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Nutcracker' better than ever this year

August 31

It's about ten minutes until show time, when the first glorious strains of Tchaikovsky's familiar score will be heard and the curtain will rise. Despite this, the Wang Theatre is still abuzz with excitement and anticipation. Dolled up boys and girls are curiously peering into the orchestra pit, one of the evil mice who will later battle the Nutcracker is mingling with the audience, and parents are attempting to quiet their eager children. The house lights gradually begin to dim, and last minute stragglers find their way to their seats as a hush falls over the theater. The conductor raises his baton, the orchestra begins to play, and the magical journey known as Boston Ballet's production of The Nutcracker has at last begun. With audience members spanning three generations, it isn't hard to see that The Nutcracker has become a Christmas tradition since first being choreographed and staged in 1882 by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov in Russia. Based on E.T.A. Hoffmann's fairy tale The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, this classic ballet tells the story of Clara, her godfather Dr. Drosselmeyer, and a magical nutcracker. With battle scenes, enchanted forests, dancing snowflakes, and a palace of sweets, it is no surprise that The Nutcracker is a family favorite and one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season in Boston for grandparents and toddlers alike. This year marks the Boston Ballet's 36th annual production of this classic ballet, and yet it is like no other Nutcracker you've seen before. Among the changes are a less superfluous prologue and new choreography in Act II by Daniel Pelzig, who reworked Act I in 1998. The result is a cohesive and elegant production that succeeds at being more grown-up than other versions while still capturing the essence of childhood fantasy that is at the heart of The Nutcracker. The prologue, which depicts a snow-covered town and its villagers as they prepare for the holidays, flows seamlessly into the first scene of Act I. It is Christmas Eve, 1830, and the Silberhaus family is in the midst of preparations for an elaborate party. Guests begin to arrive, including the mysterious and magical Dr. Drosselmeyer, who is evidently a favorite among the children. He proceeds to entertain the guests with a variety of magic tricks, ranging from pulling a bouquet of flowers out of thin air to bringing dolls to life. Unlike other renditions which tend to be lacking in actual dancing, the Boston Ballet production infuses Scene I with elements of classical ballet technique that maintain the theatrics and storytelling aspects of mime. The choreography is fun and lively, and the scene doesn't seem to drag on for nearly as long as it usually does.Later that evening, after the guests have departed and the rest of the family has gone to bed, Clara returns downstairs to find her nutcracker and falls asleep beneath the 16-foot Christmas tree. She awakes to find that everything in the room has grown to massive proportions - the tree now stands 40 feet high and the toy soldiers, whom the now-living Nutcracker is preparing for battle against the Mouse King and his army, are life-size. A battle ensues, and each attempt of the Mouse King to defeat the Nutcracker increases the tension and suspense of an audience that fears for Clara's beloved toy.Worry not, kids - you know the good guy always wins in the end. Clara, danced by the delightful Elizabeth Schultz-McGuire, throws one of her ballet slippers at the Mouse King, disorienting him enough to allow the Nutcracker and his soldiers to triumph against the mice. The Nutcracker, played by Christopher Budzynski, is transformed into a handsome Prince. He and Clara are whisked away by Dr. Drosselmeyer to the Enchanted Forest where they meet the Snow Queen and King. The snowflake scene is magical and enchanting - and the first and only scene of Act I that is more dancing than storytelling. It is a classic variation that is one of the most breathtaking of the entire ballet. The elaborate and complex choreography of the snow scene makes it the corps de ballet's chance to shine - and it does. Pollyana Ribeiro is fabulous as the Snow Queen, executing perfect piqu?© turns and double fouett?©s. The pas de deux scene with the Snow King (Viktor Polotnikov), in which there is both adagio and allegro choreography, exhibits the versatility of both dancers. Clara and her Prince depart the enchanted forest in an elaborate hot air balloon, which transports them to the Palace of Sweets where all of Act II will take place. They are greeted by the Sugarplum Fairy and her bonbons - one of the changes made to the ballet by Pelzig this year. An elaborate ceremony is held to honor Clara - exotic sweets and spices perform for her in a series of divertissements. One of the finest divertissements in Act II has always been "Coffee." Tchiakovsky's music in this variation is particularly exotic, and the choreography is traditionally a blend of ballet, gymnastics, and acrobatics. The technical prowess of dancers Erika Lambe, Michael Johnson, and Christopher Anderson is undeniable, yet hinders the divertissement in that they fail to achieve the light-footed ease that makes ballet so seemingly effortless and seamless. The audience could tell by their facial expressions that they were focused entirely on the movement, neglecting the artistic elements of the variation that make it so exotic and intriguing. The Russian divertissement is a blend of enormous jumping combinations with the lithe movements of classical ballet. It is one of the few scenes in the entire ballet in which the male dancers are the focus - there is no traditional partnering in this scene, just a magnificent display of the power and grace of male dancers. One of the most notable of Pelzig's changes to Act II is the replacement of the typically ostentatious Mother Ginger with the more elegant Mother Gigogne. Because she does not dance on stilts like the Mother Ginger of other productions of The Nutcracker, she has more freedom to move, allowing Pelzig to introduce elements of Russian folk and French court dancing to the choreography for Mother Gigogne and her polichinelles. It is a delightful change of pace from the tradition of watching Mother Ginger stumbling around stage. Little girls dream of being Clara, but the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy is truly the most coveted role in all of Nutcracker. Also one of the most technically demanding, the role of queen of the Palace of Sweets is always given to one of the ballet company's best. Last Friday's Sugar Plum Fairy was danced beautifully by Marjorie Grundvig, a soloist with the Boston Ballet since 1998. She is the epitome of grace and elegance and effortlessly captured the mystery of ballet. The crowning moment of Act II is the Sugar Plum Fairy and Cavalier (Reagan Messer) pas de deux before the "Waltz Finale." It is technically demanding, not only because of the complicated choreography but also because of its length. Grundvig and Messer tackle the demands of the pas de deux beautifully with an evident grasp of the rapport necessary between two dancers that makes partnering in classical ballet so difficult and so awe inspiring. The "Waltz Finale" is an exquisite farewell gesture to Clara and the Nutcracker Prince in which all the sweets and spices return to the stage to dance with the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier. The effect of so many dancers in such spectacular costumes on stage all at once is tremendous, leaving the audience in a state of wonderment as Clara and her Prince climb back into the elaborate hot air balloon that will bring them home. Boston Ballet's production of The Nutcracker is tremendous and impressive. It not only boasts a world-class company of dancers, but features scenery by Helen Pond and Herbert Senn and costumes by David Walker that contribute to the wonder and magic of this holiday ballet. The choreography by Pelzig, Artist Director Anna-Marie Holmes, Artistic Director Emeritus Bruce Marks, and Boston Ballet teacher Sydney Leonard differs greatly from that of companies such as New York City Ballet and Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, achieving an impeccable balance between dancing and storytelling. Nowhere but the Wang will you find such magic and holiday spirit these days. Boston Ballet's The Nutcracker is one of the best in the country, and well worth a trip to the Wang - even for us tired and overworked Tufts students.

