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Should the Electoral College be abolished?

August 31

Over the past ten days, America has witnessed an unprecedented political battle that will go down in history as bizarre, if nothing else. In what has turned out to be one of the nation's greatest civics lessons, the American people have become quite well versed in the normally elusive Electoral College system. Those of us who have never before heard of Dade County, Fla. are now having intelligent discourse about its demographics. Participatory politics has suddenly taken on new meaning as the country anxiously waits the election gods' decision about the next president. With all the hoopla surrounding the presidential election, many have raised the question: Is the Electoral College system outdated? Some argue that every person should have one vote that directly elects a candidate to office. "The Electoral College is an outdated form of representation and this whole fiasco proves that the system needs to be changed. How can we presume to have a democracy when the people are not even trusted to elect their own leaders with their own individual votes?" senior Janell Zuckerman said. Then there are those that maintain that, in spite of the occasional glitch, the Electoral College as a whole is still the fairest way to handle the voting tendencies of the country. "I still think it's a good system," junior Natalie Mantell said. "It provides a balance." Mantell does not believe that the current election standstill is good for the country, however. "[What happened in Florida] is absolutely ridiculous, but the problem in Florida does not reflect badly on the system so much as it does on the use of unclear ballots. There is definitely a need to make the ballots clearer and uniform to ensure that this does not happen again." For many people, the election itself served to solidify an opinion about the Electoral College. Senior Dan Eisenman said that before the election he preferred the idea of the popular vote prevailing, but he had not been certain of what effect this would have. "Now that I'm seeing the system in action, I've come to realize how outdated the Electoral College really is. The whole basis of democracy is that people get to choose who they want to be their leader. But when you have people winning all the electoral votes from a state after winning by a slim margin of the popular vote, you end up with this discrepancy," Eisenman said. Students are not the only ones reacting to the election confusion, which has also brought some excitement to the political science department. Professor Jeffrey Berry, who teaches a class on the presidency and executive branch, unhesitatingly expressed his feelings about the Electoral College. "The purpose of the Electoral College was to keep commoners from electing the president; instead, a big group of wise men would do it for them," he said. Berry also noted that the Founders harbored a genuine fear of demagoguery, believing that the Electoral College would appease rabble-rousing actions against the government. Berry said that times have changed, though. "Now, the advantage of abolishing [the Electoral College] is that it would get rid of some of the filters and structures that channel our votes in certain ways rather than letting each vote speak for itself." Berry also says that ousting the Electoral College system would help build political parties in all areas of the country, because there would be more incentive to mobilize voters - even in states that have traditionally been one-sided, one-party strongholds. "Democrats in Nebraska and Republicans in the District of Columbia would have a reason to get out and mobilize the vote without the Electoral College," he said. Berry also expressed a concern that regardless of the outcome of the election, the system has in a sense handicapped the victor because the split vote will constrict his chance to make real change. Political Science Professor and Department Chair James Glaser also fears that the winner of the election may not have the strong backing he needs. Glaser, however, is not bothered by the fact that there may be a difference in the results of the electoral votes and the popular votes. "Everybody knew the rules of the game when we started and those rules determine how the game was played," he said. Glaser argues that had the rules been different, the candidates would have campaigned in different places and emphasized different themes. He is not completely as ease, however. "What does bother me is the fact that the Electoral College has made it so that this incredibly close election in Florida will determine everything. We may get a president who is perceived to be illegitimate." In the clouds of discarded ballots, accusations of fraud, and preaching experts, one thing remains clear: the system currently in place will continue to be questioned in years to come. "I've never fully understood how the Electoral College works, but I have always been under the impression that it was an attempt to make things more fair," junior Lisbeth Kaiser said. "But when the [Ralph Nader] issue came up, it came down to the fact that voting for who you really believe in might completely mess things up. The system hinders free political choice." Kaiser went on to explain the significance of this election in her mind. "On one hand, the Electoral College deters people from voting because they think their vote does not count. But on the other hand, this election has made it abundantly clear that every vote does count, just in a more convoluted way than we had imagined."

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News

Lost Souls' a lost cause

August 31

Ever wake up day and realize you were the one Antichrist? That's more or less what happens to British actor Ben Chaplin in the thriller Lost Souls, which opens today at theaters nationwide. Despite the hype - and the fact that the film is being released on the suspiciously coincidental date of Friday the 13th - Lost Souls quickly devolves from a fast-paced mystery/thriller to a run-of-the-mill adaptation of The Exorcist (which is already re-released in theaters anyway).

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News

Ivory Coast on its way up

August 31

You may not have heard of The Ivory Coast just yet. The band is relatively new, and hasn't headlined any shows so far in its just-over-two-year career. You probably have, however, seen the artwork of its drummer, Somerville native Mahmood Shaikh. Exit the T at Davis Square. Hang a left at the turnstiles. Yup, one of those mysterious, vibrantly colored, oddly themed tiles that Somervillians pass on a daily basis was created by a wee Shaikh as a schoolchild.Tonight, you can acquaint yourself with Shaikh and the rest of The Ivory Coast at The Paradise, where they'll start a first of three show-openers for Buffalo Tom. It's one gig in a string of opening acts the band has done since its conception in 1998 - the guys have been touring the northeast over and over again, frequenting The Middle East in Cambridge, colleges (including a few shows last year at Tufts), and other small, cozy venues.They've been working hard, introducing lots of bigger-named bands to crowds, but lead vocalist and guitarist Jay Cox isn't lamenting the second fiddle status they've grown accustomed to. "We're not in the position to do that yet," Cox said. "I'd rather open for a band right now. I dunno, headlining... we're not there yet."They're on their way, though, and have been working at it steadily for a while now. The band's first show was at The Middle East in 1998. It filled winter, spring, and summer of 1999 with spotty gigs in New York and Massachusetts, before the acquisition of keyboardist Scott Craggs in the fall of that year. This completed the Ivory Coast quintet, which now could tour in full force.The group is comprised of former acquaintances and friends, which, according to Cox, "helps, especially when you have 12 hour rides in between cities." Cox and guitarist Drew O' Doherty were in a together band before The Ivory Coast, while bassist Nick Hubben recorded an old record of theirs. The rest just seemed to fall seamlessly into place. "It was the right place, right time... one of those things."The Ivory Coast is Boston-flavored, and has been from the outset. Cox wasn't into the performance scene until he moved to Boston from his hometown of Philadelphia. He attended Emerson College, and has remained in Beantown since. Like most Boston rockers, Cox has found a niche in the city. "This is where my guitar stays," he said, "and it's awesome."Unfortunately, his guitar pretty much stays put away during the work week - Cox and the rest of the band haven't surrendered their day jobs just yet. You'd think he would be happy that this at least keeps him immersed in the music industry - his company calls college radio stations, promoting records. Less than thrilled would be more accurate. "Boring. It's boring."And so Cox stresses that deskwork is completely temporary, a labor of love about getting by until bandwork can step into the limelight."All of my energy is focused toward [the band]. I'm always looking forward to the weekend for shows. My job gets me through Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Eventually, I'd like the band to be on tour all the time. We have a van that hopefully doesn't break down anymore."Thoughts as to when this transformation will take place are unclear. "Hopefully soon. The plan is to put out another record next fall. Hopefully by next fall, the band will be full time."The band's first record, The Rush of Oncoming Traffic, was released this past summer by Big Wheel Recreation. It has the fire and earnestness of a first album, with a raw innocence that permeates all 13 tracks. It's unpolished in a way, and it is Cox's scratchy vocals that contribute to this feel, driving the sound in a melancholy direction. Perhaps it was his influences. Cox was quick to answer what flavors the work, and what drives The Ivory Coast's songs, in general."Boring day jobs, boring relationships, boring cities, and boring friends... well, you can just say friends, cities, relationships, and jobs. Boring should just be implied." If you can relate, visit www.lumberjack-online.com, www.insound.com, or search independent record stores to find their album.Always Boston to the core, the album's "Bad Blood through Blue Veins" will be featured in the film Massholes, which will feature The Mighty Might Bosstones' Dicky Barrett, and is produced by Ari Newmann of Next Stop Wonderland fame. A two-track single was just released this week, featuring Jodi Buonanno from the band Secret Stars doing writing and vocals on the song "Soledad."The Ivory Coast opens tonight at The Paradise, 967 Commonwealth Ave. Buffalo Tom will headline the show. The band will be back in Boston to play The Middle East, on Sunday, Dec. 3 with Ranier Maria, Aerialist, and The Common Cold.

