Tufts' anti-discrimination policy comes back into the spotlight this afternoon as the Tufts Community Union Judiciary (TCUJ) hears a complaint from senior Julie Catalano against the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF). In a hearing closed to the press, the Judiciary aims to settle the six-month conflict, which has attracted national media attention, by the end of the weekend.
Dinner and friends. Considering our everyday experiences, what could be so bad about the combination of these two things? According to Dinner With Friends playwright Donald Margulies, who won the 2000 Pulitzer Prize for this script, more than one would expect. Opening in the gourmet Connecticut kitchen of a husband and wife who are both international food writers, the play examines the friendship of two couples: Karen and Gabe (Rita Wilson and Daniel Stern), and Beth and Tom (Dana Delany and Kevin Kilner). Karen and Gabe appear to be the perfect couple. They finish each other's sentences, share a love of food, wine, and travel, and worry more about the ingredients of marinara sauce than just about anything else. Their counterparts, however, are not so lucky. The first scene opens to show Beth breaking down in tears before revealing that Tom has left her for a stewardess. The play moves on to explore issues of relationships, male and female identity, and the woes and pleasures of marriage. Despite these serious topics, Dinner With Friends remains a comedy at its core ? and a successful one at that. Discussions about the "inevitable evolution" that married couples undergo are laced with lines like, "One lousy handjob could have saved your marriage!" The play also capitalizes on the comedic elements of food with questions such as "How do you like the shiraz?" and "What do you think of the Lemon Pollenta cake?" Such comedic elements lighten up more serious topics such as the repercussions of cheating and the dwindling amount of sex had by married couples. All of this and more is delivered with exceptional wit by all of the actors, most notably Daniel Stern and Rita Wilson. Stern, who is probably best remembered for his work as Joe Pesci's cohort in Home Alone and Billy Crystal's fellow adventurer in City Slickers, keeps the laughs rolling with his goofy yet slyly sophisticated brand of humor. His partnership with Wilson yields numerous off-the-bat exchanges that leave the audience grinning and waiting for more. Two-time Emmy Award-winning actress Dana Delany of China Beach plays Beth, giving an excellent portrayal of what she deems to be the "artsy and incompetent" woman whose realization of her husband's affair leads her to question the imposed conventions of society. No longer content to be "the little woman," Delany examines the love, anger, and sadness of her character with convincing verve, delivering a performance which is nothing less than excellent. As for Kevin Kilner, perhaps the least known of the four actors, his representation of the sporty, chauvinistic Tom is nothing short of marvelous. With his imposing size and deft body language, his stage presence generates a slight feeling of uneasiness. After experiencing his rage, the audience is understandably weary of Tom's temper ? when his character gets angry, Kilner lights up the stage, bringing fierce, raw emotion to the surroundings. The sets of Dinner With Friends consist of two kitchens ? one in an affluent Connecticut home, the other at a summer cottage on Martha's Vineyard ? a bedroom for each couple, a bar in Manhattan, and a patio outside of Karen and Gabe's home. Veteran set designer Neil Patel succeeds in creating surroundings that complement the dialogue and the evolution of the plot, and put into context exactly why Beth and Nick's divorce comes as such a shock. Both couples live very comfortably, and through the somewhat blase art work and dull furniture, one gets the impression that beyond the walls of the house one might find the stereotypical white picket fence, a symbol of the American dream. Despite the lack of college-aged audience members, the play can be enjoyed by both younger and older generations. If nothing else, it gives a fascinating insight into that institution which many of us will enter - marriage. However, the play is targeted at a somewhat older audience, whom it is expected have engaged in post-marital quarrels. As a result, in certain scenes with lengthy conflicts, you might find your attention drifting to other things more relevant to your own life. Nonetheless, for avid theatre-goers or those just looking to enjoy an evening of laughs and drama, Dinner With Friends is a viable option ? for an evening of good entertainment and an assortment of post-play discussion, it doesn't get much better than this.
As one presidential search (hopefully) ends with a new man moving into the White House, another smaller search begins here to fill the Gifford House. In this time of limbo, Tufts' left-leaning student body should put aside its liberal agenda and concentrate on the fundamental qualities this university seeks in its next president: an academic vision and outstanding fundraising skills. Unfortunately, at a recent forum with the chairman of the selection committee, students could not see past their social justice causes, covering the gamut of left-wing issues, and offering little useful guidance. When Trustee Irwin Heller, chairman of the presidential selection committee, came to campus last week he asked students to list the qualities they value in a new president. The first person to speak requested a president with the same commitment to the environment as President John DiBiaggio. Others followed quickly expressing the desire that our future president embodies "socially responsible investing" and "community openness." These issues are serious, and hold merit for a college campus, but as criteria with which to evaluate presidential candidates, they are irrelevant and distracting to the search process. Narrow political requests, stemming exclusively from what students see as the trendy left wing, are detrimental to the selection of a new leader. The same activists who request "socially responsible investing" - investments that coincide only with their political beliefs - are those who demand that Tufts be need-blind in admissions, adding to the "diversity of social classes at Tufts." But at this moment, it is a matter of money, not of belief, and without resources, need-blind admissions can't be a serious possibility, regardless of the beliefs of the new president. Many similar requests further clouded the session. Students asked for a president with a commitment to the arts. Someone who would promote an open community. A president with academic vision. Someone from the business community. Someone young, but with a lot of fundraising experience. A president with a real commitment to collegiate sports. Someone who reflects the political views of the campus. The list generated by the twenty-five minute open session was surely more exhaustive than this summary, but few of the comments capitalized on what could possibly be their only opportunity to have a real impact on the search process. Students should have discussed broad programs that the new president could explore, or the importance of finding a president who is responsive to student needs in general. They did not. Instead, those in attendance drafted a wide-ranging list of popular causes. It seemed that only Superman or Ralph Nader would suffice. Superman is the only person with the power and energy to accomplish all the demanded goals, and Nader is the only man in America with enough left-wing support to fundraise for them all. Superman might be neat, but Nader would quickly grow annoying. Students must realize that the selection process for a new president should not be a sounding board for social action. That forum should be left for student lobbying efforts after a new leader is chosen. The issues raised at the meeting were serious ones. In choosing a president these are legitimate concerns, but Tufts must and will use more relevant criteria. Students lost sight of this, or perhaps didn't realize its validity; thus, few productive suggestions came from the session.In truth, Tufts' new president should be concerned with only two goals: setting an academic course for the university and raising the necessary funds to implement Tufts' vision. Forget social causes or political beliefs. Raise money, try to improve Tufts ranking, and bring great academic programs to the university. Everything else will fall into place. The new president must have the background to continue Tufts' vision as an educational institution that teaches primarily undergraduates, although he should recognize that graduate programs are vital to research opportunities. Presidents of lesser universities and deans of Ivy League schools fit this category well. While academic vision is essential for setting direction, successful fundraising is integral for implementing improvements. Without money, the University simply can not enact those programs that students and faculty request. The hiring of more faculty to teach Spanish, or economics won't be possible. Nor will the construction of the new music building. Both require more cash than Tufts has on hand. Former President Jean Mayer had tremendous vision in bringing a veterinary school and other programs to the University. However, he left a nearly insurmountable task for his successor, President DiBiaggio, who had to contend with the high price tag of the programs and the small size of Tufts' endowment. A president with a great social conscious and a wonderful sense of community, but no fundraising skills, simply will not serve Tufts' needs at this critical phase of development. President DiBiaggio raised the endowment substantially during his tenure, but the next president must be able to reach even further in attempting to bring Tufts to the one billion dollar mark - where our competitors' bank accounts already stand. Tufts must keep pace with its benchmark institutions if it hopes to be successful in the future. Choosing a new president for Tufts may not be simple, but the search can be narrowed down to a few primary qualities: Tufts needs a president who understands the virtues of small college life, big university opportunity, and who can fundraise with great success. Put aside all the stuff about a commitment to the arts, the environment, and to diversity training. Without the money and academic vision to sell to donors and prospective students (of all races, cultures, and religions), little improvement will occur.
