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GUANTANAMO LEAKS

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sports

the scene

New Guantanmo documents reveal even more government secrets, B10

The Eagles baseball team defeated Harvard 8-0 at a foggy Fenway Park, A10

Remembering the good, the bad, and the ugly as the Scene says farewell to Michael Scott, B1

GOODBYE michael scott

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Vol. XCII, No. 23

Spring Concert a group effort this year Collaboration with Black Student Forum paves way for future

By Ana Lopez Heights Editor

Alex Trautwig / heights editor

Wale (pictured) and J. Cole were featured at the UGBC - BSF collaborative spring concert.

On Friday, April 15, in conjunction with the Black Student Forum (BSF) and the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC), the UGBC hosted J. Cole and Wale for the Spring Concert. Ticket sales, which were done through an electronic lottery system for the first time, were up from last year’s concert, headlined by The Fray, in which the UGBC suffered a loss of $80,000 on ticket sales. Still, less than

Mile 21 Weekend unveiled Spring Weekend encourages more support for runners

50 percent of the total tickets available were sold.

The collaboration was a first for the UGBC and came to fruition as a result of Black Family Weekend coinciding with the weekend that concert organizers were able to secure Conte Forum.

“It’s been our mission this year to unite campus as much as possible,” said Justin Robinson, executive manager of campus entertainment for the UGBC and A&S ’11. “In years past, the Spring Concert has just been our department, but we saw an

See Spring Concert, A4

Sugar Ray announced as Modstock performer Annual concert to take place next Thursday

By Rebecca Kailus

By Taylour Kumpf

This year as Boston College students celebrated Marathon Monday, they witnessed the birth of the newest BC tradition: Mile 21.

Created in early February by a group of four students, the Mile 21 campaign aimed for the formation of a new BC tradition for Marathon Monday based upon greater student support for the runners.

“Mile 21 is a student-led, Universitybacked initiative to add more value to the Boston College portion of the Boston Marathon,” student coordinator Cliff Baratta, A&S ’11, said. “Our goal was to create a tradition of support for runners as they come to the top of Heartbreak Hill.”

Although many students turn out to cheer on the runners, student coordinator Matt McCluskey, GLSE ’11, said that the goal of the Mile 21 campaign was to keep

UGB C ’s Campus Entertainment team has announced that Sugar Ray will headline this year’s Modstock concert.

The band will perform next Thursday, May 5, in the Mod Lot, with opening acts kicking off the event at 5 p.m.

The rock band from Orange County, California gained fame with hits including “Someday,” “Every Morning,” “Fly,” and “When It’s Over.” The lead singer of

Heights Staff

See Mile 21, A4

opportunity for collaboration that would help both organizations.”

After a process of extensive discussions between members of the UGBC’s campus entertainment committee, directors of the BSF, and administrators, J. Cole and Wale were chosen for their significance in the black community and their attention to issues affecting the black community in their music. “We wanted artists that were inclusive of dif-

News Editor

the group is Mark McGrath.

Michael Kitlas, director of Campus Entertainment and A&S ’12, said UGBC is still working on determining the opening acts, though the winner of this year’s Arts Fest battle of the bands contest will reportedly be one of the opening groups.

The third annual Mudstock volleyball tournament will also take place on Thursday, and will begin at 9 a.m. in the Edmond’s parking lot. There are 64 teams registered to compete. n

Alex Trautwig / heights editor

Students gathered on Marathon Monday to support efforts initiated by the Mile 21 Campaign.

Black Family Weekend marks 39th year

By Anna Patrick Heights Staff

Black Family Weekend, which took place last Thursday through Sunday, drew large crowds of families, students, and faculty to celebrate the importance of a diverse community within the larger Boston College community. This year marks the 39th annual Black Family Weekend and 40th year for for the Black Student Forum (BSF). Diana Morris, president of

BSF and A&S ’11, and Nwando Ofokansi, AHANA Caucus Representative and A&S ’13, take a look back at the weekend’s events in a recent interview.

Heights: How do you feel Black Family Weekend went overall?

Diana Morris: Overall I believe that Black Family Weekend was a huge success. From an organizational standpoint, it’s one thing to sit in meetings and plan how you want things to go, but when the day actually comes you have to have faith

Andrew powell / heights staff

Students and alumni reflected on their shared experiences during Black Family Weekend.

that your work will pay off. With this in mind, it was a huge thrill to see the Weekend unfold. Things went as well - if not better - than we planned, and the positive feedback we’ve received let’s us know that we were able to share the messages and experiences we set out to.

Nwando Ofokansi: I think Black Family Weekend 2011 was a huge success.

The Black Student Forum was able to put forth 10 incredible events that aimed to enhance the BC community culturally, intellectually, and spiritually.

Heights: What do you think was the highlight of the Weekend?

DM: I think the highlight of the Weekend was the turnout we received for all of the events, especially those that went beyond entertainment - for example, the lecture by Michael Eric Dyson and our panel discussion featuring two Board of Trustees members, the first UGBC president to win on an all AHANA ticket, and a current graduate student.

We’re really excited that so many people in the BC community were able to take part in various elements of the Black and AHANA experiences and see what our organization has put so much time and

See Black Family Weekend, A4

Campus participates in Day of Silence

By Adriana Mariella Assoc. News Editor

On Friday April 15, Boston College students participated in the national Day of Silence, a movement that involves taking a vow of silence in order to raise awareness about and bring an end to anti-GLBTQ bullying. The day is also an opportunity to show support for GLBTQ students who are forced into silence about their sexuality.

Sponsored by Allies and the GLC, the Day of Silence followed Thursday’s kick-off rally for the event, which took

place in O’Neill Plaza. At the rally, students shared their personal stories about GLBTQ issues.

Overall, the day was generally successful in communicating its message, said Diana Nearhos, president of Allies and A&S ’11.

“Students responded really well to the Day of Silence,” Nearhos said in an e-mail. “Many people expressed interest both on Facebook and while we were tabling in the days leading up to it. Some people knew they couldn’t commit to a whole day of being silent and asked about other ways in which they could

show support.

“More often than not, when I heard someone ask a friend what was going on as I walked by with green tape over my mouth, the friend was able to explain the Day of Silence,” she said. “So many people on campus knew about it and supported it, even if they did not participate.”

Nearhos said that the day is important at BC to support students in their coming out processes.

“The Day of Silence has two purposes

See Day of Silence, A4

creative commons

Sugar Ray, with lead singer Mark McGrath (above) at the helm, to perform for Modstock.

Nuclear arms conference fosters student involvement

By Molly LaPoint Asst. News Editor

On Friday, April 15, the University hosted a conference titled “The Obama Administration and the Future of Nuclear Arms Control.” The event, held in the Fulton Honors Library and sponsored by the Political Science Association of Boston College, featured a number of panel discussions with top experts in the field.

Leon Ratz, Sam Ratner, Clair Ruffing, David Tapia, and Michelle Arguelles, all A&S ’11, comprised the organizing team for the event. Ratz said he and Ratner came up with the idea one day over a lunchtime discussion in November, when discussions about a new treaty with Russia were putting nuclear arms control in the news.

“A lot of students were interested in talking about the issue, but there weren’t too many resources to discuss them on campus,” Ratz said.

As a result, Ratner and Ratz decided to host a conference to allow students to have a forum to discuss these issues. The first step was to find clubs and organizations to co-sponsor the event to raise the amount of funds.

“Lots of work went into building this coalition, and we were very grateful to them,” Ratz said.

The organizers sent cold e-mails to the speakers to see if they could attract any interest. “We didn’t think we’d get anywhere close to the kind of response

we got,” Ratz said. “These are some of the world’s top experts on arms control.”

The speakers may have been interested in the event because it allowed them to reach out to a younger generation, Ratz said.

“We really got just a stellar program together,” he said. “I think they were really excited to do this because they

See Nuclear Arms, A4

Daniel Lee / heights staff

Marcie Berman Ries presented the keynote address at the nuclear arms conference.

TopFive

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

things to do on campus this week

Math Education Seminar

1

Lecture in Medical Ethics

Today Time: 2 p.m.

Location: Campion 139

Stop by “The Impact on Student Achievement of Teachers’ Use of Standards Based Instruction Materials,” a presentation by New York University’s Karen King.

2

Today Time: 7:15 p.m.

Location: Merkert 127

Come listen to Rev. Tadeusz Pacholczyk, a priest and neuroscientist from Fall River, Mass., speak about the ethics of in vitro fertilization and fertility treatments.

Arts Awards Celebration

3

Friday Time: 4 p.m.

Location: O’Neill Plaza

Join in on the celebration of the achievements of students, faculty members, and Chuck Hogan, BC ’89. A reception will follow. Registration is requested.

featured on campus

James Franco visits campus

Sustainable Fashion Show

4

Friday Time: 9 p.m.

Location: O’Neill Plaza

A fashion show combining green design and slam poetry, featuring student-made clothing and work of independent designers, will take place as part of ArtsFest, sponsored by Ecopledge.

Real Food BC Garden Day

5

Saturday Time: 11 a.m.

Location: Brighton Campus Garden

Show off your gardening skills by helping Real Food BC plant seedlings and planting marigolds to bring home. There will be music and cooking with spring ingredients.

IntheNews

Four Day Weather Forecast Today

66° Thunder Storms 55°

Friday

67° Sunny 46°

Saturday

65° Partly Cloudy

University Long Beach City College works to control soaring rabbit population Long Beach City College has managed to reduce its large rabbit population, according to a report by a local newspaper, the Press-Telegram. Pet owners who no longer wanted the responsibility would abandon the animals on the campus, and the population multiplied quickly. In March 2010, there were over 300 rabbits on the campus, which has been reduced to 70. The college underwent an “aggressive spay-and-neuter campaign” and placed 170 rabbits with new owners. Most of the others were released into the wild.

46°

Sunday

63° Partly Cloudy 50°

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 Defendants in bullying case make plea deal for misdemeanor charge

Andrew Powell/ Heights staff

James Franco and Paul Mariani field questions about the film, ‘The Broken Tower,’ from an audience in Robsham Theatre.

By Darren Ranck Heights Editor

“It’s actually refreshing knowing no one is here to listen to me,” said David Quigley, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S). While the remark earned laughs, the sentiment rang true as the audience anticipated the entrance of actor and director James Franco into Robsham Theater to premiere his film The Broken Tower on Friday, April 15.

The event, organized by A&S, marked the world premiere of the film and included a Q&A with Franco and author Paul Mariani.

Mariani, a professor in the English department and author of the book The Broken Tower, introduced Franco, who mentioned his own application process to Boston College.

“I probably should have attended,” Franco said. “It’s like 50 girls to every one guy.”

Franco explained his vision for the film, emphasizing his working relationship with Mariani, whose research on Hart Crane inspired Franco to tackle the project. “I warn you, this is not Pineapple Express,” Franco said.

The film, starring Franco as Crane, ran roughly an hour and 45 minutes before Franco and Mariani returned to the stage to answer questions from the audience. “I’m impressed at how

much James captured [Hart Crane’s] life,” Mariani said.

“It’s certainly an unusual movie,” Franco said. “The idea was to have the texture of the film parallel his work.”

One scene that Franco gave particular attention to was a 10 minute-long poetry reading. Franco believed this scene

“I warn you, this is not Pineapple Express.”

—James Franco, Actor and director displayed an essential aspect of Crane’s life.

“I wanted to give something of the experience he went through and what people around him went through,” he said.

When asked if he had any inspiration during filming, Franco brought attention to Mikhail Kalatozov’s I Am Cuba, a film from the 1960s that studied the political landscape of Cuba. “It captured the country in such beautiful, long shots,” Franco said. He did not enjoy directing himself, however, and actually asked actors Paul Dano and Joseph Gordon-Levitt to play the role of Hart Crane before he stepped into the role himself. A question from the

audience allowed the pair to further delve into casting queries. For instance, Franco revealed that his own mother was cast as Hart’s mother and his younger brother played Hart as a young man. “I certainly tease them more than any actors I work with,” he said.

One of the more hotly discussed issues in the film was the depiction of Crane’s sexuality. “[Crane’s] homosexuality was like the bull-elephant in the room,” Mariani said.

Franco felt no qualms about portraying this facet of his being on film, however. “I felt dealing with the sexuality was important because Crane was open about it,” he said. Franco’s past roles include three reallife homosexuals, Allen Ginsberg, Harvey Milk’s lover Scott Smith, and now Hart Crane. “I was attracted to these characters for a variety of reasons. I play these roles because I believe in them,” Franco said.

This transcendent quality of film is what makes The Broken Tower and art in general so important to Franco. “One of the main things art can do is bring people together with deep understanding,” he said.

He feels the complex film may go over the head of its younger audience, though. “The two things they’ll talk about are the 10-minute poetry reading and how James Franco gives a blowj—.” n

Five of the six defendants in connection with the bullying case of Phoebe Prince, a 15-year-old South Hadley girl and immigrant from Ireland who committed suicide in January 2010 have agreed to admit to misdemeanor charges in exchange for prosecutors dropping more serious charges against them, according to a report by The Boston Globe. The teenagers faced a variety of felony and misdemeanor charges.

The teens will likely receive probation, though the deals are subject to the approval of a judge.

On Campus Chuck Hogan to address BC students after screening of ‘The Town’ Chuck Hogan, BC ’89, an award-winning author who’s novel Prince of Thieves was adapted into the 2010 film The Town, directed by and starring Ben Affleck, will attend this year’s Arts Festival as an alumni honoree.

The Arts Festival begins today and runs through April 30. While on campus, Hogan will make appearances at various events during Arts Fest, including a screening of The Town today, and a Friday lecture titled “Chuck Hogan’s Prince of Thieves and The Town: A Boston Crime Story as Novel and Movie.”

National Washington man sets fire to his home, killing himself and children VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — Police in Washington said Tuan Dao apparently set fire to his own home, killing himself and five of his children. Residents had reported an explosion that shook the neighborhood.

Kapp says the fire was intentionally set, and Tuan Dao is the only suspect. The Oregonian reported Dao’s wife, Lori, and a daughter were away at the time. The Columbian newspaper has reported that according to court documents, the family filed for bankruptcy and owed more money on the home than it was valued.

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 Taylour Kumpf, 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 Paul Sulzer, 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 Darren Ranck, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or e-mail arts@ 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 Michael Caprio, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com.

CUSTOMER SERVICE

Police Blotter 4/18/11 – 4/20/11 Monday, April 18 12:45 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a subject observed shoplifting an item in Corcoran Commons. The subject was advised to pay for the item and a report will be forwarded to ODSD for review.

1:20 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a fraudulent identification at Hillside.

A report will be forwarded to ODSD for review.

3:14 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an arrest for breaking and entering, trespassing, disorderly conduct, and possession of a fraudulent identification. The subject was booked, processed and later bailed from BCPD headquarters.

8:23 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a past sexual assault that occurred on campus. The victim and suspect know each other. Further investigation is being conducted.

1:31 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a subject who was passing off an ID to another individual in an attempt to access a restricted area in the Mods. A report will be forwarded to ODSD for review.

Wednesday, April 20

1:45 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a past assault and battery in Edmond’s Hall. A detective is investigating.

8:42 a.m. - A report was filed regarding the operator of a vehicle who failed to obey the traffic rules of the University.

The subject was issued a citation.

2:02 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a subject who was a hindrance and risk to marathon runners along Commonwealth Avenue. The subject was identified and escorted from the area.

2:19 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated subject in Bapst Library. The subject was transported to a medical facility by Armstrong Ambu- lance.

8:33 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a parking permit improperly transferred to another vehicle.

9:47 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the confiscation of contraband from several individuals in Gonzaga Hall. The matter which is being further investigated, was forwarded to ODSD for review.

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

Voices from the Dustbowl “What did you do over Easter break?”

“Went to New York City.”

—Trevor Reed, A&S ’14

“Wrote a research paper.”

—Jeff Thompson, Dustbowl Visitor

“Brought a friend back home with me to the Jersey shore.”

—Katarina Kaseli,

A&S ’14

Delivery To have The Heights delivered to your home each week or to report distribution problems on campus, contact Dan Ottaunick, 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) 2011. All rights reserved.

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

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

A3

Tim Wise lecture sells out Murray Room GZBC seeks RSO status for fall 2011

By Joseph Pasquinelli Heights Staff

Last Tuesday evening, FACES hosted prominent anti-racist, author, and educator Tim Wise in the Murray Function room. In his lecture titled “The Trouble with Colorblindness: Racism and Inequality in the Age of Obama,” Wise spoke on white privilege and the economic disparity between whites and people of color.

The event, which drew a crowd of over 300 people, was co-sponsered by the AHANA Caucus and United Front.

After a brief welcome, the FACES co-directors, William Charnley, LSOE ’11, Lauren Zajac, and Danielle Larsen, both A&S ’11, outlined the mission of FACES. After reading their mission statement, Charnley told the audience that FACES is the only organization that is directly centered on issues of power and privilege.

He then turned the microphone over to Zajac who reiterated the mission of FACES and expressed how pleased the organization was to be hosting Wise. “We are the only organization with a specifically anti-racist mission,” Zajac said. “This is our sixth official year as a registered student organization and [Wise] is the first prominent speaker we have hosted. Tonight is the culmination of our work this year.”

Larsen then introduced Wise, who has recently been named one of the “Top 25 Visionaries Who are Changing Your World” by Utne Reader, has been involved in anti-racist activities since his time as an undergraduate at Tulane University, and has been speaking on the issue of white privilege for 16 years.

Wise began by remarking on the large turnout for the lecture. “This is indicative of one of two things: privilege is of intense academic interest here or extra credit still counts for something in higher education,” he said.

Wise then told the audience about his experience living with nine roommates in one house and his refusal to clean up a day and half of an old pot of shrimp gumbo.

He said he eventually had to clean up the spoiled food because he had inherited the mess. He related this experience to white privilege. “We have inherited hundreds of years of inequity whether we like it or not,” Wise said. “We don’t have to feel guilty, which is feeling bad for something we did, but we do need to take responsibility, which is what you do in response to inequality because of the type of person you are.”

Wise continued by remarking on the narrative of white privilege.

He said the narrative allows whites to ignore parts of their history that reflect poorly on them and to continue to ignore the problems faced

by black people and blame the victims for their economic conditions. “We love the past as long as it makes us feel good or venerates us,” he said. “We don’t want to deal with the past that tells of the less-thannoble detours of our forebears. The narrative we have inherited allows us to justify the disparity. Whites have the luxury of believing this narrative.”

According to Wise, black people are not to blame for the economic disparity. He cited a study that found that Hispanic and African American men are stopped and searched more frequently by police officers than whites even though when they are stopped, whites are more likely to be found in possession of contraband.

He then compared drug use at Tulane to the drug use he witnessed in the housing projects in New Orleans. “I saw less drugs in 15 months in the New Orleans public housing than I did in room 804 of Monroe Hall in 1987, which I think was my room,” Wise said.

Wise then addressed the economic downturn. He said that brokers and bankers have done an enormous amount of damage to the economy that has only aggravated the economic disparity between whites and blacks. “A handful of elite whites have done more damage than ‘the usual suspects,’” he said. “It would take black and brown folks five millennia of rob-

bing whites around the clock to cause the same amount of loss. It matters that [the bankers] are white because y’all would make it matter if they were black.”

To the delight of the audience, Wise turned his attention to the Tea Party and their demands for lower taxes and smaller government. He said whites loved big government and New Deal programs because they exclusively benefitted due to their racially restrictive natures.

According to Wise, though, this changed when non-white people became beneficiaries of social programs. “We discovered our innerlibertarian when people of color gained access to the benefits white people already had,” he said.

While his speech focused primarily on the wrongs whites have committed that have negatively affected people of color, Wise did express some hope. “I believe most people are fundamentally good and decent,” Wise said. “I’m interested in why they mess up doing the right thing. It’s because they don’t have to know better. [White] being the norm condition means we don’t have to recognize our own racialization.”