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News

Tufts' operating budget grows through endowment returns

August 31

Phone calls and letters to alumni represent only one portion of Tufts' fundraising efforts. A significant percentage of the money that supports the University's day-to-day operations accrues from the diversified investing of Tufts' endowment. This vital financial pool, growing but still comparatively modest, has steadily increased over the last ten years, but some students worry that morally questionable investments may be contributing to this financial success. Serving as a watchdog to monitor Tufts' investment practices is a group of students led by junior Douglass Hansen. They hope to convince administrators to pay careful attention to the companies that receive University money. Hansen, who plans to launch an investment awareness campaign next semester, believes Tufts is obligated to invest responsibly because its own vision statement emphasizes good citizenship. "Within a framework of making money we want to do the right thing as well," Hansen said. The endowment is currently valued at $558 million, which is more than three times what it was in 1989. In the ten-year period ending on June 30, 2000, the endowment was compounded at a 14 percent rate, according to Assistant Treasurer Darleen Karp. A fundraising campaign spearheaded by President John DiBiaggio caused the endowment to grow significantly in recent years, and the resulting increase in returns provided an influx of money to the University's budget. "The larger the endowment, the more money available for financial aid, professorships, library support, special programs, etc.," Karp said. Although Tufts has made progress, its endowment remains relatively smaller than those of its benchmark schools. According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, there are 31 schools with endowments that exceed $1 billion. Harvard, for example, has an endowment of $19.2 billion. Yale's endowment is nearly $10 billion. Numbers for the current fiscal year are not yet available, but Karp said that Tufts' finances are in good shape, despite the vagaries of the stock market. Tufts makes strong efforts to diversify its investments so that if one fund does not fare well, others will compensate, according to Thomas McGurty, Tufts' vice president of finance and treasurer. About 70 percent of the endowment is invested in securities such as mutual funds and stocks, while an estimated 30 percent is held in bonds. To maximize returns, the Trustee Investment Committee sets investment policy and hires professional money managers to make security selection decisions. "The University has a diverse portfolio which produces a strong output," McGurty said. "Our asset allocation is close to the average of similar institutions." Encouraging Tufts to make socially responsible investments has been a popular goal for students in the last 15 years, and numerous campaigns have focused on divesting University money from companies whose policies offend students' moral sensibilities. In the 1980s, there were anti-apartheid student protests calling for divestment from South African companies. In 1994, the Hydro-Quebec company - an environmental polluter - was the target of protestors' ire. Last year, students launched a campaign to force Tufts to divest its professors' pension money - included in the national professors' pension fund TIAA-CREF - from Talisman Energy, which obtains oil from the Sudanese government, whose leaders they accused of supporting slavery. Tufts' "Responsible Investment Policy" prohibits the University from investing in tobacco or alcohol product stocks and funds, but there is no social responsibility screening that is applied to Tufts' general portfolio. "Tufts' overall investment objective is to maximize returns within prudent risk limits. This can be best achieved by not putting constraints on the University's investment managers," Karp said. "In rare and exceptional circumstances, investment restrictions may be adopted in instances where a company's activities contravene fundamental moral principles or core values of the University." While Tufts does not invest directly in tobacco or alcohol companies, there remains a possibility of indirect investment in those industries. For example, a mutual fund held by the University could own stock in a tobacco company. "Money could be in mutual funds or limited partnerships where transparency exists," McGurty said. "However, the Tufts name is not on any of the investments." Hanson is pleased with the existence of the current ban on alcohol, tobacco, and Hydro-Quebec, but feels that a more strict policy is necessary. Tufts can still maintain its high rate of returns, he said, while supporting socially responsible corporations. Justifying his vigilance, Hansen pointed to a Tufts investment in W.R. Grace, a chemical company that he called a large polluter, as well as Eastman Chemical Company. "We are simply asking Tufts to be responsible," he said. "Eastman is a large polluter of dioxin, which is one of the most toxic chemicals in existence."

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News

Come live in a 'High Society'

August 31

There are some bands that you don't know much about, and some that you don't want to know much about. Many people probably wouldn't want to give the Kottonmouth Kings and their new album High Society any chance at all. For those willing to try, though, there are some pleasant surprises to be found.

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News

Golf struggles at NESCAC Championships

August 31

The golf team encountered rough terrain, both literally and figuratively, over the weekend in an eighth place finish at the NESCAC Championships held at Middlebury College. A tough course, combined with some disappointing rounds for the Jumbos, conspired to land Tufts near the bottom of the pack.

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News

A state of 'mergency'

