2010-04-15.pdf

THE TUFTS DAILY

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TUFTSDAILY.COM

THURSDAY, APRIL 15, 2010

VOLUME LIX, NUMBER 48

Where You Read It First Est. 1980

Committee chair Dolan discusses search for new Tufts president BY

ELLEN KAN

Daily Editorial Board

ASHLEY SEENAUTH/TUFTS DAILY

Crowds gathered on the Boston Common for the Tea Party Rally.

Tea partiers rally around Palin in Boston

BY SAUMYA VAISHAMPAYAN

Daily Editorial Board

Amid American flags and “don’t tread on me” banners, former Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin and other prominent members of the Tea Party movement spoke yesterday morning to large crowds at Boston Common about the dangers of extensive government spending and intervention.

“The big government, big debt agenda is over,” Palin said. “We are voting them out … we must restore balance and common sense.”

Though there was no official police estimate, sources put the crowd’s size in the thousands.

The rally, which occurred on the eve of tax day, was the secondto-last stop in a national tour that began on March 27 in Searchlight, see PALIN, page 2

As the Presidential Search Committee this week visited the Medford/Somerville campus to get input about the search for the new university president, Peter Dolan (A ’78), the committee chair and vice chair of the Board of Trustees, sat down with the Daily to discuss the process.

The search committee, made up of 13 representatives selected in February by the Board of Trustees, is currently in the information-collection phase of its search, in preparation for crafting a full position description against which potential candidates will be measured.

“Part two [of the process] is to conduct these discussions where we’re gathering input from the community, which we’re in the midst of,” Dolan said. “Step three is to translate all that input into a position profile, which describes as best we can in a summary the collective input … which characterizes how we would define the role and what we think are the important characteristics going forward.”

Dolan expects that the position paper defining the role of the university president will be

TIEN TIEN/TUFTS DAILY

Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees Peter Dolan is the chair of the Presidential Search Committee. ready toward the end of this month, after which the search committee will undertake its main task of identifying a handful of candidates to recommend to the trustees.

“The search committee’s task is to narrow the field of possible applicants down to three or four people that we believe have the potential to lead the university

and build on what’s been accomplished here,” Dolan said.

He emphasized that the see SEARCH, page 2 See tuftsdaily.com for a slideshow profile of search committee members.

Panelists highlight censorship in modern age Students discuss Bacow’s legacy at forums BY

BRENT YARNELL

Daily Editorial Board

Panelists at the fifth annual Edward R. Murrow Forum on Issues in Journalism last night compared media censorship in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks to McCarthy-era blacklists.

“Did blacklisting really end with Joe McCarthy?” Director of the Communications and Media Studies (CMS) Program Julie Dobrow, who facilitated the panel, asked at the event’s opening.

The panelists cited examples of post9/11 media censorship as possible instances of modern day McCarthyism, including Clearwater’s refusal to play the Dixie Chicks’ music on any of its radio stations after band members criticized the Iraqi war and the cancel-

BY MICHAEL DEL MORO AND CORINNE SEGAL

Daily Editorial Board

SCOTT TINGLEY/TUFTS DAILY

see MURROW, page 2

Panelists at the Murrow forum discussed the media’s coverage of the run-up to the Iraq war.

Class of 2013 elects its senators Seven freshmen were yesterday elected to the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Sophomore Senate.

Freshmen Faith Blake, Logan Cotton, Meredith Goldberg, Yulia Korovikov, Wyatt Cadley, Tabias Wilson and Shawyoun Shaidani beat out four other contenders to claim the seven Senate seats allocated to the Class of 2013, according to Tufts Election Commission (ECOM) Chair Sharon Chen, a sophomore. Cotton, Wilson and Goldberg are newcomers to the Senate, while the rest of the winners are incumbents. Of the three

other freshmen on Senate this year, two did not run for reelection, while the third was not successfully re-elected.

Yesterday’s election saw a 55.6 percent turnout, comparable with the turnout at the last regular Class of 2013 election in the fall, which boasted a 57 percent turnout. None of the other classes voted in the election as their classes’ seats were uncontested.

“I’d say it’s a fair turnout; it is one class and we do expect less as when more classes are involved,” Chen said “I’m pleased to see that the freshman class is active.”

This turnout was significantly higher than the special election held at the beginning of this semester to fill a vacant Senate seat — that election saw a 14.46 percent turnout.

Chen attributed this to the fact that special elections tend to see lower participation and feature fewer candidates.

“Having 11 versus two [candidates] just makes it a bigger turnout,” Chen said.

She added that the election went smoothly and no difficulties were encountered.

The Presidential Search Committee this week held two open forums on the Medford/Somerville campus to gather student input for the university president selection process.

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate sponsored on Tuesday the first forum, whose major theme was finding a candidate in the wake of the legacy of University President Lawrence Bacow.

“As difficult as I think it would be to follow Larry Bacow, I think a lot of the students — and frankly, I think that’s why a lot of the students aren’t here today — trust everyone to make a good decision because being a university president requires you to put your own spin and your own personality in the job,” TCU President Brandon Rattiner, a senior, said.

The first forum saw a low turnout of six students, some of whom questioned whether or not some of Bacow’s qualities, especially his intimacy with the student body, should necessarily be what the committee looks out for.

“Do we maybe look for someone who won’t be as engaged in student life but who will be engaged in other facets of the university, be it fundraising, be

—by Ellen Kan see FORUM, page 2

Inside this issue

Today’s Sections

Tufts students sew their own fashionable pieces.

A thrilling weekend of competition is on the horizon for three Tufts teams.

see WEEKENDER, page 5

see SPORTS, back

News Features Weekender Editorial | Letters

1 3 5 10

Op-Ed Comics Classifieds Sports

11 12 13 Back

THE TUFTS DAILY

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

NEWS

Tea Party activists attack health care reform, big government PALIN continued from page 1

Nev. The tour featured a series of speakers showcasing the Tea Party platform of small government and a strict interpretation of the Constitution.

“We believe in expanding freedom and opportunity for all, not the intrusive reach of government into our lives and businesses,” Palin said.

Chairman of the Tea Party Express Mark Williams emphasized that the Tea Party is not simply a political party. “We are a constitutional movement,” Williams said.

“Massachusetts is a blue-collar, working-stiff state, and we’re reclaiming it for America.”

Amy Kremer, Tea Party Express director of grassroots and coalitions, likewise argued that the Tea Party

movement appeals to constituents across political parties.

“We vote on principles and values; we don’t vote on the letter next to a person’s name,” Kremer said. “We are here to take back our country.”

Rally-goers expressed similar sentiments.

“I’m here because of a general disgust with the incompetence and arrogance of the government about every issue, from Democrats to Republicans,” Jim Hermance told the Daily.

Tea Party speakers stressed the need to ensure that the government truly serve the needs of the people, highlighting the role of the government as described in the Constitution.

“This is about the people,” Palin said. “This is the people’s move-

ment … We are going to put the government back on the side of the people … The Constitution provides the perfect path to a perfect union. The government that governs least governs best.”

Some rally-goers agreed with many of the anti-large government sentiments expressed in the rally.

“I believe in small government,” Jan Solley, a participant from Maine, told the Daily. “Big government leads to a loss of freedom, and health care is simply an assault on our freedoms. I’m appalled at the government spending, and we cannot continue on this crash course of spending.”

Palin’s remarks about excessive spending seemed to target the recently passed health care bill, which, along with other reforms undertaken by the Obama admin-

istration like the student loan system and auto industry bailout, she labeled radical changes that will hinder the economy.

“We need to cut spending to fix the economy,” Palin said.

Tea Party Express speaker John Phillip Sousa IV condemned the health care bill in more explicit terms.

“We want a simple solution to the ills of our medical system and we have the right to protest the arrogant abuses of our government,” Sousa said.

Palin also addressed the United States’ dependence on foreign oil, calling for the country to boost energy production through nuclear sources, clean coal and off-shore drilling.

“We can be energy independent; we just need the political will,”

Search committee putting together position description SEARCH continued from page 1

Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees would make the final decision, with a year-end target date for the completion of the entire selection process, before the end of University President Lawrence Bacow’s tenure in May 2011.

Dolan acknowledged that different constituencies have different priorities and interests in considering the agenda for the university and its new president.

“The university’s a complex institution … and everyone, so to speak, touches the elephant in a slightly different way, and their view of where we are today and what’s needed is in large part a function of just what part of the elephant they are touching at the moment,” Dolan said.

Reconciling these varied interests will be a focus of the committee’s work in the coming weeks, following the informationgathering forums.

“The challenge for us as a group is to put all that information together and gather that in a clear statement which acknowledges how far Tufts has come, how much the culture of transparency and communication, for example, that’s certainly been part of President Bacow’s administration, is critically important to the Tufts community, and to build on all of that as we look at different candidates,” Dolan said.

He challenged individuals and groups to take a big-picture view beyond their own immediate interests.

“What we’ve really said to each of the members of the search committee is that

while they come from a part of the university, the challenge is to recognize … the value that brings, but to rise above that and to think about and evaluate candidates in the context of the total needs and priorities of the university,” Dolan said.

“That certainly applies to individual interest groups who ... might want to elevate the list of environmental issues to the top of the list,” Dolan said. “That has to be considered in the context of challenges and opportunities that exist today in some of the schools.”

The search committee is meant to be a microcosm of the entire university community, as it is made up of 13 representatives from the trustees, faculty, alumni, administration and the student body, coming from all of the university’s three main campuses.

“That is large enough to encompass a cross section of our community … while still being a manageable size for a working group,” Jim Stern, chair of the Board of Trustees, said in an e-mail to the Daily.

Stern expressed his confidence in the committee members’ qualifications.

“We’re fortunate that many of our members touch lots of bases … They have superb academic credentials … They also have in-depth knowledge of Tufts and the ability to identify talent and to communicate to candidates what makes the presidency of this university such an extraordinary opportunity,” Stern said.

Dolan said the group has met and so far has demonstrated good dynamics.

“In aggregate, when you look at the mix of experiences, I think it’s actually going to be a

good group that will work very collegially to help accomplish our task,” Dolan said.

While the committee is committed to making the process as open as possible, especially at this information-gathering stage, Dolan explained that a degree of confidentiality would be needed to protect the candidates’ existing employment.

“I think there will be, particularly at this phase of the process, a hopefully really high level of transparency in terms of exchange of information,” he said. “At some point, as we begin to vet candidates, that transparency needs to go into a quiet phase.”

While the committee is still formulating its position paper, Dolan identified some qualities that would be considered in a candidate, including accessibility, fundraising ability and integrity.

“Someone who has the vision to build on what’s happened at Tufts … over the last ten years, combined with the intellectual capacity that allows them to interact and lead the academic community, but also to understand the complexity and the diversity of this university,” Dolan said.

Dolan felt the forums on the different campuses have been helpful, adding that while some of them have centered around Bacow’s legacy, it is important for participants to look to the future.

“There is a clear desire on the part of participants in all of these meetings to recognize and acknowledge the outstanding contributions of President Bacow … one of the fun challenges … has been getting people to … think about where do we go from here?” Dolan said.

Search committee forums seek input from community FORUM continued from page 1

it the academic tone of the university?” senior Adam Weldai, the Senate’s trustee representative on university advancement, said.

Search Committee Chair Peter Dolan (A ’78), vice chair of the Board of Trustees, concurred that the search should not be for someone who does the job like Bacow, but rather someone who can continue a flourishing university’s success.

“I think it’s an extraordinary opportunity for someone to lead, doing the job with the unique mix of what their strengths are and continuing to build on what positively has taken place over the course of the last five or 10 years,” Dolan said.

Committee member Bernard Harleston, trustee Emeritus and former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, said that the challenge is to find another president of equal caliber but with different qualities.

Students also discussed the new president’s role, expressing their hopes for Tufts’ future.

“A priority for the next university president is to re-engage or to make alumni more accessible for current undergraduates,” Rattiner said. “I know that I’ve found the alumni to be a little bit more inaccessible for a school of this caliber.”

Other concerns included the quality of facilities, in particular the dormitories and athletic facilities.

“In my admissions experience and for a lot of my friends who are looking at

Tufts, the biggest downside was the housing,” sophomore Jay Farber said. “It’s sort of a perennial concern.”

Weldai suggested selecting someone from within the university. “I’m a big fan of promoting from within … I’m thinking someone who has been a part of Tufts and has seen where we’ve been, where we were, and where we are and where we’re going,” Weldai said.

Among the qualities sought by the students present were a strong, grounded presence, accessibility to students, ambition, intellect, quirkiness and good fundraising skills.

The second forum, sponsored by the Dean of Student Affairs, yesterday drew a higher turnout of approximately 35 people. The student-dominated discussion centered primarily on diversity issues, as students and faculty discussed how a university president could contribute to dialogue on race.

Seniors Marie-Gabrielle Isidore and Dan Stone cited a lack of communication between students and the administration as a major problem.

“One of the biggest issues that I see here is the lack of dialogue between faculty and students and the Board of Trustees, which I think hinders Tufts’ ability to rise in the rankings,” Isidore said. “I think faculty and the Board of Trustees really need to come and talk to students.”