To the Editor: Meaningful dialogue was damaged Sunday night when unidentified elements chose to slander the Tufts Christian Fellowship (TCF) by chalking on the ground and painting the cannon. The timing was deliberate, being the midnight before the student activities fair. While this letter was going to focus on my disbelief and disappointment, and hope for genuine discussion, I'd rather tell a different tale. By 1a.m., eight of us were gathered outside the campus center, debating on whether or not to erase the chalking (the four of us who opposed it arrived too late to stop some erasing). Those who favored spending the early Monday morning hours erasing articulated the need for action, making overtures to the previous semester (wary of accusations of silence and inactivity). Others insisted that removal would only exacerbate the perception that TCF sought obfuscation, also considerate of those accusations. Particularly troublesome was the fact that students unfamiliar with the situation didn't receive any explanation, but rather an unkind, four-word summary from one position. I'll hazard to say that such a start is not the right way to begin an understanding of anything. This fact alone made erasing the chalking very appealing. Nevertheless, leaving the chalking as it stood was decided as the best course of action, even though some of us still cried out for action. All of our hearts were pained that it was there. It was a violation of Tufts policy that it was chalked at all. It was worse due to the cruel timing. And worse still is that, for many students, the whole issue is still unclear: four words do it no justice. This letter speaks little about it. Even Jonathan Crowe's viewpoint (see "Unsafe?", page 11) cannot cover every nuance about the complaint, the decision, and the overturning. Those things aside, no amount of campus dialogue can possibly resolve the issue abstracted from Tufts, although we are obligated to try. We believe in a single truth; such beliefs are protected. But more importantly, freedom to follow counter-cultural values should be valued, not discouraged, at this institution known as a university.Jonathan I. Lee, LA '01
While eight teams comprised the field for Saturday's Tufts Invitational, in essence the race was a dual meet between Williams and Tufts, as the two rivals combined to take the first 13 places in Williams' 24-34 victory. "The teams took approximately 85 percent of the top 25 places," coach Connie Putnam said. "It was a blatant, obvious comparison of the two teams." Once again the Jumbos' top four runners, senior Dave Patterson (26.22.5, 3rd place), and juniors J.R. Cruz (26.23.5, 4th place), Ben Smith (26.44.2, 6th place) and Jason Mann (26.48.5, 8th place) clustered together among the leaders, proving that they are approaching mid-season form. Nevertheless, Tufts was not satisfied with its finish in the meet. "We did not run as well as we would have liked," Mann said. "It's early [in the season] so we are not overly concerned but every time you lose by ten points something isn't right." So far this season that "something" has been the performance of the fifth runner. While the gang of four has become a sure bet to perform well and pack together during every race, the key to the Jumbos' future success rests on the shoulders of the fifth man. The delta between number one runner Patterson and number four Mann was only 26 seconds, but the gap between number five Justin Lewis (27.46.1) and Mann was a whopping 58 seconds. If Tufts intends to move into the elite group of teams, it must drastically reduce the lag between the fourth and fifth runners. "We need to get a fifth man," junior J.R. Cruz said. "[The gap between] the fourth and fifth man is going to kill us in big meets. The one through four runners are close but the 2nd pack is way behind the first." Unlike small meets where there are fewer runners, in larger, end-of-season meets such as the New England Championships and Nationals, the hole between the fourth and fifth runners should grow exponentially because in those races a few seconds could mean a number of places. On Saturday, six runners, including Williams' six-through-nine men, finished between Mann and Lewis, who was the Jumbos' fifth runner for the second time this season. "[Williams] exploited the distance between our fourth and fifth guys," Putnam said. "Their two guys who finished 9th and 10th overall beat our fifth runner (15th overall) and that was the turning point [of the meet.]" Despite the wide gap, Putnam was pleased with the performances from five-through-seven runners, Lewis, freshman James Lamoureaux (27.49.9, 16th place) and senior co-captain Adrian Wilairat (27.57.7, 20th place), respectively. "Lewis had a great race and Lamoureaux and Wilairat ran personal records on the course," Putnam said. With mid-season fast approaching, those runners vying for the fifth spot are starting to feel some heat, realizing that they are the X-factors who will determine the Jumbos' fate. "[There is] a little bit of pressure because I want to be the fifth man," Lewis said. "I've never been in this position before. But I know [the pressure] is not all on me. I know the other guys will be running well." "You can't put in better fuel or a new carburetor to make [the potential fifth runners] run faster, like you can to a car," Putnam said. "We have this hole to close and the team is working as hard as is humanly possible." According to Putnam, the team will focus on three areas in hopes of sparking an individual to take the leap and plug the hole in the fifth position. Concentration, strength and segmentation (running parts of courses during practice) are the elements that Putnam intends to stress for the rest of the season. The schedule does not get any easier for the Jumbos this weekend as the team treks to New Hampshire to battle the number two team in the nation, Keene State. The Jumbos are the tenth ranked team in the country. "Frankly, we have not ran as well against Keene State as I'd like," Putnam said. "[This week] I'm going to research and try and find out why." "Keene State is always good," Mann said. "This meet is always interesting. Last year we didn't run well. We respect what they've done but we want to let [our] freshmen know that there is a difference between respect and fear."
They're coming. You thought you could leave them at home, but they followed you. Your safe haven is now no longer your own. For three days, you're going to have to wine them, dine them, and prove to them that you're doing more than just... well, you know. We here at Weekender realize that Parents' Weekend can be a very stressful and traumatic couple of days. But have no fear, we have come up with plenty of ways for you to entertain your parents and make them think that you actually know Beantown backwards and forwards. Take advantage of their credit cards and their empty-nest syndrome and with a little creativity, you can use the weekend to your advantage.Breakfast: We know that Dewick will give your parents free grub. But we don't care. Come on, you have to get the day off to a good start with a power breakfast. Go to Soundbites, located in Ball Square, for a meal that will knock your parents off their feet. And it won't be too hard on their wallets (you do have to ease them into the spending spree). Most likely, you'll have to wait on line for about fifteen minutes to get into this small, cramped but cozy space. It is well worth the wait. Once inside, treat yourself to Belgian waffles, their famous homefries, creative omelettes, and daily specials such as French toast stuffed with cream cheese and strawberries. Coffee is self-serve but yummy. Soundbites has won the Best of Boston breakfast award numerous times. Bring your parents here on Saturday, and they'll want to come back for more on Sunday. Food Shopping: While you're in the area and thinking about food, why not continue the trend. Stock up on snacks, ramen noodles, pop tarts, and microwave dinners at Star Market in Porter Square or Wild Oats on Route 16. This may be your one chance to gather berries before hibernating for the winter, so choose your items carefully - may we recommend the non-perishables? Star Market offers competitive prices and lots of selection, but do we really care about competitive prices when our parents are footing the bill? They do offer, however, an interesting section of international foods and fresh produce. But like we said, stick with the non-perishables. Nobody likes to see what happens to a banana after a semester in a micro-fridge. Wild Oats is a bit more upscale and caters to a trendy whole-wheat, health-nut crowd. It may be difficult to find Chef Boyardee, but they do have whole wheat pasta and energy bars up the wazoo. You and your parents can grab a frappucino after shopping to refuel for the next round of activities. Picnic Lunch: It's no coincidence that Parents' Weekend is scheduled around one of the last chances you'll have to see New England in it's autumn splendor. The Arnold Arboretum, located in Jamaica Plains and accessible by T, is a must-see. With 15,000 trees on picturesque grounds, you can watch the fall colors while lounging next to fragrant waterlily ponds or under bonsai and lilac trees. Wait a second, are we still in Boston? Yes, you are, though you may feel more like you're in a Monet landscape. This will be a good chance for you and your parents to catch up on the past few months and bond. The best part of this adventure is that it's free. Take a picnic along for a good, low-cost afternoon. After all, they do need to save money for a nice dinner. Dinner: Head to the North End for some authentic Italian food and culture. Walking up and down Salem Street, you'll find a plethora of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, and stores to peruse. On a busy Saturday night, you'll hear the din of lively conversations with Pavarotti singing away in the background. Try to stay away from chain Italian restaurants such as La Famiglia and aim for a smaller, more intimate place off the beaten path such as Al Dente or Assagio. You'll be well rewarded with unique dishes and friendly service. Top off the evening with a trip to Mike's Pastries for one of their famous cannolis and a cappuccino. With their tummies full and their wallets empty, by the end of the weekend your parents will be as happy to get rid of you as you will be to get rid of them.
