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Freshmen set to lead Men's track

August 31

Entering its second year at the Gantcher Center, the men's track team hopes to have a more successful indoor season this winter. Plagued by injuries and a shortage of jumpers throughout the winter and spring last year, the Jumbos would like to have a more healthy and balanced team this time around. The main weakness for the team last year was a lack of jumpers. Despite a strong running and throwing team, Tufts was never able to pull out a victory last season due to the shortness. Thanks to several incoming freshmen, and the eligibility of other team members, the Jumbos should be able to overcome that this year. Coach Connie Putnam was especially excited by the ability of freshmen Patrick Taylor and Eric Simmons. Both show the potential to help increase the Jumbos strength in jumping events. Putnam described Simmons as someone with "pretty good potential," while he sees Taylor as a member who will have a definite impact on the team. Teammates agree with Putnam about Taylor's ability. "He's going to be a good jumper," sophomore Greg Devine said. "Hopefully we can keep him injury free and have him steadily improve."Unlike last year, Putnam will also have the opportunity to use Devine. Last year he only ran in the short distance running events. Due to lingering injuries from his football season along with a strained hamstring during the winter season, Devine was held out of the long jump in his freshmen year. Yet, after a relatively healthy football season, Putnam hopes that he can rely on Devine if needed. "Greg has an excellent jumping ability and will help us out a lot," Putnam said. After injuring his hamstring in a jumping event early last year, Devine is somewhat cautious about participating in the long jump again, but he is willing to aid the team's effort. "I'll jump when I have to help out the team," he commented. While the team has significantly increased its depth in jumping, Putnam is still on the lookout to add to his jumpers. He still looks for other members of the team with the potential to join the jumping squad if needed. Along with improving the outlook of the jumping team, the freshmen will also have a chance to have an impact on the long distance running squad this season. The Jumbos lost several prominent seniors in this department with the departures of Steven Kaye, Peter Rodriguez and Matt Lyons. Yet after a successful cross-country season, it seems as if the freshmen will be able to fill the gaps that the former Jumbos left behind. Therefore, Putnam is not concerned that the loss of the seniors will hurt the team much. Of the many men that had a strong season, freshmen James Lamoureaux proved that he will be a one of the Jumbos' most valuable additions. He was not the only one to catch the coach's eye though. Reflecting on the distance squad, Putnam was confident that they will be a strong point once again. "I feel that the distance squad is now a good, young team," Putnam said. "Over the course of the year, they will develop well." Aside from the loss of seniors in the long distance squad last year, the Jumbos also lost team captain Ash Weaver along with freshman Brian Lemieux, who transferred at the end of the year. Weaver was one of the team's most versatile athletes with great ability in sprinting, hurdling and jumping. Lemieux anchored the relay team with his incredible speed. Since Weaver was a senior last year, Putnam was ready for his departure and able to recruit freshmen to help fill his role. The loss of Lemieux, though, came as a surprise and could hurt the team. "He was a very prominent sprinter who left. We didn't recruit people in his area because we felt he could do the job," Putnam said. Teammates agree that Lemieux's departure will be noticeable on the team. "It's a big loss and a small loss," Devine said. "He was a great athlete and a true competitor and his presence on our relays will be missed. But we have enough talent to fill the gap." Therefore, with strong young talent, and a relatively healthy team this season, Putnam is confident that his team will be able to impress. Despite their losses, the Jumbos look to have a more balanced attack this season. "I really feel that this year's team is stronger than last years," Putnam said.After a disappointing sixth place finish at the New England Div. III finals last indoor season, he hopes to finish in the top five this year. As long as his they remain healthy, team members are confident that they can do so.The Jumbos will have a look at their new team's ability for the first time this weekend at a minor meet at Northeastern. Aside from this meet and one other, the majority of their scheduled meets will take place at home, which will cut down the team's travel time and allow for them to be more rested for their meets. "Our biggest challenge this year is not finding good athletes or talent to compete with, but to unite as a team, remain injury free and run, jump and throw above what is expected of us," Devine said.

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News

Haunted houses and spookiness galore

August 31

Just to clear up any confusion, Halloween is officially tomorrow. Despite the fact that everyone celebrated this weekend, it hasn't really happened yet. If you're not tuckered out from dressing up and going out, you can still cash in on the entertainment provided for hard-core Halloweeners. Throw that filthy costume back on, ditch the on-campus scene (which may be limited on a schoolnight), and head into town for some tricks and treats, Boston-style. Halloween originated as a Celtic festival marking the beginning of winter and celebrating their new year, which starts on Nov. 1. Throughout the centuries, Romans, Christians, and other groups have influenced the holiday, shaping it into what we see today. However, there's still no historical explanation that accounts for the group of mad bicyclists who careened down Curtis street wearing costumes and stopping traffic at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning. Around a fun-loving town like Boston, you're bound to run into a random cultural phenomenon or two this time of year, especially with so many college-aged scoundrels on the prowl. To guarantee a mischievous interaction, head to the Burren in Davis Square tomorrow night for its Halloween party. You'd better be dressed to kill, since first prize in the costume competition is a pair of round-trip tickets to Ireland. Chances are the winning costume will be a tad more original than a Playboy Bunny or a pimp. Other prizes include gift certificates to local businesses and spooky surprises. You'll have to show up to find out what else is on the roster, but combine the Burren's reputation with a little bit of supernatural inspiration and you can't go wrong. If you've got wheels and you're interested in something a little scarier than a bar in Davis, take a trip to Spooky World, "America's Horror Theme Park." The park is only in operation during October, and this season is its tenth anniversary. They're going all out with attractions like Phantom Mineshaft, Reaper's Hayride, and 3D Disco Haunted House - as if disco weren't scary enough. This season, Spooky World has hosted chilling celebrities like Alice Cooper, various WWF superstars, and actors from your favorite scary movies. Check out its website at www.spookyworld.com to find out just what they've got planned for Halloween. Since the whole place centers around this spooky holiday, you can pretty much bet the farm that they'll be going all out tomorrow night. For a more wholesome Halloween, take a look at the mecca of madness, Salem. Long associated with witches and the supernatural, this tourist town offers an alternative to traditional Halloween activities that's safe and entertaining for all ages. The Peabody Essex Museum's Eerie Events 2000 is a gothic intellectual's dream come true. At the museum's five historic homes, actors bring to life ghost stories by such masters as Hawthorne, Lovecraft, and Poe, as well as some new ones. Stop by the blazing bonfire to warm your hands, but beware the wandering ghouls. Once pleasantly frightened, return to reality with some apple cider, fudge, and donuts from the Eerie Caf?©. Also note that the H.P. Lovecraft film festival will be playing through the 31st. To see a truly haunted house, visit Livingston Street Terror at the Hatcher House in Tewksbury. Legend has it that in 1981 a ghoulish couple moved into the house to live like hermits. Except for an occasional scream and other curious noises at night, they all but disappeared. When mail began to accumulate, neighbors called the authorities and what they found upon entering the ominous home has been preserved today as an authentic haunted house. And of course, Landsdowne Street will be celebrating Halloween in its own uniquely freaky way. Beware: you may have a hard time distinguishing costumes from regular attire. If you're interested in reliving Fall Fest, The Spooks will open for Tufts' favorite hip-hop artist, Common, at Avalon. Doors open at 8 p.m., and the cover is $17.50. Enter at your own risk.