August 31

I have been thinking of a new theme for the state of Massachusetts. My first ideas were of grand things, like "freedom," or "sex," but unfortunately both have been taken. Freedom has been usurped by New Hampshire ("Live Free or Die"), and Missouri ("The Show Me State") has adopted a voyeuristic sex theme. After thinking further I have settled upon a distinctly Massachusetts theme to replace the boring geographical credo of "The Bay State." The new theme shall be merging. That's right folks: "Massachusetts: the merging state." It'll be an added tourist attraction: "You haven't merged until you have merged in Massachusetts." Any Tufts student, whether they have been here for a few months or for three years, has had to undergo the perilous task of merging on Massachusetts roadways. Massachusetts is obsessed with merging. There is probably a State Committee on merging, under the jurisdiction of the ever-powerful Committee on Rotaries. I thought about going to the State House to find out if we do have such a government entity, but it turned out to be easier just to make one up. Here is a quotation from my 'interview' with the committee chairman. "The theme of merging is an excellent idea. We all must merge more often, and in any way possible. Merging is the very essence of Massachusetts driving, and indeed, of Massachusetts life. Oops, sorry, did I bump into you there?" he said while walking down the hall at the Massachusetts State House. "There will only be more merging to come," he continued, before getting fired for embezzling funds destined for the Big Dig, and using State House employees to take care of his dog. The words of the chairman demonstrate the fact that the theme of merging is a timely one. You see, the capital of Massachusetts is undergoing a transportation transformation. The city of Boston, in a project whose cost equals the GNP of the entire European Union, is building new roads - lots of 'em. Bridges seem to be sprouting up everywhere, often leading to nowhere. We are soon to have the Cable Street Bridge, unique because it is supported by cables. Then there is going to be the burying of the Central Artery and the increased use of the Ted Williams Tunnel. All of these are going to involve new merges, and in the meantime, the construction is squeezing in more and more merging opportunities. For example, due to the construction, a portion of I-93 North from Storrow Drive is now a one lane "temporary" bridge whose shape is akin to a bobsled track. The temporary bridge winds itself parallel next to a larger bridge, through a randomly placed gravel company, only to merge with the main highway once again. We should try it in the snow; it is going to be awesome. Perhaps the merging theme is best demonstrated through a larger example. Three weeks ago I did the most dangerous thing any Tufts student can do. I should be given a damn medal for what I did. I drove from Swampscott, MA (disclosure: Swampscott is my hometown) to Logan Airport, and then on to Tufts. I counted 12 merges in the 18-mile stretch, along with two rotaries. The actual number is probably significantly higher, but I lost count of the merges involved while driving around Logan Airport. Right next to Terminal A, I got cut off by a Hertz Rent-A-Car bus and almost started up a bridge that hasn't been completed and would have dropped me 50 feet into a large pit. I may have "the world's first sport utility wagon," but that was a little too much for my taste. I have learned that there are certain strategies to merging. On that particular journey, I got to try out many of them. One method preferred by many Bostonians is to simply shove your way into the stream of traffic. That's all there is to it, you just go. I tried that conceited strategy while going around Bell Circle in Revere, a rotary that averages three accidents per hour. There is a police car that sits on the "adopt an island" and just waits for the carnage, and an ambulance that is constantly on Bell Circle duty, waiting at the nearby Dunkin' Donuts. Anyway, I decided that I needed to get in the left lane to go to the airport, so I just swerved left without looking. That strategy resulted in a honk, and in an obscene gesture by what I am sure is an otherwise lovely young lady, but I succeeded: I got into the correct lane. The system of roads feeding into the overflowing Logan Airport allowed me to try out some other approaches. The airport roadways are a conspiracy. I am convinced that the same people who design mazes for laboratory mice designed these. The designers have video cameras all over the place, recording the action. You thought those cameras were for public safety? Nonsense! We are all part of a large social experiment. The Daily has obtained a memo sent from the design firm to the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MDOT). "Hmmm. What if we take five lanes and narrow them to a half, put in a rotary, and mount the terminal codes and airport layout maps in that stretch as well, so that as the drivers are merging they will be distracted. And then we can hit them with the rotary and the choice between the international departures and arrivals, or just the international departures. Yeah, that would be cool. Oh, and put lots of rental car places in that same area also. Now we're talking." The memo is marked, "Approved." There are rumors that data from this experiment goes to the American Council on Merging (ACM), because every merging strategy is on display in that one little area. It is a microcosm of a merging America. During my transit through the area I got to try out my "Who Me?" approach. This consists of driving at a moderate speed, taking both hands off the wheel, and raising them as if you are asking a question of the other drivers. You then look both ways while slowly drifting into the desired lane, and before you know it, you have merged. This approach is also good for people who are in denial about their merging reality, because it offers the illusion that you don't have to do anything. Just throw up your hands, and go, all the while thinking, "It is not in the other cars' best interest to hit me. I'll be fine." I should warn you however, that this approach should not be tried while dueling with a Hertz Rent-A-Car bus. Thus, an important amendment to the rule: Never merge with a vehicle bigger than you. Instead, you should come to a complete and sudden stop, wait 30 seconds longer than you need to, and something more your size is bound to come along. Same idea goes for dating, but that is for another column. Another method of merging that I tried is what I call "schizophrenic hesitation." My mother is a big fan of this approach. Basically you act like you are going to just go for it and cut someone off, but right when you get to the point where your passenger braces himself, you stop short, yell at the person who had the right of way, and then hit the gas once they are by, thereby cutting off the person who was right behind the first car. You then spend the rest of the drive discussing what a jackass that other driver is, and why bad drivers should be shot on sight. It is best to make either of the following statements: "Where are the police when you need them?" or "Can you believe that guy?" Each approach to merging has its uses, and they should be studied carefully. After all, it is the state theme.

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News

Don't call yourself a diva

August 31

Diva - possibly the most overused word of the millennium, next to "millennium." You can't say you didn't want to retch the first time you heard Mariah Carey referred to as a "diva." Let's set the record straight, shall we? Diva is an Italian word that means "goddess." It does not mean, "bitch." Most music aficionados reserve the word for the great Italian opera singers. I'm not going to name names (Maria Callas comes to mind). I will, however, create a short list of anti-divas, just to get some issues off my chest. Let's start with Mariah Carey. While anyone can appreciate her powerful instrument, divas don't wear halter-tops. Christina Aguilera: she can wave her hand around while she sings, but it is just not happening. Honestly, all hand motions aside, this girl is too thin to be a diva. Get over it (and do us a favor and hack off those cheap K-mart extensions while you're getting over it). Shania Twain: need I comment? Regardless, you may be asking yourself what this Diva dissertation has to do with the mix. Essentially, only a couple of artists on this mix are actual, full-fledged divas (the Queen of Soul being one). Sometimes, though, you just need some powerful women singing their hearts out to get through the day. These women are not all divas - I wouldn't be so presumptuous as to say that - but the Weather Girls can convince just about anyone to zip up when they give their stormy forecast.Side A "It's Raining Men" (The Weather Girls) "Jump (For My Love)" (The Pointer Sisters) "Bitch" (Meredith Brooks) "Turn The Beat Around" (Gloria Estefan) "Respect" (Aretha Franklin) "You're So Vain"(Carly Simon) "I Touch Myself"(Divinyls) "Ring My Bell" (Anita Ward) "If I Could Turn Back Time" (Cher) "Supermodel" (Ru Paul) "The Boy Is Mine" (Brandy & Monica) Call Me" (Blondie)Side B "Independent Women" (Destiny's Child) "It's Not Right, But It's OK" (Whitney Houston) "I Will Survive" (Gloria Gaynor) "Edge of Seventeen" (Stevie Nicks) "Girl from the Gutter" (Kina) "These Boots Were Made For Walking" (Nancy Sinatra) "And I'm Telling You (I'm Not Going)" (Jennifer Holliday) "No Man's Woman" (Sinead O'Connor) "I Know" (Dionne Ferris) "Reflections" (Diana Ross) "We Are Family" (Sister Sledge) "Free Your Mind" (En Vogue)

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News

New housing office takes on rent crisis

August 31

Amidst a booming economy and a swelling student body, the cost of housing around Tufts' campus is skyrocketing, with the average per-bedroom rent approaching $600 in the Medford-Somerville area. To ease the fierce competition for apartments, which is especially poignant at a University that does not guarantee housing to upperclassmen, Tufts opened an Office of Off-Campus Housing this summer.

