Over 1000 Protest in Front of Ballou Hall
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CTHEMedford, MA 02155 TUFTSFriday, February 16,1990 DAILY?-Vel XX, Number - 18 Over 1000 protest in front of Ballou Hall Students voice Gill, McLennan speak support for aid in support of diversity by COLIN WOODARD by STEPHEN NEWMAN Daily Editorial Board Daily Editorial Board For a few minutes it looked Over one thousand students turned out for the like nobody was coming. An financial aid rally in front of Ballou Hall yester- exhausted Billy Jacobson was day, despite snow and freezing temperatures. propped up against the front doors Tufts Community Union SenatePresident Billy of Ballou watching the sleet beat Jacobson opened the rally explaining that Tufts down on the assembled senators, has met the demonstrated need of students for the photographers and technicians. past five years, and that over this five year period, “We’ll start as soon as 2,000 Tufts’ reputation has “skyrocketed.” more of you show up,” Senate “We are simply asking the Trustees to stick Treasurer Ross Ginsberg an- with that winning formula and guarantee us suffi- nounced. In an attempt to please cient aid for the next year and all subsequent the photographers, Ginsberg asked years,” he said to a cheering crowd. the first arrivals to huddle to- Both University Chaplain Scotty McLennan gether into a frame-size crowd. and History Professor Gerald Gill applauded the But at 12:05 the crowds con- students for their commitment. McLennan opened his remarks by pointing out verged on Ballou. Some carried .......Phnfn hv, Karl S&aV banners, others had formed troupes a difference in a statement on the financial aid of kettle-bangers. The crowd Over 1,OOO students braved yesterday’s poor weather to show support for financial situation issued by Rotberg and the one he had aid at a noontime rally in front of Ballou Hall. quickly grew to over lo00 stu- received yesterday morning from Provost Sol dents and somewhere in its midst Gittleman. However, the statement that McLen- sophomore Chris Holmes declared yt nan had received and which he compared to the “There’s enough of us here to A dmin istratio draft made official statementreleased by Rotberg, was not the make one hell of a statement.” final draft of the statement.-[Seerelated story.] Senator Silvio Tavares was unqualified aid commitment For the remainder of McLennan’s address he pleased with the level of student outlined the history of the University’s financial participation. “We are psyched by STEPHEN NEWMAN noonduring hisaddressattherally,McLen- aidpolicies. He said that “Tufts was founded to be, about the numbers and the turn- Daily Editorial Board nan spoke about the draft version as if it as a Trustee committee report put it in 1898, apoor out We were a little womed about A draft version of the Adminismtion’s were a change in University policy, adding man’s college.” He continued, saying that a recent the weather but everyoneshowed statement on financial aid made an un- that “the Provost assures me the absolute trend indicates that this original image of Tufts has up,” he said. The Senate esti- qualified commitment to make up the commitment is correct. This is good news faded. mated the crowd at between 1,500 possible financial aid shortfall, but in the indeed.” He commended the University for the “dra- and 2,000 people, according to official statement which was released Feb. Academic Vice President Robert Rot- matic changes in its student body... in terms of freshan Seaator Lisa Fine. 13, the G&inis@ation pledged make up ’ &@ said*&the conclusion of the rally that ethnic, cultural and religious diversity” but added Sleet fell through much of the only as much of the shortfall asis ‘‘fiscally McLennan simply received an un-edited that ‘Inistory also calls us to recommit ourselves to hour long rally. Professor How- responsible.” versidn of the statement. “It was a first the poor and those of moderate means.” ard Solomon confirmed the obvi- Yesterday morning before the rally, draft -- that’s all,” he s@d. Rotberg de- He concluded by putting forth questions di- ous. “It’s cold,” he said. Reverend Scotty McLennan was given a scribed the final version as “better and rected to the Administration. He questioned how Despite the cold, students came copy of the draft by Provost Sol Gittleman, more accurate.” the University will “maintain the integnty of our out in large numbers to express who believed then that the draft was the A similar discrepancy is also apparent need-blind admissions policy?” He also asked their feelings on the importance final version. The draft read “If the esti- between the Feb. 13 statement and Rot- “how will students get effectively involved be- of financial aid. “I’m