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News

Going from studies to skydiving

August 31

The thought of jumping from high altitudes puts some people on edge, but this past Saturday 22 students put their fears behind them, defied death, and leapt from 9500 feet up in the wild blue yonder. Arriving in the sleepy town of Duanseberg, NY, the fearless group unloaded and prepared for its skydiving expedition. With nervousness and excitement pulsing through their veins, the daredevils suited up and took to the skies. "I've always wanted to go skydiving. It's one of those things you've always wanted to do, but never thought you really would," said Kim Starbuck, a junior taking her first jump. Junior Sarah Matsuzaka agreed with Starbuck. "I've always wanted to [skydive]. I'm a believer in pushing your body physically to the point where it affects you mentally," she said, adding that she was also looking for a spiritual experience of sorts. Starbuck explained that there are two kinds of jumps: tandem and static line. The tandem, she said, is a free fall jump with the first-time jumper harnessed to a more experienced one, while the static line is a solo plunge without the free fall. She decided to take the former going on the assumption that it was less frightening than jumping by herself. Though Starbuck was nervous right before her dive, she said there were few options. "You can't chicken out, there's no chickening out, you just have to do it," she said. Matsuzaka felt differently. "I thought I was going to pee in my pants when the door opened, but I didn't feel that way," she said, explaining her polar opposite reaction to the jump. "I wasn't scared in the least bit, I was actually really calm," she said. Starbuck explained that despite the pre-jump jitters, she ended up sharing Matsuzaka's calmness. "There's no fear left. It's just awesome," she said in retrospect. Both explained the unique feeling. "It's not the roller coaster, stomach plunging to the floor feeling. It's the sensation of flying, [and] it's every kid's dream to fly," Matsuzaka said. "You go into sensory overload; your brain kind of shuts off. You go into a pure feeling - not thinking," she said. Starbuck echoed Matsuzaka's sentiments. "You don't feel like you're falling, you just feel like you're flying in air," Starbuck said.Having survived the jump, Matsuzaka explained that the thrill has yet to wear off. "I've been on the biggest high ever since. You can see my smile from 300 yards away, or maybe even 9500 feet up in the sky."Now an experienced diver, Starbuck said nobody should write off the sport. "It's something that anybody could do. You just have to get yourself out of the plane." Having found a company that offers a reasonable price for dives - $150 a pop - Tufts Mountain Club member senior Eddie Galbavy said that the group plans to take students again. In the meantime, there will be plenty of other exciting events, he said. "We've [got] a lot of ideas, and [we're] trying a lot of things," he said, noting that the group plans on hosting a paint ball tourney and a mystery bike trip in the near future.

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News

Students speak out against hate

August 31

In response to the eruption of hate incidents on the Tufts campus over the past two months, eight campus organizations joined forces on Thursday to organize a Speak Out entitled "Stop the Hate: Educate and Empower." Facilitated by Metcalf Resident Assistant Shou Min Tan, the forum allowed students and faculty to express their concerns and to propose suggestions to end this outbreak of violence. Many students expressed shock and disappointment at both the large number and intense nature of the incidents, which have taken place since this semester began. Several freshmen voiced concerns that their first impressions of college life were tainted by homophobic, sexist, and racist crimes. Others spoke of the sense of insecurity and vulnerability that the incidents have spawned on campus. Insofar as hate crimes are concerned, the group's overall sentiment was that the most effective way to combat these incidents is to make sure that students are aware of them. One participant encouraged those present not to "underestimate the power of peer pressure" - perhaps by rallying against such crimes, students can prevent perpetrators from committing them. Dean of Students Bruce Reitman and Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) Captain Mark Keith were both at the forum, but criticism of the administration was by no means absent from the evening's discussion. Many students expressed disappointment with the perceived low-level of action taken by administrators. "[The situation] is not being taken seriously, both by administrators and students," said senior Jason Fox. "The only reason it's being addressed at all is because it's been so many in such a short time." One participant sarcastically remarked that President John DiBiaggio's e-mail, which was sent a day before the Speak Out, was "probably written by his secretary." Following the remark, another student criticized the fact that the Tufts University Police Department "will send out a mass voicemail about a stolen bike but won't do one for hate crimes." For the protection of the victims, and because many crimes are still under investigation, police are often unable to make announcements about hate-related incidents. Tan said that the second half of the Speak Out was tailored for discussion of possible action to prevent crimes in the future. On average, 12 hate crimes occur at Tufts each year - but this year there have already been 11 incidents. Planned student responses ranged from specific suggestions to bulk up freshmen orientation programming with presentations on hate crimes to more general calls for the promotion of cultural understanding and acceptance; particularly, through diversity of curriculum and University faculty and staff. The discussion eventually moved to the realm of interaction between different racial groups on campus and to the validity of cultural groups encouraging what some participants labeled as the formation of "racial cliques". Although the Metcalf lounge was filled to capacity with concerned members of the Tufts community, many students said that the general apathy of students toward the subject has contributed to the problem. "Why wait until now?" questioned a participant. "Most of the [crimes] happened in the first two weeks of school and all that's happened is just a Bridge [Metcalf] event?" "Eleven hate crimes have happened since the beginning of the school year and many students don't know about it," said sophomore Valerie Rock, the president of the Pan-African Alliance (PAA), one of the groups that helped put the forum together. It was mentioned repeatedly that the Homecoming pep rally, which also took place on Thursday evening, attracted many more students. Similarly, there was far greater participation in the rally behind the president's house protesting the heavy policing of Tufts parties. "Hopefully people will talk to their friends," Tan said. "To spread the word is the only way to keep this thing alive. People really do seem concerned." At the very least, one of the accomplishments of the evening was to discuss the nature of the recent incidents, and separate fact from rumor. According to organizers, there have been five homophobic incidents, one race-based assault, one gender-based assault, two race-based threats, and one ethnicity-based threat. The most recent occurrence of hate was the appearance of posters and chalkings laden with racist remarks advertising the Capitalist Association of Socialist Haters. The Speak Out was sponsored by the Bridge-Metcalf program, and the Culture, Ethnicity, and Community Affairs committee of the Tufts Community Union Senate, among other groups. Members of the PAA, Asian Community at Tufts, Association of Latino-American Students, International Club, Tufts' Transgender, Gay, Bisexual Collective, Tufts' Feminist Alliance, Tufts Men Against Violence, and the Coalition for Social Justice and Nonviolence were also present at the event.

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News

MIT to pay $6 million to Krueger family

August 31

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) agreed to a $6 million settlement last week with the parents of Scott Krueger, the freshman MIT student who died of alcohol poisoning while pledging a fraternity in 1997. Krueger's death began a national dialog on the dangers of binge drinking, and has caused many colleges and universities to revisit their campus alcohol policies and institute new awareness programs. While most of the $6 million goes to the Krueger family, $1.25 million will be set aside to start a scholarship in Scott's memory. The settlement resolves MIT of all legal liability to Krueger's parents, who never filed a formal lawsuit against the university. The tragedy spurred MIT to revise its student-housing policies, and to tighten its grip on fraternities and sororities, as President Charles Vest explained in a letter to Krueger's parents that was made public after the announcement. "Scott's death galvanized us to action. It impelled us to greatly intensify our consideration and accelerate our actions with regard to alcohol, our housing system, and other issues of student life and learning," he wrote. Until recently, MIT did not guarantee housing for freshmen, compelling many students, like Krueger, to take advantage of the convenient housing available in fraternities and sororities. Starting in the fall of 2002, however, all first-year students at MIT will be required to live in University housing. Additionally, fraternities and sororities will be staffed by residential advisors, and will no longer be allowed to hold recruiting events during freshmen orientation. Krueger's death has left college students and administrators from coast to coast wondering whether such an incident could happen on their own campus. "I think binge drinking is as much of a problem on the Tufts campus as it is at any college," said Director of Health Services Michelle Bowdler. "We don't tend to be named as one of the schools that has the highest rate for binge drinking, but it's certainly an issue here, and it's an issue we try to address seriously and responsibly." Both Bowdler and Dean of Students Bruce Reitman, however, feel that the drinking environment at Tufts is much safer than at MIT. "I think the issue for MIT was not just that the student died from alcohol poisoning, but what their policies were around housing.... A lot of freshmen were living off campus in fraternities or apartments before they were adjusted to college. Tufts has always felt strongly about providing housing to freshmen," Bowdler said. Exacerbating Krueger's condition was the fact that he did not receive immediate medical attention as he slipped into an alcohol-induced coma. MIT, unlike Tufts, does not have a student paramedic organization. Reitman touted Tufts Emergency Medical Services (TEMS) as one of the University's most significant resources for handling alcohol-related emergencies. Though no changes have been made to Tufts' policies surrounding the Greek system as a result of the tragedy, Reitman instituted a new alcohol policy this semester that is designed to encourage students to call TEMS when their friends need help. "I never want to create a situation where someone is risking a friend's life to avoid punishment; that's ridiculous. That's why I've eliminated fines," he said. The policy eliminates the $50 fine for first time violations, but comes down much harder on repeat offenders. After Krueger's death, Tufts joined 23 other Boston-area schools in forming the Coalition of Boston Area Schools Underage Drinking Task Force to address the problems of alcohol abuse and underage drinking. Despite its membership in the coalition, Tufts has made few changes to its alcohol education programs, citing its already-ambitious prevention measures as sufficient. "We already felt like we were responding seriously to try to educate students and try to keep something like that from happening here," Bowdler said. These measures include providing substance-free housing, promoting campus activities that do not involve alcohol, and publishing a newsletter for students. According to Inter-Greek Council President Alison Fleisher, Tufts' fraternities and sororities also take significant steps to protect the health of their members. All prospective pledges on campus are required to attend three educational meetings organized by Greeks Advocating Mature Management of Alcohol. "The abuse of alcohol is a serious issue on college campuses at large and the Greek system has been taking measures to ensure the safety of its members and provide a healthier environment for them," Fleisher said.

