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News

Tufts student gets chance to spin the big wheel

September 9

    The famous artist Andy Warhol once said that "in the future, everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes." Many students may roll their eyes at the popular saying, resigned to spending the next few years in the obscurity of Tisch Library, but for one Tufts senior, fame is just a spin of a wheel away.     Senior Peter O'Regan unknowingly signed up for his time in the limelight while playing a game of online "Wheel of Fortune" one evening last winter. A link by the computer screen's edge caught his eye, and, without any real hope of success, O'Regan signed up to be thrown in with thousands of prospective contestants, all eager to win a spot on the show.     "I had actually forgotten about it until I got the e-mail for the group audition," O'Regan said.     Five months after signing up, O'Regan was called to audition with a relatively small pool of entrants. He was then chosen to represent Tufts University in the second round of the "Wheel of Fortune" College Week special, taped in the Boston Convention Center and set to air on Nov. 10.     The format of the College Week edition is largely indistinguishable from the show's standard daily episodes, but several key alterations were made to accommodate the week's theme. The taping location was moved from the show's usual home — Los Angeles — to Boston, arguably America's greatest college town. With it came a full-sized traveling Wheel of Fortune wheel and a stage set that consisted of a mostly accurate, slightly undersized cardboard New England street. On the set, a projector screen played a looping video montage of scenes from various competing schools, including live footage of Tufts' very own West and Eaton Halls.     Boston University's cheerleaders egged on the audience and helped announce co-hosts Pat Sajak and Vanna White, and Boston foodie group The Phantom Gourmet helped Charlie O'Donnell entertain the audience during the show's opening.     Over the nearly three decades of its existence, Wheel of Fortune has integrated several similarly planned themes to honor specific events and boost viewership. One of its most successful themes in recent years has been the NFL Players Week, in which the game show competitors are exclusively NFL athletes, according to Sajak in a behind-the-scenes interview with the Daily.     In addition to attracting spectators, themed weeks create a unique atmosphere behind the wheel and in the audience. College Week in particular stands out because of the sense of partnership it consistently builds between competing players.     "There's a level of camaraderie any time, but it's always interesting with the college students; there's such a camaraderie since they're all in the same point in life," Cassandra Thompson,  the Wheel of Fortune contestant coordinator, said. "Everyone roots for everybody, and they're excited for each other because you can have three big winners every show. I've seen people come away in third place with $25,000, so there's no need to have that competition. You can all come away with so much."     The contestants' politeness seems antithetical to the theme and its accompanying setting: university students, often representing rival colleges, competing with one another to win the largest sum of money. But when plucked out of their cutthroat classrooms, the students seem to bond over their shared nervousness and pride.     Despite the obvious sweating and breath-holding every time O'Regan or one of his competitors from Georgetown University or the University of Maryland spun the wheel, by the end of the day, contestants had already planned to make a Facebook group and keep in touch, O'Regan said.     It is obvious to viewers that Wheel of Fortune is not simply about the money, but also about puzzles, ambiance and humor. According to co-host White, this has allowed it to outlast many other game shows with easier puzzles and larger cash prizes.     "It goes back to that old game of solving the puzzle. You walk by the TV, and if there's a half puzzle showing, you want to solve it," White said.     "People like the game no matter how much money we're giving away," Sajak added. "The idea is not necessarily to solve the puzzle quickest. It's to solve the puzzle and amass money, and the puzzle is up there a long time. The way it's designed, more often than not, you have it at home before anyone solves it in the studio, so you also feel pretty superior to those people. That's probably part of it."     There is also the comfort of Sajak and White, who have co-hosted the show since its syndication on primetime television in 1983 and who now have their schtick down to a T. White has never repeated gowns (and has even changed between half-hour episodes taped on the same day), her record for claps  averages 720 per episode, and Sajak's interactions with the contestants have become familiar to three generations of American television viewers. The show's light humor also keeps audiences coming back for more; it is cheerful, homey and sometimes even scandalous.     "Do you want to speak into my chest?" Sajak offered to White after her microphone malfunctioned several times.     "Do you want to speak into mine?" White replied.     "I can just imagine the echo," Sajak hit back, resulting in gasps and laughter from the audience.     From a participant's perspective, Wheel of Fortune rolls by quickly. "It was exciting. It was just fast," according to O'Regan, who was still blushing with excitement as he walked through the curtains separating the glitzy stage set from the vastness of the convention center's open space. But while fifteen minutes of fame is not much time in the limelight, sometimes one can take something from the time into the future.     The cash prize O'Regan proudly took home to Tufts was one such souvenir. The amount will be revealed on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., when he is allowed to discuss the puzzles and prizes with others. More significant, though, is the fleeting experience of stepping out of normal life — in O'Regan's case, one of chemical engineering, being a Wren Ram and heading up the Tufts Energy Forum — and stealing a moment in the spotlight. The beauty tips from the show's makeup crew weren't bad, either.     "I look good," O'Regan said, smoothing a hand over his recently airbrushed cheek. "I like this. You girls have the right idea."

