One thing you hear about early on when you get to Fletcher is that the yearly calendar includes a host of cultural nights organized by and featuring the talents of Fletcher students. One such event was held last night, Africana Night 2009. The event started with a buffet of Ethiopian Food and a slide show of photos from Fletcher students’ experiences in Africa from Peace Corps and work experience to internships and travel. The night continued with a variety of performances including a Rwandan dance, a hip hop dance, a poetry recital, a fashion show of traditional and modern African styles and a performance by Fletcher’s a cappella groups the Ambassachords. Not to mention a fantastic step performance and the closing act, Fletcher’s go-to cover and party band, “Los Fletcheros.”

My contribution to Africana night was participating in the fashion show by modeling an outfit made for me by a tailor while I was in Senegal as an intern. My involvement ended there because I essentially have zero musical or artistic talent. But for this reason I was especially impressed by the talents of my peers. I also am impressed just by the fact that students were able to put on such a fantastic show given the fact that I tend to feel like my schedule barely allows me the time to get out of the library for long enough to go to the grocery store once a week, let alone to regular dance practice!

It’s also important to mention that proceeds from Africana Night are going to support the Olevolos Project, a non-profit founded by first-year MALD student Dory Gannes. The Olevolos project runs an orphanage in Olevolos Village, Tanzania and is looking forward to the opening of a nursery school in the village soon. For more information visit:

www.theolevolosproject.org

Other cultural nights in the Fletcher calendar include Mediterranean Night, Asian Cultural Night and Latin America Night. So there is a little something for everyone!

Posted by Jacqui Deelstra on 22 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment »

Looking back at what has happened in this very rapid first half of November, other than midterms, I think of a lot of charitable activities that have been organized by students. The month kicked off with a bone marrow registration drive on November 3 in honor of Erica Murray, a member of the Fletcher family who passed away in December 2008 after a battle with Leukemia. If my memory serves me right 98 or 99 students signed up, just short of the 100 student goal. The organizers emphasized that drives like this are especially important at a diverse school like Fletcher because minorities in the United States are much less likely to finder a donor match, than Caucasian Americans. You can learn more about Erica and the tribute that has been set up for her at: www.ericatribute.com

That same week, on November 5, I was lucky to snag a ticket to the Faculty/Staff Waits on You Dinner. As you can imagine tickets to this event, where professors and other Fletcher staff serve a 4-course meal to students, sell quickly. This event is accompanied each year by a live auction that raises money for a selected organization. This year’s recipient was the ClearWater Initiative, an organization founded by Fletcher Alum Benjamin Sklaver, who tragically was killed in Afghanistan in October.

This auction is a unique event because students are able to bid on items and experiences offered up by Fletcher professors. This included front row tickets to graduation, a round of golf with popular Statistics Professor Robert Nakosteen, a yoga lesson for 8-10 people with Academic Dean Peter Uvin and a bird watching expedition with International Law Professor Michael Glennon.  It is events like this that make me really happy to be part of the Fletcher community, because it really speaks highly to the faculty and staff as they were so willing and open to participate.

Lastly there has been a disturbing increase in the amount of facial hair around campus as a good cohort of Fletcher men have come together to participate in Movember. Participants let their mustaches grow for the month of November, taking pledges along the way to support their efforts. All money raised goes to support men’s health, specifically to support research on prostate and testicular cancer. Check out the Fletcher Movember team, the Mustache Muchachos, here.

Posted by Jacqui Deelstra on 15 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment »

I was jibing recently with a classmate on an assignment for our Statecraft class.  In sharing potential topics for our upcoming  Op Ed paper, and my intention to write on Obama’s decision in Afghanistan, he asked me: “Are you qualified to write about that?”

You find at Fletcher a lot of people with an extraordinary range of experience.  The presumption, often, is that you need to or should have lived in a certain place or worked on a particular topic long enough to be able to speak on it intelligently.

Expertise is certainly valuable.  But it can be tricky too.  Not doubt, vital to any task is to study its dimensions, look at the contours of different arguments, and consider the history and unique context of an issue or place.  And, to be sure, I’ve suffered my fair share of half-hearted debates where my debater’s knowledge was barely an inch thick. But, in an academic setting, is it fair to ask this question?