It seems that everyone I tell that I'm not voting for president responds with a resounding "are you kidding me?" followed by a brief lecture on how important it is to exercise my right. Then, since most people on this campus are Democrats, and I'm a Republican who is scared of George W. Bush, they usually try to convince me that instead of "wasting my vote," I should vote for Gore so as to make sure Bush doesn't become our next leader. I say to all of you who are not voting for someone who you believe in, but are instead choosing "the lesser of two evils," you are the ones who are wasting your votes, and you are the ones who are compromising the democratic process by endorsing a candidate you do not trust, simply because he's not as bad as the other guy. Am I not exercising my right to vote just as much as those of you who do vote? I have evaluated the candidates, I have thought hard about it, and I cannot endorse either one (or Nader, or anyone else). I have chosen not to vote for Gore, just like some of you, and I have chosen not to vote for Bush, just like the rest of you. I have taken advantage of the democratic process to tell the Republicans that I disapprove of their nominee for president and to tell the Democrats that they have not fielded a candidate strong enough, in my opinion, to lure me towards voting Democrat. Many fear that this year will produce the lowest presidential voter turnout in a long while; I regret to say I hope that, come the end of the day, this is actually the case - those of us who find neither candidate appealing will send a stronger message by not endorsing either of them. This, of course, is not to say we should refrain from the other choices on the ballot. I am far from endorsing political apathy, and I have voted in my own local elections. I was going to vote Bush until maybe a month ago. I generally tend to associate myself with Republican principles, especially Republican economic principles and size-of-government principles. But I'm not very conservative on some of the more concrete issues, and I have always struggled to compromise my belief in conservative economics and government with my lack of agreement on social conservatism. My vote for Bush/Cheney was not on solid ground to begin with; after listening to Bush speak over the last month, after evaluating his image and his questionable record as governor of Texas and his inexperience in Washington, and maybe even after getting one too many "Bush-isms" emails, I feel that voting for Bush would be to sell myself short. I could not invest myself in such a vote, so I will not give it. I don't understand why people tend to think that means I should automatically vote for Gore, or for Nader for that matter. I don't agree with the Vice President on some important issues, precisely because of my Republican orientation: I worry he will increase government size and programs, raise taxes, and further socialist-style economics. I am concerned about his ties with labor unions and, to top it off, I simply don't like him whenever he opens up his mouth. Why would I vote for this man? Should I vote for him because the country is thriving under his boss? Speaking of the President, I can't help but think that if this were the last election not dealing with an incumbent, the '92 election, I wouldn't have to pen something like this Viewpoint. Bush, Sr. versus Clinton is a far more appealing choice for me, as I'm sure it is for many Americans, than Bush, Jr. versus Gore. So too, listening to Colin Powell speak last week, I couldn't help but think that, were he to run, all this "lesser of two evils" rhetoric would be greatly reduced. In my humble opinion, Gore should have had a much easier time with this election. If he can barely beat Bush, he would have been toppled by the General. So I am telling my party that I am unsatisfied with its candidate; that I will not vote for him. That shouldn't have to mean that I cross over to Democrat, and it won't - I am not voting Al Gore by default, though I'm sure a lot of people are. Gore is the safe vote, I guess, and that's fine. Go ahead and vote him because he is the lesser evil. Go ahead and be proud of how you are taking part in the democratic process. That process was designed to give us a say in the way this country operates. But a "say" without conviction is empty, and I will not give an empty vote. I am voting, or not voting, based on conviction, and that is my "say." It may be in a distorted and impractical way, but I'm taking advantage of my freedom more so than any person who is voting without believing.Russell Capone is a junior majoring in political science. He is sports editor of the Daily.
Under the dark auspice of Missouri Gov. Mel Carnahan's death, Governor George W. Bush and Vice President Albert Gore engaged in their final and most crucial debate on Tuesday. It was each candidate's final chance to engage the American electorate in a last attempt to sway the undecided voters. At its onset, Bush appeared weak and demure; he was nervous and unsteady. Gore, on the other hand, looked not only strong and confident, but also assertive and aggressive. Setting the tone for the evening, Gore incessantly attacked Bush on Texas' lackluster performance in such areas as health care and social services. The debate, as early flash polls and voter reactions showed, was overwhelmingly won by Gore, and could be hailed as a pivotal point in his campaign. The actual setup of this debate easily favored Gore. Over the past twenty years, he has had nearly one thousand separate town-hall meetings and is at ease in this style of discussion. Unlike the past two debates, Gore seemed comfortable, calm, and confident. His posture and demeanor were not only natural, but also animated and alive. Bush on the other hand appeared to be the 'robot', standing still and stiff in the middle of the stage. Gore engaged the audience, garnering the trust and confidence of the viewing public. This was a true role-reversal, and to Gore's credit. What he had to do in this debate was to appear convincing and poised without coming off as overly aggressive or hostile. He achieved a great balance here, not only appeasing fears of his stoic persona, but also convincing the voters that his stances on the issues were stronger than those of Gov. Bush. Bush continued to seem uncomfortable in this setting throughout the debate. He flubbed words, at one point describing teachers who deal with 'Washington red-tape' as 'Paper-Filler-Outers'. Seriously, who wants a President who speaks as if he has just graduated from the fourth-grade? More "Bushism's" followed: he at one point answered a question about HMO's by simply saying that 'I can get it done,' which in turn caused broad laughter in the audience. These vague, convoluted answers really made Bush appear weak on the issues. He evaded many questions, including Gore's incessant prodding about the Dingle-Norwood bill. When analyzing the debate, one can see how Bush ducked nearly every question. He constantly reverted to planned lines and quotes, such as attacking Gore as a dangerous 'Washington insider'. He also admitted that the majority of his tax cuts went to the richest one-percent and finally confessed that Gore's 'fuzzy math' was correct. Bush continued to stumble on education and drug benefits, while Gore kept up his attack. Not only did Gore fortify his support among Democrats, he also reached out to the undecided, convincing these wavering voters that Bush's plans and ideas would set the nation back eight years. On the issues, Gore was specific and succinct, giving detailed and truly convincing answers. Bush on the other hand, stuttered through his responses. Not only did he give vague answers, but he also made convoluted and contradictory statements. Case in point, Bush attacked Gore using an ad that journalists virtually vilified and debunked as misleading. When Gore alerted Bush to this fact, Bush simply said 'Forget the journalists'. These insensitive, unintelligent comments plagued Bush during the entire debate and his campaign. They are a sign of a man lacking the intellect to lead the nation through crisis and turmoil. Gore asserted Tuesday that he was the only candidate who can truly and effectively lead the nation. He displayed an expansive knowledge of every issue. Bush, on the other hand, was thematic, not specific. He came to the debate prepared for neither the issues, nor the format. Gore's most interesting and effective argument came when he nearly quoted Ronald Reagan, asking the audience 'If they wanted to return to a time of high deficits and tax cuts for the rich'. Gore displayed that he would not dwell in the failures of the Reagan-Bush years, but rather would continue and enhance the prosperity achieved during the Clinton years. Bottom line, Al Gore was a different, better man. He did what he wanted, and didn't restrain himself too much. He simply owned the stage. Unlike last week, Gore illustrated the divide between himself and Bush, and showed how he would be the better and more effective President. He was finally comfortable in his skin, and not only was he the far superior candidate on the issues, but he also presented himself as likeable and personable. He was almost, gasp, Clintonian. Gore was Gore. For the first time, he was himself, and finally, he completely obliterated Bush on both the issues and on character. Bush didn't rise to Gore's challenge. He stayed reserved and aloof while Gore kept pounding away. When it comes down to it, Gore was the stronger, more effective debater, convincing the American public that he is the better candidate. We truly 'ain't seen nothing yet'. Adam Blickstein is a freshman that has not declared a major.
After a seven-hour hearing and a weekend of deliberations, the campus is presented with a fair but unclear ruling. Despite the structured, multi-motion organization of the TCUJ's ruling, it still fails to speak with one voice on the most basic question: did the TCF discriminate against Julie Catalano on the basis of her sexual orientation? After pondering the first two seemingly self-contradictory parts of the ruling for some time, I believe the Judiciary has in fact ruled clearly that including religious criteria in leadership selection does not constitute discrimination. Though I commend the TCUJ for the commitment it showed to uncovering the facts of the case and acting with integrity in its deliberations, I believe it misinterpreted a critical piece of evidence in its second motion. In the first of the four motions, the Judiciary ruled that the TCF did not discriminate against Ms. Catalano in its vote on whether she could become a Senior Leader. The ruling states "The process used by TCF to choose their leaders is fair. Had this process been followed, Ms. Catalano would have been given the same consideration as any heterosexual candidate for leadership." This statement recognizes that the decision was based on religious beliefs, not her sexual orientation, and states that this does not violate the non-discrimination policy as it stands. The second motion, however, states something entirely different, claiming that the TCF did discriminate against Ms. Catalano on the basis of her sexual orientation. The Judiciary states that the TCF held a double standard, refusing her leadership, but failing to impeach another Senior Leader who, it claims, shared her beliefs. Had this been the case, the ruling would have been just. However, the Judiciary's own rationale highlights the important distinction: "During the hearing, he was asked if it mattered to him, personally, that Julie intended to carry out, in practice, her sexual orientation. He responded, 'No.'" The TCUJ misinterpreted his testimony and confused his support of Ms. Catalano's leadership with support of her beliefs. He explicitly stated that he agreed with the other Senior Leaders on the question of the Bible's teaching on homosexual practice, but, for a period of time, he disagreed on how this should affect her leadership status. This is the "differentiating characteristic" between the former Senior Leader and Ms. Catalano, which the Judiciary claims does not exist. Although we believe the Judiciary misread some of the evidence, the ruling fundamentally upheld the TCF's right to free practice of religion, including the use of religious beliefs in leadership selection. The ramifications of this decision go well beyond providing for the TCF's continued recognition, serving to protect the right of all groups to form around shared beliefs. The Judiciary should also be commended for addressing the ambiguity of the non-discrimination policy and its unclear relationship to religious freedom. Whether the policy requires clarification is a question for the administration to consider, but it is essential to be clear on both the intended goals and adverse consequences of any changes. If Tufts decides to alter the policy to enforce the dominant views on controversial issues such as homosexuality, then Tufts has taken a large step away from diversity and tolerance - the very virtues it was intending to protect. The TCF supports and has supported the non-discrimination policy and the principles behind it, and had already revised the constitution to make that support completely clear even before the hearing. We maintain that we did not violate the policy and did not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation. Unless revisions prohibit religious groups from using religious beliefs as criteria for leadership, we will continue to support the policy and abide by it. Yet the TCF views clarification of the Judiciary's ruling and constitutional revision as small matters next to the challenges that lie ahead. As the aftermath of the decision continues to play out and voices on both sides raise concerns over the ruling, it seems likely that the growing rift between the liberal and conservative voices - and, in particular, between members of the TTLGBC and the TCF - will only widen. Though we stand by our views because we believe them to be true, we are ever aware that they may come across as threatening, offensive, and personally hurtful. Despite the monumental barriers, we sincerely desire to create an atmosphere of mutual tolerance, open and civil dialogue, and, God-willing, eventually mutual respect for each other. These are the most important issues to be addressed, and unfortunately the most difficult. I see two possible outcomes of the present controversy. We could continue to stand at a distance, misunderstanding and misrepresenting each other. We could continue to communicate with each other through impersonal viewpoints and offensive chalkings. The controversy would eventually die down with neither side able to claim the clear-cut victory they were hoping for, and we would continue on much the same, except with an increased mistrust and dislike for each other. I believe there is another possibility. We accept coexistence with those who are different from us and whose beliefs may offend us - the coexistence we will all face when we leave the university microcosm. We seek to at the very least tolerate, then we seek to understand, then we seek to respect. Is this not the whole purpose of a university atmosphere of cultural, intellectual, and social diversity? Is tolerance and respect not what we pride ourselves on as socially and intellectually mature students? If Tufts seeks to prepare its students for leadership in a diverse and ever-changing world, that leadership must start by example. We must be the "light on the hill" the founders of Tufts envisioned. Jonothan Crowe is a senior majoring in international relations. He is a TCF senior leader.