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News

Packard Hall construction completed

September 9

    The Department of Political Science now has a new home, as completed renovations to Packard Hall early this summer have allowed faculty and staff, previously located in Eaton Hall, to move into the building on time.     Construction began just over a year ago in June 2008, and the total renovation cost was $7.1 million.     Administrators within the School of Arts and Sciences originally planned to occupy Packard when Tufts' Board of Trustees approved $6.9 million in 2008 for the overhaul of the building. After construction began, however, a reevaluation of the Eaton Hall space prompted them to redirect the building to the political science department, and the trustees authorized an additional $200,000 to better suit the department's needs.     The office space allotted in Eaton was "substandard" for political science members, Vice President of Operations John Roberto said. "It was a department whose needs were well known."     Political Science Professor Jeffrey Berry agreed that it was time for the department to move. "The old office was not very welcoming," he said. "It was cramped, at best. Students were sitting on the floor."     Department Chair Robert Devigne said that the staff needed more space based on the number of students the department advises. "We were overrun by political science students, and we advise more international [relations major] students than any other department," he said.     The religion and anthropology departments will now occupy Eaton's offices, according to Devigne.     Packard Hall was previously home to the university advancement office and has in its long history served the university as a residence hall, dining hall and library.     The Linbeck Company conducted the renovations to the building. Linbeck was also responsible for the construction of Sophia Gordon Hall and the Granoff Music Center, according to Director of Construction Management Mitch Bodnarchuk.     "They have a good track record on campus," Bodnarchuk said of the company.     Bodnarchuk said that the project was on time and made budget even after the plans changed to prepare Packard for political science faculty rather than administrators.     The change in intended use for the building required repartitioning the Packard offices. Larger rooms designed for deans were broken down to fit the faculty members, according to Bodnarchuk.     The renovation in general, Bodnarchuk said, involved "a lot of demolition and restructuring" due to the building's old age.     Linbeck added a second set of stairs, an elevator, a sprinkler system and an entrance ramp for handicap accessibility to the building.     A number of other renovations occurred over the summer in addition to Packard's revamping. Eaton itself was re-carpeted and re-painted, while ceiling tiles and air conditioning units in the building were also replaced.     Carmichael Hall's corridors, laundry room and common room were re-painted, and the building is also sporting new carpeting. Bathrooms on the first floor were made handicap-accessible, as were 12 first-floor rooms. The plaza in front of Carmichael was also redone, removing vegetation to make it feel "light and airy," Bodnarchuk said.     Finally, the basketball and volleyball court inside Cousens Gym was rotated and extended to comply with NCAA regulations. A new hardwood floor, collapsible bleachers and a new sound system were also installed for the court.     Though all of these renovations were performed this summer, none interfered with summer programs on campus. "Everything we do, we coordinate with summer school folks," Bodnarchuk said.

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News

Summer Rez renovations completed in campus center

September 7

    After undergoing renovations over the summer, The Rez, along with its surrounding lounge area, sported a brand new look at its official opening on Saturday.     The campus center coffee shop run by Tufts Student Resources (TSR) received both an aesthetic facelift and internal modifications from renovations that began in June and reached completion about two weeks ago.     "The goal was to increase visibility … but primarily the goal was to provide better services to the students," said TSR President Ali Osman, a senior.     The renovations include a replacement of all existing equipment in The Rez. Two ATMs that were originally located near The Rez have moved to the opposite side of the lobby near the Office for Campus Life, allowing space for a large storage area and a condiment bar for Rez customers.     The renovations allowed The Rez itself to essentially double in size, as well as making it wheelchair accessible and bringing it up-to-date with the most recent health codes, according to senior and TSR Vice President of Operations Adam Kornetsky.     The project was part of a larger initiative last year, spearheaded by TCU Vice President Antonella Scarano, to make minor facelifts to the entire campus center. She said the renovations have given new life to an old space.     "We wanted it to feel more like a social slash study room," said Scarano, a senior. She hopes that the revamped space will meet the same reception as Hotung Café, which was renovated in the summer of 2007.     "I think when Hotung [café] first opened up it was sort of a breath of fresh air," Scarano said. "It was not only pleasant to the eyes but more conducive to socializing and studying, and I think that's what's happening again to The Rez. It's another breath of fresh air."     The Rez's new look also includes hanging lamps and red lighting, red cushions covering the lounge's wooden benches and new furniture, flooring and paint. The lounge area across from The Rez features large, translucent hanging panels that enclose the space.     "They wanted the lounge area to feel more enclosed and intimate, and that's why the panels were put up around the parameter," Senior Construction Project Manager Ray Santangelo said. "We didn't build anything new here, we just added [to the lounge area]."        The students who run The Rez like the coffee shop's new appearance but are quick to point out that the unique personality of The Rez has not changed.     "It looks different, but people can still expect all of the same Rez quirks and traditions," said Rez employee Adam Frank, a senior.     "We love the renovations, but we really wanted to keep the old personality," said junior Laura Bernescu, who also works at The Rez. "We don't want people to feel the same way they do when they go into [Tisch Library's Tower Café] or Hotung [Café]."     The Rez has kept all of its old products and vendors, but it has supplemented its menu with several new selections, including bagels, frozen mochas, iced tea and chocolate milk. The renovations' inclusion of a new ice machine for the Rez will also help to make iced drinks more readily available, according to Kornetsky.     "The Rez has always offered limited food," Kornetsky said of the menu expansion, "but we know the average student is often looking for something more nourishing and nutritious."     TSR had aspired to renovate The Rez for several years but had lacked the necessary funding until last year. In April, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate gave a $100,000 loan to TSR to pay for its renovations to The Rez. After funding for the project was established, the renovations progressed fairly rapidly.     "It was surprisingly easy to complete the actual renovation," Kornetsky said. "Of course we hit a couple of snags, as every construction project does, but we ultimately finished exactly on schedule."     Changes to the rest of the campus center are still planned but are contingent on further funding. Last year, senators toured the campus centers of other colleges and universities, formed a committee and engaged Tufts' Board of Trustees for partial support. They are hoping to renovate the campus center's upper level lobby next.     Students who work at The Rez are happy with the renovations' end result.     "People love new things, and this is a lot more comfortable and cozy," Bernescu said. "I think it's been updated to what students these days need."     "We look like a legitimate coffee shop now," Frank said. "We have the spaces and the resources to create more business and a bigger niche on campus."

