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THE TUFTS DAILY
TUFTSDAILY.COM
TUESDAY, APRIL 15, 2014
VOLUME LXVII, NUMBER 53
Where You Read It First Est. 1980
Security expert talks cyber warfare
by Justin Rheingold Daily Editorial Board Director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institution Peter Singer spoke at The Fletcher School yesterday about the evolving threat of cyber warfare and how business and government leaders need to rethink their security strategies. Admiral James Stavridis, dean of The Fletcher School, introduced Singer by describing him as "the Meryl Streep of defense," due to Singer's wide knowledge on many international issues including child soldiers, corporate security, drone use and cyber warfare. "When I think of Meryl Streep, I think about an actress who has incredible range, who can lose herself in any role, and every time you see her it's different and it's fresh," he said. "Peter ... has one of the best minds looking at security, defense, technology and their intersection." Singer briefly outlined the changing nature of computers and the internet. He explained that as computers have become more complex and the internet has developed, both have a tremendous impact on everyday life. "Since then, three decades
later, computers have taken a central role in my life, and I would argue all of our lives," he said. "The first website was made in 1991 ... and we now live in a world where there are more than 30 trillion individual websites. Moreover, the internet is no longer about compiling or sharing information online; it's also starting to shake the real world with the emerging internet of things." Over the next five years, Cisco Systems, Inc. estimates that over 50 billion internet-enabled devices will come online, including smart cars, smart refrigerators and smart thermostats, according to Singer. "When you think about those numbers — you're talking about 50 billion — it means we're no longer the people behind the devices using them to have conversations," he said. "There [are] too many of the devices — they are having the conversations without us, making decisions without us ... What's playing out is that domains range from communication to commerce to critical infrastructure to conflict ... all of these domains are dependent on the space. We truly are entering what the chairman of Google calls a 'new digital age.'" With the uses of the internet
JODI BOSIN / TUFTS DAILY ARCHIVES
Nominated by Students for Justice in Palestine, the Palestinian Association for Children's Encouragement of Sport (PACES), was the recipient of proceeds from this semester's Cause Dinner.
Cause Dinner donations benefit afterschool programs in Middle East by Dana Guth
Daily Editorial Board
This semester's Cause Dinner, held last Tuesday in Carmichael and Dewick-MacPhie Dining Halls, raised funds to benefit the Palestinian Association for Children's Encouragement of Sport (PACES).
see CYBER SECURITY, page 2
The Cause Dinner is hosted twice annually by Dining Services in conjunction with the Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate, which selects a charity initiative from a pool of undergraduate applicants. Students visiting either of the two dining halls are then given the option to donate a portion of their meal's cost to the cause.
While the funds raised from this semester's Cause Dinner have not yet been tallied, Director of Dining and Business Services Patricia Klos said that the average amount of money raised each semester is between $1,200 and $1,500. see CAUSE, page 2
Tufts hosts 'Be Green, Be Healthy' events by Justin Rheingold Daily Editorial Board
JUSTIN RHEINGOLD / THE TUFTS DAILY
Police cars and tape surrounded the location where the assault occured.
Aggravated assault on Capen St. According to an April 14 safety alert from TUPD, a non-Tufts affiliated male was the victim of an aggravated assault on the corner of Capen and Winthrop Streets, near the bottom of the steps that lead from Wren Hall toward Boston Avenue. The assault occurred in an area where many Tufts juniors and
seniors live, and students reported hearing screams at the time of the stabbing. “I woke up at around 3:50 a.m. from a lot of screaming and texted my suite mates to hear if anyone else heard a lot of what I was hearing," sophomore Gemma Stern, who lives in Wren Hall, said. Police were unable to locate the
suspect, but said that the victim and suspect were known to each other and not affiliated with the university. TUPD, nevertheless, advised students to report any suspicious activity and to use the GoSafe service when traveling off-campus during the late evening hours.
Inside this issue
—by Justin Rheingold
The Office of Sustainability (OOS) is celebrating Earth Month by partnering with numerous healthy and sustainable living groups and organizations over the course of the next two weeks to present a series of events called "Be Green, Be Healthy!" According to OOS Communications and Outreach Specialist Fannie Koa, this year's event will be held on three days — yesterday, this coming Wednesday and the following Wednesday at the Mayer Campus Center from 12 to 2 p.m. "We partnered with the Wellness Center this year because sustainability and health have a lot of connections," Koa said. "This is a series of events not just one ... Every single day has a different focus." Both OOS and the Wellness Center will be present each day, Koa explained, to showcase the nexus between caring for the environment and caring about one's health. The Wellness Center declined to comment for this article, but Koa said they would have a health coach and informational tools about healthy living.
"We wanted the Wellness Center to be here to tie into what we're trying to do," she said. "[Taking public] transit, commuting green, walking and not driving is not only good for the environment, it's good for your health." MassRides, a group that is state and federally funded and organized by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, was also present at yesterday's event, teaching students and faculty about greener commuting. "We provide commuter options, so ... we try to find greener ways for students, but also employees that work at work sites, colleges, [and] hospitals to get to school [and] work more efficiently," Gary St. Fleur, the outreach coordinator for MassRides said. "We try to cut back on worldwide congestion [by getting] as many cars off the road as possible." St. Fleur and Koa explained that one of MassRides' strategies involves a program called NuRide, which seeks to reward people for commuting sustainably. "NuRide allows you to get rewards for taking greener trips, see SUSTAINABILITY, page 2
Today’s sections
Somerville residents concerned about Union Square post office mural.
Miley Cyrus deals with tragedy, performs concert in Boston as part of ‘Bangerz’ tour.
see FEATURES, page 3
see ARTS, page 6
News 1 Features 3 Arts & Living 6 Editorial | Letters 8
Op-Ed 9 Comics 10 Classifieds 11 Sports Back
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News
Singer assesses evolving cyber threats CYBER SECURITY
continued from page 1
constantly expanding, Singer said cyberattacks are also growing and becoming more complicated. "With this incredibly important but arguably very short history, I would argue that we're reaching a turning point," he said. "Just as the upside of the cyber domain has rippled out with all sorts of wonderful and unexpected consequences, so too has the risk side. You can illustrate this again through lots of different ways, one would be through the numbers. Every single second nine new pieces of malware are discovered. From the business side, 97 percent of Fortune 500 countries have admitted that they have been hacked." As a result of these cyber-attacks, Singer explained that governments and businesses have invested resources into beefing up their internet security. According to Singer, more than 100 governments have created some type of cyber military command, and the private cyber security industry is on pace to double over the next 20 years. Despite this increase, he expressed concern over group's abilities to respond to cyber security threats. "Seventy percent of business executives have made a cybersecurity decision for their company, not seventy percent of CTOs or CIOs, but executives in general, despite the fact that no major MBA program teaches it as part of your management responsibility," he said. "The same thing [is true] at the schools that teach our lawyers, journalists, et cetera." Singer stressed that cyber-attacks come in many forms, however, and that people must be focused on smaller attacks, not just the possibility of a "cyber 9/11" or an attack on the nation's energy infrastructure. "Our inability to have a proper discussion about this space doesn't just lead to distortion of threats and how we talk about them, but more importantly [leads to] a misallocation of resources, a misallocation of mental, financial, organizational resources," he said.