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News

A presidential re-vote: right intention, wrong idea

August 31

Of all the numerous and valid opinions regarding the election fiasco swirling around our nation, one in particular appalls and angers me: the argument that Palm Beach County should be allowed to re-vote. I can understand the meticulous and ridiculous re-counts, I can understand the anger over an arguably confusing ballot, and I can understand how Al Gore supporters feel cheated. But I don't see how, under any circumstance, a re-vote is the fair solution. I don't see how a re-vote could possibly right the wrong done to Al Gore. A re-vote does not simply fix the screw-ups of Nov. 7; it opens up the election to wholly novel influences that were not supposed to play a role in the election. It allows for votes to change, and it ironically impinges on the very democratic process it is attempting to uphold. A re-vote is not a re-vote, because it could turn into a different vote. It technically allows all Palm Beach residents to change their minds and literally pick the president on their own. This should scare you, even if it probably won't happen. You simply cannot re-create the conditions of Tuesday, Nov. 7, no matter how hard you try. The next president of the United States is supposed to be the president who captures the most number of states on Election Day. Intent very much plays a part in this, but it's intent on Election Day. Some people say that George Bush will be the president that was not intended to be president. That, I admit, is a shame. But if you let Palm Beach County re-vote and, subsequently, Al Gore wins, that result still doesn't accurately capture the voters' intent on Nov. 7. Everyone in the county will have had an extra week in which to re-evaluate his or her vote. This could prove disastrous to our democracy. I am not opposed to looking through the current ballots to determine original intent - but to allow a re-vote would be to create opportunity for that original intent to change. Here's what could happen: Votes could change. Nader supporters will surely turn Gore. Fake Buchanan voters will turn Gore. Real Buchanan voters may turn Bush. People on the edge who have had a whole week to think and watch shenanigans on both sides could very well change their minds. Gore supporters turned off by legal threats may vote Bush. Bush supporters turned off by legal threats may vote Gore. Everyone, not just those who mistakenly voted for Buchanan, would get another chance. And all of these people would vote under new and unintended influences that skew Election Day intent. In light of the possibility of changed votes, what you'd have is one county deciding the election. The media is telling you that Florida decided the election, but that's only true to an extent. Florida's already cast votes decided the election, a Florida that was not conscious of its essential role and voted accordingly. Florida did not decide the election, every state did. But if you allow Florida voters to do it all over again - voters whose intent may very well be altered - then that one state is literally picking the president. You might as well fill a big auditorium with Palm Beach residents and ask for a show of hands to decide the presidency. It's simply preposterous. You'd have to let the whole nation re-vote, because if all Floridians, regardless of whether they were confused on Election Day, are given a chance to change their minds, then everyone else should be given a chance to change their minds. Otherwise, one state is deciding the election. The wonderful thing about this controversy is that is has shown how, especially with the Electoral College system, your vote "really does count." But to do a re-vote in one county or one state would do non-Floridians a huge disservice. It would severely undermine our democratic system of elections. A national re-vote would be a lot fairer, though it will still not reflect Election Day intent. "This time it matters," people are saying about ballots that have always been screwed up and thrown out. Ballot standards are being thrown around like they are meaningless, applied at certain times but not at others, in certain places but not in others. Now some will have you believe that a ballot, which was used four years ago in the presidential election, is so confusing that people in that county should have the right to vote again. Be careful in supporting this initiative. Be careful because you'd give one state, maybe even one county, the right to choose the president, a right you thought you exercised last week.Russell Capone is a junior majoring in political science. He is a sports editor at the Daily.

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News

Spanish Civil War vet speaks

August 31

"I have engaged in the most highest paid vocation - winning my own self-respect, dignity, and self-worth," Spanish Civil War veteran Abraham Osheroff said during his speech at the Aidekman Art Gallery on Monday, Nov. 6. Osheroff, a filmmaker and poet, spoke about serving in the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, the Spanish Civil War, and his view on social activism. Photographs and propagandizing posters depicting the Spanish Civil War's struggle for justice covered the Aidekman Art Gallery. Osheroff also presented his documentary film on the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, celebrating an American troop that defended Spain and took a stand against fascism. His film, which won the International Critic's Award in 1975, focused on the war, Spanish and American relations during that period, the oncoming wave of fascism, and Osheroff's own place in the history of it all. "It took a lot of creative mischief, let's put it that way," Osheroff said, explaining that it took stealing, bribery, and collecting to obtain all of the film's footage. He risked imprisonment to make the film - his crew was once thrown in jail. Osheroff is a carpenter by trade, following in both his father and grandfather's footsteps. He urged students to learn a craft that they can fall back on. "For the young people," he said, "if you entertain the idea of becoming an activist or a teacher, I offer you this advice: learn a good manual trade." He also asked the audiences to ponder a couple of questions concerning their motivation for the future. "Are there poets in this room who don't know it? Are there musicians?" He wondered whether it's possible to know an honest lawyer, a doctor dedicated to saving human lives over making money, or a judge who passes sentences based on circumstances, not skin color. "Is it something you really want to do? Is it close to your heart?" he pleaded to an audience who absorbed his probes, quietly and attentively. Fielding audience questions on subjects ranging from voting to the presidential election, Osheroff's most important answer returned to a historical perspective. "You are all a part of history - you as an individual can make something happen, or you can be a log in the river of history or be a pedantic watcher," he said. Audience members left the gallery, clearly moved by Osheroff's statements, some with tears in their eyes. He was "very inspiring," sophomore Lauren Wheeler said.

