TuftsDaily10.01.13

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University admits Golden Rice ethics violation

by Sarah

TUFTSDAILY.COM

Tuesday, october 1, 2013

VOLUME LXVI, NUMBER 18

Where You Read It First Est. 1980

Filming on the Hill

Zheng

Daily Editorial Board

University officials have admitted that Tufts-affiliated researchers violated scientific ethics laws after feeding genetically modified rice to children in China without proper consent in a study about “Golden Rice.”

A recent university announcement confirmed accusations from Greenpeace that researchers in the study had tested the rice on children without disclosing the true nature of the experiment, according to Tufts Deputy Director of Public Relations Jennifer Kritz. The team was led

by Guangwen Tang, an associate professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.

Golden Rice, which contains beta carotene, was developed as a solution for Vitamin A deficiency in children, Kritz told the Daily in an email. Such deprivation causes blindness in approximately 250,000 children annually, and about half of those children die within a year as a result of the sight loss.

During the 2008 study, researchers gave 72 primary school children in China’s Hunan province rations of the modified rice, according to a Sept. 18 article in ScienceInsider. All children were between the ages of six and eight years old.

On Sept. 17 of this year, Tufts issued an email statement to media outlets standing by the findings of the study, but conceding an ethical violation.

“While the study data were validated and no health or safety concerns were identified, the research itself was found not to have been conducted in full compliance with [institutional review board (IRB)] policy or federal regulations,” the university said in the statement.

According to the announcement, Tang will be bared from conducting research on human subjects for two years, during which time she will be retrained on human subject research regulations and policies.

As a result, Tang has decided to close her lab next year, ScienceInsider reported.

“The general [Chinese] public show great shock and [anger] on this unbelievable misconduct of golden rice trial,” Jiangli Yu, senior campaigner at Greenpeace East Asia, told the Daily in an email. “Especially for those parents of children who were involved in the trial, they feel hurt since they were not told the details which they were supposed to know.”

On the other hand, the Chinese governsee RICE, page 2

Flu clinics on campus Tufts Health Service will offer free influenza vaccinations during three clinics this fall. Clinics will be held today from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Thursday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The flu clinics will be held at the Health Service Conference Room at 124 Professors Row. They are open to all students on the Medford/Somerville campus who have paid the health fee.

Students are advised to wear a shortsleeved shirt and to have their IDs present.

—by Abigail Feldman

Kyra Sturgill / The Tufts Daily

Students stood by for a closer look as Columbia Pictures completed shooting on the Academic Quad yesterday afternoon. The movie, set for release in 2014, stars Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz.

Cummings School dean receives diversity leadership award

by Josh

Weiner

Daily Editorial Board

Dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Deborah Kochevar was awarded the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association (LGVMA)’s Leadership Award on July 21 for her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion in the veterinary field.

Kochevar was one of two award recipients, along with James W. Lloyd, dean of the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. The LGVMA Leadership Award is presented to individuals or organizations that display leadership and activism within the veterinary community.

Kochevar and Lloyd were honored

Inside this issue

at LGVMA’s annual meeting held at the Hyatt McCormick Place in Chicago.

Other community members received the Achievement and Presidential Service awards.

President of the LGVMA Sandy Hazanow (V ’92) elaborated on the criteria for selecting the honorees, noting that LGVMA gives awards to those who exceed their standard roles in the organization.

“The LGVMA leadership award is awarded to our colleagues who ... [contribute] a substantial amount of time, energy and expertise towards the purpose of promoting the value of LGBT people in our profession,” she said.

Hazanow hopes the award will serve as a source of inspiration for members of the

LGBT community.

“It is a pillar for those whose true selves are suppressed to see that there are people who are on their side,” she said. “It is a role model for those who are freer to simply exist and for our straight allies to join in the work of LGBT inclusion.”

Kochevar was the first veterinary dean in the nation to become a member of LGVMA and has since assisted the organization in supporting student activity and sponsoring stipends for veterinary students, among other projects.

She spoke positively of her experience working alongside the members of LGVMA. see LGVMA, page 2

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‘Grand Theft Auto V’ is an immersive visual experience.

Jack Johnson experiments with old and new sounds in most recent album.

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Award promotes LGBT inclusion in vet community LGVMA

continued from page 1

“They have been around for 20 years and have done really great work in broadening the views of people in the veterinary profession and working to educate a diverse array of individuals,” Kochevar said.

Kochevar joined LGVMA after attending a LGVMA co-sponsored lecture by Shane Snowdon, the founding director of the Center for LGBT Health and Equity at the University of California San Francisco.

The lecture took place at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges Iverson-Bell conference in 2011.

Hazanow believes Kochevar’s award was well deserved given her contributions to the organization over the past two years.

“Dean Kochevar has been a resource for us in the LGVMA leadership to discuss

ideas and concerns with,” Hazanow said.

“She has supported our programs personally and within her academic community and has shown commitment to furthering general diversity and LGBT inclusion in veterinary medicine.”

Michael McGuill (V ’91), adjunct associate professor at the Cummings School, also applauded Kochevar’s efforts in promoting the integration of LGBT individuals into the veterinary community.

“She’s really been instrumental in guiding the group on inclusion issues,” he said.

“I think it’s amazing and wonderful that she and the Tufts community have been involved with LGVMA.” Kochevar plans to continuing working with LGVMA in the future.

“I was very honored,” Kochevar said. “I certainly intend to remain supportive of and active with LGVMA.”

News

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Tufts researcher to be barred from working with human subjects RICE

continued from page 1

ment’s Ministry of Agriculture, a department responsible for genetically modified organism bio-safety management, has not given any official response, Yu said. The Chinese academic circle, which includes scientists involved in genetic engineering research, does not believe the experiment is a major concern.

The study was published in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (AJCN) in August 2012 and concluded that Golden Rice was a promising source of Vitamin A for Chinese children. No punitive action has been taken by the journal thus far.

“The [AJCN] and the Society that owns the [AJCN] have not made a final decision on action(s) that will be taken on the information recently made available to us,” Editor-in-Chief of AJCN Dennis Bier told the Daily in an email.

According to a Dec. 10 article in the science journal Nature, the Tufts researchers conducted the study with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Nutrition and Food Safety Institute (CDC). After Greenpeace first questioned the study in August 2012, the CDC began a three-month investigation of the experiment, which resulted in the organization firing two members of its own staff, including principal investigator Shi’an Yin. A China Central Television broadcast later revealed that Yin had sent an email to Tang in which a CDC official had changed the wording of information given to the children’s parents. The new wording avoided mentioning Golden Rice because it was “too sensitive,” according to the article in Nature.

During the time of the Golden Rice study, co-author and Tufts affiliate Gerard Dallal was responsible for meeting with investigators to discuss overall study design and analyzing the data after the study in accordance to protocol. He was not, however, involved in carrying out the actual experiment.

“I leave implementation to the principal investigator,” Dallal told the Daily in an email. “I don’t have a hand in the actual data collection.”

Dallal explained that the IRB had

approved the study and that he had seen no reason to monitor the goings on between protocol approval and data delivery.

“I would not stick my head in the sand to ignore any unethical behavior, were I to have observed any,” he added.

Tufts’ own IRB had investigated the ethical procedures for scientific fraud or data manipulation, according to the media statement. Following additional reviews by internal and external panels, however, the Tufts IRB found that Tang had provided insufficient evidence to show that the study had been approved by an ethics review board in China and that the consent forms for the study had been tampered with.

Because of this, Tufts’ IRB has revised its policies and procedures to ensure that in the future, research conducted outside of the United States is reviewed more carefully, according to the email to the media.

Kritz said that Tufts, despite the violation, stands by the results of the study.

“These multiple reviews found no concerns related to the integrity of the study data, the accuracy of the research results or the safety of the research subjects,” the media statement read. “In fact, the study indicated that a single serving of the test product, Golden Rice, could provide greater than 50 percent of the recommended daily intake of Vitamin A in these children, which could significantly improve health outcomes if adopted as a dietary regimen.”

Still, there is significant debate about the effectiveness of Golden Rice as a Vitamin A dietary supplement. According to Michael Hansen, senior staff scientist at the Consumers Union, the experiment was designed in a way to give the best possible results.

Genetically engineered crops have unexpected and unpredictable effects, and their food safety for humans and animals is still unknown, Yu asserted.

“The Machiavellian principle of ‘the end justifies the means’ cannot be applied to science involving GE crops including Golden Rice,” Yu said. “It’s clear the researchers lacked objectivity and cut corners in order to advance the GE Golden Rice propaganda machine.”

Courtesy Andy Cunningham, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine

Deborah Kochevar, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, received the Lesbian and Gay Veterinary Medical Association (LGVMA) Leadership Award for her work in advancing inclusion and diversity in the veterinary community.