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News

System glitch prevents expansion of points restaurant program

August 31

A hardware upgrade glitch has forced Tufts officials to abandon a Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate-Dining Services plan to add more restaurants to the Merchants on Points (MOPS) program this semester. The plan, which was devised last fall in response to growing student demand for more diverse food options, especially Chinese food, has been put off due to a necessary "unforeseen enhancement," according to Dining Services Director Patti Lee. The MOPS plan currently allows Tufts students to use points to order takeout from four restaurants: Espresso's Pizza, Wing Works, the Near East Caf?©, and Urban Gourmet. When students began asking for a Chinese restaurant two years ago, the Senate and Dining Services began investigating the addition of a fifth restaurant to the program. Local restaurants, such as the Blue Shirt Caf?© in Davis Square, have expressed interest in joining the MOPs program. Widespread rumors that the popular wrap and smoothie joint in Davis Square would be added to the program are not true, according to Lee, though Blue Shirt owner Deborah Wollheim expressed interested in joining the program. A hardware constraint in Dining Service's computer system, which is currently limited to four off-campus ports, is the main cause of the delay. Since every student that uses their ID card to access their dining plan has an account on the computer network, each restaurant on the program must be linked to the Tufts-based network via modem. The modem has eight ports, all of which are currently committed - four ports for MOPS, one for a MOPS backup, and three for on-campus purposes. Since Tufts uses expensive modem units that are only available in groups of eight, the entire computer system will need an overhaul and a memory upgrade in order to accommodate another restaurant. While the added cost of the upgrade was incorporated into this year's budget, there will not be enough money both to procure another modem and upgrade the computer system. "We knew that [an upgrade] needed to happen, but we weren't aware that the other needed to happen. Now as we look at the two upgrades it makes sense that they need to happen at the same time, but the investment in dollars was more than I had planned," Lee said. "I hope it could happen by next semester, although I'm not sure of that." With the advent of more flexible meal plans in the past year, the number of students eating on campus has grown. The Dining Service's computers were not prepared for increased student demand, and, as a result, have been recently bogged down. "We've had the system for five years and are almost maxed out," Lee said. One of the sources of the higher rates of use are the revamped meal plans that were designed to meet student demand for flexibility. These allow students on the Platinum plan unlimited access to the dining halls. In addition, Hotung, Brown and Brew, and the Commons have had their hours increased due to student complaints that they closed too early. Still, many students prefer to use points, or smaller meal plans that allow a wider array of dining options. "If you get the actual meal plan you save money only if you go to the dining halls a lot," said senior Dave Edsall, who uses the points program. "If I decide to go to the dining halls, I can, but I can also go anywhere else I want." The 160 meal plan is probably the most successful new meal plan, including 160 meals and $500 per semester in Dining Dollars, redeemable at Brown and Brew, the Campus Center, and any of the four MOPS merchants. "Those students are able to go more where they want to. They can pick and choose a little more freely where they want to go to use their meals," said Lee, who added that the 160 plan has received more positive feedback than any other meal plan. Dining Services has roughly the traffic it expected from the new meal plan - Carmichael serves about the same number of students as it did last year, even though it has spent a lot of time and effort improving their menu and variety. Dewick, as always, is popular, and the number of students patronizing Hodgdon has also increased dramatically.

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News

Making connections

August 31

Having already announced his retirement, President DiBiaggio spends most of his time speaking about Tufts with his familiar fatherly pride. But, referring to the people who persistently complain and give few accolades, Dr. DiBiaggio asserts that he "[gets] weary of all the whining"

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News

Students participate in Middle East vigil

August 31

The Tisch library roof was once again illuminated by burning candles last Thursday night, as students gathered for Tufts' second pro-peace vigil since the Israeli-Palestinian conflict took a violent turn last month. Approximately 80 students, including almost 20 from Brandeis University, took part in the event, mourning the victims of the violence in a show of support for peace in the Middle East. "The kids that are killing and are being killed are our age, so they're sort of our peers," said sophomore and event organizer Zoe Hastings. "It's really important for American kids to stand together against violence. It's important for us to show our support for peace." Always tense relations broke down in the region on Sept. 28 after hawkish Israeli politician Ariel Sharon visited Haram-as-Sharif, an Islamic and Jewish holy site in Jerusalem, known to the Jews as the Temple Mount. The Palestinian Authority is negotiating for control of the site and Palestinians interpreted Sharon's visit as a showing of Israeli resolve to maintain its sovereignty in the disputed territory. The violence began in Jerusalem, but has spread rapidly to the Gaza Strip and West Bank, bringing the death toll to over 140 men, women, and children. With the names and ages of the victims laid out in front of them, students listened to speakers, took turns speaking themselves, and wrote down their own perspectives and feelings on the conflict. Rabbi Jeffrey Summitt, director of Tufts Hillel, was the first to address the crowd, remarking on how fragile the idea of peace is for both Israelis and Palestinians, he encouraged students to speak with one another about the conflict. He also read from an article by Rabbi Alan Fram that talked of how the Jewish holiday of Sukkot is supposed to promote security, but was shattered this year when violence broke out. "My wishes are for peace and strength for us all," Summitt concluded. Rayd Ad-Ayash, a Palestinian Harvard student who had participated in the "Seeds of Peace" program, followed Summit. The "Seeds of Peace" program is a two-month summer camp designed to bring Arab and Israeli children together to create friendships and break down stereotypes. "It is not enough for us to just wait and have our leaders get together for some crunched five-day period and come up with some document," he said. "That's not the way it should be working. Peace is a lot more difficult than we thought it was." Other speakers included Arab Student Association President Dina Karam, and sociology Professor Paul Joseph, a member of the peace and justice studies department. "What we need to do is rethink this whole peace process. There will be no peace without justice," Karam said. Joseph asked the crowd to consider their reasons for attending the event. "We need to have the courage to look past the immediate cycles of violence and ask how will this end?" he said. After the speakers finished, the students joined hands and lit candles. "Though sorrow lingers, we have learned that love is stronger than death," Hastings said. The candle lighting was followed by a universal Koranic prayer in Arabic based on the idea of following the true path of virtue so as to stay away from evil, as well as the last verses of the Mourner's Kaddish in Hebrew, which asks for peace for all the world. "I came because children are dying," freshman Kristen Kamrath said. "The names of the children on the piece of paper in front of me were 16, 17, and 18 years old. I'm 18, and I'm not ready to die." Daniel Fink, a freshman from Brandeis, commented on the vigil's diverse attendance. "I appreciate the fact that it wasn't pro-Palestine or pro-Israel. It was about peace intrinsically," he said. Though a slight argument broke out after the vigil, students quickly decided to continue discussion at a less solemn venue. College students across the nation joined in similar vigils, including groups at Amherst, Yale, and Columbia. The University of Houston, Northwestern, Smith, and Mount Holyoke, among others, held similar vigils later in the week. Sophomores Hastings and Laura Herszenhorn coordinated the event, which was sponsored by the Coalition for Social Justice and Nonviolence, Arab Society, Muslim Society, Friends of Israel, Seeds of Peace, Tufts Hillel, and the peace and justice studies department.

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News

Absentee voters frustrated

August 31

It's Election Day, and college students around the country are casting votes right and left at their local churches, schools, and mailboxes - or maybe they're not. In the 1996 presidential election, less than a third of the 18-to 24-year-old age group voted. Two years ago, in the congressional elections, only 15 percent voted. Youth voting has been falling ever since the 1972 presidential election, but here at Tufts, students as a whole seem excited about the upcoming election. The only question is, will they actually go out and vote? At Tufts, where over 75 percent of the undergraduate population resides in states other than Massachusetts, many students vote by absentee ballot. Voting in today's election requires three things to happen. Students must register in their home state, request an absentee ballot, and ensure that the ballot is received in their home district by Election Day. Though most students prefer to vote in their home district, registering here in Medford or Somerville is also an option. "I don't know anything about what's going on here," freshman Doug Smith said. "I'm also already registered [in New Jersey], so it would be a pain to re-register in Massachusetts." Even though many Tufts students seem genuinely interested in the election, absentee voting isn't as easy as it seems. Many people don't realize that, in most states, they need to register some time before the election to be able to actually vote on Election Day. In Massachusetts, for example, new voters must register 20 days prior to an election, and other states have time requirements upwards of a month before an election. Once this hurdle is overcome, potential voters need to request an absentee ballot-- - usually in writing - from their home district. This is a pretty easy task, but it can be hard if you don't know how to go about it. Although Tufts Choice 2000, a newly created student group working to heighten political awareness of the upcoming election, worked hard at Carmichael and Dewick/MacPhie to help students in requesting absentee ballots, not everyone knew what to do. "I had no idea that they were registering people to vote [at the dining halls]," senior Erika Waddey said. Just getting the ballot in the mail can be another source of frustration for students. In a letter to the Daily, junior Don Schechter wrote that, although he had registered to vote and had requested an absentee ballot from his home state, he never received it. "Whoever delivers our mail is very confused," Schechter said. "It's usually bundled up in a pile outside and it's usually addressed to people that don't live here." After receiving the ballot, students can finally make their voices heard, if they can ensure that their votes will be received in their home district on time. Mail delays or long travel times can prevent the vote from being counted. Some students are even irked that they had to scramble around their dorms to find a stamp for their ballot. "They should just make [the return envelopes] postage-free," Smith said. Many think that if they complete these steps, they've successfully voted. Well, sort of. If they return their ballots too close to Election Day, they probably won't be included in the final vote until days after the election. Although some think that absentee ballots are not considered in the final count unless the race is particularly close, the Daily learned that this was not the case. "As long as we receive an absentee ballot by 8 p.m. on Nov. 7, it is definitely counted," Massachusetts Election Representative Jack Carey said. Some students felt that they didn't have enough time to consider the candidates and legislation on their absentee ballot because they were sent so recently. "I had to figure out who I was voting for earlier than other people. I didn't have a lot of time," junior Anne Montesano said. Still, some prefer mailing in their ballot. "[Voting by mail] is good because I'm kind of lazy. It's a lot more convenient this way," said freshman Nick Fitzgerald.