“We have an opportunity for solidarity with black and brown folks if we can look the system [of white privilege] in the eye and say it is wrong,” he said. “That the system will take care of you if you work hard is a myth.” n

BCEEAN hosts sustainability conference B y J acob B ajada For the Heights

Over the weekend leading up to Easter break, students, faculty, and alumni gathered at Boston College to discuss environmental awareness, campus sustainability efforts, and career paths in related fields, as a part of BC’s first university-wide sustainability conference.

The conference, titled “Excelling at Sustainability: Leadership for Others,” attracted members from the local BC community including professors, trustees, and administrators, as well as alumni who are active in the BC Energy and Environment Alumni Network (BCEEAN) from outside the surrounding area.

The BCEEAN, which sponsored the event, is a year-old organization that keeps alumni involved in environmental and sustainable affairs connected through seasonal newsletters and meetings.

This event, which is the third of its kind, was the first to be held on BC’s campus. Because of this, the conference hoped to allow members of the alumni network to gain a greater familiarity with the University’s sustainability initiatives in addition to the research being conducted by BC professors.

“We wanted something to have in Boston to bring alumni in and educate them on what BC is doing,” said Elizabeth Barthelmes, president of Ecopledge, event co-chair, and A&S ’11. “[We were trying] to get feedback from alum and involve them in the community. There are people that

are working and doing these amazing things on campus [so we wanted to provide an opportunity] for consulting if alum wanted to see BC move in a certain direction.”

The conference, which spanned over two days, hoped to not only connect alumni with professors and BC administrators, but also provide opportunities for students to engage with alumni already in the field.

Following an opening speech by Rev. James Keenan, S.J., a professor in the theology department, the event commenced in the Shea Room of Conte Forum with a career exploration exercise during which students, faculty, and alumni gathered at tables to discuss their experiences with environmental work.

“At my table the interest was really in [the alumni’s] field, what steps that they took to get there,” Barthelmes said. “It was great career counseling, definitely not a forum where people were bringing resumes, but a more relaxed, really animated setting.”

Other events during the first day included a speech by keynote speaker Philip Landrigan, Chair of Mt. Sinai Medical Center’s Department of Preventive Medicine and BC ’63, about the impact of environmental contaminants on children’s health.

“He talked about his work in raising environmental awareness in children’s health studies, pesticides affecting children’s health, and the environmental risks that exist,” Barthelmes said. “He’s one of the few people to do studies like this, a topic I never would have explored [otherwise]. I learned something

completely new about an area in environmental work [but it also] drew in students that might not have had an environmental background, premed students wanting to hear more about this line of work.”

The second day of the conference had a similar focus in which students navigated tables that had been set up in The Heights Room to discuss with the alumni situated at each station.

“There was a meet and greet with alumni where students could go to certain tables to [look into] certain fields,” Barthelmes said. “Depending on what type of industry they were interested in, they could go to the tables and talk to the professionals. It

was definitely student-focused.”

The conference concluded with presentations from Daniel Bourque, vice president for Facilities Management, who highlighted BC’s initiatives to promote a more sustainable lifestyle in addition to other various presentations by members of the BC community pertaining to this idea.

“The fact that we had the turnout that we did shows that there is real interest,” Barthelmes said. “A lot of people left asking if there is another one happening again. From the alumni side there is a strong interest in giving back to school and within there are so many resources to help develop. That’s important.” n

ing to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions, for each of the last two years, 5,500 qualifying AP scores were submitted by enrolling students For those who meet the requirements and exercise their option to graduate early, the primary reason is usually financial, as opposed to academic or professional reasons.

“The main reason I hear from students considering the option is finances,” said Clare Dunsford, associate dean of the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S).

Dunsford is the dean most students in A&S who are considering advanced standing meet with prior to exercising their option to do so.

“Besides finances, I will occasionally find those who just want to move on to the next opportunity, such as a job opportunity with their family business,” she said.

For Kalsow, her primary reason was that of most: finances.

“The decision was based on a number of factors, the primary one being that I was paying for education at BC myself,” she said. “When I discovered spring semester of my sophomore year that I could accelerate my graduation, considering my circumstances and that I had made significant progress toward my major, I made the decision to save myself a year of tuition, loans, and stress.”

Having completed a significant portion of her major classes and realizing that her fourth year of BC would

have been spent completing a second major, a minor, or an array of electives, she could not justify the financial toll.

“It was not worth the time and stress,” Kaslow said. “I made the decision in the spring semester of my sophomore year and have continued completing my major requirements since then.”

Three-year college degrees are gaining attention nationally as students look to get a head start on graduate school or save money.

While administrators acknowledge the legitimacy of financial strains for applying for advanced standing, they caution against other motives that unnecessarily shorten undergraduate education.

“Graduating early takes away from the opportunity for wider involvement in college,” said Donald Hafner, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs. “It could have an impact on one’s opportunity to study abroad, obtain greater language fluency, hold a leadership position on campus, or complete a senior thesis. It can also prevent the opportunity to peruse a double major, a minor, or interdisciplinary studies. Those experiences cannot just be formative, but attractive to graduate school and employers.”

Hafner and Dunsford also caution against accelerating graduation for graduate school ambitions.

“Graduate schools are experiencing rising median ages of entry,” Hafner said. “Applying directly out of

college after having completed it in three as opposed to four years may not be the best idea to gain admission.”

“Three years of good grades is not as good as four years of good grades,” Dunsford said. “A full enrollment provides you with academic depth that can assist you greatly in graduate studies. For financial reasons, acceleration can be a good option to completing a college education, but it may not be the best choice if done for other reasons.”

Hafner also cautioned against the recent attention of three-year college degrees.

“Not everyone who enters BC, or other top institutions for that matter, with college credit desire to graduate early,” he said. “In my conversations, most students admit that the primary motivation for them taking AP and college courses in high school was not to accelerate graduation, but to be competitive in the admission process at top colleges such as BC.” Two weeks from graduation with a class different from that which she entered BC, Kaslow expressed no regrets about her sacrificing a year of undergraduate college life. “I have has a full experience at BC, enjoying the time and campus energy,” she said. “From a formation and social standpoint I do feel fulfilled, but it is hard to leave. I have accomplished a lot in my three years, but ultimately it comes back to my primary reason: money. I want to be in control of my finances.” n

Annie Budnick / heights staff

The two day conference featured speakers on the topic of sustainability.

By Rebecca Kailus Heights Staff

This month the Student Programs Office (SPO) will decide whether to register Global Zero Boston College (GZBC) as an official Registered Student Organization (RSO) for the fall 2011 semester.

GZBC aims at raising awareness of the ominous threat posed by nuclear weapons in hopes of gaining support for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons.

“The first step to eliminating nukes is to raise awareness of the threat they pose to our lives,” said Andy Hu, GZBC creator and A&S ’14. “There is barely any discussion on this issue as no one is aware of the nuclear threat.”

Though the push for GZBC to become an RSO began this year, the international Global Zero movement began in 2008 and has gained the support of over 200 political, military, business, and civic leaders, as well as hundreds of thousands of civilians.

According to its website, the purpose of the Global Zero movement is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. “Global Zero members believe that the only way to eliminate the nuclear threat – including proliferation and nuclear terrorism – is to stop the spread of nuclear weapons, secure all nuclear materials and eliminate all nuclear weapons: global zero,” the webpage reads.

The Global Zero movement has separated its goals into four phases to be completed by 2030, a time frame that Hu said will be hard to accomplish.

“There’s a global zero action plan which basically separates the process into four steps, the last of which aims at the elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2030,” Hu said. “It may seem like a long time but we have so many problems that it will be hard to accomplish this in 19 years. We need to do so much.”

“Why now? Because we are at a nuclear tipping point,” Hu said.

“One road is there will be proliferation if we don’t do anything now. Another road is to start now and eliminate all nuclear weapons.”

In order to gain support and complete the four phases outlined in the global zero action plan, Hu said that the Global Zero movement has recognized the importance of college students.

“I went to a Global Zero conference in Washington, D.C . where Ban Ki-Moon, the Security General of the United Nations, spoke and expressed his support,” Hu said. “He said we are the generation to eliminate nuclear weapons. With Facebook and Twitter, we can reach out to everyone and let them join in the fight.”

If approved by SPO, GZBC will join more than 40 other university chapters in eight countries.

“One thing the Global Zero Movement wants to do is to get college students involved and that’s what we want to do with Global Zero of Boston College,” Hu said.

Currently, GZBC has gained the support of many university professors and student organizations.

“GZBC is going through the SPO’s registration process as we speak to become an official RSO for the Fall semester,” he said.

“Many BC Professors including Dr. James Cronin, Chair of the History Dpt., Prof. Greene, Director of CSOM Honors, and Dr. M. Barnett from the Lynch School support us. AID [Americans for Informed Democracy], the Dems [College Democrats], the UGBC Senate, and the AHANA Leadership Council support us as well.”

Hu said that GZB C would be an important addition to the numerous clubs on campus, as it would devote its resources to the issue of nuclear weapons.

“There are a bunch of other student groups on campus that work with this topic, but don’t focus on it,” he said. “They focus on everything. But GZBC will only tackle this issue and divert all our resources to it. We also will collaborate with other GZBC chapters and other BC clubs to raise awareness.”

Hu said that GZB C would devote its resources to educating the student body on the real threat nuclear weapons pose.

“The purpose of GZBC would be to raise awareness of the global nuclear threat,” he said. “Because people don’t talk about this issue then people don’t know about it. If you don’t care about it, it’s because you don’t feel threatened.

But the threat is real.”

Efforts to create a BC chapter of GZBC began after Hu met the directors of Global Zero after attending the Global Zero 2011 convention in Washington, D.C. early in the month.

“I had dinner with [the directors], and they were telling me that there wasn’t a chapter at Boston College,” he said. “I wanted to do something to further this effort at BC.” While the dangers of nuclear weapons rise globally, Hu said he remains confident that BC students can help in the fight against this global threat.

“I think I can do something,” he said. “The adults have convinced me I can do something . You shouldn’t wait at all for this pressing issue. We only have 19 years.

As privileged college students we have a responsibility to use our knowledge and position to protect our world from our weapons that we no longer need.” n

5K benefits Brighton Few students capitalize on advanced standing Catholic school

By Daniel Tonkovich Heights Editor

Senior year is out of style for some Boston College undergraduates.

Andrea Kalsow, A&S ’11, is one of those students. Entering BC as a member of the class of 2012, last semester she applied for advanced standing, accelerating her graduation by one year by utilizing AP and college credits accumulated during high school.

Kalsow is part of the small percentage of eligible BC students who decide to exercise their option to graduate early. Since the Class of 2006, less than 1 percent of each subsequent class graduated in three years due to advanced standing and only approximately 3 percent of students eligible to accelerate their graduation exercise the option. This is despite the approximately 350 students who enter BC each year with eligibility for advanced standing, according to data from the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

At BC, students are eligible for advanced standing if they enter college with 24 or more Advanced Placement credits according to the University’s guidelines. Students can earn Advanced Placement credits from College Board Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate, British A Level, and French Baccalaureate exams, as well as through college credits.

BC students often matriculate with a significant amount of credit. Accord-

By Elise Taylor Heights Editor

On Saturday, April 16, Boston College sponsored BC Race to Educate, a 5K road race for the St. Columbkille School.

Since 2006, BC, along with the Archdiocese of B oston, has enjoyed a partnership with the school in order to make it a model for Catholic education across the country.

St. Columbkille believes that no child should be turned away because of lack of financial resources, and 50 percent of students are on some sort of financial aid.

Currently, many BC stud e nt s , i n cl u d i n g th e m e n’s hockey team, are involved with St. Columbkille through tutoring and mentoring programs.

BC has been estimated to have raised around $2 million for the once struggling Catholic school.

Starting in front of Yawkey Center, 253 participants ran to the end, at Conte Forum. The route snaked through the neighborhoods of Newton and up the famed Heartbreak Hill.

Andy Womack from Jamaica Plain won the race with a time of 15:50. Aaron Aaker, associate dire ctor of Compliance and Eligibility for the Athletics

Department, was the first BCaffiliated runner to finish at a time of 16:45. The event also attracted a large amount of spectators, who came to cheer both for the runners and also to show their support for St. Columbkille. The race was not the only activity of the day, as the St. Columbkille fundraiser also included a raffle and awards for the top three runners in each age group.

Overall, the race was a success. Maria Theodorakakis, Director of the BC-MACC Tutoring program, said that seeing so many people volunteering their time was truly inspirational.

“It was inspiring to see so many members of the school community come together in this way,” she said. “St. Columbkille is a phenomenal school and holds a special place in the hearts of so many individuals.

“On the morning of the race, students , parents , teachers , administrators, tutors, mentors, service providers, alumni, neighbors, and several others gathered on BC’s campus. They were bursting with enthusiasm.

This race is just one example of how much the school means to everyone – it demonstrates the willingness of a community to donate money, time, and talents to a worthy cause.” n

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Thursday, April 28, 2011

Black Family Weekend celebrated the past, while looking ahead Black Family Weekend, from A1 dedication into planning and executing.

NO: I can’t quite say that there was one highlight of the Weekend. We worked so hard on all of the events to make them as successful as possible, and each event was amazing in its own way. So to say that one event was a highlight doesn’t do justice to the other events.

Heights: What was the primary goal set for the Weekend, and do you think this goal was achieved?

DM: Our main goal going into the Weekend was to make it our own. This organization has an amazing legacy that spans four decades, but the whole point of a legacy is to build on it. With this in mind we blended old traditions with new ones. We kept some classic aspects: the annual Student vs. Alumni/Staff Basketball Game and our collaboration with Voices of Imani, and amended old elements: the large scale talent showcase that incorporated dance, musical performances, spoken word, and visual art displays, and started new

programming: our lecture featuring Dr. Michael Eric Dyson.

NO: The primary goal for the Weekend was to strive for nothing less than greatness. Diana and Vice President Sofia Muhammad told us to dream and think as big as possible when we were planning our events, then to scale back if for any reason our full visions weren’t feasible. This year marked the 40th anniversary of the Black Student Forum, so we wanted to make Black Family Weekend 2011 big and memorable, and I believe we did just that.

Heights: How were you able to incorporate your goals into the mission of the larger Mile 21 Weekend?

DM: The larger Mile 21 Weekend was an initiative to take something that is a huge part of the Boston culture, the marathon, and make it a University tradition. When looked at from this perspective - building on a pre-set framework and making it your own - I think that Black Family Weekend and Mile 21 Weekend were the perfect complement to each other and allowed the entire

BC community to take part in traditions that mean so much to so many people.

NO: UGBC One Week was aimed at unifying the campus by promoting the multitude of events that took place before Marathon Monday, which included Black Family Weekend’s events. During Black Family Weekend, the Black Student Forum strove to display black culture and AHANA culture to the entire campus and to the prospective students that were here.

Heights: Did this crossover of events add to or detract from the Weekend?

DM: Because Black Family Weekend ran from Thursday to Sunday and Mile 21 focused on Marathon Monday, neither one detracted from the other. Overall, I think both highlighted the best of Boston College and provided the community with a plethora of activities to attend and be part of.

NO: The crossover of events did somewhat detract from Black Family Weekend because there were other events taking place during some of our events. We want our audiences to be large and diverse, and I’m sure that other clubs want the same

thing. Having less time conflicts would allow for more of us to go to each other’s events.

Heights: How did this Weekend culminate the past 40 years for BSF while also launching you into the next 40?

DM: As we mark our 40th anniversary, the Weekend was a great way to reflect on BSF’s legacy, set the foundation on which to continue it, and strengthen our community. It provided an opportunity for alumni to come back and share their stories, for current students to see how the past impacts them today, and gave prospective students a chance to see what hard work and determination can do, as well as what traditions lie ahead for them should they choose to attend Boston College.

NO: This Weekend culminated the past 40 years of the Black Student Forum by offering a look back.

We mingled with alumni, for example BC Board of Trustees member Darcel Clark, who was the first ever freshman representative of the Black Student Forum. By having alumni at our events, we were able to remember the remarkable legacy of which we are a part. n

Silent students take a Online ticketing debuted at recent concert stand against bullying Spring Concert, from A1

Daniel Lee / heights staff

Day of Silence, from A1 at BC, and in other places,” Nearhos said. “It shows support for those who are still silent, who are not sure if they can come out. Even just holding the event shows that there are people on campus who want to help them with the coming out process and want to make them feel more comfortable. The other purpose is showing those who are not supportive that they will not be tolerated. If someone who would have harassed a gay student sees the numbers who support him or her, he will realize that he is in the minority.”

In the future, Nearhos said that she hopes that the ideas put forth by the Day of Silence will extend past a single day and into the mindset of the student body as a whole.

“I hope the Day of Silence will continue the changes we have already been seeing,” she said. “The student body has become a more accepting place in the four years I have been here. Events like the Day of Silence have really helped that along. There is still progress to be made, in the student body and especially in the official policy of BC. My goal is that one day, Allies won’t exist any more, because it won’t have to.” n

ferent backgrounds,” said Sofia Mohammed, vice-president of the BSF and A&S ’11. “Both artists attract all that BSF represents as well as what the rest of UGBC represents.”

“J. Cole is a college graduate and Wale speaks about break-ups,” said Diana Morris, president of the BSF and A&S ’11. “They’re not your typical hip-hop artists. They break the stereotype of the genre and that’s why we felt they would appeal to a broad audience.”

Both Robinson and directors of the BSF said they hoped that their collaboration this year on a UGBC event of this scale would set a precedent for future years and continue the formation of the Spring Weekend tradition.

“We think it’s important to set a precedent of collaboration—not only with the BSF, but with other groups, as well,” Robinson said.

The online lottery ticketing system employed for the first time this year proved to be both helpful and cumbersome. “The impetus was two-fold as a result of the Fall Concert [featuring Kid Cudi], we wanted to make it as easy as possible for students to get tickets,” Robinson said. “We didn’t want

kids to have to miss class to get tickets and didn’t want Robsham to get pounded all at once.”

Robinson said that he felt moving the process to an online system did affect ticket sales. “It helped us and it hurt us,” he said.

“While Cudi was a nightmare, it brought a lot of hype to the show.

A bit of that was lost with the online ticketing system.”

“Because it was such a large event, it didn’t work out as well as it could have,” Michael Kitlas, director of campus entertainment for the UGBC and A&S ’12, said. “Hopefully, in the future we will move to an online ticketing system like athletic tickets. Holdups with that come from the SPO office—it was supposed to be last fall, then this spring, so hopefully next year.”

Kitlas said he felt factors beyond the ticketing method probably had more of an affect on ticket sales. “I think ‘Open-toClose’ [at MA’s] was probably a bigger contributor to hurting our ticket sales.”

The concert was one of several UGBC-sponsored events going on that weekend as a part of the first annual Spring Weekend at Boston College, culminating in Marathon Monday’s Mile 21 campaign. n

Alex Trautwig / heights editor

Dead Prez (top) opened for main acts Wale and J.Cole in Conte Forum.

Mile 21 paves the way for future traditions Mile 21, from A1

Daniel Lee / heights staff

Nuclear talks held at BC Nuclear Arms, from A1 got to talk to students. It was an opportunity for them to convey a message to college students, the future leaders of America, that arms control is not an issue that died with the Cold War.” Donald Hafner, vice provost for undergraduate academic affairs and professor in the political science department, presented the opening remarks. Throughout his career, Hafner has been involved with arms control negotiations during the Carter and Reagan administrations.

Hafner spoke of how the end of the Cold War took away the sense of urgency to deal with arms control issues, and how leaders do not want to risk political capital to discuss disarmament. However, there are still issues to be resolved.

“The University’s Jesuit and Catholic teachings remind us that the issues are moral, not just physical,” Hafner said.

Young people are important to the movement, he said, because without them, the issue will not get resolved. “We will never reach our goal unless there are people who are willing to step up and be that fresh batch,” he said.

Marcie B erman Ries , the deputy assistant secretary of state for nuclear and strategic policy, presented the keynote address. She spoke of the Obama administration’s actions thus far, and what the U.S. saw as the road ahead.

Nuclear weapons, she said, are the “most dangerous legacy of the Cold War,” though negotiations continue. She was encouraged

by the fact that in 2009 and 2010 negotiations for the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) featured a younger crowd who offered a fresh perspective.

