Over the past two months, followers of both John McCain and Barack Obama have closely examined the vice presidential candidacy of Sarah Palin. When McCain named Palin, the little-known governor of Alaska, as his running mate, he sparked a frenzy unlike any that had come before Palin's selection, as millions attempted to determine (as Palin, curiously, now wonders of Obama), who is Sarah Palin?
In a recent conversation with the Daily, University President Lawrence Bacow cautioned against pushing bricks and mortar at the expense of people. As Wall Street continues to disappoint and the economy plunges, the university will be pushing a lot less bricks in coming months and maybe even years. The planned construction of a sports complex and a lab facility are two of the casualties, with work on them being pushed back as Tufts tightens its belt and pulls in the reins on the endowment.
While the presidential election is still weeks away, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) seems to be on the path to the Oval Office. For the second time in the past decade, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) will fail to reach the presidency because of one man: George W. Bush. The 43rd president has proven to be a cancer to a McCain candidacy.
Most people know that computers and other electronic devices contain toxic materials that can harm both the environment and human beings if not disposed of properly. This is why people are encouraged not to throw their used electronic devices away but rather to responsibly recycle them through an e-waste recycling system. Many companies offer take-back services, in which they will take care of recycling your old electronics for you (usually for a small fee, or the cost of shipping). These programs have made recycling electronics much simpler for the ordinary American, and many concerned citizens have dropped their computers or cell phones off and walked away feeling good about reducing toxic waste in landfills and protecting the environment.
Harvard Law School recently announced that it will be moving to a modified pass-fail grading system starting next fall. Law School Dean Elena Kagan said that the change was motivated by a desire to "promote pedagogical excellence and innovation and further strengthen the intellectual community in which [Harvard Law students] live." Harvard's new system will closely resemble the ones used at the Yale and Stanford law schools.
Why is it that the more I find out about the blackout, the angrier I get? I was angry when I received a phone message five hours in that told me that there was a blackout and not to use candles. Then I was angrier when I heard that the reason they waited so long was to make sure that they could provide useful information but then inexplicably failed to actually do so.
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell endorsed Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on "Meet the Press" yesterday morning, calling Obama a "transformational figure" and criticizing the McCain campaign for its negative tone. He also stated that, in his mind, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) is not "ready to be president of the United States," should calamity befall Sen. McCain (R-Ariz.) while in office. Once considered a likely candidate to be the nation's first African-American nominee for president, Powell told host Tom Brokaw that his choice had nothing to do with race.
Blackouts rarely make for a good time. They make it impossible to charge phones, computers and iPods (every college student's nightmare), sneakily reset clocks and turn even the simplest tasks into arduous chores. These issues, however, pale in comparison to the inconvenience of last Sunday's blackout, which came complete with closed dining facilities (except for Dewick), pitch-black residence halls and malfunctioning key fobs.
Sex is a part of college life for many Jumbos. Often times, these sexual relationships leave unintended negative emotional consequences, which can affect the ability to maintain a healthy mental, emotional and spiritual balance necessary for having happy marital relationships in the future. While contraception can protect against STDs, sex is far from "safe." Contraceptives cannot protect against the psychological sense of loss and betrayal that accompanies hookups and breakups. Abstinence is a realistic and basic principle preceding sexual happiness that anyone could follow even with the expectations that come with college.
Teaching since 1997, Denise delayed completing college when she had her first child. For the next 10 years, Denise continued to accrue "continuing education units" and "professional development points" that did not count toward a bachelor's degree. About three years ago, Denise again attempted to return to college and finish her bachelor's degree, but was told that she would have to complete several remedial courses in order to fulfill the requirements. Since she only makes about $23,000 annually as a preschool teacher, she cannot afford to take all the courses needed.
As an expatriate Tuftonian stationed in Washington, D.C. on the eve of an election, I have had ample time to reflect on the relationship between politics and my generation. Washington is abuzz with such a case of election fever that even young people, with their traditionally low voter turnout, are not exempt from the symptoms. It is customary to discuss politics at a rally, in the workplace, at a dinner party, in a convenience store, out at a crowded bar, with your cab driver, in whispers at the movie theater or while you are being mugged. Politics is the subject of greetings, pick-up lines, coffee breaks and pillow talk.
With the year barely underway, the Office of Residential Life and Learning (ResLife)is already expecting some sophomores to map out much of the rest of their time at Tufts. We at the Daily think the process has been far too rushed.
Two years after Representative Mark Foley (R-Fla.) stepped down from Congress due to a sex scandal involving House pages, his Democratic successor has become embroiled in a scandal of his own.
