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Get lucky at The Purple Shamrock

August 31

If you, like Shania Twain, wanna go crazy and forget you're a lady, head for The Purple Shamrock near Faneuil Hall. With entertainment to suit all tastes and a crowd from all walks of life, it's a great place to stop during a pub-crawl. Patrons just-over-21 flock to The Purple Shamrock on weekends to show off their fancy new clothes and dance moves. Though there is live entertainment every night, on Fridays and Saturdays the raised stage attracts fairly good rock and pop bands playing covers of your favorite radio hits. In between sets, the enormous speakers blast brave dancers with "gym music," or the same songs you'll hear on the Stairmaster in Cousen's. During the week, The Purple Shamrock serves lunch to professionals working in the area. Tables fill the dance floor and even the stage and tight pants are exchanged for pencil skirts. On weeknights, the crowd is a bit older, attracting tourists and professionals looking for a good time. So instead of meeting a student from the suburbs, you can meet an Englishman from Brookline. Either way, though, you can get in on the action, feel the attraction... and you can go home knowing everything is right with the world. Even on a rainy Tuesday in September, the promise of flowing drinks, lively entertainment, and - dare we say - stimulating conversation lures otherwise well-behaved citizens from their beds. From all corners of the room, conversations between men and women looking to meet someone can be overheard: Girl: There are a lot of people with accents here. Guy with Accent: [blah blah blah] Leeds, England. Girl: Oh, really? [Awkward silence, both parties glance nonchalantly around the room] Girl: So what do you do? Guy: [blah blah blah] promotions [blah blah] lawyer. Girl: Oh, really? Do you wear a wig? The typical cliched singles' scene runs rampant, leaving these two young debutantes feeling a bit like fish out of water. With a tight dance floor on weekends, loud music and dim lights, the stage is set for... romance? Or at least inviting glances. A raised platform for performers and a partitioned dance floor for enthusiasts means The Purple Shamrock is the perfect venue for - you guessed it - no, you probably didn't... karaoke! Yes, folks, right here in Boston you can sing your own Duets a la Gwyneth Paltrow every Tuesday night. The talent ranges from an American interpretation of an Alanis Morisette song to a Londoner's rendition of "New York, New York," and everyone is welcome to show off his or her talent (or lack thereof). In between conversations sitting at the bar, female customers will notice the appealing bartenders. In one patron's opinion, they all (at least two-thirds of them) have big butts. And there is no ice cream on the menu, so the whole place is a flop in her eyes. According to another, the bartenders are rather cute and even mildly attractive in an aloof sort of way. And to her, ice cream is inconsequential. Apart from the blatant lack of desserts, the menu does not leave much to be desired, ranging from salads and sandwiches to shrimp and steak. A few offerings support the premise that The Purple Shamrock is actually supposed to be an Irish bar, such as Irish Bangers and Mash or Bunratty Castle Meatloaf at about $10 each. In the words of one Englishman, "The portions are huge, and it's really great food," but what does that say, coming from an Englishman? Arrive before 9 p.m. if you want to sample the food for yourself, though, because otherwise you'll be met with a hearty, "Sorry! Kitchen's closed." Though the pub bears an Irish-sounding name, the bartenders admit that it's more of the owner's idea of a "contemporary" Irish pub. And Irish folk agree that it's nothing like a real pub. "It's all bullshit," said one Irish patron. Even more so than Michael Flatley, star of Lord of the Dance. Who would have guessed that the Irish aren't fond of him? More of a cross between a bar and a club (a "bub," if you will), The Purple Shamrock got its name from the wife of one of Boston's former mayors who used to paint her venetian blinds purple. Then there was something to do with a shamrock, but by that point we had downed a few too many and now we can't read our notes. Regardless, it's known for its name and location more than its atmosphere. Located right in the heart of Faneuil Hall, The Purple Shamrock is a popular spot for tourists, suburbanites, and students alike. It even drew members of the Yankees during their series with the Red Sox. Said our two new Irish friends, "We met here because we both knew where it is, not because it's an Irish pub."The Purple Shamrock offers entertainment seven days a week, with live music on weekends and karaoke, live comedy, and other musical events during the week. Though there's a small cover on weekends, the drinks are generous enough that you'll soon forget your money woes. The Purple Shamrock 1 Union Street Boston (617) 227-2060 www.irishconnection.com Gin and Tonic: $4 Guinness: $3.50

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News

Underdog Jumbos win first ever ECAC championship versus Bowdoin

August 31

The Tufts men's soccer team was upset with their seed in the ECAC Tournament, yet took the title with three straight victories in a manner that their opponents must have found quite, well, upsetting. The Jumbos are the 2000ECAC New England Champions, following their 3-1 win over Bowdoin in Brunswick, ME yesterday. The win capped an impressive run through the ECAC bracket as seventh seeded Tufts managed to beat three higher seeds (#2 Babson, #6 Keene State, and #1 Bowdoin) en route to their first ever ECAC New England Crown. Yesterday, Tufts was led by sophomore Garrett Dale's two goals and an impressive performance by senior goalkeeper and ECAC tournament most valuable player Steve McDermid. "Obviously we're really excited," McDermid said. "We'd hoped to make the NCAA's all season, but this was the best outcome short of that. Only a couple of teams get to end their season with a win so it feels pretty good." Tufts took the game away from Bowdoin in the first half, scoring all three of their goals before the halftime whistle. Junior Pat Brophy struck first on a pass from freshman Brian Mikel in the fifth minute. Junior Mike Prindiville sent a long ball up to Mikel, who tapped the ball over to Brophy after Bowdoin keeper Travis Derr charged, leaving Brophy with an open net. Mikel had a point in each of his team's three ECAC tournament victories with a goal against Babson and an assist in Tufts' 1-0 victory over Keene State. Dale's first goal came with five minutes to play in the first half when he drilled a deflected shot into the open net. With a little over a minute to go before halftime, Dale effectively put the game out of reach when he took advantage of another Polar Bear defensive error to collect his second unassisted goal of the day. The goals were Dale's sixth and seventh of the year, and his second and third of the tournament. Bowdoin came out of the halftime huddle fired up, cutting the lead to two goals in the fifty-eighth minute. Tufts cleared a Polar Bear corner kick (Bowdoin had 11 corners in the second half while Tufts had none), but freshman Ethan Roth collected the ball and fired it into the upper left-hand corner of the Jumbo net. "They were really taking it to us in the second half," McDermid said. After the goal, the Polar Bears kept the pressure on McDermid, outshooting Tufts 8-1 and in the second half, but the Tufts tri-captain slammed the door shut. Bowdoin was definitely the favorite in this game, boasting a 13-2-2 overall record (the best in the school's history) and the goalkeeper with the lowest goals against average (GAA) in the NESCAC (Travis Derr with 0.30). The Polar Bears defeated the Jumbos 1-0 in Brunswick in early October, and this game was played on the same field because the Polar Bears were previously designated as hosts for both the semi-finals and finals of the ECAC tournament. Tufts, however, was not intimidated in any game in this tournament. The Jumbos earned the right to play in the finals by defeating number six seed Keene State, 1-0. The Tufts goal came in the 66th minute when junior Brad Stitchberry headed home a Mikel cross. McDermid was impressive again in this contest, compiling eight saves and making several key stops to keep the Owls out of the scoring column. In the quarterfinals, the Jumbos knocked off the second-seeded Babson Beavers with a 3-1 win on the strength of goals from senior Dave Drucker and Dale. McDermid, once again turned in a very strong performance. "He's been unbelievable," MacGregor said of McDermid. "In the first game he really saved us. He really couldn't have played better. It's been amazing to watch." "Most of the credit really goes to the defense," McDermid said. "Mike Prindiville especially. He won a lot of headers. Andrew Wood, a freshman, came in today and played well for us as well." McDermid's MVP award is a fitting end to an impressive career at Tufts. McDermid has a career GAA of 1.17 and a career save percentage of .811. He gave up only two goals during the ECAC tournament, while making 21 saves. Many of the Jumbo players disagree with the designation of these games as upsets, and instead argue that the seventh seed was too low. "We knew the seed didn't reflect what kind of a team we were and how well we played," MacGregor said. "So we decided to go out and prove them wrong." This was the first ever ECAC New England title for the Jumbos, though the team has come close in the past two seasons. In 1998, Tufts made it all the way to the ECAC finals before losing to Wheaton College 4-0. Last season, it was NESCAC rival Middlebury that stopped Tufts bid for the ECAC New England title with a 2-1 victory.

