Heights 9-9-10

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The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Vol. XC, No. 25

THE HEIGHTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

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Admins dismiss ‘Princeton Review’ rankings Student leaders and administrators criticize ‘race’ and ‘LGBT’ ranks

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

Boston College’s higher placement in this year’s “Little Race / Class Interaction” and “LGBT-Unfriendly” lists in The Princeton Review has led some administrative officials and student leaders to reflect further on the implications of the rankings, and the reliability of the publication itself.

The lists, which were released last month as part of The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges” rankings, rank colleges on the basis of several criteria surrounding student life, academics, and athletics.

This year marks BC’s second consecutive

year on the “Little Race / Class Interaction” list. The University placed ninth this year after placing 17th last year. On the list for “LGBT-Unfriendly” schools, BC placed 10th after not having appeared on the list for four years.

“The Princeton Review’s rankings are methodologically flawed and in contrast to the results we see in our representative samples of students,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn.

The Princeton Review bases its surveys off representative data collected by university officials every three years.

Students, however, can log on to The Princeton Review’s Web site at any time and fill out surveys that ultimately effect their schools’ rankings – a statistical procedure that some school officials are saying isn’t good enough.

“This whole survey is based on what I estimate to be around 100-200 students,” said Robert Lay, dean for enrollment

University unveils Stokes plan

BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor

After years of planning, Boston College is on the verge of launching headfirst into the initial building phase of its Institutional Master Plan (IMP).

The final plans for the 180,000square foot Stokes Academic Building will be presented before the University’s Board of Trustees at a Sept. 24 meeting, when the board will likely give its final approval for the plans, according

SPORTS

INSIDE

Undefeated men’s and women’s soccer kicks off, D6

THE SCENE

MARKETPLACE

The summer timeline recaps important world events, D2

FOOTBALL PREVIEW

Six storylines to watch for this football season, B1 Classifieds, C5 Crossword, C5 Editorials, A6 Editors’ Picks, D6 Forecast on Washington, D2 On the Flip Side, D4 Police Blotter, A2 Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down, A7 Videos on the Verge, C2 Weather, A2

the University has been getting better at addressing GLBTQ issues, there is still some work to be done.

“If The Princeton Review called BC more LGBT friendly, I think that would be fair,” she said. “To say that our entire campus is homophobic or resistant to acceptance of GLBTQ students is inaccurate.”

But, she said, BC’s campus is heteronormative – relationships are defined in terms of how heterosexual women and heterosexual men should relate to each other.

“I believe this is a result of a lack of exposure to GLBTQ persons,” she said.

“Yes, there are probably some students with very negative homophobic attitudes towards GLBTQ individuals, but they are not the majority at BC.” Erika Hernandez, president of the

KEVIN HOU/ HEIGHTS EDITOR

Erika Hernandez (left) and Kelsey Gasseling (right) said that more still has to be done on campus.

BY NATALIE SILENO For The Heights

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE OFFICE OF NEWS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

to University administrators.

The board’s vote is the final hurdle that the University must clear before work on the building can begin. Last Friday, BC officials met to determine which bid to award the Stokes contract to, however the University would not disclose the estimated construction costs or the name of the contractor until the project receives board approval.

See Rankings, A4

Boston College rose to 31st place in the 2011 U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings after being ranked 34th for the last two years.

The University also placed 43rd in the “Great Schools Great Prices” ranking and placed 27th in Forbes’ annual list of “America’s Best Colleges.”

“The new rankings should bolster our

efforts to help prospective students and their families discover Boston College’s commitment to the development of our students’ intellectual abilities in the service of a better world,” said Cutberto Garza, provost and dean of faculties, in a statement.

“This year’s U.S. News survey, which saw BC achieve its best ranking to date, is attributable to several factors including first and foremost the excellence of BC’s faculty, the high esteem in which

the University is held by guidance counselors as well as prospective students and parents throughout the country, increased admissions selectivity, and the increased support of our alumni,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn.

“The rankings, therefore, reflect the collective efforts of faculty, students, and alumni, all of whom have helped to advance the University in the public

See U.S. News, A4

Brighton moves into fall Local businesses adjust for sudden increase in fall student population

See Stokes, A5

King steps into new BCPD post Chief looks to improve student relations

Profile Bonnaroo: Experiencing a 72-hour extravaganza of sound, C1

here,” he said. “It’s something that people enjoy reading and it’s popular among prospective students.”

Kelsey Gasseling, president of the GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC) and A&S ’11, said in an e-mail that, although

‘U.S. News’ college listings examined

Dustbowl to be partially closed

Institutional Master Plan

management. “This is not a scientific survey.”

Lay said that students should keep in mind that The Princeton Review is a profit-driven company, with a goal to sell magazines. “They’re selling a product

BY TAYLOUR KUMPF Asst. News Editor

John King sits behind his hand-medown desk in his unadorned office at the Boston College Police Department (BCPD) headquarters. He pulls out a red Staples Easy Button. He presses it and sits back in his chair as a computerized voice says, “That was easy!” He sits up.

“If only …”

Appointed as director of public safety and chief of police for the BCPD in August, King brings 36 years of collegiate experience to the job. King said that the close campus community and the students themselves have inspired his university policing tenure. “[College campuses] are great environments to work in,” King said. “You have a chance to give more of yourself, to be more engaged and involved in the community.”

During his first few weeks, King has been busy meeting with various student groups and getting to know administrators, in addition to his normal policing duties. “I’ve been very busy,” King said, sitting in his office. “Maybe I will get

See King, A4

ANDREW POWELL / HEIGHTS STAFF

There are approximately 250,000 students attending schools in the Boston area, representing a vibrant market for local retailers.

Local News

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

AND DANIEL TONKOVICH For The Heights

It’s a Wednesday afternoon at Reservoir Wine and Spirits. The store associate who identifies himself only as Shazzad stands behind the counter nodding at the midday customers shuffling in and out. He looks proudly at the wall of confiscated fake IDs displayed behind him. “You won’t believe it,” he said.

“We got five already last weekend.”

It’s back to business for Shazzad and other Brighton shopkeepers who have been stocking their shelves in anticipation of Boston’s influx of 250,000 student residents who arrive for the fall semester.

“About 50 percent of the business done in Cleveland Circle is student-based,” Shazzad said. “We’re no different. We have to do a lot of purchasing in the summer to be ready for the fall. We don’t want to be out of anything.”

Nami Zylbersztajn, general manager of Crazy Dough’s Pizza on Commonwealth Ave., is experiencing student foot traffic for the first time at her new storefront.

“We are fortunate to have a great location,” she said. Located directly off the Boston College stop on the Green Line,

which processes over 150 trains daily, Crazy Dough’s management claims both BC students and local residents as its main customer base.

“The transition of students has been wonderful because it has provided us with a gradual flow of customers experiencing the business for the first time, as well as the opportunity to get to know students and the neighborhood on a much deeper level,” Zylbersztajn said.

“All of us at Crazy Dough’s Pizza

have enjoyed getting to know the students and campus personality better, as students have returned, and we consider it a privilege to work next to such a great campus and within a supportive neighborhood.”

Alan Linick, general manager of City Convenience, located down the street on Commonwealth Ave., is a veteran of the college retail seasons.

“In the weeks prior to now, the

See Business, A5

KEVIN HOU / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Some businesses owners in Cleveland Circle said they depend on student business.

TopFive

Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

things to do on campus this week

Literary Lives: Irish Artists

SAP General Meeting

Ricky Duran

Today Time: 11 a.m.

Location: McMullen Museum This exhibition features Irish artists from Cork and Dublin, who have produced compelling portraits of Irish writers. Literary Lives combines the visuals with a wide range of literature.

Today Time: 7 p.m.

Location: McGuinn 121 The Student Admissions Program will be holding an information session for students interested in getting involved with campus tours.

Today Time: 9 p.m.

Location: Chocolate Bar Ricky Duran, a student musician from the Berklee School of Music, will be kicking off this year’s Nights on the Heights student programming with a concert in the Chocolate Bar.

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Student Activities Day

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FEATURED ON CAMPUS

Bookstore features new look

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Friday Time: 10 a.m.

Location: Dustbowl

Come check out BC clubs and organizations in the Dustbowl. Whether you are a new student on campus or someone still looking to get involved, there’s sure to be a group for you.

BC Football vs. Kent State Saturday Time: 3:30 p.m.

Location: Alumni Stadium Superfans unite and cheer on the BC football team as they face off against the Kent State Golden Eagles this Saturday afternoon at Alumni Stadium.

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IntheNews

FOUR DAY WEATHER FORECAST TODAY

72° Mostly Sunny 54°

FRIDAY

72° Mostly Sunny 54°

SATURDAY

74° Mostly Sunny

University BC alum manufactures peanut paste that could end malnutrition Navyn Salem, BC ’94, is the sole U.S. manufacturer of a product called Plumpy’nut, a peanut paste designed to nourish starving children. Packed with calories and nutrients, Plumpy’nut has been credited with significantly lowering mortality rates in Africa, according to a report by The New York Times. Salem heard about Plumpy’nut from the show 60 Minutes three years ago, and her company is selling the product under the name Edesia Global Nutrition Solutions.

56°

SUNDAY

71° Showers 60°

SOURCE: NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE

A Guide to Your Newspaper The Heights Boston College – McElroy 113 140 Commonwealth Ave. Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467 Editor-in-Chief (617) 552-2223

Local News Governor Deval Patrick and challenger clash during debate

TAYLOUR KUMPF / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Students shop for textbooks in the remodeled BC Bookstore, where 30 percent of textbooks are now available to rent.

BY MOLLY LAPOINT Heights Staff

The Boston College Bookstore remodeled its venue this summer and is now renting books at a reduced cost to students.

This semester, over 30 percent of the textbooks are rentable through the Rent-A-Text program, reducing costs by at least 50 percent less than the new book price.

“We’re always looking for ways we can reduce the cost to students so it’s more affordable,” said Bob Stewart, Bookstore director. “We’re pretty excited because it’s the first year, and over 30 percent of the titles are rentable. That’s a pretty good shot for the first semester, and it’s only going to grow from there.”

Used books, which cost at least 25 percent less, and textbook buyback at the end of the semester have provided students with ways of saving money, but now Follett has a list of books that qualify as “rentable” nationally, Stewart said. To be rentable, books cannot have a one-time use access code or workbook.

Although students may decide to purchase their books from an outside source, buying them on campus offers some advantages, Stewart said. “We’re right here, and we’re here to serve students.

If they purchase the wrong book, they have seven days to return it.

If they purchase [their books] from a different source, they won’t be able to return them for money back.”

Students who initially rent a book but then decide they want to keep it are given until Oct. 31 to alter their decision, and they can write and highlight in the books if they wish.

“I think it’s a good option for students,” said Lauren Naselli, LSOE ’12, who rented two of her books. “I like that you have the option of buying them later if you want, and the amount I paid from last year was reduced, so that is good.”

To be eligible to rent books, students must register using a credit card as collateral. Registration can be done online prior to buying books, but there is an express registration available for those who have not signed up online. After the express registration, students then must go online to be eligible to rent more books, Stewart said.

In the next few years, Stewart expects e-books to become more common, he said. Already, there are between 12 and 24 titles available in a digital format.

“It’s even cheaper than renting a textbook,” he said. “You can highlight, type notes, and communicate with the professor and other students who have the book.”

In addition to the new RentA-Text program, the Bookstore has undergone cosmetic changes.

Two years ago, Follett took over the Bookstore and only made minor changes because Stokes Hall was originally slated to hold a new bookstore. “We decided to do minor cosmetic changes because of the future plans for Stokes Hall,” Stewart said. “But the plans were put on hold, and when they were resurrected, the administration decided it needed to be an academic building.”

This change in plans made the Bookstore’s current location more permanent, therefore increasing the need for updates.

The Bookstore was moved forward, creating new space. The front window was removed, the fixtures were all replaced, and the store was repainted. “We’re getting very good feedback,” Stewart said.

The Bookstore also now has a fitting room. “No longer do we have to have customers leave their license to go to the restroom to try on clothes,” Stewart said.

Some additional changes will be made as the semester progresses. “As soon as we get out of the rush, some of the textbook fixtures will be removed and we’ll spread the merchandise out,” Stewart said. “We’re also looking at putting graphics in the store and storefront, and changing the lighting – we still feel the store is a little dark, so we want to expand the lighting options to make the merchandise more viewable.” 

Mass. Governor Deval Patrick and his Republican challenger Charles Baker contended political issues Tuesday night during their first televised debate of the race for governor. According to a report by The Boston Globe, the hour long debate featured all four gubernational candidates, but Patrick and Deval really fueled the discussion, which centered on health care and the economy. Patrick’s tax increases and failure to cut down the size of the state government were concerns raised by Baker. Recent polls have shown a tight race between the two men.

On Campus BC senior founds non-profit to aid students from the Philippines This summer, Kristoffer Munden, A&S ’11, founded a non-profit organization called Leap Ahead. The organization will provide scholarships, which will cover private school tuition and other school-related expenses, to needy Filipino high school students. In order to be considered, students must be nominated for the scholarship by their teachers, and they will also have to go through an application process.

Currently, the organization is fundraising and hopes to provide scholarships for the 2011-2012 school year.

National Tropical storm Hermine still devastating Texas, parts of Oklahoma ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — The remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine swept northward through Texas and into Oklahoma on Wednesday, forcing dozens of high-water rescues, swamping city neighborhoods and killing at least two people. Hermine packed a relatively light punch when it made landfall Monday night, and many residents said they felt unprepared for Wednesday’s sudden flooding. Dallas shut down one major thoroughfare because of flooding, and a series of tornadoes threatened the city Wednesday evening, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

Editorial General (617) 552-2221 Managing Editor (617) 552-4286 News Desk (617) 552-0172 Sports Desk (617) 552-0189 Marketplace Desk (617) 552-3548 Features Desk (617) 552-3548 Arts Desk (617) 552-0515 Photo (617) 552-1022 Fax (617) 552-4823 Business and Operations General Manager (617) 552-0169 Advertising (617) 552-2220 Business and Circulation (617) 552-0547 Classifieds and Collections (617) 552-0364 Fax (617) 552-1753 EDITORIAL RESOURCES News Tips Have a news tip or a good idea for a story? Call Michael Caprio, News Editor, at (617) 552-0172, or e-mail news@bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the News Desk.

Sports Scores Want to report the results of a game? Call Zach Wielgus, Sports Editor, at (617) 552-0189, or e-mail sports@bcheights.com.

Arts Events The Heights covers a multitude of events both on and off campus – including concerts, movies, theatrical performances, and more. Call Kristen House, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or e-mail review@ bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the Arts Desk.

Clarifications / Corrections The Heights strives to provide its readers with complete, accurate, and balanced information. If you believe we have made a reporting error, have information that requires a clarification or correction, or questions about The Heights standards and practices, you may contact Matthew DeLuca, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Police Blotter 9/3/10 – 9/5/10 Friday, September 3 7:17 a.m. - A report was filed regarding the confiscation of a controlled substance from two non-BC subjects. The parties were identified, issued written trespass warnings, and escorted off Boston College property.

8:15 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage subject that was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol in the Lower Lots. The motor vehicle was towed and the party was transported to a medical facility in a police cruiser.

8:30 p.m. - A report was filed regarding graffiti done to Gonzaga Hall. A detective is investigating.

Saturday, September 4 12:51 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an injured party at Alumni Stadium. The party was treated on scene and was later released.

12:52 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a party who was in possession of an alcoholic beverage. The beverage was destroyed on scene and the party was ejected and issued a written trespass warning barring them from re-entering Alumni Stadium for the day.

1:37 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the

arrest of Brendan Rousseau for domestic assault and battery. The party was booked and processed at the BCPD Operations Center and bailed.

6:16 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a party who stole a golf cart on Lower Campus.

The party was identified and a detective will follow up.

10:46 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated party in the Newton lots. The party was transported to a medical facility in a police cruiser.

Voices from the Dustbowl “What do you think about the new renting process at the Bookstore?”

“The selection of books to rent is limited, but the new Bookstore seems more efficient.”

—Johanna Margeson, A&S ’13

Sunday, September 5 12:58 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a security survey that was conducted in Gabelli Hall. Facilities Services were contacted to address the concerns.

8:07 a.m. - A report was filed regarding several tailgaters that refused to cooperate with police on Shea Field. A report will be forwarded to Athletics for review.

12:26 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the confiscation of alcohol from a backpack that belonged to an underage party. A report will be forwarded to the ODSD for review.

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

“It saves money, but I don’t like that you can only rent books for half the year.”

—Jamie Ferraro, A&S ’13

“Renting is a much better option.”

—Sam Efthim,

A&S ’14

Delivery To have The Heights delivered to your home each week or to report distribution problems on campus, contact John O’Reilly, General Manager at (617) 552-0547.

Advertising The Heights is one of the most effective ways to reach the BC community. To submit a classified, display, or online advertisement, call our advertising office at (617) 552-2220 Monday through Friday.

The Heights is produced by BC undergraduates and is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by The Heights, Inc. (c) 2010. All rights reserved.

CORRECTIONS Please send corrections to editor@bcheights.com with ‘correction’ in the subject line.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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THE HEIGHTS

Faculty, administrators gather to mark start of new academic year Top university administrators call on faculty, staff to be stewards of Boston College

BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor

ANDREW POWELL / HEIGHTS STAFF

Gasson Hall, pictured in the beginning stages of its restoration project.

Admin: Gasson Hall renovation on schedule Exterior work likely done by August 2011

BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor

AND MICHAEL SHIPPIE For The Heights

Work on the exterior of Gasson Hall has been ongoing throughout the summer and is currently on schedule, according to Executive Vice President Patrick Keating.

“The work has been proceeding,” Keating said. “It’s on schedule. We are expecting that the exterior work will be done in August [2011].”

Cu r re n t ly, t h e c o n c re te contractor is in the process of reconstructing the north stairs and the north wall of the building, which face out toward Linden Lane, according to the most recent Web update issued by Boston College. Once the concrete work is completed, the site contractor will begin installing drainage, waterproofing, and backfilling to the building’s north side.

Keating said that it will be a couple of months before University administrators begin to look into changes to the building’s interior, but he hopes any necessary renovations can be close to completion by next August as well.

Throughout the construction, masons have been working on all sides of the building, removing, measuring, and photographing all of the concrete cast stones, which are then shipped to Canada, molded, and poured into new cast stones before they are shipped back to BC, according to the online construction update.

The contractor has estimated that there are about 6,000 cast stone elements that need to be replaced as a part of the building’s restoration.

On a daily basis, there are generally between 30 and 45 workers on the Gasson Hall site, with all workers required to wear identification stickers on their hard hats, and all work taking place within the project site fencing.

Due to the closure of Gasson Hall, many University offices have been temporarily relocated pending the completion of the restoration. Additionally, the loss of classroom space has prompted BC to utilize spaces within several residence halls as well as the O’Connell House on Upper Campus as temporary classrooms. 

Fall concert to feature Kid Cudi

DAN STEINBERG / AP PHOTO

Kid Cudi, pictured in 2009 at the 9th annual BET Awards in Los Angeles.

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

The Undergraduate Government of Boston College (UGBC) has announced that rapper Kid Cudi will headline this year’s fall concert, with an opening act by rap duo LMFAO. The concert will take place Sept. 18 in Conte Forum.

Patrick Raab, UGBC vice president and A&S ’11, said that planning this year’s fall concert has been a joint effort of his office and the UGBC Di-

rectors of Comedy and Concert, Alex Scull, CSOM ’11, and AJ Ferrera, A&S ’13.

“The space time in Conte Forum continues to be very scarce due to the numerous athletic schedules and events that take place,” Raab said. “This left our directors with the challenge of synching the busy schedules of performing artists with the one weekend that Conte Forum was available for us to use.”

The UGBC has not yet ann o u n c e d d e ta i l s fo r t i c ke t sales. 

Yesterday, hundreds of faculty and staff packed Robsham Theater to mark the beginning of a new academic year at the 2010 University Convocation.

The formalities, which included presentations by several top University officials, focused on a number of academic, administrative, and infrastructurerelated goals in anticipation of Boston College’s 150th anniversary, which will be celebrated from May of 2012 through the fall of 2013.

“The mission of Boston College has evolved over the years,” said University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., in his opening remarks.

“If we are to remain vibrant and strong, we must have individuals who can maintain and enhance … our mission, people who are wise stewards,” Leahy said.

In conjunction with the Convocation ceremony, Leahy announced the formation of a Sesquicentennial Steering Committee that will be responsible for planning a number of events to commemorate the anniversary.

“Our goal is to plan a comprehensive sesquicentennial celebration that is inclusive of students, faculty, staff, and alumni, as well as neighbors and friends of Boston College,” Sesquicentennial Celebration Chair and University Vice President Mary Lou DeLong said in a statement.

Speeches by Leahy, Executive Vice President Patrick Keating, and Cutberto Garza, provost and dean of faculties, enumerated a number of changes that administrators hope will propel BC to the leading ranks of liberal arts institutions in the United States.

Most notable among the changes discussed were plans for renovating the properties located at 129 Lake Street and at 2121 Commonwealth Avenue, which will house the University’s Finance and Human Resources divisions and the University Advancement division, respectively, in addition to the muchanticipated update on the Stokes Academic Building.

All three projects are pending approval by the Board of

Local arrests reported

BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor

Boston College and its surrounding neighborhood experienced a number of unrelated robberies in the past two weeks, corresponding with the University’s move-in period.

On Aug. 26, officers responded to a report of a past armed robbery of two BC students in the University-owned 2000 Commonwealth Ave. apartments.

According to a report from the Allston Brighton Tab, the students told officers that they encountered two men, one wielding a handgun and the other with pepper spray, upon entering a BC student’s apartment at 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 25. The two men allegedly stole a cell phone and marijuana.

On Sept. 1, BC Police Department (BCPD) detectives later arrested Matthew Marzullo and his alleged accomplice Charles Schoch in connection with the incident. The duo is charged with armed robbery and each is being held on $100,000 bail. The two suspects are due to be arraigned in Brighton District Court on Sept. 28.

In a separate incident, BCPD officers detained Travis McCormack, CSOM ’11, as he was caught allegedly entering two Mods illegally.

McCormack was charged with breaking and entering and is due in Brighton District Court on Sept. 20. 

KEVIN HOU / HEIGHTS EDITOR

University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J., addresses faculty and administrators at the University Convocation.

Trustees at its Sept. 24 meeting, and, if approved, all three will be underway by early 2011.

The University will continue to pursue its academic and student formation-related goals throughout the year, largely as a result of a more accommodating budget for the 2010 fiscal year, Keating told those in attendance.

“In terms of the budget, you might say we weathered the storm,” Keating said.

Regarding financial challenges facing the University, from ballooning health care costs to a growing demand for student financial aid, he said that all

administrative offices would continue to be subject to external review in order to ensure that they are operating at maximum efficiency.

Keating cited energy savings of $1.5 million over the past year as an example of conservation efforts that have proved successful thus far, calling on students and faculty to keep up the good work “This is truly a University-wide success,” he said.

Over the course of the coming year, Garza said that he hopes faculty members and administrators will continue to build upon BC’s reputation as a leading

liberal arts university by strengthening the University’s academic infrastructure while improving accessibility and accountability throughout all academic departments.

Among the points discussed

by Garza was the imminent relocation of the Institute for the Liberal Arts to its permanent home at 10 Stone Avenue, and the need for bolstering the earth and environmental sciences program, as well as the integrated sciences.

“Our collective aspiration is to be among the world’s greatest universities,” Garza said. 

The Heights

A4

Thursday, September 9, 2010

King seeks to make BCPD more visible on campus King, from A1

around to [decorating] in February,” he said.

King’s past experience includes a 21-year tenure as senior director of public safety at Tufts University and a fouryear stint as Bentley University’s chief of police. Before serving at Bentley University, he served for 10 years as a member of Northeastern University’s public safety division.

“It taskes the right person and the right training to be an exceptional college police officer,” he said. “Both the positives and negatives we might encounter are expected to be explained quickly.”

In determining a police officer’s success, a strong connection to the community, as well as a passion for the job, are key factors, he said.

“It’s important to want to work on a college campus. You have to realize that the level of accountability is different than with other positions.”

King said that, from his perspective, the BCPD already has a strong connection to the community – a connection he hopes to further reinforce.

“What campus law enforcement should be about is community policing,” he said.

“You need to be interactive and proactive, by finding avenues [to work with students] in advance of the need, not after something has happened.”

His goals include investing more time in promoting positive interactions between police staff and the campus community and improving

communication both within the department and throughout the University. “My hope is for a higher level of visibility on the part of the police staff,” King said.

King describes himself as an “old-fashioned” police officer.

“My belief has always been that police officers are supposed to have an important impact on the lives of individuals.

[For this reason, interacting] with students has always been the most enjoyable part of the job for me.”

When it comes to refining public safety and disciplinary policies, King said he values student input. “In order to continue to develop, we need honest feedback, constructive criticism as well as accolades,” he said.

“Help me understand, don’t hesitate to be honest with me,” he said. “We are here to provide service to the community.”

A graduate of Northeastern University, King has a bachelor’s degree in law enforcement and a master’s degree in public administration.

He received his police training at the Massachusetts State Police Academy and the Boston Police Department Regional Recruit Academy.

King is also the former president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators and the Massachusetts Association of College and University Public Safety Directors.

He replaces Robert Morse, who served as chief of police from 1992 until his retirement in May. n

Andrew Powell / Heights Staff

King served for 21 years as senior director of public safety at Tufts University and also served at Northeastern University before coming to Boston College.

Princeton Review rankings scrutinized Rankings, from A1

AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) and A&S ’11, said that she would not have been surprised if the rankings showed that BC had improved in the “Little Race / Class Interaction” category.

“I wouldn’t be surprised by that because I feel that there is improvement each year,” she said.

“I think that we certainly do have an issue with class and race interaction … but the student body is taking steps to interact more.”

Patrick Rombalski, vice president of student affairs, said that not only does he perceive the rankings to be misleading, but that BC has been taking positive measures to deal with issues of student diversity.

“I would wager that our cultural groups are some of the most involved student organizations in the nation,” he said. “The conversation about race on this campus is pronounced.”

While administration officials dismissed the methodology of the survey, the issues

of race, class, and GLBTQ relations on campus will not go unaddressed, Lay said. “We don’t try to avoid it. We take it head-on. We don’t want to ignore what might be an underlying issue for even some of our students.”

The hope, Lay said, is that families and prospective students will look beyond The Princeton Review when researching potential colleges.

“What BC has to rely on is that no one person or family is looking at just one ranking,” he said. “You have to deal with what’s out there.” n

Lay breaks down BC’s rise in the ‘U.S. News’ rankings U.S. News, from A1

sphere.”

Robert Lay, dean of enrollment management, said he identifies the addition of high school guidance counselors to the U.S. News and World Report’s ranking’s Undergraduate Academic Reputation Index as a contributing factor to BC’s higher placement. The Undergraduate Academic Reputation Index also accounts for the evaluations of college presidents, provosts, and deans of admission.

“It is important to develop a good reputation with high schools and guidance counselors and to do person-to-person recruiting,” Lay said.

This year’s U.S. News and

World Report ranking also placed a greater emphasis on graduation rates. The new calculations were based on the ratio of students whose SAT scores indicated expected success compared to those whose graduation rates demonstrated actual success.

BC received a “+4” in this category, indicating that BC students have graduated at a higher rate than would be expected at matriculation.

Other factors have affected the rankings, as well. “There is a correlation between the alumni giving rate and ranking, and BC’s alumni giving has increased this year to 26 percent from 23 percent last year,” Lay said. “U.S. News says that they

“They have figured out the flow of the lobby and have figured out the best way to bring people in while people are exiting the building.”