Police briefs Drive n’ dash Tufts University Police Department (TUPD) on Sept. 27 at 1:47 a.m. received a call for assistance from the Medford Police Department. A female student had taken a cab from Cambridge to her residence. The student told the cab driver that she would go inside, get the money and return to pay. The driver waited approximately 30 minutes before ringing the doorbell and knocking on the door. He then called Medford Police.

Officers were able to contact with the student’s roommates, who chipped in for the fare. The student herself would not come to the door.

Lights out TUPD on Sept. 28 at 11:18 p.m. responded to a power outage in Wren Hall. Officers arrived on scene and noticed that only part of the building was out of power. An open electrical box was found with its breakers switched to the off position. Officers reset the breakers, and the power came back on.

Runaway patient Police on Sept. 29 at 12:43 a.m. received a call from Carmichael Hall about a head injury. The male student

was then transported to Lawrence Memorial Hospital for overconsumption of alcohol. At 10:45 a.m., the hospital notified TUPD that the student had left the premises before being cleared and was still wearing an IV. TUPD notified Medford Police.

The student was eventually located on College Avenue and George Street after an area search. The student said he left the hospital after nobody had checked on him in a while. He was transported back to the hospital for further care.

B&E therapy Officers on Sept. 29 at 1:22 a.m. responded to a security alarm at Tufts’ Occupational Therapy Department on Winthrop Street. TUPD arrived and heard commotion on the first floor roof of the building. Two people came down on the officers’ orders and immediately identified themselves as Tufts students. The students had been drinking on the roof, noticed an unlocked window and climbed in, setting off the alarm. The officers recorded their information and sent them home.

— Compiled by Menghan Liu

International Rice Research Institute via Wikimedia Commons

Tufts researcher Guangwen Tang and her team inspired controversy after feeding genetically modified Golden Rice, pictured here, to children in China without proper consent. The experiment explored the efficacy of Golden Rice as a solution for Vitamin A deficiency.

Features

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Petar Todorov | Lab Notes

Genomics: a personal journey

M

Andrew Schneer for the Tufts Daily

ROTC students at Tufts have been completing their training at MIT with eight other participating institutions.

ROTC students look forward to serving the nation after demanding program by

Adam Nagy

Contributing Writer

Tufts prides itself on attracting students dedicated to active citizenship. Few Jumbos, however, exhibit this ideal to a higher standard than the young men and women of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC).

Tufts’ ROTC program is hosted at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and despite the logistical difficulties of heading to MIT nearly every day, a few dozen Tufts students take classes through ROTC each year.

Students participate in different branches of ROTC, including the Army, Air Force or Navy programs. Upon graduation, these students enter the military as commissioned officers of their respective branches, with Army and Air Force cadets achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant, and Navy midshipmen that of Ensign or Second Lieutenant if entering the Marine Corps.

Students at Tufts have chosen to join the military for a variety of reasons.

“My grandfather was in the Royal Navy, and his influence was my main reason for joining,” junior midshipman David Forsey said. “He was a major role model in my life, and his example pushed me towards joining the military. After he passed away, my desire to join remained, so I pursued it in college.”

The impact of coming from a military family was a sentiment many others share.

For instance, junior Army cadet Robert Costa’s father served in the military for 31 years, influencing his decision to join.

For other students, ROTC’s merit-based scholarships, financial aid and money for books are also a huge draw, making increasingly out-of-reach college tuitions and living expenses possible.

Regardless of the branches students choose to join, ROTC students are all working towards the same goal: to serve the country. Getting there is no easy task, Forsey said, as participating in ROTC requires a significant time commitment — one that the average student would have a hard time imagining.

“ROTC is ... not something that can be taken lightly,” Forsey said. “I can only speak to what Navy ROTC does, but we train almost exclusively at MIT, usually four days a week in the mornings before class.”

On a typical weekday, Costa said he wakes up at 5:30 a.m. to attend physical training at MIT alongside students from eight other schools, such as Harvard University, Lesley

University and Wellesley College.

Costa acknowledged that ROTC life comes with a lot of responsibility.

“This year, I am a squad leader,” he said. “And it’s a big difference from being purely responsible for yourself to also being responsible for all the squad members and all the cadets that are younger than me.”

According to Forsey, taking part in the ROTC program has added a sense of discipline to his college experience.

“The best part of ROTC is the purpose it has given my academic career,” he said.

“I came into school knowing why I was at school and what I planned on doing afterwards. I also came in knowing that I would be challenged by the program; this includes my leadership capabilities, organizational skills and time management.”

Costa agreed, explaining that ROTC has greatly affected his experience at Tufts.

“Waking up at 5:30 in the morning forces you to make decisions about what you want to do. You don’t go out as much; you stay in and get your work done,” he said.

“Also, when you are doing something like ROTC, you represent something greater then yourself, so it makes you think about your actions.”

The challenges that accompany training to become the nation’s next generation of military leaders have not phased these ROTC students. Costa said it has been possible for him to participate in ROTC without missing out on everything else Tufts has to offer — he is a linebacker on the Tufts football team and a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity.

“My coach is great about letting me do my ROTC training, and ROTC is great about letting me do football,” Costa said. “They work together.”

Although ROTC students have an idea of what they will do upon graduating from Tufts, the future can still feel uncertain.

Forsey hopes to achieve the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, but is not sure what will come next.

“I have a four year commitment to them, and then I’m free to enter the civilian world or remain in the military,” Forsey said. “I have no clue what I’ll do at that four year point yet.”

With the United States embroiled in negotiations regarding chemical weapon arsenals in Syria, these students’ willingness to serve the nation is key to the success of the ROTC program. It was during an even more precarious time in our nation’s history

that Tufts first founded its ROTC program.

Three months before the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, then-President of Tufts Leonard Carmichael invited the U.S. Navy to launch the program at the university.

Over 100 freshmen enrolled in September of that year, and by 1946, approximately 2,000 men had received their officer training at Tufts.

A major turning point in Tufts’ ROTC history came in 1969, when the Tufts faculty voted to ban ROTC from campus as protests against the Vietnam War reached their height. Tufts was not alone in this action; the entire Ivy League also ceased hosting ROTC programs.

Beside political disagreements, a number of other factors led schools to abort the program. For example, the military programs often did not have adequately qualified professors or failed to comply with the host college’s standards for course content.

In the early 1990s, the hype surrounding “don’t ask, don’t tell,” a policy setting out terms for homosexual service in the military and only recently repealed

by President Barack Obama, gave liberal campuses even more reason to dismiss an official military presence.

At Tufts, attitudes towards ROTC began to shift in 2004, when the Tufts Community Union Senate passed a nonbinding resolution seeking to give midshipmen and cadets credit for the extra courses taken at MIT through the program. It was not until April 2011, however, that Tufts finally ended its Vietnam War-era policy and began to accept credit for ROTC classes and acknowledge ROTC on transcripts.

James Glaser, Dean of Academic Affairs for Arts and Sciences and the liaison between Tufts and MIT ROTC, noted his approval of the change, which garnered 41 votes in favor and 29 against.

“I am proud that we now note ROTC completion on transcripts,” he said. “There was opposition to this among the faculty, but it was a minority.”

Glaser also serves on the Executive Committee of Advocates for Tufts ROTC, a group of alumni that works to support Tufts’ ROTC program and students. He shed more light on the somewhat controversial history of ROTC on campus.

“I don’t think that vote could have been won 20 years ago when I first arrived at Tufts ... Attitudes toward ROTC on campus have changed in my time at Tufts,” Glaser said.

“And [now] there is a lot of respect for our

ost Tufts students have grown up with the buzz surrounding the meteoric rise of genomics.

It is now part of our fabric as an institution: Our university president is a geneticist. The field has received significant hype in the last decade, as the U.S. government alone dropped nearly $3 billion reading the genetic code. Experts told us that by doing so, we could gain an insight into human disease, tailor drugs and treatments to an individual and diagnose ailments rapidly. How does our reality compare to this optimistic projection for the future?

Sequencing has provided scientists with a reference genome for comparisons among different individuals. It is now known that many different traits in genes are caused by a change in a single nucleotide, or single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, pronounced “snips” for short). The discovery has allowed traits to be identified rapidly and cheaply via genotyping, which reads SNPs without having to go through an entire genome.

Back in August, I decided to test out this new technology and picked up a $100 kit from 23andme, a service that provides personal genotyping and analyzes our 23 chromosomes. I wanted to find out who I am on a genetic level. Within a week, a box with a plastic test tube arrived. The instructions implored me to produce what seemed to be a shot’s worth of saliva without eating or drinking anything in the preceding half hour. Challenge accepted. You know, for science. (This was a surprisingly difficult task.)