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News

Jumbos not at a loss for offense

August 31

After a successful 21-6 season in 1999-2000, the men's basketball team is ready to lace up its sneakers once again. The Jumbos are looking to pick up where they left off last year, after defeating Colby 74-73 in overtime for the ECAC championship, and will rely on a strong core of veterans and an explosive offense to get the job done. "What we hope to do is to take off from where we ended up last year," coach Bob Sheldon said. "We had a good run down the stretch, we got almost everybody back, and we want to build on that. I would like to win 20 games again, and see where we go from there." The Jumbos finished the regular season winning their last four games, and then went on to win three more to clinch the ECAC Tournament title. The team went 16-2 through the final month-and-a-half, and only lost one of its 13 home games. Last year's stellar finish has many people wondering if this is 'the year.' The Jumbos return all but two players, although both losses, guard Mike Andrews and forward Paul Smith, were starters. The make-up of the team remains very similar to last year, although an extra year of experience will help developing players as the season wears on. Tufts will be led by senior captain Dan Flaherty, who, at center, topped both the scoring and rebounding lists last year, at 14.1 and 8.2 per game, respectively. The team will also look to seniors point guard Bobby Mpuku, forwards Fred Pedroletti and Brandon McKenzie, and center Tom Bernier for veteran support. "There's some good leadership on the team," he said. "There's some real characters on the team - they've been around for four years, they've played a lot of time. Last year they had a little taste of some success, and now we want to take it to the next level." There is no question that Tufts will be able to score. Flaherty and Pedroletti each averaged over 13 points per game last season, with Pedroletti leading the team in field goal percentage, at 53.1. Sophomore Brian Shapiro put up seven a game despite seeing limited action, and that number is expected to rise along with his playing time. Mpuku, who averaged 8.0 points and 4.4 assists last year, will run the offense, but will also see some minutes at the two spot, splitting time with freshman Phil Barlow at each position. Barlow, one of the Jumbos' top recruits, may provide the team with the explosiveness off the dribble that it lost with the departure of Andrews, who played his fourth season last year as a graduate student. "Phil Barlow is going to get some serious time," Sheldon said. "[He] turned down Division I scholarships to come here. He's going to be fun to watch." Shapiro, last year's NESCAC Rookie of the Year, can play both shooting guard and small forward. Junior Bobby MacMannis, who averaged 4.7 ppg, will enter the rotation second semester, but will miss the first part of the season while he recovers from wrist surgery. Sophomore Lee Neugebauer, who averaged 1.4 ppg while playing just over six minutes a contest, will also get time in the backcourt. The Jumbos, however, will be at their strongest on the inside, where four of the team's five seniors will spend most of their time. Flaherty, at 6'7" and 248 lbs, returns in the best shape of his career, and has been pushing the team throughout the preseason. "Dan Flaherty has been unbelievable in what he's done from the end of last year until now," Sheldon said. "He's in the best shape of his life. He's playing well, and because he worked so hard in the preseason, he brought guys along with him. We're in the best shape we've ever been in. [The other players] worked hard because Dan made them." In addition to Flaherty and Pedroletti, Tufts also has the option of going to the 6'6" Bernier, whose aggressive style of play will give the team a boost of the bench. At 6'6" and 200 pounds, freshman Troy Palmer, one of the most athletic players on the team, according to Sheldon, will also see significant time down low. Sophomore Kyle Van Natta will start at small forward, but at 6'5", he also gives the team some extra height. Tufts may have trouble on defense, however. The Jumbos lost two of their best defenders in Andrews and small forward Smith, and will have to work to replace their presence on the court. "Our team is a little different this year because the two guys we left were probably our best defenders, so we're trying to find somebody to step up," Sheldon said. "I don't think we're good on defense right now, but I think we can work into that." The team will turn to its athleticism to help out, and will work on improving its defensive play as the season progresses. "We're athletic. We're going to press more," said Sheldon of his defensive strategy. "We're going to play a little bit more zone, and we're just going to work on it and work on it." Sheldon hopes that his team's high-powered offense will make up whatever it lacks on defense, although he feels that the team may defend better than even he gives them credit for. "We're very, very good offensively," he said. "So even when we're practicing, we're playing against ourselves, so we're playing against good guys. I'm hoping that some of the stuff that we do in practice that doesn't work will work in a game." Overall, Sheldon is optimistic about his team's chances. The Jumbos are in better shape than they have been in recent years, and last year's late-season success has fueled the veterans on the team, itching to win in their last year of eligibility. "It's going to be a good year," Sheldon said. "I think we can win. We look at our schedule, and I feel that, on paper, we're as good as or better than everybody we play. We're going to be an exciting team to watch."

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News

Planet' not just another terrible Mars epic

August 31

Probably 99 percent of all the film critics who walked into a screening of Red Planet had the same thoughts going through their heads: "Please, please, dear God, let this be better than Mission to Mars. PLEASE." And to be honest, they didn't have many reasons to be optimistic. The buzz on Red Planet has been toxic to say the least: the film's release date has been moved twice (it was supposed to come out in March, then August), the studio has kept a tight lip on any and all details, the early trailers have been loud and confusing, and NASA wouldn't even sign off on the film. So most of the people who walked into this movie knew that it could really, really suck. If you've seen Mission to Mars, Battlefield Earth or, God help you, Highlander 2, you know how truly painful bad sci-fi can be. And the film does not start off on a good note: Carrie Ann-Moss delivers an uninspired monologue about Earth's resources being depleted... blah blah... and here are the rag-tag members of the crew that's going to colonize Mars... blah blah... Earth's last hope... blah... ugh... you sink into your chair, dreading the next 2 hours. Then WHAM, the music suddenly kicks in, you see the spaceship blasting off, and things start getting interesting. The music is the first sign that things are going right: an interesting combination of techno, rock, orchestration and choral chanting, it hits all the right notes and helps propel the action. It's worth pointing out because movies often drop the ball on music by using either the usual stock musical stings for scary moments, songs that don't fit, or - as in the case of Mission to Mars - hardly any music at all. The first big special effects scene in Mission to Mars was laughable, when the actors just stood there, staring at the effects, without an emotion on their faces and nothing but sound effects on the soundtrack. Another sign things are going right: you can recognize most of the cast, and they manage to react when something happens to them. Val Kilmer (The Saint), Tom Sizemore (Saving Private Ryan), Carrie Ann-Moss (The Matrix) and Benjamin Bratt (TV's Law and Order) make up the majority of the ship's crew, and their performances are pretty good across the board. Val Kilmer finally sheds his usual cinematic indifference and actually acts like a human being for once. Terrence Stamp (Superman 2, Bowfinger) also makes an appearance at the beginning of the film, but it's more of a glorified cameo. The story skips along with a few moments of life on the crew's spaceship, and then something goes wrong (of course) that causes them to have an emergency landing. The emergency landing gets screwed up (of course) and they lose most of their equipment and miss the landing site. They finally get to the base, which has been destroyed (of course) and slowly run out of air. As they await their doom, Val Kilmer finally flips out and opens his helmet... and discovers he can breathe. All of the algae that had been sent to the planet is gone, the entire Mars base that was set up is gone, and they can breathe. Huh? While the crew tries to figure that one out, Ms. Moss tries to help them from the wrecked spaceship above. This involves many special effects sequences of her running around and doing stuff, which, if you saw The Matrix, is nothing to object to. There's also some fairly creative and original use of zero gravity fire, and the crew on Mars has some interesting solutions to the problems they encounter. Speaking of the fairly creative, let us not forget AMEE. AMEE is the robotic dog thing that you might have seen in the commercials, that prowls about and decides to kill the crew. You see, AMEE is a military robot that was lent to this peaceful mission, and if a small switch is flipped it goes back into military mode. That switch is permanently flipped in the crash (of course), and AMEE becomes a killing machine that knows kung fu. Killer robots, breathable air, Carrie Ann-Moss, oh my! As you can gather, this is all pretty silly. But the f/x are pretty good, the script is above average, a few memorable one-liners are uttered ("This is the day our math teachers told us would come: when algebra would save out lives.") and you care about most of the characters. Not to mention AMEE makes a pretty badass villain of sorts, although not as impressive as the species they eventually find on Mars... but let's not give everything away.