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News

Expanded CourseInfo system getting more hits, facilitating Internet use in classes

August 31

The CourseInfo website, an Internet system that allows professors to created websites for their classes, has been dramatically expanded this semester. The number of class pages has more than doubled from 125 last year to 260 this semester, and professors report that the simplicity of the system enables them use of the Internet to supplement their classes. With the larger number of pages, CourseInfo, located at crs.ase.tufts.edu has also seen a dramatic increase in hits, according to Neal Hirsig, assistant director of instructional services for Information Technology Systems (ITS) and system administrator. The site received two million hits last year, and judging by the 1.1 million visits over the first two months of this semester, that figure is likely to be eclipsed this year. The expansion of CourseInfo is also a result of the design of program software that makes it easier for professors with little computer knowledge to create sites for their classes. Developed by a company called Blackboard, CourseInfo was designed in a way that makes it possible for professors to use the system without knowledge of HTML. Professors apply for a CourseInfo websites and are given access to a blank site upon which they can upload media. "It's a very intuitive program," Hirsig said. "It's provided some tools that the faculty can use to easily communicate with students... the general response has been very positive." ITS also runs a series of workshops for faculty and teaching assistants to train them on computer skills such as how to use the CourseInfo system. CourseInfo websites serve a variety of functions. Postings by professors allow students to access lecture notes, course materials, assignments and quizzes. CourseInfo also gives professors a quick and easily way of contacting students via e-mail. This system is popular among students, who find that it gives them fast access to both course information and Internet resources on their academic field. "I think it's convenient... it saves a lot of annoying hassle and avoids the small inconvenience of jumbled papers," said sophomore Phil Vitorino, who uses CourseInfo to check grades, print handouts and retrieve assignment sheets. Professors are also able to assign reading by using external links, which reduces the amount of material printed for course packets. "It saves a lot of time in class if you can refer to the website," Vitorino said. Economics Professor George Norman said the program was "simplicity itself" and allowed him to create a website without requiring much technical knowledge. "I think it's great. It's made providing materials, references and resources so much more straightforward... I can't think of any student [in my class] who doesn't use it," he said. One explanation for the rise in CourseInfo usage is that technological advances, both at Tufts and in the field of the communications in general, have enabled faster access to the Internet. "Any student can have access to the information 24 hours a day as long as the have a computer and Internet connection... more and more students are using the Internet," Hirsig said. "I think it's a good tool... an excellent supplement to class. I think that it should be employed more because of its advantages," freshman Ryan McPherson said. ITS and members of the Tufts faculty have several other plans to further incorporate the Internet into academics. The Department of Romance Languages is attempting to digitize language cassettes from the language lab and make them available on a RealAudio server through CourseInfo. The system will also be upgraded to version 5.0 next semester, which will alter the appearance of the current site. Although CourseInfo is extremely popular, there are still some bugs in the system, such as complications regarding passwords and incorrect e-mail addresses. "The biggest problem we have is with student access," Hirsig said.

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News

A Red Sox love story

August 31

Red Sox general manager Dan Duquette will arrive on campus Friday to receive a Distinguished Achievement Award from the University. While that's nice, if he really wants to distinguish himself he can come up with a solution to the Carl Everett saga, because it seems the oft-criticized Red Sox GM is in a lose-lose situation on this one. Reports surfaced this week in the Boston Globe that Everett, signed through the 2002 season, would demand a trade in the wake of ongoing flack received for his questionable behavior. But Everett's agent denied the rumors, the Associated Press said, claiming he had no idea how the Globe came up with the story. Fabricated or not, though, Duquette is certainly not sleeping easy over what to do about Everett, the new Latrell Sprewell of Major League Baseball. Duquette can't avoid a decision, because even if he and the Sox stand pat and keep both Everett and manager Jimy Williams on board, that's acting by not acting. Everett and Williams hate each other's guts, and keeping both of them would mean he feels the lack of chemistry does not necessarily spell disaster. One thing is clear in all this: Everett is not going to be shipped out of town for being a bad boy. If he goes, it's because management honestly feels the situation would be better without him and the compensation would be attractive. You'd have to be pretty naive to think Everett would be traded simply because he's got a bad rap. If that's the case, guys like him and Sprewell and Belle would never get a job. And Duquette said as much earlier this season, upsetting Williams by arguing that Everett shouldn't be judged by his actions off the field. But the turbulence spilled onto the diamond this summer in the form of an Everett-to-umpire Ron Kulpa chestbump incident after the two argued over Everett's footing on the batters box line. And his ongoing feud with Williams, not helped by the media attention, has seemingly made the relationship between player and coach irreconcilable. Williams is considered a player's coach, a guy who demands respect from his athletes and treats them the same way. It's a lesson Everett doesn't much care for, but what it comes down to is whether it's a lesson that affects the wins column. So what do the Red Sox do? The options are not compelling. On the one hand, Everett's a cancer. Few of his teammates like him and his manager sure wouldn't mind seeing him go. Everett has a rep ? and much deserved one at that ? for being intense, confrontational, and an all-around bad influence on "team chemistry." That has to affect games, and maybe it even did so this year - his numbers went down significantly after the umpire incident, and the team slipped out of the playoff picture. Off the field, his behavior has been questioned too, particularly with respect to the disciplining of his children. But chemistry isn't always a necessary ingredient to success. Just ask a club like the early-'70s Oakland Athletics, who won three straight World Series while hating each other's guts. Sheer talent is at least equally important, and Everett has loads of that. When it comes down to it, the Sox can hardly afford to lose a player like Everett unless the compensation is equally talented, and not many teams would take on such a risk in exchange for a top-notch player. So keeping the guy may just be inevitable. Other than Everett and a certain shortstop named Nomar, the Sox were hurting for offense this season. Everett comes off a big year, possibly his best ever. He hit a career-high 34 homers and tied a career-high with 108 RBIs, missing 25 games along the way. Nomar led the league with a .372 batting average. That pretty much comprises the offense worth noting. It's surprising, because the '00 team was not drastically different from the '99 version that reached the American League Championship Series, with the exception of Everett and some midseason acquisitions in Rolando Arrojo, Jeff Frye, Mike Lansing, Rico Brogna and Dante Bichette. But the slumbering offense was clearly not Everett's fault ? his numbers along speak to that. Attribute the batting problems to guys like Jose Offerman and Brian Daubach, integral parts of last season's 94-win campaign who disappeared in 2000. Plus Duquette didn't exactly pull a Steinbrenner by bringing in Lansing, Arrojo, and company at the trading deadline. Boston was 13 out of 14 AL teams with a .266 batting average, as well as 12th in runs scored and 11th in home runs. So Everett may be a cancer, but he's a cancer with a much-needed bat. The other option is to can Williams, but that's probably not going to happen, although all could change pending the new ownership structure. 2001 marks the final year of Williams' contract, and he would become the first manager to head the Red Sox for five straight seasons since Joe Cronin in 1935-1947. Williams is liked by his players and generally by the city, and the problem is certainly not his fault. Would another manager be capable of becoming Everett's best friend? Probably not. Williams is criticized for his stubbornness and for shuffling the lineup too much, but if Duquette would supply him with effective batters, and one who are not maniacs at that, he'd probably get his team past the stumbling block known as the Yankees. When Duquette mildly defended Everett, he more than offended Williams, who publicly questioned his future with the Sox. Duquette may or may not be right with his words, but he put himself in an awkward position because he also said it wasn't in the plans to ditch Williams. So, the general manager has three options: keep both of them, let Williams go, or let Everett go. He probably didn't envision such a problem when Everett came on board from Florida a year ago. He should've realized the guy has played for four teams in eight seasons for a reason.