— Henry Humphreys, Director, Office of Residential Life

ResLife: Walsh desk pilot program to last another year

By Michael Caprio News Editor

Following the Walsh Hall desk program’s first week of operation, an evaluation by the Office of Residential Life (ResLife) has shown that feedback from the community has been positive. But work remains to be done, officials said.

“Initially, some students liked it and some students were frustrated by it,” said Henry Humphreys, director of ResLife. “Once students understood how it worked, their level of frustration seemed to drop.”

The desk program, which requires BC students to present their BC IDs to an attendant before entering Walsh Hall, was announced in the spring as a pilot program.

The program also includes the closing of all alternative exits out of Walsh Hall except in case of emergencies. The goal, Humphreys said, is to create one area for entry and exit of the building – a design that other universities have employed in their dormitories.

In response to student concerns about the waiting line to enter Walsh Hall, Humphreys said,“It will be, in general, moving quicker.”

“They have figured out the flow of the lobby and have figured out the best way to bring people in while people are still exiting the building,” he said.

The major problem thus far has been students forgetting their BC IDs, Humphreys said.

The desk is manned by two

hired attendants from Securitas, a security company. The company was chosen by a competitive bid through the University’s procurement services department, Humphreys said.

“Securitas had good training and is willing to put seasoned professionals on our post. All of them worked at colleges previously.”

In cases of emergency, the Securitas personnel have orders to defer to the BC Police Department (BCPD) for assistance. The program is scheduled to last into next year, Humphreys said.

“I see this being a two-year pilot,” he said. “We’ll measure up at the end of this year and then say ‘Does it work? Does it now work?’

And then make changes to the additional residence halls.” n

see [alumni giving] as a level of alumni satisfaction.”

Lay said that, while the rankings are taken into consideration

by University officials, they are not the standard by which universities operate. “Deans are very aware of [rankings], but the rule is we don’t want to make improvements or investments just to increase in rank.”

Furthermore, as BC’s fouryear suspension alternating between 34 and 35 indicates, it takes a lot of force from many interconnected and independent factors to affect the rank, Lay said. “It’s pretty hard to move much in the ranking … they’re sort of like a beauty contest.” n

Alex Trautwig / Heights Editor

Henry Humphreys, director of ResLife, said his office is working to ease traffic into and out of the lobby of Walsh Hall.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

A5

The Heights

Plans for Stokes Commons construction ‘at the cusp’ to Keating. He said progress will largely be dictated by the “Now is the real beginning weather conditions for this of the Master Plan,” said Ex- coming winter, when much of ecutive Vice President Patrick the excavation, utility and founKeating. He said that the Stokes dation work will be underway.

Pending the plan’s approval, Academic Building would not officially be christened until the University officials will begin board approves the final plans planning logistics such as how parking and foot traffic around and the bid.

At the Sept. 24 meeting, the Dustbowl will be affected trustees will also vote on reno- by the inf lux of construction vation projects at 129 Lake workers and equipment.

While the exact dimensions Street and at 2121 Commonwealth Avenue, both located on of the site are still to be determined, Keating cautioned that the Brighton Campus.

The former will house the the amount of open space will University’s Finance and Hu- be greatly reduced for the duraman Resources Divisions upon tion of the construction.

“One of the its completion.

“Now is the real impacts that The latter will be will be noticed the future home beginning of the is the size of the of the University Master Plan” fence,” Keating Adva n c e m e n t said.

Division – both “The campus currently located — Patrick Keating, green is going in More Hall. “ T h o s e t w o Executive Vice President to b e g re a t ly reduced during pieces clear the way for the next big project, the time of construction.”

Throughout the duration which is the residence hall at More Hall,” Keating said. of the construction, Keating “That’s the beginning of the said that he hopes to have a domino for the Brighton Cam- live video feed showing the building’s progress on the BC pus and Lower Campus.”

The renovation of the 129 Web page, in addition to weekly Lake Street property will likely construction updates that will begin this fall, followed by be posted online.

While he is not aware of construction at the 2121 Commonwealth Avenue facility that any complaints or issues that have been raised is projected to by students or b eg i n i n e a r ly faculty thus far, 2011.

Ke a t i n g s a i d Both projects that the Univerh ave b e e n a p Once started, sity will continue p rove d by t h e construction on to work with the Boston Redevelopment AuStokes should take contractor to enthat noise thority and are approximately two sure levels are kept scheduled to u n d e r c o n t ro l take one year to years. and security is complete. not overlooked.

“We’re at the “There will be cusp,” Keating said. “Today we’re ready to ground rules for the workers,” quit talking about planning and Keating said, adding that there will be a training session about start talking about doing.”

Once started, construction how they’re expected to interact on Stokes should take approxi- with the community.

In order to inform students mately two years, according

Stokes, from A1

Photo Courtesy of The Office of News and Public Affairs

Stokes Commons, which is slated to be constructed alongside Lyons Hall, will host the offices of the philosophy, history, English, and A&S Honors departments.

– particularly those living in the vicinity of the construction site – of any safety issues surrounding the project, BC officials will do a “fair amount of education with students on Upper Campus,” Keating said.

“We’ll have to talk to the RAs and have some training sessions.”

Recently-appointed Director of Public Safety John King said that the BC does not yet have a plan for security around the construction site, but that

a plan will be explored in the coming weeks.

The University estimates that hundreds of jobs will be created during the construction of the Stokes Academic Building, said University Spokesman Jack Dunn.

The Stokes construction project will be a union labor job, with the contractor handling all hiring, Keating said.

Plans call for Stokes to include 36 classrooms, with capacities ranging from 20 seats

to 88 seats. Additionally, the building will house the offices of the history, philosophy, theology, English, the College of Arts and Sciences’ Honors, and classical studies departments, as well as the College of Arts and Sciences’ administrative service center.

Keating said that the Stokes Academic Building, in addition to the renovation projects of 129 Lake Street and 2121 Commonwealth Avenue, will be completely financed by a combination of fundraising and debt,

and that the projects will not feed off tuition dollars.

“We’ve had fundraising success [and] we expect to continue fundraising for this and other projects,” Keating said.

He singled out the generous contributions of the family of former University Trustee Patrick T. Stokes, BC ’64, in assisting with the fundraising effort. n News Editor Michael Caprio contributed to this report.

Companies braced for influx of student business Business, from A1

store has been stocking up on products commonly demanded by students during the move-in process from cleaning supplies to snack items,” he said. “An unusual increase this year has been an increase in the supply of chewing tobacco to meet student demands.”

City Convenience, which, although located directly across from BC, is a Boston University-owned business, caters to non-students

also.

“The store is also a neighborhood business, as it is one of the few stores with grocery items in the area,” Linick said. “We carry products and operate in a way that meets the demands of both populations.”

But store owners have found that students can be fickle in their patronage to certain establishments.

Bill Hoben, manager of El Pelon Taqueria on Commonwealth Ave.,

said that he expected more business to be student-based. “We chose the location here, and BC came with the territory,” he said.

“But I expected more business to be student-based. Even during the football game, we expected it to be chaos here, but that wasn’t the case.”

That does not mean that business is hurting, though. “Things have gone pretty smoothly,” Hoben said. n

Andrew Powell / Heights Staff

Kevin Hou / Heights Editor

Annie Budnick / Heights Staff

While many local businesses claim to rely on students for business, some businesses, such as El Pelon Taqueria, have found favor among the residents who offer a supplement to their Boston College student customer base.

A6

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

Editorials

Increased security

New dorm entrances, especially the desk in Walsh, have created more complications with few obvious safety improvements.

University policy regarding campus security demands constant reevaluation. The campus may overlook the Reservoir toward the Boston skyline, but Boston College remains a suburban school, and should not need to exercise the same safety measures as Boston University or Northeastern. The concern seems to be, however, that while not a city school, BC is close enough to Boston that city problems can impact students.

To anticipate safety concerns, the Office of Residential Life has installed a check-in desk in Walsh Hall. As part of this pilot program, students wishing to enter Walsh on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays between the hours of 5 p.m. and 5 a.m., as well as on football game-days, must swipe their BC ID cards at the desk. Two security guards unaffiliated with BC man the desk.

The University’s reasoning for the program is that they want to prevent unwanted visitors from entering Walsh.

The Heights feels that while the check-in desk may improve security in Walsh, it will also create disproportionate inconveniences and maybe some new risks all together.

During the past week, students have encountered issues when leaving their BC ID cards in their dormitories. A student unable to enter the building for this reason cannot gain access to his room unless another BC student retrieves his BC ID. This may force students to give out their room codes if suitemates are not available, creating security issues for all residents of that suite.

Although any BC student is able to enter Walsh by swiping his BC ID at the desk, nonUniversity guests are unable to enter without presenting a government-issued ID card.

While guests are required to register when entering the building, there is no system in place to monitor when guests leave, which may create confusion as to how many guests are in the building. Another problem posed by this system is that a non-University student can easily enter Walsh Hall without signing in by using an enrolled student’s BC ID. Because the security guards do not verify if the student swiping a card at the desk is the owner of the card, it would be easy for a non-University

guest to swipe in with another student’s ID. A friend could then exit the building with two BC IDs, returning the borrowed card to the owner who can now enter the building.

Another issue with the University’s security modifications is that they prevent students from entering Walsh through entrances other than the front door. Because Walsh is on the edge of campus, students seeking to enter the building from St. Thomas More Road will need to walk around the building and enter from the front. These students are now at an increased security risk, as they would be unable to safely escape an incident without running around the building. This change has also been made to Edmond’s Hall, where students are only able to enter the building from the front and side entrances. In addition, if a student attempts to leave Walsh through a side door, a fire alarm will sound. Because the University has not alerted all students of this, there exists the possibility of uninformed students innocently violating this policy.

In a previous editorial, The Heights questioned the motivation behind instituting a swipe-in program in only Walsh, a building which has experienced notable vandalism and rowdiness in previous years. It appears as though the security guards are not searching for alcohol, and are not evaluating students for intoxication. Although they are hired by the University and do have contact with the BCPD, the guards are not in place to sanction students, but to prevent unwanted visitors from entering the residence hall, suggesting that the check-in desk is not located in Walsh to limit infractions of University policy. While this should allow Walsh residents to not feel as though they are being targeted, the question of why the University has placed a desk in Walsh, specifically, remains. We question why this desk has been implemented, and whether or not scattered incidences of vandalism and intoxication are being used to execute a hasty plan for campus safety, the need for which has yet to be adequately demonstrated. The Heights encourages the University to reevaluate this program, which is currently creating more problems than it is solving.

Ranking changes

Although rising in national rankings, BC continues to struggle in race, class, and GLBTQ issues. Is a faulty methodology to blame?

This year, Boston College can boast a three point improvement in the industry standard U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” rankings, putting the University at a comfortable 31st place.

The University has been on an upward trend in the rankings, improving by nine spots in a seven year period. But not all publications have given BC positive marks.

The University made its second appearance in two years on the Princeton Review’s annual “Little Race / Class Interaction” rankings, increasing eight spots from 17 to nine. BC also placed in the “LGBT-Unfriendly” category, taking the ninth spot after not having appeared on the list last year.

Following BC’s debut in the “Little Race / Class Interaction” category last year, student leaders and administrative officials made concerted efforts in the fall to address student concerns about diversity on campus. Earl Edwards, former president of the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) and BC ’10, claimed to have made the issue the focus of his administration. FACES, a campus discussion group that addresses issues of diversity, held a series of meetings with students and administrators to work through such issues on campus.

The GLBTQ Leadership Council (GLC), which held its first gala event two years ago, presented a 10-year plan to the University last year and instituted a new mentoring program, Queer Peers, for GLBTQ students on campus.

Last year was a pivotal year for growth and outreach for both the ALC and the GLC. So the question remains: How could the student body, after all these new efforts, have ranked more poorly this year?

The answer might be found in the methodology of the Princeton Review’s study. As was outlined in the article “Administration Responds to Princeton Review Survey,” administrative officials have denounced the survey’s results as scientifically unsound.

We stand by the administration in its efforts to honor studies based on commonly accepted statistical practices and to be wary of misleading rankings.

The fact that the Princeton Review uses self-selected student responses presents a dilemma in the methodology. This statistical ambiguity, combined with the inflammatory framing of the rankings, makes the Princeton Review’s recent survey untrustworthy at best.

If anyone should be upset over the impression the rankings may give of BC, it is the student leaders who have worked tirelessly over the past year to reverse last year’s results. The rankings are not a reflection of the University administration, and may not ever have been.

The fact remains, however, that even if the results may not be representative of the student body, there have been some students who felt disgruntled enough to rate BC low on the “Little Race / Class Interaction” and “LGBT-Unfriendly” scales.

We do not deny that such issues are present on campus. We will not, however, go so far as to say that these problems are worsening annually, as the rankings would suggest.

Following last year’s rankings, the student body rose to address these issues in a healthy way. Items which previously might have been swept under the rug by the majority of students became the topics of conversation around the tables in the Rat – BC students were forced to think about the cutting issues in a healthy way.

Conversations like these should continue, and it is the job of student leaders in the ALC and GLC to introduce them. Inflammatory rankings don’t reflect the quality of the conversation on our campus – they only serve to entrap students in the pseudo-facts, occluding the real lives and relationships of students on this campus.

The Heights The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Matthew DeLuca, Editor-in-Chief John O’Reilly, General Manager Darren Ranck, Managing Editor

Contributors: Molly Lapointe, Kevin DiCesare, Diana Nearhos

Robin Miller / Heights Illustration

Letters to the Editor And then there were none In my 15-plus years in the accounting department in the Carroll School of Management (CSOM), I helped recruit three African-American women to the accounting faculty. This past summer, the last of those three women left campus.

While some turnover is normal, this is a dangerous pattern. The most egregious example is that of Andrea Roberts, who was denied tenure in 2007. I was department chair during three of Professor Roberts’ nine years with Boston College, so I can attest to the fact that her teaching evaluations were among the best in the department. More importantly (in the current environment in which research has become the primary criterion for tenure), among Professor Roberts’ publications were three articles in the top journal in the field. This constitutes a better research record than had been compiled by recent recipients of tenure in CSOM. She had the support of her department colleagues, yet she was denied. Compounding the injustice, the CSOM dean, citing confidentiality, refused to answer questions about why the promotion and tenure committee had reached this mystifying result.

Professor Roberts now has a terrific position at the University of Virginia, but what does Boston College have?

A department with no African-American faculty. A school of management that has not tenured an African-American professor since 1990. A horribly bruised reputation

among African-American doctoral students and faculty in accounting. Ten years ago, the department was invited to participate on a panel at the Accounting Program Leadership Group – the national organization of accounting department chairs – as an example of success in attracting a diverse faculty. The contrast to today couldn’t be more stark: When I attend national faculty meetings, the most common question I get is, “Why didn’t Andrea Roberts get tenure?” Moreover, as a founding member of the African-American Accounting Doctoral Students Association, I can report firsthand that Boston College’s department used to be considered a “dream” job. Now, members of the same group avoid applying to the School out of concern that they will be treated unfairly.

The losers in this case are the mistreated faculty, of course, but also CSOM students, who are denied diverse role models and the concomitant variety of perspectives.

Studies show that a major driver behind African Americans’ choice of major is the presence of an African-American faculty member in that field. With the recent departures of the three African-American women the accounting department had hired, there remains only one African American on the entire CSOM faculty. The progress that Boston College had been making toward its diversity goals just took a huge step backwards.

Theresa Hammond Professor, San Francisco State University

Superfans or minifans?

What happened to our BC Superfans at the Weber State game? By the third quarter, one third had left.

By the end of the game, there were perhaps only one quarter remaining.

Where did those Minifans go? Classes haven’t even started, so they weren’t headed for O’Neill.

Even though it was a hot afternoon, the football team played its hardest till the final whistle. If our

Superfans are “On the Hunt for Excellence” in the ACC, the least they could do to support the team would be to stay till the end of the game and join in the final “Alma Mater”! As for the Minifans, I suggest they burn their t-shirts before the Kent State game.

Rebecca Valette Professor Emerita, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures

Romance language department clarifies changes As the chair of romance languages & literatures, I am writing to respond to your May 6 article entitled “Romance Language Cuts Planned: Curricular Changes Will Affect Role of Adjunct and Part-Time Professors,” which contains a number of inaccuracies and misleading statements. To begin with, the article title is entirely misleading. First, the article deals only with changes in the Hispanic Studies curriculum, whereas our department is comprised of three major sections (French, Hispanic Studies, and Italian). Secondly, it is incorrect to refer to the academic decisions we are making as “cuts.” What we are doing is introducing changes to the Hispanic Studies curriculum designed to make our program better suited to our majors and minors. To claim that we have made a “decision to eliminate grammar-focused courses,” as does the anonymous source you quote, is utterly false.

Had I been contacted by The Heights, I would have been very happy to discuss the department’s ideas and

plans. I would have described the changes planned for the Hispanic Studies curriculum, which, I might add, received the full approval of the External Review Committee appointed by the Office of the Provost to evaluate our department this spring. I would have also informed you of the new courses in Portuguese being offered next year, a development about which we are very pleased, and which ought to be of great interest to your readers. I regret that your article chose to digress into larger issues, such as the University’s plans to standardize the parttime faculty teaching load, and the statutory distinction between tenure-track and non-tenure track faculty, which are unrelated to our curricular changes. I can only hope that the next time it decides to devote an article to a department, or to an important academic matter, The Heights will take the time to research the topic more seriously in order to avoid errors and inaccuracies.

Ourida Mostefai Chair, Romance Languages & Literatures

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THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

A7

OPINIONS

Thumbs Up Herzlich – Triumphant return? Check.

Bookstore – With a new layout and a fresh carpet, the bookstore got a serious face lift this summer. Another improvement came in the form of the highly marketed book rental program.

Congratulations, BC. You now have three options to overpay for textbooks!

Cinderellas – With Gasson closed, it’s the year for the lesser buildings to shine.

Carney, the dingy home of English majors, as well as the completely underrated O’Connell House, are both packed, and some unfortunate classes are even meeting in the bowels of McElroy.

Take courage, Eagles, it’s only for the next two years at least.

Eaglettes – They’re crowded in Mac, lost in the Plex, completely bewildered by the bus system, and utterly endearing! The new class of 2014 has made their tiny presence felt everywhere, but TU/TD doubts that this adorable phase will extend to their first attempt to gate crash a Mod party.

Crazy Dough’s – Cheap pizza two steps from campus? Sounds like a plan for crazy profit to me!

Guilty pleasure – From table-flipping New Jerseyians to smooshing New Jerseyians (I’m sensing a pattern here), summer TV has never been more addictive or more terribly wonderful.

Brooks Brothers – With a stack of catalogs and an ad in The Heights (see insert) clearly this classic company is reaching out to the younger generation. TU/ TD’s marketing advice? If you slash your prices, they will come.

Thumbs Down Bookstore line – Above praise being given, mention must be made to the beast that snakes through the stacks. Don’t make it difficult for students to spend $500 on books.

Corn hole – This Mod tailgating tradition has a longhonored history and yet one serious design flaw. Even with perfect coordination the game is beyond difficult, but add a few shotguns to the mix, and there is absolutely no hope.

No swipe for you – Looking to swing into the back door of Edmond’s after a run around the Res? Or sneak in the side of 90 after a Dunkin’ Donuts run? Think again! BC has, for their own mysterious purposes, closed off many seemingly superfluous entrances to the chagrin of many a frazzled student.

Desecration– Freshman ladies, please note, Superfan shirts are a way of supporting the team. They are not to be modified to show how tanned your shoulders are or how hard you worked your abs this summer.

Arctic Chill – Apparently the administration is determined to make sure all students on Lower are wide awake for their first classes of the year by lowering the water temp to a refreshing -20 degrees. TU/TD does not approve of such barbaric methods, as cold showers should be saved for hangovers and one other thing.

Summer’s social heat wave

A fistful of friends

WILLIAM MOONEY SLONEKER The summer of 2010 certainly brought the heat, and while that same cliche might be used to characterize literally every other summer in recorded history, I would ask the reader to allow me to substantiate my metaphor before skipping directly to the crossword. The world experienced two of the hottest months on record, Aroldis Chapman brought a blistering 103-mph fastball to Major League Baseball, and the political scene burgeoned with a noticeable flare of contentious social issues. In an already polarizing midterm election year, two local issues threw fuel to the current political firestorm: the Park51 project on the East Coast and the decision in Perry v. Schwarzenegger on the west.

For both, the events of this summer were battles won for progressives – not wars. The ends remain unwritten for each, and while activism may find solace in extending and preserving civil rights for all in the midst of a still tenuous economy and gridlocked Congress, they have to wait before they can finally pop the champagne.

Park51 – the plan for a 14-story Islamic community center, featuring a mosque, just two blocks north of Ground Zero – has caught the attention of even the most casual newsreaders. All aspects of this story have been thoroughly analyzed and editorialized, with every Tom, Dick, and Harry in the media reaching one of two antipodal conclusions: 1) That Park51 should relocate or be discontinued out of respect for Sept. 11 victims and their families, or 2) That Park51 should be built in the name of the liberties so frequently touted in this country.

When New York City’s Landmark Preservation Commission voted unanimously against the “landmark status” obstacles erected by the project’s opponents, it gave the planners a green light and some peace of mind. In a speech shortly after the deci-

CJ GUSTAFSON

JORDAN MENDOZA/ HEIGHTS CONTRIBUTOR

sion, Mayor Michael Bloomberg described the moment as another watershed point in the diverse city’s cultural history.

Barring insufficient fundraising, Park51 is as shovel-ready as any project can be.

Nevertheless, protesters and pundits continue to debate to the point of either redundancy or futility. But what remains to be seen is if they can find enough workers willing to build the facility given that 70 percent of Americans say they are opposed to the plan. Moreover, Park51 has become a symbol of America’s complex relationship with Muslims, and its developing relationship with the local community will speak volumes about the state of Islam in post-Sept. 11 America.

Federal Judge Vaughn Walker overturned the will of Californians when he struck down Proposition 8 – the referendum that added a ban on same-sex marriage to the state constitution – in Perry v. Schwarzenegger. His ruling marked the latest shift in the issue’s rollercoaster ride within the Golden State. By overturning the ban in favor of the group it disenfranchises, Walker ushered in arguably the greatest conflict between our democracy and our rights in recent memory.

Walker has done more than spur a dilemma in political theory, though. As a federal judge, he has paved the way for a national review of the issue at hand. A stay has been placed on same-sex mar-

riages until Dec. 6, as an appeal is pending. Thirty-one states currently prohibit same-sex marriage by statute or constitutional amendment, but that could change if the Supreme Court hears the case.

As the case maneuvers through the American judicial system, a number of scenarios seem equally likely to occur. An appeal could be granted or refused, the Supreme Court could grant or deny the case a hearing, Justice Anthony Kennedy could swing left or right. More importantly, the final decision could apply to not just California, but the entire nation, as well.

As the cold creeps in and these stories lose interest, expect the heat to carry on into November. Many pundits have predicted the upcoming elections to somehow serve as referenda on the two issues I’ve mentioned, even though they concern local politics and are not currently ballot issues. Polling predicts that retrospective voting in favor of conservatives shall take precedence, not a backlash against further social progress.

While the future is still unclear, the progressives are pleased with this summer’s victories. Social progress can easily go on hold – or into reverse – when economic or national security issues arise.

In a country that has certainly had its fair share of turmoil in the past five years, it is encouraging to know that our civil rights have not been entirely forgotten.

College-nurtured to real world blues

JOCELYN ROUSEY I spent my spring semester studying abroad in Ireland. Immediately afterward, I flew to New York City, where I interned with a news and politics Web site for the summer. Here, in roughly chronological order and hopefully entertaining fashion, is what I learned about life, politics, the world, and college-born idealism: 1. The college student regimen of near-ritualistic sleep deprivation does wonders for combating jet lag.

2. Irish immigration is a bureaucratic nightmare and the banking system is equally neurotic.

3. It takes roughly two weeks to wade through these two systems, during which time you’ll increasingly wish you’d brought more cash with you and will discover that it’s entirely possible to live on PB&J sandwiches and Guinness.

4. Pubs in Ireland are more about live music, dancing, and socializing. In this respect, the Irish drinking culture is infinitely better than the drink-to-getdrunk culture of American universities.

5. That said, the lack of continual assessment in classes and the Irish love of alcohol results in an inverted party schedule.

You go out during the week and occasionally show up to class still inebriated.

6. Yes, Irish students are aware this makes them look like alcoholics.

7. No, they don’t care.

8. Irish students go home every weekend. Joining the school’s international society gives you something to do as well as the opportunity to meet students from around the world.

9. It’s a strange, but cool, experience to find yourself talking about American politics with a Dutch student over beers

at the local pub in a small Irish college town. Hello, globalized world.

10. Exchange rates are painful.

11. Incidentally, it’s cheaper to buy new underwear than to do a load of laundry.

12. Budget airlines are brilliant, assuming you don’t check any baggage.

13. Thus constrained, you learn that it’s possible to live out of a backpack for extended periods of time. Your towel might not fit, but there’s something inherently charming about traveling the world, towel in hand. Very Arthur Dent.

14. Belfast is a fantastic city for a modern history enthusiast. Its murals in particular are a vivid lesson in post-colonialism and globalization.

15. Norwegians have a thing for Vikings, as evidenced by the absurd number of souvenir shops dedicated solely to tacky representations of Nordic pirates.

16. Pub crawls in Amsterdam are well worth the subsequent hangovers, which, conveniently enough, are easily cured by a bike tour of the city on a beautiful spring morning.

17. Sangria is better in Spain, just as Guinness is better in Ireland.

18. Some friends back home want to hear all about your travels. Others don’t.

19. The Atlantic Ocean is bigger for some people than it is for others.

20. Any guy who makes claims about the ocean’s variable size isn’t worth harboring feelings for. Really, you should just get over him.

21. This is easier said than done.

22. Dutch boys, however, do make excellent rebounds.

23. There’s nothing like watching the passage of health care reform to restore a miniscule amount of faith in the political process.

24. There’s also nothing like your Dutch friends reminding you that, by European standards, there isn’t a huge difference between American political parties. All that partisan bickering is rather silly and inane from their perspective.

25. Finding yourself in total agreement, you start to get frustrated with politics

and the sluggish nature of history.

26. Before you know it, you’re back in New York, typing your fingers off all summer for an editorial internship.

27. Exciting as it is to follow the news as part of your job, you quickly realize that the 24-hour news cycle is shallow, partisan, and utterly lacking in perspective: Sure, let all of us in the media world throw a fit when President Obama refuses to be photographed with his shirt off while on vacation. You know, only a fifth of Pakistan is under water.

28. Altogether, the media world fails to live up to any idealized notion of journalism.

29. For reasons you can’t quite yet articulate, the incessant talk among your friends about post-graduation plans and GREs and LSATs is irritating.

30. “Shipping up to Boston” is a very cliche Facebook status.

31. After living out of two suitcases for nine months, it’s hard to remember exactly what you put into storage back in December. You might be slightly mortified upon realizing how much literal baggage you possess.

32. It’s possible to be excited for classes to start but completely unenthused at the prospect of returning to life at college.

33. Being back in the world of manicured lawns and overpriced dining halls is depressing. The bright-eyed freshmen and the trappings of a comfy upper middle class life are a far cry from the hostels Europe or the excitement of working in downtown Manhattan.

34. It’s one thing to be aware of living in a bubble. It’s something else entirely to realize you’ve stepped outside of it and don’t particularly want back in.

35. Trying to explain as much to your mother over the phone prompts a diagnosis of senioritis and reverse culture shock.

36. Let’s go with acute disillusionment Jocelyn Rousey is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

See this blank space? Want to fill it? Draw a weekly comic for

THE HEIGHTS Email editor@bcheights.com for more information

I wouldn’t say I’m a person who holds grudges. I just don’t forget things.

