism career in 1956 as a reporter for The Dallas Morning News and then The Dallas Times-Herald. His success as a newspaperman gained him a spotlight in public television, leading him to serve as a public affairs coordinator for PBS and a member of PBS's Journalism Advisory Board. A fellowship position at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting prompted Leher to join the National Public Affairs Center for Television (NPACT) as a correspondent. By working with NPACT, Lehrer became acquainted with Robert MacNeil, who he teamed up with to provide live PBS coverage of the Senate Watergate hearings. Lehrer was also the PBS anchor selected to cover the House Judiciary Committee's impeachment inquiry of Richard Nixon. From 1975 to 1982, Lehrer was the Washington correspondent for the half-hour Robert MacNeil Report, which premiered on WNET New York and won over 30 awards for journalistic excellence. Lehrer has authored twelve novels, two memoirs, and three plays. His latest book, The Special Prisoner, was published last May. The University's official announcement will be made sometime today through its E-News website, www.tufts.edu/communications.

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Tufts and Fletcher celebrate appointment of new dean

March 31

In the words of one alumnus, Tufts' Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy "won the Superbowl" with Stephen Bosworth's appointment as its seventh dean. That win was made official Wednesday with Bosworth's installation ceremony, at which he promised to maintain Fletcher's position as a cutting-edge school of international affairs. Migrating from the State Department to academia, the former US Ambassador to South Korea received charges from University President John DiBiaggio and representatives of Fletcher's Board of Overseers, alumni, students, and faculty. The plus audience, which included more than 300 Fletcher students, faculty, administrators, and alumni, rose in applause as Bosworth took to the podium to respond to the appointment. Although his voice was characteristically stern, the new dean expressed enthusiasm to guide Fletcher into the 21st century. He said that he would first familiarize himself with the school before making any decisions as to its future. "I have quickly observed that this is a school in strong condition with a vision and purpose," he said. As he highlighted the 68-year history of Fletcher, Bosworth admitted he is entering his new position with a sense of humility. There was no shortage of idealism, though, in his outline of his general goals as Fletcher's new dean. "I bring with me a strong conviction to the pursuit of excellence through persistent searching for improvement," he said. "We must nurture, enhance, and deepen the sense of community among our students. We must also continue to promote the sense of idealism [and] continue to strive to make the world a better place." The world of international affairs is a changing one, Bosworth said, and Fletcher must reflect those changes in its programs and curriculum. Nearly all of the representatives who publicly addressed Bosworth with their concerns during the ceremony stressed the importance of continuing to attract prestigious students and faculty members in order to safeguard Fletcher's position as one of the top schools of diplomacy. "We know that you have the vision and dedication to continue Fletcher on its distinguished path and continue to focus the international agenda of Fletcher," DiBiaggio said. The president's remarks stressed Fletcher's role within the greater Tufts community, and he urged Bosworth to exploit the synergistic potential of Fletcher with dual degrees and similar programs involving other parts of the University. Fletcher's Academic Dean and former Interim Dean Joel Trachtman said that Bosworth would be faced with challenging issues relating to the curriculum. "We need to use new technology to teach better... [and] enhance the curriculum in areas such as humanitarian studies and business," he said. Both alumni representative Dorothy Meadow Sobol, vice president of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and Ph.D. candidate Susan Fink said that student finances should become a primary concern for the School. Sobol said no students should be denied admission because of financial need. Associate Dean Deborah Nutter delivered prepared remarks on behalf of Peter Ackerman, a member of Fletcher's Board of Overseers and a University Trustee, who could not make the ceremony because of a flight cancellation. Under Bosworth's guidance, Ackerman reflected, Fletcher will have to face increasing volatility in international affairs and rethinking of globalization in light of the recent economic slowdown. He also expressed his enthusiasm for the dean's appointment. "I cannot tell you how many times I have been told Fletcher hit a home run," Nutter said on Ackerman's behalf. "But that athletic metaphor is too weak. We have won the Super Bowl." Ackerman's remarks highlighted Bosworth's high profile in international affairs and said that the resulting opportunities available to the Fletcher School were "enormous." The ambassador's presence is expected to heighten Fletcher's profile, as Bosworth brings connections to many international leaders with him. Still, his stature is not unusual for a Fletcher dean. His predecessor, John Galvin, served as Supreme Allied Commander of NATO in Europe before coming to Tufts. Bosworth arrived at Fletcher with his wife Christine on Feb. 15 and made his first official appearance at the Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, during the annual student career trip. Despite Bosworth's impressive r?©sum?©, students were reluctant to comment on the new dean before his arrival. Now, after several breakfast meetings with students and participation in school activities, Bosworth has registered a positive initial impression. "I think he has all the qualities to lead Fletcher and maintain our competitive advantage over other schools of international affairs," said Marcelo Michalua, a second-year Fletcher student. "Everyone seems very impressed with him so far." Bosworth, 60, graduated from Dartmouth College, where he later served on the Board of Trustees. He taught international relations as an adjunct professor at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs between 1990 and 1994. According to the search committee, the Ambassador's academic experience was a key factor in his selection. Bosworth's career with the State Department began in 1961, and included the US Ambassadorship to Tunisia and the Philippines during the late 1970s and 1980s. Prior to assuming the post of Ambassador to South Korea in 1997, Bosworth served as Executive Director of the Korean Peninsula Development Organization, and was instrumental in efforts to dismantle North Korea's nuclear capabilities. The ambassador, a Democratic appointee, left Asia at a time of tense relations with isolated North Korea, which appeared willing to open its doors and scale back its weapons program. However, North Korea, which supplies the Iranian and Pakistani missile programs, has been the main justification for an American national defense missile program. On Wednesday, President Bush told South Korean President Kim Dae Jung that his administration would not resume talks with the North Koreans anytime soon, despite the Clinton administration's efforts to normalize relations with the communist country.