Defeat, as defined by Merriam-Webster online dictionary, is "frustration by nullification or by prevention of success" or "an overthrow[,] especially of an army[,] in battle" or "the loss of a contest." This same dictionary tells me that success may be described as a "degree or measure of succeeding" or a "favorable or desired outcome." Lastly, and most importantly, victory is "the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist." Why am I giving you dictionary definitions, you ask? The above three words — defeat, success, victory — have been used with such great frequency in respect to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that one needs to understand when and how they may be used. Politicians on each side have preferred words, of course, most notably the Democrats who hail the war as a disastrous affair with impending defeat (some claim the defeat has already happened) and the Republicans who tell the American public that the war is a success, that in some ways we have already won. How is it possible that something of a concrete and tangible nature can have two incredibly different results?
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) calls himself a maverick. He claims that he is all about straight talk. According to Rolling Stone, he once said that he believed elections should be decided "by the examples [candidates] set, by the way we conduct our campaigns, by the way we personally practice politics." McCain said that in the midst of the brutal 2000 presidential primary campaign. Apparently, he doesn't believe in that doctrine anymore. McCain is determined to win the White House — at any cost. With a month left to go until Election Day, the polls rank him second to Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) with 43 percent of the support compared to Obama's 49 percent. It seems that straight talk doesn't sell as well as it used to. In recent weeks, McCain's presidential campaign has taken a decisively nasty turn, jacking up the number of personal attacks on Obama and drawing attention away from the issues at hand: the crumbling economy, Russia's recent aggression and the Iraq war. According to The Washington Post, a senior Republican staffer who requested to remain anonymous stated, "We're going to get a little tougher, we've got to question [Barack Obama]'s associations. Very soon. There's no question that we have to change the subject here." McCain learned from the best. After losing the 2000 campaign in large part due to a smear campaign designed to destroy his character, he has engaged in the same tactics this time around. The change of tone in McCain's campaign is palpable. His new television advertisements focus on Obama instead of his own policies. They ask "Who is the real Barack Obama?" and charge Obama with voting for higher taxes 94 times, a claim independent sources across the board have called misleading at best. Other ads call Obama "dangerous" and "dishonorable." Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), at recent rallies, has spent much of her time tying Obama to former extremist William Ayers. One could also feel the shift in tone during Tuesday's debate. McCain used the night to make condescending remarks about Obama's voting record and what he has done politically (or failed to do, according to McCain). He even gave Obama a new nickname that has already spawned a couple of t-shirt ideas. The name in question: "That One." McCain has moved into desperation mode. His efforts to separate himself from the legacy of President George W. Bush have failed and he now finds himself standing on a crumbling political platform. It's time for America to prepare for an old-fashioned mudslinging competition, even if only one side joins in on the fun. What to do when straight talk fails? Take a page from Karl Rove and see what kind of "swiftboat" ads come out. The gullibility of the American people will soon be tested. How long before another laughable accusation such as the Ayers-Obama connection is concocted by the diabolical political masterminds at the helm of McCain's campaign? The next thirty days will be marked by the lowering of integrity and the type of politics that McCain vowed never to participate in. McCain's Straight Talk Express has turned into the Spin Talk Express, and if he has anything to say about it, it will go full steam into the White House.
Last week's Observer led with a two-page spread ("Brown and Blue Go Green," Sept. 29) patting Tufts on the back for all of the sustainable initiatives it is making in plain sight for all of us to see and feel good about.
This fall, Massachusetts residents will vote on the ability of their state government to remain effective. On the November ballot, voters will consider Question 1, which proposes the elimination of the state's income tax. While many families could use additional money in these tough economic times, Massachusetts residents must recognize that taxes pay for vital governmental programs. In order to preserve these services, we urge residents to vote no to Question 1 and keep the income tax intact.
On Thursday, there was unprecedented buzz concerning the vice-presidential debates. In light of the abysmal interview, Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) gave with CBS's Katie Couric, no one was expecting much of her. Republicans were anxious to see a performance that would put former Vice President Dan Quayle's now-infamous potato incident to shame. Democrats couldn't wait to see Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) tear the Alaskan hockey mom to shreds.
An Oct. 3 article titled "Tufts Mountain Club looks to get Senate funding for Trips Cabin" incorrectly stated that the Tufts Mountain Club owns the Loj. The university owns the house, and the student organization operates it. The Oct. 1 article "TCU senators may get assigned districts" had an accompanying box that incorrectly stated that senior Ryan Pallathra would represent Hillsides. Instead, the proposal listed sophomore Ryan Heman as the representative.
Anytime that oversight vacuums and taxpayer dollars come together, questions of whether conflicts of interest are involved always arise. Recently, United States Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote a letter to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) requesting that they clarify the employment status of Dr. Marvin Konstam, who has been working as a senior adviser to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) while simultaneously retaining his positions at Tufts Medical Center and Orqis, a private medical device company. It is too early to pass judgment, but in the meantime, we support Grassley's efforts to get to the bottom of the situation.
