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Music of the night

March 31

When I was a little girl, I used to lie in my bed at night and listen to the music coming from the living room, where my brother practiced piano into the late hours. Chopin etudes and Mozart sonatas were my lullabies every evening. I didn't know just how lucky I was to grow up in a household filled with music. Occasionally, I would tiptoe into the living room and stand in the doorway, watching my brother hard at work. He was usually so involved in the music that he wouldn't notice I was there - I didn't mind. I loved watching his fingers glide over the keyboard and occasionally would catch a glimpse of his face. He always looked so earnest, and beads of sweat would rundown his face. The music enveloped and utterly absorbed him. What I found most remarkable about his playing was his patience. He could work on one piece for hours and hours on end. Sometimes it could take him hours to hammer out a mistake he had made on a couple of measures. He always persevered, however, and would play that measure as many times as he had to until he got it right. I tried my hand at the piano when I was younger, but found rather quickly that it was not my forte. As a little kid, I found it hard to tie myself down to the piano and spend the many hours necessary to be considered decent. I went through a couple of teachers. Finally, I found one that actually inspired me. She was the wife of my brother's piano teacher, but went by her own name, Roberta Rust. I enjoyed going to her house every week and would get excited when she would stick a gold star on my music for extraordinary interpretation of "Row, Row, Row Your Boat," or "Three Blind Mice." I imagined myself as the next Horowitz. My brother and I could be a duo. We would storm the concert halls of Europe and stun the world. People would line up around the block so that they could get tickets to our shows. We'd be the Brother and Sister Damast piano duo. I had actually disciplined myself to sit down at the piano at least three or four times a week. Then tragedy struck. After about six months, Ms. Rust had the audacity to move to Florida. It was the end of the pretty gold stars. I half-heartedly played my scales for her that last lesson as she recommended another teacher for me, a lady named Ms. Chung. My head drooped as I reluctantly agreed to give this new teacher a shot. Our first few lessons were disasters. Ms. Chung was not only boring, but completely lacked enthusiasm. There were not only no stickers but no encouragement. All of a sudden, playing the piano became work for me - work that I no longer enjoyed. My piano career ended almost as quickly as it had begun. It was probably around then that I started to seriously turn to singing. Singing was something that came naturally to me. From the time I was a baby, I had been wailing along with the Karen Carpenter records my mother played for me. After my failed piano career, my father bought me a book of Karen Carpenter's songs. I would plunk out on the piano such favorites as "There's a Kind of Hush," "Mr. Postman," and "Top of the World." My dad bought a microphone and an amplifier and started bugging my brother to accompany me on these songs. He would drag my mom into the room, hand me the mic, and make us give them a mini concert. They were without a doubt our most enthusiastic audience. My father had visions of us being the next Karen and Richard Carpenter. Pretty soon, I started expanding my repertoire. Growing up, I was a child of Broadway. My Grandpa would take my family out to Broadway shows every couple of months. The first musical we went to was Me and My Girl. I remember watching the show with dreamy eyes, wanting to be right up there on stage with the other actors singing the "Lambeth Walk." For days after the show, I would walk around trying to perfect my cockney accent. Of course, my father bought the songbook. My brother would reluctantly stop practicing Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata so that I could belt out the melancholy tune Sally sang in the show, "Where Do Lonely Hearts Go." I took the mike, batted my eyelashes, and dramatically strutted around the room. I would usually end up leaning against the piano with a dramatic expression on my face, having attempted to embody the pathos and gut-wrenching heartache that Sally was feeling. I would hold the dramatic expression on my face until after my brother was done playing piano, and then gracefully curtsy around the room. "Thank you, thank you so much dahllllingggsss." I imagined they were throwing roses at me. "Encore," shouted my father. Having a professional pianist in the house was a dream come true for an aspiring singer. I would constantly interrupt my brother and make him play Les Miserables or Phantom for me. But, he didn't want to be my full-time accompanist, and it became harder and harder for me to convince him to play along. After lots of persuading, whining - and occasional promises of ice cream - he would usually concede. As we got older, my father's dreams of our becoming the next Carpenter team slowly faded. As happens with all brothers and sisters, we grew up and started doing our own thing. Our time together in front of the piano became less and less frequent as we got absorbed in the dilly-dally of daily life. He became more absorbed in serious study of the piano, and I started studying classical voice. My voice teacher played piano, so I didn't have to beg my brother anymore to play along with me. I didn't realize how much I missed it until my brother went away to college. All of a sudden, the house felt immense and empty. All of a sudden, my brother wasn't there and I couldn't even bug him to accompany me on the latest song I was working on for my voice lessons. I had to switch the radio on to WQXR, the classical music station, every evening, so I could fall asleep to some sonata or other. I think we both realized that something was missing from our lives. Once our rendezvous in front of the piano stopped, we felt estranged. Music had always been something that had brought us closer and had been one of the vital forces uniting us since we were little kids. Whenever we are home, we make an effort to spend a few hours making music together. For just a few moments, we can pretend we're following in the footsteps of Karen and Richard Carpenter. And I don't have to switch on the radio at night because I have the real McCoy. Guaranteed, at three in the morning, I'll hear the sweet strains of Mozart slowly but surely creeping their way into my dreams.

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News

Pitchers, catchers, and controversy

March 31

It's finally here: The very unofficial start of the baseball season. This week pitchers and catchers reported to spring training, and next week the rest of the players will follow. One ongoing story that has created some controversy is the condition of Blue Jays' pitcher Mike Sirotka. On Jan. 14, Sirotka was involved in a six-player deal that sent ace David Wells to the Chicago White Sox. But it was learned this week that Sirotka had a torn rotator cuff at the time of the trade and is likely to miss the entire season. The Jays have asked the White Sox to rework the deal, and if the Sox do not offer a satisfactory solution, Toronto will petition the commissioner's office to intervene. It remains possible that the trade could be reversed - a welcome outcome for all teams that would like another shot at trading for Wells. Speculation abounds at this early point, as rumors can't yet be disproved. Here are some: 1. Will Sammy Sosa be a Cub all year?No. With his contract up at the end of the year and the Cubs seemingly unprepared to offer Sosa a big-time deal, it's likely he will get traded to a contender sometime before the deadline. It's very possible that the Cubs will only be able to get prospects in return, as Sosa will probably test the free-agent market after the season.2. Does the acquisition of Mike Mussina give the Yankees the pitching they need to win another championship?No. Mussina has never pitched in New York, and you can never tell how a player will react to the intensity of the NY media until it happens (i.e. Kenny Rogers). And the Yanks really need him to be the Mussina he had been in Baltimore. Roger Clemens is 39 and Orlando Hernandez' arm trouble from last season could be a recurring problem, considering his unique delivery.3. Will David Cone start for the Red Sox?Yes. Cone is a fighter and has something to prove. Word is he worked hard this off-season, so expect him to be one of the Sox' top few starters. 4. Will the strike zone be any different than it was last year? Don't count on it. Despite all the talk about calling belt-high strikes, these umpires have been calling the strike zone as they see it and have been doing so their entire careers. There may be a few surprising strikes called, especially early in the year, but expect little change. Moving off the diamond... Sunday's NBA All-Star game was the best in recent memory. The undersized East came from 21 points down in the last nine minutes of the game to win 111-110, as Allen Iverson scored 15 of his 25 points in the 4th quarter and was named MVP. The most compelling story this season in the NHL has been the comeback of Mario Lemieux. Going into tonight's game, Lemieux has 37 points (19 goals, 18 assists) in 20 games played. To put that in perspective, Colorado's Joe Sakic, the NHL's leading scorer, has 78 points in 57 games. At his current rate, if Lemieux had played as many games as Sakic, he would have 105 points and would be running away with yet another scoring title. That's not a realistic prospect, though, as Lemieux's back is beginning to bother him, and the veteran might start sitting the latter game when Pittsburgh plays two contests in two days. In college hoops... North Carolina, having beaten Duke, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, and Maryland in its last four games, is currently the number one team in the nation. The Tar Heels were able to claim the spot when Stanford, now ranked #2, lost to UCLA on Feb. 3. The Cardinal, in its first 19 games, did not allow an opponent to shoot over 46 percent. But in the last four games, they have allowed three teams to shoot over 50 percent (one was UCLA). Stanford, however, remains a balanced team that no one will want to play in March.