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News

The shining stars of Summer 2000 cinema

August 31

While some of this summer's movie selections may have been, slightly less than inspiring, we at the Daily have toiled long and hard to bring you a comprehensive review of the best and the brightest of the Summer 2000 lineup, so you'll have another chance to catch the few gems when they come out on video.Scary Movie Director: Keenen Ivory Wayans Scary Movie earns 4 stars for living up to its full potential... whatever that may be. Without any lofty aspirations of communicating a moral lesson or even telling a coherent story, the Wayans brothers succeed in elliciting raucous laughter from audiences nationwide. There's also a lot to be said for the shock value of Scary Movie's brand of comedy, which earned it $42.3 million its opening weekend this July. With a sense of humor similar to There's Something About Mary, director Keenen Ivory Wayans and writers Shawn and Marlon Wayans manage to drop jaws and have over-17-year-olds everywhere whispering "Was that really what I thought it was?" As a parody of the modern horror films that seem to have become required viewing material for any informed member of pop-culture, Scary Movie combines elements from the Scream trilogy, I Know What You Did Last Summer (and its sequel), The Blair Witch Project, The Sixth Sense, and The Matrix. The resulting convoluted storyline is more than made up for by the laugh-out-loud scenes. Not for the faint of heart or the politically correct, Scary Movie is full of racial slurs, sexual scenes, and violent images... not to mention the ever-elusive male frontal-nudity shots. Cheri Oteri's portrayal of Gail Hailstorm - a parody of Courtney Cox-Arquette's character in the Scream trilogy - is upstaged only by the scarring image of the high school gym teacher. (Shudder.) Stars: IIIIWhat Lies Beneath Director: Robert Zemeckis Speaking of scary movies, with What Lies Beneath, Zemeckis achieves a level of suspense and horror not often seen since the films of Hitchcock. While the plot has been done before, Zemeckis brought in new elements to make it not only fresh, but also better. Acting to an almost silent soundtrack and in an eerily realistic world, Michelle Pfeiffer and Harrison Ford depict a ghost story that actually haunts the audience. Zemeckis abandons the modern practice of scaring people with special effects and violence in favor of subtler, more potent devices. Using something as simple as a door opening by itself or steam clouding a bathroom mirror, he excites the audience to an almost unbearable point of tension. The hook is that, thanks to Zemeckis' setup before the climax, what would seem an unbelievable, abstract ghost story is made spookily possible. In what could almost be described as a psychological thriller, Pfeiffer's character, Claire Spencer, is established as a precariously sane housewife married to workaholic Dr. Norman Spencer. Their life is depicted, elements are added... and, piece by piece, a mysterious force chips away at the foundations of Claire's world. In typical Hitchcock style, the audience questions first her sanity and then whether the outside elements could possibly mean her harm. Not to miss is the bathtub scene in which the audience hears from under the water and feels as submerged as the character. Definitely a date movie... if you want your date in your lap by the end. Stars: IIIIIMe, Myself, & Irene Directors: Bobby Farrelly, Peter Farrelly Most people may not have noticed, but Jim Carrey has managed to work himself into a rut. He has taken on all sorts of roles and always produced critically-acclaimed performances, but he has a knack for doing so in less-than-superb movies. Like Man on the Moon, Carrey's Me, Myself, & Irene finds the funnyman creating a distinct and engaging character in an unsatisfying film. Carrey plays Charlie, a Rhode Island state trooper with a fear of confrontation and rather polar split personalities. When Charlie falls in love with Irene (Ren?©e Zellweger), his more violent personality, Hank, also takes an interest. With the already brutal conflict between Charlie's two halves, this new challenge provokes a vicious battle... with himself. The Farrelly brothers are best known for There's Something About Mary, and Me, Myself, & Irene plays on that reputation a bit too much. While most of the gags are entertaining (and certainly vicious), the directors seem intent only on one-upping their previous efforts, not on unearthing clever new ideas or maintaining a healthy pace for the film. Carrey makes the split between his two characters quite distinct, but scenes of him beating himself up have been done before - and better - in Liar, Liar. His performance is certainly to be appreciated, but the Farrelly brothers can't rely on shock value to bring them box office success every summer. Stars: IIX-Men Director: Bryan Singer With any comic-book-to-movie adaptation, there is the risk of angering the legions of purist fans waiting to seize on any inaccuracy in the film (think Tim Burton's Batman or the ill-conceived, live-action 'Spiderman' television series from the '70s). Everything from casting to story lines to costumes falls under the ever-critical eyes of the adoring fans, sometimes with less-than-stellar results. What plays well on pulp paper often does not work as well on live people. In the case of X-Men, however, there's little to moan about. Despite black leather replacing the classic yellow and blue spandex of the original, the film shapes up to be both accurate and an answer to most fans' prayers. Bryan Singer (Apt Pupil, The Usual Suspects) avoids stepping on any toes without simply rehashing old plots. For those unfamiliar with the "mythology" surrounding the series, X-Men takes place on Earth in the near future. As evolution marches on, random mutations have given rise to people with various supernatural powers. Part of what has made the comic book so enduring is the complex morality behind it. Most ordinary people react with fear to these changes, while the mutants themselves are divided into two rival camps: those who wish to co-exist with other humans, and those who believe themselves the next step in evolution, and regular humans the enemy. Whether seen as a faithful comic-book adaptation or a surprisingly moral action movie, X-Men can please both newcomers and die-hards alike. Stars: IIII

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News

Sen. John Kerry leads pro-Gore rally at Tufts

August 31

Many students headed to the polls to cast their ballots yesterday, and the undecided were finally forced to take a firm position. On Monday, those still unsure, along with plenty of die-hard Democrats, received a last-minute bit advice from Senator John Kerry, D-Mass, at a rally at Tufts. The evening event took place in Jackson Gym. Kerry strongly encouraged the audience to vote for Vice President Gore, and asked for their support of his campaign as well. He called on students to "work the polls" in Massachusetts and even more importantly, in the neighboring swing state of New Hampshire. While college-aged students are statistically ranked among the worst voting demographics in the nation, the rally and Kerry speech drew a large crowd from Tufts and surrounding colleges. "It's important to get excited about the election, and this is an opportunity to do so," said Tufts sophomore Evan Weinberg. The rally came complete with Gore posters, blue and red pom-poms, and decorations, which lent the gym a patriotic look. Homemade signs touting Al Gore as "Tufts' Choice for Prez" adorned the walls. A group of UMass students sporting "Mass Students for Gore" T-shirts joined students clad in patriotic scarves and colors, and a few token students wearing "George W. Bush for President" stickers. "I don't support Gore," said sophomore Ted Schwartzberg. "But I came to watch, to see what a rally would be like." For the first half hour, the rally resembled a party that had not quite started, but the crowd was noticeably energized when the senator arrived. Kerry spent the past several days travelling to seven states proclaiming his support for Gore, and Tufts was his last stop before the election. Students received him with loud cheers and clapping, raising their Gore posters high above their heads and waving pom-poms. "I want to talk to you in a different way. The Monday before the election is a special time," stated Senator Kerry. Because Kerry began his political career years ago as a young Democrat, he felt "very close to you and the way you feel tonight." He went on to speak about his involvement in environmental issues before moving on to the highlight of his address: his remarks in support of the vice president. "We are electing the first president of the millenium," he said. "Everybody's vote counts, everybody's vote matters!" Senator Kerry urged people supporting Green Party Candidate Ralph Nader to vote for Gore instead, reminding the audience that the first piece of legislation Gore had promised to pass was campaign finance reform - an initiative closely aligned with Nader's own sentiments. He added that voting for Nader was essentially a vote for Bush. "Only Al Gore will protect a woman's right to choose, protect Roe v. Wade," Senator Kerry declared to the crowd of cheering students, of whom many had pushed their way to the front of the room to get a glimpse of the senator. "I already voted, but I came to support Gore," said sophomore Matthew Alford. "Political activism is important." Also present at the event were representatives from Citizens for Participation in Political Action, a nonpartisan, statewide organization working to educate people about the important questions on this year's Massachusetts ballot. The group also distributed flyers stating its own opinions on the issues. Just near the conclusion of his speech, Kerry increased the level of enthusiasm in his voice, causing the audience to cheer louder and louder. As he ended with a shout about moving Gore on to victory, students erupted with clapping and the DJ turned up the volume to fill the room with the Backstreet Boys' famous song, "Larger Than Life." When they stepped out of the gym, most of the students seemed encouraged by the rally and by the senator's remarks.