“That’s a lot of what I’ve been hearing, is that there’s this huge removal of the official Tufts administrative processes from the student body,” Stone said.

CJ Mourning, a senior, felt students were dissatisfied by the lack of responsiveness to sensitive issues. “With the diversity conversation, maybe students are reacting to it, but they don’t feel administrators are having a very strong reaction,” she said. “I know Tufts hires people that are dedicated to the students, but I don’t feel as though there are enough of these people hired.”

Sophomore Gabrielle Horton said that a lack of diversity dialogue contributes to the isolation of minority students.

“Not only do we not promote racial dialogue, we do not realize how necessary it is,” she said.

Senior Jenny Lau hopes the new president will recognize and respond to racial issues.

“Students of color and the very few faculty of color at Tufts feel this burden to do the work that administrators should be doing in creating a supportive environment,” she said. “I would like a president who’s more dedicated and invested in creating a supportive environment for the diverse students on this campus.”

Freshman Adam Sax said he wanted a president who would be honest. “I would want a leader who’s not afraid to express [his] own opinion,” he said.

Committee member and trustee Alfred Tauber stressed that students’ input would be given weight. “I appreciate the honesty of the comments, and I think it’s going to influence the process,” he said. “I think you should walk out of here knowing your voices are going to be heard.”

Palin said. “Energy in America is security for America, so yeah, let’s drill baby drill!”

Kremer cited the victory of Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) in January and Congressman Bart Stupak’s (D-Mich.) recent decision not to seek re-election as indicators of the growing movement’s success.

The rally, however, drew many protestors, with chants from dissenting groups at times obscuring the speakers’ remarks.

One group of protestors — the Raging Grannies — clad in rainbow attire and peace signs, demonstrated their dissent through song.

“We are for peace,” Laurie Taymor-Berry, a member of the Raging Grannies, told the Daily. “We sing songs about ending the war, foreclosures and economic justice to familiar tunes.”

Panelists criticize media silence before Iraq war MURROW continued from page 1

lation of Bill Maher’s show “Politically Incorrect” (1993-2002) following his dissenting political statements.

“They couldn’t get work, they couldn’t get airplay, so yes, it is happening, and it’s happening in some form or another always,” filmmaker Arnie Reisman, director of documentary “Hollywood on Trial” (1976), said.

The Hollywood Blacklists during the late 1940s and 1950s prevented people from working in the entertainment industry based on real or suspected political beliefs. Reisman said the blacklist expanded to include journalists as well.

The late Edward R. Murrow, in honor of whom the forum was established, was a journalist for CBS television who stood up against Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin by criticizing him publicly on his television show “See It Now” (1951-58).

Murrow was championed for his bravery and willingness to speak out at a time when fear had a paralyzing effect on those in the media industry.

His son, Executive Director of Synergy Learning International Casey Murrow, who was on the panel, described the fear under which the family lived at the time.

“I certainly had kids in my class in New York City come up to me and say, ‘Your dad’s a Commie!’” Murrow said. “I remember going home and asking my mom not whether dad was a Commie, but what a Commie was.”

This year’s forum entitled “Dixie Chicking: Murrow, McCarthy, and the Blacklist — History Lesson or Current Event?” was sponsored by the CMS Program, the Edward R. Murrow Center at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service.

The panelists drew parallels between Edward Murrow’s debates with McCarthy and what they deemed to be poor reporting and coverage by the news media in the lead-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

“We, in this country, walked into Iraq without the media doing its job,” Program Director of the Murrow Center Crocker Snow said.

Journalist Lynne Olson, author of “The Murrow Boys: Pioneers on the Front Lines of Broadcast Journalism” (1997), said that leading up to the invasion, journalists failed to ask the tough questions that should have been asked.

“One of those things that would drive Ed Murrow mad was the tendency to be timid,” Olson said.

According to Olson, part of the problem was networks’ growing shift away from news to entertainment, with news programs today being more entertaining but less informative than before.

“One of his favorite things was education,” Olson said. “I think he would be disappointed today at the lack of analysis and education [in media].”

Features

3

tuftsdaily.com

Universities claim they see classroom potential in the iPad BY

BEN KOCHMAN | BETWEEN THE SLICES

The truth is in the cheese

CARTER ROGERS

I

Daily Editorial Board

Apple’s new iPad tablet computer has been on the market for little more than a week, but that hasn’t stopped Seton Hill University, a Catholic liberal arts school in Greensburg, Pa., from making the device a key part of the school’s future. Starting this fall, the university will be giving all incoming freshmen an Apple iPad. Seton Hill is promoting the initiative so heavily that if users type www. setonhill.edu into their Web browsers, they will be taken straight to a page promoting the free iPad initiative.

Kary Coleman, Seton Hill’s director of media relations and communications, refuted claims that the university is merely using the iPad offer as a gimmick to lure prospective students, but noted that the school has gotten plenty of attention for the offer.

“In one day, Seton Hill’s [Web site] experienced an increase of 30,000 unique visitors to the site,” Coleman said in an e-mail to the Daily. “We are pleased that this Web site strategy has helped to make the information about the iPad easily accessible for current and prospective students, alumni, friends and the media.”

Students are getting free iPads as a part of Seton Hill’s Griffin Technology Advantage program (named after the school’s mascot), which will also provide incoming freshmen with new Apple Macbook computers, which will be replaced after two years.

“In these challenging economic times, we made strategic decisions to shift resources and invest in technologies that optimize the students’ access to resources. The Griffin Technology Advantage program provides an opportunity to transform the way faculty teach and the way students learn,” JoAnne Boyle, the president of Seton Hill University, said in a press release.

Though all incoming students will receive an iPad and a Macbook, there is a catch. Incoming students will pay an

MCT

Two universities are offering iPads to all incoming freshmen, but there are catches. increased technology fee ($500) compared to $300 for current students.

Seton Hill claims the increased technology fee for freshmen is designed to improve technological infrastructure rather than pay for the iPads.

Coleman stated that the iPad has serious classroom potential. “The iPad was chosen by Seton Hill because of

its mobility and the ease with which faculty and students, in the future, will have immediate access to e-textbooks and comprehensive and integrated learning. With the iPad, students can create, produce, and share work instantly with faculty and fellow see IPAD, page 4

Tufts students create both small- and large-scale energy projects BY

CATHERINE CHEN

Contributing Writer

Sustainable energy research is a hot topic for the green movement, and Tufts is already involved with the groundbreaking area of study. However, students at Tufts may not be aware of sustainable energy projects already in existence on campus.

Currently, energy research at Tufts is limited, with only a few students involved.

One group that hopes to raise awareness of the work it is doing is Sustainable Energy Access for Haiti (SEAH).

Though SEAH is comprised of only 10 students and one professional engineering consultant, sophomore Maren Frisell, one of the heads of SEAH, said that the group nonetheless manages to accomplish a great deal.

“We started as an Engineers Without Borders (EWB) project in 2007 but are no longer sponsored by them anymore,” Frisell said. “Now we have funding from the Institute of Global Leadership as well as [the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service].”

EWB is an organization devoted to “low-tech, high-impact projects in … developing countries” according to its Web site.

Frisell and junior Allison Fechter, along with SEAH’s two other student leaders, sophomore Mike Graifman and sophomore Lauren Klinker, hope to build a

solar energy power source for the community in Balan, Haiti.

“Our group went on an assessment trip in 2008 to assess problems and evaluate the community. Balan is a large community, very organized, but they don’t have a lot, and they wanted an energy project,” Frisell said. “We decided a solar project would be the best suited, based on the resources they had.”

Today, SEAH is well on its way to seeing its goal achieved. British Petroleum donated 12 solar panels to the cause in late 2009. SEAH must soon decide whether to install the panels in the community’s school or its new birthing center, which is being built by RESPE, a Tufts Institute for Global Leadership community health group and SEAH’s sister organization.

The decision is a tough one: Either they power lights for the school so that community meetings can be held there and children can study at night, or they power small refrigerators to hold critical vaccines for the birthing center.

SEAH plans to visit Haiti again this summer to further assess the area and to start building the cement foundation for the solar panels. The group also hopes to hire skilled workers in the area to help with construction.

“We do want to help the local economy, so while we’re there, we’re hoping to find a local electrician or technician we can use,” Fechter said.

SEAH projects to have the entire solar

energy system in Balan installed by next winter break.

SEAH is not the only group on campus interested in sustainable energy research. Ioannis Valsamakis, a graduate student in the School of Engineering, has been working on his own energy research project.

“I work with a professor and a group of engineers. We deal with catalytic reactions,” Valsamakis said. “The project is essentially a gas clean-up process. We clean up the sulfur in gases so that the hydrogen can be used in fuel cells.”

A fuel cell can be compared to a battery.

It is a source of energy that is extremely sustainable — it can theoretically continue to produce energy forever — and is comparatively clean. Ideally, the only byproduct of a fuel cell is water, meaning it produces no greenhouse gases.

Because fuel cells require hydrogen to run, Valsamakis’ project aims to make the gases that enter the fuel cell more usable by cleaning out the sulfur beforehand.

“Right now, we don’t have pure hydrogen available,” he explained. “So what we’re trying to do is use what we have, more conventional fuels, and make them as clean as possible for use in the fuel cells.”

Once the process is perfected, these fuel cells will be a huge breakthrough in energy research because of their long life see ENERGY, page 4

n recent years, the most contentious battlefield in the fast-food industry has been the fight for breakfast sandwich supremacy. As the McDonald’s and Burger Kings of the world have ventured into coffee sales, chain coffee shops have begun trying to sell real food (meaning not muffins or donuts) to a larger demographic. The hope here is that people will be lazy enough to pick up a sandwich at the same time that they pick up their morning coffee.

Though I often frequent Starbucks and Dunkin’ Donuts, I have consciously stayed clear of the sandwich options that these two national java titans offer. But yesterday morning, I decided to do some detective work on the subject. The result, dear reader, is this rundown, so that if you are ever in dire straits and need to grab a quick bite, you’ll know what to expect.

The Slightly Pretentious Bacon, Egg and Cheese: Starbucks’ success revolves around a few basic principles: 1) They make tasty lattés, 2) Americans are addicted to caffeine, and 3) average Americans, as proud of their culture as they may be, like to pretend that they are fancy Europeans.

Starbucks’ sophisticated sentiment is reflected in the chain’s sandwich options, which are labeled as “artisan.” I ordered the bacon, smoked Gouda and Parmesan frittata sandwich ($3.25 in Davis Square), which is pre-made and then toasted so that the cheese is all warm and melty.

Despite the Parmesan element in the egg being entirely undetectable, and the egg itself having somewhat of a spongy texture, I was actually very impressed by the sandwich all in all, especially from a fast-food joint. The bread is a sourdough bun with a distinctive crust that has some give to it.

The Gouda is fully melted and gooey on both slices of bread and actually tastes like real cheese. The bacon has nice fat content and, while overly salty on its own, blends nicely into the sandwich as a whole.

Starbucks’ slogan for its sandwiches reads, “Great coffee deserves great food,” but these “artisan” sandwiches are not great. No pre-made sandwich that does not use freshly cooked eggs ever could be great. The java giant does, however, do an adequate job of masking its faults and offering up a flavorful meal to go along with its beverage content.

America’s Breakfast Sandwich: Dunkin’ Donuts would like you to believe that “America Runs on Dunkin’.” I always thought that America ran on the sweat of over-worked Indonesian youths, but nevertheless, here I am, trying two sandwiches: the basic ham, egg and cheese, and the “waffle sandwich” (both $2.79).

While I like DD’s coffee, their sandwiches left much to be desired. The ham, egg and cheese looked like they were thrown down haphazardly, without direction, on an English muffin. The combination was flavorless, save for the nauseating processed taste of the orange slice of American cheese that the DD server failed to fully melt.

The waffle sandwich was a definite improvement, and kudos to DD for attempting to replicate the McGriddle and create a savory-sweet fusion. There were three problems with this sandwich, however. For starters, the waffle itself had a really mushy texture to it. Second, the egg layer had a mouth-feel similar to a plastic trash bag.

And finally: the cheese. Once again, it was orange and not fully melted, but this time smeared around a little to create the viscous illusion of melting.

DD’s waffle sandwich definitely has potential, though. If they can somehow steal Starbucks’ cheese, fix the soggy waffle issue, and learn how to use a toaster correctly, the result just might be something tasty.

Here’s hoping that the next time America decides to run on Dunkin’, we won’t run into an abyss of nauseating misery.

Ben Kochman is a freshman who has not yet declared a major. He can be reached at Benjamin.Kochman@tufts.edu.

THE TUFTS DAILY

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Thursday, April 15, 2010

FEATURES

Owners say iPad can be used effectively for work as well as play IPAD continued from page 3

MCT

Sustainable Access for Haiti hopes to install 12 solar panels in the village of Balan.

Students work to develop sustainable communities and a sustainable planet ENERGY continued from page 3

and their green-friendly characteristics, according to Valsamakis. Though fuel cell technology is not viable yet, the research done by individuals like Valsamakis makes it a possibility for the future.

This year, Valsamakis is also the head of the Tufts Energy Showcase, which is a part of the Tufts Energy Conference and will take place in Cabot Auditorium on Friday, April 16. Valsamakis recognizes that as a scientist, it is crucial for him to connect with others interested in the nonscientific aspects of energy research, such as SEAH.