And in my personal, fictional dictionary, “things” translates to “anything.”

This personal philosophy goes back to when I was in my first (and final) year of Cub Scouts. Dave called my Zorro costume “gay” in front of everyone at the troop’s Halloween party.

People started to make fun of me and laugh. I was embarrassed. However, he shut up when I socked him in the jaw. While watching him bawl his eyes out, I was escorted out / respectfully retired from Cub Scouts. Perhaps, it’s ironic that Dave recently came out of the closet. Nonetheless, I’ll always remember that clash whenever I see or talk about him.

Fast forward to middle school, the years of the frosted tips (frightening, I know). In sixth grade, my neighbors and I were playing basketball. There was a tall kid named Chris who was the star of the “A” Squad, of which I was not a member. He knew he was good at basketball and liked to rub it in. One day he was making fun of me, and not surprisingly, I reached my breaking point and flipped out. I grabbed him by the neck, threw him against a wall, and punched him in the face. All six-feet of him ran home crying. He never made fun of me again. This summer he called me a few times to play pick-up at the park. I went and had a great time, but all I could remember in the back of my head was how he bullied me in middle school.

I also recall when my former best friend, John, who used to be known as the obese, weird, cartoon-looking kid who couldn’t hit a beach ball with a violin, started drinking in high school with some of my other buddies.

I didn’t drink, so that made me an easy target. In a Sparknotes summary of my life, this chapter only needs one word: ditched. In addition, he also encouraged others to ostracize me. It’s funny how last week he asked if I wanted to go to the movies. But in the back of my mind, I kept running through the past arguments we had in which he called me a loser. And even more memorable are the names he called me when I wasn’t there to defend myself. I just laugh now, knowing that his fake ID has depreciated in cool-value since then.

These are just a few experiences that I feel many college students can relate to.

You leave your hometown, starved to just go anywhere else, away from all the kids you’ve been stuck with since kindergarten, and experience change. Then you enter a new school and make new friends. I’ve been fortunate enough to meet people that are tenfold more loyal than the fickle, fair-weather friends that overpopulate high schools like goths and skaters do at the local mall. At the end of the year, you leave these new friends, who have grown to feel more like family. Excited to see some of your close high school buddies, yet skeptical of rekindling relationships with others, you return home.

But now everyone wants to party together? We’re all friends now? It’s okay that he made the team over that guy?

There’s no beef between those girls over that guy they dated?

At least we all act that way. And suddenly everyone is a “nicer person” because they went through a year of college.

We all act like everything is fine now, that the past is behind us, that how we treated each other in the past is irrelevant.

That’s cool with me. I’m pumped to see all my friends from high school, and even the people that I didn’t really get along with too well. But when I see you at my high school reunion in 10, 20, 30 years, I will have a drink with you, talk about our jobs and families, and have a great time, but I will never forget how you used to treat me. No matter how hunky-dory everyone acts on summer break, you can’t change peoples’ perceptions of you, or the exact same feelings they still have when you walk into a room years later.

I’m relieved to be back at BC. I had fun with my buddies back home, but now I feel like I’m with my brothers.

And this break has made me conscientious of how I perceive people for their past behavior, even if they act like they’ve changed. I just don’t want people to think of me the way I’ll still think of Chris at reunions. And if you do, just punch me in the face. I’ve learned that it gets the point across, and it’s something that people don’t seem to forget.

CJ Gustafson is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

A8

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

2010

BOSTON COLLEGE FOOTBALL

PREVIEW THE HEIGHTS THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

STANDING STRONG INSIDE MONTEL LEADS THE WAY 2 STUDYING O-LINE U 3 HERZLICH’S RETURN 4 THE EMERGENCE OF HOLLOWAY 6 HEAD START HELPS FROSH 6 DAVIS PLAYS IT SAFE 7 ALEX TRAUTWIG / PHOTO EDITOR

B2

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

Always Moving Forward

Once a recruiting afterthought, Montel Harris is now the key to the team’s success

By Maegan O’Rourke Assoc. Sports Editor

D

on’t stop your feet.

It’s one of the first things football players are taught when they start out.

Besides the obvious advantages of eluding the grasp of opposing defenders, running backs that keep their feet moving are likely to pick up more yards on the play.

Boston College’s Montel Harris, with 2,472 rushing yards so far in his career, certainly learned this lesson early. The junior running back from Jacksonville, Fla., hit the ground running at BC and hasn’t looked back since.

Montel Harris started his gridiron career at the age of 4 playing flag football. He moved on to organized football when he was 8 years old. Harris kept on playing from there, especially with great support from his family.

“My dad got me into [football], and he was always around,” said Harris. “He never coached me on offense, he was just always around so I was doing the right things.”

Harris also acknowledges his uncle and granddad as some of his biggest fans. His family still attends his games, even though he’s far from home.

“They were always at every game, supporting me,” Harris said. “My granddad would always be on the sidelines telling me something, ‘Try that stiff arm out,’ or ‘Try that spin move.’ Or always trying to give me candy when I was little, like, ‘You need some energy?’”

While he’s known for his athletic prowess on the football field, Harris also holds a black belt in karate.

sion-making, and playmaking.”

Harris was not deterred by his lack of hype, and instead just worked harder.

“It always motivates me,” Harris said. “Ever since I was younger, I haven’t been as big as everyone else, and not being recruited I thought I was a high player, high athlete. So not being recruited just makes you work harder to show people that you can do it.”

Harris battled for a spot on the depth chart, but opened eyes in his first collegiate start with a 112-yard rushing effort in a 34-7 win over Central Florida in BC’s third game of the season. He went on to rush for over 100 yards in wins over Notre Dame, Florida State, and Maryland before setting a BC freshman season record with 900 yards.

“When one of the other backs got hurt, he got the chance to play,” Sirmans said. “The first pass he caught, he went 12 yards and broke a tackle, and as they say, the rest the history.”

Since that breakout freshman year, Harris has become one of BC’s biggest success stories. After Haden transferred from BC in the middle of the 2009 season, Harris became the undeniable star of BC’s backfield and consistently put the offense on his shoulders.

He notes that his transition from Jacksonville to Chestnut Hill was made easier because of how welcome the other BC players made him feel.

“The players here made me comfortable. I was able to fit in right away,” Harris said. “I didn’t feel like I wasn’t wanted here. Just coming here all the way from Florida, I came here for a reason, and I wanted to play.”

Harris also recognizes the support he received from the BC coaching staff.

“Coach Comiss [Jeff Comissiong], he was the one that recruited me, so I guess I look to him more than anyone,” Harris said. “My running back coach

Harris said. “So everything I know I don’t hide. I’m going to tell them everything so we can be a good unit as a whole.”

Sirmans notes that he sees Harris as an extension of himself on the field. In the middle of a game, Sirmans doesn’t always have time to give immediate feedback, so Harris takes it upon himself to help the other running backs out.

“He understands the type of criteria that I’ve set in terms of how to make themselves better and any time he sees those guys not performing he’ll step in,” Sirmans said. “In games I’m trying to get the next back in there and the next play ran. You’ll see him in the back, pulling the young guys over and saying what they need to do next time.”

Now in his junior season at BC, Harris is ranked ninth on BC’s all-time rushing list. And who can forget his impressive sophomore season, with eight 100-yard games, the secondteam All-ACC hon-

“If they’re expecting big things, you can’t tease them and give them something for two years and just fall off.”

Harris says that his background in karate plays a significant part in developing his football skills, both physically and mentally.

“Karate helped me with discipline and balance,” Harris said. “There were times when I should have went down but I was able to stay up, and I can thank karate a lot for that. And discipline, being able to listen and execute whatever the coaches wanted me to do. I wasn’t always the best athlete, but I was able to do everything they wanted me to do.”

Harris arrived at BC in the summer of 2008 as an unheralded and undersized running back out of Trinity Christian High School. He almost didn’t come to the Heights, as he originally committed to Duke before then-head coach Jeff Jagodzinski offered him a scholarship just as recruiting was winding down.

Before the 2008 season, much of the attention surrounding the running back position went to fellow freshman Josh Haden, the four-star recruit who Jagodzinski lined up to fill the shoes of the recently departed Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth.

With Haden in the picture, the BC staff originally wanted to redshirt Harris.

“We knew that we had some great qualities and attributes so physically we thought he’d be a guy we’d redshirt,” said running backs coach Ben Sirmans.

“We started noticing a lot of quickness, good deci-

[Sirmans] also helps me out a lot, giving me words of advice and just makes sure that I’m always going in the right direction, never going backwards.”

“Although he’s very talented, he’s the hardest worker,” Sirmans said. “You love coaching guys and having guys like that in your stable.”

If Harris appears aggressive on the field, he’s anything but that off it. Though he recently got rid of his trademark dreadlocks, it’s rare to see Harris not smiling around campus.

“People don’t know that I like to play around a lot,” Harris said. “I’m not really that serious. Some people might think that I’m a real serious guy, but I like to have a lot of fun.”

“He’s a lot of fun to work with,” Sirmans said.

“He’s always happy and excited. He wants to make himself better as a football player, and he tries to learn to be a good student of the game.”

Because of his laid-back demeanor, one of the biggest changes Harris had to make for this season was his role on the team. Now an upperclassman and BC’s unquestioned rock on offense, Harris knew he needed to step up his leadership role.

“Definitely more of a leader,” Harris said as to how his role has changed. “Expect me to make more plays than I did last year, because I didn’t make big plays some games, so I wasn’t as productive. So they’re really looking for me to make plays and put the team on my shoulders and help [quarterback] Dave [Shinskie] out with the passing offense.”

Although he carried the ball 308 times last season, mainly due to Haden’s departure and depleted depth because of injuries, Harris will have more help this season from redshirt freshman Sterlin Phifer and true freshman Andre Williams.

His carries may decrease, but Harris understands that sharing what he’s learned with the rest of the backs will only help the team improve.

“Basically I just try to teach them everything that has been taught to me and see what happens from there because I want everybody to be successful,”

ors, or his astounding 264 yards against NC State?

But beyond his exploits on the field, the people around Harris attest that not much has changed since he first put on the BC uniform.

“Obviously his physical qualities make my job a lot easier,” Sirmans said. “Sometimes you get guys that can be prima donnas. He’s the same kid that he was even when he came in as a true freshman, despite all the accolades. He gives a lot of his success to the offensive line and the people around him.”

Even with all of the milestones he’s accomplished in his two years as an Eagle, Harris understands there’s still more to be done. He has a simple goal: become the best rusher in BC history.

“I don’t like to go backwards,” Harris said. “So I just keep it in my mind that I’m going to keep going forward. I don’t want to let people down.

If they’re expecting big things, you can’t tease them and give them something for two years and just fall off.”

For Harris, moving forward has never been a problem. n

Boston College’s All-Time Rushing Leaders

alex trautwig / heights editor

1. Derrick Knight - 3,725 2. Mike Cloud - 3,597 3. Troy Stradford - 3,504 4. William Green - 2,974 5. Andre Callender - 2,971

6. Mike Esposito - 2,759 7. L.V. Whitworth - 2,576 8. Keith Barnette - 2,500 9. Montel Harris - 2,472 10. Omari Walker - 2,471

alex trautwig / heights editor

A look at the rest of the schedule Kent State (5-7). Last year: BC won, 34-7.

For the third straight year, the Golden Flashes will take on the Eagles, and both match-ups have sharply favored BC: In two games combined, the Eagles have outscored Kent State, 54-7. Some familiar faces return. Quarterback Spencer Keith is a year wiser, though he will rely again on running back Eugene Jarvis for offense. Jarvis was contained last year, managing just 17 yards on 10 rushes.

Virginia Tech (10-3, 6-2). Last year: VT won, 48-14.

The Hokies entered this season as the top-ranked team in the ACC, and their near-win against Boise State showed why. Tyrod Taylor is finally a senior, and the Hokies may have the best running back duo in Ryan Williams and Darren Evans.

Their defense and special teams aren’t half bad, either. This will be the Eagles’ toughest test of the year, and last year’s thrashing should be fresh on BC’s mind.

Notre Dame (6-6). Last year: ND won, 20-16.

The Irish finally broke BC’s Holy War winning streak, though they barely did it in 2009. Six turnovers by the Eagles, including Dave Shinskie’s third interception with a minute and a half remaining, eventually gave Notre Dame the win.

But gone are Jimmy Clausen and Golden Tate, ushering in a new roster of Irish to despise. Junior Dayne Crist is charged with leading Notre Dame, now led by new coach Brian Kelly.

NC State (5-7, 2-6 ACC). Last year: BC won, 52-20.

The Eagles demolished NC State behind Montel Harris’ record-setting 264 rushing yards last year. BC has never lost to the Wolfpack since O’Brien abruptly left the Heights for Raleigh-Durham, but could face its toughest test with a more experienced Russell Wilson behind center.

Wake Forest (5-7, 3-5). Last year: BC won, 27-24 (OT) BC steals a win from Wake Forest every year, and without Riley Skinner to lead the Demon Deacons this year, it’s hard to believe that will change in 2010. Ted Stachitas will try his hand at quarterback, but he has big shoes to fill. He’ll be helped by a strong group of running backs.

Florida State (7-6, 4-4). Last year: BC won, 28-21.

It seems as if every year the Seminoles are picked to win the Atlantic Division, and this year is no different. Quarterback Christian Ponder, who went off for 341 yards against BC last year, is in the early Heisman conversation, and new coach Jimbo Fisher is expected to tighten a porous defense.

Duke (5-7, 3-5). Last year: Didn’t play.

BC and Duke haven’t squared off since 2006, but head coach David Cutcliffe has turned around the program since then. Thaddeus Lewis is gone, but it seems that Sean Renfree is capable of filling his shoes (350 yards, two touchdowns against Elon). Duke’s defense could also use some work.

Maryland (2-10, 1-7). Last year: BC won, 19-17.

It could be Ralph Friedgen’s last year, and he is going to run, run, run the football. The Terrapins just squeaked

by Navy in the first week, and quarterback Jamarr Robinson was just two of five for 11 yards and a pick. But his 92 rushing yards, plus backs Davin Meggett and Da’Rel Scott, helped Maryland run for 261 yards on 34 attempts.

Virginia (3-9, 2-6). Last year: BC won, 14-10.

There are a lot of new faces in Charlottesville, which is why most expect Virginia in last place. Marc Verica will finally start, and coach Mike London will try to improve the Cavs. Virginia will likely ride its version of thunder and lightning: 255-pound Keith Payne and 185-pound Perry Jones.

Clemson (9-5, 6-2). Last year: Clemson won, 25-7.

The Tigers dismantled BC in Death Valley in 2009. The Eagle quarterbacks combined for five-of-21 passing, and the athletic Tigers blew by BC. Though Clemson no longer has C.J. Spiller or Jacoby Ford, the running back tandem of Andre Ellington and Jamie Harper will cause some problems.

Syracuse (4-8). Last year: Didn’t play.

The last time these two played, the Orange snatched BC’s Big East title hopes with a 43-17 stunner in 2004.

The Eagles have moved to the ACC, and Syracuse has done little to elevate its program. While this game won’t affect BC’s place in the conference standings, this one is for pride.

The Heights

Thursday, September 9, 2010

B3

“One thing stays the same: They were looking for smart guys. Guys who were willing to work hard and stop at nothing to get the job done.”

Protecting the Tradition T

By Paul Sulzer

pass it on to somebody else?”

One such role model in Claiborne’s life was his mother, Carolyn. Worried that her son would be exposed to the wrong influences on the streets of Dorchester, she sent Thomas to school in Wellesley.

Thomas graduated Wellesley High School in 2006.

“I always felt like I have to give back to the community because the community helped get me where I am,” he said. “My mom’s always instilled in me that I have to stay humble. I feel like that’s one of the biggest ways to stay humble, by giving back to the people that helped you get where you need to go.”

Asst. Sports Editor

hey were too slow. They were too heavy or too light. Their highlight videos weren’t impressive enough. They were all two-star recruits, according to Scout.com.

They are the Boston College offensive linemen, and they make up one of the best lines in the country. Anthony Castonzo, Nate Richman, Matt Tennant, Thomas Claiborne, and Rich Lapham paved the way for Montel Harris to run for 1,457 yards and 14 scores last season. Now that Tennant has graduated, Richman has shifted to center, and Emmett Cleary has seized the left guard spot, the offensive line will once again be asked to shine.

But how did these underappreciated high school recruits slip through the cracks? And how was BC able to identify their talent when other schools couldn’t?

These questions are difficult to answer because BC has gone through three coaching staffs in the last four years.

Tom O’Brien, Jeff Jagodzinski, and Frank Spaziani offer three distinct recruiting and coaching philosophies. O’Brien liked to redshirt all recruits, whereas Spaziani plays recruits if they’re ready. Jagodzinski emphasized zone blocking, but Spaziani’s Eagles do more man blocking.

“Our offensive line right now is a mishmash of different recruiting techniques because we’ve been recruited by three different coaching staffs,” Castonzo said.

“One thing stays the same: They were looking for smart guys. Guys who were willing to work hard and stop at nothing to get the job done.”

“Looks are a big part, too,” Richman said, grinning. “We’re probably the handsomest line in the ACC.” Lapham, who arrived to the interview with Claiborne five minutes later than the other three starters, offers up his own take on what BC looks for in recruits.

“I think we’re the best-looking line in the country,” he exclaimed.

“That’s what we just said!” Castonzo yelled.

“Well, I’d like to reinforce that comment,” Lapham said, smiling wider this time. “We’re the best-looking line in the ACC, and that’s a big recruiting point.”

The men of the best-looking line in the ACC are growing out their beards together.

They haven’t shaved in the three weeks since posing for team photos.

“We had to shave for pictures,” Castonzo said with a twinge of disappointment in his voice. “We’re trying to grow our beards back, trying to look good for the season.”

The line is unified by more than just facial hair, though. During summer camp, the linemen roomed together and spent most of their free time in each other’s company.

“In the locker room, we call it ‘O-Line Row’ because it’s ours, 60 through 79, and the majority of those kids are offensive linemen, so we’re always together,” Lapham said. “Whenever we go to meetings, we walk together. Whenever we go to practice, we walk together.”

They lived together. They do everything together. They even look alike, with the beards. But the men of the BC offensive line are very much their own people.

The unflappable confidence they have in themselves and each other makes this unit one of the best in college football.

The Geek He came to BC as a 6-foot-7, 240pound recruit who completed a postgraduate year at Fort Union Military Academy because no major college football program offered him a scholarship after his senior season.

Three years and 68 pounds later, left tackle Anthony Castonzo projects as a first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft.

He’s got all the tools. He’s strong, athletic, instinctive, and brilliant – incredibly brilliant. He’s a biochemistry major with a 3.5 GPA who hopes to cure cancer. In the spring, Castonzo was nominated for a Rhodes scholarship. He’s been working on the application throughout the summer.

Castonzo is starting the third draft of his personal statement, a 1,000-word autobiographical essay. Over a thousand candidates submit essays and letters of recommendation, hoping to reach the interview round. Thirty-two of these students are selected as Rhodes scholars from the United States.

“Geek,” Claiborne whispered under his breath, to the laughter of his teammates.

Castonzo has heard all the jokes before.

Do the guys on the team always give him a hard time for being so smart?

“No,” Claiborne said, “we applaud him for it.”

“You’re a liar,” Castonzo countered, with a smile. “But it’s all in good fun.”

“We respect it 100 percent,” Richman said, “but when we’re all talking like, ‘Do you guys want to hang out tonight?’

Anthony’s always like, ‘I have to write a

alex trautwig / heights editor

new draft of my Rhodes scholar essay. I don’t think I’ll have time.’”

Castonzo doesn’t know if he would take the scholarship or not. He’s not taking anything for granted. “It would be a good decision to have to make” between football and the Rhodes scholarship, he said.

He does know that his football career has an expiration date, though. He blew out his knee sophomore year of high school, so he understands what it’s like to lose a season. That’s why he prioritizes academics over football. In April, he said that, if he had to choose between the Rhodes scholarship and the NFL, he would choose the NFL because he has his whole life to study. Now, he’s starting to reconsider his stance.

“Like I said, you have the rest of your life for academics,” Castonzo said. “Well, the rest of your life can come quicker than you think it will.”

The New Guy The newest member of BC’s starting offensive line comes from halfway around the world. Emmett Cleary, the Eagles’ left guard, was born in Tokyo, Japan, a fact about which teammates are often curious.

“Are you technically a citizen of Japan?” Lapham asked.

“No, I’m not,” Cleary replied. “I was like the biggest baby ever born in Japan, though.”

Because Cleary’s father had a job abroad, the family was constantly on the move when Emmett was young. They moved to Germany when he was 2 before settling in suburban Chicago three years later. Although Cleary doesn’t have any memories of living in Japan, his family does have home videos of sumo wrestling matches.

“It was Claiborne,” Richman cracked, as Claiborne does his best impression of a wrestler.

Cleary is a promising student, like Castonzo. After college, the biology major wants to attend medical school.

The sophomore guard will have to put those cognitive skills to use as he tries to catch up to his more experienced linemates. Cleary played in all 12 regular season games in 2009 as a backup.

“I lean on the guys around me,” he said.

“We have a lot of good leadership on offense right now, so I don’t really need to do any of that. I follow the example of the other guys, follow the calls, and hold up my end of the bargain.”

Over the summer, Cleary had his turn to pay it forward as an Orientation Leader. Several other players, including Richman, wide receiver Ifeanyi Momah, defensive end Dan Williams, and kicker Michael Sodic, were Orientation Leaders, too. They’re responsible for helping freshmen get acclimated and excited to attend BC.

The opportunity to give back, Cleary said, is what drove him to apply for the position.

Richman, who has been an Orientation Leader for two years, said he does it to meet new people and connect with the community beyond football.

“We’re always surrounded by the same people all the time,” he said. “It’s a nice way to get to know faculty and get to know the campus better, just know what Boston College is about so you’re not just wearing the uniform.”

Lapham thinks Cleary and Richman had an ulterior motive for becoming Orientation Leaders.

“Freshman girls,” he quipped.

The Jokester If a player on the football team is laughing, it’s probably at something Nate Richman said. He finds the humor in everything, even in a question about his preference for run blocking or pass blocking.

“Spaz will probably get mad at us if we don’t say run blocking, right?” Castonzo said.

Leaning back in his chair, Richman doesn’t hesitate. “I like pass blocking better,” he said. “It’s more exciting. In run blocking, you can get away with a little mistake in the run game and it can

“Looks are a big part, too. We’re probably the handsomest line in the ACC.” -Nathan Richman Starting Center still work out. Montel can still break something loose. In pass blocking, you make one mistake, and Shinskie’s about to get nailed. It’s much more exciting in that aspect.”

When it comes to playing center, though, Richman is serious. After playing all of last season at left guard, the junior volunteered to replace Tennant following the senior center’s graduation.

Throughout the spring, Richman learned to read the defense at the line of scrimmage and adjust the line’s blocking assignments accordingly. By summer camp, Richman had most of the basics figured out.

Although Tennant has moved on to the NFL with the New Orleans Saints since graduating, Richman didn’t learn center without help. Claiborne played center in the past, so he taught Richman about stances, ball placement, and reading defenses.

“You have to be like the quarterback of the offensive line,” Claiborne said. “You have to know what’s going where, who’s

on who, who’s blocking what. You have to be able to think on your feet.”

“He was a big help for me in the spring, when I was just starting to play,” Richman said. “It was nice that he was right next to me, so he would see me on one play and be like, ‘Hey, try this,’ when we’re in the huddle.”

Outside the huddle, Richman has worked with offensive line coach Sean Devine to perfect his technique. Under Devine, the Eagles have transitioned from zone-based blocking to man blocking. Learning from Devine has not been easy, but Richman is starting to see the progress.

“Devine’s real tough on our centers,” Cleary said. “They get a real good picture of the offense. They understand the offense as well as anybody.”

“We’re real athletic, too,” Richman added, with a slight smirk. “We’re the best athletes on the O-line.”

The Heart There’s an energy that flows through the student section of Alumni Stadium when BC takes the field on Saturdays. There’s one player, in particular, who makes the crowd go crazy. Right guard Thomas Claiborne, a senior, plays the game with an infectious passion that makes him the emotional heart of the team.

“I’m pretty good at speeches and stuff like that,” Claiborne admitted, barely able to suppress his laughter. “They’re not always the best speeches, and they’re not always the best words in the speeches, but it gets the guys ready to go. They seem to get fuel from me.”

“It gets me going,” Cleary deadpanned.

“We chuckle sometimes at the stuff he does. He’s a crazy B.A.” Claiborne’s talent extends beyond public speaking – he’s also quite photogenic.

“Thomas has an unbelievable ability to find cameras,” Richman said.

“Maybe it’s the cameras finding me!”

Claiborne countered.

“He’s the media darling of the offensive line, for sure,” Cleary said.

“Even on the commercials for tickets, it’s like Montel, Thomas, Herzlich, Anthony, Thomas, Thomas,” Richman said. “Four pictures of Thomas and one of everyone else.

“It’s nice to look at someone else getting so excited and feed off that every day. His attitude influences other people’s attitudes.”

Claiborne’s enthusiasm extends into the community, where he frequently volunteers at Boys and Girls Clubs and YMCAs. His brother works at a local middle school after-school program, which Claiborne visits at least once a month.

“The kids love it,” Claiborne said.

“They look up to us. We had to have positive role models in our lives in order to be where we are today, so why not be able to

alex trautwig / heights editor

The Rock Much like the bassist in a rock band, right tackles are used to going unnoticed.

They don’t receive the acclaim left tackles do for protecting the quarterback’s blind side. They don’t call out signals to the rest of the line like centers do.

But Rich Lapham is tough to ignore.

At 6-foot-8, 323 pounds, the senior right tackle is a three-year starter who played bass in his high school rock band.

He has kept his skills sharp by forming a band with Richman in their room called Hey You. Lapham played guitar and Richman sang. “[We sang] songs about stupid stuff, like guys on the team,” Richman said. “And Lower Dining Hall, about the nights when there’s double taqueria.”

“About how no one likes when there’s two lines in double taqueria,” Lapham added.

Lapham doesn’t have as much time to jam anymore, though. His priorities have shifted to football and life after football.

For two years, Lapham has been setting himself up for the future by working at the Sports Hub, a sports talk radio station. As an employee in the promotions office, he has worked closely with “Gresh and Zolak,” a daily show that airs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Of course, Lapham’s priorities weren’t always so future-oriented. As a seventhgrader, Lapham was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic in the middle of basketball season. He didn’t know how to react. All he knew was that he wanted to get back on the court.

“I was 13 years old,” he said. “My priorities weren’t really on my health as much as it was finishing the basketball season and playing AAU in the spring, doing normal summertime things. I kind of learned about it that way. It was an easier way to deal with it.”

Since learning more about diabetes, Lapham has begun monitoring his diet more carefully. In fact, he says he has an advantage over players who don’t understand their nutrition as well, who don’t know how their bodies will react to what they eat. Lapham hasn’t had a problem with diabetes at any time in competition.

“It’s kind of become second nature to me,” he said. “I know it’s new for guys around me, like Thomas. I had to take a shot every night, and some of the guys, during camp, are curious about it. I have no problem talking about it. It’s nothing strange for me.”

The Prototype There seem to be three characteristics that define a BC lineman.

The first is that they are overlooked.

When talking of their recruitment, the Eagle linemen talk as men who still feel they have something to prove. The joking stops. Serious discussion begins.

“An [offensive lineman] has to change so much from high school to college, whereas running backs or receivers, you can kind of see where they’re at already,” Cleary said. “It’s harder to gauge who’s a good recruit.”

“It’s tough to judge the recruiting process because sometimes recruiting can be as much as you put into it as other schools do,” Richman added.

Because BC linemen are often ignored by bigger programs, they come to school humble. This is the second important attribute they possess. They come to Chestnut Hill eager to learn and to battle for playing time. They don’t feel entitled to anything.