The University trustees, Tufts' highest governing body, came together with members of the faculty this Saturday to discuss Tufts' future as it struggles to toe the fine line between being a small liberal arts college and a research university. Discussion at the posh Gifford House event, attended by most of the 37 Trustees as well as faculty representatives from many of Tufts' schools and departments, revolved largely around financial issues and concerns about a lack of building space on this campus - although the Trustees' upcoming search to replace University President John DiBiaggio also received some attention. "The most immediate challenge we will have over a short period of time is to replace John DiBiaggio," said Nathan Gantcher, chairman of the Board of Trustees. While Gantcher and his fellow trustees were decidedly cautious when discussing the University's financial state in comparison to its benchmark schools, they were quick to point out the successes of DiBiaggio's tenure. "When John DiBiaggio came to this campus nine years ago, his point-of-view was that this school was the most under-endowed school, on a per-student basis, for its reputation and academic level," Gantcher said, noting that there has been a "tremendous momentum" in University fundraising - including completion of the $400 million capital campaign - since DiBiaggio arrived. Several faculty members, in light of the expansion that this influx of capital has brought to the University's infrastructure and its research resources, raised questions about how Tufts would deal with the possibility of becoming too big for its britches. "We as a department are currently enjoying and suffering from growing pains," said Associate Professor of Child Development Ann Easterbrooks. "Are there strategic plans to develop and acquire parcels of land and facilities close to campus?" "There's no question, we're landlocked," responded Provost Sol Gittleman. "We've taken space wherever we could, we've made tactical decisions. We are going to have to be very, very creative with how we fill the parcels we've got left." "We've tried to maintain the aesthetics of this campus," added DiBiaggio. "Now students are talking about additional residence halls. The only way we're going to accomplish that, from our perspective, is to take another building down. We don't want to infringe further on the green space." Gantcher explained to the body why the housing crunch persists, even after the construction of South Hall in 1990. "We have a challenge for more beds on this campus. There's a big demand to live on campus today, because of things like the Internet access, and the high cost of real estate. For students now, it's much cheaper for them to live in dorms," he said. Beyond housing and physical space concerns, faculty members listed several macro-issues they hope the University will address in the coming years, including raising faculty salaries and increasing the number of endowed chairs. "What we really need, for the whole University and the Veterinary School, is more endowed positions," said Biomedical Sciences Professor Anwer Sawkat. In response, Gantcher again noted the difficult financial situation the University faces, despite the recent, and much celebrated, strides. "We are an undercapitalized institution. And this business is becoming more and more competitive in keeping the kind of faculty we need," he said. The Chairman also brought up the issue of financial aid, of particular importance after the large boosts that many of Tufts' benchmark schools have given their programs in the past two years. "Many of these rich schools are going forward with their programs," he said. "It's a competitive business today. We could have a good set of wealthy kids from the northeast. That's not what we want. We want diversity."
Do you know what the Clio Awards are? Does it worry you that I do? For those of you who weren't forced to watch whatever was on network television growing up because your parents were too "wholesome" to get cable (no bitterness here), the Clios are given to advertising agencies in recognition of particularly poignant or humorous commercials. Apart from rewarding hard-working advertising executives with a night on the town, the Clios bring commercials to the attention of the television watching audience as more than just a chance to run to the fridge. The Clios are only one way in which commercials have been heralded as an art form and a medium for communication. Many people watch the Superbowl for the outrageous and expensive advertisements. Even Boston's own Museum of Fine Arts is about to recognize the artistic value of television commercials with its film The World's Best Commercials of the Century, opening this Friday. Though the movie is a strict presentation of advertisements with no narration, introduction or conclusion, the ads themselves tell stories and generate enough interest to make you enjoy all 86 minutes. Think of it as a collection of skits like Saturday Night Live... with an agenda. The film features some ads you've never seen, some you've never forgotten, and some that are so embedded in your brain that seeing them on screen is like seeing a best friend from elementary school. Appropriately, The World's Best Commercials of the Century highlights the commercials (and their role in shaping modern perceptions of a universal society) in a manner befitting of the medium - by letting the ads speak for themselves. The commercial spots are presented in five categories, including Humor, Politically Incorrect, and Public Service Announcements (PSA's). Since they're chosen from all over the world, you get some pretty racy segments that air in countries with less censorship. Some ads include nudity - almost all of them have sexual innuendo (because hey, sex sells) - and, interestingly enough, most of them are British. One commercial in particular, though not British, stands out as memorable perhaps because it's gained enough acclaim to be circulated over the Internet. A family of four Northern Europeans gets into a car and turns on the radio. They start grooving to the tunes and the lyrics come on: "I wanna f--k you up the ass." The happy family continues grooving and drives away, as the phone number for a language institute offering English lessons scrolls across the screen. Point made, ad remembered, product promoted. Since the purpose of a commercial is to target an audience and communicate a distinct message, a good advertisement has a distinct beginning, middle, and end. The best commercials seem to involve a short plot, developed using universal cues that both communicate the message and fit into the short time allotted. Ads that tell a story have the added advantage of capturing your attention, getting you involved, and opening you up to their message. Usually, the message is still, "Buy our product," but told in a much more elaborate and entertaining way. Oftentimes, advertisements are similar to snapshots, in that they show a single aspect of modern life. Inherently reflective of the culture in which they were created, these ads transport you through time and society into a world that no longer exists - or likely never existed. Ads themselves have entered the pop-culture vernacular, with such catch phrases as "Just Do It," "Yo Quiero Taco Bell," "He likes it, hey Mikey!" and "Where's the beef?" More than just the subject of water-cooler conversation, a memorable ad can change an opinion or even the behavior of the viewer. The World's Best Commercials of the Century compiles some of the classics that have formed the foundation for the cinematographic masterpieces we see on television today. Though many of them aired before our time, all are still humorous or relevant because they succeeded in communicating an idea and eliciting a response. One might argue that some cultural mascots have emerged from commercials, such as the Energizer Bunny, the Coca Cola polar bears, or the "Yes, yes I am," Bud Light man. In a consumer society hooked on mass communication, it's only natural that the lines between television and reality have become blurred as aspects of TV culture enter reality and vice versa. PSAs in particular hold an almost direct discourse with their audience, and the PSAs featured in The World's Best Commercials of the Century are strong enough to change your behavior and get you thinking. The Anti-Fur and World Hunger PSAs in particular provoke an interactive relationship by making the viewer nauseous. Hey, at least it's a reaction, right? The television commercial has emerged as its own medium for sending societal messages. Where that message once was something as straight-forward as "Buy this product," these days it has evolved into a complex system of cultural coding and emerged as an art form in itself. Watch The World's Best Commercials of the Century and take a look at the foundations of the ads with which we grew up. You may never watch television the same way again.