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News

Hockey salvages win with third period scoring burst

August 31

The 6-2 score of Tufts' victory over Salve Regina on Wednesday night does not accurately reflect the nail-biter, which went late into the third period before the outcome was decided. A hat trick by junior center Jason Boudrow and strong defensive play helped the 6-0 Jumbos topple the Seahawks in a rematch of the Coca-Cola Hockey Classic Championship game two weekends ago. Tufts won that game 7-2, and Salve Regina came out fierce in the rematch. "They came out hard - we beat them by five goals last time, and we knew they were going to be tough," assistant coach Brian Hayes said. "They were playing for pride. They came out and threw everything at us." The first period featured some close shots and spectacular saves by both goalies, and both teams entered the locker room with the score deadlocked at 0-0. For the first time all season, Tufts, which averages over three goals in the first period, could not find net in the opening frame, narrowly missing on numerous occasions. "Their goalie was playing well in the first period and making some great saves," senior tri-captain Natan Obed said. "We had the chances that we usually get in the first couple periods, but we just weren't capitalizing." Boudrow broke the tie three minutes into the second period, getting the rebound of his own shot, and sneaking it past the Seahawks goalkeeper, Chris Burns. Salve Regina had the answer though, as Frank Mingone blasted a powerful one-timer past freshman goalkeeper, Ben Crapser. Less than two minutes later, an aggressive man-down unit exploited Salve Regina's sluggish offense, and Boudrow got the fast break. Catching the defenders off guard, the center went straight to the goal, forcing the puck into the bottom right of the of the net for the shorthanded goal. Unable to capitalize on this momentum boost, however, the Jumbos exchanged shots with the Seahawks for the rest of the period, but could not find the net. The usually potent offense was kept at bay by a team that came out hungrier than expected. "We were a little out of sync the first few periods," Hayes said. "[Crapser] came up with a couple of nice saves like he has all year." "I don't think we played too poorly in the first couple periods," Obed said. "We're not going to score five goals in the first period every game." Coming out of the locker room, Salve Regina decided to make a game of it, scoring a power play goal less than two minutes into the third period. "[Their second goal] was a dose of reality," Obed said. "We're not going to walk over teams and win every single game without having to go through some adverse moments. Once they tied it up, we really concentrated and played harder." It took five minutes of intense play, but the Jumbos found their payoff, as wide-open freshman Pat Byrne took a perfect feed from Obed to give Tufts the 3-2 advantage. On the next possession, sophomore Rob LaQuaglia rifled a one-timer into the upper left corner of the goal, solidifying the Jumbo's lead. Byrne's game-winner was his third of the season, and the freshman now leads the entire conference in this category. "After their second goal they came out a little stronger and then we popped the third and fourth goal right away and that was the end of them," Hayes said. "It was the first time we really had a come from behind type situation, and the kids did a good job." Controlling the tempo of the game for the remainder of the contest, Tufts was able to score two more goals, one by sophomore Chris Martin, and the other a deflection power play goal by Boudrow giving him a hat trick. Boudrow, who also had an assist, now has sole possession of the ECAC Northeast lead in both scoring (22) and assists (14). Averaging 3.67 points per game, the center has been scoring at will all season, and is on his way to repeating the scoring title he claimed his freshman year. Obed added three assists in the game, now stands fifth in the ECAC Northeast in assists with nine. Although not the prettiest, the victory puts the Jumbos at 6-0, and they will face a lowly Nichols team this Saturday, giving them some serious momentum going into winter break. "We have three weeks off, I wish we could keep playing right now," Hayes said. "We don't need the break right now - in years past we have, but we don't need it this year."

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News

Tufts prof receives big break from Oprah

August 31

In mid-1999, boasting a National Book Award nomination, Professor Andre Dubus III included the Tufts book store on the nationwide tour for his novel, House of Sand and Fog. Only a handful of students and faculty attended the reading. Then Oprah called. Yesterday, when Dubus held his second reading on campus, the crowd overflowed into the Tisch hallway. The suddenly-prominent professor stood before a fawning audience, read a section of his novel, and explained the satisfaction- and financial prospects- of his recent inclusion on Oprah Winfrey's Book Club list. "I renamed all my kids Oprah," he said. "The boys are just going to have to get used to it." Dubus received word of the Winfrey accolade while grating cheese in his Massachusetts residence. An Oprah representative informed him that House of Sand and Fog was to be included in a book club, but playfully refused to reveal her boss's name. Dubus was not particularly excited, having been included in various small book clubs in the past. "You must be sh-ting me," he said, when the caller ended the suspense. Although Oprah is hardly a venerated literary critic, her selected books sell in the millions. Already, minions of her female viewers have flocked to bookstores. To Dubus, selling 20,000 copies of a book is "triumph land," and there are now one million copies of Sand and Fog in print. According to his favorite anecdotes, the creative writing teacher can certainly use the money. Dubus, a part-time carpenter who says he teaches and works to supplement his writing income, told students yesterday that the increased sales would pay for a septic tank for his home. When he confirmed the Oprah news, his wife was upstairs, sewing upholstery for "extra income." And despite his newfound celebrity status, Dubus seems infatuated with his blue-collar childhood. His favorite new author? Larry Brown ? a high school graduate, former fireman, and self-trained author. Dubus is also committed to teaching, and yesterday he assured an anxious questioner that he has no plans to leave the University. "I can't believe that you get paid to sit in a room and talk to people who want to grow," he said. "I'll keep teaching. I love it here." Current and former students dotted the audience. During the question/answer period, Dubus addressed familiar faces by name, at one point asking a student to finish a Grace Paley quotation he often uses in writing workshops. She was close, but Dubus interrupted as she fumbled the words. "We write what we don't know we know," he said. In the case of House of Sand and Fog, what Dubus didn't know he knew were the complicated emotions of a former Iranian military official now living in California. Or, for that matter, the perspective of the female protagonist, a house cleaner who is unjustly evicted from her home and thrust into the arms of a married police officer. As the two characters' lives become irreversibly intertwined, Dubus alternates the first person point of view chapter-by-chapter. Notably challenging is the colonel's voice, whose authoritative narration is conveyed in Farsi-accented English. In his talk, Dubus derided advocates of political correctness and encouraged writers to experiment with point of view- to write from a perspective they have never experienced. He did warn, however, that not everyone will embrace the finished product. Recently, a woman asked Dubus why he thought he could write from a female's perspective, referring specifically to a sex scene in the novel. "Did it work," he asked. She replied, "Well, it seemed like a man imagining what it's like to be a woman." Dubus described the writing process as an agonizing struggle. "The inspiration's dead after the first writing session. Then there is four years of churning along," he told sophomore Ajahne Santa Anna, co-editor-in-chief of Onyx, when he asked Dubus about inspiration. "He kept my attention and I didn't think an author could," said Santa Anna, adding that Dubus and he are "in the same boat," both dedicated to the craft but always looking for self-discipline. Dubus said that dedication, not talent, is the most important quality for an author. According to Oprah, whose talk show will host Dubus in early January, the author's hard work has paid off. And if the royalty checks flow as predicted, the pay-off will be generous indeed. He still writes in his upstairs "office," composing his prose in longhand with a pencil, and wearing earmuffs to drown out the sounds of his playing children. But, he admits, there is added pressure to perform. "When the world shines its light, it's a distraction," he said, fearful that the attention might disrupt his work. "I'm not going to write a line and say, 'Is Oprah going to like that?" Yet he didn't protest too much, calling the pressures of fame "a good problem to have." But when asked about the million copies in bookstores throughout the country, his concern grew. "One million books to get rid of ? I hadn't thought about it that way. I'm doomed."

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Renovations to lab yet to be completed

August 31

Renovations to the Eaton computer lab are running two weeks behind schedule, and students may have to wait until the middle of the month before they can use computers in the facility under normal conditions. The first phase of the project was due for completion at the end of October. Vice President of Operations John Roberto said that the delay is mainly due to the University's desire to keep part of the facility operational during construction. "The logistics of trying to minimize the disruption were harder than we thought," he said. "The contractor's original schedule may have been too aggressive considering that the rest of the building and part of the lab remained in use.... And with the healthy economy, getting commitments for labor and materials can be difficult," he said. The lab is being converted into a two-floor facility connected by a staircase. Officials expect the downstairs level to be operational within the next two weeks, at which time the upstairs lab will close to allow workers to finish renovations. A grand reopening will take place at the beginning of the spring semester. Other changes will include the creation of a central printing location, the addition of 50 new PCs, and the replacement of Macintosh clones with 45 Apple iMacs. The d?©cor of the lab will also be redone, and it will be outfitted with ergonomically-correct furniture. But in the meantime, attempts to make improvements are causing severe inconveniences. Students are forced to go to a temporary lab in the Tisch Library or deal with the crowded and unpleasant conditions in Eaton if they want to use public computers. In the Eaton lab, which is separated from the construction by plywood boards, students must put up with the banging and wailing of construction equipment during the day. With its bare concrete floors and poor lighting, the facility is even less inviting at night, when rarely more than a dozen students are there at any given time. Sophomore Matthew Downer said that, because of the renovations, he uses the Eaton lab less frequently. Instead, he often goes to the Tisch reference area, where the stations are often full with e-mailers, although sending electronic messages in the library is technically prohibited. Senior Sahrye Cohen said she was forced to use the lab because statistics software that she needs is only available on public computers. She said that she is frustrated with having to contend with construction while working and has noticed a decline in traffic since construction began. "I don't usually have to wait in line for a computer like you sometimes had to last year," she said. "During the day there is a lot of noise and sometimes I forget what I'm thinking about. I wish they would finish it. I thought it would be done by now. Maybe if they told us what they were doing and why it was taking so long, I'd be more sympathetic." Cohen's criticisms were shared by other students, and after the six-month delay in the completion of Dowling Hall last year, none seemed surprised that the work in Eaton is still not finished. "It's definitely annoying, but to a certain extent, it doesn't surprise me because they seemed to do a lot of waiting around in the summer," senior David Hartnagel said. "Considering it is the biggest computer lab on campus, you would think they would put some priority on it." Manager of Instructional Services Jeff Weiner said these problems are being addressed and that small inconveniences are necessary in order to improve the lab in the long run. "The Eaton lab was originally a library, and has not been completely overhauled to be a computer lab until now," he said. "There have been a couple of days without heat for system maintenance, but it should definitely be back on prior to the end of construction. The lighting is part of the renovation and will be much improved for a computing environment when the renovation is completed." In addition to the Eaton lab, Tufts' main ongoing development project is the Psychology Research Center on Boston Avenue, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of next July. The University is in the process of hiring a contractor to finish renovations to the Latin Way dormitory. That construction will begin in February, and is expected to be done by the beginning of the 2001 fall semester.