“We get a lot of tough guys, hard-nosed guys that are willing to go the extra yard to get the extra yard,” Claiborne said.

“We have a lot of guys who know what the tradition is here at Boston College, being an offensive lineman.”

BC linemen are humble, but they are not meek. Instead, they are ambitious, the final trait that sets them apart from the rest. They apply for Rhodes scholarships. They prepare for medical school.

They learn new positions. They help lift communities. They position themselves for life after football. They dream big dreams, and they often succeed.

“Big picture, we want to go undefeated,” Castonzo said. “That’s our goal. It would be pointless to play a season without that as your goal. If you think you’re going to lose games, then why even play?” n

B4

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Return of Herzlich A year and a half after being diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma, Mark Herzlich came back to the game of football. And he knew he would all along.

S

Herzlich Is Back, from B4

BY ZACH WIELGUS | SPORTS EDITOR

ister Barbara Anne Hallman needs a walker to move around. At 75, she just doesn’t walk as well as she once did.

But on the day she was finally about to meet Her Football Man, she refused to use it.

For months, she had been corresponding with a stranger she read about on the computer, sending a handwritten letter halfway across the country every two weeks. She and her sisters were praying around the clock for Her Football Man – what the other nuns at Our Lady of Angels Convent called him – and after all that time, she would finally talk with him in person. She wasn’t about to let her walker stand in the way.

“He inspires me so much,” Hallman said. “When I was going to meet him, I thought, ‘I will not use my walker. If he can fight cancer and beat this, I don’t need it.’”

Each emboldened by the other’s company, Hallman and Mark Herzlich walked together and shared their first real conversation since the Internet told her a Boston College linebacker was diagnosed with cancer.

On that day, Hallman learned there was even more to Herzlich than she had imagined. She thought she knew the different sides of BC’s biggest story. But she was pleasantly mistaken.

She realized there is much more to him than meets the eye.

Mark Herzlich is a drama queen. At least, that’s what roommate and teammate Codi Boek thought.

Every player on the BC football team was sore from spring practices, but in March 2009, Herzlich was most vocal about it – to the point that he would wake up screaming.

“He would be going in and getting treatment and they were telling him that nothing was wrong and that he was fine, so I thought he was just being a drama queen,” Boek said with a laugh. “I was like, ‘Shut up!’ I would go sleep in the living room and I would get pissed off at him. And then to figure out a couple months later it was what it was, I felt like a jerk.”

It was Ewing’s sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer, in his left leg. That excruciating pain in Herzlich’s femur had nothing to do with his spine, where every doctor was poking and prodding him. A large tumor had grown, and no one had seen it coming.

No one, that is, except his mother.

“During his MRI, I said to the doctor in another room, ‘Would it show up if it was cancer?’,” Barb Herzlich said. “And he told me, ‘Yes, but it’s highly unlikely.’”

So unlikely, that Herzlich had just a one-in-700 chance to be diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma.

Even more unlikely given that his father, Sandy, had coached two teenagers who were stricken with this cancer in years past.

“I said to Barb, ‘There is no way we know three boys who have cancer,’” Sandy said. “‘It’s so rare, and we already know two of them, it’s not possible we know three of them.’”

Somehow, it was possible. The reigning ACC De-

fensive Player of the Year was now being told the best he could hope for was to jog again. The most recognizable face on BC’s campus, rocking a mohawk, full beard, and Dark Knight-inspired eye black, would hardly look the same.

“Everybody was stunned. Just completely stunned and shocked,” Sandy said. “All very supportive, but it knocked everyone’s lights out.”

After digesting his prognosis alone his room, Herzlich delivered an even more stunning guarantee.

“I’m going to play football again,” he told his parents.

Knowing Mark better than anybody, Sandy and Barb knew it was possible. Somehow, it was possible.

Mark Herzlich is just the goofball who lives upstairs. His parents and brother, Brad, knew him as that for 22 years, which is why none of them imagined he would become college football’s face for beating cancer.

The University created gold Beat Cancer T-shirts.

Dabo Swinney, Clemson’s head coach, started a wave of generosity when he presented Herzlich with a check for $9,400 and an honorary Tigers jersey.

Every other team on the schedule followed suit with similar donations. ESPN brought the GameDay crew to Chestnut Hill in October, providing Herzlich the national forum to announce he was 99-percent cancer-free.

Herzlich became a household name because of his refusal to succumb to his diagnosis. His family could believe that he wouldn’t go down without a hell of a fight, and even that he would play again, but seeing his hairless head all over their TV screens? That was beyond their imagination.

“For us, he’s just some knucklehead who lives upstairs,” Sandy said. “It has been a source of continuing amazement at how big a story he really was.

I remember Brad saying, ‘Do people talk about Mark like I talk about Tim Tebow? People who don’t know him talk about him?’ And I said, ‘Yeah, I think so.’”

Understanding he had little chance of avoiding the spotlight – ESPN called his family for a phone interview a day after he was diagnosed – Herzlich chose to embrace it.

“A lot of people have the problem of not wanting people to find out because they think people will look at them weird or feel pity on them, and people don’t

See Herzlich Is Back, B5

WORDS OF TRIBUTE “The first time he makes snot bubbles come out of some kid’s head, the conversation changes to, “‘We’re glad Mark’s back,’” not, “‘How is he?’”

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Sandy Herzlich

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

“One thing to take from Mark is to never doubt him when he says something. It’s easy to believe someone when they are so convinced in themselves.”

DAVID GIVLER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

“From now on, Notre Dame will be written on my wrist, but Mark will be in my heart.”

Sister Barbara Anne

DAVID GIVLER / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Codi Boek ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

future first-round draft pick. Everyone is still wondering if he can return to like that view sometimes,” Herzlich said. his monstrous 2008 form, if he is still “I didn’t have that choice, really, so from the real deal. They saw him overrun a Day 1 it was what it was, and I had to few plays, and they saw him get caught start working at it. flat-footed in the open field on Satur“When I came back to campus, it was day. But Herzlich saw it, too, which is tough, because I had no hair, I looked why he’s not just happy to be here. As different, I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t play- he said after the game, starting against ing. They knew my story, and I thought the Wildcats was “a step in the right now they were looking at me because direction, but we’re going to have to take I had cancer. As you get past that and bigger steps in the right direction as we push more toward the positive, that’s go on.” something you can brush off. I’ve made Herzlich knows he must focus purely a purpose out of it.” on football now to continue to improve, Soon, thousands of letters, e-mails, but that doesn’t mean he wants to lose and Facebook messages stuffed Herthe other part of his identity, either. zlich’s inbox. Words of encouragement, “I think some people don’t know notes of appreciation, sincere thank me as a football player at all because you’s, and awestruck praise quickly they became aware of my story with the filled his world, and it cancer stuff,” Herzlich became clear that said. “Some people Herzlich was finding a who did see me play “I told Barb, ‘There way to turn a negative before never stopped is no way we know into a positive. These thinking I was a good messages helped Herfootball player. I don’t three boys who have zlich get better, brightever want either of cancer. It’s so rare, ening his especially dark those things to go and we already know away. days, and he helped people from around the “I want to be Mark two of them, it’s not globe, inspiring them to Herzlich, cancer survipossible we know three vor and All-American fight harder than they had before. football player.” of them.’”

“As he got better, His parents he started to get letcouldn’t agree more. ters from people saying, ‘You’re an They know the cancer talk will never inspiration, you’re helping me, I am able go away – nor should it – but the time to fight cancer better after seeing what has come for the public to concern itself you’re doing,’” Sandy recalled. “I really with Herzlich’s play, not his health. think it was a two-way street, in getting “The mom in me wants him to get support and giving support from that.” through the tunnel, and have the media As easy as he made it seem, Herzlich stuff gone, and let it be football and let was not immune to the debilitating efhim be with the team again,” Barb said. fects of chemotherapy, radiation, and “The field is his stage, and that’s where surgery. He tried to maintain his playing he lets loose. I would love for him to say, weight, though he wasn’t able to run and ‘All is right in the world right now, let me his upper-body strength was dwindling. be me.’”

He took up golf with his mom as a means Sandy owns a more fatherly opinion to test his endurance, sliding from a 90about what will switch the topic. hole weekend in April to barely making “The first time he makes snot it through the front nine in the fall. He bubbles come out of some kid’s head, also refused to miss a game, sometimes the conversation changes to, ‘We’re glad flying back to Boston on Friday nights Mark’s back,’ not, ‘How is he?’” after a week of treatment so he could travel on the team’s charter.

Tears welled in her eyes and crawled “It was never as easy as he made it down her cheek. look,” Sandy said. “The Six-hundred-andchemo makes you feel twelve days later, “People came up to us Hallman happily cried like crap, and the cancer isn’t real great, eias she watched Her and said, ‘What are ther. There were times Football Man sprint you doing here? Why onto the field. Despite when he was not in a good mood, but he was are you here? I would being a devout Notre continuously deterDame fan, Hallman be on the floor crying.’ doesn’t try to hide mined to get through it.

He could turn a switch And I said, ‘What good her affection for her on when he was able to favorite Eagle. would that do?’” help somebody. There “From now on,” were plenty of days she said, “Notre when he felt like crap, Dame will be writbut he kept soldiering on.” ten on my wrist, but Mark will be in my It started only three days after hearheart.” ing he had cancer. Just like they always Mark Herzlich is a changed man, and did, the entire family went to Brad’s those close to him were transformed lacrosse game, drawing amazement from alongside him. They all agree that every the community. setback is merely another hurdle, one “People came up to us and said, that he knows he can clear. Every bad ‘What are you doing here? Why are you day is better than what he had to endure here? I would be on the floor crying.’ over the last year and a half. Across the And I said, ‘What good would that do?’” board, his perspective, along with his Barb remembered. “A lot of people saw family’s, has changed. us out there, and they were surprised.

“None of us take anything for granted But we weren’t going to let the cancer as much anymore,” Sandy said. “We take over our life.” were all determined to beat this thing.

In his year-and-a-half hiatus from It was a team effort. We each had to rely football, it may have seemed like cancer on the others for support.” controlled Herzlich’s life. But it was “A lot of that has to do with how quite the opposite. By refusing to hide strong Mark was,” Barb chimed in. “He from the endless questions coming from was focused and smiling and moving and every media outlet, family member, and continuing to do what he had to do.” concerned stranger, Herzlich controlled He did what he had to do. Before the cancer.

MRI revealed that his cancer was contained, there was a very real chance he could die. Walking would be a nice goal.

Mark Herzlich is right where he Life, limb, then football, the doctors told thought he would be, and he is tired of him. talking about his cancer.

Yet, when everything was stripped His goal never wavered. He chose from him, when the optimistic outcome weeks of radiation instead of opting was that he would live past his 25th for cadaver bone surgery, then had a birthday, the pain of losing football hurt titanium rod inserted in the middle of the most. his femur. A broken foot on the opposite “I always leg held him out of practice and every thought I loved scrimmage, and even when whispered football, and I concerns escalated to swirling doubts, love playing it Herzlich knew where he would be on and I thought it was fun, but Sept. 4. once it comes down to all these different things that can be taken away from you, when football stood out the most “It’s not surreal, because it’s somein my life, that’s when I knew it was thing I planned on the whole time,” something I really want to do and that Herzlich said about being ready to play it’s a huge part of my life,” Herzlich Weber State. “I’m just on course with said. what I want.”

Boek was banking on it, too.

“One thing to take from Mark is to He’s a drama queen and a goofball. never doubt him when he says someHe’s tired, focused, and renewed. He’s a thing,” Boek said. “It’s easy to believe cancer survivor and a feared linebacker. someone when they are so convinced in He’s an inspiration to us all. themselves.”

Mark Herzlich is a lot of things.

But common opinion still views him But most incredibly, Mark Herzlich as the guy who beat cancer, not the is back. 

B5

LOOKING BACK DEC. 3, 2008 Herzlich is named ACC Defensive Player of the Year DEC. 31, 2008 Music City Bowl, his last game before being diagnosed with cancer MARCH 2009 Herzlich begins seeing doctors for leg pain APRIL 25, 2009 Herzlich leads team with nine tackles in the Jay McGillis Spring Game MAY 14, 2009 Herzlich is diagnosed with Ewing’s sarcoma MAY 21, 2009 Herzlich begins chemotherapy treatment at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center

AUG. 28, 2009 BC unveils the “Beat Cancer” T-shirt; all funds go to the American Red Cross AUG. 30, 2009 Herzlich returns to campus, attends team practice SEPT. 5, 2009 Herzlich is given head coach Frank Spaziani’s yellow towel for seasonopener SEPT. 19, 2009 Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney presents Herzlich a check for $9,400 OCT. 3, 2009 Herzlich announces that he is 99 percent cancer free on ESPN’s GameDay OCT. 16, 2009 Herzlich named Butkus Award semi-finalist for top linebacker despite not having played due to illness NOV. 18, 2009 Herzlich given the Disney Spirit Award for raising over $120,000 for cancer research DEC. 14, 2009 Herzlich receives an honorary Lott Trophy JUNE 2010 Herzlich suffers stress fracture in left foot AUG. 28, 2010 Herzlich is cleared to practice SEPT. 4, 2010 Fulfilling his goal to return to football, Herzlich starts against Weber State, recording four tackles

B6

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

Holloway poised for big jump

david givler / heights editor

By Brad Zak Heights Staff

I

n 2008, a Boston College defensive line led

by B.J. Raji and Ron Brace dominated the opposition and frustrated opposing offensive coordinators throughout the ACC. In 2009, the return of Alex Albright helped ease the loss of Raji and Brace, but the unit appeared to lack the explosiveness that defined it the year before.

This year, that explosiveness might be back.

The emergence of sophomore defensive end Max Holloway has many anticipating him to elevate the performance of the group.

Criticism surrounded the defensive line’s inability to force quarterbacks into tough throws and create big plays in the backfield. The sacks dropped from 35 in 2008 to just 18 last year, but Holloway would like to convince the doubters that the defensive line is far from inept.

“We always get a lot of criticism saying we aren’t getting to the quarterback, but it’s not our athletes at all,” Holloway said. “On first and second down,

[our coaches] are real big on getting into the offensive tackle and getting your hands up if it’s a quick throw. Against Weber State they wanted us to rush and then get our hands right up.

“A lot of people will look at the stats and say, ‘Oh, you guys didn’t have any sacks,’ but there was probably only three plays or so where he held it long enough to get to him. They are just waiting to see the sack totals after the game.”

The stat sheet seems to back up Holloway’s explanation of the defensive line’s apparent decline in production. It may not look as pretty without many sacks and tackles for losses, but last year’s unit did a good job of playing to its strengths. Despite the drop in sack totals, the defensive line was part of a BC defense that allowed only 19.7 points per game compared to 18.1 points per game the previous year.

Not bad for a unit that had to replace its best two defensive linemen and deal with the loss of 2008 ACC Defensive Player of the Year Mark Herzlich for the season.

They were good to hold steady last year. Now,

the expectations are heightened, due in large part to Holloway’s development after redshirting in 2008 and seeing limited action in 2009, where he recorded 16 tackles.

He came to BC after playing high school football in Florida. Going into his senior year, he learned that his parents would be moving from the Tampa area to upstate New York, and he would either have to live with a friend or graduate early.

He chose to graduate in December and enroll early at BC after choosing Chestnut Hill over Stanford (his father’s alma mater), the University of South Florida, and NC State because he wanted to be close to his family.

Even back then, the Eagles had to have been glad to snag a player of Holloway’s pedigree. His father played 10 seasons in the NFL with the New England Patriots and Oakland Raiders, and his brother is now a linebacker with the Arizona Cardinals. The athletic tradition goes back another generation to his maternal grandfather, who played 19 seasons in the NHL and won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins.

His family has created a New England sports legacy, and now it’s Holloway’s time to bring more clout to his family’s accomplishments.

When he arrived at BC, though, the defensive end couldn’t simply rely on his God-given athleticism.

Holloway admits that the transition to college football was tough for him as he tried to grasp the complexities of a much more complicated defensive system.

“When I first got here, I didn’t understand football like I do now. In high school, you’re bigger than everybody else, and the coaching isn’t as strict,” Holloway said. “You don’t have to think as much, you just have to go out and play. When you get here, you have to know what everybody around you is doing, where the blitz is coming from, where you fit in the defense, if you have flare of the running back. It’s just a lot more thinking.”

His inspired play on the practice field during the offseason has created enough buzz that it appears the nuances of the defensive scheme are finally starting to sync in. Though he isn’t a starter and is battling Kasim Edebali and Ifeyani Momah for playing time, he made the most of his reps on Saturday, recording two solo tackles in the Weber State game.

Holloway showed enough that he is now penciled in a reserve role behind Albright, but he will be given plenty of opportunities to prove he is ready to be an important part of a run toward the ACC

championship.

In order to get there, he admits that he will use the examples set by Albright and the other upperclassmen on the defensive line.

“Albright is always going full speed, and that pushes me to go full speed, too,” Holloway said.

“If I go out there with a bad attitude because it’s hot out or something, then if I see Newman and Albright going full speed, I can’t complain about it. I have to go full speed, too. They have definitely pushed me a lot and have influenced my play this preseason camp.”

BC football has made a habit of developing talent and bringing out the best in its players. The progression and pedigree of Max Holloway shows that he may be headed down that same path. n

“If I go out there with a bad attitude because it’s hot out or something, then if I see Newman and Albright going full speed, I can’t complain about it. I have to go full speed, too.”

Freshmen get head start by enrolling early

By DJ Adams Heights Editor

W

hile many freshmen filed through the student gates of Alumni Stadium for the first time as undergraduates of Boston College on Saturday, three of their classmates entered through a different tunnel, one that leads directly to the gridiron itself, clad in maroon and gold.

This is not necessarily unusual, as freshmen Josh Bordner, Kevin Pierre-Louis, and Chase Rettig are members of the football team.

Their story, though, comes with a twist.

Last winter, the three athletes graduated high school early, enrolled in BC, and entered their second semester of college this fall. For the first time, these athletes were experiencing something together with the class of 2014 that none had ever been a part of: a regular season football game.

And so, for the freshmen that arrived in such a unique manner, it was only fitting that, once again, they didn’t enter the stadium the same way as their peers.

The gravity of an early-enrollment decision is overwhelming, and it certainly did not come easy to either Bordner or Pierre-Louis.

An exciting and excellent opportunity, sure, but one often turned down by athletes unwilling to take the associated risks.

The benefits, though, of learning the playbook, earning extra experience, and showing off skills propelled these two toward the final decision to arrive to the Heights a semester early.

“I didn’t really know if I wanted to at first because I heard about the second semester of my senior year in high school and I knew it would be a lot of fun,” Bordner said. “But I got to meet the team, got to know the playbook, and know what spring practice is all about.”

“I decided to come in early just to get my feet wet a little bit, to get accustomed to the program as well as showcase the skills that my coaches thought I had when they recruited me,” Pierre-Louis added. “It was also a way to get to know the players in the system earlier than coming in the summer and getting everything thrown at you in the face. A type of smooth

beginning.”

This smooth beginning, though, transformed to a rough onslaught of social hardships. Coming to college early did not just mean forgoing senior year memories. It was the irregular experience on campus that followed that instills the most regret in the athletes.

“I would probably say that one thing I missed was not getting the first semester on Upper,” PierreLouis lamented. “It’s just where everyone gets to know everybody.

And it was hard coming into the spring, because everyone has their set groups of friends.”

“We didn’t really get to meet all the freshmen at orientation, and we don’t get to live on Upper with our class,” Bordner agreed. “Just stuff like that.”

Faced with frustrating social obstacles, the three players began to talk more among themselves in order to overcome their issues and grow as a result.

“Initially, we talked on Facebook, a few messages here and there, nothing too big,” PierreLouis described. “But then when we got on campus, we didn’t know exactly where to go so we talked a lot until we found our

alex trautwig / heights editor

Kevin Pierre-Louis (32) impressed coaches enough during the Spring Game to earn a spot at weakside linebacker.

own places.”

For Chase and Josh, though, the interaction was a little more personal. What could have amounted to an unfriendly quarterback competition became a partnership toward mutual success.

“Coming in both as quarterbacks, it was kind of a little awkward and different,” Bordner said. “But we just hung out a lot, and got to know each other better. There hasn’t really been any tension there or anything, and we have been looking out for one another. Chase is a great player, and I can learn a lot from him.”

Being the newest player on the defensive side of the ball, Kevin realized that he was still somewhat alone. By approaching some upperclassmen, though, he learned from a few defensive starters already established in the system, emerging as a type of protege for his teammates.

“In every aspect, Will Thompson and Wes Davis really helped me out,” Pierre-Louis said. “They pretty much looked out for me coming in. There were a lot of other teammates too, but those two made my coming into the spring a lot better. They were basically my mentors.”

As the only additions to the team last spring, the three found these newly-formed relationships were easy to build, and their awkward adjustment became a surprising advantage over other freshmen who entered this fall.

“From a social standpoint, we were pretty much the new kids on the block,” Pierre-Louis remarked.

“So it was easy for the rest of the guys to get to know us. Instead of 25 brand new kids coming in there, there were only three of us, so it was easy for them to pick up our names and know our faces.”

“I feel like we definitely got ahead of the other freshmen by coming in early,” Bordner agreed.

Though the situations up until this fall were similar for Bordner and Pierre-Louis, they now assume entirely different roles on the team.

Pierre-Louis has emerged as a starting linebacker, racking up five tackles in the opener against Weber State. Bordner, meanwhile, will have to wait for his eventual

Chase Rettig (top) and Josh Bordner (bottom) benefited from arriving early. turn at the quarterback position, deciding to redshirt this season.

Even so, both maintain their humility and are happy with how they got here.

“It was a big risk, but it worked out for the better,” Bordner reflected. “Even though I am probably going to redshirt this year, I am still glad I came early to get my feet settled, find out what classes are about, and how my work ethic has to be.”

“Every choice you make, there are going to be those things which you kind of wonder if you had decided differently, what would’ve happened,” Pierre-Louis said.

“But overall I am happy.

“I realize as a freshman that I am going to make some mistakes out there. But just to contribute in any way that I possibly can, if it’s in the starting lineup for the rest of the season, or just a backup, or even if I get moved to scout team. Whichever way I can help the team, that’s my real goal right there.”

That eagerness to help is apparent, and for BC football that could mean good things for future recruiting. After dispelling many internal struggles to finally find contentment on campus, PierreLouis and Bordner offered advice to any high school seniors considering early enrollment.

“Put some thought into it,” Bordner advised. “If you aren’t serious about it at all, then you

shouldn’t come. But if you really want to come and have a purpose, then I feel like you should do it.”

“I believe that this could become a good trend for not only BC, but for all the BCS schools around the nation,” Pierre-Louis said. “Just to get the kids in early, so they can have that extra semester under their belts, really get into the program, and help their program reach the goals that they need.”

The clarity and maturity within their advice is compelling, answers that can only be created by students advanced in their experiences. But there is one question with which both continue to struggle.

“The weirdest thing is when people bring up the question if we are a freshman or a sophomore,” Pierre-Louis laughed. “We don’t know what to tell them. Well, we are freshmen, but we have been here for half a year.”

So, for one last time, the question was posed, and a short silence ensued as they thought about what to say.

“I consider myself part of the class of 2014,” Pierre-Louis decided.

Bordner leaned back and smiled. “Yeah, so I guess we are freshmen,” he said.

An answer that finally, with 2,250 other students, they can comfortably enjoy. n

The Heights

Thursday, September 9, 2010

B7

“I’ve gone through that phase of wanting personal accolades. It’s not that I don’t want them anymore, but I see the value in the team concept.”

Davis acts as Eagles’ safety valve

Having bucked the obsession with personal goals, BC’s free safety has his sights set on an ACC title.

By Jake Burg Heights Staff

T

eam is not just a word for senior captain Wes Davis.

It is his entire mindset.

The old adage “take things one game at a time” is not a cliche. For Davis, it is an unshakeable reality.

“The first really important game was Weber State, and the second one will be Kent State,” Davis said. “One of the things I’ve learned as I get older is that cliches start to make a lot more sense.

It’s really, really important to take each game, game by game.”

This was something Davis admittedly struggled with during his freshman year.

“I started penciling in the wins and losses [before the season started], and it didn’t turn out like that,” he said. “We beat a couple of highly-ranked teams, and then lost to Miami the last game of the year when they had nothing to play for. So

I’ve gotten past penciling in wins.”

What Davis has not gotten past is the idea of football as a complete team sport. He steps onto the field each time, whether for practice or a game, with that in mind.

He does not see himself as a safety, but rather as a cog in the entire defensive machine.

“I think [my role as a safety] is the same as anyone else’s,” he said. “You do your responsibilities, and you handle your business. During every facet of the game, the whole defense is intertwined.

There is no dichotomy out here. There is no separation. It’s all one unit. So there is no particular one subject of the defensive side of the ball that’s particular to safeties, because everyone has a hand in our accomplishments.”

Davis takes a similarly steadfast and humble approach to his position as a leader on the defense.

“It’s definitely a role that I like,” Davis said with a smile. “I’ve always been giv-

alex trautwig / heights editor

Wes Davis (45) has always been willing to throw his body around from the safety position.

ing out advice throughout my whole four years if somebody is willing to listen.

Now that I’m a senior, it’s definitely my role to make sure that guys are in the right spots.”

He readily admitted, however, that he isn’t the only guy willing to help. “We have a lot of leaders on this team. I’m just one of many,” he said.

With the exception of Davis, the safeties on the roster for Boston College are relatively young and inexperienced this year. Junior Dominick LeGrande, who played linebacker last season, starts opposite Davis at the strong safety position.

This is not only LeGrande’s first year as a consistent starter, it is his first season at the safety position since he played it in high school.

Rounding out the rest of the depth chart are sophomores Jim Noel and Okechukwu Okoroha. With such youth at the position, Davis acknowledges the necessity of his leadership to develop the other safeties.

“Dom and Jim, both of them, are learning,” the captain admitted. “They both still have a long way to go, but they’re progressing. They’re getting better each step of the way. I’m just going to be there to help guide them here and there. I think I’ve seen the potential there, but I haven’t seen the consistency yet. That’s as much my fault as it is anybody else’s. It’s a work in progress.”

Despite its inexperience, Davis is confident in his unit.

“There’s no concerns,” he said. “I don’t think Coach would have put [LeGrande] there if he wasn’t capable of doing it. That doesn’t mean there won’t be bumps in the road with him trying to relearn the position. But I’m confident in what he’s going to be able to do. I have high expectations for him. I expect Dom to make plays. I expect him to be in the right place, and I expect him to contribute to the team.”

Aside from leadership, Davis offers a distinct selflessness to the Eagles. A selflessness he said comes with age.

“I’ve gone through that phase of

alex trautwig / heights editor

wanting personal accolades,” he recollected. “It’s not that I don’t want them anymore, but I see the value in the team concept. For me, personally, when I get wrapped up in those personal things, I lose sight of the bigger picture, which is the ACC championship and for us to win every game.”

But Davis understands that not everyone can be so team-oriented all of the time, especially when there are freshmen trying to gain recognition and more playing time.

“You come in as a freshman, and the first thing you want to do is play, and the next thing you want to do is make a couple of plays, and you want some recognition for the plays you made. Those aren’t bad things as long as you have sight of the common goal,” Davis explained. “I try to preach that to the guys, and I don’t want to take away from their vigor and their fire, but it’s very important that those personal accomplishments aren’t in spite of what we’re trying to do as a team.”

What the team is trying to do this season is generate more turnovers. Davis led the team with just three interceptions in 2009, and it is one major area that Davis hopes to improve upon this season, not only for the safeties but also for the defense as a whole.

“I don’t think we got enough interceptions and turnovers last year,” Davis said.

