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Friday, September 13, 2013

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 6

Where You Read It First Est. 1980

“YOLO” admissions question sparks controversy

by Julia

McDaniel

Daily Editorial Board

This summer, after the Office of Undergraduate Admissions released its college supplement questions for the class of 2018, one prompt in particular ignited a frenzy in the media, among publications including the Huffington Post, Good Morning America, The Atlantic and TIME Newsfeed.

Suggested by a freshman, one of the six options for applicants’ third supplement essay asks: “What does #YOLO mean to you?” quoting hip-hop artist Drake’s song, “The Motto.”

Tufts is known among applicants for its unusual essay questions. According to the Huffington Post’s article published in July, the question is “encouraging applicants to have some fun when they introduce themselves to Tufts.”

The Atlantic Wire’s writer Alexander Nazaryan, however, was more critical of the quirky essay question.

“Setting itself up for certain mockery, Tufts University is plopping face-first into the shallows of contemporary culture with an essay question that is revealing, more than anything, of the state of academia today,” Nazaryan wrote in July. “The question is an obvious instance of pandering, of Tufts announcing that it is cool, that its admission officers get it, unlike those fusty Ivy League colleges.”

The Twittersphere blew up with comments as well, and support for and opposition against the question came in a storm. Many poked fun by posting other essay question ideas including “Describe a moment when you had to make a difficult decision: Team Edward or Team Jacob?” and, “If Justin Bieber could meet one person living or dead, who would you want it to be?”

Proud members of the Tufts community on Twitter appreciated the continued “quirkiness” vibe at Tufts, while others condemned the school for “trying too hard to target teenage applicants.” There were multiple complaints that college essays have become “pointless,” and that the school is not taking the college application process seriously, according to Twitter feeds.

Some of the most cutting words were written by one of Tufts’ own just a month ago when Garrett Gilmore (LA ’12) posted on Vice.com. He highlighted what many articles have dubbed the “cool dad” phenomenon, which describes the attempt to seem cool in the eyes of a younger generation by making references to current pop culture.

“Stuff like this is little more than an appeal to the desire of upper-class white applicants to feel like they’re being considered as something other than a collection of test scores and financial data,” Gilmore wrote.

Sophomore Mel Goldberg, agreeing with Gilmore to an extent, said that Tufts is using the Drake quote to try to appeal to the current generation of applicants.

“I certainly feel like the question itself is just mindless pandering to young people. I don’t think it’s intentional cultural appropriation,” Goldberg said. “I think they’re trying to appeal to what the demographic of their potential applicants are interested in.”

Lee Coffin, dean of undergraduate admissions, sees the question differently.

Coffin said all six choices for the third supplement essay seek insight in the applicant’s self-identity, and the point is to make Tufts accessible.

“Our goal as admissions officers is to be as universal as we can be,” he said. “A good see YOLO, page 2

Nick Pfosi / The Tufts Daily

Tufts’ National Dialogue on Race Day featured a panel discussion commemorating civil rights.

Panel celebrates National Dialogue on Race Day

by Josh

Weiner

Daily Editorial Board

Students celebrated Tufts’ first annual National Dialogue on Race Day with a panel presentation in Cabot Auditorium last night at 7 p.m.

This event, sponsored by the Center for the Study of Race and Democracy (CSRD), featured six panelists who addressed issues of racial disparity and social inequality in contemporary America.

History professor Peniel Joseph, a founder of CSRD, served as facilitator of the event. He acknowledged the significance of holding such an event in the wake of the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom and assessed the United States’ current position in light of the decades-old goals laid out by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “50 years ago, we had institutionalized racial segregation, and blacks and whites had separate existences,” Joseph said.

“Today, segregation is gone [and] we have more racial diversity in our politics than ever before, but also growing racial inequalities.”

Joseph linked the problems prevalent in modern American society to “color-blind

racism.” He explained that this can be seen in areas such as the American prison system, which does not “acknowledge stubborn racist inequalities in outcomes.”

Joseph emphasized the importance of hosting a dialogue analyzing such critical issues before fielding a series of questions to his panelists. He began by challenging them to assess America’s advancements towards achieving racial justice in the past 50 years.

Michael Curry, president of the Boston chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said that the United States has made much progress in decades past but noted that disadvantaged non-white communities still exist in major cities across the country, including in Harlem, Roxbury and Chicago’s South Side.

“If you look at any Latino or black community in any of these cities, you will see a tale of two Americas,” Curry said. “Disparities exist across the board, and that is where the problem lies.”

Kimberly McLarin, assistant professor of writing, literature and publishing at Emerson College, added that there has not been enough of an effort to aid these impovsee DIALOGUE, page 2

Minor glitches plague new iSIS by

Denali Tietjen

Daily Editorial Board

Despite technological issues involving the Integrated Student Information System (iSIS), the project team is satisfied with the new system’s functionality and was prepared for problems that arose once class enrollment opened.

During the first week of school, students reported issues with iSIS regarding class locations and financial aid processing, according to Tufts Technology Services Director of Communications and Organizational Effectiveness Dawn Irish. Some students who had recently submitted tuition payments were locked out of iSIS completely.

“We did expect we’d see some issues here and there,” Irish said.

“Many of the things we implemented we couldn’t test until we went live — until a student actually tried to log in and do something.”

According to Irish, the team addressed problems as quickly as possible.

“I don’t think there was anything that came up that was too

tragic,” she said. “There wasn’t anything that we couldn’t resolve pretty quickly. We didn’t know what problems there were going to be. Otherwise they wouldn’t have happened in the first place.

