Where You Partly Cloudy Read It First 26/34 THE TUFTS DAILY Est. 1980 VOLUME LVII, NUMBER 7 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28, 2009 TUFTSDAILY.COM TUFTS AND THE ECONOMY Dining Services works to maintain quality, prices BY NI N A FO R D Daily Editorial Board This article is the third in a four-part series about how the recession has affected different parts of the university. As the economic situation remains gloomy, students are buying fewer high- end food products, utilizing the dining halls more and spending less on food in general. But Dining Services is trying to ensure that empty pockets do not result in empty stomachs. The recession impacted campus food services noticeably “across the board,” influencing customers, employees and vendors, and Dining Services has made cuts to try to keep prices down while ensur- ing food quality, according to Associate Director of Dining Services Ralph Perrotto. “It certainly impacts the way our cus- tomers choose to spend money,” Perrotto said. “Since we’re customer-focused, we need to do a lot of adapting.” While food prices in general have been increasing for nearly a year, prices on campus have remained unchanged. In fact, Dining Services has begun to offer lower-cost options in the campus center, including a ten-item value menu in the Commons, with the hope of appealing to more customers. But even though Dining Services has worked to keep food prices on campus DANAI MACRIDI/TUFTS DAILY consistent, campus eateries like Brown A student pays at Brown and Brew, located in Curtis Hall. To fight decreasing revenue, Dining Services has made a number of cuts in services. and Brew, Tower Café and those locat- ed in the Mayer Campus Center have and uncooperative weather have impacted purchase of more expensive, luxury food in meal plans this semester has increased, all experienced decreases in business, revenue. Perrotto added that the effects are products. Sales of higher-end goods — such Perrotto said. according to Perrotto. compounded by “the fact folks are spend- as sushi, Odwalla products and all-natural He could not say, however, whether this Brown and Brew has been hit the hard- ing less to begin with.” vegetarian meals available at a number change was a result of the economic downturn est, he said, explaining that a combination Students have begun decreasing their of eateries — have declined. On the other of causes, including the eatery’s location use of JumboCash, especially toward the hand, the number of students enrolling see DINING, page 2 TuftsLife launches revamped site Ambassador discusses BY CA R OLI N E MELHADO aims to successfully wed “We added all of the favor- Daily Staff Writer function and form, accord- ite attributes, and we main- ing to TuftsLife spokesperson tained the professional look,” U.S.-European relations When students launched Adam White. White said. BY CA R TE R ROGE rs their Web browsers Monday New features on the Web Also, White mentioned that Daily Editorial Board night, something unexpected site, which went public at 10 drop-down menus on the site’s greeted them: “TuftsLife 2.1,” p.m. Monday, include updat- homepage would soon include French Ambassador to the United the newly revamped version of ed restaurant menu pages, new elements. “We have cho- States Pierre Vimont spoke yesterday Tufts’ popular informational a blog and a link to Google sen this design to enable the of the importance of American and Web site. Calendar on all of the event site to grow and add some of European relations in combating The renovation to TuftsLife. pages. Persistent problems of the features that we think will the challenges of a changing world com, a portal that provides the old Web site, such as out- have value for most students,” in a lecture at the Fletcher School of numerous links and services dated restaurant menu pages, Law and Diplomacy. targeted at Tufts students, have been updated and fixed. see TUFTSLIFE, page 2 Although the presentation was originally intended to address representing the European Union (EU) in America last year, when France held the EU presidency, BY ROB SILVE R BLATT 17, the two sides ended the the Daily. Vimont took a broader approach. Daily Editorial Board ensuing standoff. The medi- While the deal gave respite Saying his intention was to give cal center agreed to sign a to frenzied patients who had “food for thought,” the diplomat COURTESY FRENCH EMBASSY Tufts, After emerging Blue from Cross a high- Blue reach Cross contract,agreement which been after expecting standoff to have to find expounded on what he called a French Ambassador to the United stakes showdown against the correlates payments to hos- either a different insurer or a lack of collaboration between the States Pierre Vimont state’s largest insurance provid- pitals with the