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Zamboni goes too far

October 16

I am writing this viewpoint to express my disappointment and disgust with the most recent issue of the Tufts magazine, the Zamboni. On page 12, alongside a disturbing list of suggestions on how to get "an STD the Fun Way," is a list of crude one-liners offered to help one get kicked out of various Tufts clubs and organizations. They were all meant as jokes. None of them, however, were remotely funny, many were inappropriate, and there was one I could not turn away from. The Zamboni suggested that to be kicked out of SSARA (Tufts Student Sexual Assault Response Assistance team) you should say, "with an outfit like that, you should have expected it." In other words, if a female were to call in after having been raped or sexually assaulted, the SSARA team member should blame it on her clothing. I understand the Zamboni thinks they are humor relief for Tufts, and I understand the value of comedy and humor to help relieve stress and tension. I even understand the role humor plays, when used appropriately and when matched with wit, in making valuable social commentary. What I do not understand is how any Tufts student could ever make a joke about rape or sexual assault. I fail to see how the female editor-in-chief of this magazine could be so undignified as to allow something so lowly to be published. And above all, I do not see how the Zamboni writers cannot see that, by simply joking about the idea that promiscuity merits rape, they are in fact condoning it. There is a commonly perpetuated notion that the way a woman dresses sometimes merits rape. The argument goes something along the lines of the following: she was dressed too seductively, the man was unable to control his sexual instincts, and therefore she brought it on herself. She was the action, and rape was the equal and opposite reaction. This is exactly the claim, albeit one made in jest, made by the Zamboni. Let me make something very clear. Rape is never something to be expected. There is simply no exception to this rule. Promiscuity does not excuse rape. The chances that a woman will be raped may increase with promiscuous dress, but that never makes it excusable or expected. To suggest otherwise is to excuse and therefore condone rape. It is that simple. A joke is still a form of suggestion. It seems the Zamboni has not grasped this concept, and that is consequently why the magazine is generally disregarded as offensive trash on campus. Their writers do not seem to understand that if you say something humorously, you are still saying it. Words still have value and meaning and can still have serious ramifications and implications. Humor walks a delicate line, and the Zamboni has crossed an offensive and serious one. When a joke that not only excuses rape but labels it as something to be expected under a given circumstance is financed and printed on this campus, I cannot turn a blind eye. Having spent the summer before last working in a rape crisis center, I am utterly dismayed to see the immensely damaging effects of rape and sexual assault, as well as the hard work of so many to counter it, made light of in one ignorant comment. To say the least, I would have expected much more from my peers. I plan to spend next semester in Washington, D.C. researching the challenges faced by the social field in dealing with rape and sexual assault, along with domestic violence. Perhaps I should begin my inquiry amongst my own peers here on campus. The fact that Tufts' funding is being used to publish such lowly and despicable commentary joking about legitimizing sexual assault is very disturbing. I ask the Zamboni issue an apology for its blatant insensitivity to any woman that has ever been raped because of the way she was dressed, and to the Tufts community for having the audacity to make the claim that it was excusable and to be expected. I would suggest the TCU Senate more closely monitor the Zamboni and use greater discretion when deciding upon its budget. I do not in any way mean to promote censorship. I do suggest funding be taken from something that drags Tufts down as a community and condones sexual assault through ignorant jokes, and instead be put towards something admirable. For those of you who are in the habit of regularly throwing the Zamboni where it belongs - in the trash - please take a minute of your day to send an e-mail to its writers asking them to explain how rape is ever something that belongs in a comedy journal, and ever something that anyone deserves.Ashley Samelson is a junior majoring in Political Science.

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News

Sydne Summer | How to...

October 16

Last week, a Bloomingdale's saleswoman told my mother that her "butt looks incredible." The compliment was enough to convince my mom - who has spent the past five years wearing Levi's 515 jeans - to finally buy her first pair of Sevens. Three-hundred dollars later she called me to tell me the fabulous news. She was ecstatic that her personal training sessions had enabled her to enter the world of designer denim. Her journey was a long one. I spent many days in the fitting rooms of various Beverly Hills department stores watching as my mother tried on every jean imaginable. But no Sevens, Habituals or True Religions ever worked. We always had to make the trek down to Santa Monica to pick up another wash of her Levi's. At $40 a pair, you would think my mother would be thrilled. But she wasn't. Every time she saw my friends and me go out in our Rock & Republic and Joe's jeans, she wondered why designers couldn't make a pair for her. It's not that my mother is overweight or awkwardly proportioned. It's simply the fact that designers create jeans with models and celebrities as inspirations. Blue Cult even named one of their creations the Gwyneth Jean after the svelte beauty Gwyneth Paltrow. Not everyone can be a Gwyneth; some of us, dare I say it, have curves. So what do us J. Lo types do? Luckily, designers are starting to realize that they need to expand their market, steering themselves away from the low-waisted, thong-baring denim of the late 1990s. The New York Times even labeled their Fashion Week trend report "High-Waisted Is Back." As my mother's message proved to me, there seems to be a need on the part of today's females to wear certain brands of jeans. Later in the day, as I walked back to my apartment, I looked at the labels of Tufts' girls' jeans. I spotted about four Citizens of Humanities, six Sevens, one Diesel and two AGs. Out of everyone I saw wearing jeans, only two girls wore unrecognizable brands. Were we all becoming the same? Was I going to lose my identity just by wearing my favorite pair of jeans? I'm not saying that I don't have my fair share of labels in my wardrobe, but I do try to find unique options in denim. If you don't want to blend in to the Sevens-wearers in your 9 a.m. class, try personalizing your jeans. This summer, I took a trip up to San Francisco, where Levi Strauss is headquartered. I was pleasantly surprised that at this flagship store, there was an entire floor dedicated to customization. You could take any pair of Levi's and make them one-of-a-kind through a wide array of options including embroidery, studding, fabric painting and more. I immediately went upstairs, slipped off my Miss Sixties, and tried on my first pair of Levi's. They actually looked pretty cute! I joined my mother downstairs and we spent hours deciding how to decorate. We ended up coming home with four pairs of jeans that only we will be wearing this fall. If you can't make the trip out to the Bay area, try customizating at home: take an old pair of jeans and add some flair with patches, crystals, rips or embroidery. I'm not saying that you should stop spending your hard-earned cash - or in some cases your parents' hard earned cash - on designer jeans. The denim sold at Neiman Marcus and Saks does have its advantages. At a party the other weekend, I overheard a girl saying that "designer jeans just fit better." I agree with her for the most part: many designer jeans are crafted better than generic brands. But they're also more costly. Over winter break, I came home from the mall and showed my dad my new pair of Earl jeans, which were heavily torn on the knee, back pocket and leg bottom. He asked me how much they cost and was shocked with my response. "You should have just bought a cheap pair and given them to me," he said. "I could've ripped them for you." Coming from a generation where ridiculously expensive jeans were unfathomable, my dad didn't understand that the $120 price tag was totally acceptable when compared with a $270 pair of True Religions. Jeans have become extremely pricey. I was looking at Saks.com a few weeks ago and saw a pair of Blumarine Crystal Stretch Jeans that you could pre-order for $1,638! For that price, I would want a bit more than denim and Swarovski crystals. So to find the perfect pair of jeans, search your options. Even unembellished jeans can run up a hefty bill. You can obviously find a pair of designer duds for $100, but when Levi's offers a great pair for only $40, the choice might not seem so clear. Whether they're vintage, designer, embellished, torn, high or low, do what is right for you so your butt can look incredible, too.