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News

Riding the tech. superhighway

August 31

Computer technology, especially email, IM, and the Internet, has becomean increasingly important-and often overwhelming-aspect of our daily lives.Most Tufts students rely on this technology to keep them in touch withfriends and family and informed of the happenings of the outside world.Whenever students begin to feel claustrophobic inside the Tufts bubble ofacademics and Fight for Your Right (To Party) rallies, they can simply clickonto Netscape or Internet Explorer to reassure themselves that yes, Gore andBush are still battling it out, and the yes, the Yankees and the Mets willface each other in the World Series for the first time since 1956. Ourcomputers are out portholes to the non-Tufts universe. Sophomore Sarah Brasslett decided to let Daily readers into a day of herlife as a technology addict. She begins her day by waking up to the soothingtechno beats of Air on her CD player alarm clock. She said, "Then I showerin the technologically advanced showers of West." Can you feel her sarcasmhere? Brasslett continues her morning by checking email and seeing who IMed herthe night before. "My computer is on 24 hours a day so I don't missanything," she said. She even admits to checking her email at least tentimes a day. She also uses her computer to check the weather, read news, andfind information about Boston events. Other Tufts students echoed Brasslett's sentiments. In reference to theimportance of email, fellow sophomore Kevin Coyne said, "That's pretty muchthe first thing I check when I come in the room." He added that email isespecially important in maintaining communication in long-distancerelationships. Coyne's roommate, Chris Cao, took an even more extreme stance on theimportance of email, ranking it right up there with sleeping. He said, "IfI'm not checking my mail or online, I'm asleep." For Brasslett, IM is just as important to her as email. "I use IM, ICQ,and MSN Messenger because I have friends on all three, so there is alwayssomeone to talk to and distract myself from my work. I even use it to talkto my roommates when they're in the other room." Her comments highlight the most essential function of IM: it serves as apowerful means of procrastination. Coyne agreed with her when he said, "I'mon the Internet everyday, procrastinating." It is a widely accepted fact that students hate doing work and lovecomplaining about it and avoiding it. IM is the perfect vehicle for both ourcomplaints and our procrastination. Why actually finish our work when we cancommiserate with our friends, over IM, about how much of it we have to do?Plus, IM is amazingly distracting. The sound of a new IM message coming inis music to the ears of a student entrenched in an economics paper or a chemlab. We need that distraction to get out of our own heads once in a while. Both Brasslett and Coyne cited the similarly distracting power of MP3s.Now that Tufts computer services have increased the network's bandwidthcapacity to accommodate heavy Napster traffic, students can more easilydownload new MP3 files. To most students, searching for new music online ismuch more enjoyable than say, reading IR, so MP3s serve as another tool forprocrastination. "The [music from] the computer is [often] the center of our room," saidCoyne. Brasslett added, "MP3s are vital. They save you so much money. Ifyou have a party you can entertain friends with your eclectic musiccollection." However, computers are more than just entertainment centers. They alsohave academic advantages. Brasslett's notes for her Astronomy class, as wellas links to other astronomy websites, are available online. She said, "Ithink eventually we'll move to having all of our classes online." Computer technology is also being used in some Tufts classrooms.Students in German 33, Contemporary German Issues on the Internet, use acentral computer in their classroom to design webpages together. ViolaManteufel, a sophomore enrolled in the class said, "[For] all our homework,we're supposed to look up research online." Tufts students' interest in understanding the Internet is evident in thepopularity of the now-extinct Comp 6 course, Computing on the Internet.According to Computer Science Professor David Krumme, Comp 6 and othercomputer science courses are so popular that the CompSci department doesn'thave enough professors to teach all the classes. He said, "The departmenthas been forced to cut some things back and some things out." Comp 6 was oneof the courses cut. Professor Krumme said that some students took Comp 6 to satisfy mathdistribution requirements while others took it out of an overall interest inlearning about the Internet. "[Students] learned the nature of themechanisms that are used to make the Internet work," he said. He added,"They learned to be more knowledgeable and sophisticated Internet users."Students interested in similar courses can check out Comp 10 and Engineering47, the replacements for Comp 6. Although Brasslett hasn't taken any computer science courses at Tufts,she appreciates the importance of being able to understand how our computersoperate. A virus attached to a file she downloaded recently destroyed hercomputer. She lost all the information on her C-drive, including her MP3s,email, and IM. "It was really horrible because my computer died and I could not check myemail," she said. Although her computer is up and running again, she isworking on restoring it to its old glory. "I'm still in the process ofreformatting my C-drive," she said.

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News

No repeat for Shyamalan

August 31

You expected it, and you're halfway right: Unbreakable, M. Night Shyamalan's follow-up to The Sixth Sense is a disappointment. This much can be said, however: It is not the same kind of disappointment that you probably expected. Unbreakable is awful to watch because so much of it is actually good. It's so close to being a remarkable film that it hurts that much more when it doesn't work out. You might think you're already informed. After all, there's been lots of skepticism and criticism swarming around Unbreakable. There are always heavy expectations laid on a first-time director who makes a blockbuster. People demand something amazing from the sophomore release, and those expectations can be hard to live up to. When Shyamalan cast Sixth Sense star Bruce Willis again, he must have been well aware of what the public was hoping for. Unbreakable follows David Dunn (Willis), the sole survivor of a monstrous train wreck. Dunn leaves the hospital not only as the sole living passenger of the train, but also without a single cut or bruise - making the movie's title rather unambiguous. Of course, Dunn is struck by an extraordinary case of survivor's guilt. There must be some reason, some meaning, behind the fact that he could walk away from a tragedy that killed so many. He has problems beyond finding a purpose, though. Dunn's marriage and role as a father are both up in the air, and a job prospect in New York could convince him to leave Philadelphia, leave his slow-paced occupation in university security, and make a fresh start. His on-again, off-again love with his wife Audrey (Robin Wright) and his hopeful friendship with his son Joseph (Spencer Treat Clark) make Dunn both a flawed and sympathetic character. Willis gets a chance to use his emotional range to its best effect - well, to its best effect since The Sixth Sense. All of this is fine and great - and reminiscent of the soft-spoken Sixth Sense. However, it is when Elijah (Samuel L. Jackson) appears with his bizarre explanation for Dunn's survival that Unbreakable starts to fray at the edges. Elijah is one of the most breakable people around, suffering from a rare disease that makes his bones fragile and his constitution unbearably weak. At Elijah's prompting, Dunn slowly realizes that he has never been hurt, never been sick, never suffered at all. Elijah sees him as his own antithesis - the strong man who makes up for his weakness - and has a most curious explanation of Dunn's unwitting destiny. To answer a question that's been posed, no, Dunn is not supposed to be the Messiah. Rest assured, though, that Elijah's explanation could hardly be less appropriate than it is - even in the context of the film, it seems laughable. Herein lies the great flaw of Unbreakable - it's hard to tell whether Shyamalan wants the audience to laugh or not, and so it's hard to take the movie seriously as a drama or a quasi-satire. Expect nervous laughter, expect to be uncomfortable, but don't expect to be pleased. The performances are painfully good. These are excellent actors in interesting roles with a cleverly written script, that unfortunately asks too much of the audience for its main premise. Willis continues, for better or for worse, to move past his Die Hard glory-days with a calm, intense performance. Robin Wright's vulnerable, hopeful efforts at reconciliation with Willis could make any married man cringe, and Spencer Treat Clark's Joseph is clearly torn in his loyalties between the two parents. Of course, Samuel L. Jackson rarely puts in a poor performance, and nothing goes wrong here. Elijah is both threatening and earnest in his desire to convince Dunn of what has happened. Technically, the film works wonderfully on many levels. The cinematography can be quite clever, with sliding angles and careful lighting that direct the viewer's eye unerringly. Shyamalan also proves (again) his ability to make a quiet, unthreatening scene terrifying. The tension that builds in each scene has little to do with what is happening, and much more to do with the way it is filmed. Even the costumes attract attention. Elijah's slick, shimmering coat with its purple lining keeps drawing the viewer's eye. He would stand out in any crowd, and you can't help but consider him remarkable, and at times rather threatening. Dunn appears in various uniforms, suits, and athletic gear, but he is in his element in his full-length security poncho. He glides out of the rain, through hallways, and across the screen like a messenger or an angel of death. For a hero, Dunn can make a quiet, menacing figure - thanks in no small part, again, to Shyamalan's careful work. So much goes right, and yet it can't outweigh the conceptual flaw of the film. There isn't anything that could make up for Elijah's spin on the story. It is simply too much. Without giving too much away, understand that Shyamalan has taken a campy concept and elevated it too high. More frivolous films - especially of the cheaper action variety - could get away with some of the devices used in Unbreakable. Marketed, filmed, and delivered as a serious film, however, it doesn't fly. Rather than simply rehashing his original hit, Shyamalan has sprung off into a rather different vein, while still holding onto what, besides the surprise ending, made The Sixth Sense so powerful. Unbreakable has the same thoughtful pacing and precise cinematography that are apparent watermarks of Shyamalan's work, as well as similarly well-chosen work by Willis. It's all so well done, in fact, that you desperately wish you could like it. Despite everything it does right, Unbreakable is too uneven and too muddled to get enthusiastic about. Go ahead and see it if you want - you may have a great discussion about it later, but you'll spend the entire ride home unsuccessfully trying to convince yourself that you enjoyed it.