After a wild weekend of NESCAC football action, five teams find themselves tied for the top slot in the conference. Amherst, Colby, Middlebury, Trinity, and Wesleyan currently share first place in the NESCAC, each with identical 3-1 records. Perhaps most surprising, however, is that Williams is not among that bunch, but rather knotted with the Jumbos at 2-2 and in sixth place. Former surprise conference leader Colby saw its undefeated record fall at Amherst on Saturday, courtesy of a second-half comeback by the Lord Jeffs. The White Mules took a 14-7 lead into the locker room, only to see the hosts respond with 21 unanswered points. The White Mules appeared to be in command late in the second quarter when last week's NESCAC player of the Week, quarterback Pat Conley, engineered his second 80-yard drive of the first half, culminating in a 55-yard touchdown pass to wideout Danny Noyes. Midway through the third quarter, though, Amherst rejuvenated itself and never looked back. After an interception ended the team's opening possession of the half, Lord Jeffs quarterback Pete Honig and receiver Derrell Wright combined for a school-record 91-yard touchdown strike. From there on in, Conley and the Colby offense were completely shut down, as he threw two interceptions and the rushing game garnered just 32 yards on the afternoon. Meanwhile, Amherst junior running back Okey Ugonwali and Wright would each hit paydirt for the second time of the day before the Lord Jeffs came away with the 28-14 victory. Honig finished with three touchdown passes - all in the second half - and 224 yards passing, while his counterpart completed 24 of 43 passes, for 243 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. The Lord Jeffs, who are now off to their best start since 1997, were relentless on defense, holding the NESCAC's top ranked offense to just 276 total yards and sacking Conley four times. Not more than an hour away in Williamstown, Ma., the Middlebury Panthers were in the process of upsetting the once omnipotent Williams Ephmen, 7-0. With the loss, Williams drops to 2-2. The setback also marks the first time that Williams has lost two home games in Farley's 14-year tenure, and also the first time the Ephmen have been shut out in Williamstown since 1992. The Panthers got all the points they needed on their first possession of the second half after the Ephs had delayed the inevitable late in the first quarter by virtue of an interception in the end zone. Middlebury quarterback Scott Roberts hit Devon O'Neil for a 46-yard score halfway through the third quarter, giving his team its first back-to-back shutouts since 1992. Williams would not go down quietly, though, mounting repeated attacks in the fourth quarter. Two of the Ephmen's three drives were ended by Panther interceptions, though, and the third was silenced by an incomplete pass on fourth down by Williams quarterback Joesph Reardon with just 1:50 to go. For the game, Williams racked up 293 yards of total offense to the Panther's 235, but O'Neil's touchdown proved to be the X-factor. The Eph's usually bruising ground game was limited to just 96 yards, while Middlebury ran for 127. Wesleyan arrived in the first place deadlock by virtue of a 20-17 come-from-behind win over Bates in Lewiston, Me. Rookie quarterback Brett Carney and receiver George Thompson accounted for two fourth-quarter scores for the Cardinal, who overcame a 10-0 Bobcat lead at halftime for their 14 consecutive victory over the hosts. Carney and Thompson struck first with 10 minutes to go on a 27-yard connection to give Wesleyan its first lead of the game at 14-10, and then again at 7:46 to up the ante to 20-17. Bates then blocked the extra point, but was unable to get in field goal range before time ran out. Bates, which is still searching for its first win at 0-4, had a superb individual effort from running back Sean Atkins (21 carries for 146 yards and one touchdown). For Wesleyan, Carney ended up with 252 yards on 15 completions for two scores, while Thompson caught four passes for 105 yards on the day. Elsewhere, in a match-up of the NESCAC's two other winless teams in Clinton, NY, Hamilton escaped with a 13-6 decision to break an 11-game skid dating to last season. The Continentals, who were 0-8 last fall, broke a 6-6 tie at 9:11 in the fourth when freshman Elijah Hulig dashed 38-yards for the game-winner. Bowdoin extended its losing streak to eight games, while rushing for -8 yards.
After last season's overtime loss to Fitchburg State in the Northeast ECAC semifinals, the Tufts hockey team was determined to emerge atop their conference this season. This will be the Jumbos' last chance for retribution, though, as they will be moving up into the more competitive NESCAC conference next year. "I don't think there is any reason that we should be expecting anything else [except winning the conference]," senior co-captain Dan Mahoney said. "It would be a great way to leave the league." This may not be an easy task, though, since the Jumbos were ranked fifth in the preseason coaches poll, behind, among others, Fitchburg State. Defending ECAC champion Wentworth College leads the pack with 154 points, followed by Fitchburg State and Lebanon Valley with 133, and UMass-Dartmouth with 128. Tufts was close behind with 115 points.On paper, the Jumbos appear to have taken some huge hits in the off-season, losing their top two leading scorers in Drew Carleton and Scott Sullivan, which may have caused their lower-than-expected ranking. But with the return of junior Jason Budrow, who led the team in scoring his freshman year, and a solid defensive lineup, the team should be able to compete for the title. "We don't really want to pay to much attention to [the preseason rankings], but we should be seeded higher," Mahoney said. "We are clearly better than that," coach Brian Murphy said about the ranking. "We are going to win the ECAC Northeast. We are continuing to make progress and we need to take care of all of the league games." The team will begin their in-conference schedule on Sunday in a match-up against Suffolk, a team that Tufts traditionally demolishes, most recently in an 8-4 pounding early last season. Things are not looking promising for Suffolk, ranked 13th in the preseason poll. Despite being heavily favored, Murphy will not let his team go into the game halfheartedly, noting that every conference game is of utmost importance. "We have to win conference games," he said. "The Suffolk game counts as much as anything else. After that game we will look at the next game. We are not going to be looking ahead to February yet, when we will be playing some of the top teams in the conference." Mahoney shares his coach's sentiments, realizing that every game needs to be played as intensely as possible. "We aren't worried [about Suffolk], but we are not going to take them lightly," he said. "Whoever we are playing we are all going to be fired up and take it one game at a time." The team's schedule increases in difficulty as the season goes on, with a number of rather weak opponents in the first month. "There aren't any teams that we can show up to win," senior Natan Obed said. "We have to show up and play hard every time we go out." While the schedule should prove to be tame before winter break, the Jumbos will have a string of tough games to finish up the regular season, including matches against top-ranked Wentworth, Fitchburg State, UMass-Dartmouth, and Lebanon Valley all within a three-week span. "Wentworth has a decent team," Obed said. "They are hardworking and have a bunch of juniors and seniors." More than anyone on the schedule, the Jumbos will be gunning for longtime rival Fitchburg State, which defeated Tufts in the regular and post season last year. "It's definitely a bit of a rivalry," Obed said. "We have closed the gap on them in the last few years, though. We used to get blown out by them my freshman year, and I know all of the seniors hope we will be able to beat them handily this year." Fitchburg State may have lost some steam in the off-season, since it has begun this season with an inauspicious 2-2 record. Although the Jumbos will have to wait until Feb. 3 for the much-anticipated rematch, the game will likely mark a pivotal point in the season, as both teams should be competing for playoff spots. If there is a year to beat up on Fitchburg State this will have to be the one, since Tufts will enter the cutthroat NESCAC conference next season. While this is a huge step up for the program, wins may become scarce in the immediate future. "I'm sure recruiting will be easier, alluring better talent into the program," Obed said. "It might be a tough transition, though. The NESCAC is the best league in Division III in the United States. It's a huge step up for the program. The hockey team has made huge strides since I was a freshman." The 18-school ECAC conference will shrink to 16 teams in the off-season, while the NESCAC conference will grow to ten teams, including two ranked in the national top ten preseason poll, with Middlebury 5th and Williams tenth. NESCAC teams will have numerous ECAC opponents, each type of game holding a different kind of importance. "The in-conference games count more," Mahoney said, "but the other non-conference games are just as intense because we want to show people we can compete against teams outside of the conference as well." In their last stint in the ECAC conference, the Jumbos are looking to turn some heads and bring home a championship banner before they have to face the wrath of teams like Middlebury or Williams, perennial national contenders. "This will be the year that Tufts finds out it has a hockey team," Obed said confidently.