“What was heartening to me was the number of young people born not long before the fall of the Berlin Wall,” she said. “They brought a fresh perspective.”

In April of 2009, President Barack Obama made a speech in Prague that laid out certain strategies for decreasing nuclear arms, and progress has been made since then, Ries said.

“It is fair to say that the two years since the President’s Prague speech have been productive, but we plan to keep up the momentum,” she said.

Three panel discussions followed: “The Non-Proliferation Under Strain? An Analysis of the Developments in Iran, Pakistan, and North Korea,” “Fissile Material Cut-Off: A Viable Option for Arms Control?” and “The Road Ahead: Next Steps for the Obama Administration’s Arms Control Agenda.”

“It was a huge success,” Ratz said. “Sam [Ratner] and I are absolutely thrilled that we were able to start a conversation about this on campus.”

Many expressed the desire to continue discussions in the future. Ratz also believes that, partially as a result of this conference, Global Zero, a national organization looking to abolish nuclear arms, will begin a chapter on campus.

“We were thrilled to see how many students came up to us after the conference and said, ‘Let’s do this again,’” Ratz said. n

those students out cheering longer.

“BC students do come out for Marathon Monday, but we want them to stay out, hand out water and gel packs, and cheer so loud they can’t speak the next day,” McCluskey said. “Getting students out there isn’t a problem, but getting them to stay there is a problem.”

In particular, student coordinator Katrina Lutfy, CSON ’12, said that Mile 21 aimed to generate more student support for the Campus School runners.

“We all have friends who have run for the Campus School, and this year the number of Campus School runners nearly doubled,” Lutfy said. “We knew that this was the year to capitalize on our location atop Heartbreak Hill and support the huge number of BC students who would be running. The four of us came together to do just that.”

Student coordinator, Justin Pike, A&S ’11, agreed that Mile 21 aimed at increasing student support for BC runners, but also said that the campaign aimed at creating a new tradition for Marathon Monday.

“The Mile 21 campaign seeks to redefine Marathon Monday at Boston College by creating new traditions and enhancing old ones,” Pike said. “The four student leaders drawn from several campus organizations, such as the UGBC, Residence Hall Association [RHA], Quality of Student Life Committee [QSLC], and ResLife, brainstormed ways to increase the student presence along Commonwealth Avenue at Mile 21 and also add value to the day by creating awareness of runners in the BC family and also the Campus School itself.”

McCluskey said that making new Marathon Monday traditions was an integral part of Mile 21. “Marathon Monday is already a tradition.

We’re trying to make more traditions within this tradition,” he said.

These new traditions included a senior class photo, a barbeque on Corcoran Commons, and the placement of an arch on the corner of Comm. Ave. and College Road.

“The campaign successfully created new traditions like the panoramic photo, ‘The Heartbreak is Over’ arch, and giveaways,” Pike said.

“We were able to work with countless offices and departments throughout the University, gain their support, and earn their ‘buy in’ to help with next year’s efforts.”

In particular, McCluskey said the senior picture was an important part of creating new traditions. “We did a panoramic photo. It’s the

first senior class photo,” he said. “This is the start of a new tradition: to get in the photo. We really don’t have a senior class photo. It’s really the only time everyone is in their Superfan shirts except for football games.”

Despite the two-month time frame to create Mile 21, the student coordinators said it was a success.

“Students definitely responded well,” Baratta said. “People went crazy for the pinnies; everyone wanted them. There felt like there was more of a buzz along Comm. Ave.” In addition to the hundreds of students that followed Mile 21 on Twitter and Facebook, Pike said that the increased student presence on Comm. Ave. proved to him the campaign was a success.

“At its height, our Twitter account had nearly

ing to mile 21 where my family was standing,” she said. “I kept counting down how far it was.

When I got to mile 21, there was a huge wave of people from BC so it felt like just coasting into it. Going past BC was definitely better than the finish line. BC was so rowdy and great.”

On a blog on the Runner’s World Magazine website, Lutfy said posts identified Mile 21 as the best mile of the Boston Marathon.

“One runner posed the question: ‘Who was better? Wellesley or BC?’” Lutfy said. “There were over 20 posts, and unanimously, every single one said BC, ‘hands down.’ A few posts even mentioned how much better running past BC was this year than in past years.”

While Mile 21 was a success, Baratta said that there were areas of improvement, which more time will be able to fix for next year.

“I think that overall it was a success,” he said. “People have told us how great running past Boston College was, and we noticed a large and positive presence along Comm. Ave. However, since it was our first year in what we hope to be an everlasting tradition, there are definitely many places we can improve. Next year’s Mile 21 coordinators will have all year to make sure we continue what worked well and tweaked what did not. Also, due to time constraints we were limited this year in what we could do.

Alex Trautwig / heights editor Next year we will be able to do 280 followers, our website received nearly 2,000 so much more.” unique hits, and our Facebook presence was In the future, Mile 21 hopes to build upon outstanding,” he said. “During the day, I was this year’s efforts and add a few more tradiexcited to see the student body on Comm. tions to Marathon Monday. Among these new Ave. very early cheering the runners all along traditions, McCluskey said that a barbeque on Comm. Ave. In fact, I’ve never seen so many Linden Lane has been discussed. people cheering at the corner of Comm. Ave. “In the long term, we hope to move the and College Road, and with the arch behind barbeque to Linden Lane,” he said. “[Currently] them, it created a perfect image for the Mile 21 there are only two programs that are allowed on Campaign. Students were very excited for the Linden Lane: commencement and orientation. giveaways, and as we tweeted and Facebooked We got approval to host a program there during their locations, hundreds of students literally Marathon Monday. Because we only had eight came running.” weeks, we didn’t have the support, but in the Not only was Mile 21 successful among the future the barbeque will be on Linden Lane so BC student body, but it also had an impact on that students can funnel out to the Marathon.” the Marathon runners and the greater Boston Pike said he agreed that the future of Mile 21 community as well. holds great promise in generating more support “We received an e-mail from the family mem- for the runners within the student body and bers of a runner who burst into tears when she creating new traditions. saw the arch,” Pike said. “Students learned about “There have been discussions of Linden Lane why BC’s location plays an integral role in the BBQ’s, a student/alumni presence downtown, Marathon and I believe they rose to the occasion and even the possibility of a grandstand for with their presence cheering the runners on.” students along Comm. Ave.,” Pike said. “I think Campus School runner, Kristen Zale, A&S next year has a great deal of potential and it’s up ’12, said that the support of the BC students was to the students who take up the charge to make inspiring as she ran past BC. “I was really excited Mile21 something that grows into ‘the’ thing to when I ran past Wellesley thinking about com- experience on Marathon Monday.” n

CLASSIFIEDS

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The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

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The Heights

A6

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Editorials

Allow events to speak for themselves In the future, less emphasis on branding of Spring Weekend events could make them even more popular.

The first annual Spring Weekend, held three weekends ago, marked one of the most commendable efforts on the part of the UGBC to collaborate with student groups in recent years. The vision for this event, which had been cultivated by organizers of these groups for months, was made a successful reality and quelled any doubts that such an institution could

By branding an event with an alphabet soup of club acronyms, the organizers may discourage students from attending events altogether. be established in less that one year. They proved this through proper planning, marketing, and an understanding of students’ tastes and interests.

However, there are a few changes that the organizing groups can consider taking to ensure future success of the

Spring Weekend. While the collaboration between the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC), the Black Student Forum (BSF), and the UGBC produced a cohesive weekend of programming, we believe that the student groups should be cautious of over-branding their events. The BSF, UGBC, and ALC Spring Concert (the official name of this year’s spring show), rings sourly in the ears of some students who conversationally refer to the event simply as the “Spring Concert.”

By branding an event with an alphabet soup of club acronyms, the event organizers may discourage students from attending the event altogether.. Thus, the goal of unity that has been championed by the UGBC and other groups this year is made null.

Other successful events, like the recent James Franco film screening, have avoided over-branding themselves, despite the fact that it was organized by the College of Arts and Sciences and featured the work of an English professor.

While the film screening drew an audience with its celebrity appeal (as did the Spring Concert), the event avoided being overshadowed by its own promotion.

The organizers stepped aside and let the screening promote itself - a tactic that all student groups should be privy to.

Joining the conversation is necessary, easy BC has become a center of discussion on the topic of nuclear arms, making it easy for students to be informed.

With the recent interest in and addition of discussions about nuclear arms on campus, The Heights feels that it is important to remind and encourage students to actively participate in these types of discussions in order to become not only better global citizens, but better leaders.

Students at Boston College have the opportunity to educate themselves on the issue of nuclear arms and prepare

As members of an increasingly international university, BC students have a responsibility to take on the pressing issue of nuclear arms. themselves for the next step of activism. The successful Nuclear Arms Conference that was held at BC this month was the first step in enlarging the discussions about nuclear arms.

The presence of notable speakers on campus not only increases the student population’s global perspective, but

also reinforces the importance of the issue. The Global Zero Project, an international campaign to eliminate nuclear arms by the year 2030, is currently pending official recognition as a campus organization. The club will serve as a way to intensify and broaden the conversations and resources available to students about nuclear arms and will hopefully encourage the preliminary steps leading to elimination of these dangerous weapons.

As members of an increasingly international university, BC students have a responsibility to take on the pressing issue of nuclear arms. Regardless of their stance on the status of arms on the global stage, the educated youth of America must enter into these conversations in order to become future leaders. This generation has the possibility to rewrite the international standards on nuclear arms as current college students move from small-scale activism to political office and largescale reform.

These conversations, however, must not end with nuclear arms. The Heights feels that students need to be tuned into all pertinent global and domestic issues. It is imperative for the future that students begin to earnestly take part in issues that they will soon have a larger voice and participation in shaping.

Suzzane Severance / Heights Illustration

Letters to the Editor Setting the dividing line straight I am writing to correct the inaccuracies and blatant lies written in Mr. Halpern’s article, “Israeli student group hopes for healthy dialogue on current conflict.”

First of all, contrary to the claim made in Mr. Halpern’s article, the mock wall displayed in the Dustbowl in 2009, which I helped build to represent Israel’s illegal wall in Palestine, was approved by both the Student Programs Office (SPO) and Facilities; BCPD was aware of the wall, but it was not their responsibility to authorize it. In fact, an SPO dean even stopped by the Dustbowl while we were painting the wall to check on our progress (and probably make sure we weren’t spilling too much paint). He complimented our work.

(As for the language used to describe the actual wall in Palestine, I say “Palestine” because, though international law requires it to be built on the border between Israel and the West Bank, the wall is built mainly on Palestinian land, annexing large portions of the West Bank into Israel. And I say “wall” because it is, in many places, a wall. To refer to it as merely a “security fence” denies the reality of oppression for thousands of Palestinians which we hoped to illustrate in building the mock wall.)

Secondly, Mr. Dubov’s removal of the Students for Justice in Palestine signs, which contained facts about the persecution of Palestinians under the Israeli occupation, was a violation of university conduct, which he was told when he arrived at SPO with the removed signs-meaning he removed the signs before attempting to determine whether or not they had been approved, contrary to what was printed in this article. Moreover, SPO informed him that they in fact had approved the signs (as had Facilities), making the article’s assertion that they did not yet another falsehood.

In other words, the only two people Mr. Halpern bothered to consult for his article outright lied.

Furthermore, we strongly reject use of the term “anti-Israeli” to categorize our organization/activities. Members of Students for Justice in Palestine

count Israelis among their friends, family members, and allies in the struggle for peace for all peoples of the Holy Land. To depict otherwise is reductionist and offensive. We are not anti-Israeli, but antiinjustice. For that reason, we reject Mr. Dubov’s quote that Israel holds “no malicious intent” toward Palestinians. The Israeli occupation of Palestine is in itself an act of malice, as all injustices inherently are.

According to international human rights laws, Palestinians are oppressed under the Israeli occupation.

Printing any claim to the contrary without providing corroborating research is shamefully irresponsible.

One thing this article managed to get right, however, was that our signs intended to play to students’ emotions. The violations of Palestinians’ human rights under Israeli occupation are numerous and reprehensible. As citizens of conscience--which I am sure, with its “men and women for others” mandate, Boston College aims to train us to be-we are supposed to be outraged by injustice, and then moved to act to defeat it.

Considering the breadth of misinformation printed in this article, it is only suitable that The Heights print a retraction immediately and allow Students for Justice in Palestine an equivalent platform from which to defend our mission (which we will use more truthfully). Accordingly, in the future, we highly recommend Heights staff do some fact-checking before publication. At the very least, had you sought confirmation from the sources mentioned in this article--e.g., members of the SJP executive board or SPO-we could have saved you the time, trouble, and embarrassment of printing a false story.

Also, I would be remiss if I did not include this: falafel is an Arab food appropriated by Israeli culture.

Like much of the land of Palestine, it has been stolen.

The Heights welcomes Letters to the Editor not exceeding 200 words and column submissions that do not exceed 700 words for its op/ed pages.

The Heights reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, and to prevent libel. The Heights also reserves the right to write headlines and choose illustrations to accompany pieces submitted

to the newspaper.

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Quotes of the Week “The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”

— Lily Tomlin “We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.”

— Harrison Ford

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Contributors: Maggie Burdge

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The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

A7

Opinions

A royal distraction

Thumbs Up Dineen Boyle Boozy Brains - Finally, science that a philosophy major can get behind: A recent study has discovered that, contrary to popular belief, getting drunk may actually help us learn, rememb er, and elucidate our thoughts better. The study, conducted at UT-Austin, included the quip that “among the things learned when drinking is that it is rewarding,” but that’s a no brainer.

Franco - Beauty, brains, and braun—James Franco, who recently solidified himself as the most attractive thing to hit Boston College’s campus in recent years since the revamped Gasson clock tower, is headed back to school to make himself even better educated (and therefore, more attractive). Alas, he’s chosen our Southern countrymen at the University of Houston to help him gain his Ph.D. in Creative Writing and English Literature and will begin classes in the fall 2012. Houston for fall break, anyone?

Royal Wedding - Thank God that, in less than 24 hours, the e-mails, primetime television specials, and limited editions of People magazine dedicated the humongous misallotment of British resources also known as the Royal Wedding, will finally be over. For those of you looking to rise at 4 a.m. tomorrow to party like kings in honor of the event, more power to you – just keep in mind those of us trying to sneak in our royal beauty sleep.

School - “The darkest hour is just before the dawn,” Thomas Fuller’s brilliant phrase applies in our current lives just as it did in Batman: The Dark Knight. Neck-deep in papers, chemistry tests, and history quizzes, the light at the end of this semester’s tunnel seems like a pipedream right now.

But never fear, though the next eight days may be the hardest of the semester, they are the last.

Sugar Ray - Is “When It’s Over” your favorite breakup jam? “Under the Sun” the vocal version of your iTunes library? “Every Morning” the story of your life? Well, you’re in luck, because the best thing to come out the of the nineties—other than most of the undergraduate population of BC, of course—is coming to BC for Modstock. Please give a warm (potentially humid) welcome to Sugar Ray. Deals - Facebook, that bastion of Internet innovation, is looking to give Groupon a run for its money with the unveiling of “Facebook Deals.” Only available in a few cities right now, the platform is everexpanding, so hopefully, in time, users across the nation can stalk their ex and find out about a great deal at the pizza joint they went to on their first date—all at once! Facebook: Why take the time to know yourself when they already seem to so well?

Get a daily dose. TU/TD on Twitter. @BCTUTD

mollie kolosky / Heights Illustration

Thumbs Down

In case you have recently returned from a stay at the International Space Station or have just been thawed from a cryogenic state, you may not be aware that “The Wedding of the Century” between Prince William and Kate Middleton, is to take place tomorrow, April 29.

If you are, however, a member of the free world over the age of four, this is a fact that you have undoubtedly been made aware.

I must admit that I am strangely curious about the wedding frenzy. Maybe it is because I am an English major and interested in all things British. I find myself reading New York Times articles about which royal jewels Ms. Middleton is most likely to choose for her walk down the aisle. I come across articles from seemingly reputable publications speculating over whether she will choose gray or taupe eye shadow for the wedding day.

Over the weekend, I even saw a Dateline NBC special that actually included the line, so-and-so “is Kate’s second cousin once removed. She’s never met Kate, but….”

The obsessive coverage of the wedding is not isolated to the UK. I can’t help but to wonder why the American

public is so consumed by it. I have come to four conclusions. First, American popular media provides few examples of healthy relationships. The couple has already been together for eight years and their seemingly solid status offers reassurance that healthy relationships do exist.

Additionally, the couple exudes an air of elegance and reserve that is absent in many forms of contemporary American culture. But while maintaining an aura of dignity, they seem much more down to earth than previous generations or royalty. This delicate balance makes them appealing to an American audience.

Another quality that makes the couple appealing in the U.S. is the fact that they embody American sensibilities. Kate’s family is self-made and has no royal lineage. Her ancestors were impoverished coalminers and her parents started their own business out of a shed in their backyard. After their business became successful, they could afford to send her to schools that would offer her the best educational opportunities. While in high school, Middleton worked hard and gained her way into St. Andrews University, where she met Prince William.

Her background will make her one of the most educated members of the royal family. It is understandable why someone like Middleton would be well-received in a society that places importance on receiving a college degree and on creating one’s own opportunities. In addition to these attributes, the couple also plans to continue living on their own without servants or housekeepers after being married. As Americans have always rejected

stuffiness and privilege associated with monarchy, the couple’s departure from royal precedent is refreshing.

Perhaps most clearly, the royal wedding frenzy has proven a welcome distraction for a discouraged American public. With a struggling economy, soaring national debt, and military conflicts abroad, public mood is now at its lowest level in years. The promise of two people coming together in marriage is a cheerful diversion. Unfortunately, people are intent on milking it for all it’s worth.

But is it not more pleasant to speculate about which wedding dress Middleton will choose for the big day than to focus on our country’s negative credit rating?

It is understandable why, for a moment, people might choose to indulge themselves by focusing on the former.

Finally, for Americans who witnessed three year-old John Kennedy Jr. salute his father’s body, the image of two little boys walking behind their mother’s casket after her tragic and premature death struck a powerfully familiar emotional chord. It is only logical that two nations who share a common language, are forever bonded by history, and are each other’s closest allies would take interest in each other’s affairs, both tragic and joyful.

So does our interest suggest that we are shallow, voyeuristic people who have nothing better to do with our time? Or does it suggest that we are merely eager for something to be happy about? Does it make us desperate? Or is it rather a profoundly human quality to take interest in the happiness and well-being of others?

I propose a genius political strategy for candidates campaigning for the 2012 presidential election: become engaged. A White House wedding would add to the circus that is Washington and, above all, would allow us to continue to ignore the real issues.

Personally, I prefer anything to distract my attention away from the fact that Donald Trump is threatening to seek the American Presidency.

If he wins, you can find me across the pond.

Dineen Boyle is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

Compromising for better mileage

CJ Gustafson Bursting through the door to his room, I exclaimed, “Tyler, I need the car to go to the movies with my buddies.”

“You can’t, I’m taking it to lacrosse practice in 20 minutes,” he said.

Suddenly it seemed like I was going to have to pulverize my brother as an excuse to use the car to bring him to the hospital, and catch the late show on the way back.

“The ends justify the means,” I considered.

But compromise is one of the most basic lessons my parents attempted to instill in their children. I motioned, “How about I take the car to the movies now and your friend Chris can give you a ride to lacrosse. Then you can have the car tonight.”

“Fine” he said. “But will your friends buy me beer?”

“No way, that would be immoral. I refuse to promote underage drinking...

Unless I get the car tonight.”

I’m no political expert. In fact, I’ve never written an opinion column on politics for The Heights. When people have political debates in my room I usually change the topic to sports, cars, or YouTube videos. Paul Pierce has always been more intriguing to me than Ron Paul, and in my eyes the main difference between Reggie Bush and George Bush is that one dated Kim Kardashian. So before people start sending nasty letters to the editor, haranguing me for my lack of political awareness, I admit, I never watch CNN or Fox.