SEAH will also have a booth at the Energy Showcase.

“The forum will be a good chance to spread the word a little bit more and to network with some of the companies who will be there, since we are still looking for donations,” Fechter said.

“When you’re doing the science, sometimes all you focus on are the fundamentals, and you lose sight of the bigger picture, like how you can make a change that is feasible and how you can change everyday life with something that is usable,” he said. “The conference showcase — all of us there are working in energy in some way, so it’s a great exchange of ideas.”

students. In addition, they can use Evernote, a note-taking program, that syncs notes, photos, and voice memos automatically with their computers,” Colman said.

Seton Hill is not the only institution placing heavy emphasis on the iPad. George Fox University in Newburg, Ore. has offered computers to all incoming students, which have been included in the cost of tuition in the past, but this year, it is giving students the choice of receiving an iPad or a Macbook. Representatives from George Fox University could not be reached for comment at press time.

Tufts sophomore and iPad owner Richard Mondello thinks the iPad has potential as an educational device but thinks it is a bit premature to declare the iPad an essential component of the classroom of the future.

“Even though I love the device and I think there’s a lot of potential, and I think it’ll get much better when the applications get better over time, the school deciding to give out iPads to students a week after it’s come onto the marketplace seems a little premature to me,” Mondello said. “I don’t think the platform is that thoroughly tested. I can see how it could be a useful device: an Internet browsing device with word-processing capabilities and all sorts of stuff.”

Mondello added that though the iPad is an entertainment device, much like any laptop or desktop computer, it can also have the potential to serve as a productivity tool with the right software.

Currently, the top five paid applications on Apple’s iPad App Store are all productivity related: Pages, a word processing program; Goodreader, a PDF viewer; Stick it, an “app” that allows for users to place virtual sticky notes on their iPad screen; Keynote, a

PowerPoint-like presentation tool; and Numbers, a spreadsheet application.

“Clearly, the iPad is a very useful multimedia device, but it’s also a very fast computer that can run applications … Just like our standard computers are multimedia devices, but they’re also tools to get work done,” Mondello said. “I think I could get legitimate work done and accomplish things with the iPad with the right software, and the software is coming out.”

Computer Science Lecturer Ming Chow (E ’02) also owns a new iPad and believes the device has the chance to innovate in the classroom.

“It can open up a lot of new opportunities,” Chow said. “One thing I can certainly envision is, for example, the Perseus project. One thing that Professor [Gregory] Crane could do is he could render an interactive museum of vases from Greece and render them and have everyone on their iPads take a look at them.

“It can create a lot of very rich experiences,” Chow continued.

The Perseus Project is a digital library run by Crane that contains documents and images of artifacts from the ancient Greco-Roman world.

The device’s small size also makes it appealing to educators, Chow said.

“I love it. It is the best computer I have had. The only problem [is that it is] hard to do programming on it.

But everything that it can do like book reading, web browsing, playing games, it is phenomenal. As an educator, it is a very lightweight machine so I do not have to lug around my trusty laptop,” Chow said in a followup e-mail to the Daily.

Even if the iPad does not become a classroom or workplace fixture, it is still successful as an entertainment device: Since launching last Sunday, Apple has sold over 600,000 iPads in the United States alone, according to U.S. News & World Report.

Rakesh Satyal

Author of Blue Boy , Editor at Harper Collins

Tufts University Department of Drama and Dance presents

for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf

by Ntozake Shange directed by Monica White Ndounou choreographed by Mila Thigpen April 15-17 & 22-24, 2010 at 8 pm

$7 Tufts ID/Seniors - $12 General Public $7 on April 15 - $1 on April 22

Balch Arena Theater, Tufts University

617-627-3493 for tickets & information

Co-Sponsored by the Department of Music & the AS&E Diversity Fund

Blue Boy Blue Boy, Satyal’s debut novel, is a comingof-age story about Kiran Sharma, a young Indian boy growing up with immigrant parents in 1990’s suburban Ohio. As an only child, Kiran discovers that his interests don’t align with “standard stuff for a boy of his background,” and becomes a social outcast for his reluctance to follow his parents wishes.

However, one day, he has a revelation, and “a long, strange trip is about to begin” for Kiran.

Rakesh Satyal graduated in 2002 with a B.A. in Comparative Literature and Creative Writing from Princeton University, where he won the 2002 Ward Mathis Prize for best short story written by an undergraduate. He has been published in a variety of anthologies, including the Lambda Award-winning The Man I Might Become: Gay Men Write About Their Fathers. Rakesh is currently an editor at Harper Collins in NYC.

Everyone is welcome to events with Rakesh!

3:00 - 4:15pm

Tuesday, April 20

Reading, Q&A, and Discussion on Blue Boy With English 2-29 (Asian American Experience) Asian American Center, Start House, 17 Latin Way

5:00 - 6:30pm Dinner Conversation: “How LGBT youth are portrayed in today’s media” (Indian cuisine will be served) LGBT Center, Bolles House, 226 College Ave Sponsored by Grace Talusan’s English 2-29 (Asian American Experience), Asian American Center, and LGBT Center For more info: asianamcenter@tufts.edu and lgbt@tufts.edu

5

ARTS & LIVING

tuftsdaily.com

In Stitches Nowadays, not everyone has a Singer in the household.

That’s the sewing machine, not the vocalist. But with vintage stores cropping up in Somerville and online crafting communities like Etsy.com available, do-ityourself attire is still an attractive option for creative types. This writer posted an ad to TuftsLife.com seeking the sewing-savvy and was surprised at the response.

Whether for relaxation, creative expression or repairs, these students are among those who choose to stitch their way through the semesters.

BY

JESSICA BAL

Daily Editorial Board

The Crafty Freshman Mariah Gruner has been sewing for over 10 years and is about to conclude her first at Tufts. The freshman learned to thread a needle at age seven or eight and completed by age 14 her first large project: a red, bandana-print dress that she now considers “pretty goofy.” Since her silly red dress, Gruner has transitioned into embroidery, weaving, felting and other textile arts. She’s also become more experimental in her creations.

“I don’t really follow patterns anymore,” Gruner said. “I like to be connected to the beginnings of my

KRISTEN COLLINS/TUFTS DAILY

Alyssa Skiba, a costume designer for the drama department, takes inspiration from vintage fashion.

things, and I felt like doing things without a pattern was even more do-it-yourself.” Plus, it’s easier — or so Gruner claims. “I can pinch things here and sew it there and cut it if it doesn’t fit right. There’s less math involved.”

Lately, she’s completed a few dresses and a backpack.

The bag loosely resembles an owl, with swoops of burgundy fabric on the sides and a yellow triangle (or beak, depending on the interpretation) forming the flap. She has a shop on Etsy through which she sells mostly knitted work — along with hula hoops. During a gap year in San Francisco between high school and Tufts, Gruner applied her handiwork to a hula hooping subculture there, constructing personalized hoops out of tubing bought at Home Depot.

Now, Gruner’s crafty sensibilities are put to use during her Sculptural Fiber class at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts (SMFA), in which she’s currently crocheting pillows that fit into each other like Russian dolls. Between the class and personal projects, Gruner said she averages between three and four pieces per month. When it comes

“It’s the only thing that consumes me, that really drives me. I could actually go through runways from the past 60 years for days and not get bored.”

to sewing and crafts, Gruner said: “I think [sewing] is important, if only for making things that you feel like are really yours in some way.”

The Fashionista Rhianna Jones’ room is a haven of Francophilia and fashion inspiration. She’s made a vanity table fit for Grace Kelly from a dorm dresser and blanketed her walls with magazine cutouts. The sophomore lives and breathes fashion.

“It’s the only thing that consumes me, that really drives me,” Jones said. “I could actually go through runways from the past 60 years for days and not get bored.”

Jones debated going to fashion school before Tufts and dreams of being a stylist at Paris Vogue, but in the meantime, she tries her hand at designing her own attire. While not trained on a sewing machine yet, Jones has a gift for infusing found objects with an afterlife. She hand-stitches adjustments and add-ons to garb found at Goodwill and other thrift stores, making otherwise unfortunate pieces into fabulous wardrobe enhancements.

Standouts include a light blue jacket made from a maternity dress and a jacket/dress (it serves as both) in army olive green with dramatic high shoulders bolstered by balls of yarn.

Some of Jones’ creations are designs-made-into-reality from her Art as Fashion course. She has also built a collection of customized T-shirts, some of which have been gifted to friends. Jones cites street style and designers with an appreciation for casual wear as influences.

“Fashion is definitely moving toward the more streetoriented, which is good, because that’s where it starts,” Jones said.

With high fashion lines collaborating with stores like Target and style experts like Alexander Wang making T-shirts and denim chic, Jones hails a new era of fashion in which the bold — like her oversized, yarn-ball shoulders — becomes accessible.

“I think there’s a trend now of assuming fashion is a part of your life instead of seeing it as some sort of trivial, intimidating thing,” Jones said. “It’s about defining your own style and rocking it.”

The Costume Creator

- Rhianna Jones

DILYS ONG/TUFTS DAILY

Three jitterbugging couples dance across sophomore Alyssa Skiba’s skirt. She has embroidered them on herself from a collection of transfers she dug up online from the ’40s and ’50s. Skiba explained how she gravitates toward vintage styles when dreaming up her handmade attire and embellishments. She’s an avid watcher of “Mad Men” and finds inspiration in old advertisements.

She’s been familiar with the workings of a needle and thread since middle school, and, like Gruner, Skiba prefers to forgo patterns.

“I really love the imperfections that come along with making things by hand,” Skiba said. “It gives those pieces character and personality. When I make something for myself, I feel like part of me is translated onto the fabric.”

Skiba doesn’t consider herself a fashionista. In fact, she hardly follows current trends at all — unless you count pastel see SEWING, page 7

THE TUFTS DAILY

6

Thursday, April 15, 2010

WEEKENDER

THEATER REVIEW

Puppets populate world of the Brothers Grimm Young cast provides mature performances in ‘Cabaret Grimm’ BY

MICHELLE BEEHLER

Daily Editorial Board

In blending the tales of the Brothers Grimm with a cabaret context, the resulting punk-rock fairy tale means to

Le Cabaret Grimm Written and Directed by Jason Slavick At the Boston Center for the Arts through April 24 Tickets $20 and up be bold, experimental and hilarious. “Le Cabaret Grimm” also breaks from traditional theater narrative by opening with the “HUBbub,” a series of extraordinary and unconventional performances.

“Le Cabaret Grimm” is the inaugural production of The Performance Lab, a new theater company founded by Jason Slavick. The production is also written and directed by Slavick, who, along with his fellow collaborators, hopes to broaden and redefine the boundaries of Boston’s theater scene.

Right from the start, The Performance Lab proves its dedication to revealing a new, exciting theater scene — one that is already underway, but not entirely well known. The entire first act of the show, the “HUBbub,” is an unprecedented and completely separate performance from “Le Cabaret Grimm” and stands more as a precursor to the fictional cabaret than as a part of it.

The “HUBbub” is comprised of different acts from underground Boston artists and is a part of The Performance Lab’s mission to draw attention to Boston’s alternative art scene. Each week, the “HUBbub” highlights a different set of performances hosted by the gender-bending performance artist Johnny Blazes. Since the opening acts

JASON SLAVICK/THE PERFORMANCE LAB

We’re pretty sure that this is the same “lion-face guy” from the “Like A Virgin” (1984) music video by Madonna. change from week to week, audiences have the option of returning to the theater for another performance — and a completely different experience.

For the first weekend, from April 8 to

MOVIE REVIEW

10, guest performers included Walter Sickert & the ARmy of BRoken TOys, jojo The Burlesque Poetess and Madge of Honor. While this weekend’s “HUBbub” was a fun, intriguing glimpse at alterna-

tive theater, it was a mix of highs and lows and was outshone by the following “Le Cabaret Grimm.” see CABARET, page 8

ALBUM REVIEW

‘Emotion & Commotion’ presents meek effort from guitar legend BY

MATTHEW WELCH Daily Staff Writer

Despite all of the flak he’s received for his last few albums, Jeff Beck does deserve some credit. As he aged, Beck

Emotion and Commotion Jeff Beck Rhino Records

Z.ABOUT.COM

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth discover first love in the latest film from Nicholas Sparks.

‘The Last Song’ portrays typical Nicholas Sparks film at its very worst BY

ANNA WILLIAMS

Daily Staff Writer

Although it would be so easy to apply maxims about love and finding oneself to the movie “The Last

The Last Song Starring Miley Cyrus, Greg Kinnear, Liam Hemsworth Directed by Julie Anne Robinson Song,” this movie doesn’t even deserve vague appropriations and connections to reality. With its predictable plot and dreadful acting, the lack of originality in “The Last Song” has cost itself the satisfaction of teenage girls nationwide.

First-time feature director Julie Anne Robinson helms “The Last Song,” which is the story of a rebellious teenage girl who has issues with her father. Ronnie (Miley Cyrus) and her brother, Jonah (Bobby Coleman), are sent down to their father’s house in Georgia for the summer. Ronnie, a defiant adolescent blessed with a musical gift, stubbornly agrees to stay with her father, Steve (Greg Kinnear), who had left a few years earlier.