But things do happen, and it was relatively smooth.”

In the time it took for iSIS administrators to respond, however, some students faced problems with scheduling courses.

“My major problem had to do with my registration for mandatory recitations for my language class,” sophomore Michele De Mars said.

“Essentially all the recitations were filled, so I couldn’t register for my lecture class even though the lecture was still open. It waitlisted you for both.”

Students have also cited complaints that the iSIS interface is confusing to navigate. “iSIS is a lot more complicated than at my old school. You can’t click back, which was really frustrating,” Laura Andreola, a junior transfer student, said. “Sometimes when I’d log in, I’d have error signs all over my screen, and I had to delete my browser history in order

to address that problem.”

Enrollment issues with recitations were due to quotas that individual departments had set, not the system, Irish explained. She added that students should clear their browser’s caches and cookies, as well as use the iSIS navigation icons — rather than the browser’s back button — when navigating the system.

Irish stressed that the implementation period of iSIS is not over, as the project has entered a one-year “stabilization period” during which improvements will be made. The next step may include a one-time login for Trunk and iSIS, she said.

“We appreciate students’ patience as we address all of these issues,” Irish said. “We’re really just excited. It’s new technology. We haven’t implemented a new system in almost 30 years.”

One of the primary goals of the iSIS project was to streamline all the data and information from Student Information System (SIS), the former student information system that iSIS replaced last spring.

“We had integrated a lot of

Inside this issue

Kyra Sturgill / The Tufts Daily

Although some students encountered problems while registering for classes on iSIS, Tufts Technology Services worked to resolve issues as quickly as possible. newer systems over the years, like the financial aid and learning management systems,” Irish said. “And all of those things existed, but they were on aging infrastructure, and

they didn’t talk to each other. You had to log into 18 different systems, and you had a different usersee ISIS, page 2

Today’s sections

The “Hippie Chic” exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts celebrates the 1960s and 70s.

The second season of “The Newsroom” has a more compelling plot than its predecessor.

see ARTS, page 5

see ARTS, page 5

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Friday, September 13, 2013

Media, Tufts community react to “YOLO” question YOLO

continued from page 1

question allows an applicant to showcase another part of their personality that may not have been captured in the other parts of the application.”

Admissions provides multiple other essay options from which to choose, if the “YOLO” question is not to an applicant’s taste. This year’s application choices range from celebrating your nerdy side to celebrating the role sports play in your life.

“We try to imagine questions that different kinds of students from different backgrounds can see and say ‘I can be creative,’” Coffin said.

Sophomore Ben Weilerstein found that the question accomplished what Admissions had hoped it would.

“I don’t think [the question] is inappropriate at all,” he said. “The university is allowed to make an attempt to relate to the students. It’s their job to get students to like Tufts.”

Gilmore also brought up a deeper issue that was not addressed in other major media sources: race relations on campus.

“I’m mad because Tufts isn’t being criticized for admission and administrative practices that deserve scorn, practices that are a toxic mixture of profiteering and systemic racism and classism that are symptomatic of higher education as gestalt,” he said.

According to Gilmore, by asking this question, Tufts indicated that it is an institution that encourages students to seize the day and says ‘you only live once,’ — YOLO — when faced with adversity.

Gilmore said, though, that the university has not always supported — and has even stifled — students’ right to speak for what they believe in once enrolled at Tufts.

“Asking your applicants what #YOLO means to them doesn’t amount to anything when you stop listening to what they have to say after they reach their 250 word limit,” he wrote. “It’s okay to goofily expound upon a term that a famous black person coined, Tufts seems to say, but having students of color discuss their negative experiences at the university might scare rich white applicants away.”

Coffin responded to this complaint by addressing the Office of Undergraduate

iSIS to undergo more changes in next year

WAN JING LEE / THE Tufts Daily

Admissions’ ‘YOLO’ prompt led to strong reactions from media and the Tufts community.

Admissions’ efforts to ensure the questions would not be insulting.

“There are members of our staff who work on diversity recruitment who evaluate these questions. We would never include a question on the application that would offend students.”

Coffin clarified that the question is about the applicant expressing himor herself.

“I don’t look at that question as a question about YOLO, so much as it’s a question about opportunity, [about] being spontaneous,” he said. “The key part of the question to me is that it says, ‘What does it mean to you?’ It gives students a lot of ways to interpret it in their own words.”

While these might have been Admissions’ intentions, the reactions from media and the Tufts community have put them in a difficult situation, Goldberg said.

“I think that the administration is put in a bit of an impossible position,” she said. “I hear a lot of groups on campus demanding that the different minorities and perspectives are better represented

continued from page 1

name and password for many of them.”

Although Andreola appreciates that the changes have made different school sites more accessible, she believes that the streamlining process has created a system too complex for easy use.

“At [Vanderbilt University], we had different sites for everything — financial aid was in a different place than registration — but each site operated well,” Andreola said. “I think the idea of having it all in one place is really cool, but it is too complicated.”

On the other hand, Irish emphasized the importance of a consolidated system like iSIS for students pursuing an interdisciplinary education. The original system inhibited this type of experience, she said.

“If you were a student in one place and you wanted to take a course at the other, it was complicated and messy,” she said.

“This brought all of that data together so that we could really expand on cross-disciplinary learning.”

in the overall admissions process. Once admissions includes a quote from a rapper like Drake, all of the sudden there’s all this backlash about how they are appropriating black culture for their own means and ends.”

Weilerstein said that the administration should be making more of an effort to listen to such accusations.