"Wherever you are, kill those Jews and those Americans who are like them." - Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya. On Nov. 29, 1947, the United Nations voted in favor of creating two states in what was then a British protectorate of Palestine. One was to be a Jewish state and the other an Arab state. The Arab world unanimously rejected the creation of the two states, and called for a Jihad, a holy war, to expel the Jews from Palestine. In planning for the destruction of the newly formed state of Israel, the Arab leadership headed by the great mufti of Jerusalem, Husseini, urged the Arab residents in the state of Israel to leave their homes in Israel in order to return later with the triumphant Arab armies. Husseini argued that if Arabs didn't partake in this migration, the Jews would slaughter all who stayed. The Jewish state called on the Arabs to stay in place and become citizens of the state, but the calls were not heeded, and a massive Arab exodus occurred. When the Arabs attacked the Jewish state right after its declaration of independence in 1948, Israel, in its state of war, ejected some of the remaining Arabs. When a truce was declared in 1949, the West Bank and East Jerusalem were under Jordanian rule. At this point, the Arab countries did not absorb the Arab refugees. They were placed in refugee camps in Egypt (Gaza), Jordan (the West Bank), and Lebanon. The Arab world maintained those territories until 1967, and during those years there was no call to form a Palestinian state, nor was there any nationalistic movement to form a state. In the six-day war of 1967, Israel was attacked on all borders. Israel came out of that war taking the West Bank and East Jerusalem from Jordan. The territories that Arab Palestinians now want as Palestine were never autonomous. The concept of a Palestinian homeland is a new concept that the Arabs created when Israel annexed these territories. One must remember that surrounding Israel there are 22 Arab countries that serve as homelands to Arabs. Israel, the only democratic state in the Middle East, takes up one tenth of one percent of that area, and is the single Jewish country. Although the developing state of Israel cannot afford to lose parts of the small share of land it has, in the name of peace, Prime Minister Ehud Barak was willing to make a sacrifice. About a month ago Barak offered the head of the Palestinian Authority (PA), Yasser Arafat, 92 percent of the West Bank and partial control over East Jerusalem. Arafat refused to accept this offer because he would not renounce the use of future force and any further attempts to gain territory in Israel. Arafat is not willing to give up his right to claim more land, and therefore is not willing to make peace. A few weeks ago Ariel Sharon visited the temple mount. His visit was arranged and approved in advance, and was in no way violent. He was visiting a site holy to Jews and Muslims. His visit was used as an excuse for Arabs to begin violent attacks on Israel. They had a violent response to a non- aggressive act. As soon as the violence erupted, the PA canceled schools, and encouraged children to fight in the streets. The PA's television network broadcasted film clips from the Intifada to rouse its people to wage war. The PA and the Arabs see it as an honor to fight and become martyrs. Since the outbreak of this latest violence, the state of Israel has been acting in self-defense. The Israeli soldiers are under orders to only act in self-defense. In reality, Israel has shown great restraint against Palestinian attackers. When the Jewish holy site of Joseph's tomb was dest0royed, there was no Israeli retaliation. When an Arab mob in Ramallah brutally tortured and killed two Jewish men being held by the Palestinian Authority police, the Arab crowds cheered at the sight of Jewish blood. Israel responded by announcing to the Palestinian authorities that in three hours they would be sending helicopter gun ships to Ramallah and that they should evacuate. Israel wanted only to make a symbolic response and not to kill anyone. A couple of weekends ago, even as Arafat prepared to attend peace talks in Egypt, the Palestinian Authority television broadcast a Friday sermon given by Dr. Ahmad Abu Halabiya (a member of the PA "fatwa council"), in the Zayed bin Sultan Aal Nahyan mosque in Gaza. In his sermon he said, "As Allah the almighty said, ' fight them: Allah will torture them at your hands, and will humiliate them and will help you to overcome them...' Have no mercy on the Jews, no matter where they are, in any country. Fight them, wherever you are. Wherever you meet them, kill them. Wherever you are, kill those Jews and those Americans who are like them." (Translation is provided by the Middle East Media Research Institute). Last week's cease-fire agreement is being ignored by Palestinian gunmen who continue to shoot at Jewish homes in the city of Gilo in Jerusalem. Israel can no longer continue to allow attacks on its citizens. Israelis and Jews everywhere desperately want to see an end to bloodshed. However, only when both sides realize the destructive power of hate will there be a chance for peace.Tally Aliphas is a freshman who has not yet decided on a major. Aliphas is a member of Friends of Israel.
Sporting several returning veterans and competing towards a new championship at season's end, the women's swimming and diving team, which kicked off its season on Saturday with a victory over Clark, hopes to improve on last year's 4-5 record and tenth-place finish at the New England Championships. "This season we are going to work on the team, build team unity," coach Nancy Bigelow said. The Jumbos this year have a squad of 48 swimmers, a large team that will give Bigelow many options at each meet. Senior tri-captain Kira Kuhn sees the enormity of the team as an advantage. "Our numbers is our strength" Kuhn said. "However, we need to work on team morale. Getting to know each other with such a big team is difficult. It is hard to keep in touch." Though the Jumbos' focus will be on the team, the women will be led by veteran swimmers, specifically Kuhn and the other two tri-captains, seniors Kristin Horton and Nancy Leahy. Horton holds two school records, and also qualified for Nationals last season. "She's looking to have her best year yet," Bigelow said. Kuhn and Leahy, meanwhile, are coming back from semesters abroad and will be looking to lead the team to a better finish than last year. While last season ended in disappointment at New Englands, the Jumbos will end their season at a new venue this year. The team will no longer compete at the New England Championships, but will instead wrap up the year - barring individual qualifications for nationals - at the first-ever NESCAC Championships. While the team lost 16 seniors to graduation, including All-New England swimmer Lisa Vernoy, it now gains several freshman, the most promising of whom include Mika Sumiyoshi and Amanda Bloom, who will look to overcome the adjustment from high school to college athletics. The team will also be aided by the versatility of swimmers like juniors Sarah Hertzog and Miranda Eagles and sophomore Ashley Jennings. Other sophomore returnees include Shayna Burke, Emily Gordon, and Maurisa Riley. "This team works hard and has a good attitude," Bigelow said. "They want to do well." Other than the swimming events, there are two diving events in each meet, for a total of 36 points, which can often make the difference in close competitions. Seniors Sally Abbott and Sarah Booth and sophomore Angela Russo will lead the diving team, and should be helped by freshman addition Beth Wecksell. "As a team, we look good" Abbott said. "I am excited about the season." The season officially began for the Jumbos this past Saturday at Clark. The Jumbos took the meet 176-110, with first-place performances by Horton in the 100 and 200 breast (1:13, 2:38) and Gordon in the 1,000 freestyle (11:32). "Gordon swam faster at this meet than all of last year" Bigelow said. "This was good for her confidence." Other wins came from Sumiyoshi in the 200 freestyle (2:00) and 100 butterfly (1:03), Eagles in the 200 butterfly (2:25) and 500 freestyle (5:39), Bloom in the 100 freestyle (58.22), and Jennings in the 200 backstroke (2:23). Wecksell started her collegiate diving career with a third-place finish in the one-meter and a second place finish in the three-meter, while Russo finished second in the one-meter and third in the three-meter. "This wasn't a pressure packed meet so we trained through it," Bigelow said. "The girls were tired going into the meet. We will swim faster at the end of the season." The team's training regiment will remain heavy for the first half of the season in the hopes of qualifying for Nationals, a goal which can be reached with just one race team. "As a senior I want to have a good time," Kuhn said. "On Saturday I was nervous about my races but more excited about the team and the racing atmosphere." Tufts' next meet will come after the break against Wellesley; not hindered by NESCAC rules, Wellesley was able to practice as a team for four weeks more than Tufts. The home meet will take place Wednesday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m.
Monkey Hands started out doing late-night guerrilla practice sessions in the South Hall basement and playing at parties around Tufts in 1996. At the end of their first year, the musicians recorded Explorations into the Nature of Garbage, an experimental noise recording in which they gathered garbage from around Hill Hall after students moved out and began to make music out of whatever they found. Monkey Hands consists of three Tufts/New England Conservatory (NEC) students - Todd LaCompte on trumpet, guitar, and vocals, J. P. Eliots on piano and keyboards, and Rob Sapien on drums. The foursome is rounded out by renowned jazz musician Craig Polasko on bass. The band's name comes from a wrestling maneuver that Eliot used in his days on the team at Rindge and Latin High School in Cambridge. Driven by Eliots' Doors-esque psychedelic keyboard work, the music incorporates strong jazz and reggae elements in the bass, drums, guitar and trumpet. As their influences, members of Monkey Hands list a wide array of things that would otherwise have nothing to do with each other - Jennifer Love Hewitt, going to the zoo, food, their everyday environment, Dr. Frog (a local band), Gary Wilson (an obscure musician from the 1970's), Bruce Hornsby, Shania Twain, and R. Kelly. "You get influenced by the things you see everyday," says Drummer Rob Sapien. Over the years, Monkey Hands has continued to perform and has made a few recordings, the most recent of which is Monkey Hands (The Heroes of the Future), a cassette demo featuring four of the band's 15 original songs. "Oh Amanda" is an ode to Hewitt's character in the movie Can't Hardly Wait. "Monkey Hands (All Across This Sweet Land)" is an all-around silly and playful song sure to garner a few laughs from listeners. "No Girls Allowed" is a reggae song about an island where the only rule is... well, the title pretty much speaks for itself. The final song, "Corey and Claire," is about two girls who are friends of the band. They've also done an impromptu cover of Gene Wilder's "Pure Imagination," (from the movie Charlie And The Chocolate Factory) during one show but are undecided about making it a regular addition to the setlist or not. Even the Florida recount provides musical fodder; Sapien and LaCompte have wagered a bottle of beer that if George W. Bush wins the election, he will grow a mustache. One can't help but wonder how that's going to affect their music, or if there's even a song the band can derive from it. The next step for Monkey Hands is to jump from a digital 4-track recorder to a recording studio at Harvard. There, they will independently work on an official LP with newly recorded, mixed, and mastered songs from over the years. Their goal is to have the record finished and in stores by Christmas time. A website with MP3s is also in planning and should be up soon. In the bigger picture, the musicians are about to finish their fifth year at the Tufts/NEC program and want to write more material before deciding whether to head out for Los Angeles or New York after graduation. All of the members are keen on visual arts and have done some film work together, including a 40-minute puppet flick titled The Most Disgusting Story Ever Told. Hopes are high that a move to either of these major entertainment industry markets will allow them to break through in both of their fields of interest. When taking into account the situation of Guster, a band composed of Tufts grads which has since received nationwide exposure, Monkey Hands was optimistic about its chances and hopes that they be the next Tufts band to make it in the music business. More than anything, though, they are focused on making good music, performing live, making this record, expanding their fan base in Tufts and around Boston, and having fun while doing it. In the more immediate future, Monkey Hands will be performing at Oxfam Caf?©'s Hunger Benefit this Thursday at 7 p.m. Head over there to check out a Tufts band that offers something completely different.
