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
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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.
TopFive
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
things to do on campus this week
Holocaust History Lecture
Irish Studies Lecture
Today Time: 7 p.m. Location: Devlin 101 Listen to a Holocaust history and survivor testimony talk by Christopher R. Browning: author, Holocaust historian, and expert witness in two Holocaust denial cases.
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Tuesday Time: 4 p.m. Location: Burns Library
Learn about Irish studies in a lecture entitled Jack Yeats and the Picture of Ireland by Professor Nicholas Allen. A reception will follow.
Round Table Discussion
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Wednesday Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: Murray Room
Engage in a round table discussion titled Is Partisanship a Bad Thing? featuring Nancy Rosenblum, Russell Muirhead, and R. Shep Melnick.
A Reading from ‘I-Hotel’
Eat a Taco, Give an Education
Wednesday Time: 4:30 p.m. Location: Carney 206 Enjoy a reading by author Karen Yamashita of her latest novel, I-Hotel, which was recently selected as a finalist for the National Book Award.
Wednesday Time: 6:30 p.m. Location:Gabelli Hall Bring your friends and stop by the secondfloor lounge of Gabelli Hall to buy a taco to support the solidarity project of the Nicaragua Arrupe trip.
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IntheNews
featured on campus
Clinton Kelly returns to BC
Last Thursday Princeton and Harvard Universities announced that they will reinstate early admissions processes. In 2006, both universities discontinued their programs. Harvard revoked their early admissions program so as to attract more minority and low-income applicants, as reported by the Chronicle of Higher Education. However, after reviewing the application statistics, the universities have decided to reinstate their programs.
Local News
Alex Trautwig/heights editor
Clinton Kelly, BC ’91, co-host of TLC’s ‘What Not to Wear’, returned to campus to speak about his success story. Assoc. News Editor
Clinton Kelly, co-host of TLC’s What Not to Wear and BC ’91, returned to his alma mater last week to give a talk about pursuing a career in fashion and television. Kelly’s talk, hosted by the Career Center, focused on his personal success story and was facilitated by Ann Marie Barry, a professor in the communication department. Following his talk, Kelly critiqued five students’ interview attire in front of the audience. Originally from Long Island, Kelly said that he fell in love with Boston College, and during his four years here, he said he changed his major several times but graduated with a communication degree, something that he said was largely influenced by Bob Chibka, a professor in the English deparment. “I think it was the last semester of BC that I really wanted to be a writer,” Kelly said. “This is where Bob Chibka comes in. I took his fiction writing course and I fell in love with writing. When I got an ‘A’ in Bob Chibka’s class, I thought, ‘Oh my God, maybe I might actually be good at this.’ So I decided that I wanted to be a writer.” Kelly then explained how he became successful, something that he said came from pursuing what he wanted. “I’m not one to sit around and wait for things to happen,” he said. “I don’t think that much happens when you sit around waiting for stuff to happen. I was always big on getting my face in front of the right people, getting my foot in the door
however I could, and to trying to stand out from the crowd.” “I wrote the editor-in-chief [of Marie Claire], who was Glenda Bailey at the time,” Kelly said. “She’s now the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar. I wrote her a letter saying I don’t know you from a hole in the wall, but if you just give me five minutes of your time, I promise to give you 100 story ideas for your magazine. And she took me up on it. So I had to come up with 100 story ideas for the next morning.” The theme of Kelly’s pursuit of happiness, rather than money, pervaded his entire talk. “In talking about what you needed to pursue, how you needed to get into your life and tackle it, you said, ‘Follow happiness and the money will follow,’” Barry said. Kelly said he really believes in that life motto. “I have never taken a job for the money,” he said. “It was always because I thought that it would be fun or because I thought that I would really learn something from the experience. What happens is when you chase the happiness, the money really does follow. You develop a passion for what you do. When you like what you do and you’re passionate about it, you tend to get good at it. What happens is that you’re eventually rewarded for being passionate and good at your job.” Kelly ultimately expressed that doing what one loves in life is extremely important. “I don’t know what the future brings, I honestly don’t know what I’ll be doing [in 10 years],” he said. “I’ll do whatever I want to do. Maybe I’ll write another musical, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll still be doing TV, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’ll be
Today
49° Wintry Mix 28°
Tuesday
39° Sunny 27°
Wednesday
46° Partly Cloudy
University Harvard and Princeton to reinstate early admissions programs
By Adriana Mariella
Four Day Weather Forecast
retired, maybe I won’t. Maybe I’d like to be the editor-in-chief of a magazine, or maybe I won’t. I don’t care, as long as I’m having fun.” BC’s liberal arts education was something Kelly said helped him to excel. “When I got my degree in communications, the department wasn’t nearly as big as it is today, so I don’t think that I got the most well-rounded communications education,” he said. “With that being said, I love the fact that I got a great liberal arts education at BC. I changed majors a bunch of times, and I think that that was really a major part of how I got to where I am today, to just be able to talk about something other than the field I was in.” Organizers from the Career Center, who planned and hosted the event, said they hope that students can learn from Kelly’s story. “The most important message I want students to take away from the event is that Clinton reached success by doing what he loves,” said Janet Bates, associate director of the Career Center in an e-mail. “He did not try to fit himself into someone else’s mold. It appears to me that he works very hard so his success was earned the hard way but when you love what you do, working hard isn’t so bad.” She also said that this event is testimony to the fact that the Career Center can offer services to all undergraduate students. “We’ve heard the many myths about the Career Center, like It’s only for CSOM, the Career Center is only for seniors, etc.,” she said. “The Career Center offers a variety of resources for all of our students.” n
Roxbury man acquitted of first degree murder charges Friday Jonathan Sanders, a man accused of first degree murder was acquitted by a Suffolk Superior Court jury last Friday. Sanders, a Roxbury resident, was accused of shooting and killing a rival gang member. The jury concluded that there was not enough evidence to prove that Sanders killed Dwayne Graham on March 30, 2007. Sander’s defense attorney said that Suffolk prosecutors and Boston police did not have any witnesses who placed Sanders at the scene. Had he not been acquitted, Sanders faced life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
On Campus Senior Melanie Graf named Hellenic Legacy Scholar for 2011-2012 Melanie Graf, A&S ’11, has been named one of two Hellenic Legacy Scholars by the Greek America Foundation. Garf studies international relations and ancient civilizations and studied abroad at the American College of Greece in the spring of 2010. During the 2011-2012 academic year, she will return to Greece to study modern Greek and intern at prominent Greek instituions. Graf was also an active volunteer at the Greek Orthodox Metropolis’ Philoxenia House and has continued her study of modern Greek.
National Cookie sales prohibited outside home of Girl Scouts founder SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — Girl Scouts are no longer able to sell their famous cookies outside the historic Savannah home of the woman who founded the organization almost a century ago. A complaint last year ended the longtime practice of selling the cookies outside the home of Juliette Gordon Low. Peddling on a public sidewalk violates city ordinance. The city’s zoning administrator, Randolph Scott, said he investigated the matter and tried to find a solution. A survey shows there is no private space between the house and the sidewalk. A private courtyard on the side of the house blocks an exit.
17°
thursday
30° Mostly Sunny 15°
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 EDITORIAL RESOURCES News Tips Have a news tip or a good idea for a story? Call Taylour Kumpf, News Editor, at (617) 552-0172, or e-mail news@bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the News Desk. Sports Scores Want to report the results of a game? Call Paul Sulzer, Sports Editor, at (617) 552-0189, or e-mail sports@bcheights.com. Arts Events The Heights covers a multitude of events both on and off campus – including concerts, movies, theatrical performances, and more. Call Darren Ranck, Arts and Review Editor, at (617) 552-0515, or e-mail arts@ bcheights.com. For future events, e-mail, fax, or mail a detailed description of the event and contact information to the Arts Desk. Clarifications / Corrections The Heights strives to provide its readers with complete, accurate, and balanced information. If you believe we have made a reporting error, have information that requires a clarification or correction, or questions about The Heights standards and practices, you may contact Michael Caprio, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com. CUSTOMER SERVICE
Police Blotter 2/23/11 – 2/25/11 Wednesday, Feb. 23 11:07 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a fire alarm activation in the Mods. The alarm was triggered by smoke from an electrical fire contained within an electric motor. The fire extinguished itself without response from the fire department. The only damage to the residence was to the electric motor. 11:45 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a subject who intimidated a victim in an active criminal manner off campus. 3:51 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a fire alarm that was giving a false reading. Contractors later responded to the area and reset the alarm. 4:02 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the unauthorized use of a credit card. A detective is investigating. 11:54 p.m. - A report was filed regarding vandalism to Boston College property in Corcoran Commons. No suspects were in the area. A work order was filed for repairs.
Thursday, Feb. 24 3:07 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an injured subject in Campion Hall. The subject was transported to a medical facility by Armstrong Ambulance.
7:33 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a motor vehicle that was towed from the commuter lots as it was illegally parked and impeding incoming deliveries. 1:43 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a suspicious package. After an investigation, it was determined that the delivery of the package was expected by a student and all was determined to be in order.
Voices from the Dustbowl “What would you do as UGBC president?” “Water filters in dorms and more homecoming events.” —Stephen Sikora, CSOM ’14
Friday, Feb. 25 1:07 a.m. - A report was filed regarding assistance provided to an intoxicated party of legal age in paying their cab fare at St. Ignatius Gate. The fare was paid without incident and a sober adult took custody of the subject. 3:00 a.m. - A report was filed regarding found property in Corcoran Commons. The property will be stored at BCPD headquarters for safekeeping. 6:38 p.m. - A report was filed regarding a suspicious person reported in the area of Corcoran Commons. The subject was identified, issued a tresspass warning, and sent from the area without incident.
—Source: The Boston College Police Department
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.
“Extended meal times” —Andrew Carleton, A&S ’14
CORRECTIONS
“Put a gondola from Upper to Lower.” —Meredith Piro,
A&S ’14
Please send corrections to editor@bcheights.com with ‘correction’ in the subject line.
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
A3
Pre-dental students reach out to urban schools
By Logan Gallagher For The Heights
The Pre-Dental Society has started a project called the Urban Teaching Program to reach out to elementary schools in underprivileged communities. “The program is aimed at teaching kids at a young age the importance of good oral hygiene,” said Benjamin Canary, president of the Pre-Dental Society and A&S ’11. “By promoting good oral hygiene, we are helping to improve general dental health and to prevent superfluous healthcare costs.” The program has visited St. Columbkille Elementary School and the West End House, an after-school program for underprivileged children in Boston. The next presentation is planned for March 3 at Mary Lyon Elementary School. “All of the schools we have visited so far have asked us to come back anytime, so the program will most likely continue in years to come,” said Lawrence Guarnieri, vice president of the Pre-Dental Society and CSOM ’12. The presentation includes PowerPoint slides that demonstrate good hygiene and proper dental practices. “There is a video with cartoon characters called the ‘dental defenders,’ who fight the evil plaque, which is usually a big hit,” Guarnieri said. Afterwards, there are several demonstrations to involve the students. “We had two activities for the kids, one was comparing the shell on a tooth to the shell of a hard boiled egg to that of one soaked in vinegar,” said Felisha Patel, A&S ’12. “The other was letting the students guess
how much sugar is in a bottle of Coke and measuring out the amount for them to see.” At the end of the presentation, all of the students are rewarded with a goodie bag. “We give out goodie bags at the end of each presentation which contain a toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and a toy.” Guarnieri said. “Toys are either stuffed animals or Silly Bandz.” The program was inspired by a service program many of the pre-dental students complete in the Dominican Republic over spring break. “The trip was through Orphanage Outreach Teach Corps which is a program that focuses on teaching basic lessons on medicine and dentistry to Dominican kids,” Canary said. “The idea behind the Teach Corps is to teach kids good hygiene in order to prevent unhealthy habits that have to be treated with expensive procedures.” The Society decided to organize a similar program in the Boston area, and worked with education coordinators at BC. “We met with Mary Walsh, director of Boston Connects, and Caitlin Kelly, a health coordinator for city connects, to design a curriculum suitable for 2nd and 3rd graders, our target audience,” said Joseph Depalo, A&S ’13. The program aims to spread awareness about oral hygiene to children who may not have the resources or information needed to care for their teeth. “Most students know they are suppose to brush, but a lot of them don’t know why or understand the potential health risks of failing to do so on a regular basis,” Depalo said. “It is shocking how many students don’t own their own toothbrush.” n
Courtesy of larry guarnieri
Through the Urban Teaching Program, pre-dental students promote good hygiene in elementary schools.
Green Month promotes sustainability on campus By Rebecca Kailus Heights Staff
Green Month, an initiative aimed at educating and improving sustainability on campus, begins this week. “Green Month is a series of events and initiatives to support sustainability at BC and educate students on the need for environmental sustainability,” said Daley Gruen, director of sustainability for the UGBC and A&S ’11. Elizabeth Barthelmes, Ecopledge president and A&S ’11, said, “Green Month is a space where we really want to start discussions on what sustainability issues are out there at BC and how we can take action. It’s valuable for the school to take those issues and work with them.” Barthelmes said that one of Ecopledge’s main aims this month is to create ways to change sustainability at BC. “For Ecopledge we hope to generate ideas that the faculty and facility members will then be able to use in their approach to sustainability,” she said. “The other end is about engaging and educating the students. People working in facilities know these issues, but students don’t always understand them.” In addition to collaborating with the various student groups on campus, Bar-
thelmes said Green Month has incorporated involved. You might miss things you would different faculty and staff groups, including have liked to do.” Sustain BC. “Sustain BC is a faculty group Julianne Hall, UGBC director of Suson campus that focuses on sustainability,” tainability and A&S’13, said she agreed she said. “They are that the decision to participating in Green make Green Week a Month as well. We are “Green Month is a space month-long event was going to have a round to reach out to more table with the faculty, where we really want to people on sustainabilstudents, and staff in start discussions on what ity issues. order to talk about “We were looking what students want to sustainability issues are at it and it was a lot learn about environ- out there at BC and how of stuff in one week,” mental issues.” said. “In the past, we can take action. It’s she Green Month has it was preaching to the valuable for the school choir in that the people grown out of Green Week, a two-week long to take those issues and who went were already initiative organized by interested in environwork with them.” the UGBC for the past mental issues.” three years. Events from the “The first day of month are as varied —Elizabeth Barthelmes, spring, Earth Hour, as water bottle decoPresident of Ecopledge and rating night to Spring and St. Patrick’s Day A&S ’11 are all fall in March, Equinox UGBC Resso it just seemed like a ervoir Clean-up. Hall green month to begin with.,” Gruen said. said that one event of particular interest, “We felt a week wasn’t enough to make a though, will be Green Economy and Career difference for sustainability on campus. In Night on March 22. the past, you could experience it in pass“Our big event we are going have is a ing without being immersed. We didn’t Green Economy and Career night,” she think people could have enough time to get said. “We have Professor Derber from the
UGBC Senate encourages SPO to officially recognize BCSSH By Tanner Edwards Heights Staff
The UGBC Senate passed a resolution urging the Student Programs Office (SPO) to recognize Boston College Students for Sexual Health (BCSSH) as a registered student organization in a seven-to-three vote Thursday night, with three senators abstaining. The deliberation over the resolution drew a sizeable, spirited crowd to the UGBC Senate meeting room, with the resolution’s supporters and detractors from the student body voicing their opinions during the larger senatorial debate on the matter. Deliberations came in the wake of BCSSH’s recent choice to submit an application to SPO to become a registered student organization for the first time in their history. The discussion began with an opening statement from Alicia Johnson, chair of BCSSH, and A&S ’11. She centered her arguments on a February 2009 referendum placed on the spring UGBC election ballot that found 89.47 percent of voters voted “yes” to the question of whether BC needed “to improve sexual health education and resources on campus, including but not limited to: affordable testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), prescription of birth control at Health Services, and availability of condoms on campus.” Johnson profiled the consequent creation of BCSSH in 2009 following the referendum, and detailed the unofficial group’s mission, goals, and activities to the Senate. “We want to make sure policies at BC are making us the healthiest community we can be,” Johnson said. The group’s leader highlighted efforts such as starting a freshman conversation program to promote healthy relationships on campus, programs for C.A.R.E. week, and hosting discussions about the meaning of sexuality in the Catholic tradition with prominent campus leaders such as Rev. Jack Butler, S.J., Rev. James F. Keenan, S.J., and Rev. Joe Marchese, among other initiatives. The resolution’s sponsor, Lizzie Jekanowski, A&S ’13, delivered an impassioned defense of BCSSH and strongly advocated for the measure’s passage in her remarks to the Senate. Pointing to the 2009 referendum, she stressed her belief that sexual health is a campus issue that is not properly addressed by the BC administration. Jekanowski said that she thought that BC students were missing out on crucial information and resources that would promote sexual health on campus. She said that the lack of information includes not being familiar with resources offered by BC Health Services and being intimidated to seek consultation for sexual issues given the stigma towards these types of issues on campus. Jekanowski also framed the issue as a matter of protecting students’ rights. “This is an issue of academic freedom,” Jekanowski said. “Yes, this is a very controversial issue, but that does not mean
students who support this do not have a voice on campus. The presence of one opinion does not infringe on another’s belief. We come to BC for a broad spectrum of opinions, and we need the ability to discuss this in an open forum,” she said. One of the resolutions co-sponsors, Nick Domino, A&S ’12, referenced the Ignatian spirit of open-mindedness when voicing his support for the resolution. “We currently only have one voice on campus- it is the anticontraception voice,” Domino said. “It is our responsibility to stand up for the rest of the student body. Nobody has done so for the past two years. Let us do so tonight.” Derek Lo, A&S ’12, tried to simplify the debate as a matter of strengthening the open forum that a college campus should represent. “All we’re doing now is bringing [BCSSH] to the table. We’re simply urging the topic to be heard,” Lo said. Harvey Simmons, Senate president, and A&S ’11, voiced the most prominent challenge to the resolution’s passage among its detractors in the Senate. While repeatedly commending the group’s efforts to promote sexual health, he questioned whether it was in BCSSH’s best interests to become an official campus organization when both University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. and Patrick Rombalski, vice president for Student Affairs, have expressed vehement opposition to condom distribution on campus. Simmons also took issue with supporters’ claims of a violation of free speech on campus by barring BCSSH, noting BC’s administrative rights as a private school and the administration’s goal of preserving the University’s Catholic, Jesuit identity. “Free speech doesn’t mean free condoms,” Simmons said. Simmons urged the organization to model their efforts to change institutional regulations off of other successful groups that once came into conflict with the University’s administrative goals and Catholic doctrine, such as the GLC. He stressed the need to deal with the administration in a consistent, respectful manner by emphasizing dialogue amongst multiple perspectives on the issue in order for BCSSH to best be heard. The resolution’s proponents stressed that BCSSH had already followed such a strategy and deserved recognition for their efforts. “We need to support this group, they need to become an official organization,” said Caitlin Hanley, A&S ’11. “Many beliefs on this campus don’t adhere to specific Catholic doctrine, but are present on campus,” she said. Just before the resolution passed successfully, Travis Brookes, A&S ’11, invoked the history of success of once-controversial campus organizations as an inspiration for BCSSH and a reason to support the resolution. “Years ago, the University didn’t agree with what GLC and ALC wanted to do,” Brookes said. “Yes, we go to a Catholic institution, but that doesn’t mean the issues that are important to us can’t be heard.” n
sociology lecturing and opening up for discussion about green careers. He just wrote a book, From Greed to Green, on the green economy.” All programs this year focus around the central theme, “Everyone has a Reason to be Sustainable.” Gruen said that the aim of this theme is to reach out to everyone on campus, not just those passionate about environmental issues, and demonstrate how their actions have an impact on the environment. “We’ve really focused on being completely effective and changing the way people do things,” he said. “In the past, it was just preaching to the choir. This year we really want people to see the reason for sustainability. We want people to think of their cause when reaching for the light switch and how it relates to them.” Gruen said the goal of the month is to show all students how their actions have greater effects in order to make BC more sustainable. “The goal is make a real lasting impact of a large amount of students,” he said. “I really want to make sure people first don’t give lip service to sustainability but that recycling goes up, water levels go down, and the sustainability of BC is greatly improved.” While there has been a lot of support
from students, staff, and faculty, Hall said that Green Month has been created to appeal to the population at BC who don’t actively think of their green impact. “We do have a lot of student support,” Hall said. “There are still so many people who don’t know the importance or who want to help but don’t know how. There is always more to be done. I think a lot of people have an interest. The administration and everyone we have come into contact with have been really supportive. There is definitely an interest, but there is that population who isn’t educated and doesn’t understand.” Hall said that, in order to make an impact, sustainable change must be a collective effort on campus. “We are trying to reach out to everyone because if you don’t have everyone on board it won’t work,” she said. “Everyone has some sort of part on this. It’s great if one person turns the lights off, but if you want to make an impact everyone has to do it.” Ultimately, Barthelmes said the central theme of Green Month speaks to the Jesuit ideals of BC. “As a Jesuit university we need to understand that our impact effects more than just us-it affect everyone,” she said. “I think this really speaks to the concept of men and women for others.” n
“We give incredible discounts to students to places that they already like to go to,” Kim said. “We only focus on college campuses and enhancing the college experience.” —Erik Kim,
Co-founder of Kegfly-BC and CSOM ’13
Kegfly-BC offers new discounts to students By Jake Bajada For the Heights
Last Thursday, up-and-coming promotional company Kegfly hosted a bar event at VENU nightclub in Boston to launch the start up of its new Boston College-affiliated branch of the company. Kegfly, a collective buying site that is modeled after nationally acclaimed Groupon.com, offers daily deals to local restaurants and other businesses. Originally launched at Ohio University last September, the company has spread to six other universities across the country, most recently including BC. Unlike Groupon, however, which appeals to a broad range of people living in various cities, Kegfly hopes to specifically target college campuses. Erik Kim, one of the co-founders of Kegfly-BC and CSOM ’13, emphasized a focus on the students that Kegfly hopes to uphold. “We give incredible discounts to students to places that they already like to go to,” Kim said. “We only focus on college campuses and enhancing the college experience.” Kim was asked to become involved with the company through a mutual friend that goes to Boston University. From here, Kim began to assemble his team of promoters. “From the beginning, I knew I needed to get a team together of people that I trusted, hard working people,” Kim said. “I started with my group of friends, they talked to some of their friends, and it expanded from there. Now we’re up to a team of nine people.” The basis for the company revolves around the idea of group discounts. After submitting an e-mail address to the Kegfly website, students are able to log onto either
their e-mail or Facebook and receive a notification about a discount at a local restaurant or business. If enough people purchase the deal, they receive the discount and can print out the coupon from home. Kudzai Taziva, another Kegfly-BC cofounder and A&S ’13, discussed how this process works. “So say you pay $5 and you get a deal to Crazy Dough,” he said. “We need 15 people to activate the deal, so once enough people have [purchased the discount], you can print it out, show them at Crazy Dough, and you will get a $10 purchase.” If not enough people buy discount, those that have already purchased the coupon will have their money refunded. Kegfly-BC guarantees discounts of 50 percent or better as of now to places including Crazy Dough’s Pizza and El Pelon Taqueria. It’s first deal will be offered today at El Pelon. Some of Kegfly-BC’s future deals could include discounts to restaurants Upper Crust Pizzeria and Cafe Brazil, and other venues such as hookah bars. Kim stressed the diversity of deals that Kegfly-BC strives to offer to students. “We don’t limit ourselves to restaurants and food venues,” Kim said. “We want to offer deals to other things that college students spend their time doing.” Last Thursday’s event was an attempt to spread this mindset to the Boston area. In collaboration with Kegfly-BU, the event hoped to promote the different discounts available to students living in the area. “It mostly was a marketing technique,” Taziva said. “It doesn’t have a lot to do with the actual product, but we’re looking into throwing more of them in the future. n
The Heights
A4
Monday, February 28, 2011
Q & A with Joyce-Portes, Kitlas-Long Joyce-Portes, from A1