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News

Fall Ball solution presents a problem

September 7

    In response to the disorderly behavior and capacity issues at previous dances, the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate at the behest of the Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) has taken steps to prevent similar problems from arising at Friday's Fall Ball. As reported on today's front page, attendance will be capped at the 2,500 students who can get tickets at the campus center. The Senate has not compiled statistics on turnout at previous events, but under the new setup less than half of the student body can attend.     On a campus without large followings for sports teams, Fall Ball is one of three major campus-wide activities that can bring together a cross-section of the student body. The Daily approves of the Senate's decision to finally confront inappropriate conduct at these dances — conduct that has included public urination and physical abuse of security personnel — with substantive action. Still, it is difficult to justify punishing many students for the extreme intoxication of a small minority. We as a student community need to prove that we can hold large gatherings where we will act responsibly. But it is unfortunate that even if only the full freshman and senior classes wanted to attend together, they could not.     Ticketing limits the numbers in attendance but still does not handle the public urination and other disorderly conduct that may be more a function of excessive drunkenness than of lines for the restrooms. The university is already planning on increasing its security presence at this Fall Ball. The best way to respond to past issues and the current dilemma would be to further step up security at the event. The police should refuse entrance to the extremely intoxicated students. In the past, TUPD's restriction of openly drunk students has been mainly nonexistent, as students are typically seen stumbling through the ID lines.     The Senate is considering moving future dances off campus. While this approach might allow the entire community to attend, cost and transportation issues create more problems and would dissuade some from making the effort to go. It is misguided to restrict some of those who do not cause trouble when many of those who have incited problems in the past will still attend.     The Senate has taken a step toward addressing these issues, but its solution is a Band-Aid one, and better responses are available for consideration. Furthermore, removing this campus tradition from campus would be a self-defeating mistake.

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News

Swine flu rates are expected to rise this fall across nation

September 7

    The flu that made headlines last spring is expected to return with a vengeance this fall. The H1N1 virus, more commonly known as the swine flu, is of particular concern on college and university campuses due to frequent student interaction and "because the virus appears to spread quickly among younger Americans," according to an August press release from the U.S. Department of Education and the Center for Disease Control.     Late last May the Tufts Daily published a news story confirming two cases of the H1N1 virus among recent graduates. Since the article was published, the number of cases at Tufts has risen steadily, and is projected to increase exponentially once students return to the Medford/Somerville campus.     "I expect [the number of cases of the H1N1 virus] to explode," Medical Director of Tufts Student Health Service Margaret Higham said.     Higham believes that in September, well upwards of 40 Tufts students have been exposed to the H1N1 virus.     She explained, however, that pinpointing an exact number of cases is difficult, since the test to verify H1N1's presence is only available in limited quantity.     "There is a test that will definitely show the swine flu, but there's only one office in every state that does this test, and thus it has a very limited availability," Higham said. "Testing is only allowed for people who are severely ill in the hospital, or for what we call epidemiological reasons, [i.e.] if you're trying to see if the flu-like illness you're seeing on campus or in a work place is the H1N1. So all in all, very few people are tested for it."     Distinguishing the H1N1 virus from the regular seasonal, or "winter," flu virus, is even more difficult because the symptoms between the two are virtually the same, according to Higham.     Nevertheless, the U.S. Depart of Health and Human Services was able to identify the H1N1 virus last spring, once the number of cases of the winter flu began to diminish.     "By the end of May, it was becoming apparent that the regular winter flu was basically done with, and all the cases of flu-like symptoms that [the public health department] were testing, which was, admittedly, a limited number, were the H1N1 virus," Higham said.     Whether or not the cases present in Tufts students have been the H1N1 virus, a large number of students have visited Health Service complaining of flu-like symptoms since last May.     One recent Tufts graduate, Ashti Mistry (A '09), cited cold and flu-like symptoms during the summer, but was shocked when doctors told her what she was experiencing was actually the H1N1 virus.     "I first started to feel the symptoms a few days before I went to the doctor. Basically all I had was a cough and I was just feeling really stuffy and continuously tired, [but] once I had a fever I knew that something was wrong. I rarely get [fevers] and never higher than 100, but this time my fevers were up to 101, sometimes 102," Mistry said. "I went to the doctor and was made to wear a mask the whole time there. I thought it was all a bit ridiculous and I didn't believe the doctor when he diagnosed me."     Because Mistry was living off campus at the time, she was not diagnosed through Tufts' Health Service. However, she was taking summer courses at Tufts during her illness.     "I had to keep up with the work from all the classes I was missing, especially because it was the last week of classes and my final was due soon after, with an extension," Mistry said. "Reading and paying attention to what I was reading was incredibly hard. All I wanted to do was lie in bed and sleep."     Luckily for Mistry, her professors were very accommodating and gave her extensions during her illness.     "When I had to e-mail my teacher and tell him that I wouldn't be able to continue coming to the rest of the class … he was very helpful and was very willing to give me extensions," she said. "He also informed Tufts that I was ill and I got a few calls from the staff at Health [Service] just checking in to see if I was OK."     Staying home from school is precisely what Higham has been recommending for sick students. Furthermore, Higham hopes that sick students will be able leave campus entirely, which she stressed in a letter sent out to parents this past summer.     "We want to give students the incentive to, if at all possible, try and leave campus when they're sick, and try and go home with parents, friends, or relatives," Higham said. "If not, we will try and see what we can do to keep people in single rooms as much as possible, but we don't have a whole dorm to turn into an isolation ward or anything. We're making plans to try and encourage everyone to stay away from others as much as possible."     Although staying home from school is effective once students have been diagnosed with an illness, taking preventive measures before getting sick is of equal or greater importance.     "The advice recommended by experts includes: wash your hands often, cough into your sleeve rather than your bare hand and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth," according to a newsletter Tufts Provost Jamshed Bharucha sent to the Tufts community on Sept. 2nd.     Although these recommendations have been echoed by medical professionals for years, Higham stressed that they can make a huge difference.     "People kind of get bored when we talk about washing your hands," she said. "But the third thing, which people tend to forget about, is try not to touch your eyes and nose so much. We all do it subconsciously, but [the virus] doesn't get into your body through your mouth. You could lick your fingers [which may have been exposed to the virus], and chances are you won't get sick, but if you touch near your eye, you're going to get sick."     In terms of preventive vaccinations, the situation is less straightforward. Higham explained that an H1N1 vaccination is projected to emerge in late fall or early winter of the upcoming academic year, but neither the exact date nor the precise quantity of vaccines the university will receive can be pinpointed.     "The federal government is in charge of all the vaccines that are being manufactured. I can't order our own supply of it. The federal government will be giving the vaccine to the states, and then the states will be distributing that vaccine within the states, based on who is at the highest priority for getting it," Higham said. "College students are on the priority list, but they're kind of at the bottom. They're what I call ‘second tier.' So I do expect that we will get vaccines, but I don't expect it to be right away."     While the H1N1 vaccine may take a while to reach the Tufts campus, Higham stressed that the regular flu vaccine will be available at Tufts Student Health Service in full supply, and even at an earlier date this year than it has been offered in the past.     All information related to the regular flu vaccine, as well as news related to the H1N1 virus, will be disseminated to students and parents via e-mail and mail, as well as through the Health Service Web site.

