The Heights 12/08/11

The Heights will return on Jan. 19, 2012. Happy Holidays! casino venue debate

BC edges friars Under the radar

metro

Sports

the scene

High rollers compete for licenses to build new Massachusetts casinos, D1

After a strong start, the men’s hockey team defeated Providence 4-1, B1

The Scene takes a look at some of 2011’s lesser-known pop culture gems, A10

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Vol. XCII, No. 47

BCSSH and BCSDH exchange words outside McElroy

By David Cote Heights Editor

This past Friday, Dec. 2, a relatively new student group calling themselves the Boston College Students for Dental Health (BCSDH) distributed individually wrapped flossing packets to students on the sidewalk between Upper Campus and McElroy.

At the same time, BC Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH) were distributing condoms to students as they have done on several occasions during the last two years.

Michael Villafranca, founder of BCSDH and A&S ’14, said that he and other mem-

ALC dept. promotes continuity

bers of BCSDH were “encouraging students to throw away the condoms and take floss instead.” According to Villafranca, the group is composed primarily of members of the Sons of St. Patrick, the St. Thomas More Society, and the Pro-life Club, but other members are unaffiliated with these groups.

During the distribution, Marion Halftermeyer, a member of BCSSH and A&S ’13, approached Villafranca. At that time, Halftermeyer introduced herself and asked who Villafranca was and what he and the BCSDH were doing.

The message of BCSDH, according to Villafranca, was to tell students, “Make a

better decision this weekend, take some floss instead and skip the condoms.”

According to Jessika Parry, president of BCSSH and A&S ’14, the members of BCSDH were “screaming very inappropriate and disrespectful things” during their floss distribution.

“We had just gone over to introduce ourselves and to say that we felt that the way they were expressing their point of view was inappropriate and they weren’t being very respectful to us,” Parry said.

On his response to Halftermeyer, Villafranca said, “I basically told her I didn’t have time for a conversation right then because I was handing out floss, but I’d

like to have the conversation at a different time.”

After the brief discussion, both groups continued to distribute their respective items.

Nick Domino, BCSSH member and A&S ’12, commented that no real dialogue occurred on Friday. Rather, he said that the members of BCSDH acted inappropriately towards students of BCSSH. During the distribution, students responded in a variety of ways. Some took both condoms and floss, some took a condom from BCSSH, which they then

See BCSDH, A4

Honors Program director steps down

McMenamin gives reflective last lecture

By David Cote Heights Editor

A new department created by the AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) will help the organization achieve continuity in its future endeavors, the council’s leadership says.

The department, which will begin as a pilot program next semester, will focus on the policy changes ALC works on over a multi-year basis.

“In the past, any policy work was handled by the president and vice president and, based on the administration, they would take on different initiatives, but that’s a really ineffective way of working on policy,” said Gururaj Shan, president of ALC and A&S ’12.

Over the past eight weeks, Shan and Alicia Martinez, vice president of ALC and A&S ’12, have had weekly meetings with ALC’s directors and assistant directors to focus on exactly how ALC works on policy.

“We’ve been trying to take a look at ALC’s current structure and see how we can improve it and change the organization so it’s capable of achieving its goals over the next five to 10 years,” Shan said.

While discussing different policies that each administration focused on, Shan mentioned both the hate crime protocol and the social experiment, now known as Backgrounds. Each of these issues was focused on specifically by one administration, but lacked support from preceding and succeeding administrations.

“These issues are not going to get resolved in one year,” Shan said. “You need a few years working with administrators to get anything accomplished in these areas.

See ALC, A5

sang lee / heights staff

David McMenamin, director of the Pulse Program, gave his last lecture Tuesday night.

By David O’Donaghue For The Heights

photo courtesy of the office of news & public affairs

Mark O’Connor (above) began working in the directorship of the A&S Honors Program in 1981. He will travel to Belgium next spring.

O’Connor leaves his post after 14 years as program head

By Molly LaPoint Asst. News Editor

After being part of the directorship of the College of Arts and Sciences Honors Program for 30 years, Mark O’Connor has decided to step down as the program’s director.

O’Connor began teaching as an honors professor in the 1970s, and assumed the position of assistant director in 1981, after doing post-doctoral work in Poland.

He has been the program’s full director for 14 years.

“I thought, ‘It’s about time to think about someone else leading the program,’” he said. “It’s a question of generational generosity—it’s time for someone the age I was to have the chance I had.”

Allowing the program to have a new director will give different professors the chance to shape the program, O’Connor said.

“We have so many bright faculty

Occupy movement comes to bc

members,” he said. “It’s about giving those bright faculty members the chance to get involved in the mix.”

David Quigley, dean of A&S, will be serving as interim director of the program. O’Connor said that this is positive, because he represents a different era of academic thought.

“Dean Quigley is not only brilliant; he’s a couple of academic generations

See O’Connor, A5

Heights Editor

Editor’s Note: This is the final installment of a three-part series addressing the challenges and role of higher education in the post-recession economy.

daniel lee / heights staff

See Last Lecture, A4

BC’s many interdisciplinary studies promote dialogue

By Daniel Tonkovich

Occupy protesters gathered outside O’Neill Library Wednesday afternoon, marking the first time the movement has come to campus.

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, the Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) continued their Last Lecture series with a talk given

by David McMenamin, director of the Pulse Program. The Last Lecture Series is a biannual event put on by AID that was started by Randy Pausch a professor at Carnegie Mellon University. After being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer, Pausch gave a final address to his students in Sept. 2007 reflecting upon the great questions and challenges of life. His speech has inspired the Last Lecture series at other universities around the country.

McMenamin is a professor of philosophy and the director of the Pulse program at Boston College. He has been a member of the BC community for over 20 years and an influential voice in higher education.

McMenamin’s popularity with his students was strongly demonstrated by the incredible amount of attendees who packed themselves into Gasson 305 on Tuesday night. Students crowded into the room to hear him speak, lining small spaces behind the seats, sitting in close quarters on the floor, and even listening from the hallway. Rough estimates on attendance were between 110 and 130 people. McMenamin found the attendance “a tremendous compliment to myself that so many of you would come out here because you believe I have something worthwhile to say.

“I only have a few things to say and myself to offer. I just hope I can be at least entertaining, although I should probably

The knock on academics by some has often been that it is difficult to understand the applicability of their research to the daily lives of individuals. A constant challenge for the universities and institutions that employ them has been how one makes research and the knowledge it offers come alive and be applicable to the lives of ordinary people.

Most universities establish research centers and programs to assist in understanding the applicability of the institution’s generated research. While Boston College is no different in offering programs, and hosts 29 research centers to do just that, its competitive advantage comes in its interdisciplinary approach, placing material within a more compre-

hensive context of intersecting fields and the ever-changing global landscape.

“Boston College is home to some world-class centers and institutes that address critical issues for contemporary society,” said David Quigley, dean of A&S. “Led by groups of faculty, these centers of excellence often connect several BC schools and make a substantial contribution on and off campus. As we work to ‘light the world,’ our centers and institutes are doing essential work in bringing the expertise and resources of this great university to individuals and communities in need.”

Quigley was quick to distinguish the Clough Center for Constitutional Democracy as one of the many centers at BC that promotes interdisciplinary dialogue on contemporary issues through conferences, lectures, workshops, publications, and engagement with undergraduates.

The center focuses on the reflection of

See Higher Education, A5

TopTHREE

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

things to do on campus this week

..

1

David Axelrod Lecture Today Time: 6 p.m.

Location: McGuinn 121

Looking for exciting political conversation? David Axelrod, political consultant and former senior advisor to United States President Barack Obama is coming to speak to Boston College students. The lecture is sponsored by the College Democrats of Boston College, the Communications Department, and UGBC.

Fair Trade Holiday Sale

2

Today Time: 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Location: Corcoran Commons

The BC Neighborhood Center and BC Dining Services are co-sponsoring a sale that features fair trade products from around the world.

University Wind Ensemble Christmas Concert

3

Saturday Time: 8:00 p.m.

Location: Alumni Stadium The University Wind Ensemble performs a concert featuring traditional Christmas music. Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” will be included.

the

University

In s w e N

Family of murdered U Idaho student questions the University

On Campus Michael G. Pratt appointed inaugural O’Connor Family Professor Michael G. Pratt has been appointed the inaugural holder of the O’Connor Family Professorship in the Carroll School of Management. The professorship was made possible through donations by University Trustee David P. O’Connor, BC ’86, and his wife Maureen O’Connor. Pratt has a master’s degree and doctoral degree in organizational psychology from the University of Michigan. He joined the Carroll school faculty in 2008 and teaches courses in organizational behavior, leadership, and qualitative research methods in the Management and Organization Department. He is also the director of the department’s doctoral program, a fellow at the Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics, and holds a courtesy appointment in the psychology department of the College of Arts and Sciences.

His current research focuses on how people connect with the work that they do, as well as to the organizations, professions, occupations, and other groups in which they find themselves. His work has appeared in many leading journals such as the Administrative Science Quarterly.

On Aug. 22, Ernesto Bustamante, a young psychology professor at the University of Idaho, shot and killed his graduate student Kathryn Benoit. He then went to a hotel less than a mile away and shot himself in the head. Benoit had worked in his research lab during the previous spring semester. The two were involved in a sexual relationship. Over the summer, Benoit filed a complaint with the University accusing Bustamante of sexual harassment and of threatening her life with a loaded gun. Benoit’s family has hired a lawyer to investigate the University’s handling of her complaints.

This week, John Bacon and Matt Ricketson, both A&S ’12, are preparing to release their newly designed smartphone app known as Aniphon. The app, short for “Animals on your Phone,” is a game designed for smartphones, inspired by gaming systems.

Aniphon uses the GPS tracking system on smartphones to create a locationbased multiplayer game. Bacon, a computer science major, and his co-founder Ricketson, A&S ’13, have spent the last six months designing and creating the mobile app.

“Aniphon is a creature-capturing game that takes place in the real world,” Bacon said.

“The phone senses your reallife environment. The creatures you find in the game are based off your environment.”

Aniphon is inspired by the Pokemon and Tamagotchi gaming systems.

Gamers begin with one aniphon creature. Like the game Pokemon, the creatures are trained and then used for battle. Gamers can also play with, nurture, and improve their aniphon creatures’ fit-

ness. These components were inspired by Tamagotchi, the popular hand-held digital pets.

The object of Aniphon is to capture wild aniphons, tame them, and use them to fight against other creatures.

“We thought video-gaming and mobile-gaming are really fun, but no one has done anything really cool yet with mobile devices and gaming,” Bacon said. “Most of the high quality games are on Game Boy or PSP. We wanted to take that kind of gaming experience and bring it over to the iPhone.”

Aniphon uses Google mapping systems to track gamers’ positions, turning any location into a virtual playing field. The app senses a user’s environment and creates aniphon creatures based on the user’s location and weather.

“Say it was raining out,” Bacon said, “there would be water creatures or storm creatures outside. If it’s cold out, there’s a chance you could find ice creatures. If you lived in a hot climate, you would find fire creatures. You might even find really rare forest creatures late at night … We really wanted people to be immersed in their real world when playing the game.”

Bacon and Ricketson co-

founded Moglo Applications, a company that designs locationbased games, in the spring of 2010. Aniphon is their second app to be released. Their first was a location-based Risk application. The app transformed Boston College’s campus into a Risk board game. They placed second in the BC Venture Competition (BCVC) for their app.

After Bacon and Ricketson, along with other BC students working for Moglo, didn’t win BCVC, the entrepreneurs decided to change their strategy. This past summer, Bacon and Ricketson declined internships and jobs and instead chose to work full time designing and creating a “creature capture-based system” for smartphones.

As an avid gamer, Bacon believes Aniphon will be successful because the app is based on the games that consumers identify with: Pokemon, Mario Kart, and Digimon.

“We want to make the type of games that we would want to play,” Bacon said.

Aniphon is set to be released on the iTunes App Store in the next two weeks. Moglo plans to submit their new app today. If all goes well, Aniphon will be online, for free download, by this Friday. n

Saugus Public Library employee charged with stealing $800,000 Former Saugus Public Library employee Linda E. Duffy has been indicted on four counts of mail fraud, 10 counts of money laundering, and one count of aggravated identity theft. Beginning in 2004 and continuing until she resigned in July 2011, Duffy allegedly drained funds from a decoy bank account in the name of the Saugus Public Library.

She also deceived the GE foundation into donating $400,000 to the account. Duffy faces up to 20 years in prison on the mail fraud and money laundering charges if convicted. She is 65 years old.

7:15 p.m. - A report was filed regarding two students who were stuck inside an elevator that had stopped functioning in Vanderslice Hall. Stanley Elevator Company and Boston Fire were notified.

Photo courtesy of Moglo Applications

An iphone screenshot featuring Bacon and Ricketson’s application company’s name, Moglo Applications, before their app opens up.

Tuesday, December 6 12:01 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a verbal altercation between a Boston College employee and an unknown individual at Stuart Hall. Officers were unable to locate the unknown suspect immediately following the incident.

12:04 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an individual who had fallen and sustained a laceration to the head at Bapst/Burns Library. Armstrong Ambulance responded to the scene and the individual was transported to the Emergency Room at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

“Jasmine, because we both look Indian.”

—Dariel Disla, A&S ’15

4:11 p.m. - A report was filed regarding two students who were stuck inside an elevator at 90 More Road that had stopped functioning. Upon arrival, the officer reported that the students had already exited the elevator. Stanley Elevator Company was notified.

6:08 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an individual who had fainted while attending the BC hockey game at Conte Forum. The individual regained consciousness and refused to be transported to a medical facility.

7:27 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an individual who had sustained a lip laceration while playing basketball at the Plex. An officer transported the individual to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital for further treatment.

“Sleeping beauty, because I love sleeping.”

—Zach Zimmerman, A&S ’12

—Source: The Boston College Police Department

Partly Cloudy 32°

Saturday

41° Partly Cloudy 21° 40° Sunny 28°

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 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

“Jasmine, because she’s hot.”

—Luke Keffer,

A&S ’15

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 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.

“Jasmine, because I enjoy flying carpets.”

—Sean Babar, A&S ’15

9:10 p.m. - A report was filed regarding recovered property at Lyons Hall.

The owner of the property is unknown at this time.

10:13 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a fire alarm activation which was the result of burnt cooking in the Mods.

The area was ventilated and all units were cleared.

49°

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.

“Which Disney princess do you identify with most, and why?”

6:24 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a fire alarm activation which was the result of burnt cooking off-campus.

The area was ventilated and all units were cleared.

Friday

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.

12/05/11-12/06/11 3:26 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a student who was the victim of an online phishing scam. The student contacted their bank to report the incident.

29°

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.

Voices from the Dustbowl

3:40 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a larceny at Fulton Hall. A detective is investigating.

Snow

EDITORIAL RESOURCES

Police Blotter Monday, December 5

44°

Local News

Moglo Applications founders ready to launch new app For The Heights

Today

Sunday

featured story

By Devon Sanford

Four Day Weather Forecast

CORRECTIONS In the article titled ‘New Yorker journalist discusses Pakistan and bin Laden’ in the Dec. 5 issue, the Nicholas Schmidle event was incorrectly attributed to the Southeast Asian Student Association. The event was sponsored by the South Asian Student Association.

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A3

UGBC Senate makes moves toward transparency, reorganization Members vote to dissolve Judiciary and clarify purpose of UGBC positions the dissolution of the Judicial Branch saw 11 votes in favor and one abstaining.

According to the proposal

By Samantha Castanzo For The Heights

The UGBC Senate recently made two major changes to its constitution by voting to dissolve the Judicial Branch and make changes to Article IV, in an effort to “re-brand the organization to accurately depict its structure” and create a more transparent relationship with Boston College students.

Article IV of the UGBC Constitution defined the duties of the Executive Branch, which will now be known as the Cabinet.

According to Vanessa Gomez, vice president of the Senate and A&S ’13, the amendments to Article IV passed unanimously, and the amendments regarding

As part of its rebranding campaign, the UGBC voted to dissolve the Judicial Branch. sponsored by Katie Moore, A&S ’13 and Gomez, and co-sponsored by Molly McCarthy, A&S ’13, the wording of Article IV did not accurately reflect the cur-

Consider

This...

OCCUPY BOSTON’S ROOTS AND RECENT SETBACKS: As the Occupy Boston movement loses footholds in the city, pressure mounted for the group to move from their tented community in the financial district of the city after a restraining order was lifted before 4 p.m. yesterday.

The temporary restraining order stopped the city from forcing an evacuation of the encampment at Dewey Square, so law enforcement officials could now legally clear the occupation at any time.

According to Occupy Boston’s official website, an emergency General Assembly was held late last night to plan their next move, and everyone involved in the movement was encouraged to brave the inclement weather and remain camped in Dewey Square for as long as possible.

The judge in charge of cases regarding the Occupy Boston movement is Judge Frances A. McIntyre, and yesterday she denied an injunction filed by Occupy Boston claiming First Amendment rights to stay overnight in Dewey Square.

The Occupy group made a case to claim First Amendment rights on grounds of protest, but McIntyre released a statement saying that she believed Occupy Boston did not fully prove that the holding of public property is protected from criminal prosecution.

Without First Amendment rights, the movement has lost its safety net and is subject to decisions made by law officials. Dewey Square was deliberately chosen because

of its significant location, as the Occupy group hopes to raise awareness about political and economic concerns in the heart of the financial district in downtown Boston, according to a mission statement for their branch of the organization.

Occupy Boston also highlights a sense of community by letting anyone who would like a chance to speak their mind do so in a public forum with an open microphone, and in that spirit they hold a nightly meeting called the General Assembly to maintain a tight agenda.

As of last night, the meeting also has the function of planning a new course of action as members of the movement begin facing the issues of enduring the cold and being forcibly cleared out of the city.

Originally, the Occupy movement came together to incite a reformation of Wall Street by protesting for the removal of special interests from the government, but protesters have told the media that there is not a single issue or demand that will satisfy their dissent over how the country is being run. They have said that they seek fundamental change at a foundational level of government.

Nationwide, the Occupy Together movement, which is the hub of the many offshoots of Occupy Wall Street and Occupy movements in other cities, has recently shifted its focus to occupying homes.

Movements are reorganizing in local neighborhoods in an effort to protect neighbors that are fighting to save their homes from foreclosure.

- Anna Patrick n

rent structure of the UGBC. To this end, the amendment made a multitude of changes to the constitution.

The new amendment includes a clause stating that the UGBC president and vice president will be known as the President and Vice President and clarifies that the Vice President is just as responsible for upholding the “principles and guidelines of this constitution” as the President.

This change is designed to help the UGBC “be a strong, active, and united student representative organization,” as Article II of their Constitution states.

It also explains the application and selection process for the Executive Manager and Executive Director positions in the Cabinet, stating that the President and Vice President must interview and approve all applicants and appointments within the Cabinet.

In a major move toward transparency, the UGBC will now be required to hold at least two “state-of-the-university” addresses per semester, up from the previously required one per year.

The amendment also mandates that because “all appointed members of the Cabinet are the designated spokespersons for the student body for the issues they have been appointed to represent,” they must meet with their assigned BC administrator a minimum of two times per semester.

The remainder of the amendment goes on to more fully explain the mechanics of UGBC, including its purpose and the ways in which members of the Cabinet will be elected and appointed.

As part of its rebranding campaign, the UGBC voted to dissolve the Judicial Branch. The Judicial Branch’s primary duties were to maintain the constitutionality of

proposed by-laws, resolutions, and amendments while dealing with disciplinary matters pertaining to UGBC. The amendment, sponsored

In a major move toward transparency, the UGBC will now be required to hold at least two “stateof-the-university” addresses per semester.

by Gomez and co-sponsored by Moore, Helen Yu, CSOM ’15, and Nick Domino, A&S ’12, stated that “the Duties and Powers of

the Judicial Branch will be better served if reallocated to other members of the organization.”

The UGBC formerly operated on a three-branch system of checks and balances, similar to the United States governmental structure.

Now that the Judicial Branch has been eliminated, the UGBC will consist of the Cabinet and the Senate alone. The responsibility of making sure that all by-laws, resolutions, and amendments are constitutional will fall solely to the President and Vice President.

Senators in the UGBC must complete their full term of one year, and the Judiciary Branch was responsible for dealing with complaints about those Senators who do not report conflicts that would prevent them from doing so. The President and Vice President will now deal with such complaints. n

WRC finally able to expand its Horizon

By Adriana Mariella Assoc. News Editor

The Horizon group, sponsored by the Women’s Resource Center (WRC), has begun to carve its place at Boston College.

Founded last semester, the group sought to “provide a space for gay, bisexual, or questioning men to discuss and seek support in a safe and encouraging environment,” according to Katie Dalton, director of the WRC. However, Dalton explained that the support-based group’s late start didn’t allow for the type of development it has seen this year.

“The group was founded late last spring and subsequently did not develop a strong following before the close of the academic year,” she said in an e-mail. “However, this year the group began mid-fall semester and has been meeting regularly to provide a consistent meeting space for interested students and has enjoyed an increase in attendance.”

Richy Villa, one of the co-facilitators of the Horizon group and GSSW ’12, said that last year, the group lacked structure, something that has changed this semester.

“Horizon was founded last year, but it seems like it never really got off the ground. As far as I know, there was never an actual first meeting,” he said, in an e-mail. “This year is a very exciting time for everyone involved in the group. Group members are establishing and co-creating an important outlet of support for bisexual, gay, questioning, and queer BC men. It has been personally fulfilling to see how each member has contributed to the identity of the group and defined the group’s role in the BC community.”

Matthew Paek, another co-facilitator of the group and GSSW ’13, said that the group has also expanded its influence by expanding its membership. “[Horizon], initially for undergraduate men, has recently opened the group up to include graduate men as well, for a more

supportive environment for men who identify as GBQ at BC,” Paek said in an e-mail. “This allows for undergraduate and graduate men to share their experiences and come together to discuss important issues that concern GBQ

“Group members are establishing and co-creating an important outlet of support.”