Party Time

BY BEN VADNAL

But what is apparent to me is the lack of compromise in American politics.

The word compromise is thrown around a lot. In most general terms I’m talking about two groups that don’t agree on an issue, settling for something in the middle that is not ideal for either party, but better than the situation before.

President Barack Obama frequently asks for members of both political parties to work together as Americans looking for solutions, not factional leaders. Instead, it appears that Obama has become the focal point of division and his incessant calls for compromise just further polarize parties.

Politicians must learn that one cannot just talk about compromise. If I lie to my brother and tell him that he can use the car on Saturday night since I drove it on Friday night, but then commandeer it while he’s wasting time on Facebook upstairs, I’m not going to have great bargaining chips when I come to the table next time. In the same fashion, it sounds worthless when politicians keep asking for chances to compromise and work together, but are increasingly stubborn each occasion they sit down to talk. Accusing each side of being unwilling to meet somewhere in the middle, yet never both genuinely striving for compromise, breeds worthless rhetoric.

Instead of arguing for a single path of action endorsed by the Republican or Democratic parties, why can’t leaders work simply as Americans, who are equally impacted by the economic recession, regardless of which box they check when they enter a booth? Emotional topics such as abortion and GLBTQ rights are exceptionally important. But at the same time these issues should not separate lawmakers from dealing with issues that we all face, such as the rising debt. Just because a Republican and Democrat don’t agree on same-sex marriage doesn’t mean

this should interfere with their efforts to confront broader issues. Straight, GLBTQ, black, green, purple, white, rich, poor, employed or unemployed we are all going to have to pay this debt at some time.

More specifically, this generation is going to have to pay the debt.

So maybe if the Democrats and Republicans think of the country as a car the government would run smoother. Yes, this all is overly simplified. But then again, shouldn’t it be that way?

1. Don’t buy tires or a stereo system for the car that you can’t afford. (Don’t fund overly extensive welfare programs.)

2. You can’t use the car both Saturday and Friday night. (The government can’t be completely run by just one party and still represent the public’s best interests.)

3. Don’t speed and incur expensive fines. (Breaking the law to get around hardships isn’t going to work.)

4. Even if you can’t afford premium fuel, just make sure the car can get from point A to point B. (It’s not always how pretty it looks but if you can get it done, like passing a bill.)

5. Elect a sober driver. (Put leaders in office who can see the road ahead with a clear mind and not bent on one-party domination.)

So what car are we driving right now?

We’re all packed into the back seat of a 1992 Hummer, which was a pretty awesome whip back when NYSNC was still cool, but we never made payments on it, it’s about to run out of gas, there is a married couple by the names of Democrat and Republican fighting in the front seats, the GPS ran out of battery, and there’s a ticket on the dash for $14,303,938,971,097.42.

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

Reading for requirement

Tim O’Connor I just finished all 159 pages of 9/11 Culture by Jeffrey Melnick, for EN277 – American Studies. It was an in-depth analysis of how Sept. 11 shaped the decade that followed, accomplished by a close reading of art, music, literature, and everything in between that occurred at this time. Like most of what I read for my classes, I found it enjoyable and informative. Unfortunately, I don’t read as much as I should for my classes, or at least as much as I’m expected to. A cover-tocover reading with detailed note taking in the margins – the treatment I gave 9/11 Culture – is probably the exception to my study habits, rather than the rule, and based on how frequently I find SparkNotes in browser histories around campus, I’d venture to say that this is a common phenomena among Boston College students.

Don’t get me wrong, at the very least I give assignments a good skimming and maybe check some summaries on the Internet. Anyone who’s shared in the experience knows that a cursory reading rarely does the job, and often leaves the student somewhere between “ill-prepared” and “totally clueless” when it comes to lectures and discussions. While this approach might save you time in the short term, you’ll definitely be picking up the slack come finals season.

There’s no denying it, the only way to get the full value out of those five classes you sign up for every semester is to do the reading, and do every page of it. In many cases, as I’m sure our friends in the hard sciences will testify, it’s absolutely tantamount to merely passing the course.

Professors design their classes around texts and use these texts as evidence to support the underlying themes and arguments that the course asserts, and it’s hard to engage in a critical discussion when you are unfamiliar with the content the discussion is about.

But what’s going to happen to my copy of 9/11 Culture after this week, when the lecture or two discussing it has passed and we’ve moved on to other material? My professor will certainly touch on it as we finish off the semester.

Knowledge builds on knowledge, and though it won’t be the focus of the class next week, it will at the very least still be relevant. I may cite it in an essay, even.

After that, however, I’ll throw the book into that box in the corner of my closet, filled with 20 other books that have outlived their usefulness this semester.

That’s a shame. Thinking back on the book, I can confidently say that each of its eight chapters could be the basis of a lecture or discussion. It’ll get two class periods, at most. On one hand, that’s the nature of the course. American Studies as a discipline has a broad scope, and as such has to look at myriad sources to show how themes permeate across mediums and genres. But on the other, I hear the same thing in every class: “We have a lot to cover.” Maybe it’s time to rethink what, exactly, we cover, and how much of it.

I’m not telling professors to stop assigning reading that is necessary for a class, or asking them to absolve students of the simple responsibility of getting work done. My point is rather simple: if you are going to assign a reading, make sure you get the most you possibly can out of that reading while still covering the content that is important to a class.

I frankly find it a bit insulting when I’m asked to drop over $100 on textbooks for a single class, only to find them mildly useful at best. Likewise, reading a 300-page novel when a few key excerpts would suffice wastes my time and makes it hard to engage with the relevant content.

Our generation is more distracted and less focused than any that has come before it, and that’s a disadvantage when it comes to getting that reading done. But we also have been exposed to more media and technology in our 20 years than most people experienced in a lifetime mere decades ago, and the systems we use to educate our students should start taking that into account. In some cases, perhaps a film or song can replace a novel. In others, perhaps a textbook reading could be divided among the class, and students can share their notes on the web. Reading for classes is never going to go away, nor should it, but there’s a lot of content out there and we’ll never master it all. Let’s stop trying to, and instead make sure that the material we do focus on gets our full attention.

Tim O’Connor is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.

The Heights

A8

Thursday, April 28, 2011

BC claims Beanpot at Fenway Park Beanpot, from A10

alex trautwig / heights editor

BC scratched across a run in the top of the 10th inning. The Eagles were on the verge of snapping a three-game skid when the Red Storm scored twice to send them home disappointed.

Red Storm stuns Eagles with two runs in the 10th

By Greg Joyce

Assoc. Sports Editor Less than 24 hours after a tough threegame sweep at the hands of Georgia Tech, the Boston Col5 St. John’s lege baseball Boston College 4 team took the field again on Monday at St. John’s. Despite an encouraging pitching performance and Spenser Payne’s first career home run in the top of the 10th inning, the Eagles allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning to drop the game, 5-4, suffering their fourth loss in as many days.

Tied at three after nine innings, the two teams headed to extras. In the top half of the frame, Payne, who was filling in at first base that day, took the first pitch of the at bat and bombed it over the wall to give BC a 4-3 lead.

In the bottom half of the 10th, the typically lights-out Garret Smith came in to close the game for BC. But he got into trouble when he walked the first two batters of the inning, and then let a sacrifice bunt turn into a hit. Suddenly, the bases were loaded.

Smith induced a ground ball on the next play, but a fielding error by Matt Hamlet allowed two runs to score to give the Red Storm the win.

“It was a tough loss,” head coach Mike Gambino said. “[Smith] hadn’t pitched in a couple of days and his arm was feeling really good and sometimes that can be the kiss of death. One of the big reasons he’s made huge strides is he was a thrower last year, admittedly, and he went to pitching this year.

When he pitches, nobody can hit him. And he went back to throwing [on Monday].

“But if you tell me that every game for the rest of the year, we’re going to have the lead going into the last inning with Garret on the mound, I would take that in a heartbeat.

One-run lead with him on the mound, we’ll win most of those.”

Geoff Oxley started the game for the Eagles, still making his way back from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He went three innings, allowing two runs in just his second appearance of the season.

“Ox did a great job,” Gambino said.

“That’s the first time in his rehab that he’s been able to go up and down. We had him up to 30 pitches, but he couldn’t get up and

down. That was really, really encouraging for him to get out there, and we’re going to be able to start stretching him out, and that’s going to help us out.”

Another encouraging sign for the pitching staff was the job done by Matt Alvarez.

The redshirt freshman came into the game in relief of Oxley, and threw a career-high four innings, letting up just one run, and earning another career-high with seven strikeouts.

“Matt Alvarez, that’s the best I’ve ever seen him throw,” Gambino said. “And even more important than his stuff was that he was focused and he competed his butt off.

His stuff is always good, but he pitched last night. It was the first time I’ve seen him do that.”

Alvarez got himself into a jam with two outs in the top of the seventh and runners on base. Gambino came out to the mound to make a pitching change, but when he got there, Alvarez’s determination and his teammates’ confidence in him changed his coach’s mind.

“When I went out there to take him out of the game, he looked at me. He was focused, he was determined, and he’d never

had a look in his eyes like this,” Gambino said. “And he said, ‘Let me get this guy.’ And I looked at Garret, and Garret said ‘He’s got them.’ And everybody in the infield unanimously looked at him and said ‘He’s got it.’

“When I go out to the mound, I have my mind made up, and I was getting him. There wasn’t even a decision in my head until I saw the look in his eyes and what those boys did.

They had confidence in him. I left him in, and he did a great job.”

Brad Zapenas scored two of BC’s four runs in the game, going two-for-five at the plate. Anthony Melchionda also helped out the offense, with a two-for-four performance in addition to knocking in a run.

Although the final outcome was not what he was hoping for, Gambino said he was pleased with the way his team played on Monday.

“We played well,” the coach said. “We did all the things we want to do as a team to be successful. If we can do that every game, then I have no problem with it. Just that one hurts because of the way we lost it and because it was the fourth in a row. But I really don’t have a problem with the way anybody played.” n

grounder looked to be a perfect doubleplay opportunity for the Crimson, but a botched defensive effort left a BC runner on second, who would score on Payne’s liner to left field moments later.

The lead remained 4-0 as BC’s Hunter Gordon threw a perfect 8th inning. BC blew the game open in the top of the ninth, as junior Brad Zapenas and sophomore Matt McGovern hit a pair of RBI singles, then a woeful performance from the Harvard bullpen walked in two additional insurance runs. Garret Smith took the mound for BC in a non-save situation in the bottom of the ninth, and allowed only a harmless single.

While the victory determined college baseball bragging rights in Boston for the next year, Gambino said that for his players, the magical experience of taking the field in “America’s most beloved ballpark” was just as meaningful.

“It’s such a special thing, that these guys will talk about, really, for the rest of their lives,” he said. “These are great memories that they’ll have forever. We’re so fortunate that the Red Sox allow us to do this. Any time you can get a win is huge, and to come in here and get ourselves feeling good with a win in a ballpark like this is really good for our club.” n

alex trautwig / heights editor

Brad Zapenas had two hits and scored two runs in BC’s Beanpot victory Tuesday.

Kids remind us why we play games Pure Sports, from A10

Terry gilliam / ap photo

Athletes like Terrelle Pryor of Ohio State can disract us from the true reason we play sports: because we love them.

themselves.

It seems like almost every day there is a different headline on ESPN about some new scandal that continues to pollute the sports scene in America. Contract disputes between players and owners because the player cannot stand to be playing for anything less than the tens of millions that they are asking for. Manny, being Manny, is forced to retire because he tested positive for performance enhancing drugs for the second time. Ohio State’s Terrelle Pryor, a college student like the rest of us, sells his game-used memorabilia to a tattoo parlor in exchange for some artwork on his body. All absurd acts to say the least.

I think sometimes we forget that what happens off the playing field can be more important than the outcome of each game. Athletes forget that, too.

More and more with professional sports, you get the feeling that everything players do is aimed at making big bucks. It’s like they’ve all been brainwashed. They are so caught up with themselves and the money in-

volved with the sport that they forget why they even started playing the game in the first place. And what’s scary is that it’s not just in professional sports anymore. Scandals are making their way into the college sports scene. Next thing you know, little leaguers are going to be signing endorsement deals with Wheaties. (OK, maybe not, but still, you get the point.)

At Nativity, sports are played because the kids love to play the game. Throughout the higher levels though, so many athletes are no longer playing for the love of the game, but rather for the “love” of the dollar dollar bills y’all. We’ve all gotten caught up in this market.

In the end though, there’s nothing like watching a pickup basketball game at Nativity to bring you back down to earth and make you remember what sports are all about. The game shouldn’t be about the money, fame, or statistics. You play because you love to play the game.

Greg Joyce is the Associate Sports Editor of The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

BC sets new program record with 47 home runs this year Softball, from A10 The Eagles’ lineup supported the freshman right hander with a strong offensive showing against Dartmouth starting pitcher Evan Gray.

In the bottom of the third inning, Lizzy Ploen hit a leadoff double to center field. One at-bat later, Nicole D’Argento stepped up and smashed an 0-1 pitch over the left field fence. Her ninth home run of the season put the Eagles up 2-0.

One inning later, it was Ploen’s turn to go yard. Gemma Ypparila hit a single to right field to start off the frame, and Kooistra drew a walk to put two runners on. Ploen then hit a towering drive to left field, adding three more insurance runs.

Ploen finished 2-2, while D’Argento went 3 for 3 with two RBIs. Dartmouth threatened late, but Horowitz had no trouble in reentering the game and getting the final out.

“They started getting on [Kidd] a bit, so Amanda closed out the game,” Finley said. “We were just trying to give someone else a chance to close the last inning.”

In the first game, the Eagle bats were working just as well. D’Argento hit her

eighth homer of the year, and Ypparila drilled a pitch from Big Green pitcher Hillary Barker over the fence as well.

The two shots were the 44th and 45th for the Eagles this season, which surpasses the old best mark of 44.

“It’s great, being a young team,” Finley said about breaking the record. “It’s great to see everyone hitting the ball again.”

After hitting two home runs in the second game, the team currently has 47 on the season.

The new offensive milestone was not the only story of game one, however.

Eagles’ starting pitcher Allison Gage held the Big Green silent through six innings of work, giving up just three hits and striking out two.

The Dartmouth offense, which set a franchise record in runs scored in a 20-3 victory over Brown last week, managed to put up only two, both coming against D’Argento, who relieved Gage in the seventh inning.

“She did great,” Finley said. “Between both of them, they had [Dartmouth] shut down.”

The pair of wins improves the Eagles’ season record to 12-27, while Dartmouth falls below .500 at 17-18. n

alex trautwig / heights editor

Nicole D’Argento hit her ninth home run of the season in the third inning to put the Eagles up 2-0 in the second game of the doubleheader.

SPORTS The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

A10

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Athletic dept. should adopt new slogan Drew McKay Shane McNichol Paul Sulzer When you think of Boston College football, what’s the first phrase that comes to your mind? Maybe it’s “Hail Flutie.” Maybe it’s “The Miracle in Blacksburg.” Maybe you don’t know what to think because the athletic department doesn’t have a true slogan.

Look at the football factories in the SEC and the Big 12. Many aspects of Southern football culture are not worth emulating, like the growing power of boosters and the associated win-atany-cost mentality. But one tradition these schools have nailed down is the slogan.

ESPN made a popular commercial about Alabama’s catchphrase. A police officer gives a man a ticket and then they both say, “Roll Tide.” A teenage couple caught kissing by the girl’s parents look at each other and say, “Roll Tide.” Even during a funeral, a priest gives a eulogy in a cemetery that concludes when he says, “Roll Tide.”

Alabama’s iconic phrase is one of the school’s most recognizable features.

It can be used as a cheer, greeting, or salutation. It’s a ubiquitous reminder of the team and the pride the school’s sports instill in the community.

BC doesn’t have a slogan like this

that transcends the team. “Ever to Excel” is a fine academic motto, but it doesn’t have the same punch for athletic success. No one would be caught dead chanting that at a game.

“Go Eagles” is a popular cheer, but it’s a little too generic to be a catchphrase that immediately makes people think of BC football.

That’s why we are suggesting that BC adopt “Stay Gold” as the slogan for its athletic teams. This phrase would be unique to BC. It’s simple, yet powerful.

It represents the loyalty and aspirations of the school, its students, and its fans.

A slogan like “Hook ’em Horns” doesn’t just suggest that Texas should defeat its opponent. It’s also a reminder that true Longhorns approach life head on. “Stay Gold” projects a similar confidence about the attitude BC’s community has toward the challenges it faces, in life as well as on the field.

What, then, does it mean to “Stay Gold”? It means to remain true to the principles that we are taught at BC. Namely, that we are men and women for others. On the field, this means playing a clean game in the spirit of healthy competition. True Eagles compete hard, but they compete fairly, too.

They don’t manipulate loopholes in the rules to gain an improper edge. They don’t, for example, pay players like Cam Newton to attend BC. They win with integrity.

‘Heights’ Mock nfl draft

The time to implement this slogan is now. BC should brand all future Superfan shirts—both the yellow student ones and the maroon that alumni don—with the phrase “Stay Gold.”

The current slogans on the back of the shirts are forgettable. They don’t meet their intended purpose of creating an identity for each class. Instead, why don’t we brand the shirts with a phrase that will unite students and alumni alike?

The athletic department should also hand out posters at games in the fall with the slogan on it. That way, BC can get the word out to all fans in anticipation of the next season.

What do you think of all these suggestions? Can you imagine yourself telling your fellow Eagles to “Stay Gold” as you part ways? Do you have a better idea? We’d love to hear it. This is, after all, supposed to be the beginning of a new tradition, and all fans deserve to have their voices heard. If you support our suggestion, let the administration know. With your backing, we can take the first step in creating a slogan worthy of this proud university.

Drew McKay and Shane McNichol are guest columnists for The Heights. Paul Sulzer is the Sports Editor of The Heights.

They can all be reached at sports@ bcheights.com.

alex trautwig / heights editor

Anthony Castonzo should be a first-round selection in the NFL draft tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN. We have him going 13th overall to the Lions. For the full mock draft, see A9.

Bullpen carries baseball to second straight Beanpot

By Ryan Kiracofe Heights Staff

The Boston College baseball team lifted the Beanpot trophy for the 10th time after routing Harvard 8-0 on Tuesday night Boston College 8 at fog-shrouded Fenway 0 Harvard Park. Pitchers Andrew Lawrence, Nate Bayuk, Matt Brazis, Garret Smith, and Hunter Gordon combined for a masterful pitching performance, allowing just seven hits by the Crimson in the shutout effort.

“They did a great job,” head coach Mike Gambino said. “Andrew Lawrence threw the ball really well. Our guys worked hard out there tonight, it was a really good night for our pitching staff.”

The Eagles celebrated wildly near the mound at the game’s conclusion, a clear indication of what winning the normally unheralded trophy means to

the squad.

“It’s huge in our locker room,” Gambino said. “We talk about it before the season, during the season, it’s something that we mark on our calendars. It’s become a really good tradition in our program and in the Boston area.”

BC jumped to an early lead in the top of the second.

Junior Anthony Melchionda hit a leadoff single and then took second on Lawrence’s pop out. Spenser Payne, only recently inserted into the Eagles starting lineup, then hit a sharp liner into centerfield, scoring Melchionda.

The Eagles tacked on another run in the fourth via continued small ball. Smith looped a hit into the gap in right field, and slid in before the tag at second.

Melchionda would then grounded out to second base, but Smith was able to advance to third, where he was singled in by Lawrence.

Meanwhile, the Eagles pitching staff scattered

Harvard’s seven hits over the innings and never really getting into trouble. Starter Lawrence (W, 2-1) pitched three innings of one-hit ball, and Brazis and Bayuk each pitched a pair of innings, giving up just three and two hits, respectively.

The BC lead swelled to four in the sixth inning, as the heaviest fog descended upon Fenway. At times, it was even difficult to see the right field bleachers from behind home plate.

Harvard’s Jonah Klees had come on to replace starter Daniel Berardo (L, 0-2) when Smith hit a hard line drive over the outstretched glove of Harvard shortstop Sean O’Hara. The ball rolled all the way to the Green Monster in left-center, and Smith raced into second for a leadoff double.

