The volleyball team gets set to host its tournament

Mortensen shines in the new Western, \u201cAppaloosa.\u201d

The Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) over the summer finalized plans to build its proposed Trips Cabin, a building to supplement the Loj on its New Hampshire property. But the club lacks the funds needed to move forward with construction.

\u201cWe\u2019re almost ready to break ground. We have all the plans, we have all the permits, the only thing we\u2019re lacking right now is the money,\u201d said Katie Bond, junior and public relations director of the Trips Cabin project.

The Loj is a TMC-owned house in rural New Hampshire that pro- vides a destination for student groups going on trips, or just a haven for friends looking to get away from campus.

The Tufts Community Union (TCU) Senate has retained $714,291.72 of the $902,338 check the university sent it last month in compensation for alleg- edly embezzled student activities funds. The TMC is eyeing some of that money for its project.

\u201cIt\u2019s just kind of frustrating because we\u2019re ready to go, we\u2019re ready to build \u2026 and some of the money that\u2019s been promised to us is just tied up in red tape,\u201d said Brian Gilling, sophomore and director of the Trips Cabin project.

Over the summer, the admin- istration compiled a feasibil- ity report for the cabin, which is a joint project involving the TMC, the TCU Senate and the admin- istration. This led to an estimated price tag, a tentative timeframe, professional designs and blue- prints and the acquisition of all the required building permits.

The Trips Cabin, which is planned to sleep 27, is expected to cost between $200,000 and $250,000, according to Gilling.

\u201cThis is a much simpler structure than the Loj is now,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is really as cheap as it gets \u2026 no bells, no whistles.\u201d

The TMC has engaged in pre- liminary discussions with Senate leadership about funding the Trips Cabin, according to Gilling. \u201cThey have pledged to support us financially in some way or anoth- er,\u201d he said, adding that nothing has been finalized.

\u201cWe\u2019ve been working really closely with the Senate. I spoke with the people running for TCU president last semester before they were even elected,\u201d Bond said. \u201c[TCU President] Duncan [Pickard] was really supportive of the project.\u201d The TMC endorsed Pickard in the election.

The Senate is \u201ctotally commit- ted to seeing this project happen,\u201d Pickard told the Daily. \u201cI think it\u2019s going be a huge benefit to the Tufts community,\u201d he said.

Construction of the Trips Cabin would only take six to eight weeks, Gilling said. But he doesn\u2019t expect construction to begin until March or April, even if the TMC receives funds at the end of this semester, given the winter weather.

\u201cIdeally, we would be able to secure the necessary funds within the next couple of weeks,\u201d and start construction immediately thereaf- ter, Gilling said. But he added that realistically, the Senate would take a longer period of time to decide how to spend its new money.

\u201cThey\u2019re going to want to take a few months to kind of deliber- ate,\u201d Gilling said. \u201cThey just want to hear a broad range of ideas from everyone in the student body.\u201d

TCU Treasurer Matt Shapanka was not ready to commit to fund- ing the project. He emphasized that the decision about giving money for the Trips Cabin would

Boston may implement one of the nation\u2019s most restrictive smoking bans as early as next year, if the city adopts the new restrictions on smoking approved last month by its health agency.

The plan has the potential to knock out all hookah bars in Beantown within five years.

The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) on Sept. 4 gave an initial endorsement to restrictions on the use and sale of tobacco within city limits. The regulations also target smoking bars, which, if the policy goes through, would be required to close or significantly alter their operations within five years.

The BPHC\u2019s ruling would restrict where people can smoke in public, adding to a set of limi- tations implemented in 2003 that banned smoking in restaurants

and bars. The new constraints would almost universally prohibit smoking in hotel rooms, cigar and hookah bars and all workplaces \u2014 including any outside areas adjacent to such locations. The BPHC said the plan aims to make workplaces healthier.

\u201cWhat we focus on is the pro- tection of workers,\u201d Roger Swartz, director of the BPHC\u2019s Community Initiatives Borough, told the Daily. \u201cWe\u2019ve been successful in reduc- ing the prevalence of tobacco use. We are [now] exploring what might be some options to reduc- ing access to tobacco.\u201d

No new smoking permits would be issued to businesses, and those that are being retained would be allowed to expire within the five years after final approval, Swartz said.