“Our defense is set up to control big plays, which means that people are going to get a lot of small plays on us. But the way you counteract that is by being able to create your own big plays. And I don’t know if we did that enough last year.”

Again, though, Davis looks at generating turnovers not from a personal or even positional perspective, but rather from an entire defensive team perspective.

“It’s a product of the whole defense.

We just need to get back to that style of football.”

That team style of football, the one that takes one game at a time, is exactly the type of style embodied by Wes Davis. n

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The Heights

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

mike saldarriaga / heights illustration

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

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+Editor’s Corner

An independent frame of mind

Through lenses of summer

arts events calendar, september 9–september 12

As far as the arts are concerned, I had a lovely, rose-colored, ramblin’ summer. I really had no specific goal other Kristen House than to catch up on Mad Men and finally finish The Fountainhead, which had been staring ominously at me from my bookshelf since winter break. There wasn’t a thread connecting what I loved this summer, which included a documentary on Annie Leibovitz, Toy Story 3, Inception, Man on Wire, old episodes of Gilmore Girls, and a comedy roundtable hosted by Brian Williams on Nantucket in July. The entire summer experience reminded me of the diversity of spectacles in the art world.

One minute I was crying over Woody’s journey from Andy’s hands to Bonnie’s, and another I was witnessing the bizarre and unique experience of a live viewing of Zach Galifianakas’ “Between Two Ferns.” In between I marveled at Philip Petit, the man who danced along a wire drawn between the Twin Towers.

The Leibovitz documentary was especially eye-catching and noteworthy. Annie Leibovitz: Life Through a Lens discussed how Leibovitz built her photographic skill set. She spent most of her childhood living in a car, meaning she had a great deal of time alone with the backseat window, during which time she could witness frames full of distinct movement and aesthetically diverse landscapes and people. Later, this skill to see life through such narrow confines would develop into a job as Rolling Stone’s preeminent photographer (during which time she followed the real Rolling Stones on a drughazed tour in the 1970s). She has since moved on to work for Vanity Fair and Vogue.

Throughout her career, Leibovitz has pinpointed the essence of pleather-clad, cocaine-and-vodka laced Stones, cheeky and whimpering on a tiled floor. At the other end of the spectrum, she shot an ethereal Kirsten Dunst in full Marie Antoinette regalia, her excess of pink and gray lateral stripes billowing across an entire ballroom of Versailles. Long ago, Leibovitz even captured John Lennon offhandedly curling up to Yoko Ono, naked, hours before his death.

Her only secret? To make herself as unobtrusive in the lives of her subjects as possible. The documentary showcased her incredible talent, of course, but also made a point to capture her uncanny ability to listen and absorb the qualities of the scene around her.

She has, in essence, placed a glowing part of her soul within each of these entertainers. Her essential qualities – persistence and empathy – brought out the soul of the entertainers in her photos.

Who knew how incredibly helpful those nomadic childhood years, caught in the arid jostling of the backseat and family squabbling, would be?

Too often I attempt to plan, in order to avoid controversy and everyday irritants. Yet, I never plan correctly and something is always bound to go haywire. Because of a random Thursday night spent at home with nothing better to do, I stumbled across this incredibly inspiring woman. Since she was relegated to the most interminable of family road trips, Leibovitz started to realize her penchant for dynamic snapshots. Micromanaging life never ends with anything more than an overly supplied desk worth of folders and those annoying butterfly paper-clips.

It may be silly, but the summer’s random assortment of entertainment oddly reassured and reinvigorated me to get through the impending semesters of hard work.

Wouldn’t it suck if it turned out that everything I’m doing has been a dream? I just hope “the kick” comes during my science core. And that Leonardo DiCaprio is there.

Kristen House is the Arts & Review editor for The Heights. She can be reached at houseka@bc.edu.

thursday

friday

saturday

sunday

Ancient inspires new Burns Library

Ancient inspires new Burns Library

Ancient inspires new Burns Library

Audition: BCde Brighton Studio, 9 a.m.

Literary Lives McMullen Museum

Literary Lives Burns Library

Literary Lives Burns Library

Audition: Beats Main Campus, 7-9 p.m.

The Birthday Massacre The Palladium, 7 p.m.

30 Seconds to mars The Palladium, 7 p.m.

Rascal flatts Comcast Center, 7:30 p.m.

Audition: The Acoustics 315 Lyons Hall, 7-9 p.m.

Pray for polanski Great Scott, 9 p.m.

township The Middle East, 9 p.m.

disco biscuits BofA Pavilion, 6 p.m.

Vampire Weekend BofA Pavilion, 7 p.m.

videos on the verge

Stars working their many ‘talents’

In fourth grade, I had a tiny globe that was also a pencil sharpener. It was a big deal. While all the other kids waited in line for the twisty, metal sharpener bolted to the classroom wall, I got to hold the world in the palm of my hand. Being cool was easy back then if you had anything that served multiple uses – sneakers that were also rollerblades, hairbrushes that had mirrors tucked into them. Having one talent isn’t enough in this world. Why else do you think Mischa Barton designed a line of luxury headbands? It’s no surprise that some of Hollywood’s hottest stars are sidestepping from the silver screen to your YouTube libraries and wowing you with their musical talents. Or, if they’re not wowing you, they’re at least catching your attention. Here are some recent high-scorers in my little game of, “Look at me! I’m singing!”

—Allison Therrien

Photos Courtesy of YouTube.com

Ryan Gosling in Dead Man’s Bones

Joseph Gordon-Levitt Does Lady Gaga

The Emmys Does ‘Born to Run’

The same blond heartthrob that you fell for in The Notebook shows a new side of his personality in his indie rock side project, Dead Man’s Bones. This past weekend at the FYF Festival in Los Angeles, the band performed their hit “My Body is a Zombie for You,” a song made even greater by Gosling’s tendency to start laughing in the middle of the performance.

We loved him in Inception, and we were even won over by him as the super clingy mess in 500 Days of Summer, but Levitt’s recent musings in musical performance have been hit or miss. In this video, Levitt attempts a cover of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” that leaves the listener desperately wishing he would just stick to acting.

If you caught last week’s Emmy Awards, you were sure to be wowed

by Jimmy Fallon’s mission to get more random actors into the opening number than ever before. No one was surprised that cast favorites from Glee were the foundation for the number, but more exciting were some of this number’s cameos, which included the likes of Jon Hamm, Jorge Garcia, and Joel McHale.

bc tube

Photo Courtesy of Hulu.com

Bewildered Ali Fedotowsky responds to her proposal during the moment of truth in the end of the summer ratings smash ‘The Bachlorette.’

A view from atop the Hollywood Hills Howdy, Boston College. The hiatus is over and Tube is back.

With everyone jumping feet first into the new semester, I know it can be difficult Darren Ranck to get that vital entertainment fix for the week. Take umbrage, though, readers. Next week is the beginning of a beautiful friendship between viewer and television as the new season kicks off.

But what of the summer, you ask?

There’s never a chance to skim the scant offerings of summer programming in this space. That being said, is it even worth exploring? Consider Big Brother, the highest rated program over the summer. I watch it, sure, but I also find it mind-numbingly boring and basically a knock off of Survivor with an even dumber cast. Also, I watch everything. I did enjoy Rachel, a Las Vegas “V.I.P. cocktail waitress” and pursuant of a Masters in chemistry, as she yelled at everyone to not come between her and her man, swimming coach Brendon. Televised love is true love.

What love, though, could be more pure than that between a bratty blonde and a handsome baseball player thrown together by fate and cameras? Yes, I speak of The Bachelorette, another sum-

mer hit. I watched it (again, I watch everything), and couldn’t help but think, “Can I borrow the nickname ‘RatedR’?” The aggressively nicknamed celebrity wrestler already had a girlfriend and was called out by bachelorette Ali for his false intentions. What followed was a 15-minute montage of “Rated-R” running from our heroine and navigating the complex layout of their luxury hotel. It was riveting, much like Steve McQueen in The Great Escape. There was also bachelor Kasey, who told Ali a few dozen times he wanted to “guard and protect [her] heart.” To prove his point, he tattooed a heart with a sword guarding it on his forearm. When he revealed the token of love to Ali on a date in Iceland, she promptly dumped him, fleeing the scene in her helicopter as she left him on a glacier. What guy hasn’t had a date like that, though, right?

Obviously, my summer was devoted to television, but not only in terms of viewing. I was lucky enough to work in the television industry over the summer. I interned in Los Angeles in the publicity department of a major cable network. For privacy’s sake, let’s call the network Park. My time at Park Network was certainly eye-opening, to say the least. Even as an intern, I could see the frustration brewing among employees as they stuggled to rise to the top. My duties in publicity were fairly menial. I grouped together press clippings, organized screener mail outs to

well-known critics, and cleaned up the screener closet, among other things.

I generally enjoyed the work, but I suppose I expected something different out of Hollywood. I grew up loving entertainment, television especially, and I thought my industry peers would share that same passion. The more I got to know my co-workers, the more I found my assumption disproved. I asked one of them, “Why did you want to work in television?” To which he replied, “Who doesn’t want to be in the Hollywood scene?” I realized I didn’t. For Park Network, television and everything surrounding it is a chore. For the employees, watching a program is analyzing and critiquing it. Did I want one of my greatest passions slowly extinguished?

When I said I watch everything, I wasn’t joking. I will suffer through Big Brother, The Bachelorette, and all other useless summer programming if I can make that indescribable connection with the program, be it comical or emotional. As great as my experience at Park Network was, it only made me realize how much I love television and how it will be a lifelong hobby. I mean, if it wasn’t, what would I write about in this column? Just like my idol, Joel McHale, I watch it all for you. Tube is back, y’all.

Darren Ranck is a Heights editor. He welcomes comments at ranckd@bc.edu.

Summer’s indie hits

Welcome to my first column. Let me begin with a little bit about myself: My name is Brennan, I’m a sophomore Brennan Carley communications major, self-diagnosed pop culture addict, TV junkie, and entertainment maven. I’m also a big movie lover.

I don’t like anything more than discussing movies with the people I love (well, maybe I like Nicki Minaj a little more – that’s not weird, right?). Just a few nights ago, I spent a solid hour talking with a few friends about what movies we’d seen over the summer, hashing out all the gritty details of what triumphed and what, well, sucked.

At the risk of being called a “movie snob” by my girlfriend yet again, I think it’s fair to say that I prefer indie movies over most anything mainstream, so I thought what better way to start my column than with an evaluation of some of the summer’s films that were a bit more “under the radar.”

One of the best parts of living in a city is the chance to escape to art-house movie theaters and soak up their rich offerings. This summer, I was fortunate to see the critically lavished Winter’s Bone on a scorching June afternoon. Newcomer Jennifer Lawrence plays Ree, a teenage girl forced to take charge of her family when her drug-dealing father disappears. Her performance is raw and unnerving, the emotions on her face so perfectly palpable. The film, which is beautifully shot, depicts the wintery bleakness of an oh-so-rural town in Missouri, a truly unsettling character in and of itself. The supporting cast is brilliant, every member of the massive ensemble brings a terrifying spark to their respective characters. Especially noteworthy is the startlingly inspired performance

by Dale Dickey, one that truly deserves the highest of praise. Her Merab is the most insidious villain on screen this year.

A revealing and surprisingly entertaining documentary, Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work, delighted and surprised me in many ways. I went in with the notion that Rivers was a washed-up comic trying too desperately to remain in the public eye, but the film quickly shatters that notion. Rivers is showcased as the hardest working woman in showbiz. She is seen filing each of her jokes in a massive cabinet, and at 75 is still as sharp as a tack when it comes to remembering them all. The movie paints a moresympathetic-than-not picture of the comedienne, showcasing her in the realest and most intimate moments. The film ends with her victory on The Celebrity Apprentice and subsequently with Rivers at the top of a career that has spanned decades.

I want to focus lastly on a semihybrid of “the summer blockbuster” and “the indie film.” In August, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World quietly arrived in theaters to critical acclaim, but audiences widely ignored it. It’s a little bit hard to describe the movie, but I can say that it is truly one for our generation. In today’s fast-paced world, Scott Pilgrim knows just how to keep the audience’s attention with quick spurts of witty dialogue and blinkand-you’ll-miss-it fight scenes.

Michael Cera finally escapes the rut of apathetic loser characters he is so well known for, and instead peppers his Pilgrim with sly wit and sincere bravado. There are some excellent but brief cameos: Brandon Routh as a clueless vegan, the delightful Anna Kendrick as Scott’s sister, Aubrey Plaza riffing on her Parks and Recreation April Ludgate, and Mae Whitman as the tough-as-nails Roxy Richter. It deserved a better reception than it was given.

Thanks for checking out my first column and hey, even if you didn’t like it, I’ve done my job. There were so many other fantastic independent films that popped up this summer (the unfortunately underappreciated Cyrus and the brilliant New York dramedy Please Give with the always wonderful Catherine Keener). Am I overlooking anything that blew your socks off? Let me know! I’m always game for a good movie.

Brennan Carley is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at review@bcheights.com.

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THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

+Music

NEW RELEASES

Interpol gets lost in old melodramas

BY WILL WATKINS

T Heights Staff

here are typically three reasons why a band self-titles an album.

Many times it is used for a debut, which helps avoid accusations of pretension and works as an introduction. Other times it is used to signify a group reorienting itself, embarking in a new direction, or releasing its magnum opus. The third and unfortunate case is when they have a dearth of good ideas. Unfortunately, the third case applies to the latest self-titled release from Interpol, which shows the band struggling to find its direction.

Even the album name is recycled — a 2002 EP was also self-titled. The band does not cover any new territory, but rather presents a sloppily developed reworking of previous material.

In many ways, Interpol is the indie rock equivalent of a Tim Burton movie.

Both are instantly identifiable to an experienced consumer, and both are inarguably dark. The group broke through in 2002 with its debut, Turn on the Bright Lights, and became one of the first indie rock acts to turn blogosphere hype into commercial success.

Since then, commercial success and acclaim have been harder to find, but the group still commands a loyal fan base and the respect of critics.

The dark tone and despairing feel of Interpol’s previous work is present on this release, which covers the story of a disintegrating relationship. While the lyrical themes are more concerned with a romantic breakup, the band saw a major relationship disintegrate during the production of the album – bassist Carlos Dengler left shortly after recording was finished. Unlike Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, in which the impending departure of guitarist Jay

BRANDON FLOWERS FLAMINGO

INTERPOL INTERPOL PRODUCED BY MATADOR RECORDS RELEASED SEPT. 7, 2010 OUR RATING 5/10

Bennet provided the tension to propel the album to greatness, Dengler’s dissatisfactions get expressed more through apathy than creative breakthroughs.

The most frustrating part of Interpol is that it could have easily been a stronger album with more work. What is even more disappointing is that the group already spent three years writing and recording, so it seems that this album shows them at their creative limit, grasping for the last drops of material.

The first half of the album is considerably stronger than the second, but the issue is not half the songs are good and half are bad, but rather that too many of the songs have ineffective sections or lack distinction. In the best parts of the album, singer Paul Banks’ droning voice avoids sounding monotone, the drums and bass add enough depth and

WEEZER HURLEY

CHART TOPPERS COURTESY OF AMAZON.COM AND XXXX

In their new self-titled album, Interpol fails to produce anything striking and instead surrenders to old habits and contrived lyrics. vibrancy to complement the simple, reverb-soaked guitar, and the emotional crescendos work. The slow building, delayed gratification approach Interpol takes to songwriting is great when they do it well, but at many points on the album the gratification never comes and the songs are lost in blandness.

One of the album’s best songs and a strong example of Interpol done well is “Lights.” The song opens with a simple guitar riff that is more about dynamics than melody and takes almost two minutes to really get going, but it builds in a captivating fashion, with each instrument picking up nuances as the song progresses. The emotional intensity builds with the sonic landscape, making the repeated line, “That’s why I hold you / That is why I hold you, dear” far more impactful when heard than when read on paper.

Another highlight is “Barricade,” which has some of Dengler’s best bass playing on the album combined with Banks’ best chorus on the entire album.

On the far side of the spectrum is “Always Malaise (The Man I Am).”

Here, the tension feels highly contrived and builds to nothing. Banks’ singing of the line “Release me lover” over and over in the song’s middle comes off as crassly melodramatic, and the fancy percussion tricks and added guitar layers are insufficient to rescue the song or provide an interesting climax.

Interpol’s self-titled album will certainly not gain the group any new fans, and it seems very possible that their next release will take longer to put out.

The group shows the listener what it is capable of on Interpol, but fails to consistently deliver.

SINGLES 1 Love the Way You Lie Eminem feat. Rihanna 2 Teenage Dream Katy Perry 3 Dynamite Taio Cruz 4 I Like It Enrique Iglesias feat.

Pitbull 5 DJ Got Us Fallin’ in Love Usher feat. Pitbull COLLEGE ALBUMS 1 Plastic Beach Gorillaz 2 Broken Bells Broken Bells 3 Have One on Me Joanna Newsom 4 One Life Stand Hot Chip 5 Gorilla Manor Local Natives

SOURCE: Billboard.com & CMJ.com

Anberlin abandons signature cleverness

BY ZACH WIELGUS Heights Editor

After completing its fifth album in seven years, Anberlin should have a decent grasp of who it is. Dark Is The Way, Light Is The Place, however, reeks of an identity crisis.

After the band released its third album, Cities, it was clear that Anberlin wanted to shift away from its toe-tapping tone DARK IS THE WAY, LIGHT IS A PLACE ANBERLIN PRODUCED BY REPUBLIC RELEASED SEPT. 7, 2010 OUR RATING 5/10 and young-and-confusedabout-love lyrics. Cities was shaded by darker instrumentals, with a heavy and fast beat that is made for a live rock show.

The band’s drastic shift was somehow infectious. Anberlin was different, and it wasn’t asking for anyone’s approval. Or so

it seemed.

A year later, an apologetic fourth album, New Surrender, hit the stands, projecting a new sound. Frontman Stephen Christian’s vocals still held his trademark distant echo rasp, and though they still meshed with strong drums and guitar, something seemed off. It was still the new Anberlin, but its songs were hesitant, and each track grew weaker with every listen.

Chalk that uncertainty up to the disappointments with Dark Is The Way, Light Is The Place. Anberlin has always thrived with its clever, doubletake-inducing lyrics. Christian belted them out faster than the listener could grasp, begging for a closer listen to appreciate what the band had crafted.

All of that is missing in its fifth album.

The sheer banality of nearly every song jumps out immediately. In the opening track, “We Owe This To Ourselves,” a repeated chorus is interrupted only by a dark guitar solo, with a weak attempt at an individual verse or two serving as a change

of pace. Disappointingly, “Take Me (As You Found Me)” and “Closer” follow the opening track with an identical progression. Two minutes into three of the four opening songs, it seems as if Anberlin was too nervous to branch out, choosing to use a defective cookie cutter to mold its album.

Lyrically, the band seems off.

The carefully crafted carelessness of its earlier albums (“Boys speak in rhythm, and girls in code”) is nowhere to be found, but neither is the impeccable storytelling of Cities and, to a lesser extent, New Surrender.

The quiet confidence Anberlin carried through its first four albums has suddenly vanished, leaving the band desperate and alone. “Who’s gonna drink my blood, now that you’re gone / Who’s gonna ride up my roads now that you’re gone? / Who’s gonna tear my flesh with a siren song?” croons Christian, who sings just as lost as his mates play, in “Take Me As You Found Me.” Later, in “Art of War,” he opens with, “Am I the latest in your art of war? / Thought

COURTESY OF ALLMOVIEPHOTO.COM

Anberlin’s new ‘Dark is the Way, Light is a Place’ leaves listeners missing the band’s original charm. your hands could heal / But they left me so. / Because of you, I’ll never write another love song.” When was Anberlin reduced to begging, forced to plead on their knees? Though many songs in the band’s past albums rang of broken hearts and disappointment, they all produced a natural empathy; on Dark Is The Way, Light Is The Place, the listener feels the need to sympathize.

The album catches wind of past successes in its eighth song, “To The Wolves,” with more of Christian’s echoed yells and confident tone, spiced up with an escalating beat that, while serving as a wonderful reminder of what Anberlin once did, leaves the listener wishing the other nine tracks sounded similarly.

At first, Cities was ill-received given the sudden shift

to Anberlin’s sound, but was soon embraced when fans realized the band’s personality had simply grown in an older, wiser direction. Dark Is The Way, Light Is The Place, however, is not growth.

For reasons unknown, Anberlin regressed in a way no one could have predicted. For the sake of the band, fans can only hope Anberlin can rediscover what it once had – and quickly.

Body Talk debuts a new, outspoken Robyn

BY BRENNAN CARLEY For The Heights

Feisty, beat-savvy singer Robyn has long flown under the radar in America, save for a few modest successes here and there. The blogosphere erupted earlier this year when the petite Swede announced that she would be releasing three EP’s in 2010, the first of which dropped last spring. Entitled Body Talk Pt. 1 the short record was extremely well received by critics and audiences alike. In contrast to her first album this year, which was a stylistic shakeup, BODY TALK PT. 2 ROBYN PRODUCED BY CHERRY TREE / INTERSCOPE RELEASED SEPT. 7, 2010 OUR RATING 8.5/10

Body Talk Pt. 2 reverts to that sound that Robyn fans have come to know and embrace.

Anticipation for her second EP hit a fever pitch when Robyn dropped the track “U Should Know Better” featuring this summer’s ubiquitous guest rapper, Snoop Dogg. It is the perfect single (her second from the disc) – wholly approachable, “U Should Know” is full of catchy and memorable hooks. Unlike his guest spot on the grating “California Gurls,” Snoop shares the spotlight equally with his hostess. The artists trade off smooth verses, crisply and effortlessly bragging about how “I was there at Watergate / you know I rigged my gear got the f—ers on tape / they put the mic in the hand of the wrong MC / Even the CIA knows not to f— with me” as throbbing, hypnotic drum machines pound in the background. It is Robyn’s first successful attempt (since her

hit “Cobrastyle”) at approaching confrontational lyrics in the pop realm.

The first song on the brief album, “In My Eyes” calls to mind the fast-paced keyboards frequently used by The Ting Tings, with the vocal styling of Kylie Minogue. It drips with a sort of “future nostalgia,” a theme that tends to stick for the majority of the album. Another standout is the heart-pumping “Include Me Out” which starts with a fuzzy, auto-tuned voice declaring, “It is really very simple, just a single pulse repeated at a regular interval.”

The baseline kicks in immediately and squiggles spastically for several minutes, providing the framework for a heartfelt song about the highs and lows of a difficult relationship.

To end the album, Robyn comes out with guns blazing: an almost entirely acoustic track, “Indestructible” is one of the most beautiful songs of the

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Robyn proves that catchy can be controversial in her second EP release this year, ‘Body Talk Pt. 2.’ year. “I’m gonna love you like I’ve never been hurt before,” she croons in her dulcet yet commanding voice.

The only difficulty in listening to Body Talk Pt. 2 lies in the

fear that it won’t receive proper airplay, instead ceding the precious minutes of music left on the radio to garbage like Ke$ha.

Robyn is a force to be reckoned with in today’s increasingly ho-

mogenized pop world, one who other artists like Taylor Swift and Katy Perry should seek to emulate in the future, because really, nobody needs another “California Gurls.”

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

+Fashion and Food CHRONICLES OF CAMPUS FASHION

and black canvas sneakers.

It’s undeniable that everyone has been seeing stripes for the past few months and the end of the line(s) does not seem to be in sight, but why kill a good thing? They’re classic, simple, and versatile. Although I haven’t obtained it yet, one of my favorite pieces of the summer was the sailor tee

by French clothier St. James for J.Crew-Madewell.

Camille Masera, A&S ’12, studying abroad at BC and hailing from France, wore a St. James-esque tee and thrifted chestnut brown suede sac, or as I like to call it, “where writing utensils go to die.” But, don’t underestimate the power of these pen graves to elevate an ensemble. A sturdy, big leather bag is multi-seasonal and always a do. In addition, her draped trouser shorts are the perfect summer-fall transition piece, as this outfit would look just as lovely with a pair of black stockings, big wool scarf and blazer or jacket of sorts.

Just when I almost lost all faith in the male ability to dress well on this campus, I bumped into Alex Dekeyserling, A&S ’11, in a Mac stairwell. Recently returning to the States from Japan, Alex brought a bit of Asian flare back with him, sporting cropped pants, black slipper-sneakers, and a Greek mapgraphic crew neck. The cargo pant is another ’90s trend that spring runways decided to give another chance this season for men, as well as women. Alex made some personal adjustments by rolling them up a few times, bringing a bit more attention to his shoes. The slip-on sneakers, brought home from Japan, also set him apart from the majority of BC men.

It’s refreshing to see that he left his running shoes at home as he was not going on a run, but to class. So, take note, boys: Cool shoes – chicks dig ’em.

Whether it be waking up 10 minutes earlier or giving five minutes of thought to an outfit the night prior, looking presentable is a lot easier than most assume it to be. Sweatpants are comfortable, but so is a pair of well-fitted chinos or jeans. So save workout wear for the gym, because there will never be a day when exercising in twill is a good idea. In conclusion, let’s make back-to-school fashion toschool fashion and keep up the appearances all year.

P.S. On a semi-unrelated note, happy fashion week! If I had a crystal ball or a trendy gypsy companion, I would instruct readers to keep a watchful eye on Whit, for the hipster whose maturity levels grew out of their blinding American Apparel leggings, and Improvd, for those who enjoy a tasteful edge.

Autumn tips and trends

By Kailey Kramer For The Heights

G

iven the student population’s brief presence on campus thus far, I worked with an abbreviated amount of time to shoot the photos for this column. Despite this, I found it fairly easy because in the campus fashion world, the first days of school are definitely considered an event.

Perhaps it is due to the fact that everyone already arises an extra 30 minutes earlier than necessary due to the excitement or anxiety that accompanies the first day of classes. On the other hand, students might simply be looking to make memorable first impressions by way of the newest seasonal additions to their wardrobes. Whatever the reason, backto-school style always tends to showcase the latest and greatest of fall and winter trends to come.

Denim proves to be one of those trends.

Between chambray shirts and cutoffs, the timeless fabric has been making statements through the revival of ’80s and ’90s styles. For example, denim on denim, otherwise endearingly known as the “Canadian Tuxedo,” is globally littering the streets and street-style blogs alike. As seen on Liz Moy, A&S ’13, denim shirt and high-waisted cutoffs are paired in a modern way. “Modern” being the operative word in this description, so that way we’re only screaming “I love Full House!” on the inside. Liz took this look more into the 21st century with finishing touches like cat-eye shades

KAILEY KRAMER / FOR THE HEIGHTS

On Liz: A ‘tuxedo’ for the less pretentious.

On Camille: A natural-born French citizen in a chic French look.

RECIPE OF THE WEEK MIX UP GRILLED CHICKEN

On Alex: Greek graphics translate to “Killer t-shirt,” in English.

ON THE SESSION

Mary Ann’s: exit strategy When debating whether you’re in a bar or a vat of sewage, ask yourself the following questions: Do you have less than two square inches of breathing space? Does the teeming crowd help you understand the physics of a clown car?

Are the glasses not cleaned?

In other words, have you witnessed this sequence of events: (1) A girl finishes her lime vodka-grenadine-tonic (with an orange peel), (2) the bartender dunks her emptied glass in a tub of sanitizer, (3) and then wipes the glass with a rag just used to absorb a spilled Budweiser on a floor with 73 years of concentrated sneaker scuffs, rotting insect carcasses, and sticky liqueurs, (4) and then pours your rum and coke into the glass. (5) Lime vodka-grenadine-tonicorange-peel girl approaches you and says, “We’re drinking out of the same cup, wanna like, make out?” (6) and then an errant arcade game miniature basketball whizzes across the bar and shatters your glass, forcing you to wait for someone else to finish her drink to start the process over.