level of care new hospital, health care pro- United States and Europe and the Berlin Wall in 1989, Vimont gave er, Tufts Medical Center offi- they provide. Previously, the fessionals say that it is only a need for greater cooperation in the examples of how U.S. and European cials remain tight-lipped about center had refused to sign bandage for a payout system face of global challenges. cooperation could lead to great a deal expected to stave off the contract. deeply in need of more com- “I think the story of trans-Atlantic results. He cited how the Persian Gulf widespread patient disruption. While Zane almost certainly prehensive treatment. “Nobody relations since 1990 … may be a War, waged with collusion between Earlier this month, Tufts won higher rates during the gets paid in Massachusetts — or story of lost opportunity, of discov- the United States and Europe, had Medical Center Chief Executive negotiations, neither Blue other states for the most part — ering new reality and having dif- a decidedly different result than the Officer Ellen Zane, frustrated Cross nor the medical cen- for keeping patients healthy,” ficulty to adapt to it,” Vimont said. current Iraq war, which was carried that her hospital was receiv- ter would confirm the details. Brian Rosman, the research French President Nicolas Sarkozy out unilaterally. ing substantially lower insur- Both parties said they had director for the Massachusetts appointed Vimont as head of the Vimont believes part of the rea- ance payouts than its competi- come to a mutual agreement organization Health Care for French embassy in Washington in son the United States and Europe tors, announced that the cen- to keep the specific terms, All, told the Daily. August 2007. From 2002 to 2007, he have not been working as effectively ter would stop accepting Blue apart from the signing of the Instead, mounting evidence served as chief of staff to the French together as they once did is because Cross Blue Shield as of Feb. 1 contract, confidential. shows that insurance providers minister of foreign affairs and prior the world is becoming an increas- unless the company offered a “We agreed to confidential- reimburse hospitals for procedures to that was the French representa- ingly complex place where more better rate. ity, as did they,” medical center tive to the EU. But several days later, on Jan. spokesperson Julie Jette told see INSURANCE, page 2 Beginning with the fall of the see AMBASSADOR, page 2 Inside this issue Today’s Sections ‘Paul Blart: Mall Cop’ An infusion of young tries everything possi- talent has helped the News 1 Op-Ed 9 ble to get a laugh. And ice hockey team to sur- Features 3 Comics 11 fails. pass its win total from Arts | Living 5Classifieds 12 last season. Editorial | Letters 8 Sports Back see ARTS, page 5 see SPORTS, back page 2 THE TUF T S DAILY NEWS Wednesday, January 28, 2009 Visiting the Hill MOPS restaurants, Dining Ambassador WEDNESDAY and legacy will include a presen- Services feel economic blows speaks at Tufts "BEYOND POLITICS: VOIC- tation by Wayne Budd, a former ES FROM THE ISRAELI- U.S. associate attorney general. PALESTINIAN CONFLICT" When and Where: 5:15 p.m.; DINING on where the customer flow is at AMBASSADOR Goddard Chapel continued from page 1 that time,” Perrotto said. continued from page 1 Details: A panel of students Sponsors: Office of the or of this year’s changes to the meal The recession’s reach is not lim- countries want to play a global role. will speak about their personal President, Office of the Provost, plan structure. ited to dining on campus though; “If we look now where we are experiences living amidst con- Office of Institutional Diversity, To combat the decrease in student business at several restau- today, new challenges are coming flict in the Middle East, and the Africana Center, the Office business, Dining Services has rants that are part of the Merchant out again,” Vimont said. He refer- an open discussion will follow. of the University Chaplains, followed multiple strategies, Off-Campus Partners (MOPs) sys- enced challenges relating to the This is the third installment in the Protestant Chaplaincy, the including looking carefully tem has declined as well. global economy, terrorism, ille- a collaborative effort among Catholic Center, Tufts Hillel, at decisions regarding which At Andrea’s House of Pizza gal immigration, food prices and student groups following the Peace and Justice Studies products it should buy, reign- in Watertown, business in gen- availability of energy, specifically conflict in the Gaza Strip in department, Office of Equal ing in costs by suspending eral has slowed down almost bringing up the recent gas standoff southern Israel. Opportunity certain services and making 30 percent due to the eco- between Russia and the Ukraine.