Cigar Masters, a cigar caf\u00e9 and lounge on Boylston Street, would be significantly impacted by the proposed rules.

co-owner Brandon Salomon told the Daily he was concerned about the potential ban\u2019s effect on his business. For an establishment to qualify as a smoking bar, 60 percent of its sales must consist of tobacco products.

If the regulations are imple- mented, Cigar Masters will have to become a club with private membership in order to continue its operations, Salomon said. He explained that the BPHC\u2019s stated goal of protecting workers was not relevant to his employees, many of whom are cigar aficiona- dos themselves.

\u201cMy employees all sign waiv- ers,\u201d Salomon said. \u201cThey all love working here.\u201d

Many hotels, which are also affected by the proposed changes, have been \u201ctaking a hit\u201d recent- ly as they become increasingly

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Good said the Sheraton Hotel has made all of its rooms non-smoking in the last three to six months. Since then, he has personally noticed a shift in European clientele to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers, an establish- ment that still allows smoking.

The other major regulation change supported by the BPHC places limita- tions on where tobacco can be sold with- in city limits, with the goal of decreasing tobacco use among youths.

Tobacco sales would be outlawed at retailers on college campuses and at health-care institutions, includ- ing pharmacies. Swartz said that this change is meant to limit access in gen- eral and to send a message supporting healthy behavior.

The regulation also aims specifically to ban the sale of blunt wraps, inexpensive tobacco-rolling papers commonly used to smoke marijuana. In its ruling, the commission claimed that the wraps are \u201cheavily marketed to the youth and often

Freshman Andrew Brinson said he has been to several hookah bars in Boston. \u201cIf I\u2019m going to a shisha bar, it\u2019s just about a hobby,\u201d Brinson said, using a common term for hookah. \u201cWhen I go in, I\u2019m forfeiting my right to avoid a non- smoking environment.\u201d

Brinson also noted that he does not disagree with the 2003 limitations on smoking. In terms of blunt wraps, Brinson said he understands why they have been targeted, as he believes they are primarily used as drug paraphernalia.

Freshman Tatyana Korshunova said that she opposed extending the city\u2019s ban to include smoking establishments.

\u201cI do understand that smoke can affect a non-smoking section [at a restaurant], but a hookah bar is designed for that kind of activity,\u201d she said.

The regulations would increase the fine for a first-time violation from $100 to $200. Second-time violations would increase from $500 to $700.

With its ruling, the BPHC opened a 60-day period for hearing public com- ments and has already scheduled two public hearings.

take time. \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of factors, so it\u2019s not something that\u2019s extremely quick,\u201d he said. \u201cThey will not be breaking ground this fall.\u201d

Funding the Trips Cabin has \u201cbeen one idea that\u2019s on the table,\u201d Shapanka said, but clari- fied that \u201cthere\u2019s been no formal discussion of who\u2019s going to pay for what or how or when.\u201d

He added, \u201cI\u2019m not aware that we\u2019ve prom- ised funding, but I do expect that TCU will make a contribution to the project.\u201d Shapanka was not sure how much the contribution would be, saying it could range from nothing to $200,000.

The Senate is going to work with the entire student body in the coming semester to dis- cuss different options for spending its new money, employing town hall meetings to pro- mote the discussion, according to Shapanka.

There are a number of different ways that the TMC could pay for its Trips Cabin project, Pickard said. Some of the possibilities are that the TMC could raise the money on its own, the Senate could give the TMC a lump sum to be used toward construction or the Senate could give the TMC an interest-free loan, he said.

The Senate contributed $200,000 10 years ago to build the current Loj, which replaced its condemned predecessor. In that case, the Senate gave the TMC an initial $100,000 lump sum and took another $100,000 loan out from the university. The Senate has paid this back over the last 10 years, completing the repay- ment this year, according to Pickard.

\u201cWe just can\u2019t even say how much the Senate would be willing to contribute. That\u2019s a discussion that has to be had with a lot of different people on Senate and the student body,\u201d Pickard said.