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News

Black women face unique challenges

March 31

As an undergrad at Bryant College in the early 90s, I joined every group except the black student groups. I wrote for the campus paper, was a member of the Marketing Club, the International Club, Hunger Coalition - everything but black student groups. I felt out of place because I grew up in a predominately white community. I didn't feel "black" enough, like I didn't experience enough of "my people," whatever that meant. (I now realize, through age and experience, that the "black experience" is just going through life as a black person, which is decidedly different than experiencing it as a white person.) I wondered whether or not a group meant only for the black students on campus contributed to the alienation and lack of community among the rest of the student population. What purpose did it serve? I had a healthy social life, and a supportive circle of friends - did it matter what race they were? Earlier this year, I was asked to coordinate and facilitate the Black Women's Group at Tufts. My first reaction was to wonder how well I could connect to the women on campus, mostly because of the age difference. I can clearly see the benefits of continuing a group like this on campus. The Black Women's Group is not an attempt to isolate from the rest of the student body, nor is it a political or any type of social statement. The purpose of our group is to discuss school, relationships, and body image in a safe environment with people who can relate to the experience. No matter how liberal, educated, or aware one is, if a person is not black, then that person cannot genuinely know the experience of a black person. The Black Women's Group is one of the oldest student groups of the African-American Center and I am proud to be a part of it. In the past, themes focused on physical and mental body images of black women. This year, my goal was to make sure that the women take an active part in the group, rather than my dictating what the topic is. My ultimate goal is to have one person facilitate a subject of her choice. So far, we have discussed feminism and its definition (not a discussion of hating men, but a discussion of male appreciation, and how they can assist in creating equal opportunities for women), books, movies, relationships, schools and standardized testing, body image, and skin color. Skin color and hair are very sensitive topics in the black community. For women, it is a big step to wear her hair in its natural state, either as an afro or as locks. Skin tone is also a concern, because many times a darker skin tone is not seen as attractive either in the black community or in others. We discuss what it means to us emotionally and in societal situations. Body image and the sexualization of black women's bodies are also of great concern to the black women on campus. We've discussed the videos as shown on BET or MTV. Some of the women are disgusted and believe that the videos exploit and objectify, while others believe that it is the right of the women in the video to participate or not. Others think that the images of black women are positive, that it is healthy to view them as sexy and desirable. Marguerite Phillips is a graduate student studying Urban and Environmental Policy. She is the head of the Black Women's Group.

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News

Women's basketball looks for weekend sweep

March 31

The Tufts women's basketball team faces a must-win situation this weekend, beginning with a game against the Wesleyan Cardinals tonight at Cousens. Next, the Jumbos take on winless Connecticut College on Saturday, hoping for a weekend sweep to secure a spot in the inaugural NESCAC Tournament. Wesleyan leads the Jumbos by a half a game in the NESCAC standings; the Cardinals (3-5 NESCAC) defeated Williams on Tuesday to pass the 3-6 Ephs in the standings by half a game. Tufts trails Williams by percentage points, but a win over Wesleyan and a win over last place Conn. College would cement the playoff spot for Tufts. Wesleyan is a team of snipers. While their overall field goal percentage is second to last in the conference, their three-point field goal percentage is tops in the NESCAC. Their leading shooter from downtown, senior Ashley Elia, is shooting 47.7 percent from behind the arc this season. Leading scorer Shaleen Bowman is seventh in the NESCAC in three-point percentage. A matchup to watch will be Jumbo sophomore Emily Goodman against Cardinal sophomore Kamica Lewis. These two are their team's leading rebounders (Goodman 8.4 per game, Lewis 9.1 per game) and both score a high percentage of their team's points (Goodman leads the Jumbos, Lewis is second on the Cardinals). It will be the Jumbos' first game since a heartbreaking loss to Middlebury, in which the team blew a ten-point lead with just over ten minutes left in the game and barely missed playing in overtime. The loss dropped the team to 2-5 in the NESCAC and 12-8 overall. Presently, Tufts is tied for eighth in the NESCAC and must climb to seventh to keep its postseason hopes alive. While the Jumbos look to bounce back, the Cardinals did just that in their win over Williams last weekend. Williams entered that contest having lost three consecutive games - all to NESCAC foes, falling to Trinity, Amherst, and Middlebury - before getting back on the winning track. But a strong start for Tufts could possibly cause seemingly exorcised doubts to creep back into the Wesleyan players' minds, especially in front of a hostile crowd. If Tufts finds a way to win, the Jumbos could definitely be confident going into Saturday's game against Conn College. The Camels are 6-15 overall and a miserable 0-7 in the NESCAC. What's more, most of those seven losses were not even close, with the average margin of defeat at just under 20 points. If there's one thing better than facing a bad team, however, it's facing a bad team that is also tired. That could also be an issue as the Camels will be playing an afternoon game in Medford after spending Friday night in Maine against Bates. All in all, if things break right and Tufts can avoid overconfidence, Saturday would be a golden opportunity. But for Saturday's game to get the Jumbos into the NESCAC Tournament, they will first need to take care of business against a tough Wesleyan team on Friday. If they can get their weekend off to a good start, the end result could be a post-season appearance.