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News

Professor Bobo discusses discrimination

August 31

Renowned sociologist Lawrence Bobo made appearances in several classes this week and presented a lecture to the Tufts community Tuesday afternoon on new forms of discrimination. His speech, entitled "A Color Line for 21st Century?: Laissez- faire Racism and the Status of African Americans," was delivered to a diverse audience in Barnum 8. A professor at Harvard University, Bobo stressed that discrimination this century may not be as visible as in former times, but continues to persist in the United States. African Americans, Bobo explained, have a power disadvantage, lack cultural capital, face a wealth gap, and are still prone to ideological stereotypes. Questioning why people no longer fervently discuss discrimination issues, Bobo suggested it is because "everyone's ideologically comfortable" with the status quo, especially in the current era of economic prosperity. Although the American government is legally anti-discriminatory, there is an "invisible hand" that promotes discrimination in the market, according to Bobo. "We don't have race-neutral market dynamics, even though we'd like to think so," he said. Bobo condemned Time magazine for having darkened a front-page photograph of O.J. Simpson in one occasion and having titled an article "What color is black?" Bobo asked the audience why most people think that "white is the air we breathe." Taking advantage of the event's timing to share his political views, Bobo did not hesitate to offer his perspective on the election. He explained that African Americans have a short history as members of the middle class and said that the wealth gap between blacks and whites reflects a tradition of exclusion in America. Bobo pointed to Governor Bush of Texas as an example to illustrate his point that "wealth is inherited." Expanding on his political views, Bobo asserted that black leadership is not consistent enough in holding the Democratic Party accountable for the changes African Americans would like to see made. African Americans are "co-opted for very little payoff" Bobo said, "and if Gore wins, it will be due to black votes." Mohammed Bulama, a Fulbright Research student from Nigeria who is studying at the Fletcher School, called Bobo's lecture "a ground breaking presentation." As an outsider, he explained, the United States appears to be a completely integrated society. However, Bulama was startled by the statistics presented by Bobo. "Now I know where this problem in America stands," he said. "We're very lucky to have Lawrence Bobo visiting us. He's a major figure in both sociology and political science, and there aren't that many people who have feet in both places," political science Professor James Glaser said. Glaser organized Bobo's visit along with mathematics professor Todd Quinto and sociology professor Susan Ostrander. After the two-hour lecture, Bobo answered questions from the energized crowd, many of whom were searching for a political strategy to end discrimination in America. Bobo responded that not all protests generate change, but that "out of small things, sometimes greater things come... You've got to start somewhere," he said. The majority of the audience seemed to agree with Bobo's stance. Asked if class had a greater impact on discrimination than race, Bobo responded that it was certainly an important issue, but "not the main part of variance." He went on to cite an example from his research, explaining that in Los Angeles, many whites choose to live in cheaper all-white neighborhoods as opposed to more expensive multi-racial neighborhoods. The latter, explained Bobo, are simply "off the white radar scale." Bobo was brought to campus by the honor society Phi Beta Kappa, which is sponsoring Bobo's trips to a number of national universities.

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News

De La Soul to perform in Hip-Hop Show

August 31

Concert Board announced yesterday that the rap group De La Soul will headline the annual Hip-Hop Show on Dec. 9 at 9 p.m. in Dewick/MacPhie. The reggae band One People will serve as the opening act for the event. "It's going to be a great show," Concert Board advisor Edmund Cabellon said. "It's a nice way to end the semester and get people relaxed before finals." This is De La Soul's second appearance on campus, as they played Fall Fest in 1997. The group, whose members hail from New York City, formed in 1985 and experienced a jump in popularity since its first visit to Tufts. Their most recent album, Mosaic Thump, is part of a three-disc series titled, Art Official Intelligence. The other two installments are expected to come out next year. "De La Soul has been getting a lot of playing time on MTV, so hopefully tickets will sell out and everyone will be really pumped," Concert Board co-chair Jennifer Lowe said. Decisions on which bands play at the annual shows are left entirely up to the 40 to 50 members of Concert Board. Members of the group listen to comments and recommendations from the Tufts community and generate a list of potential bands. The board then votes on which bands to contact. This year, Concert Board originally attempted to bring Jurassic 5 and Guru to campus, but it turned to De La Soul because the other two had scheduling conflicts. One People was added to the ticket because Concert Board felt a reggae act would complement De La Soul's style. It felt that this genre of music would fit nicely in the Hip-Hop show, as other events during the year do not have a place for a reggae act. Tickets for the show cost $5 and will go on sale this Monday at 9 a.m. at the information booth in the Campus Center. Students will be required to show their Tufts ID to purchase a ticket and tickets will be limited to one per student. There will be 350 tickets available for the show.

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News

Peggy Sue' goes onstage

August 31

All eyes at The Colonial Theatre are focused on Kathleen Turner these days. She has stolen the spotlight as the star of Tallulah, Sandra Ryan Heyward's one-woman play, which began its pre-Broadway engagement last Tuesday. Tallulah, Heyward's first play, is based on the life of eccentric and outlandish actress Tallulah Bankhead. It takes place in the bedroom of Tallulah's Bedford, New York, apartment. The play opens to reveal the actress in the midst of preparations for the fundraiser she is hosting that evening for incumbent president Harry S. Truman, and then concludes at dawn the next day. In the course of these twelve hours, Tallulah reveals the highs and lows of her life and confesses some of her deepest secrets, casually sipping champagne all the while. Kathleen Turner first became involved with Tallulah when the play debuted in July 1997 at the Chichester Festival Theatre in Sussex, England. There is no doubt that Turner was the best choice for the role. She manipulates her portrayal of Tallulah Bankhead such that the audience can't help but be convinced that she was born for the part. No one else has the stage presence - not to mention the sultry and seductive voice - to pull it off. She succeeds in capturing every facet of Tallulah's erratic persona, from elation to desperation. Bankhead was a whirlwind of a woman, particularly at the height of her career in the late '30s and early '40s. The Alabama native, born into a family of prominent politicians, began her career in the theater in London in 1923, where she continued to act for eight years. When she crossed the pond to make a name for herself in the states, her theatrical success continued. She won the New York Drama Critics Award for Best Performance in both Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes (1939) and Thorton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth (1942). In addition, she received the New York Screen Critics Award for her role in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944), often hailed as the best film performance of her career. Bankhead's fame as an actress gave way to notoriety, thanks to her at-times questionable behavior. She was a heavy drinker as well as a cocaine addict. She was known around town for her sexual promiscuity ? she boasted having had 5,000 different lovers, men and women alike. According to Hitchcock, "The whole point about Tallulah was that she had no inhibitions." When announcing her intention to run for the Senate, Bankhead's euphoria and her pride in the political history of her family is more than evident. The realization of how appalling her behavior was at the party when she awakes at dawn the next morning, however, is heart wrenching. Turner's extensive experience as an actress is obvious from her ease on stage. She converses frequently with the audience, referring to the theatregoers that pack the Colonial as "Daaahlings." Her comfort level and skill were most apparent during the first act when the production was momentarily attacked by a variety of curious technical difficulties. Turner hardly skipped a beat. She seamlessly wove these bumps in the road with the play itself so that they truly became part of the evening's production. Best known as a film actress, Lawrence Kasdan's film noir Body Heat, marked the beginning of Turner's career as a Hollywood star in 1981. She received both the Golden Globe and Los Angeles Film Critics Association Best Actress awards for her role in Romancing the Stone (1984). She has also received a number of nominations for various awards including the Golden Globe's New Star of the Year in 1984. In 1986, she was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in Francis Ford Coppola's Peggy Sue Got Married. Despite her reputation as a star of the silver screen, Turner is hardly a stranger to the stage. She made her Broadway debut in the comedy Gemini, was nominated for a Tony Award for her role in the 1990 revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and appeared in Jean Cocteau's Indiscretions in 1995. The play's success owes a debt to the flawless direction of Michael Lessac. His credits include over 100 television productions, including such popular sitcoms at The Drew Carey Show, Just Shoot Me, and Grace Under Fire. He has also directed over 30 different theatre productions. Set designer Derek McLane captures the essence of Tallulah in his design of her lilac-colored bedroom, complete with billowed curtains and satin sheets. Turner's various costumes, from her flowing evening to her mauve satin pajamas, also add flavor and flair to the role, thanks to costume designer Bob Mackie. One might argue that the history of Tallulah Bankhead and all her escapades are enough to make any play based on her life a smashing success. Tallulah, however, is not about shock-value. It's about an inside look at the life of a woman who couldn't help but be intriguing. Heyward achieved a perfect balance between comedy and tragedy, and she has made this play a true pleasure and a future Broadway treasure.