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News

Flash a smile, score an A: Study links GPA to attractiveness

September 7

    Conventional wisdom tells us that girls are made from sugar, spice and everything nice, and we all know that everybody's crazy about a sharp-dressed man. But a recent study has shown that these traits, along with physical attractiveness, actually affect a high school student's GPA.     In a recent study published in the journal Labour Economics, University of Miami professors Michael French, Philip Robins, Jenny Homer and Lauren Tapsell showed that high school students' grades may not be completely merit-based.     "What was found in the labor market [is that] those who are more attractive than average made wage premium and those below average made wage penalty, and we wanted to see if that relationship held up in grades for high school students," French said in an interview.     The researchers found what they expected, as French and his colleagues discovered that female students who have good personalities tend to have higher GPAs, as do male students who are well groomed.     Tufts students did not seem surprised by the study's results, and guessed that the findings applied to college students as well as their younger counterparts. Some pointed to the participation grade commonly factored into their final grade as the embodiment of many abstract, non-merit-based judgments.     "How you present yourself in class and how others see you is really important," Tufts freshman Isabel Leon said. "A big part of classes require participation … doing presentations [and] class discussions. Those activities [are based on] appearance and delivery, [so] you might excel more in certain classes if you have a better appearance in that class."     French and his fellow researchers used data gathered by the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health), a study conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university conducted interviews with students across the country. After each interview was through, the interviewer was required to answer a small list of questions, some of which specifically asked the interviewer to grade the student on a scale of one to five for personality, grooming and physical attractiveness.     Twenty thousand different seventh to 12th graders were surveyed in the course of the study.     By this method, no one person set the standard for subjective judgments on appearance. Rather, the ratings were normalized by the sheer number of responses.     Some students believe that the grade bias is just a sample of the bias they will encounter after high school.     "I think that in the real world, your appearance matters for jobs; I think it's important," Maggie Pace, a recent high school graduate headed for Brown University, said.     Others just chalk it up to human nature.     "Humans are programmed to read body language and personality," Leon said. "As long as we have teachers that are people [interacting] with students, I think that [bias] is going to play in no matter what."     Despite his confidence in the findings, French acknowledged a desire for a more perfect study.     "It would have been nice to have measurements at each year in high school where we could look at how GPA changes over four years … and how that relates to the observation of physical characteristics," French said. "What we had to work with was overall GPA at the end of high school, and physical appearance based on one observation …. As happens quite often with adolescents, physical appearance changes, especially during those years. It's not clear if changes in physical appearance change grades or if grades change physical appearance. Maybe good grades make you feel better and more confident, and [thus you] improve in all those areas."     Looks can also be more than a purely superficial way of evaluating someone, according to Tufts senior Griffin Pepper.     "You judge someone on their appearance because you base your opinion of their character on their appearance," Pepper said. "If you put effort into the way you look, people assume you put effort into everything you do."     Though French acknowledges that argument, he is also quick to suggest a different explanation.     "Although we suggest in the paper that perhaps teacher bias could be at work here, there's no reason to completely disregard the fact that the students that were more physically attractive or had more personality are more intelligent or more motivated," French said. "It could be that those characteristics are picking up effects of something else we couldn't measure."     Still, the study's results pertain solely to high school. Perhaps judgment of looks and personality is specific to high school culture, and the atmosphere in college is not quite the same.     "In college, [the grade bias] is a lot less prevalent than it is in high school," Pepper said. "I have many professors that I've tried to charm, and it has not worked. I [work] harder [for my grades] if I don't impress them with my stunning personality and well-kept hair."     Leon hopes that her Tufts experience will be different from her time in high school.     "High school has a strong and distinct culture which definitely … shapes the students' personalities in that they want to … act a certain way where they will not be shunned and [will] fit in," Leon said. "However, if you continue to go on to higher education, there's more on the line. You have an incentive to be there. The typical culture of high school cliques and drama … will just fade away because now the students have incentive."     Unfortunately, studying GPAs in college is not the next item on French's agenda. He plans on looking at the effect these characteristics have on the probability of having a romantic partner.     "[We want to see if the] more physically attractive are more likely to have a mate," French said, "and if the well-groomed are more likely to live with someone than marry."