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Interview: Chapter in Verse

August 31

Brenda White mentions coincidence and fate a good deal when talking about the birth of Chapter in Verse. The co-vocalist/guitarist of one of the most distinctive and lauded bands in Boston's music scene never envisioned life as a rock star until all the elements slowly began to fit seamlessly together. "It wasn't something really planned," she said. "It just fell into place... we've been having a really fun time with it. It's interesting the way people fell into the band." It's not a huge stretch to believe that Chapter in Verse first began as an acoustic duo. The band rocks hard and fast, but is complimented with pretty, harmonic vocals and a clean finish. "Rachel [Clayton - co-vocalist, guitarist, and percussionist] and I have been friends for quite a while. One day I was kind of hanging around playing the guitar... she picked up a guitar and started harmonizing, and I was like 'Wow, hmm, this sounds pretty good. We should do something with this.'" Things weren't fervent in the beginning, because music was never at the forefront of White's ambition. "I took guitar lessons when I was younger, dropped it, and took it back up at 20. I got kind of hooked. My guitar teacher told me to write a song... it was all downhill after that," White said, laughing. "I was like, 'I can't write a song,' and then I realized I could..." Instead of writing off this unearthed talent, the two found a drummer, and an occasional violin player. They then discovered a prime talent in a completely unexpected place. Richard Cramer, the band's lead guitarist, was originally the band's photographer. "We had met him and needed photos... so he came out to see us play a lot. One day he said 'I play the guitar.'...Then he totally started wailing on the guitar! We were like, 'Oh my god...You kept this from us the whole time!?'" Bassist Pam Kerensky was a friend whom the band asked to audition after they noticed her talent. Drummer Shawn McLaughlin heard about the audition offhand from a friend who had already tried out. Shawn ended up getting the part. "We just never really thought of forming a band. We're a very fate-driven band... people just happened to come to us out of the blue," White said. Fate, however, has had nothing to do with the success that the band has garnered over the past few years. Like most local bands starting out, Chapter in Verse had the task of introducing itself to the Northeast by constant touring, which inevitably led to word of mouth, and then eventual small-time success. The band slowly built its fan base by playing at favorite venues like T.T. the Bear's and Irish Embassy Pub - Brenda's personal favorite - that most bands left untouched. "We've been working it really hard... touring, touring, touring... playing, playing, playing. We've done everything so on our own for so long." Lots of bands work this hard with no real results. The trait that has pushed Chapter in Verse into a higher level of respect is its no-hold-barred, high-energy stage style that draws in new fans, and keeps them close. "We just like to play and have fun. Most of the time when I go to see a show, I like to be entertained - I like to see people as passionate about their music as they should be, that's the way I feel when I sing. We like to make everybody feel what we're feeling, to get all the joy out of it that we are...we just go out and play every show like it's the first time we've been playing. We give 120 percent." The band has yet to embark on any major road trips yet, but that says nothing about the immense amount of stage-time it has put in. Last year saw the group playing approximately 12 to 13 times a month, "anywhere and everywhere," according to White. The five spent their days at work, and then Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights traipsing around Massachusetts and the Northeast, getting their names out to the public. And it worked. The fruits of their energy could visibly be seen upon the 1999 self-released album Wicked Smile, which, thanks to an in-store promotional show, became the number-one selling disc at Tower Records in Boston after its first week of release. The album then went on to sell more than 4,000 copies, an immense amount virtually unheard of for a self-released CD. Along with popular success has come critical acclaim. In 1999, the band was nominated for two Boston Music awards - Best New Rock Band and Best Live Show. "We had been working so, so hard, especially in that past year, playing non-stop. I remember my mom calling me because she had read it in the paper. She was like, 'You were nominated for an award!' I ran outside to buy a newspaper... then I started calling everyone and going 'Oh my God!'" Although all five members still have their day jobs, as the band gains popularity and as more and more opportunities arise, the members of Chapter and Verse have come to define themselves first and foremost as musicians. "All of us, we'll play anywhere, anytime... the band comes first. The ultimate goal for all of us is for the band to become our day job..." she laughed. "Actually, I don't consider it a job because it's something we actually enjoy doing. We're hoping good things are going to happen in the coming year. We really feel that we're reaching a new plateau in songwriting and playing as a band." Latest projects have included The Rockrgrl Music Conference in Seattle this past November - which White remembers as "one of the greatest experiences we've ever had" - a headlining gig at the Songstreet Festival of Women Songwriters, and a Patriots' pre-game show Presently, the band is concentrating on the release party - this Saturday at T.T. the Bear's Place - for its three-song EP. The current plan of action is to garner even more fans with this release, see what kind of reception the group receives, and possibly find backing with an independent label so that it can produce a full-length LP in the near future. "We've been rehearsing really hard for it. You never know who's going to be climbing up on the rafters... anything can happen at a Chapter in Verse show. It's been proven.... It's going to be one heck of a good time."Chapter in Verse will be performing with the Shelly Winters Project and Juniper's Daughter at 10 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, at T.T. and the Bear's Place, 10 Brookline St., Cambridge (Central Square). Call 617-492-0082 for show information. Ticket price is $7. The show is 18+. Free CDs will be given to the first 100 through the door.

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Quarterback issue lingers after game

August 31

Heading into the season opener against Wesleyan on Saturday, coach Bill Samko saw his team neck deep in a quarterback controversy. And unfortunately for the Jumbos, nothing was resolved in the weekend loss, as each quarterback showed both positive and negative qualities that will keep Samko guessing as the team heads into week two.

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Senior gains prestige for her research work in Bosnia

August 31

An investigation in Bosnia of the local population's perceptions of the international court of justice has earned senior Tamy Guberek global recognition. Guberek's study, entitled "Justice Unknown, Justice Unsatisfied? Bosnian NGOs Speak about the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia," was the subject of an article in The Boston Globe, and there is now the possibility that her proposal will be disseminated to the United Nations, the US Congress, and various members of the academic world. Guberek and Tufts graduate Kristen Cibelli spent a year in Bosnia, where they conducted research at the local level, and they compiled the report this year. The two surveyed a sample group of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in order to gauge the conceptions of the Bosnian people about the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The study found that the local population has divided opinions about the court itself, and many believe that it is a political court and therefore incapable of objectively ruling on matters. The Muslim-Croats believe that the court is inefficient for not trying the head officials responsible for the human rights violations during the war, and Serbians doubt the credibility of the tribunal altogether. ICTY was established by the United Nations Security Council in 1993 to file suit against violators of international humanitarian law in the territory of the former Yugoslavia since 1991. The prosecutor of the court is currently working to hold Slobodan Milosevic accountable for war crimes in the region and recently asked the new leader of Yugoslavia to turn him over to stand trial. Guberek found that most people recognize the goal and purpose of the court but do not fully understand its work and procedures. "Over 60 percent of the local NGO representatives we interviewed did not know what laws govern war crimes," she said. Alarmed by the mysterious image most Bosnians had of the court, Guberek and Cibelli made a series of recommendations in their report to spread factual information about the court to the Bosnian population. This included expanding and existing outreach programming and making stronger efforts to present extensive information to the public that addresses their questions and clears up misconceptions. "The people need to know," emphasized Guberek, as she explained that the state-controlled media in Yugoslavia has distorted the truth for years. In addition to being distributed among top world leaders, Guberek and Cibelli's report will be translated into the local language in Bosnia to educate the population about the procedures and policies of the ICTY. Guberek said she felt comfortable during her year stay in Bosnia, but she explained that the situation was tense throughout, and there was even one incident when their car tires were slashed. "Two young women asking about war crimes is not common," she said. However, Guberek said she felt that their gender was an advantage when conducting the study as they were not intimidating to their interviewees, and therefore were able to get a wider response. The research abroad was partially funded by Tufts, but the majority of the money was donated by the Samuel Rubin Foundation. All together, Guberek and Cibelli were able to raise $25,000 for their trip. Guberek noted, however, that gathering funds was perhaps the most difficult aspect of the project. The idea of investigating the Bosnian people's impression of the international court of justice came to Guberek during an internship for the United Nations two summers ago. Guberek, an international relations major, has always maintained an interest in international tribunals and participated in Education for Public Inquiry and International Citizenship two years ago when its theme was "Global Crime, Corruption, and Accountability." Guberek has not yet decided what she will do after graduation. Cibelli is currently working for an NGO in London that focuses on moral rearmament of former Soviet states. Regardless of whether Guberek will ultimately focus her work on international law, human rights, or media studies, she is certain that her goal is to "bridge people at the local level with the international community."