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News

Figuring out family through children's eyes

August 31

Growing up in school, we learned about the different cultures, religions, ethnicities, and family backgrounds that are the backbone of society. Science teachers taught us about the social structure of the animal kingdom. In humanities, we learned about the structure and function of societies outside of our own. But what about learning about our own families - how are they different and what makes them unique? These were some of the questions addressed at the film screening of That's A Family at Barnum last Thursday. The first Boston-area screening of Academy Award winner Debra Chasnoff's film drew an audience of about 100. The film is a follow-up to Chasnoff's last work, the 1992 It's Elementary: Talking About Gay Issues in School, which examined teachers' efforts to find creative, age-appropriate ways to counter anti-gay prejudice and gay invisibility. Chasnoff made the film to create age-appropriate resources for the classroom that would help teachers find ways to integrate awareness of homosexuality in the elementary school curriculum. "We got all this feedback saying 'great idea, really needed, really, really needed,' but the political climate is such and the lack of awareness is such that we need to completely step back and reach the parents and the educators first," Chasnoff said while introducing the film. Based on the positive reaction she received from parents and educators, Chasnoff and her production team began putting together a media series for kids called Respect For All. "That's A Family is the first video in this series that explores family diversity. The two other films, which are currently in pre-production, will focus on name calling and stereotypes," Chasnoff said. "We started with the family because that's what the parents and teachers wanted," she added. "When kids are growing up, their first point of reference for understanding themselves and understanding the rest of the world is family." That's A Family focuses on children's experiences in different family settings. The film addresses issues such as race, sexual orientation, divorce, death, religion, and adoption on a level that an elementary or middle school child could identify with and understand. Throughout the documentary, the audience was presented with six children, each representing the six types of families depicted in the film - adoptive, divorced, traditional or nuclear, biracial, gay or lesbian, and interfaith. The audience gained a brief, yet personal perspective into each of the children's living situations. In the film, one girl of mixed ethnicity, a third-grader, described her family quite astutely. "We're not plain Chinese, plain German, plain this or plain that - we're mixed!" she exclaimed. The question and answer session after the screening reflected mixed reactions to the film. Although all of the children in the film appeared content with their situations at home, one audience member asked whether the subjects were really as happy as they seemed or whether their situations were somehow manipulated. "All the kids talked about what's great about their families and things that are hard for them about their particular family configuration," Chasnoff responded. "We weren't going to make a film about kids who were unhappy. The point of this film was not about whether you are happy in your family or not, the point of this film was to look at differences." One student expressed that she was grateful the film dealt with the issue of death in the family. She felt that children who face death early in their lives are often ashamed to talk about these personal issues with peers and family. "I wish that when my mom died and when I went to school that they had shown this video, so that when I said I didn't have a mom, people didn't try to shame me into saying that I was just kidding. Those are the things that kids are really afraid to talk about because of the shame factor," the student noted. Obtaining the right families for the film was a long and difficult process for the filmmaker. Over 100 families were rejected from the film because the children couldn't sit still, were inarticulate about their families and their feelings, or because their stories were too common. "[Finding subjects] was very, very challenging," said Chasnoff. The film has recently come under scrutiny from the right wing because it explores lesbian and gay lifestyles in relation to the family. Chasnoff claimed that most of her attackers have not even seen the film. "[The critics] say, 'In this film, a young boy is adopted by a heterosexual family. That's a family. A young girl beams with pride in front of her two lesbian moms. That's not a family - that's a tragedy.' This, of course, is the extreme, but you have to ask, what can you put in?" Chasnoff said. Chasnoff hopes that others will benefit from the message of acceptance behind her film. "I was on a talk show and this Republican dad said, 'I had my remote control in my hand and I was ready to hate it, but I was so disarmed by the kids.... I realized that no matter what I think about gay people, I had nothing to quarrel with a child talking about his family,'" she said.

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News

Itching for a hook-up

August 31

Possibly the worst news that a college student can receive is that a random one-night stand gave them a disease that will stay with them for a lifetime. According to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), 33,000 Americans acquire a sexually transmitted disease (STD) every day, more than 12 million Americans acquire an STD each year, and at least one in four Americans will have an STD during their lives. While students at colleges and universities throughout the US are aware that STDs pose a harsh reality and a serious threat to their health, many students feel that they are fairly uninformed about the signs and symptoms of STDs. Regular checkups and subsequent treatments are effective steps towards preventing the spread of STDs and other related diseases. However, many students here at Tufts reveal that they do not get tested regularly because STDs do not pose an important enough threat in their daily lives. One sophomore indicated that he had hardly considered the risk of contracting an STD. "Probably the most I'd do would be to wear a condom," the student said. "I wouldn't go further than that, since I haven't thought about it enough. I wouldn't get a STD check either. It's just not something I worry about." Other students felt that, while STDs pose a terrifying risk, they do not know enough about the symptoms and the eventual effects. "I don't think I know everything there is to know about them... but the threat alone would definitely influence my decisions," Anna, a junior, said. Anna further explained that, despite receiving a certain amount of education about STDs, many of her peers do not appear to moderate their sexual activity accordingly. "I think that my friends are educated about STDs, but that doesn't seem to influence their behaviors much, if at all." Mark, a freshman, felt similarly. "My friends at home are probably more informed than my friends at Tufts about STDs. They are certainly conscious of them as a potential risk. But it doesn't change how they act, since they don't worry about them on a regular basis," he said. Other students, like Margaret, a sophomore, regard STDs with a similar combination of caution and a lack of education. "I would definitely use a condom if I didn't know someone's sexual background, because I know some symptoms of STDs, but I don't know everything about every disease," she said. Margaret finds that her friends do express anxiety about STDs, but, like Mark's friends, they do not exercise as much caution as they should when making sexual decisions. "My friends are generally concerned with STDs, and condom use is an important factor. However, I'm sure they could be more careful," Margaret said. Susan, a sophomore, observed that a discrepancy exists between students' knowledge of the risk of pregnancy and the risk of STDs through sexual intercourse. "I've talked to my female friends who are getting on the pill just so they can go off to college and have rampant sex without worrying about getting pregnant," she said. "They don't even consider the huge amount of diseases they could get from sex , let alone something like oral sex." "The least thing you should be worrying about is getting pregnant. I am really careful about who I do what with because of all the horrible things that could happen," Susan continued. Some students say they feel awkward about discussing STDs, and that this inhibition prevents most people from speaking frankly about behavior and the associated risks. "Although I'm scared to death of STDs, it is not something you talk about on a daily basis. People have trouble with that aspect of it, but I think you should be informed of your partner's sexual history beforehand," said Pat, a freshman. A recent study by NIAID further demonstrates the urgency for students to get STD checkups on a regular basis to reduce the rates of infection. Researchers from NIAID have focused on villages in Uganda, where roughly 16 percent of the population is infected with HIV and other STDs. Infected and healthy sample groups received antibiotic treatment for a wide range of STDs. While the treatments did not affect the infection rate of HIV in the sample villages, they did significantly reduce the rate of other STDs, according to Nelson Sewankambo of Makerere University, Kampala, who served as the primary investigator of the study. "The mass treatment intervention substantially reduced STDs amongst pregnant women and resulted in marked improvement in maternal and infant health," Sewankambo said. "These findings could help define new strategies for STD control in pregnancy." In keeping with Sewankambo's advice, some students do make a conscious effort to protect themselves by carefully choosing their sexual partners, having regular STD checkups, and undergoing any necessary treatments "I am indeed educated about STDs, and I have been tested several times. [STDs] certainly figure heavily into how I make sexual decisions," a junior said. "I don't have much random sex, and when I do, I use a condom. However, I do know a lot of people that have random sex - my friends are not as aware of the dangers as I am." Barbara, a sophomore, has second hand experience of the effects of STDs on the eventual health of infected people. "My mom works as an assistant in a clinic where she sees a lot of women who have contracted STDs," she said. "A lot of STDs are invisible to the naked eye, and, especially if you're female, you should get checkups regularly, even if you think everything's normal." "If you were pregnant, if you were sexually active, you'd think that people would make an effort to get checked out. You would hope that, once people found out they were carrying an STD, they would act responsibly," Barbara continued. While he does not know many people who are sexually active, Larry, a sophomore, felt that his peers seem to be somewhat educated and knowledgeable about the subject. He pointed to panels like "Why No Means No," that took place during freshman orientation, and to the distribution of condoms in centers of student activity around campus as actions that further educate students about sexual risks by making the information accessible. "It's geared towards prevention, which is very necessary," Larry said. "I think we are very much aware of what to do to prevent STDs. Even if you didn't want to be aware of STDs, you would still know the facts."Where only first names appear, names have been changed to preserve anonymity.