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Students volunteer time with children

March 31

For a few hours tomorrow, 900 students will shed their young adult years for the chance to be a kid again. Tomorrow's Kid's Day, as well as last Sunday's Read by the River, get students involved with kids in the community. And between these two community service events, sponsored by Hillel and the Leonard Carmichael Society (LCS) respectively, a little over 1,000 Jumbo volunteers will or did sacrifice part of their weekends to hang out with local kids. Last Sunday, about 600 children from the Medford community came to campus and took part in Read by the River, an event which promoted reading and literacy. The kids traveled in small groups to 18 different activity stations, manned by about 250 volunteers. Sophomore Jason Litwack, along with juniors Mia Sussman, Nathan Perlis, and Jason Garfield founded the two-year-old Read by the River program. Litwack said that the program gives Tufts Hillel students a chance to interact with the surrounding Medford community in a meaningful way. "We wanted to promote literacy, to bring the name of Hillel and the name of Tufts into the Medford community," he said. "[We wanted] to show that Tufts is part of the community-at-large." Before the actual Read by the River event, volunteers traveled to Medford schools to rev up kids for the event. The Medford community responded with enthusiasm to the program and Litwack said that most parents had only positive things to say about the event. "[The parents] love the program, love the fact that it promotes literacy for their kids," he said. Read by the River also gives the Medford and Tufts communities a chance to interact, communicate with each other, and improve their working relationship. "Any time you open up lines of communication it improves relationships," said Medford mayor Michael J. McGlynn. "I was shocked by the overwhelming response of the community. The place was mobbed and the kids loved it. I think the Tufts students did a great job of furthering [the kids'] skills," he said. Tomorrow's event, Kids Day, also gives Tufts students a chance to interact with children from the Medford and Somerville communities. Now in its 38th year, Kids' Day is LCS's oldest and largest tradition, and has attracted its largest number of volunteers in history. "This is the most students we've had participate in Kids' Day, so we're thrilled," said sophomore Sarah Stroback, one of the program's coordinators. "We've had such an extraordinary response." As with Read by the River, Kids' Day is a time for Tufts students to directly interact and communicate with both Medford and Somerville children and parents. "Kids' Day is one of the main programs that's part of LCS that has a direct effect on the community," Stroback said. "It's a great way for the University to interact with the community." This year's Kid's Day theme is "Tufts in the Tropics," and the program's coordinators hope to transform the Tufts campus into a tropical paradise, at least for a day. "We have volunteers coming at four in the morning to decorate," Stroback said of students' dedication. Since so many Tufts students have volunteered as group leaders this year, Elder said that leaders will work virtually one-on-one with kids. In addition to providing this kind of exclusive attention to the children attending the event, student volunteers will also lead groups of Spanish-speaking children and special-needs children. Both Kids' Day coordinators and volunteers are excited about Saturday's program. "When I did [Kids' Day] last year I had a lot of fun and so did the kids. I think everyone just really enjoyed themselves," sophomore Maryann Kuruvilla said. Elder echoed her excitement. "[Kids' Day] is a wonderful way to engage Tufts students with children of the community," she said. "It'll be a beautiful day in the Tropics."