ETHAN CHAN / THE TUFTS DAILY
Peter Singer, the director of the Center for 21st Century Security and Intelligence at the Brookings Institution discussed the evolving nature of cyber security and warfare during a lecture yesterday at The Fletcher School. "Thirty-one thousand three hundred. That's the number of academic journal and major media articles that have focused on the phenomena of 'cyber terrorism.' Zero. That's the number of people who have actually been hurt or killed by an incident that meets the FBI definition of cyber-terrorism." In order to more effectively combat the cyber threats, Singer argued that people must first become aware of the threats. "The first theme is knowledge matters. It's absolutely vital that we demystify this realm if we ever want to get anything done about security," he said. "We have to move past the situation we're in right now where, for example, the president received a brief-
ing on cyber issues, and then had to ask for it repeated back, 'this time in English.' That's not a knock on President Obama. That same thing would happen at pretty much every major corporation to private company to think tank, that kind of sense of 'I don't understand it, this is not for me.'" Singer also spoke of other ways to improve cyber security, including through improving financial incentives to be safe, understanding history's application to the present and in changing the mentality of the nation. "We have to change our emphasis from one of defense or offense to one of resilience," he said. "This is not an area where you can just build a higher wall or deter the
OOS, Wellness Center promote nexus between environment, health SUSTAINABILITY
continued from page 1
so every time you take a greener trip, you can track that trip and get points and rewards for doing that," he said. "It's a free incentive for students and faculty to do something green." In addition to yesterday's "Travel Green" event, OOS will be coordinating with Tufts Dining Services and World PEAS CSA, a nonprofit that provides farmers with marketing assistance, for an "Eat Green" event tomorrow. Koa said that she worked with Tufts Dining's dietician, Julie Lampie, to teach students about sustainable food. "We're asking [Dining Services] to bring meatless
dishes for people to try," she said. "We'll be talking about how if you eat local, if you go meatless, you'll have a much smaller [impact] on the planet ... that's more food-centered sustainability." Last year, OOS hosted a week of bike-related events and activities, but Koa explained that her office chose to hold a single day this year as part of the larger Earth Month celebration. Next Wednesday, students will be able to learn about biking in the area, with information provided about Hubway, the Metro-Boston bike-share system and Bike Boom used bike shop. "Tufts Bikes will be here for the free tune-ups again and we'll
have our bike maps," Koa said. She added that OOS will also be promoting its Sustainable Selfies contest through which students can submit photos of themselves doing sustainable activities and then win prizes. "Take a selfie of you doing something sustainable and you could win a prize if you get the most likes on our Facebook page," Koa said. "If you go to go.tufts.edu/selfie, all of the instructions are there. So we've been putting out a prompt every week saying 'take a picture of yourself doing something along the lines of composting, or recycling, or doing laundry with only a cold water cycle' and post it."
CAROLINE GEILING / THE TUFTS DAILY
Students speak with employees of MassRides, the Wellness Center and the Office of Sustainability during this year's ‘Be Green, Be Healthy’ event.
bad guy away. That kind of thinking won't work in this space ... Rather, we have to accept that as long as we're online, there will be threats, and ... some of those threats will get inside your network or they might already be inside your network." Despite his concerns, Singer expressed optimism that the internet and computers will continue to be as helpful as they were in the past, connecting strangers and answering questions with the click of a button. "My hope is that the way it has been in the past will be the way it is in the future," he said. "We have to accept and manage the risks of this world, whether it's the online world or the real world."
PACES receives Cause Dinner donations
CAUSE
continued from page 1
This dinner's beneficiary, PACES, structures after-school athletic programs, trains coaches and provides sports equipment for children in Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. According to Senator Isabella Kahhale, the program was chosen due to its wide reach: the program hopes to help more than 7,000 boys and girls. "PACES instills in them the core values of peace and teamwork, and gives the kids everything from fields to coaches," Kahhale, a freshman, said. "We felt our dollar-for-dollar donations from the Cause Dinner would make a great impact on these children's lives." PACES was nominated this year by Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP), according to TCU Senator Janna Karatas. The Cause Dinner recipient was chosen from among 12 student groups that applied, each of which proposed a particular charity. The debate on the final decision is open to members of every committee in TCU, which uses a sort of bracket system to narrow down the applicants, Kahhale said. "We consider questions such as where else the organizations can get money, whether or not they are receiving other funds, how well-known they are and what kind of impact we would make," Kahhale said. "We encourage groups to always apply in both the fall and the spring." Karatas, a sophomore, said that PACES was also considered for its influence on a global scale, since Tufts DREAM, last November's Cause Dinner beneficiary, was more local in scope. "Since the event is put on twice a year, we usually try to pick one of the Cause Dinners to benefit a local or community undergraduate cause," Karatas said. "Anyone
from Senate is welcome to help pick the program." According to Karatas, there are no specific limitations on the organizations which can be submitted by students, which leads to a wide range of charities being nominated from year to year. "We definitely see a wide variety of applicants," she said. "In the past, they have been as diverse as sports teams, service organizations and several different medical groups. Selecting the group is always a very contentious discussion because so many causes deserve it." According to Karatas, there is now more of an incentive for students to participate in the Cause Dinner: Students can give their signature as they enter the dining hall to support the charity, but still keep their meal. In the past students would be required to donate their entire meal in order to help out, Klos said. "Cause Dinners originated in the 1960s and 1970s as a way to raise awareness about hunger, and to provide funds to organizations who feed those who have insufficient means," Klos told the Daily in an email. "In order to participate in the Cause Dinner, the student signed their name, then left the dining hall without eating. When the Premium Plan and Block Plans were introduced, students no longer left the dining center after 'signing away a meal.'" Kahhale added that Dining Service's collaboration with the TCU Senate to increase participation and make a genuine difference in their donations is important. "We work together to organize the entire event, and solicit both applicants and signatures," she said. "It's amazing that Dining Services offers us this opportunity."
Features
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REBECCA HUTCHINSON | WHAT'S POPPIN'
Lessons from Buzzfeed
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WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Union Square post office is just one example of the many post offices closing throughout the country.
Historic Union Square post office up for sale, causes local concern by Jake Taber
Daily Editorial Board
The Union Square post office, located a few miles from Tufts, holds both cultural and historical significance to the Somerville community. Recently, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has decided to close the post office and put it on the market. Though the post office is not yet officially closed, Somerville residents are concerned about the decision to sell the property and worried about the future of the historical mural housed within its walls. The post office is just one example of a recent increase in sales of postal service properties across the country. Since 2006, a federal law has required the USPS to pay some of its employees' retirement benefits in advance, creating an additional yearly cost of $5.5 billion. This, combined with a steady decline in the American public's use of the postal service, has left the USPS in dire financial straits. Located on 237 Washington St., the post office opened in 1936 and was placed on the national register of historic places in 1986. The building is home to a historically significant 1937 mural by artist Ross Moffett entitled "A Skirmish between British and Colonists near Somerville in Revolutionary Times." The work was commissioned under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression, according to a March 12 article published in The Somerville Times. Chris Poteet, a Somerville resident who is investigating the sale of the post office, explained that many public murals, like this one, were commissioned in the New Deal era. "The post office murals are a really great thing," Poteet said. "They were put in post offices all across the country in the ’30s during the Roosevelt administration, and they're really national treasures." Poteet added that the Somerville mural was not created solely for aesthetic purposes, but also has a historical function. "[Murals were] usually painted to
tell the story of the town they were located in, and Somerville always had a tremendous resource, having this 1930's mural in [its] post office," Poteet said. "I've never felt like it was as promoted and celebrated as it should [have been]." While the Somerville Historic Preservation Committee has played a large role in the debate over the mural's future, Poteet described his own efforts to help preserve the piece. "The first thing I did was go and find out what protections were in place [for the mural]," Poteet said. "I found out that there's a process that's really a part of federal law on how to deal with historic post offices and historic New Deal artwork. It was then that I found that these processes were never followed in Somerville." Poteet is referring to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, which provides a series of guidelines to protect historic properties. It requires that the federal agency responsible for the sale of the property in question consult with appropriate state and local officials, as well as members of the public, when making final project decisions. Poteet explained that the community was taking action to ensure that there was transparency during the post office sale. "The sale was supposed to have stopped back in January," Poteet said. "The [Somerville] advisory council for historic preservation has an open investigation about the Somerville post office sale." Somerville Alderman At Large Bill White said that a public hearing was held in March to discuss the future of the mural, only after the post office had already been on the market for months. "The historical preservation commission basically held a hearing just to take testimonies, to sort of compile the concerns of residents," White said. "Then, they themselves will send ... a report to the postal service to address how that mural should be handled when the post office is sold." White described general disapproval among Somerville residents about how decisions regarding the sale of
the post office were made. "The concern that some people have is whether the [USPS] has followed federal law with regards to the way this post office has been closed and put [up] for sale," White said. "We've asked the city solicitor to look on that, to review that issue, and he has not gotten back to us yet on that." A federal spending bill passed by Congress this January includes a provision that supports blocking the sale of post offices until both an inspector general and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) have issued reports on the building in question. White, however, reiterated the importance of including the public's opinion in this process. "They can't just willy-nilly have the building sold and the mural destroyed," White said. "That was the reason to have the public hearing — basically, just to take comments from the public on what they would prefer." According to White, the USPS has found a potential buyer for the post office, but no other official information has been disclosed. The Somerville Historic Preservation Committee could not be reached for comment on the matter. Brian Mcniff, a spokesman for the Massachusetts State Historical Commission, said that his organization has so far not been involved in the process. "At the moment, there's nothing before the Massachusetts Historical Commission," Mcniff said. "The property has not been sold by the government, so there's nothing before the commission, and there's no comment on the disputes going on in the city at the moment." While the future of the post office and its historical mural remain uncertain, Poteet feels strongly that mural should remain accessible and open to the Somerville community. "When those murals were commissioned, they were meant to serve the public — they were public art," Poteet said. "So, for the government, the idea was to put these murals where people can enjoy them."
