Proposal Underway to Remodel Audiovisual Facilities on Campus
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DAILY?Vol Number 8 LTHE 2,1990 XX. TUFTSFriday, February Medford, MA 02155 ~ MYSTIC MIRROR Religion study group originates at Tufts by MIKE ENGLEMAN depends on topics suggested by Contributing Writer students and, according to Hunter, Academic Vice President is a great success. Robert Rotberg has collected a Hunter said that he hopes that group of a dozen Tufts professors the study group initiated by Rot- and a number of faculty members berg is the first step on the road from other universities to assess towards improvement and enlarge- the study of religion among under- ment of the department. “It is a graduates nationwide. matter of basic common sense; a Twelve Tufts professors, along one-person department is only a with faculty from Harvard, Bos- temporary phenomena,’’ he said. ton University, the University of Hunter commends Rotberg for Chicago, Smith, Stanford and other his enthusiasm in pursuing the universities, intend to decide issue of religion. “I very much “whether and how to strengthen appreciate Vice President Rot- educational opportunities for berg’s initiative in pursuing the undergraduates,” according to a examination of the study of reli- memo released by Rotberg. gion,” Hunter said. Rotberg said he hopes that Although Hunter would ide- within a year the group will ally like to see the situation within complete a report that will help the Religion Department amelio- Tufts to make decisions regard- rated as soon as possible, he rec- Photo by Nathalie DesbieJ ing the future of the Religion ognizes that the Administration The mild weather lends Medford’s Mystic River a glassy, mirror-like apperance. Department. does not plan to take action until “We want to see if what works a year from February, when the nationally will work at Tufts,” multi-university group has com- Proposal underway to remodel Rotberg said. pleted their report. “To in-depthly Rotberg received a grant from study the matter is a time con- the Lilly Endowment to create suming process,” he said. audiovisual facilities on campus and oversee the study group. Meanwhile, Hunter admits that . “any progress is worthwhile.” by JSSSICA DYM The Eaton facility would provide the audiovisual equipment. Rotberg said that he does not Daily Staff Writex three viewing rooms equipped with With a centralized audiovis- foresee what the result of the study To alleviate problems with darkening and electrical facili- ual system, equipment and serv- group will be. Rotberg said the audiovisual services and facili- ties, and two portable audiovis- icescouldbeallocated efficiently committee will examine the ques- ties on campus, the Audiovisual ual carts. and repairs could be done more tion: “What exactly is the study Services Committee is pressing Ed Dente, director of the audio- easily, Dente said. of religion?” forward with a two-part renova- visual laboratory on the Medford Funds already exist - He said that-he is confident tion plan. campus, said that problems irl the The initial espenditure for the that with the contributions from The committee, a group of allocation of audiovisual resources Media Center branch would be the professors involved, this ques- administrators organized by the made the committee’s plan nec- $50,000 for a full-time audiovis- will be answered adequately. and Sciences Faculty last tion Arts essary. ual expert and additional student Some of the Tutfs professors who spring, first made the renovation help, and anorher $14,000 for the Since academic departments have committed to work with the proposal to the faculty in Decem- typically order and administer their equipment. “Though it Seems like a large group include professors Martin ber. audiovisual equipment separately, from the English Depart- The committee’s plan includes initial investment, I expect Green money is wasted on duplicate ment; Associate Professor of creating a branch of Tufts’ Bos- that most of the funding would servicesandequipmentpurchases, Romance Languages Elizabeth T. ton Education Media Center on he said. Other problems include a come fnwn redirecting money that According to Rotberg, the Lilly Endowment is the largest sup- Howe; professor of music Mark the Medford campus and build- lack of repair experts and a short- see AUDIO, page 7 DeVoto; Ken Lang, professor of ing a media area in Eaton Hall. age of staff who know how to use purter of the study of religion in the country. physics and astronomy; profes- of English Jesper Rosenmeier, 3he decision to form the group, sor Rotberg said, is in a response and Martin Sussman, professor in Bulgarian Premier and 22-member part the chemical engineering depart- to a perceived need for change ment. within Tufts’ Religion Depart- Communist-controlled cabinet resign ment. Rightnow, Howard Hunter The monthly meetings will be is the only full-time faculty led by Rotbeig and the directors tion was widely expected because member in the Tufts Religion of