“There are a lot of students on campus who have issues with the university and who have pointed out many instances of racism coming from students and various sources,” he said. “That’s a serious issue. I am not part of the Tufts administration, and I don’t get to speak for them, but I think that the least they should be doing is listening to people who are upset with them.”

While the administration has faced many questions and complaints from the community, Boston.com does not doubt Tufts’ ability to attract applicants.

“Some of these questions may seem silly or lighthearted, [but] Tufts’ application process is nothing to scoff at.”

Panelists discuss advancements for race equality DIALOGUE

ISIS

continued from page 1 Executive Layout Editor Senior Layout Editor Layout Editors

News | Features

erished communities.

“The war on poverty is the one war we have given up on,” she said. “I think that’s where the emphasis needs to be.”

Paul Watanabe, director of the Institute for Asian American Studies at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, acknowledged “a huge gap in ability and talent” remains among different factions of American society.

“We have more comfort in talking about ‘the dream,’ but discomfort in talking of prevailing differences and disparities in today’s society,” Watanabe said. “We tend to ignore three-fourths of Dr. King’s speech and focus solely on ‘the dream.’”

Joseph then asked the panel to identify the factors that contribute to today’s racial disparities, such as the War on Drugs.

Author Diane McWhorter responded that such inequalities are almost to be expected given that the U.S. economic structure oftentimes leaves racial minorities at a disadvantage.

“Racism and capitalism are intermit-

tently interconnected,” she said.

Professor of English and African and African-American Studies at Harvard University John Stuaffer said that the American prison system, in contrast to those of other countries, is not designed to reform its inmates. Most convicts — African Americans in particular — are left permanently disadvantaged by their experiences in prison, she said.

“Prisoners in the United States represent a form of slavery,” Stauffer said.

Joseph ended the event by asking how the United States should proceed and how racial justice should be pursued in the future. Several panelists responded that they hope to see different races connect and be more willing to act for each other’s benefit.

“We have to build these coalitions,” McWhorter said. “I am cautiously optimistic [it will happen].”

Stuaffer and Curry both agreed with McWhorter’s sentiments.

“There is extraordinary potential, provided these coalitions can be built, for [progress],” Stauffer said.

Corrections In the News article titled “New art exhibit pays tribute to Africana studies” published on Sept. 11, it was incorrectly reported that the 2013 Venice Biennale would open in late May. In fact, the event already opened this past May. A statement in the same article that said the new exhibit represented a “transition from featuring student work to that of professional artists” is misleading. The Aidekman Art Gallery, which has shown works from both professional artists and student MFA thesis exhibitions in the past, will now only focus on displays from professional artists.

The photo for the “New art exhibit pays tribute to Africana studies” was intended to accompany the story “Africana studies restructures program” and vice versa.

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Gallery Review

‘Hippie Chic’ transports visitors to Woodstock era by

Grace Hoyt

Daily Editorial Board

The 1960s and 70s are characterized by the Woodstock generation pushing social and legal limits, rock ‘n’ roll’s golden age and, as the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) reveals, a time of funky and colorful fashion trends.

“Hippie Chic,” located in the museum’s Torf Gallery for special exhibitions, is a testament to the fun and experimental fashions of that era. This exhibition caters to people of all ages and backgrounds, whether they are visiting the MFA on a whim or looking for a serious exploration of 1960s and 70s fashion.

Upon entering, the exhibition does more than just put vintage fashions on display; it transports you to another era. Viewers’ senses are overwhelmed with bright, colorful displays of mannequins and something else you won’t find in most art museums — music. The exhibit contains an old-fashioned jukebox, and visitors are encouraged to pick songs themselves. The choices include songs from the era’s trendsetting artists, including The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix. By essentially giving the exhibit a soundtrack,

the MFA emphasizes the cultural impact that music had on fashion during this period while simultaneously adding an unexpected, entertaining dynamic to the experience.

Music isn’t the only thing that makes the exhibit interactive.

Some of the elevated mannequins are centered on rotating shag-rug platforms that allow viewers to enjoy all angles of the outfits. And these clothes are definitely worth a close look.

An array of patterns, patchwork, prints, flowing pants, robes and dresses are all on display. The exhibit even presents old footwear, with a collection of heels and boots — some patent leather, others studded. The textures and embellishments of the pieces are truly remarkable: velvet, satin, beads, tie-dye and fringe leave viewers with an increased appreciation for the intricacies of fashion.

A diverse group of designers are represented throughout the exhibition. “Hippie Chic” includes designs from more avant-garde boutiques like Betsey Johnson and Ossie Clark, but it also showcases works by the well-known

see HIPPIE, page 6

Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts

The ‘Hippie Chic’ exhibit strikes a perfect balance between groovy and elegant.

Album Review

TV Review

HBO’s ‘The Newsroom’ is entertaining despite flaws by

Dan O’Leary

Daily Editorial Board

For some inexplicable reason, “The Newsroom” has been a lightning rod for criticism and mockery since its pre-

The Newsroom Starring Jeff Daniels, Emily Mortimer, John Gallagher Jr., Allison Pill

Airs Sundays at 10 p.m. on HBO

Zhuangchen ZHou / the Tufts Daily

miere in June 2012. That could be due to the main name associated with the series: “Newsroom” is the creation of Academy Award and Emmy-winning

writer Aaron Sorkin of “The West Wing” (1999-2006) fame, which certainly gave the series a level of hype above that of a typical HBO show. Although the show — which will wrap up its second season on Sunday, with a third nearly confirmed — is nowhere close to perfect television, it definitely isn’t as awful as many reviewers and bloggers make it out to be.