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Class of 2013 statistics belie recession's impact

September 7

    The newly matriculated Class of 2013 maintained an average level of diversity and hit record admissions statistics despite difficult financial times and an admissions process that was not entirely need-blind, according to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.     "The academic profile of the enrolling class is, arguably, the best one in Tufts' history," Dean of Undergraduate Admissions Lee Coffin said in an e-mail.     Eighty-five percent of the freshmen ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class, the same as last year. The new class includes 56 valedictorians, 28 salutatorians and 56 National Merit Scholars. The mean SAT scores for enrolling students this year rose to 709 for Critical Reading, 712 for Math and 714 for Writing, each a record high. At 1421, the combined score of the first two sections is also a record.     Reeling from the effects of an economic downturn that resulted in increased financial need from applicants and budget cuts across the university, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions suspended need-blind admissions last year for the final five percent of applicants. The office practiced the need-blind policy, in which officers do not consider an applicant's ability to pay, for the Classes of 2011 and 2012. The approach remained unofficial due to a lack of funding guaranteeing its sustainability.     The break in need-blind admissions for the last 5 percent of applicants affected but did not dramatically alter the socioeconomic composition of the class, as demonstrated by slight decreases in financial support for incoming students.     Thirty-five percent of enrolling students this year receive a need-based grant from Tufts, representing a one-percent drop from last year, according to Coffin. Nearly 10 percent of the incoming class consists of first generation college students, another one-percent drop from last year. The percentage of recipients who received a Pell Grant — a widely used marker of socioeconomic diversity — fell 0.5 percent from last year.     "This past year has been the most challenging I have ever seen in many years of financial aid," Director of Financial Aid Patricia Reilly said. "Given the level of economic uncertainty and increased financial need of so many of our families I am very pleased that we have been able to enroll such a diverse and accomplished freshman class."     While the amount of financial aid rose by 12 percent this year, the additional funds went only to current students. The decision to allocate the money that way affected the incoming class, Coffin said.     "It is impossible to evaluate this year's admission outcomes, as successful as they are, without underscoring the essential fact that we made some difficult choices regarding the composition of the next class," he said.     Yet the diversity of the Class of 2013 did not suffer much as a result of financial restraints.     Twenty-four percent of the incoming class is made up of students of color from the United States, down three percent from last year but similar to the Class of 2010's percentage. Non-monetary factors contributed to this drop, Coffin said.     "This decrease reflects the pressures on the financial aid budget as well as the continued expansion of diversity initiatives at several of the Ivies, which enrolled larger numbers of our accepted diversity candidates than usual," he said.     Lisa Coleman, director of institutional diversity, supported Coffin's statement that although the diversity of the incoming class is slightly lower than usual, it is not a drastic change. "We typically receive somewhere around 25 percent domestic students of color. This year's racial profile is typical," she said.     The number of enrolling international students remained the same at 9 percent. South Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Canada and India are the five countries that boast the largest number of students in the class.     Tufts accepted about the same number of students this year as last year, according to Coffin. Because the number of applications to Tufts decreased by 3.8 percent this year, though, the 26.5 percent acceptance rate was slightly higher than last year's, rising one percent.     The Class of 2013 is an average size with 1,313 freshmen. The incoming class consists of 1,118 students in the School of Arts and Sciences and 195 in the School of Engineering. Fifty-eight students came off of the waitlist this year, most of whom were financial aid candidates. Seventy-one transfer students will enroll at Tufts this fall.