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News

Thinking outside the box

March 31

"Oh, you're a mime? Do something! Do the box!" joked sophomore Hype! member Deane Madsen as he planted his hands against the walls of an invisible box. "Everyone wants to see the box," he groaned. Hype! is a mime troupe that offers a captivating alternative to traditional pantomime. "We aren't street mimes," said senior Anastasia Kousakis, who discovered Hype! two years ago through her involvement in other theatre organizations. "It's a unique movement-based group," Kousakis explained, summarizing the troupe's collective endeavor. A collection of original skits performed to music, the nine-member shows feature an eclectic mix of themes and situations that range from comic to serious. Written, directed, and performed entirely by the troupe, the shows reflect the collaborative effort that forms the foundation of Hype!. "This is sort of a different animal," said senior Andy Roth. "The high that I get after a Hype! show... it's indescribable!" Like Madsen, Roth auditioned for Hype! after seeing a performance, and has enjoyed his time ever since. In addition to being fun, he says his involvement with Hype! has also made him a better actor. "You don't speak, so it's totally in the physicality," Roth said. "It's a different way of looking at your body and a different way of telling a story that you hope will have a similar cathartic or moving effect on an audience." One of Roth's contributions to Hype!'s coming show, which will be in Cohen tonight, is a sketch called "Classical Man," in which Roth portrays a man who is "out of step with rest of the world." Illustrating how life often follows an internal soundtrack, the purely humorous skit uses movements from Mozart's Requiem to underscore the loud and exaggerated persona of Roth's character. The inclusion of music is a large part of what sets Hype! apart from traditional pantomime acts. Whether the music or the idea comes first, the melding of the two creates a powerful piece. "Music really helps us in getting the story across," Kousakis said. For the first time, the group has even commissioned an original electronic score for tonight's "Just Routine," a plot-driven piece based on the concept of repetitive experience. Despite the inclusion of music, the pantomimes remain the most important aspects of the show. "Does this read?" Chiara DeLuca asked during rehearsal as she slid her hands along an invisible mohawk. The question provoked a lengthy group discussion on whether DeLuca's motion was ambiguous or if it strengthened the raucous character she plays in a skit provisionally entitled "Jesus Machine." The quasi-serious piece features a couple in search of a child and, aided by a futuristic baby-making machine, receive a series of children, each more outrageous than the last. With few props and, of course, no dialogue, the premise of a Hype! production seems simple - it is not. "It's a very technical medium," Roth said of pantomime. Actors must learn the facial expressions and body movements essential to conveying their messages. Since none of the members are trained mimes, and techniques are handed down over the years, a great deal of effort is spent learning from one another and building on members' individual strengths. During the hours of rigorous rehearsal that precede upcoming shows, the group works on the clarity of the skits' plots while continuing to perfect their pantomime. "Because Hype! is so new, we sort of keep inventing it as we go," sound technician Jeremy Goldstein said. Capping its third year on campus with tonight's spring show, Hype! has evolved from its humble beginnings of three members to become a skilled ensemble that draws a sizeable audience to its performances. Because the group's composition changes so much by semester and year, the dynamics of Hype! also shift, allowing for a unique experience for each performance. During a final run-through of the performance, Madsen was generally indifferent as he reflected on his newfound role as a mime. "I don't think it's something that brings shame or glory," he said with a shrug. "For the most part I think people think it's pretty cool. Not everyone's a mime." Pausing a beat, he added with a wry grin, "We've gotten used to just saying, 'I'm a mime, I'm in the f--king box."

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News

300-bed dorm is the only choice

March 31

Students need to demand a new 300-bed dormitory, and refuse to settle for anything less. As a sophomore, I stare into a rather bleak housing future. I applaud the hard work of Jesse Levey, Alethea Pieters, Tommy Calvert, and Adam Carlis for being the light at the end of the dismal housing tunnel. Rents are skyrocketing and available beds for juniors are always in question. My personal housing plans are further frustrated by the RA application process. I have no way of gauging whether I need off-campus housing as the process drags on and on. By March, when the process is over, off-campus housing will be virtually exhausted. I should not be punished for my interest in becoming more involved in the Tufts Community. The 300-bed dorm, proposed by the contingent named above, will provide would-be juniors like myself with real housing options. Sophomores have been groomed far too long to expect the worst for junior housing. In a college world all too accustomed to flux, campus housing should be settled once and for all with a 300-bed dormitory.

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News

Women qualify for NESCAC Tournament with weekend sweep

March 31

And then there were seven - spots in the NESCAC women's basketball tournament, that is. After wins over the Wesleyan Cardinals and the Connecticut College Camels this weekend, one of those spots - the final one - goes to the Jumbos, who take on the Colby White Mules in tonight's first-round contest in Maine. "We're really excited. It was do-or-die and we won both of them," sophomore point guard Hillary Dunn said. "To pull it off like this is a nice end to the regular season." The Jumbos' fate was actually decided on Friday night, with a 65-61 win over Wesleyan (2-7), making Saturday's 91-61 blowout of Conn. College (0-9) simply icing on the cake. The win over Wesleyan - combined with Trinity's loss to Colby (7-2) - automatically qualified Tufts for the tournament, and a match against the second seed White Mules. But it wasn't such an easy task. The Jumbos played lackadaisically in the first half Friday, managing just 24 points on a total of 20 shot attempts, and didn't help matters by continuing to struggle early in the second frame. The team looked to sophomore center Emily Goodman on most possessions, and while Goodman kept the Jumbos from falling too far behind, Wesleyan had still managed to mount a 46-33 lead with just over ten minutes to play. But Tufts then pulled out a rarely used weapon - the second-half run. The Jumbos, who have failed to produce down the stretch on several occasions this season, turned out 21 of the next 31 points to move within two points of the Cardinals. "At halftime, it was up in the air," Goodman said. "We've struggled closing out games all year. I knew we had to do it sometime, I'm just glad we learned how against Wesleyan." With just under four minutes to play, an Emily Goodman basket tied the game at 56. After a free throw by Wesleyan's Ashley Elia, junior Katie Kehrberger's jumper put the Jumbos up 58-57 at the 1:46 mark. Goodman and sophomore guard Hillary Dunn hit clutch free throws in the closing minutes and the Jumbos never relinquished the slight lead, qualifying for the NESCACs with the 65-61 win. "Once we settled down and ran through our offenses, we picked up confidence," Dunn said. "When we got the lead, we knew could hold them off." Goodman led all scorers with 35 points - more than all other Jumbos combined - connecting on 11 of her 18 shots from the floor and 13 of 14 free throws. Her 19.0 points per game lead the NESCAC and are nearly two full points above the nearest competition. Defensively, the Jumbos limited the Cardinals to 35.7 percent shooting (20-56), and held their leading scorer, sophomore Shaleen Bowman, to 6-20 from the field. Tufts outrebounded the Cardinals, 36-33,with six boards apiece from Goodman, point guard Shira Fishman, and forward Jayme Busnengo. With a tournament spot under their belt, the Jumbos got a breather on Saturday in the form of a date with the 0-8 Conn. College Camels. Though Tufts got out to a slow start and actually trailed 7-1 in the opening minutes, the team soon found its groove and was able to close out senior Fishman's regular season career at Cousens with a convincing win. "We're going to miss them a lot and it was definitely on our minds," Goodman said of the team's two seniors, Fishman and guard Meghann Gill (out this season with an injury). "But it was more against Wesleyan that we wanted to win for them. That was the one." Tufts led 47-31 after the first half Saturday, and upped the lead to 55-35 minutes into the latter frame. But the Camels did mount a comeback, led by senior Sarah Ellison, and senior Jessica Nowlin's jumper at the 12-minute mark actually brought Conn. College to within 11 points. That was as far as Conn. College would get, however, as the Jumbos again put together a second-half run - this time to the tune of 11-2 - and soon brought the lead back to 20. Tufts shot 50.6 percent from the field and finished with its highest point total of the season, as well as one of its most even point distributions. Goodman led the team with 20, Busnengo had 13, freshman Erin Buckley 11, and Kehrberger ten. Three other Jumbos scored eight points. Tufts also outrebounded Conn. College, 49-34, marking the third time in the last four games it has performed better on the boards than its opponents. The focus now turns to tonight, and a date with the second-seeded White Mules. Tufts lost by 11 to Colby just two weekends ago, at which point a tournament qualification seemed a distant prospect. "The pressure is on them, but I think we have a good shot at beating them," Goodman said. If the teams last couple of games have fallen under the "do or die" category, the next couple come under "nothing to lose." Having both won and lost several games as a result of late runs this season, the Jumbos also know that tonight's clash with Colby comes under the "anything can happen" category. And that's just the way they want it. "We're on a roll now," Goodman said. "We want to keep playing for as long as possible."