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News

Glocal Economics | Asia-Pacific Economics

October 16

It seems the economic muscle south of Red Dragon is often overlooked. Vietnam's economic growth since 2000 is rivaled only by China - on average Vietnam is growing at 7.5 percent a year. Poverty levels have dropped significantly over the past 15 years from 50 percent to 20 percent with average per capita income at $500 which the government aims to raise to $1,000 in the next few years. What profession has been a main breadwinner for many Vietnamese? Aquaculture. Aquaculture is the cultivation of fish or shellfish under controlled conditions, and it has been flourishing in the Vietnamese shrimp industry over the past 20 years. More specifically, the shrimp industry in Vietnam - both aquaculture and fishing - has brought in almost $450 million due to high International and American demand. This is significant given that agriculture, forestry and fisheries make up over 27 percent of the country's GDP. In the 1980's, the government of Vietnam instituted what is known as "Doi Moi" - economic renovation. This was the start of the shift towards a more capitalistic market structure where more free market enterprises were permitted by the governing Communist Party. Doi Moi was a crucial shift in the politics of Vietnam, where more economic and social liberties were given and thus allowed for the growth of the shrimp industry. Shrimp farming in Southeast Asia is no longer a small-scale business industry though. Thanks to Doi Moi, it is now a global industry and very crucial to the sturdiness of the economy. Naturally, the American shrimp industry has been finding it hard to compete with this "Asian Tiger." Accusations that Vietnam is dumping low-priced shrimp into the American market and undercutting American producers have allowed the case to be seen and ruled on by the Department of Commerce. Protectionist legislation was enacted to help American business. Tariffs of up to 93 percent are placed on Vietnamese shrimp. The Vietnamese Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) is very indignant about the laws and insists that the tariffs "will have an adverse impact on the livelihood of millions of shrimp farmers in the coastal areas and thousands of workers in the shrimp processing factories in Vietnam." This is not new for Vietnam. A similar case happened last year with catfish producers. With lowered American consumption due to the catfish tariffs, Vietnamese producers are buying less fish from local farmers and there is now a problem of overproduction. Vietnam accuses America of blatant protectionism, and this tariff issue could escalate into heated debate between Vietnam and America. Aside from the economic downsides, there are also resultant environmental effects from the growth of the industry. Shrimp are farmed in brackish water ponds, which are often artificially created by cutting down mangrove forests along coastal areas. Destruction of natural habitats is certainly lamentable, and more regulations will likely come when the economy stabilizes. Pesticides and fertilizers are also used to clean the ponds, these chemicals then leak out in the surrounding water and are detrimental to the environmental stability of the riverside rainforests. Vietnam is not the only one affected by the tariffs. The ruling that Vietnam was dumping shrimp into the American market at officially low prices was accompanied by the same accusation of China. Tariffs on China are also potentially high, with proposed duties as high as 112 percent. Similar cases have been brought against Brazil, Ecuador, India and Thailand, which all combined account for a combined 75 percent of the shrimp imported by America. There are significant risks for Vietnam, where shrimp is the third largest export. VASEP noted that almost two thirds of the shrimp exports will take a hit from the tariffs. It seems the proposed tariffs are appetizers for the American shrimp farmers who are pushing for a 200 percent tariff. They will have to wait for their shrimp cocktail for a while though, and for now, average Americans will just continue eating at Red Lobster without a second thought.

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News

Elizabethtown' begins well, but hits all-too-familiar mid-movie crisis

October 16

If you liked "Garden State," you'll loathe "Elizabethtown." In both films, the twenty-something characters find themselves at a loss in life, return to their hometowns, stumble upon love, and miraculously find their way again. Where "Garden State" succeeds in its message about the uncertainty of life, however, "Elizabethtown" fails to convince us of anything and, ultimately, leaves us asking the same question the protagonist lamely answers: "What's the point?" After costing his company nearly $1 billion with the failure of a new sneaker design, Drew Baylor (Orlando Bloom) is literally ready to kill himself. But it's his father's death that saves Drew's life when he's called back home to plan the burial. On the plane, he meets Claire (Kirsten Dunst), and his whole value system changes. The contrast between Drew's life and the one his father led reveals to the audience what Drew will finally learn: that father really does know best. Instead of an absentee father in the Baylor household, it was the son who chose work over family. Drew's job, before he lost it, was to assign meaning to a shoe. His boss (Alec Baldwin) muses, "It could've saved the planet," referring to the botched sneaker design. This is what Drew traded his family for? Most of the film's big names live up to the compelling story. Susan Sarandon, as Drew's mom, is brilliant in her handful of scenes. Bloom's Drew is moving, a complex map of emotions running across his face at the thought of dead dad. But Kirsten Dunst's manic Claire is identical to her Lizzie from "Wimbledon" (2004), and for that matter every other character she's ever played. Except in this case she has a muddled Southern accent. As for the film itself, "Elizabethtown" starts off great. It paints an authentic portrait of an extended family as the loud obnoxious people we'd all hate but Drew needs. The supporting actors are all terrific, particularly the eccentric guy that sells Drew the urn for his father's ashes. And what would a family reunion be without comic relief characters like the perpetually drunk Chuck (Jed Rees) and Cindy (Emily Ruthurfurd) Hasboro, great lovers of life, each other and everybody else? Unfortunately, it's as if "Elizabethtown" is divided into Parts one and two. The first half is real. Twenty-something is a dangerous age as adolescence comes to an end and, with it, all the excuses for confusion. At the beginning, Claire and Drew's relationship epitomizes this quarter-life crisis. In one scene, Claire admits that she's "been asleep most of her life," and Drew agrees. She asks him, "do you ever feel like you're just fooling everyone?" But Part two falls flat. It's as if the characters can't handle their insights; they become trite and their pearls of wisdom corny. Or maybe writer/director Cameron Crowe thought the audience couldn't handle the complex realism of Part one. After all, he's known for his uncomplicated films on life and love, like 1989's "Say Anything" or 1996's "Jerry Maguire." With those movies, the beauty was in its simple idealism, whereas "Elizabethtown" seems to strive for something greater - at least at first. When its complexity unravels and "Elizabethtown" reaches for the poignant simplicity that is Crowe's trademark, it instead becomes cutesy and clich?©¤® Drew actually dances "with one arm free" as Claire's voiceover urges us all to make time for such trivial things in our busy lives. This isn't exactly up to the standard of John Cusack standing there with the boom box. "Elizabethtown" asks what the meaning of life is but can't come up with a more profound answer than, well, life is the meaning of life. This isn't really an answer at all. For a while, the film seemed to be building around the argument that the greatness of a man is measured by the people with whom he surrounds himself and not by commercial success. Oh wait, that was "In Good Company." In this movie, success is simply about living; that itself is achievement enough. Like his wise dad always said, "If it wasn't this, it would be that." But don't kill yourself over it, Drew. "Elizabethtown" is definitely worth seeing for its subject matter and attempt at depth (after all, it's still Cameron Crowe). But, beware: you'll have to decide for yourself what the meaning of life is, since the movie certainly won't do it for you.