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News

Policy to limit Fall Ball attendance

September 7

    Unruly student behavior has prompted the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate to cap the number of attendees at Fall Ball, a move that  TCU President Brandon Rattiner has called disappointing but necessary.     Organizers are also considering moving Winter Bash in January to an off-campus location.     The Senate this week will give out no more than 2,500 tickets to Friday's Fall Ball. The tickets will be free of charge and will be available at the campus center this week.     The Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) proposed the restrictions on attendance after numerous complaints and safety concerns came about during previous dances at the Gantcher Center, where the events typically take place.     Last year's Winter Bash was marked by rowdy behavior from highly intoxicated students, including public urination and verbal and physical harassment of volunteers.     Rattiner said that TUPD insisted on implementing new procedures to avoid similar problems at Fall Ball. "[The ticket limit] was really something that the Tufts University Police Department and a lot of safety organizations at Tufts were adamant about," TCU President Brandon Rattiner said. "The last two years have shown that the way that we do Fall Ball is not sustainable, as past events have been over capacity."     The TCU Senate Executive Board approved the TUPD demand, but Rattiner emphasized that the decision did not come from the Senate. Instead, the body's approval resulted from a lack of alternative methods for ensuring safety during the dance, he said.     "I'm disappointed that TUPD thought we needed to go down this road, but I understand their concerns for safety," he said. "I think it's valuable to have an event that everyone can attend."     No official attendance numbers have been documented at past dances, so Rattiner said he does not know whether the 2,500 tickets will meet student demand.     "It's just a risk that we are going to have to take this year, as we didn't have any other options besides scrapping the event," Rattiner said. "For one year, it's worth getting a gauge on Fall Ball and seeing how it works out."     The Senate and Office of Campus Life (OCL) have set up additional events on Friday night, including karaoke and a hypnotist show, to give students other on-campus options that night. Extra security teams will also be on hand to keep the crowds at Fall Ball more under control.     Rattiner added that while a ticket cap may not be ideal, he believes that everyone who wants to go to Fall Ball will be able to.     "I'm a little bit disappointed that we couldn't come up with something that is open to the entire school, but I'm confident that 2,500 will be enough to accommodate everyone and still provide a fun atmosphere," he said.     Junior Amanda Schulte said that while she sees the benefits of instituting a ticket limit, she's also nervous that some of her friends may not be able to get tickets to Fall Ball.     "I think it's probably a good idea to set a ticket limit in order to prevent injuries or health problems that come from overcrowding," Schulte said. "At the same time, I hope that the ticket limit doesn't prevent too many people who want to go from attending."     Organizers are also discussing whether to move Winter Bash to an off-campus venue to better accommodate attendees. Programming Board, the student-run umbrella organization in charge of planning and running Winter Bash, is exploring possible venues in the area, according to member Sarah Habib.      "We would like to make something that is a nice experience for everyone, and it is also nice to change things up a bit," said Habib, a junior. "Gantcher isn't designed to hold that many kids. If we went to an off-campus venue that was designed for Winter Bash, it would run like a real event."     While Rattiner agreed that moving Winter Bash away from Tufts would solve a lot of last year's capacity-related issues, he said there was no guarantee that the Senate will have the funds to do so. Though the Senate is not responsible for planning the dance, it is in charge of finding funding for the event.     A final decision has not been reached on whether to change the venue, Habib said, and discussion is ongoing.     "While nothing is definite yet, at this point in time we are working closely with the administration to see what is best for Tufts University," Habib said. "We will be in the planning stages until the end of this semester."

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News

Fight songs, beanies and dressing up as babies

September 1

Click above for an audio feature including interviews with Jackson College alumni about their memories of Tufts.

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News

Greek affairs office again left without director

September 1

    Students within Tufts' Greek community are working to keep fraternity and sorority life running smoothly following the abrupt departure of Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life Patrick Romero-Aldaz.     Romero-Aldaz left Tufts on Aug. 27 to direct the Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the University of South Florida, leaving the Greek office primarily student-led and without any plans on the horizon of hiring a new director. Until a replacement is chosen, Dean of Student Affairs Bruce Reitman will act in Romero-Aldaz's stead.     "I was offered an opportunity I couldn't refuse to lead another Greek community with a position that is larger in scope and responsibility," Romero-Aldaz told the Daily in an e-mail.     Since he came to Tufts at the end of the 2007 academic year, Romero-Aldaz worked to align Tufts' fraternities and sororities with national Greek regulations. Most notably, he advocated a strict BYOB policy in line with national regulations that forbid Greek houses from supplying alcohol. He also eliminated alcohol from the Spring 2008 rush process.     Romero-Aldaz's departure leaves the Greek community without an acting director, not unlike the one-year period prior to Romero-Aldaz's arrival at Tufts when students took on the responsibilities of running the Greek system alone, including coordinating rush.      His position will remain unfilled indefinitely due to a hiring freeze on new staff members as a result of the financial downturn, according to Reitman. He maintained, though, that "there will be no lack of attention to the Greek system."     Reitman will take over the position of chair of Tufts' Fraternity and Sorority Life Advisory Council, a group created by Romero-Aldaz that consists of both students from the Greek system and university officials. The advisory council enacts and administers policy and oversees the direction of the campus Greek community.     "There's no diminution in the level of importance in which we view having these functions," Reitman said. "We're going to keep everything going."     Jacob Maccoby (LA '09), who served as Inter-Greek Council (IGC) president last fall, praised Reitman's temporary takeover of the position.     "Dean Reitman has always been a strong supporter and friend of the Greek community at Tufts, and there is nobody I would rather have as our adviser and our advocate," he told the Daily in an e-mail. Maccoby added, however, that he hoped the university would appoint a full-time replacement as soon as possible.     Others pledge that the vacant position will not prove an obstacle.     "It's sad to see Patrick go because he was a great connection for us, but I don't expect people in the Greek community and people who look at the Greek community to see any drastic changes or noticeable changes," said junior Jason Clain, public relations manager for the IGC.     Maccoby agreed that Romero-Aldaz's departure would not affect the IGC's goals and proceedings.     "No matter what," he said, "we will continue to provide the strong leadership, first-rate community service and excellent social events that this campus and this community [expect] from us."     Romero-Aldaz said that despite facing certain obstacles, he was satisfied with his tenure at Tufts.      "When you take a position that is charged with bringing about change, you realize it is not always going to be easy," he said. "But I will say that my time at Tufts has been most rewarding because I've had an opportunity to help make some positive change, learn a great deal about myself and, most importantly, work with some truly fantastic students."