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Men's x-country impresses at New England meet

August 31

The men's cross country team finished a respectable 12th out of 42 teams in Friday's New England Invitational at Franklin Park, which featured several top Division I and II teams. Tufts placed third behind Keene State and Williams among the Division III competition. The success was a relief for the Jumbos, who ran their worst race of the season last week without the services of the number four runner, junior Jason Mann. On Friday, Mann was back in uniform, albeit with a cast on his right arm due to a broken wrist. While not at the top of his game, Mann's return sparked the team's success. "The biggest thing with the cast is that it disrupts his balance," coach Connie Putnam said. Mann, who usually rounds out the Jumbo top four, finished a somewhat disappointing fifth (26.38 and 117th overall) behind upstart freshman James Lamoureux, who ran the best race of his young collegiate career (26.36 and 115th overall)."It was a recovery race [for Mann]," Putnam said. "It was an amazing performance you look closely at it, even though [on paper] it looks bad.""He ran hard," senior co-captain Dave Patterson said. "I'm glad he didn't get injured again. In a race like that he came out with a decent time. I know he is not happy [with his time] but I know he is going to work hard to get right back into the thick of things."Although Mann made a courageous return to competition, the story of the day was Lamoureux. For the past month the youngster has struggled to adjust from the 5K races which he ran in high school to the 8K college race. On Friday, the freshman finally came of age."Lamoureux ran awesome," senior co-captain Adrian Wilairat said. "This is evidence that James Lamoureux has arrived. Everyone was waiting for him to run that race."Interestingly, Mann led Lamoureux for much of the race before Lamoureux kicked into a higher gear towards the end of the course and Mann fell back slightly because of his injury. "Mann lead Lamoureux for a long time but was struggling with the circumstances," Putnam said. "Lamoureux made something good happen." Most importantly for the Jumbos is that the delta between the 4th and 5th runners and the 3rd and 4th runners is shrinking. Last week, with Mann sitting out, Lamoureux finished 4th on the team, crossing the line one minute and 11 seconds behind junior Ben Smith. On Friday, Lamoureux finished 45 seconds after Smith, who finished 3rd (25:53 and 65th overall).While Tufts still needs to further reduce the gap, Lamoureux's emergence and Mann's comeback and expected return to form bode well for upcoming meets. "Our fifth man really came through for us," Patterson said. "I think that [our fifth man] is going to help us throughout the rest of the year."With Mann's comeback and Lamoureux's surge, junior J.R. Cruz, who finished 1st on the team (25:10 and 21st overall), and Patterson, who placed 2nd on the team (25:33 and 36th overall), did not turn as many heads despite running well."We are beginning to take Cruz's performance for granted," Putnam said. "The top three runners were steady."The meet was a struggle for many of the Division III runners who are not used to taking a race out at such a fast pace. The leader, Keith Kelly from Providence, averaged 4:48 per mile and ran an opening mile of 4:32. "Most of the guys were under five minutes for the first mile," Putnam said. "You're damned if you do [go out fast] and damned if you don't.""This was the hardest I have run in a race this season," Wilairat said. "We were pushing it. I could feel the intensity during the race."While the race was particularly grueling, the Jumbos were pleased to run against Div. I and II opponents, since it provided the team with the opportunity to compete against talent similar to what it will face at the New England Regional meet and at Division III Nationals at the end of the season."The race is difficult but useful because it very much mimics the national race [in terms of the level of competition and the pace of the race]," Putnam said.For the first time all season, the Jumbos will have a break, as they do not have a meet this coming weekend. The time off will give the team an opportunity to heal and prepare for the upcoming NESCAC Championships on Oct. 28 at Amherst."We always gear up for NESCACs a little bit," Wilairat said. "Williams is our number one rival and they are very strong this year. We'd like to give Williams a run for the title."The Jumbos also expect Trinity, Bates and Bowdoin to be formidable competitors.

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A New Yorker's smile

August 31

Jenn Marsidi needs to be congratulated on having the initiative toaddress the lack of student friendliness that exists on this campus in her Viewpoint ("The Tufts smile," 10/31). While all of us have our own friends and have the opportunity to make acquaintances with many different people each day, it seems as though students are too caught up in their own thing or too involved in their own social circles to acknowledge others around them, especially if they've had a class with someone the semester before or live on the same residence floor. How long does it take to greet a person you encounter on the way to class or see waiting for the shuttle? I too am guilty of not acknowledging former classmates if I happen tosee them around campus. The problem is that I was not the only one guilty of the crime. It is, as Marsidi put it, "exceedingly frustrating that I know that they know they know me, and yet they won't smile...." Is it because we are afraid to let other people know that we remember them? Are we supposed to feel embarrassed because we do? Because college students just don't remember other students outside their own group of friends? Whoknows. Perhaps it is also my upbringing that makes me understand where Marsidi is coming from. Even as a native New Yorker, I also find it perturbing that fellow Jumbos don't acknowledge one another. I'm not saying that everyone should go around greeting random people, all I am saying is that being smiled at has a great impact and can make somebody's day a little bit better. It's nice to be remembered and feel a part of the largerTufts community. Maria Robertson, LA '02

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Suns and Kings will have a western conference shootout

August 31

This Friday, two of the best teams in the western conference will face off, and the winner could have a temporary hold on first place in a tight Pacific Division. This type of showdown isn't unusual during the NBA season, but it is worth noting that neither one of these teams are the Los Angeles Lakers or Portland Trailblazers. In fact, it's the red-hot Phoenix Suns and the closely trailing Sacramento Kings on center court, and it will be the first time the two teams play this season. With a 10-3 record, the Suns are scorching and currently sit atop a talented Pacific Division. As this team continues its torrid pace, the rest of the league wonders whether this is just another quick starting club or really a franchise on the rise. The Sacramento Kings, currently 9-3 and only a half game behind the Suns, have managed impressive victories despite injuries to key players, as well as other obstacles. The Kings have a gritty team that just refuses to sink back into the pack.Of course, it's still very early in the season-not even into the second month of play. But why are these teams playing so well, and will they be in the same place later in the season, when it really matters? Here Come the Suns: This past Saturday, the Suns defeated the Los Angeles Clippers for the 12th consecutive time, and got yet another good performance from second year player Shawn Marion, who poured in 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Suns are still led by superstar point guard Jason Kidd, who averages 16 points, 11 assists, and nearly seven rebounds per game. But a big difference in the Suns play can be attributed to the Marion's emergence. As a rookie out of UNLV, Marion was a contributor, giving the Suns play off the bench last season. This year, he's been on a rampage. With averages of 19.4 points and 11.9 boards per game in almost 40 minutes, he's almost doubled his production from last year. This is even more impressive when you consider that the Suns don't really call any plays for him. Marion has tremendous athleticism. He's a leaper with a nose for the ball, and he has demonstrated real All-Star potential.Before the season started, it seemed like the Suns were in for a tough beginning, temporarily losing the services of Kidd's talented backcourt mate, Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. Hardaway, who averaged 16.9 points, 5.3 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in just under 38 minutes of play, still hasn't played a game this season and will now be out 3-4 more weeks recovering from surgery repairing cartilage in his left knee. But clearly, the Suns have managed to fill the void. In addition to improved play from Marion, and leadership of Kidd, Coach Scott Skiles deserves a good deal of credit. Skiles, who took over in mid-season last year for Danny Ainge, has really made this team his own, and constantly finds a way to get the most out of his players, while keeping opposing teams off-balance with his up-tempo scheme. The Sun's ten wins include a 26-point romp of the Portland Trailblazers on Nov. 2, and a solid victory over the Spurs on Nov. 7. In the team's three losses the Suns have only lost by a combined 12 points. But again, it's early, and good indication of the Suns potential could come from their performance this Friday in Sacramento, or in Sunday's rematch against the Blazers. It's Good to be the Kings: The Sacramento Kings have been hit by suspensions, injuries and the like, but still contend only a half game out of first, ahead of the Lakers and Blazers. Posting a 9-3 record (two of the losses coming in overtime), Sacramento is trying to show the rest of the division that they are for real. In their Nov. 25 game against the Seattle Supersonics, the Kings' star power forward Chris Webber returned from an ankle injury, and he did so in a big way, putting up 24 points, grabbing 14 boards and shooting 12 of 20 from the field. The Kings went on to trounce the Sonics 125-101. Chris Webber, when healthy, has been phenomenal, averaging 26.3 points, 10.5 boards and has also added 20 blocks on the season. If Webber can stay healthy and continue at this level, he could be among those considered for the league's Most Valuable Player at season's end.But this is nothing new. Webber has always been the main man. The question surrounding the Kings is what they get from the gritty cast of misfits that surround Webber.The biggest contributions have come from small forward Predrag Stojakovic. Stojakovic, who scored 29 against the Sonics, has finally stepped up to provide consistent support for Webber, and solidify himself as the number two man on the Kings. Stojakovic has averaged nearly 21 points per game this season.Recently acquired point guard Bobby Jackson has been a sparkplug off the bench, and Doug Christie, formerly of the Raptors, has been versatile at the two guard position.The Kings play at Houston tonight, and will also face a tough test against the Spurs before returning home to host the Suns.