Ronnie’s cold demeanor is challenged when she meets hunky local Will (Liam Hemsworth), and she is forced to open her heart to a summer romance. Will and Ronnie unite despite their differences; Will comes from a strict, Southern, blue-blood family, and Ronnie must make peace see SONG, page 8

never let his music succumb to the nostalgia that domesticated his fellow guitar gods.

While Jimmy Page was still releasing live renditions of Led Zeppelin material, Beck was fusing his unique guitar style with electronica on “You Had It Coming” (2001) and “Jeff ” (2003). Although the tracks on these albums were inconsistent, they still bore the energy of an artist who refutes stereotypes with each release.

Unfortunately, this momentum failed to carry over for Beck’s latest, “Emotion & Commotion.”

Although “Emotion & Commotion” still showcases Beck’s fluency in various genres of music, it hardly plays like a Beck album. Even the worst tracks from this release’s two predecessors kept Beck nimble and safely away from any semblance of a comfort zone.

Like any great soloist, Beck has always been best with an energetic backing group. Even when live musicians were absent on “You Had It Coming” and “Jeff,” the dynamism of David Torn and Aiden Love’s electronic arrangements gave Beck a playground of noises to respond to.

Despite this album’s phenomenal backing band, the music and arrangements of “Emotion & Commotion”

RHINO.COM

Jeff Beck should maybe recruit the eagle to be a guitarist, because his backing band really dropped the ball. fail to light a similar fire beneath Beck, keeping his sound all too complacent.

The album opens somberly with a rendition of the medieval folk song “Corpus Christi Carol.” Beck’s signature style is recognizable from the first waver of vibrato. A 64-piece orchestra swells in to support the guitarist.

Classical orchestration is the most dominant component of Beck’s latest album. Unfortunately, the arrangements hardly keep Beck on his toes; strings sweep in cloyingly, practically ushering each note from the guitar along a pleasant, predictable path.

The pacifying effect on Beck’s playing is palpable.

One of Beck’s strengths has always been avoiding the traditional sounds of the guitar; his usage of extreme bends, the whammy bar and volume swells all helped him free electric guitar from rock aesthetics. Although these unconventional techniques see BECK, page 8

THE TUFTS DAILY

Thursday, April 15, 2010

7

WEEKENDER

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE TUFTS DAILY

Dear Conan O’Brien, We were so happy when it was announced on Monday that you’ll be coming back to television with a late night talk show on TBS (Very Funny). It seems like a good fit, seeing as you actually are Very Funny — certainly more Very Funny than “Tyler Perry’s House of Payne” and endless “Family Guy” reruns.

You’re also way more Very Funny than George Lopez on “Lopez Tonight,” who you’ll be replacing at 11 p.m.

Don’t feel bad for him, though. TBS (Very Funny) is Conan-ing him right into the 12 a.m. slot, so he can continue embarrassing celebrities, talk show hosts and Latinos everywhere with his overwrought “antics.” (By the way, did you see the ad for the show with a dude peeing his pants, and the stain was in the shape of Lopez’s face? Because wow.)

Basically, we’re happy you’re going to get back to work, doing what you do best. We know it’s kind of silly to feel sorry for a multi-millionaire; damn, you got a lot of money out of NBC — nice job. But you seem so sad and distraught on your Twitter (@ConanOBrien)! And on your beard’s Twitter (@CoCosBeard)! Cheer up, Conan and Conan’s beard!

Also, we hear that Max Weinberg, your longtime bandleader, wants to ditch you for Jay Leno’s “The Tonight Show” — that traitor. To that, we say good riddance. Does he not remember all the drama that went down in January? Fine then, he’s no longer allowed on Team Coco.

So get back behind your fancy wooden desk, give Andy Richter a call, wrangle the Masturbating Bear and start rehearsing your String Dance, Coco. We’re sure your new show is going to vastly extend the limits of what can be considered TBS Very Funny.

Sincerely, The Daily Arts Department

MCT

TOP TEN | THINGS THAT COULD BE ON JUDAH FRIEDLANDER’S HAT We at the Daily Arts Department were very excited for Judah Friedlander’s comedy show this past Monday night in Cohen Auditorium. We were especially anxious to see what would be on his iconic hat, and we think that “Campeón del Mundo” was a pretty good showing. This also got us to thinking, so we decided to assemble our Top Ten ideas for future hats for Mr. Friedlander.

10. ART$ Win!: We’re sure Friedlander appreciates some Miley Cyrus and good grammar.

We’d give him five stars if we could review him, especially if he advertised the best section of the Daily on his hat.

9. THURSDAYS AT 9:30 ON NBC: Simply put, we’re smitten with NBC’s fantastic sitcom “30 Rock” and think it would be hilarious if Friedlander’s hat was an advertisement for the show within the show! How ironic?!

8. VON DOUCHE: Suck it, Ashton Kutcher.

7. LOCAL SPORTS TEAM: Nothing says “I don’t care about sports” like a hat that ironically endorses any sports team in the hat-wearer’s current location.

6. NUTTER BUTTERS: Who doesn’t love Nutter Butters?

Plus, we’re sure there’s some sort of sexual innuendo going on here…

SEWING 5. HEY, EYES DOWN THERE!: Where else would they be?!

4. 8: This is what Judah’s hat would say if he were a hipster in denial who had a thing for postmodernism. I mean, hey, he’s already got the hipster glasses to match.

3. BODY BY HOSTESS: We’re not saying Judah is fat or anything. We’re just saying there’s probably a correlation between his Twinkie intake and his T-shirt size.

2.HANDS OFF THE MERCHANDISE: Judah frequently suffers from excessive female attention because of his status as both a world champion and an international sex icon.

This hat message would probably prevent him from suffering multiple instances of sexual harassment.

1. BACOW IS MY HOMEBOY: Pair it with the shirt that’s been floating around campus, and you’ve got a winning ensemble.

We love you, Larry!

—compiled by the Daily Arts Department

Looking for something artsy to do this weekend? Check out these events: “For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf”: Professor Monica Ndounou has struggled for years to get this controversial, unconventional play about black women in America produced at Tufts, and this weekend, her plan finally comes to fruition.

(Tickets are $7. Performances are in Balch Arena Theater at 8 p.m. April 15-17 and April 22-24.)

Rokia Traoré at the Somerville Theatre: Malian singer, songwriter and guitarist Rokia Traoré will be bringing her lively, contemporary African sound to the Somerville Theatre with a unique blend of Afro-pop beats and bluesy instrumentals.

Free pre-performance talk with Rokia Traoré starts at 6 p.m.

(Friday, April 16 from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Somerville Theatre. Tickets are $35. Call WorldMusic/CRASHarts at 617876-4275 or buy online at worldmusic.org.)

Arts and crafts revived by sewing-savvy Jumbos

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre: The renowned dance troupe comes to Boston to celebrate Judith Jamison’s 20th anniversary as its artistic director and as a part of the Celebrity Series of Boston. The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre is known for incorporating African-American culture into its perception of modern dance. (Evening performances, April 15-18 at the Citi Wang Theatre. Tickets are $35 and up.)

Tufts Battle of the Bands: The top five Tufts bands square off for the opportunity to play the side-stage at Spring Fling.

The judging criteria are partly based on crowd response, so come help decide whose music will usher in Drake and OK Go! (Saturday, April 17 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Hotung Café.

Admission is free.)

—compiled by the Daily Arts Department

continued from page 5

pencil skirts worn by January Jones’ Betty on Mad Men. “It’s less important for me to be on the cutting edge of what’s going on than to make things I genuinely like and feel proud of,” Skiba said.

Knitting and embroidery are calming exercises she completes while watching movies or television, and she says the experience becomes infused in the final product. “It’s a way to personalize things I have and make articles of clothing more interesting and special to me,” Skiba said. “Sometimes I remember, ‘Oh, I made this skirt while I was watching ‘Roman Holiday’ [1953].’”

Skiba works as an employee in the Drama Program’s costume shop, and she recently served as assistant costume designer for the department’s February production of “Hedda Gabler.” While Skiba sews along the lines for theater productions, she still savors opportunities to make personalized, playful pieces on her own — like a crocheted moustache for her roommate during Hanukkah.

The Home Ec Superstar Junior Sara Carnahan loves having an off-campus apartment — in part because it offers her more space for her sewing nook. In the corner right at the top of the stairs, Carnahan stashes her sewing machine and dress form, along with a smattering of in-progress projects and printed fabrics waiting for designs.

Carnahan has been sewing since the fourth grade, when she started with a quilt. Her mother, who openly admitted she was an embarrassment in Home Economics class in her school days, made sure Carnahan learned the skill. By the time Carnahan made it to Home Ec and two semesters of sewing classes, she was making four pairs of pajamas while others were completing just one.

Now she makes a project every month or two, depending on her workload. But sewing also offers a welcome respite from class work. “When I get kind of cranky, it calms me down,” Carnahan said.

She has a feminine taste marked by little details along the lines of attire sold at stores like

Anthropologie and Free People. A jacket tossed on her couch was designed with a Free People one in mind; the result is a thoughtful layering of fake fur and floral, embroidered bands.

“I definitely like everything I make to be different,” Carnahan said. “I’m of the mantra that I’d rather have things that I love than a lot of things.”

Like Jones, she took the Art as Fashion course at the SMFA. And like Jones, Carnahan has a penchant for all things recycled. She shows off an apron made from a purse and an old dress, with small potholders in each pocket and a tie made from the deconstructed bag’s strap. She holds it up against a pair of shorts that she cut from pants she’d grown out of; they have colorful stripes of fabric down the sides designed to expand their size, and thus their use.

“When you go out the door knowing ‘I made this,’ it’s a good feeling,” Carnahan said.

The Fraternity Brother “I’m kind of like a mom,” said sophomore L.A. Creech with a laugh. The Sigma Epsilon brother was referring to his sewing abilities, which he acquired when he took Drama 17 during the second semester of his freshman year. The class includes a mix of all things theater: set design, lighting technique and, of course, costuming.

Creech had to sew a pair of pajamas for the course.

He browsed a discount fabrics store in Somerville called “Sewfisticated” and found the perfect pattern: Spongebob Squarepants. Actually making the pajamas, Creech said, was a lot of work. “But it taught me a lot. If anything gets ripped, I can fix it now, which is awesome,” Creech said. “And I’m pretty rowdy, so I rip things often.”

Creech’s friends have learned that he’s the guy with the sewing kit, and the one who will mend their rips and tears as well.

“Sewing is a helpful skill,” he said. “At first, friends laugh, and I say, ‘You’ll learn. One day you’re going to come to me when something rips.’ And they do.”

Recently Creech has decided to teach himself to knit.

He looked up instructions online and is still learning.

As for the Spongebob Squarepants PJs? “I wear them all the time,” Creech said.

“I’m of the mantra that I’d rather have things that I love than a lot of things.”

- Sara Carnahan KRISTEN COLLINS/TUFTS DAILY

THE TUFTS DAILY

8

WEEKENDER

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Cyrus lacks character depth as she ventures outside ‘Hannah Montana’ SONG continued from page 6

JASON SLAVICK/THE PERFORMANCE LAB

The Muppets went decidedly punk for this performance.

Cabaret’s opener sometimes more shocking than main act CABARET continued from page 6

The Burlesque Poetess was the best contribution to the “HUBbub.” With her quick wit and expert manipulation of words, she was a constant surprise of entertainment (as was her tendency to flash the audience). While slightly inconsistent in quality — due in part to the show’s nature — the brilliance of the “HUBbub” is that it is unpredictable and a more personal theater experience.

More like a cabaret than “Le Cabaret Grimm,” the “HUBbub” is bound to shock and deliver the unexpected.

After intermission, “Le Cabaret Grimm” finally begins with the lovely hostess and chanteuse Veronique du Blahblahblah (Haley Selmon) emerging from her dressing room and taking over from guest host Johnny Blazes.

Veronique du Blahblahblah leads the audience through a cabaret-style reinterpretation of the Brothers Grimm fairy tales (sans fairies) and covers all the basics: an evil sorceress, a cursed prince, a beautiful princess and all the trials and tribulations along the way.

While the entire cast is captivating, Selmon is particularly seductive and clever, dismissing her fellow cast members while simultaneously moved by their stories.

That is not to say that the other actors are less enchanting or talented; the entire cast pulls off strong performances despite being comparatively young. Most of the cast members are

current undergraduates at the Boston Conservatory or recent graduates and new to the Boston theater scene.

The production incorporates puppets as part of the costuming, creating visuals that include a pair of bickering conjoined twins, a complex dragon that battles the prince and a lion’s head for the enchanted prince. Combining the puppets with the rest of the dramatic performance introduces a different medium to the show, expounding the already blurry theatrical boundaries.

The most beautiful costume is also one of the simplest. The lilting, leaping lark (Rachel Bertone) wears brightly colored feathers on her arms and is otherwise dressed in all black.

Bertone’s dancing is similarly lovely and mesmerizing, as she easily flits across the stage — a symbol of desire, beauty and grace.

