The Heights will return on March 15, 2012. Enjoy your Spring Break! eagles hold on
Music connects
Genre Jumping
Sports
Metro
The Scene
On senior night, men’s basketball team picked up a win over Georgia Tech, A10
BC strengthens ties with St. Columbkille school through music program, B10
Analyzing the success and failures of actors who stray from their comfort zones, B1
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Vol. XCIII, No. 13
THE SEARCH CONTINUES Woods College senior Franco Garcia still missing after more than a week; four police departments continue the search around Boston College and the Chestnut Hill Reservoir BY DAVID COTE | NEWS EDITOR, TAYLOUR KUMPF | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, AND LINDSAY GROSSMAN | MANAGING EDITOR
M
ore than a week after the disappearance of Franco Garcia, police officers continue to search throughout the Boston College area for any clues about his location. Since his disappearance last Tuesday, the BC community and four separate police departments have searched tirelessly for any sign of the Woods School senior. No evidence relating to his disappearance has been found, police say. Search efforts over the past three days have been focused on the stretch of land between Mary Ann’s, the bar in Cleveland Circle where Garcia was last seen, and the BC campus–with the most energy going into a full-out search of the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. In an attempt to aid police efforts, over 40 members of the BC community joined Garcia’s family in an on-foot search of the area on Monday afternoon. Fourteen teams of two to five people met at the reservoir and took shifts in the hours before sundown searching the area between Lake Street, Washington Street, and Beacon Street. “We are looking for anything that might lead us somewhere else,” said Rachele Reis, a friend and bandmate of Garcia and A&S ’12. “If he dropped his phone, wallet, glasses, the Mardi Gras beads he was wearing–anything suspicious or helpful in dumpster areas, trash cans, and alleys.” The police’s investigation of the reservoir also began
on Monday, as divers were brought in to scour the body of water with the help of sonar equipment. On Tuesday and Wednesday, divers were dragged slowly through the water column to search for clues, according to Reis. They searched for anything floating in the water below the surface that they would not have found when searching the reservoir floor. “They found nothing on the [reservoir] bottom
that would be considered in any way relevant to this case,’’ State Police spokesman David Procopio told The Boston Globe. “By the time we got here they had already found a dead duck so it speaks well to the fact that the sonar
See Garcia, A4
graham beck / heights editor
Communication dept. loses more classes, PR and ads gone Journalism moved to American Studies By Andrew Millette Assoc. News Editor
The course offerings of the communication department will go through a series of changes starting in the Fall 2012 semester. Advertising, a class that has been been offered for years by the department, will not be offered at Boston College next year. Public Relations and Advanced Public Relations classes will be moved out of the communication department, but will still be offered by
the University. “Public Relations classes will be offered as University courses for the fall semester and will be available to students from throughout the University,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. The cancelled Advertising and moved Public Relations classes are the result of a restructuring of the communication department. “The department is moving toward a greater focus on the research strengths of full-time faculty members,” said Lisa Cuklanz,
See Communication, A4
Eagle EMS member revives local man after heart attack By David Cote News Editor
graham beck / heights editor
Nick Cochran-Caggiano (above) resuscitated a man after he collapsed from a heart attack.
Not all Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) can say they registered a “save” in the first year of their certification. Nick Cochran-Caggiano, Eagle EMS EMT and A&S ’14, is one of the few who can. After dinner in Newton Center on Tuesday night, Cochran-Caggiano and his father went to J.P. Licks for ice cream. As Cochran-Caggiano’s father later noted, it’s a good thing they didn’t choose coffee instead. Immediately after CochranCaggiano had bought his ice cream, an elderly man collapsed in the store. The
cause was later reported to be a serious heart attack. “I had just had dinner with my dad, and we went to J.P. Licks in Newton Center,” Cochran-Caggiano said. “It was really a series of ironies, because I was wearing my [EMT] jacket, and then I went in and there happened to be an EMS discount. So I showed them the patch and it was $3 off or something. They handed me back my credit card and as I was picking up my ice cream I heard a little girl say, ‘What’s that, daddy?’ and heard a guy say ‘Oh s— ...’ So
See Cochran-Caggiano, A4
Administrators weigh in on the rising cost and questionable benefit of a college education By Darren Ranck Heights Senior Staff
One of the most hotly debated topics in politics focuses on the worth of the college degree. While a bachelor’s degree can open vocational doors, the question remains: does receiving a college degree necessarily mean anyone learned anything? “This is a big topic, and it’s a very popular topic with politics and Boston College faculty,” said Patrick Rombalski, vice president of student affairs. “Both sides of the aisle tend to cheapen this argument. They don’t really get
into its depth.” Social scientists and researchers in higher education continue to churn out studies that put the ambiguous concept of learning at the forefront. These studies range from the academic to the cultural. Rombalski considers Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa’s book Academically Adrift to be the instigator of higher education’s recent questioning. “That book is one of the most popular ones on this topic in years,” Rombalski said. “It’s gotten a lot of attention.” These two sociologists posed the question as a thesis and used standardized testing as
a marker of validity. After an analysis of the results of more than 2,400 undergraduate students at more than 24 institutions, they found that 45 percent of students made no improvement during their first two years of college. Arum and Roksa’s study found its way to Janelle Nanos, BC ’02, who used the study as a springboard for a piece in Boston Magazine titled “Is College Over?” which was published last October. Nanos spoke with higher education professionals throughout the United States, including Rombalski, and shed a harsh light on her own experiences at BC by calling the idea of college “a fairytale.”
“She does alert the reader to some legitimate concerns that are happening in the academy,” Rombalski said. “I think the fairytale is this naive sense that you can just go away to college with the assumptions built into fairytales–a good ending, all good things happen in college, students learn, they come out of it mature adults and responsible citizens. I think she’s trying to challenge those assumptions with the reader.” Nanos’ contribution only augments the nation-wide discussion, and the faculty at BC is left to unravel the question. The landscape of college and academia as a whole changes
over time, and these changes have altered the perception of what is considered learning, Rombalski said. He cites cost, diversity, and the different levels of faculty as factors that have changed greatly since the boom of collegiate learning. “There’s been a lot of experimentation in higher education through technology and the different types of institutions, everything from community college to private to public to HBCU to land grant,” Rombalski said. Changes in curriculum, such as the addi-
See Higher Education, A4
TopTHREE
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
things to do on campus this week
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Poetry Days: Billy Collins Today Time: 7 p.m. Location: Gasson 100
The Lowell Humanities Series and Poetry Days program will co-sponsor this reading and lecture by former Poet Laureate Billy Collins. Collins, who has been hailed as an “American phenomenon” and compared to the likes of Robert Frost, is a Guggenheim fellow and New York Public Library “Literary Lion.”
New Deal Utopias
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Today Time: Ongoing Location: O’Neill Library This exhibit features photos taken by Jason Reblando, BC ’95, of towns created during the Depression to embody the spirit of cooperation.
Appalachia Volunteers Send-off Mass
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Friday Time: 5 p.m. Location: St. Ignatius Church
Join the Appalachia Volunteers of Boston College for their annual send-off mass before they embark on their spring break service trips.
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University
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New accreditation system for medical residents introduced
On Campus Hellenic Society to host panel discussion on democracy Boston College’s Hellenic Society will host a panel and discussion titled “The Greek Influence: Democracy Today” in the Heights Room on Mar. 12. The panel will feature an impressive assembly of prominent Greek figures and scholars of Greek politics, including Vassilis Kaskarelis, Greek ambassador to the United States; John Grossomanides, Supreme President of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association; Robert Bartlett, the Behrakis Professor of Hellenic Political Studies at BC; and Elizabeth H. Prodromou, Boston University professor and vice chair of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. The panel will discuss democrac y and Greece’s role in the current political scene. Immediately following the panel and discussion, there will be a question and answer session with the panelists and a reception afterward.
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education recently revealed a new accreditation system for medical residents that will require them to master approximately three dozen behaviors and skills. The system was created in response to the growing number of complaints made about errors made and impersonal doctors. Residents will be assessed twice per year and receive detailed feedback on their progress. The program, which will be phased in over two years beginning in June 2013, will cover six core areas: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, systems-based practice, professionalism, and interpersonal skills and communication.
Local News Massachusetts Senate to consider legalizing sale of fireworks again In a bill backed by Rep. Richard Bastien (RGardner), the sale and purchase of fireworks in Massachusetts would be legalized. Bastien and other supporters of the bill argue that its passage would help create more jobs and boost the local economy, citing an estimated $2 million increase in sales tax revenue. Opponents, such as surgeons and State Fire Marshall Stephen Coan, consider the bill a major threat to safety and say it would result in a large number of entirely preventable injuries.
featured story
Panelists discuss women and their search for religion By Kevin Cannon For The Heights
On Feb. 27, Salt & Light hosted a panel discussion co-sponsored by The Women’s Resource Center, the St. Thomas More Society, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, and Cura. The second of a series of talks, the panel discussed the meaning of being a woman of faith, furthering the recent discussions regarding sexist attitudes, particularly around sexuality, on BC’s campus. Marina McCoy and Jennie Purnell, Boston College professors in philosophy and political science, respectively, and Chelsea Echenique, a graduate student in the School of Theology and Ministry, were the three panelists profiled. Echenique, who attended Duke University, previously worked for a therapeutic community for recovering addicts. She started off the discussion by emphasizing the importance of looking to God and not to others for validation. “Too often you are trying to pour yourself out to others,” she said, “but your cup is empty,” referring to the modern student’s efforts to
Graham Beck/Heights Editor
Marina McCoy, professor of philosophy, discussed the need to find holiness in everyone and everything. conform to a certain societal image and cater to the vast majority of the people within their communities. She impressed upon the attendees that, before you give yourself to others, you must first “let God fill your cup” so that you may “see yourself as God sees you.”
McCoy first addressed the need for students and adults alike to set aside a sacred place and a set time each day for prayer. This, she said, does more to bring us back to what is important in life than anything else. McCoy then stressed the notion of what she called the
“call of the everyday”—that is, to be better at being in a loving relationship with people and to see the holiness in them. Every person we come into contact with on a daily basis is holy and deserves attention, because in her eyes God indeed is “crazily creative” with each and every
individual. Finally, Purnell discussed the role of gender in the way we talk about God. Growing up, she did not identify herself as a person of faith. However, her late 30s proved a defining period. Understanding that truly loving each other is a profoundly difficult thing to do, her view of the Trinity evolved from “two guys and a ghost” into a tri-partite relationship of love. She now attends a silent retreat once a year, saying that this period of time is crucial to her becoming closer to God and to those closest in her life. Following the three speeches, the floor was opened up to a question and answer session. Students probed an assortment of topics, ranging from gay marriage and abortion to more pointed questions concerning the panelists’ individual experiences and difficulties. The overall discourse even allowed men to voice their questions and concerns about gender and what it means to be male and in a relationship with God. Ultimately, this session built on the groundwork set forth in the first of the series’ conversations and set the stage for those to come. n
Police Blotter
Voices from the Dustbowl
2/25/12 - 2/29/12
“If you could live in any building in the world, which one would you pick?”
Saturday, February 25 9:10 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding a small amount of marijuana that was confiscated from a Boston College student. 10:23 p.m. - A report was filed regarding an underage intoxicated party at Keyes South residence hall who was transported to a medical facility via Armstrong Ambulance.
Sunday, February 26 1:03 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a Newton Bus driver who felt threatened by a passenger. The incident is being investigated. 2:19 a.m. - A report was filed regarding an incident possibly involving the assault of a BC bus driver. A detective will be assigned to investigate further. 7:26 a.m. - While on patrol, an officer observed that the exit gate on the basement level of the Commonwealth Ave. garage had been damaged. Parking and Transportation has been notified. 9:12 a.m. - An officer filed a report on a suspicious circumstance that occured at an off campus location. 12:18 p.m. - An officer filed a report on two people who were at the Plex soliciting for an organization without receiving prior permission from ODSD. A similar
report was filed at 12:40 p.m. near 110 St. Thomas More Road. 1:50 p.m. - Officers responded to a fire alarm that was set off in the Medeiros Townhouses. The cause was determined to be a hot hair dryer being used near a smoke detector.
“Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.” —Andreas Wolfe, A&S ’14
7:29 p.m. - Officers arrested a Sudbury woman for trespassing in O’Neill Library. 10:23 p.m. - An officer reported observing a verbal altercation taking place between several individuals in the parking lot at an off campus location. The Boston Police were notified.
Tuesday, February 28 8:41 p.m. - An officer filed a report regarding vandalism to Lyons Hall.
“The Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai.” —Daniel Pimentel, A&S ’13
Wednesday, February 29 3:56 a.m. - A report was filed regarding a breaking and entering in one of the Mods. A detective is investigating. “The pyramids.” —Jonathan Charlton,
—Source: The Boston College Police Department
A&S ’15
Today
37° Snow 28°
Friday
39° Mostly Cloudy 33°
Saturday
53° Rain 33°
Sunday
48° Partly Cloudy 26°
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 David Cote, 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 Greg Joyce, 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 Brennan Carley, 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 Taylour Kumpf, Editor-in-Chief, at (617) 552-2223, or e-mail editor@ bcheights.com. CUSTOMER SERVICE Delivery To have The Heights delivered to your home each week or to report distribution problems on campus, contact Dan Ottaunick, General Manager at (617) 552-0547. Advertising The Heights is one of the most effective ways to reach the BC community. To submit a classified, display, or online advertisement, call our advertising office at (617) 552-2220 Monday through Friday. The Heights is produced by BC undergraduates and is published on Mondays and Thursdays during the academic year by The Heights, Inc. (c) 2012. All rights reserved.
“The Empire State Building” —Dan Miller, A&S ’15
10:55 p.m. - A report was filed regarding the careless disposal of a cigarette in a trash receptacle near Xavier Hall. There were no flames present on arrival.
Four Day Weather Forecast
CORRECTIONS In the article titled “Series offers BC students a look at the ‘Real World’” in the 2/23 issue, the title of Grace Lee and Kiley Callahan should have been printed as “director of student formation,” not information. In an article titled “GLC calls for recognition” in the 2/26 issue, the document written about is actually called “Reaching New Heights.”
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Second semester update
Joseph Pasquinelli Quite a bit has happened in campus news this past week. A student has disappeared, less than half of the student body voted in the UGBC presidential election, The Heights endorsed the winning candidate of that election, and I discovered that Father Neenan, special assistant to the president, reads my column. I am very flattered that such a high-ranking administrator takes time out of what is surely a busy day to read and even respond to something I’ve written. Father Neenan has certainly given a boost to an ego that was already bursting at the seams. He also made a valid point that my last column could suggest that I think less privileged students are more inclined to theft and that only wealthy students are honest. I assure you that this is not the case. The honesty of the student body is likely the primary reason unattended computers aren’t snatched up at a more alarming rate. Congratulations to Chris and Kudzai on their win last week in the UGBC election. I hope you will continue the Kitlas-Long tradition of representing the needs of the student body. A member of the UGBC recently accused me—perhaps even for good reason—of being anti-UGBC. While I am very critical out of love for BC and our student body, I am not opposed to our student government. This year, I saw the UGBC make a genuine effort to involve more students and represent our needs to the administration. Because the UGBC and the candidates for office have made such strides this year, I think it is time that apathetic members of the student body take some responsibility for student government not representing our needs as well as they should. The candidates were certainly visible enough over the past week and The Heights provided more than adequate coverage of the campaigns. With as many opportunities as there have been for students to become informed and involved, the shortcomings of the UGBC can no longer be placed solely on the shoulders of its members. I’ve had the opportunity to read the GLBTQ Leadership Council’s “Reaching New Heights” document, that outlines their plan to be more fully incorporated into the University and how the University can better serve all members of the student body. Mike Kitlas, UGBC president and A&S ’12, presents this document to the Board of Trustees each time he meets with them, but the president and Board have been unreceptive to the document and some of its proposals. Perhaps my new friend and fellow Midwesterner Father Neenan could help us make a bit more headway with the changes this document calls for. It is important that our institution respond to the needs of all its members, regardless of sexual orientation, especially considering the rising incidence of bullying of students with a (sometimes perceived) sexual orientation that “deviates” from “the norm.” To keep with our Catholic values, we must embrace those who have been marginalized by our own “Christian” interpretations of love and sexuality. The least the University could do is acknowledge the document and begin to work towards understanding and appreciating the complete identity of all members of its student body.
Joesph Pasquinelli is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at news@bcheights.com.
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Global Zero continues to grow in its first semester By Samantha Costanzo Asst. News Editor
Global Zero of Boston College (GZBC) has made significant strides in its first semester at BC and is on track to continue its mission to eliminate nuclear weapons worldwide. Though the main goal of Global Zero chapters such as the one at BC is to raise awareness and collect signatures on petitions to end proliferation, GZBC is also working on expanding Global Zero in New England. This month, GZBC participated in Global Zero’s first ever student summit, which was held at Yale University. Over 350 students from Europe, the Middle East, Russia, and the United States attended the summit. Among
the events during the summit were panel discussions about various facets of the nuclear proliferation issue, including one led by Iran’s former secretary of state. “There was a lot of discussion on these sensitive topics, letting students get a better grasp of what the situation is like and why we’re doing this now, reiterating that right now we’re at a crossroads,” said Andy Hu, GZBC president and A&S ’14. “There’s only two roads that we can go on. One is toward proliferation, and once there is widespread proliferation, we can’t stop it. There’s the other road, which is disarm right now and stop proliferation. If we go on that road, we can still make things right.” This semester, GZBC will be
participating in a NATO campaign for the removal of 200 U.S.-owned tactical missiles currently set up in Western Europe. These tactical missiles, though originally intended to be dropped on Russia, can logistically only be dropped on former USSR countries that have now joined NATO, such as the Ukraine and Belarus. “We’d be bombing our own allies, which won’t happen,” Hu said. “There’s no refueling plan, so there’s no way for these planes to reach Russia at all, and really, who wants to get into a war with Russia? These are absolutely useless bombs.” Hu stressed that the money currently being used to maintain these bombs could be redirected to other
programs if the bombs were dismantled. “I’m actually applying [for a] study-abroad scholarship, and a week before its deadline, they said it was cancelled because of budget cuts,” Hu said. “I can still go to school, but a lot of kids can’t go to school because of cuts in education.” On campus this semester, GZBC will be working hard to promote itself to all types of students. The group will host a photography contest open to all BC students to showcase the “beauty of life’s colors.” During the annual Arts Fest, students’ entries will be exhibited in Bapst Library alongside black and white photos of Hiroshima and Nagasaki after the atomic bombs were dropped on them during World War II. The photos will be judged
in part by professors and in part by student votes on Facebook. “I feel like contrasting the two scenarios of a colorful world and a black and white world that’s dead and just ash is going to be powerful, and remind us of what we have to lose and how important this topic really is,” Hu said. GZBC hopes to make Boston the center of Global Zero in the United States. “In New England in general right now, the only two established chapters are our chapter at Boston College and a smaller one at MIT,” Hu said. “We’re going to have intercollegiate events in April … Boston is the center—there are so many schools and so many students here, so there’s so much potential.” n
International Assistant application deadline approaches By Brandon Stone For The Heights The deadline for applications to the International Assistant (IA) Program is fast approaching. Applications for the program will be accepted until Mar. 13. The IA program, which has been a popular and rewarding program since its
inception in 1980, pairs volunteers with incoming international students in order to ease the transition into life at Boston College and the United States. The IA program has long been a competitive one, with a rate of roughly one acceptance for every five applicants, and with good reason.
“It is a transformative experience for the International Assistants, who get to meet people from different cultures and learn about their vastly different experiences,” said Adrienne Nussbaum, IA Program director. Each International Assistant is generally paired with three international students, whom he or she
alexandra gaynor / for the heights
The Office of International Programs, which offers the competitive assistant position, is located in the Hovey House.
will help to adjust to life at BC in a wide variety of ways. “The international students will need help, whether with academics, culture shocks, homesickness, and generally understanding and navigating around BC and Boston itself,” Nussbaum said. The Assistants do not only give advice, however. They also arrange events for all members of the programs (assistants and students), such as dances and outings to dinner or concerts. Though this constitutes a sizeable amount of work, those who have worked in the program have only wonderful things to say about the experience. Constantine Schidlovsky, CSOM ’13, who is working as an International Assistant this year, spoke about how rewarding the program is. “There’s an immensely diverse community of volunteers, not just international students,” he said. “People of different backgrounds mutually care for one another, helping people and exposing international students to things they otherwise wouldn’t know about.” “The program is a mutually beneficial one, and often leads to lifelong friendships,” Nussbaum said. “It is not uncommon for graduates of Boston College who met one
another through the IA program, whether as international students or assistants, to maintain close friendships long after graduation.” Students interested in applying to the program need not worry about whether or not they have traveled enough or speak enough foreign languages. “The international students want to meet Americans,” Nussbaum said. In fact, many assistants who had never been outside the U.S. have gone on to join the Peace Corps after graduation, in part because of the international experience with which being an assistant provides them. The program looks for good listeners and communicators who really want to help. Assistants generally have a good base of knowledge about BC and Boston itself, so that they can be of help to the often overwhelmed international students. “We look for people who genuinely care about helping other people,” Schidlovsky said. The application process consists of an essay and interview, but the applicant is free to set up the time for the interview and choose his or her interviewer, who is always a current International Assistant. n
FBI Special Agent discusses corruption By Anson Petrick For The Heights On Tuesday, Feb. 28, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Cynthia Deitle gave a presentation on public corruption at the Winston Forum on Business Ethics in the Murray Room of the Yawkey Center. The pre sentation, which lasted about an hour, focused on the different types of public corruption and what the FBI does to fight it. “Corruption goes to the heart of who we are as people,” Deitle said. “For that, corruption is the number one criminal program in the FBI other than counterterrorism.”