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News

In Our Midst... | A maturing movie career for Tufts' own 'Kid in America'

October 16

While the average Tufts student grapples with six semesters of intensive foreign language courses in order to learn just one foreign tongue, sophomore Stephanie Sherrin - or at least, her character in the 2004 movie "Lenny the Wonder Dog" - has achieved instant fluency in multiple languages. "I'm speaking a lot of languages," Sherrin laughed of her debut role in the film, which has been dubbed in numerous languages throughout the world. Sherrin, a native of Coral Springs, Fla., has always had a passion for acting. Beginning in preschool, Sherrin developed her ardor in numerous school plays. When she reached high school, she signed with the Wilhelmina agency, combining modeling with acting in a variety of print advertisements and commercials. Sherrin's beauty is evident when she walks through the door. It's difficult to ignore her striking auburn hair and piercing eyes. "She's drop-dead beautiful," said Josh Stolberg, director of Sherrin's second film "Kids in America." "She really has a unique feel to her," Stolberg added. Michael Winslow - who acted alongside Sherrin in "Lenny the Wonder Dog" - said the redhead resembles a young Julianne Moore. Despite her eye-catching appearance, Sherrin does not come across as a typical Hollywood star. Though she is 19 years old, Sherrin projects the innocence of an adolescent, and is often cast alongside younger stars. During her modeling years, Sherrin was hired for Limited Too advertisements or cast alongside younger adults in movies like "Lenny the Wonder Dog." According to Sherrin, "Kids in America" was her first opportunity to work with actors her own age. "Kids" is a teen comedy that tackles serious issues like homosexuality and sex education with satirical comedy. In the film, Sherrin plays Charlotte Pratt, the love interest of Gregory Smith, star of the WB television show "Everwood." Together with the rest of the cast - including famous socialite Nicole Richie - the students unite to teach the school's principal a lesson. "[The film] is interesting because it focuses on politics and freedom of speech," Sherrin said. "It has a message behind it." Sherrin filmed "Kids" before entering Tufts in 2004. Forced to leave high school early for production, she took her AP exams in Los Angeles and flew home on a red-eye for her senior prom. Though Sherrin was unable to attend her high school graduation, she is grateful for the opportunity to work on "Kids." "It was a very surreal experience," Sherrin said. "Even now, watching commercials, it feels like it never happened." Working 12-hour days, Sherrin finished filming in July, allowing her a short break before beginning her freshman year at Tufts. Though her manager wanted her to take a year off and pursue her acting career, Sherrin decided to make college her priority. "You can only get the experience [of college] once in your life," Sherrin said. Though she is unable to go to as many auditions as her manager suggests, Sherrin still wants to work during the summers until she graduates. Stolberg said he believes that her decision will only enhance the young actress' career. "I think far too often, young actors don't consider that one of the things that can make you a stronger performer is life experience - and college is certainly great life experience," he said. "[College is] the first time away from your family, a chance to challenge yourself socially, academically and creatively." Though she is not taking additional acting classes, Sherrin uses her acting talent at Tufts via the Traveling Treasure Trunk, a group that combines theater and community service by performing for children around the Boston area. Sherrin became a "Trunker" this fall and hopes to continue over the next few years. Sherrin's experience at Tufts is far from ordinary, though. While most students used Sunday to recuperate from Homecoming weekend, Sherrin flew to Los Angeles to attend the "Kids" premiere at the Egyptian Theater. Her twin brothers were her dates to the event. After the film hits movie theaters, it may be hard for Sherrin to hide her fame. In the meantime, however, she remains modest. "I've gotten into the cycle of not telling people [about my movies]," she said. Yet it's difficult to hide when there are posters and billboards with your name on them. Girls have approached Sherrin inquiring about her "make-out scene" with Smith, while guys have asked about Nicole Richie. While these sorts of comments may bother some actors, Sherrin is flattered that people recognize her as an actress. "I know who my real friends are," Sherrin said. "And I know the people who just want Nicole Richie's phone number." Sherrin believes "Kids" is the perfect jumpstart to her budding career, hoping the film will catch the attention of "at least one director." Though she is very modest about her talent, co-stars such as Chris Morris, who plays Chuck McGinn in "Kids," have grander expectations for her future. "I don't think this will be the last movie that we see Steph in," Morris said. "She has a great career ahead of her." Just don't expect Sherrin to become the next Lindsay Lohan: Sherrin wants to stay away from the average teen movie. She hopes to continue making films such as "Kids," which she said is "more than just a stupid slapstick comedy."

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News

Listen up, iTunes

October 16

The music market, for the last several years, has exhibited a severe inefficiency. Illegal downloading of songs has become second nature to people of all ages, but particularly for students as Internet technology advanced and diffused throughout American culture. Record producers are now trying to plug their leaky consumer base by intimidation, through apparently random lawsuits against a small number of illegal downloaders. The Reign of Terror has arrived on campus at Tufts, as six students were recently notified that they are targets of lawsuits by the Recording Industry Association of America. Unquestionably, the recording industry holds the moral high ground. It is impossible to argue that illegally downloading music is not stealing. But in order to come to an equitable and effective solution to the problem now facing record producers, and to return the music market to a sane and healthy state, the morality of the situation must be ignored in favor or utility. The problem stems mainly from two factors. The first of these is high profit margins on compact discs and even individual songs sold by legal online sources such as iTunes. This is simply a function of the music market's structure. As an oligopoly, it consists of a few firms which sell products which are roughly equivalent to each other. The problem becomes clear upon consideration of the market for oil, which is also an oligopoly. It costs between one and five dollars to extract a barrel of oil from the ground. For the past several months, however, a barrel of oil has sold for roughly $65. This gigantic profit margin occurs partly because markets with a small number of firms are prone to price-raising cooperation between firms. In the past music consumers generally behaved as oil or automobile consumers did. They bought records, and later tapes and CDs, even though the prices were high relative to production costs. This changed in the mid-1990s, with the rise and increased popularity of the Internet, the second factor in the rise of illegal downloading. As online music became widely available for free, individuals realized that they no longer had to accept the price-gouging of the music industry, or even leave their desks to enjoy the musical stylings of Live or Chumbawumba. The effect was similar to what would happen if oil suddenly became available illegally through a very common household appliance, such as a toaster oven. The music market started leaking consumers and the industry started losing money. The response of the record industry was to become outraged and demand that people stop stealing its product. This is fair, but ineffective. Until the record industry decides that suing the majority of illegal downloaders is more important than not spending all its money on lawyers, people will still download illegally. The trick is to minimize consumers' deviant behavior by decreasing their interest in stealing music. The war can be fought on two fronts. First, the RIAA should continue to pursue legal action against illegal downloaders. But to encourage moderation among cyberthiefs, the lawsuits should be concentrated on the most blatant violators. Psychological studies suggest that people tend to undervalue outcomes which are extremely unlikely. Thus, the remote possibility that a small-scale violator will be sued is unlikely to change this person's behavior. The second front in the war on illegal downloading should be fought by the RIAA at home. Record producers need to increase consumers' interest in buying music legally. This means either adding features which are unavailable illegally, or simply lowering prices to the point at which a majority of consumers will no longer risk prosecution. Innovative online applications such as iTunes can play a large role on this front, but they must be willing to drastically lower prices and offer features which legitimately impress the average consumer into paying for their product. While any solution to the illegal downloading problem will be incomplete and complicated, a successful strategy will not include small-scale random lawsuits and an overpriced product. Innovation, proper legal aim, and a willingness to accept a somewhat lower profit margin will be central to restoring American musical morality.