the Harvard Undergraduate of several personal attacks on him Study of Religion, Diana Eck and during an emergency Communist Departma Rotberg explained that the high William Graham. All other pro- Party conference currently under enrollment in last semester’s .fessors involved in the project way. limited number of religion courses have either been asked to partici- At the congress Thursday, indicates a strong student interest pate or have volunteered. They delegates adopted a new party in studying religion. The newly have all expressed an interest in platform that confirmed the re- formed Group Directed Studies the study of religion at the uni- linquishment of theCommunists’ OpportunitiesProgram isan indi- versity level, according to Rot- monopoly on power, as approved cator of the rising demand for berg. by Parliament last month. diversity within the Religion “I am very interested in the Delegates also accepted ad- Department. proper place of religion in higher enov’s proposal to separate the The program, which was engi- education,” DeVoto said. party leader’s position from the neered by Hunter and Tufts jun- Rotberg still encourages presidency. Mladenov currently ior John Cutler, is intended to members of the Tufts’faculty who holds both positions and is ex- enhance the study of religion are interested in the topic of reli- pected to retain the presidency. despite the lack of Religion De- nion to volunteer to assist the The changes were not enough , parbent faculty. The program itudy group. to keep the party together. A re- Features .......................... p.3 BTA said. form-minded faction announced Former physics,professor dies at 78 On Thursday, they approved Thursday it had given up trying to Groundhogs’ Day is here, so a little Former Tufts Physics Professor Carl Stevens died on Tuesday in furry creamre in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin moderate reforms before starting changethecom~vepartyfrom 78, will tell us if spring will ever arrive. the secret session to elect the party within and would form its own New London, New Hampshire at age according to The Boston leadership. socialist party. Globe. Stevens taught at Tufts from 1936 to 1956 and then at the Arts .................................. p.5 Also, a reform faction of the The creation of the Bulgarian University of Lowell until he retired in 1976. TheaterWorks’ latest production, Communist party decided it would SocialistParty will be formalized Stevens established the Department of Electrical Engineering Black Witnessexplores the life and work split off and form a new socialist at a special congress in Sofia on during his 20 years at the University of Lowell. He was born in of essayist James Baldwin. party, a spokesman said. Feb. 11, said spokesman Nikolai nearby Malden, received his undergraduate education at Tufts, and Atanassov, the No. 2 man in Vassilev. eamed a doctorate in physics from Boston University. Sports : pp. 8-9 ..................... the government after President It was not clear when a new Stevens was also a former member of the Mount Hermon Lighming strikes the women’s swim- Petar Mladenov, had come under Cabinet would be created, but it Masonic Lodge of Medford. ming team again, and a brand-new col- A memorial service will take place Saturday at 1 p.m. at the for failing to curb unprece- dented labor unrest. His resigna- see BULGARIA, page 6 Fisrt Babtist Church in New London, New Hampshire. page two THE TUFTS DAILY Friday, February 2,1990 rHE TUFTSDAILJ Letters to the Editor Bob Goodman Candlelight vigil was have to .“keep the light on” to.make the Administration to realize that people are Editor-in-Chief improvements necessary in the United States the essence of Tufts. Buildings are helpful, inspirational and here at Tufts. but should never be emphasized more than Managing Editor: Lauren Keefe Associate Editors: Anna George, Geoff Lepper To the Editor: This service was an inspiration to me. the people that make up the “light on the Editorial Page Editor: Christopher Ball On Jan. 30,1990, Goddard Chapel was The crowdedChape1 was evidence that so Hill.” The atmosphere at Tufts is estab- oduction Managers: Beth Geller, Markus Muelle filled almost to capacity by students from many Tufts students really do care about lished by the students here, and it is crucial NEWS different races, classes’and groups, but all important issues. So many people gave that we attempt to keep or improve this Editors: David Spielman, Stephen Newman attended for the sole purpose of joining time and energy to ideas which transcend balance. The Candlelight vigil and the Assistant Editors: Constantine Athanas, together to honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther our everyday world. During the service I service helped me to keep my perspective, hanuel Bardanis and our university must work to do the Wire Editor: Ron Graber King Jr. and to reflect on the future. The thought, “this is why I came toTufts.”The Assistant Wire Editor: Jason Salgo address by the Rev.