The work of yet another Tufts professor is receiving major national attention. Susan Roberts, a professor of nutrition and psychiatry at Tufts, is the co-author of the book Feeding Your Child for Lifelong Health, which offers groundbreaking advice about proper nutrition habits and patterns for children.
The Tufts women's basketball team continued its early-season success, knocking off the Babson Beavers for the first time in seven years, 59-46. It was the Jumbos' second win in as many tries this season, as they kicked off the year with a 75-63 win over Johnson & Wales.
Next week the US Senate will vote on the Higher Education Bill that, if passed, will eliminate race as a determining factor in the admission process of colleges and universities across the nation.
Certain musicians seem to be truly adored and idolized by their audience. Observe the fanatical devotion of many fans of the Grateful Dead, Dave Matthews, and Phish, for instance. Ben Harper evokes the same reaction in some people, but like other bands with similar followings, his fans are either on the inside or the outside.
Weddings are quintessential fodder for female gossip. "Well, when I got married, the caterer..." or "Can you believe what happened at so-and-so's wedding?"
After a stellar 1998 campaign, the Atlanta Falcons are out to prove that last season was no fluke. The Falcons came out of nowhere to capture their first division title since 1980 with a 14-2 record, also earning the first Super Bowl berth in franchise history. Despite losing two key starters in the off-season (wide receiver Tony Martin and linebacker Cornelius Bennett), Atlanta still has more than enough talent to rule the NFC West for the second year in a row.
Torn Ticket II's Orientation Show, The Millennial Musical Revue, which played Sept. 5-6 at the Balch Arena Theater, was a wonderful display of Tufts talent. Although most of the featured songs came from rock musicals, the tone of the show varied considerably from scene to scene, creating a strong overview of the best that modern musical theater has to offer. The songs were fun, the actors brought them to life, and the audience appreciated every minute.
The warm summer sun might be starting to lose its sheen, but there is still time to catch the John Singer Sargent exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts. The show has been dazzling crowds all season as part of Sargent Summer, a series of exhibitions at the Fogg Art Museum at Harvard, the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum, and the Boston Public Library. Sargent's cool colors and leisurely summer scenes are perfect for those experiencing premature nostalgia for the simple, lazy days of that warmest of seasons.
With one finding of "unwanted sexual advances" handed down by the Tufts judicial panel, a charge of date rape pending mediation, and rumors of other reported sexual assaults, it appears that the number of sexual offenses at Tufts is on the rise.
In the business world of the '80s, it seemed that everyone was either getting rich or falling behind. David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross follows four real-estate salesmen who are teetering between these two precarious positions. The Pen, Paint, and Pretzels production of the show will run tonight and tomorrow in the Balch Arena Theater. Set at the end of the '80s in the face of the oncoming recession, the play follows a small, declining real estate firm. Forced to make cutbacks, the company pits four salesmen against each other in a sales contest; the winners will keep their jobs. With their lives falling apart, each of them is forced to use any tactics available to stay on top. In the spirit of the power and greed-driven '80s, the men have always been in fierce competition. Now, each sale means not merely their status, but their livelihood. Shelly Levene (Phil DeVaul), Dave Moss (Rob Shalhoub), George Aaronow (Chris Maddox), and Richard Roma (Chris Walters) are the four men. All of them are slimy and despicable in their own ways. Levene is looking for a chance to prove that he can still do the job, while Aaronow seems to have given up on any hope of redeeming himself. Roma is fighting hard to keep himself number one and Moss is plotting around them all for a better opportunity. DeVaul's performance is excellent. His Levene can be funny, desperate, or hopeful. The audience follows him as he does everything possible to get the second chance he feels he deserves. Walters also stands out later in the play as he turns from raging to considerate to conniving. The entire cast, however, does a remarkable job playing what are, in essence, actors. All salesmen must perform for their customers, their employers, and themselves. The writing in Glengarry Glen Ross is excellent but demanding. The dialogue is nearly always rapid-fire and intense. Again, the cast rises to the task. These image-hungry men love to intimidate each other, even though they are terrified about the prospect of losing their jobs and lives. It is no accident that Glengarry Glen Ross's cast is entirely male. In their pursuit of wealth and power, these men have cut out everything else from their lives including love, morality, and humanity. Anything less than complete focus on their careers would mean failure. The show is difficult to categorize. It is an intriguing look at a strange culture that makes the people who live in it essentially caricatures. Even though people tend to look back fondly at the prosperity of the '80s, the overwhelming greed of these men is repulsive. At the same time, their lives are so pathetic that they can be hard to laugh at. Tragedy is never far from comedy. Glengarry Glen Ross marks Chris Ferraro's directing debut. With much stage experience behind him, Ferraro clearly knows what he is doing. Both director and actors share credit for keeping the many monologue-like conversations varied and energetic. Ferraro also appears as Blake, a successful salesman brought in to shake up the four others at the start of the contest. Apparently, he does an excellent job at directing himself as well. Glengarry Glen Ross will run at 8 p.m. both tonight and tomorrow in the Balch Arena Theater. Admission is free, and seating will be provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Standing strong with a record of 12-6, the Tufts Volleyball team split matches last weekend and went 2-2 at the Bates Invitational Tournament. Throughout the rest of the season, the squad will be concentrating on playing to its potential and maximizing its defensive skill.