Perhaps I’m just sensitive to standards of exclusion — indeed, I am. Or perhaps I’m just overly-sensitive to any who would question my qualifications — it’s certainly possible.

But its not as though I was proposing to perform a complex surgery or any similarly complex task for which I’m distinctly unqualified.

I’m lucky to have this experience — Fletcher is my chance to question, test my intellectual boundaries, and explore the range of issues facing the world today. It is my place to develop a point of view by diving deep into issues of justice, development and global affairs.  Its a place to take appropriate intellectual chances.

Perspective isn’t limited to those with deep experience.  It’s not always wise to defer to them either.  For example, most travelers can attest that much is learned about America when you’re abroad.  And of course, many who don’t travel (and some that do), can have myopic misunderstandings about how the wold’s people think of America — both as a place and an idea.  But to suggest it requires traveling to understand America’s place in the world, and the ability to comment on it thoughtfully is perplexing at best.

I value expertise greatly.  I find I’m consistently impressed, and sometimes in awe, at the depth of knowledge and experience at Fletcher.  But this is our place to grow, challenge our assumptions and prepare for leadership roles worldwide.  For some, that will require going a mile deep on issues ranging from the Middle East, climate change, global development,  international finance and so on.  For others, it may require more breadth.  For all of us, it demands a  willingness to become constant learners and thoughtful participants in our global challenges.

I don’t begrudge my classmate.  I understand the tension.  But I think if you’re here it’s a mistake to only explore issues you feel qualified to address. So, please, take on new challenges.  Explore new topics.  Take intellectual risks.  The perspective gained will make you better later in whatever field you choose.

That’s my unqualified opinion.

Posted by Bradford Frost on 14 Nov 2009 Leave a Comment »

One of the more fascinating currents in every environment is how a language all its own springs from the well.

As Fletcherites are required to be fluent in multiple languages, perhaps this one can be added to the list?  If you’re like me and are now finally feeling like you “get it” …. you’ll  know what I mean now when I sing:

“DME, DME, Its not for me, not for me, it’s participatory, DME”

Or if the rhythm of these letters just rings: PDP, MALD, MIB

When you first realized the “Socialist” was actually two words and not some mythic figure.

When you go to HoF and can confidently walk  in any direction to such places as Mugar, Ginn, Cabbot and Goddard, oh my.

When you realize WTF the HoF is.

And as every linguist can tell you, there’s always a chance to learn more in the language …. so I polled my fine fletcherites on The Social List and asked for their fletcherisms, here’s some of  what I got:

____________________

Boz

The Nixon Room

The Harry Potter Room

____________________

My personal favorite is when Security students refer to gossip as “HUMINT.”

_______________________

This isn’t exactly a Fletcherism – but you can tell the story about when Greg brought his girlfriend and friend on the ski trip last year, and they were so bored with Fletcher conversation that they decided to make up a drinking game where every time some one said the word Fletcher, the two of them had to drink.  They were barely standing up by the end of the night… ;)

____________________

pulling a Stony – incurring the wrath of all Fletcher women (and some men) through a thoughtless yet innocent act of male chauvinism

John pulled a stony when he social listed a link to Maxim’s  Guide to Hooking up with hot Undergrads.

fletchereando (verb) – to “hook up” or date another fletcherite exclusively in “secret” even though everyone knows about it

Darcy and John are totally fletchereando since I always see them leave the Green and Yellow house parties together.

Anal Frames – Shorthand for Professor Gideon’s Analytic Frameworks for Public Policy Decisions.

That anal frames midterm really kicked my ass.

____________________________

So, when Uggs start to bother you. And Blakeley isn’t just home to the cheapest rent in town, but the best Halloween party in the land.

When you know what’s Folley worthy. And can score the mixed nuts at social hour.

Where free food means: run! And you think the morning donut man deserves a presidential medal.

If you can mimic Drezner’s walk. Or check a mic “at the back”. Or fawn over professors on The Daily Show.

When speaking to ambassadors, senators and other really important people starts to seem normal.

For that time when the Jumbo first enters your heart, and a Double Jumbo doesn’t alarm you.

Where you bleed orange and white. And will stay in Friday and Saturday night to play SIMULEX.

Then you must be home; you must be Fletcher Fluent.

