FOCUS 2000 + Initiative Shows Some Earlv Results
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IrHE TUFTS- DAILY 1Where You Read It First Fridav, Ami1 2,1999 Volume XXXVIII, Number 42 I FOCUS2000 + initiative shows some earlvd results Few changes enacted but many in planning stages; paDerI towels and soapI to be Iput in by DANIEL BARBARIS1 result ofthe initiative has been the to effect a “comprehensive analy- re-established to look at, accord- mer, perhaps for limited program- Daily Editorial Board administration’s commitment to sis of dining on campus.” This ing to Levey, “How much is going ming and staffing when school is Much has been made of the supply soap and paper towels for analysis will give an accurate as- in and how much is going out,” not in session. Tufts Community Union (TCU) all 334 University bathrooms, at an sessment ofthe cost of implement- and to ensure that all fines enacted Moving on to deal with hous- Senate’s recently published Fo- additional cost of $100,000. ing these and other plans. Al- will beused to“fixprob1ems inthat ing considerations, a proposal was cus2000+ Initiative, acomprehen- Bernstein said that plans are though these changes may lie far dorm.” made to reform the Office of Off- sive assessment of quality of life being made to install soap dis- down the road, one dining change A third area to be looked into is Campus Housing and to create an conditions for Tufts students, pensers and eitherpapertowelsor has already been implemented. the possible expansion of shuttle extensive, informative annual off- sponsored primarily by freshman electric hand dryers, although the Students can now use guest meals service. An evaluation of the re- campus housing guide. In a larger senators Jesse Levey and Tommy scope of the project will delay its in addition to meals on their regu- cently enacted larger weekend bus sense, Bernstein and the senators Calvert. Atapress conference held completion until early next fall. lar meal plan at the Hodgdon din- service is scheduled, while the ad- acknowledged that any efforts this Tuesday, Levey, Calvert and “This is going to take a little time, ing hall at any time, in order to, for ministration is examining the fea- made to improve access to off- Vice Pesident for Arts, Sciences, but it should be well along by the instance, eat breakfastwhile pack- sibility of creating a Tufts-spon- campus housing would be purely and Technology Me1 Bernstein fall.” he said. ing a bag lunch for later. sored shuttle intended to pick up stopgap measures and that the The senators divided the re- Residential Facilities, respon- students at popular locations in true, underlying problem is the maining issues into two catego- sible for dormitory maintenance, Boston, after the T has stopped need for more on-campus hous- ries: those that are being investi- will also undergo some changes in running. ing, possibly in the form of a new gated or undertaken now and procedure as a result ofthe initia- The conference then moved dormitory. those that will be looked into more tive. Rather than continue to fix on to-what were considered the Without elaborating in great closely in the fall. “We prioritized minor problems on a complaint- more long-term issues. Among detail, the presenters also dis- things that could be done now, by-complaint basis, plans are un- these were diversity; housing, and cussed the need to reform campus things that could be done next derway to create a system of mail delivery concerns. mail delivery, which Calvert called year, and things that can be done scheduled dorm stops, where per- Regarding minority concerns, “a continuing saga.” in the future,” Levey said. sonnel would fix all the problems the senators proposed a system “We want to make it a more Among these short-term in one building at one scheduled whereby a yearly inventory of available service, and to change projects are an analysis of Dining time, rather than deal with them cultural needs would be con- the overall character of the ser- Services, a partial retooling ofthe piecemeal. A policy should be ducted for each major campus eth- vice,” he said. way Residential Facilities does established by the beginning of nic group. In addition, small-scale While little tangible change as dorm maintenance, an inquiry into the next academic year, if not by group discussions, outgrowths of a result ofthe Focus 2000+ initia- the possibility ofexpanded shuttle the end of this semester. the recent administration-spon- tive has been felt on campus so far, service, and the advent of online In addition, the initiative is tak- sored meetings on diversity, are those involved see it as a long- registration, coming in the spring ing a second look at dorm vandal- planned. Finally, a proposal was term program which will eventu- of2000. ism fines and fees, including those made to provide financial support, ally