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The Tufts dictionary

September 1

    Starting college is hard enough without feeling like everyone is speaking in code. We decided to give you a leg up on some of the various acronyms and abbreviations that are common on campus. Unfortunately, you can't complete your language requirement in Jumbo-ese, so don't sleep through your placement test! Fob: Small gray item on your keychain that will let you into your dorm's main entrances. Unfortunately, fobs won't let you into very many dorms other than your own, so when students want access to another building they often have to resort to other methods (see "Piggyback"). Joey: The trusty shuttle between campus and Davis Square. The Joey can take on many forms, including "prison Joey" (a white school bus), "mini Joey" (a short bus) or "traditional Joey" (a big shuttle with "Tufts" written on the side). Keep track of Ol' Joe's wily ways using JoeyTracker, a slightly unnecessary GPS system, as new forms could surface this year. NQR: Though the official Tufts term is the Nighttime Quad Reception, by the end of fall semester, Jumbos will know firsthand the acronym's true meaning: Naked Quad Run. Piggyback: A verb synonymous with letting someone into a building behind you; this action is strongly discouraged by the Tufts Police Department. Despite these warnings and the relatively high number of creepers around campus, students generally piggyback at all hours of the day and night. Rape steps: Legend has it that the staircase behind Wren was specially designed so that women could outrun a pursuer. This really means that walking up and down the steps is a huge pain and that they will forever have an unfortunate nickname. Res Quad: The lawn located in the center of Carmichael, Miller, Houston and Olin apparently got its name because it was once home to a reservoir. Today, it's home to barbeques, sunbathers and Frisbee games … until outside temperatures become too unbearable. SIS: Web service used to register for classes and to check final grades. Irrelevant for the majority of the year but becomes all-important five minutes before your slotted course registration time, when clicking "Register" over and over seems like a logical way to speed up time. TEMS: Tufts Emergency Medical Service. Can be used as a noun, or as a verb that roughly translates to "calling an ambulance." Most often heard coming from the mouth of an intoxicated Jumbo, as in, "Don't TEMS me, bro!" Tuftslife: By the end of orientation, every freshman will have been advised at least five times to switch their Internet homepage to Tuftslife.com. This Web site features calendars, events and links to everything you'll need to know on campus. Dining hall menus, anyone? TUPD: Tufts University Police Department, otherwise known as the campus cops. They will be your new best friends when you lock yourself out of your room one morning, but at that night's frat party you might feel differently about them.

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The unofficial guide to freshman housing

September 1

There's a lot your RA won't tell you about your dorm in that first hall meeting. That's at least partially because she probably wants to keep her job. But at the Daily, we aren't subject to these concerns, and since every residence hall comes with its own stigma — some earned, some a bit overblown — we thought you might like some help reading between the lines for an alternative look at where you're living.

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Timeline | Campus news crash course

September 1

Consider our Tufts dictionary feature, your English course for assimilation onto the Hill. This timeline, then, is your history fix. A lot has happened in the past year, most notably the culmination of an embezzlement scandal that began in 2007, and the university's million-dollar losses at the hands of both Bernard Madoff and the national recession. Scroll past the timeline for links to past articles.

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News

Another fresh start

September 1

    As the trees begin to change, there is an aura present on campus that happens once a year. While each student decides how they want to spend their time, evaluating what they want to get out of the upcoming year, a collective energy forms throughout the Hill. An unrivaled amount of creativity and enthusiasm causes a perfect storm of excitement: new clubs, ambitious personal goals, new friendships and a contagious buzz. The new year means a new start — another chance to get around to the hobby you never picked up, an ability to talk to the friend you have never approached, one more chance to explore all that Tufts has to offer.     As the snow begins to fall, the autumn energy gives way to winter complacency. Routines emerge, midterms dominate our time and many of the goals and hopes that the fall ushered in find themselves at the bottom of our to-do lists. But if we could keep up that energy all year, constantly challenging routine and passivity, imagine the possibilities.     With this in mind, I would like to warmly welcome the Class of 2013 to our great university. Freshmen are the physical embodiment of the energy I was referring to, serving as both a sparkplug to traditional campus groups and as a blank slate, eager to do whatever it takes to get the most out of the year. You have all made a great choice by attending Tufts, and, without a doubt, if you put in the time to explore what this university has to offer, you will be rewarded with an endless amount of success and memorable experiences. Never lose your enthusiasm to learn or discover, and as the years go by try to hold on to the awkward but exciting energy that you felt during your first few days at Tufts. The aura that surrounded your arrival to campus is dependent on your — and on the rest of the student body's — willingness to stay inventive and animated in the face of routine.     I want to promise that the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate is ready and able to assist the campus in its effort to stay fresh and lively. An endless list of new projects, new ideas and new initiatives is intended to help make life at Tufts better for all students. This year's TCU Senate is committed to being realistic and approachable, making sure that every project we undertake has a real bottom line and a clear benefit for all students at Tufts. We will identify certain areas of campus life that could be improved upon and come up with relevant projects that can solve problems in these critical areas. Innovative strategies and plans will be used to create a more cohesive campus with better communication between clubs and leaders. A dedicated Senate will also be able to fortify intellectual life on campus and help create more social outlets to meet the demands of a diverse campus.     The TCU Senate also will be much more open and transparent. We promise to use new technology sources to stay up-to-date and accessible, and our meetings will be much more public. Distributing agendas prior to meetings and advertising the appearance of administrators at meetings will ensure that no one is surprised by the decisions or direction of the Senate.     As the year is set to begin, the TCU Senate will help the student body maintain the energy that makes the fall so special. But sustaining autumn's optimism is a personal task. It's important that as the year progresses we continue to challenge ourselves to innovate, to make sure that we do something new or meaningful every week. The beginning of the year tricks us into thinking that we have an unlimited amount of time to make our desired changes in the community and in ourselves, but every moment is precious and should not be wasted. If we all work together to create a better Tufts, we can have an entire year defined by a commitment to a dynamic, unforgettable campus culture.