Seventeen seniors can make their last game on Huskins Field one to remember ? or continue the trend of playing games to forget ? when the Jumbos host the Colby White Mules on Saturday in the final home game of the season. The Jumbos are 2-4 and can keep hopes alive to equal last season's .500 mark with a win tomorrow. But Colby (5-1), the surprise of the NESCAC after finishing just 3-5 a year ago, poses a huge roadblock for a team that has struggled against top-notch opponents this season. Tufts has beaten Bates and Bowdoin, but has been defeated by the conference's upper echelon of teams, including last week's 8-0 loss to Amherst. After falling to one member of the triumvirate atop the NESCAC, the Jumbos now must close out their season against the other two, Colby and Middlebury. But coach Bill Samko is focused on his own team, and what he saw as an improvement last week despite the defeat, since Tufts did not commit a single turnover in the game. "We're just real young offensively, but I thought we improved last week," Samko said. "We won the turnover battle, we won the special teams battle, and we had a chance to win the game at the end." The team still couldn't put any points on the board, though, something that will have to change this weekend if the seniors hope to win their final home contest. Colby is strong on offense, but it's likely the White Mule's defense Samko will have to worry about entering Saturday's game. After letting up 45 points in their first two games of the season, the White Mules have surrendered a combined 24 points in the last four games, including a 14-0 shutout of Bates last week. Sophomore linebacker Mike Moran tallied 14 tackles, including six solo hits, in the win. He was NESCAC Defensive Player of the Week, and was also last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year. Moran leads the team with 55 tackles on the season, while sophomore linebacker Jeff Owen and senior defensive back Mark D'Ambrosio have 47 apiece. D'Ambrosio and fellow senior linebacker Drew Johnson helm an experienced Colby defense that, with the help of some promising youngsters, has been almost impenetrable of late. That should spell trouble for a Tufts offense that couldn't put any points on the board in last week's game, and has not scored an offensive touchdown in each of its last two games. Senior running back Brian Holmes ? playing on offense for the first time in his three years at Tufts ? has not been enough to carry an untested unit. Holmes is averaging nearly 100 yards a game, having totaled 488 yards in five contests this season (third in the NESCAC). Holmes' 556 yards of total offense this year are more than the combined total yardage of quarterbacks Todd Scalia and Scott Treacy. But Scalia has come on strong in his last two appearances, completing 10-23 passes last week with no interceptions and throwing for 149 yards and two touchdowns (but also three interceptions) three weeks ago in a 27-20 loss to Trinity. Scalia gets the nod again this Saturday, with Treacy still suffering slight injuries. Samko says that Treacy will likely not see game time due to lingering hip and knee problems. The team will have to rely on its defense, though, which has easily been Tufts' strength this season. Evan Zupancic leads the Jumbos in interceptions, with five, while junior Scott Mitenthal is the squad's leading tackler. The defense is an experienced bunch, and among the Jumbos playing their final home game this Saturday will be linemen Pete DiStaulo, the Jumbo captain, and Everett Dickerson, Tufts' leaders in sacks. "[DiStaulo] is doing a hell of a job as captain, and Dickerson is playing really well," Samko said. Tufts has not allowed more than 27 points in a single game all season. Colby, on the other hand, has only been held below 27 points twice. But that happened in each of the team's last two games, a trend the Jumbos hope to continue by stopping the league's leading tandem in quarterback Pat Conley and junior wideout Danny Noyes. Noyes does it all ? he leads the NESCAC with 570 yards receiving, but is also the team's primary rushing option, garnering 306 yards on the year, including a season-high 90 in last week's win. Conley, meanwhile, has completed 106 passes for 1490 total yards, almost 700 more yards than any other quarterback in the conference. Conley, who leads the league in touchdown passes with ten, is 356 yards away from cracking the NESCAC's all-time top five single-season passing list. If he can somehow put together 535 passing yards in his final two games ? not inconceivable considering he averages near 250 a game ? he'd top the all-time record of 2024, set last year by Williams' Sean Keenan. And the kicker: Conley is just a sophomore. "He's done a tremendous job," Colby coach Tom Austin said of his quarterback, "Not only in his performance, but in his demeanor and in the manner that he displays with the team. He's a very hard worker." Austin is not dispelled by the Jumbos record, especially since Tufts topped Colby 27-26 last season. "I certainly feel they're as good as any team we've played," he said. "They play hard, and they play very good defense. I don't think there's any tougher defense in the league." "We're certainly shooting to win the division," he added. "That was one of our goals at the beginning of the season, and that hasn't changed at all." Samko's team, however, continues to fight injuries, as another two members of the offensive line, Andy Dickerson and Garret Roberts, were lost for the season on the same play last week. With Treacy out, fullback Jon Rodgers lost for the season in just the third game, and Holmes battling through hamstring problems all year long, among other injuries, Samko feels the seniors on the squad are not exactly ending their careers with the best luck. "There's some great kids in this group who deserve a better fate than they've been dealt," he said. The Jumbos who will don the brown and blue for the last time at home are linebackers Mike Marino, Matt Luther (injured), and Joe Mclean, defensive backs Garth Williams and Jeff Karacz, defensive linemen Joaquin Escamille, Distaulo, and Dickerson, offensive linemen Dan Naumann and Mike McDougall, wide receivers Brett Cicchillo, Brett Colaiacovo, and Garret Hall, tight ends Kevin Gray and Mike Barile, as well as Rodgers and Holmes.
Norman Cook is a man who might be unknown to most of his audience, but his music has nevertheless found a wide range of listeners. Many who wouldn't call themselves fans of electronica found something to their liking on Fatboy Slim's multiplatinum You've Come A Long Way, Baby in 1998, without knowing the man behind the name. Songs like "Praise You" and "The Rockafeller Skank" found audiences through both radio play and exposure in films like Cruel Intentions and Go. Unfortunately, this sort of popularity does not sit well with the typical fans of underground and electronic music. Cook's success with the "frat boy" market and his work on a major label like Astralwerks have made him a bit of a persona non grata to the electronica community. Vocal hooks - like those that proliferated on You've Come A Long Way, Baby - are said to cheapen his work as well, making it more approachable by that same "frat boy" set. What's both odd and promising about Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars is that it will satisfy at once both groups and neither one. Vocals still feature prominently, with radio darling Macy Gray putting in an appearance on two tracks - predictably the two most likely to reach the radio themselves. However, the album isn't tailored for modern radio broadcast at all. Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars doesn't have the same dance-party punch as the last Fatboy Slim album, and those frat boys that are hoping for the same big beat lines might be disappointed. It is, however, an album that grows on you considerably. Cook may have found popular appeal with his last album as Fatboy, but he proves that popularity does not have to mean uninventive work. The beats, melodies, and samples used here are just as carefully chosen as ever. Every track is so precisely constructed that every moment has something unexpected and distinct that's worth listening for. This isn't music you listen to expecting other people to come in and start dancing. This is music you listen to for yourself. However, the same can be said for both previous Fatboy Slim albums, You've Come A Long Way, Baby and Better Living Through Chemistry, both of which benefited from a more consistent, listener-happy tone. It's great to know that Cook is expanding his horizons, but the continuity of the album suffers for it - especially surprising considering the consistent tone of his previous albums and of typical live electronic performances. There aren't many tracks here that are tailored to blow the listener away on their own (Macy Gray's "Demons" being an obvious exception), but neither does the album play smoothly, uninterrupted, from beginning to end. Each track is a unique branch of Cook's sound, but few of them seem to touch on each other. This could be especially problematic for an artist who must rely so heavily on album sales rather than airplay. With such a diverse selection of sounds, Cook hits many notes both high and low, but seems unlikely to hit the listener's mark with every song. The stylistic gap between "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" and "Demons" is remarkable, but fans of one are unlikely to rave about the other. The pieces not to miss: the last four tracks of the album. These include the cut- and scat- filled "Weapon of Choice" and the clever "Drop the Hate," in which Cook reworks a sermon so that the preacher seems to be singing. "Demons" has been long pointed at as the most likely single for the album, but that should be considered a mark in its favor, not against it. The lengthy "Song For Shelter," an 11-minute mix of the best features of album's first two tracks, is a worthy wrap-up that makes the rest of the album feel almost worth it. Cook continues to pull inspiration and samples from interesting and original sources - the three-line Jim Morrison sample in "Sunset (Bird of Prey)" versus the Baptist sermon in "Drop the Hate" - but it's not necessary. The talent that shines through in his work is what drives the records, not the cleverness of a 30-year-old sample. It's almost as though Cook feels that he must prove his ingenuity by delving into recording history - especially odd when some of his best work is done with original vocals. People who loved what bits of Fatboy Slim they heard on the radio in the past two years may not find what they're looking for in Halfway Between the Gutter and the Stars. This is Norman Cook growing up, expanding, and using his newfound popularity as a chance to take some risks - resulting in some high points and a surprising lack of continuity. Those who hated him for "selling out," however, deserve to get over themselves and come back to the fold: this is what they should have been hoping for.