Structural flaws and script issues aside, “The Newsroom” remains an enjoyable, if at-times frustrating, show that has only continued to improve over time.

“The Newsroom” focuses on the behind-the-scenes action of a fictional cable network, Atlantis Cable News (ACN). Most of the show’s plot surrounds the network’s flagship program, “News see NEWSROOM, page 6

Okkervil River performed some of its new singles at last weekend’s Boston Calling Music Festival.

Okkervil River’s new album maps singer’s childhood by

Caroline Welch

Daily Editorial Board

Music — good music — is almost always personal. More often than not, songs seek inspiration from memories, and records are rooted in real life experiences. It is this autobiographical element that attracts audiences time and time again; for listeners, authenticity is compelling.

Will Sheff knows this.

Sheff is the founder and frontman of Texas-based indie rock band Okkervil River, which recently released its eighth album, “The Silver Gymnasium,” on Sept.

3. The album is largely a remembrance of Sheff’s childhood, spent in a small, New England town during the 80s. This central theme of “growing up” is evident even before hearing the actual tracks. As a pro-

motion for “Gymnasium,” Okkervil River’s website offers an interactive, retro-style computer game that allows users to control a teenage Sheff as he wanders around his city listening to the group’s new tunes on a Sony Walkman. The website also features an online version of the artwork included in the physical album itself. An intricate illustration of Sheff’s hometown of Meriden, N.H., makes the album, quite literally, a roadmap of the singer’s youth.

Musically, “Gymnasium” oozes nostalgia. However, listeners can rest assured that although Sheff’s sentimentality for the past is potent, it’s not overdone. Dexterously weaving various instrumental tones throughout the 11-song compilation, the tracks express a wide range of emotions while simultaneously maintaining a definitive cohesiveness.

Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons

see GYMNASIUM, page 6

Olivia Munn’s talented delivery of Sorkin’s clever material is impressive.

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Friday, September 13, 2013

HBO series improves throughout second season

NEWSROOM

continued from page 5

Night with Will McAvoy,” and its star anchor Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels). Set in the recent past, the show has its characters reporting on real-life stories, with the first season covering 2010-2011 and the second focusing on 2012. Because of this, Sorkin’s own hindsight sometimes affects his characters’ views and decisions. Most of the first season focused on Will’s reawakening as an anchor and his desire to lead a program with the integrity of famous reporters like Edward R. Murrow or Walter Cronkite, something he refers to as a “mission to civilize.”

While Will’s “mission to civilize” would unfortunately enable Sorkin’s more preachy tendencies as a writer to shine through, thankfully the second season has a more intriguing plot line.

The news team did cover major 2012 events like the presidential election and the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi, but this season has centered on ACN’s coverage of Operation Genoa, a story about U.S. military forces who used chemical weapons on civilians in 2009. The one issue? The story turns out to be completely false, creating different problems for all of the show’s principle characters. The slow buildup throughout the season to the actual airing of the story is masterful, a fascinating depiction of a news network constructing a segment from the ground up. Sadly, Sorkin isn’t as graceful with the actual fallout from the false report as he is with the buildup: Many characters’ reactions during the aftermath feel

at odds with their personalities.

“The Newsroom” is excellent television when it zeroes in on the inner workings of the network through a story like Genoa. Unfortunately, Sorkin devotes a fair amount of time to the characters’ personal lives outside the office, and this is where things get problematic. Sorkin writes romantic relationships into the show to the point that such plot lines overstay their welcome. The drawn-out issues between producers Jim (John Gallagher Jr.) and Maggie (Alison Pill) have long expired, and the show sloppily portrays the primary relationship between exes Will and MacKenzie (Emily Mortimer).

Sorkin relies heavily on momentary hints and rushed dialogue to depict their complicated relationship status and often goes episodes without mentioning it before awkwardly shoehorning it in once again. A drama like “The Newsroom” can surely contain romantic elements, but it should have a relationship that viewers are actually invested in.

Although “The Newsroom” has some serious flaws, it is truly an enjoyable show. Even at its most forced moments, Sorkin’s dialogue is a treat to watch, and the show’s cast typically does a superb job of delivering their lines (Olivia Munn and Sam Waterston being the two standouts). Daniels is always a pleasure to follow as the main character, yet with such an excellent cast, the show remains a true ensemble piece.

“The Newsroom” may not be the heir to “The West Wing,” but its witty dialogue and great acting make it entertaining television nonetheless.

Pruneau via Wikimedia Commons

Aaron Sorkin shows viewers the inner workings of a fictional cable network in ‘The Newsroom.’

New record ripe with nostalgia and reflection GYMNASIUM

continued from page 5

Courtesy Museum of Fine Arts

The MFA’s new exhibit is a testament to bright and vibrant fashions of the 1960s and 70s.

MFA exhibit showcases remarkable patterns and designs HIPPIE

continued from page 5

Yves Saint Laurent, Arnold Scaasi and Geoffrey Beene. Though some of the pieces seem humorously outdated, they also serve as a reminder of the innovation and spirit of their era. Don’t miss the Man’s Jacket from 1967 by Granny Takes a Trip, modeled by a male mannequin with a silvery white afro and sunglasses.

“Hippie Chic’s” use of space is innovative for a smaller, one-room exhibition. Beyond just the elevated rotating mannequin platforms, one figure is even suspended in the air on a swinglike structure, which adds to the room’s playful atmosphere. Even the floors are incorporated into the display, with bright lights that cast different shapes across the ground. Various backdrops add visual appeal with funky wallpaper and a purple and white wall that pop behind the mannequins. Aesthetically, “Hippie Chic” balances elements of nature and the psychedelic with patterns that have a jarring effect on the eye, visually creating a cohesive

impression of the baby boomer generation as a whole.