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News

Tufts orchestra goes tropical

March 31

Hours before the start of the new semester, the sleepy members of the Tufts Symphony Orchestra arrived on campus after spending five days in Jamaica. Although the warm weather and beaches were certainly perks of the trip, the musicians sought more than just a tan from their visit. The main purpose of the trip was to promote cultural exchange through playing music and talking to local school children about classical Western music. The members of the orchestra also hoped to learn more about Jamaica through sightseeing and conversing with local musicians as well. While in Jamaica, the musicians stuck to a pretty rigorous schedule, travelling to four cities in their five-day stint. "Anyone traveling for leisure would call that insane, but we took it in stride," said junior Kenny William, a member of the orchestra. Their first night, the orchestra performed at Kingston's Little Theater in front of an audience comprised primarily of dignitaries and political leaders. The following day's itinerary included performing for - and taking questions from - school children at the Devon House in Kingston. In addition to works by Copland, Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Grieg, the orchestra chose to perform both the Jamaican and the American national anthems. Although honored to be among such a crowd on the first night and charmed by the school children on the second day, the orchestra received the warmest reception on the third night, a night of international collaboration. Faculty, students, and parents of Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville gathered in the university's auditorium to hear the orchestra accompany 17-year-old local phenomenon Brynne Reese as she performed the piano solo of the finale to Greig's piano concerto. The NCU choir also joined the orchestra in their performance of the "Hallelujah Chorus" from Handel's Messiah. To end the evening on a lighter note, the orchestra performed Bob Marley's "One Love" as an encore piece. Following the concert, the Tufts students had the opportunity to mingle at a reception with their fellow student musicians from NCU. Students began planning for the trip early last fall by contributing their input and preferences for the trip's location. Orchestra director Malka Yaacobi and alumna Lisa Lindo made the final decision. Lindo, who hails from Jamaica had the most insight into the best venues in the country. She also took the orchestra to interesting destinations for their non-musical ventures. Among the sites they visited were the Blue Mountains - famous for its Blue Mountain Cafe and coffee ? Dunn's River Falls, the Botanical Gardens, and the Bob Marley Museum. The museum, however, was more than just a tourist attraction, as it exposed the orchestra to the late reggae artist - his life, his faith, and the basis for his music. After performing for so many people in such a short period of time, the students earned the more relaxed pace of their final two days, which they spent at Montego Bay. "We just spent some time on the beach and relaxed. Some people had the opportunity to work on their tans and others had their hair braided," William said.

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News

Professor Lerner co-teaches class with Al Gore

March 31

Child development Professor Richard Lerner joined former Vice President Al Gore on March 20 at two Tennessee universities to co-teach a class that is part of a series on family-centered community development. Lerner's work in the Midwest helped teach students the importance of family in building a comprehensive community, and helped increase Tufts' name recognition in area where the University is not usually well-known. Lerner joined Gore for single sessions on youth development at Fisk University and Middle Tennessee State University. The entire course, titled "Community Building: A Comprehensive Family-Centered Approach," is an experimental venture of ten sessions that are co-taught by Gore and Congressman John Lewis (D-GA). Distinguished professors such as Lerner will join Gore throughout the series to offer their expertise at specific sessions. The course attempts to supplant the emphasis placed on business and economic growth in today's society with the importance of families and their needs. The experience of working with Gore was "very stimulating and extremely rewarding," according to Lerner, who said he was impressed by Gore's knowledge and by the ease with which he spoke to the students. "The [former] vice president is an incredibly smart, deeply and broadly knowledgeable, and keenly insightful person," Lerner said. "What I find strikingly impressive, however, is the breadth and depth of his substantive knowledge, of his understanding and articulate analysis of the theoretical and empirical literatures of the several disciplines associated with the content of the course." Lerner's trip also brought publicity to Tufts in an area where the University - which tends to attract most of its students from the Northeast - does not enjoy the same name recognition as some other top-notch schools. Still, according to Lerner, all the administrators and students he came in contact with had heard of Tufts, and many expressed interest in learning more about the University's programs. "At their request, I gave several students and faculty my business card in order to maintain contact," Lerner said. "I have been in touch via e-mail with several of the people I met during my visit." Contact with faculty and students at other schools is what makes the general public's knowledge of Tufts more prevalent, according to Doug Burns, coordinator of information programs at the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. "Whenever Tufts students, faculty, or alumni go out into the world and bring attention to themselves for the wonderful work they are conducting, they are making their school proud while simultaneously promoting its name," he said. "Tufts' popularity nationwide is spreading, and professors like Richard Lerner are only adding fuel to the fire." Association with renowned public figures such as the former vice president also helps to spread the Tufts name, according to Assistant Manager of Public Relations Pete Sanborn. Gore hatched the idea for the course two years ago, and it came to fruition through the work of a national consortium of universities led by the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and Columbia University. It is designed to attract individuals with diverse academic and professional interests in various public sectors who work to foster healthy family-centered communities. One of the reasons why Fisk, the oldest university in Nashville, was chose as a site for the pilot program is that its first president, Charles S. Johnson, helped to establish contemporary community research more than a half century ago. Despite concern that many students would take the course simply because it would be conducted by such a renowned figure, Lerner found that the students were more interested in the material presented. "My sense is that they are now in the class not just because of who Gore is, but because they are gaining an enormous amount of invaluable information from a smart, engaged, and effective professor," Lerner said. After the course is completed, Lerner will meet with Gore and other co-teachers to evaluate their accomplishments and decide how to move forward in bringing the course to a national level, possibly as early as next fall.

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News

Few concerned about meningitis

March 31

The number of students sticking out their tongues and saying "ahh" to Health Services doctors increased slightly last week after a student was diagnosed with the bacteria that causes meningitis. But concern about the risk of meningitis on campus seems to have subsided and Health Services is reporting business as normal. No students have been diagnosed with meningitis, and those identified as having been in close contact with the infected student are receiving preventive antibiotics. Health Services Director Michelle Bowdler said that the department received numerous phone calls and walk-in visits last week, but that this week has been much calmer. "We were flooded with students Wednesday and Thursday. The e-mail went out around four on Wednesday, and by 4:30 on Wednesday the waiting room was packed and people started showing up who had been mentioned in the two sub groups," she said. "We were pretty nonstop until 8:30, and phone calls started coming in." An estimated 175 students visited Health Services last Wednesday and Thursday, compared to the average 120 to 130 daily patients. Saturday was also busy, with 40 appointments compared to the usual 25. "I think, by Monday, it felt like things were back to normal," Bowdler said. After a 20/20 special last year raised fears about meningitis on college campuses, Health Services was overwhelmed with phone calls from worried parents. But this flood of calls was not repeated last week, and the number of parents who phoned Health Services was fairly small, according to Bowdler. Last year, parents received an e-mail informing them of Tufts response to national concern about meningitis. This year, the e-mail was only sent to students. Since the student was diagnosed, Health Services has focused its efforts on preventing meningitis in those who were directly exposed to the disease. But once the department is confident that the risk of meningitis has passed, it may consider offering another vaccination clinic. Bowdler attributes the calm response of the University community to the fact that many people have been vaccinated, that students were told that the infected girl had been diagnosed early enough to be treated, and that Health Services was able to react quickly. "Everybody pitched in, and the whole campus was mobilized within two hours. People, if they were in a risk group, were informed within two hours," she said. "Information was readily available, services were readily available, and we were very, very pleased with the way this was handled." In the midst of this heightened awareness of medical issues on campus, Bowdler is in the process of starting a Student Health Advisory Board to provide Health Services with the student perspective on the services it offers. She recently sent letters to various student organizations to advertise the new group and is waiting for responses. It would be up to the students on the committee to decide what issues to tackle, but possible topics for discussion include Tufts' insurance plan, the way Health Services markets its offerings, and health education on campus. "Students have a very different perspective than administrators and clinicians about what services they receive," Bowdler said. "For example, sometimes I think we're marketing something really effectively, and it takes hearing from students to learn that more marketing and advertising is needed on any particular issue." Tufts used to have a Student Health Advisory Committee, but it was disbanded due to lack of interest. Currently, there are a number of students involved in Health Services' programming, and Bowdler said that student opinions contribute a great deal to the quality of the department's services. "We have student representatives on our eating disorders task force, and we find that their input and perspective is absolutely invaluable to any decision we make about what to do on campus," she said. "We feel like we've had more successful programs with more student input because of that. Pre-med Club President Brad Crotty agreed that a Student Health Advisory Board would be an effective way to create a link between Health Services and students interested in campus health issues. He suggested that such a group be a multidisciplinary committee with representatives from different student organizations such as the Tufts Community Union Senate, the Leonard Carmichael Society, and pre-professional groups. "Health Services is an organization on campus that probably a lot of students will want to give some feedback to," Crotty said. "I think it would benefit Health Services greatly to have student feedback from all these different organizations."