The next day, I mailed my DNA sample, and it was happily bouncing through the U.S. Postal Service on its way to 23andme’s California facility. Upon arrival, it would be run through an Illumina BeadChip (a technology which got its start in the lab of David Walt here at Tufts) to read through my SNPs and tell me my traits. Waiting gave me time to think about some of the social aspects of exploring my genome.

Perhaps the most immediate fear in terms of having your genome read and stored digitally is the threat of unauthorized access and adverse treatment after the fact. Fortunately, the U.S. Congress made genetic discrimination illegal when pertaining to employment or health insurance. I was somewhat relieved to find out that I wouldn’t be fired or uninsured as a result of carrying a genetic illness.

But a greater number of questions arose. What if I were to discover that I carry a deleterious mutation in a gene like BRCA1 that predisposes me to cancer?

What would the impacts be on my mental health and lifestyle? Would knowing my odds of developing a disease lead me to get tested more often, and would the extra stress be justifiable? What if I were at risk for an incurable disease?

Shortly after my return to Tufts, 23andme emailed to let me know that my genetic report was ready. Thankfully, I found out that I do not have any genetic illnesses, but it wouldn’t hurt me to exercise more and cut some of the meat and cheese from my diet. Then, my ancestry results were analyzed. I found out that I am related to the Asian invaders who made frequent forays into Europe on my mother’s side of the family. On the other hand, my father’s fathers had spent most of their time in the Balkans. Most surprisingly, I discovered that I am 2.7 percent Neanderthal.

My verdict? All in all, 23andme provides a cool service that should satisfy one’s genetic curiosity. In due time, we may have widespread personalized medicine and genetic analysis for all, but we aren’t there yet.

Petar Todorov is a senior who is majoring in chemistry. He can be reached at Petar.

Todorov@tufts.edu.

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Video Game Review

Megan Clark | Where’s the Craic?

‘Into the West’

I

AXLiberty via Flickr Creative Commons

The intense detail and multiple options in the latest ‘Grand Theft Auto’ will keep players occupied for hours.

Rockstar releases masterpiece with ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ by

Taylor Hodhod

Contributing Writer

“Grand Theft Auto V” was finally made available to restless and fervent gamers throughout North America on Sept. 17. Releasing the game five years after its predecessor “Grand Theft Auto IV,” video game publisher Rockstar Games has once again revolutionized the definition of a “free roam” game.

Building upon the most successful features of its previous titles, “GTA V” has taken another groundbreaking step toward narrowing the gap between simulation and reality. Drenched in satire, “Grand Theft Auto V” remains true to its traditional risque and vio-

lent nature, yet now caters to a range of players — from those who want to engage in an adrenaline-pumping police shootout to those who prefer to play a relaxing round of golf in the warm sun.

“Grand Theft Auto V” takes players back to the West Coast and the state of San Andreas. Modeled after Southern California, landmarks such as the Hollywood sign are cleverly depicted throughout the cities in the game.

“GTA V” even expands its meticulously constructed map to include the rustic countryside of Blaine County.

Now, players have the opportunity to explore this comprehensive state but are still anchored to a unique and riv-

Movie Review

Ron Howard’s ‘Rush’ thrills despite minor shortcomings by

Dan O’Leary

Daily Editorial Board

When you think of a Ron Howard film, “sleek” and “fast paced” usu-

Rush Directed by Ron Howard Starring Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, Olivia Wilde ally aren’t the first words that come to mind. After all, many of the films that the Academy Award winner has directed throughout his career are mature and thoughtful works, like the excellent “A Beautiful Mind” (2001) and “Frost/ Nixon” (2008). But Howard’s latest film is somewhat of a departure from these previous works. A fast-paced racing film, “Rush” depicts a heated rivalry between two Formula One drivers in the 1970s. Working off a script by Oscar nominee Peter Morgan (2006’s “The Queen” and “Frost/Nixon”), “Rush” doesn’t quite live up to the earlier works of its creators and may be lacking in nuance. Nonetheless, it is an engaging thrill ride with strong performances by its two leads.

“Rush” portrays the long-lasting and bitter rivalry between two of the world’s top Formula One drivers, British driver James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Austrian driver Niki

Lauda (Daniel Bruhl), as they compete for the title of World Champion in the 1976 season. Having ignited their feud years earlier in the Formula Three circuit, the competition between the two is painted as a battle of wills and clashing ideologies. Lauda is calculating and ambitious, using his mechanical knowledge to upgrade his vehicle and relying on precision to win races.

Meanwhile, Hunt is the charismatic risk taker, winning races on recklessness and chancy maneuvers. The two drivers continue to be at odds as they progress through various Grand Prix in the season, and the gap in standings between the two becomes increasingly narrow as they approach the finish.

While the plot seems fairly typical of a sports or racing movie, “Rush” distinguishes itself by focusing on drama away from the race track. This ends up as both a strength and weakness of the film. The heart of “Rush” lies in the psychological underpinnings of the rivalry between its two leads, and this tension spills over into the personal lives of its protagonists.

For both Hunt and Lauda, the championship race and its consequences gradually consume their lives, and it is the exploration of this territory that makes “Rush” so fascinating.

However, the film merely scratches the surface of a major question: What makes these two characters tick? If the see RUSH, page 6

eting plot. Additionally, the creators have seamlessly integrated three main characters into the story: Franklin, Michael and Trevor. Although each has a distinct background, characteristics and goals, they successfully work together to complete heists and other outrageous stunts. This never-before-seen feature of switching between characters mid-mission is incredibly ambitious, yet is ultimately the key to the new version’s success.

A wide array of characters is just one of the many fresh new aspects of “Grand Theft Auto V.” From the innovative underwater world to the incorsee GTA, page 6

Album Review

Johnson toys with trademark sound

by Joshua

Morris

Contributing Writer

One thing Jack Johnson is always good for is consistency. Listeners will rarely hear him suddenly changing

From Here to Now to You Jack Johnson Universal Republic his sound — Johnson avoids pulling a “Miley Cyrus,” who dramatically evolved over the past five years from her Hannah Montana “The Best of Both Worlds” (2006) days to her new, edgier single “Wrecking Ball” (2013). And although drastic change see JOHNSON, page 6

nto the West” (1992) is marketed as a family film and — as it features a magical white horse — one can see its appeal to children.

However, the film also deals with some very adult topics, such as discrimination, poverty and alcoholism. “Into the West” tells the story of an Irish Traveller family trying to find a balance between their traditions and a more modern way of life.

Irish Travellers are a historically nomadic people who live in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Travellers have most recently been introduced to the American public on the television show “My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding,” which showcases elaborate weddings within the Traveller community while largely ignoring the widespread poverty and discrimination that plague this community.

Most Travellers could never afford such outlandish celebrations: They usually live in mobile homes in large, urban settlements surrounded by others from their community, and frequently lack proper access to heat and clean water.

“Into the West” begins with a depiction of the coast and the countryside before quickly moving to a Traveller settlement in Dublin.

As the film opens, we see an old man collecting mussels by the ocean. When he pauses from his work, he sees a white horse galloping toward him and goes to approach it. The horse runs away but follows him as he leaves the shore. The old man gets into a rounded caravan with a canvas roof, the traditional Traveller mode of transportation. He drives his caravan toward Dublin and looks up at the sky as an airplane passes overhead, a reminder of the clash between the old and new ways.

The action then shifts to a run-down section of Dublin, home to dilapidated high-rise apartments and, across the street from those, a dirt field full of trailers, trash and Traveller children. Here we meet Ossie and Tito, two young boys, and their father, Papa Reilly.

Their mother had died seven years before and their father, illiterate himself, oscillates between attempts to educate his children and bouts of neglectful drunkenness. Ossie and Tito often have to fend for themselves.

The old man from the opening scene is their grandfather, and he soon appears in the settlement, bringing the white horse, with whom Ossie forms an immediate bond.

The grandfather, a proponent of the old ways, argues with Papa Reilly, accusing him of abandoning the Traveller way of life after his wife’s death. Thus, we see an unhappy and broken family, simultaneously struggling to cope with their grief and the imperatives of modern society. The stage is set for a familial reconciliation, and it will be facilitated by this fantastical horse.

“Into the West” explores family and tradition, as well as several other themes.

Papa Reilly experiences discrimination and police brutality, embodied in the persona of Inspector Bolger, the film’s villain. The movie also delves into alcoholism and its effects on families. In one scene, the boys’ neighbor complains of hunger, and Tito matter-of-factly tells him that he needs to accompany his father to the welfare office in order to prevent him from spending all the money on alcohol.