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A letter home

August 31

October 17, 2000 Tufts UniversityFIRST THEY CAME FOR THE SOCIALISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A SOCIALIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE TRADE UNIONISTS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A TRADE UNIONIST. THEN THEY CAME FOR THE JEWS, AND I DID NOT SPEAK OUT BECAUSE I WAS NOT A JEW. THEN THEY CAME FOR ME, AND THERE WAS NO ONE LEFT TO SPEAK FOR ME.- PASTOR MARTIN NIEMOLLERDear Mom and Dad, This package contains an enormous amount of information on recent events at Tufts involving hate and discrimination. I have decided to send them to you as I look to someone for guidance. Last spring, a self-identified lesbian woman, Julie Catalano, ran for a leadership position in the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF). The group denied her the position on the basis of her sexuality, and its inconsistency with the teachings of the Bible. They argued that they welcomed all people, and discriminated against no one. Julie could be a part of TCF, but only if she agreed that homosexuality was sinful and prayed to change. Julie charged TCF with violating the University's non-discrimination policy. A hearing was held and there appeared to be due process. So what is the problem? The TCUJ decided TCF did, in fact, discriminate and violate the non-discrimination policy, giving the reason that a previous straight leader had maintained the belief that homosexuality is okay, the same belief Julie Catalano holds. He could act as a leader, but Julie could not. Clearly they discriminated against her homosexuality, not her belief. TCF maintains Julie could well have been a leader if she denounced homosexuality as a sin and hence denounced herself. They assert they disagree with her belief, not her identity. The TCUJ read the non-discrimination policy to mean belief is separate from identity. The TCUJ maintains self-acceptance is not covered by Tuft's non-discrimination policy. This is the problem. Identity and one's belief or acceptance of this identity is inseparable, but not so according to this interpretation of Tufts policy. Ultimately that policy, meant to protect us, in fact was used to condone harm. Let me pause for a moment to let this sink in, and allow me to make an analogy that might make more sense. Imagine Tufts has an anti-Semitic group. According to this policy, as interpreted by the TCUJ, a Jew could run for leadership and be accepted, so long as that person denounce their religion and being as inferior. Is this okay? Denouncing one's own identity destroys self-worth, pride, joy, and acceptance. This can lead to depression, even suicide. It is commonly noted that LGBT youth attempt suicide three times more frequently than other youth. Why? Homophobia. The TCF needs to take responsibility for the effects of its homophobia. Any campus group that endangers the well-being, let alone life of a student has no right to university funding (your money!). I want nothing to do with this atrocity and think you would agree it should have nothing to do with this University. The ruling by the TCUJ has nullified the non-discrimination policy, as it no longer covers the beliefs of any group on campus. Every group is now at risk. Tufts is allowing TCF actions based on homophobia to go unhindered. Let me draw another comparison. The KKK is allowed to exist on the basis of freedom of speech. Would Tufts allow the KKK to establish a place on this campus? I'll leave that to the administration to determine; my hunch is no. The KKK is destructive and harmful to other people and, as a private institution, Tufts can decide which groups to fund and which groups not to fund. TCF has been preaching freedom of religion in many viewpoints in the Daily and Observer. This issue has nothing to do with freedom of religion. No one is persecuting Christianity here. Members of the TCF can believe what they want, so long as they don't endanger the welfare of a member. The TCUJ provides the TCF with a way to discriminate without violating the non-discrimination policy. Basically, in order to maintain Tuft's name (and funding) TCF must become more consistently bigoted. This is no longer about TCF or religion; it's about our policy. The non-discrimination policy must be changed or re-interpreted to understand the inherent link between identity and self-acceptance. It must be understood that they cannot be separated. The University needs to take some responsibility for what is happening on campus. If this campus values diversity, prove it! Stick up for that diversity. This policy reflects the University and its administration, and they need to take responsibility for this. So, Mom and Dad, I write to you telling you what this campus has proposed to me and every other student affected by this decision. It feels so much bigger than me; it has to do with institutionalized homophobia and the hatred, anger, and ignorance of so many people. I write to you wondering what kind of response I will get. Honestly, I am really not at all sure what to expect. Will you say 'I told you so?' Maybe. You were right in saying that there is hatred, and anger, and ugliness in this world... for everyone, not just me. Life is hard. It's hard for everyone, but hiding from who you are can be worse, leading to self inflicted denial and hatred. I'll fight a fight that's been fought before, and I'm asking you to help. I'm hoping now Niemoller's quote is more than empty words. I'm hoping you will read it, and act. I know it was difficult when I came out to you; but it was you who taught me to love, respect, and accept myself. Thank you. I Love you. CourtneyCourtney Young is a senior majoring in English.

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News

>'Conspiracy Of One' delivers edgy pop-punk

August 31

Since recording their debut album in 1989, the Offspring have only grown in popularity. Their 1998 album Americana was the group's most successful to date, with its ever-popular hit single, "Pretty Fly (For a White Guy)." The Offspring continue to deliver music in this particular vein on their latest effort, Conspiracy Of One, which arrived in stores Nov. 12. The alterna-punk group's signature sound - an amalgamation of whiny, high-pitched, hard guitars, and an odd assembly of other instruments not normally heard in a rock band - is the keystone behind their success. The latter element can be heard in such popular songs as Americana's "Why Don't You Get a Job," in which the Offspring use bells, steel drums, tubas, and trumpets to accompany their standard guitar and drum regime. Conspiracy Of One continues the Offspring tradition. Lead vocalist/guitarist Dexter Holland gives to the album the familiar, lyrical sound that the fans of the group love. The guitars and drums make up the spine of the music, and once again, other instrumental innovations are used to supplement the work of the Orange County quartet. Conspiracy Of One differs from past Offspring albums by having a stronger pop feel, with many of the songs more upbeat and "happy." This slight change gives Offspring fans something new to expect from the band, and in fact helps the album. Each Offspring album contains at least one song that becomes a cult favorite. In 1994, it was "Come Out and Play," and in 1998, "Pretty Fly" and "She's Got Issues." Conspiracy Of One boasts many tracks that have the same catchy quality the group has used on past albums - songs with the potential to become cult classics, mainstream hits, or both. By far one of the most entertaining and upbeat songs on Conspiracy Of One is "Original Prankster," the disc's first single. Holland's lyrics are interrupted every so often by a hilarious "You can do it," compliments of Rob Schneider, who made the phrase famous during his work in the films The Waterboy and Little Nicky. "Want You Bad" and "One Fine Day" are representative of the greater "pop" feel of the album. These two songs seem influenced by other bands in the Offspring's musical genre, including Green Day and SR-71. For those Offspring fans that disdain any change in the group's music, Conspiracy Of One sports songs that should satisfy even the most steadfast old-school Offspring fan. "Million Miles Away" has the same sound and rhythm as the popular "The Kids Aren't Alright," and the title track, "Conspiracy Of One," is a hard-hitting song that draws from older, edgier Offspring material. Overall, the album is solid. As on past albums, the Offspring have included new takes on their old material to please their longtime fans. On Conspiracy of One, the group has also allowed the influence and sound of punk contemporaries to shine through in some of their songs. Hopefully, this will attract even more fans to the band, and give the present fans something new to cheer about. For fans and listeners who use their computers as their boom boxes, Conspiracy Of One has many interactive features as well. Included on the CD are web links to Offspring fan sites, a few tracks without lyrics for karaoke singing, and music videos for four songs found on Americana, their previous effort. This gives listeners a perfect opportunity to hear both new and old Offspring material at the same time. Overall, Conspiracy Of One delivers just what an Offspring fan would expect: hard-hitting pop-punk with an attitude. The album is in stores now and the band will appear at the Centrum in Worcester on Wednesday, Dec. 13. It will be a show not to miss.