“The average person knows corruption when they see it, but they are often afraid to come forward.” -Cynthia Deitle, FBI Supervisory Special Agent Deitle has worked for the FBI for 17 years, 16 of which were spent in the Civil Rights Unit in the New York Division. Last year, she accepted a transfer to the Boston Division, where she supervises the Public Corruption and Civil Rights units. “The average person knows corruption when they see it, but they are often afraid to come forward,” Deitle said. She cited specifically the case of former Massachusetts House Speaker Salvatore DiMasi as an example of this phenomenon. The whistleblower in the DiMasi corruption case went to The Boston Globe with the story rather than the authorities. According to Deitle, this happened because the press tends to keep its sources anonymous, while the FBI might require the whistleblower to testify.
This example highlighted the main theme of her presentation: to convince the public to help end corruption. Deitle moved on from this local story to discuss the different types of corruption as well as their effects on the economy and society. “No one will want to invest in a corrupt project since there is no legitimate competition,” Deitle said. “This hurts the economy of a town or city. And smaller forms of corruption tend to lead to larger forms.” She emphasized the difficulty of exposing corruption due to issues of loyalty and employment. These impediments become particularly strong when the economy is down and are often hard to break in law enforcement corruption. Even harder than breaking the bonds of loyalty is proving that public corruption is occurring. Deitle, during this section of the presentation, expanded upon building cases against figures suspected of a form of corruption. She highlighted the importance of wires, hidden cameras, and other forms of surveillance used to catch criminals in the act. One of the major examples she used was that of the “Tennessee Waltz.” In this case, the FBI fabricated a computer recycling company and captured on camera state senators making illegal dealings with undercover agents. However, many of the cases that Deitle used as examples were broken when arrests were made and the detainee cut a deal for a shorter sentence. She ended the presentation with a question and answer session with audience members. Most of the questions asked pertained to insider trading and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The session closed with Deitle giving audience members information about joining the FBI. Most of all, she stressed the importance of events like the Winston Forum. “Things like this help people,” Deitle said. n
alexandra gaynor / for the heights
Students enjoyed a lunch with Fenway Sports Group president Sam Kennedy, who discussed his path to leadership.
Sox executive explores leadership By Devon Sanford Heights Editor On Tuesday afternoon, The Winston Center for Leadership and Ethics hosted Sam Kennedy, president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG), for “Lunch with a Leader.” Kennedy spoke to Boston College undergraduate and graduate students about his experiences as a leader, and his journey from a liberal arts student to the head of a major sports corporation. Kennedy previously served as the senior vice president of sales and marketing for FSG and the organization’s executive vice president. As the current president of FSG, Kennedy manages the sponsorships and sales of the Red Sox, oversees the financial stability of the franchise and the preservation of Fenway Park, and manages several third-party clients, including BC, MLB.com and LeBron James. In 2002, Kennedy joined the Red Sox as Vice President and Corporate Partnerships. He was among the first executives that Larry Lucchino, Red Sox president and CEO, brought to Boston from the San Diego Padres. Kennedy worked with Lucchino and the San Diego Padres for six years. Since joining the Red Sox, Kennedy has been an instrumental part of the company’s change and progress. He and his staff have increased sponsorship revenue by more than 250 percent, premium licensing by 160 percent, and season ticket base by 30 percent. Additionally, Kennedy and FSG have expanded their clientele, securing relationships with Deutsche Bank Championship, Rousch Fenway
Racing, and the Premier League football club Liverpool FC. “It’s been an unbelievable few years,” Kennedy said. “It’s been a roller coaster ride … We went from a sports and entertainment company in the U.S., to a sports and entertainment company spread throughout the whole world.” This past year, Kennedy and his team have experienced great success. In April 2011, Fenway Sports Management became the sole marketer of the global rights of LeBron James, Liverpool FC has had an extremely successful season, and the NHL’s outdoor Winter Classic was brought to Fenway Park for the third year in a row. Just this past week, Liverpool won the Carling Cup; Matt Kenseth, a Rousch Fenway NASCAR racer, won the Daytona 500; and LeBron James announced a major partnership with Dunkin’ Donuts. With such success, Kennedy remains focused on the future. He plans to continue building a strong business team, bring talent up through the organization and treat his employees and customers with respect. “In the sports industry, we can’t control the competition and the losses,” Kennedy said. “But we can control how we treat our customers, employees and partnerships.” The Massachusetts native has followed this principle since he was an undergrad at Trinity College in Hartford, Conn. Kennedy always knew he wanted to work in the sports industry. During his sophomore year, Kennedy searched for a sports-related summer internship.
He sent letters to every Major League Baseball team and received responses from the Milwaukee Brewers and New York Yankees. In the summer of ’92, Kennedy joined the Yankees as a college intern. “That internship was the best thing that ever happened to me,” Kennedy said. “Without it, I would have never learned some many things or met so many great people.” The summers of his junior and senior year, Kennedy returned as an intern for the Yankees. After he graduated from Trinity in 1995, he worked hourly at the New York baseball stadium. From there, he worked at WABC Radio for sales business and later at WFAN Sports Radio. Kennedy built strong relationships with his coworkers and supervisors. In 1996, he followed a close mentor to California, where he worked for the San Diego Padres. After six years on the West Coast, Kennedy returned to Boston, where he joined the major renovation of the Red Sox brand. Before opening questions to students, Kennedy stressed the significance of valuable relationships with coworkers and mentors. He discussed the importance of passion and pursuit. “Over the last 10 years, my job has been incredibly rewarding,” Kennedy said. “All of these things happened for a reason and they happened because of the people I met. The most important thing is to build strong relationships and love what you are doing … If you work in an area you are interested in and passionate about, you will be more successful.” n
The Heights
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
UGBC hopes to increase student input for activities fees By Samantha Costanzo Asst. News Editor
Significant changes to the way student activities fees are allocated and the amount each student will pay in activities fees may be in the works. According to Jim Kreinbring, director of administrative services in the Office of Student Affairs, the fee has already been through several changes in the past three years. Originally, the fee simply went up $2 every year. After students asked for more funding, the rate of increase in activities fees was the same as the rate of tuition increase. “Three years ago, students said there’s not enough money for the activities, and because we had a lot of activities we knew should be done on campus, Dr. Rombalski went and advocated for a significant increase in the student activities fee, which was phased in over the last three years,” Kreinbring said. “So it was about a $50 increase per year for the last three years. That won’t happen next year. That was designed to get more money for new programs and add more money for student clubs over the three years. Next year, it will
probably go back to the tuition rate increase, I would expect.” In the past, fees have increased about 2 percent each year. However, Jonathan Hinrichs, director of financial planning and services in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, said in an e-mail that an increase for next year has not been approved. “It would be premature to indicate that the fee will increase,” he said. The goal of the $50 increase in student activities fees was to create more programming for students. “Almost all of the programming on campus was done by UGBC and student clubs,” Kreinbring said. “Nights on the Heights was just starting. There was very little programming on campus outside of what clubs did, and we just couldn’t expect clubs to offer more. So the goal in increasing [the fee] was to try to provide more funding without having to put more burden on the clubs to do it all. The goal was to provide more things, especially late at night and on campus for students to do.” As a result, Nights on the Heights, The O’Connell House, Resident Assistant programming, and Residence
Hall Association programming, among other groups, now receive a portion of the student activities fee, which was originally split evenly between UGBC and the Student Organization Funding Committee (SOFC). As for changes for next year, Hinrichs and Kreinbring are unsure of how many changes can be made for next year. Currently being discussed is the possibility that any carry-forward, or money that was allocated to clubs that they did not use this year, could be given back to SOFC rather than stay with the clubs as it currently does. “I think it’s a possibility,” Hinrichs said. “We’ll work with SOFC and talk with them and see what opinions and ideas they have. I think that type of a situation would give them a little more flexibility, because right now, the money is still out in the clubs, and at the end of the year if there’s some left over, it would be nice for them to have a fresh start every year.” UGBC is also considering what it can do to affect student activities fees. “I think the one thing we’re going to see if we can do is get more
student input in the overall allocation of the student activities fee ... not just UGBC student input, but members from SOFC, members from RSOs, members from club sports,” said Mike Kitlas, UGBC president and A&S ’12. “Granted, that’s going to take a lot of time to set up, but at least laying the groundwork at the end of this year to see what we can do, have the conversation started, and hopefully carry it on next year.” The one thing that is not likely to change is the fact that payment of the student activities fee is mandatory for all students. “Students would see that it’s an option and say, ‘I don’t necessarily have to do it because the other students will do it,’ and that would significantly cut the money that would be in the student activities fund,” Kitlas said. “We would have to worry … No programs would ever actually be guaranteed funding.” Kreinbring agreed that making the fee optional will not happen. “It’s part of our obligation to give [students] lots of activities to partake in that are enriching, and that’s just not optional,” he said. “That’s part of Jesuit education and part of BC.” n
Student EMT performs CPR after elderly man collapses Cochran-Caggiano, from A1 I went down, and there was a man lying there, and the first thought in my head was ‘Oh sh—’ too. So I put down the ice cream, took off my jacket, checked for a pulse, shook him to see if he was conscious, checked for a pulse again, no pulse, so I called an ambulance and started CPR.” After about two minutes of CPR, Newton police officers arrived with an automated electronic defibrillator. Cochran-Caggiano and the police officers continued CPR and shocked the patient with the defibrillator in hopes of restarting his heart. After about five more minutes, Cataldo Ambulance Service paramedics arrived with a manual defibrillator and transferred the patient to the ambulance. “At that point, apparently they shocked him once he was in the ambulance, because one of the firefighters jumped out, shook my hand, and said we saved him,” Cochran-Caggiano said. “I heard today from Cataldo that by the time he arrived at the hospital, he had a blood pressure, pulse, and spontaneous respirations.” Although the patient’s current
status is unknown, the patient arrived to the hospital alive as a result of Cochran-Caggiano’s actions. Despite the stress of the situation, Cochran-Caggiano downplayed his actions, and said he simply remembered his training under pressure. “It was fortunate,” CochranCaggiano said of his being at the ice cream shop. “The mindset though, is that you can’t really do any harm here. Right now they’re dead, and they’re not getting any deader. So you work your butt off and do what you can do. It’s just, my kind of thought was, it’s what I was trained to do, so I did it. It’s a big deal in the sense that when you think about it, ‘Oh my God, it’s a life.’ But there’s probably 150 of us in Eagle EMS, and 140 of them would’ve done the same thing.” “We are sad to hear of this unfortunate emergency, but are happy that Nick is in our family of responders,” said Chris Faherty, president of Eagle EMS and A&S ’12, in an e-mail. “He helps make our community safer, both on and off duty.” Cochran-Caggiano, who earned his EMT certification last June, works with Eagle EMS at events like hockey and football games, and even provided coverage early
this semester for “the hurricane that wasn’t.” “Eagle EMS cannot be prouder of Nick for his swift actions,” Faherty said. “The CPR he initiated, coupled with the quick arrival of an AED, helped save the man’s life. It is a motivating and inspiring event, demonstrating the responsibilities each of us have within our community to be prepared and help those in need.” “I never really expected anything like that to happen,” Cochran-Caggiano said. “I kind of always expected to see a car accident, pull over and provide help, but I never really expected to just be in a little shop and see it happen. It’s not that common. I was talking to the guys that were working there and they said they go through 10 or 20 robbery scenarios when they’re being trained, but nothing like this. It’s just one of those things that isn’t that common. I think that it’s wonderful, and I’m glad I was there.” In light of his actions, CochranCaggiano pointed out the need for more people to be trained in CPR. “I think that absolutely everyone should be certified in CPR,” Cochran-Caggiano said. “I think it should be part of a liberal arts
education. The point of a liberal arts education is to prepare you to be the best person you can be in life. It’s just a two-hour class for CPR, it’s very cheap, and it’s something that could absolutely affect someone forever. There’s no saying that [the patient] is going to be okay, but there’s also a chance that he leaves in two days and lives another 20 years. It can’t be overstated how much people should be aware of this.” Cochran-Caggiano’s actions have also caught the eye of several Boston College administrators. “We join all members of the Boston College community in applauding sophomore Nick Cochran-Caggiano for his quick actions in helping to save the life of a Newton resident this week,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn in an e-mail. “It was positive news in the midst of what has been a most difficult time for us all, and another affirmation of the wonderful work of the Eagle EMS program.” Cochran-Caggiano pointed out that his actions were in line with a philosophy he’s held since volunteering during high school. “If you’re always ready to help someone, you’ll be ready when it’s necessary,” he said. n
BC trains students for the good of society, admins say Higher Education, from A1 tion of new majors and minors as well as more contemporary content, have also changed college campuses. “The University’s vitality in many ways is ensured by an ongoing backand-forth between the traditional and the innovative,” said David Quigley, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, in an e-mail. “Universities date back to the medieval era and the disciplines that organize knowledge are legacies, by and large, of the late 19th century. At the same time, these very disciplines are imagined anew by each generation of professors and students. As for new programs like International Studies and Islamic Civilization and Societies, such initiatives illustrate how the academy responds to a changing world and strives to prepare students for the world they’ll inherit.” BC champions this liberal arts education, but Rombalski sees learning as a constant process. He uses the term “24/7 student” to describe his beliefs about BC students. “Thirty or 40 years ago, the approach to education was basically what hap-
pened in the classroom, and when you left for class and you went out, that wasn’t considered really a part of your learning experience,” Rombalski said. “Today, given the cost and our responsibility to give back to the community, we consider our University a learning environment whether you’re in the classroom or not.” Rombalski considers extracurricular activities and peer-to-peer discussion paramount to this model. “The 24/7 mentality really drives home the point that we want students to be learning all the time throughout their time at BC.” Issues pertaining to access, particularly in matters of cost, can interfere with earning a college degree. In her piece, Nanos uses the Thiel Fellowship recipients as an indicator of this growing problem. The Thiel Fellowship, founded by early Facebook investor Peter Thiel, grants student innovators $100,000 to drop out of college and enter the workforce. Thiel makes the argument that the price of college outweighs any possible advantages inherent in a college degree, but those in higher education disagree. “I am suspicious of anyone who
would suggest that such an approach holds out great promise on a large scale,” Quigley said. “I remain convinced that four years of study at Boston College is a wise investment, for individuals and for the larger society. Our alumni make powerful contributions to their communities, and their college experiences prove over and over again to have been formative.” “Most people are most convinced by the path that they took,” Rombalski said. “If you’re a marine, you hearken back to boot camp, and even though it was horrible and painful, you want every other marine to go through boot camp. Everyone, first and foremost, relates to their former experiences. These guys had bad collegiate experiences and, to their credit, their choices were probably right for themselves, but they don’t know what the path would have looked like if they hadn’t gone to college either.” Rombalski believes the BC mission relies on educating students not simply for such vocational purposes but for the good of society. “We believe at BC that one of the prevailing goods about you going to college is
the argument from the public good. If you go to college, and you’re welleducated, you’ll vote better, you’ll become an involved citizen in the community you grew up in, you’ll be more ethical in terms of how you think about society, and you might even become other-minded, so when you do something, it’s not just for your own personal gain, it’s for the gain of the public.” The debate rages on about the value of the college degree, but Rombalski and Quigley challenge students to find merit in their learning. “When I was in college, I wasn’t thinking about what I wasn’t getting,” Rombalski said. “I was thinking about immersing myself in the experience before me. I think the average BC student is very serious about their learning, and that’s a credit to our student body.” “I’d urge [unsatisfied students] to meet with individual professors and academic advisors and also to reach out to their deans,” Quigley said. “One of the great strengths of this University is the wide range of excellent academic programs which enable students to find a good fit for their talents and passions.” n
graham beck / heights editor
Friends and family worked to spread awareness near the reservoir this week.
Garcia missing after 8 days Garcia, from A1 is pretty powerful that they can find something as small as a dead duck,” said Joe Mahon, also a friend of Garcia’s and A&S ’12. Procopio said that divers would be back in the reservoir on Friday for a final search, skipping Thursday due to anticipated bad weather. The underwater searches were accompanied by overhead helicopter searches using heat cameras. On-foot searches by the State Police Emergency Response Team and K-9 Units covered the wooded area surrounding the reservoir, as well as the vacant Cleveland Circle movie theater. More than 100 police officers from four different police departments have been involved in the search. Yesterday evening, Newton and State police expanded the search to Garcia’s home in West Newton, hoping to find information that could help them locate the missing student. Despite the intensity of the searches, no evidence has been found regarding Garcia’s whereabouts. Garcia disappeared after a night out with friends at Mary Ann’s bar in Cleveland Circle last Tuesday. He was last seen wearing a blue and white striped button-down shirt, blue jeans, a black Northface jacket, and glasses. Garcia’s friends say they saw him walking toward the direction of the door, but never saw him exit the bar. “It’s possible, we think, that he may still have been in the bar sitting somewhere,” Mahon said. Their phone call to his cell phone at 1:17 a.m. was not answered, but the ping from the cell tower indicates that Garcia was headed away from Cleveland Circle back in the direction of campus, where his car was parked. “It doesn’t make much sense to us that he would be coming back to his car, unless he was going to try to get back into Edmond’s if he could have somebody let him back in and go up to the room. He wouldn’t have been driving anywhere,” Mahon said. Garcia’s friends said it is unusual for Garcia not to let them know if he made it home safe after a night out. “Normally if he doesn’t stay after, he texts us on Wednesday and says ‘made it home, I took a cab’ or ‘I’m fine,’” Reis said. Despite the unusual circumstances, police have found no evidence to suggest involvement by another party. “It remains a missing persons case,” Procopio told the Globe. “There is no evidence to indicate foul play but foul play has not been ruled out.” “There have been surprisingly few [leads],” Mahon said. “The thing that is really unsettling about this is that you rule out the accident, you rule out the reservoir, and there’s no evidence of any struggle or anything like that–this is speculation, mind you–but the unsettling thing is that after six or seven days with absolutely no sign or no word and no clues, no evidence, nothing in the reservoir, ‘What could have happened, where could he have gone, where could he be right now?’” Despite the disappointment of the searches, Garcia’s friends and family remain hopeful for his safe return. “They haven’t turned up anything and we’re taking that as a good sign because that means he’s not there,” Reis said. “We can take that possibility away and focus on that he’s out there safe somewhere.” “Every day that passes without anything is more likely that he’s actu-
ally alive somewhere and for some reason can’t get into contact with us,” Mahon said. Along with their physical searches, Garcia’s friends and family have turned to social media to reach out to as many people as possible, both in and outside of the BC community. They have focused particularly on celebrities, news stations, and local businesses and have received support from many, including Roxy’s Grilled Cheese, Doug Flutie, and Bruce Springsteen. “Help find Boston College student Franco Garcia. Last seen 2/22/12 in Brighton, MA. Call 617-796-2100 with any info,” Springsteen tweeted. In addition to the Facebook group and the Twitter hashtag #findfranco, Garcia’s friends have created a Twitter account @findfranco to spread the latest information and share news reports. “There’s only so much we can do in actual search efforts, but the best thing that we can have anybody do is to spread the word,” Mahon said. “The more publicity that we can get, the more information comes in. We’ve had information coming in from various different places, a lot of it doesn’t mean anything, but you never know when something can actually help.” Garcia’s friends have worked tirelessly over the past week to promote awareness about his disappearance. “We’re kind of taking it one day at a time now just because we’re a little exhausted,” Reis said. “There’s about eight or nine of us that are kind of coordinating everything and we spend most evenings each hosting a little conference, we all sit at our computers and share, no one really wants to be alone right now, for emotional support for each other.” Along with numerous students, University President Rev. William P. Leahy, S.J. and Campus Minister Rev. Don MacMillan, S.J. have both reached out to the Garcia family to lend their support. “The Boston College community remains hopeful that Franco will be found safe, and are offering all our prayers and masses for him, his family and many BC friends. The Marching Band, Symphonic Band and Pep Bands all are affected by this occurrence and are pulling together in solidarity and prayer for Franco and for each other,” MacMillan said. “We are profoundly saddened by the ordeal of the Garcia family and their friends, and want them to know that the entire BC community cares very much for Franco and hopes for his safe return. Boston College is a community at prayer.” Campus Ministry has organized daily masses this week to pray for the safe return of Garcia, and to offer support for his family and friends. A mass is scheduled for Thursday at noon in Cushing Chapel and in St. Joseph’s Chapel at 10 p.m. Masses will be said at St. Mary’s Chapel Thursday and Friday at 8 a.m., 11 a.m., and noon. “Everyone at Boston College remains hopeful for a positive resolution,” said University Spokesman Jack Dunn. “We will continue to do whatever we can to assist the Garcia family and the four cooperating police departments as they deal with this most difficult ordeal.” “My hope is that soon we will be able to contact him,” Reis said. “We’ll know or someone will tell us something that will allow us to know that he is safe.” Anyone with information that may be helpful to the investigation is asked to contact the Newton Police at 617-796-2100. n
Communication dept. hopes to give better access to journalism classes for all majors Communication, from A1 chairperson of the communication department. Changes in the communication department will encompass the creation of new classes that reflect its faculty’s research strengths, in addition to the removal of classes that do not. “We have added new courses such as Rhetorical Criticism to this end,” Cuklanz said. Cuklanz recognizes that BC students have an interest in taking advertising classes, and feels that these students will still be able to pursue this academic interest through other
classes in the Fall 2012 semester. “Students may be able to take courses related to advertising through CSOM electives,” Cuklanz said. The process of reorganizing the communication department has already moved classes such as Broadcast Writing, News Writing, Feature Writing, and Advanced Journalism out of the department. These classes were offered as University courses beginning last semester. They will continue to be offered as University courses for the next academic year, but will now count as part of the American Studies minor. “Starting next year, American Studies minors can count one of these journalism courses toward the
minor, and American Studies minors who pursue a new area of concentration in journalism within the minor can count up to three,” said Carlo Rotella, director of the American Studies program. Rotella believes that the inclusion of journalism classes is a logical step that will benefit the American Studies minor. “[American Studies is] an interdisciplinary program with a focus on American culture, very much including journalism,” Rotella said. “A number of American Studies faculty have a variety of scholarly and professional interests in journalism. Since American Studies is an interdisciplinary program, not a department, and a minor, not a major, it’s easy for us to
open up these offerings to students from across the University without having to worry about also serving the needs of a department.” Rotella said he believes that moving journalism classes out of the communication department and not restricting them to American Studies minors is a move that reflects the spirit of BC academics. “I think the best way to characterize the intent of the move is to say that it’s in keeping with a broadly liberal-arts approach to journalism at BC in which students can major in whatever they choose and also have access to training in journalism,” Rotella said. The journalism classes will not
be altered in any way now that they will count as credits for American Studies minors. “As a group, the University [journalism] courses will remain the same in conception,” Rotella said. “They’re designed to offer hands-on, professional training in a small-group setting, and they’re taught by veteran working journalists who come to campus to share their expertise and experience in the field. That’s the strength of these courses, and there’s no plan to change that.” The future of journalism at BC will include additional classes relating to the field. “There will be a new Introduction to Magazine Writing course in the fall, and we should add
a new media writing course the following year,” Rotella said. Though there will be gradual changes in journalism course offerings, Rotella’s current goal is to publicize BC’s current journalism course offerings, which, in addition to the University course offerings, include a variety of journalism-related nonfiction writing workshops offered by the English department, and a course in literary journalism. “The first step is to increase awareness of the opportunities already offered at BC,” Rotella said. “One thing we want to do is make sure that any student interested in journalism takes advantage of this range of opportunities.” n
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
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The Heights
Editorials
QUOTE OF THE DAY
Communication dept. should reconsider
Thursday, March 1, 2011
“Better to fight for something than live for nothing.” -George S. Patton (1885-1945), United States general during WWII
The decision to cut advertising classes and move PR classes out of the communication major presents challenges Boston College has recently released its online version of the 2012-2013 Course Catalog. Communication majors, who account for one-ninth of the student body, will notice a major change –namely, that many communication electives, in particular those focusing on advertising and public relations, are no longer listed under the major. In a controversial move, the communication department has decided to transfer its public relations classes to the University (UN) section of the catalog, and advertising classes have been cut entirely, in an effort to phase out “job specific” electives within the major. For the PR classes, the department feels they should be available to all students, as they are applicable to a wide range of studies. Fundamentally, The Heights feels their reasoning is sound: If such a class is also appropriate for a marketing or human development major, why should it only be offered to communication students? This move reflects a growing trend, as last year the department decided to move journalism classes out of the major, citing the same reasons. Last fall, they were listed as UN, but now they are becoming part of the American Studies minor. We at The Heights understand the reasoning behind this decision, but we fear its unforeseen and possibly grave consequences. The changes to the communication major, while they may prove to be beneficial, can also be seen as detrimental to students currently enrolled in the department. The Heights believes this is unfair to students studying communication, as many chose the major specifically because they want to pursue careers in advertising, public relations, or journalism. To be told midway through their college careers that these classes are either no longer
a part of the major or are not offered at all is quite a blow. For those students in the Class of 2014 and beyond, it is too late to switch, and they may be stuck on an academic path that does not reflect their interests or aspirations. While PR classes can still be taken by communication majors, it may be difficult for them to now balance their major requirements with PR electives, especially seeing as a large number of those studying communication double major in another subject. This decision may also be harmful in the long run to those students seeking jobs or internships. Many communication majors search for work in the advertising and public relations fields, and limiting their ability to take these electives will put them at an inherent disadvantage. Any student could tell you that when in an interview, a common inquiry is relevant classes you have taken. A BC student can no longer say that they took a class specifically on advertising, whereas a student studying communication at the University of Pennsylvania or at Northwestern could. We may be able to say we studied theories of persuasion, but when another candidate can say they have studied specific cases of advertising in popular culture, it is certain that the employer will be more impressed by the latter. Furthermore, if a BC student does get the job, they face a learning curve in comparison to those peers who had the ability to take these “real world” classes. The Heights urges the communication department, and the University itself, to reconsider its decision. If you want to make a class more accessible, lift the major restriction–don’t take it out of the major itself. Most importantly, don’t eliminate classes. It hurts students now, and it will hurt them in the future.