Posted by Bradford Frost on 07 Nov 2009 1 Comment »

Tonight is Halloween.

So, of course, we’ll all get out of our skin and into some cheer together at Blakeley Hall.  And, tomorrow, we’ll scour facebook to see who took the best shot and the biggest chances.

Recently, I was crafting a post here that didn’t make it up right away.  I decided instead to go after this sweet contest held by the Washington Post called “America’s Next Great Pundit“.  4800 people submitted entries!  You should take a look and read the finalists submissions.  To think they pulled it off in 400 words or less is quite the feat.

So, along with the 4,790 other people who tied for 11th place, I at least have the good fortune of this fine medium, and thought I’d post it for you to see.  Also, in my small way, to encourage you to sometimes just take your best shot and see what happens.  (hint: like when applying to grad school).

Without further ado, my entry, written just after Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize (and, not coincidentally, after reading several extraordinary resumes from my peers in PDP).

___________________________________________________

DON’T REST ON YOUR LAURELS

My grandmother has a nice saying: “Good for you. Now, don’t let it go to your fat head.”

I’m as eager a grandson as any. But, as I deem grandparents particularly prone to the unabated celebration of their offspring’s offspring, I find my grandmother’s words shrewd and compelling.

Don’t let it go to your fat head.

Another favored grandson got noticed this past Friday. No less than the Nobel Foundation awarded its estimable Peace Prize to our very own President Obama. (If this isn’t winning the grand-slam in life – Happily Married, President of the United States, The Peace Prize and Editor of Harvard Law Review).

Seriously, how can this possibly be the same guy that couldn’t even get a ticket to the 2000 Democratic National Convention?

Like many, I was surprised. Even suspicious the prize may cause more harm than good for the fledging efforts – peace and otherwise – of Obama’s young administration. But, take what Obama means globally. He is The American Dream personified which strikes me as a potentially stirring—and worthwhile—catalyst for all the disenfranchised and dispossessed; a symbol of possibility in a world of struggle.

So it’s fascinating reading the abundant, and heated, responses to his achievement.

I admire most Obama’s tone—his insistence on constructive problem solving.

Is this the best we have to celebrate: tone?

Have our civic expectations been reduced so mercilessly: Our valiant knight pitching for peace? Can’t you see the women swooning? “Ooooh, Mr. President, what courage.”

Are our politics really this much more bluster than substance? With the polarizing onslaught–both left and right, the answer: yes. And yet, thankfully, Obama persists in toning it down.

This shouldn’t be celebrated: this should be the minimum.

Yet, with the innumerably complex and hazardous challenges before us, is it really too much to ask for constructive dialog that fosters reasonable solutions? (Am I really edging towards fantasy here?). Can’t we work across aisles to find mutual cause for mutual benefit?

Has it been successful? Obama’s batting .200 at best. Yet, from what I can see, his approach is consistent, or at least consistently articulated – from healthcare to global politics to race in America. While much remains to be done, it’s a vital start.

Does it deserve a Peace Prize?

Well, I can only guess Obama’s grandmother would have echoed my own’s sage advice.

Posted by Bradford Frost on 31 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »

Fletcher is made up of a cluster of three buildings: Mugar, Cabot and Goddard. The three buildings are all connected by a series of stairs and hallways. Inside there is a library, computer lab, and a café, really the essentials for the grad student existence. With the exception of the gym it is my assessment that there are few buildings on the rest of the Tufts campus that are frequented by Fletcher students. Maybe the bookstore and the campus center, but really we keep ourselves within our little bubble, so you can imagine a lot of Fletcher students are also rather territorial of our space. This has especially come to light lately as seemingly more and more undergraduates have been making their way into Ginn Library, the Fletcher library. Fletcher students have issued complaints to the student council and the library administrators saying that the undergraduate presence in our relatively small library makes it difficult to find a place to sit and also that they tend to be distracting by having conversations with their friends and on their cell phones. This issue was even addressed in a town hall meeting organized by the Fletcher student council.

But the Ginn policy is clear on this issue and even stated on flyers that I have started to notice on all the tables and desk in the library. They read, “All members of the Tufts community are welcome in Ginn Library.” It then goes on to go over the rules such as “ mobile phone use is  forbidden,” “food of any kind is never permitted,” and except for the circulation desk and group study areas, of all Ginn Library is a quiet zone.