othing is better for self-discovery than an Internet quiz. After all, if you don't know what "Full House" (1987-1995) character you are, or which Eminem songs best describe you or which famous butt you should have, do you really know yourself at all? Luckily, some super-genius Internet tycoon realized how much our generation desperately needed to know these things and more, and Buzzfeed was born. Buzzfeed is probably a major news source for more people than will admit to it. However, I will admit that while I can't remember the last time I went to CNN. com, the last time I was on Buzzfeed was an hour ago. In my defense, Buzzfeed does have a news section. Granted, most of those articles are called "The Hills Explains Vladimir Putin Invading Ukraine" or something equally riveting, but hey, news is news. I will also admit that 90 percent of the articles I read in the news section of Buzzfeed include more pictures of the cast of "The Real Housewives of New Jersey" (2009-present) than pictures of the actual crisis at hand. However, in my defense, if I had wanted real news written by real reporters that consisted of well thoughtout sentences without gifs, I wouldn't have gone on Buzzfeed in the first place. While it may not be the best place for 'real world' news, Buzzfeed is probably the best place to go to if you want recipes for cookies or fancy drinks that you will probably never make, or if you need to know anything in list formation. Buzzfeed was created with procrastinators in mind. Nobody on Buzzfeed is being productive, and everybody on Buzzfeed is avoiding responsibilities. That doesn't mean it's not a valuable website, though. Sure, maybe listening in class or studying or sleeping or being social is important, but that doesn't mean looking at pictures of Jesse McCartney in UGGs and a onesie also isn't important. What really surprises about Buzzfeed's popularity is just how dumb it really is. Most social media is, to put it nicely, not designed for serious intellectual activity, but it at least has some sort of purpose. Twitter, for instance, lets people share their thoughts with the world, even if those thoughts are usually not actually thoughts but really 140-character complaints that nobody else cares about, but will read anyway. Buzzfeed, on the other hand, doesn't even to pretend have a seemingly useful purpose. It is, literally, pointless. What I love about Buzzfeed is that it seems to really embrace its pointlessness. It's not trying to be anything it's not; it's not promising that it will bring you closer to the people in your life when it very well knows that you still won't talk to these people, but will kill hours stalking them and everybody they know (looking at you, Facebook). Buzzfeed knows what it is. It knows that it will be used almost exclusively by people who are trying to avoid doing something else, and knows that these people are willing to read any article or take any quiz to avoid listening in a lecture. If Buzzfeed took itself seriously at all, it wouldn't be posting articles called "17 Terrifying Stages of Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt" or quizzes that help you decide everything from what you should give up for Lent or who you should vote for in Egypt's presidential education. Buzzfeed might be the biggest waste of time there is, but sometimes (a lot of times) we all need to waste time. So, Buzzfeed on, and continue learning 82 facts most people don't know about cats and other priceless bits of information. Rebecca Hutchinson is a freshman majoring in international relations. She can be reached at Rebecca.Hutchinson@tufts.edu.
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CONCERT REVIEW
Raunchy, exciting 'Bangerz' tour hits Boston
Cyrus showcases talent, vision in fourth concert tour by James Davis
Contributing Writer
Miley Cyrus' "Bangerz" tour kicked off in Vancouver on Valentine's Day and, on April 2, Cyrus finally made her way down to TD Garden in Boston. The controversial singer's fourth tour has generally received praise and approval — and her Boston show certainly did not disappoint. Singer-songwriter Sky Ferreira kicked off the concert. Though her tunes are not as well-known as Cyrus' music, the crowd seemed to enjoy Ferreira's slow crooning and got moving with a few of her rock ballads. Following Ferriera was the peppy and significantly more recognizable Icona Pop, who delivered a noticeable change of pace. Of the two openers, Icona Pop had a significantly stronger fan base, as the crowd jumped and shook to every song, from "All Night" (2013) to the Top 40 hit "I Don't Care" (2012). Although Icona Pop didn't exactly blow the crowd away, the duo seemed to be a good fit for the atmosphere and was a great segue into the main event. Surprisingly enough, the audience was not forced to wait hours in between the second opener and Cyrus's act. Entering in her trademark fashion — with her tongue stuck out — Cyrus fittingly started off the show with the tour's title track, "Bangerz" (2013). The singer, who was minimally clad in a red-sequined leotard, performed in front of interesting and
JAMES DAVIS FOR THE TUFTS DAILY
Miley Cyrus, whose tour is riddled with graphic and bizarre imagery, left the stage on a giant hot dog. arguably unflattering graphics of herself, which were displayed on a big screen in the background. Maybe these images enhanced the concert experience for those with nosebleed seats, but, overall, they were rather distracting.
After her opening number, Cyrus jumped into "4x4" (2013) crooning sweetly over the country beat. She also addressed the crowd quite a few times throughout the course of see CYRUS, page 7
RESTAURANT REVIEW
Mexican restaurant provides simple, unexpected menu by Drew Robertson
Near the end of Elm Street, on the very edge of Porter Square, a bright orange and green storefront announcDaily Editorial Board
Aguacate Verde 13 Elm Street, Somerville, MA 02143
(617) 666-0677 $$
ter in his home. The long and short of Abraham's character is this: he is a good man and a bad farmer. As he struggles to make ends meet and take care of his wife Mary (Meegan Warner) and oneyear-old son Tomas, he is also embroiled in a moral struggle. The corrupt commanders of the Loyalist army force him to question whom he sides with in this fight — a question that likely will have difficult familial implications. His father Richard (Kevin McNally) is a steadfast Loyalist who supports the British army that resides in Setauket, and he makes his family do the same. The drama begins when Abraham and his friend Selah (Robert Beitzel) get into a fight with some quarrelsome British soldiers. Since Abe's father is the town
es the local Mexican restaurant, Aguacate Verde. The small eatery is instantly inviting — the door remains propped open in mild weather, allowing the sizzling sounds and enticing flavors emanating from the tiny kitchen to greet visitors as they approach. Once inside, the sun-soaked tables, each topped with a bottle of hot sauce, encourage patrons to stay, take a rest and order one — or several — of the restaurant's excellent dishes. Agaucate Verde, which translates to "green avocado," is aptly named. The flavorful fruit is incorporated into many menu items, making it the restaurant's signature ingredient. Chief among the avocado dishes, however, is the guacamole — the crown jewel of Agaucate Verde. It is not to be missed. This legendary guac is unmistakably fresh with hints of onion that add a refreshing crunch to the otherwise smooth and sweet dip. While it makes a wonderful side to most entrees, if you would prefer to have your guacamole as an appetizer or a stand-alone dish, be sure to ask for tortilla chips with your order (they are not automatically provided, but can easily be requested).
see TURN, page 7
see VERDE, page 7
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
Jamie Bell plays Loyalist-turned-spy Abraham Woodhull on new AMC drama 'Turn.'