‘Top Chef’ will kindle Boston culture For the past several weeks, thousands of Boston residents have actively petitioned the reality television show Top Chef to bring its next season to the city. Twitter users have adopted the hashtag #yougottatr yboston, spurned by Mayor Menino himself, to convince Chef producers that Boston is a more than worthy culinary battleground. Last week, the Boston Beer Company, maker of Sam Adams, received a six-figure sponsorship proposal from the show’s production company. Bravo executives also met with Lisa Strout of the Massachusetts Film Office to get the state involved in the effort. At the moment, Boston is neck and neck with Portland in the battle for Top Chef. Though it might not seem like
much, Boston playing host to a show like Top Chef would not only catapult tourism to the city, it would reinvigorate the economy by offering companies like Boston Beer sponsorship deals. Viewers across the country will be able to get a glimpse of Boston’s spectacular restaurants, its most beautiful sights, and perhaps even some of its residents. The show has previously used campus dining halls for filming—perhaps BC Dining could get in on a piece of the action. Unfairly maligned for being a gastronomic cesspool for too long, Boston has rapidly become a beacon of innovation in the food world, something Top Chef should take notice of. Bring Top Chef to Boston and the city will show the world what it’s made of.
Samantha Cohen/ Heights Illustration
Letters to the Editor Adoration chapel in Bapst provides faithful and peaceful space The evangelist Luke recounts a particular story from Jesus, public ministry, a story which tends to confuse and perplex rather than console and comfort. Jesus enters the house of a woman, Martha, who, eager to serve the Lord, runs about frantically preparing her home. She becomes indignant that her sister Mary seems not to share her concern for tending to her many domestic duties. She demands that Jesus command Mary to stop sitting at His feet and instead to help her. As only a master teacher like Christ could do, Jesus turns the table on Martha, saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her.” So consumed by her well-intentioned desire to serve the Lord, Martha had forgotten what was most important in the life of a disciple: sitting quietly and attentively, listening to the Lord, and abiding with Him. Having spent now five years at BC, I know how tempting it is to be consumed by the business of life, much like Martha. Somewhere between midterms, Arrupe trips, and dozens of extracurriculars, I wonder if we lose sight of what university life ought to be about. Fortunately, I also know that BC provides plentiful opportunities to encounter Christ and to spend time with Him. One such opportunity
is the brand-new adoration chapel in Bapst library. Located to the left of the main desk, open from 9-5 on weekdays, this beautiful room now houses the Eucharist for all members of the BC community who wish to spend part of their day in silent adoration. For anyone who wants to learn more about the Catholic devotion of praying to Christ in the Eucharist, I encourage you to visit the chapel itself and prayerfully read any of the devotional literature there, or e-mail the St. Thomas More Society to sign up for a regular, weekly hour. Somewhere between the many good works BC students do in their free time, it would be helpful for us to remember one of the pillars upon which our school is built. The life of our University ought to be profoundly Christ-centered and Eucharistic, drawing strength from the Lord, so that His love and grace may infuse all the work we do. The otherwise monotonous, bland day-to-day happenings in our lives thus become infused with new supernatural life. Special thanks is owed to Director of Campus Ministry Fr. Tony Penna, whose energy and enthusiasm made this chapel a much-welcomed, much needed addition to the already beautiful contours of campus. Max Bindernagel Graduate Peer Minister, CLFX
The Heights welcomes Letters to the Editor not exceeding 200 words and column submissions that do not exceed 700 words for its op/ed pages. The Heights reserves the right to edit for clarity, brevity, accuracy, and to prevent libel. The Heights also reserves the right to write headlines and choose illustrations to accompany pieces submitted
to the newspaper. Submissions must be signed and should include the author’s connection to Boston College, address, and phone number. Letters and columns can be submitted online at www.bcheights.com, by e-mail to editor@bcheights.com, in person, or by mail to Editor, The Heights, 113 McElroy Commons, Chestnut Hill, Mass. 02467.
With rising costs, justify your education With the rising cost of higher education, the value of the college degree has been called into question–does securing a diploma from a four-year institution necessarily translate into tangible knowledge? While a bachelor’s degree may be just the ticket to get your foot in the door somewhere, the degree itself often does not prove that you learned anything while at school. With this idea in mind, educating oneself should be viewed as a full-time job, a constant process taking place both in and out of the classroom. The Heights reminds students that it is imperative that you make the most of
your four years here. If ever you feel that you are not getting your money’s worth, we urge you take action. Whether this means getting more involved outside of the classroom with extracurricular activities or simply meeting more often with individual professors and academic advisors–or even reaching our to your respective deans. If you are not convinced that your four years of study are panning out to be wise investment, do something about it. Echoing the words of Patrick Rombalski, vice president of student affairs, The Heights encourages students to immerse yourselves in the experience before you.
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
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Opinions
Thumbs Up The light ahead- If Hell and Guantanamo Bay had a baby, it would be the week before Spring Break. It is cruel, it’s torturous, and it is impossible to get through without getting burned and crapped on from all sides. But, do not lose faith, as the greener pastures (or warmer beaches, we should say) of Spring Break are only two days ahead. Here’s to a deserved week of relaxation, lounging, and well...some other stuff that we can’t mention. Orange bun in the oven- The reality TV starlet and her “juiced-up” (her words, not ours) beau are rumored to be expecting a child. We would like to condemn all those haters out there who argue that Snooki is an unfit mother—just because she does gymnastics with no underwear on, passes out in a dogbed, and gets arrested for public drunkenness doesn’t mean she will be an unfit mother. TU/TD would like to be the mature ones and extend our congratulations to Snooki, and also to Dr. Drew, who will make millions when that child appears on Celebrity Rehab at the age of 12. Boss to the rescue- Boston College Dad and famous musician posted a missing notice for Franco Garcia on his Facebook page. With over 2 million fans, word of Franco Garcia will surely spread far and wide. Despite his hectic schedule and worldwide fame, it is awesome that Bruce would take the time out of his day to help out the cause. He truly is “the Boss.” All we do is (hopefully) winThis weekend, BC Hockey has the chance to win the Hockey East Division. Although we know we can’t ask for much after the glory that was the Beanpot victory, we hope that BC hockey can once again bring a W back to Chestnut Hill. Good luck, guys!
Thumbs Down Kinky Co-ed- An article published yesterday in the Harvard Crimson titled “Students Encourage Open Discussion about Sex” reports on a club at Harvard that has discussions about kinky sex. Members include those with fetishes, those who are dominant, those who are subordinate, and those who are furries (if you don’t know what that is, watch Entourage. We really don’t want to explain). Thumbs Down because we are in shock. No, not that this group is freaking weird, but that Harvard students actually have sex. Poor advertising- McDonald’s is spending millions on advertisements in China that say their beef is only the finest Grade-A quality. Really McDonald’s? You think that the people who are currently at pace to overtake our economy as the largest one in the world will believe that? Because the Chinese are really known for their ignorance. Food felony- A soccer player at the University of Georgia was arrested for stealing $1.06 worth of hash browns from the cafeteria. She was released on a $1,500 bail. TU/TD would just like to say that we definitely didn’t steal chicken fingers from Late Night on Friday and definitely waited in that 1,239,803-person-long line. We have witnesses, we promise. Like TU/TD? Follow us on Twitter @BCTUTD
Student unification when things get serious
Marye Moran I could easily have been a student somewhere else. When deciding where to spend my undergraduate years, I was close to being a Hoya, almost a Fighting Irish, but in the end, decided to become an Eagle. Because it was such a close decision, I’m assuming I have much in common with Georgetown and Notre Dame students. We have similar goals, appreciate similar locations, and are at comparable levels of intelligence. On paper, I would fit in as well with them as I do with the students at Boston College. However, despite the facts, I don’t care about, connect with, or have concern for students at those schools like I do for BC students. It doesn’t make much sense, but it’s part of what makes the college system great. I’m not the only one who cares more about students at my own school than those anywhere else. A recent USA Today article highlighted college campuses hosting food banks, not for the underprivileged in surrounding towns or local individuals down on their luck, but for students themselves. Institutions such as West Virginia University and Michigan State University have organized pantries to provide food and supplies to students and staff members who are struggling to simultaneously pay for both education and the means of living. These banks have been widely supported by the student bodies at those specific schools. West Virginia and Michigan State students presumably have much in common with one another. And when thinking about the goal of these food drives, those willing
to donate on campus should also be those participating in local or statewide collections. However, the students care about their fellow students on their own campuses. It’s not the most rational thing, but it’s nice to see that college communities are about more than just rooting for the same sports team. Students seem to care more about strangers at their school than strangers anywhere else, and though there is little logic behind that, it is what makes a residential university worth attending. One of the most recognizable faces in the BC community right now is one that most students, presumably, have not met. Everyone knows the smile of Franco Garcia from the Facebook notifications, flyers, and online alerts about his disappearance. Seeing a missing person alert on TV or on a telephone pole when driving through a random town on our way home for Spring Break should evoke a response. No one hears about that kind of crisis without worrying about the individual in question, his family, and his friends. However, few would constantly update their Facebook status searching for information about that person, or would take the time to display these flyers and alerts. It says much about the BC student body that we care so much about one of our own, even if he is one who we have never met, shared a classroom with, or sat next to on the Comm. Ave. bus. He’s a fellow Eagle, so we are automatically concerned. College campuses, as self-selective communities, might seem like their students should have commonalities. However, though we all chose BC, this does not necessarily mean we all chose it for the same reason, or have anything in common. Some came here for the sports and are putting up with the harsh Boston winters only because they want to go to hockey games. Others came because they love the snow and want to be close to skiing opportunities in
the Northeast. Some came for academics, but even that goal is not unified, as many choose BC because of their love of nursing, and others for their love of teaching. These students do not necessarily have any connections or reasons to feel united on a personal level. People say we care about those who are similar to us, but are two randomly selected students really that similar? Maybe the reason for this unity, then, is that we see ourselves as peers despite probable differences, and we can picture ourselves in similar situations. If a fellow student cannot afford food, that unfortunate circumstance seems possible for us, were we to have a downward turn of fate. If a member of our chemistry class, a member of our marching band team, a person who goes to the same bar as us goes missing, that all of a sudden seems like something that could have happened to us. The sympathy between members of a university could be caused by that somewhat selfishly motivated reason, but even if that is part of the truth, I don’t think it’s the whole because I could just as easily have been a Georgetown or Notre Dame student. Things that happen to them, I would assume, are just as likely to happen to me. And if a student at one of those schools was in an unfortunate situation, whether it was hunger or something more dire like disappearance, I would care, but not as much as I would if it were at BC. Yes, we should care about all people, not just those in our college community, but it’s still nice to know that colleges, including BC, provide environments of mutual support and concern. It’s nice that we’re not only united when we’re rooting for the same team at the Beanpot, and that, whatever the reason, all students here have over 9,000 people who care about them. Marye Moran is a staff columnist for The Heights. She welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
Show support for BC sports
Andrew Schweiger I love sports. No, scratch that, I am crazy about sports. Sometimes I wonder how much more actually useful information I could fit into my head if I emptied out all the superfluous sports statistics and trivia I keep up there. Whenever such a thought creeps into my mind, my immediate reaction is to think how stupid that would be. Of course I need to know that Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at this year’s NFL combine, making him the fastest quarterback in this year’s draft class. And yes, it is absolutely necessary that I know that Texas Ranger outfielder Josh Hamilton has blue eyes and that may or may not be the reason why he’s not very good at hitting home runs during the day. I am so crazy about sports that had my beloved Kansas Jayhawks lost to the Missouri Tigers in overtime in “Phog” Allen Fieldhouse this past Saturday in basketball, the emotional pain I would have experienced would have hit harder than a failed midterm. Instead, they rose from a 19 point deficit to win by one in overtime and essentially clinch an eighth straight Big 12 championship. To say the least, I was ecstatic. You would have had to be there to understand the emotional rollercoaster that was that game. The KU-Mizzou rivalry is comparable to that of BC-BU in hockey, except for the whole rivalry being 105 years old and rooted in actual historically documented battles, which in my opinion adds a little more zest to the whole thing. My thinking went from the pits of despair, “We are going to lose to
Bazoomie Wagon
Mizzou at home with a Big 12 title at stake”, to the greatest joy, “Holy sh-t, an eighth straight Big 12 title and we beat Mizzou!” My roommates can attest to the energetic celebration that ensued. So of course you’ll find it no surprise that I find the atmosphere at our sporting events to be pathetic. Except for hockey games against intown rivals such as BU or Northeastern, I can’t think of one time I’ve seen Conte full. At what other university does a sports team perennially ranked as one of the nation’s best fail fill up its allotted student section on a consistent basis? I know that students on this campus care about sports. I’ve seen your passion for other sports teams. During August, September, and October I saw Red Sox, Yankees, and Phillies baseball caps. For November, December, and January it was a combination of NCAA and NFL apparel. I heard the quiet anguish of half the student body as that football fell at Gronkowski’s feet, while the other half jumped for joy. It takes a lot to get invested in a sports team, especially when it seems that the glory years were basked in by prior generations. I understand that no one wants to associate with a losing team. You put your heart in the hands of those athletes—you trust them to take care of it, and it hurts when their loss maims that entrusted loyalty. Being a fair-weather fan is no better than being a fair-weather friend. These are our fellow classmates skating, running, and playing out there on our sports fields. They want those wins just as much as we do, and they work harder for it than we might first realize. Everyone I know who’s old enough to remember Doug Flutie’s miracle Hail Mary pass points to that play as the pivotal moment that Boston College moved from a regional school with a good number of student com-
BY BEN VADNAL
muters to a nationally recognized university. There was no national TV coverage, sports website, or Internet blog we as a student body could point to as a source of pride. It’s been 27 years since BC put its foot in the door of national sports recognition, and it’s about time that we took a good step forward to making game day at BC something to be remembered and experienced. It begins with the fans, but structure has a lot to do with it as well. Get rid of Conte Forum. The Red Sox have Fenway, Duke has Cameroon Indoor, and BC has what exactly? It’s an unremarkable arena that breaks up its student body and, because of its two open ended sides, doesn’t get very loud. A home arena should be a place of pride, tradition, and inviting atmosphere. If basketball and hockey must be played in the same building, it must easily convert into a basketball arena without forcing most of the fans to sit so far from the hardwood that they feel disconnected from the game. Make student basketball tickets free. Hopefully this will allow an increase in the amount of students attending so that the student section is able to create a fun atmosphere in which games can be enjoyed. In this way other spectators are more attracted to attending games. For football, relax the rules on tailgating. Make campus the place to be in Boston on a Saturday during the fall. This all starts with us, the Superfans. Let’s start by packing the student section with a sea of gold, showing up on time for games, and putting a stop on early departures. The next evolution of BC sports begins with student support. It’s time that we let everyone know that we are BC. Andrew Schweiger is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
What you might be thinking
John Blakeslee My life is so hard. Seriously. The hardest. I have the hardest of lives. My life is filled with challenges. Hard challenges. It’s midterms and I don’t think anyone’s life is worse than mine right now, in the whole world. Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating. I’m sure there are a few people in the world who have a tougher life than me right now. But I’m definitely top five. Maybe even top three. I live in O’Neill. Yesterday I spent like four hours there reading some stupid book. I might as well put a cot and a lava lamp in one of the study rooms and call it my apartment. I could just move in, buy a cat, and be an old cat person until I die. That’s how long I’m going to be in the library, until I die of old age, or some cat related virus. Everything would be fine if I didn’t have that club I voluntarily joined and generally enjoy doing. It takes up some of my time. That is time that I should be spending with my beloved cat in our penthouse apartment on the sixth floor of O’Neill. You know what? I don’t even care. None of this work matters. It doesn’t relate at all to my future career that I have yet to experience but claim to know everything about. It serves no purpose. None. I literally can’t think of a single purpose it has. Now I’m laughing about all the work I have to do. Hahahaha. It’s funny how stressed I was. Not anymore. Let’s go to Mary Ann’s. That place is fun and carefree, like me. It has a jukebox and a mini arcade in the back. Let’s go there and rip shots. I’m so fun. … Why did I go to Mary Ann’s? I am such a fool. Who was I kidding? Of course this work is important. It is the most important. It might be the most important thing I will ever do in my life. If I do mediocre on this test, I might not get into a top law school. If I don’t get into a top law school then I won’t get a high paying law job. If I don’t get a high paying law job then my life is a failure and I might as well buy a cardboard box and a lava lamp, throw it in the nearest sewer, and call it home. No, I need to stay focused on my dream: my dream of one day becoming a mid-level tax attorney with two cars, three children, and a Labradoodle named Bartleby. I can’t imagine doing anything else. This was my dream since I found out lawyers get paid more than other professions but require less schooling than doctors. It’s so unfair that one midterm in “Asia in the World” could ruin everything. The midterm is at nine. In the morning. How could anyone ever function at that hour? No one else in the entire world works that early. I imagine that when Noah was building his ark for the flood, even he didn’t get started until around 11. I’m certain God had the courtesy of postponing the flood until after lunchtime. My professor did this on purpose. He hates me. I can tell. He stays up at night concocting various schemes on how he is going to fail me. His primary pleasure in life is derived from the suffering of others, like a Dementor or Justin Bieber’s record producers. The professor is so unfair. Nay, he is treacherous. I use words like treacherous and nay when I am angry. It sounds better. I should tweet that. Even if I survive the midterm, I have to finish writing my thesis. I can’t believe I was forced to write this. When I enter the real world I’ll never have to spend my time researching and writing on a topic that I find interesting. I’ll get to slave away at my job instead. Like it should be. I hope that test tomorrow never happens. Not because I’m unprepared but because the second it’s over, I’ll have nothing to say. Commiserating is my main source of bonding with people. The minute I see a friend of mine, I immediately start talking about all the work I have. What would I talk about if there wasn’t any work? Maybe tomorrow I’ll feel better. Once all this work is done I’ll have the time to appreciate all the good that surrounds me. But right now I need to be miserable. I need to ignore all the things that made me smile today and focus on the things that make me groan. Tomorrow I’ll be happy. Then again, tomorrow I should start applying for jobs. Applying for jobs is so hard… . John Blakeslee is a staff columnist for The Heights. He welcomes comments at opinions@bcheights.com.