The film also compares the Irish West with the American West. The boys’ grandfather tells them Irish folktales from the West and speaks of it as a freer, untainted place. Later, the boys watch an American western and wonder whether Travellers are the cowboys or the Indians of Ireland. The main action of the film, which features the boys fleeing to the West on horseback, mirrors that of many westerns, as they are cast as noble fugitives fleeing the law.

“Into the West” features simplistic “good guys” and “bad guys” and ends a little too neatly. Nonetheless, it is still a heartwarming movie and an engaging study of Traveller life.

Next week’s film: “The Commitments.”

Caitlyn Ridenour via Flickr Creative Commons

Jack Johnson deviates from his trademark sound on his new album ‘From Here to Now to You.’

Megan Clark is a senior who is majoring in English and history. She can be reached at Megan.Clark@tufts.edu.

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Arts & Living

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

‘Rush’ maintains gripping momentum despite occasional stumbles RUSH

continued from page 5

script contained more character development, the story would be infinitely more compelling. Though much of the film attempts to explore the psyches of Hunt and Lauda, for the most part, they remain broadly defined characters: Hunt is charismatic, popular and cocky, while Lauda is calm and collected but socially awkward. The main shortcoming of “Rush” is the squandered potential in analyzing these men more completely, since both Hemsworth and Brliver delivered strong performances considering the material they were working with. Another script issue is that some of the supporting characters are extremely underwritten. For instance, Olivia Wilde as Hunt’s wife, Suzy Miller, appears in only a handful of scenes and serves more as a plot device rather than a fully realized

character.

Despite some stumbles with the off-track action, “Rush” truly soars when it comes to the races, which end up stealing the show.

Howard displays an impressive level of skill and creativity in framing the races, making each one a gripping and pulsepounding affair that never lets up momentum. Thanks to a variety of dynamic camera angles and excellent editing, Howard and cinematographer Antony Dod Mantle give the audience the sensation of truly feeling like they’re behind the wheel with these characters. Even for the racing alone, “Rush” is worth a viewing.

While “Rush” is not perfect, it’s still an overall success for Howard. The rivalry between James Hunt and Niki Lauda is thoroughly engaging, and the thrilling races and strong performances by its two leads more than make up for any shortcomings the movie has.

Courtesy Jaap Buitendijk / Universal Pictures

The rivalry between James Hunt (Chris Hemsworth) and Niki Lauda (Daniel Bruhl) fuels the tension in ‘Rush.’

‘GTA V’ combines innovative thinking with fresh new features GTA

continued from page 5

poration of wildlife into some of the scenes, the game’s virtual world now almost seems limitless. Players are overwhelmed by the extent of customization of characters and vehicles, as well as the myriad of activities in which they can partake. With the ability to go hiking, mountain biking, hunting or scuba diving, get a stylish haircut and play tennis, players are faced with the dilemma of which option to pick. They also have the ability to invest their character’s earnings into the stock market and respond to incoming emails. “Grand Theft Auto V” truly spares no detail, and this helps transform it from an absorbing video game into an actual experience. Many players have attested to the unnerving reality of the game.

“It is scary how realistic this game is,” freshman Daniel Camilletti said. “When you are playing or even watching, you forget that it’s a video game.”

“Grand Theft Auto V” accurately captures the atmosphere of Southern California, not

only through the vibrant colors in the game, but also through its heavy use of satirical characters. By implementing witty dialogue throughout the scenes, the game comes to life — players are fully immersed in a world that hyperbolizes American society. In “GTA V,” Facebook is cleverly labeled “Lifeinvader” and a phone carrier dubbed “Tinkle” quips, “A North American mobile phone operator with awful North American mobile phone coverage.” By incorporating a comical aspect in its design, “GTA” heightens the game play experience through laugh out loud moments.

Setting an all-time sales record of $1 billion in just three days, “Grand Theft Auto V” is truly the culmination of Rockstar’s previous games.

A flawless design, convincing storyline and remarkable mechanics have made for a fully interactive and dynamic world in “GTA V” that is virtually unprecedented. Through innovative thinking and an emphasis on refined details, the developers of “GTA V” have succeeded in bringing us yet another masterpiece.

ATOMIC Hot Links via Flickr Creative Commons

The hype for ‘Grand Theft Auto V’ translated into massive commercial success, with the game grossing $1 billion in 72 hours.

Cristiano Maia via Flickr Creative Commons

Johnson’s usual acoustic sound forms the bulk of the songs on ‘From Here to Now to You.’

Johnson doesn’t disappoint with latest release JOHNSON

continued from page 5

can sometimes be exciting, Johnson’s steady style is far from boring. On his new album, “From Here to Now to You,” Johnson manages to put the perfect amount of spin on his classic acoustic sound to keep things interesting. Indeed, the listener gets a little taste of everything on his sixth studio release.

In a recent interview with Billboard Magazine, Johnson claims he hasn’t intentionally tried for these subtle changes — instead, his music develops somewhat spontaneously.

“I never really have an idea of what the record is going to be like,” Johnson said.

“They’re really just a collection of the songs I’ve written over the last year. Every one has been like that.”

“From Here to Now to You” wouldn’t be a Johnson album without its fair share of ballads and slow tunes. The track “Don’t Believe a Thing I Say” is reflective of Johnson’s traditional slow, laidback and almost melancholic sound.

Though certainly not upbeat, it still manages to keep audiences hooked until the last note. Following suit is “Never Fade.” With steady drums pressing along throughout

and an almost perfect amount of lackadaisical rhythm, this song is right on par with many of Johnson’s previous pieces.

“I Got You,” the first single from the album, definitely isn’t the best track (perhaps a ploy by Johnson, so as not to give away the good stuff at first). It is, however, very typical Johnson, assuring his fans that this newest album, while straying slightly from the norm, will still satisfy the Jack Johnson craving for which his diehard fans are searching.

Perhaps the most innovative work on the album, “Tape Deck,” with hints of country, brings out a side of Johnson we’ve never seen before — complete with a banjo and harmonica. Even more surprising than this different style is Johnson’s ability to rock it. Most listen to his music for its relaxing and tranquil qualities, but this change certainly isn’t a bad one. It’s not often you find yourself snapping along to Johnson’s tunes (though there are a few exceptions, like his 2005 song “Banana Pancakes”), but once you start, you won’t be able to stop.

He takes another abstract turn on “You Remind Me of You,” which contains jazzlike elements. Johnson uti-

lizes an acoustic sound only to emphasize the jazzy undertones. It’s not often you hear Johnson humming out runs and “ba doop ba doos.” Quite honestly, one wouldn’t expect him to have success in that genre, but once again, he makes it work.

By far the most interesting aspect of Johnson’s music is his ability to combine a slow beat with a relatively cheerful tone. Usually when slowing down the metronome, artists lose the energy needed for a positive song — however, Johnson manages to keep it balanced, especially on the album’s closing track “Home.”

Overall, Johnson’s new album is an enjoyable listen.

Even if you purchase “From Here to Now to You” just to add to your sleep playlist, it is well worth the investment.

It will be interesting to see if Johnson decides to continue this trend toward more upbeat music. Who knows — maybe he’ll even consider losing the guitar someday (though that’s a bit of a stretch). In any case, his latest album’s debut at number one on the Billboard charts proves that fans are more than willing to follow Johnson as he explores new sonic territory.

The Tufts Daily

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Doonesbury

by

Garry Trudeau

Non Sequitur

by

7

Comics Crossword

Wiley

Married to the Sea

www.marriedtothesea.com

SUDOKU Level: Getting hired as an extra.

Late Night at the Daily Monday’s Solution

Jamie: “We gotta make it frattier in here.”

Jenna: “Objection.”

Jamie: “Noted.”

Please recycle this Daily.

The Tufts Daily

8

THE TUFTS DAILY

Editorial

Hannah R. Fingerhut Editor-in-Chief

Editorial Jenna Buckle Melissa Wang Managing Editors Abigail Feldman Executive News Editor Daniel Gottfried News Editors Victoria Leistman Menghan Liu Melissa Mandelbaum Elizabeth McKay Annabelle Roberts Mahpari Sotoudeh Josh Weiner Sarah Zheng Daniel Bottino Assistant News Editors Alexa Horwitz Elissa Ladwig Hunter Ryan Denali Tietjen Shannon Vavra Executive Features Editor Lily Sieradzki Features Editors Charlotte Gilliland Emily Bartlett Vicky Rathsmill Emma Arnesty-Good Assistant Features Editors Caitlin McClure Sabrina McMillin Julia McDaniel

editorial | op-ed

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Take advantage of flu shots this week

With leaves changing color and the weather getting chillier, many students eagerly anticipate the arrival of fall. But for Tufts Health Service, these indicate a different type of change: the flu season is upon us.