'Turn' offers engaging new colonial spy drama Daily Editorial Board
AMC's new drama "Turn" is a creative new take on the American Revolution and the heated conflicts — both on and
Turn Starring Jamie Bell, Seth Numrich, Kevin McNally and Heather Lind
Airs Sundays at 9 p.m. on AMC off the battlefield — that defined it. Set in Long Island in 1776, the show focuses on one man, Abraham Woodhull (Jamie Bell), a poor farmer trying to keep his family afloat and to deal with the British soldiers whom he is forced to quar-
The takeover, part three: SZA's 'Z'
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TV REVIEW
by Nika Korchok
RYAN BUELL | THE BEAT
op Dawg Entertainment (TDE) strikes again. Up and coming songstress SZA launched her anticipated album "Z" this week, marking the third release of the year for the powerhousein-the-making record label, TDE. The tensong EP from the New Jersey native draws on soul and electropop, as well as jazz elements, making it a minimalist R&B project with surprising cohesiveness. With production courtesy of Mac Miller, Toro Y Moi, XXYYXX and Emile Haynie, among others, "Z" delivers a full spread of moodily swirling beats that carry SZA's soft voice and doubletracked crooning. On the opening "U R," SZA hums along to the Miller produced beat, singing in a near whisper, "Clarity is a state of mind / Freedom ain't real, who's sold you that lie?" The song's slow boom bap and staggered drums, combined with SZA's non-lexical ad-libs, carry the album to a gentle start, before fading into the dreamy, Chance the Rapper-assisted "Child's Play." The oddly pacifying lyrics begin with, "Ripping the heads off all my Barbie dolls / Toss them to the side, give them convertibles," as SZA remembers days gone by. Chance comes in with his characteristic word play and vocal distortions. While it's a strong verse, Chance's peculiar voice comes off as discordant and ends up overpowering detracting from SZA's softer rhythms. On the up-beat "Julia," SZA takes a step back to examine the troubles of her love life from a more subjective vantage, singing, "Loving alone is what you make it / Stay for the storm if you can take it." The next track, "Warm Winds," finds her harmonizing with label mate Isaiah Rashad over echoing synths. The layered booms and guitar arpeggios of the song's first half create an energy that is fueled by the remarkable chemistry between SZA and Rashad on the song's more hypnotic latter half. The enticing promise of future collaborations between the two is yet another asset in TDE's ever expanding repertoire. The Toro Y Moi produced "HiiiJack" marks the album's halfway point, followed by the more pop-influenced "Green Mile." Fraught with war imagery to elucidate her pain, SZA croons, "Shotgun to the back of my heart, I don't turn around to see who let one ring out / Said you'll never do me wrong, guess we see how that plays out / Is it true? Is it true?" The most attention-attracting song on the album is the Kendrick Lamar assisted "Babylon." The wobble bass and quick snares give this song a distinct trap feel, as SZA asks "Aren't you tired of always making amends?" Then comes Lamar with a fiery verse, complete with his usual spatter of multisyllabic rhymes and flow switches and capped off with an emphatic "Babylon!" The Marvin Gaye-sampling "Sweet November" is one of the album's finer cuts, an instantly enjoyable track. SZA's lyrics shine over Gaye's smooth jazz horns and rhythm guitars, as she contemplates the end: "Jesus called me collect last night / It took all of me not to answer ... I've kissed death a thousand times before." The pop-oriented "Shattered Ring" hits its mark as well. The passion fueled reprise finds SZA taking a more vengeful approach to her heartache, singing, "Ready or not, loaded heart with a dagger / Aim for your sweet spot." On the tenth and final song, "Omega," SZA finds new hope and is able to "Release all my sins at the pulpit," bringing the album to an uplifting close. "Z" isn't a particularly groundbreaking album; in fact, its very strength is in not trying to do too much. The minimalist production accentuates SZA's voice and emotion and makes "Z" what it is: an enjoyable R&B album from an exciting new artist still finding her own sound. Ryan Buell is a sophomore who is majoring in psychology. He can be reached at Ryan. Buell@tufts.edu.
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Arts & Living
Agaucate Verde impresses with fresh ingredients, piping hot dishes VERDE
continued from page 6
While the menu does give an excellent selection of familiar dishes, such as guacamole, tacos and burritos, Agaucate Verde stands out thanks to its other dishes. The menu offers many healthier versions of traditional items, with diet-friendly options marked by a heart-healthy symbol on the menu. For instance, the vegetarian quesadilla is heavy on the veggie fillings, and light on cheese, making this beloved tortilla dish more like a wrap than the Mexican classic. Furthermore, menu items such as gorditas — a hamburger-shaped grilled sandwich, stuffed with beans, lettuce and avocado held together between warm corn tortillas — and pupusas — a kind of grilled corn pancake with cheese and meat fillings baked into the center — may be unfamiliar to many patrons. Aguacate Verde does a wonderful job with most items and provides ample opportunities for patrons to step outside their comfort zones with their effortlessly fresh and exciting options. While some dishes, like the pupusa, may be bland at first, they're simply an
excellent excuse to use that bottle of hot sauce liberally. Other selections, like the decadent leche asada — a baked dessert somewhere in between crème brulee and pudding — are perfectly satisfying and served straight from the oven. These dishes are where Agaucate Verde shines. While the food is certainly tasty, Agaucate Verde does have its drawbacks. The restaurant seems to quickly run out of popular items like flan or advertised specials, even early on in the evening. The eating experience, too, is overwhelmingly casual. Customers order at the kitchen counter and are sometimes called up to retrieve their own dishes, which are served in plastic baskets. This atmosphere, however, can be relaxing and friendly. Aguacate Verde quickly fills up around 5 p.m. with famished and enthusiastic locals looking to kick back and enjoy a quick bite. But there is absolutely no need to dress up for a night out here. Whether this laid-back feeling enhances or detracts from the meal depends on the preferences of each dining party, and also their expectations for the meal. Arrive at Agaucate Verde
DREW ROBERTSON / THE TUFTS DAILY
The presentation of most menu items, like this cheese pupusa with beans and rice, is informal, as is the overall dining experience. hungry, ready for a simple meal and a fresh taste of traditional Latin American cuisine and you won't be disappointed. Agaucate Verde is located at 13 Elm
Street and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sundays. It is closed on Mondays.
Miley Cyrus delights, shocks with ‘Bangerz’ tour
CYRUS
continued from page 6
the evening, discussing the recent death of her dog, Floyd. She asked the audience to express their energy and enthusiasm, in order to help her get through the show, and despite mentioning Floyd's passing several times, her performance was only minimally affected by the sad subject. At one point during the concert, an enormous replica of the late canine graced the stage — its first appearance on the tour itself. During a rendition of "Can't Be Tamed" (2010), Cyrus, wearing custom-designed Roberto Cavalli black and white fur pants, caressed
the dog's leg and broke down in tears, resulting in a slightly awkward moment for concertgoers. Luckily, the singer quickly composed herself, and managed to skillfully continue with the rest of the set. During some of her slower songs, Cyrus sat on a satellite stage at the back of the auditorium. It was here that she struggled the most, clearly sobbing as she made her way through renditions of Lana Del Rey's "Summertime Sadness" (2012) and Dolly Parton's "Jolene" (2004). Though Cyrus's vocals were stellar on both of these numbers, a bit more variety could have been incorporated into this segment, as
'Turn' explores spy rings during Revolutionary War TURN
continued from page 6
magistrate, the protagonist is sent to his father's care while Selah is sent to the shackles. Abraham, feeling supremely guilty that his friend is being punished while he is free, decides to pay off a previous debt to Selah. While attempting to secure the necessary funds, however, Continental Army soldiers, suspecting him of spying, take Abraham captive.
RICKY BRIGANTE VIA FLICKR CREATIVE COMMONS
Kevin McNally plays Richard Woodhull, Abraham's father, who questions his son's loyalty to the British crown. Abraham is fortunately saved yet again — this time rescued by his childhood friend Ben Tallmadge (Seth Numrich), who turns out to be the leader of this group of soldiers. Ben, who now serves as a commander in the Continental Dragoon, gives Abraham an opportunity to become a spy for the Patriots. Initially, Abraham's family ties make him reluctant to help, but when Abraham witnesses another injustice by the redcoats, he decides to no longer sit idly by.