Personally when I first heard the complaints by other Fletcher students I thought that people were just overreacting. But now that midterms have rolled around I come into the library to find hoards of undergrads with stacks of papers and books just strewn out across the library. I have been distracted myself their chatting and choice to watch “Dancing with the Stars” on the computer while the rest of us are studying. But at the same time I can’t say I would be in favor of a policy that restricts them from Ginn. I have heard some say that they think it should at least be restricted to only Fletcher students during finals, and I see some reason in that.

My impression is that our library is so attractive to many undergrads because it is a really quiet space, with great décor that just makes you want to study. (Apparently so quiet that it is conducive to sleeping, as the undergrad at the table across from me just put his head down for a snooze…)  And also for the undergrads studying solo that I see around I bet this a great place to escape their peers and really get some work done.

So I have no doubt this debate is going to continue here at Fletcher, how to balance seeing these building as our territory, while also recognizing that we do share this campus.

Posted by Jacqui Deelstra on 26 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »

I wish I could just give The  Heisman to father time right now.

Somewhere this week, most of us will experience the the apex of the semester; the point at which we’ve developed great friends, found our stride in our classes, overcome the initial projects, tests and papers, and found that cozy spot where all is right with the world.  There’s time to be together and reflect, and time to look forward without too much angst. We can even appreciate the crisp misty mornings and quintessential New England foliage on campus.

Soon, (perhaps right after this sentence), heightened anxiety’s will creep in for the projects on the horizon, papers not yet started, and the like. Some murmurs surface about the cold coming in too fast and too fiercely.  And we’ll delve deep into the next stage.

I’m aware that most 1st years will have just completed 1/8 of the program — which perhaps seems like lots left to do —  yet 2nd years are 5/8ths through. It feels far too fleeting.

So, remember, this goes by fast.

Ask yourself, am I getting the most from this experience; are my questions getting clearer;  am I putting in the time for all this has to offer; when are the books more vital than friends, relationships more important than our studies.  Where’s the balance?

Well, these tough questions imperfectly tug at us all the time. But before  this time in the middle gets eclipsed and passes, take it all in.  Go, dance the night away.  Go, get lost in conversation for hours on end.  Go deeper.  Go for meaning.  This is good.

We should pause to absorb these moments.

Posted by Bradford Frost on 24 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »

Here at Fletcher one of the many student groups is the Fletcher Global Women. The club organizes speakers as part of a Phenomenal Women series and provides networking opportunities for current Fletcher women and Fletcher women alumni. Also one of the fantastic things they do is match up Fletcher female students with female students from the Tufts undergraduate School of International Relations as mentors and mentees. Last night myself and the other Fletcher women who have volunteered as mentors met our mentees at a Meet & Greet in Cabot. It was really fun to see all the pairings that have been made and of course to meet my mentee who is a Tufts senior. The goal of the program is for undergraduate women who are interested in careers in International Relations to have the chance to connect with a Fletcher student with similar interests, whether regional or functional, for advice, support and friendship. I am excited about participating in this program because I would have loved to have this opportunity as an undergraduate. Also it is not too large of commitment that would make it too difficult to do it on top of all our work, we are going to to aim meet with our mentees once a month.

Speaking of Global Women, last night following the Meet & Greet I went with my mentee to a lecture given by Irene Khan, secretary-general of Amnesty International.  Khan is the first woman and the first Asian to be secretary-general of the organization. She spoke about the role of human rights protection in the fight towards poverty reduction. She specifically talked about Amnesty International’s current priorities which include improving maternal health as one of the global issues most acutely impeding the universal right to health.  It was an interesting lecture, well complimenting the things I am learning about in my International Human Rights Law class. I continue to be impressed with the caliber of speakers that Tufts University as a whole attracts, another thing that is nice about being here amongst a dynamic university that overall has a lot of programs and centers focused on international affairs and global citizenship.

Posted by Jacqui Deelstra on 21 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »

Some times there are things you just can’t control that just throw your whole original plan out the window. This weekend seems to be summed up by that statement.