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I-Club builds global bridges

March 31

If you cha cha'd your heart out at the recent Latin Dance Party, got all dolled up for the International Club (I-Club) semi-formal cruise last semester, or simply attended International Orientation (IO), then you have witnessed the work and enthusiasm of the International Club. You have also taken part in Tufts' long tradition of global awareness and diversity - one exemplified in its large international community, as well as its very active International Club. International students comprise about 12 percent of the student body at Tufts. This includes non-US citizens, foreign citizens, permanent residents, and US citizens who live overseas. Senior Gerald Sean McDermott, president of the I-Club, estimates that approximately 70 percent of these students participate in at least one International Club event outside of IO during the year. The I-Club, one of the largest student groups on campus, boasts an e-mail list of roughly 400 students, attracting most of its members during IO. However, as in IO, many of the students that participate are not necessarily international students - some are just interested in foreign cultures. Freshman Josh Warren, a member of the I-Club executive board and a New Jersey resident, reaffirms that the club is not entirely exclusive to international students. "I-Club is for anyone interested in having a good time. The parties and events are a lot of fun, and are different from the usual college stuff," he said. According to its mission statement, the I-Club strives to promote foreign culture on campus, integration and mutual understanding between international and American students, and sponsor social events. McDermott stressed the importance of interaction between foreign and American cultures. "We consider ourselves facilitators of culture," he said. "We promote not just cultural understanding, but also cultural interaction. We use cultural understanding with the interacting." Through its many events, such as this week's Intercultural Festival from Feb. 14 to Feb. 24, the I-Club spreads awareness of global issues and provides social activities such as dances and parties, ultimately bringing together international and domestic students. The I-Club throws 30 to 40 events every year, ranging from small activities, such as 15 students watching a foreign film together, to large events like the Parade of Nations cultural show this Friday in Cohen Auditorium. The I-Club also works with many other organizations on campus, including culture groups and branches of the administration, such as Cultural Ethnicity and Community Affairs (CECA). Through the administration, the I-Club is able to voice international students' concerns, such as international financial aid. I-Club is involved in events with many culture groups, but it traditionally works with more of the larger culture groups. "[The I-Club] tries to consciously balance the culture clubs we work with, given the demographics of Tufts," McDermott said, adding that there are 20 culture clubs at Tufts. "We work with larger groups for personnel and budget reasons." The I-Club was recently awarded a first place $3,500 cash prize for winning a contest sponsored by www.iagora.com, a website that connects international students and clubs from universities across the country while also providing information and entertainment relevant to international students. Tufts' I-Club competed against international clubs at other schools, mainly those within the US. According to McDermott, the Tufts' I-Club won the contest as a result of its large number of members and represented nationalities, as well as its number of website hits - more than schools such as Harvard and Georgetown. The money awarded to the I-Club is being used to help pay for Intercultural Festival. "In my impression, Tufts has one of the more active, if not the most active, international communities in the country," McDermott said.

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Reapplying to Tufts: four more years