Does the bar’s entrance remind you of the RMV? Do you have to scribble your license number and information to “sign in?”

Are customers prone to sucking face at the bar? In the restrooms? Against the vending machines? On top of the miniature basketball arcade game?

On top of you?

Does the establishment offer a jukebox that allows a man with the judgment of eight Busch Lights and three gin and tonics to play DJ? In other words, will the bar play Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” eight times an hour?

Worse yet, does the patronage not only tolerate but get its jollies from songs like Taio Cruz’s “Dynamite” repeating eight times an hour, because, gosh darn it, don’t we all throw our hands up in the air, from time to time, while singing “AYO?”

ZAK JASON

KEVIN HOU / HEIGHTS EDITOR

BY DIANA C. NEARHOS Heights Senior Staff

You finally have a kitchen and are not subject to dining hall food. But wait, that means you actually have to cook something. Now what do you do?

Well, chicken is always a good choice. It provides a healthy meal – lots of protein – without costing too much. But how many times can you grill or saute a plain chicken breast before it gets boring?

Many options exist beyond a plain breast.

Ever heard of marinade? I know, it sounds like a complex process that might take a lot of time, but it really does not. So, you go to the grocery store and buy your package of trimmed boneless chicken breasts – no one wants to trim off the gross skin – come home, and want to throw it in the fridge?

First of all, the fridge is not the best place for your meat; it only good for a few days past the “sell by” date. Instead, freeze it. But, before you do that, add a bit of marinade and you will get some great flavors in there. If you so choose, you can freeze plain chicken and marinate it after is has defrosted. Or you can save time by freezing it in the marinade, so it soaks into the meat while it freezes and even more while it defrosts.

When you get home from the store, or later in the day, take a few minutes to mix up a marinade or two. My personal favorite is the honey-Italian chicken my mom always makes.

In a measuring cup (one of the big ones made for liquids) mix honey, orange juice, and Italian dressing mix (the dry mix that you would add olive oil and vinegar to for dressing). That is it - you are done with your first marinade. This recipe makes enough for about 8-10 breasts, so you can easily halve the amounts if you have less chicken.

In addition, you can make a couple variations of lemon chicken marinades. Start with about a quarter cup of olive oil and about two

tablespoons (an eighth of a cup) of lemon juice.

Fresh juice squeezed straight from a lemon will taste much better than from a bottle; it is definitely worth the little bit of effort – roll the lemon before slicing and it will juice easier too.

Then you can add finely chopped garlic, not more than a clove, and / or different herbs like parsley, rosemary, or thyme.

The most popular form of chicken might be barbecue. For that, you can just buy a pre-made sauce. Many people just throw the sauce on as they cook the chicken, but it will have even more of that delicious barbecue flavor if you marinate it first.

Personally, I slice the chicken breasts in half the long way before marinating because it is more flavorful that way, cooks more quickly, and is a better size for a sandwich. I cut my chicken and freeze two or three halves in a sandwich bag with a bit of marinade. That way, in the morning, or night before, I can take out one single-meal-sized bag and let it defrost in the fridge while I go to class and it is ready to cook by dinnertime.

Speaking of cooking, there are two ways to really get the best chicken: grilling and sauteing. An actual grill is ideal (those lucky ones in the Mods can do that), but a George Foreman works very well also. Or if you just have a frying pan, put a bit of olive oil in the bottom and once it’s heated, throw the chicken on and flip it often to get both sides cooked through. When it is white all the way through and the juices run clear, you’re done.

Throw your chicken in a sandwich, on a salad, or eat it with a side dish. This way your healthy, cost-effective chicken breast has a lot more flavor and appeal. Just think how impressed your roommates will be. Eat well and enjoy! **Want to make Diana’s chicken marinades yourself? Check out www.bcheights.com/arts for the specific recipes featured in this week’s Recipe of the Week.

Kailey Kramer is a Heights contributor. She can be reached for comment at arts@bcheights.com.

At this school’s most beloved rat hole, we proclaim an emphatic YES to each of those questions. Mary Ann’s is less of a bar and more of a brick-walled hormone factory. If they fought the Civil War in Cleveland Circle, Mary Ann’s would be the Hotbed of Secession.

Some sympathizers retort that all those saliva-marinated glasses, the suffocating beyond-capacity crowd, the overplayed party jams – all that adds character. It’s a tradition, man. Hindu women used to have a tradition of jumping into the flames of their husbands’ cremating corpses to commit suicide. The MA’s tradition is only a notch more practical.

Most, however, even concede that Mary Ann’s is a dive. The bar itself basks in its lowbrow appeal. Above the bar hangs a framed article from Boston Magazine, when it dubbed MA’s the worst bar in town.

Most defend, simply, that everyone is always there. If you want to see people and be seen, Mary Ann’s is the sole venue.

Moles have the same practice, burrowing deep into the grime of the earth to find a mate.

I realized I’ve antagonized the vast majority of the senior class (and with the Taio Cruz

slandering, the vast majority of the student body). I don’t loathe Mary Ann’s that much. On Tuesday, I ventured there before the first day of school to “research” this column, but really I just wanted to grab a beer with my friends. The vat of sewage has its purpose, its dumpster charm.

But Boston boasts one of the most hailed and cultured and wild drinking scenes in any land.

We have a bar where Paul Revere used to swig whiskey. We have a bar 700 feet above sea level. We have a bar with bartenders that prescribe you drinks based on your personality. Mary Ann’s has something similar, but it’s typically something along the lines of, “These girls definitely aren’t drunk enough. Hey man, give us a round of Kamikaze shots.” It is time to venture out.

Mary Ann’s has littered the pages of The Heights. Sift through our archives and you’re bound to find at least an article on the bar each semester. “Mary Ann’s begins new policy of washing dishes,” an article from 2004, is particularly illuminating. In the piece the owner asserts, “After months of deliberations we have decided to begin washing dishes.” It is time to move on.

Throughout this semester, I will trek through the Hub past and present, revisiting the bootlegging Kennedys, crawling through the Lansdowne pubs, sampling the local brews, receiving a diagnostic drink at Drink. I will document the structure, the style, and the story of Boston’s drinking scene, both good and bad (Who knows? Maybe there are college bars far more vile than ours.)

My friend once became sufficiently inebriated in the prescence of British gentlemen.

When they noticed his behavior they declared, “He’s on the session!” presumably a British saying for getting. Join me for a semester-long session that traverses far from the reaches of Cleveland Circle.

For now, if you spot me at Mary Ann’s, I owe you a beer.

Zak Jason is a Heights editor. He can be reached at arts@bcheights. com.

CLASSIFIEDS

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THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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FEMALE VOLUNTEERS: Who are currently anorexic or have recovered from past symptoms of anorexia nervosa in stable medical health are sought for a study of behavioral ratings and blood hormone levels.

Eligible participants will receive up to $550 for a total of four outpatient visits and two overnight stays at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Canter. More info: Michael Mckenery 617-552-2758 mckenery@bc.edu

Have you thought about adoption? Loving and devoted married couple hoping to adopt. We hope you will consider us in your options. To learn more, please call us toll-free at 1-877-841-3748, or visit our Web site www.roseanneandtim. com. Please be assured all conversations are held in strict confidence.

With gratitude, Roseanne and Tim.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE: Perfect location. ACROSS FROM BC, steps to T and shops, GARAGE. IN-UNIT LAUNDRY, storage, 2yrs NEW, 1br. Chestnut Hill. $339k.

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OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING. Available 9/1. Brighton, Cleveland Circle. Best value. Modern, large, 3-bed, eat-in kitchen, dishwasher/dispenser, new bathroom, hardwood, laundry, heat included. NO FEE, by owner $2100.

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NEED HOUSING FOR SPRING 2011 SEMESTER? Available 9/1.

Brighton. Walk to BC. Modern, 2bed, hardwood, balcony, parking, swimming pool, dishwasher/dispenser, new bath, laundry, heat included, NO FEE, by owner $1550.

(617)-256-3306.

BIRTHDAY WISHES The Heights wishes a fantastic belated birthday to Patrick Joseph Gallagher (August 24)! The Heights wishes very happy birthday to John Charles O’Reilly (September 1), Michael Anthony Caprio (September 6), and Brynne Adele Lee (September 8)!

Hot Mess. Hot Summer. Chaud!

Minxy minx.

Answers to the Crossword are below the Sudoku

Directions: The Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid. In each row there are 9 slots, some of which are empty and need to be filled.

Each row, column and 3x3 box should contain the numbers 1 to 9. You must follow these rules: · Number can appear only once in each row · Number can appear only once in each column · Number can appear only once in each 3x3 box · The number should appear only once on row, column or area.

Answers below

C6

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

Thursday, September 9, 2010

+Television What we’re watching

Thin and pretty lives on Bravo and E! the spin crowd Produced by Kim Kardashian, this new show explores the world of celebrity public relations by following the staff of Command PR, run by Jonathan Cheban and Simon Huck, who have both appeared on Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The company’s strict dress code, which requires that their young female employees wear heels and skintight skirts fit for the LA club scene, it’s easy to forget this is an actual business and not just a caricature of one.

On top of that, each cast member has an intense personality and completely overdramatic reactions to even the most mundane problems, like a spilled cup of coffee. The Spin Crowd is a guilty pleasure that’s well worth it.

Mondays 10 p.m. on Bravo.

C7

upcoming fall television premieres Vampire Diaries Thursday 9/9 at 8 p.m. on The CW Nikita Thursday 9/9 at 9 p.m. on The CW 90210 Monday 9/13 at 8 p.m. on The CW Gossip Girl Monday 9/13 at 9 p.m. on The CW one tree hill Tuesday 9/14 at 8 p.m. on The CW Parenthood Tuesday 9/14 at 10 p.m. on NBC Survivor: Nicaragua Wednesday 9/15 at 8 p.m. on CBS it’s always sunny in philadelphia Thursday 9/16 at 10 p.m. on FX The apprentice Thursday 9/16 at 10 p.m. on NBC dancing with the stars Monday 9/20 at 8 p.m. on ABC House Monday 9/20 at 8 p.m. on Fox

Thintervention

The Rachel Zoe Project Teetering in 6-inch designer stilettos through her third season, the celebrity stylist Rachel Zoe continues to dramatize each and every aspect of her life all while putting together ridiculously enviable outfits for an A-list crowd. Featured clientele include Kate Hudson and Demi Moore. From a fashion standpoint, the show provides an unparalleled inside look. Meetings with designers such as Angela and Marghertia Missoni, backstage schmoozing with Oscar de la Renta and Donatella Versace, and glimpses of the front row everywhere from Chanel to Burberry, make the show a must-see for any fashion enthusiast, that is, as long as he or she can handle the constant slew of “Bananas” and “I die” coming from Zoe’s mouth.

Tuesdays 10 p.m. on Bravo.

In a spin-off of Bravo’s Work Out, trainer Jackie Warner is back to intimidate every last ounce of fat off the contestants in her newest show. Opposed to a Biggest Loser-type set up, the contestants do not live under one roof. In fact, part of the challenge is applying the lessons they learn about food and exercise to their daily lives from the beginning. Additionally, the personalities of the contestants shine through much brighter than other weight-loss shows tend to allow.

Between a former Real Housewives Of Orange County cast member and a loud-mouthed British woman with an insatiable appetite for cocktails, there’s hardly a shy or even rational character in the mix.

Sundays at 10:30 p.m. on E!

—Carrie McMahon Heights Editor

how i met your mother Monday 9/20 at 8 p.m. on CBS Glee Tuesday 9/21 at 8 p.m. on Fox modern family Wednesday 9/22 at 8:30 p.m. on ABC The Big bang theory Thursday 9/23 at 8 p.m. on CBS 30 Rock Thursday 9/23 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC Grey’s Anatomy Thursday 9/23 at 9 p.m. on ABC The Office Thursday 9/23 at 9 p.m. on NBC The Amazing Race Sunday 9/26 at 8:30 p.m. on CBS

Heights Senior Staff

About 30 miles south of Manchester, Tenn., I had my first Bonnaroo experience. Shoved in the backseat with ice chest on the seat next to me, I started to count the vehicles that were pulled over on the side of the road. For those who have traveled to Bonnaroo before, I’m not talking about the entrance line that stretches for miles. No, these were clustered troops sporadically set aside here and there. Little did I know, we would soon be among them.

“Sir, please step out of the vehicle,” said the police officer with a thick, Georgia drawl. Apparently, our driver forgot to use his turn signal, which merited the sirens and a compulsory Q and A session. “Are you folks headed to Bonnaroo?”

This question seemed misplaced at first, but then again, it explained everything. Especially when we drove off without a ticket. After pulling the only gentleman in our crew out for a talk, he explained that our car was the first that didn’t reek of weed. Pull down your window. Step out of the car. A sequence of unimportant questions starting with Bonnaroo.

Just add Bonnaroo and it will all start to make sense. For many people, the Bonnaroo Music and Art Festival, held every year in June, is either a long car ride or shorter plane ride away. This year for me, it was a 17-hour overnight trip through the Southern heartland of God-fearing billboards, which included two motels on the outskirts of Atlanta (One that welcomed us with a room littered with cups of tobacco juice and sunflower seeds and another that welcomed us with air conditioning and a Domino’s Pizza menu – guess which one we chose) and a misguided three-hour detour to Franklin, Tenn., courtesy of Google Maps.

Every year, the music officially starts around sunset on Thursday and unofficially ends around sunrise on Monday – this includes the wandering troubadours and the impromptu rave that yes, you can hear clearly from what should be a mile away. After parking, we set up our camp against a fence protecting a long, tin-like building that looked a lot like one of the chicken houses in Food, Inc. Concerts were approaching as the sun set, and although I was beginning to understand where hay came from after feeling the dry, prickly ground we would be sleeping on later that night, we decided it was finally time for some of this sacred, festival music.

Before the Roo, I would have identified myself with these statements: I hate The National and I love Mumford & Sons.

My guiltiest pleasure is Ingrid Michaelson and I once saw Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward before they were She & Him, and they were better than good. A small confession, even though I own Sound of Silver - I still can’t get into LCD Soundsystem beyond “Daft Punk is Playing at My House.”

After Bonnaroo, almost all of these statements still apply, although there are some changes here and there.

Exuberance and naivete are probably the two defining characteristics of a first timer at Bonnaroo – note that I was not the exception. Neon Indian marked my first fail in the long list of festival miscalculations I incurred over the course of the four days. Neon Indian was the first full set I had the fortune to enjoy, meaning I had only seen the last of Miike Snow and had completely missed Local Natives. The

first lesson you learn at Bonnaroo is that it is impossible to see all the bands you want to see, but giving up on that ideal schedule is what allows you to enjoy music you would have missed otherwise. The National was originally a mistake on the way to see Tenacious D, but when the string and horn section sucked me in, there was no looking back. Hate is a strong word, I never should have used it.

The Neon Indian set was more of a placeholder than a must-see. Filled with atmospheric lulling and indistinguishable vocals, it marked my chance to move to the front for Temper Trap. Although the sun had set, the “tent” that formed the concert space was filled with hot air weighed down by smoke and sweat. This should never stop a concert junkie. By the last song, we had made our way toward the front and when it came time for the band switch we found ourselves in the thick of it, front and center. Only 30 minutes until showtime.

Five minutes in, a Michael Jackson recording filled the background and, even though all I could smell was the body odor of the topless man in front of me, I was enjoying myself.

Ten minutes in, I heard gasps and a thud to my right. When I looked over, I saw a man on the floor, his eyes rolled into the back of his head. Fifteen minutes in, I was hit in the head by a backpack and pushed to the side. However annoyed I may have been, I felt guilty when I saw the cause of such rudeness: a girl so far gone that her apologetic friends were dragging her out of the tent. Ten minutes left until I was free of this circus, my head started to hurt and I suddenly felt thirsty.

Next thing I knew, I was being held up by something other than my feet and asked the most irrelevant question, “Are you alright?” Of course I was.

Just add Bonnaroo or it all might not make sense. My eyes had rolled into the back of my head just like the man who hit the floor and so, I lost my perfect spot for the show after being dragged to a picnic table outside the tent.

This Bonnaroo experience may have haunted me for the rest of the festival – I never was caught without a water bottle and I was continuously soaked for the duration, my bun of hair a stiff reservoir of dirt, sweat, and water – but even though the overbearing heat stayed, I did not faint again.

Every morning at 6 a.m., the heat woke me from my tented slumber, and during Regina Spektor I stared at a cloud for over an hour in the hopes that my will power could make it move to block out the sun, and yet some part of me misses the Tennessee sun.

My third Bonnaroo experience involved a miscommunication that left me by myself for a day. Finding myself totally alone amid thousands of strangers was a mistake, but it could have been worse. I could have fainted again. Wandering without friends, I realized it was far different than getting lost at Disneyland. At Bonnaroo you have something in common with everyone: You loved Bonnaroo (music or just the festival, as in the case of our sleeping neighbors who missed almost every band on the lineup except Chromeo) enough to either splurge on the ticket or find some way around the cost, and you also took the time to make the trek to this obscure patch of farmland in order to spend days in the heat and dirt. Venturing off on my own, I established a fortuitous relationship with the Budweiser tent water man

and found someone with whom to see The Flaming Lips and LCD Soundsystem, and although I still may not love LCD, his songs will now always have a memorable ring. It was on my own with only a Bonnaroo map schedule at hand that I found The Middle East and was able to lose myself within “Blood.” Standing alongside hipsters who knew every word, I forgot that I was alone.

As for preconceptions, She & Him may be better than good, but only when they want to be. I stayed to hear them play, hoping that they would prove the critics wrong. I had to wait for the last song to hear that voice finally let go, all the other songs drowned in boring beauty. For only a second I was reminded of the first time I ever saw them play. Please tell me why this only lasted one second.

Almost every other performance led me to think that there must be something in the backstage water. The atmosphere at Bonnaroo lacks the lull of a national tour for an upcoming album or a reunion tribute celebrating a successful album from the past. Even in the heat, nearly every set diffuses the air of that show you saw in some forgettable, shadowy venue for five bucks. Surrounded by a crowd of smiling, sweaty faces, you and the band both seem to remember at the same time why you are here: music, and that inaudible something that always comes with it, pure meaning that precedes explanation.

I saw this in the willingness of bands to join each other on stage, the acoustic sets, and the abundance of covers.

Whether it was Miike Snow, Mumford, Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Kid Cudi, or the Dark Side of the Moon tribute by The Flaming Lips, I almost was surprised by how musically literate all of the acts were. Ingrid Michaelson’s cover of Britney Spears’ “Toxic” said it all. Satire or tribute, it didn’t matter because it was fun. Guilty pleasure no more.

When Dave Rawlings Machine joined Mumford & Sons onstage for “Wagon Wheel,” it was not only the most memorable collaboration of the festival, but it was also proof of the reach and embrace of music regardless of genre.

Almost everyone who plays Bonnaroo excels where pop acts like Ashlee Simpson fail. Mumford was no exception. For anyone who has heard their BBC1 Sessions, the boys sound better live. Layered harmonies and acoustic plucking, free of the beats of a drum and instead filled with the eagerness of a band on the rise, are hard to hear through iPod ear buds.

The magnificence of this delicate balance is a force to behold in person. Enveloped in their music, singing along with all the other fans that filled the tent, my friend turned to me and said, “You seem really happy,” and I was. One could even call it a defining Bonnaroo experience.

Monday morning might have come too quick, but I am sure that many a Bonnaroo-er would agree that it comes just in time. No kid wants to spend their entire year at camp and no hippie wants to spend their entire summer at Bonnaroo.

However, no matter who you are, though, it is hard to shake that feeling that there must be a stage to run to the week after it is all over.

What exactly goes into the making of a Bonnaroo experience? I think the only way to explain this would be with a reference to Justice Potter Stewart’s Supreme Court opinion on obscenity, “I know it when I see it.” 

HEIGHTS ILLUSTRATION / RACHEL GREGORIO

BY MICHELLE KACZMAREK

MARKETPLACE THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

D1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

POLITICAL PULSE

MARKET REPORT

Bad omens for Dems in November

A sober economic view of the FIFA World Cup generated twice as many references as official footwear sponsor Adidas.

Adidas had the second highest level of mentions with official sponsors Coca-Cola, Sony, and Visa rounding out the top five. It is estimated that sponsors paid $18,000 per second for ads, and those during the final or well-watched games commanded even higher rates.

Even investment banks have gotten into the game. Goldman Sachs famously released a document entitled “The World Cup and Economics 2010,” which detailed with a fair degree of certainty that England would advance to at least the semi-finals.

With England eliminated before even the quarter-finals, one can only hope that their ineptitude at betting does not reflect their investment-banking ability.

The numbers are staggering.

Sponsors like Hyundai, Coca-Cola, and Sony are reportedly paying $305 million to be “FIFA Partners,” which includes rights to two World Cups over seven years. Ticket revenues totaled around $717 million. FIFA made over $1 billion. Fans placed over $1 billion in bets. Global TV rights for the event brought in over $2 billion. South Africa committed $5.4 billion to the event.

The question remains as to whether South Africa has seen an economic benefit from hosting the World Cup. While South Africa is the most advanced economy on the African subcontinent, modern football comprises a daunting industry.

It includes tremendously complex infrastructure such as ornate stadiums, training bases, rehabilitation centers,

AMEET PADTE DANNY MARTINEZ

PHOTO COURTESY OF SKYSCRAPERCITY.COM

While the World Cup proved fruitful for Spain (above), the question as to whether the event will be economically beneficial to South Africa in the long run is uncertain. Below is Cape Town Stadium under construction in anticipation of the World Cup.

See World Cup, D3

HEALTH & SCIENCE

McChrystal out, to teach at Yale

Ways to beat stress

Yale gains experience and controversy with the dismissed general

BY ANDREW MITTEN

man, the mother of deceased Army Ranger Pat Tillman, has called the Ivy League’s hiring of the former general “insulting.” The Tillman family, as well as a new documentary, The Tillman Story, by Amir BarLev, allege that McChrystal used his position as a Lt. General to try and cover up the 2004 friendly fire incident that resulted in Tillman’s death with falsified reports of enemy fire. Bar-Lev is scheduled to screen a showing of The Tillman Story on Sept. 11 at Yale, originally sponsored by the Yale Democrats. However, since McChrystal’s hiring, the Yale Democrats have backed out of the event, with Ben Stango, Yale College

For The Heights

Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the former International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Commander in Afghanistan, will teach a graduate level leadership class at Yale University this fall, ending speculation as to what the ousted general would do post-retirement. Having departed from the U.S. Army after a Rolling Stones article published controversial comments he and his staff made about U.S. civilian officers, McChrystal had previously offered few clues about a civilian career.

Now McChrystal, who noted in his retirement ceremony that his 34-year military career had taught him that people do not want to follow overly cautious leaders, will officially be a senior fellow at Yale’s Jackson Institute for Global Affairs.

McChrystal’s extensive resume begins with his graduation from West Point in 1976 and entrance into the U.S. Army infantry. He became an Army Ranger and member of the Special Forces before entering the Naval War College as a student in the Command and Staff course in 1989. In the 1990s, McChrystal spent a year as a senior service college fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University before commanding the entire 75th Ranger Regiment. Before his 2009 ISAF commander assignment in Afghanistan, McChrystal served as the commander of the Joint Special Operations Command from 2003 to 2008, as well as the director of join staff from 2008 to 2009. Among his major credits is the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, leader of Al-Qaeda in Iraq.

However, McChrystal’s legacy also brings controversy to Yale. Mary Till-

Democrats President stating, “The Yale College Democrats do not attack war heroes. We do not attack members of the Yale faculty.”

Another controversy surrounding McChrystal is the interrogation methods practiced by Task Force 6-26, which he supervised in his previous position as commander of the Joint Special Operations Command. The Task Force was accused of abusing detainees, and 34 members of the unit were disciplined in the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal of 2004. In 2008, when former President George W.

RACHEL NEWMILLER The beginning of the fall semester is certainly an exciting time on campus, with students attending the first football game, meeting new roommates, and reuniting with old friends. Although classes have barely started and finals week is still far off, stress seems to sneak its way into our lives early in the year. Long lines in the bookstore, difficulty with course registration, the reappearance of deadlines, and problematic social situations paired with the anxiety over moving into a new “home” can be overwhelming.

Stress is a normal human response experienced by (almost) all students at one time or another. As Dr. Danielle Taghian of the Boston College biology department explains, “Your body’s natural response to acute stress is to produce adrenaline and cortisol, hormones secreted by the adrenal glands. Together, these hormones elevate heart rate and blood pressure and cause blood glucose levels to increase, creating a physiological survival response.” This survival mode is often called the “fight or flight” reaction and is governed by the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (ANS).

This reaction happens automatically

See McChrystal, D2

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BARACKPHOTOS.COM

See Stress, D2

President Obama fired McChrystal shortly after the ‘Rolling Stone’ article was released.

POLITICS

ECONOMICS

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Terry Jones, a pastor from the Florida Dover World Outreach Church, plans to burn the Quran, drawing criticism from U.S. government officials and military leaders.

Speaking in Cleveland, Ohio, President Obama proposed a $200 billion tax cut to aid struggling businesses. Obama hopes that this measure will help the stagnant economy.

In a random national sample, voters favored voting Republican to Democrat by a 10-point margin, with the impending midterm elections in November.

Still pessimistic about the economic recovery, gold stock reached an all-time high, signaling that investors do not believe the economy will turn around any time soon.

Craigslist ended their “adult services” section after multiple state attorney generals threaten to sue. The feature came under fire after the “Craigslist Killer” used the service to find prostitutes to rob.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt announced that Google TV will premiere in the fall.

The program is a software attachment to TVs that allows users to browse the Internet and watch web videos.

I NSIDE MARKE TP L A C E

THIS ISSUE

On the flip side

35

The number of days the Chilean miners have been trapped underground. Their rescue is expected to take months.

500

The approximate number of women and children that have been raped in the Congo during the current U.N. peacekeeping mission.

This week, On the Flip Side will explore both sides of the issue of the Ground Zero Mosque...................................................... B8

“ We have firmly made up our

IN QUOTES

IN THE NEWS

See November, D4

MARTIN MEISSNER / AP PHOTO

IN NUMBERS

Last summer, the debate was health care. No corner of the country was left untouched by the storm of passions on both sides. Representatives were confronted by people for and against the controversial bill.

And it passed – barely – with many of the original provisions that thencandidate Obama promised (singlepayer, anyone?) in his presidential campaign. Regardless, this bill, along with many other Obama-stamped policies like the bailout and financial stimulus, only strengthened Democratic opposition.

This opposition came most vociferiously from the Tea Party. Although the Tea Party is still a primarily right-wing dominated group, they have made some headway into the mainstream. On Sept.

1, Tea Party candidate Joe Miller handily defeated Lisa Murkowski (R-AL), an eight-year Senate veteran. Miller is expected to win the general election in November.

Sarah Palin and her Tea Party may have won some voters with their message, but the change in feeling is more anti-Obama than pro-another candidate or idea. Again, it is a signal that the Left or Right do not rule America – the independents do. When Obama was elected in 2008, he won mainly on the backs of independents who, disgusted after eight years of George W. Bush, wanted to try something new.

In 2010, there will be a slight backlash.

Although Republicans have not adequately made their message concise or clear, it does not need to be. President Obama has not done a good job either.

At this moment, all signs show that the Republicans will take back the House of Representatives.

According to the independent Gallup polling service, voters are 10 percent more likely to vote for a Republican candidate than a Democratic candidate. The poll was conducted between Aug. 23-29 and showed that 41 percent of voters were likely to vote for Democrats and 51 percent for Republicans. These numbers highlight the independent shift – which was notably pro-Obama in the early days of his presidency – from the Democrats to the G.O.P. The onus will be on President Obama and the Democrats over the next two months, to show voters that they have the best plan for the country.