Although college-aged students are outside of the “at risk” categories — elderly people, pregnant women and young children are at the highest risk for contracting the flu — college campuses are known for cultivating the influenza virus due to the high density of students in close quarters. In light of this, university administrators and health professionals actively encourage the student body to utilize flu vaccination services.

Tufts annually offers free flu vaccines to all Medford/Somerville students who have paid the health fee, urging everyone to take preventative steps to avoid a

campus-wide outbreak.

This year, there are three clinics to ensure that all members of the Tufts community are able to make the trip to Health Service for a vaccination: Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 3 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The flu vaccination is not a guaranteed protection against influenza, however, so students should stay vigilant even after getting the shot. Washing and sanitizing hands after touching public surfaces will help decrease the likelihood of falling ill. In addition, it is important to be mindful of other students who may be sick — and not to share items like cups or makeup with them.

If you do become sick, prioritize getting enough sleep and eating well, and

do your best to avoid spreading germs to those in the immediate vicinity. Cough into your elbows and try to carry hand sanitizer with you, or take advantage of the dispensers in campus buildings before touching door handles and shared spaces.

All students should take the initiative to get vaccinated this week. While it is great that the university provides these shots free of charge, though, students’ health ultimately rests in their (clean) hands. There are multiple strains of the flu, making it possible to contract the flu again after a first time, so it’s important to continue healthy practices.

Missed classes and assignments due to illness can make for a very difficult academic semester. Take the first step toward preventing sickness by getting a flu shot this week.

Jehan Madhani

Caroline Welch Executive Arts Editor Dan O’Leary Arts Editors Veronica Little Drew Robertson Assistant Arts Editors Brendan Donohue Lancy Downs Grace Hoyt Alexander Schroeder Executive Sports Editor Marcus Budline Sports Editors Aaron Leibowitz David McIntyre Zachey Kliger Jake Indursky Claire Sleigh Kate Klots Matthew Berger Tyler Maher Assistant Sports Editors Ross Dember Jason Schneiderman Alex Connors Elayne Stecher Bhushan Deshpande Tom Chalmers Matthew Crane Nick Golden Jehan Madhani Keran Chen Denise Amisial Benjamin Boventer Scott Geldzahler Drew Lewis

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Kyra Sturgill Executive Photo Editor Caroline Geiling Photo Editors John Hampson Wan Jing Lee Simone Backer Nick Pfosi Staff Photographers Zhuangchen Zhou Courtney Chiu Sofia Adams Alexander Kaufman Executive New Media Editors Oliver Porter Phuong Ta New Media Editors Jake Hellman Barton Liang Assistant New Media Editor

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BUSINESS Daphne Wu

Off the Hill | Dartmouth College

by the

A welcoming place

Dartmouth Editorial Board The Dartmouth

This past month has seen two positive developments regarding increasing educational opportunities for highachieving students from low-income households. Dartmouth and 11 other universities recently joined Say Yes to Education, a nonprofit that offers free tuition to low-income students, and the College Board recently began to take steps to increase college application rates by high school students who perform well on standardized tests and come from low-income households.

While we commend both Dartmouth and the College Board for these actions, we believe Dartmouth must take further steps to make campus a more welcoming place to students from lowincome families.

Recent economics research has shown that high-achieving high school students from low-income households are less likely to apply to and attend selective universities than similar academically well-prepared students from higher-income households. This is in spite of the fact that more selective uni-

versities typically cost less to attend for students from low-income households, after financial aid is taken into account.

Thus it would directly benefit these very students if more of them were to apply to schools such as Dartmouth.

In this light, the College’s decision to join Say Yes is an important symbolic step. The College Board’s new program is similarly commendable — among other things, it will provide fee waivers for six applications to low-income students who score in the top 15 percent of the distribution on the SAT. But attracting more applicants is not enough; the costs of pursuing internships and participating in Greek life are two particularly important problems. Many low-income students may simply be unable to partake in unpaid or low-paid internships that would provide them long-term career benefits. Additionally, about two-thirds of eligible undergraduates are affiliated, reflecting the prominence of Greek organizations in campus residential and social life. House and social dues, however, typically amount to over $1,000 a year for most houses. Because financial aid packages do not currently provide

funds to cover living expenses during internships or Greek dues, it may be financially difficult for many lowincome students to fully participate in these activities. While many Greek houses try to help defray the cost of dues through various means, the problem still remains for many students.

The College should expand the amount of financial support available for students to pursue internship opportunities, and the financial aid office should take a page from the books of its peer office at Princeton University. Their board allowance for juniors and seniors on financial aid is $7,850 per year, and the most expensive meal plan costs $5,860 per year.

The almost $2,000 difference tacitly helps students on financial aid partially defray the cost of joining an eating club, which students may do during their sophomore spring. A similar approach at Dartmouth would reduce the costs to low-income students of joining a Greek house or other social organization. Taken together, these two changes would go a long way in making Dartmouth a more welcoming place to students from low-income families.

Executive Business Director Li Liang Receivables Manager P.O. Box 53018, Medford, MA 02155 617 627 3090 FAX 617 627 3910 daily@tuftsdaily.com

Corrections

In the Sept. 30 News article titled “TCU Senate update,” it was incorrectly stated that sophomore Samuel Berzok was named assistant treasurer of the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate. In fact, freshman Shai Slotky was elected to the position.

In the Sept. 30 News article titled “Art Gallery to introduce new mural,” it was incorrectly stated that artist ABBY TC-5 is a member of the graffiti collective “The Crazy Five.” In fact, this was the group’s old title until it was renamed “The Cool Five” in the ‘80s.

The Tufts Daily is a nonprofit, independent newspaper, published Monday through Friday during the academic year, and distributed free to the Tufts community. EDITORIAL POLICY Editorials represent the position of The Tufts Daily. 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.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Letters must be submitted by 2 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.

ADVERTISING POLICY All advertising copy is subject to the approval of the Editorin-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director. A publication schedule and rate card are available upon request.

The Tufts Daily

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

9

Op-Ed

Off the Hill | Dartmouth College

Eloise Libre | Frankly Candid

Rethinking career paths

by

Sidewalk weirdness

David Brooks

The Dartmouth

As the resume drop comes to an end and you run around dressed smartly hoping to find your future employers, I can’t help but hope that some of you consider alternative options. The drive to secure employment and start making money is strong, I’m sure, but all of you are in unique positions in your lives: You’re young, you’re single and you have the education and skills to make a difference in the world. I would like to encourage you to think seriously about using this opportunity to pursue options in service.

Two summers ago, I sat in a lunch discussion group with College trustee and former Marine Corps officer Nathaniel Fick ‘99. One of the students asked him if he had any advice for graduating students, and he responded that he would encourage the other students to consider service — whether it be the armed forces, the Peace Corps, Teach for America or any other of the myriad routes available. Boiled down, he told the students that there would always be time to make money, but they were in a unique opportunity to make a difference.

Fick’s advice comes from a position of a Dartmouth student who has been in the same spot as all of you. Upon graduation, Fick, against the advice of some of his professors, friends and family, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps. During his time in the Marines, Fick served among the first Marines to deploy to both wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. After leaving the Marines in 2003, he went on to receive degrees from Harvard Business School and the Kennedy School of Government. Since that time, he has written a national bestseller, served as chief executive officer of the think tank Center for a New American Security and become the youngest trustee of the College.

He is now the chief executive officer of Endgame, a cyber-security company.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Because Fick’s story demonstrates that there is time to make money and pur-

I

MCT

sue a career after service. I have had many Dartmouth students tell me that they plan on making enough money to secure their financial futures, after which they plan on pursuing their passions or opportunities to serve.

While that is a laudable goal, I can tell you that life rarely works that way.

After a few years in the work force, certain standards of living, friends, location, family and many other factors make it difficult to do what could be viewed as starting over. Right now, you are in a position you will never be in again during your life. Take advantage of that.

During the question-and-answer session at Gen. James Mattis’ talk last Wednesday, an audience member asked if he felt that we needed more officers from ROTC and the service academies. His response was “no”: The Marine Corps needs men and women who have experienced other cultures, studied abroad and who have been taught to think. Mattis, in his response, was slyly hinting at you.

And this goes beyond just the Marine Corps. The education and opportunities afforded by Dartmouth make you equipped to make a differ-

ence in many diverse areas. If there is a certain calling that you have a passion for, pursue it. I had a friend who began teaching through Teach for America in Mississippi. Many of the high school math teachers he worked alongside could not pass the standardized math tests in the school. He was able to make a difference immediately in the classroom. I have also known people who have joined the Peace Corps. Their respect and time spent in various cultures prepare them for their future service. Many of you have studied abroad, come from diverse background and spent time with diverse groups. The academic and non-academic aspects of your education make you well suited to serve.