The TMC hosted the Mountain Gala, an alumni fundraising event at the Loj, in July. All told, the club raised about $15,000 over the summer from private donations. \u201cWe have a lot of support from alumni and a lot of sup- port from [the] TMC,\u201d Gilling said.

The TMC developed the idea for the Trips Cabin last semester in response to overcrowd- ing at the Loj on some weekends. \u201cDifferent people \u2026 wanted to use the Loj for different things,\u201d Bond said. \u201c[It became] just a really tense situation.\u201d

\u201cIt\u2019s just going to be such a huge asset not only to the Mountain Club \u2026 but also [to] all the different groups that come up to the Loj,\u201d Gilling said.

While the presidential can- didates have been engaged in a loud debate over devel- oping alternative energy, the Massachusetts government has been taking matters into its own hands.

Massachusetts became the country\u2019s first state to provide a tax incentive for use of non-corn-based bio- fuel this summer when it passed the Clean Energy Biofuels Act.

The new law, signed by Gov. Deval Patrick on July 28, requires biofuel to constitute a portion of all fuel sold for heating homes in the state and mandates tighter restric-

\u201cThe world is waiting for the next generation of clean, renewable alterna- tives to petroleum fuels, and Massachusetts is poised to deliver,\u201d Patrick said in a press release. \u201cThis new law will help us develop advanced biofuels and get them to market, without driving up food prices. We want these new fuels in our tanks and these new jobs in our econo- my here in Massachusetts.\u201d

While other states provide tax exemptions for food- based ethanol, a fuel whose energy-saving properties

are now widely debated, Massachusetts is the first to provide incentives for non- corn-based alternatives such as those derived from switch- grass, agricultural waste and forest products.

the Massachusetts Advanced Biofuels Task Force, a com- mittee created last year and consisting of biofuels industry and legislators, an advanced biofuels industry could potentially contribute up to $1 billion a year to the Massachusetts econo- my by 2025.

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the approval of the Editor-in-Chief, Executive Board and Executive Business Director. A publication schedule and rate card are available upon request.

Charlotte Steinway is a junior majoring in sociology. She can be reached at Charlotte. Steinway@tufts.edu.

Late last month, the Daily reported on recent initiatives taken by Health Service to detect depression among students at Tufts. With the percentage of college students suf- fering from depression steadily climbing, the Health Service office has been screening students to catch mental health problems, even if their symptoms are strictly physical. In this article, the Daily looks at a cam- pus group whose goal is to use a physical gesture \u2014 a hug \u2014 to brighten the days of a demographic whose mental health is a critical concern.

A small but growing group of Tufts stu- dents have gathered on street corners and outside Tisch Library with bold signs and

For one hugger, Sam, the gesture is a means of expressing social connection on a campus that she describes as being \u201cstandardized and digitalized to the point of dehumanization.\u201d

The members of \u201cFree Hugs\u201d were ada- mant that their identities remain anony- mous, as they see their actions as more of an open movement, rather than a social group made up of individuals. As such, the names in this article have been changed.

\u201cHugs are perhaps the simplest and most appreciated gift you can give,\u201d Sam said. \u201cEven the offer of a hug is a way of bringing someone back to the present, a way of making him or her stop and think for a moment, a way of changing some-

Students who have encountered the huggers have had mixed reactions: Some begin walking at a faster pace so as to avoid the interaction entirely; others avoid eye contact and politely decline. And some chose to welcome the embrace.

Sophomore Caitlin Kauffman declined a hug but stopped to inquire as to the hug- gers\u2019 motivations. \u201cWe\u2019re just spreading the love,\u201d Kauffman was told.

\u201cI didn\u2019t accept a hug because free love isn\u2019t necessarily wanted love,\u201d Kauffman said. \u201cI would prefer love spreading through less tactile means \u2026 at least when it\u2019s with a complete stranger.\u201d

While it remains to be seen whether the hugging initiative helps with social connectedness on campus, students, professors and other health professionals are studying the issue of social isolation with hopes to discover more long-term solutions.