-Richy Villa, Co-Facilitator of Horizon and GSSW ’12 men, regardless of age.”

Dalton said that Villa and Paek have done well with expanding the group from where it was last year.

“The group is facilitated by

two fantastic graduate students who have been very committed to raising awareness about the group to increase participation and facilitating a dialogue that meets the needs of those students who attend the group,” she said.

In the future, Villa said he hopes that Horizon will not only continue to be ready to “mobilize” in support of any of its group members, but to also establish its place at BC and continue to gain members.

“I think the most important goal for Horizon’s future is to increase awareness of the group and its function in the BC community. Although our group is supportive, the group has also defined itself as a place to socialize and meet others with similar identities,” he said. “Because of the success of the group and the positive feedback I have heard, it is so important that the BC community becomes aware that such a group exists and is very welcoming to new members.”

The group meets weekly in McElroy 237. n

Bostonians celebrate 25th anniversary

By Andrew Millette For The Heights

The Bostonians of Boston College will perform a 25th anniversary reunion show in Devlin Hall on Dec. 10 featuring members of every class year since 1986. This will be the final event of a reunion weekend for the Bostonians.

The Bostonians refer to themselves as “Boston College’s original and premiere a cappella group.” Their 1986 founding officially makes them the oldest a cappella group on campus, and they perform pop, rock, and R&B music.

The Bostonians hold reunion events every five years, but this year’s turnout is especially impressive. Including both current Bostonians and alumni, 100 performers are expected to participate in the concert. This large number is not surprising to those who have been part of the Bostonians.

“The Bostonians is something much more than a singing group—

it’s a family with deep roots reaching far across the country,” said Nick Todisco, BC ’06. “Returning to the group as an alumnus for the 25th reunion means catching up with dear friends and sharing what this group meant to us with spouses, partners, and children. I don’t think I’ll ever allow myself to miss a reunion.”

The Bostonians plan to play songs from their current repertoire on Saturday, but also include some classics sung by the alumni.

They list 17 songs in their Fall 2011 repertoire. Some possible songs to look forward to include “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele, “Cry” by Faith Hill, “Secrets” by One Republic, and “In My Life” by the Beatles.

The only practice for the entire performing group will be in the morning before the concert. The alumni are not worried about being prepared, however. “Fortunately, it’s nearly impossible to forget your part after four years of rehearsing three nights a week,” Todisco said.

Each returning Bostonians alumnus has helped contribute to the storied history of the group. The Bostonians have sung to thousands of Boston College students in the past 25 years, and participated in all the normal activities of a college a cappella group, such as singing at football games and Christmas tree lightings. What makes the Bostonians so unique is their experience outside the realm of normal.

This group has been featured on national television, on shows like The Price is Right, MTV’s The Real World, and has sung the national anthem at Boston Bruins games and a Minnesota Timberwolves game.

Alumni remember this extraordinary experience fondly.

“We performed across campus, Boston and the country and had the most amazing time doing so,” Todisco said. “Through it all, the laughter, tears and everything in between, I was challenged to grow as a musician, friend, and person.”

The Bostonians have won numerous awards and honors for their work. They were featured in the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2011 editions of the Best of College A Cappella CD, produced by Varsity Vocals. The Bostonians’ most recent album, “Flipping Out,” was nominated for Best Mixed Collegiate Album of 2010 in the national CARA awards. This is a high honor, as the CARA awards, judged by the Contemporary A Cappella Society, are considered the Grammys of collegiate a capella music.

The reunion concert, which will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. in Devlin 008, unites the Bostonians’ rich past with the group’s future.

“It’s a very prideful thing to see the group still flourishing as one of the nation’s best mixed collegiate groups,” said Todisco. “As the Bostonians turn 25 this year, it remains at its core the same as it was since day one — a group of people, joined by their love of creating music, who become family.” n

The Heights

A4

Thursday, December 8, 2011

New website provides alternative to Blackboard for online classwork

By Samantha Castanzo For The Heights

Students and professors frustrated with the Blackboard learning management system will be relieved to find out that they now have another option when it comes to posting and viewing readings, syllabi, and grades for classes: Coursekit, a program created by students and launched last Wednesday.

The system was created by Joseph Cohen, Jim Grandpre, and Dan Getelman, three former University of Pennsylvania students who were frustrated with Blackboard and eager to “reshape education for the internet age,” according to the Coursekit website.

After coming up with the initial idea their freshman year, the trio decided to create a prototype and, after receiving $1 million in funding from sources including

IA Ventures, Founder Collective, and some angel investors, the would-be juniors took a leave of absence from school to develop the program more fully.

Both Coursekit and Blackboard offer students and teachers a place to store and view calendars, PowerPoints, syllabi, calendars, grades, and documents, but Coursekit is free and also gives students the ability to post any type of media, easily ask their classmates and professors questions via notes or live chat, and even create a profile on the site.

As of right now, administrators cannot sign up an entire school at one time. It is up to individual professors to sign themselves up and create a page for each of their courses.

“It’s all about people getting to know each other and sharing great ideas,” said Cohen, who is also the CEO of Coursekit, Inc. “The longer term goal is to do

what Facebook and LinkedIn did for other parts of our lives to education.”

He noted that while most of the average student’s educational experience takes place in person and in classrooms, “our lives get much richer when [we use] the Internet.”

Coursekit has a bright, modern-looking interface that contrasts sharply with Blackboard’s muted layout. “It’s very reliable and very slick,” said Joe Clancy, campus representative for Coursekit and A&S ’13. “It gets refined every day.”

The beta version of Coursekit was tested in 80 courses at 30 universities nationwide this semester, including Boston College. Ellen Winner, chair of the psychology department at BC, was one of the first to try out the new program.

“I’m toying between the aesthetic appeal of Coursekit and the simplicity of Blackboard,” she said.

Cohen, who hopes that Coursekit will soon replace Blackboard entirely, said that the pilot version of Coursekit has gotten an incredible reception so far from the professors who tested the program.

“Coursekit is definitely an

improvement over Blackboard,” said Paul Boboc, A&S ’15. “The simplicity and uniformity of the interface made learning the day’s lectures and reading the posted texts very easy.”

Cohen has high hopes for the fledgling system, which has

already gotten the attention of Forbes magazine, The New York Times, and The Chronicle of Higher Education, among others. “In the future, you’re not just going to have your course on Coursekit.” he said. “You’re going to have your school on it.” n

photo courtesy of coursekit.com

Coursekit, shown above, an alternative to Blackboard, has emerged as a website for online classwork and discussion.

Groups disagree on sexual health McMenamin reflects on ‘beloved’ BCSDH, from A1 traded for floss provided by BCSDH, some took one and not the other, and other students ignored both groups entirely.

Villafranca said that he felt it was ironic that BCSSH wants the administration to provide condoms for its students, when the University does not provide other health devices, like floss.

Parry commented on the controversy that arose between Villafranca and Halftermeyer, as well as the overall goals of BCSSH as an organization.

“We’re really just trying to fill a void that the school has left us in,” Parry said. “We are fighting for sexual health because, compared to other universities, our university’s sexual health policy is clearly lacking.”

“On the other hand,” Parry said, “compared to other colleges, BC’s dental policy isn’t really lacking.”

Villafranca also commented on his organization’s goals.

“The reality of BCSDH is that

it’s not a group of kids that are prodental health. We are just honest and dedicated Catholic kids trying to live the right way and trying to encourage other kids to live that way,” Villafranca said. “We’re not

This past Friday, Dec. 2, a relatively new student group calling themselves the Boston College Students for Dental Health (BCSDH) distributed individually wrapped flossing packets to students. teens, we’re not children anymore, we’re grown men and women, and, at a certain point, we need to make decisions about what’s right and what’s wrong.” Villafranca also explained the origins of BCSDH, saying the organization originated

in September when he and his fellow members were upset that BCSSH had distributed condoms on Parent’s Weekend.

He said that he hoped distributing floss would be a funny and ironic way of beginning conversations “not just between [BCSDH] and BCSSH, but between students who walk through both groups.”

As a member of UGBC Senate, Domino said he hopes that the events of last Friday foster more mature dialogue on issues of sexual health.

Parry also emphasized that BCSSH is open to the same dialogue.

“Everyone in our group is open to having the type of dialogue that [BCSDH] says they want to have. We just want to be sure that they will be doing it in a respectful way,” Parry said. “We don’t really have a problem with anyone disagreeing with us, because we understand that a lot of people do, but the thing that most of our members had a problem with was the way they were doing it and how disrespectful and inappropriate they were being.” n

Last Lecture, from A1 be shooting for outright inspiring,” McMenamin said at the beginning of the lecture.

The focus of McMenamin’s lecture was the word “beloved.”

“Being beloved is something I have to struggle to deserve, as it is something we should all struggle to deserve,” said McMenamin. “So whether I can really claim to be beloved, whether it’s true or not, it’s exactly what almost everyone one of us wants the most, to be beloved.”

McMenamin spoke about his different take on BC’s goal of finding a place in the world for its students.

“I developed a vision of a just and loving society which is what I’m most passionate about,” McMenamin said. “It is important for anyone who wants to be beloved to look outside ourselves for our passions, to develop our talents in such a way to serve that vision or passion.

I should love to do the things I do because they serve my passion, not

because they are my passion.”

McMenamin asserted that he was influenced greatly by the period of time during which he “became of age.” This period of time was racked with violence, including both the Vietnam War and massive race riots

“Being beloved is something I have to struggle to deserve, as it is something we should all struggle to deserve.”

-David McMenamin Pulse Program Director in American cities.

“These events led me to become increasingly bitter and cynical until I became rather ill, but had the good fortune to be surrounded by people who got me through that time primarily by their love,” McMenamin said. “This taught me how to respond to the violence and

turmoil around me.”

He continued to discuss how everything in his life has led him to believe that people are at their best when they are attentive to every situation they are in and try to learn from those situations while responding to the needs of others.

He stressed the importance of “working for those we work for, not those we work under. I work under the BC administration, but I work for my students,” he said.

“I believe we all want to be beloved, I think we wonder how to do that,” McMenamin said in summary. “I believe that some of the ways to achieve this are to be passionate, attentive, responsive, consistent, in service, working for needs of those you work for, and to be humble. This list of qualities reveals the way to become beloved is to become loving. Loving is one thing we are all capable of, and if we want to be beloved, we must love.”

However, he wanted to stress to students that love is not just a feeling, but rather an activity that must be undertaken wisely. n

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The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Students in interdisciplinary programs gain valuable, diverse experience Higher Education, from A1 the promise and problems of constitutional government in the United States and throughout the world.

BC’s Center for Retirement Research, researching an assortment of issues related to retirement security, has gained national notoriety, in part because of its commitment to making its research understandable and applicable to a diverse audience that ranges from individuals to financial planners to corporate and government retirement policy makers.

“The Center is about improving the nation’s level of retirement security. The retirement landscape has been changing dramatically in recent decades, with the risk and responsibility shifting from government and employers to individuals,” said Andrew Eschtruth, associate director for external relations at the Center for Retirement Research. “We seek to reach all people involved in the retirement planning process

with our research, from individuals to policy makers—both employers and government. Our goal is to reach out to anybody making decisions at any level in the process.”

As a result of research excellence, and direct engagement with

“We are an academic institution with emphasis on communicating broadly with non academics.”

-Andrew Eschruth Associate Director for External relations, Center for Retirement Research all members of the retirement planning process by adjusting the presentation of its research for various groups, the center has experienced considerable growth in its scale of operations during its

13 years of existence.

It has grown from two fulltime employees in 1998 to 22 full-time employees today. That number does not include numerous undergraduate and graduate students aiding the center as part-time research assistants.

The quality and intelligibility of the center’s research has helped to establish it as one of the foremost authoritative sources on the retirement income debate, frequently cited in publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

“We are an academic institution with emphasis on communicating broadly with non academics,” Eschtruth said. “Being an academic center gives us independence and respect when we present our findings. However, we are highly focused at communicating with a lay audience.

While we do put research into journals, that is not our sole goal.

We seek to communicate findings to the lay person and, by doing so, shape debates and decisions by a variety of people, not just econo-

mists. Our audience ranges from Congressional staffers to company benefit administrators to those in the retirement investment field.

We are action-oriented.”

BC’s research centers are not the only institutions on campus that help to bridge the gap between theory and practice. The Global Service and Justice Program (GSJP), launched in 2010, strives to have students critically engage with concepts of community service and social justice throughout their time at BC. Its goal is to produce informed activists by developing members’ visions of their role in the world—locally and globally.

The comprehensive program includes academic, service, language, and travel requirements.

Academically, the program requires enrollees to take a onecredit seminar during spring semester of freshman year on the philosophy of service and justice, a one-credit course during sophomore year about contextualizing service, and a Capstone-like course during senior year.

The academic component is augmented by a minimum onesemester commitment to an organization during sophomore year, and an international service expe-

“By the end of their time, students in the program who are going into business, law, medicine, education, or any other field will have thoroughly investigated issues of service and justice.”

-Abby Berenson GSJP Coordinator rience of at least four consecutive weeks in their junior year.

The program also requires a minimum of two language courses beyond BC’s language requirement. All the aspects of the program are to be related to

the student’s self-developed concentration.

The program assures its continued development and relevance of material presented in the seminars through an advisory committee of faculty and staff.

“By the end of their time, students in the program who are going into business, law, medicine, education, or any other field will have thoroughly investigated issues of service and justice and, no matter where they end up, will respond to those issues with deepened understanding and awareness,” said Abby Berenson, assistant director of international summer and service programs and coordinator for GSJP. “They will be conscious on service and justice issues that surround them no matter what their profession may be. It is about preparation, practice, reflection, and continued response to service and justice issues. It will develop in the participants the larger concept of being a global citizen and how various fields and topics are related to forming the environment in which we live.” n

New ALC department hopes to encourage multi-year policy success ALC, from A1

annie butnick / heights staff

Banquet brings poverty issues to light

By Chloe Mamelok For The Heights

On Tuesday, Dec. 6, a Poverty Dinner was hosted in the Murray Function Room to bring awareness to the immense poverty in the Horn of Africa and the disparities in wealth across the world.

The event aimed to bring forth global awareness, relief, and change and was sponsored by a broad coalition of programs including UGBC, Amnesty International, Asian Caucus, and the African Student Organization.

This wide range of sponsors was indicative of the commitment to humanitarian causes and a desire to promote consciousness of issues of poverty within the Boston College community.

“The collective efforts of the four student groups responsible for the planning and execution of this event represents the Boston College student body’s concern for human rights and the preservation of human life worldwide,” said Allen Currelley, the event organizer for UGBC and A&S ’13.

The Poverty Dinner incor-

porated a variety of approaches to make the event fascinating yet poignant. The audience was divided into three groups: highincome, middle-income, and low-income. The high-income group sat with a table and chairs, whereas the low-income group sat on the floor. The subsequent distribution of food, ranging from a mere bowl of rice with no cutlery for the low-income group, to an extravagant and plentiful plate of food for the high-income group, was a deliberate metaphor for the disparity in wealth and food distribution within the world, a central focus of the event.

Representatives from the student body gave an informative presentation, accompanied by an emotive video. The video highlighted the immense inequality and poverty that is so prevalent within the world today. Statistics such as one child dying every six minutes in Somalia indicated the extent of the problem and how more attention needs to be drawn to this issue.

“The presentation is educational, interactive and proactive,”

Currelley said. The incorporation of questions for discussion such as, “Do you have any ideas on how our personal choices as Americans affects the world’s unequal distribution of resources?” offered a forum for discussion and actively engaged the audience. Audience participation was promoted throughout the event.

Zine Magubane, a professor in the sociology department went on to speak about poverty in Africa, first establishing it within its historical context. She refuted common explanations for poverty in Africa within the media, such as a lack of ingenuity or the weather, by offering explanations based on colonialism. She argued that the colonists’ policies of “divide and conquer” were a major factor towards the dire situation in Africa.

The cohesion of the various sponsors of the Poverty Dinner indicated a unity of cultural and ethnic groups for a common cause. All donations received from this event will be in support of relieving the famine in the Horn of Africa. n

annie butnick / heights staff

Students and faculty participated in a poverty dinner Tuesday night, which emphasized wealth disparity in the world today.

We wanted to figure out a way to take the work that one administration does and continue it so that there’s more continuity.”

The members of the department next semester will consist of four coordinators, one assistant director, and one director, chosen

by Shan and Martinez from applications submitted by current sophomores and juniors.

Shan said he and Martinez have been accepting applications for the department over the last

two weeks. Membership will be finalized within the next week.

The focus of the department’s members during its first semester will be on setting up the organization for future success.

“Next semester will be a pilot semester, so goals will be primarily forming the department, figuring out its goals, training its members, and then getting them started on some small issues,” Shan said.

In the future, Shan said that the department will focus on three areas: academic affairs, student life, and organizational advancement. According to Shan, these

three areas are where the new committee can truly succeed in their goal of facilitating continuity between different years.

“There are a lot of students that work on policy issues, but at times they don’t have enough backing from the entire student body,” Martinez said. “By having this department we’ll have issues that are relevant to the BC community as a whole to present a united front to administration and different offices, so that they know that the student body does care about these issues and is trying to effect change.” n

O’Connor will take a semester off O’Connor, from A1 younger than me,” O’Connor said.

“In short, he can do lots of exciting things.”

O’Connor will be on sabbatical in Belgium next semester, the spring of 2012. He has been accepted to an ongoing faculty seminar on the relationship between aesthetics and spirituality.

“I am going to get to think about that connection with faculty from around Western Europe,” he said.

“It’s going to be a really interesting thing.”

O’Connor said that he looks forward to the opportunity to learn and think about teaching. “I need to go back and be the geek I once was, and read and study,” he said.

Next fall, however, he will be returning as a professor in the Honors Program.

Though he is partly interested in allowing different minds the opportunity to have a greater voice in the program, he is also looking forward to returning his focus to teaching.

“It’s also to give me the opportunity to teach more,” O’Connor

said. “To be able to be present in the classroom again is the key.”

Since he assumed the position of assistant director, the Honors Program has grown in size from roughly six to 13 sections, and the number of faculty has expanded, both because of the increase in the

“We have so many bright faculty members,” he said.

“It’s about giving those bright faculty members the chance to get involved in the mix.”

-Mark O’Connor Honors Program Director number of sections and as a result of the curriculum modification.

Previously, students were able to take “boutique seminars” during their junior year, after their first two years taking Western Cultural Tradition. Now, third-year honors students take a two-semester se-

quence called “Twentieth Century and the Tradition.” “[The boutique seminars] didn’t always particularly integrate with the curriculum they had seen the previous two years,” O’Connor said.

“The decision was that we needed to finish off the story and take it up to the present.” As a result, professors who could teach the modern period were needed.

“My greatest accomplishment has been my role over the past 30 years in our accomplishments, students and faculty, together,” O’Connor said. “The Honors Program has been a community that has learned much and given back more through our seminars. I’m very proud of my part in that.”

He hopes his successor will set a goal to further the program.

“My hope for my successor is that she or he will feel the need to establish some ambitious goal for his or her tenure and lead the rest of us, those who teach with the program, those who are fellow travelers of the program among the faculty, and above all the students, to join together in some kind of ambitious intellectual project,” O’Connor said. n

The Heights

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Editorials

Introducing ‘The Metro’ Section The Heights presents a new section in hopes of engaging students in neighboring communities The primar y responsibility of a newspaper is to bring information to its readers in the most thorough and relatable manner possible. As part of our attempts to provide this service to our readers, The Heights always strives to provide detailed coverage of issues and to be as active as possible in seeking first-hand information. This emphasis on the immediacy of stories and our ability to personally get in touch with those effecting the most change in stories are the two main impetuses that inspired the dissolution of the Marketplace section, and the creation of its replacement, the Metro section.

Although Marketplace, in its coverage of current events around the country and the globe, did provide an area of news that is absolutely essential to the student body, we feel that our ability to generate new information about this topic is limited. Thus, rather than simply draw from other major news outlets and synthesize their information, we want to cover stories that are equally important to the Boston College community, if somewhere smaller in scope.

In replacing Marketplace with Metro we hope to accomplish several things.

First, this section’s emphasis will not only include current events, but aspects of the geographic and higher education communities attached to BC, and not previously covered by other sections of the newspaper, such as local businesses,

politics, news stories, and stories about BC alumni. Although global news stories are extremely pertinent to being a well-informed citizen, it is equally important for BC students to be aware of what is going on in their immediate vicinity: the neighboring communities.

Because BC plays such a large part in affecting the economy of local businesses and the tenor of the surrounding neighborhoods, it is our responsibility to be invested in these areas. While students may get information about global events from many news sources, we feel that the local communities are highly neglected right now in newspaper coverage. This is true not only because it is infeasible for our News section to cover all campus and local stories, but also because we are of the opinion that non-student newspapers in the area do not do an adequate job of digging into the pressing events and changes in the community.

We hope that this new section will continue to integrate BC into the surrounding communities. The students of this campus can be leaders in this community as well as off campus, and volunteer efforts already demonstrate students’ desires to be a part of something bigger than the BC bubble. With the institution of the Metro section, The Heights aims to help students be better informed and capable of taking on this leadership endeavor.

Examining both sides of the conflict

Following Friday’s encounter, BCSSH and BCDSH can both learn from each other The time has passed in our lives where we can uniformly categorize our conflicts into the subsets of right or wrong. Situations become complex, differences strive from fundamentals, and most of all, issues become multi-faceted.

Many of our problems are no longer black and white, but an amalgamated, confused gray.

Such is the most recent disagreement between Boston College Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH) and Boston College Students for Dental Health (BCSDH), the masqueraded name for a conglomeration of members of the Sons of St. Patrick, the St. Thomas More Society and the Pro-Life Club. Although many have zealously advocated for or against either organization, The Heights would like to use this forum to encourage a different type of dialogue.