through different stages of my career, I suppose, at BC, how in this position you can really make a difference. You can make a difference in any position in the UGBC and other positions of leadership, but I’ve loved what I’ve done in Senate, the differences I’ve been able to make, and last year on the campaign I was able to see and kind of open my eyes to what was possible in this position. Now I’m on the vice president student advisory committee, so I see Micaela [current UGBC president] interacting with Dr. Rombalski [vice president for student affairs] and Dr. Hafner [vice provost for undergraduate affairs] and others, and I see how she really has their ear, you know sometimes other students are listened to by them, but not in the same way, so that was what made me want to go for it, the combination of the fact that I’ve loved what I’ve done, I’ve been able to make a difference and this new position where we can really, truly make a difference for the most number of students. JP: As for me, I’ve always been involved with the school for the last three years, but I was never really involved with UGBC until last year when I was working for a campaign, and that’s what really opened my eyes to the possibilities within UGBC ... truly making a difference, truly giving back to the community, and the BC community is a community that I’ve fallen in love with over the last three years. By becoming vice president, I really feel it’s the best opportunity for me to give back to this community that I love. Yes, that sounds a little bit cliche, but that’s the truth for me. I love this community and I really believe that by being vice president I can give back to it and make a true difference. Personally, in addition, I went abroad last semester, and no one has ever tried to run coming back from abroad, and there’s a stigma that exists, especially within UGBC that you cannot go abroad and then come back and be in a high position of leadership, and I don’t think that stigma should exist. I really think that you should be able to go abroad and still come back and make a true difference in the community Heights: Let’s say you’re elected this coming Tuesday, what’s the first item on your platform that you’re going to enact, and how long do you think it’s actually going to take to do that? MJ: First, I think we would look at what has been worked on in UGBC in the past and how we can continue those efforts because oftentimes with a student government, it’s a question of moving the ball downfield, a little further each year, until real change is implemented. For instance, the new alcohol policy that went into effect, that was the result of a lot of years of work. So some of those initiatives that we would get working on for sure are academic advising, improving that system, that would be something we would make a priority. Another thing would be expanding the BC to Boston initiative because that’s been widely popular and students have really got rolling in the past few years, Micaela and Pat made it a big thing, and that’s something, again, that we would look to expanding. In terms of what we want to get working on right away, that, I suppose, hasn’t been worked on before is the student formation aspect. JP: As you already know, we want to create a peer mentoring program that is essentially available to all freshmen just so they have an opportunity for guidance and someone that can help them find their place at BC. This is actually an initiative that I already started working on last semester and essentially we want to get the ball rolling on that next semester. We are looking to get at least 20
rising seniors who would lead small teams for next year. We hope that this would serve as the base for our peer mentoring program. Heights: Define, in your own words, a student leader. MJ: A student leader, I think, is a trend setter. A student leader is someone who is not afraid to stand up and stand out, I suppose, and raise the tough questions and make the difference that a lot of other students need. Oftentimes, I think it’s a question of stepping back and looking at student life at BC and saying, ‘What is missing here? What is not right and what can I do about it? How can I personally make it my job to make a difference?’ So I think in that respect a student leader is someone who personally takes ownership of the responsibility of making a difference at BC. JP: In my words, I think a student leader is someone who is not only committed, not only willing to dedicate themselves and put in the time and execute, but someone who is willing to listen and to foster that conversation, foster that dialogue. Because being a leader isn’t just you making decisions, you telling people what to do, you having your own vision and having people follow. It’s about you learning from other people, hearing their opinions, and trying to incorporate everyone’s ideas together. Heights: What will you do if you do not win the election? MJ: Well, I would like to still be involved in UGBC. I think I would like to work on things that run on our platform. I’d like to work on student formation. I might apply for directorship of university issues, perhaps working with the MLP program. I’d like to be in the executive department, so I could work on this initiative that Justin has gotten rolling, which really helps students get involved. But definitely we would, I think, want to be working on the things that are on our platform, but in some other capacity in UGBC. JP: I’m in the same exact boat as him. I definitely want to stay involved in UGBC. I mean, I love the organization. I love the people in it. They are all great people, all hardworking, but they still have fun. Like we’ve been saying, our passion is student formation and mentorship, and I want to stay involved in that. Maybe helping out MLP or continuing to run the events team and getting involved in other areas that focus on student formation and mentorship, whether it’s working through the career center or other organizations that have some sort of mentoring aspect within their club. Heights: What is the greatest issue on campus? MJ: We see the biggest issue as helping students find their place at BC. Oftentimes, I think it’s the students who are least involved and least likely to reach out, so to speak, who are in the most need of this. The people who most need something won’t go out looking for it. What we see as the issue, is helping students find their place at BC in a way that they can make the most out of their four years, whatever their passion may be. For some students like us, it’s getting involved in student government, for some its writing for The Heights, for some it may be getting involved in 4Boston, or pursuing a particular academic program. Whatever it is, we think the biggest issue is helping every single student find a place at BC. JP: And that’s what exactly ties in with our message with the peer mentoring program. Trying to help students, reaching out to those freshman who don’t necessarily want to take the initiative to get involved. By creating this program, we can help them find a place at BC. n
Activism seen in 2000 2000, from A1
for student development, agreed with the strictness of the four-guest rule, but also understood the need to respond to complaints. “I am not sure how the number four was arrived at, but it was,” Chebator said. “I do know that the policy changes were a result of complaints of neighbors as well as some residents of 2000 who have been bothered by noise and conduct on weekend evenings. However, the University is aware that there are many situations where students would want to gather in their residences with more than four guests. Family visits, group studying, and responsible socializing are all events where more than four people gathering is a legitimate desire.” Chebator said that the activism of students alerted him and other administrators to student concerns that required addressing. “When students state legitimate
and reasonable concerns, we will respond in a way to support students,” he said. “Due to the advocacy of students like Anthony Russo for a change in the new guidelines, [ODSD] felt it was worth talking with Archstone about.” The community guidelines did take effect on Feb. 17 as announced, but the expression of concern by residents prompted management at 2000 Comm. Ave. on Feb. 16 to agree to review the changes. BC administrators will be meeting with Archstone management at 2000 Comm. Ave. this week. “The case with the policy changes at 2000 was unfortunate,” Chebator said. “Students’ concerns and frustrations should have been answered, but I feel this issue will be resolved in a way that takes into consideration the concerns of neighbors, Archstone, residents of 2000 who are annoyed by noise, and residents who desire to socialize responsibly.” n
Kitlas-Long, from A1
they want improved and working with them to make it happen. We’re UGBC nerds. It’s what we do. It’s basically become our life at this point. JL: One of the reasons I think I really want to run is, along with us being in UGBC, we’ve both also been involved in other organizations. I know for me it took the past two and a half years of being involved in other organizations for me to realize that UGBC has positively impacted me as a leader. Also, in terms of things I have done and the impact I have made on this campus, it has mostly been done through the Undergraduate Government of Boston College, and I want to continue that with somebody I’ve trusted since freshman year. He and I have the same goals in terms of making UGBC more inclusive than exclusive, opening it up for input like he said, and really not just being a government, but being the voice of the students and being the liaison between the administration. Whatever the students need, we want to be there. Heights: What is the first item from your platform that you will enact, and how long will it take to complete? MK: I think the first thing that we’re going to do is really revamp the website, because one of the key pillars of our platform is accessibility, so this is a great project to do over the summer. What we’re looking to do this year is create it as a paying position, so it becomes a professional site, it’s well done, it’s easily navigatable, all that stuff. So that’s really the first thing, to really get UGBC to be more accessible. JL: And also [we will] start planning for Maroon and Gold Week. If it’s successful in the fall, [we will be] continuing it in the other athletic seasons, which is our hope. Mike Kitlas has extensive background in programming, and we want to use it in a way that can bring positive programs that really promote tradition. Tradition is something we want to expand on through Ice Jam, which Mike started up this year, and adding more programs for week-long events that promote school spirit, school pride, and new traditions. Heights: Define, in your own words, a student leader. MK: Obviously, [as] a student leader, student comes first. Being committed to academics, that aspect of the student is very important, making sure you go to your classes and form relationships with your teachers. But then, the leader aspect is also very important. While it does come second, it’s not something that’s put on the back burner. It’s always on the front burner, and it’s a balance between the student [and the] leader. You put the time in, and really find that balance, and I think that’s something I’ve learned this year, especially with my role as the executive director of campus entertainment. You have to balance all the work that’s necessary because it’s a huge job planning these concerts and huge events. JL: I think for me it’s just being a role model, and showing a progressive interest in college life. College life is a lot more than just having fun or studying or even just being in an organization, it’s a matter of balancing all three. I know, for me, a lot of the relationships I’ve formed have been through organizations. So being a student leader is a person, I think, who can show this through their friends to the community that, “Yes, I am a student here at Boston College, yes, I maintain a good GPA,” because in order to be involved in a lot of these organizations you do need to be in good academic standing, and then also, in terms of leadership, just explain that even though we’re all young, we’re all the same age, it is okay to have the abilities to make a difference on campus. [Members of] the administration are not the only people on the campus that change, and I think, as a student leader, we have the responsibility to do so. I think Mike and I have distributed qualities, we’ve been student leaders since our freshmen year, [we said], “We want to be leaders on this campus,” we joined the Mentoring Leadership Program, where we
garnered the tools to do so with UGBC and also with other organizations. Heights: What will you do if you don’t win the election? MK: [I would] still be involved with UGBC. Like I said, it is my life, so it’s an organization that I feel very passionate about, and I hope that through this campaign season, the other candidates see that we are passionate, and I think members of our team are passionate as well, and they bring a lot of great ideas to the table and are very helpful to the organization, furthering the stuff that’s already been happening this year, as well as what could happen next year. I would definitely apply again, and just be involved, because there’s, again, a lot of issues that I’d like to see resolved on campus. JL: Likewise. I think, of course it’s difficult because nobody wants to lose, however, like Mike said, we’ve been in this organization too long just to give up on it, and there’s a lot that needs to be done, and I think for me as well, there’s no need to give up on it for your senior year. It has a special place in my heart. When I reflect on my BC experience, a lot of it comes back to UGBC, so I would like to see that continue. Like I said, in terms of being a student leader, we have a responsibility to continue to be leaders on this campus, whether it’s through UGBC or any other organization, next year. Heights: What do you think is the greatest issue facing the campus? MK: There are multiple issues that are facing the campus right now. A couple of the hot topics are academic advising, alcohol, and a new one that’s really starting to get a lot of push behind it is sustainability. So these are three main issues that I think the campus is facing right now. We’re really looking to address all three of these. In terms of academic advising, we’ll continue the work of Micaela and Pat this year, but also being able to add to it by a seminar for students to learn how to better approach an advisor, which is a two way street. You can’t go into an advising meeting thinking the advisor’s going to have all the answers if you don’t have the right questions for them. [In addition,] working with FYE to improve the advising during orientation sessions, as it’s really crucial to have your first semester here be as successful as it can be. In terms of alcohol, working to create more pre-events. Coming from a strong programming background, I know a lot of the troubles that arise from the larger-scale events on campus. So having events before them to really get kids out of their dorm rooms before where a lot of the drinking and the issues occur, and to basically just charge students to rethink if they need that extra shot before they go out. It’s just an educational thing, not looking to impose more sanctions or anything like that. And then sustainability, continuing to work with the directors this year, because they’ve done a great job. They’re currently working on energy games between us and Northeastern for Green Month, so looking to expand it and include maybe other schools in the area, just to give us cool ways to try to be sustainable. JL: Going off of the health and safety and alcohol awareness, we’re thinking about having an event that’s called “Rethink Drink Week,” where we’ll encourage students to learn about how to drink responsibly, and the dangers of drinking, as well as collaborating with other organizations on campus to really just show that UGBC is in full support of responsible behavior on campus, especially before really big events, such as Marathon Monday and fall and spring concerts. Another hot topic that I think we want to cover on campus is formation. That’s something that we feel is unique to the Jesuit education, really building the person as well as building the student academically, so working with campus ministry and expanding the religious affairs, promoting more events that deal with formation, and showing that UGBC is in full support of really pushing the education of the whole person, and the Jesuit ideals that we have here at this University. n
ALC ball draws large crowd ALC Ball, from A1
Abai said that the ALC included input from campus culture clubs in creating the themed slideshow which profiled academically accomplished members of AHANA throughout the night. “We involved all culture clubs in the creation for the slideshow to be certain we included many cultures and races,” Abai said. The event hosted approximately 50 more students than last year due to an increase in the number of donated tickets by ALC to the Montser-
rat Coalition of the University’s Office of Mission and Ministry. It was the most number of tickets donated for an event by ALC. “Our advisors helped to make sure that we considered the financial needs of students and made the event accessible to many,” Abai said. “While the increase in the number attended required some rearrangement, it was well worth it to make sure the ball was able to include many members of the community, regardless of need. While ALC sponsors many social events, we really work hard to be sure all members of the BC community have the opportunity to feel included and welcome.” n
UGBC teams discuss unifying organizations on campus Debate, from A1 the biggest hurdle for the UGBC is in convincing students to get on board with new initiatives and projects. “I think the greatest challenge for the UGBC is changing campus culture,” he said. Joyce added that while it is one thing to enact new policies or to propose new programs, it is the UGBC’s responsibility to inform the student body about those changes. “There’s a second step, which is sometimes harder to achieve – to get students to buy into it,” he said. As examples, Joyce cited the University’s new alcohol amnesty policy and the myBC online resource. “We made that change and now we have to get students to understand what it means, what it entails,” Joyce said. Portes said that the UGBC must lead the way when it comes to implementing new projects such as myBC. “We have this great new virtual student union,” he said, but stressed that if the UGBC is
not spreading the word about it, then it is not doing its job. Other questions that were posed at the debate included the importance of the AHANA acronym to the campus community, the relative experience in the UGBC and other campus organizations of both candidate teams, how each team’s approach attempts to integrate new ideas while building on current projects, and how to better unite different clubs and groups on campus. Long responded to Joyce and Portes’ question of whether she and Kitlas lack a diverse spectrum of experiences, defending her participation in a number of different campus organizations. “I’ve done student mission programs, I’m involved with campus ministry … I’ve worked with AHANA caucus and other culture organizations on campus,” she said. “Even though we are both in the UGBC our experiences are entirely different. What makes our team unique is … [how] we join both our strengths.” Joyce said that he thought his experi-
ences, coupled with those of his running mate, encompassed a more broad range. “I’ve been in the senate, I am an RA, I’ve been involved in the Residence Hall Council,” he said. “I think we bring a very broad set of experiences that represents a wider scope.” The teams also differed on their proposed approach to stimulating cross-organizational activities in order to create a more unified campus. Kitlas and Long have said that they would create a programming caucus to enable better communication between various campus groups and help draw more students to events. The two would also work to improve the marketing strategy for campus events. “It does take stepping out of our groups to meet people from other organizations, so by increasing collaboration … I think we can see a domino effect,” Long said. Joyce and Portes would aim to create a student leadership council, which would unite the leaders of different student
clubs, and in addition would invite the leaders to each UGBC meeting to be able to better gauge the needs of each respective organization. “We want to create a student leadership council that not only collaborates on programming but other things so that all the clubs can learn about each other’s ideas,” Portes said. “We feel through this council that they can increase collaboration and unity.” Patrick Raab, current UGBC vice president and A&S ’11, said that looking back on the campaign process it was a humbling experience to be representing the interests of the entire undergraduate student body. “The most humbling part of it last year was understanding that you’re asking for the support and recognition that you’ll fight for the concerns and initiatives of a vast student body,” said Raab, who was present at yesterday’s debate. “What I took away from it was … understanding how my personal experiences need to relate to and represent
the personal needs of everyone on this campus and how it all fits together to form a community.” In the time remaining before Tuesday’s election, both candidate teams hope to maintain a visible presence around campus, and to remind students that last week’s primary election was just the first of two important votes. “We’re just going to try and meet as many voters as we can,” Joyce said. “That’s what we’ve been doing – reminding students that you have to vote again … that there is a final vote and it matters.” Kitlas said that regardless of the outcome of Tuesday’s vote, he has learned much from the experience. “It’s an experience in and of itself, this campaign process,” he said. However, he expressed his disappointment that more students were not at the final debate. “I just wish there were more students in the audience and more students that this reached,” Kitlas said. n
CLASSIFIEDS
A5
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
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That montage taught me that death can come at any time. 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: 路 Number can appear only once in each row 路 Number can appear only once in each column 路 Number can appear only once in each 3x3 box 路 The number should appear only once on row, column or area.
The Heights
A6
Editorials
Monday, February 28, 2011
Overheard@BC
‘Heights’ endorses Joyce and Portes
“Mom? Yes, I’m alive, but you really need to quit doing this. I can’t have 48 missed calls from you on my phone.”—Carney’s, Feb. 21, 3:47 p.m. “Yeah, that Crazy Dough’s ... I have to be honest, I’m just not very crazy about their dough.”—Crazy Dough’s, Feb. 26, 7:34 p.m. “If he ever had an original thought I think it would die of loneliness.”—21 Campenella Way, Feb. 24, 5:45 p.m. “A homeless man asked me for my left shoe the other day. That’s like asking for a completely arbitrary amount of money, like 36 cents ... like, just ask for a dollar.”—Commonwealth Ave. bus, Feb. 22, 6:18 p.m.
The Joyce-Portes team blends an ambitious vision with a realistic platform
The Heights endorses Mike Joyce and Justin Portes for president and vice president of the UGBC. With a platform that centers on student formation, institutional issues, and organization of leadership, Joyce and Portes, both A&S ’12, have the capability and vision to lead the student government effectively. They have demonstrated a realistic understanding of their prospective roles as leaders of the UGBC and the initiatives that can be realistically enacted via those roles. We urge all students to vote for Joyce and Portes in today and tomorrow’s election. Adopting an ambitious response to student concern regarding a lack of mentoring resources on campus, Joyce and Portes have included in their platform the establishment of a peer mentoring program that would include all incoming freshmen, as well as current undergraduates, as a key platform point. The program would allow interested upperclassmen to be paired with underclassmen – a relationship aimed at developing “the whole person” of these participants. Following the current UGBC administration in its focus on academic advising, the Joyce-Portes platform demonstrates a spirit of continuity in building on an initiative that will ultimately benefit students. In forming campaign platforms, it is easy to be overly ambitious. But the Joyce-Portes duo has coupled their ambitious mentoring campaign with a series of realistic platform points that, if implemented, would have direct and immediate effects on student life. Among these points is their support for a conversational lounge to be installed in the course reserves section of O’Neill Library, an initiative championed by UGBC Senate member Nick Domino, A&S ’12, who ran against Joyce for president in the primary election. Joyce and Portes have also expressed their support for expanding the hours of Hillside Cafe and the second floor of Corcoran Commons to make more space available for students. Further, they have proposed the availability of temporary BC ID cards, which students would use to gain access to their residence halls should they lose their original card. Their plan to reduce the Nights on the Heights budget, which is currently $527,000, will allow funds to be allocated toward weekend events more effectively. We have confidence that, if approached correctly, these proposed initiatives can be realistically achieved. The Heights worries that the platform of Joyce and Portes’ opponents, Michael Kitlas and Jill Long, presidential and vice presidential candidates and both A&S ’12, lacks the institutional perspective needed to make substantial improvements to University life. The duo has made accessibility and programming two of the main pillars of their platform. We feel that, as important as programming is to student life and establishing traditions, an emphasis on promoting individual events could lead to fragmentation in the UGBC administration’s mission. Planning concerts and spirit weeks does not necessitate the same broad, institutional perspective required of more robust initiatives. Additionally, the Kitlas-Long platform places substantial emphasis on the development of online media and outreach to non-UGBC students through office hours and online postings. We feel that these outreach efforts are passive in comparison to some of the more direct outreach efforts proposed by Joyce and Portes. Addressing the concern of student
involvement in the UGBC, Joyce and Portes have expressed willingness to challenge ResLife on restrictions on dorm walks, which allow for more face-to-face interaction between students and their student government volunteers. These walks, which Joyce said his staff would conduct regularly throughout the year, encourage discussion of UGBC initiatives and gauge their effectiveness within the student living communities. This is the kind of physical interaction we believe is necessary to encourage more students to be involved in student government affairs. Joyce and Portes’ platform reflects this belief while recognizing the benefits of both social networking and face-to-face campaigning, and continuing the initiative established by the current administration. In keeping with current UGBC President Micaela Mabida’s, CSOM ’11, advice at a candidate meet and greet last month, we wish to look at the history of each candidate as an indicator of where they’re going. Joyce, in his current position as the vice president of the UGBC Senate, has demonstrated his ability to implement policy issues with the help of the Senate, cabinet, and University administrators. His ability to organize distinct bodies unilaterally was demonstrated in his work last year to establish satellite mail rooms on Lower Campus. Although Portes can only claim one year of UGBC experience, his work in the Emerging Leadership Program (ELP) has allowed him to gather experience pertinent to his campaign platform’s main pillars of student formation. In his role as an RA, Joyce can also claim such pertinent experience. While the main pillars of the JoycePortes and Kitlas-Long platforms demonstrate differences in priorities, we would like to highlight the similarities between the two teams’ views, as they are indicative of issues on campus that transcend political division. While their approaches to the issue differ, each candidate team recognizes the need for the student government to reach out to non-UGBC students. Mabida and current Vice President Pat Raab, A&S ’11 have addressed that this year through both physical and online campaigning. While we were previously skeptical of their focus on online community networking, their promotion of myBC helped lead to a 70 percent increase in voter turnout for this year’s primary election – a number that is hard to ignore. We are glad to see both teams willing to continue this effort to turn out the vote and get more students outside the student government informed on policies affecting them. Additionally, each candidate team platform contains a plan to continue the work of the Mabida-Raab administration in institutionalizing diversity awareness in the form of a class (Joyce-Portes) or an academic major (Kitlas-Long). We are happy to see this continuity of agenda to tackle an issue that will undoubtedly take the effort of multiple, consecutive administrations. One more candidate team to carry the torch translates into one step forward for the initiative. The Joyce-Portes campaign would benefit from the practical insight offered by Kitlas and Long – a result of their experience planning events and programs in the executive branch of the UGBC. We believe that if Joyce and Portes recognize this need for logistical practicality and the importance of continuity and community in their own initiatives, they will have a successful presidency. Log in to myBC today and tomorrow to vote for Joyce and Portes.