I understand that this may not be practical for everybody. College loans, post-graduation studies and a myriad of other factors affect the decision on what to do after college. To be sure, we need good doctors, lawyers and yes, even investment bankers. However, as you meet potential employers, shake hands and conduct interviews, I would challenge you to consider a broader range of options. You’ll never have this opportunity again.

Off the Hill | Dartmouth University

Men and rape by

Richard Denton The Dartmouth

Most sexual assaults are committed by men. Rape is a particularly egregious form of sexual assault, with about half of current college student survivors still suffering from some symptoms of posttraumatic stress syndrome. The majority of rapes are committed by a small number of predatory men who escape punishment, and we must all work together to prevent these acts of violence.

Two psychologists, David Lisak and Paul Miller, studied the characteristics of men at an urban commuter university.

Their survey did not use the word “rape,” and many of the men in the study might not label themselves as rapists. But they did answer “yes” to questions like “Have you ever had sexual intercourse with someone, even though they did not want to, because they were too intoxicated (on alcohol or drugs) to resist your sexual advances (e.g., removing their clothes)?” or “Have you tried, but not succeeded, in having sexual intercourse with an adult when they didn’t want to because you used or threatened to use physical force (twisting their arm; holding them down, etc.) if they didn’t cooperate?”

The good news is that 94 percent of the men interviewed did not meet criteria for rape or attempted rape. The majority of men are not rapists. The bad news is that six percent of the men interviewed did rape. Two-thirds of the rapists studied were repeat rapists, and the repeat rapists averaged six rapes each. Taking two

percent of men times one rape per single incident rapist plus four percent of men times six rapes per repeat rapist leads to 26 rapes per 100 men, a number roughly consistent with national rates of victimization of college women. Ninety-one percent of college rapes are committed by people who have raped, attempted to rape, will rape or will attempt to rape more than one person.

Most rapes are unreported. But Lisak’s data led him to state the “uncomfortable truths” that rape is ubiquitous on American college campuses and that there is a small group of criminals, serial sexual predators, among us. If only four percent of Dartmouth undergraduate men are repeat rapists, that still comes out to 80 repeat rapists. Unlike incarcerated rapists, these predators escape prosecution because they use the minimum “necessary” amount of physical force, confine their victims to acquaintances and are experts at disguising themselves as “nice guys.”

The repeat rapists not only averaged about six rapes, but about eight other acts of violence such as hitting or kicking people, choking someone and beating or sexually abusing a child. Lisak says that this group of men “cannot be reached or educated. They must be identified and removed from our communities.” Whether one has sympathy for these men, it is not doing them a favor to let them continue abusing people, and doing so will certainly put other people in peril. In my opinion, one of our first priorities should be to identify,

confront and remove serial rapists from our community.

Lisak goes on to say that “our prevention and education efforts must be focused on the vast majority of men who will never themselves cross the line into criminal behavior, but who by their participation in peer groups and activities either actively or passively provide support or camouflage for the sexual predators in their midst.”

Another group of psychologists led by Heather Littleton added that “men also ought to be encouraged to intervene if they see someone taking advantage of a person who is intoxicated.” Note that, under New Hampshire law, a person is not deemed legally capable of giving consent for sexual activity if that person is incapacitated. As described on a University of New Hampshire site, “If someone you are with is having difficulty walking or talking, is throwing up, passed out or just generally unaware of what’s going on, that person cannot legally give consent.”

Men can use characteristics that are often thought of as masculine — strength, single-minded focus and determination — to work for a safer Dartmouth.

I recently heard an unusual and inspiring story about an unsung Dartmouth student who stopped another man from assaulting a woman but, in the process, was himself injured by the assailant. This man exhibited authentic manhood, being what men can and should be, protective rather than abusive of others, and doing the right thing regardless of the cost.

s it just me, or do all Tufts students experience awkward encounters on the sidewalk? These awful interactions occur all the time; sometimes it is uncomfortable to acknowledge a passing comrade, but sometimes it is even worse to ignore them.

Either way, these exchanges affect people downhill, uphill and walking between Halligan and Gantcher. In an attempt to expose the various types of inevitable sidewalk interactions, I hope to shed some wisdom and advice on how to handle them — because even though only a brave few admit it, we all experience these.

The classic pedestrian horror story involves a person whom you had hoped to avoid. Whether this is a former employer, nightmarish freshman roommate or cohort in a recent one-night stand, this is someone who you would rather not interact with face-to-face. Generally, we limit such encounters to brief eye contact, or a quickly mumbled “hey” at the absolute most. In these situations, I often pretend to have something in my eye that requires an inordinate amount of rubbing as an excuse “not to see” the approaching subject.

Another typical run-in is that of the tangential friend. While it would be awkward to avoid these people entirely, we possess few potential words to exchange with them. In my experience, the best way to navigate this situation is by feigning complete distraction on your cell phone until the last possible second, at which point you look up just in time to greet this person and pretend to act surprised: “Hey, how’s it going? We should totally get lunch and catch up!” News flash: Neither of you actually intend on sharing a meal.

One of the most awkward sidewalk encounters happens when you think you see a friend ahead and start to call out to them. Halfway through the excited squeal, you realize the inevitable: that it is, in fact, not the person you thought you had recognized from 100 yards away. In an effort to play off your audible warble, you continue to sing to yourself for the next 30 seconds so that anyone within earshot might just assume you had been humming along on your own and thinking out loud. You walk away sinking with regret and burning shame.

Then, there is the classic act of third wheeling. You are walking with a friend who bumps into another friend — one who is not mutual. While the two of them catch up in what feels like a dramatic and unnecessarily lengthy conversation, you casually check your phone, perusing your Facebook and Twitter even though you have no new notifications. After about a minute of wishing you could dissolve into the bush behind you, your friend remembers that you have been awkwardly witnessing this interaction and finally exhibits some decency by introducing you to the other friend.

As humiliating as the encounter feels to those who experience it (and we all have), the perspective of an outsider can be equally humiliating. Sometimes you know something you should not about that pair’s history, or you can just tell by way of the forced greeting that the victims possess some mutual disdain.

Watching an interaction develop uncomfortably makes me suffer second-hand embarrassment.

For most people, sidewalk encounters generally unfold in awkward and unexpected ways. However, for the limited population of socially suave Tufts students, the Sidewalk World is one full of fun reconnections that give the impression you are the mayor of Pro Row. (I once heard someone actually refer to themselves as such.) Maybe one day I will learn the art of sidewalk aplomb, but for now I remain with most people, frozen and frazzled in awkward class-to-class interaction.

Eloise Libre is a senior who is majoring in history. She may be reached at Eloise.

Libre@tufts.edu.

Op-ed Policy The Op-Ed section of The Tufts Daily, an open forum for campus editorial commentary, is printed Monday through Thursday. The Daily welcomes submissions from all members of the Tufts community; the opinions expressed in the Op-Ed section do not necessarily represent the opinions of the Daily itself. Opinion articles on campus, national and international issues should be 600 to 1,200 words in length. Op-Ed cartoons are also welcomed for the Campus Canvas feature. All material is subject to editorial discretion and is not guaranteed to appear in the Daily. All material should be submitted to oped@tuftsdaily.com no later than noon on the day prior to the desired day of publication; authors must submit their telephone numbers and day-of availability for editing questions. Submissions may not be published elsewhere prior to their appearance in the Daily, including but not limited to other on- and off-campus newspapers, magazines, blogs and online news websites, as well as Facebook. Republishing of the same piece in a different source is permissible as long as the Daily is credited with originally running the article.

The Tufts Daily

10 Wanted

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Sports

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

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Jumbos countered by stingy Amherst defense HOCKEY

continued from BACK

Griffith (LA ’12), was well prepared for Tufts’ passing patterns and formations, allowing the Lord Jeffs to effectively beat Tufts at its own game.

The Jumbos, who have characteristically dominated offensive possessions, shots and penalty corner opportunities this season, failed to possess and put the ball in the back of the cage throughout regulation. Instead, it was the Lord Jeffs who outshot Tufts 13 to eight, forcing junior keeper Bri Keenan to make nine saves in the losing effort.

On Amherst’s opening offensive possession, the Lord Jeffs pressured the cage hard, forcing Keenan to make a diving stop in front of the net. On the rebound, however, Keenan fell on top of the ball, and Amherst was awarded a penalty stroke on the play. The Lord Jeffs made the Jumbos pay. Senior forward Krista Zsitvay took the stroke, and polished off a top shelf look past Keenan to put Amherst in the drivers seat at the 2:27 mark.

