The Independent Student Newspaper of Boston College Established 1919 Vol. XCI, No. 37
THE HEIGHTS MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2010
www.bcheights.com
Brighton man killed by train Study: Students are 22-year-old BU grad was struck near Fenway stop on the Green Line lacking in empathy HIGHER EDUCATION
BY MICHAEL CAPRIO News Editor
Officials weigh in on findings on U.S. college students BY MOLLY LAPOINT Heights Staff
A recent study conducted by the University of Michigan has found that empathy in college students has declined in the last 30 years, despite students’ increased involvement in community service. The study found a 40 percent decrease in empathy since 1979, with the steepest drop coming in the last 10 years. This change in empathetic feeling has not been seen by all Boston College faculty members, however. “I would say this: I certainly have witnessed the uptick in community service,” said Dan Ponsetto, director of the Volunteer and Service Learning Center (VSLC). “What I haven’t noticed is a change in empathy, just anecdotally. I think there’s still the same kind of passion.” Empathy is something that can change over time and is developed through service, Ponsetto said. “I think that en-
counters with the poor and encounters with suffering can certainly give birth to greater empathy. It can change the way you think about the world.” This change in thought, however, does not always lead to more volunteer work. Sometimes students do not know how to translate their increased concern into service. “The bigger challenge is then, ‘How do I act on this?’” Ponsetto said. “Sometimes the feelings of helplessness can lead to inaction. Action usually comes out of a community of empathy.” Although it is easiest to come up with a way to make a difference when working in a group, this is not to say that service cannot be done individually, Ponsetto said. “There are some students [who do service on their own] and do that well.” BC hopes to create a community that both fosters empathy and treats its students with empathy. “The hope is that [students] have enough encounters that they can develop empathy,” Ponsetto said. “Our expectation is that [BC graduates] will do far more when they leave. “I think beyond formal service, there’s an environment here where we are cared
A 22-year-old Boston University graduate was killed by an MBTA Green Line train early yesterday morning after being struck by an eastbound trolley between the Longwood and Fenway stations. MBTA officials told reporters that the man’s name was Joshua Stimson of Brighton. He was pronounced dead at
the scene. MBTA Spokesperson Joe Pesaturo told reporters that investigators are seeking an explanation as to why Stimson was inside an area of the track that is enclosed by a fence, but that an early investigation suggests alcohol may have been a factor. The trolley driver received no citations or disciplinary actions. According to a report by The Boston Globe, Stimson had just finished dinner
at a friend’s apartment near Kenmore Square and was making plans for the night when he left her apartment at around 8 p.m. Friends described Stimson, who was a member of Boston University’s ski club while working toward his degree in finance, as a “great friend,” according to the Globe report. The death is still under investigation by the MBTA Transit Police.
PHOTO COURTESY OF ADAM MOREIRA
See Empathy, A4
The recent graduate, Joshua Stimson, was found dead on the eastbound tracks of the Green Line between the Fenway and Longwood stations.
New WRC director looks to revamp campus services
AP FILE PHOTO
Mass. Attorney General Martha Coakley (right) has recommended the plan for the New York firm to purchase multiple Mass. hospitals.
LOCAL NEWS
Hearings continue in hospital sale BY PATRICK GALLAGHER Assoc. News Editor
Although St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center might soon be under new ownership, students should expect to see few changes, University officials said. A hearing before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court began last Thursday to decide on the sale of the Caritas Christi Health Care group to Cerberus Capital Management, a New York private
INSIDE ARTS & REVIEW
equity firm. Justice Francis X. Spina is expected to rule on the sale, which includes the transfer of St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, by the end of October, according to reports by The Boston Globe. A ruling by the state’s high court represents the final roadblock that must be cleared before the sale can be made official. On Oct. 13, the Massachusetts Public Health Council unanimously voted to
approve new licenses for the six hospitals owned by Caritas, and the plan has been recommended with conditions by state Attorney General Martha Coakley. Under the current plan, Cerberus has set up a holding company, Steward Health Care System, LLC, to operate the hospitals. However the current staff at each hospital would likely remain, pending Spina’s ruling.
See Caritas, A4
Department relishes ASA award spotlight
Faculty published four books last year ‘Salvador Dali’ makes BC students hot, A10
SPORTS
Eagles drop fifth straight game, lose to Maryland, 24-21, B1
FEATURES
Check out all there is to do in Boston for Halloween, B10 Classifieds, A5 Crossword, A5 Editorials, A6 Numbers to Know, B2 Police Blotter, A2 iEdit, A9 Thumbs Up / Thumbs Down, A7 Box Office, A7 Weather, A2 He Said, She Said, B8
PHOTO COURTESY OF ZINE MAGUBANE
Zine Maguban highlighted her department’s awards from national associations. BY TOM KOTLOWSKI For The Heights
In the last three years, the American Sociological Association (ASA) has honored Boston College’s sociology department twice. In 2007, Natasha Sarkisian, a professor in the sociology department, published an article titled “Street Men, Family Men: Race and Men’s Extended
Family Involvement,” which won the Best Article Award from the ASA. In 2008, Shawn McGuffey, also a professor in the sociology department, published an article which also won the Best Article Award, titled “Saving Masculinity: Gender Reaffirmation, Sexuality, Race, and Parental Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.” BC’s sociology department currently has 25 full-time professors and is offering 87 courses this academic year. Zine Magubane, professor and chairperson of the sociology department, said in an e-mail that there have been several new faculty members added to the department in recent years and they have been authorized to hire another professor. “Not only are we expanding, but the department has recently gotten a lot of national exposure,” Magubane said. “The work of our faculty has been published in various national journals and other outlets, like The New York Times. Our faculty has received numerous awards and are often asked to speak at conferences around the country.” In the last academic year, the department has published four books and close to 30 articles. At least three faculty members have books that are scheduled to launch in 2011. Magubane said that BC’s sociology department has been publishing at a steady rate, and that she only expects
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ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR
As the new director of the WRC (above), Dalton said she plans to tackle issues such as sexual assult on campus, increase the visibility of the center, and diversify its programming. BY TAYLOUR KUMPF Asst. News Editor
Kathryn Dalton, BC ’03, has been named the new director of the Women’s Resource Center (WRC). She will assume her new position on Nov. 4, said Thomas McGuinness, associate vice president for University counseling. Dalton is currently the assistant director of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program at Brandeis University. She received her BA in psychology from Boston College in 2003, and in 2007 she received her MA in higher education from the Graduate School of Education
at BC. As a grad student, Dalton worked in the residence halls as a peer minister, McGuinness said. Dalton said she will be experiencing campus life from a different perspective as an example. “I am thrilled to return to BC in a different capacity,” Dalton said. “As an undergraduate I learned to truly be myself. This was a challenging, frustrating, and fulfilling process, and one that enabled me to meet and interact with incredible administrators, Jesuits, peers, and faculty members. I will certainly bring with me the life lessons and wide
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CONTE PREPS FOR ICE JAM
ALEX TRAUTWIG / HEIGHTS EDITOR
A half parquet - half ice Conte Forum floor was constructed yesterday afternoon as part of the preparations for Ice Jam, which will take place tomorrow evening.