The production truly shines in its humorous moments. In her role as a slam poet and lonely moon, Ally Tully’s over-the-top rendition creates a hilarious scene in an already ridiculous situation. In another equally absurd but uproarious moment, the evil sorceress’s dressmaker (Nick Peciaro) involves the entire audience in singing along with him against the b---hes in the world.

For something fresh — and one of the funniest shows happening this season — check out “Le Cabaret Grimm” at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre. The show runs until April 24 and tickets are $20 and up.

Aging guitarist foiled not by his years, but by backing band BECK continued from page 6

gave Beck his melodic potential, they’re used far too often to retain their potency on “Emotion & Commotion.” Beck’s swooning interpretations of “Corpus Christi Carol” and “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” border on the saccharine, hardly recalling the edge that has characterized Beck’s output for so many years.

Though one might be tempted to blame Beck’s docility on his advancing age, the meekness of the album’s backing music is more at fault than anything else. Beck’s incendiary playing on “I Put a Spell on You” shows what the guitarist is capable of when he has a spirited vocalist to play off of. Joss Stone’s sultry, edgy delivery coaxes an equally expressive solo from Beck, who fills the gaps between her lines with blistering riffs.

“There’s No Other Time” is the only

other track that pushes Beck. Vinnie Colaiuta’s innovative drumming finally breaks the submissive character of the album’s rhythm section, guiding the song toward a heavy rock breakdown during the bridge.

Unfortunately, the subdued sound of the album’s remaining songs hardly capitalizes on Beck’s skills. Most of “Emotion & Commotion” sounds like it had little to do with Beck. The looped percussion and synthesizers of “Never Alone” and “Serene” are more characteristic of backing tracks than the work of such world-class musicians.

At times, the album seems like it was completed before Beck arrived at the studio — that his soloing was his only contribution to the songs. Beck’s playing couldn’t help but plateau over the stagnant backing tracks, proving that even the greatest guitarists can never be at their best without equally talented musicians behind them.

with who she is and how she fits in with this new life and with Will.

Throughout the summer, Steve tries to find a way to reconnect with his daughter. At first, her resistance is overwhelming and discouraging, but a relationship between Ronnie and Steve eventually develops, as expected. Ronnie begins the summer determined to be miserable; she makes the family situation unbearable, shuts out romantic opportunities and refuses her place at Juilliard despite her immense talent as a concert pianist. However, with some coaxing, the “real” Ronnie comes out, and she develops into a decent person despite her original angst.

“The Last Song” is the latest in a string of films based on material written by Nicholas Sparks (who cowrote the screenplay with Jeff Van Wie). While at first these films seemed innovative and captivating, the repetition of the same romantic plot line and inevitable twist that somehow changes the surviving characters at the end is worn out and exhausted.

Sparks has a way of writing love stories that, though they may translate easily to the screen, have become predictable to the point of boredom.

The plot line itself seems mundane and poorly written, especially to audiences who have heard this story many time before. It is a typical scenario: boy meets girl with a chip on her shoulder; she gives him a hard time, but he keeps pursuing her; she finally gives in and finds a way to open her heart up to him.

The thread of the father-daughter relationship is also predictable. The daughter is a rebellious teen who must discover who she is and learn to open up to her father, despite the fact that he hurt her.

Ultimately, the worst thing about

ed s s -to d n Ha Pizza

this movie is not the mediocre plot line or the poorly written script inspired and written by Sparks — it’s the star herself, Cyrus. Despite her attempts, Cyrus ultimately fails at moving from television to the silver screen.

Ultimately, the worst thing about this movie was not the mediocre plot line or the poorly written script inspired and written by Sparks — it’s the star herself, Cyrus.

She acts everything on the surface, portraying the stereotypical bad girl instead of analyzing why her character acts that way and expressing it. Cyrus fails to portray the root of the problem — the pain of her father abandoning her — and instead hides in the shell of a rebellious teenager.

She also relies on melodramatic teen anger to get her character through a scene.

Her acting skills will make audiences want to storm out of the theater, just as her character does at the end of every scene. She utilizes a total of two facial expressions throughout the movie: staring off vaguely into space and scrunching up her face as if she smells something bad. The only thing that is surprising about Cyrus’ acting is her on-screen chemistry with Hemsworth. But, then again, that isn’t even acting, as they are currently dating in real life.

Miley Cyrus’ appalling acting skills, coupled with weak characters and a predictable plot, make this movie one of the worst movies of the season.

No Ita rth lia n p End s ast tyl ad e ish es

20% Off All Orders for Tufts Students ($10 Minimum after the discount) Website: www.adamspizzamedford.com Phone number: 781-393-4442

Thursday, April 15, 2010

THE TUFTS DAILY

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THE TUFTS DAILY

10

THE TUFTS DAILY KERIANNE M. OKIE Editor-in-Chief

EDITORIAL Caryn Horowitz Grace Lamb-Atkinson Managing Editors Ellen Kan Executive News Editor Michael Del Moro News Editors Harrison Jacobs Katherine Sawyer Saumya Vaishampayan Marissa Gallerani Assistant News Editors Amelie Hecht Corinne Segal Martha Shanahan Jenny White Brent Yarnell Carter Rogers Executive Features Editor Marissa Carberry Features Editors Robin Carol Emily Maretsky Mary Beth Griggs Assistant Features Editors Emilia Luna Alexa Sasanow Derek Schlom Catherine Scott Executive Arts Editor Jessica Bal Arts Editors Adam Kulewicz Charissa Ng Josh Zeidel Michelle Beehler Assistant Arts Editors Zachary Drucker Rebecca Goldberg Niki Krieg Crystal Bui Nina Grossman Laura Moreno Andrew Rohrberger Devon Colmer Erin Marshall Alex Miller Lorrayne Shen Louie Zong Vittoria Elliot Rebekah Liebermann Marian Swain Seth Teleky

Executive Op-Ed Editor Op-Ed Editors

Cartoonists

Thursday, April 15, 2010

EDITORIAL | LETTERS

EDITORIAL

Syracuse should embrace Dimon speech Syracuse University’s (SU) recent decision to have Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Jamie Dimon (LA ’78) as the keynote speaker at its Commencement ceremony has raised a significant amount of controversy within the university’s community. Students, alumni and members of the SU community at large have formed a group — Take Back 2010 Syracuse University Commencement — to protest the choice. The group has collected over 900 signatures on an online petition protesting Dimon as this year’s speaker.

Referring to the controversial role that the banking industry has played in the financial crisis of the past few years, those who disagree with the school’s decision argue that in light of the current economic recession and the impact it has on college students, choosing Dimon is insensitive to those students who have suffered or may once they graduate.

While some Syracuse students recognize that Dimon is “one of the good guys,” they insist that they must stand up for their classmates who have had to take out more student loans, work extra jobs or even drop out of college because of the financial burden tuition created — approximately 80 percent of SU students receive some form of financial aid. Many of these students

claim that Dimon, who clearly represents the banking industry and its role in the economic recession, regardless of his personal role in causing the financial crisis, could not possibly have a relevant message for those students who are struggling to pay for college and to find jobs.

In response to the considerable objection to his impending speech, Dimon has stated that while he understands and has considered the disapproval expressed by SU students, he still plans to deliver a hopefully empowering speech in Syracuse on May 16. President Barack Obama has supported Dimon’s actions in the financial sector, stating in February 2009 that Dimon should not be punished for his company’s success during the trying financial times. Additionally, JPMorgan Chase has longstanding ties with SU. In 2007, the company and the university worked together on a program in Global Enterprise Technology, and in October 2009 the $30 million JPMorgan Chase Technology Center opened on the SU campus, allowing students to work collaboratively with bankers on research projects.

JPMorgan Chase, which recently reported a $3.3 billion gain for the first quarter, can be seen as a prime example of succeeding in the face of troubling

times. This is an important message for graduating seniors about to enter one of the most difficult job markets ever.

Additionally, Dimon, whose effective leadership allowed JPMorgan Chase to become one of the first banks to pay back its federal aid, will be able to offer graduates keen and novel insight into the current financial scene. This speech may be particularly exciting for graduates from Syracuse’s business school, the Whitman School of Management.

Syracuse has not had a Commencement speaker from the business field in 20 years, so Dimon’s speech will certainly be fresh and applicable.

People are often surprised to realize that those they differ from the most are often incredibly astute and competent individuals who have simply arrived at a different conclusion.

As long as it is delivered with tact and prudence, Dimon’s speech is an opportunity for SU graduates to better understand from someone directly involved why the recession happened the way it did. In addition to the salient message of succeeding in challenging times, Dimon’s speech will, for some students, be the first of many opportunities to learn from those who challenge and upset us the most and to enter the real world with a more holistic, open perspective.

LORRAYNE SHEN Editorialists

Alex Prewitt Executive Sports Editor Sapna Bansil Sports Editors Evan Cooper Jeremy Greenhouse David Heck Ethan Landy Daniel Rathman Michael Spera Lauren Flament Assistant Sports Editors Claire Kemp Ben Kochman James Choca Executive Photo Editor Josh Berlinger Photo Editors Kristen Collins Danai Macridi Tien Tien Virginia Bledsoe Assistant Photo Editors Jodi Bosin Alex Dennett Dilys Ong Scott Tingley Anne Wermiel Mick B. Krever Executive New Media Editor

PRODUCTION Jennifer Iassogna Production Director Leanne Brotsky Executive Layout Editor Dana Berube Layout Editors Karen Blevins Adam Gardner Andrew Petrone Steven Smith Menglu Wang Sarah Davis Assistant Layout Editors Jason Huang Alyssa Kutner Samantha Connell Executive Copy Editor Sara Eisemann Copy Editors Lucy Nunn Ben Smith Ammar Khaku Assistant Copy Editors Katrina Knisely Isabel Leon Vivien Lim Ben Schwalb Executive Online Editor Hena Kapadia Online Editors Audrey Kuan Darcy Mann Assistant Online Editors Ann Sloan Muhammad Qadri Executive Technical Manager Michael Vastola Technical Manager

BUSINESS Kahran Singh Executive Business Director Benjamin Hubbell-Engler Brenna Duncan Dwijo Goswami Ally Gimbel

Advertising Director Online Advertising Manager Billing Manager Outreach Director

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P.O. Box 53018, Medford, MA 02155 617 627 3090 FAX 617 627 3910 daily@tuftsdaily.com

OFF THE HILL | UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA, RENO

Dietary habits contribute to Americans’ accidents

BY SEIKO

KAMIKARIYA

The Nevada Sagebrush

Pretty summer dresses all around campus tell us that our summer is finally coming after the long winter. Since I came here, I have felt like I see more people who break their legs or arms in the United States than in Japan, and it especially increases during summer. Although there are many summer activities here in Reno because the area is rich in nature, I strongly think the amount of breaks is not due to Americans grooving around more, but it is mainly due to their eating habits.

First of all, data shows that 25 million people have or could have osteoporosis in the United States, which is about 1.9 times higher than in Japan. Moreover, the incidence of fractures is really high in the United States.

It is the accepted view that milk strengthens our bones, but an average American consumes twice as much milk as the average Japanese.

EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials that appear on this page are written by the editorialists, and individual editors are not necessarily responsible for, or in agreement with, the policies and editorials of The Tufts Daily. The content of letters, advertisements, signed columns, cartoons and graphics does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Tufts Daily editorial board.

Surprisingly, the frequency of fractures increases as you drink more milk.

You might be shocked about this fact since we have been encouraged by our mothers to drink milk to be strong.

Since milk increases the concentration of calcium in your blood abruptly, your body gives an order to set it back to a normal state and ejects the surplus calcium from your kidney as urine.

As a result, milk actually reduces the amount of calcium in your body as you try to take in calcium.

Moreover, the excess consumption of American junk foods including sugary juice, soda and processed foods weakens your bones. They contain phosphates that prevent you from absorbing calcium. Therefore, as you eat more of those foods, you can’t take in calcium efficiently even if you eat healthy foods or supplements.

To survive this bright summer without breaking your legs, look over your dietary habits once again. The simplest solution, but often the most difficult,

is having a well-balanced diet. You can get calcium from beans, grains and bright red, green or yellow vegetables by eating them evenly. As a Japanese, I also recommend you eat more fish instead of beef, pork and chicken. Fish is not only rich in calcium but also prevents arteriosclerosis, which hardens the arteries due to high cholesterol. The temperatures of those meats are higher than that of the human body, so those fats become thick once they are taken into your body, which causes buildup in the arteries. However, fish is poikilothermic, so its fat does not stick in your blood vessel.

Today, health problems are really serious in the United States. Thirty percent of the population is morbidly obese and many people are trying to eat healthy foods. However, it seems most of them misunderstand the “healthy foods” and have unbalanced foods.

This summer, let’s leave behind cereal, throw away large soda cups and jump into Lake Tahoe.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must be submitted by 4 p.m. and should be handed into the Daily office or sent to letters@tuftsdaily.com. All letters must be word processed and include the writer’s name and telephone number. There is a 450-word limit and letters must be verified. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity, space and length.