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News

Presidency officially undecided; Florida recount necessary

August 31

The Presidential election remains undecided as the sun rises this morning, hours after the last polls officially closed. Although most major news organizations declared Governor Bush the winner shortly after 2 a.m., all calls were retracted just after 4 a.m., when it was learned that the thousand-vote margin would necessitate a recount in the pivotal state of Florida. Upon learning of the recount, which will take place at 9 a.m. today, Vice President Gore retracted his concession to Gov. Bush and announced that he will continue his campaign. The election comes right down to the wire, with both Gore and Bush pulling 49 percent of the popular vote. The contest is hanging in the balance, as the nation waits for official totals in Florida, whose 25 electoral votes will push either candidate over the necessary 270. Bush currently leads in Florida by just 224 votes. Several thousand more absentee ballots will be counted in the next few days. Media organizations are still unsure of the outcome of votes in four additional states: Iowa, New Mexico, Oregon, and Wisconsin. The New York Times went so far as to literally stop its presses, and has retracted its election calls. Americans came out to vote in droves, with almost 50 percent of registered voters coming to the polls - one of the highest turnouts in decades. Massachusetts, which cast its 12 electoral votes for Gore, ranked among states with the highest turnouts, with preliminary numbers indicating that over 70 percent of registered voters came out to the polls. While analysts have traditionally predicted that a large turnout would favor the Democrats, it seems that the voters came out in support of Gov. Bush as well. By 11 p.m. last night, the race had come down to a few crucial swing states, including Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, Wisconsin, and Maine. By midnight, Florida had emerged as the key to the race - in order to win, each candidate would have had to either win Florida or a laundry list of smaller swing states. Many media organizations, including CNN and the Associated Press, had declared a Gore victory in Florida early in the night, but then rescinded the call as Bush took a late lead in the state, where his brother Jeb is governor. Also contributing to the late-night uncertainty were the states of Washington and Oregon, both of which have unusual voting laws that lengthen the amount of time required to count votes. Washington voters are permitted to mail their ballots in if they are postmarked by 12 midnight on election day, while their Oregonian counterparts submitted ballots into drop boxes all day today. Top Democrats are criticizing Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, who won a sizable percentage of the popular vote, for monopolizing a crucial chunk of Gore voters, and giving Governor Bush a pivotal lead in such a tight race. Nader, who openly prefers Gore to Bush, has ridiculed the Vice President for having so much difficulty beating the Texas Governor, whom he perceives to be unqualified for the office of president. The Republicans held onto slim majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Among several notable Democratic victories were First Lady Hillary Clinton beating out competitor Rick Lazio to become a New York Senator, and deceased Missouri Governor Mel Carnahan defeating Republican Challenger John Ashcroft for a Senate seat the dead Governor's wife will now assume. A crowd of over 150 Tufts students, composed almost entirely of Gore supporters, assembled in Cabot auditorium last night to follow the election and listen to analysis from a number of Tufts professors and political activists. The panel included Political Science professors James Glaser and Kent Portney, Tufts Nader campaign leader Jesse Alderman, Primary Source columnist Jonathan Perle, and Tufts Democrats Vice President Sarah Molenkamp. One of the most emotionally charged moments of the night came when the major media networks retracted their original statement that Gore had won Florida, throwing the election back into the fray. "They shouldn't be calling it that early, that's the bottom line," said Tufts Republican Nick Abraham. "You're playing with people's emotions." "It can unduly affect people's decisions," Tufts Republicans Co-president Sam Dangremond agreed. Bush supporter Phillip Berenbroick experienced the same roller-coaster ride through all the miscalls. "Early in the evening I was a little discouraged," he said . "Now we have Missouri back, Florida is a tossup again... with a lot of states still up for grabs... It's crazy but it's a lot of fun."Ben Oshlag and Daniel Barbarisi contributed to this article.

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News

Video recorder confiscated from Tisch restroom

August 31

A video recording device, apparently installed in order to observe impromptu sexual encounters, was removed from the men's bathroom on the lower level of the Tisch Library on Sunday by the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD). The incident marks the latest in a series of unusual acts of vandalism and voyeurism at the location, which is listed online as a "hot place" for homosexual sex in Boston. The restroom is posted on www.crusingforsex.com - an online resource that facilitates sexual encounters between men - as a top Boston-region location for spontaneous homosexual sex. The site's "Cruisemaster," who identifies himself only as Keith, calls the project his "personal labor of love... dedicated to helping men around the world connect for sexual pleasure." The web page, which lists University and other locations in categories by state, reads: "Tufts University, Boston: Action at the 1st floor men's restroom of the new Tisch Library, very hot place." The device found in the bathroom, which included a camera and battery pack, was confiscated after a student reported seeing someone attempting to activate the contraption. "We believe that an individual was spotted trying to install a camera in the bathroom," TUPD Lieutenant Detective Charles Lonero said. "I think it's more of a voyeuristic issue - violations to people's privacy. It's not a safety issue whatsoever." Routine patrols of the location have failed to detect any suspicious activity, and no one has ever reported being approached or assaulted. The University has stepped up its surveillance of the bathroom, however, and encourages students to report any suspicious activity immediately to TUPD. Ironically, while a number of surveillance techniques have been attempted unsuccessfully in the past, the University cannot use video surveillance to help identify the suspects. "We've stepped up the number of times that the circulation staff will walk through the bathroom," said Tisch Library Director Paul Stanton, who added that this problem is not one exclusive to Tufts. Similar problems have been reported in MBTA, bookstore, and library restrooms throughout the city. Working from only a "vague description" of the perpetrator, the TUPD has yet to name any suspects in the case. While Lonero had not yet examined the evidence yesterday morning, he said that fingerprints on the device might assist the police in determining the identity of the suspect. The restroom has been the target of numerous acts of vandalism, including holes drilled in the privacy panels, toilets adjusted so that they appear not to work, and the removal of stall doors. The partitions between the urinals are also removed routinely, and have been replaced over a dozen times in the last several years. Stanton also mentioned that mesh wire had been used to clog the toilets, presumably to discourage innocent patrons from using the facilities. Library officials have worked closely with the TUPD to attempt to fortify the restroom with steel partitions and foolproof bolts. But vandals have found ways around the improvements, sometimes using power tools to drill holes and to modify toilet flows. "It's been a source of great frustration for us," Stanton said. "There has been a problem over the past few years with the bathrooms, which I would call aggressive and repetitive vandalism." "We want to be about the business of library service," he added. "Standing guard in our bathrooms is not our highest priority.... It's not that we don't care. We just haven't been successful so far in deterring it."