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News

Crew battles rocky waters

March 31

It was a weekend of highs and lows for the crew team as Tufts competed in its second race of the season. While both the lightweight and the open women's boats took off against Wellesley, the men's boat hit some rough waters in its race against Boston College. On Saturday, the women's varsity eight won their second straight victory, this time against the Wellesley crew. As they did in the April 1 race against the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), the Jumbos controlled the race from beginning to end. Tufts shot right out from the start, and after 500 meters, was in open waters, leaving the WPI behind to feel its wake. The team stayed ahead for the remainder of the race, ultimately winning by 12.5 seconds with a time of 7:18.6. "We raced carefully," coach Gary Caldwell said. "Once we were ahead, we made sure to stay out and in control of the race." The team was boosted by the return of freshman Bridget McElroy, who had been out with a persistent cartilage injury. She was back in the boats for practice on Thursday and Friday and raced on Saturday feeling significantly better. The women's lightweight eight crew had more difficulty defeating Wellesley's second varsity eight but still managed to come out victorious. The Jumbos were even with Wellesley for the first half of the race, yet were able to dig deep in the second half to overtake WPI. Tufts won by 12.4 seconds in a time of 7:41.6 to earn its first victory of the season. But the team is still looking to improve. "It is always good to win," sophomore Cecelia Feldman said. "However, we are going to work on stepping up the intensity of the boat." Both boats can look positively at the win, especially in light of the fact that they lost to Wellesley at the same point in the season last year. Still, the team is trying to stay focused and driven, taking each week as it comes. "Saturday's race was a good building effort from both crews," Caldwell said. "Every win is a great win, however, last season we lost every race after the first one. I am buoyed by the way we handled Wellesley, but I am sobered by the reality that each week and each race is a new one." The men's varsity eight competed against local rivals Boston College on Saturday, and fell just short of victory. The Jumbos got off to an early lead, and were ahead by about a length at the halfway mark, but could not hold onto the slim advantage, and lost by only 2.4 seconds, with a time of 6:25.6. "We started off well - very composed," junior Shane Black-Macken said. "At about the halfway mark we tried to make our move, the big commitment to get ahead and basically kill the other team. BC pulled back on us and during the second part of the race; they were faster and more focused. I think we surprised them in the beginning of the race and by the second half they had recovered." The men's varsity eight is 1-1 and has battled inexperience as well as strong competition. Half of the rowers are freshman with little or no previous rowing experience. "We definitely have to chalk this race up to inexperience," coach Ben Foster said. "We should have put them away, and it was inexperience that held us back. However, we have more races and with a little bit of practice and more experience we should do fine." Black-Macken agreed: "It is a matter of learning how to race, staying as focused and relaxed as you can," he said. "Once you're ahead, you have to stay ahead. Most crews are not strong enough to come back once they've been passed, and that is exactly what happened to us." Tufts has lost to Boston College the past couple of years and while the team came off this race with another loss, there were positive lessons to take from the defeat. "I am disappointed with the loss, but I am pleased with the results," Foster said. "We were closer to beating BC than we have been in a long time. This team has a lot of potential, they just need to realize it." Caldwell also knows not to count out this crew. "If they are not happy with the race then they can at least look positively at competing in the next race," Caldwell said. "They still have a lot of improving to do, but a lot of time to do it in." The men's second varsity rowed the course as a row-over as BC did not show up on the starting line and was forced to forfeit. The women's first novice group lost to Wellesley 7:45 to 7:57, but the second novice group won, finishing at 7:58 as compared to Wellesley's time of 8:20. Next week the Jumbos are in for a considerable challenge as they face Wesleyan, one of the best squads in the league. The men's varsity eight team was in the top five at Nationals last season and the women's varsity eight earned a silver medal in the New England championships and qualified for Nationals. While Simmons College will also compete in the women's varsity open races, the Tufts' men will find themselves up against the University of New Hampshire, a team that is out for revenge, having been defeated by the Jumbos in the New Englands finals last year - a loss that kept them out of Nationals. "This race is just as tough if not tougher than last Saturday," Black-Macken said. "There are not too many easy races left for us." "Wesleyan is going to be significantly more difficult," Caldwell said. "This weekend will either show how much farther we have to go or how far we have come. If we do well, we will be able to row competitively with anyone in the league." The races begin this Saturday, on the Charles River at 9:30 a.m. with the women's lightweight competing against Radcliffe.

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News

Reconnecting with the people

March 31

Over the past week, I have been in dorms walking door-to-door to listen to the top concerns of the student body. The experience has been a real eye opener that I want my fellow senators and the administrators of Tufts to share. The Senate has fallen off the radar screen of the student body; consequently, the Senate must make its first objective next year the same as my campaign theme - that is to "Reconnect with the People." We need to directly reconnect with the student body, and that means going door-to-door in the dorms, culture houses, culture centers, fraternities, sororities, off-campus houses, student organization meetings, and elsewhere. In the past, the Senate has solely focused its attention on the leaders of student organizations. But not every student is a leader of a student organization, and many students are not actively involved in student organizations. We must continue to work very closely with the 150 student organizations that provide a tremendous asset to our University, but we must not forget the common person, those students that are not so involved in campus groups. We must get off of our rear-ends and reach out to everyone, from the student playing Beirut on Monday night to the student forced out of the Tisch Library because of the library's limited hours of operation. We must reconnect with you, the student body.If you would honor me with your vote, I will ensure that the Senate brings service back to the term public service. We are, in fact, public servants and we should not completely rely on waiting at a Senate table during lunch, sitting in our offices, or holding meetings in dorms, all of which forces you to come to us. It is our goal to make house calls, whether it be coming to your dorm or off-campus apartment. We need to go to the people, and not just when everyone is running for reelection - your concerns develop year-round and so should our collective agenda for you. Next year, the student body will know their representatives, define the issues the Senate works on, and feel reconnected with the body that is supposed to represent them.After discussion with many students on an individual basis as well as in focus groups, I have outlined the three most important issues as expressed by members of the student body:Creating a More Exciting Social Life- This initiative will encompass a number of policy changes and expansions for social options.