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News

A Friday on the other side

August 31

Everything about campus looks different from inside a Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) squad car. Strolling down Professor's Row on a Friday night, an inconspicuous student could spot dozens of open containers. But riding shotgun with TUPD Captain Mark Keith, I didn't see a single beer or a solitary joint. Just handfuls of quiet, contemplative students staring back at us, many with hands hidden haphazardly at their sides or behind their backs. We cruised campus slowly and meticulously for over an hour, and the whole time, as I asked carefully worded questions about life as a TUPD officer, Keith scanned the sidewalks. "They think we're invading their space," he said of the students, some of whom tensed noticeably as we drove by. "And I guess I understand that a little." What Keith then went on to explain is that most of what Tufts cops do is perform minor services. Helping people who are locked out of their rooms. Helping people who are locked out of their cars. Police escorts. And more often than you might think, helping people get rid of lurking bats. "I've gone after bats a couple of times myself," Keith said, smiling. "Mostly in small houses. Sometimes you're successful, sometimes you're not... 90 percent of what we do is providing services to campus." Unfortunately, we didn't respond to any bat calls that Friday, but we did respond to a few others. As we approached the corner of P-row and Packard, a scuffle broke out on the sidewalk, with two male students exchanging shoves and insults. Keith hit the brakes - almost daring them to continue - but didn't reach for the door. About five seconds later, they spotted him. "Heeeaaay! I love you, man," said one student to the other, drunkenly embracing his former adversary and smiling at the car. Keith smiled back and continued on his way, parking the car next to the tennis courts, where we had a good view of the corner. "This is where all the foot traffic is," he told me. "I don't know what everybody's doing before 11 or 11:30 p.m., but when 11:30 hits, campus is a completely different place." We sat on the corner for half an hour, waiting and watching. As we lay low in the parked car, I listened to scanner broadcasts from the Somerville police. Keith didn't blink an eye as the local police exchanged broadcasts, breaking up a mugging and pursuing the suspect in a stabbing. Somerville can be a scary place when compared to the confines of campus. I was relieved when a friendly TUPD broadcast came across the airwaves. Apparently, a Somerville resident had phoned in a complaint regarding a party at 57 Curtis Ave, where a group of noisy students were assembled in the street. "I think we'll go check it out," he said calmly, starting the engine. The Captain drove slowly toward the house in question, all the while keeping an eye on everyone that walked by. I asked him how many people are stopped each weekend for open containers. "Not too many," he said. "We could probably stop and question a lot more people than we do, I think." He picked up the radio, cutting himself off. "This is 205. I'm on location." "10-4 Captain," the response came immediately. Keith switched off the engine and turned to me. "Why don't you hang here," he said, stepping out of the car. I didn't see any students on the street. In fact, I couldn't even tell which house was hosting this alleged party until he went in. About 30 seconds after Keith entered the house, a stream of about 20 students stumbled out single file and headed back up the street towards campus, some giggling and others grumbling. "It's interesting," he said when he returned to the car several minutes later. "All we did was to ask to speak to someone who lived there and everybody started leaving. I told them 'You don't have to send them all home, you just have to keep the noise down a little.'" Pausing at the stop sign above Hill Hall, Keith went on to explain that while many noise complaints come from local residents, a large number also come from Tufts students themselves, especially in apartment-style housing such as Latin Way and Hillsides. As we idled at the intersection, a group of boisterous girls strolled across the crosswalk, all scantily clad in revealing Halloween costumes. One, sporting a cat costume featuring a tight leather suit, stopped and stared provocatively at the car. Keith smiled as the girl licked her lips and snapped a whip in our direction. "Does that happen often?" I asked carefully, partly envious and partly curious. "Occasionally," he responded, still wearing the same sly smile. While most of Keith's duties as Captain are administrative, he opts to spend Thursday and Friday nights here on campus rather than at home with his family. "There's a little more stuff going on then, so I try to get out and be a little more proactive on campus," he said. At about 1:30 a.m., when it became clear that the party scene was pretty much dead for the night, Keith parked the car on the academic quad. For half an hour, we wandered from one academic building to another making sure the doors were locked, and occasionally walking through a building to check things out. When we were finished I thanked Keith for his hospitality and headed home to engage in a little under-aged drinking on my front porch. Reflecting on my brief foray onto the other side of the fray, I realized that TUPD officers see a different campus than we do. Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of their behavior of late, especially in breaking up so many parties before they even start. But on the individual level, I think we have a pretty good deal. Don't throw a beer in their face, and they won't get all up in yours.

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News

Al Gore by default

August 31

Some political operatives have recently described this fall's presidential race as a choice between two popular Jim Carrey films. On the one hand you have Dumb and Dumber (in the person of George Bush), and in the other you have Liar, Liar (in the person of Al Gore). While I don't think that George W. is actually that unintelligent, and I don't believe that Gore bends the truth nearly as much as the media portrays, these comparisons sum up the choice for president this year.

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News

Jumbos push winning streak to three with win over Bates

August 31

The women's soccer team earned its sixth victory of the season on Sunday afternoon at Kraft Field, disposing of NESCAC-rival Bates by a 2-0 margin. The Jumbos have now won three straight games since another NESCAC foe, Middlebury, spoiled their bid for an undefeated season just over two weeks ago. They have also taken their last four match-ups against the Bobcats. "We're back on a roll," freshman forward Jess Trombly said. "Especially the last two games, Bates and Colby, really helped us confidence-wise." By virtue of the shutout win, senior goalkeeper and tri-captain Randee McArdle moved one step closer to tying the all-time Tufts record of 20 shutouts, set by Ellen Corliss from 1981-84. McArdle was forced to make just two saves on the day, en route to her fourth shutout of the season and the 19th of her illustrious career between the pipes. She now shares second place on the career list with her coach, Martha Whiting, who wore the gloves between 1989-92. Tufts set the tone midway through the first half on Sunday, as senior tri-captain and midfielder Sara Yeatman put her team on the board when she scored what proved to be the game-winner at 24:05. Senior defender Carmen Mikacenic, the third tri-captain, curved a direct kick into the box, which bounced to junior forward Lynn Cooper. Cooper promptly touched the ball to Yeatman, who only needed to tap it in to beat Bobcat keeper Kim Martell. Yeatman struck again a shade under 40 minutes later to seal the deal for the Jumbos and boost her team-leading goal total to four. Trombly fed Yeatman, who found the back of the net for the 14th time in her four-year career. Yeatman currently leads the team in scoring with eight points, (four goals), followed by Cooper (one goal, three assists) and Trombly (two goals, one assist), who each have five. A year ago, Yeatman, who was named NESCAC Player of the Week yesterday for her performance against Bates, scored just three goals the entire season, after missing four games with an injury "She's been playing awesome," Trombly said. "She's all over the place. She scored both goals against Bates from midfield. There's such a difference when she's out there." The Jumbo defensive unit again looked strong, allowing just eight shots and keeping the ball away from McArdle for the majority of the contest. The squad has given up just four goals in its seven games, and has out-shot its opponents by an impressive 113-39 margin. McArdle also boasts a 0.55 goals against average, which ranks her second in the NESCAC, behind only Williams sophomore Abi Jackson, who has played almost 300 fewer minutes than her Tufts counterpart. "I really feel confident with the defense back there," Trombly said. "Not much gets by them." The Jumbos head to Waltham for a 4 p.m. kickoff against Brandeis today. The chances for a record-tying performance by McArdle are promising; last fall, she did not even need to make a save as the Brown and Blue held the Judges to just one shot in Medford, on their way to a 2-0 decision After today's match, coach Martha Whiting and the Jumbos will switch their focus back to the NESCAC, as they clash with Bowdoin in Brunswick on Thursday. Heading into today's game, Tufts stands at 4-1 in the NESCAC (tied for second place) and 6-1 overall, good for a sixth ranking in the most recent NSCAA New England poll.