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News

TCU Senate Treasury bank switch to increase interest on the budget surplus

August 31

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate Treasury moved its surplus funds into a new interest-bearing bank account last week. The switch from Fleet Bank to Citizen's Bank is expected to dramatically increase the amount of money the Senate can provide the student organizations it supports. Although it will take some time for the returns to accumulate, the growth of the surplus will provide more opportunities to student organizations. While the exact use won't be known for some time, it may go the Buffer Fund, which clubs can tap into to fund unexpected expenses not in their original budget. It could also be added to the "Capital Expenditure and New Group Funds," or used to end TCU deficit spending once and for all. Senate Treasurer Michelle Shelton described the switch from Fleet Bank to Citizen's Bank of New England as a win-win move for both students and clubs. "In the long run this will be better for all students on campus," Shelton said. "Until switching to this new account there was no way to exactly know the surplus." For the past few years, student groups have been allocated more money than they have actually needed to function, causing a surplus that accumulated at the end of the year. The excess funds sat dormant in a Tufts University account that did not earn interest until recently. The lack of interest on the account, coupled with changes in customer service after BankBoston's merger with Fleet Bank in May, led the Senate, in conjunction with Office of Student Activities Budget Director Frank Nocito to begin looking for other ways to save more money. The budget surplus is now contained in what is called a sweep account. Shelton explained that this invests the surplus into "low-risk money market accounts" overnight and provides a substantial 5.3 percent return. "5.3 percent is a lot when you are talking about a $65,000 surplus," said Shelton, who noted that the surplus will grow nearly $3,000 dollars a month just sitting in the bank. Sweep accounts have become increasingly popular in recent years because they maximize returns for the account holder and give banks an advantage. "Sweeping" large amounts of money into money markets temporarily, as in the Senate account's case, allows banks to dip below their reserve requirements and increase their own profit. Assistant Treasurer Sarah Sandison said that money market investment is the best choice in managing the surplus because University regulations prohibit stock market or other risky investments. Nocito added that this new banking situation will provide better service as well as high returns. "We will [now] have a greater percentage of money swept on a daily basis," he explained. Students responded positively to the new arrangement, saying that they are excited to have more money poured into student activities and programming. "Anything that brings more money into clubs I am active in is good news to me," freshman Ben Hsu said. The Senate's operating budget comes from the mandatory student activity fee set by the Board of Trustees, which is presently $168 dollars. The Treasury has a budget of about one million dollars each year, which the Allocations Board (ALBO) divvies out each year to the 160-plus student organizations. Student Organizations receive funding based upon proposed budgets, which tend to be relative to their size. The largest chunk of money, $160,000, goes to Concert Board, while the Leonard Carmichael Society and Hillel also receive substantial portions of the pie. Sandison sees the funds as "money for every student in the school" and says that ALBO works to ensure every club gets a fair share. Because clubs have already set their budgets for this year, the effects of the growing surplus may not be evident until at least next year when ALBO is able to increase the amount of money it allocates to each student organization.

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News

Mrs. Jones takes center stage

August 31

Circle September 30 on your Olympic calendars.

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News

Pain and sorrow on stage in 'Nocturne'

August 31

Playwright Adam Rapp wastes no time in revealing the premise of his latest play, Nocturne. The first scene begins with a young man, unconvincingly attempting to mask guilt with big words. After a few moments of dense poetic narrative, he announces matter-of-factly, "Fifteen years ago, I killed my sister." This prosaic, unadorned statement is the impetus behind The American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T)'s production of Nocturne. From this statement evolves the heart-wrenching story of a young man, known to the audience only as "The Son," coping with the accidental death of his sister. The audience is witness to the guilt and anguish that ensues, and together with the narrator, learns that through the greatest pain and passage of time come eventual forgiveness and redemption. Nocturne's theme of atonement through suffering is not in and of itself entirely new, nor is it particularly complex. What sets this play apart from the rest is the poetic sincerity, courtesy of Rapp. Having worked extensively in New York with theater organizations such as The Public Theater and Julliard, Nocturne marks his first theatrical endeavor in Boston. And what a refreshing addition to Boston's theater scene he is! The depth and intensity of the play is human in comparison to the pretentious over-dramatization of which other productions around town have become victims. The play achieves thought-provoking realism while avoiding ostentatious melodrama. Dallas Roberts, as "The Son" and narrator of the play, contributes to the dramatic success and impact of Rapp's work. A graduate of the Julliard School, he masterfully handles the emotional complexity of his character without losing the audience. He weaves adeptly through Rapp's extensive similes and descriptive narratives, all the while keeping a firm hold on the character's humility. Theater veteran Will LeBow is equally expressive and endearing, as "The Father." He conveys the intensity of his anger immediately following the accident without saying a word - his facial expressions do all the talking. When the narrator returns to his father following his 15-year absence, he evokes sympathy and tenderness, again more through gestures than with words. The narrator's vulnerability, which Roberts conveys with striking precision, is heightened by the blood-red set design of A.R.T. veteran Christine Jones. The scenery is, on the whole, simple and geometric, allowing the audience to concentrate on the dense, profound dialogue of the play. Together with A.R.T. Resident Lighting Designer John Ambrose, the setting succeeds in accentuating the mood and themes of Nocturne by using the plot and Rapp's narrative as the framework. There is, however, a scene in which Roberts appears to be defying gratify. He speaks suspended in a melange of souvenirs acquired in New York City, where the narrator has gone to escape his "blonde house," the unraveling of his family and the memory of the accident. While the scene is aesthetically curious and undoubtedly impressive, it diverts the attention of the audience away from Roberts' monologue. Transitions between scenes are awkward and unnecessarily drawn out in an already lengthy production, and are often unbefitting - one wonders what the significance of 30-second interludes of rock/techno music are, as well as to what "Swinging on a Star" has to do with grief and guilt. The play, however, maintains a surprising continuity under the direction of A.R.T. Associate Director Marcus Stern. Technically, the play is flawless. The actors are well-rehearsed - even Marin Ireland, who plays "The Red Headed Girl," delivers a flawless performance despite her lack of lines. It is a little long given the intensity of subtext, the waterfall of emotion, and substantial language. And yet, thanks to a fabulous company of actors and an adept and capable director, the play manages to avert the typical downfalls that can occur (among them boring the audience). Despite the sensation of nearly imperceptible exhaustion upon leaving the Hasty Pudding Theatre, Nocturne is undeniably a breath of fresh air. The staging is flawless, the acting is poignant, and, most importantly, the writing is passionate and phenomenal. This play is more than worth a quick trip to Cambridge, if not for its artistic genius, at least for the simple reason that it makes you think.

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News

Tufts faces Bates ground attack

August 31

The Tufts football team, which yielded 137 yards to Wesleyan running back Greg Thomas in the week one opener, will have its hands full again this week when the Jumbos face hard-running Bates College in week two. Bates is headed by sophomore tailback Sean Atkins, whose sublime performance in his first ever start in week one earned the rusher co-offensive Player of the Week honors in the NESCAC. Atkins rushed 25 times for 218 yards last Saturday in the Bobcats' 46-34 loss to Trinity. He also tacked on 91 receiving yards, making his total of 309 yards the second most in Bates history. If the Jumbos hope to bounce back from last week's season-opening 16-7 loss to Wesleyan, stopping Atkins will have to be priority number one. It's a task that the team should be able to handle, though, as the defense essentially allowed just one significant Wesleyan scoring drive last week. The Jumbos are led up front by senior tri-captain Pete DiStaulo and Everett Dickerson, who combined for eight tackles and two sacks last Saturday. DiStaulo and Dickerson got help from the rest of the opportunistic defense, as well, as Tufts came up with six total sacks, a pair of fumble recoveries and an interception. But the men up front for the Jumbo defense will be staring down an experienced Bobcats offensive line. Bates returns four out of five starters from last year's team that was third in the NESCAC in total offense. Like the Jumbos, though, Bates' biggest losses came at the specialty positions on the offensive side of the ball, as it was forced to replace the team's leading passer, rusher, and receiver from the past three seasons. Clearly, Bates doesn't need to worry about the running back position, as Atkins added three touchdowns to his overwhelming yardage totals last week. Bigger concerns come at the quarterback spot, as sophomore Steve Barry won the starting job but was erratic in the opener. Barry was 8-for-19 with 157 yards but threw four interceptions against the Bantams. No receiver stepped into the forefront either, as Atkins led the team with three receptions, one more than John Katsarikas. The offensive explosion last week - the Bobcats scored more than 30 points just once last season, averaging only 20 points per game - isn't as exciting to the Bates coaching staff as a defense that allowed 46 points to Trinity. The Bobcats' 1999 defensive unit surrendered an average of just 16 points a game, including a total of seven points in the last two games. The perplexing part is that the defense was supposed to be the veteran bunch. Bates is led on the defensive side of the ball by senior captain, linebacker Bob Rosenthal, the team's leading tackler. Three starters are also back on the defensive side of the ball, including All-NESCAC selection Ryan Gray and all-ECAC lineman Jaime Sawler. A defense that can be scored on is a tasty proposition to the Tufts offense, which struggled in week one. Tufts' only score came on a Matt Cerne catch in the closing minutes. Cerne was named NESCAC Rookie of the Week after his opening debut, which consisted of four receptions for 43 yards and the touchdown. The offense will be engineered this week by sophomore Scott Treacy, who was brought in for relief of sophomore Todd Scalia. Treacy threw a touchdown and two interceptions last week, but his quickness and mobility got him the starting nod. Still, if Treacy is ineffective, Scalia and his superior arm will be waiting in the wings. Another factor that could help the Tufts offense is the return of senior wide receiver Brett Cicchillo. The leading returning receiver from '99 was banged up until two days before last Saturday's game and saw limited playing time. His knee has recovered now, though, and that will give Treacy another option when he drops back to pass. Both teams will be looking for their first win, and it could come down to a battle of two inexperienced quarterbacks.