BCSSH is a group that promotes conversation about issues of sexual health on campus. At a Catholic University, our access to information about sexual health is indeed limited, and therefore this group does have a necessary place.

It must be said, however, that they have often been criticized for the way they distribute condoms—namely, that their methods make some students feel pres-

sured to take them. There are factions amongst BC students when it comes to sex, and BCSSH’s strategies of distributing condoms may improperly infringe on personal beliefs.

BCSDH is a group representative of that section of the student body, and it is for the wellbeing of the entire campus that their voice, too, is heard. If students are uncomfortable with the actions of a group of BC students, they should stand up just as BCSDH did last Friday. BCSSH may be an important resource, but the same goes with groups such as BCSDH, who serve as a foil to remind us that ideologically, we at BC are diverse. For that, BCSDH must be commended.

It must be noted that although the intentions of BCSDH are foundationally strong, The Heights is uncertain about their approach to the matter. It is clear that dialogue needs to happen about this topic, but instead of fostering dialogue, BCSDH has alienated BCSSH with their actions. BCSSH may have its faults, but BCSDH could have found better ways to comment on them.

The Heights would like to ask both groups to keep this editorial in mind, and most of all, to listen to the fundamental ideas behind their adversary’s actions.

In support of ‘Support Love’ Amidst controversy, The Heights backs the Support Love campaign Boston College has struggled in the past to reconcile its Catholic beliefs and GLBTQ student issues. The ResLifebacked “Support Love” campaign poster displayed in Edmonds Hall has recently garnered attention by some students for being an endorsement of homosexual relationships by the University, and as such, promoting a position contrary to that of traditional Catholic teachings.

The Heights believes that the poster and the campaign as a whole align with

the college’s responsibilities and ideals as a Jesuit educational institution to foster a safe, respectful, and cognizant environment for its students.

In addition, The Heights encourages students to take a step back from the issue at hand and consider the driving factors behind the dispute. It is easy to resort to accusations, but upon taking a second look, we should all ask ourselves why a segment of the BC population thinks this way.

The Heights The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Michael Caprio, Editor-in-Chief Daniel Ottaunick, General Manager DJ Adams, Managing Editor

Suzanna Severance / Heights Illustration

Letters to the Editor The following letters pertain to Friday’s disagreement between BCSSH and BCSDH:

The quest for broader views of sexual health I must begin with an apology to the members of Students for Sexual Health who felt mocked or offended by the demonstration of Boston College Students for Dental Health last Friday. It was my intention to draw attention to what I believe is a hypocrisy of SSH, and to use this light-hearted demonstration to begin a discussion. The irony I see in SSH is their narrow conception of ‘health.’

While I agree with SSH about the importance of sexual health, the irony of SSH’s actions is that using a condom is as small a part of “sexual health” as flossing is of “dental health.” If I only flossed and failed to brush my teeth, nobody would say I had a healthy mouth.

I must make this confession: I care very little for the dental health of my peers at BC. I care more about engaging SSH in discussion concerning what real sexual health

is. For this reason I will be stepping down as the leader of the group that I founded in favor of a successor more eager about dental health, or perhaps the benefits of humorous parody.

I hope that it was clear to the students to whom I distributed floss last Friday that I was encouraging chastity more than flossing.

A recent article in The Gavel by Mr. Jonathan Dame called my advocacy of chastity “immature, ignorant, and dangerous.” In a twist of irony, Mr. Dame later wrote in his article that “studies have concluded that abstinence only education does not prevent teens from engaging in sexual activity.” I respond to Mr. Dame and his friends in SSH simply by stating that we are no longer children. It seems to me that it is “immature” to claim that BC students are too stupid and adolescent to choose chastity.

Mike Villafranca Founder of BCSDH A&S ’14

Taking an honest look at BC sexual culture I have to admit, I originally had a laugh at the parallels between condom distribution and floss distribution. Unfortunately, that laughter was short-lived. It quickly became clear that the floss distribution was not a friendly satire of popular College Road occurrences, but rather a mocking ridicule of a group of Boston College students advocating for a cause. The demonstration showed complete disrespect for an important issue on college campuses, including BC. Although opinions on sexual health may differ, BC students should nevertheless be held to a standard of intelligent discussion rather than derisive mockery of their opposition. Since BCSSH welcomes dialogue and is open to listening to dissenting opinions, it is rather unfortunate that the demonstrating students felt the need to hide their opinions behind jokes and sarcasm.

Boston College Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH) was founded in 2008 in response to a student referendum in which nearly 90 per-

cent of voters agreed that BC needs to improve sexual health resources on campus. While we recognize the importance of all facets of a healthy lifestyle, we focus specifically on bridging the gap between Catholic values and realistic student life.

We realize that, despite our Jesuit Catholic tradition, sex, sexuality, and the hook-up culture are just as prevalent at BC as other non-religiously affiliated universities.

We also realize that limiting access to sexual health resources during the four years that a young person is most likely to explore and experiment with their sexuality is especially dangerous. We neither advocate nor discourage sexual activity, but instead seek to provide the knowledge and resources that would allow fellow students to make educated and healthy decisions regarding sex. We seek to serve as a source of support for students who have formed, or are in the process of forming, their own personal beliefs regarding sex—including the personal choice to abstain from sex.

Our organization exists to fill a void in the healthcare offered by BC, which does not stock sexual health resources among aspirin, floss, and other heath necessities.

So why dental health? We brush our teeth every day, stock up on mouthwash, and visit our dentists without a second thought. What BCSSH does through their distributions seems ridiculous when juxtaposed with the unquestioned availability of dental resources. The students distributing floss wanted to emphasize the absurdity of focusing specifically on sexual health by setting it next to dental health. In many ways, they succeeded. By the end of Friday’s distribution, College Road overflowed with students promoting two very basic aspects of health that should be available to all students without sidewalk demonstrations.

BCSSH Executive Board

The following letter is in response to “ResLife Poster does not Support ‘Love’” by The Observer:

Take a stand for love I grew up in a society that was vehemently xenophobic, racist, and anti-Semitic. Romania prides itself on being a Christian Orthodox country, and yet denies the Holocaust and still sees homosexuality as a sin. The same society continuously votes and accepts corrupt politicians, booed Madonna at her concert when she advocated human rights for the Roma minority, and still has the audacity to claim that the gay community is corrupting their society.

I left Romania to live in a better world and I would never go back. I could not live in a society that forces me to think tolerance is wrong. I came to Boston College because here I have a chance to be who I really am. At BC I am able to speak out against my country’s dark past, I’m accepted for who I am, and, if I wanted to, I could walk around holding a girl’s hand. I would hope, no matter what, I would be sup-

ported.

No, I hope I would be loved.

The Observer believes that I would not be deserving of such happiness; and if I was to love a girl I should remain silent, miserable, and alone– just as I would be in a repressive, post-communist society.

This newspaper, by choosing to allow the article “Reslife Poster Does Not Support ‘Love’” to run, decided that love was not individual, personal, or all encompassing. They claim love can only exist between a boy and a girl. In a world bombarded with constant pain, violence, and undeniable atrocities, love (of any kind!) should not only be supported, it should be ENCOURAGED! The Observer wants us to discriminate, not just people, but love itself.

There is one thing certain in this world- love cannot be tamed, bent, or forced. Love just happens. If you actually followed the true teachings of your Catholic faith, you would

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

see for yourself that one of the most important lessons Jesus taught us was to love– who are we to restrict and deny anyone the most beautiful and powerful thing in the world?

Religion plays a vital role in our lives and if internalized in the right way it can genuinely make us better people. Some of the most interesting and beautiful people I have met are Christians. I am truly ashamed that an article such as this one ran in The Observer, staining the image of Christianity and destroying the beauty of this religion.

To all my fellow BC students that support love, in whatever shape or form it comes in, I hope you make a stand! Show your community what it truly means to be “men and women” for others; for all others.

Iulia Padeanu A&S ’12

to the newspaper.

Submissions must be signed and should include the author’s connection to Boston College, address, and phone number. Letters and columns can be submitted online at www.bcheights.com, by e-mail to editor@bcheights.com, in person, or by mail to Editor, The Heights, 113 McElroy Commons, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467.

Business and Operations

Editorial Clara Kim, Copy Editor Taylour Kumpf, News Editor Paul Sulzer, Sports Editor Kristopher Robinson, Features Editor Darren Ranck, Arts & Review Editor David Cote, Marketplace Editor Ana Lopez, Opinions Editor Dan Tonkovich, Special Projects Editor Alex Trautwig, Photo Editor Lindsay Grossman, Layout Editor

I would like to end by saying that I advocate chastity not because of doctrines burned into my mind by fear of hell, but because I have learned from the long lessons of life that chastity is best. I am perfectly aware that I cannot convince the members of BCSSH of this truth by argument, but I encourage them to test the goodness of chastity by experiment. I don’t think that I speak from a special or privileged authority. I am merely one who has stumbled in the dark until I found a better path to walk upon, and now that I walk it I call to my friends “Look! Come here and see what I can see.” The view from here is particularly beautiful.

Mollie Kolosky, Graphics Editor David Riemer, Online Manager Therese Tully, Assoc. Copy Editor Katherine Doyle, Asst. Copy Editor Adriana Mariella, Assoc. News Editor Molly LaPoint, Asst. News Editor Greg Joyce, Assoc. Sports Editor Chris Marino, Asst. Sports Editor Brooke Schneider, Asst. Features Editor Brennan Carley, Assoc. Arts & Review Editor

Charlotte Parish, Asst. Arts & Review Editor Matt Palazzolo, Asst. Marketplace Editor Kevin Hou, Asst. Photo Editor Woogeon Kim, Asst. Layout Editor Alex Manta, Asst. Graphics Editor Dara Fang, Asst. Online Manager Elise Taylor, Editorial Assistant Katherine McClurg, Executive Assistant

Margaret Tseng, Business Manager Christina Quinn, Advertising Manager Zachary Halpern, Outreach Coordinator Cecilia Provvedini, Systems Manager James Gu, Local Sales Manager Jamie Ciocon, Collections Manager Amy Hachigan, Asst. Ads Manager Seth Fitchelberg, Business Assistant

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A7

Opinions

The Right to Marry

Thumbs Up The Party Bear –TU/TD has long suffered from an ailment of predicaments. Whether to eat the North End or Baja Chicken, whether anyone will notice if we wear workout clothes for comfort not because we have any intention of exercising, and whether to apologize to our professor when she overheard us saying she looks like Phyllis from The Office (that could be a compliment, right?). But our most difficult uphill battle has been how to combine our love for gummi bears with our love to party. Thankfully, a solution has been found. A factory in St. Louis has given unto us the world’s largest gummi bear, dubbed “The Party Bear.” Clocking in 26 pounds and 32,000 calories (enough to sustain an adult male for two weeks), the Party Bear has a 34 oz. container stomach. According to its commercial featuring Eurotrash clad men, the stomach can hold candy, dip, ice cream, smaller gummi bears, and alcohol. All we have to say is watch out Mods, the Party Bear has arrived.

Doggleganger – Someone once told us that everyone has a twin in this world. Although we used to be intrigued by this idea, we now no longer care because Doggleganger.com has allowed us to find our canine counterpart, which is so much better. With a quick webshot, Doggleganger will scan your facial features and pair you with a real-live dog. TU/TD is a black lab puppy named Rex. Don’t even try to hide your jealousy.

Shine On – The Discovery Channel premiered the second part of its new series, Moonshiners. Taking place in boonie Virginia, Moonshiners follows a group of lawless Virginians with names like Popcorn and Tickle who make the drink and shoot stuff. Is the show an hour of unquestionable fun? Yes. Is everyone in the show most likely questionably related? Also yes.

Thumbs Down The Rainy Blind Side – TU/ TD doesn’t know if this is just their rain jacket, but putting our hood up makes us lose all peripheral vision. Forget the fact that we accidentally snub saying hi to everyone who is not walking straight in front of us.

Peripheral vision is a necessary trait, one that humans evolved over millions of years to defend against predators.

When another planet tries to take over Earth, we better hope it’s not when we are all wearing rainjackets. All they have to is come at us from the side and we’re done.

Mirror, Mirror, on the 5th Floor - Do you know when you awkwardly make eye contact with someone you don’t know while walking to class? Happens to the best of us. Do you know what doesn’t happen to the best of us? Awkwardly making eye contact sitting on the fourth floor of O’Neill with someone on the fifth floor of O’Neill when you are both looking at the skylight. Seriously, what are the chances? Library boy, if you’re reading this, TU/TD still feels weird about it, too.

Occupy O’Neill – Apparently Occupy Boston was outside O’Neill today. We say apparently because we had better things to do than to check them out.

Like study and go to our jobs.

Follow us on Twitter @BCTUTD

Katya Rucker Live and let live. This maxim seems so basic, so logical, and so rational. I will live my life the way I want to live it, as long as I do nothing to prevent another from living their life the way they want to live it. It’s the recognition of one’s individuality in the broader context of communal life. In the United States, individual liberty is affirmed by the Constitution as one of the most sacred declarations a secular state can uphold. This liberty is supported by the notion that all men and women are created equal, and are therefore equally entitled to certain fundamental rights. Among these rights is the freedom to practice any religion, or no religion, without interference from the state.

The institution of marriage is a small shade of gray caught between the separation of church and state. On all counts, marriage is a contract. It’s a civil contract that gives a couple legal status by ensuring state and federal benefits, and is often also a religious contract under divine authority with regard to moral ideals such as fidelity and love. The state, by law, has no stake in whether a married couple adheres to the precepts of the religious contract. In the United States, the family unit is a cornerstone, viewed as an essential building block to a stable society. Consequently, it makes sense that the state would grant legal benefits to those who set out to create

their own families.

By refusing to recognize same-sex marriage as deserving of these benefits, the U.S. government is acting as a law-enforcer with a religious agenda.

There is no evidence that the family unit will be threatened if gays were allowed to marry in all states. The current divorce rate between heterosexual couples alone is over 50%, so the state already has to do enough damage control juggling child support payouts and divisions of property. There is also no evidence that gay couples would make for bad parents. Since they have to deliberately plan and make arrangements to have children (there can’t be any accidental pregnancies, after all), gay and lesbian couples are much more likely to be financially and emotionally prepared for that step than the average straight couple.

Opponents of marriage equality rely on contradictions, hypocrisy, and fictitious arguments to show why same-sex couples shouldn’t be allowed to marry. Such prejudices hark back to state bans on interracial marriage, which existed as late as 1967. Bob Barr, the man who authored and sponsored the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), is a three-time divorcee whose alleged extra-marital affair caused public scandal. Double standards abound in the marriage equality debate, with opponents regarding divorce, adultery, and children born out of wedlock as irrelevant grounds for threatening the stability of marriage. What marriage are they really defending in this federal act? How are gay couples destroying marriage by wanting to get married?

It’s simply the religious “one man, one woman” notion that again shows the state to be an opinionated arbiter. Biblical texts are often the only source from which opponents selectively draw passages. Like it or not, the era in which

the Bible was written bore little semblance to our world today. Its writings should be understood in the context of the time and society for which and in which it was written.

Regardless of your personal belief, this is what it comes down to: Gays and lesbians really were born that way. They are men and women with the same basic goals as heterosexual people: to be happy. To feel fulfilled. To love and be loved. They grow up in societies in which their parents, friends, and acquaintances have entered into loving, committed relationships as “lawful husbands and wives.” Many of them also seek monogamous, healthy relationships as essential ingredients to achieving the goals of happiness, fulfillment, and love. They simply could not achieve any of these goals if they married a person of the opposite sex. They don’t actively seek to undermine family values, corrupt children, or cause any of the other social ills that opponents claim is their mission.

In a response to the passage of Proposition 8 last year, talk show host Keith Olbermann gave a stirring special comment. He argued that voting to give same-sex couples the right to civilly recognized marriage is not a matter of politics, religion, or personal views on homosexuality. Siding with marriage equality means siding with love. “You don’t have to help it, you don’t have to applaud it, you don’t have to fight for it.

Just don’t put it out. Just don’t extinguish it,” Olbermann said. Whenever the question of marriage equality appears on your voting ballot, remember that you are simply being asked a question of love. Love and let love.

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

The Future of ‘Occupy’

Tim O’Connor About three and a half months ago, I received a Facebook invite from an old high school friend inviting me to “Occupy Wall Street.” A cursory glance at the page got me interested.

Camping out in the middle of the financial district of NYC and protesting bank bailouts, rampant income inequality, and the entanglement of powerful corporations with a corrupt government? Sign me up.

Then, I thought about the actual logistics of getting to New York on Sept. 17. It’d be a four or five hour bus ride. I’d have to leave late on Friday, and be back for class on Monday. I couldn’t stay for long, even assuming it lasted the weekend. It probably wouldn’t even be that big of a deal, anyway. I was already coming up with excuses to avoid getting involved.

When Occupy Boston started on Sept. 30, I had entirely dismissed the Occupy Wall Street movement as a bunch of hipsters and stoners looking for an excuse to cut classes. It’s not that I disagreed with their sentiment; in fact, I was fairly certain that the values the Occupy movement expressed were closer to my own ideals than either of the two major political parties could ever pretend to be.

Looking back, my early dismissal was almost certainly an attempt to explain away my non-participation. “I have responsibilities,” I told myself. “They’re all posers looking for attention. What kind of person can sit around and do nothing but for two weeks?”

Now, over two and a half months into the movement, I can tell you what kind of person can join a protest like

the Occupy movement. The occupiers are people who can sit through rain, snow, and cold. They can establish an infrastructure that includes kitchens, showers, and libraries from nothing.

They can form cooperative and welcoming communities without anyone telling them what to do or how to do it. They’ll get arrested in the morning, bailed out in the afternoon, and be back to work in the evening. They’ll take a can of pepper spray to the face and ask for another. I have nothing but profound admiration for those who have taken part in the Occupy protests, and that’s why it pains me to see that they are losing thunder. The movement’s current incarnation will not survive the winter.

Some of the problem certainly comes from organization. The sporadic and disparate nature of the movement was one of its earliest strengths, as this made it impossible for any single politician or party to co-opt its success, but the cracks are beginning to show. The movement operates as a true direct democracy; general assemblies approve every statement made and every cent spent through direct votes. While that worked for releasing mission statements and making minor decisions, it has become increasingly difficult to allocate the considerable donations the movement has received using the same system. For example, New York protestors voted to post bail for all arrested protestors using donations, which usually amounted to around $1,000. Schisms erupted when $25,000 bail was posted for a protestor arrested with an unregistered handgun. The infighting has been such a distraction that some protestors have suggested withdrawing the $500,000 the movement has received in cash and burning it.

That’s not to say that the movement’s deterioration is entirely, or even mostly, a structural concern.

Local governments in virtually every “Occupied” city are taking aggressive

Bazoomie Wagon | BY BEN VADNAL

action to disperse the protests. Latenight police raids, justified by citing tangentially related public safety or trespassing statutes, have destroyed camps, confiscated thousands of dollars of property, and violently abused protestors. Cities are tired of paying police for overtime, and they’re striking while the protests are busy resolving their internal affairs and preparing for the coming winter. Many Occupiers are fatigued and disheartened, and they’re opting to return home for the winter.

With the decline, however, comes the promise of inevitable rebirth. In two and a half months, the movement has succeeded in bringing issues like income inequality and structural unemployment to the forefront of our national discourse. During a recent meeting of the Republican Governor’s Association, noted spin-doctor and party leader Frank Luntz admitted that he is “frightened to death” of the Occupy protests, and with good reason. America hasn’t seen a true populist movement since the 1960s, and politicians in the pockets of special interests are right to fear the power of a truly independent movement.

The next few months will be tough for the protestors who choose to stick it out, and I have a feeling that many of the regional protests will taper out.

The dream, however, will not die. The Occupy movement will hibernate for the winter. Activists will lick their wounds and learn from their growing pains, and reemerge in the spring with a renewed vitality and new ideas.

The 2012 election season will be in full swing, and the Occupy Wall Street movement will be there and be heard.

For my part, I won’t make excuses next time. I’ll be there. Will you?

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

In Praise of Professors

Janine Hanrahan With the end of every semester come final exams and course evaluations. In this period of stress and academic woe, we are reminded that our professors may, in fact, be the Antichrist or some servant of the devil, for whom else could bring such misery? As we rate their teaching abilities and their courses, all with the doom of exams in the back of our minds, it is easy to fixate on the negative (God and my loyal readers certainly know that I do). Yet in the spirit of the holiday season, I have decided to use this column to celebrate the quirky, brilliant, and caring minds that compose the faculty of Boston College.

Perhaps I’ve just been lucky, but many of the professors I’ve studied with are actually hilarious. Usually their humor is unconventional, or even unintentional, but that is what makes it so great. Who else but a professor would say, “Let me tell you a very strange but historically true thing. The music of Mozart was at one time … pop music!” or ask a question such as, “Did your virtues rise from the ground like tomatoes in spring time?”

Philosophical discussions of happiness are far more enjoyable and relatable when you’re waiting to see if your professor is going to say something like, “Is happiness hooking up with any ho that comes your way?” Far from being uptight drones, professors manage to introduce humor even when discussing weighty and complicated issues.

In the midst of laughing at their jokes and zany antics (or wanting to jump out the window from boredom), it is sometimes easy to forget just how smart these people actually are. If you ever want to feel intellectually insignificant, read over their Curriculum Vitae. Chances are, your professor graduated from Super Elite University for both their undergraduate and graduate degrees, winning various academic awards along the way.

A Google search might reveal that he or she has written columns in a major news publication or served on a prestigious committee. Their accomplishments are mind blowing, which makes one appreciate just how privileged we are to study with them. There are certainly fields far more lucrative than higher education where they could invest their skills, but instead they run courses designed to impart their knowledge to the future doctors, nurses, lawyers, politicians, executives, publicists, journalists, and all the other professionals who shape the world.