The Heights
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
“I thought I was done, but once you get back on the court, you have that competitive spirit where you want to get back out there and play. I was content with being done and moving on to the next part of my life trying to [be a graduate assistant] and trying to get into coaching, but at the same time I was obviously pretty upset about hanging them up for good.”
“The team has pretty much defined my time at BC. I’m from around here, and I’ve always been a BC fan. If you would’ve told me my senior year of high school I’d be playing for Boston College, I would’ve looked at you pretty funny. It’s been surreal. It’s something I never would’ve imagined could happen to me.”
-John Cahill
-Pete Rehnquist
Cahill and Rehnquist provide strong veteran presence Cahill and Rehnquist, from A10 Cahill was content with his new role, but he still missed being a player at times. “It was kind of a mixed thing,” Cahill said. “I thought I was done, but once you get back on the court, you have that competitive spirit where you want to get back out there and play. I was content with being done and moving on to the next part of my life trying to [be a graduate assistant] and trying to get into coaching, so I was excited about that, but at the same time I was obviously pretty upset about hanging them up for good.” BC opened the season with a scrimmage against American International, and Donahue’s young squad clearly lacked leadership, causing crazy play on the court. Donahue called Cahill into his office after BC squeaked out a win over the inferior competition and asked him if he wanted to come back and play for another year. “It was an easy decision for me,” Cahill said. “To come back and help the team, whatever role it was going to be, I knew I wanted to do it.” Although Cahill hasn’t erupted for a double digit scoring performance this season like he did last year, he nailed a clutch andone 3-pointer when BC desperately needed points in a win against Georgia Tech on his second Senior Night. As his teammates rushed to celebrate with him, Cahill brushed it off like it was just another shot. Besides just providing leadership and experience, Cahill has also been used at times as a shut-down defender this season. “I never really pictured myself as a defensive guy until the last two years when I played with Coach,” Cahill said. Cahill makes up for his inferior athleticism against ACC guards by finding the right angles and quarterbacking the defense with his constant communication. Donahue has rewarded him with significant minutes at the end of close games. “He’s the left-handed pitcher who needs to get the left-handed batter out in the middle
graham beck / heights editor
Cahill (left) has made a name for himself with his impressive stroke, while Rehnquist (right) will be remembered for his tireless work ethic. of innings and late in the game,” Donahue said. “I’m going to miss him. He’s our best defensive player, as crazy as it sounds. He gets in front of people, he draws charges, and he gets loose balls. The guys are probably tired of me referencing him on the film like, ‘See where John’s at? That’s where he should be.’ I’m sure he gets busted in the locker room, but he just knows it. He’s an additional coach out there, and he communicates. We’re going to miss that aspect of it, but in the same sense we need to go forward.” Having older players around has helped
out the freshmen this season, though sometimes the age difference has been notable. “Me, Salah, and Deirunas, we’re all older,” Cahill said. “There are definitely days where I come in, and I just don’t have the bounce that [the freshmen] do. I’m hurting, and they’re feeling alright. When you’re on the court, you don’t really think about it that much, but off the court we’re definitely at different points in our lives.” “I feel pretty old,” Rehnquist said about the age difference between the freshmen and him.
Rehnquist joined the basketball team as a walk-on during his sophomore year under former head coach Al Skinner. When Donahue took over the following year, Rehnquist didn’t experience too much change since the roster remained the same. “I just kind of kept showing up until they said something to me, and they never said anything to me,” Rehnquist said. Being a part of the basketball team has been an integral aspect of Rehnquist’s experience at BC. “The team has pretty much defined
my time at BC. I’m from around here, and I’ve always been a BC fan,” Rehnquist said. “If you would’ve told me my senior year of high school I’d be playing for Boston College, I would’ve looked at you pretty funny. It’s been surreal. It’s something I never would’ve imagined could happen to me.” After Rehnquist’s final game last night, Donahue reflected on what he has brought to the program. “He’s been incredible in the community service, just representing our program in every way.” Donahue said. “He’s teaching in practice, and he plays hard. I hope he remembers starting in this game at Boston College and it being a big highlight of his career because he’s meant so much to us.” Rehnquist’s work ethic has also earned the respect of his teammates, not just his coach. “Pete’s probably the hardest working dude on our team,” Matt Humphrey said. “Walking into practice you wouldn’t think he’s a walkon or anything like that because he brings it every single day. It was a happy moment and he did what he was supposed to do. I’m proud of the dude.” In addition to starting last night, another one of Rehnquist’s best moments as an Eagle came last season in the opening round of the NIT against McNeese State. BC had a comfortable lead with a minute left, and Rehnquist got subbed in to close out the game. The Eagles forced a turnover and hit ahead to Rehnquist, who jumped off two feet and slammed home a dunk. “I tried to dunk twice in high school and got stuffed by the rim, so I made up for it by dunking on ESPN,” Rehnquist said. While the future of the BC program is in the hands of nine freshmen and future recruits, Rehnquist and Cahill have made significant contributions during their time here that will carry on after they hang it up for good. n
BC barely squeaks by Yellow Jackets Men’s Basketball, from A10
graham beck / heights editor
Humphrey’s aggressive play to start the game paid off last night, as BC recorded its fourth ACC win.
many open looks. Most importantly, however, the Eagles committed just three turnovers in the half while dishing out eight assists, and BC went into the break leading 33-22. The ball control displayed in the opening 20 minutes was some of the best all year, and did not go unnoticed by point guard Jordan Daniels. “It was very important,” Daniels said. “Ball control is something that we’ve had to learn at this level. We’ve had our games where we’ve struggled with it, and we just try to get better at it every day. Tonight was just one of our better nights.” For a while in the second half, it looked as though the Eagles might pull away from the Yellow Jackets. A quick 6-0 Georgia Tech run to start the half cut the lead to 5, but BC quickly responded with its own run. A pair of 3-pointers and a layup pushed the lead to 10 before John
Cahill converted on a four-point play to push it to 14. The Eagles pulled ahead by as many as 17 before the shots stopped falling. Humphrey was 0-for-6 in the second half, and Anderson managed just two points. A ferocious 18-3 Yellow Jacket run in the last 10 minutes cut the lead to as low as two, but BC managed to hold on. An open three did not fall for Georgia Tech, and two late free throws by Lonnie Jackson were enough to put the game away. Donahue was happy to walk away with a win, and commented that complete games will come with more experience. “I think when you see the droughts and the sluggish plays, [it’s] that we’re not very deep, and we’re young,” Donahue said. “So you’re playing young guys way too many minutes, but that’s just the situation we’re in. Hopefully we’ll look back in two or three years and say they benefit-
ted greatly from all this grinding out and now they’re bigger, stronger, and they’re the guys giving it to the other team.” Donahue also spoke at length about his team’s season, and mentioned how this game could be seen as both a reflection of the season to this point and as a sign of where the team could get to someday. “I wanted to win so bad for these guys,” Donahue said. “Obviously, our last three games we’ve kind of hit a wall, and we try to say if we hit a wall, we bounce back. What you saw tonight was a microcosm of what we’ve gone through all year. And it’s not unexpected. I knew this wasn’t going to be a perfect 40 minutes because Georgia Tech plays hard. For the most part, all these guys who are going to be the foundation have really done a very good job of staying with this all year long and progress. All the guys have done a really good job of it.” n
Eagles begin ACC Tournament tonight By Kim Schroer For The Heights
The Boston College women’s basketball team is hoping to surprise some people this week at the ACC Tournament after earning the No. 11 seed and a matchup against the sixth-seeded Virginia Cavaliers tonight in Greensboro, N.C. Although the Eagles have struggled in conference play throughout the season, there has been a noticeable improvement in the last five games, including two conference victories and a close loss against NC State. The recent stretch of strong performances has head coach Sylvia Crawley optimistic about her team’s chances. “We’re excited because we see this as a new season,” Crawley said. “It doesn’t matter what you’ve done before in previous games. It matters what you do right now.” BC faced Virginia one other time this season, falling on the road in Charlottesville 69-58 on Jan. 21, despite 25 points from sophomore guard Shayra Brown. The Eagles allowed the Cavs to score 26 points off of their 22 turnovers, and 14 points from offensive rebounds. Heading into tonight’s game, Crawley has made several adjustments in an attempt to limit the number of BC mistakes. She
believes that the Eagles could have easily won their last game against Virginia, but the team needs to make fewer unforced errors in order to have a chance in the tournament. This week in practice, Crawley focused on eliminating turnovers and improving her team’s rebounding performance. She has been stressing the importance of boxing out on every shot and being more physical on the boards. Crawley has also shifted to a two-guard front on offense to help improve the team’s transition defense. Having two guards away from the basket ensures that there will always be someone back on defense to stop the fast break. The Eagles will need another strong performance from standout sophomore Kristen Doherty if they want to pull the upset against Virginia. Doherty’s play has been crucial for the Eagles in recent games, and she has become their go-to player heading into the conference tournament. Crawley has been impressed by Doherty’s breakout season. “Kristen has really come along this year,” Crawley said. “She possesses a goto mentality, and that’s a gift that many people don’t have. We’ve had a lot of injuries, and she has responded to the call to step up for her teammates. The adversity we’ve faced this year has pushed her to
scoreboard In case you missed it, here’s a recap from the past week’s BC scores
Baseball
BC UCF
Orlando, FLa. 2/24
McGovern 2-5, 1 rbI BC Carrilo 1-4, 2 RBI UCF
3 o
Milner 0 Ga, 29 SV BC Beaudry 2 GA, 18 SV PC
Providence, R.I. 2/24
graham beck / heights editor
Tessah Holt’s play at point guard will be key if the Eagles are to pull off an upset of Virginia tonight.
Orland, FLa. 2/25 Baseball
Baseball
5 6
M. Hockey
BC PC
be a better player.” While numerous injuries have hurt the Eagles this season, Crawley believes that the team is in good shape physically heading into tonight’s game. Doherty suffered a knee injury against Georgia Tech that sidelined her for a week, but her strong play in the last two regular season games indicates that she will be ready to go against Virginia. Sophomore guard Tessah Holt has been playing the season on a torn MCL, but Crawley thinks she is finally becoming more confidence and regaining her speed and quickness. Holt is a critical part of the smaller lineup Crawley has been using in recent games to reduce the team’s turnovers and to put more defensive pressure on opposing offenses. Crawley hopes that this lineup shift will correct some of the mistakes that resulted in the 11-point loss to Virginia in January. With just one senior on this year’s roster, the Eagles hope to gain some valuable experience from this year’s tournament and continue to improve upon their recent performances. BC also hopes to pull an upset, however, and make some noise in Greensboro. If the Eagles can limit their turnovers and dominate the boards, they have a good chance of shocking the Cavaliers and making a run in this year’s ACC Tournament. n
8 7
M. Hockey
Pare 2-3, 2 RBI BC Taladay 3-5, 1 RBI UCF
Orlando, Fla. 2/26 Lacrosse
4 Gordon 4 IP, 3 H, 0 SO BC 5 Matulis 4.1 IP, 6 H, 3 SO HU
ProvidencE, R.I. 2/25 M. basketball
7 0
Newton, mA 2/25
12 10
Winston-Salem, NC 2/25 M. basketball
Whitney 1 G, 3 A BC 56 Anderson 18 ptS, 9 REB BC Beaudry 5 GA, 25 SV Wake 85 McKie 21 PtS, 6 REB GT
56 52
Rix 3 G Ward 3 G Chestnut Hill, MA 2/29
humphrey 13 PTs, 3 A Miller 13 PTS, 7 REB
The Heights
Editors’ Picks
Thursday, March 1, 2012 The Week Ahead
Standings
Women’s hockey faces BU in the semifinals of the Hockey East Tournament on Saturday. Vermont plays men’s hockey in a series to finish the regular season this weekend. Men’s basketball also closes the regular season at Miami on Saturday. UVA faces women’s basketball tonight. Duke hosts UNC on Saturday.
A9
Recap from Last Week
Chris Marino
19-11
Greg Joyce
17-13
Heights Staff
17-13
Austin Tedesco
16-14
Game of the Week
Men’s hockey won its series with PC. Wake Forest blew out the men’s basketball team. Women’s basketball lost a close game against NC State. UCF closed out two close victories with baseball to win the series 2-1. The Oklahoma City Thunder topped the LA Lakers.
Women’s Hockey
Guest Editor: Joseph Castlen
Boston University
Asst. Graphics Editor
Greg Joyce Sports Editor
Chris Marino Assoc. Sports Editor
Austin Tedesco Asst. Sports Editor
Joseph Castlen
Asst. Graphics Editor
Men’s Hockey: No. 1 BC vs. Vermont (Series)
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Men’s Basketball: BC at Miami
BC
Miami
BC
Miami
Women’s Hockey: No. 4 BC vs. BU
BC
BC
BC
BC
Virginia
Virginia
BC
Virginia
UNC
Duke
UNC
UNC
Women’s Basketball: BC vs. UVA Men’s Basketball: No. 6 UNC at No. 4 Duke
Boston College
The semifinal of the women’s Hockey East Tournament features a rivalry matchup between No. 4 Boston College and No. 9 Boston University. The Eagles have struggled against the Terriers so far this year, only winning one of the three games in the regular season. BC will need to control BU’s dangerous offense, one that scored nine goals in its quarterfinal matchup against New Hampshire. After receiving a first-round bye, the Eagles will be well-rested heading into the key game, with the winner playing in the championship game on Sunday afternoon.
“I eat Chik-Fil-A all day every day with Anthony Davis and his sexy eyebrow!”
This Week’s Games
vs.
Saturday, 3:30 p.m.
Final weekend key for standings Men’s Hockey, from A10 top-tier conference foes BU and Merrimack. Despite this success, York says that this philosophy of concentrating on the smaller details is still a work in progress. “I think that we’re trying to adopt that,” he said. “We’re close to achieving our goal. We haven’t achieved it yet. We understand that, and we’re going to have to play good Eagle hockey over the weekend. We really want to hoist that trophy, because it’s still such a tight race.” In the first matchup between these two teams, the Eagles ran away with a 6-1 victory. The team was led by freshman Johnny Gaudreau and junior Chris Kreider, who each scored two goals. Despite this dominant win, York still sees the Catamounts as a threat down the stretch. “Vermont’s coming down with nothing to lose,” he said. “They’re
looking to be a spoiler. That’s a dangerous opponent to have.” York went on to say that his team’s main focus must continue to be playing solid defense, forcing turnovers and limiting opportunities for the opponent. “We have to be really sound defensively. One of our mantras is that our offense will come from good defense. We have to be thinking, with Parker in goal, about being tight on our own end.” There are a couple of question marks for the Eagles. Freshman Michael Sit and junior Brian Dumoulin were kept out of some practices this week due to injuries. York said that the team is just taking it “day by day.” At this point, he continued, both players are listed as probable for the series. Regardless, the team will rely on its strong senior class, which has helped the younger players learn on
the fly this season. In last Saturday’s rout of Providence, senior Barry Almeida had a career day with four points on one goal and three assists. Fellow seniors Tommy Cross and Edwin Shea each added two assists on the day. After defeating Providence the night before, 3-0, the Eagles had two consecutive shutouts for the first time since the 2006 season. The biggest thing heading into the weekend is to continue building momentum as the team looks for the Hockey East regular season title, and the top seed in the conference playoffs. At this point, these spots are in the Eagles’ hands, and they cannot let down their guard, despite Vermont’s lackluster season. “I think it’s so important to play well late in the year, because that’s when all of the objectives that you talk about in September are attainable if you do well,” York said. “We’re in a really good position.” n
Approach to coaching changes is hurting the program’s image up.
Column, from A10
alex trautwig / heights editor
Chris Kreider has delivered for BC with solid play of late, and will be looked upon for offense in the final series of the regular season.
Eagles take on BU in first round Women’s Hockey, from A10 “They certainly manage a lot of scoring chances and make a lot of things happen on the ice,” Crowley said. “That’s something that we’re going to have to concentrate on. I like the way our defense as a core has been playing, and they know that they have to focus on those kids. They’re so powerful, and they make so much happen offensively that we have to be aware any time they’re on the ice.” While the main weapons on BU are upperclassmen, the key to the Eagles’ success has been due in large part to the play of their freshmen. Alex Carpenter, Emily Field, and Emily Pfalzer were all named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team.
Softball
BC 10 MSU 0 M. Swimming
Field and Carpenter lead the team in points with 35 and 28 respectively, while Pfalzer is tied for the most points out of the defensemen with 17. Crowley has taken notice of the great play of her young players, but admitted that they have had to come a long way since the beginning of the season. “We had some injuries to some of our older kids at the beginning of the year, and our younger kids have really been able to step up for us,” Crowley said. “But it’s the leadership of those older kids that has helped them come along and understand the game of college hockey and what it takes day in and day out during practice. I’ve really been happy with the way our freshmen have come in and stepped up
Charlotte, N.C. 2/24 Softball
Speer 2-3, 4 RBI BC Eades 4 IP, 10 ER, 15 H UNCC Christianburg, VA 2/22-25 M. Fencing
their games and played well for us. Every day at practice, they seem to be the first ones out and the last ones on, and they want to get better every day. You can see that in their faces and their expressions. It’s great being around such dedicated players.” The Eagles, because of their No. 2 seed, received a bye for the first round of the tournament, and will be entering the game having not played in a week. BU steamrolled New Hampshire 9-1 in its quarterfinal matchup last weekend to get to this point of the tournament. The teams will face off on Saturday at 3:30, with the winner advancing to the championship game against the winner of the No. 7 Northeastern vs. Providence game. n
Charlotte, N.C. 2/24
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Poughkeepsie, NY 2/25
Charlotte,, N.C. 2/25 Softball
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Filler 1-3, 2 RBI BC Watkins 5 IP, 5 ER, 7 SO TU W. Fencing
university was disappointed. Everyone loved Muschamp, and people were already thinking about the incredible success that would ensue whenever he took over. As disappointing as the news was though, Brown made sure to give Muschamp sincere congratulations on a promotion that was impossible to pass up. Brown’s example helped Longhorn fans move on, and now many Texas fans, including myself, actually root for Florida to do well because of Muschamp, even after hating them for so many years. The decision by Spaziani and DeFilippo to ignore the promotions of their former colleagues is one that not only lacks class, but also makes the program look bad. Assistant coaches are almost always searching for a better position, and when they finally get the promotion, even if it is at another program, it is customary for the head coach to recognize his colleagues’ talent. It didn’t happen with Day or Brock, and it likely won’t happen if Sirmans’ move to the Rams is made official. BC football made it clear when Jeff Jagodzinksi was fired that upward mobility is not encouraged. Jags was ousted because he interviewed for the Jets’ head coaching position, cementing for good that BC is looking for long-term stability in terms of its head coach. The recent actions regarding Sirmans, Day, and Brock have proven that the same idea applies to assistant coaches. I’m only speculating here, but it’s possible that Sirmans knew of the opening with the Rams while he was still at BC. Worried about his job security at BC if he applied and didn’t get the position, perhaps he took the Rutgers job in order to ensure he had something to fall back on if the Rams passed him
6 1
11 D’Argento 3-3,1 RBI BC Ortega 5 IP, 5 ER, 1 SO MSU 3 Poughkeepsie, NY 2/25 M. Tennis
1 new england Champions BC fourth Place BC BC 10th Place Finish Overall BC Henze 18th overall 200-Yd Free Starshak Gold Medal Epee Individual Hall Gold Medal Epee Indvidual Brown 6
Again, this is pure speculation, but BC’s history with coaches attempting to seek better positions makes this speculation at least a possibility. This mindset of expecting long-term stability at an academic institution like BC from head coaches works fine in sports like hockey and basketball. Jerry York has made BC one of the best programs in the country, and Steve Donahue essentially has his dream job here, being able to work at an Ivy League-level school that faces ACC competition. Also, there is precedent for long-term coaching success and stability at academic institutions in college basketball. Mark Few at Gonzaga, Coach K at Duke, and John Thompson III at Georgetown all come to mind. This is not the case in college football. Stanford, the most successful academic institution in college football the past few years, lost its head coach to the NFL. It is so difficult to maintain success at a place like BC, Stanford, or Vanderbilt, that it would only make sense for a head coach to jump at an opportunity while his stock is hot. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that. It might be time for BC to at least loosen the reins a bit on loyalty and stability when it comes to football. Not doing so could lead to even more chaos further down the line. I’d like to close this column by saying thank you to Dave Brock, Ryan Day, and Ben Sirmans. I appreciate everything you did for the BC football program during good times and bad. Congratulations on your promotions and I wish you the best of luck as long as you don’t play BC or Texas. See, was that so hard?
Austin Tedesco is the Asst. Sports Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at sports@ bcheights.com.