After Melchionda popped out to center, Lawrence singled to right field, scoring Smith. A Mike Sudol

See Beanpot, A8

courtesy of BC athletics

softball

Eagles break HR record BC hits four homers in Dartmouth doubleheader

By Robert T. Balint Heights Staff

Pitching, hitting, and defense all came together on Wednesday afternoon for the softball team, as Boston College 5 the Eagles won 3 Dartmouth both games of a doubleheader against the visiting Dartmouth Big Green, 7-2 and 5-3.

“We played all three aspects of the ball,” head coach Jennifer Finley said.

“Overall, we played great.”

Eagles’ starters Amanda Horowitz and Allison Gage combined for 12.1 innings of one-run pitching, while the Eagles’ lineup hit four home runs, breaking the program single-season record for homers

in the process.

In the second game, Horowitz pitched 6.1 innings of dominant ball, striking out four batters and allowing just one earned run on five hits.

She was relieved in the top of the seventh by Morgan Kidd, but with just one out remaining Kidd worked herself into a jam, giving up a clutch two-run single to Dartmouth’s Meghan Everett.

Horowitz came back into the game, and induced a groundout to second base by the next batter, Hillary Hubert, to earn her fourth win of the season.

“Horowitz did really well,” Finley said.

“She’s been pitching really solid for us.”

See Softball, A8

i nside S ports this issue

alex trautwig / heights editor

Lizzy Ploen homered yesterday, helping BC establish a new program record with 47 long balls.

St. John’s rallies to beat baseball

The Red Storm scored two runs in the bottom of the 10th to steal a win..................A8

The Week Ahead

The baseball team hosts No. 1 Virginia, while softball takes on Georgia Tech......................A9

Kids remind us why we play games Greg Joyce With the ridiculous debate over the NFL lockout hovering over the sports world, in addition to the daily concerns of whether a player will sign for $160 million (but not for $150 million), I wanted to take this opportunity to give an insight to the truest form of the game. A place where sports are not tainted by the number of zeros in your contract, where drug tests don’t force players into retirement, and where players don’t trade their game memorabilia for tattoos.

For the past seven months, I’ve had the privilege of spending my Monday and Tuesday nights at Nativity Prep, a Jesuit, all-boys middle school for low-income families in the Boston area. As a part of the PULSE program, my time at Nativity is mainly composed of tutoring students and helping them with their homework.

But one thing that sets the school apart from any other place to tutor (at least in my sports-focused mind) is the important role that athletics play in the school’s community.

The first hour of every night is spent in the gym playing pickup basketball, and emotions are always running high.

Whatever team wins the most basketball games in that hour has full-fledged bragging rights that night at the dinner table, and for the next few days. Tuesday night, I lost track of the number of times my pupils Kaevon, Zahaq, and Johan told me that their team was 13-1 on the court. At Nativity, the glory of winning a three-onthree game lasts forever.

I swear, the talent in that gym is unreal. But beyond the talent, there are more important things to take away from the games. Though it sounds cliched, concepts like teamwork and sportsmanship fill the gym each and every day. The pride that these kids take in all their games exceeds any amount of pride that any professional athletes probably have after a win. And although the team that loses is disappointed, the kids move on, and seconds later you’d find it tough to wipe the smile off their face. The boys at Nativity play because they love the game. They play for the purest reason: to have fun.

But the best part of it all is what happens after the games are over. Literally five minutes after gym time is over each night, the boys are sitting together eating dinner. The kids, who minutes before had been fierce rivals on the court, are once again friends, cracking jokes and having conversations. The innocence that these kids show on and off the court is unparalleled to how most professionals conduct

See Pure Sports, A8

Editors’ Picks..............................A9 Series of the Week........................A9

on the session

music nook

perfect summer playlist music you need to beat the heat page B5

editor’s column

translating a princess? drunk speak how will kate

zak jason gives middleton deal meaning to all those with her newfound late night, drunken celebrity? conversations page B4

page B2

Thursday, april 28, 2011

mOLLIE KOLOSKY / heights photo illustration

The Heights

B2

Thursday, April 28, 2011

+Editor’s Corner

Every pretty girl deserves a fancy ball

Darren Ranck Once upon a time, in a country known at the United Kingdom, there lived a girl named Catherine Elizabeth “Kate” Middleton. Born in Reading, Kate lived as any daughter of two flight attendants would by attending elite prep schools as a child before receiving a college degree from the esteemed University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Smart and beautiful, she became a success among the lads. In Scotland, she met a charming prince named William of Wales. The two began a courtship that set the kingdom abuzz. “Could this be our princess?” people asked.

Although they parted ways for a time, they fell back into each other’s arms, and William asked Kate to marry him (while in Africa … on a safari … in celebration of receiving his pilot’s license). The kingdom was overjoyed with her beauty, intelligence, and fashion sense, and Kate suddenly became a phenomenon.

The story brings us to the present, less than 24 hours before the wedding of the year. Let me speak frankly – I don’t understand the ruckus over this event. For anyone who watched The Middle last week, Patricia Heaton’s character, a working mom in the Midwest, crowed “She’s entering a commoner and leaving a princess!” approximately 20 times. Just because Kate Middleton doesn’t have royal blood, she suddenly gets the label of “commoner?” Apparently in England, no one can ascend any higher than “commoner” on the social ladder (unless you marry royalty, of course).

It’s an interesting take on the situation, though. Kate enters a commoner and leaves a princess. When put into those terms, it truly is a modern day fairy tale. She gets the status, the connections, the gowns, the jewels, and the prince, the heir to a throne. With all these fineries comes the price of fame. During the initial days of her and William’s courtship, the royal family finagled a truce between the blossoming couple and the paparazzi. Kate avoided the messy part, but now the public will want to know her every move, good and bad.

The celebrated and legendary Princess Diana, Di, faced similar exploitation from the media. The world viewed her as their princess with her sweet demeanor and caring nature, but her separation from Prince Charles caused a media blitz. Charles’ affair with the wicked Camilla Parker-Bowles and the revelation of Di’s depression put the princess at odds with the media as she struggled to raise her children and move on with her life. Her untimely death was the final straw as the media continues even today to find unflattering details to add to her beautiful life.

Kate only needs to realize two things. 1) The life of celebrity does not always work for the best. 2) The world, for now, loves her and wants only the best for her. As a royal celebrity, she will make public appearances that go swimmingly or face the scrutinizing lens of the shutterbug.

It’s all beautiful one moment as they take photos of her at a fashion show, but if she ever experiences a clothing malfunction, photos would hit the Internet faster than one could say, “Crumpets, please.”

As I said, though, she’s the star of the moment right now. Homemakers, bankers, and people of all walks of life are waking up at 3 a.m., putting on their plastic tiaras, and sipping tea and munching on scones as Kate walks down the aisle to her waiting bridegroom. All of England waits on the stoop of Westminster Abbey, hoping to catch a glimpse of the princess. Sir Elton John, the Michael Jackson of London, one could say, preps for a not-so-secret wedding performance in her name.

Nothing can touch her right now, and isn’t that the fairy tale right there? Not since Princess Di herself has the world been cheering so loudly for a bride and the marital bliss she’s been waiting for.

I sincerely wish them a happily ever after.

Darren Ranck is the Arts & Review editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

an independent frame of mind

Radio singles by Kelsey Damassa

It’s all about the money

Christina Perri “Tragedy”

Matthew Morrison “Still Got Tonight”

Rodney Atkins “Take a Back Seat”

Combining heartfelt lyrics with her hauntingly powerful voice, Christina Perri can do no wrong with the latest single off her upcoming album Lovestrong. “Tragedy” contains the perfect balance of guitar, piano, and violin, which compliments the unique vocal stylings of Perri. The overall effect is a smooth, genuine, and melodious song that will flood even the most stubborn listener with emotion. Check out the full album, which will be released on May 10.

Glee’s favorite teacher is getting ready for his first CD release and is off to a great start with “Still Got Tonight.” Co-written by Kris Allen, the winner of American Idol season eight, this lyrical and motivational single showcases the versatility of Morrison’s voice – moving away from his Broadway roots and demonstrating his ability to create catchy and infectious pop music. Keep an eye out for the official album release on May 10.

With summer right around the corner, country artists are releasing tons of new music celebrating the small pleasures in life. Rodney Atkins’s newest single, “Take a Back Seat,” does not disappoint with downto-earth lyrics and a comforting country twang.

Even if you are not a country fan, give this track a listen. I guarantee it will put you in a good mood and get you ready for the upcoming summer!

Britney Spears ft. Ke$ha & Nicki Minaj “Till the World Ends (Remix)” Already the party anthem of the summer, “Till the World Ends” and Britney are back with a remix.

However, this time she has outdone herself by collaborating with two of pop music’s leading ladies, Ke$ha and Nicki Minaj. With a slower beat and a surprisingly powerful blend of voices, this remix is the perfect addition to any workout or party playlist.

Bilson is a classy starlet who can make even the simplest pair of jeans and a white T – shirt glamorous, graceful and classy.

Classic fashion icons of mine include Katharine Hepburn, who claimed her own fame by choosing to appear on screen in pants and without makeup on, unheard of for a lady in her time. She was confident and forged her own path, claiming that, “Stockings are an invention of the devil!”

She reminds me to be confident in all of my fashion choices, and that causing a stir can be a good thing.

Just as mixing classic pieces with more modern ones is a fashion basic, drawing inspiration from different people will enhance anyone’s personal style. Mostly, style is about not being afraid to break the mold and do something bold and daring. It isn’t just about always being put together, but being fearless and making a statement with how you choose to present yourself to the world. It’s true, what people notice first about each other is their appearances, whether that be good or bad, it’s reality.

While we are constantly bombarded with images, it is important to discern who are the good, and who are the bad influences in our fashionable lives.

Top-40 music is all about catchy beats, clever choruses, and songs that make people want to unleash their inner Beyonce and belt it out. From “girls who run the world” to being “born this way,” singers are exerting their powerful and often subliminal influences on music consumers by packing often skewed messages into a tight three-and-a-half minute long songs.

Nobody is guiltier of this crime than British export Jessie J, a perky vessel of sound brimming with every angle of society at large. The singer seems ready made for Hollywood, with a feature on last year’s Easy A soundtrack under her real name Jessica Cornish. On her recent stateside debut Who You Are, Jessie J offers up a noisy cultural compilation that never quite accomplishes anything short of a headache. It is a shame if only because her debut single “Price Tag” showed a strong glimmer of promise (“Perhaps she’ll be the next Lily Allen,” I mused at the time).

In the song’s chorus, the alliterated lass eagerly chirps “It’s not about the money, money, money / we don’t need your money, money, money / Just wanna make the world dance / Forget about the price tag.” Put simply, this is a terribly deceptive message wrapped up in an enchanting and hummable ditty. It would be lovely to live in blissful ignorance of the fact that Jessie J is, in essence, a product. From appearances on Saturday Night Live (one of the best of the season, mind you) and private concerts for Guess Jeans in New York, Interscope is selling Jessie J like hotcakes and anybody who’s listening is buying.

It is obvious to most bill paying Americans (and certainly to college students) that we live in a consumer driven culture. There is no use in beating this message to death because it’s been covered in countless iterations from here to the sun.

Nonetheless, it is important to point this out as a sort of warning to passive consumers. Bluntly, Jessie J is lying to her listeners. Money is of the most importance to her – as a new artist, it is the pixie dust to her career. A sprinkle too small, and she might fade away.

Debuting at number 11 on last week’s Billboard Charts, perhaps Americans aren’t buying her “we are the world” style of schlock.

I say this all as an ardent fan of Jessie J – her music is nothing but catchy, even I can’t deny that, but her messages must be revised. Pop song lyrics wriggle their way into our brains and never let go of their grasp. One story sticks out brilliantly in my memory. In the summer of 2002, Nelly was riding high on the success of his Country Strong.

Everywhere one turned, the rapper’s hit “Must Be the Money” was blasting. On the way back from the pool, my mom and I were laughably startled by my seven-year-old brother’s able-handed rhyming as he squeaked “If you wanna go and take a ride with me / two hos in the back of the Benzie.... ” Looking back on it we laugh, but it is equally as important to note just how pervasive the messages that cross the airwaves can be.

What set me off about this particular artist and song? On Monday morning, I attempted to buy tickets to see (no surprises coming) Nicki Minaj opening for Britney Spears this summer. “How fun!” I naively thought of the whimsical pairing. I was going more for Nicki than for Britney, of course, but the combination is a brilliant one. When I logged on for the presale, my jaw dropped at the prices – the cheapest seat (read: worst seat) in the house was going for over $100 plus fees and taxes. Floor seats (which, it is important to mention, Lady Gaga sold for no more than $75 at last summer’s Monster Ball) ran upwards of $300. A meet and greet with Ms. Minaj herself, a luxury I had considered asking my parents for as an early birthday present, would have taken a $400 chunk out of my wallet. I sadly had to pass on the tour, but it left me feeling agitated— who does Britney Spears think she is?

Judging by her “dancing” lately, the tour could easily be a disaster, far from the shows of the “Toxic” era. Her manager proudly announced that Britney was excited to get out on the road to show her fans how appreciative she was.

Britney Spears and Jessie J need to get a serious reality check – we may be appreciative, but we aren’t dumb.

Therese Tully is a columnist for The Heights. She can be reached at arts@ bcheights.com.

Brennan Carley is the Assoc. Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

photos courtesy of amazon.com and creativecommons.org

THis week on tv by Christine Zhao

Old favorites and a new contender

‘Criminal Minds’

‘One Tree Hill’

‘The Voice’

With six seasons under its belt, CBS’s Criminal Minds continues to exhilarate. The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) continue to catch “unsubs” (unknown subjects a.k.a. criminals), and next week’s episode find the agents dealing with a mysterious disappearance and a related injury.

There will also be a guest appearance

by John Kapelos, most likely known for his role as the janitor in Breakfast Club, as a sheriff.

After eight seasons, One Tree Hill is nearing the end of its days, but will make it through the spring season.

Next Tuesday, the Scott brothers, played by James Lafferty and Chad Michael Murray, will continue to face their respective problems while dealing with more family issues. Chase, played

by Stephen Colletti (from Laguna Beach), does another good deed, and the James sisters continue to stir up exciting melodrama.

Anything that involves bright red swivel chairs can’t be too bad, right?

NBC’s new singing competition, The Voice, features blind auditions and big buttons. The premiere episode on Tuesday set the tone for the rest of the show, which will bring a different take on the dime-a-dozen talent shows out there. Instead of “judging,” the celebrities “coach” the singers through the competition, molding them into lean, mean pop machines. photos courtesy of Google

Fashion Forward

photo courtesy of google

Blogs and websites dedicated to the latest trends bring forth a new medium in which fashionistas can stay up to date and in style.

Fashion inspiration and icons hit the blogosphere Therese Tully The Royal Wedding is rapidly approaching, and speculation is running high about who will be designing Kate Middleton’s dress. With guesses made and bets placed, I am reminded what a true impact fashion has on people. Designers around the world are chomping at the bit, dying to see the final dress design so they can copy it and make millions. But Kate Middleton is not the only style icon in today’s day and age, although European royalty have contributed highly to the fashion scene in the past. The media has definitely hyped up the impending royal nuptials and the fashion involved.

In fact, the media is arguably fashion’s greatest outlet. From magazines, newspapers, websites, blogs, movies, TV shows, and books, we are constantly bombarded with fashion.

Amid all the media and all the clutter, it is important to discern a sense of personal style. Something that makes you different from everyone else: whether it be a trademark hairstyle, your love of all things feminine, your eye for vintage fashion, an uncanny ability to be a thrifty shopper, or your signature red nails, standing out is essential to be noticed in all of the hustle and bustle. A great modern day outlet for fashion advice is the blog, and there are hundreds if not thousands of them devoted

to style alone, and one of my favorites is lookbook.nu. Spending some time finding a blog that aligns with your own style is a great step towards developing your signature style.

Though it can be argued that “street style” influences people’s fashion choices, it accounts for a much smaller portion of fashion inspiration than print sources. It’s hard to deny that seeing your favorite star gracing the cover of a tabloid, and noting just how fabulous they look in their airbrushed photo shoot, does not lead to you trying to mimic a similar feel in your own style. Maybe it’s Kate Hudson’s hippie vibe that you are dying to mirror in your own life, or Rihanna’s ability to look tough yet sport super bright colors that you find inspirational.

Inspiration is important, and fortunately there are a lot of noteworthy fashionistas to look up to in today’s day and age, and in the past as well. As far as current fashion icons go, for the extravagant, I admire Heidi Klum, who always looks fabulous while juggling her many roles in life: model, TV host, businesswoman, designer, actress, TV producer, and mother. I respect her ability to do all of these things while in heels.

Rachel Bilson would have to be my other current day fashion icon. Despite her youth, she has not fallen into the pattern of young actresses today, which typically involves wardrobe malfunctions, drug charges, public intoxication, and general crude behavior.

Brennan Carley

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

michael scott saying our goodbyes to “the world’s best boss”

throws one last party

A

B3

Wanted:

Experienced comedic actor

dan siering | heights staff and darren ranck | arts & review editor

fter tonight, fans of The Office will have seen the last glimpses of Michael Scott behind his desk at Dunder Mifflin, Scranton branch. Tonight is the final time Michael will hurl offensive remarks at Toby, slip a “that’s what she said” into conversation, or sip from his “World’s Greatest Boss” mug.

The departure of Steve Carell from The Office marks an end of a creative era in the world of comedic television. Carell successfully brought an overly popular UK series and the concept of offbeat workplace comedy to the States and was able to keep the show fresh and pleasurable for several years. In honor of this landmark, we felt that an appropriate bon voyage is in order for Michael Scott, so we look back at the goofiest, Dundiest, most priceless moments from Carell’s seven seasons on air. Always forward thinking, we also give some suggestions for Scott’s replacement in hopes of saving the Scranton branch. May Michael Scott live forever in infamy.

Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute The relationship between Michael Scott and Dwight Schrute has grown increasingly complex over the years. While Dwight has shown relentless obedience and diligence as Michael’s secondhand man, his ascension up the Dunder Mifflin management ladder has been an arduous journey. After all, it took several seasons of hard litigation for Michael to finally agree to change Dwight’s official title from “Assistant to the Regional Manager” to “Assistant Regional Manager.” Yet, save from the occasional punch in the stomach or backstabbing maneuver to get a corporate job, Dwight has never let Michael’s lack of gratitude mar his admiration for his boss. In season three, Michael asks Dwight what’s the best advice he has ever given him. “Don’t be an idiot.

Changed my life,” Dwight says without hesitation.

While Michael and Dwight’s relationship usually consists of Michael interpreting Dwight’s affection as brown nosing, there have been glimpses of camaraderie between the two over the years. Scenes of Dwight, Michael, and Andy parkouring around the office come to mind, as well as the duo’s “Lazy Scranton” rap parody. These acts of cooperative foolishness make one wonder that perhaps a real friendship exists beneath all the scornful mockery. Then again, Michael would never admit such a thing.

Michael Scott and Toby Flenderson “Why are you the way that you are? Honestly, every time I try to do something fun and exciting, you make it not that way. I hate … so much about the things you choose to be.” This second season quote encapsulates Michael’s feelings for Toby Flenderson.

Since day one, Michael has despised anything and everything Toby. The clash between Toby’s calculative and logical personality and Michael’s whimsical nature has been a constant source of laughs for the show, mostly due to the fact that Michael rarely tries to hide his contempt. “Toby is in HR, which technically means he works for corporate, so he’s really not a part of our family. Also he’s divorced, so he’s really not a part of his family.”

Michael loves to express his hatred of Toby by publically humiliating his nemesis, such as pantsing Toby’s during the start of season four’s “Fun Run” or awarding Tody the “Most Repulsive” Award during last week’s Dundies. Michael also makes a point to exclude Toby from out-of-office functions, like the branch’s Beach Day in Season three. (“I want today to be a beautiful memory …

And if Toby’s a part of it then it’ll suck.”) I wonder if Michael will give Toby any pleasant last words tonight before his departure.