Another impressive aspect of the exhibition is its ability to cater to such a wide-ranging audience. While fashion lovers will admire renowned designers represented in “Hippie Chic,” it’s also a great place to visit with kids. The bright colors and music contribute to a familyfriendly environment without sacrificing the curatorial intent of the show. One display can catch the eye of both a fashion aficionado and a young child. For example, a high-end Yves Saint Laurent ensemble is offset by a light-hearted afro and sunglasses on its mannequin model, similar to the style of the aforementioned Granny Takes a Trip model, that can make any viewer smile.

Striking a perfect balance between groovy and elegant, fun and educational, this is an exhibition that everyone should see. With over 54 ensembles, “Hippie Chic” allows viewers to become fully immersed in the sights, sounds and culture that influenced the fashion of this alluring age.

Lyrically, the songs avoid cliches: Sheff’s adolescent recollections aren’t generic, one-sizefits-all pieces. He instead sings about specific instances, often using hazy yet poetic phrases.

Though the coming-of-age story is one of the oldest in the book, Sheff’s lyrics add a layer of depth to this tried-and-true subject.

The album opens with the piano-driven piece “It Was My Season.” Here, there is a distinct disconnect between the song’s sound and content. Springy and lighthearted, the track induces a foot-bouncing and fingertapping frenzy before listeners have a chance to really hear the words. Despite the cheerful melody, “It Was My Season” is actually a lonely reminiscence of a fleeting young love. In the first lines, Sheff laments, “Tell me a reason / to break things off / or stop the bleeding.” Then, as the song picks up, he declares over thumping drums, “And if you want to stop our ‘thing’ you’ll stop my heart / all this pain inside’s still just too sharp.” Subtle references to VCRs and Atari suggest an 80s setting, adding an almost narrative-like aspect to the song.

Unlike “It Was My Season,” “Lido Pier Suicide Car,” the album’s fifth track, has lyrics that match the music. With a soft, unhurried lead in, the song contains a noticeably echo-y quality, lending a lonesome, even depressing air to the music.

Muted vocals over the delicate, drawn-out strumming of an acoustic guitar fit effortlessly together with Sheff’s words: “We watch our old friends fall away / my heart feeling away / to watch our little town and

see that / I know it wasn’t far, we’re leaving / oh, really we’re leaving.” This sad, melancholic atmosphere persists until the very last minute of the song, where Sheff revs up the third verse. The ending almost manages to mimic the joyful, positive disposition of previous songs — until the closing seconds when the music fades out, as quiet and wavering as it began.

Perhaps one of the most clear-cut songs of the record is “Stay Young,” a feel-good anthem embracing youth. The track begins at a slow and steady pace, repeating a series of three to four notes on what sounds like an electronic organ. After the first 30 seconds, the guitar takes over, an upbeat uprising against the heavy, measured stanzas that came earlier. In an instant, “Stay Young” leaps from a leisurely, strolling speed to a buoyant and skipping tempo.

Over a high-pitched synthetic tinkling and the deep plunk of the bass enters Okkervil’s signature instrument, the trumpet. Paired with a jubilant harmonica solo, the brass injects even more zest into an already spirited song. Spreading high-level energy and uncontained enthusiasm, “Stay Young” is a song that all ages can enjoy.

“The Silver Gymnasium” is a unique take on a well-worn concept. Sheff commits fully to the album, which functions as a sort of aural documentary of his youth, with solid musical and lyrical substance. Although not every song is a winner, Sheff’s wholehearted devotion to his overarching theme is what makes “The Silver Gymnasium” worth a listen.

Zhuangchen Zhou / The Tufts Daily

Okkervil River frontman Will Sheff reflects on his adolescence in New Hampshire on ‘The Silver Gymnasium.’

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Friday, September 13, 2013

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Friday, September 13, 2013

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Tufts looks to rebound at Middlebury

Strong upperclassmen complemented by younger talent MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY continued from page 12

Jumbos’ potential lies between the third and 10th positions. Seniors James McCauley and Brian McLaughlin have competed at NCAAs, and co-captain Jamie Norton placed 16th at the ECAC Championships last fall. They are motivating each other, and the rest of the team, to get better.

“Our success will hinge upon how the core of our team performs as a unit,” Norton said. “We definitely bring that mentality to practice, trying to keep some tight workout groups and pull each other through.”

While there may be a handful of seniors at the top, there are also younger harriers hungry for big-meet experience. Juniors Joseph St. Pierre and Marshall Pagano were on the cusp of competing at NCAAs last year, and there is little doubt that they hope to be on that starting line come mid-November.

GOLF

continued from page 12

let the competition take care of itself.

We tend to do the opposite, where we let up during the week and then try to lock in for the competition.”

Having already put the Bowdoin Invitational behind them, the Jumbos will look to gain momentum against most of the top teams in New England.

“I’m excited about the opportunity we have this year,” Zorniger said.

“When my class came in, Tufts had lost four of five starters and was looking to rebuild. Now that my class has matured, and with help from some new additions, this is really the time to take that next step forward ... and compete for conference titles.”

Likewise, juniors Nick Guarnaccia and Greg Hardy and sophomore Michael Curley are expected to be contributors throughout the season.

“They all have the potential to make more of an impact than they have in years past,” Norton said of the sophomores and juniors. “We’ll be looking for them to step up in a big way.”

The Jumbos’ depth is impressive on paper, but so is that of their main competitors. Despite their high preseason ranking, they still fall behind three NESCAC foes: Bowdoin (No. 5), Bates (No. 6) and Williams (No. 8).