It is easy to dismiss such thinking as an idealistic cliche, but at some point in every student’s career, we meet that one professor who makes a fundamental impact. Issues that were previously thought of in terms of black and white are now seen in shades of gray, or events that once seemed incomprehensible start to make sense. Maybe the professor introduces us to an issue we have never considered before or alters a long held belief, but in some way the world suddenly seems different. Though this process can be disorienting, it is powerful and important, characterizing what knowledge is truly about.

But the truly special professors educate students not only in a field of study—they teach us something about ourselves. They might nominate us for a fellowship or research opportunity that we may never have thought we were capable of pursuing, or they might urge us to publish a paper, or even just to write a better paper in general. Somehow, they recognize something that we have yet to recognize in ourselves. During office hour chats, they help us reach self-understanding in our personal lives by asking the questions that no one else has asked before. Sometimes they listen to our personal travails, offering compassionate, sound advice that we might not get, or feel comfortable asking for, from anyone else. These people are not only our professors, they are invaluable friends.

A lot of times, professors are stereotyped as elitists residing in ivory towers trying to brainwash students with this or that political agenda. In some cases, the stereotype is true, but by and large, the professors I’ve met at BC are some of the most memorable, interesting, and understanding people I know. Maybe they aren’t the most mainstream, but who cares? They make us laugh, they teach us, and they counsel us. I can honestly say that the professors I’ve met at BC have made me a better student and a better person. Aside from a 4.0 GPA, what more could a student ask for?

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

CLASSIFIEDS

The Heights

A8

Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis

HELP WANTED

Two English Bulldog Puppies for Adoption. They are AKC, homeraised, vaccinated, and health guaranteed. Contact: cball203@ gmail.com

December 8, 2011

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

Community Adoption

Monday, FOR RELEASE DECEMBER 8, 2011

Sperm Donors Wanted. Earn up to $1,200/month and help build families.

Convenient Cambridge location. Apply online: www.SPERMBANK.com.

For Sale Bowties for Sale. Large collection, several patterns and brands available. Inquiries available upon request from classifieds@bcheights. com.

Directions: The Sudoku is played over a 9x9 grid. In each row there are 9 slots, some of which are empty and need to be filled.

Each row, column and 3x3 box should contain the numbers 1 to 9. You must follow these rules: · Number can appear only once in each row · Number can appear only once in each column · Number can appear only once in each 3x3 box · The number should appear only once on row, column or area.

ACROSS 1 Bombed 6 Hindu title 11 Easy letters?

14 Board 15 Bar mixer 16 Mme., across the Pyrenees 17 Evian, in Evian 19 One who can’t pass the bar?

20 Marked for removal 21 House coat 23 Thankfully credit 28 Org. concerned with the No Child Left Behind Act 29 Ambulance arrival sites, briefly 30 London taxi 31 She played Julia in “Julie & Julia” 33 Bohemian dance 34 Novelist Ferber 35 One way to serve beef 37 SASE enclosure, maybe 41 Weaklings 43 Place for a large umbrella 44 Mooches 47 She turned pro before her 16th birthday 49 Sch. with a Mesa campus 50 Sweet treat with an exclamation point in its name 53 One of the deadly sins 54 Pianist Claudio 55 __ Tomé 56 Classic noel 62 __ Today 63 Joint-forming bones 64 Surface with legs 65 Author 66 Tell off 67 Slammin’ Sammy of golf DOWN 1 Sailor’s pronoun 2 Ode title words

12/8/11

By Don Gagliardo

3 Kwik-E-Mart guy on “The Simpsons” 4 __ plume 5 1999 Motorcycle Hall of Fame inductee 6 Takes the wheel 7 Prolix 8 Santa __ winds 9 “Cool” amount 10 Chipping tool 11 Make responsible for, as a case 12 19th-century literary family name 13 Stuffed mouse, e.g.

18 Card or Met 22 Capital south of the Black Sea 23 “My treat!”

24 Whacker’s target 25 Merit 26 Grand 27 Dutch Golden Age painter 32 Showed disinterest, maybe 33 Early a.m. wear

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

White is the new text.

(c)2011 Tribune Media Services, Inc.

35 AKC part: Abbr.

36 Daisy lead-in 38 Try 39 Plastic choice 40 Decant 42 Formed by the solidification of magma 43 Bookish types 44 Absorbs, in a way 45 More than words 46 Buckeye

12/8/11

47 Put on alert 48 Concerning, in memos 51 Erie __ 52 John Arbuckle’s coffee 57 LPN skill 58 California’s __ Nuevo State Park 59 16th prez 60 Form ending 61 Post-op dose

Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Heights

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The Heights 2011

Thanks to the deaprting one-year members of The Heights 2011 board.

DAN TONKOVICH

mollie kolosky

In journalism, the ultimate goal is to uncover and report the truth – requiring aggression and independence. Great responsibility, however, is endowed to those charged with reporting to the public. Each day the members of The Heights strive to be a principled instrument for investigation and thought beyond the obvious, promoting meaningful discussion that works to advance BC to achieve its fullest potential.

It is because of the continuous drive and integrity of all the members of the paper that it has earned the respect and trust of readers and become the 93 year old nationally-recognized institution that it is today.

I am honored to have been a part of this organization for the past two and a half years – the past year of which I enjoyed as a member of the board. The stories covered, the friendships formed, the lessons learned, and the changes made as a result of my involvement are truly invaluable.

Thank you to my family, my friends, the Shaw Leadership Program, the entire BC community, and The Heights for making my involvement such a rewarding experience.

Let me set the scene: McElroy Commons. It’s 11:05 p.m. (prime late night hours). The weather is a mild 50 degrees, but it has been drizzling for the past hour or so. All the lights go off and there is a single spot light on a single high chair in the corner. Everyone turns to see a magnificent singer dressed in all black casually sitting on the chair. Her hair is a beautiful shade of auburn red (a ginger some may say) and she is looking down. Yushen cues the music and the solo vocal performance of the year begins.

If I could pick two songs to perform live for my Heights board in appreciation and celebration of the past year it would be these.

“Here’s to the Nights” – Eve 6 “Here’s a toast to all those who hear me all too well. Here’s to the nights we felt alive. Here’s to the tears you knew you’d cry. Here’s to goodbye tomorrow’s gonna come too soon.” (Insert an impromptu universal dance move here).

The board applauds and a few tears are shed. The second song begins not long after: “That’s What Friends Are For” – Dionne Warwick & Elton John “Keep smiling, keep shining. Knowing you can always count on me, for sure. That’s what friends are for. In good times and bad times, I’ll be on your side for ever more. That’s what friends are for.”

The entire board joins in song and they insist for an encore.

End Scene.

My short road as a Heights editor had come to an end. To my fellow editors on the 2011 Heights board, thank you. This group is truly one in a million, and I am honored you accepted and embraced me as one of your own. I like The Heights, and I don’t care who knows. xoxo Mollie.

clara kim

alex manta

For no other organization would I risk my health by going anywhere near the copy couch, reveal my God-awful drawing abilities, embarrass myself by partaking in ridiculous dance parties at 2 a.m. on a school night, or dare spend a weekend in Maine with 37 other college students. But for The Heights, I’d do all this and more.

The Heights is more than just a paper—it’s a family. We’ve gossiped like little old ladies, cried together in exhaustion and sadness, laughed until our stomachs hurt, and loved—the way we’re supposed to love. So, Heights, thank you for letting me be a part of this family. Without you, I wouldn’t have met my fatty best friend, a bad b—ch future roommate, a certain Sergeant Sass, an unforgettable redhead, and the members of the to be worldwide phenomenon group, Sexual White Chocolate.

When I look at an issue of The Heights now, to me it’s more than just words on a page. It’s a product of 38 editors’ dedication, passion, and faith that they so willingly put into this paper. The words may just tell a story, but for us, it rings with meaning.

I am extremely proud to have been a part of The Heights.

I could not be happier with my time on The Heights Editorial Board. I was unsure if this was the right choice for me coming into it, but it was everything I wanted and more, and my only regret is that I will not be able to stay on the board another year. There are a couple people that I definitely need to thank. Christina Quinn and Dara Fang for introducing me to The Heights and encouraging me to join the board. Mike Saldarriaga for teaching me everything I know about Photoshop and being a great mentor. My fantastic co-editor Mollie Kolosky, who was a pleasure to work with and undoubtedly one of the funniest people to have in the office. All of my 303 Foster/120 Walsh roommates for being the best friends I could’ve ever imagined and constantly keeping me laughing through stressful times. Finally, my family for always cheering me on and supporting me. I’d like to leave the board with this quote (slightly modified to apply to a group) from The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, which I feel perfectly encapsulates how I feel about my time with all these wonderful people. “And so in the first place, we will remember each other all our lives. And even if we are occupied with most important things, if we attain to honour or fall into great misfortune – still let us remember how good it was once here, when we were all together, united by a good and kind feeling which made us, for the time we were loving one another, better perhaps than we are.” Thank you to all of my fellow 2011 Heights Board members for an amazing year.

not featured: Katherine Doyle Asst. Copy Editor Seth Fitchelberg Business Assistant Cecilia Provvedini Systems Manager

The Heights

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

POP CULTURE UNDER THE RADAR THINGS YOU MISSED THIS YEAR

B Y B R E N N A N C A R L E Y | A S S O C I AT E A R T S & R E V I E W E D I T O R TAY L O R C AV A L L O | F O R T H E H E I G H T S A N D D A N S I E R I N G | H E I G H T S S TA F F

MOVIES F

lying quietly under the radar during the summer movie season was Richard Ayoade’s indie rom-com Submarine, a semi-autobiographical tale that tells the story of an overly complex teen named Oliver Tate. Struggling to find his niche in the world, the literarily gifted and socially awkward Tate trots through his high school years in solitude, while admiring fellow student Jordana Bevan from afar.

When a series of odd events brings the two together, Oliver and Jordana enter into a boisterous romance chalk-full of comically ambiguous dialogue and ambitious sexual advances from Tate. Amidst this off-beat relationship, Tate struggles to maintain his parents’ dreary marriage along with his hopes for true romance. For those who enjoy quirky teenage comedies or the humor of our English brethren, Submarine is a must-rent.

Another flick that slid into the shadow of the summer blockbusters was Cedar Rapids, Miguel Arteta’s indie comedy that sports a dynamite cast led by Ed Helms and John C. Reilly. Telling the story of a naïve insurance salesman’s journey to a business convention full of characters, Cedar Rapids succeeds by providing coarse, charming entertainment and one of Reilly’s best comedic performances.

T

M U S I C

he year 2011 was fantastic for albums, whether you’re an indie fan, a grunge fan, or a lover of raw, misogynist rap. Fleet Foxes’ Helplessness Blues is one album that should not be missed. The relaxing and lyrical sound of this Seattle folk rock band is perfect for any lazy day, and, exhibiting their growth as a group, is their best album to date. SPIN Magazine released a cover album by a true compilation of various artists titled Newermind as a tribute to the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s album Nevermind.

As risky as covers generally are, this quirky album is worth a listen. Perhaps the most impressive and underappreciated album of 2011 is Goblin, the second studio album of Tyler, The Creator-leader and founder of the alternative rap group that some people love to hate, Odd Future.

Though the album’s crude lyrics can be offensive and requires a sort of mental preparation before listening to them, the beauty of Goblin lays past all that. Tyler experiments with different beats, styles, and approaches to the genre of rap as a whole, and unquestionably succeeds.

EDITOR’S PICKS EDITOR’S PICKS: “‘J. Edgar,’ ‘The Rum Diary,’ or ‘Drive’. I Love Leo, love Ryan, love Johnny. Literally my three favorite actors.’ -Taylour Kumpf “‘Crazy, Stupid, Love.’ Ryan Gosling. ‘It’s like you’re Photoshopped.’”- Michelle Tomassi “‘One Day.’”-Sam Costanzo

“‘Brighter Than the Sun’ by Colbie Callait, which was in the movie ‘The Help.’”-Adriana Mariella “Frank Ocean’s ‘Nostalgia/Ultra.’ He is the new voice of R&B”-Brennan Carley “‘Section 80’ by Kendrick Lamar. I’ve never heard anything like it and no one else came close to Kendrick in hip-hop this year.” -Austin Tedesco “‘Something to Believe In’ by Parachute”-Amy Hachigian

“‘Winnie The Pooh.’ You can never outgrow that s**t.” -Amy Hachigian “‘50/50.’”-Dan Ottaunick

“‘The Year of Hibernation’ by Youth Lagoon. This album creates a rare sense of both melancholy and warmth that provides a strong emotional experience to listeners.”

-Dan Ottaunick

“‘Restless.’”-Charlotte Parish “I loved ‘Midnight in Paris,’ it is probably the cheesiest movie ever, but the way you feel while watching that movie epitomizes strolling through Paris in summer rain with just the city lights. So good. Yet so bad.”-Maggie Burdge EDITOR’S PICKS

Hey Girl,

We’re not sure if you saw, but “Feminist Ryan Gosling” took over the Internet this year, along with a slew of other hilarious blogs. They’re all an amazing way to waste time and have been just as life-consuming as any other aspect of pop culture this year. Some of the best ones popped up towards the end of the year.

The Tumblr “Texts From Bennett” blew up last week, featuring hilarious texts from a (hopefully) real person.

The blogger documents her cousin’s hilariously inappropriate journey and musings through life, showcasing his ridiculous inability to function as a human being and his skewed, yet laughable views.

For the more intellectually oriented of the group, Ryan Gosling takes the ladies on a ride through post-modern feminist philosophy on “Feminist Ryan Gosling.” With his thoughts from the likes of Hannah Arendt and Simone de Beauvoir, paired with his boyish smirk and seemingly-Photoshopped body, Gosling gives readers not only a good laugh, but also a lesson in the process.

Likewise, the Tumblr “Yelping With Cormac” takes Yelp reviews and rewrites them from the perspective of author Cormac McCarthy. Here’s one about Juicy Couture: “he saw … some gaia figurines to be worshipped by savages, and on them were pajama trousers with the word Juicy luridly stamped across the seat of the pants.

Hellfire and damnation,” he said.

“‘Revenge.’ My roommates and I watch every week and the suspense is just too much.”-Natasha Ettensberger “‘Community.’ 6 Seasons and a movie!”-Austin Tedesco “‘Castle.’ Nathan Fillion, ‘nuff said.”-Eleanor Hildebrandt “‘Heart of Dixie.’ Love it, she reminds me of myself. I have a secret desire to settle in the South with a nice southern boy.”-Taylour Kumpf

T

hough network comedy has been on its game in the past year, cable is still really where comedians get the freedom to just quietly spitball.

HBO’s Enlightened with Laura Dern is a brilliant little show, thirty minutes of nonstop emotion with truly nuanced characters. It follows a woman (Dern) who, following a breakdown and spiritual retreat, returns to the workplace that set her off. Luke Wilson plays her ex, and the storylines consistently pop with wit.

Likewise, Louis C.K. put on a wonderful show this spring with Louie, a melancholic look at being a single dad in New York City. Guest appearances by Joan Rivers and Dane Cook were wonderful and never cliched.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Happy Endings, the unlikely successor to Friends that is doing everything right, and Portlandia, Fred Armisen’s weird but spot-on spoof of the Oregon city.

In terms of drama, Treme was woozy but often reached the greatness of The Wire, a testament to David Simon’s incredible writing. Homeland often transcended the highs of Breaking Bad, thanks in part to Clare Dane’s incredible acting, but nobody seemed to watch. Likewise, Parenthood hit its stride this fall, but can a show really hit a stride if nobody’s paying attention?

TELEVISION

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A11

Editor’s Column

Fashion Forward

Building your internet fashion empire

Reality TV is worth the time and brain cells

“Being your own boutique owner is within reach with an Internet connection.”

Therese Tully With exam season right around the corner, (seriously, where did this semester go?) the last thing I need is another distraction. Yet, I know in my heart of hearts that something will always arise just in the nick of time to preoccupy my mind, or even just a few minutes of my library time when I should be dutifully studying. Last semester, it was a handful of YouTube videos circulating among my friends in conjunction with the activation of my Twitter account. And this year, as I begin studying, I have found this year’s distraction, and it’s a good one, Styleowner.com.

Let me explain. I opted for a quiet night in my dorm on Friday, and while all my friends were out of the room, I had dreams of conquering mountains of work and getting myself ridiculously prepared for my finals. I knew that the end of the semester was going to very nearly kill me, and in my post-Thanksgiving state of mind, I was not ready for this. So I did the responsible thing for once, and was ready to buckle down and do work. It was time to get serious. Then, the crucial discovery was made—I could run my own boutique online! The basic premise of the site is to craft your own storefront, choosing items that you love and are representative of your own style for online shoppers to peruse and purchase.

Every aspect of the virtual boutique you create is left up to the “store owner’s” discretion. There are multiple template options to choose from to enhance the visual appeal of your boutique. Next, you get to choose a song to play for your customers while they shop, choose the name of your boutique, and handpick items to be sold at your online store. While picking items, you are prompted to choose your favorites to have displayed on the homepage, or “storefront,” of your website along with a list of your favorite brands. The beauty of the store is that it represents someone’s ideal closet, and really is a type of tailored shopping that plays to those who have a specific style vision.

Hands-down the best part of the process, and the one that absorbed my whole Friday night, is choosing the clothes to fill your store. With many different filters, you can sort through the options that Styleowner has to offer, whether choosing based on brand or article type. Other cool features of the site are an upcoming blog component and a live feed aspect, which is similar to a tweet, allowing an owner to give their viewers a small tidbit of information or a fun fact. The owner can also send personal recommendations to specific clients or make general recommendations on the storefront. Any good boutique owner knows the value of fostering a personal relation-

ship with clients. Who wouldn’t want to curate their own fashion collection for their friends, family, and others to shop?

Did I mention that the storeowner earns 10 percent of the store commission and is not bothered with actual face-to-face selling, packaging, processing, or shipping?

The biggest issue faced by this virtual storeowner is notoriety. How many people do I think will really frequent my store? Probably none, but I like looking at it. And as a total fashion dork, I enjoy crafting an image of my store, one that is clear and thought-out, and is a nearly perfect representation of the clothing and accessories that I love.

I have worked at an actual boutique for the past four years and really love it. Even so, I am just a manager, and do not have the final say on all fashion decisions, though my boss does let me help pick out some pieces. Also, the stress of receiving items, tagging them, steaming them, dealing with upset customers, defective pieces, getting in arguments with corporations, shipping, and dealing with peoples’ payments is a difficult and stressful process.

But I do miss it. And as a college student, I don’t have time during my regular school year to be involved in this process, so Styleowner allows me to continue to embrace fashion and take an active role in the fashion world that I obviously love. So if anyone is interested in doing a little holiday shopping, head over to Styleowner and check it out.

Brennan Carley

Therese Tully is a Heights Editor. She can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.

Courtesy of google

In Case You Missed it by Carolina Del Busto

‘sATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’

‘Parks and Recreation’

‘Glee’

In case you were out on the town Saturday night and didn’t catch the latest episode of Saturday Night Live, don’t worry: you didn’t miss much. The best part of the episode was the performance by musical guest The Black Keys. If you’re a fan, I would recommend watching just their performance on Hulu—don’t bother with the rest of the show. The host for the evening, Steve Buscemi, is usually a funny man, but for one reason or another, he didn’t score any major laughs. Some of the skits seemed too dry and others seemed forced for laughs. I’m not sure if it was the host or the material that was lacking—but judging from recent SNL episodes, I’d go with the material.

This season, things are really heating up in Pawnee.

Leslie Knope, played by the brilliant Amy Poehler, has been keeping a secret: she’s dating her boss. She has two options: break up with the adorable Ben Wyatt, played by Adam Scott, or tell the truth and face the music. She tried the first option, and she could not ignore her feelings anymore, so it was time for option two. In Thursday night’s episode, “The Trial of Leslie Knope,” Leslie had to defend her relationship with Ben and prove that it in no way affected her work for the Parks Department. The trial ends up being much more intense than she expected, but Leslie pulls out her wits and what we get is a wonderfully funny episode of Parks and Recreation that leaves us wanting more.

Tuesday night’s episode of Glee, “Hold on to Sixteen,” was all about sectionals. With the return of trouty-mouth Sam Evans, played by Chord Overstreet, the New Directions were ready to take on the Troubletones at sectionals. Sam even sang a cute little song about red solo cups to celebrate his homecoming to McKinley High. The Glee Project runner up, Lindsay Pearce, made her second episode appearance as Harmony, lead singer of the Unitards. Nerves were on end as the New Directions, Troubletones, and Unitards all went head to head—or voice to voice. It was a songfilled episode of Glee, one that certainly had fans grooving on their couches.

Taste debate: Herman Cain Pokemon Reference?

Pro

Dan Siering

Heights Staff

Let me get this straight. In his speech declaring the suspension of his presidential campaign, Herman Cain quoted a movie based on one of the most beloved childhood pastimes of our generation, and the media is calling it a faux pas?! I think I’m missing something here. With his bid for presidency temporarily halted, Mr. Cain’s reference to the 2000 Pokemon movie is no doubt an attempt to gain some support from younger voters. If Hollywood has shown anything, it’s that nothing is more popular than nostalgia. Everyone loves being reminded of the simpler, better times of our adolescence when we could, say, sit around for days and play with mythical creatures with awesome elemental powers on a sweet handheld device.

Okay, so maybe Mr. Cain has since stated that he was “unaware” of the source of his quote to appease his concered older voters, but don’t think I see right through that, Herman. When he resumes his presidential campaign and finds an inevitable spike in young supporters, you can blame it on Pikachu.

con

Charlotte Parish

Asst. Arts & review Editor

When politicians want to make their point best, they usually use someone else’s words. Granted, on almost every topic imaginable—from love, to war, to boredom, to identity, to perseverance—there is a quote that seemingly read your mind and stole your words. So really, there is not a direct problem with using quotes.