Often, films can help up cross the boundaries we set between ourselves and allow us to see pieces of one another that would otherwise have remained hidden. Saving Private Ryan did that for my grandfather and me. He passed away this week, and it has left me contemplating what it was about that movie, and what it was about his life, that held me captivated.
Should you find yourself strolling past Cohen auditorium on a Monday or Wednesday evening, you will be treated to the sweet sounds of one of Tufts premier musical ensembles. Led by Argentinian-born conductor Malka Yaacobi, the 40-member Tufts University Symphony Orchestra is preparing for an ambitious semester.
This past Tuesday, African-American students convened with an eye towards the future as the Pan-African Alliance (PAA) met to organize active members and engage new students. Enthusiastic Jumbos filled the common room in Capen House as the six-member executive board outlined programs and initiatives which the group hopes to undertake in the coming months.
The first edition of the "Midnight Caf?©e" and the grand opening of Oxfam Caf?© will be celebrated on Friday with a five-band free concert. The show, overshadowed by the campus-wide Fall Fest extravaganza, brings into sharper focus the role Oxfam Caf?© plays on campus as a center of student activism and draws attention to Oxfam America's international fight against hunger and poverty.
With former Senator and presidential candidate Bill Bradley visiting Tufts today, Jumbos across campus are getting psyched for the rapidly approaching presidential race. The first primaries are just a few months away, and television, radio, newspapers, and magazines will soon be filled with an uneasy melange of campaign promises and cruel mudslinging. With such an important position at stake during a crucial time in our nation's history, it would be easy to be intimidated by such a momentous decision. It will ultimately influence our lives in numerous very real and permanent ways. So why not start with something not so real and a little more entertaining: movies. It's the perfect way to get your feet wet in the complex the world of politics. To make choosing a few flicks a little easier, we here at the Arts Department put together a list of the best political films out there. They're loaded with treachery, murder, sex, and bribes: and those are just the documentaries! Actually, a lot of the fun in watching these films comes when you try to figure out what's true and what's fiction. It is harder than you think. Of course, it is not just the inexperienced politicos who can benefit from watching a few of these films. They ought to help put things in perspective for today's candidates. After witnessing some of the atrocious accusations thrown at the candidates in these movies, Bradley won't mind those pesky questions about why New Jersey smells the way it does. It could be worse, you know.1. The Candidate At once realistic and satirical, this film features Robert Redford as a na??ve, young lawyer roped into running for Senator. In the process of his campaign, he learns the sad dark truth about the way people in the world of politics really function. It won the Oscar for best original screenplay in 1972 and features some of the most witty and caustic dialogue seen in a long time. From the director of Bad News Bears, Michael Ritchie, how could it be bad?2. Bob Roberts This fake documentary stars Tim Robbins as a simple folk singer who decides to run for Senator in Pennsylvania. He uses both his winning smile, a loyal entourage, and a whole slew of dirty politics to win the seat. Both written and directed by Robbins, the story is both hilarious and chilling in its ominous predictions about the future of politics. Interestingly enough, some of his predictions have come true already.3. Dave This is a fun story about a simple guy, like you and me, who gets suckered into playing the president because he looks exactly like the man the people elected. When the real chief executive suffers a stroke he is thrust into the position full-time. Good-natured and full of hearty laughs, this winner features Kevin Kline in the title role and Sigourney Weaver as the estranged First Lady.4. Nixon Only Oliver Stone could give us a British Sir Anthony Hopkins and make us believe he is one of the most infamous American presidents of our time. This lengthy epic portrays Tricky Dick as both despicable and pitiful, a true tragic hero. Of course, the director inserts a few of his always controversial suppositions about the way things might have been. But then again, isn't that what movies are for?5. Wag the Dog With a screenplay by David Mamet and stars like Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman playing off each other, this satire reaches absurd heights as we get a look into back room, executive office spin-doctoring. With an election approaching and a potential career-ending controversy hitting the fan, Hollywood creativity finds its way into the White House in more ways than simply the obvious ones.6. The American President Another all-American typical romantic comedy, we are given Michael Douglas as a widowed president searching for love while holding the nation's highest office. Typical fare from director Rob Reiner, this one tries to pull on our heartstrings and succeeds.7. All the King's Men An old one but still a great one. Based on the novel by Robert Penn Warren, it tells the story of the tragic rise and fall of Southern governor Willie Stark and his lackey, Jack Burden. The novel is itself based loosely on the story of demagogue and Louisana Governor Huey Long. It was made in 1949 but still fares well today. A classic.8. All the President's Men For all of those aspiring investigative reporters out there, this one is for you. It is the story of Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward (Robert Redford) and Carl Bernstein (Dustin Hoffman) taking on the Watergate scandal with little support and few leads. They end up, however, breaking the story wide open. Watch for those eerie parking garage scenes with the mysterious Deep Throat.9. Mr. Smith Goes To Washington For everyone out there who thinks that our government is corrupt and wishes they could go to D.C. and change a few things, Jimmy Stewart is the man for you. In this classic, directed by Frank Capra, a newly elected Senator arrives to take his seat and is immediately overwhelmed by dirty politicians itching to capture his idealism and take advantage of it before he knows what hit him. He stands his ground, though, and fights the mob simply to do the right thing.10. President Clinton's Testimony for Kenneth Star's Special Investigation Sure to go down in history as a sad day for democracy and the White House. This one provides hours of fun on a rainy day. Slick Willy comes clean discussing his relationships with all kinds of people. Some of those people care for him. Others work for him. Some are kind. Some are cunning. Some are loyal. And some just suck.