Shawn Achor serves as the head teach- ing fellow for \u201cPositive Psychology,\u201d one of Harvard University\u2019s most popular cours- es, and said that strong personal relation- ships are integral to maintaining mental and social well-being.

\u201cPositive Psychology\u201d aims to explore the psychological aspects of leading a happy and satisfying life. According to Achor, the quality of social interactions is of utmost importance.

\u201cSocial support predicts our happiness perhaps more than anything else in life,\u201d Achor said. \u201cIn a study of the top 10 per- cent of the happiest people, researchers found that the only characteristic that dif- ferentiated them from everyone else was the strength of their social relationships.\u201d

For some, however, social integration is a difficult hurdle to overcome. Sophomore Sean Smith described Tufts as having a wealth of academic and social opportu- nities, but feels that for many students, joining a club or engaging in a sport is a challenge in and of itself.

\u201cWhen I was a freshman, at first I was intimidated to go to meetings and try new things,\u201d she said. \u201cInitially I had trouble reaching out to make new friends. Plus, with all the academic stress, it\u2019s easy to let go of things like clubs or socializing, things

lot more of my nighttime hours in the library. On one of the few evenings I opted against staying for late night at Club Tisch, I started packing up all my belongings, when all of the sudden, all of the lights in the library shut off. I made it out in time, but that whole experience got me thinking \u2014 what would really happen if I had been locked in the lib? How would I pass the time until the 8 a.m. morning rush of students arrived?

Funny that you bring this up, because intentionally getting stuck in the library overnight has been one of my collegiate goals since freshman year (it\u2019s right up with eating all three meals at Dewick on one card swipe). And I have yet to do it because I\u2019m still trying to figure out how to stay for those critical last minutes before they lock up without having to hear the dreaded new voice recording, which, I might add, plays three minutes before it actually should.

But this doesn\u2019t mean my ideas on the matter aren\u2019t plentiful. First, you\u2019re going to want to stake out a sleeping destina- tion as soon as possible because otherwise, the Tisch Bigfoot may wake you. (In case you didn\u2019t know about this elusive creature, you should be forewarned of his existence. Resembling his more famed cousin, normal Bigfoot, the Tisch Bigfoot exists only in our library, rather than in remote forests and on the pages of the National Enquirer. Think I\u2019m kidding? Last time I was studying at the library, I was greeted by a large, footprint- esque splotch of water on my table \u2014 looked like someone had gone for a little swim.)

As much as I would suggest a comfy cubicle desk perfect for snuggling up in the fetal position, I would recommend going to the third floor for sleeping arrangements. That way you\u2019re out of sight of the windows (you wouldn\u2019t want to end up in the Police Blotter for your corrupt campout), and even better, you can use the cinema room, fully equipped with sleep-conducive chairs \u2014 trust me, I snoozed in those for an entire semester last year!

Next, be sure to stock up on non-perish- able nourishment at the Tower. Now that no one is around, you can finally be as loud as you want about eating those pita chips \u2014 oh yeah, and grab a cup, because it\u2019s unlimited refills night at the Tower, baby! Curl up with the Public Journal (my new favorite piece of literature \u2026 it should be required reading on every class syllabus), fashion a blanket out of newspapers from the periodicals section and take it easy. You\u2019re in for a long night.

In the mood to do something active? How about playing dominos with the book stacks, James Bond style! Or play Jenga with library chairs in the quiet room! Interested in burning off some of that Tower Caf\u00e9 nosh? Why not run up and down the stairs a couple of times for a little cardio, then head to the oversized books section to grab enough weight for some bicep reps. If you\u2019re looking for a little more of an arm workout, give those manually rolling book stacks in the basement a spin.

Once you\u2019ve decided it\u2019s time to hit the hay, you can retreat back upstairs with the excitement of knowing that you have a whole library of DVDs at your finger- tips. But even if a movie can\u2019t put you to sleep, grab a bedtime story from one of the, uh, 700,000 books around you. Something like Lena Johnson\u2019s \u201cTajikistan In The New Central Asia: Geopolitics, Great Power Rivalry and Radical Islam,\u201d sounds like a fun end to your evening!