The Heights The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Michael Caprio, Editor-in-Chief Daniel Ottaunick, General Manager Hilary Chassé, Managing Editor
Contributors: Maggie Burch
Matt Laud / Heights Illustration
Letters to the Editor Domino and Lufty support Kitlas-Long First and foremost we would like to thank you all for your support, passion, and smiles during our campaign. Our goals were to run an innovative campaign that got students thinking big, to hold true to our integrity and sportsmanship, and to win the UGBC presidential and vice presidential election. We had a .667 batting average. We chose to run for UGBC president and vice president because we love Boston College. We both have worked tirelessly for the past two and a half years to make this a place we will all be proud to call our alma mater. We encourage you to do the same. We will remain active student leaders for the remainder of our time at BC, regardless of which positions we hold. Please continue to reach out to us this year and next. We applaud the elections committee and the Student Programs Office for facilitating a fair and democratic primary. Without their hard work, we would have never been able to celebrate this year’s record-breaking voter turnout. We also praise the other three campaign teams for their positivity and creativity. We thank the Lalonde-Tierney team for amplifying the student voice, the Joyce-Portes team for valuing the Jesuit tenant of cura personalis, and the Kitlas-Long team for building community through programming, outreach, accessibility, and student formation. During our time here, we have had the enlightening experience of working closely with the four remaining candidates, and in the interest of making BC the best it can be, we want to educate the students in order for them to make an informed vote next Monday and Tuesday. Although their platform covers a range of important initiatives from a peermentoring program to regular dorm walks, we do not feel that Mike Joyce and Justin Portes are the best fit for UGBC president
and vice president. Mike Joyce has committed much of his time to not only improving UGBC, but also to improving the quality of student life in the residence halls as an RA. We both worked with Mike Joyce in the Residence Hall Association (RHA) our freshman year, but we were unimpressed with his lackluster attendance record. Nick has continued to work with Mike Joyce in the UGBC Senate for two years. This past year, Mike has used his vicepresidential position in the senate to sponsor only two resolutions. While both were worthy causes and supported by the rest of the senate, they were money allocation projects that did not push for the institutional support or action that he proclaims in his platform. On the other hand, Nick has worked with his fellow senators to sponsor 13 resolutions for initiatives ranging from passing the DREAM Act to the recent creation of a Merit Scholarship Committee. Throughout our numerous partnerships and connections at BC, neither of us has ever collaborated with Justin Portes, so we cannot fairly comment on his potential. Each campaign, including our own, has flaws in its platform. But at the end of the day, it is not about the platform agenda; it is about leadership potential. It is about the two candidates who will inspire the student body and light a fire in the hearts of its student leaders. For this, we believe that Mike Kitlas and Jill Long are the two best candidates to run this university in 2011-2012. Here is a sampling of what they have achieved. As executive director of campus cntertainment, Mike Kitlas has not only perfected traditional BC events like the Fall Concert and Homecoming, but he also has created arguably the most successful event of last semester – Ice Jam. He simulta-
Nick Domino & Katrina Lutfy A&S ’11
Readers Note: 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
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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
neously fostered greater appreciation for our men’s and women’s athletic programs and boosted attendance at home games. He has managed a $230,000 budget and strengthened collaboration between UGBC and other programming bodies like Nights on the Heights and the Black Student Forum. Jill Long has served this year as chief advisor of the UGBC, overseeing a $13,000 budget for the community relations department. She has conceptualized and coordinated events such as AHANA Awareness Week, Global Justice Week, and Dancing with the Stars, while collaborating with other groups outside the UGBC, like Campus Ministry. She is the Student Admission Programs AHANA Outreach Coordinator, and this year she has effectively worked with culture clubs and SAP volunteers to admit and welcome the largest AHANA freshman class in BC history. After careful consideration, we believe that Kitlas and Long are demonstrated exemplary student leaders on campus and, in the interest of our student body, we recommend their election to UGBC president and vice president for 2011-2012. Regardless of who you choose to support, we encourage you to thoroughly educate yourself about which candidates you want to be in charge of your student government and a half of a million dollar budget next year. Finally, regardless of who is elected, please stay involved, 3,284 of you cared enough to vote. Whether or not you supported one of the final two teams, we ask each of you to stand by our Jesuit foundations and keep an open mind. Achieve your capabilities, build community, and maybe—just maybe—think big.
Mollie Kolosky, Graphics Editor Dara Fang, Online Manager Therese Tully, Assoc. Copy Editor Chris Marino, Asst. Copy Editor Adriana Mariella, Assoc. News Editor Molly Lapoint, Asst. News Editor DJ Adams, Assoc. Sports Editor Greg Joyce, 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 David Riemer, 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 Fichtelberg, Business Assistant
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
A7
Opinions
Facebook-free lifestyle
Thumbs Up Repealing the DOMA – The day has come. After years spent under the relative safety of being deemed constitutional by several court justices, 1996’s Defense of Marriage Act will no longer be protected by the Obama administration. In particular, the president is opposing the section of the act that prevents the federal government from recognizing legal marriages for the purposes of taxes and other federal benefits. While the move has put many conservative and religious leaders in a tizzy, TU/ TD wonders, aren’t there plenty more human rights issues to fight over? Like the lack thereof in the Middle East right now? Sun Chips Bag – Frito Lay is “taking two” on its ridiculously loud Sun Chips bag after facing a year of poor sales and peeved snackers. By introducing an adhesive, it will bind the two layers of the bag. The company swears it will still be biodegradable, but on par with other bags in terms of noise—meaning no one will be able to pinpoint what brand of chips you’re snacking on from a mile away. While we all know it’s never going to be completely easy being green, it should at least be a little easier on the ears. Lover Pics – Studies are now showing that, to reduce pain, looking at a picture of a romantic partner can reduce pain nearly as well as narcotics like cocaine. Study participants with moderate pain, like a headache, experienced a reduction in their discomfort by up to 44 percent—an effect more immediate and significant than popping a few Advil. Who says love hurts?
Dineen Boyle Hi. My name is Dineen and I have been Facebook-free for 144 hours. In one of the first Heights issues of this school year, a fellow opinion columnist, frustrated by what he perceived to be repeated abuses of privacy, expressed his desire and subsequent inability to delete his Facebook profile. He concluded that because the site permeates all aspects of one’s social life, to delete it would be the ultimate form of disconnect, one which he was unwilling to initiate. I, along with many other readers, was more than able to sympathize with his thinking. And while I respected his efforts to break free of the site, I never imagined that I would attempt the same. After some self-reflection, I came to the realization that I am unable to use Facebook responsibly. Part of this can be attributed to the fact that as an English major and columnist, I spend a lot of time staring at my computer, trying to think of things to write. In such situations, Facebook proves a seductive distraction, a tempting escape from the turmoil of writer’s block. But quite frankly, I reached a point where I became alarmed by my blatant lack of self-control in postponing signing on until my commitments and assignments were met. You may do it too. You sneak around, attempting to grab a quick glimpse of the site while in the library. You reward yourself for completing an assignment by signing on. It delays you from efficiently completing tasks that are expected of you. You find yourself browsing the profile of the kid you went to summer camp with in the 8th grade whom you barely know and have no intention of keeping in contact with. Some even admit to mak-
CJ Gustafson
February –The worst month of the year is over tomorrow, and not a day (or three) too soon. Seriously, what a farce February is. Cheated of three days, made to feel bad about ourselves about not having someone to celebrate that annoying little greeting card holiday with, and every food outlet going on a chocolate binge so we have a healthy alternative in which to drown our misery. Bring on March—arguably the best month of the year—bringing with it Spring Break ’11, a little basketball madness, and, oh yes, a minor cultural celebration known as St. Patrick’s Day. Charlie Sheen – Charles, do you speak to your mother with that mouth? In an interview with TMZ this past week, Hollywood’s resident crazed clown spoke trash about the producer of Two and a Half Men—specifically, calling him a “stupid, stupid little man” whom he “violently hates”—causing the show to be pulled for the time being. Seeing as Sheen was being paid $1.8 million per episode, we can only assume this is partly a moral lesson that money really can’t buy happiness. Sleep – What is that? My long lost friend?
let’s move things along. I don’t mean to suggest that if Facebook were to crash then the next week scientists would buckle down and be able to finally discover a cure for cancer, or that GPAs of universities would collectively rise tenfold. (Actually, on second thought, maybe the latter of these two statements is plausible). I certainly don’t hate Facebook and I do not mean to vilify it. The site has allowed me to keep in touch with friends who are studying abroad, to view in real time pictures of newborn family members, and to learn about events and organizations in which I am interested. It is capable of remarkable things and becomes detrimental only when we allow it. Unfortunately, too many of us have allowed it. I implore you to examine your own online habits. Personally, I look forward to seeing how my productivity increases. I plan to make an effort to engage in more actual telephone conversations with my friends. I hope to have more time to work out and to read purely for pleasure. I’d like to spend more time outdoors and perhaps I can even look forward to getting more sleep. I recognize that quitting cold turkey isn’t realistic for everyone. And who knows? Maybe I will reactivate my account sometime in the future. I sincerely hope that this has more staying power than that day in the 5th grade when I decided to “try out” being a vegetarian, because that trial came to a quick and decisive end once confronted by bacon at breakfast. But as of now, I am confident that my social networking detox will prove refreshing. Last week, when informing a friend that I intended to deactivate my profile, he urged me to “sleep on it.” I did. I concluded that real life is way cooler than Facebook. And let’s be serious. If I saw one more person claim that something was “rediculous” spelled with an “e,” I would reach a breaking point. Dineen Boyle is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
Athletes or actors
Thumbs Down McDonald’s Oatmeal – You don’t see Boston Market coming out with a sushi platter or Pizza Hut putting aged goat cheese on wheat flat bread, so you shouldn’t see McDonald’s coming out with oatmeal. Give me my McGriddle, let me bathe in the greasy McMuffin deliciousness of two mystery meat patties stacked on top of fake eggs and rubbery cheese between butter-soaked slabs of carbohydrate goodness … but leave the production of that wholesome superfood to Quakers. Consumers don’t need to be made to feel bad about themselves before 10 a.m.
ing pacts with friends to change each other’s passwords until exam periods or other assignments that require intense focus are over. These behaviors point to an overwhelming fact that we do not want to admit. Facebook is an addiction. Let’s not be too quick to panic here, people. You probably still find joy in things you once loved, but it is nevertheless an addiction and is therefore important to examine. You may not have finished your paper that is due, but you do know that your friend Meg is planning to “GTL (Gym, Tan, Laundry),” that nine people are “UGH so tired of this snow!!!,” that a cow wandered off your aunt’s virtual farm, that your friend Pete drunkenly “caught a squirrel with [his] bare hands!!” and, impressively, that 27 people liked it. Facebook is our procrastinating drug of choice. And why wouldn’t it be? Is it not easier to browse updates about our friends than to expend sustained focus on schoolwork? For young people currently in college, Facebook has been a part of our lives from the beginning of high school. Typing our password has become second nature, a mere subconscious extension of our fingertips. Effectually, our profiles have become a means to construct, edit, and maintain our personal identities. In recent weeks Facebook has been lauded as a catalyst for revolution and social reform, but in what ways is it also it doing us a disservice? Is it inhibiting meaningful interpersonal interaction? Has it aided the construction of a voyeuristic, narcissistic society? Is it contributing to the obesity epidemic? How has it become the primary obstacle to our focus? And perhaps most worrisome is the question: what is it preventing us from accomplishing? Imagine how long it would have taken Michelangelo to paint the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel if Facebook had existed in the early sixteenth century. People would have undoubtedly grown tired of his incessantly whiney status updates. “My neck hurtzz.” Yah we get it dude …
Pre-Madonna drama has turned SportsCenter into a combination of Celebrity Apprentice and 16 and Pregnant. With the recent migration of NBA stars Carmelo Anthony and Deron Williams from the Western Conference to the Eastern Conference one would think Times Square was holding a million dollar give away at Taco Bell with Charles Barkley as a spokesman. It goes to show that if you keep complaining and destroying team chemistry for long enough you can weasel your way out of a signed agreement to play for a particular team. And if you’re really good at causing a rift, like Williams, you can force your coach into resigning before you get traded. In every other profession outside of athletics, it is a testament to one’s character to honor a contract agreement. In the real world, if someone agrees to do something, he is expected to do it. This concept is at the heart of the American business world. If a Boston College graduate signs a contract to work for Goldman Sachs and tells his manager he doesn’t want to work anymore unless he is paid a substantial amount more or is transferred to a West Coast office, the company would probably fire the individual. Logan Mankins, a New England Patriots lineman, refused to show up for half of the NFL season because he was frustrated with contract negotiations for the future. Even though he was bound to play for the full 2010 season, he decided that it was fair to his teammates and the fans to hold out and ignore his final year, feeling slighted that he was not offered a suitable contract
Party Time
BY BEN VADNAL
in advance. That is not what business, respect, or manhood are all about. Fans then rewarded him by electing him to the Pro Bowl. But the media treats these decisions as commonplace. In fact, it encourages athletes to sit upon a thrown of hypocrisy and spit bits of jargoned wisdom to their audiences below, while refusing to hold themselves to similar standards. In fact, the personal lives of athletes have begun to dwarf their on-field performances. Discussing how Chad Johnson changes his last name as many times as Kanye West changes clothes in between Grammy performances becomes more of a headline than the actual highlights of “Ochocinco’s” declining play. I didn’t know that E News merged with ESPN, but athletes are utilizing social media to prolong their shelf lives. Hundreds of thousands of people listen to Jose Canseco, despite his distance from the sport of baseball. The most controversial public statements no longer come from news conferences but from the Twitter account of LeBron James. Furthermore, even athletes who have yet to make it big attempt to embrace a limelight that has yet to embrace them. Let’s take former BC quarterback Justin Tuggle for example. If you ever need to kill twenty minutes just follow him on Twitter (@takeover_tuggle). Make sure you’re fully dehydrated before you do, or you run the risk of peeing yourself in laughter. Here are my five favorite tweets from the K-State transfer, in no particular order. 1. “You get money and you get crazy, I get crazy and I get money.” 2. “If you hustle you struggle and if you struggle then you hustle.” 3. “Love me or Hate me either way I’ma do me.” 4. “Dude beside me just paid for $2 worth of gas ... c’mon bruh atleast get a gallon.” 5. “S/O to all my followers who have tattoos.” But can we blame Tuggle for think-
ing people are seriously concerned with his every move? Is it degrading to address people as “my followers” on Twitter when you’re just a college athlete? By turning on the television, he probably thinks he is accurately fitting the part of an up-and-coming athlete. If people listen to Michael Vick’s wise words, then the second best option must be Tuggle, right? This year’s NBA Slam Dunk contest quickly turned into a game of who could take the longest to tie their shoes on national television. We get it. You’re wearing new Reebok sneakers. Now dunk the ball before an actual commercial break for Reebok shoes interrupts the competition. It was awesome that Blake Griffen managed to jump over a car, but how many cars do you think Kia gave him to use one of the company’s models? What was once for many athletes a pure love of the game has morphed into narcissism at the sight of dollar signs. ESPN The Magazine recently did a poll asking various athletes if they would endorse a product they didn’t believe in. The majority of them replied that they would if the money was right. If the media keeps publicizing and glamorizing the selfish behavior of athletes instead of criticizing their decline as role models, then the pollution of professional athletics will continue. Much of the magic from the days of Larry Bird and Michael Jordan are over. It’s no longer a question of who will dive into the stands for the ball or who will play with the flu to win a playoff game, but who will be paid the most for what he wears on his feet. It’s only a matter of time until all NBA players wear sunglasses like Amar’e Stoudemire, who has suffered from multiple eye injuries. The only difference is that they will be doing so to block the glare of their own limelights. C.J. Gustafson is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
A fresh perspective Tim O’Connor No one likes taxes. Seriously, I promise. Even those of us on the left, who support raising taxes, really don’t like paying them. Filling out my returns in early February, I was a bit incensed to see precisely how much money I had earned and not received – there it was, right on the page, taunting me. Taxes are something that are easy to rally against – the IRS floods your mailbox every year like the financial grim reaper, and it’s suddenly time to fill out the 1080EZ or Form H – Proof of Massachusetts Health Insurance. The entire thing, from having to give up a bit of that hard-earned cash to filling out the forms, is just a miserable pain in the butt. Taxes are easy to hate, which makes them an ideal political bull’s eyes. “I support tax cuts” is a statement few would disagree with – it means more money for me, right? Well, no. To the politician who supports tax cuts, a more prudent voter response would be “Tax cuts for whom? For how long? How much money will the government lose, and where will the budget shortfall come from? What programs will be impacted?” Very few people took the time to ask these questions in the 2010 elections, and now some people, such as Governor Scott Walker, are providing some answers that most of us are not too happy with. In the case of Wisconsin, the “for whom” was business. Extolling the virtues of making Wisconsin a “business friendly” environment, Walker granted $117 million in cuts to businesses, and is now battling a $160 million shortfall which he hopes to remedy by busting unions and reducing public employees’ salaries by 6 percent (pensions for Wisconsin public employees are deferred pay. The employee earns the money, and then gives it back to the government for safekeeping.). Walker plans on increasing the amount an employee must contribute without increasing the benefits received. Employees specifically negotiated a lower salary in order to secure good benefit programs, and Walker is now using these very benefits as proof that union members are overcompensated. Plans like those of Walker come from misguided faith in the free market. Many who rally against taxes seem to think the egalitarian “invisible hand” will create a just society, Adam Smith promised nothing but an efficient market. The purpose of a business entity is to make money, pure and simple, and our businesses are good at it. Some business do make a deliberate attempt to engage in social issues on the side, but trusting in business to make sure that everyone receives a livable wage? Come on. Wal-Mart deliberately instructs employees to seek food stamps and government aid, even while doling out money to politicians who seek to dismantle these programs. As pundits and analysts tell us “the economy is back on track,” the U6 measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers who are no longer applying for jobs, as well as underemployed workers (which will include you and me when we graduate with a degree that isn’t from CSOM and have to settle for a part-time retail job), is sitting at 17 percent. There is an entire segment of the population that is quite literally removed from the workforce, and at the pace we are “recovering,” there will never be room for them again. Meanwhile, businesses seek more tax cuts, perpetually promising more jobs that never seem to come. Steve Jobs recently joined a list of CEOs that also includes Google’s Erik Schmidt in lobbying the Obama administration for a “tax holiday.” As long as companies keep foreign earnings outside of the country, they can continuously defer paying taxes to the United States. Jobs and his peers have proposed a one-year period where companies can bring cash into the U.S. from foreign accounts while paying very little or no taxation. The message to the American people? “We’ve been evading taxes for years, and if you want us to hire you, you had better let us get away with it.” In 1952, the highest marginal tax bracket was 92 percent. For every dollar of income earned over $400,000, 92 cents of it went to the federal government. Paradoxically, the same people who claim that a tax rate higher than the current rate of 35 percent will bring the country to ruin extol the post-war era as one of unparalleled prosperity. Since 1979 the average household income for someone in the top 1 percent of earners has increased by $2 million, while the bottom 80 percent have stagnated. This country’s greatest strength has always been found in a strong middle and working class, and in order to help make that a reality today, we need to seriously reevaluate our fiscal policy. Tim O’Connor is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
The Heights
A8
Monday, February 28, 2011
Lackluster and poorly written, ‘Drive Angry’ stalls By Stephen Choi For The Heights
Anyone who has seen the movies on Nicholas Cage’s resume recently had no expectations when walking in to see Drive Angry 3-D. Perhaps the bar being set so low is the reason that this movie was particularly painful. Director Patrick Lussier certainly Drive Angry 3D: achieved something: Patrick Lussier The creation Millenium Films of a movie even more terrifying than D-Wars and Scary Movie 3. And for those who wondered whether the 3-D aspect would be redeeming, it wasn’t. Lussier seems to have created Drive Angry as an attempt to compensate for a lack of substance with violence. The first scenes are dominated by guns, explosions, and blown-off body parts. The movie’s chance at success, however, ended when Nicholas Cage began speaking. His poorly written lines seem to have come from a script scribbled on a napkin with crayon writ-
D-
ten by Forrest Gump during the Vietnam War. After being in decent films such as Con Air and National Treasure, Cage proves how wrong we are to hold any hopes of him redeeming his career. The movie’s target audience is screamingly obvious as the next few moments introduces a female lead in Amber Heard. Her character, Piper, exemplifies the angry, violent tomboy with a pretty face and a stellar body: everything a 21-year-old guy could want in a female protagonist. The character development in this story is about as interesting as tapioca. This is an unfair statement, though, as you could hardly expect too much characters so poorly written. The bottom line is that good movies should allow audiences to relate to an aspect of a character. Cage’s character is Milton, a middle aged, silent killer with social issues that cause him to be a reclusive freak. He is initially on a quest to find a mysterious person, his intentions being unknown until the plot develops further. He meets Piper, a young woman with an equal number of problems. She gives
him a ride to help his search but ends up being mixed into his journey through an unfortunate turn of events. While Cage and Heard are looking for this elusive person another man seems to be chasing Cage. William Fichtner plays the eerie and positively exacerbating character known only to us as the “accountant.” Honestly, by the end of the movie, the absolute havoc that ensues is somewhat comforting as it foretells the quickly approaching end of the movie. And so the movie ended. Looking back there were two things that truly stood out of this movie: the dialogue, and the portrayal of Central and Southern America. As far as one can tell from the movie, every person from Colorado to Florida either has the no intelligence or is a devil worshipper. Yes, devil worshipper. Just when you think that a movie cannot fall any lower, the director throws something like devil worshipping into the hole and you sink another five hundred feet. This is a decent watch only for anyone who simply wants to see mindless sex and gore. There is a scene where Nicholas Cage simultaneously shares passionate
‘The Illusionist’ casts a winning spell
Courtesy of allmoviephoto.com
Nicholas Cage continues his spiral into obscurity with this terrible, contrived movie. moments with a waitress, performs acrobatic maneuvers, and kills 10 guys with weapons. He even gets cattle-prodded in this little episode. This movie is about 50 percent violence, 30 percent bad dialogue, and 20 percent sex and nudity. And bad dialogue means lines that are on par with creativity of a middle school boy.