The show moves slowly, with minor confusing elements. Characters are given scenes before being introduced, and the pieces of plot are assembled rather haphazardly. Abraham seems befuddled, for good reason, and he lacks a clear central focus or motivation for much of the pilot. Accents are used sporadically, with Welsh, English and Irish twangs intermingling with more typically American ones. The lack of uniformity can make it, at times, difficult to determine if a character is a Patriot with a British accent or a Loyalist with an American one. Admittedly, this lack of cohesion is reminiscent of the reallife variety within each army, but in the show, it feels puzzling and sloppy. To the show's credit, the production and design is beautifully done. The costumes, make-up, hair and sets are gorgeously constructed. One scene in particular, on the Brooklyn harbor, is jaw dropping. The beautiful sets create lush and dramatic depictions of 18th century New York. While "Turn" might not attract enormous ratings like fellow AMC drama "The Walking Dead" (2010-present) or garner the critical success of "Mad Men" (2007-present), it does have the potential to be quite engaging. Indeed, "Turn" has potential, so long as it doesn't get bogged down in trying to achieve the accuracy of a PBS documentary or the drama of an HBO series. Although the show lacks the acting powerhouses that propelled "Breaking Bad" (2008-2013) and "Mad Men" to mustsee status, it brings something unique to television. It offers a new take on an often-unexplored side of the American Revolution, one not seen in past colonial dramas like the HBO miniseries "John Adams" (2008). "Turn" has a great tale to tell. If series' producers and creators can sharpen its focus a bit, then "Turn" might be set to capture America's hearts every Sunday at 9 p.m., just as easily as Abraham Woodhull is stealing secrets from the British.
Cyrus has frequently performed these two covers since her opening date. Cyrus first left the stage on a giant hot dog, but after minutes of the crowd chanting her name she returned to sing her anthemic "Party in the USA" (2009) and "We Can't Stop" (2013) for the encore. Her vocals were well showcased throughout the set. Indeed, it was obvious Cyrus was actually singing live. Although her show tends to be a bit repetitive, it seems that Cyrus is adopting an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" attitude on this tour. This is working in her favor, because it seems that the young pop princess' career has nowhere to go but up.
JAMES DAVIS FOR THE TUFTS DAILY
Despite emotional ups and downs, Cyrus maintained her composure on stage throughout her performance.
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The Tufts Daily
THE TUFTS DAILY
EDITORIAL
The naturals
Caroline A. Welch Editor-in-Chief
EDITORIAL
J.L. Hoagland Stephanie Haven
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Editorial | Letters
As the weather gets warmer and students flock to the President's Lawn, it seems like spring has finally arrived. And with the start of spring comes the beginning of another season: baseball. Both the men's baseball and women's softball teams are boasting impressive records as the blossoms begin to bloom. A little support goes along way for our athletes, who continue to make us proud game after game. With just a few more weeks left in the academic year, students shouldn't be shy about donning their baseball caps and soaking in both the sun and the scores that our teams are serving up. With Tufts baseball and softball leading the NESCAC East Division standings, things are looking bright at the batting cages this spring. As these teams aim to finish their seasons
strong and prepare for conference divisional play, the role that student support plays in boosting morale cannot be understated. Often times, student athletes are forgotten when the time comes for accolades and praise, particularly given the many commitments they make. Every student-athlete on campus goes above and beyond by pursuing both academic excellence in the classroom and athletic dominance on the field. Few can imagine the daily toll that such a time-intensive schedule can take on a student. Having to balance practice, class, training, games and extracurricular activies can be incredibly difficult. For many studentathletes, athletic endeavors consume much of their time and thus become a significant part of their Tufts experience that not all students are privy to.
Through the long hours at the batting cages, in the pool, on the court or lifting weights, the discipline and fortitude it takes to be both a fantastic athlete and successful student is beyond admirable, and, as our baseball and softball teams have shown us as of late, is something that student-athletes should be commended for. Surely, we can slap on a pair of sunglasses and support them, be it in the biology lab or on the diamond. Taking the T to Fenway to see the Red Sox play ball is something every Tufts student should do at least once. However, students don’t have to trek all the way into Boston to appreciate America’s pastime — they can also experience the simple joy of a couple of innings in our very own backyard, as the girls and boys of summer complete their seasons.
thing in common: we are very lucky to have survived and that is the most important point. I was, however, very surprised to read that that Eva Mozes Kos has forgiven the Nazis and the Hitler regime. How could she? Six million Jews (including my father from starvation/ malnutrition), and millions of others were systematically murdered by the Hitler regime. How can you forgive the atrocities they committed? They were savages without any respect for humanity. I am certainly not one of them! I have written a book "A Danish Boy in Theresienstadt — Reflections of a Holocaust survivor." I have talked to about 70 groups, mostly students and reached around 7,000 people during
the last 21 to 22 years in South West Florida and the Chicago area and this question has come up a few times. I always answer: "I could never forgive." Nobody seems surprised at my answer. Eva Mozes Kos certainly has the right to her own opinion, especially if this helps her healing process. I did not intend to criticize her, but expressing a different view point, which I believe is more prevalent among Holocaust survivors. Writing a book and talking to students and other groups since then helped my healing process. Again, we all deal with it differently. I would welcome comments from other survivors.
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LETTER TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I read your recent article "Holocaust survivor speaks about healing, forgiveness" published in the Daily on April 9 about Holocaust survivor, Eva Mozes Kos's visit and talk at your university. I want to compliment the university for arranging her appearance. It is important that we never forget the Holocaust, especially considering the increasing number of deniers around the world. I am a Holocaust survivor myself. My mother, father and I were arrested in Denmark and deported to Theresienstadt, where we spent 18 months in Hell. I have met other survivors; we all had a different experience and a different story to tell. We have, however, one
Sincerely, Steen Metz
Correction A caption for a photo accompanying the April 14 article "George W. Bush's painting career off to storied start" incorrectly stated that President Bush was pictured with the Turkish president. Recep Tayyip Erdogan is, in fact, the Turkish prime minister. The Daily apologizes for this error.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The Tufts Daily
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Op-Ed
OFF THE HILL | UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN
ADAM KAMINSKI | THE COOL COLUMN
SCOTUS erred in equating donations to free speech by Noah M. Horwitz The Daily Texan
Nearly two weeks ago, the United States Supreme Court ruled, in a closely divided case — McCutcheon v. FEC — that political donors have the right to give a certain amount of money to as many candidates as they like. Previously, federal law had prevented a donor from providing the maximum donation ($2,600 for a candidate, $5,000 to a political action committee and $32,400 to a political party) to more than roughly 19 candidates or 15 PACs. Now, those donors can give those aforementioned individual limits to as many candidates, committees and interest groups as they wish. The 5-4 decision rested upon the assertion that, under the First Amendment, money is tantamount to speech. Using that assumption, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that, despite its unpopularity, the right to give money to as many politicians as you choose is fundamentally constitutional. Of course, spending money should not be a universal right like worship or speech because not everyone has the pocketbook needed. "Money in politics may, at times, seem repugnant to some, but so too does much of what the First Amendment vigorously protects," Roberts wrote in a decision joined by the four other justices nominated by Republican presidents. "If the First Amendment protects flag burning, funeral protests and Nazi parades — despite the profound offense such spectacles cause — it surely protects political campaign speech despite popular opposition." The folly in this reasoning, I believe, does not lie with any unpopularity affiliated with the intersection of politics and money. Rather, it rests upon the harmful assumption that spending one's money is not legally discernible from speaking one's mind. Strictly speaking, the Supreme Court has believed, to some extent, that the two are intertwined ever since the first case about campaign finance reform, Buckley v. Valeo, way back in 1976.
However, in the four years since the Citizens United v. FEC case, which first opened the floodgates of attacks against campaign finance by giving corporations and trade unions the unmitigated right to create independent campaign expenditures (a right only the former has extensively taken advantage of), the idea of money being speech has been indelibly imprinted in the American political landscape as it has taken on a whole new meaning. "[The court's] conclusion rests upon its own, not a record-based, view of the facts," said Justice Stephen Breyer, who penned a dissent joined by the three other nominees of Democratic presidents on the court. "Its legal analysis is faulty." Breyer added, "If Citizens United opened a door, today's decision, we fear, will open a floodgate." Indeed, the fear over excessive money and corruption — inextricably mixed as they are — in the political process is what prompted a need for these regulations in the first place. In the aftermath of the Watergate scandal, Congress first limited donations in an effort to combat the impropriety they saw in the previous few elections. The law is supposed to be based on precedent, so, when the court overrules a position it took just 35 years in the past,
the assumption is that it is based on a higher moral concept or understanding, such as the spirit of equal protection heralding the Brown v. Board of Education decision that overruled previous cases. In this case, the supposedly higher concept is that speech is money and vice-versa. And, just as our freedom of speech is, with very few exceptions, absolute, the court decided so should be our freedom to donate politically. Of course, while all citizens are ostensibly affected by free speech rights, the same cannot be said here. Simply put, both a pauper and an heiress would be affected by the right to burn a draft card or give a speech on a soapbox, but only one could ever be affected by limits on political donations. Everyone has a voice, but only some have money. The court's conservative majority has even admitted that unrestrained campaign finance laws are not an ideal situation; Roberts did this much when he compared this quandary to those of white supremacists and the Westboro Baptist Church. The issue here revolves around the belief that money is speech. If that means only the rich are entitled to a functional right to free speech, I am not looking forward to the results.
WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
OFF THE HILL | HARVARD UNIVERSITY
Afghanistan's historic day
by Narges Mahdi
Harvard Political Review
It was 3 a.m. on April 5 when my parents called me from Afghanistan. Their first words were, "We voted today." I could hear the excitement in their voices and the hope in the way they talked about the election. Just like my family, for many Afghans, April 5, 2014 was the biggest day of their lives. It was the day Afghanistan had been waiting for. On Saturday April 5, 2014, crowds of Afghans stepped out in the cold weather to cast their vote for their favorite candidate. Men and women of all ages were seen at the voting stations. They all came hoping that their vote would make a difference. After decades of war, Afghanistan has taken a big step toward democracy. Although the country has struggled with terrorism, corruption and poverty, the Afghans have not given up hope for a peaceful and prosperous country. Despite all the Taliban's warnings and threats, the Afghans stood strong and fought for their right to vote. The Afghans went to the polls and cast their votes for the candidate whom they thought would save their country. April 5, 2014 marked a new beginning for Afghanistan. It will be a step toward democracy, peace and stability in the nation after decades of war. The candidates are Abdullah Abdullah, Zalmai Rassoul, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai, Abdul Rasoul Sayyaf, Qutbuddin Hilal, Gul Agha Sherzai, Hedayat Amin Arsala and
Mohammad Daoud Sultanzai. Among these eight, three candidates (Abdullah Abdullah, Zalmai Rassoul, Ashraf Ghani Ahmadzai) are expected to reach a runoff. All three leading candidates have promised to sign the Bilateral Security Agreement with the United States government if elected, according to which the U.S. government will leave some troops behind in order to train and help the Afghan military. The new president's signature on this agreement is essential in bringing democracy to Afghanistan, since it will help ensure a further path to peace in the country. The election is a significant event in the history of Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban for two reasons. First, the election will not only result in having a new president, but also will bring Afghanistan together as a nation. The Afghans have left their long-lasting ethnic conflicts behind and have come together to decide on a leader who will bring peace in the nation. It serves as a symbol of hope and freedom for Afghanistan. As Shukria Barakzai (an Afghan lawmaker) said in an interview with CNN, "We are not afraid of the threats. As much as they kill us, we get stronger. As much as they killed our children, our journalists and innocent women, we say no, we will go and vote because we are fed up. We want to see real change, we want to enjoy our democracy." The Afghans are tired of war and they too want to live in a democratic country peacefully.
Second, the April 5 election is an answer to all the threats posed from the Taliban. It showed that no threat would stop the Afghans from voting for their president. Despite threats from the Taliban, seven million out of twelve million eligible voters went and cast their ballots. The shootings and explosions from the week prior to election did not hinder Afghan enthusiasm; rather, it gave voters a reason to fight back against the Taliban. This election marks Afghanistan's first truly democratic election in decades. Unlike the 2009 election, this election is not seen as a fraud and its success was reinforced by the participation of the majority of the eligible population. The Saturday poll was even hailed as a "success" by the current president of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai. Was there violence? Yes, there were some insurgent attacks from the Taliban, but the Afghan military forces prevented most of the attacks from taking place. The intermittent violence will not harm the Afghan democracy, because the Afghans want a democratic government. They want to live in a peaceful country, and they will fight through their challenges in order to bring democracy to the nation. The Afghan military is constantly trying to provide a safer environment for Afghans in every province of the country. The election has created a new path for Afghanistan: a brighter future for the upcoming generations.
How to play the piano
I
play the piano just about as skillfully as I want: poorly. I use my fingers kind of like how a clumsy carpenter might use novelty hammers to build a flimsy, shoddy shed. It's almost embarrassing to use Granoff's grand pianos for my cacophony, but it's worth it. Believe it or not, there are benefits of sloppy, poor playing. Just ask Florence Foster Jenkins. Although this entire column could be an intricate rationalization subconsciously motivated by my humiliated and crippled ego, I prefer to see it as an account of the subtleties of artistic expression, and I would prefer you saw it that way too. The account begins with a question: am I, the lowly and humble piano goof, able to express myself on the piano just as well as a classically and rigorously trained musician? Logic says no. My novelty hammer fingers say otherwise. Naively, hesitantly and crazily, I do believe that I'm able to emotionally express myself on this instrument I'm not very good at. Naively-er, hesitantly-er and crazily-er, maybe I'm even better at expressing myself in some ways than if I were formally taught, if I had an understanding of the techniques, forms and norms that inform typical and intelligent playing. Although the thought sounds outlandish (probably because it is), in practice it doesn't seem far from the truth. When I steal away to the Granoff practice room complex and begin to build my shed, the sounds I produce, as dissonant as they can be, are genuine. I haven't the slightest clue how keys, chords or scales interweave through the piano's fingerboard, and I think it works to my advantage. Without being bogged down by an adherence to technique, an immediate and uncontrollable understanding of the associations between chord shapes and a self-imposed impetus to make whatever I play sound bearable to the average listener, the "music" I create flows freely and accidentally. To further investigate my unbelievable hunch, I decided to conduct an unbelievable pseudo-test, a very poor and very anecdotal study. I asked a few of my piano playing friends how long they had been playing, how much formal training they had received and how effectively they thought they were able to emotionally express themselves on the instrument. The answers varied, as did their receptions, skeptical glares and all. One friend I asked has taken lessons since she was in kindergarten. When I asked her where she would place herself on a scale from bumbling newbie to Mozart, if it weren't for her answer's truthfulness she would have seemed pretty darn conceited. Well, maybe she still did. We quickly agreed that her playing is both emotional and authentic, but then she admitted something: often when she's playing she finds herself reverting to typical chord progressions and to stale songs she's known for years. This was just the unprovable, shady piece of intel I had hoped to wield as some beacon of truth, as I'll do now. As such an inexperienced piano player, I have nothing to revert to, no body of understanding I can hide behind when I lack creativity. I don't know typical chord progressions or have a bank of songs that grow stale. All I have are my fingers, my ears and a growing notion of what note combinations sound at-least-moderately better than others when played in harmony. Let's say there's a lot of trial and error involved. So, in conclusion, I haven't really shown you anything. But I'll end with this: in my experience, technical and conventional skill is a very unnecessary ingredient for personal, artistic and emotional expression. Have fun hammering away in Granoff. Earplugs are a gift. Adam Kaminski is a freshman who has yet to declare a major. He can be reached at Adam.Kaminski@tufts.edu.
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The Tufts Daily
Comics
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Doonesbury
CROSSWORD
by Garry Trudeau
Non Sequitur
by Wiley
TUESDAY’S SOLUTION
Married to the Sea
www.marriedtothesea.com
Tuesday, April 15, 2014 Services Petsitting/Dogwalking/Dog boarding. 25 years animal experience and advocacy. Vet and animal control-referred. Medication and fluids given. Plant care available. Tufts/ Medford/Somerville/Cambridge/ East Arlington. Check Yelp, Facebook, Angie’s list. Brenda 781-396-0313
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SOFTBALL
continued from page 16
CAROLINE GEILING / THE TUFTS DAILY
The men's tennis team went 1-1 last week, losing to Bowdoin 7-2 on Saturday and beating Conn. College 8-1 on Thursday.
Tufts delivers near-flawless singles performances to defeat Conn. College continued from page 16
doubles team to lose on Thursday, falling in an incredibly close match 9-8 (5-7). This time, the Jumbos did an excellent job closing out their victory over the Camels, losing only one set en route to a 6-0 performance in singles. "We had a decisive win against [Conn. College] last year, but coming into the match, we knew that we needed to stay grounded," Glickman said. "We never take our opponents lightly because everybody is good at this stage. Level-headedness was key, and we per-
formed well, top to bottom." Again, Ladwig and Cary played especially well in the No. 5 and No. 6 positions, respectively. Ladwig beat his opponent 6-2, 6-4, while Cary dominated in his match, winning 6-1, 6-2. "Even though we won 8-1, Conn. College was solid throughout its lineup," Tan said. "It was a good win that built up our confidence." After splitting the two matches, the Jumbos are now 3-4 in the NESCAC, with three conference games left to play. They will look to get their record back to .500 when they take on the Bates Bobcats today at 3:30 p.m.