While the Obama administration has taken, in their view, the necessary steps to pull the country out of a recession, the results have not been forthcoming. This is not a failure of policy as much as it is, for the voters who trusted the Democrats in 2008, a failure of patience. However, the Republicans have capitalized on the still stagnant economy, professing that the steps Obama has taken have only made the country worse. That is a smart strategy, considering the election is only two months away, and unemployment and growth numbers will probably not improve dramatically.

Democratic strategist David Plouffe, widely considered the architect of Obama’s 2008 victory, believes the issue is more about Democrats turning out to vote than independents.

“We can maintain control in both chambers if we make this a choice between two people in districts and states and we have to make sure Democratic

Like three-quarters of a billion people, I tuned in early this summer to watch the 2010 World Cup. My time inebriating myself as football/ soccer titans from around the world battled it out in South Africa was well spent. Though I was disappointed that the United States did not advance past the Round of 16, my regret was salved when I witnessed our English adversaries get thoroughly trounced by ze Germans.

I also watched with bated breath as the Netherlands failed to score a single goal in the rather anticlimactic World Cup final.

In the aftermath, with our ears still ringing from the drone-like whine of the vuvuzelas, we can examine the effects that an international sporting event of such magnitude has on business.

Obviously, the intercontinental nature of the event presented an opportunity for many brands to bolster their cross-cultural appeal.

Nike made waves with its “Write the Future” viral video campaign, the core ad of which currently sits on YouTube with a healthy 21.6 million views. It was a demonstration, both in the content of the advertisement and its actual reception, of the speed and power of modern media.

Interestingly, despite not being an official World Cup sponsor, Nike

mind, but at the same time, we are definitely praying about it.

”

– Terry Jones Dove World Outreach Church referring to his church planning to burn the Quran

Massachusetts Governor Election............... D3 Summer Timeline................................. D2-D3

D2

Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

Healthy lifestyle can reduce stress Stress, from D1

DANNY MARTINEZ

MATT PALAZZOLO

HILARY CHASSE

PAT GALLAGHER

What do you make of the Ground Zero Mosque (Park51)?

Refer to the Constitution.

Props to Michael Bloomberg on this issue.

It redefines abandoned Burlington Coat Factories as hallowed ground.

A single building should not be the single focus of the media, no matter where it is.

So far as I know, the First Amendment still covers freedom of religion.

Will Rahm Emanuel leave the White House to run for Mayor of Chicago?

Yes, but I don’t think he will win, not with Obama’s approval rating.

Only if Rod Blagojevich sells him the post.

The sailor-mouthed silver fox is power hungry?

Shocking!

Emanuel’s next destination will be a tropical island far from Washington.

Who will win the Florida Senate race: Kendrick Meek, Mark Rubio, or Charlie Crist?

It is impossible to predict Florida elections.

That’s for the Supreme Court to decide in Meek v. Rubio v. Crist, sequel to the 2000 smash hit Bush v. Gore.

Crist, if only for his Floridian-approved leather skin.

Crist in a tight vote. That is, of course, dependent on Florida’s still-dysfunctional ballotting system.

Combat operations in Iraq are over. How long will U.S. troops remain there?

Many years. The United States has a new base in the Middle East and it will not be easily relinquished.

Until George Bush lends President Obama his Mission Accomplished banner.

How long have we been in Japan, again?

Indefinitely, according to the Pentagon. Which translates to quite some years.

Marketplace Editor

Asst. Marketplace Editor

Opinions Editor

Asst. News Editor

McChrystal retires amid controversy McChrystal, from D1

Bush nominated McChrystal for director of joint staff, members of the Senate Armed Services Committee stalled the normally routine process to investigate the alleged mistreatment of detainees

by Special Operations troops under McChrystal’s command.

Of course, McChrystal’s hiring

comes in the wake of his most well-known controversy to date: The July 22 Rolling Stone article

by Michael Hasting, titled “The Runaway General,” that ended McChrystal’s military career and became a top story over the summer. The article portrayed McChrystal as unimpressed with Vice President Joe Biden and annoyed with Richard Holbrooke,

the special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, under the Obama administration. It also quoted McChrystal’s advisers as using “politically incorrect” language, making disrespectful accusations and statements about numerous U.S. civilian officials, and accusing President Obama of being uncomfortable and unhelpful with McChrystal. “The Run-

PHOTO COURTESY OF DEFENSE.GOV

Gen. Stanley McChrystal accepts a medal from Secretary of Defense Robert Gates during his retirement ceremony.

away General” ultimately caused a massive stir throughout the United States regarding whether the former general’s comments and accusations qualified as acts of insubordination. Realizing that his days as a four-star general were over, McChrystal chose to retire in a fairly informal ceremony, during which he was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership in Afghanistan.

Despite the controversy that accompanies his presence, Yale gains an experienced world leader with the admission of McChrystal to its faculty. A stern, lean, piercing 56-year old, McChrystal is legendary for his spartan lifestyle, sleeping four hours a night, running seven miles each morning, and eating one meal a day. With McChrystal, Yale gains an educator who surrounded himself with people he thought had talent, regardless of rank. Yale students pursuing a masters degree in international relations will have the opportunity to learn from the commander who banned alcohol, Burger King, and other American staples on the Kabul military base and incorporated his Situational Awareness Room from a free-flowing model used

by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. According to a Yale press release, McChrystal’s seminar will ultimately, “examine how dramatic changes in globalization have increased the complexity of modern leadership.” 

and serves to better prepare you for dealing with emergency situations by dilating your pupils, increasing your rate of respiration, tensing your muscles, causing your hairs to stand on end, and making you sweat to prevent overheating.

And although most of us do not recurrently need to escape from danger or engage in physical confrontation, the reaction is still initiated in circumstances where fighting or fleeing is “inappropriate” – during an exam, while logging in to the housing lottery, or waiting for the last T after midnight. (The parasympathetic division of the ANS is complementary to the sympathetic division and is responsible for the “rest and digest” response initiated in low stress, nonemergency situations. It serves to restore calmness and return the body to a normal state.)

Infrequent stress is not necessarily negative, as it can compel you to act to save your life during a crisis or breed motivation and persistence needed to succeed or overcome hardship. But in today’s world, many people find themselves living in a state of panic – juggling coursework with employment demands while trying to attend to relationships and other personal matters. And as wonderful as the experience is, the pressure to attain academic excellence and a satisfying social life can be overpowering at times. Stress becomes problematic when relaxing becomes difficult, and feelings of nervousness and uptightness prevail. And if the stress alarm frequently sounds, it can be harder for the parasympathetic division to do its job. If left unmanaged, this can take a major toll on both your physical and mental health.

The effects of stress on the body are simply staggering – the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 90 percent of doctor’s visits are due to some form of stress-related illness.

Headaches, heart disease, high blood pressure, immune system suppression (i.e. more frequent colds), insomnia, depression, low fertility, and changes in appetite can all stem from chronic stress. It can also worsen already existing conditions such as asthma, acne, arthritis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Once your level of stress exceeds your level of tolerance, you may have difficulty focusing on a task, make more regular mistakes, experience a drop in productivity, or have trouble remembering details.

The Deepwater Horizon drilling rig evolved from a tragic loss of life to the worst environmental disaster in United States history this summer. On Apr. 20 an explosion engulfed the rig in flames and killed 11 workers. The rig sank two days later. After plumes of oil began to appear on the ocean surface, BP, the operator of the rig, discovered a leak in the wellhead over two miles below the water surface. After months of failed attempts, BP finally capped the well on July 15, 96 days after the leak began. Experts estimate that approximately 150 million gallons of oil flowed into the Gulf over a three-month span. BP has set aside a $20 billion fund to honor the claims of fisherman and other residents of the Gulf affected by the spill.

JUNE

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PHOTO COURTESY OF AUSTRALIANS FOR GAZA

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Rachel Newmiller is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes c o m m e n t s a t m a rke t p l a c e @ bcheights.com.

Israel provoked international outrage this summer with its raid on a Turkish flotilla. On May 30, six ships funded by the Free Gaza Movement and the Turkish Foundation for Human Rights carrying humanitarian aid, medical supplies, and construction materials, left Cyprus bound for Gaza. Israeli commandos boarded all six ships the next day. On one, the MV Mari Marmara, a skirmish broke out, with nine activists killed and both Israelis and Turkish civilians injured.

The commandos claimed that they were attacked with clubs, while the civilians claimed they were attacked without provocation. An independent investigation by the U.N. is currently being conducted.

On Mar. 26, a South Korean warship, the ROKS Cheonan, was sunk in the Yellow Sea, killing 46 of the 104 sailors aboard. At first South Korean officials believed that the ship had struck a North Korean mine left over from the Korean War. However, South Korea later led an investigation in which the United States participated and concluded that a North Korean submarine was responsible for the sinking. North Korea emphatically denied responsibility, and a U.N. investigation condemned the sinking but failed to identify a culprit. Recently, the United States and South Korea conducted joint military exercises off the coast of the peninsula despite strenuous North Korean objections.

JU PENG / AP PHOTO

As touched on above, chronic stress can affect your eating habits, causing some people to overeat and contributing to the dreaded “freshman 15.”

In order to minimize the risks to your mind and body, stress management is an absolutely necessary tool for a healthy college life. Taghian comments, “Stress is an interesting topic to be discussing at the beginning of the school year, since it is the best time to think about how to avoid or reduce anxiety during the semester. For me, sticking to a routine of moderate exercise (3-4 times per week), healthy eating and adequate sleep are essentials to maintaining a high level of energy. These habits, combined with staying organized, keep my stress levels low. I have seen many students who have difficulty organizing their time and staying ahead of their workload enter a ‘cram and panic’ mode by midterms.

If stress becomes chronic, these feelings of panic can be debilitating over time and reduce the capacity to accomplish academic goals.”

Instead of turning to alcohol, tobacco, or illegal drugs to escape from the stress of reality or a particular pressure, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle strategy.

Learning to say “no,” meeting friends, retaining a sense of humor, exercising on a regular basis, enjoying the serenity of the outdoors, putting things in perspective, accepting that failure is a part of life, and breaking large projects into smaller tasks are all great ways to manage stressful situations.

Careful scheduling and time to unwind after work are also as important for students as they are for professors. “I like to keep a daily ‘to do’ list in order to manage my appointments and meetings, and ensure that I get an essential block of work done by the end of each day. If I have a trouble settling into a work routine, I usually take a timed half hour break to refocus myself, usually by running, stretching or listening to music.

Staying fit and managing my time and workload are my routines for a low stress semester,” says Taghian.

The start of another academic year provides the perfect opportunity to rectify old habits and begin to manage stress in a way that contributes to your overall health, happiness, and success.

General Stanley McChrystal, commander of United States forces in Afghanistan, sent his resignation to President Obama on June 23.

McChrystal was involved in the assassination of the Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Masab al-Zarqawi and the alleged cover-up of Pat Tillman’s death.

He resigned after making disparaging remarks about both the President and Vice-President in a Rolling Stone article. President Obama tapped General David Petraeus, mastermind of the Iraq troop surge, to succeed him. Petraeus has largely emulated McChrystal’s counter-insurgency strategy in the current war against the Taliban.

PHOTO COURTESY OF US COAST GUARD

JIM WATSON / AP PHOTO

THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

D3

ELECTION CENTRAL

Patrick challenged by Republican and Independent JOHN GLYNN The Massachusetts gubernatorial race is entering the final stretch. Major parties have had their candidates picked for several months now, and the independent candidacy of another politician has survived to date. Deval Patrick, the incumbent governor and presumed Democratic nominee following next week’s primary election, in which he is unopposed, has maintained leads throughout the year in the upcoming general election. Patrick’s leads, however, have steadily declined in the last two months.

Also unopposed in his party’s primary is Republican Charlie Baker. Baker raised enormous amounts of money to fund his candidacy, a need which arose from what many perceived as a lack of name recognition throughout the state despite his past history in governors’ cabinets during the 1990s. He is now trailing Patrick in recent polls by as little as 2 percent.

Unfortunately for Baker, a significant show of support for the treasurer of the Commonwealth

BIZUAYEHU TESFAYE/ AP PHOTO

Charlie Baker (left), Tim Cahill (second from left) and Deval Patrick (second from right) are vying for the governorship. and Independent candidate, Tim Cahill, has siphoned off enough anti-Patrick voters from Baker’s campaign to unintentionally give the governor the lead.

Issues in the campaign have ranged from legalized gambling and the opening of resort casinos in the state to the controversial Cape Wind Project and the storm over the Patrick administration’s handling of the state’s budget during his tenure as executive. Baker offers alternatives to Patrick’s proposals

for casino gambling that do not altogether throw out the idea of having casinos. Rather, Baker’s plans involve construction of fewer casinos. Baker’s stance on Cape Wind is another instance in which he does not entirely throw out the meat of the governor’s efforts. Baker does not support building the wind farm off the coast of Cape Cod. “We can’t support projects that are going to increase the cost of electricity to people and businesses in Massachusetts and I have yet to see proof that

Cape Wind will lower energy costs for Bay State families and businesses,” he said. Baker has instead voiced support for exploring other green energy sources, such as hydro-electric power plants installed recently in Quebec.

The handling of the state’s finances has been a divisive issue between all three candidates. Both incoming candidates have insisted that Patrick’s leadership since 2007 has created an atmosphere that is less than ideal for encourag-

ing investors to put money into Massachusetts’ businesses.

Patrick’s opponents say the Commonwealth’s recovery has been sluggish because of decisions, endorsed by Patrick, to raise the state sales tax from 5 percent to 6.25 percent. Additionally, Baker and Cahill have assailed the governor’s handling of the state budget, as the budget has not been reduced by an amount that either of Patrick’s opponents feels is fiscally prudent. In fact, in this last fiscal year, the state’s budget increased by a slight degree.

This increase follows several decreases in budget totals for the last two years. Both have been consistent in saying that in a recession, returning money back to taxpayers through reducing the government’s spending and taxation is the best way toward recovery. Patrick has countered his opponents’ criticism of inefficiently handling the budget by saying that through maintaining current spending levels, which he feels are already bare bones, the state has been able to provide much-needed services for people who would otherwise be without important aid. On the difference between his own views on the budget and those of his opponents, Patrick said, “They believe the budget is a math problem that is an end to itself. I view the budget as a

means to an end. It’s about how we help people.”

Patrick has benefitted from the continued presence of Cahill in the race. Cahill, a Democrat throughout his professional career in local and state politics, announced his candidacy for governor in late 2009 as an Independent, saying that he felt alienated from the Democratic party on issues pertaining to the fiscal attitudes of party leaders like Patrick. Cahill has presented himself as a fiscal conservative so concerned with state spending that he would even consider putting the state’s landmark universal health care initiative on the budget chopping block. “We haven’t done anything about driving down costs. We haven’t helped small business,” Cahill said. “We haven’t changed the way we pay for health care and the way we deliver it.” Regarding this position on state health care, even Baker opposes Cahill on the issue by supporting the state’s universal health care programs.

But the treasurer is trying to attract some of the independent voters in the state who may believe that the repeal of universal health care legislation might be a permanent fix for the state’s budget.

John Glynn is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com.

South Africa hopes to see payoff from hosting World Cup World Cup, from D1

logistical facilities, and sports gear and equipment. A 2008 report by consulting firm Grant Thornton predicted that the event could inject around $8 billion into the country’s economy with around 500,000 foreign tourists entering the country and around 400,000 jobs created and sustained. However, this estimate preceded the Great Recession, and as a result needs to be re-evaluated.

There are benefits. The World Cup is estimated to have brought South Africa a total income of more than $13 billion, increasing GDP by 0.5 percent. The number of foreign tourists is expected to increase by 2 million over the next three years, generating further economic growth. Even in these uncertain economic times South Africa saw a growth rate of 4.6 percent in the first quarter of 2010.

In 1994, when the World Cup was last held in the United States, organizers claimed that we would see $4 billion injected into the economy.

Post-Cup analysis revealed a cumulative loss between $5 billion and $9 billion. Since the Olympics nearly always have cost overruns it can be reasonably assumed that even with meticulous planning these mega-events have a

tendency to operate at a loss.

Most optimistic estimates of the World Cup’s economic effects on host countries are commissioned by FIFA, an organization which can hardly be expected to maintain impartiality. Its fiduciary duty dictates that it maximizes its own profits, even at the expense of an enthusiastic but blind host-country government.

Apologists for these mega-events point to tourism revenues and marketing benefits as justification. However, they forget the tremendous investment necessary to launch the event in the first place. Furthermore, while other countries are allowed to “market themselves” during the event; one wonders whether such messages would be lost amongst the more prominent communications from the world’s top brands.

The fact also remains that while throwing this elaborate party the unemployment rate had climbed to 38.3 percent and half of the nation’s 45 million populace were still living in poverty. This conspicuous dichotomy surely undermines any marketing initiatives.

Ameet Padte is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF BWINT.ORG

South Africans hope a successful World Cup will attract enough tourists and foreign investment to cover potential economic losses.

The Summer Timeline

On Aug. 5, the roof of a mine in Copiapo, Chile collapsed. Thirty-three miners were trapped nearly half a mile underground. On August 22, the Chilean president Sebastian Pinera dramatically read a letter from the miners announcing that all 33 of them were alive. They had carefully rationed the food and water available to ensure that they would all survive until supplies were brought down from the surface. Multiple escape shafts are being drilled, and the completion date could vary from six weeks to four months.

Supplies are delivered daily to the miners, who have been given vaccinations against tetanus and diphtheria as well as blankets and messages from family members.

ROBERT MARTIN / AP PHOTO

MARTIN MEJIA/ AP PHOTO

28

5

JULY AUGUST

Of important international & domestic events

19 After months of hype and publicity, Glenn Beck held his Restoring Honor rally at the Lincoln Memorial on Aug. 28 without incident. Various media sources estimated total attendance between a low of 80,000 and a high of nearly half a million. Crowds gathered as far back as the Washington Monument to listen to Tea Party favorites Glenn Bleck and Sarah Palin. Alveda King, nephew of Dr. King himself, spoke, and St. Louis Cardinal slugger Albert Pujols was honored for his charitable works. The event was strictly non-partisan, as Beck forbid any of the speakers from political discourse. Reverend Al Sharpton and various civil rights leaders also held a rally on the same day in response to Beck’s alleged racism and quoted mission to reclaim the Civil Rights movement.

President Obama delivered on his campaign promise to withdraw from Iraq with time to spare.

On Aug 19., the last combat brigade left Iraq, 12 days before the administration’s self-imposed deadline. This also marks the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the combat mission which began with the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Roughly 50,000 US troops remain in the country, the lowest level since the invasion began with a force of 248,000 soldiers. President Obama praised his predecessor’s command of the war, but stopped short of admitting that the troop surge of 2007 contributed to the decline in sectarian violence.

HADI MIZBAN/ AP PHOTO

By Matt Palazzolo

D4

Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

ON THE flip side THE ISSUE:

On The Flip Side will explore the issue of Park 51, the proposed complex in lower Manhattan that has become known as the “Ground Zero Mosque.” A media frenzy surrounded this issue for the past few months. Should the complex be built or not be built and why?

Freedom in many forms DAN OTTAUNICK Sept. 11 was one of the most frightening days of my life. While in class, an intercom interrupted my day, vaguely alerting the school that airplanes had crashed into buildings in nearby New York City. I went home, consumed with fear of terrorists targeting my school or my home. This panic, perhaps exacerbated by my naivete and youth, was nonetheless emblematic of our collective experience. Even when news reporters are only asking questions, we tend to grasp at irrational answers. Osama bin Laden, Muslims, terrorists. We painted both narratives and people under a guise of fear.

The passage of time has allowed us to step back from that panicked Sept. 11 mentality and view these events pragmatically.

While Islamic fundamentalists were certainly responsible for the attacks, it is unfair to consider the actions and beliefs of extremists as indicative of those of an entire population. Muslim-Americans, some of whom perished during these attacks, are not associated with those responsible for the terrorist attacks.

In opposing Park51, a proposed Islamic community center with a prayer room that would be built two blocks from the site of the World Trade Center attacks, some Americans are not only rejecting their own Constitution, but are allowing fear and ignorance to triumph over rationality and equality.

Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam leading the efforts to build Park51, has lived in the United States for over 40 years while generating no major controversy. Like the overwhelming majority of Muslim Americans, he is in no way associated with Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden, or any other entity connected to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. And like all Americans, Rauf is protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which explicitly prohibits the government from interfering with religious freedom.

However, many are arguing that Rauf’s plan is disrespectful to Sept. 11 victims, their families, or Americans in general, with some even denouncing Park51 as a victory monument for Muslims.

Not an appropriate location JANINE HANRAHAN The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution begins, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …” These immortal words established freedom of religion in the United States, a concept that was, and still is in certain places, revolutionary. As a result, people of many faiths have made the United States their home, including between two and seven million Muslims.

Just like individuals of any other faith, Muslims in New York City are seeking to create a space for themselves, known as Park51.

The Constitution is explicit that they have every right to build the community center and mosque, but two blocks from Ground Zero is not an appropriate location for this project.

Although opposition to the project is strong, it seems likely that Park51 will be built at the intended location because there is no legal justification to stop it, nor should opponents pursue a legal course. To seek some sort of injunction against the project would be unconstitutional.

What should stop the construction, though, is a decision by the planners and Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf. That is not to say that

bullying should surmount religious freedom, but the decision to build a mosque so close to the site of the Sept. 11 attacks is extremely unwise.

Ever since Sept. 11, questions have swirled around Islam, making it seemingly obvious that putting an Islamic center right by the site of the attack would be problematic.

Although supporters claim that Park51 is about outreach and building understanding, the decision to build a mosque in that spot displays a complete lack of understanding and only serves to harden the views of those suspicious of Islam in the first place. Furthermore, the fact that Rauf believes “U.S. policies were accessory to the crime that happened,” adding, “In the most direct sense, Osama bin Laden is made in the U.S.A.,” makes this idea of “understanding” even more difficult to swallow.

While the United States has engaged in many questionable practices in its history, especially in the Middle East, this idea that the United States is responsible for Sept. 11 is ridiculous. Yes, people have a right to be extremely angry at this country as a result of its actions, but they do not have a right to hijack airplanes and murder civilians. In addition, if the United States is responsible for Sept. 11, then Spain, England, and every other country that has been a victim of Islamic terrorism must be guilty, as well.

While opponents of the project a mere four blocks from Ground are certainly entitled to their Zero, Gingrich begs the question: If opinions, it is worth examining the Saudi government will not rise how these opinions have formed. to our level of religious freedom, Because it is impossible to opshould we sink down to its level? pose Park51 on legal grounds, Gingrich feels that such a project those who oppose building an would be “submissive,” when, in Islamic center near the site of a fact, Park51 would act as a disinterrorist attack are in some way centive to potential terrorists, as associating terrorists with those it disproves the idea that America who wish to build the center. is at war with Islam.

Because there is absolutely no Gingrich, a man who fancies evidence linking Rauf directly himself a to terrorists, one can assume rational and that opponents of the plan are intellectual connecting Rauf and the terc o n s e rva rorists because they all describe tive, it apthemselves as Muslims. pears, is This is a dangerous convicsubmissive tion. Islamic fundamentalists are to popular an extreme sect of the Islamic will. religion in a similar way that Differmembers of the Ku Klux Klan are ing opinions extreme Protestant Christians. are healthy for democracy, but when Both groups perverted widethose opinions are formed without spread interpretations of their adequate information, ignorance religious texts, and, accordingly, spreads, and fear allows us to reach mainstream members of their irrational conclusions. By allowing overarching groups reject their Park51 to be built, we are rejecting dissenting views. “Christian” and irrational fear, and signaling to “Muslim” do not fully describe the world that Americans do value one’s religious views. We do not religious freedom. associate cross burnings with Dan Ottaunick is a Heights most Christians, and we should Editor. He welcomes comments at not associate Sept. 11 with most marketplace@bcheights.com Muslims.

There is nothing wrong with ideologically opposing either Park51 or Islamic culture, as such opposition celebrates the same First Amendment ideas that Rauf wishes to exercise. However, it is important that these Americans consider why they are opposing the project, particularly if they are associating the Muslims who want to build Park51 with those responsible for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Unfortunately, politicians on both sides of the aisle are opposing the project for political gain, thus further confusing the issue. Harry Reid, the Democratic Senate Majority Leader in a tight Senate race, spoke out against Park51 in what appears to be an attempt to win over support in right-leaning Nevada. Sarah Palin asked peaceful Muslims to “refudiate” the project, thus implying those who support Park51 are not peaceful.

Newt Gingrich has argued that because the Saudi government bans Christian churches, America should not allow a mosque near MARY ALTAFFER / AP PHOTO Ground Zero. Perhaps ignorant of the existence of a different mosque Debate has raged around the country over the Islamic community center, which includes a mosque, near Ground Zero.

What needs to be understood, especially by those who claim that by opposing this mosque individuals are galvanizing terrorists, is that as long as the United States is a liberal democracy, there will be Islamic extremists intent upon destroying it. The idea that the United States can win on its ideals is a complete farce because, not only do these terrorists despise our ideals, they believe just as strongly in their own. The fact that there is a religious element behind terrorism makes it even more powerful and dangerous. Liberalism never has and never will appeal to all the people of this world, no matter how many great things liberal nations achieve or do.

To be clear, my argument is not that the individuals behind Park51 are terrorists, it is that the only sensible argument for the construction of the mosque at a location so close to Ground Zero must rely solely on the First Amendment. Those who are trying to spin this project into a make-or-break scenario for how radical Muslims view the United States are completely lost. If the mosque gets built and the United States suddenly opens its arms in welcoming Islam, there is still going to be terrorism. More importantly, for Muslims in the United States, even if the mosque is built, it is doubtful they will forget the vigorous opposition to the project.

If this much opposition arose surrounding the building of an Islamic center at a theoretically ideal location, supporters would have far more reason to question the motives and biases of opponents.

Ground Zero is sacred ground, though, so much so that even the building of a memorial there is controversial. Those who claim that this uproar is driven by politicians trying to win elections are grasping at straws, because this issue did not need an election to become a firestorm. Sept. 11 and Ground Zero are all extremely sensitive issues, and people can oppose the mosque as a result of these sensitivities without having a phobia of Muslims.

If the planners of Park51 stand in the face of this opposition, then the mosque must be built. That stand, though, will be insensitive to the events of Sept. 11 and will only breed further discontent.

Janine Hanrahan is a guest columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com

Plouffe hopeful for midterms, but all signs favor Republicans

PHOTO COURTESY OF FMI.ORG

David Plouffe, the mastermind behind Obama’s victory, thinks the Democrats can salvage the midterm elections.

November, from D1 turnout jumps up,” Plouffe said in an interview with Politico.

While national trends show that voters are more likely to vote for Republicans, Plouffe is confident that voters will choose the Democrats.

Democrats have many other issues to grapple with in November, including that the number of registered Democrats voting is lower than that of registered Republicans voters.

Furthermore, the intangible “enthusiasm” factor also favors Republicans. It seems the enthusiasm for Obama has waned,

if not completely vanished, from the 2008 election. Half of Republicans are “very” enthusiastic about voting, while a paltry 25 percent of Democrats are, according to another Gallup poll. If the Obama administration and the Democrats do not convey that the Great Recession will be ending – just not after the 2010 elections – they will be hammered at the polls.

Although it is not rare for a president to lose the House or Senate in his first midterm election, it would be a significant setback for the Obama administration. If the Democrats lose the House, President Obama will have a very difficult time

pushing through reform on many hot-button issues, like immigration, that he promised during the campaign.

For November, the Democrats need to rely on Tip O’Neill’s timeless phrase about politics: “All politics is local.” Like David Plouffe said, Democrats need to focus on mobilizations, concentrating on local elections and local issues rather than the President’s initiatives, which have only further polarized an already divided electorate.