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News

A strike three controversy leads to ninth inning debacle

October 13

In an era when money permeates all facets of the game, it seems aberrant that neither the New York Yankees nor the Boston Red Sox, the two powerhouses with the largest salaries, will be challengers in the quest for the American League pennant. Both teams failed to advance to the ALCS, leaving baseball lovers to instead watch the Chicago White Sox and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Chicago swept the Red Sox in three games, destroying any Bostonian hope for a repeat of last season's World Championship. And, after a cross-continental flight, the Yankees, too, lost Game 5 of their series, prompting the unanticipated ALCS matchup. The Angels, rather than the Yankees, jumped on a plane to Chicago after a quick champagne-drenched celebration. Arriving in their third time zone in three days and traveling a combined 4,200 miles, they refused to allow their well- rested opponents an advantage for the first two games of the series. They intend on sleeping in November. The teams head to Anaheim for the third game, after the umpires handed the White Sox a much needed 2-1 victory in Game Two to even the series 1-1. In that game, with the score tied 1-1 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Joe Crede drove in pinch runner Pablo Ozuna on a game-winning two-out double. The Angels, however, thought they were out of the inning before Crede even strode to the plate. With two on and no out, White Sox catcher, A.J. Pierzynski swung and missed on a pitch headed for the dirt. Anaheim catcher Josh Paul grabbed the ball and flipped it toward the mound, walking toward his dugout, prompting Doug Eddings, the home-plate umpire to signal out. After initially moving towards his third base dugout, Pierzynski turned and ran towards first base instead, believing the ball touched the dirt before Paul scooped it up. Much to the chagrin of the Angels and their fans, Enddings ruled that Paul did indeed trap the ball and his initial pumping of the fist was merely to acknowledge that the Chicago catcher had swung. Pierzynski was safe at first. Pinch runner Paul Ozuna stole second base and set up Crede to drive in the winning run. Instead of heading into extra innings, the umpires handed the White Sox the small margin of victory they needed to travel to California tied 1-1. Chicago pitcher Mark Buehrle pitched nine flawless innings, with the exception of a home run by third baseman Rob Quinlan in the fifth. After Jarrod Washburn exited with two outs in the fifth inning, the combination of Brendan Donnelly, Scot Shields and Kelvim Escobar in the Angel bullpen matched Buehrle until the debacle in the bottom of the ninth. In Game 1, a much less frustrating game from Los Angeles's perspective, emergency starter Paul Byrd, with the help of Garret Anderson's third inning solo homerun and a little small-ball, astonished the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field, with a 3-2 victory. One day after 21-game winner Bartolo Colon left the ALDS game against the Yankees with an inflamed shoulder, Byrd gave his team a lift, pitching slightly better than White Sox ace, Jose Contreas, who gave up three earned runs on seven hits in eight and a third solid innings. The Angels looked to extend their 1-0 lead in the third inning after Chone Figgins's sacrifice bunt put runners on second and third with one out. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera singled home the second run of the game, and then 2004 MVP Vladamir Guerrero grounded back to Contreras who wheeled and threw to second, attempting to start a double play. The White Sox recorded only one out on the play, allowing the Angels to score their third and final run. It was Chicago, not Los Angeles that looked uptight and bleary-eyed in the first game of the best-of-seven series. Crede's solo shot to left center in the bottom of the third inning and Pierzynski's single to right, scoring Carl Everett in the fourth, brought the White Sox to within striking distance. This, however, was the last time the home team would score. Francisco Rodriguez pitched two-thirds of an inning to close out the game, giving his team the first advantage in the series. The two teams will play the third game of the series tonight in Anaheim where the White Sox's Joe Garland will face off against John Lackey.

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News

This weekend, a reunion with Sox

October 13

While the Boston Red Sox took their final bow last week, come Saturday there's a new batch of Sox in town. Well, not entirely new. Their roster will be 16 strong, and their uniform hot pink. They'll be stepping up to the plate with quick thinking and fake accents, and their manager might be more aptly titled "President of the Los Angeles Tufts Alliance." Sometimes, to alleviate an awkward moment, they may even say "swing and a miss." Tomorrow night at 10 p.m., alumni from Cheap Sox will return to the Hill for a reunion show with current members in Goddard Chapel. Cheap Sox, Tufts' only improv troupe, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. In 1985, founders Lori Schwartz and David Kahn (both LA '87) put together a show called "Cheap Sox and Violence" (a play on "cheap sex and violence"), and the name stuck. Tomorrow's event has come together thanks to the coordination of alumna Andy Gall Schmitt (J '90), Alumni Relations President Jonathan Kaplan, associate professor Downing Cless, and current Sox director Alex Sherman. The idea has been in the works since spring. "We had a big event in May [in Los Angeles] and people were coming out of the woodwork," said Gall Schmitt, president of the L.A. alumni network. As these Jumbos talked, they realized Cheap Sox's platinum anniversary was coming up and nothing had been planned. Gall Schmitt contacted 80 Sox alums via email, asking them to return to their alma mater for a homecoming show. With 16 positive responses, a show was born. Where do improvers go after graduating? "They are often drawn to the comedy meccas," said Gall Schmitt. The Sox returning this weekend hail from L.A., Chicago, New York City and everywhere in between. Some graduated when current Sox were still playing 4-Square and cultivating an undying love for Toni Braxton, while others, like alumna Stefanie Schussel, graduated as recently as last year. Tomorrow, the returning Sox will convene at a meet-and-greet in the afternoon. Alums will get to know each other (or catch up after all these years) and meet the current Sox. "I think they'll be interested to see what we're doing now, and we're very interested to see what they're doing now," said sophomore member Steven Wise. While a room has been reserved for practice space, "in true improv fashion, just about everything will be planned a few hours before Saturday's show," said alumna Molly Erdman (J '96). The show, titled "Dirty Old Sox," doubles as an anniversary performance and as the fall show for current Cheap Sox. Current members will start off the event with the group's old hands and the newest pair of Sox, freshman Padden Murphy and sophomore Suzanne Burstein. Then, the older members take sole possession of the stage. "The second set will be short form or long form, depending on what the alumni want to do," said Gall Schmitt. If all goes as planned, at evening's end all the Sox, old and new, will come together for what Wise describes as "an overall jam." Though improv performances are typically done by a group who has worked together before, the Sox aren't worried. "There can be great moments of spontaneity and surprise when you throw a new group together. I think it will be a lot of fun because, for the most part, no one knows what's in everyone else's bag of tricks," said Erdman. Some returning members have been out of the improv scene since their time at Tufts, while others made a career of it. There are, says Gall Schmitt, "a lot of actors and a lot of writers, but people go off and do other things too, like become doctors." Erdman, on the other hand, is a member of Chicago's famous Second City troupe. "Cheap Sox made me realize that improv was what I wanted to do," she said. Returning Sox were asked to pack their signature pink bowling shirts. Does Erdman still have hers? "I sure do, in a box under my bed," she said. "But I like to consider it to be salmon, rather than pink."