Ultimately, viewers will see Drive Angry only because they were hoping for the redemption of Nicolas Cage. However if you have absolutely, nothing else to do, want a good laugh (a warped sense of humor might be required), and want to take a match to the dollar bills being spent on this film, avoid this movie at all costs. n
Box Office Report title
weekend gross
weeks in release
1 photos courtesy of allmoviephoto.com
1. Gnomeo & Juliet
14.2
3
2. Hall Pass
13.4
1
3. Unknown
12.4
2
Courtesy of Allmoviephoto.com
In any other year, ‘The Illusionist’ would take home the Oscar for Best Animated Picture for its stunning and beautifully drawn characters. By Brennan Carley
Assoc. Arts & Review Editor Though not as flashy as Toy Story 3 or How To Train Your Dragon, the third Best Animated Picture nominee, The Illusionist, charms and sparkles with melancholy. Largely dialoguefree and wonderfully drawn, the film explores the life of a The Illusionist: disenchanted Sylvain Chomet French maPathe gician who wanders to Scotland. In a tiny village in the highlands of the country, he stumbles upon an enthralling girl who changes his life forever. Director Sylvain Chomet, he of The Triplets of Bellville fame, took the screenplay from the now-deceased Jacques Tati, finally bringing the screenwriter’s posthumous career to a close. Apparently, Tati thought it would best be filmed as a live-action picture, but animation suits the plot perfectly. No actor would be able to encapsulate the frazzled, yet sweetly endearing nature of the unnamed Illusionist. As the movie opens, we catch a glimpse of the aging man’s act, a sad but surely once spectacular show that now seems outdated and stale. Yes, the quickness of the old man’s hand still manages to mildly impress his miniscule audience, but it becomes abundantly clear that the magician is out of touch with the trends of the times. Dejected and down on his luck, the illu-
B+ B+
sionist continues his travels to the highlands of Scotland. The scenes depicting his journey are a delight to watch. When he arrives in the small Scottish village, he stays at an inn and performs at a local pub, pulling coins out of travelling children’s ears, amusing them as the train chugs slowly across the countryside. Upon returning to his room, he finds a young girl, Alice, sweeping his floor. Being his genial self, he plucks a coin from her ear and deposits it into her quivering hand. Dashing out of the room with squeals of joy, the girl rips her shoe on a nail protruding from the creaky floorboards, an interesting spark that acts as a catalyst in her friendship with the magician. Thus begins the films exploration of the relationship between an elderly man and Alice. The movie’s stance on the pair stands at odds with how society would view such a thing in today’s world. The magician brings Alice with him back to Edinburgh, bestowing lavish gifts like brand new red shoes and a glamorous red coat on the much younger girl. In return, she cooks and cleans his room for him, accompanies him to his still sparsely attended shows. He takes Alice under his wing, treating her like the daughter he never had. He picks up odd jobs at all hours of the day and night so he can treat her like a princess, but never expects anything in return. However, as the girl grows older, the dynamic of their friendship changes for the worse. She grows more distant, seeking out the company of boys instead of her makeshift father. The film from that point begins a
downward spiral into melancholy once again as the illusionist realizes that he can no longer keep up with the dynamic young generation. One of the film’s most impressive feats is its subtle criticism of the ever changing popular culture. At different times, The Illusionist manages to touch upon the flapper girls of the 1920s and the 1960s boy bands (with a sound uncannily like that of The Monkees). The old man’s sighs as he wearily trudges onstage after the raucous young band’s speak to a rapidly growing consensus about the state of Top 40 music. In the movie, the illusionist himself takes on the role of a nation’s disregard for this “throwaway” culture. In a fantastically depressing subplot, the lives of several minor vaudevillian performers are explored, exposing a truly depressing subculture. Several other carnies reside at the illusionist’s hotel, including a frumpy, frowning clown and a surely mentally unstable ventriloquist with multiple personalities. Drawn with the mannerisms of a stumbling drunk, the ventriloquist is sharply juxtaposed with his snappy dummy, a squawking fellow who resembles his owner only in appearance. It is astounding what great strides such a simple, dialogue free film like The Illusionist can make, armed only with stunning animation and a deceptively simple plot. In a perfect world, more audiences would discover the marvelous movie, but sadly, Toy Story 3 and Pixar seem poised to dominated animation for the foreseeable future. n
2 4. Just Go With it
6 11.1
3
5. I Am number four
11
2
6. Justin Bieber: Never Say never
9.2
3
7. the king’s speech
7.6
14
8. Big MOmmas: like Father, Like son
7.6
2
9. drive angry
5.1
1
10. The roommate
2.1
4
bestsellers of hardcover fiction 1. tick tock James Patterson 2. a discovery of witches Deborah Harkness 3. the girl who kicked the hornets’ nest Stieg Larsson 4. the help Kathryn Stockett 5. Dead or alive Tim Clancey
6. the inner circle Brad Meltzer 7. The Secret Soldier Alex Berenson 8. the confession John Grisham 9. Strategis Moves Stuart Woods
SOURCE: Publisher’s Weekly
A blast from the not so distant past: an ’80s boom By Dan Siering
Have you ever had the feeling that you were born in the wrong generation? Do you ever put on some Eddie Money or Madonna and get a little teary-eyed that the general public does not accept the wearing of Zoobas or the frizzed out sideways ponytail? Well, from my perspective, Gen X’ers, Hollywood feels your pain, and they’re doing everything possible to appease your desire for a time machine. Over the past few years, movie theatres have been flooded with period pieces set in the ’70s and ’80s. Ranging from the slapstick to the melodramatic, Hollywood has found that cashing in on moviegoers’ nostalgia is quite a profitable business. And, just like any other lucrative genre, movie studios will keep drinking from the well until it is bone dry. So, whether you like it or not, be prepared for the period pieces to keep on flowing. Let’s look at a couple on the near horizon. This Friday marks the opening of the raunchy ’80s comedy Take Me Home Tonight, starring Topher Grace and Anna Farris. The film is set in
1988 and has Grace as a MIT grad hesitant to make the step into the real world, working at a dreary video store. Grace’s dull existence gets a jolt of life when he runs into his high school crush, played by Aussie bombshell Teresa Palmer. After a couple white lies about his occupation, Palmer invites Grace to a big “last hoorah” party of the summer. Accompanied by his sister, Farris, and his old buddy, played by Dan Fogler, Grace looks to win the heart of Palmer as drunken hysteria ensues at the mammoth party. Alright, I get the joke. It’s funny to watch people prance around in ’80s attire as they perform all sorts of crazy dances. But making the decade the butt of the joke is a stunt has been done so many times before. It looks like the filmmakers simply smashed together the ’80s flavor of Hot Tub Time Machine and the last-big-party-ofour-lives mentality from Can’t Hardly Wait (a gem from the ’90s teen comedy era for those who are not familiar). So what does this seemingly cookie-cutter retro comedy have to offer? One thing is a strong cast. Perhaps aside from Kristen Wiig, I find Anna Farris to be the funniest women in showbiz.
Fogler also looks like an actor who can hold a lot of the comedic burden, and Palmer is an up-and-comer that might be surprisingly pleasant. Take Me Home could be saved from mediocrity if the writers can whip up some fresh and witty banter for these characters. Now shifting into the Indie realm, let me introduce you to Skateland. Also set in the ’80s, this coming of age nostalgic feast, which stars Red Riding Hood’s Shiloh Fernandez and Ashley Green of Twilight fame, tells the tale of a group of twenty-somethings who work at a hip roller derby. As the days of groovy roller dancing come to a close, the skate rink shuts down and Fernandez is forced to find a job and a future. The film’s trailer is packed with shots of cool parties and talks of mixtapes and road trips. Despite being backed by “40 Day Dream,” a song by one of my favorite bands Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, it’s still hard for me to find a lot of originality as I read the plotline. This film, along with Take Me Home, has a story that treads too closely to the severely witty comedies of the past. Guy is living an unfulfilling life. Guy finds intriguing Girl. Budding romance
and heartbreak ensues. Guy’s buddy says a couple quirky lines about love and growing up, and everyone in the end gains some perspective on their life. Now, don’t get me wrong, some of the movies that follow this thread rank among my favorites. But how much longer can these coming-of-age period
pieces stay fresh and entertaining? We’ll see where we stand after Take Me Home Tonight and Skateland dip into the well.
Dan Siering is a Heights columnist. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
Courtesy of Allmoviephoto.com
Dan Fogler joins the growing trend of movies paying homage to the `80s this year.
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
A9
Comedy troupes excel in Boston Comedy Beanpot, from A10
bag faced similar levels of difficulty in a minute-long skit that then had cidentally” gets stabbed brought non- to be reenacted in 30 seconds, then stop laughs for the rest of the scene’s ten seconds, and finally one second. duration. Another great moment came The fact that both teams could acwhen CCE’s Laura Gennarelli, LSOE complish these skits, while still being ’11, Stephen Buckley, A&S ’12, and funny, attests to their sharp comedic Donald Chang, A&S abilities. ’12 performed a scene Both teams adBoth teams admirably mirably about the making of a passed the passed the first round, first round, with hot dog in the style of a samurai film. When placing first with CCE placing first CCE is presenting a hot on Thursday and dog as a fine delicacy on Thursday and moving moving directly to and a “swordfight” directly to the semifinals the semifinals and with condiment botMy Mother’s Fleaand My Mother’s Fleabag bag placing second tles not funny? These two skits, placing second on Friday on Friday and adhilarious and awevancing to a round some as they were, and advancing to a round for a wildcard spot are merely two exin the semifinals. for a wildcard spot in amples of the level My Mother’s Fleathe semifinals. Either of humor and skill bag tied the Fairthat went into most way, both teams strongly f i e l d Un ive rs i ty of each teams’ many team in the wildrepresented Boston skits. The Beanpot card round before College by bringing the losing in a close rules amp up the level of difficulty past anytie-breaker round funny. thing that one can that was poorlysee at a CCE or My o rc h e s t ra te d by Mother’s Fleabag improv show. Each Improv Boston. CCE stayed neck-andteam is given either 60 or 90 seconds neck with Dartmouth College’s team in to put on a scene that begins with sev- the semifinals, but also lost partially eral restrictions. One scene had four due to poorly-judged and explained CCE members create characters that games. Either way, both teams strongly had to die four very specific deaths in represented BC by bringing the funny, a minute and a half, with one being even under the most difficult circum“death by bush.” My Mother’s Flea- stances. n
Courtesy of Google.com
Paul Giamatti joins Boston College alumnus and director Tom McCarthy for his latest film ‘Win Win,’ the story of a high school wrestler.
McCarthy talks ‘Win Win’ McCarthy, from A10
Cannavale as a beleaguered bachelor / goofball balance Giamatti’s and Ryan’s urgent performances. Win Win will ease you with refreshing humor, challenge you with the character’s unique and shifting familial roles, and awe you with its raw wrestling scenes (the lead boy Alex Shaffer is actually a New Jersey 119-pound division state wrestling champion). Last week, I sat down with McCarthy in a roundtable interview to discuss casting, how to trust actors, and his unhealthy obsession with New Jersey High School wrestling. Zak Jason: All of your movies so far seem to focus on these unique relationships that form between people. Where does that theme come from? Tom McCarthy: Really I think many of the people are very, very ordinary if you really look at them. Maybe if you look outside of Peter Dinklage’s character [in the The Station Agent], because he’s a dwarf and wanted to live in a train depot. But I think outside of that they’re pretty ordinary people with unique personalities, and in bumping up against each other they reveal something about themselves. I’m interested in that, ordinary people and the extraordinary moments that develop between them. The stories that might fall between the cracks sometimes, that aren’t sensational, necessarily. ZJ: Did you have the actors in mind when writing this script? TM: Most of them. I really had Amy Ryan in mind early on, and Bobby [Cannavale]. Paul [Giamatti], I wasn’t sure. I’ve known Paul for a long time. We went
to school together, we went to the Drama School together. I had two options. One was a classical leading man, who’s fading a little bit, and trying to hold on to that, or someone like Paul, who’s kind of an everyman kind of guy. As we got down to the end of the process, he just felt right. I could hear his voice a lot in writing these lines. That’s the real tell, if you just sit with the script and you go, that’s the voice I’m hearing. Plus we’re great friends and I thought it was a great opportunity for us. We had never worked in that capacity together. It’s always interesting. You know, you have a buddy, I’ve known Paul 20 years now, and suddenly you’re like, all right now, director-actor, but it was a pretty seamless transition. ZJ: Did you know when Alex came in that he was the one? TM: He stuck out. We didn’t know he was the one for quite a while. We didn’t know if he could act. That was a process. But he definitely stuck out, with the hair alone, which he came in with. ZJ: What experience as an actor do you take most when you’re behind that camera when you’re working with actors? TM: I think it’s trusting actors in their choices and not trying to dictate. There comes a point when the actors take on the characters that they know more than you do as a writer or as a director. It’s not to say they don’t need directing and guidance, but trusting that and letting go. It’s a scary thing to do. ZJ: For most of the male characters wrestling is a great therapy. Did that come from personal experience or from your research at all?
TM: I will say Joe and I, when we started researching, we went to high school practices and matches and tournaments and we got so into it. I mean it was unhealthy. It was like, “Dude there’s that kid, that kid’s so cool.” There’s a 103-pounder walking by and your like, “that kid’s a warrior.” It’s funny because we went to high school with the guys who are now coaches and running programs. In fact the principal of New Providence High School was a friend of ours from high school. It’s escapism. Just like watching sports is. It is a release. I think that’s also why people watch sports. It’s why they go to matches or games and scream their heads off. It’s all those things, and I think it comes at a time when these two men specifically, Terry and Mike, really need it. ZJ: You’ve talked about the moments of quiet humanity that come through in your films. I was wondering if that comes from your roots as an actor. TM: I think it’s trusting actors and trusting actors to fill space, not feeling like you have to over-orchestrate every scene, especially with dialogue. I think movies can afford to take their time. You have to be economical about it. Ultimately, what it comes down to is a challenge for my editor and I, because I’ll have a movie at this pace and you would get bored if you watched it all. So we have to find a way to keep the movie moving and to keep the threads alive. The audience, even if they don’t know it, you always want them to feel that they’re at safe hands. If not, then it’s tough to keep them emotionally involved. Win Win opens March 25. n
New playwrights emerge ‘Voices’, from A10
Courtesy of Google.com
Clinton Kelly offered a candid opinion on fashion and television to students at BC last week.
TLC’s Kelly speaks Kelly, from A10
ended up being on. SW: Oh, fantastic. Of course after Boston College you moved onto Chicago and went to Northwestern where you got a Master’s in journalism. I feel like I know your whole bio now, but what was your next career move after getting your masters? CK: I got a job as an assistant editor at a magazine called Sports Style, which doesn’t even exist anymore. But it was a trade magazine about the sporting men’s industry. But you know it was slim pickings because the economy wasn’t so great at the time, but I thought, ‘This is kind of a fun magazine.’ The way they did it was actually great. It wasn’t your typical trade magazine that was boring. So it was a fun trade magazine, and the company that published it also published Women’s Wear Daily, and I thought maybe one day I can weasel my wear in there. SW: Did you always know you wanted to work in fashion? CK: No. SW: No? CK: (laughs) No, not at all! I had no desire to work in fashion at all. I just really wanted to write about whatever people would pay me to write about. SW: So after working in journalism for so long how did you branch out into TLC’s What Not to Wear? CK: Well I ended up being a freelance writer and freelance editor for many years and I got tired of the freelance lifestyle. It’s hard, you’ve got to pound the pavement all the time to try get work. I decided to try to get a job on the staff of a magazine, and I just ended up getting a job at Marie Claire. And I started to have a toe in fashion and then I got a job at Mademoiselle and got a
little more involved with fashion there and from there I got a job at a magazine called DNR, which doesn’t exist, but it was a menswear fashion magazine, and so it all just kind of happened to me. SW: What’s it like working with your co-host Stacy London? CK: Stacy’s great. I mean, we have a very complex relationship I guess you could say. We’ve been working together for so many years now, and we really went through some very difficult times together. I mean, of course we had fun, but there were times that we were working so much that we just were emotionally and physically exhausted. But we were always there for each other, and we always make each other laugh. To this day, we still make each other laugh every day and, you know, that’s a great working environment. SW: There have been so many makeover shows that have aired on television that have quickly gone off. What sets your show apart, why do you think, in its eighth season, it is doing so well? CK: Because it’s not about the clothes. It’s really about the person’s journey and making sure that the message matches the person. You know, like, making sure you’re getting everything you want out of your life through clothes. And I know that sounds weird but it’s really important that you refine your message, so if you want people to think you’re smart, if you want people to think you are sexy, if you want people to think you are really hardworking – there are ways to show that through your clothing. So we are all about refining the message and, you know, it’s about somebody’s journey. Over a course of a week, people on What Not To Wear go through a major emotional journey. For full interview, tune in for the BCTV interview or look on bctv.com. n
man is taking up residence there. Mara’s blind brother Matt, portrayed by Steven Kreager, A&S ’12, who never slips from character, comes to visit after their mother’s funeral. Matt catches Hondo, played by Owen Grover, A&S ’12, the old man invading Mara’s apartment, in action one day, and they discover that he has been living in the basement, claiming the house was his childhood home. Mara decides to help Hondo, and he moves in with them in a strange, and slightly unrealistic, plot twist. Mara’s constant hand twitch and her go-to pose of staring at the ceiling in frustration got a little old at time. Although, considering that she was cast in this role as a freshman, she showed a lot of potential for development, though she needs to refine her performance. The highpoint of the performance was also one of the strangest pieces of dialogue in the show. Hondo admits to visiting the grave of Matt and Mara’s mother, to try and know her better. Despite the oddity of this action, Hondo gives a
short monologue on what he believes to be the meaning of life. On the tombstone, between the date of birth and the date of death he says that the dash that separates them is such a small scratch on a piece of stone, but represents all of the life she lived, every day and every action. Hondo speaks eloquently here about how death minimizes the moments of our lives to a small indentation on a grave marker. These moments were juxtaposed with more ridiculous ones, such as when Matt and Hondo spoke late one night over Whiskey about life, and Hondo, passionately angry, attacks and chokes Matt. After a short break, Chase 304 took the stage as the Bonn Theater was transformed into a college dorm room. It proved to be a piece that could be very well received by any girl currently enrolled at college, since many of the trials and tribulations these eight girls encountered are common. The set was completely authentic, down to the bras strewn on the floor, the David Beckham poster, the Longchamp bags, and the abundance of clothing and toiletries.
Classic music lives Chorale, from A10
The concert switched gears again after a few more songs, including Handel’s easily recognizable “Hallelujah!” The second third of the concert devoted itself to French composers. The chorale started this section off with three highly different motets from composer Maurice Durufle. The women took the reigns for most of these songs, especially in the middle motet, “Tota pulchra es.” The chorale busted out the big guns again to sing two selections from Dubois’s The Seven Last Words of Christ. The huge differences between these two songs provided the best display of the chorale’s singing range. The first song, “Sitio!,” begins with Anthony Papetti, BC ’11, delivering the titular word in a deep, reverberating voice before being answered by an angry chorus. Following this song about a crowd denouncing Jesus, “Adoremus te, Christe” features the chorale singing in a softer, noticeably sorrowful way. The shift in tone of voice between these two pieces was spectacular. To end the show, the chorale had chosen a final segment of American hymns. While these may not have been recognized by the audience, they were the first songs that could be linguistically understood
by everyone. Even better, these songs are markedly happier than earlier selections, thus ending the concert on a relatively lighter note. Aaron Copland’s “Simple Gifts” was another opportunity for the chorale to highlight the vast difference between high-note singers and deep-voice singers. Perhaps the best selection of this last group was the pleasant African American spiritual, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit.” This peaceful song sounded like a piece out of O Brother, Where Art Thou? The University Chorale’s Winter Concert then went out with a bang by singing “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” This final song highlighted every singing group at one point, ending on a high note sung by the entire chorale. For a Saturday afternoon, the chorale concert proved a much different weekend activity than party-hopping or getting caught up on schoolwork or sleep. The event introduced a welcome change into the average college weekend. The chorale sang pieces that many students will probably not have heard before, but this detail becomes unimportant once the audience is introduced to the chorale’s jaw-dropping talent. To hear the chorale perform, be sure to attend its Spring Concert on April 16. n
It felt real, and could have easily been an exact replication of any girl’s dorm here at BC. The dialogue in this show was not always quite as authentic as the scene where it took place. Though the issues discussed were relatable to real life, like boyfriends, hookups, eating, abuse, and many others, sometimes the language felt a little phony, and the delivery a little forced. There were some moments where things got very real, and an audience member almost felt ashamed to be listening to such a private conversation. It was in these moments that Chase 304 really shone. If these two shows are looked at as a Zeitgeist of the current feelings of college students today, we should be encouraged, as these plays represent very different people going through very different struggles, but who find support and hope in others. The shows are strikingly different, though they fit very nicely together, offering a true representation of the “New Voices” that are in fact emerging on campus. n
arts&review
A10
Monday, February 28, 2011
An Industry Thing
Wicked Cultured
The social rejects
A
fter humble beginnings at Boston College, writer, director, and actor Tom McCarthy, BC ’88, and television stylist Clinton Kelly, BC ’91, returned to the Heights to speak about their experiences in the Hollywood industry. From Corcoran Commons to Hollywood Hills, these two alumni emphasize the hard work that goes into achievement and the idea that creativity can breed success. These two make a bold statement about what members of the BC arts community can do. Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted between Zak Jason and Tom McCarthy.