bring nearly all its aims to Dai/y file phof The Focus 2000+ initiative, assessed for false fire alarm pulls potentially out of the $500,000 fruition. “We’re through phaseone Univt:rsity Vice Presiden calling Dining Services “a mess,” and for damage to facilities. The earmarked for diversity, for cam- of what I hope will be many Me1 Bernstein calls for fundamental changes in residential life committee will be pus cultural centers over the sum- phases,” Bernstein said. gave a detailed report on what the way Dining Services operates, results the initiative has achieved includinggivingfieshmenthe flex- thus far. ibility to use their 20 meals at any Class of 2003 accepted to Tufts ]Few definitive changes actu- time during the week and explor- ally have been made at this point, ing options such as outsourcing by BROOKE MENSCHEL although a number of reforms are and bringing in outside fast-food Daily Editorial Board being investigated closely. Per- vendors. In this interest, Bemstein A record number ofstudents were offered admis- haps the most significant concrete has committed Arts and Sciences sion to the Tufts class of 2003, according to a press release issued from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions this past Tuesday. Buonomo and Kelly Gay In reviewing the 13,467 applications received this year, the admissions office was aiming to fill a class a.dvance in mayoral election of 1,240 students. A special preliminary election to determine who would have tl Acceptance letters were mailed last Friday, and opportunity to run for mayor of Somerville was held on Tuesday, ai students must decide whether to come by May 1. candidates John Buonomo and Dorothy Kelly Gay will be advancii Since 1993, there has been an 80 percent increase to the next phase of the election. Buonomo, with 37 percent of tl in the number of applications received. Photo by Karen Kemp vote, ;and Kelly Gay, with 32 percent, edged out candidate Jose1 Not only did Tufts offer admission to a record Curtarone, who received 29 percent, and blew away candidates M; Tufts students telephoned accepted applicants number of students, but a record number of “stu- Tuesday night. Hoey and Phil Hyde, who both came in with under five percent oft1 dents ofcolor” were accepted. Thirty-one percent of vote. More than 12,000Somerville residents came out to vote, amuc accepted students clarify themselves as students of Of worthy note, there has been a 335 percent color: seven percent African American, eight percent increase in students applying from Idaho in the past Hispanic/Latino, and 17 percent Asian. year; David, Michael, and Matthew are the most “We’ve been very pleased at the level of interest prolific names among the applicants; 19 percent of in the University and at agrowing interest from very the applicants labeled volunteer work as their most talented students from all parts ofcountry and world,” important extracurricular activity; and there has been Dean of Admissions David Cuttino was quoted as a 91 percent increase in applicants who play golf, saying in the release. “This student pool reaffirms something the admissions office labels the “Tiger our commitment to diversity in the broadest sense.” Woods effect.” Vice President for Arts, Sciences, and Technol- Technologically, the applicants for the Class of council, and making f ogy Me1 Bernstein was also pleased at the ethnic 2003 are well ahead oftheir predecessors. There has Tufts’ facilities more i breakdown of the incoming class. “For students of been a 344 percent increase in the percentage of open to the commu- color, its the largest class admitted in the University’s applicants with e-mail addresses in the last two years nity. 13uonomo is a history,” he said. “We admitted 350 African Ameri- -79 percent, or 10,625 ofthis year’s applicants say Somervillian Alder- can students; if they have the same yield as other they have e-mail. man-at-Large, who groups, we would yield a class of more than 100 The admissions office is taking advantage ofthis was previously de- African American students.” new wave in technology. Each year, members ofthe feated in the 1989 The newly accepted class represents 67 foreign Student Outreach Committee call accepted students mayoral election. countries. Students applied from 96 foreign coun- in the United States to offer them congratulations Gay, a former tries and all 50 states. Students applied from 3,374 and answer any questions they may have. This year, Governor’s coun- different high schools. the admissions office is beginning a new trend bye- cilor, is hoping to Photo by Daniel Rodrigu Of admitted students, 59 percent are from public mailing accepted international students. The e-mail- Victorious mayoral candidates Dorotk provide opportuni- high school, 36 percent are from independent schools, ing will take place on the night of April 7.