Charlotte,, N.C. 2/25 Softball
Charlotte, N.C. 2/26
2 D’Argento 3 IP, 2 ER, 5 H Speer 2-4, 3 RBI BC Lugo 4 IP, 9 ER, 10 H UNCC 12 Vela 2-3, 2 RBI Providence, R.I. 2/25 W. Basketball
(3-4, 0-2 ACC) Miami 88 42 (9-3) BC
Coral Gables, Fla. 2/26
Williams 20 PTS Doherty 10 PTS
SPORTS The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
Eagles down GT in final home game BC closes out its fourth ACC victory after blowing lead late in second half By Steven Principi Heights Staff
All the signs were there. The Boston College men’s basketball team had made a habit of collapsing late in games, and Wednesday Boston College 56 night against Georgia Tech 52 Georgia Tech it almost happened again. But a hot start and a great finish on the defensive end made up for another extended cold spell on offense and the Eagles managed to defeat the Yellow Jackets 56-52 on Senior Night.
The win improves the Eagles record to 9-20 and 4-11 in the ACC, and kept the possibility of landing the nine seed in the ACC Tournament alive. Head coach Steve Donahue was happy to walk away with a win, and singled out the play of Ryan Anderson and Dennis Clifford as particularly impressive. “I thought for long stretches we really played good basketball,” Donahue said. “I think that 18-2 run in the first half was about as good as we can play on both sides of the ball. Both [Daniel] Miller and [Kammeon] Holsey have been playing so well in our league. I thought they really
manhandled Maryland, so for Ryan and Cliff to go head to head tonight and really battle those two was really impressive.” The Eagles played one of their best halves of the season to start the game. BC shot 12-of-24 from the field and was 5-for-11 from three in the opening frame. Wake Forest kept the game close early, but after tying the game at 14, the Eagles went on a 19-8 run to close the half. Matt Humphrey was 4-of-5 from the field and hit on both of his three-point attempts to lead the team with 13 at the break, while Anderson continued his great play of late with eight points. Clifford showed some impressive moves in the post and scored six in the first half. The team did not give Georgia Tech
See Men’s Basketball, A8
daniel lee / heights editor
Ryan Anderson battled all game long down on the post, and helped to pull out the BC victory.
Hockey aims for regular season title
Footsteps Worth Following
Series vs. Vermont standing in the way By Chris Marino
Assoc. Sports Editor
By Austin Tedesco Asst. Sports Editor
Whenever a timeout is called in a Boston College basketball game, there are two players who have always already anticipated it, and have made their way to midcourt before anyone else on the hardwood knows that there is about to be a break in the action. Senior Pete Rehnquist and graduate student John Cahill both herd their younger teammates back to the bench quickly so that their head coach can get as much time as possible to make adjustments. “Me and Pete, we’ve always been the first two,” Cahill said. “The freshmen are still catching on to when the timeouts are.” It’s these small forms of leadership that have made Cahill and Rehnquist important members of the BC basketball squad, especially with this year’s
influx of inexperienced players. Although they don’t see a lot of playing time, head coach Steve Donahue has relied on Rehnquist and Cahill, as well as graduate students Salah Abdo and Deirunas Visockas, to balance the nine freshmen who joined the program this year. “A big part of my role is keeping the guys upbeat and encouraging them,” Cahill said. “I knew it would be a hard season this year with so many young guys coming in, but I think we’ve done a great job being positive through the rough times, and I think it’s helped us get some big wins people didn’t think we were going to get.” Cahill received some publicity last season after coming off the bench and providing a deep threat for the Eagles in February and March. As a senior walk-on last year, Cahill thought that his first season with BC would also be his last.
“Over the summer, I was under the impression that I was going to be a grad assistant [this year],” Cahill said. “I was helping out the guys with some workouts, and just hanging out around them and helping them adjust and get ready for the season. Even until October, I was doing workouts with them, getting them ready to go and getting them mentally and physically ready.” Although Cahill performed well in workouts, he was still settling into his role as a graduate assistant on Donahue’s staff while pursuing his MBA at the same time. “I didn’t really know what to expect out of the MBA program,” Cahill said. “I knew it was a great program, but I didn’t know how demanding it would be.”
See Cahill and Rehnquist, A8 daniel lee / heights editor
BC prepared for Hockey East tourney
The No. 1 Boston College men’s hockey team (23-10-1, 17-7-1 Hockey East) will end the regular season with a two-game home set against Hockey East opponent Vermont (6-25-1, 3-21-1). The Eagles head into the weekend with a two-point lead over rival Boston University in the regular season standings. Head coach Jerry York says that this is the time of year he prepares his team the most, and he understands the importance of maintaining momentum in this final stretch. “We point toward trophies, and that’s our whole psyche,” he said. “We measure ourselves by how many trophies we can win, and this is a trophy weekend.” While Vermont is currently in last place in the Hockey East, York and his team are trying to avoid letting up, due in large part to how tight the standings are heading into the playoffs. “We have to understand the fact that BU could very easily get four points this weekend,” he said. “They own the tiebreaker against us, so it’s imperative that we get four points. Technically we need three points to win it, but we need to play very well. We’re not talking about anything more than just one game at a time, or even one period at a time, but one shift at a time. We’re staying focused through the week of preparation.” This idea of taking the game shift by shift has been one of BC’s strengths throughout the latter half of the season. The team currently has a nine-game win streak, which has included games against
See Men’s Hockey, A9
A well-deserved farewell
By Steven Principi Heights Staff
Austin Tedesco
The No. 4 Boston College women’s hockey team will begin its attempt to defend its Hockey East title when it travels to Hyannis to face its rivals from No. 9 Boston University in a semifinal game. The Eagles won their first ever tournament last year, and enter this year’s event boasting the second seed in Hockey East. The team has , howe ver, had its struggles with the Terriers this season. BU managed to get the best of the Eagles twice, and took the season series from them as well, something no other Hockey East team was able to do. Couple this with a 6-0 loss the last time these two teams played, and the concern voiced by head coach Katie King Crowley is understandable. “I think we’ve had a pretty good season so far,” Crowley said. “We’re excited by how it’s gone and how we’ve done throughout the year. I think we’ve put ourselves in a pretty good spot, but
Rumors are starting to circulate that Ben Sirmans, former running backs coach for the Boston College football team, has accepted the same position with the St. Louis Rams. Sirmans left BC a few weeks ago to be the running backs coach at Rutgers, joining another former BC assistant coach, Dave Brock, in New Jersey. This is yet another odd turn in the recent coaching carousel that BC’s football staff has experienced lately. Brock left BC to take a better position at Rutgers, moving from the special teams coach here to the offensive coordinator for the Scarlet Knights. Former wide receivers coach Ryan Day also moved to a better position at Temple, accepting the OC job after being passed over for the position three times at BC. Kevin Rogers, who was BC’s OC in the fall until taking a leave of absence due to health reasons, is also working at Temple now as the quarterbacks coach, a strange move that BC still has yet to comment on (if Rogers has fully recovered, shouldn’t there at least be a
graham beck / heights editor
Freshman Emily Pfalzer is a key part of the BC defense, which will need to be on this weekend. playing the BU Terriers is always a good game for us. If we’ve had trouble with any team this year, it’s been them. You know its going to be a competitive game, you know its going to be a hard fought game, and both teams are going to leave it all out on the ice, I’m sure.” The main problem posed by BU is its high-powered offense that the Eagles have been unable to solve at points this
i nside S ports this issue
year. Averaging over three goals per game, the Terriers are led by senior Jenn Wakefield, with 51 points on the season, and junior Isabel Menard, who put up 41. The two of them have combined for eight points in the three games against BC this year, and have Crowley determined to find a way to shut them down.
See Women’s Hockey, A9
Eagles begin ACC Tournament
The women’s basketball team faces UVA tonight in the first round of the tournament......A8
Game of the Week
It’s BC-BU on a big stage, the semifinals of the women’s Hockey East tournament......................A9
statement expressing relief that he is okay? Isn’t that the right thing to do?). While Day’s and Brock’s respective moves make sense, the move by Sirmans was a questionable one. Rutgers, one would hope, does not have as prestigious a football program as BC does, so accepting the same position seems strange. This new information that Sirmans might have snagged an NFL job sheds some possible light on the situation. When Brock and Day received their upgraded positions at Rutgers and Temple, there was no congratulatory statement made by BC, head coach Frank Spaziani, or athletic director Gene DeFilippo. The only comment made by BC was in a press release announcing the departed coaches’ replacements, ending with the statement, “The three [new coaches] replace Dave Brock, Ben Sirmans and Ryan Day, who have resigned to accept positions at other institutions.” Yup, that’s it. Now, I know what it’s like to have an assistant coach break your heart and leave. When Will Muschamp, the fiery defensive coordinator for my hometown Texas Longhorns and coach-in-waiting to replace current head coach Mack Brown, decided to leave Austin and take the head coaching job at Florida, the entire city and
See Column, A9
Editors’ Picks..............................A9 Recap from last Week..................A9
album reviews
Chiddy bang
The rappers return with their album ‘breakfast,’ page b5 scene and heard
‘the artist’ curses
did the french star cross a line at this year’s oscars? page b2
the critical curmudgeon
SGT. PEpper
in terms of concept albums, our columnist argues that this is the best of the bunch, PAGE B4
Thursday, March 1, 2012
By B r e n na n Ca r l ey | A rts & R ev i ew E d i to r Tay lo r Cava l lo | ass o c. A rts & R ev i ew E d i to r a n d Da n S i e r i ng | asst. A rts & R ev i ew E d i to r
A
ctors are a fickle breed. They thrive off their annual awards shows, heaping praise on one another like it’s the last time they’ll ever be in a room together. If history has taught audiences anything, it’s that actors and actresses love to leave their comfort zones—after all, how else does someone get a critic to describe his or her work as edgy? For as long as movies have existed, actors who’ve carved themselves a groove—whether it be the funniest woman in the business or the guy who can shed a tear like no other—relish the opportunity to leave that genre. Take Eddie Murphy, for example: after years of gross-out comedies—all the Shrek films included—he delivered a bomb of a heartbreaking performance in Dreamgirls, and oh, how the critics crooned. Morgan Freeman took a journey opposite of Murphy’s, segueing his years of experience in dramas like The Green Mile and Driving Miss Daisy into family-friendly fare like Bruce Almighty and The Bucket List. When we sat down to pick the five actors we wanted to highlight, it was close to impossible to narrow it down. Inside, we present the five most shining examples of actors who have both soared and failed in leaving their comfort zones. See Spectrum, B3
See
Woogeon kim / heights photo illustration
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Thursday, March 1, 2012
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Scene and Heard
BY: Allan guzman
Brennan Carley This past weekend, The New York Times published an article about women in comedy, written from the angle of analyzing female Saturday Night Live hosts over the past few years. The paper’s contribution to the achingly tired debate was well-intentioned, I’m sure, but something bothered me about the way Megan Angelo framed her argument. “This season has been unusually rich in funny, provocative female-focused moments,” she writes in the piece, moments after a quote from actress Anna Faris about how she can’t sing or dance. In the past, the Times has done wonders to advance the cause of women in entertainment and, in doing so, has generally broken past the boundaries of the “are women funny?” question that now plagues most mainstream media, especially since Bridesmaids’ success sent industry heads spinning. Similarly, Vogue last week released a preview image of SNL staple Kristen Wiig’s March photoshoot. In the picture, Wiig leans awkwardly on a desk, under which lurks her costar and head writer Seth Meyers. The article writes off Meyers’ inclusion as an admiring fan, but for some reason something struck me as stale with the argument—to the watchful eye, her posing can be read as Wiig’s reliance on Meyers (read: men) to succeed. I don’t think Wiig was expecting the positive critical uproar over her movie, but now, whether she likes it or not, she stands as the protagonist in a myth created by journalists who seem to have forgotten funny ladies like Gilda Radnor, Molly Shannon, and Ruth Buzzi. She’s seen by both industry insiders and everyday moviegoers as the savior of female comedy, but even addressing it as such seems to take some of the weight off it. It’s like how if you put the word “celebrity” in front of anything—say Celebrity Poker or Celebrity Apprentice—it implies that the thing is “not as good.” The funny ladies debate points to a larger issue with our culture at the moment. As audiences, we like to label things. The upcoming John Carter has been called Avatar mashed up with Titanic and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, just as audiences gushed over the newly Oscar-laden The Artist as a black-and-white silent picture. Animated classics like Toy Story have taken a backseat to “real movies” at awards shows, which is certainly why Andy Serkis’ role as every single freaking ape in the aforementioned Planet went unnoticed when it certainly should have been lavished with praise. The labels we—and, in terms of entertainment, I mean to say critics more than anyone else—assign to things have an impact on our evaluation of them. While I enjoyed The Artist for what it was, I think it’s becoming increasingly necessary to take a step back and view it as, simply, a movie. As a silent black and white movie, it accomplished more than any in recent memory, but in the grand scheme of things, how many people are going to be talking about Jean Dujardin and Berenice Bejo in 50 years? Many other genre-unidentifiable films like Beginners and Take Shelter failed to make the Best Picture cut this year in favor of films with flashier, easier-tosing-about-in-Billy Crystal’s-opening-monologue labels. The Help was a story about race, Hugo celebrated the wondrous early days of the movies, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Boring was that 9/11 one that nobody saw. So yes, while Octavia Spencer and Viola Davis explored with quiet ferocity in their film, audiences overhyped The Help because of its self-declared “important” label. As a race narrative, it serves as an interesting slice of history, but as a film, a mere footnote in the sands of time. As demonstrated last year, labels can truly hinder the great work being done in the entertainment field. Although it’s wonderful that audiences flocked to Bridesmaids, I wish critics would have focused more on its merits as a film than as a “girl comedy.” After all, if Maya Rudolph has the chutzpah to plop down in the street and pretend like “it happened” on camera, she’s got more balls than the cast of The Hangover put together.
Brennan Carley is the Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
1. CHRIS BROWN: THIEF Singer Chris Brown is facing a possible violation of his probation after allegedly stealing a young woman’s cell phone outside of a Miami Beach club. The woman stated that she was taking pictures of Brown with her phone as he left the club, when he suddenly snatched it from her hand and drove away with it. If he is proven guilty, Brown could face jail time for violating his fiveyear probation.
2. DICTATOR’S ASHES
Sacha Baron Cohen has made headlines for his antics once again. The British actor appeared at the Oscars on Sunday in full character as General Aladeen from his upcoming film The Dictator. While being interviewed by Ryan Seacrest, Cohen “accidentally” spilled what appeared to be Kim Jong Il’s ashes on the correspondent. Cohen, still in character, was quickly taken away by security. Seacrest later tweeted that one should always pack two jackets to special occasions.
3. ‘ARTIST’ SWEARS French actor Jean Dujardin was apparently unable to contain his excitement after winning the Oscar for Best Actor for the silent film The Artist. At the end of his acceptance speech, which was mostly in English, Dujardin switched to French and accidentally dropped the French equivalent of the f-bomb. Censors failed to catch the expletive, but enough people noticed it to approach Dujardin about it. The actor later apologized for the swear word.
4. T-SWIFT DATES A FAN As if attending the Academy of Country Music Awards wasn’t already a big deal, imagine going as Taylor Swift’s date. Kevin McGuire, an 18-year-old leukemia patient, started a Facebook campaign with his sister to convince Swift to be his prom date. Swift eventually took notice and told him she could not make it to his prom, but suggested that she take McGuire to her own ceremony instead.
5. U2 SUES IRISH BANK U2’s bassist Adam Clayton continues to have financial frustrations. He recently filed a lawsuit against the Bank of Ireland’s Private Banking division, as well as the Gaby Smith Co. accounting firm for 4.8 million Euros in misappropriated funds. Clayton claims that his former personal assistant, Carol Hawkins, robbed him of this money over a five-year period. In addition, Clayton has a separate lawsuit pending against Hawkins, accusing her of theft and fraud.
The critical curmudgeoN
@Theellenshow (Ellen degeneres, Comedian)
photo courtesy of google.com
“I’m so excited! i just overheard someone Say that today is president’s day! What a great idea! i hope somebody gets me a kitten.”
“It was on Feb. 29, 1968 that the Beatles were recognized with four Grammys for their revolutionary release of ‘Sgt. Pepper.’”
‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ remains a classic Matt Mazzari Happy Day-After-Leap-Day, everyone! Yesterday was a very special day, particularly for people born on that crazy date, since that means you actually got to celebrate your real birthdays rather than the hollow lie you otherwise would have celebrated today. Hooray! You finally aged a year, and it only took you four times as long as everyone else! (Those people live for centuries. And cannot be trusted.) Yet today is special for even more important reasons: it was on Feb. 29, 1968 that the Beatles were recognized with four Grammys for their revolutionary release of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, widely considered to be among the greatest albums ever made. Since we only get to celebrate the occasion once every four years, and since yesterday had the additional coincidence of being the 44th anniversary, I’ve decided to use today’s column to discuss the concept of the “concept album,” a concept which, conceptually, is actually quite redundant. See, the definition of a “concept album” is an LP for which all the songs somehow relate to each other via a central focus. The “concept” is the similar strain that’s present in every song. It isn’t quite a rock opera, like The Wall or Ziggy Stardust, because the songs don’t necessarily need to tell a cohesive story. For
example, the Rolling Stones’ Beggar’s Banquet doesn’t have a single arch, but takes a different perspective on the “prodigal son” model with every track: raucous ballads like “Street Fighting Man” and “Stray Cat Blues” encapsulate the restlessness of a wandering generation with “no place,” no home, and no choice but to fall in with the wrong crowd. Other “concepts” are more creatively exaggerated, such as that of Sgt. Pepper’s, which is centralized by the imagery of a concert in the park being performed by the fashionably mysterious Lonely Hearts Club Band. Some concept albums speak to a personal incident or period (i.e. bad breakup, addition phase, etc.), while others apply a unique musical motif. When done well, the concept album is the peak of modern musical artistry: it’s the conglomeration of all the most important technological strides music has made since the invention of the 33 1/3 inch vinyl. The reason that the phrase “concept album” is redundant is because every decent album has a concept. The LP is the modern-day symphony, through which dedicated musicians galvanize themselves with their music to create masterpieces. How could such a single-minded effort produce an unfocused piece? The “concept” is the difference between a true album and a Greatest Hits Collection. The unification and style of an LP release comes from the undivided attention and singular intent
involved in the process. A great hit song might be exceptionally thoughtprovoking on its own, but the sublimity of a well-composed album is where music from our century becomes a high art form. The tragedy of the matter, however, is that the concept album as a musical medium is dying off. Production of albums with unbroken transitions between tracks, such as the side B medley of Abbey Road, was severely impacted by the switch to devices that could easily pause and pass over songs. The convenience of blithely skipping though tracks spelled out the demise of one of the most important components of a fluid LP, namely the opportunity for creativity at the very seams of the record’s fabric. In turn, services like iTunes made the single-release the premier form of music, meaning consumers can now simply buy the most popular songs of all the bands they like without necessitating further exploration. But the exploring is the best part! Convenience is great, but dividing art usually bodes poorly. There’s no better way to witness the exposed soul of a band than hearing its album start to finish. The industry may settle for flash-in-the-pan performers, but you needn’t compromise. Think big, people! After all, it’s a leap year: anything is possible.
Matt Mazzari is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@ bcheights.com.
@lenadunham (lena dunham, actress, ‘tiny furniture’)
“‘do you think what i wore tonight was too downton abbey?’ -- my mom. the answer was clearly no.” @angiesrightleg (angelina jolie’s right leg from the academy awards)
“you have to admit i’m one hell of a leg.” @wendyliebman (wendy liebman, comedian)
“the dog from the artist is getting laid tonight.” @marcmaron (marc maron, comedian)
“my gf just asked me if kermit had ‘work’ done.” Submit your favorite tweets of the week for consideration at artseditors11@gmail.com.
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
B3
stretching the spectrum Sophie’s Choice Meryl Streep, one of Hollywood’s timeless and most talented actresses, gave one of her finest acting performances in the 1982 film Sophie’s Choice. Through the eyes of Stingo, a young writer, the story chronicles the life and past life of Sophie, a concentration camp survivor whose husband and father were killed by Nazis. The film is complex, and flashbacks add volume to the plot. During the film, it is revealed that Sophie had to make a choice between her two young children—one would be gassed and the other would be sent to a children’s camp. Filled with romance and despair, this film is famously one of the saddest movies of all time, and Streep plays the tortured Polish immigrant who survived unthinkable atrocities unbelievably well, truly evoking real and raw emotion in her viewers. It is one of Streep’s most famous roles, and the movie in general is surely something that will never be forgotten.
Meryl lost in translation Despite over a decade in the field, the crown jewel of Murray’s dramatic career is still Lost in Translation, a deliberate yet powerful film in which he stars as an aging actor who develops a strong relationship with a young college grad while abroad in Tokyo. Starring opposite Scarlett Johansson, Murray delivered such a convincing and emotionally real performance that he was honored with an Oscar nomination. Though he did not win a gold statue, Murray can still find solace in being a rare talent who has artfully made the leap from comedy to drama.
Bill Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind Who knew, then, that Carrey could do drama so seriously? In the cerebral Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Carrey played a man trying desperately to piece together the fragments of memories he later discovers he has paid to forget. Kate Winslet brought out Carrey’s inner romantic—the memories of their relationship literally crumble around him as he struggles to decide whether or not he’s still in love with her. Everyone knows that Carrey can do frantic better than anyone, but what was truly memorable was when he and Winslet’s character relaxed on a frozen lake in near silence. It was memorable, it was beautiful, and it was Carrey’s best work to date.