March 31

I was recently informed that the deadline for early application to Tufts is approaching. Upon hearing the news, I decided to reapply to Tufts for another four years. Below is the essay I wrote to be "reaccepted" to Tufts. "Thinking outside the box" is one of the many lessons I learned during my experience at Tufts University. This vision is what has led me to reapply for admission. As open-minded members of the Tufts community, I ask that the Admission Committee consider my reapplication seriously and all that I could bring in the next four years given what I've gained in the last four. Let me explain. Readmitting me as a freshman would be beneficial to the University and to me. As you look to fill the class of 2006 with a diverse blend of valedictorians, star athletes, and class presidents, think of the asset a Tufts graduate could offer as a member of the incoming class. During the awkward period of freshmen orientation, I could ensure a smoother transition into college to those I meet. I could offer guidance on topics that are often uncomfortable or confusing for freshmen, such as the block schedule and "being TEMSed." If my roommate or a hallmate needed help selecting classes or writing papers, I would be there. You will see from my transcript that I am a political science major. The clubs I have participated in include Spirit of Color, the Leonard Carmichael Society, and the Tufts Democrats. In the next four years, I could bring the lessons I have learned from my endeavors to all the classes I will take and the organizations I plan to join. My personal development would benefit from friendships with my current classmates, who will move on to jobs and graduate school, and the new friends I will make, who will surely be "the finest group of applicants ever admitted to Tufts." I understand President Bacow is launching an in-depth study on student life. I would be happy to serve as a member of this investigation during the next four years. I believe the study could benefit greatly from my experiences and creating a position for me as a part-time faculty, part-time student is worth considering. My parents would be glad to hear that Tufts would finance my second four years, as I'm sure you would. For me, there would be nothing greater than the chance to do it all over again. The friends I have made, the experiences we have shared, and the lessons I have learned are a tiny fraction of all that I wanted to do when I arrived at Tufts. There is so much I didn't have time for. If granted another chance, I would register for "School and Society;" I would try out for a play; I would apply for EPIIC. With four more years, I would realize that the clock is always ticking and not squander a minute. Please give me the chance to extend my stay in this paradise where there is nothing unusual about calling a friend at 2 a.m., where I can sleep until 11:30 a.m. on a Monday morning and not miss a thing, where I maintain a schedule that offers a 15-hour "work week." I don't want to leave. I fear that I will soon be living a life somewhere between the "bored-room" and my cubicle. My flip-flops and stubble will probably not be welcomed in that life. In the world Tufts' has prepared me for I will not be removed from a job that I have thrived at simply because four years have passed. In fact, politicians and CEOs are rewarded with longer tenures when they succeed. I have worked hard and I deserve the chance to do it again. Four years ago this spring, you sent a letter of admission to a high school senior in Great Falls, Virginia. Today, he hangs with a different crowd than he did back then. He can pump out a ten-page paper a lot quicker and down a beer with a bit more ease. He now knows the difference between taking a class and attending a class. Now a college senior, he is still filled with the potential he expressed in that application you glanced over. Let me be your Neil Armstrong on a journey into an uncharted educational experiment. One step for new-age learning, one giant leap in postponing my first day on the job. I promise that after reaching my second graduation ceremony, I will plant my stake in a future that will make Tufts proud. I expect after another four years I will be twice as smart, become twice as successful, and one day, donate twice as much. Come on Tufts, let the good times keep rolling.

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Concert Board selects Battle of the Band participants

March 31

Concert Board made its final decision yesterday on which Tufts bands will battle it out to share the Spring Fling stage with the Tufts musicians-turned-rock-stars Guster. Redshift 6, The Dumplings, Monkey Hands, Nico Juber, Face First, and MARUN were selected from a pool of about 20 applicants to participate in this year's Battle of the Bands.