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News

Asians misrepresented in Viewpoints

August 31

To the Editor: Although I was a little disappointed that the block schedule and President's Lawn were deemed more picture-worthy, I was still pleased by the coverage of the Asian American month kickoff rally ("Asian-American month activities aim to increase unity, visibility of culture groups," 10/31) which took place this Monday. The theme of the event was "Empowerment Through Visibility," and speakers stressed the importance of speaking out and fostering unity, both within the Asian community and with other minority groups, in order to work toward common goals. After turning the pages, however, I was dismayed to read several comments in the Viewpoints section that perpetuate the very stereotypes that minority groups are trying so hard to break. Jennifer Marsidi's describes herself as a non-"typical" Asian ("The Tufts smile," 10/31), because of the fact she weighs more than 90 pounds and doesn't have "shiny straight Asian hair" or "porcelain skin." Marsidi's picture of the face of an Asian is ultimately inaccurate and highly East Asian-centered, ignoring the rest of the Asian community, many of whom are South Asian and, like Marsidi, do not fit the physical mold she presents. Furthermore, Marsidi indicates that all Asians simply blend in, ignoring the uniqueness and individuality amongst Asians on this campus. Even more upsetting than Marsidi's comments about physical appearances was Lisa de Elizalde's Viewpoint ("A natural bond," 10/31), which discussed why many people of similar backgrounds form friendships. To prove her point, de Elizalde makes several generalizations about entire groups of students, from music tastes to the volume of their conversations. On a personal note, I resent de Elizalde's characterization of Asian Americans as people who "speak quietly" and tend "to be more hushed." Furthermore, her depiction of "cap-and-baggy-pant-clad Americans" separates and distinguishes people of color from "normal" Americans. Does the shape of my eyes make me, a fourth-generation citizen, any less American than a white person? I implore the entire Tufts community to stop spreading false stereotypes. Saying that one racial group acts a certain way creates harmful separations and hinders understanding. It is not a common physicality or personality that often draws minority communities together; it is the fight against the perception of this sameness.Kristen Kawachi LA '02

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News

TCUJ Clarification

August 31

sexual orientation n. One's natural preference in sexual partners. Misunderstanding of the TCUJ's recent decision in the TCF case abounds, and in order to follow our own advice, I will try to clarify our decision. I will first attempt to clarify the individual motions of the decision, and then I will discuss its broader implications. The difference between Motion One and Motion Two is not obvious. The distinction is that the Senior Leaders' vote was a single, specific instance, while Motion Two refers to a more general pattern of discrimination over an extended period of time. The confusion regarding this difference is probably mostly due to the fact that the hearing was closed, and that no transcript was kept. It was apparent to us because of the testimony given during the hearing. We decided that the vote described in Motion One, although it created the same outcome as discrimination, was not discrimination. Discrimination entails both action and intent. To use a slightly less loaded example: the Monty Python Society could decide not to accept a gay person as a leader because he hated Monty Python movies. This would have the same outcome as the Monty Python Society not choosing a gay person as a leader because he was gay. The first instance would be perfectly allowable and rational, the second reason would be discrimination covered by Tufts' policy. Since it became clear to us that this vote was not made because of Julie Catalano's homosexuality, but instead because of a number of outside factors, the intent to discriminate, in the singular instance of the vote, was lacking. Although the outcome was the same, the action was not discriminatory based on Julie's homosexuality. I believe that there is much less misunderstanding about what Motions Two, Three and Four mean. The broader implications of our decision are far-reaching, and I shall discuss them further. It is important to understand that this decision was not a debate over "Christianity vs. Homosexuality," it was simply a question of the wording of the non-discrimination policy. The broader implications of this decision are very important, especially in regards to the non-discrimination policy. The crux of the debate revolves around the words "sexual orientation," not "discrimination." The Tufts non-discrimination policy states: "Recognized organizations may not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national or ethnic origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, or an individual's previous affiliations in criteria for membership, assignment of voting privileges, or rank, except as otherwise provided by federal or state law or university policy." (http://studentservices.tufts.edu/pachyderm/student%20organizations.htm#recognize) Obviously, we had no trouble deciding what the word "discriminate" means. The question, however, is, what do the words "sexual orientation" mean? We did not wish to set Tufts policy, so we used a dictionary. The definition stated that sexual orientation means the sex to which one is attracted. The dictionary we used does not state that sexual orientation means identity. To back up this definition was Julie's own testimony. During her freshman and sophomore years, Julie was an open bisexual. She believed that homosexuality was not biblically acceptable. This helped make up her identity. During her junior year, Julie's beliefs about homosexuality changed, and she came to a self-acceptance of her homosexuality. This became part of her identity. Because her sexual orientation was always the same, but her identity changed, her identity is not intrinsically linked to her sexual orientation. In addition, Julie was a leader in TCF, as an open bisexual, as long as she believed that homosexuality was biblically unacceptable. This shows that TCF also made a clear distinction between orientation and the acceptability of this orientation. Other dictionaries may define sexual orientation differently. This is a problem. In addition, some have claimed that a dictionary is not a valid source for this definition, since it may itself be discriminatory. For example, an antebellum dictionary might describe African-Americans as nonhumans. But if the dictionary is not a valid source for a definition, then what is? Seven students? This argument coincides with the TCUJ's recommendation that Tufts define the terms of the non-discrimination policy. What we wish to have clarified is not the word discrimination, but the groups that are protected. Are self-accepting homosexuals protected? Are self-accepting straight white Christian males? What exactly is the meaning of the word religion? Once again, the dictionary provides little help. There are seven definitions of religion in the dictionary we used. Nowhere does it state that self-acceptance of one's group affiliation - be it gay, straight, black, white, Christian, or Jewish - is protected. If Tufts intends to protect sexual identity, or the identity of anyone due to their group membership, then Tufts should say so. A one-sentence policy cannot hope to clearly protect ten groups from discrimination. People may think that we've interpreted the policy incorrectly, but the mere fact that we could interpret it at all vindicates our assertion that it wasn't clear enough. If Tufts truly intends to protect groups from discrimination, then it ought to clearly state its policy, so the TCUJ must never again interpret it. Tufts' policies should not change with the membership or personal politics of the TCUJ. A fickle non-discrimination policy is a worthless one. Unfortunately, President DiBiaggio has stated that he will wait for TCF to revise its constitution before he comments. In a mass email, he wrote, "Among its findings, the decision rendered by the Tufts Community Union Judiciary earlier this week calls upon Tufts Christian Fellowship to take steps within the next two weeks to comply with the University's non-discrimination policy. During this period, the University will refrain from specific comment on the case while those impacted by the decision reflect, as University officials do, on next steps and possible outcomes." The TCUJ's decision did not specifically state that TCF's old constitution was not in compliance with the non-discrimination policy. The major problem with this constitution is the power given to the InterVarsity Christian Fellowship representative, not with compliance with the non-discrimination policy. President DiBiaggio also wrote, "I wish to emphasize that Tufts University does and will continue to adhere to the University's non-discrimination policy, which reflects federal and Massachusetts guidelines on non-discrimination." The question remains, what does the University's non-discrimination policy mean? The only way to change TCF's, or any other group's policy towards self-accepting homosexuals, or self-accepting members of any other group, is to change the non-discrimination policy. I would like to mention that non-discrimination policies have not always been worded in the current fashion, and that one should not feel that they are now written in stone. Several years ago, sexual preference was commonly protected at universities, but it was decided that that word implied choice, so the word was changed to orientation. Why then, could it not be decided that orientation also is not the proper word? The administration should not hide behind the TCUJ. The TCUJ is charged with upholding the University's policy, and has specifically asked that the Administration clarify this policy. Withholding statement in the interest of allowing students to decide for themselves in this case is farcical. Once again, this University has the chance to be a leader, to set the standard for our benchmark schools, as well as for schools and governments around the country. The adoption of a meaningful, non-negotiable non-discrimination policy would be a major step in this direction. The Administration must not be timid, but should be a trendsetter by defining exactly whom it intends to protect, and whom it doesn't.Michael Ferenczy is a junior majoring in Chemical Engineering. He is a member of the TCUJ.