However, when Herman Cain decided that the very best source he could use to justify his bowing out from the presidential election (the very highest office in America, may I remind you) was not JFK or Abraham Lincoln, but in fact some of the lyrics from the credits song of the 2000 Pokemon film, he made a complete mockery out of the political system. The quote, “Life can be a challenge. Life can seem impossible. It’s never easy when there is so much on the line,” was not ironically used, nor did Cain even attempt to pretend it had a more worthwhile source. Instead, he introduced the ridiculous quote without flinching.

At this point, I am a hundred times more likely to vote for Jon Stewart for president simply because he has enough brains to succinctly point out how absurd this is. Plus, he supplied a better quote from Pokemon to sum up Cain’s problems and the reason he dropped out of the race: “I could use pants.”

I work on campus with a woman whose only TV watching consists of reality shows, so, in an effort to keep up with her, I tuned in to several of them over the past year. Here are my findings about 2011’s best and worst reality shows.

When VH1 premiered Mob Wives, I expected it to be a trashier take on The Jersey Shore and it was, but it was so much more than that. These four women have actual ties to the mob, and with them, old rivalries that date back to some serious crimes. Watching Drita, one of the stars, remove her shoe so she could attack another woman was easily the most unintentionally hilarious moment of its short run. My dad even looked up from his newspaper to watch the brawl transpire. I couldn’t be happier to see its return in January.

In case you haven’t been witness to the video slowly spreading around this week, The Virgin Diaries premiered on TLC on Sunday night and followed a couple who hadn’t even kissed yet. “We’re saving it for marriage,” the groom proclaimed as he sat on a swing-set. “Then we’ll do intercourse,” the woman chimed in as audiences across the country, myself included, gagged in embarrassment.

I didn’t watch Baseball Wives, but my co-worker tells me that former New York Yankee Chuck Knoblauch’s wife is on the show and threatens the other women with a sex toy and a Taser, vaulting it high onto my “to watch over Christmas break” list.

Over the summer, my mom and I watched a marathon of My Strange Addiction, of which my personal favorite was an episode that followed a woman who ate giant chunks of drywall. There was also a woman who lived with close to 30 naked mole rats.

I’m sure she’s a good time.

During Thanksgiving break, I got my whole family into Extreme Couponing. My brother’s not-so-innernerd came out when the protagonist was checking out at the end of her shopping spree and was actually owed $3 due to her diligence. “It’s all things they don’t need though!” my mom shouted. True, but it makes for some damn compelling television.

I’ve found that as the semester goes on, reality TV is my best option when it comes to just shutting the world out. Sure, I could sit down with an episode of The Good Wife when I get stressed, but it’s easier to lose myself in the so-serious drama of shows like The Real Housewives of Atlanta. As much as I love digging into my weekly dose of American Horror Story, I try not to watch it when I’m in the mood for a complete mind-numb, because I’m afraid both that I won’t be able to focus and then, subsequently, that I’ll miss one of its many plot twists.

Maybe I’ve been so into these types of shows lately because they remind me of home more than anything Boston has to offer. My mom grew up in the Bronx, and when she gets angry, the accent comes out. The ladies of The Real Housewives of New Jersey may seem laughable to some, but I know women like that, whether family or friends. Sure, I’ve never seen an aunt flip over a table and call someone a “prostitution whore,” but I’ve seen things close to it at family parties in Queens and graduations in upstate New York.

So while I’d love to tell everyone how much I’ve enjoyed Breaking Bad and Mad Men’s past several seasons, I’d be lying. While I’ve watched both shows, I find that as soon as I get back to my dorm room, I’m not interested in watching Don Draper or Walt White go about their arduous daily lives because, perhaps, it’s too depressing or requires too much of my already exhausted brain. I’m sure I’ll look back on the following statement with total disdain someday, but give me catty Housewives and bratty Toddlers and Tiaras over meth-dealers any day of the week.

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

The Heights

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

The Black Keys trade in bluesy sound on ‘El Camino’

Chart Toppers

By Allan Guzman

1 We Found Love Rihanna 2 Sexy and I Know It LMFAO 3 It Will Rain Bruno Mars 4 Moves Like Jagger Maroon 5 5 Good Feeling Flo Rida 6 Someone Like You Adele 7 Without You David Guetta 8 Ni**as in Paris Jay-Z & Kanye West 9 The One That Got Away Katy Perry 10 Stereo Hearts

Gym Class Heroes

For The Heights

The Black Keys, the Akron, Ohio rock/blues duo, return with their seventh studio effort, El Camino-and they hit the ground running hard and fast. The album is covered with distorted guitar fuzz and drum beats that will force you to move and sing. Gone are the slow and soft blues ballads from their previous album, Brothers. El Camino is all about loudness and stripped guitar riffs. In fact, the packaging of each album comes with a sticker that says, “play loud,” so it is safe to say that sensitive ears were not taken into consideration during the album’s recording.

Danger Mouse, also known as Brian Burton, produced the album.

Burton has collaborated with the Black Keys on their two most recent albums, so he already had a familiarity with their work and sound. For El Camino, the objective was a back to basics, garage attitude–a sound that would feel as crunchy and raw as riding around on the clunky van which graces the album’s cover. However, do not let this cast any doubts on the album’s impression. The production is tight and the dirty, muddy sound fits perfectly.

El Camino combines elements of blues, garage rock, R&B, western, and even hip-hop. Although this isn’t very characteristic of a

rock band whose music is deeply rooted in the blues, the added flavor creates a fresh new sound that sets them apart from other bands. As chaotic as the clashing of genres may sound, they meld well together. Despite clocking in at just under 39 minutes, there is plenty of music packed in each track.

Guitarist and vocalist Dan Auerbach is spot-on. His voice, clean with a raspy hint of grit, was meant to sing this type of music. His guitar work, heavily riff-oriented, is coated with various effects that include fuzz, reverb, wah, and talk box. Meanwhile, drummer Patrick Carney keeps his beats simple, but he pounds on the drums as if playing whack-a-mole.

The album kicks off with the band’s first single, “Lonely Boy,” and immediately sets the tone for the rest of the record. A smooth guitar riff and a catchy chorus not only hook you, but also make this track instantly recognizable. The beat is positively dance-inducing.

For instructions on how this song should be properly danced to, listeners should refer to its music video.

From this point on, the band hardly lets up, treating the ears to a feast of equally memorable tunes. “Gold on the Ceiling,” accompanied by a gritty organ and a clapping beat, is one of the album’s highlights. The chorus

El Camino The black keys produced by danger mouse released Dec. 6, 2011 Our rating A

Singles

courtesy of google.com

The Black Keys reunite with renowned producer Danger Mouse on their quest to deliver a stellar rock and roll album. invites its audience to sing along, “They wanna get my / gold on the ceiling.”

There is some breathing room on the album’s fourth, and longest, track. The first half of “Little Black Submarines” is a slow number combining an acoustic guitar and Auerbach’s tender, broken voice. Yet, once it reaches the halfway mark, the guitar shifts to electric, the drums make their presence known, and the song’s vibe changes completely. There is definitely a Led Zeppelin influence present here, one that classic rock

fans should find pleasing.

“Sister” is the most eclectic track on the album. It starts off with a hip-hop beat, but as the song progresses, there is an increasingly evident combination of pop, R&B, and a slight hint of disco. This melting pot of sounds excellently drives the soulful chorus.

“Nova Baby” is arguably the song that feels most out of place.

Fans of Coldplay will definitely hear a resemblance to the British group’s typical sound throughout the track. This is not a flaw, how-

ever. It is an interesting change in tone that appeals more to those who like the Black Keys’ less bluesy, rock-oriented songs.

The Black Keys have experienced huge success and fame since Brothers, and with El Camino they prove that they can stay true to themselves and make a pure unadulterated, blues-driven rock album. By the record’s last song, “Mind Eraser,” listeners will be singing, “Don’t let it be over / let it be over,” and find that their feelings about El Camino will be the same. n

Top Albums

1 Christmas Michael Buble 2 21 Adele 3 Under the Mistletoe Justin Bieber 4 Take Care Drake Source: Billboard.com

Amy Winehouse’s post-mortem album leaves her legacy unsatisfied

By Molly Moltzen For The Heights

All may be fair in love and war, but it is hard not to listen to the new Amy Winehouse record, Lioness: Hidden Treasures, without mentioning the veil of tragedy that accompanies the whole recording. Winehouse,

whose untimely death this past July made her part of the notorious “27 Club” (including artists, such as Kurt Cobain and Jimi Hendrix, who all passed away at the age of 27), shows, on this recording, the great promise her passing ended. The songs, like her life, feel incomplete in a certain way. These tracks are bare skeletons

that feel weighed down with the idea of what they could have been, had Winehouse been able to fully finish many of them.

Winehouse had previously released two albums— the jazzy Frank (2003) and the ode to 1960s girl groups Back to Black (2006). While Frank did well, it is hard for anyone

Lioness: Hidden Treasures Amy Winehouse produced by Universal Republic released Dec. 6, 2011 Our rating Bcourtesy of google.com

Despite the anticipation, Winehouse’s untimely death seems to have left ‘Lioness’ lacking a finished sound.

who lived through the year 2007 to not remember Back to Black. From the constant playing of the song “Rehab” everywhere one went to the regular declarations from those around her that Winehouse should enter rehab, the lady with the beehive had a landmark year. The Mark Ronson-produced album eventually led to five Grammy awards (including three of the “Big Four” categories), not to mention ushered in a whole new generation of “new soul” British songstresses such as Duffy and the now, ever-popular Adele.

This posthumous release, compiled by Ronson and another frequent Winehouse contributor, Salaam Remi, contains two new songs Winehouse had begun to record before her passing. However it is mostly composed of older material from 2002 to 2006. This mixture therefore becomes a strange sort of grab-bag of Winehouse’s sound— alternate versions of songs, old covers, and a new chorus or verse scattered in with appearances by other artists.

Perhaps that is why Lioness, overall, feels slightly artificial—a lackluster and rushed tribute to a woman whose life was music.

That is not to say, though, that

the album does not have its gems.

A cover of The Shirelles’ “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow?,” originally recorded for the soundtrack of a Bridget Jones movie, appears here in a new arrangement that beautifully showcases Winehouse’s signature raspy voice. Different arrangements of Winehouse classics such as her cover of The Zutons’ “Valerie” and Back to Black mainstay “Wake Up Alone” also stand out from the rest.

Here, the version of “Valerie,” as opposed to the one from the Mark Ronson album Version, has more of Winehouse’s trademark 1960s–style sound and a less production-heavy sound. “Wake Up Alone” is stripped down as well, providing the listener with a powerfully authentic crash of emotion when Winehouse warbles “Soaked in soul / He swims in my eyes by the bed.” Of the new songs, the more completed “Between the Cheats” provides a glimpse into an album that will never be. Supposedly written about her complicated relationship with former husband Blake Fielder-Civil, the song, in usual Winehouse fashion, is seriously candid. As Winehouse sings, “I would die before I divorce you,” listeners gain insight into a relationship that supposedly

contributed heavily to her drug and alcohol abuse.

On the other hand, there are some noticeable pieces that are not so much lackluster as just audibly out of place. The cover of bossa nova standby “The Girl from Ipanema” feels like a song that would be more at place in a cocktail lounge than in a final tribute album. The other piece of new material, “Like Smoke,” features so few vocals by Winehouse and such a hefty portion by guest artist Nas, one could argue that it is barely a Winehouse song at all.

On this track, her voice is limited to about one chorus’ worth of material and various “ohhs” and “ahhs,” and, although Nas has a solid flow, the rapper’s lyrics feel misplaced next to the girl group-inspired beat.

Overall, one cannot help but feel sad when sampling the career leftovers that compose Lioness. Like other members of the “27 Club” before her, Winehouse’s talent became so masked by her personal demons that people tended to forget just what an amazing artist she was. It is disappointing, then, that Lioness stands as a final tribute to her legacy—one that will hopefully not be as forgettable as these songs. n

T-Pain sticks to his auto-tuned roots on this lackluster album

By Dan Ottaunick Heights Editor

Could T-Pain have possibly realized how inexplicably awesome his guest appearance in “I’m on a Boat” would become? Somewhere between

bouncing his head up and down on Andy Samberg’s yacht while his grills glared in the sun, and rapping shoutouts to Greek god Poseidon and his mermaid friend, he must have realized that his nonchalant demeanor and apparently effortless stoicism

were too extraordinary to not make him an overnight sensation. T-Pain, in all of his Auto-Tuned glory, was more or less living out the life he portrays in the “I’m on a Boat” video.

However, after its short-lived period of popularity, the so-called

rEVOLVEr T-Pain produced by RCA released Dec. 6, 2011 Our rating C-

courtesy of google.com

Attempting to solidify his solo career, T-Pain truly fails to branch out beyond his one dimensional style of music.

artistry of Auto-Tune became more of a medium of irony. Even in “I’m on a Boat,” a song performed by a band specializing in comedic hiphop sensationalism, T-Pain is more of a presence than an artist. T-Pain, however, extends his usage of AutoTune beyond the persona of this song—it features prominently in all of his music.

Despite many other artists adopting Auto-Tune in their music throughout the past few years, T-Pain, who has taken credit for popularizing the pitch-enhancing tool, has faced criticism from music fans, and even other artists, for his reliance upon the technology. As quickly as it became popular, Auto-Tune has begun to fade from hip-hop music.

This shift, however, has not impacted T-Pain’s music. An artist whose initial popularity rose from his heavy usage of Auto-Tune, T-Pain has not shied away from his roots or allowed his musical brevity to expand. rEVOLVEr, his latest effort, features Auto-Tune in the majority of its vocals.

Opening the album with “Bang Bang Pow Pow,” T-Pain engages the listener: “My money right, my money money very good good.” Within the entirety of the first verse, we see the

introduction of money, women, and T-Pain’s assertions of his utter dominance, making it more or less a microcosm of the thematic content of the entire album. Much too soon in our experience with the album, we are left wondering what else T-Pain wants to talk about.

The disappointing answer: not much else. “Bottlez,” the next track, is about opening bottles of Patron and features T-Pain flaunting his money, diamonds, and alcohol. The majority of the album’s other tracks follow suit.

This is not to say that rEVOLVEr is devoid of merit. “5 O’Clock,” the album’s strongest track, features a guest appearance by Wiz Khalifa and has a warm chorus sampling Lily Allen’s “Who’d Have Known,” breaking the song’s melodic verses with timely precision. “Best Love Song,” the album’s marquee single that features Chris Brown, is an effort in which T-Pain’s and Chris Brown’s voices harmonize in a manner characteristic of classic R&B music. The single, which has received substantial radio play, is indicative of the success T-Pain is capable of achieving with his sound.

Despite the fruition of T-Pain’s strengths being reached in some

tracks, the album too often fails to truly capture listeners, with the majority of its songs sounding too similar and discussing the same and tired themes that have been characteristic of far too many rap songs throughout the past few years. While T-Pain finds success within this realm, the album’s greatest flaw is that it simply does not stand out within its own genre.

If contemporary society was tasked with combining the many sounds and themes that have characterized rap music for the past few years and bludgeoning them into an hour-long collection, this album, in all its amalgamated dissonance, would be the incoherent Frankenstein that emerged. The album’s aura, so perfectly characterized by its persistent usage of Auto-Tune, is stale, offering no fresh takes on rap or music and instead settling for styles that are no longer relevant or interesting. Hip-hop music, which has recently been reconsidered through the experimental works of artists such as The Weeknd and Shabazz Palaces, is a dynamic and changing genre. rEVOLVEr, by focusing too much on recycled themes and approaches, is an unfortunate reminder of what the natural selection of the art of music has left to die. n

Radio singles by Kira mulshine Nicki Minaj “Roman in Moscow”

Lloyd “She’s All I Want For Christmas” The gutsy tone of our beloved Nicki no longer comes as a shock when you turn on one of her feisty tracks. Her newest single, “Roman in Moscow,” is as strong as the rest of her repertoire, but it reveals her more competitive side, containing angry rap verses, lacking a cheerful melody or bubbly chorus. This heated song discloses a new side of Nicki’s persona that listeners will find equally captivating.

There is no doubt that Lloyd’s holiday single “She’s All I Want for Christmas” has a Michael Jackson influence that welcomes a catchy guitar progression, trumpet riffs, and finally Lloyd’s sensual vocal melody. Unfortunately, if it weren’t for the constant Christmas references in his lyrics, you would hardly assume that this was a holiday track.

Young London “New Reputation” Young London, a new pop-punk duo, released a bouncy single this week titled “New Reputation.

This track completes all the necessary tasks to create a simple and harmonious song. Its light lyrics are placed over captivating melodies that make it an easy listen. The laid-back feel to this song is reminiscent of summer and will make some believe that Young London chose the wrong time to build a “New Reputation.”

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

A13

Christmas classics Scene and Heard must be evaluated Darren Ranck To quote John Lennon, “And so this is Christmas.” Surely, though, the holiday ideal has whacked everyone upside the head at this point. Lennon’s Christmas choir tune, “Happy Xmas (War is Over),” addresses one of the more interesting aspects of the holiday season— its inherent darkness. Yes, if one takes the time to ponder it, the holidays contain some very dark subject matter. “Happy Xmas” seems like a loving Christmas tune until it starts bringing in images of war and the hope for peace. Judy Garland sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” in Meet Me in St. Louis to comfort a girl being torn away from her home. Music is always full of complexity, though. I mean, Katy Perry wrote a song called “Peacock” about both the beauty of the feathered beast and male exposure.

The surprise is found in televised Christmas specials. The wonderful, frolicking Burl Ives’ specials of yore always reminded us that Christmas was finally upon us. Not even these brightly colored snow globes of action could step out of the secretive dark pall of the holiday.

Take the adorable Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. What the hell is up with that special? Rudolph is verbally abused for his genetic disorder while his elf pal, Hermey, gets viciously teased for his passion for dentistry. Throw in a song about being misfits, and you’ve got a pair ready to set absolutely nothing aflame. They’re not even the saddest part. Unwanted or broken toys end up on the Island of Misfit Toys, essentially a work camp for toys. I repeat, a work camp for toys. Even if it all ends happily, what kind of anarchy is going on in the North Pole?

Or let’s view the classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Sure, the

Grinch is a grump who takes his lumps and finds that Whoville and Christmas aren’t much of a dump (see what I did there?). However, what about the Whos of Whoville?

What sort of town possesses a community of such uniform-looking citizens? Not only do they look uniform, it’s the kind of look given to inbreeding, with their oddly plastic faces and frighteningly upturned noses. Mix inbreeding with a cheery song sung uniformly throughout the special, and there may be a cult of Who on your hands. Maybe the Grinch knew what he was doing.

Possibly the most disheartening special, though, is Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town, the special that depicts the birth of Santa Claus. In brief, the special portrays Santa as an orphaned toymaker making toys for a town of children where toys are illegal (think Footloose, but with toys instead of dancing). The evil Burgermeister tries to throw him in prison for his crime, and while it sounds all madcap and potentially fun, it’s not. Santa hides in the woods to avoid being thrown in jail, and the Burgermeister tries to lure him into the open by burning all the toys in the town square. He burns the toys to nothing. Children cry. How does this spread the Christmas spirit? Basically, we come to learn that Santa lives in the North Pole because he’s a convict.

Enchanting, no?

Despite my inane drivel, we all know these movies end familiarly and pleasingly—with a Christmas carol and a parade through the streets while our heroes grace the sky in a reindeer-pulled sleigh.

Maybe that’s all we need to have a truly merry Christmas: a joyous song and some stars shining in the night to remind us that it’s a wonderful life, indeed. Always consider, though, that one of the greatest Christmas tales was a ghost story.

“God bless us, every one!”

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

BY: Darren Ranck

1. A CLAYMATION BIEBER In a continuation of his efforts to ruin the holiday season, Justin Bieber released a Burl Ives’-inspired claymation music video for his single “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.” The video gifts us with some of the creepiest images this side of a rabid Rudolph, but what image is most unsettling? Is it the striking resemblance of clay Bieber to Alvin, of the Chipmunks fame? Could it be the hip gyrations of young Santa Claus? What about Biebs just hanging out in a little girl’s room while she sleeps? It’s totally the last one.

2. ZUCKERBERG’S PICS Mark Zuckerberg, creator of Facebook, fell victim to nudity once again. Private photos on the entrepreneur’s Facebook profile became public when visitors flagged the photos for nudity. Nothing raunchy appeared, but people still had access to photos of Zuckerberg scandalously walking in a park. While the irony makes the joke rather obvious, it’s a sure bet that the Winklevii at least had a small chortle to themselves.

3. TYRA’S MODELLAND

4. JONES, A MASTER HOST

Tyra Banks calls herself a media mogul, but her recent publicity stunt for her “novel of fiction” Modelland has set her back a few notches. Using her reality competition show America’s Next Top Model, Tyra had the remaining contestants shoot an editorial commercial to depict scenes from the book. The ridiculousness overfloweth as the girls play different variations of protagonist Tookie (based on Tyra herself, of course). Given the commercial, one can apparently expect whip cream, glamour cats, a talking baby doll named Belladonna, and thumb sucking. Watch your back, J.K. Rowling.

The X-Factor host and overseas import struggled to find his footing on the U.S. incarnation of the British hit. Has he found it yet? No, but it’s his bumbling struggle that makes him more watchable week by week. Maybe it’s his accent. Maybe it’s his formal way of speaking. Regardless, there’s something wonderful about watching a 35-yearold refer to a 14-year-old contestant as “a nice man.” No one can criticize the man for not doing his job, though. Jones will cut off the judges, the contestants’ singing, and even bellow at 200 words a minute if it means ending the show on time. Bravo, Steve.