The Devil Wears Prada In The Devil Wears Prada, a light-hearted, slightly dramatic comedy from 2006, Streep plays Miranda Priestly, a tough editor of a fashion magazine. Anne Hathaway, her young employee, is naive and has not yet been taught the rough reality of a job in the fashion world. Streep plays the part of ridiculous, over-the top fashion world witch extremely well. While the role is entirely different than anything she had done before, especially when compared to Sophie’s Choice, she played her demanding, powerful and rude part to perfection, receiving critical praise for her role, which is considered to be one of the main reasons for the film’s great success. While it is perhaps difficult to even remember that this is the same actress as in Sophie’s Choice and countless other Hollywood dramas, Streep’s role in The Devil Wears Prada truly presents her talent and versatility as a multifaceted actress capable of performing a multitude of roles in various genres.
Streep Groundhog day Getting his start on Saturday Night Live, Murray made the inevitable leap into comedic film in the early ’80s and enjoyed an expansive comedic career in cinema for nearly two decades. A highlight of Murray’s comedic tenure is Groundhog Day, a doleful comedy in which Murray must endlessly relive Feb. 2 until he has wholeheartedly changed for the better. Well into his late 40s, Murray decided to make a jump that few comedy actors attempt and entered into the dramatic sector. The legendary actor, with comedic skills doused in melancholy, easily made the genre switch and now has become a respectable actor outside of comedy.
Murray Bruce almighty It’s a fact—Jim Carrey has put out some seriously unfunny movies. I’m starting to think that he’ll do anything, no matter how completely stale and un-laughable the material, for a paycheck. Last year’s Mr. Popper’s Penguins was a blow to diehard fans of the classic children’s novel. His comedic high was debatably Bruce Almighty, a knowingly goofy movie that was in on the joke. His charm and enthusiasm seemed genuine, and his chemistry with Jennifer Aniston was believable. Who can forget when Bruce sent a monkey flying out of a mugger’s backside? It was comedic gold.
Carrey
Jim Black Swan Natalie Portman received the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Nina, the emotionally fragile, perfectionist ballerina who embarks on the slow path to a neurotically-driven insanity in hopes of getting in touch with her dark side in the 2010 film Black Swan. The role in itself is extremely difficult. Analogous to the ballet Swan Lake, which the movie is centered around, Portman at times needed to play both a naive, innocent girl and a sinister, hallucinating maniac, truly highlighting her acting abilities, as both parts were played to perfection, realistically and with an eerie sense of ease. Not only was her acting phenomenal, but she also trained and rehearsed for months before the filming of the movie in order to perform all the ballet routines herself, adding another layer of authenticity to her role. Black Swan, an aesthetically pleasing psychological thriller, was an incredible movie that took something truly beautiful, namely the artistry of Tchaikovsky and ballerinas in general, and willfully perverted it, making it into something truly terrifying.
Natalie psycho One of the founding members of the “Frat Pack,” actor Vince Vaughn has established himself in Hollywood as one of the most popular comedic actors in the industry. While Vaughn was prime to begin a formidable comedy career, the still youthful actor was elected to revive the role of Norman Bates for a shot-by-shot remake of the classic thriller Psycho by Gus Van Sant. The film was an utter flop at the box office and received bitter reviews from critics, ultimately winning two Razzies for Worst Remake and Worst Director.
Vince
Your Highness Portman unfortunately didn’t make the best decisions in agreeing to play Isabel in the 2011 fantasy, fairytale comedy film Your Highness. Isabel, a female warrior avenging both her innocent father and brother’s deaths, plays the archetypical strong, sassy female character, who eventually gets won over by a male protagonist, in this case, Thadeous, played by Danny McBride (another unfortunate choice). The crude humor and stupidity of this comedy, which some reviewers were forced to strongly consider as possibly the worst movie ever made, was clearly a disappointing choice for Portman, especially after her role in Black Swan, and other fantastic movies such as V For Vendetta and Garden State. However, there have been some other unfortunate choices on her part as of late, such as Thor and No Strings Attached, as none of these films truly capture her acting abilities as exhibited in Black Swan. Not only was Your Highness terrible, but Portman’s acceptance of the role at all was laughable and confusing.
Portman Swingers Vaughn was vaulted into stardom after his starring role in Swingers, an early ’90s cult comedy hit that revolved around the quirky antics of two L.A. bachelors. Since the Psycho disaster, Vaughn has stayed clear of serious roles and has focused on expanding his comedic resume. The actor has since wiped away most of the bitter taste of his unsuccessful plunge into the dramatic world, yet he still stands as a stirring example of the all-too-common occurrence of actors failing to expand genres.
Vaughn
The Heights
B4
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Star value by Carolina Del busto
Lily Collins is set to have a breakout year in 2012 The name Lily Collins might ring a bell for some people–Phil Collins’ daughter, anyone?–but few actually know about the 23-year-old-actress on the rise. Before Collins got her start in acting, she dabbled in journalism. According to IMDb, she has written for Elle Girl, Seventeen, Teen Vogue, and The Los Angeles Times magazines, as well as worked as a reporter for Nickelodeon. Collins’ first acting job was taking a guest spot in the new 90210 in 2009, but she is more recognizable for her work in the films The Blind Side and Priest. Her breakthrough role came when she was casted as Snow White alongside Julia Roberts’ Evil Queen in this month’s Mirror Mirror. Snow White will be the first time Collins plays a real leading lady. Some may remember she played Taylor Lautner’s girlfriend in the action-flick Abduction last year. She is keeping herself busy with a steady pace of film roles, currently working on The English Teacher, Writers, and Rosaline, all with release dates in 2012-13. Lily Collins is well on her way to proving that she is more than just a rock star’s daughter: she is just getting started.
keeping with The current
Leaving a lasting image
Dan Siering
Photos courtesy of google.com
Fashion Forward
March presents fun fashion opportunities Overcome the frustration of picking seasonally appropriate outfits
Therese Tully I headed downtown to Newbury Street for brunch this past weekend with some friends for a pleasant diversion after yet another long week. During the course of the meal, we could see from our cozy table through the huge street-facing windows that it had begun to snow. It was just a few flurries, none of which stuck, but I was overjoyed nonetheless, being a huge winter lover. By the time my frittata was gone, my coffee drained, and the bill settled, nature had settled down as well, and the sun had begun to shine as we headed out onto Newbury for some quick shopping. They say March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, right? Well, this day really highlighted that for me. It is truly a transitional time of year. And although the flurries returned for a freak moment while we shopped, I was surrounded by floral prints and lighter, brighter pieces for spring. Today is Mar. 1, so we shall see if the old saying will hold true, and if this month will be the one where things slowly but surely change outside. On a college campus, weather is so important. Never in my life have I cared about the weather this much before, but with so much time spent outside every single day, trekking from CoRo to class and back, I end up checking the weather every morning. If this is going to be a month of freak snow showers and alternating moments of sunshine, it is best to be prepared for it all. There is something so great about transitional clothing because almost any piece can fall under this category. Though it will shortly be time to retire the heavy parka or puffer for the season, and the appropriateness of wool will wane with each passing day, aside from these, and some super summery items, basically March is a month when anything goes. Though this may seem like a lot of work or quite stressful, it’s all really an exciting gamble–will I freeze or sweat to death in my chosen outfit today, or will it be just right? The lighter sweaters you have been sporting all winter and fall are still completely appropriate and are a great option this month if you are looking to skip that additional step of choosing outwear. A simple cardigan can become your outwear on the warmer days. Scarves serve as great transitional pieces that can be easily layered and removed, but can also serve as sources of serious warmth if you find yourself in a moment of chilly weather. This early spring weather does often call for a coat though, and a light option is best. Spring jackets in
denim or light colors, like cream or blush, are perfectly appropriate if paired with a grey, dark green, or other duller neutral tone, and darker, more fall-like options can be worn with a light or floral scarf or top to balance this out. The choice is all about balancing–the perfect mixture of the fun of spring and the function of your fall/winter wardrobe come together in a terrific pairing. If you are looking to venture out and make some new purchases rather than mix and match whatever is currently in your wardrobe, this is the perfect time of year. Winter sales are beginning to crop up left and right, making it a perfect time to score a great pair of boots, cozy sweater, or functional and fabulous puffer at a much discounted rate. Additionally, spring lines are abounding and the options are endless. Kate Spade’s spring collection, as I mentioned around Valentine’s Day, is simply perfect this year with lots of bright pops of color for your spring and summer wardrobe. A great pair of colored denim is a cool purchase that, though trendy this spring, will hardly leave onlookers gawking at your fashion choices if you continue to wear them for seasons to come. Mustard yellow, sea foam green, and kelly green are some great options, but really the denim can be found in any hue from light lilac to fire engine red. These can be paired on chillier days with a light sweater, and with a floral top or cream blouse on the warmer, more lamb-like days of March.
Therese Tully is an editor for The Heights. She can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
Top: Airy, light button downs work harmoniously with classic denim. Bottom (left): Funky colored denim spices up the wardrobe staple. Bottom (right): Thick winter scarves provide warmth, but can be easily removed for warmer weather.
Taste debate: netflix
Pro
Carolina del busto
Heights staff
In the fast paced, digital world that we live in today, few people have time anymore to make a trip to the theater, catch a TV show at its scheduled time, or even pass by a movie rental place. That is why services like Netflix are so popular. At $7.99 a month for instant streaming—from your computer, your Xbox, Wii, even your cellphone or tablet—Netflix is putting video stores out of business … Blockbuster who? The best thing about Netflix is that it brings together all sorts of television and film genres, living happily together for your entertainment. Aside from a great selection of TV shows, they also have all sorts of movies ready to watch for an impromptu movie night in. Some might argue that for what they offer, they charge too much. But when you really think about it, at just $8 a month, that’s a little over $0.25 a day! Netflix users definitely get their money’s worth, every penny of it.
con
Allan Guzman
Heights staff
When you hear the initial premise of Netflix, you will likely want to immediately run to your computer and create an account. But once the spell of excitement wears off, you’ll realize that it’s not nearly as good as it sounds. Netflix gets kudos for letting you watch movies without leaving your home, but that’s about it. The monthly fee of $7.99 also sounds pretty good, but that only gets you the most bare-bones package. Want to watch new releases, and, frankly, a better selection of movies? You’ll have to pay extra to receive them by mail. Want to receive more than one movie at a time by mail? Pay extra. Want to upgrade to Blu-Ray? Pay extra. With all of its annoying fees, Netflix just isn’t worth it. You’re better off m .co gle goo of Photos courtesy going out and renting a movie. You’ll be supporting your local rental store, and the exercise will make up for being a couch potato afterward.
Think about your favorite movies. Now, think about how those movies end. Perhaps they have happy conclusions, where the boy and girl finally embrace each other or the two buddies overcome their differences to mend their friendship. Or perhaps, for you realists out there, the films have morose and unhappy endings, where the main character is unable to escape the consequences of his actions or the treacheries of his cinematic world. Or maybe your favorite film hovers around the median of the emotional spectrum, where the hero might not fully achieve his goal but there is still a glimmer of hope that in the future his desired objective will be reached. Whichever category the end of your favorite cinematic adventures fall under, it seems that in order for a film to access a special place in our memory, the film’s ending has to be, for lack of a better word, good. Think about it. Can you ever remember an instance after you watched a movie you thoroughly enjoyed and thought to yourself, “well I really loved that movie, but the ending was just terrible?” Okay, there may be rare exceptions to this rule (None of which, after much thought and conversations with friends, I can name), but traditionally, if a film does not conclude with a strong and powerful lasting image, it will quickly be tagged by your brain as monotonous and forgettable. So what is it that makes an ending good? A screenwriting book that I recently read, The 3rd Act by Drew Yanno, quotes Aristotle and notes that great endings are both “inevitable and unexpected.” While the classic thinker was talking about theater, the author says that this maxim is also relevant for film. People want to realize how the story is going to end, but they also want to be entertained and, at times, momentarily alarmed that the film will not end like they thought. I think this is true for the majority of the films that are considered great by the general public. For example, in romances, the guy always gets the girl or, if it’s clear that the girl he’s chasing is not “the one,” another girl that seems to be a better fit. Sure, some did it more creatively than others, but if you decided to tailor to the absolute cynics of love and take the dreadfully bleak path of, say, Blue Valentine, a “good” romantic ending must always have some uplift. Yet once you start to branch out toward others genres, the formula for a memorable ending becomes much more hazy and the inevitability that Aristotle mentioned becomes much less relevant. Well done dramatic finals, for instance, can have an unhappy or unpredictable ending while also satisfying the audience. However, the filmmaker must proceed with caution and work subtly. An ending is a very delicate thing. The Graduate is my favorite example of subtlety perfected. During the conclusion, the sluggish pace of the film is quickly hastened and the action swells to a frenzy, eventually peaking during the famous scene in which Ben pounds on the glass of the chapel and pleads for Elaine to stop the marriage. Elaine, in a fit of youthful spontaneity, runs from the altar and escapes on a bus with Ben. If the screen went black after the couple hopped on the bus, we would have assumed that the two lived forever together. It would have been a dull but satisfying ending. But, of course, the film doesn’t end there. Instead we are sent into the bus and we watch as the initial elation of the previous scene is quickly washed away. After exchanging a brief smile, the two look straight ahead with somber looks on their faces and exchange no words. The escape from the wedding was exhilarating, and perhaps the right thing to do, but what the heck are they going to do now? It’s ambiguous, somber, and extraordinarily powerful. So what, really, is a “good” ending? It doesn’t necessarily have to be happy. You wouldn’t call, for instance, The Godfather’s ending either bad or happy. Perhaps you could say that a “good” ending has to be a realistic ending, but, then again, stark critics of love would say that there’s no way in hell that Harry would never end up with Sally. I guess it comes down to what kind of moviegoer you are. If you watch films to escape the real world and momentarily enter into a fantastic world, you most likely want your time in that world to have a happy conclusion. Yet if you walk into a theater looking for social commentary or realistic characters, you’re probably okay with a bit of gloom in your ending. Whatever the case, it seems that if you didn’t enjoy the last five minutes of a film, there was really no point in being there in the first place.
Dan Siering is the Asst. Arts & Review Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at arts@bcheights.com.
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
B5
Chiddy Bang gets back to the basics with ‘Breakfast’ By Nathan Rossi For The Heights
Best known for their alternative rap hit, “The Opposite of Adults (Kids),” which creatively samples MGMT’s “Kids,” Chiddy Bang released their long awaited debut album, Breakfast, this week. Consisting of Chidera “Chiddy” Anamege and Noah “Xaphoon” Jones Beresin, the duo has garnered quite the following after releasing their debut mixtape, The Swelly Express, about two years ago. Throughout their new album, Chiddy Bang desperately tries to recreate the magic that seemed so effortless on The Swelly Express. Despite some standout tracks, the same originality can’t be found on Breakfast. The album works best when the duo decides to include a feature from some smaller known indie group. For example, Icona Pop are featured on the album’s first single, “Mind Your Manners.” With fun lyrics like, “Say I’m the man, tell me why I gotta lie too? / Anybody I’m the best, girl let me advise you / Junior high school I had a crush on the principal / I guess I was turned on by the leadership,” the song thrives on its carefree atmosphere. One of the more complex songs on the album is “Run it Back,” which successfully alternates between intense rhymes
and a subtle hook. The song opens with featured artist, Shirazi, singing in a light voice, “If this is your favorite song, run it back,” only to be interrupted by an intense rap verse from Chiddy. The song goes from slow to fast, creating an unpredictable sound that is different from anything else on the album. The best track on the album is the latest single, “Handclaps and Guitars.” The track mirrors what Chiddy Bang is best known for, creating fun tracks about partying and having a good time. Chiddy raps over a cool electronica beat that is sure to get everyone on his or her feet. Most importantly, the track is full of energy and fresh lyrics. Of all the album’s tracks, this one is sure to be heard at future pre-games and parties. Things get serious on “Baby Roulette,” which features surprise vocals from Train. On this track, Chiddy Bang promote the use of contraception, rapping “And I don’t hate the women, so I’m prepared for love / But if we make it then of course I’m gonna wear a glove.” The sincere lyrics mix well with a beat that is reminiscent of a lullaby. The tracks that keep Breakfast from being a standout are the ones where Chiddy Bang take themselves too seriously and attempt to match the intensity of Lil Wayne or Rick Ross. The
Breakfast Chiddy bang produced by Virgin records released Feb. 28, 2012 Our rating B
Chart Toppers Singles 1 We Are Young fun. 2 Stronger Kelly Clarkson 3 Glad You Came Wanted 4 Part Of Me Katy Perry’s 5 Set Fire To The Rain Adele 6 So Good B.o.B. 7 Starships Nicki Minaj 8 Somebody That I Used to Know Gotye 9 Sexy And I Know It L.M.F.A.O. 10 Turn Up The Music Chris Brown Top Albums
courtesy of google.com
The rap duo utilizes references to their previous mixtape and patented beats to expand their indie sound. absolute worst track on the album is definitely “4th Quarter.” Featuring lyrics such as “I finish strong, they don’t call me no more / Be the star they adore if you go hard in the four / One time, let the game simmer / I f*** around and hit the game winner,” the duo just can’t pull off the song. To be completely honest, I just don’t think Chiddy is a strong enough rapper to do a song like
“4th Quarter.” The group is truly strongest when they use unique and interesting samples. Throughout the album, the duo incorporates references to their debut mix tape, The Swelly Express, by trying to coin the term “swelly”—a certain type of “swag” that Chiddy Bang emulates through their music. I include this because one of the best things about the group is their
uniqueness. There really aren’t too many indie rap artists out there today that are as recognizable and popular as Chiddy Bang. Breakfast succeeds when Chiddy Bang performs in their niche, and it fails when they try to copy other artists, such as Wiz Khalifa. In my opinion, Chiddy Bang could be really big—they just need to focus on what has gotten them here in the first place. n
1 21 Adele 2 Whitney: Greatest Hits Whitney Houston 3 Some Nights fun. 4 Careless World Tyga 5 Now 41 Various Artists Source: Billboard.com
‘The End of That’ is an earnest yet satisfying effort from Plants By Ariana Igneri Heights Staff
Plants & Animals has been playing around with their sound since 2008, experimenting with eclectic folk rock on their debut, Parc Avenue, and with dense, epic rock on their sophomore release, La La Land—only now,
however, with The End of That, has the Canadian trio finally achieved a comfortable balance, releasing an organic, acoustically driven, rock and roll record. Though still experimental, Plants & Animals’ new album is a more distilled, compact package, defined within tight boundaries. Disciplined, structured, and centered
on melody, each song is carefully crafted to have a beginning, middle, and end, and each track is characterized by a naked, live-off-the-floor sound created by a combination of Warren Spicer’s rigorous strumming, Nicholas Basque’s electric riffs, and Matthew Woody’s rhythmic drum pounding.
The end of that Plants & animals produced by Secret city records released Feb. 28, 2012 Our rating B-
courtesy of google.com
Though it has a batch of forgettable tracks, ‘The End of That’ remains a pleasurable enough listening experience.
Just as Plants & Animals has developed musically, they have matured lyrically as well. Their lyrics, written long before recording, reflect anxieties and insecurities particular to individuals later on in adulthood. As Spicer’s throaty and confident voice sings about the fears resulting from friends settling down, the desperateness of a languishing relationship, and the exhaustion of personal recovery, listeners cannot ignore the fact that the majority of The End of That’s lyrics were inspired by a mid-life crisis. In fact, half way through the album, there is a track titled “Crisis!,” both appropriately named and placed. All in all, though, the words to their songs are honest and raw, and Spicer’s strong, pleading vocals reveal the emotions behind the lyrics to be truly genuine and authentic. The End of That opens with a solemn and gentle folk number, “Before.” Though it is a delicate, fingerpicked melody, it has, nevertheless, a deep and effortless power to it, and it is easily one of the clear, shining moments of the entire record. “The End of That,” the title track, follows next. It’s built around a simple, three-chord progression and a catchy lead guitar phrase that somehow gives the song a country-pop vibe.
“Lightshow” comes soon after on the track listing, rightfully so, as the album’s lead single. With an authoritative acoustic riff dominating the melody and driving the song forward, and charged guitar solos that eventually evolve into full-blown fuzz, “Lightshow” allows Plants & Animals to demonstrate their instrumental and structural mastery. The track is the last successful song before the “crisis” that is the middle of The End of That. Both “Crisis!” and “2010” linger on unnecessarily for over six minutes, making the listener wish that the indulgent droning would just cease. “Crisis!,” however, actually has two distinct parts: it begins with bluesy talk-singing, which is really quite good, and then, unfortunately, it delves into another four minutes of aimlessness. Similarly, “2010” is too long for its own good, as Spicer goes on, desperately, throughout the whole forbidding song. Following the disaster, fortunately, there is a 52-second acoustic respite titled “HC.” Spicer caresses the listener with his soft and tender vocals, and the intricate, earthy strings are a much welcome relief. Despite its brevity, the under-a-minute song may even be the best one on The End of That. Another striking facet of the record is “No
Idea,” a brooding, mid-tempo ballad with a McCartney-esque piano progression that features Spicer sincerely singing, “Do you fear loneliness? / Do you fear getting left behind? / All your friends are getting married / They’re having … a time.” Their mellow songs are distinct and memorable, but the album also has several tracks, like “Why & Why” and “Runaways,” that are more reminiscent of the urgent and adventurous rock pieces of Parc. The songs are compelling, with stormy guitars and winding riffs relentlessly chugging the track on. Every album has forgettable tracks, though, including The End of That. Here, “Song for Love” and “Control Me” are those songs, and though they are quite good, they are either drowned out by the sheer, forceful noise or placid brilliance of others. All in all, the album is a valiant and earnest attempt. As the band blends the dynamics of their first two records, relying more on indie tones, The End of That seems to be Plants & Animals’ most intimate, straightforward release yet. Furthermore, it seems to imply not only an accepting, conclusive relinquishment of their past, but also an optimistic, open-minded embracement of their future. n
Ignore ‘Ice Level’s opening track, stay for the strong female vocals By Kira Mulshine For The Heights
Ava Luna is an up-and-coming soul punk band from New York with an avid fondness for crashing drums, techno rhythms, and bluesy vocals. Their previous albums have not gathered much attention, but their newest release, Ice Level, is rallying curiosity within the underground music arena. In this experimental album, an accumulation of voice, bass, guitar, synthesizers, cello, violin, and viola make sporadic appearances. At times, the conglomeration of instruments is pursued flawlessly, but more frequently the unpredictable use of each causes you stress and confusion. It is clear that lead singer Carlos Hernandez and his three background female vocalists are essentials to the band. Without the pairing of his smooth sound and their cheerful feminine flare, the melodies beneath are dismal at best. The album begins with “No F,” an awkward track that first repeats a panicked synthesizer
indicative of an alarm. Fight or flight reaction will tell you to turn it off, and you probably will. The few who continue listening will be relieved when the synthesizer is finally replaced by the gentle hum of female voices. Their nightingale coos relieve you of all prior dissonance while the song progresses, and Hernandez’s voice takes over the melody with a sensual tone and authoritative lyrics. Fortunately, the three female vocalists appear again with a larger role in “Stages,” where they begin the piece, setting a peaceful scene. The tune continues as casual drums, synthesizer, guitar, and Hernandez’s voice brighten the tune with refreshing, upbeat rhythms , creating one of the stronger tracks on the album. This track builds from a disorganized, dreamlike melody into something purposeful and methodological that provides much needed relief after the tense track “No F.” The dazzling a cappella voice trio that begins “Sequential Holdings” is by far one of the most enticing moments in the album.