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Outwit, outplay, outlast

March 31

No doubt about it, Monday was beautiful. Students donned shorts, toted Frisbees, and basked in spring's sunshine and warmth. Walking outside was a pleasure, not an ordeal. And by the time the sun set and a cold drizzle began to fall, it was night -- everyone could quickly disappear into their rooms and houses, under a strong roof and out of nature's grasp. But not junior Gary Wilson. Around midnight, just as everyone else made final trips home, Wilson fended off the rain and wind to set up camp on top of the library roof. A makeshift tent replaced a sturdy roof, a tarp attempted to cover the sodden ground, and a sleeping bag offered his only source of warmth. Will he make it through the night? Sure - this is day five of roughing it -- old hat for him. He's a survivor. Or at least he wants to be. Wilson, a mechanical engineering major from Wilton, CN, wants to join next season's cast of Survivor, CBS's mega-hit reality television program which puts strangers together to compete for money on a deserted stretch of nature. Contestants participate in a series of competitions and events, forge friendships, fight enemies, and, at the end of each episode, vote one of their peers off the show. Last man standing wins $1 million in cash, and the whole cast wins a place in the public eye for a few weeks. Wilton wants the flash of fame, and of course, the possibility of fortune. "I want $1 million really badly... also, I want to see what it's like to be in the limelight. I don't want to be Britney Spears or the Backstreet Boys, or anything, and not be able to walk around. I just want to be able to be there for just a little bit," he said. In order to get there, he first must apply. And that's where camping out on the library roof comes into play. In addition to a written set of questions, the Survivor application asks candidates to send in a three-minute video documenting why they'd be the "ultimate survivor." To stand out, Wilson knew he needed to prove his prowess on tape. So one day after watching the show, he and his roommates got to brainstorming. Walk around campus naked for a week? He'd never. Camp out? "I thought...'Hey, that'll get their attention,'" he said. That Thursday, Wilson procured a sleeping bag, a tent, and a video camera and plopped down, despite the cold, to start his mission. He would camp out for five days, and stay as far away from home as possible. He'd still go to classes, do his homework, and take tests - but changing clothes and showering were no-nos. Throughout the five days, Wilson videotaped himself and his experience (including this interview), compiling almost an hour and a half of footage. Then, after tearing down his makeshift abode yesterday, it was time to start some hardcore editing. He now has to squeeze his various tapes into a three-minute segment by tomorrow, so he can send the application in time to qualify. Monday night was Wilson's last night under the stars, and for the first time, the ground was already wet before he set up camp. "I'm going to have an interesting night," he lamented. But it won't be his first interesting experience atop one of Tufts' most popular gathering spots. Take Saturday: Wilson didn't need to set his alarm clock on Saturday morning - after all, it was the weekend. But he, along with a good portion of Tufts' population, arose bright and early to celebrate Kids' Day. Except Wilson hadn't planned on interacting with any kids. At around 9 a.m., he opened his eyes to sunshine, and a dear friend instructing his group: "On the count of three, everybody yell 'Good morning, Gary!'...1...2...3...." "GOOD MORNING GARY!" And so the day began. "A few people came up to me, and the kids were like 'Hey, it's a tent! Should we go in the tent?' Kids were unzipping the tent, coming inside." Becoming a campus attraction might have been more desirable than his battle with the elements Saturday night - which most of the campus heard rattling on windows, but not on the fragile sides of an open-air house. "I got my tent up, and as soon as I got in it started raining. It sounded like this crashing... it was so loud. I tore down the tent and ran back to my house. It was so bad." Wilson's perch afforded him the opportunity to explore - and confirm - the myth of the Library Roof as a hotbed of debauchery and, well, fun. Friday night found slightly intoxicated individuals serenading him with Destiny's Child's "Survivor." The weekend also offered a vision of what Wilson said was the "craziest thing I've seen at Tufts" - a couple that probably didn't have a single to go back to. A very loud couple. After all of the sights, shivering, and videotaping, Wilson hopes to achieve his ultimate goal. But was all this enough? Ultimately, why will Survivor choose him, over anyone else? "Why not? The show is supposed to catch reality... and they haven't had a normal 21- year-old yet. I can represent that for them. And I've lived in two different countries [Australia and Italy], so that gives a different perspective form a lot of people. I think that might help," he said. Even if the producers don't agree, Wilson is happy with his quasi-wilderness experience. But not as happy as his classmates. "It's been an experience. But I'm starting to stink," he said. "I need a shower really bad."

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Campus religion joins social life with faith