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THE TUFTS DAILY

Thursday, April 15, 2010 OFF THE HILL | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL

ELISHA SUM | OUR GENDERATION

The risks of government-approved medicine BY

HADLEY GUSTIN Minnesota Daily

When people get sick, they go to their doctors, trusting that these physicians have the wherewithal to diagnose their ailments and prescribe medications for proper treatment. Rarely do patients question the accuracy of the doctor’s judgment or the safety of the drugs given to them. However, with an increasing number of drugs coming under scrutiny for their damaging effects to the human body, it is absolutely necessary that Americans start probing their health care providers about the security of the practices and products they sanction.

According to Merck & Co., Inc., one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, “Gardasil is the only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps protect against four types of HPV.” In spite of this, “as of January 2010, there were more than 17,000 reports of adverse reactions regarding this vaccine. Among them are 59 deaths, 18 of which were among girls under the age of 17,” as reported by the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System.

For several years now, Merck has advertised a critical need for this medication.

“In girls and young women ages nine to 26, Gardasil helps protect against two types of HPV that cause about 75 percent of cervical cancer cases and two more types that cause 90 percent of genital warts cases. [It] also helps protect against 70 percent of vaginal cancer cases.”

Recently, Merck began marketing the Gardasil drug to men as well. The company says that “in boys and young men ages 9 to 26, Gardasil helps protect against 90 percent of genital warts cases.”

The statistics cited in Gardasil ads are clearly meant to induce caution and concern in the minds of the general public, encouraging them to seek protection from

HPV, cervical cancer and genital warts by receiving the three Gardasil injections.

On the other hand, Dr. Joseph Mercola, a nationally renowned osteopathic physician, says on his blog that “although there are six million cases of HPV each year, just two percent of the patients in a recent study were infected by the kinds of HPV that put them at high risk for developing cervical cancer.

You need to be aware that if you eat right, exercise and keep stress in your life under control, your immune system is typically healthy enough to clear up the vast majority of HPV infections.”

Many Americans have not been exposed to these alternative notions and thus adhere to the arguments made by Merck, physicians and the government that Gardasil is essentially the only way to combat HPV, cervical cancer and genital warts.

The reality is that in order to capitalize on the high potential of this medication, “the Food and Drug Administration [accepted Merck’s request on] Dec. 1, [2005 for a] fast-track review process,” according to Aaron Smith, a staff writer for CNN. In addition, the government strongly considered an appeal by Merck lobbyists that would require all girls in elementary schools to receive the vaccine. In the end, though, this initiative did not pass.

It is important to realize that adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals such as Gardasil, now-restricted weight-loss supplement Fen-Phen, and Vioxx, a toxic pain reliever, do not only affect humans, but animals also.

Many dog owners may be familiar with the over-the-counter pet remedy Sentry Pro XFC. This medicine is meant to repel fleas and ticks from the bodies of canines.

As asserted by the cover of the Sentry Pro XFC box, the drug carries “five-way protection [by killing] fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, flea eggs and flea larvae.” Thus, plenty of people

with dogs have rushed to try this seemingly effective medication. The results, however, created a storm of controversy with numerous consumer reports being filed for bad reactions to Sentry Pro XFC. In Lisa Wade McCormick’s article on ConsumerAffairs.com, “EPA to Release Findings on Pet Flea, Tick Powders” on Consumeraffairs.com, pet owner Celia K. of Greenville, N.C., said, “I purchased Sentry Pro XFC from PetSmart and applied it to my two dogs — lab and boxer. That evening, the lab experienced neurological side effects — his body jerked every 15 seconds.

The following day, my boxer experienced uncontrollable leg jerking.”

In addition to the complaints and negative side effects from Sentry Pro XFC, another flea and tick powder for dogs that has caused many consumers to criticize and object is Sergeant’s Gold Flea and Tick. Like Sentry Pro XFC, this product has caused adverse side effects like chemical burns, seizures, shaking, drooling and paralysis. Sure enough, none of these symptoms are listed anywhere on the box.

Today, the majority of Americans have unwavering faith in the status quo and believe that anything stamped “government-approved” is 100 percent safe and intended for the well-being of the general populous. Nevertheless, time and again, it is proven by unfortunate reactions, sometimes death, that government bureaus — namely the FDA, EPA, and USDA — are more concerned with releasing new drugs to the market than with the health and security of the people they serve.

A paradigm shift in education is the only way to combat this issue, and luckily, there are several different methods that can be pursued. Society can start lending more credence to holistic doctors, and universities, for their part, should invite the discussion and debate about holistic medicine.

OFF THE HILL | UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

A little discomfort can be a good thing BY

TRENT BOULTINGHOUSE

The University Daily Kansan

Hours before the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics were set to begin, Georgian Nodar Kumaritashvili lost control of his luge during a practice trial and slammed into a pillar, killing him. NBC, the American network granted coverage of the Games, captured the grisly footage on video, and viewers originally watched the death of the 21-year-old on television.

Later in the day, however, NBC edited the footage to just before Kumaritashvili’s impact, preventing the worst of the footage from airing.

Whether or not this video should have been shown is a debate that perhaps will never be resolved, but should certainly be discussed. The fact that the video was later taken down is a reflection of the media’s good intentions of protecting viewers’ comfort, but others argue that the video’s removal was ill-advised and prevented citizens from seeing reality.

It’s a basic human response to distance ourselves from situations that make us uncomfortable. But how is a viewer supposed to see just how dangerous that Olympic luge track was if the video can’t be shown?

The cliché says that a picture is a worth a thousand words. In the case

of two examples, I believe that statement is correct. I remember that as I watched Kumaritashvili’s impact with a small group of people, our reaction was gasps and shock. We shared the moment of emotion and could more closely feel the pain of the event. This is something I believe would have been hard to replicate if a Bob Costas summary took over in place of the video.

For another example, could the widespread public unity in the immediate aftermath of Sept. 11 have occurred if news outlets had elected to censor the footage of the planes striking the buildings? Most everyone can remember where they were when they first heard news of the attacks, even years after the events. This leads one to wonder how much of the emotion generated from that day was a result of the media’s willingness to publish the images — albeit disturbing ones.

It’s pretty harmless to debate on the topic when one is devoid of a direct connection to any of images discussed. But, how would you feel if it was someone close to you whose moment of vulnerability was broadcast for millions? This is why it’s difficult to know where the line is drawn in the battle of the rights to see reality versus the ethics of showing violent acts.

11

OP-ED

The Associated Press ran into this problem last year when it chose to publish a photo of a dying U.S. soldier who had been ambushed in Afghanistan, against his family’s wishes. Although the photo wasn’t nearly as bad as other images of war on the Internet, it did show the final moments of the soldier’s life. Even though the Associated Press received harsh criticism for its publication of the photo, it did help remind viewers that yes, there are still soldiers dying and that yes, the situation on the front can be deadly.

Removing publication of graphic photos allows the public to be spared from disturbing images, but such an action refuses to tell the complete story.

Therefore, NBC and the Associated Press were just in their publication of the respective images — after all, isn’t the complete truth what we demand in our news?

It’s very possible that most of the criticism directed against the Associated Press wasn’t about the soldier’s death. Instead, it may have been a reflection of viewers’ unwillingness to place Afghanistan back in the dominant role of public discourse, much like Olympic fans who didn’t want the dangers of winter sports to interfere with their eager, but safe roles as viewers.

The public needs to confront reality.

LET THE CAMPUS KNOW WHAT MATTERS TO YOU. The Op-Ed section of the Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. Submissions are welcome from all members of the Tufts community. We accept opinion articles on any aspect of campus life, as well as articles on national or international news. Opinion pieces should be between 600 and 1,200 words. Please send submissions, with a contact number, to oped@tuftsdaily.com.

Feel free to e-mail us with any questions.

Gender versus sex

T

ori Amos once sang, “How a lion becomes a mouse by the woods.”

While writing cover letters for summer internships, I couldn’t help but worry about the effect my perceived gender would have on my potential employers, given that my name is Elisha. Would the assumption that I am female reframe the response to my application as opposed to if they knew I am male? Would knowing my real gender perhaps unconsciously result in more brownie points, especially since I applied to mostly feminist or women-centered organizations? Would they be shocked, or at least taken aback, if my perceived gender and sex didn’t coincide?

These questions highlight the fact that we live in a gendered society, in which we navigate the resultant power dynamics by way of socialized behaviors and reactions.

We can neither escape the implications of gender nor ignore them; we do not live in a post-gender world any more than we live in a post-racial one.

As a beginning framework for analyzing our gendered world, returning to the final question mentioned above draws attention to the assumption that we wear our “sex” on our sleeves; that is to say, our sex and gender are often expected to be visually apparent and to correspond. It is thus a luxury when our bodies result from the harmonious phenotypic expression of our genotypic sex and the more abstract notion of our gender, for though they do differ, they are often conflated. For instance, documents and forms never deviate from the gender binary, offering just two boxes to check and using the terms “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. Thus, for the purposes of this column, I define sex as solely rooted in biology and unchangeable and gender as a more dynamic social construction.

Our social milieu and our surroundings often impact the way in which our gender is expressed and received by others. For example, a man may confine himself to be hypermasculinized — perhaps bragging about sexual conquests — among his male friends, but he will subscribe to a different version of masculinity in front of his boss. Though his sex remains the same throughout, its manifestation and understanding of it by others are different in the two situations. Although a simplified model, this example remains useful in understanding a social constructionist view of gender that posits that power is inevitability intertwined in its conception of gender.

In terms of gender relations, men as a whole wield more power than women, some men more so than other men, and some women more so than other women. Taking into account other variables of identity, such as race, sexuality, disability and weight, further complicates the dynamic but also provides a more profound perspective. Limiting the focus back to gender, the general group of men ranks highest in the hierarchy, regardless of individual men who may be lacking power, as we live in a patriarchal society. That is not to say we should ignore the plight of men, for they too are restricted by another set of conventions, but we cannot forget that systemic gender inequality still oppresses those deviating from hegemonic masculinity —including men — the patriarch of all types of masculinities.

We cannot dismiss the ideals of feminism seeking to equalize the playing field for all genders in all arenas of society because we cannot easily see the play of power dynamics. Power functions within groups and institutions and confers privileges to individuals. Often, without a critical eye and a larger sociological perspective, it becomes invisible to us. As a result, we reject the fact that gender inequality affects our lives, whether positively or negatively. We cannot ignore the intersection of our environment and all of our identities, whether they are biologically or socially based. Gender discrimination will continue, especially if we ignore the unequal power dynamics that exist between genders.

Elisha Sum is a junior majoring in English and French. He can be reached at Elisha.

Sum@tufts.edu.

OP-ED POLICY The Op-Ed Op-ed section of the Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. Op-Ed Op-ed welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length. All material is subject to editorial discretion, and is not guaranteed to appear in The Tufts Daily. All material should be submitted by no later than 1 p.m. on the day prior to the desired day of publication. Material must be submitted via e-mail (oped@tuftsdaily.com) attached in .doc or .docx format. Questions and concerns should be directed to the Op-Ed Op-ed editors. The opinions expressed in the Op-ed Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Tufts Daily itself.

THE TUFTS DAILY

12

Thursday, April 15, 2010

COMICS

DOONESBURY

CROSSWORD

BY

NON SEQUITUR

GARRY TRUDEAU

BY

WEDNESDAY’S SOLUTION

MARRIED TO THE SEA

www.marriedtothesea.com

SUDOKU Level: Running the marathon after only a week of training

LATE NIGHT AT THE DAILY Wednesday’s Solution

Carter: “She steals all my Google thunder.”

Please recycle this Daily

WILEY

THE TUFTS DAILY

Thursday, April 15, 2010 Event

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13

SPORTS Services

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CLASSIFIEDS POLICY All Tufts students must submit classifieds in person, prepaid with check, money order, or exact cash only.

All classifieds submitted by mail must be accompanied by a check. Classifieds are $15 per week or $4 per day with Tufts ID or $30 per week or $8 per day without. The Tufts Daily is not liable for any damages due to typographical errors or misprintings except the cost of the insertion, which is fully refundable. We reserve the right to refuse to print any classifieds which contain obscenity, are of an overly sexual nature, or are used expressly to denigrate a person or group. Questions? Email business@tuftsdaily.com.

Jumbos’ pitching to deal with NESCAC’s best offense BASEBALL continued from page 16

junior Pat O’Donnell (2.30 ERA), classmate Derek Miller (3.33) and sophomore Dave Ryan (3.21), who own a A JUMBO-SIZED STAFF Historically, the baseball team has always played the Trinity Bantams close. This year, with first place in the NESCAC East on the line, should be no exception.

In the three-game series beginning on Friday at Huskins Field, pitching will take center stage, as both the Bantams and the Jumbos boast incredibly deep staffs. The Daily compares the two squads’ pitching statistics in preparation for the game.

Statistic (NESCAC rank) Team ERA Opp. BA Strikeouts Walks Hits allowed Earned runs allowed

Tufts 3.61 (2) .258 (2) 104 (6t) 68 (3) 154 (2) 61 (2)

Trinity 2.98 (1) .251 (1) 114 (4) 63 (1) 121 (1) 45 (1)

combined record of 7-1 this year.

The Jumbos’ bullpen has also been superb this year, led by junior and recent NESCAC Pitcher of the Week Ed Bernstein — owner of a team-best 0.00 ERA and 13:2 strikeout-towalk ratio — and sophomore Chris DeGoti, who has a 0.77 ERA and six saves, just three shy of setting the Tufts record. Hopefully for the Jumbos, that will enable them to avoid the late-inning losses that have plagued them in recent seasons.