Clair continued on her senior year tear over the weekend, tallying four more long balls and 12 RBI's in the five games to add to her season total of 11 homeruns and 33 RBIs. "I will admit that I hold myself to the highest of standards," Clair said. "... My approach has always been that I need to do whatever it takes to lead the team. Over the years it's gotten harder, especially in the NESCAC, because pitchers start to pitch around me or pitch to me differently. I think it's a testament to my ability to adjust to what is being thrown to me. But ... my approach is just to go out and do my best and understand my role in that specific moment or in a specific game." Still, the Jumbos owe much of their continued success to stellar pitching. Anchored by Fournier and Giglio, Tufts' pitchers combined to allow just two runs over the five games. With her two starts over the weekend, Fournier improved to 10-0 on the year and lowered her ERA to 0.41. Giglio won all three of her starts to improve to 9-1, while seeing her ERA shrink to 1.07. "Our whole team is very competitive with one another," Giglio said. "The pitching staff is like a team inside of a team. To have Allyson be so dominant pushes the rest of our pitchers. It helps drive us." Tufts now sits alone in first place in the NESCAC East thanks to its dominant weekend, and will look to solidify its position atop the division when it travels to Bates this upcoming weekend. "[This weekend] was absolutely huge just because Trinity and Bowdoin are in the NESCAC East, and that record completely determines the playoffs," Clair said. "The expectation was to go 5-0 and we met that expectation."
Jumbos notch big win against Cardinals WOMEN'S TENNIS
continued from page 16
ing Gann's serve three consecutive times en route to her 6-0 second set. A similar story played out in the No. 2 singles. The No. 43-ranked Elkins faced off against Tufts freshman Alexa Meltzer, who challenged Elkins in the first set, pushing the score to 5-5 before Elkins broke Meltzer's serve to win the set 7-5. In the second set, Elkins improved her game, and Meltzer, like Gann, found herself on the losing end of a 6-0 score. Freshman Conner Calabro and senior Shelci Bowman played at the No. 3 and No. 4 singles positions, bowing out to their opponents 6-1, 6-1 and 6-0, 6-3, respectively. Freshman Jacqueline Baum and senior Rebecca Kimmel rounded out the singles matchups, battling through first-set jitters to challenge their opponents in the second set. Baum pushed Williams junior Monica Pastor to a second set tiebreak, eventually conceding a 6-1, 7-6 (5) defeat, while Kimmel battled Hannah Atkinson, one of only two freshmen in Williams' starting lineup, before bowing out 6-0, 7-5. "In the first set, [Pastor] came out stronger than I [did]," Baum said. "She was being a lot more aggressive on the serve, but in the second set I started getting a little more control on the ball. Before that [point] it was just [Pastor] hitting winners, [but later] I was able to extend the rallies a lot more [and be] better at the longer points."
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Jumbos allow only two runs in weekend games
MEN'S TENNIS
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Sports
While the Jumbos are considered a relatively young team, with five of their nine players in their first season of collegiate tennis, the Ephs have just three freshmen on their 10-member roster. Up against an established and successful tennis program, Tufts' 9-0 defeat at the hands of the reigning national champions should not be taken at face value. Four of the six singles matches involved Tufts' players posing definitive threats to Williams' players, with the possibility of pushing each of the matches into a third set. The No. 1 and No. 3 doubles, consisting of Bowman and Baum, and Calabro and sophomore Catherine Worley, respectively, also fought hard, but ultimately fell 8-4 both times. "Conner [Calabro] has the best serve on the team, and she's a pretty big force at the net — she's like 5'10”," Worley said. "[But against Williams] we just hit the ball down the middle in doubles, and the Williams girls were able to pick that ball off and poach." While the loss caps Tufts' number of consecutive victories at four, its 9-0 sweep of Wesleyan is a testament to the strength of the women's tennis team. Against the Cardinals, the Jumbos only dropped one set and were led by their doubles play, which started the day at 3-0, giving the team a cushion heading into the singles matches. Tufts did not take its three-game lead lightly, though. The Jumbos closed the
door on the Cardinals without dropping one singles match. The Jumbos' hunger and tenacity in games, and their ability to close out tight matches is becoming more evident as the season progresses, and was particularly impressive in the two matchups against the Cardinals. At No. 4 singles, Bowman recovered from dropping the second set 6-1 to edge past her opponent, junior Anna Howard, by a single break of serve in the third set, notching a 6-1, 1-6, 6-4 victory in the longest match of the day. At No. 3 doubles, Calabro and Worley were forced to play to nine games (doubles matches are typically played to eight games, but must be won by two) after the scored was tied at 7-7. They won the next two games for a final score of 9-7. With Tufts' NESCAC record at 3-2, the team is hoping to improve its physical and mental game in preparation for its last four dual matches of the season against conference opponents. "We all know how important these next few matches are," Worley said. "We go to NCAAs every single year, but that has to do with our record and how we do against other NESCAC schools. We've really been focused on taking care of business — we have the consistency down, we have the bread-and-butter shot down. I think the main thing we really need to work on is execution. A lot of times, we'll get an easy shot that we just don't execute. [Execution] is really our goal."
SAM GOLD | THE GOLD STANDARD
Bubba's advocacy for Olympic golf
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pon its inclusion in the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, much of the sporting world was aghast. No matter the stakes, it does not appear to require the same mastery of nature or body as do the mainstays of the Olympics; swimming and gymnastics come to mind as foils. And while athletes might be interspersed among the field of competitors, opponents of the decision conceded, the majority is still older, white, and decidedly somniferous. The world's most popular biennial convention of the best athletes from all four corners of the globe is now tainted with golf, which brings the Olympics another agonizing step away from its roots — amateurism and nonmainstream sports. I readily count myself among the haters. Golf is boring, and it is geriatric — though getting younger — and predominantly white. I was, and still am, among golf's detractors, reactionaries preaching that it runs afoul of the "Olympic Spirit," but Bubba Watson nearly made a convert of me with his second Masters victory in just three years. Truth be told, those who yearn for the days before professional athletes and their coconspirator sports, namely soccer, basketball and tennis, eviscerated the Olympics of its soul are disingenuous. Viewership has not lagged, with the reactionary fans presumably comprising at least some viewers, so their interest has abided nonetheless. There is no turning back the clock, no protesting the subsuming of cash cows every however many years. The only recourse is a change of heart, and Bubba Watson may have incited one with his legendary performance Sunday. Initially, it was the 20-year-old Texan wunderkind, Jordan Spieth, who dazzled his way to the head of the pack. For the first seven holes, one of the youngest players at the Masters maintained an impressive, if tenuous, lead over his more seasoned opponents. Watson, however, not to be denied after a tough defeat last year, refused to panic early on, which paid the ultimate dividend. For a guy on whom approximately zero pre-tournament talk centered, Watson looked better than the No. 4 ranking, a personal best, he garnered by tournament's end. After trailing for the first seven holes, he did not relinquish the lead despite numerous and sincere challenges. It was not the most rousing victory, nor did it come in light of some grave tribulation or tragedy. All things considered, it was not particularly suspenseful, more or less a foregone conclusion by the latter holes. Rather, the devil lay in the details. We witnessed a man at the apex of his craft. Here was a man who dismantled his opponents subtly, through sublime strokes and an even keel. He played virtually unimpeded to his second Masters title, becoming just the 17th player in history to earn two green jackets. Once assured of victory, Watson tearfully embraced his wife and two year-old son in a scene redolent of the same outpouring of emotion following his first title. Watson's transcendent performance, or some version of it, belongs in the Olympics. One cannot deny the skill, the coexistent ferocity and grace with which he played. His presence and surely that of other likeminded golfers would in no way diminish the Olympics. Although golf might not conform to the ideal once upon a time propounded by the Olympics, the event has proven to be, for better or worse, amenable to change. To add golf would simply provide another forum for performances like this. Even I might be inclined to tune in. Sam is a junior who is majoring in religion. He can be reached at Samuel_L.Gold@tufts.edu.