March 31

Although interest in religious life in general is growing at Tufts - several hundred students attend Jewish, Catholic, Protestant, and Islamic services each week - students flock to Jewish and Catholic services in disproportionate numbers. Each Friday, approximately 150 students attend Shabbat services in Hillel; on Sunday night, 200 to 300 students attend Catholic mass in Goddard Chapel. Sophomore Lara Saipe has been an active member of Tufts' Jewish community since her freshman year, participating in various Hillel-sponsored events. She said the Hillel community at Tufts offers Jewish students a comfortable place to worship and socialize. "I just love the people at Hillel," she said. "Everyone is really friendly and inviting. It makes it feel like a safe and welcoming place to be." In addition to the warm social atmosphere at Hillel, Saipe said the tenets of the Jewish faith also foster a sense of community. "Judaism is a very community-based religion," she said. "You're expected to pray with other people." While a significant number of Jewish students attend services and other religious and social events at Hillel, the Catholic community at Tufts does not have as strong a social presence. Although many students attend Sunday mass, some believe the Catholic community has not yet established a strong social outlet for students. Many who attend Catholic services see attending mass as a obligation. "People think they have a responsibility to come to mass on Sunday," said senior Becky Pawlak, a member of the executive board of the Catholic Community at Tufts. But Catholicism is about more than just attending mass. Pawlak said that since she first came to Tufts, she has seen the Catholic community grow socially, too. "I think it might continue to grow," she said. "We're trying to get people motivated." Interim University Chaplain Patricia Budd Kepler, a Presbyterian minister, agrees, admitting that certain aspects of religious life on campus could be strengthened. She cited both the Protestant and the Muslim communities as faiths that are trying to better establish themselves in the Tufts community despite various obstacles, including the absence of a full-time support staff and worship space. "I think that religion on campus is vital, but there are some areas that need a little bolstering," she said. There are several strong, active Protestant-based student groups on campus, such as the Asian Christian Fellowship (ACF) and the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF), that encourage students to explore their spirituality. Sophomore Lydia Sullivan, a TCF member, said the group welcomes students to join in their fellowship programs, such as weekly worship, meetings, and Bible study. "I would say we're a pretty open, welcoming group," she said. But some Protestant students on campus are not comfortable or familiar with the more conservative, evangelical styles of fellowship and worship that both ACF and TCF have adopted. Since both groups have strong Protestant followings on campus, some have had difficulty establishing more liberal groups. "[ACF and TCF] draw in a large part of the active Protestant fellowship," said sophomore Vicky Hartanto, a Presbyterian student. However, the Protestant Student Fellowship (PSF) and the Protestant worship service at Goddard Chapel on Sunday evenings are starting to attract Protestant students who haven't found their niche in ACF or TCF. Although the Protestant service is not well attended, it acts as a support to a growing number of students. "There is a great community there," said sophomore Nick Donlan, a member of PSF. "Everyone knows each other and most people take a role in the church service at some point." Donlan said that one of the difficulties in establishing a strong, inclusive Protestant community is the divided nature of Protestantism itself. Protestantism encompasses many different sects, ranging from Presbyterian to Methodist to Episcopalian. But the Protestant service at Tufts is a general one that does not cater to any specific sect. Some students find it difficult to adjust to the mix of traditional and contemporary styles. According to Pawlak, there are Protestants at Tufts who attend Catholic mass because they are more used to its traditional-style service. "When people come here I think that some of them identify with a particular branch of Protestantism," Donlan said. "But that is not what the Protestant service is." Despite various obstacles, many students and staff are optimistic that all of Tufts' religious denominations and organizations will continue to expand. "There is definitely room for growth," Donlan said. "It is very important for a religious group to be able to accept new people and grow."

The Setonian
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Harvard students stage sit-in, demand wage increase for university employees

March 31

An estimated 40 to 50 members of Harvard University's Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) entered a campus administration building yesterday to demand that the minimum wage for campus employees be increased to $10.25 per hour. The students intend to remain in Massachusetts Hall, a building that houses the office of Harvard President Neil Rudenstine, until the administration complies with their request. The sit-in is part of a weeklong effort by the PSLM to voice its continued disappointment of Harvard's stance on raising the living wage. Rallies and panels are scheduled for today to discuss the organization's goals. The PSLM - which earlier this year protested the announcement of Lawrence Summers as Haravrd's 27th president - is also demanding that Harvard join the Workers' Rights Consortium, a non-profit organization which monitors colleges for compliance with workers' rights codes. "We are sitting in because administrators have not only failed to improve wages and benefits, but have aggressively worked to slash them as support for a living wage policy has grown.... We are sitting in because we have exhausted every avenue of dialogue with the administration that could lead to a living wage," PSLM said in a press release. PSLM says its efforts, which include meetings, coalition-building, and public demonstrations, have not received adequate attention, forcing the group to stage a "peaceful sit-in" to increase pressure on the administration. Students have agitated to raise the salaries of Harvard employees for over two years. In 1998, Harvard students banded together to create the Living Wage Campaign with the goal of improving the treatment of University employees. Their efforts mirror the work of the Cambridge City Council, which fought successfully to institute a $10.25 wage for workers in Cambridge. Over 1,000 non-academic staff members work at Harvard, and the university is the largest employer in Cambridge. The employees are often paid as low as $6.50 per hour without benefits, a wage which puts some families below the federal poverty line. The US minimum wage $5.25 per hour. Harvard students are requesting that university employees receive at least the same wage as those employed by the city of Cambridge. Some Harvard administrators have remained inside the building during the sit-in, but Harvard President Rudenstine left at approximately 4 p.m. amidst loud protesting, The Harvard Crimson reported.