Knowing their history, chances are slim.

Michael Scott and his Women While the first few seasons pinned him as a classic helpless romantic, Michael was able to score a number of girlfriends before his time at Dunder Mifflin was over. Michael’s longest, and albeit most dysfunctional, companionship during the show was with Jan Leverson, who originally served as Michael’s corporate boss.

Their romance blossomed out of a one-night stand in Jamaica,

and the two soon established a bizarre relationship built around Jan’s criticisms of Michael. The maintained their romance until it all fell apart during the season four dinner party, one of the most memorable episode of the series. What begins as a quiet dinner party ends with Jan throwing one of Michael’s precious Dundies into a small flat screen TV. Needless to say, their relationship ended quickly thereafter.

From his inappropriate marriage proposal to real-estate agent Carol in season three to breaking up with Pam’s mom after learning that she’s 58 in season six, Michael’s romantic endeavors usually end up being the butt of the joke. It wasn’t until he met Holly Flax, who replaced Toby as the HR rep in season four, that Michael found some true romance. With a childish and quirky personality similar to Michael’s, Holly is a perfect match for Michael. Despite his romantic layout of candles setting off the sprinklers, Holly accepted Michael’s marriage proposal on last month’s “Garage Sale” episode, and the two are set to move to Colorado. I know many Michael Scott fans will shed some tears tonight, but maybe you can find some comfort knowing that he’s riding off into the sunset with his better half.

Michael Scott and Jim Halpert Michael Scott spent nearly every day wanting to become Jim Halpert’s best friend. Really, though, who wouldn’t want that?

The Jim-Michael bond always produced some of the show’s best dramatically ironic moments. Every time Michael made an offcolor joke or posited a foolish comment, Jim would break the fourth wall and throw one of those signature Halpert looks to the camera. Several moments in their illustrious working relationship shine brightly. Perhaps it all started with a little lunch meeting at Hooters, where Michael surprised a clearly uncomfortable Jim with a bevy of buxom ladies to sing him a happy birthday. From there it veered to constant invites for dinner and drinks until Jim finally had to give in and enjoyed a night with Michael and his exgirlfriend Jan, worthy of a Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? remake.

Along every step of the journey, Jim encouraged Michael’s inane plans for his own comedic pleasure, but he still recognized that Michael was a good man. It was Michael, after all, who encouraged Jim on the company booze cruise to not give up on his life-long love, Pam, despite her engagement. With Michael’s antics leaving for Colorado, Jim might find himself shooting less quirky leers at the cameras and more thoughtful glances.

Michael Scott and Pam Beasley Michael’s relationship with Pam unexpectedly became one of the show’s warmest. No one could see that coming after he pretended to fire her in the series premiere, and she slapped him in the face. After that initial bump, though, Pam became Michael’s in-office mother and loyal assistant. Nothing could be sweeter than the post-it note sketches she delivered to Michael during important meetings (you know, to make him look important).

They also supported one another completely, though. In one of the show’s most tender moments, Michael was the only one from the office to support Pam at her art show, gushing over her paintings. Likewise, when Michael chose to quit Dunder Mifflin briefly, Pam was right behind him (the trials of the Michael Scott Paper Company will never be forgotten). They’ve grown together through their time at Dunder Mifflin. Michael is no longer the idiot boss and Pam is no longer the “hot secretary.” Sure, Michael may have had a fling with Pam’s mom, and Pam may have revealed some private information about Michael’s masculinity, so to speak, but Pam and Michael will always be a surprisingly warm pair at Dunder Mifflin.

Michael Scott and the rest of Dunder-Mifflin How can one possibly sum up Michael’s connection to his employees? There’s Ryan, branded for life

by Michael as “fire guy.” There’s Stanley, Michael’s favorite crossword puzzle fanatic and the only one man enough to call Michael out on his antics. There’s Phyllis, whose wedding Michael nearly ruined after making a disastrous toast at the reception. There’s Ryan, who has filled the roles of temp, cokedout boss, and hipster employee in Michael’s life.

There’s Meredith, a woman who dreams of one day consummating a relationship with Michael Scott despite his repulsion to the idea. There’s Darryl, the head of Dunder Mifflin’s warehouse and Michael’s only guide to the urban culture. There’s Angela, who Michael calls the little one. There’s Oscar, who Michael calls the homosexual one. There’s Kevin, who Michael calls the fat one. There’s Erin, who never questions her boss, no matter how absurd the request.

And there’s Andy, who Michael envies for his melodic voice.

If you asked any of these characters, though, about their experience at Dunder-Mifflin, though, their responses would all be the same: “There’s Michael Scott.”

paul rudd While not in the mix, Paul Rudd could bring a bit of the biting flavor that peppered the original UK Office. Ricky Gervais’ David Brent essentially waited until his behavior would eventually get him fired, acting more careless and ambivalent than kooky a la Steve Carell. With his deadpan humor and sarcastic charm, Rudd would bring a new energy to The Office, a better move than trying to emulate the comic craziness of Carell. Not only that, but he comes from the original Anchorman crew. That’s a pretty elite group these days.

lisa kudrow A woman would certainly be different, but it’s the 21st century. More importantly, though, Lisa Kudrow is hilarious. Viewers of Friends might remember Kudrow’s take on uptight businesswomen, the ones who chain smoke and verbally abuse their assistants via cell phone. Such diva stylings could make for a compelling new take on the comedy – where everyone used to simply tolerate the boss, now everyone hopes to escape the work day alive. Secretly, though, the new boss just wants to be liked. Only Lisa Kudrow could pull of both sides of this complex hypothetical.

rhys darby In my mind, there really isn’t a better replacement out there than the quirky New Zealander Darby. Darby has made a living playing the juvenile manager-type, and it’s due time that he was brought to the masses. He produced endless laughs as the band manager in the underappreciated HBO series Flight of the Conchords, and he stole the show in Yes Man as Jim Carrey’s nerdy yet lovable boss. Naming Darby as Scranton’s new regional manager would be a smooth transfer for everyone involved, and there’s not a doubt in my mind that Darby has the comedic clout to keep the show enjoyable.

rob corddry Ever since his news reporter bits on The Daily Show, Corddry has played the irritable and capricious type with considerably success. He gave the most memorable performance in Hot Tub Time Machine as Lou, the moronic friend to John Cusack. One also can’t forget his Agent Fox character in Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay and his tasteful defamation of The Bill of Rights. Perhaps adding another cantankerous kink in the Scranton machine might prove to be just what the series needs to keep its comic engine running. I can only imagine the tussles him and Dwight could get into.

The Heights

scene and heard

B4

Thursday, April 28, 2011

By Christine Zhao

1

For The Heights

Budweiser Commercial

The repeal of Don’t Ask Don’t Tell caused quite a stir.

There were fans and there were critics. As of late, it seems that Budweiser’s stance on the issue may have been made clear based on their latest ad, featuring a soldier calling his guy friend to tell him he was coming home. Maybe it was the twinkling lights that “PB” (Potential Boyfriend) sets up for the surprise coming home party. Maybe it was the sentimental Zales-esque soundtrack, or their heartfelt hug at the end. In any case, who says beer commercials can’t be sweet?

Katie Couric

After a glorious half-decade reign at CBS Evening News, Katie Couric has finally decided to move on. She was the first solo female primetime anchor for a United States network news show, making her kind of a big deal. However, she has not yet announced exactly when she will be leaving, nor what she plans to do next. They may involve a syndicated daytime program, which NBC, ABC, and CBS have all expressed interest in optioning. In an interesting move, Couric also opted to inform People.com rather than CBS about her decision.

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Nextmovie mash up

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In preparation for William and Kate’s big day, NextMovie has put together a video mash-up of all the sweetest nuptial scenes in Hollywood and manages to be romantic without being too cheesy.

Featuring clips from a myriad of movies, from Cinderella to Up, it boasts a generous helping of both old and new.

As for England’s royal couple, their wedding ceremony will take place on Friday morning, 6 a.m. our time. It promises to be just as good, if not better, than any fairy tale wedding.

on The Session

Lessons in session etiquette

Abused and trite drinking vocabulary: Clutch – Clutch can mean (a) the mechanical handle of a manual transmission vehicle (b) a compact bag designed to show off with for one weekend and then relegate to rot in the closet, (c) to grab, (d) or the quality of performing expertly in difficult situations, typically in Zak Jason sporting events. “That Marc Jacobs clutch is so not you that it’s you, you know?”

“Chris Paul drained some clutch buckets at the end of the fourth quarter.” These statements are both grammatically accurate and socially acceptable.

Clutch becomes inane, however, when someone employs it in reference to making a decision about drinking. “Oh, clutch move bringing the alcoholic whip cream!” “That was so clutch last night when you waited until after she finished vomiting to make out with her.” It’s a term used to make a mundane situation seem pivotal, but all it does is reveal something dark about your character: that you are mundane.

Posting Up – Typically, posting up refers to maintaining a firm ground between the offense and the hoop while on defense in basketball. Amare Stoudemaire posts up in Madison Square Garden.

Dennis Rodman posted up against Karl Malone.

But many students take the liberty to “post up” at a party or bar. They text their friends, “I’m posting up at Cityside. $3 pitchers,” or “Do we want to post up at Mod 15? I don’t want to be tied down,” as if they have to literally drill themselves into the floor of whatever drinking establishment they enter.

Not Real Life – Of all linguistic infringements on this list, this may be the vilest and the most widespread. Students use this phrase to emphasize the absurdity or hilarity or incredibility of an event. “Just a casual photo with James Franco. Not real life.” “Ended up in the infirmary for the third Wednesday in a row. Not real life.” What makes this phrase so egregious is that the vast majority of

times it is used, it refers to a very basic and common occurrence. The only thing that renders it unique is the inclusion of the phrase “not real life.” But if you really did engage in incredible, hilarious, or absurd behavior, it would not require you to say “not real life.” People who use this phrase are also wont to say “Not a real person.” But any time someone use “not a real person,” they’re exploiting a quirky phrase as a thin veil for their unassailable insecurity.

Game Changer – “Oh! Suzy’s bringing Jell-O shots to snort out of our belly-buttons?! Game changer.” “I just urinated myself. Game changer.”

“Of all the linguistic infringements on this list, this may be the vilest and most widespread. Students use [‘Not Real Life’] to emphasize the absurdity or hilarity or incredibility of an event” Iso – Used in beer pong, “iso” is an abbreviated version of “isolation,” a situation in which after one has tossed ping pong balls into the cups surrounding a single cup and the opposing team has moved those cups to the side, a single cup becomes isolated, or an island. Many professional sports use abbreviations to describe statistics and situations, RBI, ERA, WHIP, triple-double, PPG, YPC. Whoever first conceived “iso” was someone who could never play any valid sports or noble activities, and so compensated by creating a sports-like abbreviation for the game of beer pong to feel vindicated. If you hear someone use “iso” at a gathering, something like “Hey, do you guys do iso here?” you can immediately deduce that this person takes beer pong too seriously (i.e. he will monitor your elbow’s proximity to the table like a hawk), has dangerously low levels of self-esteem, and will probably vote for Donald Trump in 2012.

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

Beyonce

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Though she usually manages to stay on the media’s good side, Beyonce has recently been accused of being “morally reprehensible.”

Gate Five, a game company, had a deal with the diva to create a game called Starpower: Beyonce, but the deal fell through when she allegedly asked for too much mone y. The company claimed that Beyonce’s demand for cash left over 50 people unemployed, and is suing her for a cool $6.7 million, in addition to the projected profits of more than $100 million.

Antoine Dodson

Admit it. You’ve all seen the “Bed Intruder” video, or at the very least, heard of it by now. One of the pioneers in the Autotune craze, the song, which was a product of a news story, features Antoine Dodson, the ghetto-fabulous brother of the story’s victim. Almost overnight, he became a YouTube sensation, and the proceeds from his Autotuned song got him a nice chunk of change. This past weekend, he was arrested for possession of marijuana. So far, there haven’t been any videos of this latest antic, but Dodson denying the charges would probably top the charts.

5

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

B5

+Music

NEW RELEASES

Of Montreal takes listeners on a strange, disappointing trip

By Molly Moltzen For the Heights

“I discovered so much from my last trance” of Montreal lead singer Kevin Barnes bellows in the song “Flunkt Sass vs. The Robot Flume” off the band’s new EP Thecontrollersphere. However, the EP, a collection of tracks that were left over from the band’s most recent releases, leaves listeners wondering if Barnes ever really came out of the trance considering how lackluster and, at times, beyond bizarre it is.

Of Montreal (who actually originates from Athens, Georgia – the “Montreal” refers to a girl who Barnes was romantically involved with from the Canadian city), have always been a more experimental band but seem to have taken that concept slightly too far. Comprised of Barnes, who is also the primary songwriter, Jon Brion on piano, and Matt Chamberlain on drums, of Montreal has been a band of constantly changing sounds (in the beginning it had tinges of tween pop) as well as a constant rotation of new members (despite the mainstay of Barnes). The group’s last critically praised album, 2007’s Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?, seemed to strike the perfect balance between experimental tendencies while still maintaining musical integrity – something Thecontrollersphere fails to do. Although an improvement from the more recent releases, namely 2008’s Skeletal Lamping and 2010’s False Priest, the EP still falls in the category of posing the question if Barnes, who is also the primary songwriter, has

Beastie boys hot sauce committee pt. 2

Thecontrollersphere Of Montreal

stevie nicks in your dreams

produced by Polyvinyl Records released April 26, 2011 Our rating c

Chart Toppers Singles

courtesy of Creativecommons.org

On this collection of unreleased hits from the band’s 2010 release, of Montreal never quite accomplished much thanks to a wholly lackluster effort. gone off the deep end.

Thecontrollersphere opens with “Black Lion Massacre” which despite beginning, with an infectious and interesting beat, is ruined by Barnes speaking controversial lyrics in a deep autotune voice before the whole song descends into static. If it sounds confusing, it is because it is. The first song, in fact, represents a pattern that transcends throughout the whole album - an initial basis of an intriguing glam-rock sound that is eventually overtaken by undesirable elements. This is probably most evident in the song “Slave Translator” whose transition from a quicker Rubber Soul-esque beat to a much deeper sound with more

emphasized lyrics is actually a fascinating contrast that works – until the listener is subject to a whole minute of Barnes simply screaming at the end.

The best track on the whole EP seems to be “Holiday Call.”

Despite its hefty length (eight minutes and some change), the Bowie-influenced tune provides a platform for the experimental stage the band is going though while still having the construct of an actual song.

Unlike many other songs on the EP, it does not become a random hodgepodge of thoughts and sounds thrown together. By the time “Holiday Call” ends, with a beautiful piano melody nonetheless, longtime listeners of the band may sense the same

type of style that made Hissing Fauna such a success. Another promising track seems to be “L’Age D’Or” whose discosounds and catchy chorus mask the darker theme of the lyrics.

There is no doubt that of Montreal has had a tremendous influence on shaping indie rock and pop. This was especially true during the ’90s considering the band’s part in the Elephant Six Recording Company (which Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel were a part of as well). However, Thecontrollersphere just seems another step of Montreal has taken further into the exploration of Barnes’ feelings of depression and isolation that have been a mainstay for

the past three works. While some artists seem to draw best from their pain, the EP seems to, at times, descend into such chaos of noise and sound that it is hard to draw any coherent theme from the songs at all.

While musically an interesting work, the randomness of the lyrics leaves the listener with almost a disconnect from the album – unable to truly understand or grasp the themes that Barnes seems to only want to half-heartedly convey. As a former fan, one can only hope that, in the future, Barnes and the band as a whole are able to connect closer to reality and recapture the ideas and sounds that made them such an influence originally. n

1 E.T. Katy Perry 2 Rolling In The Deep Adele 3 Just Can’t Get Enough Black Eyed Peas 4 The Lazy Song Bruno Mars 5 S&M Remix Rihanna ft. Britney Spears top Albums

1 21 Adele 2 The Warblers Glee Cast 3 Wasting Light Foo Fighters 4 Lemonade Mouth Various Artists 5 Femme Fatale Britney Spears Source: Billboard.com

Earle phones it in and disappoints country fans and naysayers alike

By Matt Mazzari For the Heights

Long-time country singer Steve Earle recently released a new record titled I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive. This horrid excuse for an album is the largest shapeless mass of cliches and worn-down melodies to

ever bear a name ripped off from a Guns and Roses song. Steve Earle’s idea of musical originality is transposing new words over a fiddle-driven country tune that could have literally been copypasted from hundreds of other songs and movie soundtracks.

His notion of symbolism is heavy handed metaphors as sure to

invoke a listener’s dismay as they are to pretentiously hammer the ear.

As with most grand-scale catastrophes, it’s difficult to pinpoint exactly where the problem begins. Perhaps it stems from Earle’s voice, which fails to make even the meekest impression despite the bizarre self-as-

I’ll Never Get Out of this World Alive Steve Earle produced by New West Records released April 26, 2011 Our rating d

courtesy of Creativecommons.org

Showing limited singing and songwriting ability, Steve Earle never manages to craft a cohesive or enjoyable song.

surance it seems to have in its own plainness. Perhaps it’s in the infuriating self-importance of painfully generic storyteller openings demonstrated in “Gulf of Mexico.” Perhaps it’s the gruesomely redundant “God is God,” which blissfully sports such lyrics like “Some people see things not everyone can see,” with a genuinely disturbing new breed of oblivious pride. Perhaps it’s the fact that Earle did not even have the decency to write that God-forsaken song himself, and instead had to lovingly borrow it from another country singer almost as washed up and irrelevant as he is.

Or perhaps there is simply an inherent flaw in a musical genre that accepts such consistently categorical rubbish as poetry. For far too long, country music has provided men and women with astoundingly mediocre capabilities an opportunity to boisterously ascend from their rightful places in obscurity. Earle’s ability to play absurdly simple licks and mind-numbingly basic chord progressions does not qualify him to be a famous musician.

Just so, his limited ability to hold a gruff note in combination with repeated references to the mark-

edly unconvincing appeals of country life does not qualify him, or anyone else, to write songs.

Why does country music seem to believe these base and unimpressive “talents” merit publication?

Is it not criminal in any other musical situation to pick and choose from inspirations, in this case an entire catalogue of similarly crafted songs, and make virtually no enhancements to the sound?

I’ll take this moment to apologize profusely to honest country fans, who must be hugely annoyed by the tin ear I have for this brand of music. I cede that country, like any genre of music, is entitled to have its recurring themes. However, the major difference that seems evident between country music and other music genres is a major difference in breathing room. For example, under the all-encompassing umbrella-title of “rock ‘n’ roll,” The Who produced a range of music wide enough to encompass topics as complex and poignant as a deaf, dumb, and blind child who discovers God through total removal from society (the Tommy album) to the pounding simplicity of rebellioncrazed tracks like “My Genera-

tion.” Honestly, does the artistic spectrum of country music claim such width? It certainly doesn’t with men like Steve Earle, who allow their music to amass itself into a singular, monstrous ode to brooding, solitary lifestyles only ever-so-often interrupted by tremendously uninteresting love affairs.

If there could be a single set of lyrics able to basically sum up the soul-crushing nothingness of this album, it comes from the opening lines of “Every Part of Me.” The song begins thusly: “I love you / with all my heart / all my soul / every part of me.” As if the nauseating triteness of these first few lines was not enough, Earle goes on to lament the fact that he was born to be a rolling stone, and that his “travails” have left behind him a “Trail of Tears.” Does anyone else realize yet that this song is literally just a sappier “Rambling Man” without the cleverness or talent? Have I gone insane, or is there not one original thought on this entire album? All of these questions and more will you have to look forward to if you dare open the Pandoras Box of badness that is I’ll Never Get Out. You may not make it out alive. n

Music Nook

When crafting a summer playlist, take these tips into consideration Dan Ottaunick Music has the uncommon power to capture moods and experiences.

Talented artists can imbue songs with happiness, sorrow, excitement, and countless other emotions. However, songs can also be products of mindsets, and none has more songs in its honor than summer.