Charlotte Parish Status update: Charlotte Parish thinks that James Franco and Anne Hathaway were the oddest hosts to ever hit the stage and that The Social Network got undeservedly ignored by the Academy. While I’m not surprised that The King’s Speech stole a few awards out from under the Network, I was shocked that Network only won for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Score. While three Oscars is not a bad haul, these feel like throw away awards, an apology from the Academy (read: old white men who love stodgy British films) for not giving Network the big awards that they deserved over Speech. That isn’t to say that I’m against Speech – Colin Firth was fantastic and broke my heart as the stuttering King Charles VI, but Network easily won my true affection with a well placed BU jab in the first minutes and the heavily Boston-based setting. It’s not just for the nostalgia, though, that I think Mark Zuckerberg’s best form of advertising ever (he might have not come off well, but any publicity is good publicity) should have taken home some more statuettes tonight. First comes the award after which I literally threw a water bottle at the TV – Best Actor. Though Colin Firth won me over with his adorable bit about wanting to dance for joy, I do not think that playing a stuttering, emotionally stunted royal earned him the Oscar in comparison to Jesse Eisenberg’s portrayal of the Facebook tycoon. Eisenberg makes a nerdy, arguably cutthroat, and socially inept computer science Harvard undergrad into a fascinating character. You don’t hate Zuckerberg despite what he does to his best friend Eduardo, and I was frankly fascinated trying to understand the mechanisms of a mind that created the “ultimate social experience online” but did not understand the human aspect of his creation one bit. But, worse than Eisenberg getting rejected (to be perfectly honest, I was ultimately pulling for James Franco despite his hosting incapabilities) was the inexplicable choice of Tom Hooper over David Fincher. Hooper created a beautiful film out of a story that was already compelling for its historical importance and human connection. But ultimately, answer this question: In 10 years will people remember The King’s Speech or The Social Network? By 2020, Facebook will most likely have taken over the world, literally, so the movie that made its binary origins into a thriller will be far more memorable. Fincher took a Harvard boy sitting in front of a screen and crafted a film that is exciting, suspenseful, funny, and dramatic all in one. It even stirred up a settled lawsuit by the Winklevi twins (the pet name for the hilarious Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss pair played by Armie Hammer). I won’t disparage the trophies that Network did take home – three Oscars of any variety is an impressive achievement. I was particularly thrilled that the catchy bars of Trent Reznor got the respect they deserve. After all, if I couldn’t stop humming the theme for nearly two weeks, it deserved an award. I suppose I also have to concede that just being nominated is a validation of the film’s excellence unto itself. After all, that’s what Eisenberg and Fincher will have to repeat over the next few days to the countless reporters who ask how they feel about losing. How do you think they feel after losing the most prestigious award in film? Beantown will certainly be tearing up on their behalf because Network – with the gorgeous shots of the Charles River (Winklevi twins rowing away) and numerous references to clubs and bars that all Boston undergrads will recognize – was shunned by the Academy. At the very least, the unsung heros of Network can mutter under their breath in a snotty British accent for a few weeks to relieve some of the hard feelings.
Charlotte Parish is the Assistant Arts & Review editor of The Heights. She can be reached at arts@bcheights.com
Tom McCarthy, BC ’88, former Newton Campus resident and member of My Mother’s Fleabag, has emerged as one of today’s premiere indie filmmakers. After The Station Agent (2003) and The Visitor (2007), he has released his third film Win Win. Paul Giamatti plays a lawyer scrambling to keep his practice, his family, and the high school wrestling team he coaches afloat. When a bungled case leads him and his wife, a commanding Amy Ryan, to take care of an abandoned, bleach blond, tattooed, 15-year-old with a tenacious wrestling background, all facets of their lives venture in unexplored and exciting directions. Supporting roles from deadpan Jeffrey Tambor (Arrested Development) as assistant wrestling coach and Bobby
Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted between Stephanie Winiarski and Clinton Kelly. Stephanie Winiarski: [Clinton,] what’s it like being on campus today? Clinton Kelly: It’s a little weird, to be honest with you. I went to school here 20 years ago, and in so many ways it seems like yesterday, but yet 20 years have passed by. That’s kind of bizarre. I feel like I’m in a little bit of a time warp. But it’s cool, it’s funny. The campus seems a little smaller to me and the students seem a little bit younger. SW: But is there any place you have to visit every time when you come back? CK: I just like seeing my favorite professors. Every time come back I make sure that I meet with Ann Marie Barry and Bob Chibka that were really my two favorite professors when I was here and were very instrumental on setting me on the path I
See McCarthy, A9
See Kelly, A9
Fleabag and CCE compete in city-wide Beanpot By Joe Allen Heights Staff
What is the Comedy Beanpot? No, it isn’t hockey players trying their hands at stand-up. For three nights, Improv Boston in Cambridge hosts a tournament where improv comedy troupes from several local colleges compete for the most laughs and the first place trophy. This year, Boston College’s own Committee for Creatove Enactments and My Mother’s Fleabag joined the competition in what proved to be a fine weekend of comedy.
CCE and My Mother’s Fleabag began in the preliminary rounds separately on Thursday and Friday, respectively. There, each of BC’s teams competed against three other schools to advance to the Saturday night semifinals. But how can improv comedy be judged, one might ask? As it turns out, the system that used to award each team points was far from perfect. Three judges, each with a background in comedy, would be looking for three separate things in each skit. One judge graded each skit on story. Did the character relationships make sense? A second would rate the team’s skill
of the scene (how well the teams used the rules of the game). The final judge awarded points solely for how funny the skit was. Each judge awarded one to five points per skit, and the team with the most points at the end advances to the semifinals. The problem with this system was that each judge varied widely in what he/she thought of as skillful and funny, and the judges often gave strange, long-winded reasons when asked why they gave a certain point total. For example, judges graded harshly on one story because the scene did not “move him.” Since when did drama take
precedence over comedy in improv? In the end, this arbitrary scoring system means little. People go to improv shows to laugh, not to obsess over a scoreboard. So, were BC’s two beanpot teams funny? Short answer: yes. My Mother’s Fleabag’s Molly Marotta, A&S ’13, and Lou Wilson, A&S ’14, were uproarious as the ever-calm grandma and her questionably violent relative in a skit about a family staging a bloody war-reenactment. The chaos that ensues after one of the family members “ac-
See Comedy Beanpot, A9
‘Voices’ showcases new BC student playwrights By Therese Tully Heights Editor
Nestled in the dimly light Bonn Studio, tales of struggle were performed by students at Boston College. What made these shows different is that both pieces were student written by undergraduates here at BC. New Voices 2011, which showcased these two pieces in one evening, encouraged the continued creativity of ambitious, young playwrights. The two pieces – The Missing Piece, written by Riley Madincea, A&S ’11, and Chase 304, written by Meghan Crosby, A&S ’12, were in striking contrast, though at the heart of each was hope. The evening began with The Missing Piece, which, according to the program, took place vaguely “in the past,” though carried with it a pertinent message for the present. The Missing Piece was simple and artistic, and powerful at times. It unfolded flawlessly and each “missing piece of the puzzle” was revealed to the audience slowly throughout, as an actual puzzle lay on the kitchen table and progressed right alongside the plot, mirroring the passage of time. The play touched upon issues of loss and bitterness, but also hope and charity towards others. All of the action took place in the old timey kitchen of Mara, played by Maggie Kearnan, A&S ’14. It is after Mara leaves the house for the first time that the audience discovers that a hunched over old
See ‘Voices’, A9
Alex trautwig / heights editor
Two BC seniors wrote plays and presented them in ‘New Voices 2011’ in Robsham Theater.
i nside Arts this issue
Astounding animation shines in Illusionist
An aging magician discovers the true meaning of companionship in this wonderfully hand-drawn film.............A8
Andrew powell / heights staff
The University Chorale performed a medley of classical pieces by artists like Mozart.
Chorale enchants all with beautiful vocals By Joe Allen Heights Staff
As great as Wiz Khalifa’s “Black and Yellow” may be to dance to with that random person at some off-campus party on a Friday night, it can’t exactly be called a beautiful work of art. The truth is that many of us have given up on classical music altogether. Where can someone listen to these true “oldies” without being yelled at for “ruining” Boston College’s seemingly constant dance party mood? Why, at our University Chorale’s Winter Concert, of course! The latest concert of BC’s University Chorale, which took place Saturday afternoon in St. Ignatius Church, injected a new livelihood into works from famous composers such as W.A. Mozart and Gabriel Fuare. John Finney, who also conducts the BC Symphony Orchestra, directed this hour-long concert, with Jennifer McPherson, College of the Holy Cross ’13, accompanying each song on the organ. The concert’s real power, however, came from the 150-plus BC students who proved more than capable of performing a great variety of songs in spectacular uniformity. After beginning on a soft note with SaintSaens’ “Tollite Hostias,” the chorale picked up the pace with Viadana’s “Exsultate Justi.”
Topher Grace brings the ’80s back
Next week sees the opening of a true throwback movie, begging the question: is retro cool again?............A8
While this song will probably seem foreign to most BC students, the chorale captures its feel, allowing everyone in attendance to appreciate its beauty. This song features one of the chorale’s strengths, one that was played up frequently in the Winter Concert. In “Exsultate Justi,” the voices of the women, which hit high soprano and alto notes, and of the men, which provide the lower tenor, baritone, and bass notes, crashed against each other in an almost violent way. This style had a welcome energizing effect on the audience. The chorale then switched the concert’s mood up completely with parts from Mozart’s unfinished “Requiem.” The combination of the strong source material, reverberating quality of the church, and the skill and size of the chorale lent these three pieces an other-worldly quality. After the first piece, “Rex tremendae majestatis,” had proven a showcase for the much-smaller male section of the chorale, the women counterpointed in the higher-pitched “Confutatis.” Nothing, however, compared to the last part of Requiem, “Lacrimosa,” which was a shiver-inducer. This last song’s inhuman quality was one of the concert’s best examples of the chorale’s talent.
See Chorale, A9
This Week’s Bestsellers.................A8 Box Office Report........................A8
SPORTS The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
Section
B
Monday, February 28, 2011
Eagles set sights on league crown
UMass sweep keeps BC in the Hockey East race By Greg Joyce
Asst. Sports Editor
alex trautwig / heights editor
John Muse and the Eagles are one series win away from claiming the Hockey East regular season title. That series, though, is against UNH.
How to get invited to the Dance
In the second half of a home-andhome series with UMass (6-20, 5-15-5 Boston College 2 Hockey East), it was more of the 1 UMass same for No. 2 Boston College (24-7-1, 18-6-1). BC got out to an early lead and held off a comeback attempt by the Minutemen to win a one-goal game, 2-1. The win completed a weekend sweep for the Eagles, giving them four crucial points in the tight Hockey East standings. Both of BC’s goals came in the first period, as Barry Almeida and Pat Mullane were able to get the puck past UMass goalie Paul Dainton, who was a brick wall for the rest of the night, finishing with 36 saves. “I thought UMass gave us 120 minutes of really competitive hockey,” head coach Jerry York said. “They never died either night. I think the weekend series was very good for us because it was like a playoff atmosphere, and when the other team pulls their goaltender both nights, you know it’s a very close game and highly competitive. I was very proud of the way we played. The four points were very, very difficult for us to get.” Almeida first got the Eagles on the scoreboard at 7:35 of the first. After receiving a pass from Steven Whitney, the junior wristed the puck from the right circle, past Dainton’s right side and into the back of the net. “Billy Arnold made a great play to break it out of the zone and gave it over to Steve, and Steve made a great play over to me,” Almeida said. “I just tried to put it on net, and luckily it went in.
Hats off to my linemates.” It was Almeida’s second goal in as many nights, raising his season total to five. “My linemates have been great finding me,” Almeida said. “Like tonight, I know Steve Whitney made a great play over to me. It’s a lot easier when you’re playing with guys like that who move the puck well. Just get open, and try to get shots on net.” Just under six minutes later, and 10 seconds into a BC power play, Mullane scored the goal that ended up being the game-winner. Mullane was set up in the right circle, while Chris Kreider was stationed in between the circles. The two exchanged passes twice before Mullane delivered a wrister into the top shelf of the net at 13:03. “Kreider took over at the top of the umbrella,” Mullane said. “Fake shot back to me, I went back to him, just kind of pinballing it back and forth. He did a really good job of getting Dainton down. And once Dainton was down, I just had the whole net to work with, so a lot of credit to Chris Kreider for working the top of the umbrella.” The score remained 2-0 until the final minutes of the second period, when T.J. Syner finally put one past John Muse. The forward was in perfect position after receiving a pass from Anthony Raiola from the point, and was able to lift the puck into the top shelf of the net, just over Muse’s glove. The score was the only one UMass could muster on the night, as Muse came up big with 24 saves. It was a physical game, with emo-
See Sweeping UMass, B3
Stingy defense stops Cavs Florida baseball
breaks out brooms By Robert T. Balint Heights Staff
two consecutive 3-pointers to give his team a 28-21 lead, the largest of the game for the Cavaliers. As the half winded down, however, Virginia lost its focus, and a succession of missed shots and turnovers in the final minutes allowed the visiting team to creep back into the game. With six minutes left, Jackson and Raji fired off a pair of jumpers to bring the Eagles within four, and two minutes later a 3-pointer by Dallas
The baseball team continued its month-long road trip this weekend in 7 Gainesville, Fla., Florida as the Eagles (2Boston College 2 4) took on the No. 1 Gators (7-0) in a three-game series. Yesterday’s game was the conclusion of the match-up, and Florida won in convincing fashion, powering past Boston College with a 7-2 win to complete the sweep. BC’s John Leonard started the afternoon game and ran into trouble early, allowing four runs in the second inning. Mike Zunino doubled to left-center field to start and scored on Kamm Washington’s one-out infield single. Jeff Fontana then tripled to right, bringing in Washington and Ben McMahan. A sacrifice fly by the next batter, Josh Adams, brought Fontana in to score and gave the Gators an early 4-0 lead. In the top of the sixth, the Eagles managed to get on the board after Anthony Melchondia’s one-out single up the middle brought in Marc Perdios and advanced Matt Watson to third base. The visiting team was unable to string anything more together, however, as Gators starter Karsten Whitson held the Eagles to one run and five hits through five innings of pitching. Down 7-1 after a two-run shot by Zunino that soared over the left field
See Stingy Defense, B4
See Baseball, B5
Paul Sulzer Forget the First Four, or the Bubble Watch, or Bracketology with Joe Lunardi. All that matters to the men’s basketball team is winning the next four games. That’s what it’s going to take for the Eagles to get an invite to the Big Dance. Their margin for error is nonexistent after several of their bubble rivals pulled off huge upsets this weekend, including Colorado (over No. 5 Texas), Baylor (over No. 17 Texas A&M), and Virginia Tech (over No. 1 Duke). Boston College has one of the best computer profiles of the bunch (RPI: 58, strength of schedule: 17), but the Eagles don’t have much else. They don’t have momentum, since they’ve lost six of their past nine. They don’t have many quality wins either, owning just one RPI top 50 win (over Texas A&M in November). Unfortunately, BC doesn’t have any more opportunities to pick up such victories unless the team reaches the ACC tournament semifinals. The squads that stand in the Eagles’ way are not formidable enough to guarantee them an NCAA bid based on the strength of that single win. By beating their next four opponents, though, they will have the momentum the tournament committee seeks in at-large candidates and they will give themselves a shot at earning another big win against Duke or North Carolina. It starts Tuesday night at Virginia Tech, which upset the Blue Devils, 64-60, in Blacksburg on Saturday. That win will help the Hokies overcome their shaky computer numbers (RPI: 51, SOS: 97) on Selection Sunday. Coming off the emotional high of defeating the nation’s top-ranked team, Virginia Tech is primed for a letdown against the Eagles. BC has played well on the road in its past three games, including close losses at Clemson and UNC and a convincing victory at Virginia on Saturday. Winning in Blacksburg would
See Getting Invited, B4
norm shafer / ap photo
Jackson (left) played 39 minutes in his fifth straight game of 35-plus minutes. He, Trapani (right), and others shut down Virginia defensively. By Robert T. Balint Heights Staff
Joe Trapani, Corey Raji, and Reggie Jackson all reached double digits in the Boston College 63 points column, as the Eagles 44 (17-11, 7-7 ACC) Virginia rebounded from Wednesday’s loss to Miami with a 63-44 thrashing of the Virginia Cavaliers (14-14, 5-9) on Saturday afternoon in Charlottesville’s John Paul Jones Arena.
Jackson scored a game-high 25, Trapani added 12, and Raji chipped in 12 of his 17 during a 26-4 run spanning the end of the first half and the beginning of the second. The mid-game surge got Boston College out of an early hole and set the tone for the rest of the game. Superior shooting kept the Cavaliers in control for the majority of the first half. They jumped out to a 7-0 lead, while Eagles shooters went zero for six from the field in the first five and a half minutes. Virginia guard Mustapha Farrakhan hit
Senior Day loss hurts BC’s tournament chances By Tim Jablonski Heights Staff
The Boston College women’s basketball team celebrated Senior Day 79 on Sunday. But Maryland the careers of Boston College 69 seniors Stefanie Murphy, Carolyn Swords, and Jaclyn Thoman did not end the way they hoped, as the Eagles (18-11, 5-9 ACC) fell to the No. 15 Maryland Terrapins (23-6, 9-5), 79-69. In her last game at Conte Forum, Mur-
i nside S ports this issue
phy poured in 21 points to go along with 10 rebounds to lead the Eagles. Swords, the ACC’s third leading scorer, was held without a hoop in the first half. She finished strong, however, with 14 points after intermission, helping to lead the Eagles failed comeback attempt after trailing by as many as 15. BC was able to keep the game close during much of the first half, but a late Maryland run gave them a comfortable 10-point lead heading into halftime. Lynetta Kizer was a big reason for that – the junior guard netted 11 points on
Anthony Melchionda
The third baseman has become a powerful bat in the middle of the lineup...............B5
five-of-nine shooting during the first 20 minutes. Freshman Alyssa Thomas took over after the break, scoring 14 secondhalf points, including several free throws that helped to put the game out of the Eagles’ reach. While the Terps shot only 42.4 percent, they held the Eagles to 39.1 percent shooting from the floor while forcing 17 turnovers. Four of those were in the first 3 minutes of the game, allowing Maryland to jump out to a quick 10-0 lead that they
See Senior Day, B2
Red Sox blank Eagles, 6-0
BC managed just one hit in the annual exhibition game in Fort Myers, Fla......................................B5
BC Women’s Basketball Class of 2011
11 30 32
Jaclyn Thoman, G Highlands Ranch, Colo. Carolyn Swords, C Sudbury, Mass. Stefanie Murphy, F Londonderry, N.H.
Numbers to Know..........................B2 Quote of the Week..........................B2
The Heights
B2
Monday, February 28, 2011
D’Argento delivers her second consecutive victory over URI Softball splits four total in the preseason Coastal Carolina Invite, wins its last two By Ryan Kiracofe Heights Staff
Boston College’s softball team downed Rhode Island 5-2 in the final game of this weekend’s Boston College 5 Coastal Caro2 Rhode Island lina Invite in Conway, S.C yesterday. The victory resulted in a hard-earned 2-2 split for the Eagles in the invitational, their second preseason tournament of 2011. Sophomore pitcher Nicole D’Argento
(W, 3-1) picked up her second consecutive victory over the Rams. She tallied a season-high six strikeouts in the win. The Eagles jumped to an early lead in the bottom of the first. The offense got started when junior Ali Lynette-Krech singled and went first-to-third on fellow junior Brittany Wilkins’ single just moments later. Sophomore Maria Pandolfo then hit a hard line drive to short, which was mishandled by the URI shortstop, just enough to allow Lynette-Krech to score. Senior Gemma Ypparila was then
ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR
Morgan Kidd preserved the Eagles’ lead against URI, picking up her first save of the season.
walked, setting up Alana Dimaso’s twoRBI double to left field. Tory Speer would single shortly thereafter to add another run to the early BC rally. After allowing a run in the top of the second, the Eagles added an insurance run in the bottom of the inning as junior Lizzy Ploen hit a solo shot. URI trimmed the lead back to three in the third inning, but the 5-2 score held into the seventh inning, when BC junior Morgan Kidd came on in relief of D’Argento and picked up the save, her first of the season. The Eagles’ Saturday got off to a great start as D’Argento led the way in a 6-2 victory, also over Rhode Island. The Ashland, Mass., native threw a complete game, striking out six and going two-for-four from the plate herself. The Eagles plated six runs despite only collecting six hits. Three of the runs BC scored were unearned, having come off four Rams errors. Centerfielder Maria Pandolfo homered in the sixth inning for the Eagles, her second of the young campaign. Rhode Island’s Alison Hartzell (L, 0-5) took the loss. BC’s time in Carolina didn’t start off quite as cheerfully, as the Eagles dropped both decisions on Friday. Virginia Tech handed BC an opening game loss, 3-2. Senior Allison Gage (L, 0-3) went four innings for BC, giving up three earned runs. BC had jumped to a 1-0 lead in the third inning via some well-executed small ball. Pinch runner Nicole Koszowski came on Tory Speer after a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced on consecutive groundouts. The Hokies would, however, surge to a 3-1 lead in the bottom of the fourth, capped off by a Betty Rose two-RBI single. Junior Brittany Wilkins’ sixth inning solo shot brought the Eagles to within one, but Virginia Tech’s Kenzie Roark (W, 5-1) held on to record a complete game victory. The host Coastal Carolina topped the Eagles in Friday’s nightcap by a 6-2 margin. BC’s only two runs came on a two-run homer from freshman Alana Dimaso in the seventh inning. The damage, however, had already been done. Fellow freshman Amanda Horowitz (L, 0-2) was knocked out of the game after just an inning, in which she allowed two earned runs and a walk. D’Argento came on in relief and didn’t fare much better, allowing four runs in 4.2 innings of work. The Eagles are now off until Friday, when they travel to Reno, Nev., for the Wolf Pack Classic, another preseason invitational tournament. n
Nick Rellas / HEIGHTS Staff
Despite Murphy’s persistence on the low block, BC couldn’t escape its outside shooting woes.