really wor- mated shortfall should occur, the admini- berg’s remarks in the Feb. 6 issue of The yond Tufts walls in lobbying legislatures and the ried that if financial aid doesn’t stration is committed to making up the Daily. In an interview for the Feb. 6 story, Congress for greater financial aid?” McLennan keep up, this college is going to difference.” Rotberg said that he would find money in asked if there has been an actual decline in number get less diverse than it already However, the Feb. 13 statement read: the already tight University budget later in of students aided in recent years, an allegation is,” said freshman Stephen Weller. “If the estimated shortfallshould occur, the the year if it looks as if Tufts may fall short. made by some of the student leaders. “I’m one of those people who administration is committed to making up Gittleman said that the draft version that Gill proposes faculty donations is not coming back if they cut as much of the difference as fiscally re- he had given to McLennan did not take into History Professor Gerald Gill, the only faculty financial aid,” said sophomore sponsible.” account the fact that there might be a member to speak at the rally, was met with cheers Amy Winkle. “I don’t feel like When he read the draft, McLennan be- problem making up the shortfall. Those as he addressed the students. working full time and going to lieved that the Administration had strength- school full time -- it just doesn’t ened its position. Early yesterday after- see DRAFT, Page6 see RALLY, page 11 work. “I hope maybe they’ll cut down on building lots and lots of new Faculty sympathetic to financial aid cause buildings and bring lots and lots by KRIS MUFFLER SUPPOrt. of new students... the rest of us Daily Staff Writer “Why not involve the faculty first, meet- want to come to Tufts too,” Winkle Although many faculty members said they ing together in hopes of finding other ways to added. had mixed feelings about the Tufts Commu- constructively deal with the important issue ‘Even a little shift in how much nity Union Senate-sponsored class boycott at hand?’ Howe asked. aid someone gets is going to make held yesterday, most said that they would not At the TCU Senate meeting last Sunday, a big difference in whether they penalizeany student who did not attend class. senators unanimously voted to call for a go [to Tufts] or not,” said fresh- “I am in sympathy with the idea of protest- student boycott of all classes and to stage man Keith Cox. ing the financial aid cuts, but I don’t think Thursday’s rally against financial aid cuts in “All of the students who are on boycotting will really help to bring about front of Ballou Hall. Senators attempted to financial aid contribute to a di- change,” said Biology Department Chair ask the Arts and Sciences faculty for their verse community,” fmhman Ken Benjamin Dane. support on Monday, but the meeting went Photo by Denise Drower “I won’t penalize students for missing my Yesterday’s boycott emptied Sol see AID, page6 into closed session and adjourned before the class, but I told them I won’t make the choice senators could speak. Gittleman’s German 188 class. Of the 345 for them by cancelling class either,” he added. Some professors said they felt that the registered students only 143 were in Foreign language lecturer Brian Gibbs boycott was effective because it brought at- attendance yesterday. Inside 1 and Romance Languages Chair Elizabeth tention to the financial aid cuts. the whole policy of diversity. I applaud stu- Features .......................... P.5 Howe said they felt the same. “It’s a very important issue, and the boy- dents for being active. It’s really only up to Bret Thorn devises a plan to get “I don’t see two sides on this issue because cott has been successful in that it is drawing those people who are protesting as to what people to read his column (even on Fri- the Administration is not opposing what the attention to the issue... That’s what it’s all kind of protest is constructive,” Hollister days), but envisions it backfiring on him. students are doing,” Gibbs said, adding that about,” said Classics Department Chair Stephen said. he thinks “the Administration and faculty Hirsch. Many professors held classes yesterday Arts .................................. p.7 would have been more sympathetic if there “I support efforts to make trustees aware,” even though almost complete absenteeism Erasure plays the Orpheum, Blues had just been a rally or if the students had Child Study Department Chair Donald Wert- was expected. After Dark plays MacPhie, and James participated in a more constructive way.” lieb said, adding, “I think that a boycott can “Speaking for me personally, I’m going Blood Ulmer plays Johnny D’s.