Just two minutes later, the Lord Jeffs doubled their advantage. Junior forward Madeline Tank, waiting to the left of the cage, received a pass across the circle from sophomore forward Katie Paolano and finished an empty net look behind Keenan, who had overcommitted in the other direction.

Facing an early deficit, Tufts attempted to turn the tide in its favor. After a team timeout, the Jumbos worked to move the ball and possession passed back and forth as

Men’s Cross Country

each team worked the midfield but failed to move the ball inside the 25-meter box.

Eventually, Amherst broke through yet again. This time Paolano positioned herself on the left side of the cage and finished a low put-back goal after shots by Zsitvay and Tank could not be converted to goals for the Lord Jeffs.

Entering the second half with a 3-0 lead, Amherst kept its cool. The Lord Jeffs saw opportunities to further extend their lead, but Keenan remained composed and came charging out of the cage to reject several breakaway and corner attempts.

Despite racking up eight penalty corners in the second half, the Jumbos were unable to capitalize. Amherst junior goalkeeper Rachel Tannenbaum made five saves total en route to preserving her shutout performance.

“Saturday’s game was tough,” McConnell said. “Amherst always has a strong team and this year was no different. While we were disappointed with the loss, the game showed us what we need to work on for the second half of the season.”

Now, the Jumbos enjoy a full week to recover before lacing up to face Middlebury at home on Oct. 5. The Panthers begin the week with an identical 4-1 NESCAC record, and as Amherst now holds a head-to-head advantage over the Jumbos, a victory over the Panthers may prove crucial should the top ranks of the conference remain tight late in the season.

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No. 14 Jumbos post strong showing at Bowdoin by

Chris Warren

Contributing Writer

The Tufts men’s cross country team placed second at the Bowdoin Invitational in Brunswick, Maine, held at Pickard Field on Saturday.

Bowdoin (No. 6) picked up the win with 27 points without their number one runner, Coby Horowitz. The Jumbos, now ranked 14th nationally in Div. III by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, scored a low 54 points.

Bowdoin’s revered Pickard Field Cross-Country Course has been regarded as one of the best in the Northeast. Its grassy- and wood chipcovered flat surfaces allow runners to put up very fast times, especially at season’s end when runners decrease their training miles and train solely for fast races in championship events.

Senior captain Ben Wallis opened his season with an individual win by dominating the 8-kilometer course, running 25:28.52, 32 seconds ahead of his closest competitor. Wallis, who placed seventh in the 3000 meter steeplechase at last year’s NCAA Div. III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, returns this year as a favorite to place well at the national cross country championship.

“It was my first race back this season, so I just wanted to shake off the rust and get back into the groove of racing. I ran 5:04 for my first mile and tried to keep it there or even run faster,” Wallis said. “As a team, we wanted to get off the line very quickly and run together with consistent pacing and a fast final two miles to put us in the hunt for a team win.”

“This race was still just used as a rust buster for most of our guys,” said coach Ethan Barron, who is in his ninth season as the men’s cross country coach. “We had the flu going around on the team last week so a few of our guys made their debuts, while others got out for their second race of the season.”

Overall, the Jumbos placed nine runners in the top 25. Once again, they rode success through strategic pack running, as juniors Marshall Pagano, Colin McCrory and Greg Hardy, as well as freshman Bobby McLaughlin, all stayed within 10 seconds of each other, and placed 13th through 16th, respectively. Also on their tails were junior Sam Garfield and sophomore James Traester, who placed 18th and 19th respectively.

“This meet gave us a lot of confisee MEN’S XC, page 11

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

The Tufts Daily

Jumbos’ focus is on NESCAC and regional meets WOMEN’S XC

continued from back

“We wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to run as a team and really push each other. During the race we were talking, communicating and letting each other know where we were. Simple words like, ‘Right here!’ or minor hand gestures help to tell each other to keep working hard and to stay connected to the pack. This will help us in larger and post season races when our focus will be to get five Tufts girls across the finish line as quickly as possible.”

Beltrani’s time of 22:40 in the 6-kilometer race was good enough for the first meet victory of her collegiate career. But still, she stressed the significance of running as a team.

“Nothing about winning a race is a solo ride,” she said. “It was the teammate that got us out, or the one that pulled us through the tough middle of a race, or the one that offered words of encouragement on an exhale that, when combined, helped us cross the line at the end. We aim to bolster each others’ performances both in the race and all the days surrounding it.”

While the team does have two meets coming up in October, the date that everyone has circled on their calendar is Nov. 2, when the Jumbos will travel to Connecticut College for the NESCAC Championship. If this weekend’s meet is any indication, the Jumbos look like a force to be reckoned with.

“We entered the season with extremely high, yet realistic goals of getting top three

continued from page 10

dence and reminded us that we have a lot of potential,” Wallis said. “We are going through a few hard training weeks with difficult workouts and a lot of miles, so we were racing on tired legs.

The team did what they had to do.”

The deep Jumbo squad rested their entire top seven from the University of Southern Maine Invitational, where they earned a fourth place finish.

“I believe that college runners really have four to five great ‘8k’ races in their legs every season,” Barron said. “We rested our top six to seven guys from USM because they are projected to last farther into the sea-

Aaron Leibowitz | The Fan

Rooting for Walter White

I Andrew Morgenthaler / Tufts Daily Archives

Eleven of the top 13 finishers at the Bowdoin Invitational were Tufts runners. at NESCACS and top four at Regionals,” Creath said. “We will use this past weekend’s performance to reassure us that we are very capable of accomplishing our season goals. If we run with confidence and composure, stay as a pack and believe in the fact that we are fit enough to run with the lead girls, then we will have success.”

Yet, there is still much work to be done.

The team will get a chance to train hard together for the next two weeks, not com-

peting in another meet until Oct. 12 in the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Championship at Franklin Park in Boston.

“We hope to build upon this past weekend’s success by continuing to stay healthy and to keep working hard in workouts and races,” Creath said. “We won’t be celebrating until we accomplish our goals at NESCACs and Regionals, so we have to remain humble and focused.”

Top seven runners from past meet rest for upcoming competitions MEN’S XC

11

Sports

son. We might need them to be on their game with fresh legs at ECACs [Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships], NESCACs, regionals and nationals.”

Among the runners Barron rested were freshmen Tim Nichols and Luke O’Connor. Last week, they ran very well at the USM Invite and, along with fellow freshmen McLaughlin and Michael Coughron, will add youth to a growing Tufts squad and serve as major contributors to the team this season.

“At this point, it’s tough to say how the freshmen will impact our team,” Barron said. “They have been doing well and have a lot of potential, but

we’ll have to wait until later in the season to actually watch it come full circle.”

The Jumbos have next weekend off, but return to competition at Boston’s Franklin Park on Oct. 12 for the New England Intercollegiate Amateur Athletic Association Championship meet which features Div. I, II and III cross country teams from the area.

“New Englands is a large race that goes out fast. It will hopefully give us the experience we need to get back to nationals again,” Wallis said. “We have the depth to place well in the varsity and sub-varsity races, so it will be quite the learning experience for the team.”

Andrew Morgenthaler / Tufts Daily Archives

Pack running once again helped the men’s cross country team to a strong performance, as the team finished second in a field of 10 teams at its race at Bowdoin over the weekend.

just watched the series finale of “Breaking Bad.” It was so good. It was perfect. Wasn’t it just perfect?

Wasn’t it crazy when Mike came back from the dead and killed Walt? It was crazy.

All I can think about is that brilliant gem of a show, which means I have no choice but to write my column about it. We like to have fun here.

This column is about being a fan — a sports fan, namely — but what about the “Breaking Bad” fans of the world? What about the Walter White fans? All the way through the series’ final moments, millions of people were rooting for a sociopathic murderer.

How do you explain that?

Of course, plenty were rooting against Walt, and I commend those people. But in the final episodes, the meth king showed fleeting signs of humanity, wisdom and courage. Like Tony Soprano, he never quite let us — or at least me — lose all sympathy.

I’m not a TV critic. Honestly, my best critical assessment of “Breaking Bad” is that the whole thing was frickin’ awesome. Still, I think it offers a fascinating study in fandom: Whom do we root for, and why?

Walt, for one, had three things going for him. One: He was an underdog with a chip on his shoulder. Two: He worked hard and succeeded. Three: He was, supposedly, doing it all for his family.

And yet number three, we know, is not true. Walt admits as much in the final episode when, in a chilling moment, he says to Skyler, “I did it for me. I liked it. I was good at it. I was alive.”

Walt acted on pure instinct and desire. He took a risk and never looked back. He refused to let the world take advantage of him. That’s why we rooted for a monster.

The question is, how much are we willing to forgive when the end goal is money and power? Should we forgive Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player ever, for being a narcissistic jerk?