Terrapins trap Eagles in another ACC loss Senior Day, from B1
would never relinquish. A 10-2 run over the next several minutes got the Eagles within two points of the lead, the closest they would get for the entire game. The Terrapins defense stifled the Eagles for much of the game. Many of BC’s possessions were spent swinging the ball around the perimeter, searching in vain for an open look that usually didn’t develop. Maryland’s speedy guards contested many threes, holding BC to three-of-19 shooting from deep. Thoman led the team’s guards with 13 points but was unable to connect on any of her six three-point attempts. When the team was able to penetrate, the Terrapins’ imposing frontline of Diandra Tchatchouang and Thomas, who pulled in a combined 19 rebounds, often met them. Swords, Murphy, and freshman Kristen
Doherty all grabbed double digit rebounds themselves, giving the team extra possessions that it desperately needed to stay within striking distance. The 18 offensive rebounds the Eagles pulled in, though, were offset by their numerous turnovers. In the end, they attempted three fewer shots than the Terrapins, and 15 fewer free throws. Maryland got to the line 30 times (only making 17) and kept BC in foul trouble for much of the game, prohibiting head coach Sylvia Crawley from playing the lineups she preferred at certain times in the match-up. The loss is the Eagles’ fourth in their past five games, and it all but ends their hopes of obtaining an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. After a 13-0 start, the team faded down the stretch, winning only five games in ACC play that spoiled an impressive start to the 2010-11 campaign. n
Once promising season continues its sour finish Women’s basketball’s postseason chances dealt severe blow By Chris Marino Heights Editor
SPORTS in SHORT
The Boston College women’s basketball team was unable to hold off conference foe 80 NC State NC State last Boston College 69 Thursday night, losing 80-69, despite a solid effort from senior Carolyn Swords. Sword’s presence, though formidable, was matched by NC State’s Bonae Holston, turning the night into a low-post battle between the two at the Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. The Eagles (18-10, 5-8 ACC) were unable to handle the defense of the Wolfpack (13-15, 4-9), as they turned the ball over 17 times on the night. BC’s inability to maintain an offensive possession led to the team’s eventual downfall. The first half looked as if the Eagles would fair strongly in the game, leading 6-2 in the first five minutes of the game. However, NC State remained focused and brought the visitor’s lead down to two with a 10-8 run at the 11:37 mark. Jaclyn Thoman scored two layups, putting BC up 33-29 with 3:44 remaining in the half.
This was the turning point in the game, as the Eagles would not hold the lead for the rest of the contest. Regrouping with a timeout, the Wolfpack came out strongly with a 10-3 run. The half ended with a 42-36 NC State lead, due in large part to BC’s nine turnovers. Having fallen into a slump, despite a solid first-half start, BC surged out of the gate, as Swords took control of the scoring duty with eight straight points. Regardless, the Eagles’ turnover problem became clear, as the Wolfpack were able to force three turnovers early in the half, leading to a 12-point response. At this point in the game, the story of the night became the play of the 6-6 Swords and the 5-11 Holston. Swords led her team with 23 points and eight rebounds, while Holston led all scorers with 28 points. Their back-and-forth performance kept their teams in contention, however Holston was able to give her team enough of an advantage to overpower the Eagles. With BC down by nine, Swords scored her team’s next six points, matched by Holston’s two fade-away jumpers, to make the score 69-58. Freshman Tiffany Ruffin hit a 3-pointer
Duke North Carolina Florida State Virginia Tech Clemson Boston College Maryland Miami NC State Virginia Georgia Tech Wake Forest
Conference 12-2 12-2 10-4 9-5 8-6 7-7 7-7 5-9 5-9 5-9 2-11 1-13
Nick Rellas / HEIGHTS Staff
Tiffany Ruffin couldn’t find her rhythm against the Wolfpack, hitting just one shot all night.
Numbers to Know
ACC Standings Team
to bring the lead down to eight. This was cut in half on a score by Thoman with 3:33 left to play. The Wolfpack sealed their victory, making four foul shots, distancing themselves enough from the Eagles to keep the game out of their hands. BC had a tough night from the floor, shooting only 43 percent. It was at the free-throw line, however, where the team slumped the most. The Eagles only shot 22 percent from the stripe. They couldn’t get to the line to solve their woes, either, only shooting 11 attempts. The Wolfpack shot the ball efficiently at 50 percent. They were also more effective on their free throws, going 20 for 28 over the span of the game. Beyond Swords’ great performance, the Eagles did have some solid efforts out of some of their other seniors, as well. Thoman finished with 18 points and five boards, while forward Stephanie Murphy finished with 17 points and eight rebounds. Despite the strong early start, BC’s turnovers plagued its offensive possession all game. This along with Holston’s tough low-post play put the Wolfpack on top for good and left the efforts of the Eagles’ seniors for naught. n
Overall 26-3 22-6 20-8 19-8 19-9 17-11 18-11 17-12 15-13 14-14 11-17 8-21
1
Number of hits posted by the baseball team in its annual scrimmage against the Boston Red Sox on Saturday.
26-4
Run by the men’s basketball team during its 63-44 win against Virginia on Saturday afternoon.
7,844
Sellout number of fans at Saturday’s hockey game against UMass. BC leads the Hockey East in home attendance.
Quote of the Week “We said we couldn’t look past UMass, but in the back of our minds we wanted to be going to the UNH weekend either two points down, one point down, or no points down. And that’s where we are right now, which is good for us.” — Pat Mullane
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
B3
League title drought could end next weekend By DJ Adams
Assoc. Sports Editor Entering a weekend home-and-home series against UMass, one of the cellar dwellers of the Hockey East this season, the Boston College men’s hockey team could have easily looked past the twogame set. They were two points behind New Hampshire in the conference standings coming into Friday’s game, with two games left to play against the Wildcats next week that will determine this year’s Hockey East regular season champion. They could have simply set their focus on the intense showdown ahead and forgotten about the seemingly relaxed series against the Minutemen. After only earning a single point the week prior in two match-ups against Northeastern, though, BC made sure that what could have been another disappointing weekend was avoided altogether. The Eagles first grinded out a 4-3 victory on the road Friday night, and then completed the sweep of UMass in a tough 2-1 home win on Saturday. “I thought we acknowledged the fact that we’re in a pennant race,” head coach Jerry York said. “We wanted to hold serve in the race because we could have put ourselves out of it. It’s certainly not pressure, but we wanted to be successful this weekend to set up that showdown for next weekend.” Despite the obvious pressure that lies ahead for BC, the Eagles were able to relax against UMass and just play hockey, earning four points and even gaining a step on the Wildcats and third place contender Merrimack in the process. The Hockey East regular season title has been an elusive honor for the hockey program recently. BC hasn’t won it since the 2004-05 campaign. While the regular season doesn’t necessarily translate to the ultimate measure of success, considering the Eagles have won two national championships in that
same timeframe, the shear closeness of this year’s standings has the team hoping to finally end its drought of holding the conference reign. “This is what you prepare for all season long, to go into the last weekend with our fates in our hands,” junior Barry Almeida said. “Sweep the weekend, and we got a trophy. So that’s what we want to do. We set our goals high, and this is one of them. So I think we’ll respond to it and be ready.” BC had to win its games against UMass first to put itself in such a position. In order to do so, the entire team needed to play the game on the ice rather than dream of what glorious match-up still lay ahead. In the first period of Saturday’s game, BC did just that, playing well without any excessive thought. The Eagles jumped to a lead over the Minutemen early when Steven Whitney pushed the puck into UMass’ defensive zone and found his linemate Almeida streaking down the right side of the ice. The forward sent a hard wrister toward goaltender Paul Dainton and the puck snuck through a seam, hitting the inside of the net at 7:35. When asked after the game if his goal was a result of aiming precisely at the left corner of the net, Almeida laughed as he explained that the score was just a great, instinctive play rather than a product of too much strategy and thinking. “I was just trying to get the puck on net,” he said. “Hats off to my linemates. “My linemates have been great finding me. Like tonight, I know Steve Whitney made a great play over to me. It’s a lot easier when you’re playing with guys like that who move the puck well. Just get open, and try to get shots on net.” The second goal came just six minutes later on a power play, as Chris Kreider and Pat Mullane sent quick passes back and forth to each other from the
alex trautwig / heights editor
Checking-line forward Barry Almeida (9), who scored in both games over the weekend, said the team can sense how close it is to the league title. top of the umbrella. Finally, seeing Dainton fall to the ice in anticipation of a shot, Kreider gave the puck one last time to Mullane who ripped a shot past the goaltender for a 2-0 lead. The score came from a similar angle to Almeida’s, prompting reporters to wonder if BC had specifically scouted a flaw before the match in Dainton’s glove side. But like Almeida before him, Mullane asserted the play was just the way it happened rather than predetermined. “I think I watched him make about 10 glove saves from that angle, so [it was] probably just a coincidence,” the sophomore forward said. Though the game was close, especially after UMass scored in the second
period to close the gap to one, without some of Dainton’s exceptional 36 saves the game could have been skewed even further in BC’s favor. The Eagles didn’t think about their frustration much, though, and continued to focus on plainly winning the game. “I give a lot of credit to Dainton,” Mullane said. “I thought he played well, extremely well both nights. He had some crazy glove saves. But I don’t think we ever look at it as getting frustrated or getting down. Some nights they go in for us, other nights I feel like we’re going up against a brick wall. But that doesn’t change the way we play or anything like that, or our mentality. We just keep shooting and driving hard to the net and doing the little things, and
eventually they’ll go in for us.” BC allotted its time this weekend to simply reflect on playing well and beating UMass twice, and the nonchalant attitude paid off. With two more close wins under their belts, the Eagles can now set their sights on UNH without consequence and from an advantageous point of view. “I think the weekend series was very good for us because it was like a playoff atmosphere, and when the other team pulls their goaltender both nights, you know it’s a very close game and highly competitive,” York said. “I think UMass prepared us pretty well [for UNH]. This was playoff hockey. We battled both nights, and that toughened us up as a team.” n
Almeida, Mullane push Eagles past Minutemen Sweeping UMass, from B1
alex trautwig / heights editor
The BC defense, including Philip Samuelsson, stopped UMass all weekend.
tions carrying over from the previous night’s game. Sixteen penalties were called in total, nine on UMass and seven on the Eagles. BC suffered a few injuries on the weekend. Paul Carey sustained a hip pointer in the second period of Friday night’s game. York said Saturday that he expects him to be out for three to seven days. Brooks Dyroff played his fifth game of the season in place of Carey. Tommy Atkinson hurt his meniscus and is expected to be out for two to three weeks. Defenseman Patrick Wey was injured during Saturday night’s game, but York said he didn’t expect the sophomore to miss any game action. “I would think Pat Wey will be playing next weekend,” York
said. “I doubt very much if Paul and Tom will play.” BC could have blown the game out of the water early if it wasn’t for the outstanding performance by UMass’ goalie. Dainton made numerous glove saves and kick saves on the night, denying several breakaways by the Eagles. “I give a lot of credit to Dainton,” Mullane said. “I thought he played extremely well both nights. He had some crazy glove saves.” “Dainton was certainly excellent,” York said. “But we created good chances. If we weren’t getting good chances, I’d be concerned about our offense. But we produced some pretty quality chances. Some, we just couldn’t put past Dainton, because of the way he played, and others we just missed. I felt good about our offense.” n
alex trautwig / heights editor
BC pestered Paul Dainton with 36 shots, including this one by Cam Atkinson.
Hockey east roundup
No. 16 Maine 7, No. 4 Merrimack 1: Warriors fall by wayside By DJ Adams
Assoc. Sports Editor For almost a month, Merrimack was unbeatable. The Warriors climbed both the national polls and the Hockey East standings, putting themselves in the running for a regular season title and a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. This past weekend, though, the University of Maine ended Merrimack’s lofty goals, sweeping the Warriors in a two-game home series by a combined score of 11-1. In Saturday’s affair, Maine got off to a hot start offensively and never looked back. The Black Bears scored just one goal in the first period, a Mark Nemec strike from the blue line, but they kept the puck on the offensive for most of the frame, outshooting Merrimack 14-6. Though Warriors goaltender Joe Cannata stopped numerous chances in the first, he didn’t fare well in the second period. Facing 10 shots, he allowed four goals to sneak through his guard that extended Maine’s lead to 5-1, effectively putting Merrimack in a tough position to come back from the deficit. Sam Marotta replaced Cannata for the third period, but couldn’t turn away Maine’s effective offensive onslaught. The Black Bears scored twice more in the frame, including a second goal from senior Jeff Dimmen that brought the game to its final score of 7-1. Dimmen and fellow senior Josh Van Dyk combined for three goals and three assists on the night. Freshman goaltender Dan Sullivan set the school record for consecutive scoreless minutes before Merrimack put a puck past him early in the second period. Before Merrimack’s
alex trautwig / heights editor
Joe Cannata struggled so mightily in Merrimack’s 7-1 Saturday night loss to Maine that he was pulled in the third in favor of Sam Marotta. lone goal, Sullivan had rolled off a streak of 202:49 that spanned parts of five games. Friday’s game was a similar affair, as Maine connected offensively early in the match-up and rode the hot goaltending of Sullivan for a third straight shutout win. Van Dyk scored his first career goal in the game, and the Black Bears rolled to a 4-0 victory. The match-up included an incredible 173 penalty minutes. Maine converted just two power-play opportunities into
goals despite the immense number of infractions. No. 9 New Hampshire 6, Northeastern 3 Fresh off a three-point weekend against then-No. 1 Boston College, Northeastern looked to continue its hot streak versus another national contender in New Hampshire. The Wildcats proved to be a tougher task than the Eagles for the Huskies to handle, though. After rallying on Friday night behind
a late Kevin Goumas goal to steal a point and a tie from the Huskies, 2-2, the Wildcats upended the Huskies on Saturday, 6-3, to earn three points on the weekend and maintain a one-point lead over BC at the top of the Hockey East standings. In Saturday’s match-up, UNH scored the first two goals of the game, and despite a late comeback from Northeastern after facing a four-point deficit, the Wildcats hung on for the victory. Huskies senior Tyler McNeely scored his 100th career point and became the
46th Northeastern player to join the elusive club. Despite building a 5-1 stranglehold on the Huskies through the beginning of the third period, UNH almost let Northeastern crawl back into the mix of the game. The Huskies scored twice late in the final frame on goals from freshman Cody Ferriero and senior Wade MacLeod to pull within two. Northeastern then elected to pull netminder Clay Witt in the hopes of completing the comeback, but a Stevie Moses backhander at 18:32 for UNH severed any possible chance. Friday night’s game featured a successful comeback attempt, as Northeastern failed to protect a two-goal lead through two periods. UNH trimmed the deficit to 2-1 at 15:53. From the right corner, Nick Sorkin found Jeff Silengo in the near circle and he centered a pass to Connor Hardowa, whose low wrist shot sailed inside the right post. The Wildcats appeared to tie the game just 49 seconds into the final frame, but after replay review, it was ruled the net lifted off the moorings and Goumas’ shot went under the cage on the right side. Goumas didn’t wait long before getting another chance, tying the score, 2-2, at 7:32. Blake Kessel initiated the scoring sequence at the top of the slot to Mike Borisenok in the right circle. Borisenok slid a pass low to Goumas, whose shot from the end line ricocheted off Rawlings into the cage. The overtime produced a few scoring chances for both teams, but neither squad was able to convert to create a victory. n
The Heights
B4
Monday, February 28, 2011
norm shafer / ap photo
Corey Raji carved out a little shooting space for himself against Assane Sene of Virginia.
Defensive holds Virginia in check Stingy Defense, from B1
norm shafer / ap photo
The Eagles will need continued defensive excellence from the likes of Gabe Moton (above) to earn an invite to the NCAA tournament.
How to get invited to the Dance Getting Invited, from B1
also give the Eagles a season sweep of the Hokies, which will be a crucial advantage come tournament time. The final game of the regular season is a home match-up against a historically bad Wake Forest team on Sunday. It sounds like hyperbole, but the Demon Deacons (RPI: 249) are one of the worst squads to ever play in the ACC. They’re 8-21, with just two wins over teams ranked among the top 200 in the country, according to Ken Pomeroy, a prominent hoops numbers-cruncher. A loss to the conference cellar-dwellers would understandably derail any hopes the Eagles have of being selected from the pool of at-large candidates. By winning against Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, BC will set itself up for a four, five, or six seed in the ACC tournament. The four seed gets a bye into the quarterfinals, but that’s not what the Eagles need. They need the confidence that comes from winning a game in Greensboro, so a five or six seed is preferable. Playing on the first
day also makes it highly unlikely that they will leave the ACC tournament without at least one victory, since they’d face either Georgia Tech (11-17, 3-11 ACC) or Wake Forest. The decisive game, if the Eagles win their next three, will be in the second round of the conference tournament, likely against Florida State, Clemson, or Virginia Tech. All three teams are squarely on the bubble, so this will be a must-win for all parties. The Seminoles are fading without Chris Singleton, the reigning conference defensive player of the year who could miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. The Tigers have a dearth of big wins, like the Eagles, and they’re a different team when they play outside Littlejohn Coliseum. They’re 14-2 at home and 5-7 in road and neutral-site games. The Eagles are 6-7 away from Conte Forum. The squad BC would least like to face in this scenario is Virginia Tech. The Hokies are 8-6 away from Cassell Coliseum, so they can ball pretty
Castonzo at the combine
Elmore cut the Virginia lead to 23-20. Gabe Moton added three points of his own from beyond the arc, sparking a 10-0 run that ended with a left-handed layup from Jackson. Although they had been trailing for most of the half, the Eagles went into the locker room at the break leading 31-28. From that point, BC never relinquished the lead. The threes rained down on the Cavaliers—two from Raji, one from Trapani, and one from Jackson extended the lead to 47-32. The team finished nine of 23 from three-point land, including five second-half makes. One more 10-2
scoring run from the Eagles, started by a four-point play by Jackson, in the final minutes put the game safely out of Virginia’s reach. The Eagles’ defensive performance was a significant improvement over last week’s Miami game. The team held its hosts to 32.1 percent shooting. The Cavaliers scored just 16 points in the last 22 minutes of the game. Led by senior John Cahill, who grabbed a career-high five boards in his first collegiate start, BC also outrebounded Virginia, 34-28. By holding the Cavaliers to 44 points, the team has prevented two out of its last three opponents from scoring more than 50 in a game, a positive trend for the Eagles. n
much anywhere. It’s also very difficult to defeat a good team three times in one season, which the Eagles would be trying to do if the beat the Hokies on Tuesday and play them again in the conference tournament. Winning this game would lock up an NCAA berth for BC beyond a doubt. The Eagles would be 21-11, with 11 victories over ACC teams heading into a likely semifinal meeting with Duke or UNC. Regardless of the result of that game, they would have a strong enough overall resume to assure themselves of a spot in the national tournament thanks to the soft bubble this year. Of course, the Eagles could settle this debate by capturing the ACC tournament crown and the automatic bid that comes with it. But, barring a miracle run in the conference tournament, winning the next four games is BC’s best bet for reaching the Big Dance.
Paul Sulzer is the Sports Editor of The Heights. He can be reached at sports@ bcheights.com.
norm shafer / ap photo
Sammy Zeglinski failed in trying to draw a charge against Reggie Jackson in BC’s 63-44 win.
ACC roundup
Va. Tech 64, No. 1 Duke 60 By Paul Sulzer Sports Editor
The Hokies may have finally broken through the barrier that has held them back from the NCAA tournament for each of the past three years, claiming their biggest win of the season Saturday at Cassell Coliseum. Virginia Tech (19-8, 9-5 ACC) went on a 15-4 run late in the game to take a 62-57 lead with 2:02 left. Terrell Bell finished with 12 points for the Hokies, including five straight during that second-half stretch. The Blue Devils (26-3, 12-2) might have cost themselves a one seed in the Big Dance with their cold shooting. They hit just four of 20 attempts from deep. Kyle Singler led Duke with 22 points on six-of-19 shooting. Nolan Smith added 18. Jeff Allen had 18 points and 15 rebounds to lead to Hokies. Eric Green contributed 12 points, while star guard Malcolm Delaney chipped in 11. Bell tied the game with a 3-pointer from the corner with 4:40 left. He calmly hit both free throws after being fouled on the next possession. Delaney, who missed his first six threes, made his only trey of the game two minutes later to give the Hokies the five-point cushion they rode to victory.
Michael conroy / ap photo
Anthony Castonzo and Mark Herzlich (not pictured) worked out at the NFL Combine.