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tuftsdaily.com
SOFTBALL
Tufts extends NESCAC East winning streak to 30 games
by Zachey Kliger Daily Editorial Board
Strong pitching and timely hitting helped the softball team sweep its first two NESCAC East series of the year. Tufts defeated Trinity in a three-game set Friday and Saturday before downing Bowdoin in double-header action Sunday. Both series were played at home. Tufts improved to 21-3 on the season, and extended its winning streak against NESCAC East opponents to 30 games, dating back to the 2011 season. "It was definitely a very successful weekend," junior infielder Bri Keenan said. "Especially coming off the two losses last Saturday against Williams, it was great to get these wins and build our confidence." Tufts had a tough test against Bowdoin on Sunday. In game one, Tufts senior captain Jo Clair hit a three-run homer in the first inning to give the home team an early 3-0 advantage. That would be all the run support junior pitcher Allyson Fournier would need. Fournier fanned eight in seven innings of work, including two punch outs in the sixth inning to escape a bases-loaded jam. Her pitching secured a 4-0 victory for the Jumbos. The pitchers for both teams — Tufts senior Lauren Giglio and Bowdoin senior Melissa DellaTorre — brought their A-games in the second game. Each stranded ten opposing base runners, and the teams entered the sixth inning tied at one run apiece. With one out and runners on second and third in the bottom half of the frame, senior outfielder Sara Hedtler hit a groundball to sophomore shortstop Dimitria Spathakis. Spathakis tried to gun down freshman Summer Horowitz at home, but her throw was wide of the mark, and two runs scored as a result.
CAROLINE GEILING / THE TUFTS DAILY
Gracie Marshall hits a home run in Tufts’ second game on Saturday. The softball team beat Trinity in two shutout victories. The Polar Bears got a potentially winning run to the plate in the seventh inning, but Giglio induced a fly ball out to dash the visitors' hopes of a comeback and to secure the 3-1 win. "We take every game seriously, but the NESCAC East games are of the utmost importance," Clair said. "They determine the playoffs and you need to get the best seeding, so everyone knows we take those games with extreme importance." Tufts opened the weekend's action at Spicer Field on Friday afternoon against Trinity. The Bantams jumped ahead on starting pitcher Giglio off an RBI double from senior catcher Abigail Ostrom in the third inning. But the Jumbos reclaimed
the lead in the fourth inning, and the Bantams would not cross the plate the rest of the series. Trailing 1-0, Hedtler led off the bottom of the fourth with a single, and Clair followed with a walk. Freshman infielder Cassie Ruscz then launched a three-run homer to left field to give the Jumbos a 3-1 edge. The Jumbos tacked on four more in the fifth inning, highlighted by a two-run bomb to straightaway center by Clair. Meanwhile, Giglio settled down following the lone run. The senior tossed a complete game, three-hitter to help the Jumbos secure a 7-1 victory. On Saturday, Clair, Giglio, Hedtler and seniors Chrissie Massrey and Kayla
WOMEN'S TENNIS
Holland were honored in a Senior Day ceremony before game one of the doubleheader. The Jumbos then blanked the Bantams in consecutive games, 9-0 (5 innings) and 5-0. "[The Senior Day] was great. Our class is really close with each other, and it's going to be sad when it's all over," Giglio said. "... It was really nice to hear coach's thoughts on us, not just of our play on the field but also of our accomplishments off the field. That was really special." Fournier was her usual dominant self in game one, striking out four in a five-inning shutout that was cut short by the mercy rule. Trinity's only hit against the AllAmerican came on an infield single from sophomore right fielder Erica Quinones. The Jumbos' offense was equally impressive. Tufts jumped ahead 3-0 in the first inning on an RBI double by Clair, followed by RBI singles from Massrey and Horowitz. The Jumbos tacked on two more in the second inning, and four more in the fourth inning, capped off by a grand slam from Clair that put the hosts up 9-0. Giglio's strong start in the following game propelled the Jumbos to the series sweep. The senior threw a complete-game shutout, allowing just three hits to go along with seven strikeouts while stranding seven Trinity base runners. "Our pitchers have been doing an excellent job," Keenan said. "They've stepped up, but they know that if they do make a mistake we'll be there to pick them up." Clair blasted a homerun in the first inning, and junior second baseman Gracie Marshall launched a pair of solo shots in the fourth and fifth innings as the Jumbos cruised to a 5-0 victory. see SOFTBALL, page 15
MEN'S TENNIS
Jumbos split weekend matches, fall to 3-4 by Catherine Worley Contributing Writer
CAROLINE GEILING / THE TUFTS DAILY
Freshman Conner Calabro plays in her match against Williams. Tufts lost to Williams 9-0 overall.
Williams halts Tufts' winning streak at four by Alison Kuah Daily Editorial Board
Women's tennis played two NESCAC teams this past week, finding itself on the opposite ends of two lopsided final scores. Riding their longest winning streak of the season, the Jumbos attained their fourth straight win, beating Wesleyan on the road 9-0 this past Wednesday. The tables were turned on Saturday, however, when Tufts hosted national No. 1 Williams, which came into the competition
undefeated after 12 dual matches, including a 9-0 sweep of Wesleyan and a 7-2 victory over Middlebury. Over the weekend, the Ephs notched three consecutive shutout victories over NESCAC opponents, defeating Tufts on Saturday, and Hamilton and Trinity on Sunday. Williams has won the last six NCAA Div. III Championships and currently holds the all-time Div. III record for most NCAA Championships at eight, a feat it achieved over a span of 13 years. This season, the team has recorded nine victories without drop-
ping a match, and holds an overall record of 120-15 on the year. The Ephs are led by senior cocaptains Kara Shoemaker and Kathleen Elkins, both of whom are ranked within the top-50 Div. III players in the country. Shoemaker, who is ranked No. 16 in the nation, played in the No. 1 singles against Tufts senior captain Samantha Gann. After a tightly contested first set that saw Shoemaker barely edging past Gann 7-6 (6), Shoemaker finished the match strong, breaksee WOMEN'S TENNIS, page 15
The men's tennis team took on two conference rivals this past week at home, facing off against Conn. College on Thursday and Bowdoin on Saturday. Despite easily dispatching the Camels 8-1 earlier in the week, the No. 28-ranked Jumbos were unable to upset the No. 12-ranked Polar Bears over the weekend, losing 7-2. Tufts was able to keep its head above water in the doubles matches, and was down only 2-1 heading into singles play. Sophomore Rob Jacobson and freshman Brad Wong scored the lone victory at the No. 2 doubles position, ousting the sophomore duo of Luke Trinka and Chase Savage 8-6. Junior co-captain Brian Tan and senior Matt Pataro at No. 1 doubles, and senior Austin Blau and sophomore Nick Cary at No. 3 doubles were unable to muster as much opposition to their Bowdoin counterparts, falling 8-3 and 8-2, respectively. The Polar Bears put the Jumbos away decisively in singles, dropping only three sets and going 5-1 in singles play. However, Jacobson was once again a bright spot for Tufts in No. 1 singles, taking down Bowdoin senior Noah Bragg in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. "Bowdoin came out stronger than us in the doubles,
and that set the momentum in the match," Tan said. "[Rob] Jacobson played great while winning both of his matches, but, other than that, we had a tough time gaining momentum." The only other Jumbo to win a set in singles was senior Zach Ladwig at No. 5 singles, who took the first set of his match 6-2. However, Bowdoin senior Kyle Wostencroft overcame the early deficit to win two nailbiter sets, 7-5, 10-6. After Ladwig, the only Jumbo to win more than three games in a set was Cary at No. 6 singles, who lost his match 6-2, 6-4. "We came into the match with a confident mindset," sophomore Jay Glickman said. "After hanging in there, but coming up a little short against Williams [on April 5], we realized that every team in Div. III is within our reach. Although things didn't ultimately go our way [against Bowdoin], every [player] competed well and put [his] hard work on display." Only a few days earlier, though, Tufts was on the winning end when it took down Conn. College 8-1 on Thursday. Tufts took a 2-1 lead in doubles play. This time, however, the Jacobson and Wong duo was the only see MEN'S TENNIS, page 15