It all started Friday when I went into my work study job at Fletcher’s Center for International Environment and Natural Resource Policy. I had a lot of work that I planned to get done will in the office, and then I had a 1:00pm meeting and then another 3:00pm meeting. It was going to be a busy, but productive, day. Then around 10:30am the power went out. At first we thought maybe the power was going to come back on quickly because it was just a glitch in the system. But then we heard that a man hole in Medford exploded taking the power with it. Slowly announcements came out over the Tufts Emergency system saying it would be 8-10 hours minimum before power would be restored. Needless to say I couldn’t get any of my work done so I left the office to check out the situation. Classes had been canceled, study groups were huddling towards windows for natural light and people in general were rethinking their game plan for the day considering the situation.

My first meeting was cancelled, but the second was with my group for a project due Monday so we had to search for place to plug in our computers and get stuff done. We were able to find a room in Barnum Hall, a Tufts building with laboratories, that clearly has a good generator, because it was the only building in sight with power. As time passed and night started to fall we got another ominous message from Tufts: power will not be restored until 2am at the earliest. This was problematic for people like me who live at Blakeley Hall on campus. So to stay warm and in the light I spent the evening at one of my group members’ houses before eventually returning to the darkness of Blakeley hall were my suitemates and I bonded over some conversation over the soft glow of flashlights. Power was finally restored at some point over night.

Fast forward to today, Sunday. I originally had this vision of trying to get some work done and then heading out to see the famous Head of the Charles Regatta, but it’s snowing! It’s October 18 and it is snowing.  I am certainly not going out to the Charles River now, I am going to be lucky if I find the motivation to leave my room and go to the library.

So seriously what a weekend, manhole explosions and the weather successfully put a wrench in my plans.

Posted by Jacqui Deelstra on 18 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »

It was a difficult and nearly sleepless week.

The season is upon us now — real work.

So, mix a bunch of us overachievers together and this is what you get.  Lots of late-nights cramming, reading, writing papers … and stimulants. Depending on the time of course, but these invariable involve two crucial ingredients – caffeine and sugar. Too much of either with a dose of delirium is a recipe for, well, jittery, hyper, anxious, sleepy, and irritable grad students.

Come Wednesday, on about 7 hours of sleep … for the week, I was in a fix.  It was nearing 4:30 and I had another hour of lecture to withstand, let alone the next 8 hours of group meetings and work ahead of me.  So, I turned to an old favorite: Skittles.

I don’t know about you, but there’s a specific strategy one develops over the years regarding such things.  Mine is rudimentary and simple.  While not terribly anal about the process, whatever comes out of the bag gets consumed in rank order.  Least to most favorite: Yellow (please, forgo this skittle), Toss up between green and purple (should I be saying lemon, lime, grape) and the clear runner-up–Orange (Its the same!) followed by the indisputable champion: Red (strawberry? Who cares, its delicious.)

This was a wise decision.

I savored this bag for the next hour of my life like few others before its time.  My neighbors in the room were relatively patient with the crinkle of the bag, but clearly eying my prize as each perfect candy came into view. One by one, some chewed, some mixed, each savored.  And then, the last five skittles. All of them red:  Mmmmm.  Mmmmmm.  Mmmmmmmm.  Mmmmmmmmm.

“Excuse me, can I try one.”

Pause.

“Oh, is it your last one?  Its just that I’ve never had one before and I’ve always wanted to try it.”

I was floored. Was this a trick? Never had a Skittle?

To be fair (and before I get skewed as the most selfish person on earth,) please accept, that though tempted by the last one, I knew right away (even before this unbelievable truth was revealed to me)  that I would share this fine fruit.

I couldn’t wait for the class to end.

I simply had to know: ”How was it?!”

“Oh my goodness, it was amazing.  I’ve seen the commercials, but never had these in my country.  I’ve always wanted to try one.”

While this may expose the limits of America’s contributions to the global cultural exchange, I must admit I was proud. Besides future children or nieces and nephews, I never thought I would experience the pleasure of sharing something so enjoyable to one of my global friends for the very first time.

Who cares that its not an exotic French Wine, Swiss Cheese, African Ostrich, Japanese Sake, Fried Grasshoppers, Kobe Beef, Escargot , Caviar  … what have you.

Welcome to America my fine global citizens.

May you all taste the rainbow.

Posted by Bradford Frost on 16 Oct 2009 Leave a Comment »