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News

Thompson lifts US women to an Olympic swimming success

August 31

The last few days of the XXVII Olympiad have been anything but quiet, so here's your chance once again to get caught up - with just the Daily's second installment of the Low Down Under:

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News

Faculty subcommittee proposes 'Professors of Practice' post

August 31

A subcommittee of faculty members put forth a proposal on Monday to hire up to 15 new faculty under the title of "Professors of the Practice." The plan would diversify the teaching staff at Tufts by bringing in individuals whose knowledge comes from the field as opposed to careers in the classroom. Professors of the Practice are individuals who have reached a high point in their career and see a window of opportunity to use their unique skills as practitioners. The appointments will be non-tenure track and will not go beyond six years. No more than 15 individuals will maintain the rank at any given time. "I think especially for graduate programs, but also for applied programs like art, music, and drama, having these exceptional people come in to teach on a temporary basis some exceptional courses is very beneficial to Tufts and we need to recognize that," Geology Department chair Ann Gardulski said. Vincent Manno a member of the Subcommittee of Professor of the Practice Appointments, said that departments such as Urban and Environmental Policy, Child Development, and Mechanical Engineering would particularly benefit from the plan, as hands-on experience is an integral part of those fields. Someone who has spent their life working as a mechanical engineer, for example, would have a great deal of knowledge to impart to mechanical engineering students. The rationale behind the plan is to "recognize the importance of the application of knowledge by providing a mechanism to attract, on a rotating basis, outstanding individuals whose accomplishments as practitioners are principally in non-academic venues," according to the text of the proposal. Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy Rachel Bratt, also a member of the subcommittee, said that she does not see the "non-academic" aspect of the Professors of Practice to be a threat to the University's tradition. "I view it as providing an opportunity to broaden the kinds of people we have here, keeping in mind that most of the students are going to be non-academic [after they leave Tufts]," she said. Although faculty members seemed supportive of the actual Professors of Practice idea, many are worried that implementing the proposal could cause problems. The biggest concern is where the money to fund the new positions will come from. "As far as we know, there is not going to be a separate pot of money. Every year the deans put out a request to request to new positions and these are tenure and non-tenure," Bratt said. Therefore, the funds for these positions would need to be decided each year as part of the rest of the faculty budget. Professors are worried that this will take money away from already-established positions and faculty. They also feel that Professors of Practice will want to stay with the University after their term is over, meaning that a new route to obtaining tenure is created. "They don't want to see the evolution of a new track that bypasses the promotion and tenure process," Manno said. Clarifying the title of the appointments to differentiate temporary faculty from long-term faculty is key, he explained. Any position that has the word "professor" without "visiting" attached to it infers that it is a tenure-track position. However, attaching the word "visiting" implies that the individual accepting the position is coming from another institution. "I share personally the same hesitation with the naming of the position. I would like to see the word 'visiting' attached, which would mean the bylaw would have to be changed," Gardulski said. While this new proposal may benefit several departments, it does not solve many of the other existing problems, such as the concerns of part-time faculty and lecturers. Faculty members such as Lecturer Judy Staicer of the drama department believe that the Professors of the Practice positions are adding faculty members when the exiting faculty members, especially lecturers, deserve more attention. "It ignores something we have in place now that I think could stand a fresh look," she said. "I think that the Professors of Practice positions overlook the situation we have now and create a whole new teaching track without addressing the status of the lecturers." While Staicer, a designer, explained that while she does not produce written words, the results of her hard work are seen on stage. She said that Professors of Practice, and lecturers such as herself, should get offered tenure positions. "Most universities will tenure people such as myself," she said. "I think there's no reason why people who are distinguished in their field cannot be tenured. The objection to tenure people who are not in traditional academics comes from a somewhat more narrowly defined view of what professors do in this University and in general." According to Bratt, there are many proposals in the works to recognize people like Staicer. "Right now, tenure is traditionally given to people who work on creation of knowledge, as opposed to people who disseminate, synthesize, and apply knowledge," she said. "I think tenure tracks should be broadened to people like her." There is also a question as to how the money to hire Professors of Practice will be allocated between the different departments. "Certain departments are going to be able to grow," said English Professor Ammons, who expressed concern about the allocation of the faculty members. "Structurally, there will be up to 15 news lines. It seems to me that the issue of how these are distributed equitably [needs to be addressed]." Gardulski explained that, because the Geology Department is small in comparison to other departments, with professors in her department on leave rather infrequently, having Professors of Practice in the department is rather unlikely. "I think it has most of the immediate benefits for departments like engineering, drama, and music. There's less immediacy for a department like geology," she said. Ammons expressed concern about how adding new faculty would affect the racial breakdown of the body. "The issue that's very important to me is what plan do we have to ensure that these new faculty lines will include significant racial diversity?" she said. Manno explained that if the program were implement, there would be efforts to make sure the faculty is diverse in race and in gender. However, the process for hiring the Professors of Practice will not be like the traditional search, and Manno explained that the lapse of time between when a person is found and eventually hired could be two years or more.

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News

Mail room aims to improve service, deliver on Saturdays

August 31

From late packages to sporadic deliveries, students have had much to complain about with Tufts' mail services over the years, and have never hesitated to voice their dissatisfaction. Now, in an effort to pacify disgruntled students, Tufts has begun delivering mail on Saturdays, and is proposing other improvements including e-mail notification when packages became available for pickup. Mail will now be delivered to the dorms on Saturdays between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., and the Hill Hall mailroom will be open from 1-3:45 p.m. This represents the biggest change in an ongoing attempt to improve mail services at Tufts. "We realize that every student has a busy schedule and may not be able to find time to pick up their packages during the week," said Distribution Property Manager Sheila Chisholm of Mail Services. "Hopefully having the mailroom open on Saturday will enable busy students to come down to Hill Hall and receive their packages." While many students simply bemoan Mail Services' problems, some, including freshman Tufts Community Union Senator Ed Schwemn, have worked to see their gripes addressed. "There would be two or three days straight where the mail was delivered and then a week would pass by where no one got their mail," he said. Schwemn, Chisholm, and other members of the Tufts community are now working together to come up with solutions to the inconsistent mail service. Aside from Saturday mail deliveries, mail services is also looking into obtaining equipment which would enable a package to be scanned upon arrival, and have an e-mail notification sent automatically to the recipient. "Nothing is official yet," Chisholm stressed. "We really like this idea here at mail services, but the earliest that something like this might be implemented is next semester." In order to fully understand how the proposals will affect the mail service at Tufts, it is important to understand the process of how the mail gets from the sender to the Tufts student. Tufts mail is separated into bags by dorm at the US Post Office in Medford Square. The bags are then brought to Hill Hall, where they are sent to Tilton and Carmichael, the two collection centers. Finally, the student mail carriers are responsible for getting the mail from the collection centers into dorm mailboxes. One of the largest problems mail services encounters is based on a difference in interpretation between the US Post Office and Tufts Mail Services. The post office considers large manila envelopes to be normal mail, but mail services considers these envelopes packages because they are too large for dorm mailboxes. These envelopes travel to the dorm, back to the collection center, and back to Hill Hall the next day where package slips are then filled out and sent in that evening's mail. "So many different people and organizations handle the mail that it is impossible not to have some problems with the consistency of the delivery," Chisholm said. For instance, if an envelope is put in the wrong mail bag, it will automatically be a day late, as it has to go out to the mail carrier, who then sends it back to Hill. Sometimes packages arrive at Hill Hall after the mailbags have left for the dorms. In these instances, the packages sit over night in the mailroom before their slips are sent out to the mailboxes the following afternoon. Mail Services is also excited about its new facility in Hill Hall. Until this year, the mailroom was located in Hill for only the first month of school, because a large amount of packages arrive at the start of the school season. Traditionally, the mailroom was then moved to the basement of West Hall after the initial rush of packages settled down. Last year, however, the University constructed a permanent mailroom in Hill. "The best part of the new mailroom is [that] we got to help design it," Chisholm said. "We were able to tell the designers what we needed and where it needed to be in order for the mailroom to function best." Chisholm's favorite part of the mailroom is the extensive shelving and organization systems. "In the past, packages were just piled on tables, which often resulted in them being misplaced. Now, we have shelves and bins which help us keep things organized." Since August, 13,466 packages have been sent to Tufts, and all but 550 have reached their final destination.