Competing in the toughest conference in Div. III is nothing new to the Jumbos, who pulled out a three-point victory over Middlebury last year in the NESCAC Championships. Winning the program’s fifth conference title will once again be a tall order.

None of the rankings will matter on Nov. 16 at the New England

Women’s cross country hopes to make strides in NESCAC WOMEN’S XC

continued from page 12

the team’s construction will likely be a step in the right direction.

“The season so far has already been much different from last year in the best way possible,” she said. “The roster was cut down from 40 to 25 girls, which has established a more serious tone on the team. The smaller roster will allow more opportunity for everybody to be a contributor in races this season. A smaller team has also allowed us to get to know each other on a deeper level and learn how to work better together during hard workouts, which will hopefully transfer over into our races.”

Because of the notoriously strong cross country talent in the NESCAC, a conference championship seems to be out of reach for this year’s Jumbos, but

the team feels that it can still accomplish its goals without winning the league.

“Our first goal is to place third or higher at the NESCAC Championship,” Creath said. “Judging from the rosters of the other NESCAC schools, Williams and Middlebury should still be dominant. Colby and Bates shouldn’t be counted out either.”

Last season, after finishing tied with Bates and behind Williams, Middlebury and Amherst in the NESCAC Championship, the Jumbos placed sixth in the New England Regional Championship, nearly earning a spot at the NCAA Championships.

“Based on how our girls have been running, I know that we will be strong contenders and have girls finishing at the top of the pack when it comes down to big races like NESCACs and Regionals,” Creath said. “At Regionals we

are determined to finish in the top four.

The NCAA will take six New England teams to the National Championship, and TUXC plans to be one of them.”

In the case of the team not qualifying, runners can qualify for the NCAA Championship meets as individuals with a strong showing at the Regional meet. Last season, sophomore Audrey Gould placed 19th at Regionals and was the only Jumbo to earn a spot at the NCAA Championship meet. Out of the Tufts runners, Gould, Barker, Creath and sophomore Olivia Beltrani have the highest chances of qualifying for the NCAA Championship meet as individuals.

With only four meets until the NESCAC Championship, timing is everything for the Jumbos.

“Based on how last year ended, the hardest part about this season will be not peaking too soon,” Creath said. “Women’s TUXC

Regionals, where only the top two teams earn automatic bids to NCAAs. It will once again be a dogfight for teams to advance to the most important race of the season. Last year, the Jumbos found themselves on the outside looking in, having to rely on an at-large bid following a fifth-place regional finish.

Right now, though, the team is focused on converting summer miles into strong autumn finishes.

“Our team is as fit and deep as it’s ever been,” Norton said. “A lot of guys put in some awesome work this summer and are in the best shape of their lives.”

The team’s first meet is Sept. 21 at the University of Southern Maine Invitational. Three weeks later the Jumbos have their closest meet to home, the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Championship in Boston’s Franklin Park.

was very dominant up until NESCACs last year, and then we fell apart.”

Barker mentioned the importance of staying in packs both in practice and at meets as a key way for the team to motivate itself while running.

“We’ve already developed a strong pack mentality in the training so far this year, and I’m excited to see how that will push us in races,” Barker said.

All in all, the team believes that increased mental fortitude and an enhanced training regimen will allow for greater success this fall.

“We have a lot to learn from last year’s season that will make us stronger mentally because we have a much better idea of the challenges we will face,” Barker said. “Quite a few people are coming off of a really strong summer training and are already pushing our team and making it more competitive.”

Editors’ Challenge | Week 2 Welcome to Week 2 of Editors’ Challenge. Week 2 is a wondrous time of year, when panic sets in for fans of 0-1 teams, while fans of 1-0 teams simply won’t shut up. It was one game, okay? We’re not going to turn the ball over six times every week. You’re better than that, David Wilson! Hold on to the goddam— Sorry. Back to picks.

The scandal of the week was a 13-3 performance by Jake “Anthony Weiner” Indursky, who is somehow in the lead despite flipping off freshman reporters, arguing with the owners of Tufts’ soon-to-come kosher deli, and — of course — tweeting pictures of dicks. He’ll fall back to Earth soon.

Right behind Indursky are Marcus “John Edwards” Budline and Zachey “Herman Cain” Kliger. Budline’s Eds’ Challenge campaign will probably hit a rut when the public learns he’s in bed with an editor from the Observer who has been making his picks. And Kliger won’t last long using a 9-9-9 formation; that’s too many men on the field.

A pair of young guns, Jason “Chris Lee” Schneiderman and Ross “Eric Massa” Dember, are tied for third place after going 11-5 in Week 1. Schneiderman flexed his picking muscles, but don’t be surprised if he’s also been doing some flexing on Craigslist ... if you know what I mean. Dember is just tickled to be near the top.

Next up is Alex “Bill Clinton” Schroeder, who, as Biscuit in Chief, can get away with just about anything. He reached 10 wins last week, but let’s just say Schroeder will do OVERALL LAST WEEK NYJ at NE STL at ATL CAR at BUF MIN at CHI WAS at GB MIA at IND DAL at KC CLE at BAL TEN at HOU SD at PHI DET at ARI NO at TB JAC at OAK DEN at NYG SF at SEA PIT at CIN

Jake 13-3 13-3 NE ATL BUF CHI GB IND KC BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK NYG SF CIN

Marcus 12-4 12-4 NE ATL BUF CHI GB IND DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK DEN SF CIN

Zachey 12-4 12-4 NE ATL BUF CHI GB IND DAL BAL HOU SD DET NO OAK DEN SF PIT

Jason 11-5 11-5 NE ATL CAR CHI GB IND DAL BAL TEN PHI ARI NO OAK NYG SEA CIN

Ross 11-5 11-5 NE ATL BUF CHI GB MIA DAL BAL HOU PHI ARI NO OAK DEN SEA CIN

Alex S 10-6 10-6 NE ATL CAR CHI GB IND KC BAL HOU PHI DET NO JAC DEN SF CIN

whatever it takes to get a head.