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News

A room with a view for cancer-stricken young adults

October 13

Adolescents and young adults suffering from cancer have a new place to hang out in Boston. A new room for this purpose opened Thursday, Sept. 22 at the Tufts-New England Medical Center. "Jen's Room," as it is called, is operated by the hospital's social services department. The room was built thanks to the Jen Di Reeno Foundation. The room and foundation are named for a woman who died from Melanoma in 1999. She was a patient at the hospital and was diagnosed in 1998. Larry Warnock, the foundation's executive director, said hospitals tend to deemphasize the number of adolescent and young adult cancer patients. "It is important to realize that it's not just young children or older adults who are suffering from this disease," he said. "Young adults suffering from cancer shouldn't be ignored." The room is on the main floor of the hospital and has a plasma TV and three computers. It was designed, Warnock said, "for teens and young adults to hang out, to deal with cancer in their own lives or in the lives of others, [and] to hold support groups." The foundation was created in 2000 by Warnock, Di Reeno's father, Walter Di Reeno, and Tom Ensminger (LA '99), a close friend and neighbor of Jen Di Reeno. Ensminger, who visited DiReeno frequently at the hospital, decided to turn his grief into action by developing the room in Di Reeno's memory. The foundation chose to build the room at the hospital, Warnock said, because it had "treated Jen incredibly well" during her fight against cancer. The foundation contacted the hospital in 2002 to ask about the possibility of a room. Steve Perna, the hospital's donor relations coordinator, began working on the project in 2003. The room is a "huge resource to social services in general," Perna said. It was used before the official opening ceremony to host Red Cross training sessions for social service worker dealing with victims of Hurricane Katrina. Walter Di Reeno said the room is "for teens and young adults to...be away from all the hustle environment" of a normal hospital ward. The foundation has other events planned to honor the memory of Jen Di Reeno. It hosted the 6th annual Jen Di Reeno Sunset Music Festival in August, and foundation members are considering starting a lecture series at the hospital on grief and healing. They have also discussed a quarterly newsletter with content submitted by young adult cancer patients.

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News

Football | Tufts football faces daunting job: shutting down the Trinity offense

October 13

This weekend's matchup against three-time defending NESCAC champion Trinity College will pit the Jumbos against the most offensively-dominant team in the league. The Bantams have posted two shutouts in three games, and have swept through NESCAC competition with ease, averaging over forty-five points per game (46.3) with an undefeated record. But coming off a tough loss against Bowdoin College, the Jumbos are not paying attention to the Trinity hype or the pressure of Homecoming Weekend, instead taking on a business-as-usual mentality in practice all week. "Everyone's excited because [this weekend's game] is an opportunity for us to bounce back," senior quarterback Casey D'Annolfo said. "We know they are a good team but overall we're not too concerned with them. We're more concerned about ourselves and focusing on continuing doing what's worked for us all season long." What has worked for the Jumbos thus far has been playing sound defense, being physical, and executing on both sides of the ball. The Jumbos sit among the top of the NESCAC in almost every defensive category, and this week in practice the team has prepared its defense no differently in countering Trinity's powerhouse offense. Tufts will look to quell Trinity's potent running attack that has averaged 234.0 yards and three touchdowns per game, placing its rushing game in the top two in the league. "If we don't get the run under control it's going to be a long day for us," coach Bill Samko said. "They do everything pretty well, but I think our defense has been great all year. Hopefully we'll continue doing what we've been doing on defense against them." Along with playing sound defense, the key for a Tufts win will lie in its ability to counter the high-powered Trinity offensive attack with some points of its own. To do so, the Jumbos primary concern is eliminating penalties and executing in the red zone when it counts. Lackadaisical play cost Tufts the win last weekend, and those mistakes can't be repeated against a Bantam squad that has allowed six points in three games, all coming on a meaningless fourth-quarter touchdown against Williams when Trinity held a 34-0 lead. "The biggest thing we want to capture this week is our focus and attention to detail," offensive coordinator Mike Daly said. "Offensively, we need to eliminate our mistakes. It is the coach's job to put our players in positions to be successful, and we have focused [in practice] on finishing our drives." Tufts was hampered by penalties and missed crucial scoring opportunities against Bowdoin. The Jumbos committed nine penalties that cost the team 75 total yards, taking them out of scoring position and killing offensive drives throughout the game. "We're pissed off, and I didn't think we deserved to win [the Bowdoin game]," Samko said. "We turned the ball over too many times and committed crucial penalties. Penalties are a part of the game but you can't win in this league if you commit a lot of them, it just doesn't happen." This week in practice, coaches and players have worked on game situations to eliminate the small mistakes and focus on execution. They players say they're aware of what needs to be done and are focused on sharpening their play, especially on offense. "Our biggest challenge will be to eliminate penalties and execute consistently on offense," D'Annolfo said. "We don't have a specific game plan geared toward Trinity, we just know what we have to do to win and I think we're ready for them." All in all, tomorrow's game will be the stiffest competition the Jumbos have seen all season and a pivotal matchup that could change the Jumbos' momentum heading into the rest of the season. A loss would push the Jumbos back to 2-2 and would mark the second consecutive loss for the team. A win, however, could be just enough to give the Jumbos the momentum they need heading into the second half of the season. The beauty of the NESCAC is its unpredictability, which the Jumbos are banking on to be in their favor come Saturday. "This league has a lot of ups and downs," Samko said. "I don't know if we'll win on Saturday. A lot of people will be surprised if we do, but I do know one thing: I know we're capable." Kickoff is set for 1:30 at Zimman Field.

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Does anyone have a clue?

October 13

To the Editor, Upon reading "Anti-gay lyrics in the past, or so they hope," I was taken aback by the apparent level of ignorance among members of the Concert Board and the LGBT community at Tufts. Concert Board chair Alice Chiou said she was "honestly surprised" by the fact that Beenie Man's lyrics have included instances of homophobia. To me, this indicates that she and her co-chair, Sheena Harris, know very little about music, let alone the artists they book. After significant coverage by mainstream media outlets over the past year or two, it should not come as a shock that Dancehall music is often homophobic. (Additionally, I find it interesting that a Dancehall act was selected to headline a Hip-Hop show, but that is neither here nor there.) The individuals in charge of booking concerts should ideally listen to enough music to know what they are talking about. Based on their quoted statements, it appears quite possible that Chiou and Harris have never actually listened to a Beenie Man record. Stop reading press kits and listen to some music, please. Secondly, I am equally surprised that LGBT director Dona Yarbrough and QSA co-coordinator Sean Locke were completely ignorant to Dancehall's culture of gay-bashing. As soon as I heard that the self-proclaimed "King of the Dancehall" would be performing at Tufts, I envisioned a sea of rainbow flags at LGBT rallies and protests, yet there was no reaction. Thursday's article on Beenie Man reveals that even at a supposedly progressive and hip institution such as Tufts, there exists a profound ignorance to very basic and easily attainable facts. I would expect Concert Board executives to be well-versed in music, as I would expect LGBT representatives to be familiar with issues that impact their community. Am I the only person who's got a clue?Patrick Mangan LA '06

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The party scene on campus is a-changin'

October 13

"I once thought about making my own frat," sophomore Peter Zaroulis said. "It would work something like this: You walk in and navigate your way through an obstacle course of human bodies until someone finally hands you a beer. Another beer is dumped in strategic places all over your body. Some kid walks up to you and swears you were in his Wilderness group, but before you can get his name, the cops show up and everyone scrams."