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News

Students tire of presidential election

August 31

A month ago yesterday, the nation went to the polls to vote in what would become one of the closest presidential races ever. Today, the nation still doesn't know who the next president will be. So much has gone wrong during this election that most students are simply tired of hearing about it. Like many others, freshman Tom Baran thinks that it's pointless to watch the political battle sway back and forth. "There's nothing that I need to find out now that I won't find out in two weeks," he said. Baran, tired of hearing the same, repetitive news every day, would rather just wait for the final results. At this point, some students don't even care who wins. Junior Patrick Lea said that he had lost respect for both candidates because neither was interested in democracy. Instead, he felt that it was a personal interest battle between candidates George W. Bush and Al Gore. Junior Trent Ruder shared similar sentiments. "I'm disappointed in both of them because they're making a mockery of the democratic election process. In a way, they're trying to take the vote away from the people and the system by sending it to lawyers and judges," he said. Freshman Jon Goulet added that the judicial system should not alter current legislation regarding recount deadlines. He doesn't believe that it's fair for Florida officials to change the rules so late in the game. "The judicial branch in Florida is making deadlines and swinging this way and that... it is defeating the purpose of why we have legislation on these topics to begin with," he said. Goulet also criticized the candidates' behavior during the election. "It's not up to the candidates now. [They] should step back and at least show a little respect for the system that's in place," he said. In particular, he felt that Gore's post-election behavior makes the presidential hopeful look bad. The media and the public at large mostly criticized the issues concerning the ballot system, though. James Glaser, Associate Professor and Department Head of Political Science, explained that people who live in poorer regions were more likely to use obsolete voting equipment. "[I expect to] see advocates for minorities and urban voters - poorer people - calling attention to the discrepancies," he said. Glaser also added that such questions have not been raised in the past because the current election situation is unprecedented in US history. "This episode has focused the spotlight on the problem, a problem that we didn't even know existed," he said. Glaser also expects the public to focus on potential changes to the Electoral College. Ruder is not satisfied with the Electoral College process, and would like to see modifications made in the next election. He doesn't believe that such changes will come easily, though. "It's not necessarily an issue that's very clear, and if it's not clear, then it's harder to get a lot of people to push for change," he said. Baran, on the other hand, feels that much of the controversy is due to the public's ignorance of the purpose of the Electoral College. He believes that the people who complain the most about the system are those who know the least about its advantages. Regarding the outcome of the election, freshman Ghanim Marouf expects few to be content once the next president is finally chosen. "There are going to be a lot of disagreements just because the vote is so close... There's no possible outcome that people can agree on," Marouf said. Students such as Marouf feel that no true winner can be declared, considering that the judicial system will have the final say in the election. Glaser predicts that each candidate will deliver a "gracious" speech when Gore eventually concedes to Bush. However, he believes that the true feelings of the contestants lie deeper than a speech would convey. "Down the road, I think you'll see how Gore really feels, which is a sense of disappointment," he said.

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News

Freaky, foamy, and delicious

August 31

Halloween may not fall on the weekend this year, but that doesn't mean you can't start celebrating early. Slip a scary movie in the VCR, throw on a spooky costume and start mixing some of these frightfully delicious (or just frightful) Halloween cocktails. Cheers!Satan's Whiskers ? oz. gin ? oz. sweet vermouth ? oz. dry vermouth ? oz. orange juice 1 dash orange bittersThe Massacre 2 oz. tequlia 4 oz. ginger ale 1 tsp. Campari iceThe White Spider 3 oz. vodka 1 oz. creme de mentheThe Witch of Venice 1.5 oz. vodka ? oz. Strega 2 tsp. creme de bananes 1 oz. orange juiceThe Zombie 1 oz. dark rum 1 oz. Jamaican rum 1 oz. light rum pineapple juice papaya juicePsycho Vico 1.5 oz. Swiss chocolate almond liqueur 1.5 oz. white chocolate liqueur 4 oz. milkGrateful Dead ? oz. vodka ? oz. rum ? oz. tequila ? oz. triple sec liqueur ? oz. raspberry flavored liqueur 2 oz. cola-flavored carbonated beverage Midnight Special 1.5 oz. rum 2 ? oz. coffee flavored liqueur 4 oz. cola-flavored carbonated beverage 1 tsp. sweetened condensed milkThe Toxic Avenger 3 oz. white rum 6 oz. peach daiquiri mix 1 dash blue curacao For an extra special Halloween treat, add some dry ice to your drinks for that just-out-of-the-cauldron effect.(sources: beveragerecipe.com and sidewalk.com)

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News

Bad Ass is back in Austin's face

August 31

On this Monday Night's Raw, Bad Ass Billy Gunn returned from his six-month absence to give Stone Cold Steve Austin information about last November's hit and run. After a long in-ring argument between Austin and Mick Foley about the Rattlesnake's (Austin) brutal investigative tactics, Foley called Mr. Ass into the ring to provide new information on the attack. While Bad Ass vehemently denied being involved in the assault, he did claim to know the identity of the true perpetrator. Of course he did not reveal who the person was, simply saying, "He had blond hair." Nonetheless, Stone Cold gave him a stunner, asserting "I never really liked you much anyway." Just when we thought the Austin mystery might finally end, the storyline was hopelessly extended. In one of the more hilarious portions of the night, the Right to Censor was shown outside of the arena in Washington D.C., burning this month's Playboy, which features WWF Superstar Chyna nude. This small-scale satire of World War II-era Nazi book burnings provided lots of laughs - and was probably something that everyone who bought the issue wanted to do as well. Speaking of this month's Playboy, our issues came one week late, and it wasn't really worth the wait after all. After viewing the second shot of Chyna's nude, muscular, overly chiseled rear end, we decided that there was no need to view any more. Most people we know agreed and found her utterly repugnant. However, we must admit that two anonymous fraternity brothers found her to be "strangely attractive." Hoping to avenge the continued and constant assault against them, Chyna and fianc?© Eddie Guererro took on Steven Richards and Val Venis of the Right to Censor. After about ten minutes of meaningless action, Stone Cold stormed into the ring and stunned all members of RTC as well as Eddie Guererro. We are supposed to believe Austin was merely continuing his "investigative assaults," but it's more likely that he couldn't tolerate the mediocrity in the ring any more than we could. Commissioner Mick Foley then came to the ring to declare that he was the boss and that Austin should not interfere in matches. Stone Cold stopped him dead in the middle of his speech and applied the stunner. After cleaning house, Austin proceeded to chug about 20 beers, thrown to him by the crowd, in a matter of three minutes. This very public binge-drinking feat was quite impressive (and we are well schooled in the area). Clearly the new storyline appears to be leading to a power struggle between Stone Cold and Mick Foley. We now place Mick Foley atop the list of possibilities for Austin's assailant, or at the very least having allied himself with the guilty wrestler. As for the tie-in with the "blond hair" clue, who is to say that it wasn't Vince McMahon wearing a blond wig? That would be quite humorous. In the final match, Triple-H took on Kurt Angle for what was seemingly the millionth time. Before the match, the Game instructed Stephanie to stay in the locker room and not accompany him to the ring. Of course, she came down in the middle of the action and distracted her husband, which eventually led to an Olympic slam and a victory for Kurt Angle. Once again, Chris Benoit was thrust into the Love Triangle, coming down to distract Triple-H while Angle defeated him. Why does Chris Benoit continue to be included among the top storylines? He has no personality, isn't overly interesting, and isn't even an above-average wrestler. Furthermore, how much longer can they continue the Angle-Triple-H-Stephanie saga? It really boggles the mind that the WWF can place all of their top heels in angles against each other and still make the crowd hate all of them. We hope that the feud will end and Angle will be put where he belongs, challenging the Rock for the WWF title. We would also like Chris Benoit to leave the wrestling business to the professionals. In an effort aimed at perhaps transforming Triple-H back to a full-blown heel, he was shown arguing with Stephanie after the match and violently turning his back to her. However, he continues to straddle the fence between good and bad: He is humorous and crowd-pleasing at the onset of the shows, but always manages to perform like a heel in his matches. If we do know one thing, though, his arms get bigger every time we see him on T.V. We only hope the Game can escape this drawn-out, limiting saga, so that his range of talent can be seen in other ways. Tune in next week to see if he does.

