THETUF DAILY \WhereYou Read It First s Tuesday, October 12,1999 Volume XXXIX, Number 22 I Questions arise after theft of backpacks Old policy comes under scrutinv/ by E.B. SOLOMON’ dents to leave their bags in the Senior Staff Writer cubbies located in the bookstore In wake of the recent bookbag foyer. The policy was originally thefts at the campus bookstore, initiated to prevent students from Hodgdon’s new policy, which re- stealing books, but was ended last quires that students deposite their fall when the alarm gate was in- bookbags at the entrance to the stalled at the front door. dining hall, has come under scru- Several concerns have been tiny. raised about both campus safety A few weeks ago two men ran and the cubby system. This year into the campus bookstore and, in Hodgdon added shelves for stu- what appeared to be a premedi- dents’ bags in an effort to keep tated act, stole several students’ students from filling their book book bags from the cubbies in the bags with excess amounts of entryway before making a speedy food. exit From the student perspective, Around Tufts, students seem this policy, like that in the book- angry rather than scared follow- store, is not welcomed. ing this latest theft. Many of the “I would not be happy doing The Jumbos beat the Bowdoin Polar Bears Saturday 38-13 to improve to 3-0. Senior half- complaints are inspired by the that,” Jacobs said. “Hodgdon was back John Routhier helped the Jumbos run for 175 yards. For more, see Sports, page 7, I bookstore policy that required stu- my favorite dining hall, but [hav- ing to leave my bag in a cubby] would really discourage me from Coalition hopes to heighten awareness going there.” “I find it shocking,”saidsenior by JENNIFERTAIUGAWA Americas (SOA). The School ofthe Americas organized without Baltins, but that doesn’t Mary Traester of the recent crime Contributing Writer and the Hodgdon policy that has In its fourth semester of existence, the is an organization funded by United Statestax phase Hansen. “We arenot worseoffatall. We dollars to train Latin American soldiers. The have great potential,” he said. been introduced. “I’m glad I’m a Coalition for Social Justice and Non-Violence training manuals were recently made public, While acknowledgingthat Baltins was es- senior,” she added ruefully. continues to grow and prove that it truly is a and they show violations of human rights. sential to the group, Hansen said that cur- Captain MarkKeith ofthe Tufts “unique” organization, according to Doug “Not a lot of people are aware about what our rently, “the power and responsibility are diver- University Police Department made Hansen, one of the group’s co-leaders. With a tax dollars are funding,” Kadi said. sified. During the regular meetings, the core no comment on the new Hodgdon bigger budget and a group of highly committed “The United States is funding terrorists to kill Coalition people come together and talk and policy, but reiterated that students individuals,the Coalition hopes to unite other priests,”Hansen said. “It isafundamental issue that decide who should do what.. The Coalition is are obligated to be aware of their activistlcultural groups through a variety of democracy is being subverted. We feel that non- on the cutting edge.” surroundings. programs while they serve their own accord violent action is the only way to solve problems.” Arianna Wohl, another one ofthe group’s co- “Everybody is ultimately re- sponsible for their own property with social justice and non-violence issues. Another means through which the Coalition leaders, said she expects the Coalition to thrive and making sure it’s secure,” he One major project which the Coalition has strivesto increase awareness of these issues is by as it continues without its original leadership. bringing in speakers.One such speaker this year “We should now grab onto that momentum said. “Larcenies mostly happen undertaken to help accomplish its goals is the because people create opportuni- publication of its newsletter, Unite. will be Father Roy Bourgeois, who will speak at and run with it. A school claiming to be as ties for them. Thenewsletter, along with the group’s monthly TuftsonOct. 