The Setonian
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Jumbos trip against NESCAC opponents

March 31

The Tufts women played two games this weekend, but suffered three losses. The Jumbos lost to the top two teams in the NESCAC (Colby and Bowdoin), but sophomore guard Hillary Dunn missed both games with back troubles, and could be out for next weekend's key NESCAC games against Williams and Middlebury. Dunn is second on the team with 3.3 assists per game, fourth on the team with 27.4 minutes per game, and is the team's leading three-point shooter (37.5 percent). Tufts could have used some help this past weekend in the last area, as the Jumbos fired up 34 three pointers over the two games, but hit only nine. Both the Bowdoin Polar Bears and the Colby White Mules beat Tufts by double digit margins. The Polar Bears stretched a 27-20 halftime lead into a 57-41 margin, and the Mules upped their 39-31 halftime lead by three to win 70-59. In the first half of Saturday's game, Tufts did nail two of four three point attempts, and for a while the Jumbos had Bowdoin on the ropes. Harrington hit a three pointer with 2:55 remaining in the first half to give the Jumbos a 20-16 lead. Unfortunately for Tufts, those were the last points the team would score for the next 6:57, as the Polar Bears reeled of 21 straight points, a period of depredation that spanned the first and second halves, and the Polar Bears lead by 17 just four minutes into the second half. "At the beginning of the second half, we were dead on our feet," sophomore Emily Goodman said. "It would have been a different game." A major factor in this was improved shooting by the Polar Bears. Bowdoin shot 27.6 percent from the floor in the first half, but shot 40.9 percent in the second. Meanwhile, the Jumbos suffered a reversal of fortune similar in scale, except that the Jumbo shooting percentage plummeted, from a decent 34.8 percent in the first half to a stone-cold 26.9 percent in the second. From there, it was more bad news for Tufts, as Bowdoin went ahead by 23 with 7:24 remaining. The Jumbos did cut the lead to 14 four minutes and 17 seconds later, but by that point Bowdoin was well on its way to the 18-point victory. "They were really solid," Goodman said. "They hardly made any mistakes, but we didn't play well. We couldn't get the offense going and we didn't play solid defense." Harrington led all scorers with 13 points, followed closely by Jessie Mayol and Lora Trenkle of Bowdoin with 11 each. Goodman chipped in ten of her own and added 11 rebounds. One difference in this game was free throws - Bowdoin couldn't miss them, and Tufts didn't take them. The Jumbos did shoot 72.7 percent from the line, but only took 11 shots for eight points, while Bowdoin tossed in 20-22 free throws for an impressive 90.9 free throw percentage. The day before, Tufts was up north in Waterville taking on the second place team in the NESCAC, the Colby White Mules, and the result was similar although the game was closer. Tufts was in foul trouble early when senior Shira Fishman and Goodman each picked up two quick fouls, but the game remained tight through the first half. A Mule three-pointer at the end of the first half pushed the lead to seven, and in the second half, Colby slowly pulled away. "We played really intense and focused," freshman Kate Gluckman said. "They had some really good three-point shooters and they stuck it when it counted." It was the Mules' sixth straight win over the Jumbos, and it improved their record to 15-4 overall (5-0 in conference) while the Jumbos dropped to 10-7 overall and a potentially critical 1-4 in the NESCAC. While the two losses have left the Jumbos reeling, there may be a bit of hope on the horizon. Tufts has already played the top four teams in the conference (Bowdoin, Colby, Amherst, and Bates) and their remaining four games are all at Cousens, where the Jumbos are 5-2 this season. "We're really looking forward to the home games," Goodman said. "We really need to win and we are prepared to do what it takes." The stretch run begins next Friday night at 7 p.m. against the Williams Ephs, with Middlebury the next night. The following weekend, Wesleyan (2-3 in the NESCAC) and Connecticut College (0-5 in the NESCAC) will visit the Jumbos.