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News

New website provides access to information about life at Tufts

August 31

TuftsLife.com, a new student group recognized by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) last week, is launching a website meant to serve as a nexus of information about student life at Tufts. The organization's goal is to provide students, faculty, and alumni with information about events on campus, national and Tufts news, and easy access to Tufts' many websites. The site is still under development, and will be officially launched within a few weeks. Because TuftsLife.com is an official student group, funds from the student activities fee will be used to defray some of the operation costs. A main focus of the page is to make information on the Tufts-run websites easier for the Tufts community, especially students, to find. An extensive link selection directs visitors to websites of the offices of academic and student services as well as online services and news sources. Founder and Chief Technology Officer of TuftsLife.com Mike Masterman explained that students are often confused by the many Internet addresses they have to remember in order to access Tufts' online resources. TuftsLife.com solves this problem by putting links to all of the sites most frequented in one location. "This site fills a largely overlooked niche in the Internet services provided by Tufts University," Masterman said. "By presenting all the information that is found throughout Tufts' many servers in one easy-to-use step, students will become more informed about their university and the many activities it sponsors." The site is an Internet portal site similar in format to Yahoo! and MSN. A campus life section displays announcements and notices, news and sports articles from the Daily and The Observer, a calendar of events taking place on campus, and dining menus, as well as transportation information and maps. Headlines from ABC News and CBS SportsLine scroll across a lower part of the screen, and a forecast by The Weather Channel is available. TuftsLife.com also provides access to external Internet sites that are commonly used by Tufts students, such as search engines, a dictionary and a thesaurus, and entertainment information pages. It is designed to serve the entire Tufts community, and Masterman said that it is a great resource for students abroad and alumni who want to stay informed about University happenings. The founding members of TuftsLife.com came up with the idea for their site last spring, and devoted the summer to developing it. They worked with administrators and student groups during this process, and will continue to rely on them to provide the information that will be published on the site. "The Tufts websites cater to outside individuals looking for information about the schools," Masterman said. "While our site caters to the entire Tufts community, including faculty, undergraduates, graduate students, and even alums, it's still directed towards students." TuftsLife.com presently has about 18 members who perform a variety of functions related to operating and maintaining the site, including the technical design, the process of posting information on the Internet, as well as finances and public relations. The group is hoping to expand its functions beyond solely the operation of the website, and participation in TuftsLife.com does not require any computer knowledge. "TuftsLife.com is not limited to simply an Internet portal site. We are also in the process of developing various other projects dealing with information delivery," Masterman said. "As we come up with more projects, there's going to be a need for more manpower." The group was approved by the TCUJ in a unanimous vote, with one member abstaining. TCUJ member Alison Clarke commented that there was no question that the organization is beneficial to Tufts. "I think it's a great website. It takes all of the resources about Tufts and puts them in one place," she said. "I think it's very wellorganized and everyone thought it was a good thing."

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News

Marijuana mayhem: drug use on the rise nationwide

August 31

Be it on the library roof, under the bridge of Wren or Lewis, or in the blue-painted tower of Carmichael Hall, students are smoking pot. It's not just here at Tufts, either - students all over the country are toking up, and the number is rising every year. The Facts A Harvard School of Public Health study of 14,000 four-year US college students concluded that marijuana use is on the upswing. Between 1993 and 1999, marijuana use rose 22 percent, with 15.7 percent of students in 1999 claiming to have used marijuana in the previous month. The study reports that students who smoke cigarettes, binge drink, and have multiple sex partners use marijuana more than those who don't. The study also reports that the use of other illicit drugs, like cocaine and heroin, also increased. The typical marijuana user is a single, white person who spends more time partying than studying. The study also shows that your friends at the University of Vermont are more likely to smoke up than those at Virginia, because marijuana use is highest at colleges in the Northeast and lowest at institutions in the South. It also reported that colleges listed as "very competitive," like Tufts, have the highest levels of marijuana use, whereas those classified as "not competitive" have the lowest.Why did you start? "There are a lot of reasons why I never wanted to smoke," one female junior said, adding that she didn't try pot until last year because of health reasons like lung and brain damage. "I changed my mind," she explained, "because I decided that I was ready to experiment. I knew that I was old enough and mature enough to make the decision. I knew that I would be able to handle it in moderation." A male junior who began smoking his sophomore year explained his reasoning. "I was curious what it was like, and decided that I would be able to handle it responsibly," he said. He added that marijuana serves as an alternative to alcohol, and one without the morning-after side effects. "It feels more natural than getting drunk off my ass," he said. "I can wake up and actually function and not feel like wanting to kill myself." Others echoed these sentiments, pointing out that marijuana use avoids some of the drawbacks of alcohol. "[It doesn't] make me sick and throw up, and even better, there's no hangover. It doesn't me feel or act like an asshole," another student said. Plus, except for the occasional "stupid head" that some experience after the drug wears off, being high is easier to conceal. Some students say they're turning to marijuana in light of the administration's recent crackdown on campus drinking. "I don't really drink too much, so that's my alternative for being social," one student said. Minors say it's easier to get their hands on marijuana, especially because area liquor stores reject fake ID's frequently. Aside from its greater accessibility, students say marijuana has other advantages over alcohol. "I smoke because it's a form of release," one student said. "It just relaxes you. Even though I definitely feel more fun and gregarious and loud when I'm drunk, I feel more sociable and in control of myself when I'm high." Others, however, said they were victims of peer pressure. "I tried it because I was with my friends and it was a situation that I felt comfortable in. It had never crossed my path before, and so it was not a decision I had to make," one student said. One junior said that his roommate, had influenced his frequent marijuana use. "[He] is the worst thing that ever happened to me motivation-wise," he said. "I definitely think roommates are a big factor, but I don't think it's peer pressure. Pot's just a social thing, so I guess you can say it's more peer-influenced."Legalization of marijuana Nationally, a debate rages surrounding the legalization of marijuana. Movements in many states to legalize the marijuana for medicinal purposes have resulted in a number of ballot initiatives, including one in each in Nevada and Colorado, voted on last week. Both passed. California passed a ballot measure that emphasizes treatment centers over jail time for users, while its Mendocino County voted to allow adults to grow 25 pot plants each. Alaskans, meanwhile, voted against legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for anyone over the age of 18. Although the debate centers around marijuana's offering pain relief, inducing appetite, and alleviating symptoms of nausea and vomiting in cancer or AIDS patients, many college students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) "self-medicate" themselves with marijuana. One student claims that his roommate with ADD would smoke before every single test or paper he wrote last year in order to "calm himself and better organize his ideas." Ignoring any potential medical benefits, many around the country are fighting for its legalization on simply recreational grounds. "Do I think it should be legalized? Yeah, of course," one student said. "I think it's completely hypocritical that alcohol is legal just because it is a socially-accepted drug when it causes hundreds of thousands of alcohol-related car accidents and fatalities."The consequences Being caught with marijuana is never good. If students are found smoking up in their dorms, Residential Life takes immediate disciplinary action against the offenders. The Res Life office, acting through Resident Assistants, stresses its zero-tolerance policy toward illicit substances on their website, in pamphlets, on posters, and in the Habitats publication. "Essentially, it's the [Masssachusetts state] law so there's not much you can say about it. In terms of our ability to enforce or not enforce, we don't have a choice," said Bob Clark, the Assistant Director for Staff and Judicial Programs at Res Life. "To my knowledge, there have been no expulsions for repeated offenses," Clark said. However, disciplinary action in the form of fines and write-ups has been taken. Despite all the hype about stringent repercussions, Clark maintains that, "no single dorm has more than two incidents." This semester, there have been ten write-ups of marijuana use in dormitories. During the 1999-2000 school year, there were 31 reports. This figure is significantly lower than last year's 135 recorded incidents involving alcohol in residence halls. The administration is not the only threat to students who smoke. A senior who tried pot for the first time this semester said that fear of a drug test at her job deterred her from smoking earlier. Many pot-smoking student athletes are also weary of random drug testing because the NCAA reserves the right to administer random drug tests to Division III athletes during NCAA tournaments. Aside from the legal consequences, there are also some physical side effects. Any type of smoking can harm the mouth, throat, and lungs. Additionally, the drug impairs one's reaction time and slows reflexes, therefore hampering driving ability. In extreme cases, users may experience nausea, anxiety, paranoia, and even hallucinations. One junior stopped smoking pot her freshman year after joining a spring sports team, so that she could perform better. "It made me feel physically better when I stopped smoking pot, and I definitely think a bit clearer now," she said. "I wanted to be safe because I was unsure about the drug testing policy." Pot can also heighten a person's senses and increase appetite. Physically, marijuana can cause a more rapid heart rate, dryness in the mouth, and reddening of the eyes. Repeated use does not lead to addiction - users do not experience withdrawal symptoms - although recent studies have found that some may develop a non-physical dependence.Uses and paraphernalia Marijuana use is almost as diverse as it is prevalent, with a number of options available to users. Some students like adding pot to baked goods. Pot brownies are popular, but students come up with many different ways of consumption. "Pot cake, pot ice cream, pot banana bread, pot pancakes, pot pizza, and even pot fritters... The possibilities are limitless," one student said. Smokers are innovative where their habit is concerned. "Stoners tend to get really creative when it comes to smoking," the student said. "You can take the most apathetic smoker and ask him to build a bong, and you will not find a more motivated, creative person." The tools, instruments, and apparatuses used to smoke marijuana vary greatly. It is legal to purchase bongs, pipes, and hookahs as "tobacco accessories," and there are even several stores in Boston and Cambridge that sell these items exclusively. Pot users also construct their own smoking implements. Many are fond of gravity or water bongs, or just rolling a joint or blunt (a fat cigarette). Bowls appear to be the most common method of smoking, perhaps due to their small size, transportability, and low price. However, the pot smell wafting through the air at most concert venues is probably coming from joints, which are easier to conceal and therefore safer to use. Students who smoke for the first time generally prefer using a bowl or smoking a joint, because the bong is commonly regarded as more difficult for first-time users. Students' marijuana habits vary from smoking with friends or alone, and frequency ranges anywhere from several times a day to once a day, only on weekends, socially, and finally, the ubiquitous category of "smoking at concerts." Pot smokers can't be characterized by a single definitive trait, although stereotypes abound. "I'm always surprised by who's clamoring to grab the bowl; it's always the kids who you'd totally not expect to be interested in it," one sophomore said.