Florida State 65, Miami 59 The Seminoles survived a late scare from the Hurricanes behind the clutch play of freshman Okaro White at the Tucker Center in Tallahassee on Saturday. With the win, Florida State remains securely in the field of 68 if invites to the Big Dance were being issued today. White started at small forward for Chris Singleton, the Seminole star who could miss the rest of the season with a broken foot. The freshman had 17 points, none bigger than the two he scored on a mid-range jumper with 31 seconds left to extend the lead to five and
matt gentry / ap photo
Jeff Allen celebrated before fans could rush the court following Tech’s upset of the Blue Devils. essentially end the game. He also grabbed seven rebounds. Deividas Dulkys also scored 17 points, hitting four of eight shots from beyond the arc. Malcolm Grant led the Hurricanes with 19 points, including a three that made the score 62-59 with 56 seconds left. Reggie Johnson added 17 points and 12 boards. Miami shot just 31.7 percent. Clemson 63, Wake Forest 49 Demontez Stitt and Jerai Grant each scored 14 points in a comfortable Tigers victory at Littlejohn Coliseum on Saturday. The win keeps Clemson in the hunt for NCAA tournament bid. Trever Booker added 10 points and 10 rebounds for the Tigers (19-9, 8-6), who went on a 14-2 run in the first half to break the game open. Stitt added three treys in the second half to keep the home team well ahead. Nikita Mescheriakov had 11 points on an ugly day for the Demon Deacons (8-21, 1-13). They shot just 33 percent from the field. Clemson was 3-17 in its past 20 meetings
with Wake Forest, but the Demon Deacons are rebuilding under first-year head coach Jeff Bzdelik. This was their eighth consecutive defeat. NC State 79, Georgia Tech 74 Behind 20 points from Scott Wood, the Wolfpack held on for the victory at home on Saturday after the Yellow Jackets made a late charge to pull within three. Georgia Tech (11-17, 3-11) was within a bucket with two minutes left when Wood came up with a steal and a layup. He hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to ice the game. Tracy Smith chipped in 18 points for the ’Pack (15-13, 5-9). NC State built the bulk of its lead on an 11-0 run earlier in the second half. Iman Shumpert (21 points, eight rebounds, seven assists) filled the stat sheet for Georgia Tech, but the Yellow Jackets continued their recent struggles (eight straight league and 10 straight road losses). n Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
B5
Battling diabetes, Melchionda remains strong By Nick Loury For The Heights
Most fans do not take the time to look beyond a baseball player’s uniform and simply consider their on-field production without digging deeper to appreciate the behind-the-scenes sacrifices required to be successful. Junior third baseman Anthony Melchionda not only has to worry about how he performs on the diamond, but must also pay close attention to his health. As a type 1 diabetic, Melchionda must constantly monitor his body’s glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is an autoimmune disease that causes an individual’s immune system to destroy the insulinproducing cells found in the pancreas. Without insulin, glucose builds up in the blood, which creates a nutrient deficiency in the cells and forces the rest of the body to provide the energy for the body to function. This puts a lot of stress on the body and, over time, can damage the organs if left untreated. Diabetics have to manually do the
work of the pancreas, regularly checking their blood sugar and taking steps to regulate its level. Melchionda uses a glucose monitor to check his blood sugar four to five times a day. He also wears an insulin pump that helps keep his blood sugar at the right level and allows him to make adjustments if it is too high. Also, Melchionda has to input how many carbs he eats so that his pump can give the right amount of insulin to break them down. For most diabetics, especially those that are college students, the prospect of constantly having to monitor blood sugar and keep track of meals can seem overwhelming. Take, for example, the millions of people who make New Year’s resolutions to go on a diet but give up by the spring, unwilling to monitor what they are eating for even a short period of time. While it may seem difficult to the average person, Melchionda does not think it affects him much on a day-today basis. Dealing with diabetes is as much a part of his routine as brushing his teeth is because he has had
to since he was diagnosed at age six. Melchionda does not see diabetes as an insurmountable obstacle, something to which Boston College head coach Mike Gambino can attest. “He takes care of it, really, all on his own,” he said. “He doesn’t use it as an excuse, he doesn’t use it as a crutch, he doesn’t use it as anything. He just deals with it. And honestly, if someone didn’t tell you, you wouldn’t know. I’m sure it’s a bigger issue for him than he makes it seem, but not for anybody else around him. He just handles it well.” Considering the full load of practices, workouts, and extensive traveling for games as a Division I baseball player, it is all the more impressive how well Melchionda deals with diabetes. He gains inspiration and confidence from the example of former Chicago Cub captain and legendary third baseman Ron Santo, who was also a type 1 diabetic. “Whenever I’m feeling bad about my situation, I just think about Santo and how he fought through it, so he’s definitely my idol,” Melchionda said.
“Obviously, when it comes down to it I have to pay attention to my health more than the guy next to me, but it’s so humbling knowing that Santo was an All-Star for the Cubs and the best player at his position, and he did this without any of the technology we have today. So it doesn’t bother me at all, having to deal with my situation.” Santo hit .277 and amassed 342 home runs during his 15-year playing career that lasted from 1960-74. As Melchionda noted, there were not many options to treat diabetes at the time so Santo had to monitor his blood sugar based solely on his moods. He adjusted for low blood sugar simply by eating a candy bar when he felt off. He hid his condition for most of his entire career because he feared that he would be forced to retire if people found out that he was a diabetic. Santo was eventually forced to have both his legs amputated below the knee as a result of the rudimentary methods available to treat his diabetes. Recognizing the severity of the disease, Melchionda’s perspective on the
issue is admirable. “Throughout my life, and still today, I look at it as a challenge that pushes me to excel because I am so fortunate for everything in my life and diabetes is such a beatable disease in today’s day and age that I could be a lot less fortunate and have a disease that could really hold me back,” he said. Thus far in his life, Melchionda has certainly excelled on the baseball diamond. As a sophomore, he led the team with a .358 batting average and recorded the fifth-most hits in BC’s history with 78 in his first season as a starter. Going into this season, Gambino described him as one of the best defensive third basemen in the ACC and a key hitter in the Eagles’ order. Melchionda has undoubtedly handled being a diabetic remarkably well and does not allow the disease to limit him in any aspect of his life. As he continues to amass achievements, both on and off the field, Melchionda will have the opportunity to be a role model for other people with diabetes, just like Santo was for him. n
Alex Trautwig / Heights editor
Though Anthony Melchionda battles diabetes off the field, he does not let it affect his play on the diamond. The Braintree, Mass. native led the team last year with a .358 batting average, and looks to continue his success this year.
Sox defeat BC in annual game By Greg Joyce
Asst. Sports Editor Continuing their yearly tradition, the Boston Red Sox hosted the Boston College baseball Boston Red Sox 6 team at City of Boston College 0 Palms Park in Fort Myers, Fla., and defeated the Eagles by a score of 6-0. The Red Sox pitching staff held BC hitless till the seventh inning, when Jim Laufer broke up the no-hitter. Despite the final outcome of the game, head coach Mike Gambino said that it is a special relationship that BC has with the Red Sox. “It’s a great, great tradition for our program,” Gambino said of the game. “The Sox are so good to us. To have that experience for our boys, it’s invaluable to our program.” Laufer’s hit was a single down the left field line, but he was thrown out trying to stretch the single into a double. The only other base runner of the game for the Eagles was Mike Sudol, who walked in the fifth inning. In the top of the first, Garret Smith was robbed of a hit, when he ripped a ground ball down the third base line. Kevin Youkilis made a diving stop on the ball, got to his feet, and threw across the diamond to gun Smith out at first. The Red Sox got on the board quickly in the bottom half of the frame, as Youkilis hit a three-run home run off BC starter Geoff Oxley. Although he was tagged with three earned runs and the loss, Oxley was able to strike out Darnell McDonald before he departed after pitching one inning. The start was Oxley’s first appearance on the mound since undergoing Tommy John surgery in May. “I was a little nervous going out,” he said. “Not so much facing those guys, because it was actually my third year in a row of facing them, so I wasn’t really afraid of them. It was more just my first time being out on the mound, other than an intra-squad game. It’s always in the back of your mind, the injury was kind of flashing through the back of my head.” “That was awesome to see him out there,” Gambino said. “The normal rehab for Tommy John is 12 months. That kid absolutely worked his butt off to get himself game-ready in nine and a half months. That’s unbelievable. And I trust him so much because of how he works and how he prepares. I was so happy to be able to give him that opportunity.” Oxley said on Sunday that he was feeling a little sore, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. Gambino also said that the fifth-year senior captain didn’t have any breaking balls ready for the game because he is still working his arm back, so he only threw straight fastballs. “It took him a little bit to get himself settled in and find the zone, and then other than the bomb he gave up to Kevin
[Youkilis], after that he settled in very nicely,” Gambino said. “He did a great job. I will give that kid the baseball any chance I get because of how much he cares and how hard he works. I would have liked to have a clean inning so he didn’t give up that three-spot, but I loved having him out there.” In the second inning, Hunter Gordon allowed two walks but was able to come away unscathed, without allowing a run. Boston added two more runs in the third inning off Dane Clemens, who only allowed one hit, but walked three. Ryan Kalish had an RBI single, and Lars Anderson followed with a sacrifice fly to right field, making the score 5-0. Dave Laufer and Smith pitched the next two innings for the Eagles, and were able to hold the Sox scoreless despite allowing base runners. Andrew Lawrence, usually an outfielder, was on the mound for the final inning of the game for BC. He allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out one. Former Duke standout Alex Hassan, who is now in the Red Sox farm league, knocked in the final run of the game on
a sac-fly. Although the BC bats were held silent, the pitching staff was able to keep the likes of David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia hitless in their four combined at-bats. Statistics aside, Gambino said the game is more importantly a cornerstone of the BC baseball program. “It helps in our recruiting, it helps in terms of attention, people talking about and watching and thinking about our program,” Gambino said. “[Recruits] look at that and see, ‘Not only do I get to play in the ACC, not only do I get to chance to get a degree from a place like Boston College, but I get a chance to play against a lineup’s that got Scutaro, Pedroia, Ortiz, Youkilis, you go right down the line.’ It’s pretty cool for them. And it’s something that our boys will talk about the rest of their lives.” “It’s something that I’ll be able to tell people about until the day that I die,” Oxley said. “It’s a great experience for all of us. Seeing those guys play, guys that you’ve looked up to all your life, and being on the same field as them and competing against them is a great experience.” n
Dave Martin / AP PHOTO
Jim Laufer (left) connected on BC’s only hit of the game, and also saw action behind the plate.
Alex Trautwig / Heights Editor
In Friday’s loss, Brad Zapenas hit a two-run triple in the seventh inning to tie the game at three.
Eagles swept in Swamp Baseball, from B1
fence, the Eagles had the beginnings of a rally going in the top of the ninth, as pinch hitter Rob Moir singled to right field with one out. Matt McGovern, pinch hitting for Garret Smith, came up next and stroked a double that scored Moir, cutting the Gators’ lead to 7-2. The comeback stalled, however, after Spenser Payne got called out on strikes on a 1-2 count, and Tom Bourdon flied out for the last two outs of the game and the series. Leonard got hit with the loss and falls to 1-1 on the season. Down one game in the series, the Eagles battled hard in the second day of play at Florida’s McKethan Stadium on Friday night. The Gators jumped out to an early 3-1 lead, sparked by a solo home run by Preston Tucker in the bottom of the third. BC junior Andrew Lawrence hit a shot to center field that was good for a double, and eventually scored from third base on Smith’s grounder to second. In the top of the seventh inning, Brad Zapenas struck gold, and smashed the first pitch of the at-bat to the left-center wall for a two-run triple, tying the score at 3-3 as Matt McGovern and Smith both crossed the plate. Florida third baseman Zack Powers then faked the throw to pitcher Daniel Gibson to draw Zapenas off the bag, and tagged him out to end the inning, robbing the Eagles of their newfound momentum. “We had a lot of good chances, we just couldn’t quite string together enough atbats,” head coach Mike Gambino said. Florida then came right back in the bottom half of the frame, taking advantage of four straight walks and RBI singles by Austin Maddox and Brian Johnson to take a three-run lead. Florida hitters tacked on another three insurance runs in the eighth inning, to which BC could not answer. Eagles’ right-hander Kyle Prohovich absorbed
the 9-3 loss, his first of the season, while Gibson was credited for the win. The series began on Thursday afternoon, and, although BC starter Mike Dennhardt pitched three innings of onehit ball and gave up only one unearned run, his Florida counterpart, Johnson, kept the Eagles’ bats quiet through six innings of work. Johnson retired the first 17 batters he faced, struck out five, and gave up only one hit, Bourdon’s sixthinning single. The only other hit came from Zapenas, who doubled down the third base line in the top of the ninth inning. It was the only hit that Florida’s closer Steven Rodriguez gave up, and Zapenas stayed stranded at second for a final score of 4-0. Gambino described the Gators’ pitching as “absolutely dominant.” “I told Coach [Kevin] O’Sullivan, in terms of top-to-bottom pitching staff, that’s the best they’ve had,” Gambino said. “The big factor that kept us from scoring, they didn’t walk anybody — only four walks on the weekend. When you’re not giving a team any free base runners, it takes two, three hits to score a run.” Florida scored each of its runs in individual innings, beginning with Johnson reaching first base on a fielding error by BC left fielder Marc Perdios. Florida’s next hitter, Zunino, earned an RBI by doubling down the third-base line and allowing Johnson to score. The Gators added three more runs, one each in the fourth, sixth, and eighth innings. “I wanted to win two out of three, that’s the way you look at every series,” Gambino said. Far from using the Gators’ top ranking or the heavy travel as an excuse, the head coach has welcomed the challenge of the Eagles’ month-long road trip. “Our attitude is never going to be, ‘Hey, let’s just go out and see what happens,’ ” Gambino said. “Give us some adversity, give us some crazy travel, that’s fine. We’re going to go after people.” n
B6
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Heights
Monday, February 28, 2011
B7
Around campus
BC Health Services examined under new lens By Lauren Ruvo Heights Staff
Boston College Health Services sees about 150 students each day, and so it isn’t surprising that not all of them leave the office satisfied. In his Feb. 14 letter to the editor, Patrick Gallagher, A&S ’11, expressed his dissatisfaction. Gallagher expressed concern that Health Services was not treating its patients properly. Among his biggest concerns is that Health Services officials do not immediately test students to see if they have influenza or mononucleosis and that, instead, they give students ibuprofen before sending them on their way. After reading the letter, Thomas Nary, director of Health Services, felt the need to educate the BC student body about what really goes on, in his eyes, at Health Services. Nancy Baker, associate director of Health Services, joined Nary to help dispel any misconceptions that students may have about how Health Services goes about treating its patients. Nary hopes to inform students that antibiotics do not help cure viruses and that treatment does not change based on test results. Many years of research by scientists and other qualified individuals have supported this fact, leading the medical community to the conclusion that the best way to cure a virus is to treat it symptomatically. Nary says the majority of healthy college students contract viral infections, which include bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, colds, the flu, and mono. Health Services does not make up the procedures that it practices, but rather uses the
guidelines from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Massachusetts Department of Health. Following the facts supported by the CDC, flu tests are not issued to every patient because the flu is a viral infection, and treatment does not change regardless of whether a patient’s test results are positive. This is not to say that Health Services did not administer any flu cultures this year. In fact, flu cultures were checked early on in the year. The reason for them being done early is to establish that the flu exists in the population and that flu season has begun. After it is established that the flu is in the area, patients can then be treated symptomatically, meaning that patients should take ibuprofen for any aches or pains, rest, and drink lots of clear fluids. Many students that come into Health Services have already been sick for three or four days. Therefore the only way for students to get better is to be treated symptomatically. According to the CDC, antiviral medications only help if the student begins taking them as soon as they feel the onset of the symptoms – otherwise, it is useless. On average, a person suffering from the flu will feel sick for 4.8 days, whereas a person who begins taking antiviral medications as soon as symptoms appear will begin to feel better one day sooner. On average, 400 students get the flu shot each year at BC. Its proliferation could very well lie in the fact that the flu shot is one of the only proven ways that really helps prevent the flu. Health Services recommends that students receive the shot, especially because they live in such close quarters. Another prominent illness on campus, mono,
has had the infamous title of being the “kissing disease” for many years. However, it is, in fact, not as contagious as most students assume. BC experiences 100 to 200 cases of mono per year, and, oftentimes, it is sporadic, meaning that students do not necessarily catch mono from their partner, roommate, or teammate. An important fact regarding mono is that, early in the course of the infection, the test comes back negative and then later emerges as positive because the test is done using antibodies. Nary says that anyone who comes in complaining of a sore throat and being tired is not given a mono test immediately because it is likely that the test will come back negative. If the symptoms persist, however, Health Services will issue a mono test. Just as with the flu, the change in treatment does not change with the results of the test, since treatment is done symptomatically. Another truth that has emerged over the past few decades is that resting for three or four weeks is not appropriate. The CDC even suggests that mild to moderate exercise can be beneficial in the patient’s recovery. When students come in with symptoms of a fever, headache, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes, Health Services begins to monitor students to see if they actually have mono. “We always tell students if we are suspicious that they could have mono,” Baker says. “We discuss our thought process with them, that it could potentially be mono, but tell them it is too early to verify it. We then monitor them and have them come back in a few days. If they are better, then it’s not mono, but if the symptoms
persist, then we do a blood test.” It is important to determine if students have mono because the symptoms last a lot longer than those of most viruses. Also, it is important that students find out if they have mono so that they don’t damage their spleen and liver by using drugs or alcohol, or by doing aggressive activities that could lead to injury. Washing one’s hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and distancing oneself from people will help prevent students from contracting mono or other viral infections. Contact with direct secretions is really the only way for mono to be transmitted, so distance is very important to staying healthy. In his letter to the editor, Gallagher mentions how Health Services hands out ibuprofen liberally. Nary says that they distribute ibuprofen because it really is the appropriate treatment. If a person needs decongestants or anti-inflammatory medicine, then Health Services will gladly give those out as well. However, according to the CDC, when it comes to viruses, the best treatment is clear liquids, rest, and ibuprofen for aches and pain. “When a performer can’t perform because they are too sick – they are the ones that have the million dollar doctors – and sometimes they are still too sick to perform,” Nary says. “There is no magic, [and] if there were, people would use it.” The only way to truly get better and recover from an illness is over time. Health Services welcomes anyone who is feeling under the weather, as long as students are able to understand that there is no cure that makes symptoms immediately disappear. n
Campus Chronicles
A helping of Jesuit candidness with a couple of extra sides Stephen Habetz Tuesday, Feb. 22, looked like any other Tuesday. In between starting a paper for my English class that was due in a few hours, and cramming for a history test, I had a 30-minute window for some lunch. Only this Tuesday, I chose to have lunch with a Jesuit. This wasn’t a spontaneous impulse. I didn’t just see a guy walking around with a priest collar and kidnap him for an hour. There’s a program called – and this is self-explanatory – Lunches with Jesuits. You sign up for a date and time, you walk over to the St. Mary’s dining hall, and you have lunch with one of the Jesuits. It was awesome. Anyone who has ever taken the time to meet a Jesuit knows that they are really cool people. The one I talked to was full of great stories about the time he was stationed in small town
Texas, where guns were plentiful and common sense … not so much. He was also completely candid about his experiences in the order and how much fun he has had. Then he asked me if I had any questions. Naturally, I had to ask about the no-sex thing. Of all the things that had to do with being a Jesuit, this was the one idea I couldn’t wrap my head around. Not merely to not have sex for a while – everyone has dry spells – but to decide never to have sex ever again in your life. Ever. He described his experiences visiting high schools and middle schools to talk to students. He’d walk into a class, introduce himself, and start off by asking if anyone was thinking about becoming a priest. Invariably, the room got real quiet, real fast. Then he’d ask who was thinking about getting married some day. Most of the hands went up. He went to the chalkboard and asked, “Now, let’s go back to being a priest. What do you think is stop-
The web of cyberbullying By Marye Moran For The Heights
There’s no need to ask a girl at Boston College what she’s doing Monday at 9 p.m. The answer is obvious – she’s watching Gossip Girl. She’ll say that she’s watching for the entertainment factor, and is amused by such an unrealistic premise. The far-fetched ideas on the show go beyond the fact that almost every character got accepted to Columbia (have they ever done homework on that show?). The show features a website, on which Gossip Girl reports on the actions and scandals of the main characters. Viewers watching this all wonder why the entire population reads the title website. After all, who would care enough to post gossip about random people, and even more, who would care enough to read it? Well, each month, over a million individuals visited the now defunct gossip website Juicy Campus. Maybe Gossip Girl is not so unrealistic, after all. Juicy Campus called itself an outlet for “online anonymous free speech on college campuses.” Users could post whatever they wanted to say, without censorship. Often this focused on Greek life, but not necessarily, and BC had a branch of the site from 2008 until 2009, when the website closed. Though anything could be posted, these comments consisted almost exclusively of gossip and hate. Topics included “cheaters,” “biggest cokehead,” “in the closet,” and “best lay.” These threads would include the real names of students, and though it was unsearchable, making it so a Google search of a name would not bring up a Juicy Campus post, that information was out there. Although Juicy Campus shut down in 2009 due to financial reasons, the problem of cyberbullying in college is alive and well. Other sites still provide platforms for this type of gossip, such as College ACB, otherwise known as Anonymous Confession Board. Like Juicy Campus, it allows students to post whatever is on their mind, but not without regulation, as offensive posts can be re-
ported. The founders say that it is “designed to give students a place to vent, rant, and talk to college peers in an environment free from social constraints about subjects that might otherwise be taboo.” On the BC page, these subjects range from “compliments” (3 responses), “hot freshman boys” (43 responses), and “BC chicks who look like ogres” (14 responses). Criticisms of College ACB include its potential to make individuals feel victimized and publicly humiliated. Even if online posts are not negative, however, direct references to specific people can make those mentioned uncomfortable and hurt. Like a Little is a site where students can anonymously post flirtatious comments about people they see around campus. Using nameless descriptions, posters, for example, can talk about the “female brunette at Lower,” claiming that, “I find you absolutely stunning.” However, posts are not always clean and charming. A female freshman who noticed a comment about herself on Like a Little says that some of the posts can be graphic and sexual. Suspecting one comment to be about her, she went on to say that, although the posts on Like a Little are meant to be just flirty and funny, some posts can be a little creepy, especially when they are so specific that everyone can tell who it is. Sure, a physical compliment may give some a confidence boost, but this constant focus can distort thinking. Rate My Professors, for example, provides many of the same services as UGBC’s PEPs, but has an additional feature to rate a professor’s “hotness.” While these sites facilitate bullying, hate, and vanity, are the websites themselves to blame? All content is user-uploaded, so it is up to the individual to judge whether these pages are forums of intelligent discussion or harmful gossip. Michael Keith, a professor in the communication department, says that he’s more inclined to believe that it is the individual user who is at fault. “The Internet is just a technology,” Keith says. “Why kill the messenger for the message?”