“Our pitching has been awesome all year,

ALEX DENNETT/TUFTS DAILY

Junior pitcher Ed Bernstein, the reigning NESCAC Pitcher of the Week, and the rest of the Jumbos’ staff will have their work cut out for them when Trinity comes to town on Friday. but our bats have cooled down a bit,” senior tricaptain and catcher Alex Perry said. “Hopefully we can put complete games together [this weekend] offensively, defensively and on the mound.”

If Tufts is able to take two of three from

Trinity, it will virtually guarantee the team a top seed in the conference playoffs, barring a late-season collapse. And the Jumbos are wellaware of those postseason implications.

“I think it would be awesome [to win the series],” Perry said. “It’s one of those series —

there are going to be great games. All three games are going to be close. And even though we’ve lost the last eight, the games have been unbelievable. You have to get the job done when you play NESCAC teams so you can get to the playoffs.”

The Department of Romance Languages presents

The Gifford Lecture “How We Learned To Love

Nostradamus (Paris, 1840)” by

Stéphane Gerson Associate Professor in French Studies, NYU Chair, Laurence Wylie Prize in French Cultural Studies, 2010

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010 Barnum Hall, Room 104 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Reception to follow in Laminan Lounge, Olin Center.

ANCHORD presents Sunny Side Up!

Enjoy an evening of a cappella for free, and local businesses will donate money to World Vision on your behalf!

Friday April 16th, 6:30pm, Goddard

With music from Evanescence, Michelle Branch, T.I., and more Featuring Boston College’s Against the Current.

Tufts Christian A Cappella

THE TUFTS DAILY

14

Thursday, April 15, 2010

SPORTS

Conn. College is undefeated but has limited offensive firepower MEN’S LACROSSE continued from page 16

the next goal we’ll be fine.”

The Jumbos got off to a good start in this one, with Hessler and McCormick

THE STAMPEDE Thanks to a 13-10 win over WNEC on Tuesday, the men’s lacrosse team set a program mark for both the best start in team history — 10-0 — and for the longest winning streak of 10 games.

And the Jumbos will put this mark to the test on Saturday when they go to undefeated Conn.

College in a battle for first place. The Daily takes a look at the Jumbos’ statistics throughout this 10-game streak.

Total goals 136 Goals per game Goals allowed Shot percentage Wins by at least 5 goals 10-goal games Road wins

13.67 76 338 5 9 7

opening the scoring in the first quarter as Tufts jumped out to a 2-0 lead. But WNEC junior midfielder Mike Santare was quick to respond. Kirwan then added the first of his hat trick, only to be negated by two Golden Bears goals, with the second coming from sophomore midfielder Patrick White with just a second left on the first-period clock, tying the score up at 3-3.

In the next stanza, Kirwan struck first and then Molloy and Hessler combined — this time with Hessler on the assist — to stretch the lead back to two, 5-3. Santare and Hessler than traded goals before Santare’s third set off a WNEC run that put the Golden Bears up 7-6 at the half.

“We have been pretty used to this kind of comeback,” McCormick said.

“Especially with the Skidmore game … so we just had to settle down and forget about our mistakes and play our game.”

After the break, Santare beat Tufts’ sophomore goalkeeper Steven Foglietta one more time before he was silenced for the remainder of the half. Down 8-6, the Jumbos rallied as back-to-back goals from Witko started a four-goal streak that turned the tables in Tufts’ favor for good, closing out the third up 10-8.

“We just started finishing better on the same opportunities they were giving us in the beginning of the game,” Witko said.

“We have been a really good secondhalf team the last few games — we’ve just been starting off too slow — and I think it just shows how good we can be if we played a full 60 minutes,”

VIRGINIA BLEDSOE/TUFTS DAILY

The sixth-ranked Jumbos will put their undefeated record and school-best 10-game winning streak on the line when they travel to Conn.

College this Saturday.

McCormick added.

Foglietta, the most recent NESCAC Co-Player of the Week, was arguably the biggest factor early in the game, making seven saves in the first quarter to keep Tufts even with the Bears. The defensive unit as a whole may have been a deciding factor on the day, as WNEC held the advantage in shots, ground balls and face-offs, but was kept to one goal on six extra-man opportunities.

“Every offensive possession starts with a stop on defense,” McCormick said. “Our goal play has been phenomenal, and I think every big play gets everyone pumped up and starts a chain reaction … it’s electrifying. Everyone feeds off each other and we can’t get these big wins in the games coming up unless everyone’s on the same page,

both offense and defense.”

The defensive composure and the robust offense that the team displayed on Tuesday night will be more important than ever on Saturday, as the Jumbos prepare to take on the only other undefeated team in the NESCAC — No. 8 Conn. College.

The Camels have proven tenacious, boasting 11 consecutive wins, but lack big numbers in the stats column. In their matches over Middlebury, Bowdoin and Williams, the scores were 8-7, 8-7 in overtime and 7-6, respectively. Both Conn.

College and Tufts have proven their mettle late in games, with each side consistently winning this season with last-minute rallies and defensive consistency.

But Tufts is arguably the more explosive side, with bigger offensive threats

in NESCAC point-leader Hessler, Molloy and Witko. And if it comes to a fourthquarter scoring battle, the combination of the Jumbos’ junior scoring trio and the impervious, as-of-late, defensive unit could prove victorious. But, it is the NESCAC, and with two perfect records and the chance to host the fastapproaching conference tournament on the line, emotions could nullify any pregame predictions.

“When we prepare for other teams, we don’t take into account their history,” Witko said. “We’re focused on being 1-0 on our next game … and Connecticut College is the only team that can hurt us right now. We just have to come out firing from the start and dictate the tempo of the game, and we’re confident we can get another win.”

Thriving freshmen to face a whole new level of competition WOMEN’S TENNIS continued from page 16

second doubles.

The next challenge for Tufts’ budding stars will be to continue their suc-

STREAKIN’ EPHS When the No. 2 Williams College Ephs come to town on Saturday, they bring with them a lengthy streak of victories versus Div. III opponents not named Amherst. Since the 2007-08 season, the Ephs are 49-1 versus Div. III foes that are not the Lord Jeffs. That one loss came on March 27, 2008 to Washington & Lee. The Daily takes a look at Williams’ gaudy statistics in the past three seasons.

National championships Overall dual-meet record Wins by 9-0 margins Victories versus Tufts Record versus NESCAC

2 51-7 10 2 15-3

cess against superior competition.

“Our freshmen have played such a key role in our success thus far,” McCooey said. “All three of them are such tough competitors out there — they’re so mentally tough, they fight, they love to battle and they’re in it ’til the end every single match. I just know that they’re going to come out ready to play on Saturday, just like they have all season.”

At the very least, the Jumbos’ relatively soft dual-match schedule allowed Katz, Lam and Hollender to gain plenty of experience and confidence in anticipation of the team’s difficult upcoming slate.

“I know especially for me and the other two freshmen, it was nice to get some matches under our belts, just because this is our first college season,” Katz said. “It’s been nice to have confidence that we can beat other teams before we have to play these four hard matches. I think it was just good for experience and getting warmed up.

“We’ve all improved so much since the fall, especially with our doubles,” she continued. “We’re all really excited to see how we’ll do against the tougher opponents.”

In spite of its anticipation for Saturday’s match, Tufts isn’t overlooking tomorrow’s contest against Wellesley. Though they aren’t nationally ranked, the Blue are historically a major contender in the Northeast region and this year boast strength at the very top of their singles and doubles lineups.

Still, Wellesley is just the opening act for Saturday’s main event, one that could very well help launch Tufts toward some of its lofty goals for 2010.

“I’m not really sure what it was like in the past, but I know our goal for this season is to win NESCACs,” Katz said.

“If we’re playing our best and we’re focused, I’m confident that we can beat Williams. We’re definitely capable of doing it — we just have to bring our ‘A’ game.”

ANNE WERMEIL/TUFTS DAILY

Junior Edwina Stewart and the Jumbos will seek to upset the two-time defending national champion Williams Ephs at home on Saturday.

THE TUFTS DAILY

Thursday, April 15, 2010

15

SPORTS

THE WHEEL AND CHAIN | A CYCLIST’S TALE

DAVID HECK | THE SAUCE

Stupid is as stupid doesn’t BY

EVAN COOPER

Daily Editorial Board

Editor’s Note: Evan Cooper is a sophomore, a sports editor for the Daily and an aspiring professional cyclist. He races for the Tufts Cycling Team and for the elite amateur squad Team Ora presented by Independent Fabrication. This series will chronicle his season as he tries to make racing into more than just a hobby.

I had a personal revelation this weekend.

It won’t seem like much on the face of it, and taken out of context it probably seems inconsequentially obvious. But after I backtrack a little, I think you’ll see what I mean.

So what was the earthshaking conclusion that I recently came to? Simply this: No one knows me better than I do.

And now for some context.

Last weekend was the Tour of the Battenkill. The biggest single-day ProAmateur event of the year in the United States, Battenkill is generally the first big goal on many cyclists’ calendars. After taking second in the Category 3 race last year, I expected nothing less than the top step of the podium this time around. Go big or go home, right?

The big difference this year was that I was in a new field: the Category 2 field. Cat 2 is one level below the top level of amateur racing, and more often than not, the Cat 1’s and 2’s are combined in one field, with a few pros often thrown into the mix as well. But at a race with such an enormous draw like Battenkill, the 2’s are given their own field to race in, providing aspiring riders like me with a golden opportunity to shine.

The usual Battenkill course — on which everyone but the Pro/Cat 1’s and Cat 2’s races — is a 62-mile loop featuring 25 percent dirt roads and a number of climbs. None of them are epically long, but there are enough of them to leave your lungs burning and legs throbbing by the time you reach the line.

The Pro/Cat 1 and Cat 2 racers, though, contest an additional 20 miles, with the added loop including a second trip up one of the race’s more famous obstacles: Juniper Swamp Road. This little beast is a short but incredibly steep dirt hill that would give many cars trouble reaching the

summit. Rarely is it the defining moment of the race, but if you’re not careful, it can spell the end of your day.

But that wasn’t my problem. Neither trip up Juniper gave me any trouble, and I crested the summit both times safely in the lead group without expending much effort. As the peloton rolled along on one of the less eventful stretches of paved road not long after, a rider rolled off the front and pedaled away from the field. No big deal. With about 60 miles left to race, none of us was all too concerned. Not long after, a single rider sped up the right side of the road on a slight incline, rapidly forging a gap to the idling peloton and making his way up the road as well. But still, none of us was worried about two lonely riders trying to survive 60-plus miles of dirt, hills and wind. That is a long way to go.

I should have known better. Both of those riders are known for their strength in long breakaways, and the latter of the two has been on an absolute tear all season long (though the season is barely a month old). By the first feed zone, their lead was already over two minutes. But the peloton never showed any sense of urgency, and neither did I. We continued to take the flat and paved sections at a sadly pedestrian pace, only turning the pedals in earnest when we hit the dirt or began to climb. Then our anger would show. Then we would unleash our fury on one another. But this inconsistent pace always favors the riders in the breakaway, who are consistently putting power to pedal.

Needless to say, we never saw those two riders again. The race was for third now. As for me, a crash on one of the final dirt sectors with about 15 miles to go found me on the wrong end of a split in the field. I was having a moment of weakness after launching an attack of my own on that same long dirt section and had drifted too far back in the field when the crash happened. Forced to slow nearly to a near stop, I didn’t have the snap in my legs to reconnect with the 20 or so riders who were spared. I spent the next hilly dirt section of the course alone, turning myself inside out to regain contact, but to no avail. Back on the pavement, I was

reabsorbed by a few other riders, and we formed a chase group. We picked up a few more fading riders along the way, but we never closed the gap. We finished about 50 seconds back of the group ahead, our race now for 21st place — a sorry consolation. I didn’t contest that sprint, and simply rolled in for 30th place. Not exactly the top podium step I had dreamed of the night before.

So where did I go wrong? What foiled my plans for glory? In a word, me. I, and only I, am responsible for the missed opportunity that was the 2010 Tour of the Battenkill. I missed my chance when I watched that rider fly up the road while the peloton thought nothing of it. I let myself down when I didn’t spring from the safety of the complacent peloton myself and try to do what everyone else told me was impossible “It’s 82 miles,” they all said. “That is suicide.

Don’t worry about it — they’ll be back.”

So I listened. I sat there, safely in the field doing what was supposed to be smart: biding my time until the race got truly hard and all the excess baggage was shed from the field and only the strongest remained.

But wait, that already happened. Those two brave men up the road had already forced the final selection, and that excess baggage was all the rest of us. And you know what? I should have known better. I should have known that I should have been up the road with them. I should have known that everyone has their strengths, and everyone has their weaknesses. And riding in a 60-plus mile break on challenging terrain, however stupid it supposedly might be, is my strength. I may not have the raw power to drop helpless riders with a searing attack, but give me an advantage on a course like that, and I won’t readily come back.

