The Heights endorses Joyce-Portes for UGBC president and vice president entertaining aluMNI ARTS AND REVIEW ‘The Heights’ sits down with TLC star and BC alumnus Clinton Kelly, A10
The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Vol. XCII, No. 12
HOCKEY SWEEPS UMASS
ON-CAMPUS HOUSING GUIDE
sports
features
The Eagles kept up in the Hockey East race by claiming four points this weekend, B1
Find out your best bets for the spring’s upcoming housing lottery, B10
The Heights Monday, February 28, 2011
www.bcheights.com
UGBC ELECTION 2011
Final two teams await the student vote
By Taylour Kumpf
By Molly LaPoint
The Heights recently sat down with UGBC presidential and vice presidential candidates Mike Joyce and Justin Portes, both A&S ’12. Joyce and Portes elaborated on why they want to lead the student body, as well as what it means to be a student leader and what they will do if they don’t win Tuesday’s election. Heights: Why do you want this position? MJ: I think for me, I’ve loved working on UGBC, you know when I was a freshman, not sure what I wanted to do, but knowing I wanted to get involved, I ran for Senate and was lucky enough to get elected. Since then, this has just been what I’ve loved to do and I’ve seen
The Heights recently sat down with UGBC presidential and vice presidential candidates Mike Kitlas and Jill Long, both A&S ’12. The two not only spoke about why they wish to be the voice of the student body, but also what it means to be a student leader at Boston College. Heights: Why do you want this position? MK: Basically, we’ve both been involved [with the UGBC] since freshman year, and we’ve really realized that there are issues that we can help out with on campus. There are things that we would like to see improved, and we know that we can make these things happen. We like getting the student input to see what
News Editor
Asst. News Editor
alex trautwig / heights editor
See Joyce-Portes, A4
Mike Joyce and Justin Portes (left), and Mike Kitlas and Jill Long (right), all A&S ’12, remain in the race for UGBC head office positions.
See Kitlas-Long, A4
2000 Commonwealth Ave. Policy
Students take action fighting housing policy
Sophomore resident initiated conversations with administrators, drew up petition in opposition
By Daniel Tonkovich Heights Editor
kevin hou / heights editor
Over 850 undergraduate students gathered at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston for the 15th annual ALC Ball last Friday evening.
ALC Ball draws over 850 students By Daniel Tonkovich Heights Editor
Students donned formal attire on Friday evening as they filled the ballroom at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel in Boston for the 15th annual AHANA Leadership Council (ALC) Ball. About 850 students were in attendance for the event that included dinner, socializing, and dancing. “Overall the event went really well,” said Janelle Lee, co-director of programming for ALC, and A&S ’11. “We had a diverse crowd and believe we accommodated all in attendance with a variety of food and music.” “We worked hard to make sure the event appealed to all students
and was held in a safe environment,” said Wintanna Abai, co-director of programming for ALC, and A&S ’11. “It provides a wonderful opportunity for students to dress up, go out into the city, and feel special.” Both Abai and Lee attributed the success of the event to the members of the ALC programming department and to members of the AHANA Leadership Academy (ALA), associate deans, professors, and the BCPD. “We are grateful for the full support of so many that make events like these happen,” Abai said. “By working with ALA, AHANA Caucus, the various culture clubs, as well as administrative supporters of the
ALC, professors, and the BCPD, it is good for reaching out and it is good for building up ALC internally.” The ball was themed this year to celebrate academic achievement in the AHANA community. “The theme for this year, celebrating academic achievement in the AHANA community, stemmed from our feeling that many perceived achievement in the realm of academia by those of the AHANA community as an exception,” Abai said. “We wanted to show those in attendance that there are many in the AHANA community excelling in academics.”
See ALC Ball, A4
When Anthony Russo, resident of the apartments at 2000 Commonwealth Avenue, and CSOM ’13, opened an e-mail from Archstone, property manager of the apartments, he was struck with disappointment. Just a few days into his new residence, after spending a semester residing in sophomore dormitories on College Road, he was informed that starting on Feb. 17 two new community guidelines for the apartments would take effect. The first policy change prohibited kegs in the building. The second, however, shocked Russo and other residents: the number of guests per apartment at any one time would be limited to four. “The change put a damper on what I expected after moving here from on campus,” Russo said. “I looked forward to gathering with friends without having to be in a crowded dorm on campus. I thought residents would be just as disappointed as me and Archstone would soon change it.” But for Russo and other residents sharing his frustrations, the change never came and the Feb. 17 date for the guideline to take effect was fast approaching. “Time was running out,” Russo said. “If nobody did something, then nothing would have happened. People just assumed that others were voicing their opposition to the change. However, when I met with Erin Fronrath [community manager] at 2000, she mentioned that she had not heard any complaints.” The lack of formal complaints to management was in contrast to the complaining that Russo had heard among students about the new policy. This also differed from complaints about the policy on social networking sites. The policy, and the lack of a student voice on the matter, prompted Russo to
meet with administrators, management at the apartments, and circulate a petition expressing opposition to the guest limit. Russo’s petition drew 55 signatures from residents at the apartments. “As soon as I went to doors with a petition I was met with responses like, ‘Oh, finally a petition,’” Russo said. “When I knocked on doors, people wanted to sign it. They mentioned they wanted the policy to change, but did not know where to start.” Sean Dikdan, resident of the apartments and A&S ’12, said he agreed with Russo’s perspective of the issue and commended him for his action. “I agreed with the intent of the petition and the opposition effort,” Dikdan said. “I commend the people behind the petition. They stood up for what they believed and followed through with it. They stood up for their fellow residents as well.” Russo said he understood his fellow residents not knowing who to talk to about the issue, but the lack of action against the policy prompted Russo to meet with administrators and take action in opposition. “I didn’t know where to start, either,” he said. “When we received notice of the new rules, it was presented as here is the rule and deal with it. There was no information on where to go if you had questions or concerns. I initially contated ResLife. They referred me to Dean Chebator. He understood where the residents and I were coming from and helped get us answers on the new rules. He discussed the problems 2000 had been experiencing with the conduct of some residents on weekends, but he also understood that socializing is a major part of the lives of college students. He understood our desire for more than four guests.” Paul Chebator, senior associate dean
See 2000, A4
Presidential teams debate Candidates discuss the possible challenges in moving UGBC forward By Patrick Gallagher Heights Senior Staff
Yesterday, the final two teams that will be vying for the positions of UGBC president and vice president in this week’s election faced off in a final debate before a half-full auditorium. The candidate teams of Mike Kitlas and Jill Long, both A&S ’12, and Mike Joyce and Justin Portes, both A&S ’12, featured a number of similar platform goals, but they differed when it came to
what they thought poses the greatest challenge to the UGBC moving forward. “The UGBC’s image is something that can be greatly improved upon,” Kitlas said. “We want to make ourselves more accessible. We want students to know that we are an organization that people can come to.” Both Kitlas and Long said that if elected, they hope to carry the energy from their campaign team to the UGBC offices in 21 Campanella Way. One of their goals is to encourage more students to come to the UGBC with concerns by better publicizing the UGBC’s office hours and availability. Joyce, on the other hand, said that
See Debate, A4
kevin hou / heights editor
The final two teams vying for UGBC president and vice president competed in the final debate and discussed moving the UGBC forward.