Expert Describes Mafia in Russia
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THETUFTS DAILY IWhere You Read It First Tuesday, March 9,1999 Volume XXXVIII, Number 30 I Expert describes mafia in Russia Journalist Robert Friedman tells of his recent death threats by BENJAMIN GEDAN prominent players have aided Russian The limited response ofthe FBI, Fried- Daily Editorial Board criminals. man said, forced him to consult an orga- Last Friday, a front page New York In 1992, Friedman said, aknown Rus- nization called the Committee to Protect Times article told of recent death threats sian mobster immigrated to the United Journalists to seek prosecution for the issued by the Russian mafia against in- States with the goal of bringing Russian Russian mobsters who, as of last week, vestigative reporter Robert Friedman. The organizedcrimeinto America. Upon en- had not desisted from issuing threats. next day, despite the danger of a public tering the country, the Russian mobster “I felt the only way to protect myself appearance, Friedman brought his story enlisted theaidofthreeNHLplayersand was to go to the committee... we [in to Tufts and spoke as part of an Educa- began setting up a web of domestic cor- America] allegedly have a criminal jus- tion for Public Inquiry and International ruption. tice system,” Friedman said. Citizenship (EPIIC) Symposium panel on “They didn’t meet much resistance,” Pressure from the committee, Fried- corruption in post cold-war Russia. Friedman explained. man explained, forced the FBI to transfer Friedman has reported on the Russian According to Friedman, the Russian Russian crime leader Ivankov into a mafia for VanityFair, The Village Voice, mafia increased in both number and higher security prison. Prior to the trans- and Details magazine. His most recent strength since 1992. With the assistance fer, the FBI had done nothing to protect project uncovered mafia infiltration into of the NHL players, help including ap- Friedman short of advising him to “lay theNationa1Hockey League (”L). The. pearances on TV advertisements, finan- low.” story, Friedman said, angered Russian cial support, and aid in obtainingofficial Three panelists followed Friedman’s organized crime leader Vyacheslav immigration documents for other Rus- address with brief presentations con- Kirillovich Ivankov and, according to sian criminals, the Russian criminal net- cerning“Russia:Complex webs ofTran- the Federal Bureau of Investigations work is now firmly established in the sitions.” The speakers described the (FBI), has put Friedman’s life at risk. United States. Russian political and economic situation Daily file photo Friedman explained the history ofhis Friedman has characterizedmafiare- as riddled with corruption. After 33 years, Rocco Cano is leavine: Tufts. Details article to a crowd ofstudents and sponse to his story as “a severe form of “Organized crime in this or that way professional journalists gathered in press criticism.” He has received various controls all of Russia,” Project Director Cabot Auditorium. According to Fried- death threats and was recently informed of the United Research Center on Orga- Rocco Carzo man, the Russian mafia has extorted by the FBI that a “Russian organized nized Crime in EurasiaVladimir Brovkin money from ten percent ofNHL players crime figure” had issued a contract on his to retire soon from the former Soviet Union and three life. see RUSSIA, page 2 byvrvEKRAMGOPAL Art exhibit and speaker bridge gap Senior Staff Writer Last week, Athletic Director Rocco “Rocky” University collaborates with Medford and Somerville historians Carzo announced his retirement, effective in July. His departure will end a 33-year tenure at Tufts. by BROOKE MlENscHEL Tufts’ Aidekman ArtsCenter. producedby SomervilleCom- of the gallery. The different Carzo, who is one of the most respected and Daily Editorial Board The exhibit incorporates munity Access Television. It historical facts noted on the recognized names in theNCAA for all his involve- Tufts’ campus sits on the two short videos, paintings, documents Jan. 1, 1776, the calendar range from the birth ment, took Tufts’ weak athletic department and hill between Medford and sketches, photographs, a cal- day the first flag ofthe United ofSomerville’s first child, Jo- transfarmed it into one of the most consistent in Somerville. Each day, stu- endar project that the town of American Colonies,theGrand seph T. Giles, born in the“new New England. dents en route to classes pass townofSomervi1le”on March “My instincts just said that it was the right time the “Entering Medford” and 24,1842, to Paul Revere’s fa- to step down,” said Carzo. “I’m not tired or worn out, “Entering Somerville”border mousrideonApril18,1775,in like some other people say during aretirement. The signs. Yet, the campus oftten which he evades the British athletic department is beginning to get into the 2 1st seems detached from the lo- on Washington St. and “gal- century in regards to programs and facilities, and I cal communities. lops down Broadway.” felt