Jumbo Shorts » How-To

Follow the Leader

Kaitlin Provencher — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:34:23 +0000

Whether you are light on your feet or feel you have two left ones, you may want to look into Tufts Ballroom. With both a competitive team and just for fun club version, there is an outlet for all interested in learning and perfecting their moves.

One of the many classes of dance that falls under the overarching classification of ballroom dancing is the ever popular waltz. Current team members Alex Freedman, A12, and Dana Burton, A12, walk us through the basic steps.

Video by Gene Buonaccorsi, A13.

Tools of the Trade

Eugene Buonaccorsi — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 15:27:43 +0000

What’s that noise you hear echoing across campus? Probably just an impromptu jam session with Tufts’ only student-run percussion group: B.E.A.T.S.

B.E.A.T.S. (which stands for Bangin’ Everything At TuftS) has been rockin’ steady for almost 10 years now, creating organic drum sounds from unorthodox objects. Occasionally their shows are planned, but it’s not unlikely that they will break out into a rhythm when you least expect it.

Over the years they have chosen their instruments wisely and learned how to use them most effectively. We convinced a few members (whose identities are kept safe by their creative nicknames) to let us in on the time-tested B.E.A.T.S. secrets.

Enjoy the video and see if you can spot the extremely special guest who appears briefly in the video.

You can also follow B.E.A.T.S. on Twitter.

Video by Gene Buonaccorsi, A13.

Learning the Throws

Eugene Buonaccorsi — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 11:48:15 +0000

Each year, the men’s ultimate Frisbee team proves to be very popular among club sports at Tufts. Currently made up of about 75 people, the program is comprised of an A team, a B team and a C team.

The A team, known as the Elephant Men, finished 10th overall at last May’s USA Ultimate College National tournament. Competing against traditional Division 1 athletics programs like the University of Pittsburgh, University of Iowa and University of Illinois, the Elephant Men joined the likes of Carleton College and Colorado College as one of the smallest schools in attendance.

Junior Robby Perkins-High joined the program as a freshman and was named co-captain of the team after last spring’s season. Here he walks us through the three throws that he and his co-captain Alex Cooper, A12, are focusing on teaching new members of the program this fall.

For more information about the team, contact Robby Perkins-High and Alex Cooper.

Video by Gene Buonaccorsi, A13

On the Line

Kaitlin Provencher — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:22:30 +0000

Lloyd Olson, E12, took full advantage of the nearly empty campus this summer, turning the President’s Lawn into his personal practice space. His skill: slacklining.

Slacklining is a form of tightrope walking that uses a flexible, trampoline-like nylon webbing, often anchored between two trees as a balance beam. Unlike a traditional tightrope, which is rigidly taut, the flexible, bouncy nature of the line allows for some impressive footwork and stunts.

At Tufts, Olson says the activity is quite popular among his fellow members of the Tufts Mountain Club. If you are interested in learning more about the TMC, you can meet some of the members at the activities fair, Sept. 13, 5-7 p.m. on the Residential Quad.

For a better idea of what slacklining looks like, watch Olson in action.

Video by Gene Buonaccorsi, A13

A Drink Fit for the President

Lorrayne Shen — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 21:20:02 +0000

When it opened its doors in the summer of 2010, the RezQuad Café, located in Miller Hall, joined the list of campus spots where Jumbos can get their caffeine fix, study or socialize.

Featuring custom-made, uniquely named drinks like the “Nutty Professor” (latte with toffee nut and caramel) or “Lucy in the Chai” (chai latte with espresso), the RezQuad Café is run by Tufts Student Resources and completely managed and staffed by Tufts students.

Watch as barista Jake Savage, A12, demonstrates the construction of a RezQuad favorite – the Larry Bacow, a peppermint hot chocolate drink created by President Bacow.

Follow @TheRezquadTufts

Video production by Lorrayne Shen (A’12)

The Greatest Show on the Hill

Kaitlin Provencher — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 17:59:53 +0000

Jumbo Jugglers, a student group founded this fall by freshman Kevin Gao, brings together undergraduate and graduate students in the practice, performance and teaching of “balls, clubs, poi, hoops, staff, rope dart, contact, diablo, devil sticks, any skill toy imaginable!” Here, some of the members demonstrate their juggling moves and share tips on getting started.

Stay tuned to Tufts E-News for a feature on graduate students (some of whom belong to Jumbo Jugglers) involved in the circus arts — and in many cases, blending it into their studies.

Video production by Georgiana Cohen and Kaitlin Provencher of Web Communications.

Prepping Your Garden For Winter

Kaitlin Provencher — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 18:37:29 +0000

It happens every year. You spend all summer nurturing a garden full of fruits, veggies and greens and before you know it, the dreaded cold of winter creeps in.

Don’t fret! The members of this semester’s ExCollege course Emerging Alternatives in Modern Agriculture have you covered. After spending the semester tending to a newly created student garden, a pet project started by senior Signe Porteshawver, students worked together to build “cold boxes,” or mini-greenhouses as Porteshawver calls them, to help extend their season.

Watch as Porteshawver and course teacher Jeffrey Hake from the Friedman School of Nutrition and Science Policy explain how they used old windows and pieces of wood as a cheap and efficient way to help their garden thrive during the cold season.

Also, check out Tufts E-News for a complete story on the ExCollege course.

Video production by Marcus Cheek (A’11) and Kaitlin Provencher, Web Communications.

Going For A Spin

Kaitlin Provencher — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:00:25 +0000

Are you a bike aficionado? Dan Heller (A’11) sure is.

Heller recently took the time to talk to us about why he enjoys cycling so much, along with a few tips on all-weather biking.

If you’re interested in securing your bicycle, the Tufts University Police Department has several resources to help you keep your bike safe.

Also check out the Tufts Bikes blog.

Video production by Jeffrey Baker Jr. (A’11) and Kaitlin Provencher, Web Communications.

Setup For Success

Kaitlin Provencher — Fri, 14 May 2010 18:22:58 +0000

The women’s volleyball team had a successful season this fall, finishing 31-4 overall and 8-2 in the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). This year, for the first time in the team’s history, they won the New England Regional NCAA Tournament, enabling them to participate in the Elite Eight tournament in Ohio this past November. The team lost in the first round and ended up tying for fifth in the nation for Division 3 NCAA women’s volleyball.

Now in the off season, co-captain and graduating senior Brogie Helgeson (E’10) took the time to teach us some tips, going through the three points of contact in volleyball (pass, set and hit), as well as the art of serving.

Video production by Charlotte Steinway (A’10) and Kaitlin Provencher, Web Communications.

On The Fence

Kaitlin Provencher — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 17:03:58 +0000

Founded in 1975, the Tufts fencing team is comprised of nearly 40 fencers, forming both a women’s varsity team and a men’s club team. On March 14, the women’s team sent four of its members to the 2010 NCAA Northeast Regional Championships at Brown University, while last year members of the men’s team were named the 2009 New England Intercollegiate Fencing Conference Three Weapon Team Club Team Champions.

So how exactly does a fencing competition work? Watch as Sam McCauley (A’10) runs down the basics of the three types of weapons used in fencing– Foil, Épée and Sabre.

Video production by Charlotte Steinway (A’10) and Kaitlin Provencher, Web Communications