Danny Martinez is the Marketplace Editor for The Heights. He welcomes c o m m e n t s a t m a rke t p l a c e @ bcheights.com.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Heights

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Thursday, September 9, 2010

THE HEIGHTS

BOSTON COLLEGE VS. KENT STATE

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

BC linebacker Luke Kuechly wraps up Kent State wide receiver Phil Garner in last year’s 34-7 win in Alumni Stadium. The Eagles held the Golden Flashes to just 179 yards of total offense and will look for similar success on Saturday.

Marscovetra deserves a shot at QB No More Excuses, from D8

make significant progress in the next few weeks. The other option is to reopen the quarterback competition. The coaching staff basically shut that door against Weber State when Shinskie was given 20 attempts and backup Mike Marscovetra was only allowed three. Head coach Frank Spaziani told the Boston Globe that Marscovetra, who didn’t attempt a single pass in the second half, went unused because the Eagles didn’t have enough plays from scrimmage over the final 30 minutes to give him a look.

Well, how was there enough time for Shinskie to attempt nine second-half passes? How can the coaching staff properly evaluate both quarterbacks when one gets 20 attempts and the other gets three?

Granted, all of this happened against Weber State, the weakest team BC will play this year. But to ignore the deficiencies under center is to set the team up for failure. If recent history is any indication, uncertainty at quarterback can derail a promising BC season in the end.

This quarterback situation is eerily reminiscent of the Chris Crane-Dominique Davis controversy in 2008. The older but inexperienced vet leads a solid but unspectacular offense while fans yearn for the unproven backup. Although the backup’s ability is basically unknown, he’s done enough in limited playing

Football Notebook: Shinskie refocuses heading into Kent State game

BY JOSEPH DEMAIO For The Heights

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Backup quarterback Mike Marscovetra makes a throw down field in BC’s opening win over Weber State on Saturday. time for fans to question why he isn’t the starter.

That year, Crane won the job outright by eviscerating the NC State defense for 428 yards. The team took its lumps, including an embarrassing loss at North Carolina and a narrow home loss to Clemson, but Crane got more confident as the season wore on.

Against Wake Forest, with the season on the line, he broke his collarbone when he was dragged down by the Demon Deacon defense.

Davis was thrust into the fire. He engineered a nine-play, 70-yard drive to score the game-

winning touchdown and keep BC alive in the Atlantic Division title race. The Eagles beat Maryland the next week to win the division, but it was apparent that they were a different team without Crane. Davis was too erratic. He completed 12 of 24 passes against the Terrapins, 17 of 43 in a 30-10 beat down at the hands of Virginia Tech in the ACC title game, and 15 of 36 in a disappointing loss to Vanderbilt in the Music City Bowl.

Maybe, if Shinskie is backed by the coaching staff as the undisputed starter, he’ll become more confident, like Crane once

did. Maybe, if Marscovetra is forced into starting duty, he’ll be unprepared, as was once the case with Davis. But don’t you want to know? The coaching staff should explore every possibility on the roster, experimenting at quarterback until it finds a solution.

Spaziani said over the summer that no one’s position was set in stone. Everyone on the roster had to earn his place. Now is the time to put those words to the test.

Paul Sulzer is the assistant sports editor of The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

Eagles pounce on Wildcats

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

Mark Herzlich returned from his battle with cancer to start in Boston College’s season-opening 3820 win over Weber State Saturday. The Eagles recovered from a Dave Shinskie interception on the first play from scrimmage to score four first-half touchdowns. For full coverage of Saturday’s game, visit www.bcheights.com/sports.

Despite putting 38 points on the board in Saturday’s win over Weber State, the Boston College offense certainly isn’t prepared to rest on its laurels – especially not starting quarterback Dave Shinskie.

“We did a lot of things good, and there were a lot of things we needed to work on,” Shinskie said. “We need to run the ball better this game, and we need to be more sound as an offensive whole. We need to come out and practice and do what we need to do to get better this week.”

As part of that goal of overall cohesiveness, Shinskie spent the week of practice working on his mental attitude. He started off last game with an interception, which he attributes to overthinking.

“On the first play, I was thinking too much,” he said.

“It was a double-check, and I was thinking too much. I was trying to do too much. You have to remember that it’s just a game and to slow yourself down. There’s no point in getting nervous or trying to do too much.

“We try to play quick but make your mind go slow. That’s one thing we did last week, we didn’t play very fast. The offense was kind of lackadaisical to the ball, getting the ball off with five seconds off the clock when we needed to get the defense off guard, but that’s what I need to do better this year, play fast but have my mind working slow. We’re going to play a little faster this week in practice, and hopefully it comes out in the game.”

Part of that mental attitude requires acknowledgment of the fact that as a quarterback, everyone on the defensive side of the ball wants to knock you down. Shinskie certainly seemed comfortable facing a team that had success getting to him last year.

“Weber State was very talented on defense, as is Kent State,” Shinskie said. “Kent State has a couple different coverages and likes to blitz

more. Last year I got hit a lot in the Kent State game, and they’re probably going to do the same thing this year, blitz a lot and make me throw the ball hot and be uncomfortable. But we have a veteran line to take care of those blitzes and we work on our protections every day, and if I feel comfortable in practice I’m going to feel comfortable in the game.”

Familiar Foes This weekend’s game will have a more familiar feel for senior captain Alex Albright, who will have a chance to face off against a couple of his old friends and rivals from Cincinnati, his hometown.

“I’m especially excited because a lot of my friends this year are captains, so I’m excited to play against them and do the coin toss with them,” he said.

“Two of them are on Kent State, their middle linebacker Cobrani Mixon and their strong safety Brian Lainhart. Both grew up in the same part of town so I’ve known them for a long time.”

As for whether he has given them a call yet this week, Albright said, “not yet, but I plan to. I usually get a call from both of them at the same time, talk a little bit about the game, how they did last week, and then there’s a little jawing off back and forth, but after the game it’s all friends again. It’s always fun playing your friends.”

Coleman Catches On Johnathan Coleman’s first career game went much better than he or anyone else could have expected, as the redshirt freshman receiver caught three balls for 98 yards, the longest of which was a reception for 44 yards.

“I surprised myself, I didn’t think I would play that well, but I guess all of my hard work paid off,” he said. “I definitely feel more confident. I didn’t have much time on the field, so now I feel as though I don’t have to back down from anything.

Dave [Shinskie] told me to just catch the ball, and if he wasn’t nervous, there was no reason for me to be nervous.” 

The Heights

Editors’ Picks

Thursday, September 9, 2010 The Week Ahead

Standings

Soccer season hits a fever pitch as the men host Maryland. The women’s team visits Fairfield. Football has another tune-up against Kent State.

Field hockey plays crosstown rival BU, while the volleyball team goes to Brown for a three-game tournament.

Zach Wielgus

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Maegan O’Rourke

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Paul Sulzer Heights staff

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BC took care of business against Weber State, though it wasn’t pretty.

Spain beat the Netherlands in the World Cup final, just as we said they would. The Red Sox faded out of contention as the injuries continue to mount.

Guest Editor: Margaret Tseng Layout Editor

Men’s Basketball Sixteen ACC games, including two against North Carolina, highlight the 2010-2011 Boston College men’s basketball schedule, which was released last week. Marquee out-of-conference games include three match-ups in the 2010 Old Spice Classic, a home date with Indiana in the ACC-Big 10 Challenge, and a road trip to South Carolina on New Year’s Day. The Eagles out-of-conference slate also features St. Francis (N.Y.), Bucknell, and seven New England schools, including Providence, Harvard, UMass, and Rhode Island.

Ten of the games (subject to change) will be nationally broadcast. The ACC tournament is scheduled for March 10-13 in the Greensboro (N.C.) Coliseum.

Volleyball

“I wish I was as quirky as Maegan so I could think of a good quote.”

Zach Wielgus Sports Editor

This Week’s Games

BCnotes

Recap from the Summer

Maegan O’Rourke Assoc. Sports Editor

Paul Sulzer Asst. Sports Editor

Margaret Tseng

Layout Editor

Men’s Soccer: Boston College vs. Maryland

Maryland

Maryland

BC

Maryland

Women’s Soccer: Boston College at Fairfield

BC

BC

BC

BC

Field Hockey: Boston College vs. Boston University

BC

BC

BC

BC

Football: Boston College vs. Kent State College Football: Miami (Fla.) at Ohio State (-8.5)

BC

BC

BC

BC

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Ohio State

Boston College volleyball player Tsvetelina Dureva was named the Global Player of the Week by American Volleyball Scouting Report (AVSR) on Monday for her performance in BC’s three wins over the weekend.

Dureva, an outside hitter, helped BC go undefeated at the Harvard Invitational Tournament last weekend. She recorded 30 kills at .238 attack efficiency, 33 digs, six blocks, and a trio of service aces as BC defeated New Hampshire, Eastern Illinois, and Harvard.

The junior from Sofia, Bulgaria was named to the all-tournament team along with sophomore outside hitter Val Mattaliano.

Undefeated field hockey team rises in ranks

By Tim Jablonski For The Heights

Ranked No. 9 in the preseason coach’s poll, the No. 7 Boston College field hockey team (5-0) has done nothing but meet expectations this season.

Having racked up a plus-15 goal differential and four shutouts, the Eagles have played like a top-10 team on their way to an undefeated start.

While the Eagles are playing equal to their national recognition, they’re not even considered one of the three best teams in their own conference.

Traditionally strong, the ACC features six of the top 10 field hockey teams in the nation this year, including defending national champion North Carolina, runner-up Maryland, and No. 3 Virginia. All

three took down the Eagles last year, and the treacherous trio makes up part of a brutal stretch when BC plays five top 10 teams in six games, starting in College Park, Md., on Sept. 18.

Yet, in typical fashion, head coach Ainslee Lamb and the Eagles aren’t looking ahead at all.

“We have a one-game-at-a-time mentality, because we know to make NCAAs, we need to win these games,” Lamb said. “There’s very little room for error if you want to be among the top 16 teams in the country.”

There have been very few errors for the Eagles so far this season. The team started out the season with back-toback 1-0 wins over UMass and No. 17 Indiana. Senior captain Emily Kozniuk stepped up big in both games, scoring

second-half goals in each to put the Eagles on top.

The rest of the season has basically been target practice for the team. Victories of 5-0, 5-1, and 5-0 over Providence, Quinnipiac, and Holy Cross, respectively, have proven that this team has the ability to keep up with the rest of the wildly talented ACC. When asked to what to attribute the early success, Lamb credited the program’s depth.

“The talent level of the players in the program right now is very high, from the freshmen all the way to the seniors,” she said. “That depth allows consistency; right now, there’s not a lot of drop-off from one line to another.”

Coming off an NCAA tournament berth, the Eagles are still facing the

challenge of replacing first-team AllAmerican Chelsea Feole, by far the team’s leading scorer last season. Feole scored 26 goals in 20 games last year, with current senior Janna Anctil in a distant second at 11.

Instead of expecting one player to generate most of the team’s offense this year, however, BC has been getting its goals from all over the roster.

The team’s depth has shined, as nine different Eagles have scored goals, including five different players with multiple goals. On the defensive end, BC opponents have mustered only 24 shots the entire season, and only 10 of them on goal.

All that being said, the team, half of which is comprised of freshmen and sophomores, knows that the season’s real

challenges are still to come. Navigating ACC play in any given season is difficult, but this year will be especially challenging given the number of elite teams the conference has to offer.

“The biggest transition into the next phase of the schedule is getting ready for higher pressure on the ball,” Lamb said.

“We’re going to have to make decisions quicker and be ready for a faster pace to the game.”

With the next game on the schedule always the biggest for the Eagles, the team is currently focused on Friday’s home-opener against cross-town rival and No. 15 Boston University.

As Lamb, who is 64-35 in five seasons in Chestnut Hill, knows well, the best way to exceed expectations is to take it one game at a time. n

BC soccer teams are poised for breakout seasons Defying Odds, from D8

impressive list of victims as the season wore on, including No. 2 North Carolina and No. 2 Wake Forest. After falling to NC State in an ACC tournament semifinal, BC downed Dartmouth and St. John’s en route to a Sweet 16 berth, with the deep, talented freshman class leading the way.

The Eagles crashed out of the tournament after a wild, 6-4 loss to Drake, though. Whether the disappointment of an opportunity squandered lingers as motivation for the new season is still yet to be seen. “I wouldn’t say [the loss to Drake] is a major factor in our minds this year, but everybody’s looked at it,” said senior midfielder and captain Karl Reddick.

“There are so many little things we could have done to change that game completely. That’s not the way it went, and that’s the way soccer goes, everywhere in the world. It’s behind us now.

This is a new season and a new opportunity.”

Last season saw the emergence of then-freshman goalkeeper Justin Luthy as something of a phenom. The U.S. under-20 national team member garnered attention from media outlets across the country for his poise and maturity in net. Even Luthy, however, couldn’t stop Drake from running riot against the Eagles that day in Newton. “No, it’s not on my mind [heading into the new season],” Luthy said. “As a goalkeeper, you try to just block that out. It was something of a freak game. I’d never been a part of something like that in my life … we’ve definitely learned from it, but in terms of the overall game I think you just have to shake it off and consider it a fluke.”

Of the 14 players featured in that Sweet 16 loss, 11 return, including nine starters. “We know what to expect now,” Reddick said.

“Last year’s freshmen are a big class, and now they’ve had a year to develop and mature. They’ll be able to look at things differently.”

Indeed, in looking at this season’s roster, it’s possible to forget that most of the players who looked like veterans last season are only sophomores this year: midfielders Kyle Bekker, Colin Murphy, Isaac Taylor and Kevin Mejia, defender Sacir Hot, and forwards Isaac Taylor and Charlie Rugg, just to name a few.

To improve on last season’s impressive effort will be a formidable

task for the Eagles. BC was ranked No. 12 in the country in the preseason NSCAA poll, but sixth in the ACC. The unquestioned power conference in college soccer today, the ACC claimed five of the top 10 positions in the national poll.

For the Eagles, the conference’s unrivaled strength places added importance on every single conference game. “Those games [in a tough ACC schedule] are how we want to play,” Reddick said. “We want the very best in the country, that’s why we’re in the ACC. We get to play everybody that’s Top 10, Top 25, every week. We just look at it as more opportunities for us to fulfill.” “[Those ACC games] are a fun experience, because you know a lot of the guys on the other teams, and you want to go out there and show your stuff,” Luthy added.

“It’s important to see how you measure up against the best college players in the country.”

Despite the daunting prospect of running the ACC gauntlet, the goal for Reddick and the Eagles remains clear. “At this point, we can accept nothing but being at the top of the league,” the captain said. “We have the talent, and I think everybody in the country knows that we have the talent.

Now we have to be able to come out and prove it every single night, no matter who we’re playing.”

While Kelly would surely love to see his team lift the ACC trophy, he noted that the team’s top goal should be competing well in the national tournament. “The conference is so strong, the top four or so teams are virtually guaranteed a spot in the tournament. First and foremost we need to get into the tournament, and from there we think we can do some damage,” Kelly said.

Kelly will have a good idea of how his squad stacks up with the best as early as Friday night, when BC opens its ACC schedule with a massive home match against No. 9 Maryland. The 2008 National Champions, the Terrapins are again among the favorites to lift the trophy this fall, despite losing a pulsating encounter with No. 23 Michigan State on opening night.

“They’re definitely not unbeatable,” Reddick said. “They’re going to very good. Friday night will be a battle, and we know it will take the full 90 minutes or more to get a win. It’s a great test for both teams.”

“It’s a big game,” Kelly said.

“It’s a great game for the crowd,

Above the Rest, from D8

Amanda Shulman / The qUINNIPIAC CHRONICLE

Sophomore Isaac Taylor challenges Quinnipiac’s Greg DiGiovine for the ball. a great game for our guys to get psyched up. We think our team is the team to beat them, and we like our chances.”

Maryland’s sophomore goalkeeper Zach MacMath has featured alongside Luthy on the under-20 national team. After an offseason training with senior national team keeper Tim Howard at Everton FC in England, MacMath returned to a Maryland team whose success will depend heavily on his ability to keep balls out of the net in the high-scoring ACC. “We’re pretty good friends,” Luthy offered. “Friday night will be fun.”

An underlying theme during the young Eagles’ magical run through last year’s postseason was the emergence of an occasionally raucous student section at home games. A large, loud group of student supporters turned out for home contests against Duke, Wake Forest, and Dartmouth, as well as for the catalytic early-season road victory at BU. An even bigger turnout this year could certainly help push the Eagles to the next level. “It means a lot more than you would think,” Reddick said.

“Coming in [to BC] I didn’t understand home field advantage until I played at Maryland for the first time. Every opposing player that steps on the field there is shaken up [Maryland routinely sells out its 3,000 seat stadium].

It’s different. Now that we’re starting to have a little bit of an atmosphere here, it helps.”

“Last year, those big Friday and Saturday nights against Duke and Wake, we had some pretty loud crowds,” Luthy said. “That was fun.”

Key home clashes this year will include BU on Sept. 17, North Carolina on Oct. 15, defending national champion Virginia on Oct. 22, and a rematch of last year’s NCAA first-round thriller with Dartmouth on Oct. 27.

Friday night’s contest against Maryland will provide a great opportunity for the team and fans alike to see how this exciting young squad stacks up against some of the nation’s best. Admission is free and the forecast looks good – about as good as this BC team’s bright outlook for the new season. n

sights set on the national title.

Cerrone thinks their experience, said. especially their knowledge of In the first four games of the how to play deep into the NCAA season, seven different Eagles tournament, will play a large have scored goals. At the top factor in the team’s successes of the scoring list sit Victoria this season.

DiMartino and Kristie Mewis, “I think when you look at the who both participated in the U- more successful teams, they’re 20 World Cup this summer. the more experienced teams, so “Kristie and Vicki are both I think it’s really good that our special players,” Foley said. team has that,” she said.

“Even on their quiet days, they Though the team does not statistically find a way to get on start conference play until Sept. the board, and that’s what great 23, it will travel to Rutgers on players do.”

Sept. 19 to face another ranked Mewis seemed to have trouble out-of-conference opponent. getting opportunities during the Foley’s decision to beef up the Stanford game, yet found a way Eagles’ schedule has helped to assist on Natalie Crutchfield’s them make visible strides in the equalizing goal. Last year, the last week. two combined for 19 goals dur“I think our combinations are ing the season. Through four much better already, and we’ve games, the two been very good “I love being our sophomores have on set pieces,” already tallied a opponents’ biggest Foley said. c o m b i n e d f ive After finishgame of the season.” ing the regular scores.

In net for the season tied for Eagles lurks Jill first in the ACC — Hannah Cerrone, Mastroianni, and a locking up Team Captain whom Foley has a third-place finrepeatedly called ish in the ACC the best goalie in the country. tournament, the Eagles are aim“We don’t typically need our ing to do one better: capture the goalkeeper to win us games, but tournament title this season. in training if you watch her and “Our goal is to win the conhow well she does, you then are ference tournament, absolutely,” so convinced that she can win Foley said. “Our goal is to win you games, so it gives you extra the league, to win the tournaconfidence,” the head coach ment, and to win the NCAA said. tournament.”

Mastroianni recorded 14 Under Foley, the women’s shutouts last season, a single- soccer program has reached nine season record, and already has NCAA tournaments, including three this season. In the tight seven straight. game with Stanford, she notched “Alison’s just done a master10 saves to keep her team in it. ful job for us,” said Athletic Di“She makes it so much easier rector Gene DiFilippo after the for me to play,” Cerrone, a de- Stanford game. “Every year we fender, said. get better and better and deeper The Eagles match their strong and deeper. This could be the senior leadership with promising best team we’ve had.” potential. Though seven freshIn order to earn that distincmen on a squad may worry some tion, the Eagles must outpercoaches, Foley has already seen form last year’s team, which this year’s class progress tre- set the bar high with an 18mendously.

4-2 record, including an 11-1 “I think the younger kids are out-of-conference record. The getting better and better and are seniors are certainly on board, coming along,” she said. even to the point that they’ll Mary Wagner scored in the let their teammates miss a few exhibition against UConn and, practices.

Foley was impressed with the When Foley told the six sestrides Patrice Vettori made in niors that Mewis and DiMarSaturday’s game against BU. tino would have a bit of a break The six seniors – Cerrone, during training camp because Crutchf ield, Amy Caldwell, of their World Cup stint, they Brooke Knowlton, Jill MacNeil, told her, “Whatever we have to and Chelsea Regan – have ap- do to win a national championproached this season with their ship.” n

SPORTS THE HEIGHTS

Thursday, September 9, 2010

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2010

Perfect Pitch Both undefeated and ranked No. 5 in the country, the men’s and women’s soccer teams are singing a happy tune

BY RYAN KIRACOFE For The Heights

A year ago, few could have predicted that the Boston College men’s soccer team would be ranked No. 5 in the country today. Last year was supposed to be a case study in “rebuilding” for the Eagles.

A massive freshman class was set to take over the starting lineup, as Eagles alltime great Alejandro Bedoya moved on to play professionally in Sweden (and later, on the U.S. national team). Unranked in the preseason and doomed to wallow at the bottom of the ACC table, the college soccer community had all but written off head coach Ed Kelly’s young crew.

The Eagles never got the memo.

After humiliating then-No. 14 BU on national television and then outgunning No. 11 Duke at home, the secret was out.

These kids were talented. On Nov. 3, an NCAA article raved, “The nation’s most dangerous college soccer team doesn’t, at first glance, look anything like it. They could certainly pass for a group of especially volatile high schoolers.” Routinely sending out a starting line that featured seven freshmen, three sophomores, and a junior, the Eagles chalked up an

BY ADAM ROSE For The Heights

The Boston College women’s soccer team believes it can do better.

That will be a strong challenge to an Eagles team that advanced to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history last year, but with a veteran team that includes six seniors, head coach Alison Foley thinks her team can improve on a stellar 2009 season.

BC already washed the nasty taste out of its mouth by opening the season with a 1-1 tie against No. 2 Stanford, the team that previously eliminated them in the postseason.

“To tie them, with their ranking of second in the country, did a lot for us psychologically,” Foley said. “I think

See Defying Odds, D7

it shows forward progress from last season.”

Squaring off in front of a rare soldout crowd, the stark test so early in the season gave a “jump start to the season,” said captain Hannah Cerrone.

Since the match against the Cardinal, BC has risen to No. 5 in the polls, thanks to three straight shutout wins. Though Foley says that she tries to dissuade the players from talking about rankings in the locker room, she knows the players check where the team sits every Tuesday – which is higher than almost any other team in the nation.

“I love being our opponents’ biggest game of the season,” Cerrone

See Above the Rest, D7 ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

FOOTBALL

Defense hinges on anemic rush Secondary will be exposed if pressure doesn’t improve

BY IAN BOYNTON For The Heights

After the Weber State Wildcats put up an unexpected 388 yards of offense, 277 of which were through the air, it is fair to say that the Boston College defense did not perform up to expectations Saturday.

While the play of the cornerbacks was questionable, arguably the most glaring problem against the Wildcats last Saturday was the Eagles’ inability to generate a pass rush on quarterback Cameron Higgins. Throughout the course of the game, Higgins was rarely pressured, getting sacked only once. Against a relatively easy non-conference opponent, it is expected that a physically superior BC defensive line would be able to dominate, or at least provide consistent pressure.

It is easy to overlook Higgins, though he shouldn’t be. He has thrown for over 10,000 yards in his first three years, and was named the Big Sky Conference Player of the Year in 2008. Senior defensive end and captain Alex Albright was quick to credit Higgins’ ability to get “the ball out a lot quicker than other [quarterbacks] do in college football” as to why the Eagles had difficulty in pressuring the quarterback.

Nonetheless, Albright readily admitted that the play of the entire defensive line was “sloppy.” Acknowledging that rust was certainly a factor, Albright noted that the defensive line “[was not] mentally focused … there wasn’t a lot of enthusiasm out there.” Even though the Eagles are not playing a nationally-ranked team this Saturday, the defensive line must pick up its intensity, and more importantly, its production – a reality that Albright understands. “[Enthusiasm] is a big thing that our defense brings every week, and we have to have it if we are going to be successful,” Albright said. As a defensive captain, Albright has made sure to not let the defense have another languid performance. “[This week], I’ve been getting a lot more on the offensive side of the ball in hopes that they’ll come back and get on

us a little bit … jawing with [Thomas] BC fans should not forget that against Claiborne in practice, like Wes [Davis] and Weber State the Eagles were missing I tend to do, it really brings up the emotion redshirt freshman defensive tackle Dillon in practice and helps Quinn, who has proven the whole defense,” Alto be a force inside this bright said. summer. Quinn, who Hopefully, Albright’s was suspended for three leadership will provide games for an undisclosed the necessary jolt to violation of team rules, spark a more aggreswill be back in time for sive Eagle defensive the game against Notre line this week against Dame on Oct. 2.

Kent State, an oppoIn addition, Saturnent whose offensive day’s game was senior line, according to Aldefensive tackle Damik bright, should be easier Scafe’s first action since to overpower. missing summer practice Saturday, 3:30 p.m. “[Kent State quardue to a back injury. As Live blog on terback Spencer Keith] Scafe returns to form, he bcheights.com/sports stays in the pocket a is expected to start next lot more, [he] does not throw his check to junior Kaleb Ramsey. down right away … he goes through his The return of both of these players progressions,” Albright said. “Just play- should bolster a thin defensive line, and ing a different offense should allow [the perhaps provide a greater consistency to defensive line] to get to the quarterback the pass rush. It is also important to note better.” that against Weber State, head coach

Frank Spaziani maintained a relatively “vanilla” defense, with minimal blitzing.

Against Kent State, look for the Eagle defense to bring some pressure from the linebackers, providing an instant boost to the pass rush.

While the performance of the Eagles defensive line against Weber State was less than inspiring, BC will have one more game and a bye week to make adjustments before welcoming the No. 13 Virginia Tech Hokies to Alumni Stadium on Sept. 25.

The Eagles are certainly going to need the time, as the Hokies, despite losing to No. 3 Boise State Monday, remain one of the nation’s toughest teams.

Before the Eagles face the Hokies, though, they must show that they can adjust to the mistakes made last Saturday and defeat a Kent State team hungry for an upset.

If the Eagles defense is to perform better against more able competition, the defensive line needs to shake off some of the rust, improve its focus, and play to a higher level. 

Backup QB deserves a shot PAUL SULZER I left Saturday’s game against Weber State disappointed. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one. Boston College put up 31 first-half points (and 38 for the game), so it’s tough to say that the offense was underwhelming. Still, I couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable with how shaky Dave Shinskie looked at quarterback.

When the play-calling is tailored to Shinskie’s strengths, he excels. He’s deceptively mobile, so moving him out of the pocket opens up the field. Rollouts also cut the field in half, making decisions that much easier. But when you ask him to take a five- or seven-step drop, he’s more unstable than Vinny Chase is in Entourage. He’s overwhelmed by pressure and forces the ball into coverage.

The excuses for Shinskie are starting to get stale. He has played football for a full year after his six-year minor league baseball sabbatical. He had a full offseason to get ready. He’s 26. If he’s not ready now, will he ever be?

I was at a couple of the scrimmages over the summer, and they all began just like the Weber State game did. Shinskie made ill-advised passes into coverage early before settling into a rhythm after those mistakes. BC was fortunate that Weber State only managed a field goal off the interception Shinskie threw on his first pass. When they face Virginia Tech and Notre Dame in a few weeks, the Eagles cannot afford such turnovers.

Those teams will make them pay.

Those teams will make BC pay – that is, unless BC gets more stable at quarterback. That means Shinskie must

ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR

The Eagle defensive line failed to pressure Weber St. quarterback Cameron Higgins last week. More will be expected Saturday vs. Kent State.

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