17tokickofftheyearfortheCoalition. global and progressive in its thinking needs to This is the first year that the group is being act as such,” she said. Whether or not the Hodgdon meetings, brings together people from other ac- policy will become problematic is tivist and cultural groups. The newsletter is unclear. Patti Lee, directorofDin- published by the Coalition two to three times a ing Services, was unavailable for semester,and includes acalendarofevents from Rallies, lectures to be held comment. other activist andculturalgroups,meeting times, Keith said thetheft atthe book- and the purpose of the groups’ existence. for today’s Coming Out Day store is still under investigation. Unite serves as a concentrated place for He said that the two men who information on what is going on and how the Rainbow House. allegedly made the robberies were students can get involved. It also serves as a by ERLKAGULLYSANTIAGO Contributing Writer The day will begin with a rally on the aided byathirdman who waited in central focus for the Coalition and other groups. As part of the celebration of Tufts’ version of Hotung patio, during the open block between a silver van outside the store dur- Hansen said that, on some occasions, groups National Coming Day, activities will take place 1 1 :30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m, in which students are ing therobbery. Sofar, none ofthe become disjointed because people are work- Out to raise awareness of the gay community at encouraged to attend and speak their minds. allegedcriminals have been found, ing towards the same goals, but don’t know Tufts, while promoting andcelebrating national gay pride. In addition, members of the administration, although Medfordand Somerville what others are doing. “The idea is to bring “I think [the celebration] serves three main chaplains, and Engli’sh professor Jonathan police have kept abreast of the [groups that are isolated] together so that they purposes: to promote awareness of LGBT is- Strong will be speaking. Afterwards, there matter and all three police depart- know about each other,” Hansen said. sues, celebrate pride the gay community here will be a Queer History Workshop at 3 p.m. in ments continue to work together He said he hopes that the groups will be able at Tufts has, and let people who haven’t come the Capen House. Neil Miller, author of Our of to apprehend the wrong-doers. to “discover different aspects of the same out ofcloset to realize there is a supportivegay the Past, In Search of Gay America will be Keith urged students not to problem and combine overlapping goals.” community here at Tufts,” said Jason Fox, one leading the workshop. leave their personal belongings The Coalitionwas founded by Sasha Baltins of the events organizers. From 5-7 p.m., there will be a celebration unattended or open for theft. (LA ‘99)andAlex Shalom(LA ‘99)duringthe ‘Fox,alongwithShouMinTanandElizabeth dinner hosted by the Rainbow House. The day “Most types of larcenies happen 1998 spring semester in conjunction with the Fischer of the Tufts Transgendered Lesbian will conclude with a lecture in the Alumnae because people create opportuni- chaplaincy, Peace and Justice Studies, and the Gay Bi-Sexual Collective (TTLGBC),planned Lounge at 8 p.m. given by Jewelle Gomez, a ties for them by leaving items un- “Year ofNon-Violence” initiative. The group the event with the help of the Lesbian Gay Native-American, African-American,and les- attended or they leave them in was founded to promote the ideas of social Bisexual Transgendered (LGBT) Center and bian author. Her works include The Lipstick unlocked rooms or areas acces- justice and non-violence and will provide a Papers, Don’t sible for someone to steal [their common core for other groups to draw from. Ex- plain, and Forty- belongings],” he added. “Wenever claimtorepresenttheother [activist Three Septembers. “What happened was very or cultural] groups,” said Lauren Kadi, co- Her speech was co- wrong, but almost to be expected leader ofthe Coalition,stressing thatthegroup sponsored by the in some way. Even before the theft, is careful not to identify itself an umbrella as African-American I didn’t feel safe leaving my bag organization. Center, the Pan Afri- there- itwas only amatteroftime The Coalition does, however, run a variety can Alliance (PAA), before something was stolen,” ofprogramswhich incorporatemultiplegroups, the Feminist Alli- said junior Debbie Jacobs. includingmonthly meetings which give group ance and the StoremanagerNeilLeBeau was representatives the opportunity to talk and Women’s Center, very upset about the theft. The share project ideas. “That is the amazing part along with the store decided to replace the vic- about the Coalition,” Hansen said. “It has a TTLGBCandLGBT tims’ stolen books and removed duality ofpurpose. It brings vision together on Center. the cubbies immediately. what needs to be done.” Followingthe talk, “At this point, they were only The Coalition also plans some of its own there will be a des- there for convenience. We took programs. In the past, it has run projects in- sert reception in the themoutthenextday,saying, ‘let’s cluding anti-racism and non-violence training, Alumnae Lounge to get them out of here before some- working against the death penalty, and orga- Daily file photo Expect to se‘chalkings such as this one to cornmemorat&corn- close the events of thing really valuablegets stolen,”’ nizing a group of Tufts students to go to ing Out the day. Georgia to protest against the School of the Day.