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News

Nixon was not honorable

August 31

To the Editor: I find it outrageous that Craig Waldman claimed that Richard Nixon put "honor above personal ambition," in his latest column ("Greed," 11/16). Need I remind Mr. Waldman of former President Nixon's scheme to undercut the Vietnam peace negotiations in Paris in order to discredit then Vice-President Hubert Humphrey and the Lyndon Johnson administration? The fact that Nixon and Anna Chan Chennault, the Chairwoman of Women for Nixon, convinced the South Vietnamese not to attend the talks destroyed any hope of achieving peace in Vietnam in 1968. As a result, Nixon edged out Humphrey in the election. It can hardly be claimed that ruining the prospects of a peace agreement in order to win an election was an honorable act. And I don't even have to mention Watergate. Please, Nixon was anything but an honorable human being.Adam Mueller, LA '04

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News

CTN executives, student protesters fail to reach concensus on Dewick TV issue

August 31

Representatives of the College Television Network (CTN) and members of the Coalition for Social Justice and Nonviolence were unable to negotiate a compromise last Thursday regarding the televisions in Dewick. Executives from CTN visited campus last week to obtain student input on the television programming, but left with no intention of accepting the Coalition's terms. Both CTN Vice President of Affiliate Marketing Carlo DiMarco and CTN Affiliate Relations Manager Jodie Cadigan met with Coalition members in Oxfam Caf?© Thursday to address the students' concerns. From the outset, however, the CTN executives would neither discuss the contract with the students nor agree to remove any of the TVs at this point. "The contract is a confidential agreement between the company and the University, and the power to agree to your terms does not lie in my hands," said DiMarco, who told Coalition members that the binding nature of the contract rendered Tufts and CTN partners, and that the University must approach the company and express its position before any action could be taken. DiMarco also warned the students that their terms, if carried out, would involve a breach of contract and thereby result in a definite penalty for the University. The Coalition 's listed their three main demands on a petition to CTN and dining services, cosigned by over 600 students. The Coalition called for the ability to turn the monitors off, the removal of all five TVs on the second level of Dewick, and the rearrangement of the remaining monitors to less prominent areas of the dining hall. They passed out their own fact sheet and handed out potatoes to individual students during dinner, asking them to deliver the potatoes to DiMarco as a sign of protest by saying that Tufts students are not "couch potatoes." "They didn't really give us a viable option not to give them a hard time," said Coalition Leader Roger Winn, who pointed out that students were greatly frustrated because their more passive efforts to oppose the TVs, such as filling out comment cards, were being ignored. "We haven't been left with any other options," he said. DiMarco said that before the TVs were installed last spring, CTN already offered a compromise by covering only half of the area in Dewick with monitors. He told the students that they were seeking too complex of a solution and encouraged them to explore other ways to deal with the problem, citing the possibility of rearranging the tables in the dining hall so that more people could sit in the section without the TVs. Students attending the Oxfam meeting showed little satisfaction for the outcome. "His initial 50-50 compromise argument was rather specious," said junior Douglass Hansen. "The whole idea of a compromise is to sit down and talk about it and present judgements. These kinds of arguments don't go anywhere in the end," he said. The Coalition members later expressed their intent to continue with their opposition and said that their next step was to turn to the administration to fight against CTN. "We're going to keep putting pressure on the issue," said sophomore Lou Esperanza, who has been spearheading the campaign. "This is not the end." In spite of organized opposition to the monitors, a number of students remain passively in support of or passively indifferent to the monitors. "I really don't understand why the TVs being here is such a problem," said sophomore Connell Cloyd. "As much money as we pay to come here, anything offered as a service and for free should be taken advantage of," he said. Junior Matt Rydzewski agreed. "I don't understand why people are complaining about something so insignificant," he said. "If people are going to give us televisions, why not take them? Since when are TVs such a bad thing?" Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senator Melinda Coolidge, who chairs the Senate Dining Services committee, hopes that the Senate will help students and administrators resolve the conflict. The TCU student services and student outreach committees will survey students in Dewick this week to obtain an accurate portrayal of student sentiment towards the TVs. "If students feel this is the most important thing in their life right now, then I respect that and I'm glad CTN respected it too in their visit," Coolidge said. CTN tabled throughout the day in Dewick, handing out information sheets, free magazines, and T-shirts, while raffling off palm-pilots in an effort to encourage students to fill out feedback forms surveying their satisfaction with the TVs and the programming aired on the network. "It's interesting because we're gaining a lot of knowledge in terms of getting student feedback," said Cadigan. "That's what the focus of CTN is all about; the network is programmed through interaction with students." DiMarco mentioned that it was human nature for those opposed to a situation to be more vocal and confrontational about their cause, while those who don't mind the network will express their opinion more subtly. "I certainly don't want to be a cause for students fighting with one another," DiMarco said. "My objective is to provide a service that on a national level is a benefit to students... I think my presence here today can attest to the fact that I am here to do something of value," he said. The presence of the two tables in Dewick further increased student awareness of the situation, stirring up controversy from both sides of the issue. A number of students were impressed by CTN's visit. "While I don't appreciate the programming, I admire [CTN's] attempt at addressing what college students want," said junior Kenny William.