The Setonian
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Jumbos prey on Owls, 82-73

March 31

While elephants are not typically predatory animals, the men's basketball team proved that Jumbos can attack, and that they like to assault helpless birds, as they stomped and butted their way to a 82-73 victory over the Keene State Owls on Wednesday night. The win boosted Tufts record to 14-4 overall including 2-1 in NESCAC play.

The Setonian
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DANIEL ADAM

March 31

What goes down must come up Stocks rallied yesterday led by number-two computer maker Dell Computer Corp. and Internet media giant, Yahoo Inc. "I don't think we can make a case that we have or have not had that final blowoff," said Charles Lemonides at M&R Capital Management. "But whether or not we have, if you commit capital at today's levels, six months from now you will stand very well rewarded." The Nasdaq Composite Index rebounded with a gain of 145.53 points, or 8.88 percent, to 1,784.33, after losing more than two percent on Wednesday. The blue-chip Dow Jones industrial average gained 410.57 points, or 4.31 percent, to close at 9,925.99. The broader Standard & Poor's 500 Index ended up 47.45 points, or 4.3 percent, at 1,150.70. Both the Nasdaq and the S&P are still in bear territory, however. Michael Dell, Chairman of Dell Computer Corp., said yesterday that his company ended the first quarter of 2001on the right track. Dell said that the company is working on regaining market share from company rivals. Dell shares gained $3-3/16, or more than 14 percent, at $25-3/8 in afternoon trading on the Nasdaq. Shares of Yahoo! Inc. rallied Thursday as Lehman Brothers analyst Holly Becker, who had been among the first to downgrade the company, raised her ratings for the Internet media giant. Yahoo shares rose about 21 percent - or $2-11/16, to $15-1/8 - above its 52-week low of $11-3/8, but they are still down over 90 percent from one year ago. "It's entirely Becker's note," said Arnold Berman, technology strategist at Wit/Soundview. "The great thing about Yahoo is that they have a lot of page views. They are still one of the dominant forms of how people go about 'watching the Internet,' and at some point Holly is right in suggesting that the franchise could be of some value to a media buyer. But there is nothing about the current economics or overhead that looks reasonable." Technology stocks fell Wednesday amid ongoing concerns of a continuing economic slowdown. Out of the 25 most heavily traded stocks in the Nasdaq, 18 reached new 52-week lows. The tech-rich index lost 34.20 points, or 2.04 percent, to close at 1,638.80 after suffering its third straight losing session and hitting its lowest close since mid-October of 1998. "People don't know what to do," said Edgar Peters, chief investment officer at PanAgora Asset Management Inc., which manages $16 billion. "People think they should be buying, but most of them are afraid to." The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average briefly reached bear territory as the market measure slipped below the 9,378.38 level. The index ended the session up 29.71 points, or 0.31 percent, to 9,515.42. The broad S&P 500 index fell 3.21 points, or 0.29 percent, to 1,103.251, which marks its lowest close since the autumn of 1998.A dragging economy Federal Reserve Governor Laurence Meyer said yesterday that economic growth has slowed far more than he had previously anticipated. "I did not see the degree of slowdown which turned out to be much sharper than I expected," Meyer told an audience of legislative, business, and community leaders from financial institutions. The US economy grew at a mere one percent in the fourth quarter of 2000 compared to rates of 4.8 and 5.6 percent in the first and second quarters, respectively. Consumers are unexpectedly regaining confidence in the US economy, according to recent data. Meyer said, however, that consumer confidence data is not always useful. "Consumer confidence numbers don't provide that much independent information and this has to be factored into one's judgement in one's forecasts," he said. "Sometimes [the data] clearly mirrors the underlying economy, but sometimes there is a difference between the underlying data and how people feel."

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