Without these forums, fewer people would go out of their way to victimize another student or spread the word about a certain professor’s looks. Seung-A Annie Jin, a professor in the communication department, says there’s something she calls the “tension and dynamic relationship between ‘structure’ and ‘agency.’” She says these websites are the structural domains for cyberbullying, and those who post on them are users on the agency level. “Structure and agency have shared responsibility in the dynamic processes of maintaining these websites and promoting purposeful cyberbullying,” Jin says. Certainly bullying could prevail without the Internet. From the “burn book” fiasco in the popular movie Mean Girls, to most harmful comments uttered in person, bullying can persist without a technological medium. Even on Gossip Girl, where the online gossip site is clearly central to the show, personal sabotage occurs just as often as virtual sabotage does. Blogs or personal websites could even be used to make these comments, without the facilitation of sites like College ACB and Like a Little. Jin says that site users may perceive information on blogs differently from information on standard websites. “Readers may perceive information posted via a larger website to be more credible than information posted via a personal blog because a website like Rate My Professors, for example, has more systematic user interfaces that contain average rating calculation and multiple evaluation categories,” Jin says. When it comes to cyberbullying, there are, of course, different levels of participation. There are those who start sites like Juicy Campus, those who post on them, and those who read them. While looking at a comment about a fellow student may not fit most people’s idea of a bully’s standard activity, the thought of caring about what a stranger, empowered by anonymity, says about another student’s looks or reputation may be more reason to be concerned. n
ping you from wanting to become a priest?” Eyes rolled, and the kids would all look uncomfortable. “It was obvious they were all thinking the same thing, so I wrote it on the board,” he told me. If there’s one thing to get high school kids’ attention, it’s to write ‘SEX’ on a chalkboard in tall, capital letters. They began to participate. The other two big concerns always proved to be the vow of poverty and the idea of not being able to make your own choices. After writing both up on the chalkboard, he’d turn the conversation to marriage. “How many of you think that, in marriage, you’ll be able to have happy, carefree sex any time you wanted? If so, you’re sadly mistaken.” Then he’d tell the truth – that after the first six months of marriage, most of those in the married life are too busy for sex. He personally knew couples who didn’t do it more than a couple times a year. Not because they didn’t love each other, but be-
cause they genuinely didn’t have the time or energy. Next, he tackled the poverty vow and the vow of obedience. “In marriage,” he told the kids, “your money isn’t your own, it’s the household’s. You have to spend your money on things for the family, such as food and clothing for your kids.” Basically, when you get married you have to make all decisions in your life with your husband or wife. For all intents and purposes, you lose your independence. Suddenly, marriage didn’t sound too good and being a priest didn’t sound that bad. The rest of the lunch was great. I went up for seconds and thirds (St. Mary’s dining hall is amazing, not to mention, free) and left. I think I’ll go back again.
Stephen Habetz is a Staff Columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at features@ bcheights.com
The Heights
B8
the real world
A crisis to call my own Dan Friedman I had heard people describe them before, but frankly, I never thought I would experience an existential crisis of my own. I smirked silently throughout my freshman year at the University of Vermont as I listened to stories, recounting hours spent staring at a wall, trying to figure out what it was all about. For me, though, it had always been so obvious. I was in college to chill, to eat, and to watch the full oeuvre of Aaron Sorkin’s work. Needless to say, following a summer spent at camp, cleaning up after one persistent defecator, and then transferring universities, I found myself wondering more and more what my purpose was. Ultimately, I remain totally paralyzed by ambivalence, on the one hand, aware of the value of a degree from a prestigious university, and on the other, fed up with core requirements and the general feeling of limbo and ennui that college seems so skilled at fostering. In my head, I picture the two side by side. On the left, there is my Boston College degree. On the right, there is a list of names of self-made men: Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller. Regardless of what one thinks of their business practices, it is difficult to argue these men were not so ambitious that college became a waste of time. Though it may come as a shock to the reader, my shockingly long intro actually does have a point. While I have been struggling on a personal level to try to figure out the uses of my college education, Amy Chua has sparked a controversial and vicious debate regarding methods of parenting. At first glance, these two topics appear to have little or nothing to do with each other. What do existential crises have to do with being a tyrannical or laidback parent? If you have even glanced at a newspaper in the past couple of weeks, then you know Tiger Mother has made a name for herself with harsh and constrictive parenting techniques, including rejection of a birthday card her daughter had hand-made because it wasn’t good enough. Naturally, there was a public outcry from the hordes of parents who do not subscribe to this type of parenting. But this had me thinking – what is the point of parenting? Do any parents really disagree, at this stage in our society, that their purpose is to make sure that their child has the best opportunity to get into the most prestigious university possible? And if they do disagree, does anyone really think they’re being serious? I’m certainly not the first person to bring this up, but the significance that four-year institutions have managed to acquire for themselves literally gives me the heebies. I was raised somewhere in between laidback and obsessive parents, and yet the fact remains that essentially my entire high school career was spent worrying about college. And I’m positive I’m not alone. Yet, after the adrenaline from applying wears off, and freshman year, with its novel freedom and easy lecture hall classes, dissipates, one finds oneself left with a question echoing in their mind, “Now what?” Two friends of mine, one in graduate school and one a senior, recently described undergraduate education as a school’s successful attempt “to keep its students busy.” This, though perhaps jaded and cynical, seems spot on to me. I love reading Roman history and the sonnets of Shakespeare, but that doesn’t change the fact that the most valuable thing I take away from BC will be a degree that says “Collegium Bostoniense” at the bottom. And before I’m condemned as a cutthroat tool, ask yourself why you chose BC over the state school that was your safety (and also probably a quarter of the cost). So how would I sum up this column? Though I am still unsure as to what I’m supposed to be doing, it appears that parents are sure of what they’re doing, and they are, without question, slaves to college admissions boards across the country. And finally, there is the inescapable thought in the back of my head: Bill Gates didn’t wander around Harvard for four years, enjoying the best years of his life in blissful ignorance, but instead was so devoted to a goal that he dropped out of the supposed best institution in America. We should all be so lucky.
Dan Friedman is a Staff Columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at features@bcheights.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
how-to
Set the wider world aflame in UGBC fashion Brendan Kneeland If you’re like me, you’re probably waiting for the end of the UGBC election season with bated breath. You’ve had these days marked off on your calendar all year – everything, absolutely everything, hinges on this moment. This is truly our time. Time for the voice of the people to be heard. Time for free tuition and chocolate water fountains. Time, finally, for our illustrious UGBC to rev up and truly change the world, just like it did last year, and the year before that, and the year before that. As the campaign season reaches a fever pitch, I have a few tips for the starry-eyed incoming class of UGBC. FULL DISCLOSURE: I worked in UGBC my freshman year and never returned, so, naturally, I know everything about how it works. I left because, quite frankly, I am unworthy of such a noble, intellectually enriching cause. But such is life. If you find yourself lucky enough to have been selected to help with a UGBC campaign – after you are finished weeping for your good fortune – get a hold of yourself and start
harassing. The next week or two of your life will be spent not eating or sleeping, or even remembering you have class. Rather, your new home is in the Quad, near the library, in residence halls, in freshman bathroom stalls – generally, anywhere students who are in a desperate rush and do not want to be bothered can be found. Shake their hands, tussle their hair, poke them with your favorite vote-for-me stick. Nothing is too far, no poke is too hard, because damn it, you have a message and you’re doing it for them. What is your message? It does not matter. But if you must have one, please refer to any platform ever created for any UGBC campaign since, say, 1985. Stronger advising, decreased costs for students, greater sense of community between and among classes, increased discourse between UGBC and the administration – almost any combination of those words will guarantee your success. “Our burgeoning coalition will overcome the inertia, do anything we set our minds to.” See? That wasn’t even grammatically correct. But if you place it on a reasonably well-
done campaign website with a good music video or distracting graphics, you can say whatever you want. That brings me to my next point: don’t let anyone know what your message is. Once you are finally elected, bury any memory of your campaign promises / any words you previously said and never, ever bring them up again. If someone approaches you and asks for an explanation of what you mean by, let’s say, “Unite the Heights,” it is perfectly acceptable and in fact expected that you immediately sprint in the opposite direction and seek refuge at the nearest UGBC keg party. Speaking of parties, congratulations! You’ve been elected to the most respected position a Boston College student can strive for: You are now a member of UGBC, the nexus of innovation and wonder without which this school and the American Dream would immediately crumble. Welcome to the world of discretionary funds, optional attendance at meetings, and, most importantly, new UGBC T-shirts. This is the most exclusive all-inclusive club on campus. Here you will meet some of your most important constituents:
other members of UGBC. Here you will learn some of the most valuable skills of your lifetime, such as reserving rooms for events, ordering food for events, and cleaning up after events – things you could never learn anywhere else. We did it! Class sizes may be too large, tuition might be a bit high, and the Fall Concert might not be that great, but hey, Ice Jam was pretty cool. Also, while you’re in office, you’re going to be catching quite a bit of criticism for how you run things. People might say, “UGBC doesn’t do anything!” “It’s just an ineffectual, self-congratulating bureaucracy that doesn’t listen to the people who elected them, and the only important decisions lie in the hands of the administration!” Don’t listen to any of that. They probably didn’t vote for you anyway. Just keep your nose to the Keystone – I mean grindstone, and keep making that change we can all believe in.
Brendan Kneeland is a Staff Columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at features@bcheights.com
he said, she said My professor found out I’m romantically involved with my TA. Should I worry about this affecting my grade, or do you think he’ll understand that what goes on in my personal life won’t affect my experience in the classroom? - Hot for TA I suppose this is a pretty unique situation. I can’t say I’ve heard of it happening too much, but I really don’t think it’s a huge deal. I mean, good for you, but I would try not to make a bigger deal out of it than it really is. Truthfully, any class I’ve had a TA in has been big enough where the professor didn’t even know my name, so I think it’s fair to assume that your professor knows that the TA is romantically Alex Trautwig involved with another student (funny how that happens in college), and that’s the end of it. Now, I would, of course, be respectful and fair to your TA and not put them in the position to either choose you over the professor or put them in a position that could cause professional problems. Basically, just because you spend time together out of class, don’t assume it’s a free pass to get the answers to the test or to have a specifically tailored study session. Respect the context in which you’ll be interacting on a regular basis and you will not have any problems. I would also not suggest waiting for them after class or going in for a kiss before class begins. That could open up an entirely different can of worms. Unless it became abundantly clear that something was going on and that it was affecting your job as a student it’s not necessary to talk to the professor about anything; it is your personal life and I think most professors realize that at the end of the day, you’re both members of the same student body. I haven’t had any TAs that didn’t know at least someone in a class they were working in so it comes with the territory. As I mentioned though, I think it’s really important, if you’re going to continue with this, to respect your role as a student and respect their role as a TA. As long as that respect exists, this should never be a problem, even if your professor is aware of your relationship. Now, if you were romantically involved with a teacher, I think it would be a lot different, but we’ll leave that for a different column.
Alex Trautwig is an Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at features@bcheights.com
Ah, the classic TA-student relationship question. Here at He Said / She Said, we’re constantly being bombarded with similar questions. Yeah, I’m just kidding. But seriously, this one requires a delicate balancing act of your personal and private lives. Hey, at least you’re not involved with your professor – that would be a different issue, for a different Monday. I must admit though, your question does peak my curiosity. Julia Wilson On the one hand, I’m tempted to answer this question with another: What’s the big deal? Teaching Assistants are usually undergraduates or grad students anyway, so he or she probably isn’t that much older than you. If you’re a freshman, however, and your TA significant other is a senior with an agenda (to put it delicately), you may have some bigger problems on your hands than just whether or not your professor’s going to make you regret your love interest come finals season. It makes a big difference whether or not you were dating your TA before you signed up for the class. If you were, your professor would have to understand that this was either a coincidence or you were just hoping that your significant other would go easy on your discussion grade. But if this relationship started as a result of some long discussions during office hours, you’re walking a fine line between what is perfectly acceptable college dating behavior and a relationship that could put you – and especially your TA – in some academic jeopardy. It all depends on how your professor chooses to look at the situation. Maybe he’ll find it to be a sweet expression of devotion cultivated through a mutual love of the material (doubtful). The bottom line here is that your professor should know by now that there really isn’t any such thing as a student’s personal life not affecting their “classroom experience.” In your case, it just so happens to be a dangerous mix of business with pleasure.
Julia Wilson is a Senior Staff Writer for The Heights. She can be reached at features@bcheights.com
humor
Declaring an all-out technological war on the web Hilary Chasse Now you might call me old fashioned, but I prefer my lamps oil and my milk to be unpasteurized. Don’t try to tell me about the possibility of gut wrenching E. coli bacteria entering my digestive track; nothing microscopic is taking me down without a fair fight. Perhaps I’ve been a little slower than my peers to latch onto the teat of the technical revolution and have managed to, so far, avoid the siren song of Twitter and the like (not counting Facebook because come on, I’m a literate homosapien am I not?). My hesitancy is not because I was raised by the Amish, oh no. My backwards ways are my armor against the coming insurgency. After Watson, the IBM computer, whose so-called neutral voice was filled with enough pomposity to make even Bill O’Reilly blush, was triumphant in the final round of Jeopardy!, I am wholeheartedly convinced, beyond the candor of reproach that the digital revolution is imminent and that our only hope is that our electronic overlords will be
benevolent. Inspired by the inspirational and inspiring examples of the Tunisians, Egyptians, Libyans, and Iranians, censored by Ahmadinejad, I have decided that I will not submit meekly to the iron will of our soulless nemesis but will wage the good fight and take to the barricades. Unfortunately, in order to spread the word I must cross into enemy lines. This is a battle that will be fought in the uncharted lands of the blogosphere, Twitterverse, and other cleverly named spheres of social media, which escape me at present. Only the strong of will survive the barrage of memes and shower of tweets unscathed but with this fail-proof stratagem, you’ll be able to infiltrate enemy camps without indoctrination. Now I want you to remember that no bastard ever won a war by blogging for his Tumblr. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard blog for his own pointless Tumblr. Let’s begin with this modern online form of a Hello Kitty diary: the blog. Now there are several different models of blog you’ll want to be familiar with, for each necessitates its own tactical maneuvers. During
World War II, the British citizens were trained to identify the models of fighter jets passing overhead in order to distinguish which were safe and which came from Deutschland. Nothing less than this level of attentiveness can guide you through the landmine field of blogspot or Tumblr. First, identify which type of blog: A pretentious music blog extolling the virtues of Malawian punk groups? A teen girls “things that are pretty” blog full of pictures of vintage vamps such as Marilyn Monroe next to nonsensical lyrics from OneRepublic and veiled references to current heartaches? A fashion diva’s “inspiration” blog full of blurry photos of art deco wall tile deemed “avant garde?” A feminist / celebrity gossip blog that remains sublimely unaware of just how completely oxymoronic that hybrid is (emphasis on the moronic … burn!) Each presents its own challenges and requires specialized tools for combat, namely common sense and an off button. As we trench further into the jungle of the web, we hear the mating call of a familiar blue bird, ready to lure ill-prepared travelers to their
death due to suffocation (of useless information). The twitter bird, or avis egostokeis, sings a song that lulls the listener into a trance-like state where they feel the compulsive need to share even the minutest details of their mundane existences. Under the effects of the twitter bird’s song, the victim suffers from life-threatening delusions of grandeur and the only known anecdote is to hear ones tweets read back by Christopher Walken. Be sure to keep your arsenal of Walkens fully loaded when entering twitter bird’s habitats. The last and deadliest front of attack, which has claimed literally billions of victims, is the Facebook. I offer no counsel on this subject. I am still a P.O.W. within its camps. I managed to break from my online prison for a brief period this summer by pulling the trigger and clicking “deactivate” but alas, I was captured again and have remained shackled ever since.
Hilary Chasse is an Editor for The Heights. She can be reached at features@bcheights.com
Monday, February 28, 2011
The Heights
B9
Vanderslice Hall, the most sought-after residence for sophomore year, prides itself on its relative youth in comparison to Walsh. Divided into mostly eight-mans with select nine-mans, Vandy houses mainly sophomores, in addition to juniors. Kitchenettes in Vandy come equipped with a large refrigerator, allowing for ample storage of leftovers and a place to hide your roommate’s birthday cake. Perhaps more appealing than the refrigerator is the fact that Vandy has air conditioning in the suites, as opposed to solely in the study lounges. Studying also becomes much easier when the lounges have spectacular views of Lower Campus and spiral staircases. Those residents lucky enough to snag the rooms with the large windows overlooking Corcoran Commons have grand opportunities to people-watch and post unique messages for all to see via window paint. However, if they aren’t careful, everyone on Lower Campus could witness them Dougie-ing in the common room on a Friday night. Footsteps away from the Mods, St. Ignatius, and Commonwealth Avenue, Vandy offers its residents remarkable access to nearly everything except the academic buildings. The lack of vending machines in the building is balanced out by Vandy’s close proximity to the glorious food of Corcoran Commons. For those who would prefer a Twix over a hot meal, though, that might be a problem. Living in Vandy also conjures up images of the residents’ younger years, when many of them stayed in the dorm during Freshman Orientation. For the nostalgic ones, who enjoy reflecting on the past and how far they have come since then, this dorm is prime. Rating: 8/10
Most students know Walsh Hall as the only dorm with a check-in desk, but there is much more to this large residence than the aforementioned new addition. Once residents clear the ever-pleasant Securitas employees, they enter a space inhabited by eight floors of sophomores, arranged in suite-style living. Composed of either quads or the much sought-after eight-mans, the communal floor bathroom disappears and common rooms take its place. Though the quads only boast a small entryway, the eight-mans include a common room as well as a kitchenette, complete with a countertop, a sink, and a kitchen table. Since the rooms do not have a refrigerator or appliances with which students can cook, Walsh residents have the same meal plan they did freshman year. Each eight-man also comes with one large storage room, which is perfect for housing winter gear, various holiday decorations, or your friend who prefers your room to their own on College Road. Offering up close and personal window views of the Mods, including the biannual Strip Mod, Walsh is in close proximity to the “nightlife” of Boston College. The fact that Walsh is on the edge of campus, close to the BC T stop, also means that its residents have one of the farthest treks to class, ranging between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the speed of the walker and the amount of time spent in line at Hillside Cafe while picking up a beverage for class. Since residents live in such large groups to begin with, many students do not see the need to get to know their neighbors, which can result in minimal floor bonding. Although the amount of floor bonding varies, most residents would probably agree that nothing beats ending a long day by hanging out with seven of your best friends in a Walsh common room. Rating: 7/10
As opposed to going by the name of reputable benefactors, these dorms are known by the numbers on their respective roads. 90 St. Thomas More Rd., colloquially known as 90, and 66 Commonwealth Ave., referred to as 66, are both home to mainly sophomores, with a decent portion of juniors. Directly across the road from Corcoran Commons, 90 is an air-conditioned haven in the humid months, composed of six-mans and eight-mans. If, for some reason, residents are distressed upon not finding a snack that suits their fancy in the not two, but four, vending machines, they can relax in the piano room on the second floor. Tucked away from the chaos that surrounds Corcoran Commons, but still easily accessible, is 66, whose residents view it as a hidden gem, though a non-air conditioned one. Divided into singles, doubles, and triples, 66 is one of the quieter dorms, in comparison to other Lower Campus residences with partying reputations. What it lacks in noise it makes up for in beauty and hominess, not to mention the serene-looking grassy courtyard in the front of the building. Adding to its uniqueness, the fourth floor of the building replaces bedrooms with a massive study lounge, divided into smaller rooms, one of which contains a large flat screen television. As if neighboring St. Ignatius were not sufficient, there is also a small chapel connected to the dorm, adding to the peacefulness exuded by 66. Rating: 7/10
Walk into Edmond’s and there’s a chance that you’ll pass by a sophomore, a junior, and a senior – probably the only dormitory on campus that can claim such a distinction. While Edmond’s may be a second choice resort for those unable to get eight-man suites or six-man suites, some prefer the comfortable four-man rooms equipped with kitchens that rival (some would say surpass) those in the Mods. One advantage and disadvantage of Edmond’s is its relative distance from the rest of Lower Campus. Plexaholics will love its proximity to the gym and, for the most part, the noise of the weekends fall on deaf ears for its residents. Still, some may dislike the walk to and from Corcoran Commons (not that it’s a trip they’ll be making often since Edmond’s residents don’t have meal plans). Reported rat infestations in past years on the first floor of the dorm lower its desirability, but recently, it seems the rodents have ceased their scurrying. For those for whom appearance is particularly important, Edmond’s interior disappoints, lacking the look of modernity such dorms as 90 and Vanderslice sport. However, what Edmond’s lacks in show it makes up for in reliability. For instance, the elevators run relatively smoothly, which can’t be said for every dorm on campus with one. The layout of the rooms is nice and the beds are able to be lifted, which is even nicer. For simplicity, comfort, and the chance to prepare delicious meals, Edmond’s is the go-to dorm. Rating: 7/10
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Humor Column.................................B8 Campus Chronicles.........................B7
Websites that allow students to post anonymously create an outlet for online verbal abuse......................................................................................................................... B7
Cyberbullying
i nside FE ATURES
B10 Monday, February 28, 2011
Features
Monday, February 28, 2011 The Heights
B4
By Kris Robinson | Features Editor and Brooke Schneider | Asst. Features Editor
he last couple of weeks leading up to spring break are a set of the most frustrating and stressful days of the second semester. After they’re over, however, it’s sun, fun, and relaxation … at least for a week. Upon the flight back to campus, students, save for the ones preparing to dwell off campus, are gearing up for the random, nerve-wracking chaos of the housing selection process. While picking roommates creates more drama than even Robsham Theater can hold, thankfully, choosing a dormitory often leaves friendships intact. However, it’s not without its toils. That’s why we’ve put this housing guide together. Although not everyone’s going to have the same choices, we want to make sure everyone realizes there’s something good about every dorm, contrary to what some may think.
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Mollie kolosky / heights photo illustration