Aaron “David Petraeus” Leibowitz received some undercover picking intelligence, but it apparently didn’t do him much good: he went 9-7. His editor might be able to explain that. Meanwhile, Tyler “Tim Mahoney” Maher is also in the middle of the pack. He’s fairly new to the masthead, but maybe someone should take his seat.

A pair of seniors is reeling at 8-8. Matt “Newt Gingrich” Berger comes off a bit hypocritical after leading the movement to fire Schroeder while, in reality, being no better himself. He doesn’t even write a beat, for heaven’s sake! Then there’s David “John F. Kennedy” McIntyre, who’s tall, dark and handsome but in the midst of a — ahem — Cuban Missile Crisis.

Claire “Helen Chenoweth-Hage” Sleigh can at least admit her sad state of affairs after a .500 effort, whereas Kate “Grover Cleveland” Klots plans to pay child support all the way to the playoffs. After a 7-9 week, though, that prospect seems unlikely.

Alex “Jack Ryan” Connors has been doing strange things with some woman who was in the TV version of Star Trek, and he’s been doing even weirder things with his picks. He, too, went 7-9.

Best of luck to our guest picker, layout specialist Elliot “Eliot Spitzer” Philips. One piece of advice: Don’t pay too much for your picks. When all is said and done, you won’t get laid out, and you won’t win Eds’ Challenge.

Aaron 9-7 9-7 NE ATL BUF CHI GB MIA KC BAL HOU PHI ARI NO OAK NYG SF CIN

Tyler 9-7 9-7 NE ATL CAR CHI GB IND DAL BAL HOU SD DET NO JAC NYG SF CIN

Matt 8-8 8-8 NE ATL CAR CHI GB IND DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK DEN SEA CIN

Claire 8-8 8-8 NE ATL BUF CHI GB IND DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK DEN SF CIN

David 8-8 8-8 NE ATL BUF MIN WAS MIA DAL CLE TEN SD ARI TB JAC NYG SF PIT

Kate 7-9 7-9 NE ATL CAR MIN GB IND DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO JAC DEN SF CIN

Alex C 7-9 7-9 NE ATL CAR CHI GB MIA DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK DEN SF CIN

GUEST Elliot Philips NE ATL BUF CHI GB MIA DAL BAL HOU PHI DET NO OAK NYG SEA CIN

Sports

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tuftsdaily.com

Golf

Tufts set on improving after weak performance

by Steven

Hefter

Senior Staff Writer

The men’s golf team exhibited early season rust at the Bowdoin Invitational this past weekend, placing ninth out of 13 teams with a total team score of 659. Tufts, which finished 54 strokes behind firstplace Middlebury, was led by junior Alex Zorniger, who finished tied for 28th out of 71 entrants after shooting a twoday total of 162.

“I think we could have played much better at Bowdoin,” sophomore Matt Lesnik said.

“The course was not too difficult, but we were all rusty since it was the first tournament of the season.”

Although the tournament did not bring the success the Jumbos had hoped for, there were some individual bright spots. Zorniger’s first-round score of 77 put him in ninth place following the first day of competition on Saturday.

On Sunday, sophomore Jay Wong shot an 80, the low score for the team. Wong finished the tournament with a score of 164, good for 34th, but three strokes higher than his total at the 2012 Bowdoin Invitational.

Following Wong for the Jumbos was Lesnik, who posted Tufts’ second best score on Saturday, 81, and then an 84 on Sunday for a weekend total of 165, tied for 35th.

Junior John Wawer shot an 84 on both Saturday and Sunday, placing him 44th. Tufts’ final entrant, sophomore Brandon Koh, finished with a weekend total of 174, but his score did not factor into the Jumbos’

final team mark.

Despite their underwhelming performance at Bowdoin, the Jumbos return all of their top players from last year’s squad and know how to handle the season’s ups and downs.

“Our big strength is that we have a lot of collegiate competitive experience,” Zorniger said. “This is the third year with pretty much the same core, and while we were young the past couple of years, we’ve now got a veteran presence on the team.

We are comfortable in those stressful situations that come about when we’re in the hunt or when things aren’t going as well as we’d expect them to.”

Significant room for improvement remains. No Tufts player shot under 80 on Sunday, and few players were able to post strong scores on consecutive days.

“We need to improve on consistency,” Lesnik said.

“Everyone on the team is capable of going low and putting out a good score, but we need to do that on a consistent basis.”

The team will look to rebound at the Duke Nelson Invitational at Middlebury this weekend. Last season, the Jumbos finished 17th at the same tournament, posting a weekend score of 651. They were led by Wong and Wawer, who tied for 29th individually with a score of 158.

“I think we need to put more of our focus on preparation, rather than performance,” Zorniger added. “If we do what we need to do during the week to prepare, we can relax and see GOLF, page 11

Men’s Cross Country

Jumbos poised for another top finish this fall by

Ross Dember

Daily Editorial Board

For the past two years, the men’s cross country team has begun the season with high expectations — and it has surpassed them both times with top-10 finishes at the Div. III NCAA Championship in November. Entering this fall ranked No. 11 in the nation, the Jumbos look to continue that trend.