that it would be good for there to be a consistent Two current projects are The Medford section of leadership from now into the next century. workingto bring Medfordand the exhibit also includes a “I would not feel as good about stepping down Somerville in contact with the video. The Medford video. A Journey along the Middles& ifthe departmentwas not as strong as it is now. They University. First, the made it good to work, and they have a bright future Aidekman Arts Center is I Canal, documents the his- ahead,” Carzo said. “Rocky Carzo has been more than an athletic director,” said President John DiBiaggio in a press release. “He’s been adiplomat for Tufts University, ._ representing the University as a leader across the --I - -- country and oversees. His enthusiasm and his spoke on campus. Photos of Tufts through the years were displayed at history of the canal begin- energy level have been an inspiration to all with Tufts serves as a common Aidekman. ning in 1793 when a group whom lie has ever been associated. Rocky’s retire- ground on which the two cit- sitting in the Blanchard Tav- ment truly marks the end of an era at Tufts.” ies can come together. An Somerville is producing, as Union flag, wasraisedon Pros- ern in Medford decided to Carzo’s dedication to the University and stu- exhibit entitled “Medford- well as other artistic displays. pect Hill. form the Proprietor of the dents is shown both by his tenure here and by past Somerville: Shared Histories,” The Somerville part of the The video continues with Middlesex Canal. The film in- decisions to spurn job offers from the National currently on display at the exhibit includes a seven- the history of the flag. It de- cludes much ofthe rest ofthe Football League and Division I football teams. Tufts University Gallery, is a minute documentary about tails the phasing out of the history ofthe canal and shows Carzo came to Tufts in 1966 from the University collaborative effort of The the town and the Grand Union flag in June, 1776, when the some of the parts that are still ofCalifornia-Berkeley Golden Bears where he served Medford Historical Society, Flag. The film, entitled Free- Continental Congress intact. The video tells some as an assistant coach under former NFL Coach The Somerville Museum. and dom Flew in Somerville.was adopted the stars and stripes, interesting facts about the Marv Levy. He opted to assume the head coaching and-illustratestheJan.29,lb73 canal. Forexample,two packet duties of Tufts in lieu of remaining with a Division Tun goes live for first replacement of the current boats that once traversed the 1school, a position which could have helped him to United States flag on Pros- canal belonged to Governor gain greater public exposure. time pect Hill withthecontinental Sullivan and George Wash- When he came to Tufts, the football program was Tufts University Television 0made its first- ever Union flag. ington. in disarray. Freshmen were ineligible to play, and live broadcast l<mtnight, when it aired a general interest In the center ofthe gallery, see COMMUNITY, page 12 there were only 18 players on the team. That soon meeting.ThebroadcastandmeetingwerehostedbyTUTV areplicaoftheoriginal flag is changed under the leadership of Carzo, and he had President and production Coordinator Jonathan Goldner. on display. While the stripes his first winning season in 1968. “We’reto~yillprepared,butwe’rehavingagoodtime. areidenticaltotoday’sAmeri- Since Carzo’s first year as athletic director in We’re good to go,” Goldner said, adding that TUTV had can flag, the Part where the 1973,thenumberofsportsteams hasexpandedfrom been preparing ?forthe live broadcast all week. modem flag features stars, 12 to 3 1. Tufts has also won nearly 70 percent of its “Be sure to make me look pretty,” he yelled towardsthe there is the design ofthe En- games in that span. control booth, ‘‘I don’t have B good side.” glish flag. Other features of the Carzo achieved all of this despite experiencing Goldnerexpressedhishopethattherewouldbemore live Somerville exhibit inclilde the respaints of being a Division I11 school. broadcasts in the future. Tufts sporting events and other “Tufts, along with the otherNESCAC schools, is activities, Goldnersaid, couldbe shown live tothe members PhotograPhsofdifferentsites unique because it attracts students with academics of the University. in the town, an old journal and athletics,” Carzo explained. “Very few schools Many of the students at the meeting becarme involved found from an unidentified have a combination of both. We can’t do any off- in after taking a video production class at the soldieroftheAmericanRevo- campus recruiting or have extravagantbudgets, but EXperimentalCollege. lution, and Somerville’s cal- we still put together competitive teams,” he contin- TUTVwasfoundedh 1976,butdidnotactuallymakeits endar Project. The town is ued. fmt broadcast until November of 1997. Since then, the currently trying to compile a During his years at Tufts, Carzo also received station has made only pre-recorded broadcasts.