From there, the strength of Hernandez’s voice supports the featured female vocalists and carries the melody forward when necessary, to fill empty vocal space. Because there are few instruments underlying the vocal melodies, the band’s choral skill is flaunted throughout this piece. Their voices effortlessly impress you with syncopated rhythms, jazzy tones, captivating harmonies, and relatable lyrics. Though the album has not declared a single, this catchy tune displays the potential to be awarded that title. Following is an alluring love song with a ’60s jazz resonance that is appealing to all generations. In “Down Right,” Hernandez sings of heartbreak with despairing, yet heart-warming, lyrics, and commits to a sincere tonal quality. He repeats, “It’s your decision / And I’ll deliver on your whim,” several times throughout the track, but each time it is sung with a different attitude as his mood shifts from insecure and wounded to confident and well. His part in this song is not only that of a vocalist, but an
actor as well, and he assumes this role with impeccable credibility. Unfortunately, as the album comes to a close, the melodies become increasingly familiar, though patchy instrument placement is still detectable. This can be seen in “Calculus,” one of the
closing tunes. It incorporates random synthesizer beats that instill unfitting musical phrases throughout the piece. Even with the always-present jazz vocalists, these synthesizer sections sound more like excerpts from a videogame soundtrack than additions
to a bluesy soul-punk repertoire. In essence, this track deteriorates the album’s quality with its ultraexperimental nature. There is a lingering tension in the listener as Ice Level finishes, that overrides previous fondness for the album’s innovative appeal. n
Ice level Ava luna produced by infinite best released Feb. 28, 2012 Our rating Bcourtesy of google.com
Ava Luna, a jazzy and confident group from New York City, deliver familiar melodies and instrumentals on ‘Ice Level.’
Radio singles by Dmitry larionov The Black Keys “Gold On The Ceiling”
Rebecca Ferguson “Too Good To Lose”
Birdy “1901” The second single from The Black Keys’ latest album, El Camino, packs a punch with the hard-hitting rhythm of “Howlin’ for You,” the retro lead of “Tighten Up,” and the melodic gospel of “Lonely Boy.” It’s nothing we haven’t heard before, but it’s a product of that nostalgic psychedelic blues-rock that has made The Black Keys so popular in the past few years, and I’m certainly not complaining.
The fourth single from Birdy’s debut album, 1901, is an interpretation of the popular Phoenix song of the same name. Here, the 15-year-old UK cover artist follows through on her penchant for turning love odes into slow-moving, melodramatic piano music. It’s an interesting take on the familiar tune, but Birdy’s impressively developed voice doesn’t do enough to breathe life into this exhausted song.
The second single from Rebecca Ferguson’s debut album, Heaven, sounds like a gem born of the friction between ’70s R&B and ’90s synth jams. Supported by an original melody, the song manages to retain the charm of old-school soul ballads while breaking into the modern dance genre. Ferguson’s memorable performance helps to fill the gap left behind in the soul world by the late singer Amy Winehouse.
The Heights
B6
Thursday, March 1, 2012
The onset of eye disease may not be as visible as the appearance of new wrinkles. An eye doctor can spot the early warning signs of vision problems like glaucoma and macular degeneration, as well as other serious health conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Early detection is key. For men and women over 40, it might be wise to look into your eyes. For more information, visit checkyearly.com. A public service message from Vision Council of America and AARP.
6#! C -AG & X INDD
0-
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
B7
BY LAUREN TOTINO
Celebrating African American history on Beacon Hill Black History Month officially comes to a close as we move into March, but the celebration of African-American culture and history should continue even as the calendar flips. Although the Freedom Trail and Old North Church seem to grab the
most tourist attention in the city, a visit to the Boston African American National Historic Site is necessary for a well-rounded Bostonian education and experience. Located on the slopes of Beacon Hill, the site commemorates the 19th-century AfricanAmerican community of brave leaders who paved the way for the city and the nation in the Abolition Movement, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War, and the fight for equal rights. The first stop to make at the African American National Historic Site is the
Courtesy of Google.com
Located in Beacon Hill, the Museum of Afro American History celebrates contributions to the city.
Museum of African American History, located at 46 Joy Street on Beacon Hill. The museum, which also has a branch on Nantucket, is dedicated to “preserving, conserving, and accurately interpreting the contributions of African Americans in New England from the colonial period through the 19th century.” For a $5 entrance fee, you can view a short film chronicling the history of the neighborhood and its participation in the Freedom Movement, chat with park rangers, and enjoy the museum’s current exhibit, Portraits of Purpose: A Tribute to Leadership, Boston 19802012, by Don West. The exhibit is on display throughout the month of March and features life-size portraits of Boston-area activists, taken by one of the city’s most sought-after photographers. The museum is open year round, Monday through Saturday. Aside from the museum, the best way to delve into the history of the Beacon Hill neighborhood is on the Black Heritage Trail. The walking tour covers 14 historic sites, a real journey through time to Boston’s free black community of the 1800s. Highly knowledgeable rangers lead the free tour, though if you would rather go at your own pace, self-guided tours can be conducted at any time. The expansive trail covers areas of Charles Street, Philips Street, and even Beacon Street across from the State House. Standouts along the tour include the
Allston-Brighton Crime Reports 2/22/12 - 2/26/12
Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial, a bronze relief monument honoring the first documented African American regiment formed in the North during the Civil War; the Abiel Smith School, named for the white businessman who funded Boston’s African School in 1815; and the African
hood, specifically, to demonstrate how this community and the leaders within it produced change in the whole city. Visitors soon realize that there is more to Boston’s history than Paul Revere and, of course, a certain tea party. To begin your historical and cultural excursion, take the D-line to Park Street
Courtesy of Google.com
The Robert Gould Shaw and 54th Regiment Memorial stands in front of the Commons. Meeting House, which is the oldest existing African Baptist Church building in America and was the meeting place of abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison. The tour focuses on the Beacon Hill neighbor-
and head across the east side of the Boston Common toward Beacon Street, where the shimmering gold dome of the State House stands before you—46 Joy Street is not too far beyond that. Get ready to walk, and get ready to learn! n
Restaurant review
A futuristic twist on Asian cuisine
Willful and malicious destruction of property in Allston At about 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 22, two officers were flagged down by the manager of Red Necks Restaurant at 140 Brighton Avenue, Allston. The officers observed the suspect outside of Red Necks Restaurant yelling at the managers, saying, “F you, you f I don’t care about your door.” When the officers approached the suspect, he began to walk away and yell at the officers, “Leave me alone.” The manager stated to the officers that the suspect had just broken the door of the restaurant. While the officers were attempting to place the suspect under arrest, the suspect began to tense his arms and physically resist. Officers immediately obtained compliance.
Carjacking at 46 Pratt Street The victim stated that at about 11:45 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 25, he was carjacked at 46 Pratt Street in Allston as he was dropping off a friend who was visiting a female friend. The victim and his friend got out of the vehicle and left it running while the driver went over to the the passenger side door to say goodbye. At this time, suspect number one, a light-skinned African American male, walked up to the victim and pulled out a black firearm that the victim believed to be semi-automatic and stated, “I’m taking the car, money, and cell phones.” Suspect number two was a brown-skinned African American male, and suspect number three was a light-skinned Caucasian male. They were standing approximately 10 feet behind suspect number one and did not speak. Suspect one also demanded jewelry from the victim after he handed over his wallet, including his 14K white gold wedding ring (no inscription) and a copper-colored watch.
Mugging on Winship Street At about 10:14 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 26, an officer responded to a robbery report at 34 Winship Street in Brighton. The victim stated that she was walking along Cambridge Street in the area of Gordon Street and was using her iPhone to listen to music. The victim was holding the iPhone in her hand as she was walking. The victim stated that the suspect was walking slowly in front of her along Cambridge Street and so she decided to pass him. As she passed the suspect, he grabbed her iPhone from her hand and ran across Cambridge Street toward a silver Chevrolet sedan. The victim stated that the suspect entered the sedan, which was occupied by a male driver, and they fled in an unknown direction. She stated that the suspect did not say anything to her before or after taking the phone. The suspect was wearing a hooded sweatshirt with the hood up, so she could not see any definitive features.
- Courtesy of the Boston Police Department, District 14 Gathered by Charlotte Parish, Metro Editor
HOUSE AD
By Molly Shea For The Heights
Walking into Myers + Chang, it’s hard not to notice the “cool” factor that the restaurant cultivates. There’s the window art, the hanging industrial light bulbs, and the modern metal tables. There is the variety of menus offered (gluten-free, shellfish-free, vegetarian, nut-free, lunch, dinner, dim sum, and dessert), as well as the variety of Asian specialties (Chinese, Taiwanese, Thai, and Vietnamese). There’s the emphasis on fresh, local foods, the personal interpretations of traditional Asian dishes, and the open view into the excitement of the kitchen. Most thrilling of all, however, is that dishes hover around $10 to $15 dollars, allowing patrons to truly indulge in the family-style dining Myers + Chang encourages. Never having been there before and overwhelmed by the array of options offered, we ordered four appetizers, two entrees, and a dessert—more than enough food for a party of four. We started with an edamame and celery slaw salad, dressed with sesame oil and candied lemon. The perfect starter salad, this light and tasty dish offered flavor, crunch, and enough food for four hungry diners to liberally sample. Next were organic red miso-glazed carrots, wok-fried to buttery, salty perfection. A nice complement to the salad, the carrots were decadent but not overwhelming. Also decadent was the Hakka Eggplant, packed with flavor. Garlicky, sweet, and salty, the eggplant was the clear favorite of the appetizers. Our fourth starter, baby bok choy with wokroasted shiitake mushrooms, rounded out the appetizers with a bitterness from the bok choy and rich, earthy flavor from the mushrooms. The four appetizers offered a medley of flavors, paving the way for the dishes to come. Our first entree, and my personal favorite, was the vegetarian wok-charred udon noodles. The noodles, stir-fried with locally made tofu and deliciously bitter bok choy, were hearty and addicting. After the variety of vegetables we had consumed, the noodles added a slightly chewy texture to the meal. The tofu, sourced from a Boston producer, was light and flavorful, taking on the salty, garlicky flavor of the stir-fry. While the dishes at Myers + Chang were definitely sodium-heavy, the salt allowed for an extra splash of flavor. I did find
myself reaching for my water glass more often than usual, but overall the extra salt was fine by most standards. The second entree was a wok-charred octopus, with a side of corn on the cob and sriracha butter. The octopus was fresh, and the sriracha-buttered corn was sublime. The spicy sriracha added an Asian flair to the standard side of corn, giving an extra edge to the already innovative dish. For dessert, Myers + Chang offers both homemade delicacies and Flour Bakery cakes. Like the dinner menu, the dessert menu appeals to a variety of different taste buds, offering flavors like vanilla, chocolate, lime, coconut, and caramel. Stuffed almost to the Location: 1145 Washington Street, Boston Cuisine: Asian Fusion Signature Dish: Vegetarian wok-charred udon noodles Atmosphere: 9 / 10 Price: $$ Overall Experience: A-
brim, we shared a Lemon-Ginger Mousse Coupe, complete with homemade fortune cookies. The mousse provided a fluffy, sweet, and tangy ending to a flavorful meal. While Myers + Chang doesn’t offer much by way of traditional, authentic Asian dishes, their take on modern Asian fusion far exceeds expectations. Having tried “Asian-influenced” dishes in the past that have turned out to be overly salty, badly spiced, and just plain bad, Myers + Chang renews faith in tasty, affordable Asian fusion cuisine. Chefs Myers and Chang consider their dishes to be “inspired by Taiwanese soul food and Southeast Asian street food, all done with a great deal of care,” and the unique flavor combinations and attention to detail truly come across in the dishes. Located in the South End, Myers + Chang offers something for everyone and a new set of flavors for those looking for adventure.
B8
The Heights
Subway Series
Affording to live in the big city
Marc Francis “My dream is to live in New York,” echoed the hundreds of working-class people I have met in my lifetime. Unfortunately for many, this will forever stay a dream. Housing in New York City will remain unaffordable for millions. According to a recent report in the Huffington Post, New York City is home to three of the United States’ five cities with the highest cost of living: Manhattan ranks number one, followed by Brooklyn in second and Queens in fifth. Online residential real estate website Trulia.com displays the average price for a New York City property sold in the last week to be just under $2 million. While New York has been absorbing the wealth of its inhabitants for more than a century, only in recent years has Boston become a city with a cost of living that is steadily increasing. The Boston Globe reports that “more than 231,000 Massachusetts households, or 24 percent of working families, suffered from a ‘severe housing cost burden’ of spending more than 50 percent of their income on housing in 2010, up from 22 percent in 2009.” This dramatic increase is partially a result of a housing policy that restricts the construction of new buildings. The issue of high housing costs is also reflected in businesses, as employers are forced to compensate employees for Boston’s increasing costs. This increases, in turn, the costs of doing business, reflected in the rising prices at restaurants, local shops, delis, etc. In my opinion, the biggest problem that has resulted from the city’s high cost of living is the driving away of the lower classes. Because families with less extravagant means of income cannot survive in a city like Boston, it lacks diversity. Luckily for New York, its base population was originally composed of foreigners from all over the world, unlike Boston. Many Boston College students, including myself, complain about the homogenous society that exists at BC and in the city itself. Unfortunately, the lack of diversity detracts from the characteristics one naturally attributes to a genuine “city.” One visits a small town to observe how a particular group of people dress, eat, speak, and carry out their daily activities. On the contrary, one visits a city for the sake of the extraordinary, uplifting sensation that erupts from passing through colorful crowds of people, all from different parts of the world. But, there is still hope left. When a more prosperous economic time finds our nation, Boston should place heavy emphasis on construction projects aimed at increasing the density of the population. Injecting different classes into the city is not just helpful for the sole sake of diversification, but it also increases social interaction and the exchanging of ideas on a local level. Relative to the rest of the nation, however, Boston is on much sturdier economic ground. Barry Bluestone, dean of the School of Public Policy & Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, points out that “The real problem in Greater Boston is low-income people are overwhelmingly renters and have seen no decline in rents. The poor have been very badly hit by this great recession,” as reported by The Boston Globe. Landowners spend about 4 percent less of their income on housing than their tenant counterparts. While almost all of New York City presents high costs of living for its residents, some regions of Boston are not as pricey to inhabit. In general, the closer you are to the heart of Boston, the more costly it will be. But, one must also take into account safety, transportation, school districts, and any other factors when deciding where to live. Overall, according to a website that compares the costs of living of two cities side-by-side—www.bestplaces. net—Boston is only 3 percent cheaper than New York City. Yet, Boston’s high prices, coupled with housing policies have sprung it into the spotlight of criticism, as members of each class suffer the economic burden of calling themselves Bostonians.
Marc Francis is the Asst. Metro Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Hollywood visits theater Mortensen, from B10 Viggo Mortensen.” According to the Coolidge Corner Theater website, this already sold-out event will feature Mortensen having an “in-depth discussion of his life and career, moderated by the host of WBUR’s Here and Now, Robin Young.” Understandably, not everyone will be able to catch a glimpse of Mortensen on Monday—however, Coolidge Corner Theater will be honoring him all this week. Starting Tuesday, Feb. 28, the theater will screen A History of Violence, followed by A Walk on the Moon on the 29th, The Road on the 1st, and finally (only for the most dedicated of fans) a 10-hour and 45-minute Lord of the Rings trilogy showing on Sunday, Mar. 4. Viggo Mortensen is best
know for his role as Aragorn in the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, Tom Stall in A History of Violence, and a lost man in The Road. He has won several international awards and recog-
nitions, including a Best Actor Oscar nomination in 2007 for Eastern Promises, and a Golden Globe Award nomination in 2012 for Best Supporting Actor for A Dangerous Method. n
Innovative exhibits educate public Waterworks, from B10
Courtesy of Google.com
Mortensen, as Sigmund Freud, embraces his lover, played by Keira Knightley.
Online forum incites petition Wellesley, from B10 the population is excluded?” To add fuel to the fire, Daussin’s idea for this petition came about as she studied abroad through the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program, not on Wellesley’s campus. She claimed she had not realized the magnitude of the negative effects of her single-sex education until this semester, when she made male friends while studying abroad. Daussin’s boldest claim in the petition, “all women’s schools enforce sexism and are outdated,” was in accordance with her view of the “skewed social dynamic” that results from a solely female environment. Daussin was genuinely surprised that her petition affected so many students back at Wellesley. More than that, she was bemused that a majority of her student body took her seriously. With only eight of the intended 2,400 signatures signed online, it seemed as though the petition would take no hold in Massachusetts. Daussin claimed in an interview with the Wellesley
News that she made the petition partially in jest—she never expected any result to come of it. All in good fun, she added a picture of a half-naked male to the petition and categorized her webpage under “Human Rights: Torture” on the Care2 Petition Site. After some reflection, however, Daussin admitted she could understand why her words offended fellow women and students. While she swears the petition was “somewhat of a joke,” she stands behind her proposition that Wellesley College would be better off with men around. Daussin’s petition brought attention to the environment created without males present. Wellesley’s female population has been said to create a “ferociously competitive,” “unbalanced,” and “stressful” atmosphere. Daussin is under the impression that co-ed schools have a “more relaxed” social environment, as well as neutral feelings toward both men and women. She has gathered “really negative feelings towards men” since enrolling at
Courtesy of Google.com
If co-ed, Wellesley’s dorms (pictured above) would have to be changed.
Wellesley College. “I feel like I’m part of a sisterhood, but not part of a bonding of humankind,” Daussin explained. She admitted her original posts may have been too strong, but she has sparked controversy at Wellesley worth noting. This is not the first instance in which the Wellesley community has called for the integration of men. In 1969, a group of students, faculty, alumnae, and trustees brought the single-sex education issue into public spotlight. They created an assembly known as the Commission on the Future of the College, presenting advisement and recommendations for the betterment of Wellesley. The Committee voted nine to four in favor of admitting men into the college in the early ‘70s, but the Board of Trustees quickly overturned the decision. In 2009, a panel entitled “Co-Ed Wellesley: Perspectives on the 1971 Commission on the Future of the College” discussed the upset of the blatant overturn, with several members of the former committee on the panel. No actions were taken on the majority vote. While an updated, co-educational schooling system has been called for, the effects of this petition are still being determined. Even with the controversy stirred, only two Wellesley students have publicly signed the petition. No males have publicly commented on the petition to date, providing neither support nor opposition to their exclusion on campus. Thus far, it is clear that Daussin’s petition to integrate men into Wellesley’s academic system has not raised immediate action other than debates around campus and surrounding universities. Most importantly, Nicole Daussin has raised a pertinent issue in her collegiate atmosphere. n
the museum, views the creation of the museum at the expense of the developer as hugely significant, but many other achievements have contributed to the site’s progress in the past year. After many laborious discussions, the decision was made to present the engines to visitors through a synthesis of old and new physical elements. “We walk that edge between history, between the past and the future,” Peterson explained. The newest computer technology is incorporated into the hulky metal and detailed woodwork of a different time, providing an ultimate educational experience for visitors. Education is the main goal of the museum. In its first year, it has met with many successes, but also acknowledges room for improvement. As word about the MWM spreads to area schools, the organization has become more adept at handling groups, one of its main sources of visitors. In the coming year, it hopes to learn more about how to best educate its audience, while also striving to attract inter-
Courtesy of Google.com
The exterior of the Waterworks Museum highlights its historic architecture.