5. THE VIRGIN DIARIES If TLC’s newest project The Virgin Diaries teaches you anything, it’s that you should get in lots of practice kissing before your wedding day. The reality special about open virgins occasionally gives poignant commentary, yet it offers nothing but laughs with regard to newlyweds Ryan and Shanna. The whole scene oozes awkwardness, but two moments are must-see.

First, Shanna’s planning of their first time, complete with disrobing and “doing foreplay.” Second, the scene in which a mama bird feeds its baby. Excuse me, that’s a scene of the couple’s first kiss.

scene and heard

‘The Virgin Diaries’

Album Review

The episode showed the most awkward first kiss ever page A13 in case you missed it

Amy WinehousE’s Final songs How do the singer’s posthumous tunes fare amongst her biggest hits?

black keys on ‘snl’

The band was this week’s only reason to watch page A11

page A12

Thursday, DEcember 8, 2011

By B r e n n a n Ca r l ey | As s o c. A rts & R ev i ew E d i t o r Tay l o r Cava l l o | F o r t h e h e i g h ts a n d Da n S i e r i n g | H e i g h ts sta ff

T

wo weeks ago, we covered the best and biggest of 2011 pop culture. This week we are diving a little under the radar to showcase some of the year’s hidden artistic gems, ranging from noteworthy indie movies to innovative and edgy hiphop. While the pop culture connoisseurs among you may be familiar with these lesser-known high points, the more casual artistic audience may have been distracted by the glitz and glamour of the mainstream. We have highlighted these deserving subtleties of pop culture before they fade with the close of the year.

See Hidden Gems, A10

Woogeon kim / heights photo illustration

SPORTS The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

B1

Thursday, December 8, 2011

FAST START CARRIES BC OVER FRIARS Strong first period and two Almeida goals aid Eagles

Billett shines in his third win in three collegiate starts

By Frank Nemia

By Andrew Klokiw

On Tuesday night, the No. 3 Boston College men’s hockey team took on the No. 20 Providence Boston College 4 Friars at Kelley 1 Providence R ink . Coming into Tuesday night’s game, the Friars were fresh off a weekend sweep of former No. 1 Merrimack College, hoping to turn the momentum from their weekend performances into another victory against the highly ranked Eagles. However, BC used a strong first period to suppress any idea of an upset by Providence and came away with a 4-1 victory.

The Eagles’ aggressiveness in the first 20 minutes set the tone for how both sides played the remainder of the contest.

“We played exceptionally well in the first period,” head coach Jerry York said of his team’s performance.

York went on to compliment the Providence defense and the excellent goaltending of recent Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week, Alex Beaudry. York acknowledged Providence’s strong play, adding, “They really prevented us from breaking [the game] open in the first.”

Despite the defensive efforts of Providence, the up-tempo offense of the Eagles was successful in finding open passing lanes in front of the net. After a holding penalty against Providence sophomore Mark Adams, Paul Carey was able to set up Barry Almeida on a beautiful centering pass from behind the net. Almeida one-timed the puck over Beaudry’s blocker to give the

Replacing a legend might possibly be one of the hardest gigs in sports. Add to that equation the fact that the position the legend has vacated just happens to be the most crucial one for a perennial national-contending program, playing for the second-winningest head coach in the history of the game, and in front of a rabid fan base demanding championships, and you get one unbelievably large pair of skates to fill.

Tuesday evening against Providence, head coach Jerry York’s team may have taken a sizable step towards answering their biggest question mark: who can do the best impression of John Muse?

Muse’s story on the Heights is wellknown, as the recent graduate started every game as a freshman, captured two national titles, won a handful of awards, and rewrote nearly the entire Eagles record book in goal.

At Kelley Rink facing the Friars, Boston College fans were treated to an evening of solid, if not spectacular at times, goaltending that conjured memories of Superfans’ favorite guttural roar: “Muuuuuuuuse.” However, the masked man repelling the Providence attack was a bit of an unknown to Eagles fans, as Brian Billett was making his first-ever start for the maroon and gold at home.

“I thought [Billett] put together another excellent game,” York said of Billett’s play on Tuesday. “He’s slowly

For The Heights

Heights Staff

graham beck / heights staff

See Men’s Hockey, B3

Barry Almeida scored a first period goal and an empty-netter in the third period to solidify BC’s 4-1 win over Providence Tuesday night at home.

See Billett, B3

The Decision: Where is Kuechly taking his talents?

men’s basketball

Chris Marino Should he stay or should he go? Boston College football fans everywhere will ask this question in reference to star middle linebacker Luke Kuechly. As the semester comes to a close and the pressure of finals rises, rest assured that Kuechly is probably in a much more stressful situation: declaring for the spring’s NFL draft or remaining for his senior season.

There will be arguments for both sides.

Some will be serious, while others will simply be biased. Regardless of your view, there are a number of factors that are certainly running through the junior’s mind.

First and foremost, Kuechly has become a nationally known player. He’s

led the nation in tackles the last two seasons. He was most recently awarded the Lombardi Award, in addition to the ACC Defensive Player of the Year, and the Butkus Award, which goes to the nation’s top linebacker. To add to this excitement, Dick Butkus, for whom the award is named after, was there to present Kuechly with the trophy. “Boy Wonder,” as his coaches have been known to call him, has earned numerous individual accolades, and made himself a premier defender.

Money. We all want it, but we can’t all have it. Kuechly, as a certain first-round pick, is in a position to make bank in the draft. This is clearly a major factor in his decision, and it definitely should be. Players can take care of themselves and their families with the paycheck of a high draft position, and how can a player turn down such an opportunity? What if Kuechly tears up his knee or breaks an arm? He could go from a near certain top-20 pick

See Kuechly, B2

BC picks up win at home vs. UMass

graham beck / heights staff

Matt Humphrey is the only Eagle who has started in all eight games this year for Donahue.

Eagles head to Providence in search of consistency

By Steven Principi Heights Staff

The Boston College men’s basketball team will face a stiff challenge on Thursday night as they travel to Providence for a 7 p.m. tip-off at the Dunkin’ Donuts Center.

The Friars are a team that is, in many ways, the polar opposite of the Eagles.

Providence is riding a three-game winning streak that has brought their record to 7-2, while BC has dropped its last three games to fall to 2-6 on the year. Yet, beyond the contrast in records is the obvious gap in experience between both teams. The Friars have a solid starting lineup in place in which four players average over 30 minutes of playing time per game. Meanwhile,

By Chris Marino Asst. Sports Editor

The Boston College women’s basketball team (3-4) played host to interstate rival Massachusetts Boston College 80 (1-7) last night 64 UMass in Conte Forum.

Despite a lack of rhythm in the first half, the team rallied behind four double-digit scorers, including 18 points from both Shayra Brown and Tiffany Ruffin, to top the Minutewomen, 80-64.

The Eagles ended the first half with a 3230 lead, despite struggling to find a rhythm.

Sophomore Katie Zenevitch was the driving force to start the half, scoring the team’s first four points to go with four rebounds.

She finished the half with six points and 10 rebounds, solidifying herself as the Eagles’

BC does not have a single player averaging over 30 minutes and has used 10 different players in the starting lineup, with only Matt Humphrey being on the floor to begin each game. This obvious difference in consistency and experience has not escaped the notice of head coach Steve Donahue, who spoke about Providence’s strong start.

“I think they’re doing a great job,” Donahue said. “They’ve got four guys that they really ride in terms of playing time, in particular Vincent Council. I think he’s as good a player as we’ll face all year in terms of a point guard. He makes people better, shoots a good percentage, and he’s got

See Men’s Basketball, B2

i nside S ports this issue

daniel lee / heights staff

Kuechly has a big decision to make over break.

graham beck / heights staff

Shayra Brown dropped a career-best 18 points to help the Eagles stay undefeated at home.

Series of the week

This weekend, the No. 4 women’s hockey team hosts No. 6 Mercyhurst for a key series...........B3

Remembering the spirit

Trying to remember what it was like as a Superfan with the optimism of a freshman...................B3

See Women’s Basketball, B2

Editors’ Picks..............................B3 Over the Break...........................B3

The Heights

B2

BC hits the road to PC

Eagles take care of UMass Women’s Basketball, from B1

Men’s Basketball, from B1 good size. I think he’s the key to their team, but they’ve got a couple other guys who have done a really good job as well.”

One of the main issues that the Eagles have encountered early in the season has been a lack of consistent play from many of their players. The first eight games have seen Donahue play a variety of starting lineups, with as many as nine or 10 players getting significant time on the court. The coming games will be telling for Donahue and his Eagles, who are searching desperately for some sort of consistency.

“I would love to have a steady five and a rotation,” Donahue commented. “And it’s not just from a coaching standpoint, but for the players and their comfort level. We’re just in a crazy situation where we don’t have that luxury. I’d love for five guys to separate themselves, and I think we’ll see some of that as we go through the season, but we’re going to have some ups and downs.”

With so little consistency and doubledigit losses piling up, team morale may soon become an issue. While it would be easy to make excuses regarding youth and inexperience, Donahue does not want to give his team an easy way out and demands that progress be made in every practice.

“I can’t allow the wins and losses to slow development,” Donahue explained. “We’re starting from scratch, and we’ve got a lot of players who have never played college basketball. I can’t allow what happens on the court to affect the guys’ morale or motivation. We’re going to have to learn how to persevere through some hard times this season and just get better.”

Despite BC’s struggles, its record doesn’t reflect the team’s recent improvements.

The Eagles have been leading or tied at the half in each of their previous two games, ultimately succumbing to second-half runs by their opponents. While the end product may not yet be there, Donahue has certainly seen some reason for newfound optimism.

“I think we’ve definitely improved over the last three or four weeks,” Donahue concluded. “I think we’re more poised with the basketball, and we’re making better decisions. I think we’re playing better overall basketball, and I think everybody has had their moments. I’ve been very happy with how they’ve progressed in practice so far, but the key is to do it for a full 40 minutes.” n

Thursday, December 8, 2011

graham beck / heights staff

Tiffany Ruffin matched Shayra Brown with 18 points, as BC ended its two-game losing streak.

top post option. It was the first time a BC player finished with double-digit rebounds in a half since Carolyn Swords had 18 against NC State. After getting into foul trouble, she finished the game with eight points and 12 rebounds.

“At practice, we worked a lot on post defense,” Zenevitch said. “In that last game, I thought that was something I struggled with, so I wanted to make sure I had that down tonight. We all watched film and knew that this would be a big game for us. We didn’t want another team in Massachusetts to come in here and beat us. That was our goal. This is our state.”

The Minutewomen’s zone defense appeared to give BC trouble in the half, as they were able to contain the Eagles’ post play and put pressure on the outside shot. In particular, guard Kerri Shields shot 0-for-6 in the half and 1-for-9 for the game from beyond the arc, registering a mere three points.

Her shooting struggles continue because of her reluctance to drive to the lane and take midrange jumpers.

The highlight of the half came when Ruffin hit a running jumper from half court at the buzzer to put the Eagles up by two. Despite starting off slow, the desperation play sent BC to the locker room with momentum.

As the second half progressed, the Eagles and Minutewomen continued their back-

and-forth battle. BC finally put together a run behind the efforts of Brown and Ruffin. In particular, Brown worked hard to draw fouls in the paint, with nine of her points coming at the foul line. Head coach Sylvia Crawley said that the individual work of these two players was due to diligent preparation and development by the players.

“Those two players have been maturing, and I watched film with those two in particular and we watched film about mistakes I used to get on them about,” Crawley explained.

“They made new mistakes in the last game.

It wasn’t the same mistakes that they were making over and over again. I’m OK with new mistakes. That tells me that we’re growing.

Those two players are doing things in practice and games that let me know that they are turning a corner in terms of their game. They were rewarded today for their hard work.”

In the final eight minutes, the Eagles closed the contest out on a 22-16 run, outworking their opponents on both ends of the floor. Although the Eagles were outshot 41.8 percent to 38.7 percent from the floor, the major factor that carried the home team to victory was its rebounding. This was an element of the “aggressive play” that Crawley tried to instill in her players heading into the game. The Minutewomen were unable to become a factor beneath the hoop, as the Eagles outrebounded them 48-23. BC’s domination on the glass ended up being the deciding factor in a hard-fought contest. n

Stay or leave, Kuechly has left his mark on the Heights Kuechly, from B1 to a third rounder, or worse an undrafted free agent. Not declaring for the draft may cost him millions of dollars.

While this last idea might seem like a stretch, it was a reality on the Heights over the last few years. Former BC linebacker Mark Herzlich saw his draft position collapse before his eyes. After receiving the ACC Defensive Player of the Year award, Herzlich was viewed as a top pick in the draft. However, the discovery of Ewing’s sarcoma in his leg put a sudden halt to an all but certain professional career.

Although Kuechly is not in the same exact situation, he has seen firsthand the fragility of a playing career. It’s impossible to predict a detrimental injury, and Kuechly could risk the chance of losing his draft status. Herzlich went undrafted and found himself floundering until free agency opened. While he ended up finding

a home with the New York Giants, the stress of going from a top-round pick to a jobless free agent was certainly a disheartening process.

Kuechly has the luxury of avoiding the fear of struggling to find a home. He has a golden ticket into the league and can use this to put himself on an NFL roster immediately.

I couldn’t blame Kuechly for leaving after seeing his teammate, friend, and mentor fall from the pinnacle of the draft.

At the same, if there’s one thing Herzlich showed his teammates, it was determination and perseverance. Kuechly, recently awarded the William J. Flynn Award for team MVP, could not be pleased with ending his Eagle career on such a sour note.

This was his team. He was the face of the program, and the program had its worst season in over a decade. He could not want his legacy to end like this.

Kuechly has been a leader for this

defense, and he may see the culmination of his hard work next season. Fellow linebackers Steele Divitto and Kevin PierreLouis have had the privilege of playing with one of the top defensive players in collegiate history. The defense, as a whole, has grown from his play, and he would have the satisfaction of seeing his efforts played out if he stays one more year.

Even more so, with Kuechly’s potentially high draft status, the linebacker could end up being drafted by one of the NFL’s worst teams. Who knows how long it could take for him to play for a winning team. If he had one more chance to win a bowl game, or even just play for a winning season, Kuechly could solidify himself as a winner. While his stats are record-breaking, teams may be more excited to draft him if they feel he is the kind of gamechanger that can determine the outcome of a game.

The question is which of these factors

is influencing Kuechly’s final decision the most. With the holidays approaching, he’ll surely take the free time to sit down with his family and contemplate all of the scenarios that have been mentioned above, and maybe a few more personal ones. At the end of the day, Superfans will definitely look back on Kuechly with a positive attitude. If we weren’t proud of his efforts and performance over the last three years, we wouldn’t be debating whether or not he should stay or leave. While we want to see him pursue a professional career and continue his success, we simultaneously and selfishly want him to stay so that we might have one more year of “Boy Wonder.”

Time will tell, but, regardless of his decision, he’s done one memorable job.

Chris Marino is the Assistant Sports Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

The Heights

Editors’ Picks

Thursday, December 8, 2011 Over the Break

Standings

Men’s basketball takes on Providence tonight. Men’s hockey faces off against Lowell, and women’s hockey plays Mercyhurst in a weekend series. The Heisman trophy ceremony is on Monday, and the NBA season tips off on Christmas day with the Celtics and Knicks.

B3

Last Week Recap

Greg Joyce

36-19

Chris Marino

36-19

Heights staff

35-20

Paul Sulzer

30-25

Mercyhurst vs. Boston College

Layout Editor

“I can’t live without my vanilla chobes.”

This Week’s Games

Paul Sulzer Sports Editor

Men’s Basketball: BC at Providence

Providence

Providence

Providence

Providence

Men’s Hockey: No. 3 BC at No. 18 UMass-Lowell

BC

BC

BC

BC

Women’s Hockey: No. 6 Mercyhurst at No. 4 BC (Series)

BC

Split

BC

BC

Robert Griffin III

Trent Richardson

Andrew Luck

Robert Griffin III

Celtics

Celtics

Celtics

Knicks

NBA: Boston Celtics at New York Knicks

Women’s Hockey

Greg and Chris tied picks for the semester (it’s like kissing your sister!). Football and hockey both lost to Notre Dame in close games. Women’s soccer defeated Cal. Men’s basketball was blown out by Holy Cross on the road. The Philadelphia Eagles upset the New York Giants.

Guest Editor: Lindsay Grossman

Heisman Trophy Winner

Series of the Week

Greg Joyce Assoc. Sports Editor

Chris Marino Asst. Sports Editor

Lindsay Grossman

Layout Editor

The No. 6 Mercyhurst Lakers come to Conte Forum this weekend for a two-game series against the No. 4 Boston College women’s hockey team. On Friday night and Saturday afternoon the Eagles will try to shut down the Mercyhurst squad that split a twogame series with Cornell last weekend. The Eagles will look to contain senior forward Bailey Bram, who ranks third in scoring nationally, as well as sophomore forward Christine Bestland who ranks 10th. Goalie Corinne Boyles and the BC defense need to be ready to stop a high-powered offense in order to be successful in this top-10 match-up.

Friday 7 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m.

Billett shines again between the pipes Billett, from B1

graham beck / heights staff

Carey gave the Eagles a 3-1 lead with a short-handed goal on a breakaway in the third period.

Eagles take down Friars Men’s Hockey, from B1 Eagles a 1-0 lead with about five minutes left in the first.

Less than two minutes later, BC continued to exploit openings in the Providence defense.

Captain Tommy Cross carried the puck down the right-side boards before passing to freshman Johnny Gaudreau, who sent the puck in front of the net where sophomore Bill Arnold tallied his 10th goal of the year.

With only 3:02 left in the first, the goal gave the Eagles a comfortable 2-0 lead heading into the intermission.

Looking to mount a comeback, the Friars were quick to take advantage of two BC penalties in the second period and cut the deficit to one. With fourteen minutes left in the second, the Eagles were unable to clear the puck from the front of their net. Providence sophomore Derek Army gained possession of the puck and slipped the rebound past goalie Brian Billett’s glove for a power-play goal.

Despite the defensive breakdown, the goal by the Friars did not rattle Billet. The freshman was solid in net all night, showing confidence and excellent movement between the pipes. His performance also earned him his third victory in as many starts this season.

BC sealed the win with 5:15 left in the third period while on the penalty kill. In an excellent hustle play by Carey, the senior forward stole a pass from Providence’s defenseman at the Eagles’ blue line. Carey sped past his opponent and went into the Friar zone on

a breakaway. He placed a beautiful wrist shot off the far pipe and into the back of the net to stretch the BC lead to 3-1, earning his second point of the night. The goal also characterized how Providence head coach Nate Leaman felt his team performed offensively.

“We were timid tonight,” Leaman said.

“We lost puck battles and turned the puck over on soft plays.”

In a game that the Eagles controlled from the initial drop of the puck, the team put together a solid showing after an emotional weekend series against their cross-town rival.

The mindset of the team, led by its captains, is to not overlook any opponent.

“We try to treat every game the same,” Carey, an alternate captain, said. “At the end of the day, whether it’s a Tuesday night or a Saturday night, you just need to show up to play.”

The Eagles did exactly that against Providence, extending their record to 12-5-0, and 9-3-0 in Hockey East play.

Carey and the Eagles now have one last Hockey East match-up before travelling to the Great Lakes Invitational just before the New Year. On Friday night, the Eagles will face a very strong UMass Lowell team. After its strong performance Tuesday night, BC appears to be in good shape for their matchup at Tsongas Arena. If the team mantra of “one game at a time” continues, the Eagles will remain poised to extend their winningstreak and have an excellent second half of the season. n

building a good streak of games played, with Yale, BU, and Providence. He’s earned a lot of respect in our locker room.”

From a man who has coached the likes of Muse and current NHL netminders Scott Clemmensen and Cory Schneider, this praise should not be taken lightly.

To date, Billett has earned every bit of acclaim that has come his way during his true freshman campaign on the Heights. In the win against Providence, the Brunswick, Maine native posted 16 saves on 17 shots, many of which came from below the circles and right in front of net. He showed a maturity that belied his years, stonewalling a Providence offense that repeatedly drove to the net and created traffic in front of the crease.

However, Billett still has a long way to go before he secures the starting job.

Going into the season, junior Parker Milner, Muse’s understudy for the past two seasons, was presumed to receive every chance at becoming the full-time starter, leaving Billett as not much more than an afterthought for BC fans.

“Early in the season in training camp, [Billett] wasn’t really fighting for a No. 1 job with us,” York said. “We had four goaltenders and he certainly wasn’t in the top half of those goaltenders at the time.”

Milner cruised to an 8-1 record to open the season, allowing three goals or more only three times. The Eagles’ incredibly tough schedule soon got the best of the junior, as he went 1-3 in his next four starts, allowing four goals to UMass, five to BU, and three to Notre Dame in losing efforts.

York turned to Billett, and in what represented his collegiate debut, the freshman turned aside 31 Yale shots as he earned the win in a 3-2 BC victory.

His stellar play in his inaugural start earned Billett accolades as the Hockey East Defensive Player of the Week.

After Milner started in a 5-3 home loss to Comm. Ave. rival BU, York once again called on Billett.

In that game last Saturday, at a hostile Agganis Arena, the freshman was nothing short of brilliant. Billett registered a rock-solid 40 saves on 41

graham beck / heights staff

Brian Billet turned away 16 shots on net Tuesday night en route to his third collegiate victory.

Terrier shots, as he was clearly unfazed by an offense that had potted 10 goals in its two previous games against the Eagles.

Additionally, Billett—the player currently sporting Muse’s old No. 1 jersey—was the first BC goalie since Muse in 2008 to post a 40-save performance.

“Billett’s confidence is just rolling,” York added. “He really came on during the middle of October, and we got him some chances to play. He’s very calm and very poised and we think he gives us some great depth in our goaltending this year.”