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Nobody home: weekend spirit parade cancelled

October 13

There will not be a homecoming parade Saturday. Organizers did not expect anyone to show up. The parade, which usually starts around noon and goes from Uphill to the football field for the team's homecoming game, was cancelled by the Tufts University Spirit Coalition (TUSC), the group in charge of the weekend's student events. Student organizations, many of whom make floats for the parade, were informed of the cancellation in an e-mail Monday. The parade was cancelled because of the lack of attendance in past years, the e-mail said. It was sent by senior Sarita Parekh and sophomore Brittany Sommer, TUSC's co-chairs. "The parade is supposed to bolster community," Sommer said. "In past years, we haven't had an audience." Sommer said a possible reason is that students did not want to wake up that early during homecoming weekend. TUSC will use the money intended for the parade instead to expand the pep rally, scheduled for tonight. The extra money will be used for a bigger stage to accommodate more athletic teams. Ten are schedule to appear, as opposed to the four invited last year. In addition to the four last year, Sommer said, some other teams "just showed up randomly." Sommer said the larger event is modeled on last year's Tuftonia's Day. The pep rally will take place in the campus center. It was originally planned to be held outdoors for the first time - a plan made possible by the bigger budget, according to senior Jason Bauer, the co-chair of Programming Board and a member of TUSC. TUSC planned to put the stage on the academic quad, but because of forecasted rain, it was moved inside as in previous years. Among the student groups that usually make homecoming parade floats are the many groups within the Programming Board, including all four class councils, Concert Board, Lecture Series, Entertainment Board, Film Series, and the main Programming Board leadership. Groups usually compete for the best float. Bauer helped make a float as part of the Sophomore Class Council two years ago. "We dressed up a shopping cart like an elephant, and we all kinda dressed up like elephants," he said. Sophomore Class Council member Lauren Kari also helped make a float last year as part of the Freshman Class Council. "Last year we were all concerned about winning but we didn't," she said. "I was excited about coming back and doing something interesting this year." Kari was not aware that the parade was cancelled until Wednesday, but she said she understood the decision to cancel it after last year. "Even though it was exciting and fun, there was nobody there," she said. The lack of interest in the parade was not limited to the student body, but also applied to members of the Programming Board. The Concert Board decided before the parade was cancelled to focus most of its energy on Thursday's fall hip-hop show and not make a parade float, according to co-chair Alice Chiou, a senior. TUSC members did not regret the cancellation of the parade, Sommer said. "We wish that it happened but why not put the effort into something with greater potential," she said. The Office of Student Activities oversees the homecoming activities, but the responsibilities of planning and running the pep rally, parade and homecoming football game halftime show are delegated to the TUSC. According to Sommer, there was no administrative opposition to the cancellation of the parade. TUSC leaders conferred with Director of Student Activities Jodie Nealley. "She's on board with us," Sommer said.

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Unlikely heroes rise to prominence in crucial October games

October 13

In this year's clash of what are becoming two perennial National League titans, both the St. Louis Cardinals and the Houston Astros have found unlikely heroes to carry their star-studded offenses. Reggie Sanders and Chris Burke, who have both gone overlooked in their respective lineups, have sprung to life in the postseason, coming up with key hits to ensure big wins. Sanders, who has started in left field for St. Louis for the past two seasons, frequently goes overlooked in a Cardinal outfield with stars Jim Edmonds and Larry Walker. But in the Cards' NL Divisional Series matchup with the San Diego Padres, it was Sanders who propelled the team's offense, leading the way as the Cardinals swept San Diego in three games. Sanders drove in ten runs - more than any other player in the postseason's first round - and slugged a grand slam in the fifth inning of Game 1. At the end of Game 3, in which Sanders again came through for St. Louis with a two-run double, he was met by his teammates in the locker room with a celebratory champagne drenching and a raucous chant of "MVP!" While Sanders may not have been the expected star of the stacked Cardinal offense, this sort of success is nothing new for the 15-year veteran. Sanders is currently playing in his sixth postseason, and his fifth in the past six years. In the 2001 postseason, Sanders anchored the Arizona Diamondbacks offense in the early going, hitting .357 in a five-game defeat of - ironically - the Cardinals in the first round. The D-Backs went on to win the franchise's first World Series title. Sanders came out slugging in Game 1 of this year's NLCS as well, blasting a two-run home run off of Andy Pettitte in the first inning. The Cardinals didn't look back, eventually taking home a 5-3 win and an early lead in their quest for another National League pennant. Burke's emergence from obscurity came as much more of a surprise than Sanders', as the 25-year-old made a name for himself in this year's divisional matchup between the Astros and the Atlanta Braves. Burke, the Astros' first pick in the 2001 amateur draft, broke into the majors in July of last year, assuming the role of All-Star Jeff Kent's backup at second base. Manager Phil Garner, deeming this role unnecessary in the postseason, left Burke off the Astros' 2004 playoff roster. With Kent's departure in the offseason and veteran Craig Biggio's move to second base to replace him, Burke began to see regular playing time in 2005, taking Biggio's departed place in left field. He also dabbled in backup roles at second and in center field, and was a frequent pinch hitter for Astros pitchers. The biggest backup role of Burke's career came in Game Four of the Atlanta series, when he came into the game in the 10th inning as a pinch runner and failed to score. Burke would stay in the game, moving first to center field and then to left, and assuming Lance Berkman's spot - third - in the Astros' batting order. When Burke stepped to the plate with one out in the bottom of the 18th inning, he was nothing more than 0 for 1 with a walk. But when Burke trotted home seconds later, having ended the longest game in postseason history with a home run, he was instantly an Astro legend. With the Astros' momentum running high as Houston took on St. Louis in the opening game of the NLCS, Burke again did not disappoint. Just as Sanders had carried St. Louis with the team's only homer in Game 1, Burke was the only Astro to go deep, belting a two-run shot in the seventh, the only blemish on Cardinal ace Chris Carpenter's otherwise stellar night. It remains to be seen whether these two players can continue to carry their teams through the postseason. And they might not need to, with names like Berkman and Albert Pujols in the lineups. But with some other stars from both teams - most notably Walker for the Cardinals and Jason Lane for Houston - nursing postseason slumps, some unexpected heroics definitely couldn't hurt. And in October, anyone can become a hero.

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Sweet gig: life appointment, summers off

October 12

"Tenure is the gold standard of academia," Classics Department Lecturer Anthony Tuck said. Professors constantly scan the world of higher education for open positions, and the availability of tenure is often an important consideration. Professors can gain tenure - a lifelong guarantee of employment barring severe misconduct - only after being hired in a tenure-track position and being promoted within a certain department. Chemistry lecturer Chris Morse, community health lecturers Bonnie Chakravorty and Charlene Galarneau, and history lecturer Awad Halabi all left the University this year - and for some of them, part of the decision came down to tenure. Morse joined the chemistry department seven years ago as a temporary assistant professor with the possibility of gaining tenure. He taught large introductory classes, summer courses, and a summer program for graduate students. Morse said he is interested in educational research on new and better ways of teaching chemistry. "The problem is, when you're just a lecturer, there's no motivation for doing anything other than your plain job description," he said. After a few years at Tufts, Morse said he found out that his position would not become tenured. "I want a job that has more prestige, and is designed to let me grow as an academic," Morse said. He now teaches at Olin College, a new, small engineering school in Needham, Mass. designed to foster innovative teaching methods. His new position provides him not only with greater opportunities for advancement, Morse said, but also smaller classes and more focus on education. "[Tufts] either wanted me to be bringing in huge grants and running a lab, or just being a lecturer and teaching the classes that no one else wanted to teach," Morse said. There was little motivation to work on his independent research, Morse said. "Work you do before a position is tenure-track doesn't count toward the later tenure decision," he said. Candidates for tenure are reviewed by several levels of faculty and administrative committees and subcommittees, in addition to the University's Board of Trustees. When making tenure decisions, the University looks for "excellence in teaching, research and service," according to Dean of Academic Affairs Kevin Dunn. These qualities are determined by student evaluation forms and whether or not the faculty member has "begun to make an impact on their field, an impact comparable to the best of their peer group," Dunn said. Tuck said an offer of a tenure-track appointment at another school would likely take him away from Tufts. "Somebody like me would leave Tufts because another position is more consistent with what I want professionally," he said. "Tenure provides stability," Tuck said, "It would be to my professional disadvantage not to look around." The direction of one's career is often more important than tenure, though, Tuck said. He also said he "would love the opportunity to be reviewed for tenure at Tufts." Neither Chakravorty or Galarneau were eligible for tenure at any point because they taught in the inter-disciplinary community health program. The program's director, Edith Balbach, said tenure was not one of Chakravorty or Galarneau's primary motivations. Galarneau moved to a similar non-tenure-track position in the women's studies department at Wellesley College. Chakravorty is starting a community health graduate program at Tennessee State University, a position that makes her eligible for tenure. Halabi taught Middle Eastern history at Tufts for two years - his first major teaching position. He is now an assistant professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. "Basically, I got a tenure position," Halabi said. His time at Tufts, Halabi said, was the first step in his academic career. Tenure was the main reason for his decision to leave. This role of tenure in higher education also has its downside. "Tenure doesn't really provide an atmosphere were institutions can perform at their peak efficiency," Tuck said. Once their jobs are secure, Tuck said, some professors become less productive. "I can think of a lot more instances where it's been abused." Tuck said, though, that the competition for tenure-track positions "makes me more efficient."