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Tufts seniors in the spotlight

May 18

ANDREW LEE

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Seniors Look Back

May 18

What is Tufts' best-kept secret? "It's got to be the croissant sandwiches [in the campus center]. No one knows about those." ~Marvin Walker "I would say the circular thing right between Eaton and the library where you talk and it echoes your voice." ~Baker Potts "Coming to The Rez for coffee and working at The Rez are definitely the best kept secrets to being a happy Tufts student. For sure." ~Liz Fusco "Did you know that Tufts goes farther than Brown and Brew? That's the best kept secret. All of the engineering and unrelated buildings that are past Brown and Brew that I've never been to … despite being an engineering student. ~Adam White

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News

Deval Patrick: A brief biography

May 18

Today, Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick (D) will deliver the Commencement address to the Class of 2009 and receive an honorary degree. Patrick is the current governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and is the second African-American elected as a governor in the United States.

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Choice of major, in many cases, does not greatly affect career options for seniors

May 18

Today's graduates hardly need to be reminded of the searches for jobs and graduate schools that may be ongoing, complete or yet to begin. The question of the relevance of an undergraduate major to a student's future career path is an enduring one, but now with an economy that has rendered paying jobs more scarce than in previous years, and thus spots in graduate schools increasingly competitive, the issue of the value of today's degrees has been thrown into sharp perspective.

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By the numbers | The Class of 2009

May 18

15,525: Applicants for admission to the Class of 2009 4,361: Students accepted 1,367: Students enrolled 27: Percentage of applicants accepted 31: Percentage of accepted applicants enrolled 44: States represented 44: Foreign countries represented 14: Percentage of class with an international background 80: Percentage of enrolled students in the top 10 percent of their high school class 1420: Average SAT score of accepted students 684: Men enrolled 683: Women enrolled

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Longtime athletics worker who helped to rescue Jumbo's ashes dies at 83

May 17

    Phyllis Byrne, the former Athletics Department employee who was partially responsible for securing Jumbo's ashes, died on April 21. She was 83.     Byrne worked at the Athletics Department as an administrative assistant for 30 years until she retired in 1989 and is remembered by her colleagues as a dedicated, efficient employee with an enthusiastic love for Tufts athletics and its history.     "She became very prominent in the Athletics Department," said Rocky Carzo, who served as athletics director from 1973 to 1999 and is currently the athletics director emeritus. "Not so much in rank, but in terms of people who used to gravitate toward Phyllis."     Bryne was always "jovial and full of energy" and was particularly knowledgable about the history of Tufts as well as the inner workings of the university, according to Carzo. When the Athletics Department needed a signature, a favor from another department or to help out an athlete with a problem, Byrne often was able to lend a hand.     "She just had a knack; she could get things done," Carzo said.     "She always had time to be nice to people, but at the same time, she'd kick their ass if she needed to," he continued. "She developed a fondness for Tufts, and everyone treated her with respect and affection."     While Byrne may have achieved a legendary reputation within the department, she left a permanent mark on all of Tufts by securing the fate of another legend: Jumbo.     Jumbo, Tufts' mascot and the former 12-foot-tall star of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus, was hit by a train in 1885. P.T. Barnum, a former Tufts trustee, donated the hide of the elephant to the university, and a stuffed Jumbo was placed in Barnum Hall. The building—along with all of Jumbo except his tail—burned down in 1975.     When George Wilson, a grounds and buildings department employee, came to the athletics office to spread the news, Byrne immediately asked him if he had saved any ashes, according to Carzo. When Wilson told her he hadn't, Byrne found an empty peanut butter jar and gave it to him to fill with ashes.     After Wilson returned with the jar, Byrne made a label for it and put it on Carzo's desk.     Byrne returned to the Hill in October of 1999 to take part in the "Passing of Ashes" ceremony when current Director of Athletics William Gehling replaced Carzo. The ashes remain in Gehling's office today.     Taking control in securing Jumbo's remains was not out of character for Byrne, who played a prominent role in making sure the Athletics Department's affairs proceeded smoothly. "She ran the department as though it were her own house," Carzo said.     Carzo recounted one night when he was working as a football coach and was watching film to prepare for a game. The light bulb on the projector burned out, and Carzo could not find a new one. He called Byrne at home, and she told him, "You'll never find them because they're in the safe."     While Byrne was willing to, and did, come down to the office to get him a bulb, she never relinquished control of the safe. She would even guard pencils and distribute them only when necessary. "We never went over budget when she was here," Carzo said.     Byrne would also frequently go the extra mile. "She was involved in everything," Carzo said, noting how she would attend all kinds of sporting events and frequently take tickets at them. She organized Christmas parties and alumni events, many of which took place on Saturdays and for which she didn't get paid. But, according to Carzo, that didn't bother her at all.     "It wasn't a job—that's the big thing," Carzo said. "It was all natural for her."

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