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News

Leslie Crofton goes to Washington

August 31

The women's cross country team finished its season on a strong note, placing seventh out of 35 teams at Saturday's NCAA Div. III New England Regional Championships. While the team did not qualify for Nationals, not surprisingly, senior co-captain Leslie Crofton did, finishing second out of 260 runners. Crofton, who has been far and away the team's leader this season, continued to head the Tufts' pack on Saturday. She fell short of the winner, senior Barb Swallow of Springfield, by only five seconds, finishing with a time of 17:31. Swallow is the National 10K champion and will be a strong contender at Nationals. Crofton set an individual best on this course, defeating last year's individual record by 48 seconds. She also beat '99 graduate and All-American Cindy Manning's fifth place time last season by two seconds. She accomplished this despite letting up a little in the last mile in order to save something for Nationals, since she was well on her way to qualifying. "Crofton ran a phenomenal race," coach Kristin Morwick said. "She's made a huge jump this season with no one really to run with." Though Crofton was the only member of the team to qualify for Nationals, junior Heather Ballantyne joined her in receiving recognition as All-New England runners by finishing in the top 35. Ballantyne, the consistent second place finisher for the team this season, crossed the line in 31st place with a time of 18:45. Ballantyne also clocked a personal best, beating her time last year by 48 seconds. She missed qualifying for Nationals by just two places and four seconds. Only the top nine individuals from non-qualifying teams earn a spot to run at Nationals. "Ballantyne had an excellent race," Morwick said. "She really gave it her all, collapsing at the finish line. It was difficult for her to qualify when so many of the top finishers came from non-qualifying schools." Ballantyne, however, was not the only Jumbo to push herself in this race. Senior co-captain Jenn Edelmann finished third for the team in 38th place with a time of 18:52, also setting a personal record in what Morwick called an "inspired race." She beat her time last year by ten seconds, despite the muddy and rainy conditions. In fact, the subpar racing conditions did not thwart any of the Jumbos from setting personal records. Freshman Lauren Caputo, running in her first NCAA regional championship meet, crossed the line fourth for the Jumbos (63rd, 19:15). Like Caputo, freshmen Lauren Dunn (6th team, 92nd overall, 19:41) and Katie Mason (7th team, 103rd overall, 19:48) set personal records in their first regional championship. "I was really happy with my performance" Caputo said. "We all came together in the last meet. It would have been nice to qualify but we placed really well considering the competition." Saturday's competition was tough, as the Jumbos were unable to match the efforts of Middlebury, Williams, Amherst, and Colby, the four that will represent New England at Nationals on Saturday. The competition wasn't the only thing holding the Jumbos back. Sophomore Mary Nodine, the Jumbos' fifth place finisher (82nd, 19:32), ran a personal best despite grappling with a leg injury. She has been confined to pool workouts of late, and only ran four times in the past three weeks. Typically the Jumbos' third finisher, Nodine might have provided a huge boost if she ran at full strength. "Had Nodine been healthy," Morwick said, "she would have put us closer to the qualifying teams." All eyes are now on Crofton as she prepares for this Saturday's NCAA National Championship meet in Spokane, Washington. This will be a week of fine-tuning for the senior, with only one workout scheduled. She will travel to Washington on Wednesday to have plenty of time to check out the course and acclimate herself to the colder weather. Her season then comes down to Saturday's date with some of the top runners in the country.

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News

The Jumbo and the donkey: making a winning ticket

August 31

Last year, junior Glen Roth knew he wasn't going to come back to campus in the fall, but he did think he'd be going back to school. Roth had been enrolled in an abroad program in Paris, and was considering spending some time on foreign shores. By the end of the summer, however, this political junkie found himself not on a left bank caf?©, but instead in the heat of Al Gore's campaign. The excitement of campaigning and a surprising job offer convinced him that an election year wasn't the best time to jump ship and leave the country. If you're politically inclined, you might know where Al Gore campaigned yesterday; Roth made his hotel reservations there. You might have seen a news clip of Gore riding through the streets of his hometown; Roth was in the motorcade. You've certainly seen the Democratic candidate's face in the papers; Roth shook his hand. As an intern and now as a paid staffer, Roth is involved in making campaign decisions and plotting the strategies that we see play themselves out on the campaign trail each and every day. "The best part about my job is being at ground zero, where some of the major decisions about this campaign are made," he said. That's why he left his home in the nation's capital and moved to Nashville, Tenn., the campaign's headquarters. Landing a position as the Gore advance team's personal travel agent, Roth spent his days on the phone booking hotels and transportation for the Gore team. The nine-to-five jobs his friends had over the summer paled in comparison to the 13-hour workdays Roth was experiencing. Though Roth's days were relentless, he got used to the daily grind. "I can't imagine growing tired of any job soon, after getting used to this schedule of about 80 hours a week," Roth said. As the summer months wore on, Roth witnessed firsthand the events that would lead tomorrow's paper. He had a front-row seat at the rally where Gore named Joseph Lieberman his running mate. He found himself schmoozing with the likes of Donna Brazile, Gore's campaign advisor. As the August Democratic National Convention grew near, Roth's political classroom was on the move. The Gore camp was setting up shop at the Biltmore, a premiere Los Angeles hotel, and nothing was going to come between Roth and a ticket to the "City of Angels." Securing a position in the makeshift Los Angeles office, the ambitious intern got himself a plane ticket to Cali. Little did he know that he would not be traveling to this Democratic extravaganza as a meager intern. By convention time, he would be a full-fledged staff member. Notice of his newly appointed position presented a mixed bag of sorts. While Roth was flattered and thrilled to be offered such a coveted spot, he knew that taking this job would complicate and eventually change the plans he made for his junior year. Though Roth was ready to take Paris by storm - he had planned on being abroad for the year - he had to reconsider, especially after the Gore Campaign made him an offer he could not refuse. Roth was not slated to be just any staff member; he was to be assistant to Ron Klain, the chief of the War Room, the hub of the candidate's operation. "[I like] seeing decisions being made and getting to know the people making them," Roth said. This job offered him the perfect place to be; but it also meant he couldn't be in Paris. Like a true politician, Roth decided that his decision warranted a meeting with advisors. Roth immediately phoned his family and friends and eventually returned home to hash out the issue with his chiefs-of-staff: his parents. After a weekend of intense discussion, he returned to Nashville with a decision. Though he was hesitant to lose even a portion of his abroad experience, he realized that it was possible to get the best of both worlds. "It came down to one question: If I can do both, seeing the campaign through to the election and go to Paris, why not?" Parisian nights will have to wait until second semester, for now, Roth is using the campaign trail as his classroom. And he has a heavy workload. "The environment is very consuming. We work hard all day, then go out and talk about work," Roth said. Although his days are long and tiring, Roth finds the day-to-day work very exciting. Being firmly planted in Gore territory is a great learning experience, he attests. He knows his current position could have a significant impact on his political career as well. But for the time being he's not thinking about that. His hard work as an intern paid off for him, but the bigger reward is that it will pay off for Gore's campaign - and the new staffer missed no opportunity to spread his man's message. "I'm here cause I believe Al Gore is the only candidate who will work to bring more to people with less. It's that simple."

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