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News

One-woman show illustrates and illuminates Sept. 11

March 31

"Now what?" asks Daena Giardella in the intimate space of the Nexus Theater - a question many of us have probably been asking ourselves since the attacks on Sept. 11. Though she never provides the audience with a direct answer, Giardella is able to successfully get the audience to think about what has been going on in the world and hopefully provide it with some answers to this question. Giardella opens and closes the evening with appropriate songs performed by her guest musicians; the rest of her performance is filled with laughter, touching moments and thoughts. Her one woman show, Now What?, deals with the questions many have been asking, the fears many have been feeling, and the emotions we may not have come to terms with. Her performance is remarkable, bringing to light many issues that are often left unexamined. The show opens with the always-enthusiastic Giardella bounding onto the stage and talking to the audience. She aims to establish a good rapport with the audience and wholeheartedly begins to run a series of polls about the audience. "Who feels good this evening?" "Who has just had a fight with their significant other before they came here?" "Who is still annoyed because they couldn't find parking in Davis?" "Who here voted for George Bush?" ...except this time no hands rose. Giardella urges the crowd to be comfortable with who they are and admit to what they have done in this safe environment. At Saturday's show, some hands slowly came up as the audience enthusiastically applauded. This kind of interaction with the audience is what defines Now What? The show is an interactive pastiche of just about everything imaginable. Giardella is enacting a monologue for three hours, but the time flies. She changes from persona to persona, often criticising, often bringing up sensitive issues. She parodies America's obsession with the news along with America's endless fear of anthrax. She puts a voice to the way many of us may feel: confused about the recent events, sitting on the fence because we just don't know what to believe in this chaotic time. You could be laughing one minute while the next you could be about to cry - the performance is that diverse. Various characters come to life during the performance: a mother who lost her son on Sept. 11, a woman who lost her twin sister, a Jewish woman who survived a Nazi concentration camp. Giardella intertwines these with the more light-hearted impressions of the president and his wife. The performance is thoroughly diverse and constantly changing, keeping the audience on its toes the entire time. Two musicians accompany Giardella, and they change each weekend of the performance and provide an excellent addition to the show. Though they are mostly in the background, they come in where appropriate to provide music and sound effects that effectively add to the ambience of the performance. Giardella has been performing improvisational theater for over 20 years. Her work has been seen at the World Symposium on Humanity in Toronto, the UN Conference on Women in Copenhagen, the Susan Delal Center for Dance and Theatre in Tel Aviv, and on other stages world-wide. Her current show draws from this improvisational background; she continually interacts with the audience and throws in different pieces from breaking news. Saturday night included a reflection on the death of George Harrison. There is no doubt that this performance affected all who came to see it, as evinced by the standing ovation Giardella and the musicians received at the end. She speaks directly to the hearts of the audience - either by expressing emotions of fear, anger and sadness that some of us have not fully expressed about this tragedy, or through her social messages. Giardella is without a doubt an intriguing performer, and her show one that is well worth seeing.Daena Giardella's Now What? continues at 8 p.m. on weekends through Dec. 14 at the Nexus Theater in Davis Square, next to The Burren. Call 617-623-1209 for more information.

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News

Women's fencing holds ground against top national opponents

March 31

The women's fencing team took to the road again last weekend, with the daunting task of two competitions in two days against some of the most skilled programs in the country. On Saturday, the Jumbos headed to the Wellesley Invitational, where they took on Wellesley, Vassar, and powerhouse Cornell. Carrying confidence from their success in the previous week, when they went 3-1 at the Farleigh Dickinson Invitational, the squad handily took out Vassar by a score of 16-11, and rolled over host Wellesley 17-10. The team did not fare so well against Cornell, however, falling 19-8. Despite the outcome of the Cornell match, the high level of competition helped to prepare the team for its next challenge, the MIT Invitational, against NYU, UNC, and Penn. Although the Jumbos did not expect to win their matches against these larger opponents, they hoped to perform well and leave somewhat encouraged. The squad more than accomplished these goals, turning in very close scores against NYU and UNC, and a solid performance against Penn. The Jumbos ended the day with a 17-10 loss to NYU, and an surprisingly close 15-12 loss to UNC, a perennial elite school. The team was not as fortunate against the Penn fencing juggernaut, however, falling by a score of 22-5. Despite the 2-4 record, the weekend featured very encouraging performances. The sabre team turned in especially impressive results, going 5-1 overall on the weekend, losing only to Penn by a remarkably close score of 5-4. "Our sabre team really came of age this weekend," coach Jason Sachs said. The all-sophomore sabre team faced the challenge of the larger schools head on, led by the gutsy play of Mika Mutoh, who pulled out a victory in a thrilling bout against Penn. "Mika was really incredible," Sachs said. "She had some incredible moves." Sabre fighter Kasara Williams also turned in an impressive performance. Following a striking 2-1 record the previous weekend against Temple, Williams went 9-9 this week against the fierce competition. The foil team continued its solid work, despite key injuries, including sophomore foil captain Kim Harbin. Despite this setback, however, the team was encouraged by the great play of freshman Kathy Egan, who stepped in for the injured Harbin. Egan went 8-8, including an incredible 2-1 performance against NYU. "Kathy really stepped up well this weekend," Sachs said. As expected, epee captain, senior Amy Dickinson turned in another stellar performance over the weekend, going 12-6 overall, including 6-3 on Sunday. Dickinson performed well against the larger schools, going 3-0 against UNC, 2-1 against NYU, and 1-2 against Penn. Her great play against these larger schools will prove to be very important in her goal to go to the national meet. "This weekend definitely had the potential to hurt me," Dickinson said. "But I think it will end up helping." The epee style fighter was very pleased not only with her own performance, but also with the performance of her fellow epee artists. "We're really improving as a team," Dickinson said. "Francis [Harper] is really starting to come into her own." Next weekend the Jumbos head to an important conference meet, where they will face much tamer conference competition Saturday at the University of New Hampshire. They will also compete against Boston College, a team they defeated earlier in the season. The BC match-up should still prove to be tough for the Jumbos though, as the earlier victory was Jumbos' first ever. "They were a good team when we beat them earlier, and they've probably improved by now," Sachs said.

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Senate elects internal officers