Following the Providence game,

Billett’s third consecutive win to start his career, a goalie controversy may be developing. While York appears willing to give Milner the necessary starts to ride out his current three-game losing streak, Billett has proven himself more than capable of shutting down some of the nation’s best offenses.

It is obviously too early to make any predictions on the future of York’s starter between the pipes. But Superfans would do well to remember that the last time a freshman wearing No. 1 was the Eagles’ starting goalie, the season ended in the program’s third national championship. n

Trying to remember the freshman spirit and optimism in each of us Andrew Klokiw Each year, a new class of freshmen arrive on the Heights exuding an optimism that pervades their every action and thought. Negativity and cynicism are two ideals that are conspicuously absent from the minds of these newcomers, as they eagerly anticipate the new experiences they are about to encounter.

It is this abundance of optimism that sees Boston College’s youngest class swarm to Alumni Stadium and Conte Forum in the hopes of catching a glimpse of some high-level NCAA sports. And it is also the catalyst of numerous sports columns in The Heights, wherein the author implores the campus to share in his or her crusade to banish negativity from the student body, and fill the stands.

How do I know? I penned one such article during my freshman year at BC. I can remember my initial shock at the student body’s general apathy for our revenue-sport teams: football, hockey and basketball. I reminded those who picked up my article that BC was barely removed from the Matt Ryan years, and was currently sporting one heck of a postseason bowl-game streak. I can also recall being in a half-empty Alumni Stadium during an ACC football game, and wondering what was wrong with our school.

Basketball was a case along similar

alex trautwig / heights editor

Though the state of BC athletics has been surrounced by negativity and cynicism, it is important to remember the excitement we once felt as freshmen. lines. We had Reggie Jackson and Al Skinner. BC boasted a rich basketball history carried by the likes of Troy Bell, Tyrese Rice, Craig Smith and Jared Dudley.

Additionally, our hockey team was one year removed from its 2008 national championship, and yet it could hardly fill the bleachers against lesser opponents like Vermont and Providence. If a national championship could not get students into the stands, I reasoned, what would?

Predictably, this year someone else picked up the torch that I had dropped somewhere near the end of my freshman year. And while that writer undoubtedly made some impressionable points, any real

change was not forthcoming.

At this point in my narrative, you may be asking yourself what my purpose is in writing this column. It is because I would like to provide the other side to the coin that I could not see two years ago. As a junior, I have gained the all-important understanding that negativity and cynicism are not necessarily a bad thing in sports (apathy on the other hand … well, you decide).

While BC is still the premier athletic institution of higher learning in New England (I’m looking at you, UConn), the school and its fans should never fall into a dangerous pattern of complacency. What

an ugly word. Next to mediocrity, complacency might be the worst fate a sports program can carry.

As of now, our athletics on the Heights have fallen into a slight lull. Not to beat a horse that has been long dead, but our football team limped its way to 4-8, even with the best defensive player in the country calling the shots. A surprisingly strong finish to the season has saved a job that many were calling to be vacated.

Similarly on the hardwood, both the men’s and women’s teams are in a rebuilding mode. There’s another ugly word, rebuilding. But for now, Eagles fans have learned to accept that Coach Donahue and

Coach Crawley are paying a short-term price for the potential to have their respective teams competing in the near future.

In the case of these sports, negativity will become a positive if (and when, if the athletics department is to be believed) they can right the ship.

So yes, some of our sports are struggling. And yes, it does not seem like much is being done about it. In both of these regards, cynicism is not only warranted, but welcomed. Potentially, if cynicism can manifest itself in accountability, if it is conveyed loudly enough, it can lead to the students actually gaining something they have lost, like pride in their big-time sports.

As for me? I’ve changed a lot from the freshman who could not comprehend the implications of an empty seat at Alumni or Conte. I’ve become the cynic that I so loathed in my first semester in Chestnut Hill, but I retain one thing from that time long, long ago: I still love BC sports.

As I leave behind the wreckage that was BC athletics this semester, I request only one thing of our student body: don’t settle for mediocrity. Channel any cynicism toward our athletic department to bring about the change that will bring out the freshman in you.

Andrew Klokiw is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@bcheights.com.

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The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

metro The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

D1

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Pioneering Bay State gambling ‘Waiting’ Wicked Cultured

for the facts Charlotte Parish

Is it possible to combine the realism of reporting with the demands of entertainment? This is exactly the dilemma that documentary directors face. While I am a fan of many documentaries (the only real reason I want cable TV is to have access to the History Channel; yes, I do realize that is a little sad), I have a hard time reconciling their two purposes. On the one hand, they are informative—documentaries portray real life, real people, and real problems. But on the flip side, they also have to put on a show and razzle-dazzle.

So how do you do that? Recently, it seems that many documentaries are taking the approach of telling the facts, but slanting them and never showing any other side, thereby creating a fanatic view that shocks people into paying attention.

The most frustrating example of this that I was recently reminded of is Waiting for Superman. It’s a film that I’ve seen three times now, and each time I get a little more irate. There is absolutely no middle ground in this film and questioning the findings of the film pits you against the future success of all American students.

A quick summary: Waiting for Superman discusses the current state of the American education system and examines why Americans are falling behind the rest of the world, in literacy and mathematics, in particular.

The ultimate conclusion of the film is that charter schools are making great leaps forward, revolutionizing the education system.

By the same token, these schools’ successes reveal that the failure of the public school system rests almost exclusively on teachers who are (a) too readily given undeserved tenure, (b) most interested in having their summers, and (c) actually fighting against progress.

Examining the positive view of charter schools that Superman touts, there are two problems. First, less than a quarter of charters actually match the astronomical success of Geoffrey Canada’s Harlem Children’s Zone (HCZ). Second, the film gives no explanation of why these schools succeed more than their counterparts. Canada’s efforts are worthy of renown. He proved that the achievement gap does not exist because of the students’ talents, but rather their lack of resources. This is crucial because HCZ models the amount of effort we need to devote to students for uniform success. Yet Superman forgot to discuss that these charter schools are almost exclusively privately funded. Their resources are exponentially greater than those of public schools, giving them the ability to provide for their students in ways that the American government— not the public school teachers — is currently not matching.

Which leads me to the second gross overstatement of this film, about the inadequacy of teachers. Teaching is one of the least respected careers in the country.

How many students at Boston College have ever been asked, “Well, why are you going to such a good college to study that?” about their major? I have. When I, like dozens of other Lynch students, say that I am studying education, people think I am wasting my money going to a private university.

This film completely ignores that teachers do not enter the system for the prestige of it, nor for the pay (summer vacation aside, teachers have almost zero chance of ever hoping to make six-figure salaries). Yet they choose it anyway.

Obviously teachers are not perfect, and some are inadequately prepared. However, blaming unions for all underachievement is wildly inaccurate. Without unions, there is no support system for such a taxing and stressful profession. Often, we won’t make enough money to be the sole provider for our family. Often, we will be scoffed at by people who say they wouldn’t ever be a teacher. But unions ensure that we will receive fair treatment in evaluations and cannot be fired by parents who are irate that their child is not doing well in school.

Obviously, I’m being purposefully, maybe unfairly, one-sided right now. But so was Waiting for Superman. In many ways, the documentary was fantastic, especially for bringing so much attention to education in America. Yet, the way in which they did this needs to be taken with a grain of salt.

Charlotte Parish is the Asst. Arts & Review Editor The Heights. She can be reached at metro@bcheights.com

Woogeon Kim / Heights Photo Illustration

New bill legalizes gambling in Mass., casino location decisions begin

By Kelsey Damassa For the Heights On Nov. 22, Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick signed a bill that legalized casino gambling in Massachusetts. The approval of this new law came after 20 years of debate on Beacon Hill and a failed attempt to pass a similar bill over a year ago. The law will allow three casinos and one slot

parlor to be established in the Bay State.

Each casino is required to include at least $500 million in investments and a hotel.

However, the casinos must be geographically separated into three predetermined regions.

Region A includes the counties of Essex, Middlesex, Norfolk, Suffolk, and Worcester; Region B includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hamden, and Hampshire counties; and Region C includes Bristol, Dukes,

Plymouth, Barnstable, and Nantucket counties. Boston is part of Suffolk County and could therefore be home to a brand new casino at some point in the next three to four years.

The governor is in the process of appointing someone to chair the newlyformed gaming commission–a five-member panel that will set the rules for how the three casino licenses will be awarded.

The panel must be securely in place within four months and will be responsible for not only determining which casino developers will be allowed to build their gambling empires, but also where the construction

can take place.

Discussion regarding the casinos’ exact locations in each region has sparked the most interest from Massachusetts’ residents due to the generally negative behaviors associated with gambling. The discussion mainly revolves around the stereotypical population that many fear casinos will attract: largely low-income populations who cannot afford gambling. According to many opponents, the presence of these groups would lead to crime, gambling addiction, alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and other

See Casino, D2

Exchange tuitions differ

By Jen Dobias, Bernadette Gaffney, and David Grotz For the Heights

Courtesy of Google.com

At BC or Institut d’Etudes Politiques (above), French students’ tuition remains the same.

In her maroon Boston College gym shorts, Celine Schoen looks like many of the other students working out at the Plex. She competes for a seat for lunch at Hillside, wears rubber boots when it rains, and goes to FiRE+iCE on college nights.

Yet, as much as she seems like any other BC undergraduate, there’s a big difference between Schoen and her classmates: it costs her $1,031 a year for tuition, compared to the advertised BC price of $41,480. Other students, once room and board are added, are on the hook for $54,528.

It’s not because of financial aid. It’s

not because of scholarships. It’s because Schoen is one of about 200 foreign exchange students who pay only the tuition charged by their home universities—in her case, the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in France.

“We pay the French tuition fees, and that’s it,” she said. “It’s great for us, but it’s so unfair. How much do you pay? $54,000 a year? That’s crazy.”

Jose Manuel Llorente Sanchez, a student at the Universidad Pontificia Comillas in Madrid, paid $5,000 in tuition to come to BC last year. “10 times less than a full-time student,” Sanchez said. “How crazy is that? I’m not kidding, man. Five thousand dollars. Fivethousand U.S. dollars.”

See Tuition, D2

Behemoths of Boston art scene convene

Education laws reincite NCLB debate Recalculation of teacher pension among changes

By Jacqueline Parisi

By Sean Keeley

For the Heights

For the Heights

In the past few weeks, the commonwealth of Massachusetts has made some sweeping changes to the education system, most notably with the reforms of the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act and the pension system for teachers.

It has been nearly a decade since the passage of the original NCLB act in 2002, and Massachusetts now wants to replace some of its stricter provisions with a more flexible system that would provide schools with additional latitude to reach academic goals. Compared to the original act, which called for all students to reach proficiency in math and English by 2014, this newly proposed act aims to cut in half the rate of students failing to reach proficiency in English, math, and science on standardized tests by 2017.

“It does, literally, expect perfection,” said Mitchell Chester, Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, about the original NCLB act. “Every school and district in each state has to get to the point within the next two

This past Tuesday, The Boston Globe hosted a panel discussion on the state of the arts in Boston, specifically, and Massachusetts, more generally. The event, one of a series of talks for the Globe’s Insiders program, brought together four luminaries of the Boston arts scene: Peter DuBois, artistic director of the Huntington Theatre Company; Mikko Nissinen, artistic director of the Boston Ballet; Mark Volpe, managing director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra; and Malcolm Rogers, director of the Museum of Fine Arts. While the caliber of the guests and the intimacy of the event initially suggested an aura of exclusivity, the guests’ remarks quickly dispelled that notion: every panelist emphatically insisted on their commitment to making arts accessible to a wide audience—including, in no small part, college students.

But will college students bite?

i nside Metro this issue

Woogeon Kim / Heights Photo Illustraion

Expectations of No Child Left Behind lowered with Massachusetts education laws. years where 100 percent of its students are at grade level or above. We have 90 percent of our districts in 80 percent of our schools that are failing the federal NCLB criteria and that just flies in the face of common sense.”

Some students and professors here at Boston College have taken a similar position on the topic, and believe that a revision of NCLB is long overdue.

“I think [NCLB] has good intentions, but the execution of it is not always successful,” said Veronica Glennon, A&S ’15.

She said she believes that a revision of the

On the Flip Side

act will “allow the program to have more time to operate effectively rather than forcing teachers to give students good grades they don’t deserve and forcing students through the school system without ever learning anything.”

McQuillan, a professor in the Lynch School of Education is “in favor of allowing schools more autonomy to run themselves.” He asserted that schools “cannot be effectively directed by factors far from the borders of the school. Teaching and

Should the Occupy Boston protesters be allowed to remain in Dewey Square or should they be forced to vacate?........................................................................ D3

See Education, D2

See Arts, D3

Restaurant Review: Punjab Palace....................................................D4 B C Alumni Spotlight ...................................................D2

D2

The Heights

Subway Series

Newbury versus Broadway Marc Francis I hurriedly walk past the middleaged homeless man breakdancing to Ke$ha’s “Tik Tok,” and enter the Armani Exchange at the intersection of Broadway and Prince Street in Manhattan. A pink-haired, six-foot tall, young Asian woman approaches me to take my coat and umbrella on this rainy Friday afternoon. Looking as if she just walked off an Alexander McQueen runway, she struts off into the back of the store. After I select a sweater and a pair of pants off a rack, a salesman grabs them out of hands and brings them into a dressing room while I continue wandering the store. I look to my left—the bum is still jamming to Ke$ha; I look to my right—a dolled-up elderly woman asks to try on a leather miniskirt.

After taking in the humorous scene, I enter my dressing room and see that the walls are not lined with my two items, but six—I see three versions of my sweater, all of a different pattern; hanging alongside are three pairs of the pant I selected, all of varying styles. The salesman had taken the liberty of supplying me with options.

Only in New York.

Four months later, and here I am—Chestnut Hill, not a designer shop in sight. However, I had heard so much about this “Newbury Street” from almost every girl in my residence hall. So, on one beautiful, 60degree Saturday afternoon I decide to take a trip down there alone to see what all the hype is about. I get off the T train with a childish grin on my face, highly anticipating my first shopping experience on this infamous street. I suddenly realize that I must have foolishly gotten off at the wrong station—there are about nine people within eyesight; I see a guy on his bicycle about 35 feet away and become startled as I hear his wheels squeak as he presses on the brakes. Where is everyone on this beautiful weekend afternoon? Frankly, there were more people on my New York City block on the night of Hurricane Irene. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy shopping in an uncongested environment, but there is a certain pleasure I get from observing all the other customers and judging the merchandise they pick out.

After walking past several shops whose prices would make the mayor of New York City do a double-take, I finally find a store that is, in fact, larger than the quad on the third floor of my residence hall. The Guess store I enter is suitable—attractive salespeople, organized racks, refreshing aroma—but there is obviously something missing. As I walk at an incredibly slow pace behind a fellow shopper, I realize what this entire city is lacking—liveliness.

Now on to what actually matters— the merchandise. No wonder Bostonians all look the same! If I compare a chain store in Boston, like H&M, to the same one in New York, it is almost as if we are comparing collections created by two totally different designers. I understand stores are meant to satisfy the given customer demographic, but I do not think it would be a bad investment to add a bit more risque clothing to Newbury’s repertoire. The beauty of a city is its diversity, not just in terms of race but personal style as well.

My final criticism of Boston shops—early closings. Most stores seem to close around 8-9 p.m.—the time I usually board a subway train and begin my night. I imagine that a significant portion of these stores’ sales comes from college students, and students are generally busy during the day. Personally, my weekend schedule would be a lot more flexible if I did not have to work around store closings.

Overall, I appreciate Boston and Newbury Street’s efforts to provide a decent shopping scene for Bostonians. The atmosphere is very relaxing, and it definitely provides a quick “city-fix” for those that miss the crazy life. Maybe as diversity continues to grow in Boston, we will see the fashion scene transition as well.

Marc Francis is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com

Thursday, December 8, 2011

New gaming commission evaluates potential sites Casino, from D1 unwanted occurrences. Critics also believe that the development of casinos will destroy small business in the downtown areas of the chosen communities, posing a threat to the distinct small-town charm and culture of New England.

Although the bill was only recently signed, several casino companies are already in the process of obtaining a license. The Mohegan Sun of Connecticut has hopes to build a casino in Palmer, Mass.

Hard Rock International of Florida has teamed up with Paper City Development to propose a casino in Holyoke, Mass. Ameristar Casinos of Nevada have even proposed a casino for Springfield, Mass. However, these are all tentative plans, since the gaming commission has ultimate control over which casino developers are able to build up land approved by the commission.

Palmer, Holyoke, and Springfield are not the only cities being considered. Much debate centers

on the possibility of establishing a casino in Boston. Many opponents to the law are concerned that the newly-formed gaming commission will target Boston as the location for a casino in Region A. Boston is easily accessible to all populations because of public transportation.

Almost anyone can hop on the T and find themselves immersed in the culture of central Boston within an hour, including the thousands of college students who reside in the city. Furthermore, the city is a large tourist destination. Faneuil Hall alone attracts over 20 million tourists every year, so a casino in Boston would undoubtedly pull in a large profit.

In fact, profit is exactly what this law is looking to create. The highly controversial law, according to Patrick, “has always been about creating jobs.” The law will ideally create up to 15,000 new positions, $270 million in licensing fees, and up to $500 million in annual tax revenue. Some of this money will go to local cities and towns to help

with economic challenges. Patrick emphasizes that the legislation will not solve every economic challenge facing Massachusetts, but he also makes clear that the law will not be the cause of every social ill facing society.

Even though Governor Patrick

continues to promote the positive aspects of the newly signed bill, opponents are still ferociously working to defeat casinos in Massachusetts’ communities. Some groups are even considering a ballot question to repeal the new law. In order for this strategy to be affec-

tive, the opposition would need to collect 35,000 voter signatures in 90 days, presenting a daunting task. Though opposition is still rampant, the bill has been signed and, potentially, a casino may pop up in Boston just a mere T-ride away from BC students. n

Courtesy of Google.com

The state government has decided to allow one casino in each Region A, B, and C along with one slot parlor.

Low tuition costs for foreign exchange students Tuition, from D1

Courtesy of Google.com

Michell Chester, Mass. Commissioner of Education, is among the proponents of the changes.

State extends NCLB timeline Education, from D1 learning are far too complex to be effectively shaped by central controls that are far removed from the school site.”

Other leaders in education are not in favor of this amendment, and believe that the newly-relaxed standards will reduce urgency to bring all students up to speed.

“This looks like it pushes back the date and halves the expectations,” said Jamie Gass, the director for School Reform at the Pioneer Institute.

Massachusetts has also just recently passed reforms to the pension system for teachers. Signed on Nov. 18, 2011, and titled “An Act Providing For Pension Reform and Benefit Modernization,” this act builds on legislation that was signed during Governor Patrick’s first term to eliminate the abuses in the public retirement system.

With the passage of this legislation, the retirement age for most state workers will increase to more closely align the state with the federal guidelines set for Social Security benefits. It will eliminate incentives to retire early and limit the right to receive a pension while also receiving compensation for service as an elected official.

Retired teachers who married a person of the same sex within a year following the

legalization of same sex marriage will have the opportunity to provide a benefit to their spouse with this legislative act as well.

“This next phase of pension reform compliments our administration’s ongoing focus to deliver savings, renewed trust, and improvements within the state pension system,” said Lieutenant Governor Timothy Murray.

Some BC students have joined in effort to bring the issues of education reform to campus by starting the first chapter of “Students for Education Reform” (SFER) on campus. Originally created in 2009

by Catharine Bellinger and Alexis Morin, SFER’s mission is to mobilize the next generation of leaders on college campuses to close the achievement gap and ensure an excellent education for all children.

Piloted by Lindsey Murphy, A&S ’15, SFER at BC is not yet a registered organization, but is currently operating under Americans for Informed Democracy.

“College is one of the only times when future teachers, policy makers, and professionals across all disciplines are together in one place,” Murphy said. “In bringing SFER to BC, my hope is that we can take advantage of this rare opportunity by learning, discussing, and advocating for the policies and practices that will ensure educational equality for all students.” n

Meanwhile, under the same exchange program, the 900 BC students who study abroad each year are still responsible for the full cost of BC tuition, which goes into the university’s general budget. The much lower amounts paid by international exchange students go not to BC, but to their home institutions.

BC students are paying for the grades and credits from their study-abroad programs on their transcripts, according to Bernd Widdig, director of the Office of International Programs.

“It’s fair, because when students go abroad, the ultimate currency is whether a university allows the student to get credit,” Widdig said. “That’s the ultimate currency that counts because a university could say, ‘Hey, you can go abroad, but we don’t give you credit for those courses because these are not BC courses.’”

In addition, Widdig explained that if international students had to pay full BC tuition, “it would be extremely difficult for students around the world to come to BC because it’s a very expensive university.”

However, BC students say that the system makes it difficult for them to go abroad by charging full tuition, even when host universities charge much less.

“BC puts on programs for us that are really nice—tea time at fancy hotels, soccer games, tours, trips to the English seaside, seeing a play in the West End,” said Thomas Kolman, CSOM `12, who went to Queen Mary University, part of the University of London, in the spring.

“While these programs are nice, they are not worth the $40,000 price difference.”

Kolman explained that, because he was a double major, he needed to go through a university-approved program.

“I absolutely had to have all my credits transfer,” he said, although paying full BC tuition while studying abroad “was actually pretty annoying.”

Another student, Erika Morton, LSOE `12, chose to study in Madrid through a program offered by another

Person to Watch Website developer turned clothing designer Sarah Vazirani, graduate of the Carroll School of Management, launched her Boston-based activewear brand, Via Prive, just three months ago.