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News

Gen. Powell recounts Cold War tensions

August 31

General Colin Powell, former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, has spent 35 years in the US military, but seemed to relish his civilian standing yesterday during a speech to over 2,500 in the Gantcher Center. Powell was this year's featured speaker in the Issam Fares Lecture Series , a forum "intended to bring top decision-makers... to focus their expertise and attention on the problems of the Middle East," but the architect of Desert Storm dedicated most of his address to domestic concerns and a personal retrospective of the Cold War. Powell began his lecture informally, thanking the audience for its "warm Tufts welcome." He then turned to President John DiBiaggio and launched into a lighthearted attack criticizing his introduction. "I was in the military for 35 years. I got more than the four medals he mentioned," he said jokingly. "He runs off like I'm some visiting academic." But there were serious moments, most coming after pointed questions relating to the US alliance with Israel. The first question came from outside the Tufts community, as a member of Veterans for Peace accused Israel of producing nuclear weapons and using them "as a shield to advance into Palestinian territory." Powell disagreed. "Israel has been a proud ally of the United States since its inception in 1948," he answered. "[It] will always use its strength to defend itself and its interests," he said, adding that Israel never acknowledged having nuclear weapons. "That is speculative." In his prepared remarks, which he recited by memory, Powell provided a history of his involvement in the Cold War. "For most of my career, we were terrified that some conflict would spark in the Middle East," Powell said. Powell spent 28 years fighting to "contain the Evil Empire," and he saw firsthand the conclusion of US policy of containment. In 1987, Powell said, he and then-Secretary of State George Shultz visited Mikhail Gorbachev, then Russian president, and were greeted with an astonishing pronouncement. "Mr. Secretary," Gorbachev told Shultz, "I'm ending the Cold War." Although yesterday Powell was characteristically affable, speaking animatedly and without notes, the general said he met Gorbachev's stare without a smile. After a pause, Russia's president understood Powell's trepidation. "General, you will have to find a new enemy." Four years later, the USSR dissolved. In the crowd, however, Powell did find a handful of adversaries. Late in the address, a section of attendees interrupted the speaker with protest shouts condemning US sanctions against Iraq. Chants of "Generals can't bring peace," drowned out the lecture and forced Powell to stop mid-sentence. "Colin Powell's activities in the Middle East have been killing people, and that needs to be brought to light," said Roger Winn, a sophomore who led the chants. "I think Desert Storm was a noble cause," Powell said, blaming Iraq's president Sadaam Hussein for the misery of the Iraqi people. But he tried to quiet the hecklers and told them, "I respect [your] right to protest." The issue of Iraqi sanctions resurfaced during the question-answer period, which was dominated by Middle-East specific inquiries. Senior Douglass Hanson cited a UNICEF statistic that blames the sanctions for half a million post-war Iraqi deaths and called the US policy "genocidal." Here again, Powell pointed to Hussein's continued tyranny as justification for the sanctions. "The solution is very, very clear, and very, very simple," he said. Hussein is producing "weapons that will put millions of children at risk. The fundamental problem exists in Baghdad." Rania Jamal interned for the Campaign for the Iraqi People (CIP) last summer and made a sign to protest Powell. "The sanctions that Colin Powell supports are killing hundreds of thousands of people," she said. Jamal is Syrian, but has family in Iraq. The CIP encouraged Tufts students to demonstrate their anti-sanctions sentiments, but was not responsible for the shouting outburst. "We just want to make sure that, if Powell is going to be introduced as some kind of hero from the Gulf War, that the audience can see that there is a marked difference in opinion that says his policies are responsible for causing this huge humanitarian catastrophe today ? and it's certainly nothing to celebrate," said Wells Wilkinson, the executive director of the Boston Mobilization for Survival, the umbrella organization that employed Rania. Senior Arwa Abulhasan, a Kuwaiti, thanked Powell for liberating her homeland but asked why the US did not extend the war in order to depose Hussein. Hers is a common criticism of then-President George Bush, and his military staff. "If Desert Storm had been extended a little while longer, we would have killed more Iraqi youngsters, after we knew we had accomplished our objective," Powell said. That objective, to remove Iraqi forces from neighboring Kuwait, was supported by the US Congress, the United Nations, and a fragile international coalition. But, Powell did seem frustrated that Hussein survived the conflict, and called him an annoyance, an anachronism, and a "poor despotic ruler... who will soon pass from the scene." Powell avoided discussion of specific Middle East policy as well as partisan political talk. Gary Crone, a Desert Storm veteran who said he last saw Powell "in the sand," accused Governor George W. Bush of "going AWOL" during Vietnam and squandering his expensive air force training. Powell defended his political ally. "My confidence in the governor reflects the fact that he is a man of honor," he said in an echo of Bush's denials of the charges. He referred to the vice president as "Mr. Gore," and joked that he had grown up in a log cabin in New York City, "right next to the log cabin that Gore was raised in." But other than those instances, the possible future Republican secretary of defense or state focused on universally popular themes, such as supporting children through America's Promise, his non-profit organization. Tufts trustee Isaam Fares, the deputy prime minister of Lebanon, sponsors the annual lecture series. Prior to Powell's speech, DiBiaggio and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Nathan Gantcher awarded Fares an honorary doctorate of International Public Affairs. "I shall cherish this honor throughout my life," Fares said in his thickly-accented English. Fares reflected on the most recent Middle East conflagration, and called for an end to fighting. "Peace may be slipping into a state of violence and war," Fares said. In an allusion to the Israeli military, he called on America to "further the cause of peace and the foundation of justice." In these situations, he said, "the strong is tempted to dictate, and the weak is tempted to act violently."

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News

A bleak future for Beantown basketball

August 31

The NBA season is just a few days away, meaning it's about that time to speculate on how many games under .500 the Celtics will finish. My guess is a generous ten. It's been a while since Boston had a winning season, the last time being 1992-93, the year following Larry Bird's retirement. But while the '90s ? especially the late '90s ? were years of basketball mediocrity in Boston, Rick Pitino was correct in venting to reporters last season that neither Bird, Kevin McHale, nor Robert Parrish are taking the floor for the once-glorious franchise. But while Pitino cannot be blamed for three years of sub-.500 basketball, he certainly cannot expect Boston fans to have much patience left. The motley group of players that he and management have assembled ? led by Antoine Walker, Paul Pierce, and Kenny Anderson ? cannot be made into a playoff team. And if the Celtics are to start a rebuilding process that actually leads back to the playoffs, it must begin with buying new Birds or McHales, as shallow as it sounds. Pitino, a natural control freak at the college level, where the honing of young talent is the name of the game, must understand that maturation and development in the NBA pales in comparison to dishing out big bucks for high-profile players. And Celtics fans, tell me it doesn't drive you crazy when the C's announce all these huge free agent signings, like Chris Carr and Randy Brown. The Celtics have a couple of names in Walker and Pierce that would be powerful second or third options on any championship team. But Walker has been in Boston for four years, and if he was the player to lead the Celtics back to a .500 season, he would have done so already. He lacks the consistency on the court and the personality off the court to be a leader in any sense of the word. Indiana wanted him to play third fiddle to Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose, but all they were offering was Austin Croshere. So he stays with the Celtics, but also with the undeserved burden of carrying the team on his back. Pierce is the team's best player, a reliable 15-plus points a night, and will likely be around for a while. But these two guys cannot be expected to match up with other Atlantic top twos, like Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady, Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston, or even Keith Van Horn and Stephon Marbury. Talent-wise, the Celtics are at the bottom of the division, which is likely where they will finish this year. After Walker, Pierce, and a washed-out Kenny Anderson, Boston brings in Vitaly Potapenko as a depressing option up front, aging players in Brown and Carr who will likely not contribute a great deal, and big-time underachievers in Eric Williams and Tony Battie. The biggest thing they did this off-season was to bring in Bryant Stith, who hasn't averaged more than seven points a game in four seasons. The surprise in all this is that, with such a dismal roster, the Celtics were not under the cap enough to attract one of the big name free agents out there this past off-season. They sent Danny Fortson and DanaBarros packing and received Pack (later traded for Stith), cash and a first-round draft pick, signed Brown, and drafted relative-unknown Jerome Moiso of UCLA. All of these moves, of course, are bound to have no impact on the standings, but then again, the last move in Boston that did so was Bird's retirement. But to give credit where credit is due, Pitino did helm a 21-game turnaround in his first season as coach, with the additions of Anderson and Ron Mercer to the roster. He peaked early, though, and he has not finished closer than ten games under .500 in his three years in Boston (and he has only had one winning season in six years in the NBA). The question remains, what is he going to do about it? Even the guru of a college coaching world, where a freshman nobody can turn into a senior star, must realize that the NBA works in incredibly different ways. The only hope for resurrecting the Celtics is a huge free-agent signing, or a draft pick that turns out to be the second coming of Tim Duncan. And Pitino, better than anybody, should understand this. After all, he is the guy who has openly alluded to the fact that he would not have accepted the Celtics job were he to know that the team wouldn't have drafted Tim Duncan. The Celtics were 15-67 in 1996-97, giving them the biggest chance at the number-one pick, which was enough to get Pitino to bolt Lexington for his second stint in the NBA. One year earlier, he had declined an offer from the deadbeat New Jersey Nets, an offer from a franchise he thought was going nowhere. But Tim Duncan was another story. Celtics fans would not be calling for Pitino's head nowadays were their team to have drafted Duncan, and he knew it. If the coach can soon bring in a player who will have similar impact, which remains to be seen, he may be able to salvage his tainted reputation in Boston and put the city back on the basketball map. The Celtics organization understands that the coming season or two is essentially shot, especially with the transaction frenzy among the better Atlantic division teams, but the key to the Fortson trade was apparently a large amount of cash and the Jazz' first-round pick in the 2001 draft. General manager Chris Wallace insists that the team will have enough room under the cap and good enough draft prospects next year to start rebuilding. But the Celtics have been rebuilding for the last seven years, a process that began with the Bird's retirement. Now, rumors have Bird interested in buying the team, which would be the best news Celtics fans have received in a decade. He could use his god-like status in the NBA to attract bigger names, and to start a rebuilding process that actually comes to fruition.

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