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Bad timing for Beenie Man

October 12

For those attuned to both campus events and past accusations of Jamacian DJ Beenie Man and his anti-gay lyrics, it is hard to ignore the irony of Coming Out Day so closely followed by Beenie Man's performance. As the popularity of Beenie Man has grown over the past 15 years, he has been blamed for homophobic acts of violence in the way video games such as Doom are blamed for Columbine. He has even seen concerts cancelled in the past because of protests by groups such as OutRage! - a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights campaign group in Britain. But there is no reason the concert today should cause any controversy. Both of these events have legitimate places on campus and represent the diversity of viewpoints that Tufts should encourage. There is a fine line between respecting diversity and plain respect. Tufts' Concert Board is funded by the student activities fee and therefore has a responsibility to uphold Tufts' nondiscrimination policy. But the Concert Board is merely presenting an opportunity on campus, available to those who wish to attend. Beenie Man's lyrics will no doubt remain heated and charged despite the worst of the profanities being removed. But it is up to the discretion of each individual attendee to determine if any part of his performance is offensive and understand that it was his or her decision to attend. It is important to maintain free speech on campus, however even in remunerating an alleged bigoted performer, the University has to be aware. Beenie Man has been alerted via his agent that the controversial lyrics will not be permitted, and the Hip Hop Show will likely go off smoothly. Beenie Man seems to have renounced his previous views of homophobia and targeted violence, but questions still linger as he also defends himself on the grounds of representing a segment of Jamaican culture through his music. As recognition at the top of western music charts continues to elude Beenie Man, he seems to be gradually sanitizing his views to make them palatable to the mainstream. There will likely be little public outburst if his lyrics err on the side of caution and avoid homophobic references. What is most disappointing regarding the recruitment of Beenie Man is the complete ignorance of the Concert Board. As a group designated to spend student fees, there should be some degree of accountability and awareness. When an artist has been contracted to perform, one would expect a degree of background research. Any simple search on Beenie Man will show that he has had a checkered history, yet both of the Concert Board co-chairs appeared to have not heard of such information. The Concert Board's recent history is not rosy: we have paid Busta Rhymes twice for not performing. Public issues of censorship have peaked in recent years with national scandals such as Janet Jackson's Super Bowl wardrobe mishap, and Clear Channel's conservative dominance of radio. What yet another performer mishap shows is the need for increased diligence among those responsible. In an environment where conflicting views are encouraged to be exposed, many delicate situations arise. There needs to be more thought about the context in which artists will be performing. Just as a Toby Keith concert would not be successful on a heavily Democratic campus, a former homophobe is not the best follow-up to Coming Out Day.

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Ultimate Frisbee | E-Men use fall season to tune up for spring

October 12

The busy fall season of the Tufts E-Men, Tufts' men's ultimate frisbee squad, has begun. The E-men have participated in two tournaments so far this season, club sectionals and club regionals. The tournaments, however, were at the club level, which is one step above college ultimate, so the squad went in knowing it was an underdog. The team logged a 1-5 record at club sectionals in Devens, Mass., two weeks ago, finishing sixth out of eight teams. Despite its poor record, Tufts notched a victory against Brown University, last year's national collegiate champions, and finished as the top collegiate program at the tournament. Three of its losses to club opponents were by very narrow margins, with Tufts falling by less than three points in each. "We played really well," senior Chris Healey said. "We knew going in that the tournament would be tough and we were very happy with the way we performed." By placing sixth at club sectionals, the E-men were one of a few college programs to qualify for Club Regionals, also in Devens, Mass., last weekend. The E-men did not fare well there, as they experienced extremely tough competition and inclement weather conditions. "We struggled and we knew it," Healey said. "It let us know where we need to make some improvements. We're not worried." The squad took the tournaments with a grain of salt, however, because they were mainly against club, not college, opponents. "We haven't had too many wins because we have been playing teams that are peaking to go to their own nationals," senior captain Rob Spies said. There was a solid turnout of interested players to the initial meetings and practices. These talented new players as well as 15 returning A-team members have bolstered the E-men's chances in their bid for a berth at college nationals in the spring. "We have some freshman and sophomores who look promising," Healey said. "A lot of them are very athletic, and even though some of them don't know the game very well yet, we're confident they'll pick it up and really help the program." "So far everyone we've taken to a tournament has looked pretty solid," Spies added. The fall ultimate season is mostly for tryouts and team building, as the team aims to cement its final roster and prepare for the spring, the E-men's main competitive season. "We like to use the fall to just get the returning guys back in shape and to try out some new players," said Spies. "We're definitely going to make a few new additions to the A-team at the end of the fall." A note on the rules of Ultimate Frisbee: there are seven players on the field at one time, and every score is worth one point. Matches are played to 15 points, with a time cap that sometimes causes the match end before the score reaches 15. The game is self-refereed and emphasizes sportsmanlike conduct, a principle known as the Spirit of the Game. The Jumbos have several upcoming college-only tournaments, including the Purple Valley Tournament at Williams this weekend, and two tournaments in upcoming weeks at Yale and Brown. "If we don't win the tournaments, we expect to have a pretty good showing," Healey said. "We've only had two or three games against college teams so far," Spies said. "It'll be nice to play in the upcoming tournaments. We definitely should do well. I'm pretty confident about them." The Purple Valley Tournament is a more relaxed tournament and is open to any A or B squad player who wants to go. "It's not that intense of a tournament," Healey admitted. "It's kind of a big party." However, the E-men will certainly get serious in their next two tournaments. The competitions are A-team only and will help the Jumbos tune their tactics and decide on their final lineup. While the fall season helps the team to come together, the results of the fall tournaments can be somewhat deceiving. "Every team has to go through a rebuilding process in the fall," Spies said. "It's always very hard to tell who is going to be a college nationals contender this early."