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News

DiFranco puts on a thriller for diehard fans

August 31

"There is definitely love in the air tonight," observed Ani DiFranco as her fans screamed out pledges of love, thanks, and adoration during Friday night's sold-out show. The show was the second in DiFranco's two-night run at the Orpheum Theater with opening act Sara Lee, DiFranco's former bassist. The Orpheum Theater was converted from concert hall to college auditorium. A younger female audience dominated a crowd of die-hard fans as markedly grassroots as folksinger Ani DiFranco, who created something out of nothing with her record label Righteous Babe Records. DiFranco is a down to earth singer who displays no rock-star quality in either her performance or in the production of her show. Members of the road crew, opening act, and back-up band are just normal, plain-clothed people looking to make music with a message. DiFranco delivered her message in a personal, energy-filled, and politically driven performance. Like a ball of energy, she bounced onto the stage in six-inch platforms and exited as a humble folksinger. She admitted to being thrilled to have played to a receptive audience - one that allowed her room and freedom to experiment with her love of folk music. She tested several new songs and re-vamped old classics in an almost two-hour non-stop set. Constantly switching between re-tuned guitars, she played a varied set, blending older, newer, and very new songs. Older songs included classics such as "Diner," "Shameless," "Shy," and a give-it-her-all rendition of "IQ." Newer songs such as "Wish I May" and "Providence" reflect DiFranco's musical progression from raucous acoustic guitar to more jazzy rhythms and complex compositions. Newer still were several unreleased songs. On most all of these, DiFranco was backed by a full band of saxophone, horn, drums, bass, and keyboard. There were frequent moments of improvisation, matched by the folksinger who sang with an additional microphone that distorted her spoken-word into distanced speech. One of the performances highlights was "Everest." This relatively newer song expresses the idea that we are all intrinsically connected in a world where time is not a limitless quantity. As an introduction to the song, DiFranco spoke of her island-hopping adventures and a native she befriended along the way. "Everest" describes one Sunday evening when this native brought her to church, giving her the opportunity to step back from herself and realize that all peoples are very much the same. As one of the slower-paced songs of the evening, "Everest" provided a feeling of calm in the storm of DiFranco's less sentimental and highly political messages. DiFranco is notorious for being a politically driven and multi-faceted artist. Her music is strongly feminist and freedomist. Her liberating ideas advocate a improved society that gives women guiltless freedom of choice and allows everyone the freedom to express ideas and to live their lives his or her own way. She communicates this through her well-formed voice of experience, converting personal feelings and ideas into universal themes. In light of her strong voice, it is inevitable that her views on issues of gender, race, and politics are an intrinsic part of her performance. DiFranco is a strong supporter of presidential candidate Ralph Nader. At Friday night's show, more than a few audience members toted Nader rally signs. Midway through her set, DiFranco performed the sexy, melodic, and mandolin-based song "Tis of Thee." This piece is about the problem of the American drug war; what she defines as a white upper class vice to repress and imprison the poor portion of society. Addressing her audience, DiFranco defined Nader as directing positive efforts towards ending "the drug war" and putting an end to America as an overly imprisoned society. She also denounced the idea that voting for Nader would bring George W. Bush closer to the white house as a myth. Given the nature of her songs and the strength of her experience and belief, it is inevitable that the concert atmosphere would reflect her political preference. However, DiFranco's use of the spotlight at a sold out concert as a political vice remains questionable and remains a disconcerting aspect of her performance. Despite this harshly political atmosphere, DiFranco was still able to have fun and rock like the extraordinary artist she is. For an encore, she brought Sara Lee's band back onstage to perform "Super Freak," a disco classic performed in the key of Ani. Ultimately, DiFranco played for her audience, which for the most part consisted of a strong fan base with definite political feelings and ideas. They also knew all the words to the songs and accepted her with gratitude. From the seventh row, one could clearly see and hear a beautiful and eccentric performer. It is not surprising that this bouncing ball of energy created her "one woman empire out of car tires and chicken wire." Overall, DiFranco's performance was still a powerful representation of her art, one that is both sentimental and political.

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News

Jumbos stomp New England in first round of NCAA tourney

August 31

With a 5-0 win yesterday over the University of New England Nor'easters at home on Kraft Field, the women's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Jumbos climb to 15-3 with the victory, extending their record-setting campaign. The win came as a result of strong defensive play and an offensive explosion in the second half that produced three goals within a 12-minute span, including two from junior forward Lynn Cooper. The Jumbos started off the game controlling the ball well, but had trouble putting together solid scoring chances. As the period wore on, the Nor'easters picked up their intensity, and shifted the play to a back-and-forth battle in the middle of the field. "We came out flat [in the first half]," senior tri-captain Sara Yeatman said. "I think we had a hard time focusing on today instead of this weekend." Tufts was able to regroup, however, and started up the attack again as the clock ticked past the midway point of the period. Tufts earned its sixth corner kick of the day with 12:30 left in the half. The ensuing play went out for a goal kick, but freshman striker Jess Trombly picked off a pass a few seconds later, drove the ball into the box, and fired a shot past Nor'easter keeper Melissa Dolbec for the first goal of the game. New England generated a few good scoring chances as halftime approached, but could not capitalize on them, leaving the score 1-0 at the break. "The first half, we were up 1-0, but again I feel like we didn't start strong enough," coach Martha Whiting said. "We just weren't playing with a lot of intensity." The Jumbos came out much stronger as the second half got underway, pushing the ball deep into Nor'easter territory immediately following the whistle. Just five minutes into the period, Cooper sent a ball to fellow junior Becky Mann on the right side. She maneuvered her way around two defenders and into the box, leaving only the goalie between her and the net. Taking advantage of the situation, Mann blasted a shot into the left side of the goal to give Tufts a 2-0 edge. Five minutes later, Tufts found itself with another great scoring opportunity. Mann fed a ball to Trombly, who sent a great cross into the penalty area from the right side. Cooper was waiting on the other side of the goal, and headed the ball past the keeper for the Jumbos' third goal of the day. "We've been working well together," Cooper said of her play with Trombly. "We're having some good give-and-gos, passes, and feeds with each other, and she's going strong." The Brown and Blue kept up the pressure, dominating the play of the game. Just six and a half minutes after her first goal, Cooper picked up a second, taking a pass from freshman Jessie Lovitz at the top of the box, skirting a defender, and lifting the ball up and over New England's leaping keeper. The score was her ninth of the year, giving her 23 points, one shy of her totals from each of her first two seasons. "The game went really well," Cooper said. "The first half was a little slow here and there, and it took us a while to get going. But once we did, we kept at it." The Jumbos were relentless on the offensive side of the ball, playing as if they were down instead of up 4-0. Sophomore Adie Sherwood came up with two great chances in the next few minutes, one of which resulted in a deflection off the crossbar, and the other in a magnificent sliding save by Dolbec, who made 17 stops on the day. Senior tri-captain Randee McArdle made four saves in net before being relieved by junior Mara Schanfield halfway through the second period. The Nor'easters finally made a serious run at the goal with just over ten minutes left. After pushing the ball deep into Jumbo territory, the Nor'easters fired a shot towards the net. The ball flew too the left of Schanfield, but senior tri-captain Carmen Mikacenic was there to make the stop, keeping New England off the board. Tufts tallied one final goal in the closing minutes, with freshman Becca Doigan taking a pass from Sherwood and sending in a ball from 18 yards out. It flew over the keeper and into the net to cap off the scoring at 5-0. The goal, which came with 1:54 remaining, was the second of Doigan's career. On the day, Tufts out shot New England 41-10, while holding a 14-1 advantage on corner kicks earned. "What we need to focus on with this game is how we came out in the second half," Whiting said. "We were so intense on every ball in the second half, and we finished our chances. In the end, in the NCAA Tournament, you have to finish your chances, and that's exactly what we did in the second half." Tufts now moves on the regional semi-finals of the NCAA Tournament, which will be held at Middlebury. The Jumbos will face off against Bowdoin on Saturday, which received a first-round bye. Tufts beat Bowdoin 3-1 last weekend at Middlebury in the semi-finals of the NESCAC Tournament, after losing to the Polar Bears 4-1 in the regular season. "It's frustrating that we have the exact same thing, after having beaten Bowdoin and having to play them again, and having them seeded higher than we were," Yeatman said. "But beating them again will be a good challenge for us." "We just want to get through the weekend, regardless of who we're playing," Cooper added. "It just so happens that the exact same thing happened last weekend. It'll be a hard weekend, but I totally think we can do it." "I think we both know each other really well at this point in the year," Whiting said of the match-up. "We're both good teams. What it'll come down to on Saturday is who wants it more, and who's going to come out and play harder, and that's the bottom line." Should Tufts beat Bowdoin, the team will move on to face off against the winner of the Middlebury/Wheaton match-up. Tufts lost 2-0 to Middlebury last weekend in the finals of the NESCAC Tournament in a game that was marked by blizzard-like conditions. "All of us would like another shot at Middlebury," Whiting said. "Hopefully it won't be snowing, there won't be a monsoon, and the weather will cooperate. I don't think they're that much better than us that they're going to beat us, so I'd love to play them again." "Without the snow, it's definitely better for us," McArdle said. "Overall, our team is faster than both Bowdoin and Middlebury, and the snow hindered that last weekend. Better weather will definitely be to our advantage." The forecast for Sunday calls for partly cloudy skies and a high of 47.