As the semester ends and I begin to prepare for the summer, I am beginning to partake in one of my most important summer traditions: creating a summer playlist. Although this sort of playlist needs to include a certain number of songs about summer, the sort of songs deemed worthy of inclusion must possess more than lyrics about beaches and palm trees.

A true summer song emits a distinct mentality of relaxation, fun, and timelessness. A summer song not only makes us want to lie on a beach, but live in a moment of carefree fun.

The songs that best capture these feelings of summer are scrutinized

under the highest standards. An important quality to consider when making such a list is the newness of a song. While certain songs will qualify for inclusion in summer lists year after year, others warrant inclusion because they possess a certain freshness that makes them cool and fun. Songs suited for this category should be released during the spring or late winter, and should be on the verge of popular exposure. Typical candidates include songs by new bands that are beginning to catch on, and songs by well-known bands that have just been released.

While a bias must exist toward new songs, many other songs are worthy of inclusion on your summer playlist. One category to consider is foreign language songs. There is a very strong collection of bands from Spain, France, and Africa that release songs exhibiting the relaxed mindset of summer. Mellow island jams and exciting electronic songs are critical to the aesthetic of a summer playlist, and these types of bands offer no shortage of such material. The best part

about this category of music is that you have the entire year to search for these songs. Since most of them are not popular yet, their presence on a playlist will seem refreshing.

Yet another category to consider, and perhaps the core of a summer playlist, is the classic summer tune.

The 1960s was an era filled with beach bands and a free love mentality, and the amount of surf songs that still persist from this era allows summer playlists to be filled year after year.

Although there is a danger in including too many old songs, no summer playlist can be called complete without a few annual inclusions.

While songs in these categories are all good candidates for inclusion on your list, a final type of song to consider is that which appeals to your own senses of fun and freedom. Songs escaping all of the aforementioned labels are some of the most important parts of these lists because they represent our impression of summer.

While there are no rules for these sorts of songs, it is important to make sure

courtesy of Creativecommons.org

Rising indie singer tUnE-yArDs snatches a spot on the perfect summer playlist with her creative tune ‘Real Life.’ that your list contains songs that you personally associate with summer.

Having weighed these considerations, I have composed a short-list of songs that will be included in my summer 2011 playlist. Recent songs, favorites from the past few years, and older songs are all given equal representation. Be sure to give this list a listen if you are looking for extra

songs to fill your own, or if you are just looking to escape into the mentality of summer before the end of the semester.

“Summertime Clothes” – Animal Collective; “Good Vibrations” – The Beach Boys; “Used to Be” – Beach House; “Crazy for You” – Best Coast; “Ready for the Weekend” – Calvin Harris; “Misirlou” – Dick Dale;

“No Intention” – Dirty Projectors; “D.A.N.C.E.” – Justice; “Benfica” – Panda Bear; “Surfer’s Hymn” – Panda Bear; “Bizness” – tUnE-yArDs; “Real Life” – Tanlines; “Ocean Avenue” – Yellowcard.

Dan Ottaunick is a columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

The Heights

B6

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Critics combat nuclear power

By Gerard Farara Heights Staff

Thousands took to the streets across France and Germany earlier this week, voicing vehement distaste for nuclear power. Many marched on river bridges across the Rhine chanting, “Chernobyl, Fukushima, never again!” All while others protested at nuclear power plants across Germany, calling for their immediate shutdown.

This renewed anti-nuclear front comes on the eve of the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl disaster in Ukraine. But with the Fukushima disaster fresh in the minds of the populace, it seems that many have grown weary of the high risk that accompanies this innovative energy source.

The piercing sound of a siren signaled thousands to throw flowers into the Rhine and then lie down aimlessly on the pavement, a symbolic act they called a “die in.” Perhaps it is an indication of the future for nuclear energy.

When nuclear energy first hit the scene in the 1950s it was marketed as the “cleaner, more efficient” substitute for oil. The energy dilemma had finally been

solved and the politicians could finally heave those pesky environmentalists off their backs.

But upon closer examination, the loopholes in this technology gradually became more prevalent. The Cold War highlighted the fragility of nuclear energy, as detente kept the world from slipping to a third World War in a single century. Evidently, in the wrong hands, catastrophe was, and still is, a viable possibility. Yet, this technology has still managed to proliferate across the globe, even to foes like Iran and North Korea.

But the military threat isn’t the only obstacle nuclear energy faces. The anti-nuclear movement has new ammunition to slay the forward progress of this technology. Despite the high standard nuclear power plants are upheld to, they are subject to countless disasters. Humans are prone to mistakes. Chernobyl, the biggest nuclear disaster ever, certainly underscored that. The Fukushima incident has recently been scaled up from a level five to a level seven disaster by the Japanese government, putting this catastrophe theoretically on par with Chernobyl. Japanese

officials were swift to note that this sudden change had nothing to do with any recent development, but rather was due to new data received on the actual size of the leak. Fukushima still pales in comparison to the Chernobyl disaster, as merely one-tenth of the radioactive waste leaked at Chernobyl has been leaked at Fukushima. Regardless, Erhard Renz, the organizer of a protest at a nuclear power station in Biblis, Germany stated, “After Fukushima it’s now clear enough that the danger of nuclear power is real.”

In Germany, the anti-nuclear sentiment is nothing new, as it has already become somewhat of a political issue. The future of nuclear energy was a key factor in recent regional elections, helping the Green Party win a sizable majority. With an upsurge in anti-nuclear sentiment, pressure on the pro-nuclear Chancellor Angela Merkel in the upcoming 2012 elections is certainly mounting.

Europe isn’t the only country that is plagued by this anti-nuclear movement. In India, security measures have been beefed up near the area of Jaltapur, in the

Nigel Treblin / ap photo

Protesters gathered outside a nuclear facility in Germany to lobby for a move to less dangerous energy technologies. possibility of a civilian protest on the site of a future six-reactor nuclear power plant.

On April 26, 1986, reactor four at the Chernobyl plant in the then Soviet Union exploded. The blast alone killed approximately 30 people and sent a large plume of radiation over the majority of mainland Europe. Since then, countless people have suffered from radiation related sicknesses, including various forms of cancer.

But the official number of deaths related to the disaster is still in dispute. Soviet officials refrained from reporting the accident for several days, despite the huge

cloud of smoke that escaped from the plant.

Comparably, Tokyo Electrical Company, the overseers of the Fukushima plant, have been criticized for delaying the relaying of critical information regarding the size and rate of the leak. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has come out and voiced the necessity for “transparency” in nuclear emergencies. As he said, “I think that our modern states must see the main lesson of what happened at Chernobyl and the most recent Japanese tragedy as the necessity to tell people the truth,” Medvedev and Ukrainian Prime

Minister Viktor Yanukovych were expected to visit the Chernobyl power plant on Tuesday.

Today, although tours are allowed, there is still a 19-mile exclusion zone that surrounds the plant. A concrete case engineered by the Soviets encases the damaged reactor, but a new shield is in desperate need.

Undoubtedly, the Chernobyl anniversary and the Fukushima disaster have breathed new hot air into the anti-nuclear front, but whether it can gather enough steam to make any permanent dent on the advancement of nuclear energy is yet to be seen. n

Chinese economy approaching US Wikileaks reveals secrets again policymakers have stirred with both sides proposing competing methods to reduce the deficit.

The Republicans’ plan depends entirely on cutting spending, while President Barack Obama’s plan also seeks to increase taxes. As with all extremes, the truth lies somewhere in the middle, and the final plan will in all probability require some combination of cuts and tax increases. Unfortunately, Obama has yet to admit that taxes on the middle class will also need to rise, rather than just the “rich.”

The unique and frankly kooky way in which our political system operates has accelerated in the last few years with the advent of social media, 24-hour news streams, and innumerable pundits swinging political dialogue between diametrically opposed extremes. This exacerbates the inherent conflict of interest that our politicians face in that they often seek to extend and strengthen their political base rather than take unpopular but necessary action. Cue our politi-

cians, who in the last few weeks have strayed away from discussing the debt ceiling and instead fight about defunding Planned Parenthood and “Obamacare.”

Examine S&P’s language once more. The fact that they specify the year 2013 signifies that S&P does not think that the U.S. can come to a consensus before the 2012 election. S&P wrote in the report that “Even in our optimistic scenario, we believe the U.S. fiscal profile would be less robust than those of other AAA rated sovereigns by 2013.”

As if this wasn’t enough, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last week released a report with startling findings. In a nutshell, it purports that China’s economy will surpass that of America in real terms in 2016. This casts a cloud over the Treasury bond market, which for years has been supported not only by prudent monetary policy, but also the unique status afforded the U.S. All estimates are fallible. However, for today’s American youth, there are greater ramifications.

I’d like to end my Heights writing career with a small postscript.

Like many suburban campus universities, Boston College exists not so much as a bubble but as a “secret garden,” allowing entrance to only a privileged few and walling off any outside influences. As such, it is vital that students possess the presence of mind and proactive spirit to stay abreast of current events, if only to remain knowledgeable, but also as a good citizen.

To future leaders of the world: remember to always question imposed beliefs. No matter how long-standing and established they may be, all are subject to change.

Remember that just because you believe something is true does not necessarily make it so. And as our politicians sway back and forth in an increasingly polarized debate, seek to understand, appreciate, and learn. The future of our country may depend on it.

Ameet Padte is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com

Alex manta / heights graphic

Economies, from B10

Guantanamo, from B10 The documents largely ignore the issue of harsh interrogation methods used at Guantanamo Bay. Such methods, which have catalyzed controversy and public debate, reportedly included sleep deprivation, shackling in stress positions, and prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. However, several prisoners are portrayed as creating false accounts of being subjected to abuse.

Counterterrorism officials worry that closing the camp will endanger America and its allies immensely, because Guantanamo Bay prisoners include those accused of serving as assassins for Al-Qaeda, operatives for a canceled suicide mission, and detainees who vowed to their interrogators that they would seek revenge against the country.

The leaked military analysts’ files provide new insight into the most famous of the camp’s prisoners, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, the orchestrator of the Sept. 11 attacks. Sometime in March 2002, he ordered Baltimore resident Majid Khan to carry out a “martyrdom” attack against the then president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf.

The task turned out to be a test of Khan’s “willingness to die for the cause,” and the assassination was not carried out.

The papers also detail incarcerations of innocent men in cases of mistaken identity or plain misfortune. One documented example of this took place in May 2003, when Afghan forces captured Prisoner 1051, a man named Sharbat, near the scene of a roadside explosion.

While the man denied any involvement, saying he was a shepherd, and his assessment details his ignorance

Tony Gutierrez / ap photo

Bush recently defended the use of Guantanamo and interrogation in his memoir. of “simple military and political concepts,” a military tribunal declared him an “enemy combatant” and imprisoned him until 2006.

The previously classified files represent the fourth major collection of secret American documents that have become public over the past year. Other releases have included military incident reports from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and portions of an archive of some 250,000 diplomatic cables.

Military prosecutors have accused an Army intelligence analyst, Pfc. Bradley Manning, of leaking the materials.

However, the Guantanamo assessments seem unlikely to terminate the long-running debate about the country’s most controversial prison. Evidence supporting beliefs held across the political spectrum about the dangers posed by the detainees and whether the government’s system of holding most without trials is acceptable can be extracted from the documents.

Much of the information presented in the files is impossible to verify. The documents and assessments were written by intelligence and military officials operating at first in the heat of war, then in a prison highly criticized internationally. In some cases, judges have rejected the government’s allegations, because confessions were made during coercive interrogation or other sources were not credible.

In 2009, a task force of officials from the government’s national security agencies reevaluated the 240 detainees remaining in the camp.

However, the newer assessments are still confidential and unavailable for comparison.

Furthermore, the leaked file archive is not complete. The assessments for about 75 of the prisoners are not documented. Even so, the uncovered documents give an unprecedented peek into Guantanamo Bay, a prison long known as an asylum of secrecy and a catalyst of controversy. n

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Science & Technology

Warm weather brings harsh allergies

Rachel Newmiller As the semester nears its end, warmer weather and sunny days are heading our way. Although most of us are anxiously anticipating the arrival of sequential 75 degree days, clear blue skies, and the reemergence of colorful foliage, spring also brings the beginning of seasonal allergies for millions of Americans.

Also known as seasonal allergic rhinitis or hay fever, this condition often sends sufferers into a sniffling, sneezing misery that can detract from your enjoyment of the outdoors and even diminish your capacity to study for finals efficiently.

According to an article in the recently released launch issue of Allergic Living magazine, symptoms of hay fever are rather widespread and can include headaches (due to an accumulation of fluid in the sinuses) itchy and watery eyes, runny or stuffed noses, coughing, and clogged ears since mucus results from the release of histamine by mast cells during a reaction to an allergen. If these annoying symptoms and/or the pseudo-

The Top 5 Spring Allergy Capitals (2011) 1. Knoxville, TN 2. Louisville, KY 3. Charlotte, NC 4. Jackson, MS 5. Chattanooga, TN

ephedrine in your decongestant are making you unable to fall asleep at night, tiredness and irritability may also ensue.

Avoiding an allergen is generally the best bet for minimizing your risk of a reaction. However, this is easier said than done when dealing with tiny airborne particles like pollen. The American Academy of Asthma, Allergy, and Immunology (AAAAI) recommends using air conditioning, keeping windows shut at night, monitoring pollen levels (aaaai.org/nab), staying inside when these counts are elevated, and even taking a vacation to the beach, an area that tends to be relatively more “pollen-free.”

The Mayo Clinic also advises allergy suffers to use a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filtration system, to try to go outdoors following a rainstorm (when pollen is less prevalent in the air), and to change clothes and shower after being outside.

Assigning yard work to those without allergies is another good and oftentimes desirable suggestion. If some of these tips seem a bit unrealistic or insufficient, with the marked exception of an impromptu trip to the Cape, other options are available.

According to Allergic Living, there are three additional steps that can help some people experience a pleasant springtime if limiting their exposure to pollen is not enough: 1) Many allergy sufferers visit their local pharmacy and pick up an over-the-counter medication. Nasal rinses, eye drops, antihistamines, and various other products can be purchased without a doctor’s prescription. Be sure to follow dosing guidelines and heed any warnings.

2) If this does not provide adequate relief, others may make an appointment to see

their physician or a specialist, who can provide a prescription if necessary. Regardless of whether or not step one seems to solve the problem, it is a good idea to consult a professional. Doctors should always be aware of what medications their patients are taking, even if they are available overthe-counter. As the AAAAI asserts, “Treatment from an allergist is the best method for coping with your allergies.”

3) Although more “extreme” than the above options, those who continually suffer from seasonal allergies may opt to receive immunotherapy, or allergy shots. This generally occurs over a three to five year period and can lead to a welcome reduction in symptoms.

If blooming flowers or trees cause you much torment, your “hypersensitive” immune system is to blame.

The AAAAI explains that “if you have an allergy to pollen, the immune system identifies pollen as an invader or allergen. Your immune system overreacts by producing antibodies called Immunoglobulin E (IgE). These antibodies travel to cells that release chemicals, causing an allergic reaction [which can lead to inflammation and the symptoms discussed above.]”

By speaking with your doctor, you can develop a plan that serves to decrease your discomfort and enhance your quality of life. In the process, he or she may ask that you take one or more allergy tests, which can help to identify your particular allergic triggers. Equipped with the knowledge necessary to control or possibly eliminate your symptoms, spring may prove to be less miserable and more pleasurable.

Rachel Newmiller is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com

B7

President Obama: made in America Matt Palazzolo Socialist. Muslim. Terrorist. Ever since President Barack Obama announced his presidential candidacy in early 2007, he has been branded with outlandish labels. Ridiculous rumors and dubious conspiracies have always been a part of presidential campaigns: my personal favorite is when then Florida gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist was simultaneously accused of being a closeted homosexual and having an extramarital affair. One accusation though has been consistently supported even after Obama was elected president: that he was not born in the United States.

Many of the false labels attached to Obama are simply dirty politics. Shortly before the 2008 election Obama was approached by Joe the Plumber, then an unknown citizen, at a campaign stop.

Joe questioned Obama about his tax plan to raise taxes on citizen’s making more than $250,000, because he worried that his small business would be liable for the tax increase.

Obama, in an off-the-cuff remark, said “When you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody.” Republicans gleefully pounced on the remark, claiming it was concrete proof that Obama planned to socialize America. At the time the accusation was somewhat acceptable. It was the last month before the election, and the other candidate, John McCain, had been victimized by the ever more absurd accusation in 2000 that he fathered a black child out of wedlock.

But now Obama has been president for over two years, and the free market seems to be doing just fine. Republicans, knowing full well that Obama is not a socialist, continue to accuse him of

being one to appeal to their base. It can be a successful, albeit dirty, tactic. The public option on Obamacare died a quick and painful death after Republicans correctly pointed out that universal health care is a hallmark of socialist countries. Scare tactics have always played a part in America politics. President Bush was bombarded with Orwellian accusations after his wiretapping program became public. Most citizens, including the independents who seem to play a critical role in every presidential election, can see through the exaggerations on both sides of the political spectrum.

The birther controversy stands apart from the other false labels of President Obama. Critics who call him a socialist are trying to stir up conservative opposition to his liberal agenda. People who reject Obama’s citizenship though, demand that he be impeached and removed from office. It is not a negotiating tool, nor a scare tactic. Really, there is no room for compromise. Either he was born in Hawaii and the birthers are completely wrong, or he isn’t an American citizen, and has been illegally running the country for over two years.

If the birthers had credible evidence to support their case, then I would completely understand their enthusiasm.

If Arnold Schwarzenegger can’t run for president because he was born in Austria, then Obama should have been struck from the ballot if he was born in Kenya.

The evidence overwhelmingly supports, though, that Obama was born in the United States. During the 2008 campaign, the Obama campaign released his certificate of live birth, which by itself is sufficient proof that he is an American citizen. Additionally, his campaign released a scanned image of his birth certificate.

Furthermore, the head of the Hawaii Department of Health, as well as the governor, personally confirmed that the

birth certificate exists. Most mainstream media outlets, as well as respected Republican leaders such as Lindsay Graham, have all rejected the birther conspiracy.

Rebuffed by the facts, birthers then focused on two arguments. Obama not only refused to release his birth certificate, but did not even comment on the controversy.

Obama, in fact, did not release his birth certificate because he was prohibited by Hawaii state law from doing so. He refused to comment on the controversy in an attempt to avoid the Streisand effect, where attempting to suppress an accusation paradoxically caused it to gain credibility and popularity. He wisely adhered to the rule that the best way to deal with a threat is to ignore it. The birther conspiracy has been rejected by over 75 percent of the American population, and he didn’t want to give it by momentum with a highprofile press conference. Only after Donald Trump saturated the airwaves with birther babble did Obama step in and ask the Hawaiian government to release his birth certificate.

Once the controversy began to interfere with his ability to govern, Obama wisely squashed it. The birthers now must move on to more reasonable claims, like the Sept. 11 truth movement or Obama’s secret Muslim heritage.

The birther movement is starkly different than other false labels of Obama. It has no political benefits, but is rather a blunt attempt to remove him from office. It also differs in that the birthers have been completely disproven. Fox News can revisit the Ground Zero Mosque, while Donald Trump can focus on mediating arguments between Gary Busey and Meatloaf. The Socialist-In-Chief is without a doubt an American citizen.

Matt Palazzolo is Asst. Marketplace Editor for The Heights.

He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com

Alex Manta / Heights Photo illustration

President Obama’s birth certificate might settle the heated debate over his citizenship and the validity of his presidency.

The World in Ink

By Adriana Mariella, Heights Editor

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The Heights

Thursday, April 14, 2011

The Heights

Thursday, April 28, 2011

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David Cote

Matt Palazzolo

Mike Caprio

Will Donald Trump actually run for president?

I hope so. It’d make for good television.

No. His finances would reveal he’s worth less than the cost of his haircut.

He has time before he has to decide. I bet he will enter the race very cautiously.

Yes, but Trump is exploiting a vacuum in the GOP that will become more serious.

Right now I think he’s doing it for the ratings.

Should the U.S. government raise taxes or cut spending to lower the national debt?