March 31

The 2001-2002 Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate met last night to fill positions for next year's body. The two-hour plus meeting was longer than most of the Senate's weekly meetings this year, as almost all TCU Senate Executive Board positions were contested. Sophomore Melissa Carson ran for vice president and won over junior Bill McCarthy, who resigned early in the year from Special Projects chair. Carson, who left campus on medical leave this semester, emphasized that the role of the vice president is to facilitate cohesiveness within the Senate. "It's the job of the vice president to oversee the Senate," she said. Carson emphasized specific goals that she hoped to accomplish next year such as revising the "sibling" system to start earlier, being more attentive to the needs of freshmen and new senators, continuing with Monday tabling, and going forward with dorm days, a project which would send senators into dorms to interact with their constituents. McCarthy, conversely, stayed away from specifics, instead stressing the general goal of Senate housekeeping. "The vice president is in charge of making sure the Senate runs smoothly - not only handling the political and motivational part of the Senate, but also handling the ethical and emotional status of everyone," he said. Unlike the vice presidential race, the treasurer position went uncontested to sophomore Ben Lee, who served as parliamentarian this year. Sophomore Andrew Potts defeated freshman Jill Bier for Lee's former post. Each served as chair of the Administration and Budget (A&B) Committee this year, with Bier taking over for Potts after he resigned amidst concerns over his performance. Though his inconsistent attendance at Senate meetings during the fall semester was addressed, Potts stressed that he is ready to make a stronger commitment. He emphasized his knowledge and dedication to Robert's Rules of Order, though he allowed for some leniency in following procedure. "Often, people are cut off while speaking, and someone's views are not heard," he said, advocating for stricter use of the rules, although he would "only use as much procedure as necessary." Freshman Suman Rao and junior Varsha Prasad competed for the historian position, which is responsible for keeping minutes and other Senate administrative functions. Rao, who won the seat, proposed several new projects, such as creating a "project dictionary." Instead of having senators fill out project slips, Rao said he would fill out these slips himself and compile them for senators looking for projects to pursue or join. Prasad suggested drawing up a Senate newsletter, a project she promised to pursue on the student outreach committee. She also underscored the role of the historian as an executive board member to make senators, especially freshmen, feel welcome to meetings. "I really enjoy helping people and listening to what people say. I want everyone to feel they can come to me and talk to me," she said. Among general board elections, only one committee chair was contested. Freshman Ed Schwehm beat out Rao for the Services committee chair. Both worked on the Services committee this year, focusing on improving Mail and Dining Services. Rao, who had already been elected historian, said he hoped to continue improving specific aspects of student lives such as Dining Services and the Turkey and Spring airport shuttles. "Services is the most important [committee] to student lives, out of all the committees," he said. Schwehm said he felt comfortable with his role on Services this year and hopes to continue his work. "I want to do a good job with making sure people stay on task and continue with the good stuff Services got done this semester," he said. The A&B committee chairmanship went to Bier and junior Brad Stitchberry, even though Stitchberry initially declined to run for the position. Freshman Pritesh Gandhi and junior Gautam Kitchlu will serve as the new chairs for the Culture, Ethnicity, and Community Affairs Committee. "I'm excited about next year. We'll work to tackle issues not only of race and ethnicity, but also religion," Gandhi said. The Education Committee chair went to freshman Raja Taunk, who said he hoped to continue former chair Abbey Wilson's work, but to make the committee "more exciting." McCarthy took up his former role as chair of the Special Projects committee. Prasad took on the role as chair of the Public Relations and Student Outreach Committee, pledging to continue garnering student opinions. Prasad said she hopes her proposed newsletter and dorm councils will accomplish some of her goals of increased student-senate communication. Next year's Allocations Board (ALBO) chairs were not contested. Freshman Nikhil Abraham was elected assistant treasurer, an executive board position, by ALBO. The new chairs are Kitchlu, Abraham, McCarthy, Gandhi, Bier, and Rao. The last ALBO Council, TCU Government, is automatically chaired by TCU Senate President Eric Greenberg. All newly elected ALBO officers, except for Abraham, will be serving double duty next year, as they all are also on the general board. Some voiced concerns about the significant overlap, but senators insisted that they could handle the responsibilities. In the year-end reports, former Special Projects Committee co-chairs and ALBO members Moira Poe and Alessandro Terenzoni recommended that in the future senators should not be allowed to hold any position in addition to an ALBO chairmanship. Greenberg said he was pleased by the competitiveness of this year's elections and noted that only two chairs were contested last year. "It's good to see a lot of people involved," he said. "It looks like we're going to get a lot of work done next year." Former presidential candidate and treasurer Michele Shelton did not run for ALBO, declining a nomination for the Performance Groups council. "I want to give people a chance to move up in the ranks," she said.

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Withholding lottery numbers hurts students

March 31

Now that housing lottery numbers have been released, upperclassmen are facing a difficult predicament. Many sophomores and juniors who waited until the spring to receive their numbers are confronting the prospect of moving off campus and paying rent prices upwards of $700 a month. To avoid this situation in the future, Tufts should release lottery numbers earlier in the academic year. Students who wish to avoid the astronomical prices of local apartments are kept in suspense until the March housing lottery. By the time upperclassmen discover that they will be locked out of on-campus housing, most off-campus apartments are unavailable, with the exception of the most expensive and inconveniently-located houses. Pushing forward the lottery would afford students more time to evaluate their numbers, investigate off campus housing options, and perhaps sign a lease at one of the many affordable apartments that by March will no longer be on the market. An early release date would also let students investigate other on-campus options, including on-campus apartments, culture houses, and special-interest application-only housing. While it is true some students will opt for special-interest housing upon learning of their poor lottery numbers, those students with a genuine interest in the houses will still be given preference in the application processes. Students on financial aid are especially burdened when the housing lottery forces them off campus. Financial aid recipients who move into apartments are guaranteed funds that incorporate the cost of on-campus housing, but such compensation is often insufficient to cover local rents. In reinstating the Office of Off-Campus Housing earlier this year, the University took a step toward remedying the problem. The office is a valuable resource that students should utilize to locate affordable off-campus apartments, but it could do more. Tufts, meanwhile, could use the office to connect students with property owners whose houses are slightly beyond the immediate campus perimeter and not always discovered by apartment seekers. In exchange for Tufts' advertising their apartments, the landlords would concede to maintain high safety standards and reasonable rents. But without changing the date for the release of lottery numbers, the work of the off-campus housing office cannot sufficiently solve student difficulties. Until Tufts changes the lottery date, students forced off campus who cannot afford apartment rents should be compensated for all housing costs, including utilities. And even if the lottery date is moved forward and students' financial aid packages are adjusted appropriately, the Financial Aid Office, Residential Life, and the Office of Off-Campus Housing should continue to explore other remedies to housing woes. Students should not be unnecessarily financially burdened because chance has assigned them a poor lottery number.

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Hits & Misses

March 31

The DubnicksHow To Be CoolForkinhand All the bands out there - even the mediocre ones - claim to "transcend genres." Sometimes, though, being genuinely eclectic pays off. To their abundant credit, the Dubnicks live up to their claim of eclecticism and deliver an excellent album at the same time. How To Be Cool, the group's first full-length release, is unique: instead of playing in a new style, the band plays expertly within many genres from punk to pop - and the Dubnicks pull their wide range of musical styles together unexpectedly well. Maybe the punk opening number, "Surgery," will hook you first, but you're bound to love and listen to the whole album despite its many stylistic shifts. Listen for the almost-Barenaked Ladies flourishes ("Private Joke"), the Green Day/Goldfinger style ("Aaron Spelling World"), and wholesome early '90s grittiness ("Goodnight"). You may have never heard of the Dubnicks, but if you like punk, pop, or straightforward rock, you'll find this entire album to your liking.-Drew SheltonGeddy LeeMy Favorite HeadacheAtlanticGood news for Rush fans: Geddy Lee still sounds like Geddy Lee. Also, this former frontman's first and long-awaited solo effort, My Favorite Headache, sounds a lot like...Rush. Imagine that. And herein lies the bad news for Rush dissenters who hoped to see a radically different side of the man with the famed vocal chords - you're slightly out of luck.But not completely. While the full-on bombast is not completely gone, My Favorite Headache contains slight differences that set it apart from previous band efforts. Most notable is the absence of songs that pummel hard and strong throughout, and the presence of a more mainstream, even pop, sound. The album contains a seesaw of progressive rock fused with melodic interludes and introspections like "I don't mean to be so nihilistic/ Forgive me if I seem to be too realistic." This formula of not fixing what's not broke, plus adding a new-school twist is the best solo move that Lee could have made.-Sheryl GordonMartin SextonWonder BarAtlantic Don't let anyone tell you different: the trick is all in the voice. Martin Sexton has a great way with melodies and studio effects, but it's his singing that makes albums like Wonder Bar so immediately memorable. From an easy, smooth baritone to a happy, unforced falsetto, his voice is what makes it all feel so damn cool. He can do relaxed or upbeat, but Sexton's voice is flawless. It's an amazing effect; he reminds you of Ben Harper or Bill Withers or someone you can't even name - and this is a white guy whose album cover makes him look like an unshaved, overweight, out-of-work lounge singer. For someone who looks so greasy, Sexton might have more soul than he has a right to. There's blues, rock, and folk thrown into his songs, and he hits enough of the right buttons to give him the right to look any way he wants in a photo shoot.-Drew Shelton

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Student disciplined for auto theft