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News

Coming this Friday to the box office

August 31

Though only a handful of new releases will arrive at theaters this Friday, those that do will be quality flicks. In true Hollywood style, the films are all about underdogs in various positions of society overcoming odds to either learn a lesson or teach one to oblivious onlookers. So this week in movies may be more educational than entertaining - not that there's anything wrong with that...

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The media factor

August 31

With the clock winding down on one of the most the highly-anticipated elections in a century, it seems that citizens pulling metal levers or pushing small buttons in cramped voting booths today is simply a formality. After all, CNN Headline News has been posting the most current polling statistics, essentially calling the election, every few hours for the last month. There is a table of a multitude of different polls, each claiming George W. Bush will be our next President. In fact, since the media decided the election for us, there's no need for us even to vote, it seems. Yes, the reporters are simply making educated guesses, not actual decisions, but it would be na??ve to say those predictions don't affect the outcome. In elections past, due to the time difference on both coasts, news organizations often called the winner of the election before polls on the west coast closed. In the era of the 24-hour news cycle, we are inundated with information about the public and private lives of candidates, the Electoral College, interest groups, and any other factor that could possibly affect the outcome of this election. If the candidates themselves are the foremost factor in deciding the election, the media cannot be far behind. For the first time, the Internet is playing the election out, minute-by-minute, issue-by-issue, offering individuals all over the country the same information at the touch of a few keys. The abundance of websites devoted to every possible aspect of the election is astounding, and the effect of these websites is far-reaching. For instance, in response to the expected high voter percentages for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader and the subsequent negative affect on the Gore campaign, a group of Texas Democrats started a website with the intent to convince Nader supporters in swing states to "trade" votes with Gore supporters in Bush-secure states. The site, www.NaderTrader.org, received 625,197 by this past Saturday at midnight. There is no legal precedent to actually prohibit the site, although the repercussions are expected to be huge. The NaderTrader website, however, solicits no advertisements to fund itself, nor does it promote itself. The website became popular simply through word-of-mouth and, more significantly, media coverage. The media's influence stretches much farther than just advertising. When Vice President Al Gore said he invented the Internet over a year ago, neither he nor anyone else could have imagined that the simple statement would become one of the key issues of the election. Perhaps the reason Gore didn't anticipate the backlash is because, contrary to what we are constantly told by the media, Gore didn't say he invented the Internet. In fact, what he told Wolf Blitzer on March 9, 1999 was true: "During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet." Gore did, in fact, author legislation (the US High Performance Computing Act) that helped lead to the creation of the Internet as we now know it. While his statement may have been slightly exaggerated, Gore is a politician. Politicians make statements strategically. They do not lie, however, and shouldn't be treated as if they do. Similarly, George W. Bush's personal struggle with alcohol and drugs became a public talking point when he announced his candidacy. It is common knowledge that Bush led a life probably not ideal for a future public figure until he turned 40 - there is an arrest record showing Bush apprehended for drunk driving from 24 years ago. Twenty-four years ago was 1974 - most of the students enrolled here were not even born in 1974. Yet the arrest is being treated as if it occurred yesterday, not two and a half decades ago. Hours after the Bush-driving-drunk story broke, political pundits began proclaiming the end of Bush's campaign. Because of the extensive focus on character, it is rare that reporters actually delve into the issues on the candidate's platforms. Occasionally, notable news media will do a feature and compare the healthcare plans of the two major party candidates, or print a chart outlining the two different education plans. But the majority of the hours and words spent on this candidate have centered on how the two men look, speak, and present themselves. It took less than 20 minutes after Jim Lehrer thanked the candidates and ended each of the three presidential debates for correspondents to appear outside the debate locations, offering commentary on who won the debate, what the long term affect of the candidates statements would be, and, most alarmingly, what the people thought. The media's horse race coverage is reducing the citizen's vote to a mere formality. Recently a cable news-station producer said that he found the phrase "we're calling the election..." extremely alarming in that it undermined the importance of citizens' vote. Today, millions of people nationwide will walk into those small booths and pull levers, push buttons, and place their votes for president. As they do, newspapers, television and radio stations, and Internet sites will be monitoring their movements, offering explanations for our each and every action. For better or worse, in this information age, it's somewhat unavoidable.Brooke Menschel is a junior majoring in American studies. She is currently studying in Washington DC.

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MBTA raises subway fares to $1, but improves service to Logan airport

August 31

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) increased fares across the board yesterday for the first time in nine years. Subway fares went from 85 cents to $1, and bus passengers will now pay 75 cents, up from 60. Rates for monthly bus and subway passes will also go up on Nov. 1. "Tufts students can get on at Davis Square, pay a dollar, and ride all around the system," said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. "There's nothing else in the world that hasn't gone up in price since 1991. We can't provide 21st century service at a 20th century price." The price hike has met only moderate opposition thus far, with a group of disgruntled passengers in Roxbury protesting the 15 cent hike yesterday morning, and a smattering of angry Bostonians making noise at MBTA hearings on the increases, held throughout the summer. Pesaturo downplayed the incident, saying that most passengers understand that prices must rise occasionally to maintain satisfactory service. "There was one formal organized protest," he said. "But we are confident that ultimately common sense will prevail." For the most part, Tufts students seem little concerned with higher prices. "Compared to other cities, 85 cents is not very much, and $1 is still reasonable," senior Andrew Lutin said. "Now you don't have the dimes and nickels to give to the people playing music [in the T station]," said senior Justin Friedman, who went on to suggest that the T should run later than its current 12:30 a.m. closing. Senior Monica Barnes agreed. "I don't really think it's a big deal. Most of the time I just give them $1, so now I won't get that change," she said. "But, [we] should be able to get on the T at two in the morning." This summer, the MBTA unenthusiastically received a proposal from the State Legislature's Transportation Committee calling for an investigation of the difficulty of lengthening the T's hours of operation. While students, businesses, and city officials favor the plan, which they say would reduce drunk driving and allow both workers and bar-hoppers to stay out later, the MBTA has made it clear that extending hours are not a priority. The higher fares only cover about 35 percent of the MBTA's operating expenses. "The remainder is subsidized by the State [of Massachusetts], with a small fraction from the Federal government," Pesaturo said. The increase will not affect the vast majority of MBTA regulars using monthly passes until sometime next month. Unlimited monthly bus passes will jump to $25 from $20, and subway passes will rise to $35 from $27. This month's rate increase accompanies a number of MBTA enhancements slated to take place this year. The main improvement is the addition of a new "Silver Line," which will run regular bus service from Dudley Square in Roxbury, through South Station, and out to Logan Airport through the Ted Williams Tunnel. While the new line is under construction, passengers will depart from Andrew Square on the Red Line, and on through the tunnel to the airport. This will make the Logan commute much easier for Tufts students, who previously had to travel for an hour and switch lines twice to get to the airport.

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