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News

Campus center rally: coming out at college

October 12

Just as they have done for the past 15 years, new and old members of the Tufts lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community gathered on the campus center patio Wednesday for the Coming Out Day Rally. Rainbow-colored balloons and decorations covered the area, and Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" blared over the speakers as over 100 students, faculty and staff discussed the importance of the national day of awareness. This year's rally also marked the name change of the Tufts Transgender Lesbian Gay Bisexual Collective student group to the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA). The group's leaders made the change Tuesday night. The change is expected to broaden participation in the group. Dona Yarbrough, the director of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, detailed the community's history at Tufts, the beginning of which she dated to a 1972 Tufts Observer headline, "Gay Liberation Emerges at Tufts." The article, Yarbrough said, reported 15 students came out to each other and planned to start a group. The following year, the Tufts Gay Community was formed. Bisexuals and lesbians joined the group later, and transgender students were added in 1997. Sophomore Sean Locke, a co-coordinator of the QSA, shared his coming out experience. Locke said his experiences with prejudice began at an early age, when other children called him a "fag" before he understood what the word meant. "I was one of those kids who hung out with all the girls on the playground," he said. "I started to realize three years into denying that I was gay that they just might be right." Locke then described the gradual process of coming out: first to himself, then to his mom and family, and finally to his friends. "I looked in the mirror and told myself, 'I'm gay,'" he said. "Coming out to myself was the hardest part because I realized there was no going back." Coming out is a never-ending process, Locke said. "While it does get easier every time you do it, it's something you have to keep doing over and over," he said. University College Professor Molly Mead explained the positive and negative effects of the Massachusetts Supreme Court's ruling that allowed for same-sex marriages beginning in May 2004. While the decision gave same-sex couples equal rights, Mead said, the issue was abused and used as a wedge between the political parties in the 2004 presidential election. "When 'queer' was used as a noun, it was always a derogatory term," English Department Professor Jonathan Strong said. Strong spoke about the term's origins and usage. "We have a chance to make our own definition in a way that doesn't fall into an acceptable mold," he said. After the prepared speeches, the event became an open forum. Members of the audience voiced their support for their friends, and students shared their coming out stories. Rabbi Jeffrey Summit spoke about the relationship between Coming Out Day and the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur, which began Wednesday evening and lasts until sundown today. Summit encouraged students to be at one with themselves, the goal of the Jewish Day of Atonement. "It's only by telling the truth that you form deep relationships with people," he said. Transfer students compared the atmosphere at Tufts with that of their previous colleges and thanked the community for being supportive. One student, who identified herself as Amanda, a freshman, declared herself bisexual for the first time. She said hearing misconceptions about bisexuality influenced her decision to come out. "I felt like I should come out as a voice for other people to say, 'No, that's not true,'" she said. Another student said he came out six years ago. "If the past six years have taught me anything, it's that my outness is not just my own personal victory," said the student, who identified himself as Sam, a senior. "We must continue to let our outness shine."

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Anti-gay lyrics in the past, or so they hope

October 12

Controversial dancehall musician Beenie Man, whose past songs featured violently homophobic lyrics, will perform at Tufts today - without much opposition. Beenie Man will perform as part of the Hip Hop Show at 9 p.m. in Dewick-MacPhie Dining Hall. His performance comes the night after the University's Coming Out Day Rally at the campus center. About a year and a half ago the artist came under fire for offensive lyrics, including this line: "I'm dreaming of a new Jamaica / Come to execute all the gays," from his song, "Damn." Beenie Man was forced to cancel a number of shows, including an MTV appearance, as a result of his lyrics. According to the VH1 Web site, OutRage!, a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender human rights campaign, protested and successfully lobbied for some of Beenie Man's shows to be cancelled. In response, the Jamaican musician publicly issued a statement of apology. "It has come to my attention that certain lyrics and recordings I have made in the past may have caused distress and outrage among people whose identities and lifestyles are different from my own," the statement read. "As a human being, I renounce violence toward other human beings in every way." Both co-chairs of Concert Board - seniors Alice Chiou and Sheena Harris - were unaware of the issue with Beenie Man's lyrics. "It honestly surprises me," Chiou said. "I hope that it doesn't offend anyone. His music is very popular, and it was a good opportunity for the Concert Board." Chiou contacted Howie Cusack, the agent Concert Board uses to book acts. Cusack told Chiou the lyrics were no longer an issue. "The problem was solved and the lyrics aren't a part of the show," Chiou said. Sophomore Sean Locke, a co-coordinator of the Queer Straight Alliance (QSA), was also unfamiliar with Beenie Man's work and said he had mixed feelings toward Beenie Man's performance. "I disagree with him and I think it's wrong for him to express violence towards homosexuals in his work," Locke said. "But he does have the right to express how he feels to a reasonable extent." Locke said though he felt that some of Beenie Man's lyrics were beyond reasonable, he understood that Beenie Man had apologized, and that the lyrics would not be included in the show. Dona Yarbrough, the director of the Tufts Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center, declined to comment. She said she did not know enough about the artist or the issue. Chiou said the administration does not necessarily need to grant permission for the acts that Concert Board hosts. Recently, though, the administration has gotten stricter on issues like profanity, she said. "A few years ago, we had Less Than Jake, and they were cursing up on stage," Chiou said. "Ever since then, the administration has been more concerned, mainly because of the way the community is affected - so that generally applies to outdoor concerts." Assistant Director of Student Activities Lynne Stewart said her office relies on the advice of agents in the music industry to find musical groups to bring to campus. "Our office has been working with one agent in particular for about 20 years who expresses concerns about bands," Stewart said. "He had not mentioned this issue with Beenie Man with us before, and has since told us that these types of lyrics have been stricken from Beenie Man's music as of 18 or so months ago."

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Weekender | This one time, at Pep Band practice...

October 12

It's a typical Thursday night in Cabot Auditorium. At around 6:00 p.m., casual conversation mingles with the sounds of clarinets, saxophones, drums, trombones, trumpets and other instruments that fill the air. It's the 24 members of the Tufts Pep Band, warming up for one of their weekly practices. Didn't know we had a pep band? Don't feel bad; most people don't. Over the years, the marching band stopped marching and evolved into the Pep Band we have today. Now that you know they exist, you should definitely check them out. It's not too hard to find them. Although, ironically, they don't play at pep rallies, the Tufts Pep Band performs at every home football game. They sit in the stands and play a wide variety of songs to entertain the crowd during game breaks such as time-outs and halftime. In fact, the Pep Band has a huge repertoire of songs. Funded by the TCU Senate, they buy and try out different tunes every year. Each piece gets an equal chance in a test run. "If we like it, we keep it," Pep Band president senior Nicole Mueller said. As of right now, the band has 45 songs it plays regularly, 30 it plays on occasion, and 100 that have yet to be used. Songs range from the "Jumbo Fight Song" to the jazz piece "Birdland," from Beatles classics to more modern tunes by Blink-182 and Smashmouth. Knowing so many songs proves very useful come game time. The pep band doesn't enter a game with a set list of songs to play. Working as a whole with the drum major, the group looks at how much time they have and gauges the crowd's mood to determine which songs to play next. The lack of a structured play list in no way compromises the group's proficiency. Although the band only meets twice a week for two hours, they make that time count. At practice, they go from the traditional "Star Spangled Banner" to the pop song "I Want Candy" without even batting an eye, making it evident that they know their stuff. However, after a song is finished, the silence doesn't last long. The members clearly know how to have fun. Pep Band head of publicity, senior Michael Garshick, accurately describes his band as "laid-back." "I started playing just to get chicks," said Garshick. "But the atmosphere of the band is so cool that I grew to really appreciate it." According to Treasurer Kevin Johannsen, also a senior, part of the fun of Pep Band is that so many of its members were in a typical marching band in high school. Their experience here at Tufts, though, has proven to be very different from that of a strict marching band. "We can play and have fun with it and not worry about marching or a rigorous schedule," Johannsen said. Both the choice of songs and the relaxed atmosphere lend themselves to the casual practice environment. The Pep Band will be back in the stands this Saturday, performing during the Homecoming game. If you don't get a chance to see them this weekend, stop by any home game and check out the most versatile band on the Tufts campus.

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