Person to Watch Michelle Meyers, assistant professor of biology at Boston College, is one of the most recent recipients of a Sloan Research Fellowship from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. For years, the foundation has recognized achievements among the academia of the United States, ranging from scientific to economic fields. The foundation’s website boasts that “Past recipients of Sloan Research Fellowships have Who: BC Assitant Professor of Biology Michelle Meyers What: Meyers is one of the 126 recipients of the prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship. Where: The recipients of the grant this year come from across the country and over 50 universities. Why it matters: Meyers is one of the four professors at BC to receive the grant this year, reflecting the caliber of the University’s dedicated faculty. gone on to win 38 Nobel prizes, 14 Fields Medals (mathematics), and eight John Bates Clark awards (economics).” As one of the 126 recipients of the $50,000 award, Meyers is noted as one of the “chief drivers of the nation’s health and prosperity.” Her specialization in the field of computational biology and the examination of RNA structure has contributed to modern science’s understanding of proteins and
ested visitors back to the site. The museum has several untapped resources it also hopes to make use of in the near future. Many partially identified artifacts provide material for another exhibit, and an oral history project to record and share the stories of the men who worked in the station is in progress. With the completion of its inaugural year, the museum will also have access to analyses of visitor demographics and can begin to apply for government grants. These advantages will enable it to increase advertising and research efforts, hopefully resulting in greater awareness of the role of public health in waterworks and the continuation of its general educational mission. The building itself is a stunning piece of architecture, a remnant of Boston’s “Golden Age.” The interior is hardly overshadowed by the equally amazing machines it holds. In addition, the museum offers weekly lectures by esteemed members of its board, local Ph.D.s, and famous authors, which attracts visitors of all kinds, steam enthusiasts and passersby alike. n
mutational change. Meyers, who is “intrigued by cases where multiple different RNAs have evolved to bind homologous ribosomal proteins in different organisms,” has contributed to the development of specific antibiotics and therapies that will advance our entire nation’s healthcare system. “We are interested in projects that have a high expected return to society,” states the non-profit foundation’s mission statement. The Sloan Foundation distributes grants to those that they deem not just influential in their fields of study, but adamant in their mission to change the world. BC leads Massachusetts universities, as four of its faculty members received grants from the Sloan Foundation this year—Liane Young, assistant professor of psychology, Ying Ran, assistant professor of physics, and Dunwei Wang, assistant professor of chemistry. Boston University, Harvard University, and MIT all follow behind with three recipients. The Sloan Foundation awards grants across six general areas of study: Basic Research, Science Education, Public Understanding of Science, Economic Performance,and the Quality of Life, Selected National Issues, and Civil Initiatives. It makes hundreds of grants per year, furthering the dissemination of knowledge across American society. Its donations have spanned from single researchers like Meyers to entire organizations
By: By: Marc Arjun Francis Gajulapalli
like Wikipedia. In 2008, the foundation donated $3 million to the Wikimedia Foundation, publishers of Wikipedia. “I am very honored to be selected by the Sloan Foundation. Receiving an honor like this is an amazing opportunity. I’m grateful to the Sloan Foundation for dedicating support to fundamental science and making these opportunities available to researchers like me,” Meyers said to the Chronicle. Meyers’ outstanding work is exemplary of the dedicated, quality faculty here at BC. She, along with the other recipients, will hopefully continue to display their leadership in our community and further highlight the University’s academic strengths.
The Heights
Thursday, March 1, 2012
B9
Boston College extends a helping hand to local school Collaborative education efforts offer graduate studies and programs for teachers and BC volunteers Columbkille, from B10 This program, which was started in 2007, is a national organization with an overreaching mission of “creating communities of strong and successful women today and supporting the strong and successful women of tomorrow.” Also, through BC’s Neighborhood Center, a group of pre-med students come to SCPS to teach the students about dental hygiene; BC men’s and women’s hockey teams serve as mentors to the schools’ fifth graders; and the men’s basketball team spends time in the classrooms twice a month to mentor students and support the teachers. A group of 15-20 BC undergrads
participate in after-school tutoring at St. Columbkille, and some BC employees come to the school each week to read aloud to the students. “Having worked with the pre-k and kindergarteners in their after-school program since September, I have been blown away by the student diversity in the classroom, which I believe is crucial to a nurturing and accepting educational environment,” said Lucy Smuckler, A&S ’15, who volunteers at St. Columbkille. “What has also struck me about the students is their eagerness and overall love of learning. Often times, the kids in my class don’t want to leave school when their parents arrive! It is truly an exceptional academic community with caring teachers and students, and I have had a fantastic experience tutoring at the St. Columb-
Jaqueline Parisi \ For the Heights
Located in Brighton, the school is near enough to encourage many BC student volunteers.
Jaqueline Parisi \ For the Heights
St. Columbkille emphasizes collaboration and community in their school mission statement. kille School.” Starting just last year, the Emerging Leader Program (ELP) at BC decided to dedicate the funds raised at their annual BC Idol show to SCPS as well. Specifically, these funds were dedicated toward developing a music program at the school. An expanded arts program falls in line with their tradition as a Catholic school of forming the whole child: mind, body, and spirit. “Last year was the first year that we worked with St. C’s, and we raised $3,600,” said Mer Ursula Zovko, th e program director of ELP and the assistant dean of Student Development. “This money was used to create the music education area of their arts program, and has bought instruments for the school, as well as supported 70 students to take music lessons at a discounted cost.” St. Columbkille’s president William Gartside added, “We just started a chorus and our drama program is in its infancy but will grow strong because of the dedicated volunteers and our relationship with Boston College. These programs are being cut in so many schools. We see them as important to the development of the whole child.” According to Zovko, ELP will continue to work with St. Columbkille through its annual BC Idol show. They
Marc Francis is the Asst. Metro Editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.
Andrew Schweiger is a staff columnist for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@bcheights.com.
- Lucy Smuckler A&S ‘15
school as well. “I have been incredibly impressed with the young women and men in ELP,” Gartside said. “They are enthusiastic, and have big hearts and aspirations. They want to make a difference. We intend to develop the relationship by offering volunteer opportunities for ELP members.” n
Courtesy of Google.com
Keeping up appearances Council misdirects focus The ban on TV satellites placement is not only an aesthetic improvement in one of the oldest and most iconic U.S. cities, but also is an encouragement for lazy and negligent homeowners to improve neighborhood looks. It is easy to write off City Councilor Sal Lamattina’s proposal as a petty and useless piece of legislation. And it would be, if he were complaining about the sight of just one satellite dish per house. However, Lamattina’s complaint is with the clusters of four to even seven satellite dishes in the front of houses on numerous streets and neighborhoods throughout Boston. Having useless dishes in unnecessarily prominent locations is not only an eyesore on that piece of property, but also an eyesore on all of Boston. The root of the problem comes from the dish network companies, who install dishes however and wherever they please. In houses that have renters, as opposed to owners, generations of tenants add new dishes to old ones from prior inhabitants, simply because there is no incentive to take them down. Dish companies, such as DirecTV, require a fee of upwards of $95 to remove a dish. Since dish companies do not work with their customers to remove the products, residents and landlords have no external mo-
Graham Beck is an editor for The Heights. He can be reached at metro@ bcheights.com.
Marc Francis Banning satellite dishes from the city of Boston on purely aesthetic grounds is not only a violation of the laws set forth by the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), but also an attack on citizens’ right to receive their television channels whichever way they desire. Boston, like other major cities in America, has more pressing issues to tackle than making the neighborhood look pretty. For Boston, these issues include the struggling MBTA and rising costs of living. Mayor Menino is preparing to sign the ordinance put forth by the Boston City Council that would force tenants and homeowners to replace their satellite subscriptions with digital ones. The FCC website states that they “prohibit restrictions on a property owner or tenant’s right to install, maintain or use an antenna to receive video programming from direct broadcast satellites, broadband radio services and television broadcast stations.” Restrictions may only be placed on such rights when an issue of public safety or historic preservation arises, neither of which are present in the case at hand. It does not appear that the ordinance addresses this violation. Furthermore, many satellite subscribers are fans of international television, a feature not offered on a majority of digital cable providers. Most of the satellites that the Boston
Andrew Schweiger
City Council has deemed aesthetically displeasing are located on apartment buildings. In such large complexes, the landlord usually determines the single digital cable provider for all of the tenants. By forcing an entire building to comply with one television provider, their freedom of choice is taken away. The council claims that digital cable provides its subscribers with higher quality than satellites, further emphasizing the need for a permanent switch. Yet, the quality of one’s television provider is usually solely reliant on geographic location. In some areas of Boston, satellites are top-notch channel transmitters. City Councilor Sal Lamattina wrote the ordinance, calling the dishes “blights” on city neighborhoods. It all seems a bit ridiculous in my opinion—most pedestrians, including myself, do not pay much attention to these “obstructions.” The satellites actually contribute to a city’s overall urban characteristic. Lamattina’s point could be considered valid if it were put forth in a small, historic town, but in a major industrial city one has come to expect satellites, hanging telephone wires, cell phone towers, etc. The city should not be concerned with petty issues like “ugly” satellites, but instead redirect their attention toward problems the entire nation is facing.
“I have been blown away by the student diversity in the classroom, which I believe is crucial to a nuturing and accepting educational environment”
As proposed by City Councilor Sal Lamattina, the Boston City Council has drafted an ordinance calling for the banning of satellite dishes throughout the city of Boston. The council believes that the satellites negatively affect Boston’s appearance. Standard digital cable television across the city will improve television quality for many, but at the same time will force many residents to comply with a single cable provider. Should the council be allowed to declare what residents do with their properties’ exteriors?
tivation to take the matter into their own hands. This is where Lamattina’s proposal makes perfect sense, since the legislation may persuade companies to offer free services or actual incentives for removing old dishes. Lamattina is not alone in his fight. “It looks terrible,” said Jack Arresto, a lifelong resident of East Boston, when asked by WCVB Boston. “It brings the whole neighborhood down,” added resident Anthony Delvecchio when asked about his opinion of dishes. “We can write tickets if someone does not shovel the sidewalk in front of their house,” Lamattina said to WCVB Boston. “Certainly landlords should be held accountable for letting their property become covered in something that makes the neighborhood look terrible.” The idea of restricting satellite placement is not revolutionary. Boston is following with the precedent set by Philadelphia, which succeeded in passing the same legislation. The outlook from this legislation is to encourage cable owners to make the switch from satellite to digital cable. Besides better quality and speed, digital cable does not take away from the quaint and classic nature of Boston.
Running on an empty tank
“Non-renewable resource,” “fossil fuel,” and “pollutant” are all terms that adequately describe the substance that this country runs on. Sorry, Dunkin’ Donuts, as cute as that catch phrase may be, it is simply not true. I’m talking about gasoline. Ask anyone other than an Exxon Mobil executive, and they’ll tell you that the industrialized world’s dependence on gas is simply not sustainable. Regardless of whether or not the emissions from our vehicles have created global warming, I doubt anyone wants to live with the undeniable smog that accompanies a large population’s high volume gas emissions. Just look at Los Angeles. There are those who say that we’ve made progress. They point to electric cars such as the Chevy Cruze and Nissan Leaf. Even the miles per gallon of large-tanked gas guzzlers such as SUVs and pickups has vastly improved over the past decade. All true, but coal continues to be one of this nation’s top forms of producing electricity, and that sure as hell isn’t any better than gasoline. It’s becoming all the more apparent that the future of energy is taking us kicking and screaming further away from fossil fuels. It’s been a nice long run with gasoline, and I for one would like to thank it for all it has helped humanity accomplish over the decades, but it’s time to move on. The question is, on to what? It’s easy to see that coal certainly isn’t the answer. It’s got all the same problems that gasoline does, as it’s a non-renewable fossil fuel that pollutes our environment. So that’s out. What else is there? Hydroelectric power, solar energy, wind-powered generators, and nuclear power are the solutions we’ve tried so far. Hydroelectric plants can dirty waters, and the damming process can cause unforeseen complications to the ecosystem. Also, hydroelectricity would not be able to support the growing energy needs of the United States. Solar energy is great—but unfortunately, the process of converting solar power into a viable energy source is extremely inefficient and would not be able to support a large demand. Wind power faces the same problem of not being able to support the large energy demand of an industrialized nation such as the U.S. As far as forms of energy production that are currently employed, nuclear is the only one that has the potential to meet current and projected future U.S. energy demands. Much of the problem of nuclear energy stems from two main concerns, safety and disposal of waste. Nuclear energy’s most recent scare stemmed from the tsunami that hit Japan last March. It wasn’t until eight months later, in December of 2011, that the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was officially declared to be in stable state. Questions as to the safety of nuclear energy abounded after the incident. The reaction around the world was to scale down proposed nuclear plant construction, order safety checks, shut down older plants, or even reiterate that nuclear energy was undesirable. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission imposes strict regulations for safety and security of nuclear power plants. Currently, nuclear waste is stored at licensed fuel storage facilities. Nuclear energy is obviously a carefully watched and regulated industry, but it continues to prove difficult to ascertain what the future holds as far as potential increases in nuclear energy production. It’s hard to imagine the U.S. still using coal, natural gas, gasoline, or other fossil fuels as viable forms of energy in the next 20-plus years, but with most other forms of current energy productions lacking the potential to power America’s energy demand, it’s equally difficult to imagine a future in which nuclear power does not play a large contributing role for energy production within the U.S.
have “made a promise to continue to support and fund their music education programs through the proceeds from ticket sales for the event.” St. Columbkille is hoping to build the relationship between ELP and their
THE ISSUE:
Graham Beck
Questioning Conventions
metro The Heights
Thursday, December 8, 2011
B10
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Wicked Cultured
Consumer conscience Charlotte Parish Social justice is undoubtedly a term that every student at Boston College has heard. Whether it is used in reference to service trips, volunteering locally, raising awareness about a cause, or choosing products with a cause (like Toms and Haley House cookies), BC students pride themselves on furthering social justice in the community. But recently I came across a dilemma that inevitably brought me to consider that elusive, overused term of social justice. I love Chick-fil-A. My mom and I used to always make a stop at the food court in my local mall from when I was pretty young because their chicken was essentially the only fast food I ate. It’s a company that gives their employees Sundays off (which is as admirable as it is devastating when I forget and find my dreams of waffle fries crushed) and prides itself on treating everyone— workers, customers, and administrators alike—with respect. So when I heard that Northeastern was possibly getting a Chick-fil-A in its dining halls, I shook my fist at the cosmos that I did not apply there and texted my Husky friend an obnoxious amount of times telling her that I would come visit as soon as the chain opened. Right now, the closest Chick-fil-A is a 20-minute Zip Car ride away—I know this because some friends and I have actually made the trip exclusively for a meal. Say what you will, the stuff is delicious. But when I went to look up the opening day for this miraculous occurrence, the first article I came across was not of Northeastern students celebrating their luck. Instead, a large group of students are protesting the University’s decision to allow Chick-fil-A because the company has given over $1 million to Focus On The Family, Exodus International, and the Family Research Council, which many contend have anti-gay sentiments and programming. I was honestly shocked. I had not heard a single thing about this in recent news. And considering that Chick-fil-A is a national chain, I am surprised that there hasn’t been more converge about such a sensitive topic. It is understandable that religious institutions may not feel comfortable supporting gay rights (and Chick-fil-A is decidedly a religious company, as Sundays are given off because of the founders’ Mormon roots). It is another thing entirely, however, for a company to actively fund groups that belittle and attack another community. After all, how would anyone feel walking into a restaurant and knowing that their meal is indirectly going to a group that demeans their person? Although the president of Chickfil-A, Dan Cathy, has released statements saying that the company is not discriminating against anyone, I personally think that actions speak louder than words. After all, wouldn’t the company have stayed absolutely mum if NYU students hadn’t raised the same complaints as Northeastern students? While the company may, for the moment, be able to claim ignorance about any negative or discriminative motives by the groups they are funding, Chick-fil-A will soon have to either re-examine its annual donations and the process for choosing non-profits to support, or else if they continue to fund such groups they will have to own up to their own bias. So here’s a moment for consideration of the power of college age students in the realm of social policy. The first coverage of this issue was sparked by NYU, and the topic is being refought here in Boston because of contentious Northeastern students. With over 100,000 students in Boston, we wield an immense amount of purchasing power. The trick is to stay vigilant about what those dollars are purchasing.
BC Aids Inspired educators The product of three Catholic forces in the Boston Community, St. Columbkille Partnership School thrives during its first decade of service By Jacqueline Parisi Heights Staff
Six years ago, a historic Catholic school partnership was established between St. Columbkille Parish, the Archdiocese of Boston, and Boston College. Together, these three institutions combined their resources in educational leadership, finance and enrollment management, student development, academic practice and research, facilities management, and religious formation to create St. Columbkille Partnership School (SCPS) in Brighton. This new governance model is the first of its kind in the United States and serves as “a new national model of excellence in Catholic elementary education.” The larger overreaching vision of the partnership is rooted in what SCPS’s
website calls a “more durable reality,” a 2000-year-old tradition of faith and commitment to continuing the ongoing mission of the church in the BC area. According to SCPS’s website, “Saint Columbkille Partnership School is an academic community of dedicated teachers, staff, and families who are rooted in faith and committed to the development of Christian values and the Christian moral code.” With the partnership, graduate training has become available for all eligible faculty members at SCPS and is fully sponsored by the BC Lynch School of Education (LSOE). In fact, 17 out of the 21 teachers at SCPS have earned their master’s degrees from LSOE. Additionally, 36 student teachers from LSOE have been placed in the classrooms, where they are mentored by a teacher from St.
Columbkille. The SCPS website reads “Educational experts coordinated by Boston College faculty are collaborating on implementing state-of-the-art approaches to teaching from the early childhood program through middle school, using evidence-based research curriculum to teach math, science, literacy, and other subjects, as well as working with bilingual students and children with moderate speech needs.” The BC Neighborhood Center is also doing its part to strengthen the partnership by sending a group of female students to SCPS every week to meet with girls in grades four through six. Here, the BC students teach the Strong Women, Strong Girls curriculum.
See Columbkille, B9
Jaqueline Parisi / for the heights Woogeon Kim / heights graphic
Waterworks Museum approaching anniversary By Krystyna Wazny For The Heights
Courtesy of Google.com
The Metropolitan Waterworks Museum retained its antique machinery for the new exhibit.
Charlotte Parish is the Metro Editor of The Heights. She can be reached at metro@bcheights.com
i nside Metro this issue
Strutting up to the front door of the Metropolitan Waterworks Museum (MWM) feels like a forbidden act. This towering, beautiful example of classic Bostonian architecture sits beside the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, a place many of us know well for its scenic views, shady corners, and prominent geese. The Pumping Station remained a mystery for those of us who frequently passed it until last year, when its doors finally opened to the public. The journey to construct the museum and make it the educational center it is today was a challenge, and the site’s further improvement continues to be of the utmost importance to its directors. The museum consists of two main areas: the “cube,” which contains a recep-
tion area, offices, and a community room for meetings; and the Grand Engine Hall, where three massive steam engines are housed. At the height of their use, these engines worked together using steam power to efficiently pump water from the reservoir to higher-elevated Fisher Hill for the service of the then newlydeveloped Roxbury area. The last of the engines ceased operation in the 1970s, rendered obsolete by water supply from much larger reservoirs like Wachusett and Quabbin. The facility remained empty except for its mechanical occupants, until a deal was brokered between developer E.A. Fish and preservation groups, ensuring that a significant portion of the site would become a museum upon purchase. Eric Peterson, assistant director of
See Waterworks, B8
Coolidge Theater honors Mortensen By Caroline McManus
For The Heights
On Mar. 5, the Coolidge Corner Theater will play host to one of film’s most talented and private actors—Viggo Mortensen. While many Boston College students will be traveling for spring break, actor Viggo Mortensen will be a mere T ride away from BC, accepting the Coolidge Corner Theater Foundation’s annual Coolidge Award. The Coolidge Award began in 2004 and Mortensen will be its ninth recipient. Some other recipients of the Coolidge Award have been 2010 winner Jonathan Demme, who directed such re-
On the Flip Side
nowned films as Silence of the Lambs (1991), Philadelphia (1993), The Manchurian Candidate (2004), and Rachel Getting Married (2008); and 2006 winner, actress Meryl Streep, who is known for her vast body of work including Sophie’s Choice (1982), Adaptation (2002), and The Devil Wears Prada (2006). Each year the Coolidge Corner Theater Foundation chooses a certain aspect of film to honor, such as cinematography, production, animation, film editing, acting, and directing. According to its website, the Coolidge Award is meant to pay tribute and bring awareness to various contributions to the art of film by honoring individual artists. However, last year they did not honor an individual artist, but instead the field of film preservation as a whole. Next Monday, Coolidge Corner will begin the festivities to honor Mortensen with a 12:00 p.m. screening of his film Eastern Promises, then at 8:00 p.m. there will be what is dubbed “An Evening with
See Mortenson, B8
Courtesy of Google.com
Wellesley College is one of only about 60 single-sex higher education institutes in the U.S.
Co-ed talk stirs up Wellesley By Tricia Tiedt Heights Staff
Nicole Daussin, a junior at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass., has sparked debates throughout her campus this semester. On Jan. 23, Daussin created an online petition to include males in Wellesley’s student body. As one of approximately 60 single-sex schools left in the nation, the petition has created much controversy on campus and online. Daussin posted the petition on Wellesley’s “Community-Discussion,” a Google group similar to Boston College’s AGORA Portal. The college recently switched online web forums for the student body from FirstClass to Google. The transition
Is the new legislature requiring residents to remove excess television dishes a waste of time or a relevant preservation effort?........................................ B9
depleted most of the discussion aspects that the previous database held—until now. Students responded to Daussin’s post in a big way, the majority of women on campus offended by her claims. The short petition itself reads: “Singled-sex schools actually enforce sexism. In order to truly teach others to respect the opposite sex, we must learn alongside each other. Gender does not define a person, so why should it be used as Wellesley’s most important admission criteria? Wellesley’s amazing classes, professors, and facilities would only be enriched by adding men to the mixture. Wellesley claims to be accepting and diverse, but how can this be true if half
See Wellesley, B8
Restaurant Review: Myers + Chang.........................................................B7 BC Alumni Spotlight: michelle Meyers ...................................................B8