Citing a lack of fashionable options to wear to the gym and a need to transition from the current yoga-inspired trend, Vazirani decided to come to the rescue for women all around the world. She believes that women deserve to be provided with not just chic activewear, but clothing that provides support and comfort. The designs are filled with color, steering away from black, as Vazirani grew tired of dull workout clothes. Her collection ranges from $38 to $104, including sports bras, tops, bottoms, and outerwear. As many retail sportswear stores, like Lululemon, vacate gym facilities, Vazirani is confident in her decision to start up her line. The company provides free shipping, free returns, and even a personal fitness expert to consult with. Having been open for a mere three months, Via Prive is already found in Boston’s Sports Club, LA’s Sports Club, Stil Studio in Dedham, and Exhale in Back Bay. Vazirani gained inspiration while she was pregnant with her second child. Via Prive attempts to expand its targeted audience through its maternity wear line—“Via Prive Mamma.” The company website urges pregnant women to have the courage to maintain their fitness programs

in style: “Let us help you feel great while preparing your body and mind for labor, delivery, and recovery.” The collection debuts a new kind of four-way stretch fabric—Quadracore—as well as ProModal, an eco-friendly fabric.

Via Prive expresses an interest in business ethics and charity organizations. It enforces environmental and labor policies throughout all of the factories that supply its raw materials, and the company has also employed many of the impoverished in the Dominican Republic, seeking to break the constant cycles of poverty and poor labor conditions. Such an endeavor has captured many customers’ attentions and is a testaWho: BC alumnus Sarah Vazirani What: Vazirani developed her own activewear design company.

Where: The company is based in Boston, but has locations all over the world.

Why it matters: The industry has lacked fashionable, comfortable, affordable workout clothes. Vazirani seeks to inject her own signature looks into an available market.

provider rather than going through BC because it was cheaper, although these programs don’t qualify for BC financial aid.

“I saw a huge opportunity to save a ton of money while studying abroad,” said Morton.

She said her program turned out not to be as rigorous or comprehensive as the courses at BC, something she believes is also true of study-abroad opportunities for which other students pay the full BC tuition.

“Paying equal tuition for less-prestigious courses is a bit harsh,” Morton said.

Drew Shaw, A&S `13, is going in the spring to Royal Holloway, part of the University of London, which charges just under $22,000 a year to international

“BC puts on programs for us that are really nice— tea time at fancy hotels, soccer games...While these programs are nice, they are not worth the $40,000 price difference” students.

Shaw didn’t know that international exchange students coming to BC pay much less than he will to go abroad.

“It really doesn’t seem that fair,” he said. Still, he added, “There is something to be said for the convenience and confidence that I’ll have everything paid for and I won’t have to deal with a completely different financial department.”

Shaw suggested a compromise.

“Maybe it would work that when people exchange between BC and another school, the tuition is met in the middle.” n This story was produced by students in UN2301, Advanced Journalism with Professor Jon Marcus.

By: Marc Francis

ment to the long-term effectiveness of social entrepreneurship.

Vazirani has pushed h e r c o m p a n y ’s social goals even further as it sponsors a women’s welfare society in Mumb a i , I n d i a —Vi a Prive promises to donate one outfit to a woman or child in need for every online order it receives. Vazirani began with a goal of creating clothe s that combine “fit, function, and f a s h i o n ,” a n d so far it appears that this B oston College alumnus is realizing her dream.

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

D3

‘Globe’ promotes collegiate arts involvement Arts, from D1 It’s easy to see the dilemma: schools like Boston College have such strong on-campus arts events—plays, dance shows, a capella performances, our annual Arts Fest—that students are often

“Every panelist emphatically insisted on their commitment to making arts accessible to a wide audience—including, in no small part, college students.” inclined to enjoy the arts from the cozy confines of Chestnut Hill rather than venture into the city. As a result, artistic directors and programmers are looking to draw more college crowds with strategic methods: for example, using websites like Groupon to sell discounted student

tickets and programming a delicate balance of tried-and-true classics along with newer, more experimental works.

Such strategies were just one topic of many in a lively, two-hour discussion moderated by Globe arts writer Geoff Edgers. Each panelist began with a brief opening statement about the state of the arts, and their responses conveyed a common message: despite little investment from the city, the arts are thriving. The word “renaissance” was tossed around more than a few times, and each guest backed up such claims with concrete examples from their field.

DuBois mentioned the recent explosion of new small theaters in Boston, as well as the diversity of programming, from the wildly successful Leonard Bernstein musical Candide to the decidedly modern new comedy Sons of the Prophet.

Nissinen argued that a perennial, classic ballet like The Nutcracker can act as a gateway to the art form, leading people to check out less familiar ballets and new experimental works, like an upcoming ballet featuring the music of The Rolling Stones. Volpe stressed the trifold success of shows at Symphony Hall, travelling performances by the Boston Pops,

and the Tanglewood Music Festival (which will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2012). Finally, Rogers spoke of the MFA’s continually diverse exhibits, which showcase not only established masters like Degas but also controversial modern photographers.

With such a vibrant arts scene, Volpe said that he sees an opportunity to “brand Boston” as a city that is truly a center of artistic life. This was a vision shared by the other participants,

“The current state of affairs couldn’t be clearer: the arts are alive and well in Boston.” who insisted that the Boston arts scene is populated by collaborators , not competitors. Rogers mentioned, for instance, that there is a huge overlap between each institution’s boards of trustees, all of whom share a passion for enriching Boston’s culture with robust

artistic programming.

A lengthy Q&A with audience members continued the discussion and closed out the evening. Despite a few quirky exchanges—one woman asked how she could donate her art to the MFA, while another man took the opportunity to spend five minutes telling Volpe the proper qualifications for choosing a new musical director —the session was certainly fruitful. Of particular interest was the final question, in which an audience member suggested the possibility of a collaborative city-wide arts festival in the summer to be modeled after a similar initiative in Edinburgh. Most of the panelists, while acknowledging that such an undertaking would require enormous cooperation and planning, were enthusiastic about the idea and began to suggest various possibilities for the event as the discussion came to an end.

Regardless of whether such an art festival is in Boston’s future, the current state of affairs couldn’t be clearer: the arts are alive and well in Boston.

Skeptical? Then go and see for yourself.

After all, art is meaningless without an audience. n

Marc Francis is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com

Andrew Schweiger is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com

THE ISSUE:

Occupy Boston protesters are left wondering where their destiny lies as Judge Frances McIntyre rejected a request to prevent local officials from evacuating 24-hour protest cites. McIntyre drew a distinction between “occupying” land and conducting “living activities.” She declared that the protesters are “privatizing” public property by pitching tents and living at Dewey Square, therefore violating property rights. However, the Judge’s ruling not only affects their right to free speech, but also impacts the main goal of the entire Occupy movement. The issue at the heart of this debate lies in choosing between free speech and property rights—which right should the judge uphold?

Courtesy of Google.com

Asking more of the movement Infringement of free speech The Occupy movement has spread around the country and caused a great deal of unrest between the protesters and the law officials who are trying to clear out the public areas they have taken over.

The ruling that Judge Frances McIntyre handed down yesterday refusing to allow the Occupy protesters to remain in Dewey Square, although unpopular, is completely logical for a number of reasons, and arguably helps the Occupy movement.

As McIntyre stated in her decision, the refusal to allow protesters to stay overnight is not a violation of their freedom of speech. Officials in no way will censor what the protestors say during the daylight hours, when anyone is allowed to be in the square. However, camping out in public places has never been legal, under any circumstances. Camping out and blocking such a large area of the city is a violation by the protestors of other citizens’ rights, since they are preventing anyone from making use of these public areas that are designed for everyone. Plus, if the occupiers continue to grow in numbers, the situation could end up more like the one unfolding in New York, where businesses are taking a major hit when their patrons cannot reach the doors. Obviously, this is not the case presently in Boston. However, Judge McIntyre had to take everyone’s

Charlotte Parish is the Asst. Arts & Review Editor The Heights. She can be reached at metro@bcheights.com

Marc Francis Suffolk Superior Court Judge Frances McIntyre has given the city of Boston permission to crush the entire Occupy movement with her new ruling. She rejected a request for a court order on behalf of the protesters to ban local officials from uprooting the protest sites. Although the police force should only evacuate the protesters on account of violence, fire, etc., the city will most likely exaggerate any rowdy situation since the mayor has now been given the tools to quash any protest. The city has constitutional backing for actions, but the free speech of the protesters is infringed upon.

They are not protesting any particular institution, but an inbred culture of consumerism. The entire world is in an age of globalization that calls for innovation and transformation, so the evacuation of these protesters is essentially an attack on change.

Judge McIntyre declared that “overnight sleeping and living at Dewey Square are ‘not options.’” Protesters are allowed to continue their activities throughout the day, but they do have an objective in mind as they pitch tents and spend the night at Dewey Square—to call the public’s attention to the issue. When people turn on

Andrew Schweiger

their television sets, they don’t want to hear another run-down of Occupy’s mission—they are interested in learning about the latest protest that stirred up chaos throughout the city. If the movement were not known for its radical forms of protest, then would a regular citizen pay any mind to its mission?

Furthermore, the physical act of sleeping outside without any common luxuries is a statement in itself. In the midst of living on their protest site, the protesters are forced to battle with not just the police force, but ordinary citizens who have lashed out on occasion. The police force cites several fire hazards and poor living conditions as reasons for breaking up overnight protests. However, this is in direct conflict with the whole intention of the movement. By enduring these difficult conditions, they are highlighting the fact that we all waste so much money on items we do not need for survival. People give their money away for nothing. The Occupy movement is not advocating a change in the entire American way of life—it simply spreads awareness of commonplace exchanges that many people ignore.

Courtesy of Google.com

rights into consideration, including those who would use the square and who rely on foot traffic through this area for their businesses.

Beyond this, the Occupy movement could actually benefit from the ruling.

Across the country, incidents with tear gas and arrests by the dozen have given the Occupy movement a bad name, as many see their efforts as obnoxious and unruly. However, if Occupy can work with Beacon Hill to be allowed to remain in the square, they can begin a positive rapport with government officials who are necessary to effect change. The Occupy movement cannot be successful in making any policy changes that will change the 1 versus 99 percent mentality without government dialogue. Mayor Manino is not averse to such discussion, as shown by his decision to not evict the protestors immediately.

With this in mind, Occupy has the opportunity to make the most of this ruling and prove that they are more than just a business-disrupting rabble, but rather a constructive organization that will actually make changes to the fabric of society that they rail against with their important message.

Breaking the BC bubble

Walk through the building that was formerly called Campanella and you’ll see them on many a professor’s door: cartoons whose subjects pander to the humor of whichever academic department you happen to be lost in at the time, and whose punch lines are generally inside jokes that only make sense to niche readers. Among the maze of cubicles, offices, and confusing hallways in what is now Maloney Hall, there is the economics department, the home of my favorite set of comics. It is here, within the safe halls of academia, that signs referring to the existence of the mythical world beyond the Boston College campus are literally written on the walls—or at least taped.

Political cartoons, economic cartoons, and current-events cartoons can, in a matter of a quick few illustrated frames, summarize the ugly truth of any complex socio-economicpolitical situation that is plaguing the real, unfair, outside world. Like other cartoons, you may smile after reading the punch line, but you smile not so much because it’s funny but because it’s so undeniably true. One, for example, features an image of Uncle Sam on the ground with arms and legs stretched out wide, while a tank labeled “Afghanistan” sits on Uncle Sam’s legs. The tread marks of a retreating second tank labeled “Iraq” are clearly seen on his arms. The caption reads, “Whew, glad to get that load off.” Your only response is to smile and nod your head in sad acknowledgement that, yes, a two-war multi-trillion dollar effort has left our nation overextended and spent.

Living in our perfect BC bubble, the worst outcomes are failed midterms, or papers that could potentially drop down our arbitrary grade point averages a few hundredths of a point. We sometimes forget that the numbers flashing across the vending machine after the swipe of a student ID represent real money, and the leftover food in the dining halls that can’t be finished and is subsequently thrown away could potentially be eaten by somebody who is actually hungry. How many of us spend more time tinkering with the crossword puzzle in The Boston Globe than reading what’s on its front page, as if somehow that’s only important to some vague understanding of other people?

Hundreds of students step off campus every day to volunteer all across the greater Boston area, but as soon as they cross the threshold of the Comm. Ave. bus, or the intersection of St. Thomas More and Campanella Way, and return back to campus from an invaluable day of helping others, they feel as if they have just stepped out of the wardrobe and crossed some unconscious threshold that safely partitions BC from everything else. The spirit of volunteerism and the mindset that, as students at BC, we are men and women for others, can’t just stop there.

What made Jurassic Park such a dangerous place is that the characters put their faith in what was ultimately a flimsy fence to protect them from the dinosaurs. Somehow, they allowed themselves to think that a stupid, non-functioning fence could actually separate them from the fact that these dinosaurs were real and those teeth were actually sharp.

Obviously there are not velociraptors roaming in predatory packs in downtown Boston waiting to prey on unassuming BC students, but the point is to not fool yourself into unconsciously believing that the BC bubble is an untouchable place separate from the events and consequences of the outside world, and vice versa. Recent actions by motivated students and student groups, such as the successful petitions for fair trade bananas and coffee, have helped to bring greater awareness and understanding that, as a student body, we can have just as great an effect on the outside world from our very own residence halls as going on an exotic mission trip. Keep it coming, BC, let’s continue to make service just as much a part of our daily routine as buying coffee.

With representatives from the Boston Ballet Company, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Huntington Theatre Company, and the Museum of Fine Arts, the Globe’s panel was well represented.

Charlotte Parish

Questioning Conventions

The Heights

Thursday, December 8, 2011

D4

BY CHRISTINE ZHAO Breaking Away from BC Getting off campus can be a big struggle, especially once the weather stops being livable. As autumn begins to make its way out, it can take a lot more motivation to get out the door. Still, getting away from the library can be a lot of fun and provide much-needed time away from the Boston College bubble. Just pick out a day to discover some of the best-kept secrets that Boston has to offer. So grab your North Face, a scarf, and some good friends, and

try out this fun and inexpensive day trip to Brattle Book Shop.

Brattle Book Shop Brattle Book Shop, located in the heart of Downtown Boston, has been around since 1825 and is one of the country’s oldest and largest used bookshops. Brattle boasts three floors and an outside sale section. The third floor is dedicated to rare, antiquarian books, the most valuable of which are housed in locked glass cases. It

Courtesy of Google.com

Hidden just two blocks from the Boston Common, Brattle Book Shop is famous for its antiques.

has a collection of over 250,000 books and is the perfect place to find a special Christmas gift for any reader. You never know what treasures you’ll find, whether it is a childhood favorite or a quirky book on old Boston customs.

With its sale lot prices as low as $1, you can completely indulge your inner bibliophile.

Boston Common Since the bookshop is just a few minutes away from the Park Street T-stop, it is also conveniently close to the Boston Common, a beautiful place to take a quick stroll, to build up an appetite for dinner, or even to find a bench and enjoy your new used books.

Even in the winter, it can be a great spot for people watching, and you can always go grab a hot chocolate from Dunkin’ Donuts to fight off the wind chill factor. There’s nothing like the feeling of breathing in crisp winter air, which is even better when there’s snow on the ground to make the Frog Pond skaters into a Norman Rockwell-style painting.

Eats on the b-line As you make your way back, opt for the B-Line. Normally, it’s the worstcase scenario option, but if you’re looking for good eats, this is the way to go. If you’re in the mood for something quick and fried, get off at the Pleas-

Allston-Brighton Crime Reports 11/16 — 11/26

Assault and Battery at Chester St., Allston over parking

ant St. stop and try Raising Cane’s, which specializes in chicken fingers and sinful, buttery Texas toast. You can also try the wallet-friendly Super 88, a food court-type eatery located at the Packard’s Corner stop. It boasts

(if you manage to keep from buying the whole bookstore) trip suitable for anyone, but especially for bibliophiles and closet nerds. Plus, if you take the time to truly explore the nooks and crannies of Brattle, you’ll be sure to

Courtesy of Google.com

With a range of Asian cuisines, Super 88 has something for all palates and wallets. a variety of ethnic foods, including ramen, dim sum, curry, and bubble tea. If you’re not feeling particularly adventurous, there’s also the usual Asian take-out fare.

Embrace your inner nerd Overall, this is a fun, inexpensive

find something unique. It might be an old edition of the first book you ever encountered, or a first edition of a story that was read to you as a kid.

You might also discover some obscure titles, or at the very least, find a pretty, leather-bound copy of that book you need for philosophy. n

Restaurant review

Royal results from Punjab cuisine

About 12:30 a.m. on Nov. 16, an officer responded to a radio call for an assault and battery. A man and his girlfriend had parked their car in front of a woman’s driveway. The woman asked the couple to move and proceeded to yell at them. The driver exited the vehicle and confronted her. He stated that the woman punched him in the face, causing a small cut on his lip. The woman reported that the couple had parked in front of her driveway several times in the last few months. She said that the man shoved her and she retaliated in self-defense. The couple was advised not to park in front of the driveway in the future to avoid further conflict.

Non-accessory larceny from vehicle; over $200 At about 7:53 a.m. on Nov. 16, a unit responded to a radio call for a past breaking and entering into a motor vehicle at 1242 Commonwealth Ave., Allston. On arrival, the officer spoke to the owner, who stated that she parked her vehicle in front of the apartment building at around 10:30 p.m. last night and discovered that the left rear window had been smashed this morning at around 6:30 a.m. Stolen from the vehicle was an external hard drive containing personal information of countless patients of her employer. In addition, a leather bound personal planner also containing sensitive patient information was taken, along with a bag containing bank deposit slips with account numbers of the business from Middlesex Savings Bank and numerous personal papers, including the victim’s birth certificate.

Break and entry in apartment on Brighton Ave. At 4:44 p.m. on Nov. 26, an officer was dispatched to 81 Brighton Ave. on a past breaking and entering report. Upon arrival, officers met with the residents who reported that sometime between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., some unknown person(s) entered their apartment by force and removed several items. Officers observed that the subjects entered various bedrooms and removed electronic items and loose change from a jar. Officers canvassed the apartment building and attempted to speak with unit occupants with negative results. The jar that the suspect removed the change from was taken by a detective for processing. The victims were advised to contact the police if they discover any other items missing.

No force break and entry in Allston apartment At about 10:30 p.m. on Nov. 26, a victim reported that some unknown person had entered her unlocked apartment and removed her Apple Macbook laptop valued at $1200. The victim provided the officer with her computer’s serial number and will also contact Apple regarding the theft of her computer.

- Courtesy of the Boston Police Department, District 14 Gathered by Marc Francis, For the Heights

HOUSE AD

By Arjun Gajulapalli For the Heights

If there’s any cuisine that presents dishes in a variety of flavors and tastes, it is definitely Indian food. What better place is there to find Indian food than around Boston? In particular, Punjab Palace is a gem worthy of discovery. Located on the busy and vibrant Brighton Avenue in Allston, Punjab Palace has been operating for several years now, and Zagat, the restaurant-rating agency, declared it to be an “Indian Quality Restaurant” for five years in a row. The title is very well-deserved, as the nice atmosphere and authentic Punjabi cuisine prove that it is a premier Indian restaurant.

The atmosphere of Punjab Palace is a getaway from the hustle of the busy Brighton Avenue. Once you walk into Punjab Palace, the noise of honking cars soon subsides and the sounds of conversation and Bollywood music soon take over. The staff members of Punjab Palace are warm and welcoming as they graciously seat you at a neatly presented table. The lights are dimmed (without making you squint to see your tablemates), which further amplifies the relaxed, “business as usual” environment. With the kitchen in sight, you eagerly await your food, making the meal that much better. Yet, there are some minor problems with this atmosphere. For one, the tables seem to be bunched together so that, especially with larger groups, it is harder to maneuver one’s seat. This is possibly due to the small space and large popularity of the restaurant.

Another minor problem is the lack of one’s view; a seat near the window will give the view of busy Brighton Avenue, but that’s about it.

Despite these minor problems, the food is the defining quality about this restaurant.

Starting off with appetizers: the mixed platter is a melange of pre-dinner delights such as chicken and vegetable pakora, which are crispy, lightly fried chicken and vegetable pieces. Also on this platter are samosas, the traditional India pastry filled with peas and potatoes with a blend of tasty spices. Though the appetizers were very well-prepared and delicious, they lacked any uniqueness and seemed like just another generic appetizer staple. As for drinks, the mango lassi—which is a yogurt based drink mixed, with mango fruit and sugar, was very delicious and an excellent complement to a big meal. Punjab

Palace also offers a nice selection of wine and alcoholic beverages.

For the main course, the best prepared dish that was the chicken vindaloo. Vindaloo has the reputation of being one of the spiciest dishes in Indian cuisine, and Punjab Palace upheld that reputation with their rendition, especially the optional extra spicy plate.

The chef absolutely delivered, and we went through several rounds of water to compensate for the heated deliciousness. Overall, this is an excellent dish to try. Another dish that deserves mention was the tandoori chicken.

Location: 109 Brighton Avenue, Allston Cuisine: Indian Signature Dish: Chicken Vindaloo Atmosphere: 7 / 10 Price: $$ Overall Experience: B

Tandoori chicken is traditionally prepared in a clay oven. Punjab Palace did have this unusual restaurant appliance, and stayed true to the dish’s roots. The chicken was served straight from the oven with nice presentation by the staff. A vegetarian dish worth trying is the chili paneer, which consists of cubes of cheese (somewhat like cottage cheese) mixed with green chilies, ginger, and garlic to make an interesting yet delicious combination. A dish that you might want to skip out on is the malai kofta, or balls composed of crushed paneer cubes, nuts, spices, and vegetables served in gravy. The malai kofta seemed a bit dry and bland, even with the amount of gravy they gave.

To round out the dinner with a delicious dessert, we ordered dough-like balls coated with a very sweet syrup called gulab jamon.

Overall, Punjab Palace’s food was excellent despite a few bland or uninspired dishes. The relaxed mood, despite the limitations of space and view, and the authentic Indian cuisine, make Punjab Palace a hidden gem of Indian cuisine worth trying. n