Despite losing their top two runners in Matt Rand (LA ’13) and Kyle Marks (LA ’13), the Jumbos still boast a strong one-two punch in seniors Andrew Shapero and co-captain Ben Wallis. Each has a history of strong performances in big meets and is coming off a strong junior campaign.

Shapero is Tufts’ top returner from Nationals and has shown consistent year-to-year improvement. His experience and strong championship resume make him an important asset in meets often decided by mere seconds.

Meanwhile, Wallis’ junior year saw him skyrocket from solid NESCAC performer to national contender. In the fall, he placed 11th in both the NESCAC and Regional Championships, but it was his seventh-place finish in the 3,000-meter Steeplechase at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships that earned him his first AllAmerican award. The team expects him to carry over the momentum to the grass.

“He certainly has big goals for the season,” assistant coach Mike Schmidt said. “It

Week Recap

Jumbos impress in first home games of fall season The Tufts fall sports teams played their first games at home throughout the week, with just the women’s soccer team traveling to nearby Cambridge, Mass. to take on MIT. Here is a recap of how the Jumbos fared as they started their home campaigns for the 2013 season: Men’s Soccer Perhaps the most exciting game from the week was the men’s soccer team’s match against Suffolk University on Wednesday. The Jumbos started the home season with a bang by blanking the Rams 7-0, the most goals scored by a Tufts men’s soccer team since 2000.

Junior tri-captain Max Hoppenot and freshman Nathan Majumder each scored two goals in a Tufts effort that saw points contributed from eight different players.

Tufts outshot Suffolk 31-2 as the Rams fell to 0-4 on the season.

The Jumbos, now 2-0, play on Saturday on Kraft Field at 3 p.m., when they will take on NESCAC opponent Colby.

Women’s Soccer Women’s soccer took on MIT in a non-conference matchup Tuesday in which the Jumbos fell 2-1 against the No. 22 Engineers. Despite early scoring chances from senior tri-captain forward Anya Kaufmann and a

dangerous corner from senior midfielder Amanda Neveu, Tufts was unable to capitalize on its opportunities, as was the story in its season opener against Bates.

The Engineers went on to take a 2-0 lead before the half, and the Jumbos were not able to complete the comeback in time.

Their lone goal came from freshman forward Brooke Fortin in the 50th minute on a shot that sailed over the outstreched hands of MIT freshman goalkeeper Lauren Ullmann. The Jumbos have now dropped their first two games of the season and will look for their first win against Colby at home on Saturday at 12:30 p.m.

Field Hockey No. 2 Tufts continued its run for a repeat championship season with a 4-2 victory against Babson on Tuesday. Sophomore midfielder Dakota Sikes-Keilp scored a hat trick against the visiting Beavers in the Jumbos’ first non-conference matchup.

Babson jumped out to an early lead eight minutes into the game, but Sikes-Keilp responded by scoring all three of her goals in succession, giving the Jumbos a 3-1 lead before senior cocaptain forward Chelsea Yogerst made it 4-1 Jumbos heading into halftime. The Beavers tacked on one goal in the second half but could not get any closer, fall-

ing to 2-2 on the season. The Tufts field hockey squad, like the men’s and women’s soccer teams, will face Colby on Saturday for its next match.

Daily File Photo

The Tufts men’s cross country team is ready to take on the difficult competition of the NESCAC, coming into the season ranked No. 11. is early to say what he can run at this point of the season, but I would definitely put him toward the front of the group in Nationals.”

—by Alex Schroeder

see MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY, page 11

Women’s XC

Jumbo runners optimistic for fall season by

Volleyball Tufts volleyball added to its strong performance from the Brandeis Invitational tournament with a win in five sets against Colby-Sawyer College in Cousens Gymnasium on Tuesday.

The young Jumbos squad is now 4-1 on the season. Junior middle hitter Isabel Kuhel led the offense with 16 kills, while sophomore libero Carolina Berger paced the defense with 24 digs.

The Chargers took the first set 25-23, but the Jumbos fought back to win the next two. Set four saw a large 16-9 lead from Colby-Sawyer, and although the Jumbos fought back to close the lead and trail 21-19, ColbySawyer held on to tie it up at two sets apiece. Tufts was able to put forth a strong performance in the final set with big contributions from sophomore setter Kyra Baum, who finished the match with a team-high 47 assists. Volleyball will take part in the MIT Invitational tournament over the weekend, playing four games over the course of Friday and Saturday.

While Shapero and Wallis will be spending time with the lead pack, the heart of the

Alex Connors

Daily Editorial Board

The women’s cross country team, led by head coach Kristen Morwick, starts its season on Sept. 21 at the University of Southern Maine Invitational. After an inconsistent 2012 season, defined by a tied-for-fourth-place finish at the NESCAC Championship and ending without an NCAA Championship bid, the team is hopeful about potential improvement this season.

Senior tri-captain Abby Barker believes that the team should be able to learn from its mistakes last year in order to overcome some of the difficulties that it faced.

“I think we are stronger than we’ve ever been as a team,” Barker said. “Each year we learn from our failures in the previous season, and that is especially true of this year. Last season, we got caught up in the little things, as well as some injury issues, and ultimately were not as prepared as the teams we raced.”

For senior tri-captain Lauren Creath, the changes in see WOMEN’S XC, page 11

i Andrew Morgenthaler / Tufts Daily Archives

The Tufts women’s cross country team did not earn an NCAA tournament berth last year, but hopes a new training scheme and smaller team will improve this year’s chances.