Long-awaited changes to student parking on the packed Medford campus have finally arrived, the result of a massive parking overhaul in the wake of this summer's addition of the six-level, 450-car parking garage beneath Dowling Hall. The garage provides extensive parking for visitors, commuters, faculty, and staff, opening up areas previously designated as faculty/staff parking to students. John King, the director of the department of Public and Environmental Safety, is the main force behind the changes. King distributed the first of two mass e-mails to all Medford campus students in early August asking for input on several proposed changes. "We got a couple hundred responses to the e-mails... I was really flattered by the positive response and the time many took to give great feedback," King said. With this feedback in mind, several modifications have been made. Uphill, the lot behind Miller Hall, previously only for faculty/staff, has been designated as resident-only parking. The area behind Carmichael Hall retained approximately 15 spots for faculty/staff with the rest now available for students. North Hill Road, the street that runs in front of Lane Hall, is now a two-way road where parking is no longer permitted. Downhill, the lot behind the Aidekman Arts Center is open to any car with a commuter, faculty/staff, or resident parking decal. Another modification of parking policy that will likely prove popular among students is allowing off-peak parking outside one's user area. For instance, from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends and holidays, any vehicle with a resident parking decal can now park in any spot on campus. This includes the parking lot behind the Fletcher Field tennis courts and along Professors Row. According to the department of Public and Environmental Safety, however, the 6 a.m. policy will be strictly enforced. Suggestions also came from sophomore TCU senator Andrew Potts, the chairman of the Senate Administration and Budget Committee. Potts expressed similar optimism about student response to handling of parking policy. "We weren't sure what to expect at first, but what they've done so far has been very good. It's not perfect, but it's definitely a vast improvement over last year. It seems like students are a lot happier," he said. Despite administrative efforts, some students with cars still have some problems with campus parking. Latin Way resident Meghan Carleton frustrated with the ticketing policy of the Tufts police, feels that the ticketing policy should be far more lenient. "If you have a $165/semester parking pass, the cops should at least give you a warning, one get out of jail free card. Don't take us to the cleaners," Carleton remarked. Perhaps the greatest source of displeasure lies with sophomores. The first of King's e-mails discussed the possibility of lifting the restriction on sophomores being able to park only in the Cousens lot. In addition, the possibility of closing the Cousens lot to overnight parking was also proposed. However, neither of these changes was implemented. According to King, the decision to stay with the status quo on sophomore parking is not a permanent one. "We would ideally like to have all overnight parking (including sophomores) either uphill or downhill and be able to close the Cousens lot at night. It's simpler and safer from a patrol standpoint," said King. "But as far as the sophomores go, we didn't want to open up parking to a whole other user group without being sure how that would affect other user groups. So for now, we're going to keep sophomores in Cousens and reevaluate the situation in early November to see if we might be able to make some changes." The Senate is aware of the difficulty sophomores are having with parking and would like to reduce their frustration by conducting further research on student parking, according to Potts. By measuring the volume of sophomore parking around the campus at particular points during the day, they hope to find a long-term solution to the problem of sophomore parking. "If sophomores feel like they got the short end of the stick, just hang in there. Be aware that we're honestly going to reassess the situation," said Potts.
The volleyball team faced new competition in the NESCAC this weekend and came out on top, winning two of its three matches. The Jumbos' overall record, however, remains at .500 because of a loss to Wellesley earlier in the week. Before the weekend began, Tufts traveled to Wellesley to play a single match. The squad was unable to get into the win column; it went down, 0-3. On Saturday, though, the Jumbos began the NESCAC weekend on a good note and ended on one as well. The girls won their first match against Trinity (3-0). But that was followed by a disappointing loss to Wesleyan (2-3). Luckily for the team, the day was saved by a well-deserved win against Connecticut College (3-2). The Brown and Blue launched the weekend with a 3-0 win over Trinity (15-13, 15-10, 15-13). The team dominated the match even though the Jumbos were trying out a new defense. The win showed that the change clearly worked for them. "We played well," coach Kris Herman-Talon said. "Trinity struggled. In the third game, we were down 12-1 and came back to win. We want to play by the motto 'Never Say Die'. We were trying a new defense. It was generally successful." The pair of Jessica Stewart and Amy Cronin, with 15 and 12 kills, respectively, dominated the offense in this match. Tri-captain Karen "Bear" Sillers only had eight kills in two games because of the same injury that plagued her game last weekend, lower back spasms. Even with the injury she aided the defense with five digs. The leader of the defense was tri-captain Kyre Austin with ten digs. "We changed the defense around, which placed more of the responsibility onto Kyre," Herman-Talon said. "She is a great defensive player, setter, and server." "We definitely played our game in this match," Cronin said. "The passing and serving was good, which allowed us to get in a groove offensively. In one game we let them get a 12-1 lead, but we fought back and won the game. We weren't going to sit down and lose to a team we were clearly better than." Next, the squad faced Wesleyan and took a hit in the loss column. The Cardinals took the match 2-3 (15-7, 8-15, 15-13, 11-15, 8-15). The Jumbos' starters combined for a total of only 37 kills over all five matches. Cronin led the team with 10 kills. "This match was very frustrating because we didn't put them away when we needed to," Cronin said. "We were ahead in a couple of games, and we let them back in and they won them. They had a good middle attack, but we lost the fifth game because we missed serves. In a rally score game you can't afford to make many mistakes, especially serving errors." Serving has plagued the team for the entire season. In this match, Nancy Phear controlled the serving with five service aces. The defense was placed into the hands of defensive specialist Megan Pitcavage, who had 15 digs. "They were a one dimensional offense," Herman-Talon said. "They went mostly to the middle attack and we couldn't stop her. We should have won. They were gritty. We thought we'd win in four games, when we didn't, it hurt our morale a little. We didn't pass as well as we needed to. We were lacking that killer instinct. It is a hole in our game that we need to improve." Saturday ended with a defeat of Connecticut College. The Jumbos went five games against the Camels, squeaking out a win in five (15-12, 9-15, 8-15, 15-5, 15-11). During this game, Herman-Talon mixed up the lineup. Sillers was able to sit out and rest her back. Paulette Pacheco saw some playing time in Sillers' spot and succeeded in having a season high 11 kills. Pacheco not only lit up the offense, she also led the defense with 14 digs (tied with Austin). "Overall, we controlled the match," Herman-Talon said. "I thought we'd win overall... no matter what line-up we had, we were a better team. Playing five games in college volleyball allows the better team, that day, to win. They were a competitive team. We had players at different positions. Amy [Cronin] played all around, which isn't normal. She usually never sees the back row. There were no individual problems, just confusion because we had players in different positions." "This match was a little too close for comfort," said Cronin. "They were not a very good team and it shouldn't have taken us five games to beat them. The good thing was that a lot of people had a chance to play." Before the NESCAC weekend, Herman-Talon's squad faced Wellesley in a single match. The Jumbos only managed to score a total of seven points in three games (2-15, 1-15, 4-15). "We couldn't pass in the first game," said Herman-Talon. "They dominated us. We got our butt kicked. They served us tough. They got points by our mistakes." The three front row starters, Stewart, Cronin, and Sarah Leistikow, combined for a total of 15 kills in 53 attempts. Stewart and Leistikow each had one service ace and had 4 and 3 digs, respectively. "Wellesley is a top ranked team in the country," Cronin said. "They are a great serving team, and we couldn't pass a lot of their balls. We couldn't really generate any offense against them because their serving and offense was so good." The Jumbos play a home game today versus Clark.