As a student of psychology and a lover of human nature, I have forever been on a quest for the perfect subject to analyze.
Fulfilling expectations can be an extremely difficult task for a young team, especially when the expectations include winning the ECAC Tournament and competing in the NCAA Tournament. Although the women's lacrosse team did not fulfill these specific goals, there were many positive aspects to its 8-7 season, and the team played competitively against some of the best teams in the country. The season began on a positive note during spring break, as the team scorched to a 3-0 record in Panama Beach, Florida. Scrimmaging against some of the best teams in the country, and winning often, it seemed that the young, talented team would go far. Unfortunately, the team proved mortal, and stopped winning games the way it had anticipated. Although the team played well, a few tough losses to top-notch conference rivals left the Jumbos demoralized and out of sync. "I think we looked too far ahead to make the NCAA Tournament," captain Jen Martin said. "The lack of intensity and fun left us in a rut." "We set our goals extremely high," added senior Liz Peach. "When we started losing, we lost confidence, and the losses snowballed." Hovering around the .500 mark for the second half of the season, chances of qualifying for the ECAC Tournament looked bleak. The final game of the regular season against Wesleyan became the deciding factor in whether the team would even qualify for post-season play: a win would give them a spot in the ECAC Tournament; a loss would mean an abrupt end to a disappointing season. Realizing that this could be the last game of their careers, the seniors brought an extra edge of intensity to the field in the most important game of the season. "I think the Wesleyan game had a much different spirit than any other game," senior Katie Friend said. "We knew that if we didn't win, it would be the last game ever." The game could not have been better staged as the two teams battled back and forth for the first half. Ten minutes into the second half, Tufts led 8-3, but Wesleyan immediately began a massive retaliatory scoring drive. The Cardinals carried their momentum to tie the score at ten with about a minute left, and the season seemed to be slipping away from the Jumbos. However, with just one second left, sophomore Mia Baron found the net, winning the game and giving the team a place in the ECAC tournament. Seeded fifth in the tournament, Tufts was given the opportunity to avenge their toughest loss of the season in the first round. The Jumbos were matched up against Colby, who had routed them earlier in the season, 11-4. With the stakes much higher, the ECAC Tournament game was completely different. "We worked much harder as a team," assistant coach Kate Mathey said. "Colby wasn't ready for us to play that way." Dominating the game from the opening draw and playing with intensity for 60 minutes, Tufts handily defeated Colby, 14-8. In her best game of the season, junior Katie Richardson scored four goals. Captain Robin Zimmerly also added three goals and two assists. After this amazing victory, the next opponent in the quest for the ECAC title was Williams. The Ephs, seeded first in the tournament and one of the top teams in the country, posed a very daunting challenge. However, Tufts answered with a terrific effort. Playing their best lacrosse of the season, the women jumped out to a 5-3 lead in the first ten minutes. Inevitably, Williams came back and took a one-goal lead into halftime. The second half began with a five goal scoring run by Williams. Although the lead was large, Tufts fought back. The comeback attempt fell a little short, however, and the game ended 15-10. No one on the team was disappointed with the loss, especially since Williams went on to win the tournament. "We ended the season on a more positive note," sophomore Jen Gregorian said. "We came out and had nothing to lose. We proved what kind of team we are no matter what happened in the regular season. It all comes down to the tournament, and we did really well there." "We stuck together as players knowing that within us is more than wining and losing," Friend said. "We couldn't do it alone; during the tournament we pulled together and surmounted." A season marked with incredible triumphs and terrible defeats was all pulled together by the incredible leadership of the five seniors. Robin Zimmerly, Jen Martin, Katie Friend, Liz Dwyer, and Liz Peach all contributed to the team both on and off the field. Keeping the young team motivated during the string of losses was a difficult task, but the seniors kept the right mentality. "We had a lot of fun in the last few games," Zimmerly said, "and that is what lacrosse is all about." The coaching staff, which includes two recent graduates from the team, was also instrumental in keeping the team motivated. "Kate Mathey and Jessica Maclellan did a phenomenal job in their first year coaching," Martin said. "Keeping us together and making sure we were having fun; they were supportive all season and a key to our success." Zimmerly, elected the team's MVP, led the squad with 35 goals and 15 assists. The other team award - "Most Improved Player" - went to freshman Liz Horowitz, who played extremely well at the end of the season. "That was a real confidence-booster," Horowitz said. "I feel like I've really contributed, and I can't wait for next year. Next year the team looks to be equally strong, as the core of sophomores will become juniors and a strong incoming freshman class will be added. Junior Christina Hornby and sophomores Jen Gregorian and Collete Gaudete have been elected captains for next year and hope to continue the team's winning tradition. "The team is young and socially compatible, and I think next year's captains will be perfect for the team," Peach said.