A little cocky? Maybe. But I think it’s realism. I know what I am good at and I know what I am not. But none of that matters when you don’t even try. None of that matters when you always try to do what is “smart.” Maybe smart doesn’t mean just one thing. Maybe what’s smart for you is stupid for me. Maybe the smart thing to do sometimes isn’t really all that smart. And now I know that. I already knew what I was good at and what I was not; I just didn’t know how to let me be me.

First-round matchups for 2010 NBA Playoffs set It came down to the final night of the regular season, but the field of 16 teams that will compete for the Larry O’Brien trophy was finalized yesterday. A look at the first-round matchups: Eastern Conference: (1) Cleveland Cavaliers (61-21) versus (8) Chicago Bulls (41-41) Regular season series: Tied 2-2 (2) Orlando Magic (59-23) versus (7) Charlotte Bobcats (44-38) Regular season series: Magic won 3-1 (3) Atlanta Hawks (53-29) versus (6) Milwaukee Bucks (46-36) Regular season series: Hawks won 2-1 (4) Boston Celtics (50-32) versus (5) Miami Heat (47-35) Regular season series: Celtics won 3-0 Western Conference: (1) Los Angeles Lakers (57-25) versus (8) Oklahoma City Thunder (50-32) Regular season series: Lakers won 3-1

MCT

(2) Dallas Mavericks (55-27) versus (7) San Antonio Spurs (50-32) Regular season series: Mavericks won 3-1 (3) Phoenix Suns (54-28) versus (6) Portland Trail Blazers (50-31) Regular season series: Trail Blazers won 2-1 (4) Denver Nuggets (53-29) versus (5) Utah Jazz (53-29) Regular season series: Nuggets won 3-1

MCT

An innocent man?

It doesn’t matter

A

pparently Tiger Woods isn’t the only one who likes the ladies.

Ben Roethlisberger, two-time Super Bowl-champion quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, has gotten himself into a situation that even Tiger wouldn’t be envious of. In the past couple of years, Roethlisberger has twice been accused of rape, and a lawyer who recently appeared on WEEI radio claimed knowledge of a third incident that was never reported.

In 2008, a Nevada hotel employee accused Roethlisberger of raping her in his hotel room after he called her up to fix his television set. The accuser described the incident in such detail that it could only mean one of two things: Either Roethlisberger was guilty, or the accuser was bleeping crazy and looking for some money. Considering the fact that a civil lawsuit was filed but criminal charges weren’t, it appeared that the latter case was more likely.

That is until last month, when Roethlisberger was accused of raping a 20-year-old college student in Georgia. Celebrating his 28th birthday, Roethlisberger was apparently bar-hopping in Milledgeville, a relatively small college town, where he met college girls and supposedly bought them drinks. One of those girls alleges that Roethlisberger followed her into a bathroom and proceeded to sexually assault her.

Again, Roethlisberger will not face criminal charges for this incident. Georgia state law has very high standards for evidence to prove rape, and even though the accuser was found with cuts, bruises and vaginal bleeding, her case was not strong enough to merit charges being filed. Further, the accuser told police that she did not want Roethlisberger to be prosecuted because of all the media attention and scrutiny that would befall her — the same reason the lawyer on WEEI claimed that charges were not filed in the alleged third incident.

I’m not saying that Roethlisberger is guilty in any of the above cases; I have no more information on the matter than anybody else. But something’s clearly not right here.

If you were a multimillionaire worldclass athlete, how would you celebrate your 28th birthday? Maybe a party at a prestigious club in a big city like New York or Miami. Maybe a wild weekend in Las Vegas. But probably not by cruising through college bars in a small town in Georgia.

I don’t know what Roethlisberger was looking for that night, but the circumstances of the whole thing certainly seem sketchy. At best, he put himself in a bad situation and wound up embarrassing himself, the Steelers and the NFL. Roethlisberger recently met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, as it is being determined whether or not Roethlisberger will suffer disciplinary action. Even though he’s not being prosecuted, it seems clear to me that something should be done.

NFL players are suspended all the time under the league’s personal conduct policy, but the details are usually a little clearer.

Michael Vick was suspended for his dogfighting ring, Pacman Jones for inciting a fight and shootout at a strip club. Santonio Holmes, whom the Steelers recently traded, was suspended for four games for violating the league’s drug policy (meaning he either failed or skipped a drug test).

While the circumstances in Roethlisberger’s case are not so cut-anddry, he still needs to suffer a penalty. Forget about the cries of racism that Goodell will hear if he allows Roethlisberger to play a full season — the man clearly cannot conduct himself in a responsible manner.

Even if Roethlisberger is innocent, the fact is that he never should have put himself in those situations to begin with, particularly the one in Georgia.

Roethlisberger should suffer consequences for acting so recklessly.

Comissioner Goodell, it’s up to you to make sure that he does.

David Heck is a senior majoring in philosophy. He can be reached at David.Heck@ tufts.edu.

Sports

16

INSIDE The Wheel and Chain 15 The Sauce 15

tuftsdaily.com

April showers bring national powers The Daily previews a weekend of critical showdowns for Tufts Athletics MEN’S LACROSSE

After setting program mark, Tufts welcomes Conn. College BY

CLAIRE KEMP

Daily Editorial Board

Revenge was sweet for the men’s lacrosse team Tuesday night. It was even sweeter when you factor in that Tufts is now off to its best start in program history.

The Ju m b o s avenged their loss in the first round of the 2009 NCAA tournament Tuesday with a 13-10 win over Western New England College (WNEC) in Springfield, Mass. In a game that saw three ties and neither team hold a lead of more than two goals until the final minute of play, the Jumbos were able to outwork their opponent and earn a non-conference road victory over the Golden Bears.

It didn’t come easy, but the national No. 6 Jumbos’ 10th consecutive win marks the best start and longest winning streak in the program’s 80-year history.

“I think we felt really motivated and all around really jacked up for the game going into it,” sophomore midfielder Kevin McCormick said. “Not only for revenge but to keep our season going as well as it has been. We definitely had revenge in the back of our minds, but it was more about staying undefeated.”

At the beginning of the fourth quarter, the Jumbos were clinging to a slim 10-8 lead, but the Golden Bears were determined not to go down without a fight. As the game got more physical, with four penalties coming in the first two minutes of the period, it became clear the match was going to be

won by the team that kept its composure.

Though WNEC scored first in the stanza to cut the lead to one, the composed team proved to be Tufts.

Not rattled, Tufts senior tri-captain midfielder Doug DiSesa answered to put his team up by two for the fifth time in the game. The cushion didn’t last long, however, as WNEC freshman attacker Corrigan Harreys scored to make it 11-10 with 5:12 to play. But junior attackers D.J. Hessler and Ryan Molloy made sure that Tufts would stay undefeated, teaming up for the insurance goal just over a minute later.

Sophomore attacker Sean Kirwan sealed the deal when he converted on Molloy’s next feed with 58 seconds on the clock to move the Jumbos to 10-0 on the year.

“We’re a l w a y s really confident that no matter what we can come o u t JAMES CHOCA/TUFTS DAILY a n d win,” said junior m i d - fielder Matt Witko when asked about the close fourth-quarter. “We always stress that we just need the next goal. That’s our attitude — that if we score see MEN’S LACROSSE, page 14

BASEBALL

Tufts to battle Trinity for top spot in division BY

DAVID HECK

10-10 before Trinity scored seven runs in the eighth to win the game handily. Last year, For the last few years, the baseball team Tufts had two opportunities to down the has played second fiddle to division rival Bantams: In the regular season, the Jumbos Trinity in the NESCAC. In fact, everyone in lost a 2-1 pitchers’ duel in the second game of a double-header, and in the playoffs, Tufts the conference has.

While the Jumbos put together a respect- was leading 3-2 before a five-run eighth able 13-11 conference record between frame gave Trinity the win.

But despite those struggles, the Jumbos 2008 and 2009, the Bantams cruised to an are confident that they can take down the unblemished 24-0 mark mighty Bantams come this weekend. en route to consecutive “As long as we play the way we’re supNESCAC titles. posed to, take it one inning and one game at But this year, it appears a time, we can beat anybody,” Pontes said. “It the balance of power might doesn’t matter who’s on [the] other side of be shifting. Tufts (15-3, 5-1 diamond.”

NESCAC) is off to one of the While Trinity is not dominating best starts in team history and the NESCAC like it has in years currently holds first place in the past, the numbers say it is still NESCAC East standings, while one of the elite teams in Div. III Trinity (14-4, 6-3 NESCAC) has — a notion supported in national begun to look fallible. polls, which place Trinity as the No. So when the Jumbos take on the 8 team in the nation. The Bantams Bantams for the first time this year lead the conference in just about in a three-game series at Bello Field, every important offensive catthey know it will go a long way toward egory — including average, determining which team is the cream of on-base percentage and slugthe crop in the NESCAC. ging percentage — and are “I’d say it’s probably our most also tops in the league with a important three games of the year 2.98 team ERA. so far,” senior tri-captain Corey “They’re just a good Pontes said. “They’re obviously team,” Pontes said. “Pitchinga very good team, and we think wise they’ve always been we’re a good team as long as we there, and they hit the play the way we’re supposed ALEX DENNETT/ ball. They just play to … Whenever you get two TUFTS DAILY the game well.” competitive programs together, The Tufts offense is there’s going to be a little bit of a not quite up to the same rivalry. We definitely want to beat standard — the team is fifth in these guys, no doubt about that.” the league with a .413 on-base Tufts has dropped its past percentage — but the pitching up six regular-season games against Trinity and past eight over- to this point has been fantastic, compiling a all, with several of those losses coming in 3.61 ERA that is second only to Trinity. The heartbreaking fashion. In 2008, the Jumbos Jumbos’ starters in the series will likely be held an 8-1 lead early in the game only to see Trinity storm back. The two teams were tied see BASEBALL, page 13 Daily Editorial Board

WOMEN’S TENNIS

Jumbos eager to face two-time defending NCAA champ Ephs

BY SAPNA

BANSIL

Daily Editorial Board

The last 12 days have probably felt like something of an exhibition for the women’s tennis team.

Of the Jumbos’ last six matches, not one — not even Tuesday’s contest against national No. 28 Brandeis — was even slightly competitive. In that span, Tufts did not play in anything closer than last Sunday’s 8-1 victory over Hamilton, recording five 9-0 shutouts and sweeping all 36 singles matches along the way.

But now, the fun begins.

After fattening up on weaker opponents for much of April, the Jumbos are set to begin a season-ending stretch that, over the next two weeks, will pit them against four of the nation’s best teams. It all starts Saturday at 1 p.m., when national No. 17 Tufts hosts two-time defending NCAA champion Williams in a showdown that will help measure how well it stacks up against truly elite competition.

“We’re all just so excited because this is everything we’ve worked towards,” senior tri-captain Meghan McCooey

said.

“We feel confident, we’re ready and we want this competition. It’s been great to build our confidence by playing the teams we’ve played over the past few weeks — now we’re hoping everything we’ve worked for is going to pay off on Saturday.”

The Jumbos had one of their final tune-ups for the Ephs on Tuesday afternoon, when they trampled Brandeis 9-0 in their first dual match of the year against a ranked Div. III opponent. As has been the case for much of the last two weeks, Tufts was unchallenged throughout the singles and doubles lineups.

Freshman Lindsay Katz had a virtually perfect afternoon, earning a love-and-love win at third singles and teaming with classmate Janice Lam to post a shutout victory at second doubles.

“I think it was a good confidence boost for everyone just

because the other matches have been easier,” Katz said. “This was a team that we knew was going to be a little more challenging. It’s definitely great to know that we can beat a nationally ranked team just like we beat the other teams that maybe weren’t as strong.”

After hosting Wellesley in a non-conference tilt tomorrow, Tufts will turn its attention to Williams.

The NESCAC rivals last met on April 11 of last year, with the Ephs coming away from a spirited contest with a 6-3 victory. What stood out about that match was how competitively the Jumbos played behind their lineup anchors, McCooey and junior tricaptain Julia Browne. One of Tufts’ three victories, for instance, came at third doubles, while at fifth singles, then-freshman Jenn LaCara pushed her opponent to three sets.

Now, with the Jumbos arguably the most well-rounded they’ve

JOSH BERLINGER / TUFTS DAILY

been in a number of years, they’ll look to tip the balance at bottom of the singles and doubles lineups in their favor.

“We definitely have a lot more depth than we did last year,” McCooey said.

“We’re a stronger team altogether, and we’re that much more mentally tough.

We have last year’s experience behind us, and we’re really gunning for them this year. We want to beat them badly, and we know that we have the potential to do it.”

If Saturday’s match is ultimately decided on depth, then Tufts’ trio of freshmen will almost certainly play a big role in determining the final outcome.

Katz, Lam and classmate Lauren Hollender have been thrust right into the fire in their first season on the Hill, and all have risen to the challenge.

The Jumbo first-years have won all 38 dual-match singles sets they’ve played against Div. III opponents this year, while Katz and Lam have dropped only eight games in their last six matches at see WOMEN’S TENNIS, page 14

With one of the biggest weekends in Tufts sports fast approaching, the Daily sports staff previewed the action. To see interviews with members of the baseball, men’s lacrosse and women’s tennis teams, visit tuftsdaily.com/sports.