(If you’re reading this, Michael, I forgive you.) Should we forgive Roger Clemens, one of the best pitchers of all time, for cheating to become better at his craft?

(Sorry, Roger, no sympathy for you.)

What about Ty Cobb, a bigot whose rage propelled him to a Hall of Fame career? Should there be an asterisk on his Cooperstown plaque? Do the ends justify the means?

In the case of Walter White, it’s clear that he does more harm than good. He ruins countless lives and destroys his family. From a utilitarian standpoint, he’s a terrible human being.

With our athletes, though, it’s not so clear cut. We admire those who will do whatever it takes to win. We glorify the relentless pursuit of success. We fantasize about escaping the monotony of classes and 9-to-5 jobs and becoming a football player — or a movie star or a criminal kingpin.

At the same time, we want the guy who crushes people for a living to show his compassion on an ESPN “My Wish” segment. We want the badass, Heisenberg, and the quiet chemistry teacher, Walter, rolled into one. That’s a lot to ask.

The best explanation of these dual desires is that, in the sports world, as in Walt’s world, one abides by a different moral code. It is not about following the rules. It is not about making other people happy.

It’s about defending one’s honor. It’s about succeeding at all costs. It’s about winning — and winning, whether in sports or on TV, never loses its allure.

Aaron Leibowitz is a senior who is majoring in American studies. He can be reached at Aaron.Leibowitz@tufts.edu.

Sports

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INSIDE Men’s Cross Country 10

tuftsdaily.com

Field Hockey

Jumbos split results over weekend, pick up first loss by

Kate Klots

Daily Editorial Board

The No. 2 field hockey team suffered its first loss over the weekend, dropping a 3-0 decision to No. 14 Amherst College on the road

FIELD HOCKEY (6-1 Overall, 4-1 NESCAC) at Bello Field, Sunday Trinity Tufts

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at Amherst, Mass., Saturday Tufts

Amherst

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in the first game of a NESCAC doubleheader weekend. The grueling schedule tested the Jumbos’ athleticism and resilience, but after a 6:30 a.m. wake up, more than four hours on the road and a tough loss on Saturday, the Jumbos rebounded. On Sunday, Tufts returned home to Bello Field, defeating the Trinity Bantams by a single goal.

“We had to bounce back on Sunday because Trinity is also a very strong team, but we learned from the previous day’s mistakes and were able to come out on top,” senior defender Katy McConnell said.

The weekend split moved Tufts to 4-1 in the conference where they currently share a three-way tie for first place with the Amherst Lord Jeffs and the No. 7 Middlebury.

On Sunday, Tufts rode an early second half score to victory. Tufts and Trinity duked it out in the midfield for the first 45 minutes, but despite five shots, the Jumbos were unable to find the back of the cage. The Bantams, on the other hand, went without a single shot for the first half of the game.

Entering the intermission tied at 0-0, coach Tina McDavitt’s squad was determined to finish the weekend on a high note.

Ten minutes into the second period, the Jumbos earned a penalty corner. Sophomore defender Alexandra Jamison inserted to classmate and midfielder Dakota Sikes-Keilp at the top of the circle. Sikes-Keilp buried a

Caroline Geiling / The Tufts Daily

Tufts field hockey lost for the first time since Nov. 3, 2012 over the weekend at Amherst, but recovered with a victory at home against Trinity on Sunday. shot past Trinity second-year keeper Sophie Fitzpatrick to put Tufts on the board.

The Jumbos maintained their singlegoal lead for the final 25 minutes. Despite Fitzpatrick’s nine-save effort, the Bantams could not capture the victory, as Tufts limited them to just seven shots and two penalty corners throughout the contest. With the win, the Jumbos handed Trinity their second

conference loss of 2013.

“Coming into Sunday’s game we knew that we had to play hard and bounce back from the loss on Saturday,” senior co-captain midfielder Steph Wan said. “Taking what we learned from Saturday, we focused on moving up and down the field as a unit and using our stick and passing to move the ball upfield. Having intensity and hustling to

Golf

Jumbos fail to qualify for NESCAC Championships by

Ross Dember

Daily Editorial Board

The NESCAC Golf Championships may take place in late April, but before a team can even think of bringing home a conference championship, they must qualify in September. Over the weekend, the Jumbos unsuccessfully attempted to do just that by placing sixth in the competition at Bowdoin, two spots out of qualification.

Middlebury easily handled the field, winning 595-612 over Trinity, the runnerup. Amherst and Williams finished in third and forth, respectively, to round out the qualifiers. Given its victory, Middlebury will get to host the championship tournament in the spring.

Tufts finished Saturday’s portion in sixth place with a score of 318, 11 points outside of the top four. However, the course setup on Sunday was not conducive to the aggressive style of play the Jumbos needed to make major moves on the field.

“Pin positions were placed in dangerous locations and guarded well by water hazards and bunkers, and the wind made it challenging if your ball went above the tree line,” sophomore Brendan Koh said. “It was definitely a course which needed strategizing and focus and the ability to improvise when a shot did not go as planned.”

A repeat sixth place finish on Sunday kept the Jumbos sixth overall, and they

will not be able to compete at the NESCAC Championships for the sixth consecutive year. Tufts’ Sunday score of 323 was too much of a drop-off as they were unable to overtake Williams for fourth place.

Individually, the Jumbos had a number of bright spots from the veteran golfers. Sophomore Jay Wong finished the weekend with the lowest score on the team. He was a model of consistency, shooting a 76 on Saturday, which he followed up with a 77 the next day.

His two-day score of 153 was good for eighth place, making him the only Tufts golfer in the top ten. Two strokes back was junior John Wawer, while junior Sebastian Vik and Koh rounded out the scoring for the Jumbos, shooting 166 and 167, respectively.

With the rest of the season ahead of them, the Jumbos are taking the setback in context.

“Finishing in the top four in this tournament was our main goal,” Wawer said.

“So while we are disappointed at the moment, we need to work on improving for the next tournament as well as the spring season.”

Junior Alex Zorniger placed fifth among Tufts golfers over the weekend, meaning the Jumbos’ main core all has collegiate golf experience even if it is still relatively young when compared to some of the top teams in the NESCAC. “We got a very good feel for what it takes to qualify for the NESCAC finals,” Koh said. “The fact that we were close

to qualifying after the first day shows us what we are actually capable of if we put our minds to it.”

With only two more tournaments remaining on the fall schedule, the Jumbos have their sights set on improving their respective games. Most notably, they hope to improve on the mental side of the game, especially after a weekend where the team felt as if they were piling on strokes to their scores at inopportune times.

“We seem to get in good spots in tournaments, then fade as the tournament goes on,” Wawer said. “The issue is not the talent level, as we have plenty of that, but rather the ability to have the whole team put solid rounds together on a consistent basis, not just one or two golfers at a time.”

Koh also saw areas for both individual and team improvement, even if they were in a different facet.

“Personally, it was getting used to the speed of the greens and challenging green-side approaches,” he said. “I feel that as long as we continue to practice diligently on the little kinds of each of our games, we will become much stronger as the season progresses.”

In two weeks, the Jumbos head to Rhode Island for the Johnson and Wales Fall Tournament. This will be the final tune-up before the New England Championship in Brewster, Mass., which will take place during the final weekend in October.

every ball helped us clinch the win.”

Things did not go so smoothly for Tufts on Saturday. The Lord Jeffs pounced early and preserved their lead through regulation to upset the defending national champions.

Amherst’s squad, assistant coached by former Jumbos’ standout midfielder Lindsay see HOCKEY, page 10

Women’s Cross Country

Beltrani leads Jumbos to firstplace finish by

Alex Connors

Daily Editorial Board

The Tufts women’s cross county team continued its strong start to the season by winning the Bowdoin Invitational Meet on Saturday. Improving on a second-place finish last weekend, the Jumbos dominated the 10-team field at Bowdoin with a score of 19 points, and finished ahead of the hosting Polar Bears, who came in second with 52.

Tufts sophomore Olivia Beltrani finished in first place, and senior tri-captains Lauren Creath and Abby Barker were right behind her in third and fourth place, respectively.

Sophomore Audrey Gould and senior Molly Mirhashem finished in fifth and sixth place to round out the scoring for the Jumbos.

“We aimed to get off the line together and work off each other the whole race, pulling each other along to maintain a good pack,” Beltrani said. “Most telling of our success this week was not the places or team score, but rather the closeness in time of our finishes.”

In an incredible display of both talent and depth, Tufts claimed seven of the top eight spots, and eleven of the top thirteen.

The team finished with just a 36-second 1-5 spread. This comes as no surprise, as the main theme that the team has emphasized all season is the importance of running as a pack.

“Going into Saturday’s race we were really focused on running as a pack,” Creath added. see WOMEN’S XC, page 11