The cranes and girders of the University's many construction projects are not the only evidence that major changes - from possible changes in requirements to increased accommodations for students with disabilities - are taking place at Tufts. A revamping of the University's way of operating continues, and the current system has been reviewed over the course of the year, as evinced at the May 17 meeting of the faculty of the Arts and Sciences. Using the results gleaned from last year's Higher Education Initiative (HEI), the four main HEI committees have been meeting throughout the year. They have attempted to reconcile the administration with the student body, establish firm policies on full and part-time faculty hiring, better integrate the curriculum, and create a more efficient method of faculty self-governance. Three of the four main HEI committees - excluding the committee on faculty governance - gave their yearly reports, accompanied by reports from the Educational Policy Committee (EPC) and the Oversight Panel of the Task Force on Race. At the heart of the HEI are the issues of faculty development and hiring, and it was on these areas that the faculty's reports focused. The faculty Committee on Development, Teaching, and Research brought back recommendations that the number of full-time tenure-track faculty be increased, in order to lessen the reliance on part-time faculty, while integrating the current part-time faculty into the University and faculty communities. In addition, the committee recommended the bundling of a number of part-time positions into consolidated, full-time posts. The Committee on Coherence and Connection, chaired by Dean of the Colleges Walt Swapp, recommended the creation of a "faculty center," which Swapp said would "provide for the needs of the faculty" by giving library and software resources, consultation, and "hanging out space" to those faculty members who use it. The committee also proposed the hiring of distinguished visiting faculty members, in order to fill what are defined as areas of great need. The third committee, represented by deans Bobbie Knable and Robert Hollister, presented a set of less concrete recommendations. Their Committee on Community and Communication pressed for a change in the overall environment which would improve communication among students, as well as between the administration and the student body. Knable explained that the University "needs to make a distinction between imparting information and real communication." While methods for achieving this hoped-for community are difficult to pin down, the committee recommended expanded use of e-mail, monthly meetings between administrative and student leaders, and a much larger schedule of University-sponsored programming as means to this elusive end. Two more tangible areas of concern, racial issues and distribution requirements, were addressed by the Oversight Panel and the EPC, respectively. Associate Professor of Geology Anne Gardulski, chair of the Oversight Panel, countered the assertions made by some student politicians this year that the Task Force on Race had been ignored and forgotten. According to Gardulski, all 24 of the Task Force's "priority one" recommendations had been dealt with, and specific reports on planned actions were given to the offices of the president and vice president. "All priority one recommendations have had some progress made on them," Gardulski said. "In this coming year, we will move on to priority two recommendations." Gardulski emphasized, as did Knable and Hollister, that communication between the students and administrators is severely lacking. "We must come up with better ways to communicate directly with [the student body]," she said. The EPC's report closed out the faculty meeting, making a preliminary proposal on changes to the distribution requirements before the faculty retired to its annual champagne reception. Associate Professor of German, Russian, and Asian languages Charles Inouye presented a possible revision to the requirements, one which would reduce the number of overall requirements from ten to eight. Students would be required to take one course each in the mathematical and natural sciences, as well as one "floater" course in either mathematics, natural sciences, engineering/technology, or computer science. They would also need to take one course in the humanities, one course in the arts, and one course in the social sciences, in addition to two floater courses in any of the three aforementioned disciplines. "They say changing the curriculum is like moving a cemetery," Inouye quipped. "This is just a preliminary report, just to get people thinking." This recommendation, if eventually approved at the EPC's June 25 meeting, will then be presented to the faculty for a vote next year, making what is now a preliminary proposal into a potential reality.