Cut spending. If anyone actually looks at federal spending they’ll realize how ridiculous it really is.

Just eliminate the Department of Defense. America will survive until the world ends in 2012.

Both. But there has to be more effort put into creating long-term plans that will force everyone to pay their share of taxes.

Federal Spending is out of of contol and must be cut.

Higher taxes for productive Americans is not the answer.

Both. Duh. But only raise taxes on the wealthiest.

How should the U.S. be involved in the conflict in Syria?

As little as possible. We don’t have the money, time, or public support.

Only if they find a big presidential statue to tear down on film.

The U.S. should involve itself if there are proven, egregious violations of human rights in the country.

What’s another few trillion dollars? Let’s invade another country.

Wait for now, but be prepared to take multilateral action if necessary.

When will China become more economically powerful than the United States?

Very soon unless we take drastic measures to cut spending and balance the budget.

When Hu Jintao pulls a Stewie Griffin to get his money back.

Some have been throwing around the year 2016. I’ll go with that.

Sooner than we predict.

We better start focusing on our economic growth rather than the Middle East’s.

Probably sometime soon. Definitely within my lifetime.

Marketplace Editor

Asst. Marketplace Editor

Editor-in-chief

Tomas Castella

President, College Republicans

Kristoffer Munden President, College Democrats

Syrian president under pressure Syria, from B10

winslow Townson / ap file photo

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady led a group of nine other players in bringing legal action against the NFL and its owners.

Player lockout may soon end NFL, from B10 promotion costs, but the players have argued that the owners are unwilling and unable to substantiate these claims.

Furthermore, the two sides are also in disagreement on the owners’ desire to extend the season by two games because the players fear the risk of injuries associated with an 18-game season.

James Quinn, the legal representation for the players, offered his opinion to reporters of The Wall Street Journal. He said in a statement that the decision was “well-reasoned ruling that is unlikely to get overturned on appeal” and that the owners must put a system in place to resume business as soon as possible. He concluded by saying, “Our position is the lockout is lifted and they have got to start signing players.”

Under the current ruling, which sides with the players and Quinn, until the appeals process is completed, which is estimated to finish between 60 and 90 days, the league and its owners must begin opening their doors to

players and start signing them to contracts. Player representatives from several of the NFL clubs have reached out to their teammates in an effort to return to team facilities now that the court injunction has sided in their favor.

The League and its owners also commented on the court decision.

A spokesman told reporters, “We will promptly seek a stay from Judge Nelson pending an expedited appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes. We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree.

But we also believe that this dispute will inevitably end with a collective bargaining agreement, which would be in the best interests of players, clubs, and fans. We can reach a fair agreement only if we continue negotiations toward that goal.”

However, after nearly seven weeks of negotiation the players felt that the best way to get their point across was to proceed through the courts. Thus a collective bargaining agreement may still be far off.

In light of the time the appeals process takes, the League and its owners have decided to pursue legal action to secure a stay. If granted by Nelson the league would stay inactive until the appeals process finishes. Gabe Feldman, a legal analyst who works for Tulane Law School and who has done work for NFL network, told New York Times reporters that the League will need more time to reopen its doors. He elaborated that even if players return to team facilities they may be turned away because owners will not be ready. The League addressed the decision saying, “We believe that federal law bars injunctions in labor disputes. We are confident that the Eighth Circuit will agree.”

In a concurrent statement the League also recognized that they could be subject to further legal action regarding anti-trust laws, but it would be impossible to fix these issues unless they remained in lockout with the players. The League and its owners have continued to meet with the players in hopes of working out a deal, but for the mean time the courts will

as to whether intervention is necessary, right, both, or neither.

Should the United Nations intervene in the name of human rights?

Until this past week, Syria had been under emergency rule – for the last 48 years. Yet this has not stemmed the tide of protests, or violent government response.

Assad mobilized tanks Tuesday in Daraa, a city in southern Syria where the first and largest protests began. The Syrian regime is clearly violating the human rights of its people. Assad is in a difficult position, especially because of the recent past. His predecessor and father, Hafez Assad, oversaw a brutal massacre in the revolting city of Hama, where an estimated 10 to 80 thousand were killed. Syria has a history. I do not believe the UN Security Council will let it repeat itself.

I foresee two scenarios, both of which do not end kindly for Assad. First, the protests continue to gain momentum, and despite military action there seems to be no end to the fighting.

Assad then decides to resign, his family leaves Syria, and he lives in exile somewhere, fabulously wealthy. The Syrian people (and undoubtedly, foreign influence) would shape a new, democratic Syria.

The second is bloodier and reminiscent of Libya. Despite international condemnations and more Syrian deaths, Assad is defiant. He believes his regime can weather the storm, especially because of the well-known and effective control the secret police has on the population. The UN authorizes countries to bomb Syrian military installations and targets, followed by a chaotic period of fighting between the

military and Syrian rebels, who are not as organized as the antiGadaffi forces in Libya. The big question mark is whether the U.S. decides to intervene, and what the level of intervention is. While the UN did not decide to engage in a ground-war with Libya, I suspect the situation might be different. A lack of intervention or attention to Syria might be devastating in that influence from its eastern neighbor, Iran, might radically change the political landscape. Hezbollah is just south in Lebanon, Jordan is still smoothing the waters of its own protests, and peace with Israel and the Middle East might be a possibility with a friendlier Syrian regime.

What should the UN do?

The answer isn’t simple, and any action it does will not be pretty.

It should strongly condemn the violence and warn of possible action if the situation does not change. When Assad predictably ignores this, a no-fly zone should be created and regular bombings of any military targets

should commence. Furthermore, pressure on Assad to leave should be used to avoid a long, protracted war like in Libya.

From here, I think although there might be fighting between rebels and Assad, he will recognize the situation is hopeless: the UN will not allow a repressive leader like him to govern. I think the main difference between this conflict and the ongoing one in Libya is that although Bashar Assad is hardly a model leader, he is far more rational than Gadaffi. I do not think I am stepping too far out on the limb to say that Assad will not be the President of Syria come Christmas. Although this seems far away, for the Syrian people, who had recently been under emergency rule for 48 years, eight months is a blink of an eye. Needless to say, there is much more riding on Syria than a college student’s backpacking trip to the Middle East.

Danny Martinez is Heights senior staff. He welcomes comments at marketplace@bcheights.com

Vahid Salemi / ap photo

Iranian President Mahmoud Amadinejad awards Syrian President Bashar Assad.

Green Piece

‘The Green Show’ emphasizes environmental clothing that is often lacking Meg Lister A recent fashion column in The Heights criticized the sloppy attire that Boston College students often don during inclement weather.

Therese Tully writes, “Shorts and rainboots are just not a flattering look, the boots cut off your legs, making them appear stumpier than they actually are, and the short shorts really don’t help the situation.” Though the stumpy leg situation may seem trivial to those rushing to class, Tully has a point. What we wear matters, and what we look like says volumes about who we are. In today’s society, image is everything. Our clothes tell stories about ourselves and our beliefs, just as much as the

things we eat or carry. Interestingly, as the eco-craze runs rampant over many sectors of our everyday lives, the fashion industry is left in the background. Where are the clothes that mark one as “eco-friendly” or a “green consumer?” I attempt to incorporate green citizenry into all aspects of my life, but I often find a lack of green options in fashion.

The fashion industry is one of the major contributors to water pollution, agricultural exploitation, workers’ rights deprivations, and many more injustices, yet action to correct these faults is virtually nonexistent.

This lack of action can be partially explained by the lack of knowledge about the sources of our clothing. The clothes we buy in stores are the last step in a long chain of growing, gathering, processing, weaving, cutting, sewing, and styling processes. The lack of transparency in this chain

makes it hard to pinpoint specific violations, though the end product is rife with consequences for long-term human health and welfare.

Consider this: 8,000 liters of water are used to produce just one kilogram of cotton. Pesticide use is rampant—globally, about 3 percent of land is used for growing cotton, yet the cotton industry uses approximately 33 percent of pesticides produced in a given year. Some of these pesticides are classified as “highly toxic” by the World Health Organization (WHO). Think of all the cotton in your closet and consider the amount of water and pesticides used to produce it. Next, take into account that the average item of clothing stays in a closet for three years and five months, during which it is worn for 44 days and washed and dried 20 times.

Not only are we consuming products with huge detrimental environmental effects,

we’re consuming them in great quantities and at a rapid pace.

Consciously shopping to correct fashion injustices often results in Tully’s shorts with rainboots conundrum, the problem of functionality versus style. A common perception is that when ecofriendly options are available, they are either too expensive or tragically unfashionable (baggy hemp pants, recycled sandals … ugh.) This week at Arts Fest, a team of leaders from EcoPledge, Art Club, and the UGBC have teamed up to call attention to the environmental injustices of the fashion industry and pose conventional and unexpected solutions to this problem. The Green Show, which will take place on Friday at 9 p.m. in O’Neill Plaza, is a combination of the sustainable fashion show Re-Sewn and popular slam-poetry-meets-fashion experience, Slam Fashionation.

The Green Show features the

best of BC’s own student designers, who have each created pieces using entirely recycled materials. It will also include pieces from Fashion Week designers including Eileen Fisher, Deborah Lindquist, Loomstate, and Maggie’s Organics. The Green Show emphasizes that going green doesn’t have to be a fashion faux-pas.

Kelley Fitzgibbons, a member of the executive team notes that, “The show is a fabulous way to show how many interesting and environmentally friendly stylish choices we have outside the standard choices. Recycling, reusing, and repurposing clothing is absolutely necessary to combat traditional high-consumption lifestyles.” Models for the show will have their makeup done by an organic artist, Jessa Blades.

Marci Zaroff, who coined the term eco-fashion, will open the show with a short presentation. Blades and Zaroff will also speak at a forum on Saturday,

which is open to all interested students. Elizabeth Barthlemes, another member of the executive team, hopes to attract a new audience to environmental issues, as well as educate student participants about the environmental benefits of their daily fashion and beauty routines.

Though fashion is often dismissed as a trivial or insignificant matter, one cannot deny its enormous environmental impact, nor the effect it has on our culture. Fashion reflects the state of the economy and the mindsets of consumers. We cannot escape fashion – any attempts to do so merely brand one a “fashion victim,” poorly dressed, or a slob. Instead, we must work to re-work the system in both a fashionable and sustainable manner.

Meg Lister is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at marketplace@ bcheights.com

marketplace The Heights

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Thursday, April 28 , 2011

Guantanamo documents leaked to public America’s Market Report

Politics Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced that he will not run for president in 2012. His withdrawal from the race leaves Newt Gingrich as the only potential Southern candidate.

debt crisis

Representative Ron Paul (R-TX) announced that he will form an exploratory committee for a possible presidential run. He has previously run twice for the presidency, in 1988 and 2008.

Ameet Padte

Senator John McCain (RAriz.) made a surprise visit to the Libyan rebel stronghold in Benghazi. McCain has urged President Barack Obama to increase American involvement in the country.

Economics United States stocks rose to their highest levels since June 2008 on Tuesday. Companies such as Ford and UPS were some of the stocks to reach three-year highs.

Facebook began testing its new “Deals” program. The company hopes to compete in the successful coupon market that is dominated by Groupon and LivingSocial.

Delta and US Airways announced that they will be raising fares in a few weeks.

The airline industry has been hurt by fuel costs as oil has risen to over $100 a barrel.

Science & technology Sony admitted that PlayStation users’ personal information may have been obtained by hackers. Sony assured users that their credit card information was not taken.

Brennan Linsley / ap photo

The Guantanamo Bay detainment complex in Cuba established by the Bush administration has been under intense public criticism in light of new documents.

By Michela Gacioch Heights Staff

There were 779 formerly confidential documents from Guantanamo Bay leaked on Monday. Several independent news organizations, including the notorious international anti-secrecy organization, WikiLeaks, are reportedly responsible. Documents included classified assessments, interviews, and internal memos written by the Pentagon’s Joint Task Force Guantanamo.

Such files were reportedly marked “secret” and “noforn,” meaning no information could be shared with representatives of other countries.

The confidential military documents provide new and detailed

accounts of the men who have done time at the Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, and offer new insight into the evidence against the 172 men still detained there.

Military intelligence officials, in evaluations of prisoners written between February 2002 and January 2009, assessed their histories and provided indications of the frictions between the imprisoners and the imprisoned. According to the files, the detention camp, which was established in 2002 by the Bush administration to hold detainees from the war in Afghanistan and later Iraq, has imprisoned people based on contradictory, cloudy evidence that in many cases would never have stood up in criminal

of Americans subscribe to Netflix. The company recently passed Comcast as the largest provider of video content.

541 alleged number of prisoners who escaped from an Afghan prison last week.

40 Chinese citizens detained for celebrating Easter. Christianity has been officially banned by the Chinese government.

in quotes

“

Supporters expect and deserve no less than absolute fire in the belly from their candidate. I cannot offer that with certainty.

”

- Haley Barbour on why he is not running for president in 2012.

“

We are not targeting him specifically.

”

– U.S. Secretary of State Robert Gates, describing the American military operation against Muammar Gaddafi.

See Guantanamo, B6

Revolts consume Syria

Godrej and Boyce, the last remaining typewriter company in the world, shut down its last factory in Mumbai, India. Demand for typewriters had dropped to a low of 800 per year.

7 percent

another.

The leaked files reveal that most of the 172 prisoners remaining at Guantanamo Bay have been rated as posing a “high risk” threat to the United States and its allies if released without ample rehabilitation and guidance. However, they also reveal that an even greater number of the prisoners who have been transferred from the detention camp to other countries, which is equivalent to about a third of the 600 prisoners, were also designated “high risk” before they were freed or handed over to the authority of other countries.

Geneva Connection

Nintendo announced that a new Wii system will be released in 2012. A playable system will be unveiled at E3 in June. Neither Microsoft or Sony have announced competing systems.

in numbers

court or a military tribunal.

According to The New York Times, the documents record the “pocket litter” of detainees at their time of capture—litter which reportedly included a bus ticket to Kabul, a fake passport, a forged student ID, a restaurant receipt, and even a poem. The prisoners’ illnesses are listed, which include hepatitis, gout, tuberculosis, and depression. Their ongoing interrogations are noted as “areas of potential exploitation.”

Inmates’ infractions are described, such as punching guards, tearing shower shoes, and shouting across cellblocks. As analysts try to strengthen the case for continued imprisonment, they record years of detainees’ comments about one

Danny Martinez

richard drew / ap photo

Roger Goodell comments on the lockout’s implications for the 2011 NFL season.

Judge rules on NFL NFL owners seek to gain a larger share of the $9 billion industry

By John Morrison Heights Staff

This past Monday, a federal judge in Minnesota issued a ruling in favor of NFL players. The injunction, which orders the NFL owners to lift their lockout, could force them to let players back to work in the coming days.

Judge Susan Richard Nelson defended the NFL players association by declaring an immediate end to the seven-week-old lockout. Her justification in the matter, which was outlined in her 89-page decision, was that irrevocable harm would be done to the players if the lockout continued.

She wrote decisively in her decision, “The Brady Plaintiffs have shown not only that they likely would suffer irreparable harm absent the preliminary injunction, but that they are in fact suffering such harm now.”

She also discussed how the lockout is contrary the public interest stating, “The public ramifications of this dispute exceed the abstract principles of the antitrust laws, ranging from broadcast

revenues down to concession sales. And of course the public interest represented by the fans of professional football — who have a strong investment in the 2011 season — is an intangible interest that weighs against the lockout. In short, this particular employment dispute is far from a purely private argument over compensation.”

Together, these two principles were the main justification for Nelson to institute an injunction.

The players and owners came to blows a little over six weeks ago because talks disintegrated between the two sides on how to split the $9 billion in revenues that the League takes in annually from ticket sales, merchandise, and various other forms of profit.

In their current agreement, the owners take one billion of the top and then split the rest of the revenue, with the players getting 60 percent. The owners want to increase their share by decreasing the players share to 51 percent.

They cited rising facilities and

See NFL, B9

i nside Marke tp l a c e

this issue

Although the column title is an eponym for the city in which I am living, I had an entire Middle East trip planned for after the program. I would start in Istanbul, proceed into southern Turkey, and arrive in Aleppo, Syria. There, I’d stay at a famous hotel where the likes of Theodore Roosevelt resided, and begin my Middle East journey and fashion myself Lawrence of Arabia. You could say I was excited.

Unfortunately, the entire trip hinged on Syria. I had been certain that Syria, with its famously cruel and harsh Assad regime, would be stable. However, all the experts, all the media outlets, and surely the Syrian regime were wrong – Arab Spring, after a few false starts, was in full swing by

the end of March.

And just like my ill-fated trip, the relative stability of the Middle East runs through Syria. For many years, United States policymakers had quietly hoped the current member of the Assad ruling family, Bashar, would be a reformer. As the protests grow louder, the violence increases, and the body count (now, reportedly above 400) mounts, these prospects look all too dim. Assad has delivered a number of speeches to the Syrian people blaming isolated dissident groups, while ignoring the true problem: his own government.

The intervention in Libya was an important line in the sand for Middle Eastern regimes like Assad that demonstrated that Western powers would not sit idly just across the Mediterranean or Pacific while a dictator unleashed his military on his people. Debate is now swirling

See Syria, B9

Nader Daoud / ap photo

Syrian citizens carry signs that condemn current Syrian president Bashar Assad.

Forecast on Washington

This week, ‘Forecast on Washington’ analyzes Donald Trump’s presidential hopes and potential U.S. involvement in Syria........................... B9

Some months ago, I wrote an article in which I questioned the American government’s ability to respond to the large-but-agile centrally-controlled economies like those of China and Singapore.

“When the Chinese government wants to build a dam, a power plant, or a factory, they eject whoever currently resides on the land they want and build it immediately … allowing China to complete infrastructure projects much faster than they could be in the United States.” There’s a lot to be said for an economy in which hindrances like democracy and voting do not mitigate growth.

This American adhesion to the double-edged sword of the free market was aptly demonstrated last week when the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) rating agency issued a warning that it might downgrade the American government’s credit rating. S&P is a credit rating agency, meaning that it estimates the risk of loss associated with particular investments (in this case, the debt of public and private organizations). It publishes these ratings with letter grades, the highest rating (AAA) designated to the best-quality and most reliable and stable borrowers, often governments. For example, AAA-rated countries include the U.S., Britain, and Germany. The very few companies with AAA ratings include Microsoft, Johnson & Johnson, and Exxon Mobil.

That an American financial services company can threaten to downgrade the debt of the country in which it resides is a testament to the brutality of capitalism.

However, there are a few important caveats to consider. First, it was just that—a warning, or, in finance nomenclature, a “negative outlook,” a threat that if America’s debt remains on its present course, a downgrade will ensue. S&P indicated that the probability of a downgrade is one in three. Furthermore, America has stable and transparent institutions without any history of “cooking the books.”

The dollar still remains the world’s dominant currency, and many investors would still hold U.S. Treasury bonds even at a lower rating.

This is because while a rating is an indication of creditworthiness, it is not a comprehensive indicator.

Even more than the credit rating, investors are concerned about our loose monetary policy. This constitutes the Federal Reserve’s implementation of Quantitative Easing, in which it purchases vast quantities of government bonds and other assets by “printing money,” thereby increasing the money supply, reducing interest rates, and (hopefully) stimulating growth. Investors are also worried about our low underlying inflation and stagnating economic growth.

However, the true significance of the S&P warning lies directly in the text: “We believe there is a material risk that U.S. policymakers might not reach an agreement on how to address medium and long-term budgetary challenges by 2013,” they stated. “If an agreement is not reached and meaningful implementation does not begin by then, this would in our view render the U.S. fiscal profile meaningfully weaker than that of peer AAA sovereigns.”

This means that if our politicians cannot come to an agreement about how to address our soaring deficit, it will soon hinder our economy beyond that of comparable countries such as Britain, France, and Germany. While they currently face debt levels similar to ours, they (as the S&P states) “are all now doing more about it” than America. We lack a concrete plan to tackle the deficit.

In the last month, America’s

See Economies, B6

Science and Technology...........................B7 Green Piece...................................................B9