March 31

A student has been suspended for the semester after confessing to stealing a car from an Espresso's delivery person last fall. The driver called the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) from an emergency phone at 1 a.m. on Oct. 12, 2000 to report that his car had been stolen from the entrance to Carmichael Hall. He had left the car running while delivering food to the Carmichael residents when a student, who was reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time, drove off with the vehicle. After placing the emergency call, the Espresso's driver chased after the car to the front of Olin, where the student exited the vehicle but continued running. The driver jumped in his car and pursued the student to Metcalf, at which point he abandoned the vehicle and continued the chase on foot. TUPD caught up with both the owner and the student at Powderhouse Blvd, near Haskell Hall. According to Espresso's cook Jerry Dottin, drivers are never supposed to leave their vehicles running when they deliver an order. While witnesses say the driver initially claimed that the student had grabbed his keys, the Espresso's employee admitted in the police report that the keys had been left in the ignition. The Espresso's driver positively identified the student in custody as the thief, but chose not to press charges. The TUPD officers did not record the offending student's Blood Alcohol Content, but did note that the underage student was under the influence of alcohol. The incident was referred to the Dean of Students Office, which charged the student with theft of an automobile, public intoxication, underage drinking, and driving to endanger. Because the student expressed remorse, Assistant for Judicial Affairs Veronica Carter elected to suspend the student for one semester, instead of the maximum year-long punishment. The student was also required to meet with an Alcohol and Health Educator to discuss the incident and to determine if any further counseling is necessary. "This meeting is mandatory anytime a student is intoxicated or involved in an alcohol-related incident," Carter said. The student appealed the decision to the Committee on Student Life (CSL) on the grounds that the consequence was too severe, but Carter's decision was upheld. The CSL, however, did say that the student could return for the summer session in order to make up classes. Tufts officials said that the student is lucky that no one was injured and that the punishment was so lenient. According to TUPD Captain Mark Keith, if anyone had been hurt as a result of the joy ride, the student would have been held responsible for the damage or injuries. Additionally, if the Espresso's driver had pressed charges, the student would have faced the charges of motor vehicle theft and driving under the influence, both felonies. Harassment of delivery people and theft of their vehicles are rare occurrences on campus, according to Carter. There was an almost identical vehicle theft incident a few years ago, but the TUPD did not receive a single motor vehicle report last year. In 1998, there were three reports, and there was only one in 1997. Most area restaurants say they have had only minor problems over the past few years. But the Domino's Pizza in Medford has reportedly been the victim of many thefts of their roof-top displays in recent weeks. "This school year alone, we've had four signs stolen, at a cost of $100 each," Assistant Manager Fabrico Aleixo said.

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The life and times of America's premiere coke distributor

March 31

George Jung. You should know his name. If you were doing coke during the late '70s and early '80s in the United States, there was an 85 percent chance that the coke originated from a man named Pablo Escobar, and was then distributed by George Jung.

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West Side story stereotypes Puerto Ricans

March 31

The play West Side Story was first staged in New York in 1957, and the film was produced in 1961. In 1999, a production of the play at Amherst High School was cancelled after students and parents objected to the musical's stereotyping of Puerto Ricans. On April 12-14, Torn Ticket II will be presenting the play at Tufts in the Balch Arena Theater. Do I believe that there are problems with West Side Story and that it stereotypes Puerto Ricans? Yes, I do. Despite its many redeeming qualities, the film, seen by millions all over the world, reinforces the image of Puerto Ricans as violent gang members, criminals and welfare recipients. It also promotes the image of Puerto Rican women as subservient to the men. Do I advocate canceling the play at Tufts? Absolutely not! In fact, I want every Tufts student to see it, think about it and discuss it. In order for this to happen, however, students need to have the context with which to have an intelligent discussion. Unfortunately, intelligent discussions about West Side Story will be difficult for many students, including Latinos, because the educational system in this country has excluded Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans from the curriculum. How many courses about Puerto Ricans were offered at your high school? How many courses about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans exist at this moment in the Tufts Bulletin? The answer is ZERO!!!! Puerto Rican culture and history is not taught in Latin American courses because it is not considered Latin America and it is not taught in US history because it is somehow not part of the United States (unless we need Puerto Ricans to fight in wars). So how do we, at Tufts, learn about Puerto Rico and Puerto Ricans while we wait for the faculty to be hired to teach these courses? The answer is by taking the initiative as individuals to read as much about Puerto Rico as we can get our hands on. Here is a little bit of an introduction to the history of the Puerto Ricans in the United States: The largest migration of Puerto Ricans to the United States occurred after World War II. On the island, this period was characterized by a changing Puerto Rican economy that displaced a large number of agricultural workers and did not adequately provide replacement jobs. On the mainland, the US was in the midst of a booming economy that needed workers to fill jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector. In other words, Puerto Rican migration to the US was a classic push/pull situation. Puerto Ricans were pushed away from the island because of high unemployment and pulled to the US by the need for workers to fill needed jobs. In fact, US companies, with the promises of a better economic life, actively recruited Puerto Ricans on the island. In the early 60s, Puerto Ricans in New York faced a great deal of discrimination based on race and language. West Side Story takes place within this historical context. What are the problems with West Side Story? Let's begin with the casting of the roles. In the film, for example, the only major role that went to a Latino was that of Anita, played by Puerto Rican actress Rita Moreno. Natalie Wood, who played Maria, had her skin darkened for the role. This also happened to Puerto Rican actress Jossie de Guzm??n, who played the role of Maria in the 1980 production on Broadway, because she was too light skinned. Imagine that! A Puerto Rican playing a Puerto Rican who has to darken her skin because she doesn't look Puerto Rican!?! The Puerto Ricans in the film are depicted as violent gang members, the first to fight and the first to kill. They are symbolized as sharks, a bloodthirsty fish with large teeth. There are constant references in the movie about the criminality of Puerto Ricans. In the prelude to the song "America," for instance, one of the young women says, "You'll go back with handcuffs!"The film is filled with many other examples of stereotypes that cannot be ignored. These stereotypes are very powerful in that they further reinforce and perpetuate the negative image that already existed about Puerto Ricans in New York during that period. These include references to cucarachas (including whistling the song) such as "These PR's are different. They keep on coming like cockroaches". "Boy, what you Puerto Ricans have done to this neighborhood." "All right, Bernardo, get your trash outa here." Or the negative references to Puerto Rico included in the song "America," ironically sung by a Puerto Rican. "Let it sink back in the ocean." "Always the population growing. And the money owing." "And the natives steaming." In the original text Puerto Rico was described as "You ugly island...island of tropic diseases." "And the bullets flying."Some people might argue that I am making a big deal out of nothing - that West Side Story is just a fun musical with good music and good dancers. Yes, it's good music and good dancing, but it is also the only play about Puerto Ricans that most people will ever see. How can anyone have a positive or balanced view of Puerto Ricans after watching this play?Others might argue that the white gang (Jets) and other white characters (i.e. police) were also portrayed in a negative way and even less sympathetically than the Sharks. This argument, however, ignores the racism that Puerto Ricans and Latinos have confronted in this country. It negates the historical reality that Puerto Ricans have been the target of racism, not the white Europeans. It also ignores the colonial relationship that Puerto Rico has with the United States.In conclusion, go and see West Side Story this weekend. Think about the images of Puerto Ricans (and Latinos) that it portrays and decide for yourself if you believe them to be negative stereotypes. But before you come to any conclusions, read books about the history of Puerto Rico and about Puerto Ricans in the United States. You can start by coming by the Latino center and looking through our library of books and videos. You are all invited.Rub?©n Salinas Stern is director of the Latino center.

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