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News

An open letter to the Tufts Community:

August 31

First and foremost, we would like to state that we are not speaking on behalf of any political, religious or Tufts-affiliated group. We are a non-partisan pair of students who seek a reasonable and fair solution in the matter of the non-discrimination policy. We are regular students who generally find no need to be "active" in the realm of public policy but who cannot sit by and condone the recent activities of the group known as TSAD. It has come to our attention that the Committee on Student Life (CSL) will be meeting on Friday the 8th of December to discuss a proposal by TSAD that would essentially amend the non-discrimination policy. While the intention of the proposed amendment is grounded firmly in the liberal principles that we hope to embody as a community, the wording of the amendment and the methods by which it has been thrust upon the student body will only serve to erode those very principles. While we must protect all people from systemic discrimination, it is imperative that we preserve the freedom of belief upon which this nation was founded. That being said, we will address the changes proposed in the amendment. The crux of the proposed amendment is that identity and beliefs pertaining to that identity are indistinguishable. TSAD has written this amendment using the buzzword "self-acceptance" instead of the word "belief," yet the meaning is no different. This implies that if you are gay, black, white or Christian, this identity will dictate your beliefs; you have no free will to choose for yourself. This is clearly untrue. This amendment would prevent groups from selecting leaders based on their beliefs, as these beliefs could no longer be grounds for choosing candidates. This runs counter to logic, groups naturally select leaders who reflect the values and goals of that group with respect to their beliefs, attitudes and actions. TSAD views this as unfair discrimination; we view this as common sense. The proposed amendment will not help to change the perceived atmosphere of hate on campus but rather will inhibit the leadership selection of student groups and erode the freedom of belief that lies at the bedrock of our society. The interests of the minority should not subvert the will of the majority. TSAD claims to speak for the student body but 20 protesters do not speak for the 4,000-plus students who attend this University. Their petition, although widely signed, was blandly written and signed only due to the coercive power of the accusation of bigotry. Just as coercion was used with the students, TSAD resorted to trespassing and intimidating rather than using reason and the force of their argument to impel the administration to consider and review the policy. This coercion of the administration goes against the principle that the administration should serve the entire student body. Unfortunately, President DiBiaggio capitulated to this pressure, and his e-mail has set a dangerous precedent. The sentiments expressed in this message got the protestors out of Bendetson, but this executive order should not dictate future policy. Finally, TSAD does not wish to have a civil discourse on this matter. Instead they attempt, using the dirty politics of "activism," to foist their views upon an unsuspecting student body. TSAD's call to arms was to prevent religious groups from discriminating against homosexuals, yet the TCUJ have confirmed that all students are free to participate in any student group on campus. However, if a religious group feels that certain activities are not within the "moral bounds" of that religion, the group should not be forced to ignore this and promote them to a position of leadership. Instead of working with religious groups to find common ground for the acceptance of homosexuality, TSAD has instead preferred to stand against religion in order to win a symbolic battle for liberalism over conservatism. This is not constructive in promoting acceptance of all peoples and creates more antipathy than solutions. It is not the place of TSAD to dictate what Christians should believe. TSAD should practice the tolerance they preach, instead of trying to drown out all opposition. Ours is a society where freedom and security must be balanced to protect the individual. Tufts must have an anti-discrimination clause. However, too strong or poorly worded a statement will only erode our freedom in the name of security. And without freedom, there can no security as no person will be safe in their belief. We call on the silent majority, the reasonable, non-partisan, and uninvolved to demand more from this administration. Write Viewpoints, discuss with your friends, e-mail DiBiaggio, Dean Reitman, Senate Parliamentarian Ben Lee, and most of all e-mail the CSL (student representatives Shou Min Tan, Sam Dangremond, Amanda Berkowitz, and Marco Carbone). Don't protest, don't yell, don't chant, don't break the law; that is how tyranny is made. Instead view both sides, insist that the Committee on Student Life also views both sides, and that freedom and security are balanced in any new amendments. We know who you are, the people who sit on their couches and read the news. Until today we were you. This is your call to arms. Stand and think, then be heard.Jon Halpert is a sophomore majoring in chemistry. Adam Ross is a sophomore majoring in history.

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News

Week Eight at a Glance

August 31

St. Louis Rams (6-0) at Kansas City Chiefs (3-3), 1 p.m.

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News

Wonder Boys ponders what we all really want

August 31

If you've been paying any attention to recent movie releases, you might have noticed one film on the marquees that you've seen before - and I'm not talking about the Grinch. Wonder Boys, a film starring Michael Douglas, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., and Katie Holmes, is back in the box office to boost its Oscar chances, as well as go for both your wallet and your heart a second time. But if you don't feel like venturing out into the chilly New England climate to the Copley cinema, you might just want to read the book. Simply put, Wonder Boys explores the basic search for the meaning of life - and don't worry, it's really not that boring. Michael Chabon's tale centers on Grady Tripp, a middle-aged English professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Tripp isn't having the greatest time, to say the least. His third wife has just left him, and he is still struggling to finish a long-winded sequel to his first book, which achieved national acclaim. To make everything worse, Tripp is on his way to pick up his editor at the airport for a weekend visit. The editor, Terry Crabtree, is anxious to read the new book, but Tripp doesn't even know what it's about yet. Throughout Wonder Boys, Chabon manages to keep Tripp at the end of his rope - sort of the old "it can't get any worse" situation - but it does get worse. Extreme situations, such as the assassination of Tripp's girlfriend's blind dog (who happens to be the chancellor of the University - the girlfriend, not the dog) by one of his students, keeps the tale outrageous, but more than a little poignant at the same time. Tripp constantly struggles to determine what's important in his life. He wants to believe that his unfinished book is of paramount importance, but as the tome approaches the 3,000-page mark, Tripp seems to be holding on to Wonder Boys (the title of his book as well) almost out of desperation. Without his book, Tripp is lost. He smokes pot when the real world gets the slightest bit harsh. His girlfriend's husband is his boss, the head of the English department. In addition, his editor is relentlessly trying to seduce one of his male students. Tripp just doesn't seem to know where to start rebuilding his life. In one of Chabon's many ironic plot twists, Tripp is cast in the position of mentoring another wayward soul - one of his students, James Leer. Leer is a brilliant writer, but a social outcast. He doesn't know right from wrong, or even how to interact with people. Tripp introduces Leer to alcohol and various illegal substances, but he also provides Leer with something quite unexpected and useful - his editor. While Crabtree wants to publish Leer's book, The Love Parade, Tripp's book hardly even gets off the ground. Leer comes out as gay, and finds companionship in Crabtree. To top it all off, Tripp's wife tells him that she's never moving back, and his girlfriend tells him she's pregnant - with his child. This is the turning point of the novel, when Tripp is under so much pressure from every direction that he doesn't think he can take it anymore. Strangely, he never feels the need to talk to anyone, or to talk about his feelings. Hannah Green, a student who is renting a room from Tripp, pleads several times for him to just let it all out, but he refuses. In the end, Grady Tripp has to figure it all out for himself. On the one hand, he knows he can just go back to finding another good-looking trophy wife, smoking pot, and popping codeine, and writing more and more of his never-ending story. In some ways, it's hard for him to do anything else. At the other extreme, he has thoughts of just letting his life wind itself down. On one of the last days of Crabtree's visit, the persistent editor asks Tripp if there's ever any time when he's actually happy. Tripp replies that he's truly happy when he's helping his students discover how to write. Crabtree seems to imply that as long as Tripp has some worthwhile part of his life, then his life is worth saving. At the end of the tale, Tripp gets what he needs. He may not have found out the meaning of life, but it is easy to see that the lifestyle he ultimately leads is one that results directly from the decisions he makes after his editor leaves - what to do about the book, his wife, and his unborn child. Wonder Boys is a story that hits close to home. In hectic